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The mutualistic interaction between trees and ectomycorrhizal fungi (EMF) can have a major effect on forest dynamics and specifically on seedling establishment. Here, we compared the EMF community composition associated with the roots of young saplings and mature trees of two co-habiting Pinaceae: Pinus halepensis and Cedrus deodara growing together in a post-fire forest plot, using fungal ITS metabarcoding. We found that the differences in the EMF community between the two sapling groups were mostly attributed to changes in the relative abundance of specific fungal species, with little species turnover. Specifically, Tomentella showed high abundance on pine roots, while Tuber , Russula and Sebacina were more common on the roots of cedars. The physical proximity to a specific host species was correlated with the EMF community composition of young saplings. Specifically, regardless of the sapling's own identity, the roots of saplings growing next to mature cedars had higher abundance of Tuber species, while Tomentella coerulea (Höhn. & Litsch) , Russula densifolia (Secr. ex Gillet) and Tuber nitidum (Vittadini) dominated saplings next to mature pines. Cedar saplings' shoot structure was correlated with a specific EMF species. Overall, these results suggest that when germinating next to mature trees, the EMF community of saplings could be determined by extrinsic factors such as the small-scale distribution of mature trees in the forest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a widespread distribution throughout the Northern Hemisphere and 11 genera, Pinaceae is the largest family of Gymnosperms in the world. Essential oils are an important chemotaxonomic marker for the species of this family, although the degree of chemical and biological investigation has not been the same for all genera. Essential oils from Abies and Cedrus (from the abietoid clade) or Pinus and Picea (from the pinoid clade) have been more extensively investigated with respect to their chemical composition and biological or pharmacological properties, including their antioxidant effects. Instead, essential oils from the other genera of the family have been less explored in this respect or even have not been investigated at all. This is a narrative review looking into the knowledge acquired up to date, the variability and limitations of the current methods used to estimate antioxidant effects, and multiple comparisons between EOs obtained from different genera, species, and plant parts, as well as potential applications and future directions of research and utilization of essential oils derived from Pinaceae species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cedrus deodara is a coniferous tree native to Himalayan region. Its wood is a valuable resource for the timber industry; however, its bark is typically discarded as a waste material. The present study examines the performance of Cedrus deodara bark powder (CD) as an inexpensive adsorbent for elimination of Pb (II) ions. In addition to this multiple linear regression (MLR) and artificial neural network (ANN) models were developed for modelling the adsorption process and prediction of Pb (II) removal efficiency. The structural and chemical properties of CD were explored using Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive Spectrometer (EDS), X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of factors including pH, contact time, initial Pb (II) concentration and temperature on Pb (II) adsorption. The adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models with maximum monolayer uptake capacity 77.52 mg/g. Based on the thermodynamic criteria, the process was endothermic and spontaneous with enthalpy change (H = 8.08 kJ/mol), free energy change (G = -2.44 kJ/mol) and entropy change (S = 0.03 kJ/K/mol). Statistical comparison of MLR model (R2 = 0.817, RMSE = 8.954, MAPE = 17.379 %) and ANN model (R2 = 0.993, RMSE = 1.777, MAPE = 2.054 %) confirmed that ANN model was far more accurate in predicting removal efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cedrus deodara is an important tree species and needs to be a plantation in a large area for the present scenario of climate change mitigation and global warming. For large-scale afforestation and reforestation activity, suitable seed sources are needed to produce quality planting stock. Therefore, the present study was conducted to understand the amount and patterns of variation in morphometric characteristics of Cedrus deodara cones, seeds, and their germination. Cone of Cedrus deodara was collected from ten different provenances of Western Himalaya. Signi$cant variation (p < .05) was recorded for different morphological characteristics of cones, seeds, and seedlings among different provenances. Cone weight, seed moisture content, and seed weight were the most variable characters among the studied traits. On average, cone length, cone weight, and cone diameter were 8.85 cm, 104.59 g, and 6.39 cm, respectively. While the seed length, seed width, and seed thickness were 1.20, 0.46, and 0.27 cm, the seed weight was 9.70 g, respectively. The maximum (92.10%) germination was recorded at 15°C. Most of the cone and seed traits showed high heritability with genetic gain, indicating that strong genetic control should be considerable for the further improvement in Cedrus deodara. The variability appeared to be naturally structured and would be mainly hereditarily controlled. On the basis of cone morphology, seed traits, and seed germination, Kandolia, Dhanaulti, and Dandachalli were the best provenances. The results of the present study help collect quality seeds for producing the quality planting stock for these tree crops for plantations in Uttarakhand, Himalaya. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa is a defoliating lepidopter that develops during winter. The larvae are gregarious and bear urticating setae that are harmful to humans and vertebrates. They shelter in conspicuous silk tents that are easy to detect. We here present a dataset comprising tree characterization and tent counts from 3 agglomerations in France located in regions with different climatic environments. The studied trees belong to various conifer species that are potential hosts for the caterpillars. In each site, we defined clusters as one target tree and its 10–62 nearest neighbors, and surveyed each tree within the clusters by informing: tree species, coordinates, size, number of tents. We characterized a total of 3690 trees, including 2009 trees in Orléans (grouped in 68 clusters), 359 trees in La Baule (18 clusters) and 1322 trees in Montpellier (52 clusters). We provide the raw data characterizing each individual tree, graphs showing the prevalence and mean number of tents for the tree species included in the survey, and maps allowing to locate each tree. This dataset brings information about host preference of the pine processionary moth and will be useful as a baseline to study spatio-temporal variability of host-insect relationships. It can also be informative for decision-makers and managers of urban greenings to avoid trees that are likely to be heavily infested for plantation in proximity to vulnerable people.

With a widespread distribution throughout the Northern Hemisphere and 11 genera, Pinaceae is the largest family of Gymnosperms in the world. Essential oils are an important chemotaxonomic marker for the species of this family, although the degree of chemical and biological investigation has not been the same for all genera. Essential oils from Abies and Cedrus (from the abietoid clade) or Pinus and Picea (from the pinoid clade) have been more extensively investigated with respect to their chemical composition and biological or pharmacological properties, including their antioxidant effects. Instead, essential oils from the other genera of the family have been less explored in this respect or even have not been investigated at all. This is a narrative review looking into the knowledge acquired up to date, the variability and limitations of the current methods used to estimate antioxidant effects, and multiple comparisons between EOs obtained from different genera, species, and plant parts, as well as potential applications and future directions of research and utilization of essential oils derived from Pinaceae species.

The morphological features of plants, which were the basis of taxonomic solutions in the past, are now sometimes less appreciated due to the intensive development of genetic methods. The present review looks at the results of the research on the taxonomy of plants carried out by the team led by A. Boratyński. The team characterized the taxonomic and geographical differentiation of some species of the genera Abies , Juniperus , Pinus , Cupressus , Cedrus , as well as several others. Many of these studies were carried out in the Mediterranean area due to its importance for biodiversity. The results allowed unravelling taxonomic ambiguities, emphasizing the importance of geographic barriers in shaping variability, e.g., the Strait of Gibraltar or the Aegean Sea, and highlighting the role of mountain ranges as refuges, e.g., the Taurus and Anti-Taurus Mountains. All of the results obtained with biometrics were confirmed by genetic methods by different authors. Detailed research allowed the publication of a new name, Juniperus thurifera subsp. africana (Maire) Romo & Boratyński, stat. nov., and restoration of species status for the dubious taxon Juniperus canariensis . The review shows that relying on the research of a large number of correctly sampled populations and correctly selected differentiated characteristics of plants allows the generation of reliable results.

Cedar (Cedrus deodara) is one of the most important plant species used in timber industry in India. It also has some medicinal properties. In current study, the effect of various concentrations of plant growth regulators (BAP and 2,4-D) and surface sterilant (mercuric chloride) was observed for in vitro establishment of Cedrus deodara. Nodal explants were inoculated on MS media supplemented with auxin and cytokinin. Present work was carried out at Department of Botany, R.C.U. Govt. (P.G.) College, Uttarkashi, India. Maximum bud response (47%) and number of shoots (3.0) was exhibited by explants inoculated in MS media supplemented with BAP/2,4-D at 1.0 mg/l and 0.2 mg/l concentration. For surface sterilization HgCl2was used at four different concentrations i.e., 0.01, 0.05. 0.1 and 0.5 mg/l. Maximum explants were survived with 0.01% HgCl2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cedrus Trew (Pinaceae) includes four species, which are disjunctively distributed in the Mediterranean region and western Himalaya. Understanding the historical distribution of Cedrus and the driving factors can provide valuable information for the conservation of these species. In this study, we collected current distribution data and pollen fossil records for Cedrus. We used MaxEnt to simulate the distribution of Cedrus in the Mediterranean region and western Himalaya during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the middle Holocene (MH), present and future in response to different climate scenarios. Our simulation results indicate that winter precipitation is the key factor that determines the distribution of Cedrus, followed by winter temperature. The results also show that summer precipitation had a more important impact in the Mediterranean region than in the western Himalaya. The results indicate that climate change exerts a significant impact on the distribution of Cedrus in the Mediterranean, but not as much as in the western Himalaya. This could be attributed to the greater availability of microclimates (climate niche space) in the latter region. The availability of microclimates associated with the complex topography in the western Himalaya. The simulated results are generally consistent with fossil data. In the Mediterranean region, the suitability of the habitats for Cedrus decreased continuously from the LGM to the year 2070, with a distinct drop from the LGM to the MH. In the western Himalaya, the potential suitability of habitats for Cedrus increased from the LGM to the MH, but might fluctuate in the future. In general, this study identifies the key climate factors restricting the natural distribution of Cedrus. It shows that the distribution of Cedrus would be reduced in response to global climate change in the future, which indicates an urgent need for the protection and management of Cedrus populations.

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Climate change is one of the main drivers of the changes in the distribution of species in the twenty-first century. Thus, the number of studies on the prediction of the effects of climate change on species is increasing day by day. Calomicrus apicalis is a pest leaf beetle (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) species which only distributes in Cyprus, Syria, and Turkey. The species causes important damages especially on Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani) stands of Turkish forests and also feeds on Pinus brutia, P. nigra, and P. sylvestris trees. This study aims to model the current and future (2041–2060 and 2081–2100) distribution of this pest species according to SSP2 and SSP5 emission scenarios given by the MIROC6 climate change model. Maximum entropy (MaxEnt) modeling was used to determine the current and future potential distribution of the species. Also, post-modeling analyses were performed to reveal the changes in both spatial distribution and niche suitability of the area (according to presence probability classes) between present and future distribution ranges of the species. The most important bioclimatic variables which shape the range of the species were precipitation of driest quarter, temperature seasonality, and precipitation of driest month. As a result of the study, it is determined that the current distribution of the species could be wider than its known distribution range. Most of all, the whole of the Aegean Region is a highly suitable area for the species. According to our models, the distribution of the species under climate change will expand toward the Sivas Province from the present to 2041–2060 and 2081–2100. However, the distribution of the species will shrink considerably from 2041–2060 to 2081–2100 because of changing climate. According to the change analysis, highly suitable areas for the species will decrease by around 36% and 15% by 2081–2100 according to the SSP2 and SSP5 scenarios, respectively. Although the distribution of the species will shrink in the future, the species should be observed up to 2041–2060 because it will distribute more widely in this period (current to 2041–2060) and cause damages in weakened trees due to drought stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The structure of the assimilatory tissue of the leaves at conifers studied mainly on cross-sections. The purpose of the study is to compare the features of the 3D forms of assimilative cells and the structure of the needle mesophyll in the species of the Pinus and Cedrus genera. Materials and methods. The structure of photosynthetic parenchyma was studied in two-year-old needles on shortened shoots by the example of 10 species of the genus Pinus (5 species of the subgenus Pinus, 5 species of the subgenus Strobus) and 3 species of the genus Cedrus. Leaf samples were fixed in mixture of Hammalunda. The spatial forms of assimilative cells and their mutual arrangement were investigated using a light microscope in the middle part of needles on transverse, paradermal and radial sections. Results and conclusions. The mesophyll of needles in species of the genera Pinus and Cedrus is mainly represented by folded cells, which for the most part differ in size and features of their spatial configuration. The longest assimilative cells of needles are characteristic of species of the genus Cedrus, and the shortest and thickest ones are characteristic of the subgenus Strobus. In the subgenus Pinus, the folded cells are generally flat; they have complex lobed shapes on the cross sections and elongated oval projections on the radial sections. In species of the subgenus Strobus, a significant part of the folded cells is thicker and more complex configurations, in which the lobed projections on cross sections are combined with different variants of cellular and semi-cellular forms in the longitudinal direction. Chlorenchyma of needles in species in the genus Cedrus consists mainly of flat folded cells with a small participation of folded-sinuate and folded-semi-cellular, as well as cells of a simple form. In the species of the genus Cedrus, in addition to well-pronounced lobes, projections of assimilation cells are often distinguished by small rounded teeth, which appear on both the transverse and radial sections of the needles. In the needles chlorenchyma at all species, cells of the subhypodermal layer are distinguished, having palisade- like protrusions, the height of which is more than width at species of the subgenus Pinus by 1.2–1.8 times, the subgenus Strobus by 1.1–1.4 times, and in representatives of the genus Cedrus – 1.7–2.6 times. They are almost perpendicular to the leaf surface and create an analogy of palisade tissue.

Decent and healthy growth of plants in soil is related to the soil medium's physical and chemical properties. Plants also display diverse defense reactions and growth curves against the insects that feed on their sap. In this study, vegetative growth parameters, chemical and physical content changes of soil and plant, and population density of the aphid, Cinara cedri, on Cedar (Cedrus libani L.) seedlings grown in four different soil treatments infected with Cinara cedri Mimeur 1936 (Hemiptera: Aphidoidea) was investigated. Ten two-year-old cedar seedlings were grown in control (Ck), worm-added (Cs), fertilized(Cg) and worm-added and fertilized(Csg) soils. Cinara cedri aphid colonization was considerably less on cedar seedlings grown in worm-added soils. A marked increase in the number of Cedar shoots grown in Csg soils (13.5 ± 2.5) and an increase in seedling length (10.3 ± 6.5) was moderately greater in Cs than in the other soils. Clay content was the highest in Ck and lowest in Csg soils while organic matter content was the greatest in Cs and lowest in Cg soils. The salt, pH, and total lime content were significantly greater in Cs, Cg, and Csg soils than in Ck soils. It can be concluded that adding worms and fertilizers into the soils may improve plant growth and prevent damage to plants caused by pests. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphological features of plants, which were the basis of taxonomic solutions in the past, are now sometimes less appreciated due to the intensive development of genetic methods. The present review looks at the results of the research on the taxonomy of plants carried out by the team led by A. Boratyński. The team characterized the taxonomic and geographical differentiation of some species of the genera Abies, Juniperus, Pinus, Cupressus, Cedrus, as well as several others. Many of these studies were carried out in the Mediterranean area due to its importance for biodiversity. The results allowed unravelling taxonomic ambiguities, emphasizing the importance of geographic barriers in shaping variability, e.g., the Strait of Gibraltar or the Aegean Sea, and highlighting the role of mountain ranges as refuges, e.g., the Taurus and Anti-Taurus Mountains. All of the results obtained with biometrics were confirmed by genetic methods by different authors. Detailed research allowed the publication of a new name, Juniperus thurifera subsp. africana (Maire) Romo & Boratyński, stat. nov., and restoration of species status for the dubious taxon Juniperus canariensis. The review shows that relying on the research of a large number of correctly sampled populations and correctly selected differentiated characteristics of plants allows the generation of reliable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Seed cones of extant Pinaceae exhibit two mechanisms of seed release. In "flexers" the cone scales remain attached to the central axis, while flexing and separating from each other to release the seeds. In "shedders" scales are shed from the axis, with the seeds either remaining attached to the scale or becoming detached. The early fossil history of Pinaceae from the Jurassic to Early Cretaceous is dominated by flexing seed cones, while the systematic information provided by shedding fossil cones has been overlooked and rarely integrated with data based on compression and permineralized specimens. We describe the earliest and best‐documented evidence of a "shedder" seed cone from the Aptian–Albian of Mongolia. Methods: Lignite samples from Tevshiin Govi locality were disaggregated in water, washed, and dried in air. Fossils were compared to material of extant Pinaceae using LM and CT scans. Results: Lepidocasus mellonae gen. et sp. nov. is characterized by a seed cone that disarticulated at maturity and shed obovate bract–scale complexes that have a distinctive ribbed surface and an abaxial surface covered with abundant trichomes. The ovuliferous scale has ca. 30–40 resin canals, but only scarce xylem near the attachment to the cone axis. Resin vesicles are present in the seed integument. Phylogenetic analysis places Lepidocasus as sister to extant Cedrus within the abietoid grade. Conclusions: The exquisite preservation of the trichomes in L. mellonae raises questions about their potential ecological function in the cones of fossil and living Pinaceae. Lepidocasus mellonae also shows that a shedding dispersal syndrome, a feature that has often been overlooked, evolved early in the history of Pinaceae during the Early Cretaceous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of pine needle extract from Cedrus deodara (PNE) on the quality of salted meat was reported, and its action mechanism was further investigated. With the treatment of PNE, the physicochemical properties of salted meat were improved. The peroxide value decreased from 16.18 to 6.78 mmol O2/kg, while the thiobarbituric acid value decreased from 0.79 to 0.40 mg MDA/kg. Moreover, the salted meat with PNE also had the better texture, color, and volatile compositions. The 0.2% PNE group showed the highest ΔE value (63.16 ± 0.56), hardness (813.5 ± 48.7 g), and volatility (45.86 ± 0.39), while the control group showed the lowest ΔE value (43.92 ± 2.13), hardness (515.8 ± 17.3 g) and volatility (29.97 ± 0.56). In addition, with the analysis of fluorescence and circular dichroism spectroscopy, the spatial structures of myofibrillar protein (MP) in salted meat were obviously changed by PNE. Meanwhile, methylconiferin, 1‐O‐feruloyl‐β‐D‐glucose, nortrachelogenin, secoxyloganin, 1‐O‐(4‐coumaroyl)‐β‐D‐glucose and pelargonidin‐3‐O‐glucoside were identified from PNE. Furthermore, according to the analysis of molecular docking, hydrogen bond, hydrophobic force, and electrostatic force were obtained as the main molecular forces between MP and the phenolic compounds of PNE, while arginine, glutamic acid, and glycine residues were the main binding sites. All results suggested that PNE might be a potential candidate to improve the quality of salted meat in the food industry. Practical Application: The quality deterioration of meat may not only affect its further processing and consumption but also may lead to some food safety problems. In present study, PNE exhibited the fine capability to inhibit the oxidation of meat, while it could ameliorate the texture, color, and physicochemical properties of meat due to its tightly interaction with myofibrillar protein. All result suggested that PNE could be potentially utilized to improve the quality of meat in food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ectomycorrhizal (EcM) roots of Cedrus deodara associated with a unique hypogeous EcM fungus-Rhizopogon himalayensis is meticulously characterized and comprehensively described based on well-established standard morphological and anatomical features. The mycobiont-R. himalayensis was found organically associated with the roots of C. deodara. The EcM morphotypes are distinguished by differences in the shape and color of the roots, type of ramification, surface texture, type of mantle, as well as different chemical reactions. All the examined morphotypes were having similar mycorrhizal system and anatomically (Mantle and Hartig net) no disparities were seen, that is, nonsignificant (p > 0.05) variations were observed. The majority of mycorrhizal systems were irregularly pinnate, dichotomous type with 0-1 order of ramification and occasional coralloid type. Mantle surface was densely cottony to loosely wooly. The outer and inner mantles were H & Q type. Hartig net was a complex net-like structure with uniseriate to mutiseriate type of hyphal cell arrangement. Rhizomorph were smooth and round, consistently growing along roots. Moreover, extraradical hyphae were hyaline, septate, and without clamp connections. Sclerotia and cystidia were absent. Our findings will contribute to the biology of ectomycorrhizae associated with primitive and economically valuable conifers, thriving in the face of shifting environmental conditions in the northwestern Himalayas., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

In conifers with spiral phyllotaxis, two numbers: one of the vascular sympodia and the second of cortical resin canals, define the shoot anatomic diameter. This in turn reflects the size and vigor of the apical meristem. Both numbers belong to the mathematical series, associated with the shoot phyllotactic pattern. The number of canals is one step lower in a series than the number of sympodia. The first one, easier to determine, automatically defines the second. Using this protocol and screening the large number of branching shoots of selected conifers, we have discovered strong correlation between orientation of vascular sympodia in the lateral and supporting branches. There was no such correlation with regard to the chiral configurations of phyllotaxis. This finding reveals the presence of special phyllotactic compensation in the case of differences in anatomic diameter of the parental and lateral shoot under the imperative of maintaining the sympodia orientation within one branching unit. Phyllotaxis of the axillary apex is evidently not established at random but adapted to the condition of the subtending axis. The monopodial, regularly branching shoot of conifers is an attractive example of biological system, which is not a sum of independent, iteratively formed units. Rather, it appears to be an entity organized on hierarchically higher level, which emerges from coordination of developmental processes in a population of the units.

Cedrus deodara is a cedar plant from the Pinaceae family. Because Cedrus is widely used in health care products, cosmetics, medicine, and insecticides, the essential oils of Cedrus deodara (CDEOs) are gaining increasing levels of attention. However, there have only been a few studies on the anti-inflammatory effects of CDEOs. This study aimed to systematically study the composition and biological effects of CDEOs, in line with this, the study assessed the chemical composition of CDEOs and evaluated their anti-inflammatory mechanisms in mice. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to determine and analyze a total of 41 compounds from CDEOs. It was found that the major components of CDEOs are thujopsene (28.23%), α-cedrene (17.01%), and cedrol (15.55%); moreover, our results showed that the active ingredients in CDEOs have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects and that the active ingredients in CDEOs can be used as an antioxidant, as an important biological resource in functional food, and as ingredients in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. Taken together, these CDEOs serve as ideal additives for anti-inflammatory drugs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In conifers with spiral phyllotaxis, two numbers: one of the vascular sympodia and the second of cortical resin canals, define the shoot anatomic diameter. This in turn reflects the size and vigor of the apical meristem. Both numbers belong to the mathematical series, associated with the shoot phyllotactic pattern. Te number of canals is one step lower in a series than the number of sympodia. Te first one, easier to determine, automatically defines the second. Using this protocol and screening the large number of branching shoots of selected conifers, we have discovered strong correlation between orientation of vascular sympodia in the lateral and supporting branches. There was no such correlation with regard to the chiral configurations of phyllotaxis. This finding reveals the presence of special phyllotactic compensation in the case of differences in anatomic diameter of the parental and lateral shoot under the imperative of maintaining the sympodia orientation within one branching unit. Phyllotaxis of the axillary apex is evidently not established at random but adapted to the condition of the subtending axis. Te monopodial, regularly branching shoot of conifers is an attractive example of biological system, which is not a sum of independent, iteratively formed units. Rather, it appears to be an entity organized on hierarchically higher level, which emerges from coordination of developmental processes in a population of the units. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is important to monitor the heavy metal pollution in order to identify risk zones and to determine the change in the heavy metal concentration of the atmosphere within the process. For this, it is necessary to carry out measurements for many years; however, this is not possible. Especially from past to present, one of the most effective methods to determine the changes of heavy metal concentrations in the atmosphere is to use the annual tree rings as biomonitors. Perennial plants growing in our country create annual rings, and it is possible to gain information regarding the changes of heavy metal concentrations in that region by determining the heavy metal concentrations in these rings. In this study, it was aimed to determine the annual changes of Pb, Co, and Fe elements' concentrations in these sections by determining the annual rings on the logs taken from the main stem of the cedar tree (Cedrus sp.), which was cut by the end of 2016, in December, 2016, in Kastamonu province. Within the scope of the study, the element concentrations were also determined in the inner and outer bark. As a result of the study, it was found that the heavy metal values in the organelles taken from the road-facing part, especially the heavy metal concentrations in the outer bark were higher than the metal concentrations in the inward-facing part, and that the concentrations changed significantly on organelle and year basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variations in mid-latitude westerlies have an important influence on climate change, but their impact on the Tibetan Plateau (TP) since the Last Glacial Maximum is still debated, due to shortage of direct proxies reflecting the variations in the westerlies. Here we present an exotic (Cedrus) pollen record from the interior of the TP since 26.5 cal ka BP to reconstruct the changes in westerlies. Combined with its modern distribution, the Cedrus pollen in our record is considered to reflect the change in the intensity and position of the westerlies. Increased Cedrus pollen inputs are consistent with cooling phases during the Heinrich Stadial (HS) 2, HS 1a, HS 1c and Younger Dryas, suggesting that the westerlies were abruptly enhanced and southward-shifted, which can be attributed to the increased equator-to-pole temperature gradients and sea ice advance. Our record over the TP is in agreement with other reconstructions from the lower altitudes suggests a synchronous change in the westerlies at different levels. • A direct proxy for variations in the westerlies over the Tibetan Plateau was presented. • We reconstructed the variations in the westerlies since the LGM. • The Cedrus pollen record was a direct evidence for variations in the mid-upper westerlies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The pine processionary moth Thaumetopoea pityocampa is a defoliating lepidopter that develops during winter. The larvae are gregarious and bear urticating setae that are harmful to humans and vertebrates. They shelter in conspicuous silk tents that are easy to detect. We here present a dataset comprising tree characterization and tent counts from 3 agglomerations in France located in regions with different climatic environments. The studied trees belong to various conifer species that are potential hosts for the caterpillars. In each site, we defined clusters as one target tree and its 10-62 nearest neighbors, and surveyed each tree within the clusters by informing: tree species, coordinates, size, number of tents. We characterized a total of 3690 trees, including 2009 trees in Orléans (grouped in 68 clusters), 359 trees in La Baule (18 clusters) and 1322 trees in Montpellier (52 clusters). We provide the raw data characterizing each individual tree, graphs showing the prevalence and mean number of tents for the tree species included in the survey, and maps allowing to locate each tree. This dataset brings information about host preference of the pine processionary moth and will be useful as a baseline to study spatio-temporal variability of host-insect relationships. It can also be informative for decision-makers and managers of urban greenings to avoid trees that are likely to be heavily infested for plantation in proximity to vulnerable people., (© 2024 The Author(s).)

Abstract Herein, a selective and sensitive fluorescence sensor was developed for the detection of phenobarbital, an epilepsy drug, using molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) coated on the surface of green source carbon dots (GSCDs). First, GSCDs were synthesized through a hydrothermal method using Cedrus as a carbon source. Then, a MIPs-GSCDs as a fluorescence probe was obtained by coating a thin film of silica on the surface of the GSCDs using a reverse micro emulsion method. In this step, phenobarbital, 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) were applied as a template, a functional monomer, and cross linker, respectively. The fluorescence signal of MIPs-GSCDs was selectively quenched by phenobarbital rebinding with MIP cavities. The fluorescence quenching signal was applied for phenobarbital sensing at the pH = 8 without the interference of other materials. After optimizing the factors affecting the sensor's response, a linear range between 0.4 and 34.5 nmol L−1 with a detection limit of 0.1 nmol L−1 was obtained. The sensor's capability in the real sample analysis was investigated by phenobarbital determination in a human blood plasma samples. Graphical abstract fx1 Highlights • Green source carbon dots (GSCDs) were synthesized by the hydrothermal method. • For the detection of phenobarbital was developed by molecularly imprinted polymer coated GSCDs composite. • A fluorescent quenching system was used for the determination of phenobarbital. • The sensor is highly selective to phenobarbital with a detection limit of 0.01 nmol L−1 and linear range of 0.04–3.45 nmol L−1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite progress in prevention and management of biological invasions, challenges remain, including difficulties with assessing future invasion risks. Predicting the identity of potentially damaging invaders is complex because they are often unknown as pests in their natural range. We used a plant sentinel approach to assess host ranges of invasive aphids across 62 conifer species from around the world in Christchurch Botanic Gardens, as a model for risk assessment such as for the 'International Plant Sentinel Network'. Using standardised sampling, we obtained ca. 600 observations of aphid abundances (4731 individuals), mainly of the pine aphids Eulachnus brevipilosus and Essigella californica and the spruce aphids Cinara pilicornis and Elatobium abietinum. These aphids were highly genus-specific, despite the spatially mixed distribution of genera. A phylogenetic analysis of pine aphid host preferences showed that abundances of species varied among pine subgenera and the geographic origin of trees, with significantly more aphids on pines in the subgenus Pinus than the subgenus Strobus. Essigella californica occurred abundantly on many pines across most subsections in the subgenus Pinus whereas E. brevipilosus was largely restricted to a few species in the subsection Pinus. Our study revealed several new host records (previously unknown aphid-host relationships) including the abundant occurrence of E. brevipilosus on Japanese red pine, P. densiflora, and of E. californica on P. yunnanensis, P. serotina, P. brutia, and P. nigra, among others. Our study identified numerous novel insect-plant interactions that are likely to materialise if these aphids colonise new host plants, confirming the utility of the plant sentinel approach. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Intergeneric relationships of Pinaceae are completely resolved by transcriptomic analysis. • Extant Pinaceae genera diverged earlier than the break-up of Pangea. • Two radiation events occurred in the evolution of Pinaceae genera. • Some important morphological characters evolved multiple times in Pinaceae. Abstract Pinaceae comprises 11 genera, and represents the largest family of conifers with an extensive wild distribution in the Northern Hemisphere. Intergeneric relationships of Pinaceae have been investigated using many morphological characters and molecular markers, but phylogenetic positions of four genera, including Cathaya , Cedrus , Nothotsuga and Pseudolarix , remain controversial or have not been completely resolved. To completely resolve the intergeneric relationships of Pinaceae, we conducted a comparative transcriptomic study of 14 species representing all Pinaceae genera. Multiple data sets, containing up to 6,369,681 sites across 4676 loci, were analyzed using concatenation and coalescent methods. Our study generated a robust topology, which divides Pinaceae into two clades, one (pinoid) including Cathaya , Larix , Picea , Pinus , and Pseudotsuga , and the other (abietoid) including Abies , Cedrus , Keteleeria , Nothotsuga , Pseudolarix , and Tsuga. Cathaya and Pinus form a clade sister to Picea ; Cedrus is sister to the remaining abietoid genera, and the two genera Nothotsuga and Tsuga form a clade sister to Pseudolarix. The discordant positions of Cathaya , Cedrus and Pseudolarix in different gene trees could be explained by ancient radiation and/or molecular homoplastic evolution. The hybrid origin hypothesis of Nothotsuga is not supported. Based on molecular dating, extant Pinaceae genera diverged since about 206 Mya, earlier than the break-up of Pangea, and the divergence among the pinoid genera occurred earlier than the split among the abietoid genera. Moreover, our study indicates that two radiation events occurred in the evolution of Pinaceae genera, and some important morphological characters evolved multiple times based on ancestral state reconstruction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe new fossil woods of Late Miocene – Early Pliocene age from Northeastern Turkey and discuss the woody flora with respect to palaeoclimate and palaeovegetation. Three different wood species, Cedrus anatolica Akkemik, Cistoxylon cistoides Akkemik & Mantz. sp. nov. and Phillyreoxylon phillyreoides Akkemik & Mantz. sp. nov. were identified. Among these fossil angiosperm species, C. cistoides is the only second fossil species of this genus described in the world. P. phillyreoides is the first fossil wood form assigned to Phillyrea L. The wood anatomical features of the described fossil angiosperm species, along with their palaeoclimatic evaluation using vulnerability and mesomorphy ratios and conductive capability sensu Carlquist, showed xeromorphic characteristics similar to the wood features of their modern representatives growing in Mediterranean conditions. The woody plant composition and xeromorphic characteristics of the woods suggest that northeastern Anatolia housed Mediterranean floristic elements in the Late Miocene-Early Pliocene. [Display omitted] • A Mediterranean type forest structure was identified from North-eastern Anatolia. • The new species Cistoxylon cistoides is described in this study. • The fossil-genus Phillyreoxylon is described for the first time. • A new species Phillyreoxylon phillyreoides is described in this study. • The presence of Mediterranean climate in Late Miocene-Early Pliocene is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the potential acaricidal and repellent effects of tar obtained from the Lebanon cedar ( Cedrus libani A. Rich.) against the brown dog tick species Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato Latreille (Acari: Ixodidae). The goal was to find an alternative, safe, and effective way to eliminate ticks. Tar is traditionally extracted from cedar trees in the Antalya region of Türkiye. The composition of the tar is primarily characterized by a diverse mixture of terpenes, with β-himachalene (29.16%), α-atlantone (28.7%), ar-turmerone (8.82%), longifolene-(V4) (6.66%), α-himachalene (5.28%), and β-turmerone (5.12%) emerging as the predominant constituents. The toxic effects of tar on tick larvae were studied through larval immersion tests (LIT), and its repellent activity was evaluated using a new larval repellent activity test (LRAT). The results revealed significant acaricidal effects, with mortality rates of 77.7% and 82.2% for the Konyaalti and Kepez strains of the brown dog tick, respectively, in response to a 1% concentration of tar. LC 50 and LC 90 values were determined as 0.47% and 1.52% for the Kepez strain and 0.58% and 1.63% for the Konyaalti strain, respectively. When comparing the repellent effect of tar to the widely used synthetic repellent DEET, repellency rates of up to 100% were observed. As a result, this study establishes, for the first time, the larvicidal and repellent effects of C. libani tar on ticks.

The stability, sensitivity, and volatility of essential oils are some of their most serious limitations, and nanoencapsulation has been considered one of the most effective techniques for solving these problems. This research aimed to investigate the incorporation of Salvia rosmarinus Speen and Cedrus atlantica Manetti (MEO) essential oil mixture in Gum Arabic (GA) and to evaluate nanoencapsulation's ability to promote antifungal activity against two brown rot fungi responsible for wood decay Gloeophyllum trabeum and Poria placenta. The optimization of encapsulation efficiency was performed using response surface methodology (RSM) with two parameters: solid-to-solid (MEO/GA ratio) and solid-to-liquid (MEO/ethanol). The recovered powder characterization was followed by various techniques using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffractometry (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). The optimal nanoencapsulating conditions obtained from RSM were ratios of MEO/GA of 1:10 (w/w) and MEO/ethanol of 10% (v/v), which provided the greatest encapsulation efficiency (87%). The results of SEM, XRD, DLS, FTIR, and TGA showed that the encapsulation of MEO using GA modified particle form and molecular structure and increased thermal stability. An antifungal activity assay indicated that an effective concentration of MEO had an inhibitory effect on brown rot fungi. It had 50% of the maximal effect (EC 50 ) value of 5.15 ± 0.88 µg/mL and 12.63 ± 0.65 µg/mL for G. trabeum and P. placenta, respectively. Therefore, this product has a great potential as a natural wood preservative for sustainable construction and green building., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Air pollution, a pressing global issue, encompasses various harmful elements, with heavy metals being particularly significant pollutants affecting all forms of life. Effective monitoring and regulation of heavy metal concentrations, especially in the atmosphere, is pivotal. Employing trees as biomonitors emerges as a potent tool, particularly in retrospectively assessing long-term heavy metal contamination trends. This study aims to furnish insights into both tin (Sn) pollutants and the most suitable species for monitoring and mitigating such pollution. Within this study's ambit, samples were collected from Pinus pinaster, Cupressus arizonica, Picea orientalis, Cedrus atlantica, and Pseudotsuga menziesii species in Duzce Province. This area, ranked as the fourth-most air-polluted in Europe according to the World Air Pollution Report, was examined to discern changes in Sn concentration across species, organs, orientations, and age groups over the last four decades. The findings revealed varying potentials for Sn accumulation among the species. Specifically, Pinus pinaster and Picea orientalis were identified as suitable species for monitoring Sn pollution, while Cupressus arizonica, Cedrus atlantica, and Pseudotsuga menziesii exhibited potential for reducing Sn pollution., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Abstract Understanding how invasive species establish and spread is vital for developing effective management strategies for invaded areas and identifying new areas where the risk of invasion is highest. We investigated the explanatory power of dispersal histories reconstructed based on local‐scale wind data and a regional‐scale wind‐dispersed particle trajectory model for the invasive seed chalcid wasp Megastigmus schimitscheki (Hymenoptera: Torymidae) in France. The explanatory power was tested by: (1) survival analysis of empirical data on M. schimitscheki presence, absence and year of arrival at 52 stands of the wasp's obligate hosts, Cedrus (true cedar trees); and (2) Approximate Bayesian analysis of M. schimitscheki genetic data using a coalescence model. The Bayesian demographic modeling and traditional population genetic analysis suggested that initial invasion across the range was the result of long‐distance dispersal from the longest established sites. The survival analyses of the windborne expansion patterns derived from a particle dispersal model indicated that there was an informative correlation between the M. schimitscheki presence/absence data from the annual surveys and the scenarios based on regional‐scale wind data. These three very different analyses produced highly congruent results supporting our proposal that wind is the most probable vector for passive long‐distance dispersal of this invasive seed wasp. This result confirms that long‐distance dispersal from introduction areas is a likely driver of secondary expansion of alien invasive species. Based on our results, management programs for this and other windborne invasive species may consider (1) focusing effort at the longest established sites and (2) monitoring outlying populations remains critically important due to their influence on rates of spread. We also suggest that there is a distinct need for new analysis methods that have the capacity to combine empirical spatiotemporal field data, genetic data, and environmental data to investigate dispersal and invasion.

Premise of the Study: Pinaceae have a rich but enigmatic early fossil record, much of which is represented by permineralized seed cones. Our incomplete knowledge of morphology and anatomy in living and extinct species poses an important barrier to understanding their phylogenetic relationships and timing of diversification. Methods: We expanded a morphology matrix to 46 fossil and 31 extant Pinaceae species, mainly adding characters from stem and leaf anatomy and seed cones. Using parsimony and Bayesian inference, we compared phylogenetic relationships for extant taxa with and without fossils from the morphology matrix combined with an alignment of plastid gene sequences. Key Results: Combined analysis of morphological and molecular characters resulted in a phylogeny of extant Pinaceae that was robust at all nodes except those relating to the interrelationships of Pinus, Picea, and Cathaya and the position of Cedrus. Simultaneous analysis of all fossil and extant species did not result in changes in the relationships among the extant species but did greatly reduce branch support. We found that the placement of most fossils was sensitive to the method of phylogenetic reconstruction when analyzing them singly with the extant species. Conclusions: A robust phylogenetic hypothesis for the main lineages of Pinaceae is emerging. Most Early Cretaceous fossils are stem or crown lineages of Pinus, but close relationships also were found between fossils and several other extant genera. The phylogenetic position of fossils broadly supports the existence of extant genera in the Lower Cretaceous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Height-diameter models were developed for Brutian pine ( Pinus brutia Ten.) and Taurus cedar ( Cedrus libani A. Rich.) in Turkey. A modified Chapman-Richards model that includes dominant height was used to predict tree height from diameter. Using the twofold evaluation scheme, five alternative modeling approaches were evaluated: (1) fixed-effects model, (2) calibrated fixed-effects model, (3) calibrated mixed-effects model, (4) three-quantile regression method, and (5) five-quantile regression method. Parameters of fixed-effects, mixed-effects and quantile regression models were calibrated by use of a subset of height measurements, ranging from 1 to 10 sample trees per plot. Evaluation statistics show that both quantile regression models produced similar results, and that the mixed-effects model approach yielded the best results in predicting tree heights. Model performance improved with increasing sample size; but gains in performance generally increased at a decreasing rate. A sample size of four trees per plot appears to be a good compromise between sampling cost and predictive accuracy and precision. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract This paper deals with pyrolysis decomposition of Cedrus deodara leaves with the help of thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Experiments are performed in the presence of inert atmosphere of nitrogen. Experiments are conducted at three different heating rates of 5 °C∙min-1, 10 °C∙min-1 and 15 °C∙min-1 within temperature range of 35 °C to 700 °C. Arrhenius parameters such as activation energy and frequency factor are estimated by Flynn Wall and Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger-Akahira-Sonuse (KAS) and Kissinger. The activation energy and frequency factor calculated by using Kissinger method are 67.63 kJ∙mol-1 and 15.06. 104 min-1 respectively; whereas the averaged values of the same parameters through FWO and KAS methods are 89.59 kJ∙mol-1 and 84.748 kJ∙mol-1, 17.27. 108 min-1 and 62.13. 107 min-1 respectively. Results obtained through Kissinger method represent the actual values of kinetic parameters. Conversely, FWO and KAS methods reflect the apparent values of kinetic parameters, as they are highly influenced by the overlapping of competitive reactions occur during pyrolysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Resin canals play an important role in gymnosperm taxonomy, and the initiation of the resin canals in branches of C. deodara remains controversial. Therefore, the common wood anatomical method was used to investigate the existence of resin canals in the C. deodara branch with different inclining angles (45°, 90° and 135°), and the regularity of its occurrence is summarized by describing its radial and axial distribution pattern. It shows that the ratio of occurrence of resin canals (RORC) gradually decreases from pith to phloem in the branch base. Meanwhile, RORC is increasing generally from the base of the branch to the tip. Furthermore, the main distributing area of resin canals existed at the third or fourth growth ring at beginning, and it moved towards the bark until it arrived at around the twentieth growth ring along with the axial position moving from the tip of the branch to the base. Besides that, it was found that branches with an inclining angle of 45° have more resin canals than other angles, and it also happens to compression zones when compared to other peripheral positions. Variance analysis showed that both inclining angle and peripheral position had significant effect on the RORC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viscoelasticity of chemically modified Cedrus deodara by means of pure solvent or solution treatments has been evaluated using dynamic-mechanical analysis in bending mode at 30 °C. The samples are treated up to equilibrium conditions in solvents with different polarity (water, ethanol and acetone), and corresponding solutions with bifunctional chemicals (acyl dichloride and aliphatic-diamine). Then, in all cases the samples are air-dried and temperature equilibrated before to be characterized. Mechanical properties have been explored by means of stress-strain plots at different strain rate, creep and stepstrain experiments. Dynamic-mechanical properties have been studied by frequency-strain spectra and E1, E2 and tanδ have been investigated. Outcomes have been compared with those of a previous paper determined for seasoned or thermocured wood. The samples treated with the pure solvents exhibit an improvement of mechanical properties, due to the extraction of low molecular weight compounds acting as plasticizers of the lignin-based matrix: an increase of the elastic modulus, a reduction of the compliance and longer stress-relaxation time are observed. For the samples treated with the solutions of dichloride or diamine, the viscoelasticity behaviour is the resultant of plasticizers extraction and cross-linking of the polymeric matrix by means of the bifunctional reagents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soy protein-based films have some interesting properties of being biodegradable, biocompatible, and inexpensive. However, their weak mechanical property and high sensitivity to moisture are major hindrances to using this protein-based film for food packaging applications. This study aimed to develop soy protein-based films incorporated with cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and Cedrus deodara pine needle extract (PNE). The physical property, barrier capacity, and antioxidant ability of the films were evaluated and the films were further characterized using a release test, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The results show that the addition of CNCs lowered the moisture content of the film samples by disrupting the hydrogen bonds between N H groups of soy proteins and water molecules. The filling effect of CNCs caused a decrease in elongation at break and an increase in tensile strength. When a high content of PNE (5–10%) was incorporated in the films, the water vapor permeability was decreased due to the reduction of hydrophilic domains in the film matrix. Moreover, the PNE-added films contained phenolic compounds and displayed strong antioxidant activities. These results demonstrate that CNCs and PNE can significantly enhance the mechanical property, antioxidant ability, and water vapor barrier capacity of soy protein-based films that can be used as an active food packaging material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis and functionalization of natural products are useful procedures to access and develop new and interesting molecules with biological properties. In this review we discuss the major sesquiterpenes isolated from the essential oil of cedar, which represents a family of abundant and inexpensive natural materials. Some total synthesis and chemical transformations described in the literature have been included. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper focuses to explain the influence of some relevant parameters of biomass pyrolysis on the numerical solution of isothermal nth order distributed activation energy model (DAEM). The upper limit of "dE", the frequency factors, the reaction order, the shape and location parameters of the Weibull distribution are studied. These parameters have been used for estimating the kinetic parameters of the isothermal Weibull DAEM from thermo analytical data of loose biomass. Moreover, asymptotic approach has been adopted to find the solution of DAEM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background & objectives: The existing antileishmanial drugs for complete cure of visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) are limited. The available drugs are either toxic or less effective leading to disease relapse or conversion to post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis. Several herbal extracts have been shown to have antileishmanial activity, but a herbal drug may not always be safe. In the present study, the extract of Cedrus deodara leaves has been standardized and tested for immunomodulatory antileishmanial activities. Methods: The extracts of C. deodara leaves with different solvents such as benzene, chloroform, ethyl acetate and methanol were made by soxhlation process. Solvents were removed under reduced pressure and temperature using rotary evaporator. The antileishmanial bioassay test was performed with in vitro maintained parasites. Immunomodulatory activity of different extracts was tested by flow cytometry. Standardization of the effective fraction was performed with Linalool as a marker compound through reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Results: The extract with the use of benzene solvent showed strong antileishmanial activities within a dose 25-200 μg/ml culture with non-significant haemolytic activities and significant immunomodulant activities against the host cells. Linalool was found to be 1.29 per cent in the effective extract of C. deodara. Interpretation & conclusions: The antileishmanial activity of C. deodara, as assessed by bioassay testing on Leishmania donovani parasites and immunomodulatory effect of benzene extract of leaves on host cells indicated that it might be a potential new safe therapeutic target to cure the visceral leishmaniasis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]