The Clean Larch, an F₁ hybrid of Larix gmelinii var. japonica and L. kaempferi, is propagated by rooted cutting, and has features such as high carbon assimilation, rapid initial growth, resistance to vole gnawing, and high wood strength. However, the amount of nursery stock does not meet the demand due to the limitation of the period for cutting and difficulty in maintaining the environmental control in greenhouses. Therefore, we are developing a method for year-round rooted cutting production in a closed system. To examine the optimal condition of dormancy induction by artificial means for rooted cuttings obtained in September, we conducted experiments lowering the temperatures from 23℃ to 10℃, 5℃ over an 8-h day length, and －5℃ in dark conditions. For the terminal bud formation, a 23℃- treatment with a short day was required. Lack of 23℃-temperature and short-day treatment or 10℃ and short-day treatment for a week after the high-temperature treatment resulted in dormancy induction death and growth delay after dormancy release in rooted cuttings. The short-day treatment of 23℃ for 3 weeks followed by 10℃ for 4 weeks, 5℃ for 2 weeks, and －5℃ chilling in the dark condition for 4 weeks enabled dormancy release and satisfactory survival and growth performance of Clean Larch cuttings.

This study aimed to detect arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal spores in the forest soil and investigate fluctuations in spore density over time. Soil samples were collected from 11 sites in Kagoshima Prefecture between June and November 2014 and subjected to spore extraction using the wet-sieving method. The spores produced by AM fungi were detected in samples from 10 locations, but none were found in the soil collected from a pine forest near the active crater of Sakurajima. Low spore densities were observed in samples from three sites, including one located near the Sakurajima crater. At locations where significant seasonal changes in the spore density of AM fungi were observed, spore density was high in June, decreased afterward, and remained low until November. No significant correlation was observed between spore density and distance from the nearest pine tree or distance from Miscanthus sinensis in pine forests. Furthermore, we observed no significant difference in spore density between the soil samples collected from beneath AM trees and those collected from under ectomycorrhizal trees in a broadleaf forest.

This paper will clarify the status of national parks and the characteristics of their systems through an analysis of the Special Nature Conservation Area Law (N33-FZ), which forms the basis for the nature protection system in the Russian Federation. The changes of their systems since the 2000s are as follows. According to a 2013 amendment to the law, the management and operation of national parks is now the responsibility of the independent administrative agencies. National parks have private lands, indigenous peoples, and other residents, and articles have been added to take their rights into consideration, and they are divided into six zoning categories that reflect these rights. In recent years, several specific prohibitions have been added to the national park articles, likely reflecting increased use pressure. On the other hand, the system was revised to be more conducive to use, allowing land to be leased to individuals or corporations.