THE BIOLOGY OF CANADIAN WEEDS: 16. Comptonia peregrina (L.) Coult.

1976 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 147-156 ◽  
Author(s):  
IVAN V. HALL ◽  
LEWIS E. AALDERS ◽  
C. FRED EVERETT

Comptonia peregrina (L.) Coult., sweet-fern (Myricaceae), is a weed of pastures, Jack-pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) stands, and lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait. and V. myrtilloides Michx.) fields of Eastern Canada. It is particularly prevalent on light sandy gleysolic and luvisolic soils from Nova Scotia in the east to the Ontario–Manitoba border in the central portion of Canada. The pruning of shoots by cutting or burning merely stimulates growth of dormant buds on the rhizome. Reproduction is also by seeds that are produced on bur-like inflorescences. Fortunately, this species is quite susceptible to several herbicides such as 2,4–D, dicamba and picloram.

1982 ◽  
Vol 62 (3) ◽  
pp. 809-812 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. V. HALL ◽  
L. E. AALDERS ◽  
K. B. McRAE

Production of lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait. and V. myrtilloides Michx.) was found to be significantly correlated with June rain in Newfoundland and with June sunshine and temperature in Nova Scotia. When the data were combined for five provinces over 27 yr, no variables were of consistent value in predicting lowbush blueberry production.


Botany ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 93 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-46 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott N. White ◽  
Nathan S. Boyd ◽  
Rene C. Van Acker ◽  
Clarence J. Swanton

Red sorrel (Rumex acetosella L.) is a ramet-producing herbaceous creeping perennial species commonly found as a weed in commercially managed lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) fields in Nova Scotia, Canada. Flowering and seed production occur primarily in overwintering ramets of this species, indicating a potential vernalization requirement for flowering. This study was therefore initiated to examine the role of vernalization, photoperiod, and pre-vernalization stimulus on ramet flowering. Red sorrel ramets propagated from creeping roots and seeds collected from established red sorrel populations in lowbush blueberry had an obligate requirement for vernalization to flower. Ramet populations maintained under pre- and post-vernalization photoperiods of 16 h flowered following 12 weeks of vernalization at 4 ± 0.1 °C, whereas those maintained under constant 16, 14, or 8 h photoperiods without vernalization did not flower. Vernalization for 10 weeks maximized, but did not saturate, the flowering response. Pre-vernalization photoperiod affected flowering response, with increased flowering frequency observed in ramet populations exposed to decreasing, rather than constant, photoperiod prior to vernalization. This study represents the first attempt to determine the combined effects of vernalization and photoperiod on red sorrel flowering, and the results provide a benchmark for the future study of flowering and sexual reproduction in this economically important perennial weed species.


2003 ◽  
Vol 83 (2) ◽  
pp. 401-408
Author(s):  
D. I. Hayman ◽  
K. E. MacKenzie ◽  
E. G. Reekie

The effect of galls induced by Hemadas nubilipennis Ashmead (Hymenoptera: Pteromalidae) on the morphology and reproduction of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) was studied over two seasons in three Nova Scotia blueberry fields. Comparisons of galled and non-galled shoot characteristics, and position on shoots of galls formed in the years of vegetative and reproductive growth were made. In June 1999, 30 newly galled vegetative shoots were arbitrarily selected, tagged and measured along with similar sized non-galled shoots on the galled clone and a neighbouring non-galled clone. Shoot characteristics were measured in the reproductive season during bloom and after harvest. At two sites, the dry weights of leaves and stems on galled shoots measured in the reproductive season were significantly less than non-galled shoots, but at a third site there was no difference in stem allocation. Galls reduced berry production on shoots at two sites. Proportions of terminally positioned galls differed significantly among study sites in the reproductive season. Shoots with terminal galls were significantly shorter, lighter and allocated less weight to leaves and stems than shoots with basally positioned galls. If the reports of increasing gall populations in Nova Scotia during the 1990s are correct, there may be good reason to believe that there will be significant economic loss of blueberries in the future. Key words: Gall, blueberry (lowbush), Hemadas nubilipennis, Vaccinium angustifolium


2008 ◽  
Vol 38 (10) ◽  
pp. 2566-2578 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Schneider ◽  
Frank Berninger ◽  
Chhun-Huor Ung ◽  
Pierre Y. Bernier ◽  
D. Edwin Swift ◽  
...  

Allometric equations for estimating foliage biomass, sapwood area, and branch basal area from tree diameters and crown lengths for jack pine ( Pinus banksiana Lamb.) in eastern Canada were calibrated using mixed models. A first model is presented that relates branch foliage biomass to branch diameter and relative position within the crown. These results show that a branch’s foliage biomass is inversely proportional to its depth within the crown. At the tree level, foliage biomass was found to be proportional to crown length and to vary with stem age and slenderness. Pipe model parameters (sapwood area and branch basal area to foliage biomass) were also calculated. The sapwood area to foliage biomass parameter is proportional to stand density, whereas branch basal area to foliage biomass is constant. The tree-level allometeric models were calibrated using a mixed-effects seemingly unrelated regression to account for between-model correlations.


1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 841-851 ◽  
Author(s):  
F M Moola ◽  
A U Mallik ◽  
R A Lautenschlager

Berry production and vegetative recovery of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) and velvet leaf blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides Michx.) were documented for three growing seasons (1994, 1995, 1996) after brushsaw, single operational and multiple nonoperational Vision® herbicide (active ingredient glyphosate), and control treatments in a jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) plantation in northwestern Ontario. Vaccinium angustifolium fruit production was significantly (P <= 0.05) reduced by both the single and multiple treatments in all 3 years of the study. Fruit production by V. myrtilloides was significantly (P <= 0.05) reduced only by the multiple treatment. The significant reduction in berry production by V. angustifolium contributed to an overall drop in the availability of blueberries (both species combined) on sprayed clearcuts in 1995 and 1996. Single and multiple treatments also significantly (P <= 0.05) reduced fresh mass and dry mass of total berries in 1995 and 1996. Compared with the controls, reductions in cover for both blueberry species were only significant (P <= 0.05) with the Vision® treatments. In clearcuts where V. angustifolium forms a major component of the Vaccinium spp. cover, the short-term reduction in fruit availability in sprayed areas may be considerable.


1999 ◽  
Vol 79 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonard J. Eaton ◽  
Jeff Hoyle ◽  
Andrew King

The effects of deicing salt (NaCl) on buds, blossoms and yields of lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.) were assessed over 3 yr in two commercial fields adjacent to a major Nova Scotia highway. Concentrations of road salt on exposed stems were highest next to the highway, and decreased with distance from the road. Numbers of blossoms, and subsequent fruit yields were low nearest the road, and increased with distance from the highway. Numbers of live blueberry buds and blossoms, and subsequent yields, were inversely related to concentrations of road salt on the stems. Plants under plastic shelters placed near the highway had more live buds and blossoms, as well as higher yields relative to plants exposed to deicing salt. Key words: Vaccinium, sodium chloride, salt damage, desiccation


2007 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahadev Sharma ◽  
S.Y. Zhang

Abstract A stand density management diagram was developed for jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) stands using the data obtained from 125 permanent sample plots (PSPs) established in Ontario and 232 PSPs in Quebec, Canada. The diagram was evaluated using data from 40 PSPs established in Ontario. Recently developed and efficient models have been used in constructing the diagram to estimate diameters and heights for the trees for which no diameters or heights were recorded at the time of stand inventory. Relative density indices of 0.15, 0.40, and 0.55 were used, corresponding to the line of approximate crown closure, the limit of productive zone, and the lower limit of competition-related mortality, respectively. If two stand characteristics are known, including mean total tree volume, quadratic mean diameter, trees per hectare, and average dominant height, the others can be readily obtained using the diagram. The consequences of various thinning scenarios can be plotted and visualized in the field without the need for computer simulation.


1974 ◽  
Vol 54 (1) ◽  
pp. 141-147 ◽  
Author(s):  
I. V. HALL ◽  
R. A. MURRAY ◽  
L. P. JACKSON

Spiraea latifolia (Ait.) Borkh., broad-leaved meadowsweet (Rosaceae), is a weed of pastures, lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait. and V. myrtilloides Mich.) fields and cranberry (V. macrocarpon Ait.) bogs of Eastern Canada, especially where soil moisture content is high during the growing season. Where S. latifolia occurs, other vegetation is lacking or depressed. Much time is lost in harvesting lowbush blueberries due to jamming of the S. latifolia stems among the tines of the rake or in cranberries due to mechanical damage to the harvesters. In Canada, S. latifolia occurs in Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Ontario, and Manitoba.


2004 ◽  
Vol 118 (2) ◽  
pp. 195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luc C. Duchesne ◽  
Suzanne Wetzel

The effects of prescribed fire intensity and depth of burn were investigated on Lowbush Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) and Velvet Leaf Blueberry (Vaccinium myrtilloides) stem density, blueberry production and the number of blueberries/stem in a clear-cut Jack Pine, Pinus banksiana, ecosystem of eastern Ontario. Blueberry production and stem density were significantly (P < 0.001) increased by low intensity prescribed fires of 597 and 1268 kW/m. In contrast, prescribed fires of medium and high intensities did not affect blueberry production and stem density. The number of blueberries/stem was not affected (P = 0.056) by prescribed burning, two years after treatment. Pearson's multiple correlation analysis showed that blueberry production (R: -0.683, P < 0.01), stem density (R: 0.733, P < 0.01) and the number of blueberries/stem (R: 0.803, P < 0.01) correlated with depth of burn. As well, blueberry production (R: 0.507, P < 0.05) and stem density (R: -0.504, P < 0.05) correlated with fire intensity. Depth of burn was a better predictor of berry production and stem density than fire intensity. These results suggest that only low intensity fires with little penetrating effect in the ground should be used to manage blueberry crops.


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