Search

The relevance of the search for alternative plant raw materials to enrich the diets of population throughout the world, including in the Russian Federation, is explained by global mass year-round insufficiency of biologically active nutrients in food. This work is aimed at identifying the most promising food plant species from the list, proposed on basis of long-term observations by staff of Tsytsin Main Moscow Botanical Garden of Russian Academy of Sciences (MBG RAS), by bachelors, studying in direction 06.03.01 (Biology) at Moscow State University of Food Production. The research materials (2016-2018) are fruits of hawthorns, rosehips, quince, eleutherococcuses, medlar, mahonia, spindle tree, yews, sumacs, oaks, red-fruited honeysuckles and needles of coniferous plants. Research results indicate the value of studied raw materials as a whole and its advantages in compared species within the genus of plants. Some recommendations for practical usage were made. The following things have been proposed: separation of fruit pulp and seeds before drying of fruits of Crataegus submollis and more preferable C. punctata; wide plantation cultivation of rosehips Rosa amblyotis and R. oxyodon; non-waste separate application of pericarp and seeds of Cydonia oblonga, Mespilus germanica and Mahonia aquifolium; medicinal use of fruits of Eleutherococcus sessiliflorus , and more preferable E. senticosus ; further study of cones of Taxus baccata and T. media; as a spice there is usage of fruits of Rhus typhina ; obtaining unique oils from fruit pulp of Lonicera glehnii, L . ferdinandii, L. maackii and arils of Euonymus europaeus; usage of acorns of Quercus robur, Q. rubra and needles of Picea abies, Pinus sylvestris in feed production. Thus, possibilities of intensifying plant resource usage in the food industry and agriculture were discovered, primarily due to fruits of native introduced species. It is necessary to continue search and further study of the most promising species - sources of alternative plant raw materials.

Soil legacies mediate interactions between native and introduced plants, contributing to both invasion and biotic resistance to invasion. Given that nitrogen deposition can promote allelochemical release, reduce the benefits of soil microbes, and affect trait plasticity, nitrogen deposition likely alters soil legacies as well. However, it is not clear how mechanisms that facilitate adaptation to soil legacies are altered by nitrogen deposition. In a greenhouse setting, we investigated how an invasive and a native plant in northern China (Rhus typhina and Ailanthus altissima, respectively) acclimate to soil legacies and how these dynamics change with nitrogen availability. We measured plant functional traits, soil microbial abundance, microbial enzyme activities, and soil allelopathic effects to characterize plant responses to soil legacies from plants of the same and of the other species. Rhus typhina had a stronger growth response to soil legacies than did A. altissima. Rhus typhina established a novel plant-soil feedback by increasing fungi and bacteria, changing the composition of the microbial community, and effectively transforming negative effects of soil allelopathy to positive effects. Nitrogen deposition promoted the growth of R. typhina and alleviated the negative effects of heterospecific soil legacies on the performance of R. typhina. Invasive plants can acclimate to the soil legacies of native species through a combination of high trait plasticity, manipulating soil microbes, and establishing novel plant-soil feedbacks. Nitrogen deposition can facilitate invasive species acclimating to soil legacies by monopolizing nitrogen absorption, though this may diminish the benefit of soil microbes.

В данной статье предусмотрен технология получения жидкого экстракта из растений сумаха пушистого (rhus typhina l.). Для получения жидкого экстракта в качестве экстрагента использовали 70% этиловый спирт. В качестве эффективного и оптимального метода был использован метод перколяции. This article provides a technology for producing a liquid extract from the plants of rhus (rhus typhina l). To obtain a liquid extract, 70% ethyl alcohol was used as an extractant. The percolation method was used as an effective and optimal method.

Introduction In Donetsk Region, overburden dumps are the most common among lands disturbed by the mining industry. They have low fertility, unfavourable physical and chemical properties and microclimatic conditions. Natural revegetation accompanied by changes in species composition and structure is an important ecological and biological process in land disturbed by industry. In such areas, the species composition transforms over time from herbaceous associations to complex multi-species groups with a participation of the arboflora representatives. The aim of the study was to investigate the dynamics of natural revegetation with trees and shrubs in disturbed areas in Donetsk Region Materials and Methods The study was carried out during 2002–2020 on external dumps of overburden soils. Processes of natural revegetation were studied by laying temporary and permanent sample plots, accounting plots and route courses according to generally accepted methods in the most representative sites to cover all types of revegetation in transformed areas and a detailed description of the process. Results and Conclusions The research areas are located on the slopes of different exposures and steepness. Soil mixtures of overburden soils belong to ІІ (relatively poor soils) and ІІІ (poor soils) fertility classes (forest suitability) and to very dry (0) and dry types (1) of site conditions. Natural revegetation on external dumps occurs with a participation of the most site-adaptive species, primarily in micro-depressions, on the slopes of western and north-western exposures and in the lower parts of eastern and northeastern exposures, i.e. under better humidity and microclimate conditions. Trees and shrubs regenerate better on highly stony and medium stony soils. Sylvatization occurs first by seed, then by the vegetative type, and by the combined type later on. The nature of plant spread is gradual: from dispersed to continuous. Silvatization is predicted to lead to formation of new plant communities and to increase forest cover in disturbed areas. In quarry and dump areas, natural revegetation occurs in stages – from grassy vegetation to the formation of groups with a predominance of tree and shrub species, not only in areas with favourable forest conditions but also in the areas considered unsuitable for forest by their edaphotopes and hyhrotopes. Robinia pseudoacacia L., Elaeagnus angustifolia L., Symphoricarpus rivularis Suksdorf, Swida sangunea (L.) Opiz,, Cerasus mahaleb (L.) Mill., Prunus spinosa L., Соtinus coggygria Scop., Fraxinus excelsior L., Ulmus (U.) glabra Huds., U. suberosa Moench, Rosa canina L., Rhus typhina L., Armeniaca vulgaris Lam., Acer (A.) tataricum L., A. negundo L., Crataegus oxyacantha L., Lycium barbarum L., Lonicera tatarica L. Ligustrum vulgare L. are most actively renewed by seed and vegetative ways. 2 Figs., 3 Tables, 33 Refs. Key words: reclamation, natural revegetation, trees, shrubs.

University campuses usually have more trees and can provide various ecosystem services. However, there are few reports on tree ecosystem services of Chinese university campuses, especially in northern China. This study investigated the trees in the campus of Shenyang Institute of Technology and analyzed its ecological benefits and monetary value through i-Tree Streets. The campus trees contained a total of 5193 trees of 66 species, of which Catalpa ovata G. Don, Acer mono Maxim., Rhus typhina Nutt, and Salix babylonica L. accounted for 59.7% of the total number. The age structure of the trees in the campus was not ideal, with 71.5% of young trees, 24.0% of maturing trees, 4.5% of mature trees, and only 0.04% of old trees. The trees in the campus provided more energy saving benefits ($60,850, $11.7/tree), carbon reduction benefits ($34,318, $6.6/tree) and aesthetic benefits ($30,150, $5.8/tree). The benefits resulted from air pollutant removal ($12,889, $2.5/tree) and rainwater runoff interception ($15,534, $3.0/tree) were smaller. In addition, tree species with more maturing trees and mature trees (i.e., with larger diameter at breast height) and large leaf area in the campus contributed significantly to ecosystem services. Our results can provide suggestions and certain insights for Chinese campus greening managers in tree species selection and tree management.

The aim of the study was to produce different types of coatings based on natural dyes obtained from invasive alien plant species and residues after paper production. As a source of dye we used extracts of Rhus typhina, Japanese knotweed, Himalayan balsam and Canadian and giant goldenrod. The substrates for the application of the coating were the wood of the tree of heaven and the wood of the horse chestnut. The coatings were observed visually, and the hydrophobicity of the coated surfaces was determined by measuring the contact angles of water droplets. In addition to the transparent and brown coloured coatings, we also achieved intense red, yellow, green, and brown and purple colourings. With a combination of different components, the hydrophobic properties of the coated surfaces varied. By combining an extract of giant goldenrod flowers and 3-(triethoxysilyl)propyl isocyanate, we succeeded in producing a coating with pronounced hydrophobicity. A process for the production of coloured and transparent hydrophobic coatings was developed in this research. Through the presence of various silane-containing molecules and the application of the coating to wooden surfaces, we changed their appearance and improved their hydrophobicity.

The search for promising plants with bactericidal and fungicidal activity is of great interest for practical and veterinary medicine, This article reveals the high antibacterial effect of the use of ethanol extracts from 8 species of plants of the families Anacardiaceae (Cotinus coggygria Scop., Rhus typhina L., Rhus trilobata Nutt. and Toxicodendron orientale Greene), Araliaceae (Hedera helix Linnaeus and Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem.), Phyllanthaceae (Leptopus chinensis (Bunge) Pojark.), Berberidaceae (Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh) Nutt.) against 23 strains of bacteria and one strain of fungi. The in vitro experiment revealed the zone of inhibition of growth of colonies exceeding 8 mm during the application of ethanol extracts of C. coggygria against twelve species of microorganisms (Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis, Bacillus cereus, Listeria ivanovi, Corynebacterium xerosis, Rhodococcus equi, Proteus vulgaris, P. mirabilis, Serratia marcescens and Candida albicans), Rhus typhina – against twelve species (E. faecalis, E. coli, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, L. ivanovi, C. xerosis, Rh. equi, P. vulgaris, Salmonella typhimurium, S. adobraco, S. marcescens and C. albicans), Rhus trilobata – against fourteen (E. faecalis, E. сoli, S. аureus, S. epidermidis, B. subtilis, B. cereus, L. ivanovi, C. xerosis, Rh. equi, P. vulgaris, P. mirabilis, Рseudomonas аeruginosa, Yersinia enterocolitica and C. albicans), Toxicodendron orientale – against eleven (E. faecalis, S. аureus, L. іnnocua, C. xerosis, Campylobacter jejuni, Rh. equi, P. vulgaris, P. mirabilis, Р. аeruginosa and C. albicans), Hedera helix – against seven (S. аureus, S. epidermidis, L. monocytogenes, C. jejuni, Rh. equi, P. vulgaris and C. albicans), Aralia elata – against nine (E. coli, S. aureus, B. cereus, C. xerosis, P. vulgaris, P. mirabilis, S. typhimurium, S. marcescens and C. albicans), Leptopus chinensis – only against four (E. coli, S. epidermidis, B. cereus and P. mirabilis) and Mahonia aquifolium – against only three species (S. epidermidis, C. jejuni and P. vulgaris). As a result of the research, the most promising for studying in future regarding in vivo antibacterial activity were determined to be C. coggygria, Rhus typhina, R. trilobata, Toxicodendron orientale and Aralia elata.

Functional traits, specifically leaf functional traits, are core-topics to explore importance to the invasion success of invasive plant species. This study aims to address the differences in leaf functional traits and their corresponding variability of the invasive tree staghorn sumac Rhus typhina L. with different invasion success, including lower and higher invasion success, in two climatic regions in North China, including a warm temperate region and a cold temperate region. No significant differences were found for leaf functional traits of staghorn sumac across different invasion success. However, the variability of leaf chlorophyll and nitrogen concentrations of staghorn sumac under higher invasion success were approximately 66.023% and 68.615% higher than those under lower invasion success, respectively. The leaf chlorophyll and nitrogen concentrations of staghorn sumac in the warm temperate region were approximately 18.432% and 16.337% higher than those in cold temperate region, respectively. The variability of specific leaf area of staghorn sumac in warm temperate region was approximately 59.802% higher than that in cold temperate region. Accordingly, leaf chlorophyll and N concentrations as well as specific leaf area of staghorn sumac and their corresponding variability may play an essential role in shaping ecological success of studied invader along a climatic gradient.

Coal mining causes severe land degradation, which poses a great damage to carbon (C) sequestration function of the original ecosystem. Vegetation restoration in postmining areas plays an important role in rebuilding soil C pool and improving soil quality. In this study, soil C sequestration and soil properties of different vegetation types were investigated along restoration chronosequences in a postmining area in the eastern Loess Plateau. The results showed that soil properties improved substantially through artificial restoration by planting Rhus typhina (exotic species) and Platycladus orientalis (indigenous species) and through natural restoration. Soil C stock (0–20 cm depth) increased significantly with restoration duration in all of the vegetation types and was positively correlated to plant diversity except in R. typhina. After 12–20 years from restoration, accumulation rates of soil C varied significantly with vegetation type, with the maximum in P. orientalis (0.60 Mg ha⁻¹ yr⁻¹) and the minimum in naturally restored grassland (0.21 Mg ha⁻¹ year⁻¹). The optimum performance of P. orientalis plantation could be attributed mainly to high plant diversity and associated high fine root biomass (1.72 Mg ha⁻¹). A sharp decrease of plant diversity (39.0%) in R. typhina 12 years after restoration implied that soil C accumulation might not be sustainable in the long term. Our results suggest that P. orientalis as an indigenous species adaptable to harsh environment may facilitate the succession of a diverse ecosystem and promote soil C accumulation in degraded lands of postmining areas.

The present investigation reports the chemical composition of the Rhus typhina L. stem identified via mass spectrometry and NMR as gallic acid, 1-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose, tryptophan, scopolin, methyl gallate, fustin, quercetin, rutin, and 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose. The antioxidant properties and the chemical composition contents of the R. typhina L. stem grown in different regions in China were determined. To determine the antioxidant activity, a total phenolic content analysis, 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging activity assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power assay, and β-carotene linoleic acid model system were conducted. The results showed that the Rhus typhina L. stem possessed high antioxidant capacities due to its high phenolic content. The contents of the nine isolated compounds were determined by UPLC-ESI-MS/MS. The calibration curves of the nine isolated compounds were linear within the concentration range and the average recoveries were high. The result showed that 1-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose, gallic acid, methyl gallate, and 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-D-glucose could be the compounds mainly responsible for the antioxidant capacity of the R. typhina L. stem. This reveals that the R. typhina L. stem is a good source of antioxidants. Keywords: Rhus typhina L. stem, Antioxidant activity, Chemical composition, UPLC-ESI-MS/MS

Soil N2 -fixing bacterial communities (SNB) can enhance soil N availability and the invasiveness of invaders. Some invaders display different degrees of invasion across different climate regions. Given that bacterial communities may change with different climate regions, it is important to understand soil micro-ecological mechanisms driving the successful invasion of invaders across different climate regions. This study performed cross-site comparisons to comprehensively analyse effects of the invasive tree staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina L.) on the structure of SNB. In north China, we selected three sites within two sampling regions (a warm temperate region and a cold temperate region). Staghorn sumac invasion did not significantly affect soil physicochemical properties and the diversity and richness of SNB. LEfSe analysis showed that numerous SNB taxa changed significantly during staghorn sumac invasion. This may be attributed in part to the selective effects of allelochemicals released by staghorn sumac via leaf litter and/or root exudates. Consequently, staghorn sumac invasion may alter the structure, rather than the diversity and richness, of SNB to facilitate its invasion process by establishing a favourable soil microenvironment in the invaded habitats. The number of species and richness of SNB under staghorn sumac invasion were significantly lower in the warm temperate region than in the cold temperate region. A possible reason for the increased diversity and richness of SNB under staghorn sumac invasion in the cold temperate region may be because staghorn sumac in the cold temperate region can provide more nutrients into the soil sub-ecosystem, presumably to support a higher diversity and richness of SNB via the nutritional requirements of SNB. The changed structure of SNB under staghorn sumac invasion, especially across different climate regions, may play an important role in its successful invasion across most regions of north China.

The present work was tested the anti-proliferation activity of Rhus typhina fruits extract (RTFE) in HEK293 and HT-29 cells, and studied their underlying mechanisms through the analysis of oxidative stress and apoptosis-related genes expressions by flow cytometer and RT-qPCR. In addition, the bioactive constituents were identified from RTFE by chromatography and NMR analysis. Among the various type of the fractions from the RTFE, the ethyl acetate fraction (EAF) was showed the potent anti proliferation effect in HT-29 cells. Thus EAF was selected for the further extensive analysis. Cytotoxcity and RT-qPCR results revealed that the treatment of EAF significantly inhibit the growth of the HT-29 cells by the up regulating of Bax and down regulation of Bcl-2, Survivn, AIF and SOD-2 gene expressions in time and dose dependent manner. Followed by sub G1 accumulation and the G0/G1 phase arrest, ROS production, and mitochondrial transmembrane potential (ΔΨm). Finally, the active anti-proliferations agents such as luteolin and luteolin-7-O-glucuronide were identified from EAF by NMR. This work suggests that EAF could be a functional food to treat the chronic diseases.

The effects of vegetation restoration on matrix structure and erosion resistance of iron tailings were studied at dump sites in Malanzhuang, Qian’an, Hebei province, China. The restoration process involved soil spray sowing restoration model with Rhus typhina, soil and iron tailings admixture spray sowing restoration model with Amorpha fruticosa Linn. and six-hole brick restoration model with Pinus tabulaeformis Carriere.–Amorpha fruticosa Linn. mixed-forest, and direct restoration model with Hippophae rhamnoides and Sabina vulgaris. Results show that the composition and distribution of particles and aggregates were closely related to erosion resistance (P A. fruticosa soil and iron tailings admixture spray sowing > mixed-forest six-hole brick > H. rhamnoides direct restoration > S. vulgaris direct restoration. The R. typhina soil spray sowing restoration model resulted in the greatest improvement in matrix structure of iron tailings, increasing the clay (10.6%) and large particle aggregates (18.7%) contents significantly (P

The genus Rhus of the Anacardiaceae family includes about 120–150 species of small trees, bushes, and lianas. The chemical composition of the sumac fluffy Rhus typhina (L.) is almost unknown. Previously, some phenolic compounds (rutin, quercetin, hyperoside, tannin, gallic acid) were identified in the fruits of the plant. To quantify the amount of phenolic compounds in the raw materials studied, a method based on the complexation reaction of phenolic compounds with a phosphomolybdic-tungsten reagent (Folin-Denis reagent) in an alkaline medium was chosen. The optimal conditions for the complexation reaction are selected: the ratio of the solution of gallic acid and Denis-Folin reagent is 0.06 mg / 1.6 ml, respectively. For the quantitative determination of the amount of phenolic compounds for the aqueous extraction of sumac fluffy must be added 1.1 ml of Denis-Folin reagent, to alcohol-water extraction – 1.2 ml of Folin-Denis reagent. The maximum value of optical density in aqueous and alcohol-aqueous extractions is observed at a wavelength of 720 nm. In alcohol-water extraction, more phenolic compounds (A = 0.8683) pass into the alcoholic water than to the aqueous one (A = 0.6346). The method used is valid and can be used for quantitative determination of the amount of phenolic compounds in fruits of sumac fluffy. To evaluate the linearity, the regression equation is calculated y = 941.67x + 0.0725 and the correlation coefficient r = 0.9895. The concentration of phenolic compounds in alcohol-water extraction was determined from the calibration graph. The average content of the sum of the phenolic compounds in terms of the gallic acid in the alcohol- water extraction was 10.04 ± 0.17%. The relative standard deviation (RSD) is 2.61%., Род сумах Rhusсемейства Anacardiaceae включает около 120–150 видов небольших деревьев, кустарников, лиан. Химический состав сумаха пушистого Rhus typhina (L.) почти не изучен. Ранее в плодах растения идентифицированы некоторые фенольные соединения (рутин, кверцетин, гиперозид, танин, кислота галловая). Для количественного определения суммы фенольных соединений в исследуемом сырье была выбрана методика, основанная на реакции комплексообразования фенольных соединений с фосфорномолибденово-вольфрамовым реактивом (реактив Фолина-Дениса) в щелочной среде. Подобраны оптимальные условия проведения реакции комплексообразования: соотношение раствора кислоты галловой и реактива Дениса-Фолина – 0.06 мг/1.6 мл соответственно. Для проведения количественного определения суммы фенольных соединений к водному извлечению плодов сумаха пушистого необходимо прибавлять 1.1 мл реактива Дениса-Фолина, к спирто-водному извлечению – 1.2мл реактива Фолина-Дениса. Максимальное значение оптической плотности в водном и спирто-водном извлечениях наблюдается при длине волны 720 нм. В спирто-водное извлечение переходит больше фенольных соединений (А=0.8683), чем в водное (А=0.6346). Использованная методика валидна и может применяться для количественного определения суммы фенольных соединений в плодах сумаха пушистого. Для оценки линейности рассчитаны уравнение регрессии y = 941.67x + 0.0725 и коэффициент корреляции r=0.9895. Концентрацию фенольных соединений в спирто-водном извлечении определяли по градуировочному графику. Среднее содержание суммы фенольных соединений в пересчете на кислоту галловую вспирто-водном извлечении составило 10.04±0.17%. Относительное стандартное отклонение (RSD) равно 2.61%.

According to the ‘novel weapons hypothesis’, invasive success depends on harmful plant biochemicals, including allelopathic antimicrobial roots exudate that directly inhibit plant growth and soil microbial activity. However, the combination of direct and soil-mediated impacts of invasive plants via allelopathy remains poorly understood. Here, we addressed the allelopathic effects of an invasive plant species (Rhus typhina) on a cultivated plant (Tagetes erecta), soil properties and microbial communities. We grew T. erecta on soil samples at increasing concentrations of R. typhina root extracts and measured both plant growth and soil physiological profile with community-level physiological profiles (CLPP) using Biolog Eco-plates incubation. We found that R. typhina root extracts inhibit both plant growth and soil microbial activity. Plant height, Root length, soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN) and AWCD were significantly decreased with increasing root extract concentration, and plant above-ground biomass (AGB), below-ground biomass (BGB) and total biomass (TB) were significantly decreased at 10 mg·mL-1 of root extracts. In particular, root extracts significantly reduced the carbon source utilization of carbohydrates, carboxylic acids and polymers, but enhanced phenolic acid. Redundancy analysis shows that soil pH, TN, SOC and EC were the major driving factors of soil microbial activity. Our results indicate that strong allelopathic impact of root extracts on plant growth and soil microbial activity by mimicking roots exudate, providing novel insights into the role of plant–soil microbe interactions in mediating invasion success.

Plants may maintain long-term xylem function via efficiency-safety tradeoff and segmentation. Most studies focus on the growing season and community level. We studied species with different efficiency-safety tradeoff strategies, Quercus acutissima, Robinia pseudoacacia, Vitex negundo var. heterophylla, and Rhus typhina, to determine the seasonality of this mechanism. We separated their branches into perennial shoots and terminal twigs and monitored their midday water potential (Ψmd), relative water content (RWC), stem-specific hydraulic conductivity (Ks), loss of 12, 50, and 88% of maximum efficiency (i.e., P12, P50, P88) for 2 years. There were no correlations between water relations (Ψmd, RWC, Ks) and embolism resistance traits (P12, P50, P88) but they significantly differed between the perennial shoots and terminal twigs. All species had weak annual hydraulic efficiency-safety tradeoff but strong segmentation between the perennial shoots and the terminal twigs. R. pseudoacacia used a high-efficiency, low-safety strategy, whereas R. typhina used a high-safety, low-efficiency strategy. Q. acutissima and V. negundo var. heterophylla alternated these strategies. This mechanism provides a potential basis for habitat partitioning and niche divergence in the changing warm temperate zone environment.

An efficient and economic approach for sustainable production of hierarchically interconnected porous carbons are designed and fabricated through the pyrolysis of Rhus typhina fruits and followed by KOH activation to create micropores or mesopores on the nano-sheet wall of macropores. The related N-doped carbon consists of a plenty of micropores and owns high specific surface area (up to 2675 m2 g−1), resulting in high performances for supercapacitors, such as ultrahigh specific capacitance (568 F g−1 at 1 A g−1), remarkable rate capability (310 F g−1 at 20 A g−1, 282 F g−1 at even 30 A g−1 current density) and good long-term stability (capacitance retention of 99% after 10000 cycles at 30 A g−1) in 1 mol L−1 H2SO4. Moreover, the carbon derived from Rhus typhina fruits demonstrates 474 F g−1 at 1 A g−1, 281 F g−1 at 30 A g−1, and capacitance retention of 92% after 10000 cycles at 30 A g−1 in 6 mol L−1 KOH electrolyte. This novel and sustainable biomass-derived carbon material holds a bright future for fabricating high energy supercapacitors.

Rhus typhina L. (Staghorn Sumac) is fast-growing woody species that reproduces by rhizomes and seeds. Because of its biological benefits, this deciduous member of the Anacardiaceae family has been introduced from its native habitats in the east of North America to urbanized landscapes of Ukraine. In this study we anаlyse changes in morphometric and physiological indicators of 12-year plants of this species in artificial phytocenoses near highways in Pavlograd, Ukraine. Experimental plots were placed at a distance from 25 to 130 meters from the road. The control group of plants was at a distance of 1500 m from the highways. We measured the length and thickness of the annual sprout, number of leaves on it, the content of chlorophyll in the leaves and accumulation of cadmium and lead in the leaf tissues. It was found that, compared to the plants in the relatively clean area, the greatest decreases in the length of the annual shoots of the trees in the plantations were for those which were at a distance of twenty five metres and forty meters from the traffic lanes of the highways. The thickness of the annual shoots of the trees in the plantations did not differ from plants in the clean zone. The number of leaves on a one-year annual sprout at a distance of twenty five meters and forty meters from the path of moving sources of pollution was significantly lower compared to control. We evaluated the impact of vehicle exhaust emissions on the assimilatory organs. We identified a negative effect of the anthropogenic pollutants on photosynthetic pigment content in leaves. The amount of chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b decreased with decreasing distance from the plantation to the road. Changes in the content of chlorophyll b had a clear pattern. The concentration of this pigment and the amount of chlorophyll a + b decreased compared with control in the 130 meter area. The amount of toxic heavy metals (lead and cadmium) in the tissues of the leaf was significantly higher than the control values on all plots. The strongest negative effects of phytotoxicants on susceptible plants occurred in plantations in the twenty-five-meter zone, which led to deterioration of the decorative quality of the plants.

The preferential investment in height growth and traits associated with light acquisition may provide insight into the invasiveness of Rhus typhina. Plant traits have been shown to be associated with invasiveness. Rhus typhina, a shrub or small tree native to North America, shows invasiveness in non-native habitats. Compared to the native shrub Vitex negundo var. heterophylla and the non-invasive alien shrub Amorpha fruticosa, R. typhina showed a high photosynthetic capacity and specific leaf area but a low-leaf nitrogen content, indicating that R. typhina gained high photosynthetic income with low-leaf constituent cost. The non-photochemical quenching of R. typhina was the highest among the three species, which can be linked to its capacity for photoprotection under high light conditions. Allometry analyses showed that R. typhina invested more in height growth than the other two species, pointing to its investment strategy in light acquisition. The low leaf nitrogen-to-phosphorus ratio may be associated with the fast growth of R. typhina. Additionally, R. typhina allocated more biomass to photosynthetic leaves than did the other two species. The preferential investment strategies and traits associated with light acquisition may help explain the invasiveness of R. typhina.

Dried and powdered fruits of sicilian sumac (Rhus coriaria L., family Anacardiaceae R.Br.) have been used in Asian countries and some others for a very long time as seasoning (spices «sumac», «zatar»). The research is aimed at an assessment of prospects for use of fruits of staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina L.), growing in the middle zone of the Russian Federation, as a spice, having medicinal properties. The morphological and anatomical, dimensional and weight characteristics of Rh. typhina’s fruits, collected in the arboretum of Tsytsin Main Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences (MBG RAS), having medicinal properties, were studied. The content of absolutely dry matter and vitamin C in them was determined. For comparison of biochemical parameters, seasoning «sumac» (Rh. coriaria), purchased on open market, was evaluated. It was established that surface of Rh. typhina’s fruit is covered with multicellular trichomes of two types (covering long single-row and glandular capitate on two-celled pedicle); pericarp is differentiated, its structure as a whole is similar to that, described in the literature; the content of absolutely dry matter in air-dry matter (90.5%) and vitamin C (62.0 mg%) in Rh. typhina’s fruits is slightly less than those for Rh. coriaria’s fruits – 96.5% and 64.6 mg%, respectively. Mass of 1000 fruits Rh. typhina (about 12 g) in MBG RAS arboretum is 1,5 times exceed the according to the literature. Thus, Rh. typhina’s fruits may be recommended for further study as an alternative to Rh. coriaria’s fruits, which are traditionally used for making spices.

Species interactions are central to our understanding of population dynamics. While density typically strengthens competition, reducing absolute fitness, Allee effects can reverse this pattern, increasing fitness with density. Allee effects emerge in host–parasite systems when higher parasite densities dilute immune responses or increase resource-mobilization. The optimal density of individuals in these systems should be influenced by how host quality alters the rates at which facilitative and competitive effects change across densities. We tested these ideas using sumac Rhus typhina and a gall-forming parasite Melaphis rhois that attacks sumac leaves. Fitness peaked at intermediate densities, indicating an Allee effect, but the fitness peak depended on host sex. Patterns of abundance mirrored fitness patterns, with galls clustered on leaves and female hosts supporting greater numbers of galls. Within leaves, galls near the stem were more fit, and gall-makers preferentially oviposited near to the stem. The patterns of fitness and abundance are consistent with Allee effects caused by increased resource mobilization at higher gall-maker densities rather than diluted immune responses. Our results suggest that Allee effects in parasites can be described as the summative effects of competitive and facilitative processes and, because both are common, Allee effects are likely common in host–parasite systems.

Many woody plant species that originate from various regions of the world have been introduced in other regions or continents and are used in ornamental gardening, silviculture, erosion control, for fruit sources or other purposes. Woody plants selected for introduction usually originate from regions with similar climate conditions; therefore, after certain time lag they start to spread outside places of cultivation, become naturalized or even invasive. In addition to 77 woody alien plant species reported in Lithuania, ten new species were recorded and analysed in this paper. Information on the native and anthropogenic ranges, first record in Lithuania, size of populations, habitats, reproduction and naturalization of Aralia elata, Berberis thunbergii, Caragana frutex, Celastrus orbiculatus, Cornus alba, Cytisus austriacus, Hydrangea arborescens, Pinus strobus, Rhus typhina and Thuja occidentalis is presented. All these species have been introduced intentionally and are used mainly in ornamental gardening. Three of the reported species, Berberis thunbergii, Hydrangea arborescens and Thuja occidentalis, currently are casual species. Remaining seven species were recognized as naturalized in Lithuania, and five of these, i.e. Aralia elata, Celastrus orbiculatus, Cornus alba, Pinus strobus and Rhus typhina as well as Berberis thunbergii, which currently is treated as a casual, have very high or high probability of getting invasive. Constant survey of potential habitats, detection of new escaped alien plants, particularly of trees and shrubs, is the best way to reveal potentially dangerous species and make timely decisions for their control or eradication, if necessary., Daug sumedėjusių augalų, kilusių iš įvairių pasaulio regionų, buvo introdukuota kituose žemynuose arba regionuose ir auginama dėl jų dekoratyviųjų savybių, sodinama miškuose, naudojama erozijai stabdyti, auginama maisto gamybai ar kitais tikslais. Introdukuoti atrinkti medžiai ir krūmai paprastai būna kilę iš regionų su panašiomis klimato sąlygomis, todėl po tam tikro laiko jie ima plisti iš auginimo vietų, natūralizuojasi arba netgi tampa invaziniais. Anksčiau Lietuvoje buvo užregistruoti 77 rūšių sulaukėję medžiai ir krūmai. Šiame straipsnyje pateikiami duomenys apie 10 naujai Lietuvoje aptiktų medžių ir krūmų rūšių savaiminį paplitimą, jų antropogeninį arealą, nurodoma, kada jie Lietuvoje pirmą kartą užregistruoti sulaukėję, aptariamas populiacijų dydis, buveinės, dauginimasis ir natūralizacija. Straipsnyje aprašyti sulaukėję sumedėjusieji augalai: Aralia elata, Berberis thunbergii, Caragana frutex, Celastrus orbiculatus, Cornus alba, Cytisus austriacus, Hydrangea arborescens, Pinus strobus, Rhus typhina ir Thuja occidentalis. Trijų rūšių augalai (Berberis thunbergii, Hydrangea arborescens ir Thuja occidentalis) dabar laikomi atsitiktinai sulaukėjusiais, o kitų septynių rūšių sumedėjusieji augalai Lietuvoje yra natūralizavęsi. Yra labai didelė arba didelė tikimybė, kad šešių rūšių naujai aptikti sumedėję augalai (Aralia elata, Berberis thunbergii, Celastrus orbiculatus, Cornus alba, Pinus strobus ir Rhus typhina) gali pradėti sparčiai plisti Lietuvoje ir tapti invaziniais. Labai svarbu nuolat vykdyti potencialių svetimžemių augalų buveinių tyrimus, kad būtų galima kuo anksčiau nustatyti sulaukėjusius arba atsitiktinai patekusius svetimžemius augalus, ypač medžius ir krūmus, laiku įvertinti jų galimą pavojų ir, esant reikalui, imtis jų kontrolės ir naikinimo priemonių.

Several studies reported that bisphenol A (BPA) and its metabolite hydroquinone (HQ) have adverse effects on human and animal health. In this work, a comparative study of influence of the BPA and HQ, environment pollutants, on human erythrocytes was carried out. It was shown that BPA and HQ to varying extents caused oxidative damage in human erythrocytes: hemolysis, decreased GSH level, and methemoglobin formation. It was demonstrated that hydrolysable tannins 3,6-bis-O-di-O-galloyl-1,2,4-tri-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose (C55H40O34) and 1,2,3,4,6-penta-O-galloyl-β-d-glucose (C41H32O26) (PGG) isolated from the Rhus typhina L. leaves in the range of 1–50 μM concentrations inhibited hemolysis and methemoglobin formation and also increased intracellular reduced glutathione in erythrocytes treated with BPA or HQ. It was revealed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) using 5-doxyl-stearic acid (5-DS) that C55H40O34 and C41H32O26 increased the rigidity of erythrocyte membranes at the depth of 5th carbon atom of the fatty acid hydrocarbon chain. Taken together, these results allow to conclude that tannins from the Rhus typhina L. leaves protect erythrocytes from oxidative stress caused by BPA or HQ both due to their antioxidant activity as well as their interaction with the erythrocyte membrane components.

The leaves of the invader Rhus typhina are heterochromatic in different periods during its life cycle. This study aims to address the differences in leaf functional traits and allelopathic effects on seed germination and growth of Lactuca sativa between green and red leaves of R. typhina. The leaf chlorophyll and N concentrations, single-leaf wet and dry weights, and leaf thickness of green leaves of R. typhina were significantly higher than those of red leaves of R. typhina but specific leaf area and leaf moisture content demonstrated the opposite. Thus, the resource investment per unit area and per lamina of red leaves of R. typhina is significantly lower than that of green leaves of R. typhina due to the low leaf chlorophyll concentration for red leaves. Seed germination and growth of L. sativa inhibited significantly with increasing extract concentrations both of R. typhina green and red leaves. Thus, more allelochemicals may be released into the invaded ecosystems under the invasion of R. typhina with increasing invasion degree and time presumably and then trigger more noticeably allelopathic effects on the performance of associated plant species. Allelopathic effects on seed germination and growth of L. sativa of R. typhina red leaves are obviously higher than that of R. typhina green leaves. The main reason may be that the type of R. typhina red leaves is aged and the free nutrient compositions have been transported to other position but the main secondary metabolites retained in the aged leaves. The forest management for R. typhina might be better progressive in advance before the brilliant red foliage of R. typhina occurs before mid-autumn generally to obtain effective invasion prevention and control.

Rhus typhina, commonly called staghorn sumac, is native to North America and is widely planted as an ornamental deciduous shrub all over the temperate region. In this study, the complete chloroplas...

Background Invasive exotic species have caused significant problems, and the effects of extreme precipitation and drought, which might occur more frequently under the global climate change scenarios, on interspecific relationship between invasive and native species remain unclear. Results We conducted a greenhouse experiment with three soil water levels (30–40%, 50–60%, and 70–80% of field capacity) and two cultivation treatments (monoculture pots, one seedling of either species and mixture pots, one seedling of each species) to investigate soil water content effects on the relationship between invasive Rhus typhina and native Cotinus coggygria. Rhus typhina had lower height but bigger crown area than C. coggygria in the monoculture treatment. Rhus typhina had higher height, bigger crown area and total biomass than C. coggygria in the mixture treatment. Drought decreased the growth parameters, total chlorophyll concentration, and leaf biomass, but did not change gas exchange and other biomass parameters in R. typhina. The growth parameters, leaf area index, biomass parameters, total chlorophyll concentration, and net photosynthetic rate of C. coggygria decreased under drought conditions. The log response ratio (lnRR), calculated as ln (total biomass of a target plant grown in monoculture/total biomass of a target plant grown in mixed culture), of R. typhina was lower than that of C. coggygria. The lnRR of R. typhina and C. coggygria decreased and increased with increase in soil water content, respectively. Conclusions Rhus typhina has greater capacity to relatively stable growth to the drought condition than C. coggygria and has strong competition advantages in the mixture with C. coggygria, especially in the drought condition. Our study will help understand the causes of invasiveness and wide distribution of R. typhina under various moisture conditions and predict its expansion under climate change scenarios.

Hydroalcoholic extracts (HE) and essential oils (EO) of branches, leaves and fruits of Rhus typhina L., were characterized by GC-MS. HE (yealds: branches 68.30 mg/g, leaves 35.82 mg/g and fruits 257.76 mg/g), showed different compositions dominated by gallic acid (33.46%) in branches, its precursor 1-cyclohexane-3,4,5-hydroxy-carboxylic acid (20.55%) in leaves and malic acid (89.15%) in fruits. EO yields were 210 µg/g for branches (main component δ-cadinene, 22.00%), followed by fruits with 132 µg/g (β-pinene 32.2%) and by leaves with 54 µg/g and phenylacetaldehyde as major component (40.13%). Total phenolic content (TPC) was highest in branches HE (5.87 µg GAE/mL) and in EO leaves (17.71 µg GAE/mL). The highest value of radical scavenging activity (DPPH test) was detected in leaves HE and EO. The branches EO antimicrobial activity was strong against C. albicans and negligible against E. coli. Leaves and fruits EO showed strong activity against C. albicans and intermediate activity against Escherichia coli.

L., an exotic plant that is widely distributed in China, is harmful to native ecosystems; however, little is known about its effects on soil microbial communities. Therefore, we investigated the effects of R. typhina on soil bacterial communities by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and compared the effects of R. typhina and native (Rhus chinensis Mill.) and non-invasive exotic species (Amorpha fruticosa L. and Robinia pseudoacacia L.) on soil bacterial communities via a greenhouse experiment. R. typhina decreased the diversity of the soil bacterial community compared with R. chinensis, and A. fruticosa. R. typhina soil was characterized by more Actinobacteria and lesser Proteobacteria and Acidobacteria than the other soils. Among Actinobacteria members, there was a difference in the relative abundance of Nocardioides and Streptomyces, and this could be advantageous for the growth of R. typhina. However, there was no significant difference in the soil bacterial community structure associated with R. typhina and other species. Moreover, the concentrations of total carbon, potassium, and nitrate were found to be the major soil factors influencing the relative abundance of soil bacteria.

Soil microbes play an important role in improving soil quality and enhancing carbon cycling, and consequently, are of great significance for the recovery of soil function of degraded lands. However, little is known about soil microbial properties of reconstructed ecosystems established on degraded lands. We investigated soil microbial biomass and enzyme activity for three restored tree types in post-mining lands by field sampling. The results showed that soil microbial biomass carbon increased averagely by 133.9% via planting Quercus liaotungens, Pinus tabuliformis and Rhus typhina. Invertase activity in restored site increased by 138.8% compared with that in the control site. Litter input and root exudate provided carbon sources for soil microbes during vegetation succession, and increases of soil nitrogen content and water-holding capacity were also beneficial to improve microbial growth and activity. Soil microbial biomass and invertase activity displayed significant differences due to tree species (P

This work describes the isolation and characterization of twenty-nine compounds from the fruits of Rhus typhina L., including eleven flavonoids (1–11), eleven phenols (12–22), two pentacyclic triterpenes (23–24), two organic acids (25–26), one lumichrome (27), one courmarin (28) and one pyrimidine (29) on the basis of their spectroscopic data. Compounds apigenin (1), daidzein (4), orobol (5), 3′, 5, 5′, 7-tetrahydroxyflavanone (6), naringenin (7), butein (8), (-)-catechin (9), quercetin-3-O-α-L-(3″-O-galloyl)-rhamnoside (11), 2-hydroxybenzoic acid (13), 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde (14), vanillin (15), methyl 3,4-dihydroxybenzoate (16), 3,5-dihydroxybenzamide (18), tyrosol (19), caffeic acid (20), 3-(2,4,6-trihydroxyphenyl)-1-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-propan-1-one (21), phlorizin (22), friedelin (23), oleanolic acid (24), 4,4-dimethyl-heptanedioic acid (25), anthranilic acid (26), lumichrome (27), scoparone (28) and uracil (29) have not been recorded before in this plant. This is the first report on the occurrence of compounds 4–7, 9, 11, 13–14, 16, 18–21, 25–29 from the genus Rhus. Moreover, the chemotaxonomic significance of these isolated compounds was also summarized.

Coal mining has caused severe damages to local environment, such as vegetation destruction and decrease in species diversity, which poses a great challenge for sustainable development. Ecological restoration, aiming to increase plant coverage and soil nutrients in coal-mine areas, is of great significance for improving environment quality. The restoration effort at the mineral resource-rich Gujiao coal mine is an example of ecological reconstruction in Shanxi Province. Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) was used as one of the main plant species for the ecological restoration in Gujiao. We surveyed staghorn sumac communities at four different restoration stages in a coal-gangue area in 2008 and 2009. The relationship between species diversity index and various environmental factors was analyzed using Pearson correlation coefficient. Based on the investigation of vegetation and soil properties, the following parameters were analyzed: reproduction of staghorn sumac; dynamics of community structure; plant species diversity; and soil condition. The results showed that significant changes in community structure, species composition, and diversity occurred during a 12 years of restoration period. Pioneer species such as Artemisia scoparia and Setaria viridis played dominant roles at the early stage of restoration. However, these pioneer species were replaced by neutral species such as Poa sphondylodes and Bothriochloa ischaemum 5–8 years later. Community coverage increased quickly because of a high reproduction rate of staghorn sumac, leading to a vertical decrease in light intensity from the canopy to the forest floor. Meanwhile, species numbers in the herb layer decreased substantially. Due to vigorous sprouting reproduction, staghorn sumac colonized new habitats and expanded its population rapidly. Staghorn sumac became an exclusive edificator of the community 12 years later, and other species were greatly suppressed and nearly disappeared. Although soil organic matter, total N content, and available P content increased slightly during the restoration period, soil nutrients were still at a low level according to the soil fertility classification standards of the Second National Soil Survey in the 1980s. Therefore, the improvement to the soil condition was very limited. Pearson correlation suggested that soil fertility was a main factor influencing species diversity at the early stage of restoration, while light intensity became a leading factor after the canopy was closed. The vigorous sprouting reproduction of staghorn sumac was beneficial for increasing vegetation coverage of the coal-gangue area during a short time period. However, in the long term, staghorn sumac suppressed not only other species but also its own sprouts, resulting in high risks of degradation to the plant community. Therefore, caution should be taken when staghorn sumac is extensively planted for ecological reconstruction. Vegetation coverage, species diversity, and succession tendency should be used as main indices in an evaluation of ecological restoration. Moreover, our results suggest that low nutrient content is a disadvantage for vegetation restoration. Therefore, it is necessary to increase soil nutrients in ecological reconstruction in coal-gangue areas.

In a laboratory experiment, we studied the insecticidal effects of invasive alien plants on the rice weevil. The research was carried out in two parts. In the first part, we studied the insecticidal properties of seven different plant species, namely, Bohemian knotweed (Fallopia &times, bohemica), Japanese knotweed (Fallopia japonica), false indigo-bush (Amorpha fruticosa), tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima), staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina), Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), and giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea). Mixtures of powders and wheat were prepared in two different concentrations, namely, 2.5 w% and 1.25 w%. The experiment was performed at temperatures 20 &deg, C and 25 &deg, C and at two humidity levels, 55% R.h. and 75% R.h. Very low mortality (below 8%) was found when using combinations with the higher relative humidity. No significant differences were observed between the effects of these concentrations. In the second part of the experiment, Norway spruce wood ash and diatomaceous earth (product SilicoSec&reg, ) were added to the powder obtained by milling leaves of four different invasive plant species (Canada goldenrod, staghorn sumac, tree of heaven, false indigo). In the independent application, wheat was added to the powder at a concentration 2.5 w%. In the treatments that involved mixtures of powder and wood ash/diatomaceous earth, we applied 1.25 w% plant powder and 1.25 w% wood ash or 1.25 w% plant powder and 450 ppm of a SilicoSec&reg, preparation. The positive control was carried out as two separate treatments with 2.5 w% wood ash of Norway spruce and 900 ppm of the SilicoSec&reg, product, while untreated wheat represented the negative control. The experiment was performed at two temperatures (20 &deg, C) and two R.h. values (55 and 75% R.h.). The mortality of beetles was recorded on the 7th, 14th, and 21st day after the start of the experiment. Higher mortality rates of rice weevil adults were found at the higher relative humidity, and an important factor of mortality was also the day of exposure, as a higher mortality was found when the exposure of individuals to the tested substances was for a longer time period. After 21 days at 25 &deg, C and 55% R.h., the combinations in which the lower concentration of Norway spruce wood ash was added to the powder of invasive alien plants achieved more than 90% mortality of beetles. By adding the plant powder of invasive alien plants to wood ash, we achieved a greater insecticidal efficacy of invasive plants and lower concentrations of wood ash. Nevertheless, the results of our research do not indicate any great usefulness of the plant powder of invasive plants in suppressing the rice weevil. Additional studies should primarily focus on the insecticidal efficacy of powder from the genus Solidago, which in our study, displayed the greatest insecticidal potential among the tested invasive plants.

With a rapid growth invasive alien plants cause a lot of problems not only to indigenous varieties of plants, but also for people, as they are often the cause of many health problems, such as allergies, and they also contribute to greater economic loss. Plant protection is an activity which, on the basis of appropriate scientific knowledge by means of various methods and an economical manner, protects cultivated plants from harmful organisms. In Slovenia, as well as worldwide, the use of pesticides in plant protection programmes is the most widespread method due to price and other benefits. Researchers are looking for new, environmentally more acceptable ways of protecting plants against harmful organisms due to adverse environmental effects of pesticides, their non-target activity, the occurence of resistance to pesticides, and increasingly stringent environmental policies. One such measure is also the study of plant extracts in the suppresing of economically important harmful organisms. In a review article, we focused on the literature review of the usefeulness of plant extracts of several invasive alien plant species in plant protection: knotweeds (Fallopia japonica [Houtt.] Ronse Decr), F. x bohemica (Chrtek & Chrtková) Bailey), goldenrods (Solidago canadensis L., S. gigantea Aiton), stag's-horn sumac (Rhus typhina L.), tree of heaven (Ailanthus altissima [Mill.] Swingle), false indigo (Amorpha fruticosa L.) and stinkwort (Dittrichia graveolens [L.] Greuter), which we are studying within the project ApPLAuSE.

The antioxidant activities of various extracts (methanol, hexane, dichloro-methane, ethyl acetate, nbutanol water) of Rhus typhina fruits and leaves were investigated using different methods and the main phenolic compounds were analyzed by LC-MS. The ethyl acetate extracts from fruits and leaves of R. typhina exhibited the highest DPPH, hydroxyl radical and nitrite scavenging activity, reducing potential and protein protection ability. The phenolic and flavonoid contents were highest in the ethyl acetate fraction. The LC-MS analysis showed that the contents of luteolin and luteolin-7-O-glucuronide in leaves are little higher (34.49 and 32.69%, respectively) than that (32.49 and 27.89%, respectively) in the fruits, the content of rutin in fruits (16.73%) is higher than that (7.79%) in the leaves. These results implied that the leaves of R. typhina might serve as a natural source of antioxidant using as the food additive for its good nutrition as well as the fruits of Rhus typhina.

Staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina) is rich in polyphenols and may be used as an innovative ingredient in maintaining and enhancing food quality. In this report, aqueous extracts of sumac fruit powder were added up to 10% in wheat bread formulation. The extract concentration-dependently delayed the mold growth (up to 5 log reduction in 7-day storage) and the staling of bread. Adding sumac extracts dose-dependently increased the total phenolic and anthocyanin contents of the breads. Minimal changes were observed in loaf volume, water activity, moisture content, texture (cohesiveness, springiness, and adhesive), and aroma of breads containing extracts of less than 4%. Overall, sumac addition altered several quality attributes of bread, including hardness, color, and sensory acceptance in appearance, flavor, and texture. Sumac holds potential as a natural preservative and an antistaling agent in bread formulation. Practical applications The rising healthy food market demands bakery products fortified with novel functional ingredients. Staghorn sumac is an emerging healthy food ingredient that has attracted much research attention recently. This study provides a scientific basis to develop bread fortified with sumac-derived functional ingredients. The results pointed out the feasibility of making sumac-fortified breads with enhanced phenolic content, increased shelf life, and acceptable sensory profile.

This research was aimed to explore the use of multivariate statistics i.e. principal componentanalysis (PCA) in identifying and integrating variables related to forage quality and ruminal methaneproduction, and in classifying forage species into both characteristics. Seventeen plants were used as adatabase for the above mentioned purposes. Plant samples were determined for their chemicalcomposition, cumulative gas production (represents the nutrient degradation) and methane productionafter 24 hours of fermentation period using the Hohenheim gas test. The results showed that the PCAcould clearly identify factors related to forage quality and methane production and separated them intodifferent principal components (PC). The obtained PC1 was related to methane production andsubstantially influenced positively by crude protein, NDF, ADF (positive), total phenols, total tannins,condensed tannins and tannin activity (negative). On the other hand, the obtained PC2 was related tocumulative gas production (forage quality) and substantially influenced by crude protein (positive),NDF, ADF and condensed tannins (negative). Classification and screening of forages that have highquality and low methane production are possible using the PCA technique. Rhenum undulatum,Peltiphyllum peltatum and Rhus typhina were found to have such desired characteristics.

Climate change and increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition can alter successional processes, either by directly altering the establishment and growth of later successional species or by altering their interactions with earlier successional species. We examined the effects of these global change factors on post-germination tree establishment in a grass-dominated old field in London, Ontario, Canada, by transplanting tree seedlings into the plots of a warming and N addition field experiment. Transplantation was duplicated over two growing seasons. We also administered warming and N addition treatments to tree seedlings in the absence of grasses in a greenhouse in order to examine the direct seedling responses. In the field, seedling survival was generally low over the first growing season, which was very dry. The only significant treatment effects were those of warming decreasing the survival and biomass of Malus coronaria, and N addition increasing the survival of Elaeagnus umbellata. Grass biomass increased in response to N addition, and seedling condition and survival were positively correlated with increased grass biomass for most species. Seedling survival was much higher in the second growing season, although warming decreased the survival of Rhamnus cathartica and Rhus typhina. N addition increased the biomass and leaf area of M. coronaria, but decreased these responses for R. typhina, and warming increased the leaf area of Fraxinus americana. Grass biomass again increased in response to N addition, but unlike the previous year, seedling condition and survival were generally negatively correlated with increased grass biomass. In the greenhouse (grasses absent), the seedlings generally increased in biomass in response to N addition and were unresponsive to warming. Our results indicate that both warming and N addition can affect the processes determining post-germination tree seedling establishment, and that depending on the environmental conditions, and in particular water availability, the responses of grasses appear to either facilitate or suppress seedling condition and survival.

CI-340 portable photosynthesis test system and JYM-B leaf area meter were employed to observe the physiological velocity and leaf area index of 25 widely used afforestation plants in Tianjin. The results indicate that the diurnal change curve of net photosynthesis rates of 25 experimental species has one or two peaks. The daily carbon sequestration and oxygen release per unit leaf area are respectively 3.98-13.01 g/( m2·d) and 2.9-9.46 g/( m2·d). Among arbors, the order of carbon sequestration and oxygen release capabilities per unit leaf area is Ulmus pumila >Fraxinus velutina>Sophora japonica>Salix matsudana f. pendula>Malus micromalus cv.‘American’>Koelreuteria paniculata>Acer truncatum>Ulmus pumila cv. ‘jinye’>Prunus davidiana>Malus micromalus>Cotinus coggygria > Rhus typhina> Platanus orientalis>Catalpa speciosa>Diospyros kaki> Morus alba cv. ‘Tortuosa’. Among shrubs, the order is Weigela florida>Euonymus japonicus>Cercis chinensis>Ligustrum vicaryi >Sorbaria sorbifolia> Syringa oblata > Lonicera maackii >Cornus alba>Lonicera japonica.

In our air pollution studies at The Pennsylvania State University, we have successfully used Prunus serotina (Black Cherry), Asclepias syriaca (Common Milkweed), Apocynum androsaemifolium (Spreading Dogbane), and Ailanthus altissima (Tree-of-Heaven) as ozone-sensitive bioindicators to detect phytotoxic levels of ambient ozone. However, ambient ozone concentrations have decreased in our study area, and we are seeking a more sensitive bioindicator species. We observed significant levels of ambient ozone-induced leaf injury (stipple) on native Rhus typhina (Staghorn Sumac) within a field in a central Pennsylvania, suggesting that this species might serve as a new and highly sensitive ozone bioindicator. Therefore, we conducted a preliminary survey to determine the incidence and severity of ozone-induced stipple on Staghorn Sumac. In the same location, we concurrently evaluated the level of foliar stipple on the ozone-sensitive bioindicator species listed above. Staghorn Sumac developed significantly greater ozone-induced symptoms than the other bioindicators and has potential to serve as a bioindicator to detect phytotoxic levels of ambient ozone in the eastern US.

In order to explore the effect of using two different afforestation tree species to improve soil in coastal saline-alkali land, the method of combining field sampling and indoor analysis and test was adopted. The physical and chemical properties of soils planted with Rhus typhina and Robinia pseudoacacia forest were determined. The results showed that afforestation could improve soil structure, decrease soil bulk density and increase soil fertility. To reduce soil salinization, the soil physical and chemical indexes of Robinia pseudoacacia plantation were better than those of growing Rhus typhina forest, so the planting area of Robinia pseudoacacia plantation in Dagang area could be increased. Planting Rhus typhina forest could also improve the soil in this area, but its effect was lower than planting Robinia pseudoacacia plantation.

White-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) consumption of plant fruits can significantly affect vegetative community structure. However, little is known about the effects of relative selection between different fruit species on the establishment and spread of invasive shrubs. Depending on foraging activity, white-footed mice may provide resistance against exotic establishment, have no impact, or even contribute to invasive spread. Selection of invasive Morrow's honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii) and 5 native soft-mast species was studied across 3 cover types (forest, field, and edge) and 2 seasons in southwestern Pennsylvania. Foraging stations, containing equal quantities of each species, were randomly placed in each of the cover types. In addition, nutrient composition and total energy were measured. Fruit consumption was nonrandom based on compositional analysis (P < 0.05). Honeysuckle was consumed over native staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina); otherwise, it was consumed less than all natives. Honeysuc...