Foliage Leaf Research Articles

Environmental Importance of Mulberry: A Review

Mulberry is a woody, deciduous tree that is economically important. It is regarded as a distinctive plant on the planet due to its widespread geological distribution across continents, ability to be cultivated in various forms, multiple uses of leaf foliage and positive impact in environmental safety approaches such as ecorestoration of degraded lands, bioremediation of polluted sites, water conservation, soil erosion prevention, and enhancement of air quality through carbon sequestration. Mulberry has a robust root system. Mulberry root systems can significantly improve soil shear strength and anti-erosive capacity. Mulberry plantations are extremely effective in suppressing sand storms and conserving water and soil. The review investigates the role of mulberry trees in carbon sequestration, ecorestoration, soil and water conservation, bioremediation of heavy metals and afforestation.

Chimonobambusapleiacantha (Poaceae, Bambusoideae), a new species from southeast Sichuan, China.

Chimonobambusapleiacantha, a newly-identified species of the genus Chimonobambusa Makino from southeast Sichuan, China, is meticulously described and illustrated herein. It is morphologically similar to Ch.tuberculata, but differs in having 4-angled internodes, thicker wall to 4.5-8.5 mm, more reclinate and elongated root thorns to 5-8 mm long, culm internodes with three grooves and two longitudinal ridges on the branch-bearing side, persistent culm leaves, densely brown-purple setose at the bottom of culm leaf sheaths together with sheath scar, developed foliage leaf fimbriae, 6-8 on each shoulder, ca. 3-8 mm long, abaxially white pubescent foliage leaf blades. Phenologically, new shoots usually appear in September to October. In the light of these key morphological and phenological characteristics, Ch.pleiacantha was identified as a new species of the genus Ch. Makino which is different from published species of this genus.

Anatomy of leaf blade, leaf sheath and pseudopetiole in Neotropical Bambusoideae (Poaceae): Insights into structure and taxonomic contributions

Anatomical investigations aiming to seek alternative characters for the taxonomy of bamboos are almost exclusively restricted to the leaf blade. Little is known about the anatomical structure of other parts of the leaf, such as the leaf sheath and pseudopetiole. The present paper analyzed the complete structure of foliage leaves, including the foliage leaf blade, foliage leaf sheath, and pseudopetiole of species belonging to the tribes Bambuseae (subtribes Guaduinae, Chusqueinae and Arthrostylidiinae) and Olyreae (subtribe Parianinae) to identify useful characters in the taxonomy of bamboos. We used scanning electron microscopy and light microscopy to describe micromorphological and anatomical features. All species sampled share the following features: foliage leaf blades with uniseriate epidermis; adaxial bulliform cells; mesophyll with arm cells, cavities, and collateral vascular bundles. Intercostal sclerenchyma associated to bulliform cells was observed only in Arthrostylidiinae. Micromorphologically, the shape and distribution of silica bodies, presence, type, and distribution of papillae on the long cells and subsidiary cells, and the presence and distribution of trichomes may be taxonomically informative in different taxonomic levels. We highlight the absence of papillae on the surfaces of foliage leaf blade of Guaduinae since the presence of papillae is considered a putative diagnosis feature supporting the sister relationship of this subtribe with Arthrostylidiinae. We describe the anatomical structure of foliage leaf sheath for the first time for Guaduinae, Chusqueinae and Parianinae. In Guaduinae, we found a unique distribution pattern of silica cells on the abaxial surface of the leaf sheath. Anatomical data about the pseudopetiole structure also were described for the first time in bamboos species; the arrangement of vascular bundles may be taxonomically informative, especially in Guaduinae.

Chimonobambusafarcta (Poaceae, Bambusoideae), a new species from western Guangxi, China with taxonomic notes on C.pubescens and C.luzhiensis.

Chimonobambusafarcta, a new species of temperate woody bamboos from western Guangxi, China is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to C.pubescens in the solid internodes of culms, but differs in having taller culm to 7 m with longer verrucose internodes to 23.5 cm and intranodes to 4 mm, intranode usually with a ring of 7-9 root thorns below mid-culm, abaxially brown or brown-purple verrucose-setose culm leaf sheaths with indistinct transverse veins, conspicuously developed culm leaf blades to 3.2 cm long, longer foliage leaf sheaths to 5.2 cm, larger and broader foliage leaf blades to 22 × 1.4 cm. It also somewhat resembles C.convoluta, but can be easily distinguished by having solid internodes and longer intranode 2-4 mm, very prominent nodes with supranodal ridge obviously more elevated than sheath scar, usually persistent and sometimes brownish striate culm leaf sheaths, longer culm leaf blades to 3.2 cm, and abaxially glabrous foliage leaf sheaths. Based on the morphological characteristics, this new species is assigned to C.sect.Chimonobambusa. The character description of C.pubescens are revised for its culm to 2.1 m tall, 1.1 cm in diameter and glabrous foliage leaf blades. The systematic position of C.luzhiensis is discussed, and this species is proposed as a member of C.sect.Chimonobambusa.

Summer habitat for the female Tricolored Bat (Perimyotis subflavus) in Tennessee, United States

Abstract The Tricolored Bat is an imperiled species due to white-nose syndrome. There is limited information available on roosting and foraging area use of the species to support planning and management efforts to benefit recovery in the Southeastern United States. Female tricolored bats exit hibernation and allocate energy toward disease recovery, migration, and reproduction. Providing and managing for summer habitat is 1 strategy to promote recovery. We sought to: (1) determine local- and landscape-scale factors that influence female Tricolored Bat roost selection; (2) quantify land cover use in core and overall foraging areas; and (3) define foraging area size and distances traveled by female tricolored bats in Tennessee. Bats in this study roosted in trees of variable sizes, in multiple tree species with large canopy volumes, and almost always roosted in trees with dead leaf foliage suspended in the canopy. Forest plots used by bats had trees averaging 30 cm diameter at breast height, basal areas averaging 27 m2/ha, contained multiple tree species, and comprised around a 50:50 ratio of canopy and subcanopy trees. Bats did not roost in coniferous forest areas and were only located in deciduous and mixed forest areas. Bats foraged near and directly over water, in open areas, and along forest edges. This study increases our knowledge on habitat requirements of the species in a temperate region dominated by unfragmented forests and many large water bodies and serves a baseline for management and efforts to benefit survival, reproduction, and population recovery.

Sesquiterpene Lactones and Flavonoid from the Leaves of Basin Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata subsp. tridentata): Isolation, Characterization and Biological Activities.

This research is an exploratory study on the sesquiterpenes and flavonoid present in the leaves of Artemisia tridentata subsp. tridentata. The leaf foliage was extracted with 100% chloroform. Thin-layer chromatography (TLC) analysis of the crude extract showed four bands. Each band was purified by column chromatography followed by recrystallization. Three sesquiterpene lactones (SLs) were isolated-leucodin, matricarin and desacetylmatricarin. Of these, desacetylmatricarin was the major component. In addition, a highly bio-active flavonoid, quercetagetin 3,6,4'-trimethyl ether (QTE), was also isolated. This is the first report on the isolation of this component from the leaves of Artemisia tridentata subsp. tridentata. All the components were identified and isolated by TLC, high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and mass spectrometry (MS) techniques. Likewise, the structure and stereochemistry of the purified components were characterized by extensive spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) studies. The antioxidant activities of crude extract were analyzed, and their radical-scavenging ability was determined by Ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The crude extract showed antioxidant activity of 18.99 ± 0.51 and 11.59 ± 0.38 µmol TEg-1 FW for FRAP and DPPH assay, respectively, whereas the activities of matricarin, leucodin, desacetylmatricarin and QTE were 13.22, 13.03, 14.90 and 15.02 µmol TEg-1 FW, respectively, for the FRAP assay. The antitumor properties were probed by submitting the four isolated compounds to the National Cancer Institute (NCI) for NCI-60 cancer cell line screening. Overall, the results of the one-dose assay for each SL were unremarkable. However, the flavonoid's one-dose mean graph demonstrated significant growth inhibition and lethality, which prompted an evaluation of this compound against the 60-cell panel at a five-dose assay. Tests from two separate dates indicate a lethality of approximately 75% and 98% at the log-4 concentration when tested against the melanoma cancer line SK-Mel 5. This warrants further testing and derivatization of the bioactive components from sagebrush as a potential source for anticancer properties.

Two new species of Gigantochloa (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) from Yunnan, China

Two new species of Gigantochloa (Poaceae: Bambusoideae) from Yunnan, China, namely Gigantochloa brachystachya and G. maneensis, are described and illustrated. G. brachystachya is morphologically similar to G. levis, but differs in its infranodal region with a ring of white hairs, culm leaf with erect blade, linear and glabrous auricle being ca. 10 mm wide and less than 1 mm tall, and glabrous ligule being 5–10 mm tall, and foliage leaf with glabrous sheath, 3–5 mm tall ligule and 2–2.5 mm tall outer ligules. Gigantochloa maneensis is morphologically similar to G. callosa, but differs in its intranode and infranodal region both with a ring of white hairs, culm leaf with densely black-hispid sheath abaxially and without stripes, erect blade and oblong auricle being 6–7 mm wide, and sparsely brown-hispid foliage leaf sheaths.

Morphological, geographic and ecological evidence support a new species of Chusquea subg. Swallenochloa (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Bambuseae) from Parque Nacional do Caparaó, Brazil

Specimens from the Serra do Caparaó (border of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo states in Brazil) previously treated as Chusquea aff. heterophylla were compared with C. heterophylla. We found differences in macromorphology (including habit, culm leaf persistence and indument, subsidiary branch number, foliage leaf indument on sheath and blades, and spikelet size and bract proportions), abaxial micromorphology of the foliage leaf blades (including silica cell shape, prickle hair shape, bicellular microhair relative size and proportion of its cells, macrohair presence, long cell papillar shape, and subsidiary cell papillar shape and orientation) and in geographic distribution and habitat. These differences were considered enough to describe Chusquea riparia as a new species herein considered as microendemic to the Parque Nacional do Caparaó, growing only in riparian areas of montane Atlantic forest and campos de altitude. We provide illustrations, maps, taxonomic and phenological comments on the new species, and a key to the species of C. subg. Swallenochloa from the Parque Nacional do Caparaó.

A new species of Guadua (Poaceae: Bambusoideae: Guaduinae) from Pará state in Amazonian Brazil

A new species of Guadua, a Neotropical woody bamboo genus, is here described and illustrated. Guadua leonardoana occurs in southeastern Amazonia, northern Brazil, in rainforest vegetation, and apparently is endemic to Pará state, with only two known populations restricted to the Serra dos Carajás. This species belongs to the “Guadua weberbaueri group” and the description is based on vegetative features. A morphological description, illustrations, photos in the field, scanning electronic micrographs of the foliage leaf surfaces, data on anatomy and micromorphology of the foliage leaf blade, and information on the conservation status and distribution are presented.

Sinosasagracilis (Poaceae, Bambusoideae), a new combination supported by morphological and phylogenetic evidence.

The results of phylogenetic analysis, based on the whole chloroplast genome and morphological study support the transfer of a long ignored bamboo species, Sasagracilis, to the recently established genus, Sinosasa, in this study. Morphologically, this species differs from all the other known Sinosasa species by having very short (2-3 mm) foliage leaf inner ligules, which is unusual in this genus. A revised description of its morphology and colour photos are also provided.

Microwave-assisted drying of Cymbogopon nardus leaves: Kinetics, moisture diffusivity, energy, and emission study

The essential oils extracted from Cymbopogon nardus (C. nardus) leaves have a distinct fragrance containing citronellal, citronellol, and geraniol, which has led to their extensive use in the pharmaceutical and perfume industry. The potential of C. nardus might be limited by the short shelf life due to high moisture content, thus a drying process and kinetics analysis is vastly researched to preserve the beneficial compound longer. A microwave-assisted drying method in the present study was analysed by the calculation of the effective moisture diffusivity, activation energy, CO2 emission, and specific energy consumption (SEC) at various microwave power levels (136, 264, 440, and 616 W) and foliage leaf mass (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 g). Through ten different drying kinetics model fitting and validated by five statistical parameters, Jena-Das model showed the best fit to the foliage drying at various mass and microwave powers. Effective moisture diffusivity was found to increase with microwave power and decrease with decreasing mass. The drying of C. nardus leaf resulted in Ea = 38.6299 Wg-1 in variation of microwave power and Ea = 9.1592 Wg-1 in variation of foliage mass. The lowest CO2 and SEC emissions were found at power of 616 W. Thus, according to mass variation, the lowest CO2 values are at 5 g mass and 20 g SEC. These findings may encourage the development of material analysis in industrial drying technologies to support the availability and quality of specific products.

Pectobacterium brasiliense as a Causative Agent for Soft Rot of Radish in Korea

In October 2021, soft rot disease seriously affected radish crop in Dangjin, Chungcheongnam-do, Korea. The infected radishes were stunted and turned dark green, with yellowish leaf foliage. A slimy, wet, and decayed pith region was observed in the infected roots. The bacterial strain KNUB-03-21 was isolated from infected roots. The biochemical and morphological characteristics of the isolate were similar to those of Pectobacterium brasiliense. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of the 16S rRNA region and the concatenated DNA polymerase III subunit tau (dnaX), leucine-tRNA ligase (leuS), and recombinase subunit A (recA) genes confirmed that the isolate is a novel strain of P. brasiliense. Artificial inoculation of radish with P. brasiliense KNUB-03-21 resulted in soft rot symptoms similar to those observed in infected radish in the field; subsequently, P. brasiliense KNUB-03-21 was reisolated and reidentified. To our knowledge, this is the first report of P. brasiliense as a causal pathogen of radish soft rot in Korea.

Kengiochloa, a new bamboo genus to accommodate the morphologically unique species, Pseudosasapubiflora (Poaceae).

Pseudosasa was confirmed as polyphyletic by recent phylogenetic analyses, with Chinese species of Pseudosasa distantly related to those from Japan. Among the Chinese species of Pseudosasa, Pseudosasapubiflora is a morphologically unique as well as taxonomically problematic species endemic to South China, of which the generic designation is still uncertain. Molecular analyses based on both plastid and nuclear genomic data demonstrated that this species is closest to the recently published genus Sinosasa. Morphologically, the two are somewhat similar to each other in flowering branches developing at the nodes of every order of branches, raceme-like units of inflorescence with 3-5 short spikelets, each spikelet with few florets including a rudimentary one at the apex, and each floret with 3 stamens and 2 stigmas. However, P.pubiflora is very different from Sinosasa species in many reproductive and vegetative characters, such as the morphology of paracladia (lateral spikelet "pedicels"), the absence or existence of pulvinus at the base of paracladia, the relative length of the upper glume and the lowest lemma, the shape of lodicules and primary culm buds, the branch complement, the morphology of nodes, culm leaves and dried foliage leaf blades, and the number of foliage leaves per ultimate branchlet. The morphological and molecular evidence warrants recognition of a new genus to accommodate this unique species, which is here named Kengiochloa. After consulting related literature and examination of herbarium specimens or specimen photos, a taxonomic revision of K.pubiflora and its synonyms was made, and it was confirmed that four names, viz. P.gracilis, Yushanialanshanensis, Arundinariatenuivagina and P.parilis, should be merged with K.pubiflora, while Indocalamuspallidiflorus and Acidosasapaucifolia are distinct species.

Yushaniatomentosa (Poaceae, Bambusoideae), a new combination from Guangxi.

Sasatomentosa is transferred to the genus Yushania following a reassessment based on a new collection with pachymorph and long-necked rhizomes from its type locality in Guangxi, China. Morphologically, it is most similar to Yushaniadoupengshanensis, but differs in culm, branch complement and foliage leaf characters. A revised description of its morphology and color photos are also provided.

Gelidocalamuszixingensis (Poaceae, Bambusoideae, Arundinarieae), a new species from southern China revealed by morphological and molecular evidence.

The genus Gelidocalamus T. H. Wen, endemic to southern China, is a small but taxonomically problematic genus of Arundinarieae (Poaceae, Bambusoideae). During field work, a population of Gelidocalamus from Zixing, Hunan, was discovered, appearing to be distinct from our previously identified collection. Comparisons of the population of Zixing were performed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and a plastid genome-based phylogeny. Morphologically, it was mostly similar to G.multifolius, but differed by culm leaf erect with densely white pubescence, apical branch sheath much longer than the internodes and foliage leaf larger. Phylogenetically, the new species was well-supported as a sister to the clade of G.multifolius + G.tessellatus, and the above three taxa were clustered in the Shibataea clade (IV) of Arundinarieae. Thus, the new species, formally named as Gelidocalamuszixingensis W.G.Zhang, G.Y.Yang & C.K.Wang, was described and illustrated herein.

Gelidocalamusalbozonatus (Poaceae, Bambusoideae), a new species from the southeast of Chongqing, China, and analysis of the morphological diversity in the core group of Gelidocalamus.

Gelidocalamusalbozonatus W. G. Zhang, S. R. Yi & Y. L. Li, a new species of Gelidocalamus, collected from Pengshui County of Chongqing City in China, was described and illustrated herein. In this study, key morphological characters were compared between the new species and other eight "gelido-" members of Gelidocalamus. By using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), its leaf epidermal characters were observed in comparison with those of another three Gelidocalamus representatives. Our results show that the new taxon has the typical characteristics of the genus Gelidocalamus, both macromorphologically and micromorphologically. Moreover, it was most similar to G.tessellatus, but differed by a ring of white tomenta below per node, culm sheath base with densely purple verrucous setae and foliage leaf blades mesophyll.

CHARACTERIZATION OF QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE TRAITS FOR DIVERSITY ASSESSMENT AND CORRELATION STUDIES IN FOXTAIL MILLET (SETARIA ITALICA (L.) BEAUV.)

A higher level of variability can be found in Nepalese foxtail millet. To assess potential traits for further breeding activities and estimate the genetic diversity, phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variation, heritability, genetic advance, and correlation coefficient for 15 different genotypes of foxtail millet, an experiment was conducted in alpha lattice design with 3 replications at Agronomy farm of IAAS, Lamjung, Nepal during March- June 2021. The analysis of variance revealed highly significant differences among the accessions for all the traits observed indicating the presence of a sufficient amount of variability. The value of the Shannon index ranged from 0.245 (plant anthocyanin coloration of the basal sheath) to 1.309(grain color) which indicates that the characters were more diverse for grain color while the value of evenness ranged from 0.22 (plant: anthocyanin coloration of the basal sheath) to 0.965(panicle density) indicating that the characters are more evenly distributed for the intensity of green leaf foliage. High PCV, high GCV, high heritability, and high genetic advance per mean were found for flag leaf length, peduncle length, no. of nodes, and yield per hectare. It indicates that these traits are less influenced by the environment and hence can be exploited by pure line and mass selection methods for crop improvement. Yield per hectare was positively and significantly correlated with grain per panicle (r=0.4**) and no. of nodes (r=0.39**). A strong positive correlation was observed between plant height and the number of nodes, flag leaf width, panicle length, and flag leaf length indicating their consideration for further breeding activities. The findings of the study can be crucial in identifying better-performing genotypes that can help develop improved varieties

Vascular dodecanoic acid of Arabidopsis mediates an insect resistance against Myzuspersicae.

The present study explores the compatible interaction between Arabidopsis thaliana and Myzus persicae to reduce host resistance from the previous aphid herbivore-mediated priming. The resumption of host resistance from the "reduced host resistance" was also recorded in due time when aphid herbivore was removed from leaf foliage. The vascular sap, isolated from the midpoint timing from the "reduced host resistance" to the "resumed host resistance" phase resolved in gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis that identified an enrichment of dodecanoic acid (DA), an antibacterial metabolite and a saturated medium-chain fatty acid with a 12-carbon backbone. DA infiltration into leaf foliage revealed a significant reduction of aphid clonal proliferation on leaf foliage with concomitant reduction of the vascular microbiota titer as well as aphid body. The "resumed host resistance" from "reduced host resistance" also showed a comparable microbiota titer in comparison to control but the "reduced host resistance" evidenced a significant higher microbiota titer which was correlated with an enhanced aphid clonal proliferation on the leaf foliage. The DA infiltrated leaf foliage had no effect on total vascular sap ingestion by the aphid herbivore but induced RNA level of GUS expression under the control of promoter of pad-4, mpl-1, and sag-13. A similar pattern of gus expression was recorded from aphid herbivore. Thus, DA mediates aphid resistance towardaphid clonal proliferation in the host plant by manipulating vascular and aphid body microbiota titer.

Morpho-anatomy of Bambusa multiplex, B. tuldoides and B. vulgaris cv. vittata culm leaves (Poaceae – Bambusoideae- Bambuseae)

The use of morpho-anatomical characters provides valued information for the identification of woody bamboo taxa due to their monocarpic nature. Most of the studies are generally referred to the culm and the foliage leaf blade morpho-anatomical features. However, there is very scarce information about the anatomical features and descriptions of culm leaves. Therefore, the goal of this work is to study the morphology, anatomy and micromorphology of the culm leaves of three Bambusa species; B. multiplex, B. tuldoides, and B. vulgaris cv. vittata. Through the use of stereoscopic microscopy, light microscopy (epidermal scrapings and cross-sections) and scanning electron microscopy, qualitative and quantitative characters (morphometric and micrometric) were evaluated. The three species showed common characteristics in the culm leaves, such as their triangular shape, presence of auricles with fimbriae, ciliated internal ligule, glabrous leaf sheath adaxial epidermis and leaf blade with trichomes on the abaxial and adaxial epidermis. Other characters showed differences, such as the sheath/blade ratio, presence or absence of papillae, macrohairs and prickles on the abaxial and/or adaxial epidermis of the sheath and blade. Although similarities were observed regarding the qualitative characters among the studied species, significant differences were found in the quantitative data between the internal structure, cell types, and epidermal surface. The morpho-anatomical data allowed differentiating and characterizing the three studied Bambusa. These results achieved are novel; since it is the first record of a comprehensive anatomical study of culm leaves in woody bamboos. Like the anatomical characters of the foliage leaves, those of the culm leaves can be useful to differentiate Bambusoideae taxa.

Allometric models for the estimation of foliage area and biomass from stem metrics in black locust

Allometric equations relating trees’ vascular system and other stem metrics with foliage area and mass are important to estimate their growth, carbon stocks and interactions with abiotic environment in terms of carbon and water balance. In this study we focused on Robinia pseudoacacia restoration plantations in Greece and aimed at establishing species-specific models to predict foliage leaf area and biomass based on stem traits. In particular, we evaluated stem cross-sectional areas of sapwood, current sapwood and total stem (sapwood and heartwood), measured at different tree heights, as predictors of leaf area and mass, based on the pipe model theory. Furthermore, we assessed the variation in the ratios of leaf area to different stem cross-sectional areas across the tree profile and we examined the relationships of diameter at breast height (DBH) with diameter at the base of the live crown and with leaf area. Taking into account the trees’ DBH distribution according to the plantations’ inventory, 25 black locust individuals were destructively sampled and the relationships among the studied traits were analyzed by means of multiple and simple linear regression at p<0.001. Foliage dry mass and area were best predicted by total stem cross-sectional area at mid-bole and stump height (R2=0.81), followed by current sapwood area at stump height (R2=0.74), which outperformed the most often used sapwood area (R2=0.70). DBH was also reliably estimating tree leaf area (R2=0.72) but was less precise, compared to total cross-sectional area, while it was a useful proxy of diameter at the base of the live crown (R2=0.80). In line with the pipe model theory, the ratio of leaf area to total cross-sectional area declined across the canopy basipetally, but only when total cross-sectional area was considered. Deviations from the sapwood-foliage functions described by the pipe model theory may be due to the small sample size and the variability in tree size in such developing restoration plantations. The produced species-specific relationships between stem and foliage metrics may be a useful tool to predict the carbon sequestration and climate change adaptation potential of black locust restoration plantations, which are often characterized by harsh site conditions.