ALBERT

Beschreibung:    We studied the effects of climatic factors on tree-ring width and vessel lumen area (VLA) in earlywood of English oak ( Quercus robur L.) in Latvia. Cores were obtained from healthy canopy oaks in 40 stands located across Latvia. Tree-ring widths and VLA were measured. Principal component analysis was used to arrange the sites along gradients of response of tree-ring width and earlywood to environmental factors. Significant relationships of tree-ring width and mean VLA with climatic factors (mean monthly temperature and precipitation sum) were determined by correlation analysis. Relationships between tree-ring, early- and latewood widths were tested in three sampled stands. The patterns of response of VLA and tree-ring width to environmental factors differed in relation to a west–east gradient of increasing continentality. Three regions of Latvia (western, central and eastern) were distinguished along this gradient. Responses to climate differed between tree-ring width and mean VLA. Occurrence of significant correlations between climatic factors and the proxies differed between regions, likely due to regional differences in temperature and precipitation. Tree-ring width correlated with climatic factors (most commonly with March, May and June temperature and August precipitation of the current growing season and July–August temperatures of the previous growing season); VLA was more strongly related to climatic factors, particularly with temperature in winter and spring months. The proportion of significant correlation coefficients with climatic factors differed between the regions. Among sites, significant correlation of tree-ring width with temperature in spring and summer was more frequent in the western region, while correlation with winter temperature of the previous growing season and precipitation in August was more frequent in the eastern region. For VLA, the frequency of significant correlation coefficients with temperature in winter and spring was higher in the eastern region. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-16 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0701-z Authors Roberts Matisons, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Kronvalda bulv.4, Riga, LV-1010 Latvia Guntis Brūmelis, Faculty of Biology, University of Latvia, Kronvalda bulv.4, Riga, LV-1010 Latvia Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    Stem CO 2 efflux ( E S ) is an important component of forest ecosystem carbon budgets and net ecosystem CO 2 exchange, but little is known about E S in temperate forests in Northeastern China, an area with a large extent of forest. We measured E S along with stem temperature at 1 cm depth ( T s) over a 9 month period in 2007 on ten dominant tree species of secondary forests of the region. Other measurements included the autotrophic component of soil CO 2 efflux ( E A ) and stem diameter at breast height (DBH). Our objectives were to (1) examine the seasonal patterns and species differences in E S , and (2) determine the correlations between E S and T s, DBH and E A . Mean E S for the measurement period ranged from 1.09 to 1.74 μmol CO 2  m −2  s −1 among the ten species. The sensitivity of E S to T s ( Q 10 ) ranged from 1.87 to 2.61. Across the ten species 57–89% of variation in E S was explained by T S and DBH. There was also a linear relationship between mean E S and E A . E S was better predicted by T s in the dormant season than the growing season, indicating that additional factors such as growth respiration and internal transport of CO 2 in the xylem became more important contributors to E S during the growing season. Stem CO 2 efflux increased, and Q 10 decreased, with increasing DBH in all species. Although temperature exerts strong control on the rate of cellular respiration, we conclude that in tree stems in situ, T S , DBH and many other factors affect the relationship between CO 2 evolution by respiring cells and the diffusion of CO 2 to the stem surface. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0698-3 Authors J. Y. Yang, Center for Ecological Research, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040 China R. O. Teskey, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602 USA C. K. Wang, Center for Ecological Research, Northeast Forestry University, Harbin, 150040 China Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung: Context    Soluble organic nitrogen is considered to reflect the effect of forest types on soil nitrogen status. As a major process affecting the soil-soluble organic nitrogen pool, degradation of insoluble organic nitrogen in the production of soluble organic nitrogen is mediated by a suite of soil enzymes. Aims    This study aims to examine soil-soluble organic nitrogen pools and their relationships with the activities of soil enzymes in natural secondary forest stands and adjacent larch plantation stands. Methods    Four pairs of larch plantation stands and secondary forest stands were randomly selected from a mountainous area, and the top 15 cm of the mineral soils were sampled from each field. Results    The soil-soluble organic nitrogen concentrations were up to 2-fold greater in the secondary forest stands than in the larch plantation stands, whereas the ratio of soluble organic nitrogen/total nitrogen was comparable between the two forest types. The concentrations of soluble organic nitrogen were positively correlated with approximately 2-fold differences in urease and protease activities, a 1.2-fold difference in N -acetyl-β-glucosaminidase and a 1.7-fold difference in l -asparaginase between the two forest types. Conclusions    Our results suggest that relationships between soil-soluble organic nitrogen and enzyme activities are independent on sampling time, and that the soil enzyme activities can be used as potential indicators of soil soluble organic nitrogen pools in the temperate forest ecosystem. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s13595-012-0198-z Authors Kai Yang, Qingyuan Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016 People’s Republic of China Jiaojun Zhu, Qingyuan Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016 People’s Republic of China Qiaoling Yan, Qingyuan Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016 People’s Republic of China Jinxin Zhang, Qingyuan Experimental Station of Forest Ecology, Institute of Applied Ecology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang, 110016 People’s Republic of China Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung: Context   The scaling-up approach (which requires the use of individual tree biomass equations and data) is one of the most commonly used methods for estimating stand biomass at a local scale. However, biomass prediction over large management areas requires more efficient methods. Aims   Two methods of estimating aboveground stand biomass were developed and compared: stand biomass equations (SBE) including observed stand variables, and SBE including biomass expansion factors (BEF) and stand volume. Methods   Two types of systems of additive equations were fitted simultaneously for components and total aboveground stand biomass, to ensure additivity. Inherent correlations among biomass components were also taken into account in the fitting process. Results   The systems explained a high percentage of the observed variability. The SBE systems that included observed stand variables provided more accurate estimates than those that included BEF and stand volume. However, the latter were found to be more precise for stem wood and total aboveground biomass prediction. Conclusions   Both approaches provide a direct link between forest inventory data, outputs from whole-stand growth models, and biomass estimates at stand level. Taking into account that the inventory effort is similar for both alternatives, the choice of which to use will depend on the data available and on the relative importance of the biomass components for the end-users. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s13595-012-0191-6 Authors Fernando Castedo-Dorado, Departamento de Ingeniería y Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad de León. Escuela Superior y Técnica de Ingeniería Agraria, Avda. de Astorga s/n, 24400 Ponferrada, León, Spain Esteban Gómez-García, Departamento de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. Escuela Politécnica Superior, R/ Benigno Ledo, Campus Universitario, 27002 Lugo, Spain Ulises Diéguez-Aranda, Departamento de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. Escuela Politécnica Superior, R/ Benigno Ledo, Campus Universitario, 27002 Lugo, Spain Marcos Barrio-Anta, Departamento de Biología de Organismos y Sistemas, Universidad de Oviedo. Escuela Politécnica de Mieres, C/Gonzalo Gutiérrez Quirós, 33600 Mieres, Asturias, Spain Felipe Crecente-Campo, Departamento de Ingeniería Agroforestal, Universidad de Santiago de Compostela. Escuela Politécnica Superior, R/ Benigno Ledo, Campus Universitario, 27002 Lugo, Spain Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung: • Context    There is little information about inter- and intra-specific variation in fuelwood properties of trees/shrubs in West Africa. • Aims    We studied variation in fuelwood properties of Balanites aegyptiaca , Combretum glutinosum , Guiera senegalensis , Piliostigma reticulatum , and Zizyphus mauritiana in the Sahelian and Sudanian ecozones of Mali. • Methods    Trees were sampled on different soil (sandy, sandy/loam, or rocky), land use (parkland agroforest or woodland), and terrain (flat, temporarily flooded, or hill slope) types in five regions extending from the drier eastern to the more humid western parts of Mali. Basic density, volatile matter, fixed carbon, ash content, moisture content, gross calorific value, and fuel value index were measured for each tree and adjusted for tree age. • Results    All fuelwood properties differed significantly among species, but there were significant species by region interactions. Most fuelwood properties of four species differed significantly among regions. Soil and/or land use type had significant effects on a few fuelwood properties of four species. • Conclusion    In general, fuelwood production is recommended in all regions for G. senegalensis , in drier regions for B. aegyptiaca and C. glutinosum , in more humid regions for Z. mauritiana , and on rocky soils for all species. Fuelwood production of P. reticulatum is not recommended. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s13595-012-0195-2 Authors Carmen Sotelo Montes, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Sahel Office, B. P. E 5118 Bamako, Mali John C. Weber, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Sahel Office, B. P. E 5118 Bamako, Mali Dimas A. Silva, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Av. Lothário Meissner, 900, CEP: 80270-170 Curitiba, Brazil Clarice Andrade, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Av. Lothário Meissner, 900, CEP: 80270-170 Curitiba, Brazil Graciela I. B. Muñiz, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Av. Lothário Meissner, 900, CEP: 80270-170 Curitiba, Brazil Rosilei A. Garcia, Instituto de Florestas, Departamento de Produtos Florestais, Universidade Federal Rural do Rio de Janeiro, BR 465, km 07, 23890-000, Seropédica, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Antoine Kalinganire, World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF), Sahel Office, B. P. E 5118 Bamako, Mali Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung:    We analyzed the leaf phenology of European beech ( Fagus sylvatica ) and its variation due to spatial and temporal climatic variability, using a modified data set of the phenological network in Slovenia. We used first leaf unfolding (LU) and general leaf colouring (LC) time series of 47 sites (altitudes from 55 to 1,050 m a.s.l.) and corresponding climate series (52 of precipitation and 38 of temperature) for the period 1955–2007, collected by the Environmental Agency of the Republic of Slovenia. Across the network in average, LU occurred from 14 April until 13 May, and LC from 3 October until 29 October. LU was delayed by 2.6 days and LC was promoted by 1.9 days when the altitude increased by 100 m. Year-to-year variation of LU was significantly correlated with March and April temperatures. March temperatures had a greater effect at lower elevations and April ones at higher elevations. LC was related to August and September temperatures, and occurred later if the temperatures were higher. Recently, March and April temperatures showed an increasing trend and LU occurred 1.52 days earlier per decade at 1,000 m a.s.l. but no significant shifts were observed at lower altitudes. August temperatures were also increasing but the trends of LC were not significant and were not clearly related to altitude. Our detailed sub-regional data from a relatively small area with high geographic variability showed that changes in climate affect phenological response, mainly leaf unfolding, to a greater degree at higher altitudes than at lower ones. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0686-7 Authors Katarina Čufar, Department of Wood Science and Technology, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Rožna Dolina, Cesta VIII/34, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Martin De Luis, Department of Geography, University of Zaragoza, y O.T. C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Miguel Angel Saz, Department of Geography, University of Zaragoza, y O.T. C/Pedro Cerbuna 12, 50009 Zaragoza, Spain Zalika Črepinšek, Agronomy Department, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Lučka Kajfež-Bogataj, Agronomy Department, Biotechnical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Jamnikarjeva 101, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    Tsuga canadensis is often considered a foundation species because of its influence on the biological and ecological processes of upland forest systems. With hemlock woolly adelgid ( Adelges tsugae ; HWA)-induced mortality of T. canadensis in southern Appalachian upland forests, there is a crucial need to understand the regeneration dynamics of this tree species. This research was conducted within mature T. canadensis forests of Great Smoky Mountains National Park (GSMNP) prior to widespread HWA infestation. Tsuga canadensis regeneration abundance is lower than has been reported in more northern locales, but varies widely among sites in the southern Appalachian Mountains. Ordination results suggest landscape-scale patterns of regeneration abundance that are influenced by gradients in understory Rhododendron maximum cover, soil sand and nutrient content. Regression models reinforce the observed gradients in regeneration abundance. Sites with abundant T. canadensis regeneration have less R. maximum cover, soil sand and litter depth, but more soil nutrient availability. Tsuga canadensis seedlings and saplings tend to be spatially aggregated at the 14 × 21 m plot scale. Sites with spatially aggregated seedlings and saplings have greater canopy openness and more species with gap affinity. This research elucidates associations between successful T. canadensis regeneration and site factors such as soil nutrient availability and canopy dynamics. More forest surveys are required to understand the conditions necessary for successful T. canadensis regeneration. Land managers involved in forest restoration efforts may have to utilize appropriate silvicultural techniques conjoined with R. maximum removal operations to regenerate T. canadensis in southern Appalachian upland forests. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0681-z Authors Joshua A. Kincaid, Environmental Studies Department, Shenandoah University, 1460 University Drive, Winchester, VA 22601, USA Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    To contribute to a deeper understanding of interspecific relations between wood and tree size variables, 23 angiosperm tree species in two East African rain forests were investigated. The tree size variables were maximum tree height, maximum diameter, and maximum crown area. Wood was analyzed in regard of the physical variables specific gravity, water and gas fraction as well as the chemical variables carbon content and nitrogen content. All three tree size variables showed a significantly positive relation to each other. The wood physical variables showed negative correlations between the gas fraction and both specific gravity and the water fraction. Also positive relations were found between the water fraction and nitrogen content and between wood specific gravity and carbon content. Between tree size and wood physical variables, the gas fraction showed positive relations to both maximum tree height and diameter, while wood specific gravity was negatively related to maximum tree height and diameter. No significant correlations were found between the wood physical variables and the maximum crown area. Relationships among tree size variables can be explained by static constraints, while relations between the wood physical variables can be explained by a trade-off underlying structure and survival to support the species specific life strategy and tree architecture. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0687-6 Authors Gabriel Sebastian Becker, Institute of Botany, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 30, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany Désirée Braun, Institute of Botany, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 30, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany Robert Gliniars, Institute of Botany, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 30, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany Helmut Dalitz, Institute of Botany, University of Hohenheim, Garbenstrasse 30, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    Afforestation and reforestation activities enjoy a prominent place on the policy agenda as potential tools to sequester carbon and for biomass production to mitigate climate change and restoring marginal lands. Two provenances (1 from Turkey and 1 from Lebanon) of the species Cedrus libani A. Rich. and two provenances (1 from Morocco and 1 from France) of the species Cedrus atlantica (Endl.) Carrier were studied to evaluate to what degree these trees were suitable for afforestation in arid regions of Italy. We measured, seasonal stomatal conductance ( g s ), foliar morphology, foliar carbon isotopic composition (δ 13 C), growth, and assessed bud phenology in a split plot trials. Bud phenology showed that the Turkish and Lebanon provenances of C. libani gave rise to earlier buds (earlier bud provenances) than the Moroccan and French provenances of C. atlantica (later bud provenances) with a mean difference of 23.2 days. Both provenances showed similar bud phenology and seasonal stomatal conductance ( g s ) especially in April–May (earlier bud provenances) and June (later bud provenances). The foliar δ 13 C was negatively correlated with g s in both the earlier bud provenances (i.e., an increase in g s was accompanied by decreasing foliar δ 13 C values) and the later bud provenances. The stomatal conductance values measured over a growth season showed significant correlations with daily means of both temperature and relative humidity. Hence g s in the earlier bud provenances was correlated with daily temperature in spring, whereas correlations with relative humidity were found in later bud provenances in both late spring and summer. We concluded that the earlier bud provenances ( C. libani ) are not suitable in areas affected by both summer drought and late spring frosts, whereas the later bud provenances ( C. atlantica ) are more suitable to be used in future afforestation plans due to their greater tolerance to summer drought. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0692-9 Authors Giovanni di Matteo, CRA-PLF, Agricultural Research Council, Research Unit for Wood Production Outside Forests, Via Valle della Quistione 27, 00166 Rome, Italy Marco Riccardi, CRA-PLF, Agricultural Research Council, Research Unit for Wood Production Outside Forests, Via Valle della Quistione 27, 00166 Rome, Italy Francesco Righi, CRA-PLF, Agricultural Research Council, Research Unit for Wood Production Outside Forests, Via Valle della Quistione 27, 00166 Rome, Italy Ernesto Fusaro, CRA-PLF, Agricultural Research Council, Research Unit for Wood Production Outside Forests, Via Valle della Quistione 27, 00166 Rome, Italy Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung: Context    Fir species are mainly distributed across the high latitudes, preferring cold climates. The phylogeographic origins of those subtropical fir species that occur in low latitudes in southern China remain elusive, as does the nature of any inter-lineage hybridization. Aims    In fir species, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) is maternally inherited and chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) is paternally inherited, and the genetic variations in the two make them particularly useful for examining species’ hybridizations and evolutionary histories. Materials and methods    We sequenced four DNA fragments: two of mtDNA and two of cpDNA for 161 individuals from four subtropical endangered fir species ( Abies beshanzuensis , Abies ziyuanensis , Abies yuanbaoshanensis , and Abies fanjingshanensis ) and two more northerly distributed ones ( Abies recurvata and Abies fargesii ) from central and southwest China. Results    Three mitotypes and four chlorotypes were recovered from the four southern species. In most populations, individuals share a single fixed mitotype and chlorotype. Three mitotypes clustered into two distinct clades, each associated with one of the northern species examined. For four chlorotypes, one occurred in A. ziyuanensis , A. beshanzuensis , A. fargesii , and A. recurvata , another in A. ziyuanensis and A. recurvata , the remaining two differed from others by two mutations exclusively in A. fanjingshanenis and A. yuanbaoshanensis. Conclusion    Phylogeographic origins of the subtropical fir species are complex, and genetic admixtures occurred during the evolutionary history of A. ziyuanensis . The genotyped populations further provide basic frames for genetic delimitation and effective conservation of these endangered species in the future. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s13595-011-0170-3 Authors Yanling Peng, Molecular Ecology Group, State Key Laboratory of Grassland Farming System, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Shuming Yin, Molecular Ecology Group, State Key Laboratory of Grassland Farming System, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Jing Wang, Molecular Ecology Group, State Key Laboratory of Grassland Farming System, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Bin Tian, Molecular Ecology Group, State Key Laboratory of Grassland Farming System, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Guangpeng Ren, Molecular Ecology Group, State Key Laboratory of Grassland Farming System, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Qiuhong Guo, Molecular Ecology Group, State Key Laboratory of Grassland Farming System, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Jianquan Liu, Molecular Ecology Group, State Key Laboratory of Grassland Farming System, College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung: Context and aim    This study aimed to examine the effect of the tension wood G‐layer on the viscoelastic properties of wood. Methods    Tension wood and opposite wood samples were obtained from six French Guianese tropical rainforest species ( Sextonia rubra , Ocotea guyanensis , Inga alba , Tachigali melinoni , Iyranthera sagotiana and Virola michelii ); the tension wood of the former three of these species had a G‐layer, whilst the tension wood from the latter three had no G‐layer. Tensile dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA) was performed on green never dried wood samples in the longitudinal direction with samples submerged in a water bath at a temperature (30°C) and frequency (1 Hz) representative of the conditions experienced by wood within a living tree. Then, DMA was repeated with samples conditioned to an air-dried state. Finally, samples were oven-dried to measure longitudinal shrinkage. Results    Tension wood did not always have a higher longitudinal storage (elastic) modulus than opposite wood from the same tree regardless of the presence or absence of a G‐layer. For the species containing a G‐layer, tension wood had a higher damping coefficient and experienced a greater longitudinal shrinkage upon drying than opposite wood from the same species. No difference was found in damping coefficients between tension wood and opposite wood for the species that had no G‐layer. Conclusion    It is proposed that the different molecular composition of the G-layer matrix has an influence on the viscoelasticity of wood, even if a biomechanical gain is not yet clear. This study shows that rheological properties and longitudinal shrinkage can be used to detect the presence of a G‐layer in tension wood. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s13595-011-0164-1 Authors J. Paul McLean, Laboratoire de Mécanique et Génie Civil (LMGC), Université Montpellier 2, CNRS, Montpellier, France Olivier Arnould, Laboratoire de Mécanique et Génie Civil (LMGC), Université Montpellier 2, CNRS, Montpellier, France Jacques Beauchêne, UMR Ecologie des Forêts de Guyane (ECOFOG), CIRAD, Kourou, French Guiana Bruno Clair, Laboratoire de Mécanique et Génie Civil (LMGC), Université Montpellier 2, CNRS, Montpellier, France Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung: Context   The past management of Pinus brutia forests in Lebanon has led to diverse stand structures that cannot be easily classified as even-aged (EA) or uneven-aged (UA). Most stands are between these stand types, and they may be called as “semi-even-aged”. This is a very common characteristic throughout the Mediterranean conifer forests and makes the choice between the EA and UA approaches problematic, in both management and modelling. However, previous research has devoted little attention to the performance of growth and yield models when applied to transitional stand structures. Aims   The aim of this study was to find the best modelling approach and to recommend equations for simulating the dynamics of the semi-even-aged P. brutia stands of Lebanon on an individual-tree basis. Methods   Fifty sample plots were measured in Lebanon. Individual-tree growth models were fitted to the whole dataset using either UA or EA modelling approach. Models were also fitted using two sub-samples containing the most EA and the most UA plots. The performance and accuracy of the two modelling approaches were evaluated in all three datasets. Results   The article provides the first complete growth model for uneven-aged P. brutia stands. The EA sub-models presented better statistical fitting. However, the UA sub-models enabled more accurate predictions of wood production and were almost as good as the EA sub-models when predicting stand dynamics of the EA plots. The EA approach provided poor predictions, and the errors were high when it was applied to UA stands. Conclusions   In structurally complex stands, the UA modelling approach is to be preferred since it predicts the whole stand dynamics more accurately and enables simulations of a broader range of silvicultural treatments. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s13595-011-0171-2 Authors Sergio de-Miguel, Faculty of Science and Forestry, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland Timo Pukkala, Faculty of Science and Forestry, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland Nabil Assaf, Paris Sorbonne University (Paris IV), 1Rue Victor Cousin, 75005 Paris, France José Antonio Bonet, Centre Tecnològic Forestal de Catalunya (CTFC), Ctra. Sant Llorenç de Morunys, km 2, 25280 Solsona, Spain Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung: Introduction   The logging of several spruce plantations is planned for the next years in the Eifel National Park (Western Germany). To understand the ecological mechanisms of spontaneous forest regeneration that follows these impacts, it is crucial to investigate the species composition and functional diversity of the buried germinable seeds in those stands. Methods   We analysed the soil seed bank by germination method and characterised germination dynamics and distribution of seedlings throughout the samples according to a sigmoid model and cumulative curves, respectively. To compare the proportions of functional and syntaxonomical groups between seed bank and aboveground vegetation, we applied the Fisher’s exact test. Additionally, we described the spatial distribution of the species in the seed bank according to semivariograms. Results   The studied seed bank reached a density of about 5,300 seed m −2 . Most of the species detected in the seed bank are related to open vegetation, forest fringes and early successional stages of forest regeneration. In spite of a low floristic similarity between seed bank and aboveground vegetation, the functional and syntaxonomical composition is very similar. Further studies considering the distribution of seeds in the soil and the changes of the seed bank composition during the regeneration process are required. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s13595-011-0174-z Authors Miguel Alvarez, INRES-Vegetation Ecology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Nußallee 9, 53115 Bonn, Germany Katja Seis, Institute of Silviculture, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität, Tennenbacherstr. 4, 79085 Freiburg, Germany Bodo Maria Möseler, INRES-Vegetation Ecology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität, Nußallee 9, 53115 Bonn, Germany Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung: Context    Rotation length is known to affect timber quality in many plantation species, but its effect on the properties of Sitka spruce ( Picea sitchensis ) structural timber has not been quantified. Aim    Te purpose of this study was to compare selected wood properties and grade recovery of Sitka spruce structural timber cut from different radial positions within a log reflecting different cambial ages. Methods    Structural timber was sawn from 60 logs harvested from an 83-year-old stand in Great Britain. Five specimens were tested from each log: four from consecutive radial positions out from the pith and the fifth a random selection from outside the innermost 15 rings. Results    Mean modulus of elasticity and bending strength of timber from the outermost radial position were 51% and 41% greater, respectively, than for timber from adjacent to the pith. Wood density differed by 9% between these positions. The amount of distortion (spring, twist and bow), knot frequency and total knot area was significantly higher in timber cut from adjacent to the pith. Conclusion    Whilst longer rotations result in timber with improved mechanical properties and less distortion, economic and windthrow considerations may limit their implementation in Great Britain. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s13595-011-0168-x Authors John R. Moore, Forest Products Research Institute, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, EH10 5DT UK Andrew J. Lyon, Forest Products Research Institute, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, EH10 5DT UK Stefan Lehneke, Forest Products Research Institute, Edinburgh Napier University, Edinburgh, EH10 5DT UK Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung: Context    Pinus radiata D. Don is the most widely planted conifer in the Inter-Andean Valleys of Bolivia. However, Bolivia lacks knowledge on stand dynamics and yield prediction of radiata pine, and the particular Bolivian conditions prevent a straightforward application of equations developed elsewhere. Aims    This study developed site index models, individual tree diameter increment models, individual tree height models, and self-thinning models for Bolivian P. radiata plantations. Methods    Dominant height was modeled using the algebraic difference approach. Diameter increment was modeled as a function of tree size, site index, and competition. Individual tree height was modeled as a function of tree diameter, dominant height, and dominant diameter. Self-thinning was modeled as a function of quadratic mean tree diameter. Results    By using the models, it can be calculated that the mean annual increment in volume with the optimal rotation length is less than 10 m 3 ha −1 on poor sites and 25 m 3 ha −1 on the best sites. Rotation lengths that maximize wood production are 25–30 years for very good sites and 35–40 years for poor sites. Conclusion    The models were assembled into a growth and yield simulator, allowing the simulation of stand development and making it possible to predict future yields and to compare alternative management schedules. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s13595-011-0162-3 Authors Gustavo Guzmán, Escuela de Ciencias Forestales, Universidad Mayor de San Simón, Final Av. Atahuallpa s/n, Temporal de Cala Cala, Barrio Prefectural, Cochabamba, Bolivia Timo Pukkala, Faculty of Science and Forestry, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland Marc Palahí, Mediterranean Regional Office, European Forest Institute, Sant Pau Historic Site, Santa Victoria Pavilion, St. Antoni M. Claret, 167, 08025 Barcelona, Spain Sergio de-Miguel, Faculty of Science and Forestry, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 111, 80101 Joensuu, Finland Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung: Context    Turkish red pine ( Pinus brutia Ten.) is widespread in the eastern Mediterranean Basin. In the late 1970s, four common gardens were established along steep altitudinal transects extending from the coast to about 1,200 m in the Taurus Mountains (Antalya, Turkey). Aims    The aim was to study the role of altitude in shaping Turkish red pine genetic diversity and population structure as well as to evaluate the existence of local adaptation along altitudinal gradients in this species. Methods    Genetic diversity and population structure were evaluated in replicated altitudinal gradients using chloroplast microsatellite (cpSSR) markers. Genetic differentiation for neutral markers was compared with quantitative differentiation for growth traits for the same populations evaluated at different altitudes. Results    Genetic differentiation among altitudinal groups was higher than among transects. A high portion of the genetic variance corresponded to families within populations (up to 10.75%). Overall quantitative genetic differentiation ( Q ST ) was higher than molecular differentiation in most test sites for all the traits and ages considered. Conclusion    Turkish red pine shows signatures of local adaptation to environmental gradients related to altitude. For forestry practices, such as selection of seed sources, both altitude and the family level of variation need to be considered. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s13595-011-0169-9 Authors Yusuf Kurt, Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey Santiago C. González-Martínez, Department of Forest Ecology and Genetics, CIFOR-INIA, P.O. Box 8111, 28080 Madrid, Spain Ricardo Alía, Department of Forest Ecology and Genetics, CIFOR-INIA, P.O. Box 8111, 28080 Madrid, Spain Kani Isik, Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, Akdeniz University, 07058 Antalya, Turkey Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung: Context   Forest scientists build models to simulate stand growth and forests dynamics. Dedicated computer tools are often developed to implement these models in order to run silvicultural scenarios and explore simulation results. Aims   Our objective was to encourage software reuse and simplify model implementation. Methods   The scheme was to develop a framework and methodology allowing to simplify the implementation, integration, simulation and comparison of forest models by providing a set of common and standard tools. Results   Capsis provides an open and modular software architecture based on various components, allowing to run forest growth simulations and display the results. The benefits of this framework are shown with the Samsara2 model, an individual-based and spatialised tree model. Capsis has been used successfully in many similar projects. In addition, the Capsis methodology defines how developers, modellers and end-users may interact. Conclusion   The Capsis framework facilitates collaborative and shared software development. Moreover, it is a powerful way to support scientific animation in the frame of forest science. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s13595-011-0140-9 Authors Samuel Dufour-Kowalski, INRA, UMR931 AMAP, Botany and Computational Plant Architecture, TA A-51/PS2, Boulevard de la Lironde, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Benoît Courbaud, CEMAGREF, Mountain Ecosystems Research Unit, 2 rue de la Papeterie, 38402 Saint Martin d’Hères, France Philippe Dreyfus, INRA, UR629 URFM, Écologie des Forêts Méditerranéennes, Site Agroparc, Domaine Saint Paul, 84914 Avignon Cedex 9, France Céline Meredieu, INRA, UMR1202 BIOGECO, 69 route d’Arcachon, 33612 Cestas Cedex, France François de Coligny, INRA, UMR931 AMAP, Botany and Computational Plant Architecture, TA A-51/PS2, Boulevard de la Lironde, 34398 Montpellier Cedex 5, France Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung: Objectives    We examined canopy gap structure and regeneration patterns at the landscape scale using a combination of remote sensing and field-based surveys. Methods    The study was carried out in the forest reserve of Lom, an old-growth Fagus-Abies-Picea forest located within the Dinaric Alps in the north-western part of Bosnia and Herzegovina. A high-resolution (1-m panchromatic and 4-m multispectral) Kompsat-2 satellite image was orthorectified and classified through an unsupervised pixel-based classification using an artificial neural network method. Results    This approach allowed the identification of 650 canopy gaps, ranging in size from 32 to 1,776 m 2 . Only 20 intermediate to large gaps (〉250 m 2 ) were identified, and they were mainly present near the perimeter of the reserve. The origin of these large openings was associated with past human-caused disturbances or topographic conditions. The species composition of regeneration within large, human-caused gaps differed markedly from small gaps and non-gap sites in the core area of the reserve. Shade-intolerant species dominated the seedling and sapling layers in large openings. The landscape approach employed in this study confirmed the hypothesis that small gaps predominate at Lom, especially within the core area of the reserve. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s13595-011-0177-9 Authors Matteo Garbarino, Department of AGROSELVITER, University of Torino, Via L. da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy Enrico Borgogno Mondino, Department of DEIAFA, University of Torino, Via L. da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy Emanuele Lingua, Department of TESAF, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell’Università 16, 35020 Legnaro, PD, Italy Thomas A. Nagel, Department of Forestry and Renewable Forest Resources, University of Ljubljana, Vecna Pot 83, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia Vojislav Dukić, Faculty of Forestry, University of Banja Luka, Vojvode Stepe Stepanovića 75a, 78000 Banja Luka, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zoran Govedar, Faculty of Forestry, University of Banja Luka, Vojvode Stepe Stepanovića 75a, 78000 Banja Luka, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Renzo Motta, Department of AGROSELVITER, University of Torino, Via L. da Vinci 44, 10095 Grugliasco, TO, Italy Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung:    Fingered citron ( Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis Swingle), a precious fruit ornamental plant, is sensitive to low temperature. Cold tolerance, evaluated by semi-lethal temperature, was lower in wild-type ‘Qingpi’ than in its mutant ‘Aihua’ trees obtained by γ-radiation. The full-length cDNAs of two genes encoding fatty acid desaturases involved in unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis were isolated from the fingered citron leaves. The CmsFAD2 open reading frame (ORF) had 1,152 bp and was uninterrupted, encoding a polypeptide of 384 amino acids that showing 82% homology with the microsomal ω-6 desaturase CiFAD2 in Davidia involucrate . The CmsFAD8 ORF contained 1,373 bp and 7 introns, encoding a polypeptide of 458 amino acids showing 76% homology with the plastidial ω-3 desaturase BpFAD8 in Betula pendula . CmsFAD2 was expressed highly in leaves but low in roots and flowers, while CmsFAD8 was obviously expressed in three tissues. Compared with control group (28°C), the expression of CmsFAD2 and CmsFAD8 in leaves of two genotypes was significantly induced at 6°C. The increase of CmsFAD2 and CmsFAD8 was earlier and larger in cold-tolerant ‘Aihua’ than in cold-sensitive ‘Qingpi’. The linolenic acid content increased significantly in leaves of mutant ‘Aihua’ plants exposed to low temperature of 6°C. The results showed that a positive relationship between CmsFAD expression and genotype tolerance to cold may exist. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0695-6 Authors Ling Yang, College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004 Zhejiang, China Jin Ye, College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004 Zhejiang, China Wei-Dong Guo, College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004 Zhejiang, China Chang-Chun Wang, College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004 Zhejiang, China Hai-Tao Hu, College of Chemistry and Life Sciences, Zhejiang Normal University, Jinhua, 321004 Zhejiang, China Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    Leaf gas-exchange, leaf and shoot anatomy, wood density and hydraulic conductivity were investigated in seedlings of Quercus suber L. grown for 15 months either at elevated (700 μmol mol −1 ) or normal (350 μmol mol −1 ) ambient atmospheric CO 2 concentrations. Plants were grown in greenhouses in a controlled environment: relative humidity 50% (±5), temperature similar to external temperature and natural light conditions. Plants were supplied with nutrients and two water regimes (WW, well watered; WS, water stress). After 6 months exposure to CO 2 enrichment an increase in photosynthetic rate, a decrease in stomatal conductance and a decrease in carbon isotope discrimination (Δ 13 C) were observed, along with enhanced growth and an increase in the number of branches and branch diameter. Over the same period, the shoot weight ratio increased, the root weight ratio decreased and the leaf weight ratio was unaffected. The specific leaf area increased due to an increase in total leaf thickness, mainly due to the palisade parenchyma and starch. However, after 9 and 15 months of elevated CO 2 exposure, the above-mentioned physiological and morphological parameters appeared to be unaffected. Elevated CO 2 did not promote changes in vessel lumen diameter, vessel frequency or wood density in stems grown in greenhouse conditions. As a consequence, xylem hydraulic efficiency remained unchanged. Likewise, xylem vulnerability to embolism was not modified by elevated CO 2 . In summary, elevated CO 2 had no positive effect on the ecophysiological parameters or growth of water stressed plants. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0691-x Authors M. Vaz, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas (ICAAM), Universidade de Évora, Apartado 94, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal H. Cochard, INRA, UMR 547 PIAF, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France L. Gazarini, Departamento de Biologia, Instituto de Ciências Agrárias e Ambientais Mediterrânicas (ICAAM), Universidade de Évora, Apartado 94, 7002-554 Évora, Portugal J. Graça, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal M. M. Chaves, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal J. S. Pereira, Instituto Superior de Agronomia, Universidade Técnica de Lisboa, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017 Lisbon, Portugal Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    The effect of stone dust deposition on the rate of transpiration in Shorea robusta was studied in three principal seasons in a polluted forest in comparison to an almost non-polluted forest. The extent of particulate pollution was determined by measuring suspended particulate matter in the air and dust fall on leaf surface. Macroscopic and microscopic leaf injury symptoms were studied. Scanning electron microscopic examination of leaf surfaces revealed a number of foliar anomalies. Qualitative determination of rate of transpiration in field condition was done by ‘cobalt chloride method’. It was found that transpiration was diminished as a result of foliar dust deposition which not only caused blockage of stomatal aperture but also physical damage to the leaf surface. Thus, particulate air pollution can be considered as one of the external factors regulating the rate of transpiration in plants. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0697-4 Authors Dulal C. Saha, Centre for Environmental Studies, Institute of Science, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, 731235 India Pratap K. Padhy, Centre for Environmental Studies, Institute of Science, Visva-Bharati University, Santiniketan, 731235 India Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung: Context   Microfibril angle (MFA) is one of the key determinants of solid timber performance due to its strong influence on the stiffness, strength, shrinkage properties and dimensional stability of wood. Aims   The aim of this study was to develop a model for predicting MFA variation in plantation-grown Scots pine ( Pinus sylvestris L). A specific objective was to quantify the additional influence of growth rate on the radial variation in MFA. Methods   Twenty-three trees were sampled from four mature Scots pine stands in Scotland, UK. Pith-to-bark MFA profiles were obtained on 69 radial samples using scanning X-ray diffractometry. A nonlinear mixed-effects model based on a modified Michaelis–Menten equation was developed using cambial age and annual ring width as explanatory variables. Results   The largest source of variation in MFA (〉90 %) was within trees, while between-tree variation represented just 7 % of the total. Microfibril angle decreased rapidly near the pith before reaching stable values in later annual rings. The effect of ring width on MFA was greater at higher cambial ages. Conclusion   A large proportion of the variation in MFA was explained by the fixed effects of cambial age and annual ring width. The final model is intended for integration into growth, yield and wood quality simulation systems. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s13595-012-0248-6 Authors David Auty, Forest Research, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9SY Scotland, UK Barry A. Gardiner, Forest Research, Roslin, Midlothian, EH25 9SY Scotland, UK Alexis Achim, Département des sciences du bois et de la forêt, Université Laval, Québec, G1V 0A6 Canada John R. Moore, Scion (New Zealand Forest Research Institute Limited), Private Bag 3020, Rotorua, 3046 New Zealand Andrew D. Cameron, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St Machar Drive, Aberdeen, AB24 3UU Scotland, UK Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung:    A genomic DNA library enriched with GA/TC repeats from Camelina sativa variety Calena has been analysed. After sequencing of about 200 randomly selected clones, approximately 60 % of them showed to contain simple or compound microsatellites with a high number of repeats. Among all microsatellite markers analysed 15 primer pairs amplified polymorphic fragments. Forty C. sativa accessions of different origin were genotyped with 15 microsatellite markers that generated 134 alleles with an average of 8.93 alleles per locus . The observed heterozygosity (Ho) among the accessions ranged from 0.0 to 0.15 with an average of 0.0370, whereas the average of expected heterozygosity (He) among accessions was 0.2769. The analysis of the average total heterozygosity (H T  = 0.651), the intrapopulation genetic diversity (H S  = 0.260), the interpopulation genetic diversity (D ST  = 0.391) and the coefficient of genetic differentiation among populations (G ST  = 0.574) demonstrated that 57.4 % of the genetic diversity is among the accessions, while 42.6 % resides within them. Phylogenetic tree of the 40 C. sativa accessions was constructed based on Nei’s genetic distance. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) dendrogram shows, except for CAM108 and CAM170, a clear discrimination among C. sativa accessions grouping them in five subgroups. ANOVA analysis indicates significant differences in some biochemical and agronomic parameters among the C. sativa accessions grouped according to Nei’s genetic distance. The result of the Tukey HSD test demonstrated that the A4 subgroup showed a significant higher TWS and linoleic acid (LA) content, while the subgroup A1 showed a significant higher linolenic and lower LA content compared to the remaining groups. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9913-8 Authors Antonella Manca, Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, IBBA-CNR, Via Bassini 15, 20133 Milan, Italy Paola Pecchia, Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, IBBA-CNR, Via Bassini 15, 20133 Milan, Italy Sergio Mapelli, Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, IBBA-CNR, Via Bassini 15, 20133 Milan, Italy Piernicola Masella, Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, IBBA-CNR, Via Bassini 15, 20133 Milan, Italy Incoronata Galasso, Istituto di Biologia e Biotecnologia Agraria, IBBA-CNR, Via Bassini 15, 20133 Milan, Italy Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung:    At present, acid rain has become one of the top ten global environmental issues. Acid rain causes slower growth, injury, or decline of forests. Some dramatic effects on forests have been observed in south China since the late 1970s and the situation is deteriorating. We carried out a comparative proteomic analysis on Pinus massoniana Lamb, a staple tree species widely distributed in middle and south China to gain a better understanding of tree response to acid rain at molecular level. Two-year-old P. massoniana saplings were treated with simulated AR (SiAR) or control solution, respectively, for 8 months. The changes in total protein profile of P. massoniana leaves were studied using two-dimensional differential gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE). Among the total protein spots reproducibly detected on each gel, 65 spots representing 28 proteins were identified to be differentially regulated. These proteins were annotated in various biological functions, such as photosynthesis and energy metabolism, secondary metabolism, protein stability, amino acid and nitrogen metabolism and defense. Down-regulation of four key enzymes in the Calvin cycle identified that biomass loss by SiAR was mainly due to the inhibition of carbon fixation. Primary energy metabolisms involved in sucrose biosynthesis, glycolytic pathway and Krebs cycle, etc., were also disturbed after SiAR treatment. Specifically, most of up-regulated proteins were related to secondary metabolism, protein stability and defense, suggesting that in response to SiAR stress, plants started a variety of metabolic pathways to prevent cells from damage. Different from the herbaceous plants suffering SiAR, it revealed that secondary metabolites in P. massoniana play pivotal roles against SiAR. Protemoic techniques were demonstrated a reliable and robust tool to expand our understanding of differentially expressed proteins associated with acid rain stress on P. massoniana . Functional analysis of these proteins further revealed biochemical and physiological basis of the plant in response to acid rain and would provide strategies for breeding new acid rain tolerant tree species. To our knowledge, it is the first proteome report on the forest plant suffering long-term acid rain stress. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0799-z Authors Xiaoqin Wang, College of Biological Science and Engineering, Beijing University of Agriculture, Beijing, 102206 China Zheng Liu, College of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, 071002 China Li Niu, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005 China Bin Fu, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361005 China Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    Natural hybridization commonly produces individuals with intermediate morphological and genetic characteristics, but their response to environmental stress is still uncertain, with some studies showing that transgressive performance would be common. Prosopis chilensis and Prosopis flexuosa are the most important tree species from Arid Chaco, South-America. Both species occupy different ecological niches in terms of water availability. Genetic and morphological studies have demonstrated the existence of interspecific hybrids in contact areas between these species. Hybrids are characterized by clear intermediate morphological characteristics, which have taxonomical value, and genetic structure compared to both parental species. We studied mechanisms implicated in drought stress tolerance in seedlings of P. chilensis , P. flexuosa and their interspecific hybrids trying to elucidate if hybrids have a morpho-physiological, growth and survival intermediate response to drought compared to differential parental responses or if they out-perform both parental species when subjected to drought. Our results suggest that hybridization does not result in individuals with intermediate mechanisms related to drought resistance, but with a unique trait combination leading to high growth when water availability is high (similar to the most vulnerable parental species) and high survival under drought stress (similar to the more resistant parental species). Certain uncoupling between symplastic and apoplastic resistence to drought was observed in hybrids, as well as decreased physiological-wood anatomical plasticity compared to parental species. The long-term consequences in terms of adaptive response to drought of this particular trait combination of hybrids remain still unknown. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0798-0 Authors Diego A. López Lauenstein, Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Genéticos Vegetales (IFRGV) Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Camino a 60 cuadras Km 5.5, Córdoba, Argentina María E. Fernández, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina Aníbal R. Verga, Instituto de Fisiología y Recursos Genéticos Vegetales (IFRGV) Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA), Camino a 60 cuadras Km 5.5, Córdoba, Argentina Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung: Context   We investigated the relationships between decay classes, morphological characteristics and chemical compounds in Abies alba Mill. and Fagus sylvatica L. stumps in two forest stands in the central Apennines (Italy). The analysis of deadwood decomposition is important in estimating carbon sequestration potential and carbon residence time in forest ecosystems. In addition, deadwood decomposition affects nutrient cycling and microhabitat distribution. Aims   The overall aim of this study was to investigate the decomposition processes in a mountainous Mediterranean ecosystem, and specifically to assess changes in chemical variables (lignin, cellulose, carbon and nitrogen content) in deadwood during the decomposition process, in relation to decay classes and to the species. Methods   Cross-sections were collected from stumps. Samples were assigned to visually discernible decay classes, and cellulose, lignin and carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) content in relation to total dry mass were analysed during the decay process. Results   Results showed how C/N ratio decreased over decades due to an increase in nitrogen content. On the contrary, carbon concentration in stumps remained substantially stable. Lignin degraded slowly in comparison with cellulose and differences between species were observed. Conclusion   The hypothesis that the conifer species would decompose faster than deciduous species did not prove correct. The slower decay of lignin compared to cellulose suggested that lignin could be an important long-term source of soil organic carbon, and that this process could be greatly affected by forest species mixtures. Finally, decomposition processes in the investigated montane–Mediterranean forests were definitely faster than in the colder climates of northern Europe. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s13595-012-0230-3 Authors F. Lombardi, Dipartimento di Bioscienze e Territorio, Laboratorio EcoGeoFor, Università degli Studi del Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, IS, Italy P. Cherubini, Landscape Dynamics Unit—Dendroecology, WSL Swiss Federal Research Institute of Forest, Snow and Landscape, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland R. Tognetti, Dipartimento di Bioscienze e Territorio, Laboratorio EcoGeoFor, Università degli Studi del Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, IS, Italy C. Cocozza, Dipartimento di Bioscienze e Territorio, Laboratorio EcoGeoFor, Università degli Studi del Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, IS, Italy B. Lasserre, Dipartimento di Bioscienze e Territorio, Laboratorio EcoGeoFor, Università degli Studi del Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, IS, Italy M. Marchetti, Dipartimento di Bioscienze e Territorio, Laboratorio EcoGeoFor, Università degli Studi del Molise, Contrada Fonte Lappone, 86090 Pesche, IS, Italy Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung:    Estimation of total leaf area (LA T ) is important to express biochemical properties in plant ecology and remote sensing studies. A measurement of LA T is easy in broadleaf species, but it remains challenging in coniferous canopies. We proposed a new geometrical model to estimate Norway spruce LA T and compared its accuracy with other five published methods. Further, we assessed variability of the total to projected leaf area conversion factor (CF) within a crown and examined its implications for remotely sensed estimates of leaf chlorophyll content ( C ab ). We measured morphological and biochemical properties of three most recent needle age classes in three vertical canopy layers of a 30 and 100-year-old spruce stands. Newly introduced geometrical model and the parallelepiped model predicted spruce LA T with an error 〈5 % of the average needle LA T , whereas two models based on an elliptic approximation of a needle shape underestimated LA T by up to 60 %. The total to projected leaf area conversion factor varied from 2.5 for shaded to 3.9 for sun exposed needles and remained invariant with needle age class and forest stand age. Erroneous estimation of an average crown CF by 0.2 introduced an error of 2–3 μg cm −2 into the crown averaged C ab content. In our study, this error represents 10–15 % of observed crown averaged C ab range (33–53 μg cm −2 ). Our results demonstrate the importance of accurate LA T estimates for validation of remotely sensed estimates of C ab content in Norway spruce canopies. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0774-8 Authors Lucie Homolová, Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing, Wageningen University, Droevendaalsesteeg 3, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands Petr Lukeš, Global Change Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Bělidla 986/4a, 60300 Brno, Czech Republic Zbyněk Malenovský, Remote Sensing Laboratories, Department of Geography, University of Zürich, Winterthurerstrasse 190, 8057 Zurich, Switzerland Zuzana Lhotáková, Department of Experimental Plant Biology, Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Viničná 5, Prague, Czech Republic Věroslav Kaplan, Global Change Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Bělidla 986/4a, 60300 Brno, Czech Republic Jan Hanuš, Global Change Research Centre, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Bělidla 986/4a, 60300 Brno, Czech Republic Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    In the context of global warming, it is of high importance to assess the influence of climatic change and geographic factors on the radial growth of high-elevation trees. Using tree-ring data collected from four stands of Qilian juniper ( Juniperus przewalskii Kom. ) across an altitudinal gradient in the central Qilian Mountains, northwest China, we compared the radial growth characteristics and climate–growth relationships at different elevations. Results indicated that there was little difference in the tree-ring parameters of the four chronologies. Correlation analyses both for unfiltered and 10-year high-passed data of monthly climatic variables and chronologies were presented to investigate the climatic forcing on tree growth, and results revealed that the correlation patterns were consistent among the four sites, especially for high-passed data. We employed the principal components analysis method to obtain the first principal component (PC1) of the four chronologies and computed the correlations between PC1 and climate factors. The PC1 correlated significantly with winter (November–January) temperature, prior August and current May temperature, and precipitation in the previous September and current January and April, indicating that tree growth in this region was mainly limited by cold winter temperature and drought in early growing season and prior growing season (prior August and September). However, the climate–growth relationships were unstable; with an increase in temperature, the sensitivity of tree growth to temperature had decreased over the past few decades. Considering the instability of the climate–growth relationships, climate reconstructions based on tree rings in the study area should be approached with more caution. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0776-6 Authors Linlin Gao, Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), Research School of Arid Environment and Climate Change, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Xiaohua Gou, Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), Research School of Arid Environment and Climate Change, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Yang Deng, Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), Research School of Arid Environment and Climate Change, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Wenhuo Liu, Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), Research School of Arid Environment and Climate Change, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Meixue Yang, State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Cold and Arid Regions Environmental and Engineering Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000 China Zhiqian Zhao, Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), Research School of Arid Environment and Climate Change, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    We assessed growth differences and the foliar traits underpinning production in paired samples of juvenile American beech ( Fagus grandifolia Ehrh.) that originated from seed versus root sprouts. Root sprouts had significantly greater relative extension growth rate and slightly greater leaf mass per unit area compared to seed-derived individuals, but neither light-saturated net photosynthetic rate nor foliar chlorophyll and nitrogen concentrations differed significantly between paired seedlings and sprouts. The greater height growth rate of saplings originating as root sprouts does not result from differing foliar function, but rather depends on translocation of assimilates from the parent tree to sustain this unusual and ecologically important dual regeneration strategy in American beech. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0781-9 Authors Emad Farahat, Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Dr. Penfield, H3A1B1 Montréal, QC, Canada Martin J. Lechowicz, Department of Biology, McGill University, 1205 Avenue Dr. Penfield, H3A1B1 Montréal, QC, Canada Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    European beech ( Fagus sylvatica L.) covers a large area mainly in the colline and montane ranges in Europe, and a drier and warmer climate, as expected for the coming decades, is likely to alter its distribution. So far, an altitudinal shift has been projected using a variety of modelling approaches. However, we lack knowledge about the climatic and edaphic factors that control the growth and competitive behaviour of beech at its dry distribution limit. We applied and further developed dendroecological methods to study the drought response and sensitivity pattern of beech at sites with different moisture regimes. We compared three pairs of sites from different geographical regions near the dry distribution limit of beech in Switzerland, consisting of a dry and mesic site each. Radial growth differed between mesic and dry sites, in that average ring-width at mesic sites was around double the width at dry sites. For the whole study period (1930–2006), the sites with the lowest available soil water capacity (AWC) were found to respond most sensitively to drought. However, in recent years, sites with higher AWC have shown increasing drought sensitivity, i.e. they have responded even more strongly to drought than the dry sites. This change in sensitivity corresponds to a seasonal shift in drought response at mesic sites, with a change in the months showing significant drought response in all three studied regions compared with the past. Even though dry sites generally displayed a larger number of negative pointer years than mesic sites, it appears that the frequency of pointer years has increased at mesic sites, i.e. they have become more sensitive particularly in the last quarter of the twentieth century. Yet, the frequency of pointer years at the dry sites has remained fairly constant. These results indicate that beech trees near their dry distribution limit are adapted to extreme conditions already, while changes in the growth patterns of beech under mesic conditions have to be expected. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0786-4 Authors P. Weber, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland H. Bugmann, Forest Ecology, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland A. R. Pluess, Ecosystem Management, Institute of Terrestrial Ecosystems, ETH Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland L. Walthert, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland A. Rigling, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, Birmensdorf, Switzerland Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    In situ population studies of wild relatives of crops are crucial for the conservation of plant genetic resources, especially in regions with high genetic diversity and a risk of local extinction. Ethiopia is the center of origin for sorghum, yet little is known about the genetic structure of extant wild populations. Using 9 Simple Sequence Repeat loci, we characterized 19 wild populations from five regions, 8 local cultivar populations from three regions, and 10 wild sorghum accessions from several African countries. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive study to date of in situ wild sorghum populations in Africa. Genetic diversity corrected for sample size was significantly greater in the wild populations in situ than in local cultivars or the accessions. Approximately 41 % of the genetic variation in the wild plants was partitioned among populations, indicating a high degree of differentiation and potential value for germplasm conservation, and the average number of migrants (N m ) per generation was 0.43. Cluster analyses showed that some wild populations were grouped by geographic region, whereas others were not, presumably due to long-distance seed movement. Four wild populations from disjunct regions formed a unique cluster with an Ethiopian accession of subsp. drummondii and probably represent a weedy race. STRUCTURE and other analyses detected evidence for crop-wild hybridization, consistent with previous molecular marker studies in Kenya, Mali, and Cameroon. In summary, in situ wild sorghum populations in Ethiopia harbor substantial genetic diversity and differentiation, despite their close proximity to conspecific cultivars in this crop/wild/weedy complex. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-16 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9921-8 Authors Asfaw Adugna, Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Allison A. Snow, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA Patty M. Sweeney, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA Endashaw Bekele, Department of Biology, Addis Ababa University, P.O. Box 1176, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Evans Mutegi, Department of Evolution, Ecology and Organismal Biology, Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung:    Eight species of the genus Asparagus , members of the group of European species closely related to A. officinalis , were analysed using internal transcribed spacer (ITS), and expressed sequence tag-derived simple sequence repeat (EST-SSR) markers, as well as cytological observations of their hybrids, to study their phylogenetic relationships and the possibility of broadening the narrow genetic base of cultivated varieties. Phylogenetic analysis using ITS data revealed two major clades: clade I consisting of A. acutifolius and clade II (referred to in this study as the ‘ officinalis group’) comprised of sequences derived from species closely related to A. officinalis ; but the different species within the ‘ officinalis group’ could not be clearly separated. In contrast, cluster analysis of EST-SSR marker data showed six major clades and clearly separated each population, grouping most of the genotypes from each population together. That is, EST-SSR markers were found to be more informative than ITS markers about the relationships within the ‘ officinalis group’, indicating that EST-SSR markers are more useful than ITS sequences for establishing phylogenetic relationships at the intrageneric level. All the crosses carried out at the same ploidy level were successful. The high crossability, together with the regular meiotic behaviour and high pollen and seed fertility observed in the interspecific hybrids analysed, suggest relatively close relationships between the species studied. We conclude that the group of species classified in the ‘ officinalis group’ are in the primary gene pool, indicating that these species could be used to increase the genetic diversity of the cultivated species. In addition, the tetraploid landrace “Morado de Huétor” could be employed as a bridge to generate new cultivated germplasm. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9918-3 Authors P. Castro, Dpto de Genética, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales Edificio C5 2ª planta, 14071 Córdoba, Spain J. Gil, Dpto de Genética, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales Edificio C5 2ª planta, 14071 Córdoba, Spain A. Cabrera, Dpto de Genética, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales Edificio C5 2ª planta, 14071 Córdoba, Spain R. Moreno, Dpto de Genética, Universidad de Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales Edificio C5 2ª planta, 14071 Córdoba, Spain Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung:    The genus Corylus, a member of the birch family Betulaceae, includes several species that are widely distributed throughout temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. The development of microsatellites or simple sequence repeats (SSRs) for non-coding regions of the chloroplast genome and their higher sequence variation compared with coding regions has provided a higher resolution tool for the study of cultivars and closely related taxa. Chloroplast polymorphisms provide a marker system to evaluate the genetic structure of plant populations. This study investigated genetic diversity in three cultivars and 32 genotypes of Corylus avellana L. from Portugal: 13 wild genotypes and 19 Portuguese landraces. Four of ten cpSSR loci were polymorphic, with diversity indices ranging from 0.111 to 0.244. Eleven chlorotypes were detected, and their relationships were analyzed using a network model. Haplotype A was most frequent in landraces and cultivars. Four chlorotypes (H, I, J and L) were found only in wild hazelnuts. The diversity of chlorotypes in the wild hazels, and the limited number reported in cultivars, suggests that northern Portugal was a refuge for hazel during the last ice age. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9919-2 Authors S. Martins, Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal F. Simões, Molecular Biology Group (GBM)/Genetic Resources, Ecophysiology and Plant Breeding Unit, INRB, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal D. Mendonça, Molecular Biology Group (GBM)/Genetic Resources, Ecophysiology and Plant Breeding Unit, INRB, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal J. Matos, Molecular Biology Group (GBM)/Genetic Resources, Ecophysiology and Plant Breeding Unit, INRB, Estrada do Paço do Lumiar, 22, 1649-038 Lisbon, Portugal A. P. Silva, Centre for the Research and Technology of Agro-Environment and Biological Sciences, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal V. Carnide, Department of Genetics and Biotechnology, University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, 5001-801 Vila Real, Portugal Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung: Special topic: integrating modelling and experimentation Content Type Journal Article Category Editorial Pages 1-4 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0778-4 Authors R. Matyssek, Ecophysiology of Plants, Technische Universität München, von-Carlowitz Platz 2, Weihenstephan, 85354 Freising, Germany G. M. J. Mohren, Forest Ecology and Forest M anagement Group, Centre for Ecosystem Studies, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 47, 6700 AA Wageningen, The Netherlands Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    Genetic diversity among 19 Triticum aestivum accessions and 73 accessions of closely related species was analyzed using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Forty-four out of 497 SSR markers were polymorphic. In total 274 alleles were detected (mean 6.32 alleles per locus). The polymorphic information content (PIC) of the loci ranged from 0.3589 to 0.8854 (mean 0.7538). The D genome contained the highest mean number of alleles (6.32) followed by the A and B genomes (6.13 and 5.94, respectively). The correlation between PIC and allele number was significant in all genome groups (0.7540, 0.7361 and 0.7482 for A, B and D genomes, respectively). Among the seven homologous chromosome groups, genetic diversity was lowest in group 7 and highest in group 5. In cluster and principal component analyses, all accessions grouped according to their genomes were consistent with their taxonomic classification. Accessions with the A and D genomes were clustered into two distinct groups, and AABB accessions showed abundant genetic diversity and a close relationship. Triticum durum and T. turgidum were clustered together, consistent with their morphological similarity. Cluster analysis indicated emmer is closely related to hexaploid wheat. Compared with common wheat, higher genetic variation was detected in spelt, T. aestivum subsp. yunnanense and subsp. tibetanum . In addition, a close genetic relationship between T. polonicum and T. macha was observed. The results of the clustering and principal component analyses were essentially consistent, but the latter method more explicitly displayed the relationships among wheat and closely related species. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9907-6 Authors Yajuan Wang, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China Changyou Wang, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China Hong Zhang, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China Zhongna Yue, College of Agronomy, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China Xinlun Liu, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China Wanquan Ji, State Key Laboratory of Crop Stress Biology for Arid Areas, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, 712100 Shaanxi, China Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung:    The berries of eight plants of Vitis cinerea Engelm. ex Millardet growing in the mountains of the southern region of the State of Mexico, Mexico, during 2008–2010 (three seasons) were characterized according to the IPGRI descriptor. In addition, the fruit phenolics, total and reducing sugars and total soluble solids (TSS) were determined. Plant 169 produced over 100 fruits per bunch, with a berry weight of 0.32 g; these fruits presented an increased TSS value (20.4°B). The fruit phenolic content was increased in the berries of all the plants (at least 3 mg g −1 fresh weight) compared with the values reported for the commercial cultivars. Principal components 1 and 2 explained nearly 65 % of the observed variance. According to the biplot analysis, three groups were formed. Plants 169 and 183 were correlated with fruits per bunch, seeds per 10 fruits, the weight of berries per bunch, TSS, total sugars, bunch width and length. Plants 176, 188 and 129 were correlated with phenols, reducing sugars, seed weight in 10 fruits, seed length, the weight of 10 fruits, the weight of 100 seeds, and fruit and seed width. Additionally, plants 148, 180 and 184 were associated with peduncle length. Content Type Journal Article Category Notes on Neglected and Underutilized Crops Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9908-5 Authors Omar Franco-Mora, Laboratorio de Horticultura, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Fitomejoramiento, Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Campus El Cerrillo, C. P. 50000 Toluca, Mexico Sara Aguirre-Ortega, Laboratorio de Horticultura, Centro de Investigación y Estudios Avanzados en Fitomejoramiento, Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Campus El Cerrillo, C. P. 50000 Toluca, Mexico Andrés González-Huerta, Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Campus El Cerrillo, C. P. 50000 Toluca, Mexico Álvaro Castañeda-Vildózola, Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Campus El Cerrillo, C. P. 50000 Toluca, Mexico Edgar Jesús Morales-Rosales, Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Campus El Cerrillo, C. P. 50000 Toluca, Mexico Delfina de Jesús Pérez-López, Facultad de Ciencias Agrícolas, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México, Campus El Cerrillo, C. P. 50000 Toluca, Mexico Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung: Context    Implementing nature-based silviculture requires understanding the structural and compositional changes that occur in forested stands under known disturbance types and intensities. Aims    The objectives were to assess the (a) resistance of hardwood forests to change, (b) their trajectory of recovery following disturbance, and (c) how closely resulting forests resemble original forests. Methods    We characterized tree structure and composition at three points in time (pre-disturbance, 1-year post-disturbance, and ∼15 years following disturbance) along a harvesting disturbance gradient created by removing trees in different forest canopy strata. Results    Significant differences to pre-disturbance conditions were noted immediately post-harvest for tree basal area, density, species richness, and tree species composition; treatment differences were observed for all parameters except diversity. Plots exposed to the least extreme harvesting disturbances (cutting small and intermediate trees) had returned to pre-disturbance conditions for most parameters after 15 years, while the most extreme harvesting disturbance (cutting large trees) had not yet recovered. Conclusions    Although not initially resistant, Central Appalachian eastern hardwoods are fairly resilient to the removal of trees in the subcanopy or a mixture of the subcanopy and canopy; only the removal of solely canopy trees (i.e., high grading) and complete removal (i.e., clearcutting) appear to impose harvesting disturbances to which these forests may not be resilient. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s13595-012-0242-z Authors Eric K. Zenner, School of Forest Resources, The Pennsylvania State University, 305 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA Yvette L. Dickinson, School of Forest Resources, The Pennsylvania State University, 117 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA JeriLynn E. Peck, School of Forest Resources, The Pennsylvania State University, 117 Forest Resources Building, University Park, PA 16802, USA Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung:    Dill ( Anethum graveolens L.) leaf, seed and their essential oil are rich source of antioxidants. The plant is native in Southwest Asia and is cultivated in Europe, India and the United States. This study evaluated the genetic diversity structure of 135 accessions of A. graveolens from different continents, based on random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers. The selected 10 RAPD primers generated a total of 142 highly reproducible bands, among which 89 were polymorphic. Percentage of polymorphism varied from 41.17 % (OPB20) to 92.85 % (OPB15) with an average of 77.74 %. A relatively high genetic diversity was detected among all the accessions with the Nei’s genetic diversity ( H ) values ranged from 0.346 (OPB07) to 0.444 (OPB18) with a mean of 0.401. When estimated for Shannon’s information index ( I ), it has ranged from 0.530 (OPB12) to 0.652 (OPB18), the mean was observed as 0.581. The respective values of H and I were found to be the highest value for primer OPB18. Cluster analysis of RAPD data using UPGMA algorithm based on Nei’s genetic similarity matrix placed the 135 accessions into two main clusters. Although a number of groups can be identified, the clusters show little to no association with the geographic origin of the material. The implication of the results of this study in developing a strategy for the conservation and breeding of dill germplasm are discussed. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9886-7 Authors Sundan Suresh, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Jong-Wook Chung, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Jung-Sook Sung, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Gyu-Taek Cho, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Jong-Hyun Park, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Mun Sup Yoon, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Chung-Kon Kim, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Hyung-Jin Baek, National Agrobiodiversity Center, National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Suwon, 441-853 Republic of Korea Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung:    Individual tree-ring width chronologies and mean chronologies from Pinus tabuliformis Carr. (Chinese pine) and Sabina przewalskii Kom. (Qilian juniper) tree cores were collected and analyzed from two sites in the eastern Qilian Mountains of China. The chronologies were used to analyze individual and time-varying tree-ring growth to climate sensitivity with monthly mean air temperature and total precipitation data for the period 1958–2008. Climate–growth relationships were assessed with correlation functions and their stationarity and consistency over time were measured using moving correlation analysis. Individuals’ growth–climate correlations suggested increased percentages of individuals are correlated with certain variables (e.g., current June temperature at the P. tabuliformis site; previous June, December and current May temperature and May precipitation at the S. przewalskii site). These same climatic variables also correspond to the mean chronology correlations. A decreased percentage of individuals correlated with these climatic variables indicates a reduced sensitivity of the mean chronology. Moving correlation analysis indicated a significant change over time in the sensitivity of trees to climatic variability. Our results suggested: (1) that individual tree analysis might be a worthwhile tool to improve the quality and reliability of the climate signal from tree-ring series for dendroclimatology research; and (2) time-dependent fluctuations of climate growth relationships should be taken into account when assessing the quality and reliability of reconstructed climate signals. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0772-x Authors Fen Zhang, Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (MOE), Research School of Arid Environment and Climate Change, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Xiaohua Gou, Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (MOE), Research School of Arid Environment and Climate Change, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Wenhuo Liu, Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (MOE), Research School of Arid Environment and Climate Change, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China D. F. Levia, Departments of Geography and Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, DE 19716, USA Yingjun Li, Taiyaun Normal University Research Center for Scientific Development in Fenhe River Valley, Taiyuan, 030012 China Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    Dendrochronological research in Southeast Asia is under development; however, the amount of tress with potential for dendrochronological studies is restricted. For example, teak trees from India, Myanmar, Thailand, and Java are valuable dendrochronologic studies for ready climate response. Teak from Java is best suited for studying the El Niño-Southern Oscillation and sea-surface temperatures, whereas Indian teak is used to reconstruct periods of drought in India. Further, Thai teak and Vietnamese cypress trees captured the long drought period that led to the demise of the Angkor reign (fourteenth–fifteenth century). Diverse techniques including anatomical observation, cambial markings, cell differentiation, and isotopic analysis prove the age and growth of invisible tropical tree rings. A number of invisible growth rings in trees from both tropical and subtropical forests have been identified, resulting in the advancement of dendrochronology. Climate change is a substantial challenge for most living things and natural resources. A greater understanding of tree species adaptation in this region is necessary. The understanding of long-term paleoclimate can be gained by researching old samples and archaeological materials from this region. Content Type Journal Article Category Review Pages 1-16 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0775-7 Authors Nathsuda Pumijumnong, Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Salaya, Phutthamonthon, Nakhon Pathom 73170, Thailand Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    Variation of high molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW-GS) in 28 Iranian Aegilops tauschii (2 n  = 2 x  = 14, DD) accessions studied by sodium dodecyl sulphate electrophoresis method (SDS-PAGE). The results showed high variation of HMW-GS in the accessions. The range of frequency in 14 HMW-GS combinations was 3.57–25 % in the accessions. AMOVA showed the molecular variance between the geographic areas was lower than within the geographic areas. According to Nei’s genetic diversity, the highest diversity levels were in Semnan, Golestan and Azarbayjan, on the other hand the lowest levels of diversity were found in Khorasan, Gilan and Mazandaran accessions. Hence, the Caspian Sea South East accessions also Azerbayjan in Iran have more diversity. AMOVA did not show variance between strangulata and tauschii but there was more genetic diversity in ssp. tauschii subspecies in comparison of ssp. strangulata according to Nei’s gene diversity and Shannon information index. It showed Iranian Ae. tauschii have a good potential for bread making quality improvement in bread wheat. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9887-6 Authors Zahra Tahernezhad, Seed and Plant Certification and Registration Institute, Nabovvat BLVD, Karaj, Iran Zeyn-alabedin Musavi, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Zabol University, Zabol, Iran Mohammad Javad Zamani, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran Mohammad Jafar Aghaei, National Plant Gene Bank of Iran, Karaj, Iran Bahram Rostam Foroudi, Seed and Plant Improvement Institute, Karaj, Iran Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung: • Context   Corymbia F1 hybrids have high potential for plantation forestry; however, little is known of their reproductive biology and potential for genetic pollution of native Corymbia populations. • Aims   This study aims to quantify the influence of reproductive isolating barriers on the success of novel reciprocal and advanced generation Corymbia hybrids. • Methods   Two maternal taxa, Corymbia citriodora subsp. citriodora and Corymbia torelliana , were pollinated using five paternal taxa, C. citriodora subsp. citriodora , C. torelliana , one C. torelliana × C. citriodora subsp. citriodora hybrid and two C. torelliana × C. citriodora subsp. variegata hybrids. Pollen tube, embryo and seed development were assessed. • Results   Reciprocal hybridisation between C. citriodora subsp. citriodora and C. torelliana was successful. Advanced generation hybrids were also created when C. citriodora subsp. citriodora or C. torelliana females were backcrossed with F1 hybrid taxa. Prezygotic reproductive isolation was identified via reduced pollen tube numbers in the style and reduced numbers of ovules penetrated by pollen tubes. Reproductive isolation was weakest within the C. citriodora subsp. citriodora maternal taxon, with two hybrid backcrosses producing equivalent capsule and seed yields to the intraspecific cross. • Conclusions   High hybridising potential was identified between all Corymbia species and F1 taxa studied. This provides opportunities for advanced generation hybrid breeding, allowing desirable traits to be amplified. It also indicates risks of gene flow between plantation and native Corymbia populations. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s13595-012-0231-2 Authors Geoffrey R. Dickinson, Department of Agriculture Fisheries and Forestry—Queensland, P.O. Box 1054, Mareeba, QLD 4880, Australia Helen M. Wallace, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD 4558, Australia David J. Lee, University of the Sunshine Coast, Maroochydore DC, QLD 4558, Australia Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung: Context   Silver fir is declining and dying at its southern margin on the Mediterranean area, where climate is expected to be warmer and drier. At a regional scale, silver fir seems to be vulnerable to drought, and at a forest stand scale, tree death seems to be distributed according to soil water availability. Aim   To understand the vulnerability of silver fir to drought, factors involved in the regulation of transpiration were assessed with respect to soil properties in order to document the spatial distribution of death rates. Methods   Soil properties were characterized by electric resistivity measurements. Sap flow density and predawn needle water potential were recorded on sampled trees during several years, and crown specific transpiration was estimated. In addition, the vulnerability of coarse roots and branches to cavitation was quantified. Results and conclusion   Trees growing on soils with a large water storage capacity were the most vulnerable to drought induced soil water deficits. Transpiration was down-regulated as soon as predawn water potential decreased. The vulnerability to cavitation was low, which protected the trees from run-away xylem embolism. Severe soil water deficits led to a rapid decrease of transpiration, which was still visible the following year. The drop-off in transpiration was mainly due to inner sap flow that almost ceased after the drought on all monitored trees. Our results suggest that root dynamic and the ability of roots to take up water were modified by soil water deficit over several years. Such a regulation scheme needs to be better documented and included in models to address silver fir forest responses to drought. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s13595-012-0229-9 Authors Marie Nourtier, UMR1114, Environnement Méditerranéen et Modélisation des AgroHydrosystèmes, INRA, Domaine Saint Paul, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France André Chanzy, UMR1114, Environnement Méditerranéen et Modélisation des AgroHydrosystèmes, INRA, Domaine Saint Paul, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France Maxime Cailleret, UR629, Écologie des Forêts Méditerranéennes, INRA, Domaine Saint Paul, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France Xie Yingge, UMR1114, Environnement Méditerranéen et Modélisation des AgroHydrosystèmes, INRA, Domaine Saint Paul, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France Roland Huc, UR629, Écologie des Forêts Méditerranéennes, INRA, Domaine Saint Paul, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France Hendrik Davi, UR629, Écologie des Forêts Méditerranéennes, INRA, Domaine Saint Paul, Site Agroparc, 84914 Avignon, France Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung:    The branch autonomy principle has been referred to extensively for using branch cuvettes as a technique of studying ozone (O 3 ) effects within the canopy of adult forest trees. However, this principle may not hold in general regarding biochemical interactions between O 3 -impacted branches exposed inside cuvettes and neighbouring crown parts under the unchanged ambient O 3 regime. After reviewing relevant cuvette studies conducted to date, we will provide evidence that cuvette-exposed branches may serve, given awareness of outlined pre-requisites and restrictions, as surrogates for examining the crown-level response of trees to elevated O 3 regimes. Such a conclusion is based on the defence metabolism of branches, which seems to be autonomous to some extent from neighbouring crown sections. Cuvette studies may, therefore, be used to derive dose response functions as measures of O 3 sensitivity. On such grounds, also validation and improvement of stomatal O 3 uptake modelling becomes feasible. The branch-level approach, however, does not substitute whole-tree free-air O 3 fumigation and related flux assessments, as branches in view of representativeness and boundary layer characteristics represent one stage in scaling O 3 flux between leaf and tree level. Branch level-based flux scaling should be backed, therefore, by independent trunk sap-flow assessment techniques that offer derivation of FO 3 at the whole-tree level. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0715-6 Authors Gerhard Wieser, Division of Alpine Timberline Ecophysiology, Federal Research and Training Centre for Forests, Natural Hazards and Landscape, Rennweg 1, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria Rainer Matyssek, Ecophysiology of Plants, Technische Universität München, 85354 Freising, Germany Bernhard Götz, University of Applied Sciences, Hochschule für nachhaltige Entwicklung Eberswalde (FH), Botanical Garden, Am Zainhammer 5, 16225 Eberswalde, Germany Ludger Grünhage, Department of Plant Ecology, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 26, 35392 Giessen, Germany Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    The aim of present study was to explore and document medicinal plants used for the traditional dermatological healthcare management practices by the the Tharu tribal community of Uttar Pradesh. The study was conducted during 2000–2004. Information was gathered from 230 informants residing in 46 villages in Terai region of Indo-Nepal boarder using questionnaires; oral interviews and group discussions. Total 92 medicinal plant species were cited for the preparation of 113 crude drug formulations. Voucher specimens of cited plant species were collected and identified as belonging to 82 genera and 49 families. Thirty-nine medicinal plant species were reported for the first time for dermatological healthcare problems from India. The dermatological healthcare problems managed were cut and wounds, ringworm, leprosy, eczema, scabies, leucoderma, boils, carbuncles, pimples, skin blemishes, spots, eruption, and burns etc. The most commonly and popularly used medicinal plant species for management of dermatological healthcare problems in the study area were Curcuma longa L., Azadirachta indica A. Juss and Melia azedarach L. It is concluded that dermatological healthcare management practice in the study area depends largely on wildly growing medicinal plant species. There is an urgent need to properly conserve the medicinal plant species growing in this area for human welfare. There is also need for further phytopharmacological studies to provide scientific explanation for the usages of 57 medicinal plant species for which to the best of our knowledge phytopharmacological literatures are not available. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-22 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9826-6 Authors Akhilesh Kumar, Department of Botany, Maharani Lal Kunwari Post Graduate College, Balrampur, 271 201 Uttar Pradesh, India Vimal Chandra Pandey, Department of Botany, Maharani Lal Kunwari Post Graduate College, Balrampur, 271 201 Uttar Pradesh, India Anant Gopal Singh, Department of Botany, Maharani Lal Kunwari Post Graduate College, Balrampur, 271 201 Uttar Pradesh, India Divya Darshan Tewari, Department of Botany, Maharani Lal Kunwari Post Graduate College, Balrampur, 271 201 Uttar Pradesh, India Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung:    The contribution of farmers to the creation and maintenance of genetic diversity is beginning to receive more recognition in developed countries. Although the use of landraces and historic varieties has largely disappeared in countries with industrialized agricultural systems and formal seed markets, certain varieties with particular cultural significance have been continuously cultivated by farmers and other varieties have been preserved ex situ in genebanks. Recently, associations of organic farmers have become involved in the conservation and use of landraces and historic varieties (called farmer varieties in this article) because these varieties possess agronomic and quality traits that they have not found in modern varieties. In this study, eight farmer varieties of bread wheat from Europe selected by participating farmers were evaluated in on-farm trials during 3 years of cultivation. Each variety was grown on each farm, and phenotypic changes in each variety were measured the third year in a replicated split-plot trial on each farm comparing the version of each variety the farmer had multiplied to a sample of each variety from the region of origin. All varieties, including the two modern pureline varieties used as checks, showed statistically significant phenotypic changes over 3 years of multiplication. However, the magnitude of these changes was moderate and did not call into question varietal identity or distinctness. In addition, some traits of putative agronomic and adaptive importance, such as grain weight per spike and thousand kernel weight, did not respond positively to natural selection (environmental conditions and management practices) which suggests the necessity of farmer selection to maintain and improve varietal performance. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-19 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9822-x Authors J. C. Dawson, UMR de Génétique Vegetale, Ferme du Moulon, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France E. Serpolay, INRA SAD Paysage, 65 rue de St. Brieuc, 35042 Rennes, France S. Giuliano, Ecole d’Ingénieurs de Purpan, 75 voie du Toec, 31076 Toulouse, France N. Schermann, INRA SAD Paysage, 65 rue de St. Brieuc, 35042 Rennes, France N. Galic, UMR de Génétique Vegetale, Ferme du Moulon, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France J.-F. Berthellot, Réseau Semences Paysannes Cazalens, 81600 Brens, France V. Chesneau, Réseau Semences Paysannes Cazalens, 81600 Brens, France H. Ferté, Réseau Semences Paysannes Cazalens, 81600 Brens, France F. Mercier, Réseau Semences Paysannes Cazalens, 81600 Brens, France A. Osman, Louis Bolk Institute, 3972 LA Driebergen, The Netherlands S. Pino, Istituto di Genetica e Sperimentazione Agraria, Lonigo, Veneto, Italy I. Goldringer, UMR de Génétique Vegetale, Ferme du Moulon, 91190 Gif-sur-Yvette, France Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung:    In the present study, analyses of SSR molecular markers were performed to investigate the genetic diversity of 133 tuber mustard cultivars. Eighty-one pairs of SSR primers from a total of 600 in Brassica produced stable amplified bands. In addition, 810 bands were detected among the cultivars, and 724 of those were polymorphic (89.38 %). The average number of bands per locus was 10.0 with a range from 5 to 16. Shannon’s information index for each SSR locus varied from 0.52 to 3.72, with an average of 2.74. The coefficients of genetic similarity in the SSR marker patterns among the 133 cultivars ranged from 0.77 to 0.91, with an average of 0.85. The cluster analysis showed that the cultivars could be classified into six clusters when the genetic similarity was 0.83, with 90.23 % of the cultivars included in Clusters 5 and 6. Principal component analysis was carried based on the SSR data. The results showed that the first three principal components could explain the genetic variation with 85.47, 0.67, and 0.61 %, and the 133 cultivars could be divided into six clusters according to the nearest phylogenetic relationship. It was indicated that the similarity was high and the genetic diversity was narrow among the 133 mustard tuber cultivars. 360 individuals from 24 cultivars were analyzed to reveal the genetic structure and genetic diversity within cultivars. A total of 925 alleles were detected in the 24 cultivars. Estimates of the mean number of alleles ‘A’, the effective allelic number ‘A e ’, the observed heterozygosity ‘H o ’, and expected heterozygosity ‘H e ’ were 6.0, 3.6, 0.64, and 0.37, respectively. An obvious genetic deviation from Hardy–Weinberg expectation was observed both among and within cultivars and a considerable genetic variation was revealed within rather than among cultivars. It is necessary to broaden the genetic basis of the breeding germplasm in tuber mustard. Based on their geographical distributions, the tuber mustard cultivars in this study can be divided into up-Yangtze river, mid-Yangtze river, and down-Yangtze river groups. Genetic diversity was highest in mid-Yangtze river group, followed by up-Yangtze river group, and then down-Yangtze river group. It was presumed that the origin center or genetic diversity center of tuber mustard was mid-Yangtze river, and the crop was transmitted along the Yangtze river in both directions. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-15 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9821-y Authors Ping Fang, Department of Life Sciences, Yangtze Normal University, Fuling, 408100 People’s Republic of China Fa-Bo Chen, Department of Life Sciences, Yangtze Normal University, Fuling, 408100 People’s Republic of China Qi-Lun Yao, Department of Life Sciences, Yangtze Normal University, Fuling, 408100 People’s Republic of China Ke-Cheng Yang, Key Laboratory of Crop Genetic Resources and Improvement, Maize Research Institute, Sichuan Agricultual University, Yaan, 625014 People’s Republic of China Guang-Fan Zhou, Fuling Agricultural Science Institute of Chongqing, Fuling, 408000 People’s Republic of China Yong-Hong Fan, Fuling Agricultural Science Institute of Chongqing, Fuling, 408000 People’s Republic of China Zhao-Rong Zhang, Fuling Agricultural Science Institute of Chongqing, Fuling, 408000 People’s Republic of China Jin-Juan Shen, Fuling Agricultural Science Institute of Chongqing, Fuling, 408000 People’s Republic of China Hong Zhang, Fuling Agricultural Science Institute of Chongqing, Fuling, 408000 People’s Republic of China Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung: Åsmund Bjørnstad: Vårt daglege brød—kornets kulturhistorie [Our daily bread—the biological and the cultural history of the cereals] Content Type Journal Article Category Book Review Pages 1-2 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9829-3 Authors Axel Diederichsen, Plant Gene Resources of Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, 107 Science Place, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0X2, Canada Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung:    Diospyros kaki Thunb. originated in Eastern Asia, as evidenced of its culture in China as early as several centuries B.C. In the seventh century, persimmon was introduced to Japan and later, in the fourteenth century to Korea. There is no information about persimmon culture in Europe until the seventeenth century, with the spread over the world occurring in the eighteenth century. The genus Diospyros contains more than 400 species, with levels of ploidy ranging from diploid (2n = 2x = 30) up to nonaploid (2n = 9x = 135). The primary economic crop species is Diospyros kaki Thunb., which is mainly hexaploid (2n = 6x = 90) and includes hundreds of cultivars. Although a relatively recent introduction in Europe, the species has adapted well, and the genetic diversity have been expanded with culture and selection for the past 200 years in the Mediterranean basin. These locally adapted cultivars were evaluated with cultivars from Asian origin in a germplasm collection established at IVIA in Valencia, Spain. In this paper 27 cultivars from the IVIA collection were studied by multivariate analysis, and 37 variables were analyzed using a Principal Components Analysis and cluster analysis following the method UPGMA. Studies on correlations and significance among variables identified the most relevant ones, and thus provided information for a future core collection. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9828-4 Authors J. Martínez-Calvo, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA), Apartado Oficial 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain M. Naval, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA), Apartado Oficial 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain E. Zuriaga, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA), Apartado Oficial 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain G. Llácer, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA), Apartado Oficial 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain M. L. Badenes, Instituto Valenciano de Investigaciones Agrarias (IVIA), Apartado Oficial 46113, Moncada, Valencia, Spain Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung:    Emmer wheat ( Triticum dicoccon Schrank) is still largely cultivated in India, and highly appreciated for the preparation of traditional dishes. Moreover, its nutritional characteristics could justify a development of its cultivation. The perspective of genetic improvement however requires a good knowledge of the genetic diversity existing within the eco-geographic group of Indian emmer wheats. A set of 48 emmer wheat accessions from India including 28 from a local collection and 20 Indian accessions obtained from CIMMYT, Mexico, was assessed for genetic variability using 47 microsatellite (SSR) markers, distributed over all the 14 chromosomes. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 2 to 9, with an average of 3.87 alleles per locus. A total of 201 alleles were detected at 52 loci with average polymorphic information content of 0.35 per locus and a mean resolving power of 1. The pair-wise similarity coefficients calculated from binary data matrix based on presence or absence of alleles varied from 0.15 to 0.98, but was greater than 0.5 for most accessions, indicating a high level of similarity. A cluster analysis based on the similarity matrix identified nine distinct accessions and three clusters. All the recently developed commercial varieties were distinctly different from the clusters. Based on the analysis, it appears that Indian emmer wheats are not very diverse. Consequently, there is a need to increase the diversity within the Indian emmer wheat eco-geographic group, by introducing diversity from other eco-geographic groups, or even from other wheat species. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-10 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9823-9 Authors Arvindkumar Salunkhe, Genetics Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Agarkar Road, Pune, 411004 India Shubhada Tamhankar, Genetics Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Agarkar Road, Pune, 411004 India Sujata Tetali, Genetics Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Agarkar Road, Pune, 411004 India Maria Zaharieva, Centro Internacional de Maiz y Trigo (CIMMYT), A. P. 6-641, 06600 Mexico, DF, Mexico David Bonnett, Centro Internacional de Maiz y Trigo (CIMMYT), A. P. 6-641, 06600 Mexico, DF, Mexico Richard Trethowan, Plant Breeding Institute, University of Sydney, 107 Cobbitty Road, Cobbitty, NSW, Australia Satish Misra, Genetics Group, Agharkar Research Institute, Agarkar Road, Pune, 411004 India Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung: • Context   Many tree breeding programmes rely entirely on clonal seed orchards as the link between breeding activities and forestry, and are thereby also exposed to yearly fluctuations in the orchard crops. • Aims   The main objective was to study the impact of year and clone fluctuations in strobili production on genetic worth, as well as on genetic diversity, of 18 consecutive commercial seed orchard crops. • Methods   In a mature Abies nordmanniana clonal seed orchard, a yearly visual assessment of female and male strobili was carried out on a total of 18 clones (260 ramets), and coupled with clone breeding values. • Results   Despite large annual and clone variation, and year-by-clone interaction in strobili production, the orchard’s genetic worth was somewhat uniform when considering four evaluated traits in the 11 years of superior or medium crop size. These years accounted for 95% of the accumulated cone crop over the whole period (18 years). Noteworthy deviations were only seen in the seven poorest seed years, comprising the remaining 5% of the total cone crop, where genetic diversity measures were also low. • Conclusion   Avoiding small crop years seems to be a reasonable way to avoid fluctuations in the commercial seed orchard product. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 69-80 DOI 10.1007/s13595-011-0159-y Authors Ulrik B. Nielsen, Danish Centre for Forest, Landscape and Planning, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark Ole K. Hansen, Danish Centre for Forest, Landscape and Planning, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560 Journal Volume Volume 69 Journal Issue Volume 69, Number 1

Beschreibung: • Context   This review paper provides an overview of approaches to which we may resort for handling the complex decision problems involving uncertainty and risk that climate change implies for forest managers. Modelling approaches that could support adaptive management strategies seem to be called for, not only as climate change denotes increased economic uncertainty but also because new and more reliable information becomes available as time passes and climate changes. • Aims   The paper (1) provides a broad overview of state-of-the-art methods for optimal decision making under risk and uncertainty in forestry and (2) elaborates on the possible use of these methods in adaptive forest management under climate change. • Method   A survey of the current literature is carried out to identify approaches and developments that may prove most promising in relation to different challenges to the adaptive management of forest ecosystems under climate change. • Results   Most studies focusing on changing, typically increasing, risks in forest management under climate change tend to build on existing approaches about changes in risk levels contingent on climate change scenarios. • Conclusion   Finally, we discuss what to emphasise in future studies to improve the understanding of adaptive forest management and decision support tools needed to cope with climate change. Content Type Journal Article Category Review Paper Pages 1-15 DOI 10.1007/s13595-011-0153-4 Authors Rasoul Yousefpour, Forest & Landscape, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark Jette Bredahl Jacobsen, Forest & Landscape, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark Bo Jellesmark Thorsen, Forest & Landscape, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark Henrik Meilby, Forest & Landscape, University of Copenhagen, Rolighedsvej 23, 1958 Frederiksberg C, Denmark Marc Hanewinkel, Eidg. Forschungsanstalt WSL, Zürcherstrasse 111, 8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland Karoline Oehler, Regional Office EFICENT-OEF, European Forest Institute, Wonnhaldestr. 4, D-79100 Freiburg, Germany Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560 Journal Volume Volume 69 Journal Issue Volume 69, Number 1

Beschreibung:    Understanding spatiotemporal tree growth variability and its associations with climate can provide key insights into forest dynamics in the context of global climate change. Here, we conduct a comprehensive investigation on 64 ring-width chronologies across the entire Northwest (NW) China to understand the regional patterns of tree growth and climate–growth relationships. Using rotated principal component analysis and hierarchical clustering analysis, we found that tree growth was mainly determined by the climate and could be classified into nine groups. Most of the tree-ring chronologies in NW China showed high correlations with moisture conditions in the current and previous growing seasons. After removing age-related growth trends, inter-annual tree growth patterns are supposed to be mainly determined by climate and climate–growth relationships. Since climate–growth relationships for most tree-ring chronologies in this arid region are similar, patterns of tree growth are mainly determined by climate variability. Within each group, the strength of the common signal increases under extreme climate conditions. Thus, climate plays a more important role in determining tree growth in extreme climate conditions relative to the non-climate factors, leading to more coherent growth patterns. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0721-8 Authors Keyan Fang, Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), Research School of Arid Environment and Climate Change, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Xiaohua Gou, Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), Research School of Arid Environment and Climate Change, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Fahu Chen, Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), Research School of Arid Environment and Climate Change, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Edward Cook, Tree-Ring Lab, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, New York, NY 10964, USA Jinbao Li, International Pacific Research Center, School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96882, USA Yingjun Li, Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), Research School of Arid Environment and Climate Change, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000 China Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung: • Context   This research was conducted in a 62-year-old stone pine ( Pinus pinea L.) forest within the National Natural Reserve of the Roman Coast, Italy. Net under-canopy precipitation was measured between September 2004 and December 2008 in a unthinned and a thinned area of about 1 ha each. • Aims   The goals were to document and compare net under-canopy rainfall (throughfall and stemflow) in thinned and unthinned stands, and evaluate how the re-growth of tree crowns following thinning influences canopy interception. • Methods   Thinning was carried out during the winter of 2002 and reduced the number of trees by 56% and leaf area index (LAI) by 63%. Rainfall, throughfall, and stemflow were measured and analysed. • Results   Interception loss averaged 23% and 40% in the thinned and unthinned areas respectively, but difference decreased during larger rainfall events. Net under-canopy precipitation was always higher ( P  〈 0.001) in the thinned area, and showed a significant ( P  = 0.041) relationship with LAI. Stemflow was very low. • Conclusion   These results highlight the positive effect of thinning, which reduces water loss from precipitation caused by interception of rainfall in Mediterranean forests that have never been thinned. Thinning guarantees a greater flow of water under the canopy, particularly in the driest months and for lower amounts of rainfall, and improves stand growth rates. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1323-1332 DOI 10.1007/s13595-011-0142-7 Authors Gianluigi Mazza, Research Centre for Silviculture, Agriculture Research Council, Viale S. Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, Italy Emilio Amorini, Research Centre for Silviculture, Agriculture Research Council, Viale S. Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, Italy Andrea Cutini, Research Centre for Silviculture, Agriculture Research Council, Viale S. Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, Italy Maria Chiara Manetti, Research Centre for Silviculture, Agriculture Research Council, Viale S. Margherita 80, 52100 Arezzo, Italy Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560 Journal Volume Volume 68 Journal Issue Volume 68, Number 8

Beschreibung: Introduction   Knowledge of vertical variation in hydraulic parameters would improve our understanding of individual trunk functioning and likely have important implications for modeling water movement to the leaves. Specifically, understanding how foliage area ( A l ), sapwood area ( A s ), and hydraulic specific conductivity ( k s ) vary with canopy position to affect leaf-specific conductivity (LSC) and whole-tree leaf-specific hydraulic conductance ( K l ) may explain some of the contrasting patterns of A l / A s reported in the literature. Objective   The general aim of the study was to characterize and compare the aboveground relationships between cumulative A l , A s , and k s for two Pacific Northwest coniferous species with contrasting sapwood areas to give insight into size-related design of trees for water transport through changes in LSC and K l . Results   The 230-year-old ponderosa pine ( Pinus ponderosa ) trees had slightly smaller basal diameters than the 102-year-old Douglas-fir ( Pseudostuga menziesii ) trees, but contained 85% sapwood at the base compared to 30% in Douglas-fir. At the tree base, there was no evidence that A l / A s decreased with tree age or with tree size. In both species, A l / A s of branches was significantly higher than A l / A s at the tree base, but it was not different from A l / A s measured in the trunks at the top of the tree. Douglas-fir had higher A l / A s at the base than did ponderosa pine (0.42 vs. 0.24 m 2 cm −2 ), similar patterns of change in A l / A s with height, and similar values of k s , such that LSC in Douglas-fir was 77% the value of LSC in ponderosa pine. Compensating changes to increase LSC between short and tall trees occurred through an increased in k s in tall trees but not through a reduction in A l . LSC increased logarithmically with branch path length or trunk path length whereas K l decreased significantly from top to base of old trees, but not between sections from old and young trees of similar cambial age. Conclusions   Even though ponderosa pine had three times more sapwood than Douglas-fir, this study revealed a common relationship of declining K l with increasing tree height and diameter between the two species, within age classes and among trees. There was no compensating decrease in A l / A s as trees got taller, which showed that a homeostasis in K l was not maintained during growth. The trend of higher allocation of biomass to sapwood over leaves in ponderosa pine is consistent with this species’ tendency to inhabit drier sites than Douglas-fir. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 17-27 DOI 10.1007/s13595-011-0154-3 Authors Jean-Christophe Domec, ENITAB, UMR 1220 TCEM, 33175 Gradignan, France Barbara Lachenbruch, Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, USA Michele L. Pruyn, Department of Biological Sciences, Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH 03264, USA Rachel Spicer, Department of Botany, Connecticut College, New London, CT 06320, USA Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560 Journal Volume Volume 69 Journal Issue Volume 69, Number 1

Beschreibung:    Twenty two germplasm accessions of Cordia myxa were collected from Rajasthan and established at the field gene bank for conservation and evaluation. Morphological characterization of 10 year-old trees for 17 traits indicated wide variations among the accessions tested. Higher number of flowers per cyme was found in accession ACHM11 and higher pulp:stone ratio in AHCM25. Overall, AHCM22 was found to be a superior germplasm line for most of the horticulturally useful traits among the accessions tested as it had higher percent of fruit set, pulp:stone ratio and fruit weight. High significant positive correlation was obtained between leaf, fruit characters and pulp:stone ratio. However, these characters were found to be negatively correlated with number of flowers per cyme. Out of 50 random decamer primers used for random amplification (RAPD), 25 were polymorphic. Average polymorphism resolved by these markers among these accessions was 69.8% with an average polymorphic information content of 0.43. Genetic diversity revealed by Jaccard’s co-efficient was between 0.44 and 0.94, and three major clusters were identified among these accessions by phylogenetic analysis using NTSYSpc-2.02e software. RAPD markers associated with leaf size and pulp:stone ratio were also identified. This study shows the existence of high genetic diversity among these accessions. Content Type Journal Article Category Notes on Neglected and Underutilized Crops Pages 305-316 DOI 10.1007/s10722-011-9781-7 Authors P. N. Sivalingam, Central Institute for Arid Horticulture (ICAR), NH-15, SriGanganagar Road, Beechwal, Bikaner, 334006 India Dhurendra Singh, Central Institute for Arid Horticulture (ICAR), NH-15, SriGanganagar Road, Beechwal, Bikaner, 334006 India Sarita Chauhan, Central Institute for Arid Horticulture (ICAR), NH-15, SriGanganagar Road, Beechwal, Bikaner, 334006 India Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864 Journal Volume Volume 59 Journal Issue Volume 59, Number 2

Beschreibung:    109 Pyrus accessions including 92 local Chinese accessions of P. bretschneideri were identified genetically using nine microsatellite loci developed from apple and pear. The nine SSR loci revealed 129 alleles in 109 pear accessions and 114 alleles in 92 Chinese white pears. Among the 92 local Chinese accessions of P. bretschneideri , 70 could be differentiated successfully except for 10 sets of synonymous or mutants. For the 92 accessions, the number of putative alleles per locus ranged from seven to 18, with an average of 12.67; the average values of observed heterozygosity and Shannon’s Information index were 0.60 and 1.85, respectively. A phenogram based on the SSR (simple sequence repeat) genotypes was obtained. The 109 accessions clustered into 11 groups based on geographical origin. The European pears and the Asian pears did not form independent two groups, but three P. communis cultivars grouped together independently. The Japanese P. pyrifolia cultivars mingled together with the Chinese P. bretschneideri cultivars, but four P. ussuriensis cultivars except for one (Jianbali) grouped together independently. The results indicated that the relationship of P. bretschneideri cultivars and P. pyrifolia cultivars was much closer than others. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 317-326 DOI 10.1007/s10722-011-9785-3 Authors Luming Tian, Research Institute of Pomology, CAAS/Key Laboratory of Fruit Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Xingcheng, 125100 Liaoning, China Yuan Gao, Research Institute of Pomology, CAAS/Key Laboratory of Fruit Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Xingcheng, 125100 Liaoning, China Yufen Cao, Research Institute of Pomology, CAAS/Key Laboratory of Fruit Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Xingcheng, 125100 Liaoning, China Fengzhi Liu, Research Institute of Pomology, CAAS/Key Laboratory of Fruit Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Xingcheng, 125100 Liaoning, China Jun Yang, Research Institute of Pomology, CAAS/Key Laboratory of Fruit Germplasm Resources Utilization, Ministry of Agriculture, Xingcheng, 125100 Liaoning, China Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864 Journal Volume Volume 59 Journal Issue Volume 59, Number 3

Beschreibung:    Tree growth and form are both influenced by crown architecture and how it effects leaf distribution and light interception. This study examined the vertical distribution of foliage in 4-year-old plantation-grown Eucalyptus pilularis Sm. and E. cloeziana F. Muell. trees. Leaf area (LA) distribution was determined at two different sites using allometric approaches to determine LA in crown sections and for whole trees. Leaf area was distributed more towards the upper crowns when canopies had been closed for longer. Leaf area was also skewed more towards the upper crowns for Eucalyptus pilularis than E. cloeziana . These species differences were consistent with differences in vertical light availability gradients as determined by point quantum sensors. Leaf area of individual branches was highly correlated with branch cross-sectional area (CSA) and whole-tree LA was closely related to stem CSA. Branch-level allometric relationships were influenced by site and crown position. However, the general allometric equations between stem size and whole-tree leaf area could be applied across sites. Results from this study suggest that pruning of live branches in these species should follow species-specific guides for the timing and height of pruning to optimise the effects on stem growth and form. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0809-1 Authors Philip J. Alcorn, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia David I. Forrester, Institute of Silviculture, Freiburg University, 79085 Freiburg, Germany R. Geoff B. Smith, Forests NSW, PO Box J19, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia Dane S. Thomas, Forests NSW, PO Box J19, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia Ryde N. James, Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia Adrienne B. Nicotra, Research School of Biology, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia Jürgen Bauhus, Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    The two main objectives of this research were to identify new S -RNase alleles in Iranian almond cultivars and to characterize naturally occurring mutations in these alleles that may cause self-compatibility. We investigated S genotypes of 22 Iranian almond cultivars using stylar RNase electrophoresis, PCR and DNA sequencing. We report six previously unidentified P. dulcis S -RNase alleles ( S 45 , S 46 , S 47 , S 48 , S 49 and S 50 ). Four of 12 tested S -RNases were found to be non-functional in vitro: S 49 , S 50 , S 24 / S na and S 25 / S 47 . Detected point mutations in the C3 coding region of S 49 - and S 50 -RNase, leading to the replacement of a highly conserved cysteine and histidine residues, are with the highest probability the reason of these S -RNases inactivity. Results also suggested that ten Iranian almond cultivars display unique S genotype. All presented data confirm Iranian cultivars as valuable almond sources which are of interest to almond breeding and conservation programs. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0803-7 Authors Akram Hafizi, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Zanjan University, Zanjan, Iran Behrouz Shiran, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Plant Breeding and Biotechnology, Shahrekord University, Shahrekord, Iran Bahram Maleki, Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agronomy and Plant Breeding, Zanjan University, Zanjan, Iran Ali Imani, Sections of Horticulture, Agriculture and Natural Resources Research Centre of Karaj, Karaj, Iran Bojana Banović, Institute of Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering, University of Belgrade, Belgrade, Serbia Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    Protocols have been established to clone adult cork oak trees by somatic embryogenesis using semisolid medium. However, for economically viable mass propagation, embryogenic cultures in liquid medium need to be developed. In this study, suspension cultures were initiated from embryo clusters obtained by secondary embryogenesis on a gelled medium lacking plant growth regulators. After 6 days of culture, these embryo clusters generated high cell density suspensions that also contained small organized structures (embryos and embryogenic clumps). As the culture duration increased, tissue necrosis and fewer embryogenic structures were observed and the establishment of suspension cultures failed. An alternative method was found adequate for initiation of embryogenic suspensions: embryo clusters from gelled medium were briefly shaken in liquid medium and detached cells and embryogenic masses of 41–800 μm were used as inoculum. Maintenance of embryogenic suspensions was achieved using a low-density inoculum (43 mg l −1 ) by subculturing four embryogenic clumps of 0.8–1.2 mm per 70 ml of medium. Proliferation ability was maintained for almost 1 year through ten consecutive subcultures. The initiation and maintenance protocols first developed for a single genotype were effective when tested on 11 cork oak genotypes. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0763-y Authors Jesús Jiménez, Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDRA), Finca El Encín, Apdo. 127, 28800 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain Dolores López-Vela, Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDRA), Finca El Encín, Apdo. 127, 28800 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain Mar Ruiz-Galea, Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDRA), Finca El Encín, Apdo. 127, 28800 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain Cristina Celestino, Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDRA), Finca El Encín, Apdo. 127, 28800 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain Mariano Toribio, Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDRA), Finca El Encín, Apdo. 127, 28800 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain Jesús Alegre, Instituto Madrileño de Investigación y Desarrollo Rural, Agrario y Alimentario (IMIDRA), Finca El Encín, Apdo. 127, 28800 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    Reduction of crop yield from high water stress is a serious agricultural problem worldwide, which is expected to intensify under future global change scenarios. Efforts are underway worldwide to improve crops resistance to drought. One possible way is the careful choice of rootstock-scion combination. It is well known that water stress symptoms of grafted cherry trees to a large extent depend on the rootstock variety. Scions grafted on dwarf rootstocks show more serious stress symptoms, so it is reasonable to hypothesize that these symptoms and the tissue structure of the rootstock stem are connected. This paper examines this connection for 1-year-old seedlings of eight cherry rootstocks with different degree of vigor. Tissue structure was observed via scanning electron microscope images. Investigations were focused on number, size, and distribution of vessels, because they are principally responsible for water transport. Stem porosity (i.e., the total vessel area relative to the stem area, in cross-sectional view) of the dwarfing rootstocks was found to be significantly smaller than that of the others, supporting the notion that stem anatomical characteristics might contribute to water stress sensitivity. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0766-8 Authors Anikó Hajagos, Department of Fruit Science, Faculty of Horticultural Science, Corvinus University of Budapest, Villányi út 29-43, Budapest, 1118 Hungary György Végvári, Department of Fruit Science, Faculty of Horticultural Science, Corvinus University of Budapest, Villányi út 29-43, Budapest, 1118 Hungary Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    Madagascar has 59 species of Coffea, of which 42 are listed as Critically Endangered, Endangered, or Vulnerable by criteria of the Red List Category system of the World Conservation Union. In an attempt to assess the conservation value of ex situ collections of Malagasy coffee species, a study was undertaken using the field genebank collections maintained at the Kianjavato Coffee Research Station. Three species were selected for this purpose, C. kianjavatensis, C. montis - sacri, and C. vatovavyensis , and for comparative purposes extant, in situ populations of the same species were studied. Parentage analyses of ex situ propagated offspring of C. kianjavatensis and C. montis - sacri were performed to assess if crossing with other Coffea species maintained in the field genebank is compromising the genetic integrity of the collection. For these three species, higher genetic diversity was observed in the ex situ populations compared to the in situ populations, highlighting the importance of preserving the plants currently in ex situ collections. Parentage analyses of seed-propagated offspring of C. kianjavatensis and C. montis - sacri revealed that cross contamination with pollen from other Coffea species in the ex situ field genebank is occurring. These results have significant implications for the conservation management of wild Coffea species and for the management of ex situ genebanks. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-16 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9898-3 Authors Sarada Krishnan, Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA Tom A. Ranker, Division of Environmental Biology, National Science Foundation, 4201 Wilson Blvd, Arlington, VA 22230, USA Aaron P. Davis, The Herbarium, Library, Art and Archives, Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, Surrey, TW9 3AB UK Jean Jacques Rakotomalala, FOFIFA-DRA, P.O. Box 1444, 101 Antananarivo, Madagascar Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung:    Citrus plants originate from southeastern Asia, in a large area with various climates characterized by a broad range of temperatures. Some species have been diversified in temperate climates, others in subtropical climates. Temperature is assumed to be a key factor in citrus species adaptation and diversification of basic cellular functions. In a field experiment, the tolerance of the three fundamental Citrus species C. medica L., C. reticulata Blanco and C. maxima (Burm.) Merr., and Fortunella japonica (Thunb.) Swing. to photooxidative stress caused by seasonal climatic changes was evaluated on adult trees by measuring net photosynthesis ( P net), stomatal conductance ( G s), maximum photosynthesis ( P max) and chlorophyll fluorescence ( F v/ F m). In addition, seasonal changes in oxidative status, antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase, catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, monodehydroascorbate reductase, dehydroascorbate reductase and glutathione reductase) and antioxidant metabolites (ascorbate and glutathione) were monitored. Mandarin and pummelo appeared to be the most tolerant, showing the lowest down-regulation of photosynthetic parameters, and the lowest accumulation of oxidized compounds associated with efficiency of their antioxidant system. Kumquat showed intermediate behaviour, with a large diminution of photosynthetic parameters and marked accumulation of hydrogen peroxide, whereas the malondialdehyde content remained low, with a strong induction of glutathione synthesis. Finally, citron appeared to be the most sensitive genotype with a marked decrease in photosynthetic performance, the largest accumulation of oxidative parameters, insufficient induction of antioxidant enzymes and down-regulation of ascorbate and glutathione synthesis. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-13 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0769-5 Authors Jérémie Santini, UR 1103 Génétique et Ecophysiologie de la Qualité des Agrumes, INRA, 20230 San Giuliano, France Jean Giannettini, Laboratoire Biochimie and Biologie Moléculaire du Végétal, CNRS, UMR 6134 SPE, 20250 Corte, France Olivier Pailly, UR 1103 Génétique et Ecophysiologie de la Qualité des Agrumes, INRA, 20230 San Giuliano, France Stéphane Herbette, INRA, UMR 547 PIAF, 63100 Clermont-Ferrand, France Patrick Ollitrault, CIRAD, UPR 75, Avenue Agropolis, TA A-75/02, 34398 Montpellier cedex 5, France Liliane Berti, Laboratoire Biochimie and Biologie Moléculaire du Végétal, CNRS, UMR 6134 SPE, 20250 Corte, France François Luro, UR 1103 Génétique et Ecophysiologie de la Qualité des Agrumes, INRA, 20230 San Giuliano, France Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    Tree species use a variety of strategies to obtain resources. As a result, semi-deciduous forest species and cerrado species can grow in close proximity and in the same climate, while occupying very different vegetation types. The aim of this study was to understand the dynamic responses of Hymenaea courbaril, a forest species, and Hymenaea stigonocarpa, a cerrado species, to annual climatic variation and increasing atmospheric CO 2 concentrations under the same macroclimatic conditions. To that goal, we constructed chronologies of tree-ring width, vessel area, and intrinsic water-use efficiency (calculated from tree-ring δ 13 C content) for Hymenaea trees growing in a mosaic of the two vegetation types. Our analyses revealed that both species responded to climatic variation in similar ways, but with different intensities and at different times of year. Climate models showed that precipitation had a stronger effect on tree-ring width and earlywood vessel area of H. courbaril and temperature was slightly more determinant for H. stigonocarpa . In addition, both species showed increasing intrinsic water-use efficiency over the last five decades, but only individuals with reduced growth rate presented this trend, suggesting that those specimens in favorable growth conditions do not respond to the atmospheric CO 2 enrichment. Despite the trend in water-use efficiency found in some individuals, it did not reflect in a higher growth rate. The differences between the two species documented by us may be due to divergent sources of hydrological stress in the two vegetation types. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0764-x Authors Giuliano Maselli Locosselli, Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 277, Butantã, CEP 09715-030 São Paulo, SP, Brazil Marcos Silveira Buckeridge, Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 277, Butantã, CEP 09715-030 São Paulo, SP, Brazil Marcelo Zacharias Moreira, Centro de Energia Nuclear na Agricultura, Universidade de São Paulo, Avenida Centenário, 303, CEP 131416-000 Piracicaba, SP, Brazil Gregório Ceccantini, Departamento de Botânica, Instituto de Biociências, Universidade de São Paulo, Rua do Matão, 277, Butantã, CEP 09715-030 São Paulo, SP, Brazil Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung:    A collection of 220 accessions of parsley ( Petroselinum crispum [Mill.] Nyman) was evaluated at two experimental stations (Gatersleben and Quedlinburg, Germany) under natural infection. Widespread origins of tested accessions provide the opportunity for first-time characterization of existence, spreading and level of resistance/susceptibility to the economically important pathogens Septoria petroselini Desm., Plasmopara petroselini Săvul. et O. Săvul. and Erysiphe heraclei DC. ex Saint-Aman causing Septoria blight, downy mildew and powdery mildew respectively throughout the species P. crispum . For each pathogen, accessions free or nearly free of symptoms were found: S. petroselini : free 1, nearly free 25, P. petroselini : free 51, nearly free 22 and E. heraclei : free 166. Eight accessions are free or nearly free of symptoms for all three pathogens: PET36, PET169, PET172, PET177, PET178, PET192, PET212 and PET214. The accession PET16 is free of symptoms for both S. petroselini and P. petroselini . Most of the resistant material comes from Southern and Eastern Europe. There could be a centre for resistances of parsley. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-14 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9897-4 Authors F. Marthe, Institute for Breeding Research on Horticultural and Fruit Crops-Quedlinburg (ZGO-Q), Julius Kuehn Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Erwin-Baur-Str. 27, 06484 Quedlinburg, Germany T. Bruchmüller, Institute for Breeding Research on Horticultural and Fruit Crops-Quedlinburg (ZGO-Q), Julius Kuehn Institute, Federal Research Centre for Cultivated Plants, Erwin-Baur-Str. 27, 06484 Quedlinburg, Germany A. Börner, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research Gatersleben, Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany U. Lohwasser, Leibniz Institute of Plant Genetics and Crop Plant Research Gatersleben, Corrensstr. 3, 06466 Stadt Seeland, Germany Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung:    We applied dendroclimatological techniques to determine long-term stationarity of climate–growth relationships and recent growth trends of three widespread coniferous tree species of the central Austrian Alps, which grow intermixed at dry mesic sites within a dry inner Alpine environment (750 m asl). Time series of annual increments were developed from 〉120 mature trees of Picea abies , Larix decidua and Pinus sylvestris . Calculation of response functions for the period 1911–2009 revealed significant differences among species in response to climate variables. While precipitation in May–June favored radial growth of P. abies and L. decidua , P. sylvestris growth mainly depended on April–May precipitation. P. abies growth was most sensitive to May–June temperature (inverse relationship). Moving response function coefficients indicated increasing drought sensitivity of all species in recent decades, which is related to a decline in soil moisture availability due to increasing stand density and tree size and higher evapotranspiration rates in a warmer climate. While recent trend in basal area increment (BAI) of L. decidua distinctly declined implying high vulnerability to drought stress, moderately shade-tolerant P. abies showed steadily increasing BAI and quite constant BAI was maintained in drought-adapted P. sylvestris , although at the lowest level of all species. We conclude that synergistic effects of stand dynamics and climate warming increased drought sensitivity, which changed the competitive strength of co-occurring conifers due to differences in the inherent adaptive capacity. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-9 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0768-6 Authors Roman Schuster, Institute of Botany, Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestrasse 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria Walter Oberhuber, Institute of Botany, Leopold-Franzens-University of Innsbruck, Sternwartestrasse 15, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890

Beschreibung: Context   The reforestation of degraded tropical pastures requires innovative tree planting systems that consider land user needs. Aim   We established a silvopastoral reforestation system and assessed the effects of companion trees on the native timber tree Tabebuia rosea in Panama. Timber tree individuals were established in (1) solitary plantings (TSol) or in companion plantings with (2) Guazuma ulmifolia (TGua) or (3) the nitrogen-fixing Gliricidia sepium (TGli). Methods   We quantified growth characteristics and herbivory of T. rosea , and analyzed leaf chemistry (including the stable isotopes δ 15 N and δ 13 C) and structure (leaf mass per area). Results   Companion trees significantly affected stem diameter growth of T. rosea . Stem diameter growth was as high in TGli trees as in TSol trees but was reduced in TGua trees. Furthermore, TGua trees had higher leaf water content, and lower δ 13 C and lower leaf mass-to-area ratio than TGli trees, suggesting there were effects of shading by G. ulmifolia on T. rosea . Herbivory was high but not affected by planting regimes. Leafing phenology did not differ between planting regimes and G. sepium did not increase nitrogen content in T. rosea leaves. Conclusion   Companion tree planting can support timber tree growth in silvopastoral reforestations, but adequate species selection is crucial for successful implementation of this planting system. Tree–tree interactions seem to be more relevant for timber tree growth than herbivory in the studied system. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s13595-012-0239-7 Authors Judith Riedel, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Applied Entomology, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 9/LFO, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland Silvia Dorn, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Applied Entomology, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 9/LFO, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland Mirco Plath, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Applied Entomology, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 9/LFO, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland Karsten Mody, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Applied Entomology, ETH Zurich, Schmelzbergstrasse 9/LFO, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung: • Context   The transition of microfibril angle (MFA) values from juvenile to mature wood marks the change from variable, low-quality wood to stronger and more consistent wood that can produce higher value products. • Aims   We evaluate the utility of different statistical models that predict how much of a log is higher quality mature wood based on MFA. • Methods   MFA was measured from pith to bark at breast height in six lodgepole pine stands in western Canada. Six different forms of two-segment regression models were assessed to determine the point of transition (TP) in MFA from juvenile to mature wood. • Results   All six models provided useful and significant TP estimates. In the first segment (juvenile phase), the quadratic form produced the most conservative TPs, the linear form the least conservative, and the exponential form was intermediate. A linear second segment (mature phase) was only a minor improvement over a constant. There were significant differences in MFA TP among some sites. Analyses of the relationships between TP and tree variables, e.g., DBH, height, were inconclusive. • Conclusions   Any of the six two-segment models can be used objectively to estimate MFA transition points; the choice of model will allow mill managers to manage risk in product out-turn. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-11 DOI 10.1007/s13595-012-0226-z Authors Mingliang Wang, Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Hinton, AB, Canada James D. Stewart, Canadian Wood Fibre Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, 5320 122 Street, Edmonton, AB, Canada Journal Annals of Forest Science Online ISSN 1297-966X Print ISSN 1286-4560

Beschreibung:    Panicum virgatum L. (switchgrass) is an obligate outcrossing C 4 perennial prairie grass currently being pursued for the production of lignocellulosic ethanol. Commercial production of switchgrass for bioenergy has increased substantially in the United States. Understanding the degree of native genetic diversity within and among switchgrass populations will facilitate effective germplasm improvement, conservation, and management programs. In this study, the genetic diversity and differentiation among natural and agronomic switchgrass populations were analyzed at the molecular level by using random amplified polymorphic (RAPD) DNA markers. The mean genetic diversity among populations ranged from 0.051 ± 0.136 to 0.243 ± 0.214 and the mean genetic similarity among all the switchgrass populations was 0.775. The clustering pattern of switchgrass populations grouped the individuals based on their sites of origin, with agronomic cultivars predominantly separated into distinct clusters. The grouping of individuals within and across the populations was corroborated by principal component analysis. These results are consistent with previous reports for switchgrass accessions. RAPD DNA markers were suitable for quickly estimating the genetic diversity of native and agronomic switchgrass populations, and suggest that introgression of agronomic genes into natural switchgrass populations and subsequent changes in genetic structure may be detectable. Content Type Journal Article Category Research Article Pages 1-12 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9903-x Authors Madhugiri Nageswara-Rao, Department of Plant Sciences, The University of Tennessee, 252 Ellington Plant Sciences, 2431 Joe Johnson Dr., Knoxville, TN 37996, USA C. Neal Stewart Jr., Department of Plant Sciences, The University of Tennessee, 252 Ellington Plant Sciences, 2431 Joe Johnson Dr., Knoxville, TN 37996, USA Charles Kwit, Department of Plant Sciences, The University of Tennessee, 252 Ellington Plant Sciences, 2431 Joe Johnson Dr., Knoxville, TN 37996, USA Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung:    The preservation of plant genetic resources involves the conservation of the microbial biota associated with them. The presence of culturable bacteria in a series of 16 bean seed batches, corresponding to nine local bean varieties, stored in a germplasm bank was studied by amplifying and sequencing the 16S rDNA. Microorganisms identified in seed lots were classified into three groups: environmental biota (present in all samples), biota characteristic of humans and animals (present in 53 % of samples) and phytopathogenic biota (present in 19 % of samples). Genus diversity ranged between 0.6931 and 2.0942 according to the Shannon–Weaver Index (H’), the sample presenting the highest number of plant pathogenic bacteria being the most diverse. This result suggests that contrary to common practice in diagnostic laboratories, it is necessary to identify all culturable bacteria isolates from each sample. In addition, the fact that potentially phytopathogenic bacteria have been preserved in a genebank should emphasize the importance of rigorous sanitary controls for plant genetic resources. Content Type Journal Article Category Short Communication Pages 1-7 DOI 10.1007/s10722-012-9902-y Authors Estefanía Trapiello, Laboratorio de Fitopatología, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Carretera de Oviedo s/n, 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain Ana J. González, Laboratorio de Fitopatología, Servicio Regional de Investigación y Desarrollo Agroalimentario (SERIDA), Carretera de Oviedo s/n, 33300 Villaviciosa, Asturias, Spain Journal Genetic Resources and Crop Evolution Online ISSN 1573-5109 Print ISSN 0925-9864

Beschreibung:    Stem diameter in Gallesia integrifolia (Spreng.) Harms (Phytolaccaceae) increases by forming concentric rings of xylem alternating with phloem, which show frequent anastomoses. After a period of primary growth and the formation of first (normal) ring of vascular cambium, further successive rings are initiated outside this cambium. The second ring of cambium originates from the pericycle parenchyma located between the proto-phloem, and the pericycle fibres. Each cambium produces centripetally secondary xylem and centrifugally secondary phloem. Differentiation of xylem precedes that of phloem and the first elements formed are always xylem fibres. Structurally, the vascular cylinder is composed by successive rings of secondary xylem and phloem. These rings are separated by wide bands of conjunctive parenchyma tissue. Presence of collateral vascular bundles with irregular orientation is observed in the region of anastomoses of two or more bands of conjunctive tissue. These bundles are surrounded by isodiametric, lignified and thick-walled cells. In some of the cambial rings, occurrence of polycentric rays was also noticed; these rays are tall, and characterized by the presence of meristematic regions that differentiated into thick-walled elements of secondary xylem. Origin and development of the successive cambia and the structure of xylem are discussed. Content Type Journal Article Category Original Paper Pages 1-8 DOI 10.1007/s00468-012-0762-z Authors Kishore S. Rajput, Department of Botany, Faculty of Science, The Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, Vadodara, 390002 India Diego Romeiro, Instituto Florestal, CP 1322, Sao Paulo, CEP 02377-000 Brazil Eduardo L. Longui, Instituto Florestal, CP 1322, Sao Paulo, CEP 02377-000 Brazil Carmen R. Marcati, Departamento de Recursos Naturais, Faculdade de Ciências Agronômicas, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Campus de Botucatu, SP, CP 237, Sao Paulo, CEP 18603-970 Brazil Journal Trees - Structure and Function Online ISSN 1432-2285 Print ISSN 0931-1890