Dna Analysis of London Planetree of Tree Lined Walkways of the City of Sarajevo

U ovom članku prikazano je istraživanje tri skupine stabala hibridne platane (Platanus acerifolia /Aiton/ Willd.) iz aleja sa Sarajevskog područja, točnije s lokalitetima: Ilidža, Nedžarići, Dobrinja. Platane su zasađenu u različitim razdobljima, početkom 20 stoljeća, potom osamdesetih godina pred Olimpijske igre u Sarajevu, te neposredno nakon domovinskog rata u Bosni i Hercegovini. Kao kontrola u ovom istraživanju uporabljena je istočnjačka platana (Platanus orientalis L.) podrijetlom sa Cipra. Uspoređene su četiri mikrosatelitne (ccmp3, ccmp6, ccmp7, ccmp10) i jedna nekodirajuća hloroplastna DNA regija (trnT-trnL) te jedna jezgrena (5S) regija. Na temelju dobivenih rezultata nije bilo moguće razlikovati istraživane jedinke.Interspecific hybridization often blurs the species boundaries both in natural and artificial conditions. Thus a verification of identity based on morphological characters only is not sometimes fully reliable. Such an example is the case of Platanus x acerifolia and P. orientalis co-occurring in city tree line, parks and artificial stands. Therefore we carried out an analysis using molecular markers to distinguish tree individuals that could not be assigned either to P. x acerifolia or P. orientalis. The individuals of P. x acerifolia and P. orientalis originated from three mixed groups collected in Sarajevo area and a group of P. orientalis from Cyprus was used as a control group. The four cpDNA microsatelite primers (ccmp3, ccmp6, ccmp7, ccmp10), an ITS sequence of trnT-trnL region and a pair of 5S nDNA primers were used to distinguish Platanus sp. individuals. No polymorphism was detected for any of analyzed DNA sequences and therefore distinction between the plane trees could not be achieved. The lack of polymorphism might be explained by dominant mode of inheritance for targeted sequences that are maternally transferred in hybridization processes

Origin and Spatial Distribution of Heavy Metals in Mountain Beech Forests Soils Across Europe

The objectives of this research were to investigate the concentration; characterize the distribution; and determine the sources of heavy metals in European mountain beech forest soils. Total of 37 soil samples were collected from 11 countries (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia and Spain). Concentrations of As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Hg were in ranges of 0.98-22.98 mg kg-1, 0.99-6.03 mg kg-1, 2.51-26.01 mg kg-1, 4.22-83.42 mg kg-1, 11.25-39.77 mg kg-1, 4.79-56.34 mg kg-1, 1.38-91.76 mg kg-1, 32.50-252.20 mg kg-1, 0.20-5.07 mg kg-1, respectively. Hotspots of heavy metals were observed in luvisol and rendzina soils developed on carbonate bedrock. Multivariate analyses discriminated between component 1 with a large positive associations of As, Cd, Cr, Zn, Hg, Pb, CaCO3, Corganic, pH, EC, Mg, and Ca and component 2 with a large positive associations of Co, Cr, Cu, Ni, clay, Al, and Fe. Positive matrix factorization Factor 1 was defined by As, Pb, and Zn, Cu and Hg provided similar contributions for Factors 1 and 2. Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni provided the highest percentage contributions for Factor 2. Pollution index, Enrichment factor of Cr, Hg, As, Pb, Ni, Cd, Cu, Zn, and Co ranges: 0.05–1.17, 4.48–246.63, 0.01–3.21, 0.06–2.97, 0.18–3.40, 4.30–81.62, 0.56–3.20, 0.52–3.83 and 0.21–3.81, respectively

Short-term impacts of harvesting intensity on the upper soil layers in high karst Dinaric fir-beech forests

The present study addresses the short-term effects of different harvest intensities under close-to-nature selective management on the upper soil layers in Slovenian and Bosnian Dinaric karst fir-beech forests. The different harvest intensities coincided with the single-tree and irregular shelterwood management, common in the region. The effect of harvesting intensity on the upper soil layers (Ol, Of, Ol and 0%10 cm mineral soil) was investigated by a repeated measurements experiment in Slovenia on 27 research plots in close-to nature managed forests. The properties of the upper layers (concentration of SOC and TN, C/N ratio, weights, BD and SOC stocks) were analyzed twice, before (2011) and after (2014) treatment of 50% and 100% harvest intensity in relation to the total standing growing stock of trees. As a control, we used no-treatment <20% harvesting intensity plots. To extend this experiment, we added three comparable plots from the Bosnian site: one in an old-growth forest with 0% harvest intensity and two in the managed forest with <20% harvest intensity. The results of the assessment of mean differences indicated a significant influence of harvesting intensity on the decrease in SOC, TN concentrations, weights and SOC stocks in the organic layers and the increase in BD and SOC stocks in the 0%10 cm mineral soil. The highest relative decreases in Ol, Of and Oh SOC stocks occurred in 50% (%10 and %38%) and 100% (%16 and %49%) harvest intensities. Negligible relative differences in both organic and 0%10 cm mineral layers were found for the <20% harvest intensity in the region. The change in forest light conditions resulting from differences in canopy openness as a function of applied harvest intensity explained the significant difference in the properties of the upper soil layers. The impact of the short-term losses in SOC stocks, in terms of overall soil productivity, may depend on the regeneration dynamics and melioration methods

Spatial distribution and source identification of heavy metals in European mountain beech forests soils

The main objectives of this research were to (i) investigate the concentration; (ii) characterize the distribution; (iii) determine the sources apportionment; (iv) estimate environmental and health risks of heavy metals in soil from mountain beech forest. A total of 76 soil samples from 20 pure beech forest stands from Bosnia and Her- zegovina (BA), Bulgaria (BG), Check Republic (CZ), Germany (DE), Italy (IT), Poland (PL), Romania (RO), Serbia (RS), Slovakia (SK), Slovenia (SL), and Spain (ES) were collected. The content of major elements was measured by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF). The content of heavy metals was measured by inductively coupled plasma–optical emission spectrometry (ICP/OES). Heavy metals had a specific concentration range, which fol- lowed in soil samples from depth 0–40 cm the common order (low to high): Hg < Cd < As < Co < Pb < Ni < Cu < Cr < Zn, and from depth 40–80 cm: Hg < Cd < As < Pb < Co < Ni < Cu < Cr < Zn. The grouping of the examined parameters according to rock types, soil types, and localities indicated the separation of carbonate rocks from other substrates, luvisol, and rendzina from other soil types, and samples from BA, SL, and IT from other localities. According to sources apportionment As, Pb and Zn are of anthropogenic origin, Cd, Co, Cr, and Ni are of geogenic origin, while the middle position of Cu and Hg indicates a combined contribution of both sources. Elements Cd and Hg indicated severe to extremely severe enrichment with a mean value of 24.3 and 70.6, respectively. Based on the determined values Ni, Cr, As and Cd do not pose a health risk

Heteroleptic ruthenium bioflavonoid complexes: from synthesis to <i>in vitro</i> biological activity

<p>Heteroleptic ruthenium(II) bioflavonoid complexes of quercetin, morin, chrysin, and 3-hydroxyflavone were prepared and their interaction with CT DNA and BSA along with antioxidant and <i>in vitro</i> anticancer and antimicrobial activities was investigated. The formulation and characterization of complexes were achieved through elemental and thermal analysis, mass spectrometry, ¹H NMR spectroscopy along with infrared, electronic absorption, and emission spectroscopy as well as square-wave voltammetry, and magnetic and conductivity measurements. Ruthenium(II) is octahedrally coordinated in cationic complex species to two bidentate diimine ligands (2,2′-bipyridine or 1,10-phenanthroline) and one bidentate monobasic flavonoid ligand through 3,4-site of quercetin, morin, and 3-hydroxyflavone or 4,5-site of chrysin. Complexes bind CT DNA by intercalation and binding constants comparable to ethidium bromide or 10 times higher. Binding constants of complexes to BSA were several times higher compared to ibuprofen and diazepam, and suggest that the complexes have a strong affinity to BSA. Antioxidant activity tests showed that the complexes are more potent in terms of radical inhibition compared to the parent flavonoids. Cytotoxic testing revealed that the Ru(II) complex of quercetin with 2,2′-bipyridine co-ligand has good selectivity to breast adenocarcinoma, while the complex of 3-hydroxyflavone with 2,2′-bipyridine co-ligand showed strong cytotoxicity toward all tested cell lines with IC₅₀ ∼ 1 μM. All complexes showed moderate activity toward <i>Acinetobacter baumannii</i>, while the Ru(II) complex of 3-hydroxyflavone with 2,2′-bipyridine showed excellent activity toward MRSA and <i>Candida albicans</i>.</p

MICROBIAL SOIL BIODIVERSITY IN BEECH FORESTS OF EUROPEAN MOUNTAINS

Fagus sylvatica is widely distributed across Europe thanks to its high adaptability in a wide variety of soils and climate. Microbial communities are essential for maintaining forest soil quality and are responsible for forest ecosystem functioning; the ability of soil microorganisms to respond to abiotic stressors (e.g. organic carbon losses, water scarcity, temperature changes), is crucial under ongoing environmental changes and also supports tree health. In this study, soil samples were collected from pure beech plots as part of the COST Action project CLIMO to find differences in microbial community characteristics and evaluate the effects of soil properties on microbial communities across altitude, latitude and longitude gradients. Positive relationships were found between organic carbon content and both microbial abundance and dehydrogenase activity. Dehydrogenase and catalase activities were altitude-correlated and microbial activities were longitude-correlated. In the most southern beech plot, microbial community was abundant and displayed high activities. This shows that microbial communities could help tree populations to better adapt to predicted changes in environmental conditions in the future. We suggest that research into forest health and beech performance should also test soil microbial enzymatic activity, in particular under changing climate conditions, to assist in identifying adaptation strategies.The accepted manuscript in pdf format is listed with the files at the bottom of this page. The presentation of the authors' names and (or) special characters in the title of the manuscript may differ slightly between what is listed on this page and what is listed in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript; that in the pdf file of the accepted manuscript is what was submitted by the author