Pinus Brutia Research Articles

Intraspecific variability in cold tolerance in Pinus brutia sampled from two contrasting provenance trials

Turkish red pine (Pinus brutia Ten.), is the most important tree species for afforestation in the Mediterranean basin due to its drought tolerance and fast growth rate. Cold damage to trees caused by harsh winter conditions is common on many sites in Turkey. Adaptation to climate change has been investigated primarily through the movement of species from warmer and drier climates, such as the Mediterranean P. brutia, to higher latitudes and cooler sites in central-north Turkey. In order to better guide species and provenances movement to new (and often harsh) environments for afforestation, the limits of tolerance to cold and drought should be better known. Thus, we designed an experiment to quantify the cold hardiness of nine P. brutia provenances originating from two different provenance trials in Turkey (Ankara, cold inner site; Antalya, warm Mediterranean site). Branches sampled at the end of January were exposed to cold temperatures between − 5 and − 40 °C. Visual damage observation, relative electric leakage and chlorophyll fluorometry (CF) screening methods were used to assess variation in cold hardiness among populations. Overall, P. brutia can tolerate winter temperatures up to − 16 °C. Even though there were significant differences on cold hardiness among populations, the operational application is limited due to the reduced magnitude of those differences. Measuring CF was the fastest and most easily replicated method to estimate cold hardiness and was as reliable as REL. We recommend that P. brutia should not be planted in cold areas where minimum annual temperatures are under − 16 °C. We also conclude that even though phenotypic plasticity exists for cold hardiness among the tested populations of P. brutia, the observed differences resulted from acclimation to the conditions of the provenance trial sites rather than from adaptation through natural selection.

DO SEED MOTHER’S SITES AFFECT THE QUALITY OF THE SEEDLINGS PRODUCED

This experiment was conducted in (Zawita) area in Dohuk governorate / Iraq, and the morphological characteristics were studied by selecting four sites, four trees from each site, four sectors and, choosing twenty trees in each sector. Statistical analysis (RCBD) was done using the SPSS system. Through this study, it was found that Pinus brutia Ten. In Zawita, there is a clear effect on some morphological characteristics of the seedlings resulting from it. The first site was one of the best sites followed by the second site where he gave seedlings of good quality in terms of stem length with an average of 39.25 cm and the total weight of wet and dry seedlings with averages of 13.97 and 35.34 g respectively, and the third site was the lowest studied sites and gave seedlings of less quality than the rest of the sites where he scored Stem length averaged 23.06 cm while wet and dry weight was 7.68 and 22.17 g, respectively. As for the correlation between the variables, the relationship was positive and strong among all the variables except those between the length of the root and the rest of the variables except with the characteristic of the wet root weight. The highest correlation values were between total dry weight and total wet weight recording 0.960 and the lowest between the length of the root and the dry vegetative weight where the value was 0.070.

Profiling Volatile Terpenoids from Calabrian Pine Stands Infested by the Pine Processionary Moth.

Terpenoids make up the biggest and most diversified class of chemical substances discovered in plants, encompassing over 40,000 individual compounds. In conifers, the production of terpenoids, either as oleoresin or emitted as volatile compounds, play an important role in the physical and chemical defence responses against pathogens and herbivores. In the present work, we examined, for the first time to the best of our knowledge, the terpenic defensive relations of Calabrian pine (Pinus nigra subsp. laricio (Poiret) Maire), facing the attack of the pine processionary moth (Thaumetopoea pityocampa (Denis and Schiffermüller, 1775)), brought about in the open on adult plant individuals growing at two distinct forest sites. Among the volatile terpenoids emitted from pine needles, bornyl acetate [(4,7,7-trimethyl-3-bicyclo[2.2.1]heptanyl) acetate] was the most frequently and selectively associated with the infestation, increasing during the period of most intense trophic activity of the caterpillars (defoliation), and decreasing thereafter. Although further work is needed to clarify whether the observed response reflects defence reactions and/or they are involved in communication among the infested plants and their biotic environment, the present results boost the currently growing interest in the isolation and characterization of plant secondary metabolites that can be used to control pests, pathogens, and weeds.

The effects of oil heat treatment on oil uptake, density and moisture content in brutian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) wood

Sicak-soguk biyo-yag isleminin yerli cam turu agac malzemenin ozellikleri uzerine etkileri bilinmemektedir. Bu calismada sicak-soguk biyo-yag isleminin kizilcam odunundan hazirlanan agac malzemede yag alimi, yogunluk ve rutubet miktari uzerine etkisinin belirlenmesi amaclanmistir. Calismada, hint yagi (Ricinus communis L.), keten yagi (Oleum linii), karma yag (hint yagi + keten yagi) ve kizilcam (Pinus brutia Ten.) diri odunu kullanilmistir. Odun ornekleri 6 saat sicak (110 oC ± 2 oC) yag ile muamele edildikten sonra 2 saat soguk (23 oC ± 2 oC) yag ile muamele edilmistir. Test ve kontrol orneklerinin yag alimi, yogunluk ve rutubet miktarlari olculmustur. Elde edilen veriler, SPPS istatistik programi yardimiyla analiz edilmistir. Sonuclar, sicak-soguk biyo-yag isleminin kizilcam odununda yag alimi, yogunluk ve rutubet miktarini istatistiksel anlamda onemli derecede etkiledigini, bu etkiler arasinda %95 guvenle onemli farkliliklar oldugunu gostermistir. Bu uygulama ile test orneklerinin kontrole kiyasla yogunlugu %40.38-%78.85 artarken, rutubet miktari %93.44-%96.72 oraninda azalmistir. En yuksek yogunluk keten yagi isleminde, en dusuk yogunluk ise hint yagi isleminde olculmustur. Keten yagi muamelesi en dusuk rutubet miktarini verirken en buyuk rutubet miktari karma yag muamelesinde olculmustur. Sicak-soguk karma yag islemi, digerlerine gore rutubet miktarini yukseltirken, yogunlugu hint yagina gore arttirmis, keten yagina gore azaltmistir. Buna gore, denge rutubeti azalip yogunlugu artan kizilcam diri odununda porozite ve penetrasyon sinirlandigindan rutubet difuzyonu engellenmistir.

Experimental Determination of Sound Transmission Loss of Some Wood Species

Aim of study: To determine the sound transmission losses of 16 different wood species with the different density in the range of 100-1000 Hz frequencies, and the relationship between density and transmission loss was. Material and methods: In this study sound transmission loss values of Ash (Fraxinus excelsior), Acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), Beech (Betula pendula), Black pine (Pinus nigra), Black poplar (Populus nigra), Canadian poplar (Populus x euramaricana), Chestnut (Castanea sativa Mill.), Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens), Oriental beech (Fagus orientalis Lips,) Eucalyptus C. (E, camaldulensis Dehnh), Eucalyptus G. (Eucalyptus grandis), Juniper (Juniperus excelsa), Plane (Platanus orientalis L.), Scotch pine (Pinus sylvetris L), Turkish Red pine (Pinus brutia Ten) and White Oak (Quercus alba) wood specimens were determined by using the impedance tube kit. Main results: Sound transmission loss is observed in lower density wood material species with the increasing frequency. However, a clear relationship has not been established between the mean sound transmission loss and density. Highlights: It is important to determine the frequency-related acoustic performance parameters of the wood material and to its relationship with density.

Effects of Recycled Fiber Fines on Hand Sheet Properties of Different Unbeaten and Beaten Pulps

In this study, 5, 10, and 15 % secondary fines of recycled pulp were added to unbeaten and beaten (28 ºSR) samples of recycled pulp, Turkish Calabrian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) kraft pulp, and European aspen (Populus tremula L.) kraft pulp. The effects of the addition of fiber fines on hand sheets properties were evaluated. The addition of fiber fines to the unbeaten pulps improved the strength properties of hand sheets. The roughness of hand sheets was also decreased with the addition of fines. When fiber fines were added to the beaten pulps, the type of pulp strongly affected the paper strength properties. The strength properties of beaten pulps of Turkish Calabrian pine and European aspen were decreased with the addition of fiber fines, while the strength properties of beaten pulps of recycled pulp were increased. On the other hand, the air permeance of unbeaten and beaten samples was decreased with the addition of fiber fines. Consequently, the addition of fines to unbeaten and beaten pulps had a more pronounced effect on European aspen kraft pulp and recycled pulp than on Turkish Calabrian pine kraft pulp. Also, the strength of paper made of unbeaten recycled pulp with the addition of 15 % fines was higher than that of fines-free beaten recycled pulp.

Natural forests of Pinus pinea in western Turkey: a priority for conservation

Identifying, surveying, monitoring and protecting natural forests is a major task in conservation biology. However, it is often challenging to identify which forest is natural, especially in human-altered regions such as the Mediterranean. Consequently, the distributions of natural Mediterranean forest types and their underlying factors are often unclear. Here, we attempt to explain the restricted and scattered distribution of natural Pinus pinea (Stone pine) forests in western Anatolia (Turkey) by comparing it with the distribution and ecology of the widespread Pinus brutia (Turkish pine) forests in this area. We used climatic and topographic predictors to test for differences between forests dominated by these two pine species. We modelled the realized niches of both pine species using the most relevant climatic predictors. Then, we compared soil data collected in the field, partly complemented with those published in the literature. We found small differences in climatic (precipitation and temperature) and topographic characteristics between the two forest types, which did not adequately explain the differences in the distribution range of P. brutia and P. pinea dominated forests. Our data suggest that these two forest types mainly differ in soil characteristics. The primary habitat of natural P. pinea forests is characterized by a low soil pH and calcium content. The rare occurrence of such soil conditions in western Anatolia likely shapes the scattered distribution of P. pinea forests. Our study suggests that natural P. pinea forests are rare habitats that should be in the focus of nature conservation.

Climatic responses of Pinus brutia along the Black Sea coast of Crimea and the Caucasus

Pinus brutia var. pityusa (Steven) Silba (Calabrian pine) is considered a vulnerable species because of reductions in its population sizes linked to habitat decline in recent decades. Global warming alongside the collateral modification of precipitation regimes may markedly affect the distribution ranges of this species.In this dendroecological study, we identified the most influential climatic factors affecting the radial growth of P. brutia on the northern and eastern coasts of the Black Sea among the northern refugia of this species. Chronologies from five sites located on the Crimea Peninsula and the Caucasian coast and exposed to varying climatic conditions were used in this analysis. The study of environmental factors controlling the growth of P. brutia trees in the coastal populations of Crimea and the Caucasus revealed that within the longitudinal transect, which encompasses a specific range of climatic conditions, correlations between climate and the growth of P. brutia under analogous orographic conditions are similar.Aridisation of the dry Crimean climate in 1981–2012 led to an increase in the tree growth response. In the same period, populations of P. brutia trees growing in the subtropical climate of the Black Sea coast exhibited a weakened growth response to the point of disappearance. The northern populations of P. brutia, which are at the climatic limit of the species’ distribution, are exposed to a high risk of increasing climate aridisation. Our findings could provide useful information for further research on the effects of climate change on Black Sea coastal forest ecosystems.

Litterfall production, carbon and nutrient return to the forest floor in Pinus brutia forests in Turkey

ABSTRACT In this study, we aimed at investigating carbon and nutrient concentration in litterfall components and calculating the weighted concentrations. Then, we estimated the annual carbon and nutrient return to the forest floor through litterfall. The study was carried out in even-aged stands of Pinus brutia in Antalya, in the South-Western part of Turkey. The litterfall samples were separated into five components, namely needles, bark, branches, cones, and “miscellaneous” which included flowers, buds, resins, etc. The amount of carbon and nutrients including N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu, Mn, and Na were determined for each component. Carbon and nutrient concentrations differed significantly among litterfall components. The mean annual carbon returned to the forest floor was found to be 1515.9 (kg ha−1yr−1), which corresponds to 51.62 % in total annual litterfall. The annual amounts of nutrients of N, Ca, K, Mg and P returned to the forest floor were calculated as 149.7, 36.9, 7.2, 6.6, and 2.1 (kg ha−1yr−1), respectively. The weighted C concentration calculated in this study can be used for more accurate national carbon sink reporting. In addition, information on nutrients returned to the forest floor via litterfall could be useful in various forest and watershed management activities.

Occurrence and identification of a phytoplasma associated with Pinus brutia witches’ broom disease in Isfahan, Iran

Between 2016 and 2017, symptoms of witches’ broom, proliferation, drying of twigs and ball-like structures formation were observed in Pinus brutia in urban green areas and parks in Isfahan (Iran). All samples from affected P. brutia trees resulted positive in nested-PCR using primer pairs targeting the phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene. Amplicons were obtained only from all the symptomatic pine tree samples and RFLP analyses of R16F2n/R16R2 amplicons with KpnI, AluI, HaeIII, HhaI, HpaII, MseI, RsaI,ThaI, BfaI and TaqI restriction enzymes showed the presence of phytoplasmas enclosed in the 16SrVI group. Four amplicons were sequenced and showed 100% identity to each other. One of these sequences was deposited in the GenBank database (accession number MK158098) and the virtual RFLP pattern was identical (similarity coefficient 1.00) to the reference pattern of 16Sr group VI, subgroup A confirming that the phytoplasma detected in pine is a member of 16SrVI-A subgroup. This is the first report of a 16SrVI-A phytoplasma strain associated with pine tree witches’ broom (P. brutia) disease.

Influence of Pinus brutia bark extract containing phenolic compounds on some commensal and pathogenic bacteria from the intestinal microflora

The microflora of the intestinal tract is vital to many physiological functions, mainly fermentation and processing of dietary components, control of intestinal epithelial cell proliferation, development of the immune system, and protection against pathogens. Plant extracts have potential for treatment options that protect commensal or beneficial microflora in the intestines while eliminating pathogens. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of Pinus brutia (Turkish red pine) bark extract containing phenolic compounds on some commensal and pathogenic bacteria from the intestinal microflora using a microdilution method. P. brutia bark extract did not completely inhibit any intestinal bacteria. However, the extract showed a potential inhibitor activity on Salmonella Typhimurium and Staphylococcus aureus from 75 µg/mL, on Escherichia coli and Fusobacterium nucleatum from 150 µg/mL, and on Clostridium perfringens from 300 µg/mL concentrations (P<0.05). Commensal bacteria were observed to be less sensitive to the extract than those of the pathogenic strains. The extract stimulated moderately the growth of Bifidobacterium bifidum from 75 µg/mL dose (P<0.05). The extract did not show any activity on Lactobacillus acidophilus. A potential inhibitor activity was observed for Bifidobacterium infantis and Lactobacillus casei at 600-2400 µg/mL (P<0.05). As a conclusion, P. brutia bark extract, at 75-300 μg/mL dose range, had a potential to restrict pathogenic bacteria in the intestines while protect commensal or beneficial ones. Specified effects might be mainly attributed to its polyphenolic content.

Native plants for the remediation of abandoned sulphide mines in Cyprus: A preliminary assessment

Mining in Cyprus resulted in a significant number of abandoned sulphide mines without any rehabilitation measures. The present study aims to describe and compare the environmental parameters in three such mines with respect to water chemistry, waste dumps geochemistry, slope-topography and plant growth. The mines under study are that of Kokkinopezoula, North and South Mathiatis located at the northeast of the Troodos massif. A synopsis of the previous studies conducted for the above-mentioned mines is presented, which includes water and soil samples analyses. Although, in these areas environmental degradation is reported, there are some plants which grow naturally. Therefore, a preliminary attempt to report these plants is conducted, while remediation options presented in the literature including technosols, revegetation, phytoremediation and phytostabilization are proposed. Potential use of native plants such as Phragmites australis, Tamarix smyrnensis, Poaceae, Pinus brutia and Schoenus nigricans Poaceace could be applied for phytoremediation of the sulphide mines in Cyprus. These plants seem to have great strength at low pH values and high metal content in contaminated soils and water. The three mines under study are also compared with three other old mines located in the broader area of Cyprus; that of Xeros, Limni and Skouriotissa, which operated under similar climatic conditions. By improving abandoned mines environment with technosols, the action of native plants will be enhanced and thus work towards a successful phytoremediation treatment, resulting in the minimization of future pollutants generated by the solid waste dumps.

Potential impact of climate change on throughfall in afforestation areas located in arid and semi-arid environments

We assessed how climate change may impact the canopy hydrology of individual Pinus eldarica, Pinus brutia, and Cupressus arizonica trees planted in arid and semi-arid climates in Iran. Precipitation that reaches the forest floor as throughfall (TF) represents a significant portion of individual precipitation events (Pg ). We used a nondimensional relative sensitivity coefficient to examine the sensitivity of TF to changes in Pg . The Coupled Model Intercomparison Project phase 5 (CMIP5) HadGEM2-ES product was used under two emission scenarios (Representative Concentration Pathway (RCP) 2.6 and 8.5) to project yearly precipitation and Pg for the measurement sites from 2020–50. There was a strong linear relationship between TF and Pg at all sites [TF = 0.6 (Pg ) − 0.2; R 2 = 0.9]. The arid P. eldarica trees showed the highest sensitivity coefficient (5.3) compared with semi-arid C. arizonica trees (1.6). The sensitivity coefficient approximately doubled for individual P. eldarica and C. arizonica trees in the arid climate relative to P. brutia and C. arizonica trees in the semi-arid climate. This suggests that TF under trees in the arid climate were more affected by changing Pg than in the semi-arid climate. Pinus eldarica trees planted in the dry climate exhibited the largest sensitivity coefficient differences (3.4) between small and large Pg . Changes in precipitation and increased smaller storm frequency are expected for arid and semi-arid regions. To buffer expected shifts in storm size due to climate change, it may be suitable to incorporate TF sensitivity when selecting trees for landscaping and urban greening.

Distribution and genetic diversity of Dothistroma septosporum in Pinus brutia forests of south‐western Turkey

AbstractDothistroma needle blight (DNB) is a serious disease of the Pinaceae, mainly Pinus species, caused by the fungi Dothistroma septosporum and D. pini. Both species are regarded as invasive forest pathogens worldwide, with rising incidence in central and northern Europe over the last three decades. In this work, 29 sites were investigated between 2013 and 2015 in south‐western Turkey. Morphological examination of needles confirmed DNB infection (i.e., Dothistroma conidiospores observed) at 18 sites, and a total of 108 Dothistroma sp. isolates were obtained from 11 of the sites. Host age seemed to be an important factor in both occurrence and severity of DNB in Pinus brutia forests. Continuous rainy days, especially in December, may increase severity of disease; however, extreme rain events may reduce available conidiospores on plant tissues or in the air. Species‐specific mating type primers showed that all isolates were D. septosporum; D. pini was not detected. The mating type ratio was close to 1:1, indicating sexual recombination was occurring. Eleven microsatellite markers revealed 59 unique multilocus haplotypes (MLHs) among the 73 isolates originating from different conidiomata. The majority of MLHs were represented by a single isolate (n = 52) and only one MLH was shared between two localities. Analyses showed high genetic diversity, isolation‐by‐distance, and clear population clusters. These findings suggest that D. septosporum is well established in south‐western Turkey and is probably not a recent introduction.

Whole tree system evaluation of thinning a pine plantation in southern Italy

In Italy, some silvicultural treatment as thinning could be carried out in an economic way adopting systems based on small-scale mechanization. This paper examines the productivity standards of wood biomass in coniferous plantation thinning in Southern Italy under the conditions of small-scale forestry. The objectives of the study were to evaluate the incidence of different silvicultural treatments on productivity and harvesting costs and create productivity models for typical harvesting system used for wood thinned from Calabrian pine. Three different sites were monitored on the Sila Massif forest, and the experimental plan included three area tests, subjected in the last thirty years to intermediate cuttings with different thinning grade: light thinning (A thesis), moderate thinning (B thesis), heavy thinning (C thesis). The authors developed a productivity model for motor-manual felling and skidding timber with wheeled farm tractors, equipped with winch using a time motion study. Whole tree extraction system in coniferous plantation applied with typical felling system traditional has guaranteed productivity standards at a reasonable cost reducing high operational cost per unit harvested. The results, therefore, underlined that it economic possible to wood biomass harvest relatively small-diameter from thinning stands favoring moderate and heavy thinning.

The Effect of Sapwood and Heartwood Differences on Mechanical Properties of Fast-Growing Tree Species

In most uses where wood material needs impregnation or dimensional stability is essential, the properties of sapwood and heartwood should be taken into account. Also, due to the structural differences between heartwood and sapwood, differences in the strength of wood materials should be predicted. Therefore, the aim of this study was to reveal the differences between the mechanical properties of sapwood and heartwood of some important fast-growing forest trees. For this purpose, two softwoods (Pinus sylvestris) and (Pinus brutia) and two hardwoods (Populus usbekistanica) and (Eucalyptus grandis) were selected as test trees. Compression strength parallel to grain (CS ǁ), static quality value (IS), bending strength (MOR), modulus of elasticity (MOE), tensile strength perpendicular to grain (TS⊥), shearing strength parallel to grain (SS ǁ), impact bending strength (IBS), dynamic quality value (ID) and Janka hardness values (JH) of sapwood and heartwood of test trees were determined in laboratory studies. The results of the t-test analysis showed that all mentioned mechanical properties of sapwood and heartwood of test trees were separated from each other as significant, except the shear strength of Eucalyptus, dynamic quality values of red pine and Scots pine and Janka hardness value of red pine. Finally, the results of the study revealed that the differences between sapwood and heartwood strength should be taken into account when wood species are used in constructions and other sensitive areas.

Determination of compositional differences of lichens on Pinus brutia in different environmental conditions

Determination of compositional differences of lichens on Pinus brutia in different environmental conditions

Effect of using harvesting residues as a nursery media on seedling weight in Brutian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.)

Effects of harvesting residues (needle, bark and branch) on fresh and dry weights of two-year bare root seedlings originated from a seed stand and a seed orchard were examined in Brutian pine (Pinus brutia Ten.) to contribute nursery practices of the species and to estimate utilization possibility of the residues. Averages of seedling fresh and dry weights were 9.24 g and 3.36 g, respectively in polled treatments and origins. Results of analysis of variance showed significant differences (p≤0.05) among the treatments and between seed sources for the fresh and dry weights. Total averages of water content were 61.20% in root, 64.69% in stem and 63.75% in fresh weight of full seedling. Seed orchard seedlings had higher water content in root, stem and full seedling than seed stand seedlings opposite to fresh and dry weights. Averages of water content ranged from 60.39% (control treatment) to 65.94% (bark treatment) in full seedling of polled treatments and seed sources.

Novel and divergent bipartite mycoviruses associated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Sarcosphaera coronaria

Members of the family Partitiviridae are reported from a variety of fungal and plant taxa. After dsRNA-preparation, deep sequencing, and bioinformatics, we here reveal the existence of various divergent partitiviruses co-infecting the ectomycorrhizal fungus Sarcosphaera coronaria, symbiotically associated with the pine species Pinus brutia in Turkey. A total of 75 complete or nearly complete sequences related to the members of Alphapartitivirus and Betapartitivirus, were detected from the ascocarp sample of the fungal isolate. Two of the identified partitivirus genome segments encoding for partitiviral capsid protein represent evolutionarily distinct members of Alphapartitivirus, indicating that they may have diverged in the presence of long spatial isolation. In an attempt to match the two genome segments of the identified partitiviruses and distinguish individual species co-inhabiting a single host, nine possible genome segment pairs were identified.

Which are Southern Italy’s fastest growing tree species? Lessons from the past for future perspectives, with a special focus on Sicily

Fast growing tree species can generate high wood production in a short time frame. However, maximum productivity is dependent on environmental and management conditions as well as intrinsic plant traits. Within this framework, our research was into tree species with the highest Mean Annual Increments (MAIs) in southern Italy, particularly in Sicily. Eucalyptus spp., Acacia saligna Labill. H. L. Wendl., Ailanthus altissima Mill. (Swingle) , Pinus halepensis Mill. (including Pinus brutia Ten.), Pinus canariensis C.Sm. and Pinus radiata D. Don. were identified . In particularly suitable conditions, the MAI of eucalypt coppices ranged from 8 to 12 m 3 ha -1 , and from 13 to 19 m 3 ha -1 , in Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. and Eucalyptus globulus Labill. , respectively. The MAI of E. camaldulensis high forests was slightly over 6 m 3 ha -1 , while that of E. globulus high forests was very similar to its coppice value. Considering the preliminary data, Acacia saligna Labill. H. L. Wendl. can achieve good wood production. Pinus halepensis Mill. and Pinus brutia (Ten.) Holmboe achieved MAIs of 5-7 m 3 ha -1 . Other species may be promising but either data is very limited or their invasive potential requires careful consideration. This historical review has shown that with optimal tree species-planting site-cultivation technique combinations, tree species can achieve wood yields typical of fast-growing species in Mediterranean Italy, too.