104
seasonal autumn cold weather (AFD, dominant and/or co-dominant apices damaged
or not, as a binary trait). The early-summer frost caused moderate to severe apex and
leaf damage (SFD = 37.5% of tissues damaged, on average), being Epulauquen and
Pilo lil populations the least affected, whereas the autumn cold spells caused apical
damage in 64% of resprouted plants, being Pilo lil the least affected population.
Both types of damage were correlated (r = 0.40; p < 0.001). The differentiation
among populations for SFD was moderate (Q ST = 36%) and significantly higher
than the neutral differentiation estimated through molecular markers (Aparicio
et al. 2015).
A further study of phenotypic plasticity was performed by means of a field trial
installed in an altitudinal gradient at Lake Lácar basin (40° 08′ S, 71° 28′ W)
(Barbero 2014). In this case only two natural provenances of contrasting altitude
(650 and 890 m asl, respectively) were planted in three altitudinal levels (at 610, 850
and 1100 m asl). Survival of the 360 seedlings was registered at the ages of 2 and 3
years, showing differences among sites but not between the provenances for both
ages, thus evidencing plasticity. Additionally, bud burst phenology was analysed
with point observations, in which the phenophase of each seedling was registered.
Again, differences among altitudinal sites were shown, but not between provenances, revealing the plasticity of this trait.
4.3.5 Some Conclusions Based on Quantitative Genetic
Variation and Phenotypic Plasticity Studies
The traits analysed in these trials lead to the conclusion that there is evidence of
local adaptation, whose modulation is directly related to environmental variations
(Barbero 2014). Thus, the largest differences are found in the northernmost and
highest-altitude origin (Epulauquen) and secondly in the origin of the eastern and
dry extreme (Pilo lil), with fewer differences between the origins corresponding to
less extreme conditions, located at the Lake Lácar basin.
4.4 On the Way to Domesticate Roble pellín
The first Argentinean plantations of roble pellín were established in the historical
nursery of Nahuel Huapi National Park, in Isla Victoria. There are still about
50 N. obliqua trees that were planted in 1943 (Adolfo Moretti, pers. comm.).
Likewise, a few trees from a small plantation established in 1956 at the Trevelin
Forest Station of INTA are still standing. At the age of 50 years, this stand had a
mean height of 31.9 m and a quadratic mean diameter of 44.8 cm. Moreover, the
physical-mechanical features of the timber of some trees sampled at that age were
found to be similar to those of older trees coming from the natural forest (Mondino
M. M. Azpilicueta et al.
seasonal autumn cold weather (AFD, dominant and/or co-dominant apices damaged
or not, as a binary trait). The early-summer frost caused moderate to severe apex and
leaf damage (SFD = 37.5% of tissues damaged, on average), being Epulauquen and
Pilo lil populations the least affected, whereas the autumn cold spells caused apical
damage in 64% of resprouted plants, being Pilo lil the least affected population.
Both types of damage were correlated (r = 0.40; p < 0.001). The differentiation
among populations for SFD was moderate (Q ST = 36%) and significantly higher
than the neutral differentiation estimated through molecular markers (Aparicio
et al. 2015).
A further study of phenotypic plasticity was performed by means of a field trial
installed in an altitudinal gradient at Lake Lácar basin (40° 08′ S, 71° 28′ W)
(Barbero 2014). In this case only two natural provenances of contrasting altitude
(650 and 890 m asl, respectively) were planted in three altitudinal levels (at 610, 850
and 1100 m asl). Survival of the 360 seedlings was registered at the ages of 2 and 3
years, showing differences among sites but not between the provenances for both
ages, thus evidencing plasticity. Additionally, bud burst phenology was analysed
with point observations, in which the phenophase of each seedling was registered.
Again, differences among altitudinal sites were shown, but not between provenances, revealing the plasticity of this trait.
4.3.5 Some Conclusions Based on Quantitative Genetic
Variation and Phenotypic Plasticity Studies
The traits analysed in these trials lead to the conclusion that there is evidence of
local adaptation, whose modulation is directly related to environmental variations
(Barbero 2014). Thus, the largest differences are found in the northernmost and
highest-altitude origin (Epulauquen) and secondly in the origin of the eastern and
dry extreme (Pilo lil), with fewer differences between the origins corresponding to
less extreme conditions, located at the Lake Lácar basin.
4.4 On the Way to Domesticate Roble pellín
The first Argentinean plantations of roble pellín were established in the historical
nursery of Nahuel Huapi National Park, in Isla Victoria. There are still about
50 N. obliqua trees that were planted in 1943 (Adolfo Moretti, pers. comm.).
Likewise, a few trees from a small plantation established in 1956 at the Trevelin
Forest Station of INTA are still standing. At the age of 50 years, this stand had a
mean height of 31.9 m and a quadratic mean diameter of 44.8 cm. Moreover, the
physical-mechanical features of the timber of some trees sampled at that age were
found to be similar to those of older trees coming from the natural forest (Mondino
M. M. Azpilicueta et al.