Genetic and environmental vessel control differ between 10-year-old Dipteryx alata (Fabaceae) provenances

What is it about?

We know that wood anatomy is more conserved when compared to its morphological characteristics, e.g., leaves, flowers, fruits, and crown shape, which are subject to greater selective pressure. Here, we hypothesized that trees growing in the same place, but with different seed origins, will maintain their wood structure based on genetic information shaped by climatic conditions from place of origin, despite present abiotic factors of the planting environment. Thus, diameter and density of wood vessels, even given plasticity owing to climatic conditions, should reflect differences between provenances. The key contribution and novelty of this work relies on the demonstration that genetic control does overcome the environmental influence over the anatomical properties of Dipteryx alata wood.

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