Pterocarpus santalinus L. f. (Fabaceae; red sanders) is prized for its wood whose colour and fragrance is due to the presence of santalins that have pharmaceutical and industrial uses. Red sanders is listed as an endangered plant species on the IUCN red data list as a result of the exploitation of its wood and essential oil. This review emphasizes the pollination biology, seed germination, vegetative propagation and micropropagation of P. santalinus. Excessive use of P. santalinus has also caused the emergence of various adulterants, so accurate identification is essential.

As the most northerly mangrove species in China, Kandelia obovata may undergo extreme cold event stress. Enhancing the cold tolerance of this species is crucial to its successful afforestation. This study aimed to determine the resistance of K. obovata seedlings to low temperature stress by cold acclimation and to explain the mechanisms for alleviating cold injury. To understand these mechanisms, seedlings that were acclimatized and not acclimatized were exposed to 5 °C/− 2 °C (day/night) for 48 h. Results showed that low temperature stress reduced leaf photosynthesis of non-acclimatized seedlings by inducing oxidative stress and structural damage to chloroplasts. These phenomena were shown by increasing levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), O₂ ⁻ and H₂O₂, as well as decreasing enzyme activities in the ascorbate–glutathione (AsA-GSH) cycle. However, cold-acclimatized seedlings had improved photosynthetic rates and efficiency of photosystem II (PSII) under low temperature stress. Compared with non-acclimatized seedlings, leaves of cold-acclimatized seedlings under low temperature stress for 48 h exhibited higher anti-oxidative enzyme activities, lower levels of O₂ ⁻ and H₂O₂, less damage to chloroplast structure, and removed 33.7% of MDA at low temperature stress for 48 h. The data indicate that cold acclimation enhances photosynthetic capacity by effectively regulating activation in the PSII electron transport and the AsA–GSH cycle to scavenge excess ROS in chloroplasts, while the latter is more important.

We examined how reactive oxygen species, in the form of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), affect osmotic stress–induced programmed cell death during somatic embryogenesis from cotyledon explants of Manchurian ash (Fraxinus mandshurica Rupr.). We found that substantial osmotic stress was essential for Manchurian ash somatic cells to obtain embryogenic competence. The explant cells displayed hallmarks of programmed cell death, chromatin condensation, and DNA fragmentation to oligonucleotides during somatic embryogenesis. Increasing concentrations of plant growth regulators and sucrose in the medium increased osmotic stress thereby inducing H₂O₂ accumulation in the explant cells. We found that H₂O₂ concentration was significantly decreased in explant cells when the induction medium was modified, i.e., when reducing the concentration of sucrose, which reduces the osmotic pressure of the medium, or by withdrawing plant growth regulators at mid-culture. These treatments also decreased the proportion of explant cells undergoing programmed cell death. Accordingly, a decreased rate of somatic embryo induction was observed. These results show that PCD occurred during tissue browning and death of some explant cells during somatic embryogenesis in F. mandshurica. The ROS contributed to PCD in abiotic stress stimulated F. mandshurica cells.

We analyzed the germination traits (germination rate, germination potential, and germination index) of seeds from 23 half-sib families of birch (Betula platyphylla). The germination rates of the 23 families ranged from 38.57 to 76.50%. Seeds from the eight families germinating at the highest rates were then used for germination experiments under salt stress. Germination rate, germination potential, and germination index of these eight half-sib families decreased with increasing salt concentrations. The effects of four different hormones (6-benzylaminopurine, 6BA; gibberellin, GA₃; naphthalene acetic acid, NAA; and melatonin) at various concentrations on the germination of seeds from the eight half-sib birch families under salt stress were investigated. Treatments with 6BA and GA₃ alleviated the effects of salt stress on seed germination, whereas treatments with NAA and melatonin aggravated the effects of salt stress. The most effective treatments for alleviating the effects of salt stress on birch seed germination were 10 mg/L 6BA and 300 mg/L GA₃. This study provides practical information for screening birch families for salt tolerance at the seed germination stage, and for cultivation of birch in saline environments.

Cyclocarya paliurus, an economically valuable tree species, has traditionally been used as a nutraceutical food or medicine in China. However, limited information is available on its genotype selection and cultivation under a wide range of environmental conditions for growth and targeted health-promoting substances. We studied the effects of genotype and environment, and their interaction on leaf triterpenoid content and tree growth for 12 genotypes of C. paliurus grown at four sites. We quantified the correlation between leaf triterpenoid accumulation and tree growth. The contents of cyclocaric acid B, cyclocarioside I, and arjunolic acid ranged from 0.06 to 3.89, 0 to 3.71, and 0.65 to 8.86 mg g⁻¹, respectively. Three individual triterpenoids were primarily influenced by genotype (variation ranged from 53.7 to 68.0%), while environment accounted for most of the variation in total triterpenoid content and tree growth (71.3–89.5%). Most tested environmental parameters were significantly correlated to total triterpenoid content, but not to the contents of the individual triterpenoids measured. Growth in tree height and diameter at breast height were significantly negatively correlated with total triterpenoid content but were non-significantly correlated with individual triterpenoid contents. We conclude that genotypic selection, manipulation of environmental conditions, and implementation of appropriate silvicultural operations would be important strategies for increasing the accumulation of health-promoting phytochemicals.

Carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorous (P) levels and their stoichiometry in plant components (leaves, branch trunks, roots) of trees in a karst forest and non-karst forest are compared. The results show that the C contents, C:N and C:P ratios of dominant species in the karst forest were lower than those in the non-karst forest, but the N and P and the N:P ratio were higher; C:N:P ratios in plant organs of trees in the karst forest were in the order of trunks > roots > branches > leaves. However, C:N:P ratio in the non-karst forest trees were trunks > branches > roots > leaves. Moreover, ratio of C:N:P in trunks was highest and lowest in leaves in both forests. In non-karst forest trees, N:P was in the order of leaves > roots > branches > trunks. There were no significant differences in the ratio of N:P in different plant components of trees in the karst forest. However, in karst and non-karst forest trees, the ratio of N:P in leaves was highest; positive correlations between N and P contents, and N and N:P ratios were observed in both karst and non-karst forests (p < 0.001). Negative correlations between P and N:P ratios (p < 0.05) were observed in karst forest trees, while positive correlations were observed in non-karst forest trees.

Prolific and rapid in vitro plant organogenesis via direct regeneration has been obtained from axenic seedling-derived petiole and leaf explants of Ficus religiosa in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium containing different concentrations of cytokinins in combination with indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). MS medium with 1.5 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine plus 0.15 mg/l IBA produced the highest shoot induction frequency with an average of 6.26 and 10.13 shoots per leaf and petiole explants, respectively. After 4 weeks, the highest root formation frequency (96.7%), root number (5.73), and root length (4.76 cm) were with MS medium containing 2.0 mg/l IBA plus 0.1 mg/l α-naphthalene acetic acid. In addition, the effect of four sodium nitroprusside (SNP) treatments on acclimatization was also studied. Highest morphological traits such as survival rates, fresh and dry root weights as well as antioxidant enzymatic activities such as superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase was achieved with 125 ppm SNP. The α-amino acid, proline, content was highest with this treatment while the highest H₂O₂ (hydrogen peroxide) was in the controls. This study introduces a cost-effective, prolific, and efficient in vitro multiplication system to supply pharmaceutical and ornamental needs. It is the first report of an in vitro organogenesis protocol for F. religiosa by direct regeneration through axenic seedling-derived petiole and leaf explants, which can be efficiently employed for the utilization of active biomolecules.

The objective of the study was to investigate in vivo interspecific pollination success between Pinus radiata, P. maximinoi, P. oocarpa and P. tecunumanii. Pinus radiata was control pollinated with pollen lots of P. maximinoi, P. oocarpa and P. tecunumanii in a P. radiata seed orchard at Karatara (Southern Cape, South Africa). Pollination success was determined by counting the number of visible ovules, pollen grains inside and outside P. radiata ovules, as well as pollen tubes visible inside P. radiata ovules. Conelets were harvested and studied at eight time intervals, including 24 h after pollination, and weekly for 7 weeks after pollination. Histology studies with a standard fixation-dehydration-embedding sequence and paraffin wax method were used to determine the number of visible pollen grains inside versus outside the ovules and number of pollen tubes. Results indicated that pollen grains did sift through the cone scales within 24 h after pollination. However, P. radiata differed significantly (time by type of cross interaction) from the other three hybrid combinations in terms of number of visible ovules, visible pollen grains inside and outside of the ovules as well as pollen tubes, confirming limited interspecific hybridisation success. Future studies need to determine the percentage of fertile ovules in cross combination as a tool in predicting pollination success.

Root chemistry varies with tree species and root diameter but little information is available about Tibetan forest species. The root chemistry of three root diameter classes (fine: 0–2 mm, medium: 2–5 mm, coarse: 5–10 mm) of three subalpine species (Abies faxoniana Rehd. and Wild, Picea asperata Mast., and Betula albosinensis Burkill) were investigated. Carbon concentrations, and carbon/nitrogen and carbon/phosphorus ratios increased but nitrogen, phosphorus and nitrogen/phosphorus ratios decreased with increasing root diameter. The roots of the conifers had higher carbon levels, and higher carbon/nitrogen and carbon/phosphorus ratios than birch roots. The opposite was found with nitrogen and phosphorus levels and nitrogen/phosphorus ratios. Lignin concentrations decreased but cellulose concentrations increased with greater root diameters. The results indicate that diameter-associated variations in root chemistry may regulate their contribution to detrital pools which has important implications for below-ground carbon and nutrient cycles in these subalpine forests.

Thinning of Korean pine (Pinus koraiensis Sieb. et Zucc.) is used to facilitate timber and cone production. The present study in Northeast China investigated the effects of thinning intensity on individual tree growth, temporal variation in cone yield, and seed quality in Korean pine plantation. In 2005, five thinning intensity levels (none, extreme, heavy, moderate and light) were set in 15 permanent plots in a 32-year-old Korean pine plantation at Mengjiagang Forest Farm, Jiamusi City, Heilongjiang Province. We recorded tree growth and seed cone production from 2013 to 2016, i.e., from 8 to 11 years after thinning. Except for height growth, thinning increased tree growth (diameter at breast height and crown size) and improved cone yield. The extreme thinning treatment (to 300 trees per hectare) resulted in the largest tree diameter, tree volume, crown size and 4-year cone production per tree. The highest cone yield per tree in the mast year (2014) was observed when stands were thinned to 500 trees per hectare (heavy thinning). Although the best cone and seed quality and the largest cone and seed mass per tree were recorded in the heavily thinned stand, no significant differences were found between heavy and moderate thinning stands (750 trees per hectare). At the stand level, the moderately thinned stand had the highest basal area, stock volume and seed cone production per stand. Our results suggest that thinning to 750 trees per hectare will improve timber and cone productivity in 40-year-old P. koraiensis stands.

Although most Sinojackia species are endangered, they contribute greatly to the biodiversity of local ecosystems. Sinojackia microcarpa, an endangered species, is distributed only in three provinces of eastern China. Determining the genetic diversity of S. microcarpa provides key information for germplasm evaluation and species conservation. Here we used simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers to investigate the genetic diversity of eight natural populations of S. microcarpa. Leaf samples were collected from 144 individuals in 8 wild populations. The 156 bands were generated from 14 pairs of informative SSR primers, with an average percentage of polymorphic bands of 45.67%. The average values of Nei’s genetic diversity (H _e) and Shannon’s diversity index (I) were 0.1007 and 0.1658, respectively. The total genetic variation of S. microcarpa existed mainly within the eight populations, rather than among populations, and reached 86.41%. A cluster analysis showed that the eight wild populations of S. microcarpa could be classified into four groups, at a threshold of 4.0, based on an analysis of the SSR genotypes. Furthermore, there was a significant association between the phylogenetic relationships and the geographic locations of the S. microcarpa populations. In particular, populations from Fuyang, Jiande, and Lin’an in Zhejiang Province had close phylogenetic relationships and geographic distances. In addition, these three populations had the highest genetic diversity and the most individuals, suggesting that these three locations may be the S. microcarpa distribution center. This study serves as a model for studying the genetic diversity of endangered plant species.

Betula platyphylla Sukaczev tetraploids have significantly larger leaf, fruit and stoma (gigantic phenotype) than diploids of the same species; however, the mechanism underlying this difference remains unclear. Tetraploid B. platyphylla transcriptome data have indicated that the expression of genes related to indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) biosynthesis and signal transduction was altered after genome duplication. IAA exerts pleiotropic effects on growth and development by inducing the expression of Aux/IAA. We identified 20 Aux/IAA genes (BpIAA1–BpIAA20) in B. platyphylla distributed across 10 chromosomes. Multiple alignment and motif analyses revealed that nine BpIAA proteins shared all four conserved domains. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Aux/IAA families were divided into four subfamilies and that there were two pairs of BpIAA sister genes. The BpIAAs were differentially expressed in diploids and tetraploids. Moreover, the expression levels of the nine BpIAA genes were specifically up-regulated in tetraploids from June to September compared with May (except August 5th) in tetraploids, while they were down-regulated in diploids. IAA levels were more than twofold higher in tetraploids than diploids during the vegetative season. These results indicate that genome duplication of B. platyphylla caused the up-regulated of genes involved in IAA synthesis, and the increased concentration of IAA may induce the constitutive expression of 20 BpIAA genes. Therefore, the significant changes in the expression patterns of the BpIAAs contributed to the gigantic phenotype of tetraploids to some extent. Our research sheds light on the phenotypic variations observed in B. platyphylla tetraploids.

Oil content from seed kernels of Xanthoceras sorbifolia from 13 areas in China was analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to determine oil characteristics and biodiesel properties. The seeds had a high kernel percentage (53.67% ± 7.51), oil content (52.21% ± 4.01), and biodiesel yield (99.77% ± 0.21). Among the fatty acids in the oil were high percentages of linoleic acid (41.66 ± 2.26)% and oleic acid (28.44% ± 2.03). Most of the fuel properties complied well with the ASTM D6751-10, EN 14214-08, and GB/T 20828-2014 standards. The 13 sampling areas were grouped into four clusters based on different kernel percentage, oil content, biodiesel yield, and fatty acid composition. The results showed that the quality of kernel oils from seeds from Ar Horqin Banner was the best, although kernel oils from seeds in all 13 areas were suitable for biodiesel production. This study provides a basis for selecting optimal sites to harvest seeds from X. sorbifolia.

Many forest-dwelling species are dependent on deadwood. Sources of deadwood include competition- and senescence-related mortality of trees, and various damages. This study described a methodology for predicting the effect of wind damage on the amount of deadwood and suitability of the forest for saproxylic species. The methodology was used in a forested boreal landscape of 360 ha to analyze the effects of wind damage on the habitat quality for 27 groups of saproxylic species differing in their requirements for the species, size and decay stage of deadwood objects. A reference plan maximized net present value (MaxNPV) while others either minimized or maximized height differences between adjacent stands. Maximization of height differences resulted in high amount of wind damage and deadwood while minimizing height differences minimized wind damage and the amount of damage-related deadwood. The fourth plan maximized the average habitat suitability index (HSI) of the 27 groups of saproxylic species. The plans were compiled with and without even-flow harvesting constraints for three 10-year periods. Maximization of height differences between adjacent stands resulted in higher HSI values than obtained in the MaxNPV plan or in the plan than minimized height differences between adjacent stands. The average HSI of shade-demanding species correlated negatively with the amount of harvested timber. No strong correlations were found for light-demanding and indifferent species.

The competition-density (C-D) effects for mean mass for tree, stem, branch and leaf were analyzed in Acacia auriculiformis stands. Mean tree mass-density and mean organ mass-density were well explained by the C-D equation of tree and the C-D equation of tree organ, respectively. An equation describing the relationship between mean leaf area u and density was formulated that fit the u-data well. The relationship between mean tree mass w and the ratio of each organ to mean tree mass (w _o/w) was examined. With increasing w, the stem mass ratio w _S/w increased, whereas the branch mass ratio w _B/w and the leaf mass ratio w _L/w decreased. The yield difference between the lowest-density stand and the high-density stand became greater with stand growth. However, the yield of the mid-density stand was slightly lower than the yield of the high-density stand during the experimental period. To produce the most desirable combination of demanding individual-tree size and relative high stem yield, the mid-density is recommended as proper planting density for future management of A. auriculiformis stands.

One of the greatest threats posed by ongoing climate change may be regarded the drought caused by changes in precipitation distribution. The aim of presented study was to characterize reactions to dry conditions and conditions without drought stress on gross primary production (GPP) and net ecosystem production (NEP) of spruce and beech forests, as these two species dominate within the European continent. Daily courses of GPP and NEP of these two species were evaluated in relation to an expected decrease in CO₂ uptake during dry days. The occurrence of CO₂ uptake hysteresis in daily production was also investigated. Our study was performed at Bílý Kříž (spruce) and Štítná (beech) mountain forest sites during 2010–2012 period. We applied eddy covariance technique for the estimation of carbon fluxes, vapor pressure deficit and precipitation characteristics together with the SoilClim model for the determination of drought conditions, and the inverse of the Penman–Monteith equation to compute canopy conductance. Significant differences were found in response to reduced water supply for both species. Spruce reacts by closing its stomata before noon and maintaining a reduced photosynthetic activity for the rest of the day, while beech keeps its stomata open as long as possible and slightly reduces photosynthetic activity evenly throughout the entire day. In the spruce forest, we found substantial hysteresis in the light response curve of GPP. In the beech forest, the shape of this curve was different: evening values exceeded morning values.

Habitats with different features such as soil depth and soil/rock conditions can provide favorable environments for species with different requirements, while anthropogenic disturbances normally exert additional effects on species composition. However, specific studies have rarely been conducted in the degraded karst regions of Southwest China despite the high heterogeneity of karst habitats and past human disturbances. In this study, woody species richness and composition on rocky outcrops on a typical karst hillslope were investigated and compared with those of nearby matrices on shallow and rocky soil. Our results showed that matrix vegetation was more diverse in genera and species than vegetation on rocky outcrops. This might relate to the contrasting substrate features and different disturbance histories of these two habitats. Unlike the significant effect of slope on species richness of the matrix vegetation, rocky outcrops exhibited no significant differences between upper and lower slope positions, largely because their microhabitats were similar in different slope positions. Although the study area has been reforested naturally for about 30 years, woody species of the matrix vegetation were still dominated by pioneer shrub species. Rocky outcrops were dominated by late-successional tree species, which was primarily related to their isolated features and resistance to certain disturbances. Most of these late-successional species were not habitat endemics, indicating the possibility for their encroachment into surrounding the matrix. From this aspect, further studies will be necessary to identify and address the limiting factors for the encroachment of these late-successional species into the surrounding environment.

The dynamics of litter nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) release could be affected by soil fauna and environmental conditions. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of soil fauna on the dynamics of N and P during foliar litter decomposition in three types of ecosystems (i.e., montane forest, ecotone, and dry valley) along an elevation gradient. A field experiment using litterbags with two different mesh sizes (0.04 and 3 mm) was conducted from November 2013 to October 2014. Nitrogen and P release rates in decomposing foliar litter from fir (Abies faxoniana) and birch (Betula albosinensis) in montane forest, oak (Quercus baronii) and cypress (Cupressus chengiana) in ecotone, and cypress and clovershrub (Campylotropis macrocarpa) in dry valley were investigated in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Soil fauna strongly affected N and P release across different decomposition periods and ecosystem types. The average release rate of N mediated by soil fauna across the entire year was higher in the dry valley (15.6–37.3%) than in the montane forest (0.5–6.4%) and the ecotone (− 3.7–4.9%). The effects of soil fauna on P release rate were manifest in both the montane forest and the dry valley. Moreover, the impacts of soil fauna can vary substantially among different decomposition periods. Our results indicated that soil fauna can significantly affect N and P release during litter decomposition. The N release rate mediated by fauna was likely to be more sensitive to the effects of plant species (i.e., initial litter chemical traits), while the P release rate mediated by soil fauna might be subject to the effects of local-scale environmental factors (e.g., temperature) to a greater extent.

Forest gaps are important in forest dynamics and management, but little is known about how soil fauna influence the degradation of recalcitrant litter components in different-sized forest gaps. This investigation uses litterbags with two different mesh sizes (0.04 and 3 mm) to control the meso- and microfauna entering the bags to quantify the contribution of soil fauna to the degradation of recalcitrant components (including condensed tannins, total phenol, lignin and cellulose) during litter decomposition. The experiment was conducted in seven different forest gap sizes in Pinus massoniana plantations over 1 year. One closed-canopy site (CC) and forest gap sizes of 100, 225, 400, 625, 900, 1225 and 1600 m² were created in a P. massoniana plantation in the Sichuan basin of China; the CC was treated as the control. Cinnamomum camphora foliage from local native trees was used in all forest gap experiments. We found the following: (1) Gap size had significant effects on the degradation rates (E) of condensed tannins and lignin and on the contributions of soil fauna; medium-sized gaps also presented high degradation rates. Soil fauna obviously contributed to the degradation of recalcitrant foliar litter components in medium-sized gaps. (2) The highest contribution to degradation (40.98%) was recorded for lignin, and the lowest contribution (0.29%) was recorded for condensed tannins. The results indicate that medium-sized gaps (900 m²) were conducive to the degradation of recalcitrant litter components by soil fauna.

Temporal land use/land cover (LULC) change information provides a variety of applications for informed management of land resources. The aim of this study was to detect and predict LULC changes in the Arasbaran region using an integrated Multi-Layer Perceptron Neural Network and Markov Chain analysis. At the first step, multi-temporal Landsat images (1990, 2002 and 2014) were processed using ancillary data and were classified into seven LULC categories of high density forest, low-density forest, agriculture, grassland, barren land, water and urban area. Next, LULC changes were detected for three time profiles, 1990–2002, 2002–2014 and 1990–2014. A 2014 LULC map of the study area was further simulated (for model performance evaluation) applying 1990 and 2002 map layers. In addition, a collection of spatial variables was also used for modeling LULC change processes as driving forces. The actual and simulated 2014 LULC change maps were cross-tabulated and compared to ensure model simulation success and the results indicated an overall accuracy and kappa coefficient of 97.79% and 0.992, respectively. Having the model properly validated, LULC change was predicted up to the year 2025. The results demonstrated that 992 and 1592 ha of high and low-density forests were degraded during 1990–2014, respectively, while 422 ha were added to the extent of residential areas with a growth rate of 17.58 ha per year. The developed model predicted a considerable degradation trend for the forest categories through 2025, accounting for 489 and 531 ha of loss for high and low-density forests, respectively. By way of contrast, residential area and farmland categories will increase up to 211 and 427 ha, respectively. The integrated prediction model and customary area data can be used for practical management efforts by simulating vegetation dynamics and future LULC change trajectories.

This paper reports results of research to validate a fire behavior model “Wildland Fire Dynamics Simulator” through comparison of laboratory-scale measurements under the oxygen consumption calorimetry principle to several simulation runs of ground fire spreading in a fuel bed under wind. Pine needle ground covers of Pinus halepensis Mill. and Pinus pinaster Ait., two pine species in a specific region in northwest Africa were tested. In order to gain a deeper understanding of forest fire behavior, investigation into the rate of spread, one of the most relevant quantities used in forest fire science, is fundamental. Moreover, the heat release rate of the fire spread for different fuel types and related thermal functions such as radiant, convective and conductive heat transfer through beds of pine needles were quantified. The results can be helpful for the improvement and validation of the computational Fluid Dynamics CFD model and give global information on fire spread under wind on a bed of pine needles.

Using static chamber gas chromatography, we determined the seasonal dynamics, controlling factors, and distribution patterns of forest swamp CH₄ levels and related environmental factors (temperature, water level) after fire disturbance in the Xiaoxing’an Mountains. The results showed the following: during the growing season, the annual CH₄ emission distribution ranged from − 0.001 ± 0.012 to 22.373 ± 3.650 mg m⁻² h⁻¹; mild fire caused the swamp CH₄ emission flux of tussock, shrub, Alnus sibirica and birch swamp to increase by 56.0–524.7%; at low water levels, temperature had a significant influence on the swamp type, and the correlation between the methane emission flux and temperature was significantly strengthened; after a fire disturbance, methane emissions from all types of marsh were highest in summer and second highest in autumn, with a weak absorption in spring; and along the water environment gradient of the transition zone, the CH₄ emission flux presented a decreasing trend in its spatial distribution pattern.

The identification of burnt forests and their monitoring provide essential information for the suitable management and conservation of these ecosystems. This research focuses on the use of remote sensing with MODIS sensor data in a Mediterranean environment, precisely in the Rif region known for its high occurrence of forest fires and the largest burnt areas in Morocco. It mapped the burnt areas during the summer of 2016 using spectral indices from MODIS images, namely the Normalized Burn Ratio (NBR) and the Burnt Area Index for MODIS (BAIM). Two field surveys were used to calibrate spectral indices and validate the maps. First, a monotemporal analysis using a single pre-fire image determined the appropriate threshold of the spectral indices (BAIM and NBR) for burn detecting. Secondly, a multitemporal method was applied based on dBAIM and dNBR images which represented pre-fire and postfire differences of the BAIM and NBR images, respectively. The results show that separate use of monotemporal postfire and multitemporal methods produced an overestimation of the burnt areas. Finally, we propose a new algorithm combining both methods for burnt area mapping that we name Burnt Area Algorithm. MCD45A1 and MCD64A1 MODIS burnt area products were compared to the proposed algorithm. Validation of the estimated burnt areas using reference data of the Moroccan High Commission for Water, Forests and Fight against Desertification showed satisfactory results using the proposed algorithm, with a determination coefficient of 0.68 and a root mean square error of 44.0 ha.

Variable-top stem biomass models at the tree level for second growth forests of roble (Nothofagus obliqua), raulí (Nothofagus alpina), and coigüe (Nothofagus dombeyi) were fitted by a simultaneous density-integral system, which combines a stem taper model and a wood basic density model. For each model, an autoregressive structure of order 2 and a power equation of residual variance were incorporated to reduce residual autocorrelation and heteroscedasticity, respectively. By using dummy variables in the regression analysis, zonal effects on the parameters in the variable-top stem biomass equations were detected in roble. Consequently, equations for clusters of zones were obtained. These equations presented significant parameters and a high precision in both fitting and validation processes (i.e., CV < 11.5% and CVp < 11.9%, respectively), demonstrating that they are unbiased. The advantage of these types of functions is that they provide estimates of volume and biomass of sections of the stem, defined between any two points of the stem in the three species. Thus, depending on the final use of the wood and the dimensions of the tree, a stem fraction can be quantified in units of volume and the remaining fraction in units of weight.

The carbon cycle of forest ecosystems plays a key role in regulating CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere. Research on carbon storage estimation of forest ecosystems has become a major research topic. However, carbon budgets of subtropical forest ecosystems have received little attention. Reports of soil carbon storage and topographic heterogeneity of carbon storage are limited. This study focused on the Jinggang Mountain National Nature Reserve as an example of a mid-subtropical forest and evaluated soil and vegetation carbon storage by field sampling combined with GIS, RS and GPS technology. We classified the forest into nine forest types using ALOS high-resolution remote sensing images. The evergreen broad-leaved forest has the largest area, occupying 26.5% of the total area, followed by coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests and warm temperate coniferous forest, occupying 24.2 and 22.9%, respectively. The vegetation and soil carbon storage of the whole forest ecosystem were 1,692,344 and 5,514,707 t, with a carbon density of 7.4 and 24.2 kg/m², respectively, which suggests that the ecosystem has great carbon storage capacity. The topographic heterogeneity of the carbon storage was also analysed. The largest vegetation storage and soil storage is at 700–800 and 1000–1100 m, respectively. The vegetation carbon storage is highest in the southeast, south and southwest.

To determine the distribution of stem decay in the beech stands of Azerbaijan, we sought to identify the species, number, and height of attachment of fruiting bodies; the extent of decay in tree trunks growing under different conditions; and its influence on the trees’ commercial wood. The research was conducted on three farms representing the most common forest types of the Greater Caucasus within Azerbaijan. Examination of the presence of fruiting bodies in the tree trunk revealed that stem decay is the most common infection in beech (Fagus orientalis) stands, especially in fresh, moist areas, with less infection under dry growing conditions. In this work, the length, diameter, and volume of decay were studied by infecting the trunks of 93 model trees affected with mushrooms in 1–4 m cuttings. Our results showed that as the age of the stand increased, extent, diameter, and volume of decay increased significantly: the extent of decay from 1.47 to 6.43 m; the diameter of the decay from 8.15 to 32.7 cm; and the volume of decay from 2.5 to 13.2%. The relationship between age and the specified indicators is presented graphically. Using data obtained from the same sample of trees, we determined the expected and actual yield of commercial wood by age class. We determined that stem decay in beech stands leads to a decrease in the yield of commercial wood on average from 25.1% in the middle-aged to 14.8% in overmature plantations, respectively, with an estimated yield of 40.8–62.7%. Here we present mathematical models of the output of commercial wood from the infected part of the stands by age classes with the use of average data on the extent of decay in model trees.

Nitrogen (N) deposition to alpine forest ecosystems is increasing gradually, yet previous studies have seldom reported the effects of N inputs on soil CO₂ flux in these ecosystems. Evaluating the effects of soil respiration on N addition is of great significance for understanding soil carbon (C) budgets along N gradients in forest ecosystems. In this study, four levels of N (0, 50, 100, 150 kg N ha⁻¹ a⁻¹) were added to soil in a Picea baifouriana and an Abies georgei natural forest on the Tibetan Plateau to investigate the effect of the N inputs on soil respiration. N addition stimulated total soil respiration (Rt) and its components including heterotrophic respiration (Rh) and autotrophic respiration (Ra); however, the promoted effects declined with an increase in N application in two coniferous forests. Soil respiration rate was a little greater in the spruce forest (1.05 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹) than that in the fir forest (0.97 μmol CO₂ m⁻² s⁻¹). A repeated measures ANOVA indicated that N fertilization had significant effects on Rt and its components in the spruce forest and Rt in the fir forest, but had no obvious effect on Rh or Ra in the fir forest. Rt and its components had significant exponential relationships with soil temperature in both forests. N addition also increased temperature sensitivity (Q ₁₀) of Rt and its components in the two coniferous forests, but the promotion declined as N in put increased. Important, soil moisture had great effects on Rt and its components in the spruce forest (P < 0.05), but no obvious impacts were observed in the fir forest (P > 0.05). Following N fertilization, Ra was significantly and positively related to fine root biomass, while Rh was related to soil enzymatic activities in both forests. The mechanisms underlying the effect of simulated N deposition on soil respiration and its components in this study may help in forecasting C cycling in alpine forests under future levels of reactive N deposition.

The complex geometry and topology of soil is widely recognised as the key driver in many ecological processes. X-ray computed tomography (CT) provides insight into the internal structure of soil pores automatically and accurately. Until recently, there have not been methods to identify soil pore structures. This has restricted the development of soil science, particularly regarding pore geometry and spatial distribution. Through the adoption of the fuzzy clustering theory and the establishment of pore identification rules, a novel pore identification method is described to extract pore structures from CT soil images. The robustness of the adaptive fuzzy C-means method (AFCM), the adaptive threshold method, and Image-Pro Plus tools were compared on soil specimens under different conditions, such as frozen, saturated, and dry situations. The results demonstrate that the AFCM method is suitable for identifying pore clusters, especially tiny pores, under various soil conditions. The method would provide an optional technique for the study of soil micromorphology.

The geometric and spatial characteristics of pore structures determine the permeability and water retention of soils, which have important effects on soil functional diversity and ecological restoration. Until recently, there have not been tools and methods to visually and quantitatively describe the characteristics of soil pores. To solve this problem, this research reconstructs the geometry and spatial distribution of soil pores by the marching cubes method, texture mapping method and the ray casting method widely used in literature. The objectives were to explore an optimal method for three-dimensional visualization of soil pore structure by comparing the robustness of the three methods on soil CT images with single pore structure and porosity ranging from low (2–5%) to high (12–18%), and to evaluate the reconstruction performance of the three methods with different geometric features. The results demonstrate that there are aliases (jagged edges) and deficiency at the boundaries of the model reconstructed by the marching cubes method and pore volumes are smaller than the ground truth, whereas the results of the texture mapping method lack the details of pore structures. For all the soil images, the ray casting method is preferable since it better preserves the pore characteristics of the ground truth. Furthermore, the ray casting method produced the best soil pore model with higher rendering speed and lower memory consumption. Therefore, the ray casting method provides a more advanced method for visualization of pore structures and provides an optional technique for the study of the transport of moisture and the exchange of air in soil.

The long-term performance and benefits of charcoal application on the carbon sequestration and properties of forest soils in temperate or non-tropical regions has not been studied in detail in spite of its important role in global warming. This study was conducted to describe the long-term charcoal-induced changes in organic carbon (OC) content and other soil properties of temperate deciduous forests in Mazandaran province, northern Iran. Three sites were sampled to collect composite soil samples from two depths (0–20 and 20–40 cm) inside and outside of a plot of charcoal-enriched soils surrounding a historical charcoal production site (abandoned for more than 120 years). The presence of charcoal in soils for about 120 years elevated significantly the black carbon, total OC, natural soil OC, total nitrogen, dissolved organic matter, soil OC density, exchangeable bases, saturated hydraulic conductivity, available water capacity and available Fe, Mn and Zn compared to the adjacent reference soils. Cation exchange capacity (CEC) and pH were 15.5 cmol_c kg⁻¹ and 0.5 units, respectively, higher than the adjacent reference soils at 0–20 cm soil depth. However, electrical conductivity (EC), bulk density and available Cu were higher in the adjacent reference soil. The aged charcoal had no significant effect on the microbial respiration rate of studied soils. The results of this study provide new insights and strong support for the long-term benefits of biochar application as a management strategy for improving soil productivity as well as sequestering large quantities of durable carbon in soils of the region and mitigating global warming.

Monitoring soil moisture is important for agriculture and forestry and plays an essential role in land surface processes as well as providing feedback among the earth’s surface ecosystems. Large-scale regional soil moisture spatial data can be obtained with a reliable and operational approach using remote sensing. In this paper, we provide an operational framework for retrieving soil moisture using laboratory spectral data. The inverted Gaussian function was used to fit soil spectral data, and its feature parameters, including absorption depth (AD) and absorption area (AA), were selected as variables for a soil moisture estimate model. There was a significant correlative relationship between soil moisture and AD, as well as AA near 1400 and 1900 nm. A one-variable linear regression model was established to estimate soil moisture. The model was evaluated using the determination coefficients (R ²), root mean square error and average precision. Four models were established and evaluated in this study. The determination coefficients of the four models ranged from 0.794 to 0.845. The average accuracy for soil moisture estimates ranged from 90 to 92%. The results prove that it is feasible to estimate soil moisture using remote sensing technology.

The aim of this research was to evaluate the amount of woody debris (m³/ha) on the forest floor and the associated wood-colonizing fungi. The study was performed in the Taborz region, known for its Scots pine provenance experiments, against the background of a recently launched Polish legislation to protect the biodiversity on the forest floor in managed (harvested) stands. We investigated a managed stand (136-years-old) and the reserve stand ‘Sosna Taborska’ (261-years-old). In the reserve stand, the mean volume of woody debris was six times higher than in the managed forests, i.e. 65 versus 11 m³/ha. In addition, in the reserve stand, the number of fungi taxa colonizing the dead wood was larger than in the managed stands, with a higher number of fruitbodies. Total fungal richness was higher in the reserve than in the managed stand, i.e. 28 versus 12 species. The dominant taxa at both sites were Fomitopsis pinicola and Fomes fomentarius, although some taxa were only found in the reserve (e.g., Stereum hirsutum). The volume of woody debris as well as the diversity of fungi in the managed stand were lower than in the reserve, albeit greater than in other Scots pine stands in Poland. These results testify to the gains in biodiversity yielded by the management conservation management approach at the reserve stand.

Fungal endophytic species inhabiting the leaves of eucalypts are capable of utilising leaf sugars and can influence both plant growth and health. Endophytic fungal symbionts can use simple soluble sugars in leaves as their main carbon source. This study set out to determine the diversity and distribution of the endophytic filamentous fungal leaf community in the hybrid Eucalyptus urograndis due to its economic importance. The fungal leaf community was characterised using denaturing gradient electrophoresis (DGGE) and correlated with levels of leaf nutrients and sugars throughout plant development. Sequencing of DGGE bands revealed the presence of Basidiomycota and Ascomycota phyla. Fourteen species and three genera of filamentous fungi were identified, and the population structure was affected by the plant developmental stage. Levels of K, Cu, N and Mn influenced communities from the clonal garden, whereas leaves in the field had higher glucose, fructose and sucrose. Many fungi were found to be specific to a certain development stages: Diplomitoporus crustulinus, Podosphaera tridactyla and Aspergillus restrictus to the clonal garden stage; Chaetomella acutiseta and Ascotricha chartarum to the shading stage; Erratomyces patelii and Saxomyces sp. to the shading output stage; Lepidostroma sp. and Saxomyces sp. to the dispatch stage; and Mycosphaerella populicola to the field stage. Teratosphaeria toledana and Teratosphaeria acidotherma were found at more than one developmental stage. Cladosporium sp. and Rhodosporidium fluviale colonized and persisted in plants at the dispatch and field stages. This is the first report of P. tridactyla, A. restrictus, E. patelii, Saxomyces and Lepidostroma sp. as endophytes in eucalipt.

Matrine is a promising botanical antifungal; however, the mechanism underlying the antifungal activity is yet limited. We studied the antifungal activity of matrine and the underlying mechanism in Botryosphaeria dothidea as a model strain. Matrine strongly inhibited mycelial growth of B. dothidea in a dose-dependent manner. Matrine-treated B. dothidea showed morphological and ultrastructural alterations, including shriveled hyphae, plasmolysis, and leakage of cytoplasm related to cell membrane deterioration. In addition, matrine caused significantly high conductivity and absorbance (260 nm) in extracellular matrices and low lipid contents in B. dothidea, indicating increased membrane permeability. Lipid peroxidation showed that matrine resulted in increased malondialdehyde content while enhancing the generation of reactive oxygen species and the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase. These results showed that matrine inhibited the mycelial growth of B. dothidea by enhancing cell membrane permeability via membrane lipid peroxidation.

Paraphaenodiscus tricolor sp. nov. is described as new to science from China. A short key to described species from China based on females is given.

field attraction test of (7R,8S)-cis-7,8-epoxy-2-methyloctadec-17-ene (= 7R,8S-epo-2me-17ene-18Hy), a trace component of the sex pheromone gland of the Asian gypsy moth, (Lymantria dispar), traps that were baited with the trace component attracted more L. dispar than traps baited with (7S,8R)-cis-7,8-epoxy-2-methyloctadec-17-ene (= 7S,8R-epo-2me-17ene-18Hy) and unbaited traps. However, traps baited with 7R,8S-epo-2me-17ene-18Hy were less attractive than traps baited with (+)-disparlure [= (7R,8S)-cis-7,8-epoxy-2-methyloctadecane], the sex pheromone of L. dispar. Combination tests with (+)-disparlure, 7R,8S-epo-2me-17ene-18Hy, and 7S,8R-epo-2me-17ene-18Hy revealed that 7R,8S-epo-2me-17ene-18Hy acted synergistically with (+)-disparlure.

Seven species of the genus Oligosita, a well-known cosmopolitan genus of the family Trichogrammatidae that comprise egg parasitoids of coleopteran, hemipteran, lepidopteran and thysanopteran insects, are reviewed. Oligosita xinyangensis sp. nov. (Hymenoptera, Trichogrammatidae) is described in detail and illustrated; the male of O. nigroflagellaris Lin is reported for the first time. New distributional data are provided for O. japonica Yashiro, O. mediterranea Nowicki, O. pallida Kryger, O. polioptera Lin and O. shibuyae Ishii from China, and a key to all the Chinese species of the genus is given.

In this study, we examined the use of artificial nest boxes by Siberian flying squirrels (Pteromys volans) in three coniferous and mixed forests in Gangwon Province, South Korea. Six hundred and twelve boxes with different sized entry holes (ranging from 3 to 7 cm in diameter) were placed in the forests between 2004 and 2009. Pteromys volans used nine boxes in the coniferous forests and two boxes in the mixed forests. The squirrels only used boxes with entrance holes measuring 3.5, 4, and 5 cm in diameter, showing a strong and moderate preference for boxes with 5 and 4-cm holes, respectively, and a strong avoidance for boxes with 3- and 7-cm holes. Therefore, we suggest placing artificial nest boxes with entrance holes 5 cm in diameter to encourage breeding activity. Most nests made in the artificial boxes were composed of fibrous materials from woody vines. We recommend placing artificial nest boxes with holes of 5-cm diameter in coniferous forests, which support dense populations of P. volans, to survey whether this approach would positively affect the breeding habits and population maintenance of this species.

Physicochemical characteristics and in vitro antioxidant activities of four pyroligneous acids carbonized from the wastes of wood species including Mangosteen (Garcinia mangostana Linn.), Durian (Durio zibethinus L.), Rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.), and Langsat (Lansium domesticum Serr.) were assessed. Appearing as transparent liquors with pH 3.9–4.2, the pyroligneous acid samples under test possessed acetic acid (23.22–25.46%) as the dominant component. The total soluble tar, total acid, and water content were 0.15 − 0.28 wt%, 99–192 mg KOH/g and 84.5–93.5 wt%, respectively. Phenolic compounds namely: 2,6-dimethoxyphenol (6.88–9.69%), phenol (2.97–5.88%), 4-methylsyringol (3.10–3.56%), guaiacol (2.36–3.55%), and 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol (1.08–1.28%) were found. All had in vitro antioxidant activities especially mangosteen pyroligneous acid, which showed activity roughly similar to BHT (P > 0.05) against anti-lipid peroxidation. Nitric oxide scavenging capacities of all pyroligneous acids were significantly higher than BHT (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that pyroligneous acids from the four types of branch waste could be used as sources of beneficial natural antioxidants, possibly as food or feed additives to protect against lipid peroxidation, and potentially also in veterinary medicine in anti-inflammatory products.

Plant nonspecific lipid transfer proteins (nsLTPs) are widely distributed through plant kingdom and are characterized by the presence of a central hydrophobic cavity, suitable for binding various hydrophobic molecules. Despite extensive research on nsLTP in different plant species, mostly angiosperm, and the great diversity of physiological processes in which they seem to be involved, their exact functions still remain unclear. Also, very limited experimental data are available on nsLTP in gymnosperm. In this study, we report for the first time on the molecular cloning of nsLTP, from Pinus sylvestris L. (PsLTP1, GenBank accession JN980402.1) and the expression pattern of PsLTP1 during ontogenesis and in response to environmental stress conditions. Total RNA from roots of 7-day old pine seedlings was used to isolate the cDNA clone, corresponding to Scots pine lipid transfer protein. The open reading frame of PsLTP1 consists of 372 bp encoding a protein of 123 amino acids. Amino acid sequence alignment revealed that mature PsLTP1 shares high level of similarity with nsLTP from other conifers and with well-studied nsLTPs from angiosperms. The PsLTP1 contains a 27-amino-acid N-terminal signal sequence and presents all the features of a plant nsLTP. Amino acid comparison analysis and 3D structure prediction showed that PsLTP1 is a type 1 nsLTP. The results of the expression analysis of Scots pine PsLTP1 gene revealed that its transcripts accumulate in actively growing tissues. Furthermore, transcription of PsLTP1 was upregulated in response to cold and salt treatments, and downregulated during acidic, osmotic and water stresses.