Regrowth response of young black spruce (Picea mariana) trees to meristem removal and resource addition

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (9) ◽  
pp. 956-963 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcy Bast ◽  
R J Reader
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Apical Dominance ◽  
Apical Meristem ◽  
Compensatory Growth ◽  
Shoot Growth ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Mineral Nutrients ◽  
Mineral Nutrient ◽  
Supply Condition ◽  
K Fertilizer

Regrowth of an injured plant may exceed the growth of a noninjured plant (i.e., overcompensation) when (i) dormant meristems are available to replace injured meristems, (ii) the injury level is sufficient to release dormant meristems from apical dominance, and (iii) the supply of mineral nutrient and light is sufficient to support the outgrowth of previously dormant meristems. A field experiment was conducted with 5-year-old black spruce trees to determine whether these three conditions were met when 25%, 50%, or 75% of a tree's uppermost buds were removed. Subsequent shoot growth on treated and nontreated trees (0% meristem removal) was compared for each of two levels of resource supply (natural and enhanced). Enhanced levels of light and mineral nutrients were created by removing neighbouring plants within a 2-m radius of a target tree and adding 10 grams of N–P–K fertilizer per tree. After 5 and 17 months, shoot growth did not differ significantly among trees in the four meristem removal treatments (condition ii above), regardless of resource supply (condition iii above). The absence of overcompensation most likely reflects the relatively small supply of dormant meristems on treated trees (condition i above).Key words: apical meristem, black spruce, compensatory growth, injury.

scholarly journals The biology, damage and within-tree distribution on the spruce bud midge on black spruce in Newfoundland

2005 ◽  
Vol 71 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-36 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. J. West
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Apical Meristem ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Tree Distribution ◽  
North East ◽  
Lateral Buds ◽  
Newly Hatched Larvae ◽  
Terminal Buds

The spruce bud midge (Rhabdophaga swainei) has one generation a year on black spruce (Picea mariana) in Newfoundland. Newly hatched larvae enter primordia of flushing buds in late June and early July and larvae mature by fall to overwinter within buds. Pupation occurs within buds the following spring and adults emerge in June. Virgin females averaged 86 eggs upon dissection. Platygaster rhabdophagae, Mesopolobus sp., Torymus sp., and Tetrastichus sp. were responsible for high parasitism levels of spruce bud midge larvae. Terminal buds were attacked significantly more than lateral or uppermost lateral buds. The number of infested buds was significantly higher in the top third of the crown than in the bottom crown third, but was not significantly different among north, east, south and west crown exposures. The apical meristem never developed in infested buds, and these buds did not flush. The growth of bud primordial cells is redirected by R. swainei to produce gall tissues that provide nutrients and an overwintering shelter for the larva. Attack of the terminal leader causes a slight loss in height growth but normal leader growth resumes the following year.

Clonal and nonclonal genetic structure of subarctic black spruce (Picea mariana) populations in Yukon territory

Botany ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 89 (2) ◽  
pp. 133-140 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marios Viktora ◽  
Rodney A. Savidge ◽  
Om P. Rajora
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Structure ◽  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
A Priori ◽  
Nuclear Genome ◽  
Yukon Territory ◽  
Fire Disturbance ◽  
Clone Size ◽  
Flat Terrain ◽  
Individual Trees

Black spruce (Picea mariana) reproduces sexually from seeds and asexually by layering. There is a prevalent concept that clonal reproduction maintains populations of this species in the subarctic and arctic regions. We used microsatellite DNA markers of the nuclear genome to investigate the genetic structure of montane and subalpine black spruce populations from the Western Yukon Plateau in relation to this concept. Sixty individual trees at a minimum distance of 4 m from each other were sampled from each of four populations and individual trees were genotyped for eight microsatellite loci. Each of the 60 individuals from three montane pure black spruce populations growing on flat terrain at relatively low elevations had unique multilocus genotypes, indicating an absence of clonal structure in those populations. However, in an anthropologically undisturbed climax white spruce-dominated subalpine black spruce population on a northwest slope near Mount Nansen, the majority of the sampled individuals belonged to eight genetically distinct clones (genets). Clone size differed by altitude, the dominant genet being nearest the timberline–tundra ecotone. The results indicate that black spruce reproduction is variable and adaptive, being primarily sexual in flat-terrain montane populations previously subjected to fire disturbance, but mixed vegetative–sexual in the anthropogenically undisturbed subalpine population. This study is the first to employ molecular markers a priori to examine the mode of reproduction in natural black spruce populations.

scholarly journals Media composition affects seed dormancy, apical dominance and phenolic profile of Knautia sarajevensis (Dipsacaceae), Bosnian endemic

2018 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 70-79 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erna Karalija ◽  
Sanja Ćavar Zeljković ◽  
Petr Tarkowski ◽  
Edina Muratović ◽  
Adisa Parić
Keyword(s):  
Apical Dominance ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Basal Medium ◽  
Shoot Proliferation ◽  
Mineral Nutrient ◽  
Total Phenolic ◽  
Endemic Plant ◽  
High Concentrations

AbstractKnautia sarajevensisis an endemic plant of the Dinaric Alps and is mainly distributed on Bosnian Mountains. Due to the quite large flower heads and easy maintenance, this plant has a potential use as a substitute ornamental plant forK. arvensisin perennial beds. The current study evaluated the germination process in different treatments in an attempt to suppress dormancy and increase germination rate, and to develop a successful protocol for micropropagation. An over 60% germination rate was achieved through cultivation of seeds on MS basal medium with reduced mineral nutrient composition and the absence of sucrose. On the other hand, a below 10% germination rate was achieved with untreated seeds. Suppression of apical dominance was achieved through application of high concentrations of kinetin, apical shoot decapitation or cultivation of shoots in liquid media. Overall, liquid cultures were more successful as a micropropagation system for this plant. Shoots spontaneously developed roots on multiplication treatments and were successfully acclimatized. Moreover, phenolic compound profile was analysed in the light of the possible medicinal potential of this plant. Variable amounts of total phenolic compounds as well as individual phenolics were recorded, according to treatment and solidification of media. An increase in rosmarinic acid content was reported for kinetin treatments and acclimatized plants comparing to mother plants in natural habitat. The present study shows that choice of cytokinin concentration, explant type as well as culture type influences not only shoot proliferation and apical dominance suppression but alsoin vitroproduction of phenolics.

scholarly journals Comparative Height Growth of Eastern Larch and Black Spruce in Northwestern Ontario

1978 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 296-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas A. Mead
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Height Growth ◽  
Larix Laricina ◽  
Stem Analysis ◽  
Northwestern Ontario ◽  
Analysis Methods ◽  
Spruce Stands

Height growth of eastern larch (Larix laricina (Du Roi) K. Koch) and black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) was determined using standard stem analysis methods on trees from two sites in northwestern Ontario. The data were obtained from mixed larch-spruce stands which were relatively undisturbed. The larch exhibited substantially better height growth than the spruce through age 65.

SEASONAL DAMAGE BY INSECTS AND SQUIRRELS TO FEMALE REPRODUCTIVE STRUCTURES OF BLACK SPRUCE, PICEA MARIANA (MILL.) B.S.P.

1988 ◽  
Vol 120 (12) ◽  
pp. 1113-1121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y.H. Prévost ◽  
J.E. Laing ◽  
V.F. Haavisto
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Tamiasciurus Hudsonicus ◽  
Red Squirrel ◽  
Red Squirrels ◽  
Reproductive Structures ◽  
Cone Axis ◽  
Viable Seeds ◽  
Cone Growth

AbstractThe seasonal damage to female reproductive structures (buds, flowers, and cones) of black spruce, Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P., was assessed during 1983 and 1984. Nineteen insects (five Orders) and the red squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Erxleben), were found feeding on these reproductive structures. Collectively, these organisms damaged 88.9 and 53.5% of the cones in 1983 and 1984, respectively. In the 2 years, Lepidoptera damaged 61.8% of the cones in 1983 and 44.4% of the cones in 1984. The spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clem.), and the spruce coneworm, Dioryctria reniculelloides Mut. and Mun., were the most important pests. Cones damaged by Lepidoptera could be classed into three categories: (a) severe, yielding no seeds; (b) moderate, yielding 22.3 seeds per cone; and (c) light, yielding 37.5 seeds per cone. Undamaged cones yielded on average 39.9 seeds per cone. Red squirrels removed 18.8% of the cones in 1983 and none in 1984. The spruce cone axis midge, Dasineura rachiphaga Tripp, and the spruce cone maggot, Lasiomma anthracinum (Czerny), caused minor damage in both years. Feeding by spruce cone axis midge did not reduce cone growth significantly or the number of viable seeds per cone, but feeding by the spruce cone maggot did. During both years new damage by insects to the female reproductive structures of the experimental trees was not observed after mid-July. In 1983 damage by red squirrels occurred from early to late September. In 1984 damage to cones on trees treated with dimethoate was 15.6% compared with 53.5% for untreated trees, without an increase in the number of aborted cones.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document