Inherited narrow crown form, harvest index and stem biomass production in Norway spruce, Picea abies

The effect of crown form on stem biomass production was investigated in an 18-19-year-old Norway spruce stand (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). The harvest index was 0.271 in pendula trees, which have a heritable narrow crown form, and 0.235 in normal-crowned trees and the dry weights of stem biomass were 2.57 kg and 3.37 kg, respectively. However, the production of stem biomass per crown projected area was more than twice as much in pendula trees as in normal-crowned trees. Results indicate that the crown form of pendula spruce is less plastic than that of normal-crowned spruce suggesting that such trees might maintain a high stemwood yield per unit ground area with increasing stand density. Because pendula spruce has a higher harvest index and a less flexible crown than normal-crowned spruce, it might be useful for crop tree ideotype breeding.     

Does canopy mean nitrogen concentration explain variation in canopy light use efficiency across 14 contrasting forest sites?

The maximum light use efficiency (LUE?=?gross primary production (GPP)/absorbed photosynthetic photon flux density (aPPFD)) of plant canopies has been reported to vary spatially and some of this variation has previously been attributed to plant species differences. The canopy nitrogen concentration [N] can potentially explain some of this spatial variation. However, the current paradigm of the N-effect on photosynthesis is largely based on the relationship between photosynthetic capacity (A(max)) and [N], i.e., the effects of [N] on photosynthesis rates appear under high PPFD. A maximum LUE-[N] relationship, if it existed, would influence photosynthesis in the whole range of PPFD. We estimated maximum LUE for 14 eddy-covariance forest sites, examined its [N] dependency and investigated how the [N]-maximum LUE dependency could be incorporated into a GPP model. In the model, maximum LUE corresponds to LUE under optimal environmental conditions before light saturation takes place (the slope of GPP vs. PPFD under low PPFD). Maximum LUE was higher in deciduous/mixed than in coniferous sites, and correlated significantly with canopy mean [N]. Correlations between maximum LUE and canopy [N] existed regardless of daily PPFD, although we expected the correlation to disappear under low PPFD when LUE was also highest. Despite these correlations, including [N] in the model of GPP only marginally decreased the root mean squared error. Our results suggest that maximum LUE correlates linearly with canopy [N], but that a larger body of data is required before we can include this relationship into a GPP model. Gross primary production will therefore positively correlate with [N] already at low PPFD, and not only at high PPFD as is suggested by the prevailing paradigm of leaf-level A(max)-[N] relationships. This finding has consequences for modelling GPP driven by temporal changes or spatial variation in canopy [N].     

Effects of genetic entry and competition on above ground biomass production of Norway spruce grown in southern Finland

The effects of genetic entry and competition on the above ground dry biomass production (i.e. stem wood, needles, branches and harvest index) was studied in 20 Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) clones grown in southern Finland. Furthermore, the measured above ground biomass components were compared against the corresponding estimations based on biomass models developed previously. The clones included both Finnish and Russian clones, as well as provenance-hybrids clones. Differences existed between clones in stem dry mass production, but not in harvest index or in crown dry mass. However, the competition caused by neighboring trees also significantly affected above ground dry biomass, as well as the biomass of crown and stem separately. Differences in competition between the clones could not be found. Unlike the dry mass of branches, the dry mass of needles and stem could be estimated well for individual sample trees with the available biomass models. Moreover, the clone with the largest above ground dry biomass production had nearly doubled production, on average, than the average over all clones. Thus, some of the clones showed especially high potential for biomass recovery in energy wood thinning.     

The intra‐ and intertester repeatability of radiographic elbow incongruity grading is high in chondrodystrophic dog breeds

Elbow incongruity is a form of elbow dysplasia that causes osteoarthritis, pain, and lameness, and it is common in chondrodystrophic dog breeds. The objective of this retrospective secondary analysis study was to evaluate the intra‐ and interobserver repeatability of a novel radiographic incongruity grading system for assessing elbow incongruity in three chondrodystrophic dog breeds—the dachshund, Skye Terrier, and Glen of Imaal Terrier. We conducted an observer agreement study that included 220 mediolateral antebrachial radiographs from 110 dogs with the elbow in 90° flexion. The radiographs were independently assessed by three observers at three time points, using a four‐stepped grading scale. The proportion of agreement and Kappa coefficient were calculated. Both the intra‐ and interobserver proportions of agreement were substantial when three grades were required to be identical (.705‐.777 and .609, respectively), and almost perfect for two identical grades (.991‐1.000 and .991, respectively). Some differences in repeatability between breeds were noted; specifically, the intraobserver repeatability was higher in the dachshund, and the interobserver repeatability was lower in the Glen of Imaal Terrier. Our study showed that the radiographic imaging protocol and incongruity grading system have high repeatability when assessing elbow incongruity in chondrodystrophic dog breeds.     

Effects of spacing and genetic entry on radial growth and ring density development in Scots pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus sylvestris</Emphasis> L.)

• Introduction  

The objective of this work was to study how spacing and genetic entry and/or origin group affect radial growth (ring width and cumulative diameter development) and ring density from pith to bark in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and in what sense their annual variability could be explained by the climatic variables. The spacing trial was located in central Finland, with current stand density range of 2,000–4,000 trees per hectare. All the six genetic entries had Kanerva pine (plus tree S1101) as a father tree, whereas the mother tree represented Finnish plus trees from southern, central and northern Finland.     

Harvest index in northern temperate cultivated conifers

Harvest index is defined and its relationship with primary production, biomass partitioning and yield components in forest trees examined. As stand density has been found to have a major effect on harvest index, it is concluded that further development of the harvest index concept in forest trees will need to take account of density-yield relationships.     

Growth and frost hardening of European aspen and backcross hybrid aspen as influenced by water and nitrogen

• Introduction  

The interactive effects of water and nitrogen (N) on frost hardiness are not well known in broad-leaved trees. Furthermore, new environmental conditions may favour naturally generated hybrids between native and introduced tree species over native species.     

Elevated temperature effects on germination and early growth of European aspen (Populus tremula), hybrid aspen (P. tremula × P. tremuloides) and their F2-hybrids

This study aimed to understand the interaction between temperature and genotype in terms of the effect on early seedling development of European aspen (Populus tremula) and various F₂-aspen hybrids. We evaluated the response of 16 different European aspen and F₂-hybrid families on seed germination, survival rate and seedling height in one- and two-family trials under three different temperature regimes. In one-family trials, higher germination and higher survival rates were observed in higher temperature (C1700), leading to taller seedlings. European aspen × hybrid aspen individuals (Asp × Hyb) had a higher survival rate and taller seedlings than Asp, Hyb × Asp or Hyb × Hyb individuals. The difference between Asp × Hyb and Hyb × Asp was pronounced. Both growth conditions and genotype (i.e., hybrid cross) had strong effects on germination, survival rate and height of European aspen and F₂-hybrid seedlings. However, the interaction of genotype and growth conditions also had a significant influence on survival rate and seedling height, but not on germination. Two-family trials involving European aspen and F₂-hybrids led to significant negative effects on germination and survival rate and also facilitation effects on seedling height. Similarly, genotype had strong effects on germination and survival rate. Different genotypes and traits affected survival rate and seedling height differently in different growth conditions. These differences were more pronounced in the warmest environment, i.e., 1,700 degree days. We conclude that introgression between F₂-hybrids and local European aspen is likely in the current climate, and any warming will likely favor certain F₂-hybrids, especially the most probable types (P. tremula × (P. tremula × P. tremuloides)).     

Increased atmospheric CO2 concentration enhances the development of photosynthetic capacity beyond the temperature effect for silver birch in simulated future climate

We conducted an experiment to find out how future climate conditions will impact the spring development of photosynthetic capacity of silver birch leaves. We had two greenhouse conditions. In the simulated future climate condition, we had both elevated temperatures and CO₂ concentration, while for reference we had trees growing under current climate conditions. We used two methods to measure the development of photosynthetic capacity: first, the maximum quantum efficiency of photosystem II with a fluorescence meter; and second, the CO₂ assimilation rate with gas exchange measurements. The development of full photosynthetic capacity took around two weeks following the bud burst. The maximum quantum efficiency developed slightly faster than the CO₂ assimilation rate. Both measurement methods showed that an elevated CO₂ concentration enhanced the development of photosynthetic capacity beyond the impact of temperature only. The enhancement under the conditions of our simulated climate change translates to achieving photosynthetic capacity up to five days earlier, which impact should be taken into account in simulations of photosynthetic productivity.     

Effects of genetic entry and competition by neighbouring trees on growth and wood properties of cloned Norway spruce (Picea abies)

? The aim of this work was to study both the effects of genetic entry and competition by neighbouring trees on growth, yield, wood density traits and fibre properties of 20 Norway spruce clones grown in an experimental trial located in southern Finland. The material included 10 Finnish clones, 2 Russian clones and 8 provenance-hybrids clones, the latter ones representing crosses between Finnish and foreign parent trees.

? We found that, compared to growth and yield, wood density traits and fibre properties showed, on average, lower phenotypic variations. Moreover, significant differences could be observed among the clones regardless of the trait (p < 0.05). Conversely, on average, no clear differences could be found between Finnish, Russian and provenance-hybrids clones in most of the studied traits.

? The marked differences among the clones, and lack of clear differences among the provenances suggested that any ranking, regarding different traits, should be based on individual clones. The phenotypic correlations between different traits ranged from moderate to strong suggesting that selection based on one trait would affect other traits. Regardless of clone, the growth of trees (e.g. breast height diameter) decreased and the wood density increased with increasing competition by neighbouring trees, which was expressed by competition index.