Reproductive Parts Research Articles

Annual litter production in a Brazilian Cerrado woodland savanna

The Brazilian Cerrado is a heterogeneous ecosystem where annual woody-layer litter production shows strong spatiotemporal variation. Although Cerrado litter dynamics have been well-documented in forest physiognomies, knowledge from savanna habitats remains limited despite their predominance across the landscape. In this study, the fine-woody litter production and their fractions were quantified throughout the year in an area covered by the cerrado denso physiognomy (a woodland savanna) at Panga Ecological Reserve, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Using ten litter traps distributed along a 250 m transect, it was estimated that 4.44 Mg ha–1 of litter was produced annually in the cerrado denso, with leaves representing the greatest fraction (75.9%), followed by small woods (11.9%), reproductive parts (8.8%) and miscellaneous items (3.4%). Litterfall varied strongly throughout the year (monthly range: 0.17 to 1.01 Mg ha–1), and although the contribution of different fractions also varied monthly, leaves were dominant through most of the year (range: 34–94%). In fact, there was a strong positive relationship between leaf-litter biomass and the total amount of litter produced. The estimate falls within the previously recorded litter production range for the Cerrado and corresponds numerically to the position occupied by the cerrado denso physiognomy in the structural vegetation gradient in this biome. Furthermore, results indicated that litterfall in this physiognomy is strongly seasonal. Leaves represented the major part of accumulated biomass and were responsible for the increased dry season production when most woody species concentrated their leaf shedding. These results aid the understanding of the functioning of Cerrado ecosystems, and determining litterfall patterns for the entire vegetation mosaic of physiognomies is essential for the implementation of quantifiable environmental quality diagnoses and evaluations of anthropic impacts.

Insect pollinators of conference pear (<i>Pyrus communis</i> L.) and their contribution to fruit quality

The pear (Pyrus communis L.) cultivar, Conference, is parthenocarpic but misshapes and marketable fruit losses of 6% at harvest are common. In other studies, insect flower visitors are identified as important for apple quality, but far fewer studies have examined the effects of insects and cross-pollination on pear quality. Using a range of replicated field experiments, this project aimed to determine the; 1) biodiversity of pear blossom insect visitors, 2) pollen limitation and fruit quality as a function of distance from the orchard edge and number of insect visitors, and 3) importance of cross pollination on fruit quality. A wide range of insects, >30 species, visited pear flowers including honey bees, bumble bees, solitary bees and hoverflies. Honey bees were the most frequent visitors, but all guilds, to a greater or lesser extent, made contact with the reproductive parts of the flower. Insect visits resulted in ~10% higher fruit set. There was no effect of distance from the edge (up to 50 m) of orchard on the quality of pears, and no consistent difference in the guild of insects visiting at distances from the orchard boundary. Cross-pollination with the variety Concorde produced better quality Conference fruits. We discuss how pollination of Conference pears could be managed to improve yields of marketable fruit.

Carbohydrate and Amino Acid Profiles of Cotton Plant Biomass Products

To achieve the optimal and diverse utilization of cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) plant residues in various agricultural, industrial, and environmental applications, the chemical composition of cotton biomass tissues across different plant parts (e.g., seed, boll, bur, leaves, stalk, stem, and root) is of essential information. Thus, in this work, we collected field-grown whole mature cotton plants and separated them into distinct biomass fractions including main stems, leaf blades, branches, petioles, roots, and reproductive parts (mid-season growth stage) or bur, peduncles/bract, and seed cotton (pre-defoliation stage). The contents of selected carbohydrates and amino acids in these cotton biomass materials were determined. Both essential and nonessential amino acids were enriched in cotton leaf blades and reproductive parts. The distribution pattern of the selected carbohydrates differed from that of amino acids—higher contents of carbohydrate were found in roots, main stems, and branches. Although glucose was the most abundant non-structural carbohydrate in cotton plant parts at mid-season, xylose was the most abundant in most plant parts at the pre-defoliation stage. Nutritional carbohydrates and amino acids were further accumulated in seeds at pre-defoliation. The information reported in this work would be helpful in exploring and optimizing management practices and processing strategies for utilizing cotton crop biomass materials as valuable and renewable natural resources.

Change of the flowering pattern as a formula of success in pea breeding aimed at increasing the early ripeness and the yielding capacity of peas

Relevance. Most of the pea varieties used in the production of canned vegetables have similar morphological structure of the stalk: shortened internodes, their limited number and location in the upper part of the stalk. The deficiency of such plant architectonics is the limitation of yielding capacity in relation to small number of yielding nodes, yielding capacity instability, and high degree of affliction by plant diseases. The production of pea varieties having an increased number of yielding nodes will allow changing the relation between the nonproductive and reproductive parts to the advantage of the latter.Methods. The pea varieties from the collection of bean cultures laboratories of the Federal Scientific Vegetable Center were used as the research varieties. The main method of work was intervarietal hybridization with subsequent single plant selection. In 2018-2019 the selected lines were seeded in a nursery with an area of 7 m2 . The forms with changed flowering pattern (Pervenets, Ranniy 28-11, Wenson) and the most yielding early and midseason varieties (Dakota, Ranniy Gribovsky 11, Voronezhsky Zelyony, Korsar, Orus, Viola, Zelyonaya Strela, Quartella) were used as parent components. The selection was performed on the basis of the following features: changed flowering pattern, the number of yielding nodes, the number of legumes on a node, as well as the length of a bean and the number of seeds in a legume. A finometer was used for the determination of the green pea hardness.Results. Sample 50-4-19 having a relatively low number of yielding nodes (6, 9) had the highest characteristics and was considerably superior to all the other samples by its yielding capacity during the first and the second harvesting periods (7.24 and 9.55 tons per hectare). The selection of the early forms with the changed flowering pattern and the shift of the attraction centre to the 2nd or to the 3rd node allow carrying out breeding aimed at increasing the early ripeness and the yielding capacity of peas.

Inhibin as a reproductive biomarker part 2. Clinical significance of inhibins in reproductive medicine

In the early 2000s, the determination of inhibin levels was used actively for the diagnosis of ovarian tumors, as a diagnostic marker for prenatal screening of Down syndrome, as well as a prognostic marker for ovarian reserve when conducting assisted reproductive technologies. However, to date, inhibin is rarely used as a marker for reproductive function. At the same time, numerous studies of recent years indicate the crucial role of inhibin in folliculogenesis and spermatogenesis, as well as in implantation and placentation. This allows to significantly expand the diagnostic spectrum of inhibin levels in various disorders of the reproductive system of both women and men.

Modulating physical, chemical, and biological properties of silver nanoparticles obtained by green synthesis using different parts of the tree Handroanthus heptaphyllus (Vell.) Mattos

Green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) is already widely used, however, it presents challenges. This work describes a way to modulate the physicochemical characteristics of AgNPs using green synthesis and aqueous extract from different parts of Handroanthus heptaphyllus. The progress of the synthesis reaction, the physicochemical characteristics, and the biological activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus of the AgNPs were evaluated. Aqueous extracts of the vegetative parts of the plant synthesized AgNPs with higher hydrodynamic diameters, lower colloidal stability and antibacterial activity to lower concentrations when compared to the reproductive parts. Pyramidal and cubic forms of AgNPs were also found when using vegetative parts. For higher production of AgNPs with smaller hydrodynamic diameters, and greater stability it is advisable to use reproductive parts. Otherwise, for larger hydrodynamic diameters, lower stability and higher antibacterial activity, the use of vegetative parts is recommended aiming to produce AgNPs.

Plasticity in diurnal activity and temporal phenotype during parental care in European starlings, Sturnus vulgaris

We used an automated radiotelemetry system to determine diurnal patterns of activity and temporal phenotype (onset and cessation of activity) in female European starlings during breeding. Parental care is thought to be the most ‘costly’ part of reproduction, with high rates of intense activity due to foraging and provisioning for chicks, so we predicted that variation in timing of activity should be closely related to breeding success. Diurnal variation in activity varied systematically with breeding stage in a way consistent with specific demands of each phase of parental care: incubating females were more active late in the day (1600–1800 hours), while chick-rearing females were more active early in the morning (0700–1100 hours). There was marked individual variation in timing of onset, and to a lesser extent cessation, of activity, e.g. chick-rearing females first became active 7–127 min after morning civil twilight, with low to moderate repeatability within and among breeding stages (individual explained 2–62% of total variation). On average, females were active later, and ceased being active earlier, during chick rearing compared with incubation. Chick-rearing birds had a longer active day, but only by 2.3% (36% of the seasonal increase in total available daylength). Thus, chick-rearing females were relatively less active (‘lazier’), which is consistent with the idea that parents work more efficiently rather than simply working harder. We found little evidence that chick-rearing activity was associated with variation in measures of current reproduction (provisioning rate, number and quality of chicks), future fecundity (initiating a second brood, cumulative 2-year productivity) or survival (local return rate). Our study demonstrates that time-keeping mechanisms show plasticity in response to reproductive state and can be modulated by ‘biotic’ (e.g. prey availability) or ‘social’ time (demands of parental care).

Effect of Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs) on Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) and Induced Asynaptic Mutation: A Meiotic Study

We have synthesized titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles (NPs) and studied the cytogenotoxic effect of the synthesized NPs on plants. The synthesized NPs were characterized by XRD, SEM and PSA. The XRD results showed the formation of crystalline TiO2 nanoparticles. The SEM analysis showed that the synthesized nanoparticles range from 60 to 300 nm. The effect of synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles on Vicia faba (2n = 12) was studied. The seeds of Vicia faba were treated with different concentrations (15, 30, 60, 120 and 240 mg/L, or 1.5, 3.0, 6.0, 12.0 and 24.0 mg/100 mL) of TiO2 nanoparticles. Seeds treated with the higher concentrations of TiO2 showed a change in the meiotic activity which causes a significant increase of chromosomal abnormalities in the reproductive parts of the plant. Different types of meiotic abnormalities, such as stickiness and the separation of univalent and bivalent chromosomes at metaphase were recorded. It was found that the number of univalent chromosomes ranged from 2 to 12 in 95% of pollen mother cells in diakinesis/metaphase I, and that there was a significant decrease in the number of chiasmata in seeds which were treated with the synthesized nanoparticles as compared to the control.

In Planta Transformation in Plants: A Review

In planta transformation has been established as an innovative and simple technique involving direct transformation of plant parts without involving the tedious tissue culture step. Methodologies of in planta transformation involve different plant parts and strategies. Agrobacterium strain carrying the gene of interest is targeted to the specific plant part either directly or in the induction medium. Vacuum infiltration is sometimes used to facilitate foreign gene integration. Initial studies of this novel technique involved treatment of whole plants with the inoculum, and later shifted to treatments of shoot tips and floral parts and finally the female reproductive parts have been targeted. Zygotes, embryos and seeds have recently been used extensively yielding successful transformation. The method is simple, convenient and overcomes the problem of tissue culture induced genetic variability in the transformants. The review traces the origin and development in the in planta methodologies used over the past and the various parameters considered by the workers for increased effectiveness viz. developmental stages, Agrobacterium stain, surfactant, induction medium etc., in the various crops compiled. Based on the review it may be inferred that there is immense potential in planta transformation, and the ease of regeneration and selection of transformants in the methods described, can be utilized for crop improvement.

Effects on Plant Growth and Reproduction of a Peach R2R3-MYB Transcription Factor Overexpressed in Tobacco.

In plants, anthocyanin production is controlled by MYB and bHLH transcription factors. In peach, among the members of these families, MYB10.1 and bHLH3 have been shown to be the most important genes for production of these pigments during fruit ripening. Anthocyanins are valuable molecules, and the overexpression of regulatory genes in annual fast-growing plants has been explored for their biotechnological production. The overexpression of peach MYB10.1 in tobacco plants induced anthocyanin pigmentation, which was particularly strong in the reproductive parts. Pigment production was the result of an up-regulation of the expression level of key genes of the flavonoid biosynthetic pathway, such as NtCHS, NtCHI, NtF3H, NtDFR, NtANS, and NtUFGT, as well as of the proanthocyanidin biosynthetic pathway such as NtLAR. Nevertheless, phenotypic alterations in transgenic tobacco lines were not only limited to anthocyanin production. Lines showing a strong phenotype (type I) exhibited irregular leaf shape and size and reduced plant height. Moreover, flowers had reduced length of anther’s filament, nondehiscent anthers, reduced pistil length, aborted nectary glands, and impaired capsule development, but the reproductive parts including androecium, gynoecium, and petals were more pigmented that in wild type. Surprisingly, overexpression of peach MYB10.1 led to suppression of NtMYB305, which is required for floral development and, of one of its target genes, NECTARIN1 (NtNCE1), involved in the nectary gland formation. MYB10.1 overexpression up-regulated JA biosynthetic (NtAOS) and signaling (NtJAZd) genes, as well as 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate oxidase (NtACO) in flowers. The alteration of these hormonal pathways might be among the causes of the observed floral abnormalities with defects in both male and female gametophyte development. In particular, approximately only 30% of pollen grains of type I lines were viable, while during megaspore formation, there was a block during FG1 (St3-II). This block seemed to be associated to an excessive accumulation of callose. It can be concluded that the overexpression of peach MYB10.1 in tobacco not only regulates flavonoid biosynthesis (anthocyanin and proanthocyanidin) in the reproductive parts but also plays a role in other processes such as vegetative and reproductive development.

Flower Detection in Digital Image Processing using Global Image Enhancement Method

Flowers are plays an important role on the planet as they contain the reproduction part of plants. The only flower parts of plants have ability to produce different kinds of fruit, vegetable, and seeds for humans. Flower seeds also are used to produce oil. Honey bees collect nectar from flowers to produce honey. In this paper a new approach is proposed for flower detection. The proposed algorithm is use Global image enhancement and thresholdging technique for flower detection in digital images.

Leaf anatomical characters of Rhabdadenia (Rhabdadenieae, Apocynaceae), their taxonomic implications, and notes on the presence of articulated laticifers in the genus

Rhabdadenia (Apocynaceae) includes three species, Rhabdadenia biflora, Rhabdadenia madida, and Rhabdadenia ragonesei. These species are morphologically similar and phenotypically plastic in their vegetative organs and flower color, and despite recent taxonomic revisions of the genus, species identification and delimitation remains a challenge. In this study, we investigate leaf and stem anatomy of all Rhabdadenia species to establish unequivocal taxonomically diagnostic characters. We encountered distinct anatomical differences in (1) leaf characters, notably the stomata distribution, which is restricted to the main veins in R. ragonesei and spread across the entire lamina for the other two species; (2) the presence and form of papillae, which are dome type in R. biflora, cone type in R. madida, yet absent in R. ragonesei; (3) the number of layers of palisade parenchyma, which are two in R. biflora and one in both R. ragonesei and R. madida; (4) the shape of the vascular bundle in the midrib, which is concave-convex in R. ragonesei and convex-concave in R. madida and R. biflora; (5) the leaf blade margins, which are sharply arched downward in R. madida, slightly flexed in R. ragonesei, and straight in R. biflora. A dichotomous identification key is presented. This work enables unequivocal, rapid identification of Rhabdadenia species using leaf anatomy, even in the absence of reproductive parts. Our work also determined that Rhabdadenia is distinct within Apocynaceae by the presence of articulated anastomosed ramified laticifers, as opposed to the unarticulated laticifers that are typical of the family.

A morphological and anatomical comparative Study of the Reproductive parts of the genus Veronica L. (Plantaginaceae) in northern Iraq

The present study aims Morphological characteristics studies (for flowers, fruits, and seeds) and anatomical characteristics (petiole fruit, fruits and seeds) of 6 species are: Veronica anagills-aquatica L., Veronica anagilloides L., Veronica arvensis L., Veronica cymbalaria bod., Veronica persica L. and Veronica polita FriesWild grow in northern Iraq and belonging to the genus Veronica L., which belongs to the Plantaginaceae family, which was formerly classified within the Scrophulariaceae family, The results of the morphology study of the flowers showed a distinct difference in the colors of the petiole were violate in V. anagills-aquatic and pink in V. anagilloides and blue in other species, while all species were similar to the Insertion of the stamens on the petals (Epipetalous), and the pistils on the receptacle. While there was a clear difference in the shape and dimensions of the fruits, the two-lobes were obcordate in species V. anagills - aquatica., V. anagilloides, V. arvensis and trilobed in the V. cymbalaria, V. Persica and tetralobed in V. polita. A variation in the types and shape of Indumentum also appeared, as was their number within the fruit ranged between 2-40 seeds and since their characteristics are constant and unchanged with the environment, so it is one of the most important taxonomic characteristics. The fruit holder has a variation in the thickness of the plant tissues and the way they are arranged, and the thickness of the fruit casing differs according to the species studied, and the thickness and shape of the transverse section in the seeds different from the studied species

Overhead sprinkler irrigation affects pollinators and pollination in pumpkin (Cucurbita maxima)

Cucurbits are monoecious plants and most of them depend on pollinators for fruit set. However, studies suggest that pumpkin and squash fields are pollination deficient. Pollinator limitation, suboptimal flower sex ratio, and exploitative competition between invasive ants and bees are a few major suggested reasons for this. Pumpkin flowers have a corolla cup and secrete nectar throughout anthesis, which make them attractive to bees. In south India, honey bee (Apis cerana) is the major pollinator of pumpkin flowers. Like pollinators, water is also a limiting factor for growth and production of flowers in pumpkin. It has been suggested to use overhead sprinklers to irrigate and fertilize pumpkin fields. We hypothesized that the sprinkler affects the visitation characteristics of foraging bees in flowers and pollination, and so, we performed an experiment to test this. For this reason, we recorded pollinator visits on staminate and pistillate flowers for 15 min and poured water in the flower cups and examined the water retention time and the visitation characteristics of pollinators in both staminate and pistillate flowers, and fruit set in pistillate flowers. Water remained inside the staminate and pistillate flower cups until the flower senescence. Honey bees entered and foraged nectar/pollen in flowers during the waterless condition. In water-filled flowers, honey bees hovered around or landed only on the corolla and did not forage floral resources or contact the reproductive parts. As a consequence, none of the water-filled flowers developed fruits. Therefore, the overhead sprinkler irrigation, despite cover a large area effectively, may not be an appropriate irrigation method for pumpkin during flowering period.

Non-crop Floral Traits as Determinants of Bee Visitation in a Tropical Agricultural Landscape

Creating non-crop habitats for sustaining pollinators and other beneficial insects in agricultural landscapes has gained momentum in recent times. However, in the tropics, considering limited availability of land for non-crop habitat creation, it is critical to select right kind of non-crop plant species with floral traits that can attract pollinators in good number. We tried to understand bees’ preferences with respect to two important visual cues belonging to four common non-crop species (Sida acuta, Stylosanthes hamata, Limnophila repens, Tephrosia purpurea) in the study area. We grew these plants in pots and arranged them in 5 combinations based on flower colour and structure. Increased bee visitation was observed in flowers that had blue petals and in complex flowers (reproductive parts hidden). However, complex structure of the flower rather than petal colour was more important in attracting bees. This information will be crucial in making species choice for creation of non-crop habitats in the limited available spaces in the tropical agricultural landscape.

Transcriptional Reprogramming of Pea Leaves at Early Reproductive Stages.

Pea (Pisum sativum L.) is an important source of dietary proteins. Nutrient recycling from leaves contributes to the accumulation of seed proteins and is a pivotal determinant of protein yields in this grain legume. The aim of this study was to unveil the transcriptional regulations occurring in pea leaves before the sharp decrease in chlorophyll breakdown. As a prelude to this study, a time-series analysis of 15N translocation at the whole plant level was performed, which indicated that nitrogen recycling among organs was highly dynamic during this period and varied depending on nitrate availability. Leaves collected on vegetative and reproductive nodes were further analyzed by transcriptomics. The data revealed extensive transcriptome changes in leaves of reproductive nodes during early seed development (from flowering to 14 days after flowering), including an up-regulation of genes encoding transporters, and particularly of sulfate that might sustain sulfur metabolism in leaves of the reproductive part. This developmental period was also characterized by a down-regulation of cell wall-associated genes in leaves of both reproductive and vegetative nodes, reflecting a shift in cell wall structure. Later on, 27 days after flowering, genes potentially switching the metabolism of leaves toward senescence were pinpointed, some of which are related to ribosomal RNA processing, autophagy, or transport systems. Transcription factors differentially regulated in leaves between stages were identified and a gene co-expression network pointed out some of them as potential regulators of the above-mentioned biological processes. The same approach was conducted in Medicago truncatula to identify shared regulations with this wild legume species. Altogether the results give a global view of transcriptional events in leaves of legumes at early reproductive stages and provide a valuable resource of candidate genes that could be targeted by reverse genetics to improve nutrient remobilization and/or delay catabolic processes leading to senescence.

Litterfall dynamics along a successional gradient in a Brazilian tropical dry forest

BackgroundThis study aimed to determine the influence of soil traits, vegetation structure and climate on litterfall dynamics along a successional gradient in a tropical dry forest (TDF) in southeastern Brazil. We used a chronosequence design consisting of three successional stages (early, intermediate, and old-growth) defined based on forest age and vertical and horizontal structures.MethodsLitterfall was recorded monthly for three years in 12 plots of 50 × 20 m (four plots per stage) where vegetation parameters (species richness, basal area, density and height for trees with diameter at breast height ≥ 5 cm) and soil chemical and physical traits were previously obtained. We placed eight 0.5-m2 litter traps in each plot, totalling 96 traps. Samples were sorted into leaves, twigs, reproductive parts, and debris.ResultsLitterfall mass was composed mainly of leaves and varied slightly among years (4 to 4.5 Mg∙ha− 1), within the range observed for other TDFs. Annual litterfall mass was higher at the old-growth forest than at the early and intermediate forest stages and this successional pattern was driven by vegetation characteristics (forest structural parameters and plant functional groups) and soil traits related to water-holding capacity. Litter amount in the intermediate stage was lower than expected for its forest structure (and similar to the early stage), possibly because its higher soil clay content increased the water holding capacity and leaf retention during the dry season. Seasonal variations in monthly litterfall were strongly driven by forest deciduousness and affected by climatic factors related to water availability. This pattern was consistent across the successional gradient, although differences for each litterfall component were observed.ConclusionsOur results suggest that litter production in the studied TDF is influenced by multiple factors along succession, such as above-ground biomass and the degree of leaf retention mediated by soil water-holding capacity. Further studies on community phenological patterns can allow a better understanding of successional changes on litterfall and how fast this fundamental function recovers in secondary forests.

How does a Social and Behavioral Change Communication Intervention Predict Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management: A Cross-Sectional Study

BackgroundInterventions in India to improve menstrual health and hygiene management (MHHM) have been implemented at the national, state, district and school level. However, evaluations of these interventions have been scarce. The objective of the study was to determine if a social and behavioral change communication (SBCC) intervention (GARIMA) had a relationship with knowledge, attitudes, interpersonal communication, restrictions and MHHM using a comparison group post-test only design among 2206 adolescent girls.MethodsIntervention villages and adolescent girls were selected through stratified random sampling based on where GARIMA was implemented. Villages and adolescent girls in comparison villages were matched socio-demographically to intervention villages and adolescent girls. Multi-level logistic regressions assessed the relationship between the encoded exposure, mediators and MHHM.ResultsThe results showed that the encoded exposure predicted all behaviors corresponding to MHHM. Additionally, adolescent girls in the high encoded exposure group had significantly higher knowledge about puberty and reproductive parts (AOR: 2.03 (95% CI: 1.31 – 3.15)), positive attitudes towards gender (AOR: 1.48 (95% CI: 1.02 – 2.16)) and higher levels of some discussion and dialogue (AOR: 1.41 (95% CI: 1.04 – 1.92)).ConclusionsFuture programs should use SBCC to improve MHHM behavior but involve families, peers and community members to a greater extent in order to improve attitudes towards menstruation, attitudes towards restrictions, attitudes towards absorbent use and reduce restrictions within the community.

Multi-temporal dataset of stand and canopy structural data in temperate and Mediterranean coppice forests

We provided long-term stand and canopy structural data from permanent monitoring plots representative of some most diffuse temperate and Mediterranean forests, under different coppice management regimes. Periodic inventories were performed in the surveyed plots since the 1970s. Annual litterfall production and its partitioning (leaf, woody, reproductive parts) and optical canopy measurements using the LAI-2000 Plant Canopy Analyzer were performed every year in fully equipped plots since the 1990s. These data can be used for evaluating the influence of coppice management in the stand and canopy structure, the parametrization of radiative transfer models that require accurate ground truth data, and the calibration of high to medium resolution remotely sensed data. Dataset access is at https://doi.org/10.17632/z8zm3ytkcx.2 . Associated metadata is available at https://agroenvgeo.data.inra.fr/geonetwork/srv/eng/catalog.search#/metadata/2bd2d77f-3cf8-43da-b1b5-9f8196dc017f .

ESTUDIO MORFOMÉTRICO Y TAXONÓMICO DE LAS ESPECIES NATIVAS CHILENAS DEL GÉNERO ANTHOXANTHUM (POACEAE, POOIDEAE, POEAE, ANTHOXANTHINAE)

A morphometric study was carried out to delimit the species of genus Anthoxanthum native to Chile, using 261 herbarium specimens. Through uni and multivariate statistical analyzes based on morphological and anatomical characters, together with the micromorphological study of the abaxial epidermis of the lemma and adaxial epidermis of the leaves, seen under a scanning electron microscope, it was possible to circumscribe six of the nine species described: Anthoxanthum juncifolium, A. moorei, A. pusillum, A. redolens, A. spicatum and A. utriculatum. New combinations are established for Hierochloe moorei and H. quebrada under Anthoxanthum. Anthoxanthum altissimum and A. gunckelii are treated as varieties within A. utriculatum and A. redolens, respectively. Hierochloe sorianoi is treated as synonym of A. redolens var. redolens. A key for the identification of the taxa, maps, distribution data, and morphometric descriptions of the vegetative and reproductive parts of the epidermis in surface view and the cross section of the leaf for each taxon are included.