JOURNAL OF NANJING FORESTRY UNIVERSITY ›› 2022, Vol. 46 ›› Issue (5): 40-48.doi: 10.12302/j.issn.1000-2006.202104031

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Phenotypic traits differentiations and classifications of the F1 hybrid progenies of Populus deltoides × P. cathayana at the seedling stage

ZHANG Qingyuan1(), TIAN Ye1,*(), WANG Miao2, ZHAI Zheng1, ZHOU Shichao1   

  1. 1. Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, College of Forestry, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
    2. Bancheng-Malanghu Forest Farm, Sihong 223900, China
  • Received:2021-04-21 Revised:2021-08-22 Online:2022-09-30 Published:2022-10-19
  • Contact: TIAN Ye E-mail:2474644402@qq.com;tianyes@hotmail.com;tianye@njfu.edu.cn

Abstract:

【Objective】 The variations in growth and phenotypic traits of the F1 hybrid progenies of Populus deltoides ‘Lux’ × P. cathayana were investigated at the cutting-seedling stage to interpret their biological and ecological significance, and to classify the F1 hybrid clones in order to evaluate the resistance of clones and their target uses comprehensively. The results can provide basic information for matching suitable poplar clones with afforestation sites under the background of climate change such as frequent drought. 【Method】 Using the cuttings with one-year stem and three-year root of 36 F1 hybrid progenies in Bancheng-Malanghu Forest Farm of Sihong City, Jiangsu Province, 17 traits on seedling growth, leaf morphology, stomatal properties, and lateral branching characteristics were investigated and the variations of each trait were analyzed. Based on the trait variations, the 36 hybrid clones were categorized and evaluated for potential use on afforestation selection on different sites. 【Result】 The 36 F1 hybrid progeny showed a significant variation on growth and phenotypic traits, expressing continuous normal distributions for each trait in general. Among all the traits, the number of lateral branches and the germination ratio of lateral buds showed the largest coefficients of variations as 102.0% and 93.5%, respectively. A correlation analysis showed that the traits related to growth were positively correlated with those related to leaf morphology and branching characteristics significantly; however, no significant correlation was found with stomatal properties. The single leaf area and dry mass were negatively correlated with the leaf length-to-width ratio, and positively correlated with the upper-to-lower ratio of leaf stomatal density significantly. The leaf length-to-width ratio was also negatively correlated with the relative length of petiole (the ratio of petiole length to leaf length) and the upper-to-lower ratio of leaf stomatal density significantly. Single leaf area and dry mass showed a constant scaling relation for all the 36 clones, with an allometric index of 1.007 4, which was not related to branching characteristics. Using a principal component analysis, the 36 F1 hybrid clones were classified into eight categories with specific properties on growth, branching and potential drought resistance. 【Conclusion】The F1 hybrid progenies of P. deltoides × P. cathayana have abundant variations in growth and phenotypic traits, which provides phenotype-function information for clone choice for afforestation under changing climate and site conditions at an early stage. The four clones in category Ⅳ have highest growth performances, few lateral branches, and phenotypic traits such as leaf morphology and stomatal characteristics that show drought tolerance, and are suitable for further adaptive afforestation experiments in arid plains or mountainous areas.

Key words: southern type poplar, hybrid progeny, phenotypic traits, leaf morphology, allometric scaling analysis, branching characteristics, stomatal density

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