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Plant–soil feedbacks (PSFs) are often involved in fundamental ecological processes such as plant succession and species coexistence. After a plant initiating PSFs dies, legacies of PSFs occurring as soil signatures that influence subsequent plants could persist for an unknown duration. Altered resource environments following plant death (especially light availability) could affect whether legacy effects manifest and persist. To evaluate PSFs and their legacies, we obtained soils from a chronosequence of Prunus serotina harvests. In a greenhouse experiment, we planted conspecific seedlings under two light levels in these soils of varying time since the influence of live Prunus serotina, and compared seed/seedling survival in soils from live trees, stumps, and surrounding forest matrix within each site and across the chronosequence. PSF legacies were measured as the difference between seedling performance in live tree and stump soils within a site. Negative PSF legacies of P. serotina were short-lived, lasting up to 0.5 years after tree removal. These effects occurred under 5% but not 30% full sun. PSFs and their legacies manifested in seed/seedling survival, but not biomass. Though restricted to low light, short-lived legacies of P. serotina PSFs could have lasting impacts on plant community dynamics during post-disturbance regeneration by disfavoring P. serotina regeneration in small tree-fall gaps.

Veery (Catharus fuscescens) is a breeding migrant thrush that nests throughout much of the temperate forests within Canada. Habitat loss and degradation is thought to be responsible for a steady decline in Veery populations since 1970. We studied habitat characteristics of occupied Veery territories versus unoccupied adjacent areas in southern Ontario during the 2016 breeding season. Occupied territories were characterized as riparian deciduous forests dominated by ash (Fraxinus spp.), Black Cherry (Prunus serotina), and Red Maple (Acer rubrum) trees with an understorey of Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) and ferns (order Polypodiales); the presence of fruit-producing plants such as Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia) and Bunchberry (Cornus canadensis) also was important.

The peach bark beetle (Phloeotribus liminaris Harris, PBB) affects the health, quality, and value of black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) within the Central Hardwoods Forest Region of North America. When colonized by adult beetles, black cherry trees produce a defensive exudate, or ‘gum’, staining the wood and decreasing its value up to 90%. Current management tactics are inadequate to avoid extensive damage to most veneer-sized black cherry in the region. We test the hypothesis that PBB colonization behavior is chemically-mediated and determine the extent to which PBB is attracted to compounds associated with wounded or PBB-infested cherry wood. Through olfactometer and field bioassays, we determined that adult PBB were attracted to cherry branches infested with female beetles. We then used dynamic headspace sampling to collect volatiles associated with wounded and infested bolts of black cherry. The volatile benzaldehyde dominated these collections and was more abundant in aerations of female-infested bolts than other odor sources. In subsequent field bioassays, we evaluated the bioactivity of benzaldehyde, as well as α-longipinene, in combination with several chemical carriers. Traps baited with benzaldehyde captured more PBB than all other treatments, irrespective of other lure components. Moreover, PBB were not attracted to traps baited solely with ethanol, a common attractant for bark beetles that colonize hardwood trees. This is the first report of benzaldehyde as an attractant for a species of bark beetle and could aid in developing semiochemical-based management tactics for this important pest.

The twentieth century confluence of clear-cutting, deer overabundance, and rising nitrogen deposition favored dominance by the shade-intolerant, unpalatable, and nitrogen-demanding black cherry (Prunus serotina) throughout the Allegheny Plateau of the eastern United States. The abundance of this species conferred unique and valuable ecological and economic benefits that shaped regional biodiversity and societies. Sustaining these values is increasingly difficult because black cherry, seemingly inexplicably, has experienced diminished establishment, growth, and survival in the twenty-first century. In the present article, we chronicle the change and assess underlying drivers through a literature review and new analyses. We found negative plant–soil microbial feedback loops and lowered nitrogen deposition are biologically, temporally, and geographically consistent with observed declines. The evidence suggests that black cherry dynamics are the unintended consequence of actions and policies ostensibly unconnected to forests. We suggest that these shifts are a bellwether of impending changes to forests, economies, and ownership patterns regionally and beyond.

Copper oxide nanoparticles have gained considerable attention in the past two decades due to their simplicity and exhibit a range of potentially useful physical properties. In the present study, a simple, low cost, and environmental friendly synthesis of Cuprous oxide (Cu2O) nanoparticles using Prunus serotina Ehrh. var. Capuli cherry extract has been reported. The phytochemicals of Capuli cherry induce the reduction Cu2+ ions to Cu2O and also act as capping agent. UV–vis spectroscopy technique confirms the formation of Cu2O NPs at λmax = 446.5 nm (energy bandgap = 2.77 eV). Morphology, crystallinity and surface properties of nanoparticles were studied using Scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), Dynamic light scattering (DLS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. STEM and DLS characterization indicated the formation of spherical Cu2O NPs of average size 30–55 nm. The XRD analysis confirmed that as-synthesized Cu2O were face-centered cubic (FCC) crystalline structures. The produced Cu2O nanoparticles exhibited good photocatalytic activity for degradation of Thioflavin T dye (> 60%, 90 min). In future, the present investigation could prove to synthesize nanoparticles in bulk and also for environmental remediation.

The aim of the study was to compare the content of selected phytochemicals as well as the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of the leaves of Prunus padus L. and Prunus serotina L., as there is very little research on this subject in the literature. Therefore, it is used to deepen knowledge on this subject. In addition, an electrochemical test was also carried out, which was not yet available for the above plants. Antibacterial studies have also been deepened to include the analysis of new strains of bacteria and fungi, which has not been studied earlier. The water extracts of P. padus using the utra-performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) system showed a higher content of both phenolic acids and flavonols (651.77b ± 18.12 mg/100 g dw for acids and 3.85b ± 0.08 mg/100 g dw for flavonols, respectively). Ferulic and p-coumaric acids were the dominant polyphenols in leaves. Extracts from P. padus showed higher activity against DPPH radical, which was 6.62b ± 0.06 mg TE/1 g dw, as well as higher antioxidant capacity, measured using 2,2′-Azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diammonium salt (ABTS) cation radical (37.39b ± 3.81 mg TE/g dw). The higher antioxidant potential of P. padus was confirmed based on the oxidizing potentials of electroactive compounds present in them. Stronger inhibition against Enterococcus faecium and Klebsiella pneumoniae was found for P. padus, whereas P. serotina extract was more potent against Enterococcus faecium bacterium. It has been shown that P. padus can be an attractive raw material with antioxidant and antimicrobial properties that can be used on a much wider scale in food technology than its current application.

The experiment conducted in the Kampinos National Park since 2015 was aimed at assessing the sprouting ability of black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) in response to different measures of mechanical control and mycobiota colonizing the dying trees. Basal cut-stump, cutting at ca. 1 m above the ground and girdling were performed on 4 terms, two plots and applied to 25 trees, 600 trees in total. Sprouts were removed every 8 weeks since the initial treatment for 4 consecutive growing seasons, except winter-treated trees. At the end of the fourth season of control, 515 out of 600 trees were dead (86%): 81% on Lipków and 90% on Sieraków plot. Among 18 experiment variants with sprouts removal, 17 showed more than 80% of dead trees. The lowest, 76% share, concerned summer cut-stump at the base of the tree. For winter measures, the share of dead trees was lower in all cases and ranged from 28% to 64% proving that sprouts removal contributes to the drop of sprouting strength and quicker dying of the trees. Almost 80% of trees showed sporocarps that represented 51 taxa of macrofungi in total, including 6 Ascomycota and 45 Basidiomycota. The group of six most frequently encountered fungi includes: Hyphoderma setigerum, Bjerkandera adusta, Peniophora cinerea, Armillaria ostoyae, Nectria cinnabarina, Stereum hirsutum. Both plots had similar share of black cherry individuals with sporocarps of macrofungi, that is, 81% and 78% for Sieraków and Lipków respectively. The share of colonized trees and the number of reported macrofungal taxa increased significantly compared to the year following the treatment. In addition, the composition of macrofungi changed with the progressing dying of trees. These results broaden the knowledge about macroscopic fungi colonising and living on black cherry within its secondary range of distribution. Moreover, one macrofungus and two microfungi new for KNP are reported.

Prunus serotina is one of the worst invasive alien plants throughout Europe, able to rapidly replace autochthonous vegetation and form monospecific stands both in open lands and forested areas. Invasion by shrubs and trees due to abandonment of traditional management practices, is one of the major threats to the conservation of “European dry heaths”, a priority habitat included in the Council Directive 92/43/EEC. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of P. serotina invasion on heathland vegetation in terms of species composition and cover, with special regards to the dominant Calluna vulgaris and Molinia arundinacea, in an area of North-Western Italy subjected to massive invasion by this alien species. We collected data on the plant cover along an invasion gradient in 10 linear transects running from P. serotina invaded stands towards non invaded ones. P. serotina differently affected the heathland vegetation. In particular, the cover of C. vulgaris and other typical heathland species such as Cytisus scoparius sharply decreased at P. serotina cover increasing. On the contrary, positive or no effect of P. serotina cover was found on M. arundinacea. Our results showed that shaded conditions created by the alien tree disfavored light demanding C. vulgaris and C. scoparius, enabling fast grower M. arundinacea to outcompete and replace them. This study emphasizes the urgency to develop management strategies to effectively control P. serotina spread in the area and to restore typical heathland species.

The effect of fermentation on the physicochemical (pH, titratable acidity, total soluble solids, color parameters, ethanol concentration), antioxidant (antioxidant activity (AA), total phenolic com...

Bark is a complex multifunctional structure of woody plants that varies widely among species. Thick bark is a primary trait that can protect trees from heat generated in surface fires. Outer bark on species that allocate resources to thick bark also tends to be rugose, with bark being thickest at the ridges and thinnest in the furrows. Tree diameter or wood diameter is often used as a predictor for bark thickness but little attention has been made on other factors that might affect bark development and allocation. Here we test multiple mixed effect models to evaluate additional factors (height growth rate, measure height) that correlate with bark allocation and present a method to quantify bark rugosity. We focused on seven co-occurring native tree species in the Tallahatchie Experimental Forest in north Mississippi. Approximately ten saplings of Carya tomentosa, Nyssa sylvatica, Prunus serotina, Pinus echinata, Pinus taeda, Quercus marilandica, and Quercus falcata were destructively sampled for stem analyses. Outer bark thickness (OBT) ranged from 0.01 to 0.77 cm with the thickest maximum outer bark occurring on P. taeda (0.77 cm) and the thinnest maximum outer bark occurring on P. serotina (0.17 cm). Our outer bark allocation models suggest that some individuals with rapid height growth allocate less to outer bark in C. tomentosa, N. sylvatica, P. taeda, and P. serotina, but not for P. echinata or either oak species. All species except for C. tomentosa and N. sylvatica showed evidence for outer bark taper, allocating more outer bark at the base of the bole. Inner bark also was tapered in Carya and the oaks. Bark rugosity varied among species from 0.00 (very smooth) to 0.17 (very rugose) with P. Serotina and C. tomentosa having the smoothest bark. OBT was the best fixed effect for all species. Aside from providing data for several important yet understudied species, our rugosity measures offer promise for incorporating into fluid dynamics fire behavior models.

Key Message The best yields in the extraction of hydroxycinnamic acids, flavanols and total phenolics from black cherry flowers were obtained with 40% ethanol and the poorest with water. A 30% higher content of total phenolics was obtained from leaves by using methanol rather than water. Context Black cherry (Prunus serotina Erhr.) is widespread in Europe. Because it is an invasive species, most research has been aimed at trying to find a method to remove this shrub from forests. The incentive for the development of the research was that we were trying to find a possible folk use of black cherry leaves and flowers. Aims The aim of this work was to study the detailed phenolic profile of extracts of P. serotina leaves and flowers. Methods Three types of extracts of P. serotina were made. The extracts were analysed for differences in phenolics content based on different extraction methods. HPLC-MSn was used to identify the phenolic compounds, and HPLC–DAD was used for their quantification. Results The results show that different extraction methods result in differences in the amount of extractables. Flavanols are the main group of identified compounds in both leaves and flowers. A larger extraction efficiency leads to a higher amount of phenolics in the flowers compared to leaves (49.8 vs. 36.5 g/kg dry weight). No difference was detected in the amount of phenolics between water extracts of leaves and flowers. Each extract can be considered rich in phenolics. Conclusion This work shows that leaves and flowers of P. serotina are a rich source of phenolic compounds. We provide interesting results that might be of interest in the industrial valuation of several compounds.

Objective: To determine the content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant capacity of the banana passionfruit (Passiflora mollissima) and black cherry (Prunus serotina). Materials and methods: An analytical, experimental, longitudinal and prospective study. The black cherries and banana passionfruits were collected in the Cusco, Moquegua and Arequipa regions. The content of phenols and flavonoids weredetermined using the Folin–Ciocalteu reagent and aluminum chloride method, respectively. The antioxidant activity was evaluated using the ferric reducing ability of plasma (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) techniques. Albino rats classified into a negative control group, a positive control group and four experimental groups were used to study the hepatoprotective effect of the fruits. Results: Banana passionfruits from the Cusco region (Quechua) showed the highest concentration of total phenols (584.94 ± 134.62 mg GAE/100 g) and flavonoids (445.62 ± 7.94 mg QE/100 g). Concerning the DPPH radical, the IC50 value of banana passionfruits from the Arequipa region (Yunga) was found to be 0.41 ± 0.01 mg/mL. Banana passionfruitsfrom the Cusco region (Quechua) showed the highest FRAP value (8.38 ± 0.32 mmol Fe2+/100 g). Black cherries from the Arequipa region (Yunga) had the highest concentration of total phenols (181.81 ± 34.1 mg GAE/100 g) and flavonoids (205.18 ± 77.8 mg QE/100 g). They also showed a significant antioxidant activity regarding the DPPH (2.1 ± 0.01 mg/mL), whilethe antioxidant capacity of black cherries from the Cusco region (Quechua), which was evaluated with the FRAP method, achieved a value of 1.59 ± 0.2 mmol Fe2+/100 g. The observed differences were statistically significant. Banana passionfruits showed a better hepatoprotective effect than black cherries.Conclusions: Banana passionfruits from the Cusco region (Quechua) are an important source of antioxidant compounds and show a high antioxidant capacity (FRAP), while black cherries from the Arequipa region (Yunga) have a high content of antioxidant compounds and a higher antioxidant capacity (DPPH). Objetivo: Determinar el contenido de compuestos bioactivos y la capacidad antioxidante de los frutos tumbo (Passiflora mollissima) y cerezo (Prunus serotina). Materiales y métodos: Estudio analítico, experimental, longitudinal y prospectivo. Los frutos cerezo y tumbo se recolectaron en las regiones de Cusco, Moquegua y Arequipa. La técnica de Folin-Ciocalteu fue empleada para determinar el contenido de fenoles, y el cloruro de aluminio se utilizó para calcular los flavonoides. La actividad antioxidante se evaluó mediante las técnicas Ferric Reducing Ability of Plasma (FRAP), 2,2-difenil-picril-hidrazil (DPPH) y sustancias reactivas al ácido tiobarbitúrico (TBARS). Para estudiar el efecto hepatoprotector de las frutas, utilizamos ratas albinas que se clasificaron en un grupo control negativo, un grupo control positivo y cuatro grupos experimentales. Resultados: La mayor concentración de fenoles totales y flavonoides se encontró en el tumbo de la región Cusco (Quechua) (fenoles totales: 584,94 ± 134,62 mg EAG / 100 g y flavonoides :445,62 ± 7,94 mg EQ / 100 g). Para el radical DPPH, el valor IC50 del tumbo de la región Arequipa (Yunga) fue 0,41 ± 0,01 mg / mL. El tumbo de la región Cusco (Quechua) mostró el valor FRAP más alto (8,38 ± 0,32 mmol Fe2 + / 100 g). El cerezo de la región de Arequipa (Yunga) presentó la mayor concentración de fenoles totales (181,81 ± 34,1 mg EAG / 100 g) y flavonoides (205,18 ± 77,8 mg EQ / 100 g). El cerezo de Arequipa (Yunga) mostró una actividad antioxidante significativa al DPPH (2,1 ± 0,01 mg / mL), mientras que la capacidad antioxidante del cerezo de la región Cusco (Quechua), evaluada con la técnica FRAP, alcanzó un valor de 1,59 ± 0,2 mmol Fe2+/100 g. Las diferencias observadas fueron estadísticamente significativas. El tumbo mostró un mejor efecto hepatoprotector que el cerezo. Conclusiones: El tumbo de la región Cusco (Quechua) es una fuente importante de compuestos antioxidantes y muestra una elevada capacidad antioxidante (FRAP), mientras que el cerezo de la región Arequipa (Yunga) tiene un alto contenido de compuestos antioxidantes y una mayor capacidad antioxidante (DPPH).

We investigated fungal communities colonising black cherry stumps. We tested the hypothesis that black cherry stumps of greater diameter should be characterised by more diverse fungal communities than stumps of smaller diameter. The material for analyses came from Podanin Forest District. DNA was extracted using a Plant Genomic DNA purification kit. The results were subjected to bioinformatic analysis and statistical analysis. The OTU sequences were compared using the BLAST algorithm with reference sequences from the UNITE database. In total, 8192 raw sequences were obtained from samples of black cherry stumps applying the Illumina sequencing technique. The results of the statistical analysis indicate a trend towards increased diversity in bigger black cherry stumps. The dominant share of fungi associated with wood decomposition indicates the progressing process of decomposition in stumps. Identification of the role and functions of the individual components of fungal communities colonising stumps may provide insight into the overall ecology of these organisms and provide a basis for improved plant protection, with a view to limiting the occurrence of black cherries in the future in undesirable locations outside their natural range.

Nitrogen deposition in the northeastern US changed N availability in the latter part of the twentieth century, with potential legacy effects. However, long-term N cycle measurements are scarce. N isotopes in tree rings have been used as an indicator of N availability through time, but there is little verification of whether species differ in the strength of this signal. Using long-term records at the Fernow Experimental Forest in West Virginia, we examined the relationship between soil conditions, including net nitrification rates, and wood δ15N in 2014, and tested the strength of correlation between tree ring δ15N of four species and stream water NO3− loss from 1971 to 2000. Higher soil NO3− was weakly associated with higher wood δ15N across species, and higher soil net nitrification rates were associated with higher δ15N for Quercus rubra only. The δ15N of Liriodendron tulipifera and Q. rubra, but neither Fagus grandifolia nor Prunus serotina, was correlated with stream water NO3−. L. tulipifera tree ring δ15N had a stronger association with stream water NO3− than Q. rubra. Overall, we found only limited evidence of a relationship between soil N cycling and tree ring δ15N, with a strong correlation between the wood δ15N and NO3− leaching loss through time for one of four species. Tree species differ in their ability to preserve legacies of N cycling in tree ring δ15N, and given the weak relationships between contemporary wood δ15N and soil N cycle measurements, caution is warranted when using wood δ15N to infer changes in the N cycle.

In accordance with the European regulation on Invasive Alien Species (IAS), the black cherry tree (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) has recently been indicated as one of the 96 species proposed for t...

Group selection has been proposed as a complementary system to conventional, uneven-aged management in temperate hardwoods (i.e. single-tree selection) to counteract declines in overstory diversity and growing importance of shade-tolerant species caused largely by past management activities. Mixed results from experimental group selection harvests in eastern North America and growing interest in retention forestry have led some scientists and managers to apply ideas from retention forestry into group selection systems. The Yellow Birch Legacy-Tree Project is a group selection experiment established in 2003, which incorporates single, dominant/co-dominant yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis Britt.) legacy-trees into the centers of harvested canopy gaps in a northern hardwoods forest in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Group selection openings (n = 49) in three size classes based upon radii—small (11 m, n = 16), medium (16.5 m, n = 17), and large (22 m, n = 16)—were surveyed alongside single-tree selection reference sites (n = 20) 15 years post-harvest. Our goals were to (1) examine long-term trends in seedling and sapling abundance and diversity, (2) evaluate the initial and contemporary effects of gap size on regeneration, and (3) assess the overall efficacy of group-selection with legacy-tree retention in regenerating mid-tolerant and intolerant species, especially yellow birch. At 15 years post-harvest, we found that shade-tolerant sugar maple (Acer saccharum Marsh.) dominated regeneration layers across all treatments, but we observed modest increases in seedling and sapling diversity within openings that may alter long-term canopy composition over several cutting cycles. We found that gains in diversity and evenness in canopy gaps persisted through time and that large gaps (22 m radius) had the most species-rich and diverse regeneration compared to reference sites. Canopy gaps contained significantly higher densities of shade-intolerant and mid-tolerant seedlings and saplings compared to reference sites, namely red maple (Acer rubrum L.), black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), and yellow birch; however, most diversity occurred in shorter height classes. Nevertheless, legacy retention within group selection systems holds promise for maintaining ecological memory and structural complexity through time, but further treatments such as scarification may be necessary to shift compositional trajectories in favor of shade-intolerant and mid-tolerant species.

Experiments testing multiple factors that affect the rate of invasions in forests are scarce. We aimed to assess how the biomass of invasive Prunusserotina changed over eight years and how this change was affected by light availability, tree stand growth, and propagule pressure. The study was conducted in Siemianice Experimental Forest (W Poland), a common garden forest experiment with 14 tree species. We investigated aboveground biomass and density of P.serotina within 53 experimental plots with initial measurements in 2005 and repeated in 2013. We also measured light availability and distance from seed sources. We used generalized additive models to assess the impact of particular predictors on P.serotina biomass in 2013 and its relative change over eight years. The relative biomass increments of P.serotina ranged from 0 to 22,000-fold. The success of P.serotina, expressed as aboveground biomass and biomass increment, varied among different tree species stands, but was greater under conifers. Total biomass of P.serotina depended on light and propagule availability while biomass increment depended on the change in tree stand biomass, a metric corresponding to tree stand maturation. Our study quantified the range of invasion intensity, expressed as biomass increment, in a forest common garden experiment with 14 tree species. Canopy cover was the most important variable to reduce susceptibility to invasion by P.serotina. Even a modest decrease of overstory biomass, e.g. caused by dieback of coniferous species, may be risky in areas with high propagule pressure from invasive tree species. Thus, P.serotina control may include maintaining high canopy closure and supporting natural regeneration of tree species with high leaf area index, which shade the understory.

Invasive plant species suppress native trees through a variety of mechanisms. A non-native shrub, Berberis thunbergii, has been shown to depress native tree seedling densities in eastern North American deciduous forests, but the mechanisms remain unclear. We attempted to identify the mechanisms leading to decreased native tree seedling densities in Berberis-invaded understories by experimentally measuring survivorship and growth of three common eastern deciduous tree seedlings, Prunus serotina, Quercus alba, and Q. velutina. First, we reared native tree seedlings in soil samples extracted from Berberis-invaded and control forest plots to determine if early growth and survival varied between medias. Then, we introduced surviving seedlings into three classes of in situ field subplots: control (outside Berberis invasion), invaded (Berberis present), and managed subplots where Berberis removal occurred following non-chemical best practice guidelines. Slight decrease of early-stage seedling survivorship and growth occurred in extracted soils from invaded plots. Seedling survival differed between field subplots, with seedlings either showing no differences between invaded subplots (Q. alba) or faring better (P. serotina and Q. velutina) compared to managed subplots. Invaded subplots were about 1.18–1.30 °C cooler with 583–709 lumens m−2 less light exposure compared to control or managed subplots. Additionally, managed and invaded subplots had increased moisture levels (12.0–14.9%) compared to control subplots. Seedling compromise was due to a legacy effect from Berberis disruption via soil sample extraction and/or management. Our findings contrast with other studies that show dense, invasive species outcompeting native tree seedlings and unsuccessful native restoration in Berberis stands.

Close inspection of black cherry (Prunus serotina), sugar maple (Acer saccharum), and northern red oak (Quercus rubra) lumber, before and after kiln drying, revealed the factors that can affect the quality of kiln-dried lumber from small-diameter logs. Species-specific kiln drying schedules, with temperature and humidity modifications formulated by a kiln drying expert, were employed in this study to determine whether alternate drying protocols could improve the drying outcomes. Comparing lumber grades of individual boards before and after drying indicated that overall grade loss in the kiln was common but was affected by both species and the applied drying schedule. Most lumber defects were attributed to stresses that occurred during the drying process and were more prevalent in the post-drying inspection, with bow defects being the exception. The modified kiln schedules improved the drying defect outcomes for the black cherry and red oak compared with the conventional schedules for these species. For the sugar maple, the schedule-based improvement was less consistent. For the black cherry and red oak, the percentage of boards whose grade decreased using conventional kiln protocols was approximately 10% lower than that of the lumber that was dried using the modified kiln protocols. Sugar maple had a smaller change of 7%.

Clines in genetic variation along climate gradients documented for many species in temperate and boreal forests illustrate adaptation of forest tree populations to climate. Adaptation tends to involve balancing selection between high growth rates and stress resistance: a trade-off in resource allocation between stress tolerance and competitive ability that determines fundamental life history strategies. The growth-cold tolerance trade-off, in particular, has been well documented for many conifers but evidence in broadleaf deciduous species is scarce. Using populations’ mean total tree height and provenance climate from range-wide provenance tests established in the USA between 1960 and 1975, we evaluate and model growth clines along climatic gradients and assess evidence of the growth rate-cold tolerance trade-off in five eastern North America broadleaf deciduous species: Acer rubrum (red maple), Betula alleghaniensis (yellow birch), Juglans nigra (black walnut), Prunus serotina (black cherry), and Quercus rubra (northern red oak). Number of populations and provenance tests in this study varies by species, ranging from 31 to70 and 4 to 8, respectively. For each species, observations were separated into two groups, those where the population was moved to a test site climate milder than at its origin, and those where the population was moved to a colder test site climate. Clines of growth potential along climate gradients were evaluated using the group of observations in which the populations had been transferred to a milder test climate, while cold-limited responses were evaluated using the observations in the group of populations moved to colder test climate. Results showed steep clines in association with temperature variables for black walnut and black cherry and less pronounced clines for red maple. Population differentiation in northern red oak and yellow birch was weak. Growth potential clines had slopes opposite to the cold-limited growth responses, providing strong evidence for the growth-cold tolerance trade-off in broadleaf deciduous species. The results show that genetic growth responses to climate will differ considerably among species and thereby demand different management strategies to mitigate climate change impacts.

One of the most important sources of invasiveness is species’ functional traits and their variability. However there are still few studies on invasive tree species traits conducted along resource gradients that allow for a comparison of acquisitive and conservative strategies. We aimed to assess the differences in trait variation among native alien conservative and alien acquisitive tree species along resource availability gradients (soil fertility and light availability) and to assess the traits variability of the species studied along resources availability gradients. Our study compared invasive tree species in Europe (Prunusserotina Ehrh. Quercusrubra L. and Robiniapseudoacacia L.) with their native competitors (Acerpseudoplatanus L. A.platanoides L. Quercuspetraea (Matt.) Liebl. and Fagussylvatica L.). The study was conducted on 1329 seedlings and saplings collected in a system of 372 study plots in W Poland. For each individual we assessed leaf stem and root mass ratios total biomass leaf area ratio specific leaf area and projected leaf area. Two invasive species (P.serotina and R.pseudoacacia) represented a more acquisitive strategy than native species – along litter pH and light availability gradients these species had higher leaf mass fraction specific leaf area and leaf area ratio. In contrast Q.rubra had the highest total biomass and root mass fraction. Alien species usually had higher coefficients of variation of studied traits. This suggests that relatively high projected leaf area as a way of filling space and outcompeting native species may be reached in two ways – biomass allocation to leaves and control of leaf morphology or by overall growth rate. High variability of invasive species traits also suggests randomness in seedling survival which similarly to the neutral theory of invasion highlights the necessity of including randomness in modelling biological invasions.

– Prunus serotina is a specie that grows wild or under cultivated conditions in several regions of America, and which has attracted considerable attention as a potential source of antioxidants. The study aimed to evaluate the concentration changes in compounds that contribute to the antioxidant capacity in capulín (Prunus serotina) fruits during the ripening process in order to define the time when the maximum concentration is reached. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated by spectroscopic methods. A completely randomized simple factor design was used for the statistical analysis. It was found that the content of total phenols and flavonoids decreased significantly at S3 (93 DAA) stage of ripening. Total anthocyanins increased significantly to 1.4 . The antioxidant capacity of the fruits had a maximum value of 63.7 at S3 stage of ripening (93 DAA). The results indicated that antioxidant capacity of the fruits is higher before reaching the characteristic purplish coloration, which is an indicator for consumption.

In temperate European forests invaded by Prunus serotina Ehrh. (black cherry), a reduction in the spontaneous regeneration capacity of Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) is observed. It could be caused by various factors, including allelopathic properties of this invasive plant. In this study the phytotoxic effect of P. serotina volatile compounds on P. sylvestris and the seasonal variation in this effect were assessed. Simple assays showed that volatiles emitted from P. serotina leaves significantly inhibited root growth of P. sylvestris seedlings. Their negative effect on stem growth was much weaker. The strongest phytotoxic effect on Scots pine seedlings was caused by the volatiles emitted from the youngest black cherry leaves. In fresh foliage of P. serotina, nineteen volatile organic compounds were identified by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The dominant compound was benzaldehyde. On the basis of tests of linalool alone, it was found that this monoterpene present in the volatile fraction has a strong allelopathic potential and inhibits germination, root elongation and shoot elongation of pine seedlings. The results of our research suggest that volatile compounds from P. serotina leaves could limited survival of P. sylvestris individuals in the seedling phase.

The forest understory is rich in fruit-bearing trees and shrubs. They include both native species and invasive alien plant species (IAPS). One of the most spreading IAPS is black cherry (Prunus serotina E.). Problems with the invasiveness of P. serotina is well known in many European countries. However, there are very few studies related to this IAPS. This article aims to fill the gap in research on the bioactive compounds of black cherry fruits and thus to start a discussion on the potential use of this species on an industrial or semi-industrial scale, which may lead to the reduction of this species presence in forests. Fruits were collected in a forest of Northern Poland. Contents of sugars, phenolic compounds as well as cyanogenic glycosides were determined. Pphenolic compounds and cyanogenic glycoside were assayed using HPLC-DAD coupled with MSn. Sugars and organic acids were determined with the use of HPLC-DAD. Fruits of P. serotina can be considered as rich in anthocyanins, even at a lower level of total phenolics than in their plantation-grown couterparts, fruits of black cherry are still a good source of dietary phenolics of natural, forest-grown origin. When stones are not crushed during processing the level of GCC is within a safe, admissible range.

The Capulin almond is a seed of the Prunus serotina (var. capuli) that belongs to the Rosaceae family. In this study, the valorization of the Capulin almond was performed by extracting antioxidants contained in the shell, paste, and oil (extracted by manual cold pressing process) of Prunus serotina treated with methanol, ethanol, acetone, and acidified water (pH 4) in a ratio of 1:5 (w/v). Total phenols were performed using the Folin-Ciocalteu method and expressed as gallic acid equivalents (GAE), antioxidant activity was determined by ABTS and DPPH methods and expressed as Trolox equivalents (TE). Finally, the total flavonoids were determined using a catechin calibration curve and reported as catechin equivalents (CE). The highest extraction of total phenols in shell was obtained with methanol (1.65 mg GAE/g sample) and the lowest using acidified water (0.97 mg GAE/g sample). However, extraction with acidified water favored this process in the paste (1.42 mg GAE/g sample), while the use of solvents did not influence it significantly (0.72 to 0.79 mg GAE/g sample). Regarding the total flavonoids, the values for the shell, paste, and oil were of 0.37, 0.78, and 0.34 mg CE/g sample, respectively, while that corresponding to the antioxidant activity evaluated with ABTS and DPPH were of 1527.78, 1229.17, 18894.44 μM TE/g, and, 568.45, 562.5 and 4369.05 mM TE/g sample, respectively. Finally, our results suggest that by-products such as the shell, paste, and oil obtained from Prunus serotina (var. capuli) represent a potential alternative for the recovery of bioactive compounds with antioxidant activity such as phenolic compounds and flavonoids.