Ethnobotany of common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) in Slovakia

Common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) is an important conifer from the ecological and economical point of view. In some areas of the distribution range, it is a widely studied species. Up till now insufficient attention has been paid to junipers growing in the Baltic countries where it is one of three natural conifers and important forest tree species. Recently, molecular markers-based diversity of Lithuanian populations of J. communis was determined, although related biological and ecological variables remain undisclosed. The present study is aimed at the evaluation of biotic and abiotic environment of J. communis according to plant species composition. Fourteen sites with J. communis were selected in the territory of Lithuania. At each site undergrowth trees and shrubs, herbaceous species, dwarf shrubs, and mosses were recorded and the abundance of each species was evaluated. Abiotic environment characteristics were obtained using Ellenberg’s indicator values (EIV) of the plant species neighbouring junipers. In the sites with J. communis, 80 species of herbs and dwarf shrubs belonging to 18 families were registered. The largest variety of herbaceous species and dwarf shrubs (18–22 per site) was registered for sites representing xero-thermophile fringes. Species coverage data recorded in the sites in most cases allowed to group sites according to their habitats. Despite rather small territory of the present survey (latitude (N) 56°07’–54°11’, longitude (E) 21°06’–26°30’), the ranges of indexes for environment factors of juniper sites were rather wide: 6.0–7.3 for light, 3.0–5.8 for temperature, 3.7–5.3 for continentality, 4.2–7.8 for soil moisture, 2.7–7.4 for soil reaction, and 2.7–4.4 for soil nitrogen. Among the sites selected by us, the most contrasting in terms of EIV were locations representing coastal brown dunes covered with natural Scots pine forests and xero-thermophile fringes.

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Growth and Development of Pollen Tubes in Common Juniper (Juniperus communis): The Role of the Tube Cell Nucleus

Lesnoy Zhurnal (Forestry Journal) ◽

10.37482/0536-1036-2020-2-20-34 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 20-34

Author(s):

M.V. Surso ◽

◽

D.G. Chukhchin ◽

Keyword(s):

Cell Nucleus ◽

Growth And Development ◽

Pollen Tubes ◽

Juniperus Communis ◽

Tube Cell ◽

Common Juniper

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Antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and different fractions of Juniperus communis L. and a comparison with some commercial antibiotics

Journal of the Serbian Chemical Society ◽

10.2298/jsc0704311g ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 72 (4) ◽

pp. 311-320 ◽

Cited By ~ 44

Author(s):

Sandra Glisic ◽

Svetomir Milojevic ◽

Suzana Dimitrijevic ◽

Aleksandar Orlovic ◽

Dejan Skala

Keyword(s):

Antimicrobial Activity ◽

Essential Oil ◽

Pilot Plant ◽

Supercritical Conditions ◽

Juniperus Communis ◽

Oil Fractions ◽

Inhibition Zones ◽

Common Juniper

The essential oil of common juniper (Juniperus communis L., from the southern part of Serbia) and its fractions of different composition, as well as commercial antibiotics were used for testing their antimicrobial activity against bacteria, yeast and fungi. The essential oil was produced by hydro-distillation in a pilot plant (130 dm3) and then fractionated by distillation over a column, with 36 theoretical stages, under vacuum (26-66 mbar). The essential oil was also fractionated using pure CO2 or CO2 and methanol as co-solvent under supercritical conditions. The native oil showed weak antimicrobial activity, while the fractions with a high content of ?-pinene, and mixture of ?-pinene and sabinene showed the highest antimicrobial activity, especially against fungi. In comparison to the commercial antibiotics, the oil fractions showed more extensive spectra of antimicrobial activity, as well as wider inhibition zones. .

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Biofilm Degradation of Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Formed on Stainless Steel Following Treatment with Immortelle (Helichrysum italicum) and Common Juniper (Juniperus communis) Essential Oils

Processes ◽

10.3390/pr9020362 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 362

Author(s):

Dolores Peruč ◽

Dalibor Broznić ◽

Željka Maglica ◽

Zvonimir Marijanović ◽

Ljerka Karleuša ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Stainless Steel ◽

Essential Oils ◽

Laser Scanning ◽

Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ◽

Bacterial Count ◽

Water Disinfection ◽

Laser Scanning Microscopy ◽

Confocal Laser ◽

Juniperus Communis ◽

Common Juniper

Nontuberculous mycobacteria, like other opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens, produce resistant biofilms on various surfaces in the plumbing system including pipes, tanks, and fittings. Since standard methods of water disinfection are ineffective in eradicating biofilms, research into new agents is necessary. Essential oils (EOs) have great potential as anti-biofilm agents. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to investigate the potential anti-biofilm effect of common juniper (Juniperus communis) and immortelle (Helichrysum italicum) EOs. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBC), and minimum effective concentrations of EOs on Mycobacterium avium, M. intracellulare, and M. gordonae were tested. Additionally, biofilms on the surface of a stainless steel disc were treated with single or mixed concentration of EOs, in order to investigate their degeneration via the bacterial count and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). H. italicum EO showed the strongest biofilm degradation ability against all Mycobacteria strains that were tested. The strongest effect in the biofilm degradation after the single or mixed applications of EOs was observed against M. gordonae, followed by M. avium. The most resistant was the M. intracellulare biofilm. Synergistic combinations of J. communis and H. italicum EOs therefore seem to be an effective substance in biofilm degradation for use in small water systems such as baths or hot tubs.

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Effects of heathland management on seedling recruitment of common juniper (Juniperus communis)

Plant Ecology and Evolution ◽

10.5091/plecevo.2020.1656 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 153 (2) ◽

pp. 188-198

Author(s):

Pieter De Frenne ◽

Robert Gruwez ◽

Patrick W.F.M. Hommel ◽

An De Schrijver ◽

Rik P.J. Huiskes ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Seed Germination ◽

Seedling Recruitment ◽

Positive Impact ◽

Organic Matter Content ◽

Soil Characteristics ◽

Soil Conditions ◽

Juniperus Communis ◽

Management Actions ◽

Sod Cutting ◽

Common Juniper

Background and aims – Common juniper (Juniperus communis L.) is one of the most widespread woody species on the planet. Over recent decades, however, common juniper populations are decreasing in size and number in different regions. Lack of recruitment, caused by extremely low seed viability and the absence of suitable microsites for recruitment, is the key reason for this decline. For successful germination, the seeds need gaps in the existing vegetation and a soil with a relatively high base saturation. The aim of this study was therefore to assess how management actions such as sod cutting, rotavation and liming (alone or in various combinations) influence soil characteristics, seed germination and seedling survival of common juniper.Methods – We installed a sowing experiment across 104 1-m2 plots in four different sites in Belgium and the Netherlands using treatments with different combinations of fencing, sod cutting, rotavation, litter addition and liming. We determined how these treatments affected soil characteristics and how they influenced seed germination and seedling survival.Key results and conclusions – Across the whole experiment, germination rates of juniper seeds were very low (almost always < 1%). Our results confirm that bare ground promotes the germination of juniper seeds. Secondly, higher silt and lutum (clay) proportions in the soil and higher soil organic matter content seemed to have a positive impact on recruitment, possibly due to drought reduction. Management actions that negatively affect those soil characteristics, such as deep sod cutting, should thus be avoided in heathlands on sandy soils. Our results reveal a complex relationship between seedling recruitment success, soil conditions and management of common juniper populations. Overall, combinations of fencing, (superficial) sod cutting and liming or rotavation were most successful.

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Populations state of selected communities of Juniperus communis(Common Juniper)in Vitosha Mt., Bulgaria

ARPHA Conference Abstracts ◽

10.3897/aca.2.e46648 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 2 ◽

Author(s):

Aneta Lambevska-Hristova ◽

Svetlana Bancheva

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Biological Diversity ◽

Arable Land ◽

Good Condition ◽

Natura 2000 ◽

Calcareous Grassland ◽

Anthropogenic Factors ◽

Juniperus Communis ◽

The Impact ◽

Common Juniper

Juniperus communis L. formations on heaths or calcareous grassland are included in the Bulgarian Biological Diversity Act (code 5130) and some of them are covered by the European Ecological Network Natura 2000 in Bulgaria. Aim: The purpose of this work is to investigate the status of selected communities with the participation of J. communis in the Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) "Vitosha" with an emphasis on the species richness of plants and fungi and the impact of natural and anthropogenic factors. Material and methods: The survey was conducted between May and September 2019. Habitat 5130 covers an area of 19.27 ha in the territory of SAC "Vitosha". For the purpose of this study is crawled throughout the mountain where it is registered. The route and stationary methods were used for selected objects. Reporting plots were installed in 5 places, each with an area of 100 sq.m. For the assessment of the state of J. communis’ communities and the influencing factors the appropriate Methodology used for the establishment of the national Natura 2000 network in Bulgaria was applied (Zingstra et al. 2009). Results: A remarkable species richness of plants and fungi was found in the selected communities of Common Juniper at SAC "Vitosha". A new lignicolous species for the Bulgarian mycota, Peniophora junipericola J. Erikss on single host J. communis, was found. The explored plant communities were in good condition and have not been established factors threatening their existence. Conclusion: The habitat occurs at various altitudes and includes species with various ecological characteristics. A tendency for restoration and increasing of the areas covered by the Common juniper has been observed recently as a result of abandonment of arable land.

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Occurrence of the Invasive Bark Beetle Phloeosinus aubei on Common Juniper Trees in the Czech Republic

Forests ◽

10.3390/f10010012 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 12 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Tomáš Fiala ◽

Jaroslav Holuša

Keyword(s):

Czech Republic ◽

Bark Beetle ◽

Invasive Pest ◽

The West ◽

The Czech Republic ◽

Central European ◽

Juniperus Communis ◽

Naturally Occurring ◽

Potential Pest ◽

Common Juniper

The small cypress bark beetle Phloeosinus aubei is considered an invasive pest in several central European countries, and we have determined its current distribution on common juniper trees (Juniperus communis) in the Czech Republic. The results indicated that P. aubei is widely distributed in the country but is more common in the east than in the west. The beetle was mainly detected on older, damaged trees and on stems with diameters > 3 cm. The apparently widespread and abundant populations of P. aubei could explain infestations of the beetle on Thuja spp. and Juniperus spp. in gardens (three confirmed cases during the last 10 years). We consider P. aubei to be a potential pest on older, naturally occurring J. communis in protected areas where its population density could increase on weakened and damaged trees. We suggest that P. aubei can be monitored via simple inspection of dying and dead J. communis trees in the field.

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