| Abstract Detail
Conservation Biology Hoban, Sean [1], Schlarbaum, Scott E. [2], Romero-Severson, Jeanne [1]. Restoration Genetics of the American Butternut Tree (J. cinerea L.). American butternut (Juglans cinerea L.) is a nut producing, hardwood tree endemic to riparian zones in eastern North American forests. Throughout the 20th century, cultural practices and a variety of forest pests caused wild butternut populations to decline. Butternut canker, a disease caused by an aggressive fungus of suspected exotic origin, Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum, has accelerated this decline. Identified in 1967 in Wisconsin, the canker now occurs throughout the native range of butternut and has reduced populations by 80% in some states. Seedlings and saplings are particularly susceptible to the fungus, and local extinction is becoming an urgent threat as mature trees die and regeneration declines.
However, healthy butternut trees have been observed in proximity to trees heavily infected with the butternut canker fungus, suggesting some natural tolerance. Additionally, Japanese walnut (Juglans ailantifolia Carrière), an Asian species that hybridizes with butternut, shows high tolerance to the disease. Japanese walnut was imported to Eastern North America in the twentieth century and widely planted as an ornamental and commercial species. Introgression into wild butternut populations is suspected, but the extent of this hybridization is unknown.
Molecular marker systems can be used to distinguish the various Juglans species, detect interspecific hybrids, measure genetic diversity and reveal population substructure within and among the remaining natural populations, facilitating conservation and restoration programs. Using the first set of microsatellite markers developed specifically for J. cinerea, we have genotyped a subset of trees from a natural butternut population in Kentucky (N=75) and a panel of Japanese walnuts and suspected hybrids (N=90). We present the allelic data and discuss the use of these markers to measure J. ailantifolia introgression into J. cinerea populations. We anticipate that these markers will be useful in breeding programs directed towards the introduction of disease-resistant butternut back into its native range.
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Related Links:
USDA Plant Profile of Butternut
Silvics of North America Profile of Butternut
1 - University of Notre Dame, Biological Sciences, 320 Galvin Life Sciences Bldg, Notre Dame, IN, 46556, USA
2 - The University of Tennessee, Forestry, Wildlife & Fisheries, Knoxville, Tennessee, 37996-4563, USA
Keywords:
butternut
Juglans
restoration genetics
plant-pathogen
conservation
population genetics.
Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Topics
Session: CP02
Location: PDR 4/Hilton
Date: Monday, July 9th, 2007
Time: 10:45 AM
Number: CP02010
Abstract ID:1886 |
