Cones of coniferous taxa as a potential source of bioactive polyphenols

Background: Coniferous cones are a by-product of forestry and wood logging, used for many possible purposes, e.g., the extraction of polyphenols. Objective: The aim of the present article was the comparison of the antioxidant polyphenol content of the differently matured cones of 17 selected conifers, either common in Hungary or yet uninvestigated. Methods: Total polyphenol content, ferric reducing antioxidant power and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl assays were used to determine the antioxidant contents. A scoring system was implemented using the three assay results to evaluate and compare the overall antioxidant power of the samples. Result and Conclusion: Highest antioxidant contents were found in green cones, followed by mature and opened cones. Taxa with the highest scores were Tsuga canadensis, Cryptomeria japonica, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Thuja orientalis, Metasequoia glyptostroboides and Picea abies. For the samples with the highest overall antioxidant power the high-performance liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric polyphenol profiling was carried out (green cones of T. canadensis and P. abies) and 83 compounds have been tentatively identified and described. Results contribute to the future bioactivity testing and evaluation of the cone extracts of T. canadensis and P. abies.

The effects of different factors on propagation by hardwood cuttings of some coniferous ornamental plants

Chamaecyparis lawsoniana ‘Ellwoodii’, Cryptomeria japonica ‘Elegans’ and x Cupressocyparis leylandii have great importance in terms of usage areas as ornamental plant. The overcoming the problem, that may be encountered in generative propagation of these taxa, using vegetative propagation method are very important for producers dealing with park and garden works. It was investigated that the effects of different greenhouse medium, rooting medium and phytohormones on propagation by hardwood cutting of studied taxa. In this study, three greenhouse medium (Greenhouse-1, 2 and 3 medium), two rooting medium (perlite and peat) and four phytohormones (IBA 1000, IBA 5000, NAA 1000 and NAA 5000 ppm) were selected. The first root and callus formation dates, rooting percentage, callus percentage, root length and the number of roots were determined. The results showed that the highest rooting percentages for C. lawsoniana ‘Ellwoodii’ were obtained as 100% in peat rooting medium (IBA 1000 ppm) at Greenhouse-2 medium and Greenhouse-3 medium and perlite rooting medium (control) at Greenhouse-3 medium. On the other hand, the highest rooting percentages for C. japonica ‘Elegans’ were obtained as 100% in IBA 1000, IBA 5000 and NAA 1000 ppm treatments at Greenhouse-1 medium, while this value for x C. leylandii occurred in NAA 5000 ppm treatment (73.33%) at Greenhouse-2 medium, in perlite rooting medium for both. The conditions required for the best rooting in cutting propagation vary according to the species studied, and generally, auxin applications, rooting medium temperature 5 °C higher than air temperature and use of perlite rooting medium can be recommended.

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.

Root Rot of Juniperus and Microbiota by Phytophthora lateralis in Oregon Horticultural Nurseries

Widespread symptoms of root rot and mortality on Juniperus communis and Microbiota decussata were observed in two horticultural nurseries in Oregon, leading to the isolation of a Phytophthora sp. from diseased roots. Based on morphology and sequencing the internal transcribed spacer ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region, isolates were identified as the invasive pathogen Phytophthora lateralis, causal agent of Port-Orford-cedar (POC; Chamaecyparis lawsoniana) root disease. Additional sequencing of the cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 and 2 genes identified all isolates as belonging to the PNW lineage. Utilizing recovered isolates plus a POC-wildlands isolate and susceptible POC as controls, we completed Koch’s postulates on potted Juniperus and Microbiota plants. Nursery isolates were more aggressive than the forest isolate, which was used in the POC resistance breeding program. Increased aggressiveness was confirmed using a branch stem dip assay with four POC clones that differed in resistance, although no isolate completely overcame major-gene resistance. Isolates were sensitive to mefenoxam, a fungicide commonly used to suppress Phytophthora spp. growth in commercial nurseries. Although POC resistance is durable against these more aggressive nursery isolates, the expanded host range of P. lateralis challenges POC conservation through the continued movement of P. lateralis by the nursery industry.

Diversidad de especies leñosas en remanente de mesófilo alterado con producción agroforestal

En el año 2017 se evaluó la diversidad de especies leñosas en la comunidad de Xaltepuxtla, Puebla en un remanente de bosque mesófilo de montaña alterado, sistema ornamental y sistema silvopastoril con la finalidad de conocer la diversidad arbórea y proponer especies de alto valor ecológico para su restauración. Se emplearon índices ecológicos y un diseño de muestreo sistemático con distancias predeterminadas en arreglo a manera de cuadricula. Se muestrearon 22 sitios utilizando cuadrantes con punto central para vegetación arbórea con sitios de 100 m2 y cuadros empotrados para vegetación arbustiva y herbácea. Se obtuvo la riqueza, abundancia y diversidad de las especies leñosas con estimadores de Jacknife 1, índice de abundancia relativa (IAR) y índice de Shannon-Wiener. Se registraron 19 especies en 15 familias y 18 géneros. Las especies de mayor abundancia relativa por sitio fueron: Chamaecyparis lawsoniana (IAR= 0.96), Rhododendron simssi (IAR= 0.46) y Chamaecyparis. thyoides. (IAR= 0.25). Los sitios con mayor diversidad fueron: el 22 con un índice de 2.54 y el 20 y 21 con índices de 2.53 respectivamente. La mayor diversidad por condición fue en el RBMM con un índice de 2.92. Con la prueba de Kruskal Wallis no se obtuvieron diferencias significativas entre los estimadores ecológicos, por lo que las tres condiciones se encuentran sujetas al mismo nivel de alteración. Se logró conocer la riqueza, abundancia y diversidad de las especies leñosas en la zona de estudio.

Antibacterial and fungicidal effect of ethanol extracts from Juniperus sabina, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Pseudotsuga menziesii and Cephalotaxus harringtonia

We determined a high antibacterial effect of ethanol extracts of four species of gymnosperms (Juniperus sabina, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Pseudotsuga menziesii and Cephalotaxus harringtonia) against 23 strains of bacteria of families Enterobacteriaceae (Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Salmonella typhimurium, S. adobraco, Proteus vulgaris, P. mirabilis, Serratia marcescens, Klebsiella pneumoniae), Staphylococcaceae (Staphylococcus aureus, S. epidermidis), Yersiniaceae (Yersinia enterocolitica), Bacillaceae (Bacillus subtilis, B. cereus), Listeriaceae (Listeria ivanovi, L. іnnocua, L. monocytogenes), Corynebacteriaceae (Corynebacterium xerosis), Campylobacteraceae (Campylobacter jejuni), Nocardiaceae (Rhodococcus equi), Pseudomonadaceae (Pseudomonas аeruginosa) and one strain of fungi of the Saccharomycetaceae family (Candida albicans). The experiment in vitro revealed zone of inhibition of growth of colonies, measuring over 8 mm, produced by ethanol extracts from J. sabina against seven species of bacteria (S. aureus, B. subtilis, B. cereus, L. іnnocua, C. xerosis, Rh. equi and P. аeruginosa), Ch. lawsoniana – against five species (E. coli, B. subtilis, L. іnnocua and Rh. equi), P. menziesii –two species (Rh. equi and P. mirabilis), C. harringtonia – ten species of microorganisms (E. coli, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, L. ivanovi, L. monocytogenes, C. xerosis, C. jejuni, P. vulgaris, S. marcescens and C. albicans). As a result of the research, the most promising plants for further in vivo study of antibacterial activity were C. harringtonia and J. sabina.

Antioxidant Capacity and Tentative Identification of Polyphenolic Compounds of Cones of Selected Coniferous Species

The cones of coniferous species are a waste biomass byproduct that can be potentially utilized for a variety of purposes. One of the many application fields is the extraction of bioactive materials, particularly antioxidant polyphenols. Scientific literature on the antioxidant content of coniferous cones at different ripening stages is limited. In this study, 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 the scientific literature in any great detail (Cedrus atlantica, Larix decidua, Picea abies, Pinus mugo, Pinus nigra, Pinus sylvestris, Pinus wallichiana, Tsuga canadensis, Tsuga heterophylla, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Taxodium distichum, Thuja occidentalis, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Thuja orientalis, Cryptomeria japonica, Cunninghamia lanceolata). A comparison of green, mature and opened cones was performed for the assigned taxa. Folin-Ciocâlteu total polyphenol content (TPC), ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assays were used to assess the antioxidant contents. Overall antioxidant power was determined by a scoring system that combined the three assay results. In general, best values were found for green cones, followed by mature, and opened cones for each taxon. Tsuga canadensis, Metasequoia glyptostroboides, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana, Cryptomeria japonica, Thuja orientalis and Picea abies all contained high amounts of antioxidants in both green and mature cones and attained the highest scores. High-performance liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric profiling of the cone polyphenols was also completed for selected samples. Results provide a basis for future bioactivity testing of these samples.

AVALIAÇÃO DA FLORÍSTICA, DO PORTE E DA FITOSSANIDADE ATUAL DA ARBORIZAÇÃO DO PARQUE INTERNACIONAL EM SANT’ANA DO LIVRAMENTO/RIVERA, BRASIL/URUGUAI

O presente estudo teve como objetivo a avaliação quantitativa e qualitativa da composição vertical do Parque Internacional localizado no município de Sant’Ana do Livramento/BR e Rivera/UY, visando identificar, classificar e apresentar uma listagem das espécies arbóreas encontradas com suas respectivas famílias e número de ocorrência, além de avaliar o estado fitossanitário e a necessidade de manejo das árvores. Foram inventariados todos os indivíduos existentes com circunferência à altura do peito (CAP) maior ou igual a 15,7cm. Nessa etapa foram anotados e medidos dados referentes ao indivíduo como: CAP, altura total, origem, estado fitossanitário e necessidade de poda leve ou pesada. Foram inventariadas 300 árvores pertencentes a 24 famílias. Verificaram-se um baixo índice de espécies nativas existentes no Parque, 31%, e um alto percentual de árvores exóticas, 69%. Quanto ao número de indivíduos, destacam-se a família Cupressaceae, seguida pela Moraceae, Bignoniaceae, Oleaceae, Pinaceae e Fabaceae. Dentre os indivíduos encontrados as espécies Ligustrum japonicum seguida por Ficus microcarpa, Chamaecyparis lawsoniana e Handroanthus heptaphyllus foram as mais abundantes. Foram encontrados 18,27% indivíduos com o estado fitossanitário ruim e 81,73% indivíduos em bom estado. Dos indivíduos em mau estado fitossanitário destacam-se Magnolia grandiflora, Ligustrum japonicum e Handroanthus heptaphyllus que se encontram infestadas por ervade-passarinho.