Mirjana Ljubojević

Bio: Mirjana Ljubojević is an academic researcher from University of Novi Sad. The author has contributed to research in topics: Rootstock & Prunus cerasus. The author has an hindex of 10, co-authored 45 publications receiving 439 citations. Previous affiliations of Mirjana Ljubojević include United States Department of Agriculture.

Genetic variability of bottle gourd lagenaria siceraria (mol.) standley and its morphological characterization by multivariate analysis

Abstract: A wide range of bottle gourd Lagenaria siceraria (Mol.) Standley germplasm was collected from different parts of the world. Genetic resource preservation and determination of genetic variability was carried out as a foundation for fu- ture breeding work. The germplasm diversity collected in Serbia is a result of its adaptation to diverse ecological conditions and farmers' selection in accordance with their preference and ethnobotanical utilization. The broad intraspecific variation of the plant, fruit and seed morphology is a direct result of the research carried out. Principal component analysis (PCA) of L. siceraria with 13 quantitative traits showed continuous variation among accessions, primarily due to fruit and seed size and shape. The evident reduction in trait variation is a direct result of the preference for ornamental use that favored certain shapes and sizes of the fruit, which has not significantly changed over the centuries.

Anatomical Characteristics of Cherry Rootstocks as Possible Preselecting Tools for Prediction of Tree Vigor

Abstract: An anatomical study of roots and stems of five self-rooted cherry rootstocks with different growth control potentials was performed to compare their structure and xylem anatomy. The aim was to correlate anatomical parameters with rootstock dwarfing potential and theoretical hydraulic conductance (k h), and to evaluate the potential application of anatomical characteristics in the preselection process for prediction of ultimate tree vigor. One of the mechanisms of water transport efficiency reduction in dwarfing rootstock stems is from the rootstock xylem anatomy. Anatomical parameters of ‘Gisela 5’ and ‘Mazzard’ were typical for dwarfing and vigorous rootstocks, respectively, and were thus suggested as reference rootstocks. Significantly greater vessel diameter and frequency were found in invigorating and dwarfing rootstocks, respectively. Higher k h was obtained in roots, compared to stems, due to significantly larger vascular elements. Dwarfing rootstocks had lower k h due to small vessel lumens and percentage and, to a lesser extent, because of low wood/cortex ratios or percentage of wood. A higher percentage of wood or xylem in cherry roots and stems was not always positively correlated with their conductivity and vigor. Thus, these parameters cannot be reliably used in prediction of the ultimate vigor, although this method was previously suggested for some other fruit tree species. The most reliable anatomical parameters for that purpose proved to be vessel frequency, vessel lumen area, and percentage of vessels on wood cross section. These characteristics could thus be an effective way to estimate dwarfing capacity and could be applied in rootstock selection and breeding programs.

Biodiversity of wild fruit species of Serbia

Abstract: Several field collecting trips in the 2009-2011 period confirmed that forest fruit species are an inexhaustible genofond of extremely important varieties that yield fruit of excellent quality and high nutritive value, with wide range of applications, including nutritional, medicinal and food production. The aim of this work was to develop long term interactive and integrated strategy for selection of wild fruit species through different breeding methods, as well as popularization of selected products and their integration into intensive fruit growing. The most important morphological, ecological, and biological characteristics were studied and presented for Cornus mas, Sambucus nigra, Morus sp. and Rosa sp. For each studied fruit species, advanced selections for cultivar release has been reported.

Morphometric diversity in dwarf sour cherry germplasm in Serbia

Abstract: SummaryThe search for growth-reducing rootstocks has produced selections of ‘Oblacinska’ sour cherry (Prunus cerasus L.) and European ground cherry (Prunus fruticosa Pall.). The methodological approach to germplasm collection was a compromise between a search for specific characters and random sampling of the population. On the principle of 19 variables in 27 accessions, this research brought valuable and diverse plant material into rootstock breeding. The vigour of adult trees on their own roots ranged from extremely weak, such as in selections of European ground cherry (SV1, SV3, SV4) and ‘Oblacinska’ sour cherry (OV31), to vigorous genotypes such as sour cherry (OV33 and OV34) and P. mahaleb. The natural habit of untrained trees varied from upright (e.g., SV7) to dropping (e.g., SV2). Internode lengths ranged from 1.36 cm (in SV8) to 4.11 cm (in SV4). Based on a PCA scatter-plot, six diverse sub-groups showing significant intra- and inter-species variability were distinguished. These findings were supp...

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture

Abstract: The origin of plant cell and tissue culture can be found in a treatise published during the mid-18th century, entitled La Physique des Arbes, that describes the formation of callus tissue following the for mation of a ring of cortex from elm trees. Over the next two centuries, the discovery of plant growth hormones, in particular auxins and cytokinins, and detailed analyses on the nutritional requirements of plants, led to the formulation of media that could maintain actively dividing cultures derived from gymnosperms, and both dicotyledon ous and monocotyledonous angiosperms. However, much of the prog ress and technological development in the in vitro propagation of plant cells, tissues, and organs has occurred during the last 25 years. Recently, plant tissue culture techniques have been used as basic tools in the rapidly expanding field of plant biotechnology for the development and clonal propagation of new and/or improved plant varieties. Plant tissue culture is used for the micropropagation of commercially valuable cultivars that include ornamentals, oil palm, Glycyrrhiza, Pyrethrum, pine, Eucalyptus, sugar cane, and potatoes. Cultured plant tissue is also used for the selection of cells and, ul timately, the regeneration of plants that are tolerant to physical stresses such as pathogens, drought, and temperature extremes, and to chemical stress agents such as salinity, herbicides, proteins, and pyrethrins. In addition, new plants have been produced by the fusion of protoplasts prepared from cultured cells of different species in cluding sunflower and french bean, tomato and potato, and various cultivars of Datura. Finally, bacterial vectors and various mechanical methods have been used to introduce foreign genes into cultured plant tissues. Genetic transformation can result in profound changes in the phenotype and/or biochemical profile of the regenerated trans genic plants that are not characteristic of the wild type. An impressive variety of technologies in tissue culture, genetic manipulation, and molecular biology have been developed for nu merous plant species. Many of these techniques, sometimes referred to as plant biotechnology, have been extensively summarized and compiled in a well-balanced collection of easy-to-follow protocols presented in three separate, but complimentary, volumes. Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture consists of 22 chapters (with 86 figures) and 5 appendices. The chapters cover critical aspects of (a) the es sential requirements for the operation of a plant tissue culture lab oratory; (b) the basic procedures of micropropagation, regeneration, and somatic embryogenesis; (c) some specific applications of organ culture systems such as embryo rescue and culture, and anther and microspore culture for haploid and double haploid production; (d) elementary transformation technology; and (e) useful microtechnique and analytical protocols specifically adapted to cultured tissues and cells. The appendices provide a convenient summary of media for mulations and commercial suppliers for the materials described in the text.