Longer Peduncles Research Articles

A narrowly endemic new species of Calliandra series Racemosae (Fabaceae) from Sinaloa, Mexico

Calliandra estebanensis, a new species of Fabaceae, mimosoid, from a remote locality of Sinaloa, Mexico, is here described and illustrated. The new species is probably closely related to C. grandiflora, an extremely common species frequently found in oak, pine and pine-oak forests, from northwestern Mexico, in Durango, Sinaloa and Sonora, to Honduras and El Salvador. The new species is distinguished from C. grandiflora by its flowers with longer peduncles, shorter pedicels, and larger calyces and corollas, and by the much denser white-sericeous vestiture covering all reproductive structures. Excluding the longer pedicels, C. grandiflora has smaller flower parts, which are covered with a finer vestiture of shorter, variably-colored trichomes.

Differences in volatile composition and sexual morphs in rambutan (Nephelium lappaceum L.) flowers and their effect in the Apis mellifera L. (Hymenoptera, Apidae) attraction

We studied the volatile composition and sexual morphs of Nephelium lappaceum flowers from two orchards, and investigated the choice behavior of the honey bee, Apis mellifera toward the floral extracts from both locations. Our results showed significant differences in chemical composition and sexual morphs; only the hermaphrodite flowers from the Herradero orchard produced limonene and α-pinene and had longer peduncle and sepal than flowers from the Metapa orchard; on the other hand, the hermaphrodite flowers from the Metapa orchard had longer gynoecium. In the behavioral experiment the extracts from the Herradero orchard seemed to give A. mellifera foragers better cues for orientation to food sources, perhaps due to the presence of limonene and α-pinene, which are absent in the samples from Metapa. Such differences in both orchards could affect pollinator attraction and ultimately seed set and productivity.

Genetic Analysis and QTL Mapping of Fruit Peduncle Length in Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.).

Mechanized harvesting of cucumbers offers significant advantages compared to manual labor as both shortages and costs of labor increase. However the efficient use of machines depends on breeding plants with longer peduncles, but the genetic and molecular basis of fruit peduncle development in cucumber is not well understood. In this study, F2 populations were developed from a cross between two inbred lines, 1101 with a long peduncle and 1694 with a short peduncle. These were grown at two field sites, Hainan, with a tropical marine climate, in December 2014, and Beijing, with a warm temperate climate, in May 2015. Electron microscope examination of the pith cells in the peduncles of the two parental lines showed that line 1101 had significantly greater numbers of smaller cells compared to line 1694. The inheritance of cucumber fruit peduncle length (FPL) was investigated by the mixed major gene and polygene inheritance model. Genetic analysis indicated that FPL in cucumber is quantitatively inherited and controlled by one additive major gene and additive-dominant polygenes (D-2 model). A total of 1460 pairs of SSR (simple sequence repeat) primers were analyzed to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs). Two similar genetic maps with 78 SSR markers which covered 720.6 cM in seven linkage groups were constructed based on two F2 populations. QTL analysis from the data collected at the two field sites showed that there are two minor QTLs on chromosome 1, named qfpl1.1 and qfpl1.2, and one major QTL on chromosome 6, named qfpl6.1. The marker UW021226, which was the closest one to qfpl6.1, had an accuracy rate of 79.0% when tested against plants selected from populations of the two parents. The results from this study provide insights into the inheritance and molecular mechanism of the variation of FPL in cucumber, and further research will be carried out to fine map qfpl6.1 to develop more accurate markers for MAS breeding.

A new species of Themeda (Poaceae: Panicoideae) from the Eastern Ghats, India

Themeda odishae (Poaceae), a new species from the Mahendragiri hill ranges, Odisha (Orissa), India, is described and illustrated. It differs from T. mooneyi in shorter and hairy leaf blades, longer peduncle, length of sessile spikelet callus, number of pedicelled spikelets, and longer anthers. And from T. saxicola by its longer peduncle, number of racemes, number of pedicelled spikelets and hairy involucral spikelets.

The Production of Tetraploid Swainsona formosa by Colchicine Mutagenesis

Swainsona formosa, a legume native to Australia, is a spectacular flowering plant that is used as a hanging basket, container or cut flower plant. Its breeding programme had been emphasized on the production of better flower quality through ploidy modification to produce tetraploid plants. Colchicine, an antimitotic chemical, had been sucessfully used to induce tetraploidyzation in S. formosa. Up to 50% of plants with double chromosome number (2n = 4x = 32) were produced by seedling application of colchicine at 0.01%–0.1%. Concentrations below 0.01% or above 0.1% were found not effective in inducing chromosome doubling. Tetraploid S. formosa were charaterized by larger leaflets, bigger size but lower density of stomata, larger flowers with longer peduncles and larger pollen grains with lower viability. In general, colchicine can be used effectively to induce polyploidyzation in S. formosa and this method should find application in breeding programme.

Gastrodia damingshanensis (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae): a new myco-heterotrophic orchid from China

A new fully myco-heterotrophic orchid, Gastrodia damingshanensis, is described and illustrated from Damingshan National Nature Reserve in Guangxi, China. The new species is significantly distinct from the otherwise similar G. uraiensis and G. fontinalis by its much longer peduncle, the shortened column hidden by the lip, and the reddish brown, rhombic-elliptic lip with a slightly retuse apex. This new species is predicted to be obligatory self-pollinated due to the specialized column structure which allows the pollinia directly touching the stigma.

Lodging resistance characteristics of high-yielding rice populations

The main objectives of this paper were to explore effective ways of improving the lodging resistance of high-yield rice populations and the lodging resistance capacity responses of different rice populations to nitrogen. Field experiments were conducted at the following two eco-sites: Taoyuan (a special high-yield eco-site) in Yunnan province and Danyang (representative eco-site of the middle and lower Yangtze) in Jiangsu province, China in 2011 and 2012. A super indica hybrid rice called ‘Y Liangyou 2’ was grown at each eco-site under different N levels. The lodging index at Taoyuan was significant lower than that at Danyang. The heavier dry weight per cm of leaf sheath and higher proportion of cellulose and lignin in the basal stems enhanced the stem strengths at Taoyuan, in spite of the smaller culm diameter and thinner wall thickness. The shorter elongated internodes of the basal stems were responsible for the lower plant height and the height of center of gravity. In addition, the lodging index at Taoyuan was affected significantly by nitrogen. With increasing nitrogen, the plant height, the height of the center of gravity, dry weight per centimeter (cm) of basal stems (culms and leaf sheaths), bending stress and carbohydrate content were more susceptible to nitrogen. At Danyang, the responses of morphological and physiological parameters to nitrogen tended to level off, the lodging resistance was primarily related to the morphological characteristics of the basal stem. These results suggested that an improvement in the lodging resistance of high-yield rice populations could be achieved by the suitable plant height with the optimum configuration of internodes, namely, shorter basal stems and a longer peduncle, and by increasing stem stiffness, which was primarily attributed to higher proportions of structural carbohydrates (e.g., cellulose and lignin) and greater plumpness of the leaf sheaths.

DESCRIPTION OF A NEW SPECIES OF PUFFERFISH (TETRAODONTIFORMES: TETRAODONTIDAE) FROM THE RED SEA AND ADJACENT WATERS

ABSTRACT A small brightly spotted pufferfish, distributed from the northern Red Sea through the Gulf of Aden at least to Zanzibar, is described as Torquigener flavimaculosus n.sp. Previously recorded from the Red Sea as Amblyrhynchotes hypselogenion (not of Bleeker), it differs from that species in having a larger eye diameter, longer caudal peduncle, more dense ventral spination, and a greater number of spines on the anterior margin of the branchial opening. Osteological examination supports inclusion of the new species in Torquigener Whitley. The moderately well-developed prootic medial prongs alone distinguish it from all other Torquigener species, in which this character is less clearly (or not at all) observed.

A Study of Morphophysiological Descriptors of Cultivated Anthurium andraeanum Hort.

Sixteen morphophysiological parameters of horticultural importance were investigated in 82 anthurium accessions grown in the Caribbean. The spathe colors included red, pink, white, green, orange, purple, coral, and brown and obake types with red, pink, and white spathe colors accounting for 63.4% of the accessions. There was wider variation in spadix color combinations than spathe color. There was wide variation for the cut flower and leaf parameters evaluated with productivity and peduncle length having the smallest and largest range, respectively. The frequency distributions were skewed to the right for spathe length, spathe width, spathe size, spadix length, spadix diameter, leaf width, leaf size, and productivity and was normal for leaf length, spadix angle, peduncle length, petiole length, and spathe showiness. Accessions with wider leaves had longer leaves and longer petioles; those with longer spathes had wider spathes; and those with longer peduncles had correspondingly longer petioles. Peduncle length also showed moderate, weak correlations with other leaf measurements and spathe parameters, respectively. Spadix diameter showed moderate correlations with leaf parameters. Spathe showiness showed moderate, weak correlations with spathe measurements and productivity, respectively. Principal component analysis of the 13 quantitative parameters showed that the first three principal components explained 75% of the variation in the accessions. Leaf length, leaf width, leaf size, petiole length, peduncle length, and spadix diameter; spathe length, spathe width, spathe size, and spathe showiness; and productivity loaded on the first, second, and third component, respectively. Hence, one leaf and one spathe size parameter, spathe showiness, petiole length, peduncle length, spadix length, spadix angle, spadix diameter, and productivity as well as spathe, spadix, peduncle, and petiole colors can be used as descriptors for anthurium. Based on these results and market information, an Anthurium ideotype adapted to the humid tropics is described.

Two new species ofAstragalusL. sect. Incani DC. (Fabaceae) from the Zanjan province (Iran)

Astragalus dilutuloides Maassoumi, F.Ghahrem. & Bagheri, sp. nov. and Astragalus montis-queydari F.Ghahrem., Maassoumi & Bagheri, sp. nov. are described as new species. Morphological evidence (bifurcated trichome, acaulescence, free stipules, bibracteolate, non-inflated calyx in fruit) supports taxonomic placement of the new taxa in Astragalus L. sect. Incani DC. These are endemic to the Zanjan province of western Iran. Astragalus dilutuloides is close to A. dilutulus Maassoumi, but it differs with having longer habit, longer stipules, longer leaves, in leaves indumentum, longer peduncle, and color of bract and bracteoles hairs. Astragalus montis-queydari is close to A. xiphidiopsis Bornm., but it differs from the first new species with having longer stipules, fewer leaflets, shorter peduncle, and inflorescence with fewer flowers (4–10 vs 10–20).

Intraspecific variation in diet, growth, and morphology of landlocked Galaxias maculatus during its larval period: the role of food availability and predation risk

Food availability and predation risk have been shown to affect phenotypes during early life history of fishes. Galaxias maculatus, a small fish widely distributed around the southern hemisphere, clearly exhibits a complex trade-off between feeding and predation avoidance during growth over the larval period. We studied the effect of different environmental variables on diet, growth, mortality, and morphology through field surveys and data revision in the literature for limnetic G. maculatus larvae in five oligotrophic lakes of Patagonia. Both number of food categories and prey ingested by larvae were directly related to zooplankton density. Larval growth rate was related with zooplankton density and temperature. Lakes with high zooplankton densities and low predation risk had larvae with deeper bodies and shorter caudal peduncles, while in lakes with less food and high predation risk larvae were slender with shallower bodies and longer peduncles. Food availability and predation risk seem to operate on the swimming performance of G. maculatus larvae through the slenderness of the body and the length of the caudal peduncle. The observed phenotypic variation in growth and morphology could be a key feature that has allowed this species to successfully colonize a wide variety of environments in the southern hemisphere.

Two New Species of Hedysarum (Fabaceae) from Iran

Hedysarum orumiehense Ranjbar and H. neyshaboricum Ranjbar, two new species endemic to Iran, are described and illustrated. Both new species belong to section Multicaulia Boiss. in Hedysarum L. (Fabaceae) and are distinct among Iranian species. The former species is closely related to H. atropatanum Bunge ex Boiss. and is distinguished by its glabrous pods, the leaflets in eight to 11 pairs, and the longer corolla wings (10–11 mm). The latter is distinguished from H. paucifoliolatum Ranjbar & Olanj by its longer peduncles (20–27 cm), stipules (7–9 × 4–5 mm), and corolla standard (15–17 × 13–14 mm). Both H. orumiehense and H. neyshaboricum are evaluated as Vulnerable (VU) according to IUCN Red List criteria.

New record of Hedyotis corymbosa, a naturalized species in Korea

One new naturalized species was recorded from Jeollanam-do Yeongam-gun, Daegu, and Daejeon in Korea. Hedyotis corymbosa grows well where there is enough sunlight; in moist, sandy soil. Hedyotis corymbosa (Rubiaceae) can be distinguished from other species in the same genus by longer peduncles, and a lot of flowers. We gave it the Korean name 'San-bang-back-un-pul' based on the specific epithet 'corymbosa'.

Impatiens nanlingensis sp. nov. (Balsaminaceae) from Guangdong, China

Impatiens nanlingensis A. Q. Dong & F. W. Xing, a new species of Impatiens (Balsaminaceae) from Guangdong, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to I. jinggangensis Y. L. Chen, but differs mainly by its lateral united petals; basal lobes suborbicular, marked with yellow stripes; distal lobes narrowly caudate, apex tailed. It also resembles I. bicornuta, but I. bicornuta differs mainly in its longer peduncles, up to 25 cm, pale blue–purple flowers and broadly sigmoid‐curved–saccate lower sepal.

Two New Species of Psidium (Myrtaceae) from Bahia, Brazil

Two new species of Psidium L. (Myrtaceae) from Bahia, Brazil, are described and illustrated. Both are compared with P. cattleyanum Sabine, a possible close relative and a species with which they might be confused. Both species differ from P. cattleyanum because of their longer peduncles (2–8(–13) mm in P. cattleyanum, 10–22 mm in P. ganevii Landrum & Funch, and 12–34 mm in P. bahianum Landrum & Funch), and because the tears in the calyx do not, or scarcely, penetrate the staminal ring (in P. cattleyanum they deeply penetrate the ring). The leaf length of P. cattleyanum (to 10 cm) is intermediate between P. ganevii (to 4 cm) and P. bahianum (to 14 cm). The leaves of P. bahianum differ from P. cattleyanum in usually being ovate (not obovate), arching along the midvein, and often enfolding longitudinally; its leaf apices are usually acuminate and, when the leaf is pressed flat, often turn to one side. Psidium ganevii differs also from P. cattleyanum in often having emarginated apices; the leaves are often widest at the middle (not above the middle).

Multivariate analysis of morphological variation in Cineraria deltoidea (Asteraceae, Senecioneae)

Cluster analysis and principal coordinates analysis were used to investigate phenetic variation in Cineraria deltoidea, a species that ranges from near sea level in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to 4300 m a.s.l. on the mountains of East Africa and Ethiopia. Earlier taxonomic revisions reduced nine previously recognized species to synonyms of C. deltoidea. Two closely related species, C. decipiens and C. atriplicifolia, were also included in the analyses. Thirty-six morphological characters were examined on 111 specimens. Phenograms and scattergrams show partial clusters of specimens of C. deltoidea from individual mountains or geographical regions, but no groups are sufficiently distinct to warrant formal recognition at any rank. The East African specimens from 3000 m a.s.l. and higher tend to cluster together. Growth at high altitude in East Africa is correlated with fewer, larger capitula on longer peduncles, and an absence of a cobwebby indumentum comprising long, narrow-based trichomes. Cineraria deltoidea is thus a highly variable species with geographical and clinal variation evident throughout its range. Cineraria atriplicifolia and C. decipiens are maintained as distinct species, distinguished from C. deltoidea by their growth form, life span and auricle shape.

A New Subspecies of Hippophae (Elaeagnaceae) from China

In this paper, a new subspecies of Hippophae (Elaeagnaceae), H. rhamnoides subsp. wolongensis Y. S. Lian, K. Sun & X. L. Chen, from China is described and illustrated. According to an analysis of the distribution and main characters, it is allied to H. rhamnoides subsp. sinensis Rousi but is distinct in having rosulately arranged flower buds, larger, alternate leaves with usually more or less sinuous margins, longer petioles, and longer peduncles. Hippophae rhamnoides subsp. wolon- gensis is rare and occurs only in Wenchuan and Mao Counties of Sichuan Province, at 1660-1920 m. A key including five subspecies of Hippophae rhamnoides in China is provided.

Pea Mutants with Reduced Sensitivity to Far-Red Light Define an Important Role for Phytochrome A in Day-Length Detection.

In garden pea (Pisum sativum L.), a long-day plant, long photoperiods promote flowering by reducing the synthesis or transport of a graft-transmissible inhibitor of flowering. Previous physiological studies have indicated that this promotive effect is predominantly achieved through a response that requires long exposures to light and for which far-red (FR) light is the most effective. These characteristics implicate the action of phytochrome A (phyA). To investigate this matter further, we screened ethylmethane sulfonate-mutagenized pea seedlings for FR-unresponsive, potentially phyA-deficient mutants. Two allelic, recessive mutants were isolated and were designated fun1 for FR unresponsive. The fun1-1 mutant is specifically deficient in the PHYA apoprotein and has a seedling phenotype indistinguishable from wild type when grown under white light. However, fun1-1 plants grown to maturity under long photoperiods show a highly pleiotropic phenotype, with short internodes, thickened stems, delayed flowering and senescence, longer peduncles, and higher seed yield. This phenotype results in large part from an inability of fun1-1 to detect day extensions. These results establish a crucial role for phyA in the control of flowering in pea, and show that phyA mediates responses to both red and FR light. Furthermore, grafting and epistasis studies with fun1 and dne, a mutant deficient in the floral inhibitor, show that the roles of phyA in seedling deetiolation and in day-length detection are genetically separable and that the phyA-mediated promotion of flowering results from a reduction in the synthesis or transport of the floral inhibitor.

Agave studies in Yucatan, Mexico. II. Nutritional value of the inflorescence peduncle and incipient domestication

Recent ethnobotanical exploration of henequen (Agave fourcroydes) in the Peninsula of Yucatan, Mexico, finds that inflorescence peduncles are used as emergency food and in the preparation of a fermented drink. Bromatological analysis and determination of total carbohydrates were made for the two length classes (ca. 3.30 m and ca. 0.60 m) which are consumed. The analysis of both the cultivated plant and its putative wild ancestor (Agave angustifolia) suggests that utilization of the inflorescence peduncles as food may have been involved in the initial stages of the history of its evolution under artificial selection, because the wild and the cultivated plants have similar palatability. The subsequent agricultural prevalence of annual crop species in the region was possibly responsible for the abandonment of henequen in the local diet. No significant differences are observed between the bromatological and total carbohydrate values of domesticated and wild plants. The preference for small inflorescence peduncles as a vegetable is a consequence of its significantly minor content of raw fiber and its larger content of total carbohydrates. As a fermented drink, longer peduncles are preferred because they provide more substrate material and because fiber can be eliminated by filtering. This agricultural byproduct, almost totally wasted, has potential value as a source of carbohydrates and raw fiber.

Evolution in sown populations of subterranean clover (Trifolium subterraneum L. ) in South Australia

The seed banks of three pastures at Kingscote, Parndana and Waterloo, S.A., were sampled to determine the frequency of divergent genotypes in subterranean clover, and the direction of natural selection. The seeds were grown in nursery rows at Adelaide, and the resulting plants classified into one of the commercial cultivars, or as divergent genotypes. The divergent genotypes from one locality, Kingscote, were described in terms of 17 variables, and compared with strains collected from southern Australia and the Mediterranean basin. At each locality there was more genetic diversity than had been sown, both in terms of additional cultivars and the presence of divergent genotypes. The percentage of divergent genotypes appeared to be proportional to the age of the pasture, and was greatest at Kingscote, where it reached 67% of the population. The Kingscote genotypes were genetically related to Mt Barker and Dwalganup, only five out of 283 genotypes having leaf markings that differed from both cultivars. The 17 variables fell between the values recorded for Mt Barker and Dwalganup, and there was evidence of directional selection. For example, formononetin content was less, and genistein more than would be expected in the absence of natural selection. Mean flowering time was about equal to that of Seaton Park, and closer to Mt Barker than to Dwalganup. Flowering time was related to elevation above the lowest point in the paddock, the latest genotypes tending to inhabit sites at the foots of slopes, and the earliest genotypes sites on the tops. Seed and burr weight were slightly larger than expected. Hybridization was the most important, but not the sole source of genetic divergence at Kingscote, whereas contamination was the main source at Waterloo. It is likely that only a minority of the divergent genotypes was generated by mutation. The Australian subterranean clovers were as diverse as those from the Mediterranean. Those from Kingscote were also diverse, but, on the whole, had longer peduncles, shorter internodes and were taller than strains from other parts of Australia and from the Mediterranean basin.