Grzegorz Góralski

Does actually mean chromosome number increase with latitude in vascular plants? An answer from the comparison of Italian, Slovak and Polish floras

Abstract We compared chromosome number (CN) variation among vascular floras of three different countries with increasing latitude in the Boreal hemisphere: Italy, Slovakia, Poland. Aim of the study was to verify whether the patterns of CN variation parallel the differences in latitudinal ranges. The three datasets comprised 3426 (Italy), 3493 (Slovakia) and 1870 (Poland) distinct cytotypes. Standard statistics (ANOVA, Kruskal–Wallis tests) evidenced significant differences among the three countries, mean CN increasing together with latitude. On the contrary, an inverse relation (r = -1) was evidenced among the frequency of odd CNs and latitude. Our results show that the hypothesis of a polyploid increase proportional with distance from the Equator seems to be confirmed, when territories from the same hemisphere are compared.

Are extracellular matrix surface network components involved in signalling and protective function

Endosperm is an interesting model for in vitro experiments, because of its unique origin, development and ploidy level. Here we used Actinidia deliciosa endosperm-derived callus to investigate morphology, histology and chemistry of extracellular matrix (ECM) structures in morphogenically stable tissue from long - term culture. SEM and TEM analysis showed that ECM is a heterogenous layer which consists of amorphous, dark – staining material, osmiophilic granules and reticulated fibres outside the outer callus cell wall. This structure may serve as a structural marker of morphogenic competence in endosperm – derived callus, because of its presence on the surface of callus forming morphogenic domains and its disappearance during organ growth. Based on immunolabelling, histochemistry, solvent and enzyme treatments, we suggest that pectins and lipids are components of the ECM layer. These results might indicate protective, water retention and/or cell communication functions for this ECM layer. Addendum to: Popielarska-Konieczna M, Kozieradzka-Kiszkurno M, Świerczyńska J, Góralski G, Ślesak H, Bohdanowicz J. Ultrastructure and histochemical analysis of extracellular matrix surface network in kiwifruit endosperm-derived callus culture. Plant Cell Rep 2008; 27:1137-45.

Polyploidy, alien species and invasiveness in Polish angiosperms

Chromosome numbers, mainly for Polish flora, were examined in order to investigate whether such features as chromosome numbers and polyploid frequencies are correlated with a plant’s origin (native vs. alien) and invasiveness. Polyploid frequencies were estimated using three methods: the 11 and 14 thresholds and the 3.5 x value. Comparisons of the 2n values were done on different levels: in all angiosperms and in dicots and monocots separately. Invasive and non-invasive plants were compared in the entire dataset and in alien species only. Significant differences in both chromosome numbers and polyploid frequencies between alien and native species were observed. In most cases, native plants had more chromosomes and were more abundant in polyploids than in alien species. Also, monocots had higher polyploid frequencies than dicots. Comparisons of invasive and non-invasive plants done for all of the data and only for alien species showed that invasive species generally had more chromosomes and polyploids were more frequent in them than in the latter group; however, these differences were not always statistically significant. Possible explanations for these observations are discussed.

The effect of genotype on a barley scutella culture. Histological aspects

Cereals are known to be recalcitrant to the induction of morphogenesis in vitro and the majority of the methods used are callus-mediated and species/genotype-dependent. In the present investigation, a method of morphogenesis induction from immature scutella of selected barley cultivars was used, and particular attention was paid to histology in the initial stages of the regeneration process in order to confirm whether it occurs directly or indirectly (via callus formation). The length of the period from inoculating scutella on the medium to obtaining plantlets depended on the cultivar and the individual scutellum of the barley and varied between 2.5–4 months. The regeneration efficiency and viability of barley scutella was revealed to be highly genotype dependent. The average number of regenerated plants per regenerating scutellum was highest in the case of cv Granal (3.7). A histological analysis of the cultured explants showed both non-morphogenic and morphogenic callus formation. Two types of indirect morphogenetic response were observed: organogenesis (shoot bud formation) and somatic embryogenesis. This is the first report concerning an analysis of in vitro regeneration from immature scutella of barley cultivars (Stratus, Ryton, Granal and Binal).

Orobanche grenieri (Orobanchaceae), a Southwestern European Species Newly Found in Asia

We report occurrences of Orobanche grenieri (Orobanchaceae) in the Lesser Caucasus in southern Georgia (western Asia), and in Badakhshan in Tajikistan (central Asia). These localities are more than 3000 and 5000 km apart from its previously known distribution areas in Spain and France, respectively. We used morphological evidence as well as nuclear ribosomal ITS and plastid rbcL sequences to test the taxonomic assignment of the Georgian plants to O. grenieri and to determine their phylogenetic position. We list the features that differentiate O. grenieri from morphologically similar species, provide illustrations, a distribution map, and we propose an IUCN conservation status for the Georgian populations.

First Report of Dodder (Cuscuta epithymum) Parasitizing Hemiparasitic Species of Santalaceae (Thesium) and Orobanchaceae (Euphrasia, Melampyrum, Odontites, Orthantha, and Rhinanthus) in Poland

Cuscuta epithymum L. (Convolvulaceae) is native to Europe, western Asia, and northern Africa but occurs worldwide and infects many crops, especially legumes, as well as wild plants. Epiparasites (also called hyperparasites) are parasitic plants that parasitize other parasitic plants of a different species. Epiparasitism in world flora is known only within Viscaceae and rarely in Santalaceae and Eremolepidaceae (Calvin and Wilson 2009). Field surveys conducted in southern Poland in May to September 2015 and 2016 revealed parasitic attachment of the holoparasitic Cuscuta epithymum on the shoots of several hemiparasitic species: Thesium linophyllon (Santalaceae) and Odontites serotina, Orthantha lutea, Melampyrum arvense, Euphrasia stricta, and Rhinanthus glaber (Orobanchaceae). These occurred in four localities located in the Nida Basin (Malopolska Upland): Kikow, Sedziejowice, Skowronno, and Samostrzalow, in xerothermic grasslands, old quarries, and on the edges of cultivated fields in Solec-Zdroj (50°22′05″N, 20°51′27″E), Chmielnik (50°34′21″N, 20°39′45″E), Pinczow (50°32′21″N, 20°30′34″E), and Kije (50°35′29″N, 20°38′32″E) counties (altitude: 250 to 287 m above sea level). The surveyed area covered about 600 m², and the epiparasitic incidence was 30 to 50% total parasitism of all hemiparasitic species. The dodder population covered 20 to 80% of shoots of these hemiparasitic species, especially T. linophyllon. The host plants parasitized by the dodder showed poor growth, and their leaves became chlorotic. The epiparasites spread aggressively in the primary tissues of the host, particularly in its stems and leaves, as well as inflorescences. The main botanical features of the dodder were as follows: (i) stem 0.2 to 0.4 mm, thready, reddish to purplish, rootless, leafless, with short haustoria; (ii) inflorescence compact, spherical, ∼20 flowered; (iii) flowers sessile, white, pink to purplish, 2 to 3 mm long, with five sepals and petals; and (iv) fruits, globose capsule with usually four small seeds, ∼1 mm. For phylogenetic study the total genomic DNA was extracted, and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified and sequenced using the ITS7A (Aguilar et al. 1999) and ITS4 (White et al. 1990) primers. The obtained 624-bp long ITS region sequence was deposited in GenBank (accession no. KY707298). The sequence showed the highest similarity (99%) to sequences of C. epithymum (DQ924606, DQ924605, and DQ924609). To our knowledge, this is the first report of holoparasitic C. epithymum as an epiparasite on hemiparasitic species of Santalaceae and Orobanchaceae, and simultaneously the first report of epiparasitism in Convolvulaceae, representing a unique phenomenon in epiparasitism worldwide. C. epithymum, if left unabated, affects yield or influences chemical composition of infected host-parasites used therapeutically, because of dodder toxicity aspect, and thereby the medical properties of any commercial-scale production hemiparasites (especially the widely used herb Euphrasia) in the future. Epiparasitism could limit the negative effect of the parasite on the primary host (Kuijt and Lye 2005). The epiparasite may harm the host parasite relatively more than the same parasite would harm a nonparasitic host (Heide-Jorgensen 2008).