Thesis (Ph. D.)--Oregon State University, 1999. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 172-185). Also available on the World Wide Web.

Thesis (M.S.)--Oregon State University, 2001. / Typescript (photocopy). Includes bibliographical references (leaves 45-48). Also available on the World Wide Web.

The neutral fraction of the petroleum ether extract of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) bark was shown to be rich in compounds of the triterpene class. In particular three monomethyl ether derivatives of triterpene diols were isolated (compounds A, B and C). The structure of the main component, compound A, was proved by methylation studies to be 3β-methoxy-21β-hydroxy-∆¹⁴-serratene (LXXI) and the parent diol, 21-episerratenediol (LIV), and related ketone, 3β-methoxy-21 keto-∆¹⁴-serratene (LVIIa) were also isolated and identified. The other major component, compound B, was shown to have the structure 3α-methoxy-21β-hydroxy-∆¹⁴-serratene (LXXX) by appropriate correlation with known compounds of the serratene series. Compound C is isomeric with A and B but the double bond exists in the fully substituted ∆¹³ position. The most likely structure for this compound is 3α-methoxy-21β-hydroxy-∆¹³-serratene (LXXXI) as shown,by the correlation of its acetate with iso compound B acetate. Two other triterpenes, a ketol, C₃₀H₄₈O₂, and diaxial diol, C₃₀H₅₀O₂, were also isolated but their structures were not conclusively established. A diterpene alcohol, C₂₀H₃₄O, was separated and had spectral properties suggesting its identity with the known compound manool. The extract also contained fatty acid esters of β-sitosterol and presumably of glycerol. The identity of the acids was not investigated. A low melting wax ester was recovered but was not examined in detail. It is interesting to note that the fundamental triterpene skeleton of the above compounds is one in which ring C is seven-membered and only recently have such compounds been obtained in Nature. They undoubtedly present an interesting variation in triterpene biosynthesis. / Science, Faculty of / Chemistry, Department of / Graduate

A study was made of two glucomannans, one isolated by alkaline borate extraction of Sitka spruce wood and the second from black spruce. These were methylated by the Hakomori procedure employing sodium hydride in dimethyl sulfoxide. Considerable experimentation was done to determine the best conditions for methylation and to demonstrate the utility and practicability of analysis by these methods. Some inferences regarding the structure of the glucomannans are drawn from the methylation data. / Science, Faculty of / Chemistry, Department of / Graduate

This study was designed to investigate the repellent effects of pineoil on the Sitka spruce weevil (=white pine weevil), Pissodes strobi Peck, and to evaluate the utility of large scale color aerial photography for detecting weevil attacked Sitka spruce, Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr.. Two formulations of pineoil, BBR1 and BBR2, were field tested for their effect in protecting immature Sitka spruce from weevil attack in 36 twenty meter square plots at two locations on Vancouver Island. The pineoil formulations were applied both topically to the terminal leaders and in slow release devices hung at the apical whorl of Sitka spruce trees. The topical application of BBR1 to the leaders of all trees in the plots reduced the number of new weevil attacks to two trees compared with 24 new attacks in the control plots. None of the other pineoil treatments were found to differ significantly from the controls. An examination of the weevil attack history in the study plots showed that the average number of new weevil attacks in the pineoil treated plots were proportionately lower than the number of new attacks in the control plots. These findings suggest that applications of BBR1 to the terminal leaders of Sitka spruce trees will protect them from attack by P. strobi. Large scale color infra-red (CIR) and normal color (NC) aerial photograph stereo transparencies were evaluated for their utility in detecting weevil attacks in immature Sitka spruce stands. Four independent interpreters correctly identified an average of 38% more weeviled trees on CIR film than on NC film during a 1 minute test period. More errors were made by the interpreters with CIR film than with NC film. Interpreter errors made with CIR film were mainly due to a lack of ability to discriminate between new weevil attacks and attacks made the previous year. Errors made with NC film were due mainly to misidentifying healthy trees as new weevil attacks. These findings suggest that for the purpose of detecting weevil attacked Sitka spruce trees, CIR aerial photographs would be both faster and more accurate than NC photographs. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 1994. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves [136]-145).

No description available.

No description available.

Tree breeders worldwide have highlighted the importance of wood quality within the juvenile core in determining final timber strength. The potential for improving timber strength by estimating genetic parameters of certain wood properties of Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) within the outer zone of the juvenile core was investigated. Fifteen trees were sampled from each of 33 families selected from a 20 year old open pollinated progeny trial. A number of wood properties critical to wood strength were measured; namely, density, grain angle, microfibril angle and branching characteristics. Clearwood stiffness and strength along with indirect measures of stiffness using acoustics and density using Pilodyn measurements were assessed. All wood properties were moderately heritable, wood density and acoustic velocity were the most heritable traits (h2 i 0.71 and 0.67 respectively). Genetic correlations showed that wood strength and stiffness were strongly correlated with wood density (0.86 and 1.04 respectively) and microfibril angle (-0.79 and -0.62 respectively). Acoustic velocity was strongly correlated with wood stiffness (0.81) and microfibril angle (- 0.83). The ability to select trees for wood stiffness with the use of acoustics along with the moderate inheritance of this trait should enable improvements in the wood quality of Sitka spruce. Despite the unfavourable correlation between growth rate and some key wood quality traits associated with timber strength, selection of certain families would enable modest gains to be made in both growth rate and wood quality.

Thesis (M.F.)--Oregon State College. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 107-109). Also available on the World Wide Web.