The intensive monitoring plots (Level II) of ICP Forests serve to examine the effects of air pollution and other stress factors on forest condition, including tree vitality. However, tree vitality cannot be measured directly. Indicators, such as tree growth or crown transparency, may instead be used.

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Tree growth as indicator of tree vitality and of tree reaction to environmental stress: a review

Air pollution in cities

Linking heavy metal bioavailability (Cd, Cu, Zn and Pb) in Scots pine needles to soil properties in reclaimed mine areas.

Class III secretable plant peroxidases occur as a large family of genes in plants with many functions and probable redundancy. In this review we are concentrating on the evidence we have on the catalysis of lignin polymerization by class III plant peroxidases present in the apoplastic space in the xylem of trees. Some evidence exists on the specificity of peroxidase isozymes in lignin polymerization through substrate specificity studies, from antisense mutants in tobacco and poplar and from tissue and cell culture lines of Norway spruce (Picea abies) and Zinnia elegans. In addition, real time (RT-)PCR results have pointed out that many peroxidases have tissue specific expression patterns in Norway spruce. Through combining information on catalytic properties of the enzymes, on the expression patterns of the corresponding genes, and on the presence of monolignols and hydrogen peroxide in the apoplastic space, we can show that specific peroxidases catalyze lignin polymerization in the apoplastic space of Norway spruce xylem.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1744-7909.2010.00928.x

Cell wall lignin is polymerised by class III secretable plant peroxidases in Norway spruce.

Is drought the main decline factor at the rear edge of Europe? The case of southern Iberian pine plantations

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growth and condition in a polluted environment: from decline to recovery.

Investigation of Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.)annual radial increment (width of annual tree rings) was carriedout in the surroundings of one of the largest pollution sources inLithuania – Jonava Nitrogen Fertilizers Plant. The main objectiveof investigation was to analyse different sides of anthropogenictransformations of tree-ring series in the polluted environment:changes in tree growth intensity; variance changes in tree-ringseries; changes in the relations with natural external factors.Three different periods of tree reaction to the environmentalpollution were singled out – fertilization period, depressionperiod and recovery period since annual emissions were essentiallyreduced. The variance of tree-ring series has increased severaltimes in the polluted environment. Reaction of trees to the impactof climatic factors (temperature, precipitation) has changedsignificantly in the polluted environment and their sensitivity hasalso increased.

Tree-ring analysis for the assessment of anthropogenic changes and trends.

Dendrochronological research of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) radial growth in vicinity of industrial pollution

Investigation of Scots pine annual radial increment was carried out in the surroundings of one of the largest pollution sources in Lithuania – the cement plant “Akmenes cementas”. The main objective of the investigation was to analyse possible impact of climatic and anthropogenic factors on the radial growth of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) stands growing in the local impact zone of the plant. Investigation has shown that in peat‐bog sites active vegetation period temperature higher than the long‐term average influences the formation of radial increment positively (r = 0.22–0.34; p < 0.05), and July precipitation higher than the long‐term average causes the reduction of radial increment (r = ‐0.25; p < 0.05) of the investigated pines. Analysis of the relation between pine radial increment and plant emissions has shown that the strongest correlations are in the closest vicinity of the plant (r = ‐0.63; p < 0.05). Weaker, but statistically significant relations were found between radial incremen...

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) radial growth dynamics in forest stands in the vicinity of “Akmenes cementas” plant

This article reviews the dynamics of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) health condition in different Kaunas city districts in 1994-2003. Health condition of Scots pine trees was estimated according to morphological indicatorial parameters: tree crown defoliation, foliage discolouration, amount of dead branches, needle retention, fruiting, state of tops and visual damages. It was found, that health condition of pine trees was worsening reliably in 1994-1998, except Kleboniðkis2 and Lampedþiai sample plots, and in 2001-2003 – except Raudondvaris-2 sample plot. The mean crown defoliation of all sample stands in 1994 was 29.0±1.9 %, in 1995 – 28.8±2.1 %, in 1996 – 30.4±2.2 %, in 1997 – 32.1±1.9 %, in 1998 – 33.5±2.0 %, in 2001 – 25.9±3.6 %, in 2002 – 29.2±3.2 %, in 2003 – 34.3±2.5 %. According to tree crown defoliation the best health condition of Scots pine forests was estimated in Botanikos sodas sample plot, small defoliation was found in Kleboniðkis-2 and Eiguliai sample plots. The worst state of Scots pine was defined in Raudondvaris-2 sample plot, also great defoliation was defined in Kleboniðkis-1, Palemonas-1, Palemonas-2, Panemune-1, Petraðiunai-1, Petraðiunai-2 and Vieiunai sample plots. The greatest Scots pine crown defoliation (34.3±2.5 %) in Kaunas city districts during our research period (1994-2003) was found in 2003.

Vida Stravinskiene

Papers

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) growth and condition in a polluted environment: from decline to recovery.

Tree-ring analysis for the assessment of anthropogenic changes and trends.

Dendrochronological research of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) radial growth in vicinity of industrial pollution

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) radial growth dynamics in forest stands in the vicinity of “Akmenes cementas” plant

Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) Health Condition in Kaunas City Forests