Plant Genera Research Articles

Multiple reproductive barriers maintain species boundaries in stone plants of the genus Argyroderma

Abstract Measuring the strength of different reproductive barriers across species pairs is key to reveal the mechanisms that have led to evolutionary radiations. Here we study a genus of miniature plants, Argyroderma, which comprises 11 species restricted to a single plain of the Southern African desert. We measure different reproductive barriers to understand how species boundaries are maintained in this genus. Our results show that reproductive isolation is almost complete between all species pairs and relies on three pre-mating barriers: geographic isolation operating at spatial scales of c. 10 km, phenological isolation in flowering time, and habitat isolation operating at spatial scales of just a few metres, which is thought to be due to contrasting edaphic preferences between species. In comparison, post-mating isolation arising before seed formation is weak and does not restrict gene flow much between species. Interestingly, the high levels of both geographic and habitat isolation that we have measured between Argyroderma species might be due to their miniature size, which leads to restricted gene flow across space and to adaptation to spatially restricted micro-habitats.

Tracing the origins and tracking the movements of invasive rubber vines (Cryptostegia spp., Apocynaceae)

Cryptostegia grandiflora and C. madagascariensis (Apocynaceae) are the only two species of this Madagascan plant genus. Both have been transported around the world as ornamentals due to their attractive flowers and based on a perceived potential as sources of rubber – hence, the common name rubber vine – because of their copious latex, which also contains toxic cardiac glycosides. As a result of their vigorous growth and ability to climb over and smother vegetation, both species have become invasive, posing an actual or potential threat to native ecosystems in many tropical and sub-tropical countries, as well as to human and animal health. Classical biological control (CBC), or the introduction of co-evolved natural enemies to control an invasive alien species in its exotic range, has successfully been used to tackle C. grandiflora in northern Queensland, Australia. This strategy is currently being evaluated for its suitability to manage C. madagascariensis in north-eastern Brazil using the same Madagascan rust fungus, Maravalia cryptostegiae, released as a CBC agent in Australia. For CBC to be successful, it is critical to understand the taxonomy of the invader as well as the origin(s) of its weedy biotype(s) in order to select the best-matched co-evolved natural enemies. Based on an exhaustive search in published and unpublished sources, we summarise the taxonomy and uses of these rubber vines, follow their historical movements and track their earliest records and current weed status in more than 80 countries and territories around the world.

Bioactivity of the Genus Turnera: A Review of the Last 10 Years.

Turnera is a genus of plants whose biological activity has been widely studied. The importance of this genus, particularly Turnera diffusa, as a source of treatment for various conditions is evidenced by the large number of new studies that have evaluated its biological activity. Accordingly, the objective of this review was to compile the information published in the last ten years concerning the biological activities reported for Turnera spp. The present work includes 92 publications that evaluate 29 bioactivities and toxicological and genotoxic information on five species of this genus. Among the pharmacological effects reported, the antioxidant, hepatoprotective, neuroprotective, hypoglycemic, and aphrodisiac activities seem more promising. Phytochemicals and standardized plant extracts could offer alternative therapeutic remedies for various diseases. Although several flavonoids, cyanogenic glycosides, monoterpenoids, triterpenoids, and fatty acids have been isolated for Turnera plants, future research should focus on the identification of the main active principles responsible for these pharmacological activities, as well as to perform clinical trials to support the laboratory results.

The legalization of cannabis may result in increased indoor exposure to Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol

Cannabis is a genus of plants in the Cannabaceae family that contains tetrahydrocannabinolic acid. When heated or burned, the acid decarboxylates to form tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). Its (-)-trans-Δ9-THC isomer is a psychoactive substance that has been used as a drug for centuries. In most countries, both the private sale of cannabis products and their use for non-medical purposes are still prohibited by law. However, for some time now there has been societal and political pressure to at least partially legalize cannabis products. It can be expected that such a measure will lead to a significant increase in the consumption of cannabis. However, this also increases the possibility of involuntary passive exposure to THC and contamination of the indoor environment. In indoor sciences, THC is still a largely unknown or underrepresented substance. In this perspective paper, THC will therefore first be presented on the basis of its physical properties. Then, the distribution of THC in different indoor compartments and potential routes of passive exposure are discussed. Finally, an assessment of the future importance of THC for indoor use is made. Previous experience has shown that early monitoring is always advantageous so that preventive and protective measures can be taken quickly if necessary.

Morphological Traits and Nuclear Genetic Diversity of Coptis sp. in Hoang Lien National Park, Lao Cai Province, Vietnam

Coptis is a medicinal plant genus in the Ranunculaceae family, and is also known as “Hoang Lien” in Vietnamese. It is a perennial herb that grows in some regions of the world. However, Coptis is endangered and faces global threats. This study aimed to characterize some main morphological characteristics and performed a phylogenetic analysis of 11 samples of Coptis sp. collected from Hoang Lien National Park using nuclear DNA sequence analyses. All sample species have unique morphological traits with distinct yellow rhizomes and basal leaves with five segments. The petiole measures 13-25 cm and is smooth, while the leaf blade is ovate, ranging from 7 to 15.5 cm in length and 5.5 to 14 cm in width. The leaves are subleathery, glabrous on the underside, and sparsely puberulous on the veins on the upper side. The molecular characterization of Coptis sp. genotypes was determined by ITS markers. The length of the ITS1-ITS2 sequences varied from 363 to 371 nucleotides. The average nucleotide composition was 17.11% A, 31.25% C, 32.247% G and 19.41% T, respectively. The comparison with the GenBank database showed that the samples had 95.71- 96.37% similarity with the species Coptis quinquesecta. The genetic distance among the 11 Coptis samples fluctuated from 0.00 to 0.017. A neighbor-joining tree was constructed to show the genetic relationships among Coptis samples. The results indicated that this endangered species had low levels of genetic diversity. The study has provided valuable information for genetic-based conservation of this rare endemic species and suggested some conservation strategies.

Development of polymorphic simple sequence repeat markers in Agastache rugosa and their application in genetic evaluation and cross-taxon transferability of Agastache species

Agastache is a genus of perennial herbaceous plants belonging to the mint family, Lamiaceae. Several Agastache species are commercially cultivated and used as medicinal, culinary, and ornamental plants. However, information on the genetic diversity and population structure of the species remains unclear. In the present study, genetic diversity within Agastache species was analyzed using simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. In this study, 249,746 SSRs were identified in the A. rugosa genome and primer pairs were designed for 56,675 SSRs. The majority of SSR repeat types were dinucleotides (60.65%), followed by trinucleotides (12.38%), and pentanucleotides (12.10%). PCR conditions were established for 250 primer pairs, 111 of which were found to be polymorphic in A. rugosa germplasm. The number of alleles (NA) ranged from 2 to 19, major allele frequency (MAF) ranged from 0.11 to 0.95, observed heterozygosity (HO) ranged from 0 to 0.89, and polymorphic information content (PIC) ranged from 0.09 to 0.92. Cross-species amplification of SSRs markers in other Agastache species showed amplification rates of 82.6% for A. foeniculum and 78.1% in A. urticifolia, with an average of 80.37%. Cluster analysis of the 19 A. rugosa accessions using SSRs markers revealed four major clusters, and population STRUCTURE analysis using 79 SSRs markers revealed three groups and three subgroups among the A. rugosa populations. The SSRs markers developed can contribute to applications such as varietal identification, genetic diversity analysis, and population structure analysis of A. rugosa germplasm.

Effects of evolutionary history and life form on extinction risk of Chinese flowering plants

There has been much debate on what, including evolutionary history, ecological processes or environmental change, might contribute to species extinctions. In this study, we explored how evolutionary attributes and life forms were correlated with extinction risk of Chinese flowering plants. We defined genus-level extinction risk as the ratio of threatened species over all species in each plant genus. We compiled data on extinction risk for 2731 genera representing 27332 angiosperm species from the IUCN Red List threatened species assessments. We quantified the strength of phylogenetic signal in extinction risk and used phylogenetic generalized linear mixed models to test the effects of evolutionary age, genus size, and evolutionary distinctiveness on extinction risk. We found woody plants suffered greater extinction risk than herbs. There were significant phylogenetic signals in extinction risk, but the signal was stronger in herbaceous plants than in woody plants. Genus size and genus stem age were both negatively associated with extinction risk. In constrast, we found positive correlations between evolutionary distinctiveness and extinction risk. We further indentified many genera (e.g., Cynomorium, Mytilaria, Kingdonia, Scheuchzeria, Brasenia, and Manglietia) had both high evolutionary distinctiveness and high extinction risk. Our study shows that the extinction risk of Chinese flowering plant is not randomly distributed across genera but has strong evolutionary predisposition. We suggest information on life forms, genus size, genus stem age, and evolutionary distinctiveness be considered when making priority for the protection of Chinese flowering plants.

Notes towards a pedagogy of be‐longing: Rewilding art and design education

AbstractThis article reflects on 4 years of research activities in the fields of horticulture and creative praxis. The initial project was a personal one and set out with a simple methodology of collecting, observing, and recording a specific genus of plants, that of Mentha. But as the specific question of whether a garden can, or should, be thought of as a work of art was raised it developed into an interactive, more‐than‐human dynamic between the researcher and multiple species. Ultimately, this led to a consideration of the positionality and interactions of the creative practitioner as critical, in order to develop a transdisciplinary praxis that explores the ecological and transformative potential of learning and healing through gardening. Through a reflexive narrative approach, the role of gardening in education, therefore, is positioned as an art and design praxis and as a partial remedy for several salient, contemporary global issues and challenges. A praxis that if not the complete remedy might at least help, in part, to remedy the damaging ecological experiences of adult and child learners alike, and as such, this article concludes with a provocation for teachers as artists and activists.

Rise and fall of a continental mesic radiation in Australia: spine evolution, biogeography, and diversification of Cryptandra (Rhamnaceae: Pomaderreae)

Abstract The Australian continent has experienced progressive aridification since the Miocene, spurring recent radiations of arid-adapted lineages and the likely decline of mesic biotic groups. While examples of the former have been relatively well-documented, post-Miocene declines of non-arid sclerophyllous floras are less well understood. Here, we present a well-sampled time-calibrated nuclear phylogeny (140 accessions representing 60/65 species) of an Australian plant genus (Cryptandra Sm.: Rhamnaceae) and using ancestral range reconstructions and diversification analyses, elucidate its evolutionary history through space and time. We used high-throughput sequencing to recover 30 orthologous nuclear loci and BioGeoBEARS to infer ancestral areas. We show that the present-day distribution of Cryptandra can be explained by multiple vicariance events followed by in situ diversification with little exchange between regions. All diversification models show a speciation rate decline in Cryptandra after its radiation in the Miocene (c. 23 Mya). This coincides with aridification episodes across Australia and indicates that diversification of this genus has been negatively affected by the expansion of aridity. We also show that there were no significant differences in diversification rates between spinescent and non-spinescent Cryptandra lineages, suggesting that spinescent lineages may be the legacies of selection from extinct megaherbivores.

Genomic diversity and population structure of teosinte (Zea spp.) and its conservation implications.

The wild species of the genus Zea commonly named teosintes, comprise nine different taxa, distributed from northern Mexico to Costa Rica. Although this genus of plants has been extensively studied from a morphological, ecogeographical and genetic point of view, most contributions have been limited to the study of a few populations and taxa. To understand the great variability that exists between and within teosinte species, it is necessary to include the vast majority of known populations. In this context, the objective of this work was to evaluate the diversity and genomic structure of 276 teosinte populations. Molecular analyzes were performed with 3,604 plants and with data from 33,929 SNPs. The levels of genetic diversity by taxonomic group show a marked difference between species, races and sections, where the highest values of genomic diversity was found in ssp. parviglumis and ssp. mexicana. The lower values were obtained for the Luxuriantes section as well as ssp. huehuetenagensis of the section Zea. The results of structure show that there is a great genetic differentiation in all the taxonomic groups considered. For ssp. parviglumis and mexicana, which are the taxa with the largest number of populations, a marked genomic differentiation was found that is consistent with their geographic distribution patterns. These results showed a loss of diversity in several teosinte populations, making a strong case for further collection, and ex situ and in situ conservation. Also, this study highlights the importance of integrating genomic diversity and structure for the applications of conservation and management.

Secondary metabolites from Colletotrichum gloeosporioides isolated from Artocarpus heterophyllus and evaluation of their cytotoxic and antibacterial activities

A new lactone, collectindolide (1), as well as three known compounds, (S)-sydonic acid (2), (S)-hidroxysydonic acid (3), and indole-3-aceticacid (4) were obtained from the liquid media of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides, which was obtained from Artocarpus heterophyllus. The chemical structures of 1-4 were established by spectroscopic analyses, including NMR experiments and by HR-ESI-TOF-MS mass spectroscopy. Compounds 1-4 were evaluated for their cytotoxicity against murine leukaemia P-388 cell lines by MTT assay. Antibacterial activity of compounds 1-4 was also assayed against four bacteria. Phytochemical investigation of the genus Colletotrichum derived from the plant genus Artocarpus is reported for the first time.

Biological Application of the Allopathic Characteristics of the Genus Maclura: A Review.

Maclura is a plant genus little known and used, species of which have been mainly used in the recovery of soils, for medicinal purposes such as dental infection treatments, and as wood for making furniture and construction. The overexploitation of this genus has placed certain species in endangered extinction status in some countries, such as Brazil. In addition, the scarce research and information limit the development, cultivation, and management of its species regarding their biochemical composition, which includes bioactive compounds such as the phenolic and flavonoid compounds found in some species such as M. pomifera, M. cochinchinensis, and M. tinctoria. The plants' antioxidant, antimicrobial, anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative activities have been attributed to these compounds. Other biochemical components such as ashes, insoluble lignin, holocellulose, and the high content of lipids and carbohydrates have been identified to be used to produce biofuels, with characteristics very similar to fuels derived from petroleum. This review aims to analyze the current knowledge on the plant genus Maclura, exploring its biochemical compounds and potential applications, including as a food additive, antioxidant supplement, in agriculture, for therapeutic purposes, aquaculture, and the cosmetic and industrial sector.

An experimental design for obtaining DNA of a target species and its diet from a single non-invasive genetic protocol.

Next-generation sequencing technology has enabled accurate insights into the diet of wildlife species. The protocols for faecal sample collection and DNA extraction for diet analysis have differed from those focusing on target species, even in most studies combining questions on both aspects. We designed an experiment to evaluate two protocols using 11 parameters and select a single one that will generate both target species (Asiatic wild ass, Equus hemionus, in Israel) and diet DNA, as an effective strategy to minimise time, effort, and cost without hampering efficiency. In Protocol A, we swabbed the outer surface of faecal boluses and extracted DNA using a Stool Kit, while for Protocol B, we homogenised faecal matter from inside the bolus followed by extraction using a Powersoil Kit. Protocol A performed significantly better for four parameters, which included, for the target species, microsatellite amplification success and the quantity of the GAPDH gene; and for its diet, the number of exact sequence variants (ESVs) obtained at genus level and plant genus richness. However, there was no significant difference in the amplification success of sex-linked and plant markers, total reads at genus level, number of genera obtained and plant genus composition. Although we chose Protocol A, both protocols yielded results for the target species and its diet, demonstrating that one single protocol can be used for both purposes, although a pilot study is recommended to optimise the protocol for specific systems. This strategy may also be useful for studies combining target species and their gut microbiome and parasitic load.

Anatomical Characteristics of Rhizophora’s Leaves as Mangrove Plant Adaptation at Banyuurip Mangrove Center

Rhizophora is a genus of mangrove plants that dominates the Banyuurip Mangrove Center. This plant certainly has an anatomical structure as a form of adaptation to high salinity environments. The purpose of this study was to describe the anatomical characteristics of the leaves of the three Rhizophora species as an adaptation form of mangrove plants in the Banyuurip Mangrove Center and the anatomical variations of the leaves between species. This type of research was descriptive observational in the form of leaf anatomy observations using the whole mount method for longitudinal incisions and the paraffin method for transverse incisions. The results showed that there were anatomical variations among the three Rhizophora species in the Banyuurip Mangrove Center including epidermal cell size, number of epidermal cells, cork warts, number of hypodermis cell layers, hypodermis cell size, stomata size, number of stomata, stomata index, and stomata density. The anatomical characteristics of the leaves of the three Rhizophora species which act as a form of adaptation to mangrove plants are the presence of hypodermis tissue which functions to store water and salt to remove salt content in plants when they abort their leaves, low density of stomata and the presence of cuticles on the adaxial surface of leaves which play a role in reducing the rate of transpiration thus maintaining water to support plant development in saline conditions, cork warts which function as a medium for expelling salt on leaves.

SCREENING OF ANTI-OBESITY POTENTIAL OF HIPPEASTRUM VITTATUM FLOWER EXTRACT IN EXPERIMENTAL RATS

Obesity as an “abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that may impair health,” further clarifying that “the fundamental cause of obesity and overweight is an energy imbalance between calories consumed and calories expended. The phytochemicals and anti-obesity effect of Hippaestrum vittatum experimental rats was evaluated. A growing number of people are turning to the plant genus Hippeastrum, which contains several alkaloids, as a remedy for neurological disorders and neurodegenerative diseases. The most widely grown amaryllis in the world, Hippeastrum vittatum, is native to Central and South America, Brazil, and Peru. A botanist was able to correctly identify and certify H. vittatum flowers that were collected in the Unnao region. The obtained extract was determined for preliminary phytoconstituents and then evaluated for anti-obesity activity. Albino rats (both sexes) between 130 and 160 g were provided by the Animal House at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Research in Unnao. Rats were divided in 5 groups i.e., control, disease control, standard test 1 and test 2. All the rodents were tested for parameters i.e., Body Weight (Gross), Weight of body organs i.e., Liver, Kidney, Brain, Lipid profile and total cholesterol level, Food consumption pattern, Blood glucose level and Antioxidant activity. In all the parameters, H. vittatum showed a significant modulation in order to confirm its anti-obesity potential. It lowered body weights of rodents when compared with the control at both the doses of 200mg/kg and 400mg/kg. Body organ weights also got decreased when measured at the spleen, liver and kidneys. Thus, by all the factors and protocols, it can be concluded that H. vittatum is an important and effective anti-obesity substance that be given in human beings after clinical trials demonstrating optimum safety and efficacy parameters. It would be very impactful with easier way of curing obesity, hypercholesterolemia and high-fat due to its wide availability and action.

Plant genus is a better predictor of plant effects on soil biotic and abiotic properties than plant invasion status

Plant genus is a better predictor of plant effects on soil biotic and abiotic properties than plant invasion status

Macroevolutionary trends of the Neotropical genus Ameroglossum (Linderniaceae) in rocky outcrop environments

Ameroglossum is a rare plant genus endemic to northeastern of Brazil, initially monospecific (A. pernambucense) and recently expanded by the description of eight new species and two related genera. The genus was initially placed in the family Scrophulariaceae, but this has never been phylogenetically tested. This group is ecologically restricted to rocky inselberg habitats that function as island-like systems (ILS) with spatial fragmentation, limited area, environmental heterogeneity, temporal isolation and low connectivity. Here we use a phylogenetic perspective to test the hypothesis that Ameroglossum diversification was related to island-like radiation in inselbergs. Our results support that Ameroglossum is monophyletic only with the inclusion of Catimbaua and Isabelcristinia (named here as Ameroglossum sensu lato) and this group was well-supported in the family Linderniaceae. Biogeographic analyses suggest that the ancestral of Ameroglossum and related genus arrived in South America c.a. 15 million years ago by long-distance dispersal, given the ancestral distribution of Linderniaceae in Africa. In rocky outcrop habitats, Ameroglossum s.l. developed floral morphological specialization associated with pollinating hummingbirds, compatible with an island-like model. However, no increase in speciation rate was detected, which may be related to high extinction rates and/or slow diversification rate in this ecologically restrictive environment. Altogether, in Ameroglossum key innovations involving flowers seem to have offered opportunities for evolution of greater phenotypic diversity and occupation of new niches in rocky outcrop environments.

Osmophores and petal surface traits in Bignonieae species.

This study characterizes the osmophores and corolla traits in 18 species of Bignonieae Dumort., a Bignoniaceae tribe occurring in the Cerrado, a neotropical savanna in Brazil. To detect osmophore distribution, whole, newly opened flowers were immersed in Neutral Red Solution. Samples from the corolla tube and lobes were also fixed and analyzed micromorphologically, anatomically, and histochemically. The osmophores showed six markedly different distribution patterns that were not clearly associated with histological features. In most species, osmophores comprised papillose secretory epidermises and a few layers of subepidermal parenchyma. Starch grains, lipid droplets, and terpenes were detected in osmophores. An ornamented cuticle, cuticular folds, glandular and non-glandular trichomes, raised stomata and epicuticular wax granules are common traits in the species studied and may be useful in determining the taxonomy of the group. We found that 94% of the species visited by bees had papillose epidermises while the single hummingbird-pollinated species presented a flattened epidermis. Variations in osmophore pattern among species visited by bees, including variations within the same plant genus, are novel finding. Additionally, the Bignonieae species visited by bees presented a textured corolla surface, which has been reported as facilitating bee attachment and movement towards the floral resource. Future studies with a greater number of Bignonieae species and more detailed pollinator behavioral assays may help in the interpretation of the variations in corolla traits and functional relationships between flowers and pollinators.

Chemical composition and in vitro α-amylase inhibitory activity of Meistera vespertilio (Gagnep.) Skornick. & M.F. Newman essential oils collected in two different regions of Vietnam

Meistera, belongs to the Zingiberaceae family, is a genus of medicinal plants that contain a rich resource of essential oils (EOs) as well as have many valuable bioactivities. The aim of the present study was to investigate the EOs of Meistera vespertilio, which has not been reported before. The EOs were distilled by hydrodistillation method from M. vespertilio rhizomes collected in two different regions (Phu Tho and Nghe An Provinces) of Vietnam. The compositional analysis of two EO samples was carried out using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (GC-MS). GC-MS analysis showed that the two samples had a different number of chemical components. The Phu Tho EO sample consisted of more components (51 compounds) compared to the Nghe An EO sample (41 compounds). However, the two EOs were identified with some similar components including α-pinene, camphene, β-pinene, and limonene. Furthermore, both EO samples possessed good inhibitory effects on α-amylase, with average IC50 values ranging from 0.61 to 0.91 (mg/mL). Especially, the EO of M. vespertilio rhizomes from Nghe An Province showed intense α-amylase inhibitory activity (IC50 value of 0.61 ± 0.00 mg/mL) which was stronger than acarbose, an antidiabetic drug (IC50 value of 0.92 ± 0.01 mg/mL), while the figure for Phu Tho EO showed approximately equivalent activity. The results obtained in the present study showed the potential of M. vespertilio EOs as a valuable source of chemical compounds for the food and pharmaceutical industry.

Ameliorating effect of Citrus trifoliata L. fruits extract on motor incoordination, neurodegeneration and oxidative stress in Parkinson’s disease model

ABSTRACT Background Citrus trifoliate fruit (also known as Trifoliate orange) is one of the commercially-cultivated Citrus genus of plants belonging to the Rutaceae family. It has been traditionally-utilized in treatment of neurodegenerative disorders. However, the scientific evidence verifying this utilization needs further elucidation. Aim of the study Characterization of the bioactive constituents of C. trifoliata L. fruits extract and evaluating its effect on Parkinson’s disease (PD) model. Material and methods Rats were classified into 5 groups; control, PD, PD-treated by L-dopa/Carpidopa and PD-treated by oral Citrus trifoliata L. fruits extract (50 and 100 mg/kg). Deterioration in brain functions was evaluated through an in vivo open field, grid and catalepsy tests. The study also assessed the striatal neurotransmitters, oxidative stress markers and histopathological changes. Results Citrus trifoliata L. fruit extract has revealed motor improvement comparable to L-dopa and carbidopa. It has also effectively-improved oxidative stress via reduction of striatal malondialdehyde & nitric oxide along with replenishment of the striatal glutathione and superoxide dismutase. The extract caused significant reduction of the striatal myeloperoxidase activity and restoration of dopamine, γ-amino butyric acid (GABA), and acetylcholinesterase. This effect was further confirmed by amelioration of neuronal apoptosis, microgliosis and peri-neuronal vacuolation. Metabolite profiling revealed 40 constituents, with flavonoids representing the main identified class. Conclusion The neuro-protective effect of Citrus trifoliata extract was achieved through the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of its flavonoids, particularly hesperidin and naringin. This neuro-protective effect was evident at the behavioral, histological and neurotransmitter levels.