Entwicklung genetischer Marker zur Analyse von Anpassungen an Trockenstress bei Trauben-Eiche und Buche

Forest ecosystems provide important ecosystem services such as production of woody biomass,

biodiversity and regulation of nutrient cycles, such as the carbon cycle. The provision of these services depends on species composition and vitality of forest ecosystems. Climate change scenarios for Germany predict an increase in temperature, a decrease in precipitation and a higher frequency and severity of drought events. As a consequence, a decreasing percentage of area and productivity is predicted for European Beech, while the percentage of area of oak species will probably increase. In order to sustain the carbon sink strength of beech- and oak-dominated forest in Germany under future climatic conditions, it is required to identify and promote drought-adapted ecotypes and trees of beech and oak. To this end, this project aims to establish genetic markers for drought-stress tolerance of F. sylvatica and Sessile Oak. In an association mapping approach using natural populations of beech and sessile oak from Western Romania, we will test for significant associations between phenotypic traits indicating drought stress tolerance and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Natural populations along climatic gradients in Western Romania

are particularly suited for this approach since the current climate in this area is similar to future climatic conditions predicted for Germany. In addition to studies with natural populations in Romania, we will apply the same approach to provenance trails with sessile oak available in Germany. Moreover, associations between SNPs and phenotypes will be assessed in experiments under controlled conditions, where wild seedlings of beech and sessile oak originating from sites along gradients in water availability will be exposed to a drought-stress treatment. Thus, by applying the same methodology to a diverse set of biological populations, it will be possible to identify validated genetic markers for drought tolerance in beech and sessile oak.