Forest decline index and genetic variability in Picea abies (L.) KARST

• Published in: Forest Genetics (Zvolen) Vol. 1; no. 1
• Main Authors: Raddi, S, Stefanini, F.M, Camussi, A, Giannini, R. (Florence Univ., Florence (Italy). Inst. of Silviculture)
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 1994
• Subjects: PATHOLOGIE FORESTIERE; PATOLOGIA FORESTAL; PICEA ABIES; VARIACION GENETICA; VARIATION GENETIQUE
• ISSN: 1335-048X

In different locations in the Northern Italian Alps, 197 pairs of Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) KARST) plants were sampled. Within each pair, plants showed from tolerant (EEC defoliation classes 0 and 1) to sensitive (defoliation classes 2 and 3) reactions to "new type" damages. This structured sampling produced a random association between genotype and environment. Plants were characterised by 18 isozymatic markers, in order to verify whether the subset of trees with a high level of tolerance is characterised by a different genetic structure compared to the sensitive one. Estimates of genetic parameters differed slightly between tolerant and sensitive subsets, suggesting that the tolerance is linked to overall genetic variability. A logistic regression procedure was used to estimate possible association between multilocus genetics profiles of individual plants and their belonging to tolerant or sensitive classes. Four genetic loci (Lap-B, Pgm-B, Pgi-B and Mnr-B) showed a significant contribution, although with reduced predictive ability.