Interaction between atmospheric and pedospheric nitrogen nutrition in spruce (Picea abies L. Karst) seedlings

The effect of NO₂ fumigation on root N uptake and metabolism was investigated in 3-month-old spruce (Picea abics L. Karst) seedlings. In a first experiment, the contribution of NO₂ to the plant N budget was measured during a 48 h fumigation with 100mm³m^?3 NO₂. Plants were pre-treated with various nutrient solutions containing NO₂ and NH₄⁺, NO₃^? only or no nitrogen source for 1 week prior to the beginning of fumigation. Absence of NH₄⁺ in the solution for 6d led to an increased capacity for NO₃^? uptake, whereas the absence of both ions caused a decrease in the plant N concentration, with no change in NO₃^? uptake. In fumigated plants, NO₂ uptake accounted for 20–40% of NO₃^? uptake. Root NO₃^? uptake in plants supplied with NH₄⁺plus NO₃^? solutions was decreased by NO₂ fumigation, whereas it was not significantly altered in the other treatments. In a second experiment, spruce seedlings were grown on a solution containing both NO₂ and NH₄⁺ and were fumigated or not with 100mm³m^?3 NO₂ for 7 weeks. Fumigated plants accumulated less dry matter, especially in the roots. Fluxes of the two N species were estimated from their accumulations in shoots and roots, xylem exudate analysis and ¹⁵N labelling. Root NH₄⁺ uptake was approximately three times higher than NO₃^? uptake. Nitrogen dioxide uptake represented 10–15% of the total N budget of the plants. In control plants, N assimilation occurred mainly in the roots and organic nitrogen was the main form of N transported to the shoot. Phloem transport of organic nitrogen accounted for 17% of its xylem transport. In fumigated plants, neither NO₃^? nor NH₄⁺ accumulated in the shoot, showing that all the absorbed NO₂ was assimilated. Root NO₃^? reduction was reduced whereas organic nitrogen transport in the phloem increased by a factor of 3 in NO₂-fimugated as compared with control plants. The significance of the results for the regulation of whole-plant N utilization is discussed.     

Taste receptor activity and feeding behaviour reveal mechanisms of white spruce natural resistance to Eastern spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana

The pattern of feeding of Eastern spruce budworm Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.) (Lepidoptera, Tortricidae) is compared on foliage from white spruce Picea glauca (Moench) Voss. (Pinaceae) trees previously determined to be susceptible and resistant to defoliation by budworm. No differences are observed in electrophysiological responses from taste sensilla to aqueous extracts of the two foliage types, nor is there a preference for either extract type in a choice test. Acetone extracts from the two foliage types are both preferred to a control sucrose solution, although neither elicits a preference relative to the other. These results suggest that there is no difference in phagostimulatory power of internal leaf contents of the two foliage types. Longer‐term observation of feeding behaviour in a no‐choice situation shows no difference in meal duration, confirming the lack of difference in phagostimulatory power. However, on average, intermeal intervals are twice as long on the resistant foliage, leading to an overall lower food consumption during the assay. This result suggests an anti‐digestive or toxic effect of the resistant foliage that slows behaviour and limits food intake. Previous research has shown that waxes of the resistant foliage deter initiation of feeding by the spruce budworm and that this foliage contains higher levels of tannins and monoterpenes. The data suggest that the resistant foliage contains a post‐ingestive second line of defence against the spruce budworm.     

Effects of ozone and elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide on carbohydrate metabolism of spruce needles. Catabolic and detoxification pathways

We have studied the effects of ozone, carbon dioxide and ozone combined with carbon dioxide fumigations on catabolic and detoxification pathways in spruce ( Picea abies [L.] Karst.) needles. The results obtained showed an increase in the activities of three enzymes involved in the detoxification pathway, superoxide dismutase (SOD, EC 1.15.1.1), ascorbate peroxidase (AscPOD, EC 1.11.1.11) and glutathione reductase (GR, EC 1.6.4.2) when trees were exposed to ozone and to ozone‐carbon dioxide treatments. In these two treatments, the fraction of SOD activity due to the chloroplastic isoform was increased (1.5‐fold). In the needles of trees exposed to ozone and to ozone‐carbon dioxide fumigation, an increase in the activities of glucose‐6‐phosphate dehydrogenase (G‐6‐PDH, EC 1.1.1.49) showed that the cell had the capacity to produce more NADPH necessary for the detoxification. Stimulation of other enzymes of catabolic pathways (fumarase [EC 4.2.1.2], phosphofructokinase [PFK, EC 2.7.1.1] and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase [PEPC, EC 4.1.1.31]), was also observed making it possible for the cell to provide the reducing power necessary for detoxification as well as energy and carbon skeletons involved in the repair processes.
When carbon dioxide alone was applied, no effects could be detected on these enzyme activities. However, when carbon dioxide was combined with ozone, the effect of ozone on trees was less than that induced by ozone alone, suggesting that elevated atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations may to some extent protect plants from ozone injury.     

Water relations of Picea abies. I. Comparison of water relations parameters of spruce shoots examined at the end of the vegetation period and in winter

Seasonal changes of some water relations parameters of Norway spruce shoots ( Picea abies [L.] Karst.) were studied during two experiments using the pressure-volume analysis. For each experiment only shoots of a single tree were used.
During the first study, the course of the turgor loss point (as bulk osmotic pressure when turgor first reaches zero, πp) of shoots developed in late 1986 vegetation period, were measured in 1987. The turgor loss point decreased temporarily from –2.5 MPa at the beginning of the year to –3.3 MPa at the end of March, but then increased to the original level for the rest of the year.
During the second study, water relations parameters were measured in late summer 1987 and in late winter 1988. Winter shoots at full water saturation contained up to 20% less water than in late summer. Accordingly, the bulk osmotic pressure at full water saturation (π_p) decreased from –1.7 MPa in late summer to –1.9 MPa in winter, π_p decreased also from –2.2 MPa to –2.8 MPa. However, the amount of osmotically active substances (mOsmol, N) remained unchanged. The relative amount of apoplastic water in the total shoot water content appeared to drop insignificantly from 17% to 15%.
The results show that the decrease in π_o and π_p in late winter is not due to an accumulation of osmotically active substances in the vacuoles but is due to a decrease in tissue water content. The temporary reduction of the symplastic volume by deposition of osmotically inert substances seems to be the most probable cause of this phenomenon.     

Microclimatic buffering by logging residues and forest edges reduces clear‐cutting impacts on forest bryophytes

Question: The practice of extracting logging residues after clear‐cutting for bioenergy purposes is spreading. Logging residues constitute a shelter in clear‐cut areas and therefore concerns have been expressed that their removal could make the ground and its vegetation more exposed to extreme microclimatic conditions. We asked whether logging residues and forest edges can protect ground‐dwelling forest bryophytes from fatal microclimate events following clear‐cutting. Location: Boreal forests of central Sweden. Methods: Using transplants of eight forest floor bryophyte species we experimentally analysed the sheltering effect (less solar radiation and less wind) of logging residues and forest edges in seven clear‐cut areas. Transplants were placed in two contrasting positions in each area; near a north‐facing forest edge and in the centre of the clear‐cut area. In each position, half of the transplants were covered by a layer of spruce branches and the other half was left uncovered. We estimated proportion of apparently living shoots (apparent vitality) and measured radial growth of transplants during one growing season. Results: Position in the clear‐cut area, but not cover of spruce branches, clearly influenced radial growth. Vitality scores were higher among transplants covered with branches and the lowest apparent vitality was observed in uncovered transplants in the middle of clear‐cut areas. The change in area of apparently living shoots during the course of the experiment (growth minus mortality) was unaffected by branch cover close to the edge but positively affected in the centre of the clear‐cut area. In general, the effect of branch cover on bryophytes was higher in the centre of clear‐cut areas. Here, climatic measurements showed that branch cover buffers during periods of extreme microclimates. Conclusions: Extraction of logging residues after clear‐felling may reduce the survival of some ground‐dwelling forest organisms. The additional sheltering provided by branches was unimportant close to forest edges. We suggest smaller clear‐cut areas, green‐tree retention and other ways to make logged areas shadier and less windy to mitigate the reduced shelter caused by harvest of logging residues.