Hypericum aegypticum subsp. webbii is an evergreen shrub spread in Mediterranean part of central and southeastern Europe. The chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil and ...MeOH extract of H. aegypticum subsp. webbii were investigated. The monoterpenes α‐pinene (63.4 – 68.5%) and β‐pinene (16.9 – 17.0%) were main compounds in the volatile oil from aerial parts. In the cluster analysis, the essential oil of H. aegypticum subsp. webbii was separated and chemically different from the oil of other subspecies of H. aegypticum as well as other Hypericum species from Greece. SIMPER analysis revealed that α‐pinene (24.79%) was the component that contributed the most to differences between all oils. Also, there was extremely high overall dissimilarity between three subspecies of H. aegypticum. MeOH extract of aerial parts of H. aegypticum subsp. webbii contained flavonoids rutin (56.4 ± 0.9 mg/g), hyperoside and quercetin, and phenolic acids chlorogenic and caffeic acid, while naphthodianthrones were not detected. The antimicrobial activity of essential oil was moderate (MIC from 100 to >200 μg/ml), while MeOH extract inhibited the growth of Gram‐positive bacteria Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus epidermidis, and Micrococcus luteus (MIC 50 – 100 μg/ml), more pronounced than the extract of H. perforatum (MIC 200 – >200 μg/ml).
The chemical composition of the essential oils of Seseli gracile Waldst. & Kit. from natural habitat (Djerdap Gorge, Serbia) and from cultivated plants (Belgrade, Serbia) were characterized. The ...essential oils of the root, aerial parts, inflorescence and fruit were analyzed by GC/MS and GC/FID. Monoterpene hydrocarbons were the main compounds in the essential oil of aerial parts (45.2?93.0 %), inflorescences (84.1 and 90.0 %) and fruit (85.0 %). Polyacetylenes (38.8 and 87.6 %) were dominant in the essential oil of root. The cluster analysis revealed that there were significant differences in the chemical composition of the S. gracile oils at different phenological stages. On the other hand, essential oils from the aerial parts from natural and cultivated plants showed quite uniform qualitative composition. The aerial parts essential oil from natural habitat contained higher content of para-cymene (mean values 17.3 vs. 6.5 %) and lower amounts of terpinolene (mean values 23.1 vs. 49.9 %). Also polyacetylene falcarinol was present only in the aerial parts samples from natural habitat. The essential oil of inflorescences from natural habitat contained higher concentration of terpinolene, quite similar amount of para- -cymene and lower content of ?-pinene.
The chemical compositions of the essential oils of seven natural populations of Seseli rigidum were analyzed. The essential‐oil yield ranged from 0.16 to 2.09%. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) revealed ...that there were no statistically significant differences in the mean essential‐oil yields between the populations, and no significant influence of the climate or soil type on the oil yield was observed. In all 67 analyzed samples, the polyacetylene falcarinol was the main compound, followed by octanal, methyl linoleate, α‐muurolene, 3‐butylphthalide, falcarinone, muurola‐4,10(14)‐dien‐1β‐ol, β‐sesquiphellandrene, salvial‐4(14)‐en‐1‐one, δ‐amorphene, spathulenol, and isospathulenol. The principal component analysis (PCA), the canonical discriminant analysis (CDA), and the cluster analysis (CA) revealed differentiation between the populations based on the climate. Three groups of populations were formed; the first group was composed of samples growing in regions with a humid climate, with oils having high falcarinol and low sesquiterpene contents, and the second and third groups comprised samples exposed to semi‐arid climate, with oils characterized by a lower falcarinol and higher α‐muurolene, δ‐amorphene, β‐sesquiphellandrene, and salvial‐4(14)‐en‐1‐one contents. The semi‐arid populations were divided into two groups, which were distinguished based on the oil contents of sesquiterpenes, falcarinone, and 3‐butylphthalide. On the other hand, no clear separation between populations based on the different soil types could be observed.
•Univariate macrophyte responses were studied for the first time on the Balkan Peninsula.•Perennial macrophytes tolerate a wide range of conditions during a growing season.•Environmental variables ...showed significant seasonal variability.•Macrophytes with narrow environmental tolerance have the highest bioindicator potential.•Phragmites australis has regional bioindicator capacity.
The simultaneous monitoring of vegetation, water and sediments was conducted in wetlands of the central Balkan Peninsula due to the lack of available knowledge on the univariate response of macrophytes along environmental gradients. The environmental preferences and bioindicator potential of macrophytes were assessed using Huisman-Olff-Fresco (HOF) models. Bolboschoenus maritimus and Scirpus lacustris subsp. tabernaemontani are valuable bioindicators of slightly saline (electroconductivity of 2000–4000μScm−1 in the sediment) and alkaline habitats that are rich in SO42−. Their ecological niches are partially overlapped. Bolboschoenus maritimus prefers saltier and more alkaline habitats for optimal development. The salinity and alkalinity of habitats are decisive factors in the ecological diversification of the Boloboschoenus species. Bolboschoenus glaucus is adapted to non-saline (400–900μScm−1) and slightly alkaline habitats, unlike Bolboschoenus maritimus. Relatively deep, slightly acid waters which are poor in SO42− (0.30mg/l), and sediments with low values of electroconductivity and K2O (6.8mg/100g sediment) are preferred by Typha angustifolia, Sparganium erectum and Typha latifolia. The abundance of Phalaris arundinacea, Scirpus lacustris, Carex riparia and Eleocharis palustris increases when there is a decrease in the amount of nutrients (NH4+, PO43− and SO42−) in the water. Phragmites australis has low indicative value and regional bioindicator potential. The data obtained in the study may serve as a basis for adjusting the existing indicator values of these species and extending indicator systems by defining the indicator values of species with respect to environmental variables which have not yet been considered.
Composition of the essential oils of Rosmarinus officinalis of ten populations from the Balkan Peninsula were determined by GC/FID and GC/MS. The main constituents were 1,8‐cineole, camphor, ...α‐pinene, and borneol. Multivariate statistical analysis (UPGMA cluster analysis and principal‐component analysis (PCA)) revealed two major types of rosemary oil, i.e., 1,8‐cineole and camphor‐type, and two intermediate types, i.e., camphor/1,8‐cineole/borneol type and 1,8‐cineole/camphor type. The regression analyses (simple linear regression and stepwise multiple regression) have shown that, with respect to basic geographic, orographic, and 19 bioclimatic characteristics of each population, bioclimatic factor temperature of habitat represented the dominant abiogenetic factor, which, in chemical sense, led to differentiation of populations in the studied region. Also, the regression analysis have shown that some constituents of essential oils are independent of any single bioclimatic factors. However, some constituents display statistically significant correlations with some abiotic factors.
Data on seasonal variability in emergent macrophyte communities in regard to the composition of statistically significant indicator species remain incomplete. It was recognized by the authors as a ...potentially significant scientific issue and was defined as the main objective of this study. Information on the floristic composition of the communities included in this paper were collected in the Central Balkan Peninsula. Using a combination of cluster analysis and indicator species analysis, 11 emergent macrophyte communities were established. The seasonal dynamic of these communities did not include statistically significant modification of either the floristic composition or the species abundances according to the results of permutational multivariate analysis of variance (PERMANOVA). Nevertheless, seasonal variability in three communities âthe Sparganium erectum community, Scirpus lacustris community and Typha angustifolia community â was registered in regard to the composition of their statistically significant indicator species. Disturbances primarily related to water level fluctuation in their habitats initiated a significant increase or decrease in the abundances of particular species. These slight structural changes were sufficient to induce a changeability in these communities in terms of the composition of their statistically significant indicator species over the growing season without a significant impact on the PERMANOVA results. This relatively âconcealedâ changeability of plant communities could have serious consequences on the processes of both defining and describing vegetation units because the indicator species are often used as âdiagnostic speciesâ. Consequently, future ecological studies should be more focused on investigating seasonal variability in diverse vegetation types in order extend our knowledge in this area.
During the past few years, the isophylloid
complex has been the subject of studies aimed at an improved understanding of the relationships within it. The center of distribution of the
complex is in ...the Balkan Peninsula with some smaller parts of the area located in the south Apennines. Although 21 taxa of the
complex were described, only four species are accepted:
and
In the present study, we propose compounds of the methanolic leaf extract as possible chemotaxonomic markers for the
complex. Eleven flavonoids and two phenolic acids were detected in leaf extract using high-performance liquid chromatography with diode-array detection analysis. The investigated taxa of the
complex differ in terms of the composition of the methanolic leaf extract. clustering of investigated taxa is not completely consistent with the previously reported molecular and morphometric data.
Many terrestrial orchid species are known to grow in forest ecosystems, but the patterns of their diversity and habitat specialization have not been sufficiently explored. Niche parameters and ...factors influencing the distribution, abundance and composition of forest orchids in the central Balkans were investigated in the present study. Outlying mean index (OMI) analysis was used to explore ecological niches of orchids and environmental factors affecting the patterns of their distribution. Indicator species analysis was performed to identify species presenting strong affinity for specific forest and bedrock types. In addition, similarity profile analysis was applied to classify orchid taxa into meaningful groups, whereas the multi-response permutation procedure was used to analyse differences of orchid composition between forest types. Out of a total of 40 orchid species and subspecies analysed, 29 showed significant niche marginality. The first three axes of the OMI analysis explained 68.13% of total variability. Light, temperature, moisture, nitrogen and altitude were found to be the factors most effectively influencing the distribution and abundance of orchids. Seven orchids had statistically significant strong affinity for specific forest types, whereas eight orchids were statistically significantly correlated with specific bedrock types. Overall, six ecological groups of orchids were distinguished. The results suggest that specialist orchids occur at the extreme ends of the light, temperature, soil pH, moisture and altitude gradients. Moreover, most specialist orchid species were found from low to middle elevations. The results provide a useful basis for the successful design of strategies for the conservation of forest orchids.
Plant specialised metabolites like essential oils are highly variable depending on genetic and various ecological factors. The aim of the present work was to characterise essential oils of the ...species Seseli rigidum Waldst. & Kit. (Apiaceae) in various organs on the individual and populational levels. Geographical variability and the impact of climate and soil type on essential oil composition were also investigated. Individually sampled essential oils of roots, aerial parts and fruits of plants from seven populations were analysed by GC-FID and GC-MS. The investigated populations showed high interpopulational and especially intrapopulational variability of essential oil composition. In regard to the variability of essential oils, different chemotypes were defined. The essential oils of S. rigidum roots represented a falcarinol chemotype, oils of aerial parts constituted an α-pinene or α-pinene/sabinene chemotype and fruit essential oils can be characterised as belonging to a complex sabinene/α-pinene/β-phellandrene/falcarinol/germacrene B chemotype. At the species level, analysis of variance (ANOVA), principal component analysis (PCA) and canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) showed that the plant part exerted the strongest influence on the composition of essential oils. Climate had a high impact on composition of the essential oils of roots, aerial parts and fruits, while influence of the substrate was less pronounced. The variations in main compounds of essential oils based on climate or substrate were complex and specific to the plant part.
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•Individually sampled 206 essential oils of Seseli rigidum analysed by GC/MS/FID.•Variability of essential oils in different organs on individual and populational level.•Geographical variability, impact of climate and soil type on essential oil composition.•Intrapopulational and interpopulational variability.•The highest impact of different climate conditions on the composition of the essential oils.
It is generally accepted belief that serpentine areas are inhabited by a smaller number of species than known from other types of geological substrates. Based on this idea we selected, as a model ...system, the area of the northwestern Serbia and Å umadija with well represented serpentinite, carbonate and silicate rocks, in order to evaluate the influence of a different geology and habitat types on the differentiation of the analyzed floras and determine whether the serpentinites are really inhabited by a smaller number of species than other types of geological substrate. Based on the results of several statistical analyses of the investigated area, we found that: i) serpentinites are inhabited by a smaller number of species compared to carbonate, but a higher number of species compared to silicate geological substrate, ii) the particular habitat types on serpentinites exhibit greater floristic diversity than the equivalent habitat types on other geological substrates, iii) similarity within the same habitat type of serpentinite, carbonate and silicate floras is greater than the similarity between the different serpentine floras of the different habitat types, iv) environmental factors such as moisture and habitat type have a larger impact on the differentiation of the flora, compared to the type of geological substrate, and v) the largest number of serpentinophytes were registered in the xerophilous forests and xerophilous grasslands compared to other habitat types.
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