Vaccinium Angustifolium Research Articles

Forested field edges support a greater diversity of wild pollinators in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)

Agricultural landscapes vary widely in the degree to which they provide natural habitat. This is in spite of the fact that the availability of natural habitat has been identified as a critical factor influencing the diversity and abundance of beneficial crop insects, including native pollinators. We examined the effect of the type of field edge habitat (forested or deforested) on the abundance and diversity of bee species foraging in 15 managed lowbush blueberry fields in the vicinity of St. Stephens, New Brunswick, Canada. Additionally, we tested whether edge habitat type was associated with differences in pollen limitation, fruit set, and seed set of adjacent lowbush blueberry plants. Finally, we used GIS to determine the influence of larger scale land use patterns on the pollinator community and crop success of individual fields. Our forested field edges were distinguished as having lower light availability, greater canopy cover, and a greater bee nesting habitat index than deforested edges. Forested edges also had a greater diversity of bees. In particular, they supported more species of cleptoparasitic bees than deforested edges. Meanwhile, the abundance of non-parasitic (i.e., pollen-seeking) bees was greater along deforested edges. Blueberry plants along deforested edges tended to have more flowers, higher fruit set and marginally higher seed set than plants along forested edges. We found no difference in pollen limitation between edge types, suggesting that differences in fruit set were due to resource limitation. At the landscape level, we found no association among the amount of forest cover surrounding a field and the abundance or diversity of pollinators. However, on the forested edges of fields, we did find a positive correlation between the amount of forest surrounding a field and the abundance of pollinators. Our finding that forested edges had greater nesting habitat index and higher diversity of bees together suggest that the maintenance of areas of natural habitat within agricultural ecosystems helps to support greater pollinator diversity.

Morphological Comparison ofAltica sylviaMalloch, 1919 andMantura chrysanthemi(KOCH, 1803) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini), with a Focus on Sexual Dimorphism

Abstract Altica sylvia Malloch, 1919 and Mantura chrysanthemi (Koch, 1803) co-inhabit natural and commercial stands of lowbush blueberry, Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton (Ericaceae), in eastern Canada and the northeastern United States. Whereas A. sylvia feeds on lowbush blueberry plants, an important crop to the region, M. chrysanthemi feeds on sheep sorrel, Rumex acetosella L. (Polygonaceae), an important weed frequently found in lowbush blueberry fields. This study provides a detailed morphological examination of males and females of these flea beetles to compare species and sex-specific features. Scanning electron microscopy identified key distinguishing features, including internal and external sexual dimorphism of both species.

Profiling of iridoid glycosides in Vaccinium species by UHPLC-MS

The iridoid profile of four Vaccinium species was investigated using UHPLC-MS to obtain further information about this group of species for phytochemical characterization. Fruits of bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum L.) showed 14 different iridoid glycosides with a total amount of 20mg/kg fresh weight (FW), whereas bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus L.) contained 11 iridoid glycosides and a total amount of 127mg/kg FW. Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) and lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium L.) contained none of the investigated iridoid glycosides. Among the different iridoids, the isomers scandoside and deacetylasperulosidic acid as well as a dihydro derivative thereof were described for the first time in the Ericaceae family. The p-coumaroyl isomers of scandoside, deacetylasperulosidic acid and dihydromonotropein are reported for the first time in V. myrtillus and V. uliginosum. Monotropein and its p-coumaroyl isomers were found for the first time in V. uliginosum. The comparison of iridoid profiles in bilberry fruit and juice samples revealed constant proportions throughout the juice processing. Quantification and profile determination of iridoids may be used for species differentiation and thus for authentication purposes.

Soil and understory plant dynamics during conversion of forest to silvopasture, open pasture, and woodlot

Little is known regarding the impact of converting northern hardwood forests to pasture or silvopasture. Our objective was to investigate how understory plant communities and soil physical and chemical properties respond during the first 2 years following conversion of northern hardwood forest to pasture. To accomplish this, we established three forest conversion treatments (silvopasture, open pasture, and woodlot) in a 50 year old northern hardwood forest in New York. The silvopasture and open pasture treatments were seeded with forages and then grazed with cattle after the initial timber harvest. Understory plant inventories and soil sampling were conducted pre-treatment and 2 years after treatment establishment. Understory non-woody plant species richness increased in all treatments during the two year period (F = 73.633, P < 0.001), while species richness of understory woody plants remained similar to pretreatment levels (F = 2.648, P = 0.150). Species most negatively affected by forest conversion included Arisaema triphyllum, Mitchella repens, and Thalictrum pubescens. Species that were only observed after the treatments were established included Danthonia spicata, Agrostis spp., Ranunculus spp., Digitaria spp., Rumex acetosella, and Hieracium spp. One species, Vaccinium angustifolium, was negatively affected by the silvopasture and open pasture treatments, but not the woodlot treatment. Soil bulk density was higher in both the open and silvopasture treatments compared to pretreatment levels, but the woodlot treatment soil bulk density remained statistically similar to pre-treatment levels. Percent total nitrogen, potentially mineralizable nitrogen, and phosphorus increased in silvopastures, open pastures, and woodlot treatment groups compared to pre-treatment levels. Future research should investigate the implications of these changes in ecosystem structure and composition.

Different effects of anthocyanins and phenolic acids from wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) on monocytes adhesion to endothelial cells in a TNF-α stimulated proinflammatory environment.

Monocyte adhesion to the vascular endothelium is a crucial step in the early stages of atherogenesis. This study aims to investigate the capacity of an anthocyanin (ACN) and phenolic acid (PA) rich fraction (RF) of a wild blueberry, single ACNs (cyanidin, malvidin, delphinidin) and related metabolites (protocatechuic, syringic, and gallic acid) to counteract monocytes (THP-1) adhesion to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) in a tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α) mediated proinflammatory environment. HUVECs were incubated with different concentrations (from 0.01 to 10 μg/mL) of the compounds for 24 h. Labeled monocytic THP-1 cells were added to HUVECs and their adhesion was induced by TNF-α (100 ng/mL). ACN-RF reduced THP-1 adhesion to HUVECs with a maximum effect at 10 μg/mL (-33%). PA-RF counteracted THP-1 adhesion at 0.01, 0.1, and 1 μg/mL (-45, -48.7, and -27.6%, respectively), but not at maximum concentration. Supplementation with gallic acid reduced THP-1 adhesion to HUVECs with a maximum effect at 1 μg/mL (-29.9%), while malvidin-3-glucoside and syringic acid increased the adhesion. No effect was observed for the other compounds. These results suggest that ACNs/PA-RF may prevent atherogenesis while the effects of the single ACNs and metabolites are controversial and merit further exploration.

Temporary immersion and stationary bioreactors for mass propagation of true-to-type highbush, half-high, and hybrid blueberries (Vaccinium spp.)

ABSTRACTTrue-to-type propagules in half-high, highbush, and hybrid blueberries (Vaccinium L. spp.) were produced using stationary (SB) and temporary immersion bioreactor (TIB) systems containing a liquid medium. Multiple shoots were produced in vitro from nodal segments of blueberry cultivars ‘St. Cloud’ and ‘Polaris’, and of six blueberry hybrids obtained from crossing between half-high/highbush and lowbush blueberries. Shoot proliferation was best in a liquid medium containing 4.6 µM zeatin in both TIB and SB systems, but the performance was genotype dependent. Shoot proliferation was better in hybrids than in cultivars. Although SB produced longer shoots with more leaves per shoot in most of the genotypes, TIB-derived shoots were more vigorous and rooted better under ex vitro condition. Liquid culture-derived elongated shoots were rooted ex vitro by treating with indole-3-butyric acid (39.4 mM) before planting on a 3 peat:2 perlite (v/v) medium. Micropropagules were acclimatized and maintained in a greenhouse with 80−90% survival rate of rooted plantlets. Expressed sequence tag (EST)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and EST- and genomic-simple sequence repeat (SSR) marker assay formed a homogenous monomorphic banding pattern in the in vitro-derived and donor control plants proving the clonal fidelity of liquid-culture-derived micropropagated plants.

Improved Growth and Harvestable Yield through Optimization of Fertilizer Rates of Soil-applied Nitrogen, Phosphorus, and Potassium in Wild Blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.)

The study examined the main and interactive effects of soil-applied fertilizers [nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K)] from a 12-year (six production cycles) field experiment conducted at Kemptown, Nova Scotia (Canada). It also recommends the optimum rate for improved growth and harvestable yield of wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.). The fertilizers were applied in a single application at the onset of shoot emergence in early spring of each sprout year at rates of 0, 12, 30, 48, and 60 kg·ha−1 N using urea (2000 only) or ammonium sulfate, 0, 18, 45, 78, and 90 kg·ha−1 P using triple super phosphate, 0, 12, 30, 48, and 60 kg·ha−1 K using potassium chloride. Response surface analysis of the data indicated that 35 kg·ha−1 N, 40 kg·ha−1 P, and 30 kg·ha−1 K were optimum for fruit production and maintaining stem lengths &lt;20 cm, and resulted in an average of 54% more floral buds, 25% more berries per stem, and 13% greater yield than previous recommend rates of 20 kg·ha−1 N, 10 kg·ha−1 P, and 15 kg·ha−1 K. The higher fertilizers rates cost an extra $80/ha but increased net profits by $490/ha. Findings of this study could contribute toward better farm profitability in areas with similar growing conditions. They also suggest that modifications to existing fertilizer rates be made for Central Nova Scotia wild blueberry.

Predator- and Scavenger-Mediated Ecosystem Services Determined by Distance to Field-Forest Interface in the Maine Lowbush Blueberry Agroecosystem.

Predators and scavengers play a vital role in regulating insect pests, weeds, and vertebrate scat in perennial agroecosystems. Understanding how farm management practices and surrounding habitat influence these beneficial ecosystem services contributes to our understanding of these complex ecological systems and guides future management decisions. In a mensurative 2-yr study, we determined how different pest management strategies and surrounding forest composition influenced levels of sentinel insect pupae, weed seeds, and deer scat (feces) removal. Removal of these bioresources was measured within 12 commercial lowbush blueberry fields during 2011 and 2012; farms differed in surrounding landscape composition and farm management strategies. Both the removal of sentinel pupae and scat, was significantly higher within field interiors than at field edges and within adjacent forests. Additionally, farm management strategy interacted with field position to result in significantly higher scat removal in conventional field interiors than organic field interiors. Surrounding forest composition had variable effects on removal of materials. Our results indicate higher levels of activity within field centers as opposed to field edges; this is contrary to what has been observed in other perennial cropping agroecosystems.

Blueberry Spanworm Control in the Laboratory, 2015: Table 1

This experiment was conducted on lowbush blueberry to evaluate the effectiveness of two insecticides against blueberry spanworm (SW). Two rates of Belt 400SC—flubendiamide (1.5 and 2.4 oz/acre) and one rate of Delegate 25WG (6 oz/acre) were applied on 21 May in 25 gallons of water-mixture per acre with a CO2-propelled, 80-in. boom sprayer (76-in. swath) equipped with four, flat-spray 8002VS …

Weed seed granivory by carabid beetles and crickets for biological control of weeds in commercial lowbush blueberry fields

Abstract Weeds are one of the most limiting factors in the commercial production of lowbush blueberries Vaccinium angustifolium (Ericaceae). Sheep sorrel (Rumex acetosella) and hairy fescue (Festuca tenuifolia) are prominent weeds in lowbush blueberry fields. Because the granivorous insects Harpalus rufipes (Carabidae) and Gryllus pennsylvanicus (Gryllidae) are common in lowbush blueberry fields when sheep sorrel and hairy fescue are dispersing seeds, we examined how granivorous insects can contribute to the biocontrol of these weeds. In the laboratory, H. rufipes and G. pennsylvanicus consumed a significant number of seeds of sheep sorrel and hairy fescue, and a field experiment found that insects probably consume a significant number of sheep sorrel and hairy fescue seeds in blueberry fields. Additional experiments found that H. rufipes was highly susceptible to field rates of phosmet and acetamiprid, although not to field rates of spirotetramat, which are insecticides that may be used in blueberry fields when the beetle is active. Natural populations of granivorous insects probably provide a valuable ecological service in commercial lowbush blueberry fields and should be conserved in the development of integrated weed management programmes.

Phenology and yield of native fruits cloudberry/bakeapple (Rubus chamaemorus L.) and lingonberry/partridgeberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) grown in Southern Labrador, Canada

Plant habitat, growth, fruit yield and occurrence of pollinators in cloudberry and lingonberry fields/bogs were monitored and analyzed at three locations in southern Labrador: Lanse’au Clair (51°41’ N, 57°08’ W), Red Bay (51°43’ N, 56°26’ W), and Cartwright (53°42’ N, 57°0’ W) over the two growing seasons, 2011 and 2012. The length of the growing seasons was 100–120 d ( DFRA 2014 ) with 600–700 growing degree days (GDD) ( AAFC 2014 ). The 2012 season was warmer than 2011. The plants recorded in belt transects belong to six families: Rosaceae, Ericaceae, Pottiaceae, Juncaeae, Equisetaceae, and Sphagnaceae. In the Ericaeae family, Vaccinium vitis-idaea, Arctostaphylos alpina, Empetrum nigrum, and Vaccinium angustifolium were found. In both seasons, the cloudberry was the first to bloom, followed by wild blueberry, lingonberry, and Labrador tea. The fruit yields of cloudberry and partridgeberry in southern Labrador were higher than those recorded in Finland, Norway, and in the USA. Pollinators were present in large numbers. Most of the specimens were from three orders: Hymenoptera, Diptera, and Lepidoptera. Temperature, precipitation, wind, and sunlight affected plant growth and the occurrence of pollinators. To our knowledge this is the most comprehensive study of plant growth, yield, and pollinators’ activity in cloudberry/partridgeberry fields conducted in Southern Labrador, Canada.

Effect of Dry Heat, Direct Flame, and Straw Burning on Seed Germination of Weed Species Found in Lowbush Blueberry Fields

Experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dry heat, direct flame, and straw burning on germination of several weed species from lowbush blueberry fields. Dry heat experiments were designed as factorial arrangements of temperature (100, 200, and 300 C in experiment 1 and room temperature, 100, 200, and 300 C in experiment 2) and exposure time (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, and 80 s in experiment 1 and 2, 5, 10, and 20 s in experiment 2) to determine the exposure time required to reduce germination for each temperature. Susceptibility to dry heat varied across species tested, but germination of spreading dogbane, meadow salsify, fireweed, and hair fescue seeds collected from lowbush blueberry fields in Nova Scotia, Canada generally declined exponentially as a function of duration of heat exposure at the temperatures tested. Germination decreased more rapidly at higher temperatures in all species, although the duration of heat exposure required to reduce germination by 50 and 90% varied across temperatures and species. Exposure of seeds to direct flame rapidly reduced germination, with less than 1 s of exposure required to reduce seed germination of witchgrass, spreading dogbane, and meadow salsify by &gt; 90%. Straw burning did not consistently reduce germination of hair fescue or winter bentgrass, indicating that a surface burn occurring above weed seeds may not be consistently effective at reducing seed viability. These results provide important estimates of the temperature and exposure times required to reduce viability of weed seeds in lowbush blueberry fields and suggest that thermal technologies that expose weed seeds to direct flame will be the most consistent in reducing seed viability.

Evaluation of aminocyclopyrachlor applied aloneand in combination with registered herbicides for crop tolerance and weed control in wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Ait.)

The pyrimidine herbicide aminocyclopyrachlor was evaluated for crop tolerance and weed control in wild blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton). Preemergence applications of aminocyclopyrachlor at a rate of 50 g a.i. ha−1 did not reduce aboveground blueberry biomass, yield potential, or final yield, and this rate appears safe for use in wild blueberry. Preemergence applications of aminocyclopyrachlor at a rate of 100 g a.i. ha−1 reduced aboveground blueberry biomass, but yield potential and final yield were only reduced significantly at application rates of 200 and 400 g a.i. ha−1. Preemergence applications of aminocyclopyrachlor at a rate of 100 g a.i. ha−1 effectively suppressed Euthamia graminifolia (L.) Nutt., and further evaluation of aminocyclopyrachlor to identify safe application timings and rates in wild blueberry is warranted. Aminocyclopyrachlor applied as a directed spot spray provided good control of several herbaceous and woody perennial weeds, and this use pattern could provide an alternative management option for many perennial weeds in wild blueberry.

Factors limiting the northern distribution of the blueberry maggot, Rhagoletis mendax (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Eastern Canada

Until recently, the Canadian distribution of the blueberry maggot, Rhagoletis mendax Curran (Diptera: Tephritidae), was restricted to Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. The insect was first mentioned in southern Quebec in 1996 and, to date, it has not reached the Lac St-Jean region, where 34% of Canadian blueberry acreage is located. Two questions concerning the northern limit of distribution of the blueberry maggot in Quebec were addressed. First, are wild plants suitable hosts for larval development? We collected the fruit of five wild plants, (e.g. Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium angustifolium, Vaccinium myrtilloides, Gaylussacia baccata, and Aronia melanocarpa) growing in southern Quebec and allowed larvae to complete their development into pupae. Blueberry maggot pupae were recovered from Vaccinium corymbosum, Vaccinium angustifolium, and Gaylussacia baccata, indicating that these plants are suitable for larval development. Second, are harsh winter temperatures a factor limiting the northern distribution of the blueberry maggot? Pupae collected in Quebec and Nova Scotia were put in the soil in the fall and were brought back to the laboratory to determine their supercooling points at different times during winter. The supercooling points of pupae collected in Quebec and Nova Scotia averaged -22.6°C. In natural conditions, air temperatures <-20°C are frequently observed in Quebec in January, February and March. However, due to snow cover, soil temperatures are rarely <-12°C. If -22.6°C constitutes the lower limit for the survival, then winter temperatures are probably not a limiting factor to its northern distribution in Quebec, because blueberry maggot pupae overwinter in the soil.

Degradation kinetics of anthocyanins in freeze-dried microencapsulates from lowbush blueberries (Vaccinium angustifolium Aiton) and prediction of shelf-life

ABSTRACTThe addition of anthocyanins in food products is limited by their instability. In this study, an extract containing anthocyanins from lowbush blueberries was encapsulated by freeze-drying in three maltodextrin matrices with different dextrose equivalents, for potential use as a colorant and functional ingredient. The resultant encapsulates differed in physicochemical properties. Kinetic and thermodynamic parameters for anthocyanin degradation in accelerated shelf life studies at 70, 80, and 90°C were determined using the Arrhenius model. The half-life (t1/2) varied from 0.96 h (freeze-dried extract) to 108 days (encapsulated extract). Our results demonstrate that freeze-dried berry encapsulates effectively retard anthocyanin degradation during storage.

Blueberry Tip Midge Control, 2015: Table 1

This experiment was conducted on lowbush blueberry to evaluate the effectiveness of five insecticides against blueberry tip midge (TM). Materials were applied to 7 × 20-ft plots in a vegetative-year blueberry field at Jonesboro, ME. There were four treated plots for each material plus four untreated check plots. All treatments were applied in 25 gal of water-mixture per acre using a CO2-propelled, 80-inch boom sprayer (76-inch swath), with four, flat spray 8002VS TeeJet …

Spotted Wing Drosophila Control, 2014: Table 1

This experiment was conducted on lowbush blueberry to evaluate the effectiveness of five insecticides against spotted wing drosophila (SWD). Materials were applied on 4 and 19 Sept. to 20- by 50-ft plots in a fruit-bearing blueberry field at Jonesboro, ME. There were four replications of each treatment. Treatment formulations and rates are given in Table 1. Insecticides were applied in 25 gpa using a …

Blueberry Tip Midge Control, 2014: Table 1

This experiment was conducted on lowbush blueberry to evaluate the effectiveness of five insecticides against blueberry tip midge (TM). Materials were applied to 7- by 20-ft plots in a vegetative-year blueberry field at Jonesboro, ME. There were four treated plots for each material plus four untreated check plots. All treatments were applied in 25 gpa using a CO2-propelled, 80-inch boom sprayer (76-inch swath), with four, flat spray 8002VS TeeJet nozzles operating at 35 psi. Rimon 0.83EC (novaluron), Success …

Mitigation of pollen limitation in the lowbush blueberry agroecosystem: effect of augmenting natural pollinators

Growers of small fruit crops often supplement the natural pollinator community by introducing pollinators into commercial orchards and fields, but there are relatively few studies that test the extent to which such interventions increase fruit yield. To test whether plants are limited by pollen availability, inflorescences in 78 commercial lowbush blueberry fields during three years were hand‐pollinated either with supplemental outcross pollen, or marked and left as controls (open‐pollination). Maximum fruit set with supplemental pollination was in the range 50–65%, whereas with open‐pollination, it was slightly, but significantly lower, in the range of 47–57%, suggesting that pollen limitation can affect fruit set. In a two‐year experiment, we augmented native pollinators with introduced honey bees, bumble bees, and leaf cutter bees and all combinations in 48 fields. Stigmatic pollen loads were influenced by the total numbers of managed bees in a field in 2010 but not 2011. The presence of leaf cutter bees had a small but positive effect on seed set in 2010, and honey bees had a small but negative influence on seed set in 2011. There was a strong correlation between fruit set reproductive output of supplementally pollinated and open‐pollinated plants, suggesting that plant health or plant resources influence reproductive success. Temperature variation among regional groupings of fields was minimal and is unlikely to have accounted for differences among fields in fruit set. We propose several reasons why, despite pollen‐limitation of fruit and seed set of blueberry plants, augmentation of the pollinator community of lowbush blueberry did not significantly increase reproduction. These include pollinator‐mediated transfer of self‐pollen followed by subsequent fruit abortion due to inbreeding depression and resource limitation for fruit maturation. Management practices that focus on increasing outcross pollen receipt, or plant resources for fruit set may have greater overall benefit than pollinator augmentation alone.

NEBC 120th Anniversary Botanical Research Conference Presentations

The consequences of initial variability in reproductive effort on later pollination and fruit development have frequently been investigated with flower removal experiments. Often, plants produce many fewer fruits than flowers, so flower removal might not be expected to alter subsequent growth or development patterns all that much. Yet, many studies have demonstrated such changes even for species with low average fruit set, which begs for an explanation. Many (at least seven, by our count) such explanations have been reported in the literature, but experimental support for most is limited. In summer 2014, we conducted a field experiment on a lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium) farm in Maine. In this experiment, we coupled flower removal with three other treatments, each designed to assess the validity of one of three often-cited hypotheses invoked to explain why growth and development changes occur following flower removal: 1) “Short-term nutrient shortages;” 2) “spatiotemporal limitations;” and 3) “the compound interest effect.” The three respective treatments—foliar nitrogen fertilization, positionally biased flower removal, and defoliation—were designed to either intensify or weaken the apparent effects of flower removal if the corresponding hypothesis had merit. As in a 2013 preliminary experiment, flower removal elicited several statistically significant growth and development changes in blueberry, including increases in final leaf area, ripe fruit weight, fruit ripening rate, and relative fruit production. The additional treatments also elicited several significant plant responses, though not always with concomitant flower removal effects as well. For example, fertilization generally increased fruit cluster mass by harvest, but flower removal itself had no such effect on cluster mass. Most observed interactive effects between flower removal and the additional treatments either ran counter to expectations, were limited in scope, or couldn't be unambiguously interpreted. For at least a few observed changes, none of the additional treatments significantly altered the effects of flower removal. We conclude that current hypotheses for the mechanistic basis for changes induced by flower removal are inadequate, at least for blueberry, a species with frequently low fruit set even when managed commercially. However, strong intellectual and economic imperatives exist to encourage further investigation into this open question.Plants grown in horticulture or occurring as adventives outside their native range can provide insight into species’ fundamental niche requirements that might not be evident from the native range, or realized niche, alone. Such occurrences can also identify conditions that support individual survival, but do not currently sustain positive population growth (i.e., a species’ ‘tolerance niche’). Further, in the context of rapid climate change, horticultural and adventive occurrences beyond current range edges might circumvent natural dispersal limitations and facilitate species range shifts. To explore these concepts in the field, we investigated the history and structure of five newly discovered populations of naturalized Magnolia tripetala near horticultural sites in western Massachusetts, USA. This tree species is native to the southeastern US, but has been grown horticulturally in the Northeast since the 1800s. However, naturalized populations had not been well documented in the region previously, raising the possibility that the species’ escape has been triggered by recent climate change. With tree coring and life stage surveys, we asked whether the naturalized populations exhibited synchronous patterns of establishment and expansion, suggestive of climatic release and a shift from tolerance niche to fundamental niche conditions in the region. Across the five sites, we documented 660 individuals, with populations ranging in size from 46 to 396 individuals, including seedlings, saplings, and reproduct