Harnessing tree-ring phenotypes to disentangle gene by environment interactions and their climate dependencies in a circum-Mediterranean pine.

Background And Aims: Understanding the genetic basis of adaptation and plasticity in trees constitutes a knowledge gap. We linked dendrochronology and genomics [single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)] for a widespread conifer (Pinus halepensis Mill.) to characterize intraspecific growth differences elicited by climate.

Bridging the genotype-phenotype gap for a Mediterranean pine by semi-automatic crown identification and multispectral imagery.

Progress in high-throughput phenotyping and genomics provides the potential to understand the genetic basis of plant functional differentiation. We developed a semi-automatic methodology based on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) imagery for deriving tree-level phenotypes followed by genome-wide association study (GWAS). An RGB-based point cloud was used for tree crown identification in a common garden of Pinus halepensis in Spain.

Phenotypic integration and life history strategies among populations of Pinus halepensis: an insight through structural equation modelling.

Background And Aims: Understanding inter-population variation in the allocation of resources to specific anatomical compartments and physiological processes is crucial to disentangle adaptive patterns in forest species. This work aims to evaluate phenotypic integration and trade-offs among functional traits as determinants of life history strategies in populations of a circum-Mediterranean pine that dwells in environments where water and other resources are in limited supply.

Methods: Adult individuals of 51 populations of Pinus halepensis grown in a common garden were characterized for 11 phenotypic traits, including direct and indirect measures of water uptake at different depths, leaf area, stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, non-structural carbohydrates, stem diameter and tree height, age at first reproduction and cone production.