巨桉群体遗传结构分析

用20个l0bp随机引物对巨桉11个种源80个个体进行了群体遗传变异的比较分析。共检测到149个位点,其中89个为多态性标记位点,总的多态位点百分率为59．73％。其种源内多态位点百分率(P)、香农信息指数(SI)及遗传分化指数(DC)值均较高,巨桉各种源内遗传变异性丰富;种源间遗传分化指数百分比(PDC)显示,PDC值介于1．52％～10．42％之间,说明巨桉种源间遗传变异较小,即种源群体的变异主要存在于群体内部。8号、10号种源内具有较高的遗传变异,3号和6号种源内的变异水平较低。这些为巨桉种源的选择提供了有利的遗传基础。     

利用ISSR标记分析兴安落叶松种源的遗传多样性

利用ISSR标记对17个兴安落叶松种源170个个体遗传多样性进行了分析。通过10个ISSR引物扩增,共检测到95个位点,各种源多态位点百分率在25.26%~44.21%之间,多态位点百分率最高的为鹤北种源,最低的为绰尔种源。根据种源间的遗传距离,构建了兴安落叶松17个种源的遗传聚类图。同时,结合遗传距离和地理距离对兴安落叶松进行了种源区划。     

基于ISSR标记的杉木种源遗传多样性分析

为从分子水平探讨杉木(Cunninghamia lanceolata)种源空间遗传变异模式,采用ISSR分子标记对杉木全分布区内的40个种源进行遗传多样性分析。结果显示:9条ISSR引物共检测出133条带,其中122条多态性条带,多态条带百分率(PPB)为91.73%,各种源PPB和Shannon表型多样性指数(HPOP)分别为37.46%~55.75%和0.201 5~0.344 5,物种水平多态性条带百分率和Shannon信息指数(HSP)分别为89.86%和0.565 5;分子方差分析(AMOVA)揭示,种源间遗传分化系数(ΦST)为0.4651,这表明杉木种源具有较高的遗传多样性,种源间遗传分化较大。UPGMA法聚类表明,参试的40个杉木种源可分为7地理种源区。     

湖南城步马尾松种子园遗传多样性的ISSR研究

利用ISSR分子标记技术,对湖南城步马尾松种子园的4个种源区的117个无性系的马尾松遗传多样性进行了研究。采用了10个ISSR引物扩增共获得了218个标记位点,其中有210个为多态位点,多态位点比率为96.33%。不同种源区多态位点百分率在88.99%~90.37%之间。其中两广种源区的多态位点百分率最高,达90.37%,说明其种源内遗传变异水平在4个种源区中是最高的。总的Shannon多样性指数为0.503 0。Nei’s遗传多样性指数为0.334 7。各个种源区的遗传一致度的变化范围在0.968 9~0.981 2之间,各群体间的基因分化系数为0.039 3,基因流为12.221 9。4个种源区间Nei’s遗传距离UPGMA聚类分析结果表明,遗传距离(0.019 0)最小的为雪峰山地种源区与贵州种源区首先聚类,雪峰山地种源区、贵州种源区与南岭山脉种源区依次聚类,遗传距离最大(0.031 6)的是两广种源区与贵州种源区,两广种源区在遗传距离上与其他3个种源区的聚类相距较远,这与其地理分布格局大致吻合。本研究的初步结果为无性系种子园的经营和择伐提供了一定的理论依据。     

南方红豆杉种源遗传多样性和遗传分化

利用ISSR分子标记对来自10省区15个南方红豆杉代表性种源,研究揭示其种源遗传多样性及地理变化、种源遗传分化等.结果表明:南方红豆杉具有丰富的遗传多样性,物种水平上的遗传多样性为0.419 2,多态百分率(PPL)、Nei's基因多样性(HE)和Shannon信息多样性指数(I)分别变化在80.00%～93.33%、0.339 3～O.3873、O.492 6～O.5615.南方红豆杉种源遗传多样性受其产地经度和纬度非线性共同影响,偏南和偏西地区种源的遗传多样性较低,而偏东和偏北地区种源遗传多样性则较高.因试验的南方红豆杉种源其原产地种群皆是较大的古树群,且片断化的时间较短,加上其特有的繁育特性,种源问基因分化系数为O.1211,仅有8.75%的遗传变异存在于种源间,而91.25%的遗传变异来自于种源内.UPMGA聚类结果还显示,除福建武平和武夷山2个较小种群的种源外,试验种源可按地域大致划分为偏东和偏北,及偏南和偏西2个种源区.     

美国山核桃群体遗传多样性的RAPD分析

运用随机扩增多态性DNA（RAPD）标记技术，采用Operon公司的10种随机引物，以采自美国东南部、北部、西部和我国江苏、浙江、湖北、湖南、云南等地的9个美国山核桃栽培群体45个单株的种子为材料，检测出多态位点42个。以这些多态位点为依据，计算了估测了多态性位点百分比、Shannon表型多样度指数、Virk群体内遗传距离和Nei氏群体间遗传距离，并用它们作为参数进行群体遗传多样性的RAPD分析。结果表明，参试的美国山核桃品种群体遗传变异明显，且群体间差异大于群体内差异，我国引种的群体遗传差异大于原产地美国的群体遗传差异。     

珙桐天然种群遗传多样性的ISSR标记分析

利用ISSR分子标记分析来自11个天然珙桐种群的遗传多样性。从100条引物中筛选出5条引物能扩增出稳定、清晰且具多态性的条带,共扩增出77个条带。其中74个为多态,多态条带百分率(PPB)为96.10%;各种群PPB值为37.66%～63.64%,平均为54.07%。种内Shannon多样性指数(HSP)为0.4849,种群内Shannon多样性指数(HPOP)为0.1886～0.3274,平均为0.2774。这表明珙桐在物种和种群水平上均维持较高的遗传多样性。分子方差分析显示,种群间与种群内遗传变异分别占总遗传变异的46.22%,53.78%,种群间呈高度遗传分化。种群间遗传距离与对应的地理距离呈显著正相关(r=0.546,P<0.01)。UPGMA法聚类分析将11个珙桐种群分为3组。研究结果为珙桐遗传资源保护策略制定提供有价值的种群遗传学信息。     

海南岛青梅ISSR遗传多样性研究

采用ISSR分子标记检测海南岛青梅(Vatica mangachapoi Blanco)7 个自然居群192 株个体的遗传多样性及遗传结构。筛选的10 条ISSR 引物共扩增出清晰位点132 个,其中多态性位点130 个,多态性百分率(PPB)达98.48%。物种水平上,Nei's 基因多样性指数(H)为0.3391,Shannon多态性信息指数(I)为0.5095,总基因多样度(Ht)为0.3441,反映了很高的遗传多样性。AMOVA 分析显示,青梅的遗传变异主要存在于居群内个体间,但亦产生了相当程度的居群间遗传分化（Gst为0.332）,另外 Mantel 检测表明,青梅的遗传距离与地理距离间没有显著的相关性(r<0.2),地理隔离对青梅各自然居群间的基因流影响不明显。     

不同种源印楝遗传多样性的ISSR分析

利用ISSR分子标记技术对印楝进行遗传多样性分析,用9条引物进行扩增,共检测出81条清晰的位点,其中79条具有多态性,多态位点百分率为97．53％,Nei＇s基因多样性指数为0．3803,Shannon信息指数为0．5537,表明印楝遗传多样性很丰富。种源间遗传分化系数为0．4702,Shannon’s居群分化系数为0．4677,表明印楝种源内的遗传分化大于种源间的分化。聚类分析将13个种源分为2大类,来自缅甸的11个种源聚成一类,来自澳大利亚和印度的种源聚成另外一类。结果表明,ISSR分子标记技术适合于印楝的遗传多样性分析。     

大花黄牡丹遗传多样性的SRAP分析

应用SRAP标记对西藏特有植物大花黄牡丹的遗传多样性进行研究。用16对引物从5个自然居群79个单株中共检测到396个有效位点,其中多态性位点357个。在物种水平上,多态位点百分率(Ppl)为90.15%,Shannon表型多样性指数(Ηsp)平均为0.2521;居群水平上的Ppl为31.82%,Shannon表型多样性指数(Ho)为0.0694～0.3428,平均值(Ηpop)为0.1307。上述遗传参数表明,大花黄牡丹具有丰富的物种遗传多样性,5个居群中自然居群C的遗传多样性最高(Ppl=82.32%,Ho=0.3428)。据AMOVA分析结果,总的变异中有41.58%的变异存在于居群间,58.42%的变异存在于居群内,居群分化较显著(ΦST=0.4158,P<0.001),由POPGENE1.32得到的居群间遗传分化系数GST(0.4309)和Shannon表型多样性指数计算的居群间遗传多样性所占比例(0.4816)也表明了类似的遗传结构。Mantel检测表明地理距离和Nei’s遗传距离间相关不显著(P>0.05)。利用NTSYSPC(2.1)软件构建大花黄牡丹5个居群79个个体的UPGMA聚类图,遗传相似系数变幅在0.47～0.99,大多数居群内的个体表现出较为密切的亲缘关系(如居群B,D,E),但也有一些居群的个体未聚在一起(如居群C)。依据大花黄牡丹居群遗传变异特点,初步探讨其保护和利用策略。     

Growth of Phlebiopsis gigantea in wood of seven conifer species

Heterobasidion parviporum and Heterobasidion annosum are widely distributed root‐rot fungi that infect conifers throughout Europe. Infection of conifer stumps by spores of these pathogens can be controlled by treating fresh stumps with a competing non‐pathogenic fungus, Phlebiopsis gigantea. In this study, growth of three Latvian strains of P. gigantea and the biological control agent ‘Rotstop’ strain was evaluated in stem pieces of Norway spruce, Scots pine, lodgepole pine, Douglas‐fir, Weymouth pine, Siberian larch and Sitka spruce. The growth rates of one H. parviporum and one H. annosum isolate were also measured in the same stem pieces. The growth rate of P. gigantea varied greatly in wood of different conifer species. It was higher in the three pine species, lower in Norway spruce and lowest in Sitka spruce and Siberian larch, and in Douglas‐fir, this fungus did not grow. The largest area of wood occupied by P. gigantea was in lodgepole pine. Growth of Latvian isolates of P. gigantea in the wood of Pinus and Picea species was comparable to that of the Rotstop isolate. Consequently, stump treatment with local P. gigantea isolates should be recommended. However, our results suggest that Douglas‐fir stump treatment against Heterobasidion by P. gigantea may be ineffective and other stump treatment methods should be considered.     

Growth of Mixed Birch-Coniferous Stands in Relation to Pure Coniferous Stands at Similar Sites in South-eastern Norway

Mean age, mean and top heights and yield were studied in 20 mixed stands of birch ( Betula pubescens Ehrh. and B. pendula Roth) and Picea abies (L.) Karst. and nine mixed stands of birch and Pinus sylvestris L. in south-eastern Norway. Each mixed stand and the adjacent pure coniferous stand (control) were growing under the same site conditions and had not been commercially thinned. There were no significant differences in mean age at breast height or in top heights between birch and conifers in the mixed stands, while mean height was significantly higher for birch than for spruce. A growth index was calculated based on total volume and age at breast height. For the spruce sites the growth in young mixed stands (birch < 17 m) was superior to that of pure spruce, while the difference was insignificant in older stands. The growth index correlated positively with the ratio between generatively and vegetatively regenerated birch trees, and negatively with the age of the oldest species in the mixture and with site quality. For the pine sites there was no significant difference in the growth index between mixed birch-pine and pure pine stands. A mixture effect of birch on the volume yield of spruce or pine could not be demonstrated.     

Defoliation by the Needle-shortening Pine Gall Midge,Thecodiplosis brachyntera,on Pines in Central Sweden

An outbreak of the needle-shortening pine gall midge, Thecodiplosis brachyntera , occurred on Scots pine, Pinus sylvestris (L.) and lodgepole pine, P. contorta (Dougl.) in central Sweden during 1995-1998. The larval feeding of T. brachyntera kills current-year needles and heavy infestation causes severe defoliation. A pattern of fluctuating defoliation among years and sites was found on both pine species. Defoliation was evenly distributed in the crown of P. sylvestris during years of high as well as low infestation; apical whorls had as much defoliation as basal whorls. In P. contorta , however, there was a tendency for defoliation to be concentrated on branches in the most apical whorls. Growth ring increments on P. sylvestris with high levels of defoliation (71%) did not differ from trees with moderate levels (26%) of defoliation. Shoot lengths were significantly shorter, however, on heavily infested trees the year after defoliation.     

Decomposition and nutrient loss from prunings of different contour hedgerow species in tea plantations in the sloping highlands of Sri Lanka

Contour hedgerows of multipurpose tree species in the sloping tea lands of Sri Lanka are expected to reduce soil erosion and also add significant amounts of plant nutrients to the soil via periodic prunings. The objective of this experiment was to characterize the biomass decomposition pattern and quantify the amount of nutrients added through prunings of six tree species (Calliandra calothyrsus, Senna spectabilis, Euphatorium innulifolium, Flemingia congesta, Gliricidia sepium and Tithonia diversifolia) currently being used in hedgerows associated with tea. Withered leaf and stem prunings (50 g) were enclosed in 2-mm litter bags, placed at 5-cm depth and retrieved after one, three, six, nine and 12 weeks. Loss of initial dry weight, N, P and K was measured. Single exponential decay function adequately described both dry weight and nutrient loss. Tree species differed significantly in their rate of breakdown with decomposition constants (k) varying from 0.0299 to 0.2006 week⁻¹ for leaves and from 0.0225 to 0.0633 week⁻¹ for stems. Gliricidia showed the highest k for leaves with the rest in the following descending order: Senna > Tithonia ≥ Euphatorium > Calliandra > Flemingia. A similar pattern was observed for loss of all nutrients with Calliandra and Flemingia always having lower k values than the rest. Although N immobilization was not observed, immobilization of P and K was observed during the first week of incubation in some species, particularly in stem prunings. Annual biomass of prunings differed significantly between tree species in the following descending order: Calliandra > Senna > Flemingia > Tithonia > Gliricidia > Euphatorium. Calliandra added the greatest amount of nutrients annually to the soil with Euphatorium adding the least. Calliandra prunings provided the annual total K requirement and 49% of the N requirement of mature tea. However, none of the species provided more than 5% of the P requirement. It is concluded that among the tree species tested, Calliandra and Flemingia are the most suitable for contour hedgerows in tea plantations of this agroclimatic region because of their higher soil nutrient enrichment capacity and slower decomposition rates which would minimize leaching losses. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of Seed Weight and Seed Type on Early Seedling Growth of Pinus sylvestris under Harsh and Optimal Conditions

The effects of seed weight and seed type on seedling growth of Pinus sylvestris (L.) were studied by seeding individually weighed orchard and stand seed in different mixtures under harsh (direct seeding in field) and optimal (seeding in nursery) conditions. In the nursery experiment an increase in the seed weight from 3 to 7 mg increased the seedling height by 10-27% and total weight by 27-113%, and decreased the height/diameter ratio by 5-6% after 2 yrs. With elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 2% taller than stand seedlings in year 2. Without elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 7-13% taller. In the field experiment an increase in the seed weight from 3 to 7 mg increased seedling height by 18-65%, stem volume by 81-274% and the number of top-buds by 23-34% in year 5. After elimination of seed weight effects, orchard seedlings were 7-13% taller than stand seedlings and without elimination of seed weight effects 20-21% taller after 5 yrs. Even after elimination of both seed weight and genetic effects orchard seedlings were 3-9% larger than stand seedlings in the field experiment. In conclusion, the influence of seed weight and seed type on growth traits and slenderness is highly significant and the influence seems to be greater in harsh conditions.     

Modelling of adequate pretwist for obtaining straight timber

Abstract

Wood in general and wooden studs in particular are often distorted owing to uneven shrinkage during the drying process in the sawmill. Twist is often the most detrimental of all types of distortion, and it is caused by spiral grain in combination with variations in moisture content. For sawmills, the objective is to produce dried, straight boards, and one method of dealing with boards with excessive spiral grain is to sort them out and then dry them in a pretwisted position to obtain straight boards after drying. A model using the finite element (FE) method for the simulation of drying twist distortions was first calibrated against laboratory experiments in which boards were dried with and without restraints and pretwists. After the calibration, the FE results were compared with industrial test results for boards that were dried without restraints or with restraints with zero pretwist, i.e. straight restraints. The FE model used an elastic–ideally plastic material model to obtain permanent deformations. The calibration was to set the yield stresses so that there was a good match between FE results and results from the laboratory experiments. The comparison between the industrial test results and the FE results showed that the FE model is capable of realistic simulations of drying boards with and without restraints and presumably also pretwists.     

Potential to harness superior nutritional qualities of exotic baobabs if local adaptation can be conferred through grafting

Baobab leaves form an important part of the local diet in Sahel countries and elsewhere in Africa. Existing leaf nutritional data and agroforestry performance information are based solely on Adansonia digitata L., the baobab of continental Africa. The introduction potential of Adansonia species from the center of diversity in Madagascar and from Australia remains untapped. To assess this potential, the mineral contents and B₁ and B₂ vitamin levels of dried baobab leaves were determined for five-year old trees of A. digitata, A. gibbosa (A. Cunn.) Guymer ex D. Baum, A. rubrostipa Jum. & H. Perrier (syn. A. fony Baill.), A. perrieri Capuron and A. za Baill. grown in an introduction trial in Mali. Nutritional data were evaluated against survival and vigor to identify promising germplasm. Leaf vitamin and crude protein contents were highest in the Madagascar species, especially A. rubrostipa (B₁ 88 mg 100 g⁻¹, B₂ 187 mg 100 g⁻¹, protein 20.7% dry weight). However, the local species far outperformed the introductions in survival, tree height, basal diameter and resistance to termites. We suggest grafting as a way of harnessing the vigor of well-adapted local baobab varieties to the superior nutritional profiles of A. rubrostipa and others. Cross-species grafting tests in Adansonia were successful, thus creating new agroforestry possibilities with different scion/rootstock combinations.     

Biogeochemical impacts of clearfelling and reforestation on blanket-peatland streams: II. major ions and dissolved organic carbon

Streams and drains in blanket-peatland forest in western Ireland were sampled weekly over 5 years, 1996–2000, using continuous, depth-proportional passive sampling. Analysis was for pH, alkalinity by Gran titration, anions by IC, metals by ICP, aluminium speciation by loaded-resin exchange, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) by absorbance at 320 nm.

Effects of felling are identified graphically from two forest drains whose catchments (both about 1 ha) were clearfelled, and partial clearfelling of one larger catchment (somewhat over 1 km²), in summer 1999. Calcium concentrations and alkalinity were increased in the drain- and streamwater from the felled areas. The pH was increased in drains, while in the larger stream, pH range decreased while the mean increased. Phosphorus increased markedly with clearfell, in the absence of recent fertilising, and also increased with fertilising; these results are reported in an accompanying paper. Ammonium-nitrogen concentrations were increased in the two drains with felling, and temporarily decreased in the larger stream. Nitrate increased in some cases. Potassium and manganese concentrations also increased. Concentrations of DOC and organic monomeric aluminium increased gradually, subject to a continuing strong annual cycle. There were no clearfelling effects on concentrations of solphate, suspended solids or inorganic monomeric aluminium. In the two drains (fully clearfelled), concentrations of sodium, chloride and magnesium, and conductivity, were all reduced after felling. Fertilising effects other than for phosphorus were indistinct.

Effects of the combined clearfell–reforestation treatment were testable statistically, using randomised intervention analysis, between two larger streams (1 km²) as a treatment–control comparison. There were statistically significant positive responses in streamwater concentrations of nitrate, potassium, calcium, DOC and aluminium fractions. The implications for management practice depend on whether the loss of nutrients is sustainable for future crop productivity, and whether critical limits and loads of receiving ecosystems are exceeded.     

Effect of Drought on Growth and Mortality of Actively Growing Norway Spruce Container Seedlings Planted in Summer

Survival, root egress and height growth of 13-month-old actively growing Norway spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) container seedlings exposed to preplanting drying treatments (0, 4, and 8 days) and postplanting drought periods (1, 2, 3, and 4 weeks) were studied in the field between 5 July and 18 August 1999. The mortality of seedlings increased and the height growth and root egress decreased throughout the postplanting drought period. Postplanting performance was also affected by preplanting drying treatments. The results indicate that no risk of excessive mortality and growth restrictions occurs when actively growing seedlings are planted in summer, provided that seedlings are well watered before planting and the drought period does not exceed 3 weeks.     

Rehabilitation of diseased cacao fields in Peru through shade regulation and timing of biocontrol measures

The objective of this case study was to test the effectiveness of biocontrol for the rehabilitation of abandoned, diseased (moniliasis, witches' broom and black pod) cocoa and to develop testable hypotheses regarding the effect of shade and biocontrol timing. Three trial fields differed in their shade regimes. Biocontrol was administered starting either at flowering or pod filling. Disease incidence and yield were compared with cultural control alone. Biocontrol reduced moniliasis from 49% to 25%, independent of the shading regime and application time. Witches' broom was most severe without shade and unaffected by biocontrol. No significant effects on black pod were observed. Although biocontrol increased percentage healthy fruit independent of shading and timing, only the shaded plot with biocontrol from flowering onwards responded with increased yield. Our hypothesis is: 'In the rehabilitation of abandoned cacao, only fields under sustainable shade management and early onset of biocontrol can realise their production potential.' This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.