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The relict tree species Zelkova abelicea and Z. sicula (Ulmaceae) occur in Crete and Sicily, respectively. Zelkova abelicea grows in approximately 40 localities in the mountains of Crete, while Z. sicula has been found in only two stands in Sicily. We compared 25 morphological characters of the leaves of both species and used statistical methods (Tukey’stest, discrimination analysis, principal component analysis, agglomeration) to reveal the differences between these two species, their relation to Z. carpinifolia (the third Zelkova south-west Eurasian species), and between the leaves from different shoot types. Our study represents the first comparative biometric analysis of the three Zelkova species localized in the western edge of the current geographic range of the genus. We found that the species differed from each other both, in terms of leaf form characters and level of leaf variation. Zelkova carpinifolia was clearly different from Z. abelicea, while the two populations of Z. sicula, SIB and SIA, were more similar to Z. carpinifolia and Z. abelicea, respectively. The latter finding supports the results of recent molecular studies suggestingt he hybrid origin of Z. sicula. Zelkova abelicea, Z. sicula and Z. carpinifolia differ each other in the leaf characteristics and level of phenotypic variation.

The dynamic tree stability assessment technique allows trees to be measured efficiently, under realistic weather conditions. In this study, the stability of four trees, including two conifers and two broad-leaved species was assessed in the Botanical Gardens of the University of Sopron, Hungary. The examined trees included Horse chestnut, Japanese zelkova, Douglas fir and Giant sequoia. Each tree was measured in various weather and seasonal conditions. Results show that the seasons affected the stability of broadleaved trees significantly, due to considerable changes in the crown surface area, while this difference was much lower in softwoods. Rainy weather loosens the topsoil, which adversely affects the stability of trees with relatively shallow roots. Lower layers take longer to saturate, and therefore trees with very deep roots are usually unaffected by the looser topsoil, while the increased weight of the top layer compacts the lower layers and improves stability, as evidenced by results measured on Sequoia. Snow accumulation on the branches increases the inertia of the tree, which imposes higher torque on the root collar, decreasing stability. In the meantime, the increased resistance offered by frozen ground stabilizes the tree, which more-or-less counterbalances this effect. A more extensive database of tree stability under different conditions is being built to allow for more comprehensive analysis of various factors, like wind direction, tree health and morphology, shading, etc.

Zelkova schneideriana Hand.-Mazz. of the Ulmaceae family is a Tertiary relict and economically deciduous tree species endemic to Central and Southern China. In this study, we performed a transcriptome sequencing of Z. schneideriana using high-throughput sequencing approach to detect polymorphic expressed sequence tag-simple sequence repeats (EST-SSR) markers. A total of 3,235 microsatellite loci were detected from 53,517 unigenes. A set of 30 microsatellite markers were randomly selected to validate in 41 individuals from three populations, of which 10 were polymorphic. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 11. The observed heterozygosity and expected heterozygosity ranged from 0.366 to 0.829 and 0.439 to 0.848, respectively. These polymorphic SSR primers showed good transferability across different Zelkova species, and are valuable for future studies on genetic diversity, conservation, phylogeography, and species delimitation in Z. schneideriana, as well as other Zelkova species. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13205-021-02968-5.

PREMISE The hydraulic architecture in the leaves, stems and roots of plants constrains water transport and carbon gain through stomatal limitation to CO2 absorption. Because roots are the main bottleneck in water transport for a range of plant species, we assessed the ecophysiological mechanism and importance of a high fraction of root hydraulic resistance in woody and herbaceous species. METHODS Biomass partitioning and hydraulic conductance of leaves, stems, and roots of Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica, a perennial herb) and Japanese zelkova (Zelkova serrata, a deciduous tall tree) were measured. Theoretical analyses were used to examine whether the measured hydraulic architecture and biomass partitioning maximized the plant photosynthetic rate (the product of leaf area and photosynthetic rate per leaf area). RESULTS Root hydraulic resistance accounted for 83% and 68% of the total plant resistance for Japanese knotweed and Japanese zelkova, respectively. Comparisons of hydraulic and biomass partitioning revealed that high root-resistance fractions were attributable to low biomass partitioning to root organs rather than high mass-specific root conductance. The measured partitioning of hydraulic resistance closely corresponded to the predicted optimal partitioning, maximizing the plant photosynthetic rate for the two species. The high fraction of root resistance was predicted to be optimal with variations in air humidity and soil water potential. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that the hydraulic architecture of plants growing in mesic and fertile habitats not only results in high root resistance due to small biomass partitioning to root organs, but contributes to efficient carbon gain.

International audience; High-resolution pollen analyses were performed on two cores from the western Black Sea and one core from the Marmara Sea, covering the Late Glacial-Holocene transition using 14C chronology. Particular effort was invested in the botanical identification of pollen grains thereby significantly improving our knowledge of regional flora. When interpreted with respect to modern vegetation, pollen records revealed all the major changes caused by climatic fluctuations over the last 20,000 years. The results of this study provide evidence for the occurrence of relict thermophilous-hygrophilous trees (papillate Cupressaceae, Carya, Liquidambar, Zelkova) in certain refugia up to the Holocene. Vegetation dynamics is specified for some taxa (e.g. Cupressus–Juniperus, Fagus, Cedrus) and some ecosystems (e.g. mesophilous forests, Mediterranean sclerophyllous populations, steppes). Pollen data enabled palaeoclimatic reconstructions which were compared with available estimates in the region. The use of a powerful pollen ratio between ‘thermophilous and steppe taxa’ led to fruitful climatostratigraphic relationships with the oxygen isotope curve from the NGRIP core. The Younger Dryas and cooling at 8.2 ka are among the most obvious climatic phases identified in the three cores studied here.

PREMISE: Seed dispersal is extremely important for the recovery and restoration of forest communities. Relict tree genus Zelkova possesses a unique dispersal mechanism: mature fruits fall with the entire twig, and the dried leaves that are still attached function as a drag-enhancing appendage, carrying the fruits away from the parent tree. This singular adaptation has never been investigated in Z. abelicea. METHODS: Drop tests with dispersal units and individual fruits of Z. abelicea were performed in controlled conditions to measure their dispersal velocity and to define their flight mode.RESULTS: Zelkova abelicea utilizes both slowly falling dispersal units with chaotic motion, as well as fast falling individual fruits using the straight path. The falling velocity of Z. abelicea dispersal units is 1.53 m s-1, which is virtually identical to that of the East-Asiatic Z. serrata (1.51 m s-1). In contrast, the falling velocity of individual fruits was m s-1 (Z. serrata:5.36 m s-1).CONCLUSIONS: Members of the genus Zelkova, growing today in distant regions, show remarkable evolutionary conservation of the velocity and flight mechanics of their dispersal units. This is surprising since the Mediterranean and East Asiatic Zelkova species have been separated at least 15-20 Mya. Zelkova abelicea, although growing in the Mediterranean with completely different forest structure and composition, still uses the same dispersal mechanism. The dispersal capacity of the genus Zelkova is less efficient than that of other wind dispersed trees, and it presumably evolved for short-distance ecological spread and not for long-distance biogeographical dispersal.

A new marine pollen record from SE Sicily is presented. The pollen study was done at a sub-decadal resolution to assess the role and extent of human impact in driving regional environmental and land cover changes over the last four hundred years. The combination of palaeoecological evidence and historical documents provides a detailed report of the main ecological dynamics in relation to socio-economic events, past land use, and land management regulations in Sicily. Our palaeovegetational reconstruction reveals a remarkably stable landscape, preserved by traditional land use practices that have persisted through the long-lasting feudal history of Sicily. After centuries of human-induced environmental stability, an abrupt change in vegetation structure occurred around 1950 AD, reflecting the modern land use policies and agricultural reforms following the Second World War. This vegetational breakpoint in SE Sicily corresponds to a suggested date for the onset of the Anthropocene. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

A circular bark with a 30 cm width was artificially removed from the trunk of a 250-year-old zelkova tree (Zelkova serrata) heavily damaged by artificial girdling in Sunchang, Jeonbuk Province in March of 2005. The debarked area was cleaned approximately 10 days after artificial girdling and bark margins with 2 cm width above and below the girdled portion were cut off to promote wound callus formation. Nine pieces of fresh bark (width 8 cm, length 35 cm, thickness 0.5 cm) were then prepared from branches of neighbor zelkova trees broken by heavy snowfalls and pasted onto the girdled portion of the tree, after which a Vaseline dressing was applied to water-proof the area and rubber bars were used to hold the implants to the trunk. Two pieces of the implanted fresh barks were successfully grafted onto the girdled area and the damaged tree has been vigorously growing over 13 years. To our knowledge, this is the first case of successful bark implantation to cure a 250-year-old zelkova tree heavily damaged by artificial girdling. This bark implantation technique will be utilized for the conversation and management of heavily damaged big and old trees in the future.

Effects on seed germination characteristics of 17 tree species were investigated under elevated temperature and CO2. Seeds of 5 needle-leaf and 12 broad-leaf species were germinated under four conditions: 24°C + 400 μmol CO2 mol air–1, 24°C + 750 μmol CO2 mol air–1, 27°C + 400 μmol CO2 mol air–1, and 27°C + 750 μmol CO2 mol air–1. The elevated temperature and CO2 affected germination percent (GP) of 7 tree species seeds.GPs of Pinus densiflora, P. thunbergii, Betula ermanii, and Maackia amurensisseeds were affected by the elevated temperature, while only that of P.jezoensis seed was influenced by the elevated CO2. GPs of Malus baccata and Zelkova serrataseeds were influenced by both the elevated temperature and CO2. In addition, the elevated temperature and CO2also affected mean germination time (MGT) of 12 tree species seeds. Particularly, MGTs of P. thunbergii and Rhododendron tschonoskii seeds were influenced by both factors. In conclusion, elevated temperature and CO2 affected seed germination characteristics, which were reflected by significant differences among tree species. Specifically, these two factors exerted stronger influence on germination pattern such as MGT rather than seed germination percent.

A hundred pollen and plant macrofossil records from the Iberian Peninsula, Southern France, the Italian Peninsula, Greece and the Aegean, and the southwestern Black Sea area formed the basis for a review of the Quaternary distribution and extirpation of tree populations from Southern Europe. Following a discussion of the caveats/challenges about using pollen data, the Quaternary history of tree taxa has been reconstructed with attention to Taxodium/Glyptostrobus , Sciadopitys , Cathaya , Cedrus , Tsuga , Eucommia , Engelhardia , Carya , Pterocarya , Parrotia , Liquidambar , and Zelkova. The timing of extinction, distributed over the whole Quaternary, appears very diverse from one region to the other, in agreement with current biodiversity in Southern Europe. The geographical patterns of persistence/disappearance of taxa show unexpected trends and rule out a simple North to South and/or West to East trend in extirpations. In particular, it is possible to detect disjunct populations ( Engelhardia ), long-term persistence of taxa in restricted regions ( Sciadopitys ), distinct populations/species/genera in different geographical areas ( Taxodium type). Some taxa that are still widespread in Europe have undergone extirpation in Mediterranean areas in the lateglacial period and Holocene ( Buxus , Carpinus betulus , Picea ); they provide an indication of the modes of disappearance of tree populations that may be useful to evaluate correctly the vulnerability of modern fragmented plant populations. The demographic histories of tree taxa obtained by combined palaeobotanical and genetic studies is a most challenging field of research needed not only to assess species/population differentiation, but also to reach a better understanding of extinction processes, an essential task in the current global change scenario.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of the Tertiary relict tree Zelkova serrata was reported in this study. The chloroplast genome is 158,875 bp in length with a typical angiosperm quantitative structure consisting of a large single copy (87,412 bp) and a small single copy (18,683 bp) separated by a pair of inverted repeat (26,390 bp). Genome annotation revealed a total of 129 genes comprising 84 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenomic analysis based on the whole plastomes indicated that Z. serrata and Z. schneideriana formed a well-supported monophyletic clade sister to genus Ulmus in Ulmaceae.

Xylem and phloem sap flows in an intact, young Japanese zelkova tree (Zelkova serrata (Thunb.) Makino) growing outdoors were measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Two propagator-based sequences were developed for q-space imaging: pulse field gradient (PFG) with spin echo (PFG-SE) and stimulated echo (PFG-STE), which were used for xylem and phloem flow measurements, respectively. The data evaluation methods were improved to image fast xylem flow and slow phloem flow. Measurements were taken every 2–3 h for several consecutive days in August 2016, and diurnal changes in xylem and phloem sap flows in a cross-section of the trunk were quantified at a resolution of 1 mm2. During the day, apparent xylem flow volume exhibited a typical diurnal pattern following a vapor pressure deficit. The velocity mapping of xylem sap flow across the trunk cross section revealed that the greatest flow volume was found in current-year earlywood that had differentiated in April–May. The combined xylem flow in the 1- and 2-year-old annual rings also contributed to one-third of total sap flow. In the phloem, downward sap flow did not exhibit diurnal changes. This novel application of MRI in visualization of xylem and phloem sap flow by MRI is a promising tool for in vivo study of water transport in mature trees.

Street trees are integral components of urban green infrastructure. The importance of benefits provided by street trees has motivated the development of various tools to quantify the value of ecosystem services. The i-Tree Eco is a widely applied method for quantifying urban forest structure, ecosystem services, and values. Since its first release in 2006, i-Tree Eco has been successfully utilized in over 100 countries around the world. This study described one of the first applications of the i-Tree Eco international project in Kyoto, Japan, by customizing the models and parameters to enhance the accuracy of analysis results. Kyoto’s street trees are prominently dominated by Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba L.), Trident Maple (Acer buergerianum Miq.), Japanese Zelkova (Zelkova serrata (Thunb.) Makino.), Tuliptree (Liriodendron tulipifera L.), Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida L.), London Planetree (Platanus × acerifolia), Plum/cherry (Prunus spp.), and Weeping willow (Salix babylonica), which account for 92% of the 1230 sample trees and deliver ecosystem service benefits at US$71,434.21 annually or US$58.07/tree/year. The annual value of each function was estimated at US$41.34/tree for carbon storage and sequestration, US$3.26/tree for stormwater runoff reduction, US$11.80/tree for adverse health mitigation effects, and US$1.67/tree for energy savings. The street tree species of Kyoto city that produce the highest average annual benefits are among the largest trees currently in the population, including P. × yedoensis (US$225.32/tree), Z. serrata (US$123.21/tree), S. babylonica (US$80.10/tree), and P. × acerifolia (US$65.88/tree). Our results demonstrated a comprehensive understanding of street trees benefits for Kyoto city, providing baseline information for decision-makers and managers to make effective urban trees management decisions, developing policy, and setting priorities.

Zelkova species, trees of the elm family (Ulmaceae), are part of the Cenozoic relict flora. In western Eurasia, the genus comprises three species that are restricted to disjunct areas (Z. sicula on Sicily, Z. abelicea on Crete and Z. carpinifolia in Transcaucasia). The situation is different in East Asia, where three species (Z. serrata, Z. schneideriana and Z. sinica) have at least partly overlapping distributions. The phylogenetic and phylogeographic status of these East Asian species is still not well understood, mainly since all previous studies used almost exclusively plant material collected in botanical gardens and were based on very small numbers of individuals. Our study is the first based on 33 natural populations covering all important areas with Zelkova species in the Sino-Japanese Floristic Region. Chloroplast and microsatellite markers were used, and Bayesian analyses were run for both types of markers. East Asian Zelkova species cluster into two groups that partially overlap when comparing the two types of markers. For chloroplast markers, the two groups coincide with all Japanese, some Korean and northern Chinese Z. serrata in one group and all other individuals in the other group, regardless of whether they are attributed to Z. serrata, Z. sinica or Z. schneideriana from Korea, mainland China and Taiwan. At the nuclear level, however, the clustering clearly groups all the Z. serrata individuals together, regardless of whether they are from Japan, Korea or China, and the two other species in a second group. This complex genetic pattern in East Asian Zelkova species is most likely due to a combination of ancient diversification and speciation events and more recent hybridization during the last glacial/interglacial retractions and recolonizations. One of the surprising results of our study concerns the populations from Taiwan, which are genetically similar to Z. schneideriana. Thus, their assignation to a separate taxon (Z. tarokoensis) or to a variety of Z. serrata (Z. serrata var. tarokoensis), as currently reported in all local and national floras, might be in need of revision. Furthermore, our results indicate that the East Asian species are more closely related to Z. carpinifolia than to any other Western European species. Haplotypes of Z. sicula and Z. abelicea (Mediterranean region) as well as those of Z. sinica and Z. schneideriana (East Asia) seem to have diversified more recently. The most ancient haplotypes are found among the western Eurasian Z. carpinifolia and the East Asian Z. serrata. This result is in agreement with the carpinifolia and serrata-like morphotypes commonly found in the fossil record.

The Authors report the results of a study conducted with the purpose of increasing the knowledge about theinsects and fungi living on Zelkova siculaDi Pasquale, Garfi & Quezel, 1992 (Rosales, Ulmaceae). The plant is a veryrare relict of the Tertiary period, belonging to a genus of trees extinct in continental Europe. Only two small populationsare known living in a restricted woodland in the province of Syracuse, Sicily. The results concern both the insectspicked up during surveys that were carried out in 2014 and 2015, and the species of fungi and insects already known onZelkova siculafrom literature. As a result of surveys, two species of Buprestidae, two species of Cerambycidae, andtwo of Lepidoptera have been recognized. From literature, seven species of phytophagous insects are reported onZelkova sicula, they belong to Hemiptera: Aphididae (1 sp.), Diaspididae (1 sp.), Coccidae (1 sp.); Coleoptera:Buprestidae (1 sp.), Cerambycidae (2 spp.); and Lepidoptera: Lasiocampidae (1 sp.). Five species of fungi are knownfrom literature and they belong to: Botryosphaeriales (3 spp.), Pleosporales (1 sp.), and Diaporthales (1 sp.).

We reported the complete chloroplast genome for Zelkova serrata, the first in the distinctive genus Zelkova to be sequenced in the family Ulmaceae. The plastome is totally 158,495 bp in length, containing a pair of inverted repeats (IRs), a large single-copy region (LSR) and a small single-copy region (SSR), which are 26,456 bp, 86,921 bp and 18,684 bp, respectively. A total of 103 unique genes were identified in Z. serrata chloroplast genome, of which 88 are single-copy genes, while15 are duplicated in IR regions. Further, maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analyses were conducted using eight complete plastomes of the Ulmaceae, which support close relationships between Z. serrata, Ulmus gaussenii, and U. chenmoui.

It has been suggested that the Klason method overestimates the lignin content of non-wood tissues of plants. To evaluate the effect of pre-extraction treatments on lignin determination in leaves, nine kinds of pre-extraction treatment were applied to ginkgo leaves and zelkova leaves. The apparent lignin contents (lignin determination by the Klason method) of ginkgo and zelkova leaves without pre-extraction treatments were 30.7% and 42.6%, respectively. After the various pre-extraction treatments, the apparent lignin contents were still high. On the other hand, the yield of nitrobenzene oxidation products (NPs) per apparent lignin content was maintained at a very low level before and after pre-extraction treatments (maximum value was 6% for ginkgo leaf and 11% for zelkova leaf after extraction treatment) compared with the value from wood (25 to 60%). These results suggested that the Klason method overestimates the lignin content of leaves even after the pre-extraction treatments examined in this study. In addition, a considerable part of the sample from which NPs or neutral sugars originate was lost during these pre-extraction stages. These results implied that some parts of the cell wall components were also removed by these pre-extraction treatments.

Leaf macroremains collected in the Bełchatów Lignite Mine (central Poland) were investigated. The fossil assemblage consists of leaves of Acer, Betula, Carpinus, Dicotylophyllum, Fagus, ?Magnolia, “Parrotia”, Pinus, Quercus, and Zelkova. Mesophytic (zonal) elements dominate, with admixture of riparian (azonal) leaf taxa. The floristic composition points to late Neogene (late Miocene to late Pliocene) age and suggests favourable temperate climate with mild winters.

This study was conducted to elucidate the life cycle and the ecological characteristics of Trachys yanoi Y. Kurosawa, an important pest of Zelkova serrata (Thunb.) Makino. Life cycle, mortality rates in developmental stages, annual population dynamics, and early leaf abscission were investigated. Adults emerged from under the bark of Zelkova trees in April and fed on Zelkova leaves. Females laid 49 eggs on average, mainly in May and early June. Eggs hatched after 17 days, and the larvae fed inside the leaves. They developed through three instars. In July, leaves with the final stage of larvae were abscised. Four days after abscission, the larvae pupated. New adults eclosed from pupae seven days after pupation, and the adults emerged from abscised leaves after an additional two days. In total, 1650 adults emerged per 1 m2 of forest floor, resulting in a major population increase. The newly emerged adults fed on the remaining Zelkova leaves, compounding the damage. In October, adults overwintered under the tree bark. Mortality rates in the egg, larval, and pupal stages were 41%, 58%, and 31%, respectively. The mortality rate among overwintering individuals was 43%. Because only Zelkova leaves that were abscised in July contained the larvae, and because only a small number of beetles emerged from non-abscised, mined leaves, the removal of abscised leaves at nine-day intervals over period of early leaf abscission is a simple and effective way to control the beetle.

The Kagizman-Tuzluca Basin in East Anatolia is still poorly documented for its stratigraphy and in particular its paleofloral assemblages. In this study, the microfloras from the Kagizman-Kotek and Komurlu areas and the macroflora from the Tuzluca area in this basin have been defined to overcome this deficiency. Sedimentary sequences of the Kagizman-Komurlu area have been deposited in terrestrial conditions different from the sequences of the Kagizman-Kotek and Tuzluca areas, which were deposited in brackish conditions near a shallow marine environment. Paleovegetation in eastern Anatolia is represented by mixed mesophytic and coniferous forests restricted to high and middle altitudes (e.g. Pinus, Ulmus, Fagaceae, Engelhardia, Sequoia, Zelkova, Lauraceae, Pterocarya, and Quercus). Open vegetation elements (Asteraceae-Asteroideae, Tubulifloridites spp., Poaceae, and Umbelliferae) in East Anatolia are more predominant than in West Anatolia. The presence of some marine dinoflagellates and Calamus, Lauraceae, and Arecaceae suggests near-seaside plant distribution in the Kagizman-Kotek and Tuzluca areas. According to micro- and macrofloral records and numerical climatic values calculated by the coexistence approach method, paleoclimatic conditions could have changed between warm temperate and subtropical, and also seasonality was effective in East Anatolia during the Late Oligocene. In addition, the paleoclimate of East Anatolia during the Late Oligocene appears to be colder than in West Anatolia based on the palynological data, and this could be related to the high elevation of East Anatolia as compared to West Anatolia. Moreover, the low precipitation values of East Anatolian indicate a dry period in the paleoclimatic conditions of the Late Oligocene.

Middle Miocene deposits exposed at the Tınaz lignite mine, Yatağan Basin, Muğla, southwestern Turkey, were palynologically investigated. The Tınaz lignite mine section belongs to the Eskihisar Formation. The lignite seam at the base of the section represents the uppermost part of the Turgut Member. Above, c. 65 m of clayey siltstone, limestone, and marls represent the Sekköy Member. Nine spores, zygospores and cysts of fungi and algae, seven moss and fern spores, 12 gymnosperm pollen types, and more than 80 angiosperm pollen taxa were recovered from the Tınaz lignite mine section. Three pollen zones were recognized, of which pollen zone 1 corresponds to the formation of the main lignite seam and reflects the change from a fluviatile to a lacustrine depositional setting. Pollen zones 2 and 3 and a transitional zone 2-3 reflect different stages of lake development and a shift in local vegetation from forested (pollen zones 1 and 2) to more open (transitional zone 2-3, zone 3). Interpreting changes in regional vegetation from pollen zones 1 to 3 is not straightforward as changes in the pollen spectra may be affected by changing contributions of airborne and water transported pollen and spores to the observed palynoassemblages. Age inference for the Tınaz lignite mine section has been complicated by the absence of datable ash layers, associated mammal faunas, or marine sediments. However, pollen zone 3 shares key features with the pollen spectrum recovered from the nearby mammal site Yenieskihisar (upper part of Sekköy Member) for which an age of 12.5-11.2 Ma has been suggested, and to the youngest pollen zone recovered from the mammal locality Çatakbağyaka, 10 km south of Tınaz, that probably represents mammal zone MN7/8 instead of MN5 or MN6 as previously suggested. In contrast, pollen zones 1 and 2 are fairly similar to the basal parts of the Çatakbağyaka pollen flora (uppermost parts of Turgut Member, basalmost parts of Sekköy Member). Furthermore, new mammal data from the Yatağan basin suggest that the layers below pollen zone 1 are MN4/5, and that carnivores cooccuring with pollen zone 1 in the main lignite seam of Eskihisar probably belong to MN6. Hence, a Langhian to Serravallian age can be inferred for pollen zones 1 and 2 of the Tınaz lignite mine section, and a late Serravallian age for pollen zone 3. Palaeobiogeographic relationships of the palynofloras are generally northern hemispheric, with many north temperate tree taxa showing modern disjunctions East Asia- NorthAmerica (Tsuga, Carya), East Asia- western Eurasia (Zelkova), East Asia- North America- western Eurasia (Liquidambar), or restricted to East Asia (Cathaya, Eucommia) or North America (Decodon). A few taxa belong to extinct lineages that have complex biogeographic patterns (Engelhardioideae, Cedrelospermum). The presence of Picrasma (Simaroubaceae) in the lower lignite layers of pollen zone 1 is remarkable, as the botanical affinities with the enigmatic flower Chaneya present in early to middle Miocene deposits of Turkey and Central Europe have recently been shown to be with Picrasma. FG received funding from the Austrian Science Foundation (FWF; project number P24427-B25). A Riksmusei Vänner travel grant is acknowledged. 2012-4378

The biogenic volatile organic compound (BVOC) emissions of nine urban tree species were studied to assess the air quality impacts from planting a large quantity of these trees in the City and County of Denver, Colorado, through the Mile High Million tree-planting initiative. The deciduous tree species studied were Sugar maple, Ohio buckeye, northern hackberry, Turkish hazelnut, London planetree, American basswood, Littleleaf linden, Valley Forge elm, and Japanese zelkova. These tree species were selected using the i-Tree Species Selector ( itreetools.org ). BVOC emissions from the selected tree species were investigated to evaluate the Species Selector data under the Colorado climate and environmental growing conditions. Individual tree species were subjected to branch enclosure experiments in which foliar emissions of BVOC were collected onto solid adsorbent cartridges. The cartridge samples were analyzed for monoterpenes (MT), sesquiterpenes (SQT), and other C 10 –C 15 BVOC using thermal desorption-gas chromatography–flame ionization detection/mass spectroscopy (GC–FID/MS). Individual compounds and their emission rates (ER) were identified. MT were observed in all tree species, exhibiting the following total MT basal emission rates (BER; with a 1− σ lower bound, upper bound uncertainty window): Sugar maple, 0.07 (0.02, 0.11) μg g −1 h −1 ; London planetree, 0.15 (0.02, 0.27) μg g −1 h −1 ; northern hackberry, 0.33 (0.09, 0.57) μg g −1 h −1 ; Japanese zelkova, 0.42 (0.26, 0.58) μg g −1 h −1 ; Littleleaf linden, 0.71 (0.33, 1.09) μg g −1 h −1 ; Valley Forge elm, 0.96 (0.01, 1.92) μg g −1 h −1 ; Turkish hazelnut, 1.30 (0.32, 2.23) μg g −1 h −1 ; American basswood, 1.50 (0.40, 2.70) μg g −1 h −1 ; and Ohio buckeye, 6.61 (1.76, 11.47) μg g −1 h −1 . SQT emissions were seen in five tree species with total SQT BER of: London planetree, 0.11 (0.01, 0.20) μg g −1 h −1 ; Japanese zelkova, 0.11 (0.05, 0.16) μg g −1 h −1 ; Littleleaf linden, 0.13 (0.06, 0.21) μg g −1 h −1 ; northern hackberry, 0.20 (0.11, 0.30) μg g −1 h −1 ; and Ohio buckeye, 0.44 (0.06, 0.83) μg g −1 h −1 . The following trees exhibited emissions of other C 10 –C 15 volatile organic compounds (VOC): Littleleaf linden, 0.15 (0.10, 0.20) μg g −1 h −1 ; Ohio buckeye, 0.39 (0.14, 0.65) μg g −1 h −1 ; and Turkish hazelnut, 0.72 (0.49, 0.95) μg g −1 h −1 . All tree species studied in this experiment were confirmed to be low isoprene emitters. Compared to many other potential urban tree species, the selected trees can be considered low to moderate BVOC emitters under Colorado growing conditions, with total emission rates one-tenth to one-hundredth the rates of potential high-BVOC emitting trees. The emissions data were used to estimate the impact of this targeted tree planting on the urban BVOC flux and atmospheric VOC burden. Selecting the low-emitting tree species over known high BVOC emitters is equivalent to avoiding VOC emissions from nearly 500,000 cars from the inner city traffic.

Botanic gardens and arboreta, particularly in regions where iconic relict trees naturally occur, play a vital role in the conservation of these species. Maintaining well- managed living ex situ collections of rare and threatened relict tree species provides an immediate insurance policy for the future species conservation. The aim of this research was to investigate the origin, representativeness and genetic diversity of relict trees kept in botanic gardens and arboreta. We used as a model two ecologically and biogeographically distinct members of the prominent relict genus Zelkova (Ulmaceae), which survived the last glaciation in disjunct and isolated refugial regions: Z. carpinifolia in Transcaucasia and Z. abelicea endemic to Crete (Greece) in the Mediterranean. Our study revealed substantial differences in the genetic diversity and the origin of living ex situ collections of the two

Aim To elucidate the phylogeographical patterns in three Cenozoic relict species: Zelkova sicula, Z. abelicea and Z. carpinifolia (Ulmaceae). Location Sicily, Crete and Transcaucasia. Methods Two chloroplast loci (trnH–psbA and trnL) and the nuclear ribosomal markers ITS1 and ITS2 were sequenced for 154 samples collected from 14 populations of Z. abelicea, 16 populations of Z. carpinifolia, and the two known populations of Z. sicula. We obtained georeferenced data, calculated median joining networks and carried out diversity analyses. A few ex situ samples collected from botanical gardens, of the East Asian species Zelkova serrata, Z. schneideriana and Z. sinica, were also analysed for comparative purposes. Results High levels of variability were found in the chloroplast markers within Z. carpinifolia (15 haplotypes) and Z. abelicea (33 haplotypes), in association with strong phylogeographical structure. Conversely, Z. sicula was characterized by low diversity, with each population exhibiting a single haplotype. Lower variability was found for ITS1 and ITS2 within Z. carpinifolia and Z. abelicea (13 and 7 ribotypes per species, respectively), with Z. carpinifolia showing a high proportion of populations with no intragenomic polymorphism. In the triploid and clonal Z. sicula, all individuals displayed intragenomic polymorphism and seven ribotypes were identified. Main conclusions The chloroplast diversity of Z. abelicea and Z. carpinifolia suggests a very ancient history of diversification and structuring, with footprints of past expansions and more recent bottlenecks. Zelkova sicula has had a history of severe isolation and is likely to be of hybrid origin.

In April 2017, the project ‘Belgian Plant Sentinel Network’ started as part of the Euphresco-IPSN2 network. The botanical gardens and arboreta of the network contain diverse plant collections with both exotic and native taxa that can be used as sentinels by recording their sensitivity to either native or to (newly) introduced pests and diseases. One of the case studies focused on monitoring phytoplasma diseases in trees, especially on Ulmus spp. To monitor these species, a total of 117 root samples were taken from collection trees in five botanical gardens and arboreta in Flanders, Belgium. Total genomic DNA was extracted by a CTAB protocol (Doyle and Doyle 1990). The 16S rRNA gene was partially amplified using the phytoplasma universal primer pairs P1/P7 (Deng and Hiruki 1991) followed by nested PCR with primer pairs R16F2/R2 (Lee et al. 1995) as diagnostic test, and P1/Tint (Smart et al. 1996) on positive samples for sequencing reasons. Additionally, specific group V nPCR targeting the secY (primer sets FD9f2L/FD9r followed by FD9f3L/FD9r2L) gene, according to Arnaud et al. (2007), was done to yield a nested PCR product of 1,174 bp, and finally, a short fragment from the tuf gene was generated following the Q-Bank methodology for Q-phytoplasma (www.Q-bank.eu). In one location in Vlaams Brabant, one sample, roots from an Ulmus minor subsp. canescens tree (∼8 years old) tested positive for the presence of a phytoplasma. The sample was taken in March 2018 (early spring) and only consisted of roots. An amplified fragment of ∼1,600 bp (P1/Tint) was gel purified (SmartPure, Eurogentec) and directly sequenced (Macrogen, Amsterdam, the Netherlands). The obtained partial sequence of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene (1,516 bp) was submitted to GenBank (accession MH583020.2). This sequence revealed the closest homology (99%) with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma ulmi’ strains from the U.S.A. (AF189214.1) and Czech Republic (EU184021). In addition, the secY and tuf fragment were directly bidirectionally sequenced and the sequences of the resulting contigs, 1,027 bp (MH727566) and 367 bp (MK491655), respectively, were also submitted to GenBank. Phylogenetic analysis was undertaken (MEGA version 7.0.26) on the 16S, secY, and tuf fragments, indicating the phytoplasma to be a member of ‘Ca. P. ulmi’, 16SrV subgroup A, and showing the genetic relationship with other ‘Ca. P. ulmi’ isolates previously reported in Europe. Virtual RFLP on the 16S fragment using iPhyClassifier (Zhao et al. 2009) confirmed this result. All other Ulmus trees from the five botanical gardens and arboreta, as well as related Zelkova trees (Z. carpinifolia and Z. serrata) and a Celtis aetnensis tree, tested negative. In addition, the phytoplasma survey on elm has expanded to the complete affected botanical garden (28 Ulmus or related trees) and to lane trees from the surrounding area. A second sampling of the same tree in May 2018 confirmed the presence of ‘Ca. P. ulmi’ on new root and leaf samples. From July onward, yellowing and partial branch decay could be observed on the affected tree. All additional samples from the botanical garden and surrounding area tested negative. To our knowledge, this is the first report of ‘Ca. P. ulmi’ on Ulmus in Belgium. Considering the other recent findings in Europe, we suspect that ‘Ca. P. ulmi’ is likely to be distributed throughout the region, but with few previous reports, rather than being a new emerging risk.

Lymantria (Lymantria) lucescens (Butler) collections and observations were made at Toyota and Azumino, Honshu, Japan. Larvae are now recorded to feed on Fagaceae (Quercus, four species); Ulmaceae (Ulmus and Zelkova) and Moraceae (Morus). During the moth flight (July in Toyota), both sexes (but only 15% females) were attracted to commercial lighting and settled on lit surfaces such as storefronts. Females (wingspan av. 72 mm) carried on average 758 eggs each. Periodicity of male moths responding to either synthetic sex pheromone or to visible lights showed that flight activity peaked between 2000 and 2100 h. Three different larval parasitoids from L. lucescens were recovered. L. lucescens is discussed in light of attributes favoring its potential invasiveness.

Two methods of rooting of Zelkova softwood cuttings were analyzed: (1) quick-dip method and (2) contact method - the thin polyethylene film (20 mm) laid directly over the cuttings during the rooting process. The control for contact method was a low tunnel with a thick polyethylene film. One group of cuttings in the contact method was treated with quick-dip (IBA 2,500 μg•mL-1, carrier-ethyl alcohol) during 5 sec, and the other group was treated with water solution of IBA (50 μg•mL-1) in 24-hour treatment. The third group was control - untreated cuttings. The same groups of cuttings were also used in low tunnels. The number and length of primary and secondary roots were measured on rooted cuttings. The results of all treatments show that contact method in combination with water solution of IBA was the best with 92% of rooted cuttings. No significant differences were obtained between this treatment and quick-dip + contact method (85.3%). Rooting of cuttings under low tunnel was significantly lower. In general, contact method was better than low tunnel, disregarding the carrier used. These results recommend the almost unknown contact method in nursery propagation of Zelkova, as an alternative, non-invasive species for the conditions in Serbia.

Maintaining living ex situ collections is one of the key conservation methods in botanic gardens worldwide. Despite of the existence of many other conservation approaches used nowadays, it offers for many endangered plants an important insurance policy for the future, especially for rare and threatened relict trees. The aim of this research was to investigate the global extent of living ex situ collections, to assess and discuss their viability and inform the development of conservation approaches that respond to latest global conservation challenges. We used as a model taxon the tree genus Zelkova (Ulmaceae). The genus includes six prominent Tertiary relict trees which survived the last glaciation in disjunct and isolated refugial regions. Our comprehensive worldwide survey shows that the majority of botanic institutions with Zelkova collections are in countries with a strong horticultural tradition and not in locations of their origin. More importantly, the acutely threatened Zelkova species are not the most represented in collections, and thus safeguarded through ex situ conservation. Less than 20% of the ex situ collections surveyed contain plant material of known wild provenance while the majority (90%) of collections are generally very small (1–10 trees). Botanic gardens and arboreta particularly in regions where iconic relict trees naturally occur should play a vital role in the conservation of these species. The coordination of conservation efforts between gardens has to be enhanced to prioritise action for the most threatened relict trees. Large scale genetic studies should be undertaken, ideally at genus level, in order to verify or clarify the provenance of ex situ collections of relict trees in cultivation. For the most threatened relict tree genera, well-coordinated specialist groups should be created.

This paper examines the seismic performance of Japanese traditional wooden structures considering stiffness and strength aging changes in old structural members. In strength and embedding testing done to evaluate the strength properties of old structural members, results showed that zelkova has a Young’s modulus similar or larger than new members. In nonlinear earthquake response analysis for a Kiyomizudera model based on test results, maximum angle response of columns was decreased reflecting old zelkova stiffness and strength.

The study of two sedimentary records sampled in the fluvio-lacustrine succession of high Salto river valley (Rieti, central Italy) was originated in the frame of the Geomorphologic Map of Italy ( APAT, 2008 ) field survey and improved with a multidisciplinary approach addressed to a better knowledge of the Plio-Pleistocene continental environments of central Apennines. The two successions are associated to different sedimentary facies, with lateral heteropic relations: the deposits cropping out at Marano de' Marsi are thought to represent deposition in the distal portion of a lacustrine delta, while those of Borgorose took place in a frankly lacustrine environment. The sediment succession from Marano de' Marsi (11 m) was sampled from an outcrop, the one from Borgorose (24.5 m) from a drillhole. Palaeomagnetic investigations carried out on both sediment records indicate a normal magnetic polarity and very low magnetic susceptibility values. In the record from Marano de' Marsi section, gymnosperm pollen is prevailing. Four main and short angiosperm arboreal pollen oscillations can however be observed, the oldest of which more marked. The gymnosperms are mainly represented by Pinus haploxylon type, Pinus sylvestris type, Cedrus , Picea , Abies , Cathaya , Tsuga , Taxodium type. Among angiosperms the dominant taxa , some of which at present extinct in Italy, are Quercus , Zelkova , Ulmus , Carya and Pterocarya . The presence of pollen of subtropical taxa as Nyssa , cfr. Rhoiptelea , Liquidambar , Engelhardia is worth to be mentioned. The investigation was integrated also by a preliminary study of macrofossils. Fossil impressions with some organic matter of angiosperm and gymnosperm leaves and seeds/fruits were ascribed to Acer cfr. monspessulanum , Carpinus cfr. orientalis , Engelhardia , Fagus , Hedera , Liquidambar , Quercus , Rosa , Abies and Pinus . The 24.5 m long sediment core from Borgorose resulted very poor in pollen, with the same list of arboreal taxa, at present extinct in Italy, found at Marano de' Marsi, and a diagram was drawn only for the stretch of the core between 3 and 8.2 m. Gymnosperms ( P. haploxylon type is dominant, and accompanied by P. sylvestris type, Picea , Taxodium type, Cedrus , and Tsuga ) are always prevailing. The results obtained by this interdisciplinary investigation indicate that Marano de' Marsi and Borgorose successions can be possibly attributed to the Upper Pliocene (normal polarity Olduvai subchron) even if an older age, considering the present state of the art on Pliocene continental records, and the peculiarity of the site and of the region, cannot be excluded.

We analyzed the structural details of a farmhouse in the central Japanese snowbelt. The core structure was characterized by large pillars and beams, suggesting that the house is suited to resist heavy snowfalls. Almost all of the structural timbers (302 pieces) in the house consisted of four tree species: beech, oak, zelkova and cedar. Specifically, the main pillars and beams were mostly beech, the dominant species in the adjacent forests. This suggests that beech provided appropriately large timbers for the load-bearing structures of houses. Consequently, beech would have been useful in the construction of houses in heavy snowfall areas.

For the maintenance and renovation of historic buildings, it is an essential prerequisite to identify the species of each member of a structure. In historic timber structures, identification of the...

Omotesando Avenue, which is the symbolic approach to Meiji Shrine, but also has the characteristics of a wide urban road lined with zelkova trees, was part of Tokyos city planning projects during the Taisho Period.The primary resources of this study were the review of the context of its formation using documents on the development of Meiji Shrine, documents on the development of roads in the city of Tokyo, and Tokyo City Planning Committee conference minutes.Further, the relationship between the concept of street trees and that of trees lining shrine approaches were considered using specialist journals of the time.Through the conference discussion and the design changes, it is clear that the unusually wide sidewalks and trees were provided for the great number of visitors to the shrine.The zelkova trees were regarded to be an appropriate choice for such shrine approaches and were also considered to be representative of the Kanto landscape.Therefore, while an increased use of the automobile and local military activities of the time were also considered, the traditional notion of shrine approaches contributed to the formation of the resulting modern boulevard.