Genus Of Flowering Plants Research Articles

Genomic diversity and evolution of the Hawaiian Islands endemic Kokia (Malvaceae).

Island species are highly vulnerable due to habitat destruction and their often small population sizes with reduced genetic diversity. The Hawaiian Islands constitute the most isolated archipelago on the planet, harboring many endemic species. Kokia is an endangered flowering plant genus endemic to these islands, encompassing 3 extant and 1 extinct species. Recent studies provided evidence of unexpected genetic diversity within Kokia. Here, we provide high-quality genome assemblies for all 3 extant Kokia species, including an improved genome for Kokia drynarioides. All 3 Kokia genomes contain 12 chromosomes exhibiting high synteny within and between Kokia and the sister taxon Gossypioides kirkii. Gene content analysis revealed a net loss of genes in K. cookei compared to other species, whereas the gene complement in K. drynarioides remains stable and that of Kokia kauaiensis displays a net gain. A dated phylogeny estimates the divergence time from the last common ancestor for the 3 Kokia species at ∼1.2 million years ago (mya), with the sister taxa (K. cookei + K. drynarioides) diverging ∼0.8 mya. Kokia appears to have followed a stepping-stone pattern of colonization and diversification of the Hawaiian archipelago, likely starting on low or now submerged older islands. The genetic resources provided may benefit conservation efforts of this endangered endemic genus.

Twenty years of big plant genera.

In 2004, David Frodin published a landmark review of the history and concepts of big plant genera. Two decades of taxonomic activity have taken place since, coinciding with a revolution in phylogenetics and taxonomic bioinformatics. Here we use data from the World Flora Online (WFO) to provide an updated list of big (more than 500 species) and megadiverse (more than 1000 species) flowering plant genera and highlight changes since 2004. The number of big genera has increased from 57 to 86; today one of every four plant species is classified as a member of a big genus, with 14% in just 28 megadiverse genera. Most (71%) of the growth in big genera since 2000 is the result of new species description, not generic re-circumscription. More than 15% of all currently accepted flowering plant species described in the last two decades are in big genera, suggesting that groups previously considered intractable are now being actively studied taxonomically. Despite this rapid growth in big genera, they remain a significant yet understudied proportion of plant diversity. They represent a significant proportion of global plant diversity and should remain a priority not only for taxonomy but for understanding global diversity patterns and plant evolution in general.

Cissus Extracts in Dentistry: A Comprehensive Review on its Untapped Potential.

Natural products have received a lot of attention in a variety of medical sectors, including dentistry. Cissus, a flowering plant genus, has long been used for its therapeutic benefits. The purpose of this review is to thoroughly investigate the possibilities of Cissus extracts in dentistry. To that end, we used specific selection criteria for the selection of pertinent scientific articles published in the scientific information databases of PubMed, Web of Science, Google Scholar, Scopus, and ProQuest. We found that the diverse array of bioactive compounds found in varied species of Cissus holds promise for applications ranging from oral wound healing to periodontal health. This review summarizes known studies on antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and tissue-regenerative characteristics of Cissus extracts, shedding light on their potential significance in modernizing modern dental practices. It exerts that Cissus extracts have the potential to supplement established dentistry therapies by providing all-natural remedies for a variety of oral health conditions.

Whole-genome sequence and annotation of Penstemon davidsonii.

Penstemon is the most speciose flowering plant genus endemic to North America. Penstemon species' diverse morphology and adaptation to various environments have made them a valuable model system for studying evolution. Here, we report the first full reference genome assembly and annotation for Penstemon davidsonii. Using PacBio long-read sequencing and Hi-C scaffolding technology, we constructed a de novo reference genome of 437,568,744 bases, with a contig N50 of 40 Mb and L50 of 5. The annotation includes 18,199 gene models, and both the genome and transcriptome assembly contain over 95% complete eudicot BUSCOs. This genome assembly will serve as a valuable reference for studying the evolutionary history and genetic diversity of the Penstemon genus.

Exploring Consumer Awareness of Curculigo Latifolia as a Sugar Substitute

Lemba or Pinang Puyuh, locally known as Curculigo Latifolia, is a prevalent plant species in Peninsular Malaysia and Borneo Island. Belonging to the flowering plant genus Hypoxidaceae, this plant harbours a sweet protein called Curculin extracted from its fruit. Remarkably, Curculin is 500 times sweeter than sucrose, making C. latifolia a viable low-calorie sweetener for individuals with diabetes or obesity. Despite its potential, many remain unaware of this sweet herb. This paper explores consumer awareness regarding C. latifolia as a sugar substitute. Primary data was gathered through a self-administered survey by employing structured questionnaires. In the Klang Valley, Malaysia, 350 respondents were randomly selected. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive, chi-square, and factor analyses. Surprisingly, 80.9% of respondents had never encountered C. latifolia as a sugar substitute. Chi-square analysis disclosed associations between socio-demographic factors, such as gender, and awareness of C. latifolia. Further investigation via factor analysis identified four influencing factors determining consumer awareness: promotion, health concern, product, and price. Given the potential of natural sugar substitutes like C. latifolia in reducing the risk of diseases like diabetes, effective advertising and promotion are crucial. Increasing consumer awareness and knowledge about this herb will be essential for its future acceptance as a sugar substitute.

Diversification of flowering plants in space and time

The rapid diversification and high species richness of flowering plants is regarded as ‘Darwin’s second abominable mystery’. Today the global spatiotemporal pattern of plant diversification remains elusive. Using a newly generated genus-level phylogeny and global distribution data for 14,244 flowering plant genera, we describe the diversification dynamics of angiosperms through space and time. Our analyses show that diversification rates increased throughout the early Cretaceous and then slightly decreased or remained mostly stable until the end of the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction event 66 million years ago. After that, diversification rates increased again towards the present. Younger genera with high diversification rates dominate temperate and dryland regions, whereas old genera with low diversification dominate the tropics. This leads to a negative correlation between spatial patterns of diversification and genus diversity. Our findings suggest that global changes since the Cenozoic shaped the patterns of flowering plant diversity and support an emerging consensus that diversification rates are higher outside the tropics.

Characterization and comparative analysis of the complete plastid genomes of four Astragalus species.

Astragalus is the largest flowering plant genus. We assembled the plastid genomes of four Astragalus species (Astragalus iranicus, A. macropelmatus, A. mesoleios, A. odoratus) using next-generation sequencing and analyzed their plastomes including genome organization, codon usage, nucleotide diversity, prediction of RNA editing and etc. The total length of the newly sequenced Astragalus plastomes ranged from 121,050 bp to 123,622 bp, with 110 genes comprising 76 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes and four ribosome RNA (rRNA) genes. Comparative analysis of the chloroplast genomes of Astragalus revealed several hypervariable regions comprising three non-coding sites (trnQ(UUG)-accD, rps7 -trnV(GAC) and trnR(ACG)-trnN(GUU)) and four protein-coding genes (ycf1, ycf2, accD and clpP), which have potential as molecular markers. Positive selection signatures were found in five genes in Astragalus species including rps11, rps15, accD, clpP and ycf1. The newly sequenced species, A. macropelmatus, has an approximately 13-kb inversion in IR region. Phylogenetic analysis based on 75 protein-coding gene sequences confirmed that Astragalus form a monophyletic clade within the tribe Galegeae and Oxytropis is sister group to the Coluteoid clade. The results of this study may helpful in elucidating the chloroplast genome structure, understanding the evolutionary dynamics at genus Astragalus and IRLC levels and investigating the phylogenetic relationships. Moreover, the newly plastid genomes sequenced have been increased the plastome data resources on Astragalus that can be useful in further phylogenomic studies.

A review on the genus Calophyllum (Clusiaceae): a potential medicinal tree species

Calophyllum is the genus of evergreen tropical flowering plants in the Clusiaceae family. They are predominantly located in Asia with some of its genus distributed in the Pacific Islands, Americas, Australasia and Africa. Plants of the genus are well known for their chemical properties with lots of secondary metabolites such as triterpenes, flavonoids, coumarins and xanthones. Compounds from Calophyllum have been reported to have cytoprotective, anti-HIV, anti-secretory, cytotoxic, antinociceptive, molluscicidal and antimicrobial properties. Some of the plants in Calophyllum are used in folk medicine to treat conditions like peptic ulcers, tumours, inflammation, infections and pain. Calophyllum genus is important with respect to their ecological as well as their medicinal properties. But in India, some species located in Western Ghats are in vulnerable stage. Even so, there is no remarkable studies carried out about this genus. So, for a sustainable environment, we should focus on the conservation, restoration and rehabilitation of the genus that makes huge differences in their population. This article reviews the genus Calophyllum of Western Ghats as a potential medicinal tree species.

The evolution of ecological specialization underlies plant endemism in the Atlantic Forest.

The evolution of ecological specialization is favoured under divergent selection imposed by increased environmental heterogeneity, although specialization can limit the geographical range of organisms, thus promoting endemism. The Atlantic Forest (AF) is an ancient montane domain with high plant endemism, containing different environments for plant specialization. Miconia is the most diverse genus of woody flowering plant within the AF domain, including AF-endemic and non-endemic lineages. We hypothesized that Miconia species have faced increased environmental heterogeneity and consequently have been selected towards increased specialization in the AF domain, and this increased specialization has greatly reduced species geographical ranges, ultimately promoting endemism. Hence, we made the following predictions: (1) AF-endemic species should face greater environmental heterogeneity than non-endemic species; (2) AF-endemic species should be more specialized than non-endemic species; (3) specialization should lead to smaller geographical ranges; (4) specialization and small geographical ranges among AF-endemic species should conform to a selection-driven evolutionary scenario rather than to a neutral evolutionary scenario; and (5) small geographical ranges among AF-endemic species should date back to the occupation of the AF domain rather than to more recent time periods. We used geographical, environmental and phylogenetic data on a major Miconia clade including AF-endemic and non-endemic species. We calculated Rao's Q to estimate the environmental heterogeneity faced by species. We used georeferenced occurrences to estimate the geographical ranges of species. We applied environmental niche modelling to infer species niche breadth. We inferred the most likely evolutionary scenario for species geographical range and niche breadth via a model-fitting approach. We used ancestral reconstructions to evaluate species geographical range throughout time. Atlantic Forest-endemic species faced 33-60 % more environmental heterogeneity, with the increase being associated with montane landscapes in the AF. The AF-endemic species were 60 % more specialized overall, specifically over highly variable environmental gradients in AF montane landscapes. Specialization strongly predicted small geographical ranges among AF-endemic species and was a major range-limiting factor among endemic lineages. The AF-endemic species have evolved towards specialization and small geographical ranges under a selection-driven regime, probably imposed by the great environmental heterogeneity in AF montane landscapes. The AF-endemic species underwent a major reduction of geographical range immediately after their evolution, indicating a long-standing effect of selective pressures in the AF domain. Environmental heterogeneity imposes selective pressures favouring ecological specialization and small geographical ranges among plant lineages in the AF domain. This selection-driven process has probably promoted plant endemism in the AF domain throughout its history.

Comprehensive Review of Cratoxylum Genus: Ethnomedical Uses, Phytochemistry, and Pharmacological Properties

In the past, the Cratoxylum genus has often been utilized as traditional medicines, culinary ingredients, health supplements, as well as manufacturing materials. This flowering plant genus belongs to the family Hypericaceae and is classified into six species: Cratoxylum arborescens, Cratoxylum cochinchinense, Cratoxylum formosum, Cratoxylum glaucum, Cratoxylum maingayi, and Cratoxylum sumatranum. The Cratoxylum genus is native to Asia as a traditional medicinal plant. It is currently being translated into conventional therapeutics as a preventive agent for diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular diseases. The phytochemical analysis and pharmacological investigations on the Cratoxylum species have unveiled the wide spectrum of phytoconstituents, including xanthones, triterpenoids, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds. These compounds are attributed to their significant pharmacological effects, such as antibacterial, antifungal, antioxidant, antimalarial, anti-gastric ulcer, anti-HIV-1 reverse transcriptase, antidiabetic, and anticancer activities. These research findings have strengthened the foundation of the Cratoxylum genus as a traditional medicinal plant to be further developed and applied as selective therapeutic drugs for various ailments. This paper discusses the Cratoxylum genus regarding its traditional uses, phytochemical compounds, and pharmacological properties.

Insights into chloroplast genome structure, intraspecific variation, and phylogeny of Cyclamen species (Myrsinoideae)

Species from the flowering plant genus Cyclamen are popular amongst consumers. In particular Cyclamen persicum Mill. has been significantly used commercially, and certain small flowering species such as Cyclamen hederifolium and Cyclamen coum are gradually growing in popularity in the potted flower market. Here, the chloroplast genomes of nine Cyclamen samples including four Cyclamen species and five varieties of C. hederifolium were sequenced for genome structure comparison, White green septal striped leaves related gene screening and DNA molecular markers were developed for phylogenetic analysis. In comparing Cyclamen species’ chloroplast genomes, gene content and gene order were found to be highly similar with the length of genomes ranging from 151,626 to 153,058 bp. The chloroplast genome of Cyclamen has 128 genes, including 84 protein-coding genes, 36 transfer RNA genes, and 8 ribosomal RNA genes. Based on intraspecific variation, seven hotspots, including three genes and four intergenic regions, were identified as variable markers for downstream species delimitation and interspecific relationship analyses. Moreover, a phylogenetic tree constructed with complete chloroplast genomes, revealed that Cyclamen are monophyletic with Lysimachia as the closest neighbor. Phylogenetic analyses of the 14 Cyclamen species with the seven variable regions showed five distinct clades within this genus. The highly supported topologies showed these seven regions may be used as candidate DNA barcode sequences to distinguish Cyclamen species. White green septal striped leaves is common in C. hederifolium, however the molecular mechanism of this has not yet been described. Here, we find that the intergenic region rps4-trnT-UGU seems related to white green septal striped leaves.

Is there hybridization between diploid and tetraploid Euphrasia in a secondary contact zone?

Strong postzygotic reproductive isolating barriers are usually expected to limit the extent of natural hybridization between species with contrasting ploidy. However, genomic sequencing has revealed previously overlooked examples of natural cross-ploidy hybridization in some flowering plant genera, suggesting that the phenomenon may be more common than once thought. We investigated potential cross-ploidy hybridization in British eyebrights (Euphrasia, Orobanchaceae), a group from which 13 putative cross-ploidy hybrid combinations have been reported based on morphology. We analyzed a contact zone between diploid Euphrasia rostkoviana and tetraploid E. arctica in Wales. We sequenced part of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA and used genotyping by sequencing (GBS) to look for evidence of cross-ploidy hybridization and introgression. Common variant sites in the ITS region were fixed between diploids and tetraploids, indicating a strong barrier to hybridization. Clustering analyses of 356 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated using GBS clearly separated samples by ploidy and revealed strong genetic structure (FST = 0.44). However, the FST distribution across all SNPs was bimodal, indicating potential differential selection on loci between diploids and tetraploids. Demographic inference suggested potential gene flow, limited to around one or fewer migrants per generation. Our results suggest that recent cross-ploidy hybridization is rare or absent in a site of secondary contact in Euphrasia. While a strong ploidy barrier prevents hybridization over ecological timescales, such hybrids may form in stable populations over evolutionary timescales, potentially allowing cross-ploidy introgression to take place.

Onosma L. as a source of anticancer agents: phytochemistry to mechanistic insight.

Onosma (O.) is a genus of perennial flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae with approximately 250 species widely dispersed in temperate, tropical, and subtropical areas. It is traditionally used to treat rheumatism, fever, asthma, stomach irritation, and inflammatory ailments. The bioactive constituents present in the genus O. include benzoquinones, naphthazarins, alkaloids, phenolic, naphthoquinones, and flavonoids whereas shikonins and onosmins are the most significant. The review compiled contemporary research on O. L., including its distribution, morphology, traditional applications, phytochemistry, ethnopharmacology, and toxicology. This review also highlights a few critical challenges and possible future directions for O. L. research. Modern research has demonstrated a wide range of pharmacological effects of different species of O. L., including anti-diabetic, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and cardiovascular protective. However, the studies on the O. genus are still not fully explored, therefore, researchers need to discover novel products with their toxicity studies, molecular mechanism, and associated side effects. Future exploration of potent constituents from this genus and clinical trials are required to explore its pharmacological importance.

The complete genome sequences of Erythroxylum coca and Erythroxylum novogranatense.

The flowering plant genus Erythroxylum contains approximately 300 species, including the economically and socially consequential crops called coca. We present the genome sequences of Erythroxylum coca and E. novogranatense, two cultigens produced for medicinal and quotidian use in the Andes and Amazon regions of South America, as well as the international cocaine industry. Sequencing was performed on an Illumina X-Ten platform, and reads were assembled by a de novo method followed by finishing via comparison with several species from the same genus. The BioProject, raw and assembled data can be accessed in GenBank for E. coca (PRJNA676123; JAJMLV000000000) and E. novogranatense (PRJNA675212; JAJKBF000000000).

Biomorphological Characteristics, Phytochemical Composition and Medical Significance of Species Belonging to the Geranium Tourn. ex L. Genus

Geranium Tourn. ex L. is a flowering plant Genus belonging to the Geraniaceae Family. It is mainly grown as an ornamental plant in Azerbaijan. It was brought to Europe in the 17th century. Its propagation zone is South Africa. It is cultivated in many countries because it is a very valuable essential oil plant. Geranium is also successfully cultivated in Azerbaijan. Geranium essential oil is used in the perfume industry to make perfumes, soaps and face lotions. It is also used in the food industry to flavor beverages, as well as confectionery. It is also used in the preparation of medicines. Not only the leaves of the geranium plant, but also its roots, flowers and leaves are considered very good. The root of the plant contains phenols, various phenolic compounds in the upper green part, sucrose, starch and hemicellulose. The leaves and flowers are rich in phenolic carboxylic acids, vitamins, flavonoids, pigments, essential oils and carbohydrates.

Neuroprotective Properties of Chlorogenic Acid and 4,5-Caffeoylquinic Acid from Brazilian arnica (Lychnophora ericoides) after Acute Retinal Ischemia.

Lychnophora is a genus of South American flowering plants in the daisy family, popularly known as "Brazilian arnica". It is used in traditional medicine as an anti-inflammatory and analgesic agent, whose active components are derived from chlorogenic acid (CGA) and C-flavonoids. Since the drugs currently used are ineffective to treat glaucoma, agents with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties may represent new alternatives in preventing cellular lesions in retinal ischemia. In this study, we report the neuroprotective effects of CGA and 4,5-di-O-[E]-caffeoylquinic (CQA) acid, isolated from Lychnophora plants, in a rodent glaucoma model. Wistar rats were administered intravitreally with 10 µg CGA or CGA, and then subjected to acute retinal ischemia (ISC) by increasing intraocular pressure (IPO) for 45 minutes followed (or not) by 15 minutes of reperfusion (I/R). Qualitative and quantitative analyses of neurodegeneration were performed using hematoxylin-eosin or Fluoro-Jade C staining protocols. All retinas submitted to ISC or I/R exhibited matrix disorganization, pyknotic nuclei, and pronounced vacuolization of the cytoplasm in the ganglion cell layer (GCL) and inner nuclear layer (INL). Pretreatment with CGA or CQA resulted in the protection of the retinal layers against matrix disorganization and a reduction in the number of vacuolized cells and pyknotic nuclei. Also, pretreatment with CGA or CQA resulted in a significant reduction in neuronal death in the GCL, the INL, and the outer nuclear layer (ONL) after ischemic insult. Our study demonstrated that CGA and CQA exhibit neuroprotective activities in retinas subjected to ISC and I/R induced by IPO in Wistar rats.

The complete genome sequences of Erythroxylum coca and Erythroxylum novogranatense

The flowering plant genus Erythroxylum contains approximately 280 species, including the economically and socially consequential crops called coca. We present the genome sequences of Erythroxylum coca and E. novogranatense, two cultigens produced for medicinal and quotidian use in the Andes and Amazon regions of South America, as well as the international cocaine industry. Sequencing was performed on an Illumina X-Ten platform, and reads were assembled by a de novo method followed by finishing via comparison with several species from the same genus. The BioProject, raw and assembled data can be accessed in GenBank for E. coca (PRJNA676123; JAJMLV000000000) and E. novogranatense (PRJNA675212; JAJKBF000000000)

Oregon Bee Atlas: wild bee findings from 2019

The Oregon Bee Atlas is a new volunteer-led effort to characterize the bee fauna of Oregon State by collecting, preparing and databasing specimens of wild bee species and their plant host records. In 2019 volunteers submitted 25,022 bee specimens across all Oregon counties, representing 224 unique bee species and 45 unique bee genera. Specimens were collected from a total of 352 unique flowering plant genera, resulting in the largest contemporary state-level database of bee-host plant interactions. Volunteers produced valuable occurrence records for species poorly known for the state, and species of conservation concern. The 2019 data builds on the efforts of 2018 in demonstrating the power of a specimen-focused, volunteer wild bee survey.

Plant-Pollinator Specialization: Origin and Measurement of Curvature.

AbstractA feature of biodiversity is the abundance of curves displayed by organs and organisms. Curvature is a widespread, convergent trait that has important ecological and evolutionary implications. In pollination ecology, the curvature of flowers and pollinator mouthparts (e.g., hummingbird bills) along the dorsiventral plane has been associated with specialization, competition, and species coexistence. Six differing methods have historically been used to measure curvature in pollination systems; we provide a solution to this inconsistency by defining curvature using well-established concepts from differential geometry. Intuitively, curvature is the degree to which a line is not straight, but more formally it is the rate at which the tangent of a curve changes direction with respect to arc length. Here, we establish a protocol wherein a line is fitted against landmarks placed on an image of a curved organ or organism, then curvature is computed at many points along the fitted line and the sum taken. The protocol is demonstrated by studying the development of nectar spur curvature in the flowering plant genus Epimedium (Berberidaceae). By clarifying the definition of curvature, our aim is to make the language of comparative morphology more precise and broadly applicable to capture other curved structures in nature.

Rapid Shifts in Mitochondrial tRNA Import in a Plant Lineage with Extensive Mitochondrial tRNA Gene Loss.

In most eukaryotes, transfer RNAs (tRNAs) are one of the very few classes of genes remaining in the mitochondrial genome, but some mitochondria have lost these vestiges of their prokaryotic ancestry. Sequencing of mitogenomes from the flowering plant genus Silene previously revealed a large range in tRNA gene content, suggesting rapid and ongoing gene loss/replacement. Here, we use this system to test longstanding hypotheses about how mitochondrial tRNA genes are replaced by importing nuclear-encoded tRNAs. We traced the evolutionary history of these gene loss events by sequencing mitochondrial genomes from key outgroups (Agrostemma githago and Silene [=Lychnis] chalcedonica). We then performed the first global sequencing of purified plant mitochondrial tRNA populations to characterize the expression of mitochondrial-encoded tRNAs and the identity of imported nuclear-encoded tRNAs. We also confirmed the utility of high-throughput sequencing methods for the detection of tRNA import by sequencing mitochondrial tRNA populations in a species (Solanum tuberosum) with known tRNA trafficking patterns. Mitochondrial tRNA sequencing in Silene revealed substantial shifts in the abundance of some nuclear-encoded tRNAs in conjunction with their recent history of mt-tRNA gene loss and surprising cases where tRNAs with anticodons still encoded in the mitochondrial genome also appeared to be imported. These data suggest that nuclear-encoded counterparts are likely replacing mitochondrial tRNAs even in systems with recent mitochondrial tRNA gene loss, and the redundant import of a nuclear-encoded tRNA may provide a mechanism for functional replacement between translation systems separated by billions of years of evolutionary divergence.