Shoot Growth and Changes in the Mesophyll Cell Structure in the Biennial Needles of Abies sibirica Ledeb.

Structural aspects of source–sink relations in current-year and second-year shoots of Siberian fir were investigated. The period of linear growth of current-year shoots was accompanied by a decrease in the size of starch granules in chloroplasts and the number of mitochondria, as well as by the disappearance of lipid inclusions in the mesophyll cells of second-year needles. Growth processes did not affect seasonal changes in the structure of chloroplast grana in these cells. After the termination of shoot growth, large polysaccharide globules appeared in the cytoplasm of mesophyll cells in second-year needles. It is possible that the formation of these inclusions prevents the inhibition of the photosynthesis by starch, which was accumulated in chloroplasts.     

Germination as a determinant of seedling distributions among natural substrates in Picea engelmannii (Pinaceae) and Abies lasiocarpa (Pinaceae)

In Rocky Mountain (USA) subalpine forests, seedlings of Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce) colonize logs more frequently than seedlings of its codominant associate Abies lasiocarpa (subalpine fir). We hypothesized that spruce germinates more readily on logs than fir, perhaps because small spruce seeds are more likely to lodge in log crevices than larger fir seeds. Our objectives were to test this hypothesis and compare both species' germination among several substrates to assess germination influences on natural seedling distributions. Spruce and fir seeds were sown on field-collected logs, litter, and soil in the greenhouse and monitored for 36 d. To test the crevice hypothesis, seeds were either scattered on logs or wedged into crevices, assuming that if both species were placed in crevices, interspecific germination differences on logs would decrease. Spruce mean germination percentages were significantly greater than fir's in all substrate treatments except when seeds were wedged in log crevices. The difference in means between the two log treatments was greater for fir (68%) than spruce (21%). Spruce germinated more rapidly than fir on all substrates. We suggest that large seed size reduces fir's success in colonizing logs, and that germination and establishment factors interact to determine natural seedling distributions for these subalpine conifers.     

Organogenesis in vitro cultures of embryonic shoots ofAbies balsamea (balsam fir)

Summary Embryonic shoots of 15- to 20-year-oldAbies balsamea (balsam fir) trees were soaked in (a) water for 15 min or 24 hr and (b) water with 1000 mg per l indolebutyric acid (IBA), N-dimethylaminosuccinamic acid (Alar-85), or 1-phenyl-3-methyl-5-pyrazolone (PPZ), singly or in combination with 100 mg per 1 caffeic acid, for 15 min. After the soaking, the embryonic shoots were transferred to a nutrient medium. Nonsoaked (control) embryonic shoots elongated and often formed a basal callus but never showed organogenesis. The soaked embryonic shoots formed new apical buds, with or without bud scales, adventitious dwarf needles or shoots, and root- and embryo-like structures. One of the embryos germinated and formed an irregular shoot. No differences were found between the various soak treatments, except that the 15-min water soak was ineffective. The 24-hr water soak was as effective as the 15-min growth regulator treatments.     

The influence of logging and topography on the distribution of spruce-fir forests near their Southern limits in Great Smoky Mountains National Park,USA

We studied the effects of logging history, topography, and potential insolation on the lower-elevation limit of existing spruce-fir forest in Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GRSM). Dummy-variable regression, analysis of variance, and classification trees were applied to environmental data within a geographic information system framework. The effect of logging history on the lower limit of spruce-fir depended on aspect. On north-facing slopes (270°– 90°), the presence of spruce-fir was independent of both logging history and potential insolation. On south-facing sites (90°–270°), the elevation of spruce-fir was significantly higher (by 122 m) in areas that had been logged historically. Classification-tree models suggested an even greater logging effect, indicating that both the lower limit and the upper dominance zone of spruce-fir forest are, on average, nearly 200 m higher in historically logged landscapes. Presence of spruce-fir on south aspects was also significantly related to potential insolation, but the strength of this effect was not dependent on logging history. Classification-tree models, developed separately using data from logged sites versus unlogged sites, were used to estimate the current area of spruce-fir forest in the park expected under the hypothetical scenario that no spruce-fir had been logged (38,675 ha) versus the alternate scenario that it had hall been logged (11,727 ha). At present the area of spruce-fir forest in the park is 21,242 ha. We found greater prevalence of spruce-fir on the Tennessee side of the divide on south aspects and historically logged sites, possibly due to greater occurrence of westerly winds and associated cloud cover.     

Heterogeneous dispersal of tree litterfall corresponding with patchy canopy structure in a temperate mixed forest

Spatial dispersal patterns of fine litter were analyzed in relation to forest structure within a temperate mixed stand, in northeastern Japan. The canopy layer was a mosaic of two types of patches, those of shade-tolerant Abies firma (estimated age being 81–146 yrs.) and early successional deciduous broad-leaved trees (about 45 yrs. of age). Litter input to the forest floor was observed for a period of three years using 38 traps set at a height of 1.2 m. The average annual total of fine litter was 6.233 (dw.) metric tons hectare^-1, 85.7% of the total litterfall. Fine litter was mostly leaves from the overstory (about 64%). Litter distribution maps were drawn, using the Davis's grid method, of the total fine litter and its two main elements, namely A. firma (a 36.1% share) and deciduous broad-leaved species (36.7%). The mosaic distribution of heterogeneous patches of litter was seem to corresponded with distribution of the canopy structure.     

Nutrient trade‐offs mediated by ectomycorrhizal strategies in plants: Evidence from an Abies species in subalpine forests

1. Ectomycorrhizal (ECM) symbiosis is an evolutionary biological trait of higher plants for effective nutrient uptakes. However, little is known that how the formation and morphological differentiations of ECM roots mediate the nutrients of below‐ and aboveground plant tissues and the balance among nutrient elements across environmental gradients. Here, we investigated the effects of ECM foraging strategies on root and foliar N and P concentrations and N:P ratio Abies faxoniana under variations of climate and soil conditions.
2. The ECM symbionts preferentially mediated P uptake under both N and P limitations. The uptake efficiency of N and P was primarily associated with the ECM root traits, for example, ECM root tip density, superficial area of ECM root tips, and the ratio of living to dead root tips, and was affected by the ECM proliferations and morphological differentiations. The tissue N and P concentrations were positively associated with the abundance of the contact exploration type and negatively with that of the short‐distance exploration type.
3. Our findings indicate that the nutritional status of both below‐ and aboveground plant tissues can be strongly affected by ECM symbiosis in natural environments. Variations in the ECM strategies in response to varying environmental conditions significantly influence plant nutrient uptakes and trade‐offs.