Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Wisconsin--Madison, 1969. / Typescript. Vita. eContent provider-neutral record in process. Description based on print version record. Includes bibliography.

This thesis reports results of a study of relationships between photosynthetic activity and developmental parameters, and cambial activity (wood formation rate), during and following the period of active wood formation in untreated white spruce seedlings, and in seedlings stressed either by extensive stem incisions, or by tilting. The approach involved the use of two non-destructive methods for measuring photosynthetic activity: chlorophyll a fluorescence using optical instrumentation, and CO₂ uptake using infrared gas exchange techniques. Photosynthetic development was examined by estimating chlorophyll a content from a specific fluorescence parameter (O-level), and by the relative occurence of specific chloroplast stroma and membrane (thylakoid) proteins using electrophoretic and immunoblotting techniques. Cambial activity was determined using digitized image analysis of prepared cross-sections of seedling stems. Several fluorescence parameters were strongly correlated to cambial activity in untreated seedlings during the period of active wood formation (in mid-summer). However, the correlations were severely diminished or non-existent when cambial activity was arrested (in late-summer and autumn). Correlations between fluorescence and cambial activity in stressed seedlings were not discernible at any time, suggesting that the induced stresses resulted in a substantial alteration in normal source:sink relationships. Carbon dioxide uptake measures, either uncorrected or corrected to estimated chlorophyll α content, were not measurably correlated to cambial activity in untreated or stressed seedlings at any time in this system. Chlorophyll α content estimated from O-level fluoresecence, was not related to cambial activity in untreated or stressed seedlings. The relative occurences of two enzymes and proteins associated with photosynthetic carbon fixation, i.e. ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) and Coupling Factor, did not appear to be influenced by applied wounding and geotropic stresses. In contrast to the strong correlations found between fluorescence parameters and current season stem vigour, pre-season seedling height and cross-sectional stem areas were not related to stem vigour. These results suggest that in unstressed white spruce seedlings, the measure of specific chlorophyll α fluorescence parameters, using the methods delineated in this study, offers an alternative and more strongly predictive means of assessing current stem vigour, than measures of seedling dimensions. The results of this study provide strong evidence for, and a degree of elucidation on, the anticipated but previously unestablished existence of a source:sink relationship between leaves and vascular cambium in conifer seedlings. This information should provide an initial foundation for the elucidation of non-invasive methodologies by which to assess stem vigour of white spruce seedlings, and to probe source:sink relationships in other conifer species. / Science, Faculty of / Botany, Department of / Graduate

In 1977, sixty-two white spruce pole sections were installed at the Western Forest Products Laboratory's Westham Island test field site. They had been commercially pressure-impregnated with ammoniacal copper arsenate (ACA) or pentachlorophenol (PCP). Twenty-four of the ACA-treated spruce poles were studied to determine the influence of preservative penetration, retention, and nitrogen level on decay resistance of spruce poles after seven years of field testing. Such information was considered of great value in establishing treated spruce as viable pole material in Canada. Studies using a 0.5% solution of chrome azurol S indicated that for the ACA-treated spruce poles after seven years in test, average preservative penetration of 1.14 in. (2.90 cm) was generally greater than that required by Canadian standards. However, analysis using energy-dispersive X-ray spectrometry showed that the mean retention of 0.50 lb./ft.³ (8.06 kg/m³) was less than the level of 0.6 lb./ft.³ (9.6 kg/m³) for ACA, required by the CSA standard. It was also found that copper was present in greater quantity than arsenic, in spite of their equal presence in the original ACA treating solution. In microbiological studies, a total of seventy-one fungal isolates belonging to seventeen genera and four taxa were identified to genus, with fifteen of these identified as to species. Unlike the untreated control poles, true wood-decaying Basidiomycetes were not found associated with the ACA-treated spruce poles. Analysis employing an Orion ammonia-specific electrode coupled to an Orion Microprocessor ionalyser 901 revealed that nitrogen content due to ACA treatment was significantly increased in the treated zone and also beyond the penetration limit of preservative. A linear relationship existed between nitrogen content and chemical retention in the first analytical zone. Variation in moisture content above the fiber saturation point produced marked changes in electrical resistance as detected by Shigometer measurements. The practical application of the Shigometer for detection of internal decay is limited by such inconsistencies. / Forestry, Faculty of / Graduate

The spatial structure of white spruce populations was studied in 52 stands. White spruce tree density increased with age in the 200-year chronosequence after fire. Tree height and DBH peaked at about 120 years after fire. Sapling density along the chronosequence after clearcutting exhibited similar pattern to that after fire, but peaked earlier. White spruce seedlings were present in various densities and heights along the chronosequence after fire, producing uneven-aged stands. Seedling regeneration was mostly on the LFH layer (72%) in younger plots and on logs (97%) in old plots. Seedlings in both regeneration types were evenly spaced at a young age. This pattern changed to random and clumped in older stands. Artificially planted clearcuts formed more even-aged stands. Physiological, morphological and growth responses to sun and shade treatments in the greenhouse were examined in white spruce seedlings collected from three naturally-regenerated (N1, N2 and N3) and three field-planted (P1, P2, and P3) stands. Dark respiration and light compensation points declined by 70 and 81% respectively, in shade- compared to sun-acclimated seedlings. Quantum yield, total chlorophyll content, specific leaf area and absolute water content increased by 45, 33, 32 and 50% respectively, in response to shade treatment. Height was not affected by light regime. Fewer and longer secondary branches were noticed in the shade compared to full sun. At light saturation, populations P1 and N3 showed similar photosynthetic responses under both light regimes (around 6 [mu]mol m-2 s-1). Populations P2, P3 and N2 performed more poorly in the sun than in the shade (8.2, 8.7 and 9.1 in shade, versus 5.1, 4.1 and 5.5 in full sun, respectively). Photosynthetic rate in N1 was greater in full sun than in shade (14.7 and 11.1 [mu]mol m -2 s-1, respectively). Differences in physiological responses to light among populations suggest the presence of more than one ecotype. The variation in physiological and morphological parameters within field-planted and naturally-regenerated populations was large, and did not show any obvious differences among populations. RAPD analysis showed abundant polymorphism in all populations. The naturally-regenerated arid the field-planted populations demonstrated similar within and among regeneration-type variation. Of the total genetic variation 82.9% was due to intra-population variation, while inter-population variation and regeneration type accounted for 16.7 and 0.4% of the total variation, respectively. It appears that selection pressure during reforestation was not great enough to cause a significant decline in the genetic diversity of field-planted compared to naturally-regenerated white spruce.

Conceptual models of wood formation suggest that trees with large crowns produce low quality wood, but few studies have explicitly examined the relationship between crown size and wood quality. In this study, I examine how crown size influences the strength and stiffness of wood, as measured by Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) and Modulus of Rupture (MOR), using 42- and 72-old year plantation white spruce (Picea glauca) from Ontario, Canada. Mechanical properties were determined from 10x10x140 mm mini-clear samples (n=657), selected from a radial gradient at three heights within the stems. Non-linear mixed-effects models showed that strength and stiffness significantly decreased with crown size, and that MOE and MOR were best predicted by cambial age and crown ratio. The results suggest that the models could be used in conjunction with remotely sensed data to identify high quality timber prior to harvest.

Conceptual models of wood formation suggest that trees with large crowns produce low quality wood, but few studies have explicitly examined the relationship between crown size and wood quality. In this study, I examine how crown size influences the strength and stiffness of wood, as measured by Modulus of Elasticity (MOE) and Modulus of Rupture (MOR), using 42- and 72-old year plantation white spruce (Picea glauca) from Ontario, Canada. Mechanical properties were determined from 10x10x140 mm mini-clear samples (n=657), selected from a radial gradient at three heights within the stems. Non-linear mixed-effects models showed that strength and stiffness significantly decreased with crown size, and that MOE and MOR were best predicted by cambial age and crown ratio. The results suggest that the models could be used in conjunction with remotely sensed data to identify high quality timber prior to harvest.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Institute of Paper Chemistry, 1963. / Bibliography: leaves 56-58.

Graduate

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