¹ University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology, Department of Botany-Microbiology, Intrarea Portocalelor no. 1-3, Sector 6, Bucharest – Romania
² Graduate of the Faculty of Biology in 2010, University of Bucharest – Romania
³ University of Bucharest, Botanical Garden “D. Brandza” of Bucharest, Sos. Cotroceni no. 32, Sector 6, Bucharest – Romania
⁴ Graduate of the Faculty of Biology in 2016, University of Bucharest – Romania

Abstract: This paper analyses aquatic ferns from the genera Azolla Lam., Marsilea L. and Salvinia Séguier, which occur in the Danube Delta, Romania, and comprises a series of anatomical and histological observations of taxonomical, chorological and eco-morphological importance. The research conducted on specimens collected between 2005-2013 from the natural habitats of the Danube Delta, but also from the extra-deltaic artificial habitats have enabled: i) a reconsideration of some chorological aspects regarding the species of the genus Azolla in Romania; ii) a greater understanding of the adaptive plasticity relative to the factor water for the taxon Marsilea quadrifolia L. collected from natural and artificial habitats; iii) the enrichment of the data regarding the structural characteristics of the taxon Salvinia natans (L.) All., particularly around the adaptive elements associated with living on the surface of the water.

Key words: adaptability, anatomy, aquatic ferns, chorology, taxonomy

¹ Carleton University, Department of Biology and Institute of Biochemistry, Ottawa ON – Canada K1S 5B6

Abstract: Mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways are crucial for plant growth and development. The most commonly identified pathways that AtMKK1 has been connected to are wounding, bacterial pathogen response, cold, drought, salt stress, reactive oxygen species stress, touch, and abscisic acid. There is also evidence that AtMKK1 regulates development. In leaf development, auxin can modulate both cell division and expansion and has a key role in both initiation and elaboration of final morphology of both leaves and vascular networks. Distribution of auxin to different tissues and organs relies on auxin transport systems. In our study, it was found that there was reduced response in atmkk1, the AtMKK1 knockout mutant, to 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid, an auxin polar transport inhibitor. Analysis of protein-protein interactions has suggested that AtMKK1 may interact with the downstream AtMPK12, which is a negative regulator of auxin signaling. Our results indicate that AtMKK1 may play a role in leaf development.

Key words:Arabidopsis, auxin, leaf, PIN1, TIBA

¹ Department of Botany, University of Karachi, Karachi – 75270 – Pakistan
² California Department of Food and Agriculture, 3288 Meadowview Road, Sacramento, CA 95832 – U.S.A.

Abstract: Pollution by crude oil is an important environmental issue all around the world. Increase in oil pollution level in the environment produce toxic effects on flora and fauna of the region. The effects of different levels (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%) of crude oil polluted soil on the growth of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum) were studied. The polluted soil affected the root, shoot length, seedling size, number of leaves and leaf area of P. glaucum. The significant (p<0.05) effects of polluted soil on fresh and dry weight of root, stem, leaves, and seedling of P. glaucum were also recorded. Leaf area, leaf number and total seedling dry weight were noticeably reduced in 10 and 15% polluted soil than control soil treatment. Principally, 20% crude oil polluted soil treatment exhibited highest percentage of decrease in most of the seedling growth parameters of P. glaucum than control. Hence, the effects on seedling growth parameters were increased with increasing levels of polluted soil. For most of the growth parameters, the mean values obtained were found higher for the control soil and progressively decreased from 5-20% crude oil polluted soils. The seedlings of P. glaucum were also tested for tolerance to polluted soil treatment. The results showed that the seedlings of P. glaucum showed high percentage of tolerance to low concentration (5%) of polluted soil treatment as compared to control soil treatment (0%).


Key words: Contamination, crude oil, growth, Pennisetum glaucum, soil

NUTRIENT CONTENT IN DURIAN (DURIO ZIBETHINUS L.) BRANCH BARK
SAKHIDIN¹, Jaime A. TEIXEIRA DA SILVA², Slamet Rohadi SUPARTO¹

¹ Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Jenderal Soedirman, Jl. Dr. Soeparno, Purwokerto 51123, Central Java – Indonesia
² P. O. Box 7, Miki-cho post office, Ikenobe 3011-2, Kagawa-ken, 761-0799 – Japan

Abstract: Durian (Durio zibethinus L.) fruit form on the bark of branches. The aim of our research was to assess whether branches bearing different number of fruits have different nutrient contents in their bark. We determined the nitrogen (N), phosphorous (P), potassium (K), and carbon (C) content in branch bark 30 days after fruit set using branches bearing different number of fruits per panicle (0, 1, 2 or >2) of two varieties (‘Otong’ and ‘Kani’). Bark was cut into 0.03 m long and 0.005 m wide segments with an average thickness of 0.00085 m. The bark of branches bearing a different number of fruits had the same N, P, K, and C content but different ratios of C/N, C/P, C/K, N/K, and P/K. The bark of ‘Otong’ branches had a higher N content but a lower C/N ratio than ‘Kani’ bark.

Key words: durian, bark, nutrient, ‘Otong’, ‘Kani’

ESTIMATION OF HERITABILITY AND PREDICTED GENOTYPE MEAN FOR SEED YIELD OF CASTOR (RICINUS COMMUNIS L.) USING BEST LINEAR UNBIASED PREDICTION (BLUP)
Bolaji Zuluqurineen SALIHU¹, Ahmed Olamide FALUSI², Andrew Saba GANA³, Matthew Omoniyi ADEBOLA², Oladipupo Yusuf DAUDU²

¹ National Cereals Research Institute, Castor Research Programme, P.M.B. 8, Badeggi, Bida – Nigeria
² Federal University of Technology, Department of Biological Sciences, P.M.B. 65, Gidan Kwanu, Minna – Nigeria
³ Federal University of Technology, Department of Crop Production, P.M.B. 65, Gidan Kwanu, Minna – Nigeria

Abstract: Eighty six castor genotypes were evaluated to estimate heritability and predicted genotype mean for seed yield and its component traits. The genotypes were planted at three locations using incomplete block experimental design with three replications. The results revealed significant effects of genotypes for most of the traits evaluated. Significant interactions of genotypes by locations were observed for six traits including 100 seed weight and seed yield. Genotypic coefficient of variation and phenotypic coefficient of variation were high for number of branches per plant and 100 seed weight. Heritability for the studied traits ranged from 0.21 to 0.92. High genetic advance as percentage of mean coupled with high heritability were observed for most of the traits. Thirty six out of eighty six genotypes evaluated presented predicted genotypic seed yield mean above the general mean. These results revealed moderate to high possibility for improvement of five out of ten traits evaluated.

Key words: Badeggi, component traits, genetic advance, Minna, Phenotypic variation

PRELIMINARY STUDIES ON EFFECTS OF GAMMA RAY ON SEED RETENTION INDICES OF THREE NIGERIAN SESAME (SESAMUM INDICUM L.) VARIETIES
Muhammad Liman MUHAMMAD¹, Olamide Ahmed FALUSI¹, Mathew Omoniyi ADEBOLA¹, Onyedi David OYEDUM², Oladipopu Abdulazeez Yusuf DAUDU¹, Gado Adamu AISHATU¹

¹ Department of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Technology, Minna – Nigeria
² Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna – Nigeria

Abstract: In an attempt to improve sesame for reduction of seed loss due to shattering of capsule at harvest, the seeds of three varieties of sesame (NCRIBEN-04E, NCRIBEN-01M and NCRIBEN-03L) were treated with five different doses (0, 250, 350, 450 and 550 Gy) of gamma irradiation; 0 Gy being the control. All the treatments including the controls, were grown and monitored till maturity. The seed retention power of the treatments were assessed. From the results, the treatment due to 550 Gy had highest score (6) for both NCRIBEN-04E and NCRIBEN-01M and was categorized as non-shattering (NSH) type. All other treatments were categorized as shattering (SHA) type. Similarly all the treatments from NCRIBEN-03L were categorized as SHA with treatment due to 250 Gy having highest score (5). The three varieties showed positive correlations between the seed/capsule in upright (U) and seed/capsule in inverted (I) position but NCRIBEN-01M was not significant (r = 0.650). The NCRIBEN-04E showed negative correlation between U and length of suture (L) and I and L (r = -0.570 and -0.358 respectively). This result has shown that the dose 550 Gy seems to be promising in generating mutants with high resistance to capsule shattering in sesame. There is need to advance these mutants to M2 and M3 generations to ascertain this seed retention capacity.

Key words: Gamma Irradiation, inverted, non-shattering, resistance, shattering, upright

¹ “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, “Anastasie Fatu” Botanical Garden, 7-9 Dumbrava Rosie, 700487, Iasi – Romania
² Romanian Academy – Iasi Branch, Oenological Research Center, 8 Carol I., 700506, Iasi – Romania
³ “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Faculty of Chemistry, 11 Carol I, 700506, Iasi – Romania
⁴ “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University of Iasi, Faculty of Biology, 20A Carol I, 700505, Iasi – Romania

Abstract: This study aims to determine the volatile organic compounds synthesized by three species of wood-rotting basidiomycetes: Coriolopsis gallica, Megacollybia platyphylla and Lentinus arcularius and test their antifungal potential. The species were cultivated on liquid media and kept for 25 days at 25 °C. The surface cultures were then homogenized, filtrated and extracted using solid-phase extraction and analyzed by GC-MS. The volatile compounds identified were mainly alcohols, ketones, aldehydes and terpenes. The most common volatiles identified in the experiment are: 1-octen-3-ol, 3-hexanol, 3-methyl-1-butanol, 3-octanone, 2-hexanone, benzaldehyde, and limonene. The volatiles metabolites of these species were tested for their antifungal activity using the bi-compartmented Petri dishes method against two species of plant pathogenic fungi: Fusarium solani and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, on three media. The volatiles produced by Coriolopsis gallica showed the highest antifungal potential against the phytopathogens. The results revealed the importance of media composition in the synthesis of antifungal volatile compounds.

Key words: antifungal compounds, Coriolopsis gallica, Lentinus arcularius, Megacollybia platyphylla, volatile metabolites

¹ Technical University “Gheorghe Asachi” of Iasi, Faculty of Hydrotechnics, Geodesy and Environmental Engineering, Iasi – Romania
² University “Alexandru Ioan Cuza”, Botanic Garden “Anastasie Fatu”, 7-9, Dumbrava Rosie St., Iasi – Romania
³ Agricultural Faculty of the USAMV “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” of Iasi, Iasi – Romania

Abstract: The physiological reaction of saline stress which Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. plants undergo shows a greater growth and fresh substance gain process on previously cultivated soils that were fined with 20% zeolitic tuff and 5.09 g of neutral peat than the ones that had a substrate which hasn’t been cultivated on before that was fined with 5% zeolitic tuff and 1.39 g of perlite. The dry substance values obtained present a positive correlation with the values of fresh substance. Analysis of stomatal conductance enhances the hydric stress of plants which respond to saline stress with osmotic adjustment, accumulating high quantities of water comparing to the witness plant, which induces lower values of stomatal conductance and implicitly values are decreasing for photosynthesis, determining a low productivity. Higher values of stomatal conductance are reached at plants grown on previously cultivated soils fined with 20% zeolitic tuff and peat, and also at the ones grown on uncultivated soils fined with peat (29.45, respectively 30.05 mmol/m²/s).

Key words: amended soil affected by salinity, oriental mustard, peat, perlite, zeolitic tuff

¹ Agricultural Faculty of the USAMV “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” of Iasi, Iasi – Romania
² University “Alexandru Ioan Cuza”, Botanic Garden “Anastasie Fatu”, 7-9, Dumbrava Rosie St., Iasi – Romania
² Technical University “Gheorghe Asachi” of Iasi, Faculty of Hydrotechnics, Geodesy and Environmental Engineering, Iasi – Romania

Abstract: Our observations target the physiological response of plants with a short vegetation period like Brassica rapa var. perviridis L. H. Bailey to saline stress. The experiment uses white alkali soil amended with zeolitic tuff and peat as a substrate. There has been noticed a better behavior of the plants grown on cultivated soil amended with 15% zeolitic tuff and neutral peat. The chlorophyll content index was higher in plants grown on cultivated soil amended with 15% zeolitic tuff both when combined with neutral peat (14.0 and 30.6) or acidic peat (18.9 and 26.2) than in plants grown in soils that were amended with 20% zeolitic tuff. Regarding uncultivated soils previously, they are less favorable to plants than soils which had been included in the agricultural circuit. This proves once again that the non-use of salty lands accentuates the salinization process.

Key words: Komatsuna Torasan, peat, salinized soils, stomatal conductance, zeolitic tuff

¹ University of Bucharest, Biology Faculty, 1-3 Portocalelor Alley, sector 6, 060101 Bucharest 35 – Romania
² Hîncesti Forest Management Unit – Republic of Moldova

Abstract: The forests of sessile oak (Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl.) with Hieracium umbrosum Jord., found on the Central Moldovan Plateau, are described in this article. Based on 12 relevés, the authors have grouped these forests in an plant community that is new for science – Hieracio umbrosi-Quercetum petraeae Pînzaru, Cantemir, Manic et Popescu, included in the alliance Quercion pubescenti-petraeae Br.-Bl. 1932, the order Quercetalia pubescenti-petraeae Klika 1933, cl. QUERCO-FAGETEA Br.-Bl. et Vlieger in Vlieger 1937.

Key words: Hieracio umbrosi-Quercetum petraeae ass. nova, characteristics of phytocoenoses, ecology, range, R. Moldova

THREATENED MEDICINAL PLANTS OF UKRAINE: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT PROTECTION STATUS
Valentyna M. MINARCHENKO¹

¹ M. G. Kholodny Institute of Botany, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 2 Tereshchenkivska Str., Kyiv-1, 01601 – Ukraine

Abstract: More than 2 200 vascular species of Ukraine were investigated as medicinal plants, containing biologically active substances which are used at present or can be used in the future for medicinal purposes, including production of commercial drugs. 1 975 from this number are wild plants and 537 are threatened in Ukraine and/or in Europe. For many medicinal plant currently highly threatened by direct or indirect human activities, which lead to transformation and loss of habitat. The overall purpose of the paper is to show the threats, current population trend and protection status of threatened species of medicinal plants. It has been established that the future of wild resource more than half (52%) of analyzed medicinal plants in Ukraine is at risk as are currently highly threatened the loss of its habitat. The current population trend of these species is mainly declining on assessment to Ukraine. The population trend near of 43.5% accessed species considered as stable. The state of only 3.7% of analyzed medicinal plants in Ukraine may be assessed as increasing.

Key words: threatened medicinal plants, Ukraine, population trend

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: Ganoderma lucidum is one of the most valued mushrooms in the World, because of its medicinal properties. In the context of North-Eastern Region’s development, any forest product could have a valuable contribution. Therefore, it is important to understand the mushroom’s ecology and generate a map of its optimal distribution. For this, we used one of the most performant species distribution models available – Maxent, field occurrences and climatic-topographic-biotic variables. After multi-collinearity testing and step-wise Maxent modelling, we came to an end with a 0.8 final model based on two predictors. Thus, in the region, the optimal habitat distribution is found in oak, beech, riparian or mixed forests bellow approximately 800 m altitude. The species can be found in almost all forests across lowland, colline and submontane regions according to tree host presence. The approach could be promising for other fungal species for the sustainable development of the region.

Key words: Ganoderma lucidum, Maxent, Romania, species distribution modelling, suitable habitat

¹ Laboratory of Plant Breeding and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Jl. Agro, Bulaksumur, Yogyakarta 55281 – Indonesia
² P.O. Box 7, Miki-cho post office, Ikenobe 3011-2, Kagawa-ken, 761-0799 – Japan
³ Center for Plant Conservation, Bogor Botanical Garden – Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI), Jl. Ir. Juanda no. 13, Bogor 16003 – Indonesia

Abstract: This study provides a hypothetical discussion about the growth of Rafflesia patma Blume (syn. R. horsfieldii R. Br. (1821); Rafflesiaceae), an endophytic parasite, within a grafted host, a woody vine (Tetrastigma leucostaphylum (Dennst.) Alston). Based on the observation of a 10-year old (2007 to 2017) R. patma – T. leucostaphylum graft, we hypothesize that R. patma moves away from its host rather than remaining in an anchored position from which it flowers, although flower knobs that emerge later may vary in range from the grafting point, i.e., flower knobs may develop close to or far away from the grafting point. Our provisional macroscopic observations point towards a gradual creeping motion of the endophyte towards new host tissues, flowering opportunistically when sufficient nutrients have been found. Much has yet to be discovered about the growth and flowering behavior of R. patma and about the dynamics of the R. patma – T. leucostaphylum interaction.

Key words: endophyte, parasitic plant, Rafflesiaceae, Tetrastigma, vine