Needles Of Spruce Trees Research Articles

Spatial Variation in the Concentration of Phenolic Compounds and Nutritional Elements in the Needles of Spruce in Northern Taiga Forests

Patterns of lateral intrabiogeocenotic (between separate elementary biogeoranges) and interbiogeocenotic variability in the content of secondary metabolites and nutritional elements in the different-age needles of spruce (Picea abies ssp. obovata (Ledeb.) Domin) have been studied along the geochemical transect in spruce forests in northern taiga (Kola Peninsula). The perennial needles of spruce undergrowth (30–40 years) are characterized by a higher concentration of carbon, lignin, high-molecular-weight phenolic compounds, bounded tannins, and wide ranges of lignin/cellulose and lignin/N ratios compared to trees older than 100 years. The needles of spruce trees older than 100 years have significantly more bounded tannins and low-molecular-weight phenols in transitional and accumulative sites than in automorphic locations. The concentration of lignin and lignin/N ratio was significantly higher in the 5–7-year-old needles of spruce trees growing in automorphic conditions, while spruce forests in transitional and accumulative sites have the maximum values of these indicators for the current-year needles. Changes in the chemical composition of spruce needles along the geochemical transect are determined by (1) different concentrations of nutritional elements and secondary metabolites in soils; (2) increased soil moisture from automorphic to accumulative sites; (3) the features of the microbiological activity of soils; and (4) environmental factors (light, temperature, etc.).

AGE-SPECIFIC CONTENT OF CONDENSED TANNINS IN THE NEEDLES OF PICEA ABIES SSP. OBOVATA (LEDEB.) DOMIN

Siberian spruce (Picea abies ssp. obovata (Ledeb.) Domin) is one of the dominant species in north-taiga forests and changes in the chemical composition (e. g. tannins) of spruce needles can significantly affect biogeochemical cycles in the areas of its distribution. Variations in the tannin content of Picea abies ssp. obovata needles of different ages among different elementary biogeoareas (EBGA) in dwarf shrub-true moss spruce forests in the Murmansk Region were studied. It was found that the concentration of soluble proanthocyanidins (p < 0.05) decreased with age in needles of spruce trees in all the studied elementary biogeoareas. This pattern was less pronounced for cell wallbound tannins, since the age-related variation of their content in spruce needles was only 4.0 to 8.8 mg/g, while soluble tannins ranged from 31.4 to 88.8 mg/g. Mature trees of two age categories (older than 200 years and an average of 150 years) did not differ in the content of tannins in needles of matching ages. Tannin levels in young (current-year and 1‑year-old) needles of juvenile spruce (30–40 years old) were significantly higher than in needles of the same age in mature trees. A rise in the content of soluble tannins associated with a deficit of nitrous nutrition happened only in the most physiologically active young (current-year and 1‑year-old) needles.

Effect of surface contamination on results of plant analysis

Chemical analysis of plants is often done without paying attention to the ubiquitous natural presence of exogenous material on the plant surface. The analytical result will then be higher than the endogenous plant concentration. It is shown that this error can be related to three parameters: (i) the surface loading L, (ii) the enrichment factor (EF) of the exogenous material with respect to the soil, and (iii) the plant‐to‐soil concentration ratio (CR). These factors are considered for 19 essential and trace elements and the results indicate that the error can range from insignificant to disastrous. Experimental data are mostly for needles of spruce trees growing in a relatively clean surrounding, but the proposed relations can be extended to estimate the effect for other plant species and surroundings.

Quantification of ozone influx and apoplastic ascorbate content in needles of Norway spruce trees (Picea abies L., Karst) at high altitude

ABSTRACTThe objective of the present study was to investigate whether peak concentrations of ozone can deplete the apoplastic ascorbate pool of needles from Norway spruce trees (Picea abies L. Karst.) and, thereby, contribute to damage to forest trees. Twigs of forest trees grown at high altitude (1950m above sea level; Mt Patscherkofel, Austria) were enclosed in situ in chambers and fumigated for 5‐5 or 17 h with ozone concentrations ranging from 60 to 798 nmol mol−1. Adjacent branches were fumigated with filtered air. Ozone influx into the foliage ranging from 1‐7 to 17nmolm−2s−1 had little effect on whole‐needle ascorbate or glutathione contents. However, apoplastic ascorbate decreased by about 30% when the needles were exposed to environmentally relevant ozone concentrations and increased about 3‐fold at higher ozone concentrations. This response suggests the induction of ascorbate as a protective system and may also be important under field conditions. Needles of spruce trees from high altitude that were exposed to chronically increased ozone concentrations contained significantly higher apoplastic ascorbate concentrations than needles from spruce trees from lower altitudes with lower mean atmospheric ozone concentrations. The results show that peak concentrations of ozone do not act in spruce via a depletion of the apoplastic ascorbate pool.

Studies on the Correlation of Putrescine and Potassium Contents in the Needles of Spruce Trees

Summary The correlation between the polyamine putrescine and the nutritional element potassium was examined in Picea abies trees at numerous natural stands in Germany. The amounts of potassium and putrescine in needles was analyzed and a linear negative correlation between the K + and putrescine contents was found, which is significant in the bulk of all stands as well as in subsets. The negative correlation becomes even more pronounced when only sites situated over 600 m with trees older than 60 years are included. While former investigations were concerned with experimental conditions of potassium concentrations in soil or nutrient solutions, the data presented here derive from natural habitats mostly within the range of potassium not defected by deficiency and addresses amounts in needles. The reciprocal relationship of potassium and putrescine concentrations in needles is confirmed even beyond the K + deficiency limit.

Changes in Levels of a-Tocopherol and Ascorbate in Spruce Needles at Three Low Mountain Sites Exposed to Mg2+-Deficiency and Ozone

The main objective of this study was the com parison of changes in levels of α-tocopherol and ascorbate in needles of spruce trees with various degrees of damage at three low mountain sites. The ascorbate content in needles of spruce trees with various degrees of dam age differs in the course of seasons as well as in the absolute level. The antioxidant status was affected mainly during summer. The content of ascorbate in needles of dam aged trees was significantly increased compared to that of undamaged trees. Despite seasonal and daily fluctuations, the level of ascorbate seems to be a good indicator for the degree of dam age in the case of symptoms described as montane yellowing. Together with an increasing content of α-tocopherol per chlorophyll, a rise of ascorbate content indicates enhanced oxidative stress in the needles of damaged trees, particularly in summer. Asc/αToc ratios were increased in needles of damaged trees. At the studied sites enhanced oxidative stress could be caused by the com bined action of Mg2+-deficiency, high ozone concentrations and high-light intensity, all inducing an increased production of radicals in combination with a reduced photosynthetic capacity

Mineral nutrient imbalances and arginine concentrations in needles of Picea abies (L.) Karst. from two areas with different levels of airborne deposition

This study evaluated the utility of free arginine concentrations as a possible alternative to mineral nutrient concentrations as an indicator of mineral nutrient imbalances in Norway spruce [Picea abies (L.) Karst.]. The concentrations of mineral nutrients and arginine were measured in the needles of spruce trees from two areas in Sweden, one with high (15–30 kg ha–1 year–1) airborne N deposition, and one with lower (1–4 kg ha–1 year–1) deposition. The spruce needles from the area with high deposition in southern Sweden had elevated concentrations of free arginine, especially on peat sites. No increase in concentrations was found in the low deposition area in northern Sweden. The arginine concentrations on different sampling occasions were consistent for each site and for individual trees. Trees on peat sites in the south seemed to suffer from P deficiency in relation to N availability. A tendency for K deficiency in needles from peat sites was also found. Needles from trees on mor plots showed acceptable levels of these nutrient elements. Sites in the northern area showed low N concentrations, but the ratios between the different mineral elements analyzed in this study and N were within ranges normally found. A low P/N ratio correlated to high free arginine concentration. The threshold for elevated arginine concentrations is crossed when P/N ratios drop below 0.07–0.08. A tendency for increased arginine levels when ratios between N and the other mineral elements are low was also found, although it was not as strong as that for the P/N ratio. The results are discussed in relation to mineral nutrient imbalances in spruce stands caused by airborne deposition.

Reflectance and fluorescence parameters of needles of Norway spruce affected by forest decline

The reflectance spectrum R(λ) in the range between 366 nm und 780 nm and the fluorescence induction kinetics with a maximum time resolution of 10 μs have been determined from needles of spruce trees with the damage classes S0/S1, S2, and S3. The reflectance values R 660 and R 710 at 660 nm and 70 nm, respectively, the infraredred ratio R 760/R 660, the position λ re of the inflection point of R(λ) at the red edge, the chromaticity point, and the initial and steady-state ratio of the fluorescence intensities at 685 nm and 730 nm are shown to indicate the degree of damage. A quantitative comparison between the data obtained from the reflectance spectrum and the fluorescence measurements demonstrate that both methods provide a similar capability to distinguish between the trees of different damage classes.

Investigations on the Polyamine Content of Spruce Needles Relative to the Occurrence of Novel Forest Decline

Summary Levels of free polyamines were monitored in needles of spruce trees [ Picea abies (L.) Karst.] during the course of two vegetation periods at five natural sites. The putrescine concentration in needles of damaged spruce trees was significantly higher than in needles of undamaged trees. This is e.g. impressively proved by the putrescine/spermidine-ratio. While undamaged trees show nearly similar putrescine and spermidine concentrations, damaged trees have five- to tenfold higher putrescine levels depending on the increasing state of damage. Thus, the content of putrescine in needles can be used as a qualified biochemical damage indicator of spruce trees. The physiological effects of polyamines, in particular their capacity to stabilize membranes and their radical scavenging properties, are discussed in respect to senescence retardation.

Superoxide Dismutase Activity in Needles of Norwegian Spruce Trees (Picea abies L.)

The activity of superoxide dismutase was investigated in needles of spruce trees. To obtain maximum activity, needles were homogenized in the presence of Triton X-100 and polyvinylpyrrolidone. Superoxide dismutase activity was measured in dialyzed extracts with a modified epinephrine assay (HP Misra, I Fridovich [1972] J Biol Chem 247: 3170-3175) at pH 10.2. The extracts contained 70 to 120 units of superoxide dismutase per milligram protein. One unit of superoxide dismutase was completely inhibited in the presence of 20 micromolar NaCN. On native polyacrylamide gels three electromorphs were visualized after staining for activity. All three species were sensitive to CN(-) and H(2)O(2) and were therefore assumed to be Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutases. Superoxide dismutase activity was dependent on the age of the needles and declined by approximately 25% within 3 to 4 years.

Accumulation of organic air constituents by plant surfaces: Part IV: Plant surfaces: A sampling system for atmospheric polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD) and polychlorodibenzo-p-furan (PCDF)

The accumulation of airborne polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (PCDD)/polychlorodibenzo-p-furan (PCDF) in needles of spruce trees ( Picea abies) was investigated to demonstrate the suitability of plant surfaces as natural monitors of emission levels in the environment. A simplified extraction procedure for the analysis of PCDD/PCDF and other highly lipophilic substances from plants is proposed.

Factors modulating superoxide dismutase activity in needles of spruce trees (Picea abies L.)

Factors modulating superoxide dismutase activity in needles of spruce trees (Picea abies L.)

Pigment analysis and spectral assessment of spruce trees undergoing forest decline in the NE United States and Germany

Measurement of photosynthetic pigments as ground truth for remotely sensed spectra of boreal communities was tested. Chlorophyll and carotenoid concentrations and ratios were obtained from needles of spruce trees which were healthy as well as those undergoing forest decline (Waldsterben) in Vermont (USA) and Baden-Wurttemberg (FR Germany). In needles of trees exhibiting forest decline symptoms, chlorophyll pigment concentrations were lower, chlorophyll b levels decreased relative to chlorophyll a, total chlorophyll (a + b) was less relative to total carotenoid, and percent of reflectance in the visible range was higher. Pigment and reflectance data differentiated between needles from healthy and declining sites. These results were compared to remotely sensed spectral data obtained by aircraft and satelitee. As a result of these initial comparisons, it appears that using photosynthetic pigments as ground truth for remotely sensed spectral data may be of value in developing techniques for differentiating undamaged and damaged tree canopies on a large spatial scale. Finally, similar pigment and reflectance properties characterized healthy and declining communities in both Vermont and Baden-Wurttemberg.

Zur pedochemie des berylliums — untersuchungen einer bodengesellschaft im gebiet des bärhaldegranits (südschwarzwald)

The profile distribution of Be is given for a toposequence of podzols, brown earths, stagnogley, forest bog and “Ockererde” (slope gley with infiltrated Al, Mn and Fe). Analysed were the parent rock, fine earth, four fractions of mineral soil (fine skeleton, sand, silt, clay) and the needles of spruce trees. Beryllium is involved in selective weathering processes of elements. Accordingly, the Be-content increases from the fine skeleton to sand, rock, silt and clay, progressively. Through pedogenetic enrichment, Be accumulates in the mica-rich silt fraction. Uptake of Be by spruce is very low even from these acid soils. The accumulation in the needles becomes greater with increasing age. The pedochemical behaviour of Be is very similar to that of Al. Be is incorporated very little in the organic matter cycle, and is therefore not enriched in the soil humus. The brown earth has lost Be, especially in the A h-horizon. In the A e-horizon of the podzol, loss of Be is even greater; the loss is partly offset by Be-enrichment in the B-horizon. In the profiles of depressions, the Be-content is high and is ascribed to lateral flow from the slopes. Be-enrichment is especially high in horizons with a pH of about 5. The Be-balance of the watershed indicates an export of about 10% of the original amount.