Influence of Geographical and Climatic Factors on <i>Quercus variabilis</i> Blume Fruit Phenotypic Diversity
<i>Quercus variabilis</i> Blume is one of the most ecologically valuable tree species in China and is known to have adaptive mechanisms to climate change. Our objective was to quantify the variation pattern in the fruit morphology of <i>Q. variabilis</i>. Fruit samples were c...
Main Authors: | , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-07-01
|
Series: | Diversity |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/7/329 |
id |
doaj-ac75ab4b6cc54267a4fb2bd840ad5e14 |
---|---|
record_format |
Article |
spelling |
doaj-ac75ab4b6cc54267a4fb2bd840ad5e142021-07-23T13:37:40ZengMDPI AGDiversity1424-28182021-07-011332932910.3390/d13070329Influence of Geographical and Climatic Factors on <i>Quercus variabilis</i> Blume Fruit Phenotypic DiversityShuang Gao0Yue Ren1Joseph Masabni2Feng Zou3Huan Xiong4Jingle Zhu5Key Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaPaulownia Research and Development Center, State Forestry Administration, Zhengzhou 450003, ChinaTexas A & M Agri Life Research and Extension Center, 17360 Coit Rd, Dallas, TX 75252, USAKey Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaKey Laboratory of Cultivation and Protection for Non-Wood Forest Trees, Ministry of Education, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, ChinaPaulownia Research and Development Center, State Forestry Administration, Zhengzhou 450003, China<i>Quercus variabilis</i> Blume is one of the most ecologically valuable tree species in China and is known to have adaptive mechanisms to climate change. Our objective was to quantify the variation pattern in the fruit morphology of <i>Q. variabilis</i>. Fruit samples were collected from 43 natural populations in autumn of 2019. Our results indicated that the coefficient of variation (CV) of the fruit length (FL) and fruit width (FW) were 10.08% and 11.21%, respectively. There were significant differences in the FL, FW, and fruit length-to-width ratios (FL/FW) among the studied populations. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between the FW and FL. The FL decreased with increasing precipitation in the wettest quarter (PWQ). A concave trend was observed in the variations in FL with the equivalent latitude (ELAT), longitude (LON), annual mean air temperature (MAT), and annual precipitation (AP). A similar concave trend was observed for the FL/FW with LON, MAT, and AP. A positive correlation was observed between the FW, FL and FL/FW, and the ELAT. The cluster analysis revealed five groups of the 43 natural populations. Our study findings suggests that <i>Q. variabilis</i> has high levels of phenotypic plasticity for geographical and climatic factors.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/7/329climate factorequivalent latitudelongitudefruit sizeoak |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Shuang Gao Yue Ren Joseph Masabni Feng Zou Huan Xiong Jingle Zhu |
spellingShingle |
Shuang Gao Yue Ren Joseph Masabni Feng Zou Huan Xiong Jingle Zhu Influence of Geographical and Climatic Factors on <i>Quercus variabilis</i> Blume Fruit Phenotypic Diversity Diversity climate factor equivalent latitude longitude fruit size oak |
author_facet |
Shuang Gao Yue Ren Joseph Masabni Feng Zou Huan Xiong Jingle Zhu |
author_sort |
Shuang Gao |
title |
Influence of Geographical and Climatic Factors on <i>Quercus variabilis</i> Blume Fruit Phenotypic Diversity |
title_short |
Influence of Geographical and Climatic Factors on <i>Quercus variabilis</i> Blume Fruit Phenotypic Diversity |
title_full |
Influence of Geographical and Climatic Factors on <i>Quercus variabilis</i> Blume Fruit Phenotypic Diversity |
title_fullStr |
Influence of Geographical and Climatic Factors on <i>Quercus variabilis</i> Blume Fruit Phenotypic Diversity |
title_full_unstemmed |
Influence of Geographical and Climatic Factors on <i>Quercus variabilis</i> Blume Fruit Phenotypic Diversity |
title_sort |
influence of geographical and climatic factors on <i>quercus variabilis</i> blume fruit phenotypic diversity |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
Diversity |
issn |
1424-2818 |
publishDate |
2021-07-01 |
description |
<i>Quercus variabilis</i> Blume is one of the most ecologically valuable tree species in China and is known to have adaptive mechanisms to climate change. Our objective was to quantify the variation pattern in the fruit morphology of <i>Q. variabilis</i>. Fruit samples were collected from 43 natural populations in autumn of 2019. Our results indicated that the coefficient of variation (CV) of the fruit length (FL) and fruit width (FW) were 10.08% and 11.21%, respectively. There were significant differences in the FL, FW, and fruit length-to-width ratios (FL/FW) among the studied populations. Also, there was a significant positive correlation between the FW and FL. The FL decreased with increasing precipitation in the wettest quarter (PWQ). A concave trend was observed in the variations in FL with the equivalent latitude (ELAT), longitude (LON), annual mean air temperature (MAT), and annual precipitation (AP). A similar concave trend was observed for the FL/FW with LON, MAT, and AP. A positive correlation was observed between the FW, FL and FL/FW, and the ELAT. The cluster analysis revealed five groups of the 43 natural populations. Our study findings suggests that <i>Q. variabilis</i> has high levels of phenotypic plasticity for geographical and climatic factors. |
topic |
climate factor equivalent latitude longitude fruit size oak |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1424-2818/13/7/329 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT shuanggao influenceofgeographicalandclimaticfactorsoniquercusvariabilisiblumefruitphenotypicdiversity AT yueren influenceofgeographicalandclimaticfactorsoniquercusvariabilisiblumefruitphenotypicdiversity AT josephmasabni influenceofgeographicalandclimaticfactorsoniquercusvariabilisiblumefruitphenotypicdiversity AT fengzou influenceofgeographicalandclimaticfactorsoniquercusvariabilisiblumefruitphenotypicdiversity AT huanxiong influenceofgeographicalandclimaticfactorsoniquercusvariabilisiblumefruitphenotypicdiversity AT jinglezhu influenceofgeographicalandclimaticfactorsoniquercusvariabilisiblumefruitphenotypicdiversity |
_version_ |
1721288702927306752 |