Pisum Genetics
2010-Volume 42
Research Papers
Distribution and new records of Pisum sativum subsp. elatius in Serbia
Zlatkovic, B.1, Mikic, A.2 and Smykal, P.3
University of Nis, Dept. of Biology and Ecology, Nis, Serbia institute of Field and Vegetable Crops, Novi Sad, Serbia
Agritec Plant Research Ltd., Sumperk, Czech Republic
The taxon Pisum sativum L. subsp. elatius (Steven ex M. Bieb.) Asch. & Graebn. (syn. P. sativum subsp. biflorum) was regarded as a separate species, P. elatius (1, 2, 3), and now is commonly accepted as a pea subspecies (4). Based on its long, climbing stems (up to 150 cm), P. sativum subsp. elatius may be translated into English as tall pea. This taxon is also regarded as one of ancestral forms of the cultivated pea, P. sativum L. subsp. sativum (5).
According to its general distribution and ecology, P. sativum subsp. elatius is a widely dispersed Mediterranean element with native range spreading across the Mediterranean and Oriental-Thuranian floristic regions of the world. More precisely, it is distributed over the coastal region of North Africa (Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco and Tunisia), southwest Asia (Cyprus, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Turkey), Caucasus and Crimea (Azerbaijan, Georgia, Russian Federation and Ukraine), southwest Europe (France, Portugal and Spain) and southeast Europe (Italy, Romania and the Balkan Peninsula). The area in southeast Europe that concerns the Balkan Peninsula overlaps mainly with Mediterranean and Sub-Mediteranean parts of Albania, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia (6, 7).
Excluding P. sativum subsp. arvense, which is doubtfully native (1), P. sativum subsp. elatius is likely the only wild growing native pea in Serbia (1). P. sativum subsp. arvense was recorded in the field in the south (8) and is commonly grown as a component of fodder mixtures (with barley or wheat) throughout Serbia (1). P. sativum subsp. elatius has been considered distinct in Serbia for a long time. The first records of P. sativum subsp. elatius in Serbia come from the second half of 19th century and belong to Dr. Josif Pancic, a well known Serbian botanist (9). Later literature sources describe it as a widely distributed plant in the flora of Serbia, mostly on untilled land and rather rarely as a cultivated species (1, 10, 11). A special form of P. sativum subsp. elatius, designed as f. albiflorum Beck and with the whole corolla white, was mentioned as appearing sporadically in comparison to the more typical f. elatius, with the corolla parts in various hues of pink (1).
In addition to the field survey, herbarium material and numerous literature sources were used to supplement the distribution records of P. sativum subsp. elatius in Serbia. The distribution is mapped on a 10 x 10 sq. km UTM grid system (UTM Zone 34T). The results were incorporated into the Global Information System (GIS), spatially analyzed and represented in cartographic form. DIVA-GIS 5.2.0.2 software was used for GIS analysis (http://www.diva-gis.org/). Nomenclature, synonyms and distribution out of the Balkans are given according to the Germplasm Resources Information Network -(GRIN) database (http://www.ars-grin.gov/cgi-bin/ npgs/html/ taxgenfo rm. pl).
Although it was reported to be widely distributed in Serbia (1), P. sativum subsp. elatius seems to be more rare or rather regionally threatened as depicted in Figs. 1 and 2. In addition, some of the
Figure I. Distribution of P. sativum subsp. elatius in Serbia (UTM, Zone34T, 10x10).
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habitats in the northern part of its area, recorded in the vicinity of Belgrade (9) and referring to the first records in Serbia are seemingly destroyed or even endangered by human activities. According to the
Figure 2. Position of P. sativum subsp. elatius populations in Serbia related to its relief and hydrographic features (new records indicated by arrow).
data collected, the highest density of P. sativum subsp. elatius populations is located in the southeast and South Serbia (Fig. 1). Recently, a new population of P. sativum subsp. elatius was located in the valley of the river Pcinja, in the far southeast of Serbia and near its borders with Bulgaria and Macedonia (Fig. 2). This evidence has implications for the recent activities on the wild and semi-wild Pisum taxa in the Balkans, resulting in finding 'tall pea' in several neighboring regions of Bulgaria (2, 12) and Macedonia (13).
The lowest, gorge-like, part of the Pcinja valley is characterized by the presence of a significant number of Mediterranean elements of flora (14) and vegetation that comprise different plant communities. The large area of the previous forest habitats is devastated now and is
extremely dry and covered by diverse herbaceous vegetation such as thermophilous grassland vegetation and pseudosteppe formations. In
relation to its vegetation and floristic peculiarity the Pcinja valley represents a transition area to the Mediterranean region (Fig. 3). Mediterranean influences penetrate in the valleys of great rivers of the Aegean river basin and radiate along their tributaries via Macedonia up to the mountains in South Serbia (15, 16).
Figure 3. Thermophilousgrasslands of Pcinja valley rich in legume species (Vicia tenuifolia subsp. dalmatica).
P. sativum subsp. elatius inhabits the lower zone of northerly exposed slopes of Mount Kozjak (UTM square EM-78; Fig. 1)
on the left side of the valley. The slopes are covered by thermophilous submediterranean forests and scattered scrub vegetation consisted of pubescent oak (Quercus pubescens) and prickly juniper (Juniperus oxycedrus) overgrowing siliceous rocky ground. Two small groups of the individuals were recorded in the edges of the forests, in open spaces between the trees and shrubs, and on the sides of paths through the foothills (Fig. 4). A wealth of flowering herbaceous plants were in full bloom in May. The following plant list, though not complete, indicates the floristic and ecological flora
Figure 4. A P. sativum subsp. elatius plant from the habitat in the valley of Pcinja (photo by BB.
Zlatkovic).
which occur most commonly with tall pea: Fumaria petteri subsp. thuretii, Cardamine graeca, Moenchia graeca, Scleranthus perennis subsp. dichotomus, Tuberaria guttata, Hypericum montbretii, Potentilla laciniosa, Comandra elegans, Astragalus onobrychis, Chamaecytisus triflorus, Lens nigricans, Vicia tenuifolia subsp. dalmatica, Jasione heldreichii, Campanula lingulata, Fritillariagussichiae, Iris suaveolens. Both Pisum sativum subsp. elatius subpopulations inhabit a relatively small area, restricted exclusively to the gorge of Pcinja, and are included in the Natural Asset "Dolina reke Pcinje" which is protected at the national level as The Landscape of Outstanding Features.
The population of P. sativum subsp. elatius is not so easily accessible and distant from regularly tilled land, confirming the quotations (6) that this species prefers rocky and grassy slopes, forest and field margins, scrub and ruins, with an altitude of between 0 m and 1700 m. The new P. sativum subsp.
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elatius population is temporarily protected from the risk of loss by grazing or some other similar danger related to the activity of man (Fig. 4, Fig. 5).
Figure 5. P. sativum subsp. elatius from the new recorded population, a detail with flowers (photo by BB. Zlatkovic).
The future activities for both in situ and ex situ conservation of P. sativum subsp. elatius are scheduled for 2011 and will comprise a more detailed study on its population in the valley of Pcinja, as well as the expeditions aimed at discovering the new populations in the wider region of southeast Serbia. Significant improvement in the characterization and evaluation of the populations is planned, especially of the traits of agronomic importance such as forage and seed yield and stress tolerance. The threatened status of P. sativum subsp. elatius, according to the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria (17) and relevant national legislatives of Serbia should present useful information for plant protection management in the region.
References
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17. IUCN 2001. IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria: Version 3.1. IUCN Species Survival Commission. IUCN, Gland, Switzerland & Cambridge, UK.
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