In order to best conserve, as well as utilize, traditional apple germplasm in Norway, an apple heritage cultivar collection was established in Ullensvang, western Norway, which aims to become the National Clonal Germplasm Repository. The establishment of the apple heritage cultivar collection was preceded by a molecular study that aimed to genotype a large number of apple accessions maintained in various ex situ sites in western and south-eastern Norway, using a rather small set of eight SSR markers. However limited, the marker set managed to identify synonyms, homonyms, and duplicates within and among the investigated collections. In this study, 171 apple accessions from the Ullensvang apple heritage cultivar collection were genotyped using a set of 20 different SSR markers. Approximately half of the accessions have been previously genotyped using eight SSR markers, enabling an assessment of whether the use of a larger marker set would yield a more accurate characterization. Based on the obtained molecular data, the apple heritage cultivar collection was determined to hold a key part of the overall genetic diversity of the Norwegian apple germplasm. Furthermore, the twelve additional SSR markers were able to differentiate several accessions groups originally thought to be synonyms, as well as to provide a more detailed insight into the genetic structure of this germplasm.

Silene sendtneri Boiss. (Caryophyllaceae) is the Dinaric endemic plant species with white, decorative and scented flowers. Previous studies on this endemic species were based on morphology and effects on seed germination after the treatment with salicylic acid. However, no molecular genetic studies have been conducted on this species so far. This paper presents preliminary results of the usefulness of microsatellite loci created for cosmopolitan species in assessing the genetic diversity of endemic plant species. A total of 100 specimens were collected from 18 localities in the mountain regions of Treskavica, Igman, Bjelašnica and Ozren in Bosnia and Herzegovina. No S. sendtneri individuals were found at the mountain Trebević. We tested cross-amplification success and a polymorphism level for the set of microsatellite markers (Sil01, Sil03, Sil16, Sil31, Sil35) designed for the cosmopolitan species Silene nutans. In 100 analyzed individuals of S. sendtneri, Sil31 and Sil35 did not amplify, Sil01 was monomorphic and the remaining two loci showed a high level of allelic diversity. Our findings suggest that caution should therefore be exercised in selecting microsatellite markers designed for cosmopolitan plant species in the analyses of endemic species of the same genus since different genetic factors affect the amplification success and polymorphism of the given loci. Attention should be given to the number of detected and effective alleles and their ratio, the success of locus amplification concerning the complete set of markers used, and the ratio of polymorphs to the total number of observed loci.

Abstract Interspecific hybridization in the Cyprinidae family has been recorded worldwide, with Abramis brama (bream) and Rutilus rutilus (roach) as one of the often-reported hybridizing pairs. The only account of such an event in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been in Modrac Reservoir. Using morphological and molecular markers, the presence of hybrids was surveyed, the hybridization direction was determined and the hybrid group structure in this ecosystem was evaluated. Our findings confirmed unhindered natural hybridization between roach and bream in Modrac Reservoir. Over 50% of the hybrid specimens were classified as F2 hybrids by the NewHybrids software, while the rest were categorized as pure parental form, making it the first such finding in Europe. The analysis of mitochondrial cytochrome b showed that 90% of hybrid individuals were of bream maternal origin. The hybrid group expressed higher mean values of observed heterozygosity and gene diversity than both parental species. Signs of introgressive hybridization between parental species were detected. The hybrid zone of Modrac Reservoir appears to follow the intermediate or “flat” hybrid model based on the balanced distribution of parental and hybrid genotypes. Further investigation is needed to elucidate the factors that enable the survival and mating success of post-F1 individuals.

This paper provides an overview of the seven possible hand-related traits, with an idea to estimate the statistical phenotypic association between them. The traits observed in this study were: midphalangeal hair, Hitchhiker’s thumb, extensibility of proximal joint of thumb, digital index, nail shape, crooked fifth finger and hand clasping. The mentioned characteristics were observed in 7431 unrelated subjects, with approximately equal gender distribution. For each case, three groups were formed: total, male and female. The subjects were evenly distributed throughout Bosnia and Herzegovina’s various geographical regions, and they properly represent the country’s national and ethnic composition. The Chi-squared test was used to determine the statistical significance of the association between these traits, while Fisher’s exact test was utilized as an extra test to analyze the association between each pair of observed features. Also, Chi-squared test was applied for observing differences in the frequencies of the phenotypic characteristics of the hand between the genders. Following traits were shown to have a statistically significant association: midphalangeal hair-Hitchhiker’s thumb, midphalangeal hair – digital index, midphalangeal hair – nail shape, midphalangeal hair – crooked fifth finger, Hitchhiker’s thumb- extensibility of proximal joint of thumb, digital index – nail shape, digital index -crooked fifth finger, midphalangeal hair – hand clasping, crooked fifth finger – hand clasping. Analysis of differences in the frequencies of the observed phenotypic traits of the hand according to the genders showed statistical significance for D, Dht, Ref and Lf.

Abstract At the end of December 2019, first identified cases of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) started emerging. Ever since the emergence of the first case of infection with SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19, it became the hottest research topic of numerous studies, in which scientists are trying to understand the path of infection, transmission, replication and viral action, all in order of finding a potential cure or vaccine applying various fundamental principles and methodologies. Using in silico method via AutoDock Vina 1.1.2., we analysed the binding affinity of six selected compounds from grapefruit seed extract (GSE) (narirutin, naringin, naringenin, limonin, ascorbic acid and citric acid) to SARS-CoV-2 main protease Mpro (PDB ID: 6Y84), using acetoside, remdesivir and gallic acid as a positive controls of binding affinity. Results showed highest affinity (rmsd l.b. 0.000; rmsd u.b. 0.000) for narirutin (-10.5), then for naringin (-10.1), acetoside (-10.0), limonin (-9.9), remdesivir (-9.6), naringenin (-8.2), ascorbic acid (-6.7), citric acid (-6.4) and gallic acid (-6.4), all expressed in kcal/mol. Our findings suggest that selected compounds from grapefruit seed extract represent potential inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 Mpro, but further research is needed as well as preclinical and clinical trials for final confirmation of inhibitory functionality of these compounds.