Innovative approaches in the use of species of the genus Acer l. in landscaping plantings of agglomerations of the dry steppe

Род Acer L. ценен в садово-парковом строительстве для солитерных посадок в парках, на бульварах и аллеях, в массивах, что является, несомненно, актуальным вопросом в условиях засушливой степи. Самое благоприятное сочетание природных компонентов наблюдается в парковых зонах. Лучшие показатели природной комфортности в парках города Ростова-на-Дону отмечены в ПК и О имени В. Черевичкина, имени Октябрьской Революции, имени 1 Мая, Александровский сад (г. Новочеркасск), ПК и О имени Ленина (г. Батайск). Основные дискомфортные условия связаны с зонами загрязнения природной окружающей среды и приходятся на дороги и транспортные магистрали. В г. Ростове-на-Дону – ул. Большая Садовая, в г. Новочеркасске - пр-ты Ермака и Баклановский. В связи с высокой транспортной загруженностью, произрастающие вдоль вышеперечисленных улиц и проспектов Acer pseudoplatanus L. и Acer platanoides L., имеют самый низкий уровень комфортности. В ландшафтной архитектуре важную роль играет декоративная долговечность – сохранность декоративного признака в течение длительного периода времени. За декоративный признак, чаще всего, принимается естественная форма кроны. С возрастом Acer L. не одинаково сохраняют декоративную долговечность формы кроны. По результатам наблюдений A. platanoides L. и A. pseudoplatanus L. при отсутствии затенения сохраняют естественную форму кроны до 50 - 60 лет. Они отнесены к 1 группе декоративной долговечности. A. saccharinum L. хорошо сохраняет форму кроны более 30 лет и отнесен ко 2 группе декоративной долговечности. Species of the genus Acer L. are valued in garden and Park construction, for single planting in parks and on boulevards, in massifs, as well as for creating shady alleys, which is undoubtedly a topical issue in arid steppe conditions. The most favorable combination of natural components is observed in Park areas. The best indicators of natural comfort in the parks of the city of Rostov-on-don are noted in the PC and O im. Revolution, may 1, im. Viti cherevichkina, in the city of Bataysk in PC and O im. Lenin, in the city of Novocherkassk-Alexander garden. Uncomfortable conditions are associated with areas of pollution of the natural environment. These are mainly roads and transport interchanges. Bolshaya Sadovaya street (Rostov-on-don), Yermak Ave. and Baklanovsky Ave. (Novocherkassk), where Acer pseudoplatanus L. and Acer platanoides L. grow according to our research, have the lowest level of comfort, due to high traffic congestion. In landscape architecture, decorative durability plays an important role – the preservation of a decorative feature for a long period of time. The natural shape of the crown is taken as such a sign. Maples do not equally retain such a basic decorative feature as the shape of the crown with age. Acer platanoidesL. and Acer pseudoplatanus L. according to the results of observations retain the natural shape of the crown in the absence of shading for up to 50-60 years and are assigned to the 1 group of decorative durability. Silver maple retains the shape of the crown well for more than 30 years, so it is assigned to the 2 group of decorative durability.

Planting Density Effects on Grow Rate, Biometric Parameters, and Biomass Calorific Value of Selected Trees Cultivated as SRC

Agricultural land is mostly devoted to food production. Production of biomass is limited, as it competes for land with basic food production. To reduce land loss for growing food, biomass can be grown on marginal lands that are not usable for food production. The density of plantings have to be optimized to maximize yield potential. The presented study compares yield parameters end energy potential of six species of biomass plants (poplar, Siberian elm, black alder, white birch, boxelder maple, silver maple) cultivated in 18 planting densities from 3448 to 51,282 plants per hectare as short rotation coppice (SRC). Biomass yield parameters depended on both cultivated species and planting density. Green mass, dry mass, and shoot diameter was dropping with the increasing planting density for most tested species. Calculated yield of dry mass was dropping with increasing planting density for black alder, increasing for Siberian elm and boxelder maple. White birch and silver maple yields were optimal at moderate planting densities (25,000–30,000). White birch and boxelder maple had the highest average higher heating value (HHV). The optimal density of plantings should be chosen to best suit both the needs of cultivated species and to optimize the most important parameters of produced biomass.

Development and characterization of species-diagnostic ISSR and SCAR DNA markers for differentiating red maple (Acer rubrum) and silver maple (A. saccharinum)

Red maple (Acer rubrum) and silver maple (A. saccharinum) are sister species that readily hybridize in nature. No genetic or barcoding markers have been tested in these species. The main objective of the present study is to develop and characterize molecular markers for distinguishing A. rubrum and A. saccharinum and to validate the hybridity of A. freemanii derived from their crossings using the ISSR marker system. Thirteen A. rubrum and seven A. saccharinum populations were used. Four ISSR primers including ISSR 5, ISSR 8, ISSR 10, and ISSR UBC 825 were selected to amplify genomic DNA from the two species and their hybrids. Each primer generated at least one species-diagnostic ISSR marker for a total of six. Analysis of A. freemanii collected from North Dakota (USA) confirmed that the genotypes screened were true hybrids between A. rubrum and A. saccharinum. These markers were cloned and sequenced. Successful sequences were converted to SCAR markers using specifically designed primers. Overall, the developed diagnostic and specific ISSR and SCAR markers are useful in the certification of these two maple species and their hybrids. They can be used in tracking the introgression of A. rubrum and A. saccharinum DNA in other hybrid trees or populations.

Biochemical and growth responses of silver maple (Acer saccharinumL.) to sodium chloride and calcium chloride

The present research investigated the response of silver maple (Acer saccharinumL.) to salt treatment. The short- and long-term effects of NaCl and CaCl2treatments on plant fitness characteristics (growth parameters, leaf chlorophyll content) and biochemical stress-coping mechanisms (proline accumulation as well as enzymatic activities) were examined. We found that the silver maple response to salt stress strictly depended on salt type and dose—calcium chloride was less toxic than sodium chloride, but high concentrations of both salts negatively influenced plant growth. The accumulation of proline, slight changes in the activity of superoxide dismutase and marked changes in catalase and peroxidase activities in the roots and leaves indicated complexity of the plant response. It was also shown that after one year, enzymatic parameters were restabilized, which indicates plant recovery, but the reduced mass of seedlings suggests that one year is not enough to cope with the prolonged cyclic salt stress, both resulting from NaCl and CaCl2application. Therefore, seedlings of silver maple should be considered as moderately susceptible to salinity. Hence, it is recommended to use silver maple on non-de-iced urban areas, while planting on often de-iced roads should be avoided.

Bioactive Glucitol-Core Containing Gallotannins and other Phytochemicals from Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) Leaves

In the course of our group's investigation of members of the maple ( Acer) genus, a series of glucitol-core containing gallotannins (GCGs) were isolated and identified (by NMR and HREISMS). Among higher plants, only certain maple species are known to produce GCGs, compounds with potential nutraceutical and cosmetic applications due to their reported antioxidant, antidiabetic, anti-α-glucosidase, anti-glycation, anticancer, and skin health promoting effects. Herein, we sought to investigate whether the previously un-investigated silver maple (Acer saccharinum) species was also a source of GCGs. Nine phenolic compounds, including six GCGs, were identified (by HPLC-DAD analyses using previously isolated standards) as ginnalins A-C (1-3), maplexins B, D, and F (4-6), methyl syringate (7), methyl gallate (8), and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenol-1-β-D-(6-galloyl)-glucopyranoside (9). In addition, one sesquiterpenoid, namely, pubineroid A (10), was isolated and identified (by NMR).

Exfoliating Bark Does Not Protect Platanus occidentalis L. From Root-Climbing Lianas

Lianas are structural parasites that depress growth, fertility and survival rates of their hosts, but the magnitude to which they alter these rates differ among host species. We tested the hypothesis that sycamore (Platanus occidentalis L.) would have fewer adventitious root-climbing lianas. We reasoned that because P. occidentalis possesses exfoliating bark, it would periodically shed newly-established lianas from the trunk. We investigated the distribution of lianas on the trunks of trees ≥10 cm DBH in floodplains in southwestern Ohio. Contrary to predictions, P. occidentalis trees had significantly more root-climbing lianas than expected at three of five sites, and significantly fewer than expected at one site. In contrast, members of the Acer genus (boxelder (A. negundo L.), sugar maple (A. saccharum L.) and silver maple (A. saccharinum L.) had less than half of the root-climbing lianas as expected. We find no support for our hypothesis that bark exfoliation protects P. occidentalis trees from root-climbing lianas in our study, and suggest possible mechanisms that might protect Acer species from adventitious root-climbing lianas.

Growth Responses of Zoysia spp. under Tree Shade in the Midwestern United States

‘Meyer’ zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steudel) is commonly planted on home lawns and golf courses in the transition zone; however, poor shade tolerance limits its widespread use. This study was conducted to determine changes and differences in growth among selected Zoysia cultivars and progeny under a natural shade environment over a 3-year period in the transition zone. The study was initiated in June 2010 at the Rocky Ford Turfgrass Research Center in Manhattan, KS. Soil type was a Chase silt loam (fine, montmorillonitic, mesic, Aquic, Argiudoll). Zoysia genotypes were sodded in 0.37-m2 plots and arranged in a randomized complete block with five replications under silver maple (Acer saccharinum L.) shade that resulted in a 91% reduction in photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). Genotypes included ‘Zorro’ [Z. matrella (L.) Merrill], ‘Emerald’ [Z. japonica × Z. pacifica (Goudswaard) Hotta & Kuroki], ‘Meyer’, Chinese Common (Z. japonica), and experimental progeny Exp1 (Z. matrella × Z. japonica), and Exp2 and Exp3 [(Z. japonica × Z. pacifica) × Z. japonica]. ‘Zorro’ and ‘Emerald’ experienced winter injury, which negatively affected their performance. Tiller numbers decreased 47% in ‘Meyer’ from June 2010 to June 2012, but declines in [(Z. japonica × Z. pacifica) × Z. japonica] progeny were only 1% for Exp2 and 27% for Exp3, and both Exp2 and Exp3 maintained high percent green cover throughout the study. In general, by the third year of evaluation, progeny of [(Z. japonica × Z. pacifica) × Z. japonica] had higher quality ratings and higher tiller numbers than ‘Meyer’ and may provide more shade-tolerant cultivar choices for transition zone turf managers.