Search Results (34)

Prunus serotina (black cherry) is native to America and has five subspecies: serotina, eximia, hirsuta, virens, and capuli. P. serotina subsp. capuli is found in Central and South America with superior fruits found in Ecuador. These have large, juicy, and tasty fruits used for human consumption. They are available in produce markets and have important nutraceutical properties. However, no commercial cultivars of capuli are currently available. The main goal of this research was to understand if different morphological characters can differentiate unique populations of P. serotina subsp. capuli present in Ecuador. Morphological traits (tree, leaf, and flower) of plants grown from the OP seeds of 44 capuli accessions collected from three provinces of Ecuador (Cotopaxi, Chimborazo, and Tungurahua) were characterized in 2019 and 2020. Tree measurements included the number of primary branches and growth habit. Leaf measurements included petiole length, leaf area, leaf height, leaf width, leaf apex angle, and leaf basal angle. Flower measurements included pedicel length, flower width, and flower length. Raceme length, number of racemes per branch, and number of flowers per raceme were also characterized. ANOVA were performed with significant differences observed among capuli accessions for all variables measured. No clear differences were observed across regions with PCA and cluster analysis that may support the presence of different populations. Full article

Raw lacquer, known for its superior performance as a natural liquid coating, boasts excellent physical and mechanical properties as well as durability, making it widely used in manufacturing. However, the high hardness of the lacquer film upon complete curing poses challenges for carving and mechanical engraving. Therefore, it is necessary to study the curing process of lacquer films to obtain films suitable for carving or mechanical engraving. This study involves the preparation of raw lacquer with varying amounts of tung oil added, followed by the measurement of film drying time, surface roughness, glossiness, hardness, and adhesion on substrates to determine the optimal drying conditions. Additionally, SEM analysis of the carved surfaces and FT-IR analysis were used to investigate the impact of tung oil addition on lacquer carving performance and its variation. The results indicate that tung oil, to a certain extent, contributes to a smoother lacquer film but adversely affects film hardness and adhesion to Prunus serotina. However, with an increase in the amount of refined tung oil to 15%, the film exhibits improved glossiness, smoother carving tool marks, and reduced debris, thereby validating the feasibility of mechanical carving of tung oil-modified raw lacquer to some extent. Full article

This study investigates the suitability of using caffeine-treated and untreated black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) wood as a polylactide filler. Composites containing 10%, 20%, and 30% filler were investigated in terms of increasing the nucleating ability of polylactide, as well as enhancing its resistance to microorganisms. Differential scanning calorimetry studies showed that the addition of caffeine-treated wood significantly altered the crystallization behavior of the polymer matrix, increasing its crystallization temperature and degree of crystallinity. Polarized light microscopic observations revealed that only the caffeine-treated wood induced the formation of transcrystalline structures in the polylactide. Incorporation of the modified filler into the matrix was also responsible for changes in the thermal stability and decreased hydrophilicity of the material. Most importantly, the use of black cherry wood treated with caffeine imparted antifungal properties to the polylactide-based composite, effectively reducing growth of Fusarium oxysporum, Fusarium culmorum, Alternaria alternata, and Trichoderma viride. For the first time, it was reported that treatment of wood with a caffeine compound of natural origin alters the supermolecular structure, nucleating abilities, and imparts antifungal properties of polylactide/wood composites, providing promising insights into the structure-properties relationship of such composites. Full article

Both spotted-wing drosophila (SWD, Drosophila suzukii) and American black cherry (ABC, Prunus serotina) are invasive species with major deleterious effects on forest ecosystems in Europe. ABC, a host of SWD, can sustain large populations of SWD, and SWD in turn can constrain the regeneration of its host. Here, we examined the range shifts of SWD, ABC, and their range overlap under future scenarios using range shift models. In the current–future scenarios, both SWD and ABC were predicted to undergo potential range expansions in Europe, suggesting that their invasion risks might increase in the future. Climate change might be the major driver of range shifts of both the pest and host, followed by land-use and host availability changes; therefore, mitigating future climate change might be key for controlling their future invasions in Europe. The relative contribution of climate and host availability to shaping the potential ranges of invasive species might not only vary with their feeding habitats (polyphagy/oligophagy) but also with the relative abundance of hosts among available host reservoirs. Range overlap under current and future scenarios was mainly observed in the UK, Germany, France, Switzerland, Italy, and Eastern Europe; this area is of high and low priority for the control of SWD and ABC, respectively. Full article

The extensive spread of the invasive black cherry, Padus serotina, has been observed on abandoned agricultural land in Central and Eastern Europe. However, the impact of this species on invaded agroecosystems is still unknown, including the possibility of returning these ecosystems to agricultural production. In order to evaluate the selected soil properties of fallows invaded by P. serotina, their texture, field water capacity, reaction, and content of organic carbon, total nitrogen, and available forms of potassium and phosphorus were determined for 100 study plots. Taking into account the influence of soil conditions on floristic composition, the area covered by individual plant species in the study plots was also included in the analysis. A relationship was found between the presence of all the developmental stages of P. serotina and an increase in the phosphorus content in the soil. With the growth of a black cherry shrub layer, the content of soil nitrogen and potassium increased. An increasing proportion of P. serotina in the herb layer contributed to soil acidification and reduced the water content available for plants in the arable layer at 20–40 cm. The possible impact of P. serotina on soil properties may be an additional premise when considering the possibilities and benefits of the recultivation of fallow land invaded by this species. Full article

Prunus serotina is an important invasive plant species in Poland. It was introduced to European forests, even in places currently protected by law, such as national parks. One major factor contributing to the spread of this species is the lack of infecting pathogens and incomplete knowledge about the relationship between the plant and microorganisms. This study aimed to identify fungal communities collected from freshly cut stumps of live and dead black cherry tree specimens growing in a protected forest. The main working hypotheses were as follows: (i) fungal communities inhabiting the wood of dead and living trees will differ in diversity and the number of taxa; and (ii) saprotrophic fungi will dominate in the wood of dead tree stumps. This study applied Illumina sequencing based on the amplification of the fungal ribosomal ITSI region. The average number of sequences (OTU) obtained from the analysis of dead tree wood was 101,758, while that of living trees was 94,150. These sequences belonged to 312 taxa, among which 254 were isolated from the wood of dead trees and 171 from that of living trees. Among the saprotrophs on dead trees, the following species were identified: Stereum rugosum, Ganoderma adspersum, G. applanatum, Peniophora cinerea, and Ascocoryne cylichnium. On the other hand, in the wood of living trees, Cytospora leucostoma and Botrytis cinerea were the most abundant saprotrophic species. The fungal communities inhabiting the wood of dead and living trees differed in the diversity and abundance of taxa, thus confirming our hypothesis. The results of our research conducted in a protected area indicate that black cherry wood can be naturally colonized by many pathogen species that can further limit its expansion. Full article

Ecosystem services (ES) refer to the benefits that people obtain from the ecosystem. In this sense, Prunus serotina is associated with the provision of ES; however, these services have been scarcely studied. The objective of this research was to determine the knowledge and perceptions of individuals in rural areas regarding the importance of ES, as well as the factors that influence them. Surveys were applied in three study areas (Chimborazo, Tungurahua, and Cotopaxi) of the central Andes of Ecuador that detailed the sociodemographic and perception characteristics of ES based on the predefined ES of the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (MEA). In the assessment, the interview data were analyzed to obtain the relationships between the variables using Spearman’s correlation in the R-studio software. The results showed that individuals’ level of education, age, and gender play an important role in variations in peoples’ knowledge of ES. A total of 21 ES were identified; the most representative services, according to their ecosystem category, were support (shelter for birds and insects and soil formation), provisioning (food, insecticide, wood, and firewood), regulation (improvement in the quality of air and climate regulation), and culture (scenic beauty and the maintenance of traditions). This analysis of the social perception of ES works as a strategy for the maintenance of Prunus serotina in the orchards and plots of families in the central Andes of Ecuador. The identification of ES through the social perception of their existence facilitates an understanding of the importance of ES in rural localities, which lays the foundation for strategies to be developed in the future for their conservation. Full article

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of European beaver (Castor fiber L.) on vegetation diversity and the expansion of non-native plant species in areas surrounding watercourses in Polesie National Park, Poland. The investigation was carried out within six watercourses inhabited by beavers and four comparison watercourses where beaver were absent. European beaver living in the park had a small excursion range, reaching a maximum distance of 25 m from the watercourse so that effects on vegetation diversity were limited to the immediate vicinity of the watercourse. Beaver significantly influenced diversity of the tall tree and forest floor vegetation, while it did not significantly modify the diversity of the low tree and shrub layer. Five alien plant species were documented. The alien species most strongly associated with beaver activity was devil’s beggartick (Bidens frondosa L.), which occurred in the immediate vicinity of beaver dams. Other alien species most benefiting from the presence of beaver were giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea Aiton) and black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.). Our study confirmed hypotheses found in literature according to which beaver activities that reduce the proportion of native species can promote the expansion of plant alien species. Full article

Over the last decade, the Allegheny National Forest (ANF) in the USA has experienced issues with the regeneration of black cherry (Prunus serotina). This study was conducted to investigate the effects of silvicultural treatment on the insect communities that may affect black cherry pollination and regeneration. We conducted a 2-year study to compare the abundance, richness, and diversity of insects in unmanaged, shelterwood seed-tree, and shelterwood clear-cut stands. Using pan traps, we sampled insects at the ground level and in the canopies of flowering mature black cherry trees. The results of this study showed significant increases in the abundance of insects captured in shelterwood seed-tree stands and in species richness and diversity of insects captured in the canopy of black cherry in shelterwood removal stands, indicating that silvicultural treatment affected the insect community significantly. The dominant insect order was Diptera (true flies, 72.91%, n = 12,668), and Anthalia bulbosa (Diptera: Hybotidae) was the dominant species comprising 33% of all insects found in the canopy of flowering black cherry. The findings in this study could help land managers in managing black cherry for its pollination and natural regeneration. Full article

Prunus serotina is divided into five subspecies. Among these, P. serotina subsp. capuli, commonly known as capuli, is native to Central and South America. Its fruits are big, sweet, and consumed by locals in various forms, with the Ecuadorian Andes region providing the best fruit forms of capuli. The objective of this study was to characterize a collection of different genotypes of capuli’s fruit, and their endocarps, found growing in the wild in the Chimborazo, Tungurahua, and Cotopaxi provinces of Ecuador. The fruits were characterized for weight (11.7–50.3 g), diameter (12.4–21.7 mm), height (11.4–19.7 mm), and soluble solids content (SSC) (13.4–27.6 °Brix) across two years. Similarly, the endocarps’ diameters (7.5–12.2 mm) and heights (8.1–13.6 mm) were measured. Significant differences were found for all the fruit and endocarp variables studied. A multivariate analysis showed that all the fruit and endocarp size characteristics, except SSC, were positively correlated with each other within a season. No clear population differentiation was seen among the genotypes from different provinces, suggesting a lack of clear morphological differentiation. The future breeding and selection of a capuli with superior, commercial, large fruit and a high SSC shows great potential. Full article

Abandoned agricultural land present in most European countries constitutes a resource of land that can be restored to agricultural production. Fallow colonization by invasive plant species contributes to changes in the course of natural secondary succession. This may modify the possibilities of returning fallow lands to agriculture, which constitutes an issue that needs to be investigated. In this study, the phytotoxic effect of invasive black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) on two crop plants commonly used for fallow land utilization, white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) and common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench), was assessed. The influence of water extracts from P. serotina litter and the soil collected under the individuals of this species was investigated. Sinapis alba was found to be more sensitive to allelochemicals released by P. serotina than F. esculentum. Litter extracts and soil with residues of P. serotina significantly inhibited both germination and growth of S. alba seedlings, estimated with length and mass of the above-ground and underground parts. In the case of F. esculentum, a negative effect of the tested extracts and soil on root mass reduction was observed. Preliminary results of our laboratory tests suggest that cultivation of white mustard should be avoided in the reclamation of fallows with black cherry. Full article

Woodlands are pivotal to carbon stocks, but the process of cycling C is slow and may be most effective in the biodiverse root zone. How the root zone impacts plants has been widely examined over the past few decades, but the role of the root zone in decomposition is understudied. Here, we examined how mycorrhizal association and macroinvertebrate activity influences wood decomposition across diverse tree species. Within the root zone of six predominantly arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) (Acer negundo, Acer saccharum, Prunus serotina, Juglans nigra, Sassafras albidum, and Liriodendron tulipfera) and seven predominantly ectomycorrhizal (EM) tree species (Carya glabra, Quercus alba, Quercus rubra, Betula alleghaniensis, Picea rubens, Pinus virginiana, and Pinus strobus), woody litter was buried for 13 months. Macroinvertebrate access to woody substrate was either prevented or not using 0.22 mm mesh in a common garden site in central Pennsylvania. Decomposition was assessed as proportionate mass loss, as explained by root diameter, phylogenetic signal, mycorrhizal type, canopy tree trait, or macroinvertebrate exclusion. Macroinvertebrate exclusion significantly increased wood decomposition by 5.9%, while mycorrhizal type did not affect wood decomposition, nor did canopy traits (i.e., broad leaves versus pine needles). Interestingly, there was a phylogenetic signal for wood decomposition. Local indicators for phylogenetic associations (LIPA) determined high values of sensitivity value in Pinus and Picea genera, while Carya, Juglans, Betula, and Prunus yielded low values of sensitivity. Phylogenetic signals went undetected for tree root morphology. Despite this, roots greater than 0.35 mm significantly increased woody litter decomposition by 8%. In conclusion, the findings of this study suggest trees with larger root diameters can accelerate C cycling, as can trees associated with certain phylogenetic clades. In addition, root zone macroinvertebrates can potentially limit woody C cycling, while mycorrhizal type does not play a significant role. Full article

The increased abundance of historically rare native tree species is symptomatic of land-use change, which causes ecosystem regime shifts. I tested for an association between mean agricultural area, a proxy for land-use change, and native tree species. I first modeled agricultural area during the years 1850 to 1997 and the historical and current percent composition of tree genera, along with the dissimilarity and difference between the historical and current composition, for the northern part of the eastern U.S. I then modeled agricultural area and current genera and species for the eastern U.S. and regionally. For the northeast, agricultural area was most associated (R² of 78%) with the current percentage of elms and a diverse, uncommon “other” genera. For the eastern U.S., Ulmus, Juglans, Prunus, boxelder (Acer negundo), black cherry (Prunus serotina), and hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) best predicted agricultural area (R² of 66%). Regionally, two elm and ash species, black walnut (Juglans nigra), mockernut hickory (Carya tomentosa), red maple (Acer rubrum), sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua), and American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis) increased with agricultural area. Increases in historically rare and diverse species associated with agricultural area represent an overall pattern of invasive native tree species that have replaced historical ecosystems after land-use change disrupted historical vegetation and disturbance regimes. Full article

The North American Prunus serotina Ehrh. is an invasive neophyte widespread in Polish forests. Due to the negative impact of this species on native vegetation, the most effective methods of its removal from the stands have been searched for. Our research aimed to determine whether herbicides that were applied in spring 2020 influenced morphological features of inflorescences and flowers of P. serotina in the next year of vegetation (i.e., 2021). So far, the effects of herbicides used were analysed in the same year, no later than a few weeks after their application. The experiment was carried out on the research area of 2.7 ha located in the Zielonka Forest near Poznań in Poland (N 52.5330, E 17.1015). The response of 39 P. serotina trees to six different herbicides, containing sulfonylurea derivatives, glyphosate and phenoxy herbicides was investigated. The chemicals were applied directly to the tree, to the holes made in the trunk axis. The plant material included inflorescences from 10 control trees and 29 trees treated with different herbicides. Nine morphological inflorescence and flower features and three ratios were analysed. In total 200 inflorescences and 1000 flowers were measured. Statistically significant differences between inflorescence and flower features collected from trees treated with different herbicides were demonstrated. The largest ranges of values of the studied features were found in inflorescences and flowers collected from the control trees (C-WI, C-DWH). The greatest variability of the studied features was found for C-DWH. Compared to the control trees the reduction in inflorescence size, as well as the smaller number of flowers, were recorded in the trees treated with different herbicides, irrespective of an active substance content. The use of six different herbicides—with different active substance contents to control P. serotina proves to be effective. Full article

The aim of this study was to prove that under in vitro conditions, the adhesiveness of the callus between rootstock and scion, the development of callus cells at the points of fusion, and the presence of phenolic components are closely related to the level of (in) compatibility of the grafting combinations between Sato-zakura cherry cultivars (‘Amanogawa’, ‘Kanzan’, and ‘Kiku-shidare-zakura’) and commercial rootstocks. Prunus avium, Prunus ‘Colt’, Prunus mahaleb and Prunus serrulata were used as compatible and Prunus serotina and Pyrus communis ‘Pyrodwarf’ were used as two potentially incompatible rootstocks. The results indicated the significant manifestations of the early signs of the incompatibility on the callus junction. Phenols, as well as tissue senescence, were very precisely localized by toluidine blue and alcian blue as well as safranin staining, which can indicate the early signs of the callus incompatibility in some grafting unions. In the callus unions of Prunus avium with ‘Amanogawa’ and ‘Kiku-shidare-zakura’ the results of chemical analyses indicated that the existence of several flavonols, flavones and phenol acids could be involved in the incompatibility process in grafted combination. The detection of flavonol astragalin in the unions can be a biomarker of compatibility between scion and the rootstock, while some polyphenols, such as neochlorogenic acid, sinapic acid, ellagic acid, caffeic acid, baicalein, naringenin, apigenin and luteolin can be used as the indicators of graft incompatibility. p-coumaric acid and ferulic acid could be used for detection of delayed incompatibility. Full article