Ecological wood anatomy of NepaleseRhododendron (Ericaceae). 1. Interspecific variation

The relationship of selected wood anatomical characters of NepaleseRhododendron with stem diameter, plant height, altitude, and plant form was investigated. We studied one to three specimens each of 26 species: five species each of trees and subtrees I, three species of subtrees II, and 13 species of shrubs. Multiple regression analysis and actual distribution of character values show that pore characters and multiseriate ray ratio have a stronger correlation with stem diameter than altitude; that pore density, vessel element length, fiber-tracheid length, and multiseriate ray density and width are equally related to altitude and stem diameter, or to altitude and plant height; and that bar number, and multiseriate ray area and height have a stronger connection with altitude. Among the characters, average pore area is most strongly correlated with stem diameter and increases exponentially as diameter increases. For wood structure of NepaleseRhododendron, 17 to 63 % of the variation is affected by non-anatomical factors. The general trends in wood structure of NepaleseRhododendron show that trees and subtrees form one continuous unit whereas shrubs form another that often has wider ranges of variation.     

Ecological wood anatomy of NepaleseRhododendron (Ericaceae). 2. Intraspecific variation

The intraspecific relationship of selected wood anatomical characters with stem diameter, plant height, and altitude was investigated in four NepaleseRhododendron species:R. anthopogon, R. lepidotum, R. campanulatum, andR. arboreum, i.e., two shrubs, one subtree, and one tree. We studied 23 to 27 specimens for each species.R. anthopogon grew from 3,380 to 4,950 m,R. lepidotum from 2,060 to 4,720 m,R. campanulatum from 2,790 to 4,140 m, andR. arboreum from 1,430 to 3,460 m. Multiple regression analysis and actual distribution of character values show that the wood anatomical characters having a significant correlation with non-anatomical factors differ between species. The number of significant characters are two inR. anthopogon andR. campanulatum, five inR. lepidotum, and nine inR. arboreum and tends to be small in species having smaller altitudinal ranges. Average pore area, most strongly correlated with non-anatomical factors in interspecific variation, is significantly correlated only inR. lepidotum andR. arboreum. The general trends in intraspecific variation among four NepaleseRhododendron species differ from the trends found in interspecific variation within the genus and are characteristic of each species.     

Hypervariable spacer regions are good sites for developing specific PCR-RFLP markers and PCR primers for screening actinorhizal symbionts

While the ribosomal RNA like highly conserved genes are good molecular chronometers for establishing phylogenetic relationships, they can also be useful in securing the amplification of adjoining hyper-variable regions. These regions can then be used for developing specific PCR primers or PCR-RFL profiles to be used as molecular markers. We report here the use of ITS region ofrrn operon ofFrankia for developing PCR-RFL profiles capable of discriminating between closely related frankiae. We have also made use of the ITS 1 region of the nuclearrrn operon ofAlnus nepalensis (D Don) for designing a PCR primer for specific amplification of nuclear DNA of this tree.     

Latitudinal trends in wood anatomy within species and genera: case study in Cornus s.l. (Cornaceae)

Latitudinal trends in wood anatomical characters in three Asiatic species of Cornus sensu lato (s.l.) were studied and compared with those for the whole genus based on an extensive sampling covering the specific distribution ranges and the generic data from a previous study. We studied 124 specimens of C. controversa growing between 31.5° and 45.3° N, 54 of C. kousa between 24.4° and 40.5° N, and 64 of C. macrophylla between 27.8° and 41.0° N. Characters studied were vessel element length, fiber length, vessel frequency, tangential vessel diameter, and vessel grouping index. At the species level no latitudinal trends were detected throughout the distribution ranges of the species. Neither tree size, altitude, nor climatic factors had a significant correlation with wood anatomical characters. In contrast, at the genus level, latitudinal trends were significant not just for the whole genus, but for both New and Old World species groups. At the genus level, latitude and three climatic factors all had a significant correlation with wood anatomical characters, but correlation coefficients with latitude were markedly high. The difference in latitudinal trends between the genus and species levels may be due to the radiation of Cornus along paleoclimatic gradients in the early Tertiary.     

Evolutionary implications of nucleotide sequence relatedness between Alnus nepalensis and Alnus glutinosa and also between corresponding Frankia microsymbionts

Frankia DNAs were isolated directly from root nodules of Alnus nepalensis and Alnus nitida collected from various natural sites in India. For comparison, a nodule sample from Alnus glutinosa was also collected from Tuebingen, Germany. Nucleotide sequence analyses of amplified 16S–23S ITS region revealed that one of the microsymbionts from Alnus nepalensis was closely related to the microsymbiont from Alnus glutinosa. A similar exercise on the host was also carried out. It was found that one sample of Alnus nepalensis was closely related to Alnus glutinosa sequence from Europe. Since both Frankia and the host sequences studied revealed proximity between Alnus glutinosa and Alnus nepalensis, it is hypothesised that the common progenitor of all the alders first entered into an association with Frankia, and the symbiotic association has evolved since.     

Variable wood formation and adaptation to the alpine environment of Ephedra pachyclada (Gnetales: Ephedraceae) in the Mustang district, western Nepal

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Plants of Ephedra normally have vessels, but are known to become nearly vessel-less in some alpine localities. Previous studies implied that wood formation in Ephedra differs fundamentally from that in dicotyledons in which vessel-bearing and vessel-less taxa are systematically distinct. Using E. pachyclada in the Mustang district of Nepal, growing in an altitudinal range of over 2000 m, variation in wood formation and adaptation to alpine environment was studied in this normally vessel-bearing species. METHODS: Variation in wood anatomy and wood formation was observed with conventional optical microscopy. The lengths of three kinds of tracheary elements were measured and statistically analysed against habitat altitude and plant size of the individuals studied. KEY RESULTS: In E. pachyclada three kinds of tracheary elements, vessel elements, tracheids and fibre-tracheids, were nearly equal in length within individuals showing no elongation after differentiation from cambial initials. Tracheary element lengths among individuals had a negative correlation with altitude and a positive correlation with plant size. Multivariate analyses showed that altitude has a stronger correlation with tracheary element lengths than plant height or stem diameter. Moreover, several individuals from high elevations completely lacked vessels, and vessel formation fluctuated even in individuals from lower elevations. CONCLUSIONS: Wood anatomical trends in E. pachyclada are considered as an adaptation to extremely dry conditions in high mountains. Fluctuation in vessel formation in individuals from low elevations indicated that vessels differentiate only when their lateral expansion is allowed. These results showed that E. pachyclada has a different system of wood formation from dicotyledons and supported the opinion that the wood structure of Gnetales is fundamentally different from that of angiosperms.     

固氮树种旱冬瓜对退化林地土壤修复和林下植被重建的生态驱动效应

固氮树种对退化土壤和森林的结构与功能修复和改良具有重要价值,但是,固氮树种的混交配置、林龄变化和人工与天然起源林分对土壤修复和林下植被重建方面的生态驱动效应与影响机制的认识尚不够深入。因此,在金沙江上游选择退耕地上不同混交配置模式、不同林龄旱冬瓜(Alnus nepalensis)人工林和旱冬瓜天然次生林,对比分析了土壤养分、林下植被生长、林下植被多样性和旱冬瓜材积等指标的差异,以期阐明固氮树种旱冬瓜对土壤养分状况及林下植被重建的生态驱动效应。结果表明：(1)不同旱冬瓜人工林配置模式中,旱冬瓜纯林的土壤养分综合指标显著高于旱冬瓜+云南松混交林和云南松纯林(P<0.05);(2)不同林龄旱冬瓜人工林中土壤有机质、总氮及土壤养分综合指标呈现8年生林均显著大于5年生林(P<0.05);(3)土壤有机质、总氮及土壤养分综合指标均为旱冬瓜天然林>旱冬瓜和云南松人工混交林>云南松天然林(P<0.05);(4)SEM模型分析发现,旱冬瓜材积与土壤养分综合指标呈极显著的正相关关系(R=0.473,P<0.001);(5)在不同旱冬瓜人工配置模式和不同优势种的天然林中...     

贵州梵净山亮叶水青冈解剖特征的生态格局及主导因子分析

使用具有不同生物学意义的生态因子为环境变量,应用多元统计方法,分析了贵州梵净山的亮叶水青冈（Ｆａｇｕｓ ｌｕｃｉｄａ Ｌ．）叶片及木材形态解剖特征的生态格局和影响其变化的主导生态因子。结果表明,随着温度要素的增加,叶片的所有解剖特征、叶表面的气孔面各以及木材的导管直径、纤维长度均显示下降趋势,而叶表面的气孔器密度、木材的导管频率和单列射线高度呈上升趋势;随着寒冷指数（负积温）和水分因子（年降水和水     

Morphological,structural and physiological differences in heteromorphic leaves of Euphrates poplar during development stages and at crown scales

• Euphrates poplar (Populus euphratica Oliv.) has heteromorphic leaves including strip, lanceolate, ovate, and broad‐ovate leaves from base to top in the mature canopy.
• To clarify how diameter at breast height (DBH) and tree height affect the functional characteristics of all kinds of heteromorphic leaves, we measured the morphological anatomical structure and physiological indices of five crown heteromorphic leaves of P. euphratica at 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 m from the same site. We also analysed the relationships between morphological structures and physiological characteristics of heteromorphic leaves and DBH and the height of heteromorphic leaves.
• The results showed that the number of abnormalities regarding blade width, leaf area, leaf thickness, leaf mass per area, cuticle layer thickness, palisade tissue thickness, and palisade tissue/sponge tissue ratio increased with size order and sampling height gradient. Net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, stomatal conductance, instantaneous water use efficiency, stable delta carbon isotope ratio, proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) content increased with DBH and sampling height. By contrast, blade length, leaf shape index, and intercellular CO2 concentration decreased with the increase in path order and sampling height gradient. Although MDA content and leaf sponge thickness were not correlated with DBH or sampling height, other morphological structure and physiological parameters were significantly correlated with these variables. In addition, correlations were found among leaf morphology, anatomical structure, and physiological index parameters indicating that they changed with path order and tree height gradient.
• The differences in the morphology, anatomic structure and physiological characteristics of the heteromorphic leaves ofP. euphratica are related to ontogenesis stage and coronal position.

     

红锥家系遗传变异与优良家系选择

为选择红锥(Castanopsis hystrix)优良家系,对2–11年生红锥家系的生长性状和遗传参数进行了研究分析。结果表明,家系间在树高、胸径和单株材积上的差异达显著或极显著水平,家系的树高、胸径和单株材积受中等或中等以上遗传控制,具有很强的家系和家系内单株选择潜力;家系的单株材积变异幅度较大,胸径居中,树高的较小,显示出红锥家系间存在着丰富的变异;家系和单株遗传力随林龄的增大逐渐变小,到7–9年生时逐渐稳定。年度生长性状的相关分析表明,树高、胸径和单株材积的遗传相关系数随林龄逐渐增大,到7年生时最大,分别达到0.9602、0.9340和0.9849,之后趋于稳定,因此,7年生可作为早期选择的适合年龄。结合早期选择及形质指标,11年生时最终选择出优良家系10个,其平均树高、胸径和单株材积分别为13.95 m、14.34 cm和0.1229 m3,平均遗传增益分别为12.24%、18.69%和51.59%,其通直度、圆满度、分枝角度、最大分枝、冠幅、枝下高等形质指标也提高7.71%~12.94%。     

祁连山排露沟流域青海云杉天然更新与土壤水热的关系

青海云杉是祁连山区森林生态系统的建群种,其天然更新对维持祁连山森林生态系统功能具有重要意义。以祁连山排露沟流域青海云杉林天然更新为研究对象,于2021年6-9月测定海拔2700-3300m的0-40cm土层土壤温度和水分数据,并于7月中旬对样地天然更新进行每木检尺,将天然更新划分为幼苗(第一龄级)阶段和幼树(第二龄级)阶段,通过方差分析探究不同海拔更新苗胸径、株高的差异,再进一步建立回归模型拟合更新苗胸径、株高与各层土壤水热的关系,探讨更新苗胸径、株高对土壤水热的响应。结果表明:(1)更新苗胸径、株高随海拔升高而降低,海拔2700m幼苗胸径与3300m幼苗胸径存在显著性差异(P<0.05),海拔2700m、2800m幼苗、幼树株高与3300m幼苗、幼树株高存在显著性差异(P<0.05),幼树胸径在各海拔均不存在显著性差异,表明更新苗胸径对海拔的敏感性要低于更新苗株高。(2)更新苗胸径、株高与土壤温度呈正相关,与土壤水分呈负相关,幼苗胸径与20cm土壤温度和土壤水分的相关系数最大,幼树胸径与40cm土壤温度和土壤水分相关系数最大,幼树株高与40cm土壤温度及20cm土壤水分相关系数最大。(3)回归模型显示幼苗胸径和株高对土壤水热的利用模式相同,而幼树胸径和株高对土壤水热的利用模式存在差异。(4)青海云杉天然更新随着龄级的增加,影响生长的主要因素由土壤温度逐渐变为土壤水分,更新苗胸径对土壤水热的响应也随着龄级的增加在逐渐减弱。     

华南地区常见树种导管特征与树干液流的关系

为探讨树木结构与功能的关系,对华南地区常见8种树木边材的导管特征进行观察,并利用Granier热扩散探针法测量干、湿季树干的液流密度,分析导管特征与树干液流的关系。结果表明,除红锥(Castanopsis hystrix)有两种导管外,大叶相思(Acacia auriculaeformis)、荷木(Schima superba)、火力楠(Michelia macclurei)、藜蒴(C.fissa)、马占相思(A.mangium)、柠檬桉(Eucalyptus citriodora)、尾巨桉(E.urophylla×E.grandis)的导管类型单一。导管特征在种间存在明显差异,且导管长度、密度和孔径之间存在明显相关性,它们与标准化的边材面积呈现显著相关。湿季液流最大值与导管特征无明显相关性,但整树最大蒸腾速率与导管特征呈显著相关;树木的日蒸腾量与导管特征也有明显相关性。因此,树木的液流速率并不受树干的导管影响;而树干的导管孔径与边材面积间的负相关权衡机制,可以降低树种间由于导管孔径差异引起的树干的水分输送速率的差异性。     

Genotypic variation in wood properties and growth traits of triploid hybrid clones of Populus tomentosa at three clonal trials

To better understand the genetic control of growth traits (tree height, dbh, and stem volume) and wood properties (basic wood density and fiber length) in triploid hybrid clones of Populus tomentosa, genetic relationships among selected wood properties with growth traits were examined in 5-year-old clonal field trials located in Yanzhou, Gaotang, and Xiangfen, northern China. In total, 180 trees from 10 clones were sampled from the three sites. The site had a moderate effect on basic wood density (BWD), stem wood dry weight (DWT), and tree growth and had a highly significant effect on fiber length (FL) (P?<?0.001). Clonal effects were also significant (P?<?0.05) for all studied traits (except for diameter at breast height (DBH) and stem volume (SV)). Clone × site interaction was significant for all the studied traits except for FL. The estimated repeatability of clonal means for FL (0.91) was higher than for BWD (0.71), DWT (0.62), tree height (0.62), DBH (0.61), and SV (0.55). Intersite genetic correlation estimates indicated that wood properties were more stable than growth traits. Phenotypic correlation estimates between SV and BWD ranged from ?0.29 to ?0.10.     

尾叶桉人工林种群密度的研究

探讨了5.6年生尾叶桉种群密度与冠幅、胸径、树高、立木单株材积、林分蓄积量、木材性质及保存率等的作用规律和相关模型.结果表明,密度对胸径、立木单株材积、冠幅及枝下高的影响达到极显著水平;对蓄积量、木材纤维宽度的影响达显著水平;对树高、木材气干密度和木材纤维长度虽有一定的影响,但不显著.其中,密度与蓄积量、枝下高、木材纤维宽度呈正相关关系;而与胸径、立木单株材积、冠幅呈负相关关系.此外,尾叶桉具有较宽的合理密度范围;作为短周期浆纸林,其最佳密度应确定为2000株·hm_-2.     

尾叶桉人工林种群密度的研究

探讨了５．６年生尾叶桉种群密度与冠幅、胸径、树高、立木单株材积、林分蓄积量、木材性质及保存率等的作用规律和相关模型。结果表明,密度对胸径、立木单株材积、冠幅及枝下高的影响达到极显著水平;对蓄积量、木材纤维宽度的影响达显著水平;对树高、木材气干密度和木材纤维长度虽有一定的影响,但不显著。其中,密度与蓄积量、枝下高、木材纤维宽度呈正相关关系;而与胸径、立林单株材积、冠幅呈负相关关系。此外,尾叶桉具有较     

桥山栎林群落结构特征与物种多样性相关关系分析

为了解森林群落结构特征与物种多样性之间的相关关系,以黄土高原桥山林区典型麻栎纯林、麻栎阔叶混交林和麻栎油松混交林为研究对象,调查分析了群落结构特征,计算物种重要值及物种多样性,并进行了冗余分析,结果表明:(1)麻栎油松混交林主要以乔木层胸径、树高、枝下高等最高;麻栎阔叶混交林以灌木层盖度、地径、冠幅、高度等最高;麻栎纯林以草本地径、草本盖度及草本冠幅最高。(2) 3种类型林分乔木层重要值最高的均为麻栎(Quercus acutissima),灌木层为狼牙刺(Sophora viciifolia)、南蛇藤(Celastrus orbiculatus)、胡枝子(Lespedeza bicolor),草本层为苔草(Carex tristachya)。(3)麻栎油松混交林乔、灌层物种多样性较高,麻栎阔叶混交林以草本层物种多样性最高。(4)不同类型麻栎林群落结构特征与物种多样性关系有差异。松栎混交林中,对物种多样性影响最大的为乔木胸径、新稍长及灌木高度;麻栎阔叶混交林对物种多样性影响最大的为灌木层高度及冠幅;麻栎纯林中,对物种多样性影响最大的为乔木胸径。(5)麻栎油松混交林、麻栎阔叶混交林的胸径、树高、物种多样较麻栎纯林高,具有较高木材生产能力和生态防护功能,是未来森林经营培育的方向。     

The occurrence of vascular tracheids inBetula and some otherBetulaceae genera

The occurrence of vascular tracheids inBetula, Alnus, Carpinus andCorylus is reported. It is established that the cells are a consistent feature in early and late wood where they are associated with vessel elements in radial multiples. The possible function and taxonomic importance of these cells are briefly considered.     

灰木莲生长对土壤养分和气候因子的响应

对原产地越南以及我国多个引种地的灰木莲的树高和胸径生长特征进行研究,分析了灰木莲生长对土壤养分和气候因子的响应.结果表明: 不同种植地灰木莲的树高和胸径年均生长量差异显著.灰木莲胸径和树高的年均生长量与土壤全N、全P、速效N、速效P含量呈显著正相关,而与土壤有机质、全K、速效K含量相关性不显著,表明土壤N、P含量是影响灰木莲生长的主要养分因子.不同海拔灰木莲树高年均生长量差异显著,而胸径无显著差异.海拔为150～550 m,树高年均生长量随海拔升高而增大,在海拔550 m处达到最大,随后降低,表明海拔550 m为灰木莲引种的最适海拔.灰木莲树高和胸径的年均生长量与年均温、≥10 ℃积温呈显著负相关,与年降雨量呈显著正相关,表明年均温、≥10 ℃积温和降雨量是影响灰木莲生长的主要气候因子.     

Chloroplast DNA variation of Panax (Araliaceae) in Nepal and its taxonomic implications

The restriction site and size variation of five PCR amplified fragments of noncoding chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) was examined in material from 13 populations ofPanax from Nepal and China. Fourteen restriction endonucleases produced 81 restriction site and length variations from the large single-copy region of cpDNA, 27 of which are polymorphic. The cpDNA dataset suggests two distinct groups ofPanax from Nepal (clades I and II). Clade I consists of two populations ofP. pseudoginseng subsp.pseudoginseng, and clade II is composed of material referable toP. pseudogingeng subsp.himalaicus (vars.himalaicus, angustifolius, andbipinnatifidus). The three accessions ofP. pseudoginseng subsp.japonicus andP. ginseng studied from China had cpDNA characters that differed from the HimalayanPanax. The highly distinctive cpDNA profile and morphology ofP. pseudoginseng subsp.pseudoginseng sensu Hara (1970) from central Nepal support its status as a separate species, which has an extremely restricted distribution.     

Pressurized gas transport in two Japanese alder species in relation to their natural habitats

Oxygen uptake measurements have shown that pressurized gas transport, resulting from the physical effect of thermo-osmosis of gases, improves oxygen supply to the roots of the seedlings in two alder speciesAlnus japonica (Thunb.) Steud. andAlnus hirsuta (Spach) Rupr., which are both native in Japan. When gas transport conditions were established by irradiation of the tree stems the internal aeration was increased to a level nearly equal to the oxygen demand of the root system in leafless seedlings ofA. hirsuta, but was higher inA. japonica so that excess oxygen was excreted into the environment. An increase of superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity, which protects plants from toxic oxygen radicals and post-anoxic injury, has been observed in root tissues ofA. japonica when the seedlings were flooded for 3 days. The increase of SOD activity, in concert with high gas transport rates, may enable this tree species to grow in wet sites characterized by low oxygen partial pressure in the soil and by varying water tables. A less effective gas transport, flood-induced reduction of SOD activity in root tissues, and reduced height growth in waterlogged soil may be responsible for the fact thatA. hirsuta is unable to inhabit wettland sites.