The article is devoted to a comprehensive analysis of the evolutionary floral morphology of the family Asparagaceae s.l. within the framework of modern phylogenetic systems APG III and APG IV. The paper considers the radical transformation of the family's taxonomic structure resulting from the transition from classical morphological systems to molecular genetic models . The main focus is on the primary vectors of floral evolution: the emergence of syntepaly (tepal fusion), adnation of the androecium to the perianth, and the phenomenon of secondary epigyny. Based on W. Leinfellner's concept of vertical zonality, the internal architecture of the syncarpous gynoecium and the processes of ovule oligomerization in highly specialized taxa are analyzed . The diversity of septal nectary structures and the role of vascular anatomy as a reliable marker of phylogenetic divergence are highlighted separately. It is proved that the integration of classical micro-morphological data with the results of modern phylogenomic studies is a necessary condition for the verification of evolutionary relationships within the heterogeneous family Asparagaceae s.l..

The analyzed plant groups include numerous species with various economic and ecological roles. The Asparagaceae family includes 25 useful species, predominantly ornamental, but also with cosmetic, medicinal, culinary, or honey-producing uses. Seven species are toxic, many of which have been studied for medicinal purposes. The Asphodelaceae family is represented by a single rare species. The Juncaceae family includes 14 species with few economic uses but important for ecology (phytoremediation, restoration, bioindicators, soil protection). The Juncaginaceae family has two toxic species, used ecologically for soil cover and phytoremediation. The Lemnaceae family includes 5 species with important roles in the ecological and rural economy, one of which is vulnerable. The Liliaceae family includes 14 ornamental species, most of which are endangered in their natural habitat. The Melanthyaceae family contains three highly toxic species. The Najadaceae family has two aquatic species that are not used by Romanians. The Orchidaceae family is relatively diverse, but most species are endangered. The Potamogetonaceae family includes 11 species, important for phytoremediation and bioindication of environmental quality. The families Ruppiaceae, Sparganiaceae, Zannichelliaceae, and Zosteraceae each include 1–2 species used mainly for ecological restoration or phytoremediation. Scheuchzeriaceae has only one toxic species. The family Tofieldiaceae includes one species with ornamental value. The Typhaceae family includes 5 species whose uses have been partially abandoned. Overall, the families presented include species with a wide variety of uses—ornamental, medicinal, culinary, ecological—but also with varying degrees of vulnerability, many of which are already threatened and require conservation measures.

Muscari neglectum is a Mediterranean geophyte with a long tradition of ethnomedicinal use, yet the phytochemistry of its bulbs remains underexplored compared with aerial parts. This study aimed to characterise the metabolite profile of M. neglectum bulbs and to assess their antioxidant and radical scavenging potential, and anti-inflammatory potential. Bulb extracts were obtained by hydroethanolic extraction and analysed through HPLC-ESI-qTOF-MS, leading to the annotation of 72 compounds spanning diverse chemical families, including flavonoids, hydroxycinnamic acids, terpenoids, fatty acids, and triterpenoid saponins. Flavonoids constituted the most abundant group, with homoisoflavanones representing a characteristic class of metabolites in the Muscari genus and reflecting its distinctive secondary metabolism. Quantitative analyses revealed a high total phenolic content (65.5 mg GAE/g DE) and total flavonoid content (14.3 mg Epi/g DE). Antioxidant assays demonstrated measurable reducing power (FRAP: 0.26 mmol Fe2+/g DE; TEAC: 0.45 mmol TE/g DE), while radical scavenging assays indicated activity against superoxide anion (IC50 = 848 mg/L) and hypochlorous acid (IC50 = 9.2 mg/L). Additionally, the extract inhibited xanthine oxidase (IC50 = 20.6 mg/L). Furthermore, the extract exhibited significant anti-inflammatory activity, effectively scavenging nitric oxide radicals (IC50 = 78 ± 3 mg/L) and inhibiting lipoxygenase (IC50 = 66 ± 2 mg/L), suggesting that phenolic compounds and triterpenoid saponins contribute to the modulation of oxidative and enzymatic inflammatory pathways. These findings highlight M. neglectum bulbs as a rich source of structurally diverse bioactive compounds with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory capacity. The results provide a chemical basis for their traditional use and reinforce the value of bulb-specific studies within the Asparagaceae family.

Asparagus densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ is an economically important ornamental and medicinal plant within the genus Asparagus. In this study, we sequenced and assembled its complete chloroplast (cp) genome using the Illumina NovaSeq platform. The circular cp genome is 157,116 bp in length with a GC content of 38%, comprising a large single-copy (LSC) region (85,327 bp), a small single-copy (SSC) region (18,677 bp), and two inverted repeat (IR) regions (26,556 bp each). The genome encodes 133 functional genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 38 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that A. densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’ is most closely related to A. densiflorus ‘Myers’ and A. falcatus, suggesting a shared evolutionary lineage. This study will not only shed light on A. densiflorus ‘Sprengeri’’s evolutionary position but also provide valuable chloroplast genomic information for future studies into the origins and diversification of the genus Asparagus and the Asparagaceae family.

The genus Agave (family Asparagaceae) represents the second-most important group of plants in Mexico. Several fungal species have been identified as causal agents of leaf spot disease affecting Agave salmiana and A. lechuguilla, producing necrotic lesions that compromise plant health and productivity. Pathogenicity experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions, field tests were performed, and in vitro antagonism using Trichoderma asperellum strain JEAB02 against selected pathogenic isolates was evaluated. Phylogenetic analysis of genomic DNA fragments allowed the identification of 26 fungal isolates belonging to Curvularia lunata, C. verruculosa, Bipolaris zeae, Alternaria alternata, Fusarium lactis, Epicoccum sorghinum, Myrmaecium rubricosum, Penicillium diversum, and Aspergillus oryzae. In pathogenicity assays under greenhouse conditions on A. salmiana and A. lechuguilla, treatments T5–T12 exhibited statistically similar levels of disease severity (33.10–37.29%), caused mainly by C. verruculosa, A. alternata, B. zeae, and F. lactis. In field tests, Agave plants inoculated with the selected pathogenic fungi (T4, T5, T7, T8, T10, and T11) showed 21.07–36.73% leaf damage after 75 days. The antagonistic effect of T. asperellum JEAB02 caused complete (100%) growth inhibition of the pathogenic isolate JCPN27 and inhibition levels from 99.81 to 99.98% for isolates JCPN18, JCPN24, JCPN28, JCPN29, JCPN31, and JCPN33, demonstrating its high potential as a biological control agent.

Asparagus racemosus (Shatavari), a fellow of the Asparagaceae family, grasps a distinct place in Ayurveda medicine owing to its adaptableness in averting and healing a wide range of illnesses. Operative actions prerequisite to be executed to protection of A. racemosus from additional exhaustion and to encourage its supportable growth to encounter both medicinal demands and ecological safeguarding. During present investigation, a protocol was standardized to regenerate plantlets through indirect and direct in vitro organogenesis from nodal segment explants excised from one-year-old plants grown in greenhouse. The treatment of (Bavistin + Streptomycin + Kanamycin) + HgCl2 + Ethanol showed the highest response in respect to percent survival rate (85%). MS medium containing 2.0 mgl-1 2,4-D and 3.0mgl-1NAA induced callus in higher frequencies (74-77 %) from cultured nodal segments. While maximum callus weight (14.88g) was evident on MS medium amended with 2.0 mgl-1TDZ in combination with 1.0 mgl-1NAA. In respect to shoot proliferating efficiency (12.16) with higher shoot length (10.88 cm) was attained on MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mgl-1 BAP in association with 2.0 mgl-1 Kin. Whereas utmost rooting efficiency (84%) with higher root length (6.20±0.08 cm) were evident on ½ strength MS medium fortified with 1.0 mgl-1 IBA. Maximum survival (85%) was recorded in potting mixture comprehending sphagnum peat moss and perlite in 1:1 ratio under greenhouse conditions after five weeks of hardening. The in vitro raised regenerants were acclimatized and established successfully in the field. Although the traits were not scored quantitatively, regenerated plantlets appeared phenotypically normal and true- to- type.

Agave striata transcriptome reveals candidate cellulose synthase A genes involved in sisal cellulose biosynthesis.

Abstract Background Tupistra nutans, commonly known as Nakima in the Sikkim region of India, is a fascinating plant species with potential medicinal and culinary uses. It belongs to the family Asparagaceae. Main body It’s native to the Eastern Himalayas and is prized for its distinctive appearance and nutritional value.Recent research has identified Tupistra nutans is having potential phyto constituents such as Unsaturated fatty acids, Vitamin E, Diosgenin, Linoleic acid and Palmitoleic acid. Tupistra nutans is a unique plant with a distinctive appearance. It is a perennial herb with a rhizomatous root system. The Leaves are large, strap-shaped and can reach up to 1–2 m in length. They are dark green, glossy and arranged in a basal rosette. The Inflorescence is a unique, club-shaped inflorescence which bears numerous small, tubular flowers. The Colour can vary but is often a striking yellow or orange. The Fruits are berry-like fruits that are typically red or orange when ripe. Traditionally Tupistra nutans has Culinary Use like the inflorescence is a popular vegetable, often cooked in curries or stir-fries. It is prized for its unique texture and flavour, often compared to button mushrooms. The Medicinal Use in pain relief, blood sugar regulation, anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidant properties and anti-diabetic properties. Conclusion While scientific research is still in its early stages, the plant’s antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antidiabetic properties warrant further exploration. By understanding and harnessing the power of this indigenous plant, we can unlock its potential for sustainable development, healthcare, and culinary innovation.

This research was carried out on the survey of ornamental plants in schools and churches, Ila Local Government Community Area Osun State. The prevalence and incidence of the plants, the economical and the medicinal value of the plant including the concept of the ornamental plant were as well examined. Ten churches and 17 schools in the Ila Orangun were surveyed for identification and description of numerous ornamental plants species commonly found in the schools and churches. The ornamental plants were identified, captured and snapped using camera. Overall ornamental plants encountered were one hundred and seventy-three (173); 144 (schools) while 29 ornamental plants (churches). Abundance Species: Vinca major (17) stands while Rareness: Hibiscus rosa-sinesis Family: Malvaceae had least (1) stand. Highest prevalence rate: AgaveSisalana perriae (Family Asparagaceae) while Tradescantia apathacea, Ixora caccinea and Opunti aengel mannii had least.Commonness plants in schools and churches: Duranta erecta; rareness plant: Hamelia patens. Species Composition in Schools and Churches: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis species of the Malvaceae family had (1) in Church and School. The most frequent ornamental species in the entire Schools Duranta erecta (Verbenaceae family). Species Abundance in Schools and Churches: Polyalthia longifolia (Annonaceae family) 7.64% schools and the least Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (0.69 %.) Most abundant ornamental species in Church was Agave sisalana perrine (Asparagaceae family):30.43% while Dieffenbachia seguine, Tradescantia spathacea, Ixora coccinea and Opuntia engel mannii had the least 4.35%. The study highlights the importance of ornamental plants in local landscapes and recommends their conservation.

Background/Objectives: Agave amica (Medik.) Thiede & Govaerts (Asparagaceae family) is an ornamental bulbous species, widely used for its fragrance but less studied as a medicinal species. This study is aimed at assessing the phenolic profile and selected biological properties of ethanolic extracts obtained from the aerial parts and bulbs of A. amica cultivated in Romania. Methods: The phenolic composition was characterized by spectrophotometric methods and LC/MS analysis. The antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging capacity) and FRAP (Ferric reducing antioxidant power) tests, while the in vitro antimicrobial capacity was investigated by the agar-well diffusion, the broth microdilution, and the antibiofilm assays. Cytotoxicity was tested on a colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line (DLD-1) by a CCK-8 assay. Results: Both ethanolic extracts showed important polyphenol content and caffeic acid as their main compound. Significantly higher amounts of total polyphenols (44.25 ± 1.08 mg/g), tannins (12.55 ± 0.34 mg/g), flavonoids (9.20 ± 0.19 mg/g), caffeic acid derivatives (19.95 ± 0.05 mg/g), and also antioxidant activity (IC50 = 0.82 ± 0.02 mg/mL, and 79.75 ± 1.80 µM TE/g, respectively) were found for the aerial parts extract compared to the bulbs one (p < 0.001). Notable anti-Candida albicans activity and moderate efficacy against Listeria monocytogenes and Staphylococcus aureus were displayed by both extracts against planktonic cells and biofilm. A dose-dependent cytotoxicity towards the colorectal adenocarcinoma cell line was recorded as well. Conclusions: This study brings novelty to the scientific literature by characterizing the phenolic profile and in vitro antimicrobial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, and antiproliferative activities of the ethanolic extracts obtained from A. amica, thus highlighting this herbal species's medicinal potential.

Asparagus, scientifically known as Asparagus officinalis, belongs to the family Asparagaceae. It can be found in Asia, Europe, Africa, Australia, and India, although it is predominantly cultivated in India. A group of flavonoids, quercetin, steroidal saponins, sarsa sapogenins, Kaempferol, rutin, and polyphenols are the main bioactive ingredients that give the asparagus plants their medicinal significance. Because of its remarkable potential, the tuberous and other plant parts like stem, and leaves are widely used in the pharmaceutical industries in the creation of numerous herbal medicines. The asparagus plants are rich in nutrients and the extracts that are prepared from roots have been shown to have pharmacological properties such as antioxidant, rejuvenator, antibacterial, antiviral, antidiabetic, antifungal, antitumor, and anticancerous. Asparagus is also known as shatavari or satavar, but in ayurveda, it is known as ‘rasayana’ due to its therapeutic properties. The present review explores the nutritional, phytochemical constituent, therapeutic and pharmaceutical properties of asparagus that provide the plant medicinal significance.

Therapeutic potential of genus Polygonatum in common neuropsychiatric disorders: The revival of an ancient remedy in modern medicine.

The genus Bellevalia within the Asparagaceae family comprises 76 species distributed across various biogeographical regions. Despite previous taxonomic studies, there remains a gap in understanding the phylogenetic relationships among Bellevalia species. This research was carried out in a situation where many species of this family do not have a special position in the classification, or their position has changed due to the use of different morphological characteristics. In Feinbrun’s monograph in 1939, he used morphological traits such as the shape of the inflorescence, the direction of the peduncle, the color of the peduncle, the ratio of the length of the leaf to the flowerless stem, to separate the sections, sub-sections and species, and the interference of the traits can be seen in the separation of the arrays. On the other hand, it is difficult to refer to the color of fresh flowers in most of the herbarium samples because in these samples, the color of the flower cover gradually turns from yellow-brown to gray and it is difficult to identify them according to the color of dried flowers. It can be stated that due to the overlap between the morphological characteristics and the tendency of flower color to change in dry specimens, the features used by Feinbrun are not informative enough to recognize the circumscription of the sections. The objective is to resolve taxonomic ambiguities and enhance species identification accuracy. Freshly collected samples and herbarium specimens from 15 Bellevalia species were analyzed. Fifteen morphological characteristics, the most important of which are the flower, leaf margin cilia, Inflorescence shape and Capsule shape were recorded. The results identified two major clades in this genus and provide new phylogenetic insights. This is while the previous classifications of this genus, which were based only on morphological characteristics, included 4 to 6 sections. Key numerical outcomes include the clear separation of species, and enhancing taxonomic resolution. This study underscores the significance of integrating morphological and molecular data, presenting a robust framework for future phylogenetic studies within Bellevalia and related taxa.

Bellevalia tauri Feinbrun which has great potential as an ornamental, is an endemic bulbous plant of the Asparagaceae family. This study, one of a very limited number of in vitro culture studies in Bellevalia species, investigated the in vitro clonal propagation potential of immature zygotic embryos and twin bulb scale explants of B. tauri. Surface sterilization of immature embryos was performed using commercial bleach and ethanol. In addition to these, hot water applications were also tested in bulb scale explants to overcome the heavy contamination. Both explant types were cultured in MS medium containing different ratios of BAP and NAA after sterilization. Although there was no contamination after sterilization in immature embryos, it was quite difficult to overcome contamination in bulb scale explants despite different sterilization methods. The in vitro regeneration method also differed according to the type of explant used in the study. New bulb formation was achieved by direct organogenesis from bulb scale explants and by indirect organogenesis after callus formation from cultured immature embryos. The highest callus and bulblet formation from immature embryo explant was obtained on medium supplemented with 2.0 mg L-1 BAP + 0.25 mg L-1 NAA medium. In this medium, percentage of explants forming callus and number of bulblets per explant were determined as 100% and 3.43, respectively. As a result of the chromosome analysis performed to determine whether plant growth regulators have an effect on the chromosome number and morphology of B. tauri in tissue culture, no anomalies were detected in the chromosome number and structure.

Espada plant, local name for the snake plant (Dracaena trifasciata) in the Philippines, is characterized by its upright sword-like leaves with vibrant yellow edges under the variety of Laurentii in the Asparagaceae family. This plant has been identified as a viable candidate for cancer research. To investigate the antiproliferative and cytotoxic capabilities of a semi-purified methanolic extract of D. trifasciata extracted as a basis for cancer research. The plant extracts were subjected to (1) qualitative phytochemical analysis, (2) instrumentation analysis which includes Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR-ATR) and Total Flavonoid Content (TFC), to quantify bioactive ingredients, analyze structures, and evaluate biological chemicals, respectively, and tested to (3) biological assay on the HCT 116 human colorectal cancer cell line using the MTT Cytotoxic Assay. D. trifasciata extracts revealed the presence of flavonoids, saponins, sterols, triterpenes, alkaloids, and glycosides, all of which contain an OH group and have a high solubility in polar solvents. It correlates to the results of TFC, found to be within 266.8333 mg - 622.6801 mg presented as μg Quercetin per mL with a linear line of y=0.0005x + 0.023 with a coefficient R2 value of 0.9933. This finding corresponds to FTIR-ATR data, which shows a prominent broad appearance of -OH (primary and secondary alcohol) at peak 3327.21. In MTT Cytotoxic Assay, it has a minimal IC50 than Doxorubicin, as seen in Trial 2 with IC50 = 0.8012 μg/mL, while antiproliferative activity revealed that D. trifasciata has minimal inhibitory activity in Trials 1 and 3 at the same concentration of 3.125 μg/mL as compared to the high antiproliferative property of positive control, as seen in Trial 2. Data showed that the D. trifasciata extract has minimal effectiveness even at 1.56 μg/mL concentration, implying that other extraction techniques such as fractionation and purification may be used to satisfy its antiproliferative property. The D. trifasciata extract contains polyalcohol, phenol, polyphenol, and polyhydroxylated metabolites, which are structures that correspond to the major groups of flavonoids (structures that have antioxidant properties), contributing to the high TFC values.

In this study, two species of Ornithogalum L. genus (Ornithogalum orthophyllum Ten. and Ornithogalum oligophyllum E. D. Clarke), one of the important genus of the Asparagaceae family, were examined in terms of karyological aspects. The plant materials used in the study were collected from the natural distribution areas of the plants around Elazığ 2019. Some of the collected samples were turned into herbarium samples and stocked in the FU herbarium. Bulbs obtained from the collected samples were used in cytotaxonomic studies. As a result of the studies carried out in dividing somatic cells, chromosome counts and karyotype analyzes of the species were made and their ideograms were drawn. Chromosome number were determined as 2n=20 and karyotype formula M+3m+3sm+3st in Ornithogalum oligophyllum, Ornithogalum orthophyllum species as 2n=14 and karyotype formula as 3m+2sm+2st.

Asparagus cochinchinensis is a member of the Asparagaceae family whose medicinal part is the dried root tuber. The distribution of A. cochinchinensis and its secondary metabolites are closely associated with environmental factors, such as climate and soil properties. By establishing and optimizing a maximum entropy model, we analyzed and predicted the distribution pattern and migration direction of suitable habitats for A. cochinchinensis and determined the main environmental factors affecting the accumulation of secondary metabolites. Under current climatic conditions, the area of suitable habitats for A. cochinchinensis (208.38 × 104 km2) accounts for 21.71% of the land area of China, and the areas of lowly, moderately, and highly suitable areas were 64.15 × 104 km2, 113.66 × 104 km2, and 30.57 × 104 km2, respectively. Under future climate scenarios, the total area of suitable habitats hardly changes. The area of highly suitable habitats significantly decreases under the SSP1-RCP2.6 scenario (to 83.22% of the current value) and the SSP3-RCP7 scenario (to 48.94% of the current value), but eventually increases to 112.86% of the current value under the SSP5-RCP8.5 scenario, which indicates that A. cochinchinensis might adapt better to a high-carbon-emissions scenario. Under different climate scenarios, low-impact areas mainly occur in southern China and will correspond 92.07% of the current suitable area. Highly suitable habitats primarily occur in the southeastern Sichuan Basin, northern Guangxi, eastern Guizhou, and western Hunan. HPLC analysis showed that the content of protodioscin (0.373%) and protogracillin (0.044%) in S2 was the highest. The total saponins contents of S1 and S2 were the highest, which were 35.6586 and 33.1262 mg/g, respectively. The total polysaccharide content of S9 was the highest (16.9467%). The total contents of saponins and polysaccharides in A. cochinchinensis were significantly, but oppositely, correlated with temperature, precipitation, and other factors. This study has identified environmental factors affecting the growth and quality of A. cochinchinensis, which has guiding significance for resource conservation and site selection for large-scale cultivation.

Polygonatum kingianum Coll. et Hemsl., a Polygonatum species in the Asparagaceae family, plays an important role in Chinese herbal medicine (Zhao et al. 2018). P. kingianum is widely planted in the Southwestern China. In September 2023, we observed a leaf spot of P. kingianum with disease incidence of 100%, and disease index reached 60 in commercial plantings in Kunming, Yunnan province, China (24.3610°N, 102.3740°E). In the initial stage of infection, symptoms manifested as a small circular brown spot. As the spots gradually expanded, they formed oval to irregular shaped lesions with grayish-white or dark-brown borders. Progressively the entire leaf withered and died. For identification of the causal agent of the leaf spot, leaf sections (5×5 mm2) were cut from the margin of the lesion and soaked in 75% ethanol for 10 s, 1% sodium hypochlorite for 3 min, washed with sterile distilled water, dried on sterilized tissue paper and placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA). The Petri dishes were then incubated at 28℃ for 3 days with a 12-h photoperiod. A predominant fungus was isolated from 95% of the samples. Three monosporic isolates were screened using a single-spore isolation method. After 4 days of incubation the colonies were white, after 7 days turned yellow-white. Conidia were black-brown, oblong or fusiform, with 3-7 transverse septa and 0-3 longitudinal septa, with dimensions of 19.5 to 49.5 × 8.7 to 17.6 µm (n = 30). Total genomic DNA of these three isolates was extracted from mycelia by the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) protocol. The nucleotide sequences of the elongation factor 1-alpha (EF1α), nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), 28S nuclear ribosomal large subunit rRNA gene (LSU), 18S nuclear ribosomal small subunit rRNA gene (SSU), and the second largest subunit of nuclear DNA-directed RNA polymerase II (RPB2) gene regions were amplified using the primer pairs EF1-728F/EF1-986R (Carbone and Kohn 1999), ITS1/ITS4 (White et al. 1990), LR0R/LR5 (Schoch et al. 2012), NS1/NS4 (Schoch et al. 2012), and fRPB2-5F/fRPB2-7Cr (Liu et al. 1999), respectively. Amplicons were cloned in a pMDTM19-T vector (code no. 6013, Takara, Kusatsu, Japan) and bidirectionally sequenced. All three isolates had identical nucleotide sequences. Sequences from one isolate (PkF03) were deposited in GenBank. BLASTn analyses showed that sequences of EF1α (GenBank accession no. PP695240), ITS (PP694046), LSU (PP683406), SSU (PP683407), and RPB2 (PP695241) of isolate PkF03 were 99.6 (KP125134), 100 (KP124358), 100 (KP124510), 99.9 (KP124980), and 100% (KP124826), respectively, identical with Alternaria alternata (Fr.) Keissl. strain CBS 118815. Based on the nucleotide sequences of EF1α, ITS, LSU, SSU, and RPB2, a maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree was constructed using MEGAX with Tamura-Nei model. Isolate PkF03 was grouped in the same clade as A. alternata. According to the morphology and sequence analyses isolate PkF03 was identified as A. alternata (Woudenberg et al. 2013). To determine pathogenicity of isolate PkF03, a spore suspension (106 spores/mL) was sprayed on 1-year-old healthy leaves of P. kingianum. The control leaves were sprayed with sterile water. All plants were incubated at 28℃, 70% relative humidity, and a 12-h photoperiod. The pathogenicity tests were repeated three times with six plants in each treatment. Fifteen days post-inoculation, the inoculated leaves showed brown-yellow lesions, whereas the control leaves remained symptomless. A. alternata was reisolated from infected leaves. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. alternata causing leaf spot on P. kingianum in Kunming, China. The results provide a scientific basis for prevention and control of the disease.

Polygonatum kingianum Coll. et Hemsl (Huangjing), which belongs to the family Asparagaceae, is a perennial traditional Chinese herb with homologous medicinal and edible value (Liu et al., 2021). Huangjing is known to promote blood circulation; it has anti-inflammatory properties, increases immunity, and provides hypoglycemic treatments (Ma et al., 2019). Root rot-infected P. kingianum exhibited withering yellow leaves and stems, rhizome rot, slowed growth, and plant death. In recent years, with an average incidence of up to 45%, the spread of HJ root rot (rhizome and stem bases) has resulted in a significant reduction in the quality and up to 63% reduction in the yields of Sichuan Junlian (104.5°E, 28.2°N) and Guizhou Zhunyi (107.0°E, 27.7°N). After collecting the diseased samples, we used the tissue isolation method to isolate the pathogenic fungi (Wu et al., 2020). Four fungal isolates associated with root rot were obtained: HJ-G2 (two strains), HJ-G3 (one strain), HJ-G4 (one strain), and HJ-G6 (two strains), of which HJ-G2 and HJ-G6 were the dominant species. To determine pathogenicity of each strain, tests were conducted by wounding rhizomes wth an inoculation needle and the pathogen strain was inoculated onto the wound and symptoms observed. The results reveal that HJ-G6 exhibited the strongest pathogenicity against P. kingianum (Figure 1). The HJ-G6 colonies were black, grew rapidly, and produced a large number of spores (Figure 1). A spherical apical sac (conidial head) is formed at the top with two palisades of cells, metulae and phialides, which are shaped radially and produce a large number of spores with 2-5 um in diameter (Figure 2). Morphological observations revealed that the isolate was consistent with Aspergillus awamori (Naher et al., 2021). To further confirm the fungal species, the ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS), β-tubulin (TUB), and elongation factor 1-alpha (EF-1a) gene regions were amplified with ITS1/ITS4, Bt2a/ Bt2b, and EF1/EF2. Primer and PCR amplification were performed as previously described (Paul et al., 2017). The sequences were compared with those obtained from GenBank. The ITS sequences (GenBank accession number OR682143) of the isolates (HJ-G6) were 100% identical to those of the strain PANCOM10 (GenBank accession number MT007535.1) of Aspergillus awamori. The EF-1a sequences (GenBank accession OR752352) of the isolates (HJ-G6) were 98% identical with strain ITEM 4777 (GenBank accession FN665402.1) of Aspergillus awamori. The TUB sequences (GenBank accession number OR752351) of the isolate (HJ-G6) were 100% identical with strain AF158 (GenBank accession MH781275.1) of Aspergillus awamori. Three maximum likelihood trees were constructed using MEGA v5.0 (Kumar et al., 2018) based on the sequences (ITS, TUB, and EF-1a) of the HJ-G6 strain and that of Aspergillus spp. previously deposited in GenBank (Paul et al., 2017). Phylogenetic analysis showed that HJ-G6 belonged to the Aspergillus awamori clade (Figure 3). Combined with morphological analysis and DNA sequencing, HJ-G6 was identified as Aspergillus awamori. To verify pathogenicity, P. kingianum roots were inoculated with the colonized agar discs of the isolates. P. kingianum plants inoculated with uncolonized agar discs were used as controls. After inoculation, P. kingianum roots were moved to the inoculation chamber under high humidity at 28 °C for 1 d and then transferred to a greenhouse. Previous studies have reported that Fusarium sp. are root rot pathogens in the rhizomes of medicinal plants (Pang et al., 2022; Song et al., 2023). In this study, HJ-G2, HJ-G3, and HJ-G4 were used as the positive controls. Typical symptoms of root rot appeared 3 days after inoculation and were similar to those observed in the field, whereas the control plants remained symptomless. According to the results of the inoculation experiment, the pathogenicity of Aspergillus awamori to P. kingianum root rot was significantly stronger than that of Fusarium (Figure 1). The pathogen was isolated from the rotting root of P. kingianum and the ITS region was sequenced again. Alignment analysis of the ITS sequences revealed that the causal agents were consistent with those of the original isolates. These studies fulfill Koch’s postulates. As far as we know, this is the first report of Aspergillus awamori causing root rot in P. kingianum.

The study investigated total phenolic-flavonoid content, antioxidant activity, and phytochemical compounds across various parts (bulb, stem, leaf, and flower) of the endemic Bellevalia sasonii, commonly known as hyacinth, belonging to the Asparagaceae family. Phenolic content was highest in bulb extracts (117.28 μg GAE) and lowest in stems(45.11 μg GAE). Conversely, leaf extracts exhibited the highest flavonoid content (79.44 μg QEs), while stems showed thelowest (22.77 μg QEs). When the antioxidant activities were compared, by DPPH method leaf=flower>bulb>stem; in ABTS and CUPRAC methods bulb>flower>leaf>stem, respectively. Considering the results in general, it was revealed that bulbs and flowers displayed higher activity, while stem exhibited lower activity compared to other parts. The phytochemical analysis identified 53 active substances, with 27 absent in any extract and 15 detected across all extracts. The distribution of phytochemicals varied among parts, with bulbs, stems, flowers, and leaves also different numbers. The LC-MS/MS analysis revealed prominent metabolites including fumaric acid in leaves, caffeic acid in bulbs, and cosmosiin and quinic acid inflowers. This study provides foundational insights into B.sasonii, an important endemic plant in Türkiye, laying the groundwork for future research on its medicinal and ecological roles.