Acorn Cups Research Articles

Carbon dioxide enrichment affected flower numbers transiently and increased successful post-pollination development stably but without altering final acorn production in mature pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.)

Acorn production in oak (Quercus spp.) shows considerable inter-annual variation, known as masting, which provides a natural defence against seed predators but a highly-variable supply of acorns for uses such as in commercial tree planting each year. Anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases have been very widely reported to influence plant growth and seed or fruit size and quantity via the ‘fertilisation effect’ that leads to enhanced photosynthesis. To examine if acorn production in mature woodland communities will be affected by further increase in CO2, the contents of litter traps from a Free Air Carbon Enrichment (FACE) experiment in deciduous woodland in central England were analysed for numbers of flowers and acorns of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) at different stages of development and their predation levels under ambient and elevated CO2 concentrations. Inter-annual variation in acorn numbers was considerable and cyclical between 2015 and 2021, with the greatest numbers of mature acorns in 2015, 2017 and 2020 but almost none in 2018. The numbers of flowers, enlarged cups, immature acorns, empty acorn cups, and galls in the litter traps also varied amongst years; comparatively high numbers of enlarged cups were recorded in 2018, suggesting Q. robur at this site is a fruit maturation masting species (i.e., the extent of abortion of pollinated flowers during acorn development affects mature acorn numbers greatly). Raising the atmospheric CO2 concentration by 150 μL L−1, from early 2017, increased the numbers of immature acorns, and all acorn evidence (empty cups + immature acorns + mature acorns) detected in the litter traps compared to ambient controls by 2021, but did not consistently affect the numbers of flowers, enlarged cups, empty cups, or mature acorns. The number of flowers in the elevated CO2 plots’ litter traps was greater in 2018 than 2017, one year after CO2 enrichment began, whereas numbers declined in ambient plots. Enrichment with CO2 also increased the number of oak knopper galls (Andricus quercuscalicis Burgsdorf). We conclude that elevated CO2 increased the occurrence of acorns developing from flowers, but the putative benefit to mature acorn numbers may have been hidden by excessive pre- and/or post-dispersal predation. There was no evidence that elevated CO2 altered masting behaviour.

An ecologically sustainable specific method using new magnetic alginate-biochar from acorn cups (Quercus coccifera L.) for decolorization of dyes

An ecologically sustainable specific method using new magnetic alginate-biochar from acorn cups (Quercus coccifera L.) for decolorization of dyes

Carbon quantum dots derived from waste acorn cups and its application as an ultraviolet absorbent for polyvinyl alcohol film

Extracting effective ultraviolet (UV) absorbent from biomass-based material is urgent for the sustainable development. Here, non-doped CQDs (1-CQDs) and nitrogen-doped CQDs (2-CQDs) were synthesized from acorn cups (ACs) with a green method. The active surface groups of 1-CQDs (4.16 nm) include Ph-OH, OH, and COOH, etc., while for 2-CQDs (5.23 nm), nitrogen doping provides a large number of nitrogen atoms, so that the active functional groups include CNH2, CNC, CNH and CONH, etc. The carbon network of 1-CQDs is dominant for blue emission, the subordinate blue-green emission is derived from ellagitannin. For 2-CQDs, green emission comes from the flavonoid produced during hydrothermal carbonization and nitrogen doping processes. We combined chitosan (CS) into CQDs to synergistically act as UV absorbents for functionalizing PVA films. The UV-A blocking capacity and transparency of the PVA/CS/1-CQDs film are 83.58 % and 79.34 %, respectively. The PVA/CS/2-CQDs film can block UV-A up to 94.53 %. This study provides a new way for the clean and high-valued-added utilization of waste ACs, discusses the process and mechanism of extracting CQDs from ACs, and applies it to UV light conversion system of PVA film. It presents a reference for the development of a new generation of UV absorbents.

Valonia oak agroforestry systems in Greece: an overview

Valonia oak agroforestry systems of Greece are Mediterranean systems of high natural and cultural value with distinct economic, environmental, social and historical characteristics. These systems can be silvopastoral or agrosilvopastoral, and have been used since ancient times for grazing, and acorn and wood harvesting. Acorn cup collection for use in tanning, which has been undertaken since at least the fifteenth century, was an important economic activity from the nineteenth to the mid-twentieth century contributing to the local economy and development. This overview describes the historical importance of valonia oak in Greece, and the present extent, structure, ecology, products and services of valonia oak agroforestry. The sustainability of such systems is being promoted through the sale of traditional and new products, eco- and agri-tourism, and engagement with local stakeholders.

Energetic Combustion Characteristics and Environmental Impact of Moroccan Biomass Wastes and Their Solid Biofuel

The three most important biomass sources in Morocco, namely almond shells A0, acorn cups C0, nut shells N0 and their derived solid biofuel respectively A400, C400 and N400 were evaluated with regards to their energetic, combustion and structural characteristics and for their environmental impact. The solid biofuel samples were produced by slow pyrolysis at a temperture of 400 °C for a reaction time of 2 h. Properties, such as combustion process, combustion index, ignition index, calorific value, chemical composition and structural characteristics of biomass wastes and their solid biofuel were determined.The results showed that solid biofuel had better fuel qualities than their parent biomasses, the combustion properties of solid biofuel are influenced by its structure, in fact the more ordered solid biofuel was the less reactive and that in comparison with the studied biofuels, the solid biofuel derived from almond shells was the most suitable for energy generation by combustion.

Quantitative analysis of litter-fall in hornbeam-oak-pine stands in the Lviv Roztoche region

AbstractThe aim of the article is to find out if there is a difference between amount of litter-fall in hornbeam-oak-pine stands according to regeneration (naturally and artificially) and age of the stand (middle-aged, mature). We analysed the annual dynamics of litter-fall (litter) and its fractions (needles of Scots pine; leaves of common oak; leaves of associate species; twigs; bark; pine cones; acorns of common oak; seeds of other species; acorn cups, winged seeds; lichens, mosses) in middle-aged hornbeam-oak-pine stands which were regenerated naturally or artificially on the cutover sites following two-stage uniform shelterwood felling and clearcutting, as well as in a mature parent stand (control plot) in the Lviv Roztoche region. Two peaks of organic matter fall have been revealed on both the control plot and the experimental plots: the largest one in October and much lower in May. It was found that the annual mass of litter was 5.8 - 6.6 tons per hectare, the annual weight of litter in the middle-aged hornbeam-oak-pine stands was greater than in the mature stands. Annual dynamics of certain fractions of litter in the stands is preconditioned by the specificity of functioning of the relevant bodies of the trees.

Characterisation of chemical components for identifying historical Chinese textile dyes by ultra high performance liquid chromatography – photodiode array – electrospray ionisation mass spectrometer

This research makes the first attempt to apply Ultra High Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) coupled to both Photodiode Array detection (PDA) and Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometer (ESI–MS) to the chemical characterisation of common textile dyes in ancient China. Three different extraction methods, respectively involving dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)-oxalic acid, DMSO and hydrochloric acid, are unprecedentedly applied together to achieve an in-depth understanding of the chemical composition of these dyes. The first LC-PDA-MS database of the chemical composition of common dyes in ancient China has been established. The phenomena of esterification and isomerisation of the dye constituents of gallnut, gardenia and saffron, and the dye composition of acorn cup dyed silk are clarified for the first time. 6-Hydroxyrubiadin and its glycosides are first reported on a dyed sample with Rubia cordifolia from China. UHPLC-PDA-ESI–MS with a C18 BEH shield column shows significant advantages in the separation and identification of similar dye constituents, particularly in the cases of analysing pagoda bud and turmeric dyed sample extracts.

Особливості нагромадження опаду в грабово-сосново-дубових деревостанах, сформованих на зрубах поступових рубок в умовах Львівського Розточчя

Проаналізовано річну динаміку опаду та його фракцій (хвоя сосни звичайної; листя дуба звичайного; листя супутніх порід; гілки; кора; шишки сосни звичайної; жолуді дуба звичайного; насіння інших порід; плюски жолудів, крилатки насіння; лишайники, мохи) у середньовікових грабово-сосново-дубових деревостанах, які сформувалися природним шляхом на зрубах різних способів поступових рубок головного користування (рівномірна поступова дво- і триприйомна та групово-вибіркова 3-прийомна), і в стиглому материнському деревостані (контроль) в умовах Львівського Розточчя. Як на контрольній, так і на експериментальних ділянках виявлено три піки опадання органічної маси протягом року: найбільший у жовтні і два менші – у зимовий період і в травні. Встановлено, що річна маса опаду становить 5-6 т/га, а способи рубок безпосередньо не впливають на частку опалої органічної маси та її річну динаміку.

Botanical Provenance of Historical Chinese Dye Plants

Botanical Provenance of Historical Chinese Dye Plants. Dye plants are an essential part of historical dyeing activities for textiles. Their correct botanical provenance is an important basis for understanding the sources mentioned in dyeing instructions and for chemical identification of the dyes on the textiles themselves. This paper describes a combined study of dyeing recipes in four historical manuscripts of the Ming (1368–1644 C.E.) and Qing Dynasties (1644–1911 C.E.). Within the context of historical plant medicine and botanical classification, this study resolves uncertainties about the names, provenance, and preferences for the significant dyes in Chinese textile history for the first time, namely safflower, sappanwood, smoketree, pagoda bud, Amur cork tree, indigo, Chinese gallnut, acorn cup, dark plum, munjeet, gromwell, gardenia, and turmeric. Most dye plants in the historical manuscripts refer to one or two major species or variants, with ambiguity arising mainly from non-uniform naming conventions and conversion between different taxonomies. It is now clear that saffron was confused with safflower in Ming Dynasty herbal plants instructions, that Su mu 蘇木 meant sappanwood (Caesalpinia sappan L.), and occasionally foreign redwoods from genera Caesalpinia and Haematoxylum, and that huang lu mu 黃櫨木, huang lu黃蘆 and lu mu 蘆/櫨木 were all variants of Cotinus coggygria Scop. Pagoda bud can be identified by huai hua 槐花, huai mi 槐米, huai hua mi 槐花米, and huai zi 槐子, while jiang huang 薑黃 and yv jin 郁金, recorded for dyeing, both referred to the rhizome of Curcuma longa L. Of the various zhi zi 梔子 available, zhi zi for dyeing was Gardenia jasminoindes Ellis f. longicarpa Z·W·Xie et M. Okada, although whether this preference was widely recognized or practiced is not clear. This research promotes a better understanding of historical Chinese dye plants. It also complements existing research results of historical herbal medicine in the aspect of dyeing.

Pyrolysis investigation of food wastes by TG-MS-DSC technique

The slow pyrolysis characteristics of four food wastes, namely acorn cups (AC), acorn pericarp (AP), almond shells (AS), and nut shells (NS) were investigated by thermogravimetric (TG) analysis coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Thermal degradation of these samples was divided into three stages corresponding to the removal of water, the devolatilization, and the formation of char; the differences in the thermal behavior of the samples are due to the differences in composition. The kinetic parameters of the process were calculated using the method of Coats-Redfern and by applying diffusion and chemical reaction kinetic models. The thermodynamic parameters were calculated for the formation of the active complex of the reagent. The main gaseous products formed during the pyrolysis were CO, CO2, H2O, CH4, and C2H4. The comparison of the pyrolysis characteristics shows that AS was more reactive and that AC require less energy to be converted. The current investigation suggested that within the realm of existing biomass conversion technologies, AC, AS, NS, and AP can be used as feedstock for energy recovery.

Pressurized fluid extraction (PFE) of valonea tannin with binary H2O–CO2 and ternary H2O–CH3OH–CO2 systems and phase equilibrium studies

In this study, the effect of binary and ternary systems, solvent/feed (S/F) ratio (20–100w/w), time (2–3h) and pressure (10–200bar) were tested with subcritical and supercritical CO2 to produce valonea tannin from acorn cups. The best yield of phenolic contents (PCs) of the valonea tannin (34.73±0.02wt%) was obtained by H2O/CO2 binary system under the conditions of S/F=100(w/w) at 100bar for 3h with supercritical CO2. Phase equilibria of H2O/CH3OH/CO2 ternary system with different solvent fractions at different temperatures and pressures were also imaged in the high pressure view cell, where liquid–liquid–vapor phase behaviors were observed for all ratios of H2O and CH3OH from 60 to 100°C and 60 to 250bar. High tannin content isolated in a short time will decrease the waste load and provide great advantage in terms of reducing the cost of the tannin used in leather industry.

Meşe Palamudu (Quercus ithaburensis Decne subsp macrolepis) Atıklarının Pleurotus ostreatus Üretiminde Kullanımı

In this study, utilizing the wastes o f valonia oak (Quercus ithaburensis Decne subsp macrolepis) in P ostreatus cultivation is investigated. The tannin obtained from Valonia oak mostly utilized in leather industry. After having been extracted for tannin, the waste has no industrial utilization yet in Turkey. Milled valonia oak wastes composed o f acorn cup held high humidity; therefore, has high drying cost for transporting as well as storage problems o f the mills. Valonia oak wastes were used as compost to cultivate P ostreatus. Results indicated that the mycelia development on oak wastes were realized 45 days yield o f 24.5% (weight/weight) which is to be considered as potential substrate for P ostreatus cultivation.

Optimization of ellagic acid production from ellagitannins by co-culture and correlation between its yield and activities of relevant enzymes

Aspergillus oryzae was co-cultured with Trichoderma reesei using acorn cups extract containing up to 62% ellagitannins as substrate to produce ellagic acid with relatively high levels of ellagitannin acyl hydrolase, cellulase and xylanase. Ellagitannins concentration, initial pH, T. reesei and A. oryzae during the fermentation were identified as important process parameters effecting ellagic acid accumulation and the enzymes syntheses. These parameters were optimized by uniformity design to determine the optimum condition for ellagic acid production. Under optimum operational condition, ellagic acid yield could be arrived at 24%, when the fermentation run lasted 96 h with an initial pH of 4.5, an ellagitannins concentration of 4 g l −1, T. reesei of 3 ml and A. oryzae of 3 ml. Meanwhile, it was found that the three enzymes activities correlated very well with ellagic acid yield, resulting in model with high coefficient of determination ( R 2 = 0.98). The results indicate that the mixed culture of T. reesei and A. oryzae is an effective approach to produce an enzyme system of degrading ellagitannins for ellagic acid production.

New Names in California Oaks

The following five names are proposed for California oaks: Quercus john-tuckeri, nom. et stat. nov. for Quercus turbinella subsp. californica J. M. Tucker; Quercus pacifica, sp. nov.; Quercus x kinselae, stat. nov. for Quercus dumosa Nuttall var. kinselae C. H. Muller; Quercus durata var. gabrielensis Nixon & C. H. Muller, var. nov.; and Quercus parvula var. shrevei (C. H. Muller) Nixon, stat. nov. for Quercus shrevei C. H. Muller. In the course of preparing a treatment of the genus Quercus in California, we have found it necessary to provide new names for the following five taxa. We are publishing these names in advance of the full study, in order to make them available for floristic treatments currently in preparation. 1. Quercus john-tuckeri Nixon & C. H. Muller, nom. et stat. nov. Basionym: Quercus turbinella E. Greene subsp. californica J. M. Tucker, Madronio 11: 240. 1952. TYPE: U.S.A. California: San Luis Obispo County, ca. 2 mi. NE of summit of Caliente Mountain, 2 Oct. 1948, J. Tucker 1886-16 (holotype, UC 938396; isotypes, DAV, BH). Shrubs 1-3(-5) m tall, subevergreen or evergreen; bark scaly; twigs yellowish or dingy gray, 11.5(-2) mm thick, densely tomentulose; buds brown, ovoid or globose, 1.5-2(-3) mm long, glabrous except for the ciliate margins of the scales, lowermost scales often yellowish puberulent. Petiole 1-4 mm. Leaf blade unicolored, elliptic or obovate, thick and coriaceous, often brittle, (10-)15-30(-40) mm x (8-)10-15(-20) mm; base squarrose or roundedattenuate, rarely subcordate; secondary veins (3-)47, often some of the veins branching near margin and passing into more than one tooth; margin irregularly spinose-toothed, occasionally shallowly lobate; apex acute or rounded; abaxially waxy grayish or light green, with sparse to moderately dense vestiture of (8-)10-12-rayed (loosely) appressed stellate hairs, these often 0.2-0.5 mm diam., and sparse to dense yellowish glandular hairs; adaxially grayish, stellate similar to abaxial surface. Fruits solitary or paired, subsessile; cup cup-shaped or obconic to hemispheric, thin, 10-15 mm wide x 5-7 mm deep; scales whitish or yellowish, moderately or scarcely tuberculate, puberulent. Nut fusiform, ovoid or conic, apically acute, 20-30 mm long. Cotyledons free. Dry slopes, chaparral, pinion and juniper woodland, margins of oak woodland and sagebrush; 9002,000 m. Endemic to California, from Los Angeles County north in the interior Coast Ranges and Sierra Foothills to the northern edge of the Sacramento Valley. Quercus john-tuckeri bears some resemblance to both Q. turbinella and Q. berberidifolia Liebmann; however, the former has pedunculate fruit and typically cordate leaf bases, while the latter has a glabrate upper leaf surface, substantially smaller stellate trichomes with fewer rays on the lower leaf surface, heavier, tuberculate acorn cups, and typically nonacute acorns. At the species level, the epithet californica is preoccupied by the illegitimate (but validly published) name Quercus californica Torrey ex J. G. Cooper (= Q. kellogii Newberry). 2. Quercus pacifica Nixon & C. H. Muller, sp. nov. TYPE: U.S.A. California: Santa Barbara County, rocky slope E of Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island, alt. 100 ft., Ira W. Clokey 4893 (holotype, BH-CHM). Frutices ad 2 m vel raro arbores ad 5 m, subsempervirentes. Petioli 2-5 mm longi. Lamina foliorum obovata vel oblonga, 15-40 mm longa, 7-20(-40) mm lata, margine integra vel dentata; pagina abaxialis ceracea, glandifera, sparsim stellato-pilosa, pilis paginae abaxialis adpressis; pagina adaxialis viridis, glabra. Nux sessilis, cylindrica vel fusiformis, (15-)20-30 mm longa, (6-)915 mm lata, apex acutus. Shrubs to 2 m tall, rarely small trees to 5 m or taller, subevergreen; bark scaly on older branches and trunk; twigs brownish or reddish and minutely NOVON 4: 391-393. 1994. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.138 on Sun, 26 Jun 2016 06:12:46 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms

Survivorship of the sexual and agamic generations of Andricus quercuscalicis on Quercus cerris and Q.robur

ABSTRACT. Survivorship within the galls of the sexual and agamic generations of Andricus quercuscalicis (Burgsdorf) is estimated from field populations. The sexual generation on Turkey oak suffers a 20% death rate through parasitism by Mesopolobus spp. The emerging parasitoids are virtually all males. The agamic generation on the acorn cups of English oak is not attacked by any parasites or inquilines at our Berkshire site despite the fact that most of the species which parasitize the gall in continental Europe are on the British list. Agamic galls cause average losses of between 30% and 50% of the total acorn crop in different years. Individual trees differ greatly in their rates of loss, many losing over 90%, others losing virtually none.

The Stapleford Gold Acorn Cup

The Stapleford Gold Acorn Cup

The Red Oak Complex in the United States

In connection with a study of the hybrid oaks in the herbarium of the Arnold Arboretum questions have arisen as to the status of species, particularly among the red oaks of the eastern, central and southern states. The difficulty of distinguishing between some of the members of this section is generally recognized, and an examination of specimens misnamed or variously interpreted in any large collection leaves no doubt as to the confusion that exists. Some of the forms considered here have been regarded by different authorities as distinct species, varieties, forms or mere synonyms of other species and the treatment in current manuals and floras is far from uniform. The characters generally relied upon for distinguishing the species in keys and manuals are differences in the size, shape and pubescence of the leaves, acorn cups and winter-buds. In any really distinct species at least one of these character differences should be fairly constant and it should be possible to correlate it with some of the others. But in many of the red oaks most or all of these characters seem to be extremely variable and instead of being fixed and reliable to be rather tendencies developed in different degrees and percentages. Extreme forms may appear to show good specific characters, but the examination of a large amount of material will discover many puzzling intermediates. Most keys and descriptions will be found to hold good for the typical material but to fail on intermediate forms and on many herbarium specimens that are incomplete or somewhat atypical. Five species and several varieties of red oaks (Coccineae) are considered in this paper. It is not intended as a revision or final treatment, and it has not been necessary to make any new combinations. The treatment followed for the different segregates, as species or varieties is that of the second edition of Sargent's Manual of the Trees of North America and the second edition of Render's Manual of Cultivated Trees and Shrubs, so far as they cover the plants, with the exception of Quercus texana, which is here considered a variety of Q. Shumardii. The following species and varieties are included in the key: Quercus borealis Michx. f. Quercus Shumardii var. acerifolia Quercus borealis var. maxima (Marsh.) Palmer. Ashe. Quercus cocc?nea Muench. Quercus Shumardii Buckley. Quercus cocc?nea var. tuberculata Sarg. Quercus Shumardii var. Schneckii Quercus ellipsoidalis Hill.* (Britt.) Sarg. Quercus Nuttallii Palmer. Quercus Shumardii var. texana (Buckl.) Quercus Nuttallii var. cachensis Palmer. Ashe.