Journal of the Japanese Forest Society

Award papers for the past 5 years

Volume 95 (2013) Issue 3 Pages 173-181

Genetic Diversity and Genetic Characteristics of Cryptomeria japonica in the Togakushi Okusha Shrine Forest

Megumi K. Kimura, Chika Nakamura, Naoki Hayashibe, Yasuhiro Koyama, Yoshihiko Tsumura

We investigated size distribution, genetic diversity and characteristics of old Cryptomeria japonica trees at Togakushi Okusha shrine using eight nuclear microsatellite markers. The bimodal shape of size distribution in planted trees suggests that this stand was planted in acertain limited period. Many trees are revealed to be planted by cutting in this forest by multiple genotype analysis. The genetic diversity such as allelic richness and expected heterozygosity in Togakushi Okusha shrine forest and natural populations were similar in level; however, the principal coordinate analysis based on Nei’s genetic distances showed that Togakushi Okusha shrine forest was unique among the natural populations. Kinship relations were detected between old trees in Togakushi Okusha shrine forest, other shrine and temple forests and a local cultivar in Nagano Prefecture. Genetic differentiation between Togakushi Okusha shrine forest and other natural forests were probably caused by the founder effect, due to the limited number of trees for forestation of the shrine forest. To maintain current genetic diversity and characteristics, we could recommend using seedlings derived from old trees showing good growth and traits and also cutting method for supplemental planting. Conservation of rare clonal individuals is also important to maintain genetic characteristics of trees which were planted in several shrine and temple forests for religious reasons.

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Award paper 2014

Volume 93 (2011) Issue 5 Pages 220-225

Common Allometric Relationships for Estimating Tree Biomasses in Cool Temperate Forests of Japan

Akira Komiyama, Masato Nakagawa, Shogo Kato

Allometric relationships are powerful tools for estimating biomasses of forest components. However, these relationships are specific to forest types and tree species. In addition, laborious field work is needed to obtain the necessary data. There is a need for common equations based on some biological laws that can be applied to various types of forest stands. In this study, we used the pipe model theory and the static model of plant form to establish common allometric equations for estimating above-ground and root biomasses of trees in cool-temperate forests of Japan. We sampled 22 species (157 individuals, maximum DBH=61.9 cm) for above-ground biomass and 13 species (33 individuals, DBH=72.3 cm) for root biomass. The relative errors of estimation of the common equations were 12.59 and 17.67% for above-ground and root biomass, respectively, which were less than for the conventional allometric equations (18.62 and 22.25%, respectively). The new allometric equations can potentially be used as powerful and nondestructive tools for estimating biomass in cool temperate forests of Japan.

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Award paper 2013

Volume 95 (2013) Issue 4 Pages 214-219

Effect of Planting Season on Survival and Growth of Containerized Sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) Cuttings during First Growing Season

Hiromi Yamagawa, Hidetoshi Shigenaga, Kouji Kubo, Shozo Nakamura

To evaluate the possibility of year-round planting of containerized cuttings, we compared the survival rate and current-year growth of containerized sugi (Cryptomeria japonica) cuttings planted in different seasons (December, February, May, August and October). In addition, bare-root cuttings were planted in February, and we compared the current-year growth between containerized cuttings and bare-root cuttings. The survival rate of containerized cuttings was at least 94% in all of the planting seasons, and was comparable to that of the bare-root cuttings planted in February. In addition, growth of both cuttings types was also equivalent. Although the growth of containerized cuttings planted during the growing season (May, August and October) was dependent upon the remaining length of the growing season, diameter growth tended to be smaller in cuttings planted in May. It is possible that containerized cuttings could start growing immediately after the arrival of the following spring because they had high survival rates and had already started growing if they were planted in the growing season of the current planting year. However, the planting of containerized seedlings and cuttings is a recent technique and future research assessing the optimal time for planting and supply of seedlings and cuttings needs to be undertaken.

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Award paper 2015

Volume 97 (2015) Issue 1 Pages 44-50

The Distribution of Radiocesium in a Moso Bamboo（Phyllostachys pubescens）Forest in Fukushima Prefecture

Mitsutoshi Umemura, Tsutomu Kanasashi, Yuki Sugiura, Chisato Takenaka

To clarify the distribution of radiocesium (¹³⁷Cs) in a Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens) forest in Fukushima Prefecture after the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant Accident, we visually and quantitatively investigated ¹³⁷Cs contamination levels in each organ of the bamboos, which sprouted before 2010 and after 2011, in 2012 and 2014. From the analysis on the bamboo samples taken in 2012, the highest ¹³⁷Cs concentration was found in the node parts of both the culms and branches in the before-2010 bamboo due to the direct fallout containing ¹³⁷Cs. This fact suggests a long-term contamination with little leaching of ¹³⁷Cs in the bamboo forest. From similar ¹³⁷Cs concentrations in each organ among the different-aged bamboos, it was supposed that ¹³⁷Cs diffused from before-2010 bamboo to the 2011-sprouted bamboo just after the accident and also that the root uptake of ¹³⁷Cs might contribute to the contamination in the 2011-sprouted bamboo. However, we did not find the evidence of root uptake in 2014 from the results of ¹³⁷Cs distribution in the root system. These results suggested that ¹³⁷Cs absorbed just after the accident has been diffusing throughout the bamboo forest via the rhizome system.

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Award paper 2016

Volume 97 (2015) Issue 6 Pages 290-295

Application of Terrestrial LiDAR for Forest Tree Breeding:

Yuichiro Hiraoka, Makoto Takahashi, Atsushi Watanabe

In order to apply terrestrial LiDAR for phenotyping in forest tree breeding, various traits of stem were quantified and evaluated based on a point cloud obtained by ground-based three-dimensional laser measurements on a study site of F₁ individuals of Cryptomeria japonica plus trees. The point cloud of each individual stem was approximated by “stem circles", which are horizontal perfect circles arrayed per 10 cm height. Based on the point cloud and the stem circles, both height and diameter at breast height (DBH) of individuals were automatically estimated with high accuracy. The relative stem taper curve equation of the third order was approximated for each individual based on the stem circles. Stem volume of each individual estimated from the taper curve showed high correlation with one estimated from only tree height and DBH. Stem straightness was quantified in the two standardized methods and these methods were evaluated with stem straightness index investigated on the field. The relationships among these estimated traits were examiend using correlation coefficients. Of the ratio of additive genetic variance, the highest was stem straightness, followed in order by tree height, stem volume, DBH, and the coefficients of the relative stem taper curve. The usefulness of the analytical method for phenotyping in forest tree breeding was discussed.

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Award paper 2017

View the past featured articles

2018 Volume 100 Issue 6

Mass Mortality of Oak Trees in an Old Evergreen Broad-leaved Forest Dominated by Castanopsis sieboldii and C. cuspidata in Miyazaki. Tomohide Sueyoshi, Kenji Tasiro, Akitsugu Imaoka, Tomohiro Hirayama, Ryoko Hirata, Satoshi Ito
Dispersal of Bursaphelenchus xylophilus Invading Dead Pinus thunbergii Trees through Oviposition Wounds Made by Monochamus alternatus and Transfer of the Nematodes to Vector Insects. Hideaki Ishiguro, Takuya Aikawa
Genetic Variation of Root Traits of Cuttings and Their Relation to Early Shoot Growth in Cryptomeria japonica. Yuki Fukuda, Yuichiro Hiraoka, Mineko Ohira, Makoto Takahashi, Taiichi Iki, Masahiro Miura, Manabu Kurita, Atsushi Watanabe
Approximate Standard Deviation for Estimating the Accuracy of the GNSS-derived Plot Area. Masayuki Matsuoka, Eiji Onodera, Toshitsugu Kawakami, Kazutaka Takano, Yuzuru Kimura

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