Experience In Creating Artificial Forest Plants In The Territory Of Belgorod Region

The experience of creating artificial forest plantations on the territory of the Belgorod region within the framework of the “Green Capital” project is considered. As part of the project, it was envisaged to create more than 100 thousand hectares of forest plantations on chalk slopes and erosion-hazardous areas of the region for 2010 - 2020, that is, bringing the forest cover of the region to 15% - the optimal value for the region. For the period 2010 - 2020 forest plantations were laid on the territory of more than 87.7 thousand hectares. For afforestation in the region, species are recommended that provide sustainable, durable and ecologically capacious afforestation: as the main species on chernozem soils: Quercus robur L., Q. rubra, Fraxinus excilsior L., Larix sibirica Ledeb .; on sandy soils - Pinus sylvestris L. Reforestation has been carried out since 2010 on the territory of 22 districts of the region. In 2016-2020 more than 6 thousand hectares of oak forests were created. As a result, the species Q. robur occupies an area of 22.2% of the area of artificial plantations; P. silvestris accounts for 13.2% of the area of artificial plantations in the oblast. Next in terms of planting volumes are such crops as A. hippocastanum, R. pseudoacacia and F. excélsior - 12.1%, 24.7% and 14.4%, respectively. The share of fruit crops, as well as B. pendula, A. platanoide, A. campestre, and U. laevis, is 11.7%.

Genetic Structure and Geographical Differentiation of Larix sibirica Ledeb. in the Urals

The Ural Mountains and the West Eurasian Taiga forests are one of the most important centers of genetic diversity for Larix sibirica Ledeb. Forest fragmentation negatively impacts forest ecosystems, especially due to the impact of their intensive use on the effects of climate change. For the preservation and rational use of forest genetic resources, it is necessary to carefully investigate the genetic diversity of the main forest-forming plant species. The Larix genus species are among the most widespread woody plants in the world. The Siberian larch (Larix sibirica, Pinaceae) is found in the forest, forest-tundra, tundra (Southern part), and forest-steppe zones of the North, Northeast, and partly East of the European part of Russia and in Western and Eastern Siberia; in the Urals, the Siberian larch is distributed fragmentarily. In this study, eight pairs of simple sequence repeat (SSR) primers were used to analyse the genetic diversity and population structure of 15 Siberian larch populations in the Urals. Natural populations in the Urals exhibit indicators of genetic diversity comparable to those of Siberia populations (expected heterozygosity, He = 0.623; expected number of alleles, Ne = 4017; observed heterozygosity, Ho = 0.461). Genetic structure analysis revealed that the examined populations are relatively highly differentiated (Fst = 0.089). Using various algorithms for determining the spatial genetic structure, the examined populations formed three groups according to geographical location. The data obtained are required for the development of species conservation and restoration programs, which are especially important in the Middle Urals, which is the region with strong forest fragmentation.

Euro-Siberian plant species on the western borders of their natural ranges in Nizhegorod region

It was investigation on distribution of seven Euro-Siberian plant species on the western borders of their natural ranges in Nizhegorod region. Amygdalus nana L., Cotoneaster melanocarpus Fisch. ex Blytt., Crataegus sanguinea Pall.,Spiraea crenata L. are on the north-west borders. Abies sibirica Ledeb., Larix sibirica Ledeb. et Lonicera caerulea L. are onthe south-west borders. It was ascertained, that Crataegus sanguinea, Larix sibirica et Lonicera caerulea enlarged its rangesat naturalization from cultivation and tinning of forests. Crataegus sanguinea moved on taiga and Larix sibirica moved onforest-steppe. This is analogous their ranges in Siberia. The ranges of Abies sibirica, Amygdalus nana, Cotoneaster melanocarpus and Spiraea crenata remained the same even under the conditions of cultivation. It was supposed, that the reasonof these differences is greater ecological tolerance of first third species. Anthropogenic factors promote reach their natural borders. Moreover, anthropogenic factors can create favorable phytocenotic conditions, but don´t can create favorablephysiographic conditions for others.

Modification of Arabinogalactan Isolated from Larix sibirica Ledeb. into Sulfated Derivatives with the Controlled Molecular Weights

The process of sulfation of arabinogalactan—a natural polysaccharide from Larix sibirica Ledeb.—with sulfamic acid in 1,4-dioxane using different activators has been studied for the first time. The dynamics of the molecular weight of sulfated arabinogalactan upon variation in the temperature and time of sulfation of arabinogalactan with sulfamic acid in 1,4-dioxane has been investigated. It has been found that, as the sulfation time increases from 10 to 90 min, the molecular weights of the reaction products grow due to the introduction of sulfate groups without significant destruction of the initial polymer and sulfation products. Sulfation at 95 °C for 20 min yields the products with a higher molecular weight than in the case of sulfation at 85 °C, which is related to an increase in the sulfation rate; however, during the further process occurring under these conditions, sulfation is accompanied by the destruction and the molecular weight of the sulfated polymer decreases. The numerical optimization of arabinogalactan sulfation process has been performed. It has been shown that the optimal parameters for obtaining a product with a high sulfur content are a sulfamic acid amount of 20 mmol per 1 g of arabinogalactan, a process temperature of 85 °C, and a process time of 2.5 h.

EXPERIENCE OF PLANTING LARGE SIZE CONIFEROUS WOODY SPECIES IN THE SPRING-SUMMER PERIOD ON THE KOLA NORTH

The first experience of transplanting large-sized coniferous dendrointroducents (Picea glauca (Moench) Voss, Larix sibirica Ledeb.) in the spring-summer period without preliminary prepara-tion of the root system in the urban conditions of the Polar region was presented. Four specimens of middle-aged plants of both species were selected. The transplant was carried out with the max-imum use of mechanized equipment, which ensures good preservation of the lump and the tree it-self. There were four mutually related stages of work (preparatory, digging out plants, transporta-tion, planting), the quality of which depends on the success of plant survival. A brief description of the decorative qualities, morphometric parameters and the state of the experimental plants has been given. It has shown that due to the peculiarities of the soil and the location of the root system in coniferous introduced species, a clod of earth should be at least 60 cm thick, with a diameter of 110 to 130 cm. The main agrotechnical methods for the creation and care of plantings from large-sized plants were given.

Repetitive Elements in the Siberian Larch (Larix Sibirica Ledeb.) Nuclear Genome

Background: Repetitive elements (REs) or repeats are sequences that occur multiple times in the genome. They represent a significant part of the gigantic conifer genomes (70-80%) relative to mammals and other plants and complicate whole genome sequencing and annotation. However, REs play important roles in evolution and adaptation processes in both plants and animals. Moreover, amino acid repeats play an important role in plant immunity being a structural element of the products of some disease resistance genes. Analysis of REs in conifer genomes is an important fundamental task.Results: REs were identified de novo and partly classified in the Siberian larch (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) nuclear genome for the first time. In total, 20.9 million REs were detected with the total size of 4.8 Gbp, which comprises about 39% of the 12.3 Gbp larch genome. Resistance genes with leucine-rich repeats (LRRs) were also identified and analyzed in the transcriptome data of autumn buds obtained using RNA-seq.Conclusions: For the first time, REs were identified and classified in the Siberian larch genome and transcriptome. In addition, LRRs and resistance genes were identified and analyzed in the Siberian larch transcriptomes from autumn buds. The larch genome contains twice as less RE compared to other conifers in the same Pinaceae family (39 vs 70-80%), and it might explain why it also has almost twice as smaller genome size (12 vs 18-31 Gbp).

Seed Quality of Larix sibirica Ledeb. Depending on the Distance between Forest Areas and Pollution Sources around Ulaanbaatar City of Mongolia

Seed quality and seed germination are the major indicators determining the success of regeneration and structure in natural forest ecosystems. This study focuses on problems associated with seed quality and seed germination under air pollution impacts in the surrounding forest ecosystems of Ulaanbaatar city of Mongolia. The objectives were to test whether there was any negative effect of air pollutants on the site index, and to analyze the relationship between seed quality and distance from the city center (maximum pollution). The study was carried out in natural larch forests (Larix sibirica Ledeb.) growing in the vicinity of the capital of Mongolia. A total of eight 100×100 m (1 ha) sample plots were laid out using completely randomized sampling design along the main wind direction. Remoteness from the city center was 10, 15, 20 and 30 km both to the north and to the south. Results showed a high variation in stand mean height (p > 0.001) and diameter (p > 0.001) among selected forest areas. In general, all sampled forests belonged to bonitet / quality classes III, IV and V, which are considered as relatively poor growing conditions in terms of site index. Therefore, greater site index and seed quality were observed in the most distant locations from the city center, and contrary, the poorest seed quality was detected in locations close to the city center. This emphasizes that forests growing close to pollution sources exist with a potential risk of degradation, and their reproductive organs are more sensitive to the effects of pollutants.

Dynamics of the content of ascorbic acid and catalase activity in leaves of three plant species in urban and natural environments during the vegetation period of plants

In this study, we collected the leaves of three plant species, Larix sibirica, Rosa acieularus and Plantago major, during the vegetation period, growing in the same place in urban and urban forest environments. A comparative assessment of antioxidant enzyme catalase activity and content of ascorbic acid in the leaves of these plants was carried out. The results showed that the content of ascorbic acid is higher in Larix sibirica compared to Rosa acieularus (3.56 and 3 times higher) and Plantago major (15.35 and 9.76 times higher), both in urban and forest plants. In urban plants, the catalase activity was higher in Plantago major compared to Larix sibirica (7.95 times) and Rosa acieularus (1.04 times); and in forest plants the catalase activity was higher in Rosa acieularus compared to Plantago major (1.1 times) and Larix sibirica (4.13 times). In urban plants, the content of ascorbic acid was by 5.8-50% lower, and the catalase activity was by 28.9-65.7% lower than in forest plants, which indicates that the studied plants are more susceptible in urban environment. Catalase activity and ascorbic acid contents showed an inverse relationship. Depending on the plant species, the components of the enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant systems are involved in different ways in the binding of free radicals formed in plants in response to stress. Хот болон хот орчмын ногоон бүсэд ургасан гурван зүйл ургамлын вегетацийн үеийн витамин С-ийн агууламж, каталазын идэвхийн динамик Энэхүү судалгаанд нэг орчинд ургах гурван зүйл ургамал болох Сибирь шинэс (Larix sibirica Ledb.), Өргөст нохойн хошуу (Rosa acieularus Linde.), Их таван салаа (Plantago major L.) ургамлын навчны дээжийг Улаанбаатар хот болон хот орчмын ногоон бүсээс вегетацийн хугацаанд нь цуглуулан орчиндоо дасан зохицох үйл явцад оролцох исэлдэн-ангижрах фермент болох каталазын идэвх, хүчтэй антиоксидант нэгдэл болох витамин С-ийн агууламжийн тодорхойлон харьцуулав. Судалгааны ажлын үр дүнгээр Улаанбаатар хот болон хот орчмын ногоон бүсийн ургамлуудаас Сибирь шинэс витамин С-ийн агууламжаар Өргөст нохойн хошуу (3.56 болон 3 дахин), Их таван салаа (15.35 болон 9.76 дахин)-аас өндөр байв. Их таван салаа Улаанбаатар хотын орчинд ургасан ургамлуудаас каталазын идэвхээр Сибирь шинэс (7.95 дахин), Өргөст нохойн хошуу (1.04 дахин)-аас өндөр байсан бол хот орчмын ногоон бүсийн ургамлуудын хувьд Өргөст нохойн хошуу Их таван салаа (1.1 дахин), Сибирь шинэс (4.13 дахин)-ээс каталазын идэвхээр өндөр байв. Хот орчмын ногоон бүсэд ургасан ургамлуудтай харьцуулахад Улаанбаатар хотын ургамлуудад витамин С-ийн агууламж 5.8-50%-иар каталазын идэвх 28.9-65.7%-иар буурсан ерөнхий зүй тогтол илэрсэн нь Улаанбаатар хотын орчинд ургаж буй ургамлууд стресст илүү өрсөн байгааг гэрчлэнэ. Судалсан ургамлуудын хувьд тухайн ургамлын зүйлээс хамаарч хүрээлэн буй орчны тааламжгүй нөхцлийн хариуд үүсэх ROS-ийн нэгдлүүдийг саармагжуулахад ферментийн болон ферментийн бус системийн бүрэлдэхүүнд орох нэгдлүүд ялгаатай оролцож байхаас гадна каталазын идэвх, витамин С-ийн агууламжтай эсрэг хамааралтай байгааг бидний судалгаа харууллаа. Түлхүүр үг: Ургамал, навч, стресс, витамин С, каталаза