Differentiation of F1 hybrids P. nigra J. F. Arnold × P. sylvestris L., P. nigra J. F. Arnold × P. densiflora Siebold et Zucc., P. nigra J. F. Arnold × P. thunbergiana Franco and their parental species by needle volatile composition

The volatile composition of needles from three F₁ hard pine hybrids produced by the controlled hybridization and their parental species were researched with gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) in order to explore the utility of terpenes in hybrid identification (their differentiation from the parental species) as well as confirmation of hybridity. The analysed hybrids were: 1. Pinus nigra J. F. Arnold × Pinus sylvestris L. (= nisy), 2. P. nigra × Pinus densiflora Siebold et Zucc. (= nide) and 3. P. nigra × Pinus thunbergiana Franco (= nith). A total of 55 compounds were identified. All identified compounds were terpenes, except trans-2-hexenal.Three analysed F₁ hybrids showed the same qualitative pattern of the needle volatile composition as their parental species. However, there were quantitative differences in several major terpenes. The volatile composition of the needles from the hybrids nisy were equally similar to both parents, the hybrids nide were more similar to the female parent (P. nigra), whereas the hybrids nith were more similar to the male parent (P. thunbergiana). According to the content of germacrene D, as the specific component of P. nigra (female parent of the three analysed F₁ hybrids), all hybrids were intermediary in relation to the parental species. The content of Δ-3-carene (the specific component of P. sylvestris) in the hybrids nisy was also intermediary. The hybrids nide had a higher content of thunbergol (specific component of P. densiflora) than the other analysed hybrids. In view of the content of β-pinene, the specific component of P. thunbergiana, the hybrids nith were intermediary to the parental species and that content was considerably higher than in the other analysed hybrids. The intermediary quality of F₁ hybrids for these specific components in relation to the parental species confirms their hybrid character.The needle volatile composition analysis as well as the previous morphometric analysis confirm the hybrid character of three F₁ hybrids, whose female parent is P. nigra, and male parents are P. sylvestris, P. densiflora, i.e. P. thunbergiana.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Caloplaca testudinea</Emphasis> V. Wirth &; Kärnefelt sp. nov. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">C. rubelliana</Emphasis> (Ach.) Lojka,new to southern Africa

Caloplaca testudinea is newly described from the Namib Desert and C. rubelliana, formerly known from the Mediterranean region and western North America, is reported from the same area and therefore new to southern Africa. Morphology, anatomy, ecology and secondary chemistry of the two species are investigated.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">In vitro</Emphasis> preservation and micropropagation of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Oreocharis mileense</Emphasis> (W.T. Wang) M. Möller &amp; A. Weber (Gesneriaceae) through shoot organogenesis

Oreocharis mileense (W.T. Wang) M. Möller & A. Weber is endemic to China and was considered to be extinct because it had not been seen in the wild since the first collection in 1906. In 2006, the species was rediscovered in Shilin County, Yunnan Province. Oreocharis mileense was considered critically endangered for its narrow geographic range and extremely small population. An efficient method to preserve plant germplasm by in vitro culturing of O. mileense has not been reported. In this study, an orthogonal array with three factors (6-benzyladenine, BA; α-naphthaleneacetic acid, NAA; and sucrose), at four levels was performed, and shoot induction as well as shoot proliferation were recorded. The results were analyzed to determine the most significant components and the optimum combination for micropropagation of O. mileense. The results showed that: (1) organogenesis was easily induced by different combinations of plant-growth regulators and sucrose; (2) NAA and sucrose had the most significant effect on shoot induction and shoot multiplication, and (3) the optimum induction and proliferation media were 0.5 mg L^?1 BA + 0.2 mg L^?1 NAA?+?30 g L^?1 sucrose and 1 mg L^?1 BA + 0.1 mg L^?1 NAA?+?30 g L^?1 sucrose, respectively.     

Development of microsatellite markers for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Myracrodruon urundeuva</Emphasis> (F.F. &amp; M.F. Allemão), a highly endangered species from tropical forest based on next-generation sequencing

Myracrodruon urundeuva is a tree species of high economic importance due the strength and durability of its wood. Threatened of extinction in Brazil, it is present only in a few forest remnants, mostly in conservation units. Currently, there is little information on the genetic diversity of natural populations in Brazil and even less information about the genome of this species. Here, new species-specific microsatellite loci were developed based on next-generation sequencing (Illumina). More than 100,000 loci were identified in the run, with di- to hexanucleotides motifs. Of these, 20 loci were selected for validation in 30 individuals, with 15 successfully polymorphic loci detected. The number of alleles ranged among loci from 3 to 16, with an average of 7.73, expected (H _e ) and observed (H _o ) heterozygosity ranged from 0.246 to 0.902 and from 0.103 to 0.867, respectively. These results point out that these new set of markers has a great potential for use in population genetic studies for genetic conservation of the species.     

Forward‐Looking Forest Restoration Under Climate Change—Are U.S. Nurseries Ready?

The pace of climate change suggests that restoration efforts once focused on past conditions should become more forward‐looking. Suggestions for such restoration emphasize the use of a suite of species adapted to a range of possible future climates. In forest restoration, opportunities for forward‐looking restoration may be limited by the availability of suitable stock from state and commercial nurseries. Presently, most state nurseries have stock potentially suited to warmer climates than currently exist in their states. However, these nurseries are generally not actively incorporating information about climate change into their stocking choices and some see clear obstacles to providing such stock, particularly uncertainty about the future climate, and the existence of seed zones and other policies designed to protect locally adapted species genetics. As restoration ecologists adapt their methods to incorporate climate change, state nurseries should be involved in those discussions and may be important partners in outreach.     

Structure of Ecologo-Climatic Niches of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Poa palustris</Emphasis> L. and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. nemoralis</Emphasis> L. (Роасеае) in Asian Russia

In addition to a specific morphotype, each species has a unique ecologo-climatic niche and a geographical area. The study of ecologo-climatic and geographical divergence may significantly contribute to the comprehension of species genesis and amount. The aim of this work is to compare ecologo-climatic niches of Poa palustris L., P. nemoralis L., and populations combining the features of both species (assigned in this work to the hybridogenic complex of P. intricata Wien), as well as reveal their identity. As a result of these researches, the areas of the both species were verified. The ecologo-climatic niches were determined with the use of GIS technologies and on the basis of their coordinates. Then potential areas of species—the regions where climatic conditions are favorable for their growth—were determined on the basis of six independent bioclimatic variables. A comparison of the ecologo-climatic niches calculated by MaxEnt software has shown that their distinctions are statistically significant.