Prunus Serrulata Research Articles

Chalaropsis pruni sp. nov. (Ceratocystidaceae), a new species from Prunus serrulata var. pubescens in South Korea

A routine survey in a natural forest located in the Gangwon Province of Korea was undertaken in 2022 to establish an inventory of potentially pathogenic fungi that might affect tree health in the country. An ophiostomatoid fungus was consistently isolated from naturally occurring wounds on Prunus serrulata var. pubescens. Isolates were subjected to morphological and DNA sequence comparisons. The results showed that the fungus resided in a distinct taxonomic lineage, and the novel species is described here as Chalaropsis pruni sp. nov.

EVALUATION OF PLANTS BASED ON ECOLOGICAL TOLERANCE CRITERIA: A CASE STUDY OF URBAN OPEN GREEN SPACES IN RIZE, TURKIYE

In addition to aggressive urbanization, climate change and ecological challenges also have serious negative effects on urban green areas. Moreover, the selection of inappropriate plants in urban green space landscape projects increases the severity of these negatives. Therefore, inappropriate plant selection is considered a significant threat to the sustainability of urban green spaces. This situation highlights the importance of selecting plants with high ecological tolerance in urban park landscape projects. In this study, all tree, shrub, and ground cover plants identified in 11 urban parks and open green areas in Rize province were evaluated in terms of ecological tolerance criteria (air pollution, drought, wind, temperature, cold, and salinity). A total of 223 plant taxa were examined (77 native, 3 semi-native, 143 exotic), and it was determined that 149 taxa (49 native, 100 exotic) were sensitive to at least one of these criteria, while the remaining 74 taxa (27 native, 47 exotic) had sufficient tolerance to all ecological variables examined. Prunus serrulata Lindl. ‘Kanzan’ was identified as the taxon with the weakest ecological tolerance, and the resilience statuses of the other taxa were presented in the assessment table created. As a result, it was found that there are taxa used in Rize urban open green areas that pose risks against ecological factors, and recommendations were made for future landscape planting projects.

Species Differentiation of Prunus serrulata and Prunus xueluoensis Based on Combined Analysis of SSR and cpDNA Markers

Species Differentiation of Prunus serrulata and Prunus xueluoensis Based on Combined Analysis of SSR and cpDNA Markers

Dynamic Characteristics of Soil Respiration in Park Green Spaces in Qingdao City

Urban green spaces play an essential role in maintaining the carbon cycle and mitigating climate change in urban ecosystems. In order to gain more carbon sinks from urban green ecosystems, it is essential to determine the carbon sequestration statuses and soil respiration rates of dominant green spaces, especially park green spaces. However, in comparison to natural ecosystems, the dynamic characteristics of soil respiration in artificial park green spaces remain unclear. This study investigated the soil respiration rates for three forest communities (dominated by Prunus serrulata var. lannesiana, Cedrus deodara, Ginkgo biloba, respectively), a shrub community (dominated by Aucuba japonica var. variegata) and a lawn community (dominated by Poa pratensis) in the Qingdao Olympic Sculpture and Culture Park. We used the CRIAS-3 portable photosynthesis system in combination with the SRC-1 soil respiration chamber to measure the soil respiration rate from July 2022 to June 2023 and analyzed the dynamic variations in the soil respiration rate for these specific plant communities. Our results showed that the diurnal variation in soil respiration presented a unimodal curve for the five plant communities, and it peaked at midday or in the early afternoon. They also exhibited a significant seasonal difference in the soil respiration rate, which was characterized by higher rates in summer and lower rates in winter. The lawn community exhibited significantly higher soil respiration rates compared to the woody plant community. The mean annual soil respiration rate (RS) was, respectively, 2.88 ± 0.49 µmol·m−2·s−1, 1.94 ± 0.31 µmol·m−2·s−1, 1.43 ± 0.21 µmol·m−2·s−1, 1.24 ± 0.14 µmol·m−2·s−1 and 1.05 ± 0.11 µmol·m−2·s−1 for the lawn community, Ginkgo biloba community, Prunus serrulata var. lannesiana community, shrub community and Cedrus deodara community. The soil temperature at a 10 cm depth (T10) accounted for 67.39–86.76% of the variation in the soil respiration rate, while the soil volumetric water content at a 5 cm depth (W5) accounted for 9.29–44.01% of the variation for the five plant communities. The explained variance for both T10 and W5 ranged from 67.8% to 87.6% for the five plant communities. The Q10 values for the five different communities ranged from 1.97 to 2.75. Based on these findings, this paper concludes that the factors influencing the soil respiration process in urban green spaces are more complicated in comparison to natural ecosystems, and it is essential to comprehensively analyze these driving factors and key controlling factors of soil respiration across urban green spaces in future studies.

Development of Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) Assay for In-Field Detection of American Plum Line Pattern Virus.

American plum line pattern virus (APLPV) is the most infrequently reported Ilarvirus infecting stone fruit trees and is of sufficient severity to be classified as an EPPO quarantine A1 pathogen. In late spring, yellow line pattern symptoms were observed on leaves in a few flowering cherries (Prunus serrulata Lindl.) grown in a public garden in Northwest Italy. RNA extracts from twenty flowering cherries were submitted to Ilarvirus multiplex and APLPV-specific RT-PCR assays already reported or developed in this study. One flowering cherry (T22) with mixed prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) and prune dwarf virus (PDV) infection also showed infection with APLPV. Blastn analysis of PCR products of the full coat protein (CP) and movement protein (MP) genes obtained from flowering cherry T22 showed 98.23% and 98.34% nucleotide identity with reference APLPV isolate NC_003453.1 from the USA. Then, a LAMP-specific assay was designed to facilitate the fast and low-cost identification of this virus either in the laboratory or directly in the field. The developed assay allowed not only the confirmation of APLPV (PSer22IT isolate) infection in the T22 flowering cherry but also the identification of APLPV in an asymptomatic flowering cherry tree (TL1). The LAMP assay successfully worked with crude flowering cherry extracts, obtained after manually shaking a single plant extract in the ELISA extraction buffer for 3-5 min. The developed rapid, specific and economic LAMP assay was able to detect APLPV using crude plant extracts rather that RNA preparation in less than 20 min, making it suitable for in-field detection. Moreover, the LAMP assay proved to be more sensitive in APLPV detection in flowering cherry compared to the specific one-step RT-PCR assay. The new LAMP assay will permit the estimation of APLPV geographic spread in the territory, paying particular attention to surrounding gardens and propagated flowering cherries in ornamental nurseries.

First Report of Cytospora ailanthicola Causing Canker on cherry blossom (Cerasus serrulata) in China.

Cherry blossom (Cerasus serrulata) is a plant with important garden applications. It is a newly introduced exotic plants in the Arar region of Xinjiang, China (40°41'18.19″N,81°43'50.55″E). In October 2022, it was discovered that about 30% of cherry blossoms had a canker disease. The leaves of the sick branches were dired, the branches themselves were damaged, with dark brown color inside. Orange-yellow conidia horns were produced in humid condition. Samples were collected from fifteen trees exhibiting notable symptoms. The diseased junctions of the infected shoots were chopped into small pieces and subjected to surface sterilization by using 70% ethanol for 30s, 1% NaClO solution for one minute, and sterile distilled water three times (Chen et al. 2016). The representative strain YINGHUA-1 was chosen for identification by molecular biology and morphology. After five days of incubation at 26℃ on PDA media, colonies of white fluffy mycelium were produced from the YINGHUA-1 strain. After 25 days of PDA culture, the production of pycnidia was first observed, circular, black. The pycnidia began to produce conidia at 30 days. The conidia was translucent without septum, with a slightly curved single cell and smooth surface. Pycnidia was spherical and flat, with a single black aperture at the top that resembles a nearly round hole, the chamber was made up of several tiny chambers separated by a shared wall, and its diameter ranges from 900-1900 µm. The size of the conidium was 3.7-6.6×1.1-1.9 μm (n=20). The intrinsic transcriptional spacer (ITS), transcriptional elongation factor (tef-1α), and β-tubulin (tub2) gene moieties of rDNA were sequenced using ITS1/ITS4, EF1-728F/EF1-986R, and Bt2a/Bt2b primers, respectively(Zhang et al. 2014). The amplified sequences of ITS region (Accession No. OR855907), tub2 (Accession No. OR865863) and tef-1α (Accession No. OR865864) were deposited in the GenBank. BLAST searches of the sequences revealed 99.59% identity (474/476 bp) of the ITS sequence, 98.63% identity (216/219 bp) of the tef-1α sequence, and 98.55% identity of the tub2 sequence (339/344 bp) with C. ailanthicola CFCC59446 (accessions OR826163, OR832040, and OR832062, respectively.) Phylogenetic analyses were performed with Iqtree v.1.6.12 for maximum likelihood (ML). Confidence levels for the nodes were determined using 1000 replicates of bootstrapping methods. Based on phylogenetic analysis and morphological characteristics, the pathogen was identified as C. ailanthicola. The pathogenicity of C. ailanthicola was confirmed by inoculation of 1-year-old shoots (5 replicates of this experiment). After 7 days, symptoms of inner bark discoloration were visible on xylem of branches and the same fungus was re-isolated from the inoculated shoots, with no lesions on the control shoots. C. ailanthicola is only known from a single host plant, Ailanthus altissima,in China (Fan et al.2020). As far as we know, this is the first report of C. ailanthicola harmings C. serrulata in China.

Efficient Solar-Driven Interfacial Water Evaporator using Hydrogel Modified Carbon-Based Biomass with Abundant Microchannels.

The conventional sea water desalination technologies are not yet adopted worldwide, especially in the third world countries due to their high capital cost as well as large energy requirement. To solve this issue in a sustainable way an interfacial solar water evaporation device is designed and proposed in this article using the branches of Prunus serrulata (PB). The PB has abundant microchannels and shows excellent photothermal conversion capability after carbonization. Moreover, the easy access to raw materials and the facile fabrication process makes the solar water evaporating device very cost effective for seawater desalination application. Experiments show that in the presence of the fabricated evaporator the evaporation rate of water can reach 3.5kgm-2h-1 under 1 sun, which is superior to many similar experimental devices. In addition, its advantages, such as effective sewage purification capability, low cost, and environmental friendliness, make this evaporator highly competitive in the extensive promotion of this technology and can be considered as a new sustainable solution for seawater desalination with great application potential and prospects.

Molecular characterization and evolutionary relationships of DOFs in four cherry species and functional analysis in sweet cherry

The DOF (DNA binding with one finger) has multiple functions in plants. However, it has received little attention in the research field of cherries. In this study, the evolutionary relationship and molecular characterization of DOF in four cherry species were analyzed, revealing its expression pattern in sweet cherry. There are 23 members in Prunus avium cv. ‘Tieton’, 88 in Prunus cerasus, 53 in Cerasus × yedoensis, and 27 in Cerasus serrulata. Most of these genes are intron-less or non-intron, with a conserved C2-C2 domain. Due to heterozygosity and chromosomal ploidy, whole-genome duplication (WGD) events occur to varying degrees, and DOF genes are contracted during evolution. Furthermore, these genes are affected by purifying selection pressure. Under low-temperature treatment, the expression of PavDOF2 and PavDOF18 were significantly up-regulated, while that of PavDOF16 is significantly down-regulated. The expression of PavDOF9, PavDOF12, PavDOF14, PavDOF16, PavDOF17, PavDOF18, and PavDOF19 exhibits an increasing trend during flower development and varies during sweet cherry fruit development. PavDOF1, PavDOF8, PavDOF9, and PavDOF15 are localized in the nucleus but is not transcriptionally active. The findings systemically demonstrate the molecular characteristics of DOF in different cherry varieties, providing a basis for further research on the functions of these genes.

Polymorphism in cherry plum (<i>Prunus cerasifera</i>) and its significance for stone crop breeding

A gene pool of cherry plum (Prunus cerasifera Ehrh.) numbering over 1000 accessions including wild forms and released cultivars of various origins has been gathered at the Krymsk Experiment Breeding Station, a branch of VIR. The study of the morphological diversity of cherry plum, or myrobalan plum, made it possible to clarify its position within the system of the genus Prunus L., and to propose an intraspecific system composed of three subspecies: Prunus cerasifera subsp. cerasifera – the typical cherry plum, P. cerasifera subsp. orientalis (M. Pop.) Erem. et Garcov. – the oriental cherry plum, and P. cerasifera subsp. macrocarpa Erem. et Garcov. – the large-fruited cherry plum with the following several varieties: Armenian (P. cerasifera subsp. macrocarpa var. nairica (Koval.) Erem. et Garkov.), Georgian (var. georgica (Erem.) Erem. et Garcov.), Iranian (subsp. macrocarpa var. iranica (Koval.) Erem. et Garcov), Pontic (subsp. macrocarpa var. pontica (Koval.) Erem. et Garcov.), Tauric (subsp. macrocarpa var. taurica (Kost.) Erem. et Garcov.), and the red-leaved cherry plum (Pissard plum) (subsp. macrocarpa var. pissardii (Carriere) Koehne).The most important role of interspecific hybridization involving the species P. cerasifera is in the origin of a number of Prunus L. species, including domestic plum P. domestica L., Fenzl’s almond P. fenzliana Fritsch, and black apricot P. dasycarpa Ehrh., has been established.The cherry plum gene pool had been found to contain donors of a number of traits of importance for breeding, which were used to create an assortment of Russian plum (Prunus × rossica Erem., hybrid myrobalan plum) cultivars and clonal rootstocks of stone fruit crops. Among them, the Russian plum ‘Globus’, ‘Kubanskaya Kometa’, ‘Gek’, ‘Kolonnovidnaya’, ‘Iyulskaya Roza’, and clonal rootstocks ‘Kuban 86’, ‘VVA 1’, ‘Evrika 99’, ‘Best’, ‘Zarevo’ have been regionally adapted and got a wide distribution.An outstanding general combining ability was demonstrated by cherry plum cvs. ‘Pionerka’, ‘Purpurovaya’, ‘Otlichtnitsa’, ‘Ashtarakskaya 2’ and ‘Tsiteli Drosha’, which were used in breeding a number of cherry plum cultivars at the Krymsk EBS, e.g. cherry plums ‘Neberdzhaevskaya Rannyaya’, ‘Kremen’, Russian plum ‘Kubanskaya Kometa’, ‘Iyulskaya Roza’, ‘Naydena’, ‘Gek’, ‘Podarok Sad-Gigantu’, etc.Most effective was the hybridization of Crimean, Armenian and Georgian cherry plum cultivars with the Chinese plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.) ‘Burbank’, ‘Gigant’, and ‘Skoroplodnaya’. As clonal rootstocks, the hybrids of myrobalan plum with peach (‘Kuban 86’ and ‘Fortuna’ rootstocks), with cherry plum ‘Sapa’ (‘Evrika 99’ and ‘Spiker’ rootstocks), as well as with low micro-cherry (rootstock ‘Best’) and Louiseania ulmifolia (Franch.) Pachom. (rootstock ‘Upriamets’) turned out to be very valuable.

Dust Retention Effect of Greenery in Typical Urban Traffic Landscapes of Nanjing—In the Case of Xuanwu Avenue in Nanjing City

With the accelerated process of urbanization, air pollution has become increasingly severe. Garden plants can trap atmospheric particulate matter, which is of great significance for improving the urban ecological environment and promoting sustainable development. To investigate the dust retention effect of typical transportation green spaces in Nanjing, this study focuses on thirteen garden plants on Xuanwu Avenue in Nanjing. The dust retention capacity of these plants was determined using the wash-off method, while the microstructure of their leaf surfaces was observed using scanning electron microscopy. The results are as follows: Firstly, per unit leaf area, Liriope spicata, Ophiopogon japonicus, and Viburnum odoratissimum demonstrate solid dust retention abilities. Additionally, Viburnum odoratissimum, Prunus serrulata var. Lannesiana, and Liriope spicata show strong dust retention abilities per single leaf. Moreover, Platanus acerifolia, Viburnum odoratissimum, and Cinnamomum camphora have strong dust retention abilities per plant. Viburnum odoratissimum, Platanus acerifolia, and Prunus serrulata var. Lannesiana exhibit the most substantial dust retention capacities. Secondly, there is a significant negative correlation between dust retention per plant and the potassium content, while a significant positive correlation is observed with plant height, canopy height, and leaf width. Furthermore, there is a highly significant positive correlation between dust retention per unit leaf area and stomatal length and a highly significant negative correlation with leaf length. The surface microstructure of the blade mainly increases the dust retention capacity of the blade by increasing the friction of the leaf surface. Lastly, specific leaf surface microstructures, such as grooved epidermis and trichomes, enhance plants’ dust retention capacity. Consequently, for the future configuration of road green spaces in Nanjing, a mixed planting mode of trees, shrubs, and grass is recommended. Priority should be given to selecting plants with strong overall dust retention capabilities, such as Platanus acerifolia, Viburnum odoratissimum, and Prunus serrulata var. Lannesiana, to alleviate air pollution, improve the urban ecological environment, and achieve sustainable development.

Tissue culture response and in vitro plant regeneration of ‘Haruka’ (Cerasus Sato-zakura Group ‘Haruka’), a new cultivar of Japanese flowering cherry

Tissue culture response and in vitro plant regeneration of ‘Haruka’ (Cerasus Sato-zakura Group ‘Haruka’), a new cultivar of Japanese flowering cherry

Identification and Biological Characteristics of Mortierella alpina Associated with Chinese Flowering Cherry (Cerasus serrulata) Leaf Blight in China.

The Chinese flowering cherry (Cerasus serrulata), an ornamental tree with established medicinal values, is observed to suffer from leaf blight within Xi'an's greenbelts. This disease threatens both the plant's growth and its ornamental appeal. In this study, 26 isolates were obtained from plants with typical leaf blight, and only 3 isolates (XA-10, XA-15, and XA-18) were found to be pathogenic, causing similar symptoms on the leaves of the host plant. Based on sequence alignment, the ITS and LSU sequences of the three selected isolates were consistent, respectively. Following morphological and molecular analyses, the three selected isolates were further identified as Mortierella alpina. The three selected isolates exhibited similar morphological characteristics, including wavy colonies with dense, milky-white aerial mycelia on PDA medium. Therefore, isolate XA-10 was used as a representative strain for subsequent experiments. The representative strain XA-10 was found to exhibit optimal growth at a temperature of 30 °C and a pH of 7.0. Host range infection tests further revealed that the representative strain XA-10 could also inflict comparable disease symptoms on both the leaves and fruits of three different Rosaceae species (Prunus persica, Pyrus bretschneideri, and Prunus salicina). This study reveals, for the first time, the causative agent of leaf blight disease affecting the Chinese flowering cherry. This provides a deeper understanding of the biology and etiology of M. alpina. This study lays a solid foundation for the sustainable control and management of leaf blight disease in the Chinese flowering cherry.

Utilization of Prunus serrulata leaf extract for the synthesis and characterization of ZnO nanoparticles

Using a green route for the synthesis of nanoparticles has become popular in recent years due to its easier, eco-friendly, faster and cheaper nature. This study explores the synthesis of ZnO nanoparticles utilizing, for the first time, Prunus serrulata (Japanese Cherry Blossom) leaf extract as both a reducing and capping agent. The characterization of the nanoparticles was performed by employing several instrumental techniques. The X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) method was utilized to identify the amorphous crystal structure of the ZnO nanoparticles. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) were used to determine the homogenous and spherical geometry, having a size of 5–10 nm. X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) was used to observe the surface of the nanoparticles, which were present in the metal oxide form. Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was also utilized to understand which types of organic groups are responsible for the stabilization of the nanoparticles.

Isolation and characterization of quercetin from Prunus Serrulata leaf extract in the synthesis of Fe3O4 nanoparticles

Flavonoids and their derivatives have been known as reducing and capping agents for the synthesis of nanoparticles. These flavonoids are effective in the green synthesis of nanoparticles due to their environmentally friendly nature, low cost, and energy and time-saving assets. Generally, it is ignored which type of flavonoids were utilized in the synthesis of nanoparticles. This study presents the isolation and characterization of quercetin from Prunus Serrulata (P. Serrulata) leaf extract for the first time as the responsible reducing and capping agent in the synthesis of iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4 NPs). The morphological characterization of the nanoparticles was performed by utilizing Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX) analyses, whereas flavonoid characterization was completed through Ultraviolet–Visible Spectroscopy (UV–Vis), Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR), Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (LC-MS), and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR). By using optimized conditions as 3:1 (Fe+3 solution: Prunus serrulata leaf extract) mixing ratio, 10 mM Fe+3 precursor, pH 6, and 25 °C reaction temperature, the average particle sizes of synthesized Fe3O4 NPs were ∼ 40 nm with the spherical shape. R2. Some quantitative results need to be added in the abstract.

Molecular, phenotypic and histological analysis reveals a multi-tiered immune response and callose deposition in stone fruit rootstocks (Prunus spp.) against Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (Pss) infection

Bacterial canker, caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv syringae (Pss), is a serious disease of stone fruit orchards causing severe yield reductions and the death of entire trees. To analyze the response and to identify novel sources of Pss resistance in our rootstock breeding program, we used a novel, rapid and reliable leaf disk pathogenicity test to screen pre-breeding material constituted by interspecific hybrids of plum/peach/almond (‘AGAF’/‘ADAGAF’) or sweet cherry (‘PACIR’) species and commercial rootstocks with two Pss strains. Some ‘AGAF’/ ‘ADAGAF’ and all ‘PACIR’ rootstocks showed lower susceptibility than commercial rootstocks to Pss strains used. The reduced symptoms displayed by the ‘PACIR’ hybrids with Prunus lannesiana and P. incisa as genomic background suggest that these species could be novel sources of genetic resistance to Pss within the Cerasus subgenus. Histological and candidate gene expression analysis suggest a multi-tiered immune response of Prunus species to Pss attack with a higher callose deposition and activation of molecular mechanisms that would restrict the bacteria infection and help to maintain a better redox homeostasis and performance of ‘Marianna 2624′, a plum resistant genotype. Identification of Prunus species with resistance to Pss and the analysis of their immune response are the first step towards characterizing the underlying genetic mechanisms of resistance and introducing these traits into commercial germplasm.

Synergy of different leaf traits determines the particulate matter retention capacity and its susceptibility to rain wash-off

Rainfall plays a crucial role in the removal of particulate matter (PM) from plant leaves, influencing PM retention and the environmental behaviour of harmful substances that accumulate in PM. This study examined the PM retention capacity, particle size distributions, and wash-off rates of leaf surface PM from three common green tree species in northern China during two natural rainfall events (light rain: 8.3 mm; heavy rain: 54.2 mm), to investigate the relationship between the leaf traits, PM retention capacity, and PM wash-off process. Our results found that leaf morphometric characteristics, such as leaf size, length, width, and aspect ratio (length-to-width), had a negative and significant correlations with the PM retention capacity, but had no significant correlation with the leaf surface PM wash-off rate. Smaller leaves with low aspect ratios exhibited greater stability under external disturbances than large leaves with high aspect ratios, resulting in a higher PM retention capacity and lower wash-off rate. Ridges and grooves enhanced the PM retention capacity by increasing the leaf roughness. Rainfall could wash off all particle size ranges of leaf surface PM without altering their mechanical composition. Larger particles were more easily washed off. Euonymus japonicus, with its small leaf size and low aspect ratio, exhibited the highest PM retention capacity. Its curled leaf shape also hindered light rain from washing off leaf surface PM. Forsythia suspensa, with denser grooves and ridges compared with Prunus serrulata, exhibited a rougher leaf surface and higher PM retention capacity. However, this roughness may reduce wettability, making it easier for runoff to form on the leaf surface and dislodge leaf surface PM, resulting in F. suspensa having the highest wash-off rate. Our results highlight the synergy of different leaf traits on PM retention capacity and the PM stability after rainfall.

Distribution of giant trees in the urban areas and western suburbs of Tokyo, Japan

ABSTRACT Giant trees reflect site environmental conditions and to elucidate the distribution pattern of the giant trees, we investigated relationships between giant tree locations and landforms. On the basis of elevation, the landforms of Tokyo were divided into four types (lowland, plateau, hill, and mountain), and tree distribution patterns were divided into five groups, including three sub-types, with occurrence patterns of representative species [I: Frequently lowlands, often plateaux and mountain type (Machilus thunbergi); II: Frequently plateaux, often lowland, hill, or mountain type (Quercus acuta, Prunus speciosa, Taxodium distichum, Liriodendron tulipifera, Cedrus deodara, Aphananthe aspera, and Prunus × yedoensis “Somei-yoshino”) with two subtypes, II-1: Typically plateaux (Cinnamomum camphora, Castanopsis sieboldii, and Ginkgo biloba) and II-2: Frequently plateaux and hills (Zelkova serrata); III: Typically plateaux and hill type (Certis sinensis var. japonica, Torreya nucifera, Carpinus tschonoskii, Quercus myrsinifolia, and Quercus serrata) with one subtype, Frequently plateaux (Prunus jamasakura); IV: Mountains often with plateaux or hill type (Acer pictum subsp. mono, Aesculus turbinate, Abies firma, Cryptomeria japonica, and Cercidiphyllum japonicum); and V: Mountain-limited type (Castanea crenata, Pterocarya rhoifolia, and Fraxinus platypoda)]. Some giant trees, including Quercus crispula, Fagus japonica, Fagus crenata, and Tsuga sieboldii, were distributed in mountainous areas but not on plateaux, hills, or in lowlands. Some unique giant trees (Aphananthe aspera, Certis sinensis var. japonica, and Carpinus tschonoskii) are self-seeding in the wild and found in plateau areas but not mountainous or hilly areas. These results suggest that the distribution of giant trees is influenced by site ecological characteristics, tree physiology, and human management and land-use.

First records of cottony hydrangea scale Pulvinaria hydrangeae Steinweden, 1946 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) in Ukraine

AbstractPulvinaria hydrangeae (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) is an invasive species in Europe and was recorded for the first time in Ukraine in 2021. The species was observed in large numbers on Cerasus serrulata (Lindley) in the urban green area of Uzhhorod city in Zakarpattia Region. This species is a polyphagous soft scale and a pest of urban and forest trees and woody plants.

Screening the Chemical Composition and Bioactivity of Cerasus serrulata Flower Extracts Using Two Extraction Methods

Background Cerasus serrulata has an excellent antioxidative, antibacterial, and anti-alopecia effect, but its active ingredients and the underlying mechanism are currently unclear, in addition to the fact that the active products vary with the extraction methods. Aim Therefore, this study aims to clarify the active components and antioxidative property of C. serrulata extracted by two different methods (low-temperature vacuum extraction and ethanol extraction) and explore its potential biofunction. Materials and Methods First, the compositions in extracts were characterized by gas chromatographic mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and liquid chromatography-mass spectrography (LC-MS). Then, the antioxidative activity of both extracts was evaluated using free radical scavenging assay (ABTS) and ORAC. Next, the antibacterial activity of both extracts was measured via a bacteriostatic circle experiment. The anti-alopecia effects of both extracts were studied using a mouse model of alopecia. The hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining was used to evaluate hair follicles; vascular endothelial-derived growth factor (VEGF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) expression in mouse skin were evaluated by immunohistochemistry, while β-catenin expression in tissues was used by immunofluorescence. The expression of FGFR and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in the skin was determined to evaluate using real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR). The levels of DHT and 5α-reductase in the experimental mice were determined by ELISA. Results The GC-MS analysis results showed that the extracts were rich in alkanes and aromatic compounds, specifically benzaldehyde, which was the highest component in the cold vacuum extraction, while pipecolic acid was the main component in the ethanol extract. This indicates that C. serrulata has components that exhibit strong inhibitory ability against the growth of five common bacterial strains, expressing excellent free radical scavenging ability. In addition, the active ingredients in C. serrulata were found to significantly deregulate the protein levels in the skin of androgenetic alopecia (AGA) mice, with the levels of IL-6. They were also able to significantly inhibit VEGF reduction. The β-catenin was being significantly upregulated in skin tissue. In addition, FGFR and IGF-1 gene expression also increased. The 5α-reductase and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) can be reduced in the C. serrulata treatment. Conclusion Our data indicate that C. serrulata extract could be beneficial supplements of natural antioxidative, antibacterial, and anti-alopecia agents.

Apricot- A New Source of Chemically Active Constituents: A Medicinal Overview

Apricot is the member of Rosaceae family, belonging to the Prunus Lannesiana, genus of Prunophora Focke, subgenus and section of Armeniaca (Lam) Koch section. commonly apricot trees are small to medium-sized that can reach a height of 14 metres. The wood and spurs of a one-year-old Prunus are thinner, twiggy, and have a shorter lifespan. Apricot is cultivated over a long time ago and it have various chemical and physiological activity, it contains essential amino acids made up of 33–35% of the overall amino acids, in the apricot kernel, Arginine (21.7–30.5) and leucine (16.2–21.6) were the two most important necessary amino acids (mmol/100 g meal), whereas glutamic acid (49.9–68.0) was the most common non-essential amino acid. Apricots has many medicinal values and are also used in a various way, including fresh fruit, vinegar, liquor, wine, flavouring agents in food or baby food, sauce, juice, jam and dried fruit for canning. The dried fruit and concentrate fruit juice of the Japanese apricot is used to make a cancer-preventive and cancer-curing beverage. The apricot kernels are used to make cosmetics, medications, and perfumes, while the pits are utilised for making fuel. A liquid soap containing apricot kernel oil is used to treat dermatitis. In addition, bitter apricot is used in several bakery & confectionery items such as cakes pies cookies pastries along with their derivatives to enhance their taste and aroma. It has high potassium content which helps in controlling blood pressure and cholesterol levels. The product also contains fibre, iron, calcium, and vitamin C & A which helps in lowering the risk of cancer and heart diseases. Apricot kernel oil has been found effective for skin conditions on its own or blended with other carrier oils like sunflower seed oil or argan oil due largely lessening inflammation caused by acne lesions blackheads pimples pustules sores rashes etc.