Serbian bryophyte diversity – an analyses of the national species richness by regions

Bryophyte flora of Serbia up to current knowledge includes 751 taxa (604 mosses and 147 liverworts). However, many taxa remain doubtful while many other are added just recently. Bryological research in Serbia has revived in the last few decades, bringing many new species records and data on its ecology and distribution. All literature and herbarium data on species distribution were collected, and comprehensive Bryophyte database of Serbia was made. An analysis of species richness inside administrative regions of Serbia was performed. The region of Eastern Serbia has the highest alpha diversity as compared to the other Serbian regions. In total, 477 bryophyte taxa were recorded in this region. The other bryophyte species rich areas include Western (384) and Central (366) regions of Serbia. On the other hand, the regions of Bačka (69) and Pomoravlje (91) were distinguished as a regions with smallest number of taxa. There are two main reasons for this, northern Serbia (i.e. Vojvodina) is rather geologically and morphologically less diverse and the majority of land (ca. 90%) is transformed to agricultural surfaces. Also, this is the least bryologically investigated Serbian part. If one consider bryophyte records made by regions, the most are made in the region of Sumadija (3173), followed by Eastern Serbia (2750). The region with most liwerwort records is Western Serbia, while Sumadija is the regions with the most moss records made. The region of Pomoravlje (200), Kosovo (316) and Bačka (344) remained the regions with less bryophyte records. Although new species records and confirmations of old records are expected for the whole country and all regions, the priority of future investigation of bryophyte flora of Serbia should be given in the regions of Bačka and Pomoravlje

Preliminarna analiza hemije masnih kiselina vrsta Kindbergia praelonga i Kindbergia stokesii (Brachytheciaceae)

Moss species of the family Brachytheciaceae, Kindbergia praelonga (Hedw.) Ochyra and Kindbergia stokesii (Turn.) Ochyra, were preliminarily analysed for their fatty acid composition with the aim of studying the chemical relationship of these two entities. Fatty acid methyl esters were examined by GC and GC MS in their methanol extracts. Thirteen fatty acids were identified. It is likely that the mosses are chemically distinguishable and should be treated as separate entities. However, additional chemical constituents of various moss samples, such as phenolic acids, their derivatives and flavonoids, must be also analyzed in order to support the re-examination of the relationship between these two species.Preliminarno je ispitivan sastav viših masnih kiselina dve mahovine iz familije Brachytheciaceae, Kindbergia praelonga (Hedw.) Ochyra i Kindbergia stokesii (Turn.) Ochyra, sa hemotaksonomskim ciljem. Ukupno je identifikovano 13 viših masnih kiselina GC i GC-MS analizom. Na osnovu dobijenih eksperimentalnih rezultata se može zaključiti da se navedene biljne vrste značajno hemijski razlikuju i da bi se mogle smatrati zasebnim entitetima ukoliko se to potvrdi i dodatnim analizama

Aperçu de la diversité de la flore des bryophytes de la péninsule des Balkans dans le contexte européen

The bryophytes of the Balkan Peninsula are still very poorly known, and the region of South-Eastern Europe is bryologically the less investigated area in Europe. The aim of this study is to evaluate the stage of bryophyte flora knowledge and bryophyte diversity richness in the Balkan Peninsula compared to Europe. Thus, species richness (alpha diversity) and the size of territories, and their logarithmic ratio, are taken into consideration. At the present, bryophyte flora in the region of SE Europe counts 5 hornworts, 267 liverworts and 897 moss species. It comprises 59.9 % of European hepatic and 69.4 % of moss flora. The richest territories in hepatic species are Romania (197 sp.) followed by Bulgaria (170 sp.) and Slovenia (167 sp.). On the other side, the poorest territories in hepatic species are the European part of Turkey (27 sp.), FYR of Macedonia (69 sp.) and Albania (91sp.). Similarly, the moss flora counts most species in Romania (747 sp.) followed by Slovenia (637 sp.), Bulgaria (558 sp.) and Serbia (553 sp.). One hundred and twenty mosses (12.9 %) and 42 (16.1 %) hepatic species are known from only one of eleven regional territories of SE Europe. The picture can be drown with the species recorded in only two of eleven territories: 149 mosses (16.9 %) and 57 hepatics (20.95 %). Besides, many species described from the region in the past still remain open to investigation regarding their taxonomic status. In the last years, there have been high activity in bryophyte investigation in SE Europe, and data on regional bryoflora constantly increase. However, achieving recent data on bryophytes within SE Europe remains still a problem to face. Intensive investigation of bryophytes in SE Europe is urgently needed, just to approach the level of knowledge in other well-known European regionsLes bryophytes de la péninsule Balkanique sont toujours très pauvrement connues et, au point de vue bryologique, l'Europe du Sud-Est demeure la région la moins prospectée en Europe. Le but de cette étude est d'évaluer l'état des connaissances sur la richesse de la diversité des bryophytes dans la péninsule Balkanique par rapport à l'Europe. Ainsi, la richesse spécifique (diversité alpha), la taille des territoires et leur rapport logarithmique sont pris en considération. Actuellement, la flore bryologique compte, dans le S.-E. de l'Europe, 5 anthocérotées, 267 hépatiques et 897 espèces de mousses. Elle comporte 59,9 % des hépatiques européennes et 69,4 % de la flore des mousses. Les territoires les plus riches en hépatiques sont la Roumanie (197 sp.), suivie par la Bulgarie (170 sp.) et la Slovénie (167 sp.). A l'opposé, les territoires les plus pauvres en hépatiques sont la partie européenne de la Turquie (27 sp.), la FYR de Macédoine (69 sp.) et l'Albanie (91 sp.). De même, la flore des mousses compte la plupart des espèces en Roumanie (747 sp.), suivie par la Slovénie (637 sp.), la Bulgarie (558 sp.) et la Serbie (553 sp.). Cent vingt mousses (12,9 %) et 42 hépatique (16,1 %) sont connues de seulement un des onze territoires régionaux de l'Europe du S.-E. L'image peut être complétée avec les espèces enregistrées dans seulement deux des onze territoires: 149 mousses (16,9 %) et 57 hépatiques (20,95 %). De plus, beaucoup d'espèces décrites de la région dans le passé restent toujours en attente d'une enquête quant à leur statut taxinomique. Dans les dernières années, il y a eu une hausse de l'activité d'enquête sur les bryophytes du S.-E. de l'Europe et les données sur la flore bryologique régionale augmentent constamment. Néanmoins, l'obtention de données récentes sur les bryophytes du S.-E. de l'Europe reste toujours un problème d'actualité. Une enquête intensive des bryophytes du S.-E. de l'Europe est une urgente nécessité, ne serait-ce que pour approcher le niveau de connaissance d'autres régions européennes bien connues

HPLC–DAD of phenolics in bryophytes Lunularia cruciata, Brachytheciastrum velutinum and Kindbergia praelonga

The chemistry of bryophytes is not well known. The available data indicate interesting chemical constitutions of some bryophyte species, i.e., active and new compounds are to be found within bryophytes, especially liverworts. In this study, one liverwort and two moss species were studied: Lunularia cruciata (L.) Dumort, Brachytheciastrum velutinum (Hedw) Ignatov & Huttunen and Kindbergia praelonga (Hedw) Ochyra. The phenolic compositions of these bryophyte species have not hitherto been reported. Their methanolic extracts were analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC, coupled to a diode-array detector (DAD). Luteolin-7-O-glucoside and quercetin were found in the L. cruciata extract. The extract obtained from B. velutinum contained four phenolic acids (4-O-caffeoylquinic, 5-O-caffeoylquinic, caffeic and ellagic acids) and three flavonoids (apigenin-7-O-glucoside, luteolin and apigenin). The K. praelonga extract was characterized by the presence of several phenolic acids and their derivatives (4-O-caffeoylquinic, 5-O-caffeoylquinic, caffeic, p-coumaric, ferulic and ellagic acids, and caffeic and p-coumaric acid derivatives) and three flavonoids (apigenin-7-O-glucoside, luteolin, apigenin and an un-identified flavanone)

Hemija masnih kiselina Atrichum undulatum i Hypnum andoi

The fatty acid compositions of the moss species Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) P. Beauv. (Polytrichaceae) and Hypnum andoi A.J.E. Sm. (Hypnaceae) collected in winter time were analysed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC-MS) as a contribution to their chemistry. Eight fatty acids were identified in the chloroform/methanol extract 1:1 of A. undulatum (linoleic acid, 26.80%, palmitic acid, 22.17%, alpha-linolenic acid, 20.50%, oleic acid, 18.49%, arachidonic acid, 6.21%, stearic acid, 3.34%, cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid, 1.52% and behenic acid, 1.01%), while six fatty acids were found in the same type of extract of H. andoi (palmitic acid, 63.48%, erucic acid, 12.38%, stearic acid, 8.08%, behenic acid, 6.26%, lignoceric acid, 5.16% and arachidic acid, 4.64%). According to this study, the moss A. undulatum can be considered as a good source of both essential fatty acids for humans (linoleic acid and alpha-linolenic acid) during the winter.Kao doprinos izučavanju njihovog hemijskog sastava, u ovom radu GC i GC-MS analizom ispitivane su masne kiseline mahovina Atrichum undulatum (Hedw.) P. Beauv. (Polytrichaceae) i Hypnum andoi A.J.E. Sm. (Hypnaceae) sakupljene za vreme zimskog doba. U ekstraktu hloroform/metanol 1:1 vrste A. undulatum identifikovano je osam viših masnih kiselina (linolna kiselina, 26,80%, palmitinska kiselina, 22,17%, α-linolenska kiselina, 20,50%, oleinska kiselina, 18,49%, arahidonska kiselina, 6,21%, stearinska kiselina, 3,34%, cis-5,8,11,14,17-eikosapentaenska kiselina, 1,52% i behenska kiselina, 1,01%), dok je u istom ekstraktu vrste H. andoi nađeno šest viših masnih kiselina (palmitinska kiselina, 63,48%, erukinska kiselina, 12,38%, stearinska kiselina, 8,08%, behenska kiselina, 6,26%, lignocerinska kiselina, 5,16% i arahidinska kiselina, 4,64%). Dobijeni rezultati ukazuju da u ispitivanom vremenskom periodu mahovina A. undulatum predstavlja dobar izvor linolne i α-linolenske kiseline, esencijalnih masnih kiselina za ljude

Growth supression of plant pathogenic fungi using bryophite extracts

Chemicals are often used in attempts to control diseases caused by plant pathogenic fungi during food production. However, chemicals can have adverse effects not just on food, but they also remain active for a long time within ecosystems, and thus are not environmentally friendly. Therefore, development of bio-treatment and avoiding use of chemicals are urgently needed. With the aim of studying and developing new environmentally-friendly treatments, we tested extracts from selected bryophyte species (Porella platyphylla, Cinclidotus fontinaloides and Anomodon viticulosus) on five plant pathogenic fungi under controlled conditions. The fungi (Botryosphaeria dothidea, Phomopsis viticola, Calosphaeria sp., Colletotrichum acutatum and Monilinia laxa) were selected based on common diseases they cause on fruits and grapevine. They were isolated in cultures and treated with bryophyte extracts. Bryophyte extracts were shown to be effective in suppression of certain plant pathogenic fungi growth and to have a huge potential in development of novel biotechnological treatments and biofungicides. The best results were achieved in inhibition of B. dothidea, P. viticola and Calosphaeria sp

Fatty Acids of Some Moss Species from Germany

The fatty acid composition of three mosses collected in Germany was preliminary analyzed by gas chromatography (GC-FID) and gas I chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) for the first time. It was found that Hypnum jutlandicum could be a promising source of elaidic acid (24.36%) while Bryum moravicum could represent an interesting reservoir of alpha-linolenic acid (19.55 %)

Effect of ferri(III)citrate and potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) on growth of the moss Bryum argenteum Hedw. (Bryaceae) in vitro

In order to examine the manner of iron uptake from the medium, in vitro culture of moss Bryum argenteum Hedw. (Bryaceae) was established. Under controlled conditions (16h light/8h dark, light intensity 47μmol m-2s-1 25±2°C), the moss was grown on basal MS medium or on MS medium enriched with various concentrations of ferri(III)citrate or potassium hexacyanoferrate(III). It was expected that with the organic chelate complex, Fe(III) ion will be more available for the plant. Sixty days after establishing in vitro culture, the plants grown on MS medium enriched with the ferri(III)citrate complex were developed better than plants grown on media with the potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) complex. To judge from plant production in vitro and in view of the fact that the two compounds were the only source of Fe(III), it would appear that the citrate complex makes Fe(III) ions more available than potassium hexacyanoferrate(III). Further research will examine the concentrations of Fe ion uptake by plants and potential use of these tiny moss plants for the phytomining, phytoremedies and hyperaccumulating purposes

The hepatic check list of Croatia

Hepatics (hornworts and liverworts) of Croatia count up to date 155 species. There are 2 and 153 species of hornworts and hepatics, respectively. The list with recent names and the records for Croatia are given. Also the list of synonyms used in references cited is enclosed. Ten species of wide European conservations interest are highlighted

New and interesting bryophyte records for the flora of Serbia

During a revision of the bryophyte collections in the Herbarium of the Balkan Peninsula, Natural History Museum of Belgrade (BEO) and the Herbarium of the University of Belgrade (BEOU), as well as historical literature data, four bryophytes were identified as new to the flora of Serbia, namely, the mosses Fontinalis hypnoides, Leucobryum juniperoideum, Dicranum spurium and the hornwort Phaeoceros laevis. Fontinalis hypnoides is relatively recently recorded in SW Serbia, while Leucobryum juniperoideum and Dicranum spurium are known from historical collections. The hornwort Phaeoceros laevis was cited for SE Serbia in 1907, but up to now not found again