Ecophysiological reactions of different provenances of European Silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) to SO2 exposure during winter

Photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal behavior were studied in different Abies alba provenances during and after SO₂ exposure. Differences in SO₂ sensitivity and regeneration ability between provenances could be demonstrated.     

Effects of acidic fog and ozone on the growth and physiological functions of Fagus crenata saplings

The effects of simulated acid fog (SAF) and ozone (O₃) stress on the growth and physiology of beech (Fagus crenata) saplings were investigated. Three-year-old beech saplings were exposed to SAFs of pH 3 and pH 5 (control) during May 2007 to July 2008. In each SAF treatment group, half of the saplings were exposed to 60 ppb of O₃ during September 2007 to July 2008. In comparison to the control saplings, those from the pH 3 treatment had lower total plant biomasses, epicuticular wax amounts, Ca²⁺ concentrations in their leaves, and lower starch concentrations in their leaves and roots. The effect of O₃ was significant only for the starch concentration in the roots, but the O₃ exposure also negatively affected the growth and physiology of beech saplings. Results show that acid fog exerts various severe effects, and that both chronic acid fog and O₃ exposure suppressed the physiological functions of beech saplings.     

Growth recovery of mature Norway spruce and European beech from chronic O<Subscript>3</Subscript> stress

Elevated O₃ levels can strongly impair the health and vitality of forest ecosystems. Free-air exposure systems reveal that forest tree and stand growth can be reduced strongly under chronic O₃ stress. Detailed knowledge of the effect of O₃ exposure on photosynthesis, carbon sequestration, allometry and growth during chronic stress is available. However, knowledge of growth response after O₃ reduction is scarce. Here, we analyse the growth of mature Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in the free-air O₃ fumigation experiment at Kranzberg Forest. We compare tree growth over a 9-year period (2008–2016) after exposure to O₃ (2000–2007). During 2?×?O₃ exposure, the annual basal area growth of Norway spruce and European beech decreased by 24 and 32%, respectively. After cessation of 2?×?O₃ exposure, the annual basal area growth of Norway spruce and European beech not only recovered but exceeded the growth of the trees in the control condition by 14 and 24%, respectively. The growth resilience and resistance of trees previously exposed to 2?×?O₃ towards drought stress and late frost was hardly lower than that of the trees in the control condition. The capacity for growth recovery even after long-term chronic O₃ stress emphasizes the strong beneficial effect of air pollution control on the health of forest ecosystems and on the global land carbon sink.     

Growth responses of seedlings of six Betula pubescens Ehrh. Provenances to six ozone exposure regimes

Seedlings of six provenances of Betula pubescens Ehrh. from different latitudes (59–70°N) were grown under six ozone exposure regimes by combining different concentrations and daily exposure periods. The different treatments at increasing O₃ exposure over 40 nmol mol^?1 (AOT40 given in parentheses) were: 19 nmol mol^?1/24 h day^?1 (0.1 μmol mol^?1‐h), 42 nmol mol^?1/12 h day^?1 (2.5 μmol mol^?1‐h), 44 nmol mol^?1/24 h day^?1 (7.1 μmol mol^?1‐h), 76 nmol mol^?1/6 h day^?1 (9.4 μmol mol^?1‐h), 75 nmol mol^?1/12 h day^?1 (17.8 μmol mol^?1) and 116 nmol mol^?1/6 h day^?1 (19.8 μmol mol^?1) for 40 days at a 24 h day^?1 photoperiod in growth chambers placed in a greenhouse. The effect of increasing the O₃ exposure from 19 nmol mol^?1/24 h (0.1 μmol mol^?1‐h AOT40) to 42 nmol mol^?1/12 h (2.5 μmol mol^?1‐h AOT40) was a decrease in root but not shoot dry weight. A further increase in the exposure to 44 nmol mol^?1/24 h (7.1 μmol mol^?1‐h AOT40) also decreased the shoot dry weight. An increase in the O₃ concentration to 75 (9.4–17.8 μmol mol^?1‐h AOT40) and 116 nmol mol^?1 (19.8 μmol mol^?1‐h AOT40) further decreased shoot and root dry weights. A moderate O₃ exposure (42 nmol mol^?1/12 h = 2.5 μmol mol^?1‐h AOT40) increased the plant height and leaf size, while a further increase in O₃ concentration and exposure time decreased both of these variables. The birch provenances generally had a similar response to the O₃ treatments. The accumulated O₃ exposure over the 0, 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 nmol mol^?1 concentrations (AOT0, AOT10, AOT20, AOT30, AOT40 and AOT50, respectively) was calculated for all O₃ treatments. The shoot and root dry weights were correlated best with AOT40 and AOT30, and were estimated to decrease by 10% at an AOT40 of 7.0 and 5.5 μmol mol^?1‐h, respectively. The development of O₃ injury (yellow stipples/chlorosis) was most marked when correlated with AOT40.     

European silver fir (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Abies alba</Emphasis> Mill.) provenances from Calabria,southern Italy: 15-year results from Danish provenance field trials

Height after 15 years, bud burst and mortality varied significantly among 13 southern Italian (Calabrian), a central Italian, a German (Schwarzwald), a Romanian (Carpathian), and a Danish provenance of silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) tested in two field trials in Denmark. The variation in height was especially observed in the field trial that was well protected against late frost in the spring and early frost in the fall by a shelter wood of larch. Provenances from the region of Serra San Bruno (Calabria) and two provenances from the region of Gariglione (Calabria) showed superior height growth at this site compared with the remaining provenances. Height was below average for two provenances from the region of Aspromonte (Calabria). The variation in height correlated significantly with biomasses of the same provenances obtained in early tests. Bud burst was earlier among provenances from the regions of Serra San Bruno and Aspromonte. These were also characterised by poor winter-frost resistance in early tests. The Romanian provenance was not represented in the shelter wood trial. The variation in height between provenances in the other field trial was mainly due to the Romanian and the Danish provenance with superior and poorer growth respectively. Otherwise, differences between the remaining provenances were not significant at this site probably due to the influence of frost. Provenances with poor winter-frost resistance had higher mortality at this site.     

Late frost sensitivity of juvenile <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus sylvatica</Emphasis> L. differs between southern Germany and Bulgaria and depends on preceding air temperature

Fagus sylvatica, the dominant native forest tree species of Central Europe, is sensitive to late frost events. Advanced leaf flushing due to climate warming may lead to more frequent frost damage in the future. Here, we explore local adaptation to late frost events at both continental and regional scales and test how moderate climate warming (+1.5°C) affects late frost sensitivity. Short-term leaf injury and height growth after a late frost event were quantified in a common garden experiment with 2-year-old F. sylvatica seedlings. The fully crossed three-factorial design consisted of a late frost manipulation, a continuous warming manipulation and selected provenances (three provenances from western Bulgaria and three from southern Germany). Late frost led to leaf injury and reduced height growth (−7%). Provenances differed in their late frost sensitivity at the regional scale, and local adaptation was detected. At the larger scale, the Bulgarian provenances showed reduced height growth (−17%), while the German provenances did not exhibit growth reduction. The warming treatment prevented late frost damage, while height growth declined by 19% in the reference temperature treatment. This surprising finding was attributed to advanced leaf maturity in the warming treatment. The impact of late frost events on F. sylvatica in a warmer world will depend on timing. An event that damages leaves immediately after leaf flushing appears negligible a few days earlier or later, thereby complicating projections. Local adaptation to late frost is evident at a regional scale. Management strategies should aim at maximizing genetic diversity to adapt to climate change.     

Relationship between parameters of electrical impedance spectroscopy and frost hardiness in stems and needles of Pinus bungeana

We studied the frost hardiness (FH) in stems and needles of different Pinus bungeana provenances during frost hardening by means of electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and conventional electrolytic leakage (EL) and compared the regression equations of the two methods in order to optimize the EIS method for studying FH on plants. During frost hardening, EIS and EL were applied to one-year old stems and needles of P. bungeana in an 8-year provenance field trial at the Thirteen Tombs Nursery in Beijing within the provenances of Mangshan of Beijing, Liangdang of Gansu and Xiaoyi of Shanxi provinces, China. A double-DCE model and Model-A were used, respectively, for the EIS analysis of stems and needles that were not exposed to a controlled freezing treatment. After controlled freezing tests, the FH of stems and needles were assessed by EIS and EL. Without controlled freezing tests, the relaxation time (τ ₁) of stems and the specific intracellular resistance (r _i) of stems and needles displayed a statistically significant correlation with FH (R ² = 0.79–0.86); after controlled freezing tests, specific extracellular resistance (r _e) of the stems and needles, the cell membrane time constant (τ _m) of needles displayed an even higher correlation with FH (R ² = 0.92–0.94). There were significant relationship between EIS and EL in assessing the FH of stems and needles of P. bungeana, but EIS underestimated FH more than EL did. EIS is one of the more promising methods for assessing FH, especially without employing a controlled freezing test. __________ Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2008, 44(4): 28–34 [译自:林业 科学]     

Experimental investigations of the effects of air pollutants on aphids on coniferous trees

The relative growth, rates of two aphid species feeding on Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and one species on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) were measured on two year old trees prefumigated with either ozone (O₃ or nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and compared with the growth rates of aphids grown, on trees which were exposed to filtered air. All three species showed increased growth rates on trees which were prefumigated with 100ppb NO₂ for periods in excess of 24 hours. However the effects of prefumigation with O₃ were more complex. Only on species,Cinara pilicornis, responded to this treatment and there was a strong interaction between the fumigation treatment and the temperature experienced by the plants during fumigation.     

Ice nucleation and frost resistance of Pinus canariensis seedlings bearing needles in three different developmental states

Frost resistance and ice formation in different developmental states of needles of P. canariensis seedlings were assessed. Regrowth after frost damage was used to determine the overall frost survival capacity. Two distinct freezing exotherms (E1, E2) were registered. E1 was between ?1.7 and ?2.0 °C. Initial frost damage (LT₁₀) was 1.5–2.7 °C below E1. E2 was between ?5.6 and ?6.0 °C, and either corresponded with LT₅₀ or occurred in between LT₁₀ and LT₅₀. Current year needles were less frost resistant than 1-year-old needles. The overall recuperation capacity of seedlings revealed that frost survival may be underestimated when only needle damage is assessed. Freezing of seedlings with or without roots had no effect on the frost resistance of needles but recuperation capacity was significantly affected. Seedlings survived ?10 °C during summer indicating that they withstand the lowest naturally occurring frosts in Tenerife.     

Variation in spring and autumn frost tolerance among provenances of Russian larches (Larix Mill.)

Abstract

Spring and autumn frost tolerance was measured using material from a range-wide (50–67° N, 38–158° E) provenance trial of four Russian larch species (Larix sukaczewii Dyl., L. sibirica Ledeb., L. gmelinii Rupr. and L. cajanderi Mayr.) growing in northern Sweden. Shoots were collected in early May and late September and frozen at ?8, ?12, ?16 and ?20°C. Cambial damage was assessed visually after development under ideal conditions for 2 weeks. Differences in frost damage among provenances were highly significant in both spring and autumn. Autumn frost damage was significantly correlated with provenance latitude and longitude and spring frost damage was significantly correlated with provenance longitude but not latitude. Frost damage was not correlated with provenance elevation. North-western provenances showed the least damage and far-eastern provenances the greatest damage in both spring and autumn. A possible explanation for less spring frost damage to north-western provenances is adaptation to maritime conditions in proximity to the Barents Sea, which is often ice free in late winter. This would counteract early loss of frost tolerance and bud flushing if warm spells occurred in late winter. North-eastern Siberian provenances did not show similar adaptation and may exhibit increased spring frost damage if global warming eventually results in the Arctic Ocean north of Siberia becoming ice free in late winter.     

Ozone,Acid Deposition,and Mycorrhization Effects on Loblolly Pine and White Oak

Abstract

Above- and below-ground responses of juvenile loblolly pine (Pinus taedaL.) and white oak (Quercus albaL.) to tropospheric ozone (0.0, 0.06, and 0.12 μL L^-1 O₃), acid precipitation (pH 4.8, 4.2, and 3.6), and induced ectomycorrhizal colonization (Pisolithus tinctorius [Pers.] Coker & Couch vs. natural mycobiont), alone and in combination, were examined. After 30 weeks, the filtered air treatment (ozone 0.0) reduced foliar injury but also produced smaller stem diameters, lower total foliage and total shoot dry weights, decreased needle density, and shorter root systems in inoculated pine, growth responses not found in uninoculated pine. Height growth of inoculated oak was increased by the filtered air treatment while leaf density was reduced by 0.12 μL L^-1 O₃, results also not found in uninoculated oak. Ectomy-corrhizal colonization percentages in pine decreased with increasing O₃ concentration regardless of mycorrhizal treatment, and the filtered air treatment produced the highest infection percentages in inoculated oak as well. Rains of pH 4.2 stimulated height growth in inoculated pine while diameter decreased in inoculated oak but increased in uninoculat-ed oak with declining pH. Also, pH 4.2 rainfall increased root weight in inoculated oak while that of pH 4.8 reduced foliar injury but also shoot weight in oak regardless of mycorrhizal treatment. Generally, the my-corrhization response to increasing rainfall acidity was reduced colonization. Independent of the other treatments, inoculation produced a substantial increase in above- and below-ground growth of both pine and oak, and also increased foliage density but reduced specific root length in each species. Overall, these results indicate that the growth responses to O₃ and acid deposition of loblolly pine and white oak are strongly influenced by mycorrhization, but that the magnitude of these responses is exceeded by those to mycorrhization alone. However, the propensity revealed here for both O₃ and acid precipitation to suppress mycorrhizal colonization in these two species may indicate the potential for a gradual reduction in long-term forest productivity in the southeastern United States.     

Phenologies of sixteen European provenances of sessile oak growing in Scotland

Budburst, budset, leaf yellowing, growth, and frost damage wereassessed on 2- to 4-year-old transplants of 16 provenances ofsessile oak (Quercus petraea) collected in six European countriesand grown in Scotland. There were significant differences indates of budburst between provenances. Provenances from Franceand Austria burst bud earlier than the others (P > 0.05). Budburst date was negatively correlated with altitude of provenanceorigin but positively correlated with latitude, indicating thatsouthern provenances burst bud earlier than northern provenancesand are therefore more prone to spring frost damage. Although there were no significant differences of growth betweenprovenances, French provenances tended to grow later in autumnthan provenances originating in other countries. Consequentlyplants from these French provenances were more badly damagedby autumnal frosts (P > 0.05) than plants from other provenances.Budset and leaf yeljowing in late September were positivelycorrelated.     

The impact of tropospheric ozone on landscape-level merchantable biomass and ecosystem carbon in Canadian forests

Studies have shown that tropospheric ozone (O₃) impacts trees in various ways, including growth reductions. To date, the landscape-level response of Canadian forests carbon (C) to O₃ exposure has not been quantified. We used a modified version of the Carbon Budget Model of the Canadian Forest Sector and data from Aspen FACE to quantify the landscape-level impacts of different O₃ exposure modelling experiments. The main strengths of our approach consisted of using the most complete empirical data available to estimate the amount and location of forest C across Canada, as well as explicitly simulating the consequences of fire, insect, and harvest disturbances on forest C dynamics. These disturbances lead to younger forests and, considering trees sensitivity to O₃ exposure to decrease with age, thus result in higher landscape-level modelled impacts for the same O₃ levels. Despite various sources of uncertainty, our results indicate that even under a modelling experiment where O₃ increases continuously over four decades, the landscape-level impacts on the merchantable biomass and ecosystem C remain limited. Our results also suggest that the current direct impacts of O₃ on Canadian forests are likely below detection at the landscape level.     

Risk assessment of ozone impact on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus crenata</Emphasis> in Japan: consideration of atmospheric nitrogen deposition

Tropospheric ozone (O₃) is considered to be the air pollutant relating to the decline of Fagus crenata forest in Japan. In the present study, we assessed a risk of O₃ impact on the growth of F. crenata in Japan, giving consideration to the effects associated with atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition based on the experimental study, national monitoring data for oxidant concentration and atmospheric N deposition, and a national vegetation survey. The average and maximum O₃-induced relative growth reduction (RG_red) of F. crenata across Japan were estimated to be 3.2 and 9.7%, respectively. Current levels of atmospheric N deposition were found to significantly affect the sensitivity of F. crenata to O₃. When the N deposition was assumed as zero, the estimated average and maximum RG_red were 2.3% and 5.7%, respectively. The inclusion of atmospheric N deposition data thus increased the estimated values for average and maximum RG_red (by 38% and 71%, respectively). Our results demonstrate that a change in the sensitivity to O₃ associated with atmospheric N deposition is an important consideration in the risk assessment of O₃ impact on the growth of F. crenata in Japan.     

强力班克木5个种源苗期生长研究

By afforestation trial, the adaptation and growing states of 5 Banksia robur provenances in Jianfengling of Hainan were studied, and the effects of provenance and fertilizer treatment on the survival rate, height and ground diameter were analyzed. The results showed that all the 5 provenances had a good adaptability in Hainan province. 2 months after planting, the survival rate was 85%, but it was easily affected by air humidity and became lower in the dry season, especially the provenance No.38164, showing that the B. robur needs wet environment. The study also found that different provenances and fertilizer treatments had significant impact and interactions on the growth of B. robur. The provenance No.38163 had the fastest grow speed, with 1.35 mm of ground diameter increment and 10.57 cm of height increment during 3 months, while the provenance No.38164 had the lowest grow speed. The provenance No.39163 also had a strong barren resistance, while the provenances No.38177 and No.38199 needed well water and nutrient conditions. Different fertilizer treatments could enlarge the difference in growth status of the provenances, and the composted cattle manure had the best effect on promoting growth status, which could be used as the best fertilizer in afforestation.     

北方型美洲黑杨不同无性系重要性状评价

[目的]为杨树高产低耗高效工业用材新品种选育筛选新种质。[方法]采用布雷金多性状综合评定法和模糊数学隶属函数值法,系统分析和评价北方型美洲黑杨种质生长及光、水分、养分等关键环境资源利用性状。[结果]表明:(1)种源间、种源内无性系间在生长、光合、水分和养分利用方面的差异显著或极显著。(2)总叶面积、成叶速率、暗呼吸速率、氮素转移率、生长旺期水分利用效率与北方型美洲黑杨胸径显著或极显著相关。(3)筛选出M6、Q1、Q5、M5、Q7、Q3、M3、Q9等高产型种质,M6、Q1、Q2、M5、Q5、M3、Q4、M2等高产高光效型种质,Q5、Q1、W9、M5、Q7、M6、M3、W2等高产高水分利用型种质,Q9、Q5、Q3、Q8、Q1、M10、Q7、I5高产高养分利用型种质。其中,Q5、M6、Q1、Q2、Q9等无性系兼具生长和对资源(光、水分和养分)的利用优势。[结论]北方型美洲黑杨遗传变异丰富,为优良种源和种质选择提供了依据;总叶面积、成叶速率、、暗呼吸速率、氮素转移率等5个与生长关系密切的指标可作为种质资源评价的可靠指标;筛选出的优良种质特别是综合表现最优的5个无性系是后续育种工作的有效资源。     

Experimental investigations of the effects of air pollutants on aphids on coniferous trees

Summary The relative growth, rates of two aphid species feeding on Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) and one species on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) were measured on two year old trees prefumigated with either ozone (O₃ or nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and compared with the growth rates of aphids grown, on trees which were exposed to filtered air. All three species showed increased growth rates on trees which were prefumigated with 100ppb NO₂ for periods in excess of 24 hours. However the effects of prefumigation with O₃ were more complex. Only on species,Cinara pilicornis, responded to this treatment and there was a strong interaction between the fumigation treatment and the temperature experienced by the plants during fumigation.

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Experimentelle Untersuchungen der Wirkung von Luftschadstoffen auf Bauml?use an Nadelb?umen

Zusammenfassung Relative Wachstumsraten von zwei Arten von Bauml?usen an Sitkafichte (Picea sitchensis) und von einer an der gemeinen Kiefer (Pinus sylvestris) an 2j?hrigen Pflanzen, die vorher entweder Ozon (O₃) oder Stickstoffdioxyd (NO₂) ausgesetzt worden waren, wurden verglichen mit solchen von Bauml?usen, die auf Wirtspflanzen in gefilterter Luft wuchsen. Allen drei Arten zeigten schnelleres Wachstum an Pflanzen, die vorher über 24 Studen lang einer Konzentration von 100 ppb NO₂ ausgesetzt waren. Vielf?ltiger waren jedoch die Auswirkungen von O₃. Nur eine Art,Cinara pilicornis, reagierte auf diese Behandlung, und es gab eine starke Wechselwirkung zwischen der Begasung als solcher und der Temperatur, der die Pflanzen w?hrend dieser Behandlung ausgesetzt waren.

     

Early growth differentiation among Prosopis flexuosa D.C. provenances from the Monte phytogeographic province,Argentina

Early-growth differentiation among seven provenances of Prosopis flexuosa (algarrobo dulce) from the Monte phytogeographic province, Argentina, was studied by comparing their height growth; whole-seedling dry mass gain; allocation to root, stem and leaves; leaf number and leaf area in a common garden. Differentiation among provenances was detected for all the seedling characters examined except leaf number. Family variation within provenances was significant for height growth and leaf number. Variation on the provenance level was related to the elevation, geographic location, and some abiotic conditions of the seed source such as mean annual temperature and frost free period. Latitudinal clines were evident for almost all the growth traits. They were more pronounced for height and aboveground mass, and moderate for total plant mass and leaf area per plant. In addition, a good correspondence in growth traits between young seedlings and older trees of this species (studied by others authors) was also assessed. This fact would permit an early selection and genetic advances in the short term in breeding programs.     

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.     

The use of field and artificial freezing studies to assess frost tolerance in natural populations of Pinus oocarpa

The susceptibility of Pinus oocarpa to freezing temperatures limits the commercial deployment of the highly productive Pinus patula × P. oocarpa hybrid in South Africa. Identifying P. oocarpa germplasm with increased frost tolerance is important. Twenty-three P. oocarpa provenances, originating from Mexico, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua, were therefore assessed for their tolerance to freezing conditions by analysing field survival after frost events, subjecting needles to freezing temperatures and assessing damage using the electrolyte leakage test, and exposing young plants to freezing temperatures in a semi-controlled environment and scoring tissue damage based on a visual assessment. The performance of many of the provenances represented in the field and artificial freezing studies were similar and there was a strong correlation between provenance ranking in the whole plant freezing and electrolyte leakage test. We therefore support the use of these techniques as a means to assess cold tolerance in P. oocarpa at the provenance level. Provenances from north-western Mexico demonstrated more frost tolerance than those from southern Mexico. Provenances representing Honduras and Guatemala appear to be highly susceptible to frost.