African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry Vol. 1 (3), pp. 084-087, Novembe, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Homogeneous light in shade-house experiment overestimates carbon gains in Norway maple seedlings

Alain Paquette¹*, Bastien Fontaine², Christian Messier¹ and Jacques Brisson^1,2

¹Centre for Forest Research, Université du Québec à Montréal, P. O. Box 8888, Centre-Ville Station, Montréal QC Canada H3C 3P8, Canada.

²Institut de recherche en biologie végétale, Université de Montréal, 4101 Sherbrooke Est, Montréal QC Canada H1X 2B2, Canada.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: (514) 987-3000. Ext. 5048. Fax: (514) 987-4647.

Accepted 1 June, 2013

Abstract

We set up a shade-house experiment with Norway maple growing at two light intensities typical of a disturbed and undisturbed forest canopy from either a homogeneous or a dynamic regime that mimics sunflecks. We show that although horticultural-grade shade-cloths can be finely tuned to provide daily averages of any light intensity, they do not appropriately mimic natural forest understories which are characterized by dynamic light environments composed of intense but short direct light events interspaced with prolonged period of low diffuse light. The results suggest that replicating the dynamic light environment of forests could be very important in experiments aimed at identifying the traits responsible for invasiveness in exotic species in forest understories, such as Norway maple in North America.

Key words: Norway maple (Acer platanoides), shade-house, tree seedling growth, photosynthetic response, forest understory, sunfleck, invasive tree species, pot experiment.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry Vol. 1 (4), pp. 088-097, November, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Genetic diversity and population structure of 151 Cymbidium sinense cultivars

Jiangjie Lu^1,2, Xu Hu¹, Junjun Liu³ and Huizhong Wang¹*

¹Key Laboratory for Systems Biology of Medicinal and Ornamental Plants, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310018, China.

²Institute of Soybean, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China.

³Pacific Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service, Natural Resources Canada, Victoria V8Z 1M5, Canada.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: 86-571-2886-5330. Fax: 86-571-2886-5198.

Accepted 31 August, 2013

Abstract

Cymbidium sinense cultivars exhibit an incredible range of diversity in the foliar morphology as well as the range of flower colors and shapes, which make them more popular among horticultural plants with great economic value. Understanding the genetic diversity and population structure in target populations will be of great importance for germplasm collection, breeding improvement and conversation of this species. In this study, Inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers were used to assess the genetic diversity and population structure of 151 C. sinense cultivars collected from China and Japan. C. sinense cultivars exhibited moderate levels of genetic diversity (H = 0.24, I = 0.38, Ppl = 100%) and genetic differentiation (Gst = 0.17) with gene flow estimate Nm of 2.4 among six geographical groups. With neighbor joining (NJ) analysis, 151 cultivars were clustered into seven main groups, and approximately related to their geographical distribution. Population structure analysis revealed six subpopulations, generally consistent with NJ-clustering. The results in our study suggest that different provenance collection and in situ conversation are important for C. sinense conservation and genetic improvement.

Key words: Cymbidium sinense, DNA polymorphism, genetic diversity, inter-simple sequence repeat, population structure.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry Vol. 1 (2), pp. 039-041, September, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Review

Agroforestry practices and concepts in sustainable land use systems in Nigeria

Alao, J. S.¹* and Shuaibu, R. B.²

¹Department of Social and Environmental Forestry, College of Forestry and Fisheries, University of Agriculture, Makurdi, P. M. B. 2373, Makurdi, Nigeria.

²Department of Forestry and Wildlife Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Agricultural Technology, Federal University , P. M. B. 5001, Dutsin-Ma, Katsina State, Nigeria.

Accepted 23 August, 2013

Abstract

Agroforestry has been defined as a dynamic ecologically based natural resources management system that through the integration of trees on farms and in the agricultural landscape, diversifies and sustains production for increased social, economic and environmental benefits for land users at all levels. This paper highlighted Agroforestry practices and concepts in sustainable land use systems. The benefit derivable from the interface between forest trees and agricultural crops are enormous. They include the optimal use of land for both agricultural and forestry production on a sustainable basis including the improvement of the quality of soil. This is in addition to the socio-economic benefits that are accruable from agroforestry. Indeed the advantage of agroforestry is all encompassing and germane to a sustainable production system and livelihood.

Key words: Agroforestry, practices, concepts, sustainable, land use systems.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry Vol. 1 (3), pp. 055-062, October, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of methyl bromide alternatives on seedling quality, nematodes and pathogenic soil fungi at the Jesup and Glennville Nurseries in Georgia: 2007 to 2008

S. A. Enebak¹*, T. E. Starkey² and M. Quicke²

¹School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, 602 Duncan Drive, Auburn University, 36849, USA.

²School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Southern Forest Nursery Management Cooperative, Auburn University, AL 36849, USA.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: (334) 844.1028. Fax: (334) 844-1084.

Accepted 8 April, 2013

Abstract

For many years, forest-tree nurseries in the United States have relied on methyl bromide (MBr) soil fumigation to control weeds, pathogenic fungi, insects and nematodes. However, due to the concern over ozone depletion in the stratosphere, finding a soil fumigant alternative for MBr has been a priority for the forest nursery industry since 1991. A large-scale study comparing seven fumigants using operational application techniques and normal nursery management practices over two growing seasons was installed in two forest-tree nurseries in Georgia: the Plum Creek Nursery in Jesup, and the Rayonier Nursery in Glennville. Control of weeds, nematodes, and soilborne fungi was dependent upon the soil fumigant used and cropping season. By the end of the second growing season in 2008, there were no significant differences in seedling densities for any of the soil fumigants tested, as all soil fumigants were similar to MBr. While many seedling producers would prefer to use MBr to produce forest-tree seedlings in perpetuity, each nursery manager will need to identify the best alternative for their nursery conditions. Based on these 2 year trials, the soil fumigants with 100% chloropicrin and Pic + at 336 kg/ha (300 lbs/a) appear to be suitable alternatives for MBr in controlling forest-nursery pests and producing high quality seedlings at the Jesup and Glennville, GA Nurseries.

Key words: Soil fumigation, chloropicrin, soilborne fungi, nematodes, loblolly pine.

African Journal of Wood Science and Forestry Vol. 1 (2), pp. 026-031, September, 2013. © International Scholars Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Effect of methyl bromide alternatives on seedling quality, nematodes and soilborne fungi at the Blenheim and Trenton nurseries in South Carolina: 2008 to 2009 

S. A. Enebak*, T. E. Starkey and M. Quicke

School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences, Southern Forest Nursery Management Cooperative, Auburn University, AL 36849, USA.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: [email protected]. Tel: (334) 844.1028. Fax: (334) 844-1084.

Accepted 9 April, 2013

Abstract

Fumigation with methyl bromide (MBr) has been the most commonly used method for producing high quality, pest-free forest tree seedlings in the southeastern United States. Of the 1 billion seedlings produced annually, approximately 95% of seedlings grown for reforestation purposes are loblolly pine. Growth and survival of seedlings after outplanting is strongly linked to high quality, pest-free forest-tree seedlings produced in the nursery. This large scale study compares seven soil fumigants and a non-fumigated treatment using operational fumigation methods and standard operating nursery management practices over two growing seasons at two nurseries in South Carolina. Soilborne fungi, nematode and weed control was dependent upon nursery and soil fumigant tested. When examining overall seedling characteristics, the best MBr alternatives tested were chloropicrin, Pic+ and Chlor 60, all of which resulted in similar seedling densities to that of MBr. Information gathered from this study should be used by nursery managers in the southern U.S. to choose an MBr alternative that would be useful in the production of forest-tree seedlings in their nurseries based on their individual nursery soil conditions and pest pressures.

Keywords: Soil fumigation, chloropicrin, soilborne fungi, nematodes, loblolly pine.