Leaf Lamina Research Articles

COMPARATIVE LEAF ANATOMY AND MICROMORPHOLOGY OF ASYSTASIA GANGETICA T.ANDERSON SUBSP. MICRANTHA (NEES) ENSERMU AND RHINACANTHUS NASUTUS (L.) KURZ (JUSTICIINAE, ACANTHACEAE) FROM PENINSULAR MALAYSIA

Acanthaceae family has been used traditionally for medicinal purposes, especially amongst the native communities in Peninsular Malaysia. Nowadays, many taxonomists have difficulties in the identification of the Acanthaceae species due to its morphological similarities and when there is an incomplete part of plants obtained from the field sampling. But until now, there is no comprehensive study that has been documented especially on the Acanthaceae family, specifically for A. gangetica subsp. micrantha and R. nasutus. To avoid incorrect species identification, a systematic study that involved the leaf anatomy and micromorphology parts is being used for the identification and classification of plants in the Acanthaceae. Therefore, the main objective of this present study is to identify the leaf anatomical and micromorphological characteristics that can be used in plant identification and for supportive data in plant classification. The leaf anatomical and micromorphological studies that are conducted on species studied involve several procedures such as cross-section using a sliding microtome, and observation under a light microscope and scanning electron microscope. The anatomical and micromorphological characteristics observed that have been used to identify each species studied include patterns of petiole and midrib vascular bundles, leaf margin, leaf lamina, presence of cuticular striae, and the presence of trichomes. The results of this study showed that the cystolith cells can be found only in midrib of A. gangetica subsp. micrantha while it also recorded in petiole, midrib, and the leaf lamina of R. nasutus. Observation under the light microscope revealed nine types of trichomes in R. nasutus meanwhile seven trichomes were recorded in A. gangetica subsp. micrantha. Other than that, the present of cuticular striae only recorded at the abaxial epidermis of A. gangetica subsp. micrantha. In conclusion, results showed that anatomical and micromorphological characteristics have taxonomic significance that can be used in the identification and classification, especially at the species level

Фармакогностическое исследование сырья Nepeta pannonica

Фармакогностический анализ лекарственного растительного сырья является важным этапом введения вида в официальное использование. Объектом исследования являлись надземные органы Nepetapannonica(семейство Lamiaceae), для которого выполнен макро- и микроскопический анализ. Определены следующие диагностические признаки на макроскопическом уровне: лист — форма листовой пластинки, тип жилкования; стебель — тип ветвления побега, окраска, супротивное расположение листьев, слабое опушение; соцветие — расположение цветков; чашечка цветка — форма зубцов, тип опушения, мелкая ребристость; венчик цветка — форма и размеры, окраска. В качестве микроскопических признаков сырья определены форма клеток эпидермиса верхней и нижней сторон, участков над жилками; диацитные устьица, наличие мелких многоклеточных трихом и крупных эфирномасличных железок в строении листа, стебля, чашечки и венчика цветка; разделение мезофилла на столбчатую и губчатую ткани на поперечном срезе листа.

Functional trait diversity and aboveground biomass of herbaceous vegetation in temperate forests of Kashmir Himalaya.

Studying functional trait diversity can provide crucial clues about the adaptive survival strategies of regional plant species pool. Despite large-scale trait datasets available worldwide, the plant trait data from many biodiversity hotpot regions, like the Himalaya is still scarce. In this study, we aimed to investigate the plant functional traits and aboveground biomass of understory herbaceous vegetation in temperate forests of Overa-Aru wildlife sanctuary of Kashmir Himalaya. We also investigate how these functional traits correlate and what is the magnitude of trait-biomass relationship across the herbaceous species pool. For this, we conducted field sampling and measured leaf functional traits and aboveground biomass of 38 plant species in the study region during peak growing season (July-August) in the year 2021. The results revealed a significant interspecific trait variability among the species studied. We observed a high variability in leaf size and type spectra of the species, with nanophyll and simple leaf lamina, respectively, the most common types among the species studied. The correlation analysis revealed that plant height was positively correlated with aboveground biomass. The variation partitioning analysis revealed that the plant height explained the maximum fraction of variation in aboveground biomass, while least by specific leaf area. Overall, the findings from the present study provide useful insights in understanding trait-trait relationship and trait-environment interaction at the regional scale and can also help in recognizing adaptive functional traits of plant species that determine plant survival under the changing climate in this Himalayan region.

Geranium janakianum (Geraniaceae), a new species from Uttarakhand, India

A new species, Geranium janakianum, is described and illustrated here from Uttarakhand State, India. Photographs and a comparison of the diagnostic features of the new taxon with those of the morphologically similar species, G. himalayense and G. wlassovianum, are provided. These three species are characterised by palmatipartite leaves and relatively less lobed leaf segments. However, G. janakianum is clearly distinguished from its close relatives by having a pentamerous leaf lamina, rounded petal apex, micro-morphological features of the seed, mericarp and pollen in addition to the presence of stomata all over the plant.

The effect of heavy metal-containing wastewater sediment on the microanatomical characteristics of the leaves and stem of Salix viminalis L.

A comparative microanatomical study of Salix viminalis L. shoots was performed in order to get an idea of the effect of toxic elements stress on the microanatomical parameters of the shoot (leaves, stem). The examined Salix viminalis L. shoots originated from the Lovász-zug suburban area of Debrecen city, where a sewage settling pond was formerly operated as a secondary biological purification unit. The control Salix triandra x viminalis L. 'Inger' samples originated from the Nyíregyháza experiment with uncontaminated soil. As a result of our research, we can state the following in the case of the leaf samples grown on contaminated soil: the leaf lamina thickness decreased; the extent of the palisade parenchyma decreased; the extent of the intercellular spaced increased inside the spongy parenchyma; the width and the height of the main veins increased; the extent of the collenchyma bordering the main vein increased; the stomatal density increased both in the case of the adaxial and abaxial epidermis; the size of the stomas decreased. In the case of the stem samples, we observed the following: in the case of the samples grown on contaminated soil the extent of the primer cortex increased; the cell wall of the cells building the sclerenchimatic fibers thickened; the number of Ca-oxalate crystal rosettes and sclereids increased; the extent of secondary phloem increased; the lumen of the tracheas in the secondary xylem increased; the average width of the annual rings decreased; the extent of the central stele of the stem increased.

Drought stress-induced modification of morpho-anatomical and yield attributes of mung bean associated with the application of silicon and Moringa leaf extract

Mung bean (Vigna radiata) is the rich source of fiber and essential nutrients. They play a vital role in sustainable agriculture due to their ability to fix nitrogen in the soil and enhance soil fertility. Drought is characterized by limited water resources and severe arid climatic conditions, notably impair crop growth and yield. In the current experiment, two genotypes, Azri-M 2006 and NM-92, were studied against drought stress that was applied as 2 days and 4 days irrigation gap per week. Foliar application of magnesium-silicate (20 ppm and 30 ppm concentrations) and Moringa leaf extract (30% v/v solution) was applied as treatments. The results from the experiment morphology anatomical and yield components were recorded according to the prescribed methods. The result revealed that drought stress reduced the growth of plant. Foliar application of 30 ppm silicon against drought stress showed a highly significant (p<0.001) result compared with control group. Morphology parameters, including shoot and root length, shoot and root fresh weight, root dry weight, leaf area, leaf number, the anatomical structure included (stem epidermis, cortex, and stem vascular bundles,) and also yield components (pod length, and seed numbers). In contrast, MLE (30%) showed a significant impact (p<0.01) on leaf lamina thickness (Leaf anatomical parameters; midrib xylem and phloem, number of stomata on the adaxial and abaxial surface) and yield components included (100-grain weight, grains weight per plant, and numbers of pods,). The overall impact of 30 ppm Si was 39.9% more positive on Azri-M2006 than the NM-92 against the drought stress. The 30-ppm silicon and 30% MLE showed 90% similar results in all studied parameters. This study confirms that 30% MLE could be recommended to farmers to improve productivity under arid conditions than the silicon.

Investigation of morpho-anatomical, molecular, GC/Q-ToF, and LC/Q-ToF characterization of Salvia mellifera (black sage), Saliva apiana (white sage) and their varieties

Salvia mellifera (black sage) and Salvia apiana (white sage) are known for complex introgressive hybridization. Morphological variations between these two Salvia species and their varieties present overlapping characters that may cause confusion in identifying the genuine species in nature. Since these plants may be candidates for investigation of botanical-based drugs, this study aimed to differentiate the two Salvia species from each other and to group the closely resembling varieties. With many Salvia species offering health benefits, the morphological analysis and chemical fingerprinting of these two species will benefit their potential consideration for further evaluation of their health benefits.Detailed histology, histochemistry, molecular, and chemical characterizations were used to identify distinguishing characteristics of genuine S. mellifera and S. apiana along with two varieties resembling S. mellifera or S. apiana. Macroscopic and microscopic characterization of leaf lamina and types of trichomes can differentiate the morphology of S. mellifera from S. apiana. The histochemical analysis of glandular trichomes revealed the presence of flavonoids, terpenes, and other common secondary metabolites. Micropatterns of calcium oxalate crystals were identified as being characteristic and aiding in differentiation.Even though the external morphological characters of the two varieties resemble an intermediate between S. mellifera and S. apiana, chemical qualitative analyses via LC/Q-ToF and GC/Q-ToF indicate a chemical fingerprint more similar to that of S. apiana. This is a detailed analysis using various approaches including morpho-anatomy, trichome micromorphology, molecular analysis, and chemical similarities to identify and differentiate between S. mellifera, S. apiana, and their close varieties.

Macro Propagation of Homalomena aromatica Schott – A Potential Commercial Ornamental Plant

Homalomena aromatica Schott., is an endangered perennial evergreen rhizomatous herb of Northeast India with immense commercial importance for its essential oil content and traditional medicinal uses. So far, commercial cultivation has not been taken up due to the absence of standardized propagation methods. Therefore, present study compared the different methods of rhizome cuttings (top cutting, base cutting, two node cutting, one node cutting, and bit cutting) to identify the best method for sustainable cultivation. It was also observed that top cutting produced superior result in terms of root/plant (2.14), root length (8.45 cm), root diameter (0.29 cm), and rhizome weight (50 g) after one month of planting. Similarly, top cutting also gave best vegetative growth with maximum shoot length (33.5 cm), leaves/shoot (5.12), petiole length (30.4 cm), leaf lamina length (20.86 cm) and leaf lamina breadth (13 cm) after 3 months of planting. Whereas the least root development and vegetative growth were recorded in bit cutting. Based on overall performance of the different methods of cutting used for this study, the top cutting method can be recommended for easy and convenient vegetative propagation for Homalomena aromatica.

Assessing lead and cadmium tolerance of Chenopodium ambrosioides during micropropagation: an in-depth qualitative and quantitative analysis.

The tolerance of Chenopodium ambrosioides to some heavy metals under in vitro environment was thoroughly investigated. A micropropagation protocol was developed to facilitate the mass production of plants and to identify metals-tolerant species for potential use in the restoration of polluted areas. Nodal explants exhibited callus formation when treated with N6-benzyladenin (BA) (1.5 mg/l) and a combination of BA/α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA) at concentrations of 1.5/1.0 mg/l on the Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The optimal shoot formation was achieved with the callus grown on a medium enriched with 1.5/1.0 mg/l BA/NAA, resulting in an impressive number (21.89) and length (11.79 cm) of shoots. The in vitro shoots were rooted using NAA (1.0 and 1.5 mg/l) and were acclimatized in pots with 71% survival rate. After standardizing micropropagation protocol, the in vitro shoots were subjected to various doses of lead nitrate (Pb(NO3)2 and cadmium chloride (CdCl2). Pb(NO3)2 and CdCl2 in the media let to a reduction in shoot multiplication, decreasing from 18.73 in the control group to 11.31 for Pb(NO3)2 and 13.89 for CdCl2 containing medium. However, Pb(NO3)2 and CdCl2 promoted shoot length from 5.61 in the control to 9.86 on Pb(NO3)2 and 12.51 on CdCl2 containing medium. In the case of Pb(NO3)2 treated shoots, the growth tolerance index (GTI) ranged from117.64% to 194.11%, whereas for CdCl2 treated shoots, the GTI ranged from 188.23% to 264.70%. Shoots treated with high level of Pb(NO3)2induced reddish-purple shoots, while a low level of Pb(NO3)2 induced shoots displayed both green and reddish-purple colors in the same explants. In CdCl2 treated culture, the toxic effects were narrow leaf lamina, elongated petiole and a dark reddish purple coloration. These findings highlight the remarkable potential of C. ambrosioides to maintain growth and organogenesis even in the presence Pb(NO3)2 and CdCl2 on the MS medium, indicating a high degree of metal tolerance.

Multivariate analysis for various agro-morphological traits of turmeric (Curcuma longa L.)

Turmeric is one of the potential spice crops having importance in culinary, colouring in textiles and therapeutic in pharmaceutical industries. The present investigation was carried out to estimate the genetic diversity of 21 turmeric genotypes representing different geographical locations of India. The principal component (PC) analysis indicated that the most of the variation among the genotypes was contributed by the first two principal components (61.38%), which were largely governed by plant height, number of leaves per plant, leaf lamina length, leaf area, total leaf area, collar girth and weight of the mother rhizomes per clump. These traits showed high positive correlation with first two PCs and influenced significantly for grouping. Based on PC correlation analysis, it is evident that morphological and yield attributing traits of PC1 and PC2 are influenced and contributed for most of the variation among the genotypes. The cluster analysis revealed that the 21 genotypes fall into five clusters, and among them most divergent with distinct genotypes were cluster I, III and cluster IV. However, IISR Pragati, Rajendra Sonali and NDH 8 were found superior for fresh rhizome yield and Acc. 849 was found unique with robust mother rhizome. The present study contributes to the knowledge of genetic diversity and defining strategies for yield improvement in turmeric.

An Inverse Scaling Relationship between Stomatal Density and Mean Nearest Neighbor Distance: Evidence from a Photinia Hybrid and One of Its Parents.

Stomata are involved in transpiration and CO2 uptake by mediating gas exchange between internal plant tissues and the atmosphere. The capacity for gas exchange depends on stomatal density (SD), stomatal size, and pore dimensions. Most published work on stomatal quantification has assumed that stomatal distribution and stomatal density are spatially homogeneous across the leaf, but this assumption has been seldom tested. We selected 32 leaves from a Photinia hybrid, Photinia × fraseri 'Red Robin', and one of its parents, P. serratifolia. For each leaf, the leaf surface was divided into three or four equidistant layers along the apical-basal axis, and, in each layer, two positions, one closer to the midrib and the other closer to the leaf margin, were further selected. We calculated SD and mean nearest neighbor distance (MNND) for each lamina section and tested the scaling relationship between SD and MNND of the sampled stomatal centers using reduced major axis protocols. In addition, we calculated the stomatal aggregation index (SAI) for each lamina section to examine the spatial arrangement of stomata at the given size of field of view of 1.2 mm × 0.9 mm. We observed that SD decreased from the lamina apex towards the base for central lamina areas but varied little at leaf margins. An inverse scaling relationship between SD and MNND was observed for both species. This relationship could be used for SD estimation using the rapidly estimated trait, MNND. SAI did not vary significantly throughout leaf lamina, and the numerical values of SAI for all fields of view were greater than one, which indicates significant spatial repulsion between stomata. The study suggests that SD varies across leaf lamina to fine-tune plant water use and maximize carbon gain. However, spatial structures of stomata from different lamina sections exhibit similar patterns (i.e., spatial inhibition between stomata at small scales), probably due to hierarchical leaf vein patterns.

Cucumber malate decarboxylase, CsNADP-ME2, functions in the balance of carbon and amino acid metabolism in fruit

Abstract Central metabolism produces carbohydrates and amino acids that are tightly correlated to plant growth and thereby crop productivity. Malate is reported to link mitochondrial respiratory metabolism with cytosolic biosynthetic pathways. Although the function of malate metabolism-related enzymes in providing carbon has been characterized in some plants, evidence for this role in the fleshy fruit of cucumber is lacking. Here, radiolabeled bicarbonate fed into the xylem stream from the cucumber roots was incorporated into amino acids, soluble sugars, and organic acids in the exocarp and vasculature of fruits. The activities of decarboxylases, especially decarboxylation from NADP-dependent malic enzyme (NADP-ME), were higher in cucumber fruit than in the leaf lamina. Histochemical localization revealed that CsNADP-ME2 was mainly located in the exocarp and vascular bundle system of fruit. Radiotracer and gas-exchange analysis indicated that overexpression of CsNADP-ME2 could promote carbon flux into soluble sugars and starch in fruits. Further studies combined with metabolic profiling revealed that the downregulation of CsNADP-ME2 in RNA interference (RNAi) lines caused the accumulation of its substrate, malate, in the exocarp. In addition to inhibition of glycolysis-related gene expression and reduction of the activities of the corresponding enzymes, increased amino acid synthesis and decreased sugar abundance were also observed in these lines. The opposite effect was found in CsNADP-ME2-overexpressing lines, suggesting that there may be a continuous bottom-up feedback regulation of glycolysis in cucumber fruits. Overall, our studies indicate that CsNADP-ME2 may play potential roles in both central carbon reactions and amino acid metabolism in cucumber fruits.

New record of Anthocoptes platynotus Nalepa (Acari: Eriophyoidea) and its abundance on Cornus mas L. in the northern part of a Forest-Steppe zone of Ukraine

The superfamily Eriophyoidea is a large and diverse group of mites that includes a number of species that parasitise plants of economic importance, mainly perennial plants in agriculture and forestry. The purpose of this study is to examine the cornel plants plantations in the botanical gardens of Kyiv and Zhytomyr (Ukraine) for the presence and damage by mites of the superfamily Eriophyoidea. During the study, field and laboratory methods were used in accordance with generally accepted methods in acarology and plant protection. As a result of the study, on Cornus mas L. plants, a four-legged mite Anthocoptes platynotus Nalepa, 1898 was found. This is the farthest northern distribution zone of the species in Ukraine. New data on the harmfulness of this species were received. It was determined that under A. platynotus feeding, there was a slight deformation of the leaf lamina on both sides of the leaf veins, there was no leaf bleaching. The population level of A. platynotus on six varieties of a plant subg. Cornus was determined. It was established that it was different. Phytophage-mite damaged the varieties “Elegantnyi” and “Kubanskyi” the most. The least affected were the varieties “Mosvir-1” and “Novyi”. The varieties “Bylda” and “Svitliachok” had a medium degree of damage. A. platynotus lives on the underside of a leaf and does not form galls or felt. The peak of phytophagous population in the research region occurs at the end of July. It was noted that a low number of A. platynotus does not substantially affect the growth and development of the leaves on the fodder plant. The practical value of the study lies in the fact that the information on A. platynotus presence, abundance, and spread will help in sampling the mites and making future management decisions

Correlation Coefficient and Path Analysis Studies on Various Horticultural Attributes of Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea Var. Botrytis)

Background: Cauliflower is one of the foremost vegetable among all Cole crops. It contains an incredible amount of essential nutrients and vitamins. Being the second most important crop among all Cole crops, cauliflower contributes to overall vegetable productivity. The principal objective of this study is to evaluate the different genotypes on the basis of horticultural traits, so that can be further utilized in crop improvement programs. Methods: The present experimentation was initiated with fifteen diverse cauliflower genotypes. The trial was set up with a RCBD along with 3 replications, during the year of 2018-2019 at Lovely Professional University, Phagwara (Punjab). Result: Correlation analysis showed that yield of curd per hectare exhibited highest positive and significant correlation with leaf width, curd diameter, depth of curd, stalk length of plant, leaf length, net curd weight, days to curd initiation, gross plant weight, harvest index, marketable curd weight and days to curd maturity. Highest positive and direct effect was observed on yield of curd with marketable curd weight, leaf width, net curd weight, gross plant weight, length of plant stalk, harvest index, days to curd maturity, days to curd initiation, curd depth, Leaf lamina length, curd index and curd diameter.

Scaling relationships between leaf petiole and lamina size of two Photinia species

ABSTRACT Exploring the morphometric scaling relationships between lamina and petiole functional traits is important to our understanding of foliage and plant ecosystem dynamics. For this purpose, we examined the leaves of two evergreen species, i.e. Photinia × fraseri “Red Robin”, which has relatively small leaves, and Photinia serratifolia, which has relatively larger leaves. Approximately > 320 leaves from each species were collected monthly from April to August during the growing season, and the t-test was used to determine the significance of interspecific differences in lamina and petiole traits. Reduced major axis regression protocols were used to fit the scaling relationships of petiole fresh mass (PFM) vs. lamina fresh mass (LFM), PFM vs. lamina area (A), petiole dry mass (PDM) vs. lamina dry mass (LDM), and PDM vs. A. The increase in PDM was positively correlated with increasing LDM. However, there was a temporal variation in PDM/LDM. Both PDM/LDM and PFM/LFM for P. serratifolia were significantly higher than those of P. × fraseri. There was a strong positive correlation between petiole size (as measured by PFM and PDM) and lamina size (as measured by LFM, LDM and A). These relationships reveal statistically robust scaling relationships between petiole size and lamina size for each of the two species, and provide additional support for the hypothesis called “diminishing returns”, i.e. a disproportionate increase in one leaf trait (e.g. LDM) with respect to increasing another leaf trait (e.g. PDM).

Convergence points of optimal herbage accumulation and intake rate by sheep grazing tall fescue

AbstractPasture management oriented towards sustainable intensification and stability of yield must consider the ideal balance between the mass of leaves removed by grazing and the mass left as residual. The former supports high animal production and the later supports an optimum soil–plant carbon balance. This study aimed to evaluate the optimal herbage level from both plant and animal perspectives, through the adjustment of instantaneous herbage accumulation rate as estimated by the Gompertz curve model and short‐term intake rate of sheep. Weekly tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) herbage accumulation was measured during seven growth periods with initiation dates in October, November and December 2015, and March, April, August and September 2016 and with the initiation dates arranged in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Total herbage mass, leaf lamina mass, pseudo‐stem + sheath mass, senescent mass, and sward surface height were measured each week. The results demonstrated that a pre‐grazing sward surface height of 22.3 cm of tall fescue promoted the maximum short‐term intake rate of sheep and the optimum herbage accumulation rate in the spring and autumn periods. In general, the convergent point occurred after the maximum instantaneous leaf lamina accumulation rate and before the maximum instantaneous accumulation rate of pseudo‐stem + sheath and senescent material. We suggest the existence of a convergent point in which both primary and secondary production of pastoral ecosystems could be fostered.

Exogenous delivery of dsRNA for management of mungbean yellow mosaic virus on blackgram.

Exogenous application of dsRNA molecules targeting MYMV genes offers a promising approach to effectively mitigate yellow mosaic disease in blackgram, demonstrating potential for sustainable plant viral disease management. The exogenous application of double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) molecules to control plant viral diseases is gaining traction due to its advantages over conventional methods, such as target specificity, non-polluting nature, and absence of residue formation. Furthermore, this approach does not involve genome modification. In this study, dsRNA molecules targeting the coat protein gene (dsCP) and replication initiator protein gene (dsRep) of mungbean yellow mosaic virus (MYMV) were synthesised using an in vitro transcription method. To evaluate the effectiveness of dsRNA treatment, blackgram plants exhibiting MYMV symptoms at the first trifoliate stage were subjected to exogenous application of dsRNA. Second, third, and fourth trifoliate leaves, which emerged at 7, 15, and 21days after dsRNA application, respectively, were monitored for MYMV symptoms. Remarkably, a significant reduction in yellow mosaic disease (YMD) symptoms was observed in the newly emerged trifoliate leaves of MYMV-infected blackgram plants after treatment with dsRNA targeting both gene regions. This reduction was evident as a decrease in the intensity of yellow mosaic coverage on the leaf lamina compared to control. dsCP effectively reduced the MYMV titre in the treated plants for up to 15days. However, dsRep demonstrated greater efficiency in conferring resistance to MYMV at 15days post-application. These findings were supported by quantitative real-time PCR analysis, where the observed Ct values for DNA extracted from dsRep-treated plants were significantly higher compared to the Ct values of DNA from dsCP-treated plants at 15days post-application. Similarly, higher viral copy numbers were observed in dsCP-treated plants 15days after dsRNA treatment, in contrast to plants treated with dsRep.

Host range of three isolates of papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) found in North Sumatera and West Java

Papaya ringspot virus (PRSV) isolates collectd from North Sumatera and West Java were evaluated for host range using mechanical inoculation. PRSV is one of the dangerous diseases in papaya plants in Indonesia reported to have a limited host range and caused symptom variation on plants. The study aim to determine the host range of three PRSV isolates from North Sumatera and West Java to several crops. Incidence of PRSV symptoms on plants was observed by morphological characterization. The experimental results showed that two PRSV isolates from Medan Ampelas and Deli Serdang North Sumatera, and Cibinong West Java isolates were pathogenic and caused systemic symptoms to Carica papaya cv. MD (Caricacea), melon (C. melo) and bitter melon (Momordica charantia). The symptom of infected papaya by the three isolates are vein clearing, mosaic on leaves, leaf blanching, wilt, and mottle on leaf lamina. The isolates caused asymptomatic to eggplant (Solanum melongena) and choy sum (Brassica rapa), asparagus bean (Vigna unguiculata), tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum syn. lycopersicum esculentum). Melon plants showed symptoms of vein clearing and lamina blanching by Medan Ampelas, and Cibinong isolates respectively, and bitter melon showed symptoms of vein clearing and leaf malformation, and mottle by isolate of Medan Ampelas and Cibinong respectively. The two plant species display asymptomatic by isolate of Deli Serdang. Isolate of Deli serdang has the potential to be a mild strain of PRSV. Complete characterization of mild strains of plant virus through molecular technology approaches can enrich understanding of the potential of these organisms for cross-protection.

Study of the family Cimbicidae (Insecta: Hymenoptera)

Larvae of Cimbex quadrimaculata (Müller 1766) (Hymenoptera: Cimbicidae) are grayish and black markings. The larval head capsule is black in the first larval instars. It is a pest mainly on almonds but also feeds on apricots, peaches, pears, and cherries in Turkey. There has been no documentation of this species causing severe defoliation in areas where it has been observed. Observations were continued in the orchard until the end. The larvae fed on the edges of the leaves by consuming the whole leaf laminae or leaving only the midrib. The aim of this mini-review was to describe the distribution, life history, and biology of the almond sawfly (Hymenoptera Cimbicidae). Indexed articles, scientific book chapters, theses databases, university dissertations, national and international scientific articles, scientific journals, documents, and academic and scientific journals are available online ResearchGate, HAL, SSRN, Scielo, and Qeios were used. The present work uses the reference of bibliographical research, understood as the act of inquiring and seeking information on a certain subject, through a survey carried out in national and foreign databases, with the objective of detecting what exists of consensus or controversy.

Patterns in genetic variation and character association of yield components in turmeric (curcuma longa L.)

Understanding genetic variability patterns of turmeric yield traits is essential to develop new genotypes with improved traits. The objective of the present study was to investigate the genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance and association of various yield components in turmeric genotypes. The experiment was conducted for two seasons during 2021-22 and 2022-23 using 21 turmeric genotypes at ICAR-IISR, Experimental farm, Peruvannamuzhi, Kerala. The results indicate that the genotypes exhibited significant variation across two seasons for most traits, with the exception of collar girth, weight of primary rhizomes per clump, and number of primary rhizomes per clump, which suggests the presence of genetic variability in the genotypes. Maximum fresh rhizome yield per clump was recorded in the genotype, IISR Pragati. The Genotypic Coefficient of Variation (GCV) was found to be moderate to high for most of the traits except plant height, leaf lamina length, collar girth and fresh rhizome yield per plant, whereas, Phenotypic Coefficient of Variation (PCV) was found to be moderate to high for all the traits except plant height. Heritability was observed moderate to high for all the traits except collar girth, number of primaries per clump, weight of primaries rhizomes per clump and fresh rhizome yield per plant. The petiole length, total leaf area, weight of mother rhizomes per clump and number of mother rhizomes per clump showed high heritability along with genetic advance. Correlation analysis suggested that weight of mother rhizomes per clump had a strong positive association with plant height, number of leaves, leaf lamina length, leaf lamina width, leaf area, total leaf area, and collar girth and had a weak positive relationship with fresh rhizome yield per plant and petiole length. The path analysis revealed, total leaf area, fresh rhizome yield per plant and number of primaries per clump have high direct positive effects with weight of mother rhizomes per clump. The high heritability and genetic advance observed for above mentioned traits suggest that exercising a simple selection could indirectly improve the low heritable low genetic advance traits such as fresh rhizome yield per plant as indicated by correlation and path analysis.