Post plant mortality of eucalypts: A Sappi perspective

Transcription

1 // Post plant mortality of eucalypts: A Sappi perspective Generating gain with seedlings Tolerance nd selections Fibre rd testing and selection Fibre Gain st selections Volume Improved production populations nd testing and selection Wild seed sources Improved production populations st testing and selection Large genetic base Improved production populations Wayne Jones th Forest Science Symposium July Time Project outline Deployment strategies Changing strategies - Seedling, family or clonal forestry Investigation of post planting mortality o o o o Cheapest and most robust way to produce good quality planting stock is through seed orchards (BSO and SSO) Clonal family forestry using elite seedling families provides genetic buffering and gains Transfer of operational clones remains a risky strategy (frost, drought (Griffin ) and / or pests) Introduction Pathogen identification Conclusions Country Grower Type Australia All Chile Spain Portugal Uruguay Estate (K ha) % Planting stock type OP Seed CP seed Major industrials Major industrials 8 Major industrials All Clones Some areas coppiced rather than replanted Family forestry

2 // Genetic diversity of seed products, Standardized precipitation index months ( to ) Pollination outcomes for the progeny of tree following DNA fingerprinting analysis,,,, -, -, -, -, Cumulative monthly rainfall (mm) Mass production Rainfall decline in the Shafton area -, -, Mean outcomes from open pollination events in Eucalyptus dunnii seed orchards Monthly rainfall SPI month (Jones et al. ) (Crous ) Operational gain data Eucalyptus nitens Post planting mortality Mortality rate increases in the second half of summer Mortality is post blanking when trees are well established Currently Eucalyptus nitens has been affected the most Species such as E. macarthurii and E. dunnii have been showing signs of problems Est spha Stems per ha - years - years % % Provenance origin Isolation of exactly what is the cause has been limited to secondary infections Mixed (Ebor & Tal) Tallaganda Unknown Sampling is often too late to understand the primary cause of death Possible suspect: Phytophthora - a genus of microorganisms in the Stramenopile kingdom, which includes water molds, diatoms and brown algae. Resembles true fungi because they grow by means of fine filaments, called hyphae, and produce spores. Challenging weather conditions (drought, wind hail could be contributing factors Seed source could be a factor Forest Phytophthoras of the World () 8

3 // Sampling across sites Key focus areas Three plots of x trees per compartment, recorded height, defects and survival. Based on existing knowledge quantify s Develop and evaluate methods to mitigate s Define the symptoms and identify the cause Develop methods to select and breed resistant planting stock : Species comparison Altitude and age sampling matrix E. macarthurii Altitude class - years, trees lost Mean mortality (%) < months > months.. 8. Cool temperate cool m. 8.. Cool temperate warm -m years, trees lost Establish on the cooler sites Are conditions too hot and dry for E. nitens? Age class Cool temperate cold m Mean mortality (%) E. nitens Mortality (%)

4 // plots: Glenblain, Ia : Decision tree Tree height (m) 8 Glenbain Ia months months Max height (m).. Min height (m).. Mean height (m).8. Dead (%).. Correlation.8 Altitude - m asl Height Height m asl m asl E. nitens seedlings Opportunity loss % Alternative species / hybrid Opportunity loss % E. nitens seedlings Opportunity loss % Alternative species / hybrid Opportunity loss % E. nitens seedlings Opportunity loss % Individual trees m asl Alternative species / hybrid Opportunity loss % plots: Epsom, Cc model Tree height (m) 8 Epsom Cc months months Max height (m). 8. Min height (m).. Mean height (m).. Dead (%).. Correlation. Altitude - m asl Height Height Assumptions: Area planted ha, nine year rotation Site altitude (m asl) Species MAI Opportunity loss Realised MAI Rotation yield (k t) IRR (%) Total net profit over rotation (k R) E. nitens %.. Alternative %.. 8 E. nitens %.8. 8 Alternative %.. 8 Difference (k R) E. nitens %.. Alternative %.. 8 MAI, MeanAnnual Increment, IRR, Internal Rate of Return Jones, Smith and Germishuizen () Individual trees

5 // : What is the cause? Site Altitude Pinewoods m asl Plots x Glenbain - m asl x results: Glenbain Replications Plot Gelnbain b Date: 8// detail Phytophthora? GB, Plot, Row, Tree GB, Plot, Row, Tree GB, Plot, Row, Tree Fusarium spp. growth Mortierella sp. Plot detail GB, Plot, Row, Tree GB, Plot, Row, Tree GB, Plot, Row, Tree Phytophthora? Mortierella sp. growth Mortierella sp. Plot detail d trees per replication, showing symptoms of dying, every two weeks. Analysis conducted by TPCP diagnostic clinic. GB, Plot, Row, Tree GB8, Plot, Row, Tree GB, Plot, Row, Tree Phytophthora? Bacterial species & Fusarium sp. Pestalatiopsis sp. Pestalatiopsis sp. Summary of species found after five sets submitted Jones, Roux and Herron () Mortierella spp, Fusarium spp, Trichoderma spp, Pestaltiopsis spp, Penicillium spp, Gogronella spp, Clanostachys spp, Xeroacremonium spp, Ilynectria spp, Botryosphaeriaceae spp, Rhizopus spp and bacterial spp Phytophthora alticola (x) results: Glenbain Plot Gelanbain Compt b Date: 8// detail Root collar condition Good J-root Plug bound GB, Plot, Row, Tree Healthy, no discolouration Tap root healthy; main roots, ~% discoloured; few fine roots, % dead MLB on leaves; stem heatlhy GB, Plot, Row, Tree Healthy, no discolouration Tap root discoloured; main roots, ~8% discoloured; few fine roots, % dead leaves; stem healthy; secondary fungi on RC GB, Plot, Row, Tree Light discolouration in sapwood Tap root discoloured; few main roots, >% discoloured, many fine roots, ~% dead leaves; stem healthy; underdeveloped roots; knotted Root Structure Root condition Seed orchard sources comments/observations Orchard source Plot detail Root collar condition Good Root Structure J-root Plug bound Root condition GB, Plot, Row, Tree Healthy, no discolouration GB, Plot, Row, Tree Discolouration in sapwood and pith Tap root discoloured; main roots, ~8% discolouration, many fine roots, ~% dead Tap root discoloured; few main roots, >% discoloured, fine roots, ~% dead GB, Plot, Row, Tree Discolouration in sapwood comments/observations Tap root healthy; few main roots, % healthy, few fine roots, leaves; old wound on stem; knotted roots % dead leaves; stem healthy; underdeveloped roots C. eucalypti feeding on leaves; Phakopsora rust on leaves; secondary fungi on RC; stem discoloured in sapwood; underdeveloped roots Plot 8 detail GB, Plot, Row, Tree Root collar condition Discolouration in pith Good Root Structure J-root Plug bound Root condition Tap roots healthy; few main roots, ~% discoloured, few fine roots, ~% dead comments/observations GB8, Plot, Row, Tree Discolouration in sapwood GB, Plot, Row, Tree Healthy, no discolouration Tap root discoloured; few main roots, ~% discolouration, few fine roots, % dead Mortality (%) percentage Orchard A Pinewoods.8 (T). DeMagtenburg. (T). Orchard C SRC. (T). Orchard D Various. (T). Orchard E Pinewoods. (T).8 Dorstbult. (T). DeMagtenburg.% (S) 8.8 Orchard H DeMagtenburg. (S).8. Mean mortality (%) leaves; stem healthy; underdeveloped roots Tap root discoloured; main Phakopsora rust, C. eucalypti feeding on roots, ~% discoloured, many leaves; old wounds on bark; stem healthy, fine roots, ~% dead well developed and knotted roots Location 8 plots with 8 trees per plot = trees; T = tolerant; S = susceptible MLB on leaves; stem healthy, roots malformed and underdeveloped Use the better orchard sources

6 // Pedigree reconstruction results Seed orchard sources Compt F La La L E Da D Da Ea Fa F Aa E E E D U Ub Eb A E R Da D E F8 F D8a F Fa F8a F8b Area Seed Stock. EN. EN 88. EN 88. EN 88. EN.8 EN 88. EN 88. EN 88 EN 88. EN EN 88. EN.8 EN 88 EN EN 88. EN 88. EN 88. EN 88. EN 88. EN. EN 88. EN. EN 88.8 EN 88. EN 88. EN 88. EN. EN 88. EN 88. EN 8 EN 8. EN Orchard Sensitivity Orchard H Orchard E Orchard H Orchard H AGE Altitude d trees in compartment D8a at for DNA analysis ( healthy trees and dying trees) Death Rate Percentage of the population Plantation Seed parent SAPB Tree SAPB Tree SAPB 8 (Full-sib) SAPB 8 (Full-sib) SAPB 8 (Half-sib) SAPB 8 Tree SAPB Tree SAPB 8 (Half-sib) SAPB 8 Tree SAPB Tree SAPB 8 (Half-sib) SAPB Tree SAPB 8 Tree SAPB (Half-sib) SAPB 8 Tree SAPB Tree SAPB Tree SAPB 8 Tree SAPB 8 (Half-sib) SAPB 8 Tree SAPB 8 Tree SAPB (Self) SAPB 8 Tree SAPB 8 Tree SAPB (Self) SAPB (Self) SAPB (Self) SAPB 8 (Self) SAPB 8 (Self) SAPB (Self) SAPB 8 (Self) SAPB 8 (Self) SAPB Tree Unkown external SAPB (Half-sib external) SAPB Tree Unknown external SAPB 88 (Half-sib external) Selfs Actual outcomes from open pollination events in E. nitens seed orchard % outcrossed and % selfs Effective population size n= SAPB 8 (Half-sib) E. nitens orchard Outcrossed progeny are likely to survive and grow better than selfed trees Commercial stand Percentage of the population Ten dying Ten live Pollen parent Outcome Status SAPB Tree SAPB 8 (Full-sib) SAPB Tree SAPB 8 (Full-sib) SAPB Tree SAPB 8 (Half-sib) SAPB 8 Tree SAPB Tree SAPB 8 (Half-sib) SAPB 8 Tree SAPB Tree SAPB 8 (Half-sib) SAPB Tree SAPB 8 Tree SAPB 8 (Half-sib) SAPB 8 (Self) SAPB 8 (Self) SAPB 8 (Self) SAPB Tree Unknown external SAPB 88 (Half-sib external) SAPB Tree SAPB (Full-sib) SAPB 8 Tree SAPB Tree SAPB 8 (Half-sib) SAPB Tree SAPB 8 Tree SAPB (Half-sib) SAPB 8 Tree SAPB 8 Tree SAPB (Self) SAPB 8 Tree SAPB 8 Tree SAPB (Self) SAPB (Self) SAPB (Self) SAPB 8 (Self) SAPB (Self) SAPB Tree Unkown external SAPB (Half-sib external) Outcrossed Selfs Live trees were sampled adjacent to dying trees DNA Fingerprint Pedigree could determine survival under field conditions Seed parent Improved tolerance Pedigree reconstruction results Pedigree reconstruction Outcome SAPB (Full-sib) SAPB Tree Outcrossed Pollen parent SAPB Tree Pollination outcomes for the progeny of seed stock 88 following DNA fingerprinting analysis - % assignment Jones, Reynolds and Naidoo () Surviving trees

7 // Seed Source Trials Pedigree reconstruction results Glenbain, KwaZulu-Natal SGGT Seed source DNA fingerprinting analysis Pollination events are not always random Shy flowering species could be subject to poor outcrossing and depressed growth Do sub-dominant trees die over time? Water only Average Dead height (m) Woodstock, Mpumalanga Hydrogel Average Dead height (m) GN hybrid Grand Total.... Water only SGG8T Seed source Dead Average height (m)..8 8 Hydrogel Average height (m) Dead GN hybrid Grand Total Seed Source Trials Seed Source by cultural treatment Species: E. nitens Design: Split plot Treatments: seed sources each with or without hydrogel Plot size: x tree plots Area:. ha Location: Woodstock m asl Glenbain m asl % % Percentage death % % Water only 8% Hydrogel % % % % Glenbain Aim: Interaction between seed source and cultural treatment (hydrogel) Woodstock Overall 8

8 // Seed Source by cultural treatment EPPM Working Group W Jones,8 J Roux Average height (m),, Based on existing knowledge quantify s, Define the symptoms and identify the cause, Water, Hydrogel Develop and evaluate methods to mitigate s,, Develop methods to select and breed resistant planting stock A Morris A Kanzler Key focus areas Conclusions Acknowledgements Seed Technology Programme TPCP Diagnostic Clinic Forest Molecular Programme Institute for Commercial Forestry Research benefits appear to be in the lower to mid altitude sites where E. nitens is more compromised Phytophthora does not appear to be the primary cause of death, but cannot be ruled out diagnosis is difficult Abiotic stress and secondary fungal pathogens are having a major and pollination events appear to have an on survival Effective population size and outcrossing rate could provide better buffering to abiotic stresses Thank you Current silvicultural recommendations appear to have no negative on mortality 8