Search Results (230)

Species translocation is an increasingly used method in active plant conservation, but its high costs and risk of failure highlight the need for prior research to support its effectiveness. Salix lapponum plantlets obtained through micropropagation were subjected to two biological experiments under laboratory conditions. The plants were watered with aqueous solutions of NaCl (Experiment 1) and N-NO₃ (Experiment 2) for a period of four weeks. The experiments were designed to simulate processes occurring in the natural habitats of the species- increased substrate salinity and eutrophication. To determine the plant response to the presence of NaCl and N-NO₃ in the soil substrate, various morpho-physiological traits were examined, including selected growth parameters, relative water content (RWC), photosynthetic pigment content, selected chlorophyll fluorescence parameters, reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, antioxidant enzyme activity, and anthocyanin content. The results showed that both tested factors acted as abiotic stressors. Exposure to NaCl solutions of various concentrations led to a significant deterioration in morpho-physiological parameters, whereas low concentrations of nitrate nitrogen stimulated the growth of S. lapponum. In response to stress, the plants activated defense mechanisms such as increased anthocyanin synthesis, elevated antioxidant enzyme activity, and maintenance of a high relative water content. Full article

Background/Objectives: In flowering plants, hybridization is an important evolutionary force that might change sex distributions and sex determination systems (SDSs). However, little is known about processes in the first hybrid generations. Here, we study a cultivated putative hybrid cross of weeping willows (genus Salix, S.), S. alba × babylonica to gain insights into the effects of hybridization into SDSs. Methods: We analyzed the genetic structure of pure S. alba, pure S. babylonica, and the putative hybrid crosses in Central Europe using RADSeq data and five independent methods (NeighborNet, genetic structure analysis, Principal Component Analysis, hybrid index and heterozygosity analysis, and hybrid class analysis). The genetic SDS was analyzed on male, female, and mixed (monoecious) phenotypes by detecting sex-specific genomic markers using RADSex. Results: Genetic analyses indicate that most of the weeping willows represent F1 hybrids (S. alba × babylonica), and only two putative S. alba backcrosses. Hybrid index, heterozygosity, and hybrid class analyses provided more interpretable results than the other methods. The parental species were consistently dioecious, whereas hybrids had male, female, and monoecious phenotypes. RADSex revealed a male heterogametic XY system for S. alba, and this was combined in the hybrids with the previously known ZW system of S. babylonica. Conclusions: We confirmed the historical records stating that S. alba × babylonica are mostly F1 hybrids. We report for the first time that the combination of XY and ZW systems in primary hybrids results in regular shifts to monoecy. Full article

Willow stands (Salix spp.) are an essential part of riparian ecosystems, as they sustain biodiversity and provide bioenergy solutions. The present review synthesizes the global scientific literature about the management of willow stands. In order to achieve this goal, we used a dual approach combining bibliometric analysis with traditional literature review. As such, we consulted 416 publications published between 1978 and 2024. This allowed us to identify key species, ecosystem services, conservation strategies, and management issues. The results we have obtained show a diversity of approaches, with an increase in short-rotation coppice (SRC) systems and the multiple roles covered by willow stands (carbon sequestration, biomass production, riparian restoration, and habitat provision). The key trends we have identified show a shift toward topics such as climate resilience, ecological restoration, and precision forestry. This trend has become especially pronounced over the past decade (2014–2024), as reflected in the increasing use of these keywords in the literature. However, as willow systems expand in scale and function—from biomass production to ecological restoration—they also raise complex challenges, including invasive tendencies in non-native regions and uncertainties surrounding biodiversity impacts and soil carbon dynamics over the long term. The present review is a guide for forest policies and, more specifically, for future research, linking the need to integrate and use adaptive strategies in order to maintain the willow stands. Full article

To investigate the remediation efficiency of different plant species on cadmium (Cd)-contaminated soil, this study conducted a pot experiment with two woody species (Populu adenopoda and Salix babylonica) and two herbaceous species (Artemisia argyi and Amaranthus hypochondriacus). Soils were collected from an abandoned coal mine and adjacent pristine natural areas within the dam-adjacent section of the Three Gorges Reservoir Area to establish three soil treatment groups: unpolluted soil (T1, 0.18 mg·kg⁻¹ Cd), a 1:1 mixture of contaminated and unpolluted soil (T2, 0.35 mg·kg⁻¹ Cd), and contaminated coal mine soil (T3, 0.54 mg·kg⁻¹ Cd). This study aimed to investigate the growth status of plants, Cd accumulation and translocation characteristics, and the relationship between them and soil environmental factors. Woody plants exhibited significant advantages in aboveground biomass accumulation. Under T3 treatment, the Cd extraction amount of S. babylonica (224.93 mg) increased by about 36 times compared to T1, and the extraction efficiency (6.42%) was significantly higher than other species. Among the herbaceous species, A. argyi showed the maximum Cd extraction amount (66.26 mg) and extraction efficiency (3.11%) during T2 treatment. While A. hypochondriacus exhibited a trend of increasing extraction amount but decreasing extraction efficiency with increasing concentration. With the exception of S. babylonica under T1 treatment (BCF = 0.78), the bioconcentration factor was greater than 1 in both woody (BCF = 1.39–6.42) and herbaceous species (BCF = 1.39–3.11). However, herbaceous plants demonstrated significantly higher translocation factors (TF = 1.58–3.43) compared to woody species (TF = 0.31–0.87). There was a significant negative correlation between aboveground phosphorus (P) content and root Cd (p < 0.05), while underground nitrogen (N) content was positively correlated to aboveground Cd content (p < 0.05). Soil total N and available P were significantly positively correlated with plant Cd absorption, whereas total potassium (K) showed a negative correlation. This study demonstrated that woody plants can achieve long-term remediation through biomass advantages, while herbaceous plants, with their high transfer efficiency, are suitable for short-term rotation. In the future, it is suggested to conduct a mixed planting model of woody and herbaceous plants to remediate Cd-contaminated soils in the tailing areas of reservoir areas. This would synergistically leverage the dual advantages of root retention and aboveground removal, enhancing remediation efficiency. Concurrent optimization of soil nutrient management would further improve the Cd remediation efficiency of plants. Full article

In ecological restoration of arid/semi-arid sandy lands, micro-topographic variations and artificial shrub arrangement synergistically drive vegetation recovery and soil quality improvement. As a typical fragile ecosystem in northern China, the Mu Us Sandy Land has long suffered wind erosion, desertification, soil infertility, and vegetation degradation, demanding precise vegetation configuration for ecological rehabilitation. This study analyzed soil nutrients, plant diversity, and their correlations under various micro-topographic conditions across different types of artificial shrub plantations in the Mu Us Sandy Land. Employing one-way and two-way ANOVA, we compared the significant differences in soil nutrients and plant diversity indices among different micro-topographic conditions and shrub species. Additionally, redundancy analysis (RDA) was conducted to explore the direct and indirect relationships between micro-topography, shrub species, soil nutrients, and plant diversity. The results show the following: 1. The interdune depressions have the highest plant diversity and optimal soil nutrients, with relatively suitable pH values; the windward slopes and slope tops, due to severe wind erosion, have poor soil nutrients, high pH values, and the lowest plant diversity. Both micro-topography and vegetation can significantly affect soil nutrients and plant diversity (p < 0.05), and vegetation has a greater impact on soil nutrients. 2. The correlation between surface soil nutrients and plant diversity is the strongest, and the correlation weakens with increasing soil depth; under different micro-topographic conditions, the influence of soil nutrients on plant diversity varies. 3. In sandy land ecological restoration, a “vegetation type + terrain matching” strategy should be implemented, combining the characteristics of micro-topography and the ecological functions of shrubs for precise configuration, such as planting Corethrodendron fruticosum on windward slopes and slope tops to rapidly replenish nutrients, promoting Salix psammophila and mixed plantation in interdune depressions and leeward slopes to accumulate organic matter, and prioritizing Amorpha fruticosa in areas requiring soil pH adjustment. This study provides a scientific basis and management insights for the ecological restoration and vegetation configuration of the Mu Us Sandy Land. Full article

This study evaluated the response of two willow varieties, Salix × smithiana Willd. and Salix viminalis L. var. Gigantea, to selected heavy metals and elevated soil salinity, simulating complex environmental conditions during phytoremediation. Plants propagated from stem cuttings were cultivated in pots under field conditions in soil artificially contaminated with a mixture of Cd, Ni, Cu, Zn, and Pb salts at two concentration levels representing lower and higher guideline thresholds. Sodium chloride was added to induce salinity stress. S. × smithiana exhibited enhanced growth under combined metal and salinity stress, suggesting efficient tolerance mechanisms. This was reflected in elevated relative water content (RWC) and increased accumulation of Zn and Cd in shoots. In contrast, Gigantea showed growth inhibition and primarily sequestered metals in roots, indicating a stress-avoidance strategy and reduced metal translocation. While salinity alone negatively affected both varieties, its combination with metals mitigated growth reduction in S. × smithiana, possibly due to improved ion homeostasis or cross-tolerance. Zn and Cd displayed the highest bioconcentration and mobility. Based on bioconcentration factor (BCF) and translocation factor (TF), S. × smithiana appears suitable for phytoextraction, whereas S. viminalis var. Gigantea appears suitable for phytostabilization. These results support species-specific approaches to phytoremediation in multi-contaminant environments. Full article

Invertase (INV) irreversibly converts sucrose to glucose and fructose during processes such as differentiation and organ development in plants, especially during the development of trichomes. Systematic identification and analysis of INVs in Salicaceae remain limited. Here, INV genes in Populus deltoides and Salix suchowensis were investigated, and their chromosomal localization, collinearity, gene structures, cis-regulatory elements, and phylogenetic relationships were comprehensively analyzed. Twenty and seventeen INVs were found, respectively, in P. deltoides and S. suchowensis, most of which were derived from a common ancestor and exhibited similar chromosomal distribution and high collinearity. Orthologs between the two species showed conservation of gene structures and promoter regulatory elements. Multi-species phylogenetic analysis identified an evolutionary clade associated with seed fiber development in P. deltoides and S. suchowensis. Further evaluation of INV expression in female catkins at various stages of seed fiber formation verified the predominance of PdeVINV1, PdeVINV2, PdeVINV3, and PdeVINV4 in P. deltoides, as well as SsuVINV1 and SsuVINV2 in S. suchowensis, during critical phases of catkin fiber differentiation. These genes are likely to have significant regulatory roles in the initiation and development of catkin fiber cells. These findings provide a reference for future functional studies of INVs. Full article

To evaluate the ecological remediation effect of Salix matsudana × alba on saline coastal soils, we established a five-year field experiment in Rudong County, Jiangsu Province, China. The experiment was designed with three salinity gradients (low, medium, and high) and five plant spacing treatments (2 × 2 m, 2 × 3 m, 3 × 3 m, 3 × 4 m, and 4 × 4 m). Soil samples were collected annually at a depth of 0–20 cm using grid and random sampling methods. Indicators of soil physicochemical properties and heavy metal content were measured, including soil organic matter (SOM), pH, total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total potassium (TK), electrical conductivity (EC), total salinity (TS), and bulk density (BD). Additionally, eight heavy metals were analyzed: zinc (Zn), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), arsenic (As), and mercury (Hg). Results showed that the hybrid willow significantly improved SOM content by up to 90% and reduced EC and TS by 52% and 60% over five years, especially under low and medium salinity conditions with dense planting (2 × 2 m, 2 × 3 m). The content of most heavy metals exhibited a decreasing trend or remained stable, indicating the plant’s phytostabilization potential (i.e., stabilization of heavy metals via plant-soil interaction). Principal component analysis (PCA) and random forest (RF) modeling identified SOM, EC, TS, and BD as the dominant factors influencing soil quality improvement. A soil quality index (SQI) was constructed based on PCA-derived weights, which further confirmed the positive ecological effect of this hybrid species on coastal saline soils. This study provides scientific evidence supporting the use of Salix matsudana × alba as a promising species for large-scale ecological restoration in coastal saline-alkaline lands. Full article

Soil pollution is a global threat that seriously affects biodiversity in (agro)ecosystems and may compromise water and food quality. Therefore, the ability of tree species (Populus tremula, Salix caprea, and Betula pendula) to accumulate and phytoextract specific toxic heavy metals from soil was investigated. The study was conducted in and near relict mining areas of Freiberg (Germany) and sampling sites selected according to their spatial location relative to potential sources of metal(loid)s. The concentrations of geogenic (P, Fe, Mn, Ca) and pollutant (Pb, Cd, Zn, As) elements in soil and the present trees were measured using ICP-MS. The highest total soil concentrations of As (8978 µg g⁻¹) were found within the Davidschaft mining area, and for soil Pb, both in the Davidschaft vicinity (328 µg g⁻¹) and mining area (302 µg g⁻¹). Unexpectedly, the highest soil Zn (0.64 mg g⁻¹) and Cd (3.5 mg g⁻¹) concentrations were found in Freiberg city Forest. The lowest soil concentrations of pollutants (As, Cd, Pb, and Zn) were recorded for Seifersdorf. Total soil P was highest in Colmnitz, but Ca, Mn, and Fe concentrations were very similar across all sites. The available concentration of all measured toxic elements in the soil generally decreased in the order Davidschaft > Davidschaft vicinity, Colmnitz > Seifersdorf = Freiberg city forest. All studied tree species had higher concentrations of the essential elements in leaves than in branches. Generally, higher values of bioaccumulation coefficients (especially for Cd) were found for Salix caprea compared with Populus tremula and Betula pendula. Full article

Tree species composition, stand structure, and growth dynamics were evaluated within the priority habitat 91E0* (alluvial forests with Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn., and Fraxinus excelsior L.) in the Nestos region of northeastern Greece. This study aimed to understand the ecological dynamics of this unique habitat and to properly plan restoration actions. Measurements were conducted in May and July 2023 across 14 plots distributed randomly along both banks of the Nestos River (east and west). A total of 667 trees with a DBH ≥ 2.5 cm were recorded, representing 13 species and 10 families. Tree densities ranged from 14 to 541 stems ha⁻¹, and the average basal area was 8.77 m² ha⁻¹. Both density and basal area significantly differed between the two riverbanks. Our results indicate that Alnus glutinosa dominates in the alluvial forest, forming more resilient communities with Populus alba L., Populus nigra L., and Salix alba L. However, Fraxinus angustifolia Vahl was not as prevalent as expected. These findings highlight the need for conservation actions and draw attention to the threats facing the alluvial forest. Full article

Water used in cleaning processes within the agri-food industry can be a vector for post-harvest contaminants, thus contributing to cross-contamination. The contamination risk is increased when water is not replaced between batches or when disinfection protocols are insufficient. Given the increasing focus in recent years on the potential of natural, non-invasive plant extracts to combat a variety of pathogens, including multidrug-resistant bacteria, environmental strains, and clinical isolates, this study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial activity of selected water-ethanol plant extracts against six opportunistic pathogens isolated from wash water in the agri-food industry, along with chromatographic analyses of the selected extracts. Plant extracts were obtained from the fruits, leaves, shoots, roots, and bark of 13 species. Antibacterial activity was assessed using the well diffusion method. The results indicated that antimicrobial activity was exhibited by six extracts: Tilia cordata Mill., Camellia sinensis, Quercus robur L., Betula pendula Roth, Rubus idaeus L., and Salix alba L. The extracts showed strain-dependent antimicrobial activity, with C. sinensis and R. idaeus up to 4.0 mm and 8.0 mm inhibition zones, respectively. P. aeruginosa and E. faecalis were the most susceptible strains, demonstrating the largest inhibition zones. In contrast, P. vulgaris and K. oxytoca were more resistant. The efficacy of the most active extracts can be linked to the presence of phytochemicals identified via GC-MS, including epicatechin, shikimic acid, quinic acid, gallic acid, and caffeine. These metabolites are known to interfere with bacterial cell structures and metabolic pathways. These studies may serve as a preliminary step toward the development of non-invasive water treatment methods for wash water. Full article

Urban trees play a dual role in enhancing landscape aesthetics and contributing to carbon sequestration. This study evaluated the biomass and carbon storage of eight common urban tree species in Zhengzhou, China, using organ-specific measurements and allometric growth models. The results revealed that biomass and carbon were primarily allocated to the trunk, followed by the roots, branches, and leaves; these results are consistent with previous findings. Acer buergerianum Miq. and Magnolia grandiflora L. demonstrated the highest per-tree carbon storage, while Styphnolobium japonicum (L.) Schott and Salix babylonica L. performed better in carbon storage per unit area. These patterns are linked to variations in species morphology, growth performance, and planting density. The study provides evidence-based recommendations for optimizing urban tree species selection to enhance carbon sink capacity. Future applications include integrating these results into urban planning strategies and long-term carbon monitoring systems, thereby contributing to low-carbon city development. Full article

Tree crown detection of high-resolution UAV forest remote sensing images using computer technology has been widely performed in the last ten years. In forest resource inventory management based on remote sensing data, crown detection is the most important and essential part. Deep learning technology has achieved good results in tree crown segmentation and species classification, but relying on high-performance computing platforms, edge calculation, and real-time processing cannot be realized. In this thesis, the UAV images of coniferous Pinus tabuliformis and broad-leaved Salix matsudana collected by Jingyue Ecological Forest Farm in Changping District, Beijing, are used as datasets, and a lightweight neural network U-Net-Light based on U-Net and VGG16 is designed and trained. At the same time, the IP core and SoC architecture of the neural network accelerator are designed and implemented on the Xilinx ZYNQ 7100 SoC platform. The results show that U-Net-light only uses 1.56 MB parameters to classify and segment the crown images of double tree species, and the accuracy rate reaches 85%. The designed SoC architecture and accelerator IP core achieved 31 times the speedup of the ZYNQ hard core, and 1.3 times the speedup compared with the high-end CPU (Intel CoreTM i9-10900K). The hardware resource overhead is less than 20% of the total deployment platform, and the total on-chip power consumption is 2.127 W. Shorter prediction time and higher energy consumption ratio prove the effectiveness and rationality of architecture design and IP development. This work departs from conventional canopy segmentation methods that rely heavily on ground-based high-performance computing. Instead, it proposes a lightweight neural network model deployed on FPGA for real-time inference on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), thereby significantly lowering both latency and system resource consumption. The proposed approach demonstrates a certain degree of innovation and provides meaningful references for the automation and intelligent development of forest resource monitoring and precision agriculture. Full article

Salix alba L. (Linnaeus, 1753; Salicaceae), a widely distributed riparian species, remains understudied regarding its genetic diversity patterns and driving factors in arid zone ecosystems. In this study, 320 Salix alba samples were collected from 10 geographic unit groups in Xinjiang, China, a typical arid zone, and analyzed using a comprehensive approach that incorporated SSR molecular marker technology with multi-dimensional data on geographic and climatic factors. The analysis revealed that: (1) The genetic diversity of Salix alba in the arid zone was found to be relatively rich, with populations in the humid areas of northern Xinjiang (e.g., Shannon’s index of I = 0.45 in Ili) significantly higher than those in the extreme arid regions of southern Xinjiang (e.g., Hotan), with I = 0.0762 in Yili. Further analysis using both STRUCTURE (K = 3) and PCoA methods confirmed the division of Salix alba populations in Xinjiang into three independent genetic clusters, with 65% of the observed genetic variation originating from differences between these populations. (2) Secondly, climatic factors exhibited higher explanatory power than geographic factors in elucidating variations in genetic distances among individuals. Cold season precipitation differences (Bio19, r = 0.621) and the coefficient of variation of annual precipitation (Bio17, r = 0.588) were identified as the primary drivers of these variations. Conversely, the latitudinal difference (r = 0.487) and geographic distance (r = 0.207) exhibited a significant impact on genetic distance, underscoring the importance of geo-graphic factors in shaping genetic variation. Full article

‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ and ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma fraxini’ infect at least nine species of trees, potato, and strawberry crops in the Sabana de Bogotá. We analyzed the epidemiological implications of the presence of these phytoplasma species in trees, grass, and weeds in the Sabana de Bogotá, as well as in Cicadellidae insects. Both phytoplasmas were detected in symptomatic trees of Salix humboldtiana and Sambucus nigra, and in asymptomatic grass Cenchrus clandestinus and 13 weed species. ‘Ca. P. asteris’ and ‘Ca. P. fraxini’ sequences of the 16S rRNA gene obtained from positive samples were compared with sequences from plants and insects of the Sabana de Bogotá. In each case, the sequence identity of this gene suggested that closely related strains of each species circulate in the environment, infecting plants of many families and several Cicadellidae species. Ce. clandestinus plays a key role in the epidemiology of the disease since it is a host of both phytoplasmas, of two known insect vectors, and of other Cicadellidae. Ce. clandestinus is extensively distributed in urban and rural areas. Since management efforts are hampered by the practical impossibility to remove Ce. clandestinus from the ecosystem, different strategies are needed to manage this disease. Full article