Cedar Trees Research Articles

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana and Its Active Compound Quercetin as Ca2+ Inhibitors in the Contraction of Airway Smooth Muscle.

The Cupressaceae family includes species considered to be medicinal. Their essential oil is used for headaches, colds, cough, and bronchitis. Cedar trees like Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (C. lawsoniana) are commonly found in urban areas. We investigated whether C. lawsoniana exerts some of its effects by modifying airway smooth muscle (ASM) contractility. The leaves of C. lawsoniana (363 g) were pulverized mechanically, and extracts were obtained by successive maceration 1:10 (w:w) with methanol/CHCl3. Guinea pig tracheal rings were contracted with KCl, tetraethylammonium (TEA), histamine (HIS), or carbachol (Cch) in organ baths. In the Cch experiments, tissues were pre-incubated with D-600, an antagonist of L-type voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels (L-VDCC) before the addition of C. lawsoniana. Interestingly, at different concentrations, C. lawsoniana diminished the tracheal contractions induced by KCl, TEA, HIS, and Cch. In ASM cells, C. lawsoniana significantly diminished L-type Ca2+ currents. ASM cells stimulated with Cch produced a transient Ca2+ peak followed by a sustained plateau maintained by L-VDCC and store-operated Ca2+ channels (SOCC). C. lawsoniana almost abolished this last response. These results show that C. lawsoniana, and its active metabolite quercetin, relax the ASM by inhibiting the L-VDCC and SOCC; further studies must be performed to obtain the complete set of metabolites of the extract and study at length their pharmacological properties.

Exploring machine learning modeling approaches for biomass and carbon dioxide weight estimation in Lebanon cedar trees

Exploring machine learning modeling approaches for biomass and carbon dioxide weight estimation in Lebanon cedar trees

Indigenous Genealogies of Relational Knowledge: Cedar Tree and Gray Squirrel as Important Relatives and Teachers

Indigenous peoples have education systems thousands of years old that have sustained our peoples in respectful relation with place. The backbone of our education systems is our stories and storytelling traditions. Beyond mere intellectual or analytical “texts” or “literature”, our stories place us in webs of relationships with sacred responsibilities. In this article, we discuss the importance of Indigenous genealogies of knowledge from both personal expertise and Indigenous Studies scholarship. We then describe a project on Yakama homelands in which Sahaptin storytelling is honored as a knowledge system that guides leaders and educators in their work. This project demonstrates the important role Indigenous stories can play in fostering more respectful and responsive systems. We argue that if educational programs or institutions wish to develop and remain in respectful relationships with Indigenous peoples and place, leaders and educators must learn to value, learn from, and lead with Indigenous knowledges.

Analysis of growth and development of Korean cedar trees in Voronezh region

Analysis of growth and development of Korean cedar trees in Voronezh region

Life Cycle and Characterization of Cedar Moth Insect (Dichelia cedricola) on Lebanese Cedar Trees (Cedrus libani) at The Cedar and Fir Reserve, Slenfeh, Syria

Hasan, R., M. Ali, A. Ramadan and O. Merhej. 2024. Life Cycle and Characterization of Cedar Moth Insect (Dichelia cedricola) on Lebanese Cedar Trees (Cedrus libani) at The Cedar and Fir Reserve, Slenfeh, Syria. Arab Journal of Plant Protection, 42(3): 263-268. https://doi.org/10.22268/AJPP-001243 This study was carried out in the Cedar and Fir Reserve, Slenfeh, Syria during the period 2021-2022, where the Lebanese cedar moth, Dichelia cedricola (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) was observed for the first time in Syria on the Lebanese cedar tree (Cedrus libani A. Rich.). Infestation symptoms were described and the most important biometric measurements of the different stages of the insect were recorded. The average body length of the fourth and fifth larval instars was 12.5±2.6 mm, the average length of the pupa was 9.7±1.2 mm. The average length of the female adult was 11.1±1.3 mm, and the wingspan was 18.7±2.6 mm. The average length of the male adult was 9.4±1.5 mm, and the wingspan was 15.7±2.6 mm. The life cycle of the insect was also investigated in the field, where the insect (in its different stages) was active from April to November. Caterpillars fed on needles and new buds and used needles for nesting and overwintering, which causes the leaves to fall and consequently cause damage to the tree. Control measures need to be investigated. Keywords: Cedar moth, Dichelia cedricola, Lebanese cedar. Cedrus libani, Life cycle

Ixodes scapularis Is the Most Susceptible of the Three Canonical Human-Biting Tick Species of North America to Repellent and Acaricidal Effects of the Natural Sesquiterpene, (+)-Nootkatone.

Ticks are vectors of many human and animal zoonotic disease-causing agents causing significant global health and economic strain. Repellents and acaricides are integral to the human capacity for personal protection from tick bites. Nootkatone, a naturally occurring sesquiterpene found in the Alaskan cedar tree, grapefruit, and other sources, has been documented to be a potent acaricide. Research has also noted repellent effects against some tick species. In this study, our aim was to investigate the effect of synthetic, high-purity (+)-nootkatone on adult Ixodes scapularis, Dermacentor variabilis, and Amblyomma americanum ticks in an in vitro, vertical filter paper bioassay. (+)-nootkatone showed compelling tick repellency, but median effective concentrations (EC50) significantly differed among species. Ixodes scapularis were repelled at very low concentrations (EC50 = 0.87 ± 0.05 µg/cm2). Higher concentrations were required to repel D. variabilis (EC50 = 252 ± 12 µg/cm2) and A. americanum (EC50 = 2313 ± 179 µg/cm2). Significant post-exposure mortality, assessed 24 h after repellency trials, was also observed in I. scapularis but was absent entirely in D. variabilis and A. americanum. These tests demonstrate that nootkatone has a promising dual-action personal protection capacity against adult I. scapularis ticks, warranting further investigation in more natural environments and in the presence of host cues.

Analyses of intra-annual density fluctuation signals in Himalayan cedar trees from Himachal Pradesh, western Himalaya, India, and its relationship with apple production

Intra-annual density fluctuation (IADF) refers to anatomical changes in the tree ring caused by a sudden change in wood density triggered by a combination of climate variations and various biotic and abiotic influences. To reveal the occurrence of IADFs, we analyze the growth rings of Himalayan cedar (Cedrus deodara) growing over the Kullu region, Himachal Pradesh, western Himalaya. Using 30 increment cores, we precisely dated and developed a 214-year-long tree-ring chronology extending back to AD 1808. The tree–growth–climate relationship using ring-width chronology and observed climate data revealed that cool and moist condition provides favorable condition for Himalayan cedar tree growth. Delving deeper into wood anatomy of growth rings, we revealed the frequent occurrences of IADFs in both earlywood (IADFe) and latewood (IADFl). The formation of IADFs in earlywood (IADFe) is related to the reduced precipitation from April to July, causing moisture stress in the soil and surrounding climate. However, wetter conditions in the late growing season, mainly August–October, activated the formation of IADFs in latewood (IADFl). The study revealed several IADF years in earlywood and latewood, such as 1901, 1902, 1903, 1914, 1915, 1919, 1920, 1923, 1925, 1943, 1958, 1959 and 1937, 1955, 1956, 1988, respectively. These IADF years corresponded with unusual climatic fluctuations that severely affected apple production, the major cash crop in the region. The analyses demonstrated that the IADF chronology of Himalayan cedar would be a valuable proxy to understand abrupt and unusual climatic fluctuations from a long-term perspective for the data-scarce western Himalayan region.

Exploring the Larvicidal and Repellent Potential of Taurus Cedar (Cedrus libani) Tar against the Brown Dog Tick (Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato).

This study investigated the potential acaricidal and repellent effects of tar obtained from the Lebanon cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich.) against the brown dog tick species Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato Latreille (Acari: Ixodidae). The goal was to find an alternative, safe, and effective way to eliminate ticks. Tar is traditionally extracted from cedar trees in the Antalya region of Türkiye. The composition of the tar is primarily characterized by a diverse mixture of terpenes, with β-himachalene (29.16%), α-atlantone (28.7%), ar-turmerone (8.82%), longifolene-(V4) (6.66%), α-himachalene (5.28%), and β-turmerone (5.12%) emerging as the predominant constituents. The toxic effects of tar on tick larvae were studied through larval immersion tests (LIT), and its repellent activity was evaluated using a new larval repellent activity test (LRAT). The results revealed significant acaricidal effects, with mortality rates of 77.7% and 82.2% for the Konyaalti and Kepez strains of the brown dog tick, respectively, in response to a 1% concentration of tar. LC50 and LC90 values were determined as 0.47% and 1.52% for the Kepez strain and 0.58% and 1.63% for the Konyaalti strain, respectively. When comparing the repellent effect of tar to the widely used synthetic repellent DEET, repellency rates of up to 100% were observed. As a result, this study establishes, for the first time, the larvicidal and repellent effects of C. libani tar on ticks.

Dendrochronological Analysis of the Response of Forest-Forming Tree Species of the Projected Mystygyegan Reserve (Vakh River Basin) to Climate Change in the XX-XXI Centuries

The purpose of this study is to identify the age-old dendroclimatic dynamics of the state of the forests of the Mestygyegan reserve, as a representative standard of zonal middle-taiga forests of the Vakh river basin under global warming conditions. The main tasks of the work: analysis of tree-ring chronologies of the most important forest growers of this territory (Pinus sibirica, P. sylvestris, Betula pendula), identification of responses of radial growth of trees to average monthly air temperatures and monthly precipitation of the growing season and the previous period (only 18 months), identification of trends and patterns of dendroclimatic responses. They adhered to the methods of wood sampling, cross-dating, standardization of ring width rows (radial gain), and calculation of the function of growth responses adopted in dendroclimatology. For the period 19372021, trends were revealed to increase the deficit/excess of heat and precipitation in certain months, in particular with signs of summer drought in recent years. There was a shift in the isolines of the growth responses to an earlier time in spring and later in autumn, showing an elongation of the growing season. There is a shift in the manifestation of dendroclimatic responses from the growth of the current year to the growth of the next year, which may indicate both increased opportunities for the accumulation and redistribution of plastic resources by trees and the influence of pathogens. Grass-roots fires amplify the marked trends. Dendroclimatic response patterns of different tree species have both similarities and differences. The smallest response to climate change in birch, the largest in Siberian pine, which requires the greatest measures to protect and protect cedar trees. In the future of further research a great detail of the results obtained on the taxational characteristics of the forest and accounting for anthropogenic factors.

Carbon isotope composition of respired CO2 in woody stems and leafy shoots of three tree species along the growing season: physiological drivers for respiratory fractionation.

The carbon isotope composition of respired CO2 (δ13CR) and bulk organic matter (δ13CB) of various plant compartments informs about isotopic fractionation and substrate of respiratory processes, crucial to advance understanding of carbon allocation in plants. Nevertheless, its variation across organs, species, and seasons remains poorly understood. Cavity ring-down laser spectroscopy was applied to measure δ13CR in leafy shoots and woody stems of maple, oak, and cedar trees during spring and late summer. Photosynthesis, respiration, growth, and non-structural carbohydrates were measured in parallel to evaluate potential drivers for respiratory fractionation. CO2 respired by maple and oak shoots was 13C-enriched relative to δ13CB during spring but not late summer or in the stem. In cedar, δ13CR did not vary significantly throughout organs and seasons, with respired CO2 being 13C-depleted relative to δ13CB. Shoot δ13CR was positively related to leaf starch concentration in maple, while stem δ13CR was inversely related to stem growth. These relations were not significant for oak or cedar. The variability in δ13CR suggests (i) different contributions of respiratory pathways between organs and (ii) seasonality in the respiratory substrate and constitutive compounds for wood formation in deciduous species, less apparent in evergreen cedar, whose respiratory metabolism might be less variable.

Assessment of the Forest-Pathological Condition of Cedar Forests of Irkutsk Region

Siberian cedar is the most valuable tree species in the Siberian taiga. The condition of the cedar trees deteriorates annually under the influence of adverse biotic and abiotic factors in the forests of Irkutsk region. The authors analyzed and assessed the sanitary and forest- pathological condition of cedar plantations. The research used statistical data of forest pathology monitoring, which proved long-term negative changes in the condition of cedar forests. We investigated a set of causes of degradation and destruction of cedars in the Irkutsk region based on the results of 2021. The authors concluded that anthropogenic factors are causing the imbalance of the forest ecosystem, creating conditions for the negative manifestation of the most biotic factors. The proposed recommendations to reduce the impact of pathogenic factors include: introduction of interdiction and restrictions for nut harvesting, strengthening control over the implementation of sanitary measures, the use of scientific methods for predicting the development of pathogens. We also proposed to create semi-cultivated cedar plantations in the cedar forests to produce cedar nuts using forestry and agricultural techniques.

CHANGES IN HEMICELLULOSE STRUCTURE ASSOCIATED WITH THE TRANSITION FROM EARLYWOOD TO LATEWOOD AT JUVENILE WOOD IN CRYPTOMERIA JAPONICA

The chemical composition and variations in chemical structure of hemicellulose in earlywood (EW) and latewood (LW) of two individual Japanese cedar trees (C-Boka and T-Boka) were investigated. The trees were cultivated under different growth conditions: C-Boka grew slowly in a forest, while T-Boka grew rapidly in a location rich in nutrients and sunshine. For the chemical structure of hemicellulose, arabinoglucuronoxylan (AGX) showed varied side-chain substitution rates with glucuronic acid and different molecular weights in the transition between EW and LW. In contrast, the fundamental composition of glucomannan/galactoglucomannan (GM/GGM) was relatively unchanged between EW and LW. The modification of AGX and GM/GGM from EW to LW differed between C-Boka and T-Boka and might be influenced by the growth rate of the trees.

Modelling of snow interception on a Japanese cedar canopy based on weighing tree experiment in a warm winter region

AbstractSnow interception by tree canopy affects the water and energy budgets. Several snow interception models have been proposed to estimate the temporal change of intercepted snow on the tree canopy from meteorological data. However, most models are based on a few observational results at limited sites or some conceptual understandings and assumptions; they still need more observational evidence and more detailed descriptions in the parameterization model for snow accumulation and snow unloading response to various meteorological conditions. A weighing tree experiment that measures the intercepted snow on the cut Japanese cedar trees was conducted in Tokamachi, Japan, to investigate the relationship between meteorological conditions and the change of intercepted snow. The results showed that the interception efficiency, which shows the ratio of intercepted snow to the total precipitation, increased with increasing air temperature in the range from −4.2 to 0°C due to increased adhesion and cohesion of snow. The maximum interception capacity was not present in observations such as an air temperature range. The unloading of intercepted snow from the canopy induced by snowmelt was related to air temperature, solar radiation, and intercepted snow amount. The snow unloading caused by wind‐blowing intercepted snow off the tree, started to develop at wind speeds exceeding 0.8 m s−1. The wind‐induced snow unloading rate coefficient increased as the wind speed increased. This study proposed a new parameterization model of snow interception based on these observations. It is the only snow interception model to use solar radiation in the snow unloading parameterization. It found that simulated and observed temporal changes of intercepted snow correlated well. Nevertheless, there were significant errors between the simulated and observed intercepted snow on several snowfall events because the model could not accurately assess the occurrence of snow unloading due to snowmelt.

Distribution of Aedes (Stegomyia) cretinus in Türkiye.

Aedes cretinus, a white and black stripped Aedes species, shares morphological similarities with Aedes albopictus and Aedes aegypti which are among the most important vectors and invasive species in the world. Due to its limited distribution and low population density, information on the biology and ecology of the species has been limited so far. This study aimed to determine distribution of Ae. cretinus in Türkiye. Field works have been carried out in the Mediterranean, Aegean and Marmara Regions of Türkiye. Larval samples were collected by larval dippers while adult mosquito catches were performed using the human landing catch method and CDC-light traps. A total of 44 different Ae. cretinus populations were identified in the Mediterranean, Aegean and Marmara Regions of Türkiye. The larval specimen collected from small containers, tires, tree holes and natural small habitats. A plane (Platanus orientalis), walnut (Juglans regia), Türkiye oak (Quercus cerris), chestnut (Castenea sativa) and cedar (Cedrus libani) tree holes are the main larval habitats in which the specimen collected. In some localities, larvae were found together with Anopheles plumbeus, Anopheles claviger and Aedes geniculatus larvae in tree holes. Human landing catch method captured a greater number of females than CDC-light traps. This study determined the distribution of Ae. cretinus in Türkiye for the first time. Information on respective geographic distribution of Ae. cretinus is fundamental for effective control programmes. Further studies are needed to understand the biology and ecology of these species.

Enhancing the conservation status and resilience of a narrowly distributed forest: A challenge to effectively support ecosystem services in practice

The conservation and sustainable management of forests has become an important issue, especially in ecosystems where keystone species form unique and marginal forest habitats with narrow distribution. With increasing pressures and threats to nature, the establishment of Protected Areas has been recognized as a major tool for maintaining well-functioning forest ecosystems and their associated ecosystem services (ES). This study aims at assessing the changes in the status of a narrowly distributed Mediterranean forest through the perspective of land cover dynamics and the ES framework. Using the priority habitat of Cedrus brevifolia forest as a case study, the distribution of land use and land cover (LULC) was mapped and simulated, together with the supply of multiple ES before and after the implementation of conservation measures. The results prior applying the management actions revealed a general pattern of forest densification that did not act fully in favor of C. brevifolia due to competitions among forest species. From an ES viewpoint, forest densification led to landscape homogenization affecting important ES such as the increase in the supply of regulating services, and the decrease in the ability to support nursery populations and habitats. By contrast, the future simulation of LULC integrated with afforestation and thinning measures showed an expected increase in both high-density vegetation and cedar trees, benefiting multiple ES. The current findings highlight the importance of sustainable forest management in enhancing the co-occurrence of several ES and supporting the overall multi-functionality of ecosystems. The holistic approach presented in this study can offer new insights into the relation between ES and natural ecosystem and/or habitats’ management while avoiding potential negative impacts on human well-being and ecosystem resilience.

The effects of four different solvent vapours on the restoration of obliterated stamp markings from five different wooden surfaces

The stamp markings on wooden surfaces, which are placed on trees and products including antiques, indicate the status of trees and involve identifying data regarding the products. Such markings are obliterated either to facilitate illegal logging or to conceal product information. Despite the wide literature on the restoration of obliterated characters on metal and polymer surfaces, the recovery of defaced characters on wooden surfaces appears to be understudied. Several reference texts in the forensic marks’ examination literature suggest that water, water vapor, and alkaline solutions are useful in restoring the abraded markings on the wood. Since there does not seem to be any experimental study proving such success, this study aimed to fill this gap. This study conducted experimental research by using water, ethanol, ammonia, and chloroform to recover the scraped characters on samples obtained from walnut, beech, spruce, oak, and cedar trees. The cold-stamped characters, which were defaced at varying depths, were restored using vapor and liquid phases of four solvents. While the vapor phases of water, ethanol, and ammonia yielded good outcomes on all types of wooden surfaces, the liquid phases did not seem to be useful in the revisualization process. The response of the vapors, which varied between 62 and 220 s, depended on the type of wood. The restoration technique developed in this research offers the possibility of on-site usage, easy application, utilization of low-cost solvents, rapid recovery, and effectiveness on various wooden surfaces. Overall, the restoration methodology used in this research appears to be fruitful in retrieving identifying information on wooden samples.

Repellent properties against four Ascomycota species and Reticulitermes flavipes of acetonic extractives from Cedrus atlantica sapwood to inner heartwood fractions

Cedrus atlantica is a tree species present in the south of France which, in the context of climate change, could become a conservation priority in the coming years. This tree species is also of considerable ecological and socio-economic interest in the Mediterranean Basin area, where it is mainly recognized for its durable timber, and also for the potentially interesting chemical properties of its essential oil. Studies of its heartwood formation and the properties of its extractives are therefore of interest, although very few have been conducted so far. The radial distribution of water/acetone extractives within the Atlas cedar tree (bark, sapwood, transition wood, outer heartwood and inner heartwood) selected for this study was screened at different tree height levels. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses were performed, especially to characterize flavonoid compounds in these extractive fractions. The radial variation of the extractive composition obtained highlights the phenomenon of heartwood formation. Assumptions were put forward as to the metabolic pathways involved in the heartwood formation process of cedar wood, based in particular on the occurrence and radial evolution of (-)-catechin, (+)-taxifolin and flavan compounds. The fungicidal and termite-repellent activities of the extracts were then tested. The water/acetone extractives from the Cedrus atlantica individual studied showed strong termite repellent activity and moderate antifungal activity against crop and fruit pathogens. Even though the sampling in this study was limited to a single tree, the results point to a potential for commercial use of Atlas cedar extractives as wood preservatives and/or as biocontrol products against pathogens of woody agricultural crops. Additional tests and chemical analyses will be carried out to confirm these interesting preliminary results.

Changes in Slope Stability over the Growth and Decay of Japanese Cedar Tree Roots

In Japan, repeated driftwood landslide disasters have become a major issue; thus, studies are required to better understand forest function to implement appropriate forest management and prevent such disasters. We investigated the effect of Japanese cedar tree roots on shallow landslide initiation. To incorporate the effect of roots on the two side-flanks of the shallow landslide, we propose a new slope-stability analysis method in which the sliding block is simplified as a three-prism model. The root reinforcement was approximated by the sum of the root pullout forces over a unit area, incorporating changes in the root strength with the growth of the trees after planting and the decay of the stumps after cutting. The reinforced root strength after the stump-cutting decreased linearly with time, with no strength remaining at 9 years. In contrast, the reinforced root strength of the new plants increased according to a logistic curve with time; thus, the root strength increased only slightly up to 9 years after planting, and the minimum total reinforced root strength was observed at this time. The safety factor of the slopes in a forest basin in Ibaraki Prefecture was calculated using the proposed three-prism method at intervals of 5 years on a 1-metre-resolution digital elevation model. The number of unstable grids peaked at 10 years, and a higher risk of slope instability was observed at 5–15 years. Therefore, implementing forest operations for lowering slope instability during this period should be important to prevent landslide disasters.

Do Annual Rings Really Reveal Cd, Ni, and Zn Pollution in the Air Related to Traffic Density? An Example of the Cedar Tree

Do Annual Rings Really Reveal Cd, Ni, and Zn Pollution in the Air Related to Traffic Density? An Example of the Cedar Tree

From Landscapes to Projection Drama

From Landscapes to Projection Drama