Raman spectroscopic study on pyrolyzed wood and bark of Japanese cedar: temperature dependence of Raman parameters

 Raman spectra were measured for Japanese cedar wood and bark pyrolyzed in a nitrogen atmosphere at various temperatures (200°–1100°C). Two characteristic bands, near 1340 and 1590 cm⁻¹, denoted as the D-band and G-band due to graphitic carbon, respectively, appeared on all the spectra; and the spectral features changed markedly with increasing heat-treatment temperature (HTT). The Raman parameters (band position, band width, D/G ratio) of the bands were deconvolved using of a curve-fitting method. There was no significant difference in the values of the parameters between the wood and bark. The D-band position and the G-band width showed a marked HTT dependence in the region of 400°–800°C. We described the correlations of the Raman parameters with HTT and investigated the availability of Raman spectroscopy as a means for evaluating HTT. Received: January 28, 2002 / Accepted: June 14, 2002     

Effects of root zone trenching on soil nitrogen dynamics in Japanese cedar and cypress plantations

The effects of root exclusion and planted tree species on soil nitrogen (N) dynamics were examined at two plantations, one planted with Japanese cedar and the other with Japanese cypress. We set up ten 1 × 1 × 0.2-m-deep trenched sites and ten untrenched control sites at each plantation. We measured the pool size and leaching of inorganic N at each site for 2 years and the net N mineralization 1 and 2 years after trenching. Despite similar soil conditions, the cedar plantation showed higher net N mineralization than the cypress plantation. Stopped tree uptake of N was expected to cause an increased pool size and leaching of inorganic N at the trenched sites. Nevertheless, we found no significant increase in those variables at both plantations. The trenched cypress sites showed no decrease in the net N mineralization during the 2 years after trenching. However, the net nitrification at the trenched cypress sites increased remarkably at the deeper horizons in comparison with that at the control sites. Enhanced nitrification might result from improved ammonium availability through root exclusion. Net N mineralization at the trenched cedar sites decreased more than 60% compared with that at the control sites 2 years after trenching. Higher nitrification potential at the cedar plantation and enhanced nitrification potential at the trenched cypress sites never resulted in increased leaching of N, due to added fine root litter which acted as an immobilization agent for excess N, thus preventing N loss.     

Somatic embryo culture for propagation,artificial seed production,and conservation of sawara cypress (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Chamaecyparis pisifera</Emphasis> Sieb. et Zucc.)

 Somatic embryogenesis in Chamaecyparis pisifera Sieb. et Zucc. was initiated from immature seeds collected from the end of June to early July. Mass propagation through adventitious shoot bud production from somatic embryo culture on Woody Plant (WP) medium and artificial seed production using sodium alginate was achieved. A high bud forming index value (25.8) was obtained on medium supplemented with 1 μM 6-benzylaminopurine. The conversion rates from artificial seeds under aseptic and nonaseptic conditions were 60%–100% and 10%–12%, respectively. For germplasm conservation, somatic embryos and embryogenic cells were successfully stored at 4°C (medium-term storage) and in liquid nitrogen for long-term storage. Received: December 21, 2001 / Accepted: August 1, 2002 Acknowledgments This work was supported in part by the Japan Science and Technology Corporation and in part by a Grant for Research for the Future Program from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Correspondence to:E. Maruyama     

Comparative virulence of blue-stain fungi isolated from Japanese red pine

 We made inoculations to determine the comparative virulence of blue-stain fungi isolated from Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. & Zucc.). Based on the symptoms caused by each fungus, the most virulent fungus was Leptographium wingfieldii. Also, Ophiostoma minus was relatively virulent while lesions induced by some species did not differ from those in the control treatment. Based on the results, we concluded that the pathogenicity of the blue-stain fungi varied widely, and thus their impact on the host most likely varies too. Received: June 7, 2002 / Accepted: October 4, 2002 Present address: JST Domestic Research Fellow, Forest Pathology Laboratory, Tohoku Research Center, Forestry and Forest Products Research Institute, 92-25 Nabeyashiki, Shimo-Kuriyagawa, Morioka 020-0123, Japan Tel +81-19-648-3961; Fax +81-19-641-6747 e-mail: H_masu@hotmail.com Acknowledgments We thank Drs. Ohtaka and Usuki, Plant Pathology and Mycology Laboratory, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Tsukuba, for technical assistance. Contribution No. 174, Plant Pathology and Mycology Laboratory, Institute of Agriculture and Forestry, University of Tsukuba. Correspondence to:H. Masuya     

Manufacture of wood-cement boards VIII: cement-hardening inhibitory compounds of keyaki (Japanese zelkova, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Zelkova serrata</Emphasis>)

 To isolate and identify the cement-hardening inhibitory components of keyaki (Japanese zelkova, Zelkova serrata Makino), methanol extractives containing inhibitory components were fractionated by successive organic solvent extraction and column chromatography, and the inhibition of these fractions was determined. Spectroscopic analysis of one isolated compound identified it to be keyakinin with the C-glucoside structure of a flavonol. According to the inhibitory indices, the compound was found to be the main cement-hardening inhibitory component of keyaki. Extraction of keyaki with hot water or a blend of keyaki with up to 30% hinoki as a suitable species diminished the cement-hardening inhibition of wood-cement board to a great extent, suggesting that such treatments are economical countermeasures to this inhibition. Received: April 17, 2002 / Accepted: June 24, 2002 Acknowledgments The authors thank Dr. W. Nagadomi, Nichiha Co., for providing Japanese zelkova wood. This research was conducted with the support of the TOSTEM Foundation for Construction Materials Industry Promotion.     

Drought-dependent responses of photosynthesis,transpiration and water use efficiency of Japanese cypress and Japanese red pine seedlings

This study was conducted to investigate the potential for modifying drought tolerance of Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.) and Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc.). Three-year-old seedlings were controlled for five-months at three different soil water potentials ({ie73-1}). Japanese cypress exposed to high {ie73-2} was able to maintain higher photosynthesis (Ph_n), transpiration (Tr) and stomatal conductance to H₂O (gH₂O) in comparison to low {ie73-3} pretreatments, however, there was no significant difference in Ph_n for Japanese red pine. Soil water potential at the threshold from the maximum to limited Ph_n was higher in high {ie73-4} pretreatments than in low {ie73-5} pretreatments. Net photosynthesis, Tr and gH₂O decreased more rapidly in high {ie73-6} pretreatments than in low {ie73-7} pretreatments. Transpiration decreased more significantly than Ph_n, thus, resulted in increased water use efficiency. All these factors are likely to result in significant improvements in the drought tolerance. Japanese red pine seems more drought-tolerant than Japanese cypress. Japanese cypress is suitable to soil of −0.05 MPa water potential, and Japanese red pine is suitable to −0.16 MPa and even dryer soils.     

Development of new natural polymer-based wood adhesives I: dry bond strength and water resistance of konjac glucomannan,chitosan, and their composites

 Bonding properties of konjac glucomannan (KGM), chitosan, and their composites were investigated. After preparing three-ply plywood glued with these materials, the dry bond strength and the bond strength after water immersion treatment were measured. The bond strength of urea-formaldehyde resin adhesive, casein, and soybean glues was also studied for comparison. KGM developed relatively good dry bond strength in extremely small solid amounts, irrespective of alkaline treatment. However, the water resistance was extremely low for all of the conditions. Chitosan also developed good dry bond strength in small solid amounts and was better than conventional adhesives. Chitosan also exhibited excellent water resistance compared to casein and soybean glues. When KGM and chitosan were combined, the adhesiveness under the dry condition was enhanced, and the bonding properties were superior to those of casein and soybean glues. Therefore, it is expected that chitosan and chitosan–KGM composite can be used as environmentally friendly wood adhesives. Received: March 18, 2002 / Accepted: July 5, 2002 RID="*" ID="*" Part of this paper was presented at the 51th Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, April 2001     

Water relations of Yezo spruce and Todo fir in declined stands of boreal Forest in Hokkaido, Japan

Recently, symptoms of decline have been widely observed in Yezo spruce (Picea jezoensis) and Todo fir (Abies sachalinensis) in Hokkaido. In order to clarify the mechanism of decline, the water status of Yezo spruce and Todo fir trees in the Tokyo University Forest in Hokkaido were investigated. The decline is observed mainly in stands damaged by Typhoon XV of 1981 (D-stands), but is not observed in undamaged stands (C-stands). Sampled trees in both types of stands were selected, the severity of their decline estimated, diurnal water potentials measured and water relation parameters such as water potential at turgor-loss point ( ) and osmotic potential at full saturation ( ) were estimated by pressure-volume analysis. The diurnal trends of leaf water potential and midday water potential ( ) of the sample trees were clearly different between the D-stands and the C-stand. Water stress in trees was much more severe in the D-stands than in the C-stand. and of the declining trees were lower in the D-stands than in the C-stand. However, and were not significantly different between declining trees and healthy-looking trees in D-stands. It was concluded that stand-level water stress, induced by the destruction of the canopy by the typhoon, was associated with the decline symptoms. The measurement of water relation parameters proved to be useful for diagnosis and prediction of decline at a stand level in this area.     

Impacts of hemlock looper defoliation on growth and survival of balsam fir, black spruce and white birch in Newfoundland, Canada

Hemlock looper (Lambdina fiscellaria fiscellaria (Guen.)) is an economically damaging defoliator that undergoes periodic outbreaks in Newfoundland, Canada. It defoliates and causes extensive tree mortality to its primary host, balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.). We quantified tree survival using data from permanent sample plots (PSPs) and growth reduction or release using dendrochronology, and related these impacts to defoliation severity determined from annual aerial defoliation survey data. Such impact relationships are necessary as a fundamental input to a Decision Support System. Growth and survival of balsam fir, black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) and white birch (Betula papyrifera Marsh.) were assessed from 1996 to 2008 in 48 Newfoundland Forest Service PSPs, selected based on four classes of defoliation severity. Two years of severe (71-100%) defoliation resulted in almost complete mortality for balsam fir, 10 years after defoliation, whereas survival was 70-80% for black spruce and white birch. Lower defoliation severity (1-2 years of moderate (31-70%) or 1 year of severe) resulted in approximately 60% survival for balsam fir and no reduction in survival for black spruce and white birch. Maximum growth reduction of balsam fir was 10-15% with 1 year of moderate-severe defoliation, 35-40% with 2 years of moderate defoliation, and about 50% with 2 years of severe defoliation. Growth recovered to pre-defoliation rates 5 years after defoliation ceased in all severity classes. Growth reduction and recovery of black spruce were more variable and lower than for balsam fir, and white birch exhibited only minor (<10%) growth reduction during the defoliation year or 1 year after defoliation. Control measures should focus on avoiding severe defoliation for two consecutive years.     

Prediction of seismic behavior of wood-framed shear walls with openings by pseudodynamic test and FE model

 This article summarizes an experimental and numerical study on seismic behavior of wood-framed shear walls with an opening. The objectives of this study were to compare the results of static and pseudodynamic tests of plywood-sheathed shear walls with numerical simulation by the Finite Element (FE) model and to validate a finite element code EFICOBOIS for such an application. This software is based on a macroelement approach to limit the number of degrees of freedom for the whole system. Nonlinear laws for connections such as nails and hold-down connections, among others, are applied through macroelements that link plate elements to beam elements. Numerical results obtained for the various loading conditions showed good agreement with the experiments. Both static and dynamic computations are presented here. Received: February 15, 2002 / Accepted: April 25, 2002 Correspondence to:M. Yasumura     

Positioning precision and sampling number of DGPS under forest canopies

 Experimental results were studied to determine the relationships between positioning precision of a differential global positioning system (DGPS) and forest type, antenna height, and season, and to clarify the relationship between sampling number and the convergence of positioning precision. Observation was carried out for 24 h. Mean circular area probability (CEP₉₅) was 2.80 m for deciduous broadleaved trees, and 4.99 m for conifers. The mean CEP₉₅ taken at 7 m height (3.14 m) was higher than that at 1 m height (3.92 m) at all sites. The mean CEP₉₅ taken during the defoliation season (2.65 m) was slightly better than during the foliation season (2.96 m). There were significant differences between forest types (P < 0.001) and antenna heights (P < 0.05). Positioning precision was not noticeably improved if the sampling number was around ten or less. A sampling number of 100–1000 or more is required before substantial improvements can be expected. As long as high positioning precision is not required, it is acceptable to use 2D & 3D modes and relatively few samples to take measurements. Received: April 24, 2002 / Accepted: October 10, 2002 Correspondence to:I. Sawaguchi     

Accuracy and precision of crown profile,volume, and surface area measurements of 29-year-old Japanese cypress trees using a Spiegel relascope

The crown profile, volume, and surface area obtained from 25 trees in a stand of 29-year-old Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.) using a Spiegel relascope were compared with those obtained by direct measurement after tree felling. In 17 of the 25 trees, the crown profile measured with the relascope was identical to the crown profile obtained by direct measurement. For the 17 trees, the mean relative errors of crown volume and surface area tended to be unbiased. On the other hand, the crown profiles obtained by the two methods were different in five of the 25 trees, while it could not been judged whether the crown profiles obtained by the two methods were identical or different in three of the 25 trees. However, for each group of five or three trees, the mean relative errors of crown volume and surface area were also unbiased. Moreover, for both crown volume and surface area, no significant differences were detected in variance of error among the groups of 17, five, and three trees. Therefore, the discrepancy between crown profiles obtained by the two methods for the five and three trees might be negligible in terms of the accuracy and precision of crown volume and surface area measurements. The standard errors for both crown volume and surface area were larger in each of the five and three trees than in the 17 trees. However, even for the five and three trees, the crown volume and surface area obtained using the relascope were more precise than those based on the assumption that crown form was a cone or paraboloid. We concluded that using a Spiegel relascope would enable us to obtain an accurate and precise crown profile, volume, and surface area of Japanese cypress trees for practical use, especially when the main objective of measurement is determining crown volume or surface area.     

Cell growth and nutrient uptake by cell suspensions of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Cupressus lusitanica</Emphasis>

 Conditions for cell growth of suspension cultures of Cupressus lusitanica, which has high β-thujaplicin productivity, were studied. The medium that provided the highest growth rate was IS-1 medium (pH 5.5), modified from Gamborg B5 medium containing 32 mM of total nitrogen. Its NO₃-N/NH₄-N ratio was 30 : 2. The maximum growth represented a 25-fold increase over the initial biomass on a fresh weight basis after 30 days of culture in this medium. The highest cell growth was obtained with an initial pH of 3.5–5.5, but the pH of the medium settled to about pH 4.0 from any of the initial pH values in this report. The cells cultured under this condition were able to produce a high level of β-thujaplicin. Received: September 7, 2001 / Accepted: May 7, 2002 Present address: Teijin Ltd., Ehime 791-8530, Japan Present address: Q'SAI Co. Ltd., Fukuoka 811-3422, Japan Part of this report was presented at the 10th international symposium on wood and pulp chemistry, Yokohama, Japan, June 1999 Correspondence to:K. Fujita     

Hillside forest land as a safety net for local people in a mountain village in West Java: an examination of differences in the significance of national and private lands

 In Kemang, a mountain village in West Java, Indonesia, the local people call the hillsides pasir, a term which includes both privately owned hillside land or nationally owned forest land. It is apparent that the national forest lands function as a social safety net, serving as land where the middle-class and the poor can conduct “informal” cultivation, through temporary agreements with the state forestry corporation, or even “illegal” cultivation without permission. In this study, the households cultivating on national forest lands were identified as: (1) having most household members living together; (2) having a relatively young head person; (3) cultivating a small area of rice field; (4) having participated in the former perhutanan sosial system; (5) being dependent on the income from hillside land; (6) taking advantage of the rare opportunities for off-farm income; and (7) having a low total income. Meanwhile, the talun-huma system is dominant on privately owned hillside land, where a part of the talun, or tree garden, is cleared for use as a swidden on a 30-year rotation. In such cases, the land functions as a safety net only for the limited number of people who are permitted access to the land. The function of the privately owned hillside land, through the mutual-aid system, should not be overestimated; it is probably less important than national forest land in terms of income redistribution. It is recommended that the government of Indonesia consider the possibility of formally ensuring the long-term rights of local people to utilize the national forest lands in Java. Received: April 6, 2001 / Accepted: October 24, 2002 Acknowledgments This paper is in part a result of the research activities of the Core University Program in Applied Bioscience between the University of Tokyo and Bogor Agricultural University, sponsored by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS). The authors would like to express their thanks to Prof. Sumiaki Iwamoto, the University of Tokyo, for his kind help. Correspondence to:M. Inoue     

Spatial distribution of sporocarps and the biomass of ectomycorrhizas of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Suillus pictus</Emphasis> in a Korean pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus koraiensis</Emphasis>) stand

 Spatial distribution of sporocarps of Suillus pictus A.H. Smith and Thiers was studied in a plot of 6 × 12 m in size established in a stand of Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc. in Kyoto, Japan for 4 years, and the biomass of mycorrhizas was examined in the last year. S. pictus was dominant in both sporocarp and ectomycorrhizal community in the study plot. The number of S. pictus sporocarps ranged from 0.94 to 1.26 m⁻² (surface area) in the study plot and did not vary very much during the study period. Sporocarps of S. pictus occurred in clumps and the distributions of clumps were generally random. As the spots of sporocarp occurrence changed gradually from year to year, the distributions of sporocarps that occurred successively in 2-year periods overlapped, especially when analyzed in 9-m² unit size using the m ^* –m method. Mycorrhizas of S. pictus were distributed in more subplots than its sporocarps. Distribution of mycorrhizas and sporocarps of S. pictus generally overlapped well. The biomass of mycorrhizas and mycelia in the mycorrhizas of S. pictus was estimated at 15.5 g DW m⁻² and 6.2 g DW m⁻² (surface area) in this plot, respectively. The biomass of mycorrhizas and mycelia in the mycorrhizas supporting the production of one sporocarp (average dry weight was 0.86 g) of S. pictus was evaluated as about 16.4 and 7.3 g DW, respectively, in this plot. Received: December 20, 2001 / Accepted: August 12, 2002 Acknowledgments We thank Dr. T. Furuno, Mr. N. Kato, and Dr. I. Nakai for their help in preparing the study plot and collecting sporocarps, and Prof. K. Yokoyama for the identification of sporocarps. Thanks are also due to Dr. E. Kuno for his suggestion about analysis. Correspondence to:J. Kikuchi     

A projected increase in stand volume of introduced provenances of Acacia mangium in seedling seed orchards in South Sumatra, Indonesia

 Increases in stand volume with some currently introduced provenances of Acacia mangium: Papua New Guinea (PNG) and Far North Queensland (FNQ), were projected based on their superiorities in 3-year height growth in seedling seed orchards using the growth model developed for unthinned plantation for pulp and paper production in South Sumatra, Indonesia. The height growth of these provenances was better than that of the local selections from Subanjeriji by 10%–15% at 3 years old and these percentage superiorities would be expected to remain at around 9%–14% until the 8-year rotation. This amount of increase would result in a 7%–10% increase in basal area and hence it would produce a 17%–26% increase in stand volume at rotation age when compared with the Subanjeriji seed source that was being widely used for the plantation establishment of A. mangium in Indonesia. Received: July 24, 2002 / Accepted: December 3, 2002 Acknowledgments The authors thank Mr. Hardjono, the director of plantation establishment at PT Musi Hutan Persada for his permission to use data of permanent plots for the growth modeling of A. mangium. The authors are grateful to the staff at PT Musi Hutan Persada, Research and Development Center for Biotechnology and Forest Tree Improvement, Japan International Cooperation Agency for their implementations of the study. Our thanks are also due to Dr. Yoshida, associate professor at Kyushu University, for his advice on developing the growth modeling work. Correspondence to:S. Kurinobu     

Effect of bamboo vinegar on regulation of germination and radicle growth of seed plants

 Two kinds of bamboo vinegar from madake bamboo (Phyllostachys bambusoides) and moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) were prepared to analyze their components by gas chromatography (GC). The original vinegar, distilled vinegar, ether-extracted vinegar, and three fractions including acidic, neutral, and phenolic fractions separated from ether-extracted vinegar were diluted with distilled water 10² to 10⁷ times. These diluted vinegar solutions were used to investigate the effect of bamboo vinegar on the germination and radicle growth of seed plants. High concentrations of all kinds of treated bamboo vinegars (e.g., 10² of original vinegar and 10³ of ether-extracted vinegar) showed strong inhibition against germination of the seeds. However, an appropriate dilution of bamboo vinegar showed an obvious promotional effect on germination and radicle growth for the four kinds of tested seeds (lettuce, watercress, honewort, chrysanthemum). Received: December, 12, 2001 / Accepted: July 29, 2002 RID="*" ID="*" Part of this paper was presented at the 51st Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, April 2001     

Comparison of the decomposition behaviors of hardwood and softwood in supercritical methanol

 The chemical conversion of Japanese beech (Fagus crenata Blume) and Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica D. Don) woods in supercritical methanol was studied using the supercritical fluid biomass conversion system with a batch-type reaction vessel. Under conditions of 270°C/27 MPa, beech wood was decomposed and liquefied to a greater extent than cedar wood, and the difference observed was thought to originate mainly from differences in the intrinsic properties of the lignin structures of hardwood and softwood. However, such a difference was not observed at 350°C/43 MPa, and more than 90% of both beech and cedar woods were effectively decomposed and liquefied after 30 min of treatment. This result indicates that the supercritical methanol treatment is expected to be an efficient tool for converting the woody biomass to lower-molecular-weight products, such as liquid fuels and useful chemicals. Received: December 19, 2001 / Accepted: March 15, 2002 Acknowledgments This research has been done under the research program for the development of technologies for establishing an eco-system based on recycling in rural villages for the twenty-first century from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan and by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)(2) (no.12460144, 2001.4–2003.3) from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Japan. This study was presented in part at the 45th Lignin Symposium, Ehime, Japan, October 2000 and the 51st Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Tokyo, Japan, April 2001. Correspondence to:S. Saka