Assessment of the Ecological and Genetic Potential of Poplar Mixoploids in Voronezh Oblast

• Published in: Contemporary problems of ecology 2023-10, Vol.16 (5), p.600-611
• Main Authors: Mashkina, O. S., Amineva, E. Yu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alluvial soils; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Chromosomes; Cloning; cytogenetic analysis; Cytogenetics; Ecology; Environmental conditions; Epigenetics; Field tests; Gene expression; Gene polymorphism; genetic traits; Genotypes; Heterogeneity; Life Sciences; Metaphase; micropropagation; Mitosis; mixoploidy; Nucleoli; plasticity; Ploidy; Polymorphism; Poplar; Populus alba; Sandy loam; soil; Somatic cells; triploidy
• ISSN: 1995-4255; 1995-4263
• DOI: 10.1134/S1995425523050062

This paper presents the results of field tests and chromosome analysis for five micropropagated clones of triploid white poplar ( Populus alba L.) and grey poplar ( Populus × canescens Sm.), which are of a mixoploid nature. In order to assess the ecological and genetic potential of the plants, they are tested in different edaphic conditions. It is found that the clones (genotypes) at the age of 2–23 years grown on black soil (chernozem) had better survival index, preservation rate, growth, and health state than the same clones grown on poor dry acidic sandy loams. Under conditions of edaphic stress, clones had a higher cytogenetic polymorphism and heterogeneity of somatic cells (compared to chernozem). Apparently, the genetic and presumably epigenetic variability, manifested in a change in the degree of mixoploidy (the ratio of cells of different levels of ploidy) depending on environmental conditions and the nature of gene expression (an increase in the proportion of cells with residual nucleoli in the metaphase of mitosis), can provide the most effective implementation of the functions of genes for the adaptation of clones in adverse conditions. The study demonstrated that the response of clones to adverse growing conditions largely depends on their genotypic characteristics (including characteristics of the species). The clone of the grey poplar had the highest ecological plasticity. This clone has a broad genetic basis (it is a hybridogenic species, mixoploid, allotriploid), which expands the possibilities for its use in various growing conditions. Micropropagated clones of the white poplar execute their production potential (growth) on chernozem or alluvial soils.