title: Functional and genetic characterization of gas exchange and intrinsic water use efficiency in a full-sib family of Pinus pinaster Ait. in response to drought.
abstract: Drought is an important environmental factor in Mediterranean ecosystems affecting seedling recruitment, productivity or susceptibility to fires and pathogens. Studying water use efficiency in these environments is crucial due to its adaptive value allowing trees to cope with low water availability. We studied the phenotypic variability and genetic control of intrinsic water use efficiency (WUE(i)) and related traits in a full-sib family of Pinus pinaster under drought imposition. We detected significant differences in WUE(i) between clones of the same family and moderate heritability estimates that indicate some degree of genetic control over this trait. Stomatal conductance to water vapor was the trait most affected by drought imposition and it showed the strongest influence in WUE(i). Stomatal conductance to water vapor and specific leaf area (SLA) were the traits with highest heritabilities and they showed a significant genetic correlation with WUE(i), suggesting that selection of needles with low SLA values will improve WUE(i) in this species by reducing water losses through stomatal control.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación Forestal, Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Tecnología Agraria y Alimentaria, Carretera de La Coruña, Km. 7.5, 28040 Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Miguel
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Gómez
authors.forename: María Teresa
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Cervera
authors.forename: Ismael
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aranda
mesh_terms: D020090:Chromosome Segregation / Q000235:genetics; D055864:Droughts; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005740:Gases / Q000378:metabolism*; D040582:Inheritance Patterns / Q000235:genetics; D016014:Linear Models; D028223:Pinus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000502:physiology*; D019655:Quantitative Trait, Heritable; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014867:Water / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D005740:Gases; D014867:Water