Morphometric and RAPD study of theMelampyrum sylvaticum group in the Sudeten, the Alps and Carpathians

TheMelampyrum sylvaticum group is a heterogeneous group at the inter- and infra-specific level. A wide range of morphological characters was examined on specimens collected for this study. The corolla size, the corolla colour and the anther length are considered the most important morphological characters at the interspecific taxonomic level. The morphological and molecular variation of theMelampyrum sylvaticum group in the Sudeten, Alps and Carpathians was analyzed. The morphometric study of European populations ofMelampyrum sylvaticum group partly clarified the pattern of the variation of selected characters in this region. The RAPD analysis manifests a very similar trend of the population grouping. The combined analysis of morphological and molecular data gives the most explicit results. Central European yellow flowering populations ofM. sylvaticum group form two distinctive groups. The first one is an exclusive type of the Alps and of the Hercynian Mountains (except the Sudeten). The second group has its centre of distribution in the eastern part of the Carpathians. This type was described asMelampyrum herbichii from the present Ukrainian Carpathians and was regarded to be endemic to the Eastern and Southern Carpathians. Populations from the Western Carpathians and Sudeten Mts. are polymorphic. They seem to be closer toM. herbichii based on the RAPD markers, whereas the morphology of most populations from these regions is closer toM. sylvaticum s.str. The bract shape seems to be important for discrimination between both groups of populations along with the flower characters and a modest ecological differentiation. The Eastern CarpathianMelampyrum saxosum with white corolla is very close toM. herbichii based on the studied morphological characters.     

The Response of the Alpine Dwarf Shrub Salix herbacea to Altered Snowmelt Timing: Lessons from a Multi-Site Transplant Experiment

Climate change is altering spring snowmelt patterns in alpine and arctic ecosystems, and these changes may alter plant phenology, growth and reproduction. To predict how alpine plants respond to shifts in snowmelt timing, we need to understand trait plasticity, its effects on growth and reproduction, and the degree to which plants experience a home-site advantage. We tested how the common, long-lived dwarf shrub Salix herbacea responded to changing spring snowmelt time by reciprocally transplanting turfs of S. herbacea between early-exposure ridge and late-exposure snowbed microhabitats. After the transplant, we monitored phenological, morphological and fitness traits, as well as leaf damage, during two growing seasons. Salix herbacea leafed out earlier, but had a longer development time and produced smaller leaves on ridges relative to snowbeds. Longer phenological development times and smaller leaves were associated with reduced sexual reproduction on ridges. On snowbeds, larger leaves and intermediate development times were associated with increased clonal reproduction. Clonal and sexual reproduction showed no response to altered snowmelt time. We found no home-site advantage in terms of sexual and clonal reproduction. Leaf damage probability depended on snowmelt and thus exposure period, but had no short-term effect on fitness traits. We conclude that the studied populations of S. herbacea can respond to shifts in snowmelt by plastic changes in phenology and leaf size, while maintaining levels of clonal and sexual reproduction. The lack of a home-site advantage suggests that S. herbacea may not be adapted to different microhabitats. The studied populations are thus unlikely to react to climate change by rapid adaptation, but their responses will also not be constrained by small-scale local adaptation. In the short term, snowbed plants may persist due to high stem densities. However, in the long term, reduction in leaf size and flowering, a longer phenological development time and increased exposure to damage may decrease overall performance of S. herbacea under earlier snowmelt.     

Two ant species (Hymenoptera,Formicidae) from the Northern Caucasus,new to the fauna of Russia

Two ant species, Leptothorax gredleri Mayr, 1855 previously known from Western and Eastern Europe and Solenopsis juliae (Arakelian, l991) formerly known from the Transcaucasia (Armenia), were found in the Northern Caucasus (the republics of Kabardino-Balkaria and Karachay-Cherkessia) for the first time; both the species are new to the fauna of Russia. The distribution, ecology, and morphological characters of the species are considered.     

Phenotypic and phytochemical diversity among different populations of Stachys lavandulifolia

Stachys lavandulifolia is an herb growing wild in Iran with interesting medicinal properties. In this research, the variability of morphological characters and phytochemical compositions among and within eight populations of this species was studied. Characteristics including inflorescence length, internode length, leaf shape, corolla color, state of calyx trichomes, state of leaf trichomes and corolla length were the most variable morphological characteristics among the examined populations. The phytochemical characterization revealed 45 components in the essential oils. Germacrene D and δ-cadinene were the main component with the highest contents. α-Copaene was positively correlated with δ-cadinene and limonene, while germacrene D was negatively correlated with δ-cadinene. UPGMA dendrogram constructed based on combined data of morphological variables and phytochemical compositions distinguished studied populations with high inter- and intra-population diversity. The high level of phytochemical and morphological variability among and within the studied populations suggests a breeding approach during the domestication, to gain new, promising, and homogenous cultivars, attractive for the industry and agriculture.     

三叶青叶表型多样性与地上部分总黄酮含量相关性

为揭示不同种源三叶青（Tetrastigma hemsleyanum Diels&Gilg）叶表型多样性变化及其与地上部分总黄酮含量的相关性,以49个三叶青种质资源（简称“资源”）为研究对象,对各资源叶表型的12个长度性状及7个比例性状进行比较,并采用相关性分析、因子分析和聚类分析方法对叶表型性状及其与种源地位置和地上部分总黄酮含量关系进行统计分析。结果表明：各资源叶长度性状存在较大差异,其中,小叶柄和侧生小叶叶片相关性状在三叶青资源鉴别过程中具有较高的参考价值;部分三叶青叶长度性状与比例性状间存在相关性,整体表现为叶柄增长,小叶叶片则更宽阔,而小叶叶片增长,叶片则朝狭长方向发展;中叶长和侧叶柄长等部分叶形性状与种源地纬度、经度或海拔存在显著（P<0.05）或极显著（P<0.01）相关性,可作为种源地地理位置初步判断依据;基于3个叶形公因子的聚类分析结果显示,49个三叶青资源叶形可划分为5个类型,各省（直辖市）三叶青叶类型数量呈以江西为中心,向周围辐射递减的趋势;三叶青地上部分总黄酮含量与种源地地理位置无显著相关性,但与叶片性状公因子（公因子1）呈极显著负相关（P&...     

Variation of bioactive substances and morphological traits in Hypericum perforatum populations from Northern Turkey

Hypericum perforatum L. has become one of the leading plant-based dietary supplements worldwide and its biological activities have been mainly attributed to hypericin and phenolic contents. The present study was conducted to determine chemical and morphological variability of H. perforatum sampled from different locations of Northern Turkey. The populations were investigated according to the hypericin, chlorogenic acid and the flavonoids, namely rutin, hyperoside, apigenin-7-O-glucoside, quercitrin and quercetin contents and morphological characters including leaf dark gland density, leaf area, leaf length/width ratio and plant height. Significant chemical and morphological variations were detected among the populations. Hypericin content among populations ranged between 0.44 and 2.82 mg/g dry weight, chlorogenic acid between 0.0 and 1.86 mg/g dry weight, rutin between 0.0 and 8.77 mg/g dry weight, hyperoside between 5.41 and 22.28 mg/g dry weight, quercitrin between 1.64 and 3.98 mg/g dry weight and quercetin between 1.01 and 1.76 mg/g dry weight. Hypericin content was found to be correlated positively with leaf dark gland density, however, negatively with leaf area and no correlation was detected between the other morphological traits and bioactive substances examined.     

Variability amongThymelaea hirsuta (L.)Endl. populations in Egypt

The present study depicts the presence of a gradient in the morphological characters ofThymelaea hirsuta (L.)Endl. leaves which correlated with the environmental gradient prevailing in the Western Mediterranean region of Egypt. The less arid and more calcareous habitats harbour individuals with obtuse and gentle curved leaf apices and gentle involute leaf margins. With the increase of aridity and decrease of CaCO₃, the leaf apices become acute and strongly curved, and the leaf margins become strongly involuted. Significant variations in seed weight, seedling emergence and viability of seed embryos inT. hirsuta, in relation to habitat types, are also shown and discussed.     

Multiple cryptic refugia of forest grass Bromus benekenii in Europe as revealed by ISSR fingerprinting and species distribution modelling

Despite not having been fully recognized, the cryptic northern refugia of temperate forest vegetation in Central and Western Europe are one of the most important in the Holocene history of the vegetation on the subcontinent. We have studied a forest grass Bromus benekenii in 39 populations in Central, Western and Southern Europe with the use of PCR-ISSR fingerprinting. The indices of genetic population diversity, multivariate, and Bayesian analyses, supplemented with species distribution modelling have enabled at least three putative cryptic northern refugial areas to be recognized: in Western Europe—the Central and Rhenish Massifs, in Central Europe—the Bohemia–Moravia region and in the Eastern/Western Carpathians. Central Poland is the regional genetic melting-pot where several migratory routes might have met. Southern Poland had a different postglacial history and was under the influence of an Eastern/Western Carpathian cryptic refugium. More forest species should be checked in a west–east gradient in Europe to corroborate the hypothesis on the Western European glacial refugia.     

Morphological variation and relationships of Georgian populations of Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sylvestris (C.C. Gmel.) Hegi

Georgia is considered as one of the regions where for the first time wild growing grapevine plants were used and taken into cultivation by men. An ampelographic and ampelometric study of leaf characters and flower landmark morphometrics was carried out in seven populations of wild grapevine located in four river basins of three geographic regions – Western (1 popul.), Eastern (5 popul.) and Southern (1 popul.) Georgia, and then compared using principal component analysis and multivariate discriminant analysis allowing the populations to be distinguished. Lengths of main leaf veins and nectaries in male flowers were the variables, which allowed the best discrimination among populations. A mutation leading to white-fruited grapevine is found in one population. Pubescence varies within populations and even within an individual genome and could be used as a discriminant trait only in combination with shapes and sizes of leaves and other morphological characters. The results revealed significant differences among populations located in different geographic regions of the Southern Caucasus area, but the five investigated populations from Eastern Georgia differ only insignificantly. The high morphological variability of wild grapevine in Georgia might be considered as characterizing the large gene pool that contributed to the domestication process of grapevine.     

福建省不同居群轮叶蒲桃叶形态与表皮特征比较

通过对福建省16个不同居群轮叶蒲桃叶片形态特征、叶表皮特征的观察及叶片主要性状的测量,探讨不同居群轮叶蒲桃叶型、叶表皮特征多样性,为属下种间鉴定提供依据。对16个居群轮叶蒲桃叶型多样性进行观察,采用直尺测量叶片主要性状如叶长、叶宽等;采用光学显微镜和扫描电镜对叶表皮特征进行观察。结果表明,16个居群轮叶蒲桃叶片中,闽西居群叶形为阔椭圆形;闽东、闽北、闽南等各地居群叶形为长椭圆形或近带形。不同居群轮叶蒲桃叶片表皮毛、角质层纹饰、气孔器形态与类型等表现一致,但表皮细胞垂周壁式样差异明显,具波状、浅波状、平直、弓形等几种类型,且在上下表皮间存在式样一致或有多元化现象。由此说明,福建省不同居群轮叶蒲桃叶形与表皮细胞垂周壁式样均处于较强烈分化的状态,表皮细胞垂周壁式样不能作为属种间分类的依据。     

Geographical Variability of Morphological and Acoustic Signs of the North Populations of the Long Tailed Tit <Emphasis Type="Italic">Aegithalos caudatus</Emphasis> (Passeriformes,Aegithalidae)

The geographic variability of the morphological and bioacoustic characteristics of the long-tailed bushtit, or long-tailed tit (Aegithalos caudatus), was studied, and the validity of the selection of the controversial subspecies Ae c. japonicus Prazak 1897 was evaluated., Ae. c. brachyurus Portenko 1954 and Ae. c. sibiricus (Seebohm 1890), distributed from Scandinavia and Eastern Europe to the Pacific coast. On the basis of a study of nine metric characters and three signs of coloration, we showed that in the space of the range of white-head long-tailed tits from Eastern Europe and Scandinavia to Primorye and Sakhalin, the majority of morphological characters slightly fluctuate or change in a clinal mode; i.e., they change gradually. The vocalization of the nominative subspecies of long-tailed tits is analyzed for the first time. When comparing samples from neighboring regions, no significant differences were revealed, either morphologically and acoustically, so the names Ae. c. sibiricus and Ae. c. brachyurus should be synonymous with the nominative subspecies Ae. c. caudatus. Only the populations of long-tailed tits of the southern Kuril Islands and Hokkaido Islands can be isolated as an independent subspecies Ae. c. japonicus.     

Morphometric diagnosis of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Glossina palpalis</Emphasis> (Diptera: Glossinidae) population structure in Ghana

Objective

This study aimed to identify isolated population(s) of Glossina palpalis in Ghana using geometric morphometrics to evaluate variations in wing-shape and size between populations of the fly from three regions.

Results

Wing shape of G. palpalis tsetse flies from the Northern, Western and Eastern Regions varied significantly between each other. Populations from the Northern and Western Regions varied the most (Mahalanobis Distance = 54.20). The least variation was noticed between populations from the Western and Eastern Regions (MD = 1.99). On morphospace, the Northern population clearly separated from the Eastern and Western populations both of which overlapped. Wing centroid size also significantly varied among populations. Reclassification scores were satisfactory reaching 100% for the Northern population. The Northern population of G. palpalis is possibly isolated from the Western and Eastern Region populations. Meanwhile, a panmictic relationship could be on-going between the Western and Eastern populations. We speculate that geographical distance and subspecific difference between populations are among factors responsible for observed pattern of wing shape variations among the studied populations. The implications of results regarding choice of control strategy and limitations of the study are discussed.

     

竹子箨叶形态性状的种间差异及其与竹笋食味品质指标的关系

竹笋是大众喜爱的森林蔬菜,其食味品质存在种间差异,且出土前后品质存在明显的变异.箨叶是竹笋的重要器官,居于箨鞘顶端,是竹笋出土时最先感光部位,是否与竹笋食味品质变异密切相关?目前尚不清楚.为此,以同一地点、立地条件和人工干扰措施一致的6个属22个竹种为对象,分析了不同竹种箨叶形态性状和竹笋食味品质指标,为揭示竹笋食味品...     

Loss of genetic diversity in isolated populations of an alpine endemic Pilosella alpicola subsp. ullepitschii: effect of long-term vicariance or long-distance dispersal?

Pilosella alpicola subsp. ullepitschii (Asteraceae) is a strictly allogamous, diploid Carpathian endemic. Its distribution range comprises two areas separated by about 600 km. While in the Western Carpathians (Slovakia and Poland) the taxon occurs in numerous sites, only four localities of man-made origin are known from the Eastern and Southern Carpathians (Romania). We used allozyme markers to test two likely possible scenarios for the origin of this disjunction: long distance dispersal and vicariance. Our data indicate a significant loss of genetic diversity in the isolated Eastern and Southern Carpathian populations in following genetic parameters (averaged per region): percentage of polymorphic loci (38.9% found in the Eastern and Southern Carpathians versus 58.3% in the Western Carpathians), allelic richness (1.4 vs. 1.6), expected heterozygosity (0.134 vs. 0.235), mean number of distinguishable multilocus genotypes (4.3 vs. 10.6) and proportion of distinguishable multilocus genotypes (0.34 vs. 0.68). Higher proportion of homozygous loci found in the Eastern and Southern Carpathian populations might indicate a higher rate of inbreeding due to non-random mating. We assume that these genetically depauperate populations have experienced a very strong genetic bottleneck, probably due to a founder effect. Although our data suggest that the long-distance dispersal model is most likely, more discriminate genetic markers should be used to test this further.     

Relationships between leaf shape and climate in Rhododendron mucronulatum

We studied the relationships between morphometric parameters of leaves of Rhododendron mucronulatum and climate features at the northern limit of its distribution. A great morphological diversity in leaf shapes, including strong deviations from the typical lanceolate and acute leaf shape was revealed. We found that the frequency of an elliptic shape with obtuse apex is the result of morphological adaptation to particular climatic conditions and that the diversity of leaf morphological features were strongly correlated with temperature and annual precipitation. The climatic parameters of the winter period were found to be more important for determining the leaf shape than the climate during the growing season.     

Morphometric differentiation of the moor frog (Rana arvalis Nilss.) in Central Europe

Morphometric variation of 11 characters was studied in 14 samples of Rana arvalis from allopatric population groups in Central Europe, representing two subspecies formerly recognised: R. a. arvalis and R. a. wolterstorffi. All samples from Poland (nine) were collected from the area, which is believed to be populated by the nominal form. In addition, the isolated population of R. arvalis from the Eastern Carpathians of Romania was classified to that form. All the Hungarian samples fall into the range of R. a. wolterstorffi. No significant differences in body size between sexes and among the populations from the three geographic regions (Poland, Hungary and Romanian Eastern Carpathians) were found. Multivariate analysis of the differences in body shape among groups showed that the populations from Hungary differed from the nominal form mainly in the relative hindlimb length. However, substantial overlap in overall shape differences resulted in a relatively low percentage of correct classifications to the respective geographic groups in the Discriminant Analysis. Large intrapopulation variation in the values of the two ratios (SVL/TL and TL/IMT) formerly used for differentiate the two European subspecies of R. arvalis makes them unreliable characters for distinguishing the two forms. The pattern of morphometric variation does not match the overall genetic divergence of the R. arvalis populations, which suggests that the body shape differences in this species result from the phenotypic plasticity correlated with local climatic factors.     

New information on the invasive to Europe aphid species <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachycaudus divaricatae</Emphasis> Shaposhnikov, 1956 (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Brachycaudus divaricatae (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a recent invader to Europe, has already reached Czech Republic. Partial sequences of mitochondrial COI and nuclear EF-1α genes have been analysed across the sixteen Czech samples of B. divaricatae, together with morphometric analysis of the same samples based on eighteen morphological characters of the apterous viviparous females. For comparative studies, thirteen samples from the Eastern Baltic region of Europe (Latvia, Lithuania and Poland) were used. All sampled populations appeared similar in their genetic and morphological characters studied. One haplotype of mitochondrial COI gene was predominant; it was characteristic for all samples from Czech Republic and 8 out of 13 samples from Eastern Baltic region. Two other haplotypes were found in the Eastern Baltic region only. Four different haplotypes of EF-1α gene were detected. Most of the samples (except one sample from the Eastern Baltic region and two samples from Czech Republic) had the same haplotype. Out of remaining three haplotypes, one was unique for the Eastern Baltic region, whilst two were found in Czech Republic only. For the present, Moravia is the southernmost region in Europe, where B. divaricatae has been already reported. Presumably, this invasive aphid species has entered the Czech Republic from the north via the Moravian Gate, a natural pass formed by the depression between the Western Carpathians and Eastern Sudetes.     

Correlations among anatomical,morphological, chemical and agronomic characteristics of leaf blades in Panicum maximum genotypes

Tropical forage grasses present high growth rates and biomass yields, partly due to its C₄ photosynthetic pathway. Considering this, the anatomy of the grasses related to morphology and chemical composition of leaf blades may influence consumption and digestibility, thus interfering in the forage quality. Agronomic, morphological, anatomical and chemical characteristics of leaves of nine Panicum maximum genotypes were evaluated in Brazil, to verify if these characteristics and the associations among them may influence the quality of the leaf blades. A randomized complete blocks design was used with nine treatments and three replications. Three evaluation harvests were done in the rainy season and one in the dry season to evaluate forage yields and quality. Quality was determined through NIRS – Near Infrared Spectrometer. One day prior to each harvest, four leaf blades per plot were harvested for morphological and anatomical evaluations. Results were subjected to analysis of variance and mean comparison by Tukey test, and to simple linear and canonical correlations by SAS. Leaf width was positively correlated with mesophyll. The parenchyma bundle sheath was associated with leaf area and specific leaf area. Neutral detergent fibre was positively correlated with the parenchyma bundle sheath area and specific leaf area. The specific leaf area was negatively correlated with in vitro organic matter digestibility. Morphological differences among P. maximum genotypes did not interfere in biomass accumulation. Considering this, leaf width may be a supplementary tool, that may be used in the early phases of the process of genotype selection, for discriminating qualitatively promising high yielding materials.     

Distribution, chromosome numbers and nomenclature conspect of Arabidopsis halleri (Brassicaceae) in the Carpathians

Arabidopsis halleri represents an important model species for the study of phytoremediation. In the Carpathians it is represented by three subspecies: A. halleri subsp. halleri, A. halleri subsp. tatrica and A. halleri subsp. dacica. All three subspecies are diploid with chromosome number 2n = 16. They differ mainly in indument of flower parts, colour of petals and in the position of the longest leaf on stem. A. halleri subsp. halleri occurs in the Eastern and Southern Carpathians and in the northern and eastern part of the Western Carpathians, subsp. tatrica is endemic of the Western Carpathians and subsp. dacica occurs in the Eastern and Southern Carpathians most probably extending in its distribution further to the south to the Balkan mountains. Full synonymy of these three taxa and also a fourth European subspecies, A. halleri subsp. ovirensis is presented including the information on type specimens. Lectotypes are selected for several names. List of the examined herbarium specimens is given as well.     

Abnormal cell divisions in leaf primordia caused by the expression of the rice homeobox geneOSH1 lead to altered morphology of leaves in transgenic tobacco

Transgenic tobacco plants were generated carrying a rice homeobox gene,OSH1, controlled by the promoter of a gene encoding a tobacco pathogenesis-related protein (PR1a). These lines were morphologically abnormal, with wrinkled and/or lobed leaves. Histological analysis of shoot apex primordia indicated arrest of lateral leaf blade expansion, often resulting in asymmetric and anisotropic growth of leaf blades. Other notable abnormalities included abnormal or arrested development of leaf lateral veins. Interestingly,OSH1 expression was undetectable in mature leaves with the aberrant morphological features. Thus,OSH1 expression in mature leaves is not necessary for abnormal leaf development. Northern blot and in situ hybridization analyses indicate thatPR1a-OSH1 is expressed only in the shoot apical meristem and in very young leaf primordia. Therefore, the aberrant morphological features are an indirect consequence of ectopicOSH1 gene expression. The only abnormality observed in tissues expressing the transgene was periclinal (rather than anticlinal) division in mesophyll cells during leaf blade initiation. This generates thicker leaf blades and disrupts the mesophyll cell layers, from which vascular tissues differentiate. TheOSH1 product appears to affect the mechanism controlling the orientation of the plane of cell division, resulting in abnormal periclinal division of mesophyll cell, which in turn results in the gross morphological abnormalities observed in the transgenic lines.