Sema Hayirlioglu-Ayaz

CHARACTERIZATION OF ANTHOCYANINS IN CAUCASIAN BLUEBERRIES (VACCINIUM ARCTOSTAPHYLOS L.) NATIVE TO TURKEY

High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) combined with diode array (DAD) and electrospray ionization mass spectrometric (ESI-MS) detections were used to characterize anthocyanins in the berries of Vaccinium arctostaphylos L. The dark purple-black berries were collected from five Caucasian blueberry populations in northeastern Turkey. The HPLC-DAD profile consisted of 19 anthocyanin peaks, but HPLC-ESI-MS revealed fragment ion patterns of 26 anthocyanins. Delphinidin, cyanidin, petunidin, peonidin, and malvidin were all glycosylated with four different monosaccharide moieties (galactose, glucose, arabinose, and xylose) with the first two also conjugated with rhamnose. Furthermore, anthocyanidin disaccharides, tentatively identified as anthocyanidin sambubiosides, were characteristic for these berries. The mean content of the total anthocyanins was 1420 mg/100 g dry weight. The most predominant anthocyanidins were delphinidin (41%), petunidin (19%), and malvidin (19%). Glucose was the most typical (61%) sugar moiety. This study revealed that wild Caucasian blueberries contain an abundance of bioactive anthocyanins and thus are ideal for various functional food purposes.

Bog bilberry phenolics, antioxidant capacity and nutrient profile

Phenolics and nutrient profiles of bog bilberry (Vaccinium uliginosum L.) collected from high mountain pastures in northeast Anatolia (Turkey) were examined for the first time in this study. The major soluble sugar identified in the berry was fructose, following by glucose, and the main organic acid identified was citric acid, followed by malic acid. Eleven phenolic acids and 17 anthocyanin 3-glycosides were identified and quantified. Caffeic acid in the free and glycoside forms and syringic acid in the ester form were the major phenolic acids, and the major individual anthocyanin present in the berry was malvidin 3-glucoside (24%). The highest total phenolics and anthocyanin contents were obtained from the anthocyanin fraction in conjunction with the highest antioxidant capacity, followed by the polyphenolic and aqueous fractions, FRAP, ORAC and DPPH, in that order. Our findings can be used to compare bog bilberry with other Vaccinium berries and to help clarify the relative potential health benefits of different berries.

Chromosome counts of some Cirsium (Asteraceae, Cardueae) taxa from Turkey

Abstract Mitotic chromosome numbers are reported of 16 populations representing 12 taxa of the genus Cirsium Miller from Turkey. Six counts are new to science (C. pseudopersonata Boiss & Bal. subsp. pseudopersonata (2n=34), C. simplex subsp. armenum (DC.) Petrak (2n=34), C. munitum (Bieb.) Fischer (2n=32, 34), C. macrobotrys (C. Koch) Boiss. (2n=34), C. sommieri Petrak (2n=34), and C. trachylepis Boiss. (2n=34)). One count (C. ciliatum subsp. szovitsii (C. Koch) Petrak (2n=34) is not consistent with previous record. The remainder confirm the very limited previous data. All counts are reported here for the first time from Turkey.

Chromosome numbers of the twenty-two Turkish plant species

Abstract In this study, we report the chromosome counts of 22 plant species in seven families from north-east Anatolia, Turkey. The chromosome numbers of Centaurea hypoleuca DC (2n = 28), C. pecho Albow (2n = 56), C. pseudoreflexa Hayek (2n = 18) and Echinops sintenisii Fregn. (2n = 30) are reported here for the first time. New ploidy levels are recovered for Vinca major L. subsp. hirsuta (Boiss.) Stearn (9x), Centaurea simplicicaulis Boiss & Huet. (2x), C. solstitialis L. subsp. solstitialis (4x) and C. triumfetti All. (6x). The chromosome numbers of 13 species are here reported for the first time from Turkey. These newly available data are further compared with those previously published for the same or related species and the systematic implications are discussed.

Cytotaxonomic investigations on some taxa of the genus Vicia L. from north-eastern Anatolia

Abstract In this study, some natural Vicia L. species growing in north-eastern Anatolia were investigated cytotaxonomically. Chromosome numbers and morphologies of the 15 taxa belonging to the Vicia genus were studied by using karyological and numeric taxonomical techniques. Data obtained on chromosome measurements were analysed by using cluster analysis. The chromosome numbers of these taxa have been found as 2n = 10, 12, 14 and 24. The results were considered in conjuction with the literature and karyological analysis results.

Chromosome reports in some Cirsium (Asteraceae, Cardueae) taxa from north-east Anatolia

Abstract This paper comprises mitotic chromosome numbers of 37 accessions representing 24 taxa and 1 interspecific hybrid of Cirsium from north-east Anatolia. Twelve counts are new to science, and eighteen counts and one new ploidy level are reported for the first time from Turkey. Other counts are the confirmations of limited or unique previous data. In the present study, the chromosome numbers of the studied taxa are determined as 2n = 34, 36 and 68 respectively. Moreover, B chromosomes are reported in two taxa. The relevance of the results are also discussed in relation to the available data for each of the analysed taxa.

New chromosome numbers in Alchemilla L. (Rosaceae) from Turkey

Abstract: Hayirlioğlu-Ayaz, S. & Beyazoğlu, O.: New chromosome numbers in Alchemilla L. (Rosaceae) from Turkey. — Willdenowia 27: 191–194. 1997. — ISSN 0511-9618. The chromosome numbers of six Alchemilla species from NE Anatolia, Turkey, belonging to A. sect. Alchemilla ser. Calycinae and ser. Elatae, respectively, are presented for the first time. Alchemilla ancerensis has 2n = 86–96, A. cimilensis 2n = 64–75, A. elevitensis 2n = 84–102, A. hemsinica 2n = 72–80, A. ikizdereensis 2n = 101–108, and A. kackarensis 2n = 66–76.

Micromorphological, Anatomical and Cytogenetical Studies in Endemic Crepis macropus Boiss. & Heldr. (Asteraceae) from Turkey

Abstract In the present study, the micromorphological structure of achene, pappus and style using scanning electron microscope (SEM), stomatal characteristics, anatomy of stem and achene together with chromosome number and nuclear DNA content of the Turkish endemic Crepis macropus Boiss. & Heldr. are provided in order to expand knowledge of its taxonomy. The SEM studies in this species show that dense spiny cells are found on the achene surface, the pappus bristle has 3–5 spikes and the style possesses slender papillae. The stem structure is composed of epidermis, collenchyma, parenchymatous cortex and pith. The species has anomocytic stomata in both the upper and the lower surface of the leaves. The pericarp of the achene is mainly composed of several layers of sclerenchymatous cells. In this species, the chromosome number is 2n = 2x = 8, karyotype consists of two submetacentric and six subtelocentric chromosomes and nuclear DNA content (2Cvalue) is 12.96 pg. These data are presented here for the first time and their taxonomic values are discussed.

Tripleurospermum insularum (Asteraceae, Anthemideae), a New Species from Turkey

Tripleurospermum insularum Inceer & Hayırlıoglu-Ayaz sp. nova (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) is described and illustrated. It grows in open places and on rocky slopes in Gökçeada, one of the Aegean Islands. The chromosome number is 2n = 2x = 18. The diagnostic morphological characters that distinguish it from morphologically similar species are discussed and a conservation status is suggested.

Karyotype analysis of six Achillea L. (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) taxa from Turkey

The karyotypes of six Achillea taxa (Achillea falcata L., A. millefolium L. subsp. millefolium, A. setacea Waldst. & Kit., A. nobilis L. subsp. neilreichii (A. Kern.) Velen., A. biebersteinii Afan. and A. cappadocica Hausskn. & Bornm.) from different phytogeographical regions of Turkey were performed. The taxa revealed chromosome counts of 2n = 2x = 18, 4x = 36 and 7–8x = 67. Karyotype analysis indicated that chromosomes of Achillea taxa have predominantly median and submedian centromered. Several systematic and evolutionary aspects of these taxa are discussed in the light of the cytogenetic data.