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Genetic variation in productivity, leaf traits and carbon isotope discrimination in hybrid poplars cultivated on contrasting sites

Variation génétique de la productivité, de caractères foliaires et de la discrimination isotopique vis-à-vis du carbone chez des hybrides de peuplier cultivés sur des sites contrastés

Annals of Forest Science volume 65, page 503 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

  • • We examined the relationships between productivity, leaf traits and carbon isotope discrimination in bulk leaf matter (Δ1) and in phloem sap (Δs) from more than 5-year-old trees belonging to Populus deltoides × P. nigra and Populus trichocarpa × P. deltoides; trees were grown in alluvial and non alluvial sites in a commercial poplar plantation.

  • • On both sites, a large genetic variability was evidenced for all variables. The genotypic ranking remained stable between years for all variables, while it differed between sites. Δ1 scaled positively with Δs and neither Δ1 nor Δs were correlated with productivity. A significant genotype by site interaction was evident for all variables. The non alluvial site resulted in lower productivity, and in thicker/denser leaves with lower nitrogen and carbon contents. Noteworthy, the genotypic ranking for Δ1 measured at the alluvial site was similar to that previously established in a glasshouse.

  • • As observed in previous studies from younger trees, there is a potential to select genotypes, combining high productivity and high water-use efficiency, for growth in moderately drought-prone areas.

Résumé

  • • La productivité, des caractères foliaires et la discrimination isotopique vis-à-vis du carbone de la matière organique des feuilles (Δ1) et de la sève élaborée (Δs) ont été étudiés chez Populus deltoides × P. nigra et Populus trichocarpa × P. deltoides à partir d’arbres âgés de plus de cinq ans, cultivés en peupleraie sur des sites alluviaux et non alluviaux.

  • • Des différences génotypiques ont été observées pour toutes les variables. Le classement des génotypes était conservé entre deux années, alors qu’il variait entre sites une année donnée. Δ1 était corrélé positivement avec Δs et aucun lien n’a été détecté entre Δ1 ou Δs et productivité. Une interaction significative entre génotype et site a été observée pour toutes les variables. Les arbres du site non alluvial se caractérisaient par une plus faible productivité et des feuilles plus épaisses/denses avec des teneurs en azote et en carbone plus faibles. De façon intéressante, le classement des génotypes pour Δ1 était maintenu entre les expériences réalisées sur site alluvial et celles précédemment menées en serre.

  • • Toutes expériences confondues, il semble possible de sélectionner des génotypes productifs et efficients afin d’étendre les plantations à des terrains enclins à des sécheresses modérées.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire de Biologie des Ligneux et des Grandes Cultures, Université d’Orléans, UFR-Faculté des Sciences, UPRES EA 1207, rue de Chartres, BP 6759, 45067, Orléans Cedex 02, France

    Ludovic Bonhomme, Cécile Barbaroux, Romain Monclus, Domenico Morabito & Franck Brignolas

  2. USC2030 ‘Arbres et Réponses aux Contraintes Hydrique et Environnementales’ (ARCHE), INRA, 45067, Orléans, France

    Ludovic Bonhomme, Cécile Barbaroux, Domenico Morabito & Franck Brignolas

  3. UMR1137 INRA-UHP ‘Écologie et Écophysiologie Forestières’, INRA, Nancy Université, IFR 110 ‘Génomique, Écophysiologie et Écologie Fonctionnelle’, INRA Nancy, 54280, Champenoux, France

    Romain Monclus & Erwin Dreyer

  4. FCBA, station Nord-Est, 60 route de Bonnencontre, 21170, Charrey-sur-Saône, France

    Alain Berthelot

  5. UR ‘Amélioration, Génétique et Physiologie Forestières’, INRA, Ardon, BP 20619, 45166, Olivet Cedex, France

    Marc Villar

Authors
  1. Ludovic Bonhomme
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  2. Cécile Barbaroux
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  3. Romain Monclus
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  4. Domenico Morabito
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  5. Alain Berthelot
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  6. Marc Villar
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  7. Erwin Dreyer
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  8. Franck Brignolas
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Franck Brignolas.

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In memoriam (September 2006).

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Bonhomme, L., Barbaroux, C., Monclus, R. et al. Genetic variation in productivity, leaf traits and carbon isotope discrimination in hybrid poplars cultivated on contrasting sites. Ann. For. Sci. 65, 503 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2008024

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1051/forest:2008024

Annals of Forest Science

ISSN: 1297-966X