Germination behaviour of four mediterranean Cistus L. species in relation to high temperature

Cistus is one of the most characteristic genera of the Mediterranean flora. These species, natives of lands surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, are present in scrubland and garigue on siliceous ground and often on acid soil; seven species in particular are founded in Sicily. The adaptation of the genus to Mediterranean environments is evident from ecological characteristics such as fire-dependent seed germination; the heat generated by fire is in fact a key germination input.In this view, two experiments were performed to study the effects of high temperature on germination of four Cistus species (C. creticus L., C. crispus L., C. monspeliensis L., C. salviifolius L.). In the first, in relation to untreated control, 7 different high temperature pre-treatments (from 70°C to 130°C) for different timings (from 1 to 10 minutes) were analysed in relation to two sowing strategies (soon after the seed collection and after a 6 month period at 5°C to simulate the winter season effects). The pre-treatment with high temperatures can improve the germination; the storage at 5°C to simulate the winter season effects did not modify the germination process. In any case the results showed a species-dependent response. High germination percentage was obtained for C. creticus, while a lower germination rate was achieved by C. crispus and C. monspeliensis.In the second experiment, seeds were treated for different periods (80°C for 10 min, 90°C for 5 min and 100°C for 1 min) with high temperature in dry and wet (immersion in distilled water) conditions. Also in this case the responses were strictly linked to the species. Especially C. crispus and C. monspeliensis showed high germination percentage in wet conditions. In all species the wet heat treatments determined an accelerating of process like demonstrated by lower T50 values

Ornamental species with possible application in the Mediterranean enviroment

Izbor biljnih vrsta jedan je od glavnih aspekata oblikovanja zelenih površina o kojem ovise i estetsko-oblikovni i tehničko-ekonomski rezultati samog oblikovanja. U području Mediterana teoretski je moguća primjena vrlo velikog broja vrsta. Karakteristike tog područja, naročito one povezane s fototermičkim svojstvima, omogućuju uvrštavanje brojnih tropskih i suptropskih vrsta. Ograničavajući faktor u korištenju ovih biljaka često puta predstavlja preslabo poznavanje njihovih specifičnih potreba. Izbor vrsta se stoga učestalo provodi u svjetlu nepotpunih i približnih informacija o svojstvima i potrebama biljaka. Takva praksa je naročito “kažnjiva” u južnom dijelu Italije gdje je tradicija uređivanja zelenih površina manje raznolika u usporedbi sa srednjom i sjevernom Europom. Cilj ovog rada bila je preliminarna procjena svojstava ključnih pri izboru ukrasnih biljaka za zelene površine. Naime, zahvaljujući analizi nekih bibliografskih izvora te direktnih snimaka utvrđene su vrste pogodne za primjenu u mediteranskom području. Ti podaci poslužit će za stvaranje što potpunijeg i ažuriranog popisa korištenih i/ili iskoristivih vrsta. Ukupno je popisano nešto manje od 3500 vrsta, mnoge od njih (74, 8%) se navode samo u jednom od konzultiranih literaturnih izvora dok se tek 36 vrsta (1,1%) spominje u svim konzultiranim izvorima. Od botaničkih porodica, po brojnosti se ističu vrste iz porodice Rosaceae (57 rodova i 371 vrsta), Leguminosae (69 rodova i 218 vrsta), Compositae (71 rod i 156 vrsta) i Liliaceae (55 rodova i 147 vrsta). Dobro su zastupljene i porodice sa sukulentnim vrstama (Agavaceae, Cactaceae, Crassulaceae itd.) i geofiti (Amaryllidaceae, Iridaceae, Liliaceae) uvijek prisutni u oblikovanju zelenih površina u mediteranskom okružju, uz druge reprezentativne porodice kao što su Palmae, Bignoniaceae, Myrtaceae. Raspro-stranjenost vrsta prema području porijekla potvrđuje značajno ali ne dominantno prisustvo “pravih mediteranskih biljaka” tj. svega 8% autohtonih vrsta. Ukrasno mediteransko zelenilo je, čini se obilježeno uočljivim karakterom egzotičnosti, što je i pokazatelj povoljnih uvijeta na proučavanom području.The choice of plant species represents one of the main aspects of landscaping upon which esthetical, structural as well as the technical and economic results of the landscaping depend. In theory, for such a choice in the Mediterranean environment one can rely on high quantity of species. The characteristics of such environment, especially those associated with photothermic conditions enable the introduction of numerous plants of tropical or subtropical origin. The limiting factor in utilization of these plants is scarce knowledge of theirs functional traits. The selection of species is therefore often performed in the light of insufficient or inexact information on species’ traits and requirements. This kind of practice is especially punishable in the southern part of Italy where the landscaping tradition is less ample compared with central and northern Europe. Having this in mind, the goal of this work is to acquire preliminary elements apt for purpose of selection of ornamental plants suitable for green areas. As a result of bibliography analysis and direct recording, identification of plant species appropriate for application in Mediterranean environment was performed in order to elaborate thorough and updated list of applied and/or applicable species. In total, a little less than 3500 species were listed, majority of these (74,8%) found in just only bibliography source; only 36 of them (1,1%) cited in all of the consulted sources. Regarding botanical families, majority of species belong to the following families: Rosaceae (57 genera and 371 species), Leguminosae (69 genera and 218 species), Compositae (71 genera and 156 species) and Liliaceae (55 genera and 147 species). Well represented are also families with succulent species (Agavaceae, Cactaceae, Crassulaceae etc.) and bulbs (Amaryllidaceae, Iridaceae, Liliaceae) which are always present in landscaping of green areas in Mediterranean environment as well as other representative families such as Palmae, Bignoniaceae, Myrtaceae. Distribution of species according to their origin confirms significant but not dominant participation of “true Mediterranean plants”; only 8% are autochthonous species. Ornamental Mediterranean plants seam to be characterised with visible exotic character, which represents evidence of favourable conditions offered by the considered environment

Post-production physiology and handling of ornamental potted plants

Flowering or foliage potted plants are ornamental items usually grown in greenhouses under optimal growing conditions. Cultivation in protected environments allows for rapid growth and high quality characteristics. When plants reach the desired commercial size they can be transferred to hardening greenhouses or directly sent to the distribution chain. The growing and post-production conditions such as storage and transportation can have very deleterious effects on the ornamental quality of plants. The major post-production disorders are bud and flower abscission in flowering potted plants or leaf abscission or yellowing in foliage potted plants. On the other hand, the ornamental quality of potted plants is extremely important and depends on the number and colour of flowers or leaves, flower, leaf and plant longevity. The presence of flowers on flowering potted plants depends on flower longevity and turnover. The colour and size of leaves of foliage potted plants is linked to pre- and post-production environmental conditions. The post-production quality losses of flowering potted plants can be mainly ascribed to natural flower senescence. This phenomenon is highly regulated by plant hormones such as ethylene and abscisic acid, but the post-production environment can dramatically influence plant hormone equilibrium. Quality losses of foliage potted plants are mainly due to leaf senescence usually associated with inadequate acclimatization from the production area to the post-production chain

Ocular Alterations in a Rare Case of Segmental Neurofibromatosis Type 1 with a Non-Classified Mutational Variant of the NF-1 Gene

BACKGROUND: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is an autsomal dominant disorder which can occasionally result from somatic mosaicism and manifest as segmental forms of the disease. METHODS: A 37-year-old woman with ascertained NF-1, based on clinical diagnostic criteria and genetic analysis, was referred for ophthalmological evaluation. Genetic analysis, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), complete ophthalmological examination, and near infrared reflectance (NIR) images at 815 nm of the retina were obtained. RESULTS: Genetic analysis revealed a non-classified mutational variant of the NF-1 gene identified as NM_000267.3:c2084T > C (p.Leu695Pro.T). MRI demonstrated non-symptomatic bilateral optic nerve gliomas. The only cutaneous sign was a subcutaneous neurofibroma of the posterior cervical region. Slit-lamp examination showed bilateral Lisch nodules. NIR images of the retina did not show any choroidal hamartomas. DISCUSSION: We report a rare case of segmental neurofibromatosis with a non-classified mutational variant of the NF-1 gene described in only one previous case in the literature. The patient presented with clinical features of NF-1 localized to the head and neck region, compatible with diagnosis of segmental NF-1. Interestingly, ocular manifestations included bilateral optic nerve gliomas and Lisch nodules, but no choroidal hamartomas. KEYWORDS: Lisch nodules; mosaicism; neurofibromatosis type 1 gene; segmental neurofibromatosi

Lipid peroxidation inhibition by raxofelast improves angiogenesis and wound healing in experimental burn wounds

We investigated the effects of raxofelast, a lipid peroxidation inhibitor, in an experimental model of burn wounds. C57BL/6 male mice of 25-30 g were immersed in 80 degrees C water for 10 seconds to achieve a partial-thickness scald burn. Animals received intraperitoneally either raxofelast (20 mg/kg/day for 14 days in 100 mu L) or its vehicle alone (100 mu L/day for 14 days). On day 14, burn areas were used for measuring conjugated dienes, reduced glutathione levels, histological damage, neoangiogenesis by immunohistochemistry and expression (Western blot) of the specific endothelial marker CD31 as well as quantification of microvessel density, VEGF wound content, endothelial and inducible nitric oxide synthase (eNOS and NOS) expression and wound nitrite content. Raxofelast decreased tissue conjugated dienes (vehicle 6.1 +/- 1.4 Delta ABS/mg protein; raxofelast 3.7 +/- 0.8 AABS/mg protein), prevented tissue glutathione consumption (vehicle 3.2 +/- 0.9 mu mol/g protein; raxofelast 6.7 +/- 1.8 mu mol/g protein), increased epithelial proliferation, extracellular matrix maturation, and augmented neoangiogenesis as suggested by the marked increase in microvessel density and by the robust expression of the specific endothelial marker CD31 (vehicle 9.4 +/- 1.1 integrated intensity; raxofelast 14.8 +/- 1.8 integrated intensity). Furthermore, raxofelast enhanced VEGF wound content (vehicle 1.4 +/- 0.4 pg/mg protein; raxofelast 2.4 +/- 0.6 pg/mg protein), caused a marked expression of eNOS (vehicle 16.1 +/- 3 integrated intensity; raxofelast 26.2 +/- 4 integrated intensity) and NOS (vehicle 9.1 +/- 1.8 integrated intensity; raxofelast 16.2 +/- 3.5 integrated intensity) and increased wound nitrite content. Lipid peroxidation inhibition by raxofelast may be an effective therapeutic approach to improve clinical outcomes after thermal injury