European larch (Larix decidua) is naturally distributed at high elevations in Central Europe. Romanian populations of L. decidua are scattered in different areas of the country. In this study, we used 12 highly informative genomic simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers for genotyping seven populations from different areas of Romania. The SSR markers were highly variable, with up to 11 alleles per SSR locus and an average polymorphic information content of 0.713. High values of observed (H o = 0.542) and expected (H e = 0.738) heterozygosities were observed. Cluster analysis of populations did not group them according to geographical distance, but some clusters contained populations from a similar altitudinal range. The partition of genetic variation revealed that two-thirds of the genetic variation was found within individuals (due to high H o levels), while only one-sixth of the total genetic variation corresponded to variation among populations. A population structure analysis identified four genetic clusters, and in most cases individuals from a single population were assigned to several genetic clusters. Multivariate principal coordinates analysis confirmed the population structure analysis. SSR markers are a powerful tool for evaluating diversity, relationships, and the genetic structure of Romanian L. decidua populations, which have high levels of diversity and low genetic structuration.

In order to evaluate the content of betulin and betulinic acids in Birch barks originating from Western Carpathians, Transylvania (Romania) forests, in relation with the location of birch trees, it was recorded the geographic and vegetation conditions at the specific locations of each type of sample. Two groups of birch tree bark (totally 10 samples) were collected, from two regions, pasture surfaces where birch trees appeared spontaneously (samples 1 to 5) and another group from forests of combined trees, including mainly pine trees (samples 6 to 10). The identification and quantitation of betulin and betulinic acid were made by High Performance Liquid Chromatography with UV detection. In the first region it has been found mean concentrations of 126.85 ± 12.56 mg/g betulin bark while acid betulinic had average values of 12.78 ± 1.26 mg/g bark. In the second region we found mean concentrations of 89.84 ± 8.43 mg/g betulin of bark while acid betulinic had average values of 10.60 ± 0.97 mg/g bark. Statistically, significant differences were noticed between the two regions, the first region being richer in these molecules. Generally, the percentage of betulinic acid was around 11.23% against betulin, higher in the second region, even the absolute concentrations were lower for both molecules. These data are useful indicators of the potential offered by birch bark sources found in Transylvania region, to obtain extracts enriched in betulin and betulinic acid.

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) is recognised as a forest species of interest due to its multiple uses. The management of forest genetic resources and their efficient conservation suffer from variations in traits and start with seed germination. The aim of the current study was to investigate the germination of seeds obtained from plus trees selected in eight Romanian provenances, as well as to investigate the influence of the origin upon plants’ growth and development. Two experiments were undertaken to test seed germination: one treatment involved water-soaked seeds and heat/cold treatment, while the other treatment was based on sulphuric acid, at different concentrations (50, 70, 90%). The results were correlated with the morphological analysis of the seeds. Satu-Mare had the lowest germination rate within both treatments. Sulphuric acid did not improve seed germination as much as the heat treatment. The highest germination rate occurred for the water and temperature treatment on seeds from Bihor provenance (68.2%). The most distant provenance was Bihor, in inverse correlation with Bistrița Năsăud and grouped separately within the hierarchical dendrogram of cluster analysis based on the analysed parameters of the provenances investigated. The results demonstrated that the genotypes and environmental heterogeneity of the seed origin within the provenances may finally result in different performances.

The comparison of the antioxidant activity of the studied seeds of fiber crop (hemp and flax) emphasized a hierarchy of antioxidant capacity. The purpose of the study was to investigate the antioxidant capacity and nutritional value of flax seeds (Linum usitatissimum L.) and hemp seeds (Cannabis sativa L.) in powder form. In this study, the FT-IR technique was utilized in order to detect molecular components in analyzed samples. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated with photochemical assay as well as humidity, protein, fiber, lipid and carbohydrate content. The FT-IR results reveal the presence of different bio-active compounds in hemp such as flavonoids, tannins, sugars, acids, proanthocyanidins, carotenoids and citric metabolites. The highest antioxidant capacity was observed in flax seeds, 18.32 ± 0.98, in comparison with hemp seeds, 4 ± 0.71 (μg/mg dry weight equivalent ascorbic acid). Regarding nutritional parameters, flax seeds showed the most increased content of protein, displaying average values of 534.08 ± 3.08, as well as 42.20 ± 0.89 of lipids and 27.30 ± 0.89 of fiber (g/100 g/sample). Hemp seeds showed the highest protein content of 33 ± 1.24 (g/100 g/sample).

Black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia L.) was among the first North-American tree species imported in Europe. In Romania, black locust has established itself as a forest tree appreciated for multiple uses. The objective of the hereby study was to identify a quality planting material at black locust using seeds from trees with superior traits from five stands geographically close, located in North-western of Romania. An empirical selection was done, thus trees with the most favourable traits were selected as plus trees. Among the averages of the main traits (tree height, diameter at breast height, basal area, self pruning trunk length, crown diameter) of the plus trees from the five stands, there were registered significant differences, and two stands stood out with a high biomass growth. Even if the stands had different ages (between 20-35 year), the age did not influence significantly the growth traits of the trees. The seeds of the plus trees (open-pollinated) from all the stands had large size (mean seed weight of 0.057 g/seed). The seedling emergence rate was high, especially in the solarium condition (between 52.7-73.7% compared with 33.0-41.3% in the field). Coefficient of genetic correlation and heritability calculated for the seedlings belongings to half-sib families highlighted that black locust breeding can be extremely effective by a proper selection.

The comparison of the antioxidant activity of the studied forest fruits emphasized a hierarchy of the antioxidant capacity in rosehip, blackthorn, lingonberry and cornelian cherry. The purpose of the study was to investigate the antioxidant capacity and nutritional value of rosehip, blackthorn, lingonberry and cornelian cherry. In the current study, the FT-IR spectroscopy technique was applied to detect molecular components in forest fruits samples. Antioxidant capacity was evaluated with photochemical assay as well as humidity, protein, fibre, lipid and carbohydrate content. The FT-IR results revealed the presence of different bio-active compounds in berries such as flavonoids, tannins, sugars, acids, proanthocyanidins, carotenoids, citric metabolites and others. The highest antioxidant capacity was observed in rosehip 105.67±1.38 and blackthorn 49.89±1.92 (μg/mg equivalent ascorbic acid). Regarding nutritional parameters, rosehip showed the most increased content of protein displaying average values of 1.60, carbohydrates 38.20 and fibre 24.10 (g/100 g/sample). These results can provide useful information providing a research interest for the identification of new molecular compounds from Romanian flora samples.   ********* In press - Online First. Article has been peer reviewed, accepted for publication and published online without pagination. It will receive pagination when the issue will be ready for publishing as a complete number (Volume 47, Issue 4, 2019). The article is searchable and citable by Digital Object Identifier (DOI). DOI link will become active after the article will be included in the complete issue. *********  

The influence of the geographical origin of eight Romanian provenances of Robinia pseudoacacia on the characteristics of seeds, germination, and growth of seedlings in young stages of life was analyzed. Four experiments were undertaken to test seed germination (thermal treatment at distinct temperatures, mechanical scarification, acetone 90%, and biostimulator). The germination percentage showed that scarification treatment provided the best results among all treatments (41.7%). Seeds soaked in water at 100 °C provided the second-highest germination rate. Furthermore, the same two treatments also assured the highest values for the seedlings’ length. There were registered significant differences among the provenances for the analyzed characteristics, the seed germination capacity, and the growth rate of the seedlings in the first years of life. The study highlighted the resources that could ensure good quality of the reproductive forest material, which can be used in new afforestation and breeding programs. Pearson correlations and multivariate analysis provided interesting and useful information about R. pseudoacacia provenances and 13 characteristics of the seeds and seedlings, highlighting the relationship among them. The results could be of interest for the efficient use of forest genetic resources and the obtention of quality reproductive material in black locust.

The current study aimed to investigate the effect of different treatments applied to sessile oak seeds in order to improve the germination features, development and growth of seedlings. The seeds were subjected to electric field, electromagnetic field and γ rays’ treatments. For the electric field study three distinct voltages (10V, 30V and 50V) and three values of exposure time (15 min., 35 min. and 60 min.) were considered. Displaying the seeds in an electric field for 60 minutes increased the germination rate with 58.89%. The highest value for the seedling’s height was obtained when seeds were exposed for 15 minutes at an intensity of 30V. The interaction between the intensity and the timing showed that treating seeds with 30V for 35 minutes improved significantly the seedlings peculiarities. In regard to the electromagnetic field, the seeds were subjected to a single value of electromagnetic field (B=0,4mT; i=0,680 A) and three values of exposure time: 10 min., 20 min. and 30 min. The sessile oak seeds subjected to the electromagnetic field for 20 minutes induced the highest value of germination percentage (90.00%) and germination index (1.81) and those seeds produced plantlets with high diameter (2.69 mm) and with significant differences towards non-treated plants. For γ rays treatments a dosage of 2 Gy induced the highest value of germination percentage (86.67%), of germination index (2.02); of germination energy (7.7); and of germination speed (7.24). A dosage of 6 Gy decreased the values of the same parameters. Our results showed that a dosage of 2 Gy improved also the growth parameters such as plantlets diameter (2.65 mm) and height (11.25 cm). In short, the physical treatments represent an ecological substitute approach towards the chemical substances presently used to improve seeds germination. Using physical treatments for seeds germination and growth of seedlings might be a harmless alternative for environment.