Knautia arvensis (family Dipsacaceae) is usually found in grasslands of Europe, but can also be found in some parts of Africa and Asia, usually in dry meadows, pastures, dry hills, and open woods. The chemical composition of this species is relatively unknown. The aim of this study was to give a phenolic profile of this plant, and to show how its phenolic composition varies depending upon plant organ and geographic origin. The chemical analysis included quantification of free phenolics soluble in methanol, esters and glycosides, and phenolics that are insoluble in methanol. Fourteen different phenolic acids and eight flavonoids were quantified in total. According to this study, the chemical composition of individual plant parts can differ tremendously within one population, which does not have to be in correspondence with chemical variability between populations. As shown in this study, the variation in chemical composition between plant parts can exceed that between different populations (from different climates, altitudes, with different environmental factors), which implies that microhabitat conditions can greatly affect the composition of some plant parts, which was shown also after PCA and HCA analysis.

To examine variation and taxonomic recognition of Pinus nigra (European black pine) at the intraspecific level, chromosomal distribution of 5S and 18S-5.8S-26S rDNA loci revealed by fluorescent in situ hybridisation (FISH) and fluorochrome banding with chromomycin A(3) and DAPI were analysed among allopatric populations belonging to different subspecies. Despite prevalent opinion on predominantly conserved and homogenous conifer karyotypes, several patterns were observed. Surprisingly, interstitial 18S rDNA loci and DAPI heterochromatin staining after FISH showed variations in distribution and localisation. Three subspecies shared a pattern with nine 18S rDNA loci (ssp. nigra, pallasiana and laricio) while ssp. dalmatica and salzmannii had eight rDNA loci. DAPI banding displayed two patterns, one with a high number of signals (ssp. nigra, pallasiana and dalmatica) and the other with a lower number of signals (ssp. salzmannii and laricio). We conclude that our results cannot provide proof for either classification scheme for the P. nigra complex, but rather demonstrate the variability of different heterochromatin fractions at the intraspecific level.

The main purpose of this study was to clarify the speciation and taxonomic status of European representatives of Lilium sect. Liriotypus (Lilium albanicum, L. bosniacum, L. bulbiferum, L. candidum, L. carniolicum, L. chalcedonicum, L. jankae, L. pomponium, L. rhodopaeum, L. pyrenaicum) based on karyotype differentiation. Clear interspecific differentiation was revealed among karyotypes of these taxa using fluorochrome (chromomycin and DAPI) bandings, fluorescent in situ hybridization and silver staining. Differences were evident in the number and position of CMA and DAPI bands and in the number, position and activity of 18S-26S and 5S rDNA genes. It is hypothesized that the type species of Lilium sect. Liriotypus, L. candidum, repre- sents the ancestral species from which three evolutionary directions diverged: the first towards L. chalcedonicum, the second towards L. rhodopaeum, and the third towards L. albanicum. The radiation process expanded from L. albanicum, beyond the southeast to the central Dinaric Alps where L. bosniacum is strongly represented. Furthermore, L. carniolicum evolved from northwestern populations of L. bosniacum. According to this evolutionary hypothesis, L. pomponium and L. pyrenaicum would be the youngest species.

Serpentine soils are characterized by extreme ecological conditions for plant development - they are barren of plant nutrients, contain high concentrations of heavy metals, they are shallow and do not hold water well, which results in dry and exposed habitats. The stresses induced in such conditions exert evolutionary pressure for selection of traits and mutations that allow certain plants to adapt to serpentine soils. Serpentine flora in general provides an opportunity to examine adaptive evolutionary mechanisms. Lilium bosniacum is an endemic species of Balkan Peninsula, which usually grows on limestone or dolomite substrates with deep soils rich in nutrients and at altitudinal optimum from 1200 m to 1300 m. We found a population of L. bosniacum growing on inclined slope of serpentine substrate at altitude of 970 m, at the environmental conditions that are not habitual for this species. This is the first serpentine population found in the distributional range of Bosnian lily. Cytogenetic and molecular analyses revealed variations in karyotype/genome features between serpentine and non-serpentine populations, as well as within serpentine population, in terms of changed chromosome morphology, different number and position of 18S-26S rDNA loci and CMA bands, different copy number and transcriptional activity of rRNA genes, presence/absence of B-chromosomes and different rDNA IGS length variants. Full sequence is given for IGS length variants. In addition, analysis of leaf anatomy revealed difference in number and size of stoma per leaf area between non-serpentine and serpentine populations. Changes of karyotype/genome and anatomic features found in serpentine population are discussed in respect to the extreme life conditions that are characteristic for serpentines.