Changes in the phosphorus and nitrogen status and supply in the young spruce stands in the Lužické, the Jizerské and the Orlické Mts. in the Czech Republic during the 2004–2014 period

The contribution shows changes in the phosphorus and nitrogen status in long-term investigated spruce stands in the Lu?ické, the Jizerské and the Orlické Mts. on the border between the Czech Republic and Germany and Poland. During the 11 evaluated years, low phosphorus concentrations were measured, often below the deficiency limit 1.2 mg P/g, and an N/P ratio exceeding the optimal range (6–12), primarily in the second needle-year class. Values of an N/P ratio of between 12 and 18 in the Jizerské Mts. and of between 12 and 27 in the Lu?ické Mts. were discovered. A low phosphorus concentration below the 10 mg·kg^?1 was also detected in the mineral soil horizon. Temporal changes of N/P ratio (increase) and of P concentration (decrease) in the needles are significant for the spruce stands that are in the Orlické Mts. In the Jizerské Mts. and the Lu?ické Mts., there is fluctuation during evaluated period without any clear trend.     

Selective effects of forest fires on the structural domains of soil humic acids as shown by dipolar dephasing <Superscript>13</Superscript>C NMR and graphical-statistical analysis of pyrolysis compounds

Purpose

Data management strategies of pyrolysis results and NMR acquisition modes were examined in humic acids (HAs) from control soils and fire-affected soils. The information supplied by dipolar dephasing (DD) ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and Curie-point pyrolysis were used to assess chemical structures hardly recognizable and measurable, or of unclear interpretation, when using ¹³C NMR under standard acquisition pulses (cross-polarization/magic angle spinning, CPMAS).

Materials and methods

The HAs were isolated from two forest soils under Pinus halepensis and Pinus sylvestris in control and burned sites affected by medium or severe-intensity wildfires. For NMR analyses, during DD acquisition conditions, a 180° ¹³C pulse was inserted to minimize phase shifts. Curie-Point pyrolysis was carried out at 510 °C for 5 s, and the pyrolysis fragments were analyzed by GC/MS. The total abundances of the major pyrolysis products were compared by an update of the classical Van Krevelen’s graphical-statistical approach, i.e., as surface density values in the space defined by the compound-specific H/C and O/C atomic ratios.

Results and discussion

The DD ¹³C NMR experiments displayed significant differences in the HA spectral profiles as regards to the standard CPMAS ¹³C NMR acquisition conditions, mainly in the chemical shift region of alkyl structures as well as for tannin- or carbohydrate-like O-alkyl structures. In fact, the comparison between DD and CPMAS solid-state NMR suggested shortening of alkyl chains and generation of carbohydrate-derived, unsaturated structures—viz. furans—which adds to the aromatic domain. Pyrolytic results showed fire-induced specific changes in HAs chemical structure and its molecular diversity. The changes were evident in the location and sizes of the different clusters of pyrolysis compounds defined by their atomic ratios.

Conclusions

The DD ¹³C NMR provided specific information on the fate of aliphatic structures and the origin of unsaturated HA structures, which could be helpful in differentiating “inherited” from “pyrogenic” aromatic structures. This is further confirmed by the analysis of the molecular assemblages of pyrolytic products, which showed accumulation of condensed polyaromatic domains in the HAs after the high-intensity fire, accompanied by a recalcitrant alkyl hydrocarbon domain. Medium-intensity fire led to aromaticity increase due to a selective accumulation of lignin-derived phenols concomitant to the depletion of aliphatic hydrocarbon constituents.

     

Changes in forest soil organic matter quality affected by windstorm and wildfire

Purpose

Windthrows and fires are major natural disturbances in forest ecosystems, which can affect organic matter in the surface and the mineral layer of forest soil. The main aim of this study was to evaluate the changes occurring in the structure and properties of humic acid (HA) in the lands where windthrows and wildfires occurred.

Materials and methods

In November 2004, the forest in the area of 12,000 ha in the Tatra National Park, Slovakia, was seriously damaged by northern wind gusts exceeding 200 km/h. In July 2005, a wildfire broke out in a 220 ha of wind-damaged area. The HAs have been isolated from four research plots: (a) the area where the fallen trees were removed (EXT); (b) an area after windstorm covered by wood from struck trees (NEX), left for spontaneous succession; (c) an area after extracted timber, damaged by the surface wildfire (FIR); and (d) a reference intact spruce forest area (REF). Changes in the chemical structure of the HAs isolated from the research plots were determined on the basis of elemental analysis and UV-Vis, EPR, IR, and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy.

Results and discussion

All used analytical methods showed a decrease in the humification degree of the humic acids extracted from the soils where the spruce forest has been affected by a wildfire and a windthrow. In the case of the control sample HA (REF), the calculated atomic H/C and O/C ratios and the degree of aromaticity (α) calculated from the ¹³C NMR spectra were higher, indicating higher aromaticity of HA from the REF area. The more complex and developed structure of REF HA was confirmed by the higher value of E^1%₆ and the lower E4/E6 ratio obtained using UV-Vis spectroscopy. Also, the higher g-parameters determined from the EPR spectra of the stable radicals present in HA confirmed the lower aromaticity on the plots that have been subjected to the calamities. The ¹³C NMR spectra and the elemental analysis show that the structure of the HA extracted from the NEX plot is the closest to the REF.

Conclusions

The results of the systematic research showed significant changes in the structure of HA taken from spruce forest soils that were subjected to windstorms and fires. An enrichment of the HAs in aliphatic carbon and so a lower humification degree of the organic matter in the areas calamity-affected were observed. The results clearly indicate that the HAs extracted from the disturbed plots of the spruce forest are not as stable as those extracted taken from the control plot.

     

Needle blight caused by Dothistroma pini in Slovakia: distribution,host range and mating types

Dothistroma needle blight (DNB) has been observed in Slovakia during the last two decades. Up until 2017, Dothistroma septosporum has only been detected and molecularly confirmed to cause DNB in Slovakia. Here, we report the detection of Dothistroma pini at six localities around Slovakia, representing different plantation types. Four pine species (Pinus sylvestris, P. nigra, P. mugo and P. jeffreyi) were confirmed as hosts of D. pini in Slovakia, of which only P. mugo has been previously reported as host in Slovakia. Three gene regions (ITS, EF1 –α, and ß-tubulin) of each of the 13 isolates were sequenced and assigned as D. pini. Based on ITS sequences, the studied isolates represent the haplotypes Dp_HAP.1, Dp_HAP.2. Both mating types were detected but at different localities. Our results suggest that in addition to D. septosporum, D. pini may contribute to DNB also in Slovakia.     

Effects of commercial thinning,log position in the stem,and cutting width on the surface quality of cants produced by a chipper-canter

Fifteen stems of jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) of 3 commercial thinned plots (control, moderate, and intensive thinning) and 15 stems of black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P), both coming from the Abitibi-Témiscamingue region – Canada, were cross-cut into three 2.4?m length sections: bottom, middle, and top logs. Logs were processed with a chipper-canter at three cutting widths (12.7, 19.1, and 25.4?mm), producing chips and a three-faced cant. The middle section of the cant was used to evaluate surface quality across the grain on each face. Roughness and waviness parameters and depth of torn grain were recorded. Knot characteristics were assessed in the three cant faces. Poorer surface quality was found in the lower part compared to the upper part of the cant for both species. At larger cutting widths, jack pine logs coming from a natural stand showed lower surface quality compared to logs from thinned stands. Black spruce waviness increased with the cutting width and stem height. These results were attributed to the increase of forces and vibration when cutting at larger cutting widths, which was worsened by the presence of bigger, more numerous knots at the control plot and in the top logs. Black spruce had deeper torn grain compared to jack pine. Their differences in knot characteristics resulted in a maximum torn grain depth favored by the presence of more knots rather than by bigger knot size. Other knot characteristics, such as the position of the knots in the cant face, the insertion angle of the branch and the distribution of the knots around the log, should be studied to better understand the relationship between torn grain formation and knottiness.     

Effects of density and structure on production in the communal forests of the Mexican Sierra Madre Occidental

The Sierra Madre Occidental in the Mexican State of Durango, is home to about 5 million ha of species-rich forest ecosystems. Local communities depend on these forests for their livelihood. The preservation of the species richness and productivity of this unique resource requires improved understanding of the effects of forest structure and density on production. The community structure was analysed for three species groups (all species; 12 species of Pinus; and 16 species of Quercus). Based on data gathered in 580 remeasured observational field plots, the main results of this study were as follows: (1) two distinct clusters were identified in each species group, (a) the dominant species with a smaller range of growth rates, and (b) the remaining species which have a smaller maximum size and a greater variation of growth rates. (2) Density (expressed as basal area per hectare) and the percentage contribution to the total basal area of all pine species have a significant effect on forest production (expressed as volume increment per hectare per year). (3) Potential production is surprisingly high (in excess of 20 m³ ha^?1 y^?1 for some stands) in these forests, but the high potential cannot be realised in many areas because of reduced basal areas caused by overharvesting. (4) The available evidence does not confirm the findings of a recent study that suggests a continuous increase in production with increasing richness. Our observations show that production attains a potential maximum at intermediate levels of richness (between 7 and 9 species per 0.25 ha) and declines with further increases in species richness. This study represents a comprehensive analysis of the effects of density and structure on the community forests of the Sierra Madre Occidental based on a large set of permanent field plots where all trees have been mapped.     

Could the Supply of Boron and Zinc Improve Resistance of Potato to Early Blight?

The adequate supply of boron (B) and zinc (Zn) can improve the structural integrity and permeability of cell membranes, which is a defence mechanism against fungi infection. A greenhouse experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of the application of B and Zn on plant growth and the incidence and severity of potato early blight, a destructive foliar disease of potato crop caused by Alternaria grandis E.G. Simmons. Potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L. cv. Ágata) were grown in 11-l pots filled with sandy soil, unfertilized or fertilized with 5 mg kg^?1 B and 5 mg kg^?1 Zn (either alone or in combination). Potato plants were inoculated with isolates of Alternaria grandis at 40 days after planting. Early blight incidence and severity were evaluated visually 7 days after inoculation with A. grandis isolates. Disease incidence ranged from 16 to 41% infected leaves, and was significantly highest in the treatment with the application of B, followed by the control, and lowest with application of Zn and B + Zn. Early blight severity ranged from 2.5 to 25%, and was significantly higher in the unfertilized treatment than in those fertilized with Zn either alone or in combination with B. These findings suggest that Zn plays a critical role in potato tolerance to early blight and should be considered as a preventive measure in the disease management plan, since application of zinc reduced the incidence and severity of potato early blight. However, the physiological basis of this remains unknown.     

Guava (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Psidium guajava L</Emphasis>. cv. Red Suprema) Crude Extract Protect Human Dermal Fibroblasts against Cytotoxic Damage Mediated by Oxidative Stress

We analyzed guava fruits (Psidium guajava L. cv. Red Suprema) from Cuba to determine their chemical composition, total antioxidant capacity, as well as their protective effect against oxidative damage using an in vitro model of human dermal fibroblasts. The guava fruit is a natural source of bioactive compounds, such as polyphenols, vitamin C, folates and beta carotenes with proven health benefits. Human dermal fibroblasts were pre-incubated with different concentrations of guava crude extract and then subjected to oxidative stress using the AAPH stressor. The number of apoptotic and dead cells, as well as the markers of oxidative damage such as lipid and protein oxidation significantly decreased when cells were pre-incubated with guava crude extract and then exposed to the stressor. The activity of antioxidant enzymes also improved when cells were pre-incubated with guava crude extract in comparison to cells subjected to stress without prior pre-incubation with the guava extract. The results obtained in this study highlight the health benefits of guava regarding oxidative stress, proving it to be an important source of bioactive compounds associated with important biological properties.