Dense Pubescence Research Articles

A new species of Bromus sect. Ceratochloa (Poaceae: Bromeae) from Argentina

A new species of Bromus section Ceratochloa (Poaceae) is described. Bromus alonsae is characterized by its perennial, creeping or semi-creeping habit, blades glaucous green with short and dense pubescence, folded to rolled vernation, and loose and semi-contracted panicles. It begins flowering in October and inhabits the maritime coastal sand dunes of the southeast of Buenos Aires province, Argentina. It differs from B. catharticus var. catharticus in both morphology and phenology.

Primulina liangwaniae (Gesneriaceae), a new species from Guangdong, China

Primulina liangwaniae, a new species of Gesneriaceae endemic to Guangdong, China, is described and illustrated. The new species is close to P. versicolor in having similar shape and color of corollas, but differs in the significantly smaller leaf blades with dense spreading villus and pubescence and crenate margin, much shorter peduncles, smaller bracts with margin being crenate on upper part and entire on lower part, much shorter pedicels, and narrowly cordate stigma. The flowering times of these two species are also different. A provisional conservation status of DD (Data Deficient) is given for P. liangwaniae.

Leaf morphology and anatomy of Schlechtendalia luzulifolia, a basal member of subfamily Barnadesioideae (Asteraceae)

Abstract Based on molecular phylogenetic studies, Barnadesioideae have been proposed to be the basal subfamily of Asteraceae. This is a complex of 10 genera and 87 species distributed primarily along the Andean mountains, Patagonia, and into southern Brazil and Uruguay. Phylogenetic analyses have recovered all genera as monophyletic groups and have provided insights to their inter-relationships. Four generic clades have been substantiated: (1) Chuquiraga, Doniophyton, and Duseniella; (2) Dasyphyllum; (3) Barnadesia and Huarpea; and (4) Archidasyphyllum, Arnaldoa, and Fulcaldea. The remaining genus, the monospecific Schlechtendalia, has been an outlier in the subfamily, with some previous analyses recovering it as basal for the entire subfamily, and others showing it as sister to Barnadesia and Huarpea (with weak support) as well as to other genera. Recent massive sampling of loci has confirmed Schlechtendalia as the sister genus for the subfamily. Schlechtendalia luzulifolia has morphology atypical for Asteraceae. The capitula are loose aggregations of florets, and the leaves are long and strap shaped, more reminiscent of monocots. Morphological and anatomical investigations of the leaves reveal long, laminar blades with parallelodromous vascularization. The vesture is often with ‘barnadesioid trichomes’, especially towards the base of the plant, plus additional uniseriate trichomes consisting of 3 to many cells, newly reported for the subfamily. Some glandular trichomes with 2-4 short cells also occur. The transverse anatomy of the leaves reveals a single epidermal layer on both surfaces, which also contain the stomata (the leaf being amphistomatic). The mesophyll is undifferentiated; the vascular traces are surrounded by sclerenchyma that not only encircles the traces but also extends towards the epidermis and connects with it. The morphology and anatomy of the leaves of Schlechtendalia are divergent in comparison with other genera of the subfamily. Chuquiraga, Doniophyton, and Huarpea have leaf adaptations for survival in xeric habitats, such as dense pubescence, grey surfaces, and revolute margins. Schlechtendalia, in contrast, is adapted to a more mesic environment, especially near the Atlantic Ocean and along the Uruguay and La Plata rivers. The leaves are oriented upright, which correlates with undifferentiated mesophyll and stomata on both epidermal layers. The stem is an underground rhizome, an adaptation that permits survival during seasonal drought in the austral summer in Uruguay and adjacent regions. It is hypothesized that Schlechtendalia may have become adapted to more mesic environments in the Miocene prior to the rise of the Andes and development of the modern arid environments, into which many of the other genera of the subfamily subsequently radiated.

Fruit Structure in Amphicarpic Annual Gymnarrhena micrantha (Asteraceae, Gymnarrheneae) in Relation to the Species Biology

In the amphicarpic annual Gymnarrhena micrantha Desf. (Asteraceae), aerial and subterranean fruits differ in morphology, dispersal ability and germination behavior. The aim of our work was to study their structural features in relation to the eco-physiological properties, using light and scanning electron microscopes. Five fruit morphs were found, three of aerial achenes: ebracteate, bracteate and double bracteate ones, and two subterranean fruits with achenes, enveloped in involucral bracts, developed from (I) sessile or (II) not sessile different heads. This species shows divergent fruit differentiation, an increase in their diversity along several lines of morphological differentiation, which corresponds to a multiple seed dispersal and germination strategy. In addition to the already known distinctive features of subterranean achenes (larger size, undeveloped pappus, poor pubescence), they also differ in the simplified structure of the apical and basal achene regions, the absence of the corolla expanded base (cupula) and nectary, other cells parameters in the exotesta and endosperm, another form of the disproportionately developed embryo. The peculiarities of probably subterranean fruit II (seemingly originated through apomixis) extend to various color, pappus structure, sparse pubescence, and the ability of the fruit wall to delaminate. The lack of dense pubescence in the subterranean achenes is a key trait that could lead to increased water permeability of the fruit wall and affect germination rate. Possible adaptive significance of aerial achene structural features is discussed, including specialized corolla cupula, which may be an adaptation to dissemination by rainwater and ants.

New species of the genera Dryophthorus Germar, 1823 and Stenommatus Wollaston, 1873 (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) from Philippines and New Guinea

Three new species, Dryophthorus luzonensis Legalov, sp. nov. from North Luzon (Kalinga, Ifugao and Mountain prov.), D. orientalis Legalov, sp. nov. from North Luzon (Benguet and Ifugao prov.), and Stenommatus telnovi Legalov, sp. nov. from New Guinea (Star Mountains) are described and illustrated. Dryophthorus luzonensis Legalov, sp. nov. differs from D. subtruncatus Voss, 1940 in the elytra narrowed from the humeri to an apex and with sharp pronotal constriction; D. orientalis Legalov, sp. nov. differs from D. subtruncatus and D. luzonensis Legalov, sp. nov. in the elytral interstria 3 connected apically with the interstria 9, and also the elytra lacking humeri; Stenommatus telnovi Legalov, sp. nov. differs from S. ocularis (Konishi, 1963) in the carinate elytral intestriae, the body with matted dense pubescence, narrower pronotum, and shorter rostrum.

Evidence of insect leaf mining on Late Triassic (Carnian) gymnosperms from Argentina

We describe two ichnotaxa —Cuniculonomus parallelus Givulescu emend. Robledo et al. and Foliomacula diffussus ichnogen. et ichnosp. nov.— of insect leaf mines from the Late Triassic of Mendoza, Argentina. The specimens, from the Potrerillos Formation at the Quebrada del Durazno locality, consist of a linear mine on a Yabeiella leaf, and a blotch mine on a Heidiphyllum leaf. The earliest convincing records of leaf mining are all linear mines, dating back to the middle-late Triassic, with the first blotch mines appearing from the Cretaceous onwards. The discovery presented here therefore represents the earliest record of a blotch mine, and demonstrates that strategies of endophytic herbivory diversified considerably earlier than previously thought. The abundant associated paleoentomological fauna from the locality provides a rare opportunity to consider possible producers of these interactions. A definitive identification of the miners however, remains highly speculative, partly due to the paucity of direct analogues of insect lineages with leaf mining larvae this early in the fossil record. The exceptional abundance and quality of fossil preservation of both plants and associated insects at the Quebrada del Durazno locality also provides an opportunity to re-evaluate plant host diversity and possible adaptations to mitigate insect herbivory. The insect mine on Yabeiella is the first, and to date only, record of this type of interaction on a gnetalean host. We consider the presence of dense pubescence on Yabeiella and its affiliated Fraxinopsis seeds, as a potential passive defense mechanism against insect herbivory rather than as an adaptation to environmental conditions.

A natural hybrid of Sindora (Fabaceae, Detarioideae) from Singapore.

Sindora×changiensis L.M.Choo, Loo, W.F.Ang & K.Er is a new hybrid from the subfamily Detarioideae in Fabaceae. This is the first reported instance of natural hybridisation in Sindora. Based on population genetics analyses using ddRAD and morphological observations, this taxon represents a fertile hybrid between Sindoracoriacea and Sindoraechinocalyx. This new hybrid is so far only known to occur naturally from Changi at the north-eastern coast of Singapore. It has pods that are sparsely spiny. This is intermediate between the smooth, non-spiny pods of S.coriacea, and the densely spiny pods of S.echinocalyx. The calyx is smooth and unarmed, resembling S.coriacea. Last but not least, the ovary is entirely pubescent, different from S.coriacea and S.echinocalyx. The ovary of S.coriacea has a glabrous patch in the middle, while that of S.echinocalyx has minute spines protruding from the dense pubescence. A taxonomic description and an updated key to the Sindora of Singapore and Peninsular Malaysia are also provided.

Genetic Architecture and Candidate Genes for Pubescence Length and Density and Its Relationship With Resistance to Common Cutworm in Soybean.

Soybean pubescence plays an important role in insect resistance, drought tolerance, and other stresses. Hence, a deep understanding of the molecular mechanism underlying pubescence is a prerequisite to a deeper understanding of insect resistance and drought tolerance. In the present study, quantitative trait loci (QTL) mapping of pubescence traits was performed using a high-density inter-specific linkage map of one recombinant inbred line (RIL) population, designated NJRINP. It was observed that pubescence length (PL) was negatively correlated with pubescence density (PD). A total of 10 and 9 QTLs distributed on six and five chromosomes were identified with phenotypic variance (PV) of 3.0–9.9% and 0.8–15.8% for PL and PD, respectively, out of which, eight and five were novel. Most decreased PL (8 of 10) and increased PD (8 of 9) alleles were from the wild soybean PI 342618B. Based on gene annotation, Protein ANalysis THrough Evolutionary Relationships and literature search, 21 and 12 candidate genes were identified related to PL and PD, respectively. In addition, Glyma.12G187200 from major QTLs qPL-12-1 and qPD-12-2, was identified as Ps (sparse pubescence) before, having an expression level of fivefold greater in NN 86-4 than in PI 342618B, hence it might be the candidate gene that is conferring both PL and PD. Based on gene expression and cluster analysis, three and four genes were considered as the important candidate genes of PL and PD, respectively. Besides, leaves with short and dense (SD) pubescence, which are similar to the wild soybean pubescence morphology, had the highest resistance to common cutworm (CCW) in soybean. In conclusion, the findings in the present study provide a better understanding of genetic basis and candidate genes information of PL and PD and the relationship with resistance to CCW in soybean.

Biology of Aquatic Insect of Order of Hymenoptera in the World A Systematic Review

The aquatic hymenoptera is a small, little-known group that adapts to the aquatic environment and interacts with water as part of its biological cycle. Aquatic hymenoptera are found in all geographical areas, except Antarctica. In total known species of aquatic Hymenoptera, 150 species from 11 families are recognized. Most of aquatic Hymenoptera species belong to the families of Chalcididae , Eulophidae, Mymaridae, Trichogrammatidae, Scelionidae and Pompilidae. In some family like Pteromalidae, Figitidae , Cynipoidea, Braconidae , Diapriidae , Proctotrupoidea limited number of aquatic genus was seen. Because of their short, dense pubescence on the body and wings and elongated, strongly curved claws they have been successful in life on the fresh water. Most of them are endoparasitoids of immature insects. Although little information is available about aquatic hymenopteran, these insects play an important role in human life. Therefore, knowledge of the biology, physiology and ecology of these insects can be of great help in advancing the field of biological control and its effects on human life.

Identification and Validation of a Novel Major QTL Controlling Leaf Pubescence in the Chinese Wheat Landrace ‘Baimaomai’

Leaf pubescence is an important trait closely associated with plant adaptability to specialized habitats. Baimaomai (BMM) is a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) landrace originating from the high-altitude, drought-prone environment of Sichuan Province, China with long, dense leaf pubescence. A population of 234 recombinant inbred lines (F10) developed from the cross between Chuanmai104 (CM104), which lacks leaf pubescence, and BMM with pubescent leaves, was used to conduct a phenotypic evaluation of leaf pubescence. Three quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were detected on chromosome arms 7BS, 3DL and 3AL using a high-density wheat 50K single-nucleotide polymorphism array in four environments. The QTLs were designated QLp.saas-7BS, QLp.saas-3DL and QLp.saas-3AL. QLp.saas-3AL, derived from BMM, and QLp.saas-3DL, derived from CM104, were new minor-effect loci. QLp.saas-7BS, derived from BMM, was a novel major-effect locus detected in all environments and was localized in a 0.48 Mb interval on chromosome arm 7BS based on the wheat ‘Chinese Spring’ reference genome. QLp.saas-7BS explained up to 40.77% of the total phenotypic variance. KASP markers tightly linked to QLp.saas-7BS were developed and verified. The present results provide valuable information for further fine mapping, cloning, and marker-assisted selection with QLp.saas-7BS in wheat.

Morphological Characterization of High Grain Iron and Zinc Concentration Bio-fortified lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris) in Nepal

Lentil (Lens culinaris Medikus subsp. culinaris) is the wonderful, most popular & preferred food legume of Nepalese people and commonly grown in the rice and maize based cropping system. Morphological characters have been frequently used in order to know the diversity in germplasm collections. The main objectives of the study were to characterize the bio-fortified lentil accessions using morphological markers and select the DUS accession for using targeted the best utilization in hybridization program. Plant breeders can use these morphological variations to make decision regarding the choice for selecting superior genotypes for improvement or to be utilized as parents for the development of future cultivars through hybridization. Furthermore, important morphological markers like, plant type, foliage color, testa color, testa pattern and cotyledon colors can also be used for testing hybridity and keeping genetic purity at genetic level. The information obtained by the identification keys at seed and plant levels may be useful for discrimination and verification of varieties, hybridity testing and maintenance of genetic purity at genetic level during seed production and certification programme. Out of 25 lentil accessions, 18 accessions were observed as erect and compact growth habit, 22 accessions had green stem color, 21 accessions had dense leaf pubescence and dark foliage, 7 accessions had prominent tendril, 3 accessions had white blue veins flower and 4 accessions had large seeded accession.

<strong><em>Heracleum piliferum</em> (Apiaceae), a new species from central Nepal</strong>

A new species, Heracleum piliferum (Apiaceae), is described from the Annapurna mountain massif, central Nepal. The new species is related to H. forrestii and H. hemsleyanum and differs from them in dense pubescence of petioles, short triangular sheaths of stem leaves, 2-pinnate leaf blades, shallow notched terminal leaf segments, crenulate leaf margin, larger terminal umbels, and broadly winged lateral ribs of the mericarps.

Exploration of wheat wild relative diversity from Lahaul valley: a cold arid desert of Indian Himalayas

Climate change is causing a huge loss in biodiversity throughout the globe and the rate has accelerated in recent years. Plant diversity of temperate regions has continuously suffered due to this. The importance of conservation of wild relatives/species of staple crop such as Elymus, Leymus, Thinopyrum, Lolium either in situ or ex situ is essential to sustain these resources for future use due to their ability to withstand in a stressful environment. Thus plant researchers are always in a quest to explore novel species to enhance the genetic diversity of wild crop relatives to improve the resilience of staple crops to a wide range of stress conditions. Keeping these viewpoints in mind, in 2016–2018, we have explored the Lahaul valley, a cold arid region of District Lahaul and Spiti, Himachal Pradesh. A total of 230 accessions of four different species belonging to genus Elymus viz-E. semicostatus (Nees ex steud.) Meld., E. repens Gould, E. dahuricus Turrcz Ex Griseb. and E. longiaristatus (Boiss.) Tzvelev subsp. Canaliculatus (Nevski) Tzvelev belonging to the family Poaceae, tribe Triticeae were taken into consideration. Wide-range of variability was observed at an inter-and intraspecific level among these species. The variations in morphological characters at different ecological amplitudes were recorded. The presence of variation in abiotic stress tolerance traits such as spike pigmentation, low seed shattering, dense pubescence, waxiness was observed. Forty traits were recorded during field evaluation to ease wheat breeders and researchers to identify germplasm during the collection at an in situ level. The population of these four species had a variation for qualitative and quantitative traits at different ecological regimes at their native habitat suggesting their adaptability to a particular niche. Pre-breeding on these germplasm resources could be initiated for introgression novel alleles in wheat to mitigate environmental constraints posed by changing climate.

A new species of Viola (Violaceae) from Guangdong Province, China.

Viola huizhouensis (Violaceae), a new species from Xiangtoushan National Nature Reserve of Guangdong Province in China, is described and illustrated. The new species is most similar to V. guangzhouensis, but it can be easily distinguished by its much stouter rhizome, lack of aerial stem, dense pubescence of the basal pedicel and the whole plant. Our phylogenetic analysis, based on ITS sequences, confirms that the new species belongs to V. sect. Diffusae.

<strong>The new inland <em>Hornschuchia mediterranea</em> (Annonaceae) from Bahia, Brazil</strong>

A new species of Hornschuchia (Bocageeae, Annonaceae) is described from seasonal semideciduous forests in the Brazilian state of Bahia. Hornschuchia mediterranea resembles H. lianarum in its solitary, internodal flowers with a deeply cup-shaped calyx. However, H. mediterranea has glabrous and shiny leaves, a sericeous calyx, and free petals that are white in bud, while H. lianarum has coarser and denser pubescence of the leaves and calyx, and connate petals that are orange-cream in bud.

Description of Cerochusa gesinae sp. nov. from Thailand (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae)

A second species of the genus CerochusaYin & Nomura, 2012, C. gesinae Yin & Kleeberg, sp. nov., is described and illustrated from Chiang Mai, Thailand. The new species can be easily distinguished from C. ciliocepsYin & Nomura, 2012 from China and Thailand by the less strongly modified male head, distinct discal striae of the elytra, dense pubescence along the posterior margin of the elytra, and different shape of the aedeagus.

A Pd1–Ps–P1 Feedback Loop Controls Pubescence Density in Soybean

Trichomes are universally present in plants and their development is delicately regulated. Trichomes are responsible for pubescence, whose density is associated with some agronomic traits such as insect resistance, evapotranspiration, and yield. Almost a century ago, three dominant alleles related to pubescence density in soybean, namely Pd1 (dense pubescence), Ps (sparse pubescence), and P1 (glabrous), were identified. However, their molecular identity and genetic relationships remain unclear. In this study, through a genome-wide association study and map-based cloning, we determined the genetic basis of these three traits. The sparse-pubescence phenotype of Ps was attributed to a copy-number variation of a 25.6-kb sequence that includes a gene encoding a protein with WD40 and RING domains. The dense-pubescence phenotype of Pd1 was attributed to a T-C transition in the last exon of an HD-Zip transcription factor gene, and the glabrous phenotype of P1 was caused by a G–A transition in the first exon of a lipid transfer protein gene. Genetic and biochemical analyses revealed that Pd1 functions as a transcriptional activator that can bind the promoters of the P1 and Ps genes to induce their expression; Interestingly, Pd1 can also bind its own promoter and inhibit its gene transcription. In addition, Ps can interact with Pd1 and weaken the transcriptional activity of Pd1. Taken together, our results demonstrate that Pd1, Ps, and P1 form a complex feedback loop to regulate pubescence formation in soybean.

<p><strong>Two new species of <em>Meriania</em> (Melastomataceae) from eastern Ecuador</strong></p>

We describe two new species of Meriania (Melastomataceae), Meriania ardyae from Llanganates National Park and Meriania zunacensis from the Río Zuñac Reserve in Ecuador. Meriania ardyae is characterized by dark crimson petals, hypanthium and calyx with a dark purple coloration, young branches and internodes covered with a dense pubescence of violet-black hirsute trichomes and slightly dimorphic stamens. Meriania zunacensis is distinguished by conspicuous interpetiolar flaps, inflorescences with glomerulate flower clusters, large flowers with magenta petals, isomorphic stamens, and a fleshy, strongly curved style.

Studies in Andean Ocotea (Lauraceae) V. Species with Unisexual Flowers and Sparsely Appressed-Pubescent or Glabrous Leaves without Domatia Occurring above 1000 m in Altitude

This is the fifth installment of a treatment of Ocotea Aubl. occurring above 1000-m altitude in the Andean countries of Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. This part covers species with unisexual flowers lacking distinctive characters such as presence of domatia or erect or dense pubescence on leaves. Twenty-six species are treated, of which 12 are new to science. These are O. nidiae van der Werff from Venezuela; O. erugata van der Werff, O. gymnantha van der Werff, and O. lorda van der Werff from Colombia; O. ceronii van der Werff, O. depilis van der Werff, O. homeieri van der Werff, and O. pilosa van der Werff from Ecuador; and O. calcicola van der Werff, O. fulgida van der Werff, O. nana van der Werff, and O. tunquiensis van der Werff from Peru. Ocotea cernua (Nees) Mez is synonymized with O. leptobotra (Ruiz & Pav.) Mez and O. longifolia Kunth is synonymized with O. aurantiodora (Ruiz & Pav.) Mez.

Dracula irmelinae, a new species in the subtribe Pleurothallidinae (Orchidaceae) from the Western Andes of Colombia

A new species of Dracula (Pleurothallidinae: Orchidaceae) from Colombia is described, honoring Irmelin Indenbirken, mother of the actor and philanthropist Leonardo DiCaprio. D. irmelinae is phenotypically most similar to Dracula verticulosa, but differs in having larger and wider sepals that form a smoothly curved semicircular mentum behind the lip, an indumentum with dark red internal and external maculae and dense long pubescence on the internal sepal surfaces and bases of the tails. The geographic distributions of the two species also differ, with the new species being restricted to a small area in the western Cordillera of Colombia. The conservation status of the new taxon is assessed as Endangered (EN) according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) criteria.
 Key words: Colombia, Dracula, endangered species, Pleurothallidinae, Western Andes