Projected Leaf Area Research Articles

Intra-annual nutrient flux in Pinus taeda

Intra-annual nutrient (nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium) flux was quantified for Pinus taeda L. at a nutrient-poor, well-drained sandy site in Scotland County, NC, USA where a 2 × 2 factorial of irrigation and nutrition was applied in four replications in a 10-year-old stand with 1200 stems ha(-1). Treatments were applied with the goal of providing optimum nutrition (no nutritional deficiencies) and water availability. Component (foliage, branch, stem and root) nutrient content was estimated monthly for 2 years using nutrient concentration and phenology assessments combined with destructive harvests. Positive flux values indicated nutrient accumulation in the trees while negative values indicated nutrient loss from the trees. Fertilization significantly increased nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium and magnesium flux 140%, on average, over non-fertilized. Irrigation significantly increased calcium flux 28% while there was no significant irrigation effect on nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium or magnesium. Maximum nutrient fluxes (kg ha(-1) day(-1)) for non-fertilized and fertilized stands were 0.36 and 1.05 for nitrogen, 0.042 and 0.095 for phosphorus, 0.13 and 0.51 for potassium, 0.27 and 0.42 for calcium, and 0.04 and 0.12 for magnesium, respectively. Maximum flux was coincident with ephemeral tissue (foliage and fine root) development and likely would be higher in stands with more foliage than those observed in this study (projected leaf area indices were 1.5 and 3.0 for the non-fertilized and fertilized stands). Minimum nutrient fluxes (kg ha(-1) day(-1)) for non-fertilized and fertilized stands were -0.18 and -0.42 for nitrogen, -0.029 and -0.070 for phosphorus, -0.05 and -0.18 for potassium, -0.04 and -0.05 for calcium, and -0.02 and -0.03 for magnesium, respectively. Minimum fluxes were typically observed in the dormant season and were linked to foliage senescence and branch death. Foliage and branch component nutrient contents were out of phase for nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and magnesium, indicating nutrient retranslocation and storage in branches prior to foliage development and after foliage senescence. In contrast to current operational fertilizer programs which often target winter application these data suggest the best application times would be during foliage development.

SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF BIOME-BGC MODEL FOR DRY TROPICAL FORESTS OF VINDHYAN HIGHLANDS, INDIA

Abstract. A process-based model BIOME-BGC was run for sensitivity analysis to see the effect of ecophysiological parameters on net primary production (NPP) of dry tropical forest of India. The sensitivity test reveals that the forest NPP was highly sensitive to the following ecophysiological parameters: Canopy light extinction coefficient (k), Canopy average specific leaf area (SLA), New stem C : New leaf C (SC:LC), Maximum stomatal conductance (gs,max), C:N of fine roots (C:Nfr), All-sided to projected leaf area ratio and Canopy water interception coefficient (Wint). Therefore, these parameters need more precision and attention during estimation and observation in the field studies.

Ozone effects on yield quality of spring oilseed rape and broccoli

The impact of elevated tropospheric ozone (O3) on the quality of spring oilseed rape (Brassica napus cv Ability) and broccoli (Brassica oleracea L. cv Italic cv Monaco) was assessed during a three year Open – Top Chamber (OTC) experiment. Current ambient O3 levels were compared to an increase of 20 and 40 ppb during 8 h per day over the entire growing season. The qualitative responses were expressed as a function of the accumulated hourly O3 concentrations over a threshold of 40 ppb (AOT40) and the phytotoxic O3 dose above a threshold of 6 nmol s−1 m−2 projected leaf area (POD6). Our results provide clear evidence that O3 has an influence on the qualitative attributes of the harvested products of these Brassica species. The responses were comparable whether they were expressed as a function of the accumulated O3 concentrations or of the modelled O3 uptake. The protein concentration of oilseed rape seeds and broccoli heads was significantly increased in response to O3. There was also a shift in the fatty acid composition of the vegetable oil derived from seeds of oilseed rape. Oleic acid (18:1) declined significantly (p < 0.05) in favour of linoleic acid (18:2) (p < 0.01). There was no change in the relative proportion of linolenic acid (18:3). The suppression of monounsaturated fatty acids (p < 0.05) coincided with a positive response of the % saturated fatty acids (p < 0.05). In rapeseed oil the observed decrease in vitamin E content was due to a reduction of γ-tocopherol (TOC, p < 0.001). α-TOC, the most active form of vitamin E in humans, was not influenced by O3. There was no change in the glucosinolate (GSL) content of oilseed rape seeds. In broccoli an important shift occurred from indolic to aliphatic GSLs although the total GSL concentration was not changed. The increase in the aliphatic/indolic GSL ratio (p < 0.001) may be important in relation to the anticarcinogenic properties of these vegetables. The vitamin C (ascorbate – ASC) and α-TOC concentrations of broccoli were not influenced by O3; glutathione (GSH) was slightly increased in response to a higher O3 uptake (p < 0.05). The consequences of these changes with regard to food and feed quality and human health are discussed.

Monoterpene and sesquiterpene emissions from &amp;lt;i&amp;gt;Quercus coccifera&amp;lt;/i&amp;gt; exhibit interacting responses to light and temperature

Abstract. Light and temperature are known to be the most important environmental factors controlling biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions from plants, but little is known about their interdependencies especially for BVOCs other than isoprene. We studied light responses at different temperatures and temperature responses at different light levels of foliar BVOC emissions, photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence on Quercus coccifera, an evergreen oak widespread in Mediterranean shrublands. More than 50 BVOCs were detected in the emissions from Q. coccifera leaves most of them being isoprenoids plus a few green leaf volatiles (GLVs). Under standard conditions non-oxygenated monoterpenes (MT-hc) accounted for about 90% of the total BVOC release (mean ± SD: 738 ± 378 ng m−2 projected leaf area s−1 or 13.1 ± 6.9 μg g−1 leaf dry weight h−1) and oxygenated monoterpenes (MT-ox) and sesquiterpenes (SQTs) accounted for the rest in about equal proportions. Except GLVs, emissions of all BVOCs responded positively to light and temperature. The light responses of MT and SQT emissions resembled that of CO2-assimilation and were little influenced by the assay temperature: at high assay temperature, MT-hc emissions saturated at lower light levels than at standard assay temperature and tended even to decrease in the highest light range. The emission responses to temperature showed mostly Arrhenius-type response curves, whose shapes in the high temperature range were clearly affected by the assay light level and were markedly different between isoprenoid classes: at non-saturating light, all isoprenoids showed a similar temperature optimum (~43 °C), but, at higher temperatures, MT-hc emissions decreased faster than MT-ox and SQT emissions. At saturating light, MT-hc emissions peaked around 37 °C and rapidly dropped at higher temperatures, whereas MT-ox and SQT emissions strongly increased between 40 and 50 °C accompanied by a burst of GLVs. In all experiments, decreases of MT-hc emissions under high temperatures were correlated with decreases in CO2-assimilation and/or photosynthetic electron transport. We conclude that light and temperature can have interactive short-term effects on the quantity and quality of BVOC emissions from Q. coccifera through substrate limitations of MT biosynthesis occurring at temperatures supraoptimal for photosynthetic processes that are exacerbated by oxidative stress and membrane damages. Such interactive effects are likely to occur frequently during hot and dry summers and simulations made in this work showed that they may have important consequences for emission predictions.

New stomatal flux-based critical levels for ozone effects on vegetation

The critical levels for ozone effects on vegetation have been reviewed and revised by the LRTAP Convention. Eight new or revised critical levels based on the accumulated stomatal flux of ozone (PODY, the Phytotoxic Ozone Dose above a threshold flux of Y nmol m−2 PLA s−1, where PLA is the projected leaf area) have been agreed. For each receptor, data were combined from experiments conducted under naturally fluctuating environmental conditions in 2–4 countries, resulting in linear dose–response relationships with response variables specific to each receptor (r2 = 0.49–0.87, p < 0.001 for all). For crops, critical levels were derived for effects on wheat (grain yield, grain mass, and protein yield), potato (tuber yield) and tomato (fruit yield). For forest trees, critical levels were derived for effects on changes in annual increment in whole tree biomass for beech and birch, and Norway spruce. For (semi-)natural vegetation, the critical level for effects on productive and high conservation value perennial grasslands was based on effects on important component species of the genus Trifolium (clover species). These critical levels can be used to assess protection against the damaging effects of ozone on food security, important ecosystem services provided by forest trees (roundwood production, C sequestration, soil stability and flood prevention) and the vitality of pasture.

Ecophysiological variation in two provenances of Pinus flexilis seedlings across an elevation gradient from forest to alpine

Climate change is predicted to cause upward shifts in forest tree distributions, which will require seedling recruitment beyond current forest boundaries. However, predicting the likelihood of successful plant establishment beyond current species' ranges under changing climate is complicated by the interaction of genetic and environmental controls on seedling establishment. To determine how genetics and climate may interact to affect seedling establishment, we transplanted recently germinated seedlings from high- and low-elevation provenances (HI and LO, respectively) of Pinus flexilis in common gardens arrayed along an elevation and canopy gradient from subalpine forest into the alpine zone and examined differences in physiology and morphology between provenances and among sites. Plant dry mass, projected leaf area and shoot:root ratios were 12-40% greater in LO compared with HI seedlings at each elevation. There were no significant changes in these variables among sites except for decreased dry mass of LO seedlings in the alpine site. Photosynthesis, carbon balance (photosynthesis/respiration) and conductance increased >2× with elevation for both provenances, and were 35-77% greater in LO seedlings compared with HI seedlings. There were no differences in dark-adapted chlorophyll fluorescence (Fv/Fm) among sites or between provenances. Our results suggest that for P. flexilis seedlings, provenances selected for above-ground growth may outperform those selected for stress resistance in the absence of harsh climatic conditions, even well above the species' range limits in the alpine zone. This indicates that forest genetics may be important to understanding and managing species' range adjustments due to climate change.

An experimental facility for free air humidity manipulation (FAHM) can alter water flux through deciduous tree canopy

A facility for free air humidity manipulation (FAHM) was established to investigate the effect of increased air humidity on trees’ performance and their canopy functioning with respect to rising air humidity predicted for Northern Europe. The FAHM system enables air relative humidity (RH) to be increased up to 18 units (%) over the ambient level during mist fumigation, depending on the wind speed inside the experimental stand. Water was dispersed inside 14 × 14 m experimental plots in the form of mist with an average particle size of 50 μm from June to August in 2008, and from May to September in 2009. The average increase in RH was 7 units (%) over the whole period of humidification in 2008 ( P < 0.05). The average diurnal stem sap flux density per unit projected leaf area ( F) in silver birch ( Betula pendula Roth.) trees was 24.8% ( P < 0.05) and 27.2% ( P < 0.01) higher in control (C) plots compared to humidification (H) plots during misting in 2008 and 2009, respectively. However, the difference between C and H plots was statistically insignificant ( P > 0.05) in silver birch on the days without misting. In hybrid aspen ( Populus tremula L. × P. tremuloides Michx.) the average difference in F between C and H plots was 61.1% ( P < 0.001) during mist fumigation in the summer of 2009. Nevertheless, the difference was considerable (38.8%; P < 0.001) also on the days without misting, reflecting the impact of plant inner factors on F as a result of long-term acclimation to fumigation. The leaves of silver birch in a humidified plot demonstrated up to 2.4 °C lower ( P < 0.05) leaf temperature ( T L) compared to the control plot in 2009. The decline in T L decreased the humidity gradient between leaf and air by about 1/3, whereas 2/3 of the effect was caused directly by changes in air humidity in the leaf boundary layer. Our preliminary data suggest that the FAHM experimental facility enables water fluxes through a deciduous tree canopy to be reduced and this effect is attributable both to the increased air humidity and decreased leaf temperature. Changes in these two basic factors may create considerable differences in the physiology, anatomy and nutrition of a whole tree, also affecting forest functioning in the light of global climate change.

Production ecology of Thuja occidentalis

Equations to predict branch and tree leaf area, foliar mass, and stemwood volume were developed from 25 destructively sampled northern white-cedar ( Thuja occidentalis L.) trees, a species whose production ecology has not been studied. Resulting models were applied to a large sample of 296 cored trees from 60 sites stratified across a soil gradient throughout northern Maine. Nonlinear regression analysis was used to assess alternative forms of the relationship between volume increment (VINC) and projected leaf area (PLA); analysis of covariance was used compare stemwood growth efficiency (GE) among soil-site classes, light exposure classes, and the presence of decay. Stem volume was estimated with Honer’s equation ( T.G. Honer. 1967. Forest Management Research and Services Institute ) with refitted parameters. PLA was best predicted with Maguire and Bennett’s nonlinear model ( D.A. Maguire and W.S. Bennett. 1996. Can. J. For. Res. 26: 1991–2005 ) using sapwood area or crown length and the ratio of tree height to diameter at breast height. A sigmoid model form captured the relationship between VINC and PLA more precisely and with less bias than the simple power function; this implies that the relationship between GE and PLA reaches a peak rather than decreases monotonically. At PLAs &gt;50 m2, GE gradually declined with increasing crown size and was significantly influenced by site and light exposure. With PLA, site, and light held constant, decayed trees had a significantly lower (by 11%) GE than sound stems, a finding not previously reported for other tree species.

Thermoperiodic growth control by gibberellin does not involve changes in photosynthetic or respiratory capacities in pea.

Active gibberellin (GA1) is an important mediator of thermoperiodic growth in pea. Plants grown under lower day than night temperature (negative DIF) elongate less and have reduced levels of GA1 compared with plants grown at higher day than night temperature (positive DIF). By comparing the wild type (WT) and the elongated DELLA mutant la crys, this study has examined the effect of impaired GA signalling on thermoperiodic growth, photosynthesis, and respiration in pea. In the WT a negative DIF treatment reduced stem mass ratio and increased both root mass ratio and leaf mass ratio (dry weight of specific tissue related to total plant dry weight). Leaf, root and stem mass ratios of la crys were not affected by DIF. Under negative DIF, specific leaf area (projected leaf area per unit leaf dry mass), biomass, and chlorophyll content of WT and la crys plants were reduced. Young, expanding leaves of plants grown under negative DIF had reduced leaf area-based photosynthetic capacity. However, the highest photosynthetic electron transport rate was found in fully expanded leaves of WT plants grown under negative DIF. Negative DIF increased night respiration and was similar for both genotypes. It is concluded that GA signalling is not a major determinant of leaf area-based photosynthesis or respiration and that reduced dry weight of plants grown under negative DIF is caused by a GA-mediated reduction of photosynthetic stem and leaf tissue, reduced photosynthesis of young, expanding leaves, and reduced growth caused by low temperature in the photoperiod.

Interactions among vegetation and ozone, water and nitrogen fluxes in a coastal Mediterranean maquis ecosystem

Abstract. Ozone, water and energy fluxes were measured over a Mediterranean maquis ecosystem from 5 May until 31 July 2007 by means of the eddy covariance technique. Additional measurements of NOx fluxes were performed by the aerodynamic gradient technique. Stomatal ozone fluxes were obtained from water fluxes by a Dry Deposition Inferential Method based on a big leaf concept. The maquis ecosystem acted as a net sink for ozone. The different water availability between late spring and summer was the major cause of the changes observed in stomatal fluxes, which decreased, together with evapotranspiration, when the season became drier. NOx concentrations were significantly dependent on the local meteorology. NOx fluxes resulted less intense than the ozone fluxes. However an average upward flux of both NO and NO2 was measured. The non-stomatal pathways of ozone deposition were investigated. A correlation of non-stomatal deposition with air humidity and, in a minor way, with NO2 fluxes was found. Ozone risk assessment was performed by comparing the exposure and the dose metrics: AOT40 (Accumulated dose over a threshold of 40 ppb) and AFst1.6 (Accumulated stomatal flux of ozone over a threshold of 1.6 nmol m−2 s−1). AOT40, both at the measurement height and at canopy height was greater than the Critical Level for the protection of forests and semi-natural vegetation (5000 ppb h) adopted by UN-ECE. Also the AFst1.6 value (12.6 mmol m−2 PLA, Projected Leaf Area) was higher than the provisional critical dose of 4 mmol m−2 PLA for forests. The cumulated dose showed two different growth rates in the spring and in the summer periods, while the exposure showed a more irregular behavior in both periods.

Species differences in total and vertical distribution of branch- and tree-level leaf area for the five primary conifer species in Maine, USA

Vertical distribution of leaf area largely governs both tree structure and function. Models of this important tree attribute have been constructed for several commercially important conifers. However, a limited number of studies have compared alternative modeling techniques and inherent species differences. This study used several existing datasets for the five primary conifer species in Maine, namely balsam fir [ Abies balsamea (L.) Mill.], northern white-cedar [ Thuja occidentalis (L.)], eastern hemlock [ Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carr.], eastern white pine [ Pinus strobus (L.)], and red spruce [ Picea rubens (Sarg.)] to examine species variation in total and vertical distribution of projected leaf area at the individual branch- and tree-levels. In addition, multiple methods for modeling the vertical distribution of leaf area were examined across the species. For a given branch diameter and location within the crown, eastern hemlock branches held the greatest amount of leaf area, followed by balsam fir, northern white-cedar, white pine, and red spruce. At the tree-level, eastern white pine held the greatest amount of leaf area followed by eastern hemlock, balsam fir, red spruce, and northern white-cedar for a given tree size. Across species, the two-parameter, right-truncated Weibull distribution performed the best for predicting vertical distribution of leaf area when compared to the four-parameter beta and Johnson's S B distributions (reduction of root mean square error of 1.7–21.1%). Northern white-cedar had a relative distribution of leaf area distinctly different than other species in this study with a mode shifted towards the upper crown. In contrast to red spruce and white pine, the mode of the relative distribution of leaf area for balsam fir and eastern hemlock occurred lower in the crown. Results of this study suggest that differences in total and vertical distribution of leaf area exist between species, but significant amounts of their variation are largely accounted for by bole and crown size.

Morphological variation of Aechmea distichantha (Bromeliaceae) in a Chaco forest: habitat and size‐related effects

Plants show different morphologies when growing in different habitats, but they also vary in their morphology with plant size. We examined differences in sun- and shade-grown plants of the bromeliad Aechmea distichantha with respect to relationships between plant size and variables related to plant architecture, biomass allocation and tank water dynamics. We selected vegetative plants from the understorey and from forest edges of a Chaco forest, encompassing the whole size range of this bromeliad. Plant biomass was positively correlated with most architectural variables and negatively correlated with most biomass allocation variables. Understorey plants were taller and had larger diameters, whereas sun plants had more leaves, larger sheath area, sheath biomass and sheath mass fraction. All tank water-related variables were positively correlated with plant biomass. Understorey plants had a greater projected leaf area, whereas sun plants had higher water content and evaporative area. Plasticity indices were higher for water-related than for allocation variables. In conclusion, there were architectural and biomass allocation differences between sun- and shade-grown plants along a size gradient, which, in turn, affected tank water-related variables.

Prediction and assessment of bark beetle-induced mortality of lodgepole pine using estimates of stand vigor derived from remotely sensed data

The current outbreak of mountain pine beetle ( Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins) in British Columbia (BC), Canada, has led forest managers to consider thinning as a means of decreasing residual tree susceptibility to attack and subsequent mortality. Previous research indicates that susceptibility to mountain pine beetle is a function of a tree's physiological vigor and the intensity of attack. Trees able to produce ≥ 80 g (g) of wood per m 2 of projected leaf area annually are highly resistant, because they are able to shift resource allocation locally from wood to resin production to isolate blue-stain fungi introduced by attacking beetles. Typically, the leaf area of susceptible stands must be reduced by two-thirds to permit most residual trees to increase their vigor to a safe level. We evaluate whether Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) imagery (30 × 30 m) provides a means to assess the maximum leaf area index (LAI) of unthinned stands and the extent that thinning reduces LAI. The extent that residual trees in thinned stands may have increased their resistance to attack from mountain pine beetle is predicted from a non-linear relationship between % maximum LAI and mean tree vigor. We investigated the merits of this approach in the vicinity of Parson, British Columbia using four stands of lodgepole pine ( Pinus contorta Dougl.), two of which were heavily thinned (stands were spaced to 4 and 5 m, approximately 70% reduction in stand density). An analysis of archived Landsat TM imagery indicated that prior to thinning in 1993, all four stands had full canopy, which, for mature stands, would translate to mean tree vigor between 40 and 70 g of annual wood production per m 2 of foliage. By 1995, based on estimated changes in LAI derived from a second data of Landsat TM imagery, stand vigor in the unthinned stands had not changed; however, in the thinned stands, a nearly two third reduction in LAI resulted in a predicted increase in vigor to between 100 and 160 g wood m − 2 of leaf area. A subsequent assessment in 2001 indicated that stand vigor remained higher in the thinned stands relative to the control stands. Following an infestation of mountain pine beetle in the study area in 2002, mortality data indicated that the thinned stands experienced no mortality relative to the unthinned stands which experienced 5.5% mortality in the initial years of the attack. In the larger area surrounding the study site, a general relationship was found between predicted stand vigor and mountain pine beetle-induced mortality as estimated from aerial overview survey data ( r 2 = 0.43, p < 0.01).

Ground-based estimation of leaf area index and vertical distribution of leaf area density in a Betula ermanii forest

We developed a ground-based method for estimating leaf area index (LAI) and vertical distribution of leaf area density (LAD) for two Betula ermanii plots, combining an allometric method for tree leaf area with the MacArthur–Horn (MH) method using a portable laser rangefinder, including a correction for changes in leaf inclination angle along the vertical gradient measured with a portable digital protractor from a canopy access tower in each plot. Vertical distribution of projected leaf area density obtained by the MH method (LADMH) was transformed to relative distribution for allotting fixed LAI to different heights. Hence, we first developed an allometric method for estimating tree leaf area for LAI determination. Trunk cross-sectional area at branching height (AB) was accurately estimated (r = 0.97) from ground-based measurements of tree dimensions. We used this method to apply pipe model allometry between tree leaf area and AB, and estimated LAI (4.56 and 4.57 m m). We then examined how leaf inclination angle affected estimation of the vertical distribution of actual LAD. Leaf inclination angle measurements revealed that actual LAD in the upper canopy was 1.5–1.8-times higher than LADMH, because of steep leaf inclination, while the correction factor was 1.15–1.25 in the lower canopy. Due to the difference among heights, vertical distribution of LAD estimated with correction for vertical change in leaf inclination was more skewed to the upper canopy than that without correction. We also showed that error in LAD distribution can result if horizontal canopy heterogeneity is neglected when applying the MH method.22–2

CROWN DEVELOPMENT OF COASTALPSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII, INCLUDING A CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR TALL CONIFERS

Seventy trees from seven stands 50–650 years old were selected for this investigation of crown structural development inPseudotsuga menziesii. All branches, limbs, and trunks were nondestructively measured for size, structure, and location while climbing the trees with ropes. These data were used to generate a computer model of each tree's crown that was error‐checked trigonometrically. Leaves, bark, cambium, and wood were quantified by using limited destructive sampling to develop predictive equations that were applied to the complete inventory of structures in each tree's crown. Summations of these values yielded whole‐tree estimates of several structural variables. A second set of equations was then developed to predict these whole‐tree parameters from simple, ground‐based measurements. Principal components analysis of 24 tree‐level variables revealed two orthogonal dimensions of structure that accounted for 71.3% and 12.4% of total variation in the 70 trees. The first dimension represented a gradient of overall tree size and structural complexity that was positively correlated with tree age (R2= 0.89). The second dimension represented a gradient of incremental growth potential that was positively correlated with measured growth of main trunks at breast height during the five‐year period after trees were mapped (R2= 0.39). The strongest determinant of incremental growth potential was the ratio of a tree's total cambium surface area to projected leaf area. A tree's incremental growth potential may thus be unrelated to either size or structural complexity and depend instead on factors related to whole‐tree carbon balance (e.g., how much the tree invests in fighting and feeding fungi). Our intensive analyses ofPseudotsuga menziesiiand extensive observations of other species were used to develop a conceptual model of crown development in tall conifers. Trees respond to disturbances by growth of replacement structures whose form depends on disturbance intensity and age. Young trees rebuild damaged crowns through epicormic shoot production on original branches, whereas older trees also recover by producing new, epicormic branches. Damage to main trunks and top dieback stimulate production of reiterated trunks. Repeated damage leads to multiple hierarchical levels of trunk reiteration as well as to limb formation and increasing tree individuality.

Light interception and partitioning between shoots in apple cultivars influenced by training

The effect of two training systems (Central Leader with branch pruning versus Centrifugal Training with minimal pruning, i.e., removal of fruiting laterals only) on canopy structure and light interception was analyzed in three architecturally contrasting apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) cultivars: 'Scarletspur Delicious' (Type II); 'Golden Delicious' (Type III); and 'Granny Smith' (Type IV). Trees were 3D-digitized at the shoot scale at the 2004 and 2005 harvests. Shoots were separated according to length (short versus long) and type (fruiting versus vegetative). Leaf area density (LAD) and its relative variance (xi), total leaf area (TLA) and crown volume (V) varied consistently with cultivar. 'Scarletspur Delicious' had higher LAD and xi and lower TLA and V compared with the other cultivars with more open canopies. At the whole-tree scale, training had no effect on structure and light interception parameters (silhouette to total area ratio, STAR; projected leaf area, PLA). At the shoot scale, Centrifugal Training increased STAR values compared with Central Leader. In both training systems, vegetative shoots had higher STAR values than fruiting shoots. However, vegetative and fruiting shoots had similar TLA and PLA in Centrifugal Trained trees, whereas vegetative shoots had higher TLA and PLA than fruiting shoots in Central Leader trees. This unbalanced distribution of leaf area and light interception between shoot types in Central Leader trees partly resulted from the high proportion of long vegetative shoots that developed from latent buds. These shoots developed in the interior shaded zone of the canopy and therefore had low STAR and PLA. In conclusion, training may greatly affect the development and spatial positioning of shoots, which in turn significantly affects light interception by fruiting shoots.

Photovoltaic Leaf Area Meter Development and Testing

Photovoltaic (PV) panel was used to develop a simple and practical leaf area meter. Components of the developed PV leaf area meter include a PV panel as sensor, a wooden cabinet as enclosure, a flashlight as light source, and a commercial digital multimeter for voltage measurement. The principle of projected area measurement is the voltage generated by the PV panel varies directly with sample area, when corresponding panel surface is exposed to incident radiation. The PV leaf area meter performance was evaluated using cardboard cutouts of various geometrical shapes of known areas and the voltage generated had good correlation (r = 0.9911) with sample areas. Linear fits adequately modeled the areas from non-dimensional voltages (R2 > 0.98). Leaf samples from mango, sapodilla, guava, custard apple, and cotton covering a wide array of natural shapes were tested and compared among the existing graphical, scanner-based electronic leaf area meter, and digital planimeter methods. Digital planimeter produced better performance (R2 = 0.9996) than scanner-based electronic leaf area meter (R2 = 0.9979), followed by the PV leaf area meter linear regression calibration equations based on direct leaf samples (R2 = 0.9953) and leaf samples with glass cover (R2 = 0.9834). However, on testing with additional leaf samples, the glass cover method gave better predictions than direct leaf method. As leaf was flattened by the glass cover and represented the true projected leaf area, this method was recommended. PV leaf area meter costs only 3.9% of scanner-based electronic leaf area meter and 14.7% of digital planimeter. The developed PV leaf area meter had a mode of operation similar to a commercial electronic leaf area meter, yielded quick and reliable results, and was highly cost effective.

Efecto de poda y raleo en el área foliar de Eucalyptus nitens

SUMMARY Eucalyptus nitens is an important commercial fast growing species planted mainly in Chile and Australia (Tasmania). In Chile there are not previously published studies quantifying leaf area in adult forest plantations of E. nitens. This study presents the effect of pruning and thinning intensities, applied at age 6 in a E. nitens stand, and on the amount of leaf area sustained at 15 years old. A factorial experiment considering pruning (0 m, 3.5 m and 7 m height) and stocking (1,100, 800 and 400 trees ha-1) was established in 1989 near Los Alamos town in central Chile. Using the average tree method, 27 trees were sampled destructively for biomass and leaf area assessments. Projected leaf area, leaf area index, and specific leaf area were estimated for each sampled tree. The results indicate that projected leaf area and leaf area index reached a maximum of 64.7 m2 tree-1 at 400 trees ha-1 stocking and 3.48 m2 m-2 at 800 trees ha-1 stocking respectively. Specific leaf area was higher (43.2 cm2 g-1) at higher stocking (1,100 trees ha-1). For all treatments projected leaf area and leaf area index were higher in the central section of the crown. Allometric relationships were obtained using diameter at the base of the live crown and stump diameter. The information presented in this study allows giving a more functional explanation of the horizontal and vertical behavior of the leaf area, at different stocking.

Altitudinal differences in the leaf fitness of juvenile and mature alpine spruce trees (Picea crassifolia)

In many plant species, leaf morphology varies with altitude, an effect that has been attributed to temperature. It remains uncertain whether such a trend applies equally to juvenile and mature trees across altitudinal gradients in semi-arid mountain regions. We examined altitude-related differences in a variety of needle characteristics of juvenile (2-m tall) and mature (5-m tall) alpine spruce (Picea crassifolia Kom.) trees growing at altitudes between 2501 and 3450 m in the Qilian Mountains of northwest China. We found that stable carbon isotope composition (delta(13)C), area- and mass-based leaf nitrogen concentration (N(a), N(m)), number of stomata per gram of nitrogen (St/N), number of stomata per unit leaf mass (St/LM), projected leaf area per 100 needles (LA) and leaf mass per unit area (LMA) varied nonlinearly with altitude for both juvenile and mature trees, with a relationship reversal point at about 3100 m. Stomatal density (SD) of juvenile trees remained unchanged with altitude, whereas SD and stomatal number per unit length (SNL) of mature spruce initially increased with altitude, but subsequently decreased. Although several measured indices were generally found to be higher in mature trees than in juvenile trees, N(m), leaf carbon concentration (C(m)), leaf water concentration (LWC), St/N, LA and St/LM showed inconsistent differences between trees of different ages along the altitudinal gradient. In both juvenile and mature trees, delta(13)C correlated significantly with LMA, N(m), N(a), SNL, St/LM and St/N. Stomatal density, LWC and LA were only significantly correlated with delta(13)C in mature trees. These findings suggest that there are distinct ecophysiological differences between the needles of juvenile and mature trees that determine their response to changes in altitude in semi-arid mountainous regions. Variations in the fitness of forests of different ages may have important implications for modeling forest responses to changes in environmental conditions, such as predicted future temperature increases in high altitude areas associated with climate change.

Understory stump sprout development under variable canopy density and leaf area in coast redwood

A 21-year-old coast redwood ( Sequoia sempervirens (D. Don) Endl.) plantation in north coastal California received a variety of thinning treatments at age 16. Treatments included geometric thinnings (alternate rows, every third row, diagonal rows) and a free-thinning treatment that left the lowest residual density. Five years after thinning, projected leaf area index (LAI) ranged from 5.4 to 14.3 over the thinning treatments and control plots. Development of sprouts produced by cut stumps over this period showed height and base diameter were greatest with increasing thinning severity, achieving mean heights of 4.8 m and base diameters of 63 mm in the low density treatment. LAI was strongly related to percent above-canopy light (PACL) through a negative exponential relationship. Based on modeled data, sprout height increased as PACL increased up to 50% and then increased only slightly above this point. Some differences in sprout development were attributed to geometric patterns of thinnings. Numbers of sprouts are apparently dependent on stump reserves, but subsequent sprout growth appears to be more dependent on light regime.