Thesis (M.S.)--West Virginia University, 2000. / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains viii, 72 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 61-64).

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Ore specimens from the cupriferous zone of the basal Nonesuch shale at the White Pine Mine were analysed for sulphur isotopes, carbon and sulphide contents and boron. The results of the analyses were discussed in relation to a biogenic-syngenetic mineralization process for the ore body. A model, based on the δS³⁴sulphide frequency distribution, was developed to determine the δS³⁴ sulphate value of the lower Nonesuch paleoenvironment. A transmitted light microscopic examination of chlorite was undertaken in order to present a more complete picture of this proposed source for copper in the cupriferous zone of the Nonesuch shale. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

Thirty-six eight-year-old white pine (Pinus strobus L.) trees were used to identify minesoil, plant moisture, and foliar nutrient properties influencing white pine growth on reclaimed mine sites in southwest Virginia. PRESSAll (SAS Views, 1984) was used to determine relationships between soil properties and growth, soil properties and functional environmental factors (plant moisture stress and foliar nutrients), and between functional environmental factors and growth. PRediction Error Sum of Squares (PRESS), Mean Square Error (MSE), and Multiple Correlation Coefficient (R²) were used as criteria for variable selection and model validation. Rooting-volume index, the reciprocal of the electrical conductivity (EC), and extractable P in the soil-sized fraction of the minesoils were the best validated variables, predicting tree heights with the smallest amount of unit error (APRESS of 0.86 m) and accounting for the highest R² ( R² = 53.06%). The depth of the rooting volume had the greatest effect on 2 early growth (R² = 7 .91%), but variation in the last four years of height growth appeared to be a function primarily of rooting volume (R² = 51.40, p < 0.0001). Relationships between soil properties and 2 functional environmental factors varied widely (R² = 0.00-27 .50%). Plant moisture stress was most highly associated with the volume of the soil-sized fraction (R² = 13.6%), foliar phosphorus with soil pH (R² = 22.5%), and foliar cations with anaerobic-mineralizable nitrogen (R² = 0.00-27 .5%). The relationship between functional environmental factors and growth was uniformly weak (R² = 0.00-14.97%). Plant moisture stress was consistently related to overall height and its increment over the last four years, but foliar nutrients were erratically related to growth. No significant relationships between other functional environmental factors and growth were detected. Minesoil indices for individual trees ranged from 47-147 (base age 50). The depth of minesoil for site index 80 (average for Southern Appalachia) was 40 cm. / M. For.

Thirteen white pine plots, ranging from 15-26 years of age and one tenth acre in size, were sampled in six counties of southwestern Virginia. The number of trees attacked by the white-pine weevil ranged from 3.5 percent to 98.6 percent with an average of 40.0 percent. The incidence of forking was found to be 4.1 percent of the trees weevi1ed. Enough trees in the dominant and co-dominant crOvffi categories were either free of weevil attacks or only attacked once that 250 to 300 trees are available for final harvest. Most of the weevil attacks occurred between 5 to 12 years of age. Analysis of Covariance for non-weevi1ed terminals and lateral lengths developed the following relationship for three age classes of terminals and laterals. / Master of Science

Experiments were conducted on the use of granular fenuron, 25% active, for white pine release and establishment. The effect of fenuron on the plant community was also investigated. Studies included in the white pine release experiment were the effect of season of treatment on the kill of hardwoods and percentage survival of indigenous white pine, and the effectiveness of fenuron on various species of hardwoods. All hardwood stems over six feet tall were treated with four grams of active fenuron placed on the soil at the base of the tree. Treatments were made in May 1960, August 1960, and March 1961. The May treatment was most effective in the removal of the hardwoods. There was a reduction of 59% of pines over six feet tall and an increase of 45% of pines less than six feet tall. Red maple and the oaks were the species most susceptible to the treatment; whereas, chestnut, sassafras, and black locust were the least susceptible. In the white pine establishment experiment, the residual effect of fenuron on white pine seedlings, and its effectiveness at a lower rate on various hardwoods were lnvestigated. Each hardwood stem over six feet tall was treated with one gram active fenuron in the spring of 1960. In March 1961, 100 white pine seedlings were planted in each of three plots previously treated. Five months after planting there was 99% survival of the pine seedlings. The one-gram rate was effective against red maple and the oaks but had little effect on sassafras, cucumber tree, and chestnut. Fenuron in some manner changed the composition of the plant community. Fireweed, poke, and several species of Panicum were present in the treated plots but were not present in the untreated buffer strips. / Master of Science

Procerum root disease (PRD) is a serious problem in eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.) Christmas tree plantations in VIrginia. Procerum root disease is caused by Leptographium procerum (Kendr.) Wingf which is believed to be transmitted by the pales weevil Hylobius pales (Herbst). Symptoms of procerum root disease include reduced shoot elongation, reduced leaf conductance, low photosynthetic activity, low pre-dawn water potential and chlorosis of foliage. Resinous occlusion of the sapwood at the root collar is the likely cause of the suite of symptoms that resemble water stress. Increased incidence ofPRD has been associated with trees growing in poorly drained soils in low lying areas. Two studies were undertaken to explore the relationship of site factors and vascular conductivity of sapwood to the expression ofPRD symptoms in P. strobus. In the first study, plots were established in a variety of drainage classes in two Christmas tree plantations. Leaf conductance was monitored periodically in conjunction with measurements of soil factors to assess the role of abiotic factors on foliar symptom expression. At the termination of the field monitoring, trees were harvested and three vascular disease severity variables were measured: hydraulic conductivity of sapwood, percent basal occlusion and sapwood moisture content. These disease severity variables describe the permeability of sapwood to water and the relative hydration of the sapwood. Reduced leaf conductance was associated with reduced stem hydraulic conductivity, reduced sapwood moisture content and increased basal occlusion. Increased vascular disease severity and foliar symptom expression were associated with increased soil moisture content and several other factors that relate to soil moisture retention (percent slope, total porosity, textural class and bulk density). The second study was initiated to study the development of PRD in artificially inoculated P. strobus seedlings exposed to three soil water classes: droughty, optimum and saturated. Seedlings in the optimum soil water class exhibited the greatest biomass accumulation and shoot elongation, while seedlings in droughty showed the least. No negative effects of L. procerum inoculation and no symptoms ofPRD were observed eight months after inoculation regardless of the soil water class. / Master of Science

A two year study examined Root Growth Potential (RGP) in a hydroponic system and Dormancy Release Index (DRI) in one-year-old (1-0) and two-year-old (2-0) eastern white pine (Pinus strobus L.), red pine (Pinus resinosa Ait.), and Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings with emphasis on eastern white pine. During 1985-86 all three species of 2-0 stock displayed a similar pattern of RGP with high levels of RGP limited to mid-March. Only 2-0 eastern white pine had a statistically significant relationship between RGP and DRI; however, this relationship was not consistent in 1986-87. The RGP/DRI relationship in 2-0 eastern white pine was strong over both years within a DRI range of 0.22 to 1.00. One-year-old and 2-0 eastern white pine stock had very different patterns of RGP over both years with 1-0 stock maintaining much wider "lifting windows" for high RGP. Cold storage (2C) of 2-0 eastern white pine resulted in variable effects on RGP although it typically progressed dormancy release. There were no strong RGP trends between northern and southern provenances of 1-0 eastern white pine and heritability values indicate that RGP is under minimal genetic control in 1-0 eastern white pine seedlings. Northern and southern provenances did display clear differences in seedling morphology and seasonal patterns of shoot activity. Results of a field outplanting study show that RGP does show promise as a measure of 2-0 eastern white pine seedling quality. The predictive ability of RGP was increased on non-irrigated versus irrigated seedlings. A comparison of greenhouse versus growthroorn RGP testing demonstrated the validity of using greenhouse RGP testing of 2-0 eastern white pine. / M.S.

A decline of eastern white pine, Pinus strobus L., has been observed for over 80 years in the eastern United States. The syndrome has not always been discussed as a decline but reported under a variety of names. Symptoms vary with time required for trees to die, but generally include chlorotic foliage, in many cases needle loss producing a tufted appearance, premature annual loss of needles, drooping of needles in some cases, shriveling of bark after a period of time, and eventual death after a period of months to years. An investigation into the causes of decline on landscape sites in Virginia included an indexing technique to compile and analyze, systematically, pertinent data from good and poor quality sites. Over 300 variables were studied from over 100 observations to narrow down the apparent causal factors for future investigation in a controlled environment. Observations were organized into two groups for analysis, one called the “decline habitat” and the other the “natural habitat”. Natural habitat observations consisted of trees from a site in the Jefferson National Forest (VA) and decline habitat observations consisted of trees from mostly western Virginia landscapes. After thorough study for a period of two years, a group of growth indicators were weighed against a group of site quality indicators. Growth quality indicators included: a height vs. age index, a 10-year compilation of tree ring increments and inter-branch whorl measurements converted to percent growth per year, and seasonal foliar color changes using a Munsell rating index. Site quality indicators centered around the soils with soil pH, clay content, amounts of compaction and soil disturbance as the most prominent factors derived from the study. Soil pH averaged 6.95 with a range of 5.9-8.1 for decline habitats; while the pH averaged 5.50 with a range of 5.0-6.0 for the natural habitat. Clay content averaged 37.05% for decline sites vs. 17.76% for the natural site for soils above and in the root zones of white pines. Clay content averaged 43.99% for decline sites vs. 17.95% for the natural site for soils beneath the root zones of white pines. Soils under decline habitat trees were highly compacted with measurements as high as 1806.1 psi to penetrate some decline habitat soils, while the natural habitat soils had little if any compaction, with readings of between 138 and 273 psi. Soil disturbance was not present in the natural site while present in most decline sites. The major cause of disturbance was construction and earth-moving activities around landscape sites. Important abiotic factors which worked in concert with soil factors included poor planting practices, competition with tree feeder roots from turfgrass, chemical pollutants, and mechanical damage by weather and man. Biotic factors were viewed as secondary agents attracted to already weakened trees after initiation of decline by the previously discussed factors. Separate studies of seasonal foliar color changes and the initial finding of the pinewood nematode in Virginia aided in identifying additional indicators of and contributors to decline. / Ph. D.