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Differences in seed dispersal patterns can alter plant distributions, species persistence, plant community composition, and biotic carbon sequestered within a landscape. Though carnivorans are known to be frugivorous, their contribution to seed dispersal is marginally studied, especially compared to other sympatric dispersers such as passerines. This gap is important to understand because carnivorans may be better suited to assist plant dispersal in disturbed habitats and the longer distances necessary for climate migration. In this study, we evaluated how seed dispersal by a particular carnivoran, coyote Canis latrans, differed from passerines Passeriformes for juniper Juniperus sp. in the conterminous United States under future climate change. We modeled changes in juniper niche suitability starting in 2021 through the next 80 years of climate change by estimating the current niche with Maxent, and then using climate predictions to define spatial changes in suitable niches. Seed dispersal by both coyote and passerine dispersers was simulated to estimate total juniper dispersal, juniper encroachment into grasslands, and finally changes in above‐ground biotic carbon storage due to juniper encroachment. Our models indicate that over the next 80 years, suitable conditions for juniper will contract, but losses from the current range will be minimal. Our model suggests that coyote dispersal of juniper will result in a 54–59% increase in range, which is 2.5 times as much as the estimated increase provided by passerines. We estimate that coyotes will facilitate juniper encroachment into 170 000–185 000 km2 of current grasslands, 3.4 times as much as passerines. Modeling the effect of coyote‐mediated juniper encroachment of grasslands, we forecast that the addition of woody aboveground biomass will provide between 1.1 and 1.2 Pg of additional carbon storage over the next 80 years. Results highlight how coyotes and passerines provide different outcomes for changes in juniper ranges, plant community composition, and landscape carbon storage. Understanding the differences in outcomes provided by different seed dispersers is important for modeling plant species distributions and carbon storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The relevance of the study lies in the need to improve the technology of semi-smoked sausages using spicy and aromatic plant ingredients, which would allow producing sausages with an extended shelf life and will help to expand the range. In order to avoid premature spoilage of sausage products or increase their consumption time, it is advisable to use a variety of food additives and antioxidants during production, with a positive effect on lipid hydrolysis and inhibition of oxidative changes in lipids. The purpose of the study was to investigate the chemical composition and freshness changes of semi-smoked sausages made using spicy and aromatic plants - thyme and caraway seeds - during storage. The following research methods were used in the study: organoleptic evaluation was carried out by appearance, cut appearance, consistency, aroma and taste; physicochemical - moisture content - by drying samples in a drying cabinet to a constant mass at a temperature of 103 ± 2°C; fat content - by Soxhlet extraction; protein content - by Kjeldahl method; determination of table salt content - by titration of a chlorine ion in a water extract from the product with silver nitrate. When determining organoleptic parameters, it was found that the samples have rather high organoleptic properties characteristic of semi-smoked sausage according to the manufacturing technology using thyme and caraway seeds. The chemical composition study found that the moisture content of the semi-smoked sausages was 54.1-59.3%, and the protein content was 19.6-20.4%, which meets the requirements of the standard for high-grade semi-smoked sausages. In the course of research, the influence of spices on the course of product spoilage and the preservation of quality indicators in the developed sausage samples was investigated. During storage, the amount of peroxides in the sausage samples was constantly increasing, which indicates the course of oxidative processes that lead to the generation of peroxides. The practical significance of the study was to improve the organoleptic properties and expand the range of semi-smoked sausages through the use of spices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Invasion and expansion of non-native and native plants have altered vegetation structure in many terrestrial ecosystems. Small mammals influence multiple ecosystem processes through their roles as ecosystem engineers, predators, and prey, and changes to vegetation structure can affect habitat use, community composition, and predator-prey interactions for this assemblage of wildlife. In the sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) shrublands of the western United States, invasion by nonnative grasses and expansion of native conifer trees beyond their historical range has altered vegetation structure. These changes may potentially affect distributions and interactions of deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus), which are generalist omnivores, and Columbia Plateau pocket mice (Perognathus parvus), more specialized granivores. To assess the extent to which altered habitat affects small-mammal density, survival, and home-range size, we examined these aspects of smallmammal ecology along a gradient of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) invasion and western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis) establishment in sagebrush shrublands in southwestern Idaho, USA. From 2017-2019, we used a spatially explicit markrecapture design to examine attributes of small-mammal ecology along an invasion gradient. We did not find support for an effect of cheatgrass cover on density or survival of either species. Home-range size of deer mice was 2.3 times smaller in heavier cheatgrass cover (60%) compared to areas with little or no cheatgrass cover. Density of deer mice was highest (5 individuals/ha) in areas with 10% juniper cover and decreased with increasing juniper cover, whereas density of pocket mice was positively influenced by shrub cover. Survival of deer mice declined as juniper stem density increased. Conversely, survival of pocket mice increased with increasing juniper stem density. We found evidence for interspecific interactions between these 2 species, in the form of a densitydependent effect of deer mice on pocket mouse home-range size. Home-range size for pocket mice was 2 times smaller in areas with the highest estimated density of deer mice compared to areas with low densities of deer mice. Our data provides unique information about how small mammals in the sagebrush steppe are affected by expanding and invasive plant species and potential ways that habitat restoration efforts, in the form of conifer removal, may influence small mammals. Understanding the response of small mammals to conifer expansion or removal may shed light on the demographic and numerical responses of other wildlife associated with the sagebrush biome, including predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For skin health promotion and cosmetic applications, combinations of plant cell extracts are extensively utilized. As most natural ingredient suppliers offer crude extracts from individual plants or specific isolated compounds, the potential interactions between them are assessed in the development phase of cosmetic products. The industry seeks extract combinations that have undergone optimization and scrutiny for their bioactivities. This study presents a combination of two sustainably produced botanical ingredients and outlines their chemical composition, in vitro safety, and bioactivity for skin health enhancement. The amalgamation comprises the extract of Matricaria recutita processing waste and the extract from Juniperus communis callus culture. Chemical analysis revealed distinct compounds within the extracts, and their combination led to a broader array of potentially synergistic compounds. In vitro assessments on skin cells demonstrated that the combination possesses robust antioxidant properties and the ability to stimulate keratinocyte proliferation, along with regulating collagen type I and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) production by dermal fibroblasts. The identified traits of this combination render it an appealing cosmetic component. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first case when the extracts derived from medicinal plant processing waste and biotechnological plant cell cultivation processes have been combined and evaluated for their bioactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herbivory is common in mammals, yet our understanding of detoxification processes used by mammals to biotransform plant secondary compounds (PSCs) is limited. Specialist herbivores are thought to have evolved detoxification mechanisms that rely more heavily on energetically cheap Phase I biotransformation reactions to process high levels of PSCs in their diets. We explored this hypothesis by comparing the urinary metabolite patterns of two specialist herbivores (genus Neotoma). Neotoma stephensi is an obligate specialist on one‐seeded juniper (Juniperus monosperma). Neotoma lepida is a generalist forager across its range, yet populations in the Great Basin specialize on Utah juniper (J. osteosperma). While both juniper species have high levels of terpenes, the terpene profiles and quantities differ between the two. Individuals from both woodrat species were fed diets of each juniper in a cross‐over design. Urine, collected over a 24‐h period, was extracted and analyzed in an untargeted metabolomics approach using both GC‐MS and HPLC‐MS/MS. The obligate specialist N. stephensi excreted a unique pattern of Phase I metabolites when fed its native juniper, while N. lepida excreted a unique pattern of Phase II metabolites when fed its native juniper. Both woodrat species utilized the Phase II metabolic pathway of glucuronidation more heavily when consuming the more chemically diverse J. osteosperma, and N. stephensi utilized less glucuronidation than N. lepida when consuming J. monosperma. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that obligate specialists may have evolved unique and efficient biotransformation mechanisms for dealing with PSCs in their diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of essential oil (EO) in treating infected wounds is still challenging. A lot of effort has been made to make such an application more convenient. Recently, microneedles (MNDs) have been considered as a smart dermal delivery system to overcome the poor absorption and distribution, low bioavailability, and skin penetration of some drugs. The aim of our study is to evaluate the wound healing activity of juniper-EO-loaded MNDs (EO MNDs) against wounds with bacterial and fungal infection. The Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) MNDs were prepared using the gel-filled mold technique and loaded with juniper EO. In vivo models were created and wounds on rats were infected with two clinically isolated bacterial strains Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, Candida albicans was used to mimic fungal infection and juniper EO MNDs were tested. The obtained results showed an improvement in wound healing which started from the third day after application of the juniper EO MNDs, and at the sixth day post-infection, the treated wounds were significantly smaller than untreated wounds. A complete healing was shown by the 12th day after infection. Furthermore, our cytotoxicity results showed a cytotoxic effect of juniper EO MNDs on epithelial cells, which explained the faster wound healing in rats. Our study showed that juniper EO MNDs represent a novel strategy in EO delivery with minimal invasion. Juniper EO MNDs demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against both the bacterial strains Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and against one fungal strain, Candida albicans. Finally, application of juniper EO MNDs exerted promising activity in the treatment and healing of wound infection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is a major threat to vegetation and can cause its decline. Due to natural and human factors, droughts are becoming more frequent and intense around the world. This research examines the trend and severity of droughts in the past and future using the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) for a Juniper forest reserve in Keygooran, Lorestan Province, Iran. The SPEI index was calculated using daily precipitation and temperature data from the Aligudarz synoptic station for a 33-year period (1987-2019). The frequency and severity of droughts were assessed for the recent past (1987-2019) and the future (2030-2060) using the NorESM2-LM model under the SSP126, SSP370 and SSP585 scenarios. The results showed that the longest droughts occurred in 1990-1991, 1998-2000 and 2010-2012. Moreover, 2003, 2013, 2017 and 2018 were the years with the most severe droughts. In the future (2030-2060), drought periods will be projected to decrease under the SSP126 and SSP585 scenarios (6, 9 and 12 months) and increase under the SSP370 scenario (3, 9 and 12 months). The intensity and duration of extremely severe droughts will be projected to increase in the future despite the decrease in drought frequency based on SPEI. Therefore, the Juniper forest reserve will face more severe droughts in the future, which will affect the reproduction of juniper trees significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For skin health promotion and cosmetic applications, combinations of plant cell extracts are extensively utilized. As most natural ingredient suppliers offer crude extracts from individual plants or specific isolated compounds, the potential interactions between them are assessed in the development phase of cosmetic products. The industry seeks extract combinations that have undergone optimization and scrutiny for their bioactivities. This study presents a combination of two sustainably produced botanical ingredients and outlines their chemical composition, in vitro safety, and bioactivity for skin health enhancement. The amalgamation comprises the extract of Matricaria recutita processing waste and the extract from Juniperus communis callus culture. Chemical analysis revealed distinct compounds within the extracts, and their combination led to a broader array of potentially synergistic compounds. In vitro assessments on skin cells demonstrated that the combination possesses robust antioxidant properties and the ability to stimulate keratinocyte proliferation, along with regulating collagen type I and matrix metalloproteinase 1 (MMP-1) production by dermal fibroblasts. The identified traits of this combination render it an appealing cosmetic component. To the best of our knowledge, this represents the first case when the extracts derived from medicinal plant processing waste and biotechnological plant cell cultivation processes have been combined and evaluated for their bioactivity.

The objective of this work was to map population of common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) in the territory of Slovak Republic. Common juniper is not protected by Slovakian law or the authorities; therefore, there is no law to preserve these plant populations. Biotopes of common juniper consist of light- to heavy-density trees and shrubs. The expansion of its habitat is also connected to human involvement. The loss of juniper naturally in observed plants is caused by a change in land use, loss of feeding pastures for cattle and sheep, and eutrophication of the environment. The current study was focused on monitoring the population of this plant species in the years of 2018–2020, the isolation of essential oils, and the identification of qualitative and quantitative characteristics. It was confirmed that juniper berries usually contain from 0.5 ± 0.05 to 1.8 ± 0.06%, usually 1.2 ± 0.16%, volatile oil depending on geography, altitude, ripeness, and other factors. Volatile oil is made up mostly of monoterpenes, mainly α-pinene (from 37.60 ± 2.23 to 61.00 ± 0.60%), β-myrcene (from 8.03 ± 2.02 to 10.56 ± 0.05%), and sabinene (from 3.50 ± 0.30 to 22.0 ± 0.96%). The dendrogram was constructed after a hierarchical cluster analysis based on the essential oil substances, which showed four different confirmed chemotypes. The essential oil is widely used in medicines, perfumes, insect repellents, insecticides, shoe polish, and in microscopy as a clearing agent of an immersion oil. The quality and chemotypes of juniper berries are very important for the Slovak national beverage "Borovicka" and the distillery industry on a whole in this country. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Proceedings of the YSU B: Chemical & Biological Sciences / Gitakan Teghekagir. K'imia, Kensabanut'yun is the property of Publishing House of Yerevan State 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.)

Dryland woodland ecosystems worldwide have experienced widespread drought‐ and heat‐related tree mortality events coupled with extreme wildfire behavior. In contrast to other forest types where the emphasis has been on the silvicultural enhancement of ecosystem resilience and restoration of structural heterogeneity, limited frameworks are available for management to improve drought resilience in semiarid woodlands. This challenge is especially acute in pinyon–juniper woodlands, a dominant vegetation type across western North America that has experienced extensive tree die‐off over the past several decades while simultaneously undergoing expansion in portions of its range. In this paper, we describe the critical and urgent need to manage for future drought resilience in these highly vulnerable ecosystems and synthesize the current state of knowledge on how to enhance woodland resilience to drought coupled with high temperatures and associated disturbances. We present a landscape prioritization framework for guiding management goals and practices that requires prioritization of efforts based on the need for action and the probability of a positive outcome. Four guiding factors include historical woodland structure and drivers of long‐term landscape change, current vegetation structure and composition, future climate suitability, and habitat and resource value. In summarizing the strength of evidence supporting our recommendations, we identify critical knowledge gaps and highlight the importance of adaptive management strategies that reflect current uncertainties. This will ultimately allow for improved management of diverse semiarid woodland ecosystems that are undergoing substantial changes due to past and present land use, biological invasions, and climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article considers the use of vegetable raw materials in order to increase the physico-chemical composition, antioxidant activity of bakery products. Juniper fruit powder (Juniperus communis L) was selected as a plant raw material. The aim of the study is to increase the physico-chemical, antioxidant properties of bread by adding crushed juniper fruits. In the course of improving the technology of bakery products, a new type of product with high antioxidant activity has been developed. Crushed juniper fruits (Juniperus communis L) were added to the bread recipe in an amount of 3%. Thus, the value of the antioxidant activity of bread with the addition of 3% crushed juniper fruits is 2 times higher compared to the control model, which is 15.5 and 7.5 mg /100 g, respectively. In this regard, the high level of antioxidant activity of bread with the addition of 3% of crushed juniper fruits directly affected the process of its storage. The physicochemical composition of bread with the addition of 3% crushed juniper fruits was also studied. The quality indicators of bread with crushed juniper fruits have increased, antioxidant activity, which indicates a high influence of crushed juniper fruits on the qualitative properties of the finished product. The practical value of the work lies in the fact that crushed juniper fruits were used for the first time to increase the nutritional and biological value of bakery products.

Abstract Background More than 90% of malaria cases occur in Africa where the disease is transmitted by Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles arabiensis. This study evaluated the anti-mosquito properties of Juniperus virginiana (JVO) and Pelargonium roseum (PRO) essential oils (EOs) against larvae and adults of An. gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) from East Africa in laboratory and semi-field conditions. Methods EOs was extracted from the aerial green parts of Asian herbs by hydrodistillation. Their constituents were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Larvicidal activities of JVO, PRO, and PRO components [citronellol (CO), linalool (LO), and geraniol (GO)] were investigated against An. gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.). The percentage of knockdown effects and mortality rates of all oils were also evaluated in the adults of susceptible An. gambiae s.s. and permethrin-resistant An. arabiensis. Results GC-MS analyses identified major constituents of JVO (sabinene, dl-limonene, β-myrcene, bornyl acetate, and terpinen-4-ol) and PRO (citronellol, citronellyl formate, L-menthone, linalool, and geraniol). Oils showed higher larvicidal activity in the laboratory than semi-field trials. The LC50 values for JVO/PRO were computed as 10.82–2.89/7.13–0.9 ppm and 10.75–9.06/13.63–8.98 ppm in laboratory and semi-field environments, respectively at exposure time of 24–72 h. The percentage of knockdown effects of the oils were also greater in An. gambiae s.s. than in An. arabiensis. Filter papers impregnated with JVO (100 ppm) and PRO (25 ppm) displayed 100% mortality rates for An. gambiae s.s. and 3.75% and 90% mortality rates, for An. arabiensis populations, respectively. Each component of CO, LO, and GO exhibited 98.13%, 97.81%, and 87.5%, respectively, and a mixture of the PRO components indicated 94.69% adult mortality to permethrin-resistant An. arabiensis. Conclusions The findings of this study show that PRO and its main constituents, compared to JVO, have higher anti-mosquito properties in terms of larvicidal, knockdown, and mortality when applied against susceptible laboratory and resistant wild populations of An. gambiae s.l. Consequently, these oils have the potential for the development of new, efficient, safe, and affordable agents for mosquito control.

Savine juniper is a rare plant growing in the mountain-steppe belt of Mongolia, the upper part of which is harvested in large quantities of raw materials for traditional medicine and cosmetics, religious rituals, sterilization, and trade. For that reason, the range and resources of the species are reduced significantly. Currently, when the ecological balance is disturbed, the species has a weak ability to naturally regenerate. According, to this species must determine the results of anatomical structure and biochemical study of vegetative and reproductive organs for protection in nature, to ensure proper use and to standardize identifying raw materials. Therefore, we determined that it consists of the following main parts: cuticle, epidermis, palisade and spongy mesophyll tissue, excretory canal, and vascular bundle for determining the anatomical structure of needle-like leaf (needle). Anomocytic stomata are found only on the adaxial epidermis of the needle. However, the excretory canal is situated on the bottom side of the vascular bundle in the needle, it is characterized by being in between spongy tissue in the superficial triangle ledge section of the stem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Dryland woodland ecosystems worldwide have experienced widespread drought‐ and heat‐related tree mortality events coupled with extreme wildfire behavior. In contrast to other forest types where the emphasis has been on the silvicultural enhancement of ecosystem resilience and restoration of structural heterogeneity, limited frameworks are available for management to improve drought resilience in semiarid woodlands. This challenge is especially acute in pinyon–juniper woodlands, a dominant vegetation type across western North America that has experienced extensive tree die‐off over the past several decades while simultaneously undergoing expansion in portions of its range. In this paper, we describe the critical and urgent need to manage for future drought resilience in these highly vulnerable ecosystems and synthesize the current state of knowledge on how to enhance woodland resilience to drought coupled with high temperatures and associated disturbances. We present a landscape prioritization framework for guiding management goals and practices that requires prioritization of efforts based on the need for action and the probability of a positive outcome. Four guiding factors include historical woodland structure and drivers of long‐term landscape change, current vegetation structure and composition, future climate suitability, and habitat and resource value. In summarizing the strength of evidence supporting our recommendations, we identify critical knowledge gaps and highlight the importance of adaptive management strategies that reflect current uncertainties. This will ultimately allow for improved management of diverse semiarid woodland ecosystems that are undergoing substantial changes due to past and present land use, biological invasions, and climate change.

The use of essential oil (EO) in treating infected wounds is still challenging. A lot of effort has been made to make such an application more convenient. Recently, microneedles (MNDs) have been considered as a smart dermal delivery system to overcome the poor absorption and distribution, low bioavailability, and skin penetration of some drugs. The aim of our study is to evaluate the wound healing activity of juniper-EO-loaded MNDs (EO MNDs) against wounds with bacterial and fungal infection. The Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) MNDs were prepared using the gel-filled mold technique and loaded with juniper EO. In vivo models were created and wounds on rats were infected with two clinically isolated bacterial strains Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus. Furthermore, Candida albicans was used to mimic fungal infection and juniper EO MNDs were tested. The obtained results showed an improvement in wound healing which started from the third day after application of the juniper EO MNDs, and at the sixth day post-infection, the treated wounds were significantly smaller than untreated wounds. A complete healing was shown by the 12th day after infection. Furthermore, our cytotoxicity results showed a cytotoxic effect of juniper EO MNDs on epithelial cells, which explained the faster wound healing in rats. Our study showed that juniper EO MNDs represent a novel strategy in EO delivery with minimal invasion. Juniper EO MNDs demonstrated significant antimicrobial activity against both the bacterial strains Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus and against one fungal strain, Candida albicans. Finally, application of juniper EO MNDs exerted promising activity in the treatment and healing of wound infection.

Copyright of Arab Journal of Plant Protection is the property of Arab Society for Plant Protection 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.)

For the treatment of the urinary system and kidney diseases, common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) fruits are widely used. This raw material is included in the European Pharmacopoeia (Ph.Eur.) and is one of the most popular kinds of official medicinal plant material with diuretic and uroantiseptic activity. However, the main biomass of bushes consists of green branches, which also contain a significant amount of essential oil that can be used in pharmaceutical practice. The branches become waste during bush cutting. So, it is advisable to investigate the chemical composition of essential oil isolated from common juniper branches from different regions of Estonia to prove the possibility of using this essential oil and branches in pharmaceutical practice. Aim. Therefore, the aim of the research was to determine the chemical composition of essential oil from common juniper (J. communis L.) branches from Estonia. Materials and Methods. The branches of juniper shrubs were collected in the summer months from 27 different habitats in Estonia. The essential oil was isolated from fresh juniper branches by the modified distillation method described in the European Pharmacopoeia monograph of Juniperi pseudo-fructus. GC/MS analysis was carried out using an Agilent 5975 Series MSDMSD, Agilent7890A GC (Agilent Technologies, Inc.) with two detectors (MSMS and FID) on a fused silica capillary column (30 m×0.25 mm) with a bonded stationary phase: poly(5 %-diphenyl-95 %-dimethyl)siloxane (DB-5). The carrier gas was helium with a split ratio of 1:30, and the flow rate of 1.3 mL/min was applied. The temperature program was from 50°-240 °C at 2 °C/min and the injector temperature was 300 °C. The MS detector was operated in the EIEI mode of 70 eV and at a scan rate of 2 scans/s with a mass acquisition range of 20-400 u. Research results. The average amount of juniper essential oil in branches extracted during distillation using the Ph. Eur. method was 0.23±0.04 ml. 103 substances were identified in 27 different samples of juniper branches and quantified by the GC/MS method. The dominant components of Estonian common juniper essential oil are α-pinene (37.5-69.3 %), pinene, sabinene, β-myrcene and β-phellandrene. The juniper essential oils from Estonian raw materials were compared with Serbian, Iran, Portuguese, French and Greek ones. It was established that the common juniper growing in Estonia belongs to the α-pinene chemotype. Conclusions. Common juniper growing in Estonia belongs to the α-pinene chemotype. 103 substances were identified, and their assay was established in 27 different samples of juniper branches. The dominant components of Estonian common juniper essential oil are α-pinene (37.5-69.3 %), so it could be used as a source of a-pinene for the pharmaceutical industry. As the essential oils of common juniper branches didn't meet all the requirements of the European Pharmacopoeia for juniper berries oil, so separate regulatory documentation must be developed for the essential oil from the branches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: More than 90% of malaria cases occur in Africa where the disease is transmitted by Anopheles gambiae and Anopheles arabiensis. This study evaluated the anti-mosquito properties of Juniperus virginiana (JVO) and Pelargonium roseum (PRO) essential oils (EOs) against larvae and adults of An. gambiae sensu lato (s.l.) from East Africa in laboratory and semi-field conditions. Methods: EOs was extracted from the aerial green parts of Asian herbs by hydrodistillation. Their constituents were characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Larvicidal activities of JVO, PRO, and PRO components [citronellol (CO), linalool (LO), and geraniol (GO)] were investigated against An. gambiae sensu stricto (s.s.). The percentage of knockdown effects and mortality rates of all oils were also evaluated in the adults of susceptible An. gambiae s.s. and permethrin-resistant An. arabiensis. Results: GC-MS analyses identified major constituents of JVO (sabinene, dl-limonene, β-myrcene, bornyl acetate, and terpinen-4-ol) and PRO (citronellol, citronellyl formate, L-menthone, linalool, and geraniol). Oils showed higher larvicidal activity in the laboratory than semi-field trials. The LC50 values for JVO/PRO were computed as 10.82–2.89/7.13–0.9 ppm and 10.75–9.06/13.63–8.98 ppm in laboratory and semi-field environments, respectively at exposure time of 24–72 h. The percentage of knockdown effects of the oils were also greater in An. gambiae s.s. than in An. arabiensis. Filter papers impregnated with JVO (100 ppm) and PRO (25 ppm) displayed 100% mortality rates for An. gambiae s.s. and 3.75% and 90% mortality rates, for An. arabiensis populations, respectively. Each component of CO, LO, and GO exhibited 98.13%, 97.81%, and 87.5%, respectively, and a mixture of the PRO components indicated 94.69% adult mortality to permethrin-resistant An. arabiensis. Conclusions: The findings of this study show that PRO and its main constituents, compared to JVO, have higher anti-mosquito properties in terms of larvicidal, knockdown, and mortality when applied against susceptible laboratory and resistant wild populations of An. gambiae s.l. Consequently, these oils have the potential for the development of new, efficient, safe, and affordable agents for mosquito control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this article, some information was given about monumental trees detected in Antalya so far and 12 of them were introduced. When we look at the findings, the physical characteristics such as height, age, location and meaning of monumental trees consisting of Taurus cedar (Cedrus libani A. Rich), tall juniper (Juniperus excelsa Bieb.), Eastern plane (Platanus orientalis L.) and Anatolian chestnut (Castanea sativa) were evaluated. Suggestions were made for the students to contribute to the increase of nature and tree sensitivity of monumental trees by creating educational trips and suitable spaces.

The objective of this work was to map population of common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) in the territory of Slovak Republic. Common juniper is not protected by Slovakian law or the authorities; therefore, there is no law to preserve these plant populations. Biotopes of common juniper consist of light- to heavy-density trees and shrubs. The expansion of its habitat is also connected to human involvement. The loss of juniper naturally in observed plants is caused by a change in land use, loss of feeding pastures for cattle and sheep, and eutrophication of the environment. The current study was focused on monitoring the population of this plant species in the years of 2018–2020, the isolation of essential oils, and the identification of qualitative and quantitative characteristics. It was confirmed that juniper berries usually contain from 0.5 ± 0.05 to 1.8 ± 0.06%, usually 1.2 ± 0.16%, volatile oil depending on geography, altitude, ripeness, and other factors. Volatile oil is made up mostly of monoterpenes, mainly α-pinene (from 37.60 ± 2.23 to 61.00 ± 0.60%), β-myrcene (from 8.03 ± 2.02 to 10.56 ± 0.05%), and sabinene (from 3.50 ± 0.30 to 22.0 ± 0.96%). The dendrogram was constructed after a hierarchical cluster analysis based on the essential oil substances, which showed four different confirmed chemotypes. The essential oil is widely used in medicines, perfumes, insect repellents, insecticides, shoe polish, and in microscopy as a clearing agent of an immersion oil. The quality and chemotypes of juniper berries are very important for the Slovak national beverage “Borovicka” and the distillery industry on a whole in this country.

The transition of sagebrush‐dominated (Artemisia spp.) shrublands to pinyon (Pinus spp.) and juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodlands markedly alters resource‐conserving vegetation structure typical of these landscapes. Land managers and scientists in the western United States need knowledge and predictive tools for assessment and effective targeting of tree‐removal treatments to conserve or restore sagebrush vegetation and associated hydrologic function. This study developed modeling approaches to quantify the hydrologic vulnerability and erosion potential of sagebrush rangelands in the later stages of woodland encroachment and in response to commonly applied tree‐removal treatments. Using experimental data from multiple sites in the Great Basin Region, USA, and process‐based knowledge from decade‐long vegetation and rainfall simulation studies at those sites, we (1) assessed the capability of the Rangeland Hydrology and Erosion Model (RHEM) to accurately predict patch‐scale (12 m2) measured runoff and erosion from tree canopy and intercanopy hydrologic functional units in untreated and burned woodlands 9 years postfire, and (2) developed and evaluated multiple RHEM approaches/frameworks to model aggregated effects of tree canopy and intercanopy areas on patch‐ and hillslope‐scale (50 m length) runoff and erosion processes in untreated and treated (burned, cut, and masticated) woodlands. The RHEM accurately predicted measured runoff and sediment yield from patch‐scale rainfall simulations as partitioned on untreated and treated tree canopy and intercanopy areas and effectively parameterized the dominant controls on runoff and erosion process in woodlands. With few exceptions, evaluated hillslope‐scale RHEM frameworks similarly predicted reduced hydrologic vulnerability and erosion potential for conditions 9 years following tree removal by burning, cutting, and mastication treatments. Regressions of RHEM‐predicted hillslope runoff, sediment, and hydraulic/erosion parameters with bare ground and ground cover attributes indicate all RHEM frameworks effectively represented the dominant controls on hydrologic and erosion processes for rangelands and woodlands. The results provide RHEM frameworks and recommendations for assessing hydrologic vulnerability and erosion potential on woodland‐encroached sites and predicting the effectiveness of tree removal to reestablish a water and soil resource‐conserving vegetation structure on sagebrush rangelands. We anticipate our RHEM or similar modeling approaches may be applicable to analogous water‐limited landscapes elsewhere subject to woody plant encroachment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juniper expansion across the western United States has the potential to alter watershed hydrology, especially within riparian areas. Given the uncertainties in the ecohydrological response to the expansion, this study focused on examining the water use strategies between two woody species co‐occurring in a riparian area in south central Montana—Salix exigua (sandbar willows) and Juniperus scopulorum (rocky mountain junipers)—in order to address three questions: (1) Are junipers and willows using the same soil moisture pool that contributes to streamflow? (2) Are junipers transpiring more water than willows on a per tree or per sapwood area basis? (3) Are the seasonal transpiration rates between junipers and willows different? To determine the differences in water use strategies between willows and junipers, we used stable isotope analyses to trace different sources of water, water potential to determine seasonal water stress patterns and transpiration rates to quantify water loss. Our isotopic analyses suggest that junipers and willows in the riparian area were not directly using stream water but relied on different pools of soil water at different times of the year: shallow soil water in spring when soils were wet and deeper soil water in late summer. We also found that junipers transpired more than willows during the spring and late fall, but that both species had similar transpiration rates during periods of low streamflow. However, higher juniper transpiration rates in spring and late fall can potentially lead to soil moisture deficits if winter snowpack is low, suggesting that the additional water loss through transpiration by junipers may be mitigated under wet winters but exacerbated under dry winters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal properties of essential oils (EOs) of Juniperus thurifera L., a plant utilized in traditional, herbal medicine, were investigated. The EOs were extracted by use of a Clevenger apparatus and phytochemicals identified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS). The antioxidant capacity of EOs of J. thurifera was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Antimicrobial activity of EOs of J. thurifera was determined against four fungal strains, Candida albicans; ATCC 10231, Aspergillus niger; MTCC 282, Aspergillus flavus; MTCC 9606 and Fusarium oxysporum; MTCC 9913 and four bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus; ATCC 6633, Escherichia coli; K12, Bacillus subtilis; DSM 6333, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; CIP A22, by use of the disk diffusion method, and microdilution method used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). EOs of J. thurifera consisted of 31 compounds and were dominated by α-thujene (25%), elemol (12%) and muurolol (12%). Antioxidant activity recorded an IC50 of 24 ± 0.71 µg/mL (DPPF), EC50 of 0.19 ± 0.01 mg/mL (FRAP), and 9.3 × 102 ± 38 mg EAA/g (TAC). The EOs of J. thurifera exhibited significant antibacterial activity against all bacterial strains under investigation, especially P. aeruginosa; CIP A22 with an inhibition diameter of 28 ± 1.5 mm and MIC of 4.8 × 10−2 ± 0. 001 µg/mL. EOs of J. thurifera also exhibited significant antifungal activity against C. albicans; ATCC 10231 and F. oxysporum; MTCC 9913 with an activity of 21 ± 2.1 mm, 32 ± 2.3%, and MIC of 9.5 × 10−2 ± 0.001 Bioactive molecules found in EOs of J. thurifera could be used as an alternative solution to antibiotics available on the market to combat microbial resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Degraded forests are among of the most important environmental and commercial problems around the world. Turkey has 22.74 million hectares of forest area, out of which 9.656 million ha (42%) are unproductive. To transform these unproductive forests into productive ones, forest restoration including rehabilitation is one of the best actions. In this sense, juniper species play an important role for degraded lands because they are drought-tolerant and withstand aridity and poor soils better than most timber species grown in Turkey. Therefore, this review presents the ecological considerations for the restoration of degraded forest lands in Turkey under the conditions of climate change. Within this framework, it focuses on the production of planting stock of juniper species, the significance of site-species matching, and post-planting site maintenance for successful rehabilitation.

Our objective was to determine if there was a cost of fitness associated with selecting Spanish x Boer goats for their propensity to consume above (H) or below (L) the herd average for proportion of juniper (Juniperus spp.) in the diet. Organ weights and metabolic parameters were compared among adult male goats (young [2-year-old] and old [3–5-year-old]) that spent their life grazing pastures containing juniper at the Texas A&M AgriLife Sonora Research Station. In June 2019, body weights were recorded, and serum samples collected by jugular venipuncture from 20 animals (n = 5 of each age and juniper consumption combination) 2 days prior to harvest. At harvest, organ weights (i.e., liver, kidney, heart, spleen, adrenal, testicle, epididymis) were obtained and later analyzed as relative organ weights (organ to body weight ratio). Analysis of variance was used to determine if differences in organ weights (g/kg BW) and serum parameters were detected between young (Y) and old (O), and H and L goats. Body weights (kg) did not differ by treatment group but were greater (P < 0.03) for O (76.0 ± 3.72) than Y (66.3 ± 1.9). Total testicular, epididymal, adrenal, and heart organ weights (g/kg BW) were not affected (P > 0.10) by age nor juniper consumption group. Total kidney weight (g/kg BW) was greater (P < 0.05) in H (2.53 ± 0.09) than L (2.19 ± 0.08) and liver weight (g/kg BW) trended (P = 0.15) in the same pattern, with H (15.80 ± 0.75) greater than L (14.58 ± 0.39). All serum parameters were clinically normal. Serum urea nitrogen (mg/dL) did not differ by treatment (P > 0.1) but was greater (P < 0.004) in O (12.9 ± 1.3) than Y (8.2 ± 0.5). NEFA (mEq/L) was greater (P < 0.02) in H (0.33 ± 0.04) than L (0.26 ± 0.02), but not differ between O and Y. Total globulin (g/dL) was greater (P < 0.007) in L (4.34 ± 0.35) than H (3.40 ± 0.16), and in O (4.29 ± 0.38) than Y (3.45 ± 0.12). Gamma glutamyl transferase was elevated (P < 0.0001) in H (59.2 ± 2.1) versus L (44.3 ± 2.2), and in Y (55.3 ± 2.9) than O (48.2 ± 3.2). In summary, under adequate nutritional conditions, length of exposure (via advancing age) and preference for juniper did not incur an acute cost of fitness in goats. However, the observed metabolic and organ differences indicate that under more challenging chronic conditions (e.g., drought or disease), consumption of monoterpene-defended plants may become problematic. Research to define these eco-physiologic bounds is needed. • Goats have been used in conjunction with mechanical, chemical, and prescribed fire treatments to manage juniper. • Fecal near infrared spectroscopy has been used to select goats for divergent propensity to consume juniper foliage. • 20 years of selection has created lines with extreme EBVs for this trait with no apparent overall health effects. • Kidney weight (g/kg BW) was greater in goats selected for high versus low juniper consumption. • Aggregation of clinically normal but statistically significant differencesmay manifest as cost of fitness tradeoffs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Honey is a natural food with pharmacological properties. The present study was focused on the use of essential oils in the supplementary feeding of bee families for three weeks (spring). The purpose was to monitor the effect of essential oils (basil, thyme, juniper, cloves, mint, cinnamon, oregano, rosemary) on the chemical components of the resulting honey. The honey sampling period was carried out before the administration of essential oils in the supplementary feed of the bee families, after the administration of essential oils in the bee feed, respectively, after the first harvest (rapeseed). The honey samples were subjected to chemical analysis to determine humidity, impurities, ash, pH, acidity, total phenolic content (TPC) and flavonoid content (FC), reducing sugar content and antioxidant activity. In addition, the antimicrobial activity against nine strains was tested. We found out that all the essential oils used had a positive effect on the chemical composition of honey, especially the essential oil of oregano, mint, thyme, cinnamon. Experimental variants in which juniper and clove essential oil were introduced reduced the acidity of honey by 28.12% and 35.48%, respectively. Ash content varies between 0.23% and 0.46%, impurities content between 4.11% and 9.11%, while the values for pH were between 3.42 and 4.03. As for the TPC, they have increased considerably in all experimental variants to which essential oil has been added, compared to the batch fed only with sugar syrup, the highest value being recorded for the sample treated with cinnamon after the third harvest (163.94 mg/100 g). The FC values vary between 8.41–44.36 mg/100 g, depending of the treatment applied and the period of harvesting. Regarding the antimicrobial activity, the results highlighted that the essential oils present in the diet of bees produced honey with antimicrobial effect increased after two weeks after administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rhagoletis merzi sp. n., is described and illustrated based on specimens swept and reared from Juniperus sabina L. in Switzerland. A comparative review of Palaearctic species and a key to Palearctic and Nearctic species similar to R. merzi is provided. Based on DNA sequences from the COI, CAD, 28S, period, and AATS genes (4270 bp) of 92 isolates from two outgroup species (Anastrepha ludens, Euphranta canadensis), one species of Carpomya and 35 species representing most of species groups of Rhagoletis, a MrBayes analysis recovered a monophyletic lineage of Juniper-infesting species within a monophyletic cluster of R. fausta, R. batava, as well as the suavis, cingulata, pomonella, tabellaria and juniperina groups. The juniperina group includes both Nearctic (R. juniperina and undescribed forms) and Palaearctic species (R. flavigenualis and R. merzi). Rhagoletis merzi is more similar to the Nearctic R. juniperina in both morphological characters (wing pattern, occiput, mesonotum and legs coloration, shape of male surstyli) and molecular sequences than to the Palearctic R. flavigenualis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Eurasian Journal of Ecology is the property of Al-Farabi Kazakh National 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.)

Rhagoletis merzi sp. n., is described and illustrated based on specimens swept and reared from Juniperus sabina L. in Switzerland. A comparative review of Palaearctic species and a key to Palearctic and Nearctic species similar to R. merzi is provided. Based on DNA sequences from the COI, CAD, 28S, period, and AATS genes (4270 bp) of 92 isolates from two outgroup species (Anastrepha ludens, Euphranta canadensis), one species of Carpomya and 35 species representing most of species groups of Rhagoletis, a MrBayes analysis recovered a monophyletic lineage of Juniper-infesting species within a monophyletic cluster of R. fausta, R. batava, as well as the suavis, cingulata, pomonella, tabellaria and juniperina groups. The juniperina group includes both Nearctic (R. juniperina and undescribed forms) and Palaearctic species (R. flavigenualis and R. merzi). Rhagoletis merzi is more similar to the Nearctic R. juniperina in both morphological characters (wing pattern, occiput, mesonotum and legs coloration, shape of male surstyli) and molecular sequences than to the Palearctic R. flavigenualis.

Abstract Of all terrestrial biomes, grasslands are losing the most biodiversity the most rapidly, so there is a critical need to document and learn from large‐scale restoration successes. In the Loess Canyons ecoregion of the Great Plains, USA, an association of private ranchers and natural resource agencies has led a multi‐decadal, ecoregion‐scale initiative to combat the loss of grasslands to woody plant encroachment by restoring large‐scale fire regimes. Here, we use 14 years of fire treatment history with 6 years of grassland bird monitoring and remotely sensed tree cover data across 136,767 ha of privately owned grassland to quantify outcomes of large‐scale grassland restoration efforts. Grassland bird richness increased across 65% (90,032 ha) of the Loess Canyons, and woody plant cover decreased up to 55% across 25% (7408 ha) of all fire‐treated areas. This was accomplished with extreme fire treatments that killed mature trees, were large (mean annual area burned was 3100 ha), spatially clustered and straddled boundaries between invasive woodlands and remaining grasslands – not heavily infested woodlands. Findings from this study provide the first evidence of human management reversing the impacts of woody encroachment on grassland birds at an ecoregion scale.

Juniperus excelsa s. str. (Greek juniper) in Crimea is a relic species on the limits of its range, and represents the Mediterranean flora in the Sub-Mediterranean part of the peninsula. Its origin and history in this area remains unresolved. We aimed to analyze phylogeny and potential demographic expansion of the juniper in the Crimea as well as to study its morphological differentiation. We analyzed plant material from 59 trees inhabiting eight populations. Genetic variation assessments were based on the four non-coding chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) fragments and the nuclear internal transcribed spacer region ITS1-5,8S-ITS2 (ITS). To examine the morphological differentiation, eight measured/counted traits of cones, seeds, and shoots were chosen and eight ratios were calculated. Morphological parameters were compared using ANOVA, Student's t test, discrimination analysis and Kruskal-Wallis and U Mann-Whitney tests. Two cpDNA fragments were polymorphic and, in total, 10 cpDNA haplotypes were found. Haplotype diversity (Hd) ranged from 0.0 to 0.9. Based on both cpDNA and ITS sequences variation, phylogenetic analyses revealed a close relationship of the Crimean junipers to the individuals from other parts of the species range. In general, our molecular results confirmed the low level of genetic differentiation of J. excelsa individuals inhabiting different parts of the species range, likely resulting from a common ancestry. Only slight morphological differences were found between populations with different geographic location or habitat. The analyzes showed the distinctness of the populations from the southern part of the coast. Some unique morphological and molecular features of southern coastal populations imply that they are remnants of Late Pleistocene abundant forests. We suggest that the recent fragmentation of the Juniperus populations in the Crimean Peninsula could have arisen during the Atlantic period of the Holocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Montezuma quail (Cyrtonyx montezumae) inhabit oak (Quercus spp.)‐juniper (Juniperus spp.) woodlands throughout Mexico and the southwestern United States. In Texas, USA, Montezuma quail occur in the Edwards Plateau and Trans‐Pecos Mountains and Basins (Trans‐Pecos), 2 ecoregions with contrasting juniper patterns. Ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei) dominates in the Edwards Plateau and has been increasing over decades, whereas alligator juniper (Juniperus deppeana) is a co‐dominant in the Trans‐Pecos and appears to have stable Montezuma quail populations. Our objectives were to compare between ecoregions the relative abundance and habitat use of Montezuma quail in relation to juniper and quantify the influence of juniper on key features of Montezuma quail habitat (grass height, grass cover, forb cover, and forb species richness). We conducted a study from March–August 2018‒2020 in the Edwards Plateau (Kinney and Edwards counties) and Trans‐Pecos ecoregions (Jeff Davis County) to evaluate these objectives. We conducted call‐back surveys to estimate relative abundance (number of detections/hr) of Montezuma quail and identify used locations. We collected vegetation data at a micro‐scale (16‐m) at used (n = 32–30 points) and random locations (n = 70–60 points) in each ecoregion. Relative abundance of Montezuma quail was considerably lower in the Edwards Plateau (0.06 ± 0.01 detections/survey hr; x̅± SE) than in the Trans‐Pecos (1.10 ± 0.30 detections/survey hr). In addition, Montezuma quail selected areas of low Ashe juniper cover (<23% cover), density (<7 trees/80 m2), and height (<2 m) in the Edwards Plateau but selected areas of high alligator juniper cover (>18% cover), density (>4 trees/80 m2), and height (2–8 m) in the Trans‐Pecos. Moreover, Ashe juniper cover had a significant, negative influence on herbaceous features, whereas alligator juniper exerted little to no influence. Our results suggest that these 2 juniper species have contrasting effects on Montezuma quail space use and their habitat, possibly as a result of the contrasting influence of these junipers on herbaceous understory. Creating habitat for Montezuma quail in the Edwards Plateau generally will involve the reduction of Ashe juniper and creating patches that possess juniper trees of small stature (<2 m) with low amounts of cover (<23%) and density (<7 trees/80 m2), whereas management in the Trans‐Pecos will require site‐specific assessments based on current alligator juniper influence. © 2021 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoplasmas are bacterial pathogens that pose a threat to cereal and vegetable production worldwide. However, there is limited information regarding the occurrences of phytoplasmas in Central Europe. In this study we examined samples taken from crop and ornamental plants showing symptoms indicative of phytoplasma infection. Phytoplasmas related to 'Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris' were detected in eight plant species (carrot, lupine, pea, cauliflower, mustard, maize, juniper and marigold). Based on the restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the 16S rDNA, the phytoplasmas were classified as subgroup 16SrI‐B, 16SrI‐L or a complex strain, which harboured the I‐B and I‐L‐type 16S rRNA genes. Individual 16S rDNA sequences were analysed from those heterogeneous strains and as many as five genetic variants were distinguished. By operon‐specific amplification of the 16S rRNA genes with primers complementary to RP166 phytoplasma genome, we detected 16SrI‐L/B phytoplasma strains in the multivariant samples. The I‐L‐type sequences were amplified from rrnA and the I‐B‐type sequences were amplified from rrnB. Molecular phylogeny based on the 16S rRNA showed that all the detected phytoplasma variants were clustered with a 'Ca. Phytoplasma asteris' subclade and were closely related to the 16SrI‐B subgroup. Despite the variability of 16S rDNA, the strains from all the eight crops shared identical tuf gene sequences. We report, for the first time, 16SrI‐B phytoplasma infecting lupine, field pea, cauliflower and mustard, 16SrI‐L phytoplasma infecting maize and field pea and 16SrI‐L/B phytoplasma infecting carrot, lupine and marigold. We further demonstrate variability in the 16S rRNA genes found in the 16SrI‐B‐related phytoplasma genomes worldwide. For clearer and more unambiguous nomenclature, we propose that in the future, the more intuitive subgroup 16SrI‐L/B be used for heterogenic phytoplasma strains instead of 16SrI‐(B/L)L. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Plant growth and phenology respond plastically to changing climatic conditions in both space and time. Species‐specific levels of growth plasticity determine biogeographical patterns and the adaptive capacity of species to climate change. However, a direct assessment of spatial and temporal variability in radial growth dynamics is complicated, because long records of cambial phenology do not exist. Location: Sixteen sites across European distribution margins of Juniperus communis L. (the Mediterranean, the Arctic, the Alps and the Urals). Time period: 1940–2016. Major taxa studied: Juniperus communis. Methods: We applied the Vaganov–Shashkin process‐based model of wood formation to estimate trends in growing season duration and growth kinetics since 1940. We assumed that J. communis would exhibit spatially and temporally variable growth patterns reflecting local climatic conditions. Results: Our simulations indicate regional differences in growth dynamics and plastic responses to climate warming. The mean growing season duration is the longest at Mediterranean sites and, recently, there has been a significant trend towards its extension of up to 0.44 days/year. However, this stimulating effect of a longer growing season is counteracted by declining summer growth rates caused by amplified drought stress. Consequently, overall trends in simulated ring widths are marginal in the Mediterranean. In contrast, durations of growing seasons in the Arctic show lower and mostly non‐significant trends. However, spring and summer growth rates follow increasing temperatures, leading to a growth increase of up to 0.32 %/year. Main conclusions: This study highlights the plasticity in growth phenology of widely distributed shrubs to climate warming: an earlier onset of cambial activity that offsets the negative effects of summer droughts in the Mediterranean and, conversely, an intensification of growth rates during the short growing seasons in the Arctic. Such plastic growth responsiveness allows woody plants to adapt to the local pace of climate change. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Juvenile tree survival will play an important role in the persistence of coniferous forests and woodlands in the southwestern United States (SWUS). Vulnerability to climatic and environmental stress declines as trees grow, such that larger, more deeply rooted juveniles are less likely to experience mortality. It is unclear how juvenile conifers partition the aboveground and belowground components of early growth, if growth differs between species and ecosystem types, and what environmental factors influence juvenile carbon allocation above‐ or belowground. We developed a novel data set for four juvenile conifer groups (junipers, piñon pines, ponderosa pines, firs; 1121 juveniles sampled, 221 destructively) in three height classes (<150 mm, 150–300 mm, and 300+ mm), across 25 SWUS sites. We compared growth characteristics across groups and height classes and related differences to climatic and environmental factors. As tree height increased from <150 mm to 300+ mm, belowground growth increased, root:shoot ratio declined, and specific leaf area declined for all conifers except firs. Maximum rooting depth was shallower than previous estimates (<˜400 mm). Lower elevation juveniles were frequently located in sheltered microsites that provided high shading, whereas mid‐ and higher elevation juveniles were frequently unsheltered. Across all forest and woodland sites, herbaceous cover was positively correlated with aboveground growth. At study locations comprised of multiple sites, differences in aboveground growth were best explained by ecosystem type (piñon pine‐juniper woodland, ponderosa pine forest, mixed‐conifer forest) and local environmental variation. Our results indicate generally more belowground early growth and more aboveground later growth, but specific allocation patterns varied among ecosystem (greater proportional shoot growth at lower and mid‐elevations compared with higher elevations). Juvenile conifers had similar magnitudes of proportional growth across conifer groups, displaying limited capacity to acclimate growth to differences in climate that control ecosystem type. If juvenile conifers also do not acclimate physiologically to their environment, our findings suggest that local environmental variation will play a primary role in regulating forest and woodland persistence and modify the effects of climate change in the SWUS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Juvenile tree survival will play an important role in the persistence of coniferous forests and woodlands in the southwestern United States (SWUS). Vulnerability to climatic and environmental stress declines as trees grow, such that larger, more deeply rooted juveniles are less likely to experience mortality. It is unclear how juvenile conifers partition the aboveground and belowground components of early growth, if growth differs between species and ecosystem types, and what environmental factors influence juvenile carbon allocation above‐ or belowground. We developed a novel data set for four juvenile conifer groups (junipers, piñon pines, ponderosa pines, firs; 1121 juveniles sampled, 221 destructively) in three height classes (

Copyright of Harran Journal of Agricultural & Food Science is the property of Harran University, Faculty of Agriculture 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 cochineal, Dactylopius opuntiae, has recently become the main pest that damages the prickly cactus, Opuntia ficus-indica, plants in Syria. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of juniper Juniperus foetidissima, rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis, and tobacco Virginia tobacco plant extracts for controlling of D. opuntiae under laboratory and field conditions. The results showed that the effect of V. tobacco plant extract was significantly superior compared to the effect of juniper and rosemary extracts on D. opuntiae. The 100% crude enzyme extract of B. subtilis had a significant effect on cochineal mortality after 1 day of treatment, but this effect was not significantly improved after 5 days of treatment. The findings of our study indicate that ethanol extract of tobacco leaves and crud enzymes produced by B. subtilis could be used in development and implementation of a biological control program against D. opuntiae under field conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Vegetation changes in NE Poland were reconstructed. • Pollen percentage revealed similar trends as curve of δ18O NGRIP. • The onset of the GS-1 is diachronic in the record of Cladocera percentages and pollen percentages. • The pollen record of the GI-1b cold spell revealed the Gerzensee oscillation. By applying pollen and subfossil Cladocera analyses to the Late-Weichselian section of the sediment profile from Lake Suchar Wielki, we aimed to track paleoenvironmental changes in NE Poland, locally (lake formation and its early development) and regionally (terrestrial plant succession). The article aims to indicate how not only stadial-interstadial changes were noticeable in the study area, but above all even short-term climatic fluctuations. The obtained record covers the period of ca. 13,400–11,500 cal. BP, i.e. the part of the Allerød interstadial (GI-1c1 to GI-1a), the Younger Dryas stadial (GS-1), and the very beginning of the Holocene. During the Allerød, a short-lasting cooling was recognized (the Gerzensee oscillation, GI-1b). It is the first study for this part of Poland evidencing the inter-Allerød cooling by the Cladocera-based mean July temperature reconstruction. In the palynological record it was reflected in an increased temporary share of Betula alba t. pollen, while in the Cladocera record in the appearance of cold-water taxa and low total abundance. At the transition to the Younger Dryas further cooling took place that was evidenced by the increase in the proportion of herbaceous plants together with a distinct decrease of tree pollen concentration in sediments as well as by important changes in Cladocera communities including reduced species diversity, disappearance of more demanding temperate taxa and the expansion of cold-tolerant species. The palaeobotanical record revealed that the proportion of juniper pollen in the studied area was lower than in other regions of NE Poland. A case study demonstrated this was mainly due to local conditions. Moreover, it is noteworthy that, at the end of the Younger Dryas, spruce appeared temporarily in local forest stands. The results of the study suggest climate change, which has also been recorded in ice cores from Greenland as cooling ca. 11,800–11,600 cal. BP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Woody vegetation has increased on rangelands worldwide for the past 100–200 years, often because of reduced fire frequency. However, there is a general aversion to reintroducing fire, and therefore, fire surrogates are often used in its place to reverse woody plant encroachment. Determining the conservation effectiveness of reintroducing fire compared with fire surrogates over different time scales is needed to improve conservation efforts. We evaluated the conservation effectiveness of reintroducing fire with a fire surrogate (cutting) applied over the last ~30 years to control juniper (Juniperus occidentalis Hook.) encroachment on 77 sagebrush‐steppe sites. Critical to conservation of this imperiled ecosystem is to limit juniper, not encourage exotic annual grasses, and promote sagebrush dominance of the overstory. Reintroducing fire was more effective than cutting at reducing juniper abundance and extending the period of time that juniper was not dominating the plant community. Sagebrush was reduced more with burning than cutting. Sagebrush, however, was predicted to be a substantial component of the overstory longer in burned than cut areas because of more effective juniper control. Variation in exotic annual grass cover was explained by environmental variables and perennial grass abundance, but not treatment, with annual grasses being problematic on hotter and drier sites with less perennial grass. This suggests that ecological memory varies along an environmental gradient. Reintroducing fire was more effective than cutting at conserving sagebrush‐steppe encroached by juniper over extended time frames; however, cutting was more effective for short‐term conservation. This suggests fire and fire surrogates both have critical roles in conservation of imperiled ecosystems.

The antioxidant, antibacterial and antifungal properties of essential oils (EOs) of Juniperus thurifera L., a plant utilized in traditional, herbal medicine, were investigated. The EOs were extracted by use of a Clevenger apparatus and phytochemicals identified by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS/MS). The antioxidant capacity of EOs of J. thurifera was determined by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil (DPPH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). Antimicrobial activity of EOs of J. thurifera was determined against four fungal strains, Candida albicans; ATCC 10231, Aspergillus niger; MTCC 282, Aspergillus flavus; MTCC 9606 and Fusarium oxysporum; MTCC 9913 and four bacterial strains, Staphylococcus aureus; ATCC 6633, Escherichia coli; K12, Bacillus subtilis; DSM 6333, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa; CIP A22, by use of the disk diffusion method, and microdilution method used to determine the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC). EOs of J. thurifera consisted of 31 compounds and were dominated by α-thujene (25%), elemol (12%) and muurolol (12%). Antioxidant activity recorded an IC50 of 24 ± 0.71 µg/mL (DPPF), EC50 of 0.19 ± 0.01 mg/mL (FRAP), and 9.3 × 102 ± 38 mg EAA/g (TAC). The EOs of J. thurifera exhibited significant antibacterial activity against all bacterial strains under investigation, especially P. aeruginosa; CIP A22 with an inhibition diameter of 28 ± 1.5 mm and MIC of 4.8 × 10−2 ± 0. 001 µg/mL. EOs of J. thurifera also exhibited significant antifungal activity against C. albicans; ATCC 10231 and F. oxysporum; MTCC 9913 with an activity of 21 ± 2.1 mm, 32 ± 2.3%, and MIC of 9.5 × 10−2 ± 0.001 Bioactive molecules found in EOs of J. thurifera could be used as an alternative solution to antibiotics available on the market to combat microbial resistance.

Questions: Woody plant encroachment and wildfire may both have major effects on species richness and composition, yet studies that assess these two factors in combination are rare. We asked the following specific questions: (1) how did juniper cover change over a decade in the study area; what are the effects of juniper encroachment and subsequent wildfire on(2) plant species richness; and (3) vegetation composition? Location: Sand forest–steppe in Kiskunság, Central Hungary. Methods: We studied a juniper‐encroached grassland hit by a wildfire. We assessed changes in plant species richness and composition in burnt and unburnt grassland and juniper plots for 11 years following the wildfire. Yearly vegetation sampling was performed in permanent quadrats of 1 m2 and 25 m2 using visual cover estimation. Temporal changes in juniper cover and species richness were evaluated with generalized linear mixed‐effects models. Compositional changes were analysed by non‐metric multidimensional scaling and fidelity analysis. Results: At the beginning of the study, the presence of individual juniper shrubs increased species richness, and did not alter species composition. However, microsites covered by junipers were extremely species‐poor. Juniper growth during the study period caused a sharp decline in species richness at the edge of juniper shrubs and a shift in species composition compared to grassland plots. Wildfire increased species richness both in grassland and juniper plots. It caused only transient compositional responses in grasslands, but converted juniper habitats back to the grassland state. Conclusions: We conclude that neither moderate juniper encroachment nor wildfire have negative effects on plant species richness in the studied ecosystem. However, as juniper thickening may cause species loss and devastating fires, conservation management should prevent the development of dense juniper stands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Union Territory of Ladakh is phytogeographically Trans-Himalayan region located in the northernmost part of India and known for unique biological, cultural diversity and rich traditional knowledge. The report presents first ethnobotanical survey on the traditional usage of a gymnosperm plant commonly known as ‘Himalayan Pencil Cedar’ or ‘Turkistan Juniper’ (Juniperus polycarpos C. Koch, syn. J. excelsa subsp. polycarpos (C. Koch) Takht). Many ethnobotanical trips were made to collect ethnobotanical information in the year 2015-16 in different villages where habitats of J. polycarpos were present. The survey revealed that J. polycarpos is deeply rooted in the cultural, religious practices of the locals and considered as one of the most sacred trees among the Buddhist. The study showed that J. polycarpos has been used as raw material for aromatic incenses preparation, timber in construction of Buddhist monasteries, medicinal plant by local healers, fuel wood and fodder, making of household articles and for decoration of Lha-thos in Ladakh region. The plant is classified under least concern (LC) category by IUCN but reported as declining in its natural habitat. The paper gives an account that such an extensive use is the key causal factor for its decline and therefore conservation required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hyperlipidaemia, characterised by elevated levels of lipids, particularly LDL-C, is a significant risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. While synthetic inhibitors of microsomal triglyceride transfer protein (MTP) have shown potential in lowering LDL-C, they are associated with adverse effects. This study explores a novel approach by screening natural products to identify plant extracts that down-regulate MTP gene expression, aiming to reduce hyperlipidaemia with fewer side effects. Modulating MTP expression, rather than direct inhibition, offers a promising avenue for lowering plasma lipids and mitigating cardiovascular risk. Various plant extracts were examined for their potential as MTP down-regulators, with Liquorice root and Pomegranate rind extracts demonstrating the highest efficacy. Additionally, the study assessed the total phenolic content of these extracts, revealing their -antioxidant capacity. This research provides a foundation for further investigation into bioactive molecules as potential anti-hyperlipidemic agents with improved safety profiles, addressing a critical need in cardiovascular disease prevention.

In order to determine the influence of juniper fruits (Juniperus communis L) on the formation of bread quality, the optimization of the component composition of a new product with increased nutritional value was carried out. To optimize the recipe composition, the response surface methodology was used. The maximum value of the complex indicator of the quality of new bread is noted when the mass fraction of sodium chloride is 1.45 % and the mass fraction of crushed juniper fruits is 3.17 %. According to the developed recipe, prototypes of the product were developed and the main quality indicators were determined. Based on the analysis of the chemical composition, it was found that bread with the inclusion of 3 % crushed juniper fruits is characterized by an increased content of protein, fiber, vitamins, micro- and macroelements compared to the control sample. The influence of juniper on microbiological parameters and shelf life of the finished product was established. The new type of fortified bread with the addition of 3 % crushed juniper fruits can be stored without changing the quality indicators for up to 72 hours, which exceeds the same indicator of the control bread sample. In the course of the study, the influence of juniper on the antioxidant activity and safety indicators of bread was determined. The inclusion of crushed juniper fruits in the bread made it possible to double the antioxidant activity compared to the control sample, which is 15.5 and 7.5 mg/100 g, respectively. In terms of safety indicators, the developed bread fully meets the requirements of regulatory documents. The results obtained make it possible to recommend for production a new type of fortified bread with increased nutritional value with the inclusion of crushed juniper fruits in its recipe, which will expand the range of health products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]