Vulgaris Var Research Articles

Exploring the Origins of Hexaploid Wheats: Typification of Archaeological Triticum vulgare var. antiquorum and Description of Modern Triticum sphaerococcum subsp. antiquorum (Poaceae: Triticeae)

This study addresses a critical issue in plant taxonomy and phylogeny: the relationship between archaeological materials and potentially analogous living populations. Given the current limitations in definitively establishing the identity between archaeological and contemporary materials, we propose an intermediate approach. This approach serves as a useful framework while scientific methods advance towards definitively assessing whether an archaeological wheat sample, approximately 5000 years old from Central Europe, belongs to the same species as a modern wheat currently endemic to Central Asia. This approach consolidates the taxonomic validity of both archaeological and living materials, allowing them to be treated as distinct taxa while preserving the possibility of future identification convergence. Triticum vulgare var. antiquorum, an archaeobotanical small-grained, free-threshing wheat, was originally described in 1865. The 1982 discovery of morphologically similar living wheat in Tajikistan raised questions about their taxonomic relationship. Our study reviews the nomenclature of both taxa, designating an illustration from the original description of T. vulgare var. antiquorum as the lectotype to align with the traditional concept of the name. We address the ambiguity surrounding “Triticum antiquorum” as used by Russian agronomists and botanists, proposing a more precise circumscription within the current systematic framework of the genus based on cytogenetic data. Consequently, we describe a new taxon, Triticum sphaerococcum subsp. antiquorum. The holotype, selected from material with available cytogenetic data and grown from Professor Udachin’s original Pamir (Tajikistan) collection, is preserved in the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources (WIR) collection. It is deposited at the I.M. Krasnoborov Herbarium of Central Siberian Botanical Garden SB RAS (NS), with an isotype at the WIR. This taxonomic revision and new subspecies designation provide a robust framework for reconciling archaeological and contemporary wheat diversity, advancing our understanding of wheat evolution and agricultural history.

Calcareous soil modified with metallic and organic ZnO nanoparticles limits photosynthetic pigment accumulation and macronutrient uptake in Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla)

Previous studies on the effects of zinc oxide nanoparticles have mainly examined controlled agricultural settings, failing to consider their behavior in real agricultural soil. As a result, our knowledge of their environmental impact remains incomplete. This study was specifically developed to observe the comparative effects of metallic zinc oxide nanoparticles, zinc sulfate, and zinc oxide green nanoparticles at different concentrations (25, 50, 75 and 100mg of Zn kg-1 of soil) on growth parameters, the mineral content (N, P, K and Zn) in root and leaf, the content of chlorophyll a (CHLa), b (CHLb), and total (CHLt), and carotenoids in Swiss chard plants grown in calcareous soil. Leaf area and dry root weight increased by 23.27% and 46.20%, respectively, in zinc sulfate modified soil. Total chlorophyll and carotenoids also increased by 40.12% and 32.59%. The concentration of N, P, K and Zn in roots was 2.89, 1.74, 1.70 and 1.52 times higher, while in leaves, the concentration was 1.48, 1.44, 1.76 and 2.22 times higher in plants grown with zinc sulfate. The effects on plant growth can be attributed to the type of fertilizer used and its influence on macronutrient absorption in the soil. The utilization of zinc sulfate as a soil treatment led to elevated absorption of macronutrients and zinc, suggesting a connection between the fertilizer type and the crop’s agronomic and physiological reactions.

Simulated herbicide drift alters native plant flowering phenology.

Data for herbicide effects on plant flowering are needed to determine potential impacts on plant reproduction. Thus, flowering phenology was determined for up to 12 weeks after herbicide treatment for native Willamette Valley plants growing in small plots on two Oregon State University experimental farms. Six perennial species were evaluated: Camassia leichtlinii (CALE), Elymus glaucus (ELGL), Eriophyllum lanatum (ERLA), Festuca idahoensis subsp. roemeri (FEID), Iris tenax (IRTE), and Prunella vulgaris var. lanceolata (PRVU). Effects of glyphosate and dicamba, alone and in combination, were determined using simulated drift rates of 0.1 or 0.2 x field application rates (FAR) of 1119 g ha-1 active ingredient (a.i.) (830 g ha-1 acid glyphosate) for glyphosate and 560 g ha-1 a.i. for dicamba. Flowering phenology was evaluated as stage of development on a scale from no buds (converted to 0), buds (1), pre-flowering (2), flowering (3), post-flowering (4), to mature seeds (5) before herbicide treatment and for 12 weeks after treatment. Flowering response to herbicides varied by species and farm; but, in general, dicamba and glyphosate resulted in earlier flowering stages (delayed or not full flowering) for the dicot ERLA, and to a lesser extent, PRVU; and glyphosate resulted in earlier flowering stages for the monocot IRTE. Based on these data, the concentration of herbicide affecting flowering stage was 0.1 x FAR. Once flowering stage was inhibited by dicamba and glyphosate, plants generally did not recover to full flowering. This study provided evidence that common herbicides can affect flowering phenology of native plants with implications for seed production.

Morphological, structural, and ultrastructural key features of hyperhydricity in Beta vulgaris L. var. saccharifera

Abstract Hyperhydricity, as a phenomenon specific to in vitro plants, triggers a series of changes at the cell and tissue level, which modify the plants’ physiological processes. For a better understanding of this phenomenon, we found it useful to present here the fundamental research on establishing the steps of structural and ultrastructural degradation of cells and tissues, observed by light microscopy (LM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) analyses, in the leaves of Beta vulgaris var. saccharifera, at 30 days of secondary culture, and their correlation with viability in the third culture. Comparative with control (non-hyperhydric plants), three degradation steps of hyperhydricity were identified in plants regenerated on a culture medium with 2.5 mg·L-1 6-benzyladenine. The first step involved cell wall deformation, which lost its rigidity and became sinuous, causing the enlargement of the intercellular spaces. In the second step, these spaces formed gaps through their union, and the whole membrane system suffered: both chloroplasts and tonoplast were broken (the cytoplasm and vacuolar composition were mixed), the nuclear membrane presented undulations, just before the damage to the tonoplast, and the nucleus became pyknotic. In step 3, the cell showed the beginning of lysis, which leads to necrosis, the cell had nothing in common with a normal ultrastructure. For in vitro plants in this final step, there was no chance of surviving but in steps I and II, the viability was 55-75%. These features can be useful to producers to calculate the level of culture damage and start measures to prevent losses.

First Report of Leaf Spot Caused by Alternaria alternata on Chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla L.) in China.

Chard (Beta vulgaris var. cicla L.) is popular vegetable in China. In June 2023, a leaf spot disease was observed on Chard plants in Hunan Province (27°46'10.99″N, 112°05'52.80″E), China. The disease incidence was 30% in a surveyed of about 500 plants. Symptoms began as many light brown round- to polygon-shaped spots on chard leaves, then developed and enlarged into grayish-white lesions, with the edge of the spots brown to dark brown. A total of 10 symptomatic samples were randomly collected. To identify the pathogen, symptomatic tissues (0.5 × 0.5 cm) from the lesion margin surface were sterilized with 75% ethanol for 30 s and 2% NaClO for 1 min, rinsed 3 times with sterile water, air dried. The sterile pieces were placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) and incubated at 25°C. A total of nine isolates were obtained. Fungal colonies cultured on potato carrot agar (PCA) were almost the same as each other, and two representative isolates (TC0, TC10) were used for further identification. On PCA, the fungal hyphae were initially white and finally gray-brown with flocculent aerial mycelia. Conidia were solitary or in chains, with various shapes, mostly subglobose, the size was 13.2 to 28.0 μm long and 5.8 to 13.0 μm wide (n = 30). The cultural and morphological characteristics of isolates were similar to those of Alternaria sp (Simmons et al. 2007). For molecular identification, four loci, ITS (White et al. 1990), RPB2 (O'Donnell, 2022), H3 (Zheng et al. 2015), and GAPDH (Berbee et al. 1999), were sequenced from two representative isolates (TC0, TC10). Compared with a reference isolate, Alternaria alternata strain CBS 107.27, GenBank accession nos. KP124300.1 (ITS), KP124768.1 (RPB2), KP124157.1 (GAPDH). The ITS, RPB2, and GAPDH sequences of TC0 and TC10 showed 99% (502 of 504 bp ), 100% (753 of 753 bp), and 99% (560 of 561 bp) similarity, respectively. Compared with a reference isolate, A. alternata isolate 21-5, GenBank accession no. MN840996.1 (H3), H3 sequences of TC0 and TC10 showed 99% (399 of 401 bp) similarity. The sequences of two isolates (TC0, TC10) were deposited in GenBank with accession numbers PP837733.1, PP565404.1(ITS), PP839298.1, PP573905.1(RPB2), PP839299.1, PP573904.1 (GAPDH), and PP839297.1, PP573903.1(H3). Phylogenetic trees were constructed using the sequences and showed that isolates (TC0, TC10) were in the same clade with A. alternata strains. TC0 and TC10 were identified as A. alternata based on the morphological characteristics and molecular phylogeny. Pathogenicity testing was conducted on six-month-old healthy plants, (cv. Green Stalk), three plants were inoculated by spraying spore solution (1 × 106 conidia/mL), and three plants were sprayed with sterile water as a control. The pathogenicity test was performed 3 times. Plants were maintained at 28°C and >80% RH. Plants showed symptoms after 30 days, symptoms were observed similar to those of the original infected plants, control plants were asymptomatic. The fungus was reisolated, confirmed as A. alternata based on conidial characteristics, no pathogenic fungus was isolated from the control plants. A. alternata has previously been reported on beet (also Beta vulgaris) in China (Tai, F. L. 1979; Zhuang, W. Y. 2005). To our knowledge, this is the first report of leaf spot caused by A. alternata on chard in China. This result may expand the etiological study of A. alternata and the control strategy of Chard leaf spot.

Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of spinach beet (Beeta vulgaris var. bengalensis)

Effect of integrated nutrient management on growth, yield and quality of spinach beet (Beeta vulgaris var. bengalensis)

Effect of zeolite application on soil enzyme activity of potted sandy soil cultivated with Swiss chard and cabbage

A zeolite pot experiment was conducted at the Agricultural Research Council Infruitec-Nietvoorbij in Stellenbosch, South Africa, under greenhouse conditions. The experiment aimed to investigate the impact of zeolite application on soil enzyme activities in sandy soils cultivated with Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris Var. cicla) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea Var. capitata L.) over two years (2018-2019). Different zeolite-to-soil ratios (0:1, 1:9, 2:8, and 3:7 w/w) were used, with each pot containing 12 kg of soil. The experiment involved 72 pots for each vegetable, arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Soil enzyme activities, including acid phosphatase, β-glucosidase, and urease, as well as soil chemical properties (pH, total plant-available nitrogen, organic carbon, and phosphorus), were analyzed. Key findings indicate that the effect of zeolite application on enzyme activities varied between the vegetable species. Zeolite application significantly increased (P

Improvement of lactose digestion by highland barley (Hordeum vulgare var. coeleste L.) β-glucan: Activation of lactase under simulated gastric/small intestinal digestive conditions

β-Galactosidase (lactase) plays a crucial role as a dietary supplement in managing lactose intolerance. Here, the catalytic activity of lactase was successfully activated for the first time through complexation with water-extractable β-glucans from highland barley (WHBG). Under simulated gastric/small intestinal digestive conditions, WHBG and lactase spontaneously formed complexes, resulting in a remarkable increase in catalytic activity up to 172.6 %. Structural analyses revealed that the incorporation of WHBG caused partial unfolding of lactase, thereby exposing its hydrophobic regions with active sites, and the electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between the two played pivotal roles. Meanwhile, according to microstructure and particle size analyses, the dissociation of aggregates and the re-distribution of lactase molecules were also observed. Consequently, the enzyme-substrate contact was promoted, and the hydrolysis efficiency of complexed lactase in the digestion of lactose in milk was superior to that of native lactase. Notably, among WHBG30/50/70 obtained by continuous fractionation of WHBG with 30 %/50 %/70 % ethanol, WHBG70 exhibited the lowest molecular weights and size, and the highest negative ζ-potential, potentially contributing to its superior activation abilities on lactase. These findings challenge the traditional view of polysaccharides as enzyme inhibitors and highlight their potential for diverse applications.

Antimicrobial in vitro effects of eight essential oils on Pasteurella multocida and Mannheimia haemolytica from nasopharyngeal swab samples of fattening calves

Essential oils are secondary metabolites of aromatic plants and are used in phytotherapy to treat various diseases. In the present study, eight selected essential oils - ajwain oil (Trachyspermum ammi L.), fennel oil (Foeniculum vulgare Mill. subsp. vulgare var. vulgare), thyme oil chemotype (ct.) thymol (Thymus vulgaris L.), tea tree oil (Melaleuca alternifolia Cheel.), oregano oil (Origanum vulgare L.), mountain savory oil (Satureja montana L.), lemongrass oil (Cymbopogon citratus (DC.) Stapf.) and eucalyptus oil (Eucalyptus globulus Labill.) -were examined for their antibacterial effect against Pasteurella (P.) multocida and Mannheimia (M.) haemolytica isolates from deep nasopharyngeal swab samples of fattening calves using agar diffusion and microdilution. All eight essential oils were effective against the tested isolates. Lemongrass oil proved to be the most potent of all eight essential oils, while fennel oil was only weakly effective. Different antimicrobial effects were observed between the two research methods. The effectiveness of ajwain, thyme, oregano and mountain savory oils was comparable in agar diffusion. However, this could not be reproduced using the microdilution method. P. multocida was found to be more sensitive to all essential oils tested than M. haemolytica. This study shows that the tested essential oils have antimicrobial in-vitro effects on P. multocida and M. haemolytica isolates and that the examination method is associated with the test result.

Larvicidal potency of four Egyptian herbs on Culex pipiens larvae: Phytochemical composition and molecular networking for most potent extracts

Utilizing synthetic insecticides to control mosquito populations has many adverse side effects as they can cause environmental pollution and insecticide resistance. Therefore, the search for eco-friendly and effective mosquito control agents has led to the exploration of plant extracts with larvicidal efficacy. In this study, we aimed to explore the larvicidal activity of four Egyptian plant extracts: Rosmarinus officinalis, Melissa officinalis, Cichorium intybus, and Beta vulgaris var. cicla against Culex pipiens and to identify the chemical constituents present in the active extracts. The methanolic extracts of the four plants were prepared and tested against the third instar larvae of C. pipiens using a standard method. The lethal concentrations (LC50 and LC90) were calculated using probit analysis. The active extracts were subjected to ultra-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (UPLC-MS/MS) analysis and the data were processed using the global natural products social molecular networking (GNPS) platform to generate molecular networks and identify the compounds based on spectral similarity and database matching. The methanolic extracts of R. officinalis L. and M. officinalis L. had the highest larvicidal activity, where LC50 values were 9.795 and 26.505 μg/mL, respectively. Their exposure caused a high mortality rate and disrupted the biochemical and physiological parameters (total carbohydrates, total lipids, total protein, acetylcholinesterase (AChE), and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in the body of C. pipiens when compared with Cichorium intybus (Chicory) and Beta vulgaris var. cicla (Chard). The UPLC-MS/MS analysis with the aid of the GNPS platform, revealed the presence of 23 and 41 metabolites from R. officinalis L. and M. officinalis L., respectively. The identified metabolites may act as larvicidal agents by interfering with the physiological or biochemical processes of the mosquito larvae. Overall, the findings suggest that the methanolic extracts of R. officinalis and M. officinalis are potential sources of natural larvicides for mosquito control.

Study of structural and biochemıcal quality indicators in cultivated and wild barley specimens under irrigated conditions

The mass of 1000 grains, the number of grains per spike, spike weight, spike length, protein, essential amino acids - lysine and tryptophan have been analyzed in cultivated and wild varieties - Nutans, Pallidum and Nigropallidum of 21 barley specimens planted at the experimental field of the MSE of AR Genetic Resources İnstitute. In the analyzed samples, the mass of 1000 grains varied between 36.0-57.0 grams, the number of grains per spike was 26-56, the grain weight per spike – 1.07-4.5 g and the moisture content in the grain varied between 9.0 and 14.0. As seen in the table, the amount of total protein varied between 10.5 and 14.8% in the analyzed barley specimens. The highest protein content was detected in the wild barley specimen – H.vulgare subsp. vulgare var. nutans No 74 (hybrid) (14.8%), and the lowest protein content was found in the wild barley specimen – H.vulgare subsp. spontaneum AZGR-14520, No 39 (10.5%). The amount of tryptophan was the highest – 170 mg (mg per 100 g)) in H.vulgare subsp. spontaneum AZGR-14521, No 40 (similar) and the amount of lysine was the highest – 323 mg (mg per 100 g) in H.vulgare subsp. vulgare var. nutans/erectum No 47 (hybrid). Three samples that differed from the standard due to high lysine content were selected. So, the amount of lysine was highest -323mg (mg per 100 g) in H.vulgare subsp. vulgare var. nutans/erectum No 47 (hybrid) and cultivated barley specimen – H.vulgare subsp. var. nigropallidum No 44 (hybrid) – 308 mg (mg per 100 g). It has been found that the high lysine content in protein is closely related to the low amount of protein in the grain in most cases. That is, as the amount of protein in the grain decreases, the amount of lysine in its content increases. It is possible to select samples with a high amount of protein, which is considered one of the main indicators, and use them as a valuable starting material in practical selection work to create new varieties with good grain quality. Keywords: Barley, protein, lysine, tryptophan, mass of 1000 grains, biochemistry

Dopamine-derived pigments in nature: identification of decarboxybetalains in Amaranthaceae species.

A unique family of decarboxylated betalains derived from dopamine has recently been discovered. Due to the lack of chemical standards, the existence and distribution of decarboxylated betalains in nature remain unknown. Traditional betalains contain L-dihydroxyphenylalanine as the starting point of the biosynthetic pathway and betalamic acid as a structural and functional unit, while the recently discovered betalains rely on dopamine. Here, 30 dopamine-derived betalains were biotechnologically produced, purified, and characterized, creating an unprecedented library to explore their properties and presence in nature. The maximum absorbance wavelengths for the pigments ranged between 461 and 485 nm. HPLC analysis showed retention times between 0.6 and 2.2 min higher than traditional betalains due to their higher hydrophobicity. The presence of decarboxybetalains in nature was screened using HPLC-ESI-Q-TOF mass spectrometry in various species of the Amaranthaceae family: beetroot (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris), Swiss chard (B. vulgaris var. cicla), celosia (Celosia argentea var. plumosa), and quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa). The latter species had the highest content of decarboxybetalains (28 compounds in its POEQ-143 variety). Twenty-nine pigments were found distributed among the different analyzed plant sources. The abundance of decarboxybetalains demonstrated in this work highlights these pigments as an important family of phytochemicals in the order Caryophyllales.

The traditional ecological knowledge of the local people of Cijambu Village, Sumedang, Indonesia, on the diversity, utilization, management, and conservation of bamboo

Abstract. Ihsan M, Irawan B, Iskandar J. 2024. The traditional ecological knowledge of the local people of Cijambu Village, Sumedang, Indonesia, on the diversity, utilization, management, and conservation of bamboo. Biodiversitas 25: 1754-1770. Bamboos have been known to play an important role in the socio-economic, cultural, and ecological benefits of rural people in West Java. However, many bamboo gardens have been converted to other land-use types, including commercial vegetable gardens. The study aimed to record local people's Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in Cijambu, Sumedang, West Java, Indonesia, regarding the diversity, utilization, management, and conservation of ethnobotany and bamboo. The mixed method, combining approaches with an ethnobotanical perspective, was employed in this study through semi-structured and structured interviews with informants. The study results showed a diversity of bamboo landraces with six types of bamboo identified by the community: Awi Tali (Gigantochloa apus), Awi Gombong/Awi Surat (Gigantochloa verticillata), Awi Temen (Gigantochloa atter), Awi Bitung (Dendrocalamus asper), Haur Héjo (Bambusa vulgaris var. vulgaris), and Haur Konéng (Bambusa vulgaris var. striata). Bamboo has 41 uses: 3 ecological uses, 32 economic uses, and 6 socio-cultural uses. Bamboo management involves maintaining and transforming bamboo gardens into mixed gardens, combining vegetables and coffee plants to increase income. Community conservation efforts involve selective logging to ensure the sustainability and regeneration of bamboo. The conservation process is influenced by cultural beliefs and myths, such as refraining from cutting or taking bamboo on Fridays. Bamboo people believe in Tolak Bala, which uses Haur Konéng bamboo.

Antimicrobial, Antioxidant and Cytotoxic Effects of Essential Oil, Fatty Acids and Bioactive Compounds of Beta vulgaris var. crassa (Fodder Beet).

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s12088-024-01269-8.

Development and Validation of a High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Method to Quantify Marker Compounds in Lysimachia vulgaris var. davurica and Its Effects in Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome.

Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common gastrointestinal disorder worldwide, is characterized by chronic abdominal pain, bloating, and disordered defecation. IBS is associated with several factors, including visceral hypersensitivity, gut motility, and gut-brain interaction disorders. Because currently available pharmacological treatments cannot adequately improve symptoms and may cause adverse effects, the use of herbal therapies for managing IBS is increasing. Lysimachia vulgaris var. davurica (LV) is a medicinal plant used in traditional medicine to treat diarrhea. However, information on whether LV can effectively improve diarrhea-predominant IBS (IBS-D) remains limited. In this study, using an experimental mouse model of IBS-D, we elucidated the effects of the LV extract. The methanol extract of LV decreased fecal pellet output in the restraint stress- or 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced IBS mouse model and inhibited 5-HT-mediated [Ca2+]i increase in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, we developed and validated a high-performance liquid chromatography method using two marker compounds, namely, chlorogenic acid and rutin, for quality control analysis. Our study results suggest the feasibility of the methanol extract of LV for developing therapeutic agents to treat IBS-D by acting as a 5-HT3 receptor antagonist.

The effects of age and height on the physical properties of Bambusa vulgaris var. Green in Chagni, Northwest Ethiopia

The effects of age and height on the physical properties of Bambusa vulgaris var. Green in Chagni, Northwest Ethiopia

Antilisterial Effectiveness of Origanum vulgare var. hirtum and Coridothymus capitatus Essential Oils and Hydrolates Alone and in Combination.

The antimicrobial activity of Origanum vulgare var. hirtum (O) and Coridothymus capitatus (C) essential oils (EOs) and hydrolates (HYs) of the same botanical species was evaluated on sixteen L. monocytogenes strains from food and clinical origins. The antimicrobial activity was assessed by Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) determination, viable cell enumeration over time up to 60 min, and evaluation of the cellular damage through Confocal Laser Scanning Microscope (CLSM) analysis. EOs exhibited antimicrobial activity with MIC values ranging from 0.3125 to 10 µL/mL. In contrast, HYs demonstrated antimicrobial effectiveness at higher concentrations (125-500 µL/mL). The effect of HYs was rapid after the contact with the cells, and the cell count reduction over 60 min of HY treatment was about 1.2-1.7 Log CFU/mL. L. monocytogenes cells were stressed by HY treatment, and red cell aggregates were revealed through CLSM observation. Moreover, the combinations of EOs and HYs had an additive antilisterial effect in most cases and allowed the concentration of use to be reduced, while maintaining or improving the antimicrobial effectiveness. The combined use of EOs and HYs can offer novel opportunities for applications, thereby enhancing the antimicrobial effectiveness and diminishing the concentration of use. This provides the added benefit of reducing toxicity and mitigating any undesirable sensory effects.

Effect of cooking on structural changes in the common black bean (Phaseolus vulgaris var. Jamapa)

The cooking process is fundamental for bean consumption and to increase the bioavailability of its nutritional components. The study aimed to determine the effect of cooking on bean seed coat through morphological analyses with different microscopy techniques and image analyses. The chemical composition and physical properties of raw black bean (RBB) and cooked black bean (CBB) seeds were determined. The surface and cross-sectional samples were studied by Optical microscopy (OM), environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The composition of samples showed significant differences after the cooking process. OM images and gray level co-occurrence matrix algorithm (GLCM) analysis indicated that cuticle-deposited minerals significantly influence texture parameters. Seed coat surface ESEM images showed cluster cracking. Texture fractal dimension and lacunarity parameters were effective in quantitatively assessing cracks on CBB. AFM results showed arithmetic average roughness (Ra) (121.67 nm) and quadratic average roughness (Rq) (149.94 nm). The cross-sectional ESEM images showed a decrease in seed coat thickness. The CLSM results showed an increased availability of lipids along the different multilayer tissues in CBB. The results generated from this research work offer a valuable potential to carry out a strict control of bean seed cooking at industrial level, since the structural changes and biochemical components (cell wall, lipids and protein bodies) that occur in the different tissues of the seed are able to migrate from the inside to the outside through the cracks generated in the multilayer structure that are evidenced by the microscopic techniques used.

Classification of cultivars of common peach (Persica vulgaris Mill.)

The existing classifications of peach cultivars are based on the morphological characteristics of vegetative and generative organs, and are of economic importance. The classification by N. I. Ryabov (1939) gained the greatest popularity. The entire cultural assortment of Persica vulgaris Mill. was divided by him into two varieties distinguished by the type of flower. A variety with a rose-shaped flower, P. vulgaris var. rosaeflora Rjab., is divided into 4 groups: 1. American early ripers; 2. Northern Chinese peaches of the ‘Chinese Cling’ type (with cartilage-like flesh texture); 3. cultivars of the Turkestan-Transcaucasian type; 4. South Chinese ‘Honey’ type peaches (honey peaches). A variety with a bell-shaped flower, P. vulgaris var. campanuliflora Rjab., is divided into two groups: 1. Iranian, the ‘Phillips Cling’ type (with cartilage-like flesh texture); 2. Iranian, the ‘Crawford’ type (with a fibrous flesh texture). The work was carried out in the collection orchard of the Research Institute of Plant Genetic Resources of Uzbekistan.Research has shown that the groups do not have a specific geographical area and consist of cultivars from all around the world. Peach cultivars are grouped according to a set of morphological characteristics, therefore, the average values of basic biological properties within a group are very close and the differences are insignificant, which complicates the use of the classification for scientific purposes.The proposed classification of peach cultivars is based on the botanical-geographical principle (Vavilov, 1935). It is proposed to divide all common peach cultivars into groups according to their geographical origin: 1. Chinese; 2. Transcaucasian; 3. European; 4. American; and 5. Central Asian. Each of these groups has its own distribution area. The biological properties of cultivars were formed under the influence of various soil and climatic conditions. Chinese peaches are frost and winter hardy and have a long dormancy period. However, in terms of commercial and taste qualities they are inferior to modern cultivars. They can be used in breeding for creating large-fruited, frostresistant, late flowering varieties. European cultivars were forming under different conditions and they should be used differentially; they are good source material for breeding cultivars with high commercial and taste qualities of fruits. Transcaucasian varieties are superior to other groups in terms of transportability. These are cultivars for canning and high quality processed products. They are relatively resistant to fungous diseases. American cultivars are distinguished by high commercial and taste qualities of fruits. Most cultivars are highly frost-resistant, but they are poorly winterhardy. They can be used for breeding highly productive cultivars with high commercial and taste qualities of fruits, with different ripening periods. Central Asian varieties have a long dormancy period, they are frost-, drought-, and soil salinity resistant. However, they are weakly resistant to fungous diseases. They can be used in breeding according to the indicated characteristics

Chara squamosa (Characeae, Charophyceae) in Serbia - insights from the taxonomic revision of the BEOU charophyte collection and recent field records

Chara gymnophylla is one of the first charophyte species reported for Serbia during the late 19th and the early 20th centuries, and at that time it was the second in terms of the frequency of its occurrence in the country. General taxonomic misinterpretations in the past resulted in the concealment of another species, C. squamosa, within the findings attributed to C. gymnophylla. In Serbia, Chara gymnophylla was treated as C. vulgaris var. gymnophylla, and as such was not listed as a species inhabiting the country. Recent improvements in the taxonomic concept for C. squamosa prompted a revision of the rich material of C. gymnophylla, C. vulgaris var. gymnophylla, C. vulgaris var. nitelloides, and C. rohlenae, deposited in the BEOU collection. The revision process was conducted concurrently with fieldwork and the collection of new material. Our study confirmed the presence of C. squamosa in Serbia for the first time. Based on numerous revised samples from the BEOU collection, as well as recently collected specimens, the species? continuous presence in Serbia since 1976 was confirmed. Chara squamosa and C. gymnophylla were thus added to the list of Characeae species inhabiting Serbia, and categorised as Critically Endangered according to the criteria outlined by IUCN. An overview of the biogeography, ecology and taxonomy of C. squamosa in Serbia is provided, particularly in relation to C. gymnophylla. The BEOU charophyte collection proved to represent a valuable and relevant resource for critical taxonomic revisions. The results presented in this study strongly encourage further studies on C. squamosa and C. gymnophylla distribution in the Balkan region and wider area in order to gain a deeper understanding of the species? ecology and the further improvement of their taxonomic concepts.