Willow (Salix spp.), a major source of biomass and renewable fiber production, is one of the best choices for short-rotation intensive culture (SRIC) in Canada. Since fungal communities play important roles in the plant’s health status, it is vital to understand their interactions with willows and their roles in the sustainability of SRIC. In this study, fungal diversity of the above-ground organs (stem/leaf) of healthy and diseased willow plants in western Canadian Prairies were assessed using cultural and PCR-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) techniques. Comparison of the mycoprofiles within established plantations vs. newly introduced cuttings revealed differences in the fungal communities. Ascomycota were mainly isolated, followed by Basidiomicota and Zygomycota. Willow genotypes seem have an influence on the abundance of fungal pathogens and disease severity; among them Charlie (Salix alba x gladfelteri) and SV1 (S. eriocephala) cultivars demonstrated superior performances. Photosynthesis measurements and biomass compositions confirmed these findings. Potentially pathogenic fungi (Dothioraceae, Diaporthaceae, Glomeraceae, and Pleosporaceae) dominated in diseased or symptomatic willows, whereas potentially beneficial fungi (Coniochaetaceae, Hypoceraceae, Nectriaceae, Trichocomaceae, and Agaricaceae) prevailed in healthy plants. In-vivo and greenhouse assays showed that inoculation with potentially pathogenic fungi induced leaf necrosis, anthracnose and open cankers. However, suppression of the latter was still possible using fungal antagonists. Hence, assessment of stem/bark and leaf fungal communities with respect to willow genotypes, cuttings origin, and SRIC location, is useful for the design of an effective management strategy to increase the productivity of the SRIC-biomass systems.

A significant acreage of poorly drained sites occurs in the Western Gulf region of the United States. These sites experience standing water through much of the winter and spring, resulting in poor seedling survival. In addition, the sites occasionally experience a summer drought that affects tree growth. This study was designed to determine the effects of intensive forest management on seedling growth and physiology, and to enhance seedling performance under these harsh conditions. Fertilization, chemical vegetation control and mechanical site preparation were used in different combinations to test the effects of these intensive forest management tools on seedling above- and below-ground growth, survival, water status, gas exchange attributes, and nutrient concentrations in the foliage and soil solution. Ten sites were established in southern Arkansas in 1998 and 1999 to monitor loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) seedling performance in three consecutive growing seasons between 1998 and 2000. Fertilization, chemical vegetation control and mechanical site preparation increased above-ground growth. Growth increment from mechanical site preparation was comparable to that from fertilization. Survival was not affected by any treatment. Fertilization enhanced root growth, more so in the shallow soil layers. Subsoil bulk density greatly restricted root growth, resulting in decreased above-ground growth. Chemical vegetation control made more soil water available to the seedlings during drought, resulting in increased seedling water potential. The effect of chemical vegetation control on seedling water potential was absent in the early growing season when soil moisture was abundant. Seedlings on plots treated with bedding-plus-fertilizer or bedding alone experienced stomatal closure at times of severe water stress while those treated with chemical vegetation control were able to continue net carbon dioxide assimilation. Fertilization did not increase needle nutrient concentrations, but increased needle weight, thereby increasing total nutrient content. Fertilization increased base cation concentrations in the soil solution, but had no effect on nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Intensive forest management was found to be a viable tool for optimum loblolly pine seedling growth and survival on poorly drained sites in the Western Gulf region of the United States.

Temperature-dependent weight gain of Gulf coast and northern strain walleye Sander vitreus fingerlings was determined by rearing fish in flow-through aquaria at different water temperatures (range 15-32°C). Maximum growth of Gulf coast and northern strain walleye occurred between 20 and 26°C, and weight gain of northern walleye exceeded that of the Gulf coast strain by 1.5 times. An acclimated chronic exposure method to assess upper thermal limits determined that walleye survived 35, 9, and 1 days at 33, 34, and 35°C, respectively. A post pond-rearing feed-training practice (21 d) at a mean density of 6,290 ± 1,247 fish/m3 using formulated feeds was successful (32-85% survival), and walleye continued to consume a formulated diet feed after stocked at densities of 12,250 and 24,700/ha into 0.04 ha earthen ponds. After 125 days, survival in ponds was poor (< 30%) and production varied substantially.

Le nombre important de sites contaminés au Québec (Canada) et partout dans le monde est une problématique de santé publique majeure en raison des risques toxicologiques qu’ils présentent pour la santé humaine et environnementale. Dans la municipalité de Varennes (Québec, Canada), située sur la rive sud de l'Île de Montréal, les activités d’une ancienne usine pétrochimique (Pétromont Inc.) ont conduit à l’accumulation de concentrations modérées à élevées d’éléments traces métalliques (ETMs), de biphényles polychlorés (BPCs), d’hydrocarbures pétroliers aliphatiques (C10-C50) et d’hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAPs) sur les terrains de la compagnie. En 2010, une culture intensive de saule sur courtes rotations (CICR) a été établie sur le site, afin d’y conduire une expérience de phytoremédiation à grande échelle. Bien que cette plantation de Salix miyabeana ait été implantée dans une optique d'assainissement, aucun effet significatif n'a été signalé sur la concentration des contaminants du sol au cours des premières années de croissance. Les processus d'assainissement basés sur l’utilisation de végétaux peuvent être difficiles à prévoir en milieux naturels et nécessitent des améliorations afin d'en augmenter leur efficacité. La fertilisation des sols avec des amendements organiques, ainsi que la manipulation du microbiome végétal, sont deux techniques agronomiques couramment utilisées pour la gestion des cultures traditionnelles, afin d’augmenter la production de biomasse et améliorer la santé générale des végétaux. Ces approches peuvent également influencer la mobilité et la biodisponibilité de certains composés du sol. Puisque de telles modifications sont connues pour avoir le potentiel d’améliorer considérablement l’efficacité des végétaux à éliminer ou à transformer certains contaminants du sol, ces deux techniques agronomiques présentent un intérêt grandissant dans le domaine de la phytoremédiation. Cette recherche doctorale vise donc à améliorer les connaissances scientifiques dans le domaine de la phytoremédiation appliquée à grande échelle en abordant certains aspects qui touchent à ces deux approches agronomiques. En utilisant la plantation de saules déjà établie, une première étude a été réalisée afin d’évaluer l’impact d’un amendement de sol organique sur l’efficacité phytoremédiatrice des deux cultivars de saules (‘SX61’ et ‘SX64’). À l’intérieur de cette plantation, le sol de certaines parcelles expérimentales a été recouvert de bois raméal fragmenté (BRF) de saules, combiné, ou non, avec du substrat de champignons épuisé (SCE) de Pleurotus ostreatus. Après trois saisons de croissance, les résultats ont montré que l’ajout de SCE au BRF n’avait eu aucun effet sur la croissance des saules, ainsi que sur leur efficacité à extraire ou à réduire la concentration des contaminants présents sur le site. Les résultats suggèrent néanmoins que le BRF contribue à immobiliser certains HAPs dans le sol, en plus d’augmenter l’efficacité des saules à phytoextraire le Zn. La présence de saules semble avoir réduit de façon significative l’atténuation naturelle des C10-C50 sur le site. De plus, les concentrations de BPCs, de Cd, de Ni et de dix HAPs, ont montré des oscillations saisonnières, ce qui suggère que l’évapotranspiration qui a lieu à l’intérieur de la plantation de saules provoque un important flux d'eau et de contaminants solubles en direction des racines. Ainsi, la concentration de certains contaminants pourrait avoir tendance à augmenter à l’intérieur d’une dense plantation de saules au fil du temps. Une deuxième étude a été réalisée à l’intérieur de cette même plantation, afin de vérifier si les augmentations de concentration observées précédemment pouvaient être liées à l’évapotranspiration qui a lieu à l’intérieur d’une plantation de saules. Dans l’optique d’éliminer l’effet de transpiration, des coupes de saules ont été effectuées dans certaines parcelles de la plantation, puis les concentrations des contaminants organiques et inorganiques ont été suivies au fil du temps (24 mois), et comparées avec celles observées dans les parcelles non coupées. Les résultats obtenus ont montré que l'élimination des saules avait bel et bien limité l'accumulation de certains contaminants à la surface du sol, tels qu’observé dans les parcelles non coupées. Ces résultats suggèrent donc encore une fois que la culture intensive de saules à courte rotation peut entrainer une migration de certains contaminants en direction des racines et ainsi augmenter leurs concentrations à la surface du sol près des zones racinaires. Très peu d’études ont rapporté des résultats qui semblent contredire les multiples avantages de purification qui sont habituellement mis de l’avant en phytoremédiation. Toutefois, de tels effets sur la mobilisation des contaminants pourraient être pertinents et souhaitables dans un contexte de gestion du risque. La troisième et dernière étude présentée dans cette thèse explore la diversité des communautés microbiennes associées aux racines des deux cultivars de saules établis sur le site expérimental depuis plusieurs années (six années). Des études antérieures ont permis d’en apprendre davantage sur la composition du microbiome racinaire et rhizosphérique du saule poussant en milieux contaminés, mais la plupart de celles-ci ont été menées sur des individus relativement jeunes. Par conséquent, peu d’information existe concernant les associations microbiennes des individus plus âgés qui ont été établis en milieux contaminés. La caractérisation des communautés fongiques, bactériennes et archéennes a permis de montrer des différences de composition entre les deux cultivars de saules, ainsi qu’entre leurs compartiments (i.e. racines et rhizosphère). Certains groupes taxonomiques, appartenant à chacun des trois domaines, se sont démarqués, de par leur abondance, ou par leurs fonctions écologiques déjà connues et potentiellement bénéfiques pour la survie des végétaux, ou pour augmenter la dégradation et l'extraction de divers contaminants. Cette étude fournit donc de précieuses informations qui pourront servir à l’amélioration de certaines approches d'ingénierie du microbiome favorisant l'établissement, la survie, la croissance et les performances d’assainissement de Salix spp. établis en milieux contaminés. L’ensemble des résultats présentés dans cette thèse ont permis d’alimenter différentes réflexions sur l’intérêt d’utiliser certains amendements organiques et de caractériser le microbiome racinaire et rhizosphérique des saules afin d’améliorer les pratiques et la mise en oeuvre de la phytoremédiation par des saules. Cette thèse met également en lumière un phénomène de migration des contaminants, influencé par la présence de plantes à croissance rapide, qui représente un obstacle pour l’évaluation des performances d’assainissement par des approches de phytoremédiation notamment par des saules. / The large number of contaminated sites in Quebec (Canada) and all around the world is a major public problem because of the toxicological risks they present for human and environmental health. In the municipality of Varennes (Quebec, Canada), located on the south shore of the Island of Montreal, the activities of a former petrochemical plant (Pétromont Inc.) have led to the accumulation of moderate to high concentrations of traces elements (TEs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), aliphatic petroleum hydrocarbons (C10-C50) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) on the land. In 2010, a short rotation intensive culture (SRIC) of willow has been established on the site, in order to conduct a field-scale phytoremediation experiment. Although this plantation of Salix miyabeana was established with a remediation view, no significant effect was reported on the concentration of soil contaminants during the first years of growth. Plant-based remediation processes can be difficult to predict in the fiel and require improvement in order to increase their effectiveness. Fertilization with organic amendments, as well as manipulating the plant microbiome, are two agronomic techniques commonly employed in traditional crop management, in order to increase biomass production and improve overall plant health. These approaches can also influence the mobility and bioavailability of some compounds in the soil. Since such modifications are known to have the potential to significantly improve the efficiency of plants in removing or transforming soil contaminants, these two agronomic techniques are of growing interest in the field of phytoremediation. This doctoral research aims to improve scientific knowledge in the field-scale phytoremediation application by addressing some aspects that affect these two agronomic approaches. Inside the already established willow plantation, a first study was carried out to assess the impact of soil organic amendment on the phytoremediation efficacy of the two willow cultivars (‘SX61’ and ‘SX64’). The soil of some experimental plots was covered with ramial chipped wood (RCW) combined or not with spent mushroom substrate (SMS) of Pleurotus ostreatus. After three growing seasons, the results showed that the addition of SMS to the RCW had no effect on the growth of the willows, as well as on their effectiveness in removing or reducing the concentration of contaminants on the site. The results nevertheless suggest that RCW helps immobilize some PAHs in the soil, in addition to increasing the efficiency of willows to phytoextract Zn. The presence of willows appears to have significantly reduced the natural attenuation of C10-C50 on the site. In addition, the concentrations of PCBs, Cd, Ni and ten PAHs, showed seasonal oscillations, which suggests that the evapotranspiration inside the willow plantation mobilized some contaminants towards the rooting zones. Thus, the concentration of certain contaminants may tend to increase within a dense willow plantation over time. A second study was carried out inside the same plantation, in order to verify if the increases in concentration observed previously could be linked to the evapotranspiration that takes place inside a willow plantation. In order to eradicate the effect of plant transpiration, willows were harvested in certain plots of the plantation. The concentrations of organic and inorganic contaminants were followed over time (24 months) and compared with those observed in the unharvested plots. The results obtained showed that the removal of the willows limited the accumulation of certain contaminants on the soil surface, as observed in the uncut plots. These results suggested once again that the short rotation intensive culture of willows can lead to the migration of certain contaminants towards the roots and thus increase their concentrations on the soil surface near the root zones. Very few studies have reported results that seem to contradict the multiple purification benefits that are usually put forward in phytoremediation. However, such effects on contaminant mobilization could be relevant and suitable in a risk management context. The third and final study presented in this thesis explores the microbial communities associated with the roots of the two willow cultivars established on the experimental site for several years (six years). Root and rhizosphere microbial communities of Salix spp. have been studied in contaminated environments, but most of studies have been carried out on relatively young hosts. Therefore, little information exists regarding the microbial communities associated with older willows established in contaminated environments. The characterization of fungal, bacterial and Archean communities has shown differences in composition between the two willow cultivars, as well as between their compartments (i.e., roots and rhizosphere). Some taxonomic groups, belonging to each of the three domains, caught our attention, either by their abundance, or by their ecological functions already known to be potentially beneficial for the plant survival, or for increasing the degradation and extraction of various contaminants. This study therefore provides valuable information that can be used to improve certain microbiome engineering approaches that promote the establishment, survival, growth and phytoremediation performance of Salix spp. in contaminated environments. All the results presented in this thesis have fueled various reflections on the interest of using soil organic amendments and characterizing the root and rhizosphere microbiome of willows in order to improve the practices and implementation of phytoremediation with willows. This thesis also highlights a phenomenon of contaminant migration, influenced by the presence of fast-growing woody plants, which represents an obstacle for the evaluation of phytoremediation performance approaches with willows.