Solidago litoralis (Asteraceae) is a psammophile plant endemic to the northern coasts of Tuscany, Italy. During time, different authors have considered it either as a separate species, subspecies or variety of the European S. virgaurea , but few studies of experimental taxonomy have been investigating the relationship between these two taxa. Aim of this study is to compare S. litoralis and S. virgaurea from different points of view: cytogenetic (karyotype analysis, localization of rDNA loci and genome size estimation), molecular (using two plastidial molecular markers), and ecological (by comparing functional characters). A difference in ecological responses to habitats is confirmed, even though S. virgaurea is potentially capable of assuming ecological strategies similar to those of S. litoralis . Despite this, cytogenetic and molecular analyses failed to reveal any significant difference supporting a specific distinction of S. litoralis . The latter taxon is here hypothesized as being an ecotype at the initial steps of a speciation event, better recognized at subspecific level ( S. virgaurea subsp. litoralis ).

Abstract Epigenetic variation in natural populations with contrasting habitats might be an important element, in addition to the genetic variation, in plant adaptation to environmental stress. Here, we assessed genetic, epigenetic, and cytogenetic structure of the three Lilium bosniacum populations growing on distinct habitats. One population was growing under habitual ecological conditions for this species and the other two were growing under stress associated with high altitude and serpentine soil. Amplified fragment length polymorphism and methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism analyses revealed that the three populations did not differentiate genetically, but were clearly separated in three distinct clusters according to DNA methylation profiles. Principal coordinate analysis showed that overall epigenetic variation was closely related to habitat conditions. A new methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism scoring approach allowed identification of mainly unmethylated (φST = 0.190) and fully CpG methylated (φST = 0.118) subepiloci playing a role in overall population differentiation, in comparison with hemimethylated sites (φST = 0.073). In addition, unusual rDNA repatterning and the presence of B chromosomes bearing 5S rDNA loci were recorded in the population growing on serpentine soil, suggesting dynamic chromosome rearrangements probably linked to global genome demethylation, which might have reactivated some mobile elements. We discuss our results considering our earlier data on morphology and leaf anatomy of several L. bosniacum populations, and suggest a possible role of epigenetics as a key element in population differentiation associated with environmental stress in these particular lily populations.

Seven Centaurea species from Croatia ( C. alba , C. calcitrapa , C. cristata , C. rhenana , C. rupestris , C. salonitana and C. solstitialis ) belonging to five sections were studied. Chromosome numbers and metaphase plates are presented. All species studied here were found to be either diploid or tetraploid with the exception of C. salonitana which presented both ploidy levels: one diploid and one tetraploid population were detected

UDK: 577.13:582  Plants produce a numerous and diverse secondary metabolites, organic compounds which are not essential and do not participate directly in the growth and development, but may have very important role in their adaptation and adjustment to particular environmental conditions. For humans, secondary metabolites are very important in medicine, pharmacology, food and cosmetics industries. The presence of eight types of secondary metabolites (anthocyanins, coumarins, emodins, fatty acids, phenols, saponins, steroids and tannins) in water extracts of leaves and barks of 25 broadleaf deciduous species from 15 families was qualitatively investigated by rapid phytochemical screening methods. According to literature data, in this study for the first time is determined the presence of six types of secondary metabolites in analyzed dendro species: anthocyanins in one species; both coumarins and phenols in five species; emodins in six species; saponins in eight species; and tannins in four species. Particular attention in further research should be given to Fagus sylvatica L., Populus tremula L., Quercus petraea (Matt.) Liebl., Robinia pseudoacacia L. and Sorbus aria (L.) Crantz. Since preliminary results of this study are promising it would be desirable both to identify active compounds and assess their potential antimicrobial and antioxidant activities.

UDK: 581.19:547.56:582.477 Various phenolic compounds can be found in a gymnosperms and have been related to their bioactive properties, esspecially as a allelochemicals. Total phenol, flavonoid (flavone and flavonol) and protoanthocyanindin content was estimated quantitatively by using spectrophotometric method in the needle methanol extracts of mature Cryptomeria japonica, Cupressocyparis × leylandii „Castewellan Gold“ and Sequoiadendron giganteum individuals. Although there is a strong intraspecific variability on the basis of the studied group of compounds, Duncan's test showed that C. japonica is clearly distinguishable from the other two taxa analyzed, and in particular on the basis of total proanthocyanidins and phenolics content. On the other hand, S. giganteum and C. × leylandii only differ on the basis of the flavonoid content calculated in terms of quercetin equivalent. In all three taxa proanthocyanidins had the highest variability. The ratios and relatively high content of analyzed phenolic compounds for all three studied taxa indicate that they may be considerd as a potential both chemotaxonomic characters and valuable sources of antioxidants, which should be confirmed by further researchs.

Four taxa of Algerian Astragalus L. were studied for their chromosome number, karyotype features, and genome size. Fluorochrome banding was done for detection of GC-rich DNA regions, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) for physical mapping of 35S and 5S rRNA genes, and flow cytometry for nuclear DNA content. All the taxa present the same chromosome number (2n = 2x = 16) and single 35S and 5S rDNA loci, but their distributions on chromosomes are different. The GC heterochromatin pattern was different among studied taxa and an unusually high number of chromomycin-positive bands were observed in A. pseudotrigonus Batt. & Trab. The genome size differed between species, ranging from 2C = 1.39 pg in A. cruciatus Link. to 2C = 2.71 pg in A. armatus subsp. tragacanthoides (Desf.) Maire. No difference in nuclear DNA amount was detected between the 2 subspecies of A. armatus. Although Astragalus is a large genus comprising some 3000 species, such morphometric and molecular cytogenetic karyotype analyses, with genome sizes, are particularly scarce therein. Therefore, published genome sizes have also been compiled into one table.

UDK: 582.632.1:581.45(497.6) Natural interspecies hybrids of black (Alnus glutinosa (L.) Gaertn) and grey (A. incana (L.) Moench) alder are not frequent in nature but they are registered, and according to modern systematic nomenclature are classified within nothospecies A. × pubescens Tausch.. Since the presence of spontaneous intermediate forms of the genus Alnus in Bosnia and Herzegovina is insufficiently explored, the first results of comparative morphological analysis (seven leaf’s characters) of black and grey alder and their hybrids are given in this study. About 10% of hybrid individuals were present in the studied sympatric populations, and they had more heterogeneous leaves than parental species. Good diagnostic characters showed intermediate values in comparison to the parental species, which are: number of pairs of lateral veins, angle from the top of the leaflet to the top of the upper 3rd nerve, and distance from the top of the leaflet to the top of the upper 3rd vein. According to analyzed characters, hybrids either hold intermediate positions between the parental species or are closer to the maternal species (A. incana). Three new findings of nothospecies A. × pubescens for Flora B&H are rivers’ localities Drinjača near Kladanj, Turbe near Travnik, and Stavnja near Vareš. Due to the low frequency of observed individuals of A. x pubescens, they are vulnerable and require special measures of protection and biodiversity conservation activities of autochthonous gene pool, it is necessary to determine the actual state in all previously published hybrid complexes’ findings and expand researches in B&H in the coming period.