Vieira Natividade Experimental Plots at Mata Nacional do Vimeiro, Portugal: The Hybrids Quercus x hispânica ‘Lucombeana’ (Quercus cerris x suber)

In 1933, Joaquim Vieira Natividade established an experimental field with oaks and related genera at Mata Nacional do Vimeiro, Portugal. This experimental area includes the only Portuguese plots with the hybrid Quercus x hispanica hybrid ‘Lucombeana’ (Quercus cerris x suber) with seeds obtained from the Cambridge Botanic Gardens.In 1962-1965, their offspring were included in this area.Those plots integrate an ex situ forest genetic resources, representing a unique population for understanding the structure, function and evolution of the genome (genomics) and its gene expression (transcriptomics). In all progenies, with approximately 60 years, it is evident the segregation for several phenotypic characteristics, specifically in the cork formation and in the leaf shape. Based on that, two projects were developed with this plant material. The first was focused on finding out the molecular basis responsible for the variation in cork and the other on association genetic studies.The aim of this work is to allow access and sharing of knowledge about this genetic material in accordance with the established by FAO in the State of the World’s Forest Genetic Resources report. Information about these hybridsis available at PANGAEA repository.