Polish scientific projects serving plant biodiversity conservation – national and European perspective
Zbigniew Mirek
Due to various reasons biodiversity has recently become a key category organizing our thinking about nature conservation. Among various projects devoted to plant biodiversity some are of special importance, as they cover the whole country and participate in the international cooperation. Five of them, which are realized by two institutes of Polish Academy of Sciences in Cracow are briefly characterized below.
Strony [Pages]: 5–9
International programmes for seed preservation of European native plants
Jerzy Puchalski
About 21% of Europe’s vascular plants are listed as threatened with extinction according to IUCN threat categories. Therefore a big attention was paid to the so called ex situ conservation of rare and endangered plants, native for Europe, in botanical gardens and in gene banks. According to the “European Plant Conservation Strategy”, published in 2002 as a result of the 3rd Planta Europa Conference, 80% of the genetic diversity of 50% of regionally and nationally threatened European species should be stored in gene banks until the year 2010. To achieve this target several European Union projects were prepared. Among them the most important is the project ENSCONET (European Native Seed Conservation Network) carried out as the 6th framework project of the EU since November 2004. The project was initiated by the staff of the Millennium Seed Bank, a unit of the Royal Botanic Garden Kew located in West Sussex County (U.K.) at Wakehurst Place. The members of the project are 19 institutions from 12 EU countries, especially botanical gardens holding seed banks collections of rare and endangered plants of the European flora. Other EU projects also devoted to seed banks of regionally native plants are: REDBAG for the flora of Spain, BASEMAC – a special project for the unique flora of Macaronesian Islands (Canary Islands, Azores and Madeira) and GENMEDOC for the Mediterranean flora.
Strony [Pages]: 11–18
The importance of National Program of Slovak Republic for biodiversity conservation
Daniela Benedikova
The Global Plan of Action for the Conservation and Sustainable Utilization of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (PGR) is implemented in the Slovak Republic (SR) by the National Program on Conservation Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture. Conservation of Cultural Plant Gene Pool is funded and supported by the Ministry of Agriculture. Mandate for coordination was given in harmony with the law No. 215/2001 “Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture” to the leading Research Institute of Plant Production (RIPP) Piestany. RIPP Piestany with another 18 co-solving workplaces from the whole Slovakia participates on this program. By 31 December 2003 the number of all samples of cultural PGR for food and agriculture is 26 742 samples. The greatest part is formed by cereals (26%), fruit plants (16%) and grain legumes (19%). In November 1996 in RIPP Piestany a new Gene Bank for SR started its operation. The gene bank has the storage capacity for 50 000 accessions of cultivated plant seeds, with possibility for medium and long term conservation. Important and necessary part of activities concerning our genetic resources is their maintenance and development of information databases consisting of passport and description data. The program of activities in the Gene Bank also includes genotype identification by means of application of modern procedures of biomolecular techniques using the study of differences in storage proteins and in nucleic acid composition. This is of great importance in excluding duplicates, cultivars identification, and in the study of pedigree of conserved genotypes.
Strony [Pages]: 19–21
Conservation programme of vascular plant diversity in the Polish Tatra Mountains
Halina Piękoś-Mirkowa, Zbigniew Mirek
The endangerment of the flora of Poland, though still not so strong as in Western European countries, has increased markedly during the last 30 years. The process of extinction and declining of plant species from all systematic groups takes place also in our mountain areas, Sudetes (Fabiszewski, Kwiatkowski 1997, 2002) and Carpathians, including the Tatra Mountains (Mirek, Piękoś-Mirkowa 1992b; Piękoś-Mirek, Mirek 1993). The Tatras, being the highest massif in the Carpathians, and protected since 1954 as a transboundary national park and since 1992 as a biosphere nature reserve, preserve the highest biodiversity of mountain flora not only in Poland, but in the whole Carpathian chain (Pawłowski 1972; Mirek, Piękoś-Mirkowa 1992a, c). Moreover, they appear to be the main centre of endemism in Poland as well as within the whole Western Carpathians (Pawłowski 1970; Piękoś-Mirkowa et al. 1996; Piękoś- Mirkowa, Mirek 2002). However, as many studies have revealed, neither legal regulations concerning species protection, nor the status of national park and biosphere reserve effectively secure the existence of species biodiversity. Particularly rare taxa represented by small populations, are threatened due to both natural processes and anthropogenic factors (Piękoś- Mirkowa 1982). Of nearly 1000 vascular plant species occurring in the Tatra National Park 69 ones are included in the “red list” (Zarzycki, Szeląg 1992) and “red book” (Kaźmierczakowa, Zarzycki 2001) of the threatened plants in Poland (Piękoś-Mirkowa 2001). An analysis of the status and endangerment of the vascular plant flora of the Tatra National Park (TNP), was made in the 1990s when the first version of management plan of the Park was preparing. During this process a group of “species of special care”, comprising rare, declining, endemic and relic taxa has been selected (altogether 154 species). Maintenance of their populations and their biotopes was included among the priority actions realized within the frame of the management plan of the TNP (Piękoś-Mirkowa, Mirek 1997). Of the 154 such taxa, for 7 species (Dryopteris villarii, Senecio umbrosus, Astragalus penduliflorus, Cochlearia tatrae, Juncus triglumis, Pulsatilla slavica and Woodsia alpina) extremely rare and endangered, individual action plans have been proposed because an existing forms of protection are or seem to be insufficient to ensure their existence in the area of the TNP. These action plans are described in the paper. The programme has been realized by a team consisting of the staff of the Tatra Field Station and Mountain Botanical Garden of the Institute of Nature Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences (Halina Piękoś-Mirkowa, Anna Delimat, Maria Pacyna and Edward Walusiak) and Zbigniew Mirek from the Institute of Botany of PAS, in collaboration with two research workers of the Botanical Garden of PAS in Powsin (Roman Muranyi and Wiesław Gawryś) who participated in the restitution programme of Dryopteris villarii and active protection of Astragalus penduliflorus and Pulsatilla slavica.
Strony [Pages]: 23–29
Endangered species in the collection of mountain plants of Polish flora in the Botanical Garden of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Anna Gasek, Agnieszka Kościelak, Jerzy Puchalski
On September 12, 2003 in the Botanical Garden of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw a new display within the section of Polish flora was opened for visitors – the Garden of the Polish Mountain Plants. There were semi – natural habitats created for mountain communities on granite and limestone rocks occurring in three ranges of the Polish Carpathian Mountains: the Tatra Mountains (separately for the granite High Tatra Mountains and the West Tatra Mountains with limestome), the Pieniny Mountains and the Bieszczady Mountains. The area of the mountain garden covers 1 hectare and the height of the peaks is about 8 meters above ground level. In total, there are 188 taxa grown in this collection and among them there are 34 species protected by law in Poland and 24 species listed in Red List of the Polish threatened vascular plants. The most interesting species among them are: Pulsatilla slavica G. Reuss (VU), Sibbaldia procumbens L. (VU), Cortusa matthioli L. (LR), Dryopteris villarii (Bellardi) Woyn. ex. Schinz & Thell. (EW), Juniperus sabina L. (VU), Helianthemum alpestre subsp. rupifragum (A. Kern.) Jáv. (VU), Erysimum pieninicum (Zapał.) Pawł. (VU), Centaurea kotschyana Heuff.ex W.D.J. Koch (LR). The main tasks of this collection are genetic research on populations, ex situ conservation of genetic diversity and education concerning nature protection. Special trails were designated for visitors through all major parts: High Tatra, West Tatra, Pieniny and Bieszczady Mountains with plants and associations characteristic for various levels of mountain vegetation.
Strony [Pages]: 31–38
In situ and on-farm management of plant genetic resources
Małgorzata Cyrkler, Wiesław Podyma
The history of plant genetic resources conservation in Poland is over 80 years old. During this time the aims and methods of conservation have been changing and developing. Since the Convention on Biological Diversity and its ratification in Poland in 1995, the main emphasis in crop plant biodiversity activities has been moved from protection of some special areas to sustainable use of the whole environment, from protection of wild species inclusively to protection of all species and from ex situ to in situ protection methods. Thereby the collaboration with freelance farmers and regional environmental organisations becomes of equal significance to the co-operation with national nature protection structures. Rural areas form a very important part of nature and a landscape that surrounds human being. They are often crucial for protection of biodiversity and for this reason, nature conservation should take place on the agricultural land and farms as well. Rural areas create proper environment for native varieties of crop plants thereby forming the best place for conservation of their diversity and protection from extinction. That peculiar way of protection of old or neglected plant varieties has been named “onfarm conservation” and has been executed by freelance farmers in co-operation with environmental organizations. Bigger parts of agricultural landscape and natural sites of wild crop relatives can be protected either through the new forms of actions and co-operation with national, already existing, nature protection structures. Both methods have the same aim – to arouse interest in old landraces, to promote them and to introduce, to the largest possible extent, into cultivation. The above mentioned goals are executed in numerous environmental and rural development programmes, in which the National Centre for Plant Genetic Resources of Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute is cooperating together with many governmental and non-governmental organizations for nature conservation purposes.
Strony [Pages]: 39–44
Evaluation of different methods for restoration of species rich grassland
Pavel Šrámek, Jana Kašparová
This work is concerned with the development of practical methods for restoration of species-rich meadows. One of potential methods for their restoration on arable land is sowing regional seed mixtures. The initial seed of 31 wild meadow species (6 grasses, 4 legumes and 21 herbs) was obtained by collecting on natural species-rich meadows and used at first for establishment of seed multiplication stands and then after propagation for creation of species-rich seed mixture. A field experiment was carried out in the years 2000–2003 on arable land with the aim of evaluating the development of species-rich meadows established by sowing different seed mixtures at two sowing rates (20 and 40 kg ha-1). The results of investigation showed different development and a different role of individual plant components during four years of cultivation.
Strony [Pages]: 45–48
Conservation of the genetic potentials of rare plants in the Lublin district
Maciej Kwiatkowski, Agnieszka Dąbrowska, Ryszard Sawicki
Protected plants from the Lublin district have been collected since the establishment of the Botanical Garden of Maria Curie- Skłodowska University. They grow in field plots which are in different places of the garden forming the best habitat conditions for them. At present our collection consists of 48 plant species which are under a special care because of increasing degradation of the natural environment in the Lublin district, resulting in disappearance of many plant communities. One of the important factors of biodiversity conservation in our Botanical Garden is maintenance of rare xerothermal grass species from the Izbica environs and their protection. Long term studies have shown a reduction and floristic changes of these grass communities due to herbicides and mineral fertilizers used in agriculture. The considerable part of the areas with protected and threatend plants are private, which makes protection in situ difficult. The transfer of the threatened plants to the Botanical Garden to protect the given species, e.g. Primula vulgaris Huds., often requires an agreement of land owners. Beside conservation of the biological variety of plants, which is our main purpose, protection of rare and threatened plant species in our Botanical Garden plays a great role in education of children and youth. An extensive explanation of the negative influence of human actions on the environment to young people can determine new perspectives of nature conservation.
Strony [Pages]: 49–53
Stock-taking of Adonis vernalis L. in the selected localities in Poland
Anna Forycka, Danuta Szczygielska, Waldemar Buchwald
Adonis vernalis L. is a valuable medicinal plant protected in Poland. Research Institute of Medicinal Plants of Poznań (RIMP) is carrying out research into estimation and protection of genetic variability of this species within the National Crop Plant Genetic Recources Conservation Programme. Distribution, numbers of population and the threat of particular localities in Poland have been investigated. Populations of Adonis vernalis L. commonly include from several dozen to several hundred specimen. Overgrowing of grasslands with shrubs and trees is the main threat to this species. Active protection consisting in exclusion of shrub and tree development by taking the steps delaying natural succession such as reasonable pasturage and mowing is necessary.
Strony [Pages]: 55–58
Endangered species – model plants for experimental botany and biotechnology
Jan J. Rybczyński, Anna Mikuła, Agnieszka Fiuk
For culture initiation explants originated from various stages of plant development were used. Culture initiation and intensive callus proliferation were carried out with the help of two media. In the presence of 2,4-D and kinetin rich callus tissue proliferation was observed. Cytological, ultrastructural and scanning analysis brought evidences that only some of tissues of initial explant were able to form embryogenic callus. In the case of cotyledon, which possess relatively simple structure, almost each of its cell response by callus formation and somatic embryo differentiation. Embryogenic proliferation by central cylinder gave the best response compare to other tissues of hypocotyl of Gentiana cruciata seedling. In some cultures the process of somatic embryogenesis was so intensive, that only callus transfer into liquid medium protected the culture against complete disappearing. Second used medium possessed 1.0 mg/l dicamba, 0.1 mg/l NAA, 2.0 mg/l BAP and 80 mg/l SA and make our dreams come true for very long term cell suspension cultures of proembryogenic masses (PEMs). Long term culture helped us to develop numerous analysis of the process with special attention paid for collection of evidences of single cell origin of somatic embryo. It was proved that somatic embryos originated from freely suspend single cells or single cells of PEM. Among four studied species G. tibetica and G. kurroo appeared to handle the highest embryogenic potential. The number of regenerated embryos from implanted on agar medium crossed the hundreds from 100 mg of tissue. Medium supplemented with GA3 helped to complete development and stimulated the somatic embryo conversion in germlings. The high embryogenic potential of at least two year old suspensions of G. kurroo was confirmed by the plant regeneration in protoplast cultures. To protect our cell suspension culture against the loss of their embryogenic potential, the cryopreservation of them in LN2 was developed.
Strony [Pages]: 59–63
In vitro cultures and cryopreservation as a tool for conserving of fruit species
Jiřii Sedlak, Francišek Paprštein, Alois Bilavčik, Jiřii Zamečnik
Apple (Malus domestica Borkh.), pear (Pyrus communis L.), sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) and strawberry (Fragaria ananassa Duch.) are important fruit species in the Czech Republic. These species are susceptible to a number of diseases, which could damage field-grown materials. Cryopreservation of in vitro-grown shoot tips is a suitable option for the safe, long-term storage of germplasm of vegetatively propagated fruit species. Fifty genotypes of apple, pear, sour cherry and strawberry were successfully established in vitro and were micropropagated on Murashige and Skoog (MS) based media. The highest proliferation rate was obtained for pear cultivar ‘Koporecka’ that produced 5.2 new shoots per month on MS medium supplemented with 1 mg l-1 BAP (6-benzylaminopurine). Survival of in vitro propagated pear, apple and sour cherry shoots and strawberries was evaluated after low temperature treatment. Cold hardening and preconditioning improved the recovery of cryopreserved shoot tips. A procedure based on the encapsulation-vitrification of samples has yielded particularly promising results, with a survival rate of 30% or more across a number of genotypes. Apple, pear, sour cherry and strawberry germplasm (50 genotypes) is now stored in the cryopreserved form in liquid nitrogen at –196°C.
Strony [Pages]: 65–67
Establishment of in vitro culture collection of endangered European orchids
Joanna Znaniecka, Ewa Łojkowska
In order to establish in vitro culture collection of five endangered European orchid species – Cypripedium calceolus L., Dactylorhiza majalis (Rchb.) Hunt et Summerh., Epipactis atrorubens (Hoffm.ex Bernh.) Besser, Epipactis palustris (Will.) Cr. and Orchis morio L., asymbiotic seed germination was performed. To estimate the method yielding the highest percentage of germination, mature and immature seeds were used (green pod technique).
Strony [Pages]: 69–73
Resources of Orchidaceae in the xerothermic grasslands in the Pińczów Hump and adjacent areas
Bożena Łuszczyńska
In the Pińczów Hump and the adjacent mesoregions (Solec Basin, the eastern part of Wodzisław Hump, the northern part of Połaniec Basin) 10 orchid species at the different succession stages of xerothermic communities were found. The strongest affiliation with the open association of the Cirsio- Brachypodion alliance appears in Orchis ustulata and Ophrys insectifera. These species grow in the associations: Inuletum ensifoliae, Scorzonero-Seslerietum uliginosae, Adonido-Brachypodietum pinnati, Origano-Brachypodietum. In the differently developed succession stages of the xerothermic communities of the Cirsio-Brachypodion alliance there are Orchis militaris and O. purpurea. An important role play the foliage shrubs overshading xerothermic communities as well as the pine plantings. In the ecotone zone between the grasslands and the deciduous forests grow mostly the dry-ground forests (Tilio-Carpinetum) such as: Cypripedium calceolus, Cephalanthera damasonium, Platanthera bifolia, P. chlorantha, Epipactis atrorubens, E. helleborine. They mostly grow a few meters from the forest margin. These species emerge only sporadically in the open grasslands of the Cirsio-Brachypodion alliance (Table 1).
Strony [Pages]: 75–78
Preservation of weeds diversity in protected areas
Denise F. Dostatny
In many regions of Europe, as well as in Poland, fields have been recently subjected to violent and often irreversible changes due to intensive intervention of a man in the agroecosystems, which results not only from the changes of methods of land and plant cultivation, but also from the increasing use of farming machinery, herbicides and devastation of the natural environment. This process is accompanied, apart from the phenomenon of expansion, by the effect of recession of many species of segetal plants and has produced monotonous landscapes that show increasing biodiversity losses. The survey area covers a landscape park, which has an administration office and a specific infrastructure, which may to a large extent help to introduce all the necessary changes in farming and which may help the farmers. Besides, the survey presented in this paper shows the rich and rare association of Caucalido-Scandicetum, which finds its optimal development conditions in rendzina soils, present on the unique area of Niecka Nidziańska in the south of Poland. The preservation of weeds diversity in the fields is of the highest importance for maintaining the balance in agroecosystems. Besides, it also preserves the possibility of pleasure derived from communion with nature.
Strony [Pages]: 79–83
Old apple cultivars in the Botanical Garden – Center for Biological Diversity Conservation of the Polish Academy of Sciences
Marta Dziubiak
In the Botanical Garden-Center for Biological Diversity Conservation in Warsaw a collection of old historical apple cultivars was established. The main goal is to gather and evaluate in ex situ conditions a possibly large number of apple cultivars which were known in Poland in the past. Since 1987 over 500 accessions have been gathered (195 come from scientific institutions in Poland and abroad, the rest from private orchards in Poland). Trees of 248 accessions grow in the collection as a typical orchard and young material remains in nursery. Every year local expeditions are organized and new accessions are brought to the Botanical Garden as grafts. All accessions are accompanied by passport data. Phenological observations such as start of vegetation period, time of blooming and ripening, degree of damage by scab and mildew are made every year. Fruits are described according to UPOV guidelines. Fruits of 178 cultivars in collection and 40 in nursery have been described. Gathering of old apple cultivars and their maintenance in ex situ collection and evaluation are very important for our national heritage conservation. There is a necessity to protect old apple cultivars on farm conditions as well.
Strony [Pages]: 85–90
Field collections of fruit species and description of original Czech cultivars
Francisek Paprštein, Jiřii Kaplan, Jarmila Ludviková
At the Research and Breeding Institute of Pomology, Holovousy Ltd, 2222 cultivars of fruit species are maintained in field collections. At least three trees of each cultivar are planted in the orchards. Within species the cultivars are planted according to their time of ripening. Important agronomic characters are evaluated in the orchards. PC databases are continuously updated with evaluation and characterization data. Further, we are involved in identification and collection of important landraces on the territory of the Czech Republic and neighboring countries. Important accessions are introduced into germplasm orchards. Besides, we also register and map interesting valuable accessions in the country for in situ conservation. We establish on farm plantations of local landraces in cooperation with national parks and protected landscape areas.
Strony [Pages]: 91–94
Silesian Botanical Garden – a proposal for agriculture and forestry
Wiesław Włoch, Paweł Kojs, Joanna Szymanowska-Pułka, Waldemar Szendera
The Red List of endangered plant and animal species has been enlarging alarmingly. Predictions are serious: within next twenty years about 20% of the world species will extinct. In our industrial region almost 40% of vascular plant species is about to die out. For the past two hundred years 124 species of these plants have died out completely or vanished of the area of Poland. These are dramatic changes in agricultural methods that are responsible for this genetic erosion. First of all we are obliged to conserve biodiversity, not only in the natural environment, but also in agrocenoses. Another important task is to conserve gene recourses of the crops in order to provide a material for new varieties cultivation. One of the methods of gene recourses conservation in a botanical gardens is the ex situ method meaning conservation of the genetic material of plants out of their natural habitats. The ex situ conservation may be localized in: • seed storage, • in vitro tissues storage, • pollen storage, • field collections. In all fields of our activity we have to take into account the sake of the environment – this is the condition sine qua non condition for our existence. Of course, the problem concerns agricultural activity as well. The procedures applied in contemporary agriculture are leading to augmentation the efficiency of production, often to the over-production of unwanted poor food. Luckily, there are farmers, foresters and naturalists, who understand the natural phenomena and are aware of possible limits of human intervention into the environment. Agriculture needs to be supported by naturalists and botanists in creating a model of aware, environment friendly farmer – a potential guarantee of its stability. This task may be realized in contemporary botanical gardens. Silesian Botanical Garden in Mikołów- Mokre will serve as scientific, educational and cultural centre; will stimulate the sustainable development as well as renovating and maintaining the natural balance in the region. It will conserve a diversity of plant species – a basis of natural food production, thus cooperating with the local agriculture. The Garden is expected to change the image of Upper Silesia (Berger et al. 2000). Modern botanical gardens are necessary to maintain the balance in our civilization development.
Strony [Pages]: 95–111
The part of Botanical Garden for Medicinal Plants of the University of Medicine in Wrocław in the biodiversity preservation of medicinal flora of Poland
Anna Jezierska-Domaradzka
This paper presents the results of many years’ activity of Botanical Garden for Medicinal Plants concerning the protection of Polish medicinal flora. The main tasks dealt with this work are: the collection of protected and threatened taxa of polish flora, the investigation into the method of protected and threatened medicinal species cultivation and the resources of medicinal raw materials of wild medicinal plants.
Strony [Pages]: 113–116
Collection of Pteridophytes in the Herbarium of the University of Silesia (KTU)
Adam Rostański, Katarzyna Bzdęga, Monika Jędrzejczyk
The collection of Pteridophytes (Lycopodiophyta, Psilotophyta, Equisetophyta, Polypodiophyta) contains at present (2004) over 2100 specimens representing 44 genera and over 132 taxa – species and subspecies. This collection originates mainly the area of the Upper Silesia and adjoining regions as well as from the whole territory of Poland and from different parts of the world (e.g. Mediterranean Region, Eastern and Western Europe, Asia, North and South America). The KTU collection documents botanical scientific researches and includes materials from inter-herbarium exchange and partially from private herbaria donated as gifts. Good conditions of storage and accessibility of collections provide the opportunity of work with the resources of the herbarium on site.
Strony [Pages]: 117–123
Educational spaces in botanical gardens
Paweł Kojs, Rafał Kojs
The main purpose of this work is to show how to change the botanical gardens to improve their educational function. In the past botanical gardens played an important role in training of pharmacists and doctors by growing and studying the herbs. Since the 16th century there have been botanical gardens next to universities in Italy and, later, in northern Europe. Kings and wealthy merchants created wonderful gardens for example in Kew and Paris. Subtropical plants were grown in orangeries, and tropical plants were put up in greenhouses. Nowadays most of botanical gardens are arranged according to the geographical origin of the plants, so that visitors can experience the views and smells of rainforest, desert, or misty mountain forest, everything within a few hours. One can experience the Nature in images, smells, tastes, touches, sounds and words. All that builds a new system with many educational possibilities created by tens, often unnamed, spaces. It can be used in general education including all spheres of the man’s development: knowledge, behavior, emotions and spirituality.
Słowa kluczowe [Keywords]: botanical garden, education, space, theatre
Strony [Pages]: 125–132
Some remarks on educational role of philosophy of nature in modern botanical gardens
Bogdan Ogrodnik
Strony [Pages]: 133–135
The Křitiny Arboretum and its role in the ecological education
Luboš Úradníček
The Křtiny Arboretum is known as the collection of exotic trees. A nature trail called “Native trees” is an important part of the Arboretum. It was inaugurated in 1996. At present, the collection includes about 140 taxa. This nature trail is quite exceptional both in the Czech Republic and in Europe and the majority of indigenous and thus autochthonous species can be seen in it. Each of the species is marked by an information table. A guide has been published for the trail. Visitors can compare the growth of native and introduced trees.
Strony [Pages]: 137–140
The collections of graminoids and their possible uses – an example from the Botanical Garden and Arboretum (BGA) of Mendel University of Agriculture and Forestry Brno
Radomír Řepka, Markéta Nohelová
The number of graminoid species grown in central European botanical gardens is rather small. The authors of this contribution point out possible uses of this plant group for garden architecture, bringing results of an investigation of some Carex species (Cyperaceae) growing in the BGA in Brno. Their possible uses in a given locality were studied regarding the following features of the species investigated: ecological demands, plant height, duration of leaves, production of rhizomes, texture of clumps or masses, the colour in different seasons, earliness of leaves and flowers. Species suitable for three different ecological conditions that may occur in a garden (dry, medium-moist and wet sites) are mentioned along with species whose planting failed. Among 76 chosen Czech native Carex species, 67 have been completely evaluated so far (grades used for the evaluation: the best, medium, limited use). The collection of graminoids also plays a role as a gene bank of the taxa protected or threatened in the Czech Republic (these are the following numbers of the taxa in the Czech Republic according to current threat classification: A3: 1, C1: 6, C2: 14, C3: 5, C4: 6). There is no doubt that any collection of this kind is also a suitable place for students and their practical training in systematic botany, or for any other special studies.
Strony [Pages]: 141–145
Course of ecology in nature. Educational paths in Arboretum of Brama Morawska in Racibórz
Aleksandra Rusin, Paweł Kojs, Wiesław Włoch, Jan Duda
In the Arboretum of Brama Morawska there are two educational paths: the ecological and the dendrological path, each 2.5 km long. Educational paths in Arboretum are unique due to their location in the municipal forest “Obora”, which was never deforested or destroyed in its history by intensive forest management. Many natural forest communities are well preserved in this area. Rich biodiversity is associated with close vicinity of Moravian Gate (Brama Morawska), which is a natural path of migration of plants and animals, and the mild climate of Racibórz. Visitors can be acquainted with different plant communities, observe life strategies of different species and relations between them. Visits to Arboretum allow getting skills of identifying more then 500 plant species, among them 100 trees and shrubs growing in our climate and introduced by man.
Strony [Pages]: 147–150
The natural and technical resources of Botanical Garden of PBAI in Bydgoszcz as a basis for renewable energy education
Włodzimierz Majtkowski, Gabriela Majtkowska
Strony [Pages]: 151–153
Project on ex situ cultivation of the temperate arid plants from Xinjiang Province, China (communication)
Pavel Sekerka, Eduard Chvosta, Lenka Prokopová
Strony [Pages]: 155–157
Paeony collection in the Prague Botanical Garden (communication)
Pavel Sekerka
Strony [Pages]: 159–160
Quercus cerris L. with the self companion of the higher vegetation in National Natural Reservation the Patianska cerina
Jozef Požgaj, Radoslav Požgaj, František Mercel, Rudolf Jaakab, Dušan Užák
Quercus cerris L. is a woody plant of Europe and the adjoining Asia Minor. Under Slovakian conditions it thrives in southwestern and southern Slovakia where it forms natural coenoses and maintains its dominant position. The National Nature Reservation Patianska cerina is one of such places. The above oak form a two-stage canopy there, with the tallest trees reaching up to 32 meters in height at the age of about 200 years, while at the lower stage it is dominated by Acer campestre L., Crataegus monogyna Jacq. and Acer tataricum L. The herbal synusia is absolutely dominated by Impatiens parviflora DC. in its vernal aspect. This coenose belongs predominantly to B/C line and to Carpineto-Quercetum acerosum (sense Zlatník, 1959) forest type. The soil type represents illimerized soils on loess.
Słowa kluczowe [Keywords]: natural conditions, Quercus cerris and higher vegetation, soil, National Nature Reservation Patianska cerina
Strony [Pages]: 161–170
Dynamics of the course of tracheomycosis infection of Quercus dalechampii Ten. on monitoring areas in Slovakia during the years of 1984–1999
Jozef Požgaj, Rastislav Požgaj, L’ubica Požgajova
Tracheomycosis infection in oaks covered the whole oak territory of Slovakia in the 80th years. The illness in the form of infection spread from east to the west (Požgaj 1986) and whole territory it interfered during three years roughly. It looked disastrous in places. Monitoring areas were established in the years of 1984–1986 to observe the course of infection of individual original oak species. Quercus dalechampii Ten. was observed. It was one of the most stricken species during the intense infection attack. Monitoring areas are in Červená Voda, Kvetnica, Pozdišovce and Stárhrad, where its substitution is expressively dominant.
Słowa kluczowe [Keywords]: tracheomycosis infection, Quercus dalechampii, Slovakia
Strony [Pages]: 171–177
Phenological studies of selected species of genus Ribes L. at Adam Mickiewicz University Botanical Garden in Poznań
Alicja Kolasińska
This article presents the results of phenological observations conducted from 1999 to 2000 on twenty taxa belonging to genus Ribes L. Their seasonal rhythmicity is discussed with reference to Poznań weather conditions, and its year-to-year constancy is evaluated. The plants were analyzed with respect to their tolerance to low temperatures and water shortages, and an assesment was made of their suitability for urban and industrial conditions. In 16 species flowering and leaf burst were synchronized with phenological seasons. None of the studied shrubs suffered any low temperature related damage. Most of the species were sensitive to drought. Only in four species: R. glaciale, R. odoratum, R. sanguineum and R. tenue were drought symptoms entirely absent. When seasonal rhythmicity, sensitivity to low temperatures and drought were considered jointly, the analysis demonstrated a generally low suitability of genus Ribes for planting in urban or industrial locations. Only R. odoratum, R. sanguineum i R. tenue exhibited an elevated tolerance to climatic conditions and may be recommended for street and park planting. The highest ornamental qualities among the studied species were found in R. alpinum, R. americanum, R. aureum, R. mandshuricum, R. odoratum, R. sanguineum and R. tenue.
Strony [Pages]: 179–186
Observations of frost resistance of cover roses in the roses collection in the Botanical Garden of the Polish Academy of the Sciences in Warsaw after frosty winter 2002/2003
Marta Joanna Monder
In 2003 a few-year-old shrubs of 42 ground cover rose varieties were observed. These were from the collection of Botanical Garden budded on various rootstocks (Rosa multiflora, Rosa canina, Rosa rubiginosa) or growing on their own roots. The roses coming from Rosa rugosa Thunb. overwintered very well, the varieties of ‘Meidiland’ and ‘Ferdy’, ‘Swany’, ‘Tommelise’, ‘Bonica’82’, ‘Weisse Immensee’, ‘Palmengarten Frankfurt’ did quite well while Cover varieties did very badly. The same varieties budded on various rootstocks and growing on their own roots behaved alike in the season of 2002/2003. The most damaged shrubs were cut below the ground level. The best regenerating shrubs were those budded on Rosa multiflora rootstock and those growing on their own roots. The largest growth in spring was noticed for the varieties which ultimately grew the highest and were naturally the most bushy. The flowers, small as they often were, looked immensely decorative in great numbers. The flowering was abundant, for some varieties it began as early as late May, and in most cases it took place from mid-June. The shrubs of most varieties covered the area designated for them since the flowering started. From mid-August the shrubs grew intensely, their growth increasing markedly for some varieties, when compared with the growth upon the first flowering.
Słowa kluczowe [Keywords]: ground cover roses, Rosa L., frost resistance
Strony [Pages]: 187–197
Overwintering of historical roses from the collection of the Botanical Garden of the Polish Academy of Sciences in Warsaw after frosty winter 2002/2003
Marta Joanna Monder
The observations of 33 species and varieties of historical roses in Botanical Garden after the long, frosty and snowy winter of 2002/2003 indicate a considerable resistance to frost in most of them, park roses in particular, which is a very important aspect of plant cultivation in the areas with reduced cultivation expenses. Damage was not noticed or was minimal to the shrub park roses descending from Rosa × damascena Mill, Rosa alba L., Rosa x centifolia L., Rosa moyesii Hems. & Wils. Insignificant frost damage to Bourbon, Portland and Hybrid Perpetual didn’t have any negative impact on their development and ornamental qualities in vegetative season. The most severe damage was caused to climbers and ramblers and these suffered the heaviest loss of ornamental value.
Słowa kluczowe [Keywords]: old roses, Rosa L., shrub roses, frost resistance
Strony [Pages]: 199–207
Effect of temperature decrease on aescine content in seeds of white horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum L.)
Krzysztof Kmieć, Szymon Łukasiewicz
Strony [Pages]: 209–213
Collections and ex situ conservation of plant species of Moraceae in NBRI Botanic Garden in Lucknow (India)
R. K. Roy, S. K. Datta
Moraceae is an important family which includes trees, shrubs, climbers and herbs having botanical, ornamental and economic importance. A good number of germplasm collections of Moraceae has been built up in the NBRI Botanic Garden under ex-situ conservation programme. The papers gives an account of different genus, species / cultivars available in collections with their salient diagnostic characters.
Strony [Pages]: 215–218
