Genetic conservation and management of Quercus suber Gösta Eriksson, Maria Carolina Varela, Roselyne Lumaret, Luis Gil IPGRI and INIBAP operate under the name Bioversity International Supported by the CGIAR (EUFORGEN) Programme Resources Genetic Forest European Genetic conservation and management of Quercus suber Gösta Eriksson, Maria Carolina Varela, Roselyne Lumaret, Luis Gil European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN) Programme Resources Genetic Forest European Bioversity International is a global research-for-development organization. We have a vision – that agricultural biodiversity nourishes people and sustains the planet. We deliver scientific evidence, Contents management practices and policy options to use and safeguard agricultural and tree biodiversity to attain sustainable global food and nutrition security. We work with partners in low-income countries in different regions where agricultural and tree biodiversity can contribute to improved nutrition, resilience, productivity and climate change adaptation. Bioversity International is a member of the CGIAR Consortium – a global research partnership for a food-secure future. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN) is an instrument of international 1. Summary 2 cooperation promoting the conservation and appropriate use of forest genetic resources in Europe. It was established in 1994 to implement Strasbourg Resolution 2 adopted by the first 2. Introduction 3 Ministerial Conference of the FOREST EUROPE process, held in France in 1990. EUFORGEN also contributes to implementation of other FOREST EUROPE commitments on forest genetic 3. Distribution and ecology 5 resources and relevant decisions of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Furthermore, 3.2 Biology and reproduction 7 EUFORGEN contributes to the implementation of regional-level strategic priorities of the Global Plan of Action for the Conservation, Sustainable Use and Development of Forest Genetic Resources 3.3 Country characteristics 8 (GPA-FGR), adopted by the FAO Conference in 2013. The Programme brings together experts from its member countries to exchange information and experiences, analyse relevant policies 4. Genetic variation and hybridization 13 and practices, and develop science-based strategies, tools and methods for better management of forest genetic resources. Furthermore, EUFORGEN provides inputs, as needed, to European and 5. Long-term genetic conservation and management strategy 14 global assessments and serves as a platform for developing and implementing European projects. 5.1 Objectives of the strategy 14 EUFORGEN is funded by the member countries and its activities are mainly carried out through 5.2 Dynamic conservation 14 working groups and workshops. The EUFORGEN Steering Committee is composed of National Coordinators nominated by the member countries. The EUFORGEN Secretariat is hosted by 5.3 Static conservation 18 Bioversity International. Further information on EUFORGEN can be found at www.euforgen.org. 5.4 Natural regeneration 19 5.5 Artificial regeneration in large, commercial stands 21 The geographical designations employed and the presentation of material in this publication do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of Bioversity or the CGIAR 5.6 Small and marginal populations 21 concerning the legal status of any country, territory, city or area or its authorities, or concerning the 5.7 Nature reserves 22 delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries. Similarly, the views expressed are those of the authors 5.8 The role of field trials as genetic conservation populations/units 22 and do not necessarily reflect the views of these organizations. Mention of a proprietary name does not constitute endorsement of the product and is given only Authors 24 for information. References 25 Citation: Eriksson G., Varela M.C., Lumaret R., Gil L. 2017. Genetic conservation and management of Quercus suber. Technical Bulletin. European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN), Bioversity International, Rome, Italy. 43 p. Acknowledgement 28 Cover photo: Fotolia/Springfield Gallery Annex 1 29 ISBN 978-92-9255-062-2 Basic genetics of significance for genetic conservation 29 Bioversity International Annex 2 39 Via dei Tre Denari, 472/a 00057 Maccarese Glossary of terms 39 Rome, Italy Copyright © 2015 by the author(s) and European Forest Genetic Resources Programme (EUFORGEN)/Bioversity International. This is an open-access publication licensed for use under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Public License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0), which permits non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited. 2 Genetic conservation and management of Quercus suber EUFORGEN Technical Bulletin 3 1. Summary the conservation of so-called associated species, meaning those dependent on cork oak for their survival and well-being. It is also recommended that some This publication presents technical recommendations for the implementation of marginal and isolated populations be included in the conservation programme. a long-term conservation and management strategy for cork oak (Quercus suber In case of unsatisfactory regeneration, sowing or planting is necessary. In L.) genetic resources within the species’ distribution area. It is intended to assist such instances, reforestation material should be selected from localities with those who cherish the valuable cork oak genepool and its inheritance, either in similar abiotic site conditions. the conservation of valuable seed sources or through its use in practical forestry and tree improvement. The focus of this Technical Bulletin is on conserving the genetic diversity of the species at the European scale. The recommendations 2. Introduction provided should be regarded as a commonly agreed basis for implementation and further development in local, national or regional contexts. The Cork oak thrives in humid and warm climates, with an optimum range of recommended genetic conservation strategy is based on scientific knowledge average annual temperature between 13° and 18°C. Low temperature is an available in 2015 and on widely accepted methods for the conservation of forest important limiting factor in terms of distribution of this species, as it does not genetic resources. survive when the minimum temperature falls below -10 ºC. Cork oak resists Cork oak is an ancient species in the Mediterranean basin, with fossil summer droughts but needs an annual precipitation of 600 to 1,000 mm. It remnants dating back to the Tertiary period. The species is of major ecological grows around the western Mediterranean, under a range of natural conditions, importance in its distribution range. Furthermore, cork oak is the only producer and is found in both small, fragmented natural populations and relatively large of quality cork and, therefore, of utmost importance for the production of plantations managed for cork production. The species’ largest distribution area cork stoppers and for the cork industry as a whole. The economic use of cork is on the Iberian Peninsula, followed by Algeria and Morocco. gave rise to the development of a particular type of silvicultural management Cork oak is commonly grown in agroforestry systems, known as montado that maintains its forests, ensuring the regeneration and sustainable use of in Portugal and dehesa in Spain. These are open woods with low tree density the species over large areas. However, at the same time, as human activity (50–300 trees/ha). In these systems, forage species are commonly grown under has transformed a major part of the woodlands into agricultural land and the trees and grazed by cattle. destroyed or dramatically changed the original ecosystem, a large portion of Cork oak is not endangered, and no threats are foreseen at the species level cork oak stands are now park-like landscapes managed through agroforestry as long as cork has economic value. However, marginal populations, often systems. Lack of regeneration, largely caused by grazing, is one of the main growing in small and scattered stands and in restricted habitats, are at risk resulting problems. of disappearing. In such populations, the number of reproducing trees may In Portugal, cork oak is benefiting from rural abandonment. Due to its be too small to maintain enough genetic diversity for future generations. This resistance to fire and its sprouting ability from stump and epicormic buds, the is exacerbated if the trees produce limited amounts of acorns. Swamping of species may regenerate profusely in untended, burned pine forests. pollen from other flowering oaks overlapping in some years, such as Quercus Existing cork oak genetic knowledge should guide the development of the ilex, Q faginea, Q pyrenaica, Q coccifera, may play a major role in the evolution sound genetic conservation of cork oak. This Bulletin contains a summary of of such populations. Acting together, these factors limit natural regeneration such knowledge. Genetic results available in 2015 are compiled in a separate in small populations. The threat becomes critical when such populations are paper (Eriksson 2017). grazed. Even when the population size is large enough to maintain viable It is suggested that the genetic conservation of cork oak be conducted genetic progenies, regeneration may be insufficient to keep the population size. according to the Pan-European strategy for genetic conservation of forest