Abstract Detail

Recent Topics Posters

Zink, Alexandra [1], Petit, Elsa [2].

Wild Relatives of Grapes In North America: Impact Of Climate Change on Flowering Phenology.

Over the last century, we have observed an increase in global temperatures including the warmest years as far back as meteorological data extends, with the global mean temperature projected to continue rising. Phenology, the timing of biological events, has proved to be one of the most responsive aspects of nature to rising temperatures and one of the simplest to study. Evidence for a wide range of plant species suggests that spring phenophases are especially vulnerable to warming temperatures, generally occurring earlier as a result. My project uses the grape (Vitis sp.) as a model system to study these effects. Grapes are very significant from an agronomic perspective and the sustainability of their agriculture is linked to better use of locally-adapted and more diverse crops. The traditional European grapes (e.g. Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon) are cultivars of a single species, Vitis vinifera. We are located on the Northeast coast of the United States, one of the major centers of diversity for grapes, making this region an important source of Vitis germplasm for viticulture. Crop wild relatives are a valuable source of genetic variation for domesticated populations but in the face of climate change, the suitable habitat of these species is expected to greatly decrease or even disappear. Because the phenology of Vitis species is heavily dependent on temperature, it is important to understand how the diverse Vitis species of this area respond to ongoing changes in climate. Herbarium data serves as a reliable record for studying shifts in flowering phenology in response to climatic changes and herbaria specimen have been used successfully to connect changes in spatial distribution and phenology timing with changes in climate. My project aims to use herbarium resources to understand how the flowering time of Vitis species in the Northeast has changed over the past two centuries and how this effect varies between species and across the region. Understanding what changes have happened in the past one to two hundred years can allow us to predict future changes and make better decisions for the conservation of their biodiversity.

1 - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Biology, Environmental Science, 61 Scituate St, Arlington, MA, 02476, United States
2 - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 216 Bowditch Hall, 201 Natural Resources Rd, Amherst, MA, 01003, United States

Keywords:
Vitis
flowering phenology
Flowering time
Northeast
Grapevine
grapes
herbarium
crop wild relatives.

Presentation Type:
Session: P, Recent Topics Posters
Location: Arizona Ballroom/Starr Pass
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2019
Time: 5:30 PM
Number: PRT032
Abstract ID:1411
Candidate for Awards:None