The international journal Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae is the oldest scientific journal published by the Polish Botanical Society, functioning continuously (with the exception of WWII) since 1923. The journal offers Open Access publication of original research papers, short communications, and reviews in all areas of plant science, including evolution, ecology, genetics, plant structure and development, physiology and biochemistry.
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Copyright (c) 2022 Beata Zagórska-Marek http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A Multivariate Regression Model to Explain the Altitudinal Distribution of Timberlines on the Eurasian Continent
The altitude of alpine timberline elevation has been considered to correlate with certain climatic factors. Many related isotherms (e.g., warmest month 10 °C isotherm) have been proposed to explain the altitudinal distribution of alpine timberline at the global scale. However, any climatic index actually has a wide range at the alpine timberline position worldwide. The altitudinal position of the alpine timberline is related to far more than just one climatic factor. Therefore, we developed a multivariable model for timberline elevation variability by collecting data from 473 timberline sites on the Eurasian continent. We analyzed 12 climatic variables that potentially account for timberline variation. Principal component and regression analyses were used to mine four climatic variables. The mean temperature of the warmest month (MTWM), mean temperature of the coldest month (MTCM), climatic continentality (K), and annual precipitation (AP) explained 95% of the variability of timberline elevation. MTWM, MTCM, K, and AP contributed 18%, 41.28%, 34.9%, and 5.82%, respectively, to the altitudinal distribution of alpine timberline on the whole continent; 20%, 44%, 28.86%, and 7.14% in the eastern continent; and 17.71%, 39.79%, 40.21%, and 2.29% in the western continent. We showed that MTWM, MTCM, K, and AP are deterministic factors for the altitudinal distribution of alpine timberline in the Eurasian continent. MTCM and K contributed to explaining the altitudinal distribution of timberline both in the entire, eastern, and western parts of the Eurasian continent. Our research highlights the significance of MTCM for the altitudinal distribution of timberline.
Copyright (c) 2022 Fang Zhao, Abdul Shakoor, Gul Zaib, Baiping Zhang http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Diversity, Distribution, and Classification of Chasmophytic Vegetation in the Central Asian Biodiversity Hotspot: Alpine Belt of the Eastern Pamir-Alai and Western Tian Shan Mountains
This paper presents the results of research conducted on chasmophytic vegetation occurring within the alpine belt (approx. 1,850–4,000 m a.s.l.) in the eastern part of Middle Asia. We specifically focused on the diversity and syntaxonomy of rock vegetation as well as on environmental variables determining its distribution. Altogether, 242 relevés were sampled in rock fissures, ledges, and clefts during field surveys conducted in 2013–2019. The size of each recorded vegetation plot was 1 m2. Five main groups of chasmophytic vegetation were distinguished in the studied area. Each group was confined to a specific combination of substrate type and climatic conditions. Altogether, 16 specific plant communities representing chasmophytic vegetation were defined in the study area. For each community diagnostic, constant and dominant species as well as its taxonomic composition and habitat characteristics are given. Seven communities were described: community of Androsace villosa var. dasyphylla, and associations of Crepidifolio tenuifolii-Stipetum tianschanicae, Parryetum schugnanae, Corydalideto bucharicae-Hippolytietum schugnanicae, Drabetum darvasicae, Acantholimonetum alexeenkoani, and Inuletum schmalhausenii are newly coined. Due to the extremely high endemism of the chasmophytic flora of the eastern part of Middle Asia, it is difficult to find strong relationships between the rock vegetation recorded in the region and that occurring in neighboring areas.
Copyright (c) 2022 Arkadiusz Nowak, Sebastian Świerszcz, Sylwia Nowak, Vítězslav Plášek, Agnieszka Nobis, Ewelina Klichowska, Marcin Nobis http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Effect of Shading on Interspecific Competition Between Aegilops tauschii and Triticum aestivum
Aegilops tauschii is a competitive invasive weed typically found in winter wheat fields. In this study, using the replacement series experiments designed by de Wit, the effects of different shading treatments on the morphological structure, physiological characteristics, and competitiveness of the invasive plant A. tauschii were comparatively analyzed with the aim of providing knowledge for the ecological control of this weed in wheat fields. The results showed that in terms of morphological characteristics, shading caused an increase in plant height, leaf area, and specific leaf area (SLA); and a decrease in the root-to-crown ratio (R/C) of both A. tauschii and wheat plants. With regard to physiological characteristics, both A. tauschii and wheat plants adapted to the low-light environment by increasing the chlorophyll content, with an increase of chlorophyll b in particular. It could be concluded from the changes in superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content that the low-intensity shading treatment significantly improved the stress resistance of A. tauschii, thus ensuring the continuation of its normal photosynthesis. In addition, the plasticity index average value of eight morphological indicators of A. tauschii (e.g., plant height and leaf area) was 0.18, which was greater than that of wheat (0.17). Similarly, the plasticity index average value of four physiological indicators of A. tauschii (e.g., chlorophyll content and SOD activity) was 0.46, which was also higher than that of wheat (0.37). Finally, the competitive balance (CB) value of A. tauschii showed that its competitiveness under low light conditions was still greater than wheat, but gradually diminished with increasing shading rate. In short, A. tauschii displays a certain adaptability to low light environments, but shading treatment may also significantly reduce its competitive inhibition of wheat.
Copyright (c) 2022 Ning Wang, Mei-li Yuan, Lei Wang http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Responses of Tillering Stipa breviflora Traits to a Long-Term Grazing Gradient
The Stipa breviflora desert steppe is an important component of the Eurasian steppe, and its ecosystem functions are directly affected by changes in the individual functional traits of S. breviflora. Based on 14 years of data from the grazing experiment in S. breviflora desert steppe, we investigated changes in the individual tillering traits of S. breviflora in response to four levels (none, light, moderate, heavy) of long-term grazing. The results showed that: (i) long-term grazing resulted in a greater decrease in species richness and increased biomass contribution of S. breviflora in the communities; (ii) long-term grazing resulted in significant differences in aboveground/belowground plant tillering functional traits and their relationships under different grazing intensities; (iii) the leaf biomass of S. breviflora tillering individuals was strongly dependent on leaf number, while the change in root biomass was strongly dependent on the total root length, specific root length, root furcation number, and root crossing number. The response of S. breviflora biomass to grazing intensity and its relation to tillering individual traits revealed that long-term grazing leads to vast tillering in S. breviflora tussock and significant changes in S. breviflora tillering traits, which will have a profound influence on the function of the desert grassland ecosystem.
Copyright (c) 2022 Jiangwen Li, Guodong Han, Saruul Kang, Xiaoxi Zhang, Cai Li http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Ethnobotanical Knowledge Through the Slovak Folk Songs as a Reflection of Intangible Biocultural Heritage
Folk songs reflect a deep interrelationship between man and nature that developed over centuries and can be viewed as biocultural heritage. This study aims to present the most important plant and landscape elements in the traditional songs of Slovakia. In this study, 4,341 Slovak folk songs were analyzed. Songs carrying information about vascular plant species were analyzed according to the song type and the fragment of the song where plant species or landscape elements appeared. This information was used to create a dataset of all the mentioned vascular plants and their use. Plants were mentioned in 31% of Slovak folk songs, which corresponded to 1,354 songs. A total of 121 plant taxa were identified, of which 56 were wild, 50 were cultivated, 13 were exotic, and two were unidentified, corresponding to 50 plant families. The most cited from all mentioned plants (including both identified, or unidentified taxa) were rose (9%), grapevine (5.7%), rosemary (5.1%), rye (4.1%), maple (3.9%), and apple (3.9%). Landscape elements were mentioned in 26.4%, corresponding to 1,148 songs. The folk songs reflected the mainly mountainous character of Slovakia. Forests were the most mentioned, corresponding to 30.6% of landscape element citations. Folk songs contribute to the preservation of traditional ecological knowledge and help to better understand past relationship of our ancestors to land and nature.
Copyright (c) 2022 Zuzana Baránková http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Marsupella subemarginata (Gymnomitriaceae, Marchantiophyta) Newly Found in the Carpathians in the Polish and Slovak Tatras
Marsupella subemarginata Bakalin & Fedosov is a semi-cryptic Eurasian species. Recently, it has been found in the Far East (Kamchatka and Japan) and Swiss Alps, as well as the Giant Mountains (Sudetes, Czech Republic). The plant was also observed in the Carpathians for the first time. A revision of the herbarium collections of M. emarginata (Ehrh.) Dumort. consisting of 102 specimens from the Polish and Slovak Tatra Mountains revealed the occurrence of M. subemarginata at 24 localities, eight of which were in the Polish Tatras. Most of the localities of this species were concentrated in the High Tatras, and only four sites were discovered in the Western Tatras. Marsupella subemarginata has been briefly characterized morphologically and illustrated. The habitat requirements of the species have been described in detail, and the floristic composition of its phytocoenoses has been shown in a phytosociological table consisting of 10 relev’s. Marsupella subemarginata is a valuable addition to the liverwort flora of Poland and Slovakia, which currently consist of 241 and 232 species, respectively. Currently, the liverwort flora of the Tatras comprises 195 species, including 185 species in Poland and 186 species in Slovakia.
Copyright (c) 2022 Piotr Górski http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Evaluation of Climate Change Impacts on the Geographic Distribution of Fritillaria imperialis L. (Liliaceae) (Turkey)
Fritillaria imperialis is a bulbous plant that has increased commercial value and contributes to rural development in Turkey. It is widely utilized in traditional medicine and pharmacy, and has great potential for use in modern pharmaceuticals in the future. As the effects of climate change on this plant have not been documented, this study aimed to understand how climate change might affect F. imperialis. The methodology of the study was divided into three steps: (i) database development, including the current distribution zones of F. imperialis and climatic parameters such as temperature and precipitation data; (ii) determination of the plant’s temperature and precipitation requirements; and (iii) Ecocrop’s plant climate suitability modeling (PCSM). As a result of the study, it was determined that climatic suitability would decrease below 20% in the plant’s current distribution area between 2,000 m and 3,000 m altitude. For the zones between 500–1,000 m altitude, the climatic suitability will be as high as 100%. Although there are zones where climatic suitability will increase by 2070, the general trend shows that suitability will decrease. This change in the plant ecosystem is explained by the decreased winter precipitation and snowfall but increased temperature and evaporation at higher altitudes. Fritillaria imperialis is expected to shift its geographic distribution to lower altitudes because of climate change.
Copyright (c) 2022 Aynur Demir, Fulya Aydin-Kandemir http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Further Data About the Distribution of the Moss Bryum gemmiferum (Bryophyta, Bryaceae) in Poland
This paper presents the information on the distribution of the moss Bryum gemmiferum R. Wilczek & Demaret in Poland. The first species site from southern Poland was published, but further research and revision of the herbarium materials provided information about its occurrence in different parts of the country. Currently, this species is known in 20 locations. A brief discussion about its ecology, taxonomy, and geographical distribution is given.
Copyright (c) 2022 Grzegorz Vončina, Adam Stebel, Anna Rusińska, Mirosław Szczepański, Stanisław Rosadziński, Michał Smoczyk, Paweł Kalinowski http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Identification of New Taxa of Portulaca oleracea L. Aggregate From Poland Based on Seed Coat Micromorphological Characteristics
This paper presents the results of micromorphological studies of Portulaca oleracea aggregate seeds deposited at the Herbarium of the Department of Systematic and Environmental Botany (POZ), Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań, Poland, based on scanning electron microscopy. The seed surface ultrastructure was studied and the following seven morphotypes (species) were noted: P. daninii, P. granulatostellulata, P. macrantha, P. nitida, P. oleracea s. str., P. papillatostellulata, and P. trituberculata. New alien taxa for the flora of Poland, P. daninii, P. macrantha, and P. papillatostellulata, were recorded. The original photos of the seed surface ultrastructure of the studied morphotypes are included.
Copyright (c) 2022 Elena V. Bulakh, Myroslav V. Shevera, Piotr Szkudlarz, Petro Ye. Bulakh, Zbigniew Celka http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
New Easternmost Locality of Phelipanche bohemica in South Poland
Phelipanche bohemica (Čelak.) Holub is a species with a narrow geographic range that is limited to Central Europe and a few regions in western and southern Europe. Taxonomic complexities within the Phelipanche purpurea s. l. group (to which the species belongs) cause difficulties in fully describing its range. In Poland, to date, this species has been known only from two verified localities in the Lower Oder Valley and Kraków-Częstochowa Upland. A new site was found in 2020 in Korzecko near Chęciny (Świętokrzyskie Mountains, Małopolska Upland, southern Poland). According to the present state of knowledge, this is the easternmost locality of this species. This species was found in xerothermic grasslands of the Festuco-Brometea class. In 2020, 18 individuals were found. However, in 2021 only two individuals were present, and in 2022 only one. Thus, the population showed the dynamics typically observed in this group of plants. As a population of a globally very rare species, located at the edge of it range in an unstable phytocoenosis, it should be subject to monitoring and special protection.
Copyright (c) 2022 Grzegorz Łazarski http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Notes on the Genus Nervilia (Orchidaceae, Nervilieae) in Bali With New Records
Nervilia is an orchid genus of approximately 80 ephemeral taxa that are widely distributed throughout the subtropical and tropical regions of Africa, Asia, Australia, and Oceania. Scientific information and research materials gathered from Bali are scarce. While trekking around Bali, we encountered a few representatives of this taxon. This led to further investigation of the genus and its occurrence in Bali, which is summarized in this article. New records of N. concolor and N. punctata from Central Bali have enriched previously known sites, and as species that appear ephemeral often go unnoticed this is a valuable contribution to the understanding of the geographic distribution of this genus.
Copyright (c) 2022 Monika M. Lipińska, Aninda R. U. Wibowo, Hanna B. Margońska http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Application and Improvement of In Vitro Culture Systems for Commercial Production of Ornamental, Fruit, and Industrial Plants in Poland
This work focuses on the achievements of Polish researchers in the field of vegetative reproduction of plants under in vitro conditions. For more than 50 years, micropropagation methods have been used in Poland whenever vegetative reproduction is necessary. Most perennial horticultural crops, such as fruit plants, the majority of ornamental geophytes, and some vegetables (e.g., rhubarb and horseradish), require clonal reproduction owing to their high heterozygosity, i.e., their offsprings when reproduced from seeds, do not repeat the parental characteristics. Various goals have been pursued in the development of regenerative and in vitro propagation systems for each of the aforementioned groups of plants, such as pathogen elimination, reproduction of healthy plants, rapid multiplication of newly obtained valuable breeding lines and cultivars, and breeding to obtain polyploids, haploids, and doubled haploids. Owing to the growing interest of researchers and plant producers in environmentally friendly technologies, one of the sections is devoted to the issue of biotization of micropropagated plants.
Copyright (c) 2022 Małgorzata Podwyszyńska, Teresa Orlikowska, Anna Trojak-Goluch, Agnieszka Wojtania http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Archaeobotanical Studies in Poland – Historical Overview, Achievements, and Future Perspectives
Archaeobotany is the study of relationships between humans and the plant world in the past based on the analysis of plant remains preserved at archaeological sites. These studies provide us an opportunity to elucidate the history of farming economy based on transformations of plants and the natural environment caused by human activities. The present review aims to track the history of development of archaeobotanical studies in Poland, which have influenced our contemporary way of perceiving the past, as well as to present the selected and most important achievements in this field. Specifically, we emphasize the enormous contribution of Polish studies to broadening our understanding of the botanical past of Europe and the world. To the best of our knowledge, this work represents the first comprehensive attempt to summarize over a hundred-year-old activity of archaeobotanists in Poland.
Copyright (c) 2022 Monika Badura, Maria Lityńska-Zając, Mirosław Makohonienko http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Biotechnology of the Tree Fern Cyathea smithii Hook. f. (Soft Tree Fern, Katote). I. Morphogenic Potential of Shoot Apical Dome, Plant Regeneration, and Nuclear DNA Content of Regenerants in the Presence of TDZ and NAA
In nature, the tree fern Cyathea smithii lacks meristem multiplication; therefore, a system of vegetative propagation in vitro is required to protect the species’ gene resources. Experiments were carried out on the apical dome of C. smithii J. D. Hooker (soft tree fern, Katote) to determine its morphogenic potential using 1/2 strength of Murashige and Skoog medium containing various concentration of thidiazuron [TDZ; 1-phenyl-3-(1,2,3-thiadiazol-5-yl)-urea)] (0.01, 0.1, 1.0, and 5.0 µM) supplemented with naphthalene acetic acid (0.25 µM). The success of the treatments was determined by the number of regenerants per explant, level of regenerant development, and nuclear DNA content in the green mesophyll cells. The highest number of regenerants was achieved in the presence of 5.0 µM TDZ and the lowest at 0.01 µM TDZ. The quality of development of the regenerants was expressed as the number of formed leaves and their growth per individual plantlet. The highest growth and development of regenerants occurred at the lowest concentration of TDZ (0.01 µM), and the lowest growth and development of regenerants occurred at the highest TDZ concentration (5.0 µM); however, the number of regenerants showed the opposite. In gametophytes, the nuclear DNA content ranged from 4.74–4.78 pg representing haploid level, whereas in sporophytes it ranged from 8.45–9.13 pg and was diploid. These results prove the stability of the regenerant genome after TDZ treatment of meristematic cells.
Copyright (c) 2022 Jan J. Rybczyński, Małgorzata Podwyszyńska, Wojciech Tomaszewicz, Anna Mikuła http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Cryopreservation of Plant Tissues in Poland: Research Contributions, Current Status, and Applications
Cryopreservation of vegetatively propagated plant material is an increasingly widely used method for the efficient and safe storage of germplasm resources around the world. In Poland, there are currently four cryobanks in use for long-term plant protection programs. However, plant tissues propagated in vitro constitute only a small portion of the accessions stored in them. To date, cryogenic storage techniques have been developed and adopted in this country for ornamental plants (roses, chrysanthemums, and geophytes), crop species (potato and garlic), forest tree species (the genera Quercus and Fraxinus), and some ferns. Polish researchers have used suspension cultures of Gentiana spp. and shoot tips of Lamprocapnos spectabilis to improve cryopreservation knowledge. A better understanding of the benefits of cryopreservation and its widespread implementation in plant biodiversity conservation programs is required. The objective of this review is to provide a concise synthesis of the scientific contributions, current status, and applications of cryogenic techniques for the conservation of in vitro culture-derived plant tissues in Poland. First, the results contributing to research that has been achieved using cell suspensions and advances related to the use of nanoparticles and plant extracts to improve cryopreservation efficiency are discussed. Then, the applications and advances in cryopreservation of ornamental plants (roses, radiomutants, plant chimeras, Lamprocapnos spp., and geophytes), crop species (potato and garlic), forest trees, and ferns are summarized.
Copyright (c) 2022 Anna Mikuła, Paweł Chmielarz, Teresa Hazubska-Przybył, Dariusz Kulus, Małgorzata Maślanka, Bożena Pawłowska, Ewa Zimnoch-Guzowska http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Doubled Haploids: Contributions of Poland’s Academies in Recognizing the Mechanism of Gametophyte Cell Reprogramming and Their Utilization in Breeding of Agricultural and Vegetable Species
Diverse processes leading to doubled haploid (DH) plant production, such as microspore embryogenesis, gynogenesis, and distant hybridization followed by genome elimination, are based on the unique ability of plant cells to form haploid embryos without fertilization. All of these are possible because of various in vitro culture systems that enable the growth and development of tissues or single cells outside of the parental organism. The possibility of re-directing cell development from its original pathway to embryogenesis brings several benefits to many research areas, but the most important is the possibility of its implementation in breeding programs. This review summarizes the achievements of Polish research groups in studies of the mechanisms of haploid/DH embryo development and demonstrates the practical applications of these systems in basic studies and plant breeding. It shows the results of studies on economically important crops including barley (Hordeum vulgare L.), oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), triticale (×Triticosecale Wittm.), oat (Avena sativa L.), rye (Secale cereale L.), sugar beet (Beta vulgaris ssp. vulgaris L.), and some vegetable species, including carrot (Daucus carota L.), onion (Allium cepa L.), red beet (Beta vulgaris L.), and members of the Brassicaceae.
Copyright (c) 2022 Iwona Żur, Adela Adamus, Teresa Cegielska-Taras, Sandra Cichorz, Ewa Dubas, Monika Gajecka, Katarzyna Juzoń-Sikora, Agnieszka Kiełkowska, Małgorzata Malicka, Sylwia Oleszczuk, Edyta Skrzypek, Laurencja Szała, Iwona Szarejko, Janusz Zimny http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Geobotany Revisited – A Glimpse at the Blooming and Influential Discipline With Its Strong Roots in the Beauty of Nature and the Pragmatic Need of Its Protection
The dreams of Humboldt and many of his successors have not yet come true. Despite the great achievements of the last century, we still do not know the total number of vegetation types or the difference in the patterns of the distribution of diversity above and below the ground, we cannot predict all the effects of climate change on vegetation at the regional and global scale, we do not know the hidden and dark parts of species diversity in most ecosystems, nor are we able to make historical vegetation maps for many areas of the Earth. We also do not know the cultural contribution of many plant communities for the development of human populations and civilization, nor do we know the future recreational and therapeutical potential of vegetation (e.g., aromatherapy, ecotherapy). Geobotanical methods can effectively contribute to finding the answers to hot questions in current ecology. Since there are so many gaps in our geobotanical knowledge and so many young researchers still speechless with delight when looking at endless steppes, lush rainforests, tall-herbs, or colorful meadows, there is no doubt that geobotany will be a thriving and developing discipline in the future. Its driving force is the passion of researchers and admiration for the beauty of various types of vegetation and their dynamics as well as awareness of the need to protect them for generations to come.
Copyright (c) 2022 Arkadiusz Nowak, Sylwia Nowak http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Improving the Growth and Bioactive Compound Production of Selected Plant Species Using Controlled Genetic and Epigenetic Manipulation
This review was designed to summarize the present state of research around the genetic and epigenetic modification of selected plant species and the potential for their application in industry. This review summarizes the activity of research groups from the University of Wrocław completed over the last 3 decades which tends to focus on potatoes and flax likely as a result of their centuries-old tradition of cultivation, processing, and use in Poland. The aims of these studies were various and included the creation of pathogen-resistant plants, increased antioxidant production, improved flax fiber quality, and improved oil properties. New plant breeds initially produced using genetic engineering technology provide an excellent basis for improving our understanding of the genes involved in potato and flax productivity and the quality of their products. These results have been published in many papers and have given rise to new methods for plant breeding and product prototypes which have been patented. However, none of the prototypes have been commercialized because of their GMO origins. In addition, later development of a novel, epigenetic method has led to the creation of more diverse products based on the newly obtained variety of flax called Silesia. These developments have facilitated the production of a range of new raw materials from these epigenetically modified plants. These include a modified oil for improved nutrition and regeneration of skin cells, seed- cake extracts that act as anti-infection agents, improved fiber production for use as bandages for chronic wounds, improved fibers for application as bio composite materials for the development of biodegradable packaging materials and scaffolds for tissue engineering, and micronized fiber for drug delivery. These modifications mean that flax has become a more useful and valuable source of a wide range of raw materials applicable in industry, allowing for the application of these materials in zero waste applications.
Copyright (c) 2022 Jan Szopa, Anna Kulma http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
In Vitro Culture as a Tool for Studying Plant Developmental Processes at the Physiological Level in Poland
Over the last 40 years, in vitro tissue culture has developed dynamically and has become a popular technique for scientific research in the field of biology. Initially, studies were carried out to develop procedures to obtain callus cultures, cell suspensions, and protoplasts of various plant species. Over time, these cultures have been used to analyze the course of processes and mechanisms that occur at the cellular level, including the course of embryological development, formation of cellular structures, polyploidization, signal transduction, gene expression, and responses to various stress factors. In a minireview, different nutritional, hormonal, atmospheric, and light conditions occurring in in vitro cultures, which are stressful conditions compared to those in ex vitro plant culture, were discussed. In this review, some examples of physiological studies conducted on in vitro culture by Polish scientists are presented, including studies carried out to optimize the composition of media that induce callus and plant regeneration; determine the use of in vitro culture for the preservation of endangered plant species; understand the mechanisms of resistance responses to pathogens, salinity, nutritional stress, and low temperatures; and determine the potential production of plants with different chemical compositions. The potential of sterile plant culture is large and beyond the scope of its current use. Therefore, the number and variety of applications of these cultures will be significantly greater in the future.
Copyright (c) 2022 Agnieszka Płażek, Franciszek Dubert http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Light-Dependent Reactions of Photosynthesis in Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Chloroplasts of C4 Plant Maize. How Our Views Have Changed in Recent Years
Plants experience a range of light intensities and qualities in their environment. Leaves are subjected to spatial and temporal gradients in incident light, which has major consequences in the photosynthetic carbon assimilation. Plants acclimate to light by developing a range of mechanisms, from adjustments in leaf morphology to changes in the photosynthetic apparatus stoichiometry. In C4 plants, light intensity is a major limiting factor for photosynthesis at optimum temperatures. Under limiting light, it is not clear if all of factors (e.g., temperature, mineral nutrition, water supply) are co-limiting or if there is one primary limitation. Differences in light quality and intensity have a profound impact on C4 photosynthesis, where pathways require metabolic coordination of the mesophyll and bundle sheath cycles. Changes in the linear versus cyclic electron flux in maize (NADP-malic enzyme C4 subtype) in the mesophyll and bundle sheath chloroplasts in response to light may lead to an imbalance in the coordination of the C3 and C4 pathways. Additionally, the rearrangement of the thylakoid complexes of both types of chloroplasts in maize optimizes the light energy distribution between the mesophyll and bundle sheath cells and may also participate in energy dissipation. This review aims to highlight the changes in the understanding of the functions of photosystem II in maize bundle sheath chloroplasts and the role of super and megacomplexes in the thylakoids.
Copyright (c) 2022 Elżbieta Romanowska, Wioleta Wasilewska-Dębowska http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
New Biological Rhythm in Cambia of Trees – “Music of Trees” Revisited 50 Years After the Discovery of Cambial Morphogenetic Waves
Among periodic patterns having origin in cambium and recorded in figured wood, the tangential waviness has been the first to be discovered and thoroughly characterized. Yet another pattern, manifested in the rippled surface of some tree trunks, has remained basically undescribed. This work is the first attempt to provide information on its morphology, dynamics, and relation to the tangential waviness. Developmental analysis of the annual ring widths on the transverse surface of the stem showed that crests and throughs forming a ripple pattern result from a highly controlled proliferation of cambial cells. These cells’ activity regularly oscillates in time and space between an increased and a reduced state at approximately 10-year intervals, independently of the environmental cues considered in dendrochronological studies. This rhythm leads to the development of radial waviness and is a major factor affecting wood ring width. Radial waviness is dynamic; it propagates along the stem axis and is often synchronized with tangential waviness in a nonrandom manner. Possible causes of radial pattern emergence based on auxin waves, the role of other phytohormones, and recent discoveries of MADS-box genes that regulate cambial cell proliferation are discussed.
Polish Achievements in Bioactive Compound Production From In Vitro Plant Cultures
Plant cell and organ cultures are potential sources of valuable secondary metabolites that can be used as food additives, nutraceuticals, cosmeceuticals, and pharmaceuticals. Phytochemical biosynthesis in various in vitro plant cultures, in contrast to that in planta, is independent of environmental conditions and free from quality fluctuations. Pharmaceutical application of plant biotechnology is of interest to almost all departments of the Faculty of Pharmacy and Institute of Pharmacology in Poland with a botanical profile (Pharmaceutical Botany, Pharmacognosy, and Pharmacology). This study discusses the advances in plant biotechnology for the production of known metabolites and/or biosynthesis of novel compounds in plant cell and organ in vitro cultures in several scientific centers in Poland.
Copyright (c) 2022 Agnieszka Pietrosiuk, Anna Budzianowska, Jaromir Budzianowski, Halina Ekiert, Małgorzata Jeziorek, Anna Kawiak, Małgorzata Kikowska, Mirosława Krauze-Baranowska, Aleksandra Królicka, Łukasz Kuźma, Maria Łuczkiewicz, Janusz Malarz, Adam Matkowski, Anna Stojakowska, Katarzyna Sykłowska-Baranek, Agnieszka Szopa, Wojciech Szypuła, Barbara Thiem, Sylwia Zielińska http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Polish Contribution to Global Research on Somatic Embryogenesis
Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a complex process that begins with regaining totipotency in some somatic cells, proceeds through embryo development and maturation, and ends with the formation of a whole plant. Since the first publications on SE in 1958, this regeneration process has been applied to the in vitro propagation of many plant species and has led to the development of some specific model systems. SE has been used to expand our understanding of the cytomorphological, physiological, biochemical, and genetic processes that govern the earliest developmental events in the life of plants. This paper summarizes the achievements of Polish research groups working on SE systems established for several plants (gentians, the tree fern Cyathea delgadii Sternb., and conifers) and three model species (Arabidopsis thaliana, Medicago sativa, and M. truncatula). SE systems have used a broad spectrum of experimental approaches involving genomic tools (transcriptomics, proteomics, and chromatin analyses), physiological methods which focus on phytohormones, and cytological techniques. Studies on the experimental models of A. thaliana and Medicago spp. have resulted in the identification of new genetic and epigenetic elements of the complex regulatory network controlling embryogenic induction in plant somatic cells. The protocol developed for ferns has provided a unique and simple system for cytological analysis of early SE events that occur in a single cell of initial explants. Gentian embryogenic suspension cultures have successfully been used in broad biotechnological applications, including plant transformation, protoplast isolation, culture, and fusion. Systems described for coniferous species effectively produced many vigorous somatic seedlings and cost-efficient storage of genotypes during clonal field-testing. The research undertaken by Polish scientists has resulted in developing experimental systems that have enabled significant advances in SE knowledge.
Copyright (c) 2022 Anna Mikuła, Małgorzata Gaj, Małgorzata Grzyb, Teresa Hazubska-Przybył, Ewa Kępczyńska, Jan Kępczyński, Jan Rybczyński, Karolina Tomiczak, Anna M. Wójcik http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Polish Cryobanks: Research and Conservation of Plant Genetic Resources
To date, the use of liquid nitrogen (LN) in plant gene banks is relatively limited. Globally, in 2021, approximately 10,000 accessions were cryopreserved, and their explants were derived from in vitro plants. In Europe, out of 500 banks, only 20 use cryogenic temperatures to store plant germplasms. The implementation of seven conservation projects in Poland starting in the 1990s meant that the gene banking system in this country began to gradually develop. Plant gene bank is mainly based on the collection of seeds and makes little use of plant tissues, including those from in vitro culture. From the point of view of systematics, plant material belonging to spermatophytes dominates in Polish gene banks, while spore plants are rarely represented. This review represents the first summary of gene cryobank activities and resources in Poland. It contains a brief overview of the ex situ plant protection programs aimed at the use of LN and presents the characteristics of four existing gene cryobanks in this country. Special attention is devoted to the presentation of studies on the cryopreservation of seeds, as well as of plant tissues, such as embryonic axes and plumules of trees, and fern gametophytes, that make a permanent contribution to gene bank resources.
Copyright (c) 2022 Ewa Zimnoch-Guzowska, Paweł Chmielarz, Mikołaj K. Wawrzyniak, Beata P. Plitta-Michalak, Marcin Michalak, Małgorzata Pałucka, Urszula Wasileńczyk, Paulina Kosek, Dariusz Kulus, Anna Rucińska, Anna Mikuła http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Polish Palaeobotany: 750 Million Years of Plant History as Revealed in a Century of Studies. Palaeozoic Microflora
All the palynological studies of the Polish Paleozoic were conducted during the last 100 years. The investigations regarded the oldest microflora remains, acritarchs reaching up to Precambrian, and spores, and pollen grains which appeared later. The main benefits of palynological analyses are their stratigraphic significance, usage for age determination, correlation of stratigraphic horizons, detection of climatic changes, and information on plant cover, often providing supplementary data for macroflora records. The most important results of Polish palynology demonstrate the multifaceted character of studies and their significance in science.
Copyright (c) 2022 Maria Barbacka, Grzegorz Pacyna http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Polish Palaeobotany: 750 Million Years of Plant History as Revealed in a Century of Studies. Palaeozoic Macrofossils
During the Palaeozoic Era, plants conquered the land and covered greater and greater areas from coastal lowlands to highlands. Palaeobotanical data based on macroremains from Polish Palaeozoic strata complete and enrich the picture of these processes. Knowledge about Polish Palaeozoic macrofloras developed significantly in the last hundred years but is very unevenly distributed among successive geological periods. Ordovician and Silurian macrofossils are single finds. Cores from deep boreholes provided significant material for recognition of Early Devonian plants. Carboniferous floras, especially from coal measures, are best known, as they are most numerous in taxa and specimens. Permian floras are very rare. Based on Devonian and Carboniferous fossils, many new, evolutionarily important taxa were proposed and have entered world science.
Copyright (c) 2022 Grzegorz Pacyna, Maria Barbacka http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Polish Palaeobotany: 750 Million Years of Plant History as Revealed in a Century of Studies. Mesozoic Terrestrial Palynology and Flora Reconstruction
Palynological studies of the Mesozoic era in Poland began in the 1950s. These investigations developed in many directions, including stratigraphy, systematics of spores and pollen grains and their botanical affinities, as well as paleoecological and paleoclimatic interpretations. In this study, we provide an overview of the most important achievements in Mesozoic terrestrial palynology in Poland.
Copyright (c) 2022 Jadwiga Ziaja, Anna Fijałkowska-Mader http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Polish Palaeobotany: 750 Million Years of Plant History as Revealed in a Century of Studies. Mesozoic Macroflora
Research on Polish Mesozoic macroflora has remarkably changed over the last 100 years. Compared with traditional nineteenth-century taxonomical and evolutionary studies, modern research also investigates of fossil plant diversity, plant interactions with the environment and animals, and deep changes in vegetation influenced by environmental and climate change. In this review, we present the most important turning points in Polish Mesozoic macroflora research and the development of cognitive techniques by discussing selected studies carried out by Polish palaeobotanists.
Copyright (c) 2022 Maria Barbacka, Grzegorz Pacyna, Adam T. Halamski http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Polish Palaeobotany: 750 Million Years of Plant History as Revealed in a Century of Studies. Research on the Paleogene and Neogene (Tertiary)
On overview of over a hundred years of history of Polish palaeobotanical research on the Paleogene and Neogene (formerly Tertiary) is provided. Profiles of the researchers who laid the foundations for the development of paleofloristic research are presented. In particular, we describe individuals who have made significant research contributions, including M. Raciborski, J. Zabłocki, M. Kostyniuk, H. Czeczott, and W. Szafer. Research centers that were revived after World War II gathered scientists who continued and extended work in the field, including M. Łańucka-Środońowa, J. Oszast, A. Skirgiełło, J. Doktorowicz-Hrebnicka, J. Stachurska, and J. Mamczar. This tradition was maintained and developed by researchers of the next generation: L. Stuchlik, E. Zastawniak, A. Sadowska, M. Ziembińska-Tworzydło, I. Grabowska, H. Ważyńska, A. Hummel, Z. Baranowska-Zarzycka, and A. Kohlman-Adamska. Currently, the fourth generation of Polish palaeobotanists, including B. Słodkowska, E. Worobiec, G. Worobiec, P. Gedl, M. Garecka, E. Durska, and R. Kowalski, conduct multifaceted palaeobotanical research, with links to various fields of knowledge, including botany, geology, and palaeoclimatology. Studies of past changes in plant cover provide important insight current climate change.
Copyright (c) 2022 Barbara Słodkowska, Maria Ziembińska-Tworzydło http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Somatic Embryogenesis, Genetic Modification, and GMOs at the Department of Plant Biotechnology and Cytogenetics at the IHAR
At the Plant Breeding and Acclimatization Institute, National Research Institute (IHAR), research on plant tissue cultures began in 1970s. Some in vitro methods, such as anther cultures or isolated microspore cultures, have been directly used to produce homozygous lines in plant breeding. These methods are also a prerequisite for genetic manipulation for both scientific and practical purposes. Here, we describe the achievements of the Department of Biotechnology and Cytogenetics over the last few decades in the area of somatic embryogenesis of cereals, genetic modifications, GMO detection and identification, and GMO legislation. This long-term research on plant regeneration systems has led to the development of the first transgenic triticale plants in the world and the first transgenic plants in Poland, which was followed by a multi-generation study of triticale transgene stability. The gene flow of transgenic triticale and transgenic maize investigated in field studies under Polish environmental conditions, as well as the evaluation of triticale pollen flow, provided scientific data for the development of coexistence measures and GMO risk assessment in case of plant authorization for cultivation. Based on the experience gained over the years, a GMO Controlling Laboratory was established to support the official control of GMOs in Poland and the EU. It was later nominated as one of the National Reference Laboratories collaborating with the Joint Research Center (JRC) of the European Commission, providing scientific and technical support in areas related to health and consumer protection. The GMO Controlling Laboratory is accredited by the Polish Center for Accreditation according to the ISO 17025 standard, ensuring high-quality analyses and flexible accreditation scope. It participates in the ongoing debate in Poland and the EU on the legal aspects of new genomic techniques in plant breeding through publications, lectures at scientific conferences, and by providing expertise to relevant bodies.
Copyright (c) 2022 Janusz Zimny, Sławomir Sowa http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Tissue Culture Techniques for the Production of Interspecific Hybrids in Poland: History and Achievements
Interspecific hybridization is a significant plant evolutionary process and, concomitantly, a frequently used method to broaden the genetic variability of species and genetically improve crops. However, in distant crosses, many prezygotic and postzygotic barriers are encountered that prevent free, uncontrolled gene flow between species. Therefore, various experimental methods exploiting tissue culture, such as in vitro fertilization, embryo rescue, and protoplast fusion, have been developed to raise hybrids that cannot be obtained naturally through conventional approaches. Professor Maciej Zenkteler of the Adam Mickiewicz University in Poznań pioneered the use of tissue culture in Poland to overcome barriers to sexual crossing. In the mid-1960s, he employed in vitro pollination in which pollen grains were directly applied onto the surface of exposed ovules as the primary method to bypass prezygotic barriers and in vitro culture of isolated ovules and developing embryos (embryo rescue) to overcome post-zygotic barriers. These approaches proved effective for species possessing numerous ovules and large placentas, such as representatives of the families Caryophyllaceae, Solanaceae, and Brassicaceae. Soon thereafter, these methods were extended to other Polish institutes and universities and applied for crop improvement, such as for the production of intergeneric hybrids between Salix and Populus species, resynthesis and broadening of the genetic variability of oilseed rape (Brassica napus L.), and the generation of new interspecific hybrids of Allium. In the late 1970s, Professor Zenkteler was the first to undertake protoplast fusion. At that time, it appeared that no incompatibility could exist at the fusion level and that somatic hybridization would supersede the possibilities offered by sexual hybridization; however, the reality turned out to be slightly harsh. Nonetheless, successful regeneration of different interspecific hybrids of potato, tomato, or gentians has been achieved by Polish research groups thus far.
Copyright (c) 2022 Karolina Tomiczak, Adela Adamus, Teresa Cegielska-Taras, Agnieszka Kiełkowska, Paulina Smyda-Dajmund, Katarzyna Sosnowska, Laurencja Szała http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
Zapiski bryologiczne by Kazimierz Szafnagel and His Herbarium in the Historical Context of Bryological Studies in Lithuania and Adjacent Regions
Zapiski bryologiczne, a book written by Kazimierz Szafnagel, is a report on the author’s bryological studies conducted between 1882 and 1885 in the territories of present-day Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine. The book was published in 1908 by the Society of Friends of Science in Vilnius after a long period of publishing stagnation caused by the closure of Vilnius University in 1832. Amateur botanist Szafnagel was among the first members to establish the society and was responsible for its botanical collections. In Zapiski bryologiczne, Szafnagel provided 245 moss species from the study areas. In 2018, Szafnagel’s bryophyte collection, comprising 667 moss specimens, was found at the Vilnius University Herbarium. These voucher specimens cover all the collection sites described in Szafnagel’s work. The majority of herbarium specimens (88%) were collected in the territory of Belarus. Szafnagel recognized 225 species in his original collection, but as a result of the current revision, their number decreased to 211 species. This set opened up new possibilities for evaluating the results of Szafnagel’s study, such as confirming the exact specimen referred to in his publication, clarifying the species according to modern nomenclatural concepts, and assessing the impact of landscape changes on the distribution and conservation status of rare species. Szafnagel’s published work and his herbarium can be considered as common heritage of the history of the natural sciences in Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, and Ukraine.
Copyright (c) 2022 Ilona Jukonienė, Aurika Ričkienė, Monika Kalvaitienė, Mindaugas Rasimavičius http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
[Retracted Article] Kraków Geobotanical School During 1859–2020: Main Achievements
Retraction notice: Upon the request of the authors, this review has been retracted. The reason for it is that the last decade of geobotanical studies in Kraków has not been described in depth and this affects the conclusions. Kraków Geobotanical School is considered one of the oldest and longest-operating botanical schools in Europe; it was active from 1859 to 2020. The purpose of this article is to summarize the achievements of the school. We divided the history of the school into six periods: (i) the Formation period (1859–1903); (ii) the Romantic period (1903–1917), wherein long-term research projects were completed and with M. Raciborski considered as the first headmaster of the school; (iii) the Classical period (1917–1970), wherein new ideas and research techniques were developed with W. Szafer as the headmaster; (iv) the Duumvirate period (1971–1993), with J. Kornaś and A. Jasiewicz as the headmasters; (v) the Descendant schools period (1994–2010), wherein traditional (morphological) methods were utilized; and (vi) the Decline period (2011–2020). Each of these periods was characterized by the names of the headmasters or leaders, their roles, and their main achievements. We suppose that Kraków Geobotanical School, in its present structure, has finished its scientific activity, for which we present a few arguments. We have attached to the main text of the article, an extensive tables containing the topics of geobotanical research carried out in each of the six periods, along with publication samples. The most important scientific achievements of Kraków Geobotanical School are the following: several thousand publications, including monographs and syntheses of knowledge on Polish flora and vegetation; introduction of new disciplines in Poland (e.g., paleobotany, nature conservation, phytosociology, palynology, study on synanthropization); description of new plant and fungus taxa; and identification of syntaxonomic units in Poland and abroad.
Copyright (c) 2022 Piotr Köhler, Alina Stachurska-Swakoń http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0