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Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th...
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Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary

A special issue of Forests (ISSN 1999-4907).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 April 2023) | Viewed by 38998

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Yanming Fang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Interests: oak tree studies: genetic variation, phylogeography, and introgression hybridization; subtropical forest biodiversity; resource utilization of economic tree species
Prof. Dr. Fuyuan Zhu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Interests: alternative splicing in plants; functional proteomics; stress response; resource utilization of economic tree species
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Yong Yang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Key Laboratory of State Forestry and Grassland Administration on Subtropical Forest Biodiversity Conservation, College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China
Interests: plant diversity; taxonomy; systematics; evolution; phylogeny; conservation; morphology; anatomy; development; biogeography

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In 2022, Nanjing Forestry University (NFU) is celebrating its 120th anniversary. NFU evolved to Nanjing Forestry College in 1952 from the Forest Departments of Central University (founded in 1902) and the University of Nanking (founded in 1910). In 1955, the forest departments of Wuhan University, Nanchang University and Hubei Agricultural College were merged. The University has held the present name since 1985. In 2017, Nanjing Forestry University was selected as one of the first national "double first-class" universities, and its development has been fast tracked. Famously known for its outstanding established disciplines in forestry, NFU also offers balanced, comprehensive programs in diverse branches of learning, integrating science, engineering, agriculture, liberal arts, management, economics and law. In the fourth round of China's national assessment of disciplines, two of NFU's first-level disciplines, including Forestry and Forestry Engineering, were rated "A+", while another first-level discipline, Landscape Architecture, was rated "A-".

In recognition of these achievements, Forests is planning a dedicated Special Issue entitled "Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University's 120th Anniversary". This Special Issue will publish full high-quality research articles or comprehensive literature reviews within the broad scope of plant sciences. We invite you to contribute original research papers and comprehensive review articles on a current or hot topic for peer review and possible publication.

Possible topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Dendrology, systematics, phylogenetics and biogeography;
  • Plant ecology and biodiversity, including invasive biology and conservation biology;
  • Structure, physiology and development, including Evo-Devo;
  • Plant genetics and variation, including genomics, proteomics, metabolomics and bioinformatics;
  • Plant ecology and evolution, including plant–soil/plant–animal interactions;
  • Plants and human health, including plant resources utilization.

Prof. Dr. Yanming Fang
Prof. Dr. Fuyuan Zhu
Prof. Dr. Yong Yang
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Forests is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • plant taxonomy
  • forest ecology
  • biodiversity
  • plant growth and development
  • plant resource utilization
  • systematics and evolution

Published Papers (23 papers)

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Research

23 pages, 9576 KiB  
Article
Effect of Waterlogging Stress on Leaf Anatomical Structure and Ultrastructure of Phoebe sheareri Seedlings
by Fenghou Shi, Zhujing Pan, Pengfei Dai, Yongbao Shen, Yizeng Lu and Biao Han
Forests 2023, 14(7), 1294; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14071294 - 23 Jun 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1725
Abstract
Phoebe sheareri is an excellent roadside tree with a wide distribution range and high ornamental value. Excessive moisture can affect the external morphology, the microstructure, and the ultrastructure of the leaf. Little is known at present regarding the leaf structure of P. sheareri [...] Read more.
Phoebe sheareri is an excellent roadside tree with a wide distribution range and high ornamental value. Excessive moisture can affect the external morphology, the microstructure, and the ultrastructure of the leaf. Little is known at present regarding the leaf structure of P. sheareri under waterlogging stress. In this paper, the external morphology of leaves, the microstructure of leaf epidermis, and the ultrastructure of mesophyll cells of P. sheareri seedlings under waterlogging stress and drainage were dynamically observed. Waterlogging stress contributed to the yellowing and wilting of P. sheareri seedling leaves, the gradual closing of leaf epidermal stomata, increasing density of leaf stomata, gradual loosening of the arrangement of leaf cell structure, and merging of leaf palisade tissue cells. Waterlogging stress forced the structure of the chloroplast membranes to blur, gradually causing swelling, and deformation, with plasmolysis occurring in severe cases. During waterlogging, the basal lamellae were disorganized, and the mitochondrial membrane structure was damaged. The damaged state of the leaves was not relieved after drainage. Waterlogging stress not only inhibited the growth of leaves, but also accelerated the closure of stomata, disordered the arrangement of palisade tissue and spongy tissue gradually, and damaged the internal organelles of mesophyll cells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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15 pages, 4168 KiB  
Article
Spatial–Temporal Distribution Pattern of Ormosia hosiei in Sichuan under Different Climate Scenarios
by Chunping Xie, Lin Chen, Meng Li, Dawei Liu and Chi-Yung Jim
Forests 2023, 14(6), 1261; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061261 - 19 Jun 2023
Viewed by 951
Abstract
Ormosia hosiei is an endemic plant in China listed as a national grade II key protected wild plant with important scientific, economic, and cultural values. This study was designed to predict the potential suitable distribution areas for O. hosiei under current and future [...] Read more.
Ormosia hosiei is an endemic plant in China listed as a national grade II key protected wild plant with important scientific, economic, and cultural values. This study was designed to predict the potential suitable distribution areas for O. hosiei under current and future climate change and to provide a reference to enhance the species’ conservation and utilization. Based on the actual geographical locations of O. hosiei in Sichuan, we applied two species distribution models (BIOCLIM and DOMAIN) to predict its current and future potential suitable areas and future change patterns. We also analyzed the major climatic variables limiting its geographical distribution with principal component analysis. The results indicated that O. hosiei was mainly distributed in the eastern region of Sichuan and concentrated in the middle subtropical climate zone at relatively low elevations. The principal component analysis identified two critical factors representing temperature and moisture. The temperature was the most critical factor limiting O. hosiei distribution in Sichuan, especially the effect of extreme low temperatures. Both models’ simulation results of potential suitable areas under the current climate scenario showed that the excellent suitable habitat was consistent with the current actual distribution, remaining in the eastern region of Sichuan. Under the future climate scenario with doubled CO2 concentration (2100), both models predicted a sharp decrease in the areas of excellent and very high suitable habitats. The findings can inform strategies and guidelines for O. hosiei research, conservation, nursery production, and cultivation in Sichuan. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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15 pages, 43230 KiB  
Article
Establishment of PEG-Mediated Transient Gene Expression in Protoplasts Isolated from the Callus of Cunninghamia lanceolata
by Kaiyue Hong, Zhenyu Chen, Yasmina Radani, Renhua Zheng, Xueyan Zheng, Yong Li, Jinhui Chen and Liming Yang
Forests 2023, 14(6), 1168; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14061168 - 06 Jun 2023
Viewed by 1456
Abstract
Cunninghamia lanceolata (C. lanceolata) is an important timber tree species in southern China that requires gene function studies to understand its traits. In this study, we investigated the callus induction rates of immature zygotic embryos from reciprocal hybrids between genotypes B46 [...] Read more.
Cunninghamia lanceolata (C. lanceolata) is an important timber tree species in southern China that requires gene function studies to understand its traits. In this study, we investigated the callus induction rates of immature zygotic embryos from reciprocal hybrids between genotypes B46 and B49. With zygotic embryo development, the callus induction rates showed an increasing trend, followed by a decreasing trend. Moreover, the rate of callus induction in genotype B46 × B49 immature zygotic embryos was greater than in genotype B49 × B46. Callus from C. lanceolata with genotype B46 × B49 was selected as the donor material for protoplast isolation. By using an enzymatic digestion solution containing cellulase, macerozyme, and pectinase, combined with an osmotic stabilizer, we obtained 9.76 × 106 protoplasts/mL with 92.7% viability. We subsequently transformed plasmids into C. lanceolata callus protoplasts and observed the location of the H2B-eYFP fusion protein in the nucleus. To achieve transient transfection of C. lanceolata callus protoplasts, we compared transfection efficiencies at different concentrations of PEG4000, PEG6000, or PEG8000 in a modified MMg solution. We found that 20% (w/v) PEG6000 mediated the transient transfection of C. lanceolata callus protoplasts with a 6.70% efficiency. This study provides a technical foundation for future research on transient transfection and functional analysis of C. lanceolata genes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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13 pages, 5060 KiB  
Article
Biochemical Changes during Fruit and Seed Development in Nanjing Linden (Tilia miqueiana M.)
by Yu Wu, Chenyin Peng, Xiangyu Yu and Yongbao Shen
Forests 2023, 14(5), 969; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14050969 - 08 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2063
Abstract
In China, the wild population of Nanjing Linden (Tilia miqueliana M.) is experiencing a drastic decline, primarily due to high levels of empty seeds. This study aimed to measure the biochemical and physiological changes during fruit and seed development in T. miqueliana [...] Read more.
In China, the wild population of Nanjing Linden (Tilia miqueliana M.) is experiencing a drastic decline, primarily due to high levels of empty seeds. This study aimed to measure the biochemical and physiological changes during fruit and seed development in T. miqueliana to determine the developmental mechanism. The weight method and photosynthetic respiration were used to determine the biological aspects of both fruits and embryos, while transmission electron microscopy and the anthrone colorimetric method were used to determine the endosperm content, including sugar, starch, protein, and fat. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were conducted to determine the levels of endogenous plant hormones such as indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), gibberellic acid 3 (GA3), zeatin riboside (ZR), and abscisic acid (ABA). The nonlinear least-squares method was used to fit the model of nutrient and hormone levels, revealing that fruit size expanded from the 5th to the 65th day and that fruit moisture content exhibited a downward trend, along with a decrease in fruit respiration intensity. Embryos were found to be fully developed between 35 DAF and 65 DAF, while the nutrients in the endosperm, i.e., sugar, starch, protein, and fat, continuously accumulated after 50 DAF. Additionally, ABA, IAA, GA3, and ZR contents were found to synergistically regulate seed development and maturation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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15 pages, 3929 KiB  
Article
Detection of Moisture Content of Pinus massoniana Lamb. Seedling Leaf Based on NIR Spectroscopy with a Multi-Learner Model
by Yurong Li, Haifei Xia, Ying Liu, Lintao Huo, Chao Ni and Binli Gou
Forests 2023, 14(5), 883; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14050883 - 25 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 965
Abstract
The growth quality of Pinus massoniana (Lamb.) seedlings is closely related to the survival rate of afforestation. Moisture content detection is an important indicator in the cultivation of forest seedlings because it can directly reflect the adaptability and growth potential of the seedlings [...] Read more.
The growth quality of Pinus massoniana (Lamb.) seedlings is closely related to the survival rate of afforestation. Moisture content detection is an important indicator in the cultivation of forest seedlings because it can directly reflect the adaptability and growth potential of the seedlings to the soil environment. To improve the accuracy of quantitative analysis of moisture content in P. massoniana seedlings using near-infrared spectroscopy, a total of 100 P. massoniana seedlings were collected, and their near-infrared diffuse reflectance spectra were measured in the range of 2500 to 800 nm (12,000 to 4000 cm−1). An integrated learning framework was introduced, and a quantitative detection model for moisture content in P. massoniana seedlings was established by combining preprocessing and feature wavelength selection methods in chemometrics. Our results showed that the information carried by the spectra after multiple scattering correction (MSC) preprocessing had a good response to the target attribute. The stacking learning model based on the full-band spectrum had a prediction coefficient of determination R2 of 0.8819, and the prediction accuracy of moisture content in P. massoniana seedlings could be significantly improved compared to the single model. After variable selection, the spectrum processed by MSC and feature selection with uninformative variable elimination (UVE) showed good prediction effects in all models. Additionally, the prediction coefficient of determination R2 of the support vector regression (SVR)—adaptive boosting (AdaBoost)—partial least squares regression (PLSR) + AdaBoost model reached 0.9430. This indicates that the quantitative analysis model of moisture content in P. massoniana seedlings established through preprocessing, feature selection, and stacking learning models can achieve high accuracy in predicting moisture content in P. massoniana seedlings. This model can provide a feasible technical reference for the precision cultivation of P. massoniana seedlings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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18 pages, 4592 KiB  
Article
Comparative Chloroplast Genome Analysis of Chinese Lacquer Tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum, Anacardiaceae): East-West Divergence within Its Range in China
by Lu Wang, Yao Li, Na He, Ye Peng, Yanming Fang, Xingwang Zhang and Feilong Zhang
Forests 2023, 14(4), 818; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040818 - 17 Apr 2023
Viewed by 1556
Abstract
Chinese lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) is an important commercial arbor species known for the production of raw lacquer. Here, we investigated the intraspecific chloroplast (cp) genome variability of T. vernicifluum using two available and five newly sequenced cp genomes. We found [...] Read more.
Chinese lacquer tree (Toxicodendron vernicifluum) is an important commercial arbor species known for the production of raw lacquer. Here, we investigated the intraspecific chloroplast (cp) genome variability of T. vernicifluum using two available and five newly sequenced cp genomes. We found that each of the seven cp genomes encoded 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analyses based on protein-coding genes indicated that the four individuals from western China formed a monophyletic group sister to the cluster containing the three individuals from eastern China. The cp genomes from western China exhibited a larger genome length and longer large single-copy (LSC), small single-copy (SSC), and inverted repeat (IR) regions than those from eastern China. A total of 466 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and 141 insertion-deletion mutations were detected among the seven cp genomes, most of which were found between the eastern and western lineages. The two groups exhibited a similar number of microsatellites, long repeats, and tandem repeats. Notably, complementary repeat sequences were only found in the IRs of the individuals from eastern China, while reverse repeat sequences were only detected in the LSC of the individuals from western China. Eight intraspecific mutational hotspots were also identified, including six intergenic regions (trnF-ndhJ, rpl32-trnL, ccsA-ndhD, trnH-psbA, psbC-trnS, and trnL-trnF) and two gene regions (rpl32 and rps19). The genomic resources presented in this study will be useful for further studies on evolutionary patterns and resource protection of T. vernicifluum. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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14 pages, 5120 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Water Distribution and Mobility Dynamics in Recalcitrant Quercus acutissima Seeds during Desiccation Using Magnetic Resonance Methods
by Haiyan Chen and Yongbao Shen
Forests 2023, 14(4), 738; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14040738 - 04 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1960
Abstract
Recalcitrant seed vigor is closely related to seed moisture, so how do the water distribution and status change during seed drying? In this study, we investigated the association between water content (WC) and germination of Quercus acutissima seeds and used nuclear magnetic resonance [...] Read more.
Recalcitrant seed vigor is closely related to seed moisture, so how do the water distribution and status change during seed drying? In this study, we investigated the association between water content (WC) and germination of Quercus acutissima seeds and used nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to monitor the water dynamics during seed drying. Results showed that freshly dispersed seeds had 38.8% WC, but drying to 14.8% WC resulted in a complete loss of vigor. Magnetic resonance images (MRI) reveal that the embryonic axis had the highest WC and the fastest rate of water loss, and seeds lost water from the embryonic axis to the apex and from the center to the end of cotyledons during desiccation. According to low-field NMR results, the proportion of free water in fresh seeds was the highest at 55%, followed by bound water at 10% and immobile water at 35%. During drying, the bound water and free water of seeds were lost simultaneously, and free water was lost most when the seeds died. Our results revealed that Q. acutissima seeds are highly sensitive to desiccation and that the water loss sites of the seeds were at the micropyle and scar. During desiccation, the bound water could not be retained, and the water balance in the seeds was broken, eventually leading to seed death. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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12 pages, 2529 KiB  
Article
Optimized Plant Diversity and Carbon Storage for Priority Protection Areas in China
by Chaohe Tang, Yuran Dong and Lingfeng Mao
Forests 2023, 14(3), 621; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030621 - 20 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1308
Abstract
Biodiversity and carbon storage are two key ecosystem functions that are crucial to protect and maintain ecosystem balance. However, there is often little overlap between hotspots for these two different conservation purposes. Additionally, it is not well understood how these different spatial metrics [...] Read more.
Biodiversity and carbon storage are two key ecosystem functions that are crucial to protect and maintain ecosystem balance. However, there is often little overlap between hotspots for these two different conservation purposes. Additionally, it is not well understood how these different spatial metrics affect these functions in protected ecosystems in China. Here, we explored the relationships between plant diversity metrics and carbon storage by using a large vascular plant distribution dataset, as well as soil fragile organic carbon and biomass carbon datasets in specific spatial areas across China. We also defined priority protection areas (PPAs) using a conservation prioritization method, where 30% of the study areas displayed the highest combined conservation value in carbon storage and plant species richness (SR), phylogenetic diversity (PD), phylogenetic endemism (PE) and evolutionary distinctness (ED). Our results indicated that the correlations between biodiversity metrics and carbon storage were very weak in spatial relationship. However, by including both of these functions in conservation targets, the PPAs could account for more than 95% of the species and evolutionary diversity (PD, ED), and stored large amounts of carbon. Additionally, we broadly divided the PPAs into win–win, high plant diversity, and high carbon areas based on the overlap of biodiversity and carbon storage hotspots. Altogether, our results highlight the importance of understanding and optimizing conservation efforts for different ecosystem functions in different PPAs. Ultimately, this work establishes an urgent need to expand protection in these areas to support mutual biodiversity and carbon storage beneficial solutions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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12 pages, 32932 KiB  
Article
Ilex danxiaensis (Aquifoliaceae), a Distinct New Tree Species Endemic to Danxia Mountain in Guangdong Province, China, Based on Molecular and Morphological Evidence
by Chenxue Lin, Wanyi Zhao, Zaixiong Chen, Qiang Fan and Kewang Xu
Forests 2023, 14(3), 583; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030583 - 15 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1077
Abstract
Many holly species are dominant species in evergreen broad-leaved forests, and they play an important role in the formation and maintenance of forest ecosystems in tropical and subtropical regions. Here, a new holly species (Ilex danxiaensis K. W. Xu & Q. Fan) [...] Read more.
Many holly species are dominant species in evergreen broad-leaved forests, and they play an important role in the formation and maintenance of forest ecosystems in tropical and subtropical regions. Here, a new holly species (Ilex danxiaensis K. W. Xu & Q. Fan) of Aquifoliaceae was discovered from Guangdong, China, when conducting biodiversity investigations in the Danxia landform. We inferred the phylogenetic position of the new species based on sequences from three nuclear markers, namely internal transcribed spacer (ITS), external transcribed spacer (ETS), and chloroplast glutamine synthetase gene (nepGS). The results demonstrated a close relationship among the new species and members of I. sect. Lioprinos. The inferred phylogenetic position of the new species is also supported by morphological evidence that all of these species are characterized by having axillary cymes inflorescences and abaxially 1-sulcate pyrenes. However, the new species can be distinguished from others by having puberulent branchlets, petioles, peduncles, and pedicel; (1–)2–3-flowered cymes of male inflorescences; 1-flowered cymes of female inflorescences; ciliate sepals, 4-merous flowers, pink or white female flowers; and 4 pyrenes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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16 pages, 3262 KiB  
Article
Hydraulic and Economical Traits in Short- and Long-Shoot Leaves of Ginkgo biloba Males and Females
by Huihui Liu, Cheng Zhang, Yanqiong Meng, Fengyu Zhang, Nuo Huang, Jianan Wang and Yiyong Li
Forests 2023, 14(3), 535; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030535 - 08 Mar 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2167
Abstract
Ginkgo biloba is a dioecious heterophyllous tree species with two leaf types. Short shoots always bear many leaves, which are undivided or slightly bilobed, but long-shoot leaves are smaller and are deeply divided into two or more lobes. To clarify the functional difference [...] Read more.
Ginkgo biloba is a dioecious heterophyllous tree species with two leaf types. Short shoots always bear many leaves, which are undivided or slightly bilobed, but long-shoot leaves are smaller and are deeply divided into two or more lobes. To clarify the functional difference between the two leaf types, we investigated the morphology, anatomy, gas exchange, and hydraulic traits of the two leaf types in male and female trees. Our results showed that long-shoot leaves possessed a lower specific leaf area (SLA), higher leaf thickness, gas exchange rates, and average tracheid number than short-shoot leaves. When compared to short-shoot leaves, long-shoot leaves in male trees had higher leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) and leaf water potential of 50% loss in Kleaf (leaf P50), while female trees exhibited relatively higher Kleaf. When comparing sexual differences, male trees possessed higher leaf thickness, leaf dissection index, vein density (VD), and predawn leaf water potential and lower SLA, tracheid number, and midday leaf water potential, while no significant difference in leaf P50 was observed between the two sexes. Male trees exhibited greater leaf gas exchange rates, which were tightly associated with other functional traits, such as VD and Kleaf. We found strong shoot-based and sex-related heterogeneities in the leaf hydrology, anatomy, and economy of Ginkgo biloba. Moreover, male ginkgoes may perform better due to their greater leaf hydraulic efficiency and gas exchange rates. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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16 pages, 4357 KiB  
Article
Effects of Pruning on Vegetation Growth and Soil Properties in Poplar Plantations
by Kaidong Huang, Cheng Xu, Zhuangzhuang Qian, Kang Zhang and Luozhong Tang
Forests 2023, 14(3), 501; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14030501 - 03 Mar 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2500
Abstract
Artificial pruning is an important silvicultural practice that can produce clear wood in poplar plantations. This study focused on the growth of poplar, understory vegetation diversity and soil properties in response to different pruning intensities in poplar plantations. We implemented three different pruning [...] Read more.
Artificial pruning is an important silvicultural practice that can produce clear wood in poplar plantations. This study focused on the growth of poplar, understory vegetation diversity and soil properties in response to different pruning intensities in poplar plantations. We implemented three different pruning treatments based on the height-to-crown base (HCB) to tree height (H) ratio in Populus deltoides ‘Nanlin 3804′ plantations: CK (no pruning), a 1/3 pruning treatment and a 1/2 pruning treatment. The poplar growth conditions, understory vegetation biodiversity and soil properties were investigated for one year after pruning. Compared with CK, the 1/2 pruning treatment significantly decreased the increment of diameter at breast height (DBHi) and stem volume increment (Vi) by 16.4% and 12.8%, respectively. Meanwhile, pruning significantly promoted understory vegetation biomass and increased the Shannon–Weiner diversity index of understory vegetation, and these variables were positively correlated with pruning intensity. The 1/2 pruning treatment significantly reduced the contents of soil nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), total inorganic nitrogen (IN) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) by 21.9%, 13.9% and 22.4%, respectively. However, the 1/3 pruning treatment had no significant influence. Pruning mainlyaffectedthe soil enzyme activity in the surface (0–10 cm) layer. The 1/3 and 1/2 pruning treatments significantly decreased soil urease activity by 20.1% and 15.0%, respectively. Furthermore, nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis showed that the seasonal variation in soil properties was significant, and significant differences among pruning treatments were mainly observed in July and October. Redundancy analysis showed that the growth of aboveground vegetation was significantly correlated with soil properties, particularly soil IN content and urease activity. Therefore, the results highlighted that pruning could promote the growth of understory vegetation and accelerate the transformation of soil nutrients. The 1/2 pruning treatment significantly inhibited the growth of poplar in terms of DBH and V, while the 1/3 pruning treatment promoted the growth of poplar in the short term. Overall, we think that the 1/3 pruning intensity is more suitable for pruning practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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11 pages, 2673 KiB  
Article
Plastome Phylogeny and Taxonomy of Cinnamomum guizhouense (Lauraceae)
by Zhi Yang, David Kay Ferguson and Yong Yang
Forests 2023, 14(2), 310; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020310 - 04 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1463
Abstract
Taxonomy of the genus Cinnamomum Schaeff. (Lauraceae) is difficult because of parallel evolution of morphology. Recent phylogenomic and taxonomic studies have clarified the problem and subdivided the Asian Cinnamomum into two genera, i.e., Camphora Fabr. and Cinnamomum sensu stricto. Here we sequenced and [...] Read more.
Taxonomy of the genus Cinnamomum Schaeff. (Lauraceae) is difficult because of parallel evolution of morphology. Recent phylogenomic and taxonomic studies have clarified the problem and subdivided the Asian Cinnamomum into two genera, i.e., Camphora Fabr. and Cinnamomum sensu stricto. Here we sequenced and characterized the plastome of a recently described species Cinnamomum guizhouense C.Y. Deng, Zhi Yang et Y. Yang, performed a phylogenomic analysis, and also conducted a comparative analysis. The plastome of Cinnamomum guizhouense is 152,739 bp long and quadri-parted with a pair of inverted repeat regions (IR: 20,132 bp) divided by a small single copy region (SSC: 18,852 bp) and a large single copy region (LSC: 93,623 bp). The plastome possesses a total of 128 genes including 82 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes, which is similar to most published plastomes of the core Lauraceae group. The plastome of Cinnamomum guizhouense displays higher similarity to Camphora than Cinnamomum. Our phylogenomic result suggests that Cinnamomum guizhouense belongs to the Camphora clade. As a result, we propose a new combination, i.e. Camphora guizhouensis (C.Y. Deng, Zhi Yang et Y. Yang) Zhi Yang et Y.Yang, comb. nov. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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18 pages, 1634 KiB  
Article
Seed Distribution and Phenotypic Variation in Different Layers of a Cunninghamia Lanceolata Seed Orchard
by Yu Duan, Tengyun Ye, Daiquan Ye and Jian Zhou
Forests 2023, 14(2), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020240 - 28 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1280
Abstract
The phenotypic characteristics of forest seeds are the basis of germplasm innovation, genetic improvement, and biological research, and they also are the reference for the development of seed orchards. In this study, we analyzed seed quantity characteristics, phenotypic differentiation, and variation patterns in [...] Read more.
The phenotypic characteristics of forest seeds are the basis of germplasm innovation, genetic improvement, and biological research, and they also are the reference for the development of seed orchards. In this study, we analyzed seed quantity characteristics, phenotypic differentiation, and variation patterns in three seed-bearing clones from different crown layers of the Chinese fir (Cunninghamia lanceolata (Lamb.) Hook) orchard located in Fujian Province, China. We divided the clones into six layers according to crown height and the sunny and shady sides, 14 phenotypic characteristics, and five quality indexes, and we measured the germination rate of seeds. The rate of seeds filled with tannin-like substance in the upper sunny layer was low, but it was high in the lower shady layer. The germination rate was highest in the upper sunny layer and lower in the middle and lower shady sides. Values of most of the 14 phenotypic traits tested differed significantly among clones and layers. The average value of the phenotypic differentiation coefficient was 81.16%, indicating that variation among clones explained most of the total phenotypic variation. The repeatability of the 14 phenotypic traits was high (R > 0.80), indicating that these traits are highly heritable. The phenotypic characteristics of cones and seeds varied from 6.86% to 129.51%. The 14 phenotypic traits exhibited different degrees of correlation, and seed weight, seed circumference, seed width, and seed area can be used to predict other seed traits. However, the correlations between cone traits were not strong. Our results show that when establishing a dwarfing Chinese fir seed orchard, the distribution and variation of seeds in different crown layers of clones should be considered, and clones with more cones in the lower crown layer should be selected as parents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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16 pages, 4846 KiB  
Article
Research on 3D Phenotypic Reconstruction and Micro-Defect Detection of Green Plum Based on Multi-View Images
by Xiao Zhang, Lintao Huo, Ying Liu, Zilong Zhuang, Yutu Yang and Binli Gou
Forests 2023, 14(2), 218; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020218 - 23 Jan 2023
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1767
Abstract
Rain spots on green plum are superficial micro-defects. Defect detection based on a two-dimensional image is easily influenced by factors such as placement position and light and is prone to misjudgment and omission, which are the main problems affecting the accuracy of defect [...] Read more.
Rain spots on green plum are superficial micro-defects. Defect detection based on a two-dimensional image is easily influenced by factors such as placement position and light and is prone to misjudgment and omission, which are the main problems affecting the accuracy of defect screening of green plum. In this paper, using computer vision technology, an improved structure from motion (SFM) and patch-based multi-view stereo (PMVS) algorithm based on similar graph clustering and graph matching is proposed to perform three-dimensional sparse and dense reconstruction of green plums. The results show that, compared with the traditional algorithm, the running time of this algorithm is lower, at only 26.55 s, and the mean values of camera optical center error and pose error are 0.019 and 0.631, respectively. This method obtains a higher reconstruction accuracy to meet the subsequent plum micro-defect detection requirements. Aiming at the dense point cloud model of green plums, through point cloud preprocessing, the improved adaptive segmentation algorithm based on the Lab color space realizes the effective segmentation of the point cloud of green plum micro-defects. The experimental results show that the average running time of the improved adaptive segmentation algorithm is 2.56 s, showing a faster segmentation speed and better effect than the traditional K-means and K-means++ algorithms. After clustering the micro-defect point cloud, the micro-defect information of green plums was extracted on the basis of random sample consensus (RANSAC) plane fitting, which provides a theoretical model for further improving the accuracy of sorting the appearance quality of green plums. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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13 pages, 2227 KiB  
Article
The Species Richness-Environment Relationship for Cherries (Prunus subgenus Cerasus) across the Northern Hemisphere
by Chen-Long Fu, Chun-Ping Xie, Muhammad Idrees, Xian-Gui Yi, Xian-Rong Wang and Meng Li
Forests 2023, 14(2), 193; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14020193 - 19 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1454
Abstract
Understanding large-scale patterns of biodiversity and their drivers remains significant in biogeography. Cherries species (Prunus subgenus Cerasus, Rosaceae) are economically and ecologically important in ecosystems and human agricultural activities. However, the mechanisms underlying the patterns of the species richness–environment relationship in [...] Read more.
Understanding large-scale patterns of biodiversity and their drivers remains significant in biogeography. Cherries species (Prunus subgenus Cerasus, Rosaceae) are economically and ecologically important in ecosystems and human agricultural activities. However, the mechanisms underlying the patterns of the species richness–environment relationship in Cerasus remain poorly understood. We collected and filtered worldwide specimen data to map the species richness of Cerasus at the global scale. The map of Cerasus species richness was created using 21,043 reliable recorded specimens. The center of Cerasus diversity was determined using spatial cluster analysis. Stepwise regression analysis was carried out using five groups of 21 environmental variables and an integrated model was included to assess the impact of the overall environment. We calibrated each of the four integrated models and used them to predict the global Cerasus species richness and that of the other continents. Our results revealed that Cerasus species have two centers of diversity (the southwest of China and Honshu Island in Japan) with differing environmental variables influencing the distribution patterns of these two centers. In the southwest of China, hygrothermal conditions are the main driving factor while in Japan, habitat heterogeneity is the main driving factor. The relationship between the abundance of Cerasus and the various groups of factors generally supports both the productivity and the habitat heterogeneity hypotheses. However, these hypotheses do not fully explain the Cerasus species richness pattern, indicating that other factors such as historical environment, topography, and human activities likely played a role in pattern formation. The high level of habitat heterogeneity and better hygrothermal conditions may have played an important role in the establishment of its globally consistent richness–climate relationship. Our results can provide valuable information for the classification and conservation of Cerasus natural resources as well as contribute to furthering our understanding of biogeography at a global scale. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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16 pages, 3975 KiB  
Article
Quantification of Root Systems and Soil Macropore Networks Association to Soil Saturated Hydraulic Conductivity in Forested Wetland Soils
by Yinghu Zhang, Lu Wang, Wenqi Zhang, Zhenming Zhang and Mingxiang Zhang
Forests 2023, 14(1), 132; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14010132 - 11 Jan 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1984
Abstract
Understanding the relationship between root systems, soil macropore networks, and soil hydraulic properties is important to better assess ecosystem health. In this study, treatments were performed in forested wetland soils with different vegetation densities, i.e., large (LWa) and small communities (LWb) of reed [...] Read more.
Understanding the relationship between root systems, soil macropore networks, and soil hydraulic properties is important to better assess ecosystem health. In this study, treatments were performed in forested wetland soils with different vegetation densities, i.e., large (LWa) and small communities (LWb) of reed (Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud.). At each plot, three undisturbed PVC cylinders (10 cm in diameter and 50 cm in height) were obtained, and X-ray microtomography (μCT) scanning was used to determine the root and macropore architectures. Results showed that the values of total root length and total root volume at LWa were significantly larger than those at LWb (p < 0.05). Imaged macroporosity, macropore volume, macropore length density, macropore node density, macropore branch density, mean macropore surface area, mean macropore diameter, and mean macropore volume at LWa were significantly larger than those at LWb (p < 0.05), whereas mean macropore length, mean macropore branch length, and mean macropore tortuosity at LWb were larger than those at LWa. Total root length and total root volume were positively correlated with soil saturated hydraulic conductivity. Imaged macroporosity, macropore volume, macropore length density, macropore node density, macropore branch density, mean macropore surface area, mean macropore diameter, and mean macropore volume were positively correlated with soil saturated hydraulic conductivity, whereas mean macropore length, mean macropore branch length, and mean macropore tortuosity were negatively correlated with soil saturated hydraulic conductivity. In conclusion, root systems and soil macropore networks constitute a complex synthesis inside soil environments, and together affect soil hydrological responses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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14 pages, 2595 KiB  
Article
Effects of Soil Warming on Soil Microbial Metabolism Limitation in a Quercus acutissima Forest in North Subtropical China
by Jinlong Wang, Meijia Zhou, Haibo Hu, Jie Kuai, Xia Wang and Lei Chu
Forests 2023, 14(1), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/f14010019 - 22 Dec 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1943
Abstract
In order to explore the influence of climate warming on soil microbial metabolism in the ecosystem and reveal the relationship between soil microbial metabolism limitation and environmental factors, in this study, the effects of warming on soil enzyme activities and nutrient availability were [...] Read more.
In order to explore the influence of climate warming on soil microbial metabolism in the ecosystem and reveal the relationship between soil microbial metabolism limitation and environmental factors, in this study, the effects of warming on soil enzyme activities and nutrient availability were investigated by setting underground heating cables at 2 °C and 4 °C soil warming in a typical Quercus acutissima forest in the northern subtropics, and enzyme stoichiometric models were used to evaluate the limits of soil microbial metabolism. The results showed that soil warming significantly increased the activities of β-1,4-glucosidase (BG) and L-leucine aminopeptidase (LAP), and significantly increased the contents of nitrate nitrogen (NO3−-N) and available phosphorus (AP) in soil. The soil warming increased soil microbial C limitation and alleviated soil microbial P limitation. Our study showed that the change of soil microbial C and P limitation caused by warming may cause a large amount of SOM decomposition in a short period, leading to a large fluctuation of soil carbon turnover, which is not conducive to the stability of the soil C pool. This study provides important insights linking microbial metabolism to soil warming and improves our understanding of C cycling in forest systems. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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13 pages, 2363 KiB  
Article
Inter- and Intraspecific Variation Patterns of Leaf Phenotypic Traits in Two Sympatric Pine Species
by Yuan Yang, Meng Hu, Mingyang Fan, Lu Wang, Ting Lv, Huanchao Zhang, Kewang Xu, Yifan Duan and Yanming Fang
Forests 2022, 13(12), 2014; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13122014 - 29 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1371
Abstract
Individual persistence under changing climate conditions can be aided by phenotypic plasticity. Needle morphology reflects pine species’ adaptation to their habitats, and adaptive plasticity is beneficial to pine survival. As two closely related pines, Pinusmassoniana Lamb. and Pinus hwangshanensis W. Y. Hsia [...] Read more.
Individual persistence under changing climate conditions can be aided by phenotypic plasticity. Needle morphology reflects pine species’ adaptation to their habitats, and adaptive plasticity is beneficial to pine survival. As two closely related pines, Pinusmassoniana Lamb. and Pinus hwangshanensis W. Y. Hsia sympatrically occur in the subtropical region of China, forming hilly forests (i.e., subtropical evergreen needleleaf forests) at lower elevations and montane forests (i.e., temperate evergreen needleleaf forests) at medium and high elevations. However, little is known about the intraspecific phenotypic variation patterns of the two pine species and their relationship with environmental factors. Here, we investigated the interspecific and intraspecific variation patterns of needle traits in the two sympatric pine species, focusing on six traits—i.e., leaf length, leaf thickness, leaf width, leaf area, specific leaf area, and leaf dry matter content—as well as the relationship between needle traits and environmental factors. We found significant phenotypic trait differences among populations of each species. Except for leaf length and leaf width, variation within species was greater than variation between species in the needle traits measured. Even more intriguingly, the leaf size traits (i.e., length, width, thickness) were more conservative than the leaf economic traits (i.e., specific leaf area and leaf dry matter content). In other words, the intraspecific variability of the former was weaker than that of the latter. The nature of P. massoniana needle traits was mainly shaped by latitude, while the needle traits of P. hwangshanensis were significantly affected by annual precipitation. Therefore, phenotypic plasticity may be an essential mechanism for the two pine species to better cope with changing external conditions. The intraspecific variation patterns found in the two pine species and the relationships between traits and environmental factors can provide substantial scientific data for large-scale exploration of intraspecific phenotypic variation in pine species and their breeding practice. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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16 pages, 2219 KiB  
Article
Photosynthetic Processes and Light Response Model Fitting of Quercus acutissima Carruth. and Quercus variabilis Bl. in the Changjiang River Delta, China
by Cunxin Ruan, Haibo Hu, Can Cheng, Pei Fang, Xichuan Jia, Zhaoming Wu and Li Zhu
Forests 2022, 13(12), 2010; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13122010 - 28 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1476
Abstract
Plants have the capacity to fix CO2 through photosynthesis. To reveal the photosynthetic processes of Quercus acutissima Carruth. and Quercus variabilis Bl., their net photosynthetic rates were quantified during the early and peak growing seasons. To evaluate forest photosynthetic efficiencies, the [...] Read more.
Plants have the capacity to fix CO2 through photosynthesis. To reveal the photosynthetic processes of Quercus acutissima Carruth. and Quercus variabilis Bl., their net photosynthetic rates were quantified during the early and peak growing seasons. To evaluate forest photosynthetic efficiencies, the photosynthetic light response curves of Q. acutissima and Q. variabilis were fitted by the rectangular hyperbola model (RHM), non-rectangular hyperbola model (NHM), and modified rectangular hyperbola model (Ye model). The results revealed the following: (1) All daily variation curves of the net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductivity, and transpiration rate were single-peaked. The peak times of the Q. acutissima and Q. variabilis’ net photosynthetic rates appeared at 12:00 am during the early growing season and 10:00 am during the peak growing season. (2) The photosynthetic capacities of both Q. acutissima and Q. variabilis during peak growing seasons were higher than during the early growing season. (3) The net photosynthetic rate was found to be positively correlated with stomatal conductivity, the transpiration rate, and photosynthetically active radiation, and it was negatively correlated with the intercellular CO2 concentration. (4) The Ye model provided the best fit for the light response curves of Q. acutissima and Q. variabilis when compared with the rectangular hyperbola and nonrectangular hyperbola models. The photosynthetic performance of Q. acutissima was superior to that of Q. variabilis; thus, it can be employed as a priority tree species in carbon sink forests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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13 pages, 4652 KiB  
Article
Comparative Analysis of Codon Usage Patterns in Chloroplast Genomes of Cherries
by Yan-Feng Song, Qing-Hua Yang, Xian-Gui Yi, Zhao-Qing Zhu, Xian-Rong Wang and Meng Li
Forests 2022, 13(11), 1891; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13111891 - 10 Nov 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1244
Abstract
Synonymous codon usage bias (SCUB) analysis is an effective method to explore species specificity, evolutionary relationships and mRNA translation, as well as to discover novel genes, which are important for understanding gene function and molecular phylogeny. Cherries (Prunus subg. Cerasus) are [...] Read more.
Synonymous codon usage bias (SCUB) analysis is an effective method to explore species specificity, evolutionary relationships and mRNA translation, as well as to discover novel genes, which are important for understanding gene function and molecular phylogeny. Cherries (Prunus subg. Cerasus) are flowering plant germplasm resources for edible and ornamental purposes. In this study, we analyzed the codon usage patterns of the 36 chloroplast genomes to provide a scientific basis for elucidating the evolution of subg. Cerasus. The results showed that the average GC content was 0.377, the average GC3 was 0.298, and the average ENC value was 49.69. Neutral-plot analysis, ENC-plot analysis, and PR2-plot analysis all indicated that natural selection was the main factor of codon usage bias in subg. Cerasus, whereas correlation analysis showed that gene expression level and GC1 also affect the codon usage pattern. The codon usage pattern was consistent across 36 species, and 30 high-frequency codons were identified, with preference for A/T endings; there were 23 optimal codons, and only GAU was identified in all individuals; structural differences existed between the clustering tree based on RSCU values and the phylogenetic tree based on CDS, elucidating the importance of locus mutations and no-preference codons in phylogenetic reconstruction. This study describes for the first time the SCUB pattern and characterization of subg. Cerasus chloroplast genomes and provides a new insight to explore the phylogeny of this subgenus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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9 pages, 1776 KiB  
Article
Tempo and Mode of Floristic Exchanges between Hainan Island and Mainland Asia: A Case Study of the Persea Group (Lauraceae)
by Xuejie Huo, Zhi Yang, Yinfeng Xie and Yong Yang
Forests 2022, 13(10), 1722; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13101722 - 19 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1370
Abstract
The origin of island biodiversity has been a topic of interest in biogeography. Two main hypotheses were suggested to explain the floristic origin of Hainan Island: ancient vicariance vs. recent dispersal. The Persea group of Lauraceae was used to examine their origin on [...] Read more.
The origin of island biodiversity has been a topic of interest in biogeography. Two main hypotheses were suggested to explain the floristic origin of Hainan Island: ancient vicariance vs. recent dispersal. The Persea group of Lauraceae was used to examine their origin on Hainan Island. A data matrix including five genera and 49 species was assembled, phylogenetic trees of the Persea group were reconstructed using both maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference methods, and a relaxed molecular clock in BEAST was used to estimate the divergence time of the Persea group. The results showed that the Persea group diverged from its sister clade in the Eocene, and that the endemic and common species of Hainan Island and mainland Asia originated relatively late during the Miocene–Pleistocene. Species of the Persea group on Hainan may have arrived from mainland Asia via dispersal or originated via dispersal–isolation–divergence during the Miocene and Pleistocene. The results favor the dispersal hypothesis for the origin of the flora of Hainan Island and negate the vicariance hypothesis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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14 pages, 3711 KiB  
Article
Variation Characteristics of Soil Organic Carbon Storage and Fractions with Stand Age in North Subtropical Quercus acutissima Carruth. Forest in China
by Wenbin Deng, Xia Wang, Haibo Hu, Mengdie Zhu, Jianyu Chen, Shuai Zhang, Can Cheng, Ziyi Zhu, Chaoming Wu and Li Zhu
Forests 2022, 13(10), 1649; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13101649 - 08 Oct 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1504
Abstract
Soil labile organic carbon sensitively reflects subtle changes in the soil carbon pool and is an important aspect of forest soil carbon pool research. However, little is known regarding soil labile organic carbon storage and its dynamic changes during the development of Quercus [...] Read more.
Soil labile organic carbon sensitively reflects subtle changes in the soil carbon pool and is an important aspect of forest soil carbon pool research. However, little is known regarding soil labile organic carbon storage and its dynamic changes during the development of Quercus acutissima Carruth. forests. Consequently, we investigated the dynamic changes in soil organic carbon and its labile organic carbon fraction stocks at soil depths of 0–10 cm, 10–20 cm, and 20–40 cm along a 17-year-old, 26-year-old, and 65-year-old chronosequence in Quercus acutissima forests. We found that stand age significantly impacted particulate organic carbon (POC), light fraction organic carbon (LFOC), and soil organic carbon (SOC). The POC, LFOC, and SOC contents at different soil depths exhibited an increasing trend with stand age, which could be described by simple linear regression. However, there was no noteworthy difference in the soil water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) content between different stand ages. Moreover, the 17-year-old, stand had higher POC, LFOC, and WSOC to SOC ratios. Soil nutrients significantly affected organic carbon and fractions, which revealed that POC, LFOC, WSOC, and SOC were remarkably positively correlated with alkaline hydrolysis nitrogen (AN) and available phosphorus (AP) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, WSOC, POC, LFOC, and SOC were significantly positively correlated with available potassium (AK) (p < 0.05). POC, LFOC, and SOC storage in the 0–40 cm soil layer increased with stand development, while WSOC storage decreased at 65a. In addition, LFOC stocks accounted for the highest proportion of organic carbon stocks. Our results indicated that the development of Quercus acutissima forests was a process of carbon sink; however, the soil organic carbon activity was high, and the soil structure was unstable during the early development stage. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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12 pages, 2349 KiB  
Article
Nitric Acid Rain Increased Bacterial Community Diversity in North Subtropical Forest Soil
by Meijia Zhou, Haibo Hu, Jinlong Wang, Ziyi Zhu and Yuanyuan Feng
Forests 2022, 13(9), 1349; https://doi.org/10.3390/f13091349 - 25 Aug 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1880
Abstract
Nitric acid rain (NAR) seriously affects the biogeochemical cycles of forest communities’ ecosystems. However, the effects of NAR on the composition and diversity of the soil bacterial community remain unclear. In this study, a typical subtropical forest of Quercus acutissima was selected and [...] Read more.
Nitric acid rain (NAR) seriously affects the biogeochemical cycles of forest communities’ ecosystems. However, the effects of NAR on the composition and diversity of the soil bacterial community remain unclear. In this study, a typical subtropical forest of Quercus acutissima was selected and simulated spraying of NAR at pH 2.5 (AR2.5), 3.5 (AR3.5), and 4.5 (AR4.5) was implemented to investigate the response of the forest soil bacterial communities to NAR. The results showed that the total number of OTUs of soil bacteria in AR2.5 and AR3.5 treatments was 1.11 and 1.23 times that in the control treatment without NAR (CK), respectively. Acidobacteria, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria were the dominant phyla in the subtropical forest, accounting for more than 80% of the community’s relative abundance. Concurrently, simulated NAR changed the relative abundance of Rhodanobacter significantly, which could be an indicator of soil bacterial community structure under NAR stress. Moreover, the Chao1, Shannon, and Simpson indices of strong acid rain treatments (i.e., AR2.5 and AR3.5) increased by 9.55%–22.5%, 3.6%–7.43%, and 0.15%–0.26%, respectively, compared to CK. Redundancy and correlation analysis illustrated that the phylum level structure of the bacterial community was significantly affected by soil total carbon, total nitrogen, and ammonium nitrogen. Our findings contribute to a better understanding of the effects of NAR on soil microbial communities and potential soil element cycling in north subtropical forests. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Science Research: Celebrating Nanjing Forestry University’s 120th Anniversary)
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