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The objective of the study was to determine whether differences exist between the selected characteristics of Norway spruce cones and seeds depending on their location in the crown. The study was performed in two spruce tree stands growing under mountainous conditions (the Beskidy Mountains, southern Poland). In winter 2015, the cones were collected from 60 standing trees located in the two selected seed stands – Ujsoły and Rycerka. From each tree, the cones were collected from three crown zones: top, central and bottom differing in terms of light conditions. Two characteristics of the cones and six characteristics of the seeds were analysed. To determine quantitative and qualitative traits of seeds standard methods for seed testing were applied. Significant differences between the populations were determined for cone weight and fraction of full seeds, weight of 1000 seeds and germination capacity. The crown zones differed significantly in terms of fraction of cones in the parts of the crown and mass of one cone as well as weight of 1000 seeds, germination energy and germination capacity. Moreover, a significant intra−population variation was observed for a majority of the analysed characteristics (fraction of full seeds, weight of one cone, weight of 1000 seeds, germination energy, and germination capacity). However, no statistically significant interaction between population and crown zone was observed. A significantly lower contribution of cones in the bottom zone of the crown may affect the economic viability of the commercial harvest. On the other hand some of the important seeds traits (e.g. weight of 1000 seeds, germination energy and germination capacity) were significantly better in the bottom and central part of the crown than in the top zone. There are no justified circumstances (both qualitative and quantitative) to perform the cone harvest only from the top zone of the crown., Sylwan 163 (1): 3-12

The level of damage to the cell membranes is a sign of aging of the seeds and a decrease in their viability. Conductometric seed testing method indirectly utilizes uncontrolled leakage of ions from seeds with damaged cell membranes to assess their viability. This involves the use of an electrical conductivity of the aqueous solution, in which seeds are soaked. The research was conducted in the years 2011−2014 and aimed at developing the methodology of evaluation of Scots pine and Douglas fir seeds by conductivity test. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between electrolyte leakage and germination capacity of Scots pine and Douglas fir seeds. 402 samples of Scots pine seed and 90 specimens of Douglas fir seed from all over Poland were tested. The research material was both freshly harvested and stored. Scots pine seeds were obtained in the years 2008−2014, while Douglas fir – 2003−2013 as well as ones stored in the refrigerator for 15 years. Conductivity test and standard seed germination procedure of the analyzed species were used. For both Scots pine and Douglas fir, we noted that, as the electrolyte leakage rate increased, the germination capacity of the seed decreased. So we decided to test whether the vitality of the seeds was determined by means of a conductivity test. The best−fit regression model was determined and the mean expected germination capacity in the viability classes was calculated. 95% confidence intervals for the regression function were also determined. Evaluation of the viability of the seeds by means of the conductometric method is especially useful for seeds requiring a long stratification period (e.g. Douglas fir to determine the potential loss of their vitality. Although the ISTA seed evaluation rules do not require conductivity test for evaluating the seeds of Scots pine and Douglas fir, it may be applicable in situations where it is necessary to perform a rapid assessment of viability before spring sowing., Sylwan 161 (11): 927-934

The use of biomass for energy purposes is an important European Union policy. In light of the restrictions concerning the use of the full−value wood from forests for energy purposes, short rotation forestry can become an alternative source of woody biomass. In this context, the most promising species is poplar (Populus spp.), productivity of which depends on various aspects such as plant spacing, cutting cycles, fertilization and cultivar characteristics. The aim of this study was to assess the possibility of cultivation of ten selected poplar clones from the section Aigeiros and Tacamahaca in short−rotation coppice in the climatic conditions of Poland. An experiment was set up in the north−eastern part of Poland in the Wichrowo Forest District. Survival, tree stocking, and biomass yield were compared. Productivity of clones was examined in five−year cutting cycle. The highest dry biomass yield (7.8 t/ha/yr) was achieved by the clone 'Hybrida 275'. In contrary, the biomass yield of the worst clone ('AF−8') amounted to 2 t/ha/yr. Some other Italian clones, such as 'AF−6' and 'MON' were not able to adapt to the local conditions at all and were excluded from the experiment. Because of the need to implement the full economic analysis of short rotation poplar plantations, it would be important to study propagation ability of certain currently studied varieties of poplar in subsequent rotations and with different production cycle period length up to the end of biomass production on a given plantation. Resistance to diseases of energy poplar plantations should also be researched., Sylwan 160 (4): 292-298

Significant gaps remain in understanding the response of plant reproduction to environmental change. This is partly because measuring reproduction in long-lived plants requires direct observation over many years and such datasets have rarely been made publicly available. Here we introduce MASTREE+, a data set that collates reproductive time-series data from across the globe and makes these data freely available to the community. MASTREE+ includes 73,828 georeferenced observations of annual reproduction (e.g. seed and fruit counts) in perennial plant populations worldwide. These observations consist of 5971 population-level time-series from 974 species in 66 countries. The mean and median time-series length is 12.4 and 10 years respectively, and the data set includes 1122 series that extend over at least two decades (≥20 years of observations). For a subset of well-studied species, MASTREE+ includes extensive replication of time-series across geographical and climatic gradients. Here we describe the open-access data set, available as a.csv file, and we introduce an associated web-based app for data exploration. MASTREE+ will provide the basis for improved understanding of the response of long-lived plant reproduction to environmental change. Additionally, MASTREE+ will enable investigation of the ecology and evolution of reproductive strategies in perennial plants, and the role of plant reproduction as a driver of ecosystem dynamics. EEA Santa Cruz Fil: Hacket-Pain, Andrew. University of Liverpool. School of Environmental Sciences. Department of Geography and Planning; Reino Unido Fil: Foest, Jessie J. University of Liverpool. School of Environmental Sciences. Department of Geography and Planning; Reino Unido Fil: Pearse, Ian S. U.S. Fort Collins Science Center. Geological Survey; Estados Unidos Fil: LaMontagne, Jalene M. DePaul University. Department of Biological Sciences; Estados Unidos Fil: Koenig, Walter D. University of California Berkeley. Hastings Reservation; Estados Unidos Fil: Vacchiano, Giorgio. University of Milan. Milan Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences; Italia. Fil: Bogdziewicz, Michał. Adam Mickiewicz University. Faculty of Biology. Institute of Environmental Biology; Polonia Fil: Bogdziewicz, Michał. University Grenoble Alpes. INRAE, LESSEM; Francia Fil: Caignard, Thomas. Université Bordeaux. INRAE, BIOGECO; Francia Fil: Celebias, Paulina. Adam Mickiewicz University. Faculty of Biology. Institute of Environmental Biology; Polonia Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Santa Cruz; Argentina. Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia Austral; Argentina. Fil: Peri, Pablo Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Fil: Ascoli, Davide. University of Torino. Department of Agricultural. Forest and Food Sciences (DISAFA); Italia Fil: Gallo, Leonardo Ariel. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; Argentina Fil: Gallo, Leonardo Ariel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina Fil: Marchelli, Paula. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; Argentina Fil: Marchelli, Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas. Instituto de Investigaciones Forestales y Agropecuarias Bariloche; Argentina

Tree masting is one of the most intensively studied ecological processes. It affects nutrient fluxes of trees, regeneration dynamics in forests, animal population densities, and ultimately influences ecosystem services. Despite a large volume of research focused on masting, its evolutionary ecology, spatial and temporal variability and environmental drivers are still matter of debate. Understanding the proximate and ultimate causes of masting at broad spatial and temporal scales will enable us to predict tree reproductive strategies and their response to changing environment. Here we provide broad spatial (distribution range-wide) and temporal (century) masting data for the two main masting tree species in Europe, European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.). We collected masting data from a total of 359 sources through an extensive literature review and from unpublished surveys. The dataset has a total of 1747 series and 18348 yearly observations from 28 countries and covering a time span of years 1677-2016 and 1791-2016 for beech and spruce, respectively. For each record, the following information is available: identification code; species; year of observation; proxy of masting (flower, pollen, fruit, seed, dendrochronological reconstructions); statistical data type (ordinal, continuous); data value; unit of measurement (only in case of continuous data); geographical location (country, Nomenclature of Units for Territorial Statistics NUTS-1 level, municipality, coordinates); first and last record year and related length; type of data source (field survey, peer reviewed scientific literature, grey literature, personal observation); source identification code; date when data were added to the database; comments. To provide a ready-to-use masting index we harmonized ordinal data into five classes. Furthermore, we computed an additional field where continuous series with length >4 years where converted into a five classes ordinal index. To our knowledge, this is the most comprehensive published database on species-specific masting behaviour. It is useful to study spatial and temporal patterns of masting and its proximate and ultimate causes, to refine studies based on tree-ring chronologies, to understand dynamics of animal species and pests vectored by these animals affecting human health, and it may serve as calibration-validation data for dynamic forest models. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.