Adil GÜNER, Vehbi ESER - optima

Oral Lectures
METALLOPHYTES, HYPERACCUMULATORS AND THEIR BACTERIA:
THE VIEW FROM AN ECOLOGICAL GENETICS PERSPECTIVE
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Alessio MENGONI
University of Firenze, Departrment of Evolutionary Biology, Firenze, Italy; alessio.mengoni@unifi.it
In the past years there has been an increasing interest in the application of ecological genetic
methodologies to the flora from heavy-metal rich soils, due to their peculiarity as a model for
evolution and adaptation. Facultative and obligate metallophytes have evolved in different
taxonomic groups to take advantage from living in such toxic soils. Within them, special interest
has been dedicated by our research group to Silene paradoxa, Onosma echoides and to the nickelhyperaccumulator
Alyssum bertolonii. We performed molecular population genetics studies on
such species and on their associated microflora, discovering an unexpected high genetic diversity
and the molecular evidences of a “facilitated adaptation” which allowed to rapidly colonize
heavy-metal rich soils evolving the physiological adaptation needed to cope with such harsh
environment. I’ll review and discuss the main findings of the works done pointing out to some
unanswered questions which could benefit from the application of ecological genetics
methodologies, especially in the analysis of the relationships between metal hyperaccumulators
and their associated bacteria.
Keywords: Serpentinophytes, microevolution, hyperaccumulation, plant-associated bacteria.
TAXONOMY OF SYMPHYTUM (BORAGINACEAE) WITH SPECIAL
EMPHASIS ON TURKISH SPECIES
Burcu TARIKAHYA 1 , S. ERIK 2 ,
1.Central Research Institute for Field Crops, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, Ankara, btarikah@gmail.com
2. Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, Biology D epartment, Ankara
3 . Free University of Berlin, Department of Biology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, Germany
With this research, Symphytum species growing in Turkey were revised by using morphological
characters, nuclear ribosomal ITS and chloroplast trnL(UAA) sequences. Beside all Turkish
Symphytum species, phylogenetic analysis involved 10 Symphytum species growing outside of
Turkey and 25 species from related genera, to increase the credibility of the analysis. Results
indicate monophyly, a single origin of taxonomically doubtful genus, Procopiania Gu�uleac and
Symphytum. Phenetic analysis was performed by numerical methods and 4 groups that comprise
Turkish species were determined. The speciation and evolutionary relationships were discussed.
Species were listed with the help of morphological affinities and phylogenetical relations. S.
sylvaticum subsp. sepulcrale var. sepulcrale and S. sylvaticum subsp. sepulcrale var. hordokopii
and S. asperum var. armeniacum subspecies were suggested as synonymy.
Keywords: Symphytum, Boraginaceae, revision, molecular phlogeny
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