Response of juveniles of seven forest tree species and their populations to different combinations of simulated climate change-related stressors: spring-frost, heat, drought, increased UV radiation and ozone concentration under elevated CO level.

The study aimed to assess response of juvenile progeny of seven forest tree species, Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies, Betula pendula, Alnus glutinosa, Populus tremula, Quercus robur and Fraxinus excelsior, and their populations to different combinations of climate change-related multiple stressors, simulated in a phytotron under elevated CO concentration: (1) heat + elevated humidity (HW); (2) heat + frost + drought (HFD); (3) heat + elevated humidity + increased UV-B radiation doses + elevated ozone concentration (HWUO); and (4) heat + frost + drought + increased UV-B radiation doses + elevated ozone concentration (HFDUO). Effects of the complex treatments, species and species-by-treatment interaction were highly significant in most of the growth, physiological and biochemical traits studied, indicating general and species-specific responses to the applied treatments. For deciduous trees, height increment was much higher under HW treatment than in ambient conditions (control) indicating a positive effect of elevated temperature and better water and CO availability.

Population genetic analysis of a parasitic mycovirus to infer the invasion history of its fungal host.

Hymenoscyphus fraxineus mitovirus 1 (HfMV1) occurs in the fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, an introduced plant pathogen responsible for the devastating ash dieback epidemic in Europe. Here, we explored the prevalence and genetic structure of HfMV1 to elucidate the invasion history of both the virus and the fungal host. A total of 1298 H.

Genetic Structure in the Northern Range Margins of Common Ash, Fraxinus excelsior L.

During post glacial colonization, loss of genetic diversity due to leading edge effects may be attenuated in forest trees because of their prolonged juvenile phase, allowing many migrants to reach the colonizing front before populations become reproductive. The northern range margins of temperate tree taxa in Europe are particularly suitable to study the genetic processes that follow colonization because they have been little affected by northern refugia. Here we examined how post glacial range dynamics have shaped the genetic structure of common ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.

Phytase activity of lactic acid bacteria and their impact on the solubility of minerals from wholemeal wheat bread.

The objective of this study was to determinate phytase activity of bacteriocins producing lactic acid bacteria previously isolated from spontaneous rye sourdough. The results show that the highest extracellular phytase activity produces Pediococcus pentosaceus KTU05-8 and KTU05-9 strains with a volumetric phytase activity of 32 and 54 U/ml, respectively, under conditions similar to leavening of bread dough (pH 5.5 and 30 °C).

Irreversible magnetoporation of micro-organisms in high pulsed magnetic fields.

Electroporation is an appealing way of stimulating living cells, which causes permanent or temporary nanoporosities in the structure of the biological objects. However, the technique has a disadvantage such as a requirement of contact between the electrodes and the cell medium. In this review, a methodology of contactless treatment of the biological objects using pulsed magnetic fields is proposed.

Cyanotoxin management and human health risk mitigation in recreational waters.

The occurrence and severity of harmful cyanobacterial or blue-green algal blooms (HABs) have increased in recent decades, posing a serious threat of illness to humans. In some countries, water contaminated with cyanotoxins that is used for drinking or haemodialysis has posed a particularly serious risk. However, it is now recognized that recreational exposure to natural toxins by skin contact, accidental swallowing of water or inhalation can also cause a wide range of acute or chronic illnesses.

Phenolics, antioxidative activity and characterization of anthocyanins in berries of blackcurrant interspecific hybrids.

The interest in phenols and anthocyanins has increased due to their antioxidant properties and to their potential usage as dietary antioxidants in human nutrition. Total phenols and anthocyanin content, composition and stability in berry extracts of blackcurrant interspecific hybrids, and antioxidative activity of extracts was evaluated. Berries of interspecific hybrids accumulated 530 to 614 mg 100 g(-1) FW of total phenolic compounds, while 621 mg 100 g(-1) FW of phenolics was established in berries of control Ribes nigrum cultivar 'Ben Tirran'.

Effect of auxin physiological analogues on rapeseed (Brassica napus) cold hardening, seed yield and quality.

The effect of the auxin physiological analogues analogues 1-[2-chloroethoxycarbonylmethyl]-4-naphthalenesulfonic acid calcium salt (TA-12) and 1-[2-dimethylaminoethoxicarbonylmethyl]naphthalene chlormethylate (TA-14) TA-14 on different winter rapeseed cultivars were studied with regard to their autumnal growth, cold hardening, accumulation of the stress-protective metabolites proline and saccharide in plant organs: apical bud and root collum, winter survival and productivity formation. The test cultivars were the very early 'Libea' medium-resistant to wintering, the medium-early 'Sunday' resistant to wintering, the medium-early 'Valesca' less than medium resistant to wintering, and the early 'Hornet' (hybrid) tolerant to stress growth conditions. During the period of cold hardening in natural field conditions, the test compounds TA-12 (2 mM) and TA-14 (4 mM), applied to different winter rapeseed cultivars at the 4th-5th leaf stage, stimulate accumulation proline and saccharides (sucrose and glucose) in the root collum and apical bud tissues, influence plants acclimation to cold, overwintering and productivity formation.

Biogeographical patterns and determinants of invasion by forest pathogens in Europe.

A large database of invasive forest pathogens (IFPs) was developed to investigate the patterns and determinants of invasion in Europe. Detailed taxonomic and biological information on the invasive species was combined with country-specific data on land use, climate, and the time since invasion to identify the determinants of invasiveness, and to differentiate the class of environments which share territorial and climate features associated with a susceptibility to invasion. IFPs increased exponentially in the last four decades.

Space plant biology research in Lithuania.

In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first artificial Earth satellite, initiating its space exploration programs. Throughout the rest of the twentieth century, the development of these space programs received special attention from Soviet Union authorities. Scientists from the former Soviet Republics, including Lithuania, participated in these programs.