Variability characteristics and comparison of Carex arenaria L. and Carex ligerica Gay populations based on rhizome characters

The studies included 9 populations of Carex arenaria L. and 7 populations of Carex ligerica Gay, compared with each other on grounds of variability analysis, related to rhizome characters. The sedges reach in the area of Poland their eastern range limits, with isolated populations spread along the range margins. The studied plants were placed in a greenhouse in homogenous conditions,which made possible an analysis of genetic variability in the populations. The obtained results point to the absence of gene flow between the studied species and, thus, to their clearly distinct character. Genetic drift was postulated as one of the causes of the obtained variability pattern

Morphometric differentiation of Corex ligerica Gay in Poland

The experimental material involved 7 Carex ligerica Gay populations which were cultured in standardised conditions in a greenhouse before their spikes were collected for morphological studies. Four characters reflecting size of male and female glumes, selected from particular spikes were examined. Mahalanobis distances for each pair of populations were calculated and their significance was estimated using Hotellings T2 statistics. Dendrite was constructed on the basis of shortest Mahalanobis distances while Euclidean distances provided grounds for hierarchy grouping. The result obtained from a multivariate analysis indicated a definite interpopulation variability within the species. All of the examined populations were found to differ significantly on the grounds of Mahalanobis distances. The dendrograms manifested the distinct character of the populations originating from regions around the lower course of the Vistula river - 5 (Toruń-Wrzosy), 3 (Tychnowy), 2 (Piaski) and 6 (Kadyny), not noted before. Moreover, similarity of two geographically distant populations, the population 1 (Złotoria) from the Central Poland and the population 4 (Szumiłowo) from the western part of the country, attracted attention, as well as the individual character of the population 7 (Kopanica) originating from the southernmost location. From the point of view of historical geography of plants, the obtained differentiation pattern may represent sequele of migration in the postglacial period, which crossed the area of Poland along multiple distinct pathways. The obtained results point to importance of culturing plants in uniform conditions of a greenhouse, which permits to describe genetic variability unbiased by modifying effects of the environment

Genetic diversity and differentiation of Pinus sylvestris L. from the IUFRO 1982 provenance trial revealed by AFLP analysis

DNA markers have become effective tools in genetic diversity studies of forest trees. However, molecular marker analyses are associated with laborious and costly effort. One of the possibilities to overcome these constraints is to analyze bulked samples per population, rather than individual plants. We have used bulked DNA-based AFLP analysis to investigate genetic variations in Pinus sylvestris L. (Scots pine) from the IUFRO 1982 provenance trial in Kórnik (western Poland). Four AFLP primer combinations yielded a total of 309 bands, of which 208 (67.31%) were polymorphic. Thirty-six (11.65%) unique alleles were deployed randomly among the populations. Estimated genetic diversity and differentiation was high, as expressed by He = 0.238 and I = 0.356, and by genetic distance values which ranged from 0.154 to 0.363. A geographic pattern of interpopulation differentiation was observed, pointing to the individual character of populations from northeastern Europe. In the light of available data, we discuss the influence of historical migration routes, gene flow and human activity on observed genetic diversity and differentiation of Scots pine in Europe. Our results indicate that the AFLP method applied to DNA templates extracted from bulked leaf samples provides an efficient approach to elucidate genetic diversity and relationships among Scots pine populations

Variability of Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) called Tabórz pine (Forest District Miłomłyn) expressed in analysis of morphology of needle traits and polymorphism of microsatellite DNA

Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) is one of the most widespread forest trees in the world, ranging from southern Mediterranean mountains to eastern Siberia. 30 trees of Scots pine from the Miłomłyn Forest District were analyzed in terms of 7 nuclear and 8 chloroplast microsatellite DNA loci as well as 7 morphological needle traits. Nuclear microsatellites (Simple Sequence Repeats) have proved to be useful in studying phylogeographic and gene flow patterns in conifers and are being used to infer the demographic history of tree species. A population’s genetic diversity, in fact, represents an important criterion which could be applied in planning future forest management and breeding. Additionally, many elements of Scots pine morphology, including needle traits, are subject to environmental modification. However, the adaptability of those traits remains, to some extent, under genetic control. The trees we investigated here are called Tabórz pine located in the northeast of Poland. This population is described as one of the best in Poland and even in Europe regarding bio mass production, ductility and wood quality. The aim of the study was to determine variation and genetic structure within this population. An analysis of phenotypic differentiation showed that the traits which differed the most between individuals were needle length, the number of serrations per 2 mm of needle length along the right edge and the number of stomatal rows on the convex side of the needles. In Tabórz pine, we detected 30 different genotypes with 87 alleles as well as 28 haplotypes with 30 alleles. We also revealed a slight excess of homozygotes, but the population is still in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. The Scots pine population from Tabórz furthermore showed a higher level of genetic diversity compared to stands from other Polish and European regions. This diversity may be the main factor impacting on the population’s wood quality and its breeding value

Genetic resources of relict populations of Pinus sylvestris (L.) in Western Carpathians assessed by chloroplast microsatellites

The relict character of the Scots pine populations from the Tatra Mts. (Western Carpathians) was formed on scarcely accessible, ecologically extreme habitats, in areas which were not under human activity. An exhaustive genetic analysis of the Scots pine populations from the refugial locations in the Tatra Mts. (Poland) had not yet been. In this study, we characterize the genetic variation and differentiation of the relict Scots pine populations from the Tatra Mts., to provide information on their genetic resources and the conservation implications. Eight paternally inherited chloroplast microsatellite loci were used to investigate the genetic structure of 4 relict populations, which were compared with the natural populations from the Baltic region (5 populations from Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia) and to a northern range from Russia (5 populations from the Kola Peninsula and Arkhangelsk Oblast). The four relict pine populations were characterized by a lower level of genetic variation when compared to the Baltic and northern populations, which was expressed in lower values of particular genetic parameters: numbers of alleles and haplotypes, haplotype genetic diversity, haplotype differentiation, and mean genetic distance between individuals in the population. Our results revealed a very high and significant genetic differentiation between all the analyzed populations, as well as between the three analyzed regions (PhiPT = 8%). Furthermore, the relict populations within a close geographic location showed higher differentiation (PhiPT = 5%) compared to the northern Russian and Baltic populations that were separated by tens and hundreds of kilometers. The relict populations of P. sylvestris from the Tatra Mts. deserve conservation efforts due to the fact that they are an important component if the species-poor Tatra forests

Genetic and phenotypic relationships among Pinus sylvestris populations in the Pieniny National Park

The phenotypic and genetic relationships among five Pinus sylvestris populations in the western part of the Carpathian Mountains were analyzed based on seven morphological needle traits and 67 loci using 10 RAPD primers. Three of the studied populations were on the western side (Macelowa Gora, Czubatka, Łazowa Skałka) and two were located in the central part (Sokolica, Zamkowa Gora) of the Pieniny National Park. The examined populations had short needles, which is characteristic for mountain habitats of the Scots pine. The populations from the Pieniny Mts. had fewer rows of stomata on both sides of the needles than others studied stands of Eurosiberian Scots pine. The number of stomata on both flat and convex sides of the needles was similar to the values observed for populations growing on the nearby Tatra Mountains. Moreover, when these two traits are considered, the populations from Sokolica and Łazowa Skałka share the highest degree of similarity.. Nei’s genetic distances and genetic identities between the populations were calculated on the basis of RAPD loci. The results show that the lowest Nei’s distance exists between the populations from the western part of the Pieniny Mts. – Macelowa Gora and Czubatka, and its central part – Sokolica and Zamkowa Gora, with the highest values recorded between the populations of Zamkowa Gora and Czubatka, and Łazowa Skałka and Czubatka. A similar pattern of phenotypic and genetic relations that was observed between the populations in both regions of the Pieniny Mountains could be the result of planting-seed material sourced from the central Pieniny Mts. in the area of western Pieniny Mts

Aktywność metaloproteinaz macierzy i ich inhibitorów u pacjentów z zawałem serca z uniesieniem odcinka ST leczonych pierwotną angioplastyką wieńcową

Background: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMPs) play a role in heart remodelling after acutemyocardial infarction (MI). Their activity is connected with outcome and heart failure development. There is little data on MMPand TIMP activity changes in the setting of ST elevation MI (STEMI) treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI).Aim: To assess the dynamics of activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and their endogenous inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in thecourse of invasive treatment of STEMI.Methods: The study included 95 patients (age 61.8 ± 12.4 years; 35 women) treated with pPCI with stent implantation dueto 100% closure of the target vessel in a setting of STEMI. We measured the activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 (by zymography,expressed with arbitrary units, AU), CK-MB (U/L), troponin I (ng/mL), TIMP-1, TIMP-2 (ng/mL) concentrations in a peripheralblood before the pPCI, immediately after and 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 h after the procedure. Left ventricular ejection fraction(LVEF) was estimated at the hospital discharge using the Simpson method. There were two control groups: 15 healthy personsand 15 patients with stable coronary artery disease matched for age and sex with the studied group.Results: The abrupt opening of the target vessel did not produce an early increase in the activity of the MMPs. Their activitywas high at the beginning and slowly lowered with time after pPCI so that at 12, 24 and 48 h after pPCI their activity wassignificantly lower than before and immediately after the pPCI (p < 0.05 for all comparisons). The abrupt opening of thetarget vessel did not produce significant changes in the TIMP concentration. Only the TIMP-1 showed a slow increase inconcentration and achieved a significantly higher level 48 h after the procedure compared to its concentration before andimmediately after pPCI (p < 0.05). In 14 patients (15% of the studied group), the post procedure TIMI flow was estimatedas lower than 3 (TIMI 1 or 2). There was significantly higher MMP-9 activity in this group before, immediately after and up to3 h after PCI compared to the group with good angiographic effect (TIMI = 3 after procedure). Patients with lowered LVEF(< 50%) at hospital discharge had higher MMP-9 activity immediately after and 3 h after pPCI compared to patients withpreserved LVEF. The same relation was observed for TIMP-2 level, where patients with a higher level before and immediatelyafter pPCI had lowered LVEF at discharge.Conclusions: 1. The activity level of MMP-2 and MMP-9 is elevated during the STEMI acute phase and falls 12 h after successfulpPCI, while TIMP-1 concentration only rises 48 h after the procedure. 2. The abrupt opening of the target vessel inSTEMI does not produce acute changes in MMP-2, MMP-9 activity or TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 concentration. 3. The ‘no-reflow’phenomenon in STEMI patients occurs more often in those with higher MMP-9 activity before pPCI. 4. Lowered LVEF athospital discharge is observed in patients with higher periprocedural MMP-9 activity and TIMP-2 level.Wstęp: Metaloproteinazy macierzy (MMP) i ich inhibitory (TIMP) uczestniczą w przebudowie mięśnia sercowego po zawaleserca (MI). Ich aktywność wiąże się z rokowaniem odległym i rozwojem niewydolności serca. Niewiele natomiast wiadomoo dynamice zmian stężeń tych substancji w ostrej fazie MI leczonego pierwotną interwencją wieńcową (pPCI).Cel: Celem badania była ocena dynamiki zmian aktywności MMP-2, MMP-9 oraz ich inhibitorów 1 i 2 (TIMP-1, TIMP-2)w trakcie i w okresie okołozabiegowym leczenia inwazyjnego pacjentów z MI z uniesieniem odcinka ST (STEMI).Metody: Do badania włączono kolejnych pacjentów ze STEMI leczonych pPCI z implantacją stentu. Metodą zymograficznąoceniano aktywność MMP-2 i MMP-9 (AU) oraz stężenia CK-MB (j./l), troponiny I (ng/ml), TIMP-1, TIMP-2 (ng/ml) we krwiobwodowej przed pPCI, bezpośrednio po zakończeniu zabiegu, następnie 3, 6, 12, 24 i 48 godzin po zabiegu. Przy wypisie zeszpitala oceniano ultrasonograficznie frakcję wyrzutową lewej komory (LVEF). Dwie grupy kontrolne składały się z 15 zdrowychochotników i 15 pacjentów ze stabilną chorobą niedokrwienną serca dobranych z grupą badaną pod względem płci i wieku.Wyniki: Do badania włączono 95 pacjentów (wiek 61,8 ± 12,4 roku; w tym 35 kobiet). Nagłe udrożnienie naczynia dozawałowegonie spowodowało wczesnego wzrostu aktywności MMP. Aktywność ta była wysoka w początkowym okresie MIi stopniowo spadała tak, że 12, 24 i 48 godzin po pPCI była istotnie niższa w porównaniu z okresem przed i po zakończeniupPCI (p < 0,05). Nagle udrożnienie naczynia dozawałowego nie spowodowało również istotnych zmian w stężeniu TIMP.Stężenie TIMP-1 wykazywało powolny trend wzrostowy i w 48. godzinie po pPCI było istotnie wyższe w porównaniu zestężeniem przed i bezpośrednio po zakończeniu pPCI. U 14 pacjentów (15% grupy badanej), u których stwierdzono po pPCIwskaźnik TIMI < 3, wykryto istotnie wyższy poziom aktywności MMP-9 przed pPCI oraz bezpośrednio i 3 godziny po zabieguw porównaniu z pacjentami z przepływem TIMI = 3 (p < 0,05). Pacjenci z LVEF < 50% przy wypisie ze szpitala charakteryzowalisię wyższą aktywnością MMP-9 i stężeniem TIMP-2 bezpośrednio i 3 godziny po pPCI w porównaniu z pacjentamiz LVEF > 50% (p < 0,05).Wnioski: 1. Aktywność MMP-2 i MMP-9 jest podwyższona w trakcie STEMI i zmniejsza się 12 godzin po pPCI, podczasgdy stężenie TIMP-1 wzrasta po 48 godzinach od pPCI. 2. Udrożnienie naczynia dozawałowego w STEMI nie prowadzi donagłych zmian w aktywności MMP-2, MMP-9 oraz stężeń TIMP-1 i TIMP-2. 3. TIMI < 3 stwierdza się częściej u pacjentówz wyższą okołozabiegową aktywnością MMP-9. 4. Obniżona LVEF przy wypisie ze szpitala występuje częściej u pacjentówz okołozabiegowym podwyższeniem aktywności MMP-9 i stężenia TIMP-2