P498Adaptive Genetic Variation in Norway Spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst) to Climate Change
The main objective of this study is to investigate adaptive genetic variation in Norway spruce (Picea abies(L.) Karst) across the European Alps.
Current climatic predictions suggest temperature could rise 1.5-5.8°C in the next 100 years, significantly effect forest health. Temperature, precipitation and aridity are the most important climatic variables influencing local adaptation in forest trees. Norway spruce is known to be sensitive to increases in temperature and/or decrease of soil moisture. How climatic changes will affect Norway spruce forest is unclear, since it’s adaptive potential is not well understood.
The first step in the study will be to estimate the genetic diversity of Norway spruce by genotyping 384 single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) from natural populations across the Alps. The second step, we will investigate the correlation between climatic variables (temperature and/or precipitation) and genetic variation.
As the major outcome of this study, we expect to identify adaptive SNPs in genes that code for proteins likely affecting abiotic stress responses (response to drought, low temperature, heat stress etc.).
Title: A Sample Abstract Submission
Submitter's E-mail Address: icalic@ucdavis.edu