title: Phenogenetic response of silver birch populations and half-sib families to elevated ozone and ultraviolet-B radiation at juvenile age.
abstract: Phenogenetic response of silver birch populations and half-sib families to separate and combined elevated ozone (O(3)) concentrations and ultraviolet-B (UV-B) radiation dozes was studied at juvenile age in the climatic chambers. Significant population and family effects were found for seedling height, lamina width, and leaf damage. The exposure to UV-B radiation decreased genetic variation at the stage of seed germination. Complex exposure to UV-B and O(3) caused an increase of genetic variation at the stage of intensive seedling growth: seedling height genetic variation in separate treatments increased from 23.7-38.6 to 33.7-65.7%, the increase for lamina width was from 10.2-13.9 to 13.6-31.8%. Different populations and families demonstrated differing response to elevated complex UV-B and O(3) exposure. Changes of genetic intra-population variation were population-specific. Such changes in genetic variation under the impact of stressors can alter adaptation, stability, and competitive ability of regenerating populations in a hardly predictive way.
authors.affiliation: Lithuanian Forest Research Institute, Department of Tree Genetics and Breeding, Liepu 1, Girionys LT-53101, Kaunas District, Lithuania. genetsk@mi.lt
authors.forename: Alfas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pliura
authors.forename: Asta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baliuckiene
authors.forename: Virgilijus
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Baliuckas
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029662:Betula / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D014644:Genetic Variation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D008954:Models, Biological; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010126:Ozone / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010641:Phenotype; D018515:Plant Leaves / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D036226:Seedlings / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000528:radiation effects; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D010083:Oxidants, Photochemical; D010126:Ozone