Volume 16 (2009)
Articles
GERMAN CHAMOMILE CHAMOMILLA RECUTITA (L.), A SUITABLE CROP FOR CONVERSION PERIOD
Branko Djuric
In organic production conversion period is the most difficult time for producers. To overcome that period with minimum loss of income it is very important to choose appropriate crop. In this experiment 9 producers are chosen and they start with organic production on 11 ha. After two years of production it was obvious that chamomile is excellent crop for conversion period because does not need protection from pests and disease and does not need mineral fertilizers. Yield was between 1600 and 2500 kg/ha of pure chamomile flowers and between 1500 and 2200 kg/ha flowers with petals. After drying producers put on the market chamomile like conventional but anyway they earn more than with some cereal crops. This experiment shows that chamomile is for sure suitable crop for conversion period.
ASPECTS RELATED TO THE PHYTOPLANKTON COMMUNITIES LIVING IN THE DANUBE DURING THE JDS 2 EXPEDITION
AURA LUNGU, LUMINIŢA GALASIU, Ş. MIRON, ANCA SOARE-MINEA, MARINELA BĂLANANDV. FARCAS, V. AMĂRIUCĂI, LEVENTE NAGY, ELENA BOROBOCEA, ALINA CONSTANTIN, ALINA PANŢÂRU, VIOLETA ASTRATINEI
Phytoplankton samples have been taken and analysed during the Danube – JDS 2 expedition in order to make a characterization of the water quality. A saprobic index has been calculated depending on the presence of bio-indicator species setting up that the ecological condition of the Danube river water was good. The taxonomic structure of the phytoplankton consisted in several systematic groups.
MORPHOMETRICAL OBSERVATIONS ON ACER PLATANOIDES L. AND ACER PLATANOIDES VAR. SCHWEDLERI K. KOCH LEAVES
RODICA BERCU
The large polymorphism of the leaves, determined us to introduce the morphometrical method and to analyze them not only by morphological but also by the morphometrical criterions, a less tackled subject in the morphological studies. (Lp) comparatively with A. platanoides var. schwedleri; a grater values has the lobes incision deepness (Ls) of A. platanoides leaves.The percentage report indicates that the apex leaves (A/I-I’) of A. platanoides is more acute (delicate) than those of A. platanoides var. schwedleri. The angular measurements of A. platanoides var. schwedleri of the blades, exhibit that the emergent angle of the primary lateral veins (ω) are larger than those of A. platanoides. Few A. platanoides var. schwedleri leaves possesses emergent angle of the tertiary veins (γ) of insignificance value. A. platanoides var. schwedleri possesses a great number of secondary pairs of veins (Np), comparatively with A. platanoides blades.A. platanoides blades have a large surface (S) than those of A. platanoides var. schwedleri (Table 3). This method may be useful for plants varieties and forms taxonomic identification which is nor so easy thing, based on exact leaf mophometrical parameters, calculated on a great number of leaves.
SOME CONSIDERATION REGARDING THE “IN VITRO” MORPHOGENETIC REACTION OF PELARGONIUM SPECIES
OANA CRISTEA, MARCELA FALTICEANU, MARIA PRISECARU
Pelargonium is one of the world’s most important bedding and pot plants. Recent figures show that the annual sales in Europe and North America are worth in excess of US$ 700 million annually (Mithila et al., 2001). According to Cassells (1992) over 90% of the crop is vegetatively propagated. The main problem in tissue culture propagation of Pelargonium has been the high tendency to formation of vigorously growing callus with low organogenic potency and rapid senescence of cultures. Moreover, the significant differences in requirements to the medium composition (minerals, organic compounds and growth regulators) between Pelargonium cultivars have been observed. This makes difficult to develop a universal method of Pelargonium micropropagation; different approaches should be revised before the introduction in “in vitro” cultivation system of different valuable genotypes. The paper presents the results of the investigations concerning the “in vitro” culture initiation of Pelargonium species, the behavior of the explants on different nutritive mediums, the obtaining of neoplantlets and their accommodation to aseptic conditions. Single node explants were inoculated on basal MS (Murashige and Skoog, 1962) medium containing 3% (w/v) sucrose, supplemented with different concentrations and combinations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), kinetin (KN), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) or indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and GA3 for direct plant regeneration. The best reaction - direct bud formation was observed on explants cultured on MS medium added with BAP. The combination of BAP and NAA increased the percentage of organogenesis and the development of the explants.
IN VITRO GYNOGENESIS IN SOLANUM TUBEROSUM L.
MARIA PRISECARU, TINA OANA CRISTEA
Utilizing the “in vitro” culture of unfertilized ovaries we succeeded on obtaining plants with gynogenetic origin via callus, at the potato variety Desirée (Solanum tuberosum L.). For the induction of gynogenesis the best hormonal combination was: BAP (0,3 mg/l), NAA (0,1 mg/l) and 2,4 D (0,05 mg/l). The basic media utilized in our experiments was MS (1962), supplemented with active charcoal (0,5 mg/l). The differentiation media with BAP (1-2 mg/l) associated with NAA or IAA (0,5 mg/l) generated embryos and plants. The association of BAP or zeatin with GA3 (0,5 mg/l) determined the formation of a large number of micro-tubers both on plants and in the interior of media. The micro-tubers formation was stimulated also by a larger quantity of sucrose (8 %). The micro-tubers and fragments of plantlets represented a good material for “in vitro” micropropagation. The plants obtained from the gynogenetic callsu were 56% diploid, 28% haploid, 3 plants aneuploid and one mixoploid.
THE ASSOCIATION STIPO UCRAINICAE – FESTUCETUM VALESIACAE DIHORU ET DONIŢĂ 1970 FROM TULCEA HILLS (DOBROGEA)
ELIZA ŢUPU, TOADER CHIFU
The Tulcea hills region was little studied just from the point of view of the flora and phytocenology. Through our studies into this area there were identified over 700 species of plants and 40 vegetable associations. One of these is the association Stipo ucrainicae – Festucetum valesiacae Dihoru et Doniţă 1970 which was also described in Dobrogea in The Babadag plateau, Casimcea plateau, Murfatlar and Hagieni reservations. The association is rich in species (over 200) among which almost 65% are characteristic to Festuco-Brometea class.
REVIEW OF SOME USEFUL METHODS IN TAXONOMICAL INTERPRETATION OF DIFFICULT TAXA OF MEDICINAL AND AROMATIC PLANTS. CASE: THYMUS L.
ZORA DAJIĆ STEVANOVIĆ, IVAN ŠOŠTARIĆ
To evaluate the significance of some well accepted methods in taxonomic evidence of botanically complicated taxa of medicinal plants, a number of populations of thyme species was studied in their morphological and anatomical traits, as well as in analyses in histo-chemistry, the main components of essential oils and molecular markers. Results confirmed a high variability in all tested characters, suggesting existence of morpho- and chemotypes.
USE OF JASMONATES TO INDUCE TERPENES IN PICEA ABIES TREES AND CELL CULTURES
GAZMEND ZENELI, MICHAEL A. PHILLIPS, JONATHAN GERSHENZON
Treatment of plants with jasmonates often shows that jasmonates seem to have a high potential in increasing level of biologically active compounds in plants. In this study, methyl jasmonate (MJ) was employed to manipulate levels of terpenes in intact trees and cell cultures of Norway spruce. Application of MJ caused a two to three-fold increase in mono-, sesqui-, and diterpenes in Picea abies sapwood, within a month following treatment. Although previous research have not shown terpenes in undifferentiated cell cultures, we found that P. abies cell suspension cultures constitutively biosynthesized small amounts of various monoterpene hydrocarbons de novo with a product profile similar to that of adult trees. Moreover, following application of MJ or a fungal elicitor, there was a three-fold increase in monoterpene accumulation. These results confirm that the cell suspension cultures might be a useful system in producing high-value secondary metabolites in P. abies.
ON ANUBIAS BARTERI VAR. NANA (ENGLER) CRUSIO ANATOMY
RODICA BERCU
The article comprises investigation of the adventitious root, rhizome and leaf anatomy of an aquatic perennial herb Anubias barteri var. nana. The anatomical characteristics of the adventitious roots exhibit a primary structure but some specific histological features such as the exodermis, endodermis and stele are present (Figs. 1, A, B, 2). The rhizome discloses a cortex with large intercellular spaces and a number of amphivasal and collateral bundles, embedded in the ground tissue are present (Figs. 3, A, B; 4). The petiole of both species is polistelic with regular and aleatory arrangement of the vascular bundles, embedded in aerenchyma. The petiole cortex is differentiated into two regions (Fig. 5, A, B). The blade possesses a homogenous mesophyll with few small air chambers (Fig. 6, A). The midrib is polistelic with poor-developed collateral vascular bundles (Fig. 6, B, 7). The anatomy of the vegetal organs of this two Anubias barteri var. nana discloses certain features of anatomical and ecological interest.
HISTO-ANATOMICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL ASPECTS REGARDING THYMUS COMOSUS HEUFF
IRINA BERCIU, IOAN BURZO, CONSTAMTIN TOMA
This paper presents the results of histo-anatomical and biochemical investigations regarding T. comosus. The histo-anatomical research was carried out on the aerial vegetative organs; a peculiar attention has been given to the structure of the glandular hairs, which are always multicellular, consisting in a basal cell, a unicellular pedicel and a uni- or multicellular gland. The stem has a secondary structure resulted from the activity of the cambium. The cortex of the stem is collenchymatous in the ribs and parenchymatous of meatic type between the ribs and the ends, with an endodermis of Casparyan type. The essential oil were extracted by hydrodistillation, the separation and identifying of their components were made using a gas-chromatograph coupled with masspectometry. The main constituents of the essential oil are: β-caryophyllene (14,27%), germacrene D (10,73%), δ-cadinol (7,96%), spatulenol (7,10%), limonene (5,35%), α-cadinol (4,91%) and cis-β-ocimene (4,18%). Due to the many applications of the components, the essential oil of T. comosus can be used in medical interest and as a pesticide.
STUDIES REGARDING THE MITOTIC DIVISION AND CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS AT ECHINACEA ANGUSTIFOLIA D.C.
TINA OANA CRISTEA, MARCELA FALTICEANU, MARIA PRISECARU
Native to North America, Echinacea species have an important place in herbal medicine. Echinacea has long been used by Native Americans to treat many conditions, including venomous bites, rabies, cold, headache, and stomach cramps (Foster, 1991; Kindscher, 1989; Li, 1998). Its non-selective, immune-enhancing properties have promoted the use of and demand for Echinacea products in recent years and, consequently, its field production. Understanding the cytogenetics of the plant has a key role for controlling the „in vitro” behavior of different explants by a better understanding of the influence of these peculiar conditions over the growth processes. Echinacea angustifolia plants are diploids with a somatic chromosome number of 2n = 22. The study focused toward the determination of the main cellular indexes (mitotic index, prophase index, metaphase index, telophase index and anaphase index) as indicators of growth and development processes speed. In order to have more accurate results, the studies were accomplished in the root meristematic tips on three different plants, originated from Vegetable Research and Development Station Bacău, Romania.
INDUCTION OF HAPLOID PLANTS FROM THE FEMALE GAMETOPHYTE OF TRITICUM AESTIVUM L.
MARIA PRISECARU, TINA OANA CRISTEA
For the induction of “in vitro” gynogenesis at wheat (Triticum aestivum L) the biologic material was represented by unfertilised ovaries excised from immature tillers belonging to six genotypes. A part of the ovaries placed in obscurity formed callus on the induction media N6 (Chu, 1978), vitamins MS or NB with 2,4 D 2 mg/l. The callus, placed in a regime of continuous light (1500 lx), on the culture media MS (Murashige-Skoog, 1962), with BAP and NAA (0,1 mg/l), Kinetin and NAA (0,5 mg/l), in absence of phytohormons or with GA3 0,1 mg/l, generated embryoids and plantlets, in case of three genotypes. The frequency of embryogenic callus induction varies between 37 and 50%, and the regeneration one between 6 and 13%. The highest part of embryoids formed degenerated in different stages of evolution. The cyto-histological study accomplished in the stained ovaries confirmed the presence of cellular activity in embryonic sacs which can imply the oosphere and/or synergids. From a total of 35 gynogenetic plants analised from cytogenetic point of view, on root meristematic metaphases, 21 were haploids, 13 diploid and one mixoploid.
RARE AND THREATENED SPECIES PLANTS AND TYPES OF HABITATS ON SĂRĂTURILE SHORE – DANUBE DELTA
DANIELA STRAT
The Sărăturile shore is located in southern part of Danube Delta Biosphere Reserve. This shore is a semi-natural environment with high geomorphological diversity and phytodiversity. Although it is not a strictly protected area, it presenting a low degree of anthropogenic modification still. On beach and mobile sand dunes occur large populations of marine psammophilous species (Eryngium maritimun, Convolvulus persicus, Petasites spurious, Ephedra distachya). Among these species have scattered spread in the rest of Romanian Black Sea Coast. Fourteen species of vascular plants are included in the Romanian Red List and classified in different IUCN categories. In the area studied are also some beach and dune habitats of European Conservation interest, which are included in the Habitats Directive and Bern Convention.
CYTOPHOTOMETRIC STUDY OVER "IN VITRO" PLANTS REGENERATED FROM ANTHERS AND OVARIES AT BRASSICA OLERACEA L AND B. JUNCEA CZERN SPECIES
DANIELA NICUŢĂ, JOAO LOUREIRO, GOGU GHIORGHIŢĂ, GHICA MIHU
Flow cytometry tests were ran in order to establish the ploidy level for 24 regenerants from anthers and ovaries of two Brassica species. Most of the B. oleracea individuals were myxoploids, having diploid, tetraploid and a small number of octoploid cells. Four regenerants were the exception: three of them had a DNA amount specific to diploid level and the fourth proved to be a tetraploid. Three regenerants of B. juncea (tetraploid species) were tested, two of them provided by ovaries and one by anthers, all of them being dihaploids. Considering that brown mustard has a better response to experimental haploidy than cabbage, more detailed investigations are necessary in order to control this process.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SEEDLINGS ONTOGENESIS IN SOME ORIGANUM L. SPECIES (LAMIACEAE)
RAMONA GALEŞ, CONSTANTIN TOMA, ANA PREOTU
The morphology and structure of seedlings during ontogenesis in three Origanum L. species (O. vulgare, O. criticum and O. kopetdaghensis) are described. The range of morphological and anatomical variation appears to be short in seedlings of investigated species, the structural layout of root, hypocotyl, epicotyl and leaf and the stages of vascular system evolution being similar. Three types of glandular hairs are distinguished. Among the analyzed species, O. vulgare seedling provides the bigger number of glandular hairs on both leaf surfaces.
COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE FLORISTIC DIVERSITY OF FESTUCO RUBRAE – AGROSTIETUM CAPILLARIS HORVAT 1951 PHYTOCOENOSES IN THE BASIN OF THE VASLUI RIVER AND IN THE STÂNIŞOARA MOUNTAINS
IRINA IRIMIA, OANA ZAMFIRESCU, ŞTEFAN R. ZAMFIRESCU
This paper presents the comparative study of the phytocoenoses of the association Festuco rubrae-Agrostietum capillaris Horvat 1951, which have been identified in the drainage basin of the Vaslui River (at 395 m of altitude) and in the Stânişoara Mountains (at 608 – 730 m of altitude). For this purpose, we compared the phytocoenological tables and we estimated the diversity of the plant communities by the analysis of the species richness, of the Shannon’s diversity index and of the species evenness. Simultaneously, we made a comparative analysis of the bioforms, of the floristic elements and of the ecological indices.