Intraspecific drought tolerance of Betula pendula genotypes: an evaluation using leaf turgor loss in a botanical collection

Abstract Key message The results showed a significant relationship between the potential evapotranspiration of the provenance collection site and the leaf turgor loss point and significant positive differences in drought tolerance between provenances and subspecies of B. pendula. Abstract The ecosystem services provided by urban trees make substantial contributions to the quality of urban living and securing resilience towards the challenges posed by a changing climate. Water deficits are a major abiotic stress for trees in urban environments and, in many regions, this stress is likely to be amplified under future climate scenarios. Although wide variation in drought tolerance exists at the species level, many species also show substantial intraspecific variation in drought tolerance. The aim of this study is to evaluate how drought tolerance, inferred from the water potential at leaf turgor loss point (ΨP0), varies in Betula pendula from different geographical origins and determine if the observed drought tolerance can be related to the local climate and seasonal water balance from the provenance of origin, despite the trees now being established in similar soil and climatic conditions within a single botanical collection. Six subsp. betula, five subsp. mandshurica and two subsp. szechuanica were evaluated, giving a total of 12 different provenances. The results showed a significant relationship between the potential evapotranspiration of the provenance collection site and the leaf turgor loss point and significant positive differences in drought tolerance between provenances and subspecies of B. pendula. By directing efforts towards identifying more drought-tolerant genotypes, it will be possible to diversify the palette of trees that could confidently be integrated by urban tree planners and landscape architects into the urban landscape. The results of this study on different ecotypes of B. pendula clearly show that it is possible to find more drought-tolerant plant material.