Teucrium montanum L. and T. capitatum L. are two plant species with overlapping distribution in the Balkan Peninsula, especially in Croatia, where several occurrences of their putative hybrid species T. × rohlenae have been recorded. Next-generation sequencing of both species and de novo assembly was carried out resulting in 120 contigs for T. montanum and 1685 contigs for T. capitatum assembled. The Dig-up primers pipeline was used for SSR mining of both assemblies, applying different criteria that resulted in 112 SSR candidates for testing. A subset of 41 SSRs was selected and after two rounds of testing, twelve SSRs were developed and characterized. A total of 232 alleles were detected with 5 to 29 alleles per locus, based on the test sample. The genetic diversity analysis of three Teucrium taxa from a single location revealed a higher level of diversity in T. montanum than in T. capitatum with intermediate values for the hybrid species. The NeighborNet diagram and genetic structure analysis grouped the taxa into two separate clusters, the first of which consisted exclusively of T. montanum, while the other was composed of intermixed T. capitatum and T. × rohlenae individuals. The availability of SSR markers for two Teucrium taxa will allow in-depth analysis of genetic diversity and structure, as well as molecular identification of their putative hybrids in the future.

The insecticidal compound pyrethrin is synthesized in Dalmatian pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Trevis.) Sch.Bip.; Asteraceae), a plant species endemic to the eastern Mediterranean. Pyrethrin is a mixture of six compounds, pyrethrin I and II, cinerin I and II, and jasmolin I and II. For this study we sampled 15 natural Dalmatian pyrethrum populations covering the entire natural distribution range of the species; Croatian coastal regions and the islands, inland Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro. The plants were grown in a field experiment under uniform growing conditions to exclude a short-term response to environmental factors and instead observe variation in pyrethrin content and composition among and within populations due to genetic adaptation to the native environment. The drivers of local adaptation were explored by examining the role of bioclimatic factors as a cause of population differentiation. Pyrethrins were extracted by ultrasound-assisted extraction, and the extracts were analyzed by HPLC-UV-DAD. The populations differed significantly in the content and composition of pyrethrins. The highest levels of total pyrethrins (1.27% flower DW), were found in population P14 Budva and the significantly highest levels of pyrethrin I in population P14 Vranjske Njive, Podgorica (66.47% of total pyrethrin). Based on bioclimatic conditions of the sampling sites, populations were grouped into five bioclimatic groups (A, B, C, D, and E), which showed qualitative and quantitative variability in pyrethrin content. The most abundant bioclimatic group was bioclimatic group E, which was characterized by the highest average values for pyrethrin I (53.87% of total pyrethrin), total pyrethrin content (1.06% flower DW) and the ratio of pyrethrin I and II (1.85). The correlation analysis between the pyrethrin compounds and some of the bioclimatic variables (e. g., BIO03 Isothermality and BIO04 Temperature seasonality) showed their significant contribution in explaining the variation of pyrethrins in T. cinerariifolium. The differences in pyrethrin content and composition may be partly due to genetic adaptation to the ecological conditions of the native environment. The obtained data would enable the selection of source populations for breeding programs aimed at producing cultivars with desirable biochemical properties and adaptation to different bioclimatic conditions.

Pistacia terebinthus L. ili smrdljika je listopadni grm ili nisko stablo iz porodice Anacardiaceae. Autohtona je vrsta Mediterana, a u Hrvatskoj je široko rasprostranjena od Istre, preko Hrvatskog primorja, Dalmacije, Dalmatinske zagore do krajnjeg juga. Kserofitna je vrsta, koja raste na osunčanim položajima u makijama i šikarama eumediteranske i submediteranske zone na suhim, toplim, kamenitim i stjenovitim mjestima. Na području prirodne rasprostranjenosti tradicionalno se koristila u prehrani, kao i u liječenju mnogih zdravstvenih tegoba, kao što su respiratorne i urinarne infekcije, želučane tegobe, reumatizam, itd. U novije vrijeme, analize kemijskog sastava vrste upućuju na znatan sadržaj mnogobrojnih aktivnih sastojaka visoke nutritivne vrijednosti i ljekovitog djelovanja (npr. eterična ulja, proteini, tanini, nezasićene masne kiseline, flavonoidi), a najpoznatija je po sadržaju smole iz koje se izdvaja terpentin. Zbog veće otpornosti na sušu, temperaturne ekstreme, bolesti i štetnike te s obzirom na rasprostranjenost na našem području, smrdljika ima najveći potencijal kao podloga za cijepljenje prave tršlje ili pistacije (P. vera L.), cijenjene zbog svojih plodova, što danas predstavlja upotrebu od najvećeg gospodarskog značaja, a prvi nasadi već se podižu u srednjoj Dalmaciji. Najčešći način cijepljenja je okuliranje koje se provodi na dobro razvijenim dvogodišnjim podlogama smrdljike. Izvjesni problem koji se javlja kod proizvodnje podloga je niska klijavost sjemena smrdljike zbog fiziološke i fizikalne dormantnosti, partenokarpije i abortiranja sjemenki. Dostupna znanstvena i stručna literatura kao i rezultati preliminarnih terenskih istraživanja upućuju na postojanje velikog potencijala upotrebe smrdljike u agronomiji, šumarstvu, farmaciji i prehrambenoj industriji.

U Hrvatskoj nalazimo tri samonikle vrste roda Vaccinium te jednu stranu vrstu u uzgoju. Iako u svijetu nailazimo na primjenu roda u krajobraznom oblikovanju, u Hrvatskoj je poznat uzgoj isključivo u prehrambene svrhe. Pregledom morfoloških, ukrasnih i uporabnih vrijednosti 14 vrsta borovnica i brusnica ( Vaccinium spp.) porijeklom iz različitih dijelova svijeta, analiziran je njihov potencijal i specifičnosti za primjenu u krajobraznom oblikovanju. Sve analizirane vrste odlikuju se određenim visoko reprezentativnim ukrasnim vrijednostima (habitus, proljetna i jesenja boja lista, boja stabljike, cvjetovi i plodovi) i uporabnim svojstvima zbog kojih predstavljaju kvalitetne vrste za uporabu u uređenju površina zelenila. S obzirom na svoja uzgojna svojstva, pogodne su za upotrebu u Hrvatskoj. Mogu se koristiti u obliku pokrivača tla, živih ograda, bordura, ali i na samostalnim gredicama te kao soliteri i u skupinama. S obzirom na jestive plodove kao dodatnu vrijednost, mogu se integrirati u tzv. jestivi krajolik (engl. edible landscape ), način estetskog oblikovanja površine zelenila jestivim biljnim vrstama. Vrste roda Vaccinium najprikladnije su za uređenje privatnih vrtova i ograđenih javnih prostora udaljenih od prometnica poput vrtova u sklopu dječjih vrtića i škola, domova za starije, urbanih vrtova, parkova u ruralnim sredinama i slično.

Pyrethrin is a specialized metabolite of Dalmatian pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Trevir.) Sch. Bip.), Asteraceae, known worldwide as an effective bioinsecticide. It consists of six active compounds: Pyrethrin I and II, cinerin I and II, and jasmolin I and II. Pyrethrin accumulates mainly in the flower heads and its content depends on numerous factors, such as the flower developmental stage. This study aims to investigate the accumulation patterns of six pyrethrin compounds in the flower heads of Dalmatian pyrethrum over the eight developmental stages (FS1 to FS8), and to make a comparison in six natural populations. Ultrasound assisted extraction was used to extract the pyrethrin, while qualitative and quantitative analysis was performed by High performance liquid chromatography. The accumulation patterns of different pyrethrin compounds were generally similar and also synchronous between different populations, while the pyrethrin I/pyrethrin II ratio showed irregular patterns. In all populations studied, the highest increase of all compounds was observed from FS1 to FS2. Their concentration continuously increased, reaching the highest values at FS4 stage (2–5 rows of open disc flowers), and generally decreased gradually towards FS6 or FS7 and then stagnated until the FS8 stage. Despite the very similar accumulation pattern of pyrethrin compounds in the different populations, the significant differences in their content suggest a different genetic background. Knowledge of the dynamics of pyrethrin compounds accumulation across flower development stages is valuable for determining the optimal harvest time of pyrethrum flower heads.

Dalmatian pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Trevis.) Sch. Bip.) is an outcrossing plant species (2n = 18) endemic to the eastern Adriatic coast and source of the natural insecticide pyrethrin. Due to the high repeatability and large genome (1C-value = 9.58 pg) our previous attempts to develop microsatellite markers using the traditional method were unsuccessful. Now we have used Illumina paired-end whole genome sequencing and developed a specific procedure to obtain useful microsatellite markers. A total of 796,130,142 high-quality reads (approx. 12.5× coverage) were assembled into 6,909,675 contigs using two approaches (de novo assembly and joining of overlapped pair-end reads). A total of 31,380 contigs contained one or more microsatellite sequences, of which di-(59.7%) and trinucleotide (25.9%) repeats were the most abundant. Contigs containing microsatellites were filtered according to various criteria to achieve better yield of functional markers. After two rounds of testing, 17 microsatellite markers were developed and characterized in one natural population. Twelve loci were selected for preliminary genetic diversity analysis of three natural populations. Neighbor-joining tree, based on the proportion of shared alleles distances, grouped individuals into clusters according to population affiliation. The availability of codominant SSR markers will allow analysis of genetic diversity and structure of natural Dalmatian pyrethrum populations as well as identification of breeding lines and cultivars.

Seeds collected from 10 Dalmatian pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium /Trevir./ Sch. Bip. Asteraceae) populations naturally occurring along the Adriatic coast and islands, were used to establish a common garden with the aim of estimating the variation of pyrethrin compounds between and within populations. A recently optimized matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) method was used for the extraction of six pyrethrin compounds from dry flower heads of 200 Dalmatian pyrethrum individuals. Separation and quantification of pyrethrin compounds were performed by high performance liquid chromatography with diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). High variability in pyrethrin content and composition was observed within and between populations. Total pyrethrin content in individual samples varied from 0.10% to 1.35% of flower dry weight. On average, the lowest total pyrethrin content was observed in the population of Pelješac (0.22%) and the highest in the island populations of Mali Lošinj and Zlarin (0.87%). The population of Mali Lošinj had the most favourable pyrethrin profile, including the lowest variability in total pyrethrin content, the highest pyrethrin I (PI) content (up to 60.47%) and PI/PII ratio (up to 5.88), as well as the lowest pyrethrin II (PII) content. In contrast, the populations from Biokovo and Pelješac represented pyrethrin profiles with the lowest content of total pyrethrin, PI and PI/PII ratio. The Biokovo population also had the highest PII content (43.18% on average), while the Pelješac population had the highest jasmolin I (JI) and jasmolin II (JII) content. Four different chemotypes were determined by cluster analysis. Chemotype P1 is the most promising for future breeding programs and is characterized by the highest total pyrethrin content, PI content and PI/PII ratio, as important measures of insecticidal activity. Correlation analysis of each pyrethrin compound with 25 environmental variables and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) were carried out and the importance of optimum temperature and precipitation on pyrethrin quantity and quality was suggested. Total pyrethrin content was significantly correlated with six temperature and five precipitation parameters. Pyrethrin I, PII and cinerin II (CII) were significantly correlated mainly with temperature parameters; JII and cinerin I (CI) with precipitation parameters, while JI was correlated with temperature range and precipitation parameters. The mountainous Biokovo population was an outlier in the PCA analysis, mainly due to the extremely low values of temperature parameters at a higher altitude. Precipitation variables separated the central Adriatic islands inhabiting drier habitats from populations inhabiting habitats with greater precipitation. The high-resolution data from this study provide the opportunity for individual-based selection for breeding plants with the best pyrethrin profiles, as well as for increased adaptation to broader climatic conditions.

Due to their nutritive and therapeutic values as well as their decorative attributes, the usage of species from the genus Sorbus s.l. has been well known in folk tradition long since. According to the most recent taxonomic revision, in Croatian flora, Sorbus s.l. is represented with at least six native taxa and another six that are deficiently known and which presence should be further confirmed. In Croatia, species of Sorbus s.l. are distributed in three main geographical and climate regions (mountainous, lowland and Mediterranean) and grow under various environmental conditions. In Croatia, only a few taxa are infrequently used as ornamental plants while their usage as a wild edible fruit species is generally rather sparse. The purpose of this paper is to give an overview of Croatian species of Sorbus s.l. (S. aria, S. aucuparia, S. austriaca, S. chamaemespilus, S. domestica, S. torminalis) with their utilization values as wild edible fruit species and ornamental plants, together with their environmental requirements, resistance to urban conditions and pests as well as possible problems in their cultivation and their capacity for selection and plant breeding. We assume that Croatian native Sorbus s.l. species present quality and multifunctional species applicable for use in landscaping and for fruit cultivation.

Pyrethrin is a potent biopesticide, a natural mixture of six compounds (pyrethrin I and II, cinerin I and II, and jasmolin I and II), biosynthesized in plants of Dalmatian pyrethrum (Tanacetum cinerariifolium (Trevir.) Sch. Bip.), a species endemic to the eastern Adriatic coast, but grown worldwide. Not many known natural insecticides encompass such superior qualities as pyrethrin—very high efficacy against a broad spectrum of pests in combination with minor adverse effects on human health and the environment. In previous decades, pyrethrin was largely replaced by its synthetic derivatives, pyrethroids. However, due to their harmful effects on various species and ecosystems, the use of pyrethrin should again take the lead. This review summarizes one century (1920–2020) of research on the properties and use of pyrethrum as a source of pyrethrins. The primary focus is on presenting its current advantages and disadvantages, toxicity on target and non-target species, biosynthesis, factors that influence the pyrethrins content in pyrethrum, comparison of different methods of their extraction and determination; as well as its production potential and development of new products. The final goal is to present possible approaches to improve and enhance the use of this highly effective but still underused phytochemical insecticide with unique properties.

The ornamental crops market in Croatia is predominately oriented on traditional crops. New crops that do find their way to the buyers are mainly new cultivars of known, long-established ornamental species. This could partially be explained by limited investment in the research and marketing of new ornamental crops in Croatia, conservative consumer preferences, and the market which is primarily import based. In 2018 Croatia has imported cut flowers in the amount of 10 million euros, with the following top six imported cut plants: roses, carnations, gladioli, orchids, chrysanthemums and lilies, none of which belong to the group of new ornamental crops. Even though there are currently no breeding programs on ornamentals, Croatia is rich in native plant species which are an almost unlimited source of new ornamental crops. Some of the species which are being currently analyzed for their potential as ornamental crops are: Anthemis tomentosa L., Astragalus monspessulanus L. ssp. illyricus (Berhardt) Chater, Convolvulus lineatus L., Corydalis acaulis (Wulfen) Pers., Iris adriatica Trinajstic ex Mitic, and Iris illyrica Tomm., all belonging to endangered and/or endemic plant species. This paper provides the outline of current status of the market for new ornamental crops, but also the outline of the botanical characteristics of these plants, discuss the potential for their introduction into horticultural production, and their usage as ornamental and landscaping species.

Nowadays, serious changes of ecological balance in the global ecosystem have significant impact on the human population, influencing their socio-economic status in both, rural areas, and big metropolitan zones. In such circumstances sustainability becomes an inevitable principle that should be applied in all aspects of civilization, human activities and its interactions with the environment. Sustainability is a complex concept that involves a myriad of ecological, environmental, socio-economic, and technical factors, including their interdependence. Therefore, it includes the principles that should be applied in residential landscaping as a part of the strategy of holistic urban planning. The genus Prunus encompasses a wide range of species and cultivars that can be used as landscaping plants due to their high ornamental, but also their ecological values. The majority of them are traditionally used as fruit species, some have medicinal value or can be used for erosion control. In this way the genus Prunus offers landscaping potential for both, urban and rural sustainable landscapes. The goal of this paper is to evaluate landscaping potential of wild native edible Prunus taxa, but also cultivated species used as fruit trees, and propose their ornamental function as a structural part of cultivated/urban landscapes. We evaluate characters of potential ornamental value of Prunus species, such as: habitus, foliage, flowers, change in autumn color, phenological dynamics, bark appearance, etc. Also, their ecological potential through erosion control, attraction of birds, insects and other species, and possible pharmaceutical values are described. The susceptibility of these taxa to pests and diseases, and their growing conditions as an important basis for developing ecological aspect of horticultural and landscaping sustainability are also discussed.

Island of Hvar is situated in the central Eastern Adriatic, and its relatively small rural population has been reproductively isolated throughout history. Therefore, founder effects, genetic drift and inbreeding have had a significant role in the shaping of the current genetic diversity of Hvar Islanders. Island isolates are among the most suitable populations for theoretical analyses of microevolutionary processes and population differentiation. In this context, mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) an Y chromosome studies are used to reveal demographic history, migrations, population origins and genetic structure of a population. We analyzed SNP markers of 161 mtDNAs and of 412 Y chromosomes from the island of Hvar, including STRs of 20 male islanders. Results showed a much higher number of mtDNA haplogroups (34) than Y chromosome ones (15). Haplotype diversity analysis showed low gene diversity among both mtDNAs and Y chromosomes on the island, while haplogroup distribution points to a significant population differentiation between the eastern and western part of the island. This substructure effect stems from different representation of subhaplogroups, as well as from differences between haplotypes within the same subhaplogroups and is based on specific demographic processes which occurred on Hvar during its history. When put in a wider context, haplogroups of both uniparental markers placed Hvar in the context of South- Eastern Europe, but the frequencies and the distribution of certain haplogroups significantly deviate from other SEE populations.

This study confirms the presence of Alpine salamander (Salamandra atra) in the Nature Park Žumberak Samoborsko gorje, where previously only one specimen was recorded in 1989. Species presence and distribution were investigated at ten different localities in stands of montane beech forest, during the vegetation season 2004. In July 2004 five individuals (four males and one female) of Alpine salamander were found in the virgin beech forest at site Kuta (about 900 m a.s.l.), during weather conditions characterized by heavy rain. This is the northernmost finding of the species in Croatia, as well as a confirmed disjunctive part of its areal in the Dinarids. Conservation measures for the species are proposed but for more precise conservation plan further research of species distribution and ecology is needed.

High mtDNA variation in Southeastern Europe (SEE) is a reflection of the turbulent and complex demographic history of this area, influenced by gene flow from various parts of Eurasia and a long history of intermixing. Our results of 1035 samples (488 from Croatia, 239 from Bosnia and 130 from Herzegovina, reported earlier, and 97 Slovenians and 81 individuals from Žumberak, reported here for the first time) show that the SEE maternal genetic diversity fits within a broader European maternal genetic landscape. The study also shows that the population of Žumberak, located in the continental part of Croatia, developed some unique mtDNA haplotypes and elevated haplogroup frequencies due to distinctive demographic history and can be considered a moderate genetic isolate. We also report seven samples from the Bosnian population and one Herzegovinian sample designated as X2* individuals that could not be assigned to any of its sublineages (X2a'o) according to the existing X2 phylogeny. In an attempt to clarify the phylogeny of our X2 samples, their mitochondrial DNA has been completely sequenced. We suppose that these lineages are signs of local microdifferentiation processes that occurred in the recent demographic past in this area and could possibly be marked as SEE-specific X2 sublineages.

This poster shortly portrays an analysis of the matrilineal legacy of two Eastern Adriatic islands, Hvar and Korcula. Both islands fit into a southern group of Eastern Adriatic islands, belonging to the cities of Split and Dubrovnik municipalities, respectively. We have analysed a total of 250 mtDNAs based on high resolution analysis of SNPs from the control and coding region. Results show a relatively high diversity of haplogroups: 7 haplogroups and 37 subhaplogroups, altogether. Despite a relatively small population (11103 on Hvar, 16182 on Korcula) and sample size (161 from Hvar, 89 from Korcula) of both Islands, the analysis showed a tendency of population substructuring depending on the geographical region of the island, when mitochondrial DNA haplogroup distribution is concerned. While Hvar islanders are divided into an Eastern and Western group, the Korcula islanders show a three-way distribution into Northern, Eastern and Western group. Also, two unexpected and rare haplogroups were discovered, L2a3 in a single individual on the island of Korcula, and F1b haplogroup in 10 individuals on the island of Hvar. Both lineages have been completely sequenced, and presented in a form of phylogenetic tree. We wanted to emphasize events such as founder effect, bottleneck, isolation and various historical, geographical and sociocultural factors that acted upon the maternal genetic landscape of contemporary populations on Eastern Adriatic islands.