scholarly journals Biochemical Markers of Salt Stress in European Larch (Larix decidua)

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 430-438 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioana PLESA ◽  
Mohamad AL HASSAN ◽  
Adriana F. SESTRAS ◽  
Oscar VICENTE ◽  
Monica BOSCAIU ◽  
...  

Larix decidua, the European larch, does not grow in natural saline areas, but it can be affected by salinity either by the common practice of winter de-icing of mountain roads with NaCl, or when grown as an ornamental tree in urban areas by the use of low quality, salinised irrigation water. In the present study, the responses to salt stress of young seedlings obtained from seeds of seven Carpathian larch populations were analysed. After 30 days of treatments with 150 mM NaCl, growth and biochemical parameters were determinated. Salt stress inhibited growth of all seedlings, as shown by the relative reduction of stem length and fresh weight, and induced significant changes in the needle levels of several biochemical stress markers. Seedlings from all populations showed a marked reduction of photosynthetic pigments contents and an increase of proline and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations. Under salt stress, plants accumulated Na+ and Cl- in the needles, whereas K+ was maintained at a steady level. Responses of seedlings from the different populations were similar, with only small quantitative differences that did not allow the identification of more salt tolerant genotypes. However, the study revealed that several of the biochemical markers mentioned above can be suitable for the rapid and non-destructive assessment of the effects of salinity in European larch.

2016 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1537-1552 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marta Petrillo ◽  
Paolo Cherubini ◽  
Giulia Fravolini ◽  
Marco Marchetti ◽  
Judith Ascher-Jenull ◽  
...  

Abstract. Due to the large size (e.g. sections of tree trunks) and highly heterogeneous spatial distribution of deadwood, the timescales involved in the coarse woody debris (CWD) decay of Picea abies (L.) Karst. and Larix decidua Mill. in Alpine forests are largely unknown. We investigated the CWD decay dynamics in an Alpine valley in Italy using the chronosequence approach and the five-decay class system that is based on a macromorphological assessment. For the decay classes 1–3, most of the dendrochronological samples were cross-dated to assess the time that had elapsed since tree death, but for decay classes 4 and 5 (poorly preserved tree rings) radiocarbon dating was used. In addition, density, cellulose, and lignin data were measured for the dated CWD. The decay rate constants for spruce and larch were estimated on the basis of the density loss using a single negative exponential model, a regression approach, and the stage-based matrix model. In the decay classes 1–3, the ages of the CWD were similar and varied between 1 and 54 years for spruce and 3 and 40 years for larch, with no significant differences between the classes; classes 1–3 are therefore not indicative of deadwood age. This seems to be due to a time lag between the death of a standing tree and its contact with the soil. We found distinct tree-species-specific differences in decay classes 4 and 5, with larch CWD reaching an average age of 210 years in class 5 and spruce only 77 years. The mean CWD rate constants were estimated to be in the range 0.018 to 0.022 y−1 for spruce and to about 0.012 y−1 for larch. Snapshot sampling (chronosequences) may overestimate the age and mean residence time of CWD. No sampling bias was, however, detectable using the stage-based matrix model. Cellulose and lignin time trends could be derived on the basis of the ages of the CWD. The half-lives for cellulose were 21 years for spruce and 50 years for larch. The half-life of lignin is considerably higher and may be more than 100 years in larch CWD. Consequently, the decay of Picea abies and Larix decidua is very low. Several uncertainties, however, remain: 14C dating of CWD from decay classes 4 and 5 and having a pre-bomb age is often difficult (large age range due to methodological constraints) and fall rates of both European larch and Norway spruce are missing.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jhostin Ramos ◽  
Marco Boto ◽  
Juan Felipe Blanco-Libreros ◽  
José M. Riascos

Periwinkles (Littorinidae: genus Littoraria) are one of the very few molluscan clades showing an adaptive radiation closely associated to the mangrove habitat. However, pervasive land use changes associated to urbanization is prompting mangrove loss or degradation, with unknown consequences for mangrove-associated fauna. In the southern Colombian Caribbean, mangrove ecosystems have been encroached by human settlements and different populations of Littoraria angulifera (Lamarck, 1822) now inhabit anthropogenic intertidal substrates in urban areas, but the demographic traits of populations thriving in these novel environments are unknown. We studied the relative abundance and size structure of L. angulifera in remnant mangrove patches, woody debris and anthropogenic substrates (boulder seawalls and built structures) in 13 locations throughout the Urabá Gulf, a human-transformed tropical estuarine system. The abundance of L. angulifera was up to two orders of magnitude higher in anthropogenic than in quasi-natural or natural substrates. Snails also displayed a significant preference for wave protected positions in boulder seawalls and built structures exposed to heavy wave action, which was not previously reported in mangrove forests. Moreover, snail populations in anthropogenic substrate were consistently dominated by individuals of small sizes in comparison with mangroves or driftwood. We argue that the anthropogenic disturbances caused by the expansion of Turbo city during nearly one century in a coast formerly dominated by mangrove forests are providing novel and expanding habitats, whose quality might be good enough as to support high-density populations of L. angulifera. However, we hypothesize that shifted thermal regimes in hard and novel wave-exposed urban seascapes might also be prompting behavioral adjustments and the selection of smaller size ranges than those observed in mangrove forests.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Huafeng Yang ◽  
Yali Fu ◽  
Xin Hong ◽  
Hao Yu ◽  
Weiwei Wang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background This study aims to analyze the trends of premature mortality caused from four major non-communicable diseases (NCDs), namely cardiovascular disease (CVD), cancer, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes in Nanjing between 2007 and 2018 and project the ability to achieve the “Healthy China 2030” reduction target. Methods Mortality data of four major NCDs for the period 2007–2018 were extracted from the Death Information Registration and Management System of Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Population data for Nanjing were provided by the Nanjing Bureau of Public Security. The premature mortality was calculated using the life table method. Joinpoint regression model was used to estimate the average annual percent changes (AAPC) in mortality trends. Results From 2007 to 2018, the premature mortality from four major NCDs combined in Nanjing decreased from 15.5 to 9.5%, with the AAPC value at − 4.3% (95% CI [− 5.2% to − 3.4%]). Overall, it can potentially achieve the target, with a relative reduction 28.6%. The premature mortality from cancer, CVD, chronic respiratory diseases and diabetes all decreased, with AAPC values at − 4.2, − 5.0%, − 5.9% and − 1.6% respectively. A relative reduction of 40.6 and 41.2% in females and in rural areas, but only 21.0 and 12.8% in males and in urban areas were projected. Conclusion An integrated approach should be taken focusing on the modifiable risk factors across different sectors and disciplines in Nanjing. The prevention and treatment of cancers, diabetes, male and rural areas NCDs should be enhanced.


Forests ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 320 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ioana Plesa ◽  
Sara González-Orenga ◽  
Mohamad Al Hassan ◽  
Adriana Sestras ◽  
Oscar Vicente ◽  
...  

2015 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamad AL HASSAN ◽  
Marina MARTÍNEZ FUERTES ◽  
Francisco José RAMOS SÁNCHEZ ◽  
Oscar VICENTE ◽  
Monica BOSCAIU

The effects of salt and water stress on growth and several stress markers were investigated in cherry tomato plants. Some growth parameters (stem length and number of leaves) and chlorophyll contents were determined every third day during plant growth, and leaf material was collected after 25 and 33 days of treatment. Both stresses inhibited plant growth; chlorophyll levels, however, decreased only in response to high NaCl concentrations. Proline contents largely increased in leaves of stressed plants, reaching levels high enough to play a major role in cellular osmotic adjustment. Despite reports indicating that tomato does not synthesize glycine betaine, the stress-induced accumulation of this osmolyte was detected in cherry tomato, albeit at lower concentration than that of proline. Therefore, it appears that the plants are able to synthesise glycine betaine as a secondary osmolyte under strong stress conditions. Total sugars levels, on the contrary, decreased in stress-treated plants. Both stress treatments caused secondary oxidative stress in the plants, as indicated by a significant increase in malondialdehyde (MDA) contents. Water stress led to an increase in total phenolics and flavonoid contents and a reduction of carotenoid levels in the leaves; flavonoids also increased under high salinity conditions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (No. 6) ◽  
pp. 271-280 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Slobodník

A relationship between the success of pollination and the percentage of full seeds of European larch (Larix decidua MILL.) was studied using several models of non-linear correlation analysis. Although the proportion of pollinated ovules was high in most cases (especially in the middle parts of open-pollinated conelets), the mean percentage of full seeds was extraordinarily low (after the controlled self-pollination even close to zero) and most of the calculated correlation coefficients are lower than the corresponding critical value. This fact gives an evidence for the strong effect of additional important factors causing the empty seed formation in Larix even after the successful pollination of ovules.


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