Ecophysiology and Genetic Variation in Domestication of Sphaeralcea and Shepherdia Species for the Intermountain West
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Utah State University DigitalCommons@USU All Graduate Theses and Dissertations Graduate Studies, School of 1-1-2011 Ecophysiology and Genetic Variation in Domestication of Shpaeralcea and Shepherdia Species for the Intermountain West Chalita Sriladda Utah State University Recommended Citation Sriladda, Chalita, "Ecophysiology and Genetic Variation in Domestication of Shpaeralcea and Shepherdia Species for the Intermountain West" (2011). All Graduate Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1042. http://digitalcommons.usu.edu/etd/1042 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate Studies, School of at DigitalCommons@USU. It has been accepted for inclusion in All Graduate Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@USU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. ECOPHYSIOLOGY AND GENETIC VARIATION IN DOMESTICATION OF SPHAERALCEA AND SHEPHERDIA SPECIES FOR THE INTERMOUNTAIN WEST by Chalita Sriladda A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY in Plant Science Approved: Roger K. Kjelgren Steven R. Larson Major Professor Committee Member Heidi A. Kratsch Thomas A. Monaco Committee Member Committee Member Paul G. Johnson Mark R. McLellan Committee Member Vice President for Research and Dean of the School of Graduate Studies UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY Logan, Utah 2011 ii Copyright © Utah State University 2011 All Rights Reserved iii ABSTRACT Ecophysiology and Genetic Variation in Domestication of Sphaeralcea and Shepherdia Species for the Intermountain West by Chalita Sriladda, Doctor of Philosophy Utah State University, 2011 Major Professor: Dr. Roger K. Kjelgren Department: Plants, Soils, and Climate Low-water landscaping is an essential tool for water conservation in the arid Intermountain West (IMW) for managing limited supplies and population-driven increased demand. The IMW harbors a large number of drought-tolerant native species that have potential for use in the low-water use landscape (LWL). However, many species are not available in the nursery trade due to their morphological confusion and establishment difficulty in the managed landscapes. The overall goal of this study is to elucidate morphological, ecophysiological, and genetic distinctions within two IMW native plant genera containing species with high urban low-water landscape potential. For the first study, morphological and genetic variations among populations of four putative Sphaeralcea species were evaluated using canonical variate analysis (CVA) on the basis of morphological characteristics of their type specimens, and amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLP). The putative S. grossulariifolia was not iv significantly different morphologically and genetically from S. coccinea, similar to the relationship between S. munroana and S. parvifolia. The results in the Mantel’s correlation tests suggest there are con-specific species due to isolation-by-distance within each composite group, and the putative S. munroana appeared to be an ecotype of S. parvifolia. In the second study, environmental conditions, morphology, and AFLP genetic variations among populations of Shepherdia rotundifolia in its native habitats were evaluated. Environmental conditions in selected six populations varied among populations in terms of elevation, precipitation, temperature, relative light intensity (RLI), and soil properties. Leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf trichome structure exhibited adaptive traits to shady environments as well as hot and dry summer and cold winter environments in its native habitats. The SLA was significantly correlated with RLI, soil organic matter, and potassium. In the third study, interspecific hybrid S. rotundifolia x argentea was created to achieve the aesthetic quality of S. rotundifolia and wet soil tolerance of S. argentea. The hybrid was intermediate morphologically and genetically (AFLP) to its parents. Trichome structure and physiological responses in terms of diurnal stomatal conductance (gs), photosynthetic light response curve, midday photosynthesis assimilation (Pn), and midday quantum efficiency (PhiPS2) of the hybrid were also more similar to S. argentea than to S. rotundifolia. The physiological responses of the hybrid compared to its parents may suggest tolerance to regularly watered conditions. (96 pages) v PUBLIC ABSTRACT Ecophysiology and Genetic Variation in Domestication of Sphaeralcea and Shepherdia Species for the Intermountain West Chalita Sriladda Low-water landscaping (LWL) using native drought tolerant species is an essential tool for water conservation in the arid Intermountain West (IMW) for managing limited water supplies. However, many potential species have not been evaluated for LWL. Some species are difficult to visually distinguish from each other, thus decreasing confidence in products from native plant industry. Meanwhile, some species are difficult to establish to urban landscape conditions. The overall goal of this study is to elucidate morphological, ecophysiological, and genetic distinctions within two IMW native plant genera containing species with high urban low-water landscape potential. For the first study, a classification model based on morphological characteristics of type specimens using canonical variate analysis (CVA) was successful in clarifying morphological variation among four Sphaeralcea species. Genetic variation among populations and species based on amplified fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) revealed two pure types among four putative species. Sphaeralcea munroana and S. parvifolia separated genetically from S. coccinea and S. grossulariifolia, and S. munroana appeared to be an ecotype of S. parvifolia. In the second study, environmental conditions in selected six populations of Shepherdia rotundifolia varied among populations in terms of elevation, precipitation, vi temperature, relative light intensity (RLI), and soil properties. AFLP genetic varied between high and low elevation populations. Leaf area, specific leaf area (SLA), and leaf trichome structure exhibited adaptive traits to shady environments as well as hot and dry summer and cold winter environments in its native habitats. The SLA was significantly correlated with RLI, soil organic matter, and potassium. In the third study, interspecific hybrid S. rotundifolia x argentea was intermediate morphologically and genetically to its parents. Leaf trichome structure and physiological responses of the hybrid were more similar to riparian S. argentea than S. rotundifolia, suggesting tolerance to regular watered urban landscape conditions. vii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank Dr. Roger Kjelgren for his invaluable support and encouragement to make it possible for me to study for a PhD. I would especially like to thank my committee members, Drs. Heidi Kratsch, Steven Larson, Thomas Monaco, and Paul Johnson, for their invaluable support and assistance throughout the entire process. I give special thanks to my family for their moral support, inspiration, and motivation to study for a PhD. I would like to thank friends and colleagues for their encouragement, moral support, and patience as I worked my way from the initial proposal writing to this final document. I could not have done it without all of you. Chalita Sriladda viii CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………...iii PUBLIC ABSTRACT…………………………………………………………………….v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS……………………………………………………………….vii LIST OF TABLES………………………………………………………………………..ix LIST OF FIGURES…………………………………………………………………….....x CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION………………………………………………………...1 2 GOAL AND OBJECTIVES………………………………………………4 3 MORPHOLOGICAL AND GENETIC VARIATION AMONG SPHAERALCEA SPECIES……………………………………..5 4 ECOLOGICAL ADAPTATION OF SHEPHERDIA ROTUNDIFOLIA………………………………………..31 5 POTENTIAL OF SHEPHERDIA ROTUNDIFOLIA x ARGENTEA HYBRID FOR LOW-WATER LANDSCAPING…………61 6 CONCLUSION…………………………………………………………..84 VITA……………………………………………………………………………………..85 ix LIST OF TABLES Table Page 3-1 Means (range) for morphological characteristics for type specimens among putative Sphaeralcea species, including S. coccinea (n = 8), S. grossulariifolia (n = 5), S. munroana (n = 3), and S. parvifolia (n = 17)………………………………………………..12 3-2 Principal component in canonical variate analysis of morphological characters for type specimens of S. coccinea (n = 8), S. grossulariifolia (n = 5), S. munroana (n = 3), and S. parvifolia (n = 17)……………………………………………………………..16 3-3 Percentage of numbers of existing USU herbarium specimens of the four putative Sphaeralcea species assigned to its type group based on the classification model generated from morphological characteristics of the type specimens in the canonical variate analysis………………………………………………………..17 3-4 Mantel’s correlation tests performed with 999 permutations of morphological (Euclidean distances of morphology), genetic (NEI-72 genetic distances), and geographic distances of the field specimens assigned on the basis of the classification model as S. coccinea, S. grossulariifolia, S. munroana, and S. parvifolia……………...24 4-1 Environmental conditions among populations of Shepherdia rotundifolia in southern Utah, including elevation; average 30-year records (1981-2010) of annual precipitation and average maximum and minimum air temperature; and relative light intensity (RLI), and soil properties………………………………...37 4-2 Soil properties; including soil texture, salinity (EC), pH, phosphorus (P), potassium (K), and organic matter (OM) at the six collection sites in Utah (n=2)………………………………………………...45