Ginkgo biloba, the last extant representative of a lineage of Mesozoic gymnosperms, is one of the few seed plants with an exceptionally long (~300 Myr) evolutionary history free of genome-wide duplications (polyploidy). Despite this genome conservatism, we have recently found a viable spontaneous tetraploid Ginkgo sapling during routine screening of several plants, demonstrating that natural polyploidy is possible in Ginkgo. Here we provide a much wider flow cytometry survey of ploidy in some European Ginkgo collections, and own seedlings (>2200 individuals and ~200 cultivars). We found a surprisingly high level of ploidy variation in modern-day Ginkgo and documented altogether 13 haploid, 3 triploid, and 10 tetraploid Ginkgo plants or cultivars, most of them being morphologically distinct from common diploids. Haploids frequently produced polyploid (dihaploid) buds or branches. Tetraploids showed some genome size variation. The surveyed plants provide a unique resource for future Ginkgo research and breeding, and they might be used to accelerate the modern diversification of this nearly extinct plant lineage.

A total of 78 insect species were recorded as damaging plant organs (galls, mines and eaten leaves) on nine Quercus species in south-western Slovakia during 1987-1992. The insects belong to five orders: 41 species of Hymenoptera, 16 species of Lepidoptera, 13 species of Diptera, two species of Coleoptera and five species of Homoptera. In addition, galls of Eriophyes cerreus (Eriophyidae, Acari) were found. The following species were abundant: Andricus kollari (Htg.), A . lignicola (Htg.), A. lucida (Htg.), Neuroterus quercusbaccarum (L.), Biorrhiza pallida ( O h . ) (Hym., Cynipidae) and Periclista lineolata (Klug) (Hym., Tenthredinidae); Tischeria ekebladella (Bjerk.) (Lep., Tischeriidae) and Phyllonorycter (Lithocolletis) roboris Zll. (Lepidoptera, Gracillariidae); Haltica quercetorum Foundr. (Col., Chrysomelidae). The number of insect species moderately oscillated and changed during 1987-1992. The lowest number (35 species) was found in 1991, the highest (48 species) in 1989. The highest number, 42 insect species, was associated with Quercus cerris, the lowest (25 species) with Q. pubescens. Insect species caused a total of 6356 galls, mines and other types of damage on nine Quercus species. Insect species were evaluated according to degree of harmfulness.

Kollár J., Hrubík P., Tkáčová S. Research was carried out in 7 model urban areas of Slovakia (Nitra, Topoľčany, Komárno, Partizánske, Piešťany, Prievidza, Trnava) in 2005-2006. Research was aimed at phytophagous insects damaging allochthonous and autochthonous ornamental woody plants, growing in the urban environment. Because of the importance of alien (introduced) species in this country, we were also interested in this problem. Field research was realized minimally three times per vegetation period. We collected samples of damage symptoms, adult samples or larval samples. In total, we recorded 409 species and 5 varieties of phytophagous insects in the examined areas. From that number the order lepidoptera accounted for the highest percentage (29.25%). We recorded 52 species of alien insects. During the research period we recorded 9 new alien species for Slovakia in the model areas.

Ražná, K., Žiarovská, J., Hrubík, P., Batyaneková, V., Vargaová, A., 2019. Ecologically conditioned imprinting of miRNA-based profiles of Ginkgo biloba L. growing in Slovakia. Folia Oecologica, 46: 54-62.Ginkgo biloba L. is characterized by its high level of resistance to climatic conditions, diseases, and pests. In Slovakia, there is a rich collection of genetic resources of ginkgo consisting of 288 trees growing in 103 locations and providing valuable biological material for scientific research. There have been documented 45 trees of ginkgo older than 100 years (ranging from 112 to 242 years of age). Their dendrometrical parameters were recorded. For genomic imprinting, three types of microRNA-based markers were selected; highly conserved gb-miR160, moderately conserved gb-miR482 and the species-specific gb-miR75. The most efficient one can be considered the marker gb-miR482 with its genotype-unique miRNA profiles probably related to this marker functioning in the defence mechanisms of the ginkgo species. Unique miRNA loci were recorded in genomes of young ginkgo trees. We found that, by selecting the appropriate microRNA-based markers, it is possible to characterize the ginkgo genome in the context of microclimatic conditions.

Although ginkgo (Maidenhair tree, Ginkgo biloba L.) is an ancient medicinal and ornamental tree, there has not previously been any systematic proteomic study of the leaves. Herein we describe results from the initial study identifying abundant ginkgo leaf proteins and present a gel reference map. Proteins were isolated from fully developed mature leaves in biological triplicate and analyzed by two-dimensional electrophoresis plus tandem mass spectrometry. Using this approach, we were able to reproducibly quantify 190 abundant protein spots, from which 157 proteins were identified. Most of identified proteins are associated with the energy and protein destination/storage categories. The reference map provides a basis for understanding the accumulation of flavonoids and other phenolic compounds in mature leaves (e.g., identification of chalcone synthase, the first committed enzyme in flavonoid biosynthesis). We additionally detected several proteins of as yet unknown function. These proteins comprise a pool of potential targets that might be useful in nontraditional medical applications.

Abstract:The health state of Ginkgo biloba L. and damage caused by microscopic fungi were evaluated over the 2010-2011 time period, in selected localities of Slovakia and Czechia. The trees were assessed and put into two categories of health. Trees in very good (category 1) or good vitality and health with no or only light damage (category 2). A total of seven species of microscopic fungi were identified from samples taken from branches, fruits, and leaves. The following fungal genera were detected: Epicoccum, Fusarium, Alternaria, Phomopsis, Cylindrosporium, Phyllosticta, and Cladosporium. This present study is the first report about microscopic fungi determined on G. biloba for Slovakia.

The subject of the research was to find out the cultural expansion of two species of Taxodium, namely Taxodium ascendens (Brongn.) and Taxodium distichum (L.) L. C. Rich. The occurrence of individuals was recorded on 18 different localities of Slovakia, obtaining the taxonomic-dendrometric characteristics of individual trees. Appropriate methodologies and available devices have been used. Biological data, such as tree planting, health status, landscaping value, and tree age were recorded. The Taxodium distichum (L.) L. C. Rich. is found in 15 localities in Slovakia and in the three localities of Taxodium ascendens (Brongn.). Regarding the number of trees represented, Taxodium distichum contains 35 trees growing on individual localities, of which 3 are state-protected trees. We did not confirm 9 trees at registered locations. In general, we have seen a declining level of maintenance and care for our historic parks and state-protected trees. Literary records characterizing the genome of these rare species are focused on the study of genetic variability and polymorphism mapping using various types of molecular markers to elucidate the genetic essence of phenotypic variability and the historical structure of species populations. Keywords: Taxodium distichum; Taxodium ascendens; taxonomic-dendrometric; characteristics ÚvodDruh Taxodium je známy svojou významnou toleranciou voči stresu zavodnenia, z čoho vyplýva jeho veľký ekologický a ekonomický potenciál (Qi et al., 2014). Taxodium, patrí do čeľade Taxodiaceaetisovcovité (Mareček et al., 2001). Známe sú tri druhy, ktorých domovom sú južné oblasti Severnej Ameriky a Mexika, väčšinou na bažinách alebo veľmi mokrých pôdach (Hieke, 2008). Uvádzame dva druhy: Taxodium ascendens (Brongn.) a Taxodium distichum (L.) L. C. Rich., ktoré boli predmetom výskumu a merania na Slovensku.Tisovec potrebuje v mladosti polotieň, neskôr svetlé stanovište. V našich podmienkach je odolný voči zime, nie je príliš náročný na pôdu, ideálna je teplejšia, piesočnato hlinitá, dobre priepustná a hlavne

The significant healing effect of Tilia platyphyllos Scop. and Tilia cordata Mill. flowers are well known. However, the flowers of Tilia tomentosa Moench. are not suitable for harvest due to their toxic effects. To investigate the diverse background of this effect, we applied a functional miRNA-based marker, mannose expression analysis and determined the content of bioactive compounds. Out of nine tested markers, three (miR160, miR167 and miR408) provided reproducible miRNA-based loci and two of them (miR160 and miR398) enabled the acquisition of fingerprinting specific to flower and leaf samples of T. platyphyllos and T. tomentosa. The most pronounced profiling was specific for miR408 marker, the function of which is connected to plant defense and adaptation mechanisms. We confirmed the suitability of microRNA-based markers for polymorphism determination of flowers of selected species of lime-tree. The highest values of antioxidant activity, flavonoids, total polyphenols and phenolic acids content have been reached in silver linden flowers. When comparing the transcription activity of mannose in flowers, more than 30 times higher levels of mannose transcripts for the silver linden flowers was observed.