Leaf-litter decomposition of 15 tree species in a lowland tropical rain forest in Sarawak: dynamics of carbon,nutrients, and organic constituents

The effects of tree species on the dynamics of nutrient transformations during leaf-litter decomposition are not well understood in tropical rain forests. To examine differences in the dynamics of C, nutrients, and organic constituents during decomposition among tree species, the leaf-litter decomposition of 15 trees was assessed using a litter-bag method in a lowland tropical rain forest in Sarawak. The dynamics of C was parallel to that of weight loss. The dynamics of nutrients were grouped into three patterns. The dynamics of K was characterized by a high leaching loss in the initial stages, and that of Ca and Mg generally showed a gradual decrease over the course of decomposition. The dynamics of N and P showed highly different patterns with the weight loss, and was characterized by relatively higher remaining mass at the end of the experiment. The variations or exceptions of nutrient dynamics among tree species were considered to be related to the initial concentration of each nutrient. For the dynamics of organic constituents, water-soluble carbohydrates disappeared quickly at the initial stages, and acid-soluble carbohydrates were the second fastest decomposing fraction; the decomposition of acid-insoluble residue (AIS) was the slowest. The release of limiting nutrients (N and P) generally followed the disappearance of AIS, but was independent of the disappearance of AIS when the initial concentrations of these nutrients were very low.     

Behavior of four broad-leaved tree species used to revegetate eroded granite hill slopes

Information on primary growth behavior after planting is required for mixed-plantation revegetation using broad-leaved species. To estimate primary growth, especially from the perspective of crown coverage and changing growth rates, we examined the growth and survival of four broad-leaved species that are frequently used in erosion-control plantations in Japan. The species studied were Myrica rubra Sieb. et Zucc., Alnus pendula Matsum., Quercus glauca Thunb., and Q. serrata Thunb. The survival, height, and basal diameter of planted trees were measured over a 4-year period, and crown area was calculated over a 3-year period. We found a negative relationship between relative growth rate (RGR) and survival rate, suggesting that fast growth may be fatal when resources are severely limited. The relative height growth rate (RHGR) of A. pendula was especially high during the early period of the study (1997–1999) and then drastically declined, whereas the opposite tendency was observed in Q. glauca. The results of stem allometry analyses conformed to the specific relationships between height growth and diameter growth of the four species; increases in stem thickness based on height increments were smaller in the pioneer species A. pendula. Between-species differences in coverage per planted tree (mean crown area multiplied by survival rate) were small as a result of the negative relationship between coverage area and survival rate.     

Leaf-fall phenology along a topography-mediated environmental gradient in a cool–temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest in Japan

Leaf-fall phenology was studied in a cool–temperate deciduous broad-leaved forest in central Japan in relation to the topographic environmental gradients that occur along a short mountain slope. Leaf-fall phenology was described quantitatively using data from leaf litter collected along the slope. In autumn, leaf fall at the study site tended to occur slightly earlier on the upper slope than on the lower slope. This pattern was found at both the stand and the species levels. Our results suggest that leaf-fall phenology may be affected by difference in microclimatic conditions, because environmental conditions are thought to be more severe on the upper slope than on the lower slope. The less intensive methods used in this study, the litter trap method, and Dixon’s model succeeded in quantifying the phenological patterns of leaf fall within stands and within species along the short mountain slope.     

Life cycles of individual roots in fine root system of Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc.

Recent studies have remarked on differences in the life cycles of individual fine roots. However, the dynamics of individual roots with different life cycles, such as ephemeral and perennial, during root system development are still unknown. We examined individual roots during fine root system development in a mature stand of Chamaecyparis obtusa Sieb. et Zucc. (Cupressaceae) using the sequential ingrowth core method and an anatomical method. The visual classification, i.e., orange, red, brown, intact dead, and fragmented dead, of fine roots corresponded well with the anatomical classification. Orange and red roots contained passage cells, and brown roots contained cork cambium. The proportions of protoxylem groups differed among visual classes. Brown secondary roots were mainly triarch (43%) and tetrarch (40%) and rarely diarch (12%), whereas fragmented dead roots, which constituted more than 95% of the dead roots, were mainly diarch (67%). These results imply that triarch and tetrarch roots tend to form secondary roots, whereas diarch roots tend to become dead roots without secondary growth. Using the numbers of root tips and clusters, root system development could be classified into three stages: colonization, branching within the root system, and maintenance. During the colonization stage, mainly triarch and tetrarch roots, which tend to be secondary growth, invaded ingrowth cores. During the branching stage, primarily diarch roots, which tend to be ephemeral, emerged. Fine root system development involved the recruitment of different individual roots during the life cycle depending on the growth stage.     

Leaf-litter decomposition of 15 tree species in a lowland tropical rain forest in Sarawak: decomposition rates and initial litter chemistry

In a lowland tropical rain forest in Sarawak, leaf-litter decomposition and the initial litter chemistry of 15 tree species were studied. During 13 months of field experiment, weight loss of litter samples was between 44% and 91%, and calculated decomposition rate constants (k) ranged from 0.38 to 2.36 year⁻¹. The initial litter chemistry also varied widely (coefficients of variation: 19%–74%) and showed low N and P concentrations and high acid-insoluble residue (AIS) concentration. For nutrient-related litter chemistry, correlations with the decomposition rate were significant only for P concentration, C/P ratio, and AIS/P ratio (r _s = 0.59, −0.62, and −0.68, n = 15, P < 0.05, respectively). For organic constituents, correlations were significant for concentrations of AIS and total carbohydrates, and AIS/acid-soluble carbohydrate ratio (r _s = −0.81, 0.51, and −0.76, n = 15, P < 0.05, respectively). These results suggested that the relatively slow mean rate of decomposition (k = 1.10) was presumably due to the low litter quality (low P concentration and high AIS concentration), and that P might influence the decomposition rate; but organic constituents, especially the concentration of AIS, were more important components of initial litter chemistry than nutrient concentrations.     

Genetic analysis of fat‐to‐protein ratio,milk yield and somatic cell score of Holstein cows in Japan in the first three lactations by using a random regression model

We estimated the genetic parameters of fat‐to‐protein ratio (FPR) and the genetic correlations between FPR and milk yield or somatic cell score in the first three lactations in dairy cows. Data included 3 079 517 test‐day records of 201 138 Holstein cows in Japan from 2006 to 2011. Genetic parameters were estimated with a multiple‐trait random regression model in which the records within and between parities were treated as separate traits. The phenotypic values of FPR increased soon after parturition and peaked at 10 to 20 days in milk, then decreased slowly in mid‐ and late lactation. Heritability estimates for FPR yielded moderate values. Genetic correlations of FPR among parities were low in early lactation. Genetic correlations between FPR and milk yield were positive and low in early lactation, but only in the first lactation. Genetic correlations between FPR and somatic cell score were positive in early lactation and decreased to become negative in mid‐ to late lactation. By using these results for genetic evaluation it should be possible to improve energy balance in dairy cows.     

Dominant effects of litter substrate quality on the difference between leaf and root decomposition process above- and belowground

Initial decomposition rates, changes in organic chemical components (acid-insoluble fraction, holocellulose, polyphenols, soluble carbohydrates) and nutrient dynamics (K, Mg, Ca, P, N) were examined for fine roots and leaves of Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa). Litterbag experiments designed to evaluate the relative effects of litter type and position of litter supply in the soil were carried out, considering that root and leaf litter typically occupy different locations and have different substrate qualities. Litterbags of roots and leaves were placed at two positions (on the soil surface and in the humus layer), and collected every 3 months over one year. The mass loss rate and N release were slower during root decomposition in the humus layer than during leaf decomposition on the soil surface. These differences between root and leaf decomposition were mainly caused by the litter type, and the effect of the position on decomposition was relatively small. Root litter was less influenced by position related effects, such as differences in humidity, than leaf litter, and this recalcitrant trait to environmental effects may be responsible for the slower mass loss rate and N release in root decomposition. The results of the present study suggest that fine roots are persistent in the soil and serve an important role in N retention in forest ecosystems because of their litter substrate quality.     

Single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping of the barley waxy gene by polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers

A high‐throughput single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotyping procedure was developed to select amylose‐free barley mutants whose waxy genes had a C‐ to T‐base substitution in exon 5, which converted Gln‐89 of the wild‐type gene into a termination codon. An F₂ population carrying an amylose‐free waxy gene was checked for segregation. Polymerase chain reaction with confronting two‐pair primers (PCR‐CTPP) produced allele‐specific PCR products that have different sizes and are inherited in a co‐dominant manner. Two alleles of the barley waxy gene with SNP were correctly identified in parental strains using the PCR‐CTPP procedure. Segregation of the SNP as detected by PCR‐CTPP in an F₂ population fitted the expected 1:2:1 ratio. The PCR‐CTPP procedure can provide a time saving and cost‐effective alternative to derived cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence in marker‐assisted selection.     

Mapping genes for deep-seeding tolerance in barley

Deep-seeding tolerance, the emergence of seedlings from deep seeded conditions, is involved in stand establishment in semi-arid regions, where the soil surface is too dry for seed germination. Genes determining deep-seeding tolerance in barley were mapped using two doubled haploid populations derived from the following crosses: Harrington × TR306 (H/T)and Step toe × Morex (S/M). Significant quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for deep-seeding tolerance were found in each population. Two QTL sex plained 40% of the phenotypic variation in the H/T population and one QTL (S/M) 8% of the total phenotypic variance. Multiple QTLs accounting for coleoptile length and first internode length were detected in both populations. In the H/T population, there were coincident QTLs for deep-seeding tolerance, coleoptile length and first internode length on the long arm of chromosome 5H. These QTLs correspond with previously reported QTLs for abscisic acid and gibberellic acid response. QTL coincidence may be due to the pleiotropic effects of alleles at a single locus. This information may be useful for breeding programs manipulating morphological and physiological traits in order to develop varieties for semi-arid regions. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

麦类引种优选与抗逆性状初步分析

1991年从日本引进国外麦类品种10252个，在我国黄淮海平原盐渍地上种植。经1992--1994年系统观察、分析和鉴定，初步选择出适合该类型区种植的高产、优质品种及大、小麦亲本材料。