The expected and already observed increment in frequency of extreme climatic events may result in severe vegetation shifts. However, stabilizing mechanisms promoting community resilience can buffer the lasting impact of extreme events. The present work analyzes the resilience of a Mediterranean mountain ecosystem after an extreme drought in 2005, examining shoot-growth and needle-length resista...

Nontuberculous mycobacteria, like other opportunistic premise plumbing pathogens, produce resistant biofilms on various surfaces in the system including pipes, tanks, and fittings. Since standard methods of water disinfection are ineffective eradicating biofilms, research into new agents is necessary. Essential oils (EOs) have great potential as anti-biofilm agents. Therefore, purpose this was ...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Juniperus excelsa is an important woody species in the high mountain ecosystems of the eastern Mediterranean Basin where it constitutes the only coniferous species found at the tree line. The genetic diversity within and among J. excelsa populations of the eastern Mediterranean Basin is studied in the light of their historical fragmentation. METHODOLOGY Nuclear microsatell...

Communication between the cytosol and organelles has been much studied in plant cells, while the nature of direct interaction of nuclei and chloroplasts, and the interaction of tubular and saccular networks derived by them, are still a challenge to research. Here we show by the use of several microscopy methods and techniques that different compact plastid-nuclear complexes (PNCs) are permanent...

Male and female leaves and fruits of eleven different taxons of Iranian conifers (Cupressus sempervirens var. horizontalis, C. sempervirens var. sempervirens, C. sempervirens cv. Cereifeormis, Juniperus communis subsp. hemisphaerica, J. excelsa subsp. excelsa, J. excelsa subsp. polycarpos, J. foetidissima, J. oblonga, J. sabina, Platycladus orientalis and Taxus baccata) were collected from diff...

We studied carotenoids composition and the activities of the xanthophylls pigments in evergreen conifers (Abies sibirica, Juniperus communis, Picea obovata) and dwarf-shrub (Vaccinium vitis-idaea), and in wintergreen herbaceous plants (Ajuga reptans, Pyrola rotundifolia) growing near Syktyvkar (61°67(/) N 50°77(/) E). The carotenoid pool consisted mainly of following xanthophylls: lutein (70%),...

The content and distribution of stilbenes and resin acids in Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris) and spruce (Picea abies), sampled in central Norway, have been examined. The contents of pinosylvin stilbenes in pine heartwood/living knots were 0.2-2/2-8 %(w/w). No stilbenes could be detected in spruce (Picea abies). The resin acid contents of pine sapwood/heartwood and knots were 1-4 and 5-10 % (w/w),...