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Category: Popular science article

In “Kórniczanin”, issue no. 11/2026, on page 14, an article entitled “Why Does Pine Need Sugar?” was published as part of the series “News from the Kórnik Gardens”. The author of the text is Dr Roma Żytkowiak from the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences.

The article discusses the role of sugars in the functioning of Scots pine — one of the most important tree species in Polish forests. Carbohydrates produced in the needles during photosynthesis are not only a source of energy for the tree. They are involved in the development of shoots, roots and needles, wood formation, storage of reserves, and the maintenance of tissue vitality.

The importance of sugars becomes particularly evident under environmental stress. In winter, they help protect cells from freezing, while during drought they support the maintenance of water balance. As a result, they influence not only the growth of pine, but also its ability to survive changing seasonal conditions.

The text presents pine as a dynamic organism that constantly manages its resources. Sugar transformations connect photosynthesis with tissue formation, reserve storage, and the tree’s resistance to stress.

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Category: Popular science article

An article titled “Why Does the Same Plant Look Different?” was published in “Kórniczanin”, issue no. 10/2026 of 29 May 2026, on pages 14–15. The article was prepared as part of the series “News from the Kórnik Gardens”.

The authors, João Paulo Rodrigues Martins and Maciej Rajek from the Institute of Dendrology, Polish Academy of Sciences, explain the phenomenon of phenotypic plasticity, i.e. the ability of plants to change their appearance and functioning in response to environmental conditions. The article describes, among other things, why the leaves of the same plant may differ in size, colour, shape, or the presence of cuts and holes. The authors discuss examples of Monstera, Epipremnum, bromeliads, Japanese maple, and houseplants which, after being brought indoors, adapt to new light, humidity, and temperature conditions.

W najnowszym numerze „Kórniczanina” ukazał się artykuł prof. Andrzeja M. Jagodzińskiego z Instytutu Dendrologii PAN pt. „Po węgiel do lasu…”. Tekst został opublikowany w ramach cyklu „Wiadomości z Ogrodów Kórnickich” w „Kórniczaninie”, nr 9/2026 z 8 maja 2026 r., na stronach 6–7.

Autor omawia w nim rolę lasów w łagodzeniu skutków zmiany klimatu oraz ich znaczenie jako jednych z najważniejszych lądowych magazynów węgla. Zwraca uwagę, że ochrona istniejących lasów, troska o glebę leśną, odbudowa zdegradowanych ekosystemów oraz zrównoważona gospodarka leśna są kluczowe dla zwiększania zdolności lasów do pochłaniania i magazynowania dwutlenku węgla.

Artykuł podkreśla jednocześnie, że nawet najlepiej zarządzane lasy nie zastąpią konieczności ograniczania emisji CO₂ w energetyce, przemyśle i transporcie.

April Pinkgill – unexpected relationships beneath the ground

An article from the series “News from the Kórnik Gardens,” authored by Marta Kujawska and Tomasz Leski, was published in Kórniczanin (No. 8/2026, pp. 12–13) .

The text takes the reader from the visible signs of spring renewal to the hidden world of soil—one of the most complex ecosystems on Earth, where microorganisms play a key role in plant life. Special attention is given to pinkgills (Entoloma), a highly diverse group of fungi with varied ecological strategies, ranging from beneficial symbionts to parasitic forms.

The most important finding is the identification of pseudomycorrhiza formed by the April pinkgill (Entoloma aprile) on elm roots in the Kórnik Arboretum. The study revealed that, instead of supporting the tree, the fungus may damage root tissues, triggering plant defense responses and potentially weakening its condition.

This discovery is particularly significant in the context of elms threatened by Dutch elm disease and highlights how complex—and still poorly understood—soil interactions are. The article invites readers to look at spring nature not only above ground, but also beneath their feet.