Developing a taper model for the Pinus elliottii × P. caribaea var. hondurensis hybrid in South Africa

A relatively new hybrid, Pinus elliottii × P. caribaea var. hondurensis (Pexc), for which a taper model does not exist, is being planted commercially in South Africa. This study primarily focused on developing a taper model for Pexc in South Africa. Taper data were collected from a total of 363 trees, in the Mpumalanga and Limpopo provinces, using a random sampling method. A subsample was selected to determine if altitude, rainfall, temperature or soil have a significant influence on the taper of Pexc. Only rainfall significantly influenced the overall taper. The Max and Burkhart segmented polynomial taper model, as well as the Kozak88, Kozak01 and Kozak02 variable exponent taper models, were fitted, compared and tested using the statistical analysis system (SAS). The predictive ability of the models was evaluated based on the results from the mean bias, standard deviation, the standard error of prediction and the average percentage deviation. The Kozak02 model had the best fit overall followed by the Max and Burkhart model (MB76). The MB76 model, however, predicted the volumes more accurately than the Kozak02 model.     

Sawn-timber and kraft pulp properties of Pinus elliottii × Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis and Pinus patula × Pinus tecunumanii hybrids and their parental species

A study was undertaken to evaluate the quality of the timber produced by Pinus elliottii × Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis (PECH) and the Pinus patula × Pinus tecunumanii low elevation (PPTL) and high elevation (PPTH) hybrids and their parent species for both kraft pulp and sawn-timber production. Trees were taken from unthinned tree improvement trials managed for pulpwood, ranging in age between 15 and 19 years. All sawn boards produced by study trees met the minimum wood density requirement for S5-grade structural timber (360 kg m^?3), but approximately 17% of the boards failed to meet the other requirements for the grade, largely due to knot-related defects. Results of dynamic modulus of elasticity assessments performed on all of the boards suggested that a large percentage of boards would not meet the specified average stiffness (7 800 MPa). This was confirmed by the results of static bending tests performed on a subsample of boards. All boards tested for all species and hybrids met the required fifth percentile bending strength value for grade S7 (15.8 MPa) according to SANS 6122 (2008) specifications. The kraft pulping results indicated that the samples taken from the upper part of the stem yielded slightly better results on average than the samples representing the whole tree with respect to uniformity in the kappa vs charge and temperature, and yield vs kappa traits, with slight improvement of pulp yield (52% vs 50%) and some strength properties compared with whole tree pulping. Samples from the upper part of the stem had a close delignification rate in the 60–80 kappa range. The delignification rate for PPTL in the 60–80 kappa range was slower and the yield was slightly lower than P. patula (53.17% vs 52.72%) despite a higher kappa number. The pulp strengths short-span compressive test, breaking length and tearing strength of PECH were similar to those of P. elliottii, which were in turn generally lower than those of P. patula. The pulp strengths of PPTL and PPTH were similar to those of P. patula, whereas P. caribaea strengths were intermediate between those of P. patula and P. elliottii. With the exception of a slightly lower pulp yield, PPTL emerged as the best all-round hybrid for both pulp and sawn-timber properties.     

Family variation in diameter growth and acoustic velocity in three 5‑year‑old South African‑grown Pinus elliottii×Pinus caribaea progeny trials established on three diverse sites

This paper discusses family differences in the stiffness of young Pinus elliottii×P. caribaea wood and how these differences relate to differences in growth rate and altitude. Trees for measurement were obtained from three 5?year?old progeny trials established at three diverse sites on the estate of Komatiland Forests (Pty) Ltd. The trials included the following controls: P. elliottii, P. patula, P. taeda, P. patula×P. tecunumanii and P. tecunumanii. Diameter at breast height and sound velocity (which has a direct relationship with wood stiffness) were measured on all healthy trees. Virtually all of the species and hybrids exhibited marked decreases in growth rate and velocity (stiffness) with increasing altitude; the effect on velocity was most likely partly due to the inverse relationship that normally exists between wood density and altitude in most pines. Differences in growth rate explained only a small proportion of the total variation in velocity. The average sound velocities of P. patula, P. patula×P. tecunumanii and P. tecunumanii surpassed the velocity values of most of the P. elliottii×P. caribaea crosses at all three sites. Results of Spearman rank correlations of average treatment velocity between sites suggested only some similarity in the ranking orders among sites. The inverse effect of altitude on wood stiffness suggests that trees grown at increased altitudes are likely to yield wood with higher proportions of wood not meeting the minimum stiffness requirement for structural lumber at final harvest. The wood of some P. elliottii×P. caribaea crosses would be particularly vulnerable. Considering the large variation found, presumably largely genetic, there can be little doubt that a good opportunity exists for the development of genotypes more suitable for planting at higher altitudes.     

Relationship between Growth Traits Heterosis and Genetic Distance among Parents of Pinus elliottii × P.caribaea Based on SSR Molecular Markers

利用SSR标记对17个湿加松亲本无性系进行遗传多样性分析,进而分析亲本遗传距离与子代杂种优势的相关性.结果表明:14个微卫星标记在湿加松亲本群体中均呈现高度多态,共检测到57个等位基因,多态位点百分率为87.72％,平均杂合度为0.144 4～0.884 1,以SSR标记遗传距离聚类,将参试亲本材料划分为2大类群,可以用于湿加松亲本遗传多样性的评价.树高、胸径、材积的杂种优势与亲本遗传距离相关性达显著或极显著水平,相关系数分别为0.542 0、0.641 2、0.639 3,决定系数分别为0.293 8、0.411 0、0.408 7.分子标记遗传距离与树高、胸径、材积的杂种优势相关程度较高,利用SSR标记预测湿加松杂种优势是可行的,为湿加松良种选育及亲本选配提供参考.     

Performance of Pinus elliottii, Pinus caribaea, their F1, F2 and backcross hybrids and Pinus taeda to 10 years in the Mesopotamia region, Argentina

Performances of Pinus taxa were studied to 10 years of age in two trials in each of Misiones and Entre Ríos provinces across the Mesopotamia region of Argentina. Taxa comprised 22 populations from sources in Argentina, Australia, Brazil and Zimbabwe including Pinus elliottii var. elliottii (Pee), Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis (Pch), their four, inter-specific hybrids (F₁, F₂ and backcrosses from F₁ to Pch and to Pee—all as broadly based bulks); other Pee and Pinus taeda (Pt) comprised narrower or unspecified bulks. Variable numbers of taxa were missing at each site. Mean survival across sites at age 10 years ranged 53.2–91.3% averaging 74.2%. Analysis of variance of plot means indicated population effect was statistically significant (p < 0.05) for all or most growth and quality traits at all sites. However, significant differences from the nominated check seedlot at the Entre Ríos sites (Pee, Australia) were extremely rare, while quite common at the northern, Misiones sites (check seedlot a Pt population). In the Misiones trials, F₁, F₂ and both backcross hybrids showed better stem straightness than Pee and Pt from Argentina, generally with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Pt showed lowest forking scores (desirable). Taxon × environment interaction was statistically significant (p < 0.01) for growth traits only (p > 0.05). However, this interaction contributed an average of only 34.1% of the taxon variance suggesting a lack of practical importance. Taxa most suitable for deployment in the Mesopotamia region, Argentina are suggested.     

Family Outcrossing Rates of Pinus caribaea Morelet var. caribaea in Seed Orchard and Natural Populations

Family outcrossing rates of Pinus caribaea var. caribaea populations that differed in origin and management were estimated by using isozyme markers. The family outcrossing rates were estimated by (1)fixing the probability of pollen gene frequency (p); (2) allowing pollen gene frequency to vary among families. The estimates of family outcrossing rates for all the populations varied widely among families (clones of the seed orchard), ranging from 0.39 to 2.0. The average family outcrossing rates of both methods were greater than the     

Intraspecific variation in growth and allocation patterns in seedlings of Pinus pinaster Ait. submitted to contrasting watering regimes: can water availability explain regional variation?

? Interpopulation variation in key functional traits of Pinus pinaster Ait. is well recognized. However, the relative importance of drought tolerance to explain this regional variation in the species remains elusive.

? Here, we raise the question whether water availability constitutes a likely driver of regional variation in biomass allocation, growth and morphological traits of ten populations that cover the distribution range of P. pinaster. We carried out an experiment where seedlings of five families per population were submitted to two contrasting watering treatments.

? The effects of water availability and population were significant for relative diameter and height growth rate, biomass allocation and number of lateral stems and dwarf shoots. Total dry mass significantly differed between watering treatments but it did not among populations. Populations could be clustered into four main groups. Root mass fraction explained most of the variation and significantly correlated to altitude but not to aridity.

? The geographical pattern of genetic variation found in morphology and biomass allocation did not translate into population differences in drought tolerance or phenotypic plasticity to water availability, indicating that water availability is not a likely driver of the regional variation observed in the studied traits of P. pinaster at the seedling stage.

     

Clonal variation in root suckering ability of hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.)

Current information on the root sucker ability of hybrid aspen (Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.) is in most cases based on clone mixtures. In this study, we could separate the performance among clones by using two experimental sites with monoclonal plots of the crossing. The natural regeneration was followed for 2 years after harvest of the formerly planted stands, clear-cut at 22 and 25 years of age, respectively. We found that clonal differences were present in the number of root suckers produced per area unit and their biomass production. However, all included clones produced sufficiently many root suckers for a successful regeneration. To receive a more complete evaluation of the root sucker dynamics for future selection on the clonal level, further studies are needed where vitality, self-thinning and effects of thinning measures are coupled to the goal of the aspen forestry.     

Growth and dynamic modulus of elasticity of Pinus patula × Pinus tecunumanii hybrids in Mpumalanga,South Africa

Field establishment of South Africa’s most important commercial pine species, Pinus patula, is severely hampered by the pitch canker fungus, Fusarium circinatum. Importantly, hybrids between P. patula and other pine species tolerant to the pitch canker fungus, such as P. tecunumanii and P. oocarpa, have been identified as an alternative planting stock. In this study, variation in tree volume and dynamic modulus of elasticity (MOE_dym) of the P. patula × P. tecunumanii (low- and high-elevation [LE and HE] ecotypes) hybrid was compared with the P. elliottii × P. caribaea hybrid, and the pure species P. tecunumanii (LE) and P. patula. The MOE_dym was assessed using the Fakkop TreeSonic microsecond instrument across three sites. The results of the study showed that P. patula × P. tecunumanii LE performed significantly better than P. patula × P. tecunumanii HE for volume and MOE_dym, which in turn was significantly better than P. patula. The MOE_dym and tree growth decreased with an increase in elevation. There was significant taxon × site interaction for volume and MOE_dym. The results of these trials suggested that P. patula × P. tecunumanii LE is a suitable alternative to P. patula in the Sabie region of Mpumalanga in South Africa on frost-free sites, in terms of the traits that were assessed.     

Radial growth and non-structural carbohydrate partitioning response to resin tapping of slash pine(Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii)OA

Slash pine(Pinus elliottii Engelm.var.elliottii)is a resin-producing species grown worldwide for significant economic benefits for wood production.Resin tapping creates a carbon sink at the expense of carbon allocation for growth and consequently,wood production may be reduced.Non-structural carbohydrates comprising starch and sugars stored in plant organs,may serve as intermediate pools between assimilation and utilisation.However,the effect of resin tapping between tree growth and non-structur...     

The tolerance of Pinus patula × Pinus tecunumanii, and other pine hybrids, to Fusarium circinatum in greenhouse trials

The field survival of Pinus patula seedlings in South Africa is frequently below acceptable standards. From numerous studies it has been determined that this is largely due to the pitch canker fungus, Fusarium circinatum. Other commercial pines, such as P. elliottii and P. taeda, show good tolerance to this pathogen and better survival, but have inferior wood properties and do not grow as well as P. patula on many sites in the summer rainfall regions of South Africa. There is, thus, an urgent need to improve the tolerance of P. patula to F. circinatum. Operational experience indicates that when P. patula is hybridized with tolerant species, such as P. tecunumanii and P. oocarpa, survival is greatly improved on the warmer sites of South Africa. Field studies on young trees suggest that this is due to the improved tolerance of these hybrids to F. circinatum. In order to test the tolerance of a number of pine hybrids, the pure species representing the hybrid parents, as well as individual families of P. patula × P. tecunumanii, a series of greenhouse screening trials were conducted during 2008 and 2009. The results indicated that species range in tolerance and hybrids, between P. patula and these species, are intermediate in tolerance to F. circinatum. Within P. patula × P. tecunumanii, large family variation exists when pollen from the high elevation source of P. tecunumanii is used. The results of these studies illustrate the importance of developing pine hybrid breeding programs to overcome the susceptibility of our pure species to pathogens such as F. circinatum.     

Development and commercialisation of the Pinus patula × P. tecunumanii hybrid in response to the threat of Fusarium circinatum

During the last 20 years a program to develop and commercialize the Pinus patula × Pinus tecunumanii hybrid, as a replacement for P. patula, has been successfully implemented. The first crosses were initiated during the early 1990s and lead to establishment of field trials across a wide variety of sites. This work gained further impetus when it became apparent that Fusarium circinatum, was causing poor post-planting survival of newly established stands of P. patula. P. tecunumanii, has been shown to be tolerant to this disease and thus a second, more comprehensive hybrid testing phase was implemented. Improvements in controlled pollination techniques and propagation methods, as well as access to genetically improved parent-stock and the use of molecular marker technology for fingerprinting was effectively utilized to greatly improve the process during this second phase. The use of artificial inoculation trials have demonstrated that the hybrid, in particular when using the low elevation (LE) provenances of P. tecunumanii, had substantially greater tolerance to F. circinatum than P. patula and survival figures from field trials support these results. Four-year volumes also indicate large growth improvements, although frost damage on certain sites presents a challenge for deployment on colder sites; and this is being tackled through breeding and accurate mapping of frost risk. Large-scale controlled pollinations and vegetative multiplication are now utilized commercially to produce the P. patula × P. tecunumanii (LE) hybrid as an alternative to P. patula.     

Age trends and correlations of growth and wood properties in clone of Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis in Guangdong, China

We assessed growth traits and wood properties of DH 32-29, a clone of Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis, at age of two to six years in Guangdong in China. Analysis of variance of studied traits showed that there were significant differences (1% level) on all studied traits among ages except for wood basic density. Analysis of age trends of growth traits and wood properties revealed that rotation length of DH32-29 should be more than six years or longer. Phenotypic correlations among traits at individual ages indicated that correlations between growth traits were strongly positive. There was significant change in relationship between growth and wood basic density with increasing age, ranging from -0.03 to -0.54 at 2 and 5 year and 0.003 to 0.3 at 3, 4 and 6 year.Correlations between Pilodyn pin penetration and basic density measuredon increment cores showed that Pilodyn could rank or group genotypesor sites into density classes, but failure to predict individual tree and individual clone.     

Inter‐ and intraspecific variation and genotype × site interaction in Salix Alba L., S. Dasyclados Wimm. and S. viminalis L.

Three test series were planted on sites selected for their contrasting properties to study the genotype × site interaction. Various clones of Salix alba (8 clones in the 1980 series), S. dasyclados (8 clones in 1982 series) and S. viminalis (6, 9, 13 clones in the various series) were included. Growth capacity, survival and infection by rust fungi were analysed. Interspecific variation was seen at some of the sites in the 1982 series but it was pronounced in the 1980 series where 5. viminalis outgrew 5. alba at all sites. Intraspecific variation could be seen for growth capacity, survival and rust resistance. A genotype × site interaction was detected for all variables studied. Some of the interaction, especially at the species level, can be explained by the variation in susceptibility to rust fungi and preference for soil types. In the breeding work with Salix the genotype × site interaction must be considered.     

Late-entry commercial thinning effects on Pinus banksiana:growth,yield, and stand dynamics in Québec,Canada

We studied late-entry commercial thinning effects on growth, yield, and regeneration in a 48-year-old jack pine(Pinus banksiana Lamb.) stand. Applied thinning intensities were 27, 32, and 47% of merchantable basal area(BA) excluding skidding trails. After 15 years, mean diameter at breast height of surviving trees in the 47% BA removal increased by 4.9 cm(25%) compared to the unthinned control. The 47% BA removal also increased gross merchantable volume(GMV) tree-1by 46% compared to the control. The 27% BA removal had twice as much GMV ha-1compared to the 47% BA removal after15 years. Moreover, cumulative GMV ha-1was much higher in the 27% BA removal than in the unthinned control. The highest thinning intensity produced larger trees on average, while the lowest thinning intensity maximized volume production per hectare. Maintenance of acceptable growing stock throughout the 15-year period in the 27% BA removal could provide other ecosystem functions such as biodiversity enhancement or wildlife habitat by delaying senescence. Regeneration data showed that a shift in species composition occurred in the understory. After 15 years, the understory was dominated by black spruce(Picea mariana(Mill.) B.S.P.), white birch(Betula papyrifera Marsh.), and trembling aspen(Populus tremuloides Michx.). If regenerating jack pine is an objective after final overstory removal, additional efforts will be needed to re-establish this species.     

Free amino acid and protein levels,and γ‐glutamyltransferase activity in Pinus sylvestris apical buds and shoots during the growing season

Free amino acid and protein levels, and γ‐glutamyltransferase activity in apical buds and shoots of Scots pine during the growing season. The aim of the study was to obtain the basic information about nitrogen mobilization needed in carrying out studies on the optimal nitrate and ammonium ratios in the metabolism of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Considerable seasonal changes in the concentrations of free amino acids and other ninhydrin‐positive low molecular‐weight compounds were observed in the buds and shoots of Scots pine. 43 different amino compounds were identified, the concentrations of arginine, glutamine, glutamic acid, γ‐aminobutyric acid, alanine and aspartic acid being highest at the break of dormancy. The amounts of certain amino compounds decreased during the growing season, those of arginine, ethanolamine and various ammonium compounds in particular. The amount of glutamic and aspartic acids, glycine, alanine and γ‐aminobutyric acid, however, remained relatively constant. The protein concentration and the specific activity of γ‐glutamyltransferase increased towards the end of the growing period. Slight differences were found between the fertilized trees and the control trees.     

A hybrid swarm population of Pinus densiflora × P. sylvestris inferred from sequence analysis of chloroplast DNA and morphological characters

To confirm a hybrid swarm population of Pinus densiflora × P. sylvestris in Jilin, China, we used needles and seeds from P. densiflora, P. sylvestris, and P. densiflora × P. sylvestris collected from natural stands or experimental stations to study whether shoot apex morphology of 4- year old seedlings can be correlated with the sequence of a chloroplast DNA simple sequence repeat marker (cpDNA SSRs). Total genomic DNA was extracted and subjected to sequence analysis of the pine cpDNA SSR marker Pt15169. Results show that morphological characters from 4-year old seedlings did not correlate with sequence variants of this marker. Marker haplotypes from all P. sylvestris trees had a CTAT element that was absent from all sampled P. densiflora trees. However, both haplotype classes involving this insertion/deletion element were found in a P. densiflora × P. sylvestris population and its seedling progeny. It was concluded that the P. densiflora × P. sylvestris accessions sampled from Jilin, China resulted from bi-directional crosses, as evidenced by both species’ cpDNA haplotypes within the hybrid swarm population.     

Clonal variation in chemical wood characteristics in Hanönü (Kastamonu) Günlüburun black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold. subsp. Pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe) seed orchard

ABSTRACT

Scientific evidence suggests forest cover across the world is gradually decreasing while the world’s population is rapidly increasing. In line with this, the demand on raw wood is also increasing, making it impossible for the already limited natural resources to meet human needs in proportion to the increasing population size. To counter this, there is a need to increase the variety and availability of timber through genetic improvement. This has been seen in genetic improvement studies in forestry which have resulted in seed orchard establishments; however, the genetic variation in these seed orchards continues to be a topic of debate. This study aims to determine the clonal variation in chemical characteristics in a Hanönü (Kastamonu) Günlüburun black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold. subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.) Holmboe) seed orchard. The analysis shows differences between the clones were seen at the 99.9% confidence level. Ash content, NaOH, extractive substance, and hot water solubility exhibited the highest heritability scores, according to the heritability estimates of the clones in the seed orchard. However, hemicellulose content showed an extremely low H₂ (0.1).