DOI: 10.5061/dryad.6t1g1jx9h
title: Pests and diseases affect the early natural regeneration of the oak (Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata) population

description: Insects and pathogens interact with plant species, influencing the natural
 regeneration of plant populations. However, the mechanisms by which they
 mediate the early regeneration process remain unclear. Herein, we
 evaluated the pest and disease status of 380 Quercus aliena var.
 acuteserrata seedlings and its effects on their photosynthetic and
 physiological properties in the Qinling Mountains, China. Results
 indicated that 243 seedlings were affected by pests and diseases, mainly
 in the 0−20 cm height range, and the affected leaf area was mainly in the
 range of 0−60%. Biology and soil factors were the primary drivers of these
 conditions, with canopy density being a largely influencing factor.
 Disease significantly decreased the chlorophyll content (Chl),
 net-photosynthesis (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), intercellular CO2
 concentration (Ci), and transpiration rate (Tr) in seedlings but increased
 malondialdehyde (MDA) and soluble sugar content. The light-response curve
 varied among pests, diseases, and healthy seedlings. Pest stress prompted
 the seedlings to maintain high levels of photosynthesis unlike the effects
 seen with diseases. Our findings highlight the impact of biotic factors on
 forest natural regeneration and contribute to enhancing healthy forest
 management and promoting sustainable development.
description: # Pests and diseases affect the early natural regeneration of the oak
 (Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata) population The data were collected
 from Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings in the middle of Qinling
 mountains, China, including the stand soil properties, pests and diseases
 of leaves, physiological and photosynthetic properties among healthy,
 pest-infested, and diseased Q. aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings. Contact
 Dexiang Wang ([wangdx66@sohu.com](mailto:wangdx66@sohu.com)) with any
 questions. This manuscript has been accepted for publication (04 Mar
 2025): Kang, H., Yan, C., Lv, K., Song, Y., Yang, H., Qi, H., Wang, Y. and
 Wang, D. Pests and diseases affect the early natural regeneration of the
 oak (Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata) population. Oikos (accepted). doi:
 10.1111/oik.11126 Data files including 7 sheets: \##Sheet1_forestland
 features This sheet contains data on stand features of Quercus aliena var.
 acuteserrata population. All data were collected by the authors. |
 variables | units | description | | :------------------- | :-----: |
 :------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Plot | number | smaple plot | | Longitude | degrees | Longitude coordinate | | Latitude | degrees | Latitude coordinate | | Altitude | m | altitude of sample plot location | | Slope | degrees | slope of sampling plot | | Stand density | tree/ha | the numbers of trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH, at 1.3 m) of ≥4 cm in the plot | | Average herb height | cm | average height of herbs in the subplot | | Average shrub height | cm | average height of shrubs in the subplot | | Herb cover | % | the percentage of vertical projected area of all herb plants in the subplot | | Shrub cover | % | the percentage of vertical projected area of all shrub plants in the subplot | | Canopy density | | the percentage of vertical projected area of all trees in the plot, the maximum value is 1, the minimum value is 0 | | Basal area | m2/ha | the total basel area of all trees with a diameter at breast height (DBH, at 1.3 m) of ≥4 cm in the plot | \##Sheet2_Soil data This sheet contains data on soil physicochemical properties of each plots. | variables | units | description | | :-------- | :----: | :-------------------------------------------------------------- | | Plot | number | smaple plot | | SOC | g/kg | soil organic carbon concentration of sample plot | | TN | g/kg | soil total nitrogen concentration of sample plot | | TP | g/kg | soil total phosphorus concentration of sample plot | | NH4+ | mg/kg | soil ammonium nitrogen concentration of sample plot | | NO3- | mg/kg | soil nitrate nitrogen concentration of sample plot | | Olsen-P | mg/kg | biologically available phosphorus concentration of sample plot | | SWC | % | soil water content | | pH | | soil acidity or alkalinity | | SBD | g/cm3 | soil bulk density | \##Sheet3_Seedling height class This sheet contains data on height class of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings. | variables | units | description | | :------------- | :------: | :------------------------------------------------------------------------ | | Height class | range/cm | height class of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings | | Seedling count | count | number of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings in the height class | \##Sheet4_Distribution pattern This sheet contains data on distribution pattern of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings. | variables | units | description | | :------------- | :-----: | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Altitude | range/m | altitude range | | Seedling count | count | number of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings in the altitude range | \##Sheet5_Pests and disease rates1 This sheet contains data on the number of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings with different leaf area affected by pests and diseases in different height class. | variables | units | description | | :----------- | :------: | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Height class | range/cm | height class of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings | | 0% | count | number of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings with 0% leaf area affected by pests and diseases | | &lt;30% | count | number of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings with &lt;30% leaf area affected by pests and diseases | | 30-6-% | count | number of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings with 30-60% leaf area affected by pests and diseases | | &gt;60% | count | number of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings with &gt;60% leaf area affected by pests and diseases | \##Sheet6_Pests and disease rates2 This sheet contains data on the number of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings with different leaf area affected by pests and diseases in different altitude range. | variables | units | description | | :-------- | :------: | :-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | Altitude | range/cm | altitude range | | 0% | count | number of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings with 0% leaf area affected by pests and diseases | | &lt;30% | count | number of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings with &lt;30% leaf area affected by pests and diseases | | 30-6-% | count | number of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings with 30-60% leaf area affected by pests and diseases | | &gt;60% | count | number of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings with &gt;60% leaf area affected by pests and diseases | \##Sheet7_Physiological properties This sheet contains data on the seedling photosynthetic and physiological properties of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings. | variables | units | description | | :----------- | :-------: | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | group | category | health status, Health= healthy seedlings, Pests= pest-infested seedlings, Diseases= diseased seedlings | | Chl | µg/g | chlorophyll content of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings | | MDA | µmol/g | malondialdehydez content of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings | | Solube sugar | µmol/g | soluble sugar concentration of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings | | Pn | µmol/m2/s | net-photosynthesis of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings | | Gs | µmol/m2/s | stomatal conductance of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings | | Ci | µmol/m2/s | intercellular carbon dioxide concentration of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings | | Tr | µmol/m2/s | transpiration rate of Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings | \##Sheet8_Light response curve This sheet contains data on the light-response curve of healthy, pest-infested and diseased Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings. | variables | units | description | | :-------- | :-------: | :----------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | PAR | µmol/m2/s | photosynthetically active radiation | | Health | µmol/m2/s | net-photosynthesis of heathy Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings | | Pests | µmol/m2/s | net-photosynthesis of pest-infested Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings | | Diseases | µmol/m2/s | net-photosynthesis of diseased Quercus aliena var. acuteserrata seedlings |