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The present paper is devoted to the analysis of the pattern of zonal distribution of mesofauna arthropods, birds, and vascular plants in the area from the northern boreal forest to arctic tundra of the Yamal Peninsula by the gradient of summer temperatures. Dynamics of northern ecosystems in latitude determines distinctions in plant species number which directly affects abundance of species and that of invertebrates, and indirectly, through the invertebrates - the same indices of birds. Breaks in continuity marking natural boundaries, where the components of arctic communities are changed to the boreal ones are followed with variations in species diversity.

The paper presents new data on 28-30-year-olds testing of triploid poplar hybrids (2 n = 3 x = 57), obtained using in hybridization artificially obtained unreduced diploid (2 n ) pollen (induced by high temperature or colchicines treatment) in Voronezh region. The growth dynamics, preservation and timber productivity of 26 triploid and diploid (2 n = 2 x = 38) clones of Populus alba L., P. balsamifera L., P. nigra L. and intersectional hybrids ( Populus deltoides Marsh. × P. balsamifera L.) were studied. It was revealed that a preservation of triploid hybrids of white poplar at 28-year-old age was higher than diploid hybrids. The greatest loss of plants of white poplar was observed during the first three years after planting of cutting seedlings in the nursery. In comparison, major loss of plants of P. balsamifera L., P. nigra L. and intersectional hybrids ( P. deltoides Marsh. × P. balsamifera L.) was observed after the 2010 drought. Especially high plant mortality was observed in P. balsamifera clone (preservation of 40 %) and to a lesser extent in poplar «Robusta-236» (preservation of 60 %). There were no statistically significant differences in growth between groups of diploid and triploid white poplar clones. Only part of the artificially produced autotriploid hybrids (40 %) were characterized by fast growth and productivity. It is suggested that the heterosis effect in triploids associated with participation of high heterozygous 2 n gametes in hybridization. Such were formed on the basis of a synapsis of chromosomes and loss of the I-st meiotic division. Six best triploid and diploid poplar hybrids have been selected as promising for Voronezh region.

In this report the results of individual and clone variability of the number of cones on Korean pine Pinus koraiensis Siebold et Zucc. grafting trees on experimental seed plantation (up to 21 years) in Khekhtsirskii Forestry unit of Khabarovsk region are presented. The maximum characteristics of seed bearing were proper for clones of trees at the age of 170-195 with a large number of the previous year sprouts and the average annual growth in the range of 0.12-0.15 m in height and 0.24-0.29 cm in diameter. The trees over 200 years have weak vitality grafts. That’s why the age of Korean pine seed productivity breeding should be limited by this age. The coefficients of variation of the clone seed bearing characteristics amount to 35-56 % during the first decade, later - up to 154 %. The variability of the whole population is the same. Sometimes, the Rate of Relative Total Seed Productivity (RRTSP) differs ten or more times in two trees of one clone, while the best clones exceed the worst ones 2-6 times. As consistent with a single-factor analysis of variance, clone differences in the numbers of cones are not significant for P = 0.05. This characteristic heritability coefficient ( H ²) has not exceeded 0.08 during of all dates of the observations, including the twenty first years after the seed plantation creation. It is recommended to organize protection and enclosure of the most valuable plots, to optimize the graft and nursing technology for the grafted seed plantations. It is necessary to prepare the graft cuttings only from productive trees of productive clone before genetic certification.

Fast height growth selection usually considered as the basic type of Scotch pine breeding strategy. Due to this fact height growth of pine clones usually is taken as the first key feature. In the view of good seed production there is only one indicator that could be adopted as having summarized effect reflecting the real contribution of a clone to the whole seed orchard yield. This is an average number of full seeds per tree (ramet). This trait is the second most important one after the height growth ability feature. The way of two-trait breeding program with the aforesaid features seemed to be the most suitable for Scotch pine. Main theses of 4-stages complex assessment procedure have been formulated concerning Scotch pine vegetative progenies grown at seed orchards. It was stated that this system of breeding and genetic assessment is based on correlations found for habitus and reproductive features of Scotch pine clones along with the height growth ability of their seed progenies. In the first stage pine clones meeting the criteria (≥ X + 0.5σ _x ) regarding height growth are to be selected. In the second stage, clones with hard tapering stem and crown formed by long and thick branches have to be discarded. At this stage, such feature as «mean diameter of three thickest limbs at the height of 1.5-2.0 m» became the key factor. Its mean value for selected clones must not be by 1-2 % higher than for general clone set. In the third stage a complex of reproductive features for clones that have passed the previous stages are taken into account. The trait «average number of full seeds per ramet» is the key feature in this stage according to the criteria (≥ X ). The fourth stage implies that progeny trials with open-pollinated progenies ought to be laid down to calculate the general and specific combining ability. It has been concluded that high intensive selection of clones grown at the I-stage seed orchards promotes a substantial genetic gain expected at the subsequent breeding stages. Seven clones (10 % of the total) have been selected using the two-trait breeding approach. As a result, habitus features of the selected clones became much better. The height and stem diameter increased by 7.6 and 2.6 % and crown width along with branch diameter did the same by 2.1 and 1.2 %, respectively. At the same time seed yield increased by 43.0 %.

The program is based on 30 years of research by the author for breeding softwood for plantation cultivation and modeling of the course of growth of trees and forest stands. Scope of work presented progeny plus trees and conventional trees of Scots pine Рinus sylvestris L. and spruce Finnish ( Рicea  fennica (Regel) Кom.) from 16 populations of the Perm region total of 1435 families under the age of 23 years. In modeling the course, studies covered the development of stands of spruce growing on 349 plots. It was found that the problem of different types of progeny can not be solved by increasing the term of the test and on the basis of management of development of the stand test cultures by certain models, with constant regulation of their density. The summary of data on the growth of progeny in different density test cultures found that the offspring «remembers» competitive and edaphic conditions which formed the parent tree and grows best in them. Therefore, a selection of plus trees in plantations-analogues plantation crops, ie in exactly the same conditions in which we are going to grow their offspring,is based on earlier estimates of growth of offspring at the age of 4-8 years. At the same time selection of candidates for the varieties happening after a series of stepwise tests several seed yield with consistent reduction in the number of families from 500-1000 to ≈ 70. Reliability selection of candidates will be 70-80 %. The speed and reliability of the best selection progeny can be significantly increased by using chemical marker needles. The program consists of 10 stages, by 3-4 times reduces the cost and time for selection of industrial varieties of Scots pine and spruce Finnish. They can be reduced even more by using chemical marker needles typical for families with rapid growth.

Verification results of one corollary of developing theory of the authors about the coniferous hydrochory (Sannikov, Sannikova, 2007) - a hypothesis of genetic integration of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. populations in the direction of rivers flow - have been cited. The average genetic Nei`s distance (Nei, 1978; 0.0024 ± 0.0015) between the 8 adjacent P. sylvestris populations on the transect along all the Ob valley (Lake Teletskoje-Barnaul-Tomsk-Surgut-Khanty-Mansiisk-Geologicheskii-Berezovo-Synja), that is twice time less as between the 14 populations on the Ob`s watersheds with the adjacent rivers (Yenisei, Irtysh, Pur, Konda, Tavda, Nadym) (0.0049 ± 0.0009), has been determined on the basis of comparative allozyme analysis (Nei, 1978; 0.0024 ± 0.0015). Corresponding average gradient of the genetic distances between the population located along the Ob river-bed is also 70 % less (0.66 ± 0.43), than on the transects directed across the watersheds (1.40 ± 0.43). Probably, a lesser genetic distance and its gradients, which revealed between the Scots pine populations along river-bed Ob in comparison with ones on the transects directed across the watersheds, depended on greater rate of its seed hydrochory (up to 800 km/1000 yr) in comparison with the anemochory on the watersheds. As a whole, a hypothesis about more speed (prioritic) hydrochoric dispersal and relative genetic integration of Scots pine populations along the rivers flow in comparison with anemochoric dispersal on the watersheds has been corroborated on the basis of results generalization of the present and preceded research.

The drought resistance of trees in the Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L. populations was studied under forest steppe conditions of southern Siberia. We found large differences amongthe treesin the time and rate of needles dehydration. In the populations of the more arid growing conditions (Shira, Balgazyn) the rate of loss 50 % of the water was three to four times lower than in the population of the more favorable conditions for growth (Minusinsk). It has been established that the variability of water-holding capacity of needles from individual trees in populations varies from high to very high levels. On the contrary, for the water absorption capacity of needles characteristically has variability, as within population and between them. Is marked a great assessment reliability of water holding capacity of the needles under the pooled analysis of absolute and relative indicators of dynamics of the needles degradration. We investigated the correlation of needles’ water retention signs with a height and heterozygosity of trees. It was found that under more favorable conditions of the growth the large part of sample are the trees with a direct connection between heterozygosity and drought resistance of tree and in the worst conditions - with a reverse. The correlations of water-holding capacity of needles with the height of the tree are ambiguous: in the Minusinsk sample, the most of drought-resistant trees are characterized by better growth, in Balgazyn population - conversely. Some dwarf individuals from the Balgazyn and Shira populations in terms of drought tolerance are at same level as the typical trees, among the less drought-resistant trees found as dwarfs, and typical trees. It was concluded that there are trees in populations with different strategies to adaptation to the moisture deficit.

Endogenous, individual and ecological-geographic variation of common juniper Juniperus communis L. in 10 coenopupulations in Cis-Urals and the South Urals by 17 quantitative morphological traits of generative and vegetative organswere studied. Endogenous variation of most traits of generative organs is characterized by a low and very low level, individual variability is close or some exceeding to intra-individual one. Parameters of vegetative organs are more variable both at endogenous sample level and at individual one. Ecological-geographic variability of many traits some yields or corresponds to the level of endogenous and individual variability. However, separate traits (mass of 1000 cones, number of seeds per cone, length of annual increment of III order shoots, needle length and width) vary more between coenopopulations than in the limits of ones. Some traits are connect by correlation dependencies with natural-climatic factors of locations - geographic latitude and to a lesser degree with longitude and altitude, sum of active temperatures and amount of precipitation. The obtained data indicate the significant morphological diversity of individuals within coenopopulations as well as phenotypic specifics of coenopopulations and two main inhabited regions - Cis-Urals and the South Urals. The presented material is the base for further analysis of population structure of common juniper in the region, development of measures for species gene pool preservation, fulfillment of breeding selection of individuals and coenopopulations by one or another economically valuable trait (large-coned, with the most portion of pulp in cones, long-needled and others).

Allozyme polymorphism of Siberian stone pine Pinus sibirica Du Tour has been studied in 14 artificial stands in the South Urals and Bashkir Cis-Urals on the base of 7 gene-enzyme system analysis. The following values of genetic diversity are determined: mean number of alleles per locus ( A ) constitutes 1.69±0.08; portion of polymorphic loci ( P ₉₅) - 50.0 %; the average expected heterozygosity ( H_e ) - 0.121±0.015; the average observed heterozygosity ( H_o ) - 0.127±0.017.The level of genetic variability in artificial stands of Siberian stone pine in the region is somewhat inferior to that in natural populations of the species. The highest genotype heterozygosity is determined in high-productive 110 year-old artificial stand in the South Urals (Beloretsky-2 site), and also in Ufimsky and Mishkinsky sites in Bashkir Cis-Urals. The lowest heterozygosity values are revealed in Birsky and Tuimazinsky sites characterized by the weakened vital state of individuals. In total we can speak about the maintenance of essential part of the species’ genetic polymorphism under introduction, especially in some stands. Genetic similarity of the studied stands is shown: inter-sample component of the total genetic diversity ( F_ST ) constitutes 2.2 %, the average Nei’s genetic distance ( D ) - 0.0033±0.00023, that is also typical of natural populations of Siberian stone pine in the species range. The obtained data about the genetic variability level of artificial stands in a complex with forestry characteristics give evidence of the successful species introduction in the region and the necessity of resumption of works on Siberian stone pine culture establishment in an industrial scale.

In this work was tested method of DNA-diagnostic for identification and further localization of pest holes of Heterobasidion annosum (Fr.) Bref s.l. Heterobasidion annosum is dangerous enemy for coniferous trees because they have no effective natural resistance against this pathogen. Therefore it can easily spread in stand and be the cause of its death. The most aggressive and rate of spreading of pathogen require appropriate events foridentifying and mapping of infectious holes. Identification of H. annosum by fruit bodies is usually difficult because of the rarity of their formation. Furthermore, this method cannot allow determination of the hidden infectious borders in the dying stand. For example, in the clone bank of Pinus sylvestris from Ozersky forestry during long time attempts todeterminecauses of trees’ death were unsuccessful because fruit bodies weren’t found there and the experiments for induction of fruit bodies also yielded nothing. We have applied the method of DNA-analysis and identified that the cause of trees’ death was H. annosum . The rapidity and accuracy are advantages of DNA-diagnosiswhile the conventional methods are time-consuming. However, DNA-markers aren’t a panacea without a complete description of the stand infected by pathogen and the events aimed against it. This is a preliminary study where we wanted to demonstrate applicability of the method and began the first stage for further detail localization of pestholes.