Kamil Coşkunçelebi

Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activities of the Essential Oils of Teucrium chamaedrys. subsp. chamaedrys., T. orientale. var. puberulens., and T. chamaedrys. subsp. lydium.

Abstract The composition of the essential oils obtained from the air-dried Teucrium chamaedrys. L. subsp. chamaedrys., Teucrium orientale. L. var. puberulens., and Teucrium chamaedrys. L. subsp. lydium. (Lamiaceae) were analyzed by GC-MS. Thirty-six, 35, and 33 components were identified in the essential oils, and germacrene D (16.7%) was the most abundant constituent in T. chamaedrys. subsp. chamaedrys., and β-caryophyllene was the most abundant component in both T. orientale. var. puberulens. and T. chamaedrys. subsp. lydium. in the ratios 21.7% and 19.7%, respectively. The isolated essential oils of the plants were tested for antimicrobial activity and showed moderate antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, but no antifungal activity was observed against two yeast-like fungi.

Chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of essential oils from Centaurea appendicigera and Centaurea helenioides

The chemical components and antimicrobial activity of the essential oils from Centaurea appendicigera C. Koch and Centaurea helenioides Boiss, two different endemic members of the genus Centaurea L. (Asteraceae), were studied. The essential oils of air-dried C. appendicigera and C. helenioides were obtained by hydrodistillation in a Clevenger-type apparatus and analyzed by GC-MS. Forty-five and fifty-one components were identified in the essential oils of C. appendicigera and C. helenioides, respectively, and the main components of these taxa were found to be β-caryophyllene (17.5%) from C. appendicigera and caryophyllene oxide (18.2%) from C. helenioides. The antimicrobial activity of the isolated essential oil of the plants was also investigated, and demonstrated moderate antibacterial activity against Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria, and yeast-like fungi.

Chemical constituents and antimicrobial activities of the essential oils from Sedum pallidum var. bithynicum and S. spurium grown in Turkey

Chemical compositions of the essential oil of Sedum pallidum Bieb. var. bithynicum (Boiss.) and S. spurium Bieb. (Crassulaceae) from Turkey were investigated by GC-MS, and antimicrobial activity of the oil samples were assessed against Gram-positive/negative bacteria and yeast-like fungi. Thirty-eight and thirty-five components were identified in the essential oils and the main components of these species were found to be caryophyllene oxide from S. pallidum var. bithynicum and hexahydrofarnesyl acetone from S. spurium in the ratios of 12.8% and 15.7%, respectively. The isolated essential oils of the plants showed low antimicrobial activity against Gram-negative/positive bacteria and yeast-like fungi, having the MIC values of 500-2000 μg/mL. Antibacterial activity was not observed against Bacillus cereus.

A comparative study on two closely relative Tulipa L. taxa from NE Anatolia

This study presents observations on the anatomical, palynological and ecological features of Tulipa gumusanica Terzioğlu and its morphologically similar relative, T. armena Boiss. var. armena, in order to clarify their similarities and differences. We found that these taxa have some important differences with regard to anatomical, palynological and ecological features, as well as morphological traits. General anatomical traits of both examined taxa are similar, both having isolateral leaves with distinct hypodermis and a stem with distinct monolayer collenchyma close to the epidermis. However, some anatomical characters such as mesophyll width, average number of stomata on lower epidermis, and epidermal cells on upper epidermis are found to be important in delimiting these taxa. In addition, considerable differences have been observed in pollen shape and size. The species differ ecologically in that T. gumusanica prefers slightly acidic soil with low organic content in the woodland, whereas T. armena var. armena prefers slightly alkali soil with high organic content in steppe vegetation.

Chromosome counts of Tragopogon L. (Asteraceae) from Turkey

In the present study, mitotic chromosome numbers of 18 Tragopogon taxa from Turkey, including five endemic species, were counted. The plant material originates from 30 populations. The chromosome numbers of T. albinervis (2n = 12), T. dshimilensis (2n = 12), T. oligolepis (2n = 12), T. porrifolius subsp. abbreviatus (2n = 12) and T. subacaulis (2n = 12) are reported for the first time. The chromosome numbers are published for the first time from Turkish accessions, except for T. coloratus, T. latifolius var. latifolius, T. reticulatus, and T. porrifolius subsp. longirostris. Of the studied plants 13 taxa proved to be diploid (2n = 12) and five taxa tetraploid (2n = 24). The chromosome numbers obtained from the present study are consistent with previous reports.

Four new species of Hieracium L. (Compositae) from NE Turkey

Abstract Gottschlich, G., Coşkunçelebi, K. & Beyazoğlu, O.: Four new species of Hieracium L. (Compositae) from NE Turkey. — Willdenowia 30: 279–291. 2000. — ISSN 0511-9618. Hieracium rizense, H. tersundagense, H. spodocephalum and H. polygonifolium, four species of H. subg. Hieracium from the Black Sea Region, which is one of the main centres of diversity of the genus in Turkey, are described as new to science and illustrated.

Phylogenetic relationships among Artemisia species based on nuclear ITS and chloroplast psbA-trnH DNA markers

The taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships within the genus Artemisia s.l. (Asteraceae) are controversial, and it has been considered 1 to 8 different genera. This work re-investigated the phylogenetic relationships in Artemisia using nuclear ribosomal (ITS) and chloroplast psbA-trnH DNA sequences using three sections of Artemisia, Dracunculus, and Serphidium. Three phylogenetic trees were conducted separately on the basis of ITS, psbA-trnH and combined sequences using maximum parsimony. The results showed that the three sections were clearly separated from each other, and that the heterogamous Dracunculus and Artemisia are closely related to each other than either to homogamous Serphidium. This may suggest the taxonomic importance of capitulum morphology in Artemisia s.l. Our data also cast doubt on the use of cytogenetic similarity e.g., basic chromosome number in grouping Serphidium and Artemisia s.s. Furthermore, AMOVA analysis showed a higher level of ITS (55.29%) and combined ITS+cppsbA-trnH (55.63%) variations among sections. This provides further evidence for separation of these three sections and supports the phylogenetic results. The higher ITS nucleotide differences detected in Artemisia (30.4737) compared to very low value in Dracunculus (2.3333) and Serphidium (1.23077) may propose that the Artemisia comprises of several incipient sections. This supports the previous suggestion that Artemisia is a complex group.

Pollen morphology and anatomical features of Lilium (Liliaceae) taxa from Turkey

In this study, pollen grains and anatomical features of Turkish lilies were investigated under the electron (SEM) and light (LM) microscope. LM and SEM observations showed that the pollen grains are monosulcate, heteropolar, elliptical in polar view and oblate. Numerical results based on combined palynological and anatomical characters were discussed and compared with traditional taxonomic treatments. It was found that the midrib shape, mesophyll type, P/E (polar/equatorial), sulcus length, and lumina width are the most valuable traits in separating the examined taxa. The numerical analysis showed that Lilium candidum L. differs from the rest Turkish Lilium and also confirmed a close relationship between L. szovitsianum Fisch. & Avé-Lall. and L. armenum Miscz. ex Grossh. Also this study is the first report dealing with anatomical and palynological features of all Turkish lilies.