Impact of invasion of pine wood nematode on the growth of dominant shrub Pleioblastus amarus in Pinus massoniana communities

When pine trees are invaded by pine wilt diseases,the severely infected pine trees will die and fall down,or they will be removed when found to be damaged by the disease.It gives rise to the invasion of other species in these empty niches originally occupied by pine trees,i.e.,competing surrounding trees or understory shrubs will invade the empty niches during the following years.As a result,the spatial distribution and pattern of the main tree species in a pine forest will change,and a niche variety in the...     

马尾松苦竹混交林根系分布格局

对马尾松苦竹混交林根系分布格局进行研究.结果表明:混交林根系垂直分布比较合理.水平上有重叠,但根系多相互交错,穿插延伸.低密度混交经营的马尾松细根在40～60 cm土层占细根总量的83.8%,而苦竹竹鞭及其构成的竹林地下吸收、输导、贮存系统主要分布在0～40 cm土层占96.0%,较合理地利用了不同土层的营养物质.混交林分中马尾松水平根幅8.9 m,但在0～40 cm土层主要为水平骨骼根,呈疏散框架扩展延伸,给苦竹鞭根的运行、穿插腾出了空间.而苦竹的竹根水平占据空间较小,一般在30 cm左右,鞭根稀少.马尾松利用疏林结构模式兼营苦竹的混交林分不仅形成合理的地上结构,而且地下结构也较合理.     

Niche of insect borers within Pinus massoniana infected by pine wood nematode

In November 2003 and June 2004, the insect borers and their spatial distribution within Pinus massoniana were investigated in Zhoushan City, in East China’s Zhejiang Province, where pine wood nematode (Bursaphelenchus xylophilus) are typically found. The niche width, proportional similarity of niche and the niche overlap of dominant species of dying trees were computed. Results show that five insect species infect and damage Pinus massoniana, which had been infected by pine wood nematodes, among which four are wood boring beetles and one termite. Species within host trees vary from winter to summer and all the species have their own niche width, proportional similarity of niche and the niche overlap. They can achieve competitive equilibrium and coexistence according to their biological characteristics and life habits. __________ Translated from Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 2005, 27(6): 108–111 [译自: 北京林业大学学报, 2005, 27(6): 108–111]     

Environmental bioindication of sulfur in tree rings of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana L.) in the Pearl River Delta of China

In order to identify the potential of sulfur (S) content in the rings of Masson pine (Pinus massoniana) in the Pearl River Delta as a bio-indicator of regional history of atmospheric pollution, dendrochemistry was used to determine the temporal distribution of S content in the xylem of Masson pines from Zhaoqing Dinghushan and Nanhai Xiqiaoshan, Guangdong Province, southern China. The results indicated that contents of xylem S increased temporally and peaked in the rings formed in the most recent years at both sites. In the rings formed during the same period before the 1980s, S contents were not significantly different between the two sites, while in the rings formed at the same period after the 1980s, S content at Xiqiaoshan were significantly higher than those at Dinghushan. The chronosequences of the S indices at both sites could be easily marked as three periods: before 1970, during 1971–1985, and during 1986–2002. Based on the temporal changes of the xylem S contents and certain social-economic indices after the 1980s in the Delta, the history of atmospheric pollution at the study sites could be reconstructed as follows: 1) before 1970, a period in which the air was relatively clear, 2) 1971–1985, a period in which the air was gradually polluted, and 3) 1986–2002, a period in which the air was most severely polluted in the Delta. __________ Translated from Journal of Beijing Forestry University, 2008, 30(2): 1–7 [译自: 北京林业大学学报]     

Effect of pine wood nematode invasion on pine community functions in the Pinghu region, Zhejiang Province, eastern China

In order to investigate the effect of invastion by pine wood nematode （PWN）, this study analyzed severalfunctional indices, i.e., the increment in DBH and stand volume and biomass, in the damaqed stands with various mixedpercentages of Pinus massoniana and P. thunbergii and with different levels of damage. According to the results of rate of change in increment of DBH and stand volume, the forest ecosystem resistance against PWN increased with a reduct on n the m xed ratio of pine. The resistance was highest with a mixed percentage of 50%. The invasion of PWN hanged the corresponding relationship of increment between DBH and stand volume （pure stands 〉 7：3 conifer and roadleaf 〉 6：4 conifer and broadleaf 〉 5：5 conifer and broadleaf） among the P. thunbergii stands when there is no amage, but for P. massoniana stands this phenomenon did not occur. For the increment rate of DBH and stand volume, is significant change in P, thunbergii forest indicates that the resistance of pure P. thunbergii forest was higher than at of P. massoniana. The invasion of PWN accelerates the succession from pure stands to mixed stands and then tohe broadleaf evergreen stands.     

Rapid changes of induced volatile organic compounds in Pinus massoniana

Using the thermal-desorption cold trap gas chromatography/mass spectrometer (TCT-GC-MS) technique, the composition and relative contents of volatile compounds were analyzed in undamaged (control), insect-damaged (ID) and artificially-damaged (AD) leaves of Pinus massoniana in field at different times and levels of damage. Results showed that although volatile substances were highly released earlier in AD leaves plants, they were significantly less abundant in AD than in ID leaves treatments. Also, the damage level considerably influenced the changes of induced volatile products from leaves. Compared with the control, the emission rate of camphene, β-pinene, phellandrene, caryophyllene and (E)-farnesene was high after 1 h in 25%–40% ID-affected leaves, whereas that of tricyclene, myrcene, camphene, β-Pinene, phellandrene and caryophyllene reached its maximum after 24 h in 60%–75% ID-affected leaves. In the same manner, some volatile compounds in the AD leaves treatment displayed their peaks just after 1 h, but others after 24 h. The AD and ID leaves at the damage level of 25%–40% did not exhibit an obvious regularity with time; however, in 60%–75% AD leaves, peaks of volatile substances were attained after 1 or 2 h. Our results also showed that the relative content of β-pinene increased and was higher in damaged than control plants. β-pinene plays an important role in inducing the insect resistance of P. massoniana trees. __________ Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2006, 42(4): 65–70 [译自: 林业科学]     

Pathogenicity of the pine wood nematode at different developmental stages

The ability of the pine wood nematode,Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, a pathogen that causes pine wilt disease, to kill cortical cells of Japanese black pine,Pinus thunbergii, during early development of the disease was conjectured to be a function of nematode developmental stage. A tangential segment of bark was removed from a 2-cm-long current-year stem. The cortex-exposed segments with cut cortical resin canals were designated as + RC-segments and those without them as − RC-segments. When a nematode population containing many older juveniles and adults (NL) was inoculated onto the cut surface, the − RC-segments were still alive 4 d after inoculation, as were non-inoculated control segments. When cortex-exposed segments were inoculated with either a nematode population containing many younger nematodes (NS) or with nematodes isolated from inoculated pine cuttings that also contained many younger juveniles, most tissue cells in − RC-segments died 4 d after inoculation, suggesting that younger juveniles killed pine cells directly, in contrast with older juveniles and adults. When nematodes were inoculated onto + RC-segments in which they could easily enter resin canals, both NL and NS killed the segment tissues. This suggests that NL is pathogenic to pine cells while living in resin canals. Such differences in the pathogenicity of NL and NS to pine parenchymatous cells were also demonstrated in a pathogenicity assay system using bark peelings, which allowed an estimate of direct attack on the cambial cells by nematodes. Based on these results, we hypothesize that younger juveniles are pathogenic to pine parenchymatous cells, while adults and older juveniles are not pathogenic. This work was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (No.01440012 and 06454088) and for Young Scientists (to K.I.) from Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports of Japan, and by a grant from PROBRAIN.     

Rapid changes in induced non-volatile secondary metabolites in damaged Pinus massoniana Lamb

Plants initiate the development of defense mechanisms as soon as pests start to cause damage to them. In order to have a thorough understanding of the physiological mechanisms of the Pinus massoniana self-defense mechanism, and to provide a theoretical foundation for an effective ecological management of this plant, levels of tannin, polyamine and phenolic acids were analyzed in undamaged (UDL), insect-damaged (IDL) and artificially-damaged (ADL) leaves at different times. Results show that, although the content of tannin significantly increased in IDL and ADL compared to UDL, its peaks appeared earlier in ADL than in IDL treatment. Tannin concentration substantially increased again 48 h after IDL treatment. On the other hand, the damage mode considerably affected putrescine and spermidine levels in leaves. Their concentrations in IDL plants remained higher than in UDL after a relatively long time (72 h), but spermine was barely detected in any of the samples. In general, total content of phenol acids significantly increased in damaged leaf treatments (ADL and IDL), with a higher level in IDL for most of the investigated phenolic acids, except for ferulic acid. Our study showed that, when damaged by insects, Pinus massoniana rapidly produces substances required in resistance induction to insects in order to insure its self-protection. __________ Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2006, 42(1): 55–62 [译自: 林业科学]     

Effects of Pinus massoniana bark extract on the adhesion and migration capabilities of HeLa cells

Pinus massoniana Lamb is a Chinese red pine species used in traditional medicine for the treatment of a variety of human health disorders. Recent studies have shown that P. massoniana bark extract (PMBE) has an anti-proliferation effect on cancer cells. However, it is not clear if PMBE affects cancer cell migration and/or invasion. We tested the effect of PMBE, which has B-type procyanidin as its main constituent, on the adhesion and migration capabilities of HeLa cells, a human cervical cancer cell line, cultured in vitro. Our results showed that PMBE has no significant effect on the adhesion capability of HeLa cells, but strongly inhibits their migration. This finding suggests that PMBE could be a potential therapeutic agent for metastatic cancer.     

Selection, propagation and cultivation of Pinus massoniana clones for pulp use

Based on the growth, wood property of the ortets, and rooting abilities of cuttings, 32 Pinus massoniana clones for pulp use were selected from forests of superior provenance, mixed families, and progeny test of seed orchard by two-step selection. The average height and DBH growth of three-year-old clones were 28.6% and 16.7%, respectively, higher than those from seedlings, and average gain of wood density reached 8.7%. Rooting rate of all these clones was over 80%, 28% higher than the clones selected by a single step. A cutting orchard of 0.33 hm² on the hillside was constructed to intensively produce cuttings according to the tests on construction methods, pruning, and fertilization. A total of 50,000 grade I, 37,500 grade II, and 62,500 grade III cuttings were collected per hectare of this cutting orchard each time, and were cut three times each year. With all the above techniques, 48 hm² of clonal forests for pulp use of those clones had been planted in five places in Fujian Province. Container stecklings are more likely to increase the planting survival rate. __________ Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2004, 40(1): 64–69 [译自: 林业科学]     

Variation analysis and fine family selection on half-sib progenies from clonal seed orchard of Pinus massoniana

Variation of traits that include height, diameter at breast height (DBH), stem volume, crown width, straightness, wood basic density, tracheid length and width of open-pollinated progenies from clonal seed orchard of Pinus massoniana was analyzed. Differences in traits such as growth, tree form and wood quality among families was significant, which indicated that the improvement potential was notable. Heritability of height and wood basic density reached 0.691 and 0.640, respectively. According to a correlation analysis between traits, stem straightness could be improved indirectly when growth traits are improved; growth traits were significantly correlated with wood basic density; and wood basic density was not significantly correlated with length and width of the tracheid. Under the selection ratio of 10%, genetic gains were 19.74% and 19.32% respectively, and selected families from the progeny test stands at the age of five years and eight years were the same. Genetic correlation of height, DBH and stem volume was also significant at the level of 0.01. These show that selection of the short rotation of P. massoniana for pulp and paper use would be efficient for five-year-old trees. According to the comparison of the heritability of all the traits and taking into account the result of canonical correlation analysis, height could be considered as the most important index for selection. Given wood quality of all the families, and flowering and fruit settings of the clones in a seed orchard, twelve fine families were selected at 10% selection ratio of height growth and stem volume. Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2005, 41(6): 43–49 [译自: 林业科学]     

Hypoglycemic and hypocholesterolemic activities of the aqueous leaf and seed extract of Phyllanthus amarus in mice

The effect of the aqueous leaf and seed extracts of Phyllanthus amarus at oral dose of 150, 300 and 600 mg/kg was investigated for their antidiabetic and anti-lipidemic potentials. The extract produced a dose-dependent decrease in the fasting plasma glucose and cholesterol, and reduction in weights in treated mice. The results suggest that the extract could be enhancing peripheral utilization of glucose but the mechanisms on how this works remain unclear.     

辽宁凤城市红松中松材线虫的分离与鉴定

近年来松材线虫Bursaphelenchus xylophilus在我国由南向北逐渐扩张并危害新的寄主。对辽宁省凤城市样地中红松Pinus koraiensis受害情况调查,利用显微镜形态观察和分子测序的方法对病原线虫进行综合鉴定。结果发现:凤城市样地中半枯和枯死红松体内均存在松材线虫,且87.7%以上为扩散型3龄幼虫,其分子鉴定结果与NCBI数据库中松材线虫的ITS和28S多个序列均完全相同,综合判断枯死红松中的病原线虫为松材线虫,由此确定松材线虫在我国自然条件下侵染红松。     

Effect of thinning on the development of compression wood in stems of Corsican pine

This study considered the effects of thinning on the development of compression wood in stems of 35-year-old stand of Corsican pine (Pinus nigra L.). Part of the stand had been thinned at 5-yearly intervals and part left unthinned. Twenty trees each from the thinned and unthinned stands were randomly selected and felled. Measurements were made on tree height, stem diameter, stem slenderness and canopy depth. Wood samples were removed from the central part of the main log and cross-sectional measurements made on ring width, basic density and compression wood content. Cross-sectional area of compression wood was found to be three time higher in stems from the unthinned trees in comparison with those from the thinned trees. No significant differences in mean radial ring width or basic density were found between treatments. Correlations indicated that, with increasing in stem diameter, compression wood content increased in the unthinned trees, while a decline in compression was observed in the thinned trees. Tree height was also positively correlated with compression wood content in unthinned trees, while no equivalent relationship was observed in thinned trees. Observations from this study, while not conclusive, suggest that phototropic stimulus may be producing stem inclinations in the unthinned stand as trees compete for space in the canopy, whereas crown competition has been largely eliminated in the thinned stand; and that this is responsible for compression wood levels recorded in this study.     

激素、钙、水杨酸和铵诱导马尾松、黑松抗松材线虫病的研究

诱抗试验结果表明：（１）ＩＢＡ、乙烯、ＩＢＡ＋乙烯对马尾松的诱抗效果达６０％，而ＩＢＡ＋乙烯对黑松苗的诱抗效果为１２５％。（２）Ｃａ２＋＋ＩＢＡ对黑松苗的诱抗效果为３６６７％。（３）除Ｓａ＋ＩＢＡ对黑松苗的诱抗效果为１６７％外，其余Ｓａ的各处理效果均不明显。（４）铵的单用、混用或与Ｃａ２＋混用对马尾松诱抗效果均可达６６８％～１００％。     

Mutual influences in growth and reproduction between pine wood nematode Bursaphelenchus xylophilus and bacteria it carries

The interactions between pine wood nematode and three bacterium strains isolated from the nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, which are two strong pathogenic bacterium strains, Pseudomonas fluorescens GcM5-1A and Pseudomonas putida ZpB1-2A and a weak-pathogenic bacterium strain, Pantoea sp. ZM2C, were studied. The result showed that the strong-pathogenic GcM5-1A strain and ZpB1-2A strain significantly increased fecundity, reproduction rate, and the body volume of the adult nematode. Meanwhile, pine wood nematodes significantly promoted reproduction of the two strong-pathogenic bacterium strains. However, the weak-pathogenic bacterium strain, ZM2C, completely inhibited reproduction of pine wood nematodes. Aseptic pine wood nematodes significantly inhibited reproduction of the strain ZM2C. The results indicated that mutualistic symbiosis exists between pine wood nematodes and the two pathogenic bacteria it carries. The phenomenon showed that the pathogenic bacteria carried by the nematode were not accidentally contaminated, but rather had existed as symbionts of the nematode with which it had coevoluted over a long period. The role of mutualistic symbiosis in the process of pine wilt disease was also discussed. __________ Translated from Journal of Nanjing Forestry University, 2005, 29(3): 1–4 [译自: 南京林业大学学报, 2005, 29(3): 1–4]     

Effect of growth conditions on wood density of Spanish Pinus nigra

The natural forests of Laricio Pine (Pinus nigra Subsp. salzmannii) cover in Spain an area of 353,000 ha, producing annually 310,000 m³ of roundwood. This species is considered as the fourth, most important Spanish conifer, being its timber frequently used in construction. The natural area of distribution of Laricio pine in Spain is officially divided into ten different regions of provenance, being only four of them considered as productive. The present study on the influence of growth conditions on extracted wood basic density (EBD) is carried out on 89 P. nigra trees, sampled from the two most productive Spanish regions of provenance (R.7 and R.8) in seven different sites. Cross-sectional disks were cut at 3 m (in 89 trees) and every 3 m height (in 18 trees) from the butt up to 15 m. For assessing the pattern of radial variation of the properties, 20×20×20 mm³ wood samples were taken radially from every cross-sectional disk. In every 20×20×20 mm³ wood sample, age and distance to the pith of the central annual ring was recorded, together with the average growth rate. Extractive content and EBD were measured in every sample. The results lead to the conclusion that there is not a significant relationship between EBD and provenance or growth rate. On the contrary, a significant relationship has been found between EBD and site quality or cambial age. The results also demonstrate that in a tree EBD tends to diminish from the base to the top and from the pith outwards. The main result of the present study is related with the observation that for the same cambial age, annual ring width has no significant influence on EBD, confirming that its utility as a predictor of the quality of timber is highly questionable, at least if the ring curvature is not considered.     

Response of pine forest to disturbance of pine wood nematode with interpretative structural model

Pine wood nematode (PWN, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), originating from North America, causes destructive pine wilt disease. Different pine forest ecosystems have different resistances to B. xylophilus, and after its invasion, the resilience and restoration direction of different ecosystems also varies. In this study, an interpretative structural model was applied for analyzing the response of pine forest ecosystem to PWN disturbance. The result showed that a five-degree multi-stage hierarchical system affected the response of the pine forest ecosystem to PWN disturbance, in which direct affecting factors are resistance and resilience. Furthermore, the analysis to the 2nd, 3rd and 4th degree factors showed that not only does distribution pattern of plant species and pine’s ecological features affect the resistance of pine forests’ ecosystem, but removal of attacked trees and other measures also influence the resistance through indirectly affecting the damage degree of Monochamus alternatus and distribution pattern of plant species. As for resilience, it is influenced directly by soil factors, hydrology, surrounding species provenance and biological characteristics of the second and jointly dominant species, and the climate factors can also have a direct or indirect effect on it by affecting the above factors. Among the fifth elements, the elevation, gradient and slope direction, topographical factors, diversity of geographical location and improvement of prevention technology all influence the response of pine forest ecosystem to PWN disturbance. __________ Translated from Scientia Silvae Sinicae, 2007, 43(8): 85–90 [译自: 林业科学]     

马尾松家系生长稳定性研究

对多个试点马尾松家系试验林 11年生树高、胸径、材积分析结果表明 ,家系间生长及家系在不同地点间生长差异均十分显著 ;同时家系基因型方差分量与“家系×地点”的方差分量在表型方差中都占有较大的比重。可见家系与地点的交互作用显著存在。采用相关系数法、非参数法以及Wricke -生态价法等六种稳定性评价方法对参试家系的稳定性进行评价与比较 ,结果以相关系数和非参数稳定性度量值的评判效果为最佳。以非参数法将参试家系划分为稳定与不稳定二种稳定性类型 ,同时以相关系数法评判 ,将参试家系划分为广泛生境型、优良生境型和不良生境型 3种适应性类型 ;结合各家系生长表现与稳定性测度而将参试家系划分为高产稳定型、高产不稳定型、中产稳定型、中产不稳定型以及低产型五种生长稳定性类型。其中属高产稳定型的家系有 35、 38、 76、 78、 79、 80、 88、 89、 90、 114、 115、 116、 117、 119、 147、15 1等 16个家系可作为马尾松造林区的主要推广对象。     

Direct PCR‐based method for detecting Bursaphelenchus xylophilus,the pine wood nematode in wood tissue of Pinus massoniana

Pine wilt disease (PWD), caused by the pine wood nematode (PWN) Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, leads to serious losses to pine forestry around the world. Pinus massoniana, which is vulnerable to be attacked by the PWN, is the dominant species used in pine forestry in China. The objective of this study is to develop a direct PCR‐based method for detecting B. xylophilus in the wood of P. massoniana without a separate nematode extraction step. A simple procedure was first developed for isolating B. xylophilus DNA in 5 mg pine wood tissue samples harbouring PWN for detection by PCR amplification. A B. xylophilus‐specific amplicon of 403 bp (DQ855275) was generated by PCR from the infested wood tissue. The entire procedure can be completed within 5 h with one pair of primers. This assay can serve as a rapid, cheap and environmentally friendly method to detect B. xylophilus in samples of P. massoniana.