Ornamental Garden Plants Research Articles

Analysis of Chemical Traits of Pollen from Nine Ericaceous Species in Southwestern China

Chemical traits (primary and secondary metabolites) are important features of plants. An increasing number of studies have focused on the ecological significance of secondary metabolites in plant parts, especially in pollen. Ericaceae species exhibit significant morphological variations and diverse colors, are widely distributed throughout China and are popular ornamental garden plants. The chemical trait of pollen in Ericaceae species and their potential ecological significance remain unclear. We selected a total of nine Ericaceae species from three nature reserves in southwestern China, which were the predominant flowering Ericaceae plants for each site, and measured their floral characteristics, nectar volume and sugar concentration. We determined the types of pollinators of these species based on a literature review and used UPLC-QTOF-MS to analyze the types and relative contents of primary metabolites (amino acids and fatty acids) and secondary metabolites (terpenoids, phenolics and nitrogenous compounds) in the pollen and other tissues, including the stems, leaves, petals and nectar. The results showed that each species exhibited unique floral characteristics. Enkianthus ruber, Pieris formosa, Rhododendron agastum, R. irroratum, R. virgatum and R. rubiginosum were pollinated by bees, and R. delavayi, R. decorum and R. excellens were pollinated by diverse animals (bees, birds and Lepidoptera). The pollen of these Ericaceae species was rich in phenolics and terpenoids, especially flavonoids. Grayanotoxin, andromedotoxin and asebotin (toxic diterpene compounds) were also detected in the pollen of some of the Ericaceae species in our study, and their response value was low. The relative contents and diversity of secondary metabolites in the pollen were higher than those in the nectar but lower than those in the leaves, petals and stems. The five chemical compounds with the highest content (four flavonoids, one triterpene) in the pollen were also detected in the stems, leaves and petals, and the response value of most of these chemicals in pollen was not significantly correlated with that in other tissues. Rhododendron species has a closer relationship with chemical traits in pollen compared with Enkianthus and Pieris species. The response value of total secondary metabolites in the pollen of species pollinated only by bees was higher than that of species pollinated by diverse animals. Our research indicates that the pollen of ericaceous species contains a wide array of metabolites, establishing a foundation for advancing the nutritional potential of the pollen of horticultural ericaceous species and deepening our understanding of its chemical and ecological significance.

Identification and validation of reference genes for RT-qPCR analysis in Iris domestica under Cd stress

Iris domestica is a widely used ornamental garden and important medicinal plant. Our previous studies have shown that it exhibits significant uptake and translocation capacity under Cd stress compared to other Iris species. Gene expression is studied using RT-qPCR; however, there are no reference genes have been found for I. domestica under Cd stress. In this investigation, thirteen possible reference genes from previous studies and our transcriptome were screened using RT-qPCR in the leaves and roots of Cd-stressed plants. The findings revealed that UBC9 and ACT were the best reference genes for roots with and without Cd stress, whereas YLS8 and ACT7 were the best reference genes for leaves. Among the different tissues without Cd stress, UBC9 and UBC28 exhibited the best results, whereas PP2C06 and UBC9 exhibited the best results under Cd stress. The most stable reference genes in the leaves and roots were UBC9 and UBC28, respectively, under and without Cd stress, and GADPH was the most unstable. Finally, three metal ion response genes, NRAMP2, YSL9 and CYP81Q32 were detected using RT-qPCR and compared with the transcriptome data to further confirm the reliability of the chosen genes. This study identified suitable reference genes for I. domestica under Cd-stress conditions.

First Report of Plumed Cockscomb (Celosia argentea var. plumosa) Stem Blight Caused by Phytophthora nicotianae in Taiwan.

Celosia spp. is a widely cultivated ornamental plant in gardens or parks in Taiwan. In September 2021, withering leaves and grayish-brown lesions were observed on the lower stem of plumed cockscombs (C. argentea var. plumosa) in Taichung City, with an incidence of about 22% in 136 plants after continuous precipitation, impacting the aesthetic value of the landscape. Symptomatic plants were collected, surface disinfected with 70% EtOH for ~20 sec., blotted dried, and excised diseased tissues (~ 3×3 mm2) were placed on 2% water agar. Four representative isolates were obtained after purification and the colonies were white with aerial and non-septated hyphae on V8 agar for 7 days. Sporangia were ovoid, ellipsoid or obpyriform, papillate, (26.3-55.9) 38.0 × 29.0 (20.1-40.6) µm (n = 200) (Ahonsi et al. 2007). Chlamydospores were spherical, terminal or intercalary, 26.0 (15.1-40.4) µm (n = 200). All isolates belong to A2 mating type with amphigynous antheridia and plerotic oospores, 21.0 (17.7-25.7) µm (n = 200), resembling the descriptions of Phytophthora (Erwin & Ribeiro 1996). For molecular identification, sequences of the ITS, β-tubulin (β-tub), and EF-1α regions of all isolates were amplified using ITS1/ITS4, TUBUF2/TUBUR1, and ELONGF1/ELONGR1 primers, respectively (White et al. 1990; Kroon et al. 2004). BLAST analyses of isolates cap1-2 (ITS: OQ581785; β-tub: OQ590022; EF-1α: OQ590026), cap1-3 (ITS: OQ581786; β-tub: OQ590023; EF-1α: OQ590027), cap2-1 (ITS: OQ581787; β-tub: OQ590024; EF-1α: OQ590028), and cap2-2 (ITS: OQ581788; β-tub: OQ590025; EF-1α: OQ590029) showed 100% of ITS identity, 99.5 to 99.9% of β-tub identity, and 99.4 to 99.6% of EF-1α identity with Phytophthora nicotianae (ITS: MG865551; β-tub: MH493987; EF-1α: MH359043). Phylogenetic trees were constructed using concatenated ITS, β-tub, and EF-1α sequences based on maximum likelihood with a GTR+G model in MEGA X and Bayesian inference method in Geneious Prime 2022.2. All isolates were clustered in P. nicotianae with similar topology, thereby were identified as P. nicotianae. To confirm pathogenicity, 7 to 10-day-old seedlings and 6-week-old plumed cockscomb plants were inoculated in separate trials and each experiment was conducted twice. For each seedling, the lower stem was inoculated with 50 μl of zoospore suspension (104 zoospores/ml), 3 plants per isolate, and then incubated at 30±2℃ with 12 h light. For adult plants, each was inoculated with mycelial plugs from one V8 plate of 10-day-old P. nicotianae, 5 plants per isolate, and incubated at 25±2℃ in a greenhouse. Control plants were inoculated with sterile water and V8 agar plugs, respectively. Stem and root rot were observed on seedlings 4 days after inoculation while wilting and lower stem browning were observed on adult plants 2 months after inoculation. All control plants remained healthy at the end of repeated trials and identical pathogens were re-isolated only from symptomatic plants, thus fulfilling Koch's rules. P. nicotianae has been reported causing root rot and stem necrosis not only on cockscomb (C. plumosa Hort. ex Burvenich) in Argentina (Frezzi 1950), but also infecting several ornamental plants recently in Taiwan (Ann et al. 2018). To our knowledge, this is the first report of stem blight caused by P. nicotianae on plumed cockscombs in Taiwan. This finding suggests limited options for landscaping and the host preference of the isolates obtained in this study should warrant further studies.

Effect of rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) supplement on the growth characteristics and larval metabolism of black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens L.)

Abstract The black soldier fly (BSF), Hermetia illucens. L (Diptera: Stratiomyidae), is often harnessed to transform organic waste into nutrient-rich larval biomass, providing an alternative animal feed in the aquaculture industry. In Israel, rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) is a common ornamental plant in gardens that also demonstrates insecticidal and repellent properties and medicinal value. This study focuses on utilizing rosemary waste to produce nutrient-enriched BSF larvae for animal feed and potential medical applications. We evaluated BSF larval survivability, adult emergence and metabolomics following supplementation with different percentages of rosemary leaves (4%, 15%, and 20%, relative to 25 g of the total Gainesville diet). Surprisingly, we observed 95-99.6% larval survivability in the rosemary treatments, comparable to the control. Larval body weight slightly decreased by 4%, 12%, and 20%, respectively, measured as 219 ± 3 mg, 220 ± 3 mg, and 219 ± 4 mg, respectively, compared to the control (249 ± 5 mg) (x̄ ± SE; ). There was a significant difference in adult emergence at 10 days from larval addition (), but no difference after 16 days (). Metabolomics analysis unveiled the over-accumulation of metabolites in BSF larvae after rosemary supplementation linked to aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, phenylalanine metabolism, arginine biosynthesis, phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, butanoate metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolism. Conversely, purine metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, and pantothenate and CoA biosynthesis were down-accumulated. Rosemary supplementation also led to the over-accumulation of antioxidant metabolites (rosmarinic acid, carnosic acid, and caffeic acid), suggesting that including rosemary powder in organic compost slightly reduced larval body weight but shortened adult developmental time and enhancing the nutritional value of BSF larvae. However, further molecular studies are necessary to understand BSF resistance and other biochemical changes resulting from rosemary inclusion in their diet.

Floral Visitors of the Golden Rain Tree, Cassia fistula (Fabaceae), in Campeche, Mexico1

Abstract Cassia fistula L., known as the golden rain tree, is a flowering tree that is native to Asia but is used as an ornamental plant in public and private gardens in many areas of Mexico. It is also important for its antifungal, antibacterial, antioxidant, phytochemical, and medicinal properties. In this study, floral visitors of C. fistula were identified in the urban area of Escarcega, Campeche, Mexico in three public gardens during the month of May using entomologic nets. The insects were preserved with 70% alcohol, transported to the laboratory, and identified to species level using taxonomic keys. In total, 124 insects were collected representing 8 species belonging to 7 genera. Of those insects collected, Trigona fulviventris Guérin-Méneville and Trigona silvestriana Vachal (Hymenoptera: Apidae) were the most abundant, accounting for almost 50% of the total specimens collected. Previous reports list 32 species of insects as floral visitors of C. fistula in Mexico. Our study adds six species to that list that had not been previously recorded: Epicharis elegans Smith, Eulaema polychroma (Mocsáry), Melipona sp., T. silvestriana, and Xylocopa latipes (Drury), which are all members of the family Apidae (order Hymenoptera), and Parachartergus apicalis (F.), a vespid (Hymenoptera: Vespidae).

Specific Detection of Phytophthora parasitica by Recombinase Polymerase Amplification Assays Based on a Unique Multicopy Genomic Sequence.

Phytophthora parasitica is a highly destructive oomycete plant pathogen that is capable of infecting a wide range of hosts including many agricultural cash crops, fruit trees, and ornamental garden plants. One of the most important diseases caused by P. parasitica worldwide is black shank of tobacco. Rapid, sensitive, and specific pathogen detection is crucial for early rapid diagnosis, which can facilitate effective disease management. In this study, we used a genomics approach to identify repeated sequences in the genome of P. parasitica by genome sequence alignment and identified a 203-bp P. parasitica-specific sequence, PpM34, that is present in 31 to 60 copies in the genome. The P. parasitica genome specificity of PpM34 was supported by PCR amplification of 24 genetically diverse strains of P. parasitica, 32 strains representing 12 other Phytophthora species, one Pythium species, six fungal species, and three bacterial species, all of which are plant pathogens. Our PCR and real-time PCR assays showed that the PpM34 sequence was highly sensitive in specifically detecting P. parasitica. Finally, we developed a PpM34-based high-efficiency recombinase polymerase amplification assay, which allowed us to specifically detect as little as 1 pg of P. parasitica total DNA from both pure cultures and infected Nicotiana benthamiana at 39°C using a fluorometric thermal cycler. The sensitivity, specificity, convenience, and rapidity of this assay represent a major improvement for early diagnosis of P. parasitica infection.

Can gardeners identify ‘future invaders’?

It is estimated that there are 30 million gardeners in Britain, who could play a crucial role in being the ‘first contact’ for reporting ornamental plants in gardens with invasive potential. Invasive species are one of the five drivers of the global nature crisis, many of which were originally introduced through ornamental horticulture. Ornamentals confined to gardens and those which have already naturalised, but are not yet shown to be invasive, represent a ‘pool’ of species with invasive potential – ‘future invaders’. An online survey asking gardeners to report ornamentals they had noticed invading or taking over their garden resulted in 251 different taxa being reported (including cultivars). The future invaders were prioritised with a simple yet structured scheme, looking at the domestic and global naturalised and invasive status of each taxon, including in the Global Register of Introduced and Invasive Species (GRIIS) and the Global Naturalized Alien Flora (GloNAF) databases. The structured scheme identified a shortlist of nine ornamentals of concern which should be prioritised for further analysis, such as a formal risk assessment. Identifying and preventing future invaders before they escape gardens is critical, to prevent future threats to nature. There is also a gap in the identification of potentially invasive ornamentals, which are not currently invasive, yet are beyond the scope of formal horizon scanning because they are naturalised. Here we explore whether surveying gardeners can be a suitable approach to prioritising future invaders while also being an opportunity to increase awareness of invasive species. This positive feedback loop between gardeners and invasion scientists could help reduce the risk of future invaders.

The Precious Potential of the Sacred Tree Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl. as a Source of Secondary Metabolites with Broad Biological Applications.

Chamaecyparis obtusa (Siebold & Zucc.) Endl., which belongs to the Cupressaceae family, occurs naturally in North America and Asia, especially in Korea, Taiwan and Japan, where it is an evergreen, coniferous, sacred, ethnic tree. It has many useful varieties that are widespread throughout the world and grown for decorative purposes. It is most commonly used as an ornamental plant in homes, gardens or parks. It is also widely used in many areas of the economy; for example, its wood is used in architecture as well as furniture production. In addition, oil extracted from Chamaecyparis obtusa is increasingly used in cosmetology for skin care. Due to its wide economic demand, mainly in Japan, it represents the largest area of plantation forest. Despite this, it is on the red list of endangered species. Its use in ethnopharmacology has led to more and more research in recent years in an attempt to elucidate the potential mechanisms of its various biological activities, such as antimicrobial, antioxidant, anticancer, antidiabetic, antiasthmatic, anti-inflammatory, antiallergic, analgesic and central nervous system effects. It has also been shown that Chamaecyparis obtusa can be used as an insect repellent and an ingredient in plant disease treatment. This thesis provides a comprehensive review of the biological studies to date, looking at different areas of the economic fields of potential use of Chamaecyparis obtusa.

Study of ornamental plants in parks and gardens of Absheron and Türkiye

Study of ornamental plants in parks and gardens of Absheron and Türkiye

Clerodendrum bungei: Türkiye’de park ve bahçeler dışında çok sayıda yeni kaydı tespit edilen bir süs bitkisi

Clerodendrum bungei Steud. (Lamiaceae) is a deciduous shrub occurs both within its native Asian range and beyond to temperate and tropical regions around the world as a result of both unintentional and intentional introductions for ornamental uses. Although it was listed as an ornamental plant in parks and gardens of Türkiye, this paper presents a list of 52 record including 46 new records of C. bungei outside parks and gardens of Türkiye. The new list includes 11 records from Artvin, 10 records from Rize, 8 records from Trabzon, 14 records from Giresun, 3 records from Ordu and 1 record from Samsun. The rapid increase in the number of new localities outside gardens and parks of Türkiye in the last 10 years shows that the species has been an invasive alien species in this region in the near future. So, it will outcompete native plant species and impact habitat values, thus it is important to closely monitor the populations outside parks and garden in this region and should take the necessary precautions by local farmers and administrations.

Edukasi pengetahuan masyarakat dalam pemanfaatan daun insulin di Desa Jambi Kecil Kabupaten Muaro Jambi

The insulin plant (Tithonia diversifolia (Hemsl.) A. Gray) is a flowering plant with orange-colored flowers that belongs to the Asteraceae family. It can be cultivated as an ornamental plant in gardens or green spaces and used in traditional medicine. The benefits and potential of this plant are numerous, including its use as green manure, pest, and disease control, fodder for livestock, soil and water conservation, and its potential in traditional treatments for urinary tract infections, digestive issues, and diabetes management. This community service aims to enhance public knowledge regarding using insulin plant leaves as crude drugs for diabetes treatment. The method employed involves conducting informational sessions through lectures followed by a question-and-answer session. The results show the community learned about using insulin plants as a diabetes remedy. The community's knowledge about using insulin plants as a traditional remedy as a decoction for diabetes treatment increased to 100%.

Evaluation of Phytochemical Screening and Antibacterial Activity of Latana Camara Linn. Extract Used As Antibacterial Finish on Fabrics

The aim of the research was to evaluate the antibacterial activity of a crude extract from Latana camara L. on different types of fabric samples made of cotton, bamboo, and bamboo cotton. Lantana camara L. is a well-known weed and a popular ornamental garden plant that is widely utilized in traditional medicine all over the world. Acetate, ethanol, methanol, and petroleum ether were used as solvents to make the leaves crude extract. Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were used as test organisms for the crude extract's anti-bacterial activity, which was also used for phytochemical analysis. According to a phytochemical study, Latana camara L. extract contained alkaloids, flavonoids, phenol and tannin. As measured by inhibitory zones ranging from 09mm to 24mm, plant methanol extract demonstrated good antibacterial activity against test organism. Antibacterial activity of fabrics (cotton, bamboo and bamboo cotton) finished with plant extract revealed inhibitory zones excellent ranging from 23mm to 28mm against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. The present findings imply the potential antibacterial activity of the plant. L. camara aids in the relief of inflammatory conditions and to be developed into standardized, safe, and affordable biomedical products and use as functional finish for home textiles.

Horticulture could facilitate invasive plant range infilling and range expansion with climate change

Abstract Invasive plants are often sold as ornamental garden plants, but how often are species sold in the same locations as where they are invasive? To answer this question, we assessed the geography of ornamental plant sales in the United States in relation to existing invasions and potential invasion risk with climate change. Using a data set of 672 nurseries selling 89 invasive plants, we estimated the distance between nursery sales and invasive species’ observed distributions. We also used species range maps to identify nursery sales within current potential invaded ranges, as well as within species’ future potential ranges given climate change. Half of the species were sold by a nursery within 21 kilometers of an observed record of invasion. Under the current climate, horticulture could be seeding invasions for 73 of the 89 species studied, and horticulture could facilitate climate-driven range expansion of 25 of 89 species. Our results illustrate risks associated with horticultural introductions of invasive species, providing guidance for regulatory and educational interventions that reduce the spread of ongoing and future invasions.

Antibacterial, Antimitotic and Anti-Inflammatory Efficacy of Delonix regia Flower Extracts

Delonix regia is a multipurpose tree, it is harvested from the wild for a wide range of local uses, including for medicines, food, timber, fuel and beads. It is cultivated as a shade tree in plantations and is used to stabilize and enrich the soil. This species is one of the most widely cultivated ornamental plants in the world, being grown as an ornamental plant in gardens and by the sides of roads throughout the tropics. The main objective of the study was to understand the effect of the Delonix regia flower extract for its antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antimitotic study. For the analysis of the antibacterial study, the ethanolic extraction method was used and the extract was dissolved in DMSO and distilled water which was further tested on the clinical strains of Staphylococcus and Enterococcus faecalis, where zone of inhibition was observed for both the strains. For the analysis of the anti-inflammatory study human blood was used, the inflammatory test was carried by the Hemolysis Inhibition Assay, post the analysis the extract showed potential to inhibit the breakdown of red blood cells. For the analysis of antimitotic activity Macrotyloma uniflorum (horse gram) was suspended in the chemotherapy drug- Vinblastin along with control and dilutions of the flower extract, which was quantitatively assessed. The results implied that the flower extract has properties that can inhibit the growth of cells/gram.

Agave attenuata and Agave amica, new hosts of Tuberose mild mosaic virus in Mexico.

Agave attenuata is a Mexican wild plant originally from highlands in the central and occidental mountains of Mexico. This species, known as "swan´s neck agave", is used only as an ornamental plant in public and private gardens. No virus had previously been reported from A. attenuata before this study. In a survey conducted in a commercial greenhouse in Cuautla, Morelos, in 2018, several plants were observed with symptoms of green mosaic and streaks, consistent with a putative viral infection. Sap inoculation from symptomatic A. attenuata plants to herbaceous indicator plants (Nicotiana benthamiana and N. tabacum) failed to produce symptoms in the mechanically inoculated plants. ELISA specific test to CMV, TEV, AMV, TMV and Potyvirus Group (Agdia, Inc.), was positive only for the last one (Chen and Chang, 1998). To determine the identity of the potyvirus involved, total nucleic acid extracts from 100 mg of symptomatic leaves (Trizol reagent; Gibco BRL Life Technologies, England) were used as template in RT-PCR with genus-specific potyvirus primers POT1-POT2, which targeted the variable 5´ terminal half of the coat protein gene of potyviruses (Colinet et al. 1998). The expected 900 bp amplicon was consistently detected in 10 symptomatic A. attenuata plants whereas no PCR products were obtained from 15 asymptomatic A. attenuata plants collected from the "Agaves de México" section at the 'Botanic Garden' of the Instituto de Biología de la UNAM, México. The amplicons were sequenced by the Sanger´s method and the obtained nucleotide (nt) sequences (Acc. No KY190217.1; OP964597-598) and their derived amino acid (aa) sequences were 94.68% to 95.80% similar to an isolate of Tuberose mild mosaic virus (TuMMV; Potyvirus; (Acc. No ON116187.1) characterized from Agave amica in India (Raj et al. 2009). Interestingly, A. amica (formerly Poliantes tuberose) is also a wild Mexican plant that is geographically distributed in the central and south regions of Mexico and is currently being commercially cultivated as an ornamental plant. Plants of A. amica (n=10) showing yellow mild streak were collected from commercial greenhouse and tested positive for TuMMV by RT-PCR and Sanger sequencing (No Acc. OP964599-601 levels) described above. The derived TuMMV sequences from A. attenuata and A. amica were 99-100% similar to each other at the nt/aa level. To exclude the involvement of additional viral agents in the disease, high-throughput sequencing analysis was performed separately for each species of Agave on total RNA extracts from a composite sample of symptomatic leaf tissues using Illumina´s Next Seq 500 platform. Analysis of the obtained 13,260,700 reads (each 75 nt) by the Trinity software, with a total number of sequences of 22,793, resulted in the identification of a single viral contig of 9500 nt for A. attenuata (Acc. No OP964595). Similarly, for A. amica, 27,262,248 reads were obtained, with a total number of sequences of 23,269, resulting in the identification of a single viral contig of 8500 nt (ACC. No OP964602). These contigs showed an identity percentage of 96%/88% and 98%/96% for nucleotides and amino acids, respectively, compared to an isolate of TuMMV from India (Acc. OM293939). Mexico is a center of origin for numerous species of genus Agave which have high economic, social, and ecological impact. TuMMV could be a threat to these plants and potentially to other unknown susceptible crops. To our knowledge, this is the first report of TuMMV in A. attenuata and A. amica in Mexico. REFERENCE Chen, C. C., and Chang, C. A. 1998. Characterization of a potyvirus causing mild mosaic on tuberose. Plant Dis. 82:45-49. Colinet, D., Nguyen, M., Kummert, J., Lepoivre, P., and Xia, F. Z. 1998. Differentiation among potyviruses infecting sweet potato based on genus- and virus-specific reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Plant Dis. 82:223-229. Raj, S.K., Snehi, S.K., Kumar, S., Ram, T. and Goel, A.K. 2009. First report of Tuberose mild mosaic potyvirus from tuberose (Polianthes tuberosa L.) in India. Australasian Plant Dis. Notes 4, 93-95.

Advances on the Amaryllidacea Alkaloids Collected in South Africa, Andean South America and the Mediterranean Basin.

The alkaloids are one of the most represented family of natural occurring biological active compounds. Amaryllidaceae are also very well known for their beautiful flower and are thus used as ornamental plants in historic and public gardens. The Amaryllidacea alkaloids constitute an important group that is subdivided into different subfamilies with different carbon skeletons. They are well known from ancient times for their long application in folk medicine, and in particular, Narcissus poeticus L. was known to Hippocrates of Cos (ca. B.C. 460-370), who treated uterine tumors with a formulate prepared from narcissus oil. To date, more than 600 alkaloids of 15 chemical groups exhibiting various biological activities have been isolated from the Amaryllidaceae plants. This plant genus is diffused in regions of Southern Africa, Andean South America and the Mediterranean basin. Thus, this review describes the chemical and biological activity of the alkaloids collected in these regions in the last two decades as weel those of isocarbostyls isolated from Amaryllidaceae in the same regions and same period.

Accidental Oleandrum (Nerium Oleander L.) Ingestion: Anatomo-Pathological consequences in livestock species

The oleander (Nerium oleander L.) is a flowering and evergreen shrub or small tree, belonging to the Dogbane family, cultivated as ornamental plants in gardens and public city areas. These plants, distributed originally in Asia and Mediterranean area, grow in many parts of the world, particularly in warm temperate and subtropical regions. Oleander is considered noxious weed and its toxicity has been known since ancient times. All parts of plants, including stems, leaves, young shoots, flowers, nectar, sap and products induced by combustion are toxic. The poisoning effects of plant induced sever negative changes especially in the heart, also in the lung, in the liver and in the kidney. Accidental and experimental cases of oleander poisonings have been described in several species. Several cases of accidental ingestion in human and animals have been reported from across the world. Therefore, this review summarizes the main anatomo-pathological effects found in livestock species after accidental oleandrum poisoning.

Mini Review: Therapeutic Potential of Tecoma stans

The plant Tecoma stans belongs to Bignoniaceae family. It is dicotyledonous in nature and shrub type plant with 2 to 4 meters height. This plant is generally grown along sides of streets and is also as an ornamental garden plant. Other names used for this plant are yellow bells, trumpet flower and yellow elder. All the parts of the plant including root, bark, leave, flower, fruit and seed are reported to have several medicinal and therapeutic properties. Chemical constituents of this plant includes alkaloids, anthraquinones, amino acids, flavonoids, glycosides, monoterpenes, phytosterols, phenols, quinones, saponins, tannins and triterpenes. Presently, more focus is towards plant based herbal medicines for the remedial purposes of multiple diseases and medical conditions. Different parts of T. stans plant have been identified to possess anti-microbial, anti-oxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-proliferative, anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer, cytotoxic and wound healing properties. It is also used to treat digestive complications, diabetes, yeast infections, cancer and arthritis as well. This review article provides information and data on phytochemical, pharmacological and remedial potential of T. stans plant briefly.

Characterization of the Plastid Genome of the Vulnerable Endemic Indosasa lipoensis and Phylogenetic Analysis

Indosasa lipoensis, an ornamental garden plant, belongs to the Indosasa genus of the subfamily Bambooaceae within Poaceae. Indosasa lipoensis is endangered and requires protection owing to its relatively narrow distribution area. Chloroplast (cp) genome offers a novel awareness of the evolutionary and genetic variation of higher plants. Herein, we assembled and elucidated the complete cp genome of I. lipoensis, and compared it with four previously published cp genomes from this genus. The I. lipoensis cp genome was 139,655 bp in size, with a typical quadripartite structure, encompassing a large single-copy region (LSC, 83,256 bp), a small single-copy region (SSC, 12,809 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (IR, 21,795 bp). The cp genome consisted of 130 genes with 84 protein-coding genes (CDS), 38 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The plastomes were highly conservative, compared to other bamboo species, and exhibited similar patterns of codon usage, number of repeat sequences, and expansion and contraction of the IR boundary. Five hypervariable hotspots were identified as potential DNA barcodes, namely rbcL, petA, petB, trnL-UAG, and ndhE-ndhI, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the complete cp genomes revealed, with high resolution, that I. lipoensis and I. gigantea were most closely related. Overall, these results provided valuable characterization for the future conservation, genetic evaluation, and the breeding of I. lipoensis.

Occurrence of Phytophthora ramorum and Other Phytophthora Species on Woody Ornamentals in Public Gardens and Parks in Northwestern Spain

Phytophthora ramorum is a harmful pathogen of ornamental and forest trees in Europe and North America. This pathogen has been recovered from nursery plants in Galicia (northwestern Spain) since 2003 and, despite carrying out the measures implemented by Commission Decision 2002/757/CE, including the eradication of infected plants and periodic inspections in nurseries, it is likely that P. ramorum has spread in landscaped green areas through planting of infected nursery stock. The aim of this work was to survey woody ornamental plants in public parks and gardens in Galicia for the presence of P. ramorum from 2011 to 2018 and to identify and characterize any other species of the genus found. Samples of leaves, twigs, and rhizosphere soil of symptomatic ornamental trees and shrubs were analyzed. Morphological, physiological, and molecular characteristics of 93 collect isolates enabled the identification of 13 species of Phytophthora. The greatest diversity of Phytophthora species was detected on Rhododendron and Camellia. P. ramorum was isolated from leaf samples of Camellia sp., Rhododendron sp ., and Viburnum tinus grown in three sites. To our knowledge, this is the first time that P. ramorum has been detected in landscaped green areas in Spain. These results suggest that regular inspections of symptomatic ornamental woody plants are necessary to control the spread of P. ramorum and other Phytophthora species.