Importance of regulation mechanisms for the climatic adaptation of Norway spruce

Adaptation of Norway spruce to extreme climatic conditions is generally belived to develop in the course of many generations due to the interaction of several evolutionary process (mostly selection). Recent results with Norway spruce have indicated that c limatic adaptation can occur in only one generation in response to the weather and climatic conditions (temperature and perhaps photoperiod) during sexual reproduction. In order to establish the mechanisms underlying this short-term adaption and utilise t he respective results for practical forestry purpose, several integrated investigations using the same progenies from controlled crosses in different environments are planned. Possible rapid selection processes during reproduction will be analyses by allo zyme and DNA markes in female gametophytes and embryos of the different progenies. Possible gene regulations will be analysed by means of innovative molecular genetic methods aiming at the detection of the mechanisms of potential differential gene expression in different progenies. Both main investigations will be supplemented by phenological and physiological studies on the same Norway spruce progenies. In this proposal we apply for national financial support for the remaining 50 % of our participation in a granted EU-project which will start 01.01.2001.