Teijo Nikkanen

Annual Variation in Pollen Contamination and Outcrossing in a Picea abies Seed Orchard

A mature Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] seed orchard, established in southern Finland with 67 clones from northern Finland, was analysed in three different years in order to estimate the pollen contamination ratios. Allozyme-based paternity analysis revealed that the contamination rate was high, 69-71%, and did not differ between the years studied. It appears that, in areas where spruce is the dominant tree species, the contamination rate will be very high even in mature seed orchards. However, the contamination rate in the thinned parts of the orchard was significantly lower than that in the unthinned parts in two of the three years studied. The outcrossing rate was also high, 96-100% in all years, even though the ramets of each clone were planted using a clonal-row design, and there were no significant differences in the outcrossing rates between the different parts of the orchard.

Pollen competition and seed-siring success in Picea abies

Abstract The aim of the present work was to study pollen-tube competition in Picea abies. Controlled crossings were performed with pollen mixtures including pairs of pollen lots with fast and slowly elongating pollen-tubes. Paternity analysis using isozyme markers was performed on the progenies in order to study whether the in vitro pollen-germination vigour corresponds to the proportion of seeds sired by the pollen donor. Paternal success was found to be unequal, 15 out of 23 crossings producing progeny that differed significantly from the hypothetical ratio of 1:1. The paternal contribution in the majority of the crossings was as expected: the pollen parent with more-vigorous in vitro germination sired more seeds than the less-vigorous pollen. In the case of two pollen mixtures, however, the seed-siring success summed over the maternal trees was the opposite to the expected value. Despite these aberrations, the results support the hypothesis that pollen-tube competition is one of the factors contributing to male fitness in P. abies. However, when all the other factors affecting pollination and seed set under natural conditions are taken into account, it is clear that the seed-siring success of a particular paternal genotype cannot be predicted reliably by measuring only the in vitro pollen vigour.

Genetic Variation in the Decay Resistance of Siberian Larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) Wood

Summary The aim of the study was to estimate the degree of genetic determination in the decay resistance of Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) wood and its correlation to other wood traits. The wood samples were taken from 25-year-old grafted seed orchard clones with an increment core borer, dried, weighed, and subjected to a laboratory decay test using a modified method based on the standardised EN 113 method. One brown rot fungus, Coniophora puteana (Schum. ex Fr.) Karst., was used as the decaying organism. The advantages of the method were the savings in time, the possibility to study standing trees, and the potential for screening large numbers of samples at reasonable costs. The clonal repeatability was used to estimate the degree of genetic determination. The genetic determination appeared to be stronger for decay resistance than for growth characteristics or heartwood formation, but weaker than for wood density or latewood formation. Decay resistance and the growth characteristics did not correlate.

Variation in pollen viability among Picea abies genotypes - potential for unequal paternal success.

Abstract An in vitro germination method was used to study variation in pollen viability, that is pollen-tube growth rate together with germination percentage, among the Picea abies genotypes in a seed orchard. The method permits easy, rapid screening of large numbers of genotypes. Significant variation in pollen viability among the genotypes was evident, the differences among the pollen-lot means being 7–10–fold in different years. No correlation was found between the average pollen viability and the phenology, growth or growing-site characteristics of the pollen donors. However, there appeared to be pollen lots that either benefit from a higher germination temperature or else germinate faster at lower temperatures. The significant variation in pollen viability among the pollen donors indicates a potential for male gametophyte competition. This, together with the observed genotype-environment interactions in pollen performance, may contribute to the variable genetic composition of seed produced in the seed orchard.

The Production of Transgenic Scots Pine (Pinus Sylvestris L.) via the Application of Transformed Pollen in Controlled Crossings

The study demonstrates the production of a transgenic Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedling through the application of transformed pollen in controlled crossings. The pollen lots were transformed by particle bombardment, resulting in transient transformation frequencies varying from 15 to 49% of the germinated pollen grains, and bombarded pollen was used to pollinate megasporangiate strobili. Progeny was screened by histochemical, GUS assays, and selected seedlings were further analysed by PCR. PCR amplification revealed the presence of both the nptII and gusA genes in one seedling (23/237). Results were confirmed by Southern blot analysis. The morphology and growth of this transgenic seedling was normal. Although the transformation frequency of recovered plants was very low (1/14999), the present protocol suggests that production of transgenic Scots pine is possible without the use of any tissue culture methods or the involvement of marker genes, for selection of transformants.

Correlations between flowering and some vegetative characteristics of grafts of Pinus sylvestris

Abstract The results from a preliminary study carried out in a clonal archive are given. Variation between years and clones, as well as the relationships between male and female flowering, and some growth and quality characteristics, were scrutinized. The first observations were made in 1982, at a time when 12 years had elapsed since the clonal archive was established. The mean height of the grafts was then 5.5 m. The abundance of flowering increased during the 3-year observation period. Clonal differences were large and remained constant from year to year. The tendency for male and female flowering appeared to be similar in each clone, especially in the case of scanty flowering. The abundance of flowering was positively correlated with size, but not with the current height growth of the graft. Quality characteristics such as crown width, branch diameter and number of branches were also clearly correlated with flowering. Branch angle and wood density did not show any clear correlation.

Production of hybrid seed in a seed orchard of two larch species, Larix sibirica and Larix decidua

The larch seed orchard studied is intended to produce interspecific hybrid seed between Larix sibirica and Larix decidua. Only the L. sibirica clone (half of the grafts) in the orchard was intended to act as the seed parent, and the six L. decidua clones are pollinators. The proportion of hybrid seed produced was determined using Mdh3 locus as a genetic marker. The mean percentage of hybrid seed produced by the grafts of L. decidua was 93, but that of the hybrid seed produced by L. sibirica was only 18. The results can be explained by differences in flowering abundance. The grafts of L. sibirica produced several times more pollen than those of L. decidua. Contrary to the original plans, L. decidua should be used as the seed parent and L. sibirica only as the pollen parent in the studied seed orchard.

Annual growth rhythm of Larix sibirica and Larix gmelinii provenances in a field trial in southern Finland

Abstract The aim of this study was to analyse how the growth onset and shoot elongation of seedlings differ in field conditions in Finland for 20 Russian larch provenances and five comparison entries, and if they could be explained by the geographic and climatic conditions of the provenance origins. In this work, the Dahurian larch (Larix gmelinii Rupr.) provenances had the earliest growth onset and the northern Siberian larches (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) slightly earlier bud burst. The temperature sum and latitude of the provenances explained the differences in shoot elongation. The time needed for shoot elongation and the temperature sum needed to obtain 50% of total shoot elongation were quite equal in the years 2008 and 2009 (larger difference with the 90% level). The growth cessation was affected by photoperiod regardless of provenance. However, it was affected in the southern provenances also by declining temperatures in autumn. The final height was in 2009 largest in southern Dahurian larches. Despite our findings, the use of seed sources of domesticated Raivola origin is the safest choice for regeneration in Finland. We should still study more in detail the performance of other provenances and their adaptation capacity and suitability to Finnish forestry.

Bud set and autumn coloration of Larix sibirica and Larix gmelinii provenances in a field trial in southern Finland

The main aim of this study was to analyse the differences in the bud set, autumn coloration and needle shedding of seedlings in 20 Russian larch provenances and five comparison entries in field conditions in southern Finland over two growing seasons. Furthermore, it was studied if the differences could be explained by the geographic and climatic conditions of the provenance origins. We found that the provenances from cold northern climates developed both their terminal buds first and formed autumn colour as well as shed their needles much earlier than southern provenances. The timing of the bud set occurred earlier in 2008 compared to 2009, which was probably caused by lower than average temperatures in July and August of 2008. Thus, in addition to photoperiod, temperature also seemed to affect the bud set. The southern Dahurian larch provenances were able to utilise the length of the growing season the most effectively. The climatic adaptation, growth and properties of the provenances should be, however, studied over a longer time period. Therefore, currently used Raivola origin is still the safest choice for larch forestry in Finland.

Vegetative propagation – knowhow and technology for enhancing bioeconomy “ - A new project launched in Finland 2011 2011-01-01 BioMed Central 5 7 142 0 0 0 BMC Proceedings 2016-06-24 2410478594 31243 arteriolar nephrosclerosis thrombosis of the pulmonary artery [Arteriolar nephrosclerosis; thrombosis of the pulmonary artery]. 1950 1950-01-01 Arch Bras Med 40 112 0 0 0 Archivos brasileiros de medicina 2016-06-24 2746524891 21696 10.1080/02533839.2017.1362357 Journal developing a factory wide intelligent predictive maintenance system based on industry 4 0 Developing a factory-wide intelligent predictive maintenance system based on Industry 4.0 2017 2017-10-03 Chinese Institute of Engineers 134600019 40 7 562 571 10 4 4 Journal of The Chinese Institute of Engineers 2017-08-31 1576853353 26905 feeding management of a child with a handicap a guide for professionals Feeding Management of a Child with a Handicap: A Guide for Professionals. 1982 1982-01-01 University of Tennessee Health Sciences, Child Development Center, 711 Jefferson Ave., Memphis, TN 38105 (

A three-year project, financed by EU, European Regional Developmental Fund, will be carried out in 2011-14 as a collaborative effort with Finnish Forest Research Institute as a main performer, and Eastern Finland University and a commercial company Taimityllila Oy as partners. Three new researchers are engaged by the project. The aim of the project is to deepen knowhow and develop technology for vegetative propagation of forest trees in Finland, and to enhance collaboration among research institutions and practical plant producers. The project strengthens infrastructure for research and development, and benefits industrial and commercial activities in the field. A target group of the project includes forest owners, forest and ornamental nurseries, professionals in landscaping and home gardeners, wood product industry, and research sector. The objectives of the project are divided into five theme areas: