Genetic improvement in pine wilt disease resistance inPinus thunbergii: The effectiveness of pre-screening with an artificial inoculation at the nursery

Open pollinated progenies from 15 clones of Japanese black pine (Pinus thunbergii), that had been selected for their tolerance to pine wilt disease, were tested by artificial inoculation with pine wood nematode for six years at a nursery of Kyushu Regional Breeding Office. Family variations in the respective year were all significant. An analysis of variance across the six years’ tests confirmed highly significant effect of year and of families; however, the year by family interaction was significant also. Phenotypic and genetic variances estimated from each year’s result were fitted to a quadratic regression using their mean survival ratio as an independent variable. The variances were greatest at around 0.5 of the mean survival ratio. Estimated heritability showed a similar trend of change, whereas the peak of the expected amount of improvement shifted toward the lower survival range: around 0.4, where a greater selection differential was anticipated. It was concluded that a useful amount of genetic improvement that may be reduced by 30% due to the interaction, would be expected by prescreening seedlings where the mean survival ratio after inoculation was around 0.25 to 0.6.     

Sorption of Cr(VI) on the wood of Japanese larch treated with concentrated sulfuric acid

A carbonaceous sorbent was prepared from the wood of Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis) by dehydration with concentrated sulfuric acid in a 69% yield. The abilities of the sorbent to remove Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions were investigated. Research parameters included the initial solution pH, temperature, and initial concentration of Cr(VI) in solution. The removal of Cr(VI) was highly solution pH dependent and was mainly governed by physicochemical sorption under weak acidic conditions. The equilibrium data fit well in the Langmuir isotherm model. The Langmuir constants were calculated at different temperatures, and the sorption capacity increased with rising temperature, indicating the endothermic nature of the Cr(VI) sorption onto the sorbent. The desorption experiments suggest that the Cr(VI) sorption is generally irreversible, owing to strong interaction of HCrO ₄ ⁻ with the active sites of the sorbent.     

Effects of high temperature kiln drying on the practical performances of Japanese cedar wood (Cryptomeria japonica) I: changes in hygroscopicity due to heating

The effect of heating on the hygroscopicity of Japanese cedar wood was investigated as a simple evaluation of thermal degradation in large-dimension timber being kiln-dried at high temperatures (>100°C). Small wood pieces were heated at 120°C in the absence of moisture (dry heating) and steamed at 60°, 90°, and 120°C with saturated water vapor over 2 weeks, and their equilibrium moisture contents (M) at 20°C and 60% relative humidity (RH) were compared with those of unheated samples. No significant change was induced by steaming at 60°C, while heating above 90°C caused loss in weight (WL) and reduction in M of wood. The effects of steaming were greater than those of dry heating at the same heating temperature. After extraction in water, the steamed wood showed additional WL and slight increase in M because of the loss of water-soluble decomposition residue. The M of heated wood decreased with increasing WL, and such a correlation became clearer after the extraction in water. On the basis of experimental correlation, the WL of local parts in large-dimension kiln-dried timber was evaluated from their M values. The results indicated that the thermal degradation of inner parts was greater than that of outer parts.     

Comparison of organic matter dynamics in soil between Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) forest and adjacent Japanese red pine (Pinus densiflora) forest established on flatland

In order to clarify the effects of tree species on organic matter dynamics in soil, we investigated the amount of forest floor material, leaf litter decomposition rate, soil chemical characteristics, soil respiration rate and cellulose decomposition rate in a Japanese cedar forest (cedar plot) and an adjacent Japanese red pine forest (pine plot) established on a flatland. The amount of forest floor material in the cedar plot was 34.5 Mg ha⁻¹ which was greater than that in the pine plot. Because the leaf litter decomposition rate was higher in the pine plot than in the cedar plot, it is likely that the difference in the amount of forest floor material between the plots is caused by the difference in the leaf litter decomposition rate. The C concentrations of soil in the cedar plot were 1.2–2.1 times higher than those in the pine plot. Soil pH(H₂O)s in the cedar plot were significantly higher than those in the pine plot. The soil respiration rates and the rates of mineralized C in the cedar plot byin vitro incubation were higher than those in the pine plot. From this result, it is assumed that soil organic matter in the cedar plot was decomposed relatively faster compared with the pine plot. Furthermore, microbial activities, which were reflected as cellulose decomposition rates in the cedar plot, were higher than those in the pine plot. A part of this paper was presented at the 109th Annual Meeting of the Japanese Forestry Society (1998).     

Changes in soil chemical and physical characteristics in Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa Endl.) stands by mixture of deciduous broad-leaved trees in the northern Kanto region of Japan

In order to clarify the effects of a mixture of deciduous broad-leaved trees on soil fertility, we investigated litter biomass accumulation, mineral soil chemical and physical characteristics, characteristics of nitrogen mineralization, and the mutual relationships between them in Japanese cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) stands mixed with deciduous broad-leaved trees at different ratios (mixture ratio; MR = 0, 16, 33, 43, 100% by basal area) in the northern Kanto region of Japan. Litter biomass in the forest floor and mineral soil was 19.1 Mg ha⁻¹ in MR 0% and decreased approximately 60 % in MR 33%, MR 43% and MR100%. The permeability at 0–5 cm soil depth in MR100% was twice as much as that in MR 0%. Increases in soil permeability were likely due to larger soil pores in the higher MR with much accumulated deciduous broad-leaves. At 0–5 cm soil depth, the differences in carbon concentration among the plots were not clear. On the other hand, carbon concentrations at 5–10 cm depth increased from 90 g kg⁻¹ to 147 g kg⁻¹ with increases in MR from 0% to 100%. Concentrations of exchangeable bases increased two to four times with increases in MR from 0 to 100% at 0–10 cm depth. Soil pH (H₂O) generally increased with increases in MR at each depth. The rates of net nitrogen mineralization at 0–5 cm depthin vitro increased from 25 to 87 mg kg⁻¹ 2 weeks⁻¹ with increases in MR from 0 to 100%. However, increases in nitrification with increases in MR were not clear compared with nitrogen mineralization. These results indicated that a mixture of deciduous broad-leaved trees in a Japanese cypress stand was effective in preventing soil fertility decline. This study was supported by a grant from the Showa Shell Sekiyu Fundation for Promotion of Environmental Research. A part of this study was presented at the 7th International Congress of Ecology (1998).     

日本落叶松无性系微纤丝角遗传变异的研究

对10个10年生日本落叶松无性系的早材和晚材微纤丝角进行了测定,结果表明:早、晚材微纤丝角无性系间差异极显著,同一年轮内早材微纤丝角大于晚材.日本落叶松微纤丝角的径向变异规律为:在髓心处最大,以后逐渐减小.早、晚材微纤丝角与树木年轮间的变异模式(径向变异)以对数和乘幂式方程拟合效果较好,R2(R为相关系数)均在0.8以上.早、晚材微纤丝角同树高、形率、树皮厚度、主枝粗、枝干比、主枝夹角、主枝长的相关关系不显著,早、晚材微纤丝角同胸径、冠幅的相关关系达到显著水平;早材与晚材的微纤丝角也相关显著.早材和晚材的微纤丝角受中到强度遗传控制,广义遗传力分别为0.767 4、0.804 3.按照20%的选择率,早材和晚材的微纤丝角的遗传增益分别为21.82%和29.75%.     

Blackening of Diospyros genus xylem in connection with boron content

The amount of boron contained in the xylem of Japanese persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.) and ebony (Diospyros ebenum Koen) was determined by inductively coupled plasma (ICP) emission spectrometry and a modified curcumin–acetic acid method. The boron content was compared between the heartwood and sapwood of ebony as well as between a blackened portion (“kurogaki”) and normal portion of Japanese persimmon. The kurogaki contained a higher level of boron than the normal portion of the same individual, although the boron content varied among individuals. Moreover, the boron content of the heartwood of ebony was much higher than that of the sapwood. These results suggest the participation of boron in the blackening of Japanese persimmon. Because both kurogaki and heartwood of ebony are durable to fungal attack, the blackening of Diospyros genus appears to be related to the formation of defensive substances in which boron seems to take part. The convenient curcumin–acetic acid method is an alternative to the ICP method with comparable accuracy.     

Changes of decay and termite durabilities of Japanese larch (Larix leptolepis) wood due to high-temperature kiln drying processes

We investigated the effects of high-temperature drying schedules (120°–130°C) on decay and termite feeding of Japanese larch timbers. Thermogravimetric analysis was conducted to investigate changes of the wood components. Decay and termite feeding tests showed that specimens dried under high-temperature schedules were susceptible against a decaying fungus Fomitopsis palustris and attacks from termites Coptotermes formosanus and Reticulitermes speratus. These drying schedules changed chemical components, which were suggested by the thermal analytical result compared to the control sample. The results of this study indicated that the acceleration of termite feeding takes place even under temperatures that are comparatively lower than that used in our previous research in which 170°C steaming treatment was applied to Japanese larch wood. Decay durability against a brown rot fungus also decreased, possibly from production of low molecular weight fragments when hemicellulose decreased during the high-temperature drying processes.     

Composition of pyrolyzate from Japanese green tea

Green tea is a beverage that is produced by hot-water extraction of the leaves of tea (Camellia sinensis L.). As the amount of green tea consumption has increased, the importance of using the residue has grown. To address this problem, chemical compositions of two pyrolyzates obtained with an electric kiln, L and G, which were obtained from the tea leaf product and its hot-water extraction residue, respectively, were examined. Both pyrolyzates were alkaline, in contrast to the acidic pHs that are typical of pyrolyzates from wood materials. The major constituents were nitrogen-containing compounds, which accounted for up to about 70% (based on gas chromatography-mass spectrometry peak area). Caffeine was the main compound in both samples, although it might not be a pyrolysis product but actually sublimates from the samples and then condenses back into the pyrolyzates. Other nitrogen-containing compounds were formed mainly from proteins and amino acids. Acids and phenols, which are typical components in pyrolyzates obtained from wood materials and contribute to acidic pH, were rare in both samples. Other neutral compounds are known as compounds in pyrolyzates from wood materials. The pyrolyzates obtained in this experiment were novel and may have new uses.Contents of this report was presented in the 52nd Annual Meeting of the Japan Wood Research Society, Gifu, 2002     

Limited but specific variations of seed storage proteins in Japanese common wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)

The electrophoretic banding patterns ofgliadin in common wheat lines derived fromJapan were determined byacid-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. For the 107 wheat lines used in our study,27 different patterns were identified, 13corresponding to the -gliadin, 8 tothe , -gliadin and 6 to the-gliadin. The gliadin patterns ofJapanese wheat cultivars and landracesgreatly differed from the patterns of wheatlines from other countries, and thevariation seen in wheat lines from Japanwas limited to 46 patterns. Sevencollection or breeding areas in Japanshowed different frequencies in theirgliadin patterns. Combining the gliadinpatterns with high molecular weightglutenin subunit compositions, 67combinations were observed. One gliadinpattern consisting of -gliadinpattern F, , -gliadinpattern H and -gliadin pattern Dwas frequently found in many Japanese wheatlines, though the other patterns werelimited to only one or two wheat lines.