Subtropical Climate Region Research Articles

Assessment of PERSIANN-CCS, PERSIANN-CDR, SM2RAIN-ASCAT, and CHIRPS-2.0 Rainfall Products over a Semi-Arid Subtropical Climatic Region

This study compares the performance of four satellite-based rainfall products (SRPs) (PERSIANN-CCS, PERSIANN-CDR, SM2RAIN-ASCAT, and CHIRPS-2.0) in a semi-arid subtropical region. As a case study, Punjab Province of Pakistan was considered for this assessment. Using observations from in-situ meteorological stations, the uncertainty in daily, monthly, seasonal, and annual rainfall estimates of SRPs at pixel and regional scales during 2010–2018 were examined. Several evaluation indices (Correlation Coefficient (CC), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), Bias, and relative Bias (rBias), as well as categorical indices (Probability of Detection (POD), Critical Success Index (CSI), and False Alarm Ration (FAR)) were used to assess the performance of the SRPs. The following findings were found: (1) CHIRPS-2.0 and SM2RAIN-ASCAT products were capable of tracking the spatiotemporal variability of observed rainfall, (2) all SRPs had higher overall performances in the northwestern parts of the province than the other parts, (3) all SRP estimates were in better agreement with ground-based monthly observations than daily records, and (4) on the seasonal scale, CHIRPS-2.0 and SM2RAIN-ASCAT were better than PERSIANN-CCS and PERSIANN. In all seasons, CHIRPS-2.0 and SM2RAIN-ASCAT outperformed PERSIANN-CCS and PERSIANN-CDR. Based on our findings, we recommend that hydrometeorological investigations in Pakistan’s Punjab Province employ monthly estimates of CHIRPS-2.0 and SM2RAIN-ASCAT products.

Qualidade pós-colheita de mirtilos 'Emerald' cultivados em região subtropical

Abstract The objective of this work was to evaluate the qualitative attributes, at harvest and postharvest, of 'Emerald' blueberries grown in a subtropical climate region, without winter chilling, in Brazil. Fruit were harvested in the municipality of Piracicaba, in the state of São Paulo, in two harvest peaks, in August and October, and evaluated for their qualitative attributes at harvest and for their physical, chemical, and biochemical attributes at postharvest. The fruit were maintained at ambient conditions, at 22°C and 70% relative humidity, and evaluated on the day of harvest and every three days until the twelfth day of storage. The blueberries harvested in August were larger and rounder, and those harvested in October had a more intense blue coloration and higher concentrations of phenolic compounds, pH, and soluble solids, in addition to a higher total soluble solids and titratable acidity ratio. During storage, an increase was observed in the contents of anthocyanins, quercetins, and total phenolic compounds, as well as in antioxidant activity, besides a decrease in fruit acidity and firmness. Regardless of the harvest month, blueberries grown in a subtropical region of Brazil have a good postharvest shelf life up to 12 days at ambient temperature, with satisfactory fruit quality levels.

The passive cooling effect of window gardens on buildings: A case study in the subtropical climate

Previous studies have shown that building greenery systems could provide passive cooling for buildings. However, window gardens, a type of building greenery system that extends along the width of the building façade, have received little attention. In this study, a field experiment of building-integrated window gardens was conducted in Xiamen, a subtropical city in China. The passive cooling effect of window gardens during a daytime in summer was analyzed based on the measured data. The results showed that the local time-averaged surface temperature at the windowpane shaded by plant canopy was 1.1 °C lower than that was not shaded. This local temperature at the bottom wall can be 2.6 °C lower than the time-averaged indoor air temperature. The heat was transferred from the interior space to the window-garden-adjacent envelope with a time-averaged heat flux of 6.9 W·m−2. The variation in the passive cooling effect of the window garden along the vertical direction was quantified. The cooling performance of the window garden was found to be significantly affected by the irrigation system. A strategy to maximize the cooling effect by implementing a soil temperature sensor to control the smart drip irrigation system was proposed, which can be further investigated in the future. Given that window gardens can provide aesthetical and thermal benefits, there is a great potential for the practical use of window gardens for buildings in subtropical climate regions.

Evaluation and optimization of ASM1 parameters using large-scale WWTP monitoring data from a subtropical climate region in Brazil

Abstract This study aimed at providing a set of optimal kinetic and stoichiometric parameters of ASM1 representative of wastewater from a subtropical climate region in Brazil. ASM1 was applied on the STOAT program, and the model parameters were evaluated and optimized with sensitivity analysis and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) to reach minimum prediction errors of effluent TSS, COD, and NH3. Six sensitive parameters were identified: YH, YA, μA, KNH, bA, and kOA. Predictions of RSM regression models were strongly correlated to the STOAT predictions. YH mainly affected TSS and COD, and the other parameters affected NH3. ASM1 calibration with estimated optimal values of sensitive parameters resulted in approximately null prediction errors for modeling state variables. NH3 presented similar results in the ASM1 validation; meanwhile, TSS and COD presented high errors related to the increase in YH due to the RSM optimization. The optimal parameters, mainly YA, μA, KNH, bA, and kOA, constitute references for other studies on ASM1 modeling using wastewater data from a subtropical climate region. YH optimal value should be evaluated as well as the effect of sludge wastage methods and the simulation periods.

Alternative positions of internal heat exchanger for CO2 booster refrigeration system: Thermodynamic analysis and annual thermal performance evaluation

• Three CO2 booster systems with different locations of IHX are proposed. • Thermodynamics models of booster systems are developed and annual performance is studied. • S1 is the optimal solution system to improve COP, which is enhanced by 0.6% - 6.36%. • By adding IHX, the APF of CO2 booster system can be improved significantly. • IHX can improve annual performance in subtropical and tropical climatic regions. Refrigeration systems running on transcritical CO 2 cycle are considered an alternative to phase-down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in response to the Kigali Amendment. Responding to the need to improve the efficiency of CO 2 booster systems and to identify optimum system designs, thermodynamic models of three booster systems are proposed with the use of an internal heat exchanger (IHX). Findings from this study suggest that placing the IHX with a low-temperature fluid side at the suction line of high pressure stage compressor and high-temperature fluid side at the outlet of gas cooler represents the most optimal approach in improving the coefficient of performance (COP) of the booster system. When operating in the transcritical conditions, the COP values can be improved by 6.35% at the IHX thermal effectiveness of 0.8 and by 6.48% at the ratio of medium temperature load to low temperature load of 6. Using IHX can significantly reduce the compressor discharge pressure, which can be reduced by 0.55 MPa at the ambient temperature of 40 °C. Furthermore, by adding IHX, the annual performance factor of CO 2 system can be improved significantly by 1.68% and the annual total power consumption can be decreased by 6.48% in the tropical climate. It can be concluded that IHX can improve the COP values of a booster system when operating in the subtropical and tropical regions.

Towards zero energy solar households – A model-based simulation and optimization analysis for a humid subtropical climate

Energy conservation and efficiency in the residential building sector is an important field to control carbon emissions worldwide. Solar energy integration in domestic buildings decreases the grid dependency and carbon emissions. This paper investigates techno-economic feasibility, energy, exergy, and life cycle emissions analysis of solar energy integration to achieve an annual net-zero energy balance for a household. A local survey is carried out in the regions of Pakistan to define the representative building structure, services, and schedules. A representative household is then analyzed. TRNSYS is used for modelling and annual transient simulation of household thermal load and energy systems. TRNSYS-GenOpt co-simulations determine the optimal insulation thickness of the building envelope to minimize the thermal load. The on-site renewable energy supply system consists of solar PV, solar space heating, solar domestic hot water generation, and solar absorption cooling. The envelope insulation results in a 37.2% reduction in annual thermal load. Solar PV system supplies 93.4% of annual electricity demand. Solar collectors provide hot water during winter and thermal comfort during 92.4% of air conditioning hours. Energy and exergy analyses are used to evaluate the thermal performance of solar PV, thermal collectors, and absorption system. The life cycle cost analysis performed for a conventional and the proposed building shows that the net present value of the zero-energy solar household (ZESH) becomes lower than that of the conventional household in 8 years. Also, the life cycle emissions are calculated for conventional and ZESH. The CO2 emissions of ZESH are only 8.7% of that of a conventional household. This study reveals that a ZESH is technically as well as economically viable in humid subtropical climate regions.

Ensemble evaluation of the potential risk areas of yellow-legged hornet distribution.

Invasion of alien species facilitated by climate change and human assistant is one of global threats that cause irreversible damages on the local flora and fauna. One of these issued species, Vespa velutina nigrithoraxdu Buysson, 1905 (Hymenoptera:Vespidae), is a significant threat to entomofauna, including honeybees, in the introduced regions. This wasp is still expanding its habitats, prioritizing the development of a reliable species distribution model based on recently updated occurrence data. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the potential areas that are climatically exposed to V. v. nigrithorax invasion globally and in South Korea, where the wasp has caused severe damage to local ecosystems and apiculture after its recent introduction. We developed a new global scale ensemble model based on CLIMEX and Maxent models and applied it to South Korea using field survey data. As a result, risky areas were predicted to be temperate and subtropical climate regions, including the eastern USA, western Europe, Far East Asia, and small areas in South America and Australia. In particular, South Korea has a high potential risk throughout the country. We expect that this study would provide fundamental data for monitoring the environmental risks caused by V. v. nigrithorax using advanced species distribution modeling.

Yield and yield components of maize and soil physical properties as affected by tillage practices and organic mulching.

Maize (Zea mays L.) is an important grains cereal crop. Lots of farmers using tillage and mulching practices influence the final yield, to maintain up with the growing demand for food, fuel and feed. Field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of tillage practices (i.e. conventional tillage CT, reduced tillage RT, deep tillage DT) and wheat straw mulching (i.e. no mulch and wheat straw mulch of 4, 8 and 12 Mg ha−1, SM0, SM1, SM2 and SM3 respectively) on the growth, yield and yield components of maize and some of soil physical properties. The results showed that compared with RT, DT and CT decreased soil bulk density, as well as led to increase soil water content. Application of mulch treatments increased soil water content. DT and CT have been associated with greater plant height, yield components, grain and biomass yield than RT treatment. Plant height, yield components, grain and biomass yield as well as soil water content increased following mulching treatments. Mulching treatment of SM2 had the largest positive effects on maize yield. DT and CT that have potential to break the compacted zone in soil leading to a better soil environment and crop yield. The application of wheat straw mulch could be an efficient soil management practice for corn production in arid subtropical climate region.

Root System Morphology of Ipê-Roxo Tree Grown in Soil Subjected to Phosphorus Application in Subtropical Climate Region

Phosphorus (P) availability in subtropical soils does not often meet the nutritional demand of native tree species such as the ipê-roxo tree (Handroanthus heptaphyllus); therefore, it is necessary to supply P at planting. However, the impact of P on root system growth remains unknown. The aim of the current study was to investigate the effect of P application on root morphology of H. heptaphyllus plants over a 36-month period in a subtropical climate region. During the experiment, the plants subjected to fertilization with 40 kg P ha−1 were compared to untreated control. Plant roots were scanned through minirhizotron system 18 and 36 months after transplant (MAT), and generated images were used to determine total root length, mean root diameter and total root volume. Plant height and leaf P concentrations were also evaluated. Phosphorus application enhanced root and whole plant growth with a more evident effect at 36 MAT, when soil P availability decreased. The results give important information on the cultivation of H. heptaphyllus plants in soils presenting low P availability.

Implementation of the panel data regression analysis in PCM integrated buildings located in a humid subtropical climate

Various researchers have investigated the performance of PCM in buildings. However, the following issues still need more elaboration: a) How the climate related factors influence the performance of PCM integrated building in subtropical climate region? b) Can generalized equations be proposed for estimation of energy demand based on annual and seasonal data sets? c) Is PCM integration in buildings economically and environmentally feasible? Hence, the impact of climate-related factors on the energy demand of PCM integrated buildings in eight cities of Cfa climate was evaluated by using panel data regression analysis. The results showed that PCM 24 and PCM 27 performed the best and achieved annual energy savings up to 12,635 kWh and energy consumption reduction up to 19.9 %. The greatest impact on the energy demand was caused by temperature-derived functions – heating and cooling degree days. The wind speed, solar azimuth, and atmospheric pressure had a negative impact on energy demand. PCM integration might be the most economically feasible in Brazil and the USA, while in Paraguay it was infeasible. Furthermore, the application of PCM was more environmentally pronounced in the USA and China. The developed equations can be used as energy forecast tools for buildings incorporated with PCM.

Evaluation of the CORDEX regional climate models (RCMs) for simulating climate extremes in the Asian cities

This study evaluates the ability of 21 Regional Climate Models (RCMs) from the Coordinated Regional Climate Downscaling Experiment (CORDEX) in simulating climate extremes in the fast growing Asian cities which are highly vulnerable to climate change. The three Asian cities have two different climate characteristics, namely Bangkok and its vicinity and Ho Chi Minh City in tropical climate region and Kathmandu in sub-tropical and temperate climate region. The RCMs were evaluated to simulate the six climate indices; Consecutive Dry Days (CDD), Simple Daily Intensity Index (SDII), Number of extremely heavy precipitation days (R50mm), Maximum 1-day precipitation amount (RX1day), Mean of daily maximum temperature (TX mean) and Mean of daily minimum temperature (TN mean). The performance indicators used were correlation coefficient, normalized root mean square deviation, absolute normalized root mean square deviation and average absolute relative deviation. The Entropy method was endorsed to acquire weights of these four indicators and weightage average techniques were used for ranking of 21 RCMs. The result demonstrated that the best model for one climate index is not the same best model for other climate indices. The 3 RCMs; WAS44_SMHI_RCA4_IPSL_CM5A_MR, WAS44_SMHI_RCA4_MIROC5, and WAS44_IITM_REGCM4-4_CSIRO_MK3-6-0 are the best performing RCMs for simulating future climate extremes in Bangkok and its vicinity, Ho Chi Minh city and Kathmandu valley, respectively. Therefore, they are recommended to use for climate change impact and adaptation studies in water resources management in the selected cities.

Feasibility study on the solar absorption cooling system for a residential complex in the Australian subtropical region

The negative impacts of the increasing number of air conditioning systems in Australia include excessive strain on grids and associated blackouts, higher electricity costs and associated carbon emission issues. The installation of sustainable cooling technologies such as solar absorption cooling systems provides a promising alternative. However, the feasibility of the system for the Australian subtropical climate has not systematically studied. The paper aims to investigate the feasibility of implementing solar absorption cooling technology in student residential building in Australia's subtropical climate region. The feasibility study allows the user to determine if the solar cooling system is technically, economically and environmentally sustainable in the long term. Through the simulation, the key performance parameters such as power consumption data and component performance details were determined. The simulation results showed that the solar absorption chiller can provide comfort in the building by maintaining room temperature within 20–24 °C. The system's performance optimisation studies were conducted, and it was found that the collector area 20 m2 paired with a storage ratio of 0.02 m3/m2 had provided a high solar fraction (SF) of 0.91. The economic analysis is also carried out to determine the annual savings in energy cost, carbon emission reduction, and the payback period.

P-legacy effect of soluble fertilizer added with limestone and phosphate rock on grassland soil in subtropical climate region

P-fertilization can be applied to cropped soil through two main ways, namely: by using soluble phosphates to increase P pools, rapid release and uptake by plants or by using less soluble rock phosphate powder to trigger synchronization between P solubilization and its uptake by plants. The aims of the current study were to evaluate whether there is no dissolution of P-bearing minerals in the long-term when phosphate rock is used, as well as to analyze its response associated with P-legacy and plant dry-matter production in comparison to that of fertilization based on soluble phosphate added with limestone. A 20-year-old field experiment is in progress at Pampa grassland, Southern Brazil. Two rates of phosphate rock and triple superphosphate plus limestone (118 and 250 kg ha−1 of P), as well as a P-free control, were tested. The P-legacy effect of fertilizers were analyzed by phosphorus lability and apatite minerals recalcitrance. Additionally, a historic data set of dry matter production was considered to access phosphorus use efficiency. The use of soluble P source and limestone (triple superphosphate at rate of 250 kg ha−1 of P add with limestone at rate of 3.2 Mg ha−1) resulted in greater nutrient use efficiency (42 kg kg−1 - five times greater than that of phosphate rock) and in higher dry matter yield (22 %). In addition, the use of phosphate rock (at rate of 250 kg ha-1 of P) has led to higher total P and moderate-lability P levels in the soil due to low apatite dissolution (even under favorable soil thermodynamics conditions). P-apatite minerals were found in sand and silt soil fractions subjected to phosphate rock treatment, which presented up to 6-year P dissolution and promoted low P bioavailability. Agronomic use of soluble phosphate added with limestone is the most suitable technique used to increase grassland yield and P-use efficiency.

Spatial variation characteristics of vegetation phenology and its influencing factors in the subtropical monsoon climate region of southern China.

Understanding the response mechanism of ecosystems to climate change and human disturbance can be improved by analyzing the spatial patterns of vegetation phenology and its influencing factors. Because the diverse phenological patterns are impacted by cloud cover contamination issues in the satellite observations, there are few remote sensing phenological research data in subtropical monsoon climate regions. To better understand the horizontal and vertical changes of vegetation phenology in these regions and how it may be affected by climatic factors and topographical features, we first extracted vegetation phenological information (such as start of growth season (SOS), end of growth season (EOS) and length of growth season (LEN)) from a reconstructed MODIS EVI time-series data. We then used geographic detectors to identify the influencing factors of phenology in different elevation zoning areas. We have found that in the Xiangjiang River Basin: 1) gradual changes in the longitudinal or latitudinal gradient of vegetation phenology were not obvious. Instead of horizontal changes, the variation pattern of phenology was similar to the striped river network of the Xiangjiang River. Earlier SOS mainly appeared in the areas far away from the river; later SOS appeared in the midstream and downstream reaches.2) Elevation played an important role in the regional differentiation of phenology. Boundaries at elevations of 320 m and 520 m distinctly separated the region into plain, hilly, and mountain vegetation phenological characteristics. 3) The impacts of climatic factors were quite different in the three vertical zoning areas. Precipitation was the most crucial factor affecting SOS both in plain and mountain areas. There was no significant factor affecting EOS in the plain area, but temperature had an essential effect on EOS in the mountain area. The hilly areas had a concentrated growth period with no significant factors affecting phenology. These findings highlight the importance of elevation in phenology at a watershed scale, enhance our understanding of the impact of climate changes on subtropical ecosystems, and provide a reference for further land-use change monitoring.

Air Quality and Key Variables in High-Density Housing

The high-rise and high-density housing development in nearby industry relocations is a general urban sprawl phenomenon in fast-growing cities in Southern China. Aside from the low price, the improved air quality in the suburban area is always a reason for home buyers, but the consistent monitoring of air quality and knowledge about how to plan housing estates are lacking. This paper investigates the relationship between the housing morphology and the air quality in three housing estates in Shenzhen. This research utilizes on-site monitoring equipment to examine negative air ions (NAIs) and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation to examine the air flow. This study reveals the effect of the urban form on the concentration of NAIs and PM2.5 in spatial variation. A correlation study between the configuration variables of the urban form and the CFD air flow pattern helps to identify the key variables influencing the air quality. This study concludes that in housing estates with good air quality of surroundings, the building density has no remarkable effect. However, the footprint of buildings, the layout of podiums, the roughness length of the building, the distance between buildings, the open space aspect ratio and the mean building height may have a remarkable impact on the air flow and quality. These findings may encourage high-density housing development and provide planning guidance for the configuration of housing forms in Southern China and subtropical climate regions around the world.

Temporal variations and evaporation control effect of the stable isotope composition of precipitation in the subtropical monsoon climate region, Southwest China

Stable hydrogen and oxygen isotopes in precipitation, which are sensitive to climate change and the water cycle, are widely used as natural tracers to investigate hydrological processes and paleoclimate reconstruction. High resolution event-based precipitation sampling was conducted in Guilin, a subtropical monsoon climate region in Southwest China, from 2010 to 2016 to identify the temporal variability of stable isotopes of precipitation and its dominant meteorological factors. The results showed that the stable isotopes of precipitation exhibited significant seasonal variability, with lower values in the wet season and higher values in the dry season, reflecting the changes in the character of precipitation in response to seasonal variability of the moisture sources and atmospheric dynamics. δ18O values were significantly negatively correlated with temperature and potential evapotranspiration (ET0) on the daily and monthly timescales; however, there was no significant correlation between monthly δ18O and the amount of rainfall. Multivariate regression analysis showed that when temperature, precipitation amount and ET0 were considered, 39% of the variability of the monthly oxygen isotope composition of precipitation was explained. Monthly mean temperature had a higher covariation with precipitation δ18O, indicating that the variations of precipitation isotope were more dependent on temperature, but not substantially dependent on the amount effect of rainfall. Howerver, the main influence of meteorological factors on the isotopic variations of precipitation varied seasonally. Temperature strongly influenced the isotopic composition of precipitation in summer, while the amount effect was prominent due to the enhanced convective activity characterized by more depleted δ18O values. Although evapotranspiration is a minor contributor of precipitation isotope variability, the impact of evapotranspiration on the enrichment of precipitation isotopes in autumn is a substantial control and should be considered, which makes a major contribution to compensate for the depletion in heavy isotopes of rainfall. The non-linear relationship between d-excess and ET0 was attributed to the variable contribution of large-scale convective moisture and local evaporation, as well as water vapor transfer processes. The response of precipitation stable isotopes to convective events was characterized by distinct stage patterns, associated with the water vapor sources and physical processes during rainout. The significant depletion of precipitation δ18O values during convective events was not due to the ‘amount effect’, but due to large-scale convection activity. These findings provide further insight into intraevent-scale isotopic variations associated with organized convection and their key influencing factors, which ultimately improves our interpretation of the paleoclimate records in subtropical monsoon regions.

LEPTOSPIROSIS: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Leptospirosis caused by Leptospira interrogans is considered as one of the most important zoonotic infections globally. It affects humans and wide range of animals. It damages various vital organs of the body and can often lead to fatal complications. The various symptoms of leptospirosis are fever, headache, nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. It may lead to complications like jaundice, hemorrhage, myocarditis, meningitis and in some cases renal failure. Leptospirosis is mainly caused by rodents which are considered as reservoir hosts for leptospires. The other animals such as mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles and fish are carriers of leptospirosis. Humans acquire leptospirosis accidently by contact with carrier animals or environment contaminated by leptospires. Leptospirosis has a wide geographical distribution including tropical, subtropical and temperate climatic regions. But it is more prevalent in the tropical areas where warm humid conditions and alkaline or neutral soil helps leptospires survive better. This review is an attempt to cover every aspect of leptospirosis in detail. The biology and culture characteristics of leptospires, classification, epidemiology, pathogenesis, host immune response, transmission cycle and different diagnostic methods have been explained in detail.

Brassica carinata: Biology and agronomy as a biofuel crop

AbstractThe environmental consequences of using nonrenewable fossil fuels have motivated a global quest for sustainable alternatives from renewable sources. Carinata has been developed as a low carbon intensity, non‐food oilseed biomolecular platform to produce advanced drop‐in renewable fuels, meal, and co‐products. The crop is widely adaptable to grow in the humid subtropical and humid continental climatic regions of Asia, Africa, North America, South America, Europe, and Australia as a spring or winter crop. Carinata is heat tolerant, resistant to diseases and seed shattering with lower water‐use requirements than other oilseed brassicas. Adopting carinata in double‐cropping systems would require continuing research to integrate crop biology with agronomy, to understand growth and development and its interaction with agricultural inputs and management. Site‐specific best management agronomic practices and crop improvement research to develop frost‐tolerant, early‐maturing, nutrient use‐efficient, and high yielding varieties with desirable oil content and fatty acid profile will enhance the crop's adaptability and economic viability. The exploitation of intra‐ and interspecific and intra‐ and intergeneric diversity will further enhance carinata productivity and resistance to biotic and abiotic stresses. This review attempts to present a comprehensive description of carinata's biology, beginning with its origin and current state of distribution, availability of genetic and genomic resources, and a discussion of its morphology, phenology, and reproduction. A detailed analysis of the agronomy of the crop, including planting and germination and management practices, is presented in the context of crop growth and development. This will facilitate global adoption, sustainable production, and commercialization of carinata as a dedicated biofuel oilseed crop in diverse cropping systems and growing regions of the world, including the Southeast United States.

Genotoxicity Study of Vitex megapotamica (Spreng.) Moldenke.

Vitex megapotamica (Spreng) Moldenke is commonly known as tarumã, it is an important medicinal and edible fruit plant. It is native to regions of tropical and subtropical climate in greater proportion than temperate zones and widely distributed in Central America, South America, Asia, and Africa. In Brazil, it is present in the Atlantic Forest and Cerrado biomes. Despite its widespread use, there are no minimum standards for quality control or information on genotoxicity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to present a detailed description of the short-term genotoxicity assays of V. megapotamica and to provide parameters of a preparation routinely used in traditional folk medicine. For genotoxicity assays, five groups were used with eight wistar rats in each group. For this, three doses of the V. megapotamica extract in doses (100, 300, and 900 mg/kg) or negative control (filtered water) were administered orally and positive control cyclophosphamide monohydrate (20 mg/kg; Sigma-Aldrich®) was applied by the intraperitoneal route after 24 h. At the end, whole blood was collected in a tube containing EDTA for the comet test and later the animals were euthanized. For the micronucleus test, femurs were removed, and bone marrow was collected. In the comet assay, V. megapotamica crude extract did not show significant DNA damage at all doses tested. The micronucleus assay showed no significant increase in the frequency of inducing micronuclei at any dose examined. It can be concluded that the safety parameters in genotoxicity studies reveal that V. megapotamica has no toxicity, which characterizes the important quality control of this plant species.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of Sansevieria trifasciata var. Laurentii

Sansevieria trifasciata var. laurentii (S. trifasciata) is a kind of popular in-door and out-door plant around world, it is not only known as the ornamental plant, but also as medical plant. It belongs to the Draceanaceae family, Draceanaceae includes more than 60 species distributed in tropical and subtropical dry climate regions. In this study, we sequenced the sample of S. trifasciata and determined its complete chloroplast genome. The length of CP genome is 155,179 bp, includes two invert repeats (IR) regions of 26,513 bp, a large single copy (LSC) region of 83,680 bp and a short single copy (SSC) region of 18,473 bp. There are 133 genes, which includes 87 protein coding genes, 8 rRNA and 38 tRNA, and 37.5% overall GC content. Each of trnK-UUU, rps16, trnG-UCC, atpF, rpoC1, trnL-UAA, trnV-UAC, petB, petD, rpl16, rpl2, ndhB, trnI-GAU, trnA-UGC and ndhA genes contains a intron, clpP and ycf3 contains 2 intron. The phylogenetic position shows that S. trifasciata has the closest relationship with Rohdea Chinensis (MH356725.1).