Nikos Krigas

AUTUMN ESSENTIAL OILS OF GREEK OREGANO

The essential oils of Origanum vulgare subsp. hirtum plants collected in late autumn from six localities of three distinct geographic areas of Greece were analysed by means of GC and GC-mass spectrometry. A high quantitative variation was found in the amount of the four main components; γ-terpinene ranged from 0.6 to 3.6% of the total essential oil, p-cymeme from 17.3 to 51.3%, thymol from 0.2 to 42.8%, and carvacrol from 1.7% to 69.6%. Plants collected from the northern part of Greece were rich in thymol (30.3–42.8% of total oil), whereas those from the southern part of the country were rich in carvacrol (57.4–69.6% of total oil). Furthermore, comparison with the essential oils obtained from plants collected from the same localities in mid-summer shows noticeable differences in the total oil content and the concentration of the four main oil components.

A survey of the alien vascular flora of the urban and suburban area of Thessaloniki, N Greece

Abstract Krigas, N. & Kokkini, S.: A survey of the alien vascular flora of the urban and suburban area of Thessaloniki, N Greece. — Willdenowia 34: 81–99. — ISSN 0511-9618;

The vascular flora of the Byzantine Walls of Thessaloniki (N Greece)

Abstract Krigas, N., Lagiou, E., Hanlidou, E. & Kokkini, S.: The vascular flora of the Byzantine Walls of Thessaloniki (N Greece). — Willdenowia 29: 77–94. 1999. — ISSN 0511-9618. An inventory of 263 taxa of vascular plants growing spontaneously on and around the Byzantine Walls of the city of Thessaloniki is presented, based on own collections and studies of the sites. The flora of the Walls is analysed with respect to the local distribution of the taxa as well as to the chorological and life form spectra. The results are discussed in comparison to other European and Mediterranean wall floras.

The Electronic Trade in Greek Endemic Plants: Biodiversity, Commercial and Legal Aspects

The Electronic Trade in Greek Endemic Plants: Biodiversity, Commercial and Legal Aspects. We present for the first time an analytical survey of the Greek endemic plants traded over the Internet (n = 588 cases). A total of 145 taxa corresponding to ca. 10% of the Greek endemic flora were found to be traded by 73 nurseries in Europe, North America, and Australia. Of the traded taxa, 35% feature in the websites of only one nursery, and ca. 10% in websites of more than 10 nurseries. Most traded are members of Campanulaceae, Iridaceae, Lamiaceae, and Liliaceae. The live plant is the commonest form of sale, at an average price of EUR (Euros) 6.38/USD 8.61; most expensive is Ophrys kotschyi ssp. cretica (EUR 20.46/USD 27.60). The price range for individual bulbs is EUR 0.24–5.67 (USD 0.32–7.65), whereas for seeds, it is EUR 0.03–0.93 (USD 0.04–1.26) per seed, and EUR 0.07–44.0 (USD 0.09–59.36) on a per gram basis, with Draba cretica being the most expensive in the latter case. Many of the traded taxa face the risk of extinction: 6 are designated as endangered, 27 as vulnerable, 5 as near threatened, and 32 as rare; of these, 30 are steno-endemics, confined in one (12 taxa) up to five localities (18 taxa). Overall, 58 taxa are protected at the national and 19 at the international level. We cannot estimate the degree to which this commerce is legal. Nevertheless, none of the nurseries surveyed seem to have been granted a permit from the authorities of Greece to harvest and sell its wild flora. We recommend regular surveillance of popular Internet sites in order to curb illegal commerce, and suggest that nurseries’ websites should declare that the plant material sold is not of wild origin and has been legally obtained. State authorities should take action to protect biodiversity, but also exert the rights deriving from national laws and international treaties regarding the exploitation of their countries’ genetic resources.Η ηλεκτρονική αγορά των ενδημικών φυτών της Ελλάδας: βιοποικιλότητα, εμπορικά και νομικά ζητήματα. Παρουσιάζονται αποτελέσματα έρευνας που έγινε για πρώτη φορά σχετικά με το διαδικτυακό εμπόριο των ενδημικών φυτών της Ελλάδας. Εντοπίστηκαν 588 περιπτώσεις εμπορίας από 73 φυτώρια στην Ευρώπη, τη Βόρειο Αμερική και την Αυστραλία. Αφορούν 145 taxa που αντιστοιχούν σε περίπου 10% της ενδημικής χλωρίδας της χώρας. Εμπορευόμενα από πολλά φυτώρια (>10) εμφανίζονται 10% αυτών των taxa, ενώ 35% από μόνον ένα. Κυριαρχούν εκπρόσωποι των Campanulaceae, Iridaceae, Lamiaceae και Liliaceae. Το ζωντανό φυτό είναι η πιο κοινή μορφή πώλησης, με μέση τιμή €6,38 ανά άτομο και ανώτερη €20,46 για το Ophrys kotschyi ssp. cretica. Για τις άλλες μορφές πώλησης, οι τιμές είναι €0,24–5,67 ανά βολβό, €0,03–0,93 ανά σπέρμα και €0,07–44,0 ανά γραμμάριο σπερμάτων. Στην τελευταία περίπτωση, η μέγιστη τιμή αντιστοιχεί στο Draba cretica. Από τα εμπορευόμενα taxa, 58 είναι προστατευόμενα σε εθνικό και 19 σε διεθνές επίπεδο, 33 χαρακτηρίζονται ως απειλούμενα (κινδυνεύοντα και τρωτά) και 37 ως σχεδόν απειλούμενα ή σπάνια. Από αυτά, 12 έχουν βρεθεί σε μια μόνο τοποθεσία και άλλα 18 σε δύο έως πέντε. Είναι άγνωστο πόσο νόμιμο είναι αυτό το εμπόριο. Ωστόσο, κανένα φυτώριο από όσα εξετάστηκαν δεν φαίνεται να έχει άδεια από τις αρχές της χώρας για συλλογή και πώληση των ενδημικών φυτών της Ελλάδας. Εξετάζοντας μια αγορά που δεν έχει επαρκώς μελετηθεί μέχρι τώρα, η έρευνά μας συμβάλλει στην διάνοιξη ενός νέου πεδίου στην προστασία της βιοποικιλότητας. Για την καταπολέμηση του παράνομου εμπορίου, προτείνουμε συστηματική παρακολούθηση των ιστοσελίδων μεγάλης επισκεψιμότητας και υποχρέωση των φυτωρίων να δηλώνουν ότι το προς πώληση φυτικό υλικό δεν προέρχεται από τη φύση και ότι έχει νόμιμα αποκτηθεί. Οι αρμόδιες αρχές θα πρέπει να λαμβάνουν μέτρα όχι μόνον για την προστασία της βιοποικιλότητας των χωρών τους αλλά και την άσκηση των δικαιωμάτων που απορρέουν από την εθνική νομοθεσία και τις διεθνείς συμβάσεις σχετικά με την εκμετάλλευση των γενετικών πόρων.

Analysis of the ex situ conservation of the Greek endemic flora at national European and global scales and of its effectiveness in meeting GSPC Target 8

We examine the extent to which the rich endemic flora of Greece, a country in the Mediterranean hotspot, and particularly that part facing an extinction risk, is effectively conserved ex situ. We detected 3067 accessions of 523 taxa representing 37.2% of the Greek endemics in 213 botanic gardens (BGs, 439 taxa) and 14 seed banks (SBs, 344 taxa) of 36 countries; 46.7% of these accessions are in Greek institutions. Seeds are available for only 23.8% of the taxa in SBs. Of the 558 threatened and near-threatened endemics, 268 are conserved ex situ. Of these, 44.8% are accessioned in a single BG and 48.9% in a single SB; in the latter, 25% are represented by a single accession number. Based on major concerns, for a taxon to be considered as effectively conserved ex situ, we propose that it be represented by no less than five accessions deposited in two institutions of two countries, at least. This criterion is met by only 6.4% of the taxa in SBs. There is still a long way to go so as to achieve Target 8 of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC).

Effect of temperature and light on seed germination of Erysimum naxense and Erysimum krendlii

Seed germination of two local Greek endemics was studied (Erysimum naxense, Erysimum krendlii). Seed viability was determined by using the tetrazolium method and germination was studied in synchronized cycles of five and four alternating temperatures [10/5 (for E. naxense only) and 15/10, 20/15, 25/20, and 30/25°C for both species, in cycles of 16 h day/8 h night], and in five light regimes (red, blue, green, white, and dark). Germination of E. naxense and E. krendlii seeds was determined daily for six and five weeks, respectively, with the data analyzed as viability adjusted accumulative seed germination at the end of each week. E. naxense’s seed viability was higher (90%) than that of E. krendlii (64%); seed germination (%) of both increased at low alternating temperatures (10/5°C, 15/10°C, 20/15°C). Germination of E. naxense seeds at low temperatures was light-independent, whereas at high temperatures it was increased with red light. Germination of E. krendlii seeds was inconsistently affected by light at the temperatures studied. Percentages of seed germination of both species were higher in experimental conditions similar to the ones of their natural habitats during autumn and/or spring (facilitated with Geographic Information Systems). These conclusions provide guidelines for species-specific propagation protocols and ex situ conservation.

GIS and ex situ Plant Conservation

Still, the rapid environmental changes including climate change, habitat loss and alteration, could pose some limitations on our ability to conserve target species effectively in situ (Sharrock & Jones, 2009). As a result, conservation biologists, policy makers and managers acknowledge the importance of ex situ conservation of target plants in botanic gardens and seed banks as an essential back-up solution (Convention on Biological Diversity [CBD], 1992; Glawka et al 1994; Global Strategy for Plant Conservation [GSPC], 2002; European Strategy for Plant Conservation [ESPC], 2009; Sharrock & Jones, 2009).

The electronic trade in endemic plants of Cyprus through the Internet

Abstract This study assesses the current situation regarding the electronic trade of the Cypriot endemic plants. We examine the plant material sold over the Internet, prices and vendors, and we explore to what extent this activity complies with national laws and international treaties. Overall, 48 taxa (34% of the Cypriot endemic flora) are traded by 21 nurseries of Europe and North America, belonging mostly to Lamiaceae, Brassicaceae, Iridaceae, Asparagaceae, Fabaceae and Asteraceae. Seeds are the commonest form of sale; prices range from €0.12 to 0.79 per seed and from €0.31 to 2.56 per gram. The price range for live plants is €5.67–30.22 (highest for Quercus alnifolia). Among the traded taxa, two are designated critically endangered, another two endangered, four vulnerable, 12 are globally rare and threatened and 12 are protected at the international level. None of the nurseries surveyed seem to have been granted a permit by the authorities of Cyprus to harvest and sell its wild flora, at least during the last decade. State authorities should extend the current legislative framework so as to cover all endemic and nationally threatened taxa, monitor their wild populations, engage in routine surveillance of their e-trade and regulate access to the country’s genetic resources.

GIS-facilitated ex situ conservation of the rare Greek endemic Campanula incurva Aucher: Seed germination requirements and effect of growth regulators on in vitro proliferation and rooting

In order to develop conservation protocols for Campanula incurva, the geographical information systems (GIS) were used to unveil its ecological requirements; this facilitated the selection of substrates and of appropriate temperatures for cultivation and guided propagation experiments and acclimatization. Seed germination was tested under (i) dark, (ii) 16-h photoperiod, (iii) immersion in 400 ppm gibberellic acid (GA3) followed by incubation at dark, and (iv) immersion in 400 ppm GA3 followed by incubation at 16-h photoperiod (all at 21 ± 1°C). Dormancy was not detected. Germination exceeded 85% in 10 days. Shoot tips were established in vitro in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 1 μM 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.1 μM indole-3-butyric acid (IBA). The effect of 1–8 μM BA and 1–8 μM kinetin on shoot proliferation was studied. Moreover, 8 μM BA was combined with 0, 1, 5, and 10 μM IBA to investigate effects of cytokinin/auxin. The highest number of microshoots/explant (4.03) was obtained with 8 μM BA. Microshoots were transferred to half strength MS and full strength MS media with 0, 0.5, 1, 5, and 10 μM IBA to evaluate their root induction ability. Half strength MS medium with 5 μM IBA resulted in 100% rooting (16.80 average number of roots/microshoot). Plantlets produced were successfully acclimatized.

The World Saffron and Crocus collection: strategies for establishment, management, characterisation and utilisation

Since 2007, the European Commission AGRI GEN RES 018 “CROCUSBANK” action has permitted the creation of the alleged World Saffron and Crocus Collection (WSCC), a unique collection which contains a representation of the genetic variability present in saffron crop and wild relatives at global scale. At present the germplasm collection, housed at the Bank of Plant Germplasm of Cuenca (BGV-CU, Spain), consists of 572 preserved accessions representing 47 different Crocus species (including saffron Crocus) and is expected to increase up to more than 600 accessions by the end of CROCUSBANK action (May 2011). The preserved biodiversity of saffron (Crocussativus L.) covers a wide range of the genetic variability of the crop and currently consists of 220 accessions from 15 countries: 169 of these come from European cultivation countries, 18 from commercial areas in non EU countries, 26 from regions of minimal or relict production and/or from abandoned fields and 7 from commercial nurseries. The non-saffron Crocus collection currently comprises 352 accessions: 179 collected from the wild in 12 countries of natural distribution, 24 from donations of public and private institutions, 91 from commercial nurseries and 58 acquired from BGV-CU collection management. Here we provide a record of collections, activities concerns and current strategies for documentation, conservation, characterisation, and management of the collection as important tools for researchers with interest in these valuable genetic resources.