Pittosporum Tobira Research Articles

The Resistance of Seven Host Plants to Tetranychus merganser Boudreaux (Acari: Tetranychidae).

Simple SummaryThe red spider mite, Tetranychus merganser is one of the most economically important pests in papaya and prickle pear cactus cultivars, causing major damage to fruit and defoliation. In recent years, T. merganser has increased the number of its host plants. The mechanisms of resistance of a plant to herbivorous arthropod include antixenosis and antibiosis. Antixenosis refers to the plant mechanism to affect feeding and oviposition of arthropods; antibiosis refers to the plant capacity to affect the biology of the arthropod. The aim of this research is to assess antibiosis and antixenosis as resistance mechanisms in seven host plants (Thevetia ahouai, Carica papaya, Phaseolus vulgaris, Moringa oleifera, Pittosporum tobira, Helietta parvifolia, Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum) to red spider mites. Oviposition and damage by feeding of T. merganser were greater on C. papaya than on the other host plants. The population growth of the spider mite was lower in P. tobira and T. ahouai than in the other host plants. Results based on the analysis of demographic parameters, food intake, survival and oviposition of T. merganser females suggest that P. tobira and T. ahouai were the most resistant to red spider mites, whereas C. papaya was the most susceptible of the seven host plants. The resistant plants can be studied as alternatives in the management of red spider mites. Red spider mites, Tetranychus merganser Boudreaux (Acari: Tetranychidae), is an agricultural pest that causes economic losses in papaya and nopal crops in Mexico. The aim of this research was to assess antibiosis and antixenosis as resistance mechanisms in seven host plants (Thevetia ahouai, Carica papaya, Phaseolus vulgaris, Moringa oleifera, Pittosporum tobira, Helietta parvifolia, Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum) to red spider mites. Antixenosis was evaluated by non-preference for oviposition and feeding, antibiosis by infinitesimal rate of increase, finite rate of increase and doubling time, and the percentage of spider mites mortality. Oviposition and damage by feeding of T. merganser were significantly greater on C. papaya than on the other host plants. The growth rate of the spider mite was significantly lower in P. tobira and T. ahouai than in the other host plants. The percentage of hatched eggs of T. merganser was significantly higher in P. vulgaris than in the other plant species. Based on the demographic parameters, survival, food intake, and oviposition, these results indicated that compared with C. papaya, P. tobira and T. ahouai were more resistant. These results may be due to the fact that they were plants species of different families. The resistant plants can be studied as alternatives in the management of T. merganser.

ОЦЕНКА АДАПТИВНОСТИ К УСЛОВИЯМ EX SITU 25 ДРЕВЕСНЫХ СУБТРОПИЧЕСКИХ РАСТЕНИЙ

The article discusses morpho-functional features of 25 species of woody subtropical plants (Acca sellowiana (O.Berg) Burret, Myrtus communis L., Murraya paniculata (L.) Jack , Coussapoa microcarpa (Schott) Rizzini, Cascabela thevetia (L.) Lippold, Podocarpus macrophyllus (Thunb.) Sweet, Podocarpus salicifolius Klotzsch & H.Karst. ex Endl., Phyllanthus juglandifolius Willd., Nandina domestica Thunb., Asparagus falcatus L., Ficus pumila L., Ficus cyathistipula Warb., Ficus binnendijkii Miq., Ficus retusa L., Ficus sagittata Vahl, Cinnamomum camphora (L.) J.Presl, Laurus nobilis L., Olea europaea L., Ligustrum japonicum Thunb., Ceratonia siliqua L., Tamarindus indica L., Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) W.T.Aiton, Camellia japonica L., Magnolia obovata Thunb., Hibiscus sinensis Mill.) growing in the greenhouse of the Botanical Garden of Samara University. To assess the adaptability of the species, the following parameters are used: the reflectivity of the leaves (upper and lower sides), the thickness of the leaf blade, the specific area of the leaves (SLA), the content of caratinoids and chlorophylls (a, b). The collection of leaf material was carried out during two growing seasons. The analysis of the parameters takes into account climatic factors, such as average monthly temperatures, air humidity, illumination. In the species studied by us, the values of the specific leaf area index range from 58 to 363 sq.cm / g, the thickness of the leaf blade from 100 to 305 microns. During the analysis, a correlation (average conjugacy) was established for the studied species the thickness of the leaf blade with the reflection of the leaf blade (R=0.65) and the content of photosynthetic pigments hl.a (R= -0.79) and carotenoids (R= -0.59), illumination (R=0.43).

Urban conditions affect soil characteristics and physiological performance of three evergreen woody species

Physiological studies conducted mainly in metropolitan areas demonstrated that urban environments generate stressful conditions for plants. However, less attention has been paid to plant response to urban conditions in small cities. Here, we evaluated to what extent the health and physiological functions of some Mediterranean urban species [Quercus ilex L., Nerium oleander L. and Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) W.T. Aiton] were impacted by urban and peri-urban conditions in Pisa (Italy), a small medieval city with narrow streets that impede efficient public transport causing oversized private transport. Experimental period spanned from late-summer to winter in concomitance with the sharp increase in air pollutants. Climate and air quality, soil physical and chemical properties, and plant physiological traits including leaf gas exchanges, chlorophyll fluorescence and leaf pigments were assessed. In soil, the organic carbon affected aggregates and water stability and the concentrations of some micro-elements decreased in winter. Air pollutants impaired leaf gas exchanges and photochemical processes at photosystem II, depending on species, season, and urban conditions. Shrubs were more susceptible than the tree species, highlighting that the latter adapted better to pollutants along an urban-peri-urban transect in Mediterranean environments. This study gives information on the physiological adaptability of some of the most frequent Mediterranean urban species to stressful conditions and demonstrated that, even in a small city, urban conditions influence the physiology and development of vegetation, affecting the plant health status and its ability to provide key ecosystem services.

Particle Retention Capacity, Efficiency, and Mechanism of Selected Plant Species: Implications for Urban Planting for Improving Urban Air Quality.

Atmospheric particulate matter (PM) has been of concern owing to its negative effects on human health and its role in environmental degradation. For mitigation purposes, it is important to select the most efficient plant species in urban greening. Here, a fast, cost-saving methodology was first added to the conventional method to investigate the size-resolved PM retention capacity and efficiency of twenty plant species. Surface PM (SPM), which can be removed by water and brushing, accounted for 44.9–66.9% of total PM, in which the water-soluble PM (DPM) accounted for 12.9–22.1% of total PM. A large mass proportion of in-wax PM (14.1–31.7%) was also observed. Platycladus orientalis, Eriobotrya japonica, Viburnum odoratissimum, Magnolia grandiflora had the highest AEleaf (retention efficiency on per unit leaf area) to retain SPM within different diameter classes (DPM, PM0.1–2.5, PM2.5–10, PM>10). AEplant (retention efficiency of individual tree) varied greatly among different plant species, mainly due to the dependence on the total area of a tree. AEland (retention efficiency on per unit green area) is a suitable index for PM retention ability and efficiency. In general, P. orientalis, V. odoratissimum, Pittosporum tobira, Photinia serrulate, M. grandiflora, E. japonica were the efficient species in retaining PM at different scales (i.e., leaf, individual tree, green area). The species like Trifolium repens, Phyllostachys viridis, were the least efficient plant species. The investigated species are all evergreen species, which will remove PM throughout the whole year, even in winter. So, we recommended that the plant species with the highest PM retention efficiency can be used in urban greening. Meanwhile, horticulture practices should also be considered to improve the leaf area index to improve their PM retention and air purification abilities.

A Research on Toxicological Properties of Bursa City Parks’s Design Plants

The aim of this study is to reveal the toxicity of design (landscape) plants in Bursa city parks. Landscape plants used in design works are especially evaluated in terms of aesthetics and functionality. However, design (landscape) plants can pose a risk to human and animal health due to the toxic organic compounds they contain. Within this scope, the design (landscape) plants in Hudavendigar City Park, Soganli Botanical Park, Resat Oyal Culture Park and Merinos City Park, which are used extensively by the city's people and which are described as city parks, were examined in terms of their toxic properties. The results showed that the taxa included in the major toxicity group were found at the highest rate in Resat Oyal Culture Park, followed by Merinos City Park, Soganli Botanical Park and Hudavendigar City Park, respectively. Nerium oleander, Taxus baccata, Eriobotrya japonica, Sophora japonica, Pittosporum tobira can be given as examples of taxa included in the major toxicity group. It was determined that design (landscape) plants with major toxicity are used less in city parks, which have been designed and opened to service recently. In landscape design works, it is significant for designers know the negative effects that plants can have on humans and animals due to toxic components other than their esthetic and functional properties. In this way, designs will be made to account for the toxic compounds, toxin conditions of plants, the degree of toxin and the toxic organs of the plants, and the present toxicity will be the least dangerous.

Bitki Tercihleri ve Bitkisel Tasarım Kriterleri Açısından Otopark Alanlarının Değerlendirilmesi: Akdeniz Üniversitesi Yerleşkesi Örneği

The aim of this study is to evaluate the parking lots in Akdeniz University campus within the scope of plant material diversity, planting design elements and criteria. 97 parking areas have determined in the campus and a total of 75 plant species have been identified in these areas, including 43 trees, 7 shrubs, 22 shrubs and 3 twining plants. The most preferred species are Platanus orientalis, Pinus brutia and Washingtonia robusta. Plants often meet the functions of shading and creating space. The most common shrub species are Nerium oleander, Lantana camara, Pittosporum tobira and these species have determined to have restriction and direction functions. According to planting design elements colour and texture are dominant with their dendrological features such as different flower structures and autumn color change, different leaf and branching characteristics. It was determined the rhythm-repeat planting design principle is dominant where the alle afforestation technique is dominant.

New records in vascular plants alien to Tenerife (Spain, Canary Islands).

BackgroundRecent fieldwork by the author in Tenerife, mostly between 2014 and 2019, yielded new records of alien vascular plants.New informationFifteen taxa (Acacia decurrens, A. mearnsii, Caesalpinia pulcherrima, Ensete ventricosum, Eucalyptus camaldulensis subsp. arida, E. cladocalyx, Euryops chrysanthemoides, Ficus elastica, Lippia alba, Pavonia sepioides, Pittosporum tobira, Populus × canadensis, Pyrostegia venusta, Ruellia dipteracanthus and Wigandia kunthii) are reported for the first time from the Canary Islands. All were initially introduced on purpose, mostly as ornamentals, and recently started to escape from cultivation. Most of them are ephemerals or only locally established, but nearly all have the potential to naturalise in the future. Thirteen additional species are reported for the first time from Tenerife: Atriplex nummularia, Bellis perennis, Chenopodium probstii, Coccoloba uvifera, Commelina benghalensis, Cuphea hyssopifolia, Eragrostis virescens, Lemna minuta, Malvastrum corchorifolium, Plerandra elegantissima, Psidium guajava, Thunbergia alata and Urochloa subquadripara. Finally, some miscellaneous notes are provided on the presence of Balanites aegyptiaca, Callistemon viminalis, Grevillea robusta and Passiflora caerulea in Tenerife.

Recycling of shrub landscaping waste: Exploration of bio-hydrogen production potential and optimization of photo-fermentation bio-hydrogen production process

Shrub landscaping waste, derived from afforestation of city, has increased annually, making it a promising feedstock for energy production. In this work, the photo-fermentation bio-hydrogen production potential from shrub landscaping waste was evaluated. Eight kinds of shrub landscaping wastes (Photinia fraseri, Buxus megistophylla, Buxus sinica, Pittosporum tobira, Sabina Chinensis, Berberis thunbergii, Ligustrum vicaryi and Ligustrum quihoui) were selected as substrate and the photo-fermentation bio-hydrogen production process of which was optimized. Buxus megistophylla was found to be the most suitable substrate for photo-fermentation bio-hydrogen production. Moreover, the initial pH value, temperature and substrate concentration had significant influence on photo-fermentation bio-hydrogen production. The maximum cumulated hydrogen yield of Buxus megistophylla was 73.82 ± 0.06 mL/g TS under the optimal conditions of light intensity of 3000 Lux, substrate mass concentration of 21.49 g/L, temperature of 29.78 °C, inoculant amount of 25% and initial pH value of 6.78.

Converting treatment wetlands into “treatment gardens”: Use of ornamental plants for greywater treatment

Nowadays, the use of constructed wetlands for on-site greywater treatment is a very promising option. The successful application of this nature-based solution at full scale requires public acceptance, economic feasibility and the production of high-quality treated greywater. This work focuses on the use of ornamental plants as vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) vegetation for greywater treatment, aiming to improve aesthetic and acceptability of the system. The performance and economic feasibility of the proposed green technology were examined during a 2-years study. Results show that Pittosporum tobira and Hedera helix can grow in VFCW operating with greywater without any visible symptoms. These species tolerated both drought and flooding conditions, making them ideal for use not only in residential buildings but also in seasonal hotels and holiday homes. In contrast, partial defoliation of Polygala myrtifolia plants was observed during the winter period. High average removal efficiencies were observed for BOD (99%), COD (96%) and TSS (94%) in all examined VFCWs including unplanted beds. Phosphorus removal gradually decreased from 100% during first months of operation to 15% during second year of operation. In addition, total coliforms concentration reduced by 2.2 log units in the effluent of all planted systems, while lower removal efficiency was observed in the absence of plants. The mean concentration of BOD and TSS in the treated greywater met the standards for indoor reuse (<10 mg/L). Cost payback periods for the installation of the proposed technology in a multi-family building, a single house and a hotel in Greece were found 4.7, 16.6 and 2.5 years, respectively. Overall, the “treatment gardens” proposed in this study provide a technically and economically feasible solution for greywater treatment, with the additional benefit of improving the aesthetic of urban, semi-urban and touristic areas.

Hydraulic Relations and Water Use of Mediterranean Ornamental Shrubs in Containers

Abstract A detailed, species-specific comprehension of plant water behavior can be a central tool to improve water management in nursery production and irrigated landscapes. Potted plants of Nerium oleander, Pittosporum tobira, and Ligustrum japonicum ‘Texanum’ were exposed to controlled increasing drought conditions in greenhouse. Water use, gas exchange, and foliar thermoregulation were monitored along the trial. N. oleander showed the most efficient response to increasing water stress, maintaining high levels of gas exchange and evapotranspiration rate during the whole trial, whereas L. japonicum emerged as the most sensitive species, with a significant drop in physiological performances already from the second day. The more aggressive water behavior of N. oleander can be compared to the one of anisohydric plants, whereas L. japonicum displays an isohydric strategy. P. tobira showed intermediate characteristics between the two other species. This work comes to provide useful tools for the management of irrigation in plant nursery and for decision making in the use of ornamental shrubs for landscape applications.

Automobile exhaust particles retention capacity assessment of two common garden plants in different seasons in the Yangtze River Delta using open-top chambers

Particulate matter (PM) pollution is a serious environmental problem in most of the cities in the Yangtze River Delta region. Plants can effectively filter ambient air by adsorbing PM. However, only a few studies have paid attention to the dynamic changes and seasonal differences in particle retention capacities of plants under long-term pollution. In this study, we investigated the dynamic changes in particle retention capabilities of the evergreen, broad-leaved, greening plants—Euonymus japonicus var. aurea-marginatus and Pittosporum tobira—in spring and summer. We employed an open-top chamber to simulate the severity of the tail gas pollution. The results showed that, both the plants reached a saturated state in 18–21 days, under continuous exposure to pollution (daily concentration of PM2.5: 214.64 ± 321.33 μg·cm−3). This was 6–8 days longer than that in the field experiments. In spring, the maximum retention of total particulate matter per unit leaf area of E. japonicus var. aurea-marginatus and P. tobira was 188.47 ± 3.72 μg cm−2 (18 days) and 67.63 ± 2.86 μg cm−2 (21 days), respectively. In summer, E. japonicus var. aurea-marginatus and P. tobira reached the maximum retention of the particle on the 21st day, with a net increase of 94.10 ± 3.77 μg cm−2 and 27.81 ± 3.57 μg cm−2, respectively. Irrespective of season, the particle retention capacity of E. japonicus var. aurea-marginatus was higher than that of P. tobira, and it showed a better effect on reducing the concentration of fine particles in the atmosphere. The particle retention of the two plants was higher in spring than that in summer. E. japonicus var. aurea-marginatus displayed a significant difference in particle retention between the seasons, while P. tobira did not show much difference. These results will provide a foundation for future studies on the dynamic changes and mechanism of particle retention in plants and management practices by employing plants for particle retention in severely polluted areas.

Water Economy via Oriented Root Elongation of Mediterranean Plants: Physiological Parameters

Plant species grown in the Mediterranean region have been selected for an experimental study regarding plant ability to endure harsh, abiotic conditions such as water deficiency. Young plants of Ceratonia siliqua L., Myrtus communis L., Nerium oleander L., Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) were placed in elongated plastic tubes and rhizotrons, which allow non-destructive observations of plant material, and were grown under controlled light and temperature conditions, with varying irrigation patterns in a growth chamber, for a 30-day period. Sugar, proline and chlorophyll content were measured in above and below ground tissues of the considered species, during the 30-day experimental period. The results show that Ceratonia siliqua, Myrtus communis and Nerium oleander are more capable of enduring drought conditions, in comparison to Rosmarinus officinalis L. and Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.). The results can be used for planning green urban landscapes with introduction of naturalistic planting, using plant species adapted to the scarcity of water during prolonged, ambient drought conditions. nbsp

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome and phylogenetic analysis of Pittosporum tobira (Pittosporaceae)

The first complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequences of Pittosporum tobira were reported in this study. The cp genome of P. tobira was 153,754 bp long, which included a large single copy (LSC) region of 85,010 bp and a small single copy (SSC) region of 18,740 bp separated by two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,002 bp. The cp genome of this species contained 113 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA genes and 4 ribosomal RNA genes. The overall GC content was 38.3%. Phylogenetic analysis of the complete cp genomes within the order Apiales suggested that P. tobira, the representative of Pittosporaceae, is sister to the families of Apiaceae and Araliaceae.

Phytochemical screening, antioxidant, analgesic and acetylcholinesterase inhibitory effects of Pittosporum tobira leaves

The objective of this study was to determine in the first time the phytoconstituents and the in vitro antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory properties of the ethanol extract of P. tobira leaves (PTL) and to assess its in vivo pharmacological action on pain.Phytochemical screening was done using standard protocols. The antioxidant potential was investigated using two methods including hydrogen peroxide and DPPH radical-scavenging assays. An assessment of the anti-acetylcholinesterase activity of PTL was performed. The analgesic activity was also evaluated using a hot plate and acetic acid assays.Alkaloid, saponins, cardiac glycoside, terpenoids, flavonoids and reducing sugars were found to be present in the leaf of P. tobira. PTL showed a significant antioxidant capacity by inhibition of DPPH radical (EC50 = 143.4 µg/mL) and H2O2 (EC50 = 46.29± 2.1 µg/mL) scavenging activities. Moreover, acetylcholinesterase enzyme was strongly inhibited by PTL with the IC50 value of 100.79 µg/mL. The analgesic effect of PTL was evaluated in mice after intraperitoneal injection of acetic acid (1%, 10 mL/kg, ip). The results showed that PTL reduced significantly the abdominal writhing in mice with an inhibition percentage of 14.78%, comparable with standard paracetamol (10.31%). Furthermore, PTL (350 mg / kg) increased remarkably the reaction time of mice with relatively extended duration of stimulation in the hot-plate test when compared to the control groups.We conclude that the leaf extract of P. tobira possesses potential antioxidant, anti-nociceptive, and anti-acetylcholinesterase properties which could be assigned to the presence of bioactive compounds in its composition.

Protective Role of Leaf Variegation in Pittosporum tobira under Low Temperature: Insights into the Physio-Biochemical and Molecular Mechanisms.

Leaf variegation has been demonstrated to have adaptive functions such as cold tolerance. Pittosporum tobira is an ornamental plant with natural leaf variegated cultivars grown in temperate regions. Herein, we investigated the role of leaf variegation in low temperature responses by comparing variegated “Variegatum” and non-variegated “Green Pittosporum” cultivars. We found that leaf variegation is associated with impaired chloroplast development in the yellow sector, reduced chlorophyll content, strong accumulation of carotenoids and high levels of ROS. However, the photosynthetic efficiency was not obviously impaired in the variegated leaves. Also, leaf variegation plays low temperature protective function since “Variegatum” displayed strong and efficient ROS-scavenging enzymatic systems to buffer cold (10 °C)-induced damages. Transcriptome analysis under cold conditions revealed 309 differentially expressed genes between both cultivars. Distinctly, the strong cold response observed in “Variegatum” was essentially attributed to the up-regulation of HSP70/90 genes involved in cellular homeostasis; up-regulation of POD genes responsible for cell detoxification and up-regulation of FAD2 genes and subsequent down-regulation of GDSL genes leading to high accumulation of polyunsaturated fatty acids for cell membrane fluidity. Overall, our results indicated that leaf variegation is associated with changes in physiological, biochemical and molecular components playing low temperature protective function in P. tobira.

Cambios ultraestructurales en blastosporas de Taphrina caerulescens en presencia de hospedante susceptible y no susceptible

&lt;em&gt;Taphrina caerulescens&lt;/em&gt; es un hongo fitopatógeno de encinos, que causa ampollas en hojas de 50 especies de &lt;em&gt;Quercus&lt;/em&gt;. En 2015, el hongo se aisló por primera vez de &lt;em&gt;Quercus eduardii&lt;/em&gt;, especie de encino endémica de la Sierra Fría de Aguascalientes, México. El objetivo de este estudio fue documentar los cambios que se producen en el inóculo fúngico antes de la infección de su hospedante a medida que cambia de saprófito a parásito. Se utilizaron dos especies de plantas hospedantes: &lt;em&gt;Q. eduardii&lt;/em&gt; y &lt;em&gt;Q. potosina&lt;/em&gt;, y una especie no hospedante, &lt;em&gt;Pittosporum tobira&lt;/em&gt;. En el microscopio electrónico de barrido se analizaron muestras de hojas 24 h, 48 h y 72 h post inoculación con una suspensión de conidios de &lt;em&gt;T. caerulescens&lt;/em&gt;. Se observó una gemación moderada de conidios después de 24 h en muestras de &lt;em&gt;Quercus&lt;/em&gt;; después de 48 h la gemación incrementó en las dos especies de &lt;em&gt;Quercus&lt;/em&gt; y se observó la formación de blastosporas significativamente más pequeñas, que el inóculo original en las muestras de &lt;em&gt;Quercus eduardii&lt;/em&gt;. La formación de tubos germinativos de las blastosporas pequeñas se comprobó después de 48 h en &lt;em&gt;Quercus&lt;/em&gt; &lt;em&gt;eduardii&lt;/em&gt;. Los tubos germinativos se observaron creciendo de manera aleatoria hacia las estomas. No se observaron cambios significativos en las muestras no hospedantes. No existe otro reporte de blastosporas pequeñas en &lt;em&gt;T. caerulescens&lt;/em&gt;.

Morphological, anatomical, physiological and biochemical adaptations of Pittosporum tobira (Thunb.) W.T.Aiton and P. heterophyllum Franch. to the illumination level

Anatomical, morphological, physiological and biochemical adaptations of leaf as the most ecologically sensitive organ in the species P. tobira and P. heterophyllum, grown in the zones of greenhouse complex with different degree of illumination (1 zone – the level of illumination is 100–300 lx, zone 2 – 3000–7000 lx, and zone 3 – more than 10 thousand lx).) were studied. We revealed the structural morphological and anatomical adaptations, which manifested in the increase of leaf structure xeromorphy (thickening of the leaf, adaxial epidermis and columnar parenchyma, increasing pubescence density) under conditions of high insolation. With a low level of illumination in plants of both species, the thickness of the lamina decreased, mainly due to the mesophyll – the number of layers of the columnar parenchyma and the size of the cells reduced. Interspecific differences in the content of photosynthetic pigments in both species studied were found. A common trend in plants under low light conditions was decrease of chlorophyll a compared with the control, whereas the concentration of chlorophyll b in the leaves of plants increased with shading and high insolation. The result of the adaptation of the photosynthetic apparatus of Pittosporum plants, which normalizes its functioning, is a decreasing chlorophyll index both during shading and intense solar radiation. The maximum is determined in the range of 3–7 thousand lx. Such light regime is optimal for plants of the species studied. The observed decreasing pigment index in P. heterophyllum leaves is considered as an adaptive response of more light-loving species of the genus to their cultivation in the shade. The dependence of the peroxidase activity in Pittosporum leaves on the illumination level was studied. Adaptive reactions manifested in changes of peroxidase fractional composition in the leaves of the plants grown in different conditions. The obtained results on the activation and inactivation of the enzymatic activity of free and cell wall-associated peroxidase are interesting for using as an additional diagnostic indicator of stress degree for the plants of the interiors. It was established that adaptive changes in experimental plants were determined by the origin of species and their ecological and biological features.

Trophic interactions between Japanese mock orange Pittosporum tobira and autochthonous frugivorous birds in a town in Catalonia

Trophic interactions between Japanese mock orange Pittosporum tobira and autochthonous frugivorous birds in a town in Catalonia

First Report of Leaf Spot Caused by Alternaria tenuissima on Pittosporum tobira in Anqing, China

Pittosporum tobira is an evergreen tree wildly distributed in China, Korea, and Japan. In July 2015, necrotic leaf lesions were observed on P. tobira growing in six locations in Anqing, east China. The pathogen was recovered from the diseased leaves and identified as Alternaria tenuissima on the basis of morphological characters and sequence analyses of rDNA-ITS and histone 3 nucleotide sequences. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of A. tenuissima causing leaf spot on P. tobira in China. Since the A. tenuissima infections pose a serious threat to P. tobira, correct identification of the pathogen of this disease is essential for developing effective control strategies.

Effects of Climate Change on the Climatic Niches of Warm-Adapted Evergreen Plants: Expansion or Contraction?

Climate change has modified the structure and functions of ecosystems, affecting human well-being. Evergreen plants in the warm-temperate ecosystems will lose climatically suitable habitats under climate change but have not drawn much scholarly interest. Therefore, the present research aimed to predict the future climatic niches of eight coastal warm-adapted evergreen trees under climate change to provide information for an effective management practice. For this purpose, we used the ensemble species distribution models (SDMs) weighted by the TSS value in modelling the climatic niches of those evergreen trees and then ensembled their future distributions predicted under 20 future climate scenarios. Except for Neolitsea sericea (True Skill Statistic (TSS) = 0.79), all projections for the current climatic niches of evergreens showed excellent predictive powers (TSS &gt; 0.85). The results showed that the climatic niches of the four evergreens—Castanopsis cuspidata, Pittosporum tobira, Raphiolepis indica var. umbellate, and Eurya emarginata—would expand to the northern part of the Korean Peninsula (KP) under climate change, but the ones of the remaining four—Kadsura japonica, Neolitsea sericea, Ilex integra, and Dendropanax morbiferus—would shrink. While the climatic niches of Pittosporum tobira showed the rapidest and greatest expansion under climate change, Dendropanax morbiferus was predicted to experience the greatest loss of habitat. On the other hand, regardless of whether the future distributions of climatically suitable habitats would expand or contract, the highly suitable habitats of all species were predicted to decline under climate change. This may indicate that further climate change will degrade habitat suitability for all species within the distribution boundary and restrict continuous habitat expansions of expanding species or accelerate habitat loss of shrinking species. In addition, the future distributions of most coastal evergreens were found to be confined to coastal areas; therefore, sea-level rise would accelerate their habitat loss under climate change. The present study provides primary and practical knowledge for understanding climate-related coastal vegetation changes for future conservation planning, particularly on the Korean Peninsula.