Current Researches in Botany

This publication titled "Current Researches in Botany" is a compilation of studies conducted in different regions of Turkey focusing on plant flora and environmental impacts. The book addresses effects of acid rain on plants, the liverwort (Marchantiophyta) flora diversity in Denizli and Eskişehir provinces, and the impact of human disturbance on plant diversity in a Quercus cerris var. cerris forest in Samsun. Acid rain results from sulfur and nitrogen oxides emitted by industrial activities, vehicle exhaust, and fossil fuel use, which combine with atmospheric moisture to form acids. This acidic precipitation lowers soil pH, mobilizing heavy metals and causing detriment to soil and aquatic ecosystems, leading to biodiversity loss. It adversely affects plant growth, leaf morphology, and photosynthesis. The investigations in Denizli and Eskişehir expanded the recorded diversity of liverwort species, uncovering new regional records and highlighting habitat diversity. The study in Samsun evaluated how anthropogenic disturbances such as logging and grazing alter species richness and composition across tree, shrub, and herb layers, demonstrating measurable ecological impacts. The book also examines physiological effects of pesticides on edible plants, detailing how pesticide use in agriculture impacts germination, growth, flowering, and fruit formation, while pesticide residues raise food safety concerns. It emphasizes the necessity of adopting environmentally sustainable pest management practices and monitoring residue limits. Overall, the volume offers a multidisciplinary view on botany, ecology, and environmental science related to plant responses to pollution and disturbance in Turkey.