Anthoxanthum Odoratum Research Articles

Anthoxanthum odoratum (Poaceae) as a bioindicator of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi abundance prior to native revegetation on agricultural soils

ABSTRACT Mycorrhizal fungi, which form symbiotic associations with plant roots, can be critical to the successful establishment of plants. Up to 90% of land plant species form associations with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), which develop fungal structures inside host roots. Common site preparation practices prior to ecological restoration, such as soil disturbance and herbicide application, may lessen the availability of AMF, potentially jeopardising plant establishment. However, the state of the soil microbiome can be difficult to assess directly. This study examines the potential of the widespread pasture grass Anthoxanthum odoratum (Sweet Vernal, Poaceae) as a bioassay of AMF abundance in soils. We present a rapid clearing and staining protocol for visualising AMF structures in the roots of A. odoratum. We then compare % colonisation on roots of naturally established A. odoratum plants collected from undisturbed pastures vs. sprayed and tilled pastures. Roots of A. odoratum collected from sprayed and tilled pastures showed a significantly lower average AMF colonisation at 43.8% compared with 57.6% on roots from undisturbed pastures. However, all plants sourced from the sprayed and tilled pastures still showed some AMF structures. Our results strongly suggest that A. odoratum can be a useful bioindicator of AMF presence and abundance in soils, offering a promising tool for seed-based restoration on retired agricultural land.

Philaenus tesselatus (Hemiptera: Aphrophoridae), the main potential vector of Xylella fastidiosa in Morocco: seasonal abundance, phenology and host-plant colonization by nymphs

Summary The bacterium Xylella fastidiosa presents a potential risk to the Moroccan flora, particularly for the citrus, olive, almond and grapevine industries. Philaenus tesselatus, the meadow spittlebug, is the most important Moroccan spittlebug, though recorded with uneven occurrence and considered to be the main potential insect vector of X. fastidiosa. A three-year field survey (2019 to 2021) was conducted at three sites in the provinces of Larache and Kenitra in northwestern Morocco, to study seasonal abundance, phenology and host-plant colonization by nymphs. Philaenus tesselatus is a univoltine species. Nymphs occurred in groundcover from end of mid-March to mid-May, with abundance peaking between end of March and mid-May. Emergence of teneral adults occurred between April and May, depending on the year. Adults were present on ground vegetation from March until early August, with the highest abundances surveyed by sweep net in April, and occurred in canopy in low abundance between the end of May and mid-September, depending on site. Both nymphal and adult abundances were significantly higher in Larache than at the other two sites. Philaenus tesselatus, the meadow spittlebug, is a polyphagous species, recorded on nine botanical families of host plant species including Asteraceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Polygonaceae, Apiaceae, Primulaceae, Urticaceae, Papaveraceae and Malvaceae, and 37 host plant species, of which 29 were identified. The Asteraceae were best represented. Carduus pycnocephalus, Vulpia geniculata, Anthoxanthum odoratum and Cistus salviifolius were the most suitable for this spittlebug. Avena barbata, L. foemina, Scolymus hispanicus and S. oleraceus were dominant in the herbaceous layer. Philaenus tesselatus preferred to feed on the mid-section of the host plants. A single foam can host zero to five individuals, but foams with one or two nymphs were most frequent. Implications of our findings for the setting up of a survey program to control X. fastidiosa and its vectors in case the bacterium is introduced to Morocco are discussed.

Plant roots affect free-living diazotroph communities in temperate grassland soils despite decades of fertilization

Fixation of atmospheric N2 by free-living diazotrophs accounts for an important proportion of nitrogen naturally introduced to temperate grasslands. The effect of plants or fertilization on the general microbial community has been extensively studied, yet an understanding of the potential combinatorial effects on the community structure and activity of free-living diazotrophs is lacking. In this study we provide a multilevel assessment of the single and interactive effects of different long-term fertilization treatments, plant species and vicinity to roots on the free-living diazotroph community in relation to the general microbial community in grassland soils. We sequenced the dinitrogenase reductase (nifH) and the 16S rRNA genes of bulk soil and root-associated compartments (rhizosphere soil, rhizoplane and root) of two grass species (Arrhenatherum elatius and Anthoxanthum odoratum) and two herb species (Galium album and Plantago lanceolata) growing in Austrian grassland soils treated with different fertilizers (N, P, NPK) since 1960. Overall, fertilization has the strongest effect on the diazotroph and general microbial community structure, however with vicinity to the root, the plant effect increases. Despite the long-term fertilization, plants strongly influence the diazotroph communities emphasizing the complexity of soil microbial communities’ responses to changing nutrient conditions in temperate grasslands.

Combined effects of aboveground herbivores and belowground microorganisms on dynamics of soil nematode communities in grassland mesocosms

Nematodes are the most abundant animals in soil. They are active in all trophic levels and functionally important for plant growth and plant diversity. Nematode community structure not only can be directly influenced by other belowground organisms such as soil microbes via trophic interactions, but also indirectly by aboveground organisms like herbivores through plant-mediated aboveground-belowground linkages. In the current study, by introducing foliar-feeding aphids (Rhopalosiphum padi) and soil microbial suspensions to mesocosms planted with 12 grassland plant species and where an identical nematode community was introduced in all mesocosms, we aimed to investigate the individual and combined effects of soil microbes and foliar herbivores on the dynamics of plant and the soil nematode community. Introduction of aphids reduced shoot and root biomass of the plant community, and in particular decreased the proportional biomass of the dominant plant species Anthoxanthum odoratum, resulting in a higher diversity of the plant community but without affecting the nematode communities. In contrast, the inoculation of soil microbes did not significantly alter plant composition structure, but it reduced the total nematode abundance and enhanced nematode diversity by increasing the abundance of carnivorous nematodes and decreasing the abundance of plant-feeding nematodes. There were no significant aboveground-belowground interactions in the current study via effects of aphids on the soil nematode communities or via soil microbes and nematodes on the plant communities. Collectively, our study indicates that soil nematode communities in grasslands can be strongly steered by soil microbial inoculations but weakly influenced by aboveground herbivory despite its resulting changes in plant communities, notwithstanding that these effects appeared to be largely independent.

Hunt for the Tekapo tiger (… beetle)

ABSTRACT The tiger beetle Zecicindela tekapoensis was described in 2018 from three specimens collected on the river flats of the lower Tekapo River, Canterbury, New Zealand. An extensive 2019 survey of various habitat types around the lower Pukaki and Tekapo Rivers resulted in the collection of additional specimens. Zecicindela tekapoensis was absent from degraded tussock lands and areas dominated by exotic pasture grasses, preferring open uncultivated shrubby herb field dominated by Rosa rubiginosa, Pilosella officinarum/praealtum, Styphelia nesophila, Muehlenbeckia axillaris, Anthoxanthum odoratum and Carex breviculmis. Relative abundance was estimated at 0.042 beetles per pitfall trap night over the Tekapo river flats.

Pushing the boundaries of organ identity: Homology of the grass lemma

Pushing the boundaries of organ identity: Homology of the grass lemma

House Dust Mite and Grass Pollen Allergen Extracts for Seasonal Allergic Rhinitis Treatment: A Systematic Review.

Background: The treatment of allergic rhinitis is important due to the burden that the disease causes globally. The objective of this review is to explore the efficiency of house dust mite and grass pollen extracts in allergic rhinitis treatment.Methods: We performed research in electronic databases and searched relevant articles on PubMed, CINAHL, OVID, ScienceDirect, Cochrane CENTRAL, and MEDLINE. We used keywords such as ‘allergic rhinitis', ‘sublingual immunotherapy’, ‘randomized controlled trials', ‘grass pollen’, 'allergen immunotherapy’, and ‘house dust mite’. We included nine randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Quality assessment of included studies was performed independently by two authors.Results: We included nine eligible RCTs in this review. Five RCTs were about grass pollen extracts and four RCTs were about house dust mite extracts. Most of the studies reported positive results and suggested further evaluation of sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) treatment. Grass pollen extracts mostly used were Dactylis glomerata, Poa pratensis, Lolium perenne, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Phleum pratense, and Parietaria. House dust mite extracts used were from Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus and Dermatophagoides farina. According to the quality assessment, no bias was observed in the included studies.Conclusions: Although sublingual allergen immunotherapy shows a benefit compared to placebo in the treatment of allergic rhinitis and rhino-conjunctivitis in adults, the results are interpreted with caution due to the high heterogenicity among studies in treatment protocols and dosing. More standardization among studies is needed.

Seedlings of a hemiparasite recognize legumes, but do not distinguish good from poor host species

Most hemiparasitic plants are generalists with a broad host range, but they grow better in the presence of some plant species than with others. In mixed communities of hosts, hemiparasites prefer some hosts over others, but it is not yet known if hemiparasite roots can distinguish between the roots of different plant species and show directed growth (host tropism). We performed host choice experiments, exposing seedlings of Rhinanthus alectorolophus in agar plates simultaneously to seedlings of grass and legume species known to be hosts of good or poor quality for the parasite, and measured directed root growth and haustoria formation. Parasite roots did not show directed growth towards the roots of a good compared to a poor host species within a host functional group. However, parasite roots grew more strongly in the direction of legume than grass roots. The probability to form haustoria with host roots did not differ between host species, and microscopy revealed that functional haustoria were formed even with a very poor host, the grass Anthoxanthum odoratum. Our results show that growth experiments in agar plates are a suitable approach to study early host choice of hemiparasites. Our finding that hemiparasites can (initially) form functional haustoria even with very poor hosts emphasizes that the quality of a plant species as a host depends on several independent processes, including early host recognition, haustoria formation, resource supply and competition.

Evaluating the success of upland hay meadow restoration in the North Pennines, United Kingdom, using green hay transfer

Abstract Traditionally managed mesotrophic species‐rich upland hay meadows conforming to the National Vegetation Classification (NVC) MG3b are one of the rarest grassland types in the United Kingdom, with substantial declines in botanical diversity over the last 50 years. Intensive spring grazing, earlier cut dates and increases in soil fertility cause a decline in characteristic positive indicator species in MG3b meadows, shifting communities from species‐rich MG3b, to NVC MG6 meadows, and finally to species‐poor NVC MG7 meadows. The North Pennines Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) Partnership's Hay Time project aimed to improve the knowledge of upland hay meadows, and to investigate the success of seed addition of key positive indicator species. A landscape‐scale restoration programme was undertaken between 2006 and 2012, harvesting seed from 82 species‐rich donor meadows and spreading seed onto 89 receptor meadows (222.82 ha). Seed was harvested as green hay, using two types of donors: MG6 (classed as restoration, with species such as Rhinanthus minor) and MG3b (classed as enhancement, with species such as Geranium sylvaticum). All 89 meadows were monitored, with a baseline botanical survey and a repeat survey 3–5 years after seed addition. In addition, 41 meadows that did not have seed addition were monitored (controls). Species richness, diversity and floristic composition improved in 77 meadows 3–5 years after seed addition. Eighteen plant species had an increase in frequency in the receptor meadows but did not increase in frequency in the control meadows. The most successful were eight positive indicators which were annuals or fast‐growing perennial plants (Anthoxanthum odoratum, Euphrasia spp., Myosotis discolor, Plantago lanceolata, Ranunculus acris, R minor, Trifolium dubium and Trifolium pratense). However, rarer characteristic MG3b plants such as Alchemilla spp., G. sylvaticum and Cirsium heterophyllum showed little signs of establishing. Botanical evidence is demonstrating that seed addition using green hay is a successful way of restoring meadows to an MG6 community. What is now needed is an effective method to establish characteristic MG3b plants. Hand‐collecting seeds and establishing plug plants, alongside seed addition and maintaining traditional management practises, is one possible way forward.

The vegetation of rich fens (Sphagno warnstorfii-Tomentypnion nitentis) at the southeastern margins of their European range

Question: Rich fens of the Sphagno warnstorfii-Tomentypnion nitentis alliance require a specific combination of base richness and climate to occur. Their rarity at the southeastern margins of their European range has previously prevented rigorous vegetation classification. We asked how many associations may be delimited here and whether some of them are restricted to the high Balkan Mountains showing high endemicity. Study area: Entire territories of Bulgaria and Romania. Methods: We compiled all available vegetation-plot records, including some hitherto unprocessed data. We classified them by both divisive (modified TWINSPAN) and agglomerative (beta-flexible clustering) numerical classification method, with OPTIMCLASS1 applied to set the number of clusters. A semi-supervised approach (k-means) was additionally applied to confirm the classification of Southern-Carpathian (Romania) rich fens, where some Balkan taxa occur. Differences in base richness and elevation were tested by one-way ANOVA with Tukey’s pairwise test. Results: Three associations were delimited and all three occur in Bulgaria, from where only one association had been previously reported. Two associations characterised by Sphagnum contortum and Balkan and Southern-European species occur in Bulgaria, but not in Romania, one at lower elevations around 1,200 m, and one at higher elevations around 2,000 m where pH is lower. One lower-elevation (around 1,300 m) association with S. warnstorfii and S. teres is shared between Romania, Bulgaria and Central Europe. Conclusions: We have described a new high-mountain association, with two subassociations that differ by successional stage and dominant peat moss species (S. contortum and S. warnstorfii, respectively). These subassociations could be reconsidered when more data from other Balkan countries are available. Rich fens in southeastern Europe are rare, have a diverse vegetation, and are deserving of the further attention of nature conservation authorities and vegetation scientists. Taxonomic reference: The nomenclature was harmonized following The Euro+Med PlantBase (Euro+Med 2021) for vascular plants and Hill et al. (2006) for bryophytes, except of Angelica pancicii that is accepted as a separate taxon in Bulgaria (Andreev et al. 1992; Delipavlov et al. 2003). Critical taxa, not always reliably differentiated in the field and in literary sources, were merged to aggregates: Alchemilla vulgaris agg. (all Alchemilla species), Anthoxanthum odoratum agg. (A. alpinum, A. odoratum), Molinia caerulea agg. (M. arundinacea subsp. arundinacea, M. arundinacea subsp. freyi, M. caerulea), Palustriella commutata agg. (P. commutata, P. falcata), Plagiomnium affine agg. (P. affine, P. elatum, P. ellipticum), Sphagnum palustre agg. (S. centrale, S. palustre). Syntaxonomic reference: Peterka et al. (2017) for alliances.

Functional diversity and identity of plant genotypes regulate rhizodeposition and soil microbial activity.

Our understanding of the linkages between plant diversity and soil carbon and nutrient cycling is primarily derived from studies at the species level, while the importance and mechanisms of diversity effects at the genotype level are poorly understood. Here we examine how genotypic diversity and identity, and associated variation in functional traits, within a common grass species, Anthoxanthum odoratum, modified rhizodeposition, soil microbial activity and litter decomposition. Root litter quality was not significantly affected by plant genotypic diversity, but decomposition was enhanced in soils with the legacy of higher genotypic diversity. Plant genotypic diversity and identity modified rhizodeposition and associated microbial activity via two independent pathways. Plant genotypic diversity enhanced soil functioning via positive effects on variation in specific leaf area and total rhizodeposition. Genotype identity affected both rhizodeposit quantity and quality, and these effects were mediated by differences in mean specific leaf area, shoot mass and plant height. Rhizodeposition was more strongly predicted by aboveground than belowground traits, suggesting strong linkages between photosynthesis and root exudation. Our study demonstrates that functional diversity and identity of plant genotypes modulates belowground carbon supply and quality, representing an important but overlooked pathway by which biodiversity affects ecosystem functioning.

On the Origin of Tetraploid Vernal Grasses (Anthoxanthum) in Europe.

Polyploidy has played a crucial role in the evolution of many plant taxa, namely in higher latitudinal zones. Surprisingly, after several decades of an intensive research on polyploids, there are still common polyploid species whose evolutionary history is virtually unknown. Here, we addressed the origin of sweet vernal grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum) using flow cytometry, DNA sequencing, and in situ hybridization-based cytogenetic techniques. An allotetraploid and polytopic origin of the species has been verified. The chromosome study reveals an extensive variation between the European populations. In contrast, an autopolyploid origin of the rarer tetraploid vernal grass species, A. alpinum, has been corroborated. Diploid A. alpinum played an essential role in the polyploidization of both European tetraploids studied.

MO276TOTAL AND SPECIFIC IGE IN PATIENTS WITH IGA NEPHROPATHY

Abstract Background and Aims IgA nephropathy (IgAN) is the most common form of primary glomerulonephritis characterized by impaired immunological tolerance. One of possible trigger factors for IgAN initiation and development are allergens which have been described to form IgA complexes deposited in the mesangium. Previous studies reported that serum immunoglobulin class E (IgE) levels are elevated and suggested as a prognostic indicator in glomerular diseases. However, mechanisms of IgE/IgG4-mediated allergic reactions involvement in IgAN as well as specific allergens and their clinical significance have poorly been investigated. The aim of the study was to assess the total serum IgE and IgG4 level and to determine the allergoprofile in IgAN patients. Method The peripheral blood was obtained from 21 IgAN patients (aged of 32.0 (27.0 ÷ 36.0) y.o., male/female ratio as 14/7) and 18 donors (aged of 38.0 (30.0 ÷ 46.0) y.o., male/female ratio as 10/8). IgAN diagnosis was confirmed in patients’ biopsy materials according to the Oxford classification (MEST-C score). The concentrations of total IgE and IgG4 were determined using «IgE total-ELISA-BEST» kit («Vector-Best», RF) and «Human IgG4 Platinum ELISA» kit («eBioscience», Austria)». Allergen-specific IgE to 55 inhalation (domestic, epidermal, fungal, plant) or food allergens were measured using «EUROLINE Atopy Screen IgE» immunoblot kit («Euroimmun», Germany). Statistical analysis was done in Statistica 8.0. Results The increased level of total IgE (in 47,4% of cases) but not IgG4 was established in sera of IgAN patients as compared to donors (p=0.004). Moreover, proteinuria was lower in IgAN patients with a high IgE level as compared to normal one (610 (220 ÷ 910) mg/day vs 1545 (600 ÷ 2200) mg/day, p=0.01) as well as there were no any crescent formation. The investigation of allergen-specific IgE in IgAN patients revealed a strong positive reaction to dust mite allergens of Dermatophagoides pter. (22,75 (16,72 ÷ 35,69) IU/ml – in 29% of cases) and Dermatophagoides farinae (38,24 (12,19 ÷ 65,88) IU/ml – in 43% of cases) correlated with the total IgE (R=0,57, p=0,03) and IgM (R=0,54, p=0,04). The more concentration of specific IgE to dust mite allergens was the lower the severity of segmental glomerulosclerosis (R= -0.55, p=0.04), crescent formation (R= -0.56, p=0.03), proteinuria (R= -0.65, p=0.01) and haematuria (R = -0.55, p = 0.04) were reported. A weak positive reaction was established to other domestic (house dust, honey bee venom, common wasp venom, cockroach), epidermal (cat), plant (sweet vernal grass, orchard grass, timothy grass, cultivated rye, alder, birch, hazel, oak, common ragweed, mugwort, plantain) and food (carrot, sesame, hazelnut, apple) allergens in 9–18% of IgAN patients. Conclusion The prevailing of specific IgE to dust mite allergens of Dermatophagoides pter. and Dermatophagoides farinae but not to food or plant allergens was determined in IgAN patients. The obtained data demonstrated that IgAN pathogenesis in patients with latent sensibilization to dust mite allergens is characterized by a milder disease course what allows to identify this cohort as possible secondary form of IgAN.

Identification, molecular and biological characterization of two novel secovirids in wild grass species in Belgium

High throughput sequencing was performed on virion-associated nucleic acids (VANA) from a pool of fifty asymptomatic rough bluegrasses (Poa trivialis L.) collected in a Belgian grazed pasture. Bioinformatics analyses produced some contigs presenting similarities with secovirid genomes, in particular nepoviruses and waikaviruses. Three distinct positive-sense single-stranded RNAs including 5’ and 3’ UTR were reconstructed and they represented two novel viruses infecting rough bluegrass, for which the provisional names poaceae Liege nepovirus A (PoLNVA, 7298 nt for RNA1 and 4263 nt for RNA2) and poaceae Liege virus 1 (PoLV1, 11,623 nt) were proposed. Compared to other Secoviridae members, the highest amino acid identity reached 90.7 % and 66.7 % between PoLNVA and nepoviruses for the Pro-Pol and CP regions respectively, while PoLV1 presented the highest amino acid identity with waikaviruses but with lower identities, i.e. 41.2 % for Pro-Pol and 25.8 % for CP regions, far below the ICTV demarcation criteria for novel secovirid. Based on sequence identity and phylogenetic analyses, PoLNVA was proposed to belong to the genus Nepovirus and PoLV1 as an unclassified secovirids. Detection of the two novel viruses was confirmed in high prevalence in rough bluegrass and ten other wild Poaceae species (Agropyron repens, Agrostis capillaris, Apera spica-venti, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Cynosorus cristatus, Festuca rubra, Holcus lanatus, Lolium perenne, Phleum bertolini and Phleum pratense) by RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing, revealing a diverse host range within Poaceae for these novel secovirids. Seed transmission was evaluated and confirmed for PoLNVA.

Evaluation of Serum Immunoreactivity to Common Indigenous Iranian Inhalation and Food Allergens in Patients with Meniere’s Disease

ABSTRACT Background A few studies investigated the relationship between allergy and Meniere disease considering complete allergen panel. We aimed to evaluate the serum immunoreactivity in patients with Meniere’s disease (MD) compared with healthy people according to common indigenous Iranian inhalation and food allergens. Methods Thirty-nine patients with MD referred to Rasoul Akram Hospital (Tehran, Iran) were evaluated and compared with a 41 membered control group. A panel of common inhalation and food allergens (using an immunoblotting method), as well as total immunoglobulin E (IgE) level (using the sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method), were checked on the patients’ serum. Results The mean total IgE level was 193.85 ± 175.43 IU/ml in the patients with MD and 117.61 ± 138.05 IU/ml in the control group, which was significantly higher than the other subjects in the control group (P = .016). There was a significant difference between the two groups regarding inhalation allergens such as; sweet vernal grass, cultivated rye, cultivated oat, Russian thistle, goosefoot, and rough pigweed (P = .01–0.038). Patients with MD reported more reactive to food allergens such as; rye flour, hazelnut, pepper, citrus mix 2, potato, strawberry, and celery allergens. There was a significant relationship between Meniere and serum immunoreactivity to inhalation and food allergens (both P = .001). Conclusion: Serum total IgE level in patients with MD (in both inhalation and food allergens groups) was higher than the control group, and there was a relationship between MD and immunoreactivity to common indigenous inhalation and food allergens of Iran.

Prevalence of common inhaled allergies in Erbil province, Kurdistan Region of Iraq

Nowadays, inhaled allergens are the main causes of allergic diseases, which are derived from different sources such as animal dander, grasses, tree, insects and fungi/molds. Identification and detection of allergens play a critical role in the diagnosis and treatment of many allergic diseases. Aims were to determine the prevalence of most common inhaled allergens in Erbil province and determination the intensity of allergic response among allergic patients against 35 identified inhaled allergens items. A total number of 170 patients suffering from suspected inhalant allergy were checked in the present study. The study was carried out for patients who visited the private clinical sectors between 2018-2020 in Erbil province, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Determination of specific IgE (sIgE) antibodies was examined for suspected patients. The country-specific inhaled allergy profile “Euroline inhaled Iraq 1” (Catalog no: DP 313816011 E, IVD approved, and CE certified EUROLINE immunoblot), containing strip for 35 different inhalant allergens, has been used in this study. Positive specific IgE to inhaled allergens was detected in 22.35% of our suspected patients. Orchard grass (21.05%) was the most inhaled allergen in our 38 allergic patients, followed by the Meadow foxtail (15.78%), Cockroach German and Sweet vernal grass (13.15%). Based on the present study results, we conclude that the prevalence of inhaled allergy differed between men and women in different age groups. Our study reached that there were no associations between inhaled allergens and sex or age. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.4395149

Soil legacy determines arbuscular mycorrhizal spore bank and plant performance in the low Arctic

Human impact is rapidly changing vegetation globally. The effect of plant cover that no longer exists in a site may still affect the development of future vegetation. We focused on a little studied factor—arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus spore bank—and its effect on three test plant species. In a low Arctic field site, plots were maintained for 6 years, devoid of any vegetation or with a Solidago virgaurea monoculture cover. We analysed the AM fungal morphospecies composition and identified 21 morphospecies in the field plots. The AM morphospecies community was dominated by members of Acaulosporaceae. Monoculturing under low Arctic field conditions changed the soil AM spore community, which became dominated by Glomus hoi. We tested the soil feedback in the greenhouse and grew Solidago virgaurea, Potentilla crantzii and Anthoxanthum odoratum in the field soils from the plots without plant cover, covered with Solidago virgaurea or with intact vegetation. Our results suggest that monoculturing resulted in improved N acquisition by the monocultured plant species Solidago virgaurea which may be related to the AM fungus community. Our results show that a rich community of AM fungus spores may remain viable under field conditions for 6 years in the low Arctic. Spore longevity in field soil in the absence of any host plants differed among AM fungus species. We suggest that AM fungus spore longevity be considered an AM fungal life-history trait.

Discrimination of grass pollen of different species by FTIR spectroscopy of individual pollen grains

Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy enables the chemical characterization and identification of pollen samples, leading to a wide range of applications, such as paleoecology and allergology. This is of particular interest in the identification of grass (Poaceae) species since they have pollen grains of very similar morphology. Unfortunately, the correct identification of FTIR microspectroscopy spectra of single pollen grains is hindered by strong spectral contributions from Mie scattering. Embedding of pollen samples in paraffin helps to retrieve infrared spectra without scattering artifacts. In this study, pollen samples from 10 different populations of five grass species (Anthoxanthum odoratum, Bromus inermis, Hordeum bulbosum, Lolium perenne, and Poa alpina) were embedded in paraffin, and their single grain spectra were obtained by FTIR microspectroscopy. Spectra were subjected to different preprocessing in order to suppress paraffin influence on spectral classification. It is shown that decomposition by non-negative matrix factorization (NMF) and extended multiplicative signal correction (EMSC) that utilizes a paraffin constituent spectrum, respectively, leads to good success rates for the classification of spectra with respect to species by a partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model in full cross-validation for several species. PLS-DA, artificial neural network, and random forest classifiers were applied on the EMSC-corrected spectra using an independent validation to assign spectra from unknown populations to the species. Variation within and between species, together with the differences in classification results, is in agreement with the systematics within the Poaceae family. The results illustrate the great potential of FTIR microspectroscopy for automated classification and identification of grass pollen, possibly together with other, complementary methods for single pollen chemical characterization.

Genotypic diversity and genotype identity of resident species drive community composition

Abstract Aims Species-rich plant communities are more resistant to invasions. In the past decade it was demonstrated that genetic variation also has many ecological effects. In our study we aimed to test whether the patterns of response to the genetic diversity of a resident species differ between colonizing species of different growth forms and whether the response is affected by soil nutrients. Methods We established experimental stands of a common grass, Festuca rubra, harbouring three levels of genetic diversity (1, 6 or 18 clonal genotypes, referred to as genotypic diversity) under two soil nutrient levels. In the fourth year after the stands were established, we sowed a mixture of four colonizers into the stands: a stoloniferous legume (Trifolium repens), a broad-leaf tussock grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), a large-rosette forb (Plantago lanceolata) and a small-rosette forb (Campanula rotundifolia). We observed species establishment and growth over 3 years. We tested whether colonization success depended on genotypic diversity, specific Festuca genotypes, soil nutrients and colonizer growth form. Important Findings The colonization success and biomass of the colonizers were significantly affected by the genotypic diversity and the genotype identity of the resident clonal grass. The response, however, differed between the colonizers. The strongest response to the genotypic diversity of the resident species was observed in the tussock grass with a growth form and architecture similar to the resident species. The large-rosette species responded in early stages of growth whereas the stoloniferous legume did not respond at all. The intraspecific genotypic diversity and genotype identity of the resident species play an important role in the assembly of plant communities.

Materials to the creation of the botanical preserve of local importance «Novozhanivskyi»

The results of ecological and floristic studies of the rarity component of the urban flora of Kharkiv City in the valley of the Udy River within the Novobovarskyi microdistrict are presented. Field studies were conducted in 2017‒2020. A triangular section of 30.48 hectares was investigated near the Novozhanovo railway station. It is located on the left bank of the river Udy and is bounded on both sides by railway embankments. The Udy River valley is situated in the northeast of the city, mainly in the previously underdeveloped areas; its significant part lays in the exclusion zone of the Kharkiv railway junction and road transport routes. A large area of the river valley is swampy, therefore unsuitable for economic use. The Udianskyi eco-corridor of local importance passes through the city. It consists of two key areas: the Zhovtnevyi Hydropark wetlands and the Kriukivskyi hydrological reserve of local importance. Currently, it has been proposed to create a botanical preserve of local importance "Novozhanivskyi" for the protection of species and associations rare for Kharkiv Region and for conservation of the true meadow formation (Prata genuine) of the class Festuceta pratensis. The site is of scientific importance, since a number of species growing there are listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine and need protection under Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) – Ophioglossum vulgatum, Botrychium lunaria, Anacamptis coriophora, A. palustris, Epipactis palustris, Parnassia palustris, Centaurium erythraea, C. pulchellum, Valeriana officinalis, Inula helenium, Dianthus stenocalyx. The investigated area phytodiversity is represented by meadow and psammophytic species of vascular plants: Calamagrostis epigeios, Agrostis vinealis, Poa pratensis, Koeleria cristata, Nardus stricta, Sieglingia decumbens, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Festuca orientalis, Juncus gerardii, Botrychium lunaria, Genista tinctoria, Solidago virgaurea, Euphrasia pectinata, Stellaria graminea, Hieracium villosum, H. umbellatum, Polygala sibirica, Plantago lanceolata, Equisetum arvense, Achillea submillefolium. For the five plant species listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine, the distribution maps within the area of proposed preserve are given.