Overhead irrigation increased winter chilling and floral bud production in Eucalyptus nitens

Eucalyptus nitens requires a sufficiently cold winter to produce flower buds. In areas in South Africa where E. nitens commercial plantations as well as breeding and production seed orchards are located, winter chilling is often insufficient for floral bud initiation. Hence, under such conditions, E. nitens floral bud and seed crops are poor and inconsistent. The local industry is almost entirely dependent on paclobutrazol (PBZ) applications for encouraging flowering in E. nitens seed orchards. Between 2008 and 2010, an experiment was conducted to investigate the potential of overhead irrigation (sprinkling) as a means of supplementing winter chilling to improve floral bud production in E. nitens. The treatments included three levels of sprinkling (nil, 10 weeks and 16 weeks duration), two levels of PBZ (nil, 0.025 g a.i. per mm basal stem circumference) and two grafted clones (prolific flowerer and shy-flowerer). Sprinkling reduced E. nitens daytime bud temperatures by as much as 16.2 °C on warm, dry winter days. In 2009 (cold winter) and 2010 (warm winter), sprinkling increased chilling accumulation by 44% and 72% (nil versus maximum sprinkling), respectively. In 2009, in the absence of PBZ, sprinkling resulted in a higher percentage of trees of either clone producing umbels (flower buds) compared with the control. In the warmer 2010 winter, sprinkling again increased flowering, with the number of flowering shoots and umbels per tree being significantly higher than the control at p < 0.05. In both 2009 and 2010, PBZ showed a strong additive effect to winter chilling on E. nitens floral bud production. The E. nitens clone × chilling × PBZ flowering interaction was complex and warrants more detailed investigation in future. Overhead sprinkling offers a practical method of supplementing winter chilling and improving floral bud production in high-chill-requiring temperate eucalypt species such as E. nitens.     

Gene flow between introduced and native Eucalyptus species

The first evidence of in situ F₁ hybridisation between an introduced eucalypt plantation species, Eucalyptus nitens, and a native eucalypt species is presented. Open-pollinated seed was collected from a mature E. nitens trial and from the adjacent native species, E. ovata and E. viminalis on the island of Tasmania. Nearly 70 000 seedlings were grown to a size at which hybrids could be clearly distinguished from pure species seedlings on the basis of morphology and a nearly species-specific isozyme allele. Hybridisation was observed between E. nitens and E. ovata, but no hybrids involving E. viminalis were found. This pattern of hybridisation was consistent with the flowering time overlap between the E. ovata and E. nitens. Eucalyptus nitens progenies displayed a low and relatively homogeneous level of hybridisation, averaging 0.15% per tree. In comparison, the proportion of hybrids obtained from the adjacent E. ovata trees varied from 0.04 to 16% per tree. Whether progeny arising from such hybridisation will survive and grow in nature to allow for backcrossing and introgression of the exotic genes into the native population is not yet known.     

Growth and provenance of Norway maple (Acer platanoides) in lowland Britain

The results of an experiment to investigate the early growthand form of ten different provenances of Norway maple (Acerplatanoides L.) are described. Two sites were planted and after8 years survival was 88 per cent and 95 per cent and heightincrement was 402 cm and 201 cm; confirmmg the potential ofNorway maple to be a productive forest tree. Provenances thatperformed well were from Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark andYugoslavia; exact locations were not known for all seed collections.A provenance from Russia was included, material from this fareast has rarely been tested in Britain. However, as expected,its performance was relatively poor. The main constraint tofurther planting of Norway maple is the palatability of thebark to grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis Gmelin.). However,it is a useful tree for high pH and heavy soils and as an alternativespecies to sycamore (Acer pseudoplatanus L.).     

Comparison of different control-pollination techniques for small-flowered eucalypts

Controlled pollination (CP) is a labour-intensive, but useful procedure applied in tree improvement programmes. However, the high costs involved and relatively low seed yields often obtained has, in most cases, necessitated the use of lower quality, open pollinated seed. The aim of the present study was to compare control-pollination methods for combinations among small-flowered eucalypt species. By making crosses within and among Eucalyptus grandis, E. smithii and E. macarthurii, we compared effectiveness, in terms of seed production and level of genetic contamination, of three CP techniques, namely emasculation of bagged flowers and subsequent pollination of receptive stigmas (Conventional method), emasculation and immediate pollination of stigmas with induced receptivity followed by bagging (One Stop Pollination), and pollination of cut styles without emasculation and bagging (Artificially Induced Protogyny). One tree of each species was used as the female in these crosses. Although Artificially Induced Protogyny using ripe and semi-ripe buds produced the highest seeds/flower pollinated in the majority of crosses carried out in this study, the technique, when performed on green buds, resulted in the highest capsule abortion. Molecular analysis using microsatellite markers also revealed that progeny from the Artificially Induced Protogyny method, when using green and semi-ripe buds, were highly contaminated by self- and external pollen. Of the three CP-techniques tested, One Stop Pollination had the lowest genetic contamination. However, this technique also had one of the lowest seed yields, while the Conventional method was intermediate in performance.     

A tool for identifying potential Eucalyptus nitens seed orchard sites based on climate and topography

Shy seed production in orchards of Eucalyptus nitens is a major barrier to the deployment of genetic gain in South African plantations. A machine learning method was used to identify optimal sites for the establishment of E. nitens seed orchards within the plantation forestry landscape of the summer rainfall region of South Africa. The ensemble classifier random forests (RF) was used to identify the environmental factors conducive to E. nitens floral bud production, and, based on these, build a predictive model deployable to the plantation forestry landscape for identifying suitable areas for E. nitens seed orchards. The RF model predicted site suitability likelihood for floral bud production with a high level of accuracy (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve = 0.83). Within the climatically optimal range for growing E. nitens, flower bud production was more abundant and consistent on cold slopes, i.e. sites experiencing lower minimum air temperatures during spring and autumn. The model was applied to the commercial plantation forestry landscape for the purpose of indicating sites climatically optimal for floral bud production in E. nitens and the establishment of breeding and seed production orchards of the same species.     

木荷种子园无性系开花物候及同步性分析

[目的]研究种子园无性系的花期物候特征和花期同步性及影响因子对种子园科学管理具有指导意义。[方法]2015年和2016年连续2 a对木荷无性系种子园中19个无性系进行花期物候调查,分析其开花物候与花期同步指数。[结果]木荷种子园各无性系开花持续时间为10~28 d,2016年较2015年晚2 d进入始花期。相关分析结果表明,开花数多的无性系比开花数少的无性系花期更长、座果数更多,花期持续时间长的无性系比持续时间短的无性系座果数更多。无性系组合间花期同步指数有较大差异,2015年和2016年变化范围分别为0.552~0.857和0.406~0.808,平均分别为0.758和0.713,其中花期同步指数大于0.80的无性系分别在50%和40%以上。年度内花期同步指数变异系数分别为12.016%~46.476%和15.375%~51.202%,无性系之间平均花期同步指数存在极显著变异(P0.01)。年度间花期平均同步指数为0.737,平均花期同步指数间不存在显著变异(P0.05)。年度间花期同步指数相关系数为0.229,表明年度间花期同步指数具有一定的相关性,但不显著。[结论]木荷种子园无性系年度间花期同步指数较为稳定,可根据开花物候和花期同步指数对无性系进行筛选和优化,同时辅以人工授粉等措施弥补花期同步性差异,以达到提高种子园种子产量和质量的目的。     

马尾松二代无性系种子园的花期同步性

【目的】研究马尾松二代种子园无性系的开花物候特征、花期同步性、结实状况及气候影响因子,评价无性系花期同步性规律,指导种子园经营生产及提高种子遗传品质与产量。【方法】连续2年对浙江省淳安县姥山林场马尾松二代无性系矮化种子园的22个无性系进行花期、花量和结实性状调查,分析其开花物候与花期同步指数。【结果】各无性系雌雄球花整体花期持续时间为8～17天, 2014年始花期相对于2013年滞后约6天,且持续时间缩短约6天。整体水平上,年度内雌球花及雄球花的各花期时长差异较小;无性系的始花期和盛花期的物候特征年度间存在差异, 2014年无性系内雌雄球花开花的同步性更强。无性系的开花物候受气候因素影响较大,这使得无性系间开花同步程度降低,花期同步指数变异增加, 2013年和2014年花期同步指数变化范围分别为0.041～0.556和0.284～0.802,无性系的平均变异系数分别为32.3%和16.8%。各无性系分别作为父、母本时,年度内无性系花期整体同步性水平差异较小,表现出无性系作为父本时的散粉期整体的同步性要高于作为母本时的可授粉期的同步性。年度间无性系作为父、母本及自交的花期同步指数均有极显著差异, 2014年各无性系的花期同步指数在整体水平均高于2013年,但自交指数在年度间无显著差异。相关分析表明,雌球花越多的无性系的球果数越多;而雌球花花期持续时间越长的无性系座果率越高;不同年度的雌球花盛花期和花期的持续时间均与千粒质量指标呈显著或极显著正相关。【结论】浙江姥山林场马尾松二代无性系种子园雌、雄球花的花期具有较好的同步性,无性系间没有出现花期不遇现象。无性系交配组合的雌球花可授粉期和雄球花的散粉期影响了种子园无性系的种实品质及座果率。连续2年的观测表明无性系间花期整体同步性水平存在差异,且这种差异与二代种子园无性系的亲本遗传背景有关。各无性系分别作为父、母本时,表现出无性系作为父本时的散粉期整体的同步性要高于作为母本时的可授粉期的同步性,无性系作为父本和母本时花期同步指数呈负相关,且种子园内存在1/3无性系具有高于异交平均水平的自交可能性,是马尾松二代种子园管理和无性系再选择应综合考虑的因素。     

Factors influencing tree species diversity and Betula alleghaniensis establishment in silvicultural openings

We examined the short-term effects of group-selection harvestingwith seed tree retention on the diversity, abundance and establishmentof tree seedlings in a northern hardwood forest in the UpperPeninsula of Michigan (49 openings, 20 closed canopy referencesites). Three opening sizes were examined – opening radius0.5 x canopy height (267 ± 62 m², n = 16), 0.75 x canopyheight (642 ± 85 m², n = 17) and 1.0 x canopy height(1192 ± 155 m², n = 16) (canopy height = 22 m). A singleyellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) seed tree was retainedin the centre of each opening. Tree seedling density was significantlyhigher in the largest group-selection opening than at the closedcanopy reference sites (P < 0.05), the main factor for thiswas the increased proportion of yellow birch, red maple (Acerrubrum L.) and other minor species. Nevertheless, yellow birchwas still a minor component of the developing gap cohort, comprising5.9 per cent of the seedlings and 1.1 per cent of the saplings.Within openings, microsite variables, such as per cent coversof bare soil and coarse woody debris, were the best predictorsof yellow birch occurrence and density. Our results suggestthat microsite limitations and competing vegetation may greatlyreduce the efficacy of openings for ensuring the maintenanceof mid-tolerants.     

Tree Seed Production and Food Conditions for Rodents in an Oak Wood in Southern England

Seed production and seed losses were monitored in an oak (Quercusrobur) wood in southern England between 1975 and 1988. In additionto acorns, seeds from several large beech (Fagus sylvatica)and sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa) trees which occurred withinthe wood, and from the understorey of hazel (Corylus avellana)trees, were also monitored. The seeds from these four tree speciesare all subject to heavy predation by rodents, as well as otherseed-eaters such as birds and insects. Seed fall tended to be irregular and three years, 1976, 1985and 1987 were considered oak mast years. There were too fewyears with large acorn crops to examine whether resource depletionin these years resulted in poor crops in subsequent years. Therewas no correlation in seed production between the four treespecies which does not agree with one of the predictions ofthe predator satiation theory of masting behaviour. The effectsof weather on seed production were investigated but few significantcorrelations were found. In general the results tended to supportprevious findings. Between 1980 and 1982 a serious outbreakof Tortrix moth caterpillars occurred within the wood and mayhave affected acorn production. A negative relationship wasfound between oak defoliation and acorn production in the subsequentyear. The loss of seeds from the forest floor was initially rapidand in 9 years no seeds survived into the following year andfood conditions were poor for granivores. In 3 of the remaining4 years acorns survived well into spring and early summer providinggood food conditions for forest rodents through to the timeswhen alternative food supplies became available. Although oaktrees contributed most seed energy in good years, the othertree species, especially beech, became important when acornproduction was poor. Predispersal losses due to predators werefrequently high and averaged 80 per cent, 40 per cent, 38 percent and 33 per cent in hazel, sweet chestnut, oak and beechrespectively. On average, hazel nuts tended to fall first, some6 weeks before acorns which tended to be the last seeds to fallof the four tree species. Knopper galls and weeviled acornsfell earlier than sound acorns. A key-factor analysis indicatedthat a failure to mature, predispersal predation and insectinfestation from weevils and Knopper galls contributed equallyto changes in numbers of acorns among years.     

大花蕙兰制种试验初报

报道了4个大花蕙兰品种(小提琴,C.’Violin’,维多利亚C.’Victory’,月亮女神C.Pine Clash’Moon Ve-nus’,威利金C.’Willy Gold’)的制种试验结果。品种本身的遗传特性对这4个品种的坐果率有较强影响。其他因素相同时,月亮女神和小提琴的坐果率可以达到80%以上,威利金不结实。威利金与维多利亚杂交,坐果率可以达到20.0%(正交)和36.7%(反交)。单株(单箭)授粉花朵的数量和授粉后肥水管理,是重要的外界影响因子。对月亮女神,单株授粉花数从6朵增加到21朵时,坐果率从100%下降到19.0%。肥水管理不当会引起花果败育,导致坐果率下降。对茎腐病的抗性可作为子代性状早期测定的重要指标。     

Energy costs of flowering, fruiting, and cherelle wilt in cacao

Groups of 14-year-old cacao (Theobroma cacao L.) trees were hand pollinated, pollinated naturally or had their fruits continuously removed. Wilted and non-wilted cherelles (small fruits) were counted every 2 weeks, fallen flowers were counted weekly and mature pods were harvested monthly from 1983 through 1986. Carbohydrate, lipid and protein contents of wilted cherelles, mature pods and flowers were determined. Continuous removal of fruits caused a constant initiation of flowers and a significant increase in flowering intensity compared with the other treatments. The quantity of cherelles in the hand-pollinated trees was significantly greater than in the naturally pollinated trees. However, the number of mature fruits in both treatments was not statistically different because of increased cherelle wilting in the hand-pollinated trees. The continuously depodded trees allocated approximately 8 and 5 times more assimilate to flower production than the hand- and naturally pollinated trees, respectively. The naturally pollinated trees used only about one third as much energy for the production of flowers and wilted cherelles as the hand-pollinated trees, but about 1.4 times more energy than the depodded trees. It is concluded that fruit set in cacao is regulated by assimilate production and that cherelle wilting is the mechanism whereby the tree adjusts production.     

History of Peridermium Stem Rust of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) in Thetford Forest, East Anglia

‘Peridermium’ stem rust (Peridermium pini (Pers.)Lev.) has been present in Thetford forest for at least 40 years,but has only become a major problem during the last decade.Survey data are presented which show that there has been a dramaticincrease in the disease in crops of Scots pine between 1964,when with less than one per cent of the trees showed symptoms,and 1979, when the figure was 10 per cent. The disease has apparentlyspread outwards from a central focus in the middle of the forest.In four plots the proportion of trees with visible symptomshas increased in five years from an average of 28 per cent to46 per cent. However, only 1–2 per cent of the trees havedied annually, and it appears that many trees with ‘deadtops’ may survive for long periods. The situation in Thetfordseems to contrast with that in north-east Scotland, where limiteddata suggest there has been no appreciable increase in diseaseincidence during recent years. There are only two records ofthe disease on Corsican pine (P. nigra var. maritima (Ait.)Melville) in Thetford.     

Flowering and Airborne Pollen Occurrence in a Pinus sylvestris Seed Orchard Consisting of Northern Clones

To explain the high background pollination rate detected in earlier studies, this study investigated the flowering phenology of a Scots pine seed orchard with respect to airborne pollen occurrence during 1992 and 1993. The receptive period of the female strobili and the shedding period of the male strobili were observed visually. Airborne pollen was monitored with Rotorod traps located inside and outside the seed orchard. There was no time gap in the onset of flowering between the earliest female and male strobili in 1992. Female flowering began 3 days earlier than male flowering in 1993, and the earliest strobili were probably pollinated by pollen transported long distance from more southerly areas. The almost simultaneous peak in pollen occurrence inside the seed orchard and in surrounding pine stands indicates that the seed orchard clones are not temporally isolated from sources of contamination. However, pollen concentrations inside the seed orchard were higher than those in the surrounding stands. Therefore, flowering phenology cannot sufficiently explain the observed pollen contamination rates in this seed orchard.     

The effect of roots and litter of Calamagrostis canadensis on root sucker regeneration of Populus tremuloides

Marsh reed grass (Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) Beauv.)is a common, highly competitive grass native to the boreal mixedwoodforest. This grass increases in abundance after clear-cut loggingbut little is known about its effects on trembling aspen (Populustremuloides Michx.) sucker regeneration. The effects of Calamagrostissod and its litter on aspen regeneration were studied in twoseparate greenhouse studies. Calamagrostis sod did not affectthe initiation of suckers, but resulted in 30 per cent fewersuckers emerging above the soil that were smaller and had 40per cent less leaf area. Calamagrostis litter had little effecton the initiation and number of emerged suckers; however, itdelayed emergence by 10 days. The physical barrier by rootsand litter of Calamagrostis reduced or delayed the expansionof suckers and therefore prolonged their dependence on rootreserves. By the time the suckers reached the surface, theyhad to compete for light with Calamagrostis shoots that hademerged a week earlier. This, coupled with low soil temperaturesassociated with Calamagrostis in other experiments, will significantlyreduce the number and growth of suckers. Any reduction and delayin sucker emergence will decrease aspen regeneration and productivitysince the growing season in the boreal forest region is short.     

Forest condition in Tuscany (Central Italy). Field surveys 1987-1991

Between 1987 and 1991 four surveys on the condition of forestsin Tuscany (Central Italy) were carried out. The results, relatingto 2275 trees in 111 sampling plots, show that the overall percentageof damaged trees (defined by the EC regulation 1696/87) increasedbetween 1987–88 (51.4±5.4 per cent; 54.0±5.6per cent) and 1990–91 (67.0±6.2 per cent; 64.0±6.1per cent). The percentage of moderately and severely damagedtrees also displayed an upward trend. The most severely affectedspecies appeared to be Pinus pinea (a Mediterranean conifer,96.7 per cent damaged trees) and Fagus sylvatica (a mountainbroadleaf, 87.1 per cent damaged trees). Crown condition appearedto deteriorate with decreases in mean annual rainfall and wherestand conditions are poor (thin soil, steep slopes). The findingssuggest the possibility of an interaction between several differentstress factors, some of which seem to be linked to local andstand conditions (exposure, silviculture, soil fertility), whileothers seem to be connected with long-term variations, suchas changes in environmental parameters like precipitation. Theactual role of background and/or local pollution can be neitherdemonstrated nor excluded on the basis of the present results.     

Parental participation in progeny and effective population sizes in experimental seed orchards of wild cherry Prunus avium L. (Batsch)

Parents and progenies genetic diversity, and male and female contributions to the seed crop were assessed in three experimental Prunus avium seed orchards. Collected data were used to compare different effective population sizes, based on phenological, seed crop and paternity analysis. Our results did not show any difference of genetic diversity between parents and progenies. A limited pollen pollution was detected. We showed that distance and coflowering among clones had a significant effect on effective pollination, and a significant effect of the production of flowers was revealed in one of the seed orchards. Our study also revealed a quite low number of effective size of fathers per mother, but high effective sizes of mothers, fathers and parents at the level of the seed orchard. Finally, the calculation of effective size of mothers, fathers and parents was not highly modified when having the complete information based on the paternity analysis.     

濒危植物猪血木的传粉生物学特性研究

猪血木是中国特有的山茶科单型属猪血木属的一种珍稀濒危植物,只在广东省阳春市八甲镇有分布,现存种群数量极少。对猪血木的开花物候、花部结构、访花昆虫及访花行为进行了观察,并针对猪血木的野外传粉过程进行了套袋对比实验。此有关其传粉生物学特性的研究结果表明:猪血木自然开花正常且花期长,自然结实率为42.4%~50.4%;猪血木为虫媒植物,传粉者为蜂、蝇、蝶等类的多种昆虫,在花上共捕到17种昆虫,其中9种在各居群均见分布,其传粉途径正常,为异花授粉植物。有鉴于猪血木分布地高强度的农业开发及城市化建设对其传粉昆虫生存及分布的影响,建议在对猪血木的保护策略中注意保护其传粉昆虫。     

Colonization of Two Nothofagus species by Lepidoptera in Southern Britain

Between 1975 and 1982 a study was made of the invertebrate faunacolonizing two deciduous species of southern beech, Nothofagusobliqua and N. procera, introduced into Britain from South America.Special attention was paid to the folivorous larvae of Lepidopterawhich were sampled at 15 localities in southern England, mostlyin Forestry Commission trial plots and arboreta in Gloucestershire. The literature describing the native insect fauna of Nothofagusin Chile and Argentina is briefly reviewed. Mention is alsomade of the few previous records of lepidopterous larvae observedfeeding on Nothofagus in Britain. The larvae of 81 species Lepidoptera are recorded from Nothofagus.Seventy-eight of these were feeding on the foliage, of which73 were found on N. procera and 62 on N. obliqua, although approximately62 per cent of all the larvae collected were from N. obliqua.Faunal differences between the sites studied are briefly described.Two additional species of cutworm larvae are also reported attackingthe roots of Nothofagus seedlings. The changing lepidopterous fauna on Nothofagus from May untilSeptember is described and discussed. Spring-feeding larvaeof Operophtera brumata (L.), Agriopis aurantiaria (Hübn.)and Erannis defoliaria (Clerck) comprised 55 per cent of alllarvae collected on the two hosts, and represented between 68per cent and 87 per cent of those larvae in beating samplescollected in late May and early June. Most of the larvae collected were reared to adult in the laboratoryon a diet of Nothofagus leaves. The majority of these are regardedas polyphagus species although 64 are known to have one of thetwo native Quercus as a host-plant, while 24 have been recordedas feeding on Fagus sylvatica. The relevance of these two generaas sources for the Lepidoptera fauna colonizing Nothofagus isdiscussed. Nothofagus obliqua and N. procera are shown to have acquireda substantial lepidopterous fauna since their introduction intoBritain near the beginning of this century, although most ofthe trees sampled were less than 25 years old. These two speciesof Nothofagus may be vulnerable to defoliation by several speciesof caterpillar, especially if planted as monocultures in areaswhere oak and beech are plentiful. However, their surprisinglylarge insect fauna may be seen to have some value for natureconservation purposes.     

The Pine Shoot Beetle Tomicus piniperda as a Vector of Blue Stain Fungi to Windblown Pine

After the great gale of 1987, the role of the pine shoot beetle,Tomicus piniperda, as a vector of blue stain fungi to windblownpine in southern England was examined by macerating adult beetlesand culturing the macerate on various agar media. Isolationswere also made from pine tissue associated with beetle galleriesand tunnels. Using data from between three and nine sites, it was found that17 per cent of the overwintered adult beetles were carryingfast-growing Leptographium spp. as they began to construct breedinggalleries in spring 1988. More than half the new generationof adult beetles were contaminated with these fungi when theyemerged in June-July 1988, but this proportion dropped as thelife cycle of shoot-feeding and overwintering progressed. Itaveraged 26 per cent at the time of brood gallery constructionin spring 1989. Isolations made from pine tissue around the galleries also showedchanges in the frequency of blue stain fungi. Of early broodgalleries 25 per cent yielded Leptographium, while the figurefor late galleries was 51 per cent. These results were consistentwith the direct introduction of Leptographium by the parentbeetles into some galleries, and the subsequent rapid hyphalgrowth of the fungus within the tree to colonize tissue adjacentto other galleries. The principal species identified was L. wingfieldii. However,L. lundbergii, L. huntii, L. procerum and an unidentified Leptographiumspecies were occasionally recorded, both on the beetles andin the trees. Graphium species were quite common also. In addition,the black yeasts, Hormonema dematioides and Aureobasidium pullulans,were frequently present, particularly in the pine shoot samples.     

A Study Undertaken in Southern Britain to Investigate the Late-Flushing of Hedgerow Ash in Spring 1987

Following the abnormally late flushing of many ash (Fraxinusexcelsior) in 1987 a study on their condition was initiated.An investigation of 19 trees at 12 sites in England and Waleswas carried out in June with a second inspection later in thesummer. For comparison, another full survey of the same treeswas undertaken the following year. Information collected onmore than 4000 bud positions showed that in 1987 significantlyfewer buds flushed to produce healthy shoots than in 1988 (18per cent compared with 34 per cent respectively). Although nodifference was detected between the two years in the numbersof buds killed or damaged by ash bud moth (Prays fraxinella)or invaded by fungi (principally Fusarium lateritium) therewere significantly more buds killed by unknown causes in 1987than in 1988 (13 per cent and 4 per cent respectively). Thetrees were fully recovered by mid-summer 1987 and went on tofoliate normally in 1988. There was thus no reason to considerthat the late flushing marked the onset of any serious dieback. Received 22 May 1990.