Forest condition and management in Swedish forest commons

Forest commons are regarded as a means to support local development and sustainable forest conditions. To evaluate the development impact of Swedish forest commons, comparative surveys have been undertaken in three regions, and the differences in forest condition and management between categories of commons as well as their relation to other forest ownerships have been assessed. Regional differences between the by-laws, historical development and geographical conditions are apparent. It is concluded that two of three regions have an overly restrictive harvesting policy given the purpose of the forest commons and the official forest policy. The study results underline the importance of evaluation of the performance of forest management in relation to management objectives, to ownership alternatives and to the impact of local variations in preconditions.     

Plantation future of bamboo in China

In the past, utilization of bamboo resources in China has been traditionally dominated by direct consumption of local farmers as minor forest products with weak linkage with market. In recent years, the over-supply of grains and rapid degradation of agricultural environment call for alternative crops that can be developed through integrating the environmental plantation with the market demands. Closely associated with forestry and agriculture, bamboo is able to deal with the new challenges which China‘s agriculture is facing. Of 534 documented bamboo species in China, 153 species produce edibleshoots and of which 56 species are recommended for agricultural plantation; 139 species provide timbers and of which 58 species recommended; 116 species can be splited as good strips for weaving and of which 22 species recommended; 88 species are considered as garden bamboos and of which 34 species recommended; 45 species are able to produce paper pulp and of which 18 species recommended.     

Hydraulic conductance and soil water potential at the soil-root interface of Pinus pinaster seedlings inoculated with different dikaryons of Pisolithus sp

Seedlings of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Ait.) were inoculated with different dikaryons of Pisolithus sp. from South Africa to determine the influence of extension of the extramatrical phase and diameter of the mycelial strands on water relations parameters including xylem water potential (Psi(x)), soil water potential at the soil-root interface (Psi(s)) and hydraulic conductance (L(p)) during and after a period of water stress. Seedlings inoculated with dikaryons having an extensive extramatrical phase and large diameter mycelial strands showed higher Psi(s) (-2 MPa) during severe water stress than seedlings inoculated with dikaryons producing fine hyphae and sparse extramatrical phases (-3.8 MPa). Seedlings inoculated with strand-forming dikaryons recovered faster from water stress than did non-inoculated seedlings or seedlings inoculated with non-strand-forming dikaryons. Architectural aspects of the extramatrical phase, including the presence of large diameter mycelial strands or fine hyphae, influenced the soil-root contact and the water relations of an inoculated host plant. When water stress was not limiting, the architecture of the extramatrical phase did not have a large effect on Psi(s). It is suggested that the architecture of the extramatrical phase influences the resistance to water flow through the soil-root interface and that large mycelial strands increase the water flow by bridging the gap between the soil and the root. These changes in physiology indicate that dikaryons can improve the survival of Pinus pinaster under dry conditions.     

Über die molluscizide Wirkung vonBacillus thuringiensis-Präparaten zur biologischen Bekämpfung vonBiomphalaria alexandrina-Schnecken,den Zwischenwirten des Bilharziose-SaugwurmsSchistosoma mansoni in Saudi Arabia

The comparative molluscicidal activity of different preparations ofBacillus thuringiensis as Thuricide, SAN 401, SAN 402 and SAN 415, onB. alexandrina snails was studied. The results showed that different preparations ofBac. thuring. have a remarkable molluscicidal activity onB. alexandrina snails. However, the obtained results proved thatBac. thuring. with its preparation SAN 415 was the most effective in killing the snails comparing with the other preparations at the same experimental condition. Prolonged exposure ofB. alexandrina to subletal concentration (250 ppm) of SAN 415 delayed its ovipositary activity. Increasing the dose to 500 ppm resulted in a complete loss of egg production. Comparatively exposure of snail groups to the same doses of Thuricide, SAN 401 and SAN 402 resulted only in decreasing its egg laying capacity. These results proved the high potentially effectiveness ofBac. thuring. in its preparation SAN 415 as a biological control agent forB. alexandrina snails. The wayes by which this biological agent acts on the reproductive system of the snails were discussed.     

Knot dinteraction in wood poles

Summary Superposition of the longitudinal stress distributions associated with neighboring knots was used to determine the interaction distances between different knot sizes. The interaction between two knots was considered significant when the superposition of the stress distribution caused an increase in the longitudinal stress level of ten percent or more. Out of 4,374 knots measured in 44 Douglas-fir poles only 55 knots showed significant interactions with adjacent knots. However, in more than half of the poles at least one interacting knot pairs existed. Therefore, it has been concluded that stress interaction between knots could play a major role in controlling the failure of poles in bending.     

Characterization of juvenile wood to mature wood transition age in black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) at different stand densities and sampling heights

The radial pattern of both maximum ring density and ring area of 36 black spruce trees were used to determine the transition age from juvenile wood to mature wood. The data were obtained by X-ray densitometry and both segmented linear and polynomial regressions were used to point out the age of the juvenile wood boundary. Three stand densities (1,790, 2,700 and 3,400 stems/ha) and three sampling heights (2.4, 5.1 and 7.8 m) were studied. Although maximum ring density and ring area presented similar radial patterns, they gave two significantly different results of transition ages. The maximum ring density over-estimated the transition age (17.6 years) in contrast to ring area (14 years). The results show that the transition from juvenile wood to mature wood occurred after 12 years at 7.8 m (versus 13.1 years at a height of 5.1 m, and 17.6 years at 2.4 m). Although transition age occurred later in the high stand density group (21 years), the difference was not significant between the three stand density groups. Nevertheless, transition age remains difficult to determine since no standard definition exists. The transition occurs over years, and most probably a transition wood exists between juvenile wood and mature wood. Estimation of the juvenile wood proportion in volume shows that it remains constant along the stem and it increases with stand density.     

Establishment and growth of coniferous seedlings in an altered forest floor after long-term exclusion of deer

We evaluated differences between the forest floors and the establishment and growth of coniferous seedlings in fenced (13 years) and unfenced plots on Mt Ohdaigahara where the sika deer (Cervus nippon) population density is high. Large coniferous seedlings (height > 0.05 m) were less abundant in the unfenced plot, as a result of deer browsing. Small coniferous seedlings (height < 0.05 m), however, were more abundant in the unfenced plot, where most seedlings of Abies homolepis were found on bare ground and those of Picea jezoensis var. hondoensis were found on buttresses and fallen logs. The large area of bare ground in the unfenced plot was caused by deer browsing. Deer therefore have an indirect effect on the emergence and growth of small coniferous seedlings by modifying the forest floor.     

The effect of ceramic coating of fire-retardant wood on combustibility and weatherability

In order to develop a fireproof wooden material, the synergic effect of fire-retardant chemicals and wood coatings was studied. The fire performance was evaluated by cone calorimeter. Impregnation of fire retardants including polyphosphatic carbamate, and ceramic coatings including alkoxy metal salt improved the fire performance of wooden materials. This treatment made it possible to meet the guidelines for fire performance of noncombustible materials in Japan. In addition to the vacuum-pressure impregnation treatment, hot-and-cold-bath impregnation treatment is an effective way to develop fire-retardant wood by impregnating fire retardant and ceramic coating. The weatherability of the developed material was also investigated. The ceramic coating was resistant to light and moisture. Part of this report was presented at 54th Annual Meeting (Sapporo, August 2004) and the 55th Annual Meeting (Kyoto, March 2005) of the Japan Wood Research Society     

The smell and odorous components of dried shiitake mushroom, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lentinula edodes</Emphasis> IV: survey of trends in consumer preferences and changes in sensory evaluation

This study is part of an effort to improve the quality of dried shiitake mushrooms (Lentinula edodes) in accordance with consumer preference. Results are presented of a trend survey that examined the preferences of consumers using questionnaires combined with sensory evaluation. From the original preference (OP) survey, the distributions of OP divided by age class (AC) were statistically equal to the results obtained in 2000. The medians of OP for teenagers and twenties were “neutral” and “slightly like,” respectively. A firm preference change occurred between teenagers and those in their twenties. It is empirically realized that sensory intensity (SI) scores that were too high or too low led to a low hedonic preference (HP) score. The same tendency was seen for “neutralists” and “likers.” In addition, almost all distributions concerned with HP had no significant difference between 2000 and 2005; for example, that of SI divided by AC. These results showed that the preference for dried shiitake mushroom has been unaffected by the passage of the past 5 years. Dried shiitake mushrooms have been used from ancient times and for many dishes; therefore, the overall preference appears to have remained unchanged.     

入世条件下林业可持续发展问题的探讨

世界贸易组织(简称WTO)，作为处理世界自由贸易机制的国际组织，允许为可持续发展和保护自由贸易和环境选择利用世界自然资源。中国作为世界贸易组织成员国，签定入世议定书，入世后中国在林业的可持续发展方面受到世界贸易组织的条约和原则的制约和挑战。中国的林业资源应当作为基础资源加以保护，政府的行政管理职能在世界贸易组织的原则下加以改革。因此，中国林业的可持续发展的目．标是优先处理环境保护和经济发展的关系。在入世条件下，按照世界惯例，中国林业资源可持续发展问题瞄准中国林业体制改革，以便适用中国天然林业战略，依靠科技进步依法保护中国环境，特别是在中国林业保护和处理环境和自然资源等关系方面。依据世界贸易组织的协议和规则，建立林业的生态化体系，尤其是GATT20条的规定，保护中国林业可持续发展，为中国林业创建国际环境。表1参21。