Zora Dajić Stevanović

Phytosociological alliances in the vegetation of arable fields in the northwestern Balkan Peninsula

A stratified dataset of 2426 relevés of weed vegetation of arable fields of the Balkan Peninsula was analysed by cluster analysis . The major division in species composition was associated with the type of crop . This accords with the syntaxonomical and ecological pattern already detected for southeast Europe and is in conflict with the Central European classification that has appeared in recent years . Clusters resulting from numerical classification reproduced the majority of traditionally recognized phytosociological alliances (Oxalidion, Panico-Setarion and Eragrostion are associated with root crops, while Scleranthion, Caucalidion and Galeopsion with cereals) . Galeopsion was grouped with some Caucalidion relevés, which is not surprising since both consist of weed communities from cereals . Vernal communities form a separate cluster and indicate a special community type, which has been treated in some classification systems as a phenological aspect .

Alien plant species and factors of invasiveness of anthropogenic vegetation in the Northwestern Balkans — a phytosociological approach

We studied the anthropogenic vegetation of the Northwest Balkans in order to determine its susceptibility to invasion by alien plant species. We compiled a dataset of 3089 vegetation plots sampled between 1939 and 2009, recording a set of variables for each sample plot in order to determine which factors have the most effect on a habitat’s vulnerability to invaders. We calculated the proportion of native species, archaeophytes and neophytes for each plot. We used regression tree models to determine the site conditions of the most invaded anthropogenic habitats. The sample plots contained an average of 12.7% alien plant species, with a low proportion of archaeophytes (4.3%) and 8.4% neophytes. Local habitat conditions proved to have the largest effect, rather than climatic variables or propagule pressure. The proportion of archaeophytes follows a different pattern than that seen in central and northern Europe, indicating that macroecological factors are more important. Neophytes show a similar distribution to other European locations.

Flower morphophysiology of selected Lamiaceae species in relation to pollinator attraction

Summary The floral biology and attractiveness of five Lamiaceae species, namely Hyssopus officinalis, Lavandula officinalis, Melissa officinalis, Salvia officinalis and Salvia sclarea, were studied by correlating morphological characteristics of flower and nectar production with pollinator visits, especially with reference to honey bee forage preferences. Although these species are cultivated for medicinal purposes, they also represent a significant source of pollen and nectar for honey production, so the investigation aimed to estimate their melliferousness and significance for bee pasture. Pollinator observation indicated the visitation of seven species of Hymenoptera, three species of Diptera and two species of day flying Lepidoptera. The honey bee (Apis mellifera) was the most abundant pollinator, and the major elements of attractiveness were flower scent and colour, followed by the shape and size of the corolla and to a lesser extent nectar abundance. Corolla tube length and number of open flowers per whorl were of little significance. According to all analyzed flower characteristics and observation of pollinator behaviour and visits, the most attractive plants were H. officinalis, S. officinalis and L. officinalis, whilst M. officinalis was the least attractive and S. sclarea completely unattractive to all recorded pollinators except for Xylocopa violacea.

Essential Oil Polymorphism of Thymus pannonicus All. (Lamiaceae) in Serbia

Abstract Three populations of Thymus pannonicus grown in Serbia (one from northern and two from east Serbia) were examined for chemical composition of their essential oil. Thymus pannonicus is used in traditional medicine and it is collected by local people in the studied regions, hence the interest in composition of its essential oils. Three major groups of essential oil components were identified, such as monoterpene hydrocarbons, oxygenated monoterpene hydrocarbons and sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Each of investigated populations showed its own chemotype, including: geranial (citral), α-pinene and germacrene-D. To best of our knowledge, this sesquiterpene hydrocarbon was reported as a major component in Thymus bracteosus only. In these populations the phenolic compounds thymol and carvacrol, considered as most frequent constituents of essential oil in Thymus taxa, haven’t been found in significant quantities.

Human impact on sandy beach vegetation along the southeastern Adriatic coast

Abstract We compared the zonation of vegetation and connectivity of coastal plant communities between two distinct areas, one in Montenegro and another in Albania, that differ in terms of human impact, mainly through tourism activities. Transect plots were used to gather data about plant cover and communities, their zonation and connectivity. For description of communities multivariate methods were used and for distribution zonation we used gamma connectivity and richness of boundaries. We found that the transects of vegetation zonation from Albania, with better preserved sites, were richer in the number of boundaries, with more varied combinations of boundaries and the pattern of zonation was also more diverse. On the other hand, there were two plant communities found only in Montenegro. The more impacted transects on the disturbed beaches from Montenegro were also more unidirectional from sea to hinterland but with less ideal zonation. Plant communities from Albania were distributed more straightforwardly but contacts between them were in both directions. The less disturbed beach had zonation very similar to potential vegetation, while plant communities of the touristic beach were fragmented or even substituted by replacement communities. Coastal dune systems in Albania are still well preserved, therefore monitoring and protection measures are recommended.

Nectar secretion in basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) grown in different soil conditions

The fragrant basil flower (Ocimum basilicum L.) is enthomophylic, with nectar storage at a depth suitable for the proboscis length of the honey bee. Owing to the position of stamens, pollen can be easily collected by the ventral side of the bees body. Despite the fact that basil is acknowledged to be a good melliferous plant, predominantly visited by honey bees, there is little information about its nectar production. The quality and quantity of nectar secretion is influenced by numerous endogenous and external factors (Farkas and Orosz-Kovács, 2003). Species specific endogenous factors include the size, shape, position and age of a flower, as well as the duration of flowering. Nectar production is also strongly affected by environmental factors, such as microclimate, soil properties, day length and general site conditions, including altitude and latitude. The complex interaction between these factors strongly affects a plants capacity for nectar secretion (Vogel, 1983). This study was conducted to analyse the influence of diverse soil conditions on diurnal and seasonal dynamics of nectar secretion in basil, aiming to estimate its melliferous potential. Ten basil seedlings at the two leaf stage were transplanted into experimental pots (46.5 x 19 x 14.5 cm) filled with three different soils (eutric cambisol, fluvisol and humoglay) taken from the basin of the Sava river situated in the northern part of Serbia. Three pots of each soil were used. The experiment was conducted during the flowering period of 2003, in the experimental field of the Faculty of Agriculture in Belgrade. The physical (texture) and chemical properties (pH, total carbon, humus and carbonates) of the soils were determined by standard methods. The texture of fluvisol was estimated as a sandy loam (63.88 % sand), and it contained 5.82% CaCO3, 3.07% humus, 1.78% total carbon, and was slightly alkaline (pH 7.85). The eutric cambisol exhibited a loam structure, was slightly acid (pH 6.16), was slightly carbonated (CaCO3: 1.49%), rich in humus (5.15%) and rich in total carbon (C: 2.98%). The texture of the humoglay varied from sandy loam to clayey loam and clay, and it was slightly alkaline (pH 7.62), and it contained 1.28% carbonates, 2.52% humus and 1.46% total carbon. Nectar secretion was measured directly by the microcapillary method (McKenna and Thomson, 1988) using 0.5-0.6 mm diameter microcapillaries. Inflorescences were covered with fine mesh (20 x 20 cm) for 12 hours prior to nectar removal (from the evening of the previous day) and between daily measurements, to prevent access by flower visitors. Individual flowers were marked at the bud stage and the nectar was collected in the second day of flower life. Nectar was taken from five randomly chosen plants of each pot, and the length of the nectar column was measured immediately in the field. The nectar volume expressed in μl per flower (n = 15, per soil type) was calculated as:-

Variability of Essential Oil Composition of Cultivated Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schultz Bip.) Populations

Abstract The differences in essential oil composition, based upon GC and GC/MS analysis, were studied in four cultivated populations of Feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium (L.) Schulz Bip.). The yield of oil ranged from 0.23% to 0.36%; the major components were camphor (46.4–47.2%), trans-chrysanthenyl acetate (22.4–27.3%) and camphene (10.9–12.7%). Statistically significant differences among tested populations were mostly related to the content of trans-chrysanthenyl acetate and borneol.

TYPIFICATI ON AND CORRECTION OF SYNTAXA FROM THE CLASS MOLINIO-ARRHENATHERETEA TX. 1937 IN SERBIA

Abstract A list of corrected and typified grassland communities of the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea Tx. 1937 occurring in Serbia was provided. The nomenclature rules of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature were strictly followed. Syntaxonomic affiliation of communities to higher syntaxa was assessed according to the existing syntaxonomical schemes for Serbia, i.e. according to the position determined by the original source. Higher syntaxa followed the synsystem of the so-called “EuroVegChecklist”. Since syntaxonomic disagreements concerning a certain plant association’s position within the whole classification system have not been discussed, such a list should serve as the starting point for a further revision of the status of grassland communities in Serbia. So far, a total of 87 plant communities of the class Molinio-Arrhenatheretea were described for Serbia. The list provided here will enable more precise and more accurate mapping of vegetation in Serbia, as well as classification of these communities into the Habitat Directive which will enable the establishment of the Red list of Habitats for Serbia. Izvleček V članku so predstavljene nomenklaturno popravljene in tipifizirane traviščne združbe razreda Molinio-Arrhenatheretea Tx. 1937, ki se pojavljajo v Srbiji. Dosledno smo upoštevali pravila Mednarodnega kodeksa fitocenološke nomenklature. Sintaksonomsko pripadnost združb višjim sintaksonom smo ohranili glede na obstoječe sintaksonomske sheme v Srbiji oziroma glede na uvrstitev v originalnem viru. Višji sintaksoni sledijo sintaksonomiji po “EuroVegChecklist”. Glede na to, da nismo obravnavali uvrstitve posameznih rastlinskih združb v sintaksonomski sistem, bo ta seznam omogočil sintaksonomsko revizijo traviščnih združb Srbije. Do sedaj je bilo na ozemlju Srbije opisanih 87 rastlinskih združb razreda Molinio-Arrhenatheretea. Seznam bo omogočil tudi bolj natančno kartiranje vegetacije Srbije in povezavo teh združb s Habitatno direktivo in izdelavo Rdečega seznama habitatnih tipov Srbije.

Essential Oil Composition of Achillea millefolium agg. Populations Collected from Saline Habitats in Serbia

Abstract: Essential oil yield and composition of three populations of yarrow (Achillea millefolium aggregate) occurring on saline habitats of Serbia was analyzed in relation to its soil site characteristics. The total of 99 compounds of essential oils was determined within three estimated chemotypes: the chamazulene + trans-caryophyllene+β-pinene (in population assigned as P1), the lavandulyl acetate+chamazulene + trans-caryophyllene (in P2) and the trans-chrysanthenyl acetate+trans-caryophyllene+germacrene D (in P3). The highest yield of 1.01 % and the lowest of 0.32 % were determined for populations P1 and P3, respectively. The highest total salt content, corresponding with the highest values of ECe and sodium, chloride and sulfate ion concentration was determined for soil of P1 population, which was assessed as solonchak soil, in difference to much lower value of sodium ions, total salts, ECe and pH, all increasing with the soil depth, as determined for samples of P2 and P3 yarrow populations - typical for the solonetz type of salt affected soils. Differences in yield and chemical composition of essential oils were discussed in term of impact of both populations genetic variability and specific environmental conditions. The essential oil quality in all researched yarrow populations accomplishes standards of EU Pharmacopeia 6.0 and thus, sustainable wild collection of yarrow from halophytic habitats could be recommended.

Ethnobotanical Knowledge and Traditional Use of Plants in Serbia in Relation to Sustainable Rural Development

In Serbian folk tradition, hundreds of plants were used for ages as food, beverages, medicine, natural dyes, natural additives, and food preservatives, for textile and fibers, shelter and fuel, as well as for traditional customs, religious purposes, and magic. Despite being often treated as a problem for the national economy, rural areas in Serbia actually represent a huge potential, namely in richness of natural resources, i.e., (agro)biodiversity, as well as cultural and traditional heritage and related ethnobotanical knowledge. The history of health culture of the Balkan nations is very complex and interesting. The extremely long tradition of curative and prophylactic use of medicinal herbs is mentioned in the folk medical texts of both known and unknown authors. The Old Serbs had a very developed cult dedicated to certain trees and plants, where many of customs remain in place even today. Here, we discuss the most interesting, old, and autochthonous varieties of cereals, vegetables, and fruits that are still used in traditional Serbian cuisine today. This is followed with a brief review of the most commonly used medicinal herbs in Serbian folk medicine, as well as an outline of several of the best-described magical plants, including oak, basil, nettle, wormwood, linden, hawthorn, hazel tree, and laserwort.