Reproductive Parts Research Articles

Effect of Sowing Dates and Flower Pruning on Chemical Properties and Shelf Life of Yam Bean (Pachyrrhizus erosus L.) Tubers

Underutilized crops provide essential micro-nutrient and thus able to complement staple foods. The inhibitory effect of floral and fruit development may affect the tuber development. It is logical to assume that large amounts of nitrogen and other essential components are assimilated by the reproductive parts of plant, hence it is important to remove these reproductive parts as well as time of sowing also affect the shelf life and chemical properties of yam bean tubers which form the basis of an experiment on effect of sowing dates and flower pruning on chemical properties and shelf life of Yam bean tubers. An experiment was conducted at Department of Vegetable Science, College of Horticulture, Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth, Dapoli during the year 2023-24. Twelve treatments and 3 replications in Factorial Randomized Block Design Planting dates (D) i.e., D₁-1st week of June, D₂-3rd week of June, D3 -1st week of July, D4 -3rd week of July and Interval of reproductive pruning (P) i.e., P1 – Weekly, P2 – Fortnightly, P3 – No pruning. Chemical analysis of the tubers was done to analyse the starch, fiber, dry matter, TSS and shelf life of the tubers from various treatments. Investigation revealed that among the various chemical parameters and shelf life the effect of interaction on starch, fiber, dry matter and shelf life was significant whereas it was non-significant on TSS. The highest starch content was recorded in D3P1 (6.81%). The fiber content was analysed highest in D4P3 (0.69 %). The highest dry matter content was analysed in D1P3 (24.59 %). The highest TSS was recorded in D1P1 (6.40 °B) and highest shelf life was recorded in D1P1 (36.56 days). Considering its nutritional quality and sustainability in the region it can be an alternative crop with food security, nutritional security as well as economic sustainability [1].

Variability of the sexual reproductive part in stinging nettle Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae): From flower to genet

AbstractStinging nettle, Urtica dioica L., is a widely distributed subdioecious long‐rhizomatous plant. Within a single population growing in the territory of the Zvenigorod Biological Station of Lomonosov Moscow State University, eight plots were selected in stinging nettle thickets to study the variability of the sexual reproductive part in U. dioica depending on internal and external factors. As monoecious ramets are relatively common in the studied population, four gender forms were distinguished based on the ratio of male and female flowers. On 156 ramets of different gender forms and 36 genets, it was shown that predominantly male plants are shorter, while predominantly female plants have larger and more widely spread inflorescences compared to other gender forms. The pubescence type (spreading or appressed unicellular hairs) shows the greatest repeatability within the merigenet. True monoecy in stinging nettle is widespread: male and female flowers of different gender forms were found in 10 out of 36 genets. The most common inflorescence architecture types in the studied population were proxigynous and basigynous. Both normal pistillate and normal staminate flowers, as well as flowers with morphological abnormalities formed based on flowers of different sexes can be found on the same ramet, which suggests the presence of paradioecious lability.

TWO NEW SPECIES OF PAYPAYROLA (VIOLACEAE) FROM THE CAMPINARANAS OF THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON

Paypayrola is a small genus of Violaceae consisting of small trees or shrubs found in the humid forests of South America. The boundaries between species have proven problematic, particularly among taxa in the Amazon. Through the analysis of Paypayrola specimens from this region, we have identified two new species, potentially restricted to campinarana vegetation. Paypayrola oppositifolia and P. pubiflora are distinguished from other known species in the genus by their phyllotaxy and the indumentum of reproductive parts. We provide morphological descriptions, illustrations, distribution maps, conservation status of the new species, and compare them with Amazonian species that are morphologically similar.

Nature’s Precision: The Intricate Pollen Dispersal Mechanisms of Papilionaceous Crops

Pollination, a fascinating natural process, is crucial for the reproduction of flowering plants. It involves the transfer of pollen from the male reproductive part to the female reproductive part, enabling successful fertilization. Papilionaceous crops, belonging to the Fabaceae family, exhibit highly specialized pollen dispersal mechanisms that ensure effective pollination and genetic diversity. These mechanisms involve intricate interactions between floral structures and pollinators, primarily bees. By integrating findings from various studies, this review provides a comprehensive understanding of the intricate pollen dispersal mechanisms in papilionaceous crops such as piston/pump mechanism, explosive type mechanism, brush type mechanism and valvular mechanism. It also provides information about the role of different floral parts in pollen dispersal among the flowers. This review will be helpful in gaining insights about pollen dispersal mechanism and it contribution in improving crop yields and breeding programs.

Tree growth‐forms reveal dominant browsers shaping the vegetation

Abstract Plants adopt particular growth‐forms when they are exposed to extreme environmental conditions. In this study, we describe a unique woody plant growth‐form induced by large mammalian herbivores and discuss that this growth‐form could have evolved as a strategy for escaping the browser zone in herbivore driven ecosystems. We analysed responses of key architectural and morphological attributes (branching and thorn density, tree dimensions, presence of flowers and fruits) of three Eurasian spiny tree species (Malus sylvestris, Prunus cerasifera and Pyrus communis) to different levels of browsing by large herbivores in the temperate Białowieża Forest, Poland. Under high browsing pressure, studied trees displayed two distinct forms of the crown: a bottom sterile part developing into a densely branched structure with high density of thorns (‘cage‐form’), and an upper reproductive part that escaped from herbivore control (‘escaped‐form’). The size of cage‐form influenced the feeding behaviour of red deer (Cervus elaphus) by increasing the time deer spend foraging and increasing the bite rate. The height at which cages started to escape and their diameter matched with foraging reach of red deer. Synthesis. We argue that the frequency and cage dimensions of this woody growth‐form in the landscape could inform on the type and intensity of recent herbivory. Moreover, its distinctive inducibility suggests that this growth‐form did not emerge recently under anthropogenic pressure but could be the legacy of ancient herbivory effects. Observational evidence suggests that this growth‐form emerged in several herbivore‐driven systems around the globe and may be used to identify the dominant herbivores that control vegetation structure in these ecosystems. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Implementation of a toolbox for the generation of flight profiles for use in simulator studies

Motion sickness is a phenomenon which can produce various symptoms in affected individuals. During development of new aircraft types and cabin layouts, it is important to consider this phenomenon early on, to reduce resulting effects. For research on this topic, German Aerospace Center uses the simulator environment Air Vehicle Simulator together with the Advanced Future Cabin. The Air Vehicle Simulator is a full flight simulator with an interchangeable cockpit module. One of those modules is the Advanced Future Cabin, a realistic replica of an aircraft cabin. Good standardization of the test conditions is required to ensure objectivity and reliability of motion sickness studies in this simulator environment. A specialized software infrastructure is used to replay pre-recorded flight profiles, which are then reproduced by the simulator’s motion, visual and audio systems. Using this replay approach, complete flight profiles can be reproduced very well. However, when parts of the flight profile need exact reproduction within a flight profile or across multiple flight profiles, the approach to record pilot-in-the-loop simulation sessions becomes problematic, as flying the exact same twice is almost impossible. As an improved approach, a toolbox has been implemented, which automates the generation of flight profiles, enabling easier and more precise research on motion sickness in the simulator. The toolbox replaces the pilot-in-the-loop simulation with an automated control of the underlying aircraft simulation model. This leads to greatly improved accuracy of inputs to the simulation model and thus very good reproducibility even of flight profile segments. In this manuscript, details of the toolbox implementation and its validation are discussed.

Phytochemical Compounds and the Antifungal Activity of Centaurium pulchellum Ethanol Extracts in Iraq

The current study included a variety of phytochemical substances that were extracted from Centaurium pulchellum and showed a wide range of medicinal properties from the plant's reproductive and vegetative parts against the pathogenic fungus Aspergillus flavus. The vegetative and reproductive components of Centaurium pulchellum were subjected to (GC-MS) analysis for phytochemical study. The data indicated that fungal activity was the highest. Four extract concentrations of 5, 10, 15, and 20 mg/ml were utilized in the investigation, and the diameter of the colonies measured at each concentration was 90.00, 36.00, 28.00, 18.00, and 0.00 mm, respectively. Nine bioactive phytochemical compounds were found in Centaurium pulchellum's vegetative and reproductive portions, according to GC-MS analysis of the chemicals. Another study reported phytochemical substances that: 1-H-Imidazole-2-carboxaldehyde, 1-methyl-;Acetaminophen; n-Hexadecanoic acid; Mercaptoacetic acid, 2TMS derivative; 1.2,3-Dimethyl-5-(trifluoromethyl)-1,4-benzenediol #; Mercaptoethanol, 2TMS derivative-; Bis-(3,5,5-trimethylhexyl) phthalate Tetrakis(trimethylsilyl) orthosilicate #;- 1.1-Isopropoxy-3,3,3-trimethyl-1-[(trimethylsilyl)oxy]disiloxanyl tris(trimethylsilyl) orthosilicate #.

Bee pollen as a food and feed supplement and a therapeutic remedy: recent trends in nanotechnology.

Pollen grains are the male reproductive part of the flowering plants. It is collected by forager honey bees and mixed with their salivary secretions, enzymes, and nectar, which form fermented pollen or "bee bread" which is stored in cells of wax honeycombs. Bee pollen (BP) is a valuable apitherapeutic product and is considered a nutritional healthy food appreciated by natural medicine from ancient times. Recently, BP has been considered a beneficial food supplement and a value-added product that contains approximately 250 different bioactive components. It contains numerous beneficial elements such as Mg, Ca, Mn, K, and phenolic compounds. BP possesses strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antiviral, analgesic, immunostimulant, neuroprotective, anti-cancer, and hepatoprotective properties. It is used for different purposes for the welfare of mankind. Additionally, there is a growing interest in honey bee products harvesting and utilizing for many purposes as a natural remedy and nutritive function. In this review, the impacts of BP on different organisms in different ways by highlighting its apitherapeutic efficacy are described.

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Invertase Genes: Genome-Wide Identification and Expression in Response to Abiotic Stresses and Phytohormones

Invertases are involved in plant growth, development, and stress adaptation; however, invertase-encoding genes have not yet been reported in Allium species. In this study, we identified 23 invertase izogenes in garlic (Allium sativum L.): 11 encoding putative neutral/alkaline (AsN/AINV1–11) and 12 acid (6 cell-wall—AsCWINV1–6 and 6 vacuolar—AsVINV1–6) enzymes. Among them, AsN/AINV1, 3, 8–10, AsCWINV2–5, and AsVINV2–6 showed significant transcription in garlic organs (roots, bulbs, pseudostems, leaves, sprouts, and reproductive parts) in a tissue-specific manner, whereas the AsN/AINV4–6, 11, AsCWINV1, 6, and AsVINV1 genes had weak or no detectable expression. Gene promoters contained nine, nine, and sixteen hormone-, stress-, and light-responsive cis-regulatory elements, respectively, and fifteen sites related to transcription factor binding and plant development. Expression analysis revealed that 12 invertase genes strongly transcribed in the roots of A. sativum cv. Ershuizao showed differential expression in the roots and leaves of A. sativum cv. Sarmat exposed to abiotic stresses (low temperature, high salinity, and drought) and phytohormones (abscisic acid and methyl jasmonate), which was significantly correlated with glucose, fructose, and sucrose contents. Our results should further functional analysis of invertases from Allium crops and contribute to the breeding of stress-tolerant varieties.

The mechanical fit of the flowers of Crotalaria paniculata Willd. for the pollination success of large-bodied bees

The present study investigates the morphology of floral parts adapted towards the mode of pollination by bees in a lesser-known shrub, Crotalaria paniculata Willd of the family Fabaceae. The morphology and orientation of flowers, colour, shape, size and number of each floral part were recorded. The floral odour was assessed qualitatively at various stages of flowers manually and the quantity of nectar produced per flower was also measured. The flowering individuals were regularly monitored to observe the floral visitors and their foraging activity on a series of aged flowers. The performance of each floral visitors like visitation frequency, handling time, relative abundance, activity rate, visitation rate index and visitor activity index was calculated. The flowers of C. paniculata are typical papilionaceous and keel-blossom types that function as floral advertisement and nectar and pollen grains are served as floral rewards. The standard petal serves an advertisement whereas the wing-keel complex acts as a landing platform for floral visitors. The large-bodied bees tend to break the wing-keel complex which facilitates cross-pollination. Xylocopa latipes (Apidae) was observed as the most effective pollinator due to their higher frequency of visits, activity rate, visitation rate index and visitor activity index. Due to the pressure applied by large-bodied bees like Xylocopa latipes by landing on the wing-keel complex, the reproductive parts become exposed and the stigma brushes the pollen load in the body of the visitors and effect cross-pollination. The study concludes that large-bodied bees are effective floral visitors of C. paniculata which effect cross-pollination.

Impact of Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastics on Drosophila melanogaster Biological Profiles and Heat Shock Protein Levels.

Microplastics and nanoplastics are abundant in the environment. Further research is necessary to examine the consequences of microplastic contamination on living species, given its widespread presence. In our research, we determined the toxic effects of PET microplastics on Drosophila melanogaster at the cellular and genetic levels. Our study revealed severe cytotoxicity in the midgut of larvae and the induction of oxidative stress after 24 and 48 h of treatment, as indicated by the total protein, Cu-Zn SOD, CAT, and MDA contents. For the first time, cell damage in the reproductive parts of the ovaries of female flies, as well as in the accessory glands and testes of male flies, has been observed. Furthermore, a decline in reproductive health was noted, resulting in decreased fertility among the flies. By analyzing stress-related genes such as hsp83, hsp70, hsp60, and hsp26, we detected elevated expression of hsp83 and hsp70. Our study identified hsp83 as a specific biomarker for detecting early redox changes in cells caused by PET microplastics in all the treated groups, helping to elucidate the primary defense mechanism against PET microplastic toxicity. This study offers foundational insights into the emerging environmental threats posed by microplastics, revealing discernible alterations at the genetic level.

Divergent reproductive responses of Caatinga dry forest plants to leaf-cutting ant herbivory

Herbivory is one of the key processes shaping life history traits linked to plant fitness and the leaf-cutting ants are amongst the most voracious and polyphagous herbivores of the Neotropics. They extensively harvest aboveground plant parts to grow their symbiotic fungus, including vegetative and reproductive tissues. Although leaf-cutting ant herbivory is expected to reduce plant reproductive success, the potentially different outputs of damage to vegetative and reproductive parts are still poorly known. This study investigates the influence of Atta opaciceps herbivory on the reproductive success of three plant species native to the Caatinga dry forest: Croton argyrophylloides (Euphorbiaceae), Cenostigma pyramidale, and Indigofera suffruticosa (Leguminosae). We selected 10 adult and active nests of A. opaciceps based on the presence of individuals of the three focal plant species in their vicinity. For each colony, we marked four individuals of each plant species (totaling 12 individuals per colony), which were then subjected to one of four herbivory treatments: (1) ant herbivory on both reproductive and vegetative parts, (2) manually simulated herbivory on the reproductive parts alone, (3) ant herbivory exclusively on vegetative parts, and (4) no herbivory. From January to April 2020, we monitored all 120 individuals, recording the number of inflorescences, flower buds, flowers, fruits, and the proportion of flowers maturing into fruits (fruit set, as a proxy of reproductive success). Results revealed variations in reproductive structure production and divergent responses to leaf-cutting ant herbivory among our focal species. In terms of inflorescence, flower bud production, and fruit set C. argyrophylloides showed reduced numbers when subjected to higher levels of total herbivory (reproductive and vegetative parts), but increased inflorescence and flower bud production when plants suffered only leaf damage. Cenostigma pyramidale individuals under partial herbivory displayed lower flower bud numbers than protected ones. In contrast, I. suffruticosa displayed conflicting results, with fully exposed plants producing more inflorescences than partially exposed counterparts and more flowers than leaf-damaged and protected individuals. Despite the varied effects on different plant parts across all three study species, the overall reproductive success (i.e. fruit set) of only one species (C. argyrophylloides) was significantly reduced by leaf-cutting ant herbivory. The resilience of the two other plant species to leaf-cutting ant pressure may be attributed to compensatory mechanisms, shedding light on the intricate interplay between herbivores and plants in the Caatinga dry forest. As leaf-cutting ants proliferate in response to anthropogenic disturbances, the patterns described in this study may become more pronounced, potentially affecting the organization of plant communities in the Caatinga dry forest.

Hemp cultivation opportunities for marginal lands development.

Agricultural diversification and high-quality products deriving from sustainable crops such as hemp can represent a solution to revitalize marginal areas and reverse land abandonment. This study aimed at comparing four different hemp cultivars (Carmagnola Selezionata, "CS"; Futura 75, "FUT"; Felina 32, "FEL"; Secuieni Jubileu, "JUB") to provide information to select the best suited cultivar for cultivation in mountain marginal areas and for specific end-use applications. Hemp cultivars were cultivated in a single experimental field to compare their ecological and agronomic behavior (duration of life cycle phases, plant size and biomass allocation, and plant resource-use strategies). Through metabolomic analysis of both vegetative and reproductive parts of the plants we tested the presence of substances of nutraceutical interest and traced seed nutritional profile. The four cultivars had different ecological and agronomic behavior, and nutritional profile. We found several compounds with potential pharmaceutical and nutraceutical values in all parts of the plant (leaves, inflorescences, and stems). JUB resulted the most suitable for seed production while CS showed the highest content of bioactive compounds in flowers and leaves. FUT, showed the best suitability for multi-purpose cultivation, while FEL seemed to be not appropriate for the cultivation in mountain area. The multi-disciplinary approach we adopted was effective in distinguish across hemp cultivars and provided information to farmers for the selection of the best hemp cultivar to select. Hemp had a high potential for cultivation in marginal lands, demonstrating to be an economic resource due to its multi-purpose use and to the possibility to generate high-added values products. Our results could serve as a stimulus for the reintroduction of this culture in the study area and in other similar environments.

Biogeography of a multifunctional trait: Spiny plant species in the flora of Israel and the Palestinian Authority

Functional biogeography is the discipline that studies the geographic distribution of organismal traits and their relationships with environmental conditions and ecosystem functioning. Trait multifunctionality can be a major challenge in such analyses, so deciphering trait geographic distributions from functions is not always straightforward. We studied spinescence in the flora of Israel and the Palestinian Authority as a case of a multifunctional trait, associated mainly with antiherbivory defence, aridity alleviation, and propagule and seed dispersal. We studied how the proportion of spiny species in the flora of Israel and the Palestinian Authority and the distribution of different spine locations within the plants vary along a very strong bioclimatic (especially rainfall) gradient in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. We found that plant spinescence, as expressed in species proportion, is more frequently positively associated with increasing aridity and summer heat, and more generally with resource limitations. However, spinescence of reproductive plant parts, which in many species aids seed dispersal, presents opposite trends. These patterns reflect the differing importance of each of the three major roles attributed to plant spinescence, and point to the relative importance of each in driving overall spinescence geographic distribution. Thus, the traits’ geographic distribution patterns can elucidate these traits’ multifunctionality and improve our understanding of the evolution and spatial variation among these functions.

Parrot Dietary Habits and Consumption of Alternate Foodstuffs.

Inappropriate diets cause many of the health problems commonly reported in parrots by psittaculturists and veterinarians. The dietary management of captive parrots would benefit from information derived from studies of dietary habits of wild parrots; however, it is unclear how complete this body of knowledge is at this time. Documentation of parrots' dietary habits appears to have grown dramatically over the past century. Reports of parrots consuming a number of foodstuffs beyond the reproductive parts of plants (alternate foodstuffs) have increased. The extent of alternate foodstuffs in parrot diets is currently unknown. We used Google search engines (ie, Scholar, Videos, Images) to determine how well psittaciform dietary habits have been studied to date and to quantify reports of alternate foodstuffs consumption among genera of Psittaciformes. We found that the dietary habits of over 43% of parrot species are poorly resolved. The dietary habits of 71.5% of parrot species classified by the International Union for Conservation of Nature as at risk of extinction are not well resolved. Parrots' consumption of alternate foodstuffs occurred at the following rates at the genus level: 91.2% foliage, 76.9% terrestrial invertebrates and fine earthen materials, 74.7% wood, 44% pure minerals, 34.1% vertebrates (9.9% dung), 29.7% sap, 19.8% roots, 17.6% charcoal, 18.7% epiphytes, 16.5% coarse earthen materials, 8.8% algae, and 6.6% aquatic invertebrates. Of these reports, 79.1% involved observations of wild parrots. Many parrot species may be more omnivorous than previously realized. Alternate foodstuffs are generally absent from current veterinary-based dietary recommendations for captive parrots. Future studies are needed to determine whether providing alternate foodstuffs to captive parrots can be used as a means to improve their diets and thus their health, welfare, and reproductive success.

Effect of Different Sowing Windows on Dry Matter Accumulation of Pigeonpea Genotypes

A field experiment was conducted to study the “Effect of different sowing windows on dry matter accumulation of pigeonpea genotypes” at Regional Agricultural Research Station, Vijayapura, during Kharif 2021. The experiment was laid out in a split-plot design assigning four sowing windows to main plots viz., first fortnight of June (23-24th SMW), second fortnight of June (25-26th SMW), first fortnight of July (27-28th SMW) and second fortnight of July (29-30th SMW), whereas genotypes to subplot viz.,TS-3R, GRG-152 and GRG-811 and replicated thrice. The results revealed that sowing in first fortnight of June accumulated more dry matter in leaves (18.47 g plant-1), stem (131.22 g plant-1) and reproductive parts (68.16 g plant-1). Among the genotype GRG-152 accumulated higher dry matter in leaves (17.34 g plant-1) and stem (123.01 g plant-1). However, dry matter accumulation in reproductive parts is higher in TS-3R (63.68 g plant-1). Similarly TDMP was higher in first fortnight of June sowing (217.85 g plant-1) than delayed sowing in second fortnight of July. TS-3R accumulated higher TDMP in the beginning growth stage when compared to GRG-152 and GRG-811. However, TDMP was higher in GRG-152 at later stage. This study revealed that pigeonpea sown in first fortnight of June recorded higher dry matter production and it’s partitioning in leaf, stem and reproductive parts and among the genotype TS-3R recorded significantly higher dry matter in pods due to more photosynthetic activity of the genotype which results in higher yield of the crop.

Orchards closer to forest patches produced fewer malformed fruits and more commercial fruits: The importance of legitimate floral visitors

Mexico is the main mango exporter worldwide, making ‘Ataulfo’ one of the most preferred cultivars. However, fruit production has been drastically diminished due to the high incidence of malformed fruits, known as nubbins. One of the possible causes of this is the lack of pollinators, which are necessary to set developed fruits. Since many pollinators depend on forest patches, the proximity of mango orchards to these is expected to decrease the incidence of nubbins. However, no study has evaluated the effect of distance from forest patches on the production of malformed fruits in any mango cultivar. The present study evaluates the incidence of nubbins and the production of commercial fruits, as well as the richness, composition, and frequency of visits of legitimate floral visitors (i.e., those that contact both reproductive parts of the flowers) over two consecutive years on ‘Ataulfo’ mango orchards located at different distances from tropical dry forest patches. Our results indicate that mango orchards located closer to forest patches were visited more frequently and by more species of legitimate floral visitors, showed less incidence of nubbins, and had greater production of commercial fruits than those located further away from the forest patches. Moreover, we found that older mango trees and the absence of exotic honeybees are also key factors to increasing fruit production. Our results highlight the importance of the conservation of tropical dry forest patches to ensure the provision of pollination services and to maintain or increase the production of mango orchards.

Pollination of Chamaepentas nobilis (Rubiaceae) by long‐proboscid hawkmoths in south‐central Africa: Trait mismatching and floral scent chemistry

AbstractThe evolution of extremely long (>10 cm) floral tubes in angiosperms is closely linked with adaptation for pollination by long‐proboscid hawkmoths. In most cases, pollen is placed on the head or body of these moths, selecting for floral tubes that match or slightly exceed their proboscis length as this ensures contact with reproductive parts of the flower. However, in the case of Chamaepentas nobilis (Rubiaceae), anthers are inserted inside the c. 12‐cm floral tubes and coat the proboscis of visiting hawkmoths with sticky pollen, meaning that insects with proboscides longer than the floral tube can be effective pollinators, despite trait mismatching. Direct observations and camera trapping on granite outcrops in central Zambia showed that C. nobilis was visited both by Agrius convolvuli (proboscis length c. 13 cm) and Xanthopan morganii (proboscis length c. 17 cm), which are the only moth species in Africa that can access the small amounts of dilute nectar at the base of the floral tube. Pollen on the proboscides of captured hawkmoths was confirmed to originate from C. nobilis. Key floral advertising traits of C. nobilis include early evening anthesis, the highly reflective white limbus, and the evening production of scent dominated by oxygenated aromatic and terpenoid compounds known to elicit antennal responses of A. convolvuli. This study shows that that A. convolvuli and X. morganii share floral resources and jointly pollinate C. nobilis, despite their proboscides differing in length and being mismatched with the corolla tube length.

Production and Decomposition of Mangrove Species Rhizophora apiculata Blume in Surabaya East Coast Indonesia

The mangrove ecosystem is supported by the production and decomposition of leaf litter, as well as the release of nutrients into the environment and the neighbouring coastal seas. The release of phosphorus and nitrogen contributes significantly to the improvement of the nutritional values, which benefits marine species and the neighbourhood. In the current study, nutrient release, leaf decomposition rate, litter generation, and mangrove habitat at Surabaya East Coast, Java, Indonesia were all examined. Three transects and three plots in each transect were established. The percentage of initial dry mass remaining in the litter bags were determined by using two sample t-test in Statistica 6.0 software. The decomposition of Rhizophora apiculata leaves was studied by using litter bag technique. They were made of synthetic nylon with the dimension of 15×15×25 cm and mesh size of 1×1.25 mm2. Senescent leaves were used because they present major leaves on the forest floor. According to the findings, daily mangrove litter production (dry weight) varied between 2.15 and 3.28 g/m2. Branch litter (9.43 – 13.27%), reproductive parts (8.20 – 14, 31%), and leaf litter (76.26 – 78.53%) were the other major contributors. The 345.6 ha of mangrove forests along the east coast of Surabaya are the results of reforestation, which has the potential to produce nitrogen and phosphorus at the rates of 109.43 to 173.549 kg/ha/year and 5.467 to 8.12 kg/h/year, respectively. These results imply that decomposition breakdown rates differ across the research area due to the variation in the nutrients availability. Changes in the breakdown of detritus point to variations in nutrient intake, which is crucial for mangrove ecosystems.

Annelids as models of germ cell and gonad regeneration.

Germ cells (reproductive cells and their progenitors) give rise to the next generation in sexually reproducing organisms. The loss or removal of germ cells often leads to sterility in established research organisms such as the fruit fly, nematodes, frog, and mouse. The failure to regenerate germ cells in these organisms reinforced the dogma of germline-soma barrier in which germ cells are set-aside during embryogenesis and cannot be replaced by somatic cells. However, in stark contrast, many animals including segmented worms (annelids), hydrozoans, planaria, sea stars, sea urchins, and tunicates can regenerate germ cells. Here I review germ cell and gonad regeneration in annelids, a rich history of research that dates back to the early 20th century in this highly regenerative group. Examples include annelids from across the annelid phylogeny, across developmental stages, and reproductive strategies. Adult annelids regenerate germ cells as a part of regeneration, grafting, and asexual reproduction. Annelids can also recover germ cells after ablation of germ cell progenitors in the embryos. I present a framework to investigate cellular sources of germ cell regeneration in annelids, and discuss the literature that supports different possibilities within this framework, where germ-soma separation may or may not be preserved. With contemporary genetic-lineage tracing and bioinformatics tools, and several genetically enabled annelid models, we are at the brink of answering the big questions that puzzled many for over more than a century.