Analysis of Twig and Needle Traits and Evaluation of Drought Tolerance in Larix olgensis Clones

doi:10.7525/j.issn.1673-5102.2026.01.013

Abstract

Abstract:

To reveal the genetic variation in water-use characteristics of Larix olgensis clones and select superior clones with characteristics of drought-tolerance， 25 superior clones of the 37-year-old L. olgensis were used as the research materials. Nine drought tolerance-related twig and needle traits were measured， and their correlations were analyzed. A comprehensive evaluation of the drought tolerance was conducted using the membership function method and cluster analysis. The results indicated that significant differences（P<0.01） occurred in needle traits among clones. Anatomical and morphological traits exhibited lower coefficients of variation（C_V）（11.06%-11.83%）， whereas physiological traits exhibited higher C_V（22.15%-39.24%）. In contrast， no significant differences were observed in twig traits among clones. Hydraulic diameter exhibited the smallest C_V（6.15%）， while the thickness to span ratio exhibited the largest C_V（25.26%）. Strong correlation among traits was found within organ level. In needles， epidermal thickness was significantly positively correlated with cortical thickness（P<0.05）， and both were significantly negatively correlated with water-use efficiency（P<0.01； P<0.05）. Stomatal transpiration was significantly negatively correlated with residual transpiration（P<0.01） and significantly positively correlated with specific leaf area（P<0.05）. In twigs， hydraulic diameter and potential specific hydraulic conductivity were both significantly negatively correlated with thickness to span ratio（P<0.01）. However， there was only a significant negative correlation between needle stomatal transpiration and twig thickness to span ratio across organs（P<0.05）. Principal component analysis of the nine twig and needle traits revealed two relatively independent axes. The first axis reflected a trade-off between hydraulic efficiency and hydraulic safety in twig； the second axis， composed of leaf traits， reflected a trade-off from conservative to efficient water-use strategies. Based on the drought-tolerance evaluation， 25 clones were classified into three categories： comprehensive and strong drought-tolerant， moderate drought-tolerant， and drought-sensitive groups. Clones 338， 774， 128， 125， 214， and 565 demonstrated strong drought tolerance. These findings provided a theoretical basis and practical guidance for selecting suitable afforestation materials adapted to different arid regions.

Key words: Larix olgensis, clone, hydraulic trait, water use efficiency, membership function method, drought tolerance

CLC Number:

S791.22

Xiwen ZHANG, Tingting CHEN, Fude WANG, Qi GUO, Weicai YANG, Xing WEI, Jiacun GU. Analysis of Twig and Needle Traits and Evaluation of Drought Tolerance in Larix olgensis Clones[J]. Bulletin of Botanical Research, 2026, 46(1): 145-157.

Figures/Tables 8

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统计指标 Statistical index	表皮厚度 T_E/μm	皮层厚度 T_C/μm	比叶面积 A_SL/（cm²·g^-1）	水分利用效率 E_WU/（μmol·mol^-1）	气孔蒸腾指数 T_S/（%·h^-1）	残余蒸腾指数 T_R/（%·h^-1）	水力直径 D_h/μm	理论导水率K_s/ （kg·m^-1·MPa^-1·s^-1）	细胞壁加固指数（t/b）²
平均值（±标准误） Mean±SE	27.75±0.61	30.43±0.70	145.34±3.44	56.08±2.48	1.51±0.08	0.25±0.02	8.98±0.11	1.25±0.05	0.16±0.01
变异系数 C_V/%	11.06	11.53	11.83	22.15	24.94	39.24	6.15	18.63	25.26
最大值 Maximum	32.57	38.26	173.54	76.17	2.04	0.46	10.02	1.69	0.26
最大值对应无性系 The clone with the maximum	105	246	809	170	556	565	449	447	338
最小值 Minimum	17.18	24.16	93.75	37.42	0.62	0.09	8.01	0.89	0.10
最小值对应无性系 The clone with the minimum	181	181	447	105	565	410	774	774	129
F	2.82	3.42	3.90	8.67	4.40	4.26	1.08	1.29	1.30
P	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.001	0.398	0.230	0.218

无性系 Clones	隶属函数值 Membership function values									平均隶属函数值 Mean membership function values	排序 No.
无性系 Clones	表皮厚度 T_E	皮层厚度 T_C	比叶面积 A_SL	水分利用效率 E_WU	气孔蒸腾指数 T_S	残余蒸腾指数 T_R	水力直径 D_h	理论导水率 K_s	细胞壁加固指数（t/b）²	平均隶属函数值 Mean membership function values	排序 No.
338	0.63	0.13	0.53	0.97	0.85	0.13	0.71	0.88	1.00	0.65	1
774	0.75	0.48	0.53	0.28	0.18	0.81	1.00	1.00	0.62	0.63	2
128	0.61	0.43	0.22	0.97	0.39	0.57	0.70	0.71	0.80	0.60	3
125	0.62	0.57	0.18	0.85	0.10	0.78	0.72	0.86	0.54	0.58	4
214	0.81	0.33	0.49	0.29	0.48	0.51	0.73	0.79	0.64	0.56	5
721	0.71	0.56	0.39	0.33	0.70	0.30	0.65	0.83	0.55	0.56	6
565	0.93	0.89	0.37	0.03	1.00	0	0.72	0.79	0.28	0.56	7
476	0.71	0.61	0.60	0.85	0.72	0.14	0.52	0.58	0.23	0.55	8
282	0.61	0.64	0.42	0.73	0.61	0.33	0.50	0.61	0.40	0.54	9
597	0.78	0.57	0.23	0.33	0.29	0.68	0.61	0.66	0.36	0.50	10
105	1.00	0.60	0.78	0	0.55	0.40	0.50	0.45	0.24	0.50	11
643	0.44	0.29	0.16	0.27	0.42	0.49	0.73	0.84	0.66	0.48	12
66	0.69	0.28	0.26	0.20	0.42	0.50	0.59	0.75	0.58	0.47	13
181	0	0	0.29	0.92	0.25	0.73	0.98	0.75	0.34	0.47	14
246	0.83	1.00	0.26	0.17	0.24	0.68	0.33	0.50	0.20	0.47	15
477	0.86	0.65	0.31	0.33	0.44	0.41	0.44	0.45	0.30	0.47	16
170	0.68	0.28	0.14	1.00	0.17	0.77	0.36	0.32	0.19	0.44	17
809	0.77	0.05	0	0.27	0.19	0.77	0.74	0.77	0.32	0.43	18
184	0.58	0.12	0.09	0.72	0.48	0.45	0.55	0.51	0.29	0.42	19
447	0.71	0.42	1.00	0.55	0.45	0.50	0.05	0	0.05	0.42	20
519	0.73	0.55	0.37	0.63	0.17	0.79	0.19	0.22	0.07	0.41	21
410	0.80	0.23	0.29	0.44	0.01	1.00	0.38	0.35	0.18	0.41	22
556	0.81	0.64	0.34	0.08	0	0.89	0.10	0.19	0.09	0.35	23
129	0.77	0.22	0.32	0.64	0.17	0.70	0.08	0.03	0	0.33	24
449	0.35	0.56	0.28	0.19	0.01	0.88	0	0.06	0.01	0.26	25

亚类 Subgroups	无性系 Clones	表皮厚度 T_E/μm	皮层厚度 T_C/μm	比叶面积 A_SL/（cm²·g^-1）	水分利用效率 E_WU/（μmol·mol^-1）	气孔蒸腾指数 T_S/（%·h^-1）	残余蒸腾指数 T_R/（%·h^-1）	水力直径 D_h/μm	理论导水率 K_s/ （kg·m^-1·MPa^-1·s^-1）	细胞壁加固指数（t/b）²	排序 No.
A	774	28.78	30.92	130.96	48.42	1.78	0.16	8.01	0.89	0.20	2
	214	29.68	28.81	134.22	48.75	1.36	0.27	8.55	1.06	0.20	5
	721	28.14	32.03	142.39	50.12	1.04	0.35	8.72	1.03	0.19	6
	597	29.17	32.25	154.89	50.31	1.62	0.21	8.79	1.16	0.16	10
	105	32.57	32.59	111.56	37.42	1.25	0.31	9.02	1.33	0.14	11
	643	23.98	28.24	160.62	47.76	1.45	0.28	8.55	1.02	0.21	12
	66	27.86	28.07	152.59	45.20	1.45	0.28	8.83	1.09	0.19	13
	246	29.94	38.26	153.02	43.90	1.70	0.21	9.35	1.29	0.13	15
	477	30.41	33.35	148.73	50.22	1.41	0.31	9.13	1.33	0.15	16
	809	28.96	24.82	173.54	48.00	1.77	0.17	8.54	1.08	0.15	18
B	128	26.52	30.28	155.83	74.92	1.48	0.25	8.61	1.12	0.23	3
	125	26.70	32.19	159.11	70.50	1.89	0.17	8.58	1.00	0.19	4
	476	28.14	32.75	125.89	70.17	1.01	0.41	8.97	1.23	0.14	8
	282	26.50	33.15	140.39	65.85	1.17	0.34	9.01	1.20	0.17	9
	170	27.68	28.08	161.98	76.17	1.80	0.17	9.29	1.44	0.13	17
	184	26.14	25.90	166.43	65.32	1.35	0.30	8.92	1.28	0.15	19
C	565	31.46	36.65	144.09	38.72	0.62	0.46	8.57	1.06	0.15	7
C	181	17.18	24.16	150.60	72.89	1.69	0.19	8.05	1.09	0.16	14

性状 Traits	主成分Ⅰ Principal component Ⅰ	主成分Ⅱ Principal component Ⅱ
表皮厚度T_E	0.07	0.45
皮层厚度T_C	0.10	0.45
比叶面积A_SL	-0.01	-0.40
水分利用效率E_WU	-0.12	-0.31
气孔蒸腾指数T_S	0.38	-0.38
残余蒸腾指数T_R	-0.35	0.39
水力直径D_h	0.48	0.16
理论导水率K_s	0.50	0.08
细胞壁加固指数（t/b）²	-0.48	-0.10
特征值Eigenvalue	3.33	2.46
贡献率 Contribution rate/%	37.28	27.36
累计贡献率 Cumulative contribution rate/%	37.28	64.64