Sambucus Racemosa Research Articles

Phytomining Perspectives in Rehabilitation of Mining and Industrial Areas of South Ural

The ability of midland hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata (Poir)), common barberry (Berberis vulgaris), red elder (Sambucus racemosa), cinnamon rose (Rosa cinnamomea L.), couch grass (Elytrigia repens), crested wheat grass (Agropyron cristatum), meadow fescue (Festuca pratensis) and meadow grass (Poa pratensis) for phytoextraction of heavy metals from technogenic soil is proved in the article. The possibility of effective phytoextraction with the use of hawthorn and elder is shown. Maximum accumulation of zinc takes place in the surface mass of couch grass and meadow fescue. In regard to the conditions of South Ural, planting of elder and hawthorn with seeding of couch grass and meadow fescue is recommended for phytomining purposes.

Nest-site preference and reproductive performance of Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia) in historically extant and colonist shrub species

Many studies report mixed results on the influence of invasive plants on native animals, partly due to uncertainties about habitat preference and reproductive performance in native animals before and after plant invasion. We used vegetation surveys 20 years apart and 18 years of breeding data from Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia (A. Wilson, 1810)) to compare nest-site preference and reproductive performance during the colonization of Mandarte Island, British Columbia, by one shrub species native to the region but historically absent from the island (red elderberry, Sambucus racemosa L.) and another species that is exotic to North America (Himalayan blackberry, Rubus armeniacus Focke = Rubus bifrons Vest). Nest-site preference declined where red elderberry increased but was unrelated to change in the cover of Himalayan blackberry. Song Sparrows nested in trailing blackberry (Rubus ursinus Cham. and Schltdl.) and its exotic congener Himalayan blackberry in preference to two common shrubs native to Mandarte Island (Nootka rose, Rosa nutkana C. Presl; snowberry, Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S.F. Blake) and built just 1 of 1051 nests in red elderberry. In contrast, reproductive performance was similar in all shrub species used regularly as nest substrates. Our results show that Song Sparrow nest-site preference and reproductive performance were independent of plant species origin.

Invasion of alien plants in fire-damaged forests at southern boundary of the taiga zone

Aim of study: Biological invasions are one of the most important areas of forest research. In this study, we revealed invasibility of fire-damaged forests at the southern boundary of the taiga zone.Area of study: The Mordovia State Nature Reserve (Central Russia).Material and Methods: Altogether, 11 square plots of each 100 ×100 m were established in different types of fire-damaged forests. To test plant invasion outside the established plots, field researches were carried out by route method in fire-damaged area of the Mordovia Reserve.Main Results: Six alien species (Erigeron canadensis, E. annuus, Oenothera biennis, Lactuca serriola, Sambucus racemosa, Viola arvensis) were registered within the established plots in 2011–2014. In addition, two alien invasive plants (Solidago canadensis and Bidens frondosa) were found outside these plots. No differences were detected in invasibility of the tested forest ecosystems.Research highlights: Among the revealed alien species, Erigeron canadensis, Lactuca serriola and Solidago canadensis are the most invasive plants in forest ecosystems. The first one was observed with a high occurrence frequency and abundance in all forest types tested. The second one has not been differed by abundance, but it characterized by a high competition as well as a large biomass and a large number of seeds. Solidago canadensis penetrated to natural forest ecosystem in a short time period due to closest location of its dispersal centers near the boundary of the Mordovia Reserve. These species are the most probable invaders of the forest ecosystems.Keywords: Invasive plants; invisibility; post-fire successions; Mordovia State Nature Reserve; wildfire; forest ecosystem.

Plant remains from the early modern garden of the manor of Kumpula, Helsinki, Finland: an alternative sampling method for macrofossil analysis

Garden history can be investigated through archaeobotanical research. This paper discusses the plant remains which were obtained from the soil of the historical garden of the manor of Kumpula in Helsinki, Finland. This study was an experiment to enable macrofossil analysis without archaeological excavations. The aim was to develop an alternative method for sampling for macrofossils also including radiocarbon dates, and to evaluate the usability, cost and functionality of this method. The character of the garden was also considered. The soil samples for macrofossil analysis were collected from the garden from three to eight different levels using an end-filling open-ended sampler. A total of 38 one litre soil samples from eight different pits yielded 2,036 identified macrofossils, mostly seeds. These comprised 63 different taxa, of which 26 were identified to species level with certainty. Taxa with more than 25 seeds found were Chelidonium majus, Chenopodium spp., Juncus spp., Rubus idaeus, Sambucus racemosa and Urtica dioica. Important species were Secale cereale and Hordeum vulgare. Nine AMS radiocarbon dates were obtained from macrofossil material from four different pits, giving results ranging from 1120–920 cal bc to cal ad 1680–1930 for charred wood, and from cal ad 1450–1640 to 1640–1930 for charred grains of Secale cereale and seeds of Chenopodium album. The sampling method proved to work reasonably well, considering the limitations of the sample size.

Proteins present in tannin cenocyte mother cells in Sambucus racemosa L.

It has been demonstrated that protein content and concentration are higher in mononucleate tannin-cells than in the parenchyma cells of <i>Sambucus racemosa</i>. Cytoplasmic and nuclear free acid proteins markedly prevail here. It is believed that they may be enzymatic proteins. Increase of acid proteins content within the nucleus of tannin cells causes an increase of the nucleus size. The content of nuclear bound basic proteins in tannin cells, may be lower than in the neighbouring parenchymal cells.

Mixoploidy of tannin coenocytes in Sambucus racemosa L.

In young lateral shoots and seedlings of <i>Sambucus racemosa</i> L. the ontogenesis of elongated tannin coenocytes was investigated with particular reference to their karyology. In these tannin containers both small nuclei and giant ones are present. The DNA content in the particular nuclei was determined by the cytophotometric method after the Feulgen reaction. The ploidy of the nuclei was concluded on the basis of the DNA level. It was found that in multinuclear tannin coenocytes there are diploid nuclei as well as others with various degrees of ploidy. Thus, tannin coenocytes are mixoploidal. On the basis of karyological investigations it was attempted to elucidate the mechanism leading to the formation of polynuclear and mixoploid coenocytes.

Ampelomyces hyperparasites – occurrence and effect on the development of ascomata of Erysiphales species under conditions of anthropopressure

Fungi of the genus <em>Ampelomyces </em>are the major antagonists of <em>Erysiphales </em>fungi being a significant group of phytopathogens. The hyperparasites attack various developmental stages of powdery mildews. As a result the infested ascomata do not reach the stage of maturity, do not form appendages nor ascospores, which is linked with a reduction of the source of primary infections. Studies conducted so far have mainly been devoted to <em>Ampelomyces </em>fungi application in the biological control of powdery mildews on crops, whilst a few only have been focused on the ecology of these mycoparasites on <em>Erysiphales </em>fungi infecting plants, especially in the urban environment. The present study addresses the natural occurrence and effect of <em>Ampelomyces </em>fungi on the development of ascomata of powdery mildews species. The material was collected in 2005–2009 in several cities of the northeastern Poland. First time ever <em>Ampelomyces </em>spores are reported in mature ascomata of <em>Erysiphales </em>with fully developed appendages. This phenomenon has been observed in the case of two species, viz.: <em>Erysiphe flexuosa </em>on <em>Aesculus </em>spp. and <em>E. vanbruntiana </em>var. <em>sambuci-racemosae </em>on <em>Sambucus racemosa </em>and is presumably linked with improved implementation, propagation and probably better survival during winter months.

Seed germination ecophysiology of two western North American species of Sambucus (Caprifoliaceae sensu lato), and comparisons with eastern North American and European congeners

AbstractSeeds of the western North American (wNA) species Sambucus caerulea in the Sambucus nigra species complex and Sambucus callicarpa in the Sambucus racemosa complex contain embryos that are 70–75% fully developed when freshly matured. These embryos must elongate approximately 15–25% before radicle emergence occurs. Embryos in seeds of both species grew better at 5°C than at 25/15°C. Dormancy was broken by cold stratification at 5°C, which was also the optimal temperature for germination. Gibberellic acid substituted for cold stratification in both species. Thus, seeds of both species have intermediate complex morphophysiological dormancy (MPD). The seed dormancy characteristics of both species differ from those of congeners in eastern North America (eNA). In contrast, dormancy break in S. callicarpa is similar to its European congeners, but is unclear in S. caerulea. Our study represents the first to compare seed dormancy among wNA, eNA and European congeners. In North America, the geographic pattern of dormancy break for Sambucus is similar to that of Osmorhiza (Apiaceae) and Erythronium (Liliaceae): cold stratification is required in wNA taxa and warm + cold stratification is required in eNA taxa. Moreover, the pattern in S. callicarpa is similar to that in some species of Sanicula (Apiaceae): cold stratification in Europe and warm + cold stratification in eNA. The evolution of seed dormancy in these groups might have occurred under similar environmental circumstances, resulting in the sharing of dormancy‐breaking mechanisms within geographical regions.

POPULATION MAINTENANCE OF THE SHORT-LIVED SHRUBSAMBUCUSIN A DECIDUOUS FOREST

This study quantitatively clarifies the life history of a shrub, Sambucus racemosa ssp. sieboldiana, in an old-growth forest, the Ogawa Forest Reserve, Japan, by a demographic approach using a projection matrix model that incorporates interactions between demographic parameters and canopy height dynamics. S. racemosa is a common deciduous shrub in central Japan and is known to grow predominantly at forest edges or roadsides. This indicates that it is a highly light-demanding species, and occurrence in gaps in old-growth stands suggests its "fugitive," gap-dependent life history in old-growth forests. We found that one distinctive feature of this species was that its seedlings can survive well in shaded conditions by alternating stems every year like perennial herb species. Matrix model analyses demonstrated that S. racemosa can continuously regenerate under the present disturbance regime of this forest and is highly adaptable to the structural dynamics of the old-growth forest. The maturity of S. racemosa shrubs depends on their size, and nearly all (>90%) of the mature (reproducing) individuals were found in gaps or near gaps. But wide seed dispersal by birds and the ability to form both seed banks and seedling banks, the latter of which has been regarded as a common characteristic of shade-tolerant climax species, probably increase the species' chances to encounter canopy gaps. Dynamic-canopied matrix models showed that the greatest elasticity is with shaded seedling survival. The frequent stem alternation of shaded seedlings often makes the growth rate negative, but the survival rate of seedlings in low light awaiting new gap creation is remarkably high (0.93 yr(-1)). The lower survival rate of the larger individuals and smaller minimum size to start reproduction than other canopy or subcanopy shade-tolerant species indicate that S. racemosa has the potential to reproduce before the closure of the encountered gaps and to complete its life history rapidly.

Ascochyta tenerrima . [Descriptions of Fungi and Bacteria

Abstract A description is provided for Ascochyta tenerrima . Information is included on the disease caused by the organism, its transmission, geographical distribution (USA, Armenia, China, Georgia, Russia, Turkey, Austria, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, UK, Irish Republic, Italy, Poland, Portugal and Ukraine), and hosts ( Lonicera bella, Lonicera caprifolium, Lonicera caucasica, Lonicera fragrantissima, Lonicera japonica, Lonicera orientalis, Lonicera periclymenum, Lonicera prolifera, Lonicera tartarica, Lonicera xylosteum, Sambucus ebulus, Sambucus nigra, Sambucus racemosa, Symphoricarpos albus, Viburnum lantana and Viburnum opulus ).

Effects of harvesting and deer browsing on attributes of understory plants in northern hardwood forests, Upper Michigan, USA

Both forest harvesting and browsing by white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus Zimmerman) affect the composition and structure of forest vegetation throughout the eastern deciduous forest in the United States. We studied their affect and their interaction by measuring the composition, richness, cover, physical stature, and reproductive potential of vascular plants in the understory of three thinned (uneven-aged, even-aged, managing for old-growth characteristics) and two unthinned (second-growth, old-growth) forests dominated by sugar maple ( Acer saccharum Marsh.) in western Upper Michigan. Based on measurements taken five years after deer exclosures were established, we found consistent and strong statistical differences in species richness and percent cover related to forest harvest but not to deer browse. Percent cover of the understory vegetation showed weakly significant interactions between deer browse and forest harvest. Thinned forests had a greater average richness and cover of graminoid species, average cover of wild red raspberry ( Rubus strigosus L.) and sugar maple compared to unthinned forests. Measurements of plant morphology and the frequency of flowering and fruiting were more sensitive indicators of deer browse than community measurements such as richness and cover. Based on measures of physical stature and reproductive potential, sugar maple, red-berried elder ( Sambucus racemosa L.), bluebead-lily ( Clintonia borealis (Aiton) Raf.), small Solomon-seal ( Polygonatum pubescens (Willd.) Pursh.), false Solomon-seal ( Smilacina racemosa (L.) Desf.), rosy twisted stalk ( Streptopus roseus Michaux), and trillium species ( Trillium grandiflorum (Michaux) Salisb. and T. cernuum L.) all experienced significant browse damage. A better understanding of the interaction between forest harvest and deer browse and their effect on community composition and structure is critical to maintaining and enhancing biodiversity in managed northern hardwood forests.

Bioindicator plants for ambient ozone in Central and Eastern Europe

Sixteen species of native detector plants for ambient ozone have been identified for use in Central and Eastern Europe. They include the forbs Alchemilla sp., Astrantia major, Centuarea nigra, Centauria scabiosa, Impatiens parviflora, Lapsana communis, Rumex acetosa and Senecio subalpinus; the shrubs Corylus avellana, Cornus sanguinea and Sambucus racemosa; the trees Alnus incana, Pinus cembra and Sorbus aucuparia; and the vines Humulus lupulus and Parthenocissus quinquefolia. Sensitivity to ozone and symptoms have been verified under controlled exposure conditions. Under these conditions, symptom incidence, intensity and appearance often changed with time after removal from exposure chambers. Ozone sensitivity for four species: Astrantia major, Centuarea nigra, C. scabiosa and Humulus lupulus are reported here for the first time. The other 12 species have also been confirmed by others in Western Europe. It is recommended that these detector bioindicator species be used in conjunction with ozone monitors and passive samplers so that injury symptoms incidence can be used to give biological significance to monitored ambient ozone data.

Exploring the use of red elderberry ( Sambucus racemosa) fruit on the southern Northwest Coast of North America

Plant foods have generally played only minor roles in archaeological models of subsistence practices on the Northwest Coast of North America. Important paleoethnobotanical data have been generated within the region over the last several decades, but have been little explored and underutilized. In this article, we examine the use of red elderberry fruit at site 35-TI-1, a late Holocene village on the northern Oregon coast, where more than 68,000 seeds from this fruit have been recovered. Despite the fruit and its seeds being somewhat toxic, red elderberry was widely used both ethnographically and during earlier periods. Its ease of harvest, nutritional value compared to other fruits, and the need to remove its toxic seeds prior to consumption result in red elderberry being well represented in the region's paleoethnobotanical record. Also, toxins in the seeds may inhibit their decomposition, allowing uncharred seeds to survive for several hundred years. While the role of plant foods in ancient foods is hard to assess, such difficulties are not limited to plant foods and should not result in them being considered minor elements of prehistoric subsistence.

Ozone exposure thresholds and foliar injury on forest plants in Switzerland

Canton Ticino in southern Switzerland is exposed to some of the highest concentrations of tropospheric ozone in Europe. During recent field surveys in Canton Ticino, foliar symptoms identical to those caused by ozone have been documented on native tree and shrub species. In Europe, the critical ozone level for forest trees has been defined at an AOT40 of 10 ppm.h O3 (10 ppm.h accumulated exposure of ozone over a threshold of 40 ppb) during daylight hours over a six-month growing season. The objective of this study was to determine the amount of ambient ozone required to induce visible foliar symptoms on various forest plant species in southern Switzerland. Species were grown within eight open-top chambers and four open plots at the Vivaio Lattecaldo Cantonal Forest Nursery in Ticino, Switzerland. Species differed significantly in terms of the ppb.h exposures needed to cause visible symptoms. The most to least symptomatic species grown within open-plots in this study rank as Prunus serotina, Salix viminalis, Viburnum lantana, Rhamnus cathartica, Betula pendula, Rumex obtusifolius, Sambucus racemosa, Morus nigra, Prunus avium, Fraxinus excelsior, Rhamnus frangula, Alnus viridis, Fagus sylvatica and Acer pseudoplatanus. Similar rankings were obtained in the non-filtered chamber plots. The ranking of species sensitivity closely follows AOT values for the occurrence of initial symptoms and symptom progression across the remainder of the exposure season. Species that first showed evidence of foliar injury also demonstrated the most sensitivity throughout the growing season, with symptoms rapidly advancing over ca. 25–30% of the total plant leaf surfaces by the end of the observation period. Conversely, those species that developed symptoms later in the season had far less total injury to plant foliage by the end of the observation period (1.5 to <5% total leaf area injured). The current European ambient ozone standard may be insufficient to protect native plant species from visible foliar injury, and many more native species may be sensitive to ozone-induced foliar injury than are currently known.

Use of host plants by Operopthera brumata L. (Lep., Geometridae) during the first recorded outbreak in the subcontinental boreal zone of Fennoscandia

Abstract: The first known outbreak of Operopthera brumata in the subcontinental boreal zone was found in 1994. In the summer of 1995 use of the host plants by O. brumata was studied during the outbreak. Eight transects were studied from outbreak epicentres to the undefoliated perimeter. Along the transects the defoliation level of each tree and shrub species was estimated. The epicentres were in deciduous tree stands in early secondary succession on abandoned pasture land. The defoliation of different species of deciduous trees growing the area differed significantly. Of the dominant canopy species of the epicentres, Prunus padus and Sorbus aucuparia were the most defoliated, while Alnus incana and Betula pubescens had a medium level of defoliation. The average level of defoliation was 90% for P. padus and S. aucupara, and about 25% for A. incana and B. pubescens. Shrub species such as Rhamnus frangula, Ribes spp. and Sambucus racemosa had very low levels of feeding. In the study area, Quercus robur, normally the main hostplant of O. brumata, was rare; but Prunus padus, which has a similar growing strategy, was very abundant in the outbreak epicentres but absent around the perimeters. In general, P. padus was the most defoliated tree species in the study area. We suggest that P. padus is the main host plant of O. brumata in SE Fennoscandia, and only in those areas where it is abundant are O. brumata populations able to increase to the outbreak level.

Effect of Birds and Bears on Seed Germination of Fleshy-Fruited Plants in Temperate Rainforests of Southeast Alaska

The effects of avian and mammal seed dispersers on seed germination were investigated for six common plant species (five shrubs and one herb) in the temperate rainforests of southeast Alaska. Patterns of germination behaviour were compared between defecated seeds and control (unpassed) seeds for a period of two years. Seed passage through vertebrate frugivores enhanced germination in two species, Rubus spectabilis and Sambucus racemosa, and a similar trend was observed in Ribes bracteosum. In contrast, it did not affect seed germination in Oplopanax horridus, Streptopus amplexifolius and Vaccinium ovalifolium/alaskaense. No differences in germination behaviour were found between bear- and bird-treated seeds, suggesting that seed retention time (much greater in bears than in birds) in the guts does not relevantly affect germination. Differences among frugivore effects were detected only for Sambucus, with varied thrushes enhancing germination more than American robins and black bears. The two colour morphs of Rubus spectabilis showed similar germination patterns, suggesting that seed dispersers do not exert an important selective pressure contributing to the maintenance of the polymorphism, at least through the mechanism of a differential effect on germination. The results of this study support the idea that the advantages of animal seed dispersal lie more in seed movement away from the parent plant than in seed treatment within the disperser's guts.

Antiviral screening of British Columbian medicinal plants

One hundred methanolic plant extracts were screened for antiviral activity against seven viruses. Twelve extracts were found to have antiviral activity at the non-cytotoxic concentrations tested. The extracts of Rosa nutkana and Amelanchier alnifolia, both members of the Rosaceae, were very active against an enteric coronavirus. A root extract of another member of the Rosaceae, Potentilla arguta, completely inhibited respiratory syncytial virus. A Sambucus racemosa branch tip extract was also very active against respiratory syncytial virus while the inner bark extract of Oplopanax horridus partially inhibited this virus. An extract of Ipomopsis aggregata demonstrated very good activity against parainfluenza virus type 3. A Lomatium dissectum root extract completely inhibited the cytopathic effects of rotavirus. In addition to these, extracts prepared from the following plants exhibited antiviral activity against herpesvirus type 1: Cardamine angulata, Conocephalum conicum, Lysichiton americanum, Polypodium glycyrrhiza and Verbascum thapsus.

Antiviral screening of British Columbian medicinal plants

One hundred methanolic plant extracts were screened for antiviral activity against seven viruses. Twelve extracts were found to have antiviral activity at the non-cytotoxic concentrations tested. The extracts of Rosa nutkana and Amelanchier alnifolia , both members of the Rosaceae, were very active against an enteric coronavirus. A root extract of another member of the Rosaceae, Potentilla arguta , completely inhibited respiratory syncytial virus. A Sambucus racemosa branch tip extract was also very active against respiratory syncytial virus while the inner bark extract of Oplopanax horridus partially inhibited this virus. An extract of Ipomopsis aggregata demonstrated very good activity against parainfluenza virus type 3. A Lomatium dissectum root extract completely inhibited the cytopathic effects of rotavirus. In addition to these, extracts prepared from the following plants exhibited antiviral activity against herpesvirus type 1: Cardamine angulata, Conocephalum conicum, Lysichiton americanum, Polypodium glycyrrhiza and Verbascum thapsus .

A Microsphaera on red elder ( Sambucus racemosa) in western Europe

The occurrence of Microsphaera vanbruntiana var. sambuci-racemosae on red elder in France and northern Spain means that this mildew of far-eastern origin now occurs over most of the geographical range of its host.

Contemporary use of bark for medicine by two salishan native elders of Southeast Vancouver Island, Canada

Elders of the Saanich and Cowichan Coast Salish people of southern Vancouver Island treat, or have treated in the recent past, many ailments with bark preparations. Interviews with two elder Salishan women revealed that: respiratory ailments were treated with bark of Abies grandis, Arbutus menziesii, Cornus nuttallii, Prunus emarginata, Pseudotsuga menziesii and Quercus garryana; digestive tract ailments with the bark of Abies grandis, Alnus rubra, Arbutus menziesii, Malus fusca, Oemleria cerasiformis, Populus tremuloides, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Rhamnus purshianus and Rubus spectabilis; gynaecological problems with bark of Abies grandis, Arbutus menziesii, Populus tremuloides, Prunus emarginata, Pseudotsuga menziesii and Sambucus racemosa; and dermatological complaints with the bark of Mahonia spp., Rubus spectabilis, and Symphoricarpos albus. Tree barks have also been used to treat fevers, diabetes, kidney problems, sore eyes, and haemorrhaging, and also as general tonics. Two recipes for general-purpose multi-bark medicines are provided. In most cases, infusions or decoctions of barks are used. The medicines are drunk or applied externally as a wash.