Himalayan balsam in the flora of the Sirinić valley: a threat or a gain?

Летња терофита Impatiens glandulifera Royle (хималајски балзам, фамилија Balsaminaceae) потиче из уског подножја западних Хималаја, где се традиционално користи као лековита. Изван свог исходишта већ скоро два века колонизује углавном минералним хранивима (посебно азотом и фосфором) богата низијска крајречна станишта, и сматра се проблематичним освајачем који доводи до смањења биљне разноврсности, поспешивања ерозије и успоравања разлагања органске материје. Ова врста већ је инвазивна у преко 30 држава света, а Европска Комисија прогласила ју је за једну од најопаснијих инвазивних врста биљака1. У Србији, ова врста је још увек ретка и класификована је као „спорадично инвазивна“. Међутим, у изолованом планинском и природно олиготрофном станишту Сиринићке жупе (Косово и Метохија), атипичном за ову врсту, бројне и добро развијене састојине први пут смо регистровали 2021. године, углавном у долини реке Лепенац и њених притока (до 1200 m надморске висине) 2. 19 Приказаћемо сумаризацију резултата који су проистекли из мапирања распрострањености, анализе нативне вегетације у којој се јавља, карактеристика земљишта, морфологије самог „уљеза“ (висина, пречник стабла, сува маса јединке), као и знања локалног становништва о овој врсти. Хималајски балзам (локални назив „пуцавац“) донесен је у Сиринићку жупу почетком седамдесетих година прошлог века као украсна биљка, која је убрзо побегла из башти и дворишта. Њено даље ширење и трајно успостављање омогућено је драстичном деградацијом предела од стране човека, понајпре уништењем природне крајречне вегетације сечом шума и еутрофикацијом земљишта отпадним водама из домаћинства. У природну вегетацију која још увек није антропогено нарушена (ливадске и алувијалне састојине) ова биљка може спорадично да продре, међутим не и да се одржи. Дакле, иако се најкрупније јединке хималајског балзама са највећим потенцијалом за даљу инвазију налазе у најоштећенијој вегетацији (са најмањим диверзитетом), наши резултати указују да, за сада, ова декоративна и медоносна врста ту може евентуално да замени нитрофиле као што је коприва. Много је алармантнија, међутим, незаинтересованост млађе популације (до 30 година), која ову веома упадљиву врсту не примећује и не препознаје, што индиректно указује на општу ерозију традиционалног еколошког знања у овом подручју.Summer therophyte Impatiens glandulifera Royle (Himalayan balsam, family Balsaminaceae) originates from a narrow zone in the foothills of the Western Himalaya, where it is used in traditional medicine. For almost two centuries it has been colonizing nutrient enriched (mainly with nitrogen and phosphorus) lowland alluvial habitats outside of its native range, and is currently considered a problematic intruder which causes decrease of plant diversity, promotes soil erosion and hampers nutrient cycling. This plant species has been classified as invasive in over 30 countries around the world, and considered one of top invaders of the European Union concern1 . In Serbia, it is still rather rare, classified as “sporadically invasive”. However, in an isolated mountainous habitat of the Sirinić valley (Kosovo and Metohija), naturally oligotrophic and atypical for this species, we have recently registered numerous and well developed stands of Himalayan balsam, predominantly in the alluvium of the Lepenac river and its tributaries (up to the elevation of 1200 m a.s.l.) 2 . We shall present the joint analysis of distribution mapping of the invader, its life history traits (height, stem diameter, aboveground dry weight), characteristics of the invaded domicile vegetation and concomitant soil properties, supplemented by the local knowledge on this species. 22 Himalayan balsam (vernacular name “pucavac” among the Serbian population) in the study area escaped from the gardens soon after deliberate introduction as an ornamental plant in the early 1970’s. Its further spread and successful establishment has been enabled by drastic anthropogenic landscape change and habitat degradation, primarily through severe deforestation of riparian vegetation coupled with the pronounced soil eutrophication by direct discharge of household wastewaters in the local river system. Interestingly, this species was able to sporadically occur, but not to get established in undisturbed natural vegetation like meadows or riparian forests. Thus, though the largest individuals of this intruder, implying its strongest potential for further spread, consistently occurred in the most degraded vegetation (with the lowest species diversity), our results suggest that under the current conditions this decorative, nectar producing species might substitute nitrophiles like stinging nettle in the secondary vegetation. Much severe risk might be the overall indifference of the younger population (under the age of 30 years), who do not recognize or even notice this rather conspicuous species, what indicates a general trend of erosion of traditional ecological knowledge in the study area

Efekti salicilne kiseline na morfološke osobine i formiranje krtola kod netransformisanog i AtCKX2-transformisanog krompira (Solanum tuberosum L. cv Désirée) gajenog in vitro

Salicilna kiselina (SA) je biljni regulator rastenja čije su glavne fiziološke funkcije odbrana od biotičkog stresa i termogeneza tokom cvetanja kod određenih biljnih vrsta. U novije vreme sve je više podataka o ulozi SA u odbrani biljaka od abiotičkog stresa. SA se često označava kao biljni hormon, mada su podaci o njenim specifičnim efektima na rastenje i razviće kod biljaka sporadični i ograničeni na mali broj vrsta. U literaturi nema podataka o efektima SA na rastenje i razviće krompira, kao ni o interakciji SA sa biljnim hormonima koji regulišu ekonomski značajan proces tuberizacije kod ove vrste. Cilj sprovedenog istraživanja je bio da se utvrdi da li egzogeno primenjena SA ima efekte na morfološke osobine i tuberizaciju kod krompira gajenog in vitro. Ispitivan je efekat SA kod netransformisanog krompira (K) i jedne linije AtCKX2-transformisanog krompira (AtCKX2-51), koju karakteriše veoma nizak sadržaj bioaktivnih citokinina (CK).1 SA je primenjivana u niskim koncentracijama (0,01–10 μM), dodavanjem u podloge za gajenje izdanaka krompira in vitro, a morfološki parametri, uključujući i parametre tuberizacije, određivani su u kulturama starim 30 dana. Rezultati su pokazali da SA (u najvećoj primenjenoj koncentraciji) ima efekat samo na pojedine procese rastenja i razvića, a da ne remeti tuberizaciju. Uočeni efekti se razlikuju kod K i AtCKX2-51 krompira. Prikazani rezultati sprovedenog istraživanja ukazuju na moguću interakciju između SA i CK u regulaciji rastenja i razvića krompira in vitro

Pharmacological effects of monoterpene carveol on the neuromuscular system of nematodes and mammals

The control of parasitic nematode infections relies mostly on anthelmintics. The potential pharmacotherapeutic application of phytochemicals, in order to overcome parasite resistance and enhance the effect of existing drugs, is becoming increasingly important. The antinematodal effects of carveol was tested on the free-living nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and the neuromuscular preparation of the parasitic nematode Ascaris suum. Carveol caused spastic and geraniol atonic paralysis in C. elegans. In A. suum carveol potentiated contractions induced by acetylcholine (ACh) and this effect was confirmed with two-electrode voltage-clamp electrophysiology on the A. suum nicotinic acetylcholine receptor expressed in Xenopus oocytes. However, potentiating effect of carveol on ACh-induced contractions was partially sensitive to atropine, indicates a dominant nicotine effect but also the involvement of some muscarinic structures. The effects of carveol on the neuromuscular system of mammals are also specific. In micromolar concentrations, carveol acts as a non-competitive ACh antagonist on ileum contractions. Unlike atropine, it does not change the EC50 of ACh but reduces the amplitude of contractions. Carveol caused an increase in Electrical Field Stimulation-evoked contractions of the isolated rat diaphragm, but at higher concentrations it caused an inhibition. Also, carveol neutralized the mecamylamine-induced tetanic fade, indicating a possibly different pre-and post-synaptic action at the neuromuscular junction

Krioprezervacija vrhova izdanaka Impatiens hawkeri W. Bull

Impatiens hawkeri (Balsaminaceae) je ukrasna biljna vrsta poreklom sa Nove Gvineje. Krioprezervacija predstavlja metod za dugotrajno čuvanje biljnog materijala na -196C u tečnom azotu koji se koristi i za eliminaciju patogena kod biljaka.1 Vrste roda Impatiens su izrazito osetljive na tretmane dehidratacije koji prethode zamrzavanju.2 Takođe, koncentracija saharoze u hranljivim podlogama utiče na morfogenetski potencijal tokom gajenja u kulturi in vitro.3 U ovom radu smo ispitivali uticaj prekulture vrhova izdanaka na povišenoj koncentraciji saharoze (6%), kao i vitamina C na preživljavanje i regeneraciju biljaka posle hemijske dehidratacije vrhova izdanaka sa rastvorima za vitrifikaciju (PVS2 i PVS3). Vrhovi izdanaka I. hawkeri su izrazito osetljivi na tretman sa 100% PVS2 rastvorom. Najveći morfogenetski potencijal posle izlaganja PVS2 rastvoru su pokazali vrhovi tretirani sa 50% PVS2 rastvorom kada je dolazilo samo do kalusiranja vrhova izdanaka. Potpuna regeneracija biljaka posle PVS2 tretmana postignuta je uz dodatak vitamina C u hranljivoj podlozi u koncentraciji od 100 mg/l. Najbolji rezultati preživljavanja i regeneracije biljaka posle odmrzavanja postignuti su korišćenjem metode vitrifikacije sa 100% PVS3 rastvorom u trajanju od 45 min. Izdanci gajeni na hranljivoj podlozi sa 6% saharoze su pokazali veće preživljavanje (49,4%) posle izlaganja ultra niskim temperaturama u odnosu na izdanke gajene na podlogama sa 3% saharoze (26,5 %)

Nalaz i preživljavanje Listeria monocytogenes u pogonima za proizvodnju hladno dimljene pastrmke

The presence of Listeria monocytogenes on the surfaces of equipment and worker's hands during different production stages, as well as on fish skin and meat during processing and storage of cold-smoked trout, was investigated. Listeria monocytogenes was recovered from 10 (6.06%) of a total 165 cotton-swabbed samples collected from the surfaces of equipment and worker's hands at two separate processing facilities. Of 105 samples collected from fish skin and meat during various production steps in both processing plants, 14 (13.33%) were confirmed culture-positive for L. monocytogenes, with recovery being most frequently in samples collected in the area before vacuum packaging. Recovery rates at two different Serbian processing plants did not differ (p lt 0.05), but suggested that different L. monocytogenes serotypes appeared to be resident within each processing plant and may have contributed to the final product contamination. From all smoked trout samples collected during 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of storage at 4ºC only two were culture-positive for L. monocytogenes serotype 1/2a and both of these were collected on the 7th day of storage. Conversely, 4, 3 and 1 sample(s) were contaminated with L. monocytogenes serotypes 1/2a and 1/2b after 7, 14 and 21 days storage at 10ºC. Listeria monocytogenes was not recovered from smoked trout stored 28 days at 10ºC. Results emphasize the importance of adhering to strict hygienic and quality control standards throughout the processing environment.U ovom radu je ispitivan nalaz Listeria monocytogenes na površini opreme, rukama radnika, kao i koži i mesu ribe tokom različitih faza proizvodnje hladno dimljene pastrmke. Listeria monocytogenes je utvrđena kod 10 (6,06%) od ukupno 165 briseva sa površine opreme i ruku radnika iz dva proizvodna pogona. Od 105 uzoraka mesa ribe sa kožom, uzetih tokom proizvodnje u oba proizvodna pogona, 14 (13,33%) je bilo pozitivno na L. monocytogenes, pri čemu je nalaz i preživljavanje ove bakterije bio najčešći u uzorcima uzetih tokom proizvodnih procesa pre vakuum pakovanja. Stepen preživljavanja bakterije se nije značajno razlikovao u dva proizvodna pogona (P>0.05), ali se može zaključiti da su pojedini serotipovi L. monocytogenes otporniji unutar pogona i mogu dovesti do kontaminacije finalnog proizvoda. Od svih uzoraka iz oba proizvodna pogona, skladištenih tokom 7, 14, 21 i 28 dana pri temperaturi od 4ºC, dva su uzorka, sedmog dana skladištenja, bila kontaminirana L. monocytogenes serotipom 1/2a. Nasuprot tome, pri temperaturi od 10ºC, nalaz L. monocytogenes serotipa 1/2a i 1/2b ustanovljen je kod 4 uzorka sedmog dana skladištenja, 3 uzorka četrnaestog dana i jednog uzorka tokom dvadesetprvog dana skladištenja. Listeria monocytogenes nije preživela u uzorcima nakon skladištenja tokom 28 dana. Rezultati ukazuju na značaj primene strogih higijenskih mera, kao i standarda kontrole kvaliteta tokom proizvodnje hladno dimljene ribe

Cryopreservation of Viola cornuta shoot tips using vitrification procedure

Cryopreservation represents a suitable method for long term storage of different plant genetic resources. The aim of this study was to develop protocol for cryopreservation of Viola cornuta shoot tips using one step freezing method with chemical dehydration of tissue with modified Plant Vitrification Solutions (PVS2 or PVS3). Shoot tips (1-2 mm) of two-week cold acclimated shoots were cultured on ½MS medium with 0.3 M sucrose for one day before treatment with loading solution (2 M glycerol, 0.4 M sucrose) for 30 min. Osmotic dehydration with PVS2 solution (30% glycerol, 15% ethylene glycol and 15% DMSO in liquid ½MS medium with 0.4 M sucrose) were tested at 0 °C or 24 °C. Osmotic dehydration with PVS3 (50% sucrose, 50% glycerol in liquid ½MS medium) were tested at 24 °C for 45 min. After the treatment the explants were directly immersed in liquid nitrogen (LN) for at least one day. Re-warming was performed at 42 °C in water bath for 2 min. After re-warming, the PVS solutions were replaced with unloading solution containing 1.2 M sucrose for 20 min. Re-warmed shoot tips were cultured on ½MS medium with 0.1 mg L-1 BAP. We observed that PVS2 solution is cytotoxic for V. cornuta shoot tips and cannot be used for cryopreservation. However, cryopreservation with PVS3 solution was successful, where 71.9-100% shoot tips survived treatment before immersion to LN and 31-40% survived after re-warming from LN. Regrowth of cryopreserved shoot tips with new well-formed leaves was obtained after four weeks of culture

Effect of N-forms on Silicon Mobilization in the Rhizosphere of White Lupin

Silicon (Si) is the major constituent of soil present in various fractions, i.e., mobile, adsorbed, occluded (in pedogenic oxides and hydroxides), amorphous (biogenic and lithogenic) and crystalline (primary and secondary silicates, and quartz). Different soil factors such as pH, temperatures, microbial activity, the presence of cations, Al/Fe oxides and hydroxides and organic compounds, influence Si transformation, thereby modifying plant availably of Si. Silicon mobility and transformation in the soil have mainly been studied in the context of pedogenesis or biogeochemical Si cycling. However, research on Si mobility, transformation, and plant availability in the rhizosphere is still lacking. Here, we investigated the root potential of white lupine (Lupinus albus L.), known as a phosphorus (P)-efficient model plant (e.g., root release of H+ and carboxylates), to mobilize Si from the soil. Plants were grown in the rhizoboxes filled with low P soil (control) and fertilized with different N-forms (NO3, NH4 and NO3NH4). The control, NO3- and NO3NH4-fertilized plants accumulated significantly lower amounts of Si than the NH4-fertilized ones. All applied N-forms influenced Si availability in the bulk soil, but Si fractions have further been modified in the rhizosphere, what was crucial for Si accumulation in plants. For instance, NO3 supply slightly decreased Si availability in the bulk soil, but lupine plants accumulated a similar amount of Si as the control plants. A strong gradient of decreasing Si concentrations between bulk and rhizosphere soils was observed in mobile, adsorbed, and amorphous biogenic Si pools in the control and in all N treatments, while occluded and lithogenic amorphous Si pools were recalcitrant. Interestingly, a gradient of increasing concentrations of the amorphous biogenic Si pool between bulk and rhizosphere soils was recorded in the NH4 treatment, concomitantly with the strongest rhizosphere acidification

Phosphorus Deficiency Induced Silicon Mobilization in Grapevine Rhizosphere: A Field Study

Silicon (Si) uptake by crops is well studied and Si transporters have been characterized in various crop species, including grapevine. However, information on the rhizosphere mobilization of Si is still lacking and virtually no information is available on grapevine. Our previous study showed that grapevine is a phosphorus (P)-efficient species with a high root capacity to mobilize P from the rhizosphere by the released of organic anions (mainly citrate). The field experiment was established in 12-y-old vineyard with the cultivar ‘Chardonnay’, grafted on 5BB rootstock under extremely low P conditions (Olsen P < 3 mg kg-1). Four own-designed rhizotrons (80 cm depth) were installed in a vineyard enabling easy access to the new intact roots. The following treatments were performed: –P/–Si, +P/–Si, –P/+Si (soil application) and –P/+Si (foliar application). The samples of rhizosphere and bulk soils, root exudates from intact root tips and vine tissues (root and leaves) were collected at different growth stages according to Eichhorn-Lorentz (E-L) system: flowering (E-L stage 23), berries pea-size (E-L stage 31), and veraison (E-L stage 35). In addition to Si and P concentrations in the tissues, the expressions of VvALMT, VvMATE (encoding efflux transporters for malate and citrate, respectively), and VvNIP2.1 (encoding Si influx transporter) were also determined. Phosphate fertilization decreased, while low soil P and Si fertilization increased Si availability in the rhizosphere. At the flowering stage, –P plants accumulated more Si than the P-fertilized ones and was comparable to the Si-fertilized plants. Foliar application of Si was less effective in comparison with soil application unless at the veraison stage. The leaf Si concentrations showed a clear seasonal pattern being the highest at the veraison stage. Exudation rate of citrate also showed a clear seasonal pattern and was significantly higher in the –P/–Si than in +P/–Si plants, which was followed by an increased Si availability in the vine rhizosphere. Overall, low P conditions induced Si accumulation in the leaves due to increased exudation of organic anions that can also mobilize Si in the rhizosphere, thereby increasing Si uptake by grapevine

DELIVERIES WITH BREECH PRESENTATION IN THE HEALTH CENTER ZAJEČAR IN A PERIOD FROM 2004 TO 2013

The objective of the study was to show the frequency of breech presentation of a fetus and the method of pregnancy termination, factors determining delivery methods and the effects of delivery methods to neonatal outcome. Breech presentation deliveries done in the department of Gynecology and Obstetrics of the Health Center Zajecar within a tenyear period between the 1st of January 2004 and the 31st of December 2013 have been analyzed retrospectively. The factors that have been monitored are: parity, the age of a mother, fetus' body mass at birth, the condition of a fetus at birth (Apgar score in the first minute) and the method of delivery termination (vaginal route and caesarean section). Results: Within the monitored period, there were 5475 deliveries in total, out of which 211 in breech presentation, which makes 3.85%. 74 women (35.1%) gave birth vaginally, and 137 (64.9%) by ceasarean section. The research showed statistically significant difference in the parity with higher frequency of primiparae than multiparae in the group who delivered by ceasarean section (2=26.041, df=1, p<0.001), as well as in the fetus' body mass of those delivered by ceasarean section compared to those who delivered vaginally (t=5.614, df=209, p<0.001). The age of a mother is not statistically significant in the group of those who delivered vaginally compared to those delivered by ceasarean section (t=0.277, df=209, p>0.05). There is no statistically significant difference between the values of Apgar score of newborns of primiparae and multiparae (U=5064.500, p>0.05), but the value of Apgar score of newborns delivered by ceasarean section is significantly higher than of those delivered vaginally (U=4094.500, p<0.05). Conclusion: Our analysis shows that cesarean section is a dominant method of termination of pregnancy with breech presentation of a fetus. Cesarean section is more frequent at primiparae than at multiparae and results in a better vitality of newborns at birth compared to vaginal delivery at breech presentation. Newborns delivered by cesarean section have significantly higher birth mass

Uticaj karvakrola na inflamatorni bol i koordinaciju kretanja kod pacova

Carvacrol is a monoterpenic phenol and an active ingredient of the plant essential oils of the family Lamiaceae. We have investigated the analgesic effect of carvacrol, the possible dependence of the effect in relation to animal sex, and the impact of carvacrol on motor coordination in rats. Hyperalgesia was induced by formalin (1.5%), which was administered SC in the upper lip of rat. Hyperalgesia and effects of carvacrol and indomethacin were measured by using the orofacial formalin test. The influence on motor coordination in animals treated with carvacrol was investigated by using the rota-rod test. Carvacrol administered PO in pre-treatment (45 min. prior to formalin) at a single dose of 50, 75 and 100 mg /kg BW, in the male, 50 and 100 mg /kg BW, in female rats caused a dose-dependent antinociceptive effect. This effect of carvacrol was significantly higher (P lt 0.01, P lt 0.001) in male rats. Compared with indomethacin administered during pre-treatment (2 mg/kg, PO), carvacrol (100 mg/kg) exhibits significantly higher (P lt 0.05 and P lt 0.001) antinociceptive effect on formalininduced hyperalgesia in male rats. In the rota-rod test carvacrol did not disturb the motor coordination in male rats, nor the dose of carvacrol with clear antinociceptive properties exhibited depressive effect on the CNS of treated rats. Keeping in mind that the monoterpene carvacrol is of plant origin, with potentially less side effects and without residues, it is realistic to expect the possibility of its therapeutic use in the treatment of inflammatory pain in animals.Karvakrol je monoterpenski fenol i sastavni je deo esencijalnih ulja biljaka iz familije Lamiaceae. Cilj ovog istraživanja bio je da se ispita analgetičko dejstvo karvakrola, moguće razlike u farmakološkom odgovoru između polova, i uticaj karvakrola na koordinaciju kretanja kod pacova. Hiperalgezija je izazvana formalinom (1,5%) koji je aplikovan s.c. u gornju usnu pacova. Hiperalgezija i efekti karvakrola i indometacina mereni su orofacijalnim formalinskim testom. Uticaj na motornu koordinaciju kod životinja tretiranih karvakrolom ispitali smo rota-rod testom. Karvakrol primenjen p.o. u pretretmanu (45 min. pre aplikacije formalina) u dozi od 50, 75 i 100 mg/kg t.m. kod mužjaka i dozi od 50 i 100 mg/kg t.m. kod ženki pacova, prouzrokuje dozno zavisan antinociceptivni efekat. Ovaj efekat karvakrola je značajno veći (P lt 0,01, P lt 0,001) kod pacova muškog pola. U poređenju sa indometacinom aplikovanim u pretretmanu (2 mg/kg, p.o.), karvakrol (100 mg/kg) ispoljava značajno veći (P lt 0,05 i P lt 0,001) antinociceptivni efekat na formalinom izazvanu hiperalgeziju kod mužjaka pacova. U rota-rod testu karvakrol nije narušio motornu koordinaciju kod mužjka pacova, niti doza karvakrol sa jasnim antinociceptivnim svojstvima deluje depresivno na CNS tretiranih pacova. Imajući u vidu da je karvakrol monoterpen biljnog porekla sa malo potencijalnih neželjenih dejstava i bez rezidua, realno je očekivati mogućnost njegove primenu u terapiji inflamatornog bola kod životinja