Showing papers by "Korea Forest Service published in 2012"

Somatic embryogenesis in leaf tissue culture of Soapberry (Sapindus mukorossi Gaertn.)

Abstract: Leaf explants formed embryogenic calluses at a frequency of 53.9% when cultured on B5 media supplemented with 0.1 mg l �1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-�) and 0.01 mg l �1 6-benzyladenine (BA) for 6 weeks. Upon transfer onto media with 5 mg l �1 abscisic acid, embryogenic calluses yielded somatic embryos at 73%. Somatic embryos developed into plantlets on media without plant growth regulators at 90%. Embryogenic calluses proliferated and maintained embryogenic capacity when subcultured on media with 0.1 mg l �1 2,4-� and 0.01 mg l �1 BA at 4-week intervals. �is culture system is a n eective means for clonal propagation and genetic manipulation of soapberry because it ensures taproot development required for tree stability.

Changes in soil properties of Abies holophylla and Quercus -dominated stands 4 years after trenching

Abstract: Few studies tried to isolate the influence of plant roots on the soil characteristics including soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) storage. We evaluated the impact of root trenching on soil characteristics of coniferous (Abies holophylla) and deciduous (Quercus spp.) stands 4 years after trenching. Trenching treatment significantly increased the soil water content and nitrate concentration in both stand types. Soil pH, cation exchange capacity, soil C and N pools and isotopic compositions of C and N were significantly different between two stands, but trenching was not found to have significant impact on these soil properties. Our results indicated that root trenching in coniferous and broad-leaved deciduous forests of temperate region could significantly alter soil moisture regime and inorganic N levels, but not C and N stabilization in soils.

Contributions of Community Forestry to the Rural livelihoods and Watershed

Abstract: This study was carried out in Letpanbin and Myaing community forests, Ywa-ngan Township, Shan State, Myanmar. The objectives were to examine the contributions of home garden and community forestry to the rural development, and to investigate the plant species diversity of community forests established in the watershed areas. Rapid rural appraisal (RRA) and forest inventory were used as the main methodologies of the study. The average fi nancial value of forest products annually collected and utilized from community forests by a household of Letpanbin and Myaing were 355,500 Kyats (US$ 444) and 363,000 Kyats (US$ 454), respectively. On the other hand, the annual contribution by community forests amounted to about 33 percent of the total farming income, which is a major source of income, for each family in both villages. The species richness of Letpanbin and Myaing community forests (CF) were 75.72±5.88 and 101.20±13.29 whereas the Shannon’s species diversity indices were 3.93 and 3.99, respectively. Shannon’s evenness of Letpanbin and Myaing CFs were 93% and 91%, respectively. There were 3336 (±850.83) and 3661 (±734.15) seedlings per ha while 2588 (±682.54) and 3208.13 (±777.91) saplings per ha in Letpanbin and Myaing CFs, respectively. In Letpanbin CF, Pyinma (Lagerstroemia speciosa) occupied the highest important value index (IVI) (15.90%) while Monn (scientifi c name not available) (16.89%) in Myaing CF. The coeffi cients of similarity (Ks) showed 50.33% between two forests in terms of fl oristic composition. Thirty-eight species were found as common species in both CFs. The people’s participation in community forest management was the major factor in achieving watershed conservation in the study area and it should be mimicked to the other rural areas for the environmental conservation and rural development. Key words: community forests, homegarden, stand structure, tree species diversity, rural development, watershed areas

Comparison of soil seed banks in canopy gap and closed canopy areas between a

Abstract: We compared soil seed banks between a secondary natural forest and an adjacent big leaf mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla King) plantation at Mt. Makiling Forest Reserve, Philippines to understand seed bank dynamics, the relationship between soil seed bank and aboveground vegetation and effects of canopy gaps on soil seed banks in a tropical rain forest. Stand inventorying was conducted and soil seed bank composition and density were examined in February and August 2008. Seeds were germinated to identify the species. Aboveground species composition and small canopy gaps little infl uenced soil seed bank composition and density. Only three species in the secondary natural forest and six species in the big leaf mahogany plantation were commonly found in both soil seed banks and aboveground vegetation. Most species in soil seed banks were pioneer or mid seral species which came from the outside of the stands. The dominant species in soil seed banks were mid seral species in the secondary natural forest and pioneer species in the big leaf mahogany plantation. Differences in soil seed bank composition and density were greater between stands than between gap closure levels, implying little effects of small canopy gaps on soil seed bank composition and density in the study sites. The low soil seed bank density of late seral species suggests that soil seed bank may not be the major source of late seral species regeneration while high soil seed bank density of pioneer and mid seral species implies that soil seed bank can be critical in the regeneration of pioneer and mid seral species in tropical rain forests. Key words: species composition, diversity index, soil seed bank density, tropical rain forest