Tissue culture of forest trees: Clonal multiplication of Eucalyptus grandis L

Axillary shoot proliferation was obtained using explants of Eucalyptus grandis L. juvenile and mature stages on a defined medium. Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) supplemented with benzyladenine (BA), naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) and additional thiamine. Excised shoots were induced to root on a sequence of three media: (1) White's medium containing indoleacetic acid (IAA), NAA and indole butyric acid; (IBA), (2) half-strength MS medium with charcoal and (3) half-strength MS liquid medium. The two types of explants differed in rooting response, with juvenile-derived shoots giving 60% rooting and adult-derived ones only 35%. Thus, the factors limiting cloning of selected trees in vitro are determined to be those controlling rooting of shoots in E. grandis.

Ceratocystis atrox sp. nov. associated with Phoracantha acanthocera infestations on Eucalyptus grandis in Australia

Ceratocystis spp. include important pathogens of trees as well as apparently saprophytic species. Four species have been recorded on Eucalyptus grandis in Australia, of which only one, C. pirilliformis Barnes and M.J. Wingf., is known to be pathogenic. A recent survey of pests and diseases of Eucalyptus trees in northern Queensland revealed a species of Ceratocystis associated with the tunnels made by the aggressive wood-boring insect Phoracantha acanthocera (Macleay) (Cerambicydae: Coleoptera). The aim of the present study was to identify the fungus based on morphological characteristics and comparisons of DNA sequence data for three gene regions. The fungus peripherally resembles C. fimbriata Ell. and Halst. but differs from this species most obviously by having much darker mycelium, longer ascomatal necks, segmented hyphae and an absence of aleuroconidia. Comparisons of combined sequence data confirmed that the Ceratocystis sp. from P. acanthocera represents an undescribed taxon, which is provided with the name Ceratocystis atrox sp. nov. C. atrox appears to have a close relationship with P. acanthocera, although its role in the biology of the insect is unknown and its pathogenicity has not been considered.

In vitro propagation of Eucalyptus grandis L. by tissue culture

Multiple shoots were induced from nodal segments of five year old trees of Eucalyptus grandis L. on solid medium containing Murashige and Skoog's (MS) Basal medium supplemented with additional thiamine, BAP and NAA. Rooting could be achieved from shoot culture on half strength MS salts or white's medium supplemented with low auxins like IAA, IBA and NAA.

Fertilización inicial en plantaciones comerciales de teca (Tectona grandis Linn F), Siuna, RAAN

La investigación se realizó en plantaciones de teca de 0 a 2 años de edad, con precipitaciones promedio de 1 500 mm/año, se estableció un diseño de Bloques Completos al Azar (BCA), con tres repeticiones. Las plantas fueron expuestas a diferentes niveles de fertilización. Se evaluaron las variables altura de planta, diámetro de tallo, salud de la planta, forma de la planta, área basal y volumen. Los datos se analizaron mediante un arreglo factorial, con análisis de ANDEVA, diferencia mínima significativa (DMS, ∞ =0.05) y análisis descriptivo. Con respecto a las altura existió diferencias en los tratamientos a partir de los 12 meses después de haberse establecido la plantación, siendo los tratamientos uno (15-15-15) y dos (15-15-15 + 454g CaCo3), los que presentaron plantas de mayor altura, y diámetro; este comportamiento fue similar para el área basal y volumen. En cuanto a la forma de los árboles presentaron tallos rectos con mayor frecuencia en los tratamientos uno (15-15-15) y dos (15-15-15 + 454g CaCo3). La forma del fuste de la planta dependió del manejo, sin importar los niveles de fertilizantes empleados. En cuanto a los análisis de suelo realizados en el sitio se encontró que el fósforo presenta bajas concentraciones, la relación de bases afecta la absorción de elementos como el potasio. En general las condiciones del sitio no son favorables para el crecimiento de la teca.