Population genetic insights for climate-adaptive oak management: Results from a large-scale study of Turkey oak populations

Lados, Botond Boldizsár and Nagy, László and Benke, Attila and Molnár, Csilla and Köbölkuti, Zoltán Attila and Cseke, Klára (2026) Population genetic insights for climate-adaptive oak management: Results from a large-scale study of Turkey oak populations. FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT, 606. ISSN 0378-1127

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Abstract

Human-assisted translocation of oak reproductive material as part of climate-adaptive oak management has long been a key consideration in Central Europe. In this study, we conducted population genetic analysis of 32 Turkey oak (Quercus cerris L.) populations from Central and Southeast Europe, using ddRAD-seq genotyping, to support forestry adaptation measures. Our results revealed multiple genetic groups within the sampled range, suggesting that long-distance transfers of reproductive material could lead to the admixture of genetically distinct groups. We also detected a diversity cline, with genetic diversity increasing from the southwest and southeast toward the northwest. The highest diversity was observed in the Carpathian Basin, which is the most continental part of the sampled range and includes many populations near the species’ drought limit. In this region, the surplus of genetic diversity may play a crucial role in local adaptation. Our findings further suggest that transferring reproductive material from Southeast Europe to the Carpathian Basin should be approached with caution, as this direction runs counter to the observed diversity gradient. Furthermore, loci under selection and their genotype-environment associations indicate that Turkey oak is primarily challenged by temperature fluctuations and extremes, rather than by water availability, as previously observed in co-occurring sessile oak (Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl.). These results provide valuable support for a detailed assessment of Turkey oak’s adaptive capacity, improving the efficiency of provenance selection for climate-adaptive forest management.

Tudományterület / tudományág

agricultural sciences > forestry and wildlife management

Faculty

Not relevant

Institution

Soproni Egyetem

Item Type:	Article
SWORD Depositor:	Teszt Sword
Depositing User:	Csaba Horváth
Identification Number:	MTMT:36905350
Date Deposited:	12 Mar 2026 13:00
Last Modified:	12 Mar 2026 13:00
URI:	http://publicatio.uni-sopron.hu/id/eprint/3924

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