Issues

Abstract

Comparison study of some physiological parameters of natural generative regeneration of Quercus frainetto Ten. (QF) and Quercus cerris L. (QC) was conducted in situ in an oak-dominated old coppiced forest. Gas exchange levels and sapling leaf pigment content were assessed simultaneously under the canopy (C-site) and in a gap (G-site) open in the stand two years before measurement. Differences in maximum photosynthetic capacity (Amax) and dark respiration rate (Rd), determined by light-response regressions were compared to evaluate leaves’ carbon balance. Transpiration rate (E) and water use efficiency (WUE) were analyzed to compare changes in water regimes. Total chlorophyll content (TCC) and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) were monitored on the same plants. Species-specific responses to changed micro-condition after a canopy opening were observed. Both elements of the carbon balance (Amax and Rd) change much more substantially in QF leaves compared to QC in G-site. At the same time, the QF has a greater difference of E in the G-site compared to the C-site than in the QC. Such leads to a flattening of the WUE between two species at the G-site, in a background of a higher WUE of QF in the C-site. However, QF has similar, although not higher, TCC levels as in QC, as well as NDVI in G-site, compared to C-site.

Received: 25 August 2022 / Accepted: 12 December 2022 / Available online: 14 December 2022

Abstract

Monitoring forestry workers’ safety through early warning and detection systems has potential to improve conditions and reduce costs incurred from preventable accidents and injuries (savings up to 0.5 million USD per annum) during timber harvesting and processing operations. This project has a primary goal of understanding the needs, challenges, and opportunities of using artificial intelligence image processing for hazard monitoring and developing a workwear embedded with such technology for sawmilling operations in order to ensure the wellbeing of the workers. The underlying algorithm can be further developed to be implemented with forklift mounted cameras and other wearable safety devices. The positive research findings can also be applied in other forestry environments such as harvesting where safety management for human and vehicle interactions are required.

Received: 14 July 2022 / Accepted: 08 December 2022 / Available online: 09 December 2022

Abstract

Oleoresin, a quantitative trait with great variability, is the most important non-wood product of  Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis Mill.). That being so, and the fact that oleoresin’s added value has risen lately, the primary objective of this research was the selection of high-yielding (plus) and low-yielding oleoresin (control) Aleppo pine trees from two Greek populations (Chalkidiki  and Euboea) and their genetic analysis with isozymes. The hypothesis tested was whether certain genetic parameters such as heterozygosity and fixation index F, are different between plus and control trees in the two populations. Horizontal starch gel electrophoresis was used in order to analyze the endosperms of the selected trees. Eleven enzyme systems were applied which resulted in 17 loci with 33 alleles. The mean expected heterozygosity was high for all groups of trees. No differences were found among mean fixation indices F across all groups of trees but a tendency was detected at certain loci between the two populations. Furthermore, a first analysis for the discrimination and the fingerprinting of certain selected trees was performed with molecular markers (RAPDs). In total, six primers were applied which resulted in 68 loci. The discrimination and fingerprinting of the selected trees were successful using just 9 loci. The results imply that since there is great variability in oleoresin yield and high expected heterozygosity among the plus trees of the Greek Aleppo pine populations, a breeding program in order to increase the oleoresin yield should be conducted.

Received: 04 September 2021 / Accepted: 06 December 2022 / Available online: 08 December 2022

Abstract

The Western capercaillie is a large galliform bird whose populations are declining in Europe. By the middle of the 20th century it was present on six massifs of the Dinaric Alps in Croatia. In the meantime, the capercaillie has disappeared from two massifs and lek numbers have fallen by 77 %. The only area where lek numbers have increased is the Lička Plješivica, a massif on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina. In this study we applied ENFA analysis to evaluate the habitat suitability for capercaillie on the Lička Plješivica massif. The habitat analysis showed that the capercaillie prefers steeper terrain and ridges, forest roads as well as forest associations with higher basal areas, and it avoids grasslands. The capercaillie in general prefers areas with a cold and humid climate. However, compared to the boreal region, the Alps and the Carpathian Mountains, the capercaillie shows a certain habitat preference for the Dinaric Alps. In conclusion, the high suitability of the habitat and its connection to the Bosnia-and-Herzegovinian capercaillie population are probably the causes underlying the increase in the capercaillie population on the Lička Plješivica massif.

Received: 05 October 2021 / Accepted: 05 December 2022 / Available online: 08 December 2022

Abstract

Only recently, truffle hunting in Bulgaria has established itself as an important source of income and due to the specific socio-economic aspects, there is a tendency for continuous increase of the truffle hunters’ number. Tuber aestivum is the most important commercial truffle in Bulgaria. Because truffles are ectomycorrhizal fungi, at least part of their life cycle is related to plant partner, which in most cases is a tree species. Among those factors that affect growth and distribution of vegetation and of Tuber host plants, are pedoclimatic conditions. They are determined from a large extent on geographical and orographic characteristics, creating specific microclimatic conditions suitable for Tuber fruitbodies development. In this study we focus on various soil properties of the most productive T. aestivum habitats from midpart of Western Bulgaria. We have used Principal component and classification analysis (PCA) to determine the most important soil factors for fruitbody formation. The common feature of the most productive T. aestivum habitats from midpart of Western Bulgaria are high cation exchange capacity values (CEC) and low CaCO3 content. Moreover, our research confirms that Ca2+, total organic carbon and total nitrogen are among the most important factors for T. aestivum production. The results extend our knowledge on T. aestivum ecology and can be used to select the best areas for establishing truffle plantations in Bulgaria.

Received: 14 July 2022 / Accepted: 15 November 2022 / Available online: 22 November 2022

Abstract

Indonesia forests are ecosystems with mega biodiversity. Although many allometric equations have been developed for either forest types or tree species, a species–specific allometric equations are still important for precise estimation. The cajuput tree is a promising species that can provide non-timber forest products and mitigate climate change. In Indonesia, cajuput trees have been utilized as a source aromatic oil in forest plantations and natural forests. For climate change mitigation, cajuput could be useful as carbon stock. This research aimed to develop an allometric equation of naturally growing cajuput from Wanagama Forest using destructive sampling with 30 samples of cajuput trees to develop and 20 samples to validate the allometric equation. Power model law was used to develop the allometric equation. The requirement of the selected allometric equation was high coefficient determination (R2 adj), low value of mean absolute bias, and low value of root mean square error. Results showed that and were the best allometric equations to estimate dry-weight biomass and carbon content, respectively. The predictor of diameter at breast height was robust in estimating the biomass and carbon of cajuput. Adding a predictor of total height did not significantly affect the allometric equation.

Received: 13 February 2022 / Accepted: 28 October 2022 / Available online: 04 November 2022

Abstract

This study aims to identify the extractives from Pinus merkusii Jungh. & de Vriese cone together with their evaluation for antifungal agent. The pine cone was obtained from Temanggung, central Java, Indonesia. The pine cone was grinded to size of 40 mesh and was extracted with n-hexane, ethyl acetate, and methanol in a Soxhlet apparatus. The antifungal test was performed through growth inhibition of cone extracts against Phanerochaete chrysosporium Burds. (whiterot) and the extractive responsible for antifungal was elucidated by GC-MS. The antifungal activity measurement showed that n-hexane extract as the highest inhibition with IC50 of 637.74 μg∙ml-1. The analysis of n-hexane extract through GC-MS exhibited diterpenoid as dominant compound and they were characterized as pimaric acid and abietic acid TMS. Therefore, the presence of terpenoids in P. merkusii cone extracts are potential for natural preservative.

Received: 05 April 2022 / Accepted: 27 October 2022 / Available online: 04 November 2022

Abstract

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) play an important role in the composition and growth of plants in forest ecosystems. Research on mycorrhizal status in endemic plant species is still lacking. This study aims to determine the AMF status of ebony (Diospyros celebica Bakh.), which is one of the endemic plant species that are threatened with extinction on the island of Sulawesi, Indonesia. The collection of rhizosphere soil samples and ebony roots was carried out in three ebony stands on Sulawesi Island, namely Maleali village and Tovalo village, Parigi Motong district, Central Sulawesi province and in Ako village, Pasangkayu district, West Sulawesi province, Indonesia. Identification of AMF species was carried out at the Forest Biotechnology Laboratory, Bogor Agricultural Institute. We found 19 AMF species from two genera (Glomus and Acaulospora) associated with ebony, with the distribution of 7 AMF species in Maleali village, 5 and 7 AMF species in Tovalo village and Ako village, respectively. Furthermore, AMF colonisation on ebony roots was in the low category, between 0.33 % and 2.47 %, with a spore density of 38–162 per 50 g of soil. The results of this study indicate that Diospyros celebica is associated with AMF. This information can be used as a guide in the use of AMF to optimize the cultivation, conservation and restoration programs of this species in the future.

Received: 07 June 2022 / Accepted: 22 October 2022 / Available online: 04 November 2022

Abstract

The article presents the results of the analysis of woody vegetation renewal peculiarities after a crown fire, which broke out in 2010 in a beech-yew forest in Termenlik district (965 m a.s.l.) on the south-eastern slope of Gimrinskiy Ridge in the Foothill of East Caucasus in Dagestan. For the description of the changes, which occurred on the post-fire spot in 2019, eight sample plots with areas 100 m2 each were arranged. A geobotanical description of the sample plots was conducted according to the generally accepted method, which included the definition of the microrelief, tree species composition, their distribution in the layers and biometric parameters. For each tree species, projective cover in percentage was revealed, as well as abundance, sequence of penetration and distribution, dynamics of the development of the above-ground part and the results of their competitive interaction were evaluated. Owing to the appearance of new species of seed origin with accelerated growth in the composition of the forest stand, such as Populus tremula L., Salix caprea L., Acer campestre L., Fraxinus excelsior L., a suggestion was made about the change of the succession trend and the formation of a newly reformed coenosis without participation of the basic dominant species of the primary forest, namely Fagus orientalis Lipsky, Carpinus caucasica L., Taxus baccata L., Acer platanoides L. A method of mechanical removal of the dominant species Populus tremula L. was offered, leading to the enhancement of the competitive advantages of pioneer species characteristics of this locality.

Received: 09 February 2022 / Accepted: 21 October 2022 / Available online: 04 November 2022

Abstract

Caucasian spruce (Picea orientalis (L.) Link) has a native natural area at Caucasus and Pontic Mountains around the eastern Black Sea in Russia, Georgia, Armenia and Turkey. This species forms pure stands or mixed with other conifers and hardwoods. In Moscow it is cultivated at the Arboretum of Main Botanical Garden of Russian Academy of Sciences N. V. Tsitsin and at the Arboretum of Botanical Garden of Moscow State University M. V. Lomonosov. It has been established that the following meteorological parameters have the main adverse effect on the growth of this spruce species: temperature in February, precipitation in February, March, April, May and July, temperatures of April and July. In the conditions of global climate change, this species may become important for forest crops and urban landscaping.

Received: 11 July 2022 /Accepted: 05 October 2022 / Available online: 04 November 2022

Abstract

This is a study of length and weight growth of Romanian barbel from the middle and upper stream of the Ogosta River. Population parameters estimates were based on scale annual interpretation. The estimates were compared with growth data obtained in previous periods from other Bulgarian water courses. Methodologically, 100 individuals were collected by electrofishing in 2020. Specimens’ age ranged from 1 to 5 years. More than half of the sample was represented by one-year-old fish. Older fish were relatively few. The lengths of all sampled individuals ranged from 39 mm to 202 mm. A relationship between standard length (SL) and scale radius (S) was described by an equation: SL = 2.7077∙S, r2 = 0.9485, p < 0.005. A relationship between fish gutted weight (W) and SL was represented by an equation: W = 0.00002∙SL2.8936; r2 = 0.9956, p < 0.005.

Received: 20 April 2022 / Accepted: 12 September 2022 / Available online: 26 September 2022

Abstract

Mangrove area is a transitional area with abundant natural resources, providing environmental services for coastal communities in regulating water systems, preventing seawater intrusion, as well as providing oxygen and carbon stock (C-stock). Comprehensive data of mangrove forests in Sambas Regency, West Kalimantan province is very limited. This study aims to monitor the condition of mangrove forests and estimate their potential carbon stocks in Sambas Regency. There are six dominant mangrove species in Sambas Regency, namely Avicennia alba, A. marina, Bruguiera cylindrica, B. gymnorrhiza, Lumnitzera littorea, and Rhizophora apiculata. Vegetation density varies from sparse to dense, ranging from 800–4700 trees per ha with a canopy cover of 55.00–86.63 %. The range of mangrove species diameter values is from 4.39 ±0.69 – 27.45 ±21.14 cm. Potential C-stock ranged from 7.17 ±0.32 – 546.67 ±70.83 Mg C∙ha-1 with an average of 130.62 ±166.34 Mg C∙ha-1. The highest potential of mangrove C-stock was found at the Sebubus location. Mangrove vegetation in this study has a high potential of carbon stock, the potential value close to Kubu Raya Regency, West Kalimantan province, and higher than several mangrove ecosystems in Indonesia. In general, the condition of mangrove vegetation in this area is still good and has great potential for carbon stock. However, protection and sustainable use are needed in conserving the mangrove ecosystem in this area.

Received: 19 March 2022 / Accepted: 26 August 2022 / Available online: 26 September 2022

Abstract

Essential oil (EO) vapours from Satureja kitaibelii Wierzb. ex Heuff. were tested in laboratory conditions against Myzus persicae Sulzer in tobacco and Apis melifera L. Efficacy of 100 % against M. persicae at 3 μL∙L-1 air was established. Low efficacy of 17.6 % was found at 0.5 μL∙L-1 air, increasing to 71.3 % at concentration of 1 μL∙L-1 air, and reaching 95.3 % at 2 μL∙L-1 air. The concentration of 3 μL∙L-1 air applied under the same conditions to worker bees of A. mellifera rendered toxicity of almost one hundred per cent – 99.5 %, correspondingly. In the control group of bees, no mortality was established. The lifespan of bees depends on multiple factors and further studies are needed, also in field conditions.

Received: 05 July 2022 / Accepted: 22 August 2022 / Available online: 26 September 2022

Abstract

In laboratory conditions, the effect of Essential oil (EO) vapours from Thymus pulegioides L. against Myzus persicae S. on tobacco and Apis mellifera L. bees were tested. Aphids’ mortality increased when concentration increased. A low mortality of M. persicae of 9.7 % was reported at 0.5 μL∙L-1 air, at 1 μL∙L-1 air mortality was 31.6 %, and at 2 and 3 μL∙L-1 air mortality was 100 %. Concentration of 2 μL∙L-1 air was found to be the minimum which has maximum efficacy of 100 %. Differences between efficacy of various concentrations were found to be statistically significant. EO vapours tested at concentration of 2 μL∙L-1 air applied under the same conditions to A. mellifera showed 100 % toxicity to the bees as well. No mortality was reported in the control.

Received: 02 July 2022 / Accepted: 05 August 2022 / Available online: 26 September 2022

Abstract

Xylotrophic fungi are widespread in all types of forests. The composition of their primary and secondary metabolites including biologically active compounds depends on species and growth substrate; therefore, fungi can become a valuable raw material for biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and food industry. Fomitopsis pinicola is one of the common species in Russia and Europe, growing predominantly on Pinus sylvestris L., but in mixed forests of the Urals it is also found on Betula pendula Roth. As metabolism of angiosperms and gymnosperms, and their timber properties are different, growth substrate could affect the chemical composition of fungi fruit bodies; therefore our study aimed at metabolite composition of extracts, obtained from F. pinicola collected from birch and pine, and their antioxidant activity. Qualitative analysis revealed alkaloids, phenolics, and anthraquinones. Saponins were found only in the samples obtained from pine. Thin layer chromatography of extracts revealed the same qualitative composition of phenolics, but their amount was higher on birch – 4.2 mg g-1 then on pine – 3.1 mg∙g-1. In ABTS test extracts showed the same antiradical activity. The metabolomics profile obtained by UHPLC-MS totally revealed 116 compounds, and each fungi sample contained more than 70 of them. Thus, the type of substrate influenced on the profile of metabolites and quantitative composition in F. pinicola fruit bodies.

Received: 30 December 2021 / Accepted: 04 August 2022 / Available online: 26 September 2022