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Aridity promotes differences in proline and phytohormone levels in Pinus pinaster populations from contrasting environments

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Abstract

We analysed proline, abscisic acid, (ABA), jasmonic acid (JA), indole acetic acid (IAA) and salicylic acid (SA) accumulation after summer drought at two Pinus pinaster provenance-progeny trial sites. The aim of the study was to evaluate P. pinaster phenotypic plasticity and intraspecific variation in the endogenous concentrations of these metabolites and to determine the best stress indicators for family and population discrimination. The environmental effect was remarkable, as striking differences between the sites were obtained for all indicators except for SA, which was unaffected by the environmental conditions. The levels of proline, ABA and IAA were higher in the xeric than in the mesic site. In contrast, JA was higher in the mesic site. The higher variation displayed at the family level led to family differences for all parameters and sites. Differences in proline and ABA between populations were exclusively found in the xeric site, where the population from the wet climate showed higher accumulation. This study provides evidence for differentiation among P. pinaster populations and families in their plastic responses to drought and highlights the importance of considering intraspecific variability when evaluating biochemical stress indicators in environmental studies.

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Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Spanish INIA project: RTA2005-00131-00-00 to Corcuera L.

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  1. Unidad de Recursos Forestales, C.I.T.A., Avda de Montañana 930, 50059, Zaragoza, Spain

    L. Corcuera, E. Gil-Pelegrin & E. Notivol

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  1. L. Corcuera
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  2. E. Gil-Pelegrin
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  3. E. Notivol
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Correspondence to L. Corcuera.

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Communicated by M. Zwieniecki.

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Corcuera, L., Gil-Pelegrin, E. & Notivol, E. Aridity promotes differences in proline and phytohormone levels in Pinus pinaster populations from contrasting environments. Trees 26, 799–808 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-011-0651-x

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