Inherited narrow crown form, harvest index and stem biomass production in Norway spruce, Picea abies

The effect of crown form on stem biomass production was investigated in an 18-19-year-old Norway spruce stand (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). The harvest index was 0.271 in pendula trees, which have a heritable narrow crown form, and 0.235 in normal-crowned trees and the dry weights of stem biomass were 2.57 kg and 3.37 kg, respectively. However, the production of stem biomass per crown projected area was more than twice as much in pendula trees as in normal-crowned trees. Results indicate that the crown form of pendula spruce is less plastic than that of normal-crowned spruce suggesting that such trees might maintain a high stemwood yield per unit ground area with increasing stand density. Because pendula spruce has a higher harvest index and a less flexible crown than normal-crowned spruce, it might be useful for crop tree ideotype breeding.     

Acclimation of photosynthetic capacity in Scots pine to the annual cycle of temperature

Coniferous trees growing in the boreal and temperate zones have a clear annual cycle of photosynthetic activity. A recent study demonstrated that the seasonal variation in photosynthetic capacity of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) could be attributed mainly to the light response curve of photosynthesis. The magnitude of the light response curve varied over the season while its shape remained constant, indicating that the two physiological parameters quantifying the curve-the quantum yield per unit internal carbon dioxide concentration and the corresponding light-saturated rate-remained proportional to each other. We now show, through modeling studies, that the quantum yield (and hence the light-saturated rate) is related to the annual cycle of temperature through a delayed dynamic response. The proposed model was tested by comparing model results with intensive measurements of photosynthesis and driving variables made from April to October in three shoots of Scots pine growing near the northern timberline. Photosynthetic capacity showed considerable acclimation during the growing season. A single model describing photosynthetic capacity as a reversible, first-order delay process driven by temperature explained most of the variation in photosynthetic capacity during the year. The proposed model is simpler but no less accurate than previous models of the annual cycle of photosynthetic capacity.     

Predicting spring phenology and frost damage risk of Betula spp. under climatic warming: a comparison of two models

Timing of bud burst and frost damage risk for leaves of Betula spp. in response to climatic warming in Finland was examined with two models. In the first model, ontogenetic development in spring was triggered by an accumulation of chilling temperatures. The second model assumed an additional signal from the light climate. The two models gave radically different estimates of frost damage risk in response to climate warming. The chilling-triggered model forecast a significant and increasing risk with increased warming, whereas the light-climate-triggered model predicted little or no risk. The chilling-triggered model is widely applied in phenological research; however, there is increasing experimental evidence that light conditions play a role in the timing of spring phenology. Although it is not clear if the light response mechanisms are appropriately represented in our model, the results imply that reliance on a light signal for spring development would afford a degree of protection against possible frost damage under climate warming that would not be present if chilling were the sole determinant. Further experimental tests are required to ascertain the light-related mechanisms controlling phenological timing, so that credible model extrapolations can be undertaken.     

Peat Biofilters in Long-Term Experiments for Removing Odorous Sulphur Compounds

Peat was employed as a biological filter material for the removal of hydrogen sulphide (H_2> S) dimethyl sulphide (Me₂S) and methyl mercaptan (MeSH) from odorous ventilation air. Removal of H₂S was possible without the need to inoculate the filter material with oxidizing microbes whereas Me₂S required inoculation for degradation. The removal of Me₂S was decreased as a result of MeSH addition. Liming of the filter material, i.e., addition of calcium hydroxide, increased removal efficiency and activated the oxidation of H₂S without any adaptation period. As a consequence of the poor Me₂S removal efficiency of natural peat, a limed and inoculated biofilter was needed to purify mixtures of gases containing sulphur. The highest H₂S load tested with limed but otherwise natural peat was 136 g-S m^-3 day^-1, yielding a 99 % reduction. The maximum Me₂S elimination capacity with limed and inoculated peat was 175 g-S m^-3day^-1, but removal became unstable when the load exceeded 150 g-S m^-3day^-1. The maximum MeSH load tested was 107 g-S m^-3day^-1, yielding 98 % removal.     

Does canopy mean nitrogen concentration explain variation in canopy light use efficiency across 14 contrasting forest sites?

The maximum light use efficiency (LUE?=?gross primary production (GPP)/absorbed photosynthetic photon flux density (aPPFD)) of plant canopies has been reported to vary spatially and some of this variation has previously been attributed to plant species differences. The canopy nitrogen concentration [N] can potentially explain some of this spatial variation. However, the current paradigm of the N-effect on photosynthesis is largely based on the relationship between photosynthetic capacity (A(max)) and [N], i.e., the effects of [N] on photosynthesis rates appear under high PPFD. A maximum LUE-[N] relationship, if it existed, would influence photosynthesis in the whole range of PPFD. We estimated maximum LUE for 14 eddy-covariance forest sites, examined its [N] dependency and investigated how the [N]-maximum LUE dependency could be incorporated into a GPP model. In the model, maximum LUE corresponds to LUE under optimal environmental conditions before light saturation takes place (the slope of GPP vs. PPFD under low PPFD). Maximum LUE was higher in deciduous/mixed than in coniferous sites, and correlated significantly with canopy mean [N]. Correlations between maximum LUE and canopy [N] existed regardless of daily PPFD, although we expected the correlation to disappear under low PPFD when LUE was also highest. Despite these correlations, including [N] in the model of GPP only marginally decreased the root mean squared error. Our results suggest that maximum LUE correlates linearly with canopy [N], but that a larger body of data is required before we can include this relationship into a GPP model. Gross primary production will therefore positively correlate with [N] already at low PPFD, and not only at high PPFD as is suggested by the prevailing paradigm of leaf-level A(max)-[N] relationships. This finding has consequences for modelling GPP driven by temporal changes or spatial variation in canopy [N].     

Compensation point of NOx exchange: Net result of NOx consumption and production

The compensation point of bidirectional NO_x fluxes of plants is often determined in chamber measurements by varying the NO_x concentration and searching for the point where the net flux is zero. We hypothesized that the compensation point can vary with changing conditions so much that one constant value is not sufficiently accurate. The compensation point for NO_x fluxes of Scots pine was analysed with a model describing the NO_x consumption and production processes. Consumption was assumed to occur via the stomata and on needle surfaces, with the rate depending on ambient concentration and degree of stomatal opening. Production was assumed to occur on the needle surfaces depending on solar UV-A irradiance. We used NO_y flux data measured with two gas-exchange chambers in southern Finland to parameterize the model. The estimated compensation points increased with increasing UV-A irradiance and decreased with increasing stomatal conductance. With open stomata, it varied several ppb even under field conditions.     

Effects of genetic entry and competition on above ground biomass production of Norway spruce grown in southern Finland

The effects of genetic entry and competition on the above ground dry biomass production (i.e. stem wood, needles, branches and harvest index) was studied in 20 Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) clones grown in southern Finland. Furthermore, the measured above ground biomass components were compared against the corresponding estimations based on biomass models developed previously. The clones included both Finnish and Russian clones, as well as provenance-hybrids clones. Differences existed between clones in stem dry mass production, but not in harvest index or in crown dry mass. However, the competition caused by neighboring trees also significantly affected above ground dry biomass, as well as the biomass of crown and stem separately. Differences in competition between the clones could not be found. Unlike the dry mass of branches, the dry mass of needles and stem could be estimated well for individual sample trees with the available biomass models. Moreover, the clone with the largest above ground dry biomass production had nearly doubled production, on average, than the average over all clones. Thus, some of the clones showed especially high potential for biomass recovery in energy wood thinning.     

The intra‐ and intertester repeatability of radiographic elbow incongruity grading is high in chondrodystrophic dog breeds

Elbow incongruity is a form of elbow dysplasia that causes osteoarthritis, pain, and lameness, and it is common in chondrodystrophic dog breeds. The objective of this retrospective secondary analysis study was to evaluate the intra‐ and interobserver repeatability of a novel radiographic incongruity grading system for assessing elbow incongruity in three chondrodystrophic dog breeds—the dachshund, Skye Terrier, and Glen of Imaal Terrier. We conducted an observer agreement study that included 220 mediolateral antebrachial radiographs from 110 dogs with the elbow in 90° flexion. The radiographs were independently assessed by three observers at three time points, using a four‐stepped grading scale. The proportion of agreement and Kappa coefficient were calculated. Both the intra‐ and interobserver proportions of agreement were substantial when three grades were required to be identical (.705‐.777 and .609, respectively), and almost perfect for two identical grades (.991‐1.000 and .991, respectively). Some differences in repeatability between breeds were noted; specifically, the intraobserver repeatability was higher in the dachshund, and the interobserver repeatability was lower in the Glen of Imaal Terrier. Our study showed that the radiographic imaging protocol and incongruity grading system have high repeatability when assessing elbow incongruity in chondrodystrophic dog breeds.     

The effects of a heat treatment on the behaviour of extractives in softwood studied by FTIR spectroscopic methods

Scots pine battens were heat-treated at 100–240º C under saturated steam. Cross-sections of heat-treated battens were analysed using ATR and reflection FTIR microscopies. A typical absorption band of fats and waxes at 1740 cm^-1 was detected on the sapwood edges in the temperature range of 100–160º C, indicating that fats and waxes moved along the axial parenchyma cells to the surface of the sapwood during the heat treatment. At the elevated temperatures (above 180° C) fats and waxes disappeared from the sapwood surface and were no longer detected with FTIR spectroscopy. Resin acids were detected at temperatures between 100 and 180º C in the middle of the battens. IR spectra of these spots showed a characteristic absorption band of resin acids at 1697 cm^-1. At 200º C resin acids were not detected in the middle of the battens; however, resin acids were detected at distances of 500 and 600 mm from the midpoint of the battens and on the edges of battens. At temperatures above 200° C, resin acids had disappeared from the wood.     

Use of modeled photosynthesis and decomposition to describe tree growth at the northern tree line

Growth of subarctic Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) trees was investigated by a combination of process-based models and dendroecological approaches. Tree ring width indices were strongly autocorrelated and correlated with simulated photosynthetic production of the previous year and with organic matter N mineralization of the current year. An autoregressive model, with photosynthesis and N mineralization as external inputs, explained growth of the trees well. However, relationships for the period 1950-1992 differed significantly from relationships for the period 1876-1949; the slope of the regression of tree ring width index and photosynthesis was lower for the 1950-1992 period. Also, the autocorrelation structure of the data changed. First-order autocorrelation decreased and second-order autocorrelation increased from the earlier to the later period. This means that growth is becoming less sensitive to variations in photosynthetic production, whereas the relationships between growth and N mineralization are remaining fairly constant. We postulate that, although photosynthesis has increased in response to increasing CO2 concentrations, tree growth rate cannot parallel the increase in photosynthesis because potential growth rate is limited directly by temperature.