Climate-driven local adaptation of ecophysiology and phenology in balsam poplar, Populus balsamifera
 L. (Salicaceae)

ABSTRACTA central challenge to predicting climate change effects on biodiversity is integrating information on intraspecific variation, specifically population-level local adaptation to climate. Assessing how climate change could disrupt local adaptation to climate can provide a new way of understanding population risk and vulnerability to climate change. For the wide-ranging boreal tree species, balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.), we used models of existing population-level genetic differentiation to estimate three key components of population’s vulnerability to climate change: (1) predicted shifts in genetic composition with and without migration, (2) the potential for future novel gene-climate associations, and (3) the distance populations would need to migrate to minimize future maladaptation. When assessed across the range of balsam poplar, these three metrics suggest that vulnerability to climate change is greatest in the eastern portion of balsam poplar’s range, where future maladaptation peaked, migration distances to sites that minimized maladaptation were greatest, and the emergence of novel gene-climate associations were highest. Our results further suggest greater maladaptation to climate when migration distances were limited – consistent with the possibility of migration to lessen maladaptation to future climate. Our work provides a comprehensive evaluation of population’s vulnerability to climate change by simultaneously assessing population maladaptation to future climate and the distances populations would need to migrate to minimize maladaptation, in a way that goes beyond species-level bioclimatic modelling. In doing so, our work helps advance towards the long-held goal of incorporating genomic information in models of species responses to climate change.

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Local Adaptation in the Flowering-Time Gene Network of Balsam Poplar, Populus balsamifera L.

Molecular Biology and Evolution ◽

10.1093/molbev/mss121 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 29 (10) ◽

pp. 3143-3152 ◽

Cited By ~ 91

Author(s):

S. R. Keller ◽

N. Levsen ◽

M. S. Olson ◽

P. Tiffin

Keyword(s):

Flowering Time ◽

Local Adaptation ◽

Gene Network ◽

Populus Balsamifera ◽

Balsam Poplar ◽

Flowering Time Gene

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Effects of balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) tannins and low molecular weight phenolics on microbial activity in taiga floodplain soil: implications for changes in N cycling during succession

Canadian Journal of Botany ◽

10.1139/b96-012 ◽

1996 ◽

Vol 74 (1) ◽

pp. 84-90 ◽

Cited By ~ 129

Author(s):

Joshua P. Schimel ◽

Keith Van Cleve ◽

Rex G. Cates ◽

Thomas P. Clausen ◽

Paul B. Reichardt

Keyword(s):

Molecular Weight ◽

Secondary Compounds ◽

N Cycling ◽

Low Molecular Weight ◽

N Fixation ◽

N Availability ◽

Populus Balsamifera ◽

Floodplain Soil ◽

Balsam Poplar ◽

River Floodplains

The transition from alder (Alnus tenuifolia) to balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera) is a critical turning point in primary succession on river floodplains in interior Alaska. Associated with the change in plant species are large changes in N cycling. N-fixation and nitrification decrease and the system becomes N-limited, with NH4+ dominating the inorganic N pool. Balsam poplar leaves contain large quantities of tannins and low molecular weight phenolic compounds. We evaluated the effect of these compounds on microbial respiration and N cycling in laboratory assays on soils from an alder-dominated site. Plant compounds were purified and applied to silica gel as an inert carrier. Both tannins and phenolics caused net N-immobilization over a 30-day assay. However, tannins inhibited respiration while phenolics stimulated it. There were no specific effects on nitrification. Thus, tannins acted as a general microbial inhibitor, while phenolics acted as a growth substrate. By inhibiting mineralization while stimulating immobilization, poplar secondary compounds may reduce soil N-availability during the transition betwen alder and poplar stages in succession. Keywords: respiration, mineralization, tannins, secondary chemicals, succession, plant–microbe interactions.

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Foliar Penetration of Picloram and 2,4-D in Aspen and Balsam Poplar

Weed Science ◽

10.1017/s0043174500077341 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 18 (1) ◽

pp. 57-63 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

M. P. Sharma ◽

W. H. Vanden Born

Keyword(s):

Relative Humidity ◽

Populus Tremuloides ◽

High Relative Humidity ◽

Populus Balsamifera ◽

Cuticular Waxes ◽

Adaxial Surface ◽

Balsam Poplar ◽

Detached Leaves ◽

Young Leaves ◽

Dichlorophenoxy Acetic Acid

Added surfactant (Atlox 210) at 1% (v/v) and high relative humidity enhanced the penetration of both 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) and (2,4-dichlorophenoxy)acetic acid (2,4-D) into detached leaves of aspen poplar (Populus tremuloides Michx.). The influence of added surfactant was greater for picloram and the dimethylamine of 2,4-D than for the ethyl or butoxyethanol ester of 2,4-D. Penetration of picloram and the dimethylamine of 2,4-D occurred more readily from the abaxial than from adaxial surfaces of leaves. The ethyl ester of 2,4-D penetrated equally readily from both leaf surfaces. Penetration of picloram and the dimethylamine of 2,4-D from the adaxial surface of leaves occurred readily in young leaves in early June. There was an increase in penetration in early July followed by a decrease in August and September to a level equal to or less than that in June. Penetration from the abaxial surface of leaves was nearly equal in June and July, but there was a gradual decrease in August and September. An increase in temperature from 10 to 25.5 or to 40.5 C resulted in a sharp increase in penetration of both picloram and 2,4-D under both low and high relative humidity. Autoradiographic evidence showed that movement of picloram within the leaf also was much more extensive at the higher temperatures. Partial removal of cuticular waxes from the adaxial surface of leaves with chloroform resulted in up to four-fold increases in penetration of picloram and 2,4-D. Differences in penetration rate of picloram between leaves of aspen poplar and balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.) did not account for reported differences in susceptibility between these two species.

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Contemporary range position predicts the range‐wide pattern of genetic diversity in balsam poplar ( Populus balsamifera L.)

Journal of Biogeography ◽

10.1111/jbi.13811 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 47 (6) ◽

pp. 1246-1257 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Andrew V. Gougherty ◽

Vikram E. Chhatre ◽

Stephen R. Keller ◽

Matthew C. Fitzpatrick

Keyword(s):

Genetic Diversity ◽

Populus Balsamifera ◽

Balsam Poplar

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Hormones and Heterosis in Hybrid Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifera L.)

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10020143 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 10 (2) ◽

pp. 143 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Yue Hu ◽

Barb Thomas

Keyword(s):

Growth Performance ◽

Growth Traits ◽

Block Design ◽

Field Trials ◽

Stem Volume ◽

Hybrid Vigour ◽

Populus Balsamifera ◽

Balsam Poplar ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Cross Type

Balsam poplar (Populus balsamifera L.) is a transcontinental tree species in North America, making it an ideal species to study intra-specific hybrid vigour as a tool for increasing genetic gain in growth. We tested the hypothesis that intra-specific breeding of disparate populations of balsam poplar would lead to the expression of hybrid vigour and we determined the role of endogenous hormones linked to ecophysiological and growth performance. In September 2009, three field trials were established in Canada (two in Alberta (AB), i.e., Fields AB1 and AB2, and one in Quebec (QC), i.e., Field QC1) in conjunction with Alberta-Pacific Forest Industries Inc. and the Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks, Quebec. Five male parents from each province as well as five female parents from QC and four female parents from AB were used for breeding intra-regional and inter-regional crosses. Based on a significant difference at year six for height and diameter, from the AB1 and AB2 field trials, the AB × QC cross-type was selected for further study. Cuttings from the AB × QC cross-type were grown in a randomized complete block design under near-optimal greenhouse conditions. Families were identified as slow- or fast-growing, and the relationship between hormone levels and growth performance of the genotypes within the families were examined. In late June, after 34 days of growth, internode tissue samples collected from each progeny were analyzed for gibberellic acids, indole-3-acetic acid, and abscisic acid content. Stem volume of two-month-old rooted cuttings, grown under optimal greenhouse conditions, was positively and significantly correlated with the photosynthetic rate, greenhouse growth, and stem volume of 8-year-old field-grown trees (Fields AB1 values: r = 0.629 and p = 0.012; AB2 values: r = 0.619 and p = 0.014, and QC1 values: r = 0.588 and p = 0.021, respectively). We determined that disparate and native populations of balsam poplar can be bred to produce superior progeny with enhanced stem growth traits.

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