Survey and ecological aspects of presumed ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with black spruce in northern Minnesota

1990 ◽  
Vol 68 (4) ◽  
pp. 825-831 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert L. Doudrick ◽  
Elwin L. Stewart ◽  
Alvin A. Alm

Twenty-two stands of black spruce, Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P., in northern Minnesota were surveyed for ectomycorrhizal fungi. Site selection criteria in black spruce stands included geologic history, soil type, stand origin, age, and productivity. Site preference relationships were noted for several of the 46 species of fungi collected during the 2-year study. Twenty-five isolates were tested in aseptic culture for their ability to form ectomycorrhizae with black spruce seedlings. Ectomycorrhizae were produced by Cenococcum sp., Laccaria bicolor (Maire) Orton, Laccaria laccata var. moelleri Singer, Rhizopogon sp., and Suillus cavipes (Opat.) Smith & Thiers.

1978 ◽  
Vol 54 (6) ◽  
pp. 296-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas A. Mead

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


1954 ◽  
Vol 30 (4) ◽  
pp. 372-379 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henri LeBlanc

Lack of reproduction of black spruce, Picea mariana, in pure black spruce stands in old cut-over areas, has always been a great subject of discussion and one for intensive work among foresters. Many reasons such as the absence of an adequate seed supply stored on top of humus, or adverse germination conditions are said to be partly responsible.This study on the humus of this unregenerated cut-over area, indicates clear cutting of this stand will influence the normal concentration of definite micro-nutrients such as manganese and magnesium.The augmentation of manganese in the soil has a detrimental effect on the growth of plants when, its concentration is too high. The diminution of magnesium, which is an element necessary to stimulate the growth, must create abnormal nutritive conditions of the habitat. This visible lack of equilibrium might be the cause of the absence of seedlings of Picea mariana on certain parts of this cut-over area.


2000 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-66 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Pothier

Regeneration of first-cut strips in a two-cut system of strip clear-cutting was compared to that of large clear-cutting in four different areas representative of the black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) stands of the boreal forest of Quebec. Seedlings were more evenly distributed in clearcut strips than in large clearcuts. Differences of about 10 000 black spruce seedlings per hectare and 20% of stocking were observed in favour of clearcut strips compared to large clearcuts. Black spruce stocking was about 14% larger on lowland than on upland sites but height growth was better on upland sites. A regeneration problem similar to that of large clearcuts was observed when the second strips were cut. One year after cutting these second strips, winter harvesting resulted in a 23% gain in black spruce stocking as compared to summer harvesting. Even if black spruce stocking marginally increased during the years following winter harvesting, the height advantage of the preserved advance growth justifies the application of this harvesting method. The strip clear-cutting system effectively improved the stocking of former black spruce stands but if the stocking level of advance growth is adequate, careful harvesting to preserve advance regeneration should be the preferred method since it would be more cost-efficient.


1989 ◽  
Vol 65 (5) ◽  
pp. 372-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-Claude Ruel

A study on the regeneration of leave strips in an alternate strip clearcutting system was conducted in black spruce stands (Picea mariana [Mill.] BSP) in Abitibi in northwestern Quebec. The study consists of 49 leave strips scheduled for harvesting and 24 adjacent first-cut strips. Winter harvesting gave the best results while a prescription aiming at preserving advance growth did not result in any gain. Site moisture regime and harvesting system had no effect on advance growth destruction. Regeneration on first-cut strips was not significantly affected by the cutting of the leave strip.


2001 ◽  
Vol 79 (4) ◽  
pp. 420-428 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean-François Giroux ◽  
Yves Bergeron ◽  
Jean J Veillette

Giant circular patterns of low tree density in black spruce (Picea mariana) stands were investigated in the Abitibi region of Quebec. We used dendrochronological techniques to test the hypotheses that ring patterns of low tree density are caused either by radial changes in spruce mortality or productivity. Seven circles were sampled. We found no gradient in the age of spruce along circle radii suggesting that rings of low tree density do not expand radially, that is, they are not spatially dynamic entities. The results indicate, however, that spruce trees were less dense and productive within the rings due to excessive moisture in the soil. Measurements of surface elevation, thickness of the organic layer and elevation of the mineral substrate across the circles revealed that a depression in the mineral soil beneath the rings traps the surface water and this area of poor drainage seems to prevent the establishment of black spruce within the rings. The origin of the ring-shaped depressions was attributed to geological or geomorphological causes.Key words: black spruce, Picea mariana, mortality, productivity, rings, geomorphology.


1961 ◽  
Vol 93 (8) ◽  
pp. 648-653 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. R. Blais

In the course of studles on different species of defoliators in field-spruce stands on the Gaspé coast of the Baie des Chaleurs, Griselda radicana (Wlshm.) occurred fairly commonly in such stands. Although the principal host tree of this insect is white spruce, Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, records of the Forest Insect and Disease Survey show that it has been collected from black spruce, Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP., Colorado spruce, Picea pungens Engelm., and balsam fir, Abies halramea (L.) Mill. Although G. radicana is commonly found across Canada, there are no records that it has ever reached outbreak proportions. These investigations were undertaken since nothing was known on the life history and habits of this insect. The studies were carried out near New Richmond in the Gaspé Peninsula in the summer of 1959.


2010 ◽  
Vol 40 (9) ◽  
pp. 1791-1802 ◽  
Author(s):  
François Hébert ◽  
Nelson Thiffault ◽  
Jean-Claude Ruel ◽  
Alison D. Munson

In boreal black spruce ( Picea mariana (Mill.) BSP) dominated stands, careful logging around advance regeneration contributes to protect the shrub layer while increasing light availability. Therefore, it may promote expansion of bog Labrador tea ( Rhododendron groenlandicum (Oeder) Kron & Judd), which can impair black spruce growth by direct competition for nutrients and by alteration of soil biochemical conditions. Such harvesting approaches may not be suited for irregular, uneven-aged black spruce stands in the context of ecosystem-based management. Our objectives were to evaluate the effects of different intensities of partial harvest on critical resource availability and to compare the physiological and morphological responses of black spruce and Rhododendron to different intensities of partial harvest treatments. Two years after harvest, photosynthesis rate of black spruce was unchanged and was lower than that of Rhododendron, which was 63% higher after harvest. Nitrogen and water use efficiency were, respectively, 171% and 42% higher in Rhododendron than in black spruce after logging. Following harvest, black spruce physiology appeared to be regulated by the atmospheric humidity deficit, but for Rhododendron, physiology was regulated by light availability. The high plasticity of Rhododendron leaf traits could be indicative of the future advantage of this species in these stands following canopy removal associated with harvest.


2011 ◽  
Vol 28 (3) ◽  
pp. 129-137
Author(s):  
Martin M. Kwiaton ◽  
Jian R. Wang ◽  
Douglas E.B. Reid

Abstract Site quality is a key component of growth and yield models because height growth rates are known to be influenced by available site resources. Accurate prediction of future growth and yield requires site quality information for both plantations and natural stands. The forest industry in northern Ontario relies on high-quality wood and fiber from black spruce (Picea mariana Mill. B.S.P.); therefore, these tools are essential to ensure sustainable forest management. Although there are site index (SI) models for natural-origin black spruce stands in northern Ontario, models for estimating site quality of young black spruce plantations have not been developed. We used stem analysis data collected from 62 plantations (>40 years of age) of pure black spruce across northern Ontario to develop height growth, SI, and variable growth intercept models. The distinct height growth patterns we observed may be attributed to early silvicultural treatments (site preparation and herbicide) in plantations allowing black spruce trees to attain breast height (1.3 m) faster than in fire-origin stands in northern Ontario. Our models can be used to estimate site quality of black spruce plantations, a key consideration for silviculture and forest management planning. We also compare our managed stand SI model to one we developed from a comparable subset of data from black spruce growing in unmanaged stands and propose a method to assign an SI with a common base age to pure upland black spruce stands regardless of origin.


1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (1) ◽  
pp. 169-174 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chantal Morin ◽  
Julie Samson ◽  
Michel Dessureault

Cylindrocladium floridanum Sobers and Seymour, principal causal agent of root rot of conifers in forest nurseries, was grown in vitro with four species of ectomycorrhizal fungi, Paxillus involutus, Hebeloma cylindrosporum, Laccaria bicolor, and Tricholoma sp. The effect of inoculating black spruce seedlings (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) with P. involutus was also investigated. Tricholoma sp. and especially P. involutus and H. cylindrosporum inhibited growth of C. floridanum in Petri dishes, while L. bicolor was inhibited and completely covered by C. floridanum. Hyphae of the pathogen in the contact zone were deteriorated in the presence of P. involutus and H. cylindrosporum. The inoculation of P. involutus reduced the number of infected black spruce seedlings by approximately 50%. However, the simultaneous inoculation of two different strains of P. involutus did not significantly reduce disease development. Linear regression demonstrated that the percentage of infected plants was negatively correlated with mycorrhiza formation. The relation between these two variables also showed that even if colonization by P. involutus is poor or null, it has some inhibitory effect against Cylindrocladium root rot.Key words: Paxillus involutus, Cylindrocladium floridanum, root rot, ectomycorrhizal fungi, biological control, Picea mariana.


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