Picea Pungens Engelm Research Articles

Светодиодное ультрафиолетовое облучение семян декоративных растений

The article presents studies on determining the effective dose of ultraviolet irradiation when processing seeds of ornamental plants in a compact unit. A promising branch of plant grow-ing is ornamental gardening, since ornamental plants are widely used in landscaping of populated areas. In ornamental gardening, western thuja and prickly spruce are used, which reproduce by seeds. Among all the methods of seed treatment before sowing, we give preference to LED ul-traviolet irradiation (UVR), as the simplest, energy-saving, energy-efficient, environmentally friendly method. The purpose of the study is to determine the effective dose of UV irradiation of seeds of ornamental plants prickly spruce (Picea pungens Engelm) and western thuja (Thuja occi-dentalis L) to increase the germination energy and seed viability. The experiment on UFO of seeds was carried out on a compact UV LED setup with an irradiance of 17.16 W/m2 and only in the UFO-A zone (315...400 nm). The experiment was repeated four times. Each experiment in-cluded 100 seeds. The highest germination energy and maximum seed germination of prickly spruce are observed at a UFO dose of 9.9 kJ/m2 (tfact.=4.71> ttable.=2.57 at P = 0.05). The highest values of germination energy and germination in western thuja occur at a UFO dose of 2.2 kJ/m2. UFO is a good stimulator of growth processes. This method is economically advanta-geous compared to traditional chemical stimulation of seeds, energy-efficient, and environmen-tally friendly because it does not pollute the soil. Keywords: LED IRRADIATION OF SEEDS, ORNAMENTAL GARDENING, THUJA OCCIDENTAL-IS, PRICKLY SPRUCE, ENERGY SAVING, ULTRAVIOLET, PRE-SOWING SEED TREATMENT

Evaluation of a Novel Fungicidal Extract from Blue Spruce, Picea pungens

Aqueous extracts from 22 species of evergreen plants and 32 accessions of spruce ( Picea A. Dietr.) were screened using an in vitro assay to determine their antifungal activity against Calonectria henricotiae, one of the causal agents of boxwood blight. Most of the evergreen species and all the spruce accessions showed significant antifungal activity ( P < 0.05); in particular, the extract from one accession of Picea pungens Engelm. had significant effective fungistatic and fungicidal activity ( P < 0.05), both in vitro and when tested on detached boxwood leaves and whole boxwood plants. The extraction process was simple, consisting of autoclaving fresh leaves in water, and, once extracted, the active compound was stable in aqueous solution and when lyophilized and reconstituted. Further investigations will focus on the potential of this extract as an alternative to traditional fungicides for use in a wide range of crops and in diverse applications, from controlling fungal infections in the landscape to preventing postharvest losses in fruit and vegetable crops.

Effects of plant growth regulators and sucrose on proliferation and quality of embryogenic tissue in Picea pungens

Embryogenic tissue (ET) is important for genetic modification and plant re-generation. The proliferation ability and vigor of ET are crucial for plant propagation via somatic embryogenesis. In this study, ET was induced from mature zygotic embryos in blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.). There were significant differences in ET induction between two provenances, i.e. 78.8 ± 12.5% and 62.50 ± 12.8% respectively. Effects of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D), 6-Benzyl amino-purine (6-BA) and/or sucrose on ET proliferation and somatic embryo (SE) maturation were further investigated with four cell lines. The highest ET proliferation rate reached 1473.7 ± 556.0% biweekly. Concentrations of 2,4-D or 6-BA applied at tissue proliferation stage impacted SE maturation among the cell lines, whereas sucrose showed less effects. The highest rate, 408 ± 230 mature SEs/g FW, was achieved in SE maturation cultures. This research demonstrated that the culture conditions, i.e. the specific concentrations of 2,4-D and BA, at ET proliferation stage affected not only ET growth, but also the quality of ET for SE maturation. This study revealed the necessity and benefit in developing both the general and the genotype-specific protocols for efficient production of mature SEs, or somatic plants in blue spruce.

Propellers Spin Rate Effect of a Spraying Drone on Quality of Liquid Deposition in a Crown of Young Spruce

The study aimed to assess the quality of spraying of ornamental conifer using a multi-rotor drone. We examined how the speed of drone movement and the propellers’ spin speed can affect the deposition quality of the sprayed liquid in the crown of blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.). Due to the avoidance in the future of droplet drift by air movements, an air injector atomiser for liquid spraying was used, and a low altitude of 0.6 m of the drone flying above the tree was used in the study. The drone moved at two speeds: 0.57 m·s–1 and 0.94 m·s–1. The propellers’ spin speeds were adjusted based on the drone’s weight with the spray liquid tank filled and empty. The propellers’ zero-spin rate was also included to compare the drone to a field sprayer. The tests were conducted in a laboratory setting. Volume and uniformity of liquid volume settled on the levels of samplers positioned on a tripod within the tree canopy were assessed. The samplers were placed in two zones of the tree: near the tree trunk and at a distance of 0.21 m from the trunk. Airstream speed generated by drone propellers was also evaluated inside the tree. The findings indicated that the rotations of propellers and air speed significantly influenced the quality of liquid deposition on samplers located away from the trunk. The results also showed that using a drone instead of a field sprayer could benefit the quality of the spray application. The weight of the multi-rotor drone, determined by the spray liquid tank’s filling level, can significantly impact the quality of spray deposition in the tree. Based on the investigations, it can be recommended that low-altitude spraying drones be adopted for studies and future strategies in precision agriculture using autonomous inspection-spraying drones.

Silvicultural potential of the main introduced tree species in the Czech Republic – review

Abstract Only 1.82% of the Czech forests are covered by the introduced (exotic, non-native) tree species, they represent only a very minor part of the forest area in the Czech Republic. Despite this fact under certain circumstances and locally, they can play an important role in the forest restoration of declined forests. The main non-native tree species used in the Czech Republic are: black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii [Mirbel] Franco), grand fir (Abies grandis [Douglas ex D. Don] Lindl.), black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), northern red oak (Quercus rubra L.), and blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.). Other tree species are cultivated on very small areas, despite their much larger potential. The aim of the presented review paper is to summarize information on the introduced tree species, available especially from national sources, and give comprehensive information concerning the potential and risk of their use in the conditions of the Czech Republic. The authors mention also other tree species eligible for silviculture under current as well as future climatic circumstances. The current area and silvicultural potential in the climate changing conditions are analysed and summarized.

Monitoring of the condition of woody plants in the central part of the city of Donetsk

The dendroflora of Donetsk has been studied the species composition of trees in stands has been determined, the age structure of plantings has been analyzed, the life condition of green spaces has been assessed, as well as morphometric parameters of trees have been evaluated and models of age dependences of the allometric coefficient of trees, characterized by high indicators of adequacy to the initial data, have been proposed for the first time. As part of the linear plantings of the surveyed streets, 45 species of trees were identified, including 13 species of the indigenous fraction of the local flora belonging to 24 genera and 17 families. Dominant are Populus bolleana Lauche, Acer platanoides L., Betula pendula Roth, Acer pseudoplatanus L., Robinia pseudoacacia L., Aesculus hippocastanum L. and Picea pungens Engelm. The plantings are dominated by species of European (48,85%), North American (22,49%) and Central Asian (18,02%) origin. The most numerous in trees is the age group of 4049 years. The vital condition of 41% of trees with a fast and medium growth rate is assessed as good with minor signs of weakening, and 59% of plants are marked as severely weakened or dying. For slow-growing trees, 91% of the sample consists of healthy plants with minor signs of weakening.

Морфо- и феноизменчивость Picea pungens Engelm.: анализ пластичности вида в урбосреде Воронежа

In the Central Chernozem region of the Russian Federation, since 2010, the gap between the phenological development of plants and abiotic environmental factors has been increasing. In order to increase the biodiversity of the flora of megacities, the question of selecting an assortment of plant species that are resistant to a complex of natural and anthropogenic changes at the same time remains relevant. One of these species is the prickly spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.). The diameter of the trunk at chest height, the height of the tree, the number of macrostrobes, the length and color of the needles of specimens (N = 50) growing in urban plantations of Voronezh were studied. The length of the needles of the studied trees is identical to the length of the needles of trees in the natural range. In 20-30-year-old trees, blue-coniferous forms predominate, there is a fairly strong positive correlation between the diameter of the trunk and the height of the tree (r = 0.65).The beginning of growth and the end of shoots were recorded, the timing of the laying of wintering buds in prickly spruce trees (Picea pungens Engelm.). The vegetation period of the studied species is comparable with the phenorhythmics of the local (aboriginal) species of European spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.). The data indicate a sufficiently high adaptability of the prickly spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.) to the expansion of its potential range. We believe that this species is promising for widespread use in various recreational areas of megacities. In the future, it is necessary to answer the question: how will the phenorhythmics of the studied species affect vegetative reproduction to form the basis of the local phenotype?

Developing Integrated Strategies to Address Emerging Weed Management Challenges in Christmas Tree Production

Weed control is an important aspect during the first few years of Christmas tree establishment, as weed competition directly relates to the rate of Christmas tree growth during this time. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the weed control efficacy of organic mulch and herbicide combinations and to determine their phytotoxic effects on four different species of Christmas trees during the establishment stage: Fraser fir (Abies fraseri (Pursh) Poir), blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.), white pine (Pinus strobus L.), and Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris L.). Twelve weed control treatments were established in a complete randomized block design with four replications in each of five fields. Weed control treatments included cypress bark organic mulch and herbicides applied alone and in combinations as well as an untreated control. Herbicides included clopyralid, oxyfluorfen, and glyphosate. All herbicides were applied at their highest labeled rate. Data collection included visual estimations of weed control and phytotoxicity to trees at 30, 60, and 90 days after treatment (DAT). Tree growth and foliar nitrogen concentration were also measured. Mulch combined with herbicide provided 60%–100% weed control in all cases; at two farms, mulch provided a significant increase in weed control when compared to the same treatments without mulch. Combinations of mulch + clopyralid + glyphosate and clopyralid + oxyfluorfen + glyphosate resulted in the highest phytotoxicity ratings. Tree growth was decreased due to some treatments at Gobles farm, and foliar N did not differ among any of the treatments.

Влияние препарата «Биостим» на рост и развитие семян и сеянцев древесных видов в засушливой зоне

The aim of the study was to study the effect of the biostimulator of growth «Biostim» on the germination and development of seeds and seedlings of woody species in order to develop a resource-saving technology of cultivation for nursery breeding in the Volgograd region. The objects of research were the woody species Quercusrobur L., Robiniapseudoacacia L., PopulusbolleanaLouche., Populusnigra var. italica Münchh., Catalpa bignonioides, Pinusnigra subsp. pallasiana (Lamb.), Platycladusorientalis (L.) Franco., Piceapungens Engelm. ofdifferentgeographicalorigin. As a result of the conducted studies, the best result was shown by poplars and catalpa with a concentration of «Biostim» at a dose of 2.5 l/ha (20 ml) for cuttings and 20 ml/l for seeds. The concentration of the preparation at a dose of 10 ml / kg (the consumption of the working solution is 1.5-2 l/kg) with soaking of seeds before sowing for 10-20 minutes, followed by drying, was suitable for Robiniapseudoacacia. The concentration of the preparation in a dose of 10 ml / l with soaking of the seeds before sowing for 10-20 minutes followed by drying was suitable for robiniapseudoactation. The worst result in the test of laboratory germination of seeds was shown by oak petiolate, due to the lack of reaction of seeds to processing and their mold formation. In coniferous species, the best result was shown by Crimean pine with a concentration of the preparation«Biostim» of 10 ml / l and 2.5 l / ha. The germination of spruce and thuja seeds was weak. According to the results of the test of the preparation «Biostim» on seedlings and seeds in a nursery on dark chestnut soils, the best result was shown by seedlings of poplar and catalpa species with a concentration of «Biostim» at a dose of 2.5 l/ha and 20 ml/l for seeds. Additional top dressing with poplar preparation proved to be effective, after which good growth, development and leafing of plants were observed. Seedlings and seeds of eastern thuja and blue spruce after additional processing grew and developed satisfactorily, subsequently their drying and loss was observed, which makes the topic of testing biostimulators of growth on conifers is promising for further research.

Assessment of Cr and Zn deposition on Picea pungens Engelm. in urban air of Ankara, Türkiye

Assessment of Cr and Zn deposition on Picea pungens Engelm. in urban air of Ankara, Türkiye

Dendrochronological analysis of the influence of climate on autochthonous and introduced coniferous tree species in the city park “Prostor”, Kardzhali

The study focuses on the response to climate change of indigenous and introduced coniferous tree species – Austrian black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) and Colorado spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.) situated in the urban city park “Prostor” in the town of Kardzhali. A multifactor regression analysis was used in the frame of the dendrochronological studies to establish the functional dependence “climate – radial growth”. The model was tested in a climate window with a segment of 16 years – from 2005 to 2020. The data for air temperature and monthly precipitation amounts for Hydro-meteorological station (HMS) Kardzhali were used as predictors for the radial growth. = Both species’s indifference to the temperatures and rainfalls during the months August and September, crucial for the ring formation, leads to the absence of significant growth depressions in tree-rings chronologies and justifies the good condition of the studied trees.

СРАВНИТЕЛЬНЫЙ АНАЛИЗ НАКОПЛЕНИЯ ТЯЖЕЛЫХ МЕТАЛЛОВ В ХВОЕ ИНТРОДУЦЕНТОВ В ЗЕЛЕНОЙ ЗОНЕ Г. НУР-СУЛТАН

Comparative analysis of heavy metal accumulation in the needles of introduced species in the green zone of Nur-Sultan has been carried out. 10-year-old forest plantations created from introduced conifers of the genus Spruce (Picea), Fir (Abies) and Larch (Larix) have been investigated in the green zone of Nur-Sultan. Siberian spruce (Picea obovata Ledeb.) has the greatest ability to absorb heavy metals, then (in decreasing order): black spruce (Picea mariana Mill.), Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.), Siberian fir (Abies sibirica Ledeb.), Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.), Colorado spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.). The needles of introduced species were found to exceed the MPCs for lead (Pb), cobalt (Co), and manganese (Mn). High concentration of manganese led to a decrease in the concentration of active iron (Fe), the manganese-iron ratio in trees of the Spruce genus was 1.6-2.9: 1 in all the studied conifers. The content of this element in Siberian larch was the highest (34.9 mg/kg) one, but iron was also present in a fairly large amount (19.7 mg/kg), so the manganese-iron ratio was 1.8:1. Gas resistance and a tendency to accumulate heavy metals in needles, decorativeness and high preservation have been shown by spruce Siberian, which can be recommended for planting in the green zone. Black spruce and Engelman spruce are also resistant to unfavorable environmental factors and decorative. The accumulation capacity and safety of Siberian larch, as well as Siberian fir, is very low, so these species should not be recommended for growing in the green zone of Nur-Sultan

Gemmamyces piceae Bud Blight Damage in Norway Spruce (Picea abies) and Colorado Blue Spruce (Picea pungens) Forest Stands

Since 2008, spruce bud blight (Gemmamyces piceae (Borthw.) Casagr.) has been spreading epidemically in forest stands of the Czech Republic’s Ore Mountains. This fungus, with a disjunct Holarctic range, injures buds, especially of Colorado blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.). Damaged buds do not sprout, and, in case of a stronger attack, the tree does not recover its assimilation apparatus and may die. Within the past few years, there has been a huge spread of this fungus throughout the mountain range. This paper summarizes the biology of G. piceae, its host plants, and presents the first findings from the massive outbreak of G. piceae. In 2015, an increase in damage was detected on Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst). The course of the G. piceae epidemic had been monitored in 25 permanent research plots over the course of 11 years. In the case of Colorado blue spruce, stands aged 10–60 years were attacked, with 60% of buds damaged on average. The intensity of damage to Norway spruce buds was around 25%. Norway spruce infestation varied significantly depending upon the age of the stand (GLMM: p < 0.01). In the age class of 31–60 years, on average 80% of individuals were infested. In older stands, only 42% of trees were infested, and no infestation was found in individuals younger than 15 years. In Colorado blue spruce, the distribution of the pathogen was continuous, whereby all individuals in the research plots were affected, and, with the exception of a few trees, the infestation was lethal or resulted in a significant reduction of the assimilation apparatus. The development of damage on Colorado blue spruce can be characterized as continuous growth.

СОСТОЯНИЕ ХВОЙНЫХ ИНТРОДУЦЕНТОВ В Г. НУР-СУЛТАНА

The article presents observational data on the survival, preservation and growth of introduced tree species created in the interstrip spaces of the green zone of the city of Nur-Sultan. The greatest preservation is characterized by Siberian spruce (Piceaobovata Ledeb.) (76.8%) and blue spruce (Piceapungens Engelm.) (58,9%). Black spruce (Piceamariana Mill.) and Siberian larch (Larixsibirica Ledeb.) have a preservation rate of an average of 44.5%. The lowest survival rate and preservation (16.4%) is distinguished by Siberian fi r (Abiessibirica Ledeb.). When comparing the method of planting forest crops with planting the material with an open and closed root system, it was revealed that the survival ability and preservation of seedlings with ORS was slightly higher than that of seedlings with CRS. The average survival ability of seedlings with ORS was 58.1%, for seedlings with CRS – 53.7%. Plants height corresponds to the biological characteristics of woody species. The highest average height was for Piceamariana Mill (184.1 cm), the smallest average height was for Piceaengelmannii Parry ex Engelm (143.4 cm). The most acclimatized species of woody plants – Piceaobovata Ledeb., Piceapungens Engelm. and Piceamariana Mill – have been identifi ed. These trees have a high capacity for survival, stable growth and decorative effect. These coniferous plants can be used to create green areas of settlements in Kazakhstan, similar in soil and climatic conditions to the city of Nur-Sultan.

Accumulation of heavy metal pollution caused by traffic in forest trees in the park of Kerey and Janibek Khans of the city of Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan

Air quality in Nur-Sultan, the fast-growing new capital city of Kazakhstan, has been poorly investigated. This research was carried in Kerey and Janibek Khans Park in Nur-Sultan, the capital city of Kazakhstan, which is affected by “different traffic density” on the roads. Three different categories of contamination (i) high pollution (distance from the main road 10–15 m), (ii) moderate pollution (distance from the side road 15–30 m), and (iii) low pollution (distance from the source of contamination 30–80 m) at different levels resulting from urban transportation were examined. The aim of the study is to determine the pollution accumulation amounts of Ni, Cd, Pb, Cr, Li, Co, Fe, and Zn in five different tree species: Norway spruce (Picea abies /L./ H. Karst.), blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.), Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.,), Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.), and silver birch (Betula pendula Roth). Significant differences in Ni, Cd, Pb, Cr, Li, Co, Fe, and Zn accumulation amounts were determined between three different parts of the park exposed to different levels of contamination. Approximately twice higher Ni, 2.3 times Cd, 3.3 times Pb, 2.7 times Co, 1.6 times Zn accumulation were determined in the area exposed to high pollution than in the parts of the park exposed to low pollution. Cd deposition in the area exposed to high contamination was higher in silver birch than in Scots pine and Norway spruce, while Cr and Co deposition values were higher in Norway spruce than in birch and Scots pine.

Interspecific variation in spruce constitutive and induced defenses in response to a bark beetle-fungal symbiont provides insight into traits associated with resistance.

Differences in defensive traits of tree species may predict why some conifers are susceptible to bark beetle-fungal complexes and others are not. A symbiotic fungus (Leptographium abietinum (Peck) M.J. Wingf.) associated with the tree-killing bark beetle (Dendroctonus rufipennis Kirby) is phytopathogenic to host trees and may hasten tree decline during colonization by beetles, but defense responses of mature trees to the fungus have not been experimentally examined. To test the hypothesis that interspecific variation in spruce resistance is explained by defense traits we compared constitutive (bark thickness and constitutive resin ducts) and induced defenses (resin flow, monoterpene composition, concentration, phloem lesion formation and traumatic resin ducts) between two sympatric spruces: Engelmann spruce (Picea engelmannii Parry ex Engelm.-a susceptible host) and blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.-a resistant host) in response to fungal inoculation. Four central findings emerged: (i) blue spruce has thicker outer bark and thinner phloem than Engelmann spruce, which may restrict fungal access to phloem and result in less beetle-available resource overall; (ii) both spruce species induce monoterpenes in response to inoculation but blue spruce has higher constitutive monoterpene levels, induces monoterpenes more rapidly, and induces higher concentrations over a period of time consistent with spruce beetle attack duration; (iii) Engelmann and blue spruce differed in the monoterpenes they upregulated in response to fungal inoculation: blue spruce upregulated α-pinene, terpinolene and γ-terpinene, but Engelmann spruce upregulated 3-carene and linalool; and (iv) blue spruce has a higher frequency of constitutive resin ducts and produces more traumatic resin ducts in annual growth increments than Engelmann spruce, though Engelmann spruce produces more resin following aseptic wounding or fungal inoculation. These findings suggest that higher constitutive resin duct densities and monoterpene concentrations, as well as the ability to rapidly induce specific monoterpenes in response to L. abietinum inoculation, are phenotypic traits associated with hosts resistant to spruce beetle colonization.

Формирование корневой системы хвойных растений в насаждениях г. Ижевска (Удмуртская Республика)

A study of the root systems of tree species, their distribution in soil in horizontal and vertical directions, expressed by quantitative and qualitative indicators in the form of architectonics, underground phytomass, volume, surface, area and root saturation, answers many questions regarding the growth and development of tree plants. The growth conditions and species characteristics of plants have a significant effect on the formation of the root system.The studies were carried out in the large industrial center of the Ural region of Izhevsk in plantations of various environmental categories, i.e. plantings of the residential zone and plantings along the highways. As a zone of conditional control, a city park of landscape type named after S.M. Kirov. The objects of the study were coniferous species: the representative of the local flora such as European spruce (Pícea ábies L.) and the introduced species — Blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.), prevailing among the coniferous species used in the city’s landscaping. In the course of the research, the peculiarities of P. pungens and P. ábies in the formation of the root system in an anthropogenic environment were revealed, manifested in a change in the root saturation index of the meter soil layer, the length of the roots, the ratio of root fractions and their distribution in soil horizons. The total root saturation of a meter layer of soil is higher in P. pungens, but under the conditions of the highest technogenic load in the mainline stands, this indicator is higher in P. ábies. In park plantings in both species, the maximum root saturation was noted in the first soil horizon, while the anthropogenic load in P. ábies increased in the second horizon, and in P. pungens in the third soil horizon. The proportion of different root fractions also changes. P. pungens increases the proportion of semi-skeletal roots, P. ábies increses skeletally, and in conditions of high anthropogenic load it makes half-skeleton and suction roots.

UAV Laser Scans Allow Detection of Morphological Changes in Tree Canopy

High-resolution laser scans from unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) provide a highly detailed description of tree structure at the level of fine branches. Apart from ultrahigh spatial resolution, unmanned aerial laser scanning (ULS) can also provide high temporal resolution due to its operability and flexibility during data acquisition. We examined the phenomenon of bending branches of dead trees during one year from ULS multi-temporal data. In a multi-temporal series of three ULS datasets, we detected a synchronized reversible change in the inclination angles of the branches of 43 dead trees in a stand of blue spruce (Picea pungens Engelm.). The observed phenomenon has important consequences for both tree physiology and forest remote sensing (RS). First, the inclination angle of branches plays a crucial role in solar radiation interception and thus influences the total photosynthetic gain. The ability of a tree to change the branch position has important ecophysiological consequences, including better competitiveness across the site. Branch shifting in dead trees could be regarded as evidence of functional mycorrhizal interconnections via roots between live and dead trees. Second, we show that the detected movement results in a significant change in several point cloud metrics often utilized for deriving forest inventory parameters, both in the area-based approach (ABA) and individual tree detection approaches, which can affect the prediction of forest variables. To help quantify its impact, we used point cloud metrics of automatically segmented individual trees to build a generalized linear model to classify trees with and without the observed morphological changes. The model was applied to a validation set and correctly identified 86% of trees that displayed branch movement, as recorded by a human observer. The ULS allows for the study of this phenomenon across large areas, not only at individual tree levels.

Characterisation of Bioactive Ingredients in Extracts of Fresh and Dried Coniferous Trees for the Development of Sustainable Packaging Materials

Background: Coniferous woods (Abies nordmanniana (Stev.) Spach, Abies procera Rehd, Picea abies (L.) H.Karst, and Picea pungens Engelm.) could contain useful secondary metabolites to produce sustainable packaging materials, e.g., by substitution of harmful petrol-based additives in plastic packaging. This study aims to characterise the antioxidant and light-absorbing properties and ingredients of different coniferous wood extracts with regard to different plant fragments and drying conditions. Furthermore, the valorisation of used Christmas trees is evaluated. Methods: Different drying and extraction techniques were applied with the extracts being characterised by determining the total phenolic content (TPC), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and absorbance in the ultraviolet range (UV). Gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and an acid–butanol assay (ABA) were used to characterise the extract constituents. Results: All the extracts show a considerably high UV absorbance while interspecies differences did occur. All the fresh and some of the dried biomass extracts reached utilisable TAC and TPC values. A simplified extraction setup for industrial application is evaluated; comparable TAC results could be reached with modifications. Conclusion: Coniferous woods are a promising renewable resource for preparation of sustainable antioxidants and photostabilisers. This particularly applies to Christmas trees used for up to 12 days. After extraction, the biomass can be fully valorised by incorporation in paper packaging.

Headspace GC-MS analysis of differences in intra- and interspecific Terpene profiles of Picea pungens Engelm. and P. abies (L.) Karst

Conifer terpenes mediate a number of ecological roles such as deterring herbivory and allelopathic (plant-plant) communication. These terpenes also effect air quality and climate models and are used in chemotaxonomic studies. Herein we report on variation in both intra- and interspecific spruce terpenes using static headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (HS-GC-MS) and principal component analysis (PCA) of ‘fingerprint’ volatile profiles. Samples of blue spruce (Picea pungens), Norway spruce (P. abies), and cedar of Lebanon (Cedrus libani), an outgroup control, were analyzed by HS-GC-MS using both chiral and achiral GC columns. Headspace sampling parameters, temperature and heating time, were optimized to maximize detected terpenes. PCA of terpene ‘fingerprint’ profiles showed differences by species, by individual trees, but perhaps surprisingly not by environmental conditions. Analysis of blue and Norway spruce over several months show that volatile emissions remained remarkably constant unlike cedar of Lebanon, which showed a much greater variation in volatile profiles. Branches and buds from both spruces were found to release greater amounts of terpenes than samples of needles. The enantiomeric compositions of seven chiral monoterpenes were found to be largely similar between the three conifers with the exception of (−)-α-pinene, which was the dominant enantiomer released by Norway spruce and cedar of Lebanon, while (+)-α-pinene slightly predominated in blue spruce. While not the primary focus of this work, we believe this constitutes the first report on the enantiomeric composition of terpenes in cedar of Lebanon.