Southwest Slovenia Research Articles

First Report of Ranunculus White Mottle Ophiovirus in Slovenia in Pepper with Yellow Leaf Curling Symptom and in Tomato.

Pepper (Capsicum annuum) and Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants showing virus-like disease symptoms were collected in 2017, 2019, and 2020, in different parts of Slovenia (Supplementary Figure 1). Total RNA was extracted from leaf tissue of individual samples using RNeasy Plant Mini kit (Qiagen) and pooled in four composite samples as follows: 2 pepper plants from 2017 (D2017), 5 pepper and 4 tomato plants from 2019 (D2019_P1), 7 tomato plants (D2020_P1), and 2 pepper and 4 tomato plants (D2020_P3) from 2020. The pooled RNA samples were sequenced using Illumina platforms, details of the sequencing experiments are in Supplementary Table 1. Reads were analyzed using CLC Genomics Workbench (v. 20.0, Qiagen) following the pipelines for plant virus discovery (Pecman et al., 2017). Reads and contigs mapping to Ranunculus white mottle ophiovirus (RWMV, GenBank accession no. AY542957 or NC_043389) were detected in all pools. The longest contig (1,255 bp) was obtained from the 2019 composite sample, mapping to the coat protein-coding RNA 3 segment of the RWMV genome (accession no. AY542957). Details of mapping, genome coverage, and other viruses detected in the pools are summarized in the Supplementary Table 1. To identify individual RWMV-infected plants from the pools, primers were designed for detection by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) targeting the coat protein gene (see Supplementary Table 2). Two pepper samples from two different farms, collected in 2017 and 2019 in southwest Slovenia, and four tomato samples from two different farms, collected in 2020 in central Slovenia tested positive for RWMV in RT-PCR assays. To assess the diversity of RWMV isolates, amplicons were purified using QIAquick PCR purification kit (Qiagen) and sent for Sanger sequencing. Based on maximum likelihood phylogenetic analysis, RWMV Italian and Slovenian isolates form a monophyletic clade within the genus (see Supplementary Figure 2). Pairwise nucleotide identities of the Slovenian isolates (accession no. MZ507604-MZ507609), relative to the original Italian isolate coat protein (accession no. AY542957) range from 92-97%, indicating a moderate level of diversity among isolates (see Supplementary Figure 2). Since only RWMV, bell pepper alphaendornavirus (BPEV), and pepper cryptic virus 2 (PepCV2), were present in a pepper sample from 2017, and BPEV and PepCV2 infection in pepper are not known to be associated with any of the disease symptoms (Okada et al., 2011; Saritha et al., 2016), the symptoms observed on this plant might be associated with RWMV infection. We observed mottling with interveinal chlorosis or yellowing, slight to full curling of leaves from lamina inward, as well as necrotic and aborted flowers on this plant (see Supplementary Figure 1). We cannot easily associate observed symptoms with RWMV in RWMV-positive tomatoes, since several viruses were detected in the pools containing these samples. Nevertheless, the prominent symptoms in tomato were mottling with interveinal chlorosis and leaf curling, similar to those observed in pepper. RWMV was discovered and characterized in buttercup (Ranunculus asiaticus), and detected in anemone (Anemone coronaria), from Italy (Vaira et al., 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003). It was recently detected in pepper from Australia showing veinal yellowing (Gambley et al., 2019). Here, we detected RWMV for the first time in Slovenia, and reported its first detection in tomato and pepper from Europe. These findings call for further studies on the effects of RWMV infection on tomato and pepper production, and its monitoring in neighboring European countries. Acknowledgment This study received funding from the Administration of the Republic of Slovenia for Food Safety, Veterinary Sector and Plant Protection, Slovenian Research Agency (ARRS) core financing (P4-0165), and the Horizon 2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions Innovative Training Network (H2020 MSCA-ITN) project "INEXTVIR" (GA 813542), under the management of the European Commission-Research Executive Agency. References Gambley, C., et al. 2019. New Dis. Rep. 40:13. doi:10.5197/j.2044-0588.2019.040.013. Okada, R., et al. 2011. J. Gen. Virol. 92:2664-2673. doi:10.1099/vir.0.034686-0. Pecman, A., et al. 2017. Front. Microbiol. 8:1-10. doi:10.3389/fmicb.2017.01998. Saritha, R. K., et al. 2016. VirusDisease 27:327-328. doi:10.1007/s13337-016-0327-7. Vaira, A. M., et al. 2003. Arch. Virol. 148:1037-1050. doi:10.1007/s00705-003-0016-x. Vaira, A. M., et al. 1996. Acta Hortic., 432:36-43. doi:10.17660/ActaHortic.1996.432.3. Vaira, A. M., et al. 1997. Arch. Virol. 142:2131-2146. doi:10.1007/s007050050231. Vaira, A. M., et al. 2000. Plant Dis. 84:1046-1046. doi:10.1094/PDIS.2000.84.9.1046B.

Near-Ground Profile of Bora Wind Speed at Razdrto, Slovenia

Southwest Slovenia is a region well-known for frequent episodes of strong and gusty Bora wind, which may damage structures, affect traffic, and poses threats to human safety in general. With the increased availability of computational power, the interest in high resolution modeling of Bora on local scales is growing. To model it adequately, the flow characteristics of Bora should be experimentally investigated and parameterized. This study presents the analysis of wind speed vertical profiles at Razdrto, Slovenia, a location strongly exposed to Bora during six Bora episodes of different duration, appearing between April 2010 and May 2011. The empirical power law and the logarithmic law for Bora wind, commonly used for the description of neutrally stratified atmosphere, were evaluated for 10-min averaged wind speed data measured at four different heights. Power law and logarithmic law wind speed profiles, which are commonly used in high resolution computational models, were found to approximate well the measured data. The obtained power law coefficient and logarithmic law parameters, which are for modeling purposes commonly taken to be constant for a specific site, were found to vary significantly between different Bora episodes, most notably due to different wind direction over complex terrain. To increase modeling precision, the effects of local topography on wind profile parameters needs to be experimentally assessed and implemented.

Properties of tropospheric aerosols observed over southwest Slovenia

From August to October 2010 lidar measurements of aerosols in the troposphere were performed at Otlica observatory, Slovenia, using a vertical scanning elastic lidar. The lidar data sample, which contains 38 nighttime vertical profiles of the mean aerosol extinction, was combined with continuous ozone concentration (O3), particulate matter concentrations (PM) and daily radiosonde data. The obtained radiosonde- and lidar-derived heights of the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL), which varied considerably from day to day, were found to be in good agreement. The mean values of the aerosol optical depth (AOD) at 355 nm, were calculated separately for the ABL and for the free troposphere (FT). A ten-fold increase of the FT AOD was observed during the days with predicted presence of Saharan dust above the lidar site. To correlate AOD values with the type and origin of aerosols, backward trajectories of air-masses above Otlica were modeled using the HYSPLIT model and clustered. High ABL AOD values were found to be correlated with local circulations and slowly approaching air masses from the Balkans and low values with northwestern flows. The highest values correlated with southwestern flows originating in northern Africa.

Modelling habitats in karst landscape by integrating remote sensing and topography data

AbstractField mapping is an accurate but also time consuming method of detailed mapping of habitat types. Levels of habitat types are usually hierarchically nested at several levels. Our main research question therefore is: ‘How detailed can be modelling of habitat types with decision trees and digital data in karst landscape?’ Similar to studies in other (non-karst) environments we explored the basic properties of the habitats in Dinaric Karst study region (Classical Karst in Southwest Slovenia) and tested modelling of habitat types at three different levels of detail. To seek for the best set of predictor variables we used Rapid-Eye satellite images, airborne images and digital elevation model. We prepared more than 60 explanatory variables and divided habitat polygons into training and testing samples to validate the results. The results proved that modelling with decision trees in Dinaric Karst landscape does not result in high accuracy at high detailed levels. Due to the presence of mine fields in the large area of Dinaric Karst (e.g. in Croatia and Bosnia and Herzegovina) the field mapping in this area is difficult therefore the findings from this study can be used for further development of mapping through remote sensing.

Determination of rock type and moisture content in flysch using TLS intensity in the Elerji quarry (south-west Slovenia)

Terrestrial laser scanning (TLS) was performed in tectonically undisturbed flysch in the Elerji quarry (south-west Slovenia), which represents heterogeneous rock mass with alternation of marlstone and sandstone beds. A 9.3-m-thick lithological profile was measured in detail and then compared to TLS values of reflected intensity and mineralogical composition of general marlstones and sandstones. The results showed distinguishable differences between the intensity values of marlstones and sandstones, as these two groups were found to be statistically different. It was also possible to discriminate these units with regard to their moisture content, as different values were observed for combinations of lithology and moisture content. Correlations of intensity and RGB (red, green, blue) values for the mineralogical composition of marlstones and sandstones revealed a good correlation of intensity with combined calcite and quartz content; however, such correlation is valid only for sandstones due to their bigger grain size. Larger quartz grains can scatter the laser beam and lower the correlation. The results showed that acquiring data from heterogeneous rock mass using TLS could be used for the geotechnical engineering classification of distant, inaccessible outcrops and excavated faces, based on the well-established RMR (Rock Mass Rating) and GSI (Geological Strength Index) rock mass classification systems. Both RMR and GSI classification systems classify rock mass based on rock composition, structure and surface conditions of discontinuities. Lithological segmentation of heterogeneous rocks presents, therefore, an important input parameter for their further classification.

Green water reconstructed for Rižana watershed, SW Slovenia

In this case study, set in south-west Slovenia, the feasibility of reconstructing green water (the combined amount of evaporated and transpired water in trees and available in the soil) was investigated. In a simplified scheme, the amounts of green water were calculated as the difference between precipitation and discharge of the Rižana river. Based on the methods of dendroclimatology, the climate signal was tested on black pine (Pinus nigra Arnold) trees growing in the south-western part of the Rižana watershed near the Slovenian sea coast. Results showed that the measured tree-ring parameters of tree-ring width and density are strongly dependent on the amount of green water. The strongest correlation was between available green water in the period May–August and tree-ring width (r = 0.61) and latewood width (r = 0.64) (both n = 46, p < 0.001). The climate signal is significant and stable through time, which enabled the reconstruction of green water data into the period before instrumentally measured data. Green water data from the May–August period were extended from 1966 back to 1937 using tree-ring width, and back to 1940 using latewood width. With additional coring of older trees and the extension of existing chronologies, even longer reconstructions could be developed.

Post-fire succession: Selected examples from the Karst region, southwest Slovenia

Forests in Submediterranean Slovenia are threatened by wildfires every year. The article presents the main characteristics of post-fire regeneration in the Karst area. The rate of succession was studied by comparing two burned sites with different periods after the last fire. Field plant sampling was used to determine the plant cover and species composition on each site. Vegetation characteristics were contrasted with nearby unburned sites. We found that the plant species composition of burned areas is similar to that of areas unaffected by wildfire, and that the monitored site has been colonised by specific pioneer plant species five years after the wildfire.

Characterization and fluorescence of yellow biofilms in karst caves, southwest Slovenia

Biofilms of different colours that colonize surfaces within karst caves represent a source of nutrients. They occur commonly and abundantly at sites with sediments, and close to seepages or underground rivers. Golden-yellow subaerial biofilms are particularly well observed because of their contrast with their surroundings, the characteristics of the pigment and recently, even more, due to the characteristics of light-emitting diode (LED) illumination. Yellow microbial biofilms were sampled from three caves in southwestern Slovenia, Dimnice, Križna jama and Sveta jama. The highest concentration of cultivable microbes (2.33×10 8 CFU/g) and the biggest number of identified bacteria (66.0%) were retrieved from a sample from Sveta jama. Using MALDI-TOF (Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-Of-Flight) for bacterial identification showed that different species of Pseudomonas prevailed in all samples. Yellow biofilms showed an absorption peak around 400 nm, and two emission peaks, a major in the blue (~460 nm) and a minor in the orange (~600 nm) parts of the spectrum when excited at 405 nm. Microbial mats that colonize surfaces are probably frequently overlooked in caves because they are difficult to observe when they have no pigmentation and the contrast with their surroundings is low. Additional studies are needed to aid the understanding of the role of pigmented biofilms and their interactions with underlying substrata in respect of the evolution of substrate micromorphology.

Tergitol as a possible thinning agent for peach cv. Redhaven

The effect of different blossom thinners ammonium thiosulfate (ATS) (1%, 2%), Armothin (1.5%), Tergitol-TMN-6 (0.5%, 1%), applied on peach cv. Redhaven at 50&amp;ndash;60% full bloom was evaluated in thinning experiments in south-west Slovenia. The photosynthesis inhibitor metamitron (0.05%) applied at 8 mm fruit diameter was evaluated as fruitlet thinner as well. Application of 2% ATS resulted in excessive thinning. The thinning effect of 1% ATS was also too strong in two out of three thinning experiments. The use of 0.05% metamitron did not cause any thinning effect on peach trees and gave similar results as the non-treated control. The effective fruit set reduction and increase of average fruit weight was achieved with 0.5% and 1% Tergitol application. In three-year experiment both Tergitol applications reduced fruit set toward hand thinned level, but the share of fruit from bigger size class was only once enhanced to the level of hand thinned trees. No sign of phytotoxicity was noticed on fruits in all thinner application treatments. &amp;nbsp;

Chasmophytes on screes? A rule and not an exception in the vegetation of the Karst (southwest Slovenia)

We investigated the community ecology and autecology of chasmophytes in the Karst (southwest Slovenia). An unusually massive occurrence of chasmophytes on settled screes and rock falls was detected in some of the collapse dolines of Škocjan Caves and surroundings, building floristically and physiognomically homogenous plant communities. At first sight, no significant floristic distinctions in vascular plants were observed between scree and rock crevice stands, despite striking differences in habitats. A detailed floristic survey of stands, including vascular plants and bryophytes, as well as ecological parameters, revealed four distinct vegetation types. Floristically, bryophytes proved to differentiate groups of stands excellently but, in contrast to vascular plants, their presence and abundance only poorly reflected site conditions. Among chasmophytes, which, in terms of the Braun-Blanquet approach in phytosociology, are assigned to the class Asplenietea trichomanes (sensu Braun-Blanquet and Oberdorfer), only Saxifraga petraea and Saxifraga tridactylites prefer rock crevices and artificial walls, respectively, while others, e.g., Saxifraga crustata, Primula auricula and Athamanta turbith, prefer screes and their habitat selection is governed by different ecological parameters, shaped primarily by the phenomenon of temperature inversion in collapse dolines.

The rainfall kinetic energy–intensity relationship for rainfall erosivity estimation in the mediterranean part of Slovenia

Rainfall kinetic energy–intensity relationships for rainfall erosivity estimation were established on the basis of raindrop size distribution measurements performed in the Brkini hilly area in southwest Slovenia, a transitional area between the Mediterranean and continental climate conditions. A set of measurement instruments, an optical disdrometer coupled with a rain gauge, was installed on two locations: Koseze and Kozjane. The data set contained raindrop size distribution and rainfall intensity measurements of the rainfall events that occurred during a one-year period in the 2008/2009 season. The rainfall intensities obtained with the rain gauges were used for event rainfall depth control measured by the disdrometers and testing the established kinetic energy–intensity (KE–I) relationships. Two exponential KE–I relationships were established for each measuring site, for 1-min and 5-min rainfall intensity data, respectively. Their performances were tested and compared with the performances of other KE–I relationships proposed by authors throughout the world, which could be recognised as relatively suitable for kinetic energy estimation in the Mediterranean area. The comparison included 11 KE–I relationships expressed with linear, linear-log or exponential formulations. The analyses exposed the rainfall intensity overestimation by the disdrometers and the limited use of the tipping bucket rain gauge for kinetic energy estimation under such climate conditions. According to our results, the established KE–I relationship for 5-min intensity data in Koseze is recommended to be used while estimating rainfall kinetic energy in the Mediterranean part of Slovenia. As input data, rainfall intensities measured with precise weighing rain gauges, as those installed in the Slovenian meteorological network, should be used. However, when using rainfall intensity data obtained with a tipping bucket rain gauge of lower accuracy or insufficient intensity range, the exponential relationship of Coutinho and Tomás (1995) is expected to deliver better kinetic energy estimations.

Meso‐scale catchment sediment budgets: combining field surveys and modeling in the Dragonja catchment, southwest Slovenia

AbstractIn this paper, we present a methodology to construct a sediment budget for meso‐scale catchments. We combine extensive field surveys and expert knowledge of the catchment with a sediment delivery model. The meso‐scale Mediterranean drainage basin of the Dragonja (91 km2), southwest Slovenia, was chosen as case study area.During the field surveys, sheet wash was observed on sloping agricultural fields during numerous rainfall events, which was found to be the main source of sediment. With the sediment yield model WATEM/SEDEM the estimated net erosion on the hillslopes 4·1 t ha–1 y–1 (91% of inputs). The second source, bank erosion (4·2%; 0·25 t ha–1 y–1) was monitored during several years with erosion pins and photogrammetric techniques. The last source, channel incision, was derived from geomorphological mapping and lichenomery and provided 3·8% (0·17 t ha–1 y–1) of the sediment input.The river transports its suspended sediment mainly during high‐flow events (sampled with automated water samplers). About 27% (1·2 t ha–1 y–1) of the sediment delivered to the channel is deposited on floodplains and low terraces downstream (estimated with geomorphological mapping, coring and cesium‐137 measurements). The sediment transported as bedload disintegrates during transport to the outlet due to the softness of the bedrock material. As a result, the river carries no bedload when it reaches the sea.The results imply a build‐up of sediment in the valleys catchment. However, extreme flood events may flush large amounts of sediment stored in the lower parts of the system. Geomorphological evidence exists in the catchment that such high magnitude, low frequency events have happened in the past. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd.

Epikarst communities: biodiversity hotspots and potential water tracers

There is an exceptionally rich aquatic fauna in the epikarst, the skin of karst. High species richness in the epikarst, coupled with its special vulnerability as the first point of entry of nearly all toxic spills, makes its protection especially important. The epikarst fauna may also be an useful tool in tracing the potential route of pollutants. Copepods in epikarst have extremely local distributions, and their body size is such that they are largely at the mercy of directional flows. In a series of caves in southwest Slovenia and West Virginia, a significant fraction of the copepod species occur in less than 100 m of linear extent. This suggests a pattern of highly restricted lateral flow under normal conditions and the distribution of copepods could potentially be used to trace water movement. Under high flow conditions as would often be the case with toxic spill, mounding of water may increase the lateral radius of flow. Nevertheless, copepods may be useful tracers.

Contemporary Legends from the Slovene Karst in Comparison with Fairylore and Belief Traditions&lt;br&gt;Sodobne zgodbe s slovenskega krasa na Notranjskem v primerjavi z lokalnim bajčnim izročilom in tradicionalnim pripovedništvom&lt;/br&gt;

The paper presents narratives collected in the last decade in the Karst region in southwest Slovenia, more precisely in Lož Valley with its Snežnik Castle and its forests, in the vicinity of Cerknica Lake, and in the region of Pivka. Although most of these stories can be defined as contemporary legends they do have much in common with traditional folk tales and with local mythology. The analyzed legends mention ghosts, witches, fairies, and other mythological creatures from Slovene traditional mythology; their content has been changed considerably, and they are usually narrated as personal experience, which is a characteristic of contemporary legends. On the basis of exact comparison and the study of context the author tries to outline the changes in contemporary folk narrative and the social function of both genres of narration according to the circumstances in which they have been recounted.

Some interestings features about nummulitins from Vipolže 2 in Brda, west Slovenia

Popular names of certain flysch rocks as sovdan, sovdanovec and the like do not originate in the word sovd, i.e. coin, nummulus in Latin. The nummulitins resembling coins are not that frequent in southwest Slovenia that would be known among the people. Concerning the nummulitins from Vipolže in Brda appears the problem of certain intermediate forms or new species, especially between Assilina marinellii marinellii and Ass. praespira as well as Nummulites praelorioli and N. boussaci. The Vipolže 2 locality is Upper Cuisian, perhaps near the Cuisian - Lutetian boundary

Nummulitins from flysch in surroundings of Ilirska Bistrica, southwest Slovenia

Described are nummulitins from four localities in surroundings of Ilirska Bistrica. They were found in flysch rocks of Lower Cuisian and Upper Cuisian age, and of Cuisian/ Lutetian transition.

Pozebe v Primorju z vidika uspevanja mediteranskih kultur

Klimatske značilnosti JZ Slovenije se približujejo sredozemskim, zato tu še uspevajo nekatere kulture, najpomembnejša je oljka, ki so značilne za osrednji Mediteran. Te kulture rastejo na njihovi severni klimatski meji, zato jih ogrožajo občasne pozebe. Razvoju oljkarstva in tudi drugih klimatsko zahtevnejših kultur gredo na roke tudi klimatski trendi v zadnjih desetletjih in napovedi za 21. stoletje, ko naj bi se podnebje še otoplilo.

On the strucure of Sovič above Postojna

The author maintains that the structure of the Sovič hill above Postojna with its surroundings is structurally a repetition of the structure of the Nanos, Hrušica and Trnovski gozd mountains. Thus the overthrust of Sovič is a miniature pendant of the Hrušica and Trnovski gozd nappe in the sense of the overthrust structure of the Outer Dinarides of southwest Slovenia, as presented earlier (Placer, 1981).