Root hydraulic conductivity and root growth capacity of black spruce (Picea mariana) seedlings

The relationship between root elongation and root hydraulic conductivity was investigated in 1-year-old, overwintered black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) seedlings. Hydraulic conductivity was estimated by observing water flux through decapitated roots under positive pressure. Five hydraulic conductivity parameters were estimated: (1) water flux under a minimal pressure of 0.2 MPa (J(v, min)); (2) pressure at which a linear relationship between water flux and pressure began (P(min)); (3) slope of the linear water flux-pressure relationship (L(v)); (4) pressure at which the linear relationship between water flux and pressure ended (P(max)); and (5) maximum water flux (J(v, max)). Between day 1 and day 2 after thawing of the growing medium, there were significant increases in L(v) and J(v, max) but there was little, if any, root elongation. Root elongation averaged 5.4 cm seedling(-1) 5 days after thawing and 88.2 cm seedling(-1) 20 days after thawing. Root hydraulic conductivity increased with new root length initially. But between days 20 and 30, when new root length nearly doubled, P(min) was the only measure of hydraulic conductivity that increased significantly. There were significant correlations (P < 0.05) between white root length and both J(v, min) (r(2) = 0.90) and J(v, max) (r(2) = 0.91).     

Variability of selected wood characteristics in 40 half-sib families of black spruce (Picea mariana)

Summary Based on 15-year-old black spruce (Picea mariana) trees from 40 half-sib families sampled from 9 blocks of a family test in New Brunswick, this study examined intertree and intratree variation in various wood density and ring width characteristics. Of various variance components of the intertree variation, a remarkable variance component due to family was found in wood density characteristics (viz. average wood density, average earlywood density and latewood density of the tree), and these characteristics are thus under strong genetic control (h _i ² ranging from 0.60 to 0.86, and h _f ² from 0.56 to 0.68). It, to a lesser extent, applies to ring width characteristics at the tree level (viz. average ring width, and average earlywood width, latewood width and latewood percent of the tree) that show a lower heritability (h? from 0.18 to 0.28, and h _f ² from 0.22 to 0.36). Both block and block × family interaction contribute little to the total intertree variation encountered in 40 families from 9 blocks, while tree-to-tree variation within the family accounts for most (over 3/4) of the total intertree variation.Compared to the intertree variation (tree-to-tree variation within the family), the intratree variation in various wood characteristics studied is considerably larger in this species. It appears that most intraring wood density characteristics show a relatively smaller intertree variation but a relatively larger intratree variation as compared to ring width characteristics (except latewood width and latewood percent). Latewood width and latewood percent show the smallest intertree variation and the largest intratree variation. Between the two sources of the radial intratree variation, cambial age explains much more variation in most intraring wood density characteristics, while ring width accounts for more variation in earlywood width, latewood width and intraring density variation. This indicates that wood density of growth rings in this species is dependent more on cambial age than ring width (growth rate). Among various wood density and ring width characteristics studies, maximum (latewood) density shows the strongest response to calendar year. This characteristics is thus a useful dendroclimatic parameter in this species.I would like to thank Dr. E.K. Morgenstern and Mr. D. Simpson for their involvement in the planning of this study. Thanks are also due to G. Chauret, T. Keenam, R. Ploure, V. Steel and C. Reitlingshoefer for their technical assistance     

Root anchorage and stem strength of black spruce (Picea mariana) trees in regular and irregular stands

A tree winching experiment was conducted, simulating wind actionand resulting damage, in order to assess mechanical resistanceof black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) trees in standsof regular and irregular structures. The critical bending moment(M_c) of winched trees was determined and the relationship betweenM_c and tree and stand characteristics was investigated throughstatistical analyses. Stem mass (SW), average spacing betweentrees (S) and height:diameter ratio (H/d.b.h.) were initiallyselected by a screening procedure to predict M_c. Potential differencesbetween stand structures were tested in mixed models using differentsubsets of the data. Included fixed effects varied between thedifferent models. SW was the most useful and significant variablein all models and H/d.b.h. was significant only when snappedtrees were included in the analysis. When decayed samples wereexcluded, resistance to uprooting was higher in irregular stands.Decay seemed to play an important role in irregular stands andshould be investigated further. Since no difference was observedin the relationship between stem mass and critical turning momentbetween distant sites, relationships should be applicable acrosswide regions. This study provides some of the basic relationshipsrequired to model windthrow risk in irregular stands. However,the effects of stand structure on wind load for individual treeswill also need to be considered.     

Uncertainty in detecting climate change impact on the projected yield of black spruce (Picea mariana)

The empirical growth and yield (G&Y) curves used in most timber supply models assume that growth conditions are invariable over time, which may not be correct given the projected future climate. However, errors in G&Y models can be quite large, and we therefore wanted to know the probability of detecting climate change-induced growth anomalies as a departure from current G&Y predictions. The work was carried out in a boreal forest study area in Eastern Canada, where Picea mariana Mill. BSP (black spruce) is the dominant species. Climate change effects were incorporated into G&Y predictions as correction factors obtained from process-based simulations of growth using current or projected climate. Uncertainty in G&Y projections was quantified through the inclusion of sampling and model errors in a bootstrap re-sampling scheme that yielded a percentile distribution of possible differences between G&Y curves that included or did not include climate change effects. Results yielded an average projected increase in productivity of 29% under future climate conditions for the black spruce strata in the study area. The probability of the climate change-modified G&Y predictions being significantly different from the current G&Y projections is 75% when considering the sampling error alone, and of 67% when both the sampling and modelling errors are included. Although incomplete in terms of what sources of error have been included, this study demonstrates the type of information that can be generated on the propagation of uncertainty in G&Y projections and, ultimately, on timber supply.     

Effects of cone-induction treatments on black spruce (Picea mariana) current-year needle development and gas exchange properties

Both drought and root pruning (RP) increased the number of cones induced when black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) grafts were injected with gibberellins A(4/7) (GA), but their effects on predawn shoot water potential and current-year needle development differed. Drought decreased predawn shoot water potential (Psi(pd)), but only during the period when irrigation was withheld, and it had no effect on the growth or gas exchange properties of current-year needles. Conversely, root pruning had little effect on Psi(pd), but it resulted in trees with smaller current-year needles that had lower nitrogen and chlorophyll concentrations and reduced rates of gas exchange up to the later stages of shoot elongation compared with needles of control trees. These findings are discussed in relation to potential effects on the development of induced cones in the following growth cycle.     

Effect of age on the variation, correlations and inheritance of selected wood characteristics in black spruce (Picea mariana)

Summary The variation, correlations and inheritance of various intraring wood characteristics in 15-year-old black spruce (Picea mariana) trees from 40 half-sib families grown in New Brunswick were examined. The emphasis was placed on the effect of age on these genetic parameters. With increasing (cambial) age, ring width and ring density tend to exhibit a constant tree-to-tree variation whereas most other characteristics exhibit a smaller tree-to-tree variation. The heritability for latewood characteristics does not seem to change appreciably. Other characteristics (except RDmi), however, tend to be less heritable when the tree grows older. Correlations between ring density and most intraring characteristics tend to be weaker with increasing age. This implies that fast-growth in this species will have less negative effect on wood density when the tree grows older.The author wishes to thank Dr. E.K. Morgenstern of the Genetic Resource Consultants, Permbroke, Ontario and Mr. D. Simpson of the Canadian Forest Service in Fredericton, New Brunswick for their involvement in the initial planning of this project. Thanks are also due to G. Chauret, T. Keenam, R. Ploure, V. Steel and C. Reitlingshoefer for their technical assistance.     

落叶松人工林下红皮云杉和青海云杉的幼苗更新

落叶松幼苗在其人工林内难以更新。为探讨红皮云杉和青海云杉幼苗是否具有在落叶松人工林内成功定植并替代落叶松更新的潜力,采用红皮云杉和青海云杉幼苗在不同落叶松人工林(样地Ⅰ:1 300株·hm^-2的平地,样地Ⅱ,660株·hm^-2的平地;样地Ⅲ,330株·hm^-2的平地;样地Ⅳ,660株·hm^-2的坡地)下进行人工更新。结果表明:1)样地Ⅰ和样地Ⅱ更适宜红皮云杉和青海云杉幼苗的存活,且同一样地内,红皮云杉幼苗的成活率均高于青海云杉的;2)同一样地内,红皮云杉幼苗的地上生物量均高于青海云杉的,并且在样地Ⅰ和样地Ⅱ红皮云杉的地上生物量显著高于青海云杉的;3)在不同落叶松人工林样地,红皮云杉和青海云杉幼苗的1级根均有较好的外生菌根侵染;4)红皮云杉幼苗的1级根直径受环境影响较大,而青海云杉幼苗的1级根皮层厚度受环境影响较大。同一样地内,2种云杉幼苗的1级根解剖结构除在样地Ⅳ表现出明显的差异外,在其它样地基本无显著差异。红皮云杉和青海云杉幼苗均适宜在落叶松人工林内存活,但相对高密度的林分更适宜云杉幼苗的生长,且红皮云杉比青海云杉更具生长优势。     

Effect of thermal modification temperature on the mechanical properties,dimensional stability,and biological durability of black spruce (Picea mariana)

This study was aimed at evaluating the effect of thermal modification temperature on the mechanical properties, dimensional stability, and biological durability of Picea mariana. The boards were thermally modified at different temperatures 190, 200 and 210 °C. The results indicated that the thermal modification of wood caused a significant decrease in the modulus of rupture (MOR) after 190 °C, while the modulus of elasticity (MOE) seemed less affected with a slight increase up to 200 °C and slight decrease with further increase in temperature. The hardness of the thermally modified wood increased in the axial direction. This increase was also observed in tangential and axial directions but at a lesser extent. The final value was slightly higher in axial direction and lower in radial and tangential directions compared to those of the untreated wood. Dimensional stability improved with thermal modification in the three directions compared to the dimensional stability of unmodified wood. The fungal degradation results showed that the decay resistance of thermally modified wood against the wood-rotting fungi Trametes versicolor and Gloephyllum trabeum improved compared to that of the untreated wood. By contrast, the thermal modification of P. mariana had a limited effect on the degradation caused by the fungus Poria placenta.     

Production of a new generation of seeds through the use of somatic clones in controlled crosses of black spruce (Picea mariana)

To assess the potential to integrate somatic clones (SC) of desired characteristics in production of high genetic quality seed, controlled crosses between different SCs of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill) B.S.P.) were used to assess their suitability for the production of viable pollen, cones, seeds and seedlings. These SC produced male and female strobili at an early stage. Pollen, cones and seeds produced were characterized (mass, size, germination); their characteristics were similar to those produced by trees in natural forests or seed orchards. A maternal effect was demonstrated for the cone size and seed mass. Although seeds had excellent germination rates, the somatic biparental crosses were divided into three distinct groups with different germination curves using the Weibull function. Seeds from controlled crosses between different SC enabled the production of high morpho-physiological quality seedlings in a forest nursery. Using black spruce as a model, we showed, for the first time, that SC can be used as seed producers. These encouraging results open new perspectives on the tangible integration of somatic embryogenesis (SE) in the chain of seed, vegetative propagation (cuttings and SE) and production of plants for high productivity plantations. Controlled crosses can be made between SC with the desired characteristics (fewer large branches, fewer nodes, good growth, high wood density, performance, improved yield, etc.), vegetative propagules produced and deployed to clonal tests. After elimination of the worst performing SC, clonal tests can be converted into seed orchards that produce a new generation of seeds of high genetic quality. This will allow the rapid introduction of new materials in elite breeding programs of forest species.     

Polyamines in embryogenic cultures of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and red spruce (Picea rubens)

Embryogenic cultures of red spruce (Picea rubens Sarg.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) were initiated from dissected mature zygotic embryos. The tissues were grown on either proliferation medium or maturation medium. On proliferation medium, the embryogenic tissue continued to produce early stage somatic embryos (organized meristems attached to elongated, suspensor-like cells), whereas on maturation medium fully mature embryos developed from the embryonic tissue. Analysis of polyamines in tissues grown on these two media showed that: (1) both putrescine and spermidine concentrations were always higher in cultures grown on proliferation medium than in cultures grown on maturation medium; (2) in both species, spermidine concentrations declined with time in the tissues grown on maturation medium; and (3) spermine was present in only minute quantities and showed only a small change with time. The presence of difluoromethylornithine in the culture medium had little effect on polyamine concentration, whereas the presence of difluoromethylarginine caused a decrease in putrescine concentrations in both red spruce and Norway spruce tissues grown on proliferation medium or maturation medium.     

Frost hardening in first-year eastern larch (Larix laricina) container seedlings

Eastern larch (Larix laricina [du Roi] K. Koch) container seedlings were tested to determine shoot frost hardiness development under short or long days and warm (15 to 25 °C) or cool (10/5 °C, day/night) temperatures, to aid in the development of greenhouse hardening strategies. Seedlings were sampled sequentially over time (25 seedlings per week) from a population of 1000 trees. Frost hardiness increased significantly after one week of fluctuated over the next 6 weeks, and increased thereafter through week 14. Seven weeks of warm, intermittent short days, followed by 6 weeks of cool, continuous short days, resulted in greater frost hardiness than 13 weeks of warm, intermittent short days. In contrast, seedlings exposed to 7 weeks of warm, intermittent short days, followed by six weeks of warm, long days were significantly less frost hardy. Stems with needles attached had lower Index of Injury than stems without needles.     

Characterization of juvenile wood to mature wood transition age in black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) at different stand densities and sampling heights

The radial pattern of both maximum ring density and ring area of 36 black spruce trees were used to determine the transition age from juvenile wood to mature wood. The data were obtained by X-ray densitometry and both segmented linear and polynomial regressions were used to point out the age of the juvenile wood boundary. Three stand densities (1,790, 2,700 and 3,400 stems/ha) and three sampling heights (2.4, 5.1 and 7.8 m) were studied. Although maximum ring density and ring area presented similar radial patterns, they gave two significantly different results of transition ages. The maximum ring density over-estimated the transition age (17.6 years) in contrast to ring area (14 years). The results show that the transition from juvenile wood to mature wood occurred after 12 years at 7.8 m (versus 13.1 years at a height of 5.1 m, and 17.6 years at 2.4 m). Although transition age occurred later in the high stand density group (21 years), the difference was not significant between the three stand density groups. Nevertheless, transition age remains difficult to determine since no standard definition exists. The transition occurs over years, and most probably a transition wood exists between juvenile wood and mature wood. Estimation of the juvenile wood proportion in volume shows that it remains constant along the stem and it increases with stand density.     

Studies on compression wood—part VII: Distribution of lignin in normal and compression wood of tamarack [Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch]

Summary The distribution of lignin has been studied in tracheids and ray cells of normal and compression wood of tamarack [Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch]. The three layers in the secondary wall of normal wood tracheids are lignified to approximately the same extent, and previous evidence that the S ₃ layer should contain a higher proportion of lignin than the other regions has not been confirmed. The lignin follows closely the orientation of the cellulose microfibrils in all three layers. Compared to the tracheids, the ray cells contain a denser network of lignin in their secondary wall.Only a small proportion of the total lignin in compression wood tracheids is present in the compound middle lamella. The thick S ₁ layer is only slightly lignified; the orientation of the lignin in this region is that of the transversely oriented, lamellated microfibrils. The outer portion of S ₂ consists largely of lignin but also contains lamellae of cellulose microfibrils which probably have the same helical orientation as the microfibrils in the inner part of S ₂. The latter region, which contains the helical cavities, consists of lamellae of cellulose microfibrils which are uniformly encrusted with lignin. The ray cells in compression wood appear to be lignified to the same extent as in normal wood. Transverse sections of the cells reveal a lateral orientation of the lignin. The orientation of the cellulose microfibrils in the S ₂ layer of the first-formed springwood tracheids of compression wood is the same as in the cells which are formed later. It is suggested that for ease of reference, the outer, lignin-rich layer in compression wood tracheids be referred to as the S ₂(L) layer.

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Zusammenfassung Im Druckholz und im normalen Holz von Tamarack (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch) wurde die Verteilung des Lignins in Tracheiden und Markstrahlzellen untersucht. Die drei Schichten der Sekundärwand in den Tracheiden normalen Holzes werden in nahezu demselben Umfange lignifiziert. Frühere Feststellungen, daß die S ₃-Schicht einen höheren Ligningehalt erreicht als andere Zellwandbereiche, konnten also nicht bestätigt werden. Das Lignin folgt sehr genau der Orientierung der Cellulose-Mikrofibrillen aller drei Schichten. Im Vergleich zu den Tracheiden erfahren die Sekundärwände der Markstrahlzellen eine stärkere Ligninauskleidung.Nur ein geringer Prozentsatz des gesamten Lignins der Druckholztracheiden befindet sich in der Mittellamelle. Die dicke S ₁-Schicht ist nur wenig lignifiziert. Die Orientierung des Lignins in diesem Bereich entspricht den transversal orientierten, lamellierten Mikrofibrillen. Der äußere Teil der S ₂-Schicht enthält sehr viel Lignin, daneben aber auch Lamellen von Cellulose-Mikrofibrillen, die wahrscheinlich dieselbe spiralige Orientierung besitzen wie die Mikrofibrillen des inneren Teiles der S ₂-Schicht. Der letzterwähnte Bereich, der spiralige Kavitäten enthält, weist Lamellen von Cellulose-Mikrofibrillen auf, in welche gleichmäßig Lignin eingelagert ist. Die Markstrahlzellen des Druckholzes erscheinen ebenso stark lignifiziert wie die Markstrahlzellen des Normalholzes. Querschnitte durch diese Zellen lassen die laterale Orientierung des Lignins erkennen. Die Orientierung der Cellulose-Mikrofibrillen in der S ₂-Schicht der zuerst gebildeten Frühholztracheiden des Druckholzes ist dieselbe wie in jenen Zellen, die später ausgeformt werden. Es wird vorgeschlagen, daß zur eindeutigeren Kennzeichnung die äußere ligninreiche Schicht der Druckholztracheiden als S ₂(L)-Schicht bezeichnet wird.

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The authors wish to express their gratitude to Messrs. A. K. Bentum, D. C. Jones, and B. W. Simson for technical assistance. They are also thankful to Dr. D. A. I. Goring, McGill University, Montreal, Canada, for valuable discussions and for making available to them important, unpublished information. This investigation was supported by the United States Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, through Forest Service Research Grant No. 1, which is hereby gratefully acknowledged.     

Current uptake of 15N-labeled ammonium and nitrate in flooded and non-flooded black spruce and tamarack seedlings

? We investigated the effects of flooding for three weeks on physiological responses and uptake of NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ^? by black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP.) and tamarack (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch) seedlings fertilized with labeled (¹⁵NH₄)₂SO₄ or K¹⁵NO₃ in a growth chamber experiment.

? Flooding reduced photosynthesis (A), transpiration (E), water use efficiency (WUE), and current uptake of NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ^? in both species.

? Under flooding, there were no significant differences between the two species in uptake of either NH ₄ ⁺ or NO ₃ ^? at the whole-plant level but black spruce had higher translocation of NH ₄ ⁺ to the shoots than did tamarack.

? Under non-flooded conditions, black spruce seedlings exhibited higher uptake of both NH ₄ ⁺ and NO ₃ ^? than did tamarack and demonstrated preferential uptake of NH ₄ ⁺ (19. 7 mg g^?1dw) over NO ₃ ^? (12.3 mg g^?1dw after three weeks). In contrast, non-flooded tamarack seedlings had equal uptake of NH ₄ ⁺ (4.96 mg g^?1dw) and NO ₃ ^? (4.97 mg g^?1dw).

? We hypothesize that the ability of tamarack to equally exploit both ¹⁵NH ₄ ⁺ and ¹⁵NO ₃ ^? would confer an advantage over black spruce, when faced with limitations in the availability of different forms of soil nitrogen.

     

阿拉斯加落叶松生长与适应性评价

通过对阿拉斯加落叶松进行育苗及区域化试验,初步掌握了阿拉斯加落叶松生长、物侯、适应性与抗逆性等综合表现。从目前的造林初期综合表现看,该品种适合无霜期较长的地区生长。该品种适应性不如本地的长白落叶松和兴安落叶松,尤其耐寒性较差。     

Some factors influencing susceptibility to discoloring fungi and water uptake of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris), Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Oriental spruce (Picea orientalis)

Abstract

The heartwood and sapwood from Scots pine (PS), Norway spruce (PA), and Oriental spruce (PO) were tested for susceptibility to discoloring fungi and water uptake. In addition, annual ring width and density were measured. The methods used were Mycologg for testing growth of fungi and a modified version of EN 927-5 to investigate water uptake. For pine, the heartwood showed a lower water uptake and no discoloring fungi growing in the tests. The heartwood had a significantly higher density and smaller annual ring width than the sapwood. In PA the heartwood had significantly lower discoloration than sapwood. The total water uptake in g/m² was significantly higher in sapwood, but not the calculated moisture content. As for wood properties, the density was significantly higher in sapwood compared to heartwood, although there were no differences in annual ring width. Regarding PO, differences in water uptake could be seen between sapwood and heartwood although the densities were similar. These results show that susceptibility to discoloring fungi and water uptake is hard to correlate to a single inherent property when looking at different wood species.     

Growth Response of Picea mariana Seedlings to Competition for Radiation

The growth response of 4-year-old black spruce seedlings (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) to reduced radiation availability (DIFN) caused by herbaceous and woody competitors was investigated on a clay and on a loam site on a research plot in Ontario, Canada. Variability in black spruce growth was less explicable by reduced radiation availability caused by woody competitors than growth variability caused by herbaceous competitors. On the clay site, competition from fireweed (Epilobium angustifolium L.), Canada bluejoint grass (Calamagrostis canadensis (Michx.) Nutt.) and red raspberry (Rubus idaeus L. var. strigosus (Michx.) Maxim.) decreased black spruce diameter by more than 40% compared to seedlings without competition. Canada bluejoint grass and fireweed also distinctly reduced black spruce diameter performance on loam (>30%). These results are discussed in relation to the need of vegetation control.