Family variation in gas exchange, growth and leaf traits of black locust half-sib families

Variations in several growth, gas exchange and leaf traits among greenhouse-grown black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) seedlings from 11 half-sib families were investigated. Three weeks after germination, early growth rates ranged from a minimum of 1 cm d(-1) in the slowest growing family, to a maximum of 3 cm d(-1) in the fastest growing family. Significant family variation in net photosynthetic rate per unit leaf area (P(N)), stomatal conductance, chlorophyll content, height, diameter, stem dry weight and total dry weight was observed. Net photosynthetic rate declined with seedling age. Net photosynthetic rate per unit leaf area was significantly correlated (r < 0.4) with specific leaf area, total chlorophyll, root dry weight, foliage dry weight and total dry weight. The correlation coefficients were higher (r >/= 0.55) between P(N) x total leaf area and growth traits (height, stem dry weight, foliage dry weight and total dry weight). The study indicated that variation in leaf area among the families was one reason for the lack of a strong relationship between P(N) and growth.

Assessment of natural interspecific hybridization of blue and Engelmann spruce in southwestern Colorado

In a partial diallel mating design among 20 blue and 20 Engelmann spruce parents, the interspecific crosses were successful only with Engelmann spruce as the female parent. No viable seed were obtained from the reciprocal cross among the 60 full-sib families attempted. Under the conditions of artificial pollination and a controlled germination environment, an average of 0.3% of the seed germinated on a total seed basis across all 20 Engelmann spruce females. Many abnormalities were observed among the germinating hybrid seed, suggesting hybrid inviability also contributes to the low crossability between these two species. Isozyme analysis was used to confirm the interspecific hybrids between blue and Engelmann spruce based on the unique genotypic compositions of the hybrids relative to the two species. No natural F1 hybrids between blue and Engelmann spruce were observed in this study based on isozyme analysis of mature individuals or their seedling progeny. Analyses included samples of open-pollinated seed from blue and Engelmann spruce females located in an area where both species are present in close proximity, often side-by-side, and where pollen shed and female strobilus receptivity in the two species are coincident. In addition, there was evidence of possible gametic selection or hybrid inviability among the full-sib progeny based on deviations of observed from expected segregation ratios for progeny isozyme genotypes. Deviations tended to favor the allele more common to both species rather than the allele unique or more common to only one species. Also, the elevationally allopatric blue and Engelmann spruce subpopulations were less divergent genetically than the sympatric subpopulations.

Inheritance of isozymes in seed and bud tissues of blue and Engelmann spruce

Thirteen loci from 11 enzyme systems were identified among full-sib and half-sib progeny of blue and Engelmann spruce. Eleven of the loci were expressed in bud, embryo, and megagametophyte tissue; the remaining two loci were expressed only in embryo and megagametophyte tissue. There were no mobility differences observed between loci expressed in seed and bud tissues. The mode of inheritance for 10 of the loci was confirmed based on progeny genotypic distributions. For the two loci not expressed in bud tissue, acid phosphatase (Acp-2) and diaphorase (Dia-2), inheritance was inferred from pooled segregation ratios of megagametophytes from open-pollinated seed from heterozygous females. The inheritance of glutamate oxaloacetate transaminase (Got-3) was also inferred from segregation ratios and diploid embryo phenotypes of open-pollinated progeny owing to a lack of variability at this locus among the 40 parents in the mating design. Two loci, aldolase (Ald) and malate dehydrogenase (Mdh-2), were monomorphic among the 20 parents of both species.

Key words: isozymes, Engelmann spruce, blue spruce, Picea.

Douglas-fir and western larch: chemical and physical properties in relation to Douglas-fir bark beetle attack

Frequency of Douglas-fir bark beetle, Dendroctonus pseudotsugae Hopkins (Coleoptera: Scolytidae), attack on western larch (Lark occidentalis Nutt.) was negatively correlated with 3-carene content of the xylem oleoresin. Concentrations of all oleoresin volatiles from stem cores of standing trees were higher in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) than in western larch with the single exception of 3-carene. Successful brood production by the Douglas-fir bark beetle in standing trees of Douglas-fir but not western larch may therefore be explained, at least in part, by the high 3-carene content of western larch. Other differences between the species that might affect susceptibility to beetle attack include thinner phloem, higher phloem moisture content and larger diameter vertical resin ducts in western larch compared with Douglas-fir. Live standing western larch had no oleoresin exudation pressure, suggesting that this trait is not associated with resistance to attack by the Douglas-fir bark beetle in this species.

Physiological Effects of Surface Waxes: I. Light Reflectance for Glaucous and Nonglaucous Picea pungens

Foliage reflectance was studied on glaucous and nonglaucous foliage of blue spruce (Picea pungens Engel.). Current-year and 1-year-old glaucous and nonglaucous foliage from mature trees and seedling glaucous and nonglaucous foliage had similar reflectance patterns in the 350 to 800 nanometer region. The highest reflectance was in the 750 to 800 nanometer region and the lowest reflectance was in the 670 nanometer region. Glaucous foliage had a higher percentage of light reflectance at all of the wavelengths of light. The largest difference of reflectance between glaucous and nonglaucous foliage was in the 350 nanometer region with a general decline in the difference to the smallest difference at the 800 nanometer region.

Effects of Quality, Intensity, and Duration of Light Breaks during a Long Night on Dormancy in Blue Spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.) Seedlings

Blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.) seedlings grow continuously when exposed to photoperiods exceeding 16 hours and enter dormancy within 4 weeks under photoperiods of 12 hours or less. Dormancy was prevented under 12-hour photoperiods by 2-hour light breaks of red light (1.70 muw/cm(2) at 650 nm) or high intensity white light (2,164.29 muw/cm(2) at 400 to 800 nm) given in the middle of the 12-hour night, and by continuous low intensity white light (204.76 muw/cm(2) at 400 to 800 nm). Two-hour light breaks of far red light (1.80 muw/cm(2) at 730 nm), red light followed by far red light, or low intensity white light were not effective in delaying dormancy. The results imply that the phytochrome system mediates the photoperiodic control of dormancy in blue spruce seedlings. The similarity of results obtained using the low intensity, long duration as against the high intensity, short duration light treatments suggests that the law of reciprocity applies in this response.