Monocotyledonous Group Research Articles

Progress in Molecular Genetic Breeding of Rice Spike Development

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) is one of the most important food crops in the world, belonging to the Gramineae family of the basal monocotyledonous group of angiosperms. It has become a model plant for Gramineae and even monocotyledons. Rice flower/spike is the first major element of rice yield composition, and the study of the molecular genetic mechanism of flower/spike development in rice is of great significance in guiding the yield improvement of rice and other gramineous crops. However, there were fewer reviews on rice flower/spike development. This paper summarized the related gene regulation of rice spike development, gene editing, the genetic regulatory network of spike development, and the application of high-yield breeding. This will provide a theoretical basis and technical support for the research on the molecular genetic improvement of rice in flower/spike.

Comparison of Catasetum bicolor and C. ochraceum (Catasetinae: Orchidaceae) habitat preferences: implications for their conservation

Family Orchidaceae is widely recognized for its mutualistic relationship with their pollinators, however, the knowledge about the most diverse monocotyledonous group on the planet it is still limited. Here, we recognized the ecological requirements and modeled the habitat preferences for Catasetum bicolor and C. ochraceum (Subfamily: Epidendroideae). We used climatic and bioclimatic data along with species’ occurrences records in a) Principal Components Analysis (PCA) to screen for the most influential variables; and, b) a maximum entropy algorithm (Maxent) for habitat suitability modeling. Also, preliminary conservation status and probable priority areas for monitoring and conservation were identified. Both species differed in their habitat preferences as shown by the altitudinal range. Factors screened by PCA were associated to temperature (average, minimum, seasonality), solar radiation, and precipitation of the driest and warmest months. The variables that influenced the most in the modeling process for C. bicolor were solar radiation, temperature seasonality, and its annual range; while for C. ochraceum were the precipitation of the driest month and solar radiation. Areas with habitat suitable conditions were identified in countries (Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Nicaragua, Panama, and Venezuela) and biomes (humid and dry tropical, and subtropical forests) with highly dynamic land cover changes. The studied species were found to be in an endangered status based on their area of occupancy (< 76 km2). However, considering their extent of occurrence (> 20000 km2), they are in a status of less concern. These findings may be relevant for future monitoring plans and planning for ex-situ and in-situ conservation strategies.

Remembering Lee W. Lenz (1915–2019)

Known primarily for his systematic work on Iris, Dr. Lee Lenz was also known for his taxonomic revision in other monocotyledonous groups such as Yucca, leading to his recognition of Yucca jaegeriana as distinct from the Joshua tree, Y. brevifolia. He was also involved in breeding horticultural forms from California native plants, such as xChiranthofremontia lenzii, and was credited with developing the first red-flowering iris within the Pacific Coast hybrids. Dr. Lenz was Director of Rancho Santa Ana Botanic Garden (now California Botanic Garden) in Claremont, California, from 1960 to 1983. A table lists his articles and Director's Reports published in Aliso between 1950 and 2007.

A new interpretation on vascular architecture of the cauline system in Commelinaceae (Commelinales).

The vascular system of monocotyledons, including Commelinaceae, has been studied since the 19th century, but to date, the proposed vascular architecture models consist of schematic representations partially based on the authors' interpretation. One of the greatest difficulties in studying these systems is the large number of vascular bundles and the complexity of their connections, especially in the monocotyledons which have a nodal vascular plexus. In this study, shoot apex samples of 14 species of Commelinaceae were submitted to three-dimensional analyses (confocal microscopy, X-ray microtomography, graphic vectorization, and whole-mount diaphanization), as well as conventional techniques in plant anatomy. Based on the results, a previously unreported category of bundles is described in Commelinaceae for the first time, as well as the fact that peripheral bundles are not interrupted or end blindly in the periphery of the pith, as previously thought. With this new interpretation of the vascular architecture, three patterns of nodal vascular plexus are proposed: 1) in the first pattern the internal nodal vascular plexus (IVP) forms a continuous cylinder and does not connect to the external nodal vascular plexus (EVP); 2) the IVP forms a cylinder divided into two columns and does not connect to the EVP and 3) the IVP forms a cylinder connected to the EVP. The first description of central bundles in the Commelinaceae might suggests their existence in closely related groups, such as the remaining four families of Commelinales (i.e., Haemodoraceae, Hanguanaceae, Philydraceae, and Pontederiaceae), and even in other distantly related groups of monocotyledons.

Floristic and Phytosociology of Weeds in Upland Rice in the Humid Tropics

ABSTRACT: Knowledge of the floristic composition and vegetation structure are essential conditions for development of more efficient and economic weed management strategies in crops in the humid tropics. The objective of the research was to carry on floristic and phytosociological surveys to know the main weeds in upland rice fields in the humid tropics of the Brazilian State of Maranhão. Weed samples were done by means of an open metal rectangle of 0.15 m2 thrown at random in the vegetative and reproductive stages of rice crop in 2009/10 and 2010/2011 harvest. A total of 65 species from 23 families was identified 35 (53.85%) from the eudicotyledons botanical group, 29 (44.06%) from the monocotyledonous and one (1.53%) belonged to the pteridophytes. The most representative families were from the monocotyledonous botanical group including Poaceae and Cyperaceae, followed by Amaranthaceae and Malvaceae, both from the eudicotyledons group. The weed species with higher importance values in the upland rice crop vegetative stage were Urochloasp., Panicumsp., C. flavus, C. benghalensis and C. argutus whereas in the reproductive stage the higher importance values were recorded for S. latifolia, C. argutus, L. octovalvis, A.tenella and P.maximum. The most important weeds in the crop vegetative phase were mainly from the monocotyledonous group, while in reproductive one they were the eudicotyledons. Weed diversity was high and the floristic similarity was lower in the vegetative one compared to the reproductive stage of upland rice cultivation in the humid tropics.

Phytosociology and Floristic Composition of the Infesting Community in Rice Crop Waterlogged

The objective of this study is to identify and quantify the floristic composition of the weed community in the rice crop waterlogged in the municipality of Arari-MA. The botanical material was obtained in three areas by randomly a hollow rectangle of 0.50 m × 0.30 m by forty five times in each plot. The aerial parts of weeds were harvested, identified, counted and oven dried with forced air ventilation at 333.15 K to 343.15 K. These data were used to determine the phytosociological parameters and the Shannon-Wiener diversity index was also calculated. A total of 6607 plants were collected, being 4115 (62.28%) in the vegetative phase and 2492 (37.72%) in the reproductive phase. The monocotyledonous group obtained the largest number of plants, 2882 in the vegetative phase and 1535 in the reproductive phase. The Cyperaceae family recorded nine species and four genera and the Poaceae, seven and four species in the vegetative and reproductive phases, respectively. The species of higher IVI in the vegetative phase was E. sellowiana in the area A1 with 82.86%, and in the reproductive F. dichotoma with IVI of 90.49% in the area A3. The individuals density and species richness were higher in the vegetative phase of the culture and the monocotyledonous group predominated with the Cyperaceae and Poaceae families, and the weed diversity among the areas was low.

Türkiye‘de Doğal Olarak Yetişen Kum Zambağının (Pancratium maritimum) Farklı Özellikleri ve Önemi

Kum zambağı (Pancratium maritimum L.) Türkiye‘de doğal olarak yetiştiği bilinen ve kayıt altına alınan tek Pancratium türü olup monokotiledonların bir grubu olan Amaryllidaceae familyasına aittir. P. maritimum L. çok yıllık bir Akdeniz bitkisidir. Ülkemizin kumlu sahillerinde doğal olarak yetişmektedir. Denizin hemen yanında yaşam alanı bulan P. maritimum, doğrudan deniz meltemlerine ve sürekli yüksek hava nemi ile güçlü radyasyona maruz kalan kuraklığa ve tuzluluğa dayanıklı bir bitkidir. Değişikliğe uğramış gövde şeklinde iri soğanlara sahip olan bitki kökleri kum içerisinde ortalama 80 cm derinliğe kadar inmektedir. Kendine döllenen kum zambağı Haziran-Ekim aylarında çiçeklenmektedir. Doğada nadir olarak bulunan kum zambağının doğal yaşam alanları olan sahillerin çoğunun plaj olarak kullanılması, çiçeklerinin koparılması ve soğanlarının toplanması nedeniyle neslinin tehlike altında olduğu bildirilmiştir. Bu geofitin gösterişli ve kokulu beyaz çiçekleriyle peyzaj değeri yüksektir. Süs bitkisi olarak kullanım potansiyelinin yanında gıda, tekstil ve farmakolojide özellikle kanser, Alzheimer, AIDS gibi hastalıkların tedavisinde değerlendiriliyor olması önemini arttırmaktadır. Bu özelliklerin yanında P. maritimum biyoçeşitlilik yönünden de korunması gereken bir türdür. Bu derlemede ülkemizde doğal olarak yayılış gösteren P. maritimum türünün botanik, biyolojik ve tıbbi özellikleri ile süs bitkisi olarak kullanım potansiyeli yanında, türün nesline yönelik tehditlere ve ülkemiz açısından önemine yer verilmiştir.

Rkiye’de Doğal Olarak Yetişen Kum Zambağının (Pancratium maritimum) Farklı Özellikleri ve Önemi#

Sea daffodil (Pancratium maritimum L.) is the only known Pancratium species that is naturally grown in Turkey, belongs to the Amaryllidaceae family, a group of monocotyledons. P. maritimum L. is a perennial Mediterranean plant. It grows naturally in the sandy coasts of Tukey. P. maritimum, which finds a living area right next to the sea, is a drought-tolerant plant that is exposed to direct sea breezes and strong radiation with constantly high air humidity. The roots of modified stem bulbs sink down to 80 cm in the sand. The self-fertilized Sea daffodil is flowering in June-October. It was reported that P. maritimum is one of the rare and endangered plants of Turkey because of usage natural habitats of sand lilies as coasts, excessive collection flowers and bulbs. The landscape value of this geophyte is high with white and fragrant flowers. In addition to their potential usage as ornamental plants, their usage in pharmacology especially in the treatment of cancer, Alzheimer and AIDS due to the medical properties of the modified stems and in other related industries increases their importance. It is also important to protect this genetic resource for biodiversity. In this review, botanical, biological and medicinal properties of P. maritimum as well as potential usage as ornamental plant, threats and importance of this species for Turkey were given and discussed.

Activity of rhizobacteria antagonistic to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. passiflorae in soils cultivated with monocotyledonous plants1

ABSTRACT In spite of the importance of passion fruit cultivation in Brazil, this activity has been forced to be itinerant, due to the occurrence of diseases in producing regions, in particular fusariosis. The use of rhizobacteria is a potential control alternative, but other improvements are necessary to guarantee the activity of these bacteria in the field. This study aimed at evaluating the influence of three monocotyledonous groups on the activity of rhizobacteria antagonistic to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. passiflorae (Fop). Rhizobacteria were isolated from passion fruit plants and tested for the production of diffusible and volatile compounds, as well as chitinases that inhibit Fop. From a total of 167 isolates, two produced volatile compounds, 21 diffusible compounds and 32 chitinases. Three compatible combinations of isolates that had at least two action mechanisms against Fop and could grow in a wide pH range were applied in pots with sorghum, millet or maize, in addition to pots left fallow (control), in a greenhouse. The microbial biomass carbon, soil basal respiration, metabolic quotient and activity of the acid phosphatase enzyme were evaluated. The interaction between the cultivated species and rhizobacterial combinations was significant only for the metabolic quotient, whose values tended to be higher under millet cultivation in combination 3 (R77/R95/R104/R120), the most metabolically diversified one. The highest activity of acid phosphatase was also obtained with millet. The results for enzymatic activity and metabolic quotient indicate that millet provides a greater activity of the antagonists in the soil.

Floristic composition and phytodiversity status of Sitakunda Ecopark, Chittagong, Bangladesh

The present study dealt with the exploration and documentation of the floristic composition and phyto-diversity of Sitakunda Eco-park, Chittagong, Bangladesh. A total of 412 vascular plant species under 315 genera belonging to 94 plant families have been recorded from the study area during February, 2013 to April, 2015. Out of these recorded taxa, 330 were dicotyledons, 62 were monocotyledons, 5 were gymnosperms and 15 were pteridophytes. Among those, the maximum 144 species belonged to herbs followed by 138, 75 and 55 species as trees, shrubs and climbers, respectively. The species composition among the plant families varied in plant groups. In dicotyledonous group, Euphorbiaceae appeared to be the largest family with 35 species, whereas Poaceae showed the largest family containing 30 species among monocotyledonous group. The highest values of both Shannon-Weiner and Simpson diversity indices have been observed as 3.82 and 0.98, respectively to site D during monsoon season, whereas the lowest values 3.19 and 0.95, respectively of these indices were recorded in site A during summer season.Jahangirnagar University J. Biol. Sci. 5(1): 29-45, 2016 (June)

Spatial Pattern of Weeds Based on Multispecies Infestation Maps Created by Imagery

Weeds are often spatially aggregated in maize fields, and the level of aggregation varies across and within fields. Several annual weed species are present in maize fields before postemergence herbicide application, and herbicides applied will control several species at a time. The goal of this study was to assess the spatial distribution of multispecies weed infestation in maize fields. Ground-based imagery was used to map weed infestations in rain-fed maize fields. Image segmentation was used to extract weed cover information from geocoded images, and an expert-based threshold of 0.102% weed cover was used to generate maps of weed presence/absence. From 19 site-years, 13 (68%) demonstrated a random spatial distribution, whereas six site-years demonstrated an aggregated spatial pattern of either monocotyledons, dicotyledons, or both groups. The results of this study indicated that monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous weed groups were not spatially segregated, but discriminating these weed groups slightly increased the chances of detecting an aggregated pattern. It was concluded that weeds were not always spatially aggregated in maize fields. These findings emphasize the need for techniques allowing the assessment of weed aggregation prior to conducting site-specific weed management.

Cell longevity and sustained primary growth in palm stems

Longevity, or organismal life span, is determined largely by the period over which constituent cells can function metabolically. Plants, with modular organization (the ability continually to develop new organs and tissues) differ from animals, with unitary organization (a fixed body plan), and this difference is reflected in their respective life spans, potentially much longer in plants than animals. We draw attention to the observation that palm trees, as a group of monocotyledons without secondary growth comparable to that of lignophytes (plants with secondary growth from a bifacial cambium), retain by means of sustained primary growth living cells in their trunks throughout their organismal life span. Does this make palms the longest-lived trees because they can grow as individuals for several centuries? No conventional lignophyte retains living metabolically active differentiated cell types in its trunk for this length of time, even though the tree as a whole can exist for millennia. Does this contrast also imply that the long-lived cells in a palm trunk have exceptional properties, which allows this seeming immortality? We document the long-life of many tall palm species and their inherent long-lived stem cell properties, comparing such plants to conventional trees. We provide a summary of aspects of cell age and life span in animals and plants. Cell replacement is a feature of animal function, whereas conventional trees rely on active growth centers (meristems) to sustain organismal development. However, the long persistence of living cells in palm trunks is seen not as evidence for unique metabolic processes that sustain longevity, but is a consequence of unique constructional features. This conclusion suggests that the life span of plant cells is not necessarily genetically determined.

MADS Box Genes in Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis): Patterns in the Evolution of the SQUAMOSA, DEFICIENS, GLOBOSA, AGAMOUS, and SEPALLATA Subfamilies

MADS box genes code for a large family of transcription factors which regulate development in higher plants, notably flower formation. We describe here a study of members of the MADS box gene family in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.), a representative of the family Arecaceae and order Arecales, a key group of monocotyledons which has been unreported in previous phylogenetic reconstructions of the different recognized clades of MADS box genes. In this study, 13 oil palm MADS box genes were identified and characterized. They were found to belong to five different subfamilies, namely, the previously defined SQUAMOSA, AGAMOUS, AGAMOUS-like2, DEFICIENS, and GLOBOSA groups. Genes belonging to each of these groups play a critical role in the determination of flower structure as defined by the ABCDE model. The in planta expression profiles of the oil palm MADS box genes were studied by RT-PCR and phylogenetic sequence diversity within individual subfamilies was investigated by comparing their deduced protein sequences with those of other angiosperms. Most of the oil palm sequences studied were observed to group with distinct supported clades within their subfamily. Some unexpected groupings were observed between monocot sequences (including oil palm ones) of non-Poaceae origin, probably illustrating the importance of obtaining adequate taxon representation in monocot molecular phylogenies.

Unraveling the evolutionary radiation of the families of the Zingiberales using morphological and molecular evidence.

The Zingiberales are a tropical group of monocotyledons that includes bananas, gingers, and their relatives. The phylogenetic relationships among the eight families currently recognized are investigated here by using parsimony and maximum likelihood analyses of four character sets: morphological features (1), and sequence data of the (2) chloroplast rbcL gene, (3) chloroplast atpB gene, and (4) nuclear 18S rDNA gene. Outgroups for the analyses include the closely related Commelinaceae + Philydraceae + Haemodoraceae + Pontederiaceae + Hanguanaceae as well as seven more distantly related monocots and paleoherbs. Only slightly different estimates of evolutionary relationships result from the analysis of each character set. The morphological data yield a single fully resolved most-parsimonious tree. None of the molecular datasets alone completely resolves interfamilial relationships. The analyses of the combined molecular dataset provide more resolution than do those of individual genes, and the addition of the morphological data provides a well-supported estimate of phylogenetic relationships: (Musaceae ((Strelitziaceae, Lowiaceae) (Heliconiaceae ((Zingiberaceae, Costaceae) (Cannaceae, Marantaceae))))). Evidence from branch lengths in the parsimony analyses and from the fossil record suggests that the Zingiberales originated in the Early Cretaceous and underwent a rapid radiation in the mid-Cretaceous, by which time most extant family lineages had diverged.

VESSELS IN ZINGIBERACEAE: A LIGHT, SCANNING, AND TRANSMISSION MICROSCOPE STUDY

The Zingiberales is a tropical group of monocotyledons that includes eight recognized families. The order is considered by most taxonomists and phylogenists to be a monophyletic lineage of plants, but the phylogenetic relationships among genera are not clearly understood. The tracheary elements in the family Zingiberaceae were examined to characterize the diversity of structure and to better understand the phylogenetic relationships among related taxa. The distribution and specialization of tracheary elements in roots, stems and leaves of 54 species representing 25 genera were studied. Vessel elements were present in roots of all but one of the species examined, Plagiostachys philippinensis. Stems and leaves had only tracheids except for Aulotandra kamerunensis, which had vessels with simple perforation plates. The perforation plates and lateral walls of vessel elements were examined for the presence of pit membranes or their remnants with both scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The presence and condition of pit membranes depended upon the developmental stage, but the perforation plates of mature vessel elements lacked pit membranes entirely.

Some Karyological and Taxonomic Remarks on the Italian «Muscari» (Liliaceae)

Abstract As part of a biosystematic revision scheme involving certain groups of Italian monocotyledons the genus Muscari Miller was examined independetly from other genera close to it, Leopoldia Parl., Muscarimia Kostel. and Pseudomuscari Garbari & Greuter. It is represented in Italy by 7 species: Muscari botryoides (L.) Miller (2n = 36), M. kerneri Marchesetti (2n = 18), M. atlanticum Boiss. et Reuter (2n = 36, 45, 54, 63, 72), M. neglectum Guss. (2n = 36, 45, 54, 63), M. commutatum Guss. (2n = 18), M. lafarinae (Lojac.) Garbari (2n = 18) and M. parviflorum Desf. (2n = 36, 45). An investigation of infraspecific variability has enabled the identification of some southern Italian Apenninic populations such as M. atlanticum Boiss. et Reuter subsp. alpinum (Fiori) Garbari (2n = 36); a race from the Adriatic island of Pelagosa as M. neglectum Guss, subsp. speciosum (Marchesetti) Garbari; an entity distributed in the central and western Italian lowlands as M. botryoides (L.) Miller subsp. lelievrii (Boreau) Ga...

Variation in amino acid composition of cytochrome c of species in the fungal genusUstilago

Cytochrome c was extracted and purified from nine species of the genusUstilago, representing five pathogen for monocotyledonous and four for dicotyledonous host species. The amino acid compositions of acid hydrolysates of cytochrome c from these species were compared and divergence values were calculated for all pairs of species. Aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, phenylalanine, lysine, and arginine were the most variable amino acids for both dicot and monocot pathogens. Differences in lysine, glutamic acid, alanine, and histidine distinguished most monocot and dicot pathogens. The dicotyledonous pathogens had fewer glutamic acid and additional alanine and histidine residues. Divergence values for cytochrome c were generally highest between species of dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous hosts and lowest for species within the monocotyledonous group. Pairs of species in the dicotyledonous group gave values only slightly lower than those for pairs with species from different groups.

Two distinctive anthocyanin patterns in the commelinaceae

A survey of lead and flower anthocyanins in a representative sample (28 spp./10 genera) of the Commelinaceae has shown that the dominant anthocyanin is cyanidin 3,7,3′-triglucoside, acylated with caffeic acid. Acylation with other hydroxycinnamic acids also occurs. As a flower pigment, this anthocyanin is stabilized at the pH of the cell sap by the presence of the three acyl substituents attached through glucose. In Gibasis, the related delphinidin triglucoside is also present. By contrast, the genus Commelina is distinguished by uniformly containing p-coumaroyl-delphinidin 3,5-diglucoside, which is stabilized in flowers as a copigment complex with glycoflavone. There are thus two distinctive sources of blue flower colour in the family. Furthermore, the presence of these rare acylated glucosides clearly separates the Commelinaceae from all other monocotyledonous groups.

ASPECTS OF THE EVOLUTION OF THE MONOCOTYLEDONS

The available evidence, partly laid down in some recent reviews, suggests a morphological and anatomical heterogeneity of the major groups constituting the conventional Monocotyledonae (or Liliatae). A repeatedly signalised connection between certain ranalean forms and some liliate taxa is not unequivocal in that the magnolialean and nymphaealean dicots differ from all monocotyledonous orders in some essential, exclusively “dicotyledonous” features whilst, on the other hand, exhibiting some rather convincing “monocotyledonoid” traits. The only interpretation reconcilable with these more or less contradictory deductions is that – unless all features shared by monocots and dicots are explained as the result of convergent evolution – the phylogenetic history of the Liliatae goes back to a pre-angiospermous group of ancestors (or to several such groups), and that this latter taxon (or a part of it) was also progenitorial to the ranalean dicots. This interpretation renders the “derivation” of monocots from (certain types of) dicots, or vice versa, inane: the common characteristics of both groups are conceivably inherited from a common, basic group which had not yet attained the level of evolutionary advancement of truly “angiospermous” plant forms. The heterogeneity of the monocots can similarly be explained by an early phylogenetic divergence of lineages sprung from a common stock of pro-angiosperms, which lineages evolved independently for a considerable length of time. Phytochemical evidence somewhat paradoxically suggests a homogeneity of the monocots, however. In spite of the accumulation of a large amount of relevant data, the information is insufficient to permit more definite conclusions apart from the indication of some “impossible”, direct relationships between certain groups. The floral morphology of most, if not of all, liliate taxa must be based on the anthoid concept and this at least obviates all attempts to derive monocotyledonous groups directly from a magnolialean type of dicot.

DEVELOPMENT OF THE STOMATAL COMPLEX AS A TAXONOMIC CHARACTER IN THE MONOCOTYLEDONS

SummaryExisting descriptions of patterns of stomatal development in monocotyledons are very few, often inaccurate and sometimes misleading. The terminologies developed therefrom are probably not very useful. In this article the situation is clarified with respect to information obtained from the examination of the development of the stomatal complex in about 100 species of monocotyledons representing most families. Certain families lack divisions of cells surrounding the guard cell mother cell (meristemoid). Others possess such divisions which may be categorized as either oblique or non‐oblique. Many families lack oblique divisions, others are characterized by oblique divisions. There seems to be a correlation between the presence of oblique divisions and the shortness of the protodermal cells. In some families the sequence of divisions is quite precise, in others it is quite variable. Available evidence shows that there are no major groups of monocotyledonous families characterized by a particular pattern of divisions in the development of the stomatal complex and that speculations about the phylogenetic significance of these patterns are premature. It is suggested that the stomatal complex has value as a systematic character only in combination with a variety of other characters and only by consideration of groups which are already known to be natural. Our present appreciation of the affinities of monocotyledonous groups should be used as a source of comparative information about the development of the stomatal complex in monocotyledons and not vice versa.