Fluctuation of temperature inside poplar stems in relation to air temperature

Two Euramerican poplar clones, ‘I-214’and ‘I-45/51′, were badly damaged by frost cracks in 1981 and 1985. Thermocouples attached to 12 trees showed that clone ‘I-45/51’was more resistant to winter and late frosts, possibly due to its significantly thicker and rougher bark in comparison to ‘I-214′.     

Bark phenolics of American beech (Fagus grandifolia) in relation to the beech bark disease1

The amount of total extractable phenols was determined for bark sections obtained from behind cankers naturally induced by Nectria coccinea var. faginata and from behind mechanically inflicted wounds on stems of American beech. Healthy bark from susceptible trees was found to contain a similar level of phenolics as bark from trees determined to be resistant to the beech bark disease. Six months after wounding, wound-altered bark from susceptible trees was found to be lower in phenols than woundaltered bark from resistant trees. Inoculation of wounds with N. coccinea var. faginata resulted in decreased phenolic levels in bark sections nearest the wound surface, and increased phenolic levels in sections nearest the vascular cambium, several mm distant. Phenolic levels in injured or infected bark appear to follow similar patterns as those resulting from injury or infection of xylem tissues.     

Une méthode d'inoculation pour l'évaluation précoce du comportement du Mélèze vis a vis du Lachnellula willkommii

An inoculation method for early assessment of Larch resistance to Lachnellula willkommii . Efficiency of inoculation with mycelium and ascospores was compared on 4–13-year-old Larix decidua. Only mycelium induced high infection rates. Mycelial inoculum was contained in colonized sorghum-straw pieces and was introduced in 1 mm diameter holes drilled through the bark in April/May. The main infection was detectable as early as 18 months after inoculation and infection rate increased only until the 28th month after inoculation. The susceptibility of the branches did not depend on their age, their position in the trees, the age of inoculated shoots or the management of the trees. Susceptibility was even for the 1–2-yr-old parts of the stems and branches but the oldest parts of the stems were less susceptible. The inoculation method was effective for detecting differences in susceptibility among trees. One seedling from the Alps, and clone 3001–00035, which is the mother of resistant hybrids, were the least susceptible.     

Improving harvester estimates of bark thickness for radiata pine (Pinus radiata D.Don)

Harvesters estimate bark thickness primarily from diameter over bark (DOB) and use it to estimate log volume and value. Harvester bark thickness estimation errors can reduce returns through poor bucking optimisation and out-of-specification logs. Radiata pine bark thickness data from harvested logs and permanent sample plots (PSP) were analysed to determine best-fit coefficients for current and potential future harvester bark thickness models. The most suitable current harvester bark thickness model for radiata pine is: double bark thickness = b ₀ + b ₁*DOB (the ‘DOB model’). This describes a straight line, whereas radiata pine bark relative to DOB is thicker near the stem base and consistent over the remainder. PSP data set coefficients for this model overestimated upper stem bark thickness and underestimated lower stem values. The harvester model for Scots pine bark fitted better than the DOB model for diameters <400 mm but performed poorly for larger logs, as it is restricted to trees with a diameter at breast height <590 mm. Two better models were identified: (1) a model using relative height to account for bark thickness changes with height, and (2) implementing separate DOB models for the bottom 10% and top 90% of the stem split by relative height. These approaches require approval by the StanForD committee to be implemented. Prior to approval, the upper 90% model coefficients could be applied to the entire stem to improve upper 90% stem volume and value predictions at the expense of the lower 10%. Further research will determine if this approach produces acceptable results when optimising bucking. Increasing variability of bark thickness estimates with increasing DOB in the PSP data set may reflect manual measurement errors with thicker bark or may show that additional explanatory variables are needed. Efforts to identify new variables would need to be weighed against additional returns and probable reductions in numbers of larger trees by as the clearfell age is reduced.     

A trial to detect optimal pin-pricking timing in evaluating the ability to form traumatic resin canals of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cryptomeria japonica</Emphasis> for selecting resistant trees to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Semanotus japonicus</Emphasis> (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae)

A trial to detect optimal pin-pricking timing in evaluating the ability to form traumatic resin canals (TRCs) of Cryptomeria japonica was examined to select resistant trees to Semanotus japonicus using 14 clones in 2001 and 2002. Resistance to S. japonicus and the ability to form TRCs in the phloem was evaluated by inoculating newly hatched larvae in the bark and by a pin prick, which was conducted every 10 days (four times) on the trunk around the larval phloem-feeding period, respectively. The larval survivorship varied greatly among clones for both years. The mean appearance of newly formed TRCs was generally higher in late treatment for both years, and the tangential width of them was also higher in 2001, whereas those of pre-formed TRCs were not higher for either year. The larval survivorship did not show significant correlations with the appearance and the width of pre-formed TRCs on all treatments. However, it showed significant negative correlations with the appearance of newly formed TRCs on the second and third treatments on the 2-year-old layer, although this was not significant with the width of them. This suggests that resistant clones might have the mechanism of rapidly forming TRCs when just at the stage of newly hatched larval entering the phloem. Thus, although the relationship between the appearance and the width of newly formed TRCs is not clear, pin-pricking treatment when the newly hatched larvae just enter the bark may be one of optimal times for the evaluation of the resistance of C. japonica to S. japonicus. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Détection par piégeage du Ceratocystis fimbriata f. platani

Application of the technique of trapping Ceratocystis fimbriata f. platani for the study of the persistance in affected trees . The study of the persistance of Ceratocystis fimbriata f. platani in affected trees is achieved by trapping of the fungus which is carried out on small branches of London plane, stripped of their bark. If C. fimbriata is present in samples of wood to be tested, it becomes visible after a few days when numerous perithecia form on the trap. Trapping the fungus by this method has been systematically achieved with young, artificially inoculated trees: in many cases, C. fimbriata persists in the wood after a period of about 19 to 22 months.     

Genetic variability of the ‘bark canker resistance’ character in several natural provenances of Cupressus sempervirens

Several Aegean (Greece) and Anatolian (Turkey) cypress provenances were studied for resistance variability to bark canker, a disease caused by the fungal pathogen Seiridium cardinale. The investigation also examined whether the low disease rate within the natural area of cypress was due to genetic or geographic‐climatic reasons. Results demonstrated strong variability for the ‘bark canker resistance’ character, in particular for trees within families. As trees from the provenances studied were not found to have genetic superiority for bark canker resistance, the above‐mentioned low disease rate could be due to geographic‐climatic barriers that inhibit the development of the fungus or its ability to infect the host. Several half‐sib progenies exhibited high resistance, suggesting that this character is totally inherited through the maternal line. Should this finding be confirmed by further research, it would facilitate the task of genetic improvement for resistance, allowing progenies of resistant trees to be obtained.     

Multiplex real-time PCR detection of pathogen colonization in the bark and wood of Picea sitchensis clones differing in resistance to Heterobasidion annosum

A quantitative multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) procedure was developed to assess the extent of Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref. growth in Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.) bark and wood and to determine correlations between lesion length and fungal colonization. Based on lesion length and real-time PCR, the responses of four 3-year-old Sitka spruce clones to inoculation with H. annosum were characterized as showing either resistance or susceptibility to the pathogen. In susceptible clones, the extent of bark colonization did not differ from the visible length of the bark lesion, whereas lesions were longer than the extent of fungal colonization in resistant clones. The resistant clones contained considerably less fungal DNA than the susceptible clones, relative to the amount of host DNA in both the bark and the wood, indicating less resistance and more host cell death in the susceptible clones following inoculation. In both resistant and susceptible clones, fungal colonization in the wood extended beyond the visible necrotic lesion in the bark, indicating that host defense responses are weaker in wood than in bark. The spread of the pathogen in both bark and wood was less in the resistant clones than in the susceptible clones, indicating that defenses in both bark and wood of the resistant clones were superior to those in the susceptible clones.     

Amino nitrogen and phenolic constituents of bark of American beech,Fagus grandifolia,and infestation by beech scale,Cryptococcus fagisuga

Concentrations of amino acids, total amino nitrogen, and phenols, ratio of phenol to amino nitrogen, and pH in the bark of American beech, Fagus grandifolia, were determined to see if these chemical constituents were correlated with susceptibility of trees to infestation by the beech scale, Cryptococcus fagisuga. The relationship of these bark constituents with scale infestation levels (none, light, and moderate), tree size (large vs. small trees), and bark shading was determined. Levels of some individual amino acids and total amino acid content in moderately infested trees were significantly higher than in uninfested trees. Large uninfested beech trees, which tend to be more readily infested by scale, had significantly higher concentrations of aspartic acid. Concentrations of phenol in the outer bark of both infested and uninfested trees were significantly higher than in the inner bark. However in bark infected by Nectria, phenol levels in the inner bark were significantly higher than in the outer bark.     

Induced resistance of Norway spruce,variation of phenolic compounds and their effects on fungal pathogens

Three clones of Norway spruce (Picea abies) were studied for their response to mass‐inoculation with the blue‐stain fungus Ceratocystis polonica. The effect of different pretreatments (fungal inoculation and wounding) before mass‐inoculation was investigated for their possible role in an acquired resistance reaction. Pretreated trees showed enhanced resistance to the subsequent mass‐inoculation relative to control trees that received no pretreatment. Furthermore, the fungal colonization of inoculated trees was less than that of wounded trees. The phenolic content of the bark, analysed by RP‐HPLC, was compared in trees receiving different treatments. Trees inoculated with C. polonica had higher average concentration of (+)‐catechin, taxifolin and trans‐resveratrol than wounded trees. Both inoculated and wounded trees had higher average concentrations of these compounds than control trees. The effect of the phenolic extract of Norway spruce bark on the growth of the root rot fungus Heterobasidion annosum and the blue‐stain fungi C. polonica and Ophiostoma penicillatum were investigated in vitro. Heterobasidion annosum was not negatively affected, and the extracts had fungistatic effects on the blue‐stain fungi. The growth of O. penicillatum was more inhibited than the growth of the more aggressive C. polonica.     

Variation in the levels of the antifungal stilbene glucosides astringin and isorhapontin in the bark of Sitka spruce [Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.

The concentrations of the constitutive antifungal stilbene glucosides astringin and isorhapontin were measured in the bark of a number of Sitka spruce [Picea sitcbensis (Bong.) Carr.] genotypes. These included trees of different provenances, trees grown at different sites, and young clonal plants. The stilbene contents of individual trees or clones varied widely. In general this was attributable to variation between individual genotypes, and was not related to provenance or site.     

Responses in the bark of Cupressus sempervirens clones artificially inoculated with Seiridium cardinale under field conditions

By 70 days after inoculation, resistant and tolerant clones of field-grown Cupressus sempervirens restricted penetration of the bark by Seiridium cardinale, forming ligno-suberized boundary zones which included four to six layers of cells with suberized cell walls. This response contrasted with that in susceptible clones, where only two to four layers of suberized cells were formed in discontinuous bands around inoculation sites. Detection of multiple layers of thin suberized boundary zones in susceptible clones indicated repeated penetration of the wound/infection-induced barrier by S. cardinale during a single growing season. The methods described will be valuable in the development of rapid, early and accurate screening programmes for durable resistance to Seiridium canker in Cupressus species.     

Screening resistance of Dalbergia sissoo clones against Ganoderma lucidum root rot disease in field conditions

Ganoderma lucidum is a serious root rot pathogen of trees and is known to cause large scale mortality in Dalbergia sissoo. Clones prepared from selected plus trees of D. sissoo have been established in a clonal seed orchard and a seed production area in northern India where 5‐year‐old plants of various clones were attacked by G. lucidum to varying degrees. Regular assessment was carried out for further 5 years to screen disease progress in the field and to identify clones of greater and lesser resistance. Data for height, clear bole and girth were collected to select trees with better growth form and disease resistance. Five highly resistant and five susceptible clones were categorized on the basis of total score for growth form characters and disease development.     

杜仲树皮含胶特性的个体变异规律

采用选择典型样株和随机取样的方法,对杜仲皮含胶特性的个体变异规律及其与若干宏观性状的相关性进行了系统研究。结果表明,不同无性系的胸径、树皮厚度、树皮含胶率的差异均达到了极显著水平。杜仲无性系树皮的含胶率与木栓层厚度和木栓层占树皮厚度的百分比呈极显著的负相关关系,与胸径的大小呈显著的负相关关系。胸径生长量越大,木栓层越厚,杜仲胶的积累相对越少;杜仲胶密度与树皮含胶率和树皮密度呈极显著的正相关关系。     

西双版纳橡胶树死皮病症状调查

调查西双版纳RRIM600和GT1两个品种橡胶树的不同割龄段死皮树的症状,根据排胶、割线颜色、树体状况三个方面的症状表现,死皮病典型症状可归纳为点状排胶或割线干涸,割线褐色、暴皮三种表现,其中RRIM600死皮树表现割线干涸和点状排胶的分别为41.7%和45.3%,割线表现内褐、褐皮平均分别为42.7%和35.2%,树体多数表现为块状暴皮,平均达44.8%;GT1死皮树症状以割线干涸为主,占61.9%,其次为点状排胶,占23.9%,割线表现为褐皮、内褐的分别占29.5%和44.9%,树体多数表现为短裂纹状暴皮,平均达34.1%。文章还对死皮病病程、诱因进行探讨。     

Sphaeropsis canker,a new disease of cypress in Greece

The fungus Sphaeropsis sp. is reported for first time in Greece to cause cankers on Cupressus sempervirens. The cultural characteristics on PDA, spore shape and size and canker morphology were identical to those of the fungus described as Diplodia pinea f. sp. cupressi in Israel. The cankers of Sphaeropsis sp. are characterized by resin exudation, with fissuring of the bark over a dry sector of the wood. The pathogenicity of the Sphaeropsis sp. was proved by artificial inoculations on selected cypress clones resistant and susceptible to Seiridium cardinale. The mean canker length of the susceptible clone was significantly more than that of the resistant clones. It appears that the defence reaction in cypress against both fungi is similar. In artificial inoculations on Pinus halepensis and Pinus pinea, Sphaeropsis sp. was nonpathogenic. During a 3‐year period, in an experimental plot in western Peloponnese, the fungus spread from one, initially, to 13 cypress clones. Drought stress during the summer appears to be the main factor predisposing the cypress plants to become susceptible to the fungus.     

La variabilité de la sensibilité du Hêtre (Fagus sylvatica L.) à Nectria coccinea,un des agents de la maladie de l'écorce

Variability of Fagus sylvatica susceptibility to Nectria coccinca, one of the agents of beech bark disease . N. coccinea was inoculated into wounds of young beeches raised from seeds of 6 bark diseased trees and 6 healthy ones in the same stand of the forest of Lyons. Classifieation of the progenies, according to the size of the necrosis, is in good agreement with the health of the mother trees. N. coccinca susceptibility of beech has a genetic origin.     

A study on the physical mechanism of resistance of main poplar strains againstCryptorrhynchus lapathi L. in North China

The physical mechanism of resistance of poplar againstCryptorrhynchus lapathi L. is directly correlated with the morphological structure of bark, concerning the following 5 aspects: 1. It is correlated with whether surface bark of larva transvered tunnel crack or not, early or late. Those that do not crack or crack late are susceptible strains while those that crack early are resistant strains. 2. It is correlated with thickness of cork layer. Thick cork layer can increase resistance against pest while thin one is more susceptible to pest attack. 3. It is related with age of tree. Trees at the age of 1–2 possess immunity to the pest, at 3–4 are relatively resistant, at 5–8 are susceptible and over 9 are more resistant. 4. It is also correlated with the rate of trees healing round the holes of larva tunnels. Those healing faster arc resistant while those healing slower are susceptible. 5. It is related with the number of various scars on bark surface.     

Earliness and growth performance in clones of picea abies selected for late frost resistance

Four late frost reistant trees in a young plantation of Picea abies were selected and compared with 15 non‐resistant ones after they had been propagated as cuttings. Two cutting trials were established, one in a nursery and one at the original selection site. Flushing, growth rate and total growth were assessed during four years. Frost resistant clones were found to be delayed in their flushing and growth development in early summer as compared to non‐resistant clones but the differences were not statistically significant. Large block variance and errors reduced the power of the statistical tests. Clone, site and year were found to be significant sources of variation in ANOVA, but neither interaction between clone and site nor clone and year were statistically significant. It is concluded that differences in growth rhythm parameters cannot be established between resistant and non‐resistant clones in this experiment, but the results are encouraging for the deployment of clones in forest plantations, provided the clones are tested and their performance remain stable over several propagation cycles.