Article
Plant Sciences
Yong-Xiu Song, Shuai Peng, Fredrick Munyao Mutie, Hui Jiang, Jing Ren, Yi-Yan Cong, Guang-Wan Hu
Summary: In this study, we systematically examined the micromorphological characteristics of Impatiens seeds and identified three types of seed coat ornamentation. We found that the seed shape, primary ornamentation, and anticlinal cell wall can be used for classification. The evolution of seed coat ornamentation in Impatiens is complex and related to environmental adaptation and seed dispersal.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Rui-Zhu Bai, Fei Zhao, Bryan T. Drew, Gang Xu, Jie Cai, Shi-Kang Shen, Chun-Lei Xiang
Summary: The seed morphology of 40 taxa within the genus Hypericum (Hypericaceae) from China was studied using Light and Scanning Electron Microscopy to assess the taxonomic significance of macro- and micro-morphological features. Seed size, color, shape, appendages, and seed coat ornamentation were described, illustrated, and compared. While seed color and shape had limited taxonomic importance, other features were informative in distinguishing taxa at the section and/or species levels. Scanning Electron Microscopy was found to be useful in revealing inconspicuous morphological affinities among species and played a role in taxonomic and systematic studies of Hypericum.
MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Malgorzata Mazur, Katarzyna Marcysiak, Agnieszka Dunajska, Magdalena Gawlak, Tomasz Kaluski
Summary: In this study, analysis of scanning electron microscopy images of seeds from 29 Central European species of the genus Veronica revealed that seed morphological features can be used to distinguish between different subgenera and species. The results were not always consistent with the contemporary classification of the genus, indicating potential shortcomings in the current understanding of the genus' classification. An identification key based on seed micromorphological features was prepared.
Article
Plant Sciences
S. Jabeen, M. Zafar, M. Ahmad, A. T. Althobaiti, F. A. Ozdemir, M. A. Kutlu, T. K. Makhkamov, S. Sultana, M. Ameen, S. Majeed
Summary: The taxonomic importance of macromorphological and micromorphological seed characteristics was investigated using SEM in ten Salvia species from Pakistan. The results revealed that SEM could aid in taxon identification, especially at the genus and species levels.
Article
Plant Sciences
Zoya M. Tsymbalyuk, Lyudmila M. Nitsenko, Sergei L. Mosyakin
Summary: Based on molecular and morphological studies, new genera Sedobassia and Spirobassia were described in the tribe Camphorosmeae. This study examined the pollen grains of multiple taxa from Eurasia and North America, identifying unique characteristics and evaluating their taxonomic value.
Article
Plant Sciences
Karolina Rural, Renata Piwowarczyk
Summary: The study evaluates the variability of stigma morphology among different species of Orobanche and Phelipanche, highlighting its taxonomic value. The research identifies two main types of stigmas and determines the best diagnostic features for distinguishing Orobanchaceae. The findings provide insights into the taxonomic understanding and evolutionary relationships of these species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Meltem Erdir, Ebru Ataslar
Summary: The seed and leaf structures of some species belonging to the genus Saponaria were examined, and it was found that the micromorphology of the seed and leaf anatomy can be used to distinguish different species.
Article
Biology
Walaa Hassan, Asmaa Abdelhameed, Najla A. Al Shaye, Wafaa Amer
Summary: The micromorphology of several populations of Brassica tournefortii in Egypt was investigated, showing that seed ornamentations can distinguish different morphological forms, and there is a clear correlation between soil variables and identified forms. Fungal species from anthers are related to morphological plasticity of B. tournefortii and ecological factors.
SAUDI JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Anatomy & Morphology
Funda Ozbek, Mehmet Erkan Uzunhisarcikli
Summary: In this study, the seed morphological properties of 19 taxa belonging to the genus Alcea L. (Malvaceae) distributed in Turkey were investigated. The seeds were found to be reniform in shape with a rounded apex and base, and varied in color from light to dark brown, grayish-brown, or blackish-brown. The study also identified several important seed morphological characteristics, such as seed size, color, surface patterns, and indumentum, that can be used to distinguish the Alcea taxa.
MICROSCOPY RESEARCH AND TECHNIQUE
(2023)
Article
Nutrition & Dietetics
Krystyna Rejman, Hanna Gorska-Warsewicz, Joanna Kaczorowska, Waclaw Laskowski
Summary: The study aimed to analyze the supply of energy, nutrients, free sugars, and dietary fiber from fruit and fruit products in the average Polish diet. Findings showed that bananas and apples were the main sources, especially for vitamin C.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ines Jlassi, Fethi Bnejdi, Mourad Saadoun, Abdelhamid Hajji, Dhouha Mansouri, Mossadok Ben-Attia, Mohamed El-Gazzah, Safia El-Bok
Summary: Genetic diversity and differences among durum-wheat cultivars in various regions are crucial for sustainable production in the face of climate change. Elite cultivars showed higher productivity, while obsolete cultivars exhibited better grain quality traits. The study's findings can aid breeders in developing breeding programs for durum-wheat based on genetic markers and trait correlations.
MOLECULAR BIOLOGY REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Dervis Ozturk
Summary: This study investigated the fruit and seed characteristics of twelve species from the genus Alyssum in different populations in Eskisehir, Turkey. Morphological and micromorphological studies were conducted to determine the systematic relationships of these species. Numerical analysis techniques including clustering and principal component analysis were employed. The results highlighted important characters for the classification of Alyssum.
PAKISTAN JOURNAL OF BOTANY
(2023)
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Sedigheh Rahimi, Masoud Sheidai, Fahimeh Koohdar, Ahmad-Reza Mehrabian, Mozhdeh Mohebi Sadr
Summary: This study focused on 18 Epilobium species in Iran, investigating the taxonomic and evolutionary significance of anatomical and morphological features. It found that anatomical characters can help differentiate between species and play a role in speciation events within the Epilobium genus.
INDUSTRIAL CROPS AND PRODUCTS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zoya M. Tsymbalyuk, Daniella Ivanova, Lyudmila M. Nitsenko
Summary: This study conducted a comparative palynological study of Dipsacaceae s.str., revealing diverse pollen grain morphologies in its representatives. Analysis of the pollen morphology of selected taxa such as P. plumosus, S. pratensis, and S. inflexa provided new insights into their relationships based on palynomorphological data.
Article
Plant Sciences
Laura Costantini, Paula Moreno-Sanz, Chinedu Charles Nwafor, Silvia Lorenzi, Annarita Marrano, Fabiana Cristofolini, Elena Gottardini, Stefano Raimondi, Paola Ruffa, Ivana Gribaudo, Anna Schneider, Maria Stella Grando
Summary: Understanding grapevine reproductive processes is crucial for managing yield and quality, especially in clones with contrasting seed content. Genetic analysis revealed differences between seedless variants and normal seeds, suggesting potential traceability markers for improved propagation. Meiotic anomalies likely contribute to seedlessness, with identified single nucleotide polymorphisms as possible functional candidates for the seedless phenotype.
Article
Plant Sciences
Lei Zhao, Ying-Ying Yang, Xiao-Jian Qu, Hong Ma, Yi Hu, Hong-Tao Li, Ting-Shuang Yi, De-Zhu Li
Summary: This study improves our understanding of aroid phylogeny by using a large number of nuclear genes. In contrast to the Proto-Araceae group and the lemnoid clade's adaptation to aquatic environments, the results suggest that whole-genome duplication may play a more important role in the evolution of adaptations to tropical, terrestrial environments in the True-Araceae clade.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Le Zhang, Yi-Wei Huang, Jia-Lin Huang, Ji-Dong Ya, Meng-Qing Zhe, Chun-Xia Zeng, Zhi-Rong Zhang, Shi-Bao Zhang, De-Zhu Li, Hong-Tao Li, Jun-Bo Yang
Summary: In this study, DNA barcoding was conducted for species identification of Cymbidium using plastomes. A comprehensive DNA barcode reference library for Cymbidium species identification was established. The plastome showed improved species identification rates compared to standard DNA barcodes, but still had limitations. Nuclear genome data were also explored for species identification and showed potential as next-generation nuclear barcodes.
MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES
(2023)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Cen Guo, Yang Luo, Lian-Ming Gao, Ting-Shuang Yi, Hong-Tao Li, Jun-Bo Yang, De-Zhu Li
Summary: The advancement of next-generation sequencing and long-read sequencing technologies has greatly influenced plant phylogenetic studies. Numerous phylogenetic studies using hundreds to thousands of genes across various clades have emerged in the past decade, bringing plant phylogenetics and evolution into a new era. This review focuses on the application of genomic data in phylogenetic and evolutionary investigations, describes the methodology of experimental and analytical procedures, and summarizes recent progress in flowering plant phylogenomics at different taxonomic levels. Challenges, such as systematic errors and underlying biological factors, are discussed, suggesting that a bifurcating tree may not be the most suitable model for the tree of life. Finally, promising avenues for future plant phylogenomic studies are discussed.
JOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sheng-Yuan Qin, Kai Chen, Wen-Ju Zhang, Xiao-Guo Xiang, Zheng-Yu Zuo, Cen Guo, Yao Zhao, Lin-Feng Li, Yu-Guo Wang, Zhi-Ping Song, Ji Yang, Xiao-Qiang Yang, Jian Zhang, Wei-Tao Jin, Qiang Wen, Song-Zi Zhao, Jia-Kuan Chen, De-Zhu Li, Jun Rong
Summary: This study sequenced and assembled the transcriptomes and plastomes of various species in the Camellia genus, providing a comprehensive taxonomic sampling for Camellia sect. Oleifera and C. sect. Paracamellia. Phylogenetic analyses showed that C. sect. Oleifera should be merged with C. sect. Paracamellia. Hybridization was found among polyploid species and their relatives. The divergence of major clades in C. sect. Paracamellia occurred during the middle to late Miocene, and the Quaternary period witnessed rapid diversification likely due to hybridization and polyploidization. This study also suggested that the hexaploid Camellia oleifera may have originated from hybridization between closely related diploid and tetraploid species.
JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Ecology
Zeng-Yuan Wu, Richard I. Milne, Jie Liu, Ran Nathan, Richard T. Corlett, De-Zhu Li
Summary: Long-distance dispersal (LDD) beyond a species' range is crucial for ecological and evolutionary patterns, but postdispersal establishment has not received enough attention. This review summarizes the current understanding of post-LDD establishment in plant colonization, identifies key determinants of establishment success, develops a general framework for quantifying post-LDD establishment, and outlines future research challenges and opportunities. These include improving LDD detection and understanding using novel approaches, investigating mechanistic modeling and inference to understand establishment success, and comparing establishment between past and present. By addressing knowledge gaps, this review aims to enhance our understanding of the impacts of LDD on plant distributions and long-term consequences.
TRENDS IN ECOLOGY & EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Zhi-Hua Zeng, Qian Yu, Qing-Hong Feng, Xin-Jia Wang, Li Zhong, Hua-Ying Sun, Hong Wang, De-Zhu Li, Spencer C. H. Barrett, Wei Zhou
Summary: This study demonstrates the functional consequences of height dimorphism reversal in dioecious plants, shedding light on the reproductive strategies of males and females in terms of pollen and seed dispersal.
JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Sheng-Yuan Qin, Zheng-Yu Zuo, Cen Guo, Xin-Yu Du, Shui-Yin Liu, Xiang-Qin Yu, Xiao-Guo Xiang, Jun Rong, Bing Liu, Zhi-Fang Liu, Peng-Fei Ma, De-Zhu Li
Summary: This study focuses on the Litsea complex, which is a key lineage of evergreen broadleaved forests (EBLFs) in East Asia, aiming to explore the shift of evergreen versus deciduous trait and understand the origin and historical dynamics of EBLFs under Cenozoic climate change. The results show that the prototype of EBLFs in East Asia probably appeared in the Early Eocene period (about 55-50 million years ago) facilitated by greenhouse warming. With the cooling and drying climate in the Middle to Late Eocene period (48-38 million years ago), deciduous habits evolved. The development of East Asian monsoon in the Early Miocene period (23 million years ago) increased the extreme seasonal precipitation and promoted the emergence of evergreen habits.
Article
Plant Sciences
Lin-Jiang Ye, Michael Moller, Ya-Huang Luo, Jia-Yun Zou, Wei Zheng, Jie Liu, De-Zhu Li, Lian-Ming Gao
Summary: Selection along environmental gradients in alpine ecosystems can drive adaptive evolution in plants. However, the genetic variation and adaptation in plants along environmental gradients remain poorly understood. To address this gap, we studied the transcriptomic profiles of Rhododendron sanguineum var. haemaleum at different elevations in the Gaoligong Mountains. We found that gene expression patterns in flower and leaf organs showed parallel shifts but with different functionality, indicating flexibility in response strategies to the heterogeneous environments.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Chun-Jiao Li, Xin-Tong Xie, Hong-Xin Liu, Ruo-Nan Wang, De-Zhu Li
Summary: This study sequenced and assembled the plastomes of East Asian lobelias, revealing variations in plastome gene structure among different taxonomic sections. The study also assessed the variability of several genes and simple sequence repeats, which can be used as important research tools in DNA barcoding and species delineation. The study further identified key genes related to the evolutionary history and adaptive evolution of East Asian lobelias. These findings will contribute to further advancements in taxonomy, evolutionary biology, and the utilization of medicinal plant resources.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Weishu Fan, Zheng-Shan He, Mengqing Zhe, Jing-Qiu Feng, Le Zhang, Yiwei Huang, Fang Liu, Jia-Lin Huang, Ji-Dong Ya, Shi-Bao Zhang, Jun-Bo Yang, Andan Zhu, De-Zhu Li
Summary: This study reports a high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of a CAM epiphyte, Cymbidium mannii, and provides insights into the molecular regulation of CAM photosynthesis in epiphytes. The study also reveals the rhythmic changes in metabolism and gene expression during the CAM diel cycle. The findings of this study are valuable for investigating post-transcription and translation scenarios in epiphytes.
PLANT COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Shi-Yu Lv, Xia-Ying Ye, Zhong-Hu Li, Peng-Fei Ma, De-Zhu Li
Summary: Fargesia, the largest genus in the temperate bamboo tribe Arundinarieae, is mainly found in the mountains of Southwest China with over 90 species. These bamboos are essential for subalpine forest ecosystems and provide food and habitat for endangered animals like the giant panda. However, identifying Fargesia species is challenging due to rapid radiation and slow molecular evolutionary rate. In this study, the discriminatory power of complete plastomes and nrDNA sequences were evaluated and found to be more effective than standard barcodes. Despite this, additional nuclear markers are needed for accurate species discrimination.
Article
Plant Sciences
Jing-Xia Liu, Zu-Chang Xu, Yu-Xiao Zhang, Meng-Yuan Zhou, De-Zhu Li
Summary: Three woody bamboo species collected in Hainan, China in 1940, previously described as Dinochloa, are found to be closely related to Melocalamus through molecular phylogenetic analysis and morphological comparison. Therefore, it is suggested to transfer these three species to the genus Melocalamus.
Article
Plant Sciences
Rivontsoa A. Rakotonasolo, Soejatmi Dransfield, Thomas Haevermans, Helene Ralimanana, Maria S. Vorontsova, Meng-Yuan Zhou, De-Zhu Li
Summary: The Hickeliinae is an important subtribe of tropical bamboos, mainly found in Madagascar, Comoros, Reunion Island, and a small part of Tanzania. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of newly sequenced plastid genomes revealed conserved structures and provided informative data for phylogenetic reconstructions. The analysis showed that all genera of Hickeliinae are monophyletic, except for Nastus, which forms two distant clades. This study provides significant resources for further genetic and phylogenomic research on this under-studied subtribe.
Article
Plant Sciences
Ji-Dong Ya, Wan -Ting Wang, Yun-Long Liu, Hong Jiang, Zhou-Dong Han, Ting Zhang, Hua Huang, Jie Cai, De-Zhu Li
Summary: Five new orchid species from Yunnan Province and Tibet have been described and illustrated. The study sequenced the complete plastomes of these species and their related species to confirm their identities and determine their phylogenetic relationships. The results showed that the N. lihengiae species is closely related to the N. grandiflora and N. pinetorum clade, while N. chawalongensis is sister to N. alternifolia. Additionally, the relationships among species in the genus Gastrochilus were inconsistent, but the two new species, G. lihengiae and G. bernhardtianus, were supported by all datasets.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Han-Tao Qin, Michael Moller, Richard Milne, Ya-Huang Luo, Guang-Fu Zhu, De-Zhu Li, Jie Liu, Lian-Ming Gao
Summary: Mountainous regions provide diverse habitats for speciation. In the Hengduan Mountains of southwest China, four Taxus lineages were studied. Conflicting phylogenetic relationships were found between nuclear and chloroplast sequences. Limited gene flow was observed between species. Based on the data, it was determined that two Taxus species originated through hybridization and chloroplast capture events.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
