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Summary Understanding limiting factors of phenotypic plasticity is essential given its critical role in shaping biological adaptation and evolution in changing environments. It has been proposed that the pattern of phenotypic correlation could constrain trait plasticity. However, the interplay between phenotypic plasticity and integration has remained contentious. We experimentally simulated climate warming in juveniles of three subalpine tree species by exposing them to three‐year in situ open‐top chambers (OTCs), and then measured functional plasticity of 72 eco‐physiological traits to evaluate whether phenotypic integration constituted an intrinsic constraint to plasticity. We also tested the relationship between the differences in plasticity and maintenance in trait integration. Phenotypic plasticity was positively associated with integration in deciduous tree species under warming. The difference in the plasticity of two paired traits could predict their integration in different environments, where traits displaying more similar plasticity were more likely to be correlated. Our study showed no indication that phenotypic integration constrained plasticity. More importantly, we demonstrated that differential plasticity between traits might result in a notable reorganization of the trait associations, and that warming commonly induced a tighter phenotype. Our study provides new insights into the interplay between phenotypic plasticity and integration in subalpine trees under climate warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stemflow is a conduit for the transport of canopy-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM) to the forest floor. This study examined the character of stemflow DOM for four tree species over four phenophases (leafless, emergence, leafed, and senescence for deciduous species and leafed-winter, emergence, leafed- spring/summer, and senescence for coniferous species) occurring in temperate forests; namely, Betula lenta L. (sweet birch), Fagus grandifolia Ehrh. (American beech), Liriodendron tulipifera L. (yellow poplar), and Pinus rigida Mill. (pitch pine). American beech exhibited the lowest average specific UV absorbance at 254 nm (SUVA254) values, while yellow poplar displayed the highest values. SUVA254 values were largest in senescence and smallest in emergence. The spectral slope ratio was lower for pitch pine than the deciduous tree species. Humification index (HIX) values decreased across all species during the emergence phenophase. The developed and validated stemflow-specific four-component parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) model demonstrated the combined influence of interspecific and temporal fluctuations on the composition of humic and protein-like substances within stemflow. By separating and examining stemflow DOM independent of throughfall, our study provides fresh insights into the spatiotemporal dynamics of stemflow inputs to near-trunk soils that may inform hot spots and hot moments theories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The timing and duration of autumn leaf phenology marks important transitions in temperate deciduous forests, such as, start of senescence, declining productivity and changing nutrient cycling. Phenological research on temperate deciduous forests typically focuses on upper canopy trees, overlooking the contribution of other plant functional groups like shrubs. Yet shrubs tend to remain green longer than trees, while non-native shrubs, in particular, tend to exhibit an extended growing season that confers a competitive advantage over native shrubs. We monitored leaf senescence and leaf fall (2017–2020) of trees and shrubs (native and non-native) in an urban woodland fragment in Wisconsin, USA. Our findings revealed that, the start of leaf senescence did not differ significantly between vegetation groups, but leaf fall started (DOY 273) two weeks later in shrubs. Non-native shrubs exhibited a considerably delayed start (DOY 262) and end of leaf senescence (DOY 300), with leaf-fall ending (DOY 315) nearly four weeks later than native shrubs and trees. Overall, the duration of the autumn phenological season was longer for non-native shrubs than either native shrubs or trees. Comparison of the timing of spring phenophases with the start and end of leaf senescence revealed that when spring phenology in trees starts later in the season senescence also starts later and ends earlier. The opposite pattern was observed in native shrubs. In conclusion, understanding the contributions of plant functional groups to overall forest phenology requires future investigation to ensure accurate predictions of future ecosystem productivity and help address discrepancies with remote sensing phenometrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American chestnut (Castanea dentata) is a deciduous tree species of eastern North America that was decimated by the introduction of the chestnut blight fungus (Cryphonectria parasitica) in the early 20th century. Although millions of American chestnuts survive as root collar sprouts, these trees rarely reproduce. Thus, the species is considered functionally extinct. American chestnuts with improved blight resistance have been developed through interspecific hybridization followed by conspecific back-crossing, and by genetic engineering. Incorporating adaptive genomic diversity into these backcross families and transgenic lines is important for restoring the species across broad climatic gradients. To develop sampling recommendations for ex situ conservation of wild adaptive genetic variation, we coupled whole-genome resequencing of 384 stump sprouts with genotype--environment association analyses and found that the species range can be subdivided into three seed zones characterized by relatively homogeneous adaptive allele frequencies. We estimated that 21 to 29 trees per seed zone will need to be conserved to capture most extant adaptive diversity. We also resequenced the genomes of 269 backcross trees to understand the extent to which the breeding program has already captured wild adaptive diversity, and to estimate optimal reintroduction sites for specific families on the basis of their adaptive portfolio and future climate projections. Taken together, these results inform the development of an ex situ germplasm conservation and breeding plan to target blight-resistant breeding populations to specific environments and provides a blueprint for developing restoration plans for other imperiled tree species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sweet cherry (Prunus avium) is among deciduous fruit trees with high economic value and its planting area is gradually expanding. However, little was known about its accurately suitable area in China. Herein, the potential distributions were modeled based on the MaxEnt model under the current conditions. Its performance was excellent, with AUCs >0.9 for model training and testing. The key environmental factors were the thermal factors (minimum temperature of the coldest month (bio06) from -14.5 to 4.5°C, the mean temperature of the warmest quarter (bio10) from 21.0 to 28.0°C), followed by the water factor (the annual precipitation (bio12) from 500 to 1200 mm), indicating that it is not resistant to cold and heat, nor is it resistant to drought or floods. The suitable area in China mainly is found in seven geographical regions including southwest China (eastern Sichuan, northeast and main urban areas of Chongqing, mid-western Guizhou and mid-northern Yunnan), northwest China (mid-southern Shaanxi, southern Ningxia mid-southern and eastern Gansu), northeast China (Coastal region of Liaoning), central China (most of Henan, mid-northern Hubei and central Hunan), north China (Beijing, Tianjing, mid-southern Shanxi), east China (Shanghai, Jiangsu, Shandong, central Zhejiang, central and northern Anhui and eastern Jiangxi) and south China (western Guangxi). Based on statistical analysis, these fourteen provinces or cities, namely, Shaanxi, Beijing, Tianjing, Shanxi, Hebei, Henan, Shanghai, Jiangsu, Shandong, Sichuan, Guizhou, Yunnan, Liaoning and Hubei were the main regions for current development and utilization while for the twelve provinces with higher moderate suitable areas, namely, Chongqing, Guizhou, Yunnan, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Liaoning, Hubei, Hunan, Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi and Guangxi, we should supplement the appropriate irrigation and winter insulation facilities etc. Additionally, Hubei, Hunan, Anhui, also have been identified to have some potentially suitable areas. These information will help avoid the loss of human labor, material, and financial resources and provide a scientific basis for its current introduction, cultivation, and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective management of bark beetle infestations requires prompt detection of attacked trees. Early attack is also called green attack, since tree foliage does not yet show any visible signs of tree decline. In several bark beetle systems, including mountain pine beetle and European spruce bark beetle, unpiloted aerial vehicle (UAV)-based remote sensing has successfully detected early attack. We explore the utility of remote sensing for early attack detection of southern pine beetle (SPB; Dendroctonus frontalis Zimm.), paired with detailed ground surveys to link tree decline symptoms with SPB life stages within the tree. In three of the northernmost SPB outbreaks in 2022 (Long Island, New York), we conducted ground surveys every two weeks throughout the growing season and collected UAV-based multispectral imagery in July 2022. Ground data revealed that SPB-attacked pitch pines (Pinus rigida Mill.) generally maintained green foliage until SPB pupation occurred within the bole. This tree decline behavior illustrates the need for early attack detection tools, like multispectral imagery, in the beetle's northern range. Balanced random forest classification achieved, on average, 78.8% overall accuracy and identified our class of interest, SPB early attack, with 68.3% producer's accuracy and 72.1% user's accuracy. After removing the deciduous trees and just mapping the pine, the overall accuracy, on average, was 76.9% while the producer's accuracy and the user's accuracy both increased for the SPB early attack class. Our results demonstrate the utility of multispectral remote sensing in assessing SPB outbreaks, and we discuss possible improvements to our protocol. This is the first remote sensing study of SPB early attack in almost 60 years, and the first using a UAV in the SPB literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Fynbos, a shrubland from the Cape Floristic Region in South Africa, is one of five Mediterranean-climate biomes alongside maquis in the Mediterranean Basin, chaparral in California, matorral in Central Chile and kwongan in Southwestern Australia. We compiled the available information on the wood anatomy of 226 species belonging to 65 genera of 14 families that occurred in fynbos and compared this dataset with the published data on wood diversity in Californian chaparral and Israeli maquis. "Carlquist's Law", i.e., the association between the ground tissue made of fibre tracheids and low vessel grouping, has been confirmed for the fynbos plants. The lack of ring porosity and very low incidence of semi-ring-porous woods is the most prominent difference of the fynbos from the other two vegetation types. These features are attributed to the paucity of deciduous plants in fynbos which is probably associated with the poor-nutrient soils in this biome. The fynbos differs from chaparral and maquis also in the greatest percentage of the species having no tracheids in their wood as well as with the lowest incidence of helical thickenings on the vessel walls. These differences could be explained by the lower tolerance of fynbos shrubs to seasonal drought due to the relatively mild dry season in this biome. We also found that some differences between fynbos, chaparral, and maquis in the incidences of fibre tracheids and vasicentric/vascular tracheids associated with large vessel groups can be at least partly explained by different systematic compositions of their floras. The higher percentage of distinct growth rings, greater vessel diameter, and lower vessel frequency in maquis compared with fynbos and chaparral can be attributed to a common occurrence of relatively tall trees in this vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensemble species distribution modeling offers a robust approach to reduce the inherent uncertainties associated with single models, and ultimately providing more accurate predictions of regions with a heightened probability of occurrence. As Corythucha ciliata (Say) damages deciduous trees in diverse environments, including urban, suburban and forested regions, the objective of this study was to predict the potential distribution of C. ciliata by developing an ensemble model that comprehensively considered the biological and habitat traits of the pest using the CLIMEX and MaxEnt models. Although the ensemble model did not have significantly improved performance, compared with the single MaxEnt model, it was robust compared with distribution data. Our predictions suggest that C. ciliata will gradually expand its range from its current distribution in response to climate change, necessitating focused monitoring and pest‐control efforts in the predicted regions. This study not only evaluates pest distribution but also provides crucial insights into effective control strategies, which are adaptable to other pest management scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves caused significant damages to urban woody species, and the different leaf structures between evergreen and deciduous species may be closely related to leaf heat tolerance. However, whether the different leaf structural traits of evergreen and deciduous plants contribute to their different responses under heat waves is still unclear.During the record‐breaking and long‐lasting 2022 summer heat waves in China, we investigated the relationships between leaf thermal indices and leaf structural traits of 36 urban woody species in four cities along the Yangtze River.We found that all the four thermal indices were significantly but weakly related with leaf damage status. The critical temperature that causes the initial 15% damage to photosystem II (Tcrit) may serve as a sensitive measure of heat tolerance. Evergreen species suffered less leaf damage during the heat waves and exhibited higher leaf heat tolerance, thicker leaves than deciduous species. Tcrit was significantly correlated with leaf mass per area, leaf thickness and thickness of spongy tissue.Synthesis. Urban woody species with higher Tcrit, leaf mass per area and leaf thickness tend to be more tolerant to heat stress. This study provides insights for predicting leaf heat tolerance of urban woody plants in subtropical China and their physiological and ecological responses to severe heat waves. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The functioning of a tree is shaped by the neighbouring species through the interspecific interaction and local environments. The functional trait composition of the neighbourhood could provide mechanistic insights into the effects of neighbours on the resource strategies of focal trees. In this study, we deployed an automated high‐frequency measurement of the sap flow density (SFD) and the radial growth of 48 trees of 12 species at BEF‐China, a large‐scale forest biodiversity manipulation experiment, to investigate the consequences and underlying mechanisms of the functional trait composition of the neighbourhood on the sap flow and radial growth of focal trees. We found a positive relationship between SFD and growth, reflecting the important supportive role of sap flow in tree growth. High functional diversity (FD) of the neighbourhood depressed SFD but promoted growth when considering all species, and thus promoted water‐use efficiency. Acquisitiveness of neighbouring trees positively affected growth, suggesting interspecific facilitation. Furthermore, neighbourhood FD benefits evergreen focal trees by promoting growth. However, in deciduous focal trees, neighbourhood FD reduced SFD but had no significant effects on growth. Our findings suggest that considering the functional trait composition of neighbourhood communities will support effective afforestation and forest management. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botanical areas under international protection are important for preserving plant and animal ecosystems. Forest ecosystems within Important Plant Areas (IPAs) are essential for preserving biological and species diversity. In AP Vojvodina (Northern Serbia), there are 27 IPAs, totaling 328,208 ha. Fruška Gora National Park (FGNP) territory is under international protection as an IPA. A large part of this park is covered by a forest ecosystem comprising various deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, and grasses. The forest ecosystem in FGNP is rich with natural attractions that are important for hiking, mountaineering, trekking, scientific tourism, wildlife, bird and animal watching, and community tourism. In this article, the authors used a quantitative method of collecting and processing data obtained through survey research. For this research, 610 respondents (325 residents and 285 visitors) were surveyed. Using questionnaires, the respondents expressed their opinions about the tourism potential of FGNP, as well as the satisfaction of tourists with current tourism development. The research results indicate that the forest ecosystem within the FGNP and IPA area has an important potential for the development of nature-based tourism (NbT) and that this tourism form significantly affects not only the satisfaction of the respondents but also increased awareness of the preservation and protection of these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A progressive decline in tree growth may be induced by global warming, affecting tree health and eventually resulting in death, particularly for trees growing in rocky mountainous regions where seasonal droughts have become more pronounced. However, tree growth dynamics in areas experiencing pronounced climate change have received little attention. In this study, a total of 100 (10 m × 10 m) grid plots were investigated in planted forests of Chinese cork oak (Quercus variabilis Blume), which were established in the 1960s and 1970s in a rocky mountainous area near Beijing, northern China. Furthermore, the radial growth of Q. variabilis (a total of 843 trees sampled from the dominant [D], co-dominant [CD], and suppressed [S] crown classes) was analyzed using retrospective dendrochronology and generalized additive models. The effects of meteorological changes between 1962 and 2020 on radial growth across the three crown classes were examined using correlation analysis. The results indicated that the growth of Q. variabilis initially increased and then decreased after 2010 at the regional level, and these trends varied according to crown class. The radial growth of the D trees responded more positively to an increase in temperature and drought severity index (<0 for dry and >0 for wet conditions) compared with that of the CD and S trees. The growth of the D and CD trees continuously increased under higher temperatures during the rainy seasons (June to September); however, the increases were higher for D than for CD trees. In contrast, the radial growth of S trees declined. We confirmed the historical effects of rising temperatures on tree growth and health, which are linked to water availability. Our data suggested that Q. variabilis trees will be considerably affected by intensified droughts. This study furthers our knowledge regarding the impact of climate change on tree and forest growth and provides management strategies for afforestation projects in rocky mountainous areas that are facing climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Japan, secondary forests associated with agriculture (satoyama) had been maintained traditionally by small-scale clearcutting and short-rotation coppice forestry. After forest management was discontinued due to modernization, shade-intolerant, deciduous trees such as Q. serrata and Q. variabilis have become dominant in many secondary forests of southwestern Japan. In recent years, however, tree death from Japanese oak wilt has become wide-spread. To identify forest communities that will be most affected by oak wilt, we investigated stand structure and species composition in a 64-ha unmanaged secondary forest in Kobe, Japan. We identified three forest communities using cluster analysis of 27 survey plots. We then analyzed and visualized vegetation similarity among the communities using non-metric multidimensional scaling (nMDS). In secondary forests, Pinus densiflora–Rhododendron macrosepalum and Quercus serrata–Quercus variabilis communities, which established after pine wilt were identified. We also found communities dominated by Cryptomeria japonica, a plantation species. We predicted that Quercus serrata–Quercus variabilis communities will experience significant vegetation change after oak wilt and become low-statured, evergreen-deciduous forests. These communities, therefore, should be prioritized for active management by small-scale clear cutting to prevent further spread of oak wilt and subsequent biodiversity decline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the seasonal variations in leaf ecophysiological traits and strategies employed by co-occurring evergreen and deciduous tree species within a white oak forest (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus) ecosystem in the central Himalaya. Seasonal variations in physiological, morphological, and chemical traits were observed from leaf initiation until senescence in co-occurring deciduous and evergreen tree species. We compared various parameters, including net photosynthetic capacity (Aarea and Amass), leaf stomatal conductance (gswarea and gswmass), transpiration rate (Earea and Emass), specific leaf area (SLA), mid-day water potential (Ψmd), leaf nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) concentration, leaf total chlorophyll concentration, photosynthetic nitrogen- and phosphorus-use efficiency (PNUE and PPUE), and water use efficiency (WUE) across four evergreen and four deciduous tree species. Our findings reveal that evergreen and deciduous trees exhibit divergent strategies in coping with seasonal changes, which are crucial for their survival and growth. Deciduous trees consistently exhibited significantly higher photosynthetic rates, transpiration rates, mass-based N and P concentrations (Nmass and Pmass), mass-based chlorophyll concentration (Chlmass), SLA, and leaf Ψmd, while maintaining lower leaf structural investments throughout the year compared to evergreen trees. These findings indicate that deciduous trees achieve greater assimilation rates per unit mass and higher nutrient-use efficiency. Physiological, morphological, and leaf N and P concentrations were higher in the summer (fully expanded leaf) than in the fall (senesced leaf). These insights provide valuable contributions to our understanding of tree species coexistence and their ecological roles in temperate forest ecosystems, with implications for forest management and conservation in the Himalayan region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: Genome-wide identification revealed 79 BpNAC genes belonging to 16 subfamilies, and their gene structures and evolutionary relationships were characterized. Expression analysis highlighted their importance in plant selenium stress responses. Paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera), a deciduous arboreal plant of the Moraceae family, is distinguished by its leaves, which are abundant in proteins, polysaccharides, and flavonoids, positioning it as a novel feedstock. NAC transcription factors, exclusive to plant species, are crucial in regulating growth, development, and response to biotic and abiotic stress. However, extensive characterization of the NAC family within paper mulberry is lacking. In this study, 79 BpNAC genes were identified from the paper mulberry genome, with an uneven distribution across 13 chromosomes. A comprehensive, genome-wide analysis of BpNACs was performed, including investigating gene structures, promoter regions, and chromosomal locations. Phylogenetic tree analysis, alongside comparisons with Arabidopsis thaliana NACs, allowed for categorizing these genes into 16 subfamilies in alignment with gene structure and motif conservation. Collinearity analysis suggested a significant homologous relationship between the NAC genes of paper mulberry and those in Morus notabilis, Ficus hispida, Antiaris toxicaria, and Cannabis sativa. Integrating transcriptome data and Se content revealed that 12 BpNAC genes were associated with selenium biosynthesis. Subsequent RT-qPCR analysis corroborated the correlation between BpNAC59, BpNAC62 with sodium selenate, and BpNAC55 with sodium selenite. Subcellular localization experiments revealed the nuclear functions of BpNAC59 and BpNAC62. This study highlights the potential BpNAC transcription factors involved in selenium metabolism, providing a foundation for strategically breeding selenium-fortified paper mulberry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf nutrient resorption is a critical process in plant nutrient conservation during leaf senescence. However, the ecological mechanisms underlying the large variability in nitrogen (NRE) and phosphorous (PRE) resorption efficiencies among trees remain poorly understood. We conducted a comprehensive study on NRE and PRE variability using 61 tree individuals of 10 temperate broad-leaved tree species. Three potentially interrelated intrinsic ecological mechanisms (i.e., leaf senescence phenology, leaf pigments, and energy residual) were verified. We found that a delayed leaf senescence date, increased degradation of chlorophylls and carotenoids, biosynthesis of anthocyanins, and reduced nonstructural carbohydrates were all positively correlated with NRE and PRE at the individual tree level. The intrinsic factors affecting resorption efficiency were ranked in decreasing order of importance: leaf pigments > energy residual > senescence phenology. These factors explained more variability in NRE than in PRE. Our findings highlight the significance of these three ecological mechanisms in leaf nutrient resorption and have important implications for understanding how nutrient resorption responds to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pecan (Carya illinoensis), an economically important deciduous tree, bears commercially valuable nutritional nuts. Spring freezes in April can severely injure pecan buds, decreasing bloom, and fruit set. This study determined how low temperatures affect pecan buds/flowers at different growth stages in several pecan scion/rootstock combinations. This study focused on three pecan scion/rootstock combinations: Pawnee/Peruque (PP), Kanza/Giles (KG), and Maramec/Colby (MC), grown at the Cimarron Valley Research Station, Perkins, Oklahoma. Branches at three different growth stages, i.e., outer bud scale shed, one week after bud break, and early bloom stages were collected from PP, MC, and KG. Branches were held in a Conviron E8 freezing unit at 4 temperatures (-2, 0, 2, and 4°C) for 4 and 8 hours; A total of 8 treatments. One sample set was kept as an untreated control. After 2-3 weeks, branch samples from all the temperature treatments were observed and categorized into two groups. Group one with number of branches had healthy buds/formation of healthy leaves/flowers and group two with number of dead branches. The carbohydrate content reserved fromdormant was analyzed using an Anthrone reagent. Visual observations and carbohydrate analyses revealed differences in damage and carbohydrate content among the scion/rootstock combinations, low-temperature treatments, and growth stages. The MC combination had minimum visual damage to leaves, buds, and flowers and significantly lower soluble sugars and starch in bark phloem as well as significantly lower soluble sugars in woody tissue xylem. The KG combination had maximum visual damage and significantly higher soluble sugars and starches in the bark, and soluble sugars in the woody tissues. These results indicate the MC combination is more tolerant to spring freeze damage at all three growth stages compared to the other two pecan scion/rootstock combinations. The results also demonstrate the MC combination is using more non-structural carbohydrates, soluble sugars and starches, suggesting this is a possible mechanism in its freeze tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fractal dimension (D) can be used to characterise temporal changes of crown architecture of individual trees. Our goal in this study was to analyse seasonal changes in tree crown fractal dimension of two species of deciduous oaks (Quercus castanea and Q. obtusata) coexisting in a natural forest in central Mexico using low cost sampling, and relate these changes to morphological attributes and environmental variables. Every two months, from May 2017 to September 2018, for each oak species, we photographed fixed portions of the crowns of individual trees, measured their trunk diameters, and obtained average temperature and accumulated precipitation data recorded for the sampling date. From the obtained images, we calculated D values by the semivariogram method using three different variability estimators (square increment, isotropic, and transect variation). We identified a positive correlation between D and temperature, and a negative correlation between temperature and crown cover. The fractal dimension (D) of crowns of two deciduous oak species changes according to the tree's phenological stage. D values varied through time in relation to tree crown phenological variation, but not with crown cover dimension. We propose a model of annual D value fluctuation in deciduous trees, characterised by two high complexity peaks and two low complexity valleys, corresponding to the effects on crown cover of annual periods of leaf abscission and development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Mullederia (Acariformes: Stigmaeidae) are free-living predatory mites with six species known in the world. In this paper, we describe and illustrate a new species, Mullederia hainanensissp. nov., from deciduous broad-leaved plants and evergreen broad-leaved plants in Hainan Province, China. Moreover, an identification key is provided for the known species of this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fresh, green leaves are increasing as resources in aquatic ecosystems due to more frequent severe spring and summer storms, but research on allochthonous resources typically uses senescent leaves. We examined macroinvertebrate colonization of green leaves of three native deciduous trees (red maple, red oak, and tulip poplar) over two weeks within both a stream and fishless pond. Leaf colonization varied depending on the taxa of leaves and colonizers, submersion time, and the ecosystem examined. Within the stream, the densities of isopods (Lirceus sp.) and snails (mostly the invasive Potamopyrgus antipodarum) did not vary significantly across leaf species. In contrast, mayflies (Tricorythodes sp.) in the stream colonized tulip poplar in greater numbers than red oak leaves, while higher densities of planarians (order Tricladida) occurred within red oak leaves. The numbers of mayflies and snails decreased significantly by the second week, but the densities of isopods and planaria within stream leaf packs were consistent. In contrast, within the pond, significantly more isopods (Caecidotea communis) were collected after the first than after the second week of submersion and in tulip poplar leaves. Clams (Sphaeriidae) in the pond, on the other hand, were more prevalent in the second week but did not discriminate among leaf species. While the number of leeches (mostly Helobdella stagnalis) was consistent across weeks, significantly fewer leeches resided within tulip poplar leaves than within red oak leaves. Our results suggest that there are no consistent colonization-preference rankings of species of fresh leaves across freshwater benthic macroinvertebrate taxa. Even within a functional feeding group (e.g., the two types of isopods and snails, all detritivore-herbivores), there were differences in colonization patterns. Therefore, increased allochthonous inputs of fresh leaf litter due to severe spring- and summer-time storms are likely to promote the populations of various taxa to different extents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The forests along the southern Baltic Sea coast harbour some stands of the rare and endangered European yew (Taxus baccata L.), which are hypothesised to be autochthonous. Using the example of an occurrence on the Darss-Zingst peninsula, the population dynamics of the yew since the late Holocene are interdisciplinarily investigated and linked to the forest history of this area. Pollen analysis shows that yew has been present in the study area for at least 2600 years and thus indeed represents an autochthonous tree species in the area. The yew was probably originally part of a second tree storey and of forest margins within a mixed forest mainly consisting of several deciduous tree species and Scots pine. Historical evidence reveals that yew was still occurring in the forest in the middle of the eighteenth century, but then had nearly disappeared by the end of the nineteenth century. This was caused by several factors including forest grazing by livestock, high game populations and clear-cutting. First replanting of yew took place in the 1930s/1940s and 1950s/1960s, followed by planting campaigns in the 1990s and 2000s. Planting material from local and regional autochthonous relict populations was used, at least in part. The current yew population mainly comprises young individuals with a total number of ca. 1300 trees. It has thus been possible here to re-establish an autochthonous yew occurrence that was nearly extinct in historical times. This local example of targeted re-enrichment of native tree diversity may also encourage further measures to give this species a new chance again elsewhere in the wider region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequent outbreaks of European spruce bark beetle Ips typographus (L.) have destroyed huge amounts of Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) forests in central and Northern Europe. Identifying the risk factors and estimating the damage level is important for strategic damage control. The risk factors of forest damage by spruce bark beetles have mostly been analyzed on the landscape scale, while the in-stand risk factors have been less investigated. This study aims at exploring the local-scale risk factors in a flat area with spruce-dominated forest in southern Sweden. The investigated factors include four abiotic factors, i.e., soil wetness, solar radiation, slope gradient, and aspect, and three biotic factors, i.e., the number of deciduous trees and trees that died from attacks in previous years that remained (TreesLeft) and removed (TreesRemoved) from the forest stand. We put up 24 pheromone bags in six stands attacked by bark beetle in the previous years, resulting in different numbers of infested trees in each plot. We explored in which microenvironment a pheromone bag resulted in more colonization, the impact radius of each factor, and the necessary factors for a risk model. The environmental factors were obtained from remote sensing-based products and images. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used with the environmental factors as the explanatory variables and the damage levels as the response variables, i.e., the number of attacked trees for the plot scale, and healthy/infested for the single-tree scale. Using 50 m and 15 m radius of the environmental factors resulted in the best fit for the model at plot and individual tree scales, respectively. At those radii, the damage risk increased both at plot and individual tree level when spruce were surrounded by more deciduous trees, surrounded by dead trees that had been removed from the forest, and spruces located at the north and east slopes (315°–135° of aspect, > 2° slope). Soil wetness, solar radiation, and remaining standing dead trees in the surrounding did not significantly impact the damage level in the microenvironment of the study area. The GLM risk model yielded an overall accuracy of 0.69 in predicting individual trees being infested or healthy. Our efforts to investigate the risk factors provide a context for wall-to-wall mapping in-stand infestation risks, using remote sensing-based data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Hokkaido, northern Japan, bareroot Sakhalin fir seedlings are conventionally planted in spring and fall, following strip site preparation that alternates managed and unmanaged strips. However, this method requires seven years of weeding due to encroachment of evergreen dwarf bamboo. Given diminishing forest labor availability, a shortage of workers for planting and weeding operations has become a problem in reforestation following clearcutting. We examined whether comprehensive mechanical site preparation (MSP) could reduce weeding frequency by preventing regrowth of dwarf bamboo and whether container seedlings could extend the planting season into summer. Over eight years, the survival and growth of summer-planted bareroot and container seedlings were examined on a fully MSP-treated site with only one weeding operation in the fifth year. Full-site MSP resulted in a shift of the vegetation from dwarf bamboo to deciduous plants, leading to high survival and growth rates of Sakhalin fir seedlings despite minimal weeding. Container seedlings exhibited superior establishment and maintained higher survival rates over eight years than bareroot seedlings. However, planting on the forwarder trail decreased seedling growth, and ultimately decreased survival under rare summer drought. Our findings indicate that container seedling summer planting and full-site MSP may represent an alternative approach to reforestation of Sakhalin fir, potentially reducing the need for weeding and extending the planting season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Considerable parts of riparian forests around the world are covered by deciduous trees and tall shrub species with rigid trunk and flexible-broadleaf. Experiments are conducted on artificial rigid and flexible models to estimate drag coefficient and resistance to flow for deciduous trees in forest floodplains under nonsubmerged condition. The rigid and flexible models with similar size and configuration are tested in a laboratory flume to clearly determine the effects of vegetation flexibility and density, and the flow velocity and depth on the roughness coefficients. Ratios of the flexible to rigid drag forces and drag coefficients indicate considerable effects of flexibility on the roughness coefficients. In this study, the flexural rigidity of the tree leaf is used in the roughness equations to account for vegetation flexibility instead of the traditionally used tree trunk flexural rigidity. This is based on the assumption that foliage flexibility governs tree reaction to the flow for most species of deciduous trees and leafy tall shrub families. The developed roughness coefficient equations are scaled up to determine the variation of Manning's n -value with increase of flow depth for a riparian canopy of black willow. The estimated Manning's n -values are compared with the reported Manning n -values for the same black willow canopy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Disentangling how climate oscillations and geographical events significantly influence plants' genetic architecture and demographic history is a central topic in phytogeography. The deciduous ancient tree species Ulmus macrocarpa is primarily distributed throughout Northern China and has timber and horticultural value. In the current study, we studied the phylogenic architecture and demographical history of U. macrocarpa using chloroplast DNA with ecological niche modeling. The results indicated that the populations' genetic differentiation coefficient (NST) value was significantly greater than the haplotype frequency (GST) (p < 0.05), suggesting that U. macrocarpa had a clear phylogeographical structure. Phylogenetic inference showed that the putative chloroplast haplotypes could be divided into three groups, in which the group Ⅰ was considered to be ancestral. Despite significant genetic differentiation among these groups, gene flow was detected. The common ancestor of all haplotypes was inferred to originate in the middle–late Miocene, followed by the haplotype overwhelming diversification that occurred in the Quaternary. Combined with demography pattern and ecological niche modeling, we speculated that the surrounding areas of Shanxi and Inner Mongolia were potential refugia for U. macrocarpa during the glacial period in Northern China. Our results illuminated the demography pattern of U. macrocarpa and provided clues and references for further population genetics investigations of precious tree species distributed in Northern China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pear (Pyrus spp.) is a deciduous fruit tree that requires exposure to sufficient chilling hours during the winter to establish dormancy, followed by favorable heat conditions during the spring for normal vegetative and floral budbreak. In contrast to most temperate woody species, apples and pears of the Rosaceae family are insensitive to photoperiod, and low temperature is the major factor that induces growth cessation and dormancy. Most European pear (Pyrus Communis L.) cultivars need to be grown in regions with high chilling unit (CU) accumulation to ensure early vegetative budbreak. Adequate vegetative budbreak time will ensure suitable metabolite accumulation, such as sugars, to support fruit set and vegetative development, providing the necessary metabolites for optimal fruit set and development. Many regions that were suitable for pear production suffer from a reduction in CU accumulation. According to climate prediction models, many temperate regions currently suitable for pear cultivation will experience a similar accumulation of CUs as observed in Mediterranean regions. Consequently, the Mediterranean region can serve as a suitable location for conducting pear breeding trials aimed at developing cultivars that will thrive in temperate regions in the decades to come. Due to recent climatic changes, bud dormancy attracts more attention, and several studies have been carried out aiming to discover the genetic and physiological factors associated with dormancy in deciduous fruit trees, including pears, along with their related biosynthetic pathways. In this review, current knowledge of the genetic mechanisms associated with bud dormancy in European pear and other Pyrus species is summarized, along with metabolites and physiological factors affecting dormancy establishment and release and chilling requirement determination. The genetic and physiological insights gained into the factors regulating pear dormancy phase transition and determining chilling requirements can accelerate the development of new pear cultivars better suited to both current and predicted future climatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review focuses on recent research on the phytochemicals found in bark from different trees and their potential to be used as substrates for the synthesis of thermosetting resins. Recent studies about the influence of each bark harvesting step on the extracted phytochemicals, from debarking to extraction, are investigated. A comparison of bark extracts in terms of the correlation between extraction conditions and efficiency (based on the total phenolic content (TPC) and extraction yield) is presented for six groups of trees (Norway spruce, pine species, other conifers, oak species, other deciduous trees of the north temperate zone, tropical and subtropical trees) and evaluated. The evaluation revealed that there is an interesting relationship between the extraction time and the type of solvent for some types of tree bark. It was found that a relatively short extraction time and a solvent temperature close to the boiling point are favourable. The latest research on the application of bark extracts in different types of thermosetting resins is described. This review discusses the attractiveness of bark extracts in terms of functional groups and the possibilities arising from extractable phytochemicals. In addition, different approaches (selective versus holistic) and methods of application are presented and compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autumn senescence is characterised by spatial and temporal heterogeneity. We show that senescing birch (Betula spp.) leaves had lower PSII activity (probed by the FV/FM chlorophyll a fluorescence parameter) in late autumn than in early autumn. We confirmed that PSII repair slows down with decreasing temperature, while rates of photodamage and recovery, measured under laboratory conditions at 20°C, were similar in these leaves. We propose that low temperatures during late autumn hinder repair and lead to accumulation of non-functional PSII units in senescing leaves. Fluorescence imaging of birch revealed that chlorophyll preferentially disappeared from interveinal leaf areas. These areas showed no recovery capacity and low non-photochemical quenching while green veinal areas of senescing leaves resembled green leaves. However, green and yellow leaf areas showed similar values of photochemical quenching. Analyses of thylakoids isolated from maple (Acer platanoides) leaves showed that red, senescing leaves contained high amounts of carotenoids and α-tocopherol, and our calculations suggest that α-tocopherol was synthesised during autumn. Thylakoids isolated from red maple leaves produced little singlet oxygen, probably due to the high antioxidant content. However, the rate of PSII photodamage did not decrease. The data show that the heterogeneity of senescing leaves must be taken into account to fully understand autumn senescence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of tree species coexistence is crucial to understand the assembly of forest communities. In this context, trees adjust their traits in response to the interactions with other trees and, specifically, as a result of the competition for resources. Further, mycorrhizal fungal diversity and associations are important drivers of ecosystem functioning in forests, but their role as drivers of intraspecific trait variation has been disregarded. Here, we studied intraspecific trait variation of trees in response to tree and mycorrhizal fungal diversity.We sampled 3200 leaves from 640 trees belonging to 10 native, deciduous species in a tree diversity experiment in Central Germany. This experiment relies on the combination of gradients of tree richness and mycorrhizal associations. To handle large amounts of leaf samples, we acquired leaf‐level spectral data and used deep learning to predict values for five leaf traits from the leaf economics spectrum (LES): specific leaf area, leaf dry matter content, carbon to nitrogen ratio, carbon content and phosphorus content. For every tree, we calculated the mean value for every trait and two multi‐trait functional indices (functional richness and functional dispersion) based on values for individual leaves. Finally, we used sequencing‐based data to assess the richness of mycorrhizal fungi associated with the trees.We found that tree and mycorrhizal fungi richness had an effect on different leaf functional traits. Specifically, tree richness positively affected specific leaf area and, additionally, had a negative effect on the functional indicies, which revealed that the phenotypic diversity within the tree crown decreased with tree species richness. In addition, leaf carbon to nitrogen ratio decreased with increasing arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal richness in both arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal tree species. Finally, we did not find differences between arbuscular and ectomycorrhizal trees regarding their location within the LES.Our results suggest that trees modify their strategy in response to local tree diversity, not only by shifting trait values but also by shifting the variability intraindividually. In addition, higher mycorrhizal fungal diversity does not seem to lead to higher complementarity, but instead, tree and mycorrhizal fungi affect different aspects of leaf traits. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quaking aspen is an important deciduous tree species across interior western U.S. forests. Existing maps of aspen distribution are based on Landsat imagery and often miss small stands (<0.09 ha or 30 m2), which rapidly regrow when managed or following disturbance. In this study, we present methods for deriving a new regional map of aspen forests using one year of Sentinel-1 (S1) and Sentinel-2 (S2) imagery in Google Earth Engine. Using observed annual phenology of aspen across the Southern Rockies and leveraging the frequent temporal resolution of S1 and S2, ecologically relevant seasonal imagery composites were developed. We derived spectral indices and radar textural features targeting the canopy structure, moisture, and chlorophyll content. Using spatial block cross-validation and Random Forests, we assessed the accuracy of different scenarios and selected the best-performing set of features for classification. Comparisons were then made with existing landcover products across the study region. The resulting map improves on existing products in both accuracy (0.93 average F1-score) and detection of smaller forest patches. These methods enable accurate mapping at spatial and temporal scales relevant to forest management for one of the most widely distributed tree species in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paleovegetation and paleoclimate characteristics are studied in the Palaeogene strata of Hetao Basin, Subei Basin and Qaidam Basin in China, and the Cretaceous Guyang Formation (K1g) in the Hetao Basin. These three basins receive high attention, different distribution areas, representative. Pollen evidence shows that: (1) The sporopollen assemblage of Palaeogene Linhe Formation (E3l) in Hetao Basin is characterised by Pinaceae-Ephedripites-Ulmipollenites-Chenopodipollis. It reflects that the ancient vegetation types were mainly coniferous and evergreen woody plants, and the climate was cold temperature. The sporopollen assemblage characteristics of the upper member of the Palaeogene Xiaganchaigou Formation (E32) in the Qaidam Basin are similar to it. (2) The sporopollen characteristics of the K1g in the Hetao Basin reflect that its ancient vegetation was dominated by evergreen woody plants and belongs to a warm and humid subtropical climate. (3) The assemblage of Palaeocene Funing Formation (E1f) in Subei Basin was Pterisisporites undulatus-Ulmipollenites minor-Taxodiaceaepollenites hiatus. The climate type was humid north temperate climate, vegetation was mainly deciduous trees and evergreen woody plants. (4) Leiosphaeridia/Granodiscus, Pediastrum and Botryococcus were also detected in the E1f of Subei Basin. The appearance of these algae indicates the special saline water environment and good hydrocarbon potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the leading cause of deaths among adult populationinChina, whose incidence and mortality rates continue rising with a trend towards youngerages. Although numerous drugs are used to prevent and treat CVDs, the long-termprognosisof patients with CVDs is still not very satisfactory. Therefore, there is an urgent needtoexplore new safe and effective drugs for CVDs in clinical practice. As a traditional medicinein China, Ginkgo biloba has a history of more than 2,000 years in clinical practice experience, meanwhile its therapeutic role in CVDs has been revealed in more and more clinical studies. As a living fossil of traditional Chinese medicine, Ginkgo biloba, a deciduous tree plant of theGinkgo family and genus, contains active medicinal ingredients in its leaves, kernels, outerskins and roots. Ginkgo biloba leaves are the main medicinal part, which are mild innature, sweet, bitter and astringent in taste. Ginkgo biloba activates the circulation of blood, relievespains, and lowers lipids, which is mainly used to treat chest obstruction and heartaches, stroke hemiplegia, and asthma, as well as hyperlipidemia, etc. This paper aims to reviewthemedicinal properties of Ginkgo biloba and its active ingredients in the treatment of CVDs, with emphasis on the antioxidant, apoptosis-inhibiting, anti-inflammatory mechanismandother mechanisms, so as to provide a scientific basis for their clinical application as well asfurther development and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Monitoring tree growth processes is relevant for ecological research and understanding the intricate relationship between vegetation and the environment. Time series analyses have revealed a correlation between leaf emergence timing and climate change, with earlier leaf emergence attributed to global warming. While traditional forest inventory methods struggle to quantify growth processes on small scales, terrestrial laser scanning provides a powerful alternative for providing high-resolution 3D information. This study explores the use of high-frequency hyper-temporal terrestrial laser scanning data to quantitatively describe deciduous tree growth, tested on a pedunculate oak (Quercus robur). The research aims to address key questions about detecting leaf growth in hypertemporal terrestrial laser scanning data. Additionally, it explores how 3D tree parameters and point cloud comparisons capture leaf and tree growth throughout the year. Results from M3C2 point cloud analyses indicate that the temporary branch movements correlate with precipitation. Over the year, branch movements were detected to increase with growing distance from the trunk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoplasmas are insect-transmitted bacterial pathogens associated with diseases in a wide range of host plants, resulting in significant economic and ecological losses. Perennial deciduous trees in the genus Paulownia are widely planted for wood harvesting and ornamental purposes. Paulownia witches' broom (PaWB) disease, associated with a 16SrI-D subgroup phytoplasma, is a destructive disease of paulownia in East Asia. The PaWB phytoplasmas are mainly transmitted by insect vectors in the Pentatomidae (stink bugs), Miridae (mirid bugs) and Cicadellidae (leafhoppers) families. Diseased trees show typical symptoms, such as branch and shoot proliferation, which together are referred to as witches' broom. The phytoplasma presence affects the physiological and anatomical structures of paulownia. Gene expression in paulownia responding to phytoplasma presence have been studied at the transcriptional, post-transcriptional, translational and post-translational levels by high throughput sequencing techniques. A PaWB pathogenic mechanism frame diagram on molecular level is summarized. Studies on the interactions among the phytoplasma, the insect vectors and the plant host, including the mechanisms underlying how paulownia effectors modify processes of gene expression, will lead to a deeper understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms and to the development of efficient control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Cerrado, a Neotropical savanna, is the second largest vegetation domain in Brazilian territory and presents a gradient of physiognomies. Among the savanna formations, the cerrado stricto sensu stands out. The responses of woody species of the cerrado related to increased CO2 concentration ([CO2]), as predicted by global climate change, may differ among distinct leaf persistence groups. Elevated [CO2] could enhance the resprouting capacity of woody species, which might intensify encroachment in grasslands, such as the cerrado stricto sensu. We investigated the influence of elevated [CO2] (eCO2) on vegetative growth, root non-structural carbohydrates (NSC), and biomass allocation pattern among roots, stems, and leaves in two deciduous and three evergreen cerrado woody species. We carried out the experiment in open-top chambers with five young individuals of cerrado woody species under ambient [CO2] (aCO2) and eCO2 of 430 and 700 ppm, respectively. Measurements occurred in young plants with 294, 379, and 466 days old, i.e., after 104, 189, and 276 days of eCO2 exposition. While the species under aCO2 decreased the NSC in roots on the 189th day, the plants under eCO2 did not show a decrease over time. The deciduous species under eCO2 showed higher RGR at the beginning of the experiment (104 days) than the evergreens species under eCO2. Also, the eCO2 promoted fast leaf development in four out of five studied species (except Anadenanthera peregrina). The characteristics analyzed among the species could demonstrate that the deciduous grown under eCO2 presented higher relative growth rate and root/stem ratio than the species with evergreen habit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) is a deciduous tree belonging to the Rosaceae Juss. family. Cherry leaves are an underutilized source of biologically active compounds. The aim of this study was to determine the composition of the phenolic compounds, as well as the total antioxidant activity, in leaf samples of P. cerasus cultivars and to elucidate the cultivars with particular phytochemical compositions. The phytochemical profiles of P. cerasus leaves vary significantly in a cultivar-dependent manner. The total content of identified phenolic compounds varied from 8.254 to 16.199 mg/g in the cherry leaves. Chlorogenic acid ranged between 1413.3 µg/g ('North Star') and 8028.0 µg/g ('Note'). The total content of flavonols varied from 4172.5 µg/g ('Vytenu zvaigzde') to 9030.7 µg/g ('Tikhonovskaya'). The total content of identified proanthocyanidins varied from 122.3 µg/g ('Note') to 684.8 µg/g ('Kelleris'). The highest levels of phloridzin (38.1 ± 0.9 µg/g) were found in samples of 'Molodezhnaya', while the lowest level of this compound was determined in the leaf samples of 'Turgenevka' (6.7 ± 0.2). The strongest antiradical (138.0 ± 4.0 µmol TE/g, p < 0.05) and reducing (364.9 ± 10.5 µmol TE/g, p < 0.05) activity in vitro was exhibited by the cultivar 'Vytenu zvaigzde' cherry leaf sample extracts. 'Kelleris', 'Note', and 'Tikhonovskaya' distinguish themselves with peculiar phytochemical compositions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Root respiration is a critical physiological trait that significantly influences root system activity. Recent studies have associated root respiration with the economic functioning of roots; however, research on root respiration in tropical plants remains limited. This study examined the fine root respiration and the relationship between root respiration and root chemical and morphological traits in 16 tropical plant species, including both evergreen and deciduous species. Findings revealed that deciduous species exhibited higher root respiration compared to evergreen species. Root respiration positively correlated with root nitrogen concentration and specific root length and correlated negatively with root diameter and root tissue density across all species. The root respiration patterns in evergreen species aligned with those seen in all tree species, while deciduous species showed a distinct negative correlation with root tissue density and no significant correlations with other root traits. Principal component analysis revealed that the patterns of root variation in both evergreen and deciduous trees were multidimensional, with deciduous trees exhibiting acquisitive traits and evergreen trees displaying conservative traits. Random forest and multiple regression analysis showed that specific root length exerted the most significant influence on root respiration in both evergreen and deciduous trees. These findings are ecologically significant, enhancing our understanding of root respiration in tropical plants and its impact on ecosystem functions. They contribute valuable insights and support the conservation and management of tropical vegetation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document provides information on Chrysobothris mali, a beetle species commonly known as the Pacific flat-headed borer. The beetle is native to the USA and Canada and can attack a wide range of deciduous trees and shrubs. It is primarily found west of the Rocky Mountains in the USA and has been reported in various states and provinces in Canada. The beetle has one generation per year and can be detected through visual examination of vulnerable trees for signs such as larval galleries, sap oozing, and D-shaped exit holes. The beetle can cause damage to trees by disrupting nutrient and water movement, particularly in young trees. It has historically been a pest in orchards and shade trees, and recent reports indicate damage in nurseries and fruit crops. Control methods include cultural practices and chemical treatments, although insecticides may not be readily available for certain crops. The beetle poses a phytosanitary risk in the EPPO region, where many host species are present, and phytosanitary measures are recommended to prevent its spread. [Extracted from the article]

Vegetation phenological shifts impact the terrestrial carbon and water cycle and affect the local climate system through biophysical and biochemical processes. Dynamic global vegetation models (DGVMs), serving as pivotal simulation tools for investigating climate impacts on terrestrial ecosystem processes, incorporate representations of vegetation phenological processes. Nevertheless, it is still a challenge to achieve an accurate simulation of vegetation phenology in the DGVMs. Here, we developed and implemented spring and autumn phenology algorithms into one of the DGVMs, LPJ-GUESS. The new phenology modules are driven by temperature and photoperiod and are parameterized for deciduous trees and shrubs by using remotely sensed phenological observations and the reanalysis data from ERA5. The results show that the LPJ-GUESS with the new phenology modules substantially improved the accuracy in capturing the start and end dates of growing seasons. For the start of the growing season, the simulated RMSE for deciduous trees and shrubs decreased by 8.04 and 17.34 d, respectively. For the autumn phenology, the simulated RMSE for deciduous trees and shrubs decreased by 22.61 and 17.60 d, respectively. Interestingly, we have also found that differences in the simulated start and end of the growing season also alter the simulated ecological niches and competitive relationships among different plant functional types (PFTs) and subsequentially influence the terrestrial carbon and water cycles. Hence, our study highlights the importance of accurate phenology estimation to reduce the uncertainties in plant distribution and terrestrial carbon and water cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mulberry is a perennial deciduous woody plant, and its leaves are homologous food of medicine and food, which have been widely used in feed industry in recent years. After fermentation, the content of anti-nutritional factors such as cellulose and tannin in mulberry leaves is reduced, and the content of crude protein, crude fat, amino acids, and minerals is abundant, which has the effect of improving feed conversion rate and animal product quality. The paper mainly introduces the contents of conventional nutrients, amino acids, vitamins, and minerals in mulberry leaves, the commonly used strains for fermentation, and the changes of nutrients, anti-nutritional factors and bioactive substances in mulberry leaves after fermentation. The effects of fermented mulberry leaves on growth performance, meat quality, and intestinal health of pigs, ruminants, poultry and fish were summarized. The future research direction of mulberry in the field of feed industry was prospected, in order to provide a reference for the efficient utilization of mulberry in animal production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic drivers alone do not adequately explain the regional variation in budburst timing in deciduous forests across Europe. Stand‐level factors, such as tree species richness, might affect budburst timing by creating different microclimates under the same site macroclimate. We assessed different phases of the spring phenology (start, midpoint, end, and overall duration of the budburst period) of four important European tree species (Betula pendula, Fagus sylvatica, Quercus robur and Tilia cordata) in monocultures and four‐species mixture stands of a common garden tree biodiversity experiment in Belgium (FORBIO) in 2021 and 2022. Microclimatic differences between the stands in terms of bud chilling, temperature forcing, and soil temperature were considerable, with four‐species mixtures being generally colder than monocultures in spring, but not in winter. In the colder spring of 2021, at the stand level, the end of the budburst period was advanced, and its overall duration shortened, in the four‐species mixtures. At species level, this response was significant for F. sylvatica. In the warmer spring of 2022, advances in spring phenology in four‐species stands were observed again in F. sylvatica and, less markedly, in B. pendula but without a general response at the stand level. Q. robur showed specific patterns with delayed budburst start in 2021 in the four‐species mixtures and very short budburst duration for all stands in 2022. Phenological differences between monocultures and four‐species mixtures were linked to microclimatic differences in light availability rather than in temperature as even comparatively colder microclimates showed an advanced phenology. Compared to weather conditions, tree species richness had a lower impact on budburst timing, but this impact can be of importance for key species like F. sylvatica and colder springs. These results indicate that forest biodiversity can affect budburst phenology, with wider implications, especially for forest‐ and land surface models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: It is widely accepted that soil water repellency (SWR) is mainly caused by hydrophobic compounds from plants and microbes. The relation between these hydrophobic compounds, which are defined as SWR biomarkers, and SWR has been rarely known and the knowledge of their sources remains controversial. We aimed to select key SWR biomarkers predicting SWR and to trace their origin. Methods: Topsoils under/around five dominant plant species (DPS) belonging to various plant functional types (PFTs) on the Chinese Loess Plateau were sampled, together with plant samples, i.e., plant leaves and roots. A sequential extraction procedure and hydrolysis approach were applied to obtain three organic fractions: dichloromethane (DCM)/ methanol (MeOH) soluble fraction (D), DCM/MeOH soluble fraction of isopropanol/ammonia solution (IPA/NH3) extract (AS), and DCM/MeOH insoluble fraction of IPA/NH3 extract (AI), which were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Results: The cutin concentrations in leaves and soils of evergreen trees with higher WDPT values were 10–60 times and 35.39–78.77% higher than those of other PFTs, respectively. However, the root-derived suberin in the soils under evergreen trees, deciduous trees, and shrubs were 19.55–62.69% lower than that around the legumes and grasses. Correlation analysis further revealed that cutin was positively correlated with SWR (r2 = 0.24, p < 0.001), whereas suberin was not (p > 0.05). Conclusion: After considering the SWR behavior during extraction and the possible origin of the compounds, we concluded that leaf-derived cutin appears to have the greatest effect on SWR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Simultaneous effects of more than one global change driver on ecosystem functioning have rarely been assessed. Methods: We disentangled the effects of region encompassing climatic and edaphic conditions, forest-management intensity and community plant diversity on litterfall quantity, quality and turnover in 27 temperate forests across an environmental gradient. Results: Region significantly influenced litterfall and organic layer mass and chemical quality and litter and element turnover. After accounting for the influence of region, increasing forest-management intensity (ForMI) significantly decreased litterfall mass, N, P and K concentrations and nutrient fluxes and slowed down litter and nutrient turnover. Because increasing ForMI reflected the man-made contributions of coniferous trees, these results can partly be attributed to the lower litterfall at our study sites and slower litter turnover of coniferous than deciduous trees. After accounting for the influences of region and ForMI, increasing diversity of the vascular plant community on the study plots measured as species richness or Shannon index significantly increased C and decreased N, P and S concentrations in litterfall. Together with the significantly decreased N and P concentrations in the organic layer with increasing plant diversity, these results indicated an increased within-stand nutrient-use efficiency and a more complete soil nutrient use with increasing plant diversity. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that increasing ForMI, which is associated with increasing conifer shares, leaves element stocks in the organic layer unchanged but slows down C turnover and thus increases temporary C storage in soil organic layers. Moreover, community vascular plant diversity helps close nutrient cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zanthoxylum ailanthoides is a deciduous tree, with important medicinal and economic values. The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Z. ailanthoides was assembled and the phylogenetic relationship to other species was inferred in this study. The chloroplast genome is 157,209 bp in length, including two inverted repeats of 26,408 bp, a large single-copy of 86,099 bp and a small single copy of 18,294 bp. Moreover, the chloroplast genome contains 129 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The overall GC content of the chloroplast genome is 38.4%. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that Z. ailanthoides was grouped with a clade containing the species of Z. multijugum, Z. calcicola, Z. oxyphyllum, Z. stenophyllum, and the genus was closely related to Phellodendron. This study contributes to a better understanding of the phylogenetic relationships among Zanthoxylum species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]