Abstract-Band KLIFF-Tagung 2.und 3.9.13

Thema 3: Auswirkungen auf Pflanzen, Tiere und ÖkosystemeEmpfehlungen für die künstliche oder natürliche Verjüngung vonBuchenbeständen zu geben.Trockenstress, Blattaustrieb, genetische Diversität, KandidatengeneEuropean beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) along a precipitationgradient: effects on anatomical, physiological and molecularfeatures of woodNguyen Ngoc Quynh 1) , Andrea Polle 1) , Caroline Carsjens 1) ,Dennis Janz 2) , Gertrud Lohaus 3)1)Georg-August-Universität Göttingen, Fakultät für Forstwissenschaftenund Waldökologie, Büsgen-Institut, Abteilung Forstbotanik und Baumphysiologie2)Bergische Universität Wuppertal, Molekulare Pflanzenwissenschaften3)Bergische Universität Wupptertal, Biochemie der PflanzeDue to the drought sensitivity of European beech, it is expectedthat physiological performance, growth and competitive ability ofthe species will be negatively affected by climate change withdrastic consequences for current forests. However, beech forestscan already be found to date on sites with low precipitation whichmay indicate that acclimation is possible within certain limits.Since water transport in functional xylem is central to tree adaptationto dry conditions, the main objectives of our project were (i)the characterization of the anatomical features of European beechand (ii) the underlying molecular mechanisms to cope with lowprecipitation. Samples were taken from three sites in Lower Saxonyand Saxony–Anhalt, Germany, which are different in the longtermmean annual precipitation (Unterlüss (800 mm), Göhrde (600mmm) and Calvörde (550 mm)). Growth and anatomical woodproperties were analyzed in secondary xylem.During the period from 2007 – 2012, radial growth of beech onsites with high precipitation was significantly higher than that ondry sites. In years with low precipitation the annual rings showedhigher numbers of vessels and smaller vessel lumina on all studysites (latewood, transition wood and earlywood) than in years withhigh precipitation. The latewood in the driest site displayed a significantlythicker fibre wall than in the wettest site. Other anatomi-107