Studio della risposta adattativa in Fagus sylvatica lungo un transetto altitudinale negli Appennini e nei Balcani

Responsabili di progetto

Giovannigiuseppe Vendramin, Jelena Lazarevic

Accordo

MONTENEGRO - MoS-not in force - Ministero della Scienza del Montenegro

Bando

CNR/MoS biennio 2019-2020 2019-2020

Dipartimento

Scienze bio-agroalimentari

Area tematica

Scienze bio-agroalimentari

Stato del progetto

Nuovo

Proposta di ricerca

The Apennines and the Balkans are considered as major refugial areas during past glacial cycles. From the analysis of biogeographic literature it is particularly evident how these Mediterranean refugial areas have been scarcely represented in genetic and palaeobotanical large-scale surveys. Nonetheless, for several Mediterranean species it has been demonstrated how most of genetic variation and adaptive potential is concentrated in southern populations. It is therefore urgent the genetic characterization of tree populations in this region.
One of the most pressing research objective of conservation biology to prevent and mitigate natural risks at the ecosystem level is to estimate the adaptive potential of forest trees, upon which most ecosystems tightly depend. To implement conservation strategies under global change scenario, it will be crucial to study local adaptations at the rear edge of tree species' distribution. Fagus sylvatica L. is present on Mediterranean mountains in Montenegro and in Italy and could be considered a good model species for the study of local adaptations to changing climatic conditions. In addition, according to the predictions of species' distribution models, beech is expected to shift its distribution range by several hundred meters per year, in order to face the rapid environmental changes. Nevertheless, its future distribution and probability to adapt locally will depend also on existing patterns of adaptive genetic variation, not accounted for in species distribution models.
Candidate gene approaches represent a good method to estimate the level and the structure of adaptive genetic variation in species with large genomes, like forest trees. This approach characterizes the genetic variation directly at genes coding for adaptive traits. Recent research on Fagus sylvatica demonstrated that the most relevant adaptive traits potentially related to climate changes are the timing of phenological events (budburst or bud set) and the one related to drought.
Therefore, our research proposal aims at reinforcing the collaboration between CNR and Montenegro, studying a set of highly polimorphic candidate genes in beech populations along altitudinal transects replicated both in the Balkans and in the Apennines. Candidate genes primers already optimized in F. sylvatica can provide a solid starting point.

Obiettivi della ricerca

The scope of this project is to strengthen the cooperation of Montenegro and Italy developed by the previous projects: "Tree fragmented populations from refugial areas: the anfiadriatic connection" and "Adaptive responses to drought in Pinus heldreichii along altitudinal transects in the Apennines and the Balkans" in thearea of implementing forest trees conservation strategies under a global change scenario.
The major aims are:
- to carry out a genetic characterization of F. sylvatica rear edge populations in Montenegro and Italy;
- to compare rear edge populations with F. sylvatica populations from other areas to provide an estimation of the divergence time and historical rates of gene flow;
- to study local adaptation searching for the signature of selection in a group of stress related candidate genes.
This project aims to provide well-grounded evidence describing how genotypes and phenotypes that persist under different selective pressures along altitudinal transects are linked in natural populations. Hence, the outcomes of the project will serve as a basis for the development of suitable strategies to improve adaptability and resilience of declining forest genetic resources at local and national scale.

Ultimo aggiornamento: 03/12/2024