A novel strain of Gram-negative, rod-shaped aerobic bacteria, identified as IY22, was isolated from the root nodules of Astragalus flavescens. The analysis of the 16S rDNA and recA (recombinase A) gene sequences indicated that the strain belongs to the genus Phyllobacterium. During the phylogenetic analysis, it was found that strain IY22 is closely related to P. trifolii strain PETP02^T and P. bourgognense strain STM 201^T. The genome of IY22 was determined to be 6,010,116 base pairs long with a DNA G+C ratio of 56.37 mol%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values showed a range from 91.7% to 93.6% when compared to its close relatives. Moreover, IY22 and related strains had digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values ranging from 16.9% to 54.70%. Multiple genes (including nodACDSNZ, nifH/frxC, nifUS, fixABCJ, and sufABCDES) associated with symbiotic nitrogen fixation have been detected in strain IY22. Furthermore, this strain features genes that contribute to improving plant growth in various demanding environments. This study reports the first evidence of an association between A. flavescens and a rhizobial species. Native high-altitude legumes are a potential source of new rhizobia, and we believe that they act as a form of insurance for biodiversity against the threats of desertification and drought.

In this study, Helichrysum × kani-isikii (Asteraceae), a new natural hybrid of H. compactum and H. unicapitatum from Babadağ (Denizli, Turkey), is described and investigated in detail for the first time. The new nothospecies is similar to H. compactum and H. unicapitatum, but it has some intermediate morphological and palynological properties that position it between the two putative parents. In the diagnosis of the hybrid, pollen size and shape were found as significant characteristics. Taxonomic, morphological, and palynological characteristics of H. × kani-isikii are compared with those of its putative parents, and some other details are presented with notes on the IUCN category and ecology of the nothospecies. In addition, a key to diagnosing the hybrid from its parental taxa is also provided.

Centaurea lydia, an endemic species belonging to the Asteraceae family, has a limited distribution in Turkey and is currently listed in the LR/cd category by the IUCN. This study, conducted in 2024, examined the impacts of wildfires in Bornova, İzmir, on the species and its reproductive biology. Key factors such as flower morphology, pollen viability, stigma receptivity, seed production success, and germination rates were evaluated. The results showed that the species exhibits protandry and relies on insect pollinators for effective reproduction. It has a self-incompatible pollination system and a fertile seed ratio of 40.86%. The high seedling establishment rate of fertile seeds is a significant advantage that enhances the reproductive capacity of the species. However, despite the high seedling success, the wildfires in İzmir have caused severe habitat loss, placing the Centaurea lydia population at considerable risk. Therefore, it is suggested that the conservation status of the species should be elevated to "Vulnerable".

The root nodule symbiosis between legumes and rhizobia plays a fundamental role in biological nitrogen fixation and ecosystem sustainability. Genista acanthoclada, a perennial woody legume native to arid and rocky slopes of Western Türkiye, has not previously been investigated regarding to its symbiotic microsymbionts. In this study, five bacterial isolates were obtained from root nodules of G. acanthoclada collected from Yamanlar Mountain (İzmir, Türkiye) on Yeast Extract Mannitol Agar (YEMA) and rhizobial strains (GA.7.1 and GA.9) were rapidly selected by colony PCR targeting the nodC gene. Both isolates exhibited typical rhizobial phenotypic characteristics, including Gram-negative rod-shaped morphology, positive catalase and oxidase activities, and weak Congo red absorption on YEMA medium. Taxonomic analyses based on 16S rRNA, recA, and atpD gene sequences revealed that both isolates belong to the genus Mesorhizobium. The incongruence between the phylogenetic analysis based on nodC amino acid sequences and the core gene phylogenies suggests that horizontal gene transfer may play a role in the evolution of nodulation-related genes. In contrast, the nifH-based phylogeny was largely congruent with housekeeping gene phylogenies, indicating a more conserved evolutionary history of nitrogen fixation genes. These findings provide the first data on the rhizobia associated with the nodules of G. acanthoclada and contribute to a better understanding of the evolutionary dynamics of legume–rhizobium interactions.

Arenaria izmirensis is described as a new species from the mountain of Mahmut (district of İzmir, Western Turkey). The new species is morphologically similar to A. tmolea, A. sipylea, A. uninervia, and A. cretica from which it differs in having a procumbent habit, different habit and shapes basal leaves, densely glandular sepals, and smaller petals. A detailed description, ecological data, original drawings and photos, and the conservation status are given.

This study examines the variation in reproductive traits among four subspecies of Jasione supina (subsp. akmanii, subsp. pontica, subsp. supina, and subsp. tmolea) endemic to Turkey. Key parameters such as flowering phenology, floral morphology, ovule and pollen characteristics, pollen viability, stigma receptivity, self-incompatibility, and pollinator visitation were comparatively analyzed under field conditions. J. supina subsp. supina exhibited the greatest reproductive success, with the highest number of corymbs per plant (25.93 ± 16.09), flowers per corymb (36 ± 11.66), ovules per ovary (24.1 ± 3.07), and fertilised ovules (19.9 ± 4.36). It also exhibited the highest pre-anthesis pollen viability (86.5 ± 6.26%). Despite having a lower floral output, J. s. tmolea achieved high fertilisation rates (12.2 ± 2.35 ovules) and had the highest post-anthesis pollen viability (67.5 ± 16.87%). Subsp. akmanii produced the highest pollen count (2110 ± 435.12) but had the lowest pre-anthesis pollen viability (56 ± 14.3%). Self-pollination resulted in zero fertilisation in all subspecies, confirming complete self-incompatibility. Under cross-pollination, fertilization rates ranged from 41.83% in subsp. pontica to 82.75% in subsp. supina. Physical stimulation of pollen-collecting stylar hairs significantly reduced the time to female-phase onset, from 22–26 hours to 6–6.75 hours after anthesis. Pollinator observations over a period of 216 hours revealed that Hymenoptera accounted for 63.33% of visits, followed by Diptera (34.6%), Lepidoptera (1.88%), and Coleoptera (0.03%). Subsp. pontica was the only subspecies in which Diptera exceeded Hymenoptera in visitation frequency. These results indicate that floral traits, pollinator composition, and reproductive efficiency vary significantly among subspecies, which supports the hypothesis that divergent evolutionary pressures and ecological heterogeneity have shaped distinct reproductive strategies within the Jasione supina complex.