Pyracantha Coccinea Research Articles

First Report of Erwinia amylovora on Firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea) and Mountainash (Sorbus sp.) in Turkey.

Fire blight, caused by the bacterium Erwinia amylovora, is a serious disease of apples (Malus spp.) and pears (Pyrus spp.) but can also infect many ornamental species in the Rosaceae family. In the summers of 2009 and 2010, leaf and shoot blight and reddish colored cankers were observed on firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea) and brown discolored leaves and necrotic stem lesions on mountain ash (Sorbus sp.) both from the landscape areas of Konya province. Investigation of these symptoms showed that in an 85-ha area, disease incidence was estimated at 1.5% and 1% on firethorn and mountain ash, respectively. Bacteria were consistently isolated from both leaf and lesions onto nutrient sucrose agar medium. Nine representative bacterial colonies from firethorn isolations and six from mountain ash isolations purified and characterized as gram-negative, rod-shaped, mucoid, fermentative, yellow-orange on Miller & Scroth medium, positive for levan formation and acetoin production, no growth at 36°C, positive for gelatin and esculin hydrolysis, and negative for indole, urease, oxidase, arginine dehydrolase, reduction of nitrate, and acid production from lactose and inositol (2). Two reference strains of E. amylovora (EaP28 and NCPPB 2791) obtained from culture collection at Selcuk University, Department of Plant Protection, Konya, Turkey, were used as positive controls. All strains induced a hypersensitive response in tobacco (Nicotiana tobaccum cv. White Burley) and produced ooze when stab inoculated on immature pear fruits. In addition, all strains and the references were identified as E. amylovora on the basis of a 1-kb DNA fragment amplification with a species-specific primer set, A/B (1) in PCR. Pathogenicity tests were performed by injecting a bacterial suspension (108 CFU ml-1) into the shoot tips of 3-year-old firethorn and mountain ash seedlings, resulting in leaf and shoot blight symptoms observed 10 to 15 days after inoculation. No symptoms were observed on control plants treated with sterile water. E. amylovora was positively reisolated from leaf and shoot lesions from the inoculated seedlings and identified as described above. To our knowledge, this is the first report of E. amylovora on P. coccinea and Sorbus sp. in Turkey.

Assessing the flammability of surface fuels beneath ornamental vegetation in wildland–urban interfaces in Provence (south-eastern France)

The objectives of this paper are to assess in laboratory conditions the flammability of undisturbed litter sampled beneath plants of seven species that are among those most frequently planted in hedges in Provence (south-eastern France). The variability in litter flammability recorded during burning experiments was partly explained by the proportions of the different litter components of each species. Phyllostachys sp. and Nerium oleander litters were the quickest to ignite whereas Prunus laurocerasus litter had the lowest bulk density and long time-to-ignition, but high flame-propagation. Photinia fraseri litter ignited frequently and had a high flame spread whereas Pittosporum tobira litter ignited the least frequently and for the shortest duration. Cupressus sempervirens litter had the highest bulk density and the longest flaming duration but the lowest flame propagation. Pyracantha coccinea litter was the slowest to ignite and flame propagation was low but lasted a long time. Co-inertia analysis identified species with the same flammability characteristics according to the composition of their litter. Hierarchical cluster analysis ranked the seven species in four distinct clusters from the most flammable (Photinia fraseri and Prunus laurocerasus) to the least flammable (Pittosporum tobira), the other species displaying two groups of intermediate flammability. These latter species should not be used in hedges planted in wildland–urban interfaces in south-eastern France.

Chemical modification of a plant origin biomass using cationic surfactant ABDAC and the biosorptive decolorization of RR45 containing solutions

This study focused on the improvement of the decolorization potential of biomass derived from Pyracantha coccinea. Alkyl benyzldimethyl ammonium chloride (ABDAC) was used as modification agent. Batch mode decolorization potential of modified biosorbent was explored at different operating conditions. ABDAC modification significantly increased the biosorption yield to 97.27%, which was 3.88 times higher than that of natural biomass. The prepared biosorbent was effectively used for the decolorization of Reactive Red 45 contaminated solutions after the optimization of biosorption conditions. The non-linear regression analysis was used to evaluate the isotherm and kinetic model parameters. Process followed the Langmuir isotherm model and the highest monolayer capacity of 152.49mgg−1 was obtained with a small amount of modified biosorbent. Kinetic studies indicated fast decolorization rate of the process following the pseudo-first-order model. Biosorption performance of the prepared biosorbent was tested in RR45 containing real wastewater sample. The possible dye biosorbent interactions in the biosorption process were explored by zeta potential, scanning electron microscobe and FTIR analysis.

Ephedra alte(Joint Pine): An Invasive, Problematic Weedy Species in Forestry and Fruit Tree Orchards in Jordan

A field survey was carried out to record plant species climbed by Ephedra alte in certain parts of Jordan during 2008–2010. Forty species of shrubs, ornamental, fruit, and forest trees belonging to 24 plant families suffered from the climbing habit of E. alte. Growth of host plants was adversely affected by E. alte growth that extended over their vegetation. In addition to its possible competition for water and nutrients, the extensive growth it forms over host species prevents photosynthesis, smothers growth and makes plants die underneath the extensive cover. However, E. alte did not climb all plant species, indicating a host preference range. Damaged fruit trees included Amygdalus communis, Citrus aurantifolia, Ficus carica, Olea europaea, Opuntia ficus-indica, and Punica granatum. Forestry species that were adversely affected included Acacia cyanophylla, Ceratonia siliqua, Crataegus azarolus, Cupressus sempervirens, Pinus halepensis, Pistacia atlantica, Pistacia palaestina, Quercus coccifera, Quercus infectoria, Retama raetam, Rhamnus palaestina, Rhus tripartita, and Zizyphus spina-christi. Woody ornamentals attacked were Ailanthus altissima, Hedera helix, Jasminum fruticans, Jasminum grandiflorum, Nerium oleander, and Pyracantha coccinea. Results indicated that E. alte is a strong competitive for light and can completely smother plants supporting its growth. A. communis, F. carica, R. palaestina, and C. azarolus were most frequently attacked.

Antibacterial and Antitumor Activities of Some Wild Fruits Grown in Turkey

ABSTRACTTwo different bioassays (antibacterial and antitumor) were performed to show the biological activities of eight different wild fruits [Viburnum opulus L. (guelder rose), Viburnum lantana L. (wayfaring tree), Cornus mas L. (cornelian cherry), Pyracantha coccinea Roemer (firethorn), Rubus caesius L. (dewberry), Crataegus tanacetifolia (Lam.) Pers (tansy-leaved thorn), Crataegus monogyna Jacq. (hawthorn) and Rosa canina L. (dog rose)] grown in Turkey. For each fruit, 8 different extracts (aqueous and ethanol extracts prepared from hot and cold treatments offresh and dried fruits) were obtained and a total of 64 extracts were evaluated. The disc diffusion assay (Kirby-Bauer Method) was used to screen for antibacterial activity. Among the tested fruits, best antibacterial activity was obtained with fresh fruits of wayfaring tree, firethorn and hawthorn. Hot ethanol extracts of these fruits showed strong antibacterial activity against S. aureus, S. epidermidis and S. pyogenes. Antitumor activity was evaluated with potato disc tumor induction assay. Best antitumor activity was obtained with cold water extract offresh fruits of R. caesius (100% inhibition). Cold or hot ethanol extracts of fresh V. lantana fruits (90.5% and 95.2%, respectively), cold water extract of fresh C. monogyna fruits (85.7%) and hot ethanol extracts of fresh C. tanacetifolia fruits (71.4%) also exhibited strong tumor inhibition.

Estimating Gene Flow between Refuges and Crops: A Case Study of the Biological Control of Eriosoma lanigerum by Aphelinus mali in Apple Orchards

Parasitoid disturbance populations in agroecosystems can be maintained through the provision of habitat refuges with host resources. However, specialized herbivores that feed on different host plants have been shown to form host-specialized races. Parasitoids may subsequently specialize on these herbivore host races and therefore prefer parasitizing insects from the refuge, avoiding foraging on the crop. Evidence is therefore required that parasitoids are able to move between the refuge and the crop and that the refuge is a source of parasitoids, without being an important source of herbivore pests. A North-South transect trough the Chilean Central Valley was sampled, including apple orchards and surrounding Pyracantha coccinea (M. Roem) (Rosales: Rosacea) hedges that were host of Eriosoma lanigerum (Hemiptera: Aphididae), a globally important aphid pest of cultivated apples. At each orchard, aphid colonies were collected and taken back to the laboratory to sample the emerging hymenopteran parasitoid Aphelinus mali (Hymenoptera: Aphelinidae). Aphid and parasitoid individuals were genotyped using species-specific microsatellite loci and genetic variability was assessed. By studying genetic variation, natural geographic barriers of the aphid pest became evident and some evidence for incipient host-plant specialization was found. However, this had no effect on the population-genetic features of its most important parasitoid. In conclusion, the lack of genetic differentiation among the parasitoids suggests the existence of a single large and panmictic population, which could parasite aphids on apple orchards and on P. coccinea hedges. The latter could thus comprise a suitable and putative refuge for parasitoids, which could be used to increase the effectiveness of biological control. Moreover, the strong geographical differentiation of the aphid suggests local reinfestations occur mainly from other apple orchards with only low reinfestation from P. cocinnea hedges. Finally, we propose that the putative refuge could act as a source of parasitoids without being a major source of aphids.

FIRE BLIGHT SPREAD IN BULGARIA AND CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PATHOGEN ERWINIA AMYLOVORA

Fire blight in Bulgaria and Erwinia amylovora strains were subjects of field observations and laboratory tests within a 21-year period (1989-2009). Results from the most comprehensive survey for the country determined that fire blight is widely spread and the pathogen was found in 370 localities representing all administrative districts. The pathogen was isolated from 433 samples originating from 11 rosaceous host species: quince, pear, apple, Mespilus germanica (medlar), Crataegus monogyna, Pyrus sp., P. pyraster, P. elaeagrifolia, Amelanchier sp., Cotoneaster dammeri and Pyracantha coccinea. The cultural, physiological and biochemical characteristics of more than 370 preserved strains corresponded to the available data on E. amylovora (incl. API 20E and FAME profiles). Exopolysaccharide production differed among the tested strains, corresponded to virulence, and was particularly high for one strain from (225/12, = BG 16). Numerous DNA tests (23S rDNA, nested PCR, ams-PCR) revealed the existence of E. amylovora-related amplicons and genomic variability (SSR) among the Bulgarian strains as well. Streptomycin resistance (100 ppm) was not observed either during laboratory tests of plant samples or in isolates obtained afterwards.

Host range of an invasive moth, Phyllonorycter leucographella

AbstractWe examined the host range of an invasive small moth, Phyllonorycter leucographella in two plant collections in Poland. A total of 248 species, varieties and cultivars of the subfamily Maloideae were sampled. We found that only 75 of them were attacked by Ph. leucographella. As many as 68 novel host plants are reported for the first time. However, the infestation of these plants is usually much lower than its primary host, Pyracantha coccinea.

Use of Pyracantha coccinea Roem. as a possible biomonitor for the selected heavy metals

In this study, copper, iron, manganese and nickel levels of branches and leaves of Pyracantha coccinea Roem. (firethorn) were measured for determining the heavy metal pollution in Mugla Province. Plant samples were collected from 34 different localities in four different areas of Mugla Province, during 2006 vegetation period. Unwashed and washed leaf samples and unwashed branch samples were subjected to analysis and copper, iron, manganese and nickel concentrations of samples were measured by inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry. The obtained data were analyzed with “statistical package for the social sciences” statistics program. As a result of measurements, the highest average and lowest values and their collected stations were as follows; the highest average (5.89 ± 0.04 μg/g dw) and the lowest (5.20 ± 0.03 μtg/g dw) values of copper were measured near highways. The average highest iron value (9.53 ±1.68 μtg/g dw) was in industrial area while the lowest was near highways (1.73 ± 0.54 μtg/g dw). The highest value of magnesium accumulation (1.00 ± 0.16 μtg/gdw) was measured near highways. The lowest value was determined in urban area (0.40 ± 0.14 μtg/g dw). The average highest level of nickel was in industrial area while the lowest was determined in urban area. The values were 14.34 ± 1.59 μtg/g and 4.05 ± 0.51 μtg/g dw. As a result, it was proven that P. coccinea could be used as a biomonitor species for some of these heavy metals especially for copper and nickel.

Biosorption performance of surface modified biomass obtained from Pyracantha coccinea for the decolorization of dye contaminated solutions

The present research provides information on the dye biosorption potential of chemically modified non-conventional biomass obtained from Pyracantha coccinea. A cationic surfactant hegzadecylethyldimethylammonium bromide (HDEDMABr) was used as modification agent. Dye biosorption characteristics of modified biomass were explored by batch mode equilibrium studies, zeta potential measurements and FTIR studies. When compared with the dried natural biomass, modified biomass was found to have high biosorption yield for Acid Red 44 (AR44) dye. Kinetic measurements revealed that the biosorption equilibrium was established in about 40 min of contact time. The biosorption process could be explained by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and also followed the intraparticle diffusion model up to 40 min, but diffusion is not the only rate controlling step. A comparison of the different isotherms indicated that the dye biosorption by using modified biomass was well described by the Langmuir isotherm model with maximum monolayer capacity of 105.0 mg dye g −1 biosorbent. Calculated thermodynamic parameters of biosorption indicated the exothermic and spontaneous process. Good biosorption yields ranged from 73.32 to 87.44% were obtained in the presence of the different concentrations of salt in the biosorption medium. Our results revealed that this developed biomass system may be useful for the decolorization of reactive dye contaminated solutions.

Soil disturbance, vegetation cover and the establishment of the exotic shrub Pyracantha coccinea in southern France

We evaluate the mechanisms that determine the establishment of the non-indigenous shrub Pyracantha coccinea (Rosaceae) in the Montpellier region of southern France. P. coccinea establishes in abandoned agricultural fields in this region; yet, despite its high propagule pressure, it has not become a widespread invasive. We hypothesized that the disturbance conditions prevailing in abandoned agricultural fields right after abandonment may enhance the emergence, survival and growth of P. coccinea, but that shortly after abandonment colonizing vegetation prevents further establishment of this species. We conducted a field experiment to evaluate this hypothesis, studying the response of seedling emergence and growth of P. coccinea to soil and vegetation disturbance. Our results show that both lack of vegetation cover and soil disturbance promote the emergence of seedlings of P. coccinea. Thus, the disturbance conditions prevailing in abandoned agricultural fields seem crucial to allow establishment of this species. However, other factors such as lack of summer dormancy and seed predation might explain why this species has not become a widespread invasive.

Assessment of cationic dye biosorption characteristics of untreated and non-conventional biomass: Pyracantha coccinea berries

This work reports on the assessment of the dye methylene blue biosorption properties of Pyracantha coccinea berries under different experimental conditions. Equilibrium and kinetic studies were carried out to determine the biosorption capacity and rate constants. The highest biosorption yield was observed at about pH 6.0, while the biosorption capacity of the biomass decreased with decreasing initial pH values. Batch equilibrium data obtained at different temperatures (15, 25, 35 and 45 °C) were modeled by Freundlich, Langmuir and Dubinin–Radushkevich (D–R) isotherms. Langmuir isotherm model fitted the equilibrium data, at the all studied temperatures, better than the other isotherm models indicating monolayer dye biosorption process. The highest monolayer biosorption capacity was found to be 127.50 mg/g dry biomass at 45 °C. Kinetic studies indicate that the biosorption process followed the pseudo-second-order model, rather than the pseudo-first-order model. Δ G°, Δ H° and Δ S° parameters of biosorption show that the process is spontaneous and endothermic in nature. The biosorbent–dye interaction mechanisms were investigated using a combination of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The biosorption procedure was applied to simulated wastewater including several pollutants. The results obtained indicated that the suggested inexpensive and readily available biomaterial has a good potential for the biosorptive removal of basic dye.

Palaeoenvironmental significance of plant macrofossils from the Piànico Formation, Middle Pleistocene of Lombardy, North Italy

Compressed leaves and carpological assemblages from the Piànico Formation, which was deposited into the Piànico-Sèllere palaeolake, are newly studied, and the early 20th century leaf collection by Rytz is preliminarily revised. Despite the occurrence of two tephra layers, the dating of this Formation is still controversial: a long temperate period (Piànico-Sèllere Interglacial), corresponding to its lower BVC (“Banco Varvato Carbonatico”) member, would either correlate to OIS 11 or to OIS 19. The macrofloral record of the BVC member includes the locally extinct species Acer cappadocicum Gleditsch sensu lato, Pinus peuce Griseb., Prunus lusitanica L., Pyracantha coccinea M.J. Roemer, and Rhododendron ponticum L. var. sebinense (Sordelli) Sordelli. A number of other locally extinct species ( Picea omorika (Pancic) Purkine, Rhamnus alaternus L., Tilia caucasica Rupr.) have not been figured and described in detail by the reporting authors, thus they should be confirmed by better documentation. From the biostratigraphic point of view the Piànico fossil flora does not display taxa typical for the Early Pleistocene (e.g. Carya, Liquidambar, and Eucommia), and a single fruit remain may putatively be assigned to the extinct species Potamogeton marginatus Dorofeev, which occurs from the Holsteinian to the Weichselian in Eastern Europe. Re-examination of the plant macrofossil record confirms that aquatic plants are absent from the leaf assemblages of the Piànico Formation and only very rarely occur as carpological remains ( Najas marina L. and Potamogeton). The presence of lake-margin species suggests that patches of sedge and reed marshes bordered the lake at the beginning of BVC deposition, and later decreased or disappeared. On the low mountain slopes, steeply dipping into the lake, closed and prevalently deciduous woody vegetation was growing during the BVC deposition. Evergreen shrubs to small trees might well have grown as understorey in the deciduous woodlands ( Buxus, Ilex) or in more open, drier rocky places (especially Pyracantha). The macrofossil evidence suggests that, unlike Picea abies (L.) Karsten, P. peuce and Abies cf. alba were not restricted to higher altitudinal belts. The occurrence of P. abies cones in the basal layers of the MLP (“Membro di La Palazzina”) member most probably indicates the settlement of spruce close to the lake-shore. This would be in agreement with the cooling-related contraction of broadleaved forests and the expansion of cool-adapted vegetation types to lower elevations, as indicated by palynological data of the upper part of the Piànico Formation.

First Record of Bacterial Blight Caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae on Pyracantha coccinea and an Amelanchier sp. in Bulgaria.

During the spring and summer months of 2004 and 2005, sporadic damage on individual shrubs of Pyracantha coccinea and an Amelanchier sp. were observed at two locations in the region of Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Symptoms initially were expressed as blossom blight and subsequently expanded to the shoots and branches, forming cankers on the supplying wood. In both years, a fluorescent gram-negative bacterium was isolated from diseased tissues onto King's B medium. The bacterial strains were levan positive and oxidase and arginine dihydrolase negative. They were able to induce a typical hypersensitive response on tobacco plants (cv. Samsun), but failed to rot potato slices. Pathogenicity of the strains was confirmed by puncture-inoculating detached shoots from both hosts and immature cherry and pear fruits with a bacterial suspension (108 CFU/ml, 50 μl per wound, and 3 replicates). Controls were punctured with sterile water. The inoculated plant material was maintained at room temperature (22 to 25°C) in plastic pots and covered with polyethylene bags for the first 48 h after inoculation. The inoculated and control subjects were kept under the same conditions as before inoculation. Except for the controls, slowly expanding but well defined necrotic lesions around the inoculation points were observed within the next 5 to 7 days. Bacteria reisolated from symptomatic tissue were identical to the initial cultures. On the basis of the symptoms and results from all laboratory tests, the bacterium was considered to be Pseudomonas syringae pv. syringae (1). PCR amplification of the 752-bp syrB fragment (2) confirmed the identification. To our knowledge, this is the first occurrence of P. syringae pv. syringae on Pyracantha coccinea and an Amelanchier sp. in Bulgaria, and most probably, this pathogen will play a more significant role within the rosaceous group because of a rising number of the cultivated ornamental species.

Response of native parasitoids to a range‐expanding host

Abstract 1. As species shift their geographic distributions, new feeding interactions with natural enemies such as parasitoids, and resources such as host plants, may be established, and existing interactions may be severed.2. The leaf mining moth Phyllonorycter leucographella (Zeller, 1850) (Lep.: Gracillariidae) first colonised the southern United Kingdom in the mid 1980s associated with its ancestral host plant Pyracantha coccinea M. Roem. (Rosaceae), which is widely cultivated in the U.K. The moth has since spread northwards to central Scotland and has been recorded feeding on a novel host plant, Crataegus monogyna L.3. The combined effects of latitude and time since colonisation on parasitoid community responses to the arrival of this novel host were investigated across its U.K. range. The response of parasitoids to colonisation of C. monogyna was also investigated.4. Both the observed richness of parasitoid species associated with P. leucographella, and the proportion of P. leucographella parasitised declined with latitude and towards the current range margin. A combination of a latitudinal gradient in parasitoid and alternative host species richness is likely to lead to the trends in species richness and parasitism observed.5. Experimental host patches exposed to parasitism beyond the current range margin of P. leucographella experienced low levels of parasitism consistent with range‐margin populations, indicating an instantaneous response by native parasitoids to availability of the novel host. Parasitism levels and numbers of associated species in the U.K. were similar to those observed in the species’ native range in Turkey.6. The host plant switch to C. monogyna was not associated with an altered parasitoid assemblage, but rates of parasitism were significantly higher on the novel host plant.7. Alterations in the incidence and frequency of victim‐enemy interactions as species shift their geographic ranges may be key in determining rates of range expansion and the impact invading species have on ecological communities.

THE INFLUENCE OF THE SUBSTRATUM ON ROOT FORMING OF CUTTINGS OF PYRACANTHA COCCINEA

Through a research conducted at S.C. Orser S.A. Oradea we established the substratum (25% peat and 50% pearl stone) for root forming of cuttings of Pyracantha coccinea form root in a proportion of 92%. Pyracantha coccinea is an ornamental bush with a shrub shape and a 2-3 m length, with thorny limbs, semipersistent, oval lanced (3,5 - 5 cm/ 1,5 – 2 cm) and bright dark green leaves. It blooms richly in may – june, having a white inflorescence of small flowersWe ingathered cuttings long of 10 – 15 cm. the experiment had 4 variants: V1 – root forming in sand; V2 - root forming in pearl stone; V3 – root forming in peat ;V4 - root forming in peat 25% and pearl stone 50% . Were used 500 cuttings at each variant.The number of the root forming cuttings from the total of the ones put to root forming registered values between 302 pieces for first variant and 461 pieces for fourth variant

Effect of slow release fertilizers on container-grown woody plants

Slow-Release Fertilizers (SRF) Silvamix Forte and Silvagen were tested in two-year experiments with container-grown woody plants (<i>Pyracantha coccinea</i>, <i>Thuja occidentalis</i>). Several fertilizing systems were compared: preplant application of SRF into substrate as the sole nutrient source for a two-year period, preplant application of SRF and soluble fertilizer (PG Mix), and preplant application of SRF and soluble fertilizer together with additional fertilizing by solution of nitrogen fertilizer during both growing periods. A system with controlled-release fertilizer (CRF) Osmocote 5−6 was chosen as a control variant; it was incorporated into substrate before planting in the first year and top-dressed in the second year. CRF Plantacote 6M (mixed into substrate before planting and top-dressed in the second year) and Osmocote 16−18 applied only before planting were tested, too. The experiments showed that SRF Silvamix Forte and Silvagen give results comparable with CFR provided that they were incorporated together with soluble ferti-lizer dose and plants were fertilized by solution of nitrogen fertilizer during both growing periods.

Higher Plants As Bioindicators Of Sulphur Dioxide Emissions In Urban Environments

The evaluation of certain vascular plants that grow in the city of Madrid as biomonitors of SO(2) air pollution in urban environments has been carried out. Total concentration of sulphur in leaves of the chosen higher plants as well as other parameters in close relation to this contaminant (visible injury symptoms, chlorophyll a- and b-content and peroxidase activity) have been determined in order to study the spatial distribution and temporal changes in SO(2) deposition. Results obtained show that coniferous species such as Pinus pinea, were more sensitive to SO(2) atmospheric concentration than leafy species as Quercux ilex subspecies ballota and, in the same way, bush species, such as Pyracantha coccinea and Nerium oleander, were more sensitive than wooded species, such as Cedrus deodara and Pinus pinea, respectively. There is a higher accumulation of sulphur in vegetable species located near highways and dense traffic incidence roads and near areas with high density of population. The minimum values for accumulation of SO(2) were registered in winter and spring seasons (from January to April) due to the vegetative stop; while maximum values are obtained during the summer season (from June to September), due to the stoma opening. The highest increments in sulphur concentration, calculated as the difference between two consecutive months, are obtained in May and June for all considered species except for Cedrus deodara and Pyracantha coccinea, both species have few seasonal changes during the whole year. Some species are more sensitive to natural washing than others, showing a decrease in sulphur concentration after rainfall periods.

Determination of conjugated linolenic acid content of selected oil seeds grown in Turkey

AbstractSeeds originating from some Turkish sources were analyzed with respect to their characteristics and FA compositions. These seeds represented pomegranate (Punica granatum L.), bitter grourd (Momordica charantia L.), pot marigold (Calendula officinalis L.), catalpa (Catalpa bignonoides), bourdaine (Rhamnus frangula L.), Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium), sarsaparilla (Smilax aspera), mahaleb (Prunus mahaleb L.), black‐thorn (Prunus spinosa L.), cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus L.), and firethorn (Pyracantha coccinea). Bitter gourd and bourdaine seeds contain more than 20% oil. Catalpa, bourdaine, Oregon grape, blackthorn, and cherry laurel seed oil contents ranged from 15 to 20%. In the seeds from plants belonging to the Rosacea family, oil content ranged from 4.5 to 18.5%. Among the seed oils analyzed, pot marigold had one of the lowest oil contents (5.9%). Pomegranate contained the highest amount of total conjugated linolenic acid (CLNA) (86.0%). Seed oils of bitter grourd, pot marigold, mahaleb, and catalpa were rich in CLNA: 60.0, 29.5, 27.6, and 27.5%, respectively. Bourdaine, Oregon grape, and sarsaparilla seeds contained low amounts of CLNA. On the other hand, mahaleb, bourdaine, catalpa, Oregon grape, sarsaparilla, cherry laurel, blackthorn, and firethorn seed oils are basically oleic and linoleic acid‐rich oils and therefore have little drying ability (semidrying oil). The results show a potential for the use of endogenous Turkish seeds as a source of CLNA.

Scab disease of firethorn at selected localities in Slovakia

The health state of firethorn, <I>Pyracantha coccinea,</I> was evaluated in different types of functional urban greenery at locations in Slovakia during 2001 (34 sites) and 2002 (18 sites). The occurrence of scab disease, caused by the fungus <I>Spilocaea pyracanthae,</I> was recorded. The degree of damage to firethorn fruits was evaluated; it ranged from 3.6% to 98.8% (2001) and from 9.1% to 38.5% (2002). Germination of conidia of the fungus ranged between 42 and 50% at 24–25°C after 24 h, and from 49% to 61% after 48 h. The germination of conidia collected on different parts of the plants from July to September was compared. Conidia taken from olive-green spots on fruits in September had the highest germination (53–89%).