Pinus Sylvestris Shoots Research Articles

Aerobic methane production in Scots pine shoots is independent of drought or photosynthesis.

Shoot-level emissions of aerobically produced methane (CH4) may be an overlooked source of tree-derived CH4, but insufficient understanding of the interactions between their environmental and physiological drivers still prevents the reliable upscaling of canopy CH4 fluxes. We utilised a novel automated chamber system to continuously measure CH4 fluxes from the shoots of Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine) saplings under drought to investigate how canopy CH4 fluxes respond to the drought-induced alterations in their physiological processes and to isolate the shoot-level production of CH4 from soil-derived transport and photosynthesis. We found that aerobic CH4 emissions are not affected by the drought-induced stress, changes in physiological processes, or decrease in photosynthesis. Instead, these emissions vary on short temporal scales with environmental drivers such as temperature, suggesting that they result from abiotic degradation of plant compounds. Our study shows that aerobic CH4 emissions from foliage are distinct from photosynthesis-related processes. Thus, instead of photosynthesis rates, it is more reliable to construct regional and global estimates for the aerobic CH4 emission based on regional differences in foliage biomass and climate, also accounting for short-term variations of weather variables such as air temperature and solar radiation.

Морфологическая изменчивость ассимиляционного аппарата Pinus sylvestris L. в пределах Тебердинского национального парка

Pine forests are widespread in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic, in particular, in the Teberdinsky National Biosphere Reserve, mainly in its northern part. The variability 0 of pine morphological parameters is associated with the ecological and geographical features of the species’ habitat, which is especially important for the Caucasus Mountains. The purpose of this research has been to study the morphological variability of pine in the mountainous conditions of the Karachay-Cherkess Republic based on the morphometric parameters of needles and shoots. The collection of needles and shoots has been carried out using the standard methods. According to the data obtained, the longest pine needles are found in the gorge of the Gonachkhir River (1671 m above sea level), and the shortest – in the gorge of the Daut River (1900 m above sea level). A decrease in the length of the needles with altitude has been recorded. No change in the width has been observed. The needle packing index, on the contrary, increases with altitude. The length of the shoot in the samples of Pinus sylvestris ranges from 22.00 mm (Arkhyz and Daut-2 samples) to 28.94 mm (Teberda and Daut-1 samples) and correlates with the altitude of the habitats. The weight of the freshly collected pine needles in the study area has varied from 4.43 g (Teberda) to 6.06 g (Daut-1); when dried, the weight of 100 pairs of needles has decreased in all the samples by 2 times and has ranged from 2.23 g (Teberda) to 2.00 g (Gonachkhir). No correlation of the weight with the terrain altitude has been found. The lifespan of pine needles growing at different altitudes in the Karachay-Cherkess Republic is on average 2–3 years; 4–year-old needles have been found in small quantities in Teberda (1 %) and Dzhamagat (4 %).The results of this research are the first data on the morphological variability of the needles and shoots of Pinus sylvestris L., growing at different altitudes for the Western Caucasus, in particular for the Karachay-Cherkess Republic. The obtained data on the variability of the pine assimilation apparatus in the Western Caucasus complements and confirms the conclusions of other scientists about the increase in the size and weight of needles, as well as a decrease in their life expectancy when moving from north to south. They will be useful in assessing the phenotypic variability of coniferous forests.

Extraction of phytochemicals from young shoots of Pinus sylvestris L. and analysis of their selected biological properties

Young shoots of Pinus sylvestris L. are a good source of pro-healthy substances, mainly, flavonoids and ascorbic acid. In this paper, we presented research on optimisation of ultrasound-assisted extraction of phytochemicals from young pine shoots, as well as assessment of selected biological properties of obtained extract. Research showed that the yield of antioxidants extraction from young shoots of P. sylvestris L. was dependent on the applied extraction conditions. Based on the mathematical models, the optimal conditions of extraction process in which the maximum quantity of antioxidants is achieved from the pine shoots mass unit, i.e., the ethanol concentration to 61%, and process time equal to 1201 s. Moreover, bioactive components from young pine shoots suppressed the toxic effects of cadmium in relation to Saccharomyces cerevisiae model, which was manifested by a lower ability to produce ROS, lower activity of superoxide dismutase and catalase, as well as a reduction in growth inhibition, compared to cells treated only with cadmium. In addition, extract from young pine shoots showed inhibitor activity in relation to COX-1, COX-2 and acetylcholinesterase.

Soil-borne Ophiostomatales species (Sordariomycetes, Ascomycota) in beech, oak, pine, and spruce stands in Poland with descriptions of Sporothrixroztoczensis sp. nov., S.silvicola sp. nov., and S.tumida sp. nov.

Ophiostomatales (Ascomycota) contains many species, most of which are associated with bark beetles. Some members of this order are plant or animal pathogens, while others colonize soil, different plant tissues, or even carpophores of some Basidiomycota. However, little is known about soil-inhabiting Ophiostomatales fungi. A survey of these fungi associated with soil under beech, oak, pine, and spruce stands in Poland yielded 623 isolates, representing 10 species: Heinzbutiniagrandicarpa, Leptographiumprocerum, L.radiaticola, Ophiostomapiliferum, O.quercus, Sporothrixbrunneoviolacea, S.dentifunda, S.eucastaneae, and two newly described taxa, namely Sporothrixroztoczensissp. nov. and S.silvicolasp. nov. In addition, isolates collected from fallen shoots of Pinussylvestris that were pruned by Tomicus sp. are described as Sporothrixtumidasp. nov. The new taxa were morphologically characterized and phylogenetically analyzed based on multi-loci sequence data (ITS, β-tubulin, calmodulin, and translation elongation factor 1-α genes). The Ophiostomatales species were especially abundant in soil under pine and oak stands. Leptographiumprocerum, S.silvicola, and S.roztoczensis were the most frequently isolated species from soil under pine stands, while S.brunneoviolacea was the most abundant in soil under oak stands. The results highlight that forest soil in Poland has a wide diversity of Ophiostomatales taxa, but further studies are required to uncover the molecular diversity and phylogenetic relationships of these fungi, as well as their roles in soil fungal communities.

Solar radiation drives methane emissions from the shoots of Scots pine.

Summary Plants are recognized as sources of aerobically produced methane (CH4), but the seasonality, environmental drivers and significance of CH4 emissions from the canopies of evergreen boreal trees remain poorly understood.We measured the CH4 fluxes from the shoots of Pinus sylvestris (Scots pine) and Picea abies (Norway spruce) saplings in a static, non‐steady‐state chamber setup to investigate if the shoots of boreal conifers are a source of CH4 during spring.We found that the shoots of Scots pine emitted CH4 and these emissions correlated with the photosynthetically active radiation. For Norway spruce, the evidence for CH4 emissions from the shoots was inconclusive.Our study shows that the canopies of evergreen boreal trees are a potential source of CH4 in the spring and that these emissions are driven by a temperature‐by‐light interaction effect of solar radiation either directly or indirectly through its effects on tree physiological processes.

Impact of Ozonation Process on the Content of Bioactive Compounds with Antioxidant Properties in Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Shoots as Well as Yield and Composition of Essential Oils

Abstract This study examined the impact of the ozonation procedure on the content of bioactive compounds in young shoots of Pinus sylvestris L. as well as on the yield and the composition of the essential oils and volatile fraction. The ozonation process consisted of exposure of the raw material during 5, 15 and 30 min to the ozone gas with the concentration of 10 and 100 ppm, and then it was stored for 24 hours. In the ozonated pine shoots, the content of vitamin C overall content of polyphenol content and antioxidant potential were determined. It was found that the investigated parameters increased as a result of the utilized procedure. The observed increase in the content of tested bioactive compounds was dependent on exposition time and was found to be highest for ozonated material for 15 min with ozone gas at a concentration of 10 ppm. As a result of the ozonation procedure the content of polyphenolic compounds and vitamin C content increased. Whereas it, did not have a significant effect on composition of the obtained essential oils. It was found that ozone is an effective elicitor, which allows increasing the content of bioactive compounds in pine shoots.

Pinus sylvestris L. and other conifers as natural sources of ascorbic acid

Context: There is a widespread opinion that needles of conifers are a good source of ascorbic acid and may help to cure and prevent scurvy. Aims: To determine the content of ascorbic acid in needles and shoots of Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Juniperus communis and several other conifers. Methods: Ascorbic acid content was analyzed by HPLC: aminocolumn 250 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 µm; mobile phase acetonitrile and 0.05 M KH2PO4 (75:25), flow rate 1.0 mL/min, detection at 266 nm. Results: The fresh needles contained more (10.8 x 10-3%) of ascorbic acid than the fresh shoots (5.4 x 10-3%) of the same P. sylvestris tree. In needles collected during one year with monthly intervals from the same pine tree the content of vitamin C varied from 0.5 x 10-3% to 15.7 x 10-3%. The needles gathered in winter from November to March contained much more of ascorbic acid (5.2-15.7 x 10-3%) than needles collected during warmer season (0.5-2.8 x 10-3%). The fresh needles of compared conifers (n=11) contained ascorbic acid from 0% (Tuja occidentalis) to 15.0 x 10-3% (Tsuga canadensis), needles of J. communis contained ascorbic acid a little more (13.3 x 10-3%) than needles of P. sylvestris, P. abies and Microbiota decussata (9.0-10.8 x 10-3%). Conclusions: The concentration of ascorbic acid in needles and shoots of studied conifers is rather low if compared to other natural sources of vitamin C. Fresh plant material of P. sylvestris, P. abies and J. communis contained more ascorbic acid than frozen material. The concentration of ascorbic acid in needles of these three trees was higher than in shoots.

Control of longitudinal and cambial growth by gibberellins and indole-3-acetic acid in current-year shoots of Pinus sylvestris.

We investigated the involvement of gibberellins (GAs) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in the control of longitudinal and cambial growth in current-year shoots of Pinus sylvestris L. Elongating terminal shoots, located at the apex of previous-year (1-year-old) branches in the uppermost whorl on the main stem, were variously decapitated (apical 5 to 10 mm removed), defoliated (all developing needle fascicles removed) and treated with endogenous GA(4/7) or IAA, or both. Shoot length and the radial widths of xylem and phloem were measured, and the concentrations of GA(1), GA(3), GA(4), GA(9) and IAA in the stem were determined by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with deuterated GAs and [(13)C(6)]-IAA as internal standards. Decapitation decreased the production of xylem and phloem and the IAA concentration, but did not alter either longitudinal growth or the concentrations of GAs. Defoliation markedly inhibited shoot elongation, as well as cambial growth, and reduced the concentrations of GA(1), GA(3), GA(4), GA(9) and IAA. Application of GA(4/7) to defoliated shoots promoted longitudinal growth and phloem production, without affecting xylem production or IAA concentration. Application of GA(4/7) and IAA together to decapitated + defoliated shoots increased shoot elongation, xylem and phloem production and IAA concentration, whereas applying either substance alone had a smaller effect or none at all. We conclude that, for elongating current-year shoots of Pinus sylvestris, (1) both the shoot apex and the developing needle fascicles are major sources of the IAA present in the stem, whereas stem GAs originate primarily in the needle fascicles, (2) GAs and IAA are required for both shoot elongation and cambial growth, and (3) GAs act directly in the control of shoot growth, rather than indirectly through affecting the IAA concentration.

Geographical pattern in photosynthetic light response of Pinus sylvestris in Europe

1. The geographical aspects in photosynthetic light response and stomatal conductance in the shoots of Pinus sylvestris were studied together with structural properties of shoots and needles. Seven stands within the natural distribution area of P. sylvestris in Europe were chosen. CO2 exchange, irradiance and stomatal conductance (gs) for water vapour were measured and the maximum photosynthetic rate (Pm) was determined from the CO2 exchange measurements. 2. There was a clear pattern in the average values of Pm along the latitudinal gradient. Highest values of Pm were found in the middle parts of the distribution area and they decreased towards both ends of the transect. The highest value was almost twice as high as the lowest one. 3. The between‐site variation explained 70% of the total variation in the maximum photosynthetic rate. Pm was not clearly correlated with any single climatic variable or nitrogen concentration in the needles. 4. Pm was closely coupled with stomatal conductance (r2=0·74). The differences in Pm and gs between the sites is likely to reflect adaptation and acclimation to different climates.

Identification of endogenous gibberellins, and metabolism of tritiated and deuterated GA4, GA9 and GA20, in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) shoots

The application of gibberellin A4/7 (GA4/7) to the stem of previous‐year (1‐year‐old) terminal shoots of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) seedlings has been observed to stimulate cambial growth locally, as well as at a distance in the distal current‐year terminal shoot, but the distribution and metabolic fate of the applied GA4/7, as well as the pathway of endogenous GA biosynthesis in this species, has not been investigated. As a first step, we analysed for endogenous GAs and monitored the transport and metabolism of labelled GAs 4, 9 and 20. Endogenous GAs from the elongating current‐year terminal shoot of 2‐year‐old seedlings were purified by column chromatography and high‐performance liquid chromatography and analysed by combined gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS). GAs 1, 3, 4, 9, 12 and 20 were identified in the stem, and GAs 1, 3 and 4 in the needles, by full‐scan mass spectrometry (GAs 1, 3, 4, 9 and 12) or selected‐ion monitoring (GA20) and Kovats retention index. Tritiated and deuterated GA4, GA9 or GA20 were applied around the circumference at the midpoint of the previous‐year terminal shoot, and metabolites were extracted from the elongating current‐year terminal shoot, the application point, and the 1‐year‐old needles and the cambial region above and below the application point. After purification, detection by liquid scintillation spectrometry and analysis by GC‐MS, it was evident that, for each applied GA, unmetabolised [2H2]GA and [3H]radioactivity were present in every seedling part analysed. Most of the radioactivity was retained at the application point when [3H]GA9 and [3H]GA20 were applied, whereas the largest percentage of radioactivity derived from [3H]GA4 was recovered in the current‐year terminal shoot. It was also found that [2H2]GA9 was converted to [2H2]GA20 and to both [2H2]GA4 and [2H2]GA1, [2H2]GA4 was metabolised to [2H2]GA1, and [2H2]GA20 was converted to [2H2]GA29. The data indicate that for Pinus sylvestris shoots (1) GAs applied laterally to the outside of the vascular system of previous‐year shoots not only are absorbed and translocated extensively throughout the previous‐year and current‐year shoots, but also are readily metabolised, (2) the GA metabolic pathways found are closely related to the endogenous GAs identified, and (3) GA9 metabolism follows two distinctly different routes: in one, GA9 is converted to GA1 through GA4, and in the other it is converted to GA20, which is then metabolised to GA29. The results suggest that the late 13‐hydroxylation pathway is an important route for GA biosynthesis in shoots of Pinus sylvestris, and that the stimulation of cambial growth in Scots pine by exogenous GA4/7 may be due to its conversion to GA1, rather than to it being active per se.

Morphological and anatomical changes of Scots pine dwarf shoots induced by air pollutants

This study refers to the observation of Leyton and Juniper, (9) that the Scots pine needle bases surrounded by multiple layers of dead scales can absorb water from dew or mist. It is suggested that this ability provides an additional site of entry for toxins originating from air pollutants. In connection with this hypothesis investigations were carried out on the dwarf shoots of Pinus sylvestris L. trees growing in different areas along an air pollution gradient. The damages to the needles, the ‘weathering’ of the sheath scale surrounding the base of the dwarf shoots, and the decay of surface cells in the basal part of the shoot apex in the axil of the needles and on the adaxial surface of the needles were measured. All of them were exacerbated by increased pollution.

Effects of prohexadione on cambial and longitudinal growth and the levels of endogenous gibberellins A1, A3, A4, and A9 and indole-3-acetic acid in Pinus sylvestris shoots

Prohexadione, a gibberellin (GA) biosynthesis inhibitor, was applied in ethanol around the circumference at the midpoint of the previous year terminal shoot of dormant Pinus sylvestris seedlings. After cultivating the seedlings under environmental conditions favorable for growth for 10 weeks, longitudinal and cambial growth were measured, and the endogenous levels of GA1, GA3, GA4, GA9, and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were determined by combined gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, using deuterated GAs and [13C6]IAA as internal standards. Prohexadione application inhibited elongation and xylem and phloem production in the current year terminal shoot and xylem production in the previous year terminal shoots. Concomitantly, in both ages of shoots the cambial region contents of GA1; GA3, and GA4 were decreased, whereas the level of GA9 was increased. However, the IAA content was not altered in the terminal bud on the current year terminal shoot or in the cambial region of the current year or previous year terminal shoots. The results provide additional evidence that: (1) GAs are involved in the regulation of cambial growth, as well as longitudinal growth, in Pinus sylvestris shoots; (2) they act directly, rather than indirectly, by altering the IAA level; and (3) the GA9 → GA4 → GA1 pathway is a major route of GA biosynthesis in conifer species.

Effect of laterally applied gibberellin A4/7 on cambial growth and the level of indole-3-acetic acid in Pinus sylvestris shoots

Effect of laterally applied gibberellin A4/7 on cambial growth and the level of indole-3-acetic acid in Pinus sylvestris shoots

Tracheid Production in Response to Changes in the Internal Level of Indole-3-Acetic Acid in 1-Year-Old Shoots of Scots Pine

Different concentrations of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) were applied in lanolin to 1-year-old shoots of Pinus sylvestris (L.) in a manner known to stimulate cambial activity. The internal concentration of free IAA was measured at a distance below the application point by combined gas chromatography-selected ion monitoring-mass spectrometry using [(13)C(6)]IAA as a quantitative internal standard, and related to the production of tracheids at the same site. The experiment was performed with: (a) debudded cuttings, where the major source of endogenous IAA, the apical buds, were replaced with exogenous IAA, and (b) intact, attached shoots, where endogenous IAA was supplemented by applying IAA around the circumference of the shoot. In both experimental systems, an increase in the internal IAA level was positively related to increased tracheid production. It was also demonstrated that the concentration of internal IAA measured at the sampling site was comparable with endogenous IAA levels found in intact control shoots, and that a wide range of applied IAA concentrations was associated with a relatively small range of internal IAA levels.

Induction of acropetal 14C-photosynthate transport and radial growth by indole-3-acetic acid in Pinus sylvestris shoots

The relationship between radial growth and assimilate movement was determined in one-year-old Pinus sylvestris (L.) cuttings collected during the dormant period and reactivated for 1-27 days under environmental conditions favorable for growth. The cuttings were either left with buds intact, defoliated along the distal 8 cm, or debudded and treated apically with 0 or 1 mg g(-1) indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in lanolin. Radial growth was measured as tracheid production and bark radial width. The distribution of (14)C-photosynthate 1 or 5 days after exposure to (14)CO(2) was used to indicate assimilate movement. Debudding inhibited tracheid production and decreased acropetal (14)C-photosynthate transport, whereas applying IAA to debudded cuttings promoted both these processes and, in addition, induced vigorous callus growth within the bark immediately below the application point. Distal defoliation markedly increased the amount of (14)C-photosynthate transported toward the apex without altering how debudding and exogenous IAA affected tracheid production and the distribution of (14)C-photosynthate. The production of tracheids induced by apically applied IAA in debudded and distally defoliated cuttings increased progressively in material collected on September 9, October 14 and November 24, whereas bark radial width and acropetal (14)C-photosynthate movement increased only between the first two collection dates. Ringing midway between the IAA source and the bottom of the distally defoliated region with a lanolin mixture of 10 mg g(-1)N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA), 1 mg g(-1) methyl-2-chloro-9-hydroxy-fluorene-9-carboxylic acid (CF) or 10 mg g(-1) phenylacetic acid (PAA) reduced radial growth and [1-(14)C]IAA transport below the ring and locally promoted radial growth and accumulated radioactivity above. (14)C-Photosynthate transport into the region above the ring either was not altered (CF, PAA) or was increased (NPA). The results indicate that apically applied IAA induces the acropetal movement of (14)C-photosynthate in debudded P. sylvestris shoots by locally promoting activity correlated with tracheid and callus production rather than by affecting radial growth or phloem transport processes, or both, at a distance below the IAA source.

Untypical die‐back of the current season's shoots of Pinus sylvestris in Poland

AbstractWe report on mass die‐back of young shoots of Pinus sylvestris in Poland as a consequence of infection with Melampsora pinitorqua and Botrytis cinerea.

Purification of indole-3-acetic acid in plant extracts by immunoaffinity chromatography

Polyclonal rabbit antiserum, raised against IAA coupled to bovine serum albumen via the indole nitrogen, was purified on a Protein A column. The immunoglobulin fraction was covalently bound to glutardialdehyde-activated silicate support and used as an immunoaffinity chromatography matrix to purify IAA in extracts from the cambial zone and shoots of Pinus sylvestris. Samples were then analysed by reverse phase HPLC with fluorescence detection. The accuracy of quantitative estimates of IAA, based on isotope dilution analyses, were verified by means of a successive approximation. The presence of IAA in the cambial tissue was further confirmed by GC/MS.

Abietic and dehydroabietic acid derivatives from needle-free shoots of shoots ofPinus sylvestris

Methyl ethers of hydroxy and keto derivatives of abietic and dehydroabietic acids — 12α-hydroxy- and 12-ketoabietic and 12-hydroxy-, 15-hydroxy-, and 17-ketodehydroabietic acids — have been isolated from an extract of needle-free shoots of the Scotch pine and have been identified in the form of methyl esters.

Nutation in Pinus Sylvestris

1. A long series of observations on the elongating shoots of Pinus sylvestris showed that during the elongating period the new shoots are subject to nutations, which are caused by differentiation of the water pressure on the different sides, resulting in growth curves in the direction where the turgidity was least. The two agents that thus operated locally to decrease turgidity were direct sun and wind. In the absence of either, the shoots were erect. 2. The same effects take place regularly upon the slender-shooted Pinus banksiana and P. strobus, but were not present on the stout-shooted P. laricio and P. ponderosa. In general the wind seemed to have a greater effect than the sun, as long as it was strong enough to rustle leaves of ordinary trees. The effects were greatest when wind and sun operated together, but changes from one position to another following changes of the factors could be quite rapid.