• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.394-405
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• 1995

Certain ericaceous understory plants of temperate forests proliferate following forest clearcutting and fire. Rapid vegetative growth of these plants may affect conifer regeneration due to their strong competitive abilities and allelopathic properties. Planted conifers in these shrub-dominated habitats experience "growth check" which may result in a loss of productivity or in extreme cases total failure of forest regeneration. This growth check phenomenon is exemplified in Calluna Sitca spruce Scots pine ecosystems of western Europe, Kalmia black spruce ecosystem of eastern Canada and Gaultheria-cedar/hemlock ecosystem of the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Dynamics of Kalmia black spruce ecosystem following disturbance was used to explain the mechanism of conifer growth inhibition and their regeneration failure. It is argued that in addition to competition for nutrients, Kalmia allelopathy plays a major role in growth inhibition of black spruce. This conclusion is supported by the results of various field, laboratory and greenhouse experiments. Eight phenolic compounds were isolated and identified from the leaves of Kalmia angustifolia, four of which are known to be highly phyotoxic to black spruce. Methods of overcoming the allelopathic effects of Kalmia in order to enhance black spruce regeneration in Kalmia-dominated sites are discussed.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.196-206
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• 2020

Background: The Himalayan forests are of great importance to sustain the nature and community resource demands. These forests are facing pressures both from anthropogenic activities and ongoing global climatic changes. Poor natural regeneration has been considered a major problem in mountainous forests. To understand the population structure and regeneration status of Larix (Larix griffithiana and Larix himalaica), we conducted systematic vegetation surveys in three high-altitude valleys namely Ghunsa (Kanchenjunga Conservation Area, KCA), Langtang (Langtang National Park, LNP), and Tsum (Manaslu Conservation Area, MCA) in Nepal Himalaya. The average values of diameter at breast height (DBH), height, and sapling height were compared for three sites and two species using Kruskal-Wallis test. Population structure was assessed in terms of proportion of seedlings, saplings, and trees. Regeneration was analyzed using graphical representation of frequencies of seedlings, saplings, and trees in histograms. Results: The results showed that the population structure of Larix in terms of the proportion of seedling, sapling, and tree varied greatly in the three study areas. KCA had the highest record of seedling, sapling, and tree compared to other two sites. Seedlings were the least among three forms and many plots were without seedlings. We found no seedling in MCA study plots. The plot level average DBH variation among sites was significant (Kruskal-Wallis χ² = 7.813, df = 2, p = 0.02) as was between species (Kruskal-Wallis χ² = 5.9829, df = 1, p = 0.014). Similarly, the variation in average tree height was significant (Kruskal-Wallis χ² = 134.23, df = 2, p < 0.001) among sites as well as between species (Kruskal-Wallis χ² = 128.01, df = 1, p < 0.001). All the sites showed reverse J-shaped curve but more pronounced for KCA and MCA. In comparing the two species, Larix griffithiana has clear reverse J-shaped diameter distribution but not Larix himalaica. Conclusion: The varied responses of Larix manifested through regeneration status from spatially distinct areas show that regeneration limitations might be more pronounced in the future. In all the three studied valleys, regeneration of Larix is found to be problematic and specifically for Larix griffithiana in MCA and Larix himalaica in LNP. To address the issues of disturbances, especially serious in LNP, management interventions are recommended to sustain the unique Himalayan endemic conifer.

• Journal of Korean Society of Forest Science
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• v.111 no.1
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• pp.61-71
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• 2022

Data from an investigation of vulnerable conifer species in the subalpine zone in Korea obtained by the Korea Forest Service in 2017-2018 and monitoring research conducted by the National Institute of Forest Science since 2014 were used to analyze the status of distribution and growing condition of three major conifer species (Abies nephrolepis, Abies koreana, and Picea jezoensis) in the subalpine zone in the Baekdudaegan protected area. The distribution area of the studied species in the Baekdudaegan protected area was ca. 74% (8,035 ha) of the total distribution area in Korea, indicating that Baekdudaegan is a core area for conservation and restoration of subalpine conifer species. From decline index [A. nephrolepis in Mt. Taebaeksan and Mt. Deogyusan increased by 77.3% and 29.6%, respectively; A. koreana in Mt. Jirisan (Chunwangbong Peak) increased by 45.2% in four years; and P. jezoensis in Mt. Jirisan (Chunwangbong Peak) increased by 47.8% in two years] and seedling frequency (lower frequency of newly recruited seedlings than dead seedlings) results, the studied species are expected to face difficulties in sustainability. In contrast, at Mt. Seseoksan and Chunwangbong Peak in Mt. Jirisan, the health of trees and seedling frequency showed a partial tendency to recover and increase. In addition, we identified the relationship between the decline index and seedling frequency. These results will support the implementation of conservation strategies for vulnerable conifer species in the subalpine zone.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.343-356
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• 2010

Plant micropropagation techniques include bud cultures using apical or axillary buds, organogenesis through callus culture or adventitious bud induction, and somatic embryogenesis. In Korea Forest Research Institute (KFRI), the first tissue culture trial in woody plant was initiated from the bud culture of hybrid poplars (Populus alba x P. glandulosa) in 1978. Since then several mass propagation techniques have developed from conifer and hardwood species, resulting in allowing practical application to Poplars, Birches and some oak species. In addition, useful micropropagation and genetic resources conservation techniques were established in some rare and endangered tree species including Abeliophyllum distichum. Among various in vitro propagation techniques, somatic embryogenesis is known to be the most efficient plant regeneration system. Since the first somatic embryo induction was reported in Tilia amurensis by KFRI in 1986, various protocols for direct or indirect somatic embryogenesis systems have developed in conifer and hardwood species including Larix leptolepis, Pinus rigida x P. taeda F1, Kalopanax septemlobus and Liliodendron tulipifera, etc. However, most of these technologies have been developed using juvenile tissues, i.e. immature zygotic embryos or mature embryos. Therefore it has been difficult to directly application to tree breeding program due to their unproven genetic background. Recently remarkable progresses and new approaches have been achieved in mature tree somatic embryogenesis. In this article we reviewed several micropropagation techniques, which have been mainly developed by KFRI and recent international progresses.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.83-95
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• 2013

To understand natural regeneration and stand development after fire in mixed broadleaved-coniferous forests of Sikhote-Alin Mountains, ten sample plots of $50m{\times}50m$ size were established in 1975 and 1983 at the stands burned by wildfires in 1973 and 1982, respectively. And, the number of naturally regenerated seedlings were monitored in two $50m{\times}4m$ subplots in each plot. The most fire-sensitive conifer species is Abies nephrolepis, while Betula costata is the most fire-sensitive broadleaved tree species. The most fire-resistant species were Q. mongolica, T. taquetii and A. mono. The results of 20 and 30 years after the fire showed that pioneer tree species, e.g. Populus, Salix, and Betula, were regenerated immediately at the early stage of stand development and grew where there is a mono canopy layer with high density. On the other hand, the densities of successors, e.g. Pinus koraiensis, Picea jezoensis, Abies nephrolepis, Acer mono and Tilia taquetii, which were present in the study plots before the fire, increased gradually. Naturally regenerated tree species after forest fire by the growth rate were divided into three groups according to their annual height growth. The seral tree species (Betula costata, Betula platyphylla, Padus maackii, Populus tremula and Sarix caprea) belong to the first group and have the highest growth rate (from 40 to 96 cm per year). The late successional broad-leaved trees (Tilia taquetii, Acer mono and Quercus mongolica) belong to the second group and have intermediate annual height growth (from 3.7 to 13.5 cm per year). The late successional coniferous species (Picea jezoensis, Pinus koraiensis and Abies nephrolepis) form the third group and have the least annual height growth (from 1.4 to 3.5 cm per year).

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.297-300
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• 2005

Racodium therryanum from Korea is described here for the first time. This fungus is characterized by that it is isolated from conifer seeds and seedlings, including Abies, colonies are dark green to dark gray and intricate, and it forms chlamydospores in cultures. This pathogenic fungus was isolated from seeds of Abies koreana growing on Mt. Halla, Jeju island. The fungus stopped growth more than at $30^{\circ}C$ but grew even at $O^{\circ}C$. This fungus infected seeds of A. koreana under the snow during winter season. There is a high probability that this fungus affects the natural regeneration of A. koreana on Mt. Halla.

• Korean Journal of Plant Tissue Culture
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.351-355
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• 1997

Adventitious shoots were induced from cambial tissue cultures of 3-year-old seedlings using BLG mineral salts medium supplemented with 10 mM glutamine and 30 mM sucrose. The optimum growth regulator level for bud induction was 4,5 $\mu$M BA which produced average 25.5 shoots per cambium segment. Induced buds were elongated on GD medium supplemented with 30 mM sucrose followed by LMG medium supplemented with 30 mM sucrose for further shoot elongation. Elongated shoots were rooted on half-strength GD medium containing $0.54 ;\mu\textrm{M}$ NAA with the frequency of 20%. This system proved the high morphogenic potential of cambial tissue in larch.