间作绿豆对核桃苗光合特性及根系导水力的作用

[目的]为研究间作绿豆对核桃苗根系生长、根系水分运输和光合特性的影响,[方法]采用砂培方法,在温室内将1年生核桃嫁接苗和绿豆进行间作。[结果]显示:间作绿豆增加了土壤全氮含量(0.014%0.021%),不添加氮素间作绿豆,核桃苗根系总表面积、根系总长度、根系直径和根系总体积均显著增加,而正常供应氮素间作绿豆,核桃苗根系生长降低。核桃苗根系单位面积的导水率与土壤氮素含量显著相关,添加氮素与否间作绿豆后,根系单位面积导水率分别升高0.102×10^-5 mL·cm^-1·min^-1·MPa^-1和0.057 ×10^-5 mL·cm^-1·min^-1·MPa^-1;而不添加氮素间作绿豆整株根系导水率增加0.043 mL·cm^-1·min^-1·MPa^-1,正常供应氮素间作绿豆后,核桃苗整株根系导水率反而降低0.034 mL·cm^-1·min^-1·MPa^-1;核桃苗气孔导度对各处理响应和根系整株导水力有相同趋势,不添加氮素间作绿豆核桃光合能力升高至对照水平,光饱和点达1 567.17 μmol·m^-2·s^-1,最大净光合速率达12.84 μmol·m^-2·s^-1,光补偿点和暗呼吸速率降低;而正常供应氮素间作绿豆核桃苗光合能力降低。[结论]间作绿豆改善了核桃苗的生长环境,有益于增加核桃苗的根系吸收面积、水分运输以及光合代谢;但在氮素充足的土壤中,间作绿豆非但无益于核桃苗,反而降低核桃苗的水分供应,影响其气体交换和光合能力。     

非生长季刺槐林土壤CH4通量的变化特征及其影响因子

[目的]探讨在非生长季不同天气条件下45年生刺槐林土壤CH₄通量的日变化和季节变化特征,并确定其主要影响因子.[方法]2014年10月-2015年4月(非生长季),在华北低山丘陵区黄河小浪底森林生态系统定位研究站,利用基于离轴积分腔输出光谱技术的土壤CH₄通量自动观测系统,对土壤CH₄通量进行连续观测,同步观测林内大气温度和相对湿度、5 cm深处土壤温度和土壤湿度、林内总辐射以及降雨量,分析各因子间的相互关系并确定影响土壤CH₄通量的主要因子.[结果]表明:(1)在非生长季,刺槐人工林土壤为大气CH₄重要的汇,变化范围为-0.15~-2.34 nmol·m^-2·s^-1 .晴天的林地土壤吸收CH₄能力 (-0.78 nmol·m^-2·s^-1) 明显高于阴天(-0.61 nmol·m^-2·s^-1)、降雨或降雪天气 (-0.58 nmol·m^-2·s^-1),而且呈"V"型日际变化特征;在2014年11月-2015年1月,土壤吸收CH₄能力逐渐下降,并维持相对较低的水平,直至2015年3月达到最大值 (-2.34 nmol·m^-2·s^-1);(2)土壤CH₄通量与大气温度、5 cm深处土壤温度呈显著负相关,与相对湿度呈正相关;在2015年1月,土壤CH₄通量与总辐射呈正相关;(3)在生长末期土壤上冻阶段和冬季土壤冻结阶段,大气温度和相对湿度为影响土壤CH₄通量的主要因子;而在生长季初期,主要的影响因子为大气温度和5 cm深处土壤温度.[结论]非生长季刺槐林土壤表现为大气CH₄的汇,在非生长季初期土壤吸收CH₄的能力最弱,主要受大气温度和相对湿度的影响,而在非生长季末期土壤吸收CH₄的能力逐渐增加,主要受大气温度和土壤温度的影响.     

南方红豆杉2年生容器苗多点试验的生长节律家系变异

[目的]对南方红豆杉家系进行了生长节律变异研究,以选育优良速生的南方红豆杉家系.[方法]在江西分宜、湖北京山、浙江淳安和浙江龙泉4个地点对2年生南方红豆杉家系容器苗进行了苗期遗传测定和苗高生长节律观测,分析了其性状变异的家系效应、地点效应及家系×地点的互作效应.[结果]表明参试的南方红豆杉苗高、地径和苗高生长节律参数在家系间、地点间和家系×地点间均表现出极显著差异.南方红豆杉家系间苗高最大值分别高出最小值76.20%(江西分宜)、52.98%(湖北京山)、55.42%(浙江淳安)和78.10%(浙江龙泉);地径最大值分别高出最小值126.67%、23.68%、37.02%和26.48%.南方红豆杉家系间苗高和地径变异系数在11.81%~26.50%之间.对南方红豆杉2年生容器苗各性状进行遗传力估算,遗传力在0.80~0.97之间.相关性分析认为不同测试点间苗高与苗高生长节律参数具有不同相互关系,江西分宜点苗高与线性生长速率呈负相关,而浙江龙泉点苗高与线性生长速率则呈显著正相关.以苗高作为主要性状指标,从4个测试点中筛选出7个南方红豆杉优良家系.[结论]南方红豆杉家系间,苗高、地径与苗高生长节律具有较丰富的遗传差异,遗传改良潜力较大,家系各性状遗传力较大,受较强的遗传控制,早期选择有一定的可靠性.家系与地点的互作效应显著说明部分家系生长受环境因素影响较强,遗传稳定性较弱;其中闽11和三元06两个优良家系在4个测试点中均被选中,遗传稳定性较强,可在多点进行推广.     

大兴安岭森林沼泽类型与火干扰对土壤微生物群落影响

[目的]研究森林沼泽演替与火干扰条件下土壤微生物结构与多样性变化,为进一步揭示土壤微生物群落在森林沼泽保护与恢复中的作用提供依据。[方法]采用磷脂脂肪酸法与BIOLOG方法,研究大兴安岭南瓮河国家自然保护区内主要森林沼泽类型(兴安落叶松-狭叶杜香-藓类沼泽、兴安落叶松-兴安杜鹃-藓类沼泽、兴安落叶松+白桦-苔草沼泽)与2006年受不同火强度干扰沼泽(重度火烧的兴安落叶松-兴安杜鹃-藓类沼泽和中度火烧的兴安落叶松+白桦-苔草沼泽)土壤微生物群落特征,探讨沼泽主要发育阶段与火干扰强度对土壤微生物群落的影响。[结果]研究区域土壤微生物群落以16:00(16.29±5.62 nmol·g^-1)、甲烷氧化菌(18:1ω8t)(9.89±8.61 nmol·g^-1)与16:1ω7c(9.79±3.24 nmol·g^-1)的微生物为优势种群。土壤微生物总PLFAs含量、革兰氏阳性菌(G⁺)中a15:0、i16:0、i17:0、革兰氏阴性菌(G^-)中的cy19:0、真菌中的18:2ω6c、甲烷氧化菌(18:1ω8t)与森林沼泽发育阶段、火干扰明显相关(p<0.05)。一般饱和直链脂肪酸/单烯饱和脂肪酸比(Sat/Mon)偏低,其比值随沼泽发育呈现增加趋势,受到火干扰后明显增加(p<0.05);真菌/细菌比(F/B)与革兰氏阳性菌/革兰氏阴性菌(G⁺/G^-)未随着沼泽发育呈现出规律性变化,其比值受火干扰后明显发生改变(p<0.05)。土壤细菌与真菌对6类碳源的利用能力明显不同(p<0.001),其中土壤细菌对α-D-Lactose与L-Threonine利用存在差异性(F_α-D-Lactose =2.87 p=0.080,F_L-Threonine=3.00 p=0.078),土壤真菌对D-Mannitol、D-glucosaminic Acid利用存在差异性(F_{Tween 80}=2.75,p=0.088, F_D-Mannitol=3.53 p=0.047, F_{D-glucosaminic Acid}=4.67 p=0.022),但沼泽类型与火干扰未对土壤微生物功能多样性产生影响(p>0.05)。[结论]土壤微生物量与沼泽发育阶段相关;沼泽发育与火干扰改变土壤微生物群落结构。土壤细菌与真菌对碳源利用方面具有选择性。     

甘肃兴隆山主要森林类型凋落物累积量及其影响因子

[目的]为了阐明森林凋落物累积量与主要影响因子的关系。[方法]2013-2014年,采用时空互代法和标准样地调查法,研究了兴隆山山杨-白桦-青杄林演替过程中山杨-白桦-青杄中龄林、青杄中龄林和青杄近熟林3种森林群落凋落物累积量及其主要影响因子。[结果]表明:1)随森林正向演替的进行,森林凋落物层厚度和总累积量先减小后增加,3种森林群落凋落物层厚度均值依次为5.26、5.03和5.59 cm,总累积量均值依次为57.08、51.44、56.34 t·hm^-2; 2)随海拔高度的升高,青杄近熟林凋落物总累积量不断增加,海拔2300、2400和2500 m均值依次为48.56、55.93和64.55 t·hm^-2;林分密度大的、坡度小的青杄中龄林凋落物总累积量较大,林分密度为2133、1705和1065株·hm^-2的均值依次为49.87、48.59和45.36 t·hm^-2,坡度为22°、32°和41°的均值依次为58.35、49.90和48.59 t·hm^-2; 3)凋落物未分解层与林分胸径、树高、针叶树密度呈显著相关性。[结论]森林凋落物累积量影响因子较多,其大小是众多因子共同作用的结果。在林分和立地因子中,海拔影响较为明显,随海拔高度的升高而不断增加;林分密度、坡度等因子均有影响,但作用不明显;林分胸径、树高、针叶树密度与未分解层累积量呈显著负相关性,而与已分解层呈显著正相关性。     

利用PMI选择标记进行杨树转基因体系的研究

[目的]利用不同于抗生素的PMI为选择标记基因的遗传转化体系,对杨树进行双抗虫基因(Bt和CpTI)的转基因研究.建立杨树以PMI为安全标记基因的转基因体系,为安全、高效的林木转基因育种研究提供实验依据.[方法]选择已有的转CpTI抗虫基因(利用Km^r选择标记获得)的美洲黑杨杂种优良无性系南林895杨(Populus ×euramericana ‘Nanlin895’)为受体材料,对杨树叶片、叶片分化芽、茎段生根的甘露糖敏感性等筛选优化,采用农杆菌介导的方法进行双抗虫基因的研究.[结果]较为适合的杨树叶片筛选培养基为:甘露糖8 g·L^-1和蔗糖22 g·L^-1;叶片分化芽筛选培养基为:甘露糖10 g·L^-1和蔗糖20 g·L^-1;茎段生根筛选培养基:甘露糖8 g·L^-1和蔗糖22 g·L^-1.在此基础上,获得了转Bt和CpTI双抗虫基因的植株8株.[结论]初步建立了以PMI为安全标记基因的杨树转基因体系:确定了PMI筛选的最适选择压,成功构建了含PMI选择标记基因的植物抗虫表达载体,通过农杆菌介导的遗传转化最终获得了转双抗虫基因植株.     

落叶松正反交径生长量分析

对林口县青山林场23年生杂种子代测定林63个家系径生长进行分析的结果表明,日本落叶松×兴安落叶松、兴安落叶松×日本落叶松正反交在生长量上存在极显著差异,日本落叶松×兴安落叶松组在径生长量上要比兴安落叶松×日本落叶松组大.落叶松种间生长量也存在差异,径生长由慢到快依次为长白落叶松、兴安落叶松×兴安落叶松、兴安落叶松×日本落叶松、兴安落叶松×长白落叶松、日本落叶松、日本落叶松×长白落叶松、日本落叶松×兴安落叶松.     

松材线虫(Bursaphelenchus xylophilus)耐久型幼虫(LIV)携带的香茅醇假单胞杆菌(Pseudomonas citronellolis)分离与鉴定

[目的]目前有关松材线虫与伴生细菌的关系及伴生细菌的病原作用是松树枯萎病研究的重点。为了揭示松材线虫与伴生细菌之间存在的密切关系,作者对松材线虫L_IV幼虫携带的细菌进行了分离鉴定。[方法]根据培养性状和16S rDNA序列同源性以及系统发育学等方面进行分析鉴定。[结果]确定L_IV幼虫携带的是香茅醇假单胞杆菌（Pseudomonas citronellolis）,携带率为100%;每条L_IV幼虫携带量在1.4×10⁵~4.5×10⁵。L_IV幼虫生活在松褐天牛体内,是引起松材线虫病侵染流行的唯一虫态;新发现的香茅醇假单胞杆菌能分解纤维素及降解或合成萜烯和酚类化合物。[结论]L_IV幼虫携带香茅醇假单胞杆菌的发现,揭示了松树、松褐天牛、松材线虫、细菌同为一体的紧密关系,并为揭示松树枯萎病机制提供了一种新病原和重要的研究思路。     

滇重楼种子内源激素含量与种胚长度和萌发的关系

[目的]通过研究滇重楼种子层积过程中不同阶段内源激素含量与种胚长度的动态变化情况来探讨种子休眠机理.[方法]应用酶联免疫吸附法测定不同阶段种子内激素含量.[结果]种子萌发过程中,脱落酸(ABA)含量由54.34 ng·g^-1·FW降至32.16 ng·g^-1·FW,赤霉素(GA)、玉米素核苷(ZR)显著升高,吲哚乙酸(IAA)含量波动较大,但整体呈逐渐升高趋势,随层积时间延长,未萌发种子中ABA含量持续降低,GA含量与GA/ABA值持续升高,仍显著低于已萌动种子中激素含量(p<0.05);种子在层积42天后,种胚开始膨胀,胚率快速增加;相关性分析结果,内源激素含量及比值与种胚生长呈显著相关(p<0.05),其中,GA/ABA值对种胚生长的影响最大.[结论]种子萌发过程中仅ABA含量降低不足以解除滇重楼种子休眠,同期GA含量升高和GA/ABA值达到某一阈值时能有效的解除滇重楼种子的休眠和促进胚的发育;种子在层积40天左右后,由于各项激素的综合作用,滇重楼种子由休眠状态逐步转变为破除休眠状态和萌发状态.     

米槠人促更新林皆伐火烧后初期土壤CO2通量动态

[目的]为科学评价皆伐、火烧对中亚热带常绿阔叶林不同深度土壤有机碳吸存的影响,[方法]以福建省中亚热带36年生米槠人促更新林为研究对象,采用非散射红外CO₂浓度探测仪和Licor-8100土壤碳通量系统,并结合Fick扩散法计算并分析0~80 cm不同深度土层CO₂通量的日动态特征。[结果]表明:(1)火烧地(RB)和皆伐地(RR)不同土层CO₂浓度均出现明显下降,其中,对照(CK)地土壤CO₂浓度值(0~80 cm)分别是RB和RR的1.9、1.3倍;(2)各试验地土壤CO₂通量(0~80 cm)表现为RB(1.99 μmol·m²·s^-1)>RR(0.99 μmol·m²·s^-1)>CK(0.96 μmol·m²·s^-1),除2040 cm土层外,RB土壤各层CO₂通量均显著高于RR和CK(P<0.05);(3)试验地不同土层CO₂通量(0~80 cm)日变化幅度表现为RB>RR>CK,其中,RB土壤各层的变化幅度均显著大于RR和CK(P<0.05),而RR与CK间的差异表现在0~5、10~20、20~40 cm土层(P<0.05);(4)拟合分析表明,各试验地不同深度土壤CO₂通量与土壤温度呈显著相关,且 RB的决定系数(R²)显著高于RR和CK;不同试验地各土层温度、含水量的双因素模型拟合效果均优于单因素模型;Q₁₀值显示,皆伐、火烧后初期土壤各层的温度敏感性得到明显提高。     

Comparative analysis of diterpene composition in the bark of the hybrid larch F<Subscript>1</Subscript>, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larix gmelinii</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">japonica × L. kaempferi</Emphasis> and their parent trees

The diterpene compositions in the bark of branches were investigated for two families of the F₁ hybrid, Kurile larch (Larix gmelinii var. japonica Pilg.) × Japanese larch [Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr.] (hereafter F₁) and their parents clones. 13-Epimanool, larixol, larixyl acetate, 13-epitorulosyl acetate (not detected in L. gmelinii var. japonica), isopimaric acid, abietic acid, dehydroabietic acid, and neoabietic acid were detected. Larixol and abietic acid represented more than 50% of the diterpene content in L. gmelinii var. japonica and L. kaempferi, respectively. Larixol and abietic acid were the predominant diterpene components in the F₁, and the proportions of these diterpenes were between those of the parental species. Therefore, the diterpene compositions in the F₁ were hereditarily infl uenced by their parents. The ratios of labdane, pimarane, and abietane diterpenes suggested that the main diterpene biosynthesis pathway in L. gmelinii var. japonica was from copalyl diphosphate (CDP) to labdane-type diterpenes, and that in L. kaempferi was from CDP to abietane-type diterpenes via pimarane type. Furthermore, linear discriminant analysis suggested that the diterpene contents are effective indices for the discrimination of the hybrid seedlings. Part of this article was presented at the Annual Meetings of the Japan Society for Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Agrochemistry in Kyoto, March 2006, and in Tokyo, March 2007     

Characteristics of reproductive biology forLarix originating in Japan

The paper summarized the life cycle, environmental features and distributions ofLarix origination in Japan. The time of blooming and fruiting and the ways of cone collection and seeds storage were introduced. The treating methods of seeds germination and the sowing time for both Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi Carr) and Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii var.japonica Pilger) were discussed. Responsible Editor: Zhu Hong     

Activities of some defense proteins associated with age or plant family in larch needles of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Larix olgensis</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">L. kaempferi</Emphasis> × <Emphasis Type="Italic">L. gmelinii</Emphasis>

Defence proteins are a kind of chemical defence compounds. They play a key role in plant restraining biotic and abiotic harm. To illuminate activities of some defense proteins associated with age or plant family of larch, the larch needles were collected from two different families of Korean larch, Larix olgensis and a hybrid larch, L. kaempferi × L. gmelinii, respectively, and then the activities of defence proteins in those were tested using a UV spectrophotometry. The results showed that the activities of protective enzymes at the16-/17- and 19-year-age groups were higher than those at the other age groups in the both larch species. While the activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) at the 16-/17-year-age group and phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and protease inhibitors at the 19-year-age group were the highest among all age groups. Then, compared with L. olgensis, the hybrid larch had significant effects on the activities of protective enzymes. The effects of plant family on the activities of PAL and chymotrypsin inhibitor were significantly different, and then those on the activities of PPO were not significantly different. The effects of the two families in L. olgensis on the activities of trypsin inhibitor (TI) were significantly different, while those in the hybrid larch on the activities of TI were contrary. To conclusions showed that the different age and plant family significantly affected the activities of defence proteins in the needles of two larch species, and then enhanced the larch resistance to pests. These could play a key function in forestry tree genetic improvement and management in future.     

The effects of early and intense pruning on light penetration,tree growth,and epicormic shoot dynamics in a young hybrid larch stand

We examined the effect of early and intense pruning on light intensity under the canopy, individual growth, diameter–height relationships, and epicormic shoot dynamics in young hybrid larch (Larix gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi) to establish a new effective management method for hybrid larch plantations. The objective is to produce high-quality wood while reducing silviculture costs using a combination of low-density planting and early and intense pruning. In a young hybrid larch plantation, we pruned branches to two different heights (2 and 4 m above ground level) using a no-pruning treatment as a control. Although the growth rates were lower in the heavy pruning treatment (4 m above the ground level) than in other treatments in the year following pruning, when measured 4 years later, growth did not differ between treatments. The number of epicormic shoots increased in the year following pruning, as did the relative photosynthetic photon flux density (rPPFD). The number of epicormic shoots was also dependent on the size of individual trees. However, survival of epicormic shoots was not sufficiently high to be problematic for high-quality timber production. If branches are pruned carefully such that the rPPFD does not rise above 20%, the emergence of epicormic shoots can also be controlled. Our results indicate that early and intense pruning is an effective component of a new management system for hybrid larch plantations.     

Verification of a phenotypic discrimination method for hybrid larch seedlings using DNA markers

The hybrid between Kuril larch (Larix gmelinii var. japonica) and Japanese larch (L. kaempferi) is an important afforestation tree species in Hokkaido, Japan, because of its rapid juvenile growth, straight stem, and resistance to bark gnawing by voles. To produce desirable hybrid seedlings, precise seedling discrimination is essential. However, continuous variations in morphological and phenological traits occur across L. gmelinii var. japonica × L. kaempferi and L. gmelinii var. japonica × L. gmelinii var. japonica seedlings. Therefore, we used DNA markers to verify and improve the morphological and phenological discrimination method. We collected seeds from an interspecific seed orchard and, using chloroplast DNA analysis, we showed that the hybridization rates of 1-year-old seedlings were different between years (2004, 23.2 %; 2005, 53.6 %) and between mother trees (2004, 5.8–39.4 %; 2005, 20.0–81.0 %). Discriminant analyses revealed that the root collar diameter of 2-year-old seedlings, number of sylleptic branches of 2-year-old seedlings, and day of terminal bud set in 1- and 2-year-old seedlings are traits that aid in discriminating hybrid seedlings. The proportions of correctly discriminated individuals were found to be 81.7–88.2 % when using improved phenotypic discrimination methods. These methods adopted traits with high discrimination abilities during discriminant analyses and determined the selection intensity according to the hybridization rate estimated from the DNA markers. In contrast, the proportions of correctly discriminated individuals obtained using the current method were lower, 72.7–78.5 %, because this method was based on seedling height and adopted a constant selection intensity.     

3种落叶松苗期光能利用效率的比较

正林木90%以上的干物质来自光合作用,单位时间内光能利用效率(包括光能截获能力和光能转化效率)是衡量林木生长潜力的重要指标。光能截获能力主要与叶面积大小及其发展有关,光能转化效率主要与单叶光合速率有关。自发现光合速率在不同个体间存在明显差异后,以提高光能利用效率为目标的"高光效育种"受到育种学家的重视[1-3],而通过选配高光效种质进行有目的杂交已成为高光效育种的重要手段[4]。落叶松(Larix spp.)种间杂交     

Height growth of young larch (Larix kaempferi) in relation to the frequency of deer browsing damage in Hokkaido, Japan

The effect of browsing frequency by Sika deer (Cervus nippon yezoensis) on the height growth of Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi) in Hokkaido, Japan, was analyzed. Tree heights at the time of the census and at the start of the current growing season were determined for 100 trees selected randomly at each site. The tallest shoot on each tree was identified and the number of browsing occurrences on the current-year shoot was determined. Young larches browsed by deer repeatedly develop new shoots during a growing season. Larch is a browsing-tolerant species, and the average height growth of the most heavily browsed trees was >15 cm. Although resprouting partly compensated for decreased height growth caused by browsing, the annual increase in height decreased with increased browsing frequency. Thus, browsing frequency during a growing season best reflects the intensity of browsing damage to larch trees.     

Estimated amount of carbon accumulation of hybrid larch in three 31-year-old progeny test plantations

Hybrids generated by crossing Kuril larch (Larix gmelinii var. japonica) and Japanese larch (L. kaempferi) are expected to have high carbon accumulation ability because of fast growth and high wood density in Hokkaido, Japan. We estimated the amount of carbon accumulation of the hybrid larch in three progeny test plantations consisting of 21 full-sib families and compared the results to the carbon accumulation of open-pollinated progenies of Japanese larch plus-trees (improved Japanese larch). Gene-environment interactions were not observed for tree height and diameter at breast height but were seen for wood density (area-weighted density, AWD). The amount of carbon accumulated per unit area (C_stand) positively correlated with the stand volume. The AWD did not correlate with the C _stand; therefore, families with high wood density can be selected independent of the C _stand. The C _stand of the best full-sib family, female parent half-sib family, and male parent half-sib family at three sites were 106.1, 84.6, and 93.2 Cton·ha⁻¹, respectively. All these values exceed the mean for the improved Japanese larch, which has a C _stand value of 82.5 Cton·ha⁻¹.     

The effect of canopy position on growth and mortality in mixed sapling communities during self-thinning

This research investigates how species in the sapling phase differ in growth and survival depending on light availability (as estimated by canopy position) by means of tree-ring analysis and modelling mortality. We harvested 120 live and 158 dead saplings in self-thinning communities consisting of Silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi Carr.) and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii Mirb. Franco) in the Netherlands. Results are evaluated within the framework of a trade-off between high-light growth and low-growth survival. Radial growth, measured at ground level, generally declined over time. In addition, a decreasing light availability further reduced growth in all species except Douglas fir. Trees died when radial growth was reduced to about 0.5 mm year⁻¹. Mortality in all species except Scots pine was significantly related to recent growth, but mortality curves were not different. The light-demanding Silver birch and Japanese larch differed from the shade-tolerant Douglas fir in both high-light growth and low-growth mortality, in line with a growth-survival trade-off. The light-demanding Scots pine did not fit this pattern as it was unable to transfer high radial growth into height gain, leaving it in suppressed canopy positions. This indicates the importance of height growth in the growth-survival trade-off. Differences in mortality probabilities affect the potential for coexistence, however, in all species also fast-growing individuals died suggesting additional factors causing mortality during self-thinning, other than direct competition for light.     

Stem-rot damage and the progress of causal fungi in old-aged Japanese larch trees at the foot of Mt. Fuji

Damage caused by stem-rot and the progress of the causal fungi in old-aged Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi (Lamb.) Carr.) was investigated at the foot of Mt. Fuji. Stem-rot was found in 75% of 108 trees investigated, and volume of rot was 6% of the total wood volume in the forest investigated. Stem-rot damage was much greater than the damage by butt-rot.Stereum sanguinolentum (Alb. and Schw. ex Fr.) Fr. infected larch trees at the greatest incidence (49.4%). However,Porodaedalea chrysoloma (Fr.) Imaz. caused the most volume loss to the trees.S. sanguinolentum infected larch stems mainly through stem wounds, and decay caused by the fungus progressed 9.75×10² cm³/year on average.P. chrysoloma infected larch stems mainly through dead branches and wounds, and the average rate of decay progress for the fungus was 2.74×10³ cm³/year.