Merging applied gene conservation activities with advanced generation breeding initiatives: a case study of Pinus radiata D. Don

Major challenges exist for applied gene conservation of forest genetic resources in native habitats of the Mexican and Central American Pines, Pinus radiata and the Southern US pines. They include population decline and population structure changes, due to forest removal, conversion of forest land to other uses, fires, climate change, diseases and pests. However, tree breeders continue to struggle with methods that would meaningfully integrate tree breeding and conservation populations. In this review, I will start by outlining the importance of gene conservation in tree breeding programs, then highlight some challenges and opportunities for applied gene conservation programs; and lastly, I share results of a large body of applied research and other activities aimed at genetically characterising the base population of P. radiata in Australia and New Zealand, for the purposes of effective ex situ gene conservation. Main threats for species grown in exotic environments also include introduced diseases and pests, and more recently, climate change. Consequently, movement of genetic material is often restricted and genetic resources of pine species are not readily expanded by further importations from overseas. Therefore, conservation of genetic material currently in these countries is likely to be important for the long-term viability of plantation forestry using pine species. In addition to understanding the largely unpredictable or speculative biological and economic worth of rare alleles, the greatest challenge that we have in ex situ gene conservation is to develop practical approaches for infusing genes from base populations of unimproved material into more advanced-generation breeding programs without greatly affecting productivity gains. Other notable challenges include perceived costs and benefits of gene conservation in the face of increasing privatisation of forest estate. While financial resources for domestication of alternative species are declining, a vast number of existing species and provenance/progeny trials of P. radiata, the Mexican and Central American pines and the Southern US pines provide an excellent gene resource for the future.     

Post-fire attractiveness of maritime pines (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pinaster</Emphasis> Ait.) to xylophagous insects

The spectrum and dynamics of xylophagous insects infesting Pinus pinaster after a fire event were studied from November 2007 to December 2008 at Sierra de Outes (Galicia, NW Spain). Insects were collected within and outside the fire area. Relationships among species status, species abundance, tree parameters and tree injury were assessed. Mortality of injured trees was also recorded. Insect colonization built up consistently during the first year after the fire, although the pests did not colonize unburned trees in nearby areas. Thirteen insect species from six xylophagous families were collected. Tomicus spp., Buprestis novenmaculata, Anobium punctatum and Pissodes castaneus were the first species detected. Tomicus spp. (29%) and Ips sexdentatus (23%) were the dominant taxa. Bole char height and soil burn severity were positively correlated with insect presence. Trees with short stem diameter and thinner bark were also preferred. B. novenmaculata presence was positively correlated with crown scorch. Loss of cambium hydration was negatively related to the occurrence of pests, likely because sapwood desiccation and loss of nutrient impede brood development. About 33.3% of the fire-scorched pines died. The results recommend the removal of injured and dying pines after fire, to avoid the rise of pest population threatening recovering trees in the burned areas.     

Biogeography of neutral genes and recent evolutionary history of pines in the Mediterranean Basin

Context

Mediterranean pines share many common life-history traits. They are found at almost all altitudinal levels around the Mediterranean Basin, from sea level to high-elevation mountains, and from hot and dry to wet and cold bioclimates. Their distribution ranges from widespread to regional and narrow, and from dense extensive populations to small populations of scattered individuals. They have been extensively used by human civilizations for millennia.

Aims

I show which are the main phylogenetic, ecological, and climatic factors explaining the patterns of within and among-population genetic diversity in Mediterranean pines.

Methods

I use a narrative synthesis approach and multiple examples from the literature on pine species from the Mediterranean Basin and California.

Results

While Mediterranean pines have the highest levels of differentiation worldwide, their genetic diversity increases from west to east and is significantly reduced in low-elevation species. Factors such as ancestral adaptation to wildfire, reduction of effective population size during the Last Glacial Maximum, long distance dispersal during the Holocene, and more recent adaptation to patchy environmental conditions could explain these patterns.

Conclusion

Because of contrasted ecological, demographic, historical, and geographical processes, and despite their common biological attributes, pines of the Mediterranean Basin display complex biogeographic patterns at neutral gene level that can help retrace their evolutionary history. Although individual species often represent unique case studies that make generalizations risky, locating habitats of significantly high and low genetic diversity is key for detecting and understanding the major factors affecting gene diversity and may prove useful for profiling areas of high conservation value in the Mediterranean.     

Effect of cleaning methods in mixed pine–deciduous stands on moose damage to Scots pines in southern Finland

Abstract

The effect of different cleaning treatments on moose (Alces alces L.) damage to Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) was examined using a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) with a binomial response (logit-link function). The treatments were the following: no cleaning, point-cleaning of broadleaves (mainly birch, Betula pendula Roth and B. pubescens Ehrh.) within a radius of 1 m from the pine, point-cleaning delayed 2 years, topping of competing broadleaves (main stem cut at a height of 1.3 m) and total cleaning of broadleaves. A randomized complete block design with three replicates was established in three planted pine stands (mean height of pines 1.5 m). Measurements taken four growing seasons later (mean height of pines 3.5 m) showed that all cleaning treatments reduced moose damage, although the difference was not significant (p=0.078) in the case of topping. The proportion of damaged pines was predicted as a function of the characteristics of pines and broadleaves in two untreated, planted pine stands with a height of 3 m. Within these untreated stands the number of damaged pines increased in plots with a higher number of broadleaves and taller broadleaves. In conclusion, the results show that on relatively fertile growing sites of pine cleaning treatments reduced moose damage on pine. It is recommended that cleaning is performed before broadleaved trees occur as overgrowth above pines.     

Vorratsschädliche Insekten in Marokko

Stored product insect pests of Morocco Over a period of 3 years stored product insects pests were collected from markets, storage places, houses etc., identified, and their economic importance estimated. 48 Lepidoptera and Coleoptera species were detected, 17 of which play an important econmic role. No mites were encountered, probably due to prolonged high temperature in summer.

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1 Beitrag im Rahmen der technisch-wissenschaftlichen Kooperation zwischen Marokko und der Bundesrepublik Deutschland.     

One-hundred-year foliage comparison of Pinus ponderosa and Pinus sylvestris under dry growing conditions in Brandenburg,Germany

Abstract

The dynamics of six different needle parameters of Pinus sylvestris L. and Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex P. & C. Laws. were examined retrospectively for a 112-year-old mixed stand in Brandenburg, Germany, using the needle trace method. Similarities were found in needle production, needle loss and needle density. However, needle age, needle retention and total number of needles revealed significant differences between the tree species, with higher values for P. ponderosa. Pinus ponderosa yielded approximately twice as much mean whole-crown needle dry mass as P. sylvestris. Furthermore, different branching systems could be detected between the species, with both pines following “Corner's rule”. The results suggest that under identical growing conditions, P. ponderosa exhibits more efficient water use and can therefore maintain a bigger crown (as the basis for increased growth) than P. sylvestris.     

Differential reaction in Pinus spp. to inoculation by various isolates of Ascocalyx (Gremmeniella) abietina

Stem inoculations of 3 species of pole-size pines with 4 diverse isolates of Ascocalyx (Gremmeniella) abietina revealed Pinus pinea to be more susceptible than either P. pinaster or P. nigra in terms of canker length. Isolate type and geographical aspects considered more briefly, also have some effect.     

Adelina tribolii Bhatia und A. mesnili Pérez (Sporozoa,Coccidia) als Krankheitserreger bei vorratsschä dlichen Insekten im Gebiet von Kosova,Jugoslawien

Adelina tribolii Bhatia and A. mesnili Pérez (Sporozoa, Coccidia) infecting insect pests of stores in Kosova region, Yugoslavia Till now little is known about the three species of genusAdelina (Spor., Coccidia) living as pathogens in insects pests of stores. In the course of investigations in old mills in the Kosova region, Yugoslawia, twoAdelina species were found in insects.Adelina mesnili parasitized in two species of Lepidoptera(Ephestia kühniella, E. elutella) and was restricted to four of nine places. Its quota in the total parasitization withAdelina amounted to 15,7%.Adelina tribolii parasitized in six species of Coleoptera.(Attagenus pellio, A. piceus, A. fasciolatus, Laemophloeus ferrugineus, Trogoderma granaria, Gracilia albanica) and was be found in all the nine places which were investigated. Its quota amounted to 84,3%.     

Deciduous trees affect small-scale floristic diversity and tree regeneration in conifer forests

Abstract

There is a growing interest in the effects of deciduous trees on biodiversity, soil processes and long-term productivity in boreal, conifer-dominated forests. This study investigated whether individual birch trees allowed to grow to maturity in the coniferous forest can have a local effect on floristic richness and regeneration of tree saplings. The ground vegetation was compared in 2?m radius plots around the stem under the canopies of matched conifer–deciduous trees in a mature, conifer-dominated forest, and included in the analysis variables that could potentially mediate the tree effect (soil pH, cover of lichens, bryophytes, leaf and needle litter). The field layer vegetation was more species rich under birch (Betula pendula and B. pubescens) than under conifers (Picea abies and Pinus sylvestris), and several vascular plant species (including saplings of tree species) occurred more often under birch than under conifers. However, when the effect of the number of subordinate trees was taken into account the difference between birch and pine was not significant. The number of tree regenerations (saplings) was lowest under pines, but did not differ between spruce and birch. There were no effects of the canopy species on soil pH or on cover of lichens and bryophytes. The difference in diversity may be caused by the different effects of leaf and needle litter, and it is also likely that canopy structure has an influence via interception and throughfall and by affecting the light and microclimate.     

Loblolly and slash pine height and diameter are related to soil drainage in winter on poorly drained silt loams

Soil drainage characteristics in winter and the heights and diameters of 10-year-old loblolly and slash pines (Pinus taeda L. and P. elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) were measured on three poorly-drained silt loam sites that had been bedded, furrowed, or disked before planting. Quadratic response functions were used to determine the relationship between depth to water table or volume of drained soil in winter and mean tree height or diameter. These quadratic response functions (species × height or diameter: drainage characteristics) showed that diameter and height were significantly related to soil drainage in winter on these silt loams soils. Slash pines grew better than loblolly pines under more poorly drained conditions while loblolly pines grew better under the better drained conditions. On unbedded silt loams, the soil drainage in winter needed to maximize tree height was 42 cm for loblolly and 49 cm for slash pine. Pines planted on beds did not generally grow better than those on flat-disked plots because where bedding would be most benefical the practice did not form enough additional drainage to significantly influence pine development.     

Site-related influences on cone-borne inoculum and asymptomatic persistence of Diplodia shoot blight fungi on or in mature red pines

The shoot blight and canker pathogens Diplodia pinea and D. scrobiculata sporulate abundantly on cones of many pine hosts. Variation in incidence and abundance of potential inoculum from cones and frequency of asymptomatic persistence on or in shoots was examined for mature red pines in sites differing in dominant presettlement vegetation and soil type in Bayfield and Douglas counties in northern Wisconsin. Collections were made in each county from 6 plantations, 3 each in areas historically vegetated with jack pine and soils mapped as sands and three in areas historically vegetated with red pine with soils mapped as loamy sands. At each site, 5 cones were collected from each of 5 red pines and 10 shoots were collected from up to 5 red pines. Conidia from cones were quantified with a water wash and filtration technique. Diplodia species were cultured from surface-disinfested asymptomatic shoots. A species-specific PCR assay was used to identify the Diplodia species from cones and shoots. Although cones and asymptomatic shoots from each county yielded D. pinea and D. scrobiculata, D. pinea was detected more frequently. More conidia were obtained from cones from Douglas Co., where there is a history of severe shoot blight damage, than cones from Bayfield Co. In Douglas Co., more conidia were obtained from cones from plantations in areas of more sandy soil and presettlement jack pine dominance than cones from plantations in areas of less sandy soil and presettlement red pine dominance. The numbers of conidia and frequencies of cultural detection of Diplodia species from asymptomatic shoots at a site were positively correlated. These results provide evidence for site-related influences on abundance of pathogen inoculum and asymptomatic persistence on or in red pine crowns that may contribute to differences in frequency and severity of damage from Diplodia shoot blight.     

Pines versus oaks: effects of fire on the composition of Madrean forests in Arizona

I examined contrasts in response to moderate-intensity fire between two pine species (Pinus leiophylla Schiede and Deppe and P. engelmannii Carr.) and four oak species (Quercus hypoleucoides Camus., Q. arizonica Sarg., Q. emoryi Torr., and Q. rugosa Nee.) in Madrean forests in southeastern Arizona. Stem survival of pines after fire was greater than for oaks, but oaks sprouted more successfully after top-kill than did the only sprouting pine species, P. leiophylla. As a result, post-fire decline and subsequent recovery in oak populations was more marked than for the pines, and the ratio of oaks to pines decreased as a result of fire but increased during recovery. In typical forest stands, most individuals established from 1860 to 1920 at the interface between a period of high fire frequency and the onset of fire exclusion. Ages of Q. hypoleucoides were more clustered than for the pines, suggesting post-fire sprouting rather than long-term top-survival of fire. The results point to contrasts in mechanisms of persistence in this fire-prone ecosystem: fire resistance in the pines versus post-fire sprouting in the oaks. As a result, fire regime controls the balance between the two groups, with moderate-intensity fire favoring the pines and periods of low fire frequency – due to natural causes or anthropogenic fire exclusion – favoring the oaks. The species and community response patterns found in this study may apply generally to other pine-oak communities.     

Über die nächtliche Flugaktivität einiger an Baumwolle in Ägypten schädlicher Lepidopteren-Arten

On the hourly activity of certain Lepidopterous cotton pests as indicated by light-trap catches.The curves illustrating the hourly catches in an ultra violet trap of six species of cotton insect pests indicate the following:The cotton leaf-worm mothsSpodoptera littoralis are active all the night, with two distinct peaks, the first about 3 hours after sunset and the second about 3 hours before sunrise.The lesser cotton leaf worm mothsSp. exigua are mainly active during the second half of the night.The pink boll wormPectinophora gossypiella, the spiny boll worm.Earias insulana and the American boll wormHeliothis zea are, as a rule, more active during the first half of the night. Their activity diminishes gradually after midnight. Within the three species, the curve representingH. zea maintains an intermediate position between those ofP. gossypiella andE. insulana.The pattern of night activity of the cutworm,Agrotis ypsilon, resembles those of the three boll-worms.     

Propagation methods for black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) improvement in Hungary

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) is one of the most important stand-forming tree species in Hungary and its importance is increasing in many countries. Black locust plants are commonly produced by two methods, by seed and by root cuttings. Tissue culture propagation can be considered as a relatively new method. Growing trees from seed is a relatively simple method for reliably producing seedlings on a large scale under a variety of circumstances. Mechanization of the method is easy and the production cost is relatively low. Propagation from root cuttings and tissue culture are valuable for reproduction of superior individuals or varieties. By applying these methods, superior traits of the selected trees can be preserved in the clones. Recent experiments demonstrated that micropropagated trees could be successfully transplanted into soil, hardened and grown in the field. Biography: Karoly Redei (1952), male, doctor, deputy director general of Hungarian Forest Research Institute H-1023 Budapest, Frankel Leó Str. 42 44, HUNGARY. Responsible editor: Chal Ruihai     

无人机监测林业有害生物初探

为提高林业有害生物监测工作效率,提升监测工作的科技含量,特引进无人机进行监测试点。通过无人机对病虫害危害的松林进行低空航拍,然后将航片结合POS数据信息,制作出4 300 hm2的数字正射影像图(DOM)。随后利用松树受害后树冠颜色改变的特征,对DOM进行目视解译,再对目标虫害导致的变色枯死木进行定位标注,统计出作业区域内变色树木数量。     

Zwei Schizogregarinen-Arten (Protozoa,Sporozoa) bei vorratsschädlichen Insekten in jugoslawischen Mü hlen

Two species of Achizogregarina (Protozoa, Sporozoa) as pathogens of insects pests in Yugoslawian mills Closing the studies made in 1972–75 on Sporozoa as pathogens of insect pests in mills in the Kosova district, Yugoslawia,Farinocystis tibolii Weiser andMattesia dispora Naville, both belonging to group of Schizogregarina, are viewed.F. tribolii was restricted to beetles particularly toTribolium, Laemophloeus andGracilia. InTenebrio andTenebrionides this pathogen can not develop. On the other handM. dispora is restricted to butterflies, particularly toEphestia kuhniella, which was infected at all the 9 localities examined.     

GROWING EUCALYPTUS SALIGNA

SYNOPSIS

Monitoring plots were established in two mountain catchment areas in the Western Cape to assess the impacts of dense alien plant stands and alien plant clearance on indigenous Fynbos vegetation. In both areas Pinus pinaster was the dominant alien species with Hakea sericea also common. Indigenous vegetation persisted in the understorey of invaded stands, indicating that the high density of aliens was of recent development. Species richness of indigenous vegetation was lower in invaded, compared to uninvaded plots.

After clearance by felling and burning, the aliens were effectively controlled, except for pines at Genadendal, where unfelled, older generation pines released seeds to recruit in the post-fire environment. The post-fire recovery of indigenous vegetation at both sites was rapid, with no significant differences measured in projected canopy cover, plant density and functional guild richness between invaded and uninvaded control plots. This improved condition of the indigenous vegetation was reflected in an increase in community similarity between invaded and uninvaded plots after fire. However, species richness and diversity remained lower for invaded plots compared to controls two and a half years post-fire and guild structure also differed between treatments.

Clearance of serotinous alien species by felling and burning is an effective method for controlling the aliens and initiating Fynbos recovery in relatively young vegetation (8 years in this study). It is recommended that alien clearance teams are coordinated to reduce time lags between the clearance of younger generation aliens and older established or inaccessible trees. Biological control should be developed, where not already available, to lower the re-invasion risk from clearance escapes. At sites where soil damage may result from fire through heavy slash (e.g, older vegetation), steps should be taken to minimize this risk and contingency plans developed to prevent soil erosion and accelerate post-fire vegetation recovery.     

Analyse von Käfergesellschaften in den Naturschutzgebieten von Bugac und Kunbaracs,Ungarn

In the nature reserves of Bugac (Juniper stands) and Kunbaracs (Convallaria-oak-stands), both located in the Hungarian low land, the community of the Coleoptera moving on the soil were analyzed by help of cup shaped traps. In Bugac 40 species and in Kunbaracs21 species of Coleoptera were trapped. The very old Juniperusassociations of Bugac showed the highest constant values of the beetles. The number of beetle species increased parallel to the range of organization of the plant association in the direction to climax.     

Zur Kenntnis der Mikrosporidienarten (Sporozoa,Nosematidae) bei Vorratsschädlingen der Ordnung Coleoptera

On the microsporidian pathogens of Coleoptera living in grain and meal in Yugoslavia In some mills in the Kosova district, Yugoslavia, the species of Nosematidae (Microsporidia) infecting the grain and meal eating larvae of Coleoptera were investigated. A view of all Nosematidae of Coleopterous meal and grain pests found hitherto by the author and by other authors is given. Informations are maded on the different pathogens. Two new species,Nosema albanica n. sp. undPlistophora manningeri n. sp., are described.     

Browsing by large herbivores on Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings in mixture with ash (Fraxinus excelsior) or silver birch (Betula pendula)

Abstract

Food selection by large herbivores occurs at a hierarchy of scales, for example landscape, patch or plant. Several hypotheses regarding food plant selection on patch or plant level have been developed. In this cafeteria-type design field experiment, conducted during one winter immediately after planting, we tested the effect of species mixture on browsing by large herbivores (mainly roe deer) on Scots pine seedlings in mixture with seedlings of ash (highly preferred) or silver birch (less preferred). Browsing on Scots pine was not affected by species mixture, neither in terms of the number of browsed pines nor browsing intensity. Instead, browsed biomass was positively and significantly correlated to the total biomass available for browsing. Also, there were differences due to species, with ash being most browsed (44.6%), followed by Scots pine (18.9%) and silver birch (11.6%). Browsed biomass per browsed seedling, however, was largest for Scots pine. In addition, browsed seedlings were initially taller compared to unbrowsed seedlings for all species. The main management implication in this study is that the species mixture did not influence large herbivore browsing on Scots pine seedlings. Hence, removing or discouraging more (or less) attractive browse species in early stages of pine regeneration activities seems unnecessary from the point of large herbivore browsing.