Abstract:

We asked if exotic Pinus elliotti seedlings can survive and form ectomycorrhizas at higher elevations and long distances from their current range, and which ECM partners disperse to these soils. We selected three plots at four grassland sites along an altitudinal gradient (900, 1600, 2200, and 2700 m asl) established at c. 110, 3000, 6000, and 9000 m from the closest pine plantation, respectively. We combined field experiments with glasshouse assays to assess survival and ECM fungi in roots and soils. A pine plantation close to the lowest site was also selected for DNA metabarcoding of soils. Pine seedlings survived at all altitudes but not all formed mycorrhizas. They formed mycorrhizas with Suillus granulatus at 900, 1600, and 2200 m asl (i.e. up to 6000 m from the closest pine plantation), and with Rhizopogon pseudoroseolus and Thelephora terrestris at lower altitudes and distances. Twelve ECM fungal OTUs were found in grasslands and 34 were detected in the pine plantation. Although richness and abundance of ECM fungi decreased with increasing distance from the pine plantation, there was at least one non-native ECM fungal species present in each sampling site, even at 2700 masl and 9000 m distance from the closest plantation. This study provides evidence that the availability of suitable fungal symbionts might constrain but not hinder the expansion of a pine species over wide distances and altitudinal zones even in areas with no native ECM fungi.

Author affiliation: Urcelay, Roberto Carlos. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina

Author affiliation: Longo, Maria Silvana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina

Author affiliation: Geml, József. Naturalis Biodiversity Center; Países Bajos

Author affiliation: Tecco, Paula Andrea. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina

Author affiliation: Nouhra, Eduardo Ramon. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales. Instituto Multidisciplinario de Biología Vegetal; Argentina

Abstract:

Los programas de mejoramiento genético forestal desarrollados en el género Pinus, en la provincia de Misiones, se basan en ciclos continuos de selección de árboles plus, ensayos de progenies, evaluación, y la polinización controlada de árboles con características sobresalientes. Las semillas generadas de estos cruzamientos, representan un alto valor genético y comercial, y da lugar a la silvicultura familiar implementada a escala comercial en la región. No obstante, estas semillas son escasas y caras, por lo que surge la necesidad de implementar la propagación vegetativa (macro y micropropagación), como alternativa para captar las ganancias genéticas proporcionadas y transferirlas a las plantaciones comerciales. El protocolo para la producción de brotes a partir de plantas donantes juveniles de Pinus taeda y Pinus elliottii var elliottii x Pinus caribea var hondurensis (P. hibrido) y el enraizamiento subsiguiente fue desarrollado a partir de una serie de ensayos cuyos análisis, resultados y conclusiones fueron publicados oportunamente en informes técnicos a empresas patrocinantes y publicaciones (Informes técnicos Julio1998- Diciembre 2001; Silvoargentina I, Sep. 2000; Southern Forest Tree Improvement Conference, 2001; Jornadas de Mejoramiento Genético para Productores Forestales, 2004; Jornadas Forestales de Entre Ríos, 2003; Publicaciones Revista Yvyrareta, 2003 y 2010, 4to Congreso Forestal Argentino y Latinoamericano Iguazú, 2013), y fueron gradualmente transferidos a las siguientes empresas patrocinantes: Bosques del Plata, Ex PeCom Forestal, DKM S.A. y Agroforestal San Miguel SC., y la SAGPyA, MINAGRI-UCAR, en el marco de proyectos de investigación y desarrollo durante el periodo 2001-2014, y actualmente en uso en la mayoría de los viveros forestales de la provincia de Misiones. Los factores que afectan el status fisiológico de la planta madre y por lo tanto la producción de brotes y su posterior enraizamiento que fueron estudiados, incluyeron: a) genotipo; b) edad de la planta madre; c) posición del brote en la planta madre; d) morfología del brote; e) tratamientos inductivos; f) factores ambientales como luz, temperatura, riego y nutrición. Los tratamientos culturales de la planta madre demostraron influenciar: a) en el número de brotes por planta madre; b) la morfología del brote por obtener, c) el enraizamiento posterior de los brotes; d) el comportamiento a campo de los brotes (cuttings) enraizados. A medida que la edad de la planta madre aumenta, la reinvigorización y juvenilidad de los brotes cambia y como consecuencia se tiende a una mayor variabilidad en los porcentajes de enraizamiento de los cuttings obtenidos. La poda adecuada del plantín y manejo adecuado del rebrote posterior tendiente a formar setos bajos, reduce la velocidad de maduración y prolonga las características juveniles en la planta madre aumentando así el numero de brotes útiles por planta madre y el porcentaje de enraizamiento. El protocolo desarrollado en LPV–FCF y probado a escala comercial en las empresas patrocinantes, demostró una producción promedio anual de 80 brotes útiles por planta madre y un 80-100% de enraizamiento para ambas especies.

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Abstract:

Question: What effects do low-density afforestation with Pinus elliottii have on the site conditions and plant diversity of the mountains of central Argentina? Location: Sierra de Comechingones, central Argentina. Methods: We studied the species richness and diversity and the physical and chemical properties of soils, in both the non-afforested steppe (US) and the understorey of P. elliottii silvopastoral systems (SPS). Measurements were performed on three plots located in US and 18 experimental plots located in SPS, which differ in tree density (150, 250 and 450 trees/ha), pruning (with/without) and position (below – UC –, or outside – BC –, the vertical projection of the tree crown). In each plot, we measured soil variables organic matter (OM), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), moisture content (RH) and relative proportion of coarse fragments; as well as photosynthetically active radiation that reached the ground surface (PARi). At the same time, a floristic survey was performed, consisting of 117 sampling plots distributed equally between treatments. Richness, diversity and evenness indices were calculated for each treatment. Then, we carried out a PCA in order to identify the differences in life forms and environmental variables across the treatments. Results: PARi and pH were statistically significantly higher in US, while EC and RH were statistically significantly higher in SPS. Diversity indices did not differ significantly among the non-afforested steppe (US) and the patches between crowns (BC), but were significantly higher in both these treatments than below the crown (UC). The higher richness in some of the life forms and light availability clearly separated US from UC in the PCA. All the species of interest (endemic, N-fixing, medicinal, fodder) were found in the SPS. Conclusions: Our study indicates that the changes in site variables produced by low-density afforestation generate niches for some species and, simultaneously, constitute a barrier to others. However, the fact that diversity indices and the presence of the species of interest showed no differences among the between-crowns patches and the non-afforested steppe, highlights the complex environment–vegetation relationships that take place in this kind of system.

Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche

Author affiliation: Fiandino, Santiago Ignacio. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Departamento de Producción Vegetal; Argentina

Author affiliation: Plevich, José Omar. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Departamento de Producción Vegetal; Argentina

Author affiliation: Tarico, Juan Carlos. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Departamento de Producción Vegetal; Argentina

Author affiliation: Nuñez, Cesar. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, Departamento de Ecología Agraria; Argentina

Author affiliation: Rusch, Verónica Elena. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche. Área Forestal. Grupo de Ecología Forestal; Argentina

Author affiliation: Gyenge, Javier Enrique. INTA. Estación Experimental Balcarce, Agencia de Extensión Rural Tandil; Argentina

Abstract:

Non-spatial and spatial analyses were carried out to estimate genetic parameters for growth and stem straightness traits between ages 4 and 7 in two series of eight progeny trials of Pinus elliottii Engelm. var. elliottii (PEE) established in 2004 and 2008, comprising 429 open-pollinated families from Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA) tree breeding population in Argentina. A first-order autoregressive spatial mixed model was found to significantly improve the fit of the model, compared with the standard non-spatial mixed model approach, due to substantial spatial heterogeneity within sites. The average individual-tree narrow-sense heritability estimates based on this spatial analysis were 0.49 for diameter at breast height, 0.36 for total height, and 0.48 for volume, with stem straightness being low to moderate (average = 0.11). The additive genetic correlation estimates between growth traits were positive (0.51 ≤  r^a  ≤ 0.99) and statistically significant from zero. In contrast, the genetic correlations between growth traits and stem straightness although in general also positive were not significantly different from zero (− 0.22 ≤  r^a  ≤ 0.59). Age-to-age genetic correlations were consistently higher for growth traits ( r^a  ≥ 0.81) than for stem straightness ( r^a  ≥ 0.33). The average additive genetic correlation estimated between sites within test series was high for all traits evaluated (average > 0.72). In contrast, average additive genetic correlation estimated between sites across series was slightly lower (average < 0.63). Implications of all these parameter estimates for genetic improvement of PEE in Argentina are discussed.

EEA Montecarlo

Author affiliation: Belaber, Ector C. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; Argentina

Author affiliation: Gauchat, Maria Elena. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; Argentina

Author affiliation: Rodriguez, Gustavo Hernan. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Montecarlo; Argentina

Author affiliation: Borralho, Nuno M. Cartaxo; Portugal. Universidade Técnica de Lisboa. Instituto Superior de Agronomia. Centro de Estudos Florestais; Portugal

Author affiliation: Cappa, Eduardo Pablo. INTA. Instituto de Recursos Biológicos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Abstract:

Performances of Pinus taxa were studied to 10 years of age in two trials in each of Misiones and Entre Ríos provinces across the Mesopotamia region of Argentina. Taxa comprised 22 populations from sources in Argentina, Australia, Brazil and Zimbabwe including Pinus elliottii var. elliottii (Pee), Pinus caribaea var. hondurensis (Pch), their four, inter-specific hybrids (F1, F2 and backcrosses from F1 to Pch and to Pee—all as broadly based bulks); other Pee and Pinus taeda (Pt) comprised narrower or unspecified bulks. Variable numbers of taxa were missing at each site. Mean survival across sites at age 10 years ranged 53.2–91.3% averaging 74.2%. Analysis of variance of plot means indicated population effect was statistically significant (p < 0.05) for all or most growth and quality traits at all sites. However, significant differences from the nominated check seedlot at the Entre Ríos sites (Pee, Australia) were extremely rare, while quite common at the northern, Misiones sites (check seedlot a Pt population). In the Misiones trials, F1, F2 and both backcross hybrids showed better stem straightness than Pee and Pt from Argentina, generally with statistically significant differences (p < 0.05). Pt showed lowest forking scores (desirable). Taxon × environment interaction was statistically significant (p < 0.01) for growth traits only (p > 0.05). However, this interaction contributed an average of only 34.1% of the taxon variance suggesting a lack of practical importance. Taxa most suitable for deployment in the Mesopotamia region, Argentina are suggested.

Instituto de Recursos Biológicos

Author affiliation: Cappa, Eduardo Pablo. INTA. Instituto de Recursos Biológicos; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Marco, Martin Alberto. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Concordia; Argentina

Author affiliation: Nikles, D. Garth. Horticulture and Forestry Science. Economic Development & Innovation. Department of Employment; Australia

Author affiliation: Last, Ian S.. Forestry Plantations Queensland Pty Ltd.; Australia

Abstract:

Los sistemas silvopastoriles comienzan a cobrar importancia en la región del noreste argentino (NEA), en particular en los bosques implantados a fines de la década de 1990 e inicios del año 2000. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue evaluar el efecto que producen dos técnicas de raleo en un sistema de Pinus elliottii Engelm. sobre la productividad de Brachiaria brizantha Stapf. cv. Marandú. Los tratamientos bajo análisis fueron: T1: Raleo Selectivo (392 árboles ha-1) y T2: Raleo Sistemático (líneas apareadas con callejones de 12 m; 348 árboles ha-1) sobre los que se evaluó la acumulación de biomasa aérea de la pastura. Se realizó un muestreo estratificado en el cual se definieron tres sectores. Se instalaron 5 jaulas de 1 m2 por cada sector, sumando en total 15 jaulas por cada tratamiento. El material cosechado, después de pesado, se colocó en estufa, obteniéndose el contenido de materia seca (kg MS ha-1). Para caracterizar a los sistemas de manejo en función de la luz que atraviesa el dosel arbóreo se estimó radiación fotosintéticamente activa (PAR) en µmolm-2s-1. Se realizó un análisis de medidas repetidas empleando modelos mixtos mediante PROC MIXED de SAS. La comparación de medias se realizó con LSMEANS de SAS, mediante el test de Tukey-Kramer a un nivel de confianza de 95%. La acumulación media de biomasa fue superior en el tratamiento con raleo sistemático (T2) 898,3 kg MS ha-1año-1, mientras que en T1 fue de 750 kg MS ha-1año-1, registrándose diferencias altamente significativas entre ambos tratamientos (p < 0,0001).

Silvopastoral systems are important in northeastern Argentina (NEA), particularly in forests planted in the late 1990s and at the beginning of 2000. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect produced by two thinning methods for Pinus elliottii Engelm. on the productivity of Brachiaria brizantha Stapf. cv. Marandú. The treatments under study were: T1: Selective thinning (392 trees ha-1) and T2: Systematic thinning (lines paired with alleys of 12 m, 348 trees ha-1). The aboveground biomass accumulation of the pasture was evaluated in both treatments. A stratified sampling was performed and three sectors were defined. Five cages of 1 m2 were installed in each sector, adding a total of 15 cages per treatment. The harvested material was weighed and placed in an oven, and then the dry matter content (kg MS ha-1) was determined. Photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), expressed in µmolm-2 s-1, was determined in order to characterize the management systems based on the light that crosses the tree canopy. A repeated measures analysis was performed using mixed models through PROC MIXED of SAS. The comparison of means was performed with LSMEANS of SAS, using the Tukey-Kramer test at a confidence level of 95%. The average accumulation of biomass was higher in T2 compared to T1, reaching values of 898.3 kg MS ha-1 year-1and 750 kg MS ha-1 year-1, respectively. Significant differences were found between the treatments (p < 0.0001).

EEA Bella vista

Author affiliation: Maurig, María Valentina. INTA. Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bella Vista. Agencia de Extensión Rural Esquina; Argentina

Author affiliation: Bernardis, Aldo Ceferino. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias; Argentina

Abstract:

Lotic ecosystems are highly affected by land use changes such as afforestation of natural areas for management or commercial purposes. The aim of this study was to analyze the effect of pine plantations on benthic invertebrate communities in mountain grassland streams. Additionally, we assessed if thehydrological period modifies the effect of afforestation on stream invertebrates. Three headwater streams draining grasslands (reference streams) and three draining plantations of Pinus elliottii were selected ina mountain watershed of Córdoba province (Argentina). Hydrologic and physicochemical variables were registered and benthic invertebrate samples were collected in each stream at two different hydrologicalperiods. Total invertebrate abundance, richness and diversity were reduced in afforested streams as well as the number of indicator taxa. In addition, invertebrate functional structure (i.e. taxonomic richness and total and relative abundance of functional feeding groups, FFG) showed differences between streams with different riparian vegetation and between hydrological periods. Total abundance of all FFGs was lower in afforested streams and scrapers? relative abundance was higher in grassland streams at the lowwater period. In addition, in most FFGs richness was diminished in afforested streams. Changes in light intensity, hydrology and coarse organic matter inputs produced by afforestation alter fluvial habitats andconsequently the composition and trophic structure of invertebrate communities in grassland streams of Córdoba mountains.

Author affiliation: Márquez, Javier Andrés. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Cibils Martina, Luciana. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Principe, Romina Elizabeth. Universidad Nacional de Río Cuarto. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicoquímicas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Naturales; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina

Author affiliation: Albariño, Ricardo Javier. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación En Biodiversidad y Medioambiente; Argentina. Universidad Nacional del Comahue. Centro Regional Universitario Bariloche. Laboratorio de Fotobiologia; Argentina