Candidatus Phytoplasma pini (pine witches'-broom phytoplasma).

'Ca. Phytoplasma pini' is a member of phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene RFLP group XXI, subgroup XXI-A. It has been identified in a number of European countries, including Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Spain, Czech Republic and Croatia. Outside of Europe it has been identified in China and Mozambique. A related strain has also been identified in Maryland, USA. In the USA, favourable climatic conditions and wide availability of potential host plants of the phytoplasma, suggest that the potential for spread of 'Ca. Phytoplasma pini' could be significant. Host plants include Pinus sylvestris, P. halepensis, P. mugo, P. banksiana, P. nigra, P. tabuliformis, Abies procera and Tsuga canadensis. Symptoms include the formation of ball-like growths containing dwarfed needles, yellowed or reddish needles and the loss of needles. It is transmitted by insect vectors that are currently unknown.

Candidatus Phytoplasma pini (pine witches'-broom phytoplasma).

'Ca. Phytoplasma pini' is a member of phytoplasma 16S rRNA gene RFLP group XXI, subgroup XXI-A. It has been identified in a number of European countries, including Germany, Poland, Lithuania, Spain, Czech Republic and Croatia. Outside of Europe it has been identified in China and Mozambique. A related strain has also been identified in Maryland, USA. In the USA, favourable climatic conditions and wide availability of potential host plants of the phytoplasma, suggest that the potential for spread of 'Ca. Phytoplasma pini' could be significant. Host plants include Pinus sylvestris, P. halepensis, P. mugo, P. banksiana, P. nigra, P. tabuliformis, Abies procera and Tsuga canadensis. Symptoms include the formation of ball-like growths containing dwarfed needles, yellowed or reddish needles and the loss of needles. It is transmitted by insect vectors that are currently unknown.

Coniferous Cones as a Forestry Waste Biomass—A Source of Antioxidants

The cones of conifers are a waste biomass, potentially be utilized for a variety of purposes, including the extraction of bioactive materials, particularly antioxidant polyphenols. In the present work we conducted a comparative analysis of the antioxidant content of selected taxa that are either common in Hungary or that have not yet been investigated in any great detail (Cedrus atlantica, Larix decidua, Picea abies, Pinus mugo, Pinus nigra, Pinus sylvestris, Pinus wallichiana, Tsuga Canadensis, Tsuga heterophylla, Pseudotsuga menziesii, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Taxodium distichum, Thuja occidentalis, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Thuja orientalis, Cryptomeria Japonica, Cunninghamia lanceolata). A comparison of different maturation stages (green, mature, and opened cones) was carried out for the assigned taxa. Folin-Ciocâlteu total phenol content, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays were used to assess the antioxidant contents. Total antioxidant power was determined by a scoring system that combined the three assay results. For each taxon the overall best results were found for green cones, followed by mature, and opened cones. Taxa with the highest scores were Tsuga Canadensis, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Cryptomeria Japonica, Thuja orientalis and Picea abies. High-performance liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric profiling of the polyphenols was completed for selected samples. Results provide a basis for future bioactivity testing of these samples. The research was supported by the ÚNKP-20-5-12 New National Excellence Program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund and by the János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Sirococcus tsugae. [Distribution map].

A new distribution map is provided for Sirococcus tsugae Castl., Farr & Stanosz (Sordariomycetes: Diaporthales). Hosts: Cedrus atlantica, C. deodara, Tsuga canadensis, T. heterophylla and T. mertensiana. Information on the geographical distribution in Europe (Belgium, Germany, UK, England and Wales, Northern Ireland, Scotland) and North America (Canada, British Columbia, USA, Alaska, Connecticut, Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia) is also given.

Seasonal changes in eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) foliar chemistry

Eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis (L.) Carrière) is an eastern North American conifer threatened by the invasive hemlock woolly adelgid (Adelges tsugae Annand). Changes in foliar terpenes and phenolics were evaluated in new (current-year growth) and mature (1-year-old growth) hemlock needles during the growing season and into plant dormancy. From April through September, foliar concentrations of nonvolatile soluble phenolics, condensed tannins, lignin, mono- and sesquiterpenes, α-pinene, camphene, isobornyl acetate, and diterpene resin were quantified. After September, additional analyses of metabolites that continued to differ significantly between new and mature foliage were carried out. Total soluble phenolic and condensed tannin concentrations in new foliage remained low relative to those of mature foliage throughout the growing season and converged in December. Lignin concentration in new foliage converged with that of mature foliage by July. Concentrations of α-pinene, camphene, isobornyl acetate, and diterpene resin in new foliage converged with those of mature foliage within 1 month of budbreak. The convergence of terpene concentrations in new and mature foliage suggests that these metabolites may play a role in herbivore defense during the peak growing season. Conversely, soluble phenolics, including condensed tannins, may defend foliage from herbivory outside of the spring growth period.