Meryem Öztürk

Anatomy, palynology and nutlet micromorphology of Turkish endemic Teucrium sandrasicum (Lamiaceae)

In this study, the anatomical features of the leaf and stem, besides the pollen and nutlet characteristics of Teucrium sandrasicum are investigated. T. sandrasicum, belonging to sect. Teucrium, is an endemic perennial herb growing on serpentine around Muğla province. The anatomical studies on T. sandrasicum revealed that the stem shares the general characteristics of the Labiatae family. The leaves clearly exhibit xeromorphy due to features such as the distribution of stomata on the lower surface (hipostomatic), the occurrence of guard cells below the epidermis (xeromorphic type), inrolled margins, thick cuticle layer, thick outer epidermal cell wall, a high density of trichomes and thick palisade layer of the mesophyll. The anatomical studies showed that the upper epidermal cells of the leaf include many spherocrystals. The pollen grains are prolate, medium in size, 3-colpate with verrucate ornamentation. The nutlets are ellipsoid with a reticulate-verrucate surface. The results have proven that T. sandrasicum is different from the other species of the sect. Teucrium because of the branched trichomes on the stem and the lack of eglandular trichomes on the nutlets.

Cladistic and phylogenetic analyses of the genus Cicer in Turkey

Fifteen taxa of the genus Cicer L. growing naturally in Turkey and out-groups were classified by phylogenetic and cladistic analysis. Taxa of the genus Cicer and the out-group taxa belonging to the closest genera Phaseolus L., Vicia L., Lathyrus L. and Ononis L., which are placed in Phaseoleae, Vicieae and Ononideae tribes, respectively, were used in molecular studies in order to derive their phylogenetic relationships. Morphological, palynological and seed characters were used on the basis of 143 traits. The micromorphological characters of seed and pollen grains were revealed by SEM. Lathyrus L. and Vicia L. species were used as out-groups for numerical analysis. Ten specimens were used for the measurements of metric characters related to the morphological structures of the taxa used for statistical analysis via PAUP and NTSYS-pc packages. Phylogenetic relationships between species and populations of the same species growing in different locations and their variations were determined using molecular methods performed on regions of the Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR). DNA was isolated from the collected samples, using modified CTAB protocols. ISSR was used for phylogenetic fingerprinting. The data were analyzed with NTSYS-pc package. Standardized data were used to generate a dendrogram that revealed the phylogenetic relationships of the taxa. Geographic distribution of the Cicer taxa appears to be closely related to the Anatolian Diagonal. As a result of this study, four new endemic taxa were added and evaluated for the first time.

Taxonomic studies on the genus Rhabdosciadium (Apiaceae) with particular reference to Turkish species and their relationships with some closely related genera

The genus Rhabdosciadium Boiss. is represented by five species in the world. Three of these five species are naturally spread in Iran and the others are found in Turkey. Rhabdosciadium is represented with Rhabdosciadium microcalycinum Hand.-Mazz. and R. oligocarpum (Post ex Boiss.) Hedge & J.M.Lamond in Turkey. The comprehensive morphologic description of these two species’ samples collected from Elaziğ and Osmaniye is made. In addition, the fruit and pollens are examined by the electron microscope (SEM) and their diagnostic characteristics are evaluated. Using the Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) as the DNA finger printing method, the molecular relationship between both of the species are examined. Also, the molecular connection of the Rhabdosciadium Boiss. species with the Echinophora L., Myrrhoides Heister ex Fabr., Chaerophyllum L. and Anthriscus Pers. genera is studied and their phylogenetic relations are shown with the dendogram. In addition to this information their distribution map is given.

Diplotaenia bingolensis (Apiaceae), new species from east Anatolia, Turkey

The new species of Diplotaenia bingolensis M. Öztürk, A. Duran and Behçet (Apiaceae) is described from the eastern part of Turkey. D. bingolensis grows on the steppe, in the Şam Mountain (B8 Bingöl province). It is an endemic confined to east Anatolia, and it is related with D. turcica. The new species is distinct from a closely allied species D. turcica by stem tall, ray number, peduncle long, leaves and mericarp features. The photos of the new species are provided. In addition, pollen characteristics and mericarp surface features are examined by SEM. A special attention is also given on its ecology, conservation status and observations on the population are discussed. 162 ISSR bands scored and ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 nrDNA region sequences were used to generate the dendrograms that revealed the phylogenetic relationships of the taxa. Three taxa of the genus Diplotaenia Boiss. and the out-group taxa belonging to the closest genera Johrenia DC., Dichoropetalum Fenzl. and Cymbocarpum DC. Ex C.A.Mey which are placed in Selineae, Tordylieae and Bupleureae tribes, respectively, were used to molecular analyses in order to characterize their phylogenetic relationships. The geographical distributions of all Diplotaenia species in the world are mapped.

Aethionema anatolica (Brassicaceae), a New Species from South Anatolia, Turkey

Aethionema anatolica A. Duran & M. Öztürk sp. nova (Brassicaceae) is described and illustrated from South Anatolia, Turkey. It is similar especially to A. demirizii, but differs by the habit, crenate margin of the fruits, and the style that is around the same size as the sinus.