This study aimed to evaluate the growth performance, pigment content changes, essential amino acids (EAAs), fatty acids (FAs), and proximate composition of Azolla pinnata and Azolla caroliniana grown in a greenhouse. Plants were grown in nitrogen-free Hoagland's solution at 28±2°C/21±2°C, day/night temperature and 60-70% humidity and examined on the 3 rd , 5 th , 10 th and 15 th days. The mean percentage of plant growth and relative growth rate for A. pinnata were 119% and 0.148 gg-1 day-1 , respectively, while for A. caroliniana these values were 94% and 0.120 gg-1 day-1 , respectively. Compared to day 3, the amount of total chlorophyll obtained on day 15 decreased significantly (p<0.05) for A. pinnata while the total phenolic and flavonoid contents increased significantly (p<0.05) from the 3 rd to the 15 th day. However, the total phenolic and flavonoid contents did not differ (p>0.0.5) in A. caroliniana. The crude protein, lipid, cellulose, ash values and the amounts of EAAs were higher in A. pinnata than A. caroliniana. Palmitic acid, oleic acid, and lignoceric acid were found to be predominant in A. pinnata and A. caroliniana. From the plant growth and pigment contents, we concluded that A. pinnata grew faster than A. caroliniana and its photosynthetic efficiency was more effective.

No abstract

In this study, the phytoremediation capacity of Azolla filiculoides Lam. for the water resources contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons was investigated. The plants were grown in nitrogen-free Hoagland nutrient solution containing 0.005%, 0.01%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.2%, 0.3%, 0.4%, and 0.5% crude oil under greenhouse conditions for 15 days. Although the growth rate of the plants were not negatively influenced by the presence of crude oil in the media for the concentration of 0.005% and 0.01% v/v, a gradual impeding effect of crude oil in the growth media has been observed at concentrations 0.05-0.1%. More than 0.1% crude oil in the growth medium ostensibly retarded the growth. For example, 0.2% oil in the media reduced growth approximately 50% relative to the control, and the presence of crude oil at concentrations 0.3% or more were lethal. The data about the percentage of plant growth, fresh weight increase and root growth clearly indicated that the tolerance level of A. filiculoides plants to crude oil ranges between 0.1% and 0.2%. In comparison to control samples, the biodegradation rate of total aliphatic and aromatic (phenathrene) hydrocarbons at 0.05-0.2% oil concentrations, was 94-73% and 81-77%, respectively. On the other hand, in case of further increases in oil concentration in media, i.e.; 0.3-0.5%, the biodegradation rate was still higher in the experimental samples, respectively 71-63% and 75-71%. The high biodegradation rates of petroleum hydrocarbons in the experimental samples suggested that A. filiculoides plants could be a promising candidate to be used for the phytoremediation of low crude oil contaminated precious freshwater resources.

doi:10.3906/bot-1403-4

Primula vulgaris L. (Primrose) of Primulaceae family is an annual or perennial herbaceous ornamental plant with white, yellow, pink, red or violet flowers. There is no study on the relationship between various pigments and petal colors of this plant, which has an important place in urban architecture, is resistant to cold weather, and grows in scattered clumps, and the leaves and flowers of which are clustered in the form of a rosette at the base. This study aims to inspect the relationship between anthocyanin, which colors the flowers of P. vulgaris employed as material in this study and chlorophyll. It further aims at determining whether there is a relationship between the active ingredients of Primula as a publicly favored medicinal plant and its total protein content. Consequently, it has been physiologically and anatomically proved that anthocyanin existed more at the root, at the basal part of the spatulate leaf, and at the base of the long flower stalk, and was synthesized more in the abaxial and adaxial epidermal cells in the flower petal.