*Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, 7218759612, Ardabil, Iran
**Department of Horticultural Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University, 3119752619, Tehran, Iran
Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, 5518779842, Maragheh, Iran
e-mail: mohebodini@uma.ac.ir

Abstract: Purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.), an annual herb commonly found across various regions of the world, is often considered either a weed or a valuable vegetable crop. This study aimed to evaluate the morphological variation among ten purslane genotypes collected from different regions of Iran. The trial was conducted in a greenhouse environment via a completely randomized scheme with four replicates, during which eleven traits were assessed. The genotype x trait interaction biplot model accounted for 90% of the observed variability, revealing four distinct genotypic groups. Notably, the Mashhad genotype exhibited the highest values for the flower number per branch, dry shoot weight, fresh shoot weight, branch number of the main stem, and the number of seeds per capsule. A positive correlation was observed among the flower number per plant, capsule number per branch, and flower number per branch, while these traits were negatively associated with main stem length, leaf length, and leaf width. The Mashhad genotype, along with those from Bandar-Abbas and Parsabad, demonstrated superior performance and distinctiveness, with the number of seeds per capsule and the number of branches on the main stem showing the highest discriminative potential. When evaluating dry shoot weight, the Mashhad genotype, followed by those from Parsabad and Bandar-Abbas, emerged as the most desirable, whereas the genotypes from Ardabil and Sirjan were the least desirable in this characteristic. The significant diversity identified among these purslane genotypes could be instrumental in enhancing the breeding of this crop for specific target traits.

Key words: distinction ability, dry shoot weight, discriminative potential, perfect position

Department of Plant Production and Genetics, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Maragheh, 5518779842, Maragheh, Iran
e-mail: sabaghnia@yahoo.com

Abstract: Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) is a significant source of protein for people in various regions. To investigate the phenotypic variation among 50 chickpea genotypes, a trial was conducted in the upland, cool, semi-arid region of Gavshaleh, Saqqez, Iran, utilizing a randomized complete block scheme with three replicates. The number of days from seeding to flowering and maturity (NDF, NDM), plant height (PH), chlorophyll content (CHL), ground cover (GC), number of subsidiary branches (NSB), height of first pod from ground (HFB), number of pods per plant (NPP), weight of pod per plant (WPP), weight of shuck per plant (WSP), plant dry weight (PDW), number of seeds per pod (NSP), number of unfilled pods per plant (NUP), plant fresh weight (PFW), protein content (PC), seed yield (SY) and hundred seed weight (HSW) were measured. The analysis revealed that the primary six factors accounted for 80% of the observed variability, representing key aspects such as yield potential, plant stature, biochemical composition, pod and seed weight, flowering time, and plant morphology. Communalities indicated the reliability of all chickpea traits, ranging from 0.53 for NUP to 0.98 for NSP. In the visual analysis, four distinct trait groups were identified based on the first three factors, which explained 60% of the variability. Furthermore, a three-dimensional plot unveiled eight genotypic groups with varying characteristics. Notably, one cluster comprising three genotypes displayed exceptionally high mean yield performance. Ultimately, the top-performing genotypes were categorized into four groups, showcasing their potential for release as cultivars tailored for upland cool semi-arid regions.

Key words: communality, multivariate statistics, seed performance yield, yield components

*Institute of Biological Research Cluj subsidiary, National Institute of Research and Development for Biological Sciences, Department of Experimental Biology, 48 Republicii St., RO-400015 Cluj-Napoca
**Babes-Bolyai University, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, 1 Kogalniceanu St., RO-400084 Cluj-Napoca
***Center for Systematic Biology, Biodiversity and Bioresources - 3B, Faculty of Biology and Geology, Babes-Bolyai University, 1 Kogalniceanu St., RO-400084 Cluj-Napoca
****Doctoral School of Integrative Biology, Babes-Bolyai University, 1 Kogalniceanu St., RO-400084 Cluj-Napoca
e-mail: dana.suteu@icbcluj.ro

Abstract: Telekia speciosa (Schreb.) Baumg. was selected to investigate the phylogeography of tall-herb species, an ecological group in which the Quaternary history has been rarely studied. This species is a characteristic component of mountain forest communities in the Romanian Carpathian Mountains. The analysis employing Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphism (AFLP) fingerprinting has revealed a notable absence of a well-defined phylogeographical structure among the populations assessed. This finding implies that the various regions of the current distribution range of Telekia speciosa in the SE Carpathians have not undergone extended periods of isolation. Such a pattern suggests that this mountain tall-herb species might have experienced the possibility of long-term persistence along a wide altitudinal gradient in isolated mountain ranges, also encompassing the lowlands between them in glacial periods. Beside the unique vegetation history experienced during the most recent glaciation in the SE Carpathians, the observed weak phylogeographical structure of Telekia speciosa can be reasonably attributed to its inherent biological traits, particularly its proficiency in long-distance dispersal. Additionally, the species' ecological adaptations, which facilitated its survival in riparian zones of relatively low, forested mountain ranges, might contributed further to maintaining genetic connectivity among populations, thereby mitigating substantial genetic differentiation across its distribution. The study concludes that the genetic variation observed in T. speciosa is relatively evenly distributed across the species' distribution area.

Key words: AFLP, Carpathian Mountains, genetic biodiversity, phylogeography, tall-herb, Telekia speciosa

*Programa de Pos-Graduacao em Biologia de Fungos, Centro de Biociencias, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, 123, CEP 50670-901, Recife, PE, Brazil
**Departamento de Sistematica e Ecologia, Universidade Federal da Paraiba, CEP 58051-970, Joao Pessoa, Paraiba, Brazil
e-mail: bach11509312@gmail.com

Abstract: Macrolepiota is a widely distributed fungus genus of approximately 40 described taxa, with 15 recorded from Brazil. However, in the north-eastern region of this country only two taxa are known, M. dunensis and M. sabulosa, both from the State of Rio Grande do Norte. This situation demonstrates the scarcity of studies on this genus, demanding more taxonomic studies in this region. The new variety was collected in a "brejo de altitude" (evergreen forest enclave) of the Caatinga biome, and in a submontane-montane altitudinal range area in the Atlantic Forest biome. For morphological studies, standardized methods of agaricoid fungi are followed. Here we describe Macrolepiota capelariae var. sororivulpina, E. Falcao & Wartchow, var. nov., a new variety within sect. Macrolepiota characterized by the ochraceous to ochraceous-brownish pileus covered by small appressed squamules, slender stipe usually 2-3 times the diameter of the pileus, and large ovoid-ellipsoid basidiospores (14.5-18.8 or 19 x 9.0-12.0 micrometers). Within this section, M. capelariae, M. colombiana, M. clelandii, and M. dolichaula share in the pileus covering presenting mostly a trichopalisade, but differ in many aspects, as the darker or whitish pileus and smaller basidiospores, except for M. clelandii in which they range to 28.5 micrometers long.

Key words: Agaricales, Agaricomycetes, fungi, Neotropical, taxonomy