Analysis of the environmental impact on the physiological and genetic quality of seeds at the end of maturation

36 months doctoral funding (October 2024-September 2027)

The quality of a seed is defined by many parameters such as its genotype, the environment in which it developed, its level of maturity when it is harvested, but also post-harvest treatment. The environment includes climate, sylviculture, number of reproducers, harvest year, etc. This quality is generally determining for the longevity of the seed and its germination capacity. However, for beech, like many forest species, we do not know the impact of the environment on this quality, nor the determinism of genetic variability in its capacity to adapt to future climatic conditions. We cannot therefore explain, with the little current knowledge, the phenomena of seedling dieback observed in recent years in marginal beech forests.