White Beech Research Articles

Metabolite Profiles and Biological Activities of Different Phenotypes of Beech Mushrooms (Hypsizygus marmoreus).

Beech mushrooms (Hypsizygus marmoreus) are edible mushrooms commercially used in South Korea. They can be classified into white and brown according to their pigmentation. This study analyzed the metabolites and biological activities of these mushrooms. Specifically, 42 metabolites (37 volatiles, two phenolics, and three carbohydrates) were quantified in white beech mushrooms, and 47 (42 volatiles, two phenolics, and three carbohydrates) were detected in brown mushrooms. The major volatiles detected were hexanal, pentanal, 1-hexanol, and 1-pentanol. Brown mushrooms contained higher levels of hexanal (64%) than white mushrooms (35%), whereas white mushrooms had higher levels of pentanal (11%) and 1-pentanol (3%). Most volatiles were more abundant in white mushrooms than in brown mushrooms. Furthermore, brown beech mushrooms had a higher phenolic content than white mushrooms. Biological assays revealed that both types of mushroom demonstrated anti-microbial activities against bacterial and yeast pathogens and weak DPPH scavenging activity. The extracts from both mushrooms (50 μg/mL) also exhibited strong anti-inflammatory properties. Brown mushroom extracts showed higher antioxidant, anti-microbial, and anti-inflammatory properties than white mushroom extracts. This study reported that the differences in phenotype, taste, and odor were consistent with the metabolite differences between white and brown beech mushrooms, which have high nutritional and biofunctional values.

Preparation and Characterization of Cinnamon–Clove Compound Essential Oil Microcapsules/Graphene Oxide/Polyvinyl Alcohol/Polylactic Acid Composite Films for White Beech Mushrooms Packaging

Preparation and Characterization of Cinnamon–Clove Compound Essential Oil Microcapsules/Graphene Oxide/Polyvinyl Alcohol/Polylactic Acid Composite Films for White Beech Mushrooms Packaging

Physicochemical characteristics of new breed white Hypsizygus marmoreus for cold storage after harvest

Fresh mushrooms are vulnerable to browning and tissue changes after harvest. This study monitored the external appearance, physicochemical quality indicators, and nutritional and functional components of a white beech mushroom (Hypsizygus marmoreus) variety (EG2020) newly developed in Korea during cold storage for up to 42 days. Two existing varieties of white H. marmoreus, namely H6 from Korea and HKT from Japan, were used for comparison. The mechanical texture of EG2020 was superior to H6 and HKT due to the increasing hardness of the pileus with time. Browning, in terms of the total color difference during storage, was found to be the most severe in HKT. In terms of composition, EG2020 had the highest total free sugar content, a large amount of organic acids, and higher sugar content than H6 and HKT. EG2020 also contained the largest amount of β-glucan, and its amount increased during storage. In sensory evaluation, EG2020 received higher scores than HKT in flavor, taste, appearance, and texture. Therefore, the EG2020 variety is more stable than HKT during storage and distribution.

Australian landscape memoir as conservationist vehicle: Winton, Tredinnick, Greer

In this essay, we propose to study three recent Australian landscape memoirs – Tim Winton’s Island Home (2015), Mark Tredinnick’s The Blue Plateau (2009) and Germaine Greer’s White Beech (2013) – all of which demonstrate the capacity of landscapes to act as perceptual conduits for the fundamental tension between world and self. Our main contention is that landscape memoir acts as a pre-eminent vehicle for this tension, which is captured across different times and spaces and among multiple, intricately co-constituted life-worlds. Landscape memoir, in this and other ways, functions as both a multi-sensory phenomenological instrument for the recording of physical and emotional engagement with landscape and a distinct, episodically organised mode of life writing that seeks to understand the fractured nature of individual selfhood in the context of a more-than-human world. The essay also looks at the capacity of memoirs of this kind to operate as vehicles for conservationist thinking and action. In each of our three main cases, landscape mediates between an insecure self and a world or worlds that are portrayed as being threatened, although this is not enough in itself to establish a basis for the three works as ‘conservationist’ texts. However, all three can be seen as individual enquiries into different kinds of conservation that use the techniques and characteristics of landscape memoir to reflect on the material possibilities of personal and collective recovery (Winton) and ecological restoration (Greer); or, over and against these, to mark the elegiac registration of irretrievable loss (Tredinnick).

In situ growth of novel nickel diselenide nanoarrays with high specific capacity as the electrode material of flexible hybrid supercapacitors

Novel nickel diselenide (NiSe2) nanoarrays supported on Ni foams are successfully synthesized by an in situ hydrothermal process. Structural characterizations show that the as-obtained NiSe2 nanoarrays belong to the cubic phase and present the white beech mushroom-like appearance, i.e., the stem diameter about 50–70 nm, the length about 500 nm, and the diameter of the umbrella cover about 50 nm. Controlled experiment results show that the typical mushroom-like NiSe2 nanoarrays can deliver a high specific capacity, low resistance and better cycling stability due to the intrinsic physical properties, and special structural features. More importantly, mushroom-like NiSe2 nanoarrays are further assembled into flexible hybrid supercapacitors with commercial activated carbon as the counter electrodes. This hybrid energy-storage device has 33 Wh kg−1 energy density and 90.3% capacity retention. Meanwhile, it also shows a remarkable mechanical flexibility and high commercial value. Therefore, this work not only proves that the NiSe2 nanoarrays are competitive supercapacitor electrode materials, but also provides a new candidate for flexible, smart, and portable electronic devices.

Antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of white beech mushroom (Hypsizygus marmoreus) extracts

The objective of this study was to evaluate antioxidant effect and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of white beech mushroom (Hypsizygus marmoreus) extracts. The white beech mushroom was extracted into hot water and methanol. Total polyphenol content was highest in the hot water extract (8.4±3.27 mg GAE/g) compared to the methanol extract (7.3±2.85 mg GAE/g). The flavonoids contents in hot water and methanol extracts were 3.8±3.81 ug/mg and 2.5±1.95 ug/mg, respectively. The tyrosinase inhibitory activity of extract was increased in a dose dependent manner and tyrosinase inhibitory activity of extract (hot water extract, 69.72%; methanol extract, 52.67% at 40 mg/ml) was lower than those of positive control 2% arbutin (96%). The DPPH radical scavenging activity of the hot water and methanol extract was 80% and 74%, respectively. Hot water extract (63.34±1.00 uM TE/g) were more effective in ORAC (oxygen radical absorbance capacity) value than methanol extract (46.33±0.48 uM TE/g). The toxicity of hot water and methanol extracts was investigated using WST-1 (4-[3-(4-iodophenyl)-2-(4- nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio]-1,3-benzene disulphonate) assay on the B16BL6 melanoma cells.

Spatial (cap & stipe) metabolomic variations affect functional components between brown and white beech mushrooms

The beech mushrooms have customarily been revered by oriental societies for their nutritional and health benefits. We explored the mass spectrometry (MS) based spatial metabolomic variations between parts (cap and stipe) of two beech mushroom strains (brown and white). The principal component analysis (PCA) revealed their distinct primary (cap and stipe: PC1, 25.5%; strains: PC2, 12.5%) and secondary (cap and stipe: PC1, 10.3%; strains: PC2, 7.6%) metabolite patterns. The caps were rich in amino acids, fatty acids, and N-acetylglucosamine with higher protein and nitrogen contents. The stipes had abundant β-glucans, malic acid, and fructose. The discriminant secondary metabolites, especially, hypsiziprenols were higher in caps from brown strains. A fatty acid derivative, azelaic acid, was abundant in white strains (cap>stipe). We established a positive correlation for the cytotoxic activities of hypsiziprenols against ACHN cells. These spatial inter-strain metabolomic distinctions are potentially helpful for mushroom selection and improvement.

Predicting red heartwood formation in beech trees ( Fagus sylvatica L.)

Beech forests ( Fagus sylvatica L.) represent the natural vegetation cover for the majority of sites in Germany. Although coniferous forests actually dominate, beech is the most important among the deciduous-tree-species in Germany, when considering the area and the economics. While the wood of the younger beech normally shows a whitish colour (white beech), the timber of older beech may form coloured heartwood (facultative). This heartwood is highly variable in its colour. In most cases a reddish colour predominates, but sometimes the heartwood can be brown, grey, green, or even purple. Usually the coloured heartwood is called “red heartwood”. As the uses of beech with “red heartwood” are restricted, mainly for aesthetical reasons, its presence severely reduces the timber quality. However, the existence of “red heartwood” cannot be distinguished until the tree is felled. In this context the paper presents a possible new approach within the “red heartwood” research. The object is to predict the future “red heartwood” formation in beech trees, while they are actually still showing a bright colour. This information is relevant to improve the beech forest management. In order to provide this information the data of 392 felled beech trees were utilised. By means of a logistic regression analysis the probability of the occurrence of “red heartwood” was first analysed. Specific tree characteristics were tested as independent variables (age, diameter at 1.3 m height, crown base height, average diameter increment, injuries to the bark, forking). Transition probabilities (probabilities with which a recent “red heartwood” is formed) were then derived based on the statistical logistic regression function. In order to predict the transition probabilities for still standing beech trees a model was formed comprising of tree characteristics as independent variables, which significantly influenced the “red heartwood” probability. Among the independents the age of the tree and the average diameter growth rate were the most important. The distance to the soil surface at which the heartwood was measured, and the number of injuries to the bark (dead branches, knobs, big scars), through which oxygen may enter the stem significantly influenced the transition probability. The presence or absence of a stem fork was also significant.

Value of complete information on red heartwood formation in beech (Fagus sylvatica)

Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is the most important deciduous tree species in Germany. The wood of beech shows normally a bright colour (white beech) as long as no coloured heartwood has been formed. The facultative heartwood formation is induced when oxygen enters central parts of older trees, where dead or at least less vital parenchyma exist. The coloured heartwood is usually called ‘red heartwood’. Beech without red heartwood can preferably be found in younger trees which show a high water content even in central parts of the stem. The presence of red heartwood is regarded as a severe reduction of timber quality. Numerous studies have investigated opportunities to derive information on the presence and characteristics of red heartwood of standing beech trees. But until now it has not been tested whether such information could be helpful to improve the economics of beech-silviculture. This paper investigates whether complete information on the heartwood of standing beech could be useful to control the proportion of discoloured timber harvested during one rotation. It is also examined, which kind of information on the heartwood could be used to improve the economic results. To verify this, simulations based on simple algorithms were conducted. The general assumption was made that all information on the heartwood would be available. The results show that information which is restricted on the mere existence of red heartwood is neither suited to significantly reduce the amount of coloured timber nor is it possible to improve economic results based on this information. Only based on information on the recent formation of red heartwood of beech, which is actually still white the amount of discoloured timber can be reduced significantly. Consequently the discounted cash flows can only be substantially improved based on information on an expected formation of recent red heartwood.

Resources of the Southern Fields and Forests, Medical Economical, and Agricultural

IN this book we have very full accounts of the uses of the plants of the Southern States of America. The author freely acknowledges in his Preface (or, as it is here termed, “Preliminary,”) that he has availed himself largely of numerous works on kindred subjects, most of which have been published in America. In the introduction a few practical instructions are given for collecting and drying medicinal products of the vegetable kingdom. The plants are arranged according to their natural orders, the vernacular names being placed first, followed by the scientific names, and the distribution of the plants in the States. No attempt is made either at a scientific or popular description of the plants themselves; so that the book is literally what it professes to be, without being made bulky with matter that can, if required, be found in floras or purely botanical works. The book, indeed, is written more with an eye to the exposition of the medicinal uses of the plants; but the “economical and agricultural” portion is by no means lightly treated. In short, the information is most varied, as will be seen from a few quotations. Here is a recipe for making blacking from elder-berries, certainly an application we never before heard of:—“Boil elder-berries well, mashing the pulpy matter; then strain through a colander, and bottle for use. The liquid sours somewhat by age, but retains its qualities. Another way is to dimmer ripe elder-berries over a slow fire in an iron kettle for one hour and let the mass cool, and you will have good blacking.” Under the head of White Beech (Fagus sylvatica, and F. americana) our author tells us “the leaves of the beech trees, collected in autumn in dry weather, form an admirable article,for filling beds. The smell is grateful and wholesome, they do not harbour vermin, are very elastic, and may be replenished annually without cost.” There is nothing new in this application of beech leaves; they are used in many parts of Europe for a similar purpose, and were at one time so employed in England. Evelyn speaks of them as affording “the best and easiest mattress in the world to lay under our quilts instead of straw;” and by way of recommendation says that “divers persons of quality in Dauphiny” use them The above are examples of what may be called purely economical applications. We take a cruciferous plant, the Gold of Pleasure, or False Flax (Camelina saliva) as a single example of agricultural produce. “The cultivation of this plant for the seed would repay the farmer; an abundance of chaff would be produced which would be of infinite service for horses or for manure. In a grazing country like England, where vast sums are annually expended for foreign oil-cake, the Gold of Pleasure will soon be found an excellent substitute under manufacture, and, consequently, a grower should find a good remuneration in cultivating the seed. The oil-cake has been found highly nutritious in the fattening of sheep and oxen, as it contains a great portion of mucilage and nitrogenous matter, which combined are found very beneficial in developing fat and lean.” The prospects of making this a most important agricultural plant are, we think, too brightly drawn, considering that it has not escaped the notice of English agriculturists. Neverthless, a few words of this kind on different products might help to promote experiments on their culture and utility. The writer's aim throughout seems to be a general utilisation of vegetable productions, and he very ingeniously finds a variety of application for those of the Southern States. We do not hesitate to say that a few books of this description on the economic products of different parts of tne globe, would make us much better acquainted with the true value of the vegetable kingdom than we are at present. Resources of the Southern Fields and Forests, Medical Economical, and Agricultural. By Francis Peyre Porcher (Charleston: 1869.)