Surveys for asymptomatic persistence of Sphaeropsis sapinea on or in stems of red pine seedlings from seven Great Lakes region nurseries

The fungus Sphaeropsis sapinea persists on or in stems of asymptomatic red pine (Pinus resinosa) nursery seedlings, and proliferates to cause collar rot and mortality after planting. In the spring of 2002, seven nurseries were surveyed to determine the potential range in frequency of asymptomatic persistence: three operated by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR), two by Minnesota DNR, one by Michigan DNR, and one by USDA Forest Service (in Michigan). At each nursery five groups of 20 asymptomatic red pine seedlings were collected near an inoculum source (red pine windbreak), if present, and five groups of 20 asymptomatic seedlings were collected away from such a source (1400 seedlings total). A segment of the lower stem/root collar from each seedling was surface disinfested and incubated on tannic acid agar. Transfers were made from resulting colonies and the pathogen identified from pycnidia and conidia produced in culture. The pathogen was identified from asymptomatic seedlings collected in all Wisconsin and Minnesota nurseries, but was never detected from seedlings from the Michigan DNR or USDA Forest Service nurseries. Frequencies of detection were greater (as high as 88%) from asymptomatic seedlings near red pine windbreaks including diseased trees than from seedlings distant from such windbreaks. A subset of isolates from asymptomatic seedlings was characterized using inter‐simple sequence repeat–polymerase chain reaction analysis. Most isolates were the A group of S. sapinea, but B group isolates (recently named Diplodia scrobiculata) were also obtained from one nursery. One Minnesota nursery was more extensively sampled in 2003, with 17–44 groups of five asymptomatic red pine seedlings collected in four separate fields (525 seedlings total). The mean frequency of detection of the pathogen in these four fields ranged from 40 to 71%. Persistence of S. sapinea on or in asymptomatic seedlings continues to be problematic, not only because of the potential for subsequent seedling mortality, but also as a means by which a pathogen may be widely distributed.     

Genotypic diversity and distribution of Sphaeropsis sapinea within Pinus radiata trees from northern Spain

Sphaeropsis sapinea is an important latent pathogen of Pinus spp., outbreaks of which have a considerable impact on plantations. This study considers the population diversity and distribution of S. sapinea in northern Spain at different spatial scales from single plantations to a wide area covered by Pinus radiata trees. Estimation of genotypic diversity is an important component of the analysis of the genetic structure of plant pathogen populations. Ten simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were used, together with vegetative compatibility tests, to study the genetic diversity among S. sapinea isolates. Polymorphism analysis at SSR loci is a simple and direct approach for estimating the genetic diversity of S. sapinea isolates. From a total of 86 isolates collected from four different areas, 14 microsatellite haplotypes and 13 vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) were identified. The percentage of maximum genotypic diversity, based on Stoddart and Taylor's index, for microsatellites of the northern Spain population ranged from 14.6% to 38.1% and from 8.0% to 29.4% for VCGs. Analysis of these markers and vegetative compatibility groups confirmed that S. sapinea reproduces mainly asexually due to its reduced genotypic diversity in spatially close populations. Isolates of S. sapinea from northern Spain populations were predominantly monomorphic at the tested SSR loci. Vegetative compatibility groups also indicate a low level of genetic variability in these samples, which appear to be clonal.     

防治榉树枯萎病室内杀菌剂的筛选

榉树枯萎病是近几年在句容茅山地区发生严重的一种新病害,每年榉树的生产都因此病害而损失巨大。以筛选防治榉树枯萎病的有效药剂为目的,采用菌丝生长速率法及孢子萌发率的测定对比了7种杀菌剂针对榉树枯萎病病原(尖孢镰刀菌)的毒力。结果显示,分别设置的不同浓度的7种杀菌剂对榉树枯萎病病原菌的生长均存在抑制,多菌灵对病原菌丝的生长和孢子的萌发抑制作用最强,致死中浓度CEC50为0.9547mg/L,建议在田间试验和推广应用时应选用多菌灵。     

一种快捷有效的提取树木RNA方法

通过无水乙醇对材料的预处理,在保证RNA基本质量的同时,在一定程度上降低成本、简化步骤和缩短时间,对于较难提取RNA的植物如红松、樟子松、黑皮油松和白桦等,该方法均具有较好效果。     

Seasonal variation in gene expression for loblolly pines (Pinus taeda) from different geographical regions

In developing xylem, gene expression levels vary in different genotypes, at different stages of development, throughout a growing season, and in response to stresses. Commercially important characteristics such as wood-specific gravity are known to differ with seed source. For example, when grown on a common site, the specific gravity of Arkansas loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) trees is greater than that of Louisiana loblolly pine, and Texas loblolly pines have a greater specific gravity than loblolly pines from the Atlantic coast. A microarray analysis was performed to examine variation in gene expression among trees from different geographical sources when grown on a common site, and seasonal variation in gene expression in each seed source. We used microarrays containing 2171 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) with putative functions of interest, selected from several loblolly pine xylem partial cDNA libraries and a shoot tip library. Genes with significant variation in expression for each factor were identified. Many genes preferentially expressed in latewood compared with earlywood were for proteins involved in cell wall biosynthesis. Variation in gene expression among trees from the two seed sources in each growing season suggests that there may be more differences between South Arkansas trees and South Louisiana trees in latewood than in earlywood. Variation in gene expression among trees from different regions may reflect adaptation to different environments.     

ESR technology — An effective method for researching wood surface modification

The paper uses Chinese linden vernier as samples, and uses ESR technology to examine the free radical concentration change during the process of wood surface modification. This is a effective method, and it can give proper evaluation about the extent and the quality of surface modification.     

Storage of maitake mushroom (Grifola frondosa) culture medium after harvesting fruit bodies is an effective pretreatment for ethanol conversion

The storage of spent maitake culture medium (SMCM) under various conditions was investigated as a potential pretreatment of SMCM for increased ethanol conversion. When SMCM was stored at 25°C for 12?weeks, the glucose yield by enzymatic saccharification increased from 22 to 52%. Selective degradation of lignin and hemicellulose occurred in SMCM during storage. The optimal storage temperature of SMCM was at the active growing temperature of maitake mycelium, which is between 25 and 30°C. Storage of SMCM under anaerobic conditions did not increase the glucose yield compared to non-stored conditions. The glucose yield from the SMCM stored for 4?weeks at 25°C was increased by about 30% with either NaOH or vibrating ball milling pretreatment. After 12?weeks of storage, the glucose yield from SMCM without any other pretreatment was higher than that of non-stored SMCM with additional pretreatments. An ethanol yield of 42.1% was obtained from SMCM stored for 12?weeks by simultaneous saccharification and fermentation, which was comparable to yields after NaOH (41.3%) or vibrating ball milling (44.1%) pretreatments. Therefore, storage of SMCM is a very useful pretreatment for bioethanol production.     

栽培山杏是发展我市乡村经济的有效途径

山杏具有较高的利用价值和经济效益，而且适合我市栽培，大面积栽培山杏，是我市发展乡村经济的有效途径。     

Ozone treatment of spent medium from Auricularia polytricha cultivation for enzymatic saccharification and subsequent ethanol production

We examined the enzymatic saccharification and ethanol fermentation of the spent media (SMs) from Auricularia polytricha cultivation using wood meals of Falcataria moluccana, Shorea sp., and Tectona grandis. Although the hydrolysis weight decrease and reducing sugar yield were higher in SM of F. moluccana, the ethanol yield was higher in SM of Shorea sp. Ozone treatment of SM further increased the hydrolysis weight decrease, reducing sugar, and ethanol yields in Shorea sp. These results indicate that SM of A. polytricha is a suitable biomass material to produce fermentable sugars for ethanol production, and that ozone treatment is a suitable method for increasing the ethanol yield.     

Experiments on decolourization with 122 resin for extraction of gibberellins from solid medium under different conditions

The extracting liquid of gibberellins (Gibberella fujikurol) from solid medium for was decolorized separately with 75%,95% alcohol, and distilled water in static adsorption and vibrating way for different durations. The results showed that the content of GA3 in efflux extracted with alcohol is 10% higher than that with distilled water. With the increase of the durations of extraction,the content of GA3 increases and the dissolution of pigments also increase. For extraction of GA3 cultured in solid medium, the best decolorizing result was obtained when it was extracted with 75%-95% alcohol in static way for 1-3 h, or in a vibrating way for 30-60 min, and then to decolor in a static way for 30-60 min in 122 resin column.     

一种有效的蚜虫基因组DNA提取方法

蚜虫属于同翅目(Homoptera)蚜总科(Aphidoidea)和球蚜总科(Adelgoidea),世界上已知种类为4 000多种[1],我国已报道的种类1 000余种[2]。蚜虫大多数是害虫,它们刺吸植物汁液,直接影响植物生长,同时间接传播病毒病害,造成农业上的损失,如棉蚜(Aphis gossypiiG lover)、麦长管蚜(Macrosiphum avenae(Fabricius))等;少数种类如五倍子蚜(Schlechtendalia chinensis(Bell))是重要的资源昆虫,具有较高的经济价值[3]。蚜虫身体微小,形态变异大,生活习性复杂,并具有多型多态现象,研究它较为困难,尤其是在分类和鉴定、近缘种的识别等方面,传统的研…     

An Effective Method for Total RNA Isolation from Bamboo

INTRODUCTION Bamboo, one of the key forest resources, plays an important role in environment protection and local economic development(Jiang Zehui 2002). Therefore, good bamboo cultivars are badly in need. RNA extraction is necessary for genetic engineering to create new bamboo germplasm. In this report, the total bamboo RNA was successfully isolated with Trizol reagent. 1 MATERIALS AND APPROACHES 1.1 Materials Test samples are fresh leaves of D. oldhami (potted bamboo from W…     

Partnership Building for Sustainable Development: An Industry Perspective from Saskatchewan

Abstract

Weyerhaeuser chose to become a partner of the Prince Albert Model Forest primarily for two reasons: to strengthen relationships with other forest stakeholders, most notably the Montreal Lake Cree Nation, and to create in the Model Forest an accurate database about Saskatchewan forests.

Both of these goals have been and continue to be realized. Montreal Lake and other forest users have participated in projects with Weyerhaeuser. The company provides technical training and jobs to First Nations people. Weyerhaeuser has also begun to incorporate some research results into its operations as a means of addressing environmental impacts on biodiversity and wildlife habitat.     

PCR primers for identification of Sirococcus conigenus and S. tsugae,and detection of S. conigenus from symptomatic and asymptomatic red pine shoots

Regions of diversity in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of Sirococcus species were exploited to design primer pairs used in a PCR-based method for the identification of the conifer shoot blight pathogen Sirococcus conigenus and the closely related fungus Sirococcus tsugae. The specificity of each primer pair for the respective fungus, detection limits and utility for detection from host material were confirmed. The S. conigenus primers were then used to detect this pathogen in tissues of symptomatic or apparently healthy red pine shoots collected at six locations in Wisconsin and Michigan and results compared with those obtained using a cultural assay. For needles, bark and wood of symptomatic shoots, the mean frequencies of detection of S. conigenus using the PCR-based methods were consistent (≥7.5 out of 10) and always greater than for the cultural assay. Detection from symptomatic shoots using the cultural assay was more frequent from needles than from bark or wood. Both the PCR-based method and the cultural assay detected S. conigenus in similar frequencies from asymptomatic shoots, although less frequently than from symptomatic shoots. The efficiency of the PCR-based method and its utility for direct testing of host material should make it particularly useful in areas where multiple shoot blight pathogens are found.     

一种经济有效的森林土壤粗品DNA纯化方法

尽管人们采用多种提取方法乃至使用商品试剂盒,但从森林土壤中获得纯品DNA仍然是比较困难的事情。本文经多次研究探索提出了一种经济有效的森林土壤粗品DNA进一步纯化方法。此方法由两步组成:1.利用提取缓冲液将提取的粗品DNA溶解,经氯仿/异戊醇去除杂质后,再用异内醇沉淀析出DNA;2.使用普通凝胶回收试剂盒回收柱进一步纯化DNA。结果表明:经第一步纯化后,82%-91%腐殖酸杂质被除去。经第二步纯化后,残留的少量腐殖酸杂质被去除干净。经上述连续的两步纯化后获得的DNA非常纯净,可直接用于对抑制物非常敏感的常规PCR反应。本研究报道的DNA进一步纯化方法有效、经济且省时。此外,采用其它各种提取方法获得的土壤粗品DNA均可使用本方法进一步纯化。图4表2参15。     

An ex-post methodology for measuring poor people's participation in social forestry: an example from Java, Indonesia

One of the key goals of social forestry is to involve the poor as project beneficiaries. It is possible to measure the degree of attainment of this goal by collecting socioeconomic data before and after project implementation. This approach cannot be applied at the many sites where ex-ante data were never gathered. This article proposes a methodology for evaluating the degree of inclusion of the poor in social forestry using ex-post data alone. Longitudinal analysis is approximated through the use of ‘slow change’ socioeconomic variables and through logistic regression. The methodology is illustrated with data on the Java Social forestry Program. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.