Variability of the seeds and cones and key taxonomic charactersselection of Larix in Northeast China

IntroductionLarisoIgensiSHenryandLarisgmeIinii(Rupr.)Rupr.areboththenativetreespeciesinChina,buttheirdiStributingcentersarenotwithintherangeofChina.LarisoIgen$isismainlydistributedinNoFthKoreaandadjacentNortheastChinaandRussia(Dylis1961).lnChina,itsdistributingcenterisintheChangbaiMountains.Nevertheless,LarisgmeliniiismainlydistributedintheFar-EastandEastSiberiaofRussiaandNortheasternChina.ItsdistributingcenterinChinaisintheDaxing'anMountains.Thecharac-tersofthesexuaIreproduction…     

Enhanced seed production and metabolic alterations in Larix leptolepis by girdling

The demand for Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis) seeds has increased in Korea but their supply has been limited due to sporadic natural seed production. Among the various flower induction techniques, girdling woody stems has been recognized as a simple and efficient method to enhance seed production in a number of conifers. In this study, stem girdling was applied to 42-year-old Japanese larches, resulting in remarkable enhancement of seed cone production with no morphological changes in the seed characteristics. Metabolic alterations in needles of the girdled and the control trees were interrogated by using 23 individual metabolites including soluble sugars, polyamines and amino acids. In the girdled trees, the contents of both soluble sugars and polyamines were higher from June to July and then became similar to those in the control. The levels of amino acids were significantly increased only in August by girdling compared to the non-girdled trees. In control larch trees, the dominant amino acids were changed from Glu and Ala until July to Asp and Tyr in August. Interestingly, the concentrations of Asp-derived amino acids such as Lys, Met and Thr, were increased by girdling and they also showed significant correlations with the number of seed cones per trees, suggesting that the enhanced levels of three amino acids might positively influence on the development of seed cones in girdled larch trees. Although the role of Asp-derived amino acids on enhanced seed cone production remains unclear, the approach presented in this study might provide useful information in elucidating metabolic network modulation induced by girdling and will be further applied for enhanced seed cone production in Japanese larch trees.     

文冠果种子及苗期生长性状地理种源变异

[目的]研究不同种源文冠果(Xanthocerassorbifolium Bunge)的种子形态特征及在山东省安丘地区苗期性状差异,了解文冠果不同种源变异特征,为文冠果在山东安丘地区引种和遗传改良提供参考。[方法]以来自山东、河南、内蒙古、辽宁、黑龙江、河北、新疆、陕西等地的27个种源的文冠果种子为研究对象,对其种子形态指标进行测定,并在山东省安丘市开展种源试验。[结果]研究发现:不同种源间文冠果表型性状均存在极显著差异(P0.01),且这些差异可以稳定遗传(遗传力均大于0.9);苗期苗高与种源地降水、年均气温及地径与降水之间呈极显著正相关(P0.01),苗高与种源地纬度、年均日照及地径与年均日照呈极显著负相关(P0.01),种子长、种子宽、种皮厚均与海拔呈极显著负相关(P0.01)。[结论]文冠果表型性状存在丰富的变异,且受较强遗传控制;文冠果苗期性状变异主要受降水、年均气温、年均日照3个环境主导因子的影响,种子性状变异主要受海拔的影响。综合种源苗期生长状况,初步筛选出山东东营、山东安丘、内蒙古库伦、辽宁关山和辽宁海城5个适合安丘地区育苗的速生种源。     

不同产地厚朴种子性状的变异分析

厚朴(Magnolia officinalis Rehd. et Wils.)为木兰科(Magnoliaceae)落叶乔木.正品药用厚朴为厚朴的根皮、干皮和枝皮,其中的有效成分(厚朴酚(magnolol)、和厚朴酚(honokiol)及β-桉叶油醇等)具有多方面的药理作用(如燥湿消痰、下气除满),用于湿滞伤中、脱痞吐泻、食积气滞、腹胀便秘、痰饮喘咳等[1-4].厚朴主要分布于102NFA48122°E、22NFA4834°N之间,分布区内的不同气候及土壤条件,致使形成大量不同的遗传类型,其中种子形态必然存在很大的差异.     

6个栓皮栎种源种子形态及其幼苗生长的比较

[Objective]To compare the differences of seed morphological characters among provinces of Quercus variabilis Bl.,and explore the adaptive growth status of seedlings growing in the central distribution area. [Method]The seeds of 6 Q. variabilis provenances from six provinceswerecollected, and the seedlings were cultivated and transplanted to experimental field in the centre of natural distribution range (Wuhan Jiufeng National Forest Park), then the seed morphology and one-year seedling growth traitswere surveyed. [Result](1)There were significantor extremely significantdifferences among provenances in seed length, seed width, seed length/width ratio and 100-seed mass, the order of seed length among provenances was Beijing Provenance (22.28 mm),Hubei Provenance (22.10 mm), He'nan Provenance (20.80 mm), Shaanxi Provenance (19.57 mm), Yunnan Provenance (18.93 mm)and Liaoning Provenance (18.81 mm), the seed width of Beijing Provenance (19.71 mm) and Hubei Provenance (19.16 mm) was higher than that of the others, the seed length/width ratio of He'nan Provenance (1.38) was extremely significantly higher than that of the others; (2)There were significant or extremely significant differences among provenances in seedling height, ground diameter, leaf number, branching number and seedling height/ground diameter, the Beijing Provenance and Hubei Provenance were better in seedling height and leaf number, which were respectively 19.54 cm and 20.26 cm, 8.32 leaves and 9.50 leaves; (3)A decreasing trend with time for seedling growth traits among provenances was found; (4)There was a positive relationship between seed morphological characters and seedling growth traits except seed length/width ratio; the leaf number was significantly related to ground diameter and branching number and the seedling height and leaf number were closely related to the seed morphological characters; (5)It showed a decreasing trend with the growth time in the relationship between seedling growth traits and 100-seed mass. [Conclusion]The seedlings of Beijing Provenance and Hubei Provenance grew better in the experimental field which might be related to their larger seed mass, and the Yunnan Provenance in the south margin and the Liaoning Provenance in the north margin of distribution area of Q. variabilis grew weaker than the provenances in the centre of distribution area.With the effect of climate change, provenances in the margin of distribution area may lose in the community competition in the seedling stage if it cannot take advantage of its dispersal and settlement and affected by the disadvantage of growth and competition, so that the distribution and population renewal would surely be affected.     

班克松球果及种子形态特征研究初报

对班克松不同形状的球果及其种子进行调查分析,发现其球果长、宽、出种数、种子质量差异不显著;干、鲜质量差异显著;班克松种子千粒质量为3．506g。对不同年份球果所产种子进行发芽试验,结果表明,发芽率未见明显差异,平均每个球果产饱满种子20粒。     

Germination capacity of Thekopsora areolata aeciospores and the effect of cone rusts on seeds of Picea abies

Mature Norway spruce (Picea abies) cones of different ages and colonized by Thekopsora areolata were collected in northern Finland 2009–2010. The germination capacity of aeciospores collected from intact aecia was measured on water agar and compared across cone age. Seed formation was investigated in healthy cones and those infected by T. areolata, Chrysomyxa pirolata, Chrysomyxa ledi, and seed germination was also measured for healthy cones and those infected by T. areolata. Unsporulated aecia of T. areolata occurred in 0- to 4-year-old cones. Aeciospores from current-year cones did not germinate and the germination capacity was significantly higher in one- to three-year-old cones than in older or current-year cones. However, a small number of aeciospores remained viable in four-year-old cones. Seed number and apparent health were significantly lower in cones infected by T. areolata and C. pirolata than in healthy cones or cones infected by C. ledi. Seed germination was significantly lower in cones infected with T. areolata compared to seeds from healthy cones. Our results suggest that infected cones more than one-year old continue to spread T. areolata for several years after the initial infection and fruiting, and thus promote the likelihood of epidemics and virulence of local outbreaks. Although cones infected by T. areolata and C. pirolata form significantly fewer seeds and of diminished viability, C. ledi does not appear to affect seed formation and health in Norway spruce. We recommend all rust-infected cones to be removed from orchards to improve stand health, reduce the risk of local outbreaks, and thereby increase the production and quality of Norway spruce seed.     

Female fertility variation in mature Pinus sylvestris clonal seed orchards

Abstract

Female fertility is the basis for the output of seeds from clonal orchards and its variation is of major interest for the economics and biology of seed orchards, especially for the efficiency and diversity of seed orchard crops. Assessments of female fertility variation in 10 mature (>15 years old) seed orchards of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) were evaluated and compared. Depending on the individual orchard, fertility variation for each clone was assessed in slightly different ways, e.g. number of strobili, cones, seeds or litre of cones per ramet. Assessments in five of the orchards were made over consecutive years. The main result was that the clonal variation in mean female fertility per surviving ramet was lower than expected from the literature; the Kang–Lindgren sibling coefficient (Ψ) within individual years averaged 1.35. The variation between ramets within clones and years was of similar magnitude as that between clones. Clone by year interactions were noticeable, but were slightly lower than the variation between as well as that within clones in individual years. There was considerable variation in the variance components between years. The limited variation in female fertility indicated that it should not be a selection criterion when selecting clones for a seed orchard. Furthermore, it will not result in large differences between clones in seed set or large reductions in gene diversity in productive Scots pine seed orchards.     

Characteristics of reproductive biology forLarix originating in Japan

The paper summarized the life cycle, environmental features and distributions ofLarix origination in Japan. The time of blooming and fruiting and the ways of cone collection and seeds storage were introduced. The treating methods of seeds germination and the sowing time for both Japanese larch (Larix kaempferi Carr) and Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii var.japonica Pilger) were discussed. Responsible Editor: Zhu Hong     

New observation of cone flies attacking cones ofPicea obovata andLarix sibirica in central Siberia

Two species of cone flies (Strobilomyia anthracina andS. svenssoni) emerged from puparia were collected under Siberian spruce (Picea obovata) trees in the central part of the Krasnoyarsk region, central Siberia. Parasites of the Figitidae and Braconidae families emerged from 28.1% of the puparia, and fungal and bacterial diseases destroyed 24.8% of the puparia. Weight and length of the puparia depended on the sanitary status. Two types of cone fly eggs were observed on spruce cones. At least three species ofStrobilomyia (S. Infrequens, S. laricicola, and S. sibirica) attacked cones of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica) in central Siberia. (Responsible editor: Zhu Hong)     

Mycoflora associated with slash-pine seeds from cones collected at seed orchards and cone-processing facilities in the south-eastern USA1

A diverse mycoflora was associated with slash-pine seeds from cones obtained at seed orchards and cone-processing facilities in the southeastern USA. Potentially pathogenic fungi, including Lasiodiplodia tbeobromae, Sphaeropsis sapinea, and Fusarium spp., were isolated from seeds of cones obtained at all locations. Fusarium proliferatum and F. semitectum were the Fusarium spp. most often associated with seeds; F. subglutinans was rarely isolated. Many other species of fungi were associated with seeds from all locations. Incidence of fungus-damaged seeds ranged from 2 to 11% among collection sites. Disease incidence was found to increase during cone storage. Types of fungi and the incidence of fungus-damaged seeds were similar for damaged/discoloured cones and apparently healthy cones. The potential for slash-pine seeds to become colonized by pathogenic fungi, such as S. sapinea and the various Fusarium spp., could have important implications for the establishment of these fungi in forest-tree nurseries, as well as their introduction into foreign countries.     

Genetic variation in fruitfulness in a hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.) seed orchard and its impact on the maintenance of genetic diversity in seedlots

Genetic variation in seed/cone production among clones was studied in a hinoki (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.) seed orchard containing 25 plus-trees by analyzing the number of cones, the yield of cones and seeds of individual ramets for 5 successive years (1982 to 1986). There was significant variation among clones each year and parental contribution in the seed orchard. Specifically, in the years 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, and 1986, 20% of the clones produced 37.2, 60.6, 36.0, 44.3, and 44.8% of the total cones, respectively. The size of the crop greatly influenced the parental balance in the resulting seed/cone crops. The product moment correlation coefficients and Spearman’s coefficients of rank correlation were small and insignificant between consecutive years, but large and highly significant between alternate years, suggesting the presence of carry-over effects in seed/cone production. The broad-sense heritability on a clone mean basis was 0.74 ± 0.15 for the number of cones, 0.72 ± 0.14 for the yield of cones, and 0.68 ± 0.13 for the yield of seeds. The corresponding heritabilities from analyses combined over all years were 0.24, 0.558, and 0.724, respectively. These results indicate that seed/cone production in hinoki is under strong genetic control. Several managerial measures are discussed that maintain the genetic diversity in seedlots used for reforestation, by reducing the variation in seed/cone production among clones and producing seed crops with equal contributions from all parents.     

Variation in cone and seed characters in clonal seed orchards of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis>

Cone and seed characters were observed on top, middle and bottom portions of tree crown in 3 ramets/clone in three Turkish Pinus sylvestris seed orchards. Broad sense heritability (clonal repeatability), and correlations among characters were estimated. Around one quarter of the seed production occurred in the top portion, half in the middle and one quarter in the bottom portion of the crown for all orchards. The percentage of filled seeds varied little with the crown position, indicating more or less similar levels of selfing in the bottom of the crown as in the top. The seed weight was typically 11 mg. Differences were found for studied cone and seed characters among orchards and crown positions. Variation among grafts within clone was higher than among clones for most characters. The heritability was on average below 0.5 (e.g., cone diameter, number of filled seed per cone) and rarely rose above that (e.g., cone form, length/diameter; percentage of filled seed) for any individual characters. The coefficient of variation within clones was often higher than among clones. Thus, non-genetic factors seem often more important for the variation in performance of grafts than their genetic constitution. Cone form (length/diameter) was the character where the clone influence was the strongest. Cone number and cone dry weight showed significant correlations with seed characters (numbers of total and filled seed, percentage and weight of filled seeds). Significant correlation was found between seed characters.     

岭南槭不同种源家系种子形态和幼苗生长变异

[目的]探讨不同种源家系岭南槭种子形态、种子萌发与幼苗生长的特性,分析它们与种源地地理气候因子之间的关系。[方法]对广东省岭南槭天然分布区的3个种源18个家系的种子表型性状、发芽特征、幼苗生长性状和叶色表现进行方差分析和相关性分析。[结果]表明:肇庆黑石顶(HSD)种源的种子最厚、最宽,深圳七娘山(QNS)种源的种子最薄、最窄,惠州南昆山(NKS)种源的种子最长,种子千粒质量最高;翅长与翅宽呈极显著正相关(P0.01),种子千粒质量与发芽率显著正相关(P0.05);岭南槭1年生幼苗地径与苗高成正比,幼苗生长受种源地的地理气候因子影响;在色彩表现方面,QNS3、QNS13家系的明度L*值较大,QNS13色相b*值显著高于其他家系,NKS14家系幼苗的色相a*值最大。[结论]种子千粒质量越高,发芽率越高;幼苗的地径苗高生长受种源地的地理气候因子影响。NKS14家系幼苗红叶特征最明显,色彩表现较好。     

Biogeographic differences in cone, needle and seed morphology among natural Picea asperata populations in Western China

This study represents a geographical approach to morphological variation of cones, needles and seeds in natural dragon spruce (Picea asperata Mast.) populations across western China and the relationship between morphological traits and weather variation for the origins of populations. Significant differences were found for all cone, needle and seed traits among populations and trees within populations. The coefficients of variation in 2 higher latitude populations were higher than those in other populations in all traits except for needle width and seed width. Fairly high within-population variability was also detected for cone dry weight, seed dry weight and needle traits in this study. Cone length, cone width, cone dry weight, seed scale length, seed scale width and seed wing length were strongly positively intercorrelated. Seed length and seed dry weight showed a significantly positive correlation with seed wing length. And needle width showed a significant negative correlation with cone traits, seed scale length, seed wing length and seed length. The higher the annual mean temperature, the higher the average cone length. This study also revealed a negative linear dependence on latitude: the higher the latitude, the lower the population average seed length. Seed dry weight was positively and linearly related with altitude.     

华北落叶松与日本落叶松杂交试验

通过华北落叶松与日本落叶松的杂交,在22个控制授粉杂交组合中,球果长在1.74 cm~2.92 cm之间,球果径在0.98 cm~1.46 cm之间;在30个组合中,单粒球果质量介于0.52 g~1.63 g之间;球果种鳞数在23枚~47枚之间;种子连翅长在0.75 cm~1.07 cm之间;种子千粒重在2.6 g~5.0 g之间。     

Variable dormancy in seed of Pinus contorta

Seeds of lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta Dougl. var. latifolia Engelm.) collected southwest of Grande Praire, Alberta at three different times and altitudes between August 20, 1984 and August 15, 1985 showed variable responses to stratification. The responses were related to seed ripeness, as judged through evaluations of cone moisture contents, and with the length of time that the cones had remained on the trees. Unripe seeds started to lose germination in the third year after pollination when on the tree. Mature seeds which lost germination by late fall 1984 regained it by the next fall, while most unripe seeds did not. Immature seeds increased their need for stratification over time while mature seeds did not. Seeds should be left on the tree until the end of the third year to insure maximum viability because they do not reach maturity until then.     

玛咖不同颜色种子表型性状及活力特性分析

比较分析棕黄色、棕红色和黑色3种颜色玛咖种子的大小、萌发特性、幼苗生长特性和酶活力,探讨3种颜色玛咖种子的表型性状及其与种子活力之间的相关性。结果表明,棕黄色和黑色种子的长、厚、厚宽比、千粒质量、发芽势、发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数、幼苗苗长、根长、单株鲜质量和干质量、POD活性、脱氢酶活性等性状之间无显著差异,但均显著高于棕红色种子(P<0.05);棕黄色和黑色种子的新鲜不发芽种子数、死种子数和不正常幼苗数均显著低于棕红色种子(P<0.05)。不同颜色玛咖种子的千粒质量与种子的长、厚存在显著正相关(P<0.05),种子发芽势、发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数均与千粒质量、POD和脱氢酶呈极显著正相关(P<0.01)。说明棕黄色和黑色种子活力高于棕红色种子,萌发能力更强。     

Variability in seed traits and genetic divergence in a clonal seed orchard of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb.

The variations in seed and pod traits, genetic superiority and genetic divergence were evaluated for a Clonal Seed Orchard (CSO) of Dalbergia sissoo Roxb. at Bithmera, India consisting of 20 clones from different agro-climatic conditions of four northern states (Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Haryana and Rajasthan). The seeds and pods of various clones in the orchard exhibited significant variability in size, weight and other characters. Significant positive correlations were observed between seed length and seed width (p<0.05), seed length and seed thickness (p<0.01), seed length and seed weight (p<0.01), seed thickness and seed weight (p<0.01), seed length and germination value (p<0.05). The genetic parameters for seed and pod traits also showed a wide range of variations in the orchard. Heritability values were found to be over 50 percent for most of the seed and pod traits. Seed weight, seed length and seed thickness showed high heritability values coupled with maximum genetic gain for these characters. Ward’s minimum variance dendrogram of clones of D. sissoo showed three distinct clusters; cluster 1 was the largest with 12 better clones whereas cluster 2 and 3 consisting of seven moderate clones and one poor clone, respectively. Mean cluster values showed sufficient variation among the clusters for seed weight, germination value and seed length. The possible hybridization between best clones of cluster 1 to the disease resistant clone of cluster 2 (resistant against deadly Gandoderma lucidum root rot disease of D. sissoo) is also suggested for further breeding programmes of the species. The deployment of clone 194 (better performed and disease resistant) is also recommended in future plantation programmes of D. sissoo in northern India.     

Cone traits of jack pine and black spruce in young seedling seed orchards

The number of fertile and infertile scales, filled and empty seeds, cone volume, seed efficiency and the incidence of insect and disease damage to seed were evaluated for seven jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb) and six black spruce (Picea mariana [Mill.] B.S.P.) seedling seed orchards in northern Ontario, Canada. On average, the seed potential of jack pine and black spruce cones was 50 and 82 seeds, respectively. Cone volume and the number of fertile scales were under strong genetic control and well correlated with one another for both species. Seed efficiency values were high for jack pine (60%) but poor for black spruce (24%). The incidence of seed insect damage was less than 2.5% for both species and nil for seed diseases.