Sweet Chestnut Castanea Sativa Research Articles

Common beech Fagus sylvatica L; survival and longevity in changing times

Veteran trees not only have an intrinsic interest in themselves; they also provide information about climatic conditions and masting over periods equal to many human generations. This paper endeavours to highlight existing records of veteran populations of Fagus sylvatica L. in Europe, especially in Sweden, and also provides fresh information regarding trees in Germany and the Carpathian Mountains of the Ukraine.For reasons of space it is not possible to list all the very many papers dealing with the influence of climatic warming on forest trees, but it is clear from those quoted here that common beech is particularly influenced by it. In general the effect has been to move the areas favourable to the species northwards in the lowlands and upwards in mountainous regions. This is very much the case in Britain where the Forest Authority no longer approves of beech planting in southern and eastern England. The use of sweet chestnut Castanea sativa as its replacement in broad-leaved forests is likely to result in ecosystems markedly different from those which evolved under beech. Sweet chestnut is predicted to increase in growth and productivity in the east of England as beech retreats north and west.The English Beech Mast Survey was initiated in 1980; its recorders have in consequence observed the storm damage to beech stands, particularly in the south, during that time. The remarkable response by beech to lava flows on the presently dormant volcano of Etna, Sicily, is both described and illustrated. In many cases lava that engulfed the trees had destroyed the main trunks, but left scorched bases from which the trees had coppiced successfully.

The full length <i>PtSRP</i> (<i>Pisolithus tinctorius</i> symbiosis related protein) fungal mRNA encodes a potential marker of ectomycorrhiza formation

The Pisolithus tinctorius symbiosis related protein expressed sequence tag (EST PtSRP) was previously identified in the first hours of the interaction between the fungus Pisolithus tinctorius and sweet chestnut Castanea sativa, and partially characterized as a fungal marker gene of ectomycorrhizal symbiosis formation. We used the 5’ rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE) to obtain the PtSRP mRNA 5’ region, and together with our previously reported 3’ mRNA region, the full mRNA sequence was assembled by use of bioinformatics tools and deposited to GenBank (Accession: GU733439). The full-length mRNA sequence (636 bp) revealed the locations of the 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions (UTRs) and contained the Kozak sequence (ccc aag ATG A) in the 5’ UTR. The in silico translated PtSRP open reading frame (ORF) codes for a 127 amino acid protein and contained four putative post-translational modification sites (two N-glycosylation and two phosphorylation). The protein secondary structure is postulated to be composed of one N-terminal hydrophobic transmembrane alpha helix and at least six hydrophilic beta-strands spread across the protein. Sub-cellular localization prediction suggests that the protein is involved in cellular secretory pathway, supported by the presence of a cleavage site motif close to the membrane anchor. The data presented herein indicate the role of PtSRP as a fungal membrane secreted protein involved in early stages of ectomycorrhizal formation, with application as a possible marker for nascent ectomy-corrhiza fungal development.

Distribution of sweet chestnut Castanea sativa Mill. in the Czech Republic

Sweet chestnut Castanea sativa Mill. is an introduced species in the Czech Republic. It is recorded roughly from 300 localities. To the end of 2002, the occurrence of chestnut was verified at about 140 macrolocalities. The most northern locality recorded so far was Choustníkovo Hradiště in the region of Hradec Králové. Chestnuts occur generally to an altitude of 500 m (80% of all examined localities), at higher altitudes they suffer from climatic extremes particularly late frosts. The occurrence of chestnut was recorded at 27 localities (ca. 20% localities under investigation) where altitudes exceed 500 m. The highest location of chestnut is locality Nejdek, Karlovy Vary District where chestnut trees thrive at an altitude of 678 m. At altitudes over 600 m, two other localities were recorded. The health condition of chestnut is relatively good. At some localities, however, crown drying occurs as a result of not quite ideal climatic conditions. Within our research, quarantine Cryphonectria parasitica (Murr.) Barr. was determined for the first time in the Czech Republic at the only examined locality.

Factors affecting severity of deer browsing damage within coppiced woodlands in the south of England

The damaging impact, by browsing, of roe deer Capreolus capreolus and fallow deer Dama dama in coppice regrowth within 53 cut-over blocks in 28 woodlands in East Anglia, Hampshire, and West Sussex is investigated. The major factors shown to be related to the amount of damage inflicted by roe deer were tree species present, size of the coppice block and the quantity of surrounding cover. Hornbeam Carpinus betulus, willow Salix caprea, sweet chestnut Castanea sativa and birch Betula pubescens were the most susceptible to browsing from roe. On sites browsed by fallow deer, levels of damage were highest on sweet chestnut, ash Fraxinus excelsior and lime Tilia cordata. Higher damage levels were associated with a greater density/activity of roe deer as evinced by dung counts; there was no clear relationship within woodlands frequented by fallow. On freshly cut coppice (<1 year), level of damage decreased as overall size of the block increased (p < 0·05); a higher level of damage was sustained in blocks adjacent to cover habitats. Damage by fallow deer, but not by roe, was also affected by the degree of protection offered to individual stools. Only three coppice blocks studied were fenced; this protection proved the single most effective measure in reducing damage. The practical options for reducing damage by manipulating the habitat and coppice management practice are discussed.

Densities and biomass of invertebrates in stands of rotationally managed coppice woodland

This paper investigates the effect on the three major invertebrate groups—Diptera, Hemiptera and Arachnida—together with total invertebrates and total biomass of (a) coppice species (sweet chestnut Castanea sativa and birch Betula pendula), (b) coppice age, (c) mature coppice understorey species (hazel Corylus avellana, hornbeam Carpinus betulus and sweet chestnut), living under oak Quercus standards at the Blean Woods complex in Kent. Generally birch coppice, irrespective of age, had the highest densities and biomass of the invertebrate groups studied. Middle-aged (6–7 year old) sweet chestnut coppice had the lowest density of invertebrates, although between-age class differences were significant in only a few cases. The age of birch coppice had no clear effect on invertebrate abundance and sample biomass. The species of coppice understorey in mature stands under oak standards had a significant effect on invertebrate abundance and sample biomass in the understorey. Generally densities and biomass values were highest in hornbeam and lowest in sweet chestnut. Total invertebrate densities and total biomass values were between 5–8 times higher and between 3–12 times higher, respectively, in hornbeam than in sweet chestnut understorey. The implications of management for mixed broadleaved woodland bird communities are discussed.

A comparative study of the bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta (L.) Chouard in two different woodland situations in the west Midlands, England

The characteristics of two Midland populations of bluebell Hyacinthoides non-scripta (L.) Chouard, one growing in a bracken Pteridium aquilinum community and the other beneath sweet chestnut Castanea sativa, are described. The soil of the Pteridium site is deeper and more acidic (pH 4·2) than that of the Castanea site (pH 5·1); both have developed on soft Triassic sandstone. The density of bluebell bulbs is lower and individual bulb diameter and weight higher in the Pteridium site where, unlike the Castanea site, most bulb biomass is at a considerable depth, lying beneath the extensive layer of bracken roots and rhizomes at 8–20 cm. Bulb biomass shows an approximately normal distribution with depth in the Castanea site. Bluebell seedlings are not uncommon in the Pteridium site, but recruitment to the bulb population is low. This lack of recruitment appears to be caused by competition with the bracken, now in a vigorous phase of its cycle. Percentage dry matter allocation to plant organs in both sites has been determined for a complete annual cycle. Reproduction is predominantly sexual in both sites. The comparatively few, but larger, inflorescences of the plants in the Pteridium site tend to form as many seeds as the plants in the Castanea site.