Stem xylem traits in poplar genotypes (Populus L.): additional parameters for selection and breeding

doi:10.3832/ifor4868-018

Stem xylem traits in poplar genotypes (Populus L.): additional parameters for selection and breeding

Lana Zorić⁽¹⁾ , Andrej Pilipović⁽²⁾, Junel Solis⁽³⁾, Ramish Bibi⁽³⁾, Irina Belaya⁽³⁾, Dado Tokic⁽³⁾, Pasi Kankaanpää⁽³⁾, Sonja Davidović⁽¹⁾, Dunja Karanović⁽¹⁾, Jadranka Luković⁽¹⁾

iForest - Biogeosciences and Forestry, Volume 19, Issue 1, Pages 52-60 (2026)
doi: https://doi.org/10.3832/ifor4868-018
Published: Feb 15, 2026 - Copyright © 2026 SISEF

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Selection programs on Populus species are primarily aimed at developing fast-growing genotypes. This study aimed to examine the anatomical features of stem xylem and vessel traits in Populus clones, providing valuable parameters to guide future selection and breeding efforts. To achieve this objective, cross-sections of one-year-old shoots of two-year-old trees were analyzed using light microscopy. Measurements of xylem parameters were performed using automated image analysis, and theoretical hydraulic conductance (Kh), vulnerability index (Vi), and vessel grouping index were calculated. Based on our findings, we propose that stem anatomical characteristics related to xylem and vessel traits can serve as valuable tools for selecting poplar clones with enhanced productivity, water-transport efficiency, drought resistance, or cavitation resistance. A significant correlation was found between shoot anatomical properties and Kh and Vi. From an anatomical perspective, breeding efforts aimed at increased growth should prioritize developing clones with a higher xylem proportion (xylem/phloem ratio), larger-lumen vessels, a greater proportion of solitary vessels, and a lower percentage of grouped vessels. Conversely, breeding for drought-tolerant clones and those with enhanced resistance to cavitation should prioritize clones with more small-lumen vessels, a higher percentage of grouped vessels, more vessel groups, and vessel groups with more vessels. The anatomical approach described here is an efficient and accessible method for assessing the growth potential, cavitation tolerance, and drought resistance of poplar trees.

Keywords

Cavitation, Stem Anatomy, Vessels, Water Conductivity

Authors’ address

(1)

0000-0002-4261-2844

0000-0002-8007-4610
0000-0003-2384-7610
University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences, Department of Biology and Ecology, Novi Sad (Serbia)

(2)

0000-0002-9458-0581
University of Minnesota, Natural Resources Research Institute (NRRI), Duluth, MN (USA)

(3)

0000-0003-0972-5262

0000-0001-8129-3711
0009-0007-8471-3006
0000-0002-5890-0883
Turku BioImaging, Abo Akademi University and the University of Turku, Turku (Finland)

Corresponding author

Lana Zorić
lana.zoric@dbe.uns.ac.rs

Citation

Zorić L, Pilipović A, Solis J, Bibi R, Belaya I, Tokic D, Kankaanpää P, Davidović S, Karanović D, Luković J (2026). Stem xylem traits in poplar genotypes (Populus L.): additional parameters for selection and breeding. iForest 19: 52-60. - doi: 10.3832/ifor4868-018

Academic Editor

Marco Borghetti

Paper history

Received: Apr 08, 2025
Accepted: Jul 15, 2025

First online: Feb 15, 2026
Publication Date: Feb 28, 2026
Publication Time: 7.17 months

Open Access

This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-Non Commercial 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made.

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