Study on the genetic diversity of wax trees (Rhus succedanea L.) in Northern mountainous region of Vietnam by SSR and SCoT markers

Wax tree has been cultivated to get lacquer, a valuable source of material that is necessary for many industries and handicrafts. Evaluating not only phenotype but also genotype is essential in order to increase the efficiency of new breeding program. In this study, the genetic relationship at the molecular level of 90 wax trees collected in three regions, i.e., Tam Nong, Thanh Son (Phu Tho) and Chiem Hoa (Tuyen Quang), was analyzed by SSR and ScoT markers. The results revealed a significant diversity among the individuals, with similarity coefficient from 0.41 to 0.98. The sample group collected in Chiem Hoa was significantly different from that in Tam Nong. Most of samples which had a high level of genetic similarity, from 0.95 to 0.98, were pairs of samples at the same geographical origin. The high similarity degree of these samples is likely due to the practice of selecting seeds from high-yield wax tree to be kept for seeds. These results provide the necessary information for new wax tree breeding program.

Plus Tree Selection of Quercus salicina Blume and Q. glauca Thunb. and Its Implications in Evergreen Oaks Breeding in Korea

This study was conducted to select plus trees of two evergreen oaks, Quercus salicina and Q. glauca, in Korea. Evergreen oaks are distributed in subtropical region in Korea and have recently emerged as one of the alternative tree species against climate change. Accordingly, a tree breeding program is underway to foster evergreen oaks as a reforestation species for the future. Through intensive survey on the distribution range, 15 stands (8 for Q. salicina, 3 for Q. glauca, and 4 for both species) were selected as base populations. To select candidate trees, we developed a subjective grading system with six characteristics in three categories and introduced a weighted generalized value (GVIw) to compare superiority of candidate trees. The candidate trees were screened using baseline value ‘0’, i.e., if GVIw > 0, then accepted and if GVIw < 0, then rejected. After then, adjustment was conducted to avoid biasing the selection of plus trees for a particular location. Through this process, 44 candidate trees in Q. salicina and 41 candidate trees in Q. glauca were selected as plus trees. Finally, the results and implications were discussed in relation to evergreen oak breeding in Korea.

Calibration of near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) data of three Eucalyptus species with extractive contents determined by ASE extraction for rapid identification of species and high extractive contents

Plantations of naturally durable timber species could substitute unsustainably harvested wood from tropical forests or wood treated with toxic preservatives. The New Zealand Dryland Forests Initiative (NZDFI) has established a tree-breeding program to develop genetically improved planting stock for durable eucalyptus plantations. In this study the durable heartwood of Eucalyptus bosistoana, Eucalyptus globoidea and Eucalyptus argophloia was characterized by near infrared (NIR) spectroscopy and NIR data was calibrated with the extractives content (EC), determined by accelerated solvent extraction (ASE) extraction, by means of a partial least squares regression (PLSR) model. It was possible to predict the EC content in the range of 0.34–18.9% with a residual mean square error (RMSE) of 0.9%. Moreover, the three species could also be differentiated by NIR spectroscopy with 100% accuracy, i.e. NIR spectroscopy is able to segregate timbers from mixed species forest plantations.

Sifat Fisika dan Mekanika Kayu Jati Unggul "Mega" dan Kayu Jati Konvensional yang di Tanam di Hutan Pendidikan, Wanagama, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta

Kebutuhan kayu jati semakin meningkat dari tahun ke tahun seiring dengan peningkatan jumlah penduduk dan taraf hidup masyarakat. Di lain pihak, jati merupakan salah satu jenis dengan rotasi umur yang panjang. Selain itu, ketersediaan kayu jati dari Perum Perhutani belum mampu memenuhi kebutuhan kayu jati untuk industri. Oleh sebab itu, berbagai upaya telah dilakukan untuk mengatasi masalah ini. Salah satunya adalah dengan kegiatan pemuliaan pohon, dimana dalam kegiatan ini dihasilkan bibit unggul dengan sifat pertumbuhan superior. Akan tetapi, informasi mengenai sifat-sifat kayunya masih sangat terbatas, sehingga penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memberikan informasi mengenai sifat-sifat kayu terutama sifat fisika (kadar air, berat jenis, dan penyusutan) dan mekanika (kekuatan lengkung statis dan kekuatan tekan) serta variasi aksial kayu jati unggul tersebut pada umur yang masih muda yakni 11 tahun yang ditanam di Hutan Pendidikan Wanagama, Gunungkidul Yogyakarta dan dibandingkan dengan jati konvensional umur 14 tahun yang ditanam di lokasi yang sama. Sebagai hasilnya, sifat fisika kayu tidak berbeda nyata antara kayu jati unggul dan kayu jati konvensional, kecuali kadar air segar. Untuk sifat mekanika kayu, kekuatan lengkung statis (MOR dan MOE) serta kekuatan tekan sejajar serat berbeda nyata antara kayu jati unggul dan jati konvensional, sedangkan untuk kekuatan tekan sejajar serat tidak berbeda nyata.Kata kunci: jati unggul, jati konvensional, sifat fisika, sifat mekanika, umur muda AbstractDemand of teak wood increases every year along the increase of human population and prosperity. On the other hand, teak is one of the long rotation tree species. Furthermore, the avaibility of teak from the Perum Perhutani as the biggest teak plantation company is not enough to fulfill the demand of teak wood from wood industry. Therefore, many efforts have been conducted to solve this problem, such as by tree breeding program. In Indonesia, this program only focused in the growth characteristics. However, information of wood properties of superior teak is still limited in Indonesia. Therefore, the aim of this research was to clarify the physical and mechanical characteristics of superior teak wood (11-year-old) and compared with the conventional teak (14-year-old) planted in Wanagama Forest, Gunungkidul, Yogyakarta and its longitudinal variation. As the results, physical properties were not significantly different between superior teak and conventional teak, except for green moisture content. Bending strength (MOR dan MOE) and compression strength parallel to grain were significantly different between superior and conventional teak. In addition, compressive strength perpendicular to grain was not significantly different between superior and conventional teak.

Inheritance of basic density and microfibril angle and their variations among full-sib families and their parental clones in Picea glehnii

Picea glehnii is one of the most important plantation species in Hokkaido, Japan. Basic density (BD) and microfibril angle (MFA) of the S2 layer in latewood tracheid in 16 full-sib families and their six parental clones planted in Hokkaido were examined to clarify among-family and clonal variations of wood properties and their inheritance from parents to offspring. Mean values of BD and MFA in full-sib families and parental clones were 0.36 and 0.35 g cm-3 and 16.1° and 10.7°, respectively. Estimated repeatabilities of BD and MFA in juvenile wood (jW) were higher than those in mature wood. In addition, larger genetic coefficient of variation was detected for jW, indicating that improvement of jW properties is important to Hokkaido’s tree breeding program. Parent-offspring correlation coefficients were positive and significant in all properties. These results suggest that the influence of parental clones on wood properties is inheritable to offspring. Moreover, there were no significant differences between reciprocal crosses of wood properties, suggesting that plus-tree clones with good wood properties can be used as either female or male parents for producing offspring. There is a possibility of improving wood properties in P. glehnii by crossing clones with desirable properties.

Distribution of starch, lipid and nuclei in xylem and phloem of Tectona grandis Linn.

Context: Reserve materials among different plant tissues vary species to species. The distribution pattern of such materials and cell death pattern in Tectona grandis Linn. are still obscure. Objectives: To study the localization of starch, lipid and nuclei in the phloem, cambium and xylem tissue of T. grandis. Materials and Methods: Blocks containing phloem, cambium and outermost xylem of the stem of 12 years old teak tree collected. Different staining methods used to visualize starch, lipid and nuclei within different cells under light microscope. Results: Starch in parenchyma cells is more abundant in outer xylem than phloem and cambium. Lipids droplets are uniformly distributed in outermost xylem. Phloem parenchyma content few mass of lipids but, limited in cambium. There are many dead cells visualized in both phloem and xylem with characteristic patterns. The results clarify the levels of starch, lipid in tissue of T. grandis and showed distinguished variation among the cell contents. Conclusion: The physiology of plant cells related to transport of nutrients and cell death also illustrated in the report. This would be helpful for further study to improve quality wood through tree breeding program. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/jbs.v19i0.12997 J. bio-sci. 19: 29-35, 2011

Histochemical and Anatomical Studies of Phloem and Xylem Cells of Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus Lam.) Tree

The localization of starch, lipid and protein, nuclei in the phloem and xylem cells of stem of Jackfruit trees (Artocarpus heterophyllus) has been studied. The optical digital images of anatomical features and localization of nuclei and reserve materials were obtained by light microscopy and fluorescence microscopy. Starch granules in the ray parenchyma cells were more abundant in the outer xylem close to the cambium than in the inner xylem and phloem. Radial localization of starch granules provided more clear data than transverse and tangential observations. Lipid and protein appeared as droplets and were uniformly distributed in the outer xylem. The parenchyma cells of phloem have large amount of lipid bodies but those were almost absent in cambium and xylem ray parenchyma cells. The results on the localization of storage starch, lipid droplets and proteins in phloem, cambium and xylem cells indicating that reserve materials might be important for wood formation in jackfruit trees. This data would be helpful for further study in tree breeding program and clarification of the mechanism of utilization of such reserve materials and their distribution pattern within the cells. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ijns.v2i1.10876 International Journal of Natural Sciences (2012), 2(1): 01- 07

Divergence and genetic variability among superior rubber tree genotypes

The objective of this work was to estimate the genetic variability and divergence among 22 superior rubber tree (Hevea sp.) genotypes of the IAC 400 series. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using eight quantitative traits (descriptors), including yield. In the univariate analyses, the estimated parameters were: genetic and environmental variances; genetic and environmental coefficients of variation; and the variation index. The Mahalanobis generalized distance, the Tocher agglomerative method and canonical variables were used for the multivariate analyses. In the univariate analyses, variability was verified among the genotypes for all the variables evaluated. The Tocher method grouped the genotypes into 11 clusters of dissimilarity. The first four canonical variables explained 87.93% of the cumulative variation. The highest genetic variability was found in rubber yield-related traits, which contributed the most to the genetic divergence. The most divergent pairs of genotypes are suggested for crossbreeding. The genotypes evaluated are suitable for breeding and may be used to continue the IAC rubber tree breeding program.