Tree age did not affect the leaf anatomical structure or ultrastructure of Platycladus orientalis L. (Cupressaceae).

Tree aging is a new research area and has attracted research interest in recent years. Trees show extraordinary longevity; Platycladus orientalis L. (Cupressaceae) has a lifespan of thousands of years. Ancient trees are precious historical heritage and scientific research materials. However, tree aging and tree senescence have different definitions and are poorly understood. Since leaves are the most sensitive organ of a tree, we studied the structural response of leaves to tree age. Experiments investigating the leaf morphological structure, anatomical structure and ultrastructure were conducted in healthy P. orientalis at three different ages (ancient trees >2,000 years, 200 years < middle-aged trees <500 years, young trees <50 years) at the world's largest planted pure forest in the Mausoleum of the Yellow Emperor, Shaanxi Province, China. Interestingly, tree age did not significantly impact leaf cellular structure. Ancient P. orientalis trees in forests older than 2,000 years still have very strong vitality, and their leaves still maintained a perfect anatomical structure and ultrastructure. Our observations provide new evidence for the unique pattern of tree aging, especially healthy aging. Understanding the relationships between leaf structure and tree age will enhance the understanding of tree aging.

Leaf anatomy and ultrastructure in senescing ancient tree, Platycladus orientalis L. (Cupressaceae).

Platycladus orientalis L. (Cupressaceae) has a lifespan of thousands of years. Ancient trees have very high scientific, economic and cultural values. The senescence of ancient trees is a new research area but is poorly understood. Leaves are the primary and the most sensitive organ of a tree. To understand leaf structural response to tree senescence in ancient trees, experiments investigating the morphology, anatomy and ultrastructure were conducted with one-year leaves of ancient P. orientalis (ancient tree >2,000 years) at three different tree senescent levels (healthy, sub-healthy and senescent) at the world's largest planted pure forest in the Mausoleum of Yellow Emperor, Shaanxi Province, China. Observations showed that leaf structure significantly changed with the senescence of trees. The chloroplast, mitochondria, vacuole and cell wall of mesophyll cells were the most significant markers of cellular ultrastructure during tree senescence. Leaf ultrastructure clearly reflected the senescence degree of ancient trees, confirming the visual evaluation from above-ground parts of trees. Understanding the relationships between leaf structure and tree senescence can support decision makers in planning the protection of ancient trees more promptly and effectively by adopting the timely rejuvenation techniques before the whole tree irreversibly recesses.

Enhanced catalytic capability of electroactive biofilm modified with different kinds of carbon nanotubes.

In this study two methods including coating carbon nanotubes (CNTs) layers on the electrode surface and adding CNTs-suspension during electrochemically active biofilms (EABs) growth were used, respectively, to develop CNTs hybrid EABs for enhancing electricity generation capability of EABs. EABs growth on the CNTs with functional groups of hydroxyl (CNTs-OH) or carboxyl (CNTs-COOH) and pristine CNTs without functionalization (P-CNTs) modified electrode was investigated. The maximum current densities of EABs growth on the P-CNTs, CNTs-OH and CNTs-COOH coated electrode were respective 1300 ±â€¯117, 1082 ±â€¯54 and 1124 ±â€¯78 µA cm-2, which were much higher than unmodified electrode (663 µA cm-2). Meanwhile, EABs growth in doping CNTs-COOH or CNTs-OH suspensions system also produced twice higher current density than that on unmodified electrode. These results indicated that the current production of EABs can be significantly enhanced by coating P-CNTs, CNTs-OH, CNTs-COOH layers on the electrode surface or doping CNTs-OH and CNTs-COOH suspension into EABs. Furthermore, morphology analysis of as-obtained EABs had also been studied. It was found that there was no significant difference of the morphological characteristic for EABs growth on different types CNTs coated electrode surface. By comparison, a nano-hybrid porous structure of CNTs and EABs was observed when CNTs-COOH or CNTs-OH suspension was added into the medium during EABs growth, which will be responsible for high current generation.