An unusual Lophodermium species on needles of Pinus taiwanensis from China

Dynamic prediction of uneven-aged natural forest for yield of Pinus taiwanensis using joint modelling

In order to determine the stand age in the uneven-aged natural forest, a dynamic prediction model of stand volume and biomass was established in this study. In the model, the site quality grade was used as the dumb variable and the interval was used as the independent variable. In addition, the parameters of the model were estimated using immune evolutionary algorithm. The model was verified with the field data and the result revealed that the model had high accuracy. On this basis, the dynamic prediction model for forest stock was applied to evaluate the asset evaluation of uneven-aged natural forest and estimate carbon storage/sink potential of forest biomass. The selective logging period of the forest in the four plots was determined at the selective logging intensity of 40%. However, at the selective logging intensity of 40%, the forest ecological environment was suffered from the adverse effect to a certain extent from the perspective of scientific management, diversity of species, etc. Based on the comprehensive consideration of all the factors, it is recommended to set the selective cutting intensity in the range of 30 to 35%. The results can provide technical support for the application of selective logging income method in asset evaluation. Therefore, the results of this study have theoretical significance and practical application value in dynamic prediction of forest resources, asset evaluation and management, decision-making, etc.

A comparative analysis of Lophodermium fissuratum, sp. nov., found in haploxylon pine needles in the Pacific Northwest, and other Lophodermium endophytes

Lophodermium is a large fungal genus consisting of over 100 named species, with ca. 38 of these commonly found as endophytes of pine needles. In this study, we use both morphological and sequencing data to describe a new Lophodermium species associated with haploxylon pines from the Pacific Northwest. This new species resembled the morphology of L. nitens, another commonly occurring species from the same geographic regions and host species. They both present dark subcuticular ascocarps without lips. However, the upper walls of their ascocarps are different, as the new species forms an inward V-shaped folding, not present in L. nitens. Phylogenies using nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer barcodes (ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 = ITS), partial D1-D2 domains of nuc rDNA 28S, and partial sequences of the nuc actin gene confirmed that this species represents a unique lineage not closely related to L. nitens. We discuss the current state of the phylogeny in light of all currently available sequences from pine-associated Lophodermium species.