ECOPHYSIOLOGICAL ASPECTS IN SOME LIANA SPECIES AT THE BOTANICAL GARDENS OF JASSY

 Abstract: The paper discusses the results of the investigations, developed in the year 2002, on 8 liana species cultivated at the Botanical Gardens of Jassy, with the objective of evidencing the physiological mechanisms of adaptation to the specific pedo-climatic condition of the area. The physiological behaviour of the species, expressed by the water content, assimilating pigments, total mineral elements, intensity of photosynthesis, respiration and perspiration, put into evidence their adaptation, of majority, to the conditions of the temperate climate of Romania. Keyword: lianas, physiological process, adaptation Lianas are woody or herbaceous trailing plants, with decorative flowers and leaves, characterized by a rich and rapid growth, which are cultivated for adorning walls, columns, pillars, old trees trunks, etc. Most of the species taken into analysis are cited or even briefly described in treatises of floriculture, dendrology, regional flora (7, 8). More recently, J.A. Considine (1984) and S. Tanimoto (1991) published studies on the tissue cultures of Actinidia species. In our country, the quite recent contributions of the specialists in the field have been mainly dedicated to histo-anatomy, morphology, phytopathology, systematics and culture technologies, no special interest being manifested in physiology (3, 5, 9, 11-14). Lianas's acclimation to the specific conditions of the Botanical Gardens of Jassy has been studied by V. Diaconescu (1978), G. Teodorescu and R. Rugină (1995). Starting from such general observations, the present paper discusses the results of the eco-physiological investigations developed on 8 liana species belonging to different botanical families, as follows: Actinidia arguta (Sieb. & Zucc.) Micq. (fam. Actinidiaceae) Periploca graeca L. (fam. Asclepiadaceae) Campsis radicans (L.) Seem. (fam. Bignoniaceae) Lonicera japonica Thunb. (fam. Caprifoliaceae) Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. (fam. Caprifoliaceae) Menispermum canadensis L. (fam. Menispermaceae) Menispermum dauricum D.C. (fam. Menispermaceae) Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. (fam. Vitaceae)