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This paper presents the results of new studies of Saalian tills, from the Ławki and Rogowiec formations, filling the Kleszczów Graben. The study area is located in the Szczerców outcrop, Bełchatów Lignite Opencast Mine, central Poland. Laboratory studies included macrofossil analysis of the deposits, as well as petrographic and geochemical (neodymium isotope ratio) measurements. The studies were carried out in 2014–2016 and resulted in both establishing the sedimentary Saalian complex and constructing geological cross-sections and a synthetic lithostratigraphic profile. Development of sediments in this part of the Kleszczów Graben in the Pleistocene was largely influenced by tectonic factors (Chabielice fault, Dębina Salt Dome) and glacitectonic processes (Wartanian Glaciation). The Saalian tills (T4 – Ławki and T7 – Rogowiec lithotypes) are between the Holsteinian sand with macroremnants of trees and the Eemian gyttja and peat. Petrographic coefficients for lithotype T4 (Ławki Formation) are 1.33–1.06–1.01 and 0.12 and for lithotype T7 (Rogowiec Formation) are 1.29–1.23–1.04 and 0.12. Investigations of the Nd isotopic compositions of the studied samples reinforce our interpretations of till deformation and tentative lithostratigraphic correlations. Neodymium isotope ratios “P” (−14.4 ± 0.7) and “D” (−12.4 ± 0.3) ε Nd values (2σ) correspond to mean signatures of Saalian glacigenic moraine sediment. This proves that ε Nd values less than −12.4 reflect the southern Fennoscandian Ice Sheet sediment provenance, but ε Nd values greater than −12.4 indicate the western European origin.

This study describes the seasonal changes in cell-to-cell transport in three selected angiosperm tree species, Acer pseudoplatanus (maple), Fraxinus excelsior (ash), and Populus tremula × tremuloides (poplar), with an emphasis on the living wood component, xylem parenchyma cells (XPCs). We performed anatomical studies, dye loading through the vascular system, measurements of non-structural carbohydrate content, immunocytochemistry, inhibitory assays and quantitative real-time PCR to analyse the transport mechanisms and seasonal variations in wood. The abundance of membrane dye in wood varied seasonally along with seasonally changing tree phenology, cambial activity, and non-structural carbohydrate content. Moreover, dyes internalized in vessel-associated cells and 'trapped' in the endomembrane system are transported farther between other XPCs via plasmodesmata. Finally, various transport mechanisms based on clathrin-mediated and clathrin-independent endocytosis, and membrane transporters, operate in wood, and their involvement is species and/or season dependent. Our study highlights the importance of XPCs in seasonally changing cell-to-cell transport in both ring-porous (ash) and diffuse-porous (maple, poplar) tree species, and demonstrates the involvement of both endocytosis and plasmodesmata in intercellular communication in angiosperm wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cambial rays, give rise to phloem and xylem rays. This way they affect the efficiency of a radial conducting system in a tree. Both, frequency of rays and their arrangement on the expanding cambial surface must be precisely controlled during tree ontogeny. The main aim of this research was to analyse the changes in the ray arrangement of Diospyros lotus L. cambium during transition from its nonstoried to double-storied structure. In order to trace the history of cambial ray dynamics, the behaviour of wood rays was followed in successive annual rings. Special attention was paid to developmental events, such as initiation and elimination of rays as well as their splitting and uniting. Moreover, the additions and eliminations of ray cell initials at the both opposite ray margins were followed. The most evident was the initial split of high primary rays into the smaller parts and their subsequent separation concurrent with the increase in cambial girth during the first years of a tree ontogeny. Between the existing rays new secondary rays were initiated by segmentation of fusiform initials. These all developmental events led to the formation of a double-storied pattern. In addition, the recurrent uniting and splitting of rays indicated their permanent rearrangement and the dynamic maintenance of a general pattern. The presented data are discussed in light of the processes occurring in cambial rays that lead to the storied pattern formation, which in turn may affect the mechanical properties of the wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]