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In this study, Caroxylon vermiculatum (L.) Akhani & Roalson, which is distributed in Southwest Europe, Northwest and Central Africa, and the Middle East, is recorded for the first time from Türkiye. The species was collected from the Akçakale district of Şanlıurfa province, close to the Syrian border. The description of the species, synonyms, a distribution map, photographs of the specimens, and its morphological characteristics are given. In addition, the diagnostic characteristics of known perennial species of the genus Caryxylon from Türkiye were compared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase I-II detoxification and antioxidant enzymes are responsible for the detoxification and elimination of activated carcinogens, acting as important biomarkers for chemoprevention. Among them, cytochrome P450s plays a prominent role in the metabolic activation of xenobiotics. The herb Salicornia freitagii (SF) (Amaranthaceae) is known for its anticancer, antioxidant, antidiabetic and antiinflammatory activities. In this study, we determined the bioactive phenolics in the SF methanol extract and investigated its antiproliferative potential in HT-29 human colon cancer cells. We also investigated the modulation of some phase I and II enzyme (CYP 1A1, 1A2, 2E1, GSTP1 and GPx) mRNA expression and enzymatic activities by the SF extract and its major bioactive phenolic compounds. LC/MS-MS analysis showed that the main phenolic compounds of the methanolic SF extract are vanillic acid (48 μg/100g) and p-coumaric acid (10.8 μg/100g). SF extract, vanillic acid and p-coumaric acid exhibited high antiproliferative activities in HT-29 cells, with IC50 values of 81.79μg/mL, 98.8 μM and 221.6 μM, respectively. The mRNA expression levels of CYP1A2 and CYP2E1 were decreased, while those of GSTP1 and GPx in HT-29 cells were increased after application of either the SF extract or vanillic acid. The SF extract by itself also increased the activities of GPx and GSTP1 enzymes 1.68- and 1.49-fold, respectively. Our data indicate that the SF extract and its major bioactive compound, vanillic acid, could exert a modulatory effect on the expression of enzymes that are involved in xenobiotic activation and detoxification pathways in the gastrointestinal tract. For this reason, SF can be considered as a natural source of chemopreventive agents.

The population structure and genetic diversity of M. adilii and some edaphic and climatic preferences of the species were investigated. Although the chemical characteristics such as pH, EC, and gypsum were similar for the three subpopulations, the physical qualities and lime content of the soil were different from each other. In terms of bioclimate, the Nallıhan station (Nallıhan Bird Sanctuary) has a lower annual average temperature and precipitation value, and monthly average values during the germination and flowering periods, than the Beypazarı station (Hırkatepe and Çoban Ahmet Fountain). Amplification with 16 ISSR markers produced 377 bands from 84 individuals belonging to three subpopulations. Three hundred and sixty-six of the 377 bands were polymorphic and 9 ISSR markers were found to be 100% polymorphic. The percentage of polymorphic loci at the species level was determined as PLYSP = 97.08%, whereas the average PLYPOP at the population level was 69.67%. Total genetic diversity (HT), genetic diversity within the population (HS), genetic differentation among populations (GST), and gene flow among populations (NM) values were as follows HT = 0.1888, HS = 0.1712, GST = 0.0934, and NM = 4,8566, respectively. Genetic variance within-population was 89%, whereas among-population it was 11% according to AMOVA. The results of the STRUCTURE analysis (ΔK = 3) were in accord with the UPGMA and PCoA analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scutellaria yildirimlii is an endangered perennial endemic species from Turkey and belongs to the family Lamiaceae, which has a high number of medicinal and aromatic plants. It is crucial to determine genetic diversity and population structure of this species for its conservation measures; therefore, 111 individuals from five natural populations of S. yildirimlii were investigated by using 15 inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) primers. The percentage of polymorphic loci (PPL), Nei's gene diversity (H), and Shannon's information index (I) at the species and population-level were determined as 93.9%, 0.183, 0.292 and 56.5%, 0.158, 0.242, respectively. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) showed that there is more genetic variation within populations (84%) than among populations (16%). Nei's differentiation coefficient (GST = 0.144) was determined to be moderate, which was confirmed by the level of genetic differentiation among populations. Gene flow (Nm = 2.984) showed high genetic exchange among populations. Pairwise genetic distance values among populations ranged from 0.0219 to 0.0512. The Mantel test revealed a statistically significant positive correlation between genetic and geographical distance (r = 0.493, p < 0.001). The Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Averages (UPGMA) dendrogram and Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) showed similar results. STRUCTURE analysis (Î"K = 3) revealed that the K test yielded maximum peaks for 3 clusters. Based on the findings, measures for genetic conservation and management of this species were presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The habitats of many plant species are under severe threat, especially from human activities. Therefore, it was aimed to determine the genetic potential of endemic Verbascum gypsicola in Turkey. Samples were taken from 96 individuals belonging to four populations of V. gypsicola. While the percentage of polymorphic locus at the species level was 99.5%, the average percentage of polymorphic locus at the population level was 61.1%, the Nei gene diversity was H = 0.14; the Shannon information index was determined as I = 0.24. At the same time, the total genetic diversity of the species, genetic diversity within the populations, genetic diversity among populations and gene flow values between the populations were determined as HT = 0.14, HS = 0.13, GST = 0.11 and NM = 3.72, respectively. Within‐population variation was 81%, among‐population variation was 8% and interregional variation was 11% according to AMOVA. Results from STRUCTURE analyses revealed two major groupings of populations and some divergence within one of the major groupings. While the genetic diversity at the species level was high, the genetic diversity at the population level was found to be lower than observed for previously studied Verbascum species. The most important reason for this is thought to reductions in population size, driven by environmental damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Suaeda aegyptiaca (Hasselquist) Zohary is reported as a new record for Turkish flora from Akçakale district in Şanlıurfa province. The species is classified under section Salsina Moq. of the genus Suaeda Forssk. ex J.F. Gmel. in Suaedoideae subfamily. The comprehensive description, distribution maps in Turkey, habitat features, morphological characteristics and digital images of the species are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a major biotic component of many lotic ecosystems, macrophytes consist a major component of running waters are often used as indicators within the European Water Framework Directive (WFD) to establish ecological quality. In this study, we investigated macrophyte community structure (e.g. composition, abundance and diversity) in Ceyhan River Basin located in the Southeastern Anatolian Region in Turkey. Data was collected during 2014–2015 from river sites located throughout the basin to evaluate the relationship between aquatic vegetation and river physico-chemical factors. The ecological status of the river basin was also calculated based on Macrophyte Biological Index for River (IBMR). In total, 33 macrophyta taxa were observed. According to their biological classification (life form), filamentous algae (FA), free floating (FF), floating leaved (FL) and submersed (S) macrophytes reached their maximum abundance value in summer, while emergent (E) macrophytes were at their maximum abundance in both summer and autumn. The ecological status of the Ceyhan River basin ranged from moderate to bad. The values found are reasonably comparable to IBMR scores recorded in rivers of other Mediterranean countries. IBMR index may be suitable to some extent to establish a basis for ecological quality assessment in Turkish River systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Pulsatilla Mill., which was considered a subgenus of the genus Anemone L. in Flora of Turkey, is accepted as a separate genus. Pulsatilla albana (Steven) Bercht. & J.Presl subsp. albana and P. violacea Rupr. subsp. violacea are declared as new records for the flora of Turkey. Anemone albana Steven subsp. armena (Boiss.) N.Busch, which was already known from Turkey, is accepted as a synonym of Pulsatilla violacea subsp. armena (Boiss.) Luferov. Descriptions, distribution maps, and identifıcation keys are provided for these taxa in order to aid in the distinguishing of the genera Anemone and Pulsatilla as well as for species and subspecies of Pulsatilla in Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Halocnemum yurdakulolii Yaprak is described as the second species of the previously monotypic genus Halocnemum. The species is endemic to the Göksu Delta in southern Turkey. The main morphological characteristics that separate H. yurdakulolii from H. strobilaceum (Pall.) M.Bieb. are growth form and spike morphology. Apart from these morphological differences, the species show a clear genetic differentiation. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158, 716–721. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesembryanthemum crystallinum L. (common ice plant) is an edible halophyte. However, if ice plants are used to phytoremediate salinity soil, there are problems of slow initial growth, and a long period before active NaCl uptake occurs under higher salinity conditions. Application of endophytic bacteria may improve the problem, but there remain gaps in our understanding of how endophytic bacteria affect the growth and the biochemical and physiological characteristics of ice plants. The aims of this study were to identify growth-promoting endophytic bacteria from the roots of ice plants and to document the metabolomic response of ice plants after application of selected endophytic bacteria. Two plant growth-promoting endophytic bacteria were selected on the basis of their ability to promote ice plant growth. The two strains putatively identified as Microbacterium spp. and Streptomyces spp. significantly promoted ice plant growth, at 2-times and 2.5-times, respectively, compared with the control and also affected the metabolome of ice plants. The strain of Microbacterium spp. resulted in increased contents of metabolites related to the tricarboxylic acid cycle and photosynthesis. The effects of salt stress were alleviated in ice plants inoculated with the endobacterial strains, compared with uninoculated plants. A deeper understanding of the complex interplay among plant metabolites will be useful for developing microbe-assisted soil phytoremediation strategies, using Mesembryanthemum species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In crops and most plants, nickel induces oxidative stress resulting in oxidized and misfolded proteins. Proteasomes maintain cellular homeostasis during stress by removing these damaged proteins. Although mild stress tolerance is mediated by proteasomal proteolysis of misfolded and oxidized proteins, previous studies have observed that severe nickel stress decreases proteasome activity in nickel-sensitive plants. Whether or not proteasome function is impaired in nickel-tolerant plants is not know. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that proteasome activity is elevated in nickel-tolerant Alyssum species capable of accumulating nickel to unusually high levels. Our field studies examined Alyssum sibiricum and Alyssum caricum , a moderate nickel accumulator and hyper-accumulator respectively, growing on their native serpentine soil in Turkey. A. sibiricum had higher proteasome activity on serpentine soil compared to non-serpentine soil; these plants also had elevated levels of nickel accumulation and higher proteasome activity compared to other low accumulating plants in the genus Festuca or Astragalus . In A. caricum , proteasome activity was very weakly correlated with nickel soil bioavailability or accumulation in leaf tissue, suggesting that proteasome function was not impaired in plants that accumulated the highest concentration of nickel. We discuss if maintained proteasome activity might underpin nickel tolerance and the unique ecophysiology of nickel hyper-accumulation in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]