The effect of yellow mistletoe (Loranthus europaeus Jacq.) on the branch radial growth and xylem vascular structure of Persian oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.)

Result code in IS VaVaI

<a href="https://www.isvavai.cz/riv?ss=detail&h=RIV%2F62156489%3A43410%2F25%3A43927351" target="_blank" >RIV/62156489:43410/25:43927351 - isvavai.cz</a>

Result on the web

<a href="https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-025-01801-5" target="_blank" >https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-025-01801-5</a>

DOI - Digital Object Identifier

<a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10342-025-01801-5" target="_blank" >10.1007/s10342-025-01801-5</a>

Result language

angličtina

Original language name

The effect of yellow mistletoe (Loranthus europaeus Jacq.) on the branch radial growth and xylem vascular structure of Persian oak (Quercus brantii Lindl.)

Original language description

Loranthus europaeus is a hemiparasitic plant that grows on oaks, receiving water and nutrients from the sap of the host trees. Over the past decade, this mistletoe, once found in isolated pockets within the Zagros forests, has increasingly threatened the region&apos;s oak tree populations. This research compares the radial growth and xylem vascular structure of branches from mistletoe-infested and healthy oak trees to elucidate the impact of parasitism on tree growth from 2002 to 2021. For infested trees, the period from 2002 to 2010 was characterized as a transitional period between normal and infested growth, and was used to identify xylem traits that predispose oak trees to mistletoe attack. This analysis revealed that vessel density (VD) is a more reliable indicator of oak susceptibility than ring width (RW) measurements, as later infested trees had higher VD than healthy trees. Since 2011, mistletoe-infested trees have exhibited reduced RW and vessel lumen area but an increased percentage of vessel lumen area in the xylem and VD compared to healthy trees. During the last 11 years, the RW and VD of infested trees were reduced by 29.6% and increased by 6.7%, respectively, while the corresponding values in healthy trees showed a 6.6% increase in RW and a 4% decrease in VD. It should be noted that the last decade was characterized by a series of drought periods, which exacerbated the negative effects of the mistletoe. This study highlights the fact that L. europaeus is a significant threat to oak stands in the Zagros forests. Nevertheless, this stress is not given as much attention as other biotic stressors in forest management, mainly due to the gradual reduction of the trees&apos; vitality. Thus, further studies are needed to develop a successful forest management plan to control this important ecologically impactful hemiparasitic plant.

Czech name

—

Czech description

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Type

J_imp - Article in a specialist periodical, which is included in the Web of Science database

CEP classification

—

OECD FORD branch

40102 - Forestry

Project

<a href="/en/project/GF25-14626L" target="_blank" >GF25-14626L: Are mistletoes more than a leaky faucet in a drying world? The hydrological and biogeochemical impacts of mistletoes on trees and their environment</a><br>

Continuities

P - Projekt vyzkumu a vyvoje financovany z verejnych zdroju (s odkazem do CEP)

Publication year

2025

Confidentiality

S - Úplné a pravdivé údaje o projektu nepodléhají ochraně podle zvláštních právních předpisů

Name of the periodical

European Journal of Forest Research

ISSN

1612-4669

e-ISSN

1612-4677

Volume of the periodical

144

Issue of the periodical within the volume

5

Country of publishing house

US - UNITED STATES

Number of pages

13

Pages from-to

1171-1183

UT code for WoS article

001534303000001

EID of the result in the Scopus database

2-s2.0-105011365147