Analysis of the polymorphism of microsatellite loci in Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. and Picea obovatа Ledeb populations

Процессы генезиса хвойных лесов интенсивно изучаются с использованием методов молекулярного маркирования. Микросателлитные локусы рассматриваются в качестве наиболее полиморфной и воспроизводимой системы кодоминантных молекулярных маркеров. В цели исследования входило установить возможность использования микросателлитных маркеров для определения видовых различий между елью европейской и сибирской (Picea abies и Picea obovatа), а также оценить степень генетической обособленности региональных популяций ели на территории Европейской части РФ. Исследование показало, что использование набора из двенадцати микросателлитных маркеров позволяет разделить выборку елей, собранных с европейской и азиатской частей страны, на два генетических кластера, соответствующих видам Picea abies и Picea obovatа. Проанализированные в исследовании микросателлитные локусы могут быть использованы для оценки генетического разнообразия и географического происхождения ели европейской и сибирской. The processes of genesis of coniferous forests are widely investigating using molecular markers. Many studies are based on the analysis of microsatellite loci, which are acknowledged as the most reproducible and polymorphic co-dominant molecular markers. This study is aimed to establish the possibility of using microsatellite markers to determine differentiation between Norway and Siberian spruce (Picea abies and Picea obovata). Another task of this research was to assess the degree of genetic isolation of regional spruce population in the territory of European part of the Russian Federation. This study shows that using a large number of microsatellite markers allows to divide the sample of spruce collected from European part of Russia and Siberia in two genetic clusters, corresponding to Picea abies and Picea obovata. The microsatellite loci analyzed in the study can be used to assess genetic diversity and geographic origin of spruce trees and determine the origin of wood and planting material of Norway and Siberian spruce.

CHANGES IN THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF WOOD PECEA OBOVATA LEDEB. UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF IPS TYPOGRAPHUS L.

The process of forest destruction is very dynamic and covers the entire boreal zone of the Northern hemisphere. Against the background of deterioration of the sanitary condition of plantings, pathogenic organisms become more active. The article presents materials on the study of the chemical composition of wood of individuals of various life conditions of Siberian spruce (Pícea obovata Ledeb.) in the conditions of distribution of bark beetle (Ips typographus L.). Plants of various life States were studied for the content of water-soluble and resin-like extractives, tannins, lignin, and polysaccharides. The obtained data were subjected to statistical processing. Under the influence of the bark beetle-typographer, no significant differences were found between individuals of different life States in the polymer structural components of spruce wood (lignin and polysaccharides). In the course of the study, it was noted that during the colonization of bark beetles in plants, the content of extractive substances increases. With deterioration, the proportion of phenolic compounds begins to increase from 25.8% in plants of good condition to 37.5% in plants of unsatisfactory condition, with a decrease in the proportion of resinous substances. An increase in phenolic compounds is associated with an increase in tannins. The highest content of all groups of metabolites (including tannins) was observed in individuals of a satisfactory life state and is 7.15% of the a.s.s.

Variability in Elemental Composition of Conifer Tree Rings

Distribution of chemical elements in tree rings bears important information on various biogeochemical processes. In order to achieve a reliable interpretation of the information, it is necessary to know the degree of variation in the content of chemical elements both at the level of the entire species and at the level of individual trees. The research aims to determine which chemical elements have a stable distribution in the trunks of a number of conifers: Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.), Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.), and Siberian pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour). The data for the analysis were obtained on the basis of the long-term experiment in forest growing. The experimental site was laid out in 1971–1972 in the vicinity of Krasnoyarsk by the staff of the Sukachev Institute of Forest of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. Before planting the seedlings, the soil ground was mechanically levelled, and thus, sufficiently equal growth conditions were created for all plantings. Cores with a diameter of 12 mm were sampled from three normally developing trees of each species and analyzed using modern X-ray fluorescence methods. Content relative values of elements (counts) were obtained with the Itrax Multiscanner (COX Analytical Systems). The content of elements in the tree rings was characterized by the concentration and reserve of elements. Concentration was calculated as the number of counts per 1 mm2 of the ring area; reserve was calculated as the number of counts over the entire ring area. Each of these variables was defined by the parameters of linear slope in the calendar year series and the standard deviation. The cluster analysis was performed in the 4-dimensional space of the obtained parameters. This allowed determining whether the series of element distributions from different trees and species are grouped. Three elements (Ca, Co, and P) show high stability of distribution parameters in tree rings with no regard to tree species. A number of other elements (Mn, Pb, Cl, Cr, Ni, Sr, and W) are stably grouped depending on the species. The results of the research enable to focus on the study of the elements stably distributed in the conifer trunks. For citation: Gavrikov V.L., Fertikov A.I., Sharafutdinov R.A., Vaganov E.A. Variability in Elemental Composition of Conifer Tree Rings. Lesnoy Zhurnal [Russian Forestry Journal], 2021, no. 6, pp. 24–37. DOI: 10.37482/0536-1036-2021-6-24-37

DIVERSITY AND PHENOTYPIC STRUCTURE OF POPULATIONS OF EUROPEAN SPRUCE (PICEA ABIES) IN THE EAST OF THE RANGE

European spruce ( Picea abies (L.) Karst.) is widespread in Europe. It is of interest to study its biological characteristics in the eastern part of the range, where it transforms into an intermediate form with Siberian spruce. Phenotypic traits of spruce in this area have so far been studied mainly by visual and descriptive techniques. The aim of the study is to study the variability of the main systematic characters, diversity and phenotypic structure of European spruce in the east of the range using mathematical and statistical techniques. This approach made it possible to objectively assess the parameters of its systematic characters, their relationship, and also to identify three significantly different groups of populations. It is shown that in this area the average length of spruce cones is in the range from 80-85 to 100-114 mm. The coefficient of narrowing of the upper part of the seed scales ( C ) is 25-35%, the coefficient of projection ( C ) is 60-80%, their difference ( C- C ) is -25… -55%. The value of the individual variation in the length of cones and the C index is 12-15%, C index is about 20%, and C-C is 30-35%. The intrapopulation coefficient of negative correlation of C and C indices has an average level (-0.3…-0.6). Their correlation between populations is much higher (-0.9). In the geographic variability of indicators of the shape of seed scales and the length of the cones, there is a correlation of the average level. The frequency of individuals of European spruce phenotypes in the populations of the groups P. ab, P. ab×ab×m., P. ab×m., Distinguished by the metric parameters of seed scales, is 98-100, 85-95, 57-70%, respectively. The research results can be useful for forestry and in substantiating the identified intraspecific taxa.

Use of organic biostimulant for growing Siberian spruce seedlings

This study aims to assess the possibility of using a biostimulant Verva-spruce based on spruce’s natural phenolic compounds to reduce the time of growing planting material with improved features. The targets were seeds and 1-4-year-old seedlings of Siberian spruce, untreated and treated with the biostimulant. The effect of the biostimulant on seed germination, seedlings growth, and the pigment’s content in needles were studied. Results shown that soaking seeds in biostimulant at a concentration of 0.00025% increased the germination energy and accelerated hypocotyl growth. Moreover, using the biostimulant significantly increased the growth rate of experimental seedlings and heightened the amount of green pigment chlorophyll a up to 2.5 times. In 2020, in order to study the dynamics of the qualitative characteristics of the plants grown using biostimulant, experimental forest plantations of 4-year-old Siberian spruce seedlings were planted in the Altai-Sayan mountain taiga area. The experimental plantation will be monitored at least until the closure of the canopy.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF NATURAL GROWTH STIMULANTS IN THE CULTIVATION OF SEEDLINGS OF PICEA OBOVATA LEDEB.

Picea obovata Ledeb. is a slow-growing in the early stages of growth type of coniferous trees. The use of growth stimulants in the cultivation of spruce seedlings can accelerate the production of standard planting material. The paper presents the results of research of plant growth regulators influence on spruce seedlings within three years of cultivation in forest nursery conditions. Before sowing seeds of spruce soak in solutions of biological-active preparations Verva and Verva-spruce, obtaining from Abies and Picea wood greenery extracts. The plants growth regulator Verva from Abies needles (operating substance – triterpenic acids) is applied in plant growing at cultivation agricultural and commercial crops. Operating substance of a preparation Verva-spruce used for protection of agricultural plants from diseases, are phenolic compounds of Picea wood greenery possessing fungicidal and insecticidal activity. It is established that spruce seedlings processed before sowing by bio-preparation had higher parameters of growth (seedling height, diameter of seedling tree at root neck) in comparison with control plants within three years of cultivation in conditions of forest nursery. Three-year spruce seedlings which have been grown up with use of growth stimulators Verva and Verva-spruce exceeded control on 20–30% on height and on 19–20% on seedling tree thickness. Bio-preparations Verva and Verva-spruce can be recommended for application in forest nurseries as effective growth stimulators at cultivation of Siberian spruce landing material.

Vascular plants– phyto-indicators of geoactive zones in mountains and plains

The research was conducted in the Perm Region. Geo-structural analysis, phyto-indication, and biolocationwere used. Prior to this, forest ecosystems were studied by classical methods, in which it was found that the combinedinfluence of the density of microcenosis and the tree genotype determines the size of trees by only 40 %. It follows that 60%of the factors that determine the size of trees in different phytocenotic and soil conditions remain unknown. Therefore,we then began to study small geoactive zones (MGA-zones) with the hypothesis that they are related to the “small ringstructures of loose deposits of the earth’s crust” by Yu. I. Fivensky. Favorable MGA zones with a size of 1.0-3.0 m are foundwith a frequency of 220-250 pcs./ha and the pine tree is preserved 39 times better, increases the trunk volume by 46 %,forms 200-year-old forests, and its large trees are their indicators. Networks of them can be used as an energy frameworkand, for example, in a forest nursery, their energy in the conditions of cold spring increased the germination of spruceseeds by 7 times. Apparently, the forest species evolved using the energies of these zones; in any case, all the tree species westudied significantly increased their longevity and size. It shows promising sites with structures of Yu. I. Fivensky, whererings of hellebore (Verátrum lobeliánum Bernh.), fern (Dryopteris filix mas L.), and the highest trees of Siberian spruce(Picea obovate Leded) were previously discovered for the first time.) and Siberian cedar pine (Pinus sibirica Du Tour).

State of spruce stands in Southern Taiga forests in Udmurt Republic Taiga Zone

The study results of coniferous stands and the description of stands in the southern taiga forests of the taiga zone within the Udmurt Republic (on the territory of the Yakshur-Bodya, Igrinsky and Kez forest districts) are presented. The climatic indicators of the study year are presented in comparison with the average long-term data for the studied areas. The taxational characteristics of forest stands are given, the indicators of the morphological profile, humidity, and cellulose-decomposing activity of forest litter are presented. Studies have shown that the cellulose-decomposing activity of forest litter depends on its moisture content, which is associated with the values of the basal area per hectar of stands in the studied sample areas. No differences in the indicator of cellulose-decomposing activity were found in the sample areas in the Igrinsky forestry. The highest values of this indicator were determined in the sample area No. 1 in the Kez forestry. The lowest values of the cellulose-decomposing activity of forest litter were observed in the sample areas No. 1 and No. 3 in the Yakshur-Bodya forest area. The physiological and biochemical parameters of Siberian spruce (Pícea obováta Ledeb.) were analyzed and compared in trees of good and satisfactory living conditions, which did not show statistically significant differences in the content of chlorophylls and carotenoids in the needles. A significantly high content of photosynthetic pigments and tannins in Siberian spruce conifers was found in the sample areas in the Igrinsky forest area. Similar results were obtained for individuals of a satisfactory living condition, with the exception of the content of tannins in conifers. It was found that the high content of chlorophyll a in Siberian spruce needles is usually accompanied by an increased content of tannins and a low concentration of ascorbic acid. It is shown that in general, the potential of Siberian spruce individuals associated with the biochemical level of the formation of adaptive reactions is highest in plants in the northern regions of the republic, i.e. in areas with more extreme growing conditions. Materials were obtained on the basis of which it is possible to develop a program for monitoring plantings and restoring forest stands.