Pest pressure, hurricanes, and genotype interact to strongly impact stem form in young loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) along the coastal plain of North Carolina

作者：Kelley Alexia M^*; King John S

来源：Trees - Structure and Function, 2014, 28(5): 1343-1353.

DOI：10.1007/s00468-014-1039-5

• Stem forking
• Hurricane damage
• Nantucket pine tip moth
• Loblolly pine
• Tree genotype

Stem defects in loblolly pine due to insect pests and wind damage can decrease economic value and affect ecosystem function, however silvicultural management can decrease the impact of these stresses. %26lt;br%26gt;Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.) is one of the most important tree crops in the southern United States, comprising 45 % of commercial forestry land. Stem defects can reduce timber product quality and influence competitive interactions. We examined the effects of controlling Nantucket pine tip moth (Rhyacionia frustrata Scudder in Comstock, 1880) and site management (fertilizer or herbicide use) on stem defects, of two full-sib families (C1 and C2) and two clonal varieties (V1 and V2) of loblolly pine at upper and lower coastal plain sites in North Carolina (UCP and LCP, respectively). At UCP, V1 and V2 had fewer stem defects with insecticide treatment indicating that pest pressure affected stem form. C2 had twice as many defects as other genotypes at LCP, while C1 had the most defects at UCP, showing that carefully matching site and genotype could improve plantation performance without increasing costs. Additionally, we examined the effects of Hurricane Irene on stem leaning at LCP. V1, the tallest genotype, was most strongly affected, indicating genotype differences in tolerance to this form of abiotic stress. Interestingly, insecticide treatment decreased the negative effects of the hurricane on C1 stem lean, indicating that tip moth pressure may make C1 more susceptible. Our results illustrate that the interaction of biotic and abiotic stressors, such as pest infestation and climate, can strongly impact stem form, potentially affecting ecophysiological function and economic value. Cost-effective silvicultural options, such as pest control and management of genetic resources can potentially decrease exposure to such environmental risk.

• 出版日期2014-10