Douglas-fir Seeds Research Articles

The Relation Between Reproductive Phenology and Reproductive Output in Determining the Gametic Pool Profile in a Douglas-Fir Seed Orchard

Abstract A 15-year-old, Douglas-fir, full-sib seed orchard with 97 families was studied to establish the relation between reproductive phenology and reproductive output. Both male and female strobili development was monitored throughout the flowering season, and seed-cone counts and male strobili productions were determined. The overall potential gametic contributions of each family were estimated in terms of proportional contributions to the seed crop and parental balance. Families varied greatly in both seed-cone and pollen contributions. The top 5 contributors of cones were different from the top 5 pollen contributors. Assessing seed-cone and pollen contributions prior to cone induction or supplemental mass pollination will be valuable for increasing the genetic value of orchard seed. Estimates of the genetic value of the orchard crop should be calculated after completion of a parental balance study focused on both seed and pollen contributions and their reproductive phenology timing. For. Sci. 37(3):827-835.

Physical Barriers to Reduce Damage by Lepesoma Lecontei (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to Conelets in a Douglas-Fir Seed Orchard in Western Oregon

Damage to Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirh.) Franco) conelets by Lepesoma Lecontei (Casey) was significantly reduced by the application of a sticky barrier around the bole of the seed orchard trees. Early conelet injury was reduced from 25% in controls to 6% in sticky barrier treatments. No significant protection was observed in a test of a metal baffle placed around the bole. Significant treatment effects on cone survival could not be detected. Sticky barriers are a low-cost control that is highly pest specific and need be applied only to those trees producing a crop in a particular year.

Trunk-Implanted Acephate to Protect Douglas-Fir Seed Crops on Individual Trees in Northern California

To reduce seed and cone insect damage, 0.875 g per capsule of acephate (technical grade) was implanted into individual Douglas-fir, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franko, trees on 15 April or 6 May 1985. A spacing of one capsule per 10 cm of trunk circumference was used. Neither implant treatment affected actual infestation levels of a Douglas-fir cone gall midge, Contarinia oregonensis Foote, or a Douglas-fir seed chalcid, Megastigmus spermotrophus Wachtl. Both implant treatments, however, significantly reduced the damage of a fir coneworm, Dioryctria abietivorella (Grote), and the Douglas-fir cone moth, Barhara colfaxiana (Kearfott), by at least 62%. The latter implant significantly increased the number of filled seeds per cone by 154% compared with control trees, but the difference between implant treatment dates was not significant. Interspecific interaction between reduction of damage by Lepidoptera and the increase in C. oregonensis-damaged seeds and filled seeds suggests a negative association with reduced predation.

Inventory Monitoring for Estimating Impact of Insects on Seed Production in a Douglas-Fir Seed Orchard in Western Oregon

Impact of various factors on seed production was examined in a Douglas-fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) seed orchard in western Oregon during 1984. Cones were examined monthly between April and September for mortality or evidence of insect damage. Loss of immature cones began early in the growing season and had a substantial impact on seed production. A newly discovered cone-feeding weevil, Lepesoma lecontei (Casey), caused a large proportion of this mortality. Unexplained cone mortality (possibly frost damage), undeveloped seed, Douglas-fir cone gall midge ( Contarinia oregonensis Foote), and Douglas-fir seed chalcid ( Megastigmus spermotrophus (Wachtl)) were other major causes of seed loss. Crown elevation was important for an accurate estimate of the importance of some seed-loss factors. An inventory monitoring system for Douglas-fir seed production based on early monitoring of immature cones, identifying specific seed loss factors, stratified crown sampling, and an adequate sample size, is suggested.

Single and Double Application of Fenvalerate and Dimethoate for Control of Douglas-fir Seed and Cone Insects1

Douglas-fir cones were sprayed once (13 April) or twice (13 April and 16 May) with a 0.025% concentration of fenvalerate or a 0.23% concentration of dimethoate to reduce infestation of seed and cone insects. Single application of either chemical did not significantly reduce incidence of fused seed caused by a Douglas-fir cone gall midge, Contarinia oregonensis Foote. The double application of fenvalerate significantly reduced (64%) the infestation of a Douglas-fir seed chalcid, Megastigmus spermotrophus Wachtl. Two applications of dimethoate significantly reduced infestation levels of both the cone gall midge and the seed chalcid by 78 and 39%, respectively. The increase in percentage of extractable filled seeds associated with all spray treatments was higher than that of the unsprayed control, but the difference was not significant.

Patterns of allozyme variation within and among Douglas-fir breeding zones in southwest Oregon

Gametophytes from wind-pollinated seeds of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco var. menziesii) parent trees (mean 56) in each of 22 breeding zones in southwest Oregon were analyzed electrophoretically for gene frequency patterns at 27 loci. Allozyme variability levels were high, as shown by breeding-zone averages for the percentage of polymorphic loci (71.7%, 0.99 criterion), mean number of alleles per locus (2.46), and expected heterozygosity (0.178). Differences among zones in allele frequency were significant (p < 0.05) for only 2 of the 27 loci surveyed, and analysis of hierarchical population structure showed that less than 1% of genetic diversity was attributable to differences among breeding zones. Genetic distance between zones was small [Formula: see text] and, in general, bore no relation to geographical or environmental distance. The limited allozyme differentiation among zones contrasts strikingly with the environment-related variation in seedling quantitative traits previously reported for southwest Oregon Douglas-fir. Allozymes do not appear to be useful for mapping patterns of adaptive variation or for certifying Douglas-fir seed in this region.

Impact of the Western Spruce Budworm (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) on Buds, Developing Cones, and Seeds of Douglas-fir in West Central Idaho

Epidemic levels of the western spruce budworm (WSB), Choristoneura occidentalis Freeman, caused average tree defoliation in west central Idaho to increase from 35% in 1984 to 83% in 1985. Associated with this increase in defoliation was a change in relative stand ranking of defoliation between the 2 yr. WSB was found to damage all types and developmental stages of reproductive structures of Douglas-fir. Differential selection of feeding sites was observed, with a significantly higher proportion of larvae found in seed-cone buds than in pollen-cone buds. Of cones examined, 76% were infested with larvae, with the average percentage of destroyed seeds per tree exponentially related to the average current defoliation of the tree. However, even in heavily defoliated trees, some potentially viable seed remained.

Elemental profiles for Douglas-fir seeds: evidence of genetic control

Seeds from four ramets in each of six clones of 17-year-old Douglas-fir, Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco, grown in a Saanichton, B.C., seed orchard on common rootstock were examined by X-ray energy-dispersive spectrometry to determine variations in trace element profiles. These profiles were analysed by discriminant function analysis and shown to be specific for each clone with 80.4% of seeds being correctly classified to original clone. Since the ramets were all grown in a similar orchard environment, these results support the hypothesis that elemental uptake by seeds of Douglas-fir is under genetic control.

Stratifying, partially redrying, and storing Douglas-fir seeds : biochemical responses

Stratifying, partially redrying, and storing Douglas-fir seeds : biochemical responses

Stratifying, partially redrying and storing Douglas-fir seeds : effects on growth and physiology during germination

Stratifying, partially redrying and storing Douglas-fir seeds : effects on growth and physiology during germination

Douglas Fir Seed Sources Tested for Christmas Trees in Connecticut

Douglas fir, Pseudotsuga Menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, is a popular Christmas tree in the Northeast. In 1976 trees from 11 geographic sources ranging from British Columbia to southern Arizona and New Mexico were planted in a replicated design and managed as a commercial plantation. Information was also obtained on 10 seed sources grown on a commercial tree farm. All sources were hardy in the Connecticut plantings. In general, trees from southern Rocky Mountain sources were bluer, and grew faster than those from northern sources, but they were also more susceptible to attack by Cooley gall aphid, Adelges cooleyi (Gill), and rhabdocline needle cast fungus, Rhabdocline pseudotsugae (Syd.)

Dissemination of the conifer seed fungus Caloscyphafulgens by small mammals

Field studies showed that the seed-pathogenic fungus Caloscyphafulgens (Pers.) Boudier was present in squirrel caches in 25% of the white spruce, Piceaglauca (Moench) Voss, stands in an area near Prince George, B.C. and in duff in 17 and 8% of the lodgepole pine, Pinuscontorta Dougl., clear-cuts there and at Williams Lake, respectively. In the laboratory, deer mice (Peromyscusmaniculatus Wagner), chipmunks (Eutamiastownsendii Bachman), and Douglas squirrels (Tamiasciurusdouglasii Bachman) consumed C. fulgens infested seeds of Douglas-fir, Pseudotsugamenziesii (Mirb.) Franco, lodgepole pine, and white spruce as readily as noninfested seeds. Squirrels also ate C. fulgens ascocarps and passed intact ascospores, but these were not observed to germinate. Red squirrels, T. hudsonicus Erxleben, moved, and ate seeds from, both infested and noninfested Douglas-fir cones in the field. It is proposed that C. fulgens is disseminated by squirrels, and perhaps other rodents, and that the fungus may preserve seeds in caches thereby ensuring squirrel food supplies between cone crops. Caloscyphafulgens may also prevent seed germination in direct seeding trials.

When Is Controlling Cone and Seed Insects in Douglas-fir Seed Orchards Justified?

Data from operational applications of dimethoate at two Douglas-fir seed orchards in British Columbia were used as base-lines for a benefit: cost analysis of protection of seed from cone and seed insects. Applications were economically justifiable provided that cone crop size and increased seed yield are above critical threshold values for given seed values and application costs. Sampling techniques for estimating crop size and insect infestation levels and expected damage are requisites for efficient orchard management where crop size and infestation levels fluctuate.

Lack of caching of direct-seeded Douglas fir seeds by deer mice

Seed caching by deer mice was investigated by radiotagging seeds in forest and clear-cut areas in coastal British Columbia. Deer mice tend to cache very few Douglas fir seeds in the fall when the seed is uniformly distributed and is at densities comparable with those used in direct-seeding programs.

Method for determining residues of mestranol and ethynylestradiol in foliage, soil, and water samples.

Mestranol (17-~-ethynyl-3-methoxy-estra-l ,3,5,( lO)-tr ien-17~-oI) , a synthetic estrogen often tested as a chemosterilant for animal damage control , has also shown promise as a repel lent for the protection of Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga tax i fo l ia ) seeds from deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus). Laboratory tests conducted by the U.S. Fish and Wildl i fe Service and others (CROUCH AND RADWAN 1971) have shown that deer mice develop an aversion to seeds treated with the chemical; however, because of i t s strong estrogenic effects on both animals and birds, mestranol baits may be a potential hazard to w i l d l i f e . To assess the environmental contamination resul t ing from application of mestranol-treated seeds, and to support i t s regist rat ion as a control agent, an analytical procedure was needed for measuring residue levels of mestranol. Although several assay procedures are available for quant i tat ively measuring mestranol in formulations, they are not applicable for determining low levels of the compound in environmental samples. We have developed an analytical procedure for determining residue levels of mestranol and also i t s 3-hydroxy homologue, ethynylestradiol (EED), in plant, so i l , and water samples. The lower l imi ts of detection, based on recovery studies, were 0.05 ppm for fol iage samples, 0.I ppm for so i l s , and 0.01 for water samples.

Variation and genetics of ribonucleases and phosphodiesterases in conifer seeds

Using techniques of starch gel electrophoresis, isoenzymes of ribonuclease 11 (RNase, EC 3.1.4.23) and phosphodiesterase I (PDase, EC 3.1.4.1) could be identified in endosperm tissue from dry seeds of three conifer species: Norway spruce (Picea abies). Scots pine (Pinus silvestris), and Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). The RNase patterns mostly exhibited a relatively great number of isoenzyme bands as well as a considerable tree-to-tree variation, whereas the PDase system revealed only one enzyme zone in each of the three seed species. Furthermore, an isoenzyme variation within the PDase zones appeared to be very infrequent and could only be detected in Norway spruce and Douglas fir. However, the isoenzyme patterns of RNase as well as PDase showed significant differences between the conifer species. The genetic basis of the intraspecific isoenzyme variations could be easily analyzed, since the test material (seed endosperm) represented haploid tissues resulting from macrogametophytes after fertilization. Hence, it was possible to identify three polymorphic RNase gene loci in Douglas fir seeds, two in Scots pine seeds, and one in Norway spruce seeds. The PDase zone in each conifer species was controlled by one gene locus which revealed allelic forms only in Norway spruce and Douglas fir seeds.

Effects of Seed and Background Colors on Seed Acceptance by Birds

The effects of seed-coloring agents, background colors, and their interactions on the acceptance of Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) seeds by varied thrushes (Ixoreus naevius), Oregon juncos (Junco hyemalis), and California quail (Lophortyx californicus) were measured by presenting the treatments on a rotating feeding carousel. Seeds treated with coloring agents generally were accepted less than untreated seeds. Background colors and the interaction between the seed treatments and background colors did not significantly alter acceptance. Coloring agents that added texture to the seeds were generally the least preferred, and two of these, Monastral Fast Green and animal charcoal, were the least preferred by the three species tested. The addition of coloring agents such as Monastral Fast Green or animal charcoal to rodenticide-treated Douglas fir seeds may deter acceptance by birds during initial encounters on artificial seedings. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 40(4):769-774 Approximately 34,000 ha of forest land in the Pacific Northwest are seeded each year to promote conifer regeneration. One of the major factors affecting successful regeneration is seed losses to seed-eating mammals and birds. Operational practice is to treat the seeds with a rodenticide to reduce seed losses to mammals, and to overcoat the treated seeds with aluminum powder or Monastral Fast Green (E.I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. [reference to trade names does not imply endorsement of commercial products by the U.S. Government]) to dry, lubricate, and label the seeds, and to deter consumption by birds. The bird-deterrent properties of Monastral Fast Green or aluminum powder on conifer seeds, frequently implied in the literature (Spencer 1954, Hooven 1970, Radvanyi 1970), presumably are based on the colored-bait studies reported by Kalmbach (1943) and Kalmbach and Welch (1946). The latter workers concluded that the addition of unnatural colors to toxic oatgroat baits reduced avian acceptance, the degree of aversion being related to the coloring agents and avian species tested. In contrast, Mann (1959) stated that the addition of aluminum powder had no effect, good or bad, on acceptance of conifer seeds by birds. Endrin and/or aluminum residues found in 64,samples from the carcasses of 88 varied thrushes, 4 Oregon juncos, and 1 California quail discovered on 3 California seedings (W. E. Dodge 1968, unpubl. spec. rep., Denver Wildl. Res. Ctr.) supported Mann's statement. These contrasting opinions and results emphasized the need to evaluate the deterrent properties of coloring agents on conifer seeds. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of seed-coloring agents and background colors on the acceptance of Douglas fir seeds by representative species of seed-eating birds. Background colors were i cluded in the study to determine if the interaction between background and seed treatments would alter the effectiveness of the coloring agents. The study was conducted during 1971 at the Forest-Animal Damage Research Station, Olympia, Washington, a field station of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver Wildlife Research Center. I gratefully acknowledge R. M. Anthony, Forest-Animal Damage Research Station, 1 Present address: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Damage Research Station, Hilo, Hawaii 96720. J. Wildl. Manage. 40 (4):1976 769 This content downloaded from 157.55.39.130 on Wed, 23 Nov 2016 04:52:53 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms 770 SEED ACCEPTANCE BY BIRDs Pank for assistance with the collection of the data and D. McCaughran, Quantitative Science Center, University of Washington, for assistance with the statistical analyses. METHODS AND MATERIALS

Temperature Treatment of Douglas-fir Seeds to Control the Seed Chalcid Megastigmusspermotrophus Wachtl

Larvae of the chalcid Megastigmusspermotrophus in Douglas-fir seeds were killed when treated at 45 °C for 27 h (2-year-old seed) and for 33 h (1-year-old seed). Heat treatment of uninfested seed did not affect rate of germination of seedling growth.

Laboratory and Field Tests of Insecticides against Douglas Fir Seed Wasp (Megastigmus spermotrophus Wachtl)

SUMMARYTests were made to select insecticides which would kill adult seed wasps in crowns of cone‐bearing Douglas ftr trees. In the laboratory, gamma BHC, malathion and diazinon were found to be active against females. In further tests, on males and females, gamma BHC and malathion were active when the insects were allowed contact with treated surfaces; fenitrothion was less active. The effectiveness of gamma BHC was partly due to fumigant action whereas malathion and fenitrothion had no fumigant effect. In separate field experiments between 1962 and 1966 in Kent and Herefordshire, gamma BHC and fenitrothion gave no control but malathion gave good control. In 1968, trees in Kent to which malathion was apphed three times at 10‐day intervals during June had about 13 per cent infestation of potentially sound seed, when assessed in September, compared with about 45 per cent infestation on unsprayed trees. Malathion plus gamma BHC did not further reduce infestation.

Lethal and Nonlethal Effects of the Organic Horizons of Forested Soils on the Germination of Seeds from Several Associated Conifer Species of the Rocky Mountains

The study tests whether the lethal effect of overwintering Engelmann spruce seed in its O-horizon affects Douglas-fir, lodgepole pine and subalpine fir seeds and whether the O-horizons of the three associated species have the same lethal effect on seeds. All seed treatments of each species were stratified in petri dishes in the pure O-horizon (unsterilized and autoclaved) of each species. Seed treatments were untreated, 10% slurry of 50% Captan and powdered 75% Captan.All untreated seeds demonstrated the lethal quality of unsterilized Engelmann spruce O-horizon. Its effects on untreated seeds and powder treated seeds were as follows: Engelmann spruce seed 3.5 and 77.3% (germination of untreated and powdered respectively), subalpine fir seed 1.3 and 20.8, Douglas-fir seed 9.5 and 84.8 and lodgepole pine seed 11.9 and 85.7. Subalpine fir O-horizon was lethal to its own seeds but only moderately harmful to seeds of other species. Douglas-fir O-horizon had a significant adverse effect on its own seeds and was only moderately harmful to seeds of other species. Lodgepole pine O-horizon was almost neutral to all seeds. Autoclaving of the O-horizons and powder treatment of seeds produced similar results.