Genetic maps for Pinus elliottii var. elliottii and P. caribaea var. hondurensis using AFLP and microsatellite markers

Genetic maps for individual Pinus elliottii var. elliottii and P. caribaea var. hondurensis trees were generated using a pseudo-testcross mapping strategy. A total of 329 amplified fragment length polymorphic (AFLP) and 12 microsatellite markers were found to segregate in a sample of 93 interspecfic F(1) progeny. The male P. caribaea var. hondurensis parent was more heterozygous than the female P. elliottii var. elliottii parent with 19% more markers segregating on the male side. Framework maps were constructed using a LOD 5 threshold for grouping and interval support threshold of LOD 2. The framework map length for the P. elliottii var. elliottii megagametophyte parent (1,170 cM Kosambi; 23 linkage groups) was notably smaller than the P. caribaea var. hondurensis pollen parent (1,658 cM Kosambi; 27 linkage groups). The difference in map lengths was assumed to be due to sex-related recombination variation, which has been previously reported for pines, as the difference in map lengths not be accounted for by the larger number of markers mapping to the P. caribaea var. hondurensis parent - 109 compared with 78 in P. elliottii var. elliottii parent. Based on estimated genome sizes for these species, the framework maps for P. elliottii var. elliottii and P. caribaea var. hondurensis covered 82% and 88% of their respective genomes. The pseudo-testcross strategy was extended to include AFLP and microsatellite markers in an intercross configuration. These comprehensive maps provided further genome coverage, 1,548 and 1,828 cM Kosambi for P. elliottii var. elliottii and P. caribaea var. hondurensis, respectively, and enabled homologous linkage groups to be identified in the two parental maps. Homologous linkage groups were identified for 11 out of 24 P. elliottii var. elliottii and 10 out of 25 P. caribaea var. hondurensis groups. A higher than expected level of segregation distortion was found for both AFLP and microsatellite markers. An explanation for this segregation distortion was not clear, but it may be at least in part due to genetic mechanisms for species isolation in this wide cross.     

Mapping quantitative trait loci controlling early growth in a (longleaf pine × slash pine) × slash pine BC<Subscript>1</Subscript> family

Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers were employed to map the genome and quantitative trait loci controlling the early growth of a pine hybrid F₁ tree (Pinus palustris Mill. 2 P. elliottii Engl.) and a recurrent slash pine tree (P. elliottii Engl.) in a (longleaf pine 2 slash pine) 2 slash pine BC₁ family consisting of 258 progeny. Of the 150 hybrid F₁ parent-specific RAPD markers, 133 were mapped into 17 linkage groups covering a genetic distance of 1,338.2 cM. Of the 116 slash pine parent-specific RAPD markers, 83 were mapped into 19 linkage groups covering a genetic distance of 994.6 cM. A total of 11 different marker intervals were found to be significantly associated with 13 of the 20 traits on height and diameter growth using MAPMAKER/QTL. Nine of the eleven marker intervals were unique to the hybrid parent 488 genome, and two were unique to the recurrent parent 18-27 genome. The amount of phenotypic variance explained by the putative QTLs ranged from 3.6% to 11.0%. Different QTLs were detected at different ages. Two marker intervals from the hybrid parent 488 were found to have QTL by environment interactions.     

湿地松×洪都拉斯加勒比松遗传多样性的ISSR分析

杂交育种是产生遗传变异、表型变异及选择新变异的重要方法。然而系统发育不清晰,选择较近的亲缘关系亲本用于杂交子代往往表现出较低的遗传多样性。为探究湿地松、洪都拉斯加勒比松种间杂交后代遗传多样性水平,对8个湿地松×洪都拉斯加勒比松家系进行ISSR分析。利用10条引物共产生60个表达清晰可用于分析的标记,其中48个标记表现为多态性,占总标记数的80%; 湿加松各个家系多态位点百分率在5%～23.33%之间; 各个家系基因多样性指数在 0.015 2～0.087 2之间,Shannon指数的范围在 0.021 6～0.129 4之间(家系水平为 0.293 4)。8个家系间的基因分化系数G_st为0.743 5,即总的遗传变异中有74.35%的变异存在于家系间,家系内的遗传变异占总遗传变异的25.65%。采用UPGMA法对湿加松的8个家系进行了聚类分析,确定了各个家系之间的遗传亲缘关系。8个家系间的基因流N_m为 0.172 5,表明基因流处于较低水平。     

国外松种间杂交后代生长和形态性状变异及相关性分析简

利用随机区组设计营建的试验林资料,对6种树龄5年的国外松杂种后代生长和形态性状变异及其相关进行了分析,结果显示：国外松种间杂交后代不同物种,同一物种的不同家系,同一家系内的不同单株均表现出丰富的多样性,单株材积和树干通直度的变异系数达30%~50%;而其它形态、生长性状变异系数为2%~30%。这些杂交种丰富的生长和形态变异为多目标选择奠定了基础。以湿地松（Pinus elliottii Engelman var. elliottii）为母本的杂交松针叶长度变短,同时湿地松×洪都拉斯加勒比松（P.caribaea Morelet var. hondurensis(Senecl.) Barrett et Golfari）还表现出良好的干形性状（通直度好,分枝角小等）。以火炬松（P.taeda L.）为母本的杂交松对针叶的改良效果不明显,但是火炬松×洪都拉斯加勒比松单株平均材积大、干形通直、分枝角小、侧枝细,说明这个杂交类型具有生长快、树形紧凑等优良特性。相关分析显示生长快、针叶短、分枝角度小、树干通直度好这几个性状可以同步改良。研究认为国外松种间杂交后代生长性状不低于母本,在形态性状上湿地松×洪都拉斯加勒比松与母本相比针叶较稀疏,针叶长度较短,分枝角较小,因此比母本更能抵抗雨雪冰冻等自然灾害,这对于我国南方湿地松抗逆性育种具有重要的意义。     

Development and characterization of chloroplast microsatellite markers for <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Pinus massoniana</Emphasis> and their application in <Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Pinus</Emphasis> (Pinaceae) species

Pinus massoniana is one of the important afforestation and pioneer tree species, which is widely distribute in southern China. Chloroplast simple sequence repeat markers (cpSSRs) have been widely used in studies of tree genetics, phylogenetic and breeding. We sequenced the whole chloroplast genome sequences of P. massoniana using PCR and Sanger sequencing. A total of 71 cpSSRs were identified, among which mononucleotide repeats were predominant (70.42%). Seventeen primer pairs were developed and amplification tests were conducted with 15 P. massoniana individuals. Also, cross-species amplification tests were conducted among 15 individuals per Pinus species, including P. elliottii, P. bungeana, P. armandii, P. caribaea, P. tabulaeformis, P. taiwanensis and P. yunnanensis which revealed polymorphic information content ranging from 0.2 to 0.8 and average of haploid diversity (h) ranging from 0.29 to 0.63. In addition, the polymorphic cpSSRs were useful in distinguishing the sampled pine species, and could be powerful tool in phylogenetic studies.     

Paternal chloroplast inheritance patterns in pine hybrids detected with trnL-trnF intergenic region polymorphism

The inheritance patterns of the chloroplast genomes of shortleaf pine (Pinus echinata Mill.), loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) and slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) were investigated through the trnL-trnF intergenic spacer polymorphism analysis. The DNA sequences of this spacer differ among these three closely related Pinus species. A modified 'cold' PCR-SSCP (single-strand conformation polymorphism) analysis of this spacer shows that the artificial hybrids (F1) from the shortleaf pine (seed parent) 2 loblolly pine (pollen parent) cross, exhibit the loblolly pine profile. Additionally, nine putative hybrids between shortleaf pine and loblolly pine, previously identified by the IDH (Isocitrate dehydrogenase) allozyme marker, presented the shortleaf pine profile indicating that shortleaf pine, not loblolly pine, sired all of the putative hybrids. Nondenatured polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis of the trnL-trnF intergenic spacer demonstrated that the artificial hybrids (F1) from the cross, slash pine (seed parent) 2 shortleaf pine (pollen parent), present the shortleaf pine profile. Those results confirmed that the chloroplast genome is paternally inherited in these three species of the genus Pinus. The significance of the trnL-trnF intergenic region polymorphism and our modified 'cold' SSCP protocol for population genetic studies is discussed.     

Genomic consequences of interspecific Pinus spp. hybridization

Strong karotypic orthoselection does not fully account for genome size variation in pines. Adult F1 interspecific pine hybrids are fertile and the genomic consequences of hybridization can be studied using haploid female megagametophytes. Greater variation in genome size was hypothesized to occur in hybrids compared to their parental species and the variation was thought to be positively related to the phylogenetic distance between the parental species. Nuclear 1C DNA content of megagametophytes from four sets of fertile Pinus spp. F1 hybrids and their parents was determined using a laser flow cytometer. Fertile F1 hybrids included two sets of hard pine hybrid Pinus elliottii Engelm. x P. caribaea var. hondurensis Morelet and two Asian x New World soft pine hybrids P. wallichiana A.B. Jacks. x P. strobus L. (hybrid is known as P. x schwerinii ) and P. lambertiana Dougl. x P. armandii Franchlet. Fertile, adult F1 produce haploid megagametophytes with nuclear DNA contents comparable to the parents or parental species. One genomic consequence of hybridization in pines is stability in nuclear DNA content. Hybrid genomes neither increased or decreased DNA content regardless of the phylogenetic distance between parents. © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 75 , 503–508.     

不同松树种间杂交类型的可育性分析

探究不同松树种间杂交可育性,为松树种间杂交育种亲本选配提供依据,进而为松树的杂种优势研究积累材料。该研究利用随机区组设计,通过92个松树种间杂交组合与20个半同胞对照,分析9种松树种间杂交类型子代的平均球果产种数、平均球果产种量、百粒重、发芽率与成苗率5项育性指标,综合球果期、种期与苗期3个阶段的表现,利用模糊数学隶属函数法对不同松树种间杂交类型进行可育性综合评价。结果表明:加勒比松×湿地松(C×E)、湿地松×加勒比松(E×C)与湿地松×火炬松(E×T) 3种杂交类型育性表现优于或接近相应的半同胞对照,马尾松×湿地松(M×E)、马尾松×火炬松(M×T)、马尾松×加勒比松(M×C)、火炬松×加勒比松(T×C)、火炬松×马尾松(T×M)与火炬松×湿地松(T×E)杂交类型育性表现远低于半同胞对照,表现出低育性甚至不育。综合5项育性指标,亚组内杂交育性的整体表现明显优于亚组间杂交;湿地松与加勒比松为母本的3种杂交组合育性表现总体水平明显优于马尾松与火炬松为母本的另外6种杂交组合。9种杂交类型中除了火炬松×湿地松(T×E)外,均获得了具有生活力的杂交子代,尤其马尾松与3种国外松的杂交子代在相关研究中是首次获得,对松树种间杂交育种的研究具有重要意义。     

The contribution of short repeats of low sequence complexity to large conifer genomes

The abundance and genomic organization of six simple sequence repeats, consisting of di-, tri-, and tetranucleotide sequence motifs, and a minisatellite repeat have been analyzed in different gymnosperms by Southern hybridization. Within the gymnosperm genomes investigated, the abundance and genomic organization of micro- and minisatellite repeats largely follows taxonomic groupings. We found that only particular simple sequence repeat motifs are amplified in gymnosperm genomes, while others such as (CAC)₅ and (GACA)₄ are present in only low copy numbers. The variation in abundance of simple sequence motifs reflects a similar situation to that found in angiosperms. Species of the two- and three-needle pine section Pinus are relatively conserved and can be distinguished from Pinus strobus which belongs to the five-needle pine section Strobus. The hybridization pattern of Picea species, bald cypress and gingko were different from the patterns detected in the Pinus species. Furthermore, sequences with homology to the plant telomeric repeat (TTTAGGG)_n have been analyzed in the same set of gymnosperms. Telomere-like repeats are highly amplified within two- and three- needle pine genomes, such as slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii), compared to P. strobus, Picea species, bald cypress and gingko. P. elliottii var. elliottii was used as a representative species to investigate the chromosomal organization of telomere-like sequences by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The telomere-like sequences are not restricted to the ends of chromosomes; they form large intercalary and pericentric blocks showing that they are a repeated component of the slash pine genome.Conifers have genomes larger than 20000 Mbp, and our results clearly demonstrate that repeats of low sequence complexity, such to (CA)₈, (GA)₈, (GGAT)₄ and (GATA)₄, and minisatellite- and telomere-like sequences represent a large fraction of the repetitive DNA of these species. The striking differences in abundance and genome organization of the various repeat motifs suggest that these repetitive sequences evolved differently in the gymnosperm genomes investigated. Received: 1 October 1999 / Accepted: 3 November 1999     

Comparative mapping among subsection Australes (genus Pinus, family Pinaceae).

Comparative mapping in conifers has not yet been used to test for small-scale genomic disruptions such as inversions, duplications, and deletions occurring between closely related taxa. Using comparative mapping to probe this smaller scale of inquiry may provide clues about speciation in a phylogenetically problematic taxon, the diploxylon pine subsection Australes (genus Pinus, family Pinaceae). Genetic maps were constructed for two allopatric species of Australes, P. elliottii var. elliottii and P. caribaea var. hondurensis, using microsatellites and an F1 hybrid. A third map was generated directly from the meiotic products of an adult F1 hybrid, eliminating the need for an F2 generation. Numerous small-scale disruptions were detected in addition to synteny and collinearity, and these included (1) map shrinkage, (2) a paracentric inversion, (3) transmission ratio distortion, and (4) mild selection against a parental haplotype. Such cryptic signatures of genomic divergence between closely related interfertile species are useful in elucidating this problematic evolutionary history.     

Constructing genetic linkage maps for Pinus elliottii var. elliottii and Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis using SRAP, SSR, EST and ISSR markers

A total of 122 F₁ individuals from a single full-sib interspecific hybrid family crossed between Pinus elliottii var. elliottii (PEE) and P. caribaea var. hondurensis (PCH) were used to construct a detailed genetic linkage maps using four types of molecular markers: sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP), microsatellite (SSR), expressed sequence tag polymorphism (ESTP) and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR). There were 381 SRAP, 108 SSR, 25 ESTP and 32 ISSR loci, segregating in the interspecific F₁ hybrid individuals. Framework maps were constructed at a LOD score threshold of 4.0 using the JoinMap^® 3.0. The map for the male parent (PCH) had 108 markers in 16 linkage groups (LGs), with a total length of 1,065.9 cM (Kosambi) and an average marker interval of 9.87 cM. The map for the female parent (PEE) contained 93 markers in 19 LGs, with a total length of 1,006.7 cM (Kosambi) and an average marker interval of 10.82 cM. The maps for PCH and PEE covered 56.5 and 70.3 % of their respective genomes. Based on the position of 36 loci segregating in both parents, 8 homologous LGs between PEE and PCH were identified.     

The response ofPinus caribaea mor. var. Hondurensis seedlings to nitrogen,phosphorous and potassium fertilizers

Summary A soil pot culture experiment was conducted to study the response ofPinus caribaea var. hondurensis seedlings to the N, P, K fertilizers in a 3³ factorial combination of nutrients in four replicates. For this purpose, seedlings were grown in plastic pots in soils collected from Bahau pine experimental area. These soils belong to Durian series and are generally poor in nutrients.The seedlings were supplied with 112 kg/ha, 336 kg/ha and 560 kg/ha (100 lb/ac, 300 lb/ac and 500 lb/ac) of N, P, K in solution form in all possible combinations. Periodic growth measurements were taken and dry matter production was estimated at the conclusion of the experiment.The results indicate that phosphorous is the most important nutrient for the height growth of seedlings. The absolute height increment under the best treatment combination (N₁P₃K₁) was about threefolds (25.7cm) compared to 8.8 cm in the control. It was also found that higher levels of N and K, though not beneficial to height growth, resulted in better radial growth and more dry matter production compared to control plants. However, highest levels of N and K in the present experiment produced inhibitory influence as regards height growth even in the presence of low level of phosphorous.The study indicates that application of phosphorous at least at the rate of 560 kg/ha per plant is necessary on this type of soil to boost the initial height growth ofPinus caribaea var. hondurensis. Nitrogen at the rate of 336 kg/ha and potassium at the rate of 112 kg/ha will induce better radial growth.     

Nutrients and mass in litter and top soil of ten tropical tree plantations

The importance of litter to nutrient and organic matter storage and the possible influence of species selection on soil fertility in ten stands each consisting of a separate tree species were examined in this study. The plantations had been grown under similar conditions in an arboretum in the Luquillo Experimental Forest, Puerto Rico. The species involved were: Anthocephalus chinensis, Eucalyptus × patentinervis, E. saligna, Hernandia sonora, Hibiscus elatus, Khaya nyasica, Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis, P. elliottii var. densa, Swietenia macrophylla, and Terminalia ivorensis. After 26 yr, litter mass ranged from 5 mg ha^-1 in the H. sonora stand to 27.2 Mg ha^-1 in the P. caribaea stand. Nutrients in the litter (N, P, K, Ca, and Mg) also varied widely, but stands were ranked in different order when ranked by nutrients in the litter than then ranked according to accumulation of mass. Only E. saligna and A. chinensis stands were ranked similarly in accumulation of both nutrients and mass, and the stand of H. elatus was ranked higher with respect to nutrient accumulation than to accumulation of mass. The nutrient concentration in standing leaf litter generally increased in the order of recently fallen <old intact< fragmented. Nutrient concentration of standing leaf litter appears to increase with age and depth in the litter layer. The amount of nutrients stored in the litter compartment of these plantations was in the same order of magnitude as the quantity of available nutrients in the top 10-cm of mineral soil. Total litter mass was negatively correlated with the mass-weighted concentration of N, K, and Mg. The same relationship was found for Ca in the leaf litter and N in the fine wood litter compartments. In some stands (notably P. caribaea, P. elliottii, and E. saligna), leaf litter derived from species other than the species planted in that particular stand had higher nutrient concentration than leaf litter from the planted species. Soils of the 10 stands were classified in the same soil series and had similar texture (clay soils). However, significantly different chemical characteristics were found. Results obtained by analysis of covariance and by limiting comparisons to adjacent stands with similar soil texture, indicate that different species have had different influences on the concentration of available nutrients in soil.     

Mycorrhizal associations in Pinus massoniana Lamb. and Pinus elliottii Engel. inoculated with Pisolithus tinctorius

Dichotomous mycorrhizas were induced in Pinus massoniana and Pinus elliottii seedlings inoculated with Pisolithus tinctorius growing under non-axenic conditions. Six months after inoculation, Pinus massoniana seedlings exhibited a higher degree of infection, bore more mycorrhizas and had developed more abundant extramatrical mycelium than seedlings of Pinus elliottii. Nevertheless, seedlings of Pinus massoniana were stunted and exhibited chorosis of the needles, indicating a possible nutrient deficiency. Histological examination of these pine mycorrhizas showed an ectomycorrhizal association typical of gymnosperms with an intercellular Harting net penetrating between several layers of cortical cells close to the endodermis. However, strong polyphenolic reactions, intracellular hyphae and wall modifications were occasionally observed, indicating that both host-tissue incompatibility and ectendomycorrhizal association can occur in pine species under stressed conditions.     

A partial genetic linkage map of slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) based on random amplified polymorphic DNAs

A set of 420 random, 10-base, oligonucleotide primers was screened for random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) fragments within a sample of eight megagametophyte DNAs of a single slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii) tree. The apparently repeatable RAPD fragments were further characterized within a sample of 68 megagametophytes from the same tree. Fragments segregating in a 11, present-to-absent, ratio were classified and mapped using multi-point linkage analysis. The analysis revealed 13 linkage groups of at least three loci, ranging in size from 28 to 68 cM, and nine linked pairs of loci. The 22 groups and pairs included 73 RAPD markers and covered a genetic map distance of approximately 782 cM. Genome size estimates, based on linkage data, ranged from 2880 to 3360 cM. Using a 30-cM map scale and including the 24 unlinked markers and the ends of the 13 linkage groups and nine linked pairs, the set of RAPD markers accounts for approximately 2160 cM or 64–75% of the genome. This extent of genomic coverage should allow for the efficient mapping of genes responsible for a reaction to the causal agent of fusiform rust disease, Cronartium quercuum (Berk.) Miyabe ex Shirai f. sp. fusiforme.     

Cross-species amplification and characterization of microsatellite loci in Pinus mugo Turra

Pinus mugo (dwarf mountain pine) is an important component of European mountain ecosystems. However, little is known about the present genetic structure and population differentiation of this species at the DNA level, possibly due to a lack of nuclear microsatellite markers (SSR) developed for Pinus mugo. Therefore in this study we transferred microsatellite markers originally developed for Pinus sylvestris and Pinus taeda to Pinus mugo. This cross-species amplification approach is much faster and less expensive than isolation and characterization of new microsatellite markers. The transfer rates from the source species to Pinus mugo were moderately low (26%). There were no differences in microsatellite repeat motifs between the source species and Pinus mugo. Nuclear microsatellite markers successfully transferred to Pinus mugo can be applied to various genetic studies on this species, due to the high level of their polymorphism and high value of polymorphic information content.     

Increases in Phosphorus Requirements for CO(2)-Enriched Pine Species

Pinus radiata D. Don (half-sib families 20010 and 20062) and Pinus caribaea var hondurensis (an open-pollinated family) were grown for 49 weeks at seven levels of phosphorus and at CO₂ concentrations of either 340 or 660 microliters per liter, to establish if the phosphorus requirements differed between the CO₂ concentrations and if mycorrhizal associations were affected. When soil phosphorus availability was low, phosphorus uptake was increased by elevated CO₂. This may have been related to changes in mycorrhizal competition. When the phosphorus concentration in the youngest fully expanded needles was above 600 milligrams per kilogram the shoot weight of all pine families was greater at high CO₂ due to increases in rates of photosynthesis. More dry weight was partitioned to the stems of P. radiata family 20010 and P. caribaea. At foliar phosphorus concentrations above 1000 milligrams per kilogram (P. radiata) and 700 milligrams per kilogram (P. caribaea), growth did not increase at 340 microliters of CO₂ per liter. Soluble sugar levels in the same needles mirrored the growth response, but the starch concentration declined with increasing phosphorus. At 660 microliters of CO₂ per liter, shoot weight and soluble sugar concentrations were still increasing up to a foliar P concentration of 1800 milligrams per kilogram for P. radiata and 1600 milligrams per kilogram for P. caribaea. The starch concentrations did not decline. These results indicate that higher foliar phosphorus concentrations are required to realize the maximum growth potential of pines at elevated CO₂.     

Protocylindrocorpus dendrophilus n. sp. (Nematoda: Cylindrocorpidae) Associated with Pine Wood Borings

Protocylindrocorpus dendrophilus n. sp. is described from xylem samples taken from beetle infested slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelmann var. elliottii) in Central Louisiana. It is similar to P. goodeyi (Rühm) Paramonov, but differs by the possession of a protuberant and more posteriorly located vulva and in the position of the caudal papillae. Morphometrics of the male and female are presented.     

Suitability of some southern and western pines as hosts for the pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda (Coleoptera: Scolytidae)

The pine shoot beetle, Tomicus piniperda (L.), is an exotic pest that has become established in North America. Discovered in Ohio in 1992, it has since been found in at least 13 states and parts of Canada. The beetle can cause significant growth loss in pines, and it represents a potential threat to trees in areas where it has not yet become established. To evaluate this threat to native pines, field and laboratory tests were conducted on several common and important southern and western species to determine whether they are acceptable hosts for T. piniperda. Comparisons with Pinus sylvestris L., Scots pine, a preferred natural host for the beetle, were made where possible. Measurements of beetle attack success on southern pine billets showed that Pinus taeda L., Pinus echinata Miller, Pinus elliottii var. elliottii Engelmann, Pinus palustris Miller, and Pinus virginiana Miller (loblolly, shortleaf, slash, longleaf, and Virginia pine, respectively) and two western pines, Pinus ponderosa Lawson and Pinus contorta Douglas (ponderosa and lodgepole pine, respectively), were acceptable for breeding material, but brood production was highly variable. Among the southern pines, P. taeda and P. echinata were susceptible to shoot feeding by T. piniperda, whereas P. elliottii was highly resistant and P. palustris seemed to be virtually immune. Shoot feeding tests on the western pines were conducted only in the laboratory, but there was moderate-to-good survival of adults feeding on both species. It seems that if T. piniperda is introduced into the south and west it will likely establish and may cause some damage to native pines. P. taeda may be affected more than other southern pines because it is the most abundant species, it is readily attacked for brood production, which can result in moderately large broods, and the beetle survives well during maturation feeding on P. taeda shoots.     

Geography of Pinus elliottii Engelm. and Pinus palustris Mill. leaf life-spans in the southeastern U.S.A.

Aim Past studies have investigated differences in leaf life‐spans between deciduous and evergreen species. Environmental controls such as light, temperature, and nutrient and moisture availability explain differences in leaf life‐spans between species. This study examined intraspecific leaf life‐spans across climate and nutrient gradients within the geographical range of Pinus palustris Engelm (longleaf pine) and Pinus elliottii Mill. (slash pine). Location Five study areas in the southeastern United States were selected along the north–south geographical range of Pinus elliottii and Pinus palustris. Methods Leaf life‐span was calculated based on stand inventories and annual litterfall totals for each site, and allometric relationships between d.b.h. and foliar biomass. Results Leaf life‐span of P. elliottii ranged from 1.28 to 1.95 years between sites. Leaf life‐span of P.palustris varied by nearly a factor of 5 between the study site with the lowest and highest value (0.58–2.49 years). anova indicated that leaf life‐spans of P. elliottii were not significantly different among sites. In contrast, anova indicated a significant difference for P. palustris leaf life‐spans among sites (P < 0.05). The Tukey multiple comparisons tests showed that 2 study areas were the only pair of P. palustris sites with a significant difference in leaf life‐spans. Main conclusions The geographical variation in leaf life‐spans between two species illustrates the different phenotypic responses to environmental controls. The variation in leaf life‐spans by individuals of P. palustris across a geographical range illustrated in this study suggests that P. palustris may exhibit a greater phenotypic plasticity than P. elliottii.