Using among-year variation to assess maternal effects in Pinus aristata and Pinus flexilis

Botany ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 92 (11) ◽  
pp. 805-814 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin M. Borgman ◽  
Anna W. Schoettle ◽  
Amy L. Angert

Maternal effects, the effect of the maternal environment during development on offspring growth, can complicate the interpretation of common garden studies. Growing one or more generations in a common environment can help minimize maternal effects, but is often not practical with long-lived species. In Pinus aristata Engelm. and Pinus flexilis James, we assessed maternal effects by growing offspring sourced over multiple years from the same mother trees, comparing growth traits between source years. Additionally, we explored the effect of maternal environment on seed characteristics by collecting five twig clippings from each mother tree and measuring characteristics indicative of the relative vigor of the tree during each seed source year. The effect of year was significant for twig growth characteristics, seed size, and seedling performance. For both species, there were significant relationships between the relative inter-annual (RIA) variation in seed mass and the RIA variation in numerous seedling traits including cotyledon length, seedling total dry mass, and needle length. Variation in seed mass was not predicted by yearly variation in the maternal plant’s phenotypic traits. These results support the hypothesis that maternal effects translate into variation in early seedling growth and suggest possibilities to statistically account for them in common garden studies involving long-lived species.

1979 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 121-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. Friars ◽  
J. K. Bailey ◽  
R. L. Saunders

Inferences derived from a proposed mixed model analysis of a diallel cross involving four stocks of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) are illustrated with growth data on weight and length. Variation between stocks was more apparent when samples represented dams as opposed to sires, thus stressing the relative importance of maternal effects. However, the ranking of stocks was not altered when either the means of sire sources or the means of dam sources were considered. No heterotic effects were found for the growth traits studied.


2016 ◽  
Vol 65 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-82 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.K. Pagliarini ◽  
W.S. Kieras ◽  
J.P. Moreira ◽  
V.A. Sousa ◽  
J.Y. Shimizu ◽  
...  

AbstractThe study was conducted to estimate the stability, adaptability, productivity and genetic parameters in Slash pine second-generation half-sib families, considering phenotypic traits in early age. Forty-four families from a first generation seed orchard in Colombo-PR, Brazil, were used in this study. Two progenies tests were established in a randomized complete block design. The first test was implemented in March 2009 in Ribeirão Branco, São Paulo state, containing 40 blocks, one tree per plot, 44 treatments (progenies) and 6 controls. Another test was implemented in Ponta Grossa, Paraná state, using the same experimental design and number of plants per plot, and with 24 treatments, 32 blocks. The growth traits evaluated were total height, diameter at breast height (dbh) and wood volume, within five years. The form traits evaluated were stem form, branch thickness, branch angle, number of branches, fork and fox tail five years after planting. Deviance analysis and estimates of stability, adaptability, productivity and genetic parameters were performed using the methods of best linear unbiased predictor (BLUP) and residual maximum likelihood (REML). There was significant variation among progenies for growth and form traits. Considerable genetic variation was detected mainly for wood volume. High coefficients of genetic variation and heritability showed low environmental influence on phenotypic variation, which is important for the prediction of genetic gain by selection. Crosses between different progenies individuals groups will be prioritized for obtaining heterotics genotypes and increase the probability of obtaining high specific combining ability.


1993 ◽  
Vol 34 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 57-70 ◽  
Author(s):  
D.F. Waldron ◽  
C.A. Morris ◽  
R.L. Baker ◽  
D.L. Johnson

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunshi Li ◽  
Xiukun Wu ◽  
Tuo Chen ◽  
Wanfu Wang ◽  
Guangxiu Liu ◽  
...  

1992 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
pp. 25-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. L. Cherry ◽  
D. T. Lester

Abstract Genetic variation in several traits of Alaska-cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis) was measured in progeny from seven coastal B.C. provenances, each represented by three open-pollinated families. The common-garden nursery trial also included one provenance of Port-Orford cedar (Chamaecyparis lawsoniana). Growth traits and frost hardiness were measured at the end of the first growing season, and morphological traits after the second year. Provenances varied in percentage germination, shoot dry weight, shoot to root dry weight ratio, number of lateral branches per stem, and cold injury to a minimum temperature of -20°C in December. Families differed in height, root collar diameter, and in the number of nodes of primary foliage. Port-Orford cedar exhibited much greater height, stem caliper, and dry weight than any Alaska-cedar provenance, but was more susceptible to frost damage. West. J. Appl. For. 7(1):25-29.


2001 ◽  
Vol 58 (7) ◽  
pp. 1477-1487 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher J Heyer ◽  
Thomas J Miller ◽  
Fred P Binkowski ◽  
Elaine M Caldarone ◽  
James A Rice

Changes that occurred in the distribution of adult Lake Michigan yellow perch (Perca flavescens) phenotypic traits suggest that maternal effects on larval traits may be substantially influencing the recruitment of this heavily exploited species. We investigated maternal effects on yellow perch larvae at hatching in 10 maternal lines to test the null hypothesis of no effect of maternal phenotype on offspring phenotype and condition. Analyses lead to a rejection of the null hypothesis and indicated that the observed maternal effects likely resulted from differences among females in size, age, gonadosomatic index, and egg production. The observed maternal effects were expressed in the offspring by differences in larval total length, yolk volume, dry weight, and DNA quantity. Older, larger females were found to have high fecundity, yet low gonadosomatic index. Furthermore, older, larger females produced offspring that were, on average, short with large yolk sacs and high quantities of body reserves, as measured by dry weight and total DNA content. We conclude that the distribution of Lake Michigan yellow perch larval traits at hatching is linked to maternal influences and that this linkage may provide a mechanism through which managers can help rebuild the population.


2012 ◽  
Vol 104 (1-3) ◽  
pp. 62-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.A. Abbasi ◽  
R. Abdollahi-Arpanahi ◽  
A. Maghsoudi ◽  
R. Vaez Torshizi ◽  
A. Nejati-Javaremi

1996 ◽  
Vol 74 (9) ◽  
pp. 1461-1475 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kenneth A. Barrick ◽  
Anna W. Schoettle

We tested the hypothesis of nutrient limitation in the trees of the alpine forest – tundra ecotone by comparing the foliar nutrient status of windsculpted elfinwood (also called krummholz) growing at the upper limit of tree success with symmetrically formed toll trees growing at the nearby timberline. The species investigated included Picea engelmannii (Parry) Engelmann, Abies lasiocarpa (Hooker) Nuttall, pinus flexilis james, and Pinus aristata Bailey. The foliar nutrient concentrations of the ecotone trees were similar to other healthy montane forests. Most of the significant differences in mean foliar nutrient concentrations between elfinwood and tall trees indicate lower concentrations in elfinwood trees. We found significantly lower mean phosphorus concentrations in Picea engelmannii and Abies lasiocarpa elfinwood compared with tall trees, but the mean nitrogen–phosphorus ratios were within the normal range. The foliar nutrient status of Pinus aristata elfinwood was similar to tall trees, while Pinus flexilis had considerably more significant differences in nutrient concentrations between the tree forms. Although there are many theoretical processes that could cause nutrient deficiencies at treeline, this study suggests that the elfinwood along the Colorado Front Range is not currently nutrient deficient. We discuss the potential differences in nutrient ecology between elfinwood and tall trees. Keywords: foliar nutrients, alpine ecotone, treeline, elfinwood, krummholz, conifer.


1998 ◽  
Vol 66 (2) ◽  
pp. 349-355 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Diop ◽  
L. D. Van Vleck

AbstractEstimates of (co)variance components and genetic parameters were obtained for birth (no. = 3909), weaning (no. = 3425), yearling (no. = 2763), and final weight (no. = 2142) for Gobra cattle at the Centre de Recherches Zootechniques de Dahra (Senegal), using single trait animal models. Data were analysed by restricted maximum likelihood. Four different animal models were fitted for each trait. Model 1 considered the animal as the only random effect. Model 2 included in addition to the additive direct effect of the animal, the environmental effect due to the dam. Model 3 added the maternal additive genetic effects and allowed a covariance between the direct and maternal genetic effects. Model 4 fitted both maternal genetic and permanent environmental effects. Inclusion of both types of maternal effects (genetic and environmental) provided a better fit for birth and weaning weights than models with one maternal effect only. For yearling and final weights, the improvement was not significant. Important maternal effects werefound for all traits. Estimates of direct heritabilities were substantially higher when maternal effects were ignored. Estimates of direct and maternal heritabilities with model 4 were 0·07 (s.e. 0·03) and 0·04 (s.e. 0·02), 0·20 (s.e. 0·05) and 0·21 (s.e. 0.05), 0·24 (s.e. 0·07) and 0·21 (s.e. 0·06), and 0·14 (s.e. 0·06) and 0.16 (s.e. 0·06) for birth, weaning, yearling and final weights, respectively. Correlations between direct and maternal genetic effects were negative for all traits, and large for weaning and yearling weights with estimates of -0·61 (s.e. 0·33) and -0·50 (s.e. 0·31), respectively. There was a significant positive linear phenotypic trend for weaning and yearling weights. Linear trends for additive direct and maternal breeding values were not significant for any trait except maternal breeding value for yearling weight.


2018 ◽  
Vol 151 (3) ◽  
pp. 293-302 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael R. Sekor ◽  
Steven J. Franks

Background and aims – Introduced populations can potentially experience strong selection and rapid evolution. While some retrospective studies have shown rapid evolution in introduced populations in the past, few have directly tested for and characterized evolution as it occurs. Here we use an experimental introduction to directly observe and quantify evolution of multiple traits in a plant population introduced to a novel environment. Methods – We experimentally introduced seeds of the annual plant Brassica rapa L. (Brassicaceae) from a location in southern California into multiple replicated plots in New York. We allowed the populations to naturally evolve for 3 years. Following the resurrection approach, we compared ancestors and descendants planted in common garden conditions in New York in multiple phenotypic traits. Key results – Within only three generations, there was significant evolution of several morphological, phenological, and fitness traits, as well as substantial variation among traits. Despite selection for larger size during the three years following introduction, there was evolution of smaller size, earlier flowering time, and shorter duration of flowering. Although there were rapid evolutionary changes in traits, descendants did not have greater fitness than ancestors in New York, indicating a lack of evidence for adaptive evolution, at least over the timeframe of the study. Conclusions – This study found rapid evolution of several morphological and phenological traits, including smaller plant size and shorter time to flowering, following introduction, confirming that evolution can rapidly occur during the early stages of colonization. Many traits evolved in the opposite direction predicted from phenotypic selection analysis, which suggests that the resurrection approach can reveal unanticipated evolutionary changes and can be very useful for studying contemporary evolution.


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