*National Institute for Research and Development in Forestry Marin Dracea - Brasov Department, 13 Closca Street, RO-500040 Brasov, Romania
**7 Spatarul Nicolae Milescu Alley, RO-500041 Brasov, Romania
e-mail: gabi_e_l@yahoo.com

Abstract: During botanical observations made in the spring of 2021, in the area of Enisala Nature Reserve (Tulcea County), the species Lathyrus saxatilis (Fabaceae) was discovered, new for Romania and represented by a relatively large population. The article presents a detailed description of its morphological characters, together with the main seasonal characteristics and the coenotic environment in which the species grows there. At the same time, the conservation status of the population and its existing vulnerabilities are evaluated.

Key words: Enisala Nature Reserve, chorology, distinctive characters, conservation status

*University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology, Splaiul Independentei 91-95, RO-050095, Bucharest, Romania
**University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology, Intr. Portocalelor 1-3, RO-060101, Bucharest, Romania
***University of Bucharest, D. Brandza Botanic Garden, Sos. Cotroceni 32, RO-060114, Bucharest, Romania
****Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry Gheorghe Ionescu-Sisesti, Marasti Blvd. 61, RO-011464, Bucharest, Romania
e-mail: ioana.sirbu@drd.unibuc.ro

Abstract: Ludwigia peploides (Kunth) P.H.Raven - Floating primrose-willow - is native to wetlands of North, Central, and South America, and widely distributed across Africa, Australia, and Asia, and in Europe, where it is listed by EU Regulation no. 2016/1141 as an Invasive Alien Species (IAS) of Union concern. A photograph of the species from Romania taken in the Sai River Valley (Teleorman County) was published on the Facebook online platform in 2018. This first record, however, lacked further details on the observed specimen or any accompanying herbarium material that would ascertain its correct taxonomic assignation. By carrying out our own field surveys between October and November 2020 we hereby confirm the presence of the species Ludwigia peploides as a new addition to the Romanian alien flora. We identified many specimens occurring along the Sai River Valley, between Olteanca and Turnu Magurele localities. We further present preliminary data regarding the distribution, affected habitats, and population extent of Ludwigia peploides in the investigated area. Although several hypotheses can be proposed on the origin of this species in Romania, our current data cannot strongly support any of them. Plant specimens were deposited in the Herbarium collection of the D. Brandza Botanic Garden of the University of Bucharest (BUC).

Key words: riverine habitats, macrophytes, Onagraceae, ornamental species, allogenic invasive species, natural protected area, distribution

*Comenius University in Bratislava, Botanical Garden, workplace Blatnica, Blatnica 315, SK-038 15 Blatnica pri Martine, Slovakia
**Slovak Academy of Sciences, Institute of Landscape Ecology
e-mail: peter.kucera@uniba.sk

Abstract: Knowledge of the overall syntaxonomic and habitat variability of forest communities with Arolla pine (Pinus cembra) within the Tatra Mountains (Western Carpathians) is still insufficient as field research was hindered by their hardly accessible localities and deforestation for high mountain grazing. Arolla pine woodlands were traditionally classified within the association Pino cembrae-Piceetum Myczkowski et Lesinski 1974, but recent surveys recognize more numerous units. Hitherto unpublished releves from the north-eastern part of the Tatra Mountains document the occurrence of several floristically and ecologically distinct Arolla pine communities: (1) acid woodland of Homogyno alpinae-Pinetum cembrae on nutrient-poor habitats over quartzitic bedrock, and (2) calcareous woodlands of species-poor Pyrolo rotundifoliae-Pinetum cembrae of sites with a well-developed, tangled humus soil horizon, Cystopterido montanae-Pinetum cembrae on habitats influenced by both limestones and quartzites, Primulo elatioris-Pinetum cembrae bound to sites with the most favourable humidity, and Seslerio tatrae-Pinetum cembrae with the most pronounced calcareous character.

Key words: Belianske Tatry Mts, phytocoenology, Pinus cembra, Slovakia, syntaxonomy, Vysoke Tatry Mts, Western Carpathians

Department of Plant Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, 2002, Nigeria
e-mail: reachtoba@gmail.com

Abstract: Declines in endemic species have significant impact on global biodiversity loss. More efforts need to be harnessed to further protect endemic species from the current global extinction crisis. This study evaluated the current conservation status, factors responsible for risk of extinction and the trends in populations of Leucadendron, a plant genus endemic to the Cape region in South Africa. The SANBI (South African National Biodiversity Institute) Red List was employed in this study. The results revealed that over 50% of taxa in this genus are threatened and most of the species are exposed to habitat destruction and the presence of invasive species. It was also discovered that two species of this genus are currently extinct, which implies this genus is facing a high risk of extinction. More efforts, such as designing effective methods of controlling forces responsible for the risk of extinction of taxa in this genus, should be put in place to prevent their complete extirpation in future.

Key words: conservation, endemism, extinction risk, population decline, threatened species

*Tyumen State University, Volodarskogo Street, 6, Tyumen, Tyumen region, 625003, Russia
**Botanical Garden, Ural Branch of RAS, 8 Marta Street, 202a, Yekaterinburg, Sverdlovsk Region, 620144, Russia
***Joint Directorate of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve and National Park Smolny, Krasnaya Street, 30, Saransk, Republic of Mordovia, 430007, Russia
e-mail: hapugin88@yandex.ru

Abstract: The annual weed Bidens frondosa L. (Asteraceae) has been registered for the first time in the Kurgan Region in 2020 during research on the riverine vegetation of the southwestern part of Western Siberia. This invasive species was found in ten locations along the Iset River banks in the Kurgan Region. We have postulated that the Sverdlovsk Region serves as a source for the B. frondosa invasion into the Kurgan Region along the River Iset. Despite a single short-term field survey, B. frondosa was found in several sites. In the Kurgan Region, this invasive species is characterized by low population density in all plots. Since B. frondosa populations are characterized by much higher density in other regions of European Russia, an increase in the number of locations and density of populations is expected in the Kurgan Region in the future.

Key words: conservation, endemism, extinction risk, population decline, threatened species

*Joint Directorate of the Mordovia State Nature Reserve and National Park Smolny, Russia
**Tyumen State University, Russia
***Mordovia State University, Russia
e-mail: hapugin88@yandex.ru

Abstract: The biodiversity conservation is based on our knowledge of the complete composition of plants and animals within a certain area. In this paper, we present data of biodiversity research in the Republic of Mordovia (European Russia). The obtained results are reflected in six vascular plant found for the first time in the studied region. Of them, four alien taxa (Philadelphus coronarius, Rosa x majorugosa, Spiraea japonica, Syringa josikaea) are known only in the Mordovia State Nature Reserve now. This underlines the need paying our attention to alien plants that escape into the wild (naturalize) in the least disturbed ecosystems of this Protected Area. The Urtica galeopsiifolia distribution needs to be clarified in more details because of its similarity to the widely known Urtica dioica. Thus, a majority of the species under discussion are alien plants considered as cultivated plants escaping in the wild. Taking into account the newly revealed species, the vascular plant flora of the Republic of Mordovia currently includes 1,472 species. In this study, we propose the continuing the study of man-made habitats in terms of accidentally or intentionally introduced alien species, as well as the searching of hidden taxa, such as Urtica galeopsiifolia found in this study.

Key words: alien species, biogeography, citizen science, cultivated species, European Russia, new species

*Ivan Franko National University of Lviv, 4, Hrushevskyi St, UA-79005 Lviv, Ukraine
**State Museum of Natural History, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Teatralna St. 18, UA-290008 Lviv, Ukraine
e-mail: halyna.antonyak@lnu.edu.ua

Abstract: The article presents data on the diversity and substrate groups of bryoflora of the Znesinnya Regional Landscape Park (Znesinnya RLP), located in the city of Lviv (Western Ukraine). Based on field research carried out in the period 2015-2018 and analysis of herbarium collections, an inventory was made of the bryoflora of the Znesinnya RLP. A total of 113 species of bryoflora belonging to 66 genera, 35 families and 2 divisions are presented from the investigated area. Of these, 105 species are members of the division Bryophyta and 8 belong to Marchantiophyta. Six regionally rare species of bryophytes have been recorded, namely Pellia endiviifolia, P. epiphylla, Encalypta streptocarpa, Fissidens exilis, Cirriphyllum crassinervium and Sciurohypnum starkei. With regard to substrate preferences, epigeous species of bryophytes predominated and accounted for 89.0% of the total number of species. The largest proportion of bryophytes occurred on bare soil (46.0%), while 36.3% and 25.7% species were found on soil among herbaceous vegetation and on soil with gravel, respectively. Stony substrates were colonized by 42.5% of bryophyte species, with 19.5% of species occurring on artificial stony substrates. In addition, 24.8% of the species belonged to epixils inhabiting old stumps and logs of varying degrees of decay, and the same proportion was represented by epiphytic species of bryophytes. The smallest proportion (10.7%) of bryophytes was confined to water bodies and swampy ecotopes.

Key words: bryophytes, substrate groups, urban parks, Lviv, Ukraine

Healthy and organic products technology research center, Dezful branch, Islamic Azad University, Dezful, Iran
e-mail: soleimani302p@yahoo.com; Goudarzish55@gmail.com

Abstract: Citrus plants, which are mostly cultivated in the southern tropical area of the country, are one of the important economic crops in Iran. Branch canker and dieback of citrus is an ongoing problem for citrus growers located in these areas and has imposed irreparable damage to the citrus production in this region in recent years. Disease symptoms consisted of the blight of vigorously growing shoots and dieback of the branches and rootstock trunks. This study aimed to characterize the citrus dieback pathogen morphologically and phylogenetically, and the species Neodidymelliopsis iranensis Soleimani & Goudarzi, sp. nov., is described and illustrated here. Isolates were derived from collected citrus samples with dieback symptoms. After preparing pure cultures from single spores on oatmeal agar and malt agar, the morphological features of the species were described and their pathogenicity was confirmed on lime (Citrus aurantifolia). Morphologically N. iranensis is easily separated from the other species of Neodidymelliopsis by the size of pycnidia, conidia septation, and NaOH test results. The morphological differences between our isolates and the other known species of Neodidymelliopsis were strongly supported by a multi-locus phylogenetic analysis based on the ITS region, and LSU, RPB2, and TUB2 genes. In the reconstructed phylogenetic tree, N. iranensis formed a well-supported clade with other Neodiddymelliopsis species in the Didymellaceae family, but was separated from all other Neodiddymelliopsis species. The distinct phylogenetic position is supported by differences in morphological features. Consequently, the specificity of the morphological and phylogenetical features of the collected isolates has convinced us to describe Neodidymelliopsis iranensis as a new species.

Key words: citrus, Didymellaceae, morphology, pathogenicity, phylogeny

*Southern Federal University, Bolshaya Sadovaya str., 105/42, 344006 Rostov-on-Don, Russia
**Karachay-Circassian State University of U.D. Aliev, Lenin Street 29, 369202 Karachayevsk, Russia
e-mail: vachokheli@sfedu.ru

Abstract: Unique plant habitats are described for the petrophytic communities of the Donets ridge. A scientific basis for the conservation of zonal steppe vegetation and its petrophytic variants is proposed using a number of the characteristic petrophytic communities of Donets ridge as examples. Several criteria of conservation importance are proposed to evaluate the reasons for including the natural territories in the list of protected objects. Recommendations for improving the protection of the steppe petrophyte vegetation of the Donetsk ridge are given. Proposals for creating an ecological network within the studied area have been formulated.

Key words: protected areas, Donets Ridge, petrophytic communities, Festuco-Brometea, syntaxonomy, vegetation classification

Babes-Bolyai University, Doctoral School of Integrative Biology, Republicii str. 42, RO-400015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
e-mail: manuelafecske@yahoo.com

Abstract: Aiming to a larger study of vegetation of the lower Some Plain (Romania), this short paper summarises the outcome of the floristic inventories performed in aquatic and marshy vegetation, which was dominant in the area until about three centuries ago when the extended wetland drainage has started. By using the phytosociological method, 20 plant associations assigned to four vegetation classes were distinguished. Without presenting phytosociological tables at this first stage, the syntaxonomical framework, distribution and species composition of the revealed plant communities are briefly discussed by reference to the process of wetland drying and successional change as well as to newly formed anthropogenic lakes. The conservative value of some plant community types is emphasized by mentioning the presence of several endangered species that are included in the European-level Habitats Directive and various regional or national red lists/books.

Key words: drainage works, dry facies, endangered species, fragmented patches, insularization, remnant natural vegetation, ruderalization, species composition, syntaxonomical framework

Department of Agronomy, Faculty of Agriculture, Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka-1207, Bangladesh
e-mail: mhzsauag@yahoo.com

Abstract: An experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of different levels of cadmium (Cd) stress on germination, morphology, physiology and yield of rice. There were five treatments, viz. control (no Cd), 0.5 mM CdCl2, 1 mM CdCl2, 1.5 mM CdCl2 and 2 mM CdCl2, carried out by a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three replications. Cadmium stress caused a significant reduction of plant height and tillers hill-1 in a dose-dependent manner. The highest decline of relative water content and SPAD value was found at 1.5 mM (11 and 16%) and 2 mM (14 and 19%) Cd stress compared to the control. The number of effective tillers hill-1, filled grains panicle-1, 1000-grain weight, length of panicle, grain yield and straw yield reduced significantly by 44, 32, 15, 24, 37 and 45%, respectively, over the control. Germination and seedling-related parameters were recorded 10 days after germination. The lowest germination percentage (27%), germination index (27%) and seedling vigour index (49%) were observed at the highest level of Cd stress in comparison to the control. Cadmium stress resulted in maximum abnormal seedlings and markedly reduced length of root and shoot as well as their fresh and dry weight. Root shoot ratio showed differential responses to Cd stress. Thus, it can be concluded that a higher level of Cd in soil has a detrimental effect on seed germination, morphology, physiology and yield of rice.

Key words: metal toxicity, abiotic stress, seed germination, yield components, soil pollution, SPAD value

*University of Bucharest, Faculty of Biology, Independentei Blvd. 91-95, 050095-Bucharest, Romania
**University of Bucharest, Botanic Garden D. Brandza, Sos. Cotroceni 32, 060114-Bucharest, Romania
***Academy of Agricultural Sciences and Forestry, Marasti Blvd. 61, 011464-Bucharest, Romania
email: paulina.anastasiu@bio.unibuc.ro

Abstract: Located in the Iron Gates Natural Park, Romania, at the foot of the Locvei Mountains, the Sfanta Elena Karst Plateau is a very picturesque territory, characterized by a karst relief, covered by High Nature Value grasslands. In the last decade this territory has been subjected to increasing anthropogenic pressures, and specific concerns on biodiversity have been raised after the construction of a wind farm in 2011. Starting from a concern expressed by a scientist, our study aims to provide current data on plant species with conservation value and to assess the conservation status of orchid-rich grasslands around wind turbines after ten years of wind farm operation. During the operation period we identified 19 plant taxa with conservation value, eight of which which are orchid species. Four of them are new reports for this territory: Gymnadenia conopsea, Neotinea ustulata, Neottia nidus-avis and Orchis simia, as well other rare taxa such as Cirsium grecescui, Lathyrus sphaericus, Linum hologynum and Rumex thyrsiflorus, are mentioned for the first time. The orchid-rich grasslands in the wind farm area correspond to the Natura 2000 habitat 6210* whose structure and floristic composition are within the acceptable limits of Favourable conservation status. The conservation status of plant species is directly dependent on the quality of their habitat, as well as the variety of pressure and threat factors in the area.

Key words: grasslands, orchids, rare plants, wind turbines, pressure factors, protected areas

Ecologisch Adviesbureau Maes, Achter Clarenburg 2, NL-3511JJ Utrecht, Netherlands
e-mail: maes.dool@planet.nl

Abstract: In densely populated European countries like the Netherlands, old landscape elements such as ancient woodlands and ancient hedges are today rare. Owing to the introduction of exotic species and indigenous trees and shrubs imported from other climate zones, recognition of truly wild, i.e. autochthonous, individuals and populations is now problematical, posing challenges for forest management agencies, particularly at Natura 2000 sites. The author has developed a method for recognising genetically pure wild woody species, based on characteristics of the plant itself and those of the growing site. With this method, explained here, around 70% of the Netherlands has been surveyed, along with much of Flanders and part of the lower Rhine region of Germany. The results are illustrated with reference to two Dutch ancient woodlands, where new insights were obtained in terms of native status of the woody species and the 'authenticity' of the tree and shrub layer.

Key words: ancient woodlands, conservation status, genetic recognition, green landscape heritage, living gene bank, mapping, naturalness

Moldova State University, Alexei Mateevici str. 60, MD-Chisinau-2009, Moldova
e-mail: petrucuza@mail.ru

Abstract: The effects of different factors on the growth in height and diameter of oak saplings in comparative cultures were estimated: progeny from autumn and spring sowing of acorns (1); growing conditions of pedunculate oak (Quercus robur L.) mother plants (2); the initial planting density of sessile oak (Q. petraea Liebl.) (3); natural lightening level of downy oak (Q. pubescens Willd.) mother plants (4). The pedunculate oak seedlings obtained after spring sowing were characterized by faster growth compared with those obtained from the autumn sowing. The lower growth rate observed in seedlings sown in autumn was due to the prolonged frosty weather during winter, which led to a decrease in acorn viability and progeny vigour. Due to the higher genetic diversity of the progeny obtained from the free-pollinated pedunculate oaks, it is possible that their growth was more intense and stable in comparison to those of saplings obtained from the acorns of isolated trees. The planting under the forest canopy had a clear influence on the growth in height of saplings. At low density levels (1.0 x 1.0 m), the sessile oak saplings benefited from larger availability of soil nutrients and displayed the highest growth, contrasting with those planted at high density (0.5 x 0.5 m). The deep and moderate shading caused a substantial reduction in the growth of downy oak saplings. Therefore, when planting, it is recommended to avoid using fast-growing species, which, due to asymmetric competition, could drastically reduce the growth in height of the downy oak saplings. Prolonged regeneration of the pruned root system following the transplantation process of sessile and downy oak seedlings determined their very slow growth in the first years of life.

Key words: sowing, growth, height, diameter, sapling plantation, shading, Q. robur, Q. petraea, Q. pubescens

Department of Plant Science, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, Iran
e-mail: m.keshavarzi@alzahra.ac.ir, neshat112000@yahoo.com

Abstract: Lycium (Solanaceae) has more than 100 species in arid and semi-arid parts of the world. In Iran, this medicinal plant is represented by 6 species, on which no palynological study has been conducted. Pollen morphology of 7 taxa are considered for the first time to evaluate the species relationships based on palynological data. Observations were made by use of Scanning electron microscopy on untreated pollen grains. Multivariate statistical analyses were carried out for qualitative and quantitative pollen features in the species studied. Results show that all pollen grains were monad, isopolar, zonotricolporate in prolate and preprolate shape. Exine sculpture was of striate and regulate patterns. Variations in pollen grains are considered to overcome the identification problems in species separation in morphologically similar taxa in this genus in Iran. The importance of pollen features in delimitation in some genera of Solanaceae was previously proven and the present study elucidates that some features as exine sculpture and some quantitative characters are of diagnostic importance in Lycium species native to Iran.

Key words: exine, Lycium, pollen grain, sculpture