This study investigated the physiological and molecular responses of two common bean ( Phaseolus vulgari s L.) genotypes, “Balkız” and “Local Genotype”, which differ in their relative heat tolerance, with the “Local Genotype” being more tolerant than “Balkız”, to high-temperature stress during the seedling stage, aiming to identify genotype-specific physiological and biochemical responses and to determine reliable indicators of thermotolerance. Leaf relative water content (RWC), turgor loss, membrane damage, proline levels, total soluble protein (TSP), and the expression of heat shock proteins HSP23 and HSP60 were examined. The “Local Genotype” exhibited greater thermotolerance, with lower membrane damage while the temperature at which 50% injury occurs (LT50) was higher, despite the accumulation of less proline than “Balkız”. Genotype-specific variations detected in protein expression indicate distinct biochemical responses to heat stress. HSP23 showed a rapid, transient increase at moderate temperature (40 °C) in both genotypes, suggesting it has a role in early heat stress response. HSP60 levels were maintained near LT50 temperatures, supporting sustained stress adaptation, but declined at 48 °C, reflecting extreme stress rather than genotype-specific differences. These findings emphasize LT50 and HSP dynamics as key indicators of thermotolerance and provide insights for understanding heat stress responses in common bean seedlings.

Acalypha is a genus native to tropical and subtropical regions of the world and eastern North America and Asia, with some species considered as aliens in Eurasia. The European flora is reported to include four species, all occurring in Italy according to Plant of the World Online database. As part of the ongoing studies of the flora of Treviso Province (Veneto region, north-eastern Italy), we came across to a population of A. rhomboidea Raf. which represents not only the first record for Veneto and the second one for the Italian flora, but also the fourth discovery of the species out of its native range; a description of the species (the first one for Italy), ecological remarks, and a map of the European occurrences are provided.

This study presents the first records of Potamogeton compressus L. and P. friesii Rupr. in the Caucasus, where both are confined to Lake Tabatskuri, Georgia. Potamogeton compressus was identified from 1965 herbarium specimens found in TGM, while P. friesii was documented in 2023. These findings extend their known southern ranges, highlighting the importance of high-altitude lakes in preserving boreal aquatic flora in the South Caucasus.

We recorded the occurrence of Duranta erecta L. in the Aeolian Islands (Sicily, Italy), where it currently behaves as a casual alien. At the global scale, however, this woody species has shown highly invasive behaviour in different island ecosystems. On the basis of this evidence, we have investigated which ecological and biological traits may have allowed its establishment and spread, and could trigger its further expansion in the Aeolian Islands in the near future. Several factors seem to have favoured its success on a global scale, such as the wide edaphic and climatic range, the tolerance to anthropogenic disturbance, and the production of toxic metabolites that protect it from herbivore browsing and from competition with other plants. The study of the organisms that perform pollination and seed dispersal is probably the key to understanding the local naturalization of this plant, introduced about three centuries ago in Europe and the Mediterranean, here discussed in detail for the first time.

The establishment of axenic cultures and the propagation of the rare moss Entosthodon pulchellus (H. Philip.) Brugués (Funariaceae), as well as the optimisation of its ex situ growth conditions and rapid biomass production were the goals of this study. The results obtained also provide insights into the developmental biology of this moss in in vitro conditions, particularly regarding basal media contents with or without supplements of selected plant growth regulators or sugars, i.e. its nutritional needs. The procedure for establishing axenic cultures of this rare and threatened moss species is described. The optimisation protocol of the growth and production conditions is elaborated. The spore germinability of dried herbarium samples remained rather high in the tested laboratory conditions. Suitability tests on different media types showed KNOP basal media to be the best fit for the rapid biomass production of both secondary protonemata and leafy gametophores, without the addition of sugars or plant growth regulators. However, sugar, namely sucrose, induced rapid and massive protonemal development and can be used when this developmental stage is needed.

TheRomuleion, the only alliance of the orderPoetalia bulbosae(classPoetea bulbosae) found on the Balkan Peninsula, represents Mediterranean perennial and ephemeral pastures. It has been found in several Balkan countries, from Greece to the Republic of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Croatia and Bulgaria. However, a revision of its nomenclature according to the fourth edition of the International Code of Phytosociological Nomenclature shows that the name of the alliance was not validly published. In this paper we therefore describe the new allianceRomuleion graecae, together with the new associationPlantagini lagopodis-Poetum bulbosae.

In this local-scale synecological study, we investigated the changes in plant community composition throughout secondary succession occurring after cessation of agricultural land use (i.e. grassland abandonment). The successional sequence studied had the following pathway: Avenula pubescens (Huds.) Dumort. haypastures → Brachypodium pinnatum (L.) P.Beauv. successional grassland → Cornus sanguinea L. scrubs → late-successional Populus tremula L. forest → late-successional oak-hornbeam (Quercus-Carpinus) forest. The last forest stage was represented by the association Epimedio-Carpinetum betuli (Horvat 1938) Borhidi 1963. Occurrence of plant species throughout secondary succession was mostly stage-specific; only Fragaria vesca L., Ajuga reptans L., Cornus sanguinea, Prunus spinosa L., and Viola hirta L. showed survival ability throughout almost all stages.

The paper of Brullo et al. (2022) aimed to lectotypify _Elatine macropoda_ Guss. and _E. gussonei_ (Sommier) Brullo et al., two enigmatic members of the genus. They gave an overview of the taxonomic issue of these species, identified the type specimens, and gave a comprehensive description of both species, as well as aimed to clarify open questions in the nomenclature of these taxa. However, some of the points raised by Brullo et al. (2022) are in contrast to previously published scientific evidence, leading them to reach different taxonomic conclusions. This contrast is the result of (i) misinterpreted some key findings published in other works, and (ii) stitching to preconceptions on the distribution and specific characteristics of these species. Given the importance of scientific discussion, authors here attempt to shed light on contested points to help the better understanding of the taxonomy of this genus in Europe.

This paper reports the occurrence of a North American salt-tolerant taxon, Diplachne fusca subsp. fascicularis (Lam.) P.M.Peterson et N.Snow in Hungary (Central-Europe). Two earlier Hungarian observations of D. fusca were known from 1915, near Győr (West Transdanubia), later the taxon was collected by Pénzes in 1958, in downtown Budatétény (central Hungary. Both observations seem to be occasional. Recently, the taxon has started spreading in Europe, mainly on rice paddy fields, with a serious invasion potential. In North America its appearance on ruderal habitats, as well as along roads and other linear infrastructures is a well known phenomenon. The Hungarian population was found near Cegléd (Central Hungary) on the roadside of the E40 primary main road in September 2018. In July 2019 more than one thousand (mostly vegetative) individuals were detected. The salt content of the habitat shows remarkable temporal and spatial variability. At one meter distance from the edge of the paved road soil salt content was higher in spring (after the winter de-icing regime), than in autumn. Salt concentration was highest in the vicinity of the road, and decreased with increasing distance from it. Germination tests revealed a significant negative effect of NaCl concentration on germination rates, but germination occurred even on extremely saline substrates with 1.5% NaCl concentration. Considering its biology and reproduction strategy, the further spread of Diplachne fusca is highly presumable.

Introduction of an invasive alien macrophyte water lettuce (Pistia stratiotes L.) radically changed the oxbow lake in Prilipe (SE Slovenia) which has thermal springs that enables the winter survival of this tropical invader. About 10 years after the first record of P. stratiotes, the number, abundance and biomass of indigenous and non-indigenous macrophytes as well as different abiotic parameters were measured. In that period, colonized sections (~94% of the oxbow lake) were completely covered with water lettuce, and the only reservoirs of indigenous macrophyte species were the non-colonized areas (6%). Research in 2011 found only a third of the previously recorded indigenous macrophytes, but then only in small section without P. stratiotes. Three of the species that disappeared were on the Red data list. In the colonized section a higher biomass was observed than in the non-colonized section because of high abundance of water lettuce which remained the only macrophyte. Due to the presence of P. stratiotes, the intensity of light penetrating into the depth and water circulation were reduced, as was the oxygen saturation of the water. In addition to the well documented vegetative propagation of P. stratiotes, a well-established and viable seed bank has been detected in the lake sediment and after winter floods also on lake banks. In the future, special attention should be given to the thermal water ecosystems in temperate climates since they can serve as stepping stones and recruitment centres for the establishment and spread of (sub-)tropical invasive species. Facing predicted climate change such local populations of invasive species can act as stepping stones for further dispersal.