Tree ecophysiology in the context of climate change

Forest structure and function strongly depend on and concurrently influence environmental conditions.Tree performance is generally governed by its genetics and environment;thus,recent hotspots in this field include tree genotype×environment,phenotype×environment,and functional trait×environment interactions.The editorial,review,and 22 original research articles in this Special Issue,"Tree ecophysiology in the context of climate change",highlight ecophysiological phenomena(e.g.,climate hormesis,seed germination,tree mortality),processes(e.g.,tree metabolism,photosynthate allocation,nutrient uptake and transport),indicators(e.g.,carbon sequestration,pollutants),measurements(e.g.,thermal time methods,soil quality indices,vegetation spectral index,and near-infrared leaf reflectance),and modeling(e.g.,climate correlations with tree growth,photo synthetic phenology,hydraulic strategies,OliveCan model)in the context of global climate change.Understanding forest-environment interactions from an ecophysiological perspective as climate changes provides insights into species fitness in suboptimal environments,species competition for limited resources,and phylogenetic divergence or convergence of species,and predicting species distributions.

Words apart:Standardizing forestry terms and definitions across European biodiversity studies

Forest biodiversity studies conducted across Europe use a multitude of forestry terms,often inconsistently.This hinders the comparability across studies and makes the assessment of the impacts of forest management on biodiversity highly context-dependent.Recent attempts to standardize forestry and stand description terminology mostly used a top-down approach that did not account for the perspectives and approaches of forest biodiversity experts.This work aims to establish common standards for silvicultural and vegetation definitions,creating a shared conceptual framework for a consistent study on the effects of forest management on biodiversity.We have identified both strengths and weaknesses of the silvicultural and vegetation information provided in forest biodiversity studies.While quantitative data on forest biomass and dominant tree species are frequently included,information on silvicultural activities and vegetation composition is often lacking,shallow,or based on broad and heterogeneous classifications.We discuss the existing classifications and their use in European forest biodiversity studies through a novel bottom-up and top-driven review process,and ultimately propose a common framework.This will enhance the comparability of forest biodiversity studies in Europe,and puts the basis for effective implementation and monitoring of sustainable forest management policies.The standards here proposed are potentially adaptable and applicable to other geographical areas and could be extended to other forest interventions.

Implementation of Forest Policy in Greece in Relation to Biodiversity and Climate Change

This is a review article based on literature (national and international) and empirical approach. A general overview on research priority areas on biodiversity and approaches and tools to provide information for forest policy implementation on biodiversity are briefly summarized. Challenges for biodiversity research and related policy in Europe and Greece are depicted. General information on forests, protected areas and forest management in Greece is also presented. Major actions and measures for conservation of forest biodiversity in Greece are described and analysed. The implementation of forest policy in Greece (including the adoption of International constitutional frame) in relation to biodiversity protection and climate change is also analysed. Priorities identified by the Strategic Plan of Rural Development 2007-2013 in Greece in order to adapt to climate change, are also presented. Furthermore, the National institutional framework (Legislation) and strategic targets for biodiversity conservation in Greece are synoptically presented. Finally, major conclusions and future challenges are highlighted.

Utilization of coal fly ash and municipal sewage sludge in agriculture and for reconstruction of soils in disturbed lands： results of case studies from Greece and China

Coal fly ash （CFA） and municipal sewage sludge （MSS） management is a great concern worldwide. An alternative gaining high interest, is their use in agriculture and for reclamation of degraded lands. The purpose of this paper was to present very briefly the results of some case studies carried out in China and Greece related to land reclamation and agricultural use of CFA and MSS separately or combined. An experiment in Platanoulia area, central Greece showed clearly that CFA applied together with MSS at appropriate rates increased substantially wheat grain and biomass yield and improved soil quality （increased soil pH, organic matter content, total nitrogen, available P and boron）. In a long-term experiment carried out in Huaibei city, Anhui province, China with a reconstructed soil in a subsided land by using CFA, it was found that physicochemical characteristics （infiltration rate, bulk density, total nitrogen, available P and extractable K） tended to be improved over time. In another experiment in Rodia area central Greece, MSS application improved soil quality of limestone mining spoils from bauxite mining activities. Several other experiments with MSS in Greece showed a clear positive effect on cotton and maize yield and on soil quality.

Forests of Greece, Their Multiple Functions and Uses, Sustainable Management and Biodiversity Conservation in the Face of Climate Change

This is a review paper based on national and international literature, national inventories and empirical approach. A general overview of the forests, forest management and forest biodiversity of Greece are briefly summarized. The distribution of the main forest species and their ecosystems in the Geographic regions of Greece is presented in a tabular form. Their multiple functions and uses, their management type/regime, their risks and threats, protection and conservation measures are also synoptically described. Furthermore, adaptive forest management and silviculture as well as management of genetic diversity in order to face climate change are also analysed. Research priority areas on biodiversity and challenges for biodiversity research and related policy in Greece have been summarized. The new Rural Development Program (2014-2020), which is currently in the final phase of implementation, will take into consideration the forest itself and forest-related European and National legal obligations. Finally, major conclusions and research priority areas on future management and conservation of forests are highlighted.

Whole-genome resequencing of Cucurbita pepo morphotypes to discover genomic variants associated with morphology and horticulturally valuable traits

Cucurbita pepo contains two cultivated subspecies,each of which encompasses four fruit-shape morphotypes(cultivar groups).The Pumpkin,Vegetable Marrow,Cocozelle,and Zucchini Groups are of subsp.pepo and the Acorn,Crookneck,Scallop,and Straightneck Groups are of subsp.ovifera.Recently,a de novo assembly of the C.pepo subsp.pepo Zucchini genome was published,providing insights into its evolution.To expand our knowledge of evolutionary processes within C.pepo and to identify variants associated with particular morphotypes,we performed wholegenome resequencing of seven of these eight C.pepo morphotypes.We report for the first time whole-genome resequencing of the four subsp.pepo(Pumpkin,Vegetable Marrow,Cocozelle,green Zucchini,and yellow Zucchini)morphotypes and three of the subsp.ovifera(Acorn,Crookneck,and Scallop)morphotypes.A high-depth resequencing approach was followed,using the BGISEQ-500 platform that enables the identification of rare variants,with an average of 33.5X.Approximately 94.5%of the clean reads were mapped against the reference Zucchini genome.In total,3,823,977 high confidence single-nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs)were identified.Within each accession,SNPs varied from 636,918 in green Zucchini to 2,656,513 in Crookneck,and were distributed homogeneously along the chromosomes.Clear differences between subspecies pepo and ovifera in genetic variation and linkage disequilibrium are highlighted.In fact,comparison between subspecies pepo and ovifera indicated 5710 genes(22.5%)with Fst>0.80 and 1059 genes(4.1%)with Fst=1.00 as potential candidate genes that were fixed during the independent evolution and domestication of the two subspecies.Linkage disequilibrium was greater in subsp.ovifera than in subsp.pepo,perhaps reflective of the earlier differentiation of morphotypes within subsp.ovifera.Some morphotype-specific genes have been localized.Our results offer new clues that may provide an improved understanding of the underlying genomic regions involved in the independent evolution and domestication of the two subspecies.Comparisons among SNPs unique to particular subspecies or morphotypes may provide candidate genes responsible for traits of high economic importance.

Utilization of spent substrates and waste products of mushroom cultivation to produce new crops of Pleurotus ostreatus,Pleurotus eryngii and Agaricus bisporus

Five agro-industrial residues,their corresponding spent mushroom substrates(SMS),commercial fresh and spent mushroom compost of Agaricus(SMC)and Pleurotus ostreatus(SMS GZ)cultivation,Pleurotus and Agaricus waste(stipes/mishappen mushrooms)were combined and re-utilized as novel substrates for the cultivation of P.ostreatus,P.eryngii and A.bisporus mushrooms.SMSs/SMC were used up to 40%(treatment 1 and 2),while 20%of mushroom waste were added in fresh and spent substrates(treatment 3 and 4).The impact of different substrates on mycelial growth rate and biomass production was examined.Then,Pleurotus spp.were cultivated on the most promising substrates and essential cultivation aspects(earliness,total mushroom yield,biological efficiency-BE)and carposomes’quality parameters(weight,morphological characteristics)were evaluated.Laccase and endoglucanase production by Pleurotus species were also determined at 50 and 100%of colonization stages.All species showed their fastest mycelial growth rate(up to 5 mm/day)on substrates consisted of SMC,whereas many combinations of species/substrate enhanced biomass production.The SMS GZ supplementation positively affected laccase activity;in the cultures of P.ostreatus and P.eryngii the highest values were 62,539 and 17,584 U/g d.w.,respectively.On the contrary,small amounts of endoglucanase were produced(0.007 to 0.322 U/g d.w.);the greatest production was recorded for P.ostreatus at full colonization.Regarding fermentation in bags,significant amount of total mushroom yield was produced in all substrates and those with SMS GZ supported the fastest earliness period and the highest BE for both Pleurotus species.BE values ranged from 54 to 133%for P.ostreatus and from 53 to 121%for P.eryngii.Concerning morphological characteristics,mushroom waste addition seemed to affect them positively.The data included in this paper support the effective re-utilization of different types of SMS and mushroom waste for fungal mass and enzymes’production and for new high quality Pleurotus spp.carposomes.

Sustainable energy management of solar greenhouses using open weather data on MACQU platform

Precision energy management is very important for sustainability development of solar greenhouses,since huge energy demand for agricultural production both in quantity and quality.A proactive energy management,according to the optimal energy utilization in a look-ahead period with weather prediction,is presented and tested in this research.A multi-input-multi-output linear model of the energy balance of solar greenhouses based on on-line identification system can simulate greenhouse behavior and allow for predictive control.The good time allocation of available solar energy can be achieved by intelligent use of controls,such as store/retrieve fans and ventilation windows,i.e.solar energy to warm up the air or to be stored in the storage elements(wall,soil,etc.)or to be exhausted to outside.The proactive energy management can select an optimal trajectory of air temperature for the forecasted weather period to minimize plants’thermal‘cost’defined by an‘expert’in terms of set-points for the specific crop.The selection of temperature trajectory is formulated as a generalized traveling salesman problem(GTSP)with precedence constraints and is solved by a genetic algorithm(GA)in this research.The simulation study showed good potential for energy saving and timely allocation to prevent excessive crop stress.The active control elements in addition to predefining and applying,within energy constraints,optimal climate in the greenhouse,it also reduces the energy deficit,i.e.the working hours of the‘heater’in the sustained freezing weather,as well as the ventilation hours,that is,more energy harvest in the warm days.This intelligent solar greenhouse management system is being migrated to the web for serving a‘customer base’in the Internet Plus era.The capacity,of the concrete ground CAUA system(CAUA is an abbreviations from both China Agricultural University and Agricultural University of Athens),to implement web‘updates’of criteria,open weather data and models,on which control actions are based,is what makes use of Cloud Data for closing the loop of an effective Internet of Things(IoT)system,based on MACQU(MAnagement and Control for QUality)technological platform.

A rule-based semi-automatic method to map burned areas in Mediterranean using Landsat images–revisited and improved

At local or regional scales,where Landsat has been extensively applied to monitor burned areas,semi-or fully automated methods are not very common.Koutsias et al.([2013].“A Rule-Based Semi-Automatic Method to map Burned Areas:Exploring the USGS Historical Landsat Archives to Reconstruct Recent Fire History.”International Journal of Remote Sensing 34(20):7049–7068)developed a semi-automatic method to map burned areas consisted of a set of rules that are valid especially when the post-fire image has been captured shortly after the fire.However,the rule-based approach is not free of errors that eventually create limitations to adopt this method for reconstructing the fire history in a fully automated mode.In this work,we improved the method by revisited and improving the rules that have been developed in the first paper,especially for reducing the omission errors.Minor changes have been made to almost all rules;however,one of the rules has been revised and changed the most as compared to the others by also considering the short-wave infrared channel TM5(in Landsat-5 or Landsat-7).In this case,the algorithm could successfully capture the fire scar in dry vegetated areas as well.Due to the lack of reference data collected in the field,we used reference data collected by photo interpretation,and the accuracy assessment showed that these had a high agreement with the burned land mapping results.