Electron Microscopic Studies of Spruce Needles in Connection with the Occurrence of Novel Forest Decline

Jung, G.; Wild, Aloysius

doi:10.1111/j.1439-0434.1988.tb00985.x

Cited by 20 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…The investigations described here are part of a project dealing with the research of physiology and histology of forest trees in various natural habitats (cf. Benner and Wild, 1987;Wild, 1987a, b;Duball and Wild, 1988;Dietz et al, 1988;Jung and Wild, 1988;Volckers and Wild, 1988;Benner et al, 1989;Rosenkranz et al, 1989;Schmieden-Kompalla et al, 1989).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigations on the Starch Content and Ultrastructure of Spruce Needles Relative to the Occurrence of Novel Forest Decline

1989

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The starch content and ultrastructure of needles of Norway spruce trees [Picea abies (L.) Karst.] taken from three natural habitats, undamaged or with symptoms of novel forest decline, were investigated during the course of three years.The starch content was clearly dependent on the seasons, with a maximum in spring and a decline during summer and autumn, leading to a minimum in winter. Needles of damaged trees from one habitat exhibited in all three years from August to October a significantly higher starch content than their undamaged counterparts. Microscopic investigations of these needle samples exhibited severe damage symptoms to the phloem in macroscopically green needles, though more intensely in the needles with yellowing symptoms. The phenomenon of starch accumulation is interpreted as a delay in starch mobilization, caused by a reduction in assimilate transport capacity of the needle phloem.The lower degree of starch accumulation in needles of damaged trees from a second natural habitat corresponded well to the lesser extent of phloem damage. The difference in damage patterns are discussed in terms ofthe differing air pollution situations acting on both habitats.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigations on the Starch Content and Ultrastructure of Spruce Needles Relative to the Occurrence of Novel Forest Decline

1989

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“…Fewer grana thylakoids have been detected with other nutrient deficiencies or sulphur dioxide fumigations (e.g. Malhotra 1976;Schiffgens-Gruber and Ltitz 1991;Holopainen et al 1992), in industrial environments (Soikkeli 1981) or in forest decline areas (Sutinen 1987b;Jung and Wild 1988). However, in the present study this symptom was most notable in afflicted pines with a low Mg concentration, while other symptoms typical of air pollutants (e. g. K~enlampi and Houpis 1986;Saastamoinen and Holopainen 1989) were not detected.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Chemical composition and ultrastructural changes in Scots pine needles in a forest decline area in southwestern Finland

Palomäki

Raitio²

1995

Trees

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Abstract. Tree decline and deaths have been observed among 15 to 20-year-old Scots pines (Pinus sylvestris L.) in a dry heath forest in southwestern Finland. The sudden decline in height growth, the dieback of leading shoots and the yellowing of needles in young shoots in the upper part of the tree are typical symptoms of the decline of these young pines. Needle ultrastructure and chemical composition of Scots pines with or without decline and fluctuations of them in different seasons were studied. Afflicted trees were found to suffer from a deficiency in calcium and magnesium with low concentration of foliar nitrogen and phosphorus observed in all the trees studied. Ultrastructural study revealed changes characteristic of different seasons and measured nutrient status of needles. A clear reduction of membrane system in chloroplasts, especially related to Mg deficiency, was observed in most samples. The symptoms related to N deficiency, the translucent appearance of the cytoplasm and chloroplast stroma, and the elongated chloroplasts, as well as swelling of mitochondria, indicating P deficiency, were also found in the needles sampled from this forest decline area. The present study showed that it is possible to detect specific nutrient deficiency symptoms in needle ultrastructure in field samples and for use as sensitive indicators of unbalanced nutrient status.

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“…Electron microscope investigations (Jung and Wild 1988) and investigations of components of electron transport led to the belief that early damage of cellular membranes is essential to the reduced photosynthetic capacity and the disturbed stomatal reactions. Lowered electron transport rates as well as reduced ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate-carboxylase activity Wild 1987b) can be regarded as a result of the damage of the thylakoid membranes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The presented investigations of photosynthesis and transpiration were part of a research project on the physiological, biochemical and cytomorphological characterization of spruce trees with different degrees of damage (cf., Wild 1987a, b;Dietz et al 1988;Diiball and Wild 1988;Jung and Wild 1988;Rosenkranz et al 1988;Wild 1988;Wild et al 1988). The main part of the investigation concerns a spruce plantation near IdarOberstein in the Hunsriick mountains.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Photosynthesis and transpiration of healthy and diseased spruce trees in the course of three vegetation periods

Benner

Sabel

Wild

1988

Trees

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Summary. CO2-and H20-gas exchange of 20-to 25-year-old spruce trees from a plantation in the Hunsriick mountains were investigated over a period of 3 years. All measurements were made as pair comparisons, i.e., in each case the gas exchange of a damaged tree and of a relatively healthy tree in its immediate vicinity was measured simultaneously. A second plantation in the Westerwald mountains consisted of 18-year-old apparently healthy spruce trees. Pair comparison at this location meant comparison of two healthylooking trees. The investigations at both locations included diurnal course measurements of photosynthesis and transpiration, and light saturation curves and CO2-saturation curves of photosynthesis. The reduced photosynthesis parameters of the phenotypically damaged trees at the HunsriJck location indicates massive damage to the photosynthetic apparatus. Measurements of H20-gas exchange showed that there are disturbances in stomatal regulation of the needles of damaged trees. As a result, the water use efficiency of these needles proved to be significantly lower. In addition, apparent photorespiration of the damaged trees was decreased, whereas their light-and CO2-compensation points and their dark respiration were increased. In contrast to the Hunsriick plantation, no such effects were detectable when the healthy-looking Westerwald trees were subjected to pair comparison of gas exchange. Reduced photosynthetic capacity and disturbances of the stomatal regulation of the phenotypically damaged Hunsrfick trees may be due to damage in the cellular membranes. Furthermore, a comOffprint requests to: A. Wild parison of three growing seasons led to the conclusion that the gas exchange of spruce trees in their natural habitat is markedly influenced by climatic conditions.

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Electron Microscopic Studies of Spruce Needles in Connection with the Occurrence of Novel Forest Decline

Cited by 20 publications

References 24 publications

Investigations on the Starch Content and Ultrastructure of Spruce Needles Relative to the Occurrence of Novel Forest Decline

Investigations on the Starch Content and Ultrastructure of Spruce Needles Relative to the Occurrence of Novel Forest Decline

Chemical composition and ultrastructural changes in Scots pine needles in a forest decline area in southwestern Finland

Photosynthesis and transpiration of healthy and diseased spruce trees in the course of three vegetation periods

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