Annual growth of Fagus orientalis is limited by spring drought conditions in Iran’s Golestan Province

Due to the lack of a uniform and accurate defi-nition of‘drought’,several indicators have been introduced based on different variables and methods,and the efficiency of each of these is determined according to their relationship with drought.The relationship between two drought indices,SPI(standardized precipitation index)and SPEI(standard-ized precipitation-evapotranspiration index)in different sea-sons was investigated using annual rings of 15 tree samples to determine the effect of drought on the growth of oriental beech(Fagus orientalis Lipsky)in the Hyrcanian forests of northern Iran.The different evapotranspiration calcula-tion methods were evaluated on SPEI efficiency based on Hargreaves-Samani,Thornthwaite,and Penman-Monteith methods using the step-by-step M5 decision tree regression method.The results show that SPEI based on the Penman-Monteith in a three-month time scale(spring)had similar temporal changes and a better relationship with annual tree rings(R^(2)=0.81)at a 0.05 significant level.Abrupt change and a decreasing trend in the time series of annual tree rings are similar to the variation in the SPEI based on the Penman-Monteith method.Factors affecting evapotranspiration,temperature,wind speed,and sunshine hours(used in the Penman-Monteith method),increased but precipitation decreased.Using non-linear modeling methods,SPEI based on Penman-Monteith best illustrated climate changes affecting tree growth.

Growth Rings of Roots in Perennial Forbs in Duolun Grassland, Inner Mongolia, China

Annual growth rings of roots in perennial forbs have been used in studies of climate change and the ecology of grasslands. However, little has been done in this aspect of research in China. In this study, we report the characteristics of growth rings in the main roots of 13 herb species sampled in Duolun of the Inner Mongolia grassland in northern China. The results show that around two thirds of the species possess clearly demarcated annual rings in the root xylem. Some species of the same genera show different patterns in anatomical structure of the root xylem. Standardized annual ring widths of three species, Potentilla anserine L., Cymbaria dahurica L. and Lespedeza daurica （Laxm.） Schindh, show a common linear trend, indicating a continued favorable growth condition in the sampling sites. Our results provide evidence that growth rings in roots of some perennial forbs in the Inner Mongolia grassland can serve as a new and useful indicator of past changes in the grassland environment.

The Growth Pattern of <i>Chamaecyparis obtuse</i>Stand along Longevity in Gyeongnam Province, South Korea

Tree growth is affected by environmental factors, climate condition and tree age. The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth patterns of Chamaecyparis obtusa (C. obtusa) stand in the Gyeongnam province. Data was collected from two cities and one county by using sample quadrats of 20 * 20 m. A total of 11 quadrats were used to collect tree height, diameter at the breast height (DBH), annual growth rings and soil data. The data analysis of soil moisture content, pH, organic matter (%), EC (cmol + /kg of soil), and available phosphorous was conducted. Growth ring was analyzed by using computer based software and the ages of the trees were identified. Average growth of height and DBH was computed from the surveyed data and annual growth of each tree was assessed by computer based reading of annual growth rings. The results of the study revealed that tree growth showed a reducing trend along the longevity. It was identified that soil pH, age, variation in annual average temperature, and altitude were the main factors related with growth of C. obtusa trees along the life of the stand.

Responses of radial growth, wood density and fiber traits to planting space in poplar plantations at a lowland site

Poplar is raw material for various panel, paper and fiber products. The 12 sample trees of clone Nanlin-895 from four spacings were destructively harvested after thirteen growing seasons to assess the influence of spacing on radial growth and wood properties. Spacing significantly affected tree-ring width and wood basic density (p < 0.05) but not fiber traits. The highest diameter and wood basic density at breast height (1.3 m) was in 6 m × 6 m and 3 m × 8 m spacings, respectively. However, no significant differences in tree-ring width, wood basic density and fiber traits were observed among the four sampling directions in discs taken at 1.3 m for each spacing. Growth rings from the pith and tree heights had significant effects on wood basic density and fiber anatomical characteristics, highlighting obvious temporal-spatial variations. Pearson correlation analysis showed a significantly negative relationship of tree-ring width to wood basic density, fiber length and fiber width, but a significantly positive relationship to hemicellulose. There was no relationship with cellulose and lignin contents. Based on a comprehensive assessment by the TOPSIS method, the 6 m × 6 m spacing is recommended for producing wood fiber at similar sites in the future.

Protophyllocladoxylon jingyuanense sp.nov.,a Gymnospermous Wood of the Serpukhovian(Late Mississippian) from Gansu,Northwest China

A new species of gymnospermous fossil wood, Protophyllocladoxylon jingyuanense sp. nov., is described from the lower part of the Tsingyuan Formation （Serpukhovian/Late Mississippian）, near the coal mine of Ciyao, Gansu, northwestern China. The specimen is preserved only in silicified secondary xylem, while growth rings are absent. Pits in radial tracheidal walls are araucaroid in type, uniseriate, occasionally biseriate. Xylem rays are homogeneous, uniseriate, occasionally biseriate. Cross-field pits are simple, large, one to two in number. Axial parenchyma is absent. The anatomical characters and geographic distribution of Protophyllocladoxylon woods through geological ages are documented. Those species with axial parenchyma and without growth rings live in warm climate, whereas the species without axial parenchyma and with growth rings are present either in warm or cool climate. The ideal living climate for Protophyllocladoxylon woods is warm and wet. Our new species, as a fossil wood of Early Carboniferous, is likely the earliest known species of Protophyllocladoxylon.

Potential quality evaluation approach for the absolute growth years’ wild and transplanted Astragali Radix based on anti-heart failure efficacy

The quality of Astragali Radix(AR) was closely related to the growth period. However, the current commodity grades of AR were only divided by diameter but not directly related to the growth period, which leads to the contradiction between the grade standard and the quality evaluation index. Therefore, solving this problem will be the key for the quality evaluation of AR. The present study established a potential quality evaluation approach for the absolute growth years’ wild Astragali Radix(WAR) and transplanted Astragali Radix(TAR) based on the chemical components and anti-heart failure efficacy through adopting a bare-handed sections approach to rapidly identify the growth years of WAR. In this study, the absolute growth years of WAR were obtained by identifying the growth rings of 1–6 growth years root through the methods. The contents of flavonoids and saponins in 2–6 growth years’ WAR were determined by HPLC-UV-ELSD. The contents of 12 chemical components and the anti-fatigue failure effects of WAR(4-year-old)and TAR were compared on rat models of heart failure induced by doxorubicin. Meanwhile, NMR-based untargeted metabolomics studies were performed to investigate the regulative effects of WAR and TAR. The result shows that the numbers of growth rings were consistent with the actual growth periods of AR. The HPLC-UV-ELSD determination indicated that the content of total flavonoids in WAR was significantly higher than that in TAR. Pharmacodynamics analysis revealed that the effects of WAR on cardiac function parameters(EF, FS and LVIDs), contents of serum CK and BNP were superior to those of TAR. 13 metabolites of heart were identified that had a higher rate of change in WAR group than TAR. Overall, a rapid identification method for the growth years of WAR was established, and the fact that WAR were significantly better than TAR in the heart failure rats was first proved in the paper. This study provided a scientific basis for establishing a novel commodity specification and grade of AR for clinical rational drug use.

Growth Ring-dependent Fracture Toughness of Sea Urchin Spines Estimated by Boundary Effect Model

Although the fracture behavior of sea urchin spines has been extensively investigated,there is as yet a lack of quantitative estimation on the effect of growth rings on the fracture properties of sea urchin spines.In sea urchin spines,much denser pores present in growth rings rather than porous layers.The tensile strength and fracture toughness of sea urchin spine samples with different numbers of growth rings are measured by the Boundary Effect Model(BEM).The experimental results of single-edge notched three-point bending tests indicate that the BEM is an appropriate method to estimate the fracture toughness of the present porous sea urchin spines,and the number of growth rings plays an important role in the fracture properties of spines.Specifically,the tensile strength and fracture toughness of sea urchin spines can be significantly improved with the increase in the number of growth rings,and their fracture toughness can even reach a relatively high value compared with some other porous materials with an identical porosity.The present research findings are expected to provide a fundamental insight into the design of high-performance bionic materials with a highly porous structure.

Multiscale wood micromechanics and size effects study via nanoindentation

Wood as a material is a natural composite with a complex hierarchically arranged structure.All scale levels of wood structure contribute to its macroscopic mechanical properties.The nature of such characteristics and deformation modes differs radically at different scale levels.Wood macroscopic properties are well studied,and the relevant information can be easily found in the literature.However,the knowledge of the deformation mechanisms at the mesoscopic level corresponding to the cellular structure of early and late wood layers of annual growth rings is insufficient.It hinders building the comprehensive multiscale model of how wood mechanical properties are formed.This paper described the results of scanning of mechanical properties of softwood and hardwood samples,such as common pine,small-leaf lime,and pedunculate oak,by means of nanoindentation(NI).The NI technique allows varying the size of deformed region within a wide range by altering maximal load(P max)applied to the indenter so that one can re-peatedly and non-destructively test wood structural components at different scale levels on the same sample without changing the technique or equipment.It was discovered that the effective microhardness(H eff)and Young’s modulus(E eff)decreased manifold with P max growing from 0.2 to 2000 mN.This drop in H effwas observed when the locally deformed region grew,and re-sulting from P max increase generally follows the rule similar to the Hall-Petch relation for yield stress,strength,and hardness initially established for metals and alloys,though obviously in those cases the underlying internal mechanisms are quite different.The nature and micromechanisms of such size effect(SE)in wood revealed using NI were discussed in this study.At P max<0.2 mN,the deformed area under the pyramidal Berckovich indenter was much smaller than the cell wall width.Hence,in this case,NI measured the internal mechanical properties of the cell wall material as long as free boundaries impact could be neglected.At P max>200 mN,the indentation encompassed several cells.The measured mechanical properties were significantly affected by bending deformation and buckling collapse of cell walls,reducing H effand E effsubstantially.At P max≈1-100 mN,an indenter interacted with different elements of the cell structure and capillary network,resulting in intermediate values of H effand E eff.Abrupt changes in H effand E effat annual growth ring boundaries allow accurate measuring of rings width,while smoother and less pronounced changes within the rings allow identification of earlywood and latewood layers as well as any finer changes during vegetation season.The values of ring width measured using NI and standard optical method coincide with 2%−3%accuracy.The approaches and results pre-sented in this study could improve the understanding of nature and mechanisms lying behind the micromechanical properties of wood,help to optimize the technologies of wood farming,subse-quent reinforcement,and utilization,as well as to develop new highly informative techniques in dendrochronology and dendroclimatology.

Vegetation Recovery in Karst Areas in Central Guizhou, China

Due to the unique environment of karst landscapes, there are many uncertainties regarding the recovery of vegetation following human disturbance. Through standard wood parsing and growth ring investigation in Puding county in Guizhou province, China, we studied the process of vegetation restoration in karst areas. According to our results, during the recovery of karst vegetation height increases and ground diameter enlargement of tree layers occurred. Increases in the height and ground diameter followed logarithmic and growth curves, respectively. The development time of trees showed continuity, and growth points were randomly distributed. However, with large propagule quantities, vegetation can be directly restored and developed into a secondary high forest without a grass filling stage, and the recovery time is shortened.