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Repeated Lophodermium needle cast has a cumulative impact on the growth of Scots pine for up to 12 years

Authors:
Aris Jansons at Latvian State Forest Research Institute "Silava"
Aris Jansons
Pauls Zeltiņš at Latvijas Valsts mežzinātnes institūts "Silava"/ Latvian State Forest Research Institute ''Silava"
Pauls Zeltiņš
  • Latvijas Valsts mežzinātnes institūts "Silava"/ Latvian State Forest Research Institute ''Silava"
Una Neimane
Una Neimane
Una Neimane
  • This person is not on ResearchGate, or hasn't claimed this research yet.
Silva Šēnhofa
Silva Šēnhofa
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Abstract and Figures

The study investigates the long-term impact of Lophodermium needle cast on open-pollinated Scots pine progenies in Latvia. A significant impact of cumulative needle cast damage on growth and survival was found. Notably, 51% of trees experienced severe damage after the 4th growing season. Genetic factors played a role in survival at 12 years. Height growth was significantly affected, with height at age 3 and cumulative needle cast damage as key predictors for heights at ages 12 and 16. Genetics demonstrated a substantial impact, with heritability coefficients of 0.25 for cumulative needle cast damage and 0.24 for height, and negative genotypic correlations (rG ≥ -0.71) between the traits. Selecting the top 10% families based on height at 12 years yielded a 14.2% improvement in height and a simultaneous 8.4% reduction in cumulative needle cast damage, enhancing survival by 9.8%. Thinning somewhat mitigated the negative effect of needle cast. The findings highlight the need for adaptive forestry strategies in the Baltic Sea region.
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Received: 20 December 2023 / Accepted: 26 August 2024 / Published online: 3 September 2024
© The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. 2024
Pauls Zeltiņš
pauls.zeltins@silava.lv
1 Latvian State Forest Research Institute (LSFRI) Silava, Rigas Street 111, Salaspils
LV2169, Latvia
Repeated Lophodermium needle cast has a cumulative
impact on the growth of Scots pine for up to 12 years
ĀrisJansons1· PaulsZeltiņš1· UnaNeimane1· SilvaŠēnhofa1·
RaitisRieksts-Riekstiņš1
New Forests (2024) 55:1887–1898
https://doi.org/10.1007/s11056-024-10067-5
Abstract
The study investigates the long-term impact of Lophodermium needle cast on open-polli-
nated Scots pine progenies in Latvia. A signicant impact of cumulative needle cast dam-
age on growth and survival was found. Notably, 51% of trees experienced severe damage
after the 4th growing season. Genetic factors played a role in survival at 12 years. Height
growth was signicantly aected, with height at age 3 and cumulative needle cast dam-
age as key predictors for heights at ages 12 and 16. Genetics demonstrated a substantial
impact, with heritability coecients of 0.25 for cumulative needle cast damage and 0.24
for height, and negative genotypic correlations (rG ≥ -0.71) between the traits. Selecting
the top 10% families based on height at 12 years yielded a 14.2% improvement in height
and a simultaneous 8.4% reduction in cumulative needle cast damage, enhancing survival
by 9.8%. Thinning somewhat mitigated the negative eect of needle cast. The ndings
highlight the need for adaptive forestry strategies in the Baltic Sea region.
Keywords Foliar disease · Tree breeding · Adaptive forest management · Forest
resilience
Introduction
The resilience of boreal forests in the face of challenges associated with increasing dis-
turbances is a critical consideration in sustainable forestry practices. Enhancing resilience
involves a multifaceted approach, encompassing genetic considerations, silvicultural mea-
sures, and adaptive management strategies (Thiault et al. 2023). Considering the impacts
of natural disturbances such as insect and pathogen outbreaks is crucial in the planning of
forest management, given their substantial eects on productivity and the provision of eco-
system services (D’Amato et al. 2023). This becomes particularly important as projections
1 3
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