Search Results (815)

Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.) is the most widely cultivated deciduous fruit tree with the largest industrial scale and the highest economic value in China. Fruit surface glossiness and plant stress tolerance are two core traits that determine the economic benefits and sustainable development of the apple industry. The plant epidermal cuticle is not only the core material basis for determining fruit glossiness but also the first barrier for plants to resist abiotic and biotic stresses. Glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored lipid transfer proteins (LTPGs) are the core functional factors mediating trans-cell wall lipid transport in plants. At present, the functions and action mechanisms of LTPG family members that simultaneously regulate fruit appearance quality and stress tolerance in apple remain largely unclear. In this study, we took the MdLTPG17 gene as the research object, clarified its biological function of stress resistance under drought stress, and dissected the molecular mechanism by which it mediates fruit glossiness formation via regulating fruit cuticle thickening. The results of this study provide important genetic resources and a theoretical basis for molecular breeding of stress resistance and targeted improvement of fruit appearance quality in apple. Full article

This study presents the vegetation of a Mediterranean area in Croatia, abandoned by the military three decades ago after two centuries of use. From 2023 to 2025, 97 phytosociological relevés were taken using the Braun–Blanquet approach. Based on numerical classification, we identified seven plant associations, two subassociations, and two communities within nine floristically and ecologically distinct vegetation classes. Military presence shaped the landscape in several ways. Large parts of the peninsula remain near-natural, covered by high maquis with minimal disturbance. Plateau shooting ranges, formerly grasslands, now represent rare habitats due to ongoing succession. Within former barracks, plantings included low-maintenance species providing rapid greening and visual screening. Evergreen conifers were favored for year-round greenery, while deciduous trees and ornamental shrubs provided shade and aesthetic value. Given current neglect and ongoing successional trends, the site requires a carefully planned management program aimed at habitat restoration, control of shrub encroachment, and maintenance of open and semi-open vegetation to preserve biodiversity and landscape heterogeneity. Full article

Perennial deciduous trees such as Prunus avium undergo seasonal transitions, culminating in bud dormancy establishment that involves coordinated physiological and metabolic adjustments. Dormancy monitoring in orchard systems still relies primarily on temperature-based models and forcing assays, which rarely incorporate physiological or biochemical indicators. Here, we tested whether seasonal metabolic dynamics associated with dormancy progression differ between sweet cherry genotypes and whether these physiological differences are reflected in canopy-scale vegetation indices derived from satellite observations. Field measurements were conducted in two genotypes with contrasting chilling behavior (‘Regina’ and ‘210’) during the transition from vegetative growth to dormancy. Leaf gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence were monitored across the season, polar metabolites in floral buds were profiled by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and satellite-derived vegetation indices were used to characterize canopy dynamics. Dormancy progression was associated with declines in CO₂ assimilation, transpiration, PSII photochemical efficiency, and electron transport rate, accompanied by increases in intercellular CO₂ concentration and non-regulated energy dissipation. Metabolomic analysis revealed that genotype explained a larger proportion of metabolite variation than dormancy stage (PERMANOVA R² = 0.483, p = 0.001), while principal component analysis accounted for 79.7% of total variance. Fructose showed the strongest genotype difference during paradormancy I, corresponding to an approximately 9.5-fold increase in ‘Regina’. Pathway enrichment analysis highlighted starch and sucrose metabolism and pyruvate metabolism as the most represented pathways during dormancy progression. Satellite-derived vegetation indices captured seasonal canopy decline and were significantly associated with several physiological variables. These results provide an integrated description of physiological and metabolic adjustments during dormancy establishment in sweet cherry and highlight the potential of combining metabolomics, plant physiology, and open-access satellite observations to monitor phenological transitions in orchard systems at scalable spatial and temporal resolutions. Full article

To investigate the spatiotemporal variations in particulate matter (PM) retention by common urban greening species, six tree species were studied across different functional zones in Urumqi, China, which includes traffic area (TA), residential area (RA), park area (PA), and landscape ecological forest (LA) at varying altitudes. We measured the retention of PM_0.2–3, PM_3–10, PM_>10, and PM_total for Pinus sylvestris, Picea asperata, Ulmus pumila, Ligustrum obtusifolium, Ulmus densa, and Fraxinus rhynchophylla. Results showed significant differences (p < 0.05) among functional zones, with retention capacity following the order that evergreen trees > deciduous shrubs > deciduous trees. Specifically, P. sylvestris and Picea asperata exhibited the highest overall PM retention. Temporally, PM accumulation increased over time, reaching a minimum 3 days after heavy rainfall (>20.4 mm) and a maximum after 23 days. Spatially, retention was highest in the TA and lowest in the PA. On Yamalike Mountain, PM_3–10 and PM_>10 retention by Ulmus pumila increased significantly with altitude, while other fractions showed no clear trend. These findings suggest that the spatiotemporal differences in PM retention are distinct, and the strategic selection and management of species in specific urban environments can significantly enhance the regulation of atmospheric particulate pollution. Full article

Insects underpin key ecosystem services. Yet tree-associated insect communities remain comparatively poorly documented, particularly in temperate forests. This study aimed to characterize the diversity and abundance of insect assemblages associated with the predominantly insect-pollinated forest tree Tilia cordata Mill. in protected areas in Lithuania, and to assess the occurrence of known and putative pollinator groups within these assemblages. We quantified insect assemblages associated with Tilia cordata using two sampling methods but did not directly measure pollination effectiveness (e.g., pollen loads, visitation rates to flowers, or fruit/seed set). Consequently, our inferences refer to the presence and composition of potential pollinators rather than demonstrated pollination function or realized pollination services. Fieldwork was conducted over two years in six protected T. cordata sites in Lithuania using two complementary sampling methods: net sampling and sticky traps. Sampling was structured into three observation periods corresponding to T. cordata phenology: pre-flowering (I), flowering (II) and post-flowering (III). In total, 207 insect taxa from 15 orders were recorded by net sampling and 86 taxa from 11 orders by sticky traps. Net sampling showed significantly higher diversity (Shannon H = 3.81) than sticky traps (H = 2.10). Hemiptera, Coleoptera and Diptera were the most common groups, and most taxa occurred at low to moderate abundances, with only a few species showing local dominance in specific periods or sites. Taxa documented in the literature as significant pollinators were consistently present but at low relative abundances (about 5–10% in total). Insect assemblage composition and species proportions varied among phenological periods and between years, with no clear, consistent peak in overall insect abundance or diversity associated specifically with the T. cordata flowering phase. These findings indicate that T. cordata stands in protected areas harbor diverse insect assemblages typical of temperate deciduous and mixed forest habitats and include a broad spectrum of non-bees and other potential pollinators. Therefore, we did not detect a distinct peak in insect abundance or species richness during the T. cordata flowering period, indicating that flowering did not coincide with a pronounced maximum in pollinator-related insect activity. However, the quantitative patterns observed suggest that, in this context, T. cordata provides only modest support for pollinator guilds, and its role is better interpreted as one component of wider forest insect diversity rather than as a primary driver of pollination services. Full article

This study addresses the critical challenge of optimizing outdoor thermal comfort for the aging population in old residential communities within China’s Hot-Summer and Cold-Winter (HSCW) climate zones. Against the backdrop of urban regeneration and rapid demographic aging, it investigates how key landscape elements—Square Reflectance, Greening Type, and Pergola Condition—influence the microclimate of community public spaces. The research employed an integrated methodology centered on numerical simulation. Using the ENVI-met 5.9.0 software and an L₉(3⁴) orthogonal experimental design, it simulated the microclimatic effects of nine combined scenarios on typical summer and winter days for a case study in Nanjing. The comprehensive thermal comfort index, Physiological Equivalent Temperature (PET), was used as the primary evaluation indicator to assess the thermal comfort performance for elderly occupants, with the assistance of air temperature, wind speed, and relative humidity, and the results were analyzed via range analysis and ANOVA. The key findings indicate that: (1) Greening Type and Pergola Condition are the dominant factors affecting microclimate and annual thermal comfort across seasons, while Square Reflectance has a comparatively minor influence. (2) The combination of deciduous trees with lawn achieves the optimal cross-seasonal PET gain. It provides effective shading and cooling in summer while allowing beneficial solar penetration for warming in winter, substantially outperforming evergreen-dominated configurations. (3) The presence of a pergola consistently enhances comfort by providing essential shade in summer and acting as a windbreak in winter. The combination dominated by deciduous trees + lawn and pergola yields an overall PET gain 1.097 °C higher than that of evergreen trees + shrub without pergola. This study provides evidence-based, elderly specific landscape design strategies to inform the thermal environment optimization of public spaces in old residential areas undergoing renewal. Full article

Terminalia arjuna (Arjun) is a tropical deciduous tree species significantly valued for its pharmaceutical properties for various heart diseases, as well as its economic role in the sericulture industry. However, the growth performance and physiological responses of T. arjuna under water stress conditions remain largely unexplored, particularly in the context of increasing climate variability and the growing challenges posed by climate change. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the morpho-physio-biochemical alterations, nutrient uptake changes, and adaptive strategies under different degrees of water stress with respect to field capacity ($F_{wc}$), maintained at 100% $F_{wc}$ (control), 75% $F_{wc}$ (mild), 50% $F_{wc}$ (moderate), and 25% $F_{wc}$ (severe). Key growth parameters, including shoot and root length, leaf traits and shoot dry biomass, were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced under the given water stresses. Root dry biomass showed a distinct response, increasing under mild to moderate water stress but failing to sustain its levels under severe stress. Increasing drought severity resulted in a substantial reduction in stomatal density (15–37%), while stomatal size increased (18–49%) under mild to moderate stress but decreased under severe stress. These responses were associated with significant reductions in gas exchange traits (45–75%), whereas water use efficiency increased by 59–99%, reflecting a survival-focused adaptive mechanism. Moderate water stress triggered the stress responses in T. arjuna through high proline accumulation and increased oxidative stress markers. The most critical impact was found under the severe stress with a substantial reduction in leaf relative water content and membrane stability index (MSI), although MSI was sustained above the critical threshold, reflecting cellular protection. Increased stress intensity also altered mineral uptake, decreased major nutrients, and increased potassium and calcium content, indicating an adaptive strategy. These findings suggest a threshold effect, where T. arjuna tolerates mild stress well and activates adaptive morpho-physiological mechanisms under moderate stress but shifts to survival-focused strategies under severe stress. The demonstrated tolerance of Terminalia arjuna to mild–moderate drought suggests that climate-resilient forestry policies and conservation programs should prioritize its cultivation and restoration in drought-prone landscapes while ensuring adequate water management to prevent severe stress and sustain its medicinal and economic benefits. Full article

Pinus yunnanensis, an endemic tree species in southwest China, is regarded as a suitable candidate for afforestation. However, long-term disturbances have led to forest degradation and structural simplification. This study evaluated taxonomic and phylogenetic alpha (α) and beta (β) diversity across three P. yunnanensis vegetation types: evergreen coniferous forests (ECFs), evergreen coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forests (ECMFs), and deciduous and coniferous broad-leaved mixed forests (DCMFs), aiming to identify their optimal ecological configurations. A total of 120 vascular plant species from 33 families and 55 genera were recorded, with Ericaceae, Fagaceae, Pinaceae, and Adoxaceae as the co-dominant families. In the tree layer, species richness was significantly higher in DCMFs than in ECFs (p < 0.05), likely due to improved winter light availability resulting from seasonal canopy shedding. Both ECMFs and DCMFs supported significantly higher phylogenetic α diversity than ECFs, indicating a broader evolutionary history and potentially greater functional resilience. In contrast, taxonomic β diversity was lower in ECFs, suggesting a more homogeneous species composition dominated by closely related shrubs. Among the vegetation types, the P. yunnanensis–Pinus armandii community in ECFs showed the highest species richness and a stable microenvironment, making it particularly suitable for ecological restoration at high altitudes. Within ECMFs, the P. yunnanensis–Lyonia ovalifolia community appeared to be the most optimal, potentially reducing competition and promoting species coexistence through resource complementarity. In DCMFs, the P. yunnanensis–Alnus nepalensis community, with its strong nitrogen-fixing capacity, emerged as the preferred configuration for restoring degraded forests at lower elevations. These findings suggest that future vegetation restoration projects centered on P. yunnanensis should adopt tailored combinations of vegetation types based on specific environmental conditions. Full article

Most research on tocochromanols suggests that tocotrienols (T3) are rarely found in nature, especially in dicotyledonous species. The present study investigates species from the Ilex (holly) genus, the sole surviving genus in the Aquifoliaceae family. The study tested 29 species or hybrids from botanical gardens across Eurasia and the US. A direct ultrasound-assisted extraction in ethanol (UAEE) protocol was validated and used to extract tocochromanols. Tocochromanol recovery from seeds via UAEE ranged between 96–100%, compared to saponification. α-T3 and γ-T3 accounted for an average of 91% of all tocochromanols determined in Ilex species. The highest tocochromanol content was found in I. crenata and I. serrata (8.11 and 6.66 mg 100 g⁻¹ dry weight, respectively). A total of 19 of 29 species in the Aquifoliaceae family were dominated by α-T3. Differences between plant type (shrub/tree) and seasonality (deciduous/evergreen) were not statistically significant, and appear to be mainly influenced by other factors. Linear discriminant analysis identified I. crenata, I. asprella, I. × meserveae, I. vomitoria, and I. geniculata (all shrubby) as divergent. Full article

Improving fruit quality is one of the most critical core tasks in fruit tree breeding. However, the complexity of the constituent factors of fruit quality and their interrelationships, the significant influence of environmental factors on quality, and the diversity of consumer demands, among other factors, make quality breeding a more challenging endeavor than other breeding objectives. Essentially, fruit quality is defined by the delicate balance of sugar, acid, and aromas, which collectively influence the fruit’s flavor, consumer satisfaction, and economic value. While substantial progress has been made in the depiction of the metabolic pathways underlying these traits, the molecular mechanism coordinating carbon partitioning and competition between sugars, acids, and volatiles remains unknown. This review focuses on recent advances in understanding stone fruit metabolism and identifies key gaps in knowledge. We emphasize the need for integrated approaches combining spatial metabolomics, transcriptomics, genetics, and genomics to reveal the regulatory networks underlying metabolomic variation during fruit development and ripening. We also discuss the application of molecular tools, such as marker-assisted selection and metabolite-associated markers, to accelerate the breeding of flavor-balanced stone fruit cultivars. By adapting these advances in breeding practices, we can achieve coordinated improvement and precise regulation of various components of fruit quality, thereby developing elite stone fruit cultivars with improved flavor that meet prevailing consumer demands. Full article

Plum (Prunus salicina Lindl.), belonging to the genus Prunus in the Rosaceae family, is one of the most widely cultivated deciduous fruit trees globally. Plums are renowned for their round, sweet fruits, which are rich in a variety of bioactive compounds and are deeply loved by consumers. However, in 2021, alarming reddish-brown–dark brown sunken lesions appeared on the fruits of Qingcui plums in Wanzhou, Chongqing, China. The pathogens were identified as Colletotrichum nymphaeae, Fusarium sulawesiense, and Fusarium pernambucanum. The present study further describes the growth patterns and pathogenic differences of these strains in different environments, elucidating their infection mechanisms and pathogenic characteristics; these findings provide a theoretical basis for the efficient management of plum brown spot disease. Additionally, we determined that fluazinam is the most effective control agent against the plum brown rot caused by these pathogens. Notably, this study is the first to document plum brown spot disease induced by C. nymphaeae in China. These findings are intended to provide a vital theoretical framework for the scientific management and control of plum brown spot; furthermore, they underscore the necessity of proactive prevention strategies in agricultural settings. Full article

Silvopastoral systems in Patagonia (Argentina) aim to synergize forest and grassland productivity through thinning interventions in native forests of Antarctic beech (Nothofagus antarctica (G.Forst.) Oerst.), locally known as ñire, modifying ecosystem dynamics. This study aimed to determine how thinning strategies modify microclimatic conditions (air and soil temperatures, precipitation, soil water content) and modulate the intra-annual radial growth patterns in N. antarctica trees within subpolar deciduous forests of Tierra del Fuego, Argentina. We established three treatments: unmanaged mature forest (UF), thinning under crown cover influence (UC), and thinning outside crown cover influence (OC). Microclimate and radial growth were continuously monitored using high-precision dendrometers and associated data loggers during the 2021–2022 and 2023–2024 growing seasons. Data were analyzed using Generalized Linear Mixed Models and Principal Component Analysis. OC treatment consistently exhibited the highest total annual radial growth, averaging 1.44 mm yr⁻¹, which was substantially greater than the observed in both the UC (0.56 mm yr⁻¹) and UF (0.83 mm yr⁻¹) across the two seasons. An advanced growth dynamic, with cambial activity starting approximately five days earlier than in UF and UC, was detected. Air temperature was a primary positive driver of daily growth (GLMM Estimates > 0.029, p < 0.001 for all treatments), while soil water content (SWC) was significantly higher in OC (mean 25.4%) compared to UF (22.3%) and UC (15.9%). These findings showed that OC, characterized by higher soil moisture, likely facilitated the trees’ ability to capitalize on warm temperature days. This accelerates and extends the period of radial growth, offering a direct strategy to enhance productivity in these silvopastoral systems, essential for long-term forest sustainability. Full article

In the context of the ongoing climate crisis, the health and sustainability of forest ecosystems in peri-urban areas play a crucial role in alleviating the adverse impacts of climate change on urban populations, particularly in cities with limited green spaces. This study explores the biodiversity and ecological values of an old-growth forest in the peri-urban area, Thessaloniki, northern Greece, the Kouri Forest. These types of forest ecosystems, except for their high ecological values, provide a lot of benefits to the city residents and the surrounding areas, and to achieve that they should have appropriate composition, structure and function to be able to provide high-level ecosystem services. The research was based on collecting analytical field data, including field sampling plots, and a series of tree cores for tree age determination and tree growth analysis. Data analysis demonstrates the unique characteristics of this forest, which was found to be an old-growth forest dominated by deciduous oak species, aged over 180 years. The high biodiversity of the forest and the rich composition and the multistorey stand structure, in combination with the long age of the trees, suggests that the forest is an old-growth (ancient) forest, and set the forest as an important biogenetic reserve, despite its small area, proximity to the city of Thessaloniki, and the pressures subjected. Accordingly, special management measures are suggested to aim at the sustainable use of peri-urban natural resources. Full article

Plant phenology is a sensitive indicator of ecosystem responses to climate change, yet its dynamics and drivers in subtropical montane forests remain poorly understood. Based on the continuous phenological monitoring of 12 dominant tree species from 2008 to 2022 in a mid-subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest on Ailao Mountains, China, this study analyzed phenological shifts and their climatic drivers. The results show that, (1) unlike the widely reported trends in northern mid-to-high latitudes, spring phenophases (budburst and leaf-out) did not exhibit significant advancing trends, while autumn phenophases (leaf coloration and fall) remained stable; (2) water availability played a dominant role in regulating spring phenology, with both budburst and leaf-out showing significant negative correlations with winter-spring precipitation, and responses varied significantly across hydrological year types; and (3) the life form strongly influenced phenological strategies, with evergreen species exhibiting earlier spring phenology than deciduous species. This study highlights that in seasonally humid subtropical montane forests, water availability exerts a stronger control on phenology than temperature. Our findings underscore the necessity of incorporating precipitation variability and functional trait differences into assessments of forest phenology and ecosystem functioning under future climate change, providing a scientific basis for the conservation and adaptive management of subtropical forests. Full article

In Central Poland, bryophytes growing on trees have not previously been the subject of detailed analysis. Furthermore, the collected data have never been examined using mathematical methods. Several years of observation of the bryoflora in Central Poland, conducted across 465 hectares of forest and involving 21 tree species, revealed that these trees are colonized by 67 bryophyte taxa, primarily mosses. In this part of Poland most of the trees were overgrown by common, multi-substrate forest species such as Hypnum cupressiforme, Brachythecium rutabulum, or Lophocolea heterophylla. On the other hand, species occurring more rarely, and typically limited to single tree species, included, e.g., Dicranum viride and representatives of the genus Orthotrichum sensu lato (e.g., O. affine, O. pumilum, O. speciosum). The conducted research indicated that not only deciduous trees (e.g., Quercus robur, Carpinus betulus, Betula pendula) were readily colonized by bryophytes—Abies alba, as well as other coniferous trees, also proved to be a highly favorable substrate for these organisms. Moreover, analysis of the bryophytes of individual trees revealed that the trees formed three distinct groups, and the grouping is influenced not only by the species composition of the growing bryophytes. Nonetheless, deciduous and coniferous taxa within each group were colonized by similar mosses and liverworts species. Additionally, different zones of the tree trunk were found to be inhabited by distinct bryophyte assemblages. Thus, the study highlights the specificity of mosses and liverworts flora growing on trees in Central Poland. Full article