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Scientia Silvae Sinicae ›› 2025, Vol. 61 ›› Issue (5): 131-145.doi: 10.11707/j.1001-7488.LYKX20240636

• Research papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Differences in Leaf Sugar Metabolism of Populus deltoides Parents and their Hybrids with Different Growth Potentials and Different Forest Ages

Jing Zhang1,2,Weixi Zhang1,2,Changjun Ding1,2,*(),Yanguang Chu1,2,Xiaohua Su1,2,5,Jun Zhao3,Xuehui Su4,Zhengsai Yuan1,2,Zhenghong Li1,2,Jinjin Yu1,2,Qinjun Huang1,2   

  1. 1. State Key Laboratory of Tree Genetics and Breeding Research Institute of Forestry,Chinese Academy of Forestry Beijing 100091
    2. State Key Laboratory of Tree Breeding and Cultivation of National Forestry Administration Research Institute of Forestry, Chinese Academy of Forestry Beijing 100091
    3. Jiaozuo University Jiaozuo 454000
    4. Jiaozuo Academy of Agriculture and Forestry Sciences Jiaozuo 454003
    5. Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China Nanjing Forestry University Nanjing 210037
  • Received:2024-10-29 Online:2025-05-20 Published:2025-05-24
  • Contact: Changjun Ding E-mail:changjunding@caf.ac.cn

Abstract:

Objective: In this study, the differences in key indicators of starch and sucrose metabolism in the leaves of Populus deltoides parents and their F1 hybrids with different growth potentials were investigated at different forest ages during critical periods of annual growth, with which the role of starch and sucrose metabolism in the formation and maintenance of growth heterosis in P. deltoides was analyzed. This study aims to provide valuable references for revealing the role of starch and sucrose metabolism in the formation and maintenance of growth heterosis in trees, as well as in high-yield hybrid breeding of poplars. Method: With the space-for-time substitution method, the high-growth potential hybrids (H1, H2, H3) and low-growth potential hybrids (L3, L4) at 1- and 3-year-old forest, along with their male (MP) and female (FP) parents of P. deltoides were selected as the research materials. The content of starch and sucrose, as well as the activities of ADP-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGPase), sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS), β-amylase (BAM), and sucrose synthase (decomposition direction, SS-I) in the leaves at different time points during critical growth periods (July, August, September) were measured using micro-methods. The differences in various indicators were compared among hybrids and parents, and the correlation and regression, as well as path analysis were conducted to elucidate the regulatory patterns of key indicators in starch and sucrose metabolism in the formation of different growth potentials. Result: During the critical growth periods, high-growth potential hybrids at 1-year-old and 3-year-old forest exhibited significant high-parent heterosis (HPH) in growth traits such as tree height and diameter at breast height (DBH), and showed obvious mid-parent or high-parent heterosis in key indicators of starch and sucrose metabolism. However, the sugar metabolism characteristics that promote and maintain growth heterosis in high-growth potential hybrids of P. deltoides were different with different ages. Among them, 1-year-old high-growth potential hybrids showed high-parent heterosis in the activity of daytime starch and sucrose synthesis related enzymes (AGPase and SPS), as well as nighttime starch consumption, with HPH values of 1.63%–13.47%, 5.41%–16.03%, 0.58%–4.44%, respectively. Moreover, AGPase and SPS activities were significantly positively correlated with the net increase of tree height and ground diameter (GD), with significantly positive direct effects (P< 0.05). Except for daytime SPS activity and nighttime sucrose consumption, which showed high-parent heterosis (HPH: 0.61%–14.77%, 0.29%–26.05%), the 3-year-old high-growth potential hybrids showed mid-parent heterosis (MPH) in other sugar metabolism indicators, which were 0.42%–12.23%, 0.25%–12.20%, 0.76%–5.20%, respectively. There were significant correlations between key sugar metabolism indicators and growth traits of 3-year-old P. deltoides, which were influenced by the month of measurement. The nighttime sucrose consumption and BAM, SPS, and AGPase activity had a decisive role on net growth in July, August, and September, respectively. These indicators showed opposite trends in low-growth potential hybrids. Conclusion: The heterosis phenomenon in growth traits of P. deltoides is stable at both 1-year-old and 3-year-old forest, and the characteristics of sugar metabolism-related indicators during critical growth periods are closely related to the formation and maintenance of growth heterosis. The sugar metabolism strategies for maintaining growth heterosis in high-growth potential hybrids of P. deltoides with different forest ages are different. For 1-year-old forest, growth heterosis is primarily enhanced by increasing the accumulation and transport of sucrose and starch during day and night. The 3-year-old high-growth potential hybrids maintain their growth heterosis mainly through the accumulation and transport of sucrose, with this process being influenced by the month of measurement.

Key words: Populus deltoides, starch metabolism, sucrose metabolism, growth traits, heterosis.

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