1. First EST-SSRs of Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don (Asteraceae) revealed insights into the genetic diversity and population structure in CorsicaPetra Gabrovšek, Matjaž Hladnik, Dunja Bandelj, Zala Jenko Pražnikar, Saša Kenig, Félix Tomi, Marc Gibernau, Slavko Brana, Alenka Baruca Arbeiter, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Helichrysum italicum (Roth) G. Don (Asteraceae) is a valuable medicinal and aromatic plant native to a variety of habitats across the Mediterranean region. However, genetic studies of this morphologically diverse species have been limited by the scarcity of species-specific DNA markers. To address this limitation, we generated the first de novo transcriptome assembly comprising 24,806 transcripts from young shoots containing leaves and flowers, developed EST-SSR markers, and evaluated their utility in population genetic analysis. Seventy-eight primer pairs were designed, of which 23 showed successful amplification, polymorphism, and transferability to Helichrysum litoreum Guss. and Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench. A subset of 12 EST-SSRs was used to genotype 270 individuals from 12 natural populations of H. italicum in Corsica (France), along with one outgroup population from Croatia. The polymorphic information content ranged from 0.250 to 0.796, and Shannon’s information index ranged from 0.588 to 1.843, indicating the markers’ suitability for popu- lation genetic studies. Analysis of molecular variance revealed that 15% of the total genetic variation was attributable to differences among populations. Discriminant analysis of principal components and Bayesian clustering in STRUCTURE identified distinct popu- lation clusters corresponding to geographic locations. Notably, the southernmost coastal populations were clearly differentiated from the others.
Keywords: Helichrysum italicum, immortelle, de novo transcriptome, genic microsatellite markers, EST-SSRs, population study, Corsica, Mediterranean Basin
Published in RUP: 17.12.2025; Views: 189; Downloads: 6
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2. Plants in danger : floral and other plant traits as drivers of vulnerability in Mediterranean countriesAmparo Lázaro, Anastasia Stefanaki, Martha Charitonidou, Joana Cursach, Maria Panitsa, Ioannis Bazos, Rosa Ranalli, Mauro Fois, Marta Galloni, Gianluigi Bacchetta, Živa Fišer, 2026, original scientific article Abstract: Plants with complex floral morphologies are adapted to be pollinated by restricted pollinator assemblages and may suffer pollinator limitation. Understanding how floral traits and other variables relate to plant vulnerability can provide a powerful tool for predicting the conservation status and prioritizing the assessment of plants with scarce field data. Using circa 3000 records of rare and threatened (sensu IUCN) entomophilous plant taxa from seven Mediterranean countries, we evaluated how six floral traits and other eight intrinsic and extrinsic variables were related to plant vulnerability (less vs. more threatened plants). Besides, we analyzed 29 experts' opinions regarding the floral traits most related to floral complexity. Floral shape, reproductive unit, and flowering duration were good vulnerability indicators. Taxa with lip- and flag-shaped flowers were the most threatened, which agrees with the opinion of experts who considered lip- and flag-shaped flowers to have more complex morphologies. Also, plants with cylindrical inflorescences or solitary flowers were more threatened than those with flat-spherical inflorescences; and longer flowering durations reduced the probability of being threatened. Regarding extrinsic variables, coastal and freshwater habitats, i.e. habitats heavily impacted by human activities, had the highest percentage of highly threatened taxa. Yet, plant vulnerability decreased with maximum elevation and total distribution range. These results may serve as a basis for managers and practitioners when field data are scarce or unavailable, so that, depending on their traits, species could be provisionally listed in Red Lists as deserving priority for assessment to ascertain conservation status and actions.
Keywords: floral complexity, floral shape, flowering duration, functional reproductive unit, plant conservation, red data books, threatened Mediterranean vascular flora
Published in RUP: 02.12.2025; Views: 235; Downloads: 3
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7. Diatom diversity on the skin of frozen historic loggerhead sea turtle specimensLucija Kanjer, Roksana Majewska, Bart Van de Vijver, Romana Gračan, Bojan Lazar, Sunčica Bosak, 2020, original scientific article Keywords: epibionts, diatoms, marine turtles, Mediterranean
Published in RUP: 18.10.2021; Views: 2500; Downloads: 39
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9. Foraging ecology of Mediterranean juvenile loggerhead turtles : insights from C and N stable isotope ratiosJulia C. Haywood, Paolo Casale, Daniela Freggi, Wayne J. Fuller, Brendan J. Godley, Bojan Lazar, Dimitris Margaritoulis, Alan F. Rees, Jamie D. Shutler, Robin T. Snape, 2020, original scientific article Keywords: foraging ecology, sea turtles, carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes, Mediterranean
Published in RUP: 18.03.2020; Views: 3603; Downloads: 60
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10. In search of an identity for Salvia bertolonii (Lamiaceae)Manica Balant, Peter Glasnović, Živa Fišer, Moreno Clementi, Boštjan Surina, 2019, original scientific article Keywords: Balkan Peninsula, flower dimorphism, geometric morphometrics, Lamiaceae, Mediterranean, taxonomy, Salvia pratensis
Published in RUP: 09.08.2019; Views: 5184; Downloads: 196
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