Different patterns of inter-annual variability in mean vessel area and tree-ring widths of beech from provenance trials in Slovenia and Hungary

Gričar, Jožica (author), Arnič, Domen (author), Krajnc, Luka (author), Prislan, Peter (author), Božič, Gregor (author), Westergren, Marjana (author), Csaba, Mátyás (author), Kraigher, Hojka (author)

Key message Studied beech provenances showed different patterns of inter-annual variability in mean vessel area and ring widths, indicating influence of intraspecific variability and diverse environment on hydraulic conductivity and carbon storage potential. Abstract International provenance trials of ecologically and economically important tree species are crucial to deciphering the influence of environmental factors and intraspecific variability on tree growth and performance under climate change to guide assisted gene flow and assisted migration of tree provenances and species. In this context, we compared inter-annual trends in tree-ring widths (carbon sequestration potential) and vessel characteristics (conductivity optimisation) of four beech provenances in two international provenance trials, one in Slovenia (Kamenski hrib, a core beech growing site) and one in Hungary (Bucsuta, a marginal beech site) in 2009–2019. We found different patterns of inter-annual variability in mean vessel area and tree-ring widths among provenances and sites, pointing to diverse genetic background and environmental influence on these two wood-anatomical traits. The average values of the vessel area varied less between provenances at Kamenski hrib than at Bucsuta. Weather conditions differently affected tree-ring width and mean vessel area. Furthermore, the length of the period of response of vessel area to the analysed weather conditions differed in summer and winter periods. The differences in the mean vessel area within the tree ring were more pronounced in the weather-wise extreme years, regardless of the provenance. Consistent with previous studies, we confirmed that site conditions affect the climate sensitivity of trees, which is more pronounced at marginal sites or in extreme years. The findings on how different environmental conditions affect the radial growth of young beech trees of different origin are very important for future forest management.

• Language: English
• Keywords: Fagus sylvatica, quantitative wood anatomy, common gardens, intraspecific variation, juvenile period, weather conditions
• Work type: Article
• Typology: 1.01 - Original Scientific Article
• Organization: BF - Biotechnical Faculty
• Publication status: Published
• Publication version: Version of Record
• Year: 2024
• Number of pages: Str. 179–195
• Numbering: Vol. 38, iss. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-159562
• UDC: 630*81
• ISSN on article: 1432-2285
• DOI: 10.1007/s00468-023-02476-4
• COBISS.SI-ID: 184082179
• Publication date in RUL: 12.07.2024

Record is a part of a journal

• Title: Trees
• Shortened title: Trees
• Publisher: Springer Nature
• ISSN: 1432-2285
• COBISS.SI-ID: 512039705

Licences

• License: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Link: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
• Description: This is the standard Creative Commons license that gives others maximum freedom to do what they want with the work as long as they credit the author.

Secondary language

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: bukev, kvantitativna anatomija lesa, anatomija lesa, vrtovi, intraspecifične variacije, juvenilno obdobje, vremenske razmere