Erythronium Japonicum Research Articles

Antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of methanol extracts from aerial parts of Korean salad plants

The aim of this investigation was to determine the content of total phenolics, antioxidant activity and cytotoxicity of methanol extracts from the aerial parts of 11 Korean medicinal salad plants. The highest total phenolic content of the methanol extracts was found in Aster scaber (17.1 mg 100 g(-1)), followed by Ixeris dentate (16.4 mg 100 g(-1)), Aster yomena (12.0 mg 100 g(-1)) and Sedum sarmentosum (9.1 mg 100 g(-1)) of FW. Methanol extracts of Ixeris dentate and Aster scaber at 50 microg mL(-1) exhibited the highest DPPH radical scavenging activity by 86.4 and 83.3%, respectively. It was registered a dose-dependent increase of DPPH free radical scavenging activity. Total phenolic content of the studied plant extracts was correlated with the DPPH radical scavenging activity. It was found by means of MTT assay, that cytotoxicity of the methanol extracts was the highest against HCT-116. Methanol extracts from Petasites japonicus (IC(50)<25.0 microg mL(-1)) showed the highest activity against HCT-116, following by Angelica gigas (34.75 microg mL(-1)), Erythronium japonicum (44.06 microg mL(-1)), and Aster scaber (54.87 microg mL(-1)). In conclusion, the studied salad plants have high total phenolics content and high antioxidant activity. These plants dose-dependently increased DPPH free radical scavenging activity. The total phenolics level was highly correlated with the free radical scavenging activity. Most of the studied salad plants have potent cytotoxicity activity. The results of this investigation suggest that the extracts of studied salad plants could be an addition to basic medicine for some diseases.

Distribution and Ecological Characteristics of Native Iris Odesanensis in Mt. Naeyon

Iris odesanensis Y.N. Lee is one kind of species among 54 endangered plant species designated by the Ministry of Environment in Korea. It is very rare native plant throughout the country. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the native Iris odesanensis in Mt. Naeyon for their distribution and ecological characteristics. They were mostly distributed mid-slope of the mountain from 443m to 498m altitude. They were located lower part of valley and provided enough humid condition. They had proper light and humidity conditions as they faced south south west, south south east, and south. They were also located at the places deciduous woody plants were distributed for proper light conditions for spring blooming. Iris flowered to use light at the period before the trees thickly covered with foliage. However this unfavorable light condition caused low percentage as 7.04% of blooming individuals in this study. In herbaceous, Vioia chaerophylloides(Regel) W. Hocker, Carex siderosticta Hance, Erythronium japonicum Decne., Oxalis obtriangulata Max., Hepatica asiatica Nakai, Lilium tsingtauense Gilg et cetera were appeared well. We propose that proper pruning of upper branches of the deciduous trees is needed for suitable light condition of management of native sites.

Flowers adaptively face down‐slope in 10 forest‐floor herbs

Summary An animal‐pollinated plant living on a slope should orientate its flowers down‐slope towards the more open space if by doing so it receives more pollinator visits and thereby achieves increased reproductive success. We measured flower orientation relative to slope direction on individuals of 10 species of forest‐floor herbs in cool temperate forests in Japan. For one of these species, Erythronium japonicum, we also manipulated flower orientation to test experimentally for its effects on both male and female reproductive function. In all 10 species, flowers were preferentially orientated down‐slope. This pattern was more pronounced in plants growing on steeper slopes. Our manipulative field experiment in Erythronium japonicum demonstrated that pollen dispatch was highest in flowers orientated down‐slope. Additionally, flowers orientated up‐slope may have achieved a lower seed set on steep slopes. We conclude that down‐slope orientation of flowers was a general phenomenon among the species that we studied, and that this behaviour was adaptive in enhancing plant fitness through pollination.

BULBOUS MONOCOTS NATIVE TO JAPAN AND ADJACENT AREAS - THEIR HABITATS, LIFE HISTORIES AND PHYLOGENY

The results of comparative studies on the life history characteristics of selected members of bulbous monocots in Japan are reported along with molecular systematic analyses using two chloroplast genes, rbcL and matK. In analyzing the inter- and infra-generic relationships in Lilium and allied taxa, the matK gene was sequenced for 35 Lilium, two Nomocharis, one Cardiocrinum, one Notholirion, and two Fritillaria species, with Erythronium japonicum and Medeola virginiana used as outgroup taxa. Phylogenetic analyses utilizing both MP and NJ topologies of the sequence data demonstrated that the genus Lilium consists of three different clades: the first clade includes 13 Lilium species belonging to Sections Archelirion (5 spp.), Leucolirion (2 spp.), Shinomartagon (5 spp.), Pseudolilium (1 spp.), and two Nomocharis species; the second clade includes 16 Lilium species belonging to Sections Daurolirion (1 sp. with 2 subsp.), Shinomartagon (6 spp.), Martagon (4 spp.), Liriotypus (3 spp.), and Leucolirion (2 spp.); the third clade includes six species belonging to Section Pseudolilium. The two Nomocharis species, N. pardanthina and N. saluenensis, were ingroup taxa of the first clade. Notholirion, Cardiocrinum, and Fritillaria were demonstrated to be sister groups to Lilium. The present results have shown many new evidence concerning the phylogenetic relationships among the Lilium and allied taxa, but do not support Comber’s sectional delimitations (1949).

Life‐history monographs of Japanese plants. 1: Erythronium japonicum Decne. (Liliaceae)

AbstractThe life‐history characteristics and demography of Erythronium japonicum Decne. (Liliaceae) are described here. This is a typical prevernal species of temperate broad‐leaved deciduous forests in the Japanese Islands and adjacent Far East regions, and is one of the representative perennials of Arcto‐Tertiary origin. It flushes in early to late April (in May at higher elevations) on the deciduous forest floor in the lowlands to lower montane zone in Hokkaido, Honshu, Shikoku and Kyushu. Flowering individuals bear a single but showy large purplish‐red flower, blooming downward from the top of the scape. This species is a typical polycarpic perennial and bumblebee‐pollinated outbreeder, with pollen/ovule ratios of 4800–6150, although occasional inbreeding is known in the northern populations of Hokkaido. Yellowish‐brown seeds, 2–3 mm long, with a tiny elaiosome, are susceptible to ant‐dispersal (i.e. myrmecochory). According to our long‐term monitoring study that has continued for the past 25 years, since 1979, its mean life expectancy is extremely long (approximately 40 years).

Effects of deer fences in the conservation of Erythronium japonicum

Effects of deer fences in the conservation of Erythronium japonicum

Ecophysiology of seed germination in Erythronium japonicum (Liliaceae) with underdeveloped embryos

Erythronium japonicum (Liliaceae) (Japanese name, katakuri) is indigenous to Japan and adjacent Far East regions. We examined their embryo elongation, germination, and seedling emergence in relationship to the temperature. In incubators, seeds did not germinate at 20°/10° (light 12 h/dark 12 h alternating temperature), 20°, 15°, 5°, or 0°C with a 12-h light photoperiod for 200 d. They germinated at 15°/5° or 10°C, starting on day 135. If seeds were kept at 20° or at 25°/15°C before being exposed to 5°C, the seeds germinated, but if kept at 25° or 30°C they did not. Embryos at 25°/15°C grew to half the seed length without germinating; at 0° or 5°C, embryos elongated little. Embryos grew and seeds germinated when kept at 25°/15°C for 90 d and then at 5°C. In the field, seeds are dispersed in mid-June in Hokkaido and in Honshu, mid-May to mid-June. Seeds do not germinate immediately after dispersal because the embryo is underdeveloped. Embryos elongated at medium temperatures in autumn after summer heat, and germination ends in November at 8°/0°C. After germination, seedling emergence was delayed, and most seedlings were observed in early April around the snowmelt when soil cover was 2-3 mm.

Characteristics of gas exchange and morphology of a spring ephemeral, Erythronium japonicum , in comparison with a sun plant, Glycine max

Morphological characteristics and responses of gas exchanges to light intensity were examined in a typical vernal species, Erythronium japonicum Decne (E. japonicum), grown (i) on the floor of a deciduous broad-leaved Quercus mongolica forest (one of its native habitats, the Q. mongolica stand); (ii) bare land left undisturbed for 9 years after forest clearing (the bare stand); and (iii) in a sun crop, soybean, grown for 110 days in an experimental field and for 17 days in pots, in order to evaluate the adaptability of the photosynthetic process of this vernal species to its shady native habitats. The daytime solar radiation, ai and leaf temperatures and leaf–air vapor pressure difference (VPD) were significantly higher at the bare stand than at the Q. mongolica stand. When environmental factors observed at the Q. mongolica and bare stands were reproduced in an assimilation chamber, leaf temperatures of E. japonicum plants increased markedly with increased radiation, whereas those of soybean plants differed little from the respective air temperatures. The photosynthetic and transpiration rates and stomatal conductance in the former plants placed under conditions at the Q. mongolica stand increased with radiation and reached respective steady state values at maximum radiation at the site; whereas, under the conditions at the bare stand, they also increased and reached respective steady state values, but then continuously decreased to be lower than the respective value at the Q. mongolica stand. However, both rates and the conductance in the soybean plants under both conditions increased significantly with radiation and reached much higher respective values at the respective maximum radiations. Water use efficiency for E. japonicum plants was much higher under conditions at the Q. mongolica stand than at the bare stand and was practically equal to those for soybean plants under both conditions. Water potential in the leaves of E. japonicum at maximum radiation at the bare stand was one-third that of those at the Q. mongolica stand. The potential in soybean leaves differed little between both conditions and was roughly equal to the low value in E. japonicum leaves at the bare stand conditions. The stomatal densities on upper and lower leaf surfaces and the ratio of root weight to leaf area (R : L) differed little between E. japonicum plants grown at both stands as well as between young and adult soybean plants. However, the densities on the upper and lower surfaces of E. japonicum were 25% and 60% of the respective values of both soybean plants. The ratios of R : L of the E. japonicum plants were only one-quarter that of the young and adult soybean plants. The cooperation between these morphological and gas exchange characteristics in E. japonicum plants is discussed in relation to adaptation to the environment in native habitats.

Studies on Gelatinization and Retrogradation of Katakuri Starch (Erythronium Japonicum DECEN) by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

Studies on Gelatinization and Retrogradation of Katakuri Starch (Erythronium Japonicum DECEN) by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC)

Plate 411. Erythronium japonicum

Erythronium japonicum Decne. (Liliaceae), a native of Japan and Korea, is illustrated; its history, taxonomy, distribution, ecology and cultivation requirements are discussed and a full description of the species is provided.

Why Do Large Mothers Produce Large Offspring? Theory and a Test

To explain the general tendency of large mothers to produce large offspring, we developed two models in which either the rate at which each single offspring extracts resources from the mother or the rate at which the mother supplies resources to all the offspring is limited (terminal- or upper-stream-limitation on resource transport, respectively). We also reanalyzed the data of Erythronium japonicum to test the models. The terminal-stream-limitation model predicted that the optimal offspring size that maximizes the fitness of the mother increases with an increase in the maximum rate of resource extraction by each single offspring. Thus, large mothers produce large offspring if the maximum resource extraction rate is high in those mothers. The upper-stream-limitation model predicted that the optimal offspring size decreases with an increase in the maximum rate of resource supply by the mother to all the offspring. In E. japonicum, the maximum growth rate of a seed was independent of the number of seeds of a plant, suggesting that the resource extraction rate is limited at the individual seed level. The maximum growth rate was high in large plants and had a strong positive effect on final seed mass. Thus, the results were consistent with the terminal-stream-limitation model.

Why Do Large Mothers Produce Large Offspring? Theory and a Test

To explain the general tendency of large mothers to produce large offspring, we developed two models in which either the rate at which each single offspring extracts resources from the mother or the rate at which the mother supplies resources to all the offspring is limited (terminal‐ or upper‐stream‐limitation on resource transport, respectively). We also reanalyzed the data of Erythronium japonicum to test the models. The terminal‐stream‐limitation model predicted that the optimal offspring size that maximizes the fitness of the mother increases with an increase in the maximum rate of resource extraction by each single offspring. Thus, large mothers produce large offspring if the maximum resource extraction rate is high in those mothers. The upper‐stream‐limitation model predicted that the optimal offspring size decreases with an increase in the maximum rate of resource supply by the mother to all the offspring. In E. japonicum, the maximum growth rate of a seed was independent of the number of seeds of a plant, suggesting that the resource extraction rate is limited at the individual seed level. The maximum growth rate was high in large plants and had a strong positive effect on final seed mass. Thus, the results were consistent with the terminal‐stream‐limitation model.

Optimal timing of corolla abscission: experimental study on Erythronium japonicum (Liliaceae)

1. We analysed how male and female success affects the floral longevity in Erythronium japonicum. We found that flower senescence is advanced by deposition of pollen grains on the stigma but that there exists a minimum longevity (13·64 days in 1996 and 12·20 days in 1997) during which the flower never abscises, even if it is pollinated with a sufficient number of pollen grains. 2. We suggest that this floral longevity does not exist to benefit the female function, because the time needed for corolla abscission reacting to ovule fertilization was not so long and the female function was completed within about 3 days. 3. Flowers of E. japonicum do not react to pollen removal, as shown by the fact that anther removal experiments did not affect floral longevity. However, it would be advantageous to have some duration of longevity which benefits male success such that most of pollen grains can be expected to be exported. The duration needed to disperse most pollen grains of a flower was about 12 days, very close to the minimum floral longevity. 4. We conclude that a minimum longevity may exist for male functions and that floral longevity may be influenced differently by the male and the female functions of flowers.

Effects of micro‐environmental factors on photosynthetic CO2 uptake and carbon fixation metabolism in a spring ephemeral, Erythronium japonicum, growing in native and open habitats

Microenvironmental factors and physiological parameters (such as water potential, activity of ribulose 1,5‐bisphosphate carboxylase (RuBPcase), levels of ribulose 1,5‐bisphosphate (RuBP), 3‐phosphoglyceric acid (PGA) and sucrose in leaves) affecting photosynthetic processes of the typical vernal species Erythronium japonicum Decne. were examined on the floor of a deciduous broad‐leaved Quercus mongolica forest (Q.m. stand) and on bare land left undisturbed for 7 years after forest clearing (bare stand). Daytime solar radiation and the air and leaf temperatures at the bare stand were significantly higher than those at the Q.m. stand. The relative air humidity was very low and did not differ much between the stands, whereas the leaf–air vapor pressure difference (VPD) at the bare stand was twice as high as that at the Q.m. stand. The water potential in leaves at the bare stand was lower than two times that at the Q.m. stand. Therefore, the aboveground parts of the plants at the bare stand were subjected to much more severe heat stress than those at the Q.m. stand. When these environmental factors observed at the bare stand were reproduced in an assimilation chamber, the rate of photosynthetic CO2 uptake, stomatal conductance and water potential in leaves were significantly low in comparison with those when the factors at the Q.m. stand were simulated. The internal CO2 partial pressure in leaves at the bare stand was considerably lower than that at the Q.m. stand. Consequently, the decrease in the photosynthetic rate of the plants at the bare stand was caused mainly by a decrease in stomatal conductance through a lowering of water potential due to subjection of the aboveground parts to much more severe heat stress than that at the Q.m. stand. The possibility that an inhibition of the photosynthetic carbon fixation metabolism induced by the decrease in water potential contributes to the reduction in photosynthetic CO2 uptake in the plants at the bare stand is also discussed in light of physiological characteristics such as the activity of RuBPcase and levels of PGA, RuBP and sucrose in the leaves.

Female-biased sex allocation in relation to growth rate of fruit in Erythronium japonicum.

Using four populations of the liliaceous perennial Erythronium japonicum, I examined the hypothesis that sex allocation will be female-biased if the duration of sink-limited growth of fruits, during which fruits grow exponentially, is long. I found that all marked fruits in each population had a period of sink-limited growth. Among the four populations, the mean length of sink-limited growth increased, and the mean dry mass ratio of the sum of the corolla and androecium/fruit decreased, in a consistent order. Thus, plants in populations where the duration of sink-limited growth was long allocated relatively more of their resources to their female functions. This result was consistent with the above hypothesis.

A Sensitivity Analysis of the Population Dynamics of Erythronium japonicum, a Liliaceous Perennial

Abstract An individual‐based model for the population dynamics of a representative Japanese woodland herb, Erythronium japonicum, was constructed based on census data for eight years. The effects of intra‐specific competition were incorporated into the model. Several statistics on population dynamics, including intrinsic growth rate (r) carrying capacity (K), and steady‐state frequency distribution, were calculated by the model. Two kinds of sensitivities for intrinsic growth rate and carrying capacity were also obtained to examine the response of the population to the changes in several life history parameters. The changes in the relative growth rate (RGR) provided a higher sensitivity for intrinsic growth rate than the changes in mortality and in number of seedlings established. Incontrast, the changes in mortality gave a higher sensitivity for carrying capacity than for other vital rates. The sensitivity for sizeclass structure was also obtained: the size structure drastically changed in response to the changes in mortality in spite of the fact that changes in mortality showed a relatively low sensitivity to both intrinsic growth rate and carrying capacity. Several statistics on population dynamics obtained from a projection matrix model of E. japonicurn were compared to those from the individual‐based model. The population growth rate in the former model was smaller than that in the latter. The steady‐state frequency distribution in the former model was composed of more seedlings and fewer mature individuals than that in the latter model.

Molecular Systematics of the Genus Uvularia and Selected Liliales Based upon mat K and rbc L Gene Sequence Data

Abstract To elucidate the affinity and phylogeny of the endemic North American genus Uvularia, two chloroplast genes, matK and rbcL, were sequenced for all five species of the genus (Uvufaria floridana, U. grandifolia, U. perfoliata, U. puberula, and U. sessilifolia) and four selected members of the Liliales (Erythronium japonicum, Disporum sessile, Medeola virginiana, and Clintonia borealis). Sequence data of both matK and rbcL genes support an Uvularia which consist of two clades, section Oakesiella and section Uvularia. Though sessile‐leaved and associated with section Oakesiella, U. puberula exhibits several intermediate characteristics between the sections. However, the overall molecular results correspond to an earlier sub‐grouping based upon gross morphology, karyology and ecological life history traits. These two cpDNA genes, notably matK tree, proved to be informative in reaffirming relationships within Uvularia. Differentiation patterns among selected morphological, karyological and life history traits were also analyzed in comparison to the resulting molecular topologies.In comparison to the selected outgroups, Disporum sessile proved to be closely related to Uvufaria in a narrowly defined Uvulariaceae ‐Uvulariea sensu Takhtajan (1997) or an expanded Colchicaceacae with a “uvularioid line”sensu Nordenstam (1998). The outgroup taxa, Erythronium, Medeola, and Clintonia, associate as a well supported lineage within a narrowly defined Liliaceae. Comment is also made on the multiple origins of berry fruits inthe Liliales.

Dry matter production, population structure and environmental conditions of the spring ephemeral Erythronium japonicum growing in various habitats differing in sunlight exposure in cool temperate Japan

AbstractPhenology, dry matter production, population structure and environmental conditions were examined in Erythronium japonicum Decne plants growing on the floor of a deciduous broad‐leaved Quercus mongolica forest (Q. m. stand), an evergreen coniferous Cryptomeria japonica plantation (C. j. stand) and bare ground left for 3 years after the clearing of a forest composed of young Q. mongolica and Pinus densiflora trees (bare stand) in the cool temperate zone of Japan. The average population density of the plants growing at the Q.m. stand was much higher than that observed at the bare stand, whereas the average number of flowering plants at the former stand was less than half of that at the latter. The population density and number of flowering plants growing at the C. j. stand were both less than 30% of those at the Q. m. stand. The number of seedlings at the Q. m. stand was much more than that at the bare and C. j. stands. Their survivorship rate over 1 year at the former stand also seems to be significantly higher than those at the other stands. Their aboveground and belowground parts at the bare stand were exposed to more severe heat and water stress than those at the other two stands. The net production per leaf area of the plants growing at the Q. m. stand was two and six times larger than those at the bare and C. j. stands, respectively. The plants at the bare stand did not use the available solar radiation as efficiently for dry matter production through photosynthesis as those growing at the Q. m. stand, whereas those at the C. j. stand are strongly restricted in their photosynthetic process by the significantly limited light condition on the floor of the evergreen coniferous plantation. The differences in the number of plants reaching sexual maturity, the density and structure of the population and the net production between their three habitats are discussed here from the standpoint of differences in environmental conditions.

Photosynthesis and micro‐environmental factors in a spring ephemeral, Erythronium japonicum, from native and open habitats

AbstractEnvironmental factors affecting photosynthetic activity of the typical vernal species Erythronium japonicum Decne were examined on the floor of a deciduous broad‐leaved Quercus mongolica forest (Q.m. stand) and on bare land left undisturbed for 4 years after forest clearing (bare stand). Daytime solar irradiation and air and leaf temperatures at the bare stand were significantly higher than those at the Q.m. stand. The relative air humidity was very low and did not differ much between the stands, although the leaf‐air vapor pressure differences (VPD) at the bare stand were about twice as high as those at the Q.m. stand. The plants at both stands were supplied with sufficient soil water throughout their growing season by a large snowmelt. However, the aboveground parts of the plants at the bare stand were subjected to much more severe heat stress, caused by the strong radiations and high leaf temperatures, and water stress, caused by the highly transpiring conditions, than those at the Q.m. stand. When the radiation on leaves, leaf temperatures and VPD in the assimilation chamber were changed from those observed at the Q.m. stand to those at the bare stand, the photosynthetic rate and stomatal conductance fell significantly. However, the rate and conductance were immediately restored to the respective values near those measured under the conditions at the Q.m. stand when only VPD was dropped to the value similar to that observed at the Q.m. stand. These results indicate that the photosynthetic rate of the plants at the bare stand was lowered largely by a decrease in stomatal conductance. The internal CO2 partial pressure was considerably greater in leaves placed under environmental conditions similar to those at the bare stand.

Effects of ants, ground beetles and the seed-fall patterns on myrmecochory of Erythronium japonicum Decne. (Liliaceae).

Erythronium japonicum (Liliaceae) inhabits deciduous mesic forests of Hokkaido, northern Japan. Myrmecochory of this species was investigated, especially the dispersal frequency, the effect of seed predators and the seed fall pattern. In the quadrat census using marked seeds of E. japonicum, the ant Myrmica kotokui frequently transported the seeds. However, the frequency of seed removal was low and most seeds were dispersed as little as 1 m or less. The spatial distribution of E. japonicum individuals was nearly random and most seedlings were established 5-20 cm away from the fertile plants, indicating that even this small scale of seed dispersal contributes to avoiding crowding of seedlings. Some arthropods, e.g. springtails, spiders and ticks, hindered seed dispersal by devouring elaiosomes and seeds. Although ground beetle species also damaged seeds and elaiosomes, a few of them exhibited seed removal behaviour. E. japonicum dropped their seeds not all at once but bit by bit, taking 3-6 days to drop all seeds. This seed-fall pattern was effective in raising the frequency of seed removal by ants and reducing seed predation by some arthropods.