Adaptive variation for growth and resistance to a novel pathogen along climatic gradients in a foundation tree

dc.contributor.authorAhrens, Collin W.
dc.contributor.authorMazanec, Richard A.
dc.contributor.authorPaap, Trudy
dc.contributor.authorRuthrof, Katinka X.
dc.contributor.authorChallis, Anthea
dc.contributor.authorHardy, Giles E. St. J.
dc.contributor.authorByrne, Margaret
dc.contributor.authorTissue, David T.
dc.contributor.authorRymer, Paul D.
dc.date.accessioned2020-08-15T06:46:54Z
dc.date.available2020-08-15T06:46:54Z
dc.date.issued2019-07
dc.description.abstractNatural ecosystems are under pressure from increasing abiotic and biotic stressors, including climate change and novel pathogens, which are putting species at risk of local extinction, and altering community structure, composition and function. Here, we aim to assess adaptive variation in growth and fungal disease resistance within a foundation tree, Corymbia calophylla to determine local adaptation, trait heritability and genetic constraints in adapting to future environments. Two experimental planting sites were established in regions of contrasting rainfall with seed families from 18 populations capturing a wide range of climate origins (~4,000 individuals at each site). Every individual was measured in 2015 and 2016 for growth (height, basal diameter) and disease resistance to a recently introduced leaf blight pathogen (Quambalaria pitereka). Narrow‐sense heritability was estimated along with trait covariation. Trait variation was regressed against climate‐of‐origin, and multivariate models were used to develop predictive maps of growth and disease resistance. Growth and blight resistance traits differed significantly among populations, and these differences were consistent between experimental sites and sampling years. Growth and blight resistance were heritable, and comparisons between trait differentiation (QST) and genetic differentiation (FST) revealed that population differences in height and blight resistance traits are due to divergent natural selection. Traits were significantly correlated with climate‐of‐origin, with cool and wet populations showing the highest levels of growth and blight resistance. These results provide evidence that plants have adaptive growth strategies and pathogen defence strategies. Indeed, the presence of standing genetic variation and trait heritability of growth and blight resistance provide capacity to respond to novel, external pressures. The integration of genetic variation into adaptive management strategies, such as assisted gene migration and seed sourcing, may be used to provide greater resilience for natural ecosystems to both biotic and abiotic stressors.en_ZA
dc.description.departmentForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)en_ZA
dc.description.departmentMicrobiology and Plant Pathologyen_ZA
dc.description.librarianam2020en_ZA
dc.description.sponsorshipThe Australian Research Council (LP120200581 for support in establishing the provenance trials and LP150100936 for support of the current study), Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation, and Attractions, Alcoa Australia, Cape to Cape Catchment Group, and Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment at Western Sydney University.en_ZA
dc.description.urihttp://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/evaen_ZA
dc.identifier.citationAhrens CW, Mazanec RA, Paap T, et al. Adaptive variation for growth and resistance to a novel pathogen along climatic gradients in a foundation tree. Evolutionary Applications 2019;12:1178–1190. https://DOI.org/ 10.1111/eva.12796.en_ZA
dc.identifier.issn1752-4563 (print)
dc.identifier.issn1752-4571 (online)
dc.identifier.other10.1111/eva.12796
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/2263/75758
dc.language.isoenen_ZA
dc.publisherWiley Open Accessen_ZA
dc.rights© 2019 The Authors. Evolutionary Applications published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License.en_ZA
dc.subjectAdaptive capacityen_ZA
dc.subjectEucalyptus sensu latoen_ZA
dc.subjectHeritabilityen_ZA
dc.subjectQuambalaria shoot blighten_ZA
dc.subjectStanding genetic variationen_ZA
dc.subjectTrait evolutionen_ZA
dc.titleAdaptive variation for growth and resistance to a novel pathogen along climatic gradients in a foundation treeen_ZA
dc.typeArticleen_ZA

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