Family Pinaceae Research Articles

A Review of Chemistry and Pharmacology of Piperidine Alkaloids of Pinus and Related Genera.

Pinus belongs to the family Pinaceae, represented by several species across the globe. Various parts of the plant including needles are rich in biologically active compounds, such as thunbergol, 3-carene, cembrene, α-pinene, quercetin, xanthone. Of all the alkaloids, the piperidine group is one of the important component and holds considerable medicinal importance. The group of alkaloids was initially identified from the genus Piper through which a large variety of piperidine molecules have been extracted. The planar structure of this heterocyclic nucleus enables acetamide groups to be added at various ring configurations. Piperidines have gained considerable importance. The broad range of its therapeutic application has paved a way for researchers to implant the nucleus from time to time in diversified pharmacophores and establish new profile. Biological functions of piperidine metabolites have been mostly examined on a limited scale, and that most of the findings are preliminary. We have tried to present various clinical applications of piperidine alkaloids in this study that researchers have already attempted to demystify with time. We have also illustrated different types of piperidine structures and their sources in different members of the family Pinaceae with special emphasis on Pinus. Given the importance of the piperidine nucleus, the study will enable the researchers to produce scaffolds of highest therapeutic efficacy.

Studies on Several Medicinal Benefits of Plant Juniperus communis

Juniperus communis Lin is a fragrant evergreen plant of family Pinaceae; Cupressaceae. The aromatic shrub has great potential in treatment of human and animal diseases. The plant is great source of invert sugars, wax, gums, resins, flavonoids leucoanthocyanins, organic acids, aromatic oils, terpenic acids, alkaloids, tannins, lignins, catechin, etc. Berries of juniper or plant extract used as emmenogogue, sudorific, carminative, diuretic, urinary antiseptic, digestive, and anti-inflammatory. The experiments have demonstrated that the plant’s extract as well as essential oils from plant have antifungal, antiviral, antioxidant, and antibacterial activities. Recent studies uncovered the hypolipidemic and cytotoxic activities from Juniperus berries in experimental study. Recent study also shown the insect repellant and insecticidal activity. Thus, the plant or shrub is treasure of medicinal properties, of which some are discovered and some are undiscovered. There is need to study the plant for new activities that can aid in treating many chronic diseases.

Auxiliary Seed Treatment Is Necessary to Increase Recruitment of a Critically Endangered Species, Abies beshanzuensis (Pinaceae)

Disordered germination is widely observed in plant species with extremely small populations (PSESPs) in China. Abies beshanzuensis M. H. Wu, a PSESP (with only three extant adults in Zhejiang Province, China) that also has poor seed germination in the field, belongs to the Pinaceae family. Pinaceae generally tend toward symbiosis with ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungi to alleviate climate change-induced stresses. Therefore, exploring how to improve seed germination of A. beshanzuensis and whether it is an ECM species will contribute to increasing recruitment for conducting further conservation research. In this study, four temperature regimes (10/15 °C, 15/20 °C, 20/25 °C, and 25/30 °C) were selected to explore the response of seed germination to rising temperature. Based on the microscopic features of fine roots, together with molecular techniques, the mycorrhizal type of this species was identified. The seed germination of A. beshanzuensis was increased from 1–2% to around 4.5% by 14-day cold stratification and under 20/25 °C fluctuating temperature conditions. Our findings indicated that A. beshanzuensis may be endangered as a result of insufficient seedling recruitment due to poor germination under the current climate. A. beshanzuensis was confirmed as an ECM fungi-associated tree species. This study highlights the necessity of incorporating auxiliary seed treatment into population recovery programs of A. beshanzuensis, thereby better conserving the species under ongoing environmental changes.

Sequence Capture of Mitochondrial Genome with PCR-Generated Baits Provides New Insights into the Biogeography of the Genus Abies Mill.

Mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), being maternally inherited in plants of the family Pinaceae, is an important source of phylogeographic information. However, its use is hindered by a low mutation rate and frequent structure rearrangements. In the present study, we tested the method of genomic libraries enrichment with mtDNA via the sequence capture method yielding mtDNA data which were further used to reconstruct the phylogenetic tree of the genus Abies. The baits for hybrid capture were obtained by long-range PCR using primers designed on the basis of the assembly of Abies sibirica Ledeb. mitochondrial genome. Mitochondrial genomes of Picea sitchensis (Bong.) Carr., Larix sibirica Ledeb., and Keteleeria davidiana (Bertrand) Beissn. were used as an outgroup. The resulting phylogenetic tree consists of two sister branches, including the Eurasian and American species, respectively, with some exceptions. The subclade of A. sachalinensis (F. Schmidt) Mast. and A. veitchii Lindl. (Japan and Sakhalin islands) occupies a basal position in the branch of American firs, probably due to the complex history of fir migrations from North America to Eurasia. The tree has high support for majority of clades. For species represented by more than one sample an intraspecific variability was found which is suitable to design mtDNA markers for phylogeographic and population studies.

Enhanced production of pinosylvin stilbene with aging of Pinus strobus callus and nematicidal activity of callus extracts against pinewood nematodes

Pinosylvin stilbenes are phenolic compounds mainly occurring in the Pinaceae family. We previously reported that the accumulation of two pinosylvin stilbene compounds, dihydropinosylvin methyl ether (DPME) and pinosylvin monomethyl ether (PME), in Pinus strobus trees was highly enhanced by infection with pine wood nematodes (PWNs: Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), and these two compounds showed strong nematicidal activity against PWNs. In this work, we established a system of pinosylvin stilbene (DPME and PME) production via the in vitro culture of P. strobus calli, and we examined the nematicidal activity of callus extracts. Calli were induced from the culture of mature zygotic embryos of P. strobus. Optimized growth of calli was obtained in 1/2 Litvay medium with 1.0 mg/L 2,4-D and 0.5 mg/L BA. DPME and PME accumulation did not occur in nonaged (one-month-old) calli but increased greatly with prolonged callus culture. The concentrations of DPME and PME in three-month-old dark-brown calli were 6.4 mg/g DW and 0.28 mg/g DW, respectively. The effect of methyl jasmonate treatment on the accumulation of DPME and PME was evaluated in cell suspension culture of P. strobus. However, the treatment appeared to show slight increase of DPME accumulation compared to callus browning. A test solution prepared from crude ethanol extracts from aged calli (three months old) containing 120 µg/ml DPME and 5.16 µg/ml PME treated with PWNs resulted in 100% immobilization of the adult PWNs and 66.7% immobilization of the juvenile PWNs within 24 h. However, nonaged callus extracts did not show any nematicidal activity against juvenile PWNs and showed less than 20% nematicidal activity against adult PWNs. These results indicate that pinosylvin stilbenes can be effectively produced by prolonged culture of P. strobus calli, can be isolated using simple ethanolic extraction, and are applicable as beneficial eco-friendly compounds with nematicidal activity against PWNs.

ВОЗДЕЙСТВИЕ КЛИМАТИЧЕСКИХ ФАКТОРОВ ВЕГЕТАЦИОННОГО ПЕРИОДА НА ПРИРОСТЫ СОСНЫ ОБЫКНОВЕННОЙ В СРЕДНЕМ ПОВОЛЖЬЕ И НА ПОБЕРЕЖЬЕ БЕЛОГО МОРЯ

The response of the indexed series of linear increments of Scots pine Pinus sylvestris L., 1753 (class Pinopsida , order Pinales , family Pinaceae ) to the current and preceding growing season precipitation in different biotopes of the Kerzhenskii state nature biosphere reserve and Polar Circle reserve is analyzed. For both reserves, a higher (but more stable in magnitude) variability of the increments as compared to wet and dry biotopes over the period of long-term observations is shown for fresh habitats. The results indicate availability of moisture resources in fresh biotopes in both reserves at the stages of renewal bud formation in the previous growing season and internode growth in the current year. Both for wet and dry habitats of the Kerzhenskii reserve, a positive correlation between the increments and total precipitation during the phenophase of internode growth and renewal bud formation is found. The climatic signal obtained in these types of the Kerzhenskii reserve habitats indicates that the lack of moisture is a limiting factor for the pine growth at the key stages of crown development...

COMPLEX ANALYSIS OF SYSTEMATIC, AGE AND INVENTORY STRUCTURE OF AGE-OLD TREES OF CHERNIVTSI

The systematic, age and inventory structure of age-old trees in the green space of the city of Chernivtsi is analyzed. Systematic analysis of the identified age-old trees and inventory surveys were carried out. The division of age-old trees according to the basic inventory parameters was carried out. 114 specimens of age-old trees belonging to 28 species, which belong to 2 divisions – Pinophyta and Magnoliophyta, 3 classes – Ginkgopsida, Pinopsida and Magnoliopsida, 13 orders, 16 families and 21 genera were found. It has been found that Pinaceae family is represented by the largest number of genera. It has been investigated that the Division Magnoliophyta, represented by a Magnoliopsida class , is characterized by a significant representation of all taxa as compared to the Division Pinophyta, especially at the species level. It has been found that 9 species of trees ( 32% of the total) belong to the Division Pinophyta and 19 species of trees (68%) belong to the Division Magnoliophyta. The ratio of Pinophyta to Magnoliophyta is 1 : 2,11. The index of species wealth of age-old trees in the structure of green space of Chernivtsi is calculated as rather high. It has been revealed that the investigated age-old trees are characterized by the predominance of specimens aged from 100 to 200 years, the second category (15 – 25 m) of height, and also by the predominance of plants with the trunk circumference of more than 300 cm and the diameter of 50 – 100 cm. The obtained results of systematic, age and inventory research should be used in the formation of registers of age-old trees of the city of Chernivtsi to ensure the organization of their effective protection and preservation in the structure of green spaces of the city, increase their esthetic and recreational functions.

Bio-energy characteristics of black pine (Pinus nigra Arn.) hydrodistillation waste products

The present study aimed to investigate the physicochemical and energy characteristics of Pinus nigra Arn. (Pinaceae family) coniferous biomass used after the production of essential oil. The biomass, comprised of needles and needles with twigs, was milled and subjected to sieve analysis, thus producing three groups of particle fractions (between 384 and 413 μm). The infrared spectrum was recorded as 4000–400 сm–1. The results from the study revealed significant differences in the phytochemical composition. Particle fractions were characterized in terms of moisture content (7.10-7.95%), ash (1.96-2.89%), cellulose (21.30-29.20%), total chlorophyll (225.54-896.04 μg/g), total carotenoids (23.52-145.43 μg/g), and polysaccharides (0.14-2.06%). The basic energy indices used in the assessment of biomass potential as conditional fuel were calculated as follows: calorific value (16748.79-16877.86 kJ/kg), the density of wood biomass (390.99-421.17 kg/m3), and heat equivalent (0.224-0.243 J/m3).

Floristic composition and diversity of a coniferous forest in southwest of Chihuahua, México

In the present study composition of tree species and diversity in a coniferous forest in the southwest of the state of Chihuahua wasevaluated. The data used come from 10 130 sampling sites established in 2013 in stands with silvicultural management, theinformation was registered only for trees over 7.5 cm of diameter at breast height. The quantified variables were: the species,number of trees, diameter at breast height, basal area and total height. The Margalef (D), Shannon-Weiner (H') indexes and theecological parameters of abundance (AR ), relative dominance (DR ), absolute and relative frequency (FR ) and the importance valueindex (IVI) of each species were estimated. The Pinaceae family was represented by four genera and 10 species, Fabaceae with twogenera and two species, Cupressaceae with two genera and one specie and Ericaceae with one genera and one specie were obtained.Pinus durangensis Martínez presented the highest relative values of abundance, dominance and frequency. Pinus durangensis andQuercus sideroxyla Humb. & Bonpl. are the species of greater ecological importance.

Abies webbiana Ethanolic Extract Based Mouthwash and Its Antimicrobial and Cytotoxic Effect

Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the antimicrobial and cytotoxic effect of Abies webbiana ethanolic extract based preparation of mouthwash and to compare these effects between different concentrations.
 Background: Abies webbiana leaves have been used in traditional siddha and ayurveda systems of medicine for common ailments such as cough, loss of appetite, indigestion, mental disorders, rheumatism, bronchitis, pulmonary infection, asthma, antiseptic and decongestant. Abies webbiana commonly known as talispatra belongs to family Pinaceae. The plant is distributed throughout India, mostly in the Himalayan region from Kashmir to Assam states.
 Materials and Methods: The preparation of Abies webbiana extract was done and antimicrobial activity of Abies webbiana were tested with Streptococcus mutans, Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus through agar well diffusion method. Each bacterial culture was spread on the Luria-Bertani agar plates. Dried extract of Abies webbiana, dissolved in autoclave distilled water to make 25mg/mL, 50mg/mL, 100mg/mL. Incubated for 24 hours at 37o C and diameter of zone of inhibition were recorded in millimeter and compared with standard amoxicillin. Cytotoxic activity of Abies webbiana was assessed using brine shrimp lethality assay. A total of 10 nauplii were added into the three replicates of each concentration of the prepared extract. After the period of 24 hours the remaining brine shrimp were counted.
 Results: The results of the study revealed that the the Abies webbiana formulation based mouthwash is having significantly higher antimicrobial activity than the antibiotic against S. aureus at all the tested concentrations whereas against E. faecalis the antimicrobial effect was significantly lower than the antibiotic. Against S. mutans, higher concentrations of the mouthwash had the antimicrobial effect comparable to that of the antibiotic. The antimicrobial effect against C. albicans was very less for all the tested concentrations of the mouthwash and the antibiotic. This mouthwash also possessed cytotoxic effects on nauplii which were within normal limits and it was found that the nauplii alive was directly proportional to the concentrations except in the concentration of 40μl.
 Conclusion: Within the limitations of the current study, ethanolic extract of Abies webbiana based preparation of mouthwash shows the antimicrobial activity almost comparable to amoxicillin. It was also revealed that it possesses less cytotoxic effect against brine shrimp which are within normal limits.

Immunomodulatory potential of the ethyl acetate fraction of Pinus roxburghii from the Himalayan region of India towards Ehrlich ascites carcinoma

Pinus roxburghii commonly known as “chir pine” belongs to the family Pinaceae and is one of the ornamental trees having tremendous medicinal values placed all over the temperate territory of the northern hemisphere including the Himalayas. There is a global interest in the scientific community to identify novel therapeutic agents that may fight against cancer. In the present study, ethyl acetate fractions (EAF) of green and fallen needles of Pinus roxburghii from the Himalayan region of Himachal Pradesh, India were investigated for immunostimulatory potential toward cancer reduction under both in vitro and in vivo conditions. The previous preliminary study is baselined for the novel idea of using ethyl acetate fractions of green and fallen needles of Pinus roxburghii to assess immunomodulation on Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) tumor model among six extracts and fractions. A 10 mg/kg body weight of EAF was injected intraperitoneally for 7 days for immunostimulation of mice prior to cancer induction and compared with standard immunostimulator levamisole. After 14 days of EAC inoculation, hematological, biochemical parameters and vital organs were analyzed. The in vitro data depicted that EAF of green and fallen needles of P. roxburghii possessed the highest immunoenhancing potential on human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Pre-treatment with EAF at 10 mg/kg of the body weight, enhanced the mean survival time to (% ILS=55) and (% ILS=58) respectively in percentage increased life span, whereas it was found to be (% ILS=78) for levamisole. Moreover, EAF of both needles indicated a reduction in tumor growth up to 70.3% while levamisole exhibited 85.4% compared to tumor control groups via immune boosting. Histological examinations revealed enhanced cell number and increased sizes of spleen and thymus indicating boosted immunological responses of EAFs. Hematological and biochemical parameters were recorded to be normal compared to tumor control. The study presented here proved that EAF of green and fallen needles of P. roxburghii have a novel, potential and rich source of immune-boosting phytochemicals for fighting tumor development. Therefore EAF of the needles may be used to develop novel alternative immune boosters which can fight against the development of various types of cancers.

Влияние Amanita muscaria (класс Agaricomycetes, сем. Amanitaceae) иFlammulina velutipes(классAgaricomycetes, сем. Physalacriaceae) на рост и развитие сеянцев Picea abies (класс Pinophyta, сем. Pinaceae) и Abies sibirica (класс Pinophyta, сем. Pinaceae)

The article presents studies of the influence of Amanita muscaria and Flammulina velutipes on the growth and development of seedlings of species of the Pinaceae family. The positive effect of mycorrhization by these fungi species on the growth and development of Picea abies and Abies sibirica was established. Thus, the presence of Flammulina velutipes and Amanita muscaria in the substrate accelerated the appearance of the first shoots by 4–8 days. Mycorrhization of Amanita muscaria influenced the morphometry of the seedlings of Picea abies and Abies sibirica. The main root length changed: in Picea abies it increased by 17.2%, in Abies sibirica it decreased by 12.9%, compared with the control group. In the presence of Amanita muscaria, the length of lateral roots increased by 51.0% in Picea abies seedlings, and by 32.4% in Abies sibirica seedlings, compared with the control group. The height of the aerial part in the presence of Flammulina velutipes increased in comparison with the control group in Picea abies seedlings by 52.2% and in Abies sibirica seedlings by 18.3%. Mycorrhization of Amanita muscaria seedlings caused an increase in the stem diameter at the root collar of Picea abies seedlings by 13.6%, and Abies sibirica seedlings by 12.1%.

Changes in Transpiration and Leaf Water Potential in Douglas-Fir Trees following Douglas-Fir Beetle Attack and Mechanical Girdling

Bark beetles and their associated fungi kill trees readily, but we often ignore which organism is the leading cause of tree mortality. While phloem feeding beetles inhibit photosynthate transport, their associated fungi block the tracheids disrupting transpiration. Within the family Pinaceae, knowledge of tree physiological decline following bark beetle and associated fungi colonization is limited to the genus Pinus. Here we investigate the physiological response of Pseudotsuga (P. menziesii) to bark beetles or its fungi. We hypothesized that fungi block water transport in Douglas-fir causing faster mortality than by bark beetle activity alone. We successfully lured Douglas-fir beetle to attack a subset of trees in our experimental area using pheromones and compared Beetle-Killed trees with mechanically Girdled, and Control trees. During spring snowmelt, nine months after treatments were applied, Control, Girdled, and five trees that Survived beetle attack had higher transpiration rates and less negative pre-dawn water potential than five Beetle-Killed trees. Declines in transpiration and leaf water potential in our Beetle-Killed trees occurred much earlier than those in studies of beetle-attacked lodgepole pines, suggesting stronger defensive traits in Douglas-fir. Our data suggest that, as in pines, bark beetle-associated fungi are the leading cause of mortality in Douglas-fir beetle-attacked trees.

Comparative Wood Anatomy in Pinaceae with Reference to Its Systematic Position

The wood anatomy of 132 species of the genera Abies, Cathaya, Cedrus, Keteleeria, Larix, Nothotsuga, Picea, Pinus, Pseudolarix, Pseudotsuga and Tsuga was studied to determine the elements that characterise the xylem of each genus and discuss possible groupings by wood anatomy for comparison with clades established by molecular phylogeny. The presence of resin canals and ray tracheids supports the family Pinaceae, although the absence of ray tracheids in Keteleeria and their occasional presence in Abies and Pseudolarix weakens it. Based on wood structure, Pinaceae clearly supports division into two groups, coinciding with molecular phylogeny: Pinoideae (Cathaya-Larix-Picea-Pinus-Pseudotsuga) and Abietoideae (Abies-Cedrus-Keteleeria-Nothotsuga-Pseudolarix-Tsuga). Although differences between genera are slight in Pinoideae, the Abietoideae group presents problems such as the presence of only axial resin canals in Keteleeria and Nothotsuga, absence of ray tracheids in Keteleeria and presence of traumatic radial resin canals in Cedrus. However, other features such as pitted horizontal walls and nodular end walls of ray parenchyma cells, indentures, scarce marginal axial parenchyma and presence of crystals in ray parenchyma strengthen the Abietoideae group.

Determination of the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Mature and Immature Foliage of Five Species of Pinaceae by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA)

Conifer needles are rich in resources and have essential ecological and biological functions. However, comparative analysis of the volatile components of immature and mature needles of the family Pinaceae has not been reported to date. In this study, headspace solid-phase microextraction coupled with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to identify the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the immature and mature needles of five Pinaceae species. Altogether, 51 VOCs were identified, 31 of which reportedly show biological activity. The identified compounds include alcohols (6), terpenes (35), esters (7), and others (3). Terpenes were the major metabolites (78.38% to 97.18%) in the needles of the conifers. The needles were divided into four categories based on principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA). This is the first study to show a detailed examination of the differences in VOCs between immature and mature conifer needles. Furthermore, immature and mature needles of the five species were distinguished based on their specific VOCs. Our findings provide a reference for the utilization of conifer needles as valuable renewable resources.

The complete chloroplast genome of Pinus densata

Here, we report the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of Pinus densata. The complete chloroplast genome is 119,617 bp in length. There were 112 genes in the genome, including 73 protein-coding genes, 35 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes. The overall GC was 38.5%, and the base of A, C, G, and T were 30.6, 19.3, 19.2, and 30.9%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that P. densata was relatively closely related to Pinus tabuliformis. These data may providing useful information for the phyletic evolution of P. densata within the Pinaceae family.

Bioactive Compounds Involved in the Formation of the Sparse Understory Vegetation in Pine Forests

The spices of Pinus, the most widespread genus of the Pinaceae family in the northern hemisphere, often have sparse understory vegetation. However, sunlight intensity on the pine forest floor is sufficient for undergrowth. Allelopathy, therefore, is considered to be involved in the formation of sparse understory vegetation. The evidence for the allelopathy of several pine species has accumulated in the literature over the decades. Extracts of pine needle- like leaves, roots, litter, and soil under pine trees suppressed several plant species, including undergrowth plant species of pine forests. A substantial number of secondary metabolites such as terpenoids, phenolics, cinnamic acids, carboxylic acids, fatty acids, and flavonoids have been identified in pine needles and roots, litter and soil under pine trees. The evidence also suggests that some of these compounds are probably released into the soil through the decomposition of the plant litter, and into the surrounding environment as volatiles. The most active compounds found in the pine soil were methyl 15-hydroxy-7-oxodehydroabietate and 7-oxodehydroabietic acid; both compounds may also be formed through the degradation of resin acids, which were found abundantly in pine trees. Bioactive compounds released into the soil and surrounding environment possibly act as allelochemicals and suppress the invasion of undergrowth plants into the forests, resulting in the establishment of the sparse understory vegetation. The paper summarized the allelopathic activity of 16 Pinus species and 38 allelochamicals.

Benefits provided by four ectomycorrhizal fungi to Pinus taeda under different external potassium availabilities.

Ectomycorrhizal fungi contribute to the nutrition of many woody plants, including those in the Pinaceae family. Loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L.), a native species of the Southeastern USA, can be colonized by multiple species of ectomycorrhizal fungi. The role of these symbionts in P.taeda potassium (K+) nutrition has not been previously investigated. Here, we assessed the contribution of four ectomycorrhizal fungi, Hebeloma cylindrosporum, Paxillus ammoniavirescens, Laccaria bicolor, and Suillus cothurnatus, in P.taeda K+ acquisition under different external K+ availabilities. Using a custom-made two-compartment system, P. taeda seedlings were inoculated with one of the four fungi, or kept non-colonized, and grown under K+-limited or -sufficient conditions for 8weeks. Only the fungi had access to separate compartments in which rubidium, an analog tracer for K+, was supplied before harvest. Resulting effects of the fungi were recorded, including root colonization, biomass, and nutrient concentrations. We also analyzed the fungal performance in axenic conditions under varying supply of K+ and sodium. Our study revealed that these four ectomycorrhizal fungi are differentially affected by external K+ and sodium variations, that they are not able to provide similar benefits to the host P. taeda in our growing conditions, and that rubidium may be used with some limitations to estimate K+ transport from ectomycorrhizal fungi to colonized plants.

The slippery nature of ectomycorrhizal host specificity: Suillus fungi associated with novel pinoid (Picea) and abietoid (Abies) hosts

ABSTRACT Suillus is among the best-known examples of an ectomycorrhizal (ECM) fungal genus that demonstrates a high degree of host specificity. Currently recognized host genera of Suillus include Larix, Pinus, and Pseudotsuga, which all belong to the pinoid clade of the family Pinaceae. Intriguingly, Suillus sporocarps have been sporadically collected in forests in which known hosts from these genera are locally absent. To determine the capacity of Suillus to associate with alternative hosts in both the pinoid and abietoid clades of Pinaceae, we examined the host associations of two Suillus species (S. punctatipes and S. glandulosus) through field-based root tip sampling and seedling bioassays. Root tip collections underneath Suillus sporocarps were molecularly identified (fungi: nuc rDNA internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 [ITS barcode]; plant: trnL) to assess the association with multiple hosts. The bioassays contained both single- and two-species treatments, including a primary (Larix or Pseudotsuga) and a secondary (Picea, Pinus, or Abies) host. For the S. punctatipes bioassay, an additional treatment in which the primary host was removed after 8 mo was included to assess the effect of primary host presence on longer-term ECM colonization. The field-based results confirmed that Suillus fungi were able to associate with Abies and Tsuga hosts, representing novel host genera for this genus. In the bioassays, colonization on the primary hosts was detected in both single- and two-species treatments, but no colonization was present when Picea and Abies hosts were grown alone. Removal of a primary host had no effect on percent ECM colonization, suggesting that primary hosts are not necessary for sustaining Suillus colonization once they are successfully established on secondary hosts. Collectively, our results indicate that host specificity is more flexible in this genus than previously acknowledged and help to explain the presence of Suillus in forests where recognized hosts are not present.

FEATURES OF THE CONTENT OF CHEMICAL ELEMENTS IN THE CONIFEROUS LARCH GMELINA IN THE AR-EA OF THE UDOKAN COPPER DEPOSIT

The article presents materials for the study of the content of chemical elements in the coniferous larch Gmelina (Larix gmelinii (Rupr.) Rupr.) family Pinaceae (syn.: Larix dahurica Turcz. ex Trautv., Larix amurensis Beissn.), growing in the high-altitude region of the North of the TRANS-Baikal territory, near the Udokan copper Deposit. The purpose of the research is to assess the concentration of a number of chemical elements in high-altitude and permafrost soils, while preparing the territory of the copper Deposit for exploitation. Selection of larch plant samples was carried out in the types of larch forests widely distributed in the research area, in June 2011. The analysis of pine needles samples was performed according to approved methods using modern instruments and equipment in the laboratory of Institute of Natural Resources, Ecology and Cryology SB RAS. It was found that in General L. Gmelin needles have a low concentration of chemical elements, which are arranged in the following sequence: Mg> Sr> Al> Ba> Fe > Ti> Ni> Cu> Mn> Hg> Zn> V> Ag> Cr> Pb> Cd> Sb> Co> Se> As. At the same time, mercury is the only element whose concentration in larch conifers is much higher, 3.8 times, than that of land plants. The article presents a correlation table of the interaction of chemical elements. The table shows that titanium, aluminum, zinc, and silver have a greater effect on the content of chemical elements in conifers. The results presented in the article were obtained in the studied area for the first time. It is important to use the results of this work to monitor environmental pollution, to take into account when using larch to obtain medicinal substances, and to increase the productivity of forest plantations. Further research in this area may be related to other areas of distribution of larch forests, geochemical assessment of the region.