While in different parts of the planet the lack of water puts forests in check, some trees manage to survive where others cannot. What makes them different? The answer, according to a group of scientists, could be written in your DNA. Understanding these differences could change the way reforestations are planned in an increasingly extreme climate context.
With this premise, researchers from Argentina, Canada and the United States analyzed more than 1,200 specimens of Pinus contortaa typical species of western North America, planted 35 years ago.
The work, published in the magazine Ecology and Evolutionintegrated growth data, climate information, tree rings and genomic tools to understand how species respond to water stress.
The study revealed something decisive: There are genetic differences in the ability of trees to recover after a droughtwhich opens new possibilities to select more resilient specimens in reforestation programs.
“Drought is one of the most serious threats to the productivity and survival of forests.”he explained Eduardo Capparesearcher at the Institute of Biological Resources of INTA and Conicet. And he added: “Trees that recover faster maintain better performance over time, which is key to guiding forest improvement in the face of climate variability.”
Furthermore, the researchers observed that specimens from warmer and drier regions showed superior performance under water stress. This finding confirms that population origin is a determining factor for adaptation.
The team also developed a new index that accurately quantifies the response of trees to repeated droughts. This tool could be incorporated into genetic improvement programsproviding scientific criteria for the selection of materials for reforestation.
“The integrative approach to the work – combining growth ring analysis, climate information, genomics and advanced statistical modeling – allows for a better understanding of how trees cope with climate stress and provides practical tools for forest planning,” Cappa said.
For the researcher, this advance reflects the capacity of the INTA and Conicet to participate in frontier research alongside top-level institutions. ““These results provide valuable knowledge to develop more sustainable and resilient forest management strategies.”he concluded.
Source: Inta
