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This study aimed to reveal the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizae and K-humate on some of the morphological characteristics and growth of Russian olive (RO; Elaeagnus angustifolia L.) and black locust (BL; Robinia pseudoacacia L.). The indigenous mycorrhizal spores (Claroideoglomus claroideum, Claroideoglomus etunicatum, Claroideoglomus luteum, and Funneliformis mosseae) collected from rhizospheres of RO and BL trees in afforestation sites located in Central Anatolia. In addition, commercial mycorrhizal mixture and K-humate were used as treatments. Five treatments (1—indigenous mycorrhizal fungi, 2—K-humate, 3—indigenous mycorrhizal fungi + K-humate, 4—commercial mycorrhizal fungi, and 5—control) were assigned in a completely randomized design for both tree species. Four months after the treatments, inoculation rate, above-ground seedling height, fresh and dry weight, root collar diameter, length, fresh, and dry weight, leaf area index, shot-to-root dry weight ratio, seedling height to root collar diameter ratio, and Dickson quality index were determined. Plant and soil analyses were carried out to determine the effects of treatments on plant and soil nutrition. Indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi and K-humate combinations had positive effects on the morphological characteristics and nutritional status of the seedlings. The indigenous mycorrhizal and K-humate interaction showed the most pronounced effects on RO growth and nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

β-carotene (BCR) is the most abundant carotenoid, a colorant, antioxidant, and provitamin A. The extreme hydrophobicity of this hydrocarbon requires special mechanisms for distribution in aqueous media, including water-soluble carotenoproteins. However, all known carotenoproteins prefer oxygenated carotenoids and bind BCR inefficiently. Here, we present the crystal structure of the BCR-binding protein (BBP) from gregarious male locusts, which is responsible for their vivid yellow body coloration, in complex with its natural ligand, BCR. BBP forms an antiparallel tubular homodimer with α/β-wrap folded monomers, each forming a hydrophobic 47 Å long, coaxial tunnel that opens outward and is occupied by one s-cisC6-C7, all-trans BCR molecule. In the BCR absence, BBP accepts a range of xanthophylls, with reduced efficiency depending on the position and number of oxygen atoms, but rejects lycopene. The structure captures a pigment complex with a Takeout 1 protein and inspires potential applications of BBP as a BCR solubilizer. [Display omitted] • Crystal structure of a soluble protein in complex with β-carotene (BBP) determined • Extended BBP dimer has tubular subunits each binding a single β-carotene molecule • BBP is selective for β-carotene, rejects lycopene, and tolerates some xanthophylls • BBP apoform shows efficient ligand-assisted refolding when dissolved in 8 M urea Among soluble carotenoproteins, those binding carotenes are rare. Egorkin et al. determined the crystal structure of genuine β-carotene-binding protein (BBP) from gregarious locusts responsible for their yellow body coloration. Reconstitution studies revealed a selectivity for β-carotene, inability to bind lycopene, and unusual blue spectral shifts for carotenoids upon binding to BBP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carbon-based electrodes have recently been most widely used in P-MFC due to their desirable properties such as biocompatibility, chemical stability, affordable price, corrosion resistance, and ease of regeneration. In general, carbon-based electrodes, particularly graphite, are produced using a complex process based on petroleum derivatives at very high temperatures. This study aims to produce electrodes from bio-pitch and charcoal powder as an alternative to graphite electrodes. The carbons used to manufacture the electrodes were obtained by the carbonisation of Robinia pseudoacacia and Azadirachta indica wood. These carbons were pulverised, sieved to 50 µm, and used as the raw materials for electrode manufacturing. The binder used was bio-pitch derived from coconut shells as the raw materials. The density and coking value of the bio-pitch revealed its potential as a good alternative to coal-tar pitch for electrode manufacturing. The electrodes were made by mixing 66.50% of each carbon powder and 33.50% of bio-pitch. The resulting mixture was moulded into a cylindrical tube 8 mm in diameter and 80 mm in length. The raw electrodes obtained were subjected to heat treatment at 800 °C or 1000 °C in an inert medium. The electrical resistivity obtained by the four-point method showed that N1000 has an electrical resistivity at least five times lower than all the electrodes developed and two times higher than that of G. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was used to determine the compositional features of the samples and their surface roughness was characterised by atomic force microscopy (AFM). Charge transfer was determined by electrical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The FTIR of the electrodes showed that N1000 has a spectrum that is more similar to that of G compared to the others. The EIS showed the high ionic mobility of the ions and therefore that N1000 has a higher charge transfer compared to G and the others. AFM analysis revealed that N1000 had the highest surface roughness in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Sunyatseni / Zhongshan Daxue Xuebao is the property of Sun-Yat-Sen University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

ABSTRACT Plants, being immobile, are exposed to environmental adversities such as wind, snow and animals that damage their structure, making regeneration essential for their survival. The adventitious roots (ARs) primarily emerge from a detached explant to uptake nutrients; therefore, the molecular network involved in their regeneration needs to be explored. DNA methylation, a key epigenetic mark, influences molecular pathways, and recent studies suggested its role in regeneration. In our research, the application of 5‐azacytidine (5‐azaC), an inhibitor of DNA methylation, caused the earlier initiation and development of root primordia and consequently enhanced the AR regeneration rate in Robinia psuedoacacia L (black locust). The whole‐genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) revealed a decrease in global methylation and an increase in hypomethylated cytosine sites and regions across all contexts including CHH, CHG and mergedCG caused transcriptional variations in 5‐azaC‐treated sample. The yeast two‐hybrid (Y2H) assay revealed a RpMYB2‐centred network of transcriptionally activated transcription factors (TFs) including RpWRKY23, RpGATA23, RpSPL16 and other genes like RpSDP, RpSS1, RpBEN1, RpGULL05 and RpCUV with nuclear localization suggesting their potential co‐localization. Additionally, yeast one‐hybrid (Y1H) assay showed the interaction of RpMYB2 interactors, RpGATA23 and RpWRKY23, with promoters of RpSK6 and RpCDC48, and luciferase reporting assay (LRA) validated their binding with RpSK6. Our results revealed that hypomethylation‐mediated transcriptomic modifications activated the RpMYB2‐centred gene network to enhance AR regeneration in black locust hypocotyl cuttings. These findings pave the way for genetic modification to improve plant regeneration ability and increase wood production while withstanding environmental damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Fire Ecology is the property of Springer Nature and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The objective of this study was to determine suitable tree species to monitor and reduce Sn concentrations in the environment of Düzce province in Türkiye. A further goal was to test the hypothesis that, possibly due to air transport, the uptake of Sn in tree rings would show a significant and consistent dependency on compass direction. The timber samples were from the trunks of Tilia tomentosa (linden), Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust), Cedrus atlantica (cedar), Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir), and Fraxinus excelsior (European ash), which are commonly used in landscaping in Düzce province. Levels of Sn concentrations in annual rings were determined. Cedrus atlantica and F. excelsior were found to be suitable biomonitors that can be used to monitor changes in annual amounts of Sn contamination. Among the studied tree species, R. pseudoacacia had the highest average values and C. atlantica had the second-highest levels of Sn uptake. However, no consistent dependency on compass direction was found. It follows that rather than depending on the direction of prevailing winds, the uptake of metals to the xylem of trees must be due to direction-independent processes, such as transport via roots and xylem or absorption into leaves and subsequent transport via the phloem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The concentrations of Sr, Tl, and V in soils and plant organs were evaluated at a copper mining site. These are heavy metals that are extremely dangerous and harmful to human and environmental health and, therefore, are on the ATSDR substance priority list. Within the scope of the study, soil samples were taken from different soil depths in the spoil area, the rehabilitation area where planting was performed and adult trees that were at least 20 years old, and the forest area. Soil samples were taken from the rehabilitation and forest areas where Pinus nigra Arnold., Pinus sylvestris L., and Robinia pseudoacacia L. species grow, and leaf, bark, wood, and root samples were taken from trees in the same areas. The study evaluated variations in heavy metal concentrations in soils based on species and soil depth and in plants based on plant species and organs. The study found that the heavy metal concentrations in soils and plant organs generally varied depending on plant species, while these variations were insignificant depending on soil depth. The highest concentrations by species were generally obtained for Sr in Robinia pseudoacacia and for Tl and V in Pinus nigra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to determine the most suitable woody species that can be used to reduce the pollution of Sr, Mo, and Sn, which are heavy metals that are harmful to the ecosystem and human and environmental health. Within the study's scope, samples were taken from the wood parts of 16 woody species growing under similar conditions in Düzce province, which is among the five cities with the most polluted air in Europe. The wood part is the largest organ of higher plants in terms of mass; it traps heavy metals within itself for many years and can remove heavy metals to a great extent. Therefore, plants with a high potential for heavy metal accumulation in the wood part are among the most suitable plants for phytoremediation studies. The study determined Sr, Mo, and Sn concentrations in the wood parts of 16 tree species via inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and compared them using statistical methods. Results indicate that Robinia pseudoacacia and Cedrus atlantica species were suitable for reducing pollution by Mo and Sn, while Platanus orientalis and Populus alba species were suitable for reducing Sr pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The invasion of alien woody species may have broad ecological, economic, and health impacts on ecosystems and biodiversity under climate change. Previous studies showed that disrupting the biodiversity conservation mechanisms in protected areas can seriously threaten natural ecosystems and the protection of rare and endangered species in such protected areas. However, there is currently no standard for evaluating the invasion risk of woody plants under climate change when establishing national parks in China. Therefore, we used a species distribution model to evaluate the invasion risk of 250 invasive alien woody species in potential national park sites in Xinjiang under climate change. The results indicated that the probability of forest invasion in the potential Altai Kanas National Park was determined to be significantly higher than that of the average level in Xinjiang nature reserves, both under current and future climate conditions. At the same time, the probability of invasive woody species invading coniferous forests, broad‐leaved forests, and grassland ecosystems is higher in the Altai Kanas and Tianshan potential national parks. We found that Acer negundo, Robinia pseudoacacia, and Amorpha fruticose in potential parks in Xinjiang have higher invasion potential and thus require heightened vigilance to stop their spread. This study contributes to the monitoring and management of national parks and provides an actionable foundation for protecting ecosystem functions and minimizing the potential risk of invasive alien species under climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) and its specialist insects have major effects on ecosystems in Europe, where the former is the only host of the latter. Here, we determined the relative roles of host plant availability and other predictors in shaping the specialist insects' future range dynamics. Range expansions were detected in all target species. Climate predictors were expected to have the strongest effects on the range shifts of the host plant, while host plant availability had the strongest effect on the range shifts of the specialist insects. Therefore, range shifts in specialist insects tracked those of their host. Mitigating future climate change might be one of the key approaches for controlling invasions of Robinia-specialist insects in Europe, given that their range changes follow those of their specialist host plant, and future climate changes were mainly responsible for the range expansions of the host plant. Black locust is the only host of Robinia-specialist insects in Europe. However, no study to date has examined future range shifts of specialist insects, and the relative effects of host plant availability and other factors on their range shifts. Here, we characterized the future range shifts in the host and its four specialist insects and the factors contributing to changes in their ranges. We detected substantial range expansions in all target species. Climate predictors and host plant availability were expected to have the strongest effects on the range shifts in the host and its specialist insects, respectively, suggesting that the specialist insects will track the ranges of their host. Parectopa robiniella showed the largest potential and expanding ranges and should be made a priority species for controlling invasions of Robinia-specialist insects in Europe. The expanding ranges of all specialist species were largely identified in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, suggesting that these should be priority regions for mitigating their effects on ecosystems. Reducing future climate change is essential for preventing the spreading of specialist insects in Europe since specialist insects track their specialist host plants, and host range expansions are mainly driven by future climate changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing emergence of multi-drug resistant microbial strains has kept the scientific world searching for novel bioactive compounds with specific chemical characteristics. Accordingly, researchers have started exploring the understudied metabolites from endophytes as a new source of bioactive compounds. In this context, the current study was designed to evaluate the bioactive properties of endophytic fungi from the Mokrzański forest in Wrocław, Poland that have not yet been fully researched. Forty-three endophytic fungi were isolated from twelve distinct plants. Following their cultivation, fungal extracts were separately prepared from biomass and cell-free filtrates, and their antibacterial, antifungal (against human and plant pathogens), and antioxidant properties were examined. Five promising fungi after screening were identified to possess all of these activities. These strains and their respective plant hosts were Trichoderma harzianum BUK-T (Fagus sylvatica), Aspergillus ochraceus ROB-L1 (Robinia pseudoacacia), Chaetomium cochliodes KLON-L1, Fusarium tricinctum KLON-L2 (Acer platanoides), and Penicillium chrysogenum SOS-B2 (Pinus sylvestris). Moreover, gamma irradiation at several doses (Gy) was separately applied to the fungal cultures to study their effects on the recorded activities. Finally, compounds after preparative thin-layer chromatography fractionation of the five fungal strains were identified by GC-MS. These findings suggest that the isolated endophytic fungi could serve as novel sources of bioactive metabolites with antibacterial, antifungal, and antioxidant properties, potentially paving the way for future research and the development of new bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The aims of this study are to determine the appropriate stand density, and to provide the reference for implementing effective restoration practices for improving soil quality of Robinia pseudoacacia plantation in the hilly and gully region of the Loess Plateau in China by analyzing the response of soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities to stand density changes and the relationship between soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities. [Methods] R. pseudoacacia plantations of three stand density classes-low density (900 trees/hm²), medium density (1 200 trees/hm²), and high density (1 500 trees/hm²) density were sampled in the Xiannangou watershed of Ansai County in loess hilly-gully region of northern Shaanxi Province, China. We analyzed the effects of stand density on soil physicochemical properties, enzyme activities, and determined the relationship between soil physicochemical properties and enzyme activities by redundancy analysis. [Results] (1) Compared to low-and high-density plantations, medium density plantations significantly increased soil water content, soil organic carbon, soil total nitrogen, soil available phosphorus, and soil nitrate nitrogen. (2) With the increasing in stand density, the soil enzyme activities, including ẞ-glucosidase, cellulase, invertase, polyphenoloxidase, catalase. urease. leucine aminopeptidase, and N-acetyl-ẞ-glucosaminidase decreased first and then increased, and were the lowest at medium density plantations. (3) Pearson analysis showed that soil enzyme activities related to carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus cycle negatively were correlated with the content of the corresponding resource. (4) Results of redundancy analysis showed that soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus had significant effects on soil enzyme activities. Soil organic carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus explained 59.8% (p<0.01), 20.8% (p<0.01), and 9.5% (p<0.05) of the variation of soil enzyme activities, respectively. [Conclusion] Medium density (1 200 trees/hm²) can help to conserve soil nutrient and water of R. pseudoacacia plantation, and thus is a suitable stand density management strategy for R. pseudoacacia plantations to improve soil quality. Furthermore, managers should pay attention to the changes in soil organic carbon content to implement stand density controlling to improve soil enzyme activity and hence enhance soil nutrient availability and promote the improvement of R. pseudoacacia plantations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] Forest health assessment is the basis for forest management. The aims of this study are to conduct forest health assessment, and to provide a certain theoretical basis for achieving sustainable forest management goals. [Methods] This study focused on the widely distributed plantations of Platycladus orientalis, Quercus variabilis, and Robinia pseudoacacia in the southern foothills of the Taihang Mountains. Principal component analysis, cluster analysis, and discriminant analysis were used. Stand productivity, site conditions, community organizational structure, stability and sustainability were selected to evaluate the forest health status, which composed of 21 secondary indicators. [Results Tree height, diameter at breast height, total soil K content and forest fire risk index were the main factors affecting forest health in the study area. Their principal component factor loadings were all greater than 0.6. Among the 17 surveyed plots, 8 plots had a forest health level of healthy' or 'sub healthy' (accounting for 47.0% of the total), while the corresponding forest health levels of Platycladus orientalis, Quercus variabilis, and Robinia pseudoacacia plantations were 60.0%, 33.4%, and 50.0%, respectively. The forest health levels of 9 plots were 'medium healthy' or 'unhealthy' (accounting for 53.0% of the total), and the corresponding forest health levels of Platycladus orientalis, Quercus variabilis, and Robinia pseudoacacia plantations were 40.0%, 66.7%, and 50.0%, respectively. Conclusion Overall, the health status of Platycladus orientalis and Robinia pseudoacacia plantations in the research area is good, while the health status of Quercus variabilis plantations is poor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study characterizes oak (sessile and pedunculate oak) and alternative wood (black locust, Myrobalan plum, wild cherry, and mulberry) species as important sources of volatile compounds of aged spirits. Nowadays, their fragments are used to hasten the brandies' aging process. The ATR-FTIR spectra of analyzed wood samples are similar, only the mulberry FTIR spectrum contains unique peaks primarily due to its highest lignin content (40.93%). Using the untargeted GC-MS approach, a total of forty-one volatile compounds were identified in the wood extracts in a model spirit solution. The volatile profiles of alternative wood extracts in a model spirit solution were significantly different, both quantitatively and qualitatively, compared to those of oak. Coniferyl (23.14 µg/g--26.6 µg/g) and sinapyl (23.56 µg/g--25.82 µg/g) alcohols were the most abundant volatile compounds in investigated oak extracts. Resorcinol and coniferyl alcohol were the most abundant volatile compounds in black locust, sakuranin in wild cherry, while resorcinol and ß-resorcinaldehyde in mulberry wood. To the best of our knowledge, sakuranin has not been detected in wild cherry wood until now. Besides wood chemical characteristics, the technology used during the aging process strongly influences on volatile profiles of aged brandies, thus, these compounds are potential chemical markers for discrimination between wood species as well as aging technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Foco (Interdisciplinary Studies Journal) is the property of Revista Foco and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Functional traits play a vital role in mediating the responses of ecosystem services to environmental changes and in predicting the functioning of the ecosystem. However, the connection between functional traits and ecosystem services has become increasingly intricate due to climate change and human activities for degraded ecosystems. To investigate this relationship, we selected 27 sampling sites in the Yanhe River Basin of the Chinese Loess Plateau, each containing two types of vegetation ecosystems: natural vegetation and artificial vegetation ecosystems. At each sampling site, we measured ecosystem services and calculated the composition index of community traits. We established a response–effect trait framework that included environmental factors such as climate, elevation and human activities. Our results showed that leaf tissue density (LTD) was the overlapping response and effect trait when responding to climate change. LTD is positively correlated with mean annual temperature and negatively correlated with supporting services. Under the influence of human activities, leaf nitrogen content and leaf dry matter content were carriers of environmental change. Comparing the two vegetation ecosystems, the relationship between functional traits and ecosystem services showed divergent patterns, indicating that human activities increased the uncertainty of the relationship between functional traits and ecosystem services. Trait-based ecology holds promise for enhancing predictions of ecosystem services responses to environmental changes. However, the predictive ability is influenced by the complexity of environmental changes. In conclusion, our study highlights the importance of understanding the complex connection between functional traits and ecosystem services in response to climate changes and human activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing interest in leveraging LiDAR-generated forest Aboveground Biomass (LG-AGB) data as a reference to retrieve AGB from satellite observations. However, the biases arising from the upscaling process and the impact of the sampling strategy on model accuracy still need to be resolved. In this study, we first corrected the bias arising from upscaling the LG-AGB map to match the spatial resolution of Landsat observations. Subsequently, the stratified random sampling method was used to select training samples from the corrected LG-AGB map (cLG-AGB) for the Random Forest (RF) regression model. The RF model features were extracted from the Landsat observations and auxiliary data. The impact of strata numbers on model accuracy was explored during the sampling process. Finally, independent validation was conducted using in situ measurements. The results indicated that: (1) about 68% of the biases can be corrected in the up-scale transformation; (2) compared to no stratification, a three-strata model achieved a 6.5% improvement in AGB estimation accuracy while requiring a 37.8% reduction in sample size; (3) the black locust forest had a low saturation point at 60.52 ± 4.46 Mg/ha AGB and 72.4% AGB values were underestimated and the remaining were overestimated. In summary, our study provides a framework to harmonize near-surface LiDAR and satellite data for AGB estimation in plantation forest ecosystems with small patch sizes and fragmented distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest gaps alter the environmental conditions of forest microclimates and significantly affect the biogeochemical cycle of forest ecosystems. This study examined how forest gaps and non-gap areas affect soil's physical properties and eco-stoichiometric characteristics. Relevant theories and methods were employed to analyze the impact of forest gaps on nutrient cycling in Pinus densiflora Sieb. (PDS) and Robinia pseudoacacia L. (RPL) forests located in the Taishan Mountains. The results revealed that (1) forest gaps significantly enhanced the soil physical properties of PDS and RPL forests compared to non-gap areas (NPs). Notably, the bulk density of the soil decreased by 53%–12%, particularly in the surface layer (0–20 cm). Additionally, its non-capillary porosity increased by 44%–65%, while the clay and silt content rose by 39%–152% and 24%–130%, respectively. Conversely, the sand content decreased significantly, by 24%–32% (p < 0.05). (2) The contents of C, N, and P in the gap soil of PDS forests showed a significant increase compared to those in non-gap soil, with increases of 56%–131% for carbon, 107%–1523% for nitrogen, and 100%–155% for phosphorus. There was a significant drop of 10%–33% and 39%–41% in their C:N and C:P ratios, respectively (p < 0.05). The contents of C and P in the gap soil of the Robinia pseudo acacia L. Forest increased significantly, by 14%–22% and 34.4%–71%, respectively. Its C:P and N:P ratios significantly increased, by 14% to 404% and 11% to 41%, respectively (p < 0.05). (3) Compared with NPs, the forest gap significantly reduced the soil electrical conductivity and increased the soil pH. Additionally, compared to the soil at the gap's edge, the surface soil in the gap's center had noticeably higher concentrations of C, N, and P. (4) Key variables affecting the soil pH, silt content, bulk density, and overall porosity in forest gaps include the concentrations of carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) present and their ecological stoichiometric ratios. The findings showed that forest gaps had a considerable impact on the soil's physical characteristics and ecological stoichiometry. They also had a high potential for providing nutrients, which might aid in the establishment of plantation plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The editorial "Topicalities in the Forest Ecology of Seeds" focuses on the importance of forest seed farming to ensure a sufficient number of high genetic value fruit/seeds for tree species management. The special issue covers topics such as seed dormancy, desiccation tolerance, complex bioecological studies, and reproductive capacity in forestry. The articles provide valuable insights into the biological and ecological aspects of seeds, offering a scientific basis for forestry and nature conservation practices to enhance forest ecosystem health and biodiversity in the face of environmental challenges. [Extracted from the article]

Rainfall redistribution plays a crucial role in the water cycle. However, the main factors affecting the redistribution of rainfall remain uncertain. We chose three different plantations—cork oak (Quercus variabilis Bl.), oriental arborvitae (Platycladus orientalis L.) and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.)—to investigate the role of plantations in rainfall redistribution and to determine the main factors influencing rainfall redistribution. The results indicated that cork oak exhibited the highest stemflow (0.34%) and the lowest canopy interception (12.58%), whereas black locust had the lowest stemflow (0.21%), and oriental arborvitae displayed the greatest canopy interception (32.8%). Under different density conditions for cork oaks, the stemflow was highest (0.39%) in low‐density forests with 750 trees ha−2 and lowest (0.34%) in medium‐density forests with 1100 trees ha−2. Meanwhile, the highest canopy interception (17.68%) was observed in high‐density forests (1300 trees ha−2), while the lowest interception rate (9.22%) was found in low‐density forests. The main factors affecting rainfall redistribution and their contribution rates were as follows: bark roughness index (35%), wind speed (18.6%), tree species (14.2%), diameter at breast height (11.2%), stand density (9.6%) and rainfall amount (5.4%). Our findings suggested that structural characteristics of trees are the primary factors affecting rainfall redistribution. Planting cork oak in the rocky mountain regions of North China is recommended because of its substantial stemflow production, particularly under low‐density growth conditions. Therefore, this study has significant guiding implications for the selection of afforestation tree species in similar rocky mountain areas globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soil water is a crucial factor for the growth of vegetation and sustainable development in water‐limited areas. After large‐scale vegetation restoration on the Chinese Loess Plateau, understanding the relationship between vegetation and deep soil moisture has become a crucial focus in current research. In this study, artificial forest (Pinus tabulaeformis [PT], Robinia pseudoacacia [RP] and Platycladus orientalis [PO]), apple orchard (AO), secondary forest (SF) and farmland (FL) were selected as the research objects, and grassland (GL) as the control, using soil‐drilling techniques. We systematically monitored the soil water content of 0–10 m soil layer over two hydrological years, and explored the effects of different vegetation types on soil water deficiency. The results showed that: (1) The deep soil water various significantly among different vegetation types. Compared with GL, the soil water content in all forest land was generally lower, and this difference became more pronounced in deeper soil layer (>7 m), which indicating the depth of the influence of vegetation on soil water has reached 10 m. (2) The mean soil water deficit size (SWDS) values of PT (0.14), RP (0.17), PO (0.07), AO (0.15), SF (0.10) and FL (0.27) in 0–1 m were all positive, indicating that surface soil water had accumulated during more than half of the sampling periods. In the 2–10 m soil layer, mean SWDS was negative in all vegetation types except in FL, leading to soil desiccation. SWDS was found to fluctuate with soil depth. (3) SWDS was affected by a combination of soil properties and vegetation growth. Our results indicate that the current afforestation model could lead to the deficiency of deep soil water. Therefore, it is imperative to make reasonable vegetation structure according to the available local soil and water resources in future vegetation allocation and management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The strong clonal growth of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) not only influences the stand structure of natural or artificially established stands, but also the genetic composition of seed harvested from such clonal stands. For the commercial production of genetically diverse seeds, the stand structure should be taken into account or, at best, seeds harvested from seed orchards should be used. Context: Black locust is characterised by intensive asexual reproduction through the formation of root suckers. By this means clonal structures can develop within black locust stands, in which ramets of a single clone can dominate extensive areas. Aims: We want to analyse to what extent clonal structures within black locust stands negatively influence the genetic composition and diversity in seed harvested in such stands. We discuss how a potential reduction in genetic diversity can be reduced by measures taken during harvesting and whether the harvesting of seed orchards may be a better alternative. Methods: We compare the genetic composition and diversity of parent trees and seed harvested from a clonal black locust stand with a seed orchard in which multiple ramets of selected clones were arranged in a randomised design. Results: Within the clonal stand, parent contributions to the seed lot analysed proved to be strongly uneven. Selfing rates were high and large full-sib families dominated within the seed lot. Although the relatively strong pollination from unknown pollen donors, probably located outside of the stand, prevented a massive loss of alleles, high selfing rates and the formation of large full-sib families led to an unequal distribution of alleles within the progeny. Within the seed orchard—even though it had a lower number of clones than expected—the randomised design promoted a more diverse pollination pattern. Conclusion: We conclude that for black locust, seed orchards have the greater potential to ensure a balanced genetic composition of harvested seed lots. If economic considerations make it necessary to harvest seed stands, this should only be done in a considered manner and, if possible, with knowledge of the clonal structures of the stand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-soluble binders—locust bean gum (LBG) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) were tested with the SnS anode modified by new conducting material polypyrrole—carbon black composite (PPyCB) and compared with the environmentally unfriendly widely used polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) as an organic binder. The electrochemical properties of tested electrodes were investigated by galvanostatic charging/discharging tests, cyclic voltammetry, and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. Kinetic parameters of electrode processes were calculated from resistances. The first discharge capacities were 2150 mAh g−1, 1250 mAh g−1, and 960 mAh g−1 for SnS-PPyCB-LBG, SNS-PPyCB-CMC, and SnS-PPyCCB-PVdF, respectively. The exchange current density for the SnS-PPyCB electrode is in the range of 4.6 × 10−6 mA cm−2 for the system with carboxymethyl cellulose to 1.97 × 10−6 mA cm−2 in the cell with LBG. Compared to PVdF, locust bean gum is an equally effective binder and may even enhance electrode kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forest management allows the sustained removal of significant amounts of carbon from the atmosphere. Within different activities in the forest, wood utilisation has the most significant man-made environmental impact which affects the carbon balance, which is important to know, to be able to accurately identify its role in climate change. This study aims to determine the carbon footprint of logging during utilisation based on scenario analysis in national default and theoretical assortment structures (11 additional scenarios for each forest stand) within the entire life cycle of raw wood products. Based on a common functional unit (100 m3 of cut wood), a comparative environmental life cycle analysis (LCA) for intermediate and final cutting was performed in shortwood forestry work systems in beech (Fagus spp.), oak (Quercus spp.), spruce (Picea spp.), black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), and hybrid poplar (Populus x euramericana) stands in Hungary. After obtaining the results, the present study calculated the carbon footprint order for the utilisation life cycle phases and the entire tree utilisation life cycle. The distribution of absolute carbon footprint (ACF: considered emitted CO2 from fossil and biotic origins together) by final cutting exhibited the following order: hybrid poplar (6%)—spruce (8%)—beech (26%)—oak (27%)—black locust (33%). The ACF ranking for the whole technological life cycle (intermediate and final cutting, 400 m3 of cut wood) was hybrid poplar– spruce—oak—beech–black locust. The carbon footprint rankings of the studied stands were expanded to the national level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation restoration is an effective measure to cope with global climate change and promote soil carbon sequestration. However, during vegetation restoration, the turnover and properties of carbon within various aggregates change. The effects of plant source carbon input on surface soil and subsurface soil may be different. Thus, the characteristics of carbon components in aggregates are affected. Therefore, the research object of this study is the Robinia pseudoacacia forest located in 16–47a of the Loess Plateau, and compared with farmland. The change characteristics of organic carbon functional groups in 0–20 cm, 20–40 cm, and 40–60 cm soil layers were analyzed by Fourier near infrared spectroscopy, and the relationship between the chemical structure of organic carbon and the content of organic carbon components in soil aggregates was clarified, and the mechanism affecting the distribution of organic carbon components in soil aggregates was revealed in the process of vegetation restoration. The results show the following: (1) The stability of surface aggregates is sensitive, while that of deep aggregates is weak. Vegetation restoration increased the surface soil organic carbon content by 1.97~3.78 g·kg−1. (2) After vegetation restoration, the relative contents of polysaccharide functional groups in >0.25 mm aggregates were significantly reduced, while the relative contents of aromatic and aliphatic functional groups of organic carbon were significantly increased. The opposite is true for aggregates smaller than 0.25 mm. (3) With the increase in soil depth, the effect of litter on organic carbon gradually decreased, while the effect of root input on the accumulation of inert carbon in deep soil was more lasting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Asian or yellow-legged hornet Vespa velutina nigrithorax has been accidentally introduced into several European countries. This invasive species has an impact on entomofauna and plant biodiversity through reduction of pollinators as well as affects apiculture. We present the first record of the species in the Czech Republic, notes associated with this record, its COI barcode, and modelled potential distribution. A specimen of Vespa velutina nigrithorax was recorded in October 2023 in Pilsen city (West Bohemia, Czech Republic). The nest was traced by observing released individuals, detected on Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia), and removed. The COI barcode confirmed the European origin of this nest. The species either followed natural routes from Bavaria (Germany) or was introduced by transportation. A species distribution model (Maxent) trained on European distribution showed that the western Czech Republic is more suitable for the species than its eastern parts, as the species likely prefers lower continentality. During 2024, Vespa velutina nigrithorax was also recorded in Hrádek u Rokycan (West Bohemia, Czech Republic). Recently, these records represented an isolated occurrence in the Czech Republic; however further expansion of this invasive species is expected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.), one of the major afforestation species adopted in vegetation restoration, is notable for its rapid root growth and drought resistance. It plays a vital role in improving the natural environment and soil fertility, contributing significantly to soil and water conservation and biodiversity protection. However, compared with natural forests, due to the low diversity, simple structure and poor stability, planted forests including Robinia pseudoacacia L. are more sensitive to the changing climate, especially in the aspects of growth trend and adaptive range. Studying the ecological characteristics and geographical boundaries of Robinia pseudoacacia L. is therefore important to explore the adaptation of suitable niches to climate change. Here, based on 162 effective distribution records in China and 22 environmental variables, the potential distribution of suitable niches for Robinia pseudoacacia L. plantations in past, present and future climates was simulated by using a Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) model. The results showed that the accuracy of the MaxEnt model was excellent and the area under the curve (AUC) value reached 0.937. Key environmental factors constraining the distribution and suitable intervals were identified, and the geographical distribution and area changes of Robinia pseudoacacia L. plantations in future climate scenarios were also predicted. The results showed that the current suitable niches for Robinia pseudoacacia L. plantations covered 9.2 × 105 km2, mainly distributed in the Loess Plateau, Huai River Basin, Sichuan Basin, eastern part of the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau, Shandong Peninsula, and Liaodong Peninsula. The main environmental variables constraining the distribution included the mean temperature of the driest quarter, precipitation of driest the quarter, temperature seasonality and altitude. Among them, the temperature of the driest quarter was the most important factor. Over the past 90 years, the suitable niches in the Sichuan Basin and Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau have not changed significantly, while the suitable niches north of the Qinling Mountains have expanded northward by 2° and the eastern area of Liaoning Province has expanded northward by 1.2°. In future climate scenarios, the potential suitable niches for Robinia pseudoacacia L. are expected to expand significantly in both the periods 2041–2060 and 2061–2080, with a notable increase in highly suitable niches, widely distributed in southern China. A warning was issued for the native vegetation in the above-mentioned areas. This work will be beneficial for developing reasonable afforestation strategies and understanding the adaptability of planted forests to climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the problem of ecosystem degradation caused by human activities has become increasingly serious. Vegetation restoration is a key means to solve this problem, which has increased. To address the suitability and structural optimization of vegetation restoration in the Loess Plateau (China), the MaxEnt model was used to quantify the impacts of environmental and human activities on the planting suitability of vegetation restoration species at the raster scale. Three layers of trees, shrubs, and herbs with 12 common vegetation restoration species were selected. The factor index system was constructed by combining climatic, ecological, and socio-economic data, and the MaxEnt model predicted land suitability. It was found that human activities significantly increased the unsuitable planting area. This especially affected Robinia pseudoacacia in the tree layer and Amorpha fruticosa in the shrub layer. High and medium suitable areas were mainly sparsely populated areas with close water sources. Through maximum suitability optimization, it was identified that the overall spatial distribution of the three layers in the study area was relatively consistent, and the structural dominance of trees + shrubs + herbs and single herbs in the vertical structure was obvious; these were concentrated in the southwestern and northeastern parts of the study area, respectively. In addition, organic content (OC) and distance from the road to woodland (RW) were the dominant factors affecting land suitability, with a contribution rate of more than 50% and up to 80%. These results provide a scientific basis for optimizing planting structures. They are of significant theoretical and practical significance in guiding vegetation restoration work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mixed forests often increase their stability and species richness in comparison to pure stands. However, a comprehensive understanding of the effects of mixed forests on soil properties, bacterial community diversity, and soil nitrogen cycling remains elusive. This study investigated soil samples from pure Robinia pseudoacacia stands, pure Quercus variabilis stands, and mixed stands of both species in the southern foothills of the Taihang Mountains. Utilizing high-throughput sequencing and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR, this study analyzed the bacterial community structure and the abundance of nitrogen-cycling functional genes within soils from different stands. The results demonstrated that Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the dominant bacterial groups across all three forest soil types. The mixed-forest soil exhibited a higher relative abundance of Firmicutes and Bacteroidetes, while Nitrospirae and Crenarchaeota were most abundant in the pure R. pseudoacacia stand soils. Employing FAPROTAX for predictive bacterial function analysis in various soil layers, this study found that nitrogen-cycling processes such as nitrification and denitrification were most prominent in pure R. pseudoacacia soils. Whether in surface or deeper soil layers, the abundance of AOB amoA, nirS, and nirK genes was typically highest in pure R. pseudoacacia stand soils. In conclusion, the mixed forest of R. pseudoacacia and Q. variabilis can moderate the intensity of nitrification and denitrification processes, consequently reducing soil nitrogen loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Key message The strong clonal growth of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) not only influences the stand structure of natural or artificially established stands, but also the genetic composition of seed harvested from such clonal stands. For the commercial production of genetically diverse seeds, the stand structure should be taken into account or, at best, seeds harvested from seed orchards should be used. Context Black locust is characterised by intensive asexual reproduction through the formation of root suckers. By this means clonal structures can develop within black locust stands, in which ramets of a single clone can dominate extensive areas. Aims We want to analyse to what extent clonal structures within black locust stands negatively influence the genetic composition and diversity in seed harvested in such stands. We discuss how a potential reduction in genetic diversity can be reduced by measures taken during harvesting and whether the harvesting of seed orchards may be a better alternative. Methods We compare the genetic composition and diversity of parent trees and seed harvested from a clonal black locust stand with a seed orchard in which multiple ramets of selected clones were arranged in a randomised design. Results Within the clonal stand, parent contributions to the seed lot analysed proved to be strongly uneven. Selfing rates were high and large full-sib families dominated within the seed lot. Although the relatively strong pollination from unknown pollen donors, probably located outside of the stand, prevented a massive loss of alleles, high selfing rates and the formation of large full-sib families led to an unequal distribution of alleles within the progeny. Within the seed orchard—even though it had a lower number of clones than expected—the randomised design promoted a more diverse pollination pattern. Conclusion We conclude that for black locust, seed orchards have the greater potential to ensure a balanced genetic composition of harvested seed lots. If economic considerations make it necessary to harvest seed stands, this should only be done in a considered manner and, if possible, with knowledge of the clonal structures of the stand.

Alders are nitrogen (N)-fixing riparian trees that promote leaf litter decomposition in streams through their high-nutrient leaf litter inputs. While alders are widespread across Europe, their populations are at risk due to infection by the oomycete Phytophthora ×alni, which causes alder dieback. Moreover, alder death opens a space for the establishment of an aggressive N-fixing invasive species, the black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia). Shifts from riparian vegetation containing healthy to infected alder and, eventually, alder loss and replacement with black locust may alter the key process of leaf litter decomposition and associated microbial decomposer assemblages. We examined this question in a microcosm experiment comparing three types of leaf litter mixtures: one representing an original riparian forest composed of healthy alder (Alnus lusitanica), ash (Fraxinus angustifolia), and poplar (Populus nigra); one with the same species composition where alder had been infected by P. ×alni; and one where alder had been replaced with black locust. The experiment lasted six weeks, and every two weeks, microbially driven decomposition, fungal biomass, reproduction, and assemblage structure were measured. Decomposition was highest in mixtures with infected alder and lowest in mixtures with black locust, reflecting differences in leaf nutrient concentrations. Mixtures with alder showed distinct fungal assemblages and higher sporulation rates than mixtures with black locust. Our results indicate that alder loss and its replacement with black locust may alter key stream ecosystem processes and assemblages, with important changes already occurring during alder infection. This highlights the importance of maintaining heathy riparian forests to preserve proper stream ecosystem functioning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the open‐cast mining activities, a large area in the Lusatian region in eastern Germany was left unproductive. Robinia pseudoacacia L. was planted within different ages in that large area as a short rotation coppice for woody biomass cultivation as well as to increase soil nutrients by increasing plant phosphorous (P) availability, accumulating organic matter input and biological nitrogen fixation. In this experiment, soil chemical analysis has been done to investigate the improvement and status of P in the mining soil depending on the ages of plantation (16, 17, 18, and 27 years old) of Robinia pseudoacacia L. The results show a higher P sorption in the oldest site, and the average P sorption capacity (PSC) obtained in the oldest site was 21.0 mmol Kg−1, which was 3–4 times higher than the youngest site. However, all the values were very low compared with the optimum plant growth level, and low P desorption indicates a low level of plant‐available P in the soil. The lower sorption properties with the small amount of oxalate iron (Feox) and oxalate aluminum (Alox) indicate the general P deficiency in the soil. However, a comparison from a previous study on the same experimental areas shows that not much improvement has occurred in soil P, and the change in soil P dynamics is very low. Nevertheless, the improvement of the values with increasing ages of Robinia pseudoacacia L. indicates that further improvement may be expected in soil nutrients with time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani' (CPs), a phytoplasma endemic to the Euro-Mediterranean basin is a causative agent of several plant diseases, including the grapevine yellows disease "bois noir" (BN). As different CPs strains have been shown to have different ecological reservoirs and pathways for spread, the genetic characterization of CPs strains is a prerequisite, and better control of BN relies on the identification of reservoir plants. The variability of the phytoplasma genotypes involved in the BN pathosystem in Croatian vineyards was assessed by a multilocus sequence typing (MLST) approach. The genotyping was performed on selected grapevine, wild plants, and insects collected within the eleven years of national survey conducted in all Croatian viticultural regions. The extensive tuf, secY, stamp, and vmp1 genes-based MLST analyses revealed two new genotypes for stamp and vmp1 genes, designated as ST59 and V28, respectively, and overall identified 28 different CPs MLST genotypes. The prevalent MLST genotype in grapevine CPsSqt21 (S6/ST6/V18/tuf-b2) was widespread in nine counties across Uplands, Slavonia, and Danube wine regions and was affiliated to the known vector Hyalesthes obsoletus and to Urtica dioica. The other two most frequent genotypes were the U. dioica-associated CPsSqt28 (S39/ST46/V3/tuf-a) and the C. arvensis-associated CPsSqt2 (S1/ST9/V4/tuf-b1). CPs of different vmp1 genotypes was also detected in Cixius wagneri specimens originating from different parts of Croatia. In addition, CPs was detected in several Dichtyophara europaea insects and in two new potential plant reservoirs Ailanthus altissima and Robinia pseudoacacia. The substantial number of found MLST genotypes indicates the presence of several independent epidemiological cycles and is certainly a consequence of a unique geographical position of Croatia, bridging the different eco-climatic areas of central and south-eastern Europe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal mucosal injury caused by a plateau hypoxic environment is a clinical conundrum due to the unclear mechanism of this syndrome; however, oxidative stress and microbiota dysbiosis may be involved. The Robinia pseudoacacia L. flower, homologous to a functional food, exhibits various pharmacological effects, such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and hemostatic activities. An increasing number of studies have revealed that plant exosome-like nanoparticles (PELNs) can improve the intestinal microbiota and exert antioxidant effects. In this study, the oral administration of Robinia pseudoacacia L. flower exosome-like nanoparticles (RFELNs) significantly ameliorated hypoxia-induced gastric and small intestinal mucosal injury in mice by downregulating hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) and HIF-2α expression and inhibiting hypoxia-mediated ferroptosis. In addition, oral RFELNs partially improved hypoxia-induced microbial and metabolic disorders of the stomach and small intestine. Notably, RFELNs displayed specific targeting to the gastrointestinal tract. In vitro experiments using gastric and small intestinal epithelial cell lines showed that cell death caused by elevated HIF-1α and HIF-2α under 1% O2 mainly occurred via ferroptosis. RFELNs obviously inhibited HIF-1α and HIF-2α expression and downregulated the expression of NOX4 and ALOX5, which drive reactive oxygen species production and lipid peroxidation, respectively, suppressing ferroptosis under hypoxia. In conclusion, our findings underscore the potential of oral RFELNs as novel, naturally derived agents targeting the gastrointestinal tract, providing a promising therapeutic approach for hypoxia-induced gastric and small intestinal mucosal ferroptosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insecticide toxicity to insect herbivores has long been known to vary across different host plants; this phenomenon has been widely documented in both foliage-feeders and sap-feeders. Species-specific phytochemical content of hostplant tissues is assumed to determine the pattern of induction of insect enzymes that detoxify insecticides, but specific phytochemicals have rarely been linked to host plant-associated variation in pesticide toxicity. Moreover, no studies to date have examined the effects of nectar source identity and phytochemical composition on the toxicity of insecticides to pollinators. In this study, we compared LD50 values for the insecticide bifenthrin, a frequent contaminant of nectar and pollen in agroecosystems, in the western honey bee, Apis mellifera, consuming three phytochemically different monofloral honeys: Nyssa ogeche (tupelo), Robinia pseudoacacia (black locust), and Fagopyrum esculentum (buckwheat). We found that bifenthrin toxicity (LD50) values for honey bees across different honey diets is linked to their species-specific phytochemical content. The profiles of phenolic acids and flavonoids of buckwheat and locust honeys are richer than is the profile of tupelo honey, with buckwheat honey containing the highest total content of phytochemicals and associated with the highest bifenthrin LD50 in honey bees. The vector fitting in the ordination analysis revealed positive correlations between LD50 values and two honey phytochemical richness estimates, Chao1 and Abundance-based Coverage Estimator (ACE). These findings suggest unequal effects among different phytochemicals, consistent with the interpretation that certain compounds, including ones that are rare, may have a more pronounced effect in mitigating pesticide toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The aims of this study are to explore the temporal and spatial variation characteristics of soil moisture in Robinia pseudoacacia plantation and Quercus liaotungensis natural secondary forest in the loess hilly region and its response mechanism to rainfall events, and reveal the soil moisture characteristics and differences between two typical forest communities in this region, so as to provide scientific basis for the construction and management of forest vegetation in this area. [Methods] The mature forest communities of two typical tree species in the loess hilly region were taken as the objects. By monitoring the soil moisture content in the range of 0-300 cm in the experimental site for 10 years (2009-2019), combining with the change of precipitation in the same period, the temporal and spatial variation pattern of soil moisture in these two typical forest communities and its response to rainfall were analyzed. [Results] (1) At the end of the growing season in 2019, the average soil water contents of the two forest communities at 0-100 cm and 0- 300 cm were higher than the average values in 2009, and there was a significant difference between the two communities in the range of 0-100 cm, and the average soil water content of Quercus liaotungensis forest in 2019 was significantly higher than that of Robinia pseudoacacia forest. The average value in the range of 0-300 em was significantly different only in Quercus liaotungensis forest. (2) The spatial distribution of soil moisture in the two forest communities fluctuated obviously in the 0-200 cm soil layer. The temporal and spatial stability of soil moisture in Quercus liaotungensis forest in 200-300 cm soil layer was higher than that in Robinia pseudoacacia forest. (3) The monthly dynamic trend of soil moisture in the two forest communities was basically the same, which was roughly synchronized with the monthly dynamic trend of rainfall, but the soil moisture in Quercus liaotungensis forest was always higher than that in Robinia pseudoacacia forest. (4) On the interannual scale, the soil water content of the two forest communities at the end of the growing season was significantly positively correlated with the rainfall in that year. With the increase of rainfall, the Quercus liaotungensis forest offset the evapotranspiration water consumption and supplemented the soil water more than the Robinia pseudoacacia forest. The increment of soil water storage in the two forest communities showed a very significant exponential growth relationship with the secondary rainfall. The supplementary effect of soil moisture in Robinia pseudoacacia forest was greater than that in Quercus liaotungensis forest when the secondary rainfall was small (less than 22 mm), but it was more beneficial to supplement soil moisture in Quercus liaotungensis forest when the secondary rainfall was large (more than 22 mm). [Conclusion] There are significant differences in temporal and spatial variation characteristics of soil moisture between two forest communities, especially in deep soil. Compared with Robinia pseudoacacia forest, the response of soil moisture in Quercus liaotungensis forest to interannual rainfall is more obvious. The difference of soil water storage in two forest communities to rainfall event depends on the amount of rainfall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] The aims of this study are to compare and analyze the applicability of modified Gash model and neural network model in simulating and predicting canopy interception of artificial forest to reveal the canopy interception and its response process of Robinia pseudoacacia in arid area, and to provide scientific basis for further understanding of forest eco-hydrological process and its regulation mechanism. [Method] Robinia pseudoacacia plantation in the east of the Yellow River of Ningxia was taken as the research object, the stemflow and throughfall were observed and the canopy interception was calculated. The modified Gash model and neural network model were used to simulate the canopy interception of Robinia pseudoacacia forest. [Result] (1) The throughfall, stemflow and canopy interception of Robinia pseudoacacia plantation in the study area were 154.19 mm, 5.61 mm and 16.5 mm, respectively, and the thresholds for throughfall and stemflow were 1.37 mm and 2.17 mm, respectively. (2) Both the Gash modified model and the optimized neural network model could better simulate the canopy interception of Robinia pseudoacacia. The absolute error, mean square error, root mean square error and mean absolute percentage error of the Gash modified model were 0.20%, 0.06%, 0.24% and 52.43%, respectively. The fitting accuracy of the simulation results reached 83%. Compared with the Gash modified model, the mean square error of the BP neural network algorithm model (SSA-BP) optimized by the sparrow search algorithm was reduced by 61.48%, the mean absolute error was reduced by 40.39%, the root mean square error was reduced by 37.93%, the mean absolute percentage error was reduced by 50.52%, and the coefficient of determination was increased by 1.2%. [Conclusion] In the simulation study of canopy interception, the BP neural network model with sparrow search algorithm has a good reliability, which can effectively reduce the simulation error and improve the prediction accuracy of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Afforestation is considered an effective strategy to improve soil carbon (C) and fertility in degraded drylands. However, how specific species identities (e.g., conifers or broadleaves) impact C and nutrient concentrations across deep soil layers remains uncertain. Methods: Three most important plantation forests, including plantations of native mono-species Pinus tabuliformis (coniferous species), exotic mono-species Robinia pseudoacacia (broadleaf and nitrogen-fixing species), and their mixed, were selected to explore their effects on soil organic C (SOC) and nutrient concentrations throughout soil profile (0–200 cm) in the Loess Plateau. Results: The results showed that soil C and nutrient concentrations were strongly affected by species identity. Specifically, R. pseudoacacia contained significantly higher SOC, total nitrogen (N), and ammonia N concentrations than other plantations at the top layer (0–60 cm), but R. pseudoacacia contained lower total phosphorus (P) concentrations than other plantations. In the deep layer (60–200 cm), R. pseudoacacia contained lower total N, nitrate N, and total P concentrations than other plantations. There was no significant difference in SOC concentration among plantation types in the deep layer. We found antagonistic effects of tree mixtures on soil P in the top and deep layers. Furthermore, microbial biomass C and N was the primary driver of SOC and N concentration in the top layer, respectively. Conversely, fine root biomass was the primary factor influencing N and P concentrations in the deep layer. This suggests that planting exotic R. pseudoacacia with higher root biomass has the potential to exacerbate soil N and P depletion in the deep layer. Conclusion: Our work emphasizes the key role of species identities in regulating soil nutrient concentrations, especially in the deep layer, and the importance of tree species selection in dryland afforestation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the context of significant global warming and the intensification of extreme climate events in the last century, large‐scale reforestation and afforestation have been recognized as effective strategies to mitigate the climate crisis. Since the 1970s, China has launched several afforestation programs aimed at regional ecological protection, playing an important role in reaching carbon neutrality by 2060. This study provided a detailed analysis of the growth suitability of the main planted conifers (Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica and Pinus tabulaeformis) and broadleaves (Populus spp., Robinia pseudoacacia) in the semi‐arid northern China. We compared the radial growth trends of plantations and their responses to extreme droughts from 1980 to 2018. Growth of most plantations has significantly increased over time, but broadleaves showed recent growth reductions in the past decade, which may be related to tree age and reduced soil moisture. Nevertheless, under warmer climate scenarios, the growth of plantations is forecasted to continue increasing. Broadleaves showed a better post‐drought recovery, probably linked to their anisohydric behavior, than conifers, which presented a better resistance to drought. Growth of conifers depended more on warmer temperature and better precipitation conditions during the growing season, whereas broadleaves mainly reacted to warm temperature. Additionally, pre‐drought growth levels weakened resilience components, while post‐drought precipitation compensated for drought‐induced growth deficit. Growth and resilience were negatively related to tree age, while higher stand density reduced growth. This assessment and projections of growth and drought resilience indicate the sustainability of most plantations in semi‐arid regions, but future warmer and drier conditions may lead to an uncertain future regarding forest health and reduce their carbon sink potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing demand for wood with enhanced flame retardant characteristics in construction applications necessitates strategic interventions. This study explores the fire behaviour and chemical characterisation of Robinia pseudoacacia wood subjected to thermal modification and flame retardant treatments. Thermal modification was carried out at three different temperatures (160 °C, 180 °C and 240 °C). The fire properties of wood coated with Flame Gard (F), a commercial flame retardant, arabinogalactan (A), a natural flame retardant, melamine adhesive (MF) with ammonium polyphosphate (AP), nanosilica (NS), nanoclay (NC) (MF-AP-NS and MF-AP-NC) and arabinogalactan with AP, NS and NC (A-AP-NS and A-AP-NC), were assessed using cone calorimetry in terms of the weight loss rate, ignition time and heat release rate. The commercial flame retardant Flame Gard outperformed the natural and fortified flame retardants in terms of the weight loss rate, heat release rate (HRR) and ignition time (tig). Unmodified samples exhibited superior fire properties in terms of tig and HRR compared to thermally modified samples. The peak heat release rate (kW.m− 2) and time to peak heat release rate (s) showed a moderate degree of dependency on the chemical constituents of the wood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silvopastoral systems are widely used for ecological vegetation restoration in fragile areas. As the main landform of western Henan, the low hilly areas are experiencing water and soil loss because of human activities. However, the effect of silvopastoral systems on soil nutrients in low hilly areas has not been well studied. To address this issue, we established a silvopastoral experiment in the low hilly area of western Henan province in 2011, where four plots of pure forest of poplar (Populus simonii, PS), oriental thuja (Platycladus orientalis, PO), Chinese cork oak (Quercus variabilis, QV) and false acacia (Robinia pseudoacacia, RP) was planted on a natural wasteland; perennial alfalfa (Medicago sativa, MS) was intercropped with these pure forest plots as silvopastoral treatments, i.e., PS-MS, PO-MS, QV-MS and RP-MS; one plot of natural wasteland as CK. In 2018, 2019 and 2020, we examined the soil total carbon (TC) and total nitrogen (TN) of different vegetation restorations. Results showed that the silvopastoral treatments (PO-MS, QV-MS and RP-MS) generally increased the TC and TN (by ~ 53% and ~ 51% in 2018, ~ 66% and ~ 49% in 2019, and ~ 66% and ~ 67% in 2020, respectively) compared to the pure forest treatments, and were also higher than the M and PS-MS. The change in relative TC and TN between downslope and upslope positions is higher in PS and PO, lower in RP compared to the PS-MS and PO-MS, RP-MS respectively, and non-different between QV and QV-MS. In summary, soil nutrient properties are generally higher but vary among the slope positions in the silvopastoral treatments compared to pure forest treatments in the low hilly area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the large-scale vegetation restoration on the Loess Plateau, the introduction of exotic species with high water consumption, such as Robinia pseudoacacia L., led to widespread soil desiccation, and resulted in severe drought stress and increasing risk of forest degradation and mortality. Accurate assessment of drought-induced mortality risk in plantation forests is essential for evaluating and enhancing the sustainability of ecological restoration, yet quantitative research at the regional scale on the Loess Plateau is lacking. With a focus on Robinia pseudoacacia L. plantations, we utilized a coupled model of the Biome BioGeochemical Cycles model and plant supply–demand hydraulic model (BBGC-SPERRY model) to simulate the dynamics of the annual average percentage loss of whole-plant hydraulic conductance (APLK) at 124 meteorological stations over an extended period (1961–2020) to examine changes in plant hydraulic safety in Robinia pseudoacacia L. plantations. Based on the probability distribution of APLK at each site, the drought-induced mortality risk probability (DMRP) in Robinia pseudoacacia L. was determined. The results indicate the BBGC-SPERRY model could effectively simulate the spatiotemporal variations in transpiration and evapotranspiration in Robinia pseudoacacia L. stands on the Loess Plateau. The mean APLK and DMRP exhibited increasing trends from southeast to northwest along a precipitation gradient, with their spatial patterns on the Loess Plateau mainly driven by mean annual precipitation and also significantly influenced by other climatic and soil factors. The low-risk (DMRP < 2%), moderate-risk (2% ≤ DMRP ≤ 5%), and high-risk (DMRP > 5%) zones for drought-induced mortality in Robinia pseudoacacia L. accounted for 60.0%, 30.7%, and 9.3% of the study area, respectively. These quantitative findings can provide an important basis for rational forestation and sustainable vegetation management on the Loess Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Runoff and sediment (RAS) are important indicators of soil erosion in a watershed, playing a significant role in the migration of surface material and landform development. Previous studies have extensively documented the effects of trees, shrubs, herbs, and soil on runoff and sediment during erosive rainfall; however, the precise interactions among these factors and their influence on RAS yield within the vegetation hierarchy remain unclear. Using the random forest algorithm and the structural equation model, this research aimed to quantify the interaction of numerous variables within diverse vegetation hierarchies and how they affect RAS, as well as to identify critical indicators that influence RAS. The structural equation model results show that the grass properties have a direct effect on soil properties, and the grass properties and soil properties both affect the canopy properties directly; the soil properties and canopy properties are the main factors influencing runoff and sediment directly. In addition, the grass properties could affect RAS by influencing the soil properties indirectly, and the soil properties could also affect RAS indirectly by influencing the canopy properties. Height difference (HD) between two layers of vegetation had the highest weight of 1.043 among the canopy variables, showing that HD has a substantial effect on RAS. Among the soil properties, soil bulk density and maximum field capacity have a significant impact on RAS. We conclude that canopy properties have the greatest impact on RAS. In the future, more Caragana microphylla Lam and Robinia pseudoacacia Linn plants should be planted to prevent soil erosion. This study provides a scientific basis for vegetation planting management and soil erosion control on the Loess Plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Analyzing deep soil water use (DSWU) response to precipitation change and its impact on tree physiology is necessary to understand tree mortality mechanisms, especially in drylands. Using a process‐based model parameterized with in situ measured fine root distribution data for 0–2,000 cm depth, along with a root‐cutting (below 200 cm depth) numerical experiment, this study explored DSWU strategies and their contribution to total water consumption during different precipitation years, as well as their relationship to tree gas exchange traits, in mature apple (Malus pumila Mill) tree and black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) plantations in both wetter (Changwu, 583 mm) and drier (Yan'an, 534 mm) sites on China's Loess Plateau. Results showed that DSWU at 200–2,000 cm depth in different precipitation years of both species mainly occurred during the early growing seasons. On average, DSWU contributed 22.9% and 25.1% to the total water consumption of apple trees and black locust, respectively, and its contribution increased to 26.0% and 36.7% in extremely dry years. Moreover, the lack of DSWU significantly decreased (p < 0.05) stomatal conductance (by 16.9%, 16.9%, 47.4%, and 11.4%, respectively) and photosynthetic rates (by 37.1%, 20.1%, 28.5%, and 16.4%, respectively) of Changwu apple trees, Yan'an apple trees, Changwu black locust and Yan'an black locust in extremely dry years. Similar reductions occurred only in Yan'an for both tree species in normal years. In contrast, no significant differences were found in gas exchange traits in extremely wet years. Our results highlight that DSWU is an important strategy for plantations in the deep vadose zone region to resist extreme drought. Key Points: A process‐based model parameterized with measured fine root data for 0–20 m was used to explore DSWU and its relationship to tree gas exchange traitsDeep (2–20 m) soil water contributed 20.3%–26.0% and 14.4%–36.7% to total water consumption for apple tree and black locust, respectivelyDWSU can compensate for the drought effect on gas exchange in dry years better than in wet years for dryland tree plantations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many European countries have extensively practiced the cultivation of black locust. This species is characterised by rapid growth, the application possibility for degraded land reclamation and other useful properties, but its adventiveness and invasive status require more thorough research. The aim of the research was to assess the viability of a population of black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) in urban environment by determining its vital status and measuring height of the plants and diameter of their trunks as the main morphometric indicators. The research was conducted in the recreational area of the Oles Honchar Dnipro National University Botanical Garden. There were recorded 178 plants of R. pseudoacacia. Tree heights were measured by a Suunto PM-5 mechanical height meter in three-time repetition for each plant, and the average value was calculated based on these data. The trunk diameter was measured at the small fork as a distance between two parallel tangents. The vital status of the trees was determined by the 5-point scale of V. A. Alekseev. The height of the vast majority of the studied trees varied 25 to 30 m. The height of one species representative reached 32 m. The trunk diameter of the most trees in the territory ranged 30 to 40 cm. Plants with a trunk diameter of between 40 cm and 50 cm were the next largest group. A 101 cm trunk diameter was found in just one tree. Most plants in the research area had a vitality score of 2 - good state. Accordingly, these were the plants that had the largest trunks of examined trees. The fewest number of plants was in a very bad state and had a score of 5. The good and satisfactory vital conditions were observed in plants whose trunks were the tallest and had the largest diameter, and whose morphometric indices slightly varied (the height-diameter trunk correlation was reliable). Plants in depressed and poor vital state were characterised by significant variability in the morphometric parameters (the correlation between height and trunk diameter was not reliable). The ecological condition of the black locust population in the area was assessed, and it was concluded that its morphometric parameters cannot be used as indicators of plant vitality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of agroforestry biomass provides several advantages, both from an environmental point of view, in terms of the mitigation of global warming, and in terms of a circular economy for agricultural or agroforestry companies that reuse pruning residues as a source of energy. However, even if the use of energy pellets resulting from the pruning residues of various agroforestry species has excellent potential for the valorization of agricultural by-products, the physicochemical characteristics of these pellets have been scarcely studied by the scientific community. In this context, this study aims to assess the valorization potential of various lignocellulosic material residues produced during agroforestry activities. The objectives of the study include evaluating the chemical and physical characteristics of pellets produced with different mixtures of agroforestry biomass (olive, citrus, black locust, poplar, paulownia, etc.) in order to determine the optimal pellet blend from an energy and physicochemical perspective. The results of this study demonstrate that this comprehensive analysis provides valuable information on the optimization of biomass mixtures for better energy valorization, addressing both compositional and combustion-related challenges. In fact, it is observed that the addition of citrus and olive biomass to the various mixtures increases their energy potential. Furthermore, all of the pellets analyzed are found to possess an adequate and useful durability index (PDI) for their handling during storage and transport operations. This study demonstrates that olive and citrus pruning residues can be used to improve biomasses that have poor suitability in energetic, physical, and chemical terms. Further studies could be useful to understand which specific interaction mechanisms have an influence on emissions in order to optimize mixtures using different biomass sources for sustainable energy production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The importance of seed and vegetative propagation for the spontaneous expansion of black locust on abandoned agricultural land was evaluated in the present study. The dynamics of expansion was reconstructed on the basis of spatial distribution data on the age of individuals of this species. A non-homogeneous Poisson process with a linear trend and a Widom-Rowlinson model were the most appropriate in explaining the spatial distribution of R. pseudoacacia individuals. The negative linear trend was statistically significant for the vast majority of polygons in the area of spontaneous expansion of R. pseudoacacia, but insignificant in the artificial plantation. The model parameter η indicates the aggregated spatial distribution of R. pseudoacacia in the zone of spontaneous spread due to the vegetative mechanism of spread. The distribution of R. pseudoacacia in the artificial tree plantation was close to regular, or either random or aggregated. In the early stages, the seed reproduction is the most likely process of R. pseudoacacia spreading. The seed mechanism of spreading follows a spatial pattern, which is explained by a linear trend. The next stage is a combination of both seed and vegetative mechanisms of spread, which also lasts about 4–5 years. At the last stage, the spread occurs mainly through the vegetative mechanism, and the rate of spread of the community slows down significantly. The trigger for the spread is anthropogenic impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]