The chemical composition of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) wood in Poland depending on forest stand location and forest habitat type

Silver birch, Betula pendula Roth, is one of the most common trees in Europe. Due to its content of many biologically active substances, it has long been used in medicine and cosmetics, unlike the rare black birch, Betula obscura Kotula. The aim of the study was therefore to compare the antioxidant properties of extracts from the inner and outer bark layers of both birch trees towards the L929 line treated with acetaldehyde. Based on the lactate dehydrogenase test and the MTT test, 10 and 25% concentrations of extracts were selected for the antioxidant evaluation. All extracts at tested concentrations reduced the production of hydrogen peroxide, superoxide anion radical, and 25% extract decreased malonic aldehyde formation in acetaldehyde-treated cells. The chemical composition of bark extracts was accessed by IR and HPLC-PDA methods and surprisingly, revealed a high content of betulin and lupeol in the inner bark extract of B. obscura. Furthermore, IR analysis revealed differences in the chemical composition of the outer bark between black and silver birch extracts, indicating that black birch may be a valuable source of numerous biologically active substances. Further experiments are required to evaluate their potential against neuroinflammation, cancer, viral infections, as well as their usefulness in cosmetology.

Download Full-text

Variability in the basic density of silver birch wood in Poland

Silva Fennica ◽

10.14214/sf.9968 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 53 (1) ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Hubert Lachowicz ◽

Anna Bieniasz ◽

Rafał Wojtan

Keyword(s):

Betula Pendula ◽

Habitat Type ◽

Geographical Location ◽

Basic Density ◽

Silver Birch ◽

Tree Age ◽

Birch Wood ◽

Forest Habitat ◽

Mean Values ◽

Forest District

This work presents the findings of a study concerning variability in the basic density of silver birch ( Roth) wood, depending on the geographical location of tree stands, the age and thickness of the trees, the forest habitat type, and interactions between some of these factors. The study was carried out on wood from trees aged approximately 30, 50 and 70 years in 12 forest districts located throughout Poland. In total 4777 wood samples, taken from 306 trees from 51 test plots, were measured. The location, the age of the trees, the thickness of the trees and the forest habitat type, as well as interactions between these factors, proved to have a significant influence on the basic density of silver birch wood. The highest mean values of the basic density of the birch wood were found in SokoÅÃ³w forest district on the FBF habitat type (549 kg m) and in GiÅ¼ycko forest district on the FMBF habitat type (548 kg m). For the entire set of examined material, the average values of the basic density of wood increase with tree age. For the examined material originating in FBF and FMBF habitats the average values of basic density showed no significant differences; however, in the cases of the forest districts of GiÅ¼ycko, Åobez and Rudziniec, significant differences in the analysed property were observed.Betula pendulaâ3â3

Download Full-text

Monitoring the damage to epicuticular waxes at silver birch (Betula pendula Roth.) in the changing air pollution spectrum of the Ore Mountains

Acta Universitatis Agriculturae et Silviculturae Mendelianae Brunensis ◽

10.11118/actaun201159050009 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 59 (5) ◽

pp. 9-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Emilie Bednářová ◽

Jiří Kučera

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Betula Pendula ◽

Forest Stand ◽

Silver Birch ◽

Coefficient Of Determination ◽

Epicuticular Waxes ◽

Anthropogenic Factor ◽

Betula Pendula Roth ◽

Sulphur Oxides ◽

High Concentrations

The paper deals with the study of damage to the assimilatory apparatus of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) using the study of changes of epicuticular waxes in the period 1997 to 2009. During the period, changes in the air pollution spectrum occurred in the area of the Ore Mountains. At the beginning of the monitoring, above-limit concentrations of sulphur oxides were the main anthropogenic factor. These concentrations resulted in the degradation of epicuticular waxes. Statistical evaluations demonstrated the high dependence of damage to epicuticular waxes on high concentrations of sulphur oxides. Damage to epicuticular waxes by air pollution increased with the increasing altitude of a forest stand. Since 2001, measured values of SO2 decreased to a minimum but a new phenomenon appeared damaging the assimilatory apparatus of forest stands, namely above-limit concentrations of ground ozone. These above-limit concentrations of ground ozone damage the assimilatory apparatus including epicuticular waxes at all silver birch stands occurring at altitudes above 800 m. This finding was also proved by the high coefficient of determination.

Download Full-text

The Effect of Growth Rate on the Strength Properties of Sawn Beams of Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth)

Scandinavian Journal of Forest Research ◽

10.1080/02827589950152250 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 18-26

Author(s):

R. A. Dunham ◽

A. D. Cameron ◽

J. A. Petty

Keyword(s):

Growth Rate ◽

Betula Pendula ◽

Strength Properties ◽

Silver Birch ◽

Betula Pendula Roth

Download Full-text

Towards Silviculture Guidelines to Produce Large-Sized Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth) Logs in Western Europe

Forests ◽

10.3390/f12050599 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 599

Author(s):

Héloïse Dubois ◽

Hugues Claessens ◽

Gauthier Ligot

Keyword(s):

Betula Pendula ◽

Western Europe ◽

Forest Health ◽

Silver Birch ◽

Growth Potential ◽

Betula Pendula Roth ◽

Crown Diameter ◽

Birch Trees ◽

Timber Tree ◽

Northeastern France

Forest health problems arising from climate change, pests and pathogens are a threat to the main timber tree species. As a result, silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) has become a precious asset for meeting oncoming forestry challenges in western Europe. However, silviculture guidelines to produce high-value birch logs in this region are lacking. Producing large-sized birch trunks requires crown release, i.e., removing crown competitors around selected target trees. These interventions are currently seldom carried out or else too late when the growth potential of the trees has already diminished. This study set out to ascertain the diameter at breast height (dbh) that could be reached by crown-released birch, determine dbh-associated crown diameters, and further characterize the gain obtained from early crown release on birch dbh growth. We measured 704 birch trees that had undergone crown release in 38 naturally regenerated pure birch stands in southern Belgium and in northeastern France. We then evaluated the variation in stem and crown diameter, and analyzed increments in response to the earliness of the interventions in three subsamples, also compared with control target birch. We found that trees with a dbh of 50 cm could be grown within 60 years. Based on crown diameter, to produce 40, 50 and 60 cm dbh trunk, the distance required between target birch trees at the end of the rotation was around 8, 10 and 12 m. With no intervention and in ordinary dense birch regenerations, the dbh increment was found to decline once the stand reached age 4–7 years. Starting crown release in stands aged 4–5 years can double the dbh increment of target trees and provide a continual gain that may last up to 20 years. When birch crowns are released after 9–12 years, it may already be too late for them to recover their best growth rate. Our contribution should help complete emerging guidelines in support of birch silviculture development.

Download Full-text