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Fungal community taxa differ in diversity and number between live and dead Prunus serotina Ehrh. wood in a protected forest within its secondary range of distribution
Prunus serotina is an important invasive plant species in Poland. It was introduced to European forests, even in places currently protected by law, such as national parks. One major factor contributing to the spread of this species is the lack of infecting pathogens and incomplete knowledge about the relationship between the plant and microorganisms. This study aimed to identify fungal communities collected from freshly cut stumps of live and dead black cherry tree specimens growing in a protected forest. The main working hypotheses were as follows: (i) fungal communities inhabiting the wood of dead and living trees will differ in diversity and the number of taxa; and (ii) saprotrophic fungi will dominate in the wood of dead tree stumps. This study applied Illumina sequencing based on the amplification of the fungal ribosomal ITSI region. The average number of sequences (OTU) obtained from the analysis of dead tree wood was 101,758, while that of living trees was 94,150. These sequences belonged to 312 taxa, among which 254 were isolated from the wood of dead trees and 171 from that of living trees. Among the saprotrophs on dead trees, the following species were identified: Stereum rugosum, Ganoderma adspersum, G. applanatum, Peniophora cinerea, and Ascocoryne cylichnium. On the other hand, in the wood of living trees, Cytospora leucostoma and Botrytis cinerea were the most abundant saprotrophic species. The fungal communities inhabiting the wood of dead and living trees differed in the diversity and abundance of taxa, thus confirming our hypothesis. The results of our research conducted in a protected area indicate that black cherry wood can be naturally colonized by many pathogen species that can further limit its expansion.
The effect of commercial thinning in Scots pine stands on the growth of black cherry
Abstract Black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) is one of the most abundant invasive species found in Polish forests. The mass occurrence of this species in pine stands is one of the main problems of silviculture. Therefore, the paper addresses the problem of the effect of commercial thinning, which increases the access of light to the lower layers of the stand, on the annual growth of rings and the development of black cherry. The study attempted to determine the strength of the progression of the black cherry threat as expressed by increased diameter increment. It was assumed that the thickness increment of mature black cherry individuals after thinning would be significantly greater compared to the average thickness increment before thinning. Over time after the treatment, the average growth of sprouts of black cherry will decrease. Six pine stands differing in age and timing of the silvicultural treatment in the Golub–Dobrzyn Forest District (N 57°81′42″ E 50°20′19″) were analysed. A positive effect of commercial thinning on the thickness increment of black cherry was found in all the studied plots. Over time, the average increment of black cherries resulting from the clearance decreased. Conducting late thinning, in pine stands where black cherry occurs, results in an increased threat of its expansion. To limit the development of black cherry at this stage of pine stand management, two solutions are possible. The first is to abandon late thinning or reduce the intensity of the treatment, which will inhibit its rapid expansion. The second scenario is to limit the occurrence of black cherry a few years before thinning, perform thinning and introduce understorey or underplanting from native competitive tree species.
Frequency of ectomycorrhiza in black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) and common cherry (Prunus padus L.) growing in the immediate vicinity
Although alien tree species have been studied for many years, it is still unclear why some of them become invasive. The establishment of mycorrhizae is considered a factor influencing invasion success. This study aimed to compare the frequency of mycorrhizae in the roots of the foreign and invasive black cherry and the native common cherry, which are related. The frequency of ectomycorrhizae was assumed to be higher in common cherry (<i>Prunus padus</i>) than in black cherry (<i>Prunus serotina</i>). Thirty 2–3-year-old trees (15 <i>P. serotina</i> and 15 <i>P. padus</i>) were collected from stands where they grew next to each other. Samples were collected in June 2022 from the Forest Experimental Station of Siemianice, Złotówek, and Mrowino. The presence of mycorrhizal fungi was assessed. Morphotypes of ectomycorrhizae were determined with a stereoscopic microscope. The average mycorrhizal frequency was calculated. The roots were scanned and determined with the WinRhizo image analysis system. The length, surface area, diameter, volume, and number of root tips were determined. Statistical analysis of the obtained results was performed with Statistica v.13. The laboratory analyses indicated the dominance of morphotype 3 in all the examined roots of common cherry and black cherry. The highest proportion of type 3 mycorrhizae was found in common cherry at each location. This study showed that black cherry can form ectomycorrhizal associations, which probably positively influenced the success of its invasion.
The use of attractants in reducing the occurrence of the Prunus serotina (Ehrh.)
Abstract Black cherry, which occurs in European forests, contributes to their distortion or degradation of native ecosystems. Therefore, measures are taken to reduce its occurrence. One of them is the biological method involving grazing animals. The aim of this research was to develop and identify an attractant that would increase the attractiveness of black cherry as a feeding base for deer, which would limit its occurrence. This research was carried out in Zielonka (17.10941 E 52.553975 N). In the experiment, 3-year-olds were used: Tilia cordata, Acer pseudoplatanus, A. platanoides, Fagus sylvatica and Prunus serotina. Before planting the seedlings, their height was measured. The control (K, 10 trees) consisted of trees of each species that were not sprayed with attractants. Another set of 10 trees were treated over the entire surface of the shoots with a bait mixture (MW), and the next 10 trees were sprayed with a 10% aqueous solution of NaCl. The attractant spraying was repeated six times. All damage observed was recorded. The inventoried tree damage was divided into four categories: 0%, no damage; I, 1–20% damaged trees; II, 21–50% damaged trees and III, more than 50% damaged trees. The results of the Mann–Whitney U test (p = 0.0109), at the assumed level of significance (α = 0.05), showed that slightly higher seedlings were browsed. These studies indicate the potential of using attractants as preparations influencing the palatability of the black cherry for deer. All recorded bites were classified as degree I damage. The trees were gnawed by fallow deer, 35.33% of trees were not damaged by game at all, and 64.66% of trees were damaged in degree I. In the case of sycamore maple, Norway maple and linden, the bait mixture did not increase the number of nibbled buds and leaves, while NaCl increased the attractiveness of beech and black cherry as a feeding base. Conducting further research studies on the improvement of preparations may give a chance to reduce the use of chemicals in forest protection and give the possibility of using attractants where it is impossible to use herbicides.