Evaluation of Rootstocks on Harvest Metrics of ‘Pinot Noir clone 02A’ Wine Grapes in Maritime Western Washington

The Puget Sound American Viticulture Area (AVA), located west of the Cascade Mountain Range in Washington State, is a large and uniquely situated area with diverse topography and mesoclimates. Given the young age of the AVA, little formal information exists on the appropriate rootstock–scion combination in wine grapes (Vitis vinifera) for the region. This project reports on a series of rootstock trials from 2003 to 2007, which evaluated the influence of ‘420A Millardet et de Grasset’, ‘3309 Couderc’, ‘101-14 Millardet et de Grasset’ (all Vitis hybrids), and a self-rooted control on basic harvest metrics of the wine grape scion ‘Pinot noir clone 02A’. At the warmer site in Everson, WA, rootstocks had no effect on final juice harvest metrics measured by soluble solids, titratable acidity (TA), and pH. At the cooler site in Mount Vernon, WA, the use of rootstocks did not always influence soluble solids or pH but did reduce final harvest TA, a desired effect for the region that is typified by low sugar–high TA wines. Even with a reduction in TA in some rootstock–scion combinations, overall, TA remained at the upper end or above the range typically desired for many wine styles.

Deciphering the sexual diploid members of the Boechera suffrutescens complex (Brassicaceae, Boechereae)

Boechera is a model genus that is of particular interest for understanding apomixis due to the presence of numerous apomictic diploid lineages that are tightly correlated with hybridisation events. Boechera includes many narrowly distributed endemics and apomictic hybrid lineages that obscure morphological boundaries amongst taxa. In this study, we focus on the Boecherasuffrutescens complex, a phylogenetically well-supported but taxonomically complex north-western United States clade whose diploid species currently include the widespread B.suffrutescens and two narrowly distributed serpentine endemics, B.constancei and B.rollei. Using a 15-locus microsatellite dataset, we infer ploidy and sexual vs. apomictic reproduction for all individuals and then assess species limits for all sexual diploid samples. Our results support the recognition of B.rollei and B.constancei as distinct species and reveal three divergent sexual diploid lineages within B.suffrutescens sensu lato. The latter three lineages exhibit geographic, genetic and morphological coherence and consequently warrant recognition at the species rank. These include Boecherasuffrutescens s.s., which is restricted to Idaho and eastern Oregon, Boecherabotulifructa, a newly described species distributed along the Cascade Mountain Province from Lassen County, California north to Deschutes County, Oregon and the heretofore dismissed species Boecheraduriuscula (basionym ≡ Arabisduriuscula), which occurs along the Sierra Nevada Province from Plumas County southwards to Fresno County, California. Our data also reveal substructure in B.constancei that is likely attributable to the highly fragmented distribution of its serpentine habitat. This refined taxonomic framework for the B.suffrutescens complex enhances Boechera as a model system, adds to our knowledge of speciation in edaphically extreme environments and provides information on ongoing conservation efforts for these taxa.

Tetracyclus hinziae (Bacillariophyta), a new species from the central Cascade Mountains (WA, USA)

Here we describe a new freshwater diatom species from the Cascade Mountain Range in Washington State, including observations of living cells and chloroplast structure. The species represents the fourth known extant species within the genus, as most species of Tetracyclus Ralfs are extinct. The new species can be distinguished from other Tetracyclus species and Diatoma mesodon Kützing by its lanceolate-elliptical shape, apiculate ends, small size, rimoportula placement, and distinct septa pattern. The distribution of the new taxon is currently catchments within the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and Mount Rainier National Park, and is found in greatest abundance in aerophilous, moss and liverwort habitats in first- and second-order streams.

Three new Psammothidium species from lakes of Olympic and Cascade Mountains in Washington State, USA

Populations of several Psammothidium species were found in core sediments from nine remote, high elevation, ultraoligotrophic and oligotrophic, Olympic and Cascade Mountain lakes. Three of these species, P. lacustre, P. alpinum, and P. nivale, are described here as new. The morphology of the silica frustules of these species was documented using light and scanning electron microscopy. We discuss the similarities and differences with previously described Psammothidium species.

Cladosporium herbarum Causes a Leaf Spot on Marshmarigold in Western North America

Caltha leptosepala ssp. howellii and Caltha leptosepala ssp. leptosepala (marshmarigold, Ranunculaceae) inhabit stream banks and wet meadows in the northern Rocky and Cascade mountain ranges of North America. Cladosporium herbarum (anamorphic Davidiellaceae) is a cosmopolitan saprophytic fungus and epiphyte that can invade senescing tissues of many plants, induce disease in ripe fruits of some plant species, and occupy other diverse environments. Instances of biotypes of C. herbarum specialized to cause disease on a given host are rare. This study reports a biotype of C. herbarum that caused disease on C. leptosepala. The name Cladosporium leaf spot is proposed for this disease. Accepted for publication 14 September 2008. Published 21 November 2008.

Analysis of nifH Gene Pool Complexity in Soil and Litter at a Douglas Fir Forest Site in the Oregon Cascade Mountain Range

ABSTRACT Nitrogen-fixing microbial populations in a Douglas fir forest on the western slope of the Oregon Cascade Mountain Range were analyzed. The complexity of the nifH gene pool (nifH is the marker gene which encodes nitrogenase reductase) was assessed by performing nested PCR with bulk DNA extracted from plant litter and soil. The restriction fragment length polymorphisms (RFLPs) of PCR products obtained from litter were reproducibly different than the RFLPs of PCR products obtained from the underlying soil. The characteristic differences were found during the entire sampling period between May and September. RFLP analyses of cloned nifH PCR products also revealed characteristic patterns for each sample type. Among 42 nifH clones obtained from a forest litter library nine different RFLP patterns were found, and among 64 nifHclones obtained from forest soil libraries 13 different patterns were found. Only two of the patterns were found in both the litter and the soil, indicating that there were major differences between the nitrogen-fixing microbial populations. A sequence analysis of clones representing the 20 distinct patterns revealed that 19 of the patterns had a proteobacterial origin. All of the nifH sequences obtained from the Douglas fir forest litter localized in a distinct phylogenetic cluster characterized by the nifH sequences of members of the genera Rhizobium, Sinorhizobium, and Azospirillum. The nifH sequences obtained from soil were found in two additional clusters, one characterized by sequences of members of the genera Bradyrhizobium,Azorhizobium, Herbaspirillum, andThiobacillus and the other, represented by a singlenifH clone, located between the gram-positive bacteria and the cyanobacteria. Our results revealed the distinctness of the nitrogen-fixing microbial populations in litter and soil in a Douglas fir forest; the differences may be related to special requirements for degradation and mineralization processes in the plant litter.

Response Surface Analysis of Control of Red Alder and Vine Maple with Glyphosate-Imazapyr and Triclopyr-Imazapyr

Quadratic response functions were demonstrated for predicting crown reduction of red alder (Alnus rubra) and vine maple (Acer circinatum) after application of the herbicides glyphosate and triclopyr in combinations with imazapyr. Relationships between crown reduction and the application dates and rates were explored with data from five experiments previously conducted in Oregon in order to estimate optimal timing and optimal rates for each herbicide. The best crown reduction with glyphosate-imazapyr was achieved in the Cascade Mountain foothills with June or July applications and in the Coast Range with August or September applications. Control of red alder was best with 0.05 to 0.09 lb (ae/ac) imazapyr; the additive effect of glyphosate rate was more important in July than in August applications. The optimum imazapyr rates for vine maple may be outside the range of rates included in the studies, and rainfall shortly after the July application compromised the results for one study. Compared to crown reduction of vine maple with the individual herbicides, the effect with glyphosate-imazapyr varied from none to slightly positive, and that with triclopyr-imazapyr from slightly negative to additive. The response model accounted for 69-88% of the observed variation in crown reduction of vine maple. The model for red alder accounted for 44% of the variation in crown reduction. West. J. Appl. For. 10(4):127-132.