Seasonal changes in above- and belowground carbohydrate concentrations of ponderosa pine along a pollution gradient

Seasonal patterns of carbohydrate concentration in coarse and fine roots, stem or bole, and foliage of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa Laws) were described across five tree-age classes from seedlings to mature trees at an atmospherically clean site. Relative to all other tree-age classes, seedlings exhibited greater tissue carbohydrate concentration in stems and foliage, and greater shifts in the time at which maximum and minimum carbohydrate concentration occurred. To determine the effect of environmental stressors on tissue carbohydrate concentration, two tree-age classes (40-year-old and mature) were compared at three sites along a well-established, long-term O3 and N deposition gradient in the San Bernardino Mountains, California. Maximum carbohydrate concentration of 1-year-old needles declined with increasing pollution exposure in both tree-age classes. Maximum fine root monosaccharide concentration was depressed for both 40-year-old and mature trees at the most polluted site. Maximum coarse and fine root starch concentrations were significantly depressed at the most polluted site in mature trees. Maximum bole carbohydrate concentration of 40-year-old trees was greater for the two most polluted sites relative to the cleanest site: the bole appeared to be a storage organ at sites where high O3 and high N deposition decreased root biomass.     

Gross nitrogen retranslocation within a canopy of Quercus serrata saplings

Nitrogen (N) retranslocation within tree canopies has been intensively studied and assumed to function as a one-way process (e.g., from older to newer leaves). However, recent studies have found that both N output and input occur in individual leaves, suggesting that 'gross' N retranslocation exists behind 'net' N retranslocation. In the present study, the amount and direction of gross N retranslocation within a canopy of deciduous oak Quercus serrata Thunb. ex. Murray saplings were investigated. Labeling was conducted with leaves of Q. serrata saplings cultivated under conditions of low-N (LN) or high-N (HN) fertility. Subsequently, N movement within the canopy was traced. Leaves at two different positions in the canopy (top and lateral) were labeled to determine the direction of gross N retranslocation. To detect seasonal differences, the leaf-labeling experiment was conducted twice during the early and late phases of the growing season. In addition, to compare the quantitative importance of gross N retranslocation and root N uptake, the latter was determined by labeling Q. serrata roots. The N-labeling experiment revealed gross N retranslocation among leaves, i.e., from top to lateral, lateral to top and lateral to lateral positions. Gross N retranslocation was quantitatively more important than root uptake, especially for plants cultivated at LN fertility. Season also affected the amount of gross N retranslocation, and these effects differed between LN and HN fertilities. These findings suggest that N allocation within a canopy is controlled dynamically by both gross N output and input. The mechanisms controlling gross N output and input likely function as key determinants of N allocation within a tree canopy.     

华山松叶栖内生真菌的分离鉴定及筛选

用常规内生真菌分离方法从健康华山松Pinus armandii Franch.针叶上分离到17种内生真菌,其中子囊菌1种、酵母菌1种、半知菌15种。通过对峙培养初步筛选出抗真菌活性的内生真菌优势种:绿木霉Trichoderma viridePers.:Fr.、拟康宁木霉T.pseudok ningiiRifai,并对这2种木霉培养滤液的抑菌作用进行初步研究。结果表明,这2种木霉培养滤液对来自于针叶的拟盘多毛孢PestalotiopsisStey.和针叶树散斑壳Lophodermium conigenum(Brunaud)Hilitz菌落生长只有较弱抑制作用,对来自于枝干的拟茎点霉Phomopsis(Sacc.)Bubak有很强的抑制作用,对拟盘多毛孢孢子萌发有不同程度抑制作用。     

Responses of sugar maple and hemlock seedlings to elevated carbon dioxide under altered above- and belowground nitrogen sources

Various human-induced changes to the atmosphere have caused carbon dioxide (CO?), nitrogen dioxide (NO?) and nitrate deposition (NO??) to increase in many regions of the world. The goal of this study was to examine the simultaneous influence of these three factors on tree seedlings. We used open-top chambers to fumigate sugar maple (Acer saccharum) and eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) with ambient or elevated CO? and NO? (elevated concentrations were 760 ppm and 40 ppb, respectively). In addition, we applied an artificial wet deposition of 30 kg ha?1 year?1 NO?? to half of the open-top chambers. After two growing seasons, hemlocks showed a stimulation of growth under elevated CO?, but the addition of elevated NO? or NO?? eliminated this effect. In contrast, sugar maple seedlings showed no growth enhancement under elevated CO? alone and decreased growth in the presence of NO? or NO??, and the combined treatments of elevated CO? with increased NO? or NO?? were similar to control plants. Elevated CO? induced changes in the leaf characteristics of both species, including decreased specific leaf area, decreased %N and increased C:N. The effects of elevated CO?, NO? and NO?? on growth were not additive and treatments that singly had no effect often modified the effects of other treatments. The growth of both maple and hemlock seedlings under the full combination of treatments (CO??+?NO??+?NO??) was similar to that of seedlings grown under control conditions, suggesting that models predicting increased seedling growth under future atmospheric conditions may be overestimating the growth and carbon storage potential of young trees.     

Stocks and decay dynamics of above- and belowground coarse woody debris in managed Sitka spruce forests in Ireland

Coarse woody debris (CWD) has become recognised as an important component of the carbon (C) pool in forest ecosystems. In Ireland, managed Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong) Carr.) forests account for 52.3% of the total forest estate. To determine the stock and decay dynamics of above and belowground CWD, field surveys using fixed area sample plots, were conducted in six even-aged Sitka spruce stands, representing the young, intermediate and mature stages of a typical commercial rotation. The volume, mass, density loss and C:N ratio of all CWD types (logs, stumps, and coarse roots) were determined using a five-decay class (DC) system. The decay rates and half life of CWD was also determined. To estimate CWD coarse root mass; roots associated with stumps classified in different decay classes were excavated. The coarse roots were categorised into small (2-10 mm), medium (10-50 mm) and large (>50 mm) diameter classes.CWD C-mass ranged from 6.98 to 18.62 Mg ha⁻¹ and was highest in an intermediate forest (D35), while the aboveground volume varied from 6.31 to 42.27 m³ ha⁻¹. Coarse roots accounted for 21% to 85% of the total CWD C-pool in the surveyed stands. The total CWD C-mass was poorly correlated with the number of thinning events (R² = 0.29), when data from D35 was excluded. The density loss was significant in logs (45%), stumps (58%), and small- (38%), medium- (50%) and large roots (38%) as decay progress from DC 0 to 4. There was a 46%, 41%, 51%, 72% and 57% decline in C:N ratio of logs, stumps, small-, medium- and large roots, respectively, as decay progressed from DC 0 to 4. The density decay rates were 0.059, 0.048 and 0.036 kg m⁻³ year⁻¹ for logs, stumps and coarse roots, respectively. The size classification of roots did not significantly affect their decay rate. The half life (50% decomposition) of CWD was estimated has 12-, 14- and 19 years for logs, stumps and roots of Sitka spruce. Regression curves showed a strong correlation between the density and C:N ratio (R² = 0.69, 0.74 and 0.93 for logs, stumps and coarse roots, respectively). The long term storage of C and its slow rate of decomposition make CWD a vital structural and functional component of the CWD C-pool and a major controller of forest ecosystem C-retention.     

毛白杨内生真菌的分离与拮抗菌的筛选

采自保定市不同地点不同部位的毛白杨的新鲜组织,利用常规的内生真菌分离方法,以PDA培养基为分离培养基,从毛白杨根、茎、叶中分离得到14株内生真菌。以杨树腐烂病菌、苹果腐烂病菌、梨黑斑病菌、黑根霉、毛霉、灰霉为供试病原菌种,对14个菌株进行了杀菌活性筛选,发现G01、G02、ZD103等3个菌株对不同的供试病原菌有不同的抗菌活性。对3个菌株采用经典的真菌鉴定方法判断G02与ZD103为Trichodermasp.木霉属,而G01菌株由于其不产孢故不能用上述方法鉴定,暂定为未知属。     

油松内生细菌的分离及拮抗菌的筛选

采用组织分离法,从健康油松Pinus tabulaeformis 1 a生松针,2 a生松针,1 a生松枝韧皮部、木质部,2 a生松枝韧皮部、木质部,根等7类部位共分离出40株内生细菌。通过平板对峙法对所得菌株的拮抗性进行了初筛和复筛,得到3株对油松枯梢病拮抗作用较强的菌株。其中AM-5菌株抑菌效果最强,菌体的抑制率达66.95%,其发酵液的抑制率为27.89%;菌体对病原菌孢子萌发也有显著的抑制作用。结合形态特征、生理生化及16S rDNA同源性分析,将AM-5菌株鉴定为枯草芽孢杆菌Bacillus subtilis。盆栽试验结果表明,AM-5菌株对油松枯梢病的防治效果显著,在预防实验中,明显降低了油松枯梢病的发病率,预防效果为64.26%;在防治试验中,防效为53.32%。     

枣树越冬期内生真菌的分离鉴定及抑菌研究

为了明确越冬期枣树组织中内生真菌的种类和分布情况,并从中筛选出对枣缩果病病原有拮抗作用的内生菌株,从越冬期健康枣树的树皮、枣股、枝条中分离获得内生真菌225株,共鉴定出12个真菌属,其优势属为茎点霉属、链格孢属、毛壳菌属和镰刀菌属。研究结果表明:越冬期健康枣树组织中内生真菌分布普遍,种类丰富;不同品种、不同部位中内生真菌的种类和数量都有差异。室内平板对峙实验结果表明:在225株内生真菌中,有25株内生真菌对枣缩果病病原茎点霉菌1-2有抑制作用,最高抑菌率为85.45%;有14株内生真菌对病原壳梭孢菌1-5有抑制效果,最高抑菌率为76.00%;内生真菌F7和F8对两种病原菌均有抑菌效果,而且均有明显的抑菌带,这说明上述两株菌均可产生抗菌代谢物质。     

Changes in above- and belowground biomass in early successional tropical secondary forests after shifting cultivation in Sarawak,Malaysia

Uncertainties in the rate of biomass variation with forest ageing in tropical secondary forests, particularly in belowground components, limit the accuracy of carbon pool estimates in tropical regions. We monitored changes in above- and belowground biomass, leaf area index (LAI), and biomass allocation to the leaf component to determine the variation in carbon accumulation rate with forest age after shifting cultivation in Sarawak, Malaysia. Nine plots in a 4-year-old forest and fourteen plots in a 10-year-old forest were monitored for 5 and 7 years, respectively. Forest and plant part biomass were calculated from an allometric equation obtained from the same forest stands. Both above- and belowground biomass increased rapidly during the initial decade after abandonment. In contrast, a much slower rate of biomass accumulation was observed after the initial decade. LAI also increased by approximately double from the 4-year-old to 10-year-old forest, and then gently increased to the 17-year-old forest. We also found that allocation variation in leaf biomass and nitrogen was closely related to the rate of biomass accumulation as a forest aged. During the first decade after abandonment, a high biomass and nitrogen allocation to the leaf component may have allowed for a high rate of biomass accumulation. However, reduction in those allocations to leaf component after the initial decade may have helped to suppress the biomass accumulation rate in older secondary forests. Roots accounted for 14.0–16.1% of total biomass in the 4–17-year-old abandoned secondary forests. We also verified the model predicted values for belowground biomass by Cairns et al. (1997) and Mokany et al. (2006), although both models overestimated the values throughout our data sets by 45–50% in the 10-year-old forest. The low root:shoot ratio in the secondary forests may have caused this overestimation. Therefore, our results suggest that we should modify the models to estimate belowground biomass considering the low root:shoot ratio in tropical secondary forests.     

Nocturnal isoprene emission from mature trees and diurnal acceleration of isoprene oxidation rates near Quercus serrata Thunb. leaves

Quercus serrata Thunb. ex Murray is a widespread deciduous oak in China, the Korean Peninsula, and Japan, and a strong isoprene emitter. Establishing accurate inventories of this species and estimating net carbon budgets, including biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOC), necessitates detailed evaluation of BVOC emission and oxidation characteristics. Emissions of isoprene, the most abundant BVOC, presumably contribute to atmospheric chemistry through the formation of photochemical oxidants and secondary organic aerosols. We built an isoprene flux monitoring system to simultaneously reveal characteristics of the flux and fate of isoprene at multiple locations in Q. serrata forests. We used proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and an automated closed chamber to measure isoprene emissions from soil and leaves in a warm-temperate Q. serrata forest. We used a relaxed eddy accumulation system with PTR-MS to simultaneously measure the canopy flux. In continuous foliage chamber measurements, we observed daily variations of isoprene emissions and continuous nocturnal emissions from leaves. Nocturnal emissions exceeded 25 % of total daily leaf emissions and were relatively high at sunset and low at sunrise. These results suggest that nocturnal emissions from mature trees may not be negligible. When leaf emissions were high in the daytime, the canopy isoprene flux tended to plateau at an upper limit. Observations of isoprene concentrations and gradients suggest that the plateau was caused by acceleration of isoprene oxidation, and sequential formation of secondary organic aerosols may occur near the leaf just after emission. Elucidation of these linkages may require continuous field measurements with a simultaneous multi-flux monitoring system.     

Relative shoot height and irradiance and the shoot and leaf properties of Quercus serrata saplings

Effects of relative shoot height and irradiance on shoot and leaf properties of Quercus serrata Thunb. saplings growing in the understory and in gaps were investigated. Photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) at the location of the shoot relative to that in the open (relative PPF; rPPF) and the height of the shoot base relative to tree height (relative height; rHeight) were measured for all current-year shoots of each sapling. Current-year shoot properties (length, leaf area, number of daughter shoots) and mortality, and leaf properties (mass per area (LMA) and nitrogen content per area (N(area))) were examined in relation to rPPF and rHeight. N(area) was used as a proxy for area-based assimilative capacity. Shoot length, leaf area per shoot and number of daughter shoots increased with increasing rHeight, especially in well-lit conditions. Shoot mortality decreased with increasing rHeight and rPPF. Both LMA and N(area) were positively correlated with rPPF, but not rHeight.     

Virulence of Raffaelea quercivora isolates inoculated into Quercus serrata logs and Q. crispula saplings

This study was conducted to compare the virulences of various isolates of Raffaelea quercivora—a fungus that causes Japanese oak wilt disease—towards Japanese oak trees. Five isolates were collected from a wide range of Japan and inoculated into Quercus serrata logs and Q. crispula saplings. The tangential length of the discolored sapwood in the Q. serrata logs differed significantly among the isolates. The trend in isolate virulence was similar for the Q. serrata logs and the Q. crispula saplings. This is the first report suggesting that there is variability in virulence among isolates of R. quercivora.     

Seasonal and spatial variations in leaf nitrogen content and resorption in a Quercus serrata canopy

To elucidate the relationships between spatiotemporal changes in leaf nitrogen (N) content and canopy dynamics, changes in leaf N and distribution in the canopy of a 26-year-old deciduous oak (Quercus serrata Thunb. ex. Murray) stand were monitored throughout the developmental sequence from leaf expansion to senescence, by estimating the leaf mass and N concentrations of all the canopy layers. Seasonal changes were observed in leaf N concentration per unit leaf dry mass (N (m)), which peaked after bud burst, declined for two weeks shortly thereafter, and then remained constant for the rest of the growing season for each canopy layer. Leaf N concentration per unit leaf area (N (a)) was higher in the upper layer than in the lower layer throughout the growing season, and was closely correlated with relative irradiance (RI) in the summer when the air temperature was moderately high. The N concentrations of all leaf layers started to decrease in November, and reached their lowest values in late November, whereas LMA scarcely changed throughout the season. The lowest N concentrations did not differ significantly among the canopy layers. Seasonal changes in the relationship between N (a) and RI were detected, indicating that N (a) is optimized temporally as well as spatially. Nitrogen resorption efficiency was highest in the upper canopy layers where larger amounts of N were invested. Based on the estimates of leaf mass and leaf N concentrations of the canopy layers, total leaf N concentration of the whole canopy was estimated to be 84.1 kg ha(-1) in the summer, and 37.3 kg ha(-1) in late November. Therefore, 46.8 kg ha(-1) of leaf N in the canopy (about 56% of the total N) was resorbed just before leaf abscission.     

Equations for estimating above- and belowground biomass of Norway spruce,Scots pine,birch spp. and European aspen in Latvia

This study aims to derive allometric functions to estimate the above- and belowground biomass components of the most important tree species in Latvia. The study material included a total of 81 Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst), 102 Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), 105 birch spp. (mainly silver birch (Betula pendula Roth)) and 84 European aspen (Populus tremula L.) trees sampled in 124 forest stands. The suitability of three mathematical models for the prediction of total aboveground biomass, stem biomass, total live and dead branch biomass, belowground biomass and small root biomass was evaluated. Our analysis revealed that the use of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change mean default values for the root-to-shoot ratio recommended for temperate and boreal ecological zones leads to the overestimation of root biomass of young trees, especially Scots pine and Norway spruce. Our findings indicate that biomass functions recommended for other Baltic Sea countries are not appropriate for the assessment of the biomass stock in Latvia’s forests because these lead to biased estimates. The biomass functions derived in our study are recommended for reporting the biomass stock in Latvia.     

Effects of endophytic and ectomycorrhizal basidiomycetes on Quercus virginiana seedling growth and nutrient absorption

Quercus virginiana (Fagaceae), native to the southeastern United States, has recently been introduced to the Yangtze Delta (China) and is often planted in landscaping and in coastal shelter forests. Here, we performed pot inoculation assays to evaluate the effects of two types of basidiomycetous root fungal symbionts, across four orders, on the growth and nutrient absorption of Q. virginiana seedlings. The results indicated that two isolates showed plant growth-promoting activities 2 months after inoculation. In particular, the ectomycorrhizal Sistotrema sp. (Cantharellales) had a pronounced effect on root development and morphology. With regard to nutrient absorption, the total nitrogen content in aboveground tissues was improved in inoculated seedlings, although most differences were not significant. Meanwhile, the total phosphorus contents in seedlings were either positively or negatively affected, probably depending on the symbiont type. Interestingly, the total potassium content in stems and leaves was significantly enhanced in all treatment groups. In addition, indole-3-acetic acid and abscisic acid production were determined in Sistotrema sp. and Atractiella rhizophila (Pucciniomycotina) by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Our findings suggest that both endophytic and ectomycorrhizal fungi have beneficial effects on Q. virginiana growth, and highlight the potential for the development of mycobiome-based seedling raising techniques.     

Effects of salicylic acid, 1‐aminocyclopropan‐1‐carboxylic acid and methyl jasmonate on the frequencies of endophytic fungi in Quercus serrata leaves

To examine the effects of salicylic acid (SA), the ethylene precursor 1‐aminocyclopropan‐1‐carboxylic acid (ACC) and methyl jasmonate (MJ), which induce defence responses against pathogen in plants, on foliar endophytic fungi, we performed exogenous treatments of Quercus serrata leaves with these chemicals and subsequently isolated endophytic fungi. SA and ACC significantly reduced the isolation frequency of the most dominant fungus, a Xylaria species as identified by sequence analysis of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of the ribosomal DNA. In contrast, the frequency of the second most frequent fungus increased by SA and ACC. A few other fungi were also affected positively or negatively. Shannon diversity indices decreased by all treatments because of the uneven isolation frequencies of the endophytes. Our results imply that host defence responses induced by the chemical treatments reduced the number of infections of some endophytes while the frequency of some other endophytes increased benefiting from the reduction of competitors.     

Effect of endophytic fungi from oak (Quercus robur L.) on mortality of leaf inhabiting gall insects

Observations in the field suggest that certain species of endophytic fungi which occur, but are normally dormant, in the leaves of Quercus robur can be stimulated to pathogenic development by the feeding activity of certain gall insects. As a result of the death of leaf tissue the gall is also killed. This antagonistic relationship between endophytic fungi and gall insects is illustrated in the following three examples: Kabatiella apocrypta / Trioza remota, Gloeosporium quercinum / Neuroterus numismalis and Dichomera saubinetii / Polystepha panteli.