Abstract

Climatic changes impact fruit tree growth and severely limit their production. Investigating the tree ability to cope with environmental variations is thus necessary to adapt breeding and management strategies in order to ensure sustainable production. In this study, we assessed the genetic parameters and genotype by environment interaction (GxE) during the early tree growth. One hundred and twenty olive seedlings derived from the cross ‘Olivière’ x ‘Arbequina’ were examined across two sites with contrasted environments, accounting for ontogenetic trends over three years. Models including the year of growth, branching order, environment, genotype effects, and their interactions were built with variance function and covariance structure of residuals when necessary. After selection of a model, broad sense heritabilities were estimated. Despite strong environmental effect on most traits, no GxE was found. Moreover, the internal structure of traits co-variation was similar in both sites. Ontogenetic growth variation, related to (i) the overall tree form and (ii) the growth and branching habit at growth unit scale, was not altered by the environment. Finally, a moderate to strong genetic control was identified for traits at the whole tree scale and at internode scale. Among all studied traits, the maximal internode length exhibited the highest heritability (H2 = 0.74). Considering the determinant role of this trait in tree architecture and its stability across environments, this study consolidates its relevance for breeding.

Highlights

  • Plant architecture is determined by both the genotype and the environment [1]

  • We investigated the plasticity of the vegetative development during the first three years of tree establishment in the same F1 progeny observed at two contrasted sites taking into account the degree of differentiation of growth units during tree ontogeny

  • The mean internode length was deduced from the growth unit (GU) length and number of internodes (Mean IN_L = L/Nb_IN)

Read more

Summary

Introduction

Plant architecture is determined by both the genotype and the environment [1]. Considering the particular case of perennial species, plant structure is established by a succession of growth units which characteristics change during ontogeny [2]. Tree architecture is determined by genetic, environmental and ontogenetic factors and their interactions. Plasticity in Vegetative Growth over Contrasted Sites of Olive Tree study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

Objectives
Methods
Conclusion
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call