Fritillaria is highly endangered in their natural habitats, and these species are perennial bulbous plants with an important medicinal and ornamental value whose reproductive strategies and adaptive evolution mechanisms are still not fully clear. Therefore, the reproductive strategies of endemic species, like Fritillaria michailovskyi Fomin are important to detect the community structure and the diversity patterns of ornamental plants. The current paper on the reproductive strategy of F. michailovskyi, a rare endemic species, was carried out at the Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute, Turkey. Our results indicate that the flowering stages of F. michailovskyi may be divided into eight phases. According to pollination experiments and the pollen/ovule ratio, and the self-incompatibility index (SII) in an ex-situ population, F. michailovskyi indicated high levels of xenogamy and self-incompatibility. It was determined that the pollination of F. michailovskyi mostly depended on pollen vectors, and the effective pollinators of F. michailovskyi were Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris. In addition, average seed number, seed germination, and average seed viability were found as 144, 46%, and 67%, respectively. The stigma receptivity, pollen grains, and pollen viability were detected as 83%, 252,000, and 95%, respectively. Our study is the first report providing a detailed explanation of the reproductive strategy of this rare endemic species, which could aid in the genetic evolution and conservation of this valuable taxa.

Chloroplast genome analysis provides crucial insights into plant evolution, classification, and conservation strategies. This study aimed to conduct a comprehensive comparative analysis of chloroplast genome architecture, gene content, and evolutionary relationships among five species of Lamiaceae (Lavandula angustifolia, Mentha × piperita, Ocimum × africanum, Salvia japonica, and Thymus serpyllum). Complete chloroplast genome sequences were retrieved from the NCBI database and analyzed using a systematic bioinformatics pipeline. Genome annotation was performed using Geneious Prime software, while repetitive sequence analysis was conducted using Tandem Repeats Finder. Phylogenetic relationships were reconstructed using MEGA software, implementing both the DualBrothers model and Neighbor-Joining method. The analyzed genomes exhibited the characteristic quadripartite structure, with sizes ranging from 152,048 to 153,995 base pairs and GC content between 37.8 and 38.0%. Each genome contained 131–134 genes, including 50 protein-coding sequences, 8 rRNA genes, and 37 tRNA genes. Comparative analysis revealed region-specific GC content variations, with IR regions showing the highest (43.0–43.4%), followed by LSC (35.9–36.2%) and SSC regions (31.6–32.1%). Codon usage analysis demonstrated a significant bias toward T/C-ending codons, particularly TTT, AAA, and AAT, correlating with the high AT content. Notable variations were observed at the LSC/IR/SSC junction regions, attributed to IR expansion and contraction. Molecular clock analyses indicated consistent evolutionary rates across the studied species. These findings provide valuable insights into the molecular evolution of Lamiaceae chloroplast genomes and establish a foundation for future research in plant molecular biology, systematic studies, and conservation efforts.

Fritillaria aurea, unlike other Fritillaria species, is a narrowly endemic species. It has a brown checkered speckled color on each tepal and also has regular yellow intense colors on the tepals. Its large bell-shaped appearance when the flower is open is one of its most striking ornamental features. However, F. aurea plant numbers are limited in their natural habitats, and their numbers are decreasing day by day; they are even confronted with the risk of extinction owing to the damage resulting from human activities. This detailed investigation of reproductive biology plays a vital role in determining the evolutionary success and survival of F. aurea, largely in determining the effectiveness of their reproductive performance. Our results indicate that the species exhibits a very low partial dichogamy and herkogamy structure, as well as self-incompatible pollination. The flowering period ranges from March to April. Average seed viability, average seed number, and seed germination were determined as 71%, 255, and 45%, respectively. The pollen viability, pollen grains, and stigma receptivity were found as 96%, 392.000, and 85%, respectively. The pollen/ovule ratio (P/O) and self-incompatibility index (SII) in the spontaneous cross-pollination were detected as 1537 and 0, respectively. Flowers of F. aurea were visited by several insect species, mostly honeybees (Apis mellifera); Bombus sp. and Vespa sp. also played a minor role in pollination. To sum up, these results not only lay a solid foundation for further reproductive biology investigations to more broadly reveal the mechanisms of F. aurea endangerment in the future but also provide a reliable theoretical basis for hybridization breeding of parents.

This study examines the Riparian Buffer Zones (RBZs) in Türkiye, analyzing land cover changes from 2017 to 2023 to assess their effectiveness in ecological conservation and water resource management. The research employs Esri-Sentinel land cover data, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission digital elevation models, and RiverATLAS data to identify and delineate RBZs, classify land cover types, and evaluate trends and changes over seven years. The findings indicate that 44.8% of RBZs are covered by ‘Rangelands’, 32.2% by ‘Crops’, and 16.1% by ‘Trees’ classes. The study notes a considerable increase in built areas and agricultural fields, which may indicate ongoing urban expansion and its potential impact on the effectiveness of RBZs. Despite regulatory efforts, the substantial presence of agriculture within RBZs indicates a need for more robust environmental protection policies. The results indicate a pressing need for a policy reassessment to enhance forest cover within RBZs and reduce agricultural encroachment. This would improve water quality and facilitate the achievement of sustainability goals numbered 2, 3, 6, 11, 14 and 15. The findings thus call for a strategic enhancement of RBZ management to better protect water resources against the adverse effects of agricultural and urban activities.

Fritillaria spp., comprising perennial bulbous plants of significant medicinal and ornamental value, face high endangerment in their natural habitats. Despite their importance, the reproductive characteristics and adaptive evolution mechanisms of these species remain incompletely understood. This study focused on the pollination strategies and reproductive biology of Fritillaria imperialis L. The research was conducted at the Erzincan Horticultural Research Institute in Türkiye. Our investigation categorized the flowering process of F. imperialis into nine distinct phases. Through comprehensive assessments of the pollen/ovule ratio, self-incompatibility index (SII), and ex situ pollination experiments, we observed high levels of self-incompatibility and allogamy in F. imperialis. Our findings revealed that pollination of F. imperialis primarily relied on pollen vectors, with Apis mellifera and Bombus terrestris identified as the most effective pollinators. Furthermore, average seed set rate, seed production, and seed viability were quantified at 80.5%, 228 seeds, and 86.3%, respectively. The average numbers of pollen viability and pollen grains were measured at 93% and 702,000, respectively. This comprehensive analysis of the reproductive biology of F. imperialis provides crucial insights for the conservation and genetic management of this highly valuable species. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the reproductive strategies employed by Fritillaria spp., which may inform future conservation efforts and breeding programs for these endangered plants.

Hedysarum yilmazunalii Kandemir, F. Yıldız & H.İ. Turkoğlu is described as a new species from Turkey (Eastern Anatolia). The distribution range of the species is restricted to Kemah and Kemaliye districts in Erzincan province on serpentine soils. Hedysarum yilmazunalii is close to Hedysarum candidissimum Freyn in terms of morphological and molecular data. It is also morphologically close to Hedysarum malatyanum Govaerts. In this study, the morphological comparison of the new species with related species is presented. Molecular studies are also done using nrDNA ITS and cpDNA trnL-F regions. ITS data gives better results in phylogenetic analysis. In addition to the morphological data, the results of DNA analysis of the new species are also discussed.