Korovi livada i pašnjaka Vlasinske visoravni

Meadows of lowland and upland areas of Vlasina Plain represent a significant natural plant resource. A botanical study of the Vlasina Plain region conducted by RANĐELOVIĆ (2002) identifies four lowland meadow communities (ass. Equiseto-Scirpetum xilvaticae Šegulja, ass. Polygono-Scirpetum xilvaticae Schw., ass. Brachythecio-Menthetum longifoliae V. Rand. and ass. Deschampsietum caespitosae H-ić.) and six phytocoenoses of hilly-mountainous meadows and pastures (ass. Diantho-Armerietum rumelicae N. Rand., ass. Festuco nigre.icenti-Nardetum strictae N. Rand., ass. Lino-Nardetum strictae Rexp. et N. Rand., ass. Thymo-Poetum violaceae Mic., ass. Festucetum paniculatae Horv. and ass. Centattrio-Festucetum validate N. Rand.). Besides identifying the weed species that participate in the grassland communities of Vlasina Plain, this study deals with all relevant parameters concerning that particular plant category, including primarily: taxonomic analysis, quantitative representation in certain grassland communities, life forms (biological spectrum), phyto-geographical characteristics (floral elements), ecological and biological features and categorization according to their harmful effect (very poisonous, weakly poisonous and useless species). This first brief report contains data on the weed flora of meadows and pastures of Vlasina Plain, while the main subject of a second communication (in preparation) would be focused on detailed analysis of weed species in the region, their biological characteristics and specific features.Dolinske i brdske, odnosno, planinske livade i pašnjaci predstavljaju značajne prirodne biljne resurse Vlasinske visoravni. Prema istraživanjima V. Randelovića (2002) na ovom području zastupljene su 4 biljne zajednice dolinskih livada (ass. Equiseto-Scirpetum silvaticae Segulja, ass. Polygono-Scirpetuin silvaticae Schw., ass. Brachythecio-Menthetum longifoliae V. Rand, i ass. Deschampsietum caespitosae H-ić) i 6 fitocenoza planinskih livada i pašnjaka (ass. Diantho-Arinerietimi rumelicae N. Rand., ass. Festuc.o nigrescenti-Nardelnm atrictae N. Ranđ., ass. Lmu-Nunletum xtrictae Rexp. el N. Rand., ass. Thymo-Poetum violaceae Mic., ass. Festucetum paniculatae Horv. i ass. Centaurio-Fesiucctum validae N. Rand.). Pored identifikacije travnjačkih korovskih vrsta u livadskim i pašnjačkim zajednicama Vlasinske visoravni, proučeni su i analizirani svi važniji parametri koji se odnose na ovu kategoriju biljaka, kao što su: taksonomska anali/a, kvantitativna zastupljenost u pojedinim travnjačkim fitocenozama, kategorizacija korova prema štetnosti (vrlo otrovne, slabo otrovne, bezvredne vrste), ekološke i biološke osobine, pripadnost odgovarajućim životnim oblicima (biološki spektar), fitogeografske karakteristike (udeo pojedinih geoelemenata). U prvom saopštenju, ovom prilikom, dat je samo pregled korovskih vrsta u livadskim i pašnjačkim fitocenozama Vlasinske visoravni, dok će se u drugom delu ove studije analizirati karakteristike i specifičnosti pojedinih travnjačkih korova u livadskim i pašnjačkim zajednicama na području Vlasinske visoravni

Palinomorfološko proučavanje jagorčevine (Primula vulgaris Huds.) sa područja nacionalnog rezervata Obedska bara (Srbija)

The pollen morphology of primrose (Primula vulgaris, fam. Primulaceae) has been investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy to contribute to melissopalynological studies of honeys originating from the native apiflora. Palynomorphological investigation included the examination of pollen symmetry, polarity, ornamentation, aperturation, shape and size. The pollen grains are isopolar, radially symmetric and shed as monads. The exine ornamentation is reticulate. Analysis of pollen morphometric characteristics revealed that grains are small to medium size and prolate in shape. Given the aperturation, the number of colpi was mostly variable among individuals with a different type of flower ranging from 6 to 9.Palinomorfološka istraživanja jagorčevine (Primula vulgaris) koja su obuhvatila analizu osnovnih karakteristika polenovih zrna kao što su simetrija, polarnost, ornamentacija, aperturacija, oblik i veličina, obavljena su uz pomoć svetlosne i skenirajuće elektronske mikroskopije u cilju doprinosa melisopalinološkim istraživanjima meda poreklom iz apiflore različitih područja Srbije. Polenova zrna jagorčevine su izopolarna i radijalno simetrična, retikulatne ornamentacije. U pogledu aperturacije, evidentna je varijabilnost u broju brazdi na polenovim zrnima sakupljenim sa cvetova različitih individua, te su ona 6(-7) ili 8(-9)-zonokolpatna. Analiza morfometrijskih karakteristika polena pokazala je da polenova zrna po veličini spadaju u grupu malih do srednjih i da imaju prolatni oblik

Korovska flora prirodnih travnjaka Srbije

Meadow and pasture weed flora in Serbia is surveyed and ecological analysis provided. The acquired data show a very high participation of weed species in grassland areas. Weeds accounted for over 50% of overall floristic composition of the analyzed meadow and pasture plant communities (48), which belong to the classes Phragmitetea, Molinio-Arrhenatheretea, Festuco-Brometea, Festucetea vaginalcae, Nardo-Callunetea and Juncetea trifidi. The lowest participation of weeds was 50.7% in the class Fcstuco-Brometea, while the highest reached as much as 91.3% in the class Phragmitetea. Viewed from the phytocoenological aspect, weed plants are equal with other (beneficial) coenobions in grassland areas. However, viewed from the aspect of grassland utilization they belong to an undesirable group of plants. Depending on the degree of harmfulness, grassland weeds may be differentiated into several groups: 1. plants of low forage value, consumed by livestock but only reluctantly (e.g. Nardus slricta); 2. prickly plants (with thorns, hooks and emergance growths) such as Carduus sp., Cirsium sp., Ononis spinosa, Eryngium campestre, etc., which may cause injury to the mouth, throat, stomach or intestines; and 3. poisonous species such as Aristolochia clematitis, A tropa belladonna, Colchicum autumnale, Conium maculatum, Euphorbia sp., Hyosciamun niger, Veratrum album and many others, which may cause disorders of some sort in animals and even produce fatal result when consumed in large amounts.U radu je analizirano 48 travnjačkih zajednica Srbije. Ispitivane su i močvarne i vlažne livade, submontane, montane i alpske travnjačke fitocenoze. Utvrđeno je ukupno 549 vrsta na travnjačkim staništima korova. Ove korovske vrste klasifikovane su u 231 rod iz 52 familije. Sledeće familije su naročito bogate u pogledu broja korovskih vrsta: Asteraceae (85 korovskih vrsta), Poaceae (44), Scrophulariaceae (37), Caryophyllaceae (36), Lamiaceae (34), Rosaccae (24), Cypcraceae (22) i Fabaceae (19). Korovske vrste pokazuju veliku infraspecijsku raznovrstnost i uključuju 249 podvrsta, 347 varijeteta i 349 formi. Što se tiče biološkog spektra, dominiraju hemikriptofite (50,57%). Horološka analiza pokazuje da u korovskoj flori travnjaka Srbije učestvuje 25 različitih geoelemenata, od čega više od 50% pripada flornim elementima velikih površina rasprostranjenja: evroazijskom, subevroazijskom, srednje-evropskom i kosmopolitskom. Procenat prisustva korovskih vrsta je od 50,7% (u klasi Festuco-Brometea) do 91,3% (u klasi Phragmitetea)

Phytochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Fresh Fruits and Some Traditional Products of Wild Grown Raspberry (Rubus idaeus L.)

The current study investigated and compared phytochemical and antioxidant activity of fresh fruit and some traditional products of Rubus idaeus grown in mountain region of Serbia. The total organic acid, total sugar content, total phenolics, flavonoids, tannins, anthocyanins and vitamin C were evaluated. The antioxidant activities were evaluated using two antioxidant systems 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2'-azinobis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS). The fresh fruit contained highest amount of vitamin C (46.62 mg AA g(-1)) and total organic acids (882.22 mg CA g(-1)). The sweet preserve had highest content of total phenolics (200.83 mg GA g(-1)), flavonoids (12.85 mg RU g(-1)) and tannins (39.11 mg g(-1)). The juice had the highest total anthocyanin content (107.22 mu g mL(-1)) and total sugar content (25 degrees Brix). The best antioxidant activity in ABTS assay had juice (IC50 = 4.87 mu mol TE g(-1)), followed by sweet preserve (IC50 = 5.14 mu mol TE g(-1)), almost identical to standard gallic acid. In the DPPH free radical scavenging assay, sweet fruit preserve showed significant better antioxidant activity (IC50 = 41.27 mu g mL(-1)) compared to juice (IC50 = 106.07 mu g mL(-1)) and fresh fruit (IC50 = 294.79 mu g mL(-1)). Our results indicated promising perspectives for usage of R. idaeus fresh fruits and traditional products studied with considerable levels of vitamin C, bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity

Korovska flora prirodnih travnjaka Srbije

In the present paper 48 grassland communities in Serbia have been analyzed. Marshy and wet meadow, sub-mountainous, mountainous and alpine grassland phytocoenoses have been included. The sum of 549 species was determined in grassland weed habitats. Those weed species were classified in 231 genera from 52 families. The following families are especially rich regarding the number of weed species within: Asteraceae (85 weed species), Poaceae (44), Scrophulariaceae (37), Caryophyllaceae (36), Lamiaceae (34), Rosaceae (24), Cyperaceae (22) and Fabaceae (19). Weed species exhibit great infraspecies diversity, they envelope 249 subspecies, 347 varieties and 349 forms. In biological spectrum the most dominant are chemicryptophytes (50.57%), followed by geophytes (15.46%), therophytes (14.91) and thero-chemicryptophytes (7.73%). Chorological analysis showed that in weed’s flora of grasslands of Serbia there are 25 different geoelements, where among them more than 50% belong to the floral elements of huge areas of distribution: European Asian, subeurope-asian, middle European and cosmopolitan. Percept of occurrence of the weed species ranged from 50.7% (in class Festuco-Brometea) to 91.3% (in class Phragmitetea).U radu je dat pregled i ekološka analiza korovske flore livada i pašnjaka Srbije. Dobijeni podaci pokazuju da je vrlo visoko učešće korovskih vrsta u biljnom pokrivaču travnjaka. U svim livadskim i pašnjačkim biljnim zajednicama koje su analizirane (ukupno 48), a koje pripadaju klasama Phragmitetea, Molinio- Arrhenatheretea, Festuco-Brometea, Festucetea vaginateae, Nardo-Callunetea i Juncetea trifidi, bez izuzetka, korovi participiraju sa više od 50% u odnosu na sve vrste koje ulaze u njihov floristički sastav. Najmanja zastupljenost korova iznosi 50.7% iz zajednica klase Festuco-Brometea, a dostiže čak i do 91.3% iz klase Phragmitetea. Sa fitocenološkog aspekta, korovske biljke na travnjacima su raznopravni članovi sa ostalim (korisnim) cenobiontima zajednica. Međutim, sa aspekta iskorišćavanja travnjaka oni predstavljaju "nepoželjnu" grupu biljaka: 1.biljke niske krmne vrednosti koje stoka nerado jede (npr. Nardus stricta); 2.bodljikave (sa trnovima, kukicama, emergencama), kao što su: Cardus sp., Cirsium sp., Ononis spinosa, Eringium campestre i dr., a koje mogu dovesti do povredjivanja usne duplje, ždrela i želudačno-crevnog trakta prilikom konzumacije; i 3. otrovne vrste kao što su npr., Aristolochia clematitis, Atropa belladonna, Colchicum autumnale, Conium maculatum, Euphorbia sp., Hyosciamus niger, Veratrum album, i mnoge druge, koje, ne samo da mogu izazvati smetnje kod životinja, već, uzete u većim količinama, mogu imati i letalno dejstvo

Pollen morphology and the flower visitors of Chaerophyllum coloratum L. (Apiaceae)

The pollen features of Chaerophyllum coloratum L., endemic to the Dinaric Alps, have been examined by both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in order to contribute to a better understanding of the taxonomic status of the species. Flower visitors have also been observed and analyzed with the aim of clarifying certain pollination aspects of the species including flower attractiveness especially to honeybees, and also in order to ascertain its contribution to the bee pasture. The pollen grains of C. coloratum are isopolar, radially symmetrical and medium sized. Polar axis (P) is 26.83±1.77 μm length, and equatorial diameter (E) is 9.17±0.57 μm length. P/E ratio amounts 2.90±0.10 indicating a perprolate shape. In an equatorial view, the grains are constricted in the equatorial region (bone-shaped), with obtuse polar caps. In polar view, they are triangular with obtuse angles and furrows in the sides of the triangle (interangular). The grains are tricolporate with three straight ectocolpi arranged regularly meridionally, of mean length 14.43±2.17 μm, each of which has one endopore. The characteristic internal thickenings around the protruding, clearly visible endopores (costae) in the constricted equatorial region are obvious in light microscopy. The ornamentation is psilate, irregularly rugulate (“cerebroid”), the exine surface is rather undulating. With regard to the observed fl ower visitors, the following pollination types occurred: melittophily, myophily, sapromyophily, cantharophily, and phalaenophily, and the most frequent pollinator was the honeybee

Edible snail farming in Serbia: Present and future

Snail farming is a type of sustainable animal production, which could become an important source of incomes for the country, and prevent further exhaustion of natural snail populations. It has raised considerable public attention in Serbia. There are over 350 newly registered snail farms that have started production in the past couple of years. The idea of snail farming in Serbia is strongly and erroneously influenced by media, often presented as an low investment cycle, low manpower, and a very advantageous side activity. On the other hand export of snails collected from natural populations has been very profitable in the past decade despite the economic blockade of the country during the 90s. In this paper, beginnings of snail farming in Serbia, problems of investments, production and protection technology, and marketing are discussed. The need of regulation is pointed out

Standard microscopic slide preparation technique as a new and useful tool for analyzing mucilage content in marshmallow root

Marshmallow (Althaea officinalis L.) root is used as a drug in medicine, pharmaceutical, cosmetic as well as in food products, due to the content of mucilage with a broad range of physicochemical properties. Since mucilage content in roots depends on genotype and growing conditions, the quality control is, therefore, one of the major tasks in the rational use of the drug. In this paper we compare data for mucilage content in roots obtained by standard procedure which implies measuring of swelling ratio in dried samples, with anatomical features of roots obtained by different methods for anatomical analysis, and we have shown that anatomical method could be used for determination of mucilage content in marshmallow root

Alien plant species and factors of invasiveness of anthropogenic vegetation in the Northwestern Balkans - a phytosociological approach

We studied the anthropogenic vegetation of the Northwest Balkans in order to determine its susceptibility to invasion by alien plant species. We compiled a dataset of 3089 vegetation plots sampled between 1939 and 2009, recording a set of variables for each sample plot in order to determine which factors have the most effect on a habitat's vulnerability to invaders. We calculated the proportion of native species, archaeophytes and neophytes for each plot. We used regression tree models to determine the site conditions of the most invaded anthropogenic habitats. The sample plots contained an average of 12.7% alien plant species, with a low proportion of archaeophytes (4.3%) and 8.4% neophytes. Local habitat conditions proved to have the largest effect, rather than climatic variables or propagule pressure. The proportion of archaeophytes follows a different pattern than that seen in central and northern Europe, indicating that macroecological factors are more important. Neophytes show a similar distribution to other European locations

Natural Macromolecules as Carriers for Essential Oils: From Extraction to Biomedical Application

Essential oils (EOs) and their main constituents, the terpenes, are widely studied, mostly relating to their antioxidant ability and bioactivity, such as antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and range of other actions in the living systems. However, there is limited information on their bioavailability, especially upon clinical studies. Having in mind both strong biological effects and health benefits of EOs and their specific physicochemical properties (volatility, lipophilic character, low water solubility or insolubility, viscosity, expressed odor, concentration-dependent toxicity, etc.), there is a need for their encapsulation for target delivery. Encapsulation of EOs and their constituents is the prerequisite for enhancing their oxidative stability, thermostability, photostability, shelf life, and biological activity. We considered various carrier types such a (1) monophase and polyphase polysaccharide hydrogel carriers, (2) polysaccharide-protein carriers, and (3) lipid carriers in the context of physicochemical and engineering factors. Physicochemical factors are encapsulation efficiency, chemical stability under gastric conditions, mechanical stability, and thermal stability of carrier matrices. Choice of carrier material also determines the encapsulation technique. Consequently, the engineering factors are related to the advantage and disadvantage of various encapsulation techniques frequently used in the literature. In addition, it was intended to address the interactions between (1) main carrier components, such as polysaccharides, proteins, and lipids themselves (in order to form chemically and mechanically stable structure); (2) main carrier components with pepsin under gastric conditions (in order to form resistant material under gastric conditions); and (3) main carrier components with EOs (in order to enhance encapsulation efficiency), as a necessary precondition for whole process optimization. Finally, different sources for obtaining natural carrier macromolecules are surveyed, especially the agro-waste materials and agricultural and food by-products. This review article highlights the bioavailability aspects of encapsulated EOs and physicochemical and engineering factors concerning natural macromolecule carriers for their target delivery and application