Factors affecting seed and cone development in Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis)

1998 ◽  
Vol 28 (8) ◽  
pp. 1146-1163 ◽  
Author(s):  
John N Owens ◽  
Sheila J Morris
Keyword(s):  
Anatomical Study ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Insect Damage ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Abies Amabilis ◽  
Seed Loss ◽  
Seed Maturity ◽  
Cone Axis ◽  
Cone Development ◽  
Filled Seeds

The reproductive development from pollination until seed maturity for Pacific silver fir (amabilis fir; Abies amabilis (Dougl. ex Loud.) Dougl. ex J. Forbes) was studied at two sites in British Columbia. Ten trees growing at varying elevations at each site were flagged and two or more cones were collected from each tree every 1 or 2 weeks. Following size measurements, cones were dissected and 20 ovules from each cone were sampled, fixed, embedded in paraffin, sectioned, and stained for anatomical study. Ovule, megagametophyte, and embryo size was measured and stage of ovule or seed and embryo was determined. At both sites the phenology and details of development were similar. The major causes of cone loss were frost at pollination and insect damage following pollination. The seed potential per cone was 359-408, but the filled seeds per cone based on cutting tests and X-raying was only 18-22%. The major causes of seed loss were insect damage (32-39%) during ovule and seed development and failure of ovules to be pollinated (26-31%). Although the amount of insect damage was similar at both sites, damage at Site 1 was primarily caused by Megastigmus sp. larvae in the seeds whereas at Site 2, damage was to seeds, scales, and the cone axis and due to Earomyia abietum larvae. Megagametophyte and embryo development is described and the time and causes of the seed loss are related to development. Anomalous types of development are described and possible causes discussed.

Seed cone traits and insect damage in Tsuga canadensis (Pinaceae)

2004 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 261-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jean J Turgeon ◽  
Chuck Jones ◽  
M Isabel Bellocq
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Tsuga Canadensis ◽  
Insect Damage ◽  
First Report ◽  
Seed Cone ◽  
Length Width ◽  
Maximum Proportion ◽  
Sterile Seed ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Filled Seeds

We measured seed cones of Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière, assessed seed potential (number of fertile scales × 2) and seed efficiency (number of filled seeds/seed potential), and estimated the impact of Eupithecia mutata Pearsall (Lepidoptera: Geometridae) and Megastigmus hoffmeyeri Walley (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) on seed production. Mean length, width, and volume of healthy cones varied little among sites from Ontario. Cones had about 28 scales; 13 were sterile. Seed potential and seed efficiency differed among sites, ranging from 25 to 31 ovules and 24% to 72%, respectively. The number of scales (both sterile and fertile) increased with cone volume, but the proportion of fertile scales was independent of cone size. The maximum proportion of cones infested by E. mutata was 21%. On average, each larva destroyed >90% of the filled seeds from each cone, thus from a practical perspective, the proportion of T. canadensis seeds destroyed per site was equivalent to the proportion of seed cones infested. The proportion of cones infested by M. hoffmeyeri ranged from 9% to 40%, but the proportion of seeds destroyed per site (range: 1.1%–6.1%) was much lower than that of E. mutata. The maximum number of M. hoffmeyeri-infested seeds per cone was seven. To our knowledge, this is the first report documenting cone traits of T. canadensis and the impact of E. mutata and M. hoffmeyeri.

scholarly journals FACTORS AFFECTING THE VIABILITY AND GERMINATION BEHAVIOR OF CONIFEROUS SEED: PART I: CONE AND SEED MATURITY, TSUGA HETEROPHYLLA (RAFN.) SARG.

1958 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 266-274 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. S. Allen
Keyword(s):  
Marked Effect ◽  
Relative Rate ◽  
Germination Rate ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Germination Capacity ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Seed Processing ◽  
Seed Maturity ◽  
Commercial Seed ◽  
Basic Studies

The following three papers show that both germination capacity and germination behavior are influenced markedly by maturity of cones and seed, and by various treatments, all of which can be controlled. Basic studies to discover the reasons for the radical changes in germination rate described herein are indicated.Commercial cone and seed processing often reduces germination capacity and increases the absolute or relative rate of germination. Dewinging, particularly if prolonged or if done in the presence of hard and sharp debris, has a marked effect upon both seed characteristics.High kiln temperatures (above 52 °C.), impact, and other "drastic" treatments reduce viability and increase germination rate. Seed that has been affected in these ways usually produces germinates whose radicles are discolored and subject to decay in the incubator. The seed itself tends to darken abnormally during stratification and/or incubation, and usually becomes contaminated quickly during incubation. Commercial seed that shows evidence of harmful treatment is usually dull and dusty and produces similar symptoms of weakness during incubation.

scholarly journals Reintroduction of the European silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in Białowieża Forest

10.46490/527 ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Aleh Marozau
Keyword(s):  
Practical Interest ◽  
Abies Alba ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Insect Damage ◽  
Natural Origin ◽  
Białowieża Forest ◽  
Good State ◽  
Sib Families ◽  
Forest District ◽  
Intensive Growth

In 1996 and 1998, Professor A. Korczyk created a half-sib plantation of the European silver fir (Abies alba Mill.) in the Polish part of Białowieża Forest (Hajnówka Forest District, sub-district Wilczy Jar, subcompartments 416Ag and 416Сf). The planting was carried out in furrows at a spacing of 1.3 x 1m in three plots of 0.22 ha each in an area of fresh forest. To grow the seedlings, seeds from the “Tisovik” tract (in the Belarusian part of Białowieża Forest) were used. According to some researchers, the Abies alba in this tract has a natural origin and is a relic of Białowieża Forest. Given this circumstance, and also in connection with the mass drying-out of the Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.), there is a practical interest in studying the growth of fir crops in this territory. The results of our studies (2018) indicated the very intensive growth of this species in 22-year-old cultures (subcompartment 416Ag, plot 1, 10 half-sib families). The trees showed no signs of disease or insect damage, the crowns were conical in shape and the shoots were densely covered with needles. The good state of the forest planting can be considered as evidence of soil hydrological conditions suitable for growth and meeting the A. alba’s ecological and biological needs, as well as confirmation of its autochthonous nature.

scholarly journals Multiple-pathway succession in coastal Tsuga heterophylla, Thuja plicata, and Abies amabilis forests on northeastern Vancouver Island, British Columbia

2014 ◽  
Vol 44 (10) ◽  
pp. 1145-1155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Weber ◽  
J.P. (Hamish) Kimmins ◽  
Benjamin Gilbert ◽  
Yueh-Hsin Lo ◽  
Juan A. Blanco
Keyword(s):  
Natural Disturbance ◽  
Vancouver Island ◽  
Tsuga Heterophylla ◽  
Thuja Plicata ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Frequency Distributions ◽  
Abies Amabilis ◽  
Forest Practices ◽  
Adult Trees ◽  
Disturbance Hypothesis

Sustainable forest practices are often designed to mimic natural disturbance and successional processes, yet succession is poorly understood in many ecosystems. On northeastern Vancouver Island, the “disturbance hypothesis” is a widely assumed succession model asserting that shade-tolerant western redcedar (Thuja plicata Donn ex D. Don) and the ericaceous shrub salal (Gaultheria shallon Pursh) invade and colonize highly productive western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla (Raf.) Sarg.) – Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis Douglas ex J. Forbes) stands (HA) on zonal sites in the absence of stand-replacing wind disturbance. This leads to the development of low-productivity, low-density, uneven-aged, open-crowned redcedar–hemlock–salal stands (CH). In conflict with this model, old, apparently stable HA stands lacking redcedar can be found on such sites as well. We sought evidence for the predicted transition to CH stands by examining stand composition, crown closure, tree size class frequency distributions, salal cover, and redcedar establishment on young HA (∼90 years old), old HA (>160 years), and CH (>160 years) stands. When adjacent to a redcedar stand, young HA stands had fewer redcedar seedlings but more redcedar adult trees than old HA stands. However, redcedar abundance did not differ between young and old HA stands at distances further than 10 m from adjacent redcedar stands. This could indicate that redcedar recruits into HA stands at stand establishment and that redcedar seedling establishment is low under the thick canopy of young HA stands. The chronosequence data also suggest that both old HA and CH stands are self-replacing stand types in these forests, contrary to the disturbance hypothesis. We develop a new, multipathway model for this ecosystem that is based on the chronosequence data and life-history traits of the focal tree species and suggest that disturbance plays a role opposite to the equilibrium model.

Occurrence of juvabione-related compounds in grand fir and Pacific silver fir infested by balsam woolly aphid

1974 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 585-587 ◽  
Author(s):  
George S. Puritch ◽  
W. W. Nijholt
Keyword(s):  
Silver Fir ◽  
Abies Grandis ◽  
Abies Amabilis ◽  
Variable Distribution ◽  
Woolly Aphid ◽  
Related Compounds

Two juvabione-related compounds, (+)-todomatuic acid and dehydrotodomatuic acid, were found in conjunction with certain balsam woolly aphid infested Abies grandis (Dougl.) Lindl. and Abies amabilis (Dougl.) Forbes but not with noninfested trees.The localized occurrence and variable distribution of these compounds within the wood of infested trees is discussed.

No seed zone effects on the survival, growth, and stem form of Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis) in Britain

2016 ◽  
Vol 46 (3) ◽  
pp. 427-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary Kerr ◽  
Victoria Stokes ◽  
Andrew Peace ◽  
Alan Fletcher ◽  
Sam Samuel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wood Properties ◽  
Common Species ◽  
Heterobasidion Annosum ◽  
Silver Fir ◽  
Stem Form ◽  
Abies Amabilis ◽  
Olympic Mountains ◽  
Seed Zones ◽  
Plantation Species ◽  
Seed Collections

Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis Douglas ex J. Forbes) was first introduced to Britain in 1830 but has not been widely planted and occupies a minute part of the forest estate. The results of six experiments established in the uplands of Britain examining material from 30 collection sites in 14 seed zones clearly demonstrate that its potential has not been recognised. The trials were assessed after 28 years and show that Pacific silver fir has the potential to be as productive as other common species options. There was little variation in performance between the 14 seed zones, and future seed collections could be carried out within a wide geographical range, including mainland British Columbia and Vancouver Island and the Olympic Mountains and western Cascades of Washington. The silvicultural characteristics of the species mean that it could be used more widely to diversify forests in Britain both as a plantation species and in the wider use of continuous cover management. More work is justified to determine its susceptibility to Annosum root rot (Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref), confirm its productivity on sites with rainfall below 800 mm·a–1 and (or) with a high peat content, and provide more detail on its wood properties.

EFFECTIVENESS OF TRUNK-IMPLANTED ACEPHATE FOR THE PROTECTION OF CONES AND SEEDS FROM INSECT DAMAGE IN FRANCE AND CHINA

1996 ◽  
Vol 128 (3) ◽  
pp. 391-406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alain Roques ◽  
Jiang-Hua Sun ◽  
Xu-Dong Zhang ◽  
Gwennael Philippe ◽  
Jean-Paul Raimbault
Keyword(s):  
Seed Germination ◽  
Siberian Larch ◽  
Northeastern China ◽  
Insect Damage ◽  
European Larch ◽  
Conifer Species ◽  
Gall Midges ◽  
Year Effect ◽  
Cone Flies ◽  
Filled Seeds

AbstractFrom 1989 to 1993, trunk implants of acephate were tested for the control of seed and cone insect damage to conifer species in France and northeastern China. The treatments were promising for the control of the major pests that feed on cone and seed tissues, including cone flies, coneworms, and seedworms, in European and Siberian larch, Norway spruce, Scots and mountain pine. In contrast, acephate implants did not prevent seed chalcid damage nor that of gall midges in Douglas-fir, European larch, and Siberian larch. Treatment generally increased seed yield, but a significant increase in the number of filled seeds was seen only when chalcids and midges were absent. The 2-year effect of implants seemed limited. Acephate implantation did not seem to affect seed germination.

scholarly journals Crossability of Pinus sibirica and P. pumila with their hybrids

2013 ◽  
Vol 62 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 61-67 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. V. VasilyevA ◽  
S. N. Goroshkevich
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Parental Species ◽  
First Year ◽  
Pinus Sibirica ◽  
Hybrid Seed Production ◽  
Female Cone ◽  
Field Station ◽  
Cone Development ◽  
Pollen Distribution ◽  
Filled Seeds

AbstractCrossability of Pinus sibirica and P. pumila hybrids and their parental species was studied using the controlled pollination method. Pinus sibirica and its hybrids were represented by grafts at the “Kedr” field station southeast of Tomsk Oblast, Russia; the parental species was of local provenance, with its hybrids obtained from the Southern Baikal region. In the case of P. pumila, trees were pollinated in a wild stand located in the Upper Angara River delta. Parental species had the highest number of filled seeds under open pollination. When they were pollinated with hybrid pollen, the trees showed nearly two-fold reductions in the number of filled seeds. Hybrids tended to abort most ovules during the first year of female cone development, resulting in a high seed abortion rate and consequent low seed production. The number of filled seeds obtained from hybrids was low, with levels ranging from 8.2 to 24.3%. Because of weak reproductive isolation between hybrids and parental species, crosses are inevitable and lead to species introgression. The hybrids probably contribute to interspecies genetic exchange both through hybrid seed production following pollination by parental species and by hybrid pollen distribution.

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