(1) Background: Populus ×canescens (Aiton) Sm. is a fast-growing woody plant belonging to the family Salicaceae. Two poplar genotypes characterized by unique phenotypic traits (TP11 and TP20) were chosen to be characterized and tested for a physiological and transcriptomic response to Cd stress. (2) Methods: A comparative analysis of the effects of exposure to high cadmium (Cd) concentrations (10 µM and 100 µM) of TP11 and TP20 was performed. (3) Results: Neither of the tested Cd concentration negatively affected plant growth; however, the chlorophyll content significantly decreased. The potassium (K) content was higher in the shoots than in the roots. The magnesium concentrations were only slightly affected by Cd treatment. The zinc content in the shoots of TP20 was lower than that in the shoots of TP11. Cd accumulation was higher in the roots than in the shoots. After 10 days of exposure, 10 µM Cd resulted in comparable amounts of Cd in the roots and shoots of TP20. The most significant change in transcript amount was observed in endochitinase 2, 12-oxophytodienoate reductase 1 and phi classglutathione S-transferase. (4) Conclusions: Our study provided new insights for effective assessing the ability of different poplar genotypes to tolerate Cd stress and underlying Cd tolerance.

Taxus baccata L. (common yew) is an endangered tree species in the Czech Republic. However, its natural occurrence has not been adequately protected in all areas of the country. The aim of this study is to determine whether the yew population in the newly established Mařeničky seed orchard (TS_L) enables mixing with other Czech yew populations. Using a set of nuclear microsatellites, the genetic diversity in the Lužické Mountains (TS_L) and in selected wild-provenance populations from the Czech Republic (Jílovské yews, TS_J; Březinské yews, TS_B, and yews from Moravský Karst, TS_M) was studied, as they could be donor sources for potential translocation activities. We observed that the level of genetic diversity within the four Czech yew units that were investigated was high. An analysis of the molecular variance (AMOVA) showed 7% variation among populations, and the genetic differentiation values were low to moderate (F_ST = 0.042–0.108). According to a STRUCTURE analysis, high genetic similarity was observed between the TS_L and TS_B units. Our results provide important genetic suggestions on how conservation management can be designed to maximize its success.

The study evaluates the results of?a?long-term research trial lasting 50?years in?two research plots established in?the 1970s aimed at?solving the decline of?the silver fir in?the Czech Republic. A?total of?103 different provenances occurring ...

Background: Populus ×canescens (Aiton) Sm. is a fast-growing woody plant belonging to the family Salicaceae. Thanks to its deep root system and fast growth rate, two poplar genotypes (TP11 and TP20) was chosen to be characterized and tested for a physiological and transcriptomic response to Cd stress.Results: Both sexual and clonal reproduction are common in grey poplar. Thus, to reveal its genetic structure, two selected poplar genotypes characterized by unique phenotypic traits were distinguished by microsatellite analysis. A comparative analysis of the effects of exposure to high cadmium (Cd) concentrations on the physiological response of TP11 and TP20 was performed. After 2 and 10 days, 10 µM and 100 µM Cd were added to the nutrient solution of poplar plants grown in perlite. Neither tested Cd concentration negatively affected plant growth; however, the chlorophyll content significantly decreased. According to mineral uptake analysis, the potassium (K) content was higher in the shoots than in the roots. The calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) concentrations were only slightly affected by Cd treatment. The zinc (Zn) content in the shoots of TP20 was lower than that in the shoots of TP11. Moreover, the amount of Zn was slightly higher in the shoots of both genotypes after 10 days of Cd treatment compared to the control conditions. Cd accumulation was higher in the roots than in the shoots. After 2 days of 100 µM Cd treatment, TP11 accumulated significantly more Cd in the roots than TP20. After 10 days of exposure, 10 µM Cd resulted in comparable amounts of Cd in the roots and shoots of TP20, which was reflected in a translocation factor (TF) value greater than 1. Quantitative real-time RT-PCR analyses were used to examine the expression profiles of selected stress-response genes in the roots and shoots of plants exposed to Cd. The most significant change in transcript amount was observed in endochitinase 2, 12-oxophytodienoate reductase 1 and phi class glutathione S-transferase, which have been characterized as stress-response genes.Conclusions: Our study provided new insights for effective assessing the ability of different poplar genotypes to tolerate Cd stress and underlying Cd tolerance.

The European wild apple (Malus sylvestris L.), a wild contributor to the domesticated apple, belongs to the endangered species in the Czech Republic. Thus, an efficient protocol was developed for in vitro plantlet regeneration using the post-dormant buds. The highest shoot induction was obtained on MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg.l−1 BAP, 5 mg.l−1 GA and 0.1 mg.l−1 IBA. Shoot multiplication and elongation took place on the same medium with 0.2 mg.l−1 BAP and 0.1 mg.l−1 IBA. Indole-3-butyric acid at 0.5 mg.l−1 was most effective for rooting. The micropropagated plantlets were successfully acclimatized in greenhouse conditions and were transplanted into soil in forest. Finally, qualitative and quantitative parameters of tissue culture-derived plants were evaluated. Monitoring of in vitro plantings on experimental trials suggests that micropropagated wild apple trees retain the growth characteristics of generative individuals.

Pinus mugo (dwarf mountain pine) communities in the protected area of Krkonoše National Park are extremely valuable. After extensive deforestation during the sixteenth to nineteenth centuries, P. mugo recovered naturally in some parts of the Giant Mountains, and in some places imported seeds were likely used for reforestation. To distinguish between native and possibly introduced local P. mugo populations, genetic variations between 12 populations from the Czech Sudeten part of the Giant Mountains and between the two populations from the Tatra Mountains were analysed using 12 nuclear microsatellite markers (nuclear simple sequence repeats). Based on the simple sequence repeat data, 146 alleles were found, and Shannon’s information index, number of private alleles, and expected heterozygosity (H_E) of populations averaged 1.12, 0.16, and 0.53, respectively. Analysis of molecular variance indicated that most of the variation was detected within populations. Low levels of genetic differentiation were also observed (average F_ST = 0.023). The population structure was examined by Bayesian clustering. The results of STRUCTURE analysis confirmed that the introduced populations were different from the autochthonous populations. Some of the introduced Czech Sudeten populations had similar genetic structure as the more distant native populations from the Tatra Mountains. Our results provide important genetic information for the reconstruction of natural communities in the Giant Mountains.