Differential expression during drought conditioning of a root-specific S-adenosylmethionine synthetase from jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) seedlings

Differential screening of a cDNA library constructed from root mRNA from jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) seedlings exposed to two cycles of drought conditioning identified a S-adenosylmethionine synthetase (sam-s) cDNA. A cDNA encoding the entire open reading frame of SAM-S was identified and characterized. Analysis of the full-length sam-s cDNA revealed that it was 1675 bp, encoded an open reading frame of 393 amino acids and had a predicted protein mass of 43 kDa. Jack pine sam-s was found to be highly similar to several other plant sam-s genes. RNA gel blot analysis showed that sam-s mRNA abundance increased following two cycles of drought conditioning and remained abundant after 3 d of rewatering. Expression of this gene appears to be root-specific. Quantitative slot blot analysis showed that two cycles of drought conditioning caused a 6-fold increase in sam-s mRNA abundance whereas heat shock, cold stress and anoxia did not result in the accumulation of sam-s mRNA. SAM-S enzyme activity increased 2-fold following two cycles of drought conditioning. The increase in the rate of SAM-s enzyme activity was also correlated with changes in rates of ethylene and betaine synthesis, biosynthetic pathways that utilize SAM as a substrate. Ethylene evolution and betaine abundance increased following two cycles of drought conditioning.     

Effects of nitrogen limitation on water relations of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) seedlings

The water relations of shoots of young jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) seedlings were examined 6 and 15 weeks after the initiation of four different dynamic nitrogen (N) treatments using a pressure-volume analysis. The N treatments produced a wide range of needle N concentrations from 12 to 32 mg g^?1 dry mass and a 10-fold difference in total dry mass at 15 weeks. Osmotic potential at full turgor did not change over the range of needle N concentrations observed. Osmotic potential at turgor-loss point, however, declined as N concentrations decreased, indicating an increased ability of N-deficient jack pine plants to maintain turgor. The increase could be attributed largely to an increase in cell wall elasticity, suggesting that elasticity changes may be a common, significant adaptation of plants to environmental stresses. Dry mass per unit saturated water almost doubled as needle N level dropped from 32 to 12 mg g^?1 and was inversely correlated to the bulk modulus of elasticity. This suggests that cell wall elasticity is determined more by the nature of its cross-linking matrix than by the total amount of cell wall material present. Developmental change was evident in the response of some water relation variables to N limitation.     

Segregation,linkage, and diversity of allozymes in knobcone pine

Summary Female gametophytes of knobcone pine were used to study genetic variation at 58 loci in 26 enzyme systems. Mendelian segregation and linkage were tested at 21 loci. Got1, Pgi2, Mnr3, Adh2, and Lap2 were linearly arrayed in a single linkage group. Est and Acp3, and Flest and Lap1, formed two independent linkage groups. Although Mendelian segregation was the rule, several cases of segregation distortion were observed. Pooled over trees, Lap1 and Aap1 showed significant distortion. Of 11 cases of distortion observed for individual trees, 10 showed an excess of common alleles. Pooled over both loci and trees, giving a total sample of 17,183 gametes, the common alleles were significantly overrepresented by 1.1%, and heterogeneity was highly significant. Our results, and others in the literature, suggest that segregation distortion may affect the genetic structure of conifer populations.     

马尾松种子园无性系种实品质及产量的遗传变异

对福建五一林场马尾松（ＰｉｎｕｓｍａｓｏｎｉａｎａＬａｍｂ．）种子园２０个无性系的种子品质及单株球果产量进行了统计分析,结果表明：无性系间在种子品质上存在着极显著差异,而无性系内除种子千粒重差异不显著外,其他性状（果径、果长、单果重和单果出籽数）差异极显著。２０个无性系的单株球果产量大多逐年上升。同时对不同年份无性系结实的稳定性进行分析,划分出较稳定的无性系和较不稳定的无性系,评选出了种子高产品质优良的无性系。     

Regeneration of plantlets through organogenesis from mature embryos of jack pine

A protocol is described for the production of plantlets from mature excised embryos of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.), a conifer widely distributed in temperate North America. Shoot buds were induced on von Arnold and Erickson's or Bornman's MCM salts with 10 M cytokinin for 2 weeks, using Phytagar^® for gelling the medium. Bud development and shoot elongation required frequent subculture on MCM medium with activated charcoal and reduced inorganic nitrogen during elongation. Shoots were rooted in peat-perlite with -naphthaleneacetic acid. The protocol produces about six plantlets per embryo.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In Vitro</Emphasis> and cellular responses of jack pine embryos to three imbibition parameters

Summary Eighteen imbibition treatments with differing parameters of light conditions, temperature and duration were applied to jack pine seeds. After imbibition, embryos were excised and cultured in a liquid medium for 4 wk under continous agitation. At the end of the culture period, the embryos were classified according to five categories: nodule-forming, callus-forming, nodule plus callus-forming, white (non-responsive), and necrotic. Our results showed variation in the in vitro responsiveness of the embryos for the three parameters of imbibition and interactions among them. Three statistical models were tested to analyze the data on nodule formation, and two of them showed that the interaction between time and temperature, and between time and the combined variable temperature/light, were significant, while the light and duration variables had a significant effect only as single factors. The different morphogenic responses observed might indicate specific metabolic requirements of the embryos for the different developmental pathways. Afterwards, nine imbibition treatments were selected to evaluate the effects of the three parameters on the cell cycle and absolute DNA amount per nucleus. Following imbibition the number of cells in the G0–G1 phase decreased compared to the cells in dry seed, while the number of cells increased in the G2 phase after all the treatments except one. The percentage of cells in the different cell cycle phases varied significantly among the treatments. DNA amount fluctuated from 35.5 to 40.37 pg per nucleus. Compared to dry seeds with 40.19 pg DNA per nucleus, embryos from four imbibition treatments showed a pronounced decrease in the DNA by 5.9–11.8%. This might indicate underreplication of DNA sequences and reflect DNA plasticity with regards to imbibition and environmental factors.     

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.     

Response of ectomycorrhizalPinus banksiana andPicea glauca to heavy metals in soil

Pinus banksiana andPicea glauca inoculated or not with the ectomycorrhizal fungusSuillus luteus were grown in a sandy loam soil containing a range of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn concentrations. Ectomycorrhizal colonization rates were significantly reduced on Pinus and Picea seedlings by the heavy metals, particularly Cd and Ni. Needle tissue metal concentrations were lower in ectomycorrhizal seedlings at low soil metal concentrations. However, at higher soil concentrations, heavy metal concentrations of needle tissue were similar in ectomycorrhizal and nonmycorrhizal plants. The growth of nonmycorrhizal seedlings exposed to heavy metals was reduced compared to those inoculated withSuillus luteus. Apparently ectomycorrhizal colonization can protect Pinus and Picea seedlings from heavy metal toxicity at low or intermediate soil concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn.     

Plantlet regeneration from mature zygotic embryos and embryonic explants of masson pine （Pinus massoniana Lamb.）

Excised zygotic embryos,cotyledons and hypocotyls of juvenile seedlings of masson pine were grown on DCR medium supplemented with several concentrations of various plant phytohormones.BA(1.0mg/L) in combination with NAA(0.05mg/L) in DCR medium was found to increase the formation of adventitious buds from mature zygotic embryos,but most of them were formed at the tips of embryonic cotyledons.Adventitious buds were obtained from cotyledons and hypocotyls from juvenile seedlings when they were cultured on DCR medium containing BA 3-5 mg/L and NAA 0.1-0.2 mg/L.Elongation of buds were observed on hormone-free DCR medium with or without activated charcoal(0.5%).Root initiation was achieved with full or half strength DCR medium supplemented with IBA 1.0 mg/L and NAA 0.25-0.5 mg/L.Approximately 11-20 axillary buds formed on each explant when juvenile seedling explants were treated(3-20h) with BA 50-100 mg/L,followed by transfer to hormone-free DCR medium.The maximum number of shoots obtained per explant within six months was 33.     

Nuclear DNA content variation in seeds from 22 half-sib families of jack pine (Pinus banksiana,Pinaceae)

In order to understand the amount of DNA content variation and its potential roles, both absolute DNA amount and cell cycle phases in 22 half-sib families of jack pine were examined using flow cytometry. When the variability due to differences in speed of germination was taken into account, embryos from superior families (classified on the basis of height growth during field trials) had significantly higher levels of all nuclei classes greater than 4C. Mean DNA contents per nucleus were significantly lower in embryos from superior families compared to inferior ones. Analysis of megagametophyte tissue showed that the mother trees of these embryos expressed a similar pattern. Absolute DNA values were also established on the emerging radicle and the hypocotyl + cotyledons region (HC) separately in five of the families. Nuclei isolated from the emerging radicles had significantly lower levels of DNA than those isolated from the HC region. For three of these families, absolute DNA values from nuclei of the hypocotyl + cotyledons region were established on individual embryos with varying cotyledon numbers. In all three families total DNA amount per nucleus decreased with increasing cotyledon number. A better understanding of differences observed in DNA content during germination, as well as in total DNA content per nuclei among different half-sib families of jack pine, may help in the identification of factors that influence growth and adaptation of this species.     

Impact of clear-cutting and prescribed burning on microbial diversity and community structure in a Jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) clear-cut using Biolog Gram-negative microplates

Three isolates ofFusarium avenaceum are pathogenic on spotted knapweed(Centaurea maculosa), a major weed plant of pasturelands and rangelands of the Pacific Northwestern USA. One isolate (no. 1) obtained from the European centre of origin of knapweed and isolate no. 365 native to Montana, did not significantly affect knapweed seed germination. However,F. avenaceum no. 1003, another Montana native isolate, caused a 100% decrease in seed germination and hence, no seedling emergence. When formulated, isolate no. 1003, could be recovered from treated soils after 7 days and caused a significant reduction in seedling emergence or seedling dry weight. This organism had no effect on the germination ofTriticum aestivum orMedicago sativa, but did affect the germination of other plant species.F. avenaceum appears to be a candidate for the biocontrol of spotted knapweed, however, a native isolate is potentially more effective than an isolate obtained from the centre of origin ofC. maculosa.     

马尾松不同种源矿质营养与生长相关性分析

运用电感耦合等离子直读光谱仪（ＩＣＰ）,测定相同立地上马尾松（ＰｉｎｕｓｍａｓｏｎｉａｎａＬａｍｂ．）１０个种源针叶内２５种矿质营养元素含量的变异,分析矿质元素含量与树高、胸径生长量的相关性,认为利用常绿针叶树种休眠期内矿质元素含量的相对稳定性研究马尾松矿质营养水平是可靠的。矿质营养与产地经、纬度呈负相关。广东和广西的种源可作为江苏地区今后推广马尾松的主要种源。马尾松针叶内钙和锌含量可作为马尾松树高和胸径生长量的预测因子。初步认为马尾松属于高钙吸收和高锌利用型树种。     

Genetic structure within a Japanese stone pine (Pinus pumila regel) population on Mt. Aino-dake in central Honshu, Japan

In previous investigations, natural layering of Japanese stone pine (Pinus pumila) was suggested by the occurrence of adventitious roots. However, there is no genetic evidence so far that this species actually produces offspring by natural layering. We, therefore, investigated clonal structure and spatial genetic structure within a 38×18 m plot on Mt. Aino-dake, using allozyme, random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD), and inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) analyses. We found 24 genets, with stems found to be genetically identical in multiple tests, which extended later-ally against the direction of the slope, indicating that there were clonal structures originating from elongation of ramified stems and subsequent natural layering. The results suggest, however, that less than one third of the 200 stems analyzed from this site were clonaly propagated. We also analyzed spatial genetic structure by spatial autocorrelation. Many of the spatial autocorrelation coefficients were significantly positive in short distance classes. We concluded that the species has genetic structures which largely originate from clonal propagation and avian seed dispersal.     

Plant regeneration from callus cultures derived from mature zygotic embryos in white pine (Pinus strobus L.)

Plant regeneration via adventitious shoot organogenesis from callus cultures initiated from mature embryos in white pine (Pinus strobus L.) was achieved in this study. Callus cultures were induced from mature embryos cultured on PS medium supplemented with 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid, -naphthaleneacetic acid, or indole-3-acetic acid. Adventitious shoot regeneration from callus cultures was induced on medium containing 2 M indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and 3–12 M N₆-benzylaminopurine, thidiazuron (TDZ), or 6-(,-dimethylallylamino) purine. Sucrose was the most suitable sugar for adventitious shoot organogenesis in white pine. Shoot organogenesis was improved by treatment at 4°C for 6 weeks. The frequency of adventitious shoot formation increased when 0.1 mM putrescine was added to basal medium supplemented with 6 M TDZ and 2 M IBA. Putrescine improved adventitious shoot organogenesis by decreasing lipid peroxidation. These findings provide useful information on adventitious shoot organogenesis and may be valuable to genetic transformation in white pine.     

A Study on some Symptoms of the Declining and Mortal Pinus massoniana Lamb. Forest on Nanshan Mountain in Chongqing

In 1982, some trees in a 1800 ha forest of masson pine on Nanshan Mountain. Chongqing,were found to be dying, since then, half of the trees have died off and the whole forest isin danger. On damaged trees, the needle became spotted blotch, dieback and even yellow at all, its internal tissue had been destroyed and early defoliated; the root system was undeveloped,and had few rootlets; the branch decreased and died; the growth of stem in height and diameter were weakened. It is showed that the plant has been growing unhealthily. It was alsoknown by the stem analysis that shows the phenomenon of growth weakening since 1967. The result of preliminary study suggests that the declining and dying of masson pineforest in Nanshan Mountain maybe related to environmental pollution.     

Genetic analysis of inbreeding depression in plus tree 850.55 of Pinus radiata D. Don. II. Genetics of viability genes

 Most coniferous species exhibit severe inbreeding depression. Selfed individuals usually have decreased viability, reduced vigour and morphological defects. The number of filled seeds after selfing Pinus radiata plus tree 850.55 was 48% that of the outcrossing, and 26.1% of the selfed seedlings died at an early stage. The segregation of 172 markers (covering 56% of the genome) in selfed progenies of radiata pine plus tree 850.55 was studied. Based on the segregation ratio of the markers, genes associated with inbreeding depression on viability were identified (P<0.05). Using the Expectation/Conditional Maximization (ECM) algorithm, we estimated the location, degree of dominance and selection coefficient of viability genes. Nine viability genes were discovered. Seven of them appeared to be dominant and one partially dominant (degree of dominance=0.4). The other gene was overdominant or pseudo-overdominant, with selection coefficients for the two homozygotes of 0.4 and 0.42, respectively. Of the genes showing dominance or partial dominance, seven were sub-lethal with selection coefficients ranging from 0.55 to 0.79; one gene (SDPr), which was responsible for seedling death within the first month following germination, was lethal. Received: 13 December 1998 / Accepted: 28 December 1998     

Root growth capacity: relationship with field root growth and performance in outplanted jack pine and black spruce

Summary First- and second-year results from a study of mounding site preparation for regenerating boreal forest cutovers in Ontario using bareroot jack pine and black spruce are reported. At each of 4 sites 5 treatments were investigated: (a) control; (b) shoulder of standard Bräcke patch; (c) bottom of Bräcke patch; (d) a 20-L mound of mineral soil on the mineral soil on the shoulder of Bräcke patch; (e) a similar mound on the double layer of organic matter (original forest floor + inverted organic matter from Bräcke patch) immediately distal to the patch. At each site, 600 pines or spruces were planted as 4 replicates of 30-tree plots for the 5 treatments. Field root growth (FRG) was determined on 5 trees for each plot 30 days post-planting. Survival and growth were assessed after 1 and 2 growing seasons.Root growth capacity (RGC) tests revealed large differences between lots of planting stock. Only with black spruce was a higher RGC associated with better nursery performance. Only one third of a tree's RGC could be explained in multiple regression with initial top height, stem diameter, and root area index. Field performance of outplants was highly site- and treatment-specific, but in both species on all sites, stem diameter increment and FRG were consistently high for the mound treatment. FRG, (r>0.50 in 8 of 16 cases), was best correlated with first- + second-year stem diameter increment. Correlations between FRG and RGC were inconsistent and generally low.     

Growth form distribution and genetic relationships in tree clusters of Pinus flexilis,a bird-dispersed pine

Seed dispersal by the Clark's nutcracker (Nucifraga columbiana Wilson) may markedly influence the growth form and genetic population structure of limber pine (Pinus flexilis James). The nutcracker buries clusters of seeds in subterranean caches; germination of clustered seeds often results in a growth form characterized by two or more genetically distinct trees with fused or contiguous trunks (tree clusters). The occurrence of a morphologically similar form, the multi-trunk tree (a single genet branched near the base), as well as the typical single-trunked tree, complicates the study of limber pine populations. We examined growth form distribution and genetic relationships in tree clusters in limber pine populations at four elevations (from 2585 m to 3460 m) in the Colorado Front Range. At three study areas, relative occurrence of limber pine growth forms, as well as that of associated pines, was examined by a point-centered quarter survey. From the four study areas, we collected foliage from each trunk from a total of 74 clumps (combined tree clusters and multi-trunk trees) in order to differentiate the two growth forms using starch gel protein electrophoresis. Tree clumps were significantly more common in limber pine than in ponderosa or lodgepole pine (P<0.010). Although single-trunk limber pine was the most common growth form, except at the highest elevation, both multi-trunk trees and tree clusters were present in each stand. Tree clusters were estimated to comprise about 20% of the tree sites in each limber pine stand; the estimated proportion of multi-trunk trees varied by site from 5% to 77%. Trees in clusters were related, on average, as half to full siblings (mean r=0.43), but were unrelated to trees in other clusters (mean r=0.01). Electrophoretic analysis suggests possible genetic differentiation in limber pine that may be the result of different selection pressures on the growth forms.     

Organic acids production byStreptomyces spp. isolated from soil,rhizosphere and mycorrhizosphere of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)

Summary The streptomycetes studied released into the medium the following organic acids: pyruvic, α-ketoglutaric, lactic, malic (or citric), succinic and oxalic. Soil streptomycetes produced more α-ketoglutaric-, lactic- and succinic acid than the root zone microorganisms. Mean indices of the total production of organic acids were in the following order: soil>rhizosphere>mycorrhizosphere. Amounts of pyruvic acid excreted by the soil streptomycetes were inversely proportional to their biomass, whereas those of α-ketoglutaric acid were directly proportional to dry weight. Small repeatability of the results of α-keto acids determinations in these organisms was stated.     

Effect of light on abscisic acid content in photosensitive Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seed

Dormancy-breaking treatment of the photosensitive Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seed by white light incubation or a 15-min exposure to red light decreased the abscisic acid content prior to radicle protrusion. Incubation in the dark or exposure to red light followed by a 5-min far-red light irradiation did not cause as great a decrease in abscisic acid content nor was the dormancy relieved. The ability of the far-red light to keep the ABA level high and to prevent germination gradually disappeared as the length of the dark period between the red and far-red treatments was increased to 24 h. ABA was quantified on a gas chromatograph with an electron capture detector.