¹ Department of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Bd. Carol I, No. 20 A, Iasi – Romania
² Romanian Academy, Prof. univ. dr. at Faculty of Biology, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Bd. Carol I, No. 20 A, Iasi – Romania
³ “Anastasie Fatu” Botanical Garden, “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Dumbrava Rosie Street, No. 7-9, Iasi – Romania

¹ P. O. Box 7, Miki-cho post office, Ikenobe 3011-2, Kagawa-ken, 761-0799 – Japan
² Plant Production Department, P.O. Box 2460, College of Food & Agriculture Sciences, King Saud University, Riyadh 11451 – Saudi Arabia
³ Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, Kafr El-Sheikh 33516 – Egypt
⁴ Laboratory of Paper Coating and Converting, Centre for Functional Material, Åbo Akademi University, Porthaninkatu 3, 20500 Turku – Finland
⁵ B. R. Doshi School of Biosciences, Sardar Patel University, Sardar Patel Maidan, Vadtal Rd., P.O. Box 39, Vallabh Vidyanagar, Gujarat, 388120 – India
⁶ Department of Well-being Resources, Sunchon National University, Suncheon, 540-742 – Korea
⁷ Graduate School of Agriculture, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8502 – Japan
⁸ Key Laboratory of South China Agricultural Plant Molecular Analysis and Gene Improvement, South China Botanical Garden, the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510650 – China

Abstract: African violet (Saintpaulia ionantha H. Wendl.) has been domesticated, bred and commercialized. It is the most famous and popular of the Saintpaulia species, its ornamental value arising from its attractive leaves and flowers. African violet plants are easy to propagate by adventitious organ regeneration and are very sensitive to environmental factors including light, temperature, humidity, CO₂ concentration and photoperiod. This review offers a short synthesis on advances made in conventional vegetative propagation by adventitious organ regeneration, select early historical in vitro developmental perspectives, and vegetative and reproductive development of African violet.

Key words: development; Gesneriaceae; thin cell layers; vegetative propagation

¹ Botanical Garden (Institute) of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, 18 Padurii str., 2002, Chisinau – Republic of Moldova

Abstract: The results of the evaluation of the growth and development rates, the seed productivity, the green mass yield, the biochemical composition and the content of amino acids, phosphorous and calcium, the nutritive and energy value of the forage, as well as the biomethane productivity of local ecotypes of the leguminous species maintained in monoculture, in the collection of the Botanical Garden (Institute) of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova (BG ASM): Astragalus ponticus, Coronilla varia, Lotus corniculatus, Medicago falcata, Onobrychis arenaria and Trifolium repens are presented in this article. Control variants – the traditional forage crops: Medicago sativa and Onobrychis viciifolia.
The local ecotypes of the studied leguminous species were characterized by different growth and development rates. Coronilla varia and Lotus corniculatus, in the 2^nd-3^rd years, could be harvested, for the first time, 5 days earlier than Medicago sativa, but Medicago falcata and Onobrychis viciifolia – 18 days later. The green mass yield varied from 0.83 kg/m2 to 4.08 kg/m2. The studied ecotypes reached amounts of 0.60-0.89 nutritive units/kg and metabolizable energy 8.05-9.90 MJ/kg of dry matter, the content of digestible protein, of 106.28-225.09 g/nutritive unit, met the zootechnical standards; seed production: 19.12-83.00 g/m2; the biomethane yield ranged from 692 to 3197 m3/ha.
Higher yield of natural forage, dry matter and biomethane was produced by Onobrychis arenaria and Coronilla varia.


Key words: biochemical composition, biological peculiarities, economic value, perennial leguminous species

STRUCTURE OF SALT GLANDS OF PLUMBAGINACEAE. REDISCOVERING OLD FINDINGS OF THE 19^th CENTURY: ‘METTENIUS’ OR ‘LICOPOLI’ ORGANS?
Marius Nicusor GRIGORE¹, Constantin TOMA¹

¹ “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, Faculty of Biology, Bd. Carol I, 20 A, 700505, Iasi – Romania

Abstract: Salt (chalk) glands of Plumbaginaceae represent interesting structures involved in the excretion of calcium carbonate outside plants’ organs, especially on leaves surfaces. These chalk-glands, nominated by some authors as ‘Licopoli’ or ‘Mettenius’ organs are also very important from taxonomical point of view. Their structure has been a matter of debate for decades and a historical analysis reveals that there are still some inconsistencies regarding the contributions of earlier botanists in discovering and describing chalk-glands. The present work tries to provide a picture of historical progress recorded in the 19^th century related to investigation of these structures, focusing especially on the two important names usually mentioned in relation to them: Mettenius and Licopoli. In this respect, several useful clarifications are made, with emphasis on the role played by the two botanists in the stimulation of research interest for these glands among the generations of botanists to come.

Key words: chalk-glands, Licopoli, Mettenius, Plumbaginaceae, secretion

CLONAL PROPAGATION AND EVALUATION OF PEROXIDASE ACTIVITY DURING IN VITRO RHIZOGENESIS IN MENTHA ARVENSIS L.
Vineet SONI¹, Anju SHARMA², Pyare Lal SWARNKAR³

¹ Mohanlal Sukhadia University, Department of Botany,Udaipur-313001, Rajasthan – India
² Jaipur National University, School of Life Science, Jaipur-302015, Rajasthan – India
³ University of Rajasthan, Department of Botany, Jaipur-302004, Rajasthan – India

Abstract: A rapid and efficient plant propagation system through nodal explants was developed for in vitro propagation of Mentha arvensis. Nodal explants exhibited high frequency shoot proliferation on Murashige and Skoog’s (MS) basal medium supplemented with 0.5 mg l^-1 BAP (6-benzylaminopurine). Microshoots were best rooted on ½ strength MS medium with 0.5 mg l^-1 IBA (indole-3-butyric acid) and 2% (w/v) sucrose. Plantlets with high (= 0.8) Fv/Fm (φ_P0 – maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry) were successfully shifted to natural conditions. The overall survival rate from in vitro growth to field transfer was 74%. The developed micropropagation protocol can be successfully used for large-scale multiplication and genetic modification of this high value medicinal plant species. In addition, the results of this study also indicate the key role of Gpx (guaiacol-peroxidase) as a marker of in vitro rhizogenesis in M. arvensis.

Key words: Fv/Fm, guaiacol-peroxidase, in vitro rhizogenesis, Mentha arvensis, Micropropagation

PHENOLIC CONTENT OF ARTEMISIA ANNUA L. FROM NATURAL HABITATS IN REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA
Camelia Paula STEFANACHE¹, Oana-Crina BUJOR¹, Radu NECULA^1,2, Doina DANILA¹, Nina CIOCÂRLAN³, Veaceslav GHENDOV³, Christoph CARLEN⁴, Xavier SIMONNET⁵

¹ National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences Bucharest / “Stejarul” Biological Research Centre, Alexandru cel Bun, 6, 610004, Piatra Neamt – Romania
² “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Faculty of Chemistry, Bd. Carol I 20A, 700505, Iasi – Romania
³ Botanical Garden (Institute) of ASM, Padurii no. 18, MD-2002, Chisinau – Republic of Moldova
⁴ Agroscope, Institute for Plant Production Sciences, 1964, Conthey – Switzerland
⁵ Mediplant, Swiss Research Centre in Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, 1964, Conthey – Switzerland

Abstract: The aim of our study was to assess the phenolic compounds content and profile of A. annua samples harvested from natural habitats in R. Moldova. The samples, consisting in leaves, were harvested in August 2014 (before flowering) from different growing sites in north, centre and south regions. Phenolic extracts were obtained by methanol extraction of the residual plant material resulted from artemisinin separation. The phenolic compounds were identified and quantified by TLC and HPLC-DAD analyses, respectively. In all samples, four phenolic acids (caffeic, p-coumaric and chlorogenic acids, cynarin) and two flavonoids (isoquercitrin and luteolin-7-glucoside) were identified and quantified, cynarin being the major compound. The variations in phenolic composition between samples harvested from the same growing site and also for the samples from different growing areas (south, centre, north), were mostly quantitative. Similar phenolic profiles were obtained for all samples, regardless of the growing site. Phenolic acids were the dominant components in the phenolic extracts.

Key words: A. annua leaves, flavonoids, phenolic acids, HPLC, TLC

¹ “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University, Faculty of Biology, Bd. Carol I, 20A, 700505, Iasi – Romania
² Institute of Plant Molecular and Cellular Biology (IBMCP, UPV-CSIC), Universitat Politècnica de València, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, València – Spain
³ Mediterranean Agroforestal Institute (IAM, UPV), Universitat Politècnica de València, Spain, Camino de Vera s/n, 46022, València – Spain

Abstract: Enzymatic activity and soluble protein content in relation to salt stress tolerance were investigated in Calendula officinalis seedlings after 24 days of treatment with different salt treatments, including NaCl, CaCl₂, MgCl₂ and mixtures of them. The marigold seedlings were used in order to investigate the possible salt-inducible responses and the possible alleviative role of calcium and magnesium salts in respect with adverse salinity conditions. Activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD; EC 1.15.1.1) and peroxidase (POD; EC 1.11.1.7) generally slightly decreased under salt treatments, with minor variations from the value recorded for control series and within applied treatments. Catalase (CAT; EC 1.11.1.6) activity was stimulated by NaCl salinity and MgCl₂ addition; its activity was found to be lowest under calcium and magnesium chloride treatments solely.

Key words: antioxidant system, calcium, flavonoids, magnesium, salinity, seedlings

¹ “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Iasi, Faculty of Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii Street, 700115, Iasi – Romania

Abstract: The aim of our study was to evaluate the chemical and microbiological composition of seven commercial samples of Tiliae flos cum bracteis. Sample S2 presents the maximum level of microbiological contamination with 1.2x10⁴ colony forming units (CFU) aerobic germs/g, 9.6x10³ CFU fungi/g, and 360 CFU Salmonella sp./g. For all samples the number of colony forming units for each type of microorganisms was under the limits of European Pharmacopoeia, 8^th edition. The amount of flavonoids ranges between 489±1.25 mg/100 g (S2) and 647±1.32 mg/100 g (S4). For polyphenols the quantities range between 663±2.12 mg/100 g (S2) and 1,169±2.76 mg/100 g (S3). The maximum levels of metals determined in mineralised extracts were: 10.35±0.22 mg Mn/100 g (S5), 22.66±0.23 mg Zn/100 g (S3), 1.36±0.12 mg Cu/100 g (S4), 9.92±0.12 mg Fe/100 g (S2), and 9.15±0.12 mg Pb/100 g (S3).

Key words: flavonoids, metals, microorganisms, polyphenols, Tiliae flos cum bracteis

¹ “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Faculty of Pharmacy, 16 Universitatii, 700115, Iasi – Romania
² “Grigore T. Popa” University of Medicine and Pharmacy Iasi, Faculty of Medicine, 16 Universitatii, 700115, Iasi – Romania

Abstract: The study evaluated the antioxidant, antihyperglycemic and antimicrobial effects of both ethanolic and hydromethanolic extracts of the fruiting bodies of wild edible mushrooms Boletus edulis (penny bun) and Cantharellus cibarius (golden chanterelle) sampled in Poiana Stampei (Suceava county, Romania). The total phenolic contents of extracts were also determined. Boletus edulis hydromethanolic extract showed the highest total phenolic content (72.78±0.29 mg/g). This extract was also the most active as scavenger of DPPH and ABTS radicals (EC₅₀=151.44±0.85 and 65.4±0.4 µg/mL, respectively) and reducing agent (EC₅₀=46.77±0.34 µg/mL). Cantharellus cibarius ethanolic extract showed high ferrous ion chelating (EC₅₀=82.9±0.6 µg/mL), 15-lipoxygenase (EC50=236.7±1.5 µg/mL) and a-glucosidase (EC₅₀=9.77±0.06 µg/mL) inhibitory activities. For both mushrooms, the ethanolic extracts were more active against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 25923 than the hydromethanolic ones. The antioxidant and antihyperglycemic effects revealed in this study support further investigations for a possible valorization of both mushrooms in the dietary supplement and pharmaceutical industries.

Key words: Boletus edulis, Cantharellus cibarius, ferrous ion chelation, free radical scavenging, α-glucosidase, 15-lipoxygenase, reducing power

¹ University of Bucharest, Biology Faculty, 1-3 Portocalelor Alley, sector 6, 060101 Bucharest 35 – Romania
² National Research & Development Institute for Chemistry and Biochemistry (ICECHIM) Bucharest, 202 Splaiul Independentei, sector 6, P.O. Box 174, 060021 Bucharest 35 – Romania
³ National Research & Development Institute for Biological Sciences (INCDSB) Bucharest, 296 Splaiul Indenpendentei, sector 6, P. O. Box 17-16, 060031 Bucharest 35 – Romania
⁴ S.C. HOFIGAL Export-Import S.A., 2 Intrarea Serelor, sector 4, P.O. Box 8, 042124 Bucharest 8 – Romania
⁵ University of Agronomical Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Bucharest, 59 Marasti Bd., sector 1, 011464 Bucharest 32 – Romania

Abstract: It has been performed a complex investigation – morpho-anatomical, physiological, taxonomical and phytochemical one – of Passiflora nutraceutical plants from Hofigal S.A., in the frame of project PN-II-PCCA-2013-4-0995, contract 160 (MAIA)/2014. Anatomic analysis of leaf lamina, petiole and stem, provided data with taxonomical importance, leading to the conclusion that plant material belongs to Passiflora caerulea L., in concordance with world monographers of Passiflora genus: VANDERPLANK (2000) and ULMAN & MacDOUGAL (2004). Physiological investigation referred to the following parameters: coefficient k, leaf area index (LAI), chlorophyll fluorescence, stomatal conductance and yield of green plant biomass. Phytochemical investigation consisted in analyzing active principles (polyphenols, flavonoids) content, in correlation with their antioxidant activity and determination of cytotoxicity of Passiflora extracts in NCTC cell line. At 10-150 µg/ml concentrations, it was recorded a normal cell morphology. At concentrations over 250 µg/ml, the plant extract become cytotoxic, altering the cell membrane structure, cells viability and proliferation.

Key words: Passiflora plants, leaf (lamina, petiole) and stem structure, taxonomical considerations, physiological parameters, phytochemical aspects, cell viability, Romania

MORPHOLOGICAL AND MICROMORPHOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS REGARDING THE LEAVES OF SEVERAL ROSA L. SPECIES
Lidia ADUMITRESEI¹, Irina GOSTIN²

¹ “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, “Anastasie Fatu” Botanic Garden, 7-9, Dumbrava Rosie St., Iasi –Romania
² “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Faculty of Biology, 1A, Bd. Carol I, Iasi – Romania

Abstract: Multicellular secretory glands are present on Rosa L. species, at least on the stipellae edge; some of them have a larger number and different particularities. The researches have been made on leaves of the following species: Rosa agrestis, R. x damascena, R. multibracteata, R. pimpinellifolia and R. rubiginosa. Micromorphological studies emphasized a large number of cells which forming both terminal secretory part and foot, even though their dimensions are small. These researches highlight the micromorphological aspect of these glands, tector hairs and epicuticular wax. All of them were examined through scanning electron microscopy method.

Key words: epicuticular wax, micromorphology, Rosa, secretory glands, tector hairs

¹ Botanical Garden (Institute) of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, str. Padurilor 18, Chisinau MD2008, Moldova

Abstract: The article contains original data, accumulated over several years, about mushrooms from the forests of downy oak, inventoried during the growing seasons in 1976-2015. The paper includes a systematic list of all the species inventoried to date, with short eco-chorological descriptions. The rare and protected species are also listed.

Key words: chorology, downy oak forests, macromycetes

¹ University “Alexandru Ioan Cuza”, Botanic Garden “Anastasie Fatu”, 7-9, Dumbrava Rosie St., Iasi – Romania
² University “Alexandru Ioan Cuza”, Faculty of Biology Iasi, 1A, Bd. Carol I, Iasi – Romania

Abstract: Astragalus pseudopurpureus was described as a new species for science by the botanist Mihail Gusuleac, from Bicaz and Sugau Gorges. It is a very rare and endangered plant species in Romania, being endemic for Eastern Carpathians (it is a Dacian floristic element).
From phytosociological point of view, this species has been previously attributed, by various authors, to class Elyno-Seslerietea or to alliance Seslerion bielzii.
It is made a proposal of a new syntaxon in this paper, namely: subassociation astragaletosum pseudopurpurei subass. nova, subordinate to the association Thymetum comosi Pop et Hodisan 1963. This new subassociation is described from Sugau Gorges (Neamt county, Romania). This new syntaxon is framed, as follow:
Class Thlaspietea rotundifolii Br.-Bl. 1926
Order Thlaspietalia rotundifolii Br.-Bl. 1926
  Alliance Achnatherion calamagrostis Br.-Bl. 1918
     Asociation Thymetum comosi Pop et Hodisan 1963
         – subassociation astragaletosum pseudopurpurei subass. nova
The differential species for this subassociation, Astragalus pseudopurpureus, together with all the other species, edify phytocoenoses with soil coverages between 30% and 50%, having a stabilizing role of limestone screes.

Key words: Astragalus pseudopurpureus, Eastern Carpathians, endemic, new syntaxon, Sugau Gorges, Romania

¹ Botanical Garden (I) of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova, Chisinau – Republic of Moldova

Abstract: The article contains information on the phytosociological study of the population of Paeonia peregrina Mill. in the Central Moldavian Plateau, in the Republic of Moldova. Three releveés (plots), with a total area of 3 ha, are described. These phytocoenoses are proposed to be grouped in the association Paeonio peregrinae -– Quercetum pubescentis (Sârbu 1982) Popescu et Sanda 1999.

Key words: Paeonia peregrina, phytosociological study, Republic of Moldova

¹ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Târgu-Mures, Faculty of Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical Botany, 38 Gh. Marinescu Street, RO-540139 Târgu Mures – Romania
² Mures County Museum, Department of Natural Sciences, 24 Horea Street, RO-540036 Târgu Mures – Romania

Abstract: Researches on medicinal plants used in various human disorders are particularly important and timely, as an alternative to medication. The studied semi-natural mountainous grasslands occur in the Gurghiu mountains. Special interest today worldwide for herbal medicine has led us to study the Gurghiu Mountains medicinal plants used in various diseases. In order to identify the taxa we used classical methods, described in the literature and statistical analyze was also carried out. In the study area 2 plant associations rich in medicinal plants were identified. They belong to 6520 Mountain hay meadows habitat.

Key words: grasslands, habitats, medicinal plants, Mures county

¹ University of Oradea, Faculty of Environmental Protection, Forestry and Forest Engineering Department, 26 General Magheru Bld., Bihor County, Oradea – Romania

Abstract: Three different bipartite networks (pathogenic, ectomycorrhizal and galling insects) established by Quercus robur L., Q. cerris L. and Q. petraea (Matt.) Liebl. were merged in order to investigate the topological properties of the complex network, shading light on how biodiversity was organized through complex interactions. The complex network contains 290 species – 137 are pathogens (parasitic interaction), 72 are mycorrhizal fungi (mutualists) and 81 species of galling insects (herbivores). Most relevant network descriptors, connectivity, nestedness and modularity were analyzed. The main network and subnetworks displayed different behaviors in terms of topological properties, three of four networks showing significant modularity (galling insects network was marginally significant in what regards modularity). High connectivity and different degrees of nestedness characterized all networks. Clustering and Non Metric Multidimensional scaling refined the information provided by network analysis showing that networks occupy distant positions in ordination space and there are differences in terms of resemblance patterns.


Key words: biodiversity, community assembly, composite bipartite network, modularity, nestedness, subnetworks

¹ “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University from Iasi, “Anastasie Fatu” Botanical Garden, 7-9 Dumbrava Rosie, 700487, Iasi – Romania
² “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University from Iasi, Faculty of Biology, Department of Biology, 20A Carol I, 700505, Iasi – Romania

Abstract: Ectomycorrhizal macromycetes are, generally, an important ecological component for forest habitats, and a valuable resource in the context of sustainable development of rural communities in the North-East Region of Romania. The woody species distribution is an extremely important factor for the ECM macromycetes presence. The purpose of this study was to elaborate maps of potential distribution for some ECM edible macromycetes from Russula and Lactarius genera, based on chorological information, ICAS Forest Types Map, vegetation tables and bibliographical sources. These information allowed the elaboration of 15 potential maps of distribution for 15 edible species of Russula and Lactarius. The study was based entirely on the plant – fungal associations. The results highlighted that in the North-East Region of Romania there is a noteworthy potential for Russulaceae species. As expected, there is a large amplitude of species presence in the field depending on the fungal specificity for tree host and tree species distribution.

Key words: ECM, Lactarius, Russula, North-East Region, potential distribution map