In vitro regeneration and conservation of the lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus L.)

Abstract

IntroductionPistacia lentiscus L., which is also known as the lentisk or mastic tree, is widespread from Asia Minor to the Canary Islands and throughout the Mediterranean region (Ak and Parlakcı, 2009). It is an evergreen shrub with lovely red berries and dark green foliage and is often used as an ornamental plant (Mascarello et al., 2007). Lentisk can adapt to several climatic and pedological conditions (Zohary, 1952), such as severe drought (Correia and Catarino, 1994) and calcareous soil; it also exhibits regrowth after forest fires or deforestation (Ladd et al., 2005).P. lentiscus is also the source of a unique resin called mastic gum or mastic. It is obtained by wounding the trunk and thick branches of the male trees, since the females produce low levels of mastic (Acar, 1988). The cultivated male trees and mastic production have been exclusively maintained on the Greek island of Chios for a long time. Mastic production is also carried out in the adjacent Çeşme Peninsula of İzmir, Turkey, where ecological conditions are similar to Chios, Greece; however, mastic production in Çeşme is very restricted and does not match the quantity of the production on Chios Island (Baytop, 1968;Isfendiyaroglu, 2000). The agricultural activities and tourist facilities established in Çeşme have resulted in the continuous loss of mastic trees (Dogan et al., 2003). Therefore, the Turkish Foundation for Combating Soil Erosion for Reforestation and the Protection of Natural Habitats has been leading a project to protect the native mastic trees and establish new plantations on the Çeşme Peninsula to revive viable commercial production (www. tema.org.tr). In addition, a forest fire recently occurred on Chios Island and destroyed a total of 12,740 ha, which resulted in massive damage not only to the island's agricultural economy, but also to the world supply of Chios mastic (http://effis.jrc.ec.europa.eu). Mastic gum has a long tradition in folk medicine and has been used by healers for several treatments, such as for hypertension, coughs, sore throats, eczema, stomachaches, kidney stones, and jaundice (Ljubuncic et al., 2005b;Gardeli et al., 2008).The essential oil of mastic contains several secondary metabolites such as myrcene, limonene, terpinen-4-ol, alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, alpha-phellandrene, sabinene, para-cymene, and gamma-terpinene (Castola et al., 2000). Antimicrobial and antifungal activity of the essential oil of the resin (Magiatis et al., 1999) and inhibition of in vitro

Effect of light conditions and ABA on cold storage and post-storage propagation of Taraxacum pieninicum

“…Poplar shoots were in better condition after storage in the dark than under light (Hausman et al 1994). Vigorous growth of Malus and Pistacia lentiscus after cooling was obtained also following dark storage (Orlikowska et al 2010;Koç et al 2014). The presence of 5 lM ABA in the medium even more decreased condition of T. pienicum shoots.…”

In vitro production protocol of Vaccinium uliginosum L. (bog bilberry)growing in the Turkish flora

“…Shoot-forming capacity (SFC) (Lambardi et al, 1993) and root-forming capacity (RFC) (Koç et al, 2014) were also calculated as follows:…”

Micropropagation of Vaccinium myrtillus L. (Bilberry) naturally growingin the Turkish flora

“…At the end of the 6 weeks, shoot-forming capacity (SFC) (Lambardi et al, 1993) and root-forming capacity (RFC) (Koç et al, 2014) were also calculated as follows:…”