Ethylene production and premature senescence of needles from fir trees (Abies alba)

Measurements of ethylene production, free and conjugated ACC concentrations, chlorophyll content, and length of needles from fir trees (Abies alba Mill.) growing in stands affected by “Waldsterben” showed that during the development of the disease two consecutive stages can be distinguished: a. long-term, low ethylene production and accumulation of conjugated ACC (MACC) in response to chronic stress, associated with reduced needle growth, and b. high ethylene production associated with chlorophyll breakdown, followed by premature abscission of the needles.     

Tiarosporella durmitorensis sp. nov. – a new pathogenic fungus on needles of Abies alba

A fungus causing necrosis and needle cast has been discovered on fir trees (Abies alba) in a hight of 1700 m above sea level in Yugoslavia. The intensity of infection was very high, and the needles of all age classes were infected. The consequence of the infection is the death of the tree. The pathogen is described as a new species Tiarosporella durmitorensis Karad?i?. So far, this fungus has been found only in European silver fir stands in the National Park Durmitor and in the National Park Biogradska Gora (Montenegro).     

Responses to temperature and shade in Abies alba seedlings from diverse provenances

Abstract

Intraspecific variability in responses to temperature and shade was studied at Champenoux, north-eastern France, with seedlings from five Polish provenances of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.). Acclimation of photosynthesis to temperature was investigated in seedlings exposed to 10, 25 and 35°C in a climate chamber for 1 week. During two growth seasons, a population of seedlings was grown in the nursery under four different irradiance regimens: 100, 48, 18 and 8% of natural irradiance. Maximum carboxylation rate (V _cmax), maximum light driven electron flow (J _max) and maximum net carbon dioxide assimilation rate (A _max) measured at 25°C increased with population altitude. One week of exposure to 35°C caused discoloration and massive needle shedding. After 2 years’ acclimation to different levels of irradiance, a significant interprovenance variability was evidenced in growth, total biomass, biomass allocation and photosynthetic performance. This study provided evidence for the existence of functional variation among the examined provenances.     

An intersterility group of Heterobasidion annosum specialized to Abies alba

A third intersterility group of H. annosum in Europe has been identified from Italy. It is specialized to Abies alba., and hence is called the F (fir) group. It is closely related to the European S group, but is sexually incompatible with the geographically adjacent S population occurring in the Alps.     

Hydraulic traits are associated with the distribution range of two closely related Mediterranean firs, Abies alba Mill. and Abies pinsapo Boiss

Abies alba and Abies pinsapo are two closely related fir species that occur in the Iberian Peninsula under very different environmental conditions. Abies alba proliferates in the humid European mountains, including the Spanish Pyrenees. In contrast, A. pinsapo is a relict species that occurs in some restricted areas of the Mediterranean mountain ranges in Spain and Morocco, which experience intense summer drought periods. To cope with the high atmospheric evaporative demand during summer, A. pinsapo may either have a high resistance to xylem cavitation or develop a very efficient conducting system to reduce the soil-to-leaf water potential gradient. To investigate such hypotheses, we measured (i) the xylem vulnerability to cavitation for different populations, and (ii) several anatomical and hydraulic parameters indicating xylem sufficiency for -supplying water to the shoot in two contrasting populations of both species. Our results show that the resistance to cavitation was not different between species or populations. However, hydraulic conductivity (K(h)), specific hydraulic conductivity (K(s)), leaf-specific conductivity (LSC) and whole-shoot hydraulic conductance (K(shoot)) were higher in A. pinsapo, indicating a higher efficiency of water transport, which should contribute to maintaining its xylem tension below the threshold for rapidly increasing cavitation. The higher K(s) in A. pinsapo was largely a result of its wider tracheids, suggesting that this species may be much more vulnerable to freeze-thaw-induced cavitation than A. alba. This is consistent with the absence of A. pinsapo in northern mountain ranges with cooler winters. These physiological differences could partly explain the niche segregation and the geographical separation of these two firs.     

Rückgang der Tanne (Abies alba Mill.) in Polen

Decline of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in Poland. On the basis of his own observations and of data from the literature, the author gives a review of silver fir diseases, pests and damage by other biotic and abiotic factors in Poland and on conjectural causes of the decline of this tree species.     

Terpene response of Picea abies and Abies alba to infection with Heterobasidion s.l.

The monoterpene composition of Picea abies and Abies alba resin was analysed in relation to growth by Heterobasidion spp. Fifteen‐year‐old P. abies and A. alba trees were inoculated on branches with three species of Heterobasidion annosum s.l. After 4 months of incubation, each host was colonized to a significantly greater degree by the pathogen specific to that host (H. parviporum on P. abies, H. abietinum on A. alba) than by the other fungi. Analysis of the enantiomeric monoterpene profiles in the spruce and fir showed that the response in terms of the relative proportions of the monoterpene compounds in the resin differed between tree species. Following challenge with Heterobasidion spp., A. alba trees did not show changes in monoterpene composition in addition to those in the wounding response (increase in (−)‐α‐pinene and (−)‐camphene, and decrease in β‐phellandrene). In P.abies, (−)‐α‐pinene, (+)‐α‐pinene and δ‐3‐carene increased following Heterobasidion attack but not after wounding alone.     

On the origin of phenolic compounds in the wood rays of Abies alba

Summary The development and localization of phenolic compounds in sapwood and heartwood of Abies alba Mill. have been studied using cytological and UV-microspectrophotometric methods. The synthesis of phenolic substances was apparently initiated in vesicles developing from rough ER of the ray parenchyma cells in sapwood. They are different from the phenolic material in the pit membrane and cell wall of heartwood. There was no indication to suggest that the polyphenols in the cell wall of heartwood were either derived from or identical with the phenolic substances in the lumina of ray cells.Dedicated to Prof. Dr. H. von Pechmann on the occasion of his 70th birthdayWe are thankful to Professor Dr. Walter Liese for his support and to Mrs. R. Schultze and Miss R. Endeward for technical assistance.     

Necrotic spots induced by simulated acid rain on needles of Abies balsamea saplings

Simulated acid rain (SAR) of pH 2.6, 3.6 and 5.6 (control) was applied to Abies balsamea (L.) Mill. saplings at 2-week intervals for 3 years. Ambient precipitation was excluded from the trees during this period. Light to dark brown necrotic spots along the midribs of needles, 0.1 to 0.5mm in diameter and sometimes having a white center, were associated with the most acidic (pH 2.6) SAR treatment. These spots appeared over a significantly (p = 0.05) larger area of the foliage in the pH 2.6 treatment than in controls (pH 5.6). Needles that received SAR of pH 3.6 had intermediate numbers of spots. The spots persisted for at least 1²/₃ years after cessation of SAR application. Needle retention, needle lengths, and the occurrence of epicormic shoots and the needle rust caused by Uredinopsis longimucronata Faull were not significantly (p = 0.05) affected by the SAR treatments. Needle retention tended to be lessened by the most acidic (pH 2.6) SAR treatment. The occurrence of Lophodermium piceae (Fuckel) Höhnel needle cast was significantly lower in the middle tree sections of the pH 5.6 and 3.6 treatments than in the pH 2.6, drought and ambient treatments. Damage by naturally occurring insects was negligible, and was not related to the SAR treatments.     

Ecology of Armillaria species on silver fir (Abies alba) in the Spanish Pyrenees

? We describe the distribution and the ecology of three Armillaria species observed in silver fir (Abies alba) forests of the Pyrenees.

? We surveyed the presence and abundance of Armillaria above and belowground in 29 stands. Isolates were identified by the PCR-RFLP pattern of the IGS-1 region of their ribosomal DNA. We measured several ecological and management parameters of each stand in order to describe Armillaria infected sites.

? Armillaria cepistipes was the most abundant of three species observed. Armillaria gallica was dominant in soils with a higher pH and at lower elevations. Armillaria ostoyae seemed to be more frequent in stands where A. alba recently increased its dominance relative to other forest tree species. Thinning activities correlated with an increased abundance of Armillaria belowground. In 83% of the stands the same Armillaria species was observed above and belowground.

? It seems that in a conifer forest, A. cepistipes can be more frequent than A. ostoyae, a virulent conifer pathogen. Since logging is related to a higher abundance of Armillaria in the soil, the particular Armillaria species present in a given stand could be considered an additional site factor when making management decisions.

     

Osmotic potential and gas exchange in healthy and diseased silver firs (Abies alba Mill.)1

The present study comprises comparative investigations of transpiration, photosynthesis and osmotic potential of various twigs of a healthy and a diseased fir. Possible causes for the registered differences are discussed.     

Foliar morphological and physiological plasticity in Picea abies and Abies alba saplings along a natural light gradient

The role of morphological versus physiological foliar plasticity in the capacity for, and mechanisms of, photosynthetic acclimation was assessed in Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Abies alba Mill. saplings in a forest gap-understory light gradient (relative irradiance, RI, ranging from 0.02 to 0.32). The species investigated showed a similar foliar morphological plasticity along the light gradient, at both the needle level (through alteration in leaf dry mass per area) and the shoot level (through alteration in the silhouette area ratio, e.g., shoot silhouette to projected needle area ratio). In both species chlorophyll (Chl) concentration on a mass basis decreased at increasing RI, but was independent of RI when expressed on an area basis. In contrast, leaf N concentration on a mass basis was independent of RI, but was positively influenced by RI when expressed on an area basis. The parameters describing photosynthetic performance at low light (dark respiration rate, apparent quantum yield and light compensation point) suggest that Abies alba was better suited to maintain a positive carbon balance in shaded conditions. By contrast, parameters describing biochemical capacity at high light (maximum electron transport rate, Jmax and maximum ribulose-1,5-biphosphate carboxylation capacity, Vcmax) indicate that only Picea abies was capable of acclimating physiologically to high photosynthetic photon flux densities (PPFDs) by increasing nitrogen partitioning to Rubisco and Vcmax/mass by increasing RI. These results support the hypothesis that interspecific differences in nitrogen partitioning within the photosynthetic apparatus may provide a mechanistic basis for species separation along a light gradient. The differences in photosynthetic plasticity observed are likely to influence regeneration patterns and habitat breadth of the species investigated. The limited ability of Abies alba saplings to exploit high-light conditions may be a competitive disadvantage in large canopy gaps and thus limit recruitment of this species to small gaps.     

Variability of stomatal conductance in a small and isolated population of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.)

We analyzed the response to drought of 420 individuals from eight half-sib families from a small and isolated population of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.): 105 of them were kept in well-watered conditions as control while the remaining 315 were exposed to drought for 27 days. A model describing stomatal behavior derived from Monteith and developed in beech by Leonardi et al. was fitted to experimental transpiration data obtained simply from the difference between two daily pot weighings. The estimated parameters were maximum stomatal conductance, maximum transpiration in well-watered conditions and sensitivity to soil water deficit. The model worked well: convergence for all but four individuals and concordance between experimental and fitted data were good (R(2)=0.86). Inter-individual variability for all three estimated parameters was high and two of them (maximum stomatal conductance and sensitivity to soil water deficit) were significantly different among families, suggesting genetic control. Our results validate the simplified method used to evaluate individual stomatal parameters. We also show that in the small and isolated population of our study substantial adaptive variability remains, a crucial prerequisite to endure environmental conditions determined by climatic change foreseen for the next decades.     

Effect of knife wear on finger-joint strength of silver fir (Abies alba) wood

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the effect of knife wear, as measured in hours of use, on the finger-joint strength of silver fir wood (Abies alba), bonded with polyurethane (PU) and polyvinyl acetate (PVAc) adhesives. Wood samples were collected after 1, 32 and 64 h of knife wear. Results showed that as knife wear increased, bending strength or modulus of rupture (MOR) of the finger-jointed samples was reduced by 11.1% (PVAc) to 21.2% (PU) after 32 h of knife wear, and by 19.6% (PVAc) to 27.6% (PU) after 64 h of knife wear, whereas modulus of elasticity (MOE) of the finger-jointed samples was reduced by 10.5% (PVAc) to 12.5% (PU) after 32 h of knife wear, and by 11.7% (PVAc) to 10.0% (PU) after 64 h of knife wear. Tension strength of the finger-jointed samples was reduced by 2.1% (PVAc) to 1.5% (PU) after 32 h of knife wear, and by 5.4% (PVAc) to 16.0% (PU) after 64 h of knife wear.     

Timing, light availability and vigour determine the response of Abies alba saplings to leader shoot browsing

Herbivore browsing on tree saplings is a common phenomenon that can cause damage particularly on preferred species. In this study, the combined effects of light availability and timing of browsing on the response of 9-year-old Abies alba saplings were tested experimentally. Leader shoot clipping was applied before budburst, shortly after budburst or in autumn on saplings grown in full light or under artificial shade. Timing of clipping, light availability and tree vigour (expressed as height and tree ring width before clipping) had an effect on the height after clipping. After clipping in autumn or before budburst, fast-growing fir saplings bent up twigs to form new leader shoots and overcompensated height loss; saplings characterised by intermediate growth rates formed new shoots out of regular visible lateral buds; and slow-growing saplings had no new shoot in the first year after clipping, such that the clipping-induced height difference even increased over time. Saplings clipped shortly after budburst elongated the remaining part of the shoot in the first year and developed shoots out of the most distal lateral buds in the second growing season, leading to complete height compensation. Multi-trunking was typical for all clipped trees. We conclude that the microscale conditions under which a tree is growing (i.e. which affect tree vigour) are highly important for determining whether the height reduction imposed by browsing is offset by overcompensation or increases over time relative to unclipped trees. This response can partly be influenced by forest management via enhancing tree vigour via the light regime.     

Cono- and seminiphagous insects of Abies alba Mill. in the Gorce National Park in Poland during 1996 – 1998

A study was conducted on the insects infesting seeds and cones of Abies alba Mill. in the Gorce National Park, in southern Poland during 1996?–?1998. A total of 856 cones were collected from 66 trees growing at 11 sites located in partially or strictly protected forest reserves. Of this sample, 217 cones with 54,958 seeds were dissected. This study yielded 5,816 specimens of insects, namely: seminiphagous Resseliella piceae Seitn., Megastigmus suspectus Borr. as well as conophagous Earomyia impossibile Morge, Barbara herrichiana Obr. and Dioryctria abietella (Den. et Schiff.). The most abundant species was R. piceae with 4,186 individuals. The index of cone infestation was calculated. It showed great variability between forest reserves and study-years. The numbers of insect individuals, numbers of viable and infertile seeds, and seeds damaged by M. suspectus and R. piceae, in both strict and partial reserves in the consecutive years were compared statistically. The test of significant differences between two frequencies at 0.05 level was used in statistical analysis. In both strict and partial reserves, statistically significant differences were found between studied variables.     

Role of mycorrhiza and soil fungi in natural regeneration of fir (Abies alba Mill.) in Polish Carpathians and Sudetes

Changes occurring in mycotrophy of fir seedlings (Abies alba Mill.) and in communities of the soil fungi, fungi living in roots, and fungi from rhizosphere were studied in mountain forest stands, both with good and poor regeneration of fir. The intent of these studies was to contribute to the elucidation of the problem of whether the lack of fir regeneration could be connected with microbiological changes taking place in the soil environment.     

Spatial patterns and environmental factors affecting the presence of Melampsorella caryophyllacearum infections in an Abies alba forest in NE Spain

The presence of trunk swellings caused by the rust fungus Melampsorella caryophyllacearum was systematically surveyed in an Abies alba forest (Irati, NE Spain), using 1237 circular plots (diameter = 18 m). The relationship between fungal presence and several abiotic (aspect, elevation, distance to the nearest river and slope) and biotic factors (basal area of A. alba and/or Fagus sylvatica, shrub, fern and herb cover) was assessed through correlation and ordination analyses. Additionally, the spatial pattern of the presence of diseased trees was described using Ripley's K function. Southern‐aspect plots had a significantly lower presence of diseased trees than plots‐oriented north, east and west. Plots with diseased trees were located at a significantly lower elevation, and at a shorter distance to the river than plots without infections. Plots with diseased trees had almost twice the average A. alba basal area, and less average F. sylvatica basal area than plots without diseased trees. However, similar mean values of slope and shrub, fern and herb cover were found in both types of plots. The disease showed spatial aggregation in patches with a mean radius of ca. 900 m. The implications of the results for disease management are discussed.