Objective
Background :
Drought is a crucial factor for the survival and growth of trees, especially in the
Mediterranean area of Europe. In the recent decades forest decline in several forest tree species has been attributed to recurrent drought occurence. Improved adaptation of forest trees is important both for improved growth and because of the danger of climate change (it is likely that plant communities will, in addition to enhanced temperature, have to face more severe drought conditions in the future).
The objective is : to provide the ecophysiological and genetic base for improved drought adaptation of some major European forest tree species.
Short description of the project :
The project deals with the water-use efficiency and drought tolerance in maritime pine, Scots pine, Eucalyptus and Chestnut. A new method using the carbon isotope
discrimination is used to analyse the inter-and intra specific variation, the molecular and physiological bases of water-use efficiency ("Delta"), growth and drought tolerance. Quantitative genetic parameters such as juvenile-mature correlations for "Delta" will be calculated using trees from both open pollination and controlled pollination . Genetic markers and early selection criteria for effective selection will be found. The main result will be the establishment of a marker assisted selection for drought tolerance.
Funding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contracts
Coordinator
54280 Champenoux
France
Participants (5)
33611 Gazinet
05010 Canale
750 07 Uppsala
28040 Madrid
1399 Lisboa