Survival on railway tracks of Geranium robertianum—a glyphosate-tolerant plant

Geranium robertianum is a herbaceous plant that prefers shady and fertile forest habitats. However, it also occurs on railway tracks, where there are difficult conditions for plant growth and regular herbicide spraying (in high concentrations, twice a year). One of the most commonly used herbicides in railway areas is glyphosate. The effect of the glyphosate on the G. robertianum plants found on railway tracks and in nearby forests in north-eastern Poland was checked. The aim of the study was to explain how G. robertianum can survive on railway tracks despite spraying with the glyphosate. Increased tolerance to the glyphosate of the G. robertianum plants from track populations was demonstrated compared to the plants from forest populations that had not previously been in contact with the herbicide. After 35 days after treatment with the herbicide, 75% of the plants from the observed forest populations withered, while only 38% did from the track populations. Ultrastructure of plant leaf cells from forest populations was strongly disturbed, which was not observed in plants from track populations. It was also shown that plants from track populations accumulated more glyphosate and AMPA in their tissues than plants from forest populations. The obtained results indicate that long-term use of herbicides may cause formation of biotypes of plants resistant to a given herbicide. This fact explains the possibility of G. robertianum occurring on railway tracks, despite spraying with the glyphosate. It is also a manifestation of microevolutionary processes.

Ethnopharmacological application the plants from family Geraniaceae in the Pirot County

The subject of this study was the study of the ethnopharmacological application of plants from family Geraniaceae in the Pirot County (Southeastern Serbia). The research was conducted in the form of surveys among the rural population in four municipalities: Pirot, Babušnica, Bela Palanka, and Dimitrovgrad. The analysis of the survey showed that the population of the County was used Erodium cicutarium (1 report), Geranium macrorrhizum (7 reports), Geranium robertianum (1 report), and Pelargonium graveolens (1 report) in the folk medicine for internal application. Erodium cicutarium was used against spasms in the abdomen of children (1 report), Geranium macrorrhizum against bronchitis (2 reports), diabetes (1 report), for rejuvenation (1 report), high blood pressure (2 reports), and Parkinson' s disease (1 report), and Pelargonium graveolens against diabetes (1 report). One respondent has mentioned the use of Geranium robertianum, but without the knowledge about its use. The results were compared with the results of previous ethnobotanical studies in neighboring regions. Our results about the applications of species from the family Geraniaceae are completely different from their ethnobotanical surveys in Serbia and the Balkan Peninsula.

Notbrot und Kindsmacher

SummaryDer Stinkende Storchschnabel (Geranium robertianum L.) ist eine volksheilkundlich bewährte Pflanze für Halsschmerzen bis Wundheilung.

Microevolutionary processes on railway tracks in Geranium robertianum populations

A strongly modified habitat can be treated as “research field”, where microevolutionary processes in plants take place and can be traced. One of such areas are railway tracks. Difficult conditions for plant growth prevail there, including: insolation, water shortage and pollutions. This leads to natural selection, which favors microevolutionary processes. Geranium robertianum L. plants were tested, which occur on railway tracks (“track populations”) and in forests (“forest populations”), of north-eastern Poland. Totally, the phenotypic and genotypic diversity was checked in 20 track populations and 18 forest populations. The aim of the research was to check what was the taxonomic rank of a different biotype of G. robertianum, which is growing on the railway tracks in the village of Waliły-Station. The plants from this population in comparison to other studied populations were: smaller, had much smaller (about twice) and darker leaves with an increased level of anthocyanins (higher by a few – over a dozen % from plants from other track populations and about 50% from plants from forest populations). These features were preserved in the next generation (F1). However, molecular studies (AFLP) showed that the population from Waliły was not genetically distinct from other studied populations. The taxonomic rank of G. robertianum plants from the track population of Waliły-Station should be described as “form”. It is possible that this new form of G. robertianum plants could have arisen as a result of the occurrence of epigenetic processes, which could increase the phenotypic variability in G. robertianum and accelerate the adaptation of these plants to adverse conditions. The obtained results are an example of the initial stage of the process of microevolution in plants in anthropogenically transformed areas.

Microevolutionary processes on railway tracks in Geranium robertianum populations

A strongly modified habitat can be treated as “research field”, where microevolutionary processes in plants take place and can be traced. One of such areas are railway tracks. Difficult conditions for plant growth prevail there, including: insolation, water shortage and pollutions. This leads to natural selection, which favors microevolutionary processes. Geranium robertianum L. plants were tested, which occur on railway tracks (“track populations”) and in forests (“forest populations”), of north-eastern Poland. Totally, the phenotypic and genotypic diversity was checked in 20 track populations and 18 forest populations. The aim of the research was to check what was the taxonomic rank of a different biotype of G. robertianum, which is growing on the railway tracks in the village of Waliły-Station. The plants from this population in comparison to other studied populations were: smaller, had much smaller (about twice) and darker leaves with an increased level of anthocyanins (higher by a few – over a dozen % from plants from other track populations and about 50% from plants from forest populations). These features were preserved in the next generation (F1). However, molecular studies (AFLP) showed that the population from Waliły was not genetically distinct from other studied populations. The taxonomic rank of G. robertianum plants from the track population of Waliły-Station should be described as “form”. It is possible that this new form of G. robertianum plants could have arisen as a result of the occurrence of epigenetic processes, which could increase the phenotypic variability in G. robertianum and accelerate the adaptation of these plants to adverse conditions. The obtained results are an example of the initial stage of the process of microevolution in plants in anthropogenically transformed areas.

Geranium robertianum L. (Geraniaceae): A new record for the flora of Iraq.

Plant specimens were collected during a fieldtrips near Derbandikhan city (Sulaimani province) in Spring 2016, is added to the other 10 species of this genus previously reported from Iraq. Gross morphology of all plant parts was investigated comparatively, description and detailed figures are given. The geographical distribution is mapped. Previous checklists and studies were checked, to confirm and prove that this species is a new record for the flora of Iraq. A comprehensive study of literatures, herbaria and preceding checklists has been conducted.