Soil organic C or organic matter has been studied under various plant communities. In comparisons of similar soils having either grassland or forest vegetation, surface horizons of the forest soil may have lower levels of soil C (Ugolini and Schlichte, 1973; Almendinger, 1990) or higher levels (Jenny, 1980). Even between forest types, soil C may vary. Alban (1982) found the forest floor in a Po...

The bark of boreal forest conifers has been traditionally used by Native Americans to treat various ailments and diseases. Some of these diseases involve reactive oxygen species (ROS) that can be prevented by the consumption of antioxidants such as phenolic compounds that can be found in medicinal plants. In this study, ultrasonic assisted extraction has been performed under various solvent con...

Aim There is increasing concern regarding sustainable management and restoration of planted forests, particuIarly in the Mediterranean Basin where pine species have been widely used. The aim of this study was to analyse the environmental and structural characteristics of Mediterranean planted pine forests in relation to natural pine forests. Specifically, we assessed recruitment and woody speci...

Radiata pine (Pinus radiata) lumber from Australia, Chile, and New Zealand is imported into Korea where it represents one of the most important sources of timber. Blue stain of this timber is a serious problem for which an integrated control strategy is being developed. One of the fungi that has been isolated from stained radiata pine sapwood in Korea is a Leptographium sp. that has a distinct ...

Ecosystem simulation models are designed to assess the flux of energy, water, carbon and nitrogen according to a given vegetation type. The reliability of the modeled results is determined by model validations. Model validations are typically done using classical statistical methods like regression analysis of predicted versus observed values, paired t statistics and error assessment procedures...

Single-vein leaves have the simplest hydraulic design possible, yet even this linear water delivery system can be modulated to improve physiological performance. We determined the optimal distribution of transport capacity that minimizes pressure drop per given investment in xylem permeability along the needle for a given length without a change in total water delivery, or maximizes needle leng...

BACKGROUND Genome evolution in the gymnosperm lineage of seed plants has given rise to many of the most complex and largest plant genomes, however the elements involved are poorly understood. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS Gymny is a previously undescribed retrotransposon family in Pinus that is related to Athila elements in Arabidopsis. Gymny elements are dispersed throughout the modern Pinu...

The European woodwasp, Sirex noctilio F., is a pest of pines in many areas around the world. Since its introduction to North America, the distribution of S. noctilio overlaps with a known host (Pinus sylvestris) and hosts native to North America. Direct comparisons of suitability for oviposition and larval survival among these pines have not been made. We tested the relative suitability of four...

A reference karyotype is presented for loblolly pine (Pinus taeda L., subgenus Pinus, section Pinus, subsection Australes), based on fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH), using 18S-28S rDNA, 5S rDNA, and an Arabidopsis-type telomere repeat sequence (A-type TRS). Well separated somatic chromosomes were prepared from colchicine-treated root meristems, using an enzymatic digestion technique. S...