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In this paper, we present the morphological characteristics of the seed and micromorphological, anatomical and chemical characteristics of the seed coat of pea (Pisum sativum L.) genotypes, Jezero, Javor and NS Junior. Our aim was to investigate whether these genotypes can be differentiated based on seed coat morphoanatomical characteristics, depending on the harvest treatment. The observations and measurements of seed coat cross-sections were performed using light microscopy. The seed coat surface was observed using SEM. A tuberculate seed coat surface characterized all examined pea genotypes, and the average diameter of the tubercle was about 12 μm. Statistical and laboratory analyses revealed that major damage was the most frequent defect type as the result of mechanized harvest in all the examined genotypes. Genotype NS Junior had the shortest seed length (6.1 mm). Micromorphological analysis revealed that the seed surface was tuberculate in all genotypes. The genotype Jezero had the highest number of tubercle ribs (11.0) and a significantly higher proportion of parenchyma tissue (50.6%), while NS Junior was characterized by the greatest share of macrosclereids (49.8%). The highest number of osteosclereids (832/mm2) was counted in genotype Javor. In addition, genotype NS Junior stands out due to the highest percentage of crude fiber (62.75 g/100g) in the seed coat. There was a marked difference among the studied genotypes with regard to the seed coat morphoanatomical characteristics, which is confirmed by the results of multivariate discriminant analysis (MDA). These results suggested that the morphological, micromorphological and anatomical characteristics of the seed might have an impact on the seed coat damage level at harvest. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 31024 and Grant no. 173002]

The aim of this research is to characterize wild annual sunflowers on the basis of achene micro-morphology. Plant material was grown up on an experimental field of the Institute of Field and Vegetable Crops in Novi Sad during 2015. Achene samples were hand-collected at the time of physiological maturity. Morphological measurements of achenes were performed using stereoscopic microscope Leica MZ16 with Leica DFC 320 Camera. The micro-morphological diversity of achenes was assessed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Obtained results indicated the presence of some quantitative and qualitative differences in achene characteristics among analyzed species, such as in their size, color, carpopodium and stylopodium shape, and distribution of trichomes on the achene surface. The carpopodium of examined species was asymmetrical at the maturity. Differences in the cuticle and wax ornamentation in different parts of the achenes, on the anticlinal walls of epidermal cells, were identified. The SEM analysis revealed the presence of non-glandular, multicellular bi-seriate trichomes (twin hairs) on the achene surface. This trichome type consisted of two elongated, parallel cells of different length. Considering the distribution of trichomes among the apical, median and basal regions of the fruit, most of the species demonstrated greater trichome density in the apical part. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. TR31025]

Inula oculus-christi L. is a perennial plant, 20-60 cm high, growing in south-east Europe, central and southern Russia and some parts of Asia. It belongs to Pontic-Pannonian floristic element. In Pannonian part of Serbia this species is extremely rare, with very few recently confirmed literature and herbarium data. According to the field data for the period from 2013 to 2015, only one population of this species was recorded in Pannonian part of Serbia, on the site of Rimski Šanac, which is threatened by anthropogenic activities. Furthermore, anatomical and micro-morphological features of I. oculus-christi have not been documented so far. Therefore, in order to get better knowledge of the biology this species, as well as on the basis of the abovementioned, its anatomical and micro-morphological characteristics were investigated. Cross sections of the leaf, stem, rhizome and fruit were obtained using cryotechnique procedure by Leica CM 1850 cryostat. Using a light microscopy, detailed descriptions of anatomical characteristics of the analysed organs were given. The scanning electron microscopy revealed specific qualitative features of leaf and fruit that characterize the species. Obtained data may be useful in determination of this species and represent the valuable contribution to its micro-morphological and anatomical differentiation from other congeneric and related species. [Project of the Serbian Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development, Grant no. 173002]

Limonium gmelinii (Willd.) O. Kuntze 1891 subsp. hungaricum (Klokov) Soó is Pannonian endemic subspecies that inhabits continental halobiomes, while Limonium anfractum (Salmon) Salmon 1924 is one of the indicators of halophyte vegetation of marine rocks and its distribution is restricted to the southern parts of Mediterranean Sea coast. In this work, micromorphological and anatomical characters of leaves of these two Limonium taxa were analyzed, in order to examine their adaptations to specific environmental conditions on saline habitats. The results showed that both taxa exhibited strong xeromorphic adaptations that reflected in flat cell walls of epidermal cells, thick cuticle, high palisade/spongy tissue ratio, high index of palisade cells, the presence of sclereid idioblasts in leaf mesophyll and mechanical tissue by phloem and xylem. Both taxa are crynohalophytes and have salt glands on adaxial and abaxial epidermis for excretion of surplus salt. Relatively high dimensions of mesophyll cells, absence of non-glandular hairs and unprotected stomata slightly increased above the level of epidermal cells, are also adaptations to increased salinity. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173002]

Rapid industrialization, urbanization, and mine tailings runoff are the main sources of heavy metal contamination of agricultural land, which has become one of the major constraints to crop growth and productivity. Finding appropriate solutions to protect plants and agricultural land from heavy metal pollution/harmful effects is important for sustainable development. Phytoremediation and plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) are promising methods for this purpose, which both heavily rely on an appropriate understanding of the anatomical structure of plants. Specialized anatomical features, such as those of epidermis and endodermis and changes in the root vascular tissue, are often associated with heavy metal tolerance in legumes. This review emphasizes the uptake and transport of heavy metals by legume plants that can be used to enhance soil detoxification by phytoremediation processes. Moreover, the review also focuses on the role of rhizospheric organisms in the facilitation of heavy metal uptake, the various mechanisms of enhancing the availability of heavy metals in the rhizosphere, the genetic diversity, and the microbial genera involved in these processes. The information presented here can be exploited for improving the growth and productivity of legume plants in metal-prone soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We studied the leaf and stem anatomy and micromorphology of 17 Inula, Dittrichia, Limbarda and Pulicaria taxa native to the Balkan region, aiming to identify additional characters that may help to define the taxa within this group.The taxa analysed were all previously placed in different sections within Inula, but have later been segregated into separate genera. According to the latest molecular phylogenetic analyses, as well as morphological and karyological data, Inula sect. Corvisartia, including the type species of the genus (I. helenium), should be segregated from the remaining Inula species as a separate genus. However, data on the anatomical and micromorphological structure of the vegetative organs of the analyzed taxa have been sparse and incomplete, and previous analyses were carried out on a small number of taxa, with less emphasis on comparisons. We studied more than 50 qualitative and quantitative characters that were analyzed and measured using dissecting, compound and scanning electron microscopes and the data were statistically processed. The results show that certain characters are useful for separating individual taxa, but their grouping does not follow the current taxonomic classification. However, I. helenium is clearly distinguished from the remaining taxa, which supports its separation as a separate genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Old traditional Serbian pepper landraces (Nizača, Lokošnička and Turšijara), grown in South Serbia and produced by seed sowing or transplanting, were evaluated in this study. Besides the basic morphological properties and composition, the features characterizing fruit color and pericarp anatomy were determined in order to analyze and systematize the traits relevant from the aspect of traditional end use of examined landraces. Landraces Lokošnička and Nizača, characterized with higher force needed to puncture fruit skin, larger number of mesocarp layers, thicker endocarp and thicker collenchyma tissue, followed with higher total soluble solids content are more suitable for intended traditional use than Turšijara. Production from transplants should be favored in order to obtain more uniform, darker red fruit color, ASTA value, higher TSS content as well as higher yields. There are genetic differences of the some quality differences between the cultivars. Lokošnička has higher mesocarp layers, thicker endocarp and collenchyma tissue. Practical Applications Pepper fruits dried in traditional way slowly in a draught are used in preparation of local ethno-gastronomic specialities, with special position in local customs related to dietary habits during the spring Orthodox fasting period. Intact fruit skin is also the prerequisite for successful utilization in traditional culinary specialties-stuffed dry pepper fruits previously soaked in water that remain whole during cooking and baking. Structure and texture of pepper fruit skin and pericarp can consequently be considered as one of the key aspects of technological quality of pepper based on which landraces were selected for described traditional preservation technique. The research for answers to this technological challenge was the motivation of this study, which evaluated the impact of different predrying process (type of landraces, production methods) on qualities of pepper fruit. The data shown would provide scientific rationales for obtaining high-quality whole fruit pepper as material for stuffing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Genus Inula L. is paraphyletic and heterogeneous with respect to several diverse characters, which makes delimiting taxa difficult. Dittrichia Greuter, Limbarda Adans. and Pulicaria Gaertn. were previously located in different sections within Inula , and subsequently segregated into separate genera. According to the latest molecular phylogenetic analyses based on plastid and nuclear DNA sequence data, supported by morphological and karyological data, it is suggested that type species of genus, Inula helenium L., should be separated from the remaining species to form a separate genus. The goals of this research are to (1) perform comparative micro-morphological and anatomical analysis of fruit and receptacle of species belonging to Inula , Pulicaria , Dittrichia and Limbarda genera in order to estimate their systematic value; (2) define further characters that would be useful in taxonomic delimitation of species that are often misidentified due to their morphological similarities; (3) investigate whether all these characters support the segregation of I . helenium into a separate genus. Using stereoscopic, light and scanning electron microscope, micro-morphological and anatomical characters of cypsela and receptacle were revealed. Cross sections of mature fruit were obtained using cryotechnic procedure. This study pertains to the evaluation of examined characters using correspondence analysis. The species’ characters, as well as those specific to the genera are identified and described. The findings reveal that the organisation of sclerenchyma tissue in a fruit and receptacle characteristics are features that tend to be diagnostic for genera. The results yielded by this study provide valuable criteria for delimitation of taxa belonging to Compositae tribe Inuleae , which are often misidentified due to their morphological similarities. Our results, based on anatomical and micro-morphological characteristics of the fruit and receptacle, also revealed that I . helenium can be distinguished as a separate taxon with equally small percentage of statistical support as Dittrichia , Limabarda and Pulicaria had. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), comparative analyses of anatomical and micro-morphological characteristics of the leaf, stem and peduncle have been carried out on five species of the family Asteraceae ( Aster amellus, Galatella linosyris, G. cana, G. sedifolia and Tripolium pannonicum), previously included in Aster although more recent morphological and phylogenetic studies indicate that Galatella and Tripolium should be considered as separate genera. The aim of the present study was to establish whether these species could be differentiated by anatomical characters. Our results will further inform the decision to separate the four aforementioned species from the genus Aster, as well as indicate whether anatomical data confirm the proposed circumscription of the genera Galatella and Tripolium. The anatomical observations and data analyses using discriminant and correspondence analysis showed that the combination of selected qualitative and quantitative characters separated the species into three groups, corresponding to the three genera. The characters of the leaf blade, its epidermis in particular, proved to be of the highest significance for discrimination at generic rank. The specific qualitative features that characterize each of the species and the genera were emphasized. Our findings support the attribution of the examined species to three genera, which proved to be anatomically distinguishable and well defined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The lamina, main vein and peduncle anatomical properties of Centaurea sadleriana Janka plants from two populations, were examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. The indumentum was comprised of glandular and non-glandular trichomes of two types. The leaves were amphistomatic, isolateral, with strongly developed palisade tissue. Secretory ducts were observed along the phloem or sclerenchyma of large vascular bundles. Collenchyma alternated with chlorenchyma in the main vein and peduncle. Large groups of strongly lignified sclerenchyma were present along the phloem of peduncle vascular bundles. These features, together with thickened walls of epidermal cells and cuticle, numerous trichomes and thick-walled parenchyma in the perimedullar zone, were perceived as a xeromorphic peduncle structural adaptation. Non-enzymatic antioxidant compounds of phenolic origin were detected in small amounts and their respective content was higher in leaves compared to inflorescences. Compounds of phenolic orgin showed positive correlation with total potenial of antioxidant activity indicated by the DPPH assay. Greater total quantity of polyphenols and tannins was detected in leaves of plants from Zobnatica locality, while leaves of plants from Rimski Sanac were characterized by higher content of total flavonoids and proantocyanidins. Phytochemical analysis showed that dominant secondary biomolecules in inflorescences were phenolic pigments including anthocyanins and leucoanthocyanins, and free quinones in leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]