Cultivation of Lithuanian hybrids and cultivars of Paeonia Lactiflora in Kaunas botanical garden

Research of plant diversity : present ang future : abstracts of international scientific conferenece, June 27–28, 2013, KaunasThe phenological observations, morphological and decorative properties were studied in 19 Paeonia lactiflora hybrids and cultivars at Kaunas Botanical Garden of Vytautas Magnus Uni­ versity during 2005–2011. The ornamental characteristics of peony cultivars were investigated (described) by duration of blooming, blossom size, form and colour of flowers, number of ge­ nerative stems, height of the plants. It was established that species of Lithuanian peony had varied. The morphological–ornamental features of the Paeonia lactiflora are of large variety: plant blooming duration lasted 10–20 days, blooming abundance – 12–35 blossoms on one plant, size of blossom – 14–20 cm, height of plants –70–114 cm, form of blossoms – hollow and simple. According to average height, two phenorhythmotypes were distinguished: 1) medium height (50.0–79.0 cm), 2) high (80.0 cm and more). These results are relevant for grouping dif­ ferent types of peony intended for planting in green areas of urban territoriesBotanikos sodasVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŠiaulių universiteta

Different Habitats Show Similar Genetic Structure of <i>Bunias orientalis</i> L. (Brassicaceae)in Lithuania

We studied genetic diversity within and among populations of warty cabbage (Bunias orientalis L.), which is an alien species in Lithuania and other Baltic countries. In Lithuania, this weed colonises two main types of habitats: railway/roadsides and meadows on riversides. The aim of this study was to assess the genetic structure of invasive populations of B. orientalis in Lithuania and consider the impact of diverse habitats on the partitioning of genetic diversity using inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers. An analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) carried out on the basis of ISSR showed that there is high genetic differentiation (46%) among populations of B. orientalis, which is probably caused by the founder effect and limited gene flow. However, we observed no impact of habitat on the genetic difference among populations. Similar levels of ISSR polymorphic loci were observed in riverside (P = 31.67%) and railway/roadsides (P = 30.51%) populations. UPGMA cluster analysis and principal coordinate analysis (PCoA) also did not show grouping of studied populations according to habitat type. High genetic differentiation among populations, as indicated by ISSR markers, confirm multiple independent introductions of this species in Lithuania