Optimum conditions for pure culture of major ectomycorrhizal fungi obtained from Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica plantations in southeastern Keerqin sandy lands, China

The effects of medium, pH, water potential and temperature on the culture for three pure strains （Lactarius deliciosus, Boletus edulis and Lactarius insulsus） of ectomycorrhizal fungi from plantation forests of Mongolian pine （Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica） on sandy lands were observed to obtain the optimum conditions for the growth of ectomycorrhizal fungi. The results indicated that the three ectomycorrhizal fungi could grow well in the mediums containing natural components, such as vitamin, pine juice and yeast powder, pH had a slight effect on the growth of the three ectomycorrhizal fungi, and the optimum pH values were 6.0 for L. deliciosus, 5.0 for B. edulis, respectively. However, L. insulsus had a wide pH range, and it grew better than the other two strains in neutral and light alkalescent mediums. Water potential （produced by Polyethylene Glycol, PEG） had significant effects on the ecological adaptability for the tested three fungi strains. All of the three stains grow better at lower PEG concentration （100 g PEG.kg^-1 H2O）. The best water potential was 10% PEG concentration for all of the three stains. Temperatures, especially high temperatures induced the fungi death. The optimum temperature for the growth of ectomycorrhizal fungi was 25-28℃ for all of the three stains.

Natural regeneration characteristics of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica forests on sandy land in Honghuaerji, China

Natural regeneration in Mongolian pine, Pinus sylvesttis var. mongolica, forest at Honghuaerji of China （the original of the natural Mongolian pine, forest on sandy land） was studied in 2004. The total mean values of regeneration indexes were higher in mature stands （more than 80% individual stems were older than 50 years）, the maximum of regeneration index reached 29 seedlings, m^ 2, with lowest values in the younger stand, e.g., in 32-year old and 43-year old stands. The stand age was an important factor determining the natural regeneration, which was the best in the older stands in this investigation （e.g. about 80-year old）. The regeneration index seemed not to be closely in relation to canopy openness although Mongolian pine is a photophilic tree species. In each type of gaps, natural regeneration was very well. Regeneration indexes were satisfactory at the south and east edges in the circle gaps; and at the east edge of the narrow-square gaps. Results indicated that Mongolian pine, seedlings could endure shading understory, but it would not enter the canopy layer without gap or large disturbance, e.g., fire, wind/snow damage or clear cutting etc. These results may provide potentially references to the management and afforestation of Mongolian pine, plantations on sandy land in arid and semi-arid areas. Researches such as the comprehensive comparisons on regeneration, structure and ecological conditions and so on between natural Mongolian pine, forests and plantations should be conducted in the future.

Comparison of foliar nutrient concentrations between natural and artificial forests of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica on sandy land, China

In order to examine the causes of degradation of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica plantations on sandy land, the foliar concentrations of N, P, K and C were analyzed and compared between the field grown P. sylvestris var. mongolica trees from two provenances （natural forests and plantations）. The results indicated that natural tree needles had lower N, P and C concentrations, and higher K concentrations than those of plantation tree needles. For plantation tree needles, ratios of N： P, P. K and N： K increased with tree age before 45 years old; but they were not clear for the natural tree needles. Compared with the conclusions reported on Pinus spp., we found that the foliar N and P concentrations were in the optimal range for both natural and plantation tree needles. This result suggested that N or P might not be the absolute limit factors in plant nutrient for P sylvestris var. mongolica on sandy land. However, foliar K concentrations in both natural and plantation tree needles were much lower than those reported on Pinus spp. （〉4.80 g kg-1）.The N： P ratio of natural needles was in the adequate ranges, but N： P ratio of plantation needles was out of the adequate ranges. These results indicated that there was a better balanced nutrition status in the natural forest than in the plantations. If only considering the foliar nutrient concentrations of P sylvestris var. mongolica from different provenances, it might be concluded that the degradation phenomenon of P. sylvestris var. mongolica plantations was not induced by nutrition deficiency of absolute nutrients of N and P, but might be induced by other mineral nutrients or by the effectiveness of N and P nutrients. The unbalanced nutrition status and relatively quick decomposition of needles in the plantations might also contribute to the degradation.

Comparison of stand structure and growth between artificial and natural forests of Pinus sylvestiris var. mongolica on sandy land

Mongolian pine (Pinus sylvestiris Linnaeus var. mongolica Litvinov) as a valuable conifer tree species has been broadly introduced to the sandy land areas in 揟hree North?regions (North, northwest and northeast of China), but many problems occurred in the earliest Mongolian pine plantations in Zhanggutai, Zhangwu County, Liaoning Province (ZZL). In order to clarify the reason, comprehensive investigations were carried out on differences in structure characteristics, growth processes and ecological factors between artificial stands (the first plantation established in ZZL in 1950s) and natural stands (the origin forests of the tree species in Honghuaerji, Inner Mongolia) on sandy land. The results showed that variation of diameter-class distributions in artificial stands and natural stands could be described by Weibull and Normal distribution models, respectively. Chapman-Richards growth model was employed to reconstruct the growth process of Mongolian pine based on the data from field investigation and stem analysis. The ages of maximum of relative growth rate and average growth rate of DBH, height, and volume of planted trees were 11, 22 years, 8, 15 years and 35, 59 years earlier than those of natural stand trees, respectively. In respect of the incremental acceleration of volume, the artificial and natural stands reached their maximum values at 14 years and 33 years respectively. The quantitative maturity ages of artificial stands and natural stands were 43 years and 102 years respectively. It was concluded that the life span of the Mongolian pine trees in natural stands was about 60 years longer than those in artificial stands. The differences mentioned above between artificial and natural Mongolian pine forests on sandy land were partially attributed to the drastic variations of ecological conditions such as latitude, temperature, precipitation, evaporation and height above sea level. Human beings' disturbances and higher density in plantation forest may be ascribed as additional reasons. Those results may be potentially useful for the management and afforestation of Mongolian pine plantations on sandy land in arid and semi-arid areas.

Effects of peat and weathered coal on the growth of Pinus sylvestrisvar. mongolica seedlings on aeolian sandy soil

The experiment was conducted at the Ganqika Sandy Land Ecological Station in Ke抏rqinzuoyihouqi County, Inner Mongolia, in a growing season from April 28 to October 28, 2001. Peat and weathered coal were added to the aeolian sandy soil in different ratios. Two-year-old Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica seedlings and plastic pots were used in the experiment. The experimental results indicated that: 1) the peat and weathered coal could significantly improve the physical and chemical prop-erties of aeolian sandy soil, and thus promoted the growth of seedlings; 2) the effect of peat on seedling growth, including height, base diameter, root length and biomass, presented an order of 8%>10%>5%>2%>0 in terms of peat contents, and the effect of weathered coal on seedling growth presented an order of 5%>8%>10%>2%>0 in terms of weathered coal contents for height and basal diameter, 5%>8%>2% >10%>0 for root length, and 5%>2%>8% >10%>0 for biomass; 3) the effects of peat were generally greater than that of weathered coal. Meanwhile, 8% peat was the best treatment to promote the growth of P. sylvestris var. mongolica seedlings.

Bio-productivity of Pinus sylvestris L.var. mongolica plantation on west Kerqin sandy land

The biomass and net primary production of Mongolian scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L. var mongolica) plantations of west Kerqin sandy land were measured. According to average standard trees, the biomass, netprimary production and their distributions of trunk, bark, branch, leaf and root of 16-year-old stand were analyzed.The regressive equation for the estimation of each organ biomass was established through djmensional analysis.Preferable equation with higher precision was selected. The study results showed that the total biomass of theforest community was 62.023 t/hm2 and net primary production was 5.045 V(hm2. a). which indicates that thecommunity of plantation possesses high bio-productivity.

科尔沁沙地南缘樟子松(Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica)人工林天然更新障碍

针对科尔沁沙地南缘樟子松人工林不能天然更新的特征，从森林天然更新的必要条件出发，通过种子萌发、幼苗存活与生长所需条件的系列试验，探讨了科尔沁沙地南缘樟子松人工林不能天然更新的障碍特征。结果表明，沙地樟子松人工林不能天然更新的主要原因有：（1）由于土壤的干旱胁迫使沙地樟子松人工林中天然下种的种子很少有萌发的机会，尤其是在春季；（2）在水分条件相对充足的季节（秋季），樟子松种子能够萌发，但萌发产生的更新幼苗数量极少，即便这些更新幼苗得以存活，但由于沙地表层（0～5cm）与樟子松共生的外生菌根菌几乎不能存活而导致幼苗根系无法形成菌根，从而致使存活的樟子松幼苗抗旱、抗病能力非常弱，不能越冬，即不能更新。

不同强度净风频繁吹袭对樟子松(Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica)幼苗光合蒸腾特征的影响

为了解不同强度净风频繁吹袭对樟子松幼苗光合蒸腾特性的影响,2013年春季在内蒙古科尔沁沙地研究了0(对照)、6、9、12、15、18 m/s等6个风速处理(分别相当于0、4、5、6、7、8级风)4次吹袭下樟子松幼苗光合速率、蒸腾速率、水分利用效率等指标的变化。结果表明,净风频繁吹袭没有改变樟子松幼苗的光合速率和蒸腾速率的日变化规律,但可使其光合蒸腾的"午休"时间加长、"休眠"程度加深;随着风吹强度的增加,其日均光合能力和蒸腾速率显著降低,其中18 m/s处理较对照分别下降27.6%和22.3%;随着风吹强度增加,气孔导度、胞间CO_2浓度均先下降后回升,除18 m/s处理胞间CO_2浓度显著高于CK外,其他处理均显著低于CK;随着风吹强度增加,水分利用效率和光能利用效率均先增加后下降,其中除18 m/s处理的水分利用效率显著低于CK,6 m/s处理的光能利用效率高于CK外,其他处理的水分利用效率均高于CK,光能利用效率均低于CK;日均光合蒸腾速率的下降主要源于气孔导度的降低,而水分利用效率和光能利用效率的变化均受制于光合速率和蒸腾速率的变化。

Effects of silvicultural treatments on mechanical properties of Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica plantations

A study was conducted to determine the influences of initial planting densities, thinning intensities, exposures and slope sites on physical property （wood density） and mechanical properties such as modulus of elasticity （MOE）, bending strength, impact strength, compression strength along grain and hardness） of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica plantation in Mao＇ershan Forest Farm, Northeast China. Results show that the different initial planting densities （1.5 m×1.0 m, 1.5 m×2.0 m and 1.5 m×2.5 m） had significant effects on wood density and MOE, and the highest mean wood density and indexes of mechanical properties occurred in the stand with an initial planting density of 1.5 m×1.0 m. The indexes of mechanical properties such as hardness of end, bending strength, MOE and compression strength along grain of wood increased after mild thinning, but decreased after violent thinning. The exposures （sunny slope and shady slope） had a significant effect on MOE, and the highest mean MOE occurred on sunny slope. The slope sites （upper site and lower site） had a significant effect on wood density and main mechanical properties, except hardness. The highest mean wood density and mechanical properties occurred at lower site.

Ectomycorrhizal fungus enhances drought tolerance of Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica seedlings and improves soil condition

Mongolian pine is an important afforestation species widely used for ecological management in northeast China. The environment in this region is very unstable and the flora are regularly subjected to drought stress.This paper reports on the influence of inoculation with the Suillus luteus on seedlings under different water conditions.Both inoculated and non-inoculated ectomycorrhizal fungi(ECMF)-S. luteus seedlings were maintained under wellwatered or water-stress conditions for 3 months. The S.luteus colonization rate under water stress was higher than that in well-watered conditions. Under water stress, inoculated seedlings had greater growth than non-inoculated seedlings. In addition, under water stress, S. luteus-inoculated seedlings had greater superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activity, higher soluble protein content, lower proline content, and lower malondialdehyde content than non-inoculated seedlings. S. luteus colonization increased the rhizosphere soil-enzyme activity and the rhizosphere soil nutrition content under both well-watered and water-stress conditions. Given the positive impact on seedling growth and physiology, S. luteus shows potential for use in the arid and semi-arid regions of northeast China for afforestation.

Effects of an ectomycorrhizal fungus on the growth and physiology of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica seedlings subjected to saline-alkali stress

This research investigates the mechanism of increased salinity tolerance of ectomycorrhizal fungiinoculated P. sylvestris var. mongolica to provide a theoretical basis for the application of the fungus in saline soils.Growth effects due to inoculation of seedlings with Suillus luteus(a symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungus), were determined in four kinds of saline–alkali soils. Growth and physiological indicators, including photosynthetic characteristics, plant height, biomass, photosynthetic pigments,catalase(CAT) and superoxide dismutase(SOD) enzyme levels, and malondialdehyde(MDA), an organic marker for oxidative stress, and soluble protein levels were determined. Mycorrhizal colonization rate decreased with increasing saline–alkalinity and growth of inoculated seedlings was significantly enhanced. Biomass and chlorophyll contents also increased significantly. SOD and CAT activities were higher than in non-inoculated seedlings. However, MDA content decreased in inoculatedseedlings. Soluble protein content did not increase significantly. Inoculation with a symbiotic ectomycorrhizal fungus could enhance the saline–alkali tolerance of P. sylvestris var. mongolica. Growth and physiological performance of inoculated seedlings were significantly better than that of uninoculated seedlings. The results indicate that inoculated P. sylvestris var. mongolica seedlings may be useful in the improvement of saline–alkali lands.

COMPARATIVE STUDY ON DROUGHT RESISTANCE OF LARIX OLGENSIS HENRY AND PINUS SYLVESTRIS VAR.MONGOLICA(Ⅰ)──THE INFLUENCE OF SOIL WATER CONTENT ON SEEDLINGS PLANTING IN FLOWERPOT

Water potential (φ w .) and net photosynthetic rate (Pn) of Larix olgensis and Pinns.sylvestris var. mongolica deercased with the deerease of soil water content φw and Pn of L.olgensis changed hardly during the first 9 davs after stopping watering, then deereased sharply at the 10th dav Pn of P sylvestris var mongolica deereased slightly during the lirst 8 days, then deereased sharply at the 9th day Their respiration rate, chlorophyll content and their a/b ratio changed hardly. The tollowing 3 conclusions were obtained and discussed exhaustively . (Ⅰ) φ w can be used to direct watering as a sensitive index of judging whether L. olgensis and P.sylvestris var. mongolica lacking water (2 )The deereasc of Pn of L. olgensis and P. sylvestris var. mongolica when drought had nothing to do with chlorophyll. (3) P. sylvestris var. mongolica had morphological drought resistance . while L,olgensis had physiological drought resistance, and their drought resistance was discnssed comparatively first time.

Effect of Three Treatment Measures on Harmless Seedling Raising of Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica Litv.

Three treatment measures for raising seedlings by sowing, Le. covering seeds with two layers of forest soil, culturing seedlings under full sunshine and timely sowing in late autumn, were adopted in this study. The results indicated that the three treatments were of good prevention effects on sheath blight or seedling blight, sunscald and rat damage in Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica, could avoid the pollution of agrochemicals to soil and environment as well as decrease cost for raising seedlings, and thus could promote the development of bio-agrochemicals or bio-fungicides with high efficiency and no pollution for resisting the pathogens of sheath blight.

INTRASPECIFIC GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION AND PRIMARY SELECTION ON THE BEST PROVENANCE OF PINUS SYLVESTRIS VAR. MONGOLICA

This paper summarizes the result from the provenance test of eight years old Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica in Liangshui Natural Rcserve comprehensivcly. The main contents include:(1) the geographic variation of the growth characters of Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica.tends to negative change gradually at latitude and has obvious climatic nature, (2) no significant difference exists in the morphological adaptability and resistant characteristics and so on; (3)on the basis of the geographic variation study on the growth characteristics, the provcnances of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica were classificd into two geographic populations and two subpopulations as follows:the northern population of the Daxing'an Mountain (Ⅰ) and the southern population of the Daxing'an Mountain as wcll as the Xiaoxinglan Mountain (Ⅱ),which includcs Honghuarii subpopulation and Kalunshan subpopulation (Ⅱ-2). (4) the height growth rhythm was analyzed according to the divided population and subpopuIation; (5) the best provcnance was selected for the Liangshui Natural Rescrve and its neighborhood accord ing to the results from SSR test of the growth characteristics (the breast height diameter and height of eight year old trces), the possibility of the carly provcnance sclection was also verified by the method of order correlation analysis on the height growth of three. five, scvcn and eight years old provenances.

Disease Law and Forecasting of the Needle Blight ofPinus sylvestris var. mongolica

Fixed quadrates were established in different stands. In continued six years, the occurring period, occurring amounts and the relation between epidemic disease and environmental factors were investigated according to spraying lawsof spores and accounting measures of disease ranking. The occuring peak period of the disease was from the last ten days ofMay to the second ten days of June. The epidemic period was from the last ten days of June to the second ten days of Julyand the initial decease period was from the last ten days of July to the beginning of September. The change of the diseasedepended on air temperature, relative humidity and precipitation. A multiple linear regression model was established usingcomputer, which can predict the disease index(Y) of 10 days later, with more than 95% reliability

Promoting the Growth of Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica Seedlings and Improving Rhizosphere Fungal Community Structure through Interaction between Trichoderma and Ectomycorrhizal Fungi

In this study,pot experiments were conducted on the seedlings of Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica to study the influence of Trichoderma(Trichoderma harzianum E15)and Ectomycorrhizal fungi(Suillus luteus N94)on the growth of these seedlings.In particular,the effects of these fungi on the fungal community structure in the rhizosphere soil of the seedlings were investigated.Inoculation with Trichoderma harzianum E15 and Suillus luteus N94 significantly(P<0.05)promoted the growth of the Pinus sylvestris seedlings.The non-metric multidimensional scaling(NMDS)results indicated a significant difference(P<0.05)between the fungal community structures in the rhizosphere soil of the annual and biennial seedlings.In the rhizosphere soil of annual seedlings,the main fungi were Ascomycota,Basidiomycota,Zygomycota.Ascomycota,Basidiomycota,Mortierellomycota,and p-unclassified-k-Fungi were the main fungi in the rhizosphere soil of biennial seedlings.The dominant genus in the rhizosphere soil and a key factor promoting the growth of the annual and the biennial seedlings was Trichoderma,Suillus,respectively.Both of them were negatively correlated with the relative abundance of microbial flora in the symbiotic environment.Trichoderma had a significant promoting effect on the conversion of total phosphorus,total nitrogen,ammonium nitrogen,nitrate nitrogen,and the organic matter in the rhizosphere soil of the seedlings,while Suillus significantly promoted the conversion of organic matter and total phosphorus.

Spatial distribution of needle bright disease of Pinus sylvestris var.mongolica

The spatial distribution pattern of needle bright disease was mathematically studied. The results showed that it is tally with negative binomial distribution. The infected area and damaged amount can be forecasted with this spatial distribution pattern. Through the study on probability distribution of spatial points for single tree, the method and equations for calculation of the disease index of whole forest belt were determined.

Climatic response of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica tree-ring width and precipitation reconstruction for the northern Greater Higgnan Mountains, China, since 1720

August-June precipitation has been reconstructed back to AD 1720 for the northern Greater Higgnan Mountains, China, by use ofPinus sylvestris var. mongolica tree-ring width. The reconstruction explains the variance of 39% in observed precipitation from 1973 to 2008. Some extremely dry/wet signals in historical documents and other precipitation reconstructions in previous studies are precisely captured in our reconstruction. Wet periods occurred during the periods of 1730 to 1746, 1789 to 1812, 1844 to 1903, 1920 to 1930, 1942 to 1961, and 1985 to 1998; while periods of 1747 to 1788, 1813 to 1843, 1904 to 1919, 1931 to 1941, and 1962 to 1984 were relatively dry. Power spectral and wavelet analyses demon- strated the existence of significant 24-year, 12-year, and 2-year cycles of variability.

Comparison of the Xylem Anatomical Traits of <i>L. gmelinii</i>and <i>P. sylvestris</i>var. <i>mongolica</i>at Three Longitudinal Sites

To find out the Xylem anatomical variations we analyzed the cell structure, lumen area early wood, lumen area late wood, ring width growth response relationship to climate factors in boreal forests. We present growth response from 3-sites KYH (Kheyihe), MEDG (Moredagha), ALH (Alihe) from central Daxing’an mountains China. Variations observed in Cell size from 2010-2016 years in Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica and Larix gmelinii. We analyzed growth response from 2010-2016. Results interoperates that significant growth of Larixgmelinii was lower at ALH-site than Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica as compared to KYH and MEDG-site. We measure the influence of temperature and precipitation which have been shown by correlations of different growing seasons. The warmest temperature from June to September at ALH-site growth of late wood show significant differences at ALH-site. It is also observed that summer temperature in late wood have a significant role in cell dimensions, while the influence of spring temperature frequently influences on tracheid size in early wood formation providing well-documented sound for anatomy and generally used for determining the relationship between maximum growth of tree ring density and effect of temperature variation.

Effects of soil moisture and soil depth on nitrogen mineralization process under Mongolian pine plantations in Zhanggutai sandy land, P. R. China

The rates of soil N mineralization at soil depths of 0-15, 15-30, 30-45 and45-60 cm and moisture regimes were measured at three sand-fixation plantations of Pinus sylvestrisvar. mongolica by laboratory aerobic incubation method. The results showed that average rates ofsoil net N-mineralization across soil depth varied from 1.06 to 7.52 mg · kg^(-1)·month^(-1) atsoil depths from 0 to 60 cm. Statistical analyses indicated that the effects of different soildepths, moistures and their interactions on net N-mineralization rates were significant (P < 0.05).The net N-mineralization rates significantly decreased with increasing soil depths and at depth 0-15cm accounted for 60.52% of that at depth of 0-60 cm. There was no difference in soil netN-mineralization rates between half and fully-saturated water treatments, however these rates weresubstantially higher than that without water treatment (P < 0.05). The factors influencing Nmineralization process have to be studied further in these semiarid pine ecosystems.