Palynomophological and anatomical characters of the section Mesocentron (Asteraceae) from Türkiye was investigated and compared using microscopically techniques. The studied taxa have radially symmetrical, monad, isopolar, sometimes heteropolar, and generally 3-colporate, occasionally 4-colporate pollen grains. Only prolate pollen shaped pollen grains were observed in all of the studied species. While the colpus and porus morphology of pollen grains were the same in studied taxa the density of spinule on the pollen were changeable. It was observed that the basic anatomical structures of the sections obtained from the trunk anatomy were the same, but it was determined that the cellular sizes differed significantly between species. It has been emphasized that the combined use of pollen and anatomical characters may be effective in distinguishing these species. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 32(2): 209-220, 2025 (December)

Sapota (Manilkara zapota is an economically important fruit crop in Bangladesh that was affected by the different types of red colored leaf spot symptoms from 2019 to 2021. The study aimed to characterize red colored leaf spot symptoms of sapota by morphological and molecular analysis. Infected sapota were collected from three southern coastal districts of Bangladesh. Causal organism of the disease was isolated for morphological and molecular characterization. After 24 months of the plantation, about 70% disease prevalence in the experimental areas was recorded. The present investigation suggested that symptoms were caused by Neopestalotiopsis sp. Phylogenetic analysis using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of ribosomal DNA additionally confirmed Neopestalotiopsis sp. in red leaf spot symptoms of sapota. For further validation, a pathogenicity test was carried out using three isolates on six months old saplings under Net-house conditions, and same symptom was developed in inoculated leaves after 14 days inoculation. The present investigation confirmed the outbreak of sapota red leaf spot disease, caused by Neopestalotiopsis sp. in Bangladesh. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 32(1): 53-64, 2025 (June)

This study marks the first report of Lasiodiplodia theobromae associated with coconut in Bangladesh, a pathogen known to cause wide range of diseases crippling coconut production worldwide. Two isolates, Lt_BD 1 and Lt_BD 4, were obtained from coconut samples and subjected to comprehensive morpho-molecular and phylogenetic analyses. Morphological observations, including colony characteristics (color, texture, and surface appearance), growth patterns and conidial dimensions and shapes, preliminarily identified the isolates as Lasiodiplodia species. Molecular analysis, through PCR amplification of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions, confirmed the identity of the isolates as L. theobromae. A phylogenetic tree, constructed using sequences of the studied isolates alongside 48 reference Lasiodiplodia species (retrieved from NCBI) and one out-group species (Pyricularia oryzae), corroborated this identification. This study provides a foundation for further rigorous research on the diseases of coconut caused by L. theobromae in Bangladesh. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 32(1): 105-113, 2025 (June)

A few of the plant specimens of the family Lauraceae Juss., previously collected from Bandarban and Habiganj districts and stored in DACB, were identified as Lindera assamica (Meisn.) Kurz and Litsea sericea (Wall. ex Nees) Hook.f. Another few specimens of the family Rubiaceae Juss., recently collected from the Lathitila forest of Moulvibazar during the floristic explorations conducted in the northeast region of Bangladesh, were determined to be Acraranthera tomentosa R.Br. ex Hook.f. These species are new to the flora of Bangladesh. Taxonomic descriptions of these species have been provided, together with information on their ecology, distribution, representative specimens examined, and illustrations or photographs. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 32(1): 115-122, 2025 (June)

This study aims to examine chromosome morphologies of the genus Centaurea from Türkiye. Chromosome counts were performed during somatic metaphase using squash technique. The clearest metaphase stages were identified, and the chromosomes were analyzed using an imaging system. The chromosome number for C. solstitialis subsp. carneola was found to be 2n=18, while the other taxa were determined to have 2n=16. C. verutum is differentiated from other taxa with the same chromosome number based on its karyotype formula. In conclusion, it can be inferred that the data obtained from karyomorphological studies contribute to the differentiation of taxa. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 32(1): 17-25, 2025 (June)

This study deciphers the first complete chloroplast (Cp) genome of Fraxinus griffithii C.B. Clarke (Oleaceae), a medicinally important tree species native to Bangladesh, providing new insights into its genome structure and phylogenetic relationships. The circular Cp genome comprises a total length of 155,683 bp with a large single-copy region (86,466 bp), small single-copy region (17831 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (51,386 bp). The plastome encodes 130 genes, including 86 protein-coding genes, 36 transfer RNAs and eight ribosomal RNAs. Comparative genomic analysis revealed genome divergence, similar genomic architecture, and lack of large rearrangements within the Oleaceae family. The plastome harbored 46 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 49 longer repeats. Among the identified SSRs, mononucleotides (39) were the most frequent, while palindromic repeats predominated among the longer repeats. Nucleotide diversity analysis revealed rpl32 and ndhF genes of the SSC region as the most hypervariable DNA barcodes. Plastome-wide phylogeny supported the systematic position of F. griffithii within the subtribe Fraxininae of the tribe Oleeae. Molecular dating analysis suggests that F. griffithii originated approximately 15.07 million years ago, during the Langhian stage of the Middle Miocene epoch in the Neogene period of the Cenozoic era. The findings of this study provide the first Cp genome data for F. griffithii (GenBank Accession: PP669282.1), contributing to valuable insights into the evolutionary genomics of the family Oleaceae. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 32(1): 27–44, 2025 (June)

Splachnum ampullaceum Hedw., Sphagnum capillifolium (Ehrh.) Hedw., and Plagiothecium cavifolium (Brid.) Z. Iwats. have been reported as new for Azerbaijan, following a recent bryological expedition to the Tugay forest and Dilman forest of Azerbaijan. Of these, Splachnum has been recorded as new genus record for bryophyte flora of Azerbaijan. Brief descriptions, illustrations, geographic distribution, ecology and comparisons with morphologically similar species are presented. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 32(1): 45-52, 2025 (June)

The present paper deals with seven seaweeds taxa namely, Blidingia minima (Kützing) Kylin, Bryopsis pennata Lamouroux and Halimeda simulans Howe from Chlorophyceae; Dictyopteris plagiogramma (Montagne) Vickers and Padina perindusiata Thivy from Phaeophyceae and Galaxaura obtusata (Ellis & Solander) Lamouroux and Liagora valida Harvey from Rhodophyceae have been identified, described, and illustrated as new records for Bangladesh. Of these, Blidingia is also a new generic record for Bangladesh. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 32(1): 77-82, 2025 (June)

This study assessed whether the observed morphological variation among eight distinct forms of Duranta erecta in Nigeria reflects true genetic divergence or represents phenotypic plasticity within a single species. The forms are distributed across geo-political zones in Nigeria and were characterized based on leaf coloration, margin types, and branching architecture. These forms exhibit variations in their chemical compositions, suggesting potential differences in their DNA profiles. DNA was extracted from leaf samples of all eight morphological forms, and conventional PCR was employed to amplify three marker regions: ITS, matK, and rbcL. The amplified fragments were visualized on 1% agarose gel electrophoresis, sequenced, and analyzed phylogenetically using MEGA-11. The matK marker exhibited 100% sequence identity, indicating minimal variation among the forms. In contrast, rbcL and ITS displayed 99% sequence identity, with ITS revealing greater polymorphic variation. Phylogenetic tree analysis showed the highest support values for rbcL, followed by ITS and matK. The combined topologies generated from the three markers revealed no significant differences in the evolutionary history of the eight Duranta erecta forms. This result suggests a gene flow among the forms, confirming their classification as a single species. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 32(1): 65-75, 2025 (June)

In this investigation, whole genome sequencing and assembly of medicinally important species Aizoon canariense L. were performed to unveil its nuclear genome. The assembled nuclear genome length was 661.14 Mb, with an N50 value of 25,334 bp. The genome was largely homozygous, with a low level of heterozygosity ranging from 0.077 to 0.078%. BUSCO assessment exhibited 91.8% completeness based on the Viridiplantae database. Orthologous gene-based analysis revealed that the highest number of genes were associated with replication, recombination, and repair category. Gene Ontology (GO)-based annotation identified 5,814 genes involved in biological processes (BP), 25,137 genes linked to cellular components (CC), and 16,644 genes associated with molecular functions (MF). Pathway enrichment analysis identified the protein modification pathway representing the highest number of genes (807), whereas the pigment biosynthesis pathway exhibiting the lowest number of genes (75). A total of 20,448 repeat elements across 57 distinct types were identified in the assembled genome, with LTR/Gypsy being the most abundant, comprising 7,532 copies and spanning approximately 27,750 bp. These findings lay a strong foundation for future research on the molecular mechanisms of stress resilience in arid ecosystems targeting A. canariense. Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 32(1): 1-16, 2025 (June)