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Physiological adaptations of five poplar genotypes grown under SRC in the semi-arid Mediterranean environment

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The genotype ‘Neva’ under high plant density showed the highest biomass yield and optimal physiological strategies and could be the most suitable choice under semi-arid environment

Abstract

The poplars (Populus spp.) are the most sensitive plants to water deficit conditions among the woody species utilized for biomass production for energetic purposes; their productivity is associated with water availability in the soil. In the Mediterranean environment, crops are mainly limited by evapotranspirative demand that is not balanced by rainfall supply. As new hybrids with high growth rates and resistance to water stress are selected, the use of poplar as an energy crop may increase in Southern regions of Mediterranean Europe. The growth dynamics and physiological characteristics of poplar hybrid genotypes have been monitored for 2 years at a site with a Mediterranean climate, Apulia region, that could be used for energy crops. Unrooted cuttings of three recently selected genotypes of poplar (‘Neva’, ‘Dvina’ and ‘Lena’) and two “traditional” genotypes (‘Luisa Avanzo’ and ‘Bellini’) were planted in the spring of 2010 at two different densities: (a) low plant density = 1,667 cuttings ha−1 (LPD); (b) high plant density = 6,667 cuttings ha−1 (HPD). The genotypes ‘Lena’ and ‘Dvina’ showed the lowest survival rates and the poorest growth among the hybrid poplar tested. The genotype ‘Bellini’ had low stomatal sensitivity to soil water content and a moderate productive performance. The genotypes ‘Luisa Avanzo’ and ‘Neva’ had a good degree of rooting and sprouting, high values of leaf relative water content (RWCl) and low values of stomatal conductance (g s) during the summer months. In “Neva”, these characteristics were associated with the best yields (4 t ha−1) in HPD.

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Acknowledgments

This research was conducted with financial support from the FAESI project, funded by the Ministero delle Politiche Agricole Alimentari e Forestali (Italy). The authors are grateful, particularly to the technicians of the experimental farm of the Agricultural Research Council—Research Unit for Cropping Systems in Dry Environments (C.R.A.—S.C.A.) in Rutigliano (Italy).

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Consiglio per la Ricerca e la sperimentazione in Agricoltura-Research Unit for Cropping Systems in Hot and Arid Environments (CRA-SCA), Via Celso Ulpiani 5, 70125, Bari, Italy

    Alejandra Navarro, Pasquale Campi & Marcello Mastrorilli

  2. Consiglio per la Ricerca e la sperimentazione in Agricoltura-Research Unit for Intensive Wood Production (CRA-PLF), Strada Frassineto 35, 15033, Casale Monferrato, Italy

    Gianni Facciotto

Authors
  1. Alejandra Navarro
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  2. Gianni Facciotto
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  3. Pasquale Campi
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  4. Marcello Mastrorilli
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Correspondence to Alejandra Navarro.

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Communicated by H. Rennenberg.

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Navarro, A., Facciotto, G., Campi, P. et al. Physiological adaptations of five poplar genotypes grown under SRC in the semi-arid Mediterranean environment. Trees 28, 983–994 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1012-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00468-014-1012-3

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