The effect of crown form and plagiotrophy on the growth of Picea abies f. pendula cuttings

Seven‐year old cuttings of pendula spruce were taller and had larger diameters than seedlings or cuttings of Norway spruce of normal crown type. Pendulous cuttings still had plagiotropic growth at age 7 years and the rate of change to orthotropic growth form was weaker than in cuttings with normal crown type. In pendulous cuttings the effect of the origin of ortet and clone on the crown symmetry was significant at age 5 years but not at age 7 years. The effect of clone on the growth form was evident at ages 5 and 7 years, but the effect of the origin of ortet was significant only in 7‐year‐old cuttings. There were no differences in plagiotrophy between clones from 4‐ and 7‐year‐old ortets. For pendulous cuttings the average height and diameter growth decreased in 5‐ and 6‐ year‐old cuttings with less pendulous crown form and with more plagiotropic growth form but this decrease had almost disappeared in 7‐year‐old cuttings.     

Rejuvenation of juvenile growth characters in picea abies

Cuttings were made from six‐year‐old seedlings of Picea abies L. (Karst.) that had been studied in the Stockholm phytotron. The seedlings belonged to four full‐sib families, one being of French origin, one of North‐Swedish origin and two being hybrids between parents of North‐Swedish and French origin. Nine clones from each family were included. After the rooting phase, the cuttings were exposed to the same cultivation regimes as the seedling ortets. Characteristics of growth rhythm, percentage free growth and leader length were recorded during the 2nd to the 5th growth period (GP). Plagiotropic growth habit was recorded in the 3rd to the 5th growth period, and, characteristics of the rooting phase were studied. A juvenile behaviour very similar to that characterizing growth periods 2–3 of the seedlings was observed for growth rhythm characteristics and for free growth capacity during GP2 of the cuttings. The absolute value of the differences between each observation of the seedling ortets in GP6 and the means of the cuttings in GP2 produced a new variable that quantified the degree of rejuvenation. This new variable was meaningfully calculated only for growth rhythm and growth pattern variables. A gradual reversion of the growth rhythm occurred for the cuttings, which corresponded to the change with increasing age for the seedlings. The capacity for free growth, on the contrary, disappeared already in GP3 for the cuttings, except for the French family. A large variation in the rejuvenation ability between families was observed. Furthermore, the rejuvenation ability was negatively correlated with the ability to grow plagiotropically.     

Maturation, topophysis and other factors in relation to rooting in Larix

We examined effects of mist quantity, topophysis (origin of cutting in the crown of 6-year-old trees), maturation state of the donor stock, and time of sticking on rooting and root system quality of cuttings representing five full-sib hybrid larch families obtained with Larix decidua Mill., L. laricina (du Roi) K. Koch, and L. kaempferi (Lamb.) Sarg. (Sieb. and Zucc.) Gord., as parents. Mist frequency, supplemental watering and family all had highly significant effects on percentage of cuttings rooting and root system quality. The high-frequency misting regime yielded both higher rooting percentages and higher quality root systems than the low-frequency regime without supplemental watering. Supplemental watering of the rooting medium in the low-frequency misting regime increased both percent rooting and root system quality to values comparable with those obtained by cuttings in the high-frequency misting regime. Rooting of cuttings from the top, middle and bottom whorls of 5-year-old plantation grown trees tended to decline with increasing height for three of the five families. Overall, height of cutting origin did not significantly affect rooting, but when analyzed separately, two families exhibited a significant decline in rooting toward the top of the trees. Age of donor ortet (ranging from 1 to 7 years) significantly affected both percent rooting and root system quality. Rooting percentages declined linearly with age, and root system quality declined more sharply than percent rooting. The relatively poor root system quality of cuttings from ortets older than 1 year was closely associated with plagiotropic growth. Softwood cuttings (stuck in mid-July) rooted better than hardwood cuttings (stuck in early September) across all families.     

Rooting Success of Cuttings from Young Picea abies in Transition to Flowering Competent Phase

Abstract

Abundant flowering occurred in a central Swedish trial with 10-yr-old Picea abies L. (Karst.) cuttings, taken on 4-yr-old seedlings. Large deviations in cone-set between clones were assumed to reflect different stages in transition from juvenile to flowering competent phase. Rooting success and first-yr growth performance (leader length, leader origin and plagiotropic growth) were studied on cuttings originating from the upper and lower parts of the crown in 15 clones with heavy cone-set and 15 clones without cones. Twigs from the lower part of the crown had a significantly higher rooting percentage. Cone-set did not have an effect on any of the variables analysed. The results suggest that flowering ability and rooting capacity are independent age-related processes, implying that selection for high rooting capacity in clonal forestry does not reduce flowering competence. The results will have a great impact on breeding of P. abies, since both early flowering and high rooting ability are important traits for reducing the turnover time of the breeding cycle.     

Parameters affecting shoot production and rooting of cuttings from lodgepole pine hedges

By propagating lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) cuttings in vivo, we obtained after 7 growing cycles (ca 3.5 years) in a greenhouse, sufficient number of cuttings from most families to establish clonal progeny tests. Twenty-one full-sib families with approximately 20 clones per family were studied for five years. Years when cuttings were set, families within latitude and clones within families differed significantly in rooting percentages, with the variance components 4.2%, 8.2% and 9.5%, respectively. One way to get a frequent and uniform rooting is to take cuttings from non-leading shoots since they have higher rooting percentage than leading shoots. Neither total length of the cuttings nor length of the primary needles were significantly correlated to rooting percentage. With appropriate management of the ortets and the cuttings during rooting, most clones could be included in a cutting propagation program.     

Selection in a provenance trial of Norway spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) produced a land race with desirable properties

Selections were made within East European Norway spruce provenances in a provenance trial in northern Sweden and the selected clones were grafted in a Norwegian seed orchard mixed with plus trees of local origin. Full-sib families were generated by controlled crosses, producing sets of both inter- and intraprovenance families, which were planted in two short-term and in long-term trials. Measurements were made of frost damage, tree height, annual shoot growth rhythm and lammas shoots, and genetic parameters were estimated. The intraprovenance families from selected trees of East European origin showed the least variation in all traits and had the lowest heritability values. The variation among the intraprovenance families of local origin was large and with the highest estimates of heritability. The means of the provenance hybrid families were intermediate between those of the intraprovenance families. Strong genetic correlations were present between the growth rhythm traits measured, and in the family group of local origin also between these traits and frost damage, as well as for lammas shoots and height. The progenies of the selected parents of East European origin seem to be a desirable land race with less damage, lower percentage of lammas shoots and less variability in growth capacity.     

Selection, propagation and cultivation of Pinus massoniana clones for pulp use

Based on the growth, wood property of the ortets, and rooting abilities of cuttings, 32 Pinus massoniana clones for pulp use were selected from forests of superior provenance, mixed families, and progeny test of seed orchard by two-step selection. The average height and DBH growth of three-year-old clones were 28.6% and 16.7%, respectively, higher than those from seedlings, and average gain of wood density reached 8.7%. Rooting rate of all these clones was over 80%, 28% higher than the clones selected by a single step. A cutting orchard of 0.33 hm² on the hillside was constructed to intensively produce cuttings according to the tests on construction methods, pruning, and fertilization. A total of 50,000 grade I, 37,500 grade II, and 62,500 grade III cuttings were collected per hectare of this cutting orchard each time, and were cut three times each year. With all the above techniques, 48 hm² of clonal forests for pulp use of those clones had been planted in five places in Fujian Province. Container stecklings are more likely to increase the planting survival rate. __________ Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2004, 40(1): 64–69 [译自: 林业科学]     

A comparison of pre-planting treatments on hardwood cuttings of four hybrid poplar clones

Rooting and early growth of four hybrid poplar clones (Populus spp.) planted in a greenhouse were examined after applying 40 pre-rooting treatment combinations to dormant cuttings. Treatments included 2 cutting lengths (5 and 10 cm), 5 soaking times (0, 2, 4, 8, and 12 days), and 4 dips (chitosan, rooting hormone powder, liquid rooting hormone added to the soaking water, and none). Significant differences in both rooting percentages and growth were shown between clones after 7 weeks of growth. Ten cm cuttings had 29% greater rooting success, 28% more above-ground growth, and 12% lower root/shoot ratios than 5 cm cuttings. Cuttings planted without soaking had the lowest rooting success, at less than 45% on average. Commercial rooting hormones decreased the number of rooted cuttings but increased root/shoot ratios. For optimal rooting, we recommend using 10 cm cuttings, soaked for 2 days in water (4 days for the Jackii10 clone) without any additional dipping/hormone substance.     

采穗园母株生根性状遗传变异和选择效应*

对３．５年生日本落叶松采穗园４个家系４０株母株生根率、生根量和偏根率遗传变异，不同生根性状间表型相关研究表明，家系间生根率、生根量和偏根率差异尚达不到０．０５的显著水平。但不同母株间上述差异均极显著。单株生根率、生根量等的遗传力大于家系，方差分量分别比家系大４～３６倍。部分家系生根率与生根量、偏根率之间相关关系紧密程度不同，但生根量与偏根率之间各家系均呈极显著负相关。根据生根率、生根量综合评价结果，按５０％入选率对采穗园进行淘汰，或用生根性状优异的母株扦插苗建第二轮采穗园，插穗生根率、生根量比总体利用水平可分别提高２０．３％和２９．８％，而又不致严重减少采穗园母株的遗传多样性。     

The influence of ontogeny on essential oil traits when micropropagating Eucalyptus polybractea

Eucalyptus polybractea (blue mallee) is the key species used in the commercial production of pharmaceutical-grade (>70% 1,8-cineole) eucalyptus oil in Australia. The establishment of plantations based on clones of selected, elite oil-producing plants has been recognized as the best means by which to increase oil and cineole yields. Blue mallee can be micropropagated using axillary bud proliferation of explants collected from the coppicing lignotubers of decapitated plants. To date, this has been successful for ortets from three different ontogenetic stages: 8-month-old ‘seedlings’, 4-year-old ‘saplings’ and ‘mature’, biannually harvested plants of indeterminate age. The issue of ontogenetic control of oil quality and quantity is an important consideration when selecting ortets for cloning and also when examining the success of a cloning programme. Our aim is to examine if clones derived from ortets of the three different ages reflect their respective ortets, in terms of oil quantity and quality (cineole proportion), and to appraise at what age the clones best reflect the ortets for these traits. Our results suggest that the age of ortets prior to explant collection does not influence micropropagation success or clonal consistency, and that clones generally exhibit the leaf oil traits of their respective ortets. Leaf oil quantity accumulation in ramets followed the ontogenetic trajectory of a relatively rapid increase to a maximum between 3 and 9 months, followed by a period of relative constancy for at least 12 months before beginning to gradually decrease after 21 months. Although oil quality of ramets reflected their corresponding ortets relatively well after 9 months, apparent ontogenetic constraints to cineole accumulation suggest that harvesting at a time between 9 and 21 months may better reflect the ortets for both traits. It appears likely that the proliferation of selected blue mallee genotypes using micropropagation will result in selection gains for key oil traits, thus potentially increasing cineole yields in future plantations.     

Response of in vitro obtained oil palm and interspecific OxG hybrids to inoculation with Phytophthora palmivora

Bud rot (BR) disease caused by Phytophthora palmivora is the most devastating disease in oil palm cultivation in America. Oil palms that survived BR epidemics were found in areas highly devastated by the disease; these palms were introduced into Cenipalma's in vitro micropropagation (cloning programme). A severity scale was developed for in vitro palms from five ortets inoculated with two different P. palmivora isolates. Then, eight ortets of Elaeis guineensis and two ortets of the OxG interspecific hybrid were evaluated in two inoculation trials under chamber growth conditions. The clone performance response was consistent with that reported in the field for the corresponding ortets, and two contrasting ortets, one susceptible (ortet 57) and one resistant (ortet 34) were identified. We monitored and compared defence responses to P. palmivora in the contrasting ortets. An increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production after inoculation with the pathogen was observed, with higher accumulation of H₂O₂ in the resistant plants. Catalase (CAT) activity in resistant plants increased after inoculation with the pathogen from 24 hr post‐infection (hpi) and remained high during the observation time. In the susceptible ortets, there was a significant increase on catalase activity only at 48 hpi. Peroxidase (POS) activity increased in clones from both susceptible and resistant ortets, but the increase was much greater in the susceptible ones. Phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity increased in response to inoculation, and these increases were greater in clones of the susceptible ortet than in clones of the resistant ortet.     

Rooting and early shoot characteristics of Picea abies (L.) karst. cuttings originating from shoots with enforced vertical growth

Picea abies mother‐plants from 10 serially propagated clones (14 years old, chronologically) were treated in four different ways: (1) control with intact, non‐manipulated plants; (2) like (1) but with the leader cut off; (3) intact plants but with all branches of the upper two whorls forced to grow in a vertical way; and (4) like (3) but with the leader cut off. Cuttings from four positions (cutting‐types) on the mother‐plants were collected, rooted and evaluated for rooting %, number of main roots, number of lateral roots, plagiotrophy, needle symmetry on leader and growth of leader. Treatments 3 and 4 resulted in cuttings with more plagiotropic growth but with better rooting, more lateral roots and better growth than did cuttings from treatments 1 and 2. The genotype had a significant influence on rooting. Number of main roots was significantly influenced by the genotype and the cutting‐type, but not of the mother‐plant treatment. Symmetry of needles on the leader was fairly weakly influenced by genotype and cutting‐type yet not influenced by mother‐plant treatment. Clone effect was significant for leader growth.     

尾叶桉×细叶桉杂种无性系扦插生根和生长性状的研究

对尾叶桉×细叶桉5个杂种组合的181个无性系扦插生根和生长性状的研究表明:每穗根数、每穗最长根长和生根率3个扦插生根性状,杂种组合间和杂种组合内无性系间的差异均达0.01显著水平;46个月生树高、胸径和单株材积3个生长性状,杂种组合间差异不显著,杂种组合内无性系间的差异达0.01显著水平.无性系扦插生根性状和生长性状的广义遗传力介于0.32(每穗最长根长) ～ 0.94(生根率)之间,表明各性状受中等到高等程度的遗传控制.无性系扦插生根性状平均值与生长性状平均值的表型相关均不显著.无性系各生长性状在13、18、46个月生之间的年年相关均达到0.01显著水平,表明在较早生长期进行无性系选择具有一定的可行性.本研究初选出易扦插、速生的尾细桉杂种无性系24个,无性系间单株材积株间变异系数为13.87%～68.55%,无性系内变异可能与母株年龄效应、位置效应和立地环境条件等C-效应因子有关.对桉树杂交育种而言,杂交制种后直接进行育苗、扦插和无性系试验是一条快捷有效的无性系培育途径.     

Clonal selection for resistance to Dothistroma needle blight in Pinus radiata

Fifty-two clones in twenty-two full-sib families were represented in a field trial. All cuttings were taken from hedged ortets which were four years from seed, but had been cut back periodically to one metre high since age two. One-year-old seedlings, from a seed orchard, where most of the parents of the clones were represented, were used as controls. The trial was assessed for Dothistroma needle blight infection six years after planting. The mean infection level of all the cuttings was 21.1%, compared to 29.8% for the seedlings. This difference was attributed to the greater maturation age of the cuttings. It was calculated that if the best 10% of the clones were selected, infection could have been further reduced to 12%, a level where other disease control measures would be considered unnecessary.     

湿地松与洪都拉斯加勒比松的杂交效果分析

利用种植于广东省台山市的1块9年生杂种松测定林的生长数据,分析了湿地松与洪都拉斯加勒比松杂种家系(PEE×PCH)、湿地松全同胞家系(PEE×PEE)和自由授粉家系(PEE(op))的生长量差异,估算了杂交亲本的一般配合力(GCA)、一般杂交力(GHA)和亲本间的特殊杂交力(SHA),探讨了GCA与GHA、GHA和SHA与杂种子代生长表现的相关关系.结果表明:类型间生长量存在极显著差异,从大到小的排列顺序为PEE×PCH＞PEE×PEE＞PEE(op)＞CK,杂种家系的平均材积比CK大221.36%;根据生长性状选择出国产的优良杂种家系15个,其树高、胸径、材积、每公顷蓄积量分别为10.96～12.57 m、17.42～21.25 cm、0.156 2～0.236 7 m3、141.75～233.82 m3,相对于CK的材积现实增益为216.19%～379.15%;选择出GHA效应大、可靠性高的杂交亲本4个,可用于大量制种;湿地松无性系树高性状的GCA与树高、胸径、材积性状的GHA存在极显著的正相关关系;PEE×PCH杂种家系的生长表现与其亲本的GHA密切相关,尤其与双亲的GHA之和的相关系数最大,达到0.891 8以上.     

杂种落叶松连续繁殖与插穗生根关系的生理研究

观察了日×长杂种落叶松连续繁殖插穗不定根发育进程,研究了连续繁殖对插穗生根力衰退的阻滞效应,并分析了一轮采穗圃与原株采穗圃插穗不定根发育期内源激素含量的动态变化。结果表明:扦插后13 31 d是愈伤组织形成和不定根原始体分化发育的关键期,此时一轮分生株愈伤组织形成和不定根发育均优于原株。连续繁殖对插穗生根性状有显著作用,尤其是生根率很低的原株,经过一轮繁殖后,生根性状有极显著提高。连续繁殖影响插穗自身激素含量,尤其是IAA,经过一轮繁殖后,含量明显高于原株。从不定根发育过程中激素的动态变化看,一轮分生株插穗(IAA+GA3+ZR)/ABA比值在不定根发育前期明显高于原株,与生根率的变化一致,可用来衡量不同繁殖次数插穗生根性状的优劣。     

Mini-cuttings: an effective technique for the propagation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pinaster</Emphasis> Ait.

Pinus pinaster Ait. is one of the main forest tree species planted in Spain, Portugal and France. Due to its high economic relevance, there is considerable interest in developing techniques for vegetative breeding aimed at mass propagation. In this study we present a mini-propagation protocol in order to define an efficient method to propagate families or clones of P. pinaster. We carried out three experiments using mini-cuttings of 3–5 cm in length with the aim of evaluating the effects of temperature (4°C vs. 25°C), plant growth regulator (IBA) and shoot age on rooting ability. Percentage of rooted cuttings and morphological root variables were recorded. The percentage of rooted cuttings per treatment ranged from 68 to 97%. Treatment with IBA significantly influenced the rooting process at 25°C but not at 4°C. The number of apexes, length, area and volume of roots were all positively affected by temperature treatment. Shoot age also had a positive effect on rooting capacity of cuttings, with the cuttings from the youngest shoots (70 days after pruning) having higher rooting percentages, ranging from 84.7 to 98.3%. The use of juvenile material, good environmental conditions and IBA all benefited the rooting of clonal material, resulting in high rooting capacity. This study presents an innovative propagation protocol for P. pinaster that can be used as a tool in breeding programs.     

Softwood cuttings for propagation of red alder

Tests were conducted to assess rootability of red alder softwood cuttings from shoots of young trees and epicormic sprouts of mature individuals. Ortets were 3 to 34 years old, and treatments with and without indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were compared. The extent of rooting and root vigor on the cuttings varied greatly among ortets and treatments. Among nonterminal cuttings, the best overall rooting success, with and without IBA, was obtained with cuttings of the youngest ortet. Average rooting of terminal and nonterminal cuttings of one clone were 100% and 64%, respectively. Although cuttings of some trees rooted well without IBA, the IBA treatment appeared to be generally beneficial. For all nonterminal cuttings of all clones, best results (80.0%/x) were obtained with a 10-sec dip in 2,000 or 4,000 ppm IBA. Vigorous planting stock was obtained from the rooted cuttings of all clones. Using epicormic sprouts from mature trees of proven performance will presumably allow propagation of superior trees and establishment of new plantations with improved stock.     

杉木种子发芽率和苗木高生长的近交效应

在杉木种子园中对6个无亲缘关系的无性系进行了双列杂交,包括自交。同时取亲本的自由授扮种子作为对照。在他们的子代林中,取一个全同胞家系和一个自由授粉家系,各选4至6株开花植株连同它们的亲本,分别进行自交、回交、同胞内交配和异交测定。结果表明,杉木近交使得种子发芽率和苗木高生长量大幅度下降。近交衰退随着近交系数(F)的增加而加大。同异交相比,自交、回交和全同胞交配、半同胞交配组合的种子发芽率分别平均降低约88％、42％和20％,苗木平均高度分别下降27％、17％和13％左右。结果也显示,在不同个体之间近交衰退程度存在明显差异。     

Influence of nitrogen,photoperiod, cutting type,and clone on root and shoot development of rooted stem cuttings of sweetgum

This study was designed to test the effects of nitrogen fertilization, photoperiod, cutting type, and clone on root and shoot development of stem cuttings of sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua). Differences in the growth of roots and shoots were observed as a result of weekly applications of varying levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization (0, 25, 50, 100, or 200 mg N/liter). As the concentration of N increased, new-shoot dry weight increased, but root dry weight decreased at rates greater than 50 mg N/liter. The percentage of rooted cuttings surviving also decreased as N concentrations increased past 50 mg N/liter. A night-interruption light treatment did not significantly affect survival percentages or the amount of root and shoot growth. Across all treatments, only 46% of all cuttings produced new-shoot growth within a 15-week period following rooting. Cutting type (terminal or sub-terminal) affected rooted cutting development. A higher percentage of terminal cuttings survived and were deemed plantable. In contrast, sub-terminal cuttings produced more shoot and root growth. Differences among clones were observed for all traits measured.Manipulating N fertilization, in conjunction with using clones that propagate well, has the potential of producing rooted cuttings of a size adequate for plantation establishment. However, higher percentages of cuttings that produce new shoot growth shortly after rooting must be achieved.