Dynamic Top Height Growth Models for Eight Native Tree Species in a Cool-Temperate Region in Northeast China

In this study, we developed dynamic top height growth models for the eight important Chinese tree species Larix gmelinii var. principis-rupprechtii, Pinus tabuliformis Carr., Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica Litv., Picea asperata Mast., Quercus mongolica Fisch. ex Ledeb, Betula platyphylla Suk., Betula dahurica Pall. and Populus davidiana Dode based on age-height relationships. For this purpose, commonly growth data from long-term observations of permanent experimental plots are used, which ideally cover all development stages from stand establishment to final harvest. As such data were not available in the research area of Hebei Province in Northeast China, we used stem analysis data as well as tree height and annual shoot length measurements. The dataset consisted of 72 stands, 233 dominant trees and 10,195 observations of stem discs and annual shoot length measurements. Five dynamic base-age invariant top height growth models were derived from four base models with the Generalized Algebraic Difference Approach and fitted to our age-height data using nested regression techniques. According to biological plausibility and model accuracy the Chapman–Richards model showed the best performance for Picea asperata. This selected model accounted for 99% of the total variance in age-height relationship with average absolute bias of 0.2322 m, root mean square error of 0.3337 m and of 0.9979, respectively. The distribution of the residuals was scattered around 0 and without visible trends, indicating that the fitness of the models was good. All developed models are able to generate top height growth curves representing the analyzed height growth data and can be utilized for predicting height growth on the base of current height and age of dominant trees. Additionally, they are the base for calculating the development of other relevant stand attributes such as basal area and volume growth. The determination of potential site productivity by the use of top height growth curves is a practical and convenient method for a simplified presentation of complex growth processes in stands and helps to create growth models, which facilitate implementing sustainable forest management practices in Mulan Forest.

Performance and Phenotypic Stability of Norway Spruce Provenances, Families, and Clones Growing under Diverse Climatic Conditions in Four Nordic Countries

Genetic variation and phenotypic stability in Norway spruce were studied based on provenances, families, and clones planted in trials at 12 sites in four Nordic countries. The families were generated in a factorial cross between 10 parents of Norwegian origin and 10 parents of Eastern European origin, and the clones were propagated from seedlings within 20 of the same families. Traits analyzed were survival, proportion of trees with stem defects, and tree heights. Stability was analyzed by regression analyses with the genetic entries’ annual shoot increment as the dependent variable and the total site mean as an environmental index. Information about growth and phenology traits were available from short-term tests. For tree heights, significant variance components were present both among female and male parents, but not for their interactions, indicating that non-additive genetic effects are small. Genotype × environment interactions were significant at all three genetic levels, but their variance components had considerably lower values than the variance components estimated for the effects of families and clones. For the set of families of Norwegian origin, strong relationships were observed between the timing of annual shot elongation, mortality, and height growth. Large variation was found at all three genetic levels for phenotypic stability measured by regression coefficients. A positive relationship was present between the regression coefficient and the timing of annual shoot growth for families, indicating that later flushing families responded more to a high site index. The regression coefficient can be a useful supplement to the breeding value when selecting for superior and stable genotypes.

Genetically Determined Differences in Annual Shoot Elongation of Young Norway Spruce

The annual shoot elongation could be described by a non-linear growth model to characterize differences in its dynamics among spruce genotypes, the effect of each shoot elongation phase on the total shoot length, and the genetic differences for a particular growth phase. The terminal shoot length was measured in two open-pollinated progeny trials of Norway spruce on average once per week during the ninth growing season. For the analysis, 10% of families with the longest annual increment (shoot) and 10% with the shortest were selected for each trial. The Gompertz model was fitted to individual tree data, and the mean values of its coefficients for each group of families were obtained. Family significantly (p < 0.001) affected total shoot length and all growth rhythm parameters, with similar trends reported in both studied sites. Heritability of Gompertz model coefficients in most cases exceeded that of the tree height. The superior10% of families started shoot elongation slightly but non-significantly earlier (all p > 0.05) than the other groups of families and had more intense shoot elongation (mm per day) during the entire growing season. A strong negative relation was found between the slope coefficient of the cumulative shoot elongation lines and the total height increment. The group of families with the longest increment had flatter relative shoot elongation lines, indicating relatively more evenly distributed growth within the growing season. In contrast, families with the shortest increment tended to accumulate a higher proportion of height increment during the active growth phase and reduced relative growth intensity more rapidly. The 10% of families with the largest annual increment showed superior characteristics in all shoot elongation phases, resulting in 30–40% longer shoots compared to the 10% of families with the smallest annual increment. The significant differences in Gompertz model coefficients indicate that genotypes with favorable growth patterns might be selected.

Laying of the embryonic fruiting capacity lengthwise the annual ripened shoot when processing ‘Solaris’ grape variety with plant growth regulators

В статье представлены результаты изучения влияния регуляторов роста (гиббереллин в концентрации 100 мл/л и мицефит в трех концентрациях - 1, 10 и 100 мг/л) при обработке растений винограда сорта технического направления использования Солярис перед цветением и в период постоплодотворения, на формирование биологических показателей центральных почек зимующих глазков. Рассчитаны коэффициенты плодоношения (К), плодоносности (К), и продуктивности (К), и сделан анализ центральных почек зимующих глазков по длине однолетнего побега, имеющего наибольшее практическое значение (по 10 глазкам). Для установления потенциальной закладки эмбриональных соцветий в центральных почках зимующих глазков на растениях, обработанных гиббереллином и мицефитом, использован метод микроскопирования. Выявлено, что в вариантах обработки растений сорта Солярис регуляторами роста отмечена высокая закладка эмбриональных соцветий в центральных почках зимующих глазков по длине побега, т.е. под урожай будущего года. В целом по всей длине побега максимальные значения коэффициентов плодоношения, плодоносности и продуктивности зимующих глазков оказались в вариантах обработки гиббереллином перед цветением и мицефитом в концентрации 10 мг/л в период постоплодотворения. Этому способствовала наибольшая закладка плодоносных глазков с 2-3-мя соцветиями. Лучший вариант для снижения длины обрезки плодовой стрелки выявлен в варианте обработки мицефитом в концентрации 10 мг/л в период постоплодотворения, где коэффициент продуктивности составил 1,52 в зоне 4-го глазка. This article presents the study results of the influence of growth regulators (gibberellin in concentration of 100 mg/l and mycephitis in three concentrations - 1, 10 and 100 ml/l) when processing grape plants of the winemaking variety ‘Solaris’ before flowering and during post-fertilizing period on the formation of biological parameters of central buds of the wintering eyes. The coefficients of fruiting (К), potential fruiting capacity (К), and productivity (К) were calculated along with the analysis of the central buds of wintering eyes lengthwise the annual shoot of the most practical value (for 10 eyes). Method of microscopy was used to establish the potential laying of the embryonic inflorescences in the central buds of wintering eyes in plants processed with gibberellin and mycephitis . In the variants of processing plants of ‘Solaris’ variety with growth regulators, a high level of laying of the embryonic inflorescences in the central buds of wintering eyes lengthwise the shoot was observed, i.e. for the crops of next year. In general, maximum values of coefficients of the fruiting, potential fruiting capacity and productivity of wintering eyes lengthwise the shoots were identified in the variants of processing with gibberellin before flowering and mycephitis in concentration of 10 ml/l during the post-fertilizing period. It was promoted by the biggest laying of fruiting eyes with 2-3 inflorescences. The best option to reduce the length of fruit cane pruning was revealed in the variant of processing with mycephitis in concentration of 10 ml/l during the post-fertilizing period with the coefficient of productivity obtained - 1.52 in the level of the 4th eye.

Morphometric analysis of the annual shoot of the Acer negundo L. plants, growing in conditions of exposure to technogenic pollution of Donbass

For estimation of quality of the environment in industrial regions, along with the methods of instrumental analysis, the methods of bioindication are rather relevant, foremost phytoindication. The influence of air pollutants during ontogenesis results in violation of normal vital functions of arboreal plants, the integral index of the vital state of which is the intensity of vegetative growth. Parameters, characterizing the plant growth, can be quite informative for the bioindication of level of the technogenic contamination of environment. This article presents the results of analysis of coke production emissions influence and transport on the morphometric indexes of annual vegetative shoots of Acer negundo L. It is shown that the influence of airpollutants leads to inhibition of the development of annual shoot. The reduction in the length of annual shoot (22-26%) and the number of its structural elements is accompanied by a decrease in mass (33-49%) and area (27-45%) of leaves, indicating xerophytization of shoots under the influence of emissions. The greatest changes are revealed in A. negundo trunk from plantations, experiencing, along with the influence of exhaust gas, the extremely adverse conditions of root nutrition. High sensitivity to technogenic emissions of such morphometric parameters of A. negundo as the length of annual shoots, the total weight and area of shoot leaves allows to use them in monitoring researches of vegetation condition and environmental pollution in the industrial regions.