*Institutul de Cercetari Biologice, str. Republicii, nr. 48, RO-400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
**Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Gradina Botanica A. Borza, str. Republicii, nr. 42, RO-400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
e-mail: suteudana@yahoo.com

Abstract: Poa deylii Chartek & Jirasek is a grass taxon endemic to the South-Eastern Carpathians, which is of unclear taxonomic status, with no molecular research on the structure of its populations. Many authors have considered, based on morphological traits, this taxon to be a valid species or a subspecies included within P. granitica Br.-Bl. In the present study we have used three molecular markers - one nuclear (ITS1) and two chloroplastic (introns trnG and trnL) - to explore the variability within the P. granitica group. No genetic difference was detected, in spite of the morphological variation that distinguishes these two taxa (P. granitica subsp. granitica and P. deylii). Other approaches, such as the AFLP technique, that address the entire genome, might be required for a better understanding of the genetic variation within this group.

Key words: Poa granitica group, taxonomy, endemic species, cpDNA, ITS

*Universitatea Alexandru Ioan Cuza, Gradina Botanica Anastasie Fatu, str. Dumbrava Rosie, nr. 7-9, RO-700487 Iasi, Romania
**Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Facultatea de Biologie si Geologie, Catedra de Taxonomie si Ecologie, str. Republicii, nr. 42, RO-400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
***Universitatea de Stiinte Agricole si Medicina Veterinara, str. M. Sadoveanu, nr. 1, RO-700487 Iasi, Romania
e-mail: aoprea@uaic.ro

Abstract: Our study attempts to complete the description of the forest natural habitats (sensu Habitat Directive 92/43/EEC) recorded in our country, with the rarest, critically endangered, endangered, vulnerable, extinct in the wild, glacial or Tertiary relict species, as well as the endemic or near-endemic plant species and fungi. 230 species of vascular plants, 90 bryophytes and 31 fungi have been identified as being the rarest, the most threatened, relict or endemic/near endemic in the forests of Romania. Most of the species listed in the Red Data Book and various Red Lists live in deciduous forests - 198 species, especially vascular plants and bryophytes; 81 species (23.07%) are distributed in coniferous forests, while 72 species (20.5%) are located in mixed forest. In Romania the most favourable state of forests in terms of plant conservation (number of threatened, rare, relict, and endemic/near endemic plants) is found on the upper hills, as well as in the lower and middle levels of the mountain areas. But the forests situated in the middle and lower parts of hills, as well as in the plains, have a much more reduced diversity, in terms of number of species of vascular plants, bryophytes and fungi, as a result of strong human impact. Some of the natural habitats that circumscribe Romanian forests (e. g. 91AA, 91V0, 91Y0, 9410, etc), are the most exposed to anthropic-zoogenic pressures of all kinds. The largest number of threatened, rare and endemic/near endemic, or relict species of vascular plants and bryophyte are distributed in the forest-steppe areas in the east, south and south-west part of Romania (Steppe & Continental Bioregions), as well as along the chain of the Carpathian Mountains (Alpine Bioregion).

Key words: Romanian forests, Red-listed species, diversity conservation, Habitat Directive 92/43/EEC, Bern Convention

*Institutul de Cercetari Biologice, str. Republicii, nr. 48, RO-400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
**Chemin des Coquelicots, F-50300, Avranches, France
e-mail: utudor@yahoo.com

Abstract: The Biharia Massif, situated in the south-western part of the Apuseni Mountains, with its highest peaks, Bihor-Cucurbata Mare (1849 m) and Cucurbata Mica (1769 m), provides a wide range of ecological conditions and allows the development of diverse vegetation. It comprises forests ranging from beech to spruce, small patches of riparian forest, scrub (including alpine juniper over a wide area and mountain pine in a small area), meadows used as pastures or hay-fields, many types of hygrophilous vegetation and, over small areas, saxicolous vegetation. Our research in this region, previously scarcely studied, resulted in the identification of 39 plant associations that are briefly presented here, included in 22 alliances, 13 orders and 11 vegetation classes. As regards nature protection, the most important and diverse area, the source of the Cepelor Valley, has already been declared a SCI but other important areas also need protection.

Key words: Romania, Apuseni Mountains, Biharia Massif, Montane-subalpine vegetation, plant communities

*Facultatea de Medicina si Farmacie, Universitatea din Oradea, str. Armatei Romane, nr. 5, RO-410087 Oradea, Romania
**Facultatea de Farmacie, Universitatea de Medicina si Farmacie Iuliu Hatieganu, str. I. Creanga, nr. 12, RO-400023, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
e-mail: mtbotanica@yahoo.com

Abstract: Using HPLC/MS, hyperforin was identified and quantitatively determined in four species of Hypericum (St John's-wort, Johanniskraut) gathered from the wild flora of Bihor County: H. perforatum L., H. maculatum Crantz subsp. typicum Frohl., H. tetrapterum Fries and H. hirsutum L. The identification was carried out by MS detection with standard hyperforin (Sigma-Aldrich), and quantitative determination by calibration curve in hyperforin, in negative ionisation. Hyperforin content was determined as 7.89% in H. perforatum, 0.077% in H. maculatum, 0.103% in H. tetrapterum and 0.67% in H. hirsutum. Considering that hyperforin is one of the most important active principles of Hyperici herba, and its very low content in the other species (from 100 to 10 times lower), the sole utilization of H. perforatum in phytotherapy may be justified.

Key words: hyperforin, Hypericum spp., HPLC/MS, St John’s-wort

*Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Facultatea de Biologie si Geologie, str. M. Kogalniceanu, nr. 1, RO-400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
**Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Balaton Limnological Research Institute, 3 Klebersberg Kuno, H-8237 Tihany, Hungary
***Naturglobe Ltd, Kecskemet, Hungary
e-mail: kereszteszsgy@gmail.com

Abstract: The present study documents the findings that picophytoplankton is one of the fundamental contributors to primary biomass production not only in aquatic environments with very low content of inorganic nutrients, but also in lakes with higher trophicity. The autotrophic picophytoplankton (APP) comprises bacterial-sized (0.2-2 mu) picocyanobacteria and eukaryotic phototrophs (mainly green algae). These organisms can provide up to 90% of the primary production of shallow soda lakes. Shallow soda pans are very characteristic of the Pannonic Ecoregion (Austria, Hungary and Serbia) and they represent a considerable part of the lakes present in this region. Between 11 May and 20 June 2009, the authors determined the total biomass of the phytoplankton (based on chlorophyll-a) in 65 soda pans (with an average depth of 17 cm) of the Pannonic Ecoregion. They also estimated the biomass and abundance of the picophytoplankton, using epifluorescence microscopy. The physico-chemical characteristics of the water, relevant for the phytoplankton, were also investigated. The chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) concentration ranged between 1 mcg/ l and 1400 mcg /l with an average of 115 mcg/l. The abundance varied between 1000 cells/ml and 88 million cells/ml. Picoplankters were represented by 1.5 mu-sized green algae and 1.0 mu-sized phycocyanin-rich bacteria. Phycoerythrin-rich picocyanobacteria have not been detected. Based on the present findings, in these water bodies, the contribution of picoplankton to total phytoplankton did not show a decreasing tendency with increasing trophic state, as it was recorded earlier by other authors in different types of aquatic environments. The present results reveal that in soda lakes the picophytoplankton has a crucial contribution to the total primary production not only under conditions of nutrient deficiency, but also in lakes with higher trophicity. The total phosphorus (TP) concentration in the soda lakes studied varied between 70 mcg/l and 59000 mcg/l. Based on TP, four of the lakes were considered eutrophic and 61 hypertrophic. Based on phytoplankton biomass, half of the lakes were classified as oligotrophic, respectively mesotrophic, while the rest were considered eutrophic, respectively hypertrophic.

Key words: Pannonic Ecoregion, picoalgae, picocyanobacteria, phytoplankton, soda pans, trophicity

Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Facultatea de Biologie si Geologie, str. M. Kogalniceanu, nr. 1, RO-400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
e-mail: barthacsabi@gmail.com

Abstract: Increased soil salinity is a major environmental stress factor for many plants, and limits crop yields. Lettuce is a frequently grown, moderately salt-sensitive crop plant, with many different cultivars. Their physiological diversity when exposed to salt stress enables breeders to efficiently select those cutivars more suitable to grow under conditions of salt stress associated with drought and global warming. The aim of this work is to study the physiological diversity of frequently cultivated lettuce varieties subjected to salinity stress, enabling an efficient selection of more tolerant cultivars. Different functional parameters of induced chlorophyll fluorescence, molar ratios between the main photosynthetic light-harvesting pigments, dry biomass accumulation and seed germination dynamics are evaluated in the context of physiological diversity of lettuce cultivars. Potential and effective light use efficiency is generally decreased only by severe salt stress (exposure to 150 mM NaCl for several days), the light reactions of photosynthesis being relatively resistant to dehydration and ion toxicity exerted by elevated salinity. The relative fluorescence decrease, also known as the vitality index of photosystem II, is one of the most suitable physiological markers of salt stress tolerance, making possible a good distinction between resistant, tolerant and sensitive lettuce cultivars. Germination energy is also a good functional indicator of differential salt sensitivity of lettuce cultivars. As a general compensatory mechanism of growth regulation and as a consequence of water deficit, dry biomass production is moderately increased by short-term mild salinity (50 mM NaCl). While the total chlorophyll content of lettuce leaves is decreased by salt stress, the molar ratio between chlorophylls a and b exhibits a moderate but statistically significant increase, because of a more pronounced disturbance of chlorophyll-b homeostasis. Determination of the evaluated physiological parameters is simple and cost-effective, being a good tool for screening lettuce varieties for efficient cultivation on soils with increasing salt content. Possible cross-tolerance for cold stress and salt stress is also discussed.

Key words: germination energy, induced chlorophyll fluorescence, lettuce cultivars, photosynthetic pigments, salt tolerance

Universitatea din Pitesti, Facultatea de Stiinte, str. Targul din Vale, nr. 1, RO-110040 Pitesti, Romania
e-mail: marian_petre_ro@yahoo.com

Abstract: Annually, huge amounts of wine and vine wastes cause serious environmental pollution effects by their accumulation in vineyards as well as at nearby winery factories. Much worse is their burning on the soil surface or incorporation into its structure. The optimal and efficient way to solve these problems is to utilize a biotechnology to recycle this wine and vine wastes. Hence the main aim of this study was to establish the best biotechnology for winery and vine wastes recycling by using them as suitable growth substrata for edible and medicinal mushrooms. For this purpose, two species of Basidiomycete mushroom, Ganoderma lucidum (Curtis) P. Karst (common name: Reishi) and Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacquin ex Fries) Kummer (common name: Oyster Mushroom) were used as pure mushroom cultures in experiments. Stock cultures were maintained on malt-extract agar (MEA) slants (20% malt extract, 2% yeast extract, 20% agar-agar). Slants were incubated at 25 degrees C for 120-168 h and stored at 4 degrees C. Then, the pure mushroom cultures were expanded by growing in 250-ml flasks containing 100 ml of liquid multigrain-extract medium at 23 degrees C on rotary shaker incubators at 110 revs/min for 72-120 h. The experiments of inoculum preparation were set up under the following conditions: constant temperature, 23 degrees C; agitation speed, 90-120 revs/min; pH level, 5.0-6.0. All mycelial mushroom cultures were incubated for 120-168 h. During the incubation time period, all the spawn cultures were maintained in special growth rooms, designed for optimal incubation at 23 degrees C. In the next stage of the experiments, culture composts for mushroom growth were prepared from lingo-cellulose wastes as vineyard prunings and marc of grapes to be used as substrata for mycelia development and fruit body formation. Therefore three variants of culture composts were prepared from marc grapes and vineyard prunings in the following ratios: 1:1, 1:2, 1:4 (w/w). The effects of compost composition (carbon, nitrogen and mineral sources) as well as other physical and chemical factors (temperature, inoculum amount, pH level and incubation time, etc.) on mycelial growth and especially on fruit body formation were investigated. During the whole stage of fruit body formation and development the main culture parameters were set up and maintained continuously at the following levels, depending on each mushroom species: air temperature, 15-17 degrees C; air flow volume, 5-6 mc/h; air flow speed, 0.2-0.3 m/s; relative moisture content, 80-85%, light intensity, 500-1000 luces for 8-10 h/d. The recorded results that could influence mycelial growth as well as fruit body formation in P. ostreatus and G. lucidum were compared with the same fungal cultures grown on poplar logs used as control samples.

Key words: biotechnology, environmental pollution, fungal cultures, in vitro cultivation, edible and medicinal mushrooms, Ganoderma lucidum, Pleurotus ostreatus, recycling, vine wastes, winery wastes

*Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Catedra de Taxonomie si Ecologie, str. Republicii, nr. 42, RO- 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
**Gradina Botanica A. Borza, str. Republicii, nr. 42, RO- 400015 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
e-mail: mparvucluj@yahoo.com

Abstract: The hydroalcoholic extract of Laetiporus sulphureus mushroom had antifungal action against in vitro germination and growth of Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. tulipae, Penicillium gladioli and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum fungi, on Czapek-agar nutritive medium. The minimum inhibitory concentration of Laetiporus sulphureus varied between 100 mcl/ml and 160 mcl/ml, according to the fungal species and was compared to the action of the antimycotic fluconazole.

Key words: Laetiporus sulphureus, inhibitory action, phytopathogenic fungi, hydroalcoholic extract, MIC (minimum inhibitory concentration), fluconazole, repercolation, agar-dilution method, mycelial growth inhibition, antifungal activity

Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Facultatea de Biologie si Geologie, Catedra de Biologie Experimentala, str. M. Kogalniceanu, nr. 1, RO-400018, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
e-mail: k_hella@yahoo.com

Abstract: Three species of micromycetes, Fusarium oxysporum, Penicillium citrinum and Botrytis paeoniae, were studied for production of the following enzymes: amylase, dextranase, levanase and inulinase. A mineral medium was used as a nutritive base, to which was added 2% or 0.2% of specific substrate (starch, dextran, levan and inulin). These served to induce the synthesis of the enzymes. Enzymic activities were determined qualitatively by paper chromatography, and quantitatively by determining reducing sugars. It was established that most of the enzymes were secreted into the culture medium. Hydrolysis values of over 50% were recorded. A smaller quantity of each enzyme remained bound to the mycelium, and due to this, hydrolysis values were lower. As regards the production of the five enzymes, the most active species was Fusarium oxysporum, then Penicillium citrinum. Several organic substances were used as growth stimulators and for the synthesis of the enzymes: yeast extract, maltose, sucrose and glucose. Yeast extract stimulated the production of all these enzymes in all three species; maltose stimulated the production of amylase, while glucose and sucrose stimulated the production of inulinase.

Key words: amylase, dextranase, levanase, inulinase, micromycetes

*Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Facultatea de Biologie si Geologie, str. M. Kogalniceanu, nr. 1, RO-400084 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
**IMEP, Universite Paul Cezanne (Aix-Marseille III), Europole Mediterraneen de l'Arbois, France
***Institutul de Cercetari Biologice, str. Republicii, nr. 48, RO-400015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
e-mail: ioan.tantau@ubbcluj.ro

Abstract: Pollen analysis from a peat core 5.20 m in length, taken from a bog near Arpasu, in a low-altitude area of the southern part of Transylvania, is used to reconstruct the Early Holocene vegetation history of the region. The vegetation record starts during the Younger Dryas stadial, being characterized by open arboreal vegetation dominated by Pinus and Betula. The arboreal vegetation was strongly affected by the cooling of the Younger Dryas period. At the beginning of the Holocene the pollen diagram shows a general reduction of open grass communities (Artemisia, Chenopodiaceae, Poaceae). During the Preboreal period dense forests in which Pinus, Betula and Ulmus were most frequent occurred in the area. During the Boreal period Ulmus, Quercus, Tilia, and Fraxinus dominated the dense forests, but Pinus, Betula, Alnus and Picea were also common.

Key words: Pollen analysis, forest dynamics, vegetation history, Early Holocene, Fagaras Depression, Romania

Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Facultatea de Biologie si Geologie, str. Republicii, nr. 44, RO-400015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
e-mail: stefan.adrian.andrei@gmail.com

Abstract: Claviceps purpurea is a phytopathogenic fungus that grows on cereals and forage grasses. C. purpurea most commonly infects outcrossing species such as rye (its most common host), as well as triticale, wheat and barley. It rarely infects oats. Three groups within this species (G1, G2 and G3) have been recognized, based on habitat association, sclerotia and conidia morphology, as well as alkaloid production. These groups have been further supported by Random Amplification of Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) markers, suggesting that this species may be more accurately described as a species complex. However, all divergent ecotypes can coexist in sympatric populations with no obvious physical barriers to prevent gene-flow. The highly poisonous purple-black sclerotia of the fungus Claviceps purpurea (ergot) and many other Claviceps species are aposematic. Highly toxic fungal sclerotia are associated with conspicuous colours (black, yellow, purple, reddish, brown, violet, white and their combinations) and severely harm herbivores that consume the infected plants, thus meeting the criteria for aposematism. This grass-parasitic ascomycete contains numerous terpenoid indol alkaloids, some of which have dramatic physiological effects and are of great medicinal value. Ergot extracts have long been used in traditional medicine, and several isolated specific alkaloids, as well as semi-synthetic derivates of these, have proved useful remedies in modern medicine. Ergot alkaloid amide and peptide derivatives have a wide variety of physiological effects, including serotonin- and dopamine-receptor agonists and antagonists, vaso-constrictors, neurotoxins and hallucinogens. C. purpurea produces the pharmacologically important ergopeptines, a class of cyclol-structured alkaloid peptides containing D-lysergic acid. These compounds are assembled from D-lysergic acid and three different amino acids by the non-ribosomal peptide synthetase enzymes LPS1 and LPS2. The presence of two distinct NRPS subunits catalyzing formation of ergot peptides is the first example of fungal NRPS system consisting of different NRPS subunits.

Key words: Claviceps purpurea, phytopathogenic fungus, aposematism, alkaloids, physiological effects, ergopeptines, serotonin- and dopamine-receptor agonists and antagonists, vaso-constrictors, hallucinogens neurotoxins