Chamaecyparis Pisifera Research Articles

Occurrence and Characteristics of Serpula himantioides Fruiting Bodies on Living Trees in Japan.

Serpula himantioides is a globally distributed wood decay fungus that causes heartwood decay in several tree species. We investigated the occurrence of S. himantioides fruiting bodies in Japan for two years and six months to characterize their biology. The fruiting bodies matured in autumn and occurred on living Chamaecyparis pisifera, Chamaecyparis obtusa, Larix kaempferi, and Cryptomeria japonica trees, as well as on dead trees and soil. Assessing three circular plots, the incidence of living trees with S. himantioides fruiting bodies was lowest in the plot with the most advanced heartwood decay. Furthermore, fruiting bodies occurred more frequently in the lower slope direction of the trunk. Analysis using the pair correlation function suggested that the spatial distribution pattern of living trees with fruiting bodies may change from intensive to random with heartwood decay progress. Finally, according to generalized linear and generalized linear mixed models, which were used to investigate the factors affecting the development of fruiting bodies in C. pisifera, C. obtusa, and L. kaempferi, no clear relationship was found between the presence or absence of fruiting bodies and heartwood decay. Thus, we suggest that fruiting bodies can occur in healthy living trees as well as in living trees in the early stages of heartwood decay.

Development of Pinaceae and Cupressaceae Essential Oils from Forest Waste in South Korea.

The growing awareness of environmental issues has garnered increasing interest in the use of waste material in a wide variety of applications. From this viewpoint, developing essential oils from forest waste can bring new cost opportunities for the effective and sustainable management of unused forestry biomass. However, better knowledge of the production, chemical constituents, and application of essential oils is necessary. Among the species considered to be of interest from the point of view of their essential oils and forest biomass, Pinaceae and Cupressaceae were selected in this study as potential candidates for commercial essential oils based on previous studies. This current study focuses on investigating Pinaceae (Larix kaempferi, Pinus densiflora, and Pinus koraiensis) and Cupressaceae (Chamaecyparis obtusa and Chamaecyparis pisifera) essential oils extracted from various parts from the perspective of their bioactive compounds and potential applications. This is followed by an overview of the essential oils industry in South Korea, with particular attention being paid to utilising unused forest biomass. Therefore, this is a comprehensive review suggesting that Pinaceae and Cupressaceae essential oils extracted from various parts of forest waste could be utilised in various industries, adding value to the aspect of sustainable industry. Furthermore, our study contributes towards capturing the value of forest resources through the utilisation of native essential oils in South Korea.

Multilocus phylogenetic analysis revealed a new cryptic lineage of Serpula himantioides in Japan

AbstractSerpula himantioides is a widely distributed saprotrophic fungus that causes root and butt rot in various tree species. In Japan, butt rot associated with S. himantioides is observed in Chamaecyparis pisifera and Abies sachalinensis. Previous studies have shown that S. himantioides includes five phylogenetically defined cryptic lineages, but the placement of Japanese isolates remains unclear. To clarify the phylogenetic relationship between Japanese S. himantioides and the five known lineages, we conducted a phylogenetic analysis using three newly collected Japanese isolates along with 74 S. himantioides isolates, based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region, the 28 S large subunit (LSU) rDNA, the beta‐tubulin (tub) gene, and the heat stress protein (hsp) gene. The concatenated phylogenetic tree showed that Japanese isolates composed a clade with a high bootstrap value distinct from the known lineages, indicating the Japanese isolates present a new cryptic lineage of S. himantioides.

Development of Native Essential Oils from Forestry Resources in South Korea.

South Korea’s forests occupy approximately 70% of the mainland, therefore, there is considerable potential for waste coming from the forest. Extracting essential oils from underutilised biomass is an economic and sustainable method for the production of high-added-value products. These days, countries’ ownership of domestic natural resources is becoming vital, so there is an urgent need for developing the essential oils from native plants. To increase the value of native essential oils in South Korea, the National Institute of Forest Science (NiFoS) established the <Essential oils bank> to develop the native essential oils as well as develop more research infrastructure by sharing information on native essential oils and enhancing their value. We review the selected essential oils which are listed in the <Essential oil bank> from the literature on major chemical constituents, biological activity, and potential uses of essential oils. Those utilising forest resources for commercial essential oil production need to consider the stable supply of plant material in terms of forest management and conservation. Therefore, Pinaceae (Larix kaempferi, Pinus densiflora, Pinus koraiensis) and Cupressaceae (Chamaecyparis obtusa and Chamaecyparis pisifera) could be potential candidates for commercial essential oil as their waste materials are easily obtained from the plantation after forest management. With their unique fragrance and the bioactive compounds in their oils, potential candidates can be utilised in various industry sectors.

Detection and Quantification of Serpula himantioides in the Wood of Chamaecyparis pisifera Butt Rot Trees by Real-Time PCR

Serpula himantioides is a wood-decaying fungal pathogen which is widespread and causes potentially serious butt rot in living trees of numerous coniferous plantation species. This study aimed to quantify S. himantioides in the wood of Sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera) with butt rot using real-time polymerase chain reaction (real-time PCR). Species–specific primers were designed for the internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) regions of ribosomal DNA (rDNA) of S. himantioides. The specificity of the designed primer set was tested by end-point PCR and amplicon sequencing. End-point PCR assays were positive for S. himantioides and negative for S. lacrymans, which belongs to the same genus as S. himantioides, Coniophora puteana of the same family as S. himantioides, and other wood decay fungi. Taxonomy assignment based on amplicon sequencing detected only Serpula spp., and most of them were identified as S. himantioides. The linearity of the calibration curve for absolute quantification by real-time PCR assays was confirmed in the range from 101 to 108 copies. This molecular assay method using real-time PCR could detect trace amounts of S. himantioides in decayed wood, showing the applicability for early diagnostics of butt rot emergence in forests.

Chemical compositions and antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea of the essential oils from the leaves of three conifer species

Chamaecyparis obtusa, Chamaecyparis pisifera, and Thuja occidentalis produce essential oils of good wood and industrial benefits, including food additives, perfumes, odorants and disinfectants. To identify a single antifungal monoterpene with antifungal activity against Botrytis cinerea, we identified a single antifungal compound by chemically profiling essential oils from three coniferous species. The antifungal activity of coniferous essential oil was slightly different depending on the species but showed high antifungal activity, and T. occidentalis essential oil had the highest antifungal activity among the three essential oils. The chemical composition of essential oils from three coniferous leaves was profiled using GC-MS. The chemical profiles of C. obtusa and C. pisifera were very similar, but T. occidentalis was relatively different from the two species. The chemical composition of the three conifer oils contained 20 each. As a result of profiling three essential oil components with high antifungal activity, the compounds present in all three species were bornyl acetate and terpinyl acetate. These compounds of C. obtusa essential oil were 26.49%, C. pisifera essential oil 25.04% and T. occidentalis essential oil 12.60%. These two compounds were estimated to be antifungal agents. The antifungal activity of the six monoterpenes was different, and the single monoterpene with the highest antifungal activity was bornyl acetate followed by terpinyl acetate. Therefore, it was possible to search for antifungal activity monoterpene components by chemical profiling. Terpinyl acetate and bornyl acetate can be used for environmental-friendly insecticidal active materials.

Climate Response in Tree-Rings of Sawara Cypress [Chamaecyparis pisifera (Siebold &amp; Zucc.) Endl.] in Poland

Sawara cypress [Chamaecyparis pisifera (Siebold &amp; Zucc.) Endl.] is originally from Japan. It was introduced to Europe in the latter half of the 19th century (in England and Holland in 1861, and in Poland in 1864). The aim of this study was to examine the influence of climatic conditions on tree-ring width among Sawara cypress populations growing in Poland. Additionally, other indicators determining the growth-climate relationship for the studied tree species were investigated such as false rings, missing rings, or frost rings. Five stands of Sawara cypress from northwestern and central Poland were selected for study. Samples were taken from 97 trees, using Pressler borers at breast-height. Tree-ring widths were measured down to 0.01 mm. Climatic data came from weather stations located the nearest to the study plots. Tree-ring width in the studied populations of Sawara cypress varies (from 1.94 to 4.47 mm). The oldest Sawara cypresses grow in Glinna Arboretum and are nearly 130 years old. The youngest ones grow in Rogów Arboretum (67 years old) and Wirty Arboretum (58 years old). Ten regional pointer years, including six negative and four positive ones, were determined for local chronologies. Negative pointer years were associated with the occurrence of cold winters and water shortages in summer. Positive pointer years are mostly periods with a warm winter season, early and warm spring, and with high precipitation totals during summer months. Correlation and response function analysis corroborates the results yielded by pointer year analysis. False rings carry an additional information on pluvial conditions in the summer period, and frost rings are an aid in dating dendrochronological series and indicate the occurrence of both very cold winters and persistent ground frost occurrences in the spring period. In comparison to native conifers, the Sawara cypress can be regarded as a fast-growing species. The knowledge of acclimatization, growth rate, and growth-climate relationship may be useful, especially in the time of a rapidly changing climate, increasing human impact, and highly intensified invasion of insect and fungal species attacking native forest-forming taxa.

Аутфітосозологічне оцінювання дендроекзотів відділу Pinophyta ботанічного саду Чернівецького національного університету імені Юрія Федьковича

Здійснено інтегральне аутфітосозологічне оцінювання 41 виду деревних інтродуцентів відділу Pinophyta, які ростуть у ботанічному саду Чернівецького національного університету ім. Юрія Федьковича в умовах відкритого ґрунту. Відповідно до значень вирахуваного для кожного виду аутфітосозологічного індексу досліджувані дендроекзоти віднесено до чотирьох аутфітосозологічних класів (II-V); найбільше видів (27) увійшли до ІІІ класу. Для рослин кожного із аутфітосозологічних класів охарактеризовано ознаки, які найістотніше впливають на фітосозологічну цінність видів: категорія раритетності у Червоному списку МСОП, фітогеографічне та історичне значення, регіональна репрезентативність та кількість штучних природоохоронних об'єктів у межах Чернівецької області, де росте той чи інший вид. Зокрема, найчастіше у дендропарках, парках-пам'ятках садово-паркового мистецтва та у складі пам'яток природи Чернівецької області трапляються Thuja occidentalis L. (30 місцезростань), Pinus strobus L. (22), Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco (19 місцезростань), і в межах 12-14 природоохоронних об'єктів – Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold, Ginkgo biloba L., Chamaecyparis pisifera (Siebold &amp; Zucc.) Endl. Відзначено, що 51,2 % із досліджуваних видів трапляються, окрім ботанічного саду Чернівецького національного університету, також у дендропарках, парках-пам'ятках садово-паркового мистецтва та пам'ятках природи місцевого значення Чернівецької області. Раритетні види деревних інтродуцентів відділу Pinophyta цінні як резерв генетичного матеріалу. Тому особливої охорони потребують ті з них, які перебувають під загрозою зникнення (категорія раритетності у Червоному списку МСОП – CR, EN та VU), а також ті, що увійшли до ІІ аутфітосозологічного класу (Taxodium distichum (L.) Rich., Sequoiadendron giganteum (Lindl.) J. Buchholz, Metasequoia glyptostroboides Hu &amp; W. C. Cheng, Picea koyamae Shiras.), та частина видів, віднесених до ІІІ класу (зокрема, ті з них, які представлені 1-2 особинами лише у ботанічному саду Чернівецького національного університету, і не здатні розмножуватися насіннєвим шляхом). Під час розроблення рекомендацій з ефективної охорони досліджуваних деревних інтродуцентів варто звертати увагу на екологічні вимоги видів, оскільки від цього значною мірою залежить успішність росту і розвитку інтродуцентів.

Winter-spring temperature pattern is closely related to the onset of cambial reactivation in stems of the evergreen conifer Chamaecyparis pisifera

Temperature is an important factor for the cambial growth in temperate trees. We investigated the way daily temperatures patterns (maximum, average and minimum) from late winter to early spring affected the timing of cambial reactivation and xylem differentiation in stems of the conifer Chamaecyparis pisifera. When the daily temperatures started to increase earlier from late winter to early spring, cambial reactivation occurred earlier. Cambium became active when it achieves the desired accumulated temperature above the threshold (cambial reactivation index; CRI) of 13 °C in 11 days in 2013 whereas 18 days in 2014. This difference in duration required for achieving accumulated temperature can be explained with the variations in the daily temperature patterns in 2013 and 2014. Our formula for calculation of CRI predicted the cambial reactivation in 2015. A hypothetical increase of 1–4 °C to the actual daily maximum temperatures of 2013 and 2014 shifted the timing of cambial reactivation and had different effects on cambial reactivation in the two consecutive years because of variations in the actual daily temperatures patterns. Thus, the specific annual pattern of accumulation of temperature from late winter to early spring is a critical factor in determining the timing of cambial reactivation in trees.

ВЛИЯНИЕ СРОКОВ ЗАГОТОВКИ ЧЕРЕНКОВ ИНТРОДУЦЕНТА CHAMAECYPARIS PISIFERA НА ИХ ПРИЖИВАЕМОСТЬ В УСЛОВИЯХ ОРЛОВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

The aim of the research is to study the method of vegetative propagation by cuttings to obtain a viable planting material of sawara cypress with a closed root system in the conditions of the Orel region. The study was carried out in 2019 at the private farm by Bykov L.S., Trosnyansky district, Orel region, in a cold closed ground, represented by gray forest medium loamy soils. Reproduction of the introduced species was carried out by rooting lignified cuttings in a nutrient substrate, which was prepared on the basis of neutralized peat with an acidity of 5.0 to 6.0 pH with the addition of perlite in a ratio of 4 to 1. Cuttings for the first group were cut on April 15 (before the beginning of the growing season), and for the second – on 16 May 2019 (after the beginning of the growing season) early in the morning from one mother plant, when the shoots are maximally saturated with moisture. Then the cuttings were planted in cassettes of 160 cells with an area of 0.24 m2 /piece to a depth of 2-3 cm and placed in an unheated protected ground with periodic watering. The best result for cuttings in the control group, harvested in mid-April (before the beginning of the growing season) – 96%, and for cuttings cut in mid-May (after the beginning of the growing season) – 60%. The mass of roots in established spring cuttings does not depend on the timing of reproduction, both variants showed an average weight of one root – 1.1 g. The profitability of the production of sawara cypress seedlings in the control group (when harvesting cuttings before vegetation) is 75%, which is 20% more than in seedlings grown from cuttings harvested after the beginning of the growing season.

Data on cytotoxicity of plant essential oils in A549 and Detroit 551 cells.

To secure the safety for industrial applications of plant essential oils, it is necessary to determine the inhibitory concentration and inhibitory mechanism of cell proliferation in skin cells and lung cells. Considering inhalation through the respiratory system and skin contact of humans with essential oils, we used human lung cancer cells A549 and human skin fibroblasts Detroit 551 cells for all experiments. In this study, we examined IC50 values and protein levels of cell cycle markers (cyclin A, cyclin B, cyclin D, and cyclin E) and apoptosis marker (caspase-3) after exposure to 10 plant essential oils, including Dendranthema indicum (L.) Des Moul, Peucedanum japonicum Thunb, Dendranthema zawadskii var. latilobum (Maxim.) Kitam, Agastache rugosa (Fisch.&Mey.) Kuntze, Vitex rotundifolia L.f, Pinus rigida Mill; Orixa japonica Thunb, Pinus strobus L, Chamaecyparis pisifera (Siebold et Zucc.) Endl. var. filifera Beissn. et Hochst, and Citrus sunki Hort. ex Tanaka. After the treatment of A549 and Detroit 551 cells to varying concentrations of the 10 plant essential oils, IC50 values were determined by CCK analysis, whereas protein expressions of the four cyclins and caspase-3 were identified by Western blotting analysis. We believe that by examining the degree and mechanism of cell proliferation inhibition exerted by essential oils on skin and lung cells of humans, data obtained in this study can provide guidelines for the industrial application of plant essential oils.

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;New species and records of &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Trisetacus&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt; Keifer (Eriophyoidea, Nalepellidae) with an atypical shape of female internal genitalia collected from &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Chamaecyparis&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;, &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Juniperus&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;, and &lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;em&gt;Thuja&lt;/em&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt; (Cupressaceae) in the USA&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;strong&gt;&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

Typically, females of eriophyoid mites of the large conifer-associated genus Trisetacus Keifer 1952 have long spermathecal tubes, which are at least twice as long as the spermathecae. In this paper, we report on four Trisetacus species collected in the USA from Cupressaceae that possess atypical short spermathecal tubes and demonstrate a distinct reduction trend in leg chaetotaxy when setae lʹ and/or bv II may be absent, and setae ftʹ II are very short. They are: 1) Trisetacus virginianus n. sp. and 2) T. thujae (Garman 1883, = T. thujivagrans Smith 1977a syn. nov.) from indigenous North American conifers Juniperus virginianus and Thuja occidentalis, respectively, and 3) Trisetacus maculatus n. sp. and 4) T. morgantownensis n. sp. from Japanese endemics, Chamaecyparis pisifera and C. obtusa, respectively, introduced to the USA. In these four Trisetacus species, the spermathecal apparatus consists of two drop-shaped segments, each about 2.5‒3 µm long and about 2‒2.5 µm wide, and resembles that of Boczekella, a nalepellid genus restricted to pinacean genera Larix and Pseudolarix. A new subgenus, Brevithecus n. subgen., is erected within the genus Trisetacus to accommodate the four Trisetacus species from Cupressaceae. Future molecular phylogenetic studies are needed to test whether Brevithecus is nested within Trisetacus or represents a separate genus, which may be a sister to either Trisetacus or Boczekella.

PECULIARITIES OF INTRODUCTION OF SMALL-WIDENED DECORATIVE TYPES IN THE CONDITIONS OF THE LADYZHYN DENDROPARK

The floristic analysis of the low-frequency ornamental species of the arboretum «Ladyzhyn Dendropark» was carried out, according to which the taxonomic composition and the description of the investigated species of the arboretum were determined. Based on the results of the integrated numerical assessment of the viability of trees and shrubs based on visual observations, the prospects for the introduction of woody plants in the study region were evaluated. The species composition of the introduced ornamental plants of the arboretum is systematized, which today is more than 25 species, arranged in accordance with the formed dendroplan. The peculiarities of the introduction of low-abundant ornamental plants were investigated, and the inventories of native and introduced arboreal and shrub vegetation of the areas of the arboretum were conducted. Based on these studies, a dendroplan was developed for a dendrological park of the local importance. The age and quantitative structure of the plantations has been determined, according to which 21 composite areas have been created in the studied area of more than 10 ha. In the course of research it is determined that 9 species of plants are quite promising (Catalpa speciosa Warder., Nyssa sylvatica Marsh, Gymnocladus dioicus (L.) K.Koch, Liriodendron tulipifera L., Magnolia kobus DC., Liquidambar styraciflua L., Malus sieboldii, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, Ginkgo biloba L. Betula nigra L); promising – 10 species (Zelkova serrata (Thunb.) Makino, Stephanandra incisa (Thunb.) Zabel, Koelreuteria bipinnata Franch., Magnolia soulangeana Soul, Rhus typhina L., Catalpa bignonioides, Chamaecyparis pisifera (Siebold &amp; Zucc.) Endl., Malus «Evereste», Malus domestica «Rajka», Diospyros virginiana L.), less promising – 5 species (Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) Steud., Cercis siliquastrum L., Magnolia George Henry Kern, Coffea liberica (W. Bull ex Hiern), Magnolia acuminata L.) The low adaptive index of the last 5 species is related to the inconsistency of the temperature regime in the study conditions. Inventory of the assortment of 20 shrubs and arboretum plants was made and a design decision was made to increase the species and form content of arboretum of section No. 21. The current state of compositions and flower beds of the arboretum was analyzed and recommendations for their improvement on the principle of selection and placement of species were presented. Keywords: dendropark, introduction, compositions, flower beds, integral evaluation, taxonomic composition, decorative properties, systematic principle, exotics.

Evaluation of the psychophysiological effects of the Cupressaceae family wood odor

The wood of the Cupressaceae conifer family is widely used for many purposes, such as the structural and interior elements of buildings. Several studies have reported the effects of the Cupressaceae wood odor on humans. However, only a few studies have investigated the effects of the volatile compounds on psychophysiological responses in an indoor environment. In this study, the psychophysiological effects following the inhalation of volatile essential oils from the Hinoki cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa) and Sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera) woods were evaluated. Levels of salivary stress markers were used to determine the study participants’ endocrinological responses as well as the changes in their autonomic nervous systems during the experimental period. A questionnaire survey was also conducted to assess the perceptions of the odors in the experimental rooms and the participants’ psychological states. It was found that olfactory stimulation with volatile compounds from the essential oil of the Hinoki cypress wood increased salivary dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels in the rest period following stressful work. Sympathetic nervous activity levels were lower, and parasympathetic nervous activity levels were higher immediately following stressful work. A similar tendency was observed with exposure to the essential oil of the Sawara cypress wood. These observations suggest that an environment with the Hinoki or Sawara cypress wood odor may be useful in promoting physiological relaxation following stressful work.

УСТОЙЧИВОСТЬ РАСТЕНИЙ СЕМЕЙСТВА КИПАРИСОВЫЕ (CUPRESACEAE) К АБИОТИЧЕСКИМ И БИОТИЧЕСКИМ ФАКТОРАМ СРЕДЫ В УСЛОВИЯХ ЦЕНТРАЛЬНО-ЧЕРНОЗЕМНОГО РЕГИОНА РОССИИ

Coniferous by the number of species, forms and varieties make up 25 % of the genetic collection of arboretum of the All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crops Breeding. They are represented by three families, one of which is Cupresaceae. The purpose of the research is to identify highly ornamental types and forms of the Cupresaceae family of the gene pool of the arboretum of All-Russian Research Institute of Fruit Crops Breeding, which are resistant to a complex of adverse environmental factors. All studied species and forms well tolerate unfavorable conditions of the winter period of Central Russia. An evaluation of the general state at the end of the vegetation period showed that only Thuja occidentalis f. aurea-spicata had a weak vitality. Plants are noticeably weakened, the growth of shoots is insignificant, and the fruits are rare. The Juniperus pseudosabina and the Thuja occidentalis f. aurea-spicata were affected by diseases with the loss of decorativeness. Under the conditions of the arboretum, damages from pests with a loss of decorativeness were not marked. As a result of research, five highly ornamental genotypes resistant to a complex of unfavorable factors of the environment have been revealed for use in the greenbelt setting of the settlements in the Central Chernozem region of Russia. There are Chamaecyparis pisifera, Chamaecyparis pisifera f. filifera, Juniperus sabina f. tamariscifolia, forms of Thuja occidentalis — f. Ellwangeriana gold and f. lutescens.

A comparison of the biogenic volatile organic compound emissions from the fine roots of 15 tree species in Japan and Taiwan

ABSTRACTBiogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs) play important roles in biosphere‒atmosphere interactions and communications among organisms, although little is known about the characteristics of BVOCs in the pedosphere and particularly emissions from fine roots. We evaluated the effects of cutting the fine roots of two tree species on BVOC emissions during sampling and compared the BVOC and CO2 emission rates in the roots of 15 tree species in forests in Japan and Taiwan. The BVOC emission rate in Pinus densiflora roots increased as the number of cross-sections increased. When the cross-section of a P. densiflora root was outside the sample bag, the BVOC emission rate was not affected by application of a cutting treatment. The mean BVOC emission rates in the fine roots of each of 15 tree species ranged from 0 to 0.38 nmol g−1s−1 for monoterpenes and 0 to 0.10 nmol g−1s−1 for a sesquiterpene (longifolene). The monoterpene emission rates in fine roots were very high for some gymnosperm and ectomycorrhizal species (Pinus densiflora 0.38 ± 0.31 nmol g−1s−1 and Abies firma 0.19 ± 0.08 nmol g−1s−1). The longifolene emission rates in fine roots were highest for one gymnosperm and arbuscular mycorrhizal species (Chamaecyparis pisifera 0.10 ± 0.10 nmol g−1s−1). The proportional carbon ratio of BVOCs to CO2 in emissions from fine roots ranged from 0 to 67% among the 15 tree species. Distinct patterns in the exact BVOC compounds and their emission rates indicated species-specific carbon availability in fine roots.

Fission yeast cells overproducing HSET/KIFC1 provides a useful tool for identification and evaluation of human kinesin-14 inhibitors

Many human cancer cells contain more than two centrosomes, yet these cancer cells can form pseudo-bipolar spindles through the mechanism, called centrosome clustering, and survive, instead of committing lethal multipolar mitoses. Kinesin-14/HSET, a minus end-directed motor, plays a crucial role in centrosome clustering. Accordingly, HSET is deemed to be a promising chemotherapeutic target to selectively kill cancer cells. Recently, three HSET inhibitors (AZ82, CW069 and SR31527) have been reported, but their specificity and efficacy have not been evaluated rigorously. This downside partly stems from the lack of robust systems for the assessment of these drugs. Yeasts and filamentous fungi provide not only powerful models for basic and applied biology but also versatile tools for drug discovery and evaluation. Here we show that these three inhibitors on their own are cytotoxic to fission yeast, suggesting that they have off-targets in vivo except for kinesin-14. Nonetheless, intriguingly, AZ82 can neutralize otherwise toxic overproduced HSET; this includes a substantial reduction in the percentage of HSET-driven abnormal mitotic cells and partial suppression of its lethality. SR31527 also displays modest neutralizing activity, while we do not detect such activity in CW069. As an experimental proof-of-principle study, we have treated HSET-overproducing fission yeast cells with extracts prepared from various plant species and found activities that rescue HSET-driven lethality in those from Chamaecyparis pisifera and Toxicodendron trichocarpum. This methodology of protein overproduction in fission yeast, therefore, provides a convenient, functional assay system by which to screen for not only selective human kinesin-14 inhibitors but also those against other molecules of interest.

Characteristic Aromas of Quercus crispula (Japanese Oak)

Nature is important in Japanese culture. Many tree species produce diverse fragrances, making Japan's forests a botanical treasure. However, there have been no detailed investigations of the aroma characteristics of trees, a vital factor in forest bathing. Previously, we applied our analytical method to three tree species found mainly in Japan: Chamaecyparis pisifera, Lindera praecox, and Lindera obtusiloba Blume. In this paper, we report investigations of the aroma of Quercus crispula Blume (Japanese oak) using this analysis method. Japanese oak grows mainly in Japan. The odor compounds of Japanese oak were obtained by hexane extraction and monolithic material sorptive extraction and each extracted compound was identified by gas chromatography olfactometry and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Comparison of the aromas and compounds in the extracts resulted in the identification of important aroma compounds in Japanese oak: 10 (including eugenol) in the leaves and 15 (including 3-methyl-4-octanolide) in the wood.

Cytotoxic Evaluation of Plant Essential Oils in Human Skin and Lung Cells

Plant essential oils are defined as fragrant volatile oils extracted from leaves, stems, fruits, flowers, and roots of a plant. Such oils are composed of multiple components and multiple functions. By accumulation of inductive information, various plant essential oils have been studied for using in therapeutic medicine for various diseases. Despite of the apparent advantages of essential oils as a source of therapeutic medicines, plant essential oils have many limitations, including cytotoxic side effects. Therefore, it is necessary to evaluate the toxicity and the mechanisms of cytotoxicity of such oils. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxicity to human-derived cell lines of 10 plant essential oils provided by National Institute of Forest Science (i.e., Larix kaempferi; Abies holophylla; Zanthoxylum ailanthoides; Pinus parviflora; Tsuga sieboldti; Chamaecyparis pisifera; Cryptomeria japonica; Pinus densiflora; Illicium anisatum; Pinus thunbergii). Cytotoxicity evaluations were accomplished by using CCK-assays and PCR-based cytotoxicity-related marker gene analyses with A549 cell line, and the Detroit551 cell line which are lung and skin cell line. The genes were analyzed included caspase-3 has a role in cell apoptosis, and the other cyclinA, cyclinB, cyclinD, and cyclinE regulated cell cycling for the cell proliferation. By examining the five cytotoxicity-related marker genes by performing real-time PCR and examined the cytostatic gene regulation associated with the various essential oils. The results of this study showed that the degree of cytotoxicity and the cytostatic gene regulation which could give precious information for using the plant essential oil for the clinical usages.

Genome size and sensitivity to DNA damage by X-rays-plant comets tell the story.

Among several factors affecting radiation sensitivity, genome size has received limited attention during the last 50 years since research at Brookhaven National Laboratory (USA) and other locations demonstrated substantial differences in radiation sensitivities, e.g. between tree species with large (e.g. conifers such as pines) versus small (e.g. dicots such as oaks) genome sizes. Taking advantage of the wide range of genome sizes among species, we investigated radiation sensitivity which we define in this study as DNA damage (break frequency) measured with the alkaline comet assay in isolated nuclei exposed to X-rays. As a starting point, we considered two possible explanations for the high radiation sensitivity of plants with large genome sizes: (i) inherently higher sensitivity of larger genomes and/or (ii) impaired DNA repair. In terms of genome size effects, experiments exposing isolated nuclei from six different plant species to X-rays, varying in genome sizes from 2.6 to 19.2 Gbp, showed that larger genomes are more sensitive to DNA damage by a relationship approximating the cube-root of the nuclear volume; e.g. a 10-fold increase in genome size increases sensitivity by about 2-fold. With regard to DNA repair, two conifer species, Sawara cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera, 8.9 Gbp genome size) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris, 20 Gbp genome size), both effectively repaired DNA damage within 50 and 70 min, respectively, after acute X-ray exposures. Both species also showed delayed repair of double-strand DNA breaks, as we previously showed with Arabidopsis thaliana and Lolium multiflorum.