Wang Huimei

Notes on the forest soil respiration measurement by a Li-6400 system

The correct method used in forest soil respiration measurement by Li-6400 is a premise of data quality control. According to the study in a larch plantation, collars should be inserted at 12 hours in advance to efficiently reduce the influence of CO2 spring-out. Moreover, collar insertion depth substantially affected soil respiration measurement, i.e., when collar was shallowly inserted into soil, transversal gas diffusion and the CO2 re-spring-out caused by unstable collars in the measurement could lead to overestimating soil respiration rate; however, when collar was deeply inserted into soil, root respiration decline caused by root-cut and the most active respiratory of the surface soil separated by the inserted collars could lead to underestimating soil respiration rate. Furthermore, an error less than 5% could be guaranteed in typical sunny day if the target [CO2] was set to the mean value of ambient [CO2] in most time of the day, but it should be carefully set in early morning and late afternoon according to changing ambient [CO2]. This protocol of measurement is useful in real measurement.

Characteristics of the temperature coefficient, Q10, for the respiration of non-photosynthetic organs and soils of forest ecosystems

The temperature coefficient, Q10 (fractional change in rate with a 10°C increase in temperature) describes the temperature sensitivity of soils, roots, and stems, as well as their possible performance in global warming processes. It is also a necessary parameter for the estimation of total CO2 efflux from each element. A number of studies have focused on Q10 values to date; however, their conclusions are not universal and do not always agree. A review of these reported Q10 values therefore becomes necessary and important for a global understanding of the temperature sensitivity of different forest types and elements. The aims of our present paper are, first, to find the frequency distribution pattern of soils, roots, and stems (branches) and compare their temperature sensitivity; then, to find the Q10 differences between conifer and deciduous tree species and the effect of methodology on Q10 values; finally we want to give a perspective on future Q10-related studies. We found that most Q10 values of each element were concentrated in a relatively narrow range despite a total data distribution over quite a wide range. For soil respiration, the median Q10 value was 2.74 and the center of the frequency distribution was between 2.0 and 2.5 with a percentage of 23%. Most of the data (>80%) were within the range from 1.0 to 4.0. The median Q10 value for root respiration was 2.40 and the center of the frequency distribution was from 2.5 to 3.0 with a percentage of 33%. Most of the results (>80%) ranged from 1.0 to 3.0. For stem respiration, the median Q10 value was 1.91 and the frequency distribution was concentrated between 1.5 and 2.0. Over 90% of the data ranged from 1.0 to 3.0. Obvious differences in Q10 value were found between different elements, stem < root < soil including root < soil excluding root. The differences between woody organisms of stems, roots, and soils excluding roots were statistically significant (p<0.05), indicating that heterotrophic respiration from microorganism activity may be more sensitive to global warming. The duration of the period with leaves slightly affects the temperature sensitivity of woody organisms since the Q10 values for root and stem of coniferous evergreen trees did not differ significantly from deciduous trees (p>0.10). CO2 analytical methods (soda lime absorption method, IRGA (Infra-read gas analysis), and chromatograph analysis) and root separation methods (excised root and trenched box) slightly affected the Q10 values of soil and root respiration (p>0.10), but an in vitro measurement of stem respiration yielded a significantly higher Q10 value than an in vivo method (p<0.05). In general, although the Q10 values of non-photosynthetic organisms stayed within a relatively conservative range, considerable variation between and within elements were still detectable. Accordingly, attention should be paid to the quantitative estimation of total CO2 efflux by Q10-related models. In future studies, the biochemical factors and the environmental and biological factors controlling respiration should be emphasized for precise estimation of total CO2 efflux. The difficulty is how to clarify the underlying mechanism for fluctuations of Q10 values for one specific habitat and element (e.g. temperature acclimation or adaptation of Q10 values) and then allow the Q10 values to be more conservative for representation of temperature sensitivity in global warming processes.

Assessment of factors affectingin vitro shoot regeneration from axillary bud explant ofCamptotheca acuminata

Axillary buds from 3-yr.-old seedlings ofCamptotheca acuminata in the greenhouse were cultured on the different basal media with different concentrations of growth regulators for shoot regeneration for studying the effects of different basal media, different concentrations of growth regulators (BA or TDZ), sucrose, agar and pH value on shoot regeneration from axillary bud. The results showed that B5 and WPM media were the optimal basal media and the optimal phyotohormone was BA of 1.0 mg/L or TDZ of 0.1 mg/L; The concentrations of sucrose of 30g/L and agar of 6g/L were most suitable for the shoot regeneration; pH value from 5.8 to 6.6 were broadly effective, but the best at pH 5.8.

Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Camptotheca acuminata

UGPase gene related with wood cellulose synthesis was transferred into C. acuminata using the method of Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation, and an efficient transformation system was developed for C. acuminata on the basis of evaluations of several factors affecting Agrobacterium-mediated DNA transfer rate. The highest transformation rate was achieved when pre-cultured leaf explants were infected with an Agrobacterium culture corresponding to OD600 (0.5) for 10 min, and cultured on explant regeneration medium for three days. The results of Southern hybridization showed that genomic DNA of the kanamycin-resistant shoots to an UGPase gene probe substantiated the integration of the transgene. Transformation efficiency (6%) was achieved under the optimized transformation procedure. This system should facilitate the introduction of important useful genes into C. acuminata.

Genetic variations of wood properties and growth characters of Ko-rean pines from different provenances

Totally 26 provenance stands of 17-year-old Korean pine were selected for investigating wood properties and growth characters in Mao’ershan Experimental Forest Farm of Northeast Forestry University in 1999. The anatomical property indexes, including tracheid length, tracheid diameter and wall-indiameter ratio, and the physical property indexes, such as growth ring width, late wood percentage and growth ring density, were measured for wood properties. Growth character indexes, including tree height and diameter at breast height, were also measured. The analytical results showed that there exited obviously difference in wood property indexes between different provenances, which is suggested that wood properties are controlled by their genetic differences. The growth character indexes of Korean pines presented significant difference and they might also be controlled by their genetic differences. Most parameters of wood properties mainly varied in the direction of longitude, but the parameters of growth characters varied in the direction of latitude.

The preliminary study on juvenile-mature correlation ofPinus koraiensis

Through studying seven analytic trees from two stands ofPinus koraiensis artificial forests, the results show that the individual variation coefficient of tree heigh, dbh and volume decreases with age increasing after age of 25. Age of 25 is the age that difference of individual growth is from acute difference to comparatively stability. The optimum selection age is 25a forPinus koraiensis’s artificial forests according to the analysis of juvenile-mature correlation, and early selection efficiency.