Susceptibility to Armillaria novae‐zelandiae among clones of Pinus radiata

Options are currently limited for the management of armillaria root disease in plantations of Pinus radiata in New Zealand. One possibility may be to plant genetically resistant clones on infested sites. Studies were undertaken over four consecutive years to examine variation in inherent resistance in P. radiata. Rooted cuttings in pots were treated with wood segment cultures of Armillaria novae‐zelandiae and disease symptoms were monitored during the following summer. Disease was severe among inoculated cuttings in all studies, with an overall mean of 54% plants infected. There were significant differences in both infection and mortality between studies and between four pathogen isolates, but not among 25 radiata pine clones. The rate at which symptoms first appeared also did not vary significantly between clones. Results suggest that while genetic resistance cannot be ruled out as an option in P. radiata, potential gains may be limited in extent and costly to achieve.     

Variation and selection analysis of Pinus koraiensis clones in northeast China

Understanding genetic variation is important for efficiently selecting excellent clones and utilizing genetic resources during tree breeding. We investigated 16 growth traits of 50 32-year-old Pinus koraiensis clones. Analyses of variance showed that all the test traits differed significantly among clones. Average height, diameter at breast height(DBH), and volume of all clones were 10.41 m, 21.30 cm,and 0.148 m3, respectively. Phenotypic coefficients of variation and repeatabilities of traits ranged from 4.37 to48.03% and from 0.013 to 0.900, respectively. There exists significant positive correlations among heights, diameter at different heights(1.3, 3.0, 5.0 m), and volumes; genetic correlation was close to phenotype correlation. Using four growth traits(height, DBH, volume, average crown width)as indices for a comprehensive evaluation, five clones(PK11, PK 19, PK 04, PK 14, and PK 28), whose traits scored in the top 10%, were selected as elite clones. For these clones,genetic gains in height, DBH, volume and crown height were 8.58, 13.02, 32.72 and 3.83%, respectively. These results provide important information for improving P.koraiensis breeding programs.     

Family variation and potential for genetic gain in frost resistance of Pinus radiata

Twenty-three Pinus radiata seed orchard clones of the New Zealand 850 series were each control-pollinated with a mix of 10 pollens to produce polycross families. The seed was sown in open nursery beds. Seedlings were potted up at six times of the year and subjected to white advective frosts in controlled-environment rooms, with up to seven frosting runs of variable severities at each time. There were significant differences (p< <0.001) between families in frost injury, such that, although there was statistically significant family × time interaction, some families were consistently more frost resistant (tolerant) than others. No association between frost resistance and growth rate was evident.Individual-tree heritability estimates for frost damage scores were around 0.3 at given times, and 0.20 over all times. Prospective gain in resistance from progeny testing over several seasons of the year, with 2:23 selection, is about 1°C. An additional gain of 0.4°C resistance appears obtainable from 1:90 selection of individuals within pair-crosses in a single frosting run. This additional (within-cross) gain might be increased to around 0.75°C, with the same culling rate but testing one ramet per seedling at each of four times of the year.     

Influence of cambial age and climate on ring width and wood density in Pinus radiata families

? Context

The correlation between tree ring width and density and short-term climate fluctuations may be a useful tool for predicting response of wood formation process to long-term climate change.

? Aims

This study examined these correlations for different radiata pine genotypes and aimed at detecting potential genotype by climate interactions.

? Methods

Four data sets comprising ring width and density of half- and full-sib radiata pine families were used. Correlations with climate variables were examined, after the extraction of the effect of cambial age.

? Results

Cambial age explained the highest proportion of the ring to ring variation in all variables. Calendar year and year by family interaction explained a smaller but significant proportion of the variation. Rainfall had a positive correlation with ring width and, depending on test site, either a negative or positive correlation with ring density. Correlations between temperature during growing season and ring density were generally negative.

? Conclusion

Climate variables that influence ring width and wood density can be identified from ring profiles, after removing the cambial age effect. Families can be selected that consistently show desirable response to climate features expected to become prevalent as a result of climate change.     

澳大利亚辐射松考察报告

通过对澳大利亚辐射松的现场考察参观、学习培训、学术交流与讨论,对澳大利亚在辐射松种源选择、苗木快繁培育、丰产栽培、集约经营、遗传改良、病虫害防治、木材采伐、加工利用等方面进行归纳叙述,了解到澳大利亚的辐射松人工林发展思路和趋势,经营和管理水平,经营理念、技术与方法等,对四川省大规模引种栽培辐射松具有十分重要的借鉴作用。     

Partititioning concurrent influences of nitrogen and phosphorus supply on photosynthetic model parameters of Pinus radiata

Responses of photosynthesis (A) to intercellular CO(2) concentration (C(i)) were measured in a fast- and a slow-growing clone of Pinus radiata D. Don cultivated in a greenhouse with a factorial combination of nitrogen and phosphorus supply. Stomatal limitations scaled with nitrogen and phosphorus supply as a fixed proportion of the light-saturated photosynthetic rate (18.5%) independent of clone. Photosynthetic rates at ambient CO(2) concentration were mainly in the V(cmax)-limited portion of the CO(2) response curve at low-nitrogen supply and at the transition between V(cmax) and J(max) at high-nitrogen supply. Nutrient limitations to photosynthesis were partitioned based on the ratio of foliage nitrogen to phosphorus expressed on a leaf area basis (N(a)/P(a)), by minimizing the mean square error of segmented linear models relating photosynthetic parameters (V(cmax), J(max), T(p)) to foliar nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. A value of N(a)/P(a) equal to 23 (mole basis) was identified as the threshold separating nitrogen (N(a)/P(a) < or = 23) from phosphorus (N(a)/P(a) > 23) limitations independent of clones. On an area basis, there were significant positive linear relationships between the parameters, V(cmax), J(max), T(p) and N(a) and P(a), but only the relationships between T(p) and N(a) and P(a) differed significantly between clones. These findings suggest that, in genotypes with contrasting growth, the responses of V(cmax) and J(max) to nutrient limitation are equivalent. The relationships between the parameters V(cmax), J(max), T(p) and foliage nutrient concentration on a mass basis were unaffected by clone, because the slow-growing clone had a significantly greater leaf area to mass ratio than the fast-growing clone. These results may be useful in discriminating nitrogen-limited photosynthesis from phosphorus-limited photosynthesis.     

Variation in foliar delta(13)C values within the crowns of Pinus radiata trees

Although herbaceous species generally show little within plant variation in delta(13)C, trees show large spatial and temporal differences. We found that the aspect of exposure and branch length accounted for up to 6 per thousand delta(13)C difference within the foliage of individual trees of Pinus radiata D. Don. The foliage on branches 0.5 m in length was as much as 4 per thousand more depleted in (13)C than foliage on 10-m long branches, and an additional 2 per thousand more depleted on the shaded side than on the exposed side. We confirmed that on clear days, relative branch hydraulic conductivity, defined as the ratio of transpiration to the water potential gradient, was much higher in short branches than in long branches. Stomatal conductance remained high in foliage on short branches during the day, whereas it declined progressively in long-branch foliage under similar conditions. These differences were sufficient to explain the observed variation in delta(13)C in foliage on long and short branches.     

Variation analyses of controlled pollinated families and parental combining ability of Pinus koraiensis

To evaluate and select elite Pinus koraiensis parent combinations and offspring families, 34 full-sib families were evaluated. Variance analysis of tree height, diameter at breast height and volume showed no significant differences among each block, the interaction of block, male and female. The family heritability of all traits were high( 0.9). Phenotypic and genotypic coefficients of variance of height, diameter at breast height, and volume showed that the phenotypic coefficient of variation of volume in the same combination was higher than height and diameter at breast height, indicating that volume was the main factor determining excellent single plant selection. The female and male trees with the best general combining ability indicated that the optimal parental hybridization was not necessarily the optimal combination. In addition, the least parents of hybrid offspring performance were always relatively poor and should not be selected as hybrid parents. Additionally, we found there was no significant difference among the effects of female and male parents by random modelling, but there were significant differences by fixed modelling. The most significant effect of female-and male interaction, and the selection of better female or male parents in the test parent group should be efficient as well as the results of significant variation among them by fixed modelling. For the evaluated breeding population of P. koraiensis, the backward selection of excellent parent combinations or forward selection of excellent individuals as progeny should be the major breeding strategies.     

辐射松、油松幼苗抗旱性能比较

采用盆栽控水法和单因素试验设计,对两种针叶树种辐射松(Pinus radiata D.Don)、油松(Pinus tabulaeform is Carr.)幼苗在连续干旱胁迫下分别测定其植株的叶片相对含水量、质膜相对透性、脯氨酸含量和脱落酸含量等4项抗旱生理指标,以评定两种树种的抗旱性能。研究结果表明,在连续干旱胁迫下,两树种叶片相对含水量均呈下降趋势,但辐射松的降幅较大,两树种的质膜相对透性、脯氨酸含量和脱落酸含量均有所增加,但辐射松的增幅较小,因此,辐射松的抗旱性能次于油松。     

湿地松生长性状遗传参数的年度变化趋势

对广东省台山市红岭种子园内由60个自由授粉家系所建立的湿地松（Pinus elliottii）子代测定林开展了多年度持续观测,根据其2 a、4 a、6 a、17 a、20 a、22 a生的生长性状数据,分析了该林分的生长表现并估算了树高、胸径和材积的遗传参数。主要结果如下：湿地松子代测定林树高、胸径和材积遗传变异系数分别为3.14%～6.87%、3.87%～5.49%、10.12%～14.62%,年度变化趋势表现出较高的一致性;树高、胸径、材积生长受中等程度的遗传控制,其单株狭义遗传力分别为0.27～0.46、0.21～0.38、0.25～0.40,家系平均遗传力分别为0.56～0.74、0.50～0.75、0.56～0.76。总体上生长性状在成熟期（17 a、20 a、22 a生）的遗传力大于在幼龄期（4 a、6 a生）的遗传力; 6 a生树高、胸径、材积与成熟期相同性状的年-年遗传相关系数为0.57～0.74,成熟期树高、胸径、材积的年-年遗传相关系数为0.99～1.00。如果以22 a生材积作为目标性状,4 a生前根据树高,之后根据材积作早期选择,可期望获得较高的选择效益。     

Genetic parameters for seedling growth in Pinus pseudostrobus families under different competitive environments

Pinus pseudostrobus Lindl. is a widely distributed species in Mexico that also occurs in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador and has been tested outside its natural range in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, New Zealand, South Africa and Venezuela. Due to its great potential, it is necessary to select genotypes capable of increasing its production in the shortest possible time through genetic improvement strategies, where individuals are subjected to conditions forcing them to express their growth potential in advance. The objectives of the present study were to evaluate the genetic variation among half-sib progenies and to estimate heritability (h ² ) of stem height (SH) and diameter (SD) for seedlings grown under different competitive conditions in a common garden trial. A split-plot experimental design with four replications and three competitive environments (treatments) was used: (I) low inter-family competition (0.25 × 0.12 m), (II) high inter-family competition (0.12 × 0.06 m), and (III) high intra-family competition; 13 half-sib families were assessed, carrying out monthly evaluations for 10 months. Estimated h ² at individual and family-means levels for both SH and SD varied among competitive environments. For conditions I and II, a trend towards increasing h ² with age of seedlings was shown, but for condition III, a reverse trend was observed (values close to zero). High genetic stability in SH performance was found in both I and II, and II and III, pairs of environments, as measured by the type-B genetic correlation (0.70 ≤ r _B  ≤ 1.0), but it tended to decrease after 9 months, when competition increased; genetic stability in SD was lower (0.20 ≤ r _B  ≤ 0.80) in both pairs of the environments that were sampled. It was concluded that the competition conditions used in field trials for genotype evaluation may significantly affect the variance components, estimation of genetic parameters and genotype stability.     

黧蒴栲半同胞家系生长性状变异规律及遗传参数估算

为探讨黧蒴栲半同胞家系生长性状遗传变异规律和估测其遗传参数,采用完全随机区组设计,对52个6年生黧蒴栲半同胞家系进行生长测定分析。结果表明：黧蒴栲家系间胸径、树高和材积生长均存在极显著差异。52个黧蒴栲半同胞家系平均胸径为8.53em,变异幅度为6.31～10.85am;平均树高为8.23m,变异幅度为5.08～10.14m;平均材积为0.02828 m^3,变异幅度为0.01099～0.05407 m^3。黧蒴栲半同胞家系胸径遗传变异系数为13.74％、广义遗传力为0.7404;树高遗传变异系数为13.74％,广义遗传力为0.7150;材积遗传变异系数为35.36％,广义遗传力为0.7539。表明黧蒴栲半同胞家系胸径、树高变异较小,受较强遗传控制,材积变异较大,也受较强遗传控制,通过一定强度的选择,能获得较高的遗传增益。     

辐射松人工幼林生物量和生产力研究

本文对岷江上游干旱河谷区引种栽培的5 a生辐射松幼林生物量和生产力进行了测定和研究,用"平均标准木法"和"样方收获法"分别调查了乔木层、灌木层、草本层、苔鲜层和凋落物层的生物量.据调查数据,用"相对生长法则"建立了乔木层单株立木及其各器官干重的回归方程,方程的精度均在97%以上.同时还研究了林分平均净生产量和产量结构.结果表明岷江上游干旱河谷区5 a生辐射松人工林分生物量平均为19.507 t/hm2,净生产量为3 902.40kg/(hm2·a).其中,乔木层生物量为8.510 t/hm2,占林分总量的43.62%;净生产量1.702 t/(hm2·a),占林分净生产量的43.63%.灌木的生物量和净生产量分别为2.171 t/hm2、434.20 kg/(hm2·a);草本的生物量和净生产量分别为8.091 t/hm2、1 618.20 kg/(hm2·a);苔鲜层的生物量和净生产量分别为0.464 t/hm2、92.80kg/(hm2·a);凋落物的生物量和净生产量分别为0.271 t/hm2、54.20 kg/(hm2·a).辐射松人工林与同区域同龄油松和岷江柏相比,其生物量和生产力都远高于它们.     

Fertilization×genotype interaction in Pinus radiata open pollinated families planted in three locations in Galicia (NW Spain)

A Pinus radiata progeny trial was established in 2003 on three low fertility sites in Galicia to study the relevance of genotype×fertilization interaction. At each site, twenty seven open pollinated families derived from plus trees selected in mature plantations in Galicia (NW Spain) were planted under 9 fertilization treatments following a split-plot design. One year after planting, P and Mg fertilization significantly increased height growth whereas N did not affect or even significantly reduced height growth. Fertilization×site interaction was not significant indicating parallel responses to fertilization in the three sites. Fertilization × genotype interaction was significant in only one site, suggesting some genetic variation in the nutrient use efficiency among the studied genotypes. However, the lack of a significant interaction in the other two sites, and the lack of consistence among the genotypic stability in relation to fertilization across sites, hinder the possibility of breeding in relation to the nutrient efficiency of the genotypes. Indications for further research are given.     

Heartwood development and its relationship to growth in Pinus radiata

Summary The rate of heartwood development was examined at four heights in stems of Pinus radiata D. Don from 18 mature stands in south-eastern Australia. While the diameter of heartwood tended to be greatest at stump and breast heights, formation commenced earlier (i.e. with fewer sapwood rings) and/or progressed more rapidly 10–20 m above ground level. Appreciable variation in heartwood development was detected between trees in the same and different stands, with both environmental and genetic factors apparently important. Regression analyses involving three parameters of heartwood development (number of rings, diameter and percentage area) and stem characteristics including height, diameter and ring width suggested that heartwood formation is affected little by tree vigour in the post-juvenile growth phase. Rather it seems that the rate at which annual increments are included in heartwood is largely fixed for any particular height level and stem. Thus the amount (but not necessarily the percentage) or heartwood in a stem is substantially dependent on diameter growth early in tree life.The expert technical assistance of Mr. R. Colley is gratefully acknowledged. Valuable assistance in the measurement of heartwood dimensions was also provided by Ms. V. Kurz and Mr. C. Slatyer. Dr. R. K. Bamber and Mr. A. P. Wilkins offered particularly helpful advice     

Relation between length and diameter of Pinus radiata branches

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to construct a model for the architecture of branches in Pinus radiata D. Don and to use it as a part of a modelling effort to relate timber quality as a function of growth and development. Diameter of branches at the insertion point and their length were measured from two types of branches on 2127 normal, healthy and growing branches of different ages, on 15-year-old radiata pine growing in a good and medium productive site in Chile, in stands that either were left without management or had been thinned and pruned. Statistical analysis showed a simple linear relationship between length and diameter with a common proportionality coefficient (slope) in both types of branches, different sites and management regimens. The equation for order 2 branches differed from that of order 3 branches only in the intercept. The results suggest that the uniform linear relationship between branch length and branch diameter could be applied to radiata pine stands of different site fertility and management regimens.     

茂县辐射松引种造林试验研究

经过连续多年采用不同的整地方式、不同造林密度、不同覆盖保水对辐射松(Pinus radiataD.Don)造林及幼林生长的试验研究,结果表明:(1)干旱地带采用水平沟、短册状整地比穴状整地造林成活率提高2.4~7.8个百分点,保存率提高1.0~7.6个百分点,高生长量提高7.8 cm~28.4 cm,地径生长量提高0.28 cm~0.84 cm。(2)水平沟整地比短册状、穴状整地0~100 cm土壤层含水量全年分别提高1.29个百分点和2.08个百分点,旱季分别提高1.36个百分点和1.37个百分点,雨季分别提高1.16个百分点和2.87个百分点;短册状整地比穴状整地0~100 cm土壤层含水量全年提高0.80个百分点,旱季提高0.01个百分点,雨季提高1.72个百分点。(3)采用1.5 m×2.0 m造林密度,短册状或水平沟整地,采用石块、塑料薄膜覆盖,造林成活率达96%,保存率达90%。     

Thermal and hydrophobic properties of glycerol stearate-modified Pinus radiata wood

Glycerol stearate was synthesized by esterification with non-toxic,inexpensive glycerol and stearic acid.The composite of glycerol stearate and Pinus radiata wood was prepared by vacuum impregnation.By Fourier transform infrared(FTIR)analysis,there was the generation of new C=O stretching vibration band of glycerol stearate in comparison with stearic acid.This confirms that glycerol stearate was successfully synthesized.The weight gain,FTIR spectrum and morphological analyses of the composite indicate that glycerol stearate was impregnated into the interior lumina of the cells.Thermal analysis showed that the maximal degradation temperature of the composite was 42℃higher than untreated wood.Contact angle images indicated that the value of the composite was134.2°.Hydrophobicity(the repulsion of water)of the composite was stronger than glycerol stearate,which a large number of hydroxyl of wood reacted with the oxygen-containing groups of glycerol stearate,improved hydrophobicity and thermal stability,thereby enhancing the potential application of P.radiata wood.     

Genomic DNA methylation-demethylation during aging and reinvigoration of Pinus radiata

In animals, DNA methylation is related to gene silencing during ontogenic development. Little is known about DNA methylation in plants, although occasional changes in the DNA methylation state of specific gene promoters have been reported in angiosperms during some developmental processes. We found large differences in the extent of DNA methylation between meristematic areas of juvenile and mature Pinus radiata D. Don. trees, whereas differences in the extent of DNA methylation between differentiated tissues of juvenile and mature trees were small. In meristematic areas, there was a gradual decrease in extent of DNA methylation as the degree of reinvigoration increased. The observed changes in extent of DNA methylation during aging and reinvigoration indicate that reinvigoration could be a consequence of epigenetic modifications opposite in direction to those that occur during aging.     

Variation in resistance of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) families against Leptographium and Grosmannia root fungi

Pine decline poses a serious threat to forest sustainability in the south‐eastern United States. Complex interactions between biotic and abiotic factors are involved in the decline and include root‐feeding bark beetles and their associated fungal genera, Leptographium and Grosmannia. A study was conducted to determine the relative tolerance of loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) families when challenged with either Leptographium or Grosmannia species. In the first study, bare root seedlings from 23 loblolly pine families were screened with L. procerum, L. terebrantis, G. huntii and G. alacris using an artificial inoculation method. In a second study, containerized seedlings from 27 loblolly pine families were screened with G. huntii and L. terebrantis. Measured seedling responses to the inoculations included lesion length, lesion width and occlusion of vascular tissues, measured 8 weeks after inoculations. The most common host response was dark brown lesions and resinous occluded stem tissue. Seedling families had a wide range of host responses to the different Leptographium and Grosmannia species and showed that it could be possible to select the families that may be tolerant to Leptographium and Grosmannia fungal species based on these results.