Variation in needle and cone traits in natural populations of Pinus yunnanensis

• Published in: Journal of forestry research Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 41 - 49
• Main Authors: Xu, Yulan, Woeste, Keith, Cai, Nianhui, Kang, Xiangyang, Li, Genqian, Chen, Shi, Duan, Anan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Harbin Northeast Forestry University 01.02.2016; Springer; The State Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding,College of Biological Science and Biotechnology,Beijing Forestry University,Beijing 100083,China%USDA Forest Service Hardwood Tree Improvement and Regeneration Center at Purdue University,West Lafayette,IN 47906,USA%Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Use in the Southwest Mountains of China,College of Forestry,Southwest Forestry University,Kunming 650224,China%The State Engineering Laboratory for Tree Breeding,College of Biological Science and Biotechnology,Beijing Forestry University,Beijing 100083,China; Key Laboratory for Forest Resources Conservation and Use in the Southwest Mountains of China,College of Forestry,Southwest Forestry University,Kunming 650224,China
• Subjects: altitude; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Coniferous forests; Forestry; genetic variation; intraspecific variation; latitude; Life Sciences; longitude; Original Paper; phenotypic variation; Pinus yunnanensis; temperature; trees; 中国西南地区; 云南松; 体锥; 天然; 性状变异; 组成部分; 自然种群; 遗传多样性; China; Needle morphology; Cone morphology; Genetic diversity; Yunnan pine; Conservation
• ISSN: 1007-662X; 1993-0607
• DOI: 10.1007/s11676-015-0153-6

Pinus yunnanensis Franch. is a major component of coniferous forests in southwestern China. Little is known about its intraspecific variation. Morphological variations in needle and cone traits of P. yunnanensis were analyzed to quantify variability among and within natural populations. Seven traits were measured on 10 needles collected from 30 trees in each of the 18 sampled populations of P. yunna- nensis. Four cone traits were measured in 221 individual trees from nine populations. The results showed that there were significant differences （p 〈 0.01） both among popu- lations and within populations in each needle and cone trait. The proportion of phenotypic variation of nearly all needle and cone traits was over 50 % within populations, which showed trees within populations accounted for a majority of the total variation. The needle traits showed higher vari- ability within population than cone traits. Variability in theneedle traits was correlated with geo-climatic parameters （longitude, latitude, altitude, temperature, and precipitation）. Needle length and the ratio of needle length to fascicle sheath length showed clinal variation in response to latitudinal and altitudinal gradients. A hierarchical classification of all populations based on needle traits led to the formation of four major groups. The findings provide important genetic information for the evaluation of variation. Moreover, it will assist in management of genetic diversity of P. yunnanensis.