Number Of Plant Species Research Articles

Trillium govanianum (Nagchattri): A promising rare and commercially important medicinal herb from higher altitudes of the Himalayas

Secondary metabolites and bioactive compounds derived from naturally occurring sources have been the prime ingredients in modern health care as well as ancient medicine systems like Ayurveda, Yunani, and traditional folk medicines. A large number of plant species and their extracts are utilized to cure several human ailments. Trillium govanianum, belonging to the genus Trillium (family: Melanthiaceae alt. Trilliaceae), is a traditional medicinal herb of the Himalayan region used to cure joint pains, wounds, boils, dysentery, inflammation, menstrual and sexual disorders. T. govanianum root extracts have analgesic, anti-inflammatory, cancer-preventing, anti-fungal, and wound-healing activities. The main bioactive compounds present in this species are steroidal saponins. Indiscriminate and commercial harvesting in an unsustainable manner, along with various other biotic pressures, have created a synergistically severe menace toward the subsistence of T. govanianum in its natural habitat. Population assessment, conservative and in vitro proliferation methods pertaining to mass multiplication and advancement in ex–situ and in–situ environments are required for sustainable use of this species. In lieu of the significance of this herb, the present study aims at the exploration of phytochemical, ethnomedicinal, ecological, pharmacological, and conservational practices of T. govanianum for a better understanding of medicinal activities and sustainable use of this plant. This review summarised the potential resources of T. govaninanum in terms of biologically active compounds and their dependence on the local population. It focuses on the medicinal utility of T. govaninanum in different diseases and ailments.

Investigation of Medicinal Plants Utilized by Indigenous People in Saptari District of Madhesh Province, Nepal

The study has been carried out to investigate the traditional knowledge of ethnomedicine among the indigenous people of Saptari district, Nepal. The study has identified 83 plant species from 46 plant families overall. Out of the total number of plant species, 41 were domesticated and 42 were wild. Herbs account for the largest percentage of the 83 species of plants, followed by trees (31.32%), shrubs (20.48%), and climbers (6.024%). The Fabaceae family includes up to nine plant species that are used medicinally. Malvaceae, Moraceae, Solanaceae, and Lamiaceae all have four species apiece. From the Amaranthaceae, Apocynaceae, Apiaceae, and Poaceae plant families, three plant species were noted. From the Rutaceae, Amaryllidaceae, Araceae, Meliaceae, Brassicaceae, Zingiberaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Myrtaceae, and Combretaceae plant families, two species are noted. The remaining families each represent a different type of plant. The plant species that have been collected are renowned for their ability to treat ailments like tonsillitis, elephantiasis, tonsillitis, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, colds, arthritis, gastritis, gonorrhea, diarrhea, dysentery, jaundice, and leprosy. Plant species from the list are reported to be effective in treating a variety of conditions, including arthritis, cancer, diabetes, asthma, bronchitis, leprosy, tuberculosis, intestinal worms, anemia, syphilis, skin disease, and others

Local inventories for effective management of alien species: insights from the alien flora of Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh, India.

The broad-scale inventories of alien species reveal macroecological patterns, but these often fall short in guiding local-level management strategies. Local authorities, tasked with on-the-ground management, require precise knowledge of the occurrence of invasive species tailored to their jurisdictional boundaries. What proves critical at the local scale may not hold the same significance at national or regional levels. In this context, we present a comprehensive inventory of alien vascular plant species across the ecologically diverse Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh (JKL) regions of India. Our study identifies 312 alien plant species belonging to 210 genera and 61 families. These alien plant species are predominantly herbaceous dicots. Of these, ca. 62% are naturalized, and 28% exhibit invasive behavior in the region. Introductions have been primarily unintentional, with a notable fraction (26%) introduced for ornamental purposes. The families with the highest number of alien plant species are Asteraceae (46 species), Fabaceae (28 species), and Amaranthaceae (23 species). The genera with the most species are Amaranthus (10 species), Solanum (8 species), Iris (7 species), and Oenothera (5 species). The Jammu region has the highest number of alien plant species, with 221 documented species, including 99 unique to this region. This is followed by the Kashmir Himalaya, with 212 alien species, 70 of which are exclusive to the area. In Ladakh, 76 alien species are recorded, with only one exclusive to the region. Fifty-five alien species are common across all three regions. In each region, more than 50% of species are naturalized, while invasive species constitute about 30% of the total. Therophytes are the dominant life-form category across all regions. Only 18% of species are shared across the three regions. Our findings emphasize the imperative of integrating local-scale knowledge into invasion management frameworks, ensuring targeted and effective strategies aligned with local administrative capacities. By bridging the gap between broad ecological patterns and localized management needs, our study advocates for a nuanced approach to invasive species management that accounts for regional and local specificity.

Sardinian deer increase feeding diversity within sheltering vegetation in a fragmented Mediterranean landscape

This study was carried out to investigate the feeding behavior of Sardinian deer roaming within a site of community interest (SCI, ITB042250), on Sardinian Island (39° 51’ N 8° 45’ E). Crop fields bordering the natural environment (wood forest and Mediterranean macchia, where the reserve of Sardinian deer partly overlaps) were monitored and turned into a living lab. The interest on wildlife-related crop damage poses a significant economic challenge, while anthropogenic pressures, such as urbanization and agricultural practices, increasingly impact wildlife by limiting habitat, feeding source diversity and access, and space distribution. In view of this, dietary habits of a group of 25 Sardinian deer (Cervus elaphus corsicanus Erxleben, 1777) were studied over an area of 45 hectares, in spring and autumn over two consecutive years. Within six representative sites (habitats) of investigation (SOI = 3 ha), two transects of 20 × 10 m per SOI, amounting to 240 m², served as parts of these sites, respectively, and were analyzed as to floristic composition and dominating plants. The number of freshly browsed/grazed plants by missing shoots was counted and assumed as signs of foraging activity of the Sardinian deer. The evenness of the dietary preference per habitat was calculated with the number of missing shoots and the number of plant species selected. The Mediterranean macchia accounted for the highest species (n = 76); crop field the fewest species (n = 19). Plants showing foraging signs by Sardinian deer ranged between n. 5 out of 46 species (10.9%) in the fallow and n. 6 out of 19 species (31.6%) in the crop field. Complementary feeding based on the availability of floristic diversity revealed to align to the typical foraging behavior of intermediate feeder in all SOIs: the higher the species, the higher the number of foraged species (ρ = 0.86). Sardinian deer foraged on n. 35 out of 129 plant species present (27.1%) within the whole transect area. Data highlight two feeding behavior: 1)high evenness-feeding (less foraging on high number of plant species, respectively: fallow, crop field, macchia border); 2) low evenness-feeding (large foraging on few species, Avena or Cytisus: field, bordering both macchia and fallow, macchia).The Sardinian deer fed on every SOI, with highest consumption in the macchia and least in oat open field. The feeding behavior of Sardinian deer confirms the ability to adapt to the varying vegetation in each habitat, respectively, by seeking energy and nutrients on the one hand and shelter on the other, by limiting the preference for crop field center.

Hiking trails extending from high elevations aid further spread of alien plant species in subalpine and alpine zones

Hiking trails, as anthropogenic linear habitats in highly protected mountain areas, allow the spread of alien plant species. Here, we focused on hiking trails extending away from high-elevation ropeway termini in Japan and assessed whether alien plant species that invaded the termini (i.e., trail heads) have spread along the trails. We recorded alien plant species along hiking trails leading from ropeway termini on seven mountains and analyzed the plant characteristics that influence their occurrence. The number of alien plant species along the trails and the number of records of their occurrence were positively affected by the number of species around the trail heads, and were negatively affected by the elevation of the trail head. A species-level analysis indicated that the number of records of each species’ occurrence on trails was higher with the presence of each species around the trail head, with perennial life-span, and with a smaller seed mass. Our results show that hiking trails leading away from high-elevation ropeway termini can spread alien plant species up to a distance of ca. 700 m into alpine communities. This study provides evidence of the role of hiking trails in the spread of alien plant species into subalpine and alpine zones.

Identification of Ethno-Veterinary Practices for Animal Diseases in Assosa Zone

Ethno-veterinary medicine is the application of traditional knowledge, theory, and practice to mitigate livestock diseases. The study conducted to document veterinary use of medicinal herbs of local users in Assosa Zone, Ethiopia from September 2022 to July 2023. Data collected between individual based field’s interviews using semi-structured questionnaire. Most of the respondents were males and with age group of 40 to 60 years old. Most of the respondents were illiterate by educational status and Muslims by religion. Around 68.6% of respondents acquire their traditional knowledge from family and most traditional healers prepared remedies from plants 73 (71.6%). In our investigation, 71 plant species from five districts identified. Those plants used against 68 types of livestock diseases and to increase livestock outputs. Those plants botanically distributed across 43 families. Data from our study suggested that the highest number of plant species was found in Solanaceae and Fabaceae family with (13.95%) followed by Combreataceae and Asteraceae (9.30%). Majority of the medicinal plants reported were found from forest (42.25%) followed by both possible to cultivated or found in forest (35.21%), and Backyard (21.13%). Majorities of medicinal plant preparations was from root parts (25.35%), followed by leaf, seed (22.54%), and bark (8.45%). The current study has revealed that the natives in the districts have been heavily dependent on traditional veterinary medicine for the treatment of variety of livestock diseases. Thus, it should recommend that conservational activities of medicinal plants and governmental encouragements of traditional healers should be addressed.

Pharmacological Activities of the Roots of Stemona tuberosa Medicinal Plant: An Overview

: Since childhood, plants and plant products have been used extensively as medicine. The majority of rural residents still rely on natural resources and the old-fashioned medical system for their daily needs. The biological richness of Arunachal Pradesh is renowned, as is its rich cultural diversity. The native population uses a number of aromatic and medicinal plant species to cure a wide range of illnesses. The current review deals with the biological activity of Stemona tuberosa, a possible medicinal plant species of Arunachal Pradesh. Extract from tuberous roots has numerous properties, including anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, anti-tobacco mosaic virus, antitussive, wound healing, and anti-herpes. The roots' powder is employed as a preservation and insect deterrent. Alkaloids, sugars and glycosides, phenolic compounds, trace amounts of proteins, saponin, flavonoids, and gum mucilage, were all found during the phytochemical analysis, which shows that the species has a significant potential for therapeutic use. As a result, it is possible to think of the examined species as a potential source of beneficial medications.

A Dataset of Plant Species Richness in Chinese National Nature Reserves

This comprehensive dataset on the number of plant species, genera, and families in 383 national nature reserves in China has been compiled based on the available literature. Heilongjiang Province and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region have the highest number of nature reserves. Species richness is relatively high in the Jinfoshan, Dabashan, Wenshan, Hupingshan, and Shennongjia Nature Reserves. This dataset provides important baseline information on plant species richness coupling with genus and family numbers in Chinese national nature reserves and should help researchers and environmentalists understand the dynamic species changes in various nature reserves. This detailed and reliable information may serve as the foundation for future plant research in Chinese nature reserves and play a positive role in promoting more effective natural protection, biological distribution, and biodiversity conservation in these areas.

Effects of Rubber Plantation Restoration in National Parks on Plant Diversity and Soil Chemical Properties

Plantations left for natural succession play a significant role in Tropical Rainforest National Parks. Studying the succession and restoration of plantations is crucial for achieving a park’s authenticity and integrity, as well as for maximizing its ecological functions. However, the changes in vegetation and soil properties during the natural succession of these decommissioned plantations remain unclear. In this study, we examined rubber [(Hevea brasiliensis (Willd. Ex A. Juss.) Muell. Arg] plantations in the Yinggeling area of the National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest. We used community surveys, field sampling, and soil property analyses to investigate the species richness, diversity, and species composition of the aboveground plant communities during three succession periods of rubber plantations left for natural succession, including 0 years (ZY), 3 years (TY), and 7 years (SY). The soil pH, total organic carbon, total nitrogen, total phosphorus, available phosphorus, nitrate nitrogen, ammonium nitrogen, and total potassium contents in the three succession periods were analyzed. These results showed that there were 92 species of understory plants in the decommissioned rubber plantations, belonging to 72 genera in 39 families. The highest number of understory plant species was found in the plantations with 3 years of natural succession, totaling 66 species from 49 genera in 29 families. The number of families, genera, and species followed the pattern TY > SY > ZY. The Margalef richness index (F), Simpson index (D), and Shannon–Wiener index (H) of understory plants in the 0-year succession plantations were significantly lower than those in the 3-year and 7-year succession plantations. However, there was no significant difference in the Pielou (EH) index among the succession gradients. The soil pH, nitrate nitrogen (NO3--N), and available phosphorus (AP) in the 0-year succession plantations were significantly higher than those in the 3-year and 7-year succession plantations. There were no significant differences in soil total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), total organic carbon (TOC), and ammonium nitrogen (NH4+-N) across the three succession gradients. The soil total potassium (TK) in the 3-year succession plantations was significantly higher than that in the 0-year and 7-year succession plantations. Soil available phosphorus and total phosphorus (TP) were positively correlated with the Margalef index, Simpson index, Shannon–Wiener index, and Pielou index. The recovery rate of understory vegetation in decommissioned rubber plantations was faster than that of the soil. This indicates that the construction of the National Park of Hainan Tropical Rainforest has significantly promoted the recovery of the number of plant species and plant species diversity that have been left from rubber plantation operations. These findings not only deepen our understanding of soil property changes during the vegetation succession of artificial forests, particularly rubber plantations, but they also hold significant implications for guiding tropical forest management and sustainable development.

Characteristics and community stabilities of the resource islands formed by Salix paraplesia shrubs in the mobile sandy land of the upper reaches of the Yellow River in Sichuan Province

This study comprehensively analyzes the physical and chemical properties of soil across different layers under Salix paraplesia shrubs, comparing these properties inside and outside the shrub canopies. It also examines species diversity and community stability in these areas, discussing the impact of soil from resource islands at different formation stages on vegetation restoration. Focusing on Salix paraplesia shrubs over varying restoration periods (45 years, 25 years, and 13 years), with unrepaired mobile sandy land serving as the control, the results are as follows: (1) As vegetation restoration progresses, the content of soil organic matter (SOM) and alkali-hydrolyzable nitrogen (AN) significantly increase. After 45 years of restoration, SOM and AN contents are 250.08% and 442.43% higher than in the control. SOM, AN, and total phosphorus (TP) contents are greater under the shrubs than outside the canopies, indicating pronounced fertilizer accumulation. (2) The number of plant species increases during the restoration process, with 18 more species present after 45 years compared to the control. Community diversity is highest after 13 years of restoration, with greater overall diversity outside the canopies than under the shrubs. These differences decrease as restoration progresses. (3) The stability of Salix paraplesia shrub communities is higher outside the canopies compared to under the shrubs. As restoration proceeds, stability differences between these areas diminish. The Euclidean distances for community stability outside and under the canopies are 13.97 and 14.68, respectively, after 45 years, indicating relative stability. (4) In the early stages of restoration, soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) significantly impact species diversity, while in the later stages, phosphorus (P) content becomes more limiting. Resource islands enhance plant community stability and vegetation restoration, playing a crucial role in ecological protection and vegetation restoration in the alpine sandy land of the Yellow River's upper reaches.

Large changes in vegetation composition seen over the last 50 years in British limestone pavements

Abstract Limestone pavements contain a unique flora, dominated by ferns with a mix of herbaceous species more often found in woodlands, heathlands and grasslands. The crevices between the rocks are known as grikes, they provide a shaded habitat which, depending on pavement structure, can protect plants from grazing. Despite being of conservation importance and supporting a number of rare and scarce plant species there has been very little research into vegetation change in limestone pavements. This study repeated a survey originally conducted between 1972 and 1975. The Ward and Evans survey visited 535 limestone pavement units spread across England, Scotland and Wales and recorded grike vegetation. This study was able to resurvey 516 of those pavements and repeat the survey using the original methods. Expansion of tree and shrub cover has been observed in some pavements but not previously quantified so tree cover was assessed using historic aerial photographs and satellite imagery. On average species richness per pavement increased but there was a very wide range of change in species richness across individual pavement units ranging from a loss of 56 species to an increase of 38. Dissimilarity averaged 0.41. The area of pavement covered by trees or large shrubs increased by 62% between the two surveys but the number of pavements with zero tree cover also increased. Breaking down pavement units into those with low (<5%), medium (5%–30%) and high (>30%) current tree cover shows that species richness increased in open pavements but was reduced in pavements with high tree cover. Pavement units with high tree cover also showed higher dissimilarity and lower levels of indicators of disturbance. In pavements with high tree cover Ellenberg light (L) values were significantly lower than in open pavements. Open pavements showed higher levels of competitive species (based on Grime CSR values) but no change difference in Ellenberg nutrient (N) values. Vegetation in limestone pavements has changed considerably in the period between the two surveys with negative effects of high tree and shrub cover particularly problematic. There is an urgent need for investigation to support management decisions in this habitat. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Ethnobotanical knowledge and practices of pastoralist communities on plants used as repellents and/or insecticides against insect vectors in the Korahaye zone of the Somali Regional State, Eastern Ethiopia

BackgroundCombined efforts to combat both outdoor and indoor transmission of malaria parasites are hampered by emerging vector resistance in a wide range of endemic malaria settings in Ethiopia and the rest of the world, stressing the need to develop and implement alternative control measures. This study aimed to document indigenous pastoralist knowledge on the use of repellent and insecticidal plant species against insect vectors in a number of kebeles in the Somali Regional State, eastern Ethiopia. MethodsData were collected by interviewing a total of 120 participants (105 men and 15 women) through face-to-face interviews guided by a semi-structured questionnaire, observing information on the preparation method, and performing a guided field walk with a guide to collect plant specimens. The ethnobotanical survey was carried out from 5 May 2018–12 April 2019. Medicinal plant specimens were collected following a standard approach, and voucher specimens were deposited in the National Herbarium, Addis Ababa University. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, preference rankings, paired comparisons and direct matrix rankings. ResultsA total of 52 voucher specimens belonging to 47 genera and 31 families were obtained. Of these, 42 were reported to be repellents against mosquitoes or insects in general. Among the plant families recorded, Fabaceae had the highest number of plant species, at 6 (11.5 %). The most represented life forms were herbs (21, 40.38 %), followed by shrubs (17, 32.69 %). Leaves were the most commonly used plant part for remedy preparation and accounted for 14 (26.92 %) of the total plants. Among the repellent plant species documented, 57.68 % were reported to be burned to produce in-house smoke, 20.37 % were mashed, and the paste was applied on the human skin to repel insects. The plants that were commonly mentioned by respondents were Amaranthus sparganiocephalus (27, 22.5 %), Phytolacca dodecandra (18, 15 %), and Commiphora rostrata (26, 21.66 %) for repellent, insecticidal, and both repellent and insecticidal uses, respectively. ConclusionsThe present study showed that pastoralist communities have valuable indigenous knowledge and practices related to the use of plants as repellents. This knowledge should be validated and confirmed experimentally and possibly promoted as a sustainable and ecosystem-friendly insect vector control tool.

Estimating the Greenhouse Gas Emission Potential Due to Construction Work on the 225 kV Segou - Bamako High Voltage BI-Ternal Electric Line in Mali in The Context of Climate Change

The aim of this study is to assess the carbon emissions resulting from the construction of the power line linking Bamako to Ségou. It focuses on direct emissions, more specifically those linked to the degradation and desctruction of the vegetation cover in the project right-of-way. To collect the data, surveys were set up on the project right-of-way, through which 3302 trees were inventoried in situ at the three sites. Circumference was measured at 1.30 m from the ground surface. Allometric equations for direct biomass estimation were used as a predictor o f tree diameter. Emission factors were then used to estimate the potential greenhouse gas emissions resulting from tree felling during power line construction. The standard error associated with the carbon fraction in dry biomass was calculated. In the Ségou, Koulikoro and Dioïla project areas, there are a number of plant species that provide local populations with various ecosystem services, including micro-climate regulation through carbon sequestration or absorption of atmospheric CO2. The implementation of the project will undoubtedly result in the felling of these trees. This felling will generate emissions of 22.11 t.eqCO2/ha in Ségou, 16.56 t.eqCO2/ha in Koulikoro and 15.43 t.eqCO2/ha in Dioïla. Across Ségou, Koulikoro and Dioïla, the trees in the project right-of-way represent a reservoir of 34.04 t/ha of above-ground woody biomass. This biomass represents a carbon stock of around 16.58 t.C/ha. This carbon stock will be transformed into a carbon source with emissions of 60.78 t.eqCO2/ha if the trees in the power line right-of-way are systematically felled. Mitigation measures are therefore urgently needed, with compensatory reforestation areas planted with species with high carbon sequestration potential.

Rural development drives temporal turnover in plant diversity in a China’s scenic area

Abstract Although rural development can improve the well-being of villagers, it can also affect local plant diversity. Furthermore, plant diversity varies across different subareas of rural growth efforts in scenic areas, reflecting differences along the center-periphery gradient. Based on plant species data and satellite remote sensing images from 1984 and 2021, this study analyzed the changes in land-use types of rural development in Hangzhou West Lake Scenic Area and their impacts on plant diversity in the central, middle, and peripheral scenic areas. The results indicated that the area of rural construction land decreased, compared to 1984, while other land use types showed varying degrees of increase. Specifically, part of the forest in the peripheral scenic area was transformed into tea fields, resulting in an observable increase in the overall area. Moreover, the number of plant species decreased along the center-periphery gradient of the scenic area. The greatest differences in the number of plant species and increases in the number of invasive plants were found in the peripheral scenic area, reflecting the greater impact of rural development in this region. Additionally, the number of rare and endangered plant species increased the most in the central scenic area in recent years, which was related to the use of urban green space to protect such plants. Ellenberg's ecological indicator values (EIVs) determined that increasing species in the scenic area preferred shady locations and acidic soils. The changes of land use modes and production and business activity strategies in the villages of the West Lake Scenic Area had improved the villagers' well-being, and the resulting factors such as the introduction of non-indigenous plants and environmental filtering had an influence local plant diversity. Therefore, the administrators should carefully consider the trade-off between conserving biodiversity and enhancing the well-being of the local villagers.

A simple, cost-effective, and efficient method for screening CRISPR/Cas9 mutants in plants

The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9)-mediated genome editing system is widely used for targeted mutagenesis in a growing number of plant species. To streamline the screening process for mutants, especially those generated from low-efficiency editing events, there is a need for a rapid, cost-effective, and efficient method. Although several screening methods have been developed to process initial samples, these methods often tend to be time-consuming, expensive, or inefficient when dealing with larger sample sizes. Here we describe a simple, rapid, low-cost, and sensitive screening method for screening CRISPR/Cas9 mutants called PCR-Bsl I-associated analysis (PCR-BAA). This method requires only standard PCR and Bsl I restriction enzyme digestion, as well as agarose gel electrophoresis analysis. This method is particularly well suited for the efficient screening of mutants from larger populations of transformants. The simplicity, low cost, and high sensitivity of the PCR-BAA method make it particularly suitable for rapid screening of CRISPR/Cas9-induced mutants, especially those from low-efficiency editing events.

Development of DNA Barcoding for the Rapid Assessment of Biodiversity: 2024 Benjamin Franklin Medal in Earth and Environmental Science presented to Paul D. N. Hebert, Ph.D., FRSC, O.C.

The total number of species on Earth ranges from at least one billion to as many as six billion with the number of animal species likely being between 10 and 150 million and the number of plant species about 340,000. Yet, taxonomists have identified only about 2.2 million species, and naming and identifying new species by traditional methods is a slow process. In 1998, Professor Paul Hebert experienced an epiphany and realized a short length of DNA could be used as a “barcode” for every species. Hebert decided a short sequence from subunit 1 of the mitochondrial gene cytochrome c oxidase (COI) would be the ideal barcode for species identification. He was well aware of the advantage of using a mitochondrial gene, which lacks introns, has low levels of recombination, and has a haploid mode of inheritance. In particular, COI has sufficient sequence variation to distinguish among species, and in the early 1990s, there were good universal primers for COI. In 2003, Hebert and his colleagues published their demonstration of the utility of COI as a barcode in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. Their paper remains the most highly cited paper ever to be published in this journal.Interest in Hebert's vision for barcoding all of life was well-known prior to the publication of the 2003 paper, and the Sloan Foundation in conjunction with Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory sponsored two meetings in 2003 to bring together molecular evolutionary biologists such as Hebert, museum-based systematists, and other researchers to discuss the prospects of using DNA barcoding for rapid identification of species. This led to the establishment of the Consortium for the Barcode of Life (CBOL) in 2004 and then the data platform to support the infrastructure of managing barcode information—BOLD: Barcode of Life Data Systems. As of March 2024, the BOLD platform has almost 16 million barcodes with 255,000 linked to a named animal species and 72,000 linked to a named plant species.The ease of barcoding has led to its use in a variety of ways including environmental monitoring of invasive species, detection of trafficking in exotic and protected species, quality assurance of food, and a broadening of involvement of non-scientists in assessing biodiversity. It is also now possible to extract DNA from environmental DNA (eDNA), and eDNA can be used to detect hard-to-find species. The utility of barcodes will continue to expand because of Hebert's original vision and his ongoing efforts to make barcoding cheap and widely available. The possibilities are only limited by our imagination.

Features of distribution of a number of rare and protected plant species in the territories of oligotrophic and mesotrophic mires within oil fields of Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra

The technogenic transformation of oligotrophic and mesotrophic mires, which occurs during the functioning of the infrastructure of oil fields, leads to the emergence of new habitats with fundamentally different conditions, previously uncharacteristic for these biogeocenoses. Expansion of areas of eutrophicated soils, pollution with oil and chlorides, subsequent reclamation measures, the formation of embankments from mineral soil – all these disturbance types create the preconditions for the disappearance of rare plants, however, in parallel, the introduction of new species that also have a protected status is noted. Transformed areas of mires can become refugia for endangered and protected plants. Three groups of plants can be distinguished, related to the nature of the technogenically transformed substrates on which they settle. The first group includes plants that settle exclusively on peat, the second includes species found on mineral substrates introduced into mires, the third group includes species that can grow both on mineral substrates and technogenically eutrophicated peat soils. The article provides characteristics of a number of transformed habitats that arose in the mire areas of the – Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Area – Yugra, within which rare and protected species were found. Among the plants whose distribution in the mires of the district is largely due to the expansion of human economic activity, mention should be made of Thelypteris palustris, Lycopodiella inundata, Typha angustifolia, liverwort Heterogemma laxa, etc.

Findings of Aquatic Vascular Plants on the Sakhalin Island

Investigations of South-western geobotanical district of Sakhalin Island, which is classified as a separate subzone of dark coniferous forests with an admixture of broad-leaved species and corresponds to Krillon floristic district, revealed a number of new aquatic vascular plant species for that area (Lemna turionifera, Myriophyllum verticillatum, Potamogeton gramineus, P. manchuriensis, Stuckenia pectinata, Utricularia minor, U. × ochroleuca). There is also a novelty for the South-Sakhalin lowland geobotanical district (Myriophyllum spicatum). All these taxa are known from other geobotanical districts of Sakhalin. The additions to the flora of the South-western district, which is well surveyed by botanists, indicate not floristic uniqueness of the subzone of dark coniferous forests with an admixture of broad-leaved species, but rather a poor knowledge of the Sakhalin Island aquatic flora.

The microclimatic effects of the native shrub Ephedra californica (Mormon tea) in California drylands.

The impacts of climate change can be profound in many ecosystems worldwide, including drylands such as arid and semi-arid scrublands and grasslands. Foundation plants such as shrubs can provide microclimatic refuges for a variety of taxa. These shrubs can directly influence micro6 environmental measures, and indirectly increase the local environmental heterogeneity as a result. We examined the hypothesis that, in comparison to an open gap, foundation shrubs improve the microclimate beneath their canopy and that microclimate is in turn a significant predictor of annual vegetation. The following predictions were made: 1) mean air temperature (NSAT), ground temperature (SGT), and vapour pressure deficit (VPD) will be significantly lower under the shrubs than in the open microsites; 2) shrub canopy size predicts microclimate; 3) site-level aridity estimates and percent shrub cover influence annual plant abundance and richness; and 4) the site13 level mean of NSAT and VPD predict annual plant abundance and richness. Our study took place in Southwestern California, U.S.A. We used a handheld device with a probe to measure microclimatic variables such as near-surface air temperature (NSAT), near-surface relative humidity (NSRH), and surface ground temperature (SGT) at the shrub species Ephedra californica and in the open gap, across six sites in California, United States. Air temperature and RH were then used to calculate VPD. The mean number of vascular plant species across each site was also recorded. Only SGT was significantly reduced under shrub canopies. Canopy volume was not a significant predictor of all three microclimatic variables, demonstrating that even small, low-stature shrubs can have facilitative effects. Furthermore, total shrub cover and aridity at sites significantly predicted mean plant richness and abundance. There were significantly more plants associated with shrubs and there were significantly more species associated with the open. Mean air temperature and VPD at the site-level significantly predicted vegetation abundance and richness, though microsite-level differences were only significant for richness. Foundation shrubs are a focal point of resiliency in dryland ecosystems. Understanding their impact on microclimate can inform us of better management, conservation, and restoration frameworks.

CRISPR/Cas9-mediated CHS2 mutation provides a new insight into resveratrol biosynthesis by causing a metabolic pathway shift from flavonoids to stilbenoids in Vitis davidii cells.

Resveratrol is an important phytoalexin that adapts to and responds to stressful conditions and plays various roles in health and medical therapies. However, it is only found in a limited number of plant species in low concentrations, which hinders its development and utilization. Chalcone synthase (CHS) and stilbene synthase (STS) catalyze the same substrates to produce flavonoids and resveratrol, respectively. However, it remains unclear how CHS and STS compete in metabolite synthesis. In this study, two CHS2 mutant cell lines (MT1 and MT2) were generated using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. These CHS2 mutant cell lines exhibited abundant mutations in CHS2, leading to the premature termination of protein translation and subsequent CHS2 knockout. Amplicon sequencing confirmed comprehensive CHS2 knockout in MT1, whereas the wild-type sequence remained predominant in the MT2 cell line. Transcriptome and RT-qPCR results showed a significant downregulation of genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis, including CHS2, CHS3, F3H, F3'H, DFR, FLS, LDOX, among others, resulting in decreased flavonoid accumulation, such as anthocyanins, proanthocyanidins, quercetin, and kaempferol. Conversely, STS genes involved in stilbenoid biosynthesis were upregulated competing with the flavonoid pathway. Consequently, there was a marked increase in stilbenoids, including resveratrol, piceatannol, piceid, and pterostilbene, with a 4.1-fold increase in resveratrol and a 5.3-fold increase in piceid (a derivative of resveratrol) observed in CHS2 mutant cell lines. This research demonstrates that CHS2 mutation induces a shift from flavonoid biosynthesis towards stilbenoid biosynthesis, offering new insights into metabolite biosynthesis and regulation, as well as an alternative solution for natural resveratrol production, and a novel breeding approach for eliminating non-target agronomic traits using CRISPR-Cas9.