Botanikai Közlemények

Phytogeographical comparison of forest associations in two Natura 2000 sites in the Tolnai-hegyhát, Hungary

István Vas — 2025-06-02

This study compares the phytogeographical character for two extensive forest blocks in the Tolnai-hegyhát (Central Hungary) based on the author’s phytocoenological surveys conducted between 2015 and 2019. Both areas are Natura 2000 sites. Phytocoenological sampling was carried out in 102 forest subcompartments in the Lengyel–Hőgyész Forests (LHE) situated at the southern edge of the Tolnai-hegyhát, and in 82 forest subcompartments in the Kisszékely Hills (KDO) to the north, close to Mezőföld. Results show that xerophilous plant associations (Quercetea pubescentis-petraeae) play a greater role in the composition of the forests of KDO than those of LHE, while the proportion of the Fagetalia sylvaticae group is lower. In xeric forest habitats of LHE, there are more European floristic elements, while in both xeric and mesic forests, continental elements are much less than in KDO, where species of the Pannonian steppe grasslands (Festucion rupicolae) turn up. With a higher proportion of the Pontic, sub-Mediterranean elements of Southeast European pubescent oak forests and scrubs (Orno-Cotinetalia) in mesic forests, the sub-Mediterranean character is stronger for KDO than for LHE. A major difference in the vegetation of the two forest blocks is that, unlike in LHE, in KDO, such xeric plant associations appear as the Pulmonario mollis-Quercetum roboris (closed foothill forest-steppe loess oak wood) and the Aceri tatarici-Quercetum roboris (steppe woodland). As to the Raunkiaer life forms, in the xeric forest associations, dwarf and creeping shrubs (Ch), and herbaceous perennial bulbiferous, tuberous or rhizomatous (G) life forms have a lower proportion, while the share of shrubs (M) is higher in KDO than in LHE. The higher proportion of character species of dry oak forests and of Eurasian dry grasslands, and that of continental and sub-Mediterranean floristic elements in KDO than in LHE suggests that KDO represents a sort of transition towards the sub-Mediterranean forest steppe woodlands of the nearby Mezőföld region.

Effects of household synthetic detergents and environmentally friendly laundry soap on germination, growth and physiological properties of wheat

Brigitta Roxána Horváthné Dani — 2025-06-02

The increasing and widespread use of cleaning substances is a major source of environmental pollution. The pursuit of environmentally responsible behaviour is getting increasingly important in households as well. One way to do this is to use environmentally friendly detergents. In this study, we compared the ecotoxicity of commercially available synthetic laundry detergents and a washing solution made from laundry soap on wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Three not environmentally friendly (A, B and C) and one eco-friendly synthetic liquid laundry detergents were included in the tests and compared with the effect of a washing solution made from traditional laundry soap. The effects of detergents on wheat germination, seedling weight, shoot and root growth, leaf carotenoid and chlorophyll content, photosynthesis, and peroxidase enzyme activity were investigated in the manufacturer’s recommended and higher concentrations. The laundry soap solution did not reduce germination even in the highest concentration (400 ml l^–1), while synthetic detergents inhibited it even in 100 ml l^–1 solution, and completely prevented it in a concentration of 400 ml l^–1. The changes in the weight of seedlings due to the treatments showed a similar pattern of toxicity for the different detergents. The weight of individual seedlings decreased even at a low detergent concentration recommended by the manufacturers (2.5–5 ml l^–1), except for the environmentally friendly detergent and the laundry soap solution. For the not environmentally friendly synthetic detergents, the concentration of 2.5 ml l^–1 reduced the length of shoots by 33–53% and that of roots by 84–92%, while for the eco-friendly detergent, an intense inhibitory effect appeared from 100 ml l^–1. The laundry soap solution did not have such effect; even in a solution of 100–400 ml l^–1 concentration, the length of the shoots was reduced by only 34–38% and the length of the roots by 81–87%. For every detergent, growth inhibition was stronger in the roots than in the shoots. The concentration of photosynthetic pigments (chl-a, chl-b, carotenoids) decreased under the influence of synthetic detergents A, B and C even at low concentrations (2.5 ml l^–1), in the 5 ml l^–1 treatment of detergent B there were no surviving plants suitable for measurement. For the eco-friendly synthetic detergent, photosynthetic pigment contents declined only at 100 ml l^–1 concentration. The maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) of photosystem II proved to be a weak indicator in this study as it responded moderately to treatments. Increasing oxidative stress indicated by the increase in peroxidase activity was obvious for the not environmentally friendly synthetic detergents with increasing low detergent concentrations. For the eco-friendly detergent, peroxidase activity did not change, while for the solutions made from laundry soap, it gradually doubled as high (100–400 ml l–1) concentration was reached. Based on our results, seed germination, root growth, pigment content and peroxidase activity are the most appropriate plant traits for the detection of stress caused by detergents.

When used in the recommended dosage concentration, the laundry soap solution and the eco-friendly synthetic laundry detergent did not have significant inhibitory effects on wheat germination, growth and physiological properties while inhibition occurred with the not environmentally friendly synthetic detergents. Our study shows that the laundry soap solution and the tested eco-friendly detergent – even though the latter also contains synthetic surfactants – may pose a low environmental risk if they get into greywater.

Changes in the diversity and species composition of a seminatural saline pasture under different grassland management regimes

Krisztina Varga — 2025-06-02

The Eurasian forest-steppe that covers a large part of the Carpathian Basin was home to a dominant grassland forage-based livestock production for several decades. In the 21st century, the area of grassland under grassland management, now abandoned, is increasing as a result of steadily declining grazing livestock numbers and limited support for grassland use for conservation purposes. At the same time, overgrazing in pasture gardens established to address labour shortages is causing depletion. In our study, we followed the changes in diversity and species composition of an externally managed semi-natural grassland under different management regimes. In an experiment launched in 2009 on the Hungarian Great Plain in a meadow with transitional grassland association between Agrostio stoloniferae-Alopecuretum pratensis and Achilleo setaceae-Festucetum pseudovinae, the treatments applied were zero-utilisation (neither grazed nor mowed), mowing, meadow grazing (mowing and sheep grazing) and overgrazing. Of the complete 11-year period of the experiment, the last 4 years (2017–2020) were studied. Once a year, a phytocoenological survey was carried out, recording the cover of each plant species. Our results showed that Shannon diversity was significantly higher in the overgrazed and meadow-grassland areas than in the zero utilisation or mowed grassland, mainly due to differences in species numbers. The meadow grassland was the most species-rich with 29 plant species over the 4 years of the study, while the most species-poor was the zero utilisation grassland with only 6 species in 2017. Evenness values differed little between treatments. The Shannon diversity value did not change significantly over the 4 years of the study within a given grassland utilisation. In the mowing and zero utilisation treatments, the proportion of grasses in species number and total cover was higher than in the meadow and overgrazed treatments. The cover of the tall grass Alopecurus pratensis dominant in the mowing and meadow treatments decreased to below 10% in the overgrazed grassland. With increasing grazing intensity, an advance of the short grass Festuca pseudovina was observed. At zero utilisation, Rosa canina causes shrub encroachment. The annual grass Hordeum murinum appeared only in the overgrazing treatment, and its cover increased from 13.5% to 22.9% between 2017 and 2020, which may already represent a significant potential for animal health risk. The results of our research suggest that, under similar climatic and soil conditions to the habitat under study, meadow management practices are the most likely to maintain the original diversity of semi-natural grassland associations.

Bringing Vicia villosa, V. pannonica, V. sativa, Trifolium incarnatum and T. alexandrinum into cultivation in Hungary: a historical review

Marcell Lócsi — 2025-06-02

We review the history of arable naturalization and initial cropping of five legume species in Hungary in the period between the 19th and the first half of the 20th century. Nowadays, these species have an increasing importance as green manure and seed production. The cultivation of Vicia villosa Roth, an old established plant in the Carpathian Basin of Near Eastern origin, was started for green forage, mainly owing to encouraging experiences in Germany. It produced good yields even among unfavourable weather and edaphic conditions. Although Vicia pannonica Crantz is likely native to Hungary, it was brought into cultivation due to reports of satisfactory farming experiences from the USA. It had a good seed production capacity and also provided tasty forage in Hungary as well. Vicia sativa L. was probably cultivated already in the Neolithic, Bronze and Iron Ages in the Carpathian Basin. Later, in the transitional period between the three-field system and crop rotation, its foreign cultivars were re-naturalised and sown into the fallow as a forage crop. Trifolium incarnatum L., a plant of Mediterranean origin, was first cultivated in Hungary as a stubble–sown crop, or for clover replacement, but later it became a relevant seed–export item. The seeds of Trifolium alexandrinum L. for its first Hungarian field experiments probably came directly from Africa. Mostly, it was cropped as a secondary sown forage in irrigated fields and as a shift crop in rice-growing areas.

Terricolous and saxicolous occurrence of Anacamptodon splachnoides (Froel. ex Brid.) Brid. (Amblystegiaceae) in Hungary

János Csiky — 2025-06-02

On 14 May 2024, a new population of Anacamptodon splachnoides (Froel. ex Brid.) Brid. was found at the base of a large Fagus sylvatica tree on the steep northern bank of Hideg-völgy Creek, in the outskirts of Pécs (Southern Hungary). The discovery is unique for three reasons: i) the site is located at the southern limit of the species’ European range, ii) it is the largest (2900 cm²) colony recorded in Hungary, and iii) instead of a knothole, the moss lives on the soil surface between the topmost root branches in the root flare and on the rock surface below. In this paper, we briefly discuss the conditions under which the species occurs and possible explanations and consequences of this rare phenomenon.

Activity of the Botanical Section of the Hungarian Biological Society

Eszter S.-Falusi — 2025-06-04

Without abstract.