Saila Varis

Phylogeography of the circumpolar Paranoplocephala arctica species complex (Cestoda: Anoplocephalidae) parasitizing collared lemmings ( Dicrostonyx spp.)

The Paranoplocephla arctica complex (Cyclophyllidea, Anoplocephalidae), host‐specific cestodes of collared lemmings Dicrostonyx, include two morphospecies P. arctica and P. alternata, whose taxonomical status now must be considered ambiguous. The genetic population structure and phylogeography of the P. arctica complex was studied from 83 individuals sampled throughout the Holarctic distribution range using 600 bp of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene (COI). The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) phylogeny divides the species complex into one main Nearctic and one main Palaearctic phylogroup, corresponding to the main phylogenetic division of the hosts. In the Palearctic phylogroup, the parasite clades correspond to the host clades although the parasites from Wrangel Island form an exception as the host on this island, D. groenlandicus, belongs to the Nearctic phylogroup. In the Nearctic, northern refugia beyond the ice limit of the Pleistocene glaciations are proposed for the hosts. All reconstructions of parasite phylogeny show a genetically differentiated population structure that in the Canadian Arctic lacks strict congruence between phylogeny and geography. The parasite phylogeny does not show complete congruence with host relationships, suggesting a history of colonization and secondary patterns of dispersal from Beringia into the Canadian Arctic, an event not proposed by the host phylogenies alone.

Molecular phylogeny and systematics of anoplocephaline cestodes in rodents and lagomorphs.

A molecular phylogenetic hypothesis is presented for the anoplocephaline cestodes of placental mammals based on sequence data from the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase I (COI) gene, the nuclear-encoded 28S rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer region I of rRNA (ITS1). The material consists of 35 species representing nine genera of cestodes, with emphasis on taxa parasitising rodents and lagomorphs in the Holarctic region. The resulting phylogenies show considerable disagreement with earlier systematic and phylogenetic hypotheses derived from morphology. Specifically, the results contradict the view of uterine morphology being the primary determinant of deeper phylogenetic splits within Anoplocephalinae. Also, the role of genital duplication as a means of generic divergence was not found to follow consistently the pattern suggested by earlier hypotheses. Colonisation of novel host lineages has evidently been the predominant mode of diversification in anoplocephaline cestodes of placental mammals; evidence for phyletic co-evolution was obscure. The phylogenies consistently distinguished a large monophyletic group including all species from arvicoline rodents (voles and lemmings), primarily representing the genera Anoplocephaloides Baer, 1923 and Paranoplocephala Lühe, 1910. Phylogenetic relationships within the “arvicoline clade” of cestodes were generally poorly resolved. Consistent support for nodes above and below the unresolved polytomy indicates a rapid radiation involving a nearly simultaneous diversification of many lineages, a scenario also proposed for the arvicoline hosts.

Interactions during in vitro germination of Scots pine pollen

Pre-zygotic pollen competition is believed to play an important role in nonrandom mating, i.e., the unequal success of different pollen donors. We studied pollen–pollen interactions of Scots pine in vitro using multiwell plates with freely permeable inserts. Six genotypes were included in our experiments: three from northern Finland and three from southern Finland. We conducted control experiments by placing pollen of each genotype in both the well and its insert. In competition experiments each southern genotype was incubated in insert with each northern genotype in well, and vice-versa. Samples for the germinability observations were taken from inserts. The mean germination percentage of northern genotypes was lower when incubating with southern genotypes in competition experiments than in control experiments. In one case, a northern genotype showed lower mean germination percentage in competition experiment than in control experiment and in another case a southern genotype showed a higher value. Our results suggest a chemically mediated interaction between pollen from different genotypes and one which can vary among genotypes.

Southern pollen sired more seeds than northern pollen in southern seed orchards established with northern clones of Pinus sylvestris

Abstract Contamination by southern pollen is a considerable problem in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seed orchards established with northern clones. This study investigated whether the contamination was due to the competitive superiority of southern pollen by carrying out competition trials using mixtures of pollen from northern and southern populations of Scots pine. Trials were performed in a southerly seed orchard established with clones originating from northern populations. Seed paternity (siring) was determined through the analysis of allozyme variation. Southern genotypes sired significantly more seeds (76%) than their northern competitors and across all mixed-pollen crosses. Maternal genotype had no effect on seed siring success. The mean flower abortion rate was lower in southern pure-pollen crosses and mixed-pollen crosses than in northern pure-pollen crosses. The results show that local pollen may induce high levels of background pollination in southern seed orchards composed of northern genotype grafts. These results must be taken into account when aiming to produce suitable reforestation material for northern areas.

Norway spruce emblings as cutting donors for tree breeding and production

ABSTRACT In the Nordic countries, Norway spruce (Picea abies) is a major species in tree breeding. In order to facilitate breeding work and availability of highly bred forest regeneration material, the time required for breeding and implementation of results should be shortened. This could be done by accelerating production of clonal material for field testing, and possibly for planting stock, by combining production of rooted cuttings with somatic embryogenesis (SE). This would allow efficient production of numerous plants of the same genotype, with equal age and propagation history between genotypes. In the present work, we studied the rooting potential of cuttings from Norway spruce emblings. Altogether 36 clones from 12 families representing elite breeding materials and ornamental forms were examined under different rooting conditions (container type and rooting media) in 2015 and 2016. Our results show that Norway spruce emblings are good donors for cuttings. Best combination (peat–vermiculite mixture and Plantek 81f containers) resulted in 91% rooting, variation among the tested clones of elite breeding materials being 55–100% per treatment. The rooting variation between families is acceptable for breeding purposes. High rooting (87–96%) of ornamental forms indicates propagation potential with the combination of SE and rooted cuttings.

Improved germination conditions for Norway spruce somatic cotyledonary embryos increased survival and height growth of emblings

Norway spruce is one of the most cultivated tree species in Nordic countries. However, intermittent shortages of improved seeds occur. As a powerful vegetative propagation technology, somatic embryogenesis (SE) could provide an alternative solution for this problem and also shorten the time required to obtain breeding gains. However, there are still large bottlenecks in SE, e.g. in the germination and acclimatization phases, which greatly affect the final outcome of somatic embryo plants (emblings). In this work, we examined the effects of in vitro embryo storage and germination treatments and ex vitro growing techniques on the survival and growth of emblings. The study comprised 32 genotypes from 18 full-sib families in four experiments, testing two different cold storage methods, three durations of in vitro germination, lower inorganic nitrogen content in the germination medium, and two plant-growing techniques. The best treatment combination—cold storage on filter paper, lower nitrogen content in the germination medium and one-week in vitro germination—resulted in an 88% higher survival and 28% higher growth compared to the poorest, reference treatment in the same test year. These emblings could be planted after a nursery period one year sooner than that of the control emblings. The results indicate that Norway spruce emblings germinated for one week in vitro can be transplanted and grown in nurseries without any additional treatments or environmental control differing from seedlings, which is a prerequisite to reach standards for forest regeneration material.

The size and germinability of Scots pine pollen in different temperatures in vitro

Abstract The effect of genotype, the origin of genotype, and germination temperature on Scots pine pollen grain size, hydration rate, germinability, and tube growth was studied in vitro. The mean sizes of dry and germinated pollen grains varied among pollen genotypes in different ways, thus the hydration rate varied among genotypes. Pollen from Scots pine that originates in northern Finland hydrated more than pollen from a population in southern Finland. Germination temperature had no effect on the hydration rate. Germinability and tube growth rate of northern genotypes were higher at 20 °C than at 15 °C. Differences among southern genotypes were not significant. At 15 °C, the germinability and pollen tube growth rate of northern genotypes were lower than southern genotypes. At 20 °C, the differences were not significant. It appears that germination and growth of pollen from northern populations are enhanced at higher temperatures whereas pollen from southern populations is unaffected.

Somatic Embryogenesis and Plant Regeneration From Primordial Shoot Explants of Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. Somatic Trees

The recalcitrance of adult conifer tissues has prevented vegetative propagation of trees with known and desired characteristics. Somatic embryogenesis (SE) initiation protocol, recently developed for white spruce (Picea glauca, Klimaszewska et al., 2011), was applied in order to examine the feasibility, frequency and timing of SE induction from primordial shoots (PS) of Norway spruce (P. abies). In total, 39 genotypes were screened from 2015 to 2017 using 4–6 years old trees of SE origin as explant donors. Two genotypes responded: 11Pa3794 produced six proliferating embryonal mass (EM) sublines and 11Pa4066 produced 23 EM sublines. SE initiations occurred at the beginning of April, when the temperature sum (d.d.) started to accumulate, and at the end of October or beginning of November when the chilling unit (ch.u.) sum was over 500. EM sublines from both genotypes contained numerous early somatic embryos as detected by acetocarmine staining. The sublines of 11Pa4066 produced the mean of 78.6 ± 12.8 cotyledonary somatic embryos /g FW, but 11Pa3794 produced only a few cotyledonary somatic embryos that were able to germinate. The original EM lines (from which the trees were regenerated) had produced the same number of somatic embryos in 2011 maturations, which was approximately 120 somatic embryos /g FW. Microsatellite analyses conducted with both responsive genotypes confirmed the genetic stability of the EM sublines compared with the donor trees growing in the field. SE protocol developed for white spruce PS explants was also suitable for PS of Norway spruce if the explants were in the responsive developmental stage.

Genetic variation of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) in the urban woodlands of Helsinki

ABSTRACT We present a genetic profile of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) in three woodlands of the Helsinki region. We genotyped all mature trees and samples of seedlings to evaluate patterns of genetic variation and gene flow, and evaluate the long-term stability and natural regeneration of these stands. Although five microsatellite loci showed no significant differences in heterozygosity between generations in most locations, significant (p < .05) pairwise differences were observed between mature trees and seedlings at Seurasaari, with higher diversity within seedlings. Ninety-four percent of the genetic variation occurred within sample sites. Background pollination contributed up to 61% of the diversity among seedlings, and thereby plays an important role in shaping the genetic variation and structure of future generations. Results indicate that pedunculate oak trees in the surveyed parks of Helsinki belong to the same population and that the urban environment per se does not interfere with gene flow over the distances represented here. Based on our findings, a minimal-maintenance program reliant upon natural regeneration of oak in the public parks of Helsinki seems plausible.

Männyn siitepölyn kaukokulkeutuminen ja geenivirran mahdollisuus

Seloste artikkelista: The extent of south-north pollen transfer in Finnish Scots pine / Saila Varis ... [et al.] - Julkaisussa: Silva Fennica 43 (2009) : 5, s. 717-726.