Morphometric analysis on the variability of Prunus spinosa L. - populations(Prunoideae, Rosaceae) in the central valley of the river Saale, Thuringia

Prunus spinosa L. (Rosaceae) is one of the most widespread members of the genus Prunus in middle europe. Its morphological plasticity resulted in a number of described taxa at subspecific level. Since the early neolithic times, drupes of the plum family are recorded and exhibit already a remarkable diversity in size and form. Here we present a short historical account to the use of P. spinosa and an overview of the different taxonomic treatments. We examined distribution patterns in general and in particular in the central valley of the river Saale (Thuringia) with respect to ecological, edaphic and climatic factors. We assessed within 16 populations the variability of 22 metric and 10 qualitative morphological characters at 7 different locations. Population sites included forest-, way- and fieldsides, as well as lightish pine forests. Pollen fertility did not increase during the flowering period, all flowers were directly fully fertile from the beginning. In contrast, glucose content varied significantly depending of the status of fertilization. Epicuticular wax structure was without variation amongst the populations. P. spinosa leaves are covered with a smooth layer of slightly striated wax. Morphological characters were scored on 270 branches and 506 fruits. Most of the characters showed enormous variability among and within populations such as metrics of leaves, thorns and character states of flower morphology. The lowest variability among populations and therefore not dependend of modificatory factors was found in fruit characters. Since kernel morphology seems to be genetically rather than modificatory controlled, we applied the 3 taxonomical concepts of Werneck, Kühn and Scholz u. Scholz to identify evolutionary units at subspecific levels. However, population variability was still so high, that from our study here we can not support an infraspecific classification of Prunus spinosa L

Does origin always matter? Evaluating the influence of nonlocal seed provenances for ecological restoration purposes in a widespread and outcrossing plant species

For restoration purposes, nature conservation generally enforces the use of local seed material based on the “local-is-best” (LIB) approach. However, in some cases recommendations to refrain from this approach have been made. Here we test if a common widespread species with no obvious signs of local adaptation may be a candidate species for abandoning LIB during restoration. Using 10 microsatellite markers we compared population genetic patterns of the generalist species Daucus carota in indigenous and formerly restored sites (nonlocal seed provenances). Gene diversity overall ranged between He = 0.67 and 0.86 and showed no significant differences between the two groups. Hierarchical AMOVA and principal component analysis revealed very high genetic population admixture and negligible differentiation between indigenous and restored sites (FCT = 0.002). Moreover, differentiation between groups was caused by only one outlier population, where inbreeding effects are presumed. We therefore conclude that the introduction of nonlocal seed provenances in the course of landscape restoration did not jeopardize regional species persistence by contributing to inbreeding or outbreeding depressions, or any measurable adverse population genetic effect. On the basis of these results, we see no obvious objections to the current practice to use the 10-fold cheaper, nonlocal seed material of D. carota for restoration projects

Common garden versus common practice – Phenotypic changes in Trifolium pratense L. in response to repeated mowing

Plants react to various biotic and abiotic factors by adjusting their growth pattern. This process, called phenotypic plasticity, can also be observed in the agronomical important fodder plant Trifolium pratense L. (red clover) which is grown worldwide for its high pro-tein content and soil improving ability. After cutting it changes its growth pattern due to phenotypic plasticity and initiates a second growth phase. Here, we analyze the regrowth dynamics of red clover in response to grazing or mowing by recording the plant’s architecture, leaf morphology, and growth performance in different cutting experiments. As previous studies were limited in the number of individuals and carried out via common garden experiments, we analyzed the regrowth reaction of T. pratense under standard agricul-tural field conditions. T. pratense forms smaller and rounder leaflets after repeated cutting, compensated by the production of more bio-mass. Nitrogen contents were subjected to seasonal changes, rather than by changes through cutting. As middle to late cut plants had higher regrowth capacities and regrew more biomass than early cut plants, an optimal time point for biomass harvest can be suggested to maximize the total yield of red clover biomass

Small-scale analysis of population genetics and abundance patterns of honeysuckle Lonicera periclymenum L. (Caprifoliaceae) in a North Sea island woodland system

Invasive alien plants are considered a major driving force of biodiversity loss and can deeply alter ecosystem functioning. However, invaders can also facilitate the distribution and establishment of native species, although this has been rarely documented in the literature. We observed an increase in population abundance of the liana Lonicera periclymenum L. (honeysuckle) on the north Frisian island of Amrum and hypothesized, that a surge in phorophyte availability due to the invasive neophyte Prunus serotina Ehrh. (black cherry) supported the colonization of new patches for this autochthonous liana species. Analysis of population genetics by inter-simple-sequence repeats polymerase chain reaction (ISSR-PCR) revealed high interpopulational differentiation. The genetic diversity within populations was low. The results indicated that barriers prevent small distance dispersal of seed and pollen. Further, additional results supported our hypothesis that honeysuckle may occasionally take advan-tage of the invasive neophyte black cherry

To be or not to be the odd one out - Allele-specific transcription in pentaploid dogroses (Rosa L. sect. Caninae (DC.) Ser)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Multiple hybridization events gave rise to pentaploid dogroses which can reproduce sexually despite their uneven ploidy level by the unique canina meiosis. Two homologous chromosome sets are involved in bivalent formation and are transmitted by the haploid pollen grains and the tetraploid egg cells. In addition the egg cells contain three sets of univalent chromosomes which are excluded from recombination. In this study we investigated whether differential behavior of chromosomes as bivalents or univalents is reflected by sequence divergence or transcription intensity between homeologous alleles of two single copy genes (<it>LEAFY</it>, <it>cGAPDH</it>) and one ribosomal DNA locus (<it>nrITS</it>).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We detected a maximum number of four different alleles of all investigated loci in pentaploid dogroses and identified the respective allele with two copies, which is presumably located on bivalent forming chromosomes. For the alleles of the ribosomal DNA locus and <it>cGAPDH </it>only slight, if any, differential transcription was determined, whereas the <it>LEAFY </it>alleles with one copy were found to be significantly stronger expressed than the <it>LEAFY </it>allele with two copies. Moreover, we found for the three marker genes that all alleles have been under similar regimes of purifying selection.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Analyses of both molecular sequence evolution and expression patterns did not support the hypothesis that unique alleles probably located on non-recombining chromosomes are less functional than duplicate alleles presumably located on recombining chromosomes.</p

Tracking the origin of invasive Rosa rubiginosa populations in Argentina

The exact geographic origin of invasive species populations is rarely known; however, such knowledge is vital to understanding species’ invasion success, spread, and evolution as well as for assessing any biological control options. We investigated the shrub Rosa rubiginosa L., focusing on the presumed European origin of invasive populations in Argentina. We analyzed eight polymorphic microsatellite loci among 102 native (European) and 29 invasive (mainly central Argentinean and Patagonian) populations. Genetic diversity in the invasive range was clearly lower than in the native range, possibly because of a low number of introductions. Contrary to earlier hypotheses, the interpretation of principal coordinate analysis results and Jaccard dissimilarities contradicts the idea of the Argentinean populations having a Spanish origin. Instead, we found a close similarity between Argentinean samples and those from Germany, the Czech Republic, and Austria. We therefore assume that these neighboring countries are the most probable source regions for the Argentinean populations, which in some cases may also have arrived via Chile. According to historic information, emigrants from these regions may have introduced R. rubiginosa to South America in the nineteenth century on at least two occasions, either for food or as rootstock material for propagating living fences.Fil: Hirsch, Heidi. Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg; AlemaniaFil: Zimmermann, Heike. Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg; AlemaniaFil: Ritz, Christiane M.. Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Goerlitz; AlemaniaFil: Wissemann, Volker. Justus-Liebig-University Giessen; AlemaniaFil: von Wehrden, Henrik. Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg; Alemania. Leuphana University, Institute of Ecology and Environmental Chemistry; AlemaniaFil: Renison, Daniel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas y Tecnológicas; ArgentinaFil: Wesche, Karsten. Senckenberg Museum of Natural History Goerlitz; AlemaniaFil: Welk, Erik. Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg; AlemaniaFil: Hensen, Isabell. Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg; Alemani

Untangling the hedge: Genetic diversity in clonally and sexually transmitted genomes of European wild roses, Rosa L.

While European wild roses are abundant and widely distributed, their morphological taxonomy is complicated and ambiguous. In particular, the polyploid Rosa section Caninae (dogroses) is characterised by its unusual meiosis, causing simultaneous clonal and sexual transmission of sub-genomes. This hemisexual reproduction, which often co-occurs with vegetative reproduction, defies the standard definition of species boundaries. We analysed seven highly polymorphic microsatellite loci, scored for over 2 600 Rosa samples of differing ploidy, collected across Europe within three independent research projects. Based on their morphology, these samples had been identified as belonging to 21 dogrose and five other native rose species. We quantified the degree of clonality within species and at individual sampling sites. We then compared the genetic structure within our data to current rose morpho-systematics and searched for hemisexually co-inherited sets of alleles at individual loci. We found considerably fewer copies of identical multi-locus genotypes in dogroses than in roses with regular meiosis, with some variation recorded among species. While clonality showed no detectable geographic pattern, some genotypes appeared to be more widespread. Microsatellite data confirmed the current classification of subsections, but they did not support most of the generally accepted dogrose microspecies. Under canina meiosis, we found co-inherited sets of alleles as expected, but could not distinguish between sexually and clonally inherited sub-genomes, with only some of the detected allele combinations being lineage-specific

Untersuchung elektrokinetischer Eigenschaften von Polymerkolloiden mit Hilfe der Laser-Lichtstreu-Elektrophorese

Auf dem Dachboden des botanischen Instituts der Georg-August Universität Göttingen lagerte über sechzig Jahre, in ca. 50 Kisten verpackt, eine pharmakognostische Sammlung: Dokument einer Fachrichtung, die bis 1938 vom Institut vertreten wurde. Die Sammlung umfasst etwa 8.000 Proben und Objekte aus allen Bereichen der Materia Medica des 19. und beginnenden 20. Jahrhunderts; sie gehört damit zu den wenigen Universitätssammlungen, die in nahezu vollem Umfang erhalten blieben – ein Vergleich mit zeitgenössischen Lehrbüchern und Pharmakopöen zeigt, dass nahezu alle gängigen Drogen in zahlreichen Varianten enthalten sind. Die erhaltenen Sammlungsmuster zeigen, dass es sich nicht nur um eine bis heute wissenschaftliche Referenzsammlung handelt, sondern dass die Sammlung zugleich wichtige Funktionen in Forschung und Lehre incl. Ausbildung übernommen hat. Parallel zu der Katalogisierung wurde die Geschichte der Sammlung in Ansätzen rekonstruiert, und zu Teilbeständen wurden natur- und kulturwissenschaftliche Studien durchgeführt. Dabei wurde zunehmend deutlich, dass das Potential der Sammlung als Quellenbestand und Grundlage für eine Vielzahl wissenschaftshistorischer und naturwissenschaftlicher Studien erheblich ist; durch die Präsentation des Bestandes und seiner Geschichte hoffen wir, zu solchen Studien anzuregen. Prof. Dr. Volker Wissemann ist Professor für Spezielle Botanik an der Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen, Direktor des Instituts für Botanik incl. Herbarium, Kondirektor der Hermann-Hoffmann-Akademie und wissenschaftlicher Leiter des botanischen Gartens Gießen. Er ist Mitglied der Akademie der Wissenschaften zu Göttingen und Alumnus der Georgia Augusta. Prof. Dr. Kärin Nickelsen ist Professorin für Wissenschaftsgeschichte am Historischen Seminar der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. Sie ist Mitglied der Nationalen Akademie der Wissenschaften (Leopoldina) und Alumna der Georgia Augusta