Physiological and morphological responses of poplar clones to different soil moisture levels

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Intensive farming of fast-growing hybrid poplars can be improved by selecting drought-resistant clones for the areas exposed to periodic drought conditions. This task requires the use of predictive tests. During the first part of this research project, we conducted controlled-environment studies to determine which drought resistance characteristics of poplar could be suitable as part of the drought resistance screening protocols for poplars. The proposed second part of the project extends these findings to the field conditions. In the proposed research, we will use a field drip irrigation system to provide hybrid Populus clones with different levels of soil moisture. We will use the clones that have been tested in the controlled-environment study to confirm and validate the results of controlled-environment studies and to determine whether the identified resistance characteristics are present under more complex natural field conditions. The main objective of this research is to identify the morphological and physiological attributes of drought resistant hybrid Populus clones that would make these clones suitable for plantations in water limited environments such as those present in north-central Alberta and across the Prairies.