Article
Ecology
Elizabeth M. Joyce, Caroline M. Pannell, Maurizio Rossetto, Jia-Yee S. Yap, Kevin R. Thiele, Peter D. Wilson, Darren M. Crayn
Summary: This study identified two floristic exchange tracks between northern Australia and Southeast Asia: one from New Guinea to Cape York Peninsula and a second from Timor-Leste to the Kimberley Plateau. The Cape York Peninsula track is characterized by ongoing genetic exchange while the Kimberley Plateau track is historic, facilitated by past exposures of the Arafura Shelf during the Pleistocene. These patterns are a result of range expansion and contraction cycles concurrent with Quaternary climate fluctuations.
JOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Rachel M. Binks, Dorothy A. Steane, Margaret Byrne
Summary: Genetic studies are finding hidden taxa that contribute to global biodiversity, with this study on Eucalyptus salubris revealing two distinct lineages exhibiting strong genome-wide divergence but high gene flow within each. The lineages show evidence of reproductive isolation and ecotypic adaptive processes, suggesting they should be recognized as separate species.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Sophia V. Yudina, Mikhail I. Schelkunov, Lars Nauheimer, Darren Crayn, Sahut Chantanaorrapint, Michal Hrones, Michal Sochor, Martin Dancak, Shek-Shing Mar, Hong Truong Luu, Maxim S. Nuraliev, Maria D. Logacheva
Summary: This study investigates a diversity of plastid genomes in closely related non-photosynthetic plants, illustrating how gradual gene loss shapes the miniaturized plastomes of these plants and revealing the process of reductive evolution in heterotrophic plants.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
T. R. Pfeilsticker, R. C. Jones, D. A. Steane, P. A. Harrison, R. E. Vaillancourt, B. M. Potts
Summary: This study contributes to the increasing number of reports of hybrid inferiority in Eucalyptus, suggesting that post-zygotic barriers contribute to the maintenance of species integrity even between closely related species. However, with fitness rapidly recovered following backcrossing, it is argued that hybridization can still be an important evolutionary process.
Article
Forestry
Jennifer M. Yost, Sascha L. Wise, Natalie L. R. Love, Dorothy A. Steane, Rebecca C. Jones, Matt K. Ritter, Brad M. Potts
Summary: Eucalyptus globulus, native to southeastern Australia and mainly from eastern Tasmania, has lower genetic diversity in California compared to its native Australian population, with most samples having the same chloroplast haplotype. The degree of naturalization of E. globulus in California varies by location, but is not influenced by genotype or native origin of the trees.
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Karma Yeshi, Darren Crayn, Edita Ritmejeryte, Phurpa Wangchuk
Summary: Plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) are crucial for human health and serve as the foundation for many pharmaceutical drugs. Obtaining natural products, particularly from endangered species, poses a challenge for drug discovery and the pharmaceutical industry. Plants affected by abiotic stress can potentially serve as an alternative source for drug discovery by producing a diverse range of PSMs to combat environmental stressors. These PSMs, primarily synthesized under abiotic stress conditions, often possess anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Zoe Bloesch, Lars Nauheimer, Thais Elias Almeida, Darren Crayn, Ashley Raymond Field
Summary: This study explores the role of evolutionary reticulation in ferns using target sequence capture and read-to-reference phasing. Two novel hybrid lineages were identified in Thelypteridaceae, and the hybrid phasing approach improved the resolution of the phylogeny.
MOLECULAR PHYLOGENETICS AND EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Patricio Saldivia, Steven J. Wagstaff, Ilse Breitwieser, David A. Orlovich, Janice M. Lord
Summary: Pleurophyllum lade is a major clade within the subtribe Celmisiinae (tribe Asteraceae), primarily found in New Zealand and surrounding islands. This clade is characterized by its purple to dark red disc corollas, distinguishing it from other members of Celmisiinae. The paper presents a new generic taxonomy for this clade, discussing the morphological differences and providing taxonomic keys for genera and species.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Yee Wen Low, Sitaram Rajaraman, Crystal M. Tomlin, Joffre Ali Ahmad, Wisnu H. Ardi, Kate Armstrong, Parusuraman Athen, Ahmad Berhaman, Ruth E. Bone, Martin Cheek, Nicholas R. W. Cho, Le Min Choo, Ian D. Cowie, Darren Crayn, Steven J. Fleck, Andrew J. Ford, Paul Forster, Deden Girmansyah, David J. Goyder, Bruce Gray, Charlie D. Heatubun, Ali Ibrahim, Bazilah Ibrahim, Himesh D. Jayasinghe, Muhammad Ariffin Kalat, Hashendra S. Kathriarachchi, Endang Kintamani, Sin Lan Koh, Joseph T. K. Lai, Serena M. L. Lee, Paul K. F. Leong, Wei Hao Lim, Shawn K. Y. Lum, Ridha Mahyuni, William J. F. McDonald, Faizah Metali, Wendy A. Mustaqim, Akiyo Naiki, Kang Min Ngo, Matti Niissalo, Subhani Ranasinghe, Rimi Repin, Himmah Rustiami, Victor Simbiak, Rahayu S. Sukri, Siti Sunarti, Liam A. Trethowan, Anna Trias-Blasi, Thais N. C. Vasconcelos, Jimmy F. Wanma, Pudji Widodo, Douglas Siril A. Wijesundara, Stuart Worboys, Jing Wei Yap, Kien Thai Yong, Gillian S. W. Khew, Jarkko Salojarvi, Todd P. Michael, David J. Middleton, David F. R. P. Burslem, Charlotte Lindqvist, Eve J. Lucas, Victor A. Albert
Summary: This study demonstrates the contribution of neutral forces to the species radiation of the tree genus Syzygium. By combining reference genome assembly and population genetics analyses, the authors reveal the importance of neutral processes in driving the diversification of Syzygium.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Karma Yeshi, Roland Ruscher, Kim Miles, Darren Crayn, Michael Liddell, Phurpa Wangchuk
Summary: Plants have long been an important source of natural antioxidants. In this study, seven plants from the mountainous regions of Mount Lewis National Park in Australia were tested for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities. The results showed that six of the plants had high free radical scavenging activity, while five of them exhibited inhibitory effects on the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Edita Ritmejeryte, Rachael Y. M. Ryan, Brendan Byatt, Yoshimi Peck, Karma Yeshi, Norelle L. Daly, Guangzu Zhao, Darren Crayn, Alex Loukas, Stephen G. Pyne, Roland Ruscher, Phurpa Wangchuk
Summary: Two new compounds were isolated from Uromyrtus metrosideros leaf extract and showed significant suppression on proinflammatory cytokines involved in inflammatory bowel disease. These compounds have the potential to be candidates for IBD treatment.
CHEMICO-BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Thais R. R. Pfeilsticker, Rebecca C. C. Jones, Dorothy A. A. Steane, Rene E. Vaillancourt, Brad M. M. Potts
Summary: In plants with limited seed dispersal, hybridisation can enhance gene exchange and species dispersal. Genetic evidence shows that hybridisation contributes to the expansion of Eucalyptus risdonii into the range of Eucalyptus amygdalina. Isolated hybrids match the expected genotypes, and there is a continuum of genetic composition among hybrid patches, suggesting backcrossing. The resurrection of Eucalyptus risdonii phenotype in isolated hybrid patches is likely due to long-distance pollen dispersal, leading to the invasion of suitable habitat and the displacement of Eucalyptus amygdalina.
Article
Plant Sciences
E. M. Joyce, D. M. Crayn, M. Rossetto, J. Y. S. Yap, K. R. Thiele, C. M. Pannell
Summary: This study used DArT-seq analysis to investigate the genetic structure of Aglaia elaeagnoidea, a species with high morphological and ecological variability. The research revealed a strong genetic disjunction between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, suggesting the presence of two taxa within the western distribution of A. elaeagnoidea. Based on these findings, combined with previous molecular work and morphology studies, the species complex was resolved into three species. This study effectively addresses the taxonomic challenges posed by A. elaeagnoidea, a notoriously complex genus.
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Elizabeth M. Joyce, Kevin R. Thiele, J. W. Ferry Slik, Darren M. Crayn
Summary: The Miocene convergence of the Sunda shelf, Sahul shelf and Wallacea facilitated the exchange of previously isolated floras. The environmental variables and available landmass have more influence on modern phytogeographical patterns than traditional barriers.
BIOLOGICAL JOURNAL OF THE LINNEAN SOCIETY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Stephanus Venter
Summary: The genus Dracophyllum has been revised with a total of 61 recognized species, while the genus Richea has been reduced to synonymy under Dracophyllum. New replacement names and combinations have been proposed in this study, along with detailed information and keys provided for each species.
AUSTRALIAN SYSTEMATIC BOTANY
(2021)