The effects of cambial age and position within the stem on specific conductivity in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) sapwood

Specific conductivity (k_s, m²s^-1MPa^-1) describes the permeability of xylem and is determined by all aspects of xylem anatomy that create resistance to the flow of water. Here we test the hypothesis that k_s is a function of radial and vertical position within the stem, rather than solely a function of cambial age (ring number from the pith), by measuring k_s on samples excised from 35-year-old Douglas-fir [Pseudotsuga menziesii var. menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] trees at six heights and two or three radial positions. Sapwood k_s decreased from the cambium to the heartwood boundary, and the difference between outer and inner sapwood increased with height in the tree. Beneath the live crown, inner sapwood had 80-90% the k_s of outer sapwood, but only 55% just 10 m higher in the stem (about 10 nodes down from the tree top). Outer sapwood k_s peaked near the base of the crown and declined toward both the base and top of the stem. These patterns can be explained by two superimposed effects: the effect of cambial age on the dimensions of tracheids as they are produced, and the effect of xylem aging, which may include accumulation of emboli and aspiration of bordered pits. Tracheid lumen diameter and earlywood and latewood density and width, all factors known to vary with cambial age, were measured on different trees of the same age and from the same stand. Lumen diameter increased with cambial age, whereas the proportion of latewood and growth ring density increased after an initial decrease in the first 5 years. Our results suggest that the effect of cambial age on xylem anatomy is not sufficient to explain variation in k_s. Instead, physical position (both vertical and radial) in the stem and cambial age must be considered as determinants of conductivity.     

X-ray microdensitometry applied to subfossil tree-rings: growth characteristics of ancient pines from the southern boreal forest zone in Finland at intra-annual to centennial time-scales

A collection of subfossil wood of Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine) was exposed to X-ray densitometry. The collection of 64 samples from the southern boreal forest zone was dendrochronologically cross-dated to a.d. 673-1788. Growth characteristics were determined by performing density profiles including the following parameters: minimum density, earlywood and latewood boundary density, maximum density, earlywood width, earlywood density, latewood width, latewood density, annual ring width and annual ring density. Seven out of the nine parameters were found to contain non-climatic growth trends and six were found to be heteroscedastic in their variance. Tree-specific records were indexed, to remove the non-climatic growth trends and stabilize the variance, and combined into nine parameter-specific tree-ring chronologies. Growth characteristics of the pines changed in parallel with the generally agreed climatic cooling from the Medieval Warm Period to the Little Ice Age: pine tree-rings showed decreasing maximum densities from the period a.d. 975-1150 to a.d. 1450–1625. A concomitant change in the intra-annual growth characteristics was detected between these periods. The findings indicate that not only the trees growing near the species’ distributional limits are sensitive to large-scale climatic variations but also the trees growing in habitats remote from the timberline have noticeably responded to past climate changes.     

The importance of early summer temperature and date of snow melt for tree growth in the Siberian Subarctic

Wood material for at least 12 larch trees at six sites [Larix sibirica Ldb, Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr, Larix cajanderi Mayr] near the northern timberline in Siberia was analyzed to investigate influence of climatic factor changes on tree-ring growth at high latitudes. Tree-ring cell size, maximum latewood density and ring width measured by means of image analysis and X-ray radiodensitometry and calculated latewood cell-wall thickness were used. Correlation analysis of tree-ring structure parameter chronologies with temperatures averaged over periods of 5 days (pentad) shows that early summer temperature (mean for 5-6 pentads, depending on the region, starting from the middle of June) and date of snow melt are the most important factors that define seasonal growth and tree-ring structure. Analysis of instrumental climatic data indicates that a positive trend of early summer temperature was combined with winter precipitation (October-April) increase and this combination leads to later snow melt. Based of the results of tree-ring growth modelling, it was shown that later snow melt (hence, delayed initiation of cambial activity and, as a result, decrease of wood production) explains the changes in the relationship between tree ring width and summer temperature dynamics observed after the 1960s for a large area of the Siberian Subarctic. The understanding of the role of winter precipitation in controlling ring growth, through its effect on the timing of cambial activation, suggests the possibility of using ring structure parameters to create reconstructions of past winter precipitation variations.     

How do water transport and water storage differ in coniferous earlywood and latewood?

The goal of this research project was to determine the water transport behaviour of earlywood versus latewood in the trunk of 21-year-old Douglas-fir [Pseudostuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco] trees. Specific conductivity (k(s)) and the vulnerability of xylem to embolism were measured on a single growth ring and in a subset of earlywood and latewood samples within the same ring. Earlywood/latewood ratio, trunk water potential (Psi) and relative water content (RWC) were used to predict differences in conductivities and vulnerability to embolism. Earlywood has about 11 times the k(s) of latewood, and up to 90% of the total flow occurred through the earlywood. Earlywood's vulnerability to embolism followed the same trend as that of the whole wood, with 50% loss of conductivity at -2.2 MPa (P(50)). Latewood was more vulnerable to embolism than earlywood at high Psi, but as Psi decreased, the latewood showed very little further embolism, with a P(50) <-5.0 MPa. The lowest trunk Psi estimated in the field was about -1.4 MPa, indicating that latewood and earlywood in the field experienced about 42% and 16% loss of k(s), respectively. The higher vulnerability to embolism in latewood than in earlywood at field Psi was associated with higher water storage capacity (21.8% RWC MPa(-1) versus 4.1% RWC MPa(-1), latewood and earlywood, respectively). The shape of the vulnerability curve suggests that air seeding through latewood may occur directly through pores in the margo and seal off at lower pressure than earlywood pores.     

Sperm extract and inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate induce cytosolic calcium rise in the central cell of Torenia fournieri

Microinjection of soluble sperm extract and Calcium Green-1 10 kDa-dextran conjugate (CG-1) into the mature central cell of Torenia fournieri induced a significant rise in cytosolic free calcium concentration ([Ca²⁺]_i). The rise reached a maximum at 20 min after injection and then steadily declined. Nevertheless, a relatively high level of [Ca²⁺]_i was maintained even 40 min after injection. Microinjection of sperm extract of maize into Torenia central cells, however, did not trigger any increase in [Ca²⁺]_i, suggesting the possibility of distinct triggers in different species. We also injected caged inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (InsP₃) and caged cyclic ADP-ribose (cADPR) into Torenia central cells to compare the pattern of Ca²⁺ rise induced by the sperm extract. The results showed that [Ca²⁺]_i elevation triggered by the release of InsP₃ after photolysis appears much faster than that induced by sperm extract. The increase in [Ca²⁺]_i reached a maximum at 70-80 s and dropped to the resting level within 300 s after photolysis. Microinjection of cADPR, however, did not induce any changes in [Ca²⁺]_i. The results indicate that sperm extract might contain factors triggering the release of Ca²⁺ in the central cell.     

Comparison of methods for the demarcation between earlywood and latewood in tree rings of Norway spruce

The precise demarcation between earlywood and latewood is important for the detailed analysis of intra-annual tree ring features. Different techniques based on visual assessment, wood anatomy analysis and X-ray densitometry have been developed and are currently used for this purpose. Depending on the chosen method, tree species and environmental conditions, the results can significantly vary. Thus, it is important to determine the technique optimal for a particular research. Here, we investigated Norway spruce (Picea abies) tree rings to examine the agreement among the following demarcation methods: (1) direct visual assessment, (2) Mork’s index (anatomical definition of the transition from earlywood to latewood based on cell wall-lumen ratio) and (3) fixed and floating density thresholds applied to intra-ring density profiles. The aim was to modify both the Mork’s criterion and density thresholds on the basis of reference values given by visual identification of earlywood/latewood transition. A total of 231 tree rings were analysed by all methods. Our results showed that the usage of floating threshold (defined for each ring separately based on density profiles) is more reliable in comparison with fixed threshold (the same threshold value used for all tree rings and samples). Statistical analysis revealed the best correspondence between visual identification of earlywood/latewood transition and demarcation based on the standard Mork’s index and the floating density threshold derived as 80 % of maximum latewood density. In terms of Mork’s index calibration, the results showed that to determine latewood cells in Norway spruce trees growing in temperate conditions, it is sufficient to use an index value equal to 0.83. The results are applicable for the studied spruce population growing in a temperate climate. The methodology itself, however, is universal and can help to calibrate criteria for earlywood-latewood demarcation under specific conditions.     

Chlorophyll fluorescence and photosynthetic response to light in 1-year-old needles during spring and early summer in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus leucodermis</Emphasis>

Ten-year-old trees from four Italian populations of Pinus leucodermis (populations A, B, C and D), which were collected from different sites at different altitudes, were grown near Florence, Italy. Needle CO₂ gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence response to increasing light intensities were evaluated; gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence variation between April and July were also monitored. Populations A, B and C showed a similar photosynthetic response to increasing photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) intensities, while at various light intensities population D, which originated from the highest altitude, showed the highest photosynthetic rates. In this population photosynthesis was saturated at PPFDs higher than 900 µmol m^-2s^-1 and a slow decrease of effective photosystem II quantum yield and F'_V/F'_M in response to increasing PPFDs were found. The same trees also showed a faster recovery in photosynthesis from limitations induced by winter temperatures than the other three populations. This work showed that photosynthetic response to light in population D was different from the other populations; trees from this population were probably naturally selected to prevent photoinhibition due to excess light.     

Influence of climate-driven shifts in biomass allocation on water transport and storage in ponderosa pine

Conifers decrease the amount of biomass apportioned to leaves relative to sapwood in response to increasing atmospheric evaporative demand. We determined how these climate-driven shifts in allocation affect the aboveground water relations of ponderosa pine growing in contrasting arid (desert) and humid (montane) climates. To support higher transpiration rates, a low leaf:sapwood area ratio (A_L/A_S) in desert versus montane trees could increase leaf-specific hydraulic conductance (K_L). Alternatively, a high sapwood volume:leaf area ratio in the desert environment may increase the contribution of stored water to transpiration. Transpiration and hydraulic conductance were determined by measuring sap flow (J_S) and shoot water potential during the summer (June-July) and fall (August-September). The daily contribution of stored water to transpiration was determined using the lag between the beginning of transpiration from the crown at sunrise and J_S. In the summer, mean maximum J_S was 31.80LJ.74 and 24.34Dž.05 g m^-2 s^-1 for desert and montane trees (a 30.6% difference), respectively. In the fall, J_S was 25.33NJ.52 and 16.36dž.64 g m^-2 s^-1 in desert and montane trees (a 54.8% difference), respectively. J_S was significantly higher in desert relative to montane trees during summer and fall (P<0.05). Predawn and midday shoot water potential and sapwood relative water content did not differ between environments. Desert trees had a 129% higher K_L than montane trees in the summer (2.41᎒^-5 versus 1.05᎒^-5 kg m^-2 s^-1 MPa^-1, P<0.001) and a 162% higher K_L in the fall (1.97᎒^-5 versus 0.75᎒^-5 kg m^-2 s^-1 MPa^-1, P<0.001). Canopy conductance decreased with D in all trees at all measurement periods (P<0.05). Maximum g_C was 3.91 times higher in desert relative to montane trees averaged over the summer and fall. Water storage capacity accounted for 11 kg (11%) and 10.6 kg (17%) of daily transpiration in the summer and fall, respectively, and did not differ between desert and montane trees. By preventing xylem tensions from reaching levels that cause xylem cavitation, high K_L in desert ponderosa pine may facilitate its avoidance. Thus, the primary benefit of low leaf:sapwood allocation in progressively arid environments is to increase K_L and not to increase the contribution of stored water to transpiration.     

Water availability and carbon isotope discrimination in conifers

The stable C isotope composition ('¹³C) of leaf and wood tissue has been used as an index of water availability at both the species and landscape level. However, the generality of this relationship across species has received little attention. We compiled literature data for a range of conifers and examined relationships among landscape and environmental variables (altitude, precipitation, evaporation) and '¹³C. A significant component of the variation in '¹³C was related to altitude (discrimination decreased with altitude in stemwood, 2.53‰ km^-1 altitude, r²=0.49, and in foliage, 1.91‰ km^-1, r²=0.42), as has been noted previously. The decrease in discrimination with altitude was such that the gradient in CO₂ partial pressure into the leaf (P_a-P_i) and altitude were generally unrelated. The ratio of precipitation to evaporation (P/E) explained significant variation in P_a-P_i of stemwood (r²=0.45) and foliage (r²=0.27), but only at low (<0.8) P/E. At greater P/E there was little or no relationship, and other influences on '¹³C probably dominated the effect of water availability. We also examined the relationship between plant drought stress (O) and '¹³C within annual rings of stemwood from Pinus radiata and Pinus pinaster in south-western Australia. Differential thinning and fertiliser application produced large differences in the availability of water, nutrients and light to individual trees. At a density of 750 stems ha^-1, O and '¹³C were less (more negative) than at 250 stems ha^-1 indicating greater drought stress and less efficient water use, contrary to what was expected in light of the general relationship between discrimination and P/E. The greater '¹³C of trees from heavily thinned plots may well be related to an increased interception of radiation by individual trees and greater concentrations of nutrients in foliage - attributes that increase rates of photosynthesis, reduce P_i and increase '¹³C. '¹³C was thus modified to a greater extent by interception of radiation and by nutrient concentrations than by water availability and the '¹³C-O relationship varied between thinning treatments. Within treatments, the relationship between '¹³C and O was strong (0.38<r²<0.58). We conclude that '¹³C may well be a useful indicator of water availability or drought stress, but only in seasonally dry climates (P/E<1) and where variation in other environmental factors can be accounted for.     

Carbon isotope discrimination in photosynthetic bark

We developed and tested a theoretical model describing carbon isotope discrimination during photosynthesis in tree bark. Bark photosynthesis reduces losses of respired CO₂ from the underlying stem. As a consequence, the isotopic composition of source CO₂ and the CO₂ concentration around the chloroplasts are quite different from those of photosynthesizing leaves. We found three lines of evidence that bark photosynthesis discriminates against ¹³C. First, in bark of Populus tremuloides, the '¹³C of CO₂ efflux increased from -24.2‰ in darkness to -15.8‰ in the light. In Pinus monticola, the '¹³C of CO₂ efflux increased from -27.7‰ in darkness to -10.2‰ in the light. Observed increases in '¹³C were generally in good agreement with predictions from the theoretical model. Second, we found that '¹³C of dark-respired CO₂ decreased following 2-3 h of illumination (P<0.01 for Populus tremuloides, P<0.001 for Pinus monticola). These decreases suggest that refixed photosynthate rapidly mixes into the respiratory substrate pool. Third, a field experiment demonstrated that bark photosynthesis influenced whole-tissue '¹³C. Long-term light exclusion caused a localized increase in the '¹³C of whole bark and current-year wood in branches of P. monticola (P<0.001 and P<0.0001, respectively). Thus bark photosynthesis was shown to discriminate against ¹³C and create a pool of photosynthate isotopically lighter than the dark respiratory pool in all three experiments. Failure to account for discrimination during bark photosynthesis could interfere with interpretation of the '¹³C in woody tissues or in woody-tissue respiration.     

黑龙江漠河兴安落叶松与樟子松树轮生长特性及其对气候的响应

树木年轮 (简称树轮 ) 气候学是监测与重建全球气候变化的重要方法之一。针叶树树轮的生长能反馈出气温的变化, 在高纬度地带尤为明显。该文分析了生长在我国最北部的兴安落叶松 (Larixgmelinii) 与樟子松 (Pinussylvestrisvar.mongolica) 的树轮密度和宽度的特性。落叶松最大密度、晚材平均密度、早晚材宽度和轮宽都远高于樟子松。樟子松的所有密度变量的样本方差都明显高于兴安落叶松, 宽度变量的样本方差却明显低于兴安落叶松。两树种密度变量的差值年表显著相关, 宽度变量之间没有显著相关关系。落叶松与樟子松的晚材密度的形成受 7、8月的最高温控制。另外, 樟子松的晚材还与生长季节的长短相关。落叶松的年轮宽度对生长季节开始前的温度敏感, 而樟子松的轮宽对气候变量没有很好的响应。结果表明, 落叶松与樟子松的树轮最大密度都与生长季后期的温度显著相关, 两树种的树轮信息对气候变化的重建有很大的潜力。     

小五台山青杨雌雄植株树轮生长特性及其对气候变化的响应差异

近年来逆境导致植物雌雄幼苗的生长出现差异被许多控制实验所证实, 而有关气候变化对雌雄异株植物成树生长的潜在影响尚未引起人们广泛的关注。为进一步揭示气候变化对雌雄植株树木径向和密度生长的不同影响, 该文通过树轮生态学的研究方法, 选择小五台山天然青杨(Populus cathayana)种群为研究对象, 对青杨雌雄植株近30年(1982-2011)的树轮生长特性及其与气候的相关性进行了分析。结果显示: 1)在近30年当地气温不断升高的气候条件下, 雌株的年轮最大密度和晚材平均密度均高于雄株(p < 0.05), 但雌雄植株的径向生长无显著差异; 2)雌雄植株年轮最大密度和宽度差值年表的变化趋势具有一致性, 但在年轮最大密度差值年表的变化上雄株波动幅度大于雌株; 3)青杨雌雄植株年轮密度差值年表对温度响应的月份明显不同。雌株年轮最大密度与当年8月的月平均最高气温显著正相关, 而雄株年轮最大密度与当年1月和4月的气温负相关; 4)生长季前的气候变化对青杨雌雄植株的径向生长均有明显的限制作用。此外, 当年6月的高温对于早材生长的限制作用特别明显。上述结果表明, 雌雄异株植物在树木年轮生长方面对全球气候变暖可能具有不同的响应机制, 雌株比雄株更侧重于密度生长。     

Gender-specific characteristics of tree-ring growth and differential responses to climate change in the dioecious tree Populus cathayana in Xiaowutai Mountains,China

近年来逆境导致植物雌雄幼苗的生长出现差异被许多控制实验所证实, 而有关气候变化对雌雄异株植物成树生长的潜在影响尚未引起人们广泛的关注。为进一步揭示气候变化对雌雄植株树木径向和密度生长的不同影响, 该文通过树轮生态学的研究方法, 选择小五台山天然青杨(Populus cathayana)种群为研究对象, 对青杨雌雄植株近30年(1982-2011)的树轮生长特性及其与气候的相关性进行了分析。结果显示: 1)在近30年当地气温不断升高的气候条件下, 雌株的年轮最大密度和晚材平均密度均高于雄株(p < 0.05), 但雌雄植株的径向生长无显著差异; 2)雌雄植株年轮最大密度和宽度差值年表的变化趋势具有一致性, 但在年轮最大密度差值年表的变化上雄株波动幅度大于雌株; 3)青杨雌雄植株年轮密度差值年表对温度响应的月份明显不同。雌株年轮最大密度与当年8月的月平均最高气温显著正相关, 而雄株年轮最大密度与当年1月和4月的气温负相关; 4)生长季前的气候变化对青杨雌雄植株的径向生长均有明显的限制作用。此外, 当年6月的高温对于早材生长的限制作用特别明显。上述结果表明, 雌雄异株植物在树木年轮生长方面对全球气候变暖可能具有不同的响应机制, 雌株比雄株更侧重于密度生长。     

The utility of bulk wood density for tree-ring research

Bulk wood density measurements are recognized for their utility in ecology, industry, and biomass estimations. In tree-ring research, microdensitometric techniques are widely used, but their ability to determine the correct central tendency has been questioned. Though rarely used, it may be possible to use bulk wood density as a tool to check the accuracy of and even correct microdensitometric measurements. Since measuring bulk wood density in parallel with X-ray densitometry is quickly and easily done, we suspect that its omission is largely due to a lack of awareness of the procedure and/or its importance. In this study, we describe a simple protocol for measuring bulk wood density tailored for tree-ring researchers and demonstrate a few possible applications. To implement real-world examples of the applications, we used a sample of existing X-ray and Blue Intensity (BI) measurements from 127 living and dead Pinus sylvestris trees from northern Sweden to produce new measurements of bulk wood density.We can confirm that the central tendency in this sample material is offset using X-ray densitometry and that the diagnosis and correction of X-ray density is easily done using bulk wood density in linear transfer functions. However, this approach was not suitable for our BI measurements due to heavy discoloration. Nevertheless, we were able to use bulk wood density to diagnose and improve the use of deltaBI (latewood BI – earlywood BI) with regard to its overall trends and multi-centennial variability in a dendroclimatological application. Moreover, we experimented with percent of latewood width, scaled with bulk wood density, as a time- and cost-effective proxy for annual ring density. Although our reconstruction only explains about half of the variation in ring density, it is most likely superior to using fixed literature values of density in allometric equations aimed at biomass estimations.With this study, we hope to raise new awareness regarding the versatility and importance of bulk wood density for dendrochronology by demonstrating its simplicity, relevance, and applicability.     

The phosphoinositide signaling cascade is involved in photoreception in the leech Hirudo medicinalis

The effects of BAPTA, heparin, and neomycin on electrical light responses were studied in the photoreceptors of Hirudo medicinalis. Light activation produces a fast increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ concentration (Ca_i) as detected with the fluorescent Ca²⁺ indicator calcium green-5N. Chelating intracellular calcium by injections of 10 mmol l^-1 BAPTA suppresses spontaneous quantum bumps, reduces light sensitivity by more than 2 log₁₀ units, and substantially increases the latent period of light responses. BAPTA strongly inhibits the plateau phase of responses to long steps of light. Injections of 45-100 mg ml^-1 of heparin act in a similar manner to BAPTA, affecting the latency of the light responses even more. De-N-sulfated heparin, an inactive analog, is almost ineffective at the same concentration compared with heparin. Heparin diminishes the light-induced Ca_i elevation significantly, whereas de-N-sulfated heparin does not. Intracellular injections of 50-100 mmol l^-1 of the aminoglycoside neomycin, which inhibits phospholipase-C-mediated inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation, acts similar to BAPTA and heparin. Pressure injections of the hydrolysis resistant analog of inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate, inositol 2,4,5-trisphosphate, strongly depolarize leech photoreceptors and mimic an effect of light adaptation. These results suggest a close similarity between phototransduction mechanisms in leech photoreceptors and existing models for visual transduction in other invertebrate microvillar photoreceptors.     

Wood properties and ring width responses to long-term atmospheric CO2 enrichment in field-grown loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.)

Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) were grown in the field, under non-limiting nutrient conditions, in open-top chambers for 4 years at ambient CO₂ partial pressures (pCO₂) and with a CO₂-enriched atmosphere (+ 30 Pa pCO₂ compared to ambient concentration). A third replicate of trees were grown without chambers at ambient pCO₂. Wood anatomy, wood density and tree ring width were analysed using stem wood samples. No significant differences were observed in the cell wall to cell lumen ratio within the latewood of the third growth ring formed in 1994. No significant differences were observed in the density of resin canals or in the ratio of resin canal cross-sectional area to xylem area within the same growth ring. Ring widths were significantly wider in the CO₂-enrichment treatment for 3 of 4 years compared to the ambient chamber control treatment. Latewood in the 1995 growth ring was significantly wider than that in the ambient control and represented a larger percentage of the total growth-ring width. Carbon dioxide enrichment also significantly increased the total wood specific gravity (determined by displacement). However, when determined as total sample wood density by X-ray densitometry, the density of enriched samples was not significantly higher than that of the ambient chamber controls. Only the 1993 growth ring of enriched trees had a significantly higher maximum latewood density than that of trees grown on non-chambered plots or ambient chambered controls. No significant differences were observed in the minimum earlywood density of individual growth rings between chambered treatments. These results show that the most significant effect of CO₂ enrichment on wood production in loblolly pine is its influence on radial growth, measured as annual tree ring widths. This influence is most pronounced in the first year of growth and decreases with age.     

气候变暖背景下杉木年轮密度对气候因子的响应

为探讨杉木年轮密度与气候因子的响应关系,采用树木年轮学方法,以60年生杉木种源林为研究对象,测定杉木整轮密度、早材密度、晚材密度、晚材最大密度和早材最小密度,分析在气候变暖条件下主要气候因子（温度、降水、相对湿度）对杉木年轮密度及其生长的影响。结果表明：杉木不同年轮密度指标均受到温度、降水和相对湿度的显著影响。早材密度与当年夏季最高温度、当年5月降水量,最大密度与当年10月、当年秋季降水量,最小密度与前一年秋季降水量、最小相对湿度呈显著负相关。滑动相关分析表明气候因子在短时间尺度上对杉木生长影响的稳定性有显著影响,其中杉木年轮最大密度与当年10月、秋季的平均相对湿度和最小相对湿度,最小密度与当年2、3月的平均相对湿度和前一年秋季的平均相对湿度、最小相对湿度、降水量的负相关关系最为稳定。杉木年轮最小密度对前一年气候要素的响应存在滞后效应,且晚材密度对当年春季的气候要素响应也存在滞后效应。研究结果对开展亚热带针叶树种年轮生态学和年轮气候学研究具有重要参考价值,建议选择武夷山的天然林获取更长年表用于重建古气候。     

The influence of temperature on latewood lignin content in treeline Norway spruce compared with maximum density and ring width

The latewood lignin content, maximum density and total ring width of ten consecutive annual increments were determined in treeline Norway spruce (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) using ultraviolet (UV) microscopy and radiodensitometry, respectively. A positive correlation between the total ring width and the mean temperature of mid-July to August was identified, as was one between the maximum density and the temperature of August-September. Lignin content in the secondary cell wall layer of the terminal latewood tracheids was positively correlated with the temperature for the period running from the beginning of September until the third week of October. It can, therefore, be concluded that lignification of the cell wall is susceptible to the influence of climatic variability, as is the case with ring width and maximum density.     

Elevated CO2 influences nutrient availability in young beech-spruce communities on two soil types

The objectives of this study were to investigate how different soil types and elevated N deposition (0.7 vs 7 g N m^-2a^-1) influence the effects of elevated CO₂ (370 vs 570 µmol CO₂ mol^-1) on soil nutrients and net accumulation of N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn in spruce (Picea abies) and beech (Fagus sylvatica). Model ecosystems were established in large open-top chambers on two different forest soils: a nutrient-poor acidic loam and a nutrient-rich calcareous sand. The response of net nutrient accumulation to elevated atmospheric CO₂ depended upon soil type (interaction soil 2 CO₂, P<0.05 for N, P, K, S, Ca, Mg, Zn) and differed between spruce and beech. On the acidic loam, CO₂ enrichment suppressed net accumulation of all nutrients in beech (P<0.05 for P, S, Zn), but stimulated it for spruce (P<0.05 for Fe, Zn) On the nutrient-rich calcareous sand, increased atmospheric CO₂ enhanced nutrient accumulation in both species significantly. Increasing the N deposition did not influence the CO₂ effects on net nutrient accumulation with either soil. Under elevated atmospheric CO₂, the accumulation of N declined relative to other nutrients, as indicated by decreasing ratios of N to other nutrients in tree biomass (all ratios: P<0.001, except the N to S ratio). In both the soil and soil solution, elevated CO₂ did not influence concentrations of base cations and available P. Under CO₂ enrichment, concentrations of exchangeable NH₄⁺ decreased by 22% in the acidic loam and increased by 50% in the calcareous sand (soil 2 CO₂, P<0.001). NO₃^- concentrations decreased by 10-70% at elevated CO₂ in both soils (P<0.01).     

Comparison of Dilute Acid and Sulfite Pretreatment for Enzymatic Saccharification of Earlywood and Latewood of Douglas fir

This study applied dilute acid (DA) and sulfite pretreatment to overcome the recalcitrance of lignocelluloses (SPORL) to deconstruct earlywood and latewood cell walls of Douglas fir for fermentable sugars production through subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis. DA pretreatment removed almost all the hemicelluloses, while SPORL at initial pH?=?4.5 (SP-B) removed significant amount of lignin between 20 and 25 %. But both are not sufficient for effective enzymatic saccharification. SPORL at low initial pH?=?2 (SP-AB) combines the advantage of both DA and SPORL-B to achieve approximately 90 % hemicellulose removal and delignification of 10–20 %. As a result, SP-AB effectively removed recalcitrance and thereby significantly improved enzymatic saccharification compared with DA and SP-B. Results also showed that earlywood with significantly lower density produced less saccharification after DA pretreatment, suggesting that wood density does not contribute to recalcitrance. The thick cell wall of latewood did not limit chemical penetration in pretreatments. The high lignin content of earlywood limited the effectiveness of DA pretreatment for enzymatic saccharification, while hemicellulose limits the effectiveness of high pH pretreatment of SP-B. The higher hemicellulose content in the earlywood and latewood of heartwood reduced saccharification relative to the corresponding earlywood and latewood in the sapwood using DA and SP-AB.