scholarly journals 37 Years of Forest Monitoring in Switzerland: Drought Effects on Fagus sylvatica

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sabine Braun ◽  
Sven-Eric Hopf ◽  
Simon Tresch ◽  
Jan Remund ◽  
Christian Schindler
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Tree Mortality ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Forest Monitoring ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
P Deficiency ◽  
Crown Transparency ◽  
Foliar Phosphorus ◽  
Branch Dieback ◽  
Drought Effects

European beech is one of the most important deciduous tree species in natural forest ecosystems in Central Europe. Its dominance is now being questioned by the emerging drought damages due to the increased incidence of severe summer droughts. In Switzerland, Fagus sylvatica have been observed in the Intercantonal Forest Observation Program since 1984. The dataset presented here includes 179176 annual observations of beech trees on 102 plots during 37 years. The plots cover gradients in drought, nitrogen deposition, ozone, age, altitude, and soil chemistry. In dry regions of Switzerland, the dry and hot summer of 2018 caused a serious branch dieback, increased mortality in Fagus sylvatica and increased yellowing of leaves. Beech trees recovered less after 2018 than after the dry summer 2003 which had been similar in drought intensity except that the drought in 2018 started earlier in spring. Our data analyses suggest the importance of drought in subsequent years for crown transparency and mortality in beech. The drought in 2018 followed previous dry years of 2015 and 2017 which pre-weakened the trees. Our long-term data indicate that the drought from up to three previous years were significant predictors for both tree mortality and for the proportion of trees with serious (>60%) crown transparency. The delay in mortality after the weakening event suggests also the importance of weakness parasites. The staining of active vessels with safranine revealed that the cavitation caused by the low tree water potentials in 2018 persisted at least partially in 2019. Thus, the ability of the branches to conduct water was reduced and the branches dried out. Furthermore, photooxidation in light-exposed leaves has increased strongly since 2011. This phenomenon was related to low concentrations of foliar phosphorus (P) and hot temperatures before leaf harvest. The observed drought effects can be categorized as (i) hydraulic failure (branch dieback), (ii) energy starvation as a consequence of closed stomata and P deficiency (photooxidation) and (iii) infestation with weakness parasites (beech bark disease and root rots).

scholarly journals Mitochondrial Genome of Fagus sylvatica L. as a Source for Taxonomic Marker Development in the Fagales

Plants ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (10) ◽  
pp. 1274
Author(s):  
Malte Mader ◽  
Hilke Schroeder ◽  
Thomas Schott ◽  
Katrin Schöning-Stierand ◽  
Ana Paula Leite Montalvão ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mitochondrial Genome ◽  
Dna Sequence ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Illumina Miseq ◽  
Wood Products ◽  
Rrna Genes ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Protein Coding ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L

European beech, Fagus sylvatica L., is one of the most important and widespread deciduous tree species in Central Europe and is widely managed for its hard wood. The complete DNA sequence of the mitochondrial genome of Fagus sylvatica L. was assembled and annotated based on Illumina MiSeq reads and validated using long reads from nanopore MinION sequencing. The genome assembled into a single DNA sequence of 504,715 bp in length containing 58 genes with predicted function, including 35 protein-coding, 20 tRNA and three rRNA genes. Additionally, 23 putative protein-coding genes were predicted supported by RNA-Seq data. Aiming at the development of taxon-specific mitochondrial genetic markers, the tool SNPtax was developed and applied to select genic SNPs potentially specific for different taxa within the Fagales. Further validation of a small SNP set resulted in the development of four CAPS markers specific for Fagus, Fagaceae, or Fagales, respectively, when considering over 100 individuals from a total of 69 species of deciduous trees and conifers from up to 15 families included in the marker validation. The CAPS marker set is suitable to identify the genus Fagus in DNA samples from tree tissues or wood products, including wood composite products.

scholarly journals The Impact of Adverse Weather and Climate on the Width of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Tree Rings in Southeastern Europe

Atmosphere ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (11) ◽  
pp. 451 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stefan Stjepanović ◽  
Bratislav Matović ◽  
Dejan Stojanović ◽  
Branislava Lalić ◽  
Tom Levanič ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Ring Width ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Growing Season ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Beech Forests ◽  
Adverse Weather ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L ◽  
The Impact

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is the most important deciduous tree species in Europe. According to different climate scenarios, there is a relatively high probability of a massive decline in and loss of beech forests in southern Europe and in the southern part of central Europe. Thus, the authors of this study explored the dynamics of tree diameter increments and the influence of extremely dry years on the width of tree rings. This study used dendroecological methods to analyze the growth and diameter increments of European beech trees at locations in Serbia and the Republic of Srpska. The sampling was conducted along the vertical distribution of beech forests, at five sites at the lower limit of the distribution, at five optimal sites of the distribution, and at five sites at the upper limit of the distribution. Long-term analyses indicate that dry conditions during a growing season can reduce tree-ring width, but a reduction in tree growth can be expected as a result of more than one season of unfavorable conditions. Low temperatures in autumn and winter and prolonged winters can strongly affect upcoming vegetation and reduce tree development even under normal thermal conditions during a growing season.

scholarly journals Main forestry and management indices of pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands involving beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in composition of Ukrainian Roztochchia

2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 81-87
Author(s):  
Myklush Yuriy ◽  
Myklush Stepan ◽  
Havryliuk Serhii ◽  
Savchyn Volodymyr
Keyword(s):  
Pinus Sylvestris ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Natural Regeneration ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Acer Pseudoplatanus ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Area Of Interest ◽  
Pine Stands ◽  
Common Oak

Abstract As of 2019, the total area of forest stands with the varying proportion of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) and beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in composition on the Ukrainian Roztochchia was 11,251.3 ha and the area of pine stands involving European beech in composition was 6879.5 ha. Pine stands involving beech in composition are formed on the fresh, moist and boggy relatively pure and relatively rich soil condition. Pine forest stands (average share of pine exceeds 56%), which include beech in composition occupy more than 80% of the total area of interest. Mature and overmature forest stands dominate most of the landscape. More than 85% of stands are characterized by an average relative completeness. Undergrowth of deciduous tree species, which is mainly formed by European beech or hornbeam (Carpinus betulus L.) and rarely by common oak (Quercus robur L.) or sycamore maple (Acer pseudoplatanus), is available under a canopy of middle-aged, ripening and mature stands. The study points to the need to rethink forest management approaches and eventually to use such methods of forest cuttings that ensure natural regeneration not only of a European beech and common oak, but primarily of a pine. The practice of creating pine plantations in such conditions favourable for its growth and development should be used only in those cases when it is impossible to achieve natural regeneration of pine.

scholarly journals Identification of SNPs in candidate genes potentially involved in bud burst in European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.)

2015 ◽  
Vol 64 (1-6) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Markus Müller ◽  
S. Seifert ◽  
R. Finkeldey
Keyword(s):  
Candidate Genes ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Bud Burst ◽  
Nucleotide Polymorphisms ◽  
Adaptive Traits ◽  
Single Nucleotide ◽  
Genetic Studies ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L

Abstract European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is one of the most important deciduous tree species in Central Europe. Higher annual mean temperatures caused by climate change lead to earlier bud burst in spring and/or a delay of leaf senescence in autumn. Since earlier bud burst might increase the late frost risk, adaptive traits like bud burst may gain more importance in the future. Nevertheless, knowledge of the genetic background of leaf unfolding is still scarce for European beech. In the present study, we analyzed parts of ten different candidate genes for bud burst with a total length of 12,290 bp. Comparative sequencing with plant material of 12 different beech populations distributed over Germany revealed 116 SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) and 20 indels. A subset of 46 SNPs was successfully used for genotyping of 100 offspring of a beech population in Germany confirming the suitability of the newly developed SNP set for population genetic studies. The provided data may be useful for further investigations of adaptation in F. sylvatica.

scholarly journals UHPLC-HRMS Analysis of Fagus sylvatica (Fagaceae) Leaves: A Renewable Source of Antioxidant Polyphenols

Antioxidants ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1140
Author(s):  
Marialuisa Formato ◽  
Simona Piccolella ◽  
Christian Zidorn ◽  
Severina Pacifico
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
High Performance ◽  
High Resolution Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Reducing Power ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Bioactive Molecules ◽  
Deciduous Tree ◽  
Mitochondrial Activity ◽  
Alcoholic Extract ◽  
Bioactive Natural Products

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) is a deciduous tree, widely distributed in Europe and largely appreciated for its wood and nutritive nuts. Beech leaf also enjoys food use as salad, but an understanding of its nutraceutical value is still far from being achieved. Indeed, and also taking into account beech leaf as a consistent biomass residue available beechwood production and use, it needs to be explored as a valuable renewable specialized source of bioactive molecules. In this context, an untargeted ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography hyphenated with high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) approach was favorably applied to a beech leaf alcoholic extract, which also was evaluated for its antiradical capability (by means of assays based on 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and [2,2’-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazolin-6-sulfonic acid)] (ABTS) radical cation) and its ferric ion reducing power. Redox mitochondrial activity towards Caco-2 cells paved the way to explore the extract’s capability to inhibit intracellular Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS) using 2’,7’dichlorofluorescin diacetate (DCFH-DA) assay. Hydroxycinnamoyl derivatives, mainly belonging to the chlorogenic acid class, and flavonoids were the main constituents. Uncommon flavanone C-glycosides were also found, together with a plentiful flavonol diversity. Cell-free and cell-based assays highlight its dose-dependent antioxidant efficacy, providing a foundation for further investigation of beech leaf constituents and its valorization and use as a reservoir of bioactive natural products with potential nutraceutical applications.

scholarly journals How Does Radial Growth of Water-Stressed Populations of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) Trees Vary under Multiple Drought Events?

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 129
Author(s):  
Tamalika Chakraborty ◽  
Albert Reif ◽  
Andreas Matzarakis ◽  
Somidh Saha
Keyword(s):  
Soil Water ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Tree Growth ◽  
Radial Growth ◽  
Basal Area ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Canopy Openness ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica L ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Neighborhood Competition

European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) trees are becoming vulnerable to drought, with a warming climate. Existing studies disagree on how radial growth varies in European beech in response to droughts. We aimed to find the impact of multiple droughts on beech trees’ annual radial growth at their ecological drought limit created by soil water availability in the forest. Besides, we quantified the influence of competition and canopy openness on the mean basal area growth of beech trees. We carried out this study in five near-natural temperate forests in three localities of Germany and Switzerland. We quantified available soil water storage capacity (AWC) in plots laid in the transition zone from oak to beech dominated forests. The plots were classified as ‘dry’ (AWC < 60 mL) and ‘less-dry’ (AWC > 60 mL). We performed dendroecological analyses starting from 1951 in continuous and discontinuous series to study the influence of climatic drought (i.e., precipitation-potential evapotranspiration) on the radial growth of beech trees in dry and less-dry plots. We used observed values for this analysis and did not use interpolated values from interpolated historical records in this study. We selected six drought events to study the resistance, recovery, and resilience of beech trees to drought at a discontinuous level. The radial growth was significantly higher in less-dry plots than dry plots. The increase in drought had reduced tree growth. Frequent climatic drought events resulted in more significant correlations, hence, increased the dependency of tree growth on AWC. We showed that the recovery and resilience to climatic drought were higher in trees in less-dry plots than dry plots, but it was the opposite for resistance. The resistance, recovery, and resilience of the trees were heterogeneous between the events of drought. Mean growth of beech trees (basal area increment) were negatively impacted by neighborhood competition and positively influenced by canopy openness. We emphasized that beech trees growing on soil with low AWC are at higher risk of growth decline. We concluded that changes in soil water conditions even at the microsite level could influence beech trees’ growth in their drought limit under the changing climate. Along with drought, neighborhood competition and lack of light can also reduce beech trees’ growth. This study will enrich the state of knowledge about the ongoing debate on the vulnerability of beech trees to drought in Europe.

scholarly journals Distribution of the timber quality attribute ‘knot surface’ in logs of Fagus sylvatica L. from pure and mixed forest stands

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirsten Höwler ◽  
Torsten Vor ◽  
Peter Schall ◽  
Peter Annighöfer ◽  
Dominik Seidel ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Mixed Forest ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Forest Stands ◽  
Species Identity ◽  
Mixed Stands ◽  
Mixed Forests ◽  
Climate Conditions ◽  
Timber Quality ◽  
Positive Effects

AbstractResearch on mixed forests has mostly focused on tree growth and productivity, or resistance and resilience in changing climate conditions, but only rarely on the effects of tree species mixing on timber quality. In particular, it is still unclear whether the numerous positive effects of mixed forests on productivity and stability come at the expense of timber quality. In this study, we used photographs of sawn boards from 90 European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) trees of mixed and pure forest stands to analyze internal timber quality through the quality indicator knot surface that was quantitatively assessed using the software Datinf® Measure. We observed a decrease in knot surface with increasing distance from the pith as well as smaller values in the lower log sections. Regarding the influence of neighborhood species identity, we found only minor effects meaning that timber qualities in mixed stands of beech and Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) H. Karst.) tended to be slightly worse compared to pure beech stands.

scholarly journals A Circular Chloroplast Genome of Fagus sylvatica Reveals High Conservation between Two Individuals from Germany and One Individual from Poland and an Alternate Direction of the Small Single-Copy Region

Forests ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Bagdevi Mishra ◽  
Bartosz Ulaszewski ◽  
Sebastian Ploch ◽  
Jaroslaw Burczyk ◽  
Marco Thines
Keyword(s):  
Chloroplast Genome ◽  
Fagus Sylvatica ◽  
Pollen Dispersal ◽  
European Beech ◽  
Single Copy ◽  
Migration History ◽  
Chloroplast Genomes ◽  
Long Read ◽  
The Individual ◽  
Small Single Copy

Chloroplasts are difficult to assemble because of the presence of large inverted repeats. At the same time, correct assemblies are important, as chloroplast loci are frequently used for biogeography and population genetics studies. In an attempt to elucidate the orientation of the single-copy regions and to find suitable loci for chloroplast single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based studies, circular chloroplast sequences for the ultra-centenary reference individual of European Beech (Fagus sylvatica), Bhaga, and an additional Polish individual (named Jamy) was obtained based on hybrid assemblies. The chloroplast genome of Bhaga was 158,458 bp, and that of Jamy was 158,462 bp long. Using long-read mapping on the configuration inferred in this study and the one suggested in a previous study, we found an inverted orientation of the small single-copy region. The chloroplast genome of Bhaga and of the individual from Poland both have only two mismatches as well as three and two indels as compared to the previously published genome, respectively. The low divergence suggests low seed dispersal but high pollen dispersal. However, once chloroplast genomes become available from Pleistocene refugia, where a high degree of variation has been reported, they might prove useful for tracing the migration history of Fagus sylvatica in the Holocene.

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