Features of the anatomical structure of leaves depending on the high-altitude growth of apricot in Dagestan

Background. The adaptive changes during the distribution of Prunus armeniaca L. in Dagestan are important for understanding microevolution, structural and functional differentiation processes of populations along environmental gradients based on the organism’s reaction norm. They can be examined by studying leaf anatomical features, having ecologically differentiating significance in natural populations with contrasting growth conditions.   Materials and methods. The material for the study of leaf anatomical features was taken from 7 apricot trees in 3 growing areas of Mountainous Dagestan. Comparative analysis was carried out for 42 morphological, anatomical and index parameters of the lamina and petiole.   Results. The anocytic structure type of the stomatal apparatus was found in all apricot samples. The differences were determined by the degree of stomata submergence depending on the cuticle’s development. Trees from greater heights had more trichomes on the leaf’s upper side than on its underside. Significant differences between the extreme height reference points were recorded for the number of stomata, cells of the lower epidermis, layers of the sclerenchyma, and xylem thickness. Most of the traits of the lamina decreased, and those of the petiole increased with the altitude.   Conclusion. The traits corresponding to the lower and upper altitude limits of P. armeniaca were identified on the basis of the lamina and petiole anatomical features. More xerophytic leaf traits were recorded for the altitudes of 550 m and 1900 m, and mesophytic ones for 1700 m and 1800 m. Endoderm thickness, number of endosperm layers, petiole index, and stomatal index were identified as stable indicators according to the reaction norm within the scope of altitudes: The differences were proved for more plastic traits (number of cells of the upper and lower epidermis, number of stomata, thickness of the lamina and cuticle, and the petiole’s long axis diameter)

COLLAPSE OF THE TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURAL CIVILIZATION IN THE MOUNTAINOUS DAGESTAN AND POSSIBLE WAYS TO OVERCOME THE CRISIS

The aim is to analyze the current state of mountain agriculture in a crisis of traditional agricultural civilization based on terraced agriculture.Results and discussion. The introduction defines the concept of "innovation development" and the necessity of the institutional approach to identify and break the obstacles for the development of the agricultural sector in mountainous Dagestan. The following section provides a summary of the history of agricultural civilization in the mountainous Dagestan and proves the necessity of the inventory of resources before the adoption of the program of development of this region. Then, consecutively, it discusses the need for an inventory of land resources, vegetation resources (including genetic resources) and wildlife resources. Each section provides consistent guidance on inventory and further utilization of the resource. We discuss some of the conceptual approaches to the improvement of the agricultural sector, in particular branding the territory, promotion of horticulture areas in mid and high lands with new crops, the possibility of medicinal crop on terraced land.Conclusions. The findings discuss the impact of the humanitarian factor on the effectiveness of the implementation of innovative approaches for the development of the agricultural sector in the mountainous Dagestan

Intropopulation variability of Rosa oxyodon Boiss. indications on Gunib plateau

The data of intrapopulation variability of caucasian endemic Rosa oxyodon Boiss. are given in the article on the base of the complex of quantitative indications of the bush and biometric factors of the leaf

Some features of seeds and clonal reproduction Stevia Rebaudiana Bertony in conditions of Daghestan

In article are presented adaptive and reproductive potential’s studies of Stevia rebaudiana Bertony in conditions of Daghestan. The features of seeds and clonal reproduction, keeping of the uterine plants at the winter and new methods of production’s increasing are installed

Postfire Recovery of a Broad-Leaved Forest in Submountain Dagestan

Peculiarities of the forest recovery after a crown fire occurred in 2010 in the beech–yew forest in the Termenlik district (965 m above sea level) of submountain Dagestan have been analyzed. The studies were carried out in 2011, 2013, 2018, and 2019 using a common methodology. No such studies had ever been performed in Dagestan. The sequence and the scale of changes in the species composition, as well as the biomorphological peculiarities of woody plants and results of their competitive interactions, are described. In the first postfire year (2011), the seedlings, root shoots, and young growth of nine woody species were revealed. Within the next 2 years, the number of pioneer species increased to 23, while species richness indices remained very low. An inspection arranged in 2019 showed that the majority of species growing in the vicinities of the studied location have appeared on the postfire territory. The species density index was 0.75 for a sample area with 86 plants (seven species in total) and 1.16 for a sample area with 74 plants (ten species in total). Of 39 species growing in the part of the forest that survived, 16 were absent in the postfire area. In the next years, the species abundance was maintained at the same level (~800 plants per 800 m2), and the number of species increased; the Menhinick index was 1.3. Based on the crown height (0.5‒9 m), ten groups of trees were determined. Groups characterized by a tree size of 4‒5 m or more included two species, Populus tremula L. and Salix caprea L. Groups characterized by tree heights lower than 4 m included five species (Fraxinus excelsior L., Tilia cordata Mill., Сarpinus caucasica Grossh., Fagus orientalis Lipsky, and Acer platanoides L.). A. platanoides (293 plants, Pj = 0.369) was characterized by the maximum number of plants with low height: the height of 95% of trees did not exceed 0.5 m. Due to appearance of new rapidly growing woody species developed from seeds (Populus tremula L., Salix caprea L., Acer campestre L., and Fraxinus excelsior L.) in the tree stand, we supposed a change in the succession trend and the formation of a new transformed intermediate community without the participation of the main dominants of the native forest (Fagus orientalis Lipsky., Carpinus caucasica Grossh., Taxus baccata L., and Acer platanoides L.)

Pioneer vegetation groupings and some approaches to the artificial overgrowth of highway slopes of piedmont Dagestan, Russia

Aim. Detection of succession trends and bioengineering approaches to the restoration of vegetation on road slopes of piedmont Dagestan in Russia.Material and Methods. Ten test area plots (100 m2 every 500m) at 256‐515m altitude and at a range of exposures were established along the Makhachkala‐Buinaksk highway (Narat‐Tyube Pass section) to assess species composition and their participation in the overgrowth of roadside slopes.Results. This paper presents the results of studying the primary overgrowth of roadside slopes in the conditions of piedmont Dagestan. Data are presented on the natural vegetation, geomorphology, soil types and parent rocks of the Narat‐Tyube ridge. In the first year of observations, a spectrum of families with the largest number of pioneer species and the role of slope consolidation with a high proportion of vegetatively propagating species was determined.Conclusions. Native woody species showing promise for the application of bioengineering methods for optimization and acceleration of vegetation overgrowth have been identified. Features of overgrowth species distribution in relation to slope microenvironments, proximity of natural plant communities and their ecological and biological characteristics have been shown

Morpho-anatomocal variations of rod’s systems of Celtis caucasica Willd. in Mahachkala

At the polluted territories of Mahachkala city Celtis caucasica Willd. has following adaptations: at the morphological level — decreasing of shoot and leaf size; at the anatomic level — increasing of cell amount in the upper epiderma to the area points, of down cuticula, decreasing of leaf thickness from decreasing of intercellular space and from getting new shape of cancellous tissue similar to pileate tissue.В загрязненных условиях города Махачкалы у Celtis caucasica Willd. вырабатываются следующие адаптации: на морфологическом уровне — уменьшение размеров побегов и листьев; на анатомическом уровне — увеличение количества клеток верхней эпидермы на единицу площади листа, толщины нижней кутикулы, уменьшение толщины листа за счет уменьшения межклетного пространства и приобретения клетками губчатой ткани формы, схожей с клетками палисадной ткани

Ecological Aspects of the Formation of Regraded Solonchak in the Terek-Kuma Lowland of the Caspian

Aim. To reveal the basic patterns and principles of formation on the surface of crusty solonchak of an aeolian-accumulative horizon and its positive transformation at the taxonomic level.Material and Methods. On the surface of crusty solonchak there is formed a layer of silt-sand fractions with seeds of wild phytocenoses which move/перемещаюихся over the surface of the soil under the influence of atmospheric processes with the utilization of woody material protruding above the soil surface to 0.2 m. Analyses, surveys and observations were carried out of the key parts (for investigation - under the aeolian layer) of the crusty solonchak transformed through the dynamics of humidity, lowering of soil moisture (SC), granulometric composition, chemistry and level of soil salinity, as well as determination of the species composition of the phytocenoses and the accumulation of phytomass by plants.Results. The possibility was revealed of a positive transformation within eight years of a layer of silt-sand fractions with seeds of wild phytocenoses in the Wael humus horizon with a capacity of 5 cm ± 0.8 cm and containing 1.26% of humus. The type of salinization remains sulphate-chloride but the level of salinization decreases from very strong in the 0-5 layer to weak one in the 6-15 cm layer - on average. The profile of the crusty solonchak Скк [AJk - AJ,s - BCA,s - Cca,s] is changed to that of regraded solonchak Ckw [Wael - AJ,s - BCA,s - Cca,s]. The granulometric composition of the soil is improved and a productive phytocenosis is formed.Conclusion. The positive transformation of crusty solonchak to regraded contributes to the reduction of soil deflation and of aerial contamination by dust particle fractions, the lowering of carbon emissions from the soil and of the natural greenhouse effect, the increase of the utilization coefficient of photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and the prevention of excessive overheating of the soil and atmosphere