Genetic variation in fire recovery and other fire-related traits in a global eucalypt species

Abstract To understand the potential of forests to adapt wildfire, we studied genetic architecture fire-related structural, damage and recovery traits in a globally important Australian forest tree species, Eucalyptus globulus . Fourteen were evaluated an outcrossed F 2 population field trial Tasmania, Australia, which was burnt by wildfire 14 years after planting. The also included open-pollinated families grandparental dwarf tall ecotypes used produce population. We phenotypic correlations within performed quantitative trait loci (QTL) analyses using linkage map comprised 472 markers. Ecotype comparisons revealed that almost all under control, with trees ecotype significantly more damaged mainly recovering from lignotubers, whereas recovered epicormic resprouts extending for variable height up stem. Within , size negatively correlated fire positively recovery. Genetic control confirmed detection 38 QTL These accounted 4 43% variation these traits. Several co-located likely reflect pleiotropic effects. However, many independent detected, including crown consumption trunk scorch, resprouting, resprout herbivory, seedling establishment. detected argue genetically controlled mechanisms are responsible