Genetic Basis of Drought Stress Adaptation in Quercus robur subsp. pedunculiflora (K. Koch) Menitsky (Quercus robur sensu lato), a Drought-Adapted Variety of Pedunculate Oak (OakAdapt) (04/2025-04/202

Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL) (04/2025-04/2028). Sustainable Renewable Resources (FPNR).  

Reference number: 2224NR010X.
Researchers: Leke Victor Aiyesa (Postdoc). Kateryna Dybkova (TA).
Quercus robur subsp. pedunculiflora is a drought-adapted variety of pedunculate oak found from southeastern Europe to western Asia. Due to its high drought tolerance, it could serve as an alternative to the native pedunculate oak in extreme locations. This project aims to elucidate the genetic basis of drought stress tolerance and to identify suitable provenances for forestry applications, thereby supporting future adaptation strategies and enhancing the resilience of oak forests under changing environmental conditions.
To achieve these objectives, we will conduct whole-genome resequencing of approximately 400 progenies from two subspecies—Q. robur subsp. pedunculiflora and Q. robur subsp. robur—originating from German and Romanian stands. We will develop a 55K SNP array to genotype an additional 1,600 progenies (800 from each subspecies). Phenotyping will be carried out in a greenhouse, assessing traits associated with drought stress adaptation—such as mortality, growth response, stomatal density, water-use efficiency, and chlorophyll fluorescence—as well as frost tolerance traits, including bud burst, bud initiation, and leaf discoloration.
Precision phenotyping will be performed using a multisensor high-throughput phenotyping system (PhenoAIxpert HTC, LemnaTec), enabling detailed measurements of growth traits (e.g., plant height, architecture, 3D morphology), physiological responses (e.g., chlorophyll fluorescence), and phenological traits (e.g., bud burst, growth cessation).
Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) will be conducted to identify genomic regions linked to observed trait variation and to pinpoint candidate genes involved in drought adaptation, followed by genomic prediction to facilitate the identification of individuals with enhanced drought tolerance. This work will yield practical recommendations for selecting Climate resilient individuals, provide valuable genetic data on adaptation-relevant genes, and offer insights into traits that enhance yield under drought, supporting the characterization of both native and non-native provenances in future provenance trials.