Abstract
The domestication of forest species has traditionally relied on productivity issues. However, today there are concerns about the potential responses of natural populations and new cultivars to extreme climatic conditions derived from climate change and how to incorporate this knowledge into the domestication programs. Aristotelia chilensis (Molina) Stuntz (‘Maqui’) is a widely distributed native species in Chile. Its berry is considered a “super fruit” with an increasing interest in the food industry. This study investigated the phenotypic variation of growth, fruit, and ecophysiological traits of 20 A. chilensis clones originated from six provenances along the latitudinal gradient and established in a common-garden experiment in the Mediterranean zone of central Chile (center part of the species distribution). Differences among provenances were observed for most of the traits under study, especially between the northern and southernmost provenances (i.e., San Fernando versus Entre Lagos). Northern provenances showed higher development of vegetative tissue and fruit yield but lower intrinsic water use efficiency (WUEint) compared with southern ones. Clonal variation within provenances was found significant for the ripening index, WUEint, and fruit number and weight but not significant for traits related to the crown and leaf morphology. A genetic differentiation due to latitudinal cline was not evident in this study, but differences among provenances suggest local adaptation for some traits. The genotypic variation in productive traits must be considered in the outgoing domestication of the species and future selection programs.
Highlights
The global consumption of fruits is increasing due to the higher awareness of their health benefits and nutritional values[1]
Regarding that climate conditions vary across the latitudinal gradient of the species distribution, we explored the question of What is the extent of genetic differentiation of fruit and ecophysiological traits between and within provenances of A. chilensis? The present study investigated the phenotypic variation of fruit, ecophysiological traits, and leaf traits of 20 A. chilensis clones from six provenances exhibiting latitudinal-related climate differences in Central Chile, and assessed in a 7-years old common-garden experiment
Aristotelia chilensis is distributed in a wide range of edaphoclimatic conditions in Chile and can be found from sclerophyllous to temperate rainforests
Summary
The global consumption of fruits is increasing due to the higher awareness of their health benefits and nutritional values[1]. Its soluble solids are higher than in other berries such as blueberries (Vaccinium corymbosum), pomegranates (Punica granatum), blackberries (Rubus fruticosus), raspberries (Rubus idaeus), and cranberries (Vaccinium oxycoccos)[9] They have the highest antioxidant content among the fruits currently traded worldwide[5]. Regarding that climate conditions vary across the latitudinal gradient of the species distribution, we explored the question of What is the extent of genetic differentiation of fruit and ecophysiological traits between and within provenances of A. chilensis? The present study investigated the phenotypic variation of fruit, ecophysiological traits, and leaf traits of 20 A. chilensis clones from six provenances exhibiting latitudinal-related climate differences in Central Chile, and assessed in a 7-years old common-garden experiment Regarding that climate conditions vary across the latitudinal gradient of the species distribution, we explored the question of What is the extent of genetic differentiation of fruit and ecophysiological traits between and within provenances of A. chilensis? The present study investigated the phenotypic variation of fruit, ecophysiological traits, and leaf traits of 20 A. chilensis clones from six provenances exhibiting latitudinal-related climate differences in Central Chile, and assessed in a 7-years old common-garden experiment
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