Genus Iris Research Articles

Morphoanatomical Adaptations to Environmental Conditions in Seeds of Some Species of the Genus Iris L. (Iridaceae, Asparagales) Growing in the Saratov Region

Morphoanatomical features important for plant adaptation to ecological conditions have been described for seeds of seven Iris species growing in the Saratov region. Such features are the most indicative for seeds of two species, I. halophila Pall. and I. pseudacorus L. The strategy of I. halophila seeds represents development of adaptations intended to protect seed contents against penetration of saline solutions. These adaptations include the presence of a waterproof and salt-proof coating film protecting seed contents against saline solutions, the maximum level of a seed cover lignification as compared with the seeds of other species studied, and a smooth ultrasculpture of a seed cover preventing salt deposition on its surface. The strategy of I. pseudacorus seeds includes formation of seeds capable of surviving in an aquatic environment for a long time without any loss of viability. The corresponding adaptations are the following: a flattened discoid form of seeds facilitating their floating in water; the maximum thickness of a seed cover compared to other species studied; weak lignification of the seed cover, especially mesotesta; and the presence of an air cavity in the chalazal part of a seed, which reduces its specific gravity and presumably provides an embryo with oxygen when seeds float in water. Seeds of five other iris species (I. aphylla L., I. pineticola Klokov, I. pumila L., I. sibirica L., and I. tenuifolia Pall.) have identical adaptations to moderate conditions of a terrestrial environment.

Metabolic profiling of rhizomes of native populations of the strictly endemic Croatian species Iris adriatica

Iris adriatica Trinajstić ex Mitić (Iridaceae L.) is a strictly endemic taxon from Croatia. It is a rhizomatous dwarf plant from the I. pumila complex with a distribution area limited to the Croatian part of the Mediterranean area, mainly central Dalmatia. The genus Iris is known for its richness in isoflavonoids which also play a significant role in chemotaxonomy and biological activity. Hence, in the current study, different plant batches of I. adriatica collected in early spring of 2016 were analysed for their phytochemical profiles and qualitatively compared. UHPLC-PDA-ESI-MS analyses of methanolic rhizome extracts were performed. Altogether, 36 compounds, representing isoflavonoids (including 6,7-methylendioxy derivatives), benzophenones and xanthones were found as aglycones or in glycosidically bound form to be the main constituent groups of I. adriatica rhizomes. Qualitative results were identical between different batches of plant material from collection sites in central Dalmatia, they differed only in quantity. For some phenolic compounds of I. adriatica, chemotaxonomic relevance was detected.

Composition of Volatile Oil of Iris pallida Lam. from Ukraine.

To qualitatively and quantitatively study the composition of essential oil from the dried rhizomes and leaves of Iris pallida Lam. from Ukraine for the first time. Essential oils obtained by steam distillation were investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The essential oils were obtained from the leaves and rhizomes by yielding 0.03% and 0.20%, respectively. The analysis of the oil resulted in the identification of 26 components in the leaves and 18 components in the rhizomes. The dominant terpenes in the essential oil of the leaves of I. pallida were squalene (6%), hexahydrofarnesylacetone (8%) and neophytadiene (up to 6%). Among them, myristic acid (56%), capric acid (14.50%), lauric acid (15.42%), α-irone (2.85%) were found as the dominant compounds of the essential oil of the rhizomes of I. pallida. α-irone and γ-irone contents are accepted as the most significant criteria of the commercial quality of Iris essential oil. The compounds β-damascenone and squalene were identified for the first time in plants of the genus Iris. I. pallida of Ukraine can be recommended as an additional source of raw materials for essential oil from the rhizomes and as a source of bioactive substances.

Typification of the name Iris sanguinea (Iridaceae)

The genus Iris Linnaeus (1753: 38), when considered in a wide sense (Mathew 1989, Goldblatt et al. 2008), was established with a total of eighteen species. Presently, it comprises approximately 225 species (Goldblatt et al. 1998), distributed mostly in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

A taxonomic revision of Iris section Psammiris (Iridaceae) in Russia

Until now, as few as 2–4 species of the genus Iris sect. Psammiris (Iris bloudowii, I. humilis, I. mandshurica, and I. potaninii) have been reported in Russia in botanical publications. We have analysed the diagnostic value of morphological characters. At the series level, features of the root system, the shape of basal leaves, the height of flowering scape, and the length of perianth tube are most significant. The shape and size of spathes are also usable for species identification. In the present contribution, a synopsis of I. sect. Psammiris in Russia is presented, including the description of a new series, Vorobievia. In that country, the section comprises 7 species belonging to 3 series and occurring mainly in Siberia and the Far East, one species extending to the Eastern Europe. A key for species determination is compiled, and the distribution areas of the accepted species are specified. Types are indicated for all involved names, two of which (lectotypes) are designated here. Furthermore, previous results of molecular studies including taxa in this section are analysed and discussed, which demonstrate that I. sect. Psammiris is indeed monophyletic according to the morphological and molecular data available so far.

Ультраструктура семян видов рода Iris L. s.l. (Iridaceae) из Украинских Карпат

We have studied the ultrastructure of five species of genus Iris L., which grow in the Ukrainian Carpathians – I. aphylla L., I.graminea L., I. pseudacorus L., I. sibirica L. and I. sintenisii Janka. We have found that in shape seeds are rounded-fusiform (I. aphylla), D-shaped (I. pseudacorus, I. sibirica, I.graminea), pyriform (I. sintenisii). The hilum is rounded or drop-shaped, small, by position – basal (I. graminea), with well-seen roll (I. graminea, I. aphylla). The seeds of I. sibirica and I. pseudacorus have wing, that surround all the seed (wing is smaller in seeds of I. pseudacorus). The wings are absent in seeds of other species. Тhe curvature of anticlinal cell walls (straight) is common for all studied species. The seeds of all examined species characterized by polygonal cells of testa, they are isodiametric (I. aphylla, I. sintenisii, I. graminea), or prolonged (I. sibirica, I. pseudacorus) – mostly on the wing. The boundaries of cells of testa are practically not visible, anticlinal cell walls are tightly merged only in I. sintenisii seeds, in other species seeds they are seen. The anticlinal cell walls in I. aphylla and I. graminea are raised in relation to surface of periclinal cell walls. The outer periclinal cell walls are concave (I. sintenisii, I. aphylla), flat (I. graminea), or convex (I. pseudacorus, I. sibirica). The sculpture of outer periclinal cell walls is smooth (I. graminea, I. sintenisii, I. aphylla), or furrowed (I. sibirica, I. pseudacorus). Considering all the above features, we concluded that seeds of studied species are characterized by coliculate (I. sibirica, I. pseudacorus), reticulate (I. aphylla), indistinct-coliculate with slightly convex periclinal cell walls (I. graminea) or indistinct-cellular (I. sintenisii) relief.

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF PLANT RAW MATERIAL IRIS SIBIRICA L.

Species of the genus Iris in the scientific literature, recognized as rich sources of secondary metabolites. However, in chemical terms, Iris sibirica L. is poorly understood. The purpose of this study is a comparative analysis of the chemical composition of plant material of Iris sibirica L. to optimize the timing of collection in the conditions of Altai region.The object used samples of leaves and rhizomes and roots of I. sibirica varieties Cambridge and Sterkh variety, harvested in the vicinity of the city of Novoaltaisk.As a result of these tests the ash content from I. sibirica spring collection 1,3 times more than in autumn. The method of emission spectrometry revealed the presence of 26 elements. Of them macro – 4, microelements and ultramicroelements 8 – 14. Regardless of the variety of plant organs as observed the accumulation of Al. In a raw spring collection piling up Ba and Zn, and in the fall of Sr and Mn. In the studied samples I. sibirica cultivars Siberian crane Cambridge and the concentration of Cu, Pb, Cd, Cr and As exceeded the permissible level for dietary Supplements and tea on plant-basedWith the aim of obtaining flavonoids plant I. sibirica better harvest in the spring, and for optimal coumarins is the autumn collection. Tannins more is accumulated in the rhizomes with roots, and triterpenoid glycosides in the grass. The yield of essential oil from I. sibirica depends on weather conditions of vegetation period, time of procurement of raw materials and on plants and can be increased by 2–3 times.The study of element distribution and synthesized biologically active substances in the process of development of I. sibirica cultivars Siberian crane and Cambridge during the vegetation period has allowed to identify the vegetative phase with maximum accumulation, and organs of plants, accumulation of these biologically active substances.

Isoflavones and Other Compounds from the Roots of Iris marsica I. Ricci E Colas. Collected from Majella National Park, Italy

In this study, a phytochemical analysis was performed, for the first time, on Iris marsica I. Ricci e Colas. In particular, the attention was focused on the constituents of the roots. Twenty-one compounds were isolated by column chromatography and were analyzed/identified by NMR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. They all own chemotaxonomic, ethno-pharmacological and nutraceutical relevance which allowed us to provide a phytochemical rationale, for the correct botanical classification of this species, for the employment of its roots in folk medicine like for all the other species belonging to the Iris genus and, lastly, for their further uses as food with important healthy benefits. All of these parts were broadly discussed about within the text.

Regulatory role of phenols in flower development and senescence in the genus Iris

The mechanism of flower development and senescence involves a lot of biochemical and molecular changes. These changes are governed by various external (temperature, light and humidity) and internal factors, viz., protein turnover, protease activity, antioxidant activity, phenols and plant growth regulators. The role of proteins, growth regulators, changes in various antioxidant enzymes and protease activity has been studied to a great extent; however the contribution of phenols in flower development and senescence is still elusive. Generally, flower senescence is thought to be associated with a decrease in the total phenolic content, but the present study on various species of the genus Iris revealed that total phenolic content showed diverging trends, varying from species to species within the same genus. The total phenolic content has been shown to decrease during senescence in Iris versicolor and Iris japonica, but an increase in total phenolic content was registered in Iris germanica, Iris kashmiriana and Iris ensata. Fresh mass, dry mass and water content was shown to increase towards flower anthesis (stages I–IV) and a significant decrease was observed at V and VI stages of flower senescence in all the species of Iris under study. The ascorbate peroxidase activity during the various stages of flower development and senescence indicated that phenols have a more contributory role than just being free radical scavengers in regulating flower senescence of various species of the genus Iris.

Biologically active compounds from the rhizomes of iris hungarica

Species of Iris genus (Iridaceae) have a long history of traditional medicinal use in different countries as alternative aperient, tonic, cathartic, diuretic, gall bladder diseases, liver complaints, dropsy, purification of blood, venereal infections, fever, bilious infections and for a variety of heart diseases. The rhizomes of Iris are the rich source of the secondary metabolites, in which flavonoids predominate. The clinical studies of substances from irises gave positive results in the treatment of cancer, bacterial and viral infections. Continuing the search of new biologically active compounds from the plants of Iridaceae family for the first time three isoflavones that are new for this species – irigenin, iristectorigenin B and its glucoside iristectorin B have been isolated from the ethanolic extract of the rhizomes of Iris hungarica Waldst. et Kit., which is widespread in Ukraine. The structure of the compounds is described as 5,7,3’-trihydroxy-6,4’,5’-trimethoxyisoflavone, 5,7,4’-trihydroxy-6,3’-dimethoxyisoflavone and iristectorigenin B-7-O-β-D-glucoside, respectively. The compounds were obtained from the ethyl acetate fraction of the iris rhizomes by column chromatography on silica gel with sequential elution of the chloroform – ethanol solvent with different concentrations. The structure of the compounds has been determined by chemical and spectral methods and in comparison with the literature data.

LC-MS Guided Isolation of Bioactive Principles from Iris hookeriana and Bioevaluation of Isolates for Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Activities.

The genus Iris is diverse both in the abundance of secondary metabolities as well as the biological activities. The rhizomes of Iris hookeriana exhibit significant anthelminthic activity against gastrointestinal nematodes of sheep. Although Iris hookeriana has been a subject of the study of so many phytochemical studies, yet we report some constituents for the first time from this plant using a different isolation approach. This manuscript presents the isolation, antimicrobial and antioxidant evaluation of bioactive principles from Iris hookeriana. LC-MS guided isolation technique was applied for the separation of target constituents. The isolates were characterised by spectral techniques and subjected to antioxidant evaluation by DPPH assay. Four compounds; resveratrol, resveratroloside, junipeginin C and isorhamnetin-3-O-neohesperidoside were isolated for the first time along with 3 known compounds viz piceid, irigenin and iridin from I. hookeriana using this approach. The antioxidant activity screening of the isolates revealed that all the 4 constituents isolated for the first time, have strong antioxidant potential with IC50 of 14.0 µg/ml (resveratroloside), 19.7 µg/ml (junipeginen C), 12.8 µg/ml (resveratrol) and 19.8 µg/ml (isorhamnetin-3-O-neohesperodoside). So it can be safely concluded that LC-MS guided isolation of chemical compounds from Iris hookeriana has furnished 4 antioxidant constituents. Thus Iris hookeriana can act as as a good source of wonder molecule resveratrol and its 2 glycosides, resveratrolside and piceid which upon hydrolysis can be converted into the parent drug resveratrol.

The ultrastructure of the seeds surface of the subgenus Xyridion (Tausch) of genus Iris L. (Iridaceae) of the Flora of Ukraine

The surface ultrastructure of seeds coat of the subgenus Xyridion of the genus Iris L. from Ukrainian flora was examined. The studied seeds are characterized by both common and distinct features. The common features are: the shape and position of hilum (roundish, small, by position – basal); the shape and limits of cells of the test (polygonal, their boundaries are almost not visible); the character of thickening and tortuosity degree of anticlinal cell walls (uniformly thickened, straight). These features, as we suggest, could be additional diagnostic at the genera level. The distinct characteristics are: the type of cuticle; the type of seeds shape, the shape and the size of seeds. We suppose these characteristics as additional diagnostic at the species level. The seeds ultrastructure of I. pontica and I. sintenisii subsp. brandzae has been studied for the first time.

Typification and nomenclatural notes on twenty eight names of juno irises (Iridaceae) from Central and South Asia

Juno is one of the most disputable groups of the genus Iris s.l. (Iridaceae) and the largest part of its taxa are in need of typification. In the present paper, the nomenclatural types for 28 names (21 species, 7 varieties) of juno irises are designated. Most of the original material was collected from the Central Asian republics of the former Soviet Union (especially Uzbekistan and Tajikistan), and the other part was from South Asia (Afghanistan and Pakistan). Lectotypes are designated for 27 names, or a typification remark is provided. Among them, the previous first-step lectotypification of 2 names has been finalized, and 2 epitypes are designated for lectotypified names. A neotype is also designated for the name Iris tubergeniana.

Species divergence in Iris series Lacteae (Iridaceae) in Russia and adjacent countries based on chloroplast DNA sequence data

In Russia, the species of the genus Iris L., series Lacteae Doronkin, the taxonomic structure of which still remains controversial, are found in the south of Siberia and the Russian Far East, as well as in other regions of Asia. Sequence analysis of three chloroplast DNA regions (rps4, trnL–trnF, and trnS–trnG) shows that, in Russia and adjacent countries, there are two genetically and geographically isolated Lacteae species. I. oxypetala Bunge grows in the south of the Russian Far East, and I. lactea Pall. grows in Siberia, Mongolia, and Kazakhstan. Genetic differentiation between the populations of I. lactea is extremely low and statistically insignificant (the fixation index ΦST = 0.057, P > 0.05), pointing to the unity of the gene pool and the absence of other Lacteae species in this area.

The iris family (Iridaceae) in the flora of eastern Indochina

Iris family in the countries of eastern part of Indochina Peninsula, such as Cambodia, Laos and Viet­nam includes lone native genus – Iris L. with two aboriginal species – I. japonica Thunb. and I. tectorum Maxim. Iris japonica is often cultivated as an outdoor ornamental plant in mountainous regions in the northern Vietnam, where it occasionally naturalizes. Herbarium specimens of I. japonica, collected in central Laos near Nape town, probably represent southernmost locality of the Iris genus in Eurasia. Iris tectorum was discovered in native, primary plant communities of karstic highly eroded limestone in Cao Bang province (Bao Lac district) of the northern Vietnam. This species is recorded as new for the flora of the Indochina Peninsula. The report of I. collettii Hook. f. on the territory of peninsular flora does not yet confirmed by herbaria and remains doubtful. Data on taxonomy, authentic specimens, distribution, habitats, phenology, conservation status and biology are provided for all Iris species. The identification key for Iris species is compiled, as well as dotted distribution maps on the territory of countries of eastern Indochina. Other representatives of the family from such genera as Belamcanda Adans. (B. chinensis (L.) Redoute), Crocosmia Planch. (C. × crocosmiiflora (G. Nicholson) N. E. Br.), Eleutherine Herb. (E. bulbosa (Mill.) Urb.), Freesia Klatt (F. refracta (Jacq.) Klatt.), Gladiolus L. (numerous horticultural forms) и Trimezia Salisb. ex Herb. (T. martinicensis (Jacq.) Herb.) reported from Indochina are introduced cultivated ornamental plants capable to occasional naturaliza­tion as an adventive element of the Indochinese flora.

Natural hybridization of <i>Iris</i> species in Mt. Palgong-san, Korea

붓꽃속(Genus Iris)의 금붓꽃계열(Series Chinensis)은 극동아시아에 국한되어 ë¶„í¬í•˜ê³ ìžˆìœ¼ë©° 한국에는 총 6분류군이 ìžìƒí•˜ê³ ìžˆë‹¤. 이는 크게 두 개의 주요 그룹 (각시붓꽃 complex와 금붓꽃 complex)으로 나뉜다. 본 연구에서는 팔공산에서 발견된 ìž¡ì¢ ì¶”ì •ê°œì²´ë“¤ì˜ 실체와 붓꽃속 금붓꽃계열 분류군간의 ê³„í†µí•™ì  ìœ ì—°ê´€ê³„ë¥¼ ê·œëª í•˜ê¸° 위해 핵 rDNA ITS와 엽록체 matK ìœ ì „ìžì˜ 염기서열을 확보하여 분석하였다. 총 55개체로부터 얻은 106 개 ITS amplicon의 염기서열 및 군외군의 염기서열을 분석한 ê²°ê³¼, 금붓꽃계열의 ë ¸ëž‘ë¬´ëŠ¬ë¶“ê½ƒ, ë ¸ëž‘ë¶“ê½ƒ, 금붓꽃 및 ìž¡ì¢ ì¶”ì •êµ°ì€ 군외군과 구분되어 ìœ ì§‘ë˜ì—ˆìœ¼ë‚˜, 군내군 사이에서는 높은 다형성 염기서열이 관측되었다. ITS 계통수에서 ìž¡ì¢ ì¶”ì •êµ°ì˜ 일부는 ë ¸ëž‘ë¬´ëŠ¬ë¶“ê½ƒê³¼ 하나의 분계조를 ë‚˜íƒ€ë‚´ì—ˆê³ , 나머지 ìž¡ì¢ ì¶”ì •êµ°ì˜ 경우는 금붓꽃+ë ¸ëž‘ë¶“ê½ƒê³¼ 분계조를 형성하였다. 한편 cpDNA의 경우 matK를 ì œì™¸í•œ 나머지 마커는 금붓꽃과 ë ¸ëž‘ë¶“ê½ƒì˜ 차이를 보여주지 못하였다. matK의 NJ 계통수에서 ìž¡ì¢ ì¶”ì •êµ°ì´ 금붓꽃과 높은 Bootstrap 값으로 하나의 분계조를 형성하였으며, 염기서열이 일치하였다. 이 결과를 바탕으로 팔공산에서 발견된 ìž¡ì¢ ì¶”ì •êµ°ì˜ 모계는 ê¸ˆë¶“ê½ƒì´ê³ ë¶€ê³„ëŠ” ë ¸ëž‘ë¬´ëŠ¬ë¶“ê½ƒì´ë¼ëŠ” 가능성을 ì œì‹œí•˜ì˜€ë‹¤. 주요어: 붓꽃과, 붓꽃속, 금붓꽃계열, 다형성, 잡ì¢

Effect of flavonoid compounds extracted from Iris species in prevention of carbon tetrachloride-induced liver fibrosis in rats.

We investigated the effect of flavonoid compounds extracted from species of genus Iris L. on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)-induced rat liver fibrosis. Thirty Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into normal control group, liver fibrosis model group, and drug treatment group (N = 10 each). Next, 0.2 mL/100 g CCl4 was subcutaneously injected for 6 weeks in both model and treatment rats to generate the liver fibrosis model. In the control group, an equal volume of castor oil was injected subcutaneously. Rats in the treatment group also received 100 mg·kg(-1)·day(-1) flavonoid compounds via gastric tubes. After 6 weeks, rats were sacrificed, and their liver tissues were examined for pathological changes, including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total bilirubin, hyaluronic acid, laminin, and procollagen type-3. Liver tissues from control rats showed no significant pathological changes, while model animals showed significant liver fibrosis. In the treatment group, liver fibrosis significantly decreased compared to the model group (P < 0.05). Liver fibrotic indices, including hyaluronic acid, laminin, and procollagen type-3, in treatment rats were all significantly lower than those in the model group (P < 0.05), but not significantly different compared to the normal group (P > 0.05). Other liver function indices, including alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and total bilirubin, in treatment rats were also significantly lower than those in model rats (P < 0.01) but higher than those in control animals (P < 0.05). Flavonoid compounds extracted from Iris plants showed significant inhibitory effects on CCl4-induced rat liver fibrosis.

Development of a PCR Diagnostic System for Iris yellow spot tospovirus in Quarantine.

Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) is a plant pathogenic virus which has been reported to continuously occur in onion bulbs, allium field crops, seed crops, lisianthus, and irises. In South Korea, IYSV is a “controlled” virus that has not been reported, and inspection is performed when crops of the genus Iris are imported into South Korea. In this study, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and nested PCR inspection methods, which can detect IYSV, from imported crops of the genus Iris at quarantine sites, were developed. In addition, a modified positive plasmid, which can be used as a positive control during inspection, was developed. This modified plasmid can facilitate a more accurate inspection by enabling the examination of a laboratory contamination in an inspection system. The inspection methods that were developed in this study are expected to contribute, through the prompt and accurate inspection of IYSV at quarantine sites to the plant quarantine in South Korea.

Каріотипи видів роду Iris флори України

Каріотипи видів роду Iris флори України

A metabolomic approach to quality determination and authentication of raw plant material in the fragrance field. Iris rhizomes: A case study

This study aimed to discriminate 22 samples of commercial Iris rhizomes (orris root) by species and origin (Iris germanica (Morocco), I. albicans (Morocco), I. pallida (Morocco), I. pallida (China), I. pallida (Italy)) by applying a strategy derived from those adopted in metabolomics. The specimens’ fingerprints from conventional analysis methods (LC–UV and/or LC–MS) were unable to provide clear discrimination. A strategy combining UHPLC/TOF-HRMS, in positive and negative modes, with multivariate statistical methods was therefore applied. Exact mass/retention time (EMRT) pairs obtained by UHPLC–TOF/HRMS were successfully submitted to statistical processing by principal component analysis (PCA), partial least square discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), and then orthogonal partial least square-discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), to extract the discriminating EMRT pairs through their trend views. 146 EMRT pairs were selected on the basis of their trend views, because they significantly varied, and 104 of them were included to discriminate between species and origins. 32 of them were tentatively identified as discriminating markers (flavonoids, isoflavonoids, triterpenoids, benzophenone derivatives and related glycosides …) from the reference database created on the basis of Iris genus components reported in the literature: eight of them specific for I. albicans, four for I. germanica, five for I. pallida (Italy), five for I. pallida (China), and ten for I. pallida (Morocco). The reliability of this strategy was confirmed by identifying species and origin of two unknown samples submitted to the same analytical procedure.