Stomata on the Primary Root of Ceratonia siliqua

Anomocytic stomatal complexes observed with light and scanningelectron microscopes on the primary roots of Ceratonia siliqua(carob tree) are described. Stomata are randomly distributedthroughout the surface of the root zones which possess maturevascular tissues, i.e. from the zone of root hairs to the transitionzone. Stomatal orientation does not follow that of the rootepidermal cells whilst their distribution does not seem to forma regular pattern. Ceratonia siliqua, primary root, stomata     

Recent decline in precipitation and tree growth in the eastern Mediterranean

We present evidence of a recent drying in the eastern Mediterranean, based on weather and tree‐ring data for Samos, an island of the eastern Aegean Sea. Rainfall declined rapidly after the late 1970s following trends for the entire Mediterranean and was associated with reduced tree‐ring width in Pinus brutia. The most recent decline led to the lowest annual radial stem increment after the last 100 years (as far as records reach). As moisture availability decreased best correlations of tree growth with rainfall were obtained for progressively longer integration periods (1–2 years in moister periods, 5–6 years during the severe dryness of 20th century's last decades), suggesting increasing dependency in deep soil water. Such long‐term integration periods of tree‐growth responses to precipitation have not been reported before. They may reflect a tree‐rooting pattern adapted to cope with even several successive dry years. In late summer 2000, moisture reserves became exhausted, however, and a substantial fraction of low altitude pines died, including some 80‐year‐old trees, which underlines the exceptional extent this trend had reached. Our findings provide empirical support for Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projections derived from global circulation models that the Mediterranean, its eastern basin in particular, should become drier as temperature rises, as was the case in the recent past.     

Leaf structure and cytochemical investigation of secretory tissues in Inula viscosa

Leaves of Inula viscosa have been used in medicine from ancient times. Structures or cells with secreting activity were localized and a spectrum of products was histochemically identified within them. Leaf extracts were investigated with gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and thin-layer chromatography (TLC). Calluses produced from leaf-cell cultures were also subjected to histochemical reagents and tested with GC-MS and TLC to investigate their secreting ability compared with that in leaves. Little-differentiated callus cells are synthetically active and produce, as do its leaf cells, numerous polar compounds that could be of pharmaceutical interest.  © 2004 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2004, 144 , 437–448.     

Sympatric occurrence of diverged mtDNA lineages of Pityogenes chalcographus (Coleoptera, Scolytinae) in Europe

Differentiation among the European populations of the six-toothed spruce bark beetle Pityogenes chalcographus was observed for the first time in the 1970s as mating males from Northern Europe with females from Central Europe led to a significant decline in fecundity. Morphological examination revealed that P. chalcographus can be separated into two European races. Here, we investigated the genetic background of this separation by analysing 39 populations ( n  = 695), sequencing almost the complete cytochrome oxidase I gene (1543 bp) and applying single-strand conformation polymorphism. Phylogenetic analysis of 58 haplotypes yielded three major clades with a maximum sequence divergence of 2.33%, indicating that the demographic events took place in the late Pleistocene. These results support the hypothesis of allopatric divergence of the mtDNA lineages, which postglacially came into sympatric existence in Europe. However, as a result of partial crossing incompatibility the diverged lineages retained their genetic identity during postglacial times.  © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Biological Journal of the Linnean Society , 2008, 94 , 331–340.     

HOME PLACEMENT TESTING OF LAMB CONDUCTED IN SIX COUNTRIES

Consumer placement tests, which are used to assess products in an appropriate context, were performed in 36 households comprising 2 to 8 persons in England, France, Greece, Iceland, Italy and Spain using leg joints from 2 types of lamb raised in each of those countries. Ratings of odor, tenderness, juiciness, flavor and overall liking were different among lamb types and overall, the least tender was the least liked. Variations in ratings of cooking odor given by the cook only, which were most marked by the Greek and Spanish panels, were correlated with assessments of the other qualities given by the whole household. Variations in liking were less among individuals within a household than between households and reduced as the number of individuals in a household increased. The structure of a panel is important and should be taken into account when analyzing and concluding from consumer placement tests.     

Leaf Structural Peculiarities in Sarcopoterium spinosum, a Seasonally Dimorphic Subshrub

Extensive investigations on the anatomy of the two leaf typesin a seasonally dimorphic subshrub revealed interesting variationsbetween summer and winter leaves. Summer leaves of Sarcopoteriumspinosum possess a thick epidermis composed of tannin-containingcells and large amounts of mucilage secreted through the innerpericlinal walls towards the mesophyll. A thick cuticle is alsopresent on the surface of the leaf. In winter leaves the epidermalcells produce no mucilage while phenolics are accumulated ingranular form only. Besides these, some other variations betweensummer and winter leaves are also discussed in respect of theability of the plant to withstand the unfavourable Mediterraneanconditions. Seasonal dimorphism, leaf anatomy, Sarcopoterium spinosum     

BEER BITTERNESS DETECTION: TESTING THURSTONIAN AND SEQUENTIAL SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS MODELS FOR TRIAD AND TETRAD METHODS

Thurstonian modeling predictions were tested and confirmed for 3-AFC and triangle test methods, as well as for different versions of the tetrad test method, using judges who were required to discriminate bitterness in beer. Sequential Sensitivity Analysis predictions were also confirmed for 3-AFC/triangular methods but not for the tetrad method. It is hypothesized that memory effects might have interfered with the later prediction.     

A karyosystematic study of the genus Bellevalia Lapeyr. (Hyacinthaceae) in Greece

The genus Bellevalia is represented in Greece by eight taxa, three of which are endemic. Bellevalia brevipedicellata (2n = 8) and B. sitiaca (2n = 16) are restricted to the island of Kriti, while B. hyacinthoides (2n = 8, 12) is distributed in the Kiklades Islands, the central and southern mainland and the Ionian Islands. Four taxa, i.e. B. dubia subsp. boissieri (2n = 8), B. trifoliata (2n = 8), B. romana (2n = 8) and B. ciliata (2n = 8, 16) are Mediterranean elements. The presence of B. edirnensis (2n = 24) is reported as new for the Greek flora. New ploidy levels of three Bellevalia species (triplo‐, tetra‐ and hexaploids) are reported for the first time. The main morphological features, the chromosome numbers, the karyotype morphology, as well as the geographical distribution and further issues of taxonomy and conservation of all Bellevalia taxa in Greece are presented and discussed. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 157 , 723–739.     

An Anatomical Study of Seasonal Dimorphism in the Leaves of Phlomis fruticosa

Seasonal dimorphism is considered from the anatomical viewpoint.Significant differences can be observed between winter and summerleaves obtained from the same individuals. Winter leaves arethick, amphistomatic with a large number of chloroplasts inthe cells of the loose mesophyll. The thinner summer leavesare hairier and hypostomatic, with compact mesophyll and cellsthat accumulate phenolics and crystals. CbJoroplasts are fewerin number and less developed, and at the ultrastructural levelthey present pronounced differences from those of the winterleaves Seasonal dimorphism, Phlomis fruticosa, leaf anatomy, Chloroplast ultrastmcture