Seed and seedling characteristics of hybrid chestnuts (Castanea spp.) derived from a backcross blight-resistance breeding program

New Forests - American chestnut (Castanea dentata) was a foundation species in the eastern United States until chestnut blight (Cryphonectria parasitica) infestation resulted in range-wide...     

中国板栗生长状况对柱头形态的影响

通过扫描电子显微镜观察研究中国板栗柱头形态.板栗为典型的针状形柱头,在其顶端有一个很小的开孔,直径约为50μm.在云南4月底到5月初柱头的先端可见有分泌物溢出,一个星期后分泌物迅速增加,并可把整个开孔全部覆盖.“生长健壮树”的柱头开孔要比“生长衰弱树”的大,后者柱头开也又比“空苞树”大.而且,“生长健壮树”的柱头分泌物最多,其次是“生长衰弱树”,“空苞树”的柱头分泌物最少.     

Photosynthesis, water relations, and growth of planted Pinus strobus L. on burned sites in the southern Appalachians

We measured net photosynthesis, leaf conductance, xylem water potential, and growth of Pinus strobus L. seedlings two years after planting on two clear-cut and burned sites in the southern Appalachians. Multiple regression analysis was used to relate seedling net photosynthesis to vapor pressure deficit, seedling crown temperature, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), needle N, xylem water potential, and soil water, and to relate seedling size and growth to physiological measurements (average net photosynthesis, leaf conductance, and cumulative xylem water potential), soil water, needle N, seedling temperature, and PAR. Seedling net photosynthesis was significantly related to vapor pressure deficit, midday water potential, crown temperature, and PAR (r(2) = 0.70) early in the growing season (May 1992) with vapor pressure deficit alone explaining 42% of the variation. As neighboring vegetation developed, light became more limiting and significantly reduced seedling net photosynthesis later in the growing season (July, August, and September). Final seedling diameter was significantly related to competitor biomass, average photosynthetic rate, and needle N (r(2) = 0.68).     

板栗采后高CO2冲击处理对品质和耐藏性的影响

以“大红袍”板栗为试材 ,研究 0℃下 30 %～ 80 %的高CO2 冲击处理对板栗冷藏品质及耐藏性的影响。结果表明 ,高CO2 冲击处理可显著促进板栗乙醇的积累 ,提高乙醇脱氢酶活性 ;适度冲击处理使板栗在贮藏期间淀粉水解速率降低 ,减少营养物质的消耗 ;冲击处理对板栗风味有显著影响 ,30 %～ 80 %CO2 处理超过 2 0d ,板栗会出现不同程度异味 ,并且在一定限度内异味会随着贮藏时间的延长逐渐消除 ,恢复正常风味 ;若CO2 强度过大 ,则异味很难完全消除 ,并会对板栗造成了不可逆伤害。板栗采后在 0℃下用 4 0 %的CO2 处理 2 0d后再进行冷藏 ,既可以延长板栗的贮藏期 ,又能提高板栗的贮藏品质 ,整体贮藏保鲜效果最佳。     

板栗野生居群与栽培品种间叶绿体微卫星遗传差异初探

对24对epSSR通用引物进行筛选,选用4对呈现多态性的引物对板栗的4个野生居群和9个地方品种群进行遗传分析.结果表明:4个位点在128个样本中扩增等位基因数(Na)平均为3,有效等位基因数(Ne)平均为1.635,期望杂合度(He)平均为0.381,各遗传参数值远低于核基因组对群体研究的相应值.4个等位基因共组合出8种单倍型,既有共享率超过57%的单倍型,也存在特异稀有单倍型,其中陕西汉中与安徽广德板栗天然野生居群,具有较高的单倍型多样性,分别为0.671和0.781,明显高于其他地区,显示两地是板栗的分布及遗传多样性中心.基于cpSSR数据,对板栗地方品种与天然野生居群间的遗传结构、关系及地方品种的起源进行初步探讨.     

高CO2和纯N2冲击处理对板栗货架期品质变化的影响

以‘燕昌’板栗为试材,研究了经180d冷藏的板栗出库前分别用50％CO2和纯N2冲击处理对板栗货架期品质的影响。结果表明：50％CO2和纯N2处理对板栗货架期内糖代谢有显著影响,对蛋白质代谢影响不大。50％CO2处理5d以及纯N2处理5d和10d有利于板栗淀粉的保存。50％CO2处理可明显降低板栗的发芽率和腐烂率,货架期结束时,冲击处理5d和10d的板栗发芽率分别为2．07％和3．65％,显著低于对照(18．06％),腐烂率均为2．67％,显著低于对照(5．33％),而纯N2处理则显著促进板栗发芽,且不能有效控制腐烂的发生。研究证明：50％CO2冲击处理5d既能使板栗保持较好的货架期品质,又能显著抑制发芽及腐烂。     

The effects of three regeneration harvest methods on plant diversity and soil characteristics in the southern Appalachians

We evaluated the effects of three regeneration harvest methods on plant diversity and soil resource availability in mixed-hardwood ecosystems. The study area is in the Wine Spring Creek watershed on the Nantahala National Forest of the Southern Appalachian Mountains in western North Carolina. The regeneration treatments were: an irregular, two-aged shelterwood cut (2A), with 5.0 m²/ha residual basal area; a shelterwood cut (SW), with 9.0 m²/ha residual basal area; a group selection cut (GS), with 0.10–0.20 ha openings and 25% overstory removal on area basis at first entry; fourth, the control, consisted of two uncut sites (UC). Each harvest treatment was replicated three times across the landscape in similar plant community types. Within each treatment area, permanent plots were marked and inventoried for overstory, midstory, and herbaceous layer plants. In each permanent plot, we collected soil samples in winter (December–March) to reduce temporal variation due to vegetation phenological stage and rainfall events. We analyzed soil samples for extractable calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), potassium (K), cation exchange capacity (CEC), pH, bulk density, A-horizon depth, total carbon (C), and nitrogen (N). Species diversity of overstory, understory, and herbaceous layer species was evaluated using species richness (S), Shannon–Wiener's index of diversity (H′), and Pielou's evenness index (E). We used direct gradient analysis (non-metric multidimensional scaling, NMS) to explore the changes in vegetation–site relationships among herbaceous layer abundance, and soil characteristics and overstory basal area between pre-harvest (1994) and post-harvest (2000). Twelve minor overstory species were cut from the 2A treatments and nine species were cut from the SW treatments. Thus, it is not surprising that S and H′ were reduced in the overstory on the heavily cut sites. However, most of these species sprouted from cut stumps and were substantially more abundant in the midstory layer after harvest than before. For the midstory, we found higher S and H′ on the harvested treatments than the control; however, H′ did not differ significantly among the harvest treatments. We measured an increase in herbaceous layer H′ on the more heavily cut treatments (2A and SW) after harvest. We found an increase in average distance in the NMS ordination among sites in 2000 compared to 1994, which suggests greater herbaceous species diversity after harvest. However, we did not see a clear separation among harvest treatments in the NMS ordination.     

高CO2 和纯N2 冲击处理对板栗货架期萌芽及激素含量变化的影响

以'燕昌'板栗为试材,研究了50%CO2和纯N2冲击处理5 d和 10 d对经过0 ℃ 7个月冷藏板栗的货架期呼吸强度、发芽率和胚芽内几种激素(ABA、GA3、IAA、ZR)含量变化的影响.结果表明:(1)纯N2冲击处理对板栗货架期呼吸强度有明显的抑制作用,但50%CO2冲击处理与对照差异不明显;(2)50%CO2冲击处理可明显抑制板栗的发芽,货架期结束时,处理5 d和10 d的板栗发芽率分别为2.07%和3.65%,显著低于对照(18.06%);而纯N2冲击处理则显著促进板栗发芽,货架期结束时,处理5 d和10 d的板栗发芽率分别为45.04%和39.69%;(3)50%CO2冲击处理可明显提高板栗胚芽中ABA含量及ABA/GA3比值,而纯N2冲击处理使板栗胚芽中ABA含量下降,ABA/GA3比值降低;(4)虽然各冲击处理的IAA和ZR含量与发芽率之间没有表现出明显的相关性,但50%CO2冲击处理后ABA/ZR比值较大,纯N2冲击处理10 d明显抑制了ABA/ZR比值,这与各处理影响板栗发芽的结果基本一致.     

Effects of fragmentation on juvenile morphology of Acer saccharum Marsh. (sugar maple) in temperate forests of northeastern Ohio,USA

The influence of forest fragmentation on population and community dynamics of woody plants has been well established worldwide, but rarely at the level of an individual plant. We evaluated the influence of fragmentation on juvenile stem morphology of Acer saccharum Marsh. (sugar maple), while also examining light levels and considering possible confounding effects attributed to elevation gradients in temperate forests of northeastern Ohio, USA. At two sites, plant stem dimensions, canopy openness, and relative ground level elevation were measured using randomly positioned plots in forest edge and interior habitats that were within 25 and 60–100 m from a forest edge, respectively. Ratios of stem length to stem basal diameter were greater in forest interiors than near forest edges. These differences in stem morphology between habitats were likely a result of stem elongation in relation to a shade avoidance response in forest interiors that were consistently darker than forest edge areas across study sites. By contrast, such morphological differences were likely not related to variation in relative ground level elevation since a subtle elevation gradient was detected at only one site. We encourage experimentation to identify mechanisms that affect plant stem morphology of young individuals and its influence, in turn, on plant population dynamics in fragmented forests.     

旱薄山地板栗穴贮肥水覆膜试验初报

山东省费县有板栗１０００多ｈｍ２，２００多万株，品种有实生板栗和石丰、金丰等优良品种。由于板栗多分布在旱薄山地，立地条件差，严重影响板栗产量，优良品种的增产潜力得不到充分发挥。为此，我们于１９９７年对板栗作了穴贮肥水加地膜覆穴的增产技术试验，效果很好...     

Changes induced by osmotic stress in the morphology,biochemistry, physiology,anatomy and stomatal parameters of almond species （Prunus L. spp.） grown in vitro

We investigated the influence of different levels of osmotic stress on growth and development in selected wild almond species(eight Prunus spp.) grown in vitro. The study, while endorsing the efficacy of in vitro screening of auxiliary buds of wild almond for osmotic stress tolerance, showed species variability in its response to osmotic stress. Osmotic stress reduced growth and development of all the species. However, the putative tolerant Prunus spp. showed better performance than the putative susceptible genotypes. On average there was an 80% decrease in shoot dry weight at-1.2 MPa. Reduction in shoot weight was more common in osmotic stress-susceptible species in the section labeled ‘Euamygdalus'. The tolerant Prunus species produced smaller changes in biochemical responses than the sensitive cultivars for malondialdehyde content, catalase activity, relative permeability of protoplast membranes, and net photosynthetic rate. The tolerant species maintained cell integrity better than drought sensitive species. Wild almond species in the section labeled ‘Spartioides'(Prunus arabica(Olivier) Neikle, Prunus glauca (Browicz) A.E. Murray, Prunus scoparia Spach) and ‘Lycioides'(Prunus lycioides Spach, Prunus reuteri Bossi. et Bushe) were best adapted to osmotic stress. Increase in chlorophyll concentration and leaf thickness under high osmotic stress can be considered as preliminary selection parameters for osmotic stress tolerance in Prunus spp. The study confirmed the efficacy of the in vitro method for screening of large number of genotypes for osmotic stress tolerance in wild almond species.     

3个优势科树种叶功能性状及其关联特性

以小尺度范围内的木兰科、壳斗科和樟科各8种木本植物为研究对象,从分类单元科与种、功能群角度分析了叶功能性状特征及其关联性。结果表明:壳斗科树种的叶柄直径(1.08±0.22)和比叶面积(SLA)(90.87±25.35)显著低于樟科和木兰科,而樟科和木兰科之间差别不明显。叶含氮量在科间没有显著差异。从功能群比较,常绿树种比叶面积(90.10±23.15)显著低于落叶树种(134.65±27.77),但单位叶面积含氮量常绿树种(1.95±0.50)显著高于落叶树种(1.31±0.26)。在不同功能群中,叶面积与叶柄质量有很好的拟合直线关系。叶氮含量仅在常绿树种与其他叶性状有较好的拟合直线关系。叶性状相关性系数大于0.900的有:群落水平物种间叶面积与叶柄质量之间;功能群水平常绿树种叶面积与叶柄直径和叶柄质量间,落叶树种叶柄质量与叶面积和叶柄长间。其他叶性状间也表现不同程度的相关性,表明叶性状之间存在生长发育非同步也即异速生长现象。     

Leaf physiology, production, water use, and nitrogen dynamics of the grassland invader Acacia smallii at elevated CO(2) concentrations

Invasion by woody legumes can alter hydrology, nutrient accumulation and cycling, and carbon sequestration on grasslands. The rate and magnitude of these changes are likely to be sensitive to the effects of atmospheric CO(2) enrichment on growth and water and nitrogen dynamics of leguminous shrubs. To assess potential effects of increased atmospheric CO(2) concentrations on plant growth and acquisition and utilization of water and nitrogen, seedlings of Acacia smallii Isely (huisache) were grown for 13 months at CO(2) concentrations of 385 (ambient), 690, and 980 micro mol mol(-1). Seedlings grown at elevated CO(2) concentrations exhibited parallel declines in leaf N concentration and photosynthetic capacity; however, at the highest CO(2) concentration, biomass production increased more than 2.5-fold as a result of increased leaf photosynthetic rates, leaf area, and N(2) fixation. Measurements of leaf gas exchange and aboveground biomass production and soil water balance indicated that water use efficiency increased in proportion to the increase in atmospheric CO(2) concentration. The effects on transpiration of an accompanying decline in leaf conductance were offset by an increase in leaf area, and total water loss was similar across CO(2) treatments. Plants grown at elevated CO(2) fixed three to four times as much N as plants grown at ambient CO(2) concentration. The increase in N(2) fixation resulted from an increase in fixation per unit of nodule mass in the 690 micro mol mol(-1) CO(2) treatment and from a large increase in the number and mass of nodules in plants in the 980 micro mol mol(-1) CO(2) treatment. Increased symbiotic N(2) fixation by woody invaders in response to CO(2) enrichment may result in increased N deposition in litterfall, and thus increased productivity on many grasslands.     

Response of Ocotea bullata,Curtisia dentata and Rapanea melanophloeos to medicinal bark stripping in the southern Cape,South Africa: implications for sustainable use

Tree bark is commonly used for traditional medicine in southern Africa and further afield. Increasing demand and commercialisation have resulted in the overexploitation of many species, posing a major challenge to forest managers to develop mechanisms for sustainable resource use. An experimental bark harvesting research project was initiated in the southern Cape, South Africa, to inform best practices for bark harvesting based on tree response to bark stripping. The species selected for the study, Ocotea bullata, Curtisia dentata and Rapanea melanophloeos, are much sought after and well represented in southern Cape forests. The treatment entailed removing vertical strips of bark, 1 m in length and of different strip widths, covering the full range of tree size classes ≥10 cm DBH. The treatments were applied during two seasons, winter and summer. Evaluations were done every six months to assess tree response to bark stripping in terms of bark regrowth through phellogen edge and sheet development, and susceptibility to insect and fungal damage. The results show a differential response of tree species in terms of phellogen edge and sheet growth, as well as susceptibility to fungal and insect attack. Rapanea melanophloeos was the most vulnerable to fungal and insect damage and displayed little bark regrowth following wounding. Curtisia dentata showed best bark regrowth through sheet development. Only O. bullata, though, showed adequate bark regrowth (through edge development) to allow for sustainable strip harvesting. Bark regrowth is influenced by season of stripping, although this is difficult to define considering the wide range of environmental and other factors affecting tree response to bark removal. Smaller trees are more vulnerable to bark stripping, especially with a wide strip, with poorer bark regrowth than bigger trees.     

Detection,description, and technological properties of colour aberration in wood of standards and shoots from a chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.) coppice stand

European Journal of Forest Research - Sweet chestnut forests occupy an important role in Italy and Europe, its resilience is often affected by aggressive pathogen attack. In the last times some...     

Interspecific competition impacts on the morphology and distribution of fine roots in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.)

Morphology and vertical distribution patterns of spruce and beech live fine roots (diameter ≤2 mm) were studied using a soil core method in three comparable mature stands in the Solling: (1) pure beech, (2) pure spruce and (3) mixed spruce–beech. This study was aimed at determining the effects of interspecific competition on fine root structure and spatial fine root distribution of both species. A vertical stratification of beech and spruce fine root systems was found in the mixed stand due to a shift in beech fine roots from upper to lower soil layers. Moreover, compared to pure beech, a significantly higher specific root length (SRL, P<0.05) and specific surface area (SSA, P<0.05) were found for beech admixed with spruce (pure beech/mixed beech SRL 16.1–23.4 m g⁻¹, SSA 286–367 cm² g⁻¹). Both indicate a flexible ‘foraging’ strategy of beech tending to increase soil exploitation and space sequestration efficiency in soil layers less occupied by competitors. Spruce, in contrast, followed a more conservative strategy keeping the shallow vertical rooting and the root morphology quite constant in both pure and mixed stands (pure spruce/mixed spruce SRL 9.6/7.7 m g⁻¹, P>0.10; SSA 225/212 cm² g⁻¹, P>0.10). Symmetric competition belowground between mixed beech and spruce was observed since live fine roots of both species were under-represented compared to pure stand. However, the higher space sequestration efficiency suggests a higher competitive ability of beech belowground.     

Effects of shade on growth, biomass allocation and leaf morphology in European yew (Taxus baccata L.)

The impact of shade on the growth of European yew (Taxus baccata L.) saplings was investigated over a three-year period using artificial shading to simulate four different light regimes (3, 7, 27 and 100 % relative photosynthetic photon flux density, RPPFD). There was no mortality attributable to shading even under the 3 % RPPFD treatment. Increasing shade was positively associated with specific leaf area, leaf length, leaf width and total chlorophyll content, but negatively associated with plant height, stem diameter, total dry weight and root to leaf and shoot ratio. Discoloration of the foliage occurred in plants grown in 100 % RPPFD conditions (resulting in reduced growth rates) and those transferred to 100 % RPPFD conditions after being shade-acclimated for 2 years. Evidence suggests that T. baccata has the ability to regenerate beneath a lighter canopy but beneath denser canopies gap dynamics will play an important role in facilitating successful regeneration and this needs to be reflected in management of natural populations of this declining species.     

Probability of occurrence and habitat features for oriental bittersweet in an oak forest in the southern Appalachian mountains,USA

Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), an introduced vine from southeast Asia, has become a serious threat to native forests in the eastern United States. It is typical of many exotic species in that quantitative ecological relationships are unavailable for assessment or management. We devised a rapid survey technique useful for hazard rating and modeled the probability of occurrence of oriental bittersweet in relation to environment, competition, and disturbance in stands of deciduous hardwoods in mountainous terrain. Oriental bittersweet was present on 39% of the study area, which has been managed by the selection system of silviculture and was recently disturbed by hurricane-force winds. Bittersweet was significantly associated with (1) topographic variables indicative of mesic environments, (2) density of midstory arborescent vegetation, (3) overstory canopy gaps, (4) past silvicultural harvests, (5) overstory canopy composition, and (5) scarification of the forest floor. Search distance from plot center to the first individual of bittersweet was significantly less (P=0.04) on mesic than xeric sites. We developed a logistic regression model with five significant (P<0.05) variables that classified correctly 87% of the sample plots. Variables in the model are biologically interpretable and indicate that the probability of occurrence of oriental bittersweet increases with (1) overstory canopy not dominated by oaks (Quercus spp.), (2) scarification of the forest floor, (3) concavity of the landscape around the site, (4) wind disturbance, and (5) increasing elevation. Using an independent data set from the same study area, the model classified correctly 88% of sample plots. Land management options in forests, where oriental bittersweet is present, are broadest on dry sites where its probability of occurrence is lowest and its growth response resulting from release should be least. Although herbicides can be effective in a program of intensive control, because of its biological characteristics we suggest that oriental bittersweet will present an increasing problem to land managers throughout the eastern United States.