title: Micromorphological traits and essential oil contents of Micromeria kerneri Murb. and M. juliana (L.) Benth. (Lamiaceae).
abstract: The chemical composition of the essential oil (analysed by GC and GC-MS), the types and distribution of trichomes and pollen morphology (analysed by scanning electron microscopy) were investigated in two closely related species, Micromeria kerneri Murb. and Micromeria juliana (L.) Benth. (Lamiaceae) from Southeast Europe as a contribution to their taxonomy. The essential oil of M. kerneri was characterized by a high concentration of oxygenated sesquiterpenes, with caryophyllene-oxide as the major compound. Caryophyllene-oxide was also the major component of the essential oil of M. juliana from all localities, except from Mt Krivošije (Montenegro), where piperitone oxide was the major constituent. Non-glandular trichomes, peltate trichomes, and two types of capitate trichomes (type 1 composed of one basal epidermal cell, and one head cell with subcuticular space; type 2 composed of one basal epidermal cell, two stalk cells, and one head cell with subcuticular space) were observed on leaves, the calyx and on the stem. Pollen of both species had six apertures (hexacolpate) set in the equatorial pollen belt (zonocolpate) and showed medium reticulate ornamentation. Multivariate analysis (PCA and UPGMA) of essential oil components clearly separated the investigated M. kerneri and M. juliana populations, and confirmed the opinion that they are different taxa. On the other hand, micromorphological traits between these species were the same. Nevertheless, definitive conclusions about the taxonomic relationships among these species will require genetic analysis.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, A. Kovačića 1, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kremer
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences, University of Split, Teslina 12, HR-21000 Split, Croatia. Electronic address: dunkic@pmfst.hr.
authors.forename: Valerija
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dunkić
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences, University of Split, Teslina 12, HR-21000 Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Mirko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ruščić
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, Ss Cyril and Methodius University, 1000 Skopje, Republic of Macedonia.
authors.forename: Vlado
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Matevski
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Forestry, University of Sarajevo, Zagrebačka 20, BIH-71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Dalibor
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ballian
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Forestry, University of Sarajevo, Zagrebačka 20, BIH-71000, Bosnia and Herzegovina.
authors.forename: Faruk
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bogunić
authors.affiliation: Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Faculty of Forestry and Natural Environment, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece.
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eleftheriadou
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Montenegro, Džordža Vašingtona bb, 81 000 Podgorica, Montenegro.
authors.forename: Danijela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stešević
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Zagreb, A. Kovačića 1, HR-10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kosalec
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Sciences, University of Split, Teslina 12, HR-21000 Split, Croatia.
authors.forename: Nada
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bezić
authors.affiliation: Institute of Plant Sciences, Karl-Franzens University, Schubertstrasse 51, A-8010 Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Edith
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stabentheiner
mesh_terms: D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D019686:Lamiaceae / Q000737:chemistry*; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000737:chemistry*; D011058:Pollen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013045:Species Specificity; D064201:Trichomes / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile
keywords: Essential oil; Micromeria juliana; Micromeria kerneri; Plant trichomes; Pollen