Abstract: A method of determining frost hardiness of a conifer seedling, which comprises detecting an amount of a cold protein in tissue of said conifer, the cold protein being a protein of approximately 19 kD that increase significantly in amount in the conifer during fall season (autumnal) months and that imparts frost hardiness to the seedling, and then assessing frost hardiness based on said detected amount. In the case of Pinus lambertiana, the cold protein includes the N-terminal sequence: Val--Ser--Gly--Thr--Ser--Ser--Thr--Glu--Glu--Val--Val--Gln--Asn--Glu--Ala- -Arg--Arg--Leu--Trp--Asn ?SEQ ID NO:1!; and in the case of Pinus monticola, the cold protein includes the N-terminal sequence: Val--Ser--Gly--Thr--Ser--Ser--Thr--Glu--Glu--Val--Val--Gln--Val--Glu--Ala- -Arg--Arg--Leu--Trp--Asn--Ala--Thr--Thr--Lys--Asp ?SEQ ID NO:3!. The invention also relates to conjugates and antibodies used in the method.

Abstract: The mycoherbicide of the present invention is effective in the control of Calamagrostis canadensis and/or related grasses, particularly in areas undergoing reforestation. The mycoherbicide includes one or both of Fusarium nivalis (ATCC #26050) and a fungus, Colletotrichum calamagrostidis (PFC-215, ATCC #74287), isolated from a diseased plant of C. canadensis var. canadensis. The mycoherbicidal formulation preferably includes an allelopathic agent, such as straw, straw-based material, straw extract, grass extract or an endophyte. An especially effective treatment was demonstrated with C. calamagrostidis (PFC-215) and an inoculum of endophytic Fusarium nivalis. An embodiment of a method of treatment according to the present invention includes the application of endophytes of reduced virulence to grass bordering a target area or in grazing lands, to prevent either natural or inoculative infection.

Abstract: The control of weed trees in reforestation areas is expensive chemical herbicides and falling into disfavour and ultimately may be banned completely. Moreover, the application of herbicides is labor intensive. A simple, effective solution to the problem is to use a biological method of controlling weed trees in which a wooden charge containing a fungus capable of killing the trees is injected into the trees. Preferably the fungus is indigenous to the area of the trees being treated. Red Alder can be effectively controlled using the fungus Nectria ditissima.