Chilling and forcing requirements for foliage bud burst of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) differ between provenances and are phenotypically plastic

TY - JOUR

T1 - Chilling and forcing requirements for foliage bud burst of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) differ between provenances and are phenotypically plastic

AU - Kramer, Koen

AU - Ducousso, Alexis

AU - Gömöry, Dušan

AU - Hansen, Jon Kehlet

AU - Ionita, Lucia

AU - Liesebach, Mirko

AU - Lorenţ, Adrian

AU - Schüler, Silvio

AU - Sulkowska, Malgorzata

AU - de Vries, Sven

AU - von Wühlisch, Georg

PY - 2017/3/15

Y1 - 2017/3/15

N2 - Abstract The timing of foliar budburst is an important component of the fitness of trees. Adaptation of budburst to local temperatures and phenotypic plasticity in the date of budburst to changes in temperature can therefore be expected. In this study, we analysed provenance trials of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) established over a wide geographic and climatic range in Europe. The analysis was based on a phenological model that represents the key processes at budburst phenology of temperate- and boreal zone deciduous trees. We conclude that adaptive differences exist between provenances in the critical chilling- and forcing requirements triggering budburst. Moreover, it is likely that these provenances show a plastic response to local environmental conditions for these two factors. Chilling- and forcing temperature requirements are key traits determining a tree’s response of the date of foliar budburst to temperature. We infer from our results that trees would be able to adjust this response when climatic conditions change. Implications for climate change assessment studies and suggestions to incorporate this second order phenotypic plasticity in phenological models are discussed.

AB - Abstract The timing of foliar budburst is an important component of the fitness of trees. Adaptation of budburst to local temperatures and phenotypic plasticity in the date of budburst to changes in temperature can therefore be expected. In this study, we analysed provenance trials of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) established over a wide geographic and climatic range in Europe. The analysis was based on a phenological model that represents the key processes at budburst phenology of temperate- and boreal zone deciduous trees. We conclude that adaptive differences exist between provenances in the critical chilling- and forcing requirements triggering budburst. Moreover, it is likely that these provenances show a plastic response to local environmental conditions for these two factors. Chilling- and forcing temperature requirements are key traits determining a tree’s response of the date of foliar budburst to temperature. We infer from our results that trees would be able to adjust this response when climatic conditions change. Implications for climate change assessment studies and suggestions to incorporate this second order phenotypic plasticity in phenological models are discussed.

KW - Phenology

KW - Phenotypic plasticity

KW - Budburst

KW - Provenance trials

KW - European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)

U2 - 10.1016/j.agrformet.2016.12.002

DO - 10.1016/j.agrformet.2016.12.002

M3 - Tidsskriftartikel

SN - 0168-1923

VL - 234–235

SP - 172

EP - 181

JO - Agricultural and Forest Meteorology

JF - Agricultural and Forest Meteorology

ER -