Chronic Exposure to Ionizing Radiation Elicits Growth Inhibition and a Dynamic Oxidative Stress Response in the Shoots of Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris) Seedlings

Disentangling intra-annual Pinus sylvestris growth responses to hydro-climatic conditions: Insights from quantitative wood anatomy in peatlands.

ABSTRACT The soil water content (SWC) and soil organic carbon (SOC) are two important factors to consider when revegetating degraded land in arid and semiarid areas. Understanding the responses of SWC and SOC to vegetation restoration as well as their coupling interaction is important for the sustainable restoration of vegetation. However, the responses of SWC and SOC are still unclear in different plantation types, especially for the deep soil layer. In this study, three common types of mature plantations containing Pinus sylvestris , Pinus tabuliformis , and Populus simonii were selected in the Loess Plateau region of China to evaluate the responses of SWC and SOC to vegetation restoration as well as their interactions, and thus determine the factors that influenced the variations in SWC and SOC. Compared with grassland, the deep soil water deficit was exacerbated in all three plantations, and the SOC increased under Populus simonii but decreased under the other types. The tradeoff relationship between SOC and SWC had the lowest root mean squared error under Populus simonii . Therefore, Populus simonii was identified as most suitable for revegetation in the study region. Soil texture had important effects on the variations in SOC in the deep soil layers (2–5 m), and SOC and the soil texture affected the variations in SWC in the whole soil profile. The results obtained in this study may facilitate the sustainable development of artificial forests in the Loess Plateau region as well as similar arid and semiarid areas.

ABSTRACTScots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is characterized by considerable intraspecific adaptive variability in response to environmental stress factors due to its wide geographical range. Adaptability is key for forestry, promising resilience against upcoming Europe's climate‐driven droughts. We studied three provenances of pedigreed Scots pine seedlings from distinct upland and lowland habitats in the Czech Republic. A water deficit was induced in 2‐year‐old, potted seedlings in a greenhouse. Their physiological responses to drought were investigated at the beginning of growing season during the development of new shoots, and after subsequent summer rewatering. (1) We analyzed several physiological traits to assess their effectiveness in detecting treatment effects: steady‐state quantum yield of PSII (QY Lss), maximum quantum yield of PSII (QY max), steady‐state non‐photochemical quenching (NPQ Lss), needle chlorophyll fluorescence ratio (SFR_R), and needle temperature normalized to ambient temperature (∆T), using a high‐throughput phenotyping unit. The divergence in SFR_R, QY max, QY Lss, NPQ Lss, and ΔT suggests that drought stress significantly impacts photosynthetic efficiency and heat dissipation, with recovery occurring after rewatering. (2) We detected differences within and among provenances utilizing a single nucleotide polymorphism genotyping array and linear mixed models integrating estimated genomic relationships to investigate genetic variation in needle functional traits in time. Throughout the experiment, heritability (h2 ) varied widely among traits—with QY max and QY Lss showing the greatest variability (from 0 to 0.37), NPQ Lss exhibiting a narrower range aside from two outlier peaks, and SFR_R and ∆T displaying lower variability and lower h2 values (0–0.24). The photosynthesis‐related traits (QY max, QY Lss) showed the highest genetic variation, underscoring their potential for early‐age phenotyping and selection of drought‐tolerant genotypes. These findings address practical problems in forest management, particularly in light of changing weather patterns and climate variability, and provide a foundation for advanced optically based, early‐age phenotyping to enhance forest resilience.

ABSTRACT Digital terrain models (DTMs) represent bare ground topography and are essential for studying forest characteristics. Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) is widely used for forest characterization and DTM derivation, but ground vegetation affects the reliability of DTM. This study quantified vertical errors in TLS-derived DTMs caused by ground vegetation in boreal Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) forests and assessed their impact on diameter at breast height (DBH), stem volume, and stand volume. Bitemporal TLS campaigns were conducted at four one-hectare test sites in Finland, where controlled burnings removed ground vegetation between the measurements. This created 12,452 burned cells (1 × 1 m), while 7619 intact cells served as controls. Comparing pre- and post-fire DTMs revealed that post-fire DTMs were, on average, 8–13 cm lower. Burned cells exhibited greater absolute change (|ΔDTM|) and related root mean square difference (RMSD). Taller vegetation led to higher ΔDTM values. A 10 cm DTM overestimation caused systematic errors in tree and forest attributes: DBH was underestimated by 1.3 mm (0.6%), stem volume by 4.8 dm³ (3.1%), and total stem volume by ∼3 m³/ha (1.3%). This study quantifies ground elevation overestimation and tree attribute underestimation when DTMs include ground vegetation in boreal forests.

Comparative Analysis of Variability of Mitochondrial DNA Markers in Scots Pine

Limited response of boreal forest litterfall mercury deposition to declines in atmospheric mercury concentrations (1987-2000).

Importance of species identity, species mixing and understory on carbon and nitrogen stocks in sessile oak and Scots pine stands.

Dendrochronological and dendrochemical approaches to assess lindane contamination in pine tree rings at the Bailín landfill site (Sabiñánigo, Huesca, Spain).

ABSTRACT Some mycoviruses cause hypovirulence in fungi, but the effects often vary among different host strains. Heterobasidion partitiviruses 13‐an1 and 15‐pa1 (HetPV13‐an1 and HetPV15‐pa1) have been associated with strain‐specific and variable hypovirulence of Heterobasidion annosum , but variation in phenotypic effects of HetPV15‐pa1 or the coinfection of these viruses on different host strains has not been studied previously. In this investigation, the effects of single and double partitivirus infections were first studied using six Finnish H. annosum strains on malt agar plates (MEA). Secondly, the effects of single and double partitivirus infections on the growth rate of four H. annosum strains were tested outdoors using Scots pine billets as a natural substrate. Against our expectations, on MEA plates, the single or double partitivirus infections of HetPV13‐an1 and HetPV15‐pa1 did not have significant effects on three of the fungal strains studied and they slightly accelerated the growth rate of three host strains. In the billet experiment, the double partitivirus‐infected strains were more often assorted to the fastest growing group than virus‐free controls. Based on these results, HetPV13‐an1 and HetPV15‐pa1 do not debilitate the tested H. annosum strains on agar plates or dead wood but may even slightly increase the growth rate of the mycelium on artificial medium and in non‐competitive growth conditions in dead pine wood.

Impact of biotic and environmental stresses and perturbations of Scots pine on new particle formation

Abstract. Peatland trees are valuable archives of paleoclimatic information; however, gaps persist in understanding the relationships between tree growth, peatland hydrology, and hydroclimate variables. While previous research in peatlands has mainly focused on tree-ring widths (TRW), yielding inconclusive results, the potential of stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotopes in tree rings remains unexplored. In this study, we develop TRW, δ13C, and δ18O chronologies of Scots pine trees located in a Swedish peatland and a reference site on bedrock with a mineral soil layer. We assess their responses to hydroclimate conditions and evaluate their potential for reconstructing hydroclimate variations. Our findings show significant differences in mean TRW and δ13C values between the peatland and reference sites. Moreover, while TRWs do not exhibit distinct common patterns between sites, both δ13C and δ18O site chronologies show uniform year-to-year variations across all sites. Some discrepancies for TRW and δ13C site chronologies emerge, however, regarding multi-decadal trends. While the climate sensitivity of TRW is weak and non-homogenous, the δ13C and δ18O peatland and reference chronologies contain robust and consistent signals, with a maximum sensitivity to water table, precipitation, and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) variations during summer. Both δ13C and δ18O chronologies show stable relationships with three key hydroclimate variables over time. In conclusion, while TRWs from living peatland pines at our sites have limited potential to record high-frequency hydroclimate information, δ13C and δ18O chronologies can serve as excellent proxies for the reconstruction of past hydroclimate changes.

Effects of specimen dimensions on the compressive mechanical properties of mongolian scots pine: Experimental investigation and quantitative analysis

Natural regeneration and development of Scots pine seedlings in continuous cover forestry in northern Finland

This review summarizes recent findings on the morphological, anatomical, and biochemical characteristics of Pinus sylvestris L. in both natural and cultural established populations in Central Kazakhstan. Natural populations, occurring in the mountainous zones of the Kazakh Uplands, are characterized by ecological stability, climatic resilience, and high genetic diversity. In contrast, cultural plantations, established to mitigate desertification and stabilize soils, exhibit altered morphometric traits and a decrease in biodiversity due to monocultural practices. Comparative analysis of recent CIS and Kazakhstani studies reveals that environmental stressors, including technogenic pollution and soil degradation, significantly affect anatomical parameters of needles, radial growth, and phytochemical composition. The accumulation of heavy metals, decline in photosynthetic pigments, and variation in essential oil profiles reflect adaptive responses of P. sylvestris to anthropogenic impacts. The observed differences between natural and cultural populations underscore the need for region-specific forest management strategies, informed by anatomical and biochemical diagnostics. These findings support the development of improved selection and breeding programs tailored to Kazakhstan’s diverse ecological zones.

WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) is a large group of transcription factors (WOX1-WOX14) specifically found in plants. WUSCHEL homeobox 2 (WOX2) is important for regulating many aspects of plant somatic embryogenesis. Transcription factors (TFs) are master regulators involved in controlling different cellular and biological functions as well as diverse signaling pathways in plant growth and development. The transcription factors like WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX (WOX2) are crucial for maintaining cellular totipotency and regulating the developmental pathways of somatic embryogenesis. The induction of somatic embryogenesis using shoot apical thin layers has been successful by Malabadi and co-workers in few conifers such as Pinus roxburghii, Pinus kesiya, Pinus wallichina, Pinus patula, and Pinus sylvestrus (Scots pine). Furthermore, the detection and expression of PrWOX2, and PcWOX2 in embryogenic cultures imitated from shoot tip thin layers of mature trees of P. roxburghii and Lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta) could be used as a genetic marker for the identification of embryogenic tissue in pines. The findings from this study based on the molecular assessment, suggested that the cell lines derived from bud cultures were truly embryogenic, not just cells that imitate embryogenic cultures (EC) in morphology. Moreover, these experimental observations also suggest that Pr WOX2 and PcWOX2 could be used as an early genetic marker to discriminate embryogenic cultures from callus initiated from thin cell layers of mature trees of conifers. The research contribution of pine tissue culture work by Indian plant biotechnology Stalwarts, Professor RN Konar, Nagamani, P Mahshwari, Professor Pramod Tandon, Professor Chittaranjan R. Deb, Professor Hiranjit Choudhary, Dr. Sarita Arya, Dr. ID Arya, Dr. RK Kalia, and Dr. Rajani S. Nadagouda has been updated and discussed. The Government of India has awarded Professor Pramod Tandon the fourth highest civilian honour Padma Sri in 2009, for his outstanding contribution to plant science. However, commercialization of pine tissue culture work in India is still facing problems and major bottleneck due to many reasons. Applications of cell sorting techniques, embryogenic cell culture identification by Artificial Intelligence (AI) should be applied for the future studies of initiatation of embryogenic cultures using thin cell layers of shoot apical domes of mature conifers.

Natural regeneration dynamics and diversity in Pinus sylvestris stands: recommendations for mediterranean forest management

Abstract Many tree species show pronounced masting patterns, i.e. high inter-annual variability in seed production, which is strongly synchronised across large areas. Yet, when observing fructification intensity at the individual level, substantial intra-annual variability between trees becomes apparent. The drivers of this variability have so far been only investigated in studies of few species, individuals and/or over short time periods. In this study, we thus analysed potential predictors of individual fructification intensity for eight tree species common in central Europe (Fagus sylvatica, Quercus petraea/robur, Acer pseudoplatanus, Fraxinus excelsior, Picea abies, Abies alba, Pinus sylvestris, Pseudotsuga menziesii) across 15 years (2006–2020) and the area of Southern Germany. We utilised a comprehensive forest monitoring dataset, for which fructification intensity and crown condition are assessed visually each year for thousands of trees at fixed positions. Employing generalised additive models, fructification at the tree level was modelled best when considering predictors related to weather as well as tree age, crown condition and social position. The probability of (strong) fructification was higher in dominant trees, and did also increase as trees became older until a certain species-specific age had been reached, with the effect ultimately turning negative in very old trees. High crown defoliation had a negative effect on the probability of (strong) fructification in almost all species. Yet, in some species (e.g. Fagus sylvatica), weak crown defoliation had a positive effect on fructification intensity, potentially indicating different life strategies between species.

This study examined the effects of biochar produced from forestry waste (Populus alba×P. berolinensis and Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica branches and leaves) on soil physicochemical properties through a 60-day static incubation experiment under varying pyrolysis temperatures (300, 500, and 700 °C) and application rates (1%, 3%, and 5% (w/w)). Results indicated that biochar application enhanced soil available potassium content and pH to different extents. Notably, the most pronounced effect was observed with a 5% application rate of Populus alba×P. berolinensis leaves biochar pyrolyzed at 700 °C, which increased available potassium by 266.39% and pH by 9.82% compared to the control. At a 5% application rate, biochar produced from Populus alba×P. berolinensis leaves pyrolyzed at 300 °C increased soil ammonium nitrogen content by 49.27% and available phosphorus content by 141.68% compared to the control. Furthermore, biochar improved soil organic Matter content, water content, and aggregation. Specifically, the most significant increases were seen with a 5% application rate of Populus alba×P. berolinensis branch biochar pyrolyzed at 300 °C, raising organic Matter by 320.03% and water content by 30.61% compared to the control. Regarding soil aggregate distribution, a 5% application rate of Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica branch biochar pyrolyzed at 300 °C significantly increased the macroaggregate fraction while reducing microaggregates and silt-clay fractions. In conclusion, the application of forestry waste-derived biochar demonstrates potential for improving soil physicochemical properties, with pyrolysis temperature, feedstock source, and application rate all significantly influencing these improvement effects.

Case hardening is a feature of dried wood that causes the wood to deform (cup) after re-sawing and equalising the moisture content. VTT has analysed case hardening with the aid of the simulation model PEO and with experimental drying, conditioning and storage tests. Case hardening cannot be predicted by the moisture content gradient alone. However, the case hardening gap after drying to a high final moisture content of 18% is nearly identical to the calculated gap caused by cupping when the moisture gradients of the two halves of the test piece are equalised.24 hours (proposed in ENV 14464) is too little time to show the total cupping when keeping the sliced specimens in a plastic bag. Thus the test according the standard doesn’t show the whole cupping tendency of, for example, panels when the moisture content is equalised after re-sawing the timber and planing the billets.Increasing the kiln drying rate increases the resulting case hardening tendency. With effective conditioning at the drying temperature, or with steaming after cooling, it is possible to reduce or remove the case hardening. But at normal temperatures in end-use or storage of timber the case hardening diminishes very slowly, despite the equalising of the moisture content in the cross-section.