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A widely-accepted model for the molecular architecture of wood fails to account for the stick-slip deformation process, in which wet wood shows permanent plastic deformation without significant mechanical damage. A proposed model interposes a layer of water molecules between cellulose microfibrils and the surrounding matrix. Results from proton spin diffusion, monitored via ¹³C NMR signal strengths, supported the new model. Pinus radiata D.Don latewood was soaked in D₂O and a timescale of 10 ms was measured for proton spin diffusion between cellulose and glucomannan. This observation was interpreted in terms of a layer of D₂O molecules creating a spin-diffusion barrier between the microfibrils and the matrix.

Intra-ring checking (checking) is a wood quality defect that can develop sometimes in Pinus radiata D.Don (radiata pine) wood during the drying process. The aim of this small study was to examine various mechanical properties of intra-ring-checked wood to determine how they differed from non-checked wood. This would help understand which of these mechanical properties (if any) might make wood susceptible to checking. Three mechanical properties of wood (density, microfibril angle (MFA) and modulus of elasticity (MOE)) were examined in oven-dried radiata pine disks that displayed different degrees of checking. These measurements were made using SilviScan-2 equipment. Microfibril angle was also examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD) while MOE data was also obtained using a modified version of a Fullam micro-test stage.

None of the data obtained for any of the mechanical properties showed significant differences relative to checking. However, some trends could be observed that helped draw some conclusions about the mechanical properties observed in checked and non-checked wood. The checked wood samples had a lower density than the non-checked wood samples by SilviScan-2 analysis. When measured by XRD, the MFA of checked wood was higher than that of non-checked wood. However, when measured by SilviScan-2, the MFA of checked wood and non-checked wood did not show such clear differences. There was also no significant difference in the MOE of checked and non-checked wood obtained by either SilviScan-2 or by Fullam micro-test stage equipment. In summary, the three properties measured were insufficient predictors of checking in this small set of radiata pine samples.

Wound reactions in cells of the boundary layer in the xylem of Tilia americana L. were investigated by transmission electron microscopy and cellular ultraviolet (UV)-microspectrophotometry. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that in vessels and fibres wound reaction compounds are deposited in the lumen as balloon-like structures and/or as wall attachments. Parenchyma cells frequently show atypical innermost wall layers, either similar to regular wall layers or as a nearly electron transparent structure resembling suberinised cell wall layers. UV-microspectrophotometry allowed for a closer chemical characterisation of the wound reaction compounds. According to their absorbance behaviour with a distinct maximum beyond 300 nm, these were identified as flavonoid compounds. Precursor substances with an additional maximum at 278 nm were found in parenchyma cells. The combination of transmission electron microscopy and UV-microspectrophotometry also revealed that wound reaction compounds are attached to but do not impregnate the vessel walls.

Fourier transform infrared microscopy combined with a focal plane array detector was used to illustrate the distribution of cellulose and lignin in wood of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.). Two independent methods were used for data analysis: (a) an integration; and (b) a correlation method. In method (a), the typical range of wave-numbers for cellulose (1390-1350 cm^-1) or lignin (1530-1490 cm^-1) was integrated in each spectrum and the distribution of the measured intensities was recorded. For the correlation method (b), reference Fourier transform infrared spectra for isolated beech lignin and cellulose were generated. The spectra obtained with the focal plane array detector in beech wood were correlated with reference spectra for cellulose or lignin, respectively illustrating the tightness of the correlation in each measuring point in the wood cross-section. Both methods gave similar results, but the integration method yielded higher resolution than the correlation method. Since structural properties of wood such as wall thickness and lumen width affected the results, the optimum method needs to be evaluated for each species separately.

Biologically active polysaccharides from medicinal plants have been studied for many years. In addition to immuno-modulating effects, human clinical studies have shown that some polysaccharides have certain benefits for human health. Most studies have focused on the side chains of pectic rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I), particularly the Type II arabinogalactans, which have been isolated and shown to have anti-complementary and other immuno-activities. These studies have provided valuable information about how carbohydrate moieties induce certain biological events.

Consumers will pay a premium for fruit that have excellent flavour, high nutritional value, store well and are convenient to eat. In kiwifruit, the opportunity to breed fruit with these characteristics exists within the ~50 species that make up the Actinidia genus. Actinidia eriantha has been identified as having desirable convenience and health attributes that could be introgressed into commercial kiwifruit species by conventional breeding. Actinidia eriantha has an 'easy-to-peel' phenotype that increases the level of convenience associated with kiwifruit by making fruit easier to eat. In this review we describe analysis of biochemical and chemical differences in cell walls of easy-to-peel versus poor-peeling genotypes, and how these relate to their mechanical, structural and chemical features. We also discuss the health attributes of A. eriantha, including its content of vitamin C, oxalate, triterpenoids and allergens.

Immunolabelling is a powerful technique that can visualise the spatial and temporal arrangement of polysaccharides within plants, providing detail of localisation within tissues, cell types and individual cell walls not obtainable through chemical extraction methods. An increasing number of highly characterised antibodies to cell wall antigens are now becoming available. When using any of these antibodies there is a need for careful interpretation of the labelling patterns, and adequate controls to ensure specific labelling. This review examines some of the issues involved in obtaining meaningful results based on examples from our own work. We focus in particular on immunolabelling of fixed resin embedded material, providing a basic protocol and illustrating the results that can be obtained using it. We also review precautions that must be taken to verify that the results obtained are meaningful and how to troubleshoot if things go wrong.

Xyloglucans occur in the primary cell walls of all angiosperms where they are thought to have a structural role and be involved in the control of cell expansion. They also occur in the thick, non-lignified secondary cell walls of seeds of some species of eudicotyledons where they serve as reserve carbohydrates. The xyloglucans in the primary cell walls of most eudicotyledons have similar structures with side chains containing galactose and fucose. However, in one group of eudicotyledons, the asterids, there is considerable structural variability in the xyloglucans, with many containing arabinose. There is also variability in the xyloglucans of the monocotyledons, with those in the family Poaceae containing no fucose and only small proportions of galactose. The xyloglucans of the thick, secondary cell walls of seeds are similar to those in the primary walls of most eudicotyledons, but contain no fucose. The functional significance of these structural variations is unknown. A number of genes and their encoded glycosyltransferases have been identified as being involved in the biosynthesis of the xyloglucans of the model eudicotyledon Arabidopsis thaliana.

The plant cell wall protects cells, provides structural support, assists with regulation of growth and provides a mechanism for cells to adhere to and communicate with each other. In plants eaten as food, the cell wall contributes texture and mouthfeel, and is a barrier which, when broken, allows flavours and moistness to be released and perceived in the mouth. The functional properties of polysaccharides that enable them to provide structural support around a cell also make them attractive hydrocolloids for improving texture, sensory and nutritional qualities of food. Isolated pectin, cellulose (modified) and a range of structural and storage polysaccharides (including galactomannans, glucomannans, xyloglucans) located in the cell walls of land plants can provide mouthfeel, viscosity, stabilisation, pouring properties and assistance in manufacture. They achieve these effects through interactions with water as well as their capacity to form gels through self-association or through inter-polymeric relationships. These same properties also determine their usefulness as non-digestible dietary fibre. In this review, we will outline the uses and functions of isolated land plant cell wall polysaccharides added to food products as ingredients to improve texture, and also summarise what is currently known about the mechanisms underlying the health benefits they provide as dietary fibres.

Immunocytochemistry uses labelled antibodies to localise specific cell wall components, either by fluorescence microscopy or by electron microscopy. Antibodies have been developed to detect both polysaccharides and lignin moieties, allowing visualisation of cell wall components with high resolution and specificity. Similar techniques have been developed to use enzymes or carbohydrate binding modules with specific affinity to cell wall components. This review summarises progress in this field as applied to xylem cell walls, outlining current knowledge and exploring the scope for future investigations.

A brief overview of the structure of mannans in plant cell walls and other organisms is presented. In particular, mannans, galactomannans and glucomannans in seed endosperm and vegetative tissues such as bulbs and tubers, galactoglucomannans (GGMs) in primary cell walls, and glucomannans and GGMs in secondary walls of hardwoods and softwoods are covered. Possible roles of mannans in primary plant cell walls other than as storage polysaccharides are discussed.

Pits form a major pathway for liquid flow in wood. In conifers, such as radiata pine (Pinus radiata D.Don), pits between axial tracheids are highly specialised structures, with cell walls overarching a membrane. The membrane consists of a central impervious torus, which is suspended in the pit cavity by a highly porous margo. The bordered pits in radiata pine become aspirated during drying of timber, a condition where the torus becomes lodged against the pit aperture and seals it, thus influencing timber permeability/ penetrability. To enhance timber treatability we have employed an environmentally compatible biological process to remove pit membranes, thus facilitating greater flow of applied wood property enhancing solutions through pits. The biological modification process we employed involved placing freshly sawn radiata pine boards in water in plastic troughs in a glasshouse, and keeping them submerged for periods sufficient for the natural bacterial microflora to colonise wood and destroy pit membranes. The boards were removed from the troughs after 2-12 weeks and examined by a range of microscopy techniques, including fluorescence confocal microscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, which provided evidence of bacterial colonisation of pit membranes and pit membrane destruction. The microscopic assessment of wood permeability indicated that penetration depth of applied coating was significantly greater in the ponded wood compared with the unponded (control) wood. A fruitful extension of the work presented here would be to develop a biological pre-treatment process using enzymes that will specifically target pit membranes and can be produced cost-effectively for industrial scale operations.

Xylans are hemicellulosic polysaccharides consisting of a (1-4)-ß-D-xylan backbone, which is substituted in all land plants with short side chains (usually monosaccharide) of alpha-L-arabinose and/or ß-D-glucuronic acid residues. The glucuronic acid residues are frequently 4-O-methylated. Xylans are found in the primary cell walls of all higher plants, and are a major component of secondary cell walls. Highly substituted glucuronoarabinoxylans are the major cross-linking structural hemicellulose in the primary walls of monocots of the commelinoid group, except in growing tissues of the grasses (Poales) where their function is temporarily replaced by a mixed linkage (1-3),(1-4)-ß-D-glucan. In non-commelinoid monocots and dicots, glucuronoarabinoxylans are a minor component of primary cell walls, and xyloglucan is the major structural hemicellulose. During cell growth in grasses, the degree of substitution of the xylan backbone declines and xylans become increasingly firmly attached into the wall by ester and ether links. In dicots, a proportion of the xylan may become increasingly associated with pectin and xyloglucan in complexes as growth ceases. In both grasses and dicots, evidence for depolymerisation of the xylan backbone during the wall loosening associated with growth is lacking. In cereal grains, germination is accompanied by complete degradation of arabinoxylan-rich primary cell walls, involving substantial cytosolic endo-(1-4)-ß-xylanase activity. This is, however, a specialised case of programmed cell death rather than cell wall loosening for growth. Nevertheless, Arabidopsis possesses four putative endo-(1-4)-ß-xylanase proteins with a predicted signal sequence for secretion to the apoplast, suggesting that xylan depolymerisation is involved in some aspects of plant development. A large increase in endo-(1-4)-ß-xylanase activity accompanies fruit ripening in papaya, indicating that in some species xylan depolymerisation may be a component of the wall disassembly leading to fruit softening.

Arborescent plants are highly adapted to their terrestrial environment. In competition with other land plants for light, they gain advantage by managing to establish their photosynthesis units at remarkable heights above ground. For this benefit arborescent plants have to transport water over long distances against gravity and internal friction and have to cope with high mechanical loads acting on their stems. Although faced by similar mechanical constraints, the growth strategies of arborescent plants belonging to different species and classes can vary largely. This shows that during evolution different growth concepts with different structural solutions have been successfully established. In this article, we review structure-function relationships of trees and palms. The comparison is made along different levels of hierarchy, starting from the integral level of the stem down to the biochemical composition of the cell walls. Particular attention is paid to the close interdependencies between the structural levels and to the cell wall organisation of the different arborescent plants in terms of adjusting mechanical properties for the specific growth strategy.

This Special Issue of the Journal comprises 14 selected and peer-reviewed papers from the 3rd Joint New Zealand - German Cell Wall Symposium held in Auckland, New Zealand from 13 to 15 February 2008. Primary and secondary plant cell walls are an essential component of our daily life. They are renewable biomaterials, serving as an important source of food (primary cell walls), as building materials (secondary cell walls) and energy (primary and secondary walls). In New Zealand, information about the biochemistry and physical properties of plant cell walls can have a huge impact on the economic value of horticultural products, such as kiwifruit and apples, and forestry products, such as paper and timber. imary and secondary cell walls function in different ways: the primary wall enables a plant organ to expand and grow; and the secondary wall provides mechanical support. Understanding the nature of the links between primary and secondary cell walls is essential for a more complete understanding of cell walls and, more specifically, about the structure/function relationships of plant cell walls.

Branching habit is extremely variable in Pinus radiata (D.Don), and figures prominently in breeding goals. Branch cluster frequency (BR) scores are useful for ranking families, but do not give absolute mean internode length or internode index values. Also, comparing BR scores across different sites is complicated by large differences among site means and variances. It is desirable for the breeder to characterise families for mean internode length. Using a laser to measure internode length is potentially more precise and faster than other methods (e.g. climbing, height pole, and PhotoMARVL). We address the potential of a new laser technique to: (1) estimate genetic parameters of mean internode length and internode index; (2) quantify the relationship between BR and mean internode length; and (3) determine the optimum zone of stem for characterising whole-tree mean internode length. Fifty open-pollinated families, ca 20 trees/family, were assessed at two sites, one on the Kaingaroa Plateau, and the other on Northland coastal dunes (Pouto), 38 families being common to both sites. Mean internode length of the first log (MIL1) and second log (MIL2), mean internode length in the 4-7 m height zone (MIL4-7 m), and internode index of the first log (IIX1) and second log (IIX2) were assessed at age 17-18 years using a laser. These measurements were compared with previously collected data (diameter at breast height over bark and BR scores) from an age 8 assessment of the trees. On average, MIL2 exceeded MIL1 (0.51 cm and 0.40 cm respectively at Kaingaroa; 0.38 cm and 0.35 cm respectively at Pouto). Across-sites narrow-sense heritability (h²) estimates of BR, MIL1, MIL2, IIX1 and IIX2 were 0.18, 0.25, 0.23, 0.26 and 0.27 respectively, approximately half the within-site estimates. Across-sites genetic correlation estimates for these traits were ca 0.45, further indicating considerable rank-change genotype-environment interaction. Mean internode length in the 4-7 m height zone had higher estimated (h² than BR, and a high genetic correlation (about 0.98) with BR, indicating that laser assessment could be made more cost-efficient by assessing MIL4-7 m, which might be used to compare the families for mean internode length at different sites. To convert BR scores to obtain a reliable site mean for mean internode length, 30 random trees from each BR score class could suffice at a given site.

Establishment of nursery-raised seedlings was investigated at an opencast coal mine site near Kaitangata, south-east Otago, New Zealand. The mine was developed in quartz conglomerate interlayered with siltstones and multiple coal seams. The survival and growth of seven indigenous species were examined in two substrate types, minimally amended mine waste and loess (for comparison). Three different categories of waste were defined: quartz-rich, silt-rich, and coal-rich waste rock. Two different categories of loess were defined based on different levels of pre-planting earthworks but each with no natural soil layer. Survival of seedlings three years after planting was low (35-55%) on all substrates, but seedling deaths were particularly acute on coal-rich waste rock. Plant height growth was generally minimal on waste rock. Height growth after three years on loess was twice that on any category of waste rock. Broad nutrient and trace element profiles were generated for the different substrate categories but no specific factor could be related to better growth on loess. Poor survival on waste rock is discussed in terms of substrate acidity and potential boron toxicity in the coal. Substrate disturbance history had little influence on seedling survival or growth in the loess but potentially so on waste rock. Neither substrate type precluded indigenous species establishment per se, as was evidenced in widespred regeneration from natural seed dispersal. Research into the physical properties of the different substrates is required to isolate primary factors limiting nursery-raised seedling performance, with a focus on soil moisture stress.

Use of acoustic tools for assessing stiffness of green wood in standing trees relies on the assumption of a constant value for wood density. This study examined the variability in the green density of the outerwood (outer 5 rings) of 13-year-old Pinus radiata D.Don trees and determined the error introduced by using a constant value. Assuming a constant green density introduced a small (~3%) error in the calculated modulus of elasticity (i.e. density 'as measured' x acoustic velocity²). Acoustic velocity was the dominant term in the equation. Green density of the fresh core samples showed little variation (coefficient of variation = 2.8%) and was more strongly determined by the sample's moisture saturation than the amount of wood material (basic density). Modulus of elasticity was inversely related to diameter at 1.3 m (R²= 0.20). Basic density and fresh moisture content were inversely related (R²= 0.82). Basic density and fresh moisture content both influenced the acoustic velocity (R² ~ 0.07), but their effects were weak and opposite. The effect on the acoustic velocity of fresh moisture content at a level between 110% and 230% was less than found previously at lower fresh moisture contents.

The fungi described in this paper have been recorded but not fully described from New Zealand. The fungi are: Caulicolous hyphomycetes: Trimmatostroma betulinum (Corda) S.Hughes on Betula papyrifera Marshall and Betula pendula Roth.; Foliicolous coelomycetes: Discula betulina (Westendorp) Arx on Betula pendula ; Fusicoccum sp. on Ginkgo biloba Linnaeus; and Foliicolous hyphomycetes: Trimmatostroma abietis Butin & Pehl on Pinus muricata D.Don and Pinus radiata D.Don.

Seedlings from 28 lots of " Cupressus lusitanica " seed, of indigenous provenances in Mexico and Guatemala, and of exotic provenances in Portugal, Kenya and New Zealand, were arranged to a replicated design. At one year of age a visual appraisal led to a tentative classification, the indigenous material being divided into four groups: 1. C. lusitanica var. lusitanica , from a central region in Mexico; 2. C. lusitanica var. benthamii , from Hidalgo province in Mexico; 3. C. lusitanica of uncertain status, from Guatemala; and 4. two seedlots of doubtful status, believed to be C. arizonica from Durango, Mexico. Statistical analysis suggests that Number of Cotyledons, from 2 to 6 per seedling, varied significantly (p < 0.05) from one seedlot to another and possibly varied on a regional basis in the wild. Measurements of Height, Leaning of the Stem, Length of Longest Lateral and Number of Laterals, taken as single variates, all showed significant seedlot variation within and between geographical groups. Means of the 26 seedlots (excluding the two from Durango) taken in pairs, showed significant positive correlation from 0.37 to 0.88. Many of the differences between seedlots of indigenous origin may be ascribed to differences in the intensity of inbreeding. This speculation also applies to the apparently wider variation of the seedlots from cultivated trees. Another possible source of genetic variation in cultivated material is hybridisation between C. lusitanica and C. macrocarpa , which is known to occur.

Thinned and pruned plantation-grown Eucalyptus nitens (H.Deane & Maiden) Maiden has potential to supplement native forest 'ash' eucalypt logs for the Tasmanian sawmilling industry. Processing methods developed for native forest eucalypts were applied to logs from 22-year-old pruned stands thinned at age six years to 100, 200, 300, 400 stems/ha and unthinned control stands with a stocking of 700 stems/ha at harvest. Consistent with existing industry requirements for the two sawing methods, 42 trees with diameter at breast height over bark (DBHOB) < 43 cm were selected for back-sawing (flat-sawing), and 39 trees with DBHOB > 43 cm for quarter-sawing. For each sawing method, sets of trees were selected to provide trees evenly distributed across the target diameter range and, as near as possible, with sets matched across thinning treatments for size. From each tree two sawlogs, nominally 2.7 m in length, were cut from the pruned part of the stem. Both logs from individual trees were either back-sawn or quarter-sawn with single-saw log breakdown and re-saw systems. The boards were dried, dressed and graded to meet the requirements of Australian Standard AS 2796. Potential value-limiting defects were recorded, recovery calculated and measurements made of docked volume due to board end splits, flitch deflection, shrinkage and other processing related characteristics. Thinning treatment affected some shrinkage traits but for all other measures of processing performance was not significant, for logs of matched size. Likewise, a basal area measure of localised competition experienced by individual trees had no significant effect on processing performance. This indicates that the thinning intensity was not critical for processing with either a back-sawing or quarter-sawing strategy in conventional sawmills, as trees of equivalent size grown under different competitive regimes did not differ substantially in their processing performance. Quarter-sawn logs had lower total recovery, but higher recoveries of select and standard grades, than back-sawn logs. Upper logs produced higher recoveries of select and standard grades than butt logs for both sawing methods. These differences were primarily due to the severity of drying-related defects and the volume of wood docked to eliminate board end-splits. For both sawing methods the total recoveries from all logs, and the recoveries of select and standard grades from the upper logs, were similar to recent comparable studies in native forest sawlogs. However, the recoveries of select and standard grades from the butt logs were lower. Poor sawing accuracy contributed to the high occurrence of surface checking and product under-sizing for both sawing methods. Together with improved material handling during drying, greater sawing accuracy has the potential to improve not only recoveries but also product quality from both the butt and upper logs.

The fungal pathogens Ophiostoma ulmi (Buisman) Nannf. and O. novo-ulmi Brasier, the causal agents of Dutch elm disease, are responsible for decimation of elms in the Northern Hemisphere during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Pectinolytic enzymes, including polygalacturonase, have been implicated as virulence factors in the life history of many fungi. To determine the role of polygalacturonase in Dutch elm disease, we cloned and characterised the polygalacturonase gene from the highly aggressive O. novo-ulmi . This gene was similar to polygalacturonase genes of other fungi, and was present as a single copy in the genome. Genetic disruption of the gene was not lethal to the pathogen but led to a reduction of pectinolytic activity in vitro . It appears, therefore, that polygalacturonase has a limited role in fungal virulence and parasitic fitness in the life history of O. novo-ulmi .

Phytosanitary treatment of export forest products relies almost entirely on fumigation with methyl bromide, emissions of which are controlled under the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer. Adoption of cheaper, less environmentally harmful, alternative fumigants has been limited due to insufficient data on their efficacy and appropriate application technologies. The significant economic benefit of alternative fumigants provides justification for research investment. The Global Forest Products Model, a dynamic market equilibrium model that integrates wood supply, processing industries, product demand and trade, was used to calculate the direct economic benefits to New Zealand forest product exporters of gaining acceptance of phosphine fumigation for log exports to Japan, South Korea, India and China. The availability to New Zealand log exporters of a single alternative fumigant (phosphine) with associated application technologies increases log exporters present value (at 8% over 28 years) of gross annual revenue by US$318.5 million. Details of the impact of acceptance of phosphine fumigation to individual markets were also modelled. An additional risk management scenario modelled was a one-year log import ban by New Zealand's trading partners due to the presence of a quarantine pest in export logs and the lack of an alternative treatment. The economic impact of this last scenario was a decrease in the present value of forest owner gross revenue by US$369 million to US$3,007 million depending on the likelihood of a ban occurring. The value of the environmental, social and health benefits of a 70% reduction in methyl bromide emitted during forestry phytosanitary treatment (achievable using alternative fumigants for in-hold log cargo) was calculated at US$199,000/annum, a present value of US$2.2 million.

Persistent and strong wind, low nutrient and moisture levels in the soil, and mobile sands debilitate efforts to establish vegetation in coastal ecosystems. These difficulties can be overcome in some situations where either built structures (either dune-forming fences or individual protective shields) can be constructed in fore-dune locations or irrigation (either fixed or by hand) can be applied to protect and sustain new plantings. Because many restoration projects do not have adequate monetary resources to manage expenditure relative to built structures and/or irrigation, these efforts can experience up to 50% loss in the seedlings planted. Keeping these limitations in view, a field trial was conducted at Patonga Beach in (New South Wales, Australia) to test the suitability of the long-stem planting technique in restoring coastal sand dunes. Long-stem planting is a technique that utilizes plants grown in forestry tube-sized pots; plants of such stock can have vertical woody stems up to 1 m depending upon the application and an additional 10 cm of foliage. Plants suitable for this method of installation develop adventitious roots on the buried portion of woody stem, and mature in a manner consistent with seedlings without long stems. Placing of the nursery-grown root mass at a greater depth than non-long-stem plants at the time of planting is one of the advantages of this method of planting. Acacia longifolia var. sophorae (Labill.) F. Muell. is a native legume of Australia that occurs naturally in coastal ecosystems in New South Wales and Victoria and is a species recommended for use in stabilizing sand on the fore- and crest-dunes of beaches, due to its ability to withstand the poor soil and aggressive wind conditions. The trial reported in this paper, using Acacia longifolia var. sophorae , was undertaken to compare the survival rate and above-ground vigour between long-stem (LS) and non-long-stem (NLS) plants in the absence of either built structures offering protection or post-planting irrigation. Several LS plants of Acacia longifolia var. sophorae were installed concurrently in large containers (custom-made using PVC pipes) under similar climatic conditions at a nursery in Erina (New South Wales, Australia) to observe the development of adventitious roots on the buried stems of LS plants. Results from this trial have shown plentiful and healthy new roots, which are further supported by datasets demonstrating that 52% of root growth from LS plants was adventitious. A survival rate of 79% for LS plants compared with 53% for NLS plants during the field trial and the development of adventitious roots in the container-grown plants support the view that long-stem planting of Acacia longifolia var. sophorae is an effective and reliable method for use in the restoration of coastal sand dunes, overcoming the need for either built structures or post-planting irrigation.

This year (2009) is a time of change for the New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science. Scion has recognised that the nature of publishing is changing due to the influence of the internet. As a result, the New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science. is now freely available on-line at http://nzjfs.scionresearch.com. Papers will be published on the web individually and authors will receive an electronic reprint of their paper. To streamline the administration of the Journal, subscriptions are no longer available but hard copies of each volume can be purchased as an individual publication (see website for details). A new feature of the website is on-line tracking of manuscripts for authors. More new features will be added in the next few months. These include a popular summary of each newly published paper aimed at the wider forestry community. The scope of the Journal remains broadly similar, covering the breadth of forestry science. Plantation forestry will continue to be a particular focus but manuscripts on a wider range of forestry topics, such as tropical species, climate change, and policy will also be considered. Manuscripts will be categorised using the seven criteria (Biodiversity, Productive Capacity, Health and Vitality, Soil and Water Resources, Global Carbon Cycles, Socio-economic Benefits, and Policy) of the Montreal Process (www.mpci.org). The Journal has also been given a facelift with a new size, cover, and layout of both text and references. Electronic publishing also allows colour figures to be included at no cost to the authors. The internet is also revolutionising the access of information generally so the Journal will now accept a wider range of references, including websites and other types of report, as long as full bibliographic information is provided. There is still some constancy in this time of change. Scion and the New Zealand Journal of Forestry Science. remain committed to the publication of high-quality, peer-reviewed scientific papers on all aspects of forestry, at no financial cost to individual authors.