Susceptibility of Small-Diameter Norway Spruce Understory Stumps to Heterobasidion Spore Infection

Heterobasidion spp. cause economically important losses in conifer forests in the Northern Hemisphere, especially in Norway spruce stands. Freshly cut stumps are the main route for Heterobasidion spp. infection. Even small stumps of spruce seedlings are known to be susceptible to spore infection, however, very little is currently known about the susceptibility of small stumps of understory spruce to Heterobasidion spore infection. To determine the frequency of spore infections among stumps of understory trees, we analyzed 756 Norway spruce stumps in eight sample plots in eastern Latvia. Understory trees 35–68 years of age, with a stump diameter of 2–10 cm, were felled 33–48 weeks before sampling. In total, 514 (68%) of the spruce stumps were infected by Heterobasidion spores. The infection frequency among the plots varied from 56% to 86%. Both infection frequency and stump surface area occupied by Heterobasidion positively correlated with stump diameter, but neither correlated with the time span elapsed between felling and sampling. Colonization of trees by a competitor fungus, Phlebiopsis gigantea (Fr.) Jülich, was observed in 30 (4%) of investigated stumps, but did not have any effect on the frequency of Heterobasidion infections. Our data show that Norway spruce stumps can be highly susceptible to Heterobasidion spore infection. In order to control airborne Heterobasidion infections, stump treatment should be considered during the sporulation period of Heterobasidion spp.

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Control of Heterobasidion in Norway Spruce Stands: The Impact of Stump Cover on Efficacy of Urea and Phlebiopsis gigantea and Implications for Forest Management

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12060679 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 679

Author(s):

Astra Zaluma ◽

Patrick Sherwood ◽

Lauma Bruna ◽

Uvis Skola ◽

Talis Gaitnieks ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Forest Management ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Urea Solution ◽

Small Scale ◽

Relative Area ◽

Infection Rates ◽

Precommercial Thinning ◽

Phlebiopsis Gigantea ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

The Impact

This study investigated the efficacy of Rotstop®, a native Latvian Phlebiopsis gigantea strain and 35% urea solution in combination with a stump cover treatment to control against natural spore infection by Heterobasidion spp. upon precommercial thinning of Norway spruce in three stands growing on former agricultural lands. The major findings were that (i) infection rates of Heterobasidion spp. on stumps treated with the native P. gigantea strain, Rotstop® or urea are similar when stumps are uncovered, and (ii) stump cover promotes stump colonization by the Latvian P. gigantea strain and Rotstop®, leading to a significantly smaller relative area colonized by Heterobasidion spp., as well greater efficiency against Heterobasidion in comparison with urea. Covering of stumps appears beneficial for controlling Heterobasidion stump colonization and may be valuable to forest owners if used in small-scale operations, but it is impractical in automatized thinnings, where managers should consider using regular Rotstop® without covering the stumps.

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Determination of Pleurotus abieticola ligninolytic activity on Norway spruce wood

Folia Forestalia Polonica ◽

10.2478/ffp-2019-0026 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 61 (4) ◽

pp. 267-277

Author(s):

Anna Żółciak

Keyword(s):

Enzymatic Activity ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Protocatechuic Acid ◽

Ligninolytic Enzymes ◽

Heterobasidion Annosum ◽

Ligninolytic Activity ◽

Spruce Wood ◽

Phlebiopsis Gigantea ◽

Spruce Stands

Abstract The effect of Phlebiopsis gigantea treatment in control of Heterobasidion parviporum in Norway spruce is less effective than that in control of Heterobasidion annosum in pine. It is necessary to apply other fungi, for example, Pleurotus abieticola in Norway spruce stands. Thus, it is necessary to assess the activity of major ligninolytic enzymes, that is, laccase, lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase (MnP) and versatile peroxidase (VP) produced by P. abieticola, which may be effective in the fast degradation of Norway spruce wood. Three strains of P. abieticola (Pa1-3) were grown on pieces of Norway spruce sapwood and heartwood for 50 days in laboratory conditions. Enzymatic activity was determined using spectrophotometry. Pleurotus abieticola produced laccase, LiP, MnP and VP. The activity of laccase was low, ranging 0–3.696 and 0–0.806 mU/μg of protein in sapwood and heartwood, respectively. The highest activity in Pa1 = 3.696 mU/μg of protein in sapwood and in Pa3 = 0.806 mU/μg of protein in heartwood was observed after 30 and 50 days of incubation, respectively. The activity of LiP was also low, ranging 0–0.188 and 0–0.271 mU/μg of protein in sapwood and heartwood, respectively. The highest activity in Pa1 = 0.271 mU/μg of protein in sapwood and in Pa2 = 0.188 mU/μg of protein in heartwood was observed after 40 and 20 days of incubation, respectively. The activity of MnP ranged 0–17.618 and 0–12.203 mU/μg of protein in sapwood and heartwood, respectively. This enzymatic activity peaked at the 50th day of culture on sapwood for the Pa3 strain (17.618 mU/μg of protein) and at the 20th day of culture on heartwood for the Pa1 strain (12.203 mU/μg of protein). The activity of VP with manganese-oxidising properties was found to be high in all strains of P. abieticola, ranging 0–39.19 and 0–59.153 mU/μg of protein in sapwood and heartwood, respectively, whereas the activity of VP with guaiacol-oxidising properties was very low for all P. abieticola strains, ranging 0–0.248 and 0–0.225 mU/μg of protein in sapwood and heartwood, respectively. The values of released hydroxyphenols in P. abieticola strains ranged 24.915–139.766 and 25.19–84.562 µg of protocatechuic acid/ml in sapwood and heartwood, respectively. The values of released methoxyphenols for the evaluated strains of P. abieticola ranged 7.225–23.789 and 1.953–20.651 µg of vanillic acid/ml in sapwood and heartwood, respectively. Further studies with a higher number of strains of this species as well as an optimisation of conditions for the measurement of ligninolytic activity are needed.

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Bucheckern-Voraussaat unter Fichtenschirm - Ergebnisse eines Versuchs des Deutschen Verbandes Forstlicher Forschungsanstalten/Sektion Waldbau -. Direct Seeding of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in Pure Norway Spruce Stands (Picea abies [L.] Karst.) - Results of an Experiment by the German Union of Forest Research Organizations/Silviculture Division -

Forftwiffenfchaftliches Centralblatt ◽

10.1046/j.1439-0337.2003.00160.x ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 122 (3) ◽

pp. 160-174 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Bertram Leder ◽

Sven Wagner ◽

Jorg Wollmerstadt ◽

Christian Ammer

Keyword(s):

Picea Abies ◽

Norway Spruce ◽

Fagus Sylvatica ◽

European Beech ◽

Direct Seeding ◽

Forest Research ◽

Research Organizations ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

Fagus Sylvatica L

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Imitated Whole Tree Harvesting Show Negligible Effect on Economic Value of Spruce Stands

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12070841 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (7) ◽

pp. 841

Author(s):

Iveta Desaine ◽

Annija Kārkliņa ◽

Roberts Matisons ◽

Anna Pastare ◽

Andis Adamovičs ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Economic Value ◽

Forest Types ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

The Difference ◽

Growing Conditions ◽

Whole Tree Harvesting ◽

Whole Tree ◽

Tree Harvesting

The increased removal of forest-derived biomass with whole-tree harvesting (WTH) has raised concerns about the long-term productivity and sustainability of forest ecosystems. If true, this effect needs to be factored in the assessment of long-term feasibility to implement such a drastic forest management measure. Therefore, the economic performance of five experimental plantations in three different forest types, where in 1971 simulated WTH event occurred, was compared with pure, planted and conventionally managed (CH) Norway spruce stands of similar age and growing conditions. Potential incomes of CH and WTH stands were based on timber prices for period 2014–2020. However, regarding the economics of root and stump biomass utilization, they were not included in the estimates. In any given price level, the difference of internal rate of return between the forest types and selected managements were from 2.5% to 6.2%. Therefore, Norway spruce stands demonstrate good potential of independence regardless of stump removal at the previous rotation.

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A Novel Approach to Evaluate the Effect of Neighboring Trees and the Orientation of Tree Social Area on Stem Radial Increment of Norway Spruce Trees

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12020163 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (2) ◽

pp. 163

Author(s):

Jan Světlík ◽

Jan Krejza ◽

Pavel Bednář

Keyword(s):

Norway Spruce ◽

Tree Growth ◽

Growth Models ◽

Explanatory Power ◽

Radial Increment ◽

Important Indicator ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Novel Approach ◽

Spruce Stands ◽

Social Area

Tree growth depends on many factors such as microsite conditions, vitality, and variations in climate and genetics. It is generally accepted that higher growth indicates both an economic benefit and better vitality of any tree. Here we use a modified approach of evaluating tree social area to study mutual tree competition based on the orientation and shape of trees social area. The investigation was performed in nine Norway spruce stands in the Czech Republic. The objective of this study performed from 2008 to 2012 was to quantify relative tree radial increments with respect to the lowest and highest competition found in specific sectors of tree social area (AS). Specific groups of trees (tree classes) were evaluated according to their classes (dominant, co-dominant and sub-dominant) and their composition status in ninety-degree sectors of AS using established classifying rules. The results showed that a spatially-available area (AA) is an inappropriate parameter for predicting tree growth, whereas AS provided robust explanatory power to predict relative radial growth. Tree size was observed as an important indicator of relative radial increments. A significantly positive correlation was found for a radial increment of sub-dominant trees with the lowest competition from western directions; whereas a negative correlation was observed when the lowest competition was observed from eastern directions. For dominant trees, there was an evident growth reaction only when more than 50% of the AS was oriented towards one of the cardinal points. Individual differences in the orientation of tree AS may be important parameters with regard to competition and its spatial variability within an area surrounding a particular tree and deserve more detailed attention in tree growth models and practice.

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