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In this study, lupine seed (Lu-SP) and pumpkin seed shells (PSSP) biomasses were used to create alternative and effective adsorbents. Methylene blue (MB) dye was removed from wastewater using the as-prepared adsorbents at variables solution pH 2.0 –11.0, contact period (0–180 min), and adsorbent mass (0.2–2.0 g/L). The solution pH had a synergistic effect on the improved removal of MB and the optimal adsorption removal for both adsorbents occurred at pH 8.0 and 120 min. The adsorption isotherm modelling results showed a good fit with the Langmuir model, with a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 48.98 and 77.48 mg/g for PSSP and Lu-SP, respectively. Similarly, the pseudo-first-order (PFO) model is regarded as the best-fit kinetic model for both adsorbents and suggests the predominance of physisorption via interfacial diffusion. Mechanistic investigation of the present system suggests that both intraparticle diffusion and surface sorption mechanisms control the adsorption rate. Notably, the Lu-SP with a lower surface area (54.013 m2/g) outperformed the PSSP (235.992 m2/g) in terms of adsorption capacity under varying pH. Therefore, in addition to electrostatic interaction, adsorption into the micropores via volume filling is considered one of the adsorption mechanisms. This study, therefore, revealed that the PSSP and Lu-SP may be very helpful for removing cationic MB dye from contaminated wastewater.

Seed variety purity is the main indicator of seed quality, which affects crop yield and product quality. In the present study, a new method for the identification of pine nut varieties based on hyperspectral imaging and convolutional neural networks LeNet-5 was established so as to avoid the hybridization of different varieties of pine nuts, improve the identification efficiency and reduce the cost of identification. Images of 128 wavelengths in the 370–1042 nm range were acquired by hyperspectral imaging. The spectrum and image of each seed were obtained by means of black-and-white correction and region segmentation of the original image. Twenty characteristic wavelengths were extracted from the first three principal components (PCs) of principal component analysis (PCA). A support vector machine (SVM) spectral recognition model based on full wavelengths and characteristic wavelengths was established. For different species of pine seeds, the classification accuracies of the prediction set in the aforementioned datasets were 97.7 and 93.1%, respectively. The seed images of 20 characteristic wavelengths were input into LeNet-5 to improve the network structure and the number of convolution channels. The improved LeNet-5 performed better with over 99% accuracy. Such results show that the convolutional neural network is of considerable significance for fast and nondestructive identification of pine seed varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is currently an emerging problem of protein malnutrition in Ethiopia. This food formulation was done to increase the accessibility of nutrient-rich food products for the consumers. Lupine is a legume crop, which is an excellent source of protein. This study aimed to investigate the effect of tef, lupine varieties and blending ratio on the chemical composition of injera and sensory acceptability of Ethiopians staple food. The effect of blending ratio and lupine varieties (Australian sweet lupine and Dibettered lupine seed) were studied. The formulations were generated by using mixture design software. Lupine variety and blending proportion had significant (P

There is currently an emerging problem of protein malnutrition in Ethiopia. This food formulation was done to increase the accessibility of nutrient-rich food products for the consumers. Lupine is a legume crop, which is an excellent source of protein. This study aimed to investigate the effect of tef, lupine varieties and blending ratio on the chemical composition of injera and sensory acceptability of Ethiopians staple food. The effect of blending ratio and lupine varieties (Australian sweet lupine and Dibettered lupine seed) were studied. The formulations were generated by using mixture design software. Lupine variety and blending proportion had significant (P < 0.05) effect on proximate, mineral, anti-nutritional compositions and sensory acceptability of blended injera. The nutritional compositions of formulated injera ranged from 60.37 to 66.97%, 1.76 to 2.05 %, 11.78 to 18.84 %, 2.53 to 4.01 %, 2.83 to 3.16%, 72.55 to 81.32% and 393.19 to 400.91 kcal/100 g for moisture content, total ash, crude protein, crude fat, crude fiber, utilizable carbohydrate and gross energy, respectively. The result showed that the crude protein content highly increased as the proportion of lupines increased. Crude protein and crude fat contents were higher for injera blended with dibettered lupine seed variety while crude fiber content was higher for those blended with Australian sweet lupine variety because of the raw material. Mineral content of composite injeras varied from 12.26 to 14.98 mg/100 g, 2.39 to 2.83 mg/100 g, and 145.31 to 163.96 mg/100 g for iron, zinc and calcium contents, respectively. All three mineral contents were higher in tef blended with dibettered lupine seed variety. The Tannin and phytic acid contents ranged from 9.59 to 11.95 mg/100 g and 98.91 to 120.64 mg/100 g, respectively. Therefore, this study showed significant increment in protein content of injera and provides insights for use of Lupine-tef flour mixture at home and industry level for enriched injera. As the sensory acceptability scores data indicated for both lupine varieties blended with tef for the production of injeras of up to 15% lupines almost all sensory attributes showed higher scores without significantly different among them but after 15% lupine addition there were observed drop of the sensory acceptability scores in a 7 point hedonic scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of whole seeds of white lupine and different binder types in complete pelleted diets on selected haematological and plasma biochemical indicators of growing dwarf rabbits. The individual litters of Dwarf Lop rabbit kits were randomised after birth into control (n = 12) and experimental (E) groups. The young rabbits of the E group (n = 24) received an experimental pre-weaning diet containing a 25% share of white lupine seeds. At the time of weaning, the live weights of eight-week-old rabbits in the control group and E group were 727 g and 743 g, respectively. The weaned rabbits of the E group were further equally divided into two post-weaning experimental dietary groups (M = 12; G = 12); these diets contained a 20% share of white lupine seeds each and their composition only differed in the type of the binder (molasses or glycerol component). The rabbits of the control group received a commercial pet rabbit diet with no white lupine seeds during the entire experimental period. At the age of eight weeks, the diet showed a significant effect on the level of albumin (P < 0.05), A/G ratio (P < 0.05) and ALP activity (P < 0.01) in plasma of dwarf rabbit kits. Significant effects of diet were found in 15-week old rabbits in relation to the plasma level of albumin (P < 0.05), Ca (P < 0.05), A/G ratio (P < 0.05) and ALT activity (P < 0.01). The dietary inclusion of white lupine seeds resulted in beneficial health effects on certain blood indicators of rabbits, and their use in the proportion of 25% in the pre-weaning diet and 20% in the post-weaning diet can be recommended as a suitable feed additive for dwarf rabbits. The use of crude glycerol as binder in the experimental diet had no adverse effect on the blood indicators of the growing rabbits and thus it can be recommended for the manufacture of feed pellets intended for dwarf rabbits.

This study assesses the effects of using lupine seeds from low-alkaloid varieties, as alternative protein source for laying hens feeding related the bioproduction performances and egg quality. A total number of 160 Tetra-SL LL commercial layers of 30 weeks of age were distributed in a randomized complete block design, of 4 treatments and 5 replicates of 8 layers per replica (n = 40 layers/treatment). Treatments consisted of 4 input levels (0, 15, 20 and 25% -% of the combined fodder composition) of white lupine seeds (cv. Amiga) for laying hens feeding. The results achieved suggest that white lupine modern varieties seeds can be included into laying hens' diet in a ratio up to 20% of the combined fodder composition, as an efficient substitute for soybean meal proteins, without affecting the egg intensity and the quality of the eggs, the feed intake, feeding efficiency, it can decrease feed costs related to egg yield up to 4.2%. The input of lupine in laying hens feeding in a ratio up to 25% significantly reduces laying intensity, egg weight, egg shell mineral thickness and weight, and increases feed conversion ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract We investigated the long-term impact of the largest Russian cement plant on mesopodzol sandy soils and Scots pine stands. We determined the distributions of the total and available pools of Ca, Mg, K, Na, Mn, Fe, Zn, Ni, Cu, Pb and Cd in the soil profile to a depth of 60 cm (illuvial horizon) as well as the accumulation patterns of these elements in the vegetative and generative organs of Scots pine trees. High Ca accumulation in the impact zone soils was a result of CaO emissions by a cement plant. Also, CaO became the main cause of soil profile alkalization due to neutralization of soil acids and formation of calcium hydroxide or carbonates. Alkalization immobilized substantial amounts of Fe, Mn, Zn and Ni in the soil, reducing their availability. The most prominent effect of long-term cement production was a prominent Mn deficiency in vegetative and generative Scots pine organs due to the exhaustion of the available Mn pool in the illuvial horizon. The miniaturization of cones, a decrease in seed yield and a reduction in seed germinability were observed in the emission impact zones. Pretreatment of Mn-deficient seeds with manganese eliminated Mn deficiency but did not increase seed germination. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Emissions of Ca compounds by the cement plant cause strong soil alkalization. • Substantial amounts of elements are immobilized in the soil due to its alkalization. • Heavy metal toxicity depends on its available pool rather than total pool in the soil. • The decrease of available Mn in the B-horizon leads to Mn deficiency in pine organs. • Cement dust impact lead to cone miniaturization, reduced seed yield and germinability. Cement plant emissions do not increase heavy metal toxicity for Scots pine trees due to soil alkalization but greatly affect the bioavailability of manganese for plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Matsucoccus macrocicatrices Richards (Hemiptera: Matsucoccidae) is the only species within this genus that feeds and reproduces on eastern white pine ( Pinus strobus L.), and at the time of its description, was not observed or known to cause serious damage. With eastern white pine dieback occurring extensively throughout the Appalachian Mountains, researchers are now in search of the contributors to this dieback phenomenon. Since its recent discovery (2007) far outside its historical range, M. macrocicatrices , and cankers associated with Caliciopsis pinea Peck, are regularly present on symptomatic trees throughout the range of eastern white pine. Little is known about the relationship between M. macrocicatrices and the fungal cankers commonly found on eastern white pines expressing dieback symptoms. For this study, we evaluated the relationships between both focal organisms and the extent of dieback symptoms on tree seedlings to identify contributing factors affecting symptomatic trees. We assessed the insect-pathogen complex on 270 eastern white pine seedlings from nine states that include the Appalachian Mountain range. There were positive correlations between M. macrocicatrices and seedling dieback, cankers and seedling dieback, and M. macrocicatrices and cankers in both the southern and northern portions of the Appalachians. About 95% of the observed M. macrocicatrices cysts and shells were associated with cankers, especially C. pinea -dominated cankers, which were exceptionally abundant on severely affected seedlings. The most prevalent fungi isolated from cankers without apparent fruiting bodies of C. pinea were in the genus Phaeomoniella . Trials were conducted to test the pathogenicity of C. pinea and other fungal isolates. Of the 15 fungal species tested, C. pinea was the only pathogenic species that formed girdling cankers on eastern white pine seedlings. We postulate that there is a facultative relationship between M. macrocicatrices and C. pinea , forming an insect-pathogen complex that is contributing to eastern white pine dieback and significantly impacting its regeneration dynamics in North America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of whole seeds of white lupine and different binder types in complete pelleted diets on selected haematological and plasma biochemical indicators of growing dwarf rabbits. The individual litters of Dwarf Lop rabbit kits were randomised after birth into control (n = 12) and experimental (E) groups. The young rabbits of the E group (n = 24) received an experimental pre-weaning diet containing a 25% share of white lupine seeds. At the time of weaning, the live weights of eight-week-old rabbits in the control group and E group were 727 g and 743 g, respectively. The weaned rabbits of the E group were further equally divided into two post-weaning experimental dietary groups (M = 12; G = 12); these diets contained a 20% share of white lupine seeds each and their composition only differed in the type of the binder (molasses or glycerol component). The rabbits of the control group received a commercial pet rabbit diet with no white lupine seeds during the entire experimental period. At the age of eight weeks, the diet showed a significant effect on the level of albumin (P < 0.05), A/G ratio (P < 0.05) and ALP activity (P < 0.01) in plasma of dwarf rabbit kits. Significant effects of diet were found in 15-week old rabbits in relation to the plasma level of albumin (P < 0.05), Ca (P < 0.05), A/G ratio (P < 0.05) and ALT activity (P < 0.01). The dietary inclusion of white lupine seeds resulted in beneficial health effects on certain blood indicators of rabbits, and their use in the proportion of 25% in the pre-weaning diet and 20% in the post-weaning diet can be recommended as a suitable feed additive for dwarf rabbits. The use of crude glycerol as binder in the experimental diet had no adverse effect on the blood indicators of the growing rabbits and thus it can be recommended for the manufacture of feed pellets intended for dwarf rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germination studies at the community level are crucial for understanding and predicting changes in species distribution patterns, particularly in endangered plant communities. We investigated the effects of dry (11–25% relative humidity) and freezing (–18°C) storage conditions, phylogeny and plant life-history traits (life-form, life-span, microhabitat and seed dispersal mode) on seed germination percentage (GP) and time to reach 50% germination (T50) of 53 species native to pine rocklands in South Florida, USA, a globally critically imperiled ecosystem. Most species we studied (68%) withstood dry and freezing storage conditions and thus ex situ seed banking can assist their long-term conservation. Bayesian mixed effect models revealed that there was a significant phylogenetic signal in GP and T50 across species. Life-history covariates did not explain significant additional variation in GP in models controlling for the phylogenetic relationships among species. T50 differed among species with contrasting dispersal modes, with animal-dispersed seeds exhibiting more delayed germination than wind-dispersed or unassisted seeds. Differential germination responses across species with different seed dispersal modes have implications for potential shifts in species composition under disturbance and climate change. Thus, knowledge of species-relatedness and some life-history traits such as seed dispersal mode can significantly assist management decisions regarding seed storage and conservation of subtropical endangered plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of substitution of soybean meal (SBM) and sunflower meal (SFM) with a mixture of whole white lupine seeds (WLS) and rapeseed meal (RSM) in lactation and growing diets on the milk yield and composition of rabbit does, as well as on the performance of their litters. Two lactation diets and two growing diets having identical ratios of digestible protein to digestible energy were formulated. The first lactation diet (SSL) contained 13.0% SBM and 5.0% SFM as the main crude protein (CP) sources, whereas the second lactation diet (RLL) was based on 10.0% RSM and 14.0% WLS. The first growing diet (SSG) included 7.0% SBM as the main CP source, whereas the second growing diet (RLG) diet was based on 6.0% RSM and 4.0% WLS. A total of 32 crossbred rabbit does (Hyplus PS 19 strain) were divided into 2 experimental treatments (16 each) and were fed one of the two lactation diets. All does were in the fourth parturition cycle. The litters (PS Hyplus 19 × PS Hyplus 40) were standardized to 9 kits on the day of birth (Day 0). The litters were offered one of the two growing diets ad libitum from d 17 to d 33 (weaning) of age. At weaning, 10 litters/diet (a total of 90 animals of both sexes) were randomly chosen for the fattening period. Rabbits continued to be fed their respective growing diets ad libitum for 42 d. No significant differences were observed between treatments in terms of the body weight, feed intake or milk production of rabbit does during the entire lactation period. Interestingly, substituting the SSL diet with the RLL diet modified the fatty acid (FA) profile of milk fat; specifically, total n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids ( n -3PUFA) were significantly increased, thus tending to increase the total ratio of n -3PUFA to C20:4n-6 ( P  = 0.067) in the milk of does fed the RLL diet. The RLL diet increased milk content of alpha-linolenic acid ( P  = 0.037) and eicosapentaenoic acid ( P  = 0.015). The performance of fattening rabbits was not affected by dietary treatments. It could be concluded that substitution of SBM and SFM with a mixture of WLS and RSM increased the milk content of n -3PUFA and had no adverse effects on the performance or milk yield of rabbit does or on the performance, carcass traits or viability of their litters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understory vegetation plays a vital role in regulating soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) characteristics due to differences in plant functional traits. Different understory vegetation types have been reported following aerial seeding. While aerial seeding is common in areas with serious soil erosion, few studies have been conducted to investigate changes in soil C and N cycling as affected by understory vegetation in aerially seeded plantations. Here, we studied soil C and N characteristics under two naturally formed understory vegetation types (Dicranopteris and graminoid) in aerially seeded Pinus massoniana Lamb plantations. Across the two studied understory vegetation types, soil organic C was significantly correlated with all measured soil N variables, including total N, available N, microbial biomass N and water-soluble organic N, while microbial biomass C was correlated with all measured variables except soil organic C. Dicranopteris and graminoid differed in their effects on soil C and N process. Except water-soluble organic C, all the other C and N variables were higher in soils with graminoids. The higher levels of soil organic C, microbial biomass C, total N, available N, microbial biomass N and water-soluble organic N were consistent with the higher litter and root quality (C/N) of graminoid vegetation compared to Dicranopteris. Changes in soil C and N cycles might be impacted by understory vegetation types via differences in litter or root quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Post-fire shifts in species composition and growth are driven in part by alterations in resource availability. However, less is known about the extent to which differences in fire severity will affect leaf-level physiological responses in co-occurring species. Therefore, this study tested loblolly pine ( Pinus taeda L.) saplings’ and resprouting oaks’ ( Quercus stellata Wangenh. (post oak) and Q. marilandica Muenchh. (blackjack oak)) responses to various stresses following a catastrophic wildfire in 2011 that occurred in the Lost Pines region in Texas, USA. General plant responses (height, stem number, and plant density) and leaf-level stress indicators [gas exchange (photosynthesis ( A ), transpiration ( E ) and stomatal conductance ( g s ), pressure-volume parameters, and leaf biochemistry] were monitored along resource availability gradients (two burn severities and three soil types) in the summer of 2016. Nearly 5 years after the fire, there were 180% more pines in moderate severity transects than high severity transects. However, pines in high severity areas were similar in height to those growing in moderate severity areas. Pines consistently had low A , E , and g s rates when compared to co-occurring oaks . Pine osmotic potential at full turgor (Π FT ), turgor loss point (Π TLP ), and bulk modulus of elasticity (ε) were 33, 30, and 58% greater, respectively, than those of oaks. Loblolly pine leaf-level gas exchange and pressure-volume results suggest this species adopts a drought-avoidance strategy for survival. Low gas exchange rates in pine saplings may reflect greater stomatal control, which could reduce cavitation risks, or may have arisen from reduced access to water resources by saplings’ shallow roots. Gas exchange and pressure-volume parameters of the oaks reflect greater drought tolerance than pine, with post oak being the more tolerant of the two oak species. Leaf-level gas exchange and pressure-volume measurements were coordinated, and results suggest that post oak utilized osmotic adjustment to maintain gas exchange in the more exposed, high severity areas. Additionally, differences in foliar nutrient and phenolic contents between oaks and pines may reflect differences in their leaf-level gas exchange capabilities. Results suggest loblolly pine regeneration may be slower in high burn-severity areas, and that differences in physiological strategies to cope with water stress among the three species may shift stand composition to oak dominance in parts of this region following wildfire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazilian pine seeds ( Araucaria angustifolia ) flour and husk powder were used to develop edible films. The Brazilian pine seed flour was used as the film matrix and the husk powder was incorporated in order to add fibers and polyphenols with antioxidant capacity. Six formulations were developed using 5.0% Brazilian pine seed flour with 1.5% glycerol and adding 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0 and 2.5% of seed husk. The addition of pine husk increased the thickness, apparent porosity, water vapor permeability, TSP, antioxidant capacity, redness ( a * ) and yellowness ( b * ) color, Young’s modulus, and dietary fiber (mainly insoluble fiber). Also, the presence of husk powder decreased the elongation at break and lightness ( L * ). The pine seed husk films showed rougher surface and more porous matrix, visible in images. The FTIR (Fourier transform infrared) showed similar IR patterns from 600 to 4000 cm −1 for all films developed, with a slight decrease in the peaks intensities as husk content increased. The husk incorporation constitutes a good approach to provide films more resistant with antioxidant capacity. This study demonstrated that the Brazilian pine seed flour and husk are good alternative materials to develop edible films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Past research indicates that whitebark pine seeds are a critical food source for Threatened grizzly bears (Ursus arctos) in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE). In recent decades, whitebark pine forests have declined markedly due to pine beetle infestation, invasive blister rust, and landscape-level fires. To date, no study has reliably estimated the contribution of whitebark pine seeds to the diets of grizzlies through time. We used stable isotope ratios (expressed as δ13C, δ15N, and δ34S values) measured in grizzly bear hair and their major food sources to estimate the diets of grizzlies sampled in Cooke City Basin, Montana. We found that stable isotope mixing models that included different combinations of stable isotope values for bears and their foods generated similar proportional dietary contributions. Estimates generated by our top model suggest that whitebark pine seeds (35±10%) and other plant foods (56±10%) were more important than meat (9±8%) to grizzly bears sampled in the study area. Stable isotope values measured in bear hair collected elsewhere in the GYE and North America support our conclusions about plant-based foraging. We recommend that researchers consider model selection when estimating the diets of animals using stable isotope mixing models. We also urge researchers to use the new statistical framework described here to estimate the dietary responses of grizzlies to declines in whitebark pine seeds and other important food sources through time in the GYE (e.g., cutthroat trout), as such information could be useful in predicting how the population will adapt to future environmental change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brazilian pine seeds ( pinhão) are gluten-free products derived from Araucaria angustifolia. The commercialization of these seeds is essentially associated with a low level of industrialization. In this context, extrusion cooking is a potential alternative for preparing extrudates of pinhão as a food product, which can be easily digested and is ready for human consumption. Brazilian pine seeds flour was processed in a single-screw extruder following a central composite rotatable design. Three factors (independent parameters) were considered: moisture content (14 to 22 g/100 g), screw speed (100 to 250 rpm), and temperature in the 3rd heating zone (120 to 200 °C). The structural characteristics, in vitro digestibility and sensory acceptance were also evaluated. The resistant starch contents is almost reduced to zero after extrusion cooking while the slowly digestible starch content is increased. An increase in moisture positively affected the hardness and the luminosity ( L*), although it negatively affected the volumetric expansion index, crispness, and color parameters ( a*, b*, and Δ E). The experimental conditions of this study allowed the production of expanded extrudates from Brazilian pine seeds with good expansion, texture properties, and acceptance qualities. Thus, extrusion cooking was found to be a potential method for the industrialization of Brazilian pine seeds as a food product. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the primary purposes of pine cones is the protection and distant dispersal of pine seeds. Pine cones open and release their embedded seeds on dry and windy days for long-distance dispersal. In this study, how the pine seeds attach to/detach from the pine cone scale for efficient seed dispersal was experimentally investigated by using an X-ray micro-imaging technique. The cone and seeds adhere to each other in the presence of water, which could be explained by the surface tension and the contact angle hysteresis. Otherwise, without water, the waterproof seed wing surface permits rapid drying for detach and dispersion. On the other hand, during wildfires, pine cones open their seed racks and detach the pine seeds from pine cones for rapid seed dispersal. Due to these structural advantages, pine seeds are released safely and efficiently in normal conditions. These advantageous structures could be mimicked in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resprouter species are important for Mediterranean ecosystem resilience, but they are scarce in landscapes dominated by pioneer pines. Sound knowledge of resprouter seedling functional responses and establishment success across different pine habitats would help guide forest restoration efforts., Four broadleaved resprouter species, that is two shrubs - Arbutus unedo and Pistacia terebinthus - and two trees - Fraxinus ornus and Sorbus domestica - were planted under an experimentally created gradient of pine cover from totally open conditions to dense pine cover., Seedling survival and growth were monitored for 5 years. Phenological, physiological and morphological traits were measured to gain insight into the mechanisms of pine-seedling interaction., Interaction outcomes varied according to species identity, pine cover treatment and time. Light-to-moderate pine cover induced greater height growth and little or no effects on diameter and survival of the two trees. Competition was always detected for shrubs, whereas competition and facilitation were noted for trees. Within pine stands, negative interactions increased with tree cover, making dense stands the most limiting. Interactions were only detectable after 2-3 years, but increased in intensity with time., Functional responses to increasing pine cover indicated a seedling strategy of carbon gain optimization in the shade (increased specific leaf area and leaf area, decreased leaf dry matter content), particularly in tree species seedlings. Increasing pine cover induced higher water stress, but lower photochemical stress. The deciduous species had a longer vegetation season under pine canopies, whereas the evergreen shrub Arbutus unedo showed a lower polycyclism rate and flower production., Synthesis and applications. Moderate pine cover facilitates the establishment of deciduous trees at the expense of shrubs. This pattern can be attributed to a higher shade tolerance of the trees than the shrubs combined with a low tolerance of trees to photoinhibition. We therefore recommend using evergreen shrubs for the restoration of open land and high-specific-leaf-area deciduous trees for pine stand diversification. However, in dense forests, thinning is needed to increase light availability prior to seedling introduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a total of 35 tree nut samples of walnut, pecan, pine seed, hickory nut and torreya were obtained from 5 farm product markets in Hangzhou, China, and investigated for essential (Cr, Mn, Fe, Mo, Cu, Zn, Se and Sr) and toxic (Al, As, Cd and Pb) elements by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectroscopy. Mean elemental concentrations of different tree nuts were in the following ranges: Cr 0.26–0.78 mg kg–1, Mn 42.1–174 mg kg–1, Fe 33.7–43.9 mg kg–1, Mo 0.11–0.48 mg kg–1, Cu 10.3–17.6 mg kg–1, Zn 21.6–56.1 mg kg–1, Se 0.015–0.051 mg kg–1, Al 1.44–37.6 mg kg–1, As 0.0062–0.047 mg kg–1, Cd 0.016–0.18 mg kg–1and Pb 0.0069–0.029 mg kg–1. The estimated provisional tolerable daily intake of Al, As, Cd and Pb was much lower than the provisional tolerable daily intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of microwave irradiation on the synthesis of (1,2,3-thiadiazol-4-yl)- and (1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)imidazolidine-2,4-diones by cyclocondensation of the respective (1,2,3-thiadiazolyl)ureidoacetic acids were studied. The reactions were studied under the conditions of traditional heating at 140°C temperature and microwave irradiation at 170°C. It was shown that microwave heating of (1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)ureido derivatives of carboxylic acids led to the formation of imidazolidine ring, unlike in the case of (1,2,3-thiadiazol-4-yl)ureido derivatives, for which traditional heating was more effective. The derivatives of (1,2,3-thiadiazolyl)imidazolidine-2,4-diones and (1,2,3-thiadiazolyl)ureidoacetic acids were studied with regard to their effects on pine seed germination and seedling growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Chinese pine seed orchards are in a period of transition from first-generation to advanced-generations. How to effectively select populations for second-generation seed orchards and significantly increase genetic gain through rational deployment have become major issues. In this study, we examined open- and control-pollinated progeny of the first-generation Chinese pine seed orchards in Zhengning (Gansu Province, China) and Xixian (Shanxi Province, China) to address issues related to phenotypic selection for high volume growth, genetic diversity analysis and genetic distance-based phylogenetic analysis of the selections by simple sequence repeats (SSRs), and phylogenetic relationship-based field deployment for advanced-generation orchards. In total, 40, 28, 20, and 13 superior individuals were selected from the large-scale no-pedigree open-pollinated progeny of Zhengning (ZN-NP), open-pollinated families of Zhengning (ZN-OP), open-pollinated families of Xixian (XX-OP), and control-pollinated families of Xixian, with mean volume dominance ratios of 0.83, 0.15, 0.25, and 0.20, respectively. Phylogenetic relationship analysis of the ZN-NP and XX-OP populations showed that the 40 superior individuals in the ZN-NP selected population belonged to 23 families and could be further divided into five phylogenetic groups, and that families in the same group were closely related. Similarly, 20 families in the XX-OP population were related to varying degrees. Based on these results, we found that second-generation Chinese pine seed orchards in Zhengning and Xixian should adopt a grouped, unbalanced, complete, fixed block design and an unbalanced, incomplete, fixed block design, respectively. This study will provide practical references for applying molecular markers to establishing advanced-generation seed orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wildfire is a key factor influencing bird community composition in western North American forests. We need to understand species and community responses to wildfire and how responses vary regionally to effectively manage dry conifer forests for maintaining biodiversity. We compared avian relationships with wildfire burn severity between two dry forest locations of Arizona and Idaho. We predicted different responses to wildfire between locations due to regional differences in historical fire regime. We conducted point count surveys for 3 yr following wildfire (Arizona: 1997-1999; Idaho: 2008-2010) and used multispecies hierarchical models to analyze relationships of bird occupancy with burn severity. Consistent with our prediction for mixed-severity fire regimes characterizing the Idaho location, we observed proportionately more positive species occupancy relationships and, consequently, a positive species richness relationship with burn severity in Idaho. We also observed the opposite pattern in Arizona, which was congruent with our prediction for the low-severity fire regime characterizing that location. Cavity nesters and aerial insectivores occupied more severely burned sites following wildfire, corresponding with predicted increases in nesting substrate and foraging opportunities for these species. In contrast, canopy-nesting foliage gleaners and pine seed consumers exhibited negative relationships with burn severity. Our results were consistent with predictions based on species life histories and with patterns from the literature, suggesting generality of observed relationships and locational difference in relationships with wildfire. We therefore suggest that optimal management strategies for maintaining avian diversity could differ regionally. Specifically, intensive fuels management may be ecologically less appropriate for promoting biodiversity in areas such as the Idaho location where mixed-severity wildfires and dense forest stands were historically more common. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leachate nutrients from the nursery of containerized tree seedlings result in risks of inefficient fertilization through nutrient loss and contamination of ground water. In the present study, seedlings of Buddhist pine (Podocarpus macrophyllus) and Japanese maple (Acer palmatum) were cultured in containers of three differing sizes under contrasting photoperiods of naturally 11 h per day and an extended one of 20 h per day. Controlled release fertilizer (CRF, 14-14-14) was used to feed seedlings with sufficient nutrients for 5 months from June to November 2014. At the end of experiment, seedlings from all types of containers were measured for height and root collar diameter, whilst leachates were collected to determine nutrient concentrations of available phosphorus (P), potassium (K), ammonium and nitrate nitrogen (N) therein. Growth of both seedling species increased with the volume of container, but only growth of Japanese maple seedlings responded to photoperiod. In spite, there was greater amount of nutrients leached from containers planted with Buddhist pine than with Japanese maple; nearly no nutrient in the leachate affected by photoperiod. A negative correlation was found between concentrations of leachate nutrients and seedling height growth in all container sizes. In conclusion, nutrient leaching is a nonignorable but predictable factor by seedling height growth during the intensive culture of slowly growing seedlings of ornamental trees under the extended photoperiod. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugar derivatives are critically important in nutritional, pharmaceutical, and some non-food industries. Amino sugars are more important as essential components of many drugs, antibiotics, and biopolymers. Hence, a novel amino sugar compound is worthy of investigation for identification and production. A novel amino sugar compound was identified from crude extracts of Korean pine seed embryos. This new compound was isolated from extracts using traditional purification steps. The pure compound was white in color with a melting point of 145°C. HPLC, TLC, FT-IR, and NMR analyses of the compound indicated a trisaccharide form of amino mannose that was polymerized with β-(1→2) glycosidic bonding. Computer-aided NMR spectral analysis of the trisaccharide of 2-dehydro-2-mannosamine exhibited a 96% match with the C-NMR spectrum of the new compound. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Limber pine seeds were potentially a valuable food resource for native occupants of the high mountains of the intermountain west. The seeds are rich in fats and proteins, with a greater caloric content by weight than pinyon pine seeds. The seeds are available in late summer, and collecting them is fairly easy, yielding large returns per time spent collecting. If the seeds are eaten whole or ground into meal without hand-hulling, return rates are very high, similar to rates for large and small game animals. The kernels are difficult to remove from their hulls, however, resulting in very low return rates if hand-hulled. Energetic considerations indicate that whole or ground limber pine seeds could have served as an important storable late summer food for prehistoric high-altitude occupants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Whitebark pine ( Pinus albicaulis Engelm.) populations are declining nearly rangewide from a combination of factors, including mountain pine beetle ( Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, 1902) outbreaks, the exotic pathogen Cronartium ribicola J.C. Fisch. 1872, which causes the disease white pine blister rust, and successional replacement due to historical fire exclusion practices. With high mortality in cone-bearing whitebark pine, seed production may not be sufficient to support natural regeneration after disturbance such as wildfire. Our objective was to examine the relationship between whitebark pine seed source health and whitebark pine regeneration density in adjacent burns. We sampled regeneration and seed source health in 15 burns within six national forests and three Wilderness Areas in Montana, ranging from 5 to 23 years old. We found a significant, positive relationship between seed source health and seedling density in adjacent burns. Natural regeneration was sparse when the proportion of damaged or dead whitebark pine in the seed source exceeded 50%. Factors that influenced the presence of whitebark pine regeneration within a burn included both vegetation cover and potential solar radiation. Sites closer to seed sources had higher probabilities of seedling occurrence, but seedlings were present throughout most burns. Our results suggest that managers can prioritize restoration plantings of whitebark pine seedlings after wildfire based on the health status of the nearest seed sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study represents the conversion of biomass solid waste in the form of pine seed into bio-oil by solvent extraction method. Hexane is used as solvent in this process which forms miscella (mixture of solvent and oil). Solvent is recovered by distillation from miscella. The oil obtained was analyzed for their properties as an alternative fuel and was compared with petroleum product and other biomass derived oil. The fuel properties compared were higher calorific value, density and viscosity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The large, nutrient-rich seeds of Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis Engelmann) are important food for bears (Ursus spp.) in Yellowstone National Park. In Banff National Park, studies have shown that American Black Bears (Ursus americanus) eat these seeds, but little additional information is available. We studied Whitebark Pine in Banff National Park to address this information gap. Because bears obtain Whitebark Pine seeds from Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) middens, our objective was to measure the abundance, habitat characteristics, and use by bears of middens in Whitebark Pine forests. A second objective was to determine whether Grizzly Bears (U. arctos) in Banff National Park also eat Whitebark Pine seeds. In 2011-2012, we ran 29 ha of 20-50 m wide transects at 10 sites with accessible Whitebark Pine stands and found 0-3.7 middens/ha (mean 1.23, SD 1.17, n = 10). Midden density was weakly related to total basal area of all conifers but not to basal area of Whitebark Pine. Middens were located in the upper subalpine at an average elevation of 2110 m (SD 90, n = 8) on 41-248° facing slopes with a mean steepness of 28° (SD 5, n = 8). Bears had excavated middens at all eight sites where we found middens; at the remaining two sites, middens did not occur within our transects. Overall, 24 (67%) of the 36 middens located in our transects had been dug by bears. In October 2013, we searched areas where three global positioning system (GPS)-collared Grizzly Bears had been located in late September 2013 and found five recently dug middens located less than 6 m from GPS fixes. These observations are, to our knowledge, the first conclusive evidence that Grizzly Bears in Banff National Park eat Whitebark Pine seeds. Because Whitebark Pine occurs at high elevations on steep slopes where human use is low, this resource may be important in keeping bears in habitat where risk of human-caused mortality is lower. Our results may assist managers responsible for conservation of bears in Banff National Park, where both American Black Bears and Grizzly Bears are subject to high levels of human-caused mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determining the adaptability to abiotic conditions and potential establishment success of tree species needs to be conducted before attempting to use a species in large-scale afforestation programs. In this study, the chemical and physiological performance of four Turkish red pine ( Pinus brutia Ten.) provenances was investigated after exposure to artificial cold temperature treatments to determine their adaptability to cold environment for potential use in afforestation programs. Seeds were sown and raised for 24, 28, and 32 weeks and exposed to decreasing temperatures in an artificial freezer. Relative electrolyte leakage, chlorophyll fluorescence, and carbohydrate concentrations were measured to determine the variability between provenances. Results showed that diameter and height growth did not vary with origin for each of the three growth stages measured. Root electrolyte leakage values differed between provenances, confirming that cold stress was effectively causing physiological damages when plants were exposed to temperature at −15 °C and below. The variability observed in the relationship between provenances and cold hardiness responses can be attributed to tree-to-tree variability within provenances and microsites conditions. There was generally no significant difference in chlorophyll fluorescence between provenances, also attributed to low genetic variation between provenances. Carbohydrate concentrations were also very variable and varied significantly among growth stages and provenances. High-altitude provenances had higher soluble carbohydrates concentrations in several cases, suggesting a relationship between altitude, soluble sugars, and cold hardiness. However, these trends were not consistent; therefore, we suggest that such hypotheses be confirmed through more comprehensive further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Large-scale biogeographical shifts in forest tree distributions are predicted in response to the altered precipitation and temperature regimes associated with climate change. Adaptive forest management to climate change experienced in either stable or rapidly changing environments must consider this fact when carrying out reforestation programs or specifically assisted population migration for conservation purposes. The aim of this study was to compare field performance of eleven seed sources of Aleppo pine outplanted in core and marginal habitats and to assess their phenotypic plasticity for further screening under specific conditions in particular reforestation areas. We hypothesize that current marginal habitat due to low temperature is shifting toward conditions found on the core habitat and that current core habitat will shift toward warmer and drier marginal habitat. Our study reproduced real conditions of reforestation in potential future climatic conditions. Results suggest that it is difficult to predict Aleppo pine provenances' performance in different natural sites from their performance at a single location, even though 'Levante interior' and 'La Mancha' seed sources showed the best overall response among sites. On a site basis, provenances were matched in groups according to their survival and growth responses. Seedlings grown from local seed sources or seed orchards performed better on the core habitat. However, as conditions shifted to marginal habitats, seedlings from climatically similar regions performed better than local sources at least in the short term; our findings suggest that new plantations in areas already affected by global change could be better adapted if they use alternative seed sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Δ7-Eicosatrienoic acid (Δ7-ETrA) is a rare naturally-occurring non-methylene-interrupted fatty acid from pine seeds. [•] Δ7-ETrA significantly suppressed PGE2 production in murine RAW264.7 cells and rat primary peritoneal macrophages. [•] PGE2 production suppressed by Δ7-ETrA was highly correlated with Δ7-ETrA incorporation into phospholipids. [•] Competition between Δ7-ETrA and AA for COX-2 decreased PGE2 synthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SLOW WALKER2 ( SWA2) of Arabidopsis thaliana can cause suspending of nuclear division during mitosis of embryo sac development. In Pinus tabulaeformis, the free nucleus division of female gametophyte has similar suspension but the male gametophyte development is normal in female sterile mutant. A DNA fragment and an EST of the homologue in P. tabulaeformis were isolated by PCR. It is shown that the homologue gene has highest expression in vigorous division of free nucleus and lower expression in other stages during female gametophyte development of normal ovules by Real-time Quantitative PCR. The expression of the homologue in sterile ovules is lower than that in normal ovules in different stages of the process. Reverse transcription PCR shows a clear band in the free nucleus division and no band in cellularization of the normal ovules during female gametophyte development. However, there is no band appeared in the nucleus division and a clear band in cellularization of the sterile ovules. Cytological observation shows chromatin evenly distributed within free nuclei in normal female gametophyte condenses into unevenly lumps with dispersing degenerated DNA in cytoplasm of the sterile one. It is concluded P. tabulaeformis SWA2 homologue may undergo alternative splicing, involve in DNA binding/repairing and cell cycle progress during the free nucleus division of female gametophytes after dormancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gibberella circinata (anamorph Fusarium circinatum) is a harmful fungus infecting pine trees that has been subject to European Union emergency phytosanitary measures since 2007. This fungus is spread over long distances primarily via pine seeds, consequently reliable detection tools and methods are needed to test pine seed lots imported and marketed in the EU. Several detection methods are available in the scientific literature but very limited validation data is available. For that purpose, one European EUPHRESCO project called ' Gibcir- Diagseed' was launched, involving 10 countries. This project aimed to select and validate one or more diagnostic procedures targeting this pest via inter-laboratory tests, as well as a suitable sampling method. Performance criteria were calculated for three procedures chosen by participants: isolation followed by morphological characterization, isolation followed by conventional PCR and biological enrichment followed by real-time PCR. The results showed that all three procedures provided acceptable performance criteria but also demonstrated that none of them could generate 100% of correct results. Regarding the sampling issue, the National Plant Protection Organizations consultation enabled an agreement to be reached on the number of seeds to be tested: 400 per sample, for a 95% confidence level that an infection of at least 1% will be detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biological control of plant diseases has received worldwide attention in recent years mainly as a response to use of hazardous chemicals in the environment. Soil actinomycetes particularly Streptomyces spp. enhance soil fertility and have antagonistic activity against wide range of soil-borne plant pathogens. In study of antifungal activity of streptomycetes against plant fungal-pathogens Fusarium oxysporum (Schlecht.), F. culmorum (Wm. G. Sm.) Sacc. and Rhizoctonia solani (Kühn) causing damping-off of pine seedlings, in vitro and in vivo tests were carried out. Two types of in vitro tests in mixed cultures of actinomycetes and fungi were performed. In majority of the cases, an inhibitory effect of actinomycetes on fungi was noticed. Three isolates (SG9, SR2, SR4) were highly active against pathogenic fungi and were chosen for exopolysaccharides extraction and in vivo tests. The sensitivity to exopolysaccharide action was noted in fungi from the genus Fusarium. Fusarium oxysporum showed a higher sensitivity to the analyzed exopolysaccharides than F. culmorum. Biocontrol interactions both in sterile and non-sterile soil were found for the actinomycete Streptomyces cyaneus (strain SG9) isolated from root free soil of the pine. The latest experiment confirmed the strong pathogenicity of the fungus Rhizoctonia solani. Antifungal properties of Streptomyces cyaneus (strain SG9) need further comprehensive studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sierra San Pedro Mártir (SSPM) in northern Baja California, Mexico, is a remote mountain at the southern edge of the California Floristic Province, a vegetation type that includes the Sierra Nevada of California and western Nevada. Unlike most forests in the southwestern United States, the forests of the SSPM have never been logged and have experienced only light grazing in recent years, and wildfires have not been suppressed until recent decades. The SSPM represents one of the best examples of an intact presettlement forest in the California Floristic Province. We investigated the mode of seed dispersal of Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi) in the SSPM, and compared it to that from the eastern slope of the Sierra Nevada, to determine how this process might differ between nearly pristine and heavily altered forests. We found that seed dispersal appears to occur by the same means in both forests (i.e., scatter hoarding of seeds by rodents), but that seedling establishment is much less successful in the SSPM. We considered several hypotheses for why this difference might exist, including the size of seed crops, fire regimes, climate change, grazing by domestic ungulates, and lack of facilitation by shrubs (i.e., nurse plants), but none of these explanations appears adequate to account for the difference. Instead, we suggest that the slow rate of seedling establishment at the SSPM is due to a greater consumption of seeds cached by California chipmunks (Tamias obscurus), who experience a relatively long period of euthermic winter activity in the warm climate of the SSPM. This greater consumption leaves few seeds to germinate. Future studies should test the relative importance of these alternative causes for low seedling recruitment at the SSPM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes a specimen that extends the oldest fossil evidence of Pinus L. to the Early Cretaceous Wealden Formation of Yorkshire, UK (131-129 million years ago), and prompts a critical reevaluation of criteria that are employed to identify crown group genera of Pinaceae from anatomically preserved seed cones. The specimen, described as Pinus yorkshirensis sp. nov., is conical, 5 cm long, and 3.1 cm in maximum diameter. Bract/scale complexes are helically arranged and spreading. Vasculature of the axis forms a complete cylinder with few resin canals in the wood, and the inner cortex is dominated by large resin canals. Bracts are short, with two resin canals, and separate from the scale base laterally. Distally, the ovuliferous scales broaden and thicken to form a rhomboidal apophysis with a dorsal umbo, characters found only in the genus Pinus among living conifers. Resin canals enter the ovuliferous scale abaxial to the vascular tissue, which divides distally to form a row of adaxially convex bundles. A short interseminal ridge separates two inverted and winged seeds on the adaxial surface of the ovuliferous scale. Seeds contain megagametophyte tissue and polycotyledonary embryos. Numerical cladistic analysis of anatomically preserved seed cones yields a wellresolved phylogeny of crown and stem group Pinaceae that is roughly concordant with the results of analyses that include living species only. All of the included species of Pinus form a clade with three very Pinus-like species that currently are assigned to the stem genus Pityostrobus. These results call to question the utility of traditional methods for assigning fossil seed cones to Pinus, resolve relationships among stem and crown group genera, and highlight the unnatural circumscription of Pityostrobus. This suggests that some species of Pityostrobus may actually represent the genus Pinus, and it demonstrates that the evolutionary diversification of Pinaceae began earlier than previously recognized from fossil evidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the damage sustained from wildfire by the Lost Pines forest in Bastrop County, Texas in 2011. Topics include the recognition of the isolated Pinus taeda community by Spanish explorers, the ability of Texas Forest Service nurseries to supply replacements to landowners, and the vulnerability of replanted pine seedlings to drought in the absence of supplemental waterflow.

What-where-when (WWW) memory during cache recovery was investigated in six Clark's nutcrackers. During caching, both red- and blue-colored pine seeds were cached by the birds in holes filled with sand. Either a short (3 day) retention interval (RI) or a long (9 day) RI was followed by a recovery session during which caches were replaced with either a single seed or wooden bead depending upon the color of the cache and length of the retention interval. Knowledge of what was in the cache (seed or bead), where it was located, and when the cache had been made (3 or 9 days ago) were the three WWW memory components under investigation. Birds recovered items (bead or seed) at above chance levels, demonstrating accurate spatial memory. They also recovered seeds more than beads after the long RI, but not after the short RI, when they recovered seeds and beads equally often. The differential recovery after the long RI demonstrates that nutcrackers may have the capacity for WWW memory during this task, but it is not clear why it was influenced by RI duration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Korean pine ( Pinus koraiensis) is a dominant tree species in the cold temperate mixed forest zone in eastern Eurasia. Its seeds are food sources for wildlife but have become an important and marketable part of the economy for local communities. Methods: We conducted ecological surveys inside and around Changbai Mountain Nature Reserve (CMNR) each year following the legalization of pine seed harvesting in 2000-2005 and restrictions on pine seed harvesting in 2006-2009. Results: We found that human harvesting of pine cones was associated with declines in pine seed production and quality, pine regeneration, and populations of Eurasian red squirrel ( Sciurus vulgaris), sable ( Martes zibellina), and Siberian weasel ( Mustela sibirica). Discussion: CMNR generally harbored greater wildlife populations than were found outside of its boundaries, but populations inside and outside of CMNR tended to decline in response to unrestricted cone harvesting. Enactment of restrictions on harvesting of cones in 2006 led to rebounds in populations of squirrel, sable, weasel, yellow-throated marten ( Martes flavigula) and Eurasian jay ( Garrulus glandarius) in CMNR relative to outside, concurrent with a reduced percent of seed being usurped by humans. However, harvest restrictions failed to diminish damage to trees by humans or seeds by insect pests, and regeneration of pine did not rebound. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that wildlife declines are reversible in the short-term, but long-term forest ecosystem stability is likely only if pine seed harvesting is either stopped or dramatically reduced on a permanent basis within CMNR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The wide-ranging impacts of globally increasing carbon dioxide (CO) concentration and rising metal-contaminated soils are serious problems in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we investigated the effects of elevated CO on the lead (Pb) uptake of pine seedlings and the microbial activity in Pb-contaminated soil. Three-year-old pine seedlings were exposed to ambient, as well as elevated levels of CO (380 and 760 ppmv, respectively) in 500 mg/kg Pb-contaminated soil. Growth rates, C/N ratios and Pb uptake of the pine seedlings were determined. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) content and microbial activity were also measured in the rhizosphere soil. Elevated CO significantly increased the total biomass and accumulation of Pb in roots and shoots. In addition, the accumulation of Pb in the roots under elevated CO concentration was four times higher than those in the roots under ambient CO concentration. Elevated CO levels also affected C/N ratios in the pine seedlings and soil enzyme activities. Decline in the overall nitrogen content and increases in the C/N ratios of pine needles were observed. Soil enzyme activity increased in the rhizosphere soils, including those of β-glucosidases, N-acetylglucosaminidases, and phosphatases. Quality of the DOC was affected by elevated CO, while the quantity of DOC was affected by Pb additions under elevated CO conditions. Two major conclusions can be drawn from this study: (1) elevated CO significantly increased biomass and metal uptake of pine seedlings and (2) chemical metabolism on pine tissue and processes of organic decomposition were more affected by elevated CO levels than by Pb contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pinolenic acid (PNA), a naturally-occurring polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA), is found mainly in pine seeds. Although many studies have demonstrated beneficial effects of pine seed oil, there are no reports of the biological effects of PNA on cancer metastasis. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of PNA on human breast cancer MDA-MB-231 cell proliferation and metastasis in vitro. We found that PNA did not affect cell viability and cell-matrix adhesion, but it inhibited cell metastasis by suppressing cell invasiveness and motility. Suppression could in part be associated with the modification of the n−6 PUFA composition of cells by PNA which significantly decreased the percentage of arachidonic acid (AA) in phospholipids from 12.6% to 4.9%. The lower AA content of the cancer cells might result in less synthesis of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), and subsequent down-regulation of inducible cyclooxygenase (COX-2) expression. Thus, PNA represents a potential anti-cancer agent. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]