Characterization and degradation of lignin from steam explosion of pine and corn stalk of lignin: The role of superoxide ion and ozone

Steam explosion of corn stalk in the presence of 3% sulphuric acid at 200 °C for 5 min gave the highest recovery of lignin. Lignin has M_w = 2640 and M_z = 93,994. In the UV spectrum absorptions at λ = 231 and 280 nm were recorded. ¹H NMR spectrum of lignin showed signals attributable to cinnamaldehyde units, guaiacyl units, and syringyl units. Syringyl and guaiacyl units are in 1:1 ratio. ¹³C NMR spectrum showed signals for guaiacyl, syringyl, and p-hydroxyphenyl units. The spectrum showed a prevalence of guaiacyl units. The ¹³C NMR spectrum is in agreement with the presence of cinnamic units. The same characterization was performed on lignin from pine. The irradiation of lignin from pine from steam explosion process in the presence of oxygen, in conditions described for the formation of superoxide ion, for different irradiation time was followed isolating the lignin and determining the average molecular weight. The experiments showed that, until 8 h irradiation, M_n decreases, while M_w and M_z increases. After 8 h irradiation an inverse behaviour was observed, with an increase of M_n and a decrease of M_w and M_z. These results are in agreement with an initial polymerization process followed by a photoinduced degradation. Ozonization was carried out in acetonitrile–methanol solution. The reaction showed a zero-order kinetics. After 50 min the average molecular weight of lignin is the half. The reaction mixture was analyzed by using GC–MS. Oxalic acid was determined.     

Snow damages on trees of an uneven age in mixed broadleaf forests:effects of topographical conditions and tree characteristics

Snow damage on natural stands is an important problem concerning mountainous forest management.In the present research,the frequency and intensity of heavy snow damage on natural stands and the relationship of damages with characteristics of trees,stand and topography were studied in mountainous forests of northern Iran.A systematic sampling design was applied to the study area(140 ha),with 122 circular plots.The grid dimension was100 m and each plot area was 1000 m^2.The four types of snow damage to trees include:crown damage(8.6%),stem breakage(5.4%),uprooting(3.2%),and bending(1.4%).The frequency of crown damage grew with an increase inthe diameter at breast height(DBH),while the frequency of stem breakage,uprooting and bending decreased with an increase the DBH.The frequency of crown damage,stem breakage,and total damages was related to tree species(p<0.01).Not all tree species were equally susceptible to snow damage.The amount of damage grew with increasing elevation and slope angle and decreased with increasing soil depth.Young trees(DBH<25 cm)were more susceptible to snow damage than other trees.Snow damage decreased by as the trees in the stand became more mixed in age.The susceptibility of trees to snow damage increased by height and slenderness coefficient.With adequate silvicultural operation,snow damage can be reduced to a minimum level in these natural forests.     

Differentially-regulated defence genes in Malus domestica during phytoplasma infection and recovery

To improve knowledge about plant/phytoplasma interactions and, in particular, about the ‘recovery’ phenomenon in previously-infected plants, we investigated and compared expression levels of several defence-related genes (four pathogenesis-related proteins and three jasmonate-pathway marker enzymes) in apple plants showing different states of health: vigorous (healthy), phytoplasma-infected, and recovered. Real Time-PCR analyses demonstrated that genes are differentially expressed in apple leaf tissue according to the plants’ state of health. Malus domestica Pathogenesis-Related protein (MdPR) 1, MdPR 2 and MdPR 5 were significantly induced in leaves of diseased and symptomatic plants compared to leaves of those plants that were healthy or recovered. On the other hand, levels of all the jasmonate (JA)-pathway marker genes that we selected for this study, were up-regulated in the leaves of recovered plants compared to the diseased ones. In conclusion, our study demonstrated that two different sets of defence genes are involved in the interactions between apple plants and ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma mali’ (‘Ca. P. mali’) and that these genes are differentially expressed during phytoplasma infection or recovery.     

Long-term assessment of soil physicochemical properties and seedlings establishment after skidding operations in mountainous mixed hardwoods

One of the basic requirements for sustainable forest management in mixed broadleaved stands is to provide suitable conditions for natural regeneration of trees. These conditions include, but are not limited to, the frequency, quality and the composition of seedling species. Compacted soil layers caused by forest machinery traffic are the most common problem affecting seedling establishment and growth after skidding operations. In this study, we evaluated the frequency, quality, diversity of seedling species and physicochemical properties of soil on 10-, 20- and 30-year-old abandoned skid trails. Further comparison to the values of the mentioned above parameters in control areas allowed for the evaluation in terms of natural recovery processes, under varying traffic intensity and the longitudinal slope of the skid trails in a mixed broadleaved forest. Results showed that there is a significant positive trend of recovery for soil physicochemical properties and ecological characteristics (density and quality) of seedling growing on the skid trails. The time required to recover soil properties and ecological attributes of seedlings increased with increasing traffic intensity and slope of the skid trail. Our results showed that it takes 20 and 30 years to fully recover the chemical and physical properties of the soil, respectively. On the 30-year-old skid trails, density and species diversity indices were fully recovered, but the quality of the seedlings was not restored to the control conditions. The results suggest the importance of a proper planning of the skid trail network, avoiding in particular skid trails with a slope gradient higher than 20%.

     

Assessment of the impact of forest harvesting operations on the physical parameters and microbiological components on a Mediterranean sandy soil in an Italian stone pine stand

Forest harvesting operations may have a significant impact on soil physical properties by reducing its porosity and organic functions. Soil variations, in particular bulk density and total porosity, caused by external perturbations as soil becomes compacted due to machinery passes, can lead to changes in biogeochemical cycles that have consequences on soil ecosystems. This study investigated how the impact of forest operations and the elapsed time from harvest can influence: (1) the physical–chemical characteristics of soil and (2) the nitrogen-fixing and nitrifying microbial communities. The study area is located inside the Regional Park of Migliarino, San Rossore, Massaciuccoli (Pisa, Italy). In the study area, the soil has been classified as recent sands with sandy loam texture and slightly calcareous (USDA Soil Taxonomy classification). Soil samples were collected in patchy cut areas (strip cut) of Pinus pinea stand that was harvested in two steps: half area in 2006 and the rest in 2011. Soil samples were collected also in a control area (not harvested) with similar stand and soil characteristics. Statistical analysis was preceded by a test of normality (Kolmogorov–Smirnov test) and a variance homogeneity test (Levene’s test). Considering the dependence of the variables studied (physical and chemical soil characteristics), a MANOVA test and a post hoc Tukey HSD test were applied to determine statistical difference among the three treatments: harvested 2006, harvested 2011 and not harvested. The results did not indicate significant variations to the parameters of shear and penetration resistance, though soil bulk density and total porosity were significantly altered in the short period since forestry operations occurred. These physical changes induced qualitative (presence/absence and number of species) and quantitative (abundance and spatial evenness of the species) variations in the nitrogen-fixing and nitrifying microbial communities.     

Age-Dependent Potato Tolerance to Herbivory in Different Nutrient Environments

Tolerance is a type of defense that allows plants to attenuate the negative effects of herbivory. Tolerance has been shown to be context-dependent, contingent on abiotic and biotic factors such as nutrients and plant age. Here, we determine the simultaneous effect of herbivory at different phenological stages and nitrogen regimen on the potato’s ability to tolerate herbivory. We subjected young and blooming plants of two potato varieties to 50% injury by Colorado Potato Beetle in low and high nitrogen environments to determine their effects on tuber yield and plant tolerance. All plants in the high nitrogen treatment expressed higher yield and tolerance compared to those in the low nitrogen treatment. Control plants expressed higher yield than plants in either herbivory treatment. There was a variety by phenological stage of herbivory interaction showing that phenological-based tolerance expression within species is genotype dependent.     

Avian soundscapes and cognitive landscapes: theory,application and ecological perspectives

The soundscape is proposed as a phenomenological entity with which to investigate environmental complexity. In particular, the avian soundtope, which is defined as a place in which sound is intentionally structured by different bird species, is regarded as an agency acting to achieve several goals. In fact, the soundtope could be viewed as a special case of an eco-field used by birds, not only to establish territorial ownership and patrol an area but also as a means of locating and evaluating the availability of many other material and immaterial resources. The meaning of the multifaceted acoustic pattern produced by bird communities during the breeding season is discussed here under the acoustic niche hypothesis in terms of community coalescence and the permanent establishment of an inter-specific communication network. Furthermore, the spatial and temporal dimensions of a bird soundscape have also been analyzed and discussed in terms of their relationship with environmental proxies. A new Acoustic Complexity Index (ACI), coupled with the implementation (ACI plug-in) of a specific sound editor (WaveSurfer©), is proposed as a way of processing sound data efficiently, thus providing new opportunities to use the bird soundscape signature for landscape characterization and describing the ecological dynamics of long-term monitoring schemes.     

Healing ability and diameter growth of lime-trees (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Tilia begonifolia</Emphasis> Stev.) following logging wounds

Lime-trees (Tilia begonifolia Stev.) have countless ecological and economical values in the northern forests of Iran. Bole wounds on residual trees are commonly caused by logging. The healing ability of bole wounds and the effect of bole wounds on diameter growth in lime-trees were assessed in a natural mixed uneven-age stand. The susceptibility to decay in relation to the wound severity was also evaluated. Condition and location of lime-trees before and after selective logging were determined through systematic plot sampling. The position of each lime-tree was identified on a topographical map using the global positioning system. After 10 years from wound occurrence, tree and wound characteristics were also re-measured. Overall, 68 stems (9.7 stem ha^?1) of lime-trees were found in the sampled area, 25 stems (36.8%) were damaged in the form of bole wound, and 43 stems (63.2%) were undamaged. Statistical differences between wounded or non-wounded lime-trees in terms of diameter and height were not found. Most of the wounds occurred at the height of < 1 m; the average wound size was 370.5 cm². Wound severity was related to wound size and wound position. Wound width healing rate was 6.2 mm year^?1. The wound shape was found to be a healing factor as the healing rate by width was higher than that by length. Healed wounds were only 12, 60% of bole wounds resulted in decay. Diameter growth of wounded trees was 43.5% lower than undamaged trees. The average annual diameter growth decreased by increasing wound severity. The results indicated the lime-tree is a very sensitive species to damage caused by logging (bole wound). Single-tree selection cutting needs more careful logging operations to reduce damage on residual lime-trees in order to safeguard this species, valuable in ecologic and economic terms.