Description of Raphignathus arcus sp. nov. with notes on an abnormal female (Acari: Raphignathidae) from the Aegean region of Turkey

A new species viz. Raphignathus arcus sp. nov., collected from litter and soil under Cirsium vulgare (Asteraceae), Crataegus monogyna (Rosaceae), Hyparrhenia hirta (Poaceae), Juniperus oxycedrus (Cupressaceae), Olea europaea (Oleaceae), Quercus coccifera (Fagaceae), Rosa canina (Rosaceae) and Verbascum sp. (Scrophulariaceae) in Afyonkarahisar, Izmir and Manisa provinces (the Aegean region of Turkey), is illustrated and described based on the adult females. Notes on an abnormal female is also given.

An Ethnobotanical Study of Medicinal Plants in Mersin (Turkey)

This comprehensive ethnobotanical study carried out in Mersin province, which is located in the southern part of Anatolia, east of the Mediterranean Sea, compiles details on plants used in folk medicine and ethnopharmacological information obtained through face-to-face interviews. The aim was to collect and identify plants used for therapeutic purposes by local people and to record information on traditional herbal medicine. Plant specimens were collected in numerous excursions. Additionally, informant consensus factor and use value (UV) were calculated for information gathered. This study identifies 93 plant taxa belonging to 43 families and records their usage in folk medicine; 83 taxa are wild and the remaining 10 are cultivated. The most commonly used plants belong to Lamiaceae, representing 15.0% of the total, while the Rosaceae, Malvaceae, Hypericaceae, Asteraceae and Cupressaceae families each represented another 5.4%. As a result of this investigation, we determine 189 medicinal usages of 93 taxa. The UV values indicate that the most important medicine plants are Hypericum perforatum (0.80), Cedrus libani (0.78), Quercus coccifera (0.77), Arum dioscoridis (0.76) and Juniperus drupaceae (0.74). We observed that most of the drugs are prepared using the infusion method (27.6%). As a conclusion, the study finds that traditional folk medicine usage is still common, especially among the rural population of Mersin.

Inocybe messapica (Inocybaceae, Agaricales, Basidiomycota), a new species in section Splendentes, from Mediterranean oak woods

Inocybe messapica sp. nov., collected in Apulia (Italy) under Quercus coccifera and Quercus ilex, is presented with description, colour photographs, and line-drawings of the microscopic features. This species is proposed as new based on both morphology and molecular phylogenetic analysis. It is characterized by the stout habit, a dark castaneous brown pileus covered with a whitish velipellis, a non-marginate bulbous stipe base, and smooth amygdaliform spores. A comparison of I. messapica with I. athenana and similar species is also provided.

Defense of Host Plants against Orgyia trigotephras in Northeast of Tunisia

The egg-larval stage of Orgyia trigotephras were observed in shrubs maquis of Jebel Abderrahmane in north-east Tunisia, mainly on Quercus coccifera and Pistacia lentiscus, while only eggs were noticed on Phillyrea media. This kind of observation suggest us to study tree defense against O. trigotephras which will be explored by chemical analysis of P. lentiscus, Q. coccifera and P. media. Two types of analyses were the focus of this study to understand plant defense (i) primary metabolites and (ii) components of essential oils of these tested plants. Kjeldhal method was used for nitrogen and Mrssorr method for potassium, sodium and phosphorus extraction. Essential oils were extracted with the hexane solvent; chemical composition was determined using (GC/MS) methods. Oil compounds were identified by comparison to their retention time. Results of mineral extraction showed that percentage of potassium, sodium, phosphorus and nitrogen were more important in P. lentiscus and P. media than in Q. coccifera. Five major compounds were identified from essential oils of Q. coccifera, four from P. media and four from P. lentiscus. Nitrogen, which is a source of protein for insects, is produced in low concentrations in the foliage, decreasing nitrogen levels strategy for defending the plant against insect larvae. The absence of monoterpens in the foliage at P. media could explain the choice of larvae not to feed upon this host which probably confers resistance against this defoliator.

Green synthesis of Quercus coccifera hydrochar in subcritical water medium and evaluation of its adsorption performance in BR18 dye

In this study, we investigated the production conditions of hydrochar produced from Quercus coccifera, which is an inexpensive and easy available adsorbent, for the adsorption of Basic Red 18 (BR18) azo dye. Hydrochar was produced in the eco-friendly subcritical water medium (SWM). The effects of the pH (2–10), adsorbent size (45–106 μm), adsorbent dose (0.5–1.5 g/L), dyes concentrations (40–455 mg/L), and contact time (5–120 min) were studied through the optimization experiments. The optimum condition was obtained at pH 10, particle size of 45 μm, particle amount of 1.5 g/L, dyes concentration of 455 mg/L, and 60 minutes. The removal efficiency increased sharply for the first 5 min after that the removal efficiency reached a steady state at the 60 min with maximum removal of 88.7%. The kinetic studies for the adsorption of BR18 dye in aqueous solution using hydrochar showed the second-order kinetics. Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models were used to explain the relationship between adsorbent and adsorbate and Freundlich isotherm was the most suitable model because of its high regression coefficient (R2) value. The intraparticle diffusion model was used to determine the adsorption mechanism of the BR18 onto Q. coccifera fruit. Desorption studies were also carried out using different type acids and different molarity.

Resilience aspects of woody plant species at the passage of fire: case of Quercus coccifera in Tlemcen Mountains (Algeria)

In this study, on the aspects of the resilience of woody species to the passage of fire, we wanted to test the alveolar specificity represented by the size of the pores of the secondary xylem of the root system in Quercus coccifera L., Pore size assessment is based on measuring 100 pores in cross sections, from the roots of 10 shrubs. The aim of this study is to explain how the roots can maintain their vitality after passing a fire and thus guarantee regeneration. In addition to the vigor of the root system of this species, the release of pyrolysis gases and the propagation of heat by conduction are provided by the porosity of the material. The results show that the pores are qualified as “fine” in the initial wood with an average diameter of 83.35 µm. In final wood, they are "very thin" with 42.30 µm in diameter. The absence of oxygen and the less porous structure delay the combustion cycle of the root system, the roots distant from the surface are thus protected from proliferation by heat conduction and thus guarantee regeneration.

Sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers, an efficient and affordable tool for evaluation genetic diversity in forest areas

This article describes testing the application of SRAP (sequence-related amplified polymorphism) markers for characterisation of a small set of plants of Quercus coccifera L and samples from 25 other forest tree species. The results suggest that SRAP markers could be used as an affordable and efficient tool for the characterisation of the genetic diversity in populations of tree species as a part of the characterisation of forest biodiversity and the related decision making and management.