Pollen Morphology of the Family Zingiberaceae in China—Pollen Types and Their Significance in the Taxonomy

Pollen morphology of 89 species and 3 varieties belonging to 18 genera (out of 150 spcies in 20 genera) of Zingiberaceae in China was studied under both light microscope and scanning electron microscope. Pollen grains of Zingiberaceae are spherical, subspherical, ovoid and prolate, 36-225 μm in size, nonaperturate or aperturate (spiraperturate, porate). Pollen grains are almost not resistant to acetolysis. The wall is composed of a very thin exine and a thick intine. The exine is psilate, spinate, cerebelloid-areolate, striate, verrucate and foveolate. According to the presence or the absence of aperture and differential ornamentations, two types and six subtypes are recognized: I. The type Nonaperturate: (85 species and 3 varieties in 18 genera). Four subtypes can be recognized within the type based on the characteristics of the exine sculpture. These are: (1) The subtype Psilate, in which, the exine is nearly smooth (including: Hedychium, Curcuma, Kaempferia, Caulokaempferia coenobilis, Boesenbergia rotunda, Stahlianthus, Amomum compactum, Etingera, Hornstedtis, Rhynchanthus). (2) The subtype Spinate, which comprises two groups: (A) The group Short-spinate, pollen grains with smaller spines (Globba), (B) The group Long-spinate, pollen grains with longer spines (Alpinia, Amomum, Plagiostachys, Roscoea, Cautleya, Boesenbergia fallax, Caulokaempferia yunnanensis). (3) The subtype Cereblloid-areolate, pollen grains of which are spherical or subspherical, with cerebelloid sculpture (Zingiber Sect. Zingiber). (4) The subtype Striate, pollen grains of which are prolate or oliveshaped, and striate (Zingiber Setc. Cryptanthium). II. The type Aperturate, in which pollen grains are acetilysis-resistant and possess distinct apertures (mixed colpate-porate or forate), including two subtypes: (1)The subtype Mixed colpate and Porate. Pollen grains are both 3-colpate and 1-3-porate, and usually with one long spiral, two short (straight or slightly curved) colpi and 1-3-poris. The exine is verrucate or not, nearly sinuolate (Costus speciosus, C. tonkinensis, C. lacerus). (2) The subtype porate, whose grains are 6-8-porate and exine is foveolate (Costus megalobractea). The taxonomic significance of the pollen types in the family Zingiberaceae is also discussed.     

国产姜科植物的染色体计数(四)

<正> 本文继续报道对国产姜科植物8属15种所作的染色体计数观察的结果,其中9种是染色体计数的新记录(表1、图1),并初步确定茴香砂仁属Achasma和喙花姜属Rhynchanthus的染色体基数分别为12和11。     

国产姜科植物的染色体计数(2)

<正> 本文继续对国产姜科植物7属,14种和1栽培种作了染色体计数观察,其中9种和1栽培种是染色体计数的新纪录(表1,图1)。通过对大豆蔻Hornstedtia hainanensis的细胞学观察,初步确定大豆蔻属Hornstedtia的染色体基数为12(X=12)。     

Platelet-activating factor (PAF) receptor-binding antagonist activity of Malaysian medicinal plants

Forty-nine methanol extracts of 37 species of Malaysian medicinal plants were investigated for their inhibitory effects on platelet-activating factor (PAF) binding to rabbit platelets, using 3H-PAF as a ligand. Among them, the extracts of six Zingiberaceae species (Alpinia galanga Swartz., Boesenbergia pandurata Roxb., Curcuma ochorrhiza Val., C. aeruginosa Roxb., Zingiber officinale Rosc. and Z. zerumbet Koenig.), two Cinnamomum species (C. altissimum Kosterm. and C. pubescens Kochummen.), Goniothalamus malayanus Hook. f. Momordica charantia Linn. and Piper aduncum L. are potential sources of new PAF antagonists, as they showed significant inhibitory effects with IC50 values ranging from 1.2 to 18.4 microg ml(-1).     

国产姜科植物的染色体计数初报

<正> 姜科植物是热带、亚热带的特有植物,全世界约有50属1,500种,根据已报道的文献初步统计,国外已进行染色体计数的种类约有20属150种;而占世界姜科植物的半数以上的属和90％的种未作细胞学研究。我国姜科植物种类丰富,约占世界姜科植物的~1/10(150种),但其中~2/8的种类未有染色体资料,这些种类虽为我国所特有,亦缺乏细胞学研究。     

国产姜科植物的染色体计数(5)

<正> 本文继续对7属15种国产姜科植物作染色体计数观察,其中10种是染色体计数的新纪录(表、图)。通过对黄花大苞姜(Caulokaempferia coenobialis)和大苞姜(C.yunnanensis)以及凹唇姜(Bosenbevgia rotunda)和心叶凹唇姜(B.fallax)的染色体观察,确定了大苞姜属(Caulokaempferia)和凹唇姜属(Bosenbergia)的染色体基数分别为12和9。     

New Taxa of Zingiberaceae from Yunnan

Twelve new species of Zingiberaceae are described from Yunnan Province, China. They are Amomum fragle S. Q. Tong, A. quadrato-laminare S. Q. Tong, A. verrucosum S. Q. Tong, A. glabrum S. Q. Tong, A. capsiciforme S. Q. Tong, A. coriandriodorum S. Q. Tong, Alpinia rubromaculata S. Q. Tong, A. emaculata S. Q. Tong, Zingiber nigrimaculatum S. Q. Tong, Hedychium glabrum S. Q. Tong, Costus viridis S. Q. Tong and Costus oblongus S. Q.Tong. A key to species of the genus Costus is given at the end of text.     

十种姜科植物的染色体数目研究

报道了姜科3属10种植物的染色体数目。(1)姜属5种:版纳姜2n=22,弯管姜2n=22,圆瓣姜2n=22,红球姜2n=22,紫色姜2n=22;(2)舞花姜属4种:舞花姜2n=24,毛舞花姜2n=48,双翅舞花姜2n=48,澜沧舞花姜2n=32;(3)凹唇姜属1种:白斑凹唇姜2n=36。其中弯管姜、圆瓣姜、紫色姜、澜沧舞花姜、白斑凹唇姜的染色体数目为首次报道。     

The contribution of Jonathan Pereira (1804 – 1853) to plant taxonomy

The contribution of Jonathan Pereira to plant taxonomy is reviewed. He described three species in the course of his extensive publications on materia medica. All three are members of the Zingiberaceae. Elettaria cardamomum-zeylanicum J. Pereira from Sri Lanka has been completely overlooked since its publication. It is a synonym of Elettaria cardamomum var. major Baker. The West African Amomum citratum J. Pereira is correctly known as Aframomum citratum (J. Pereira) K. Schum. Amomum korarima J. Pereira is a synonym of Aframomum corrorima (A. Braun) P. C. M. Jansen, an important spice-plant from Ethiopia. The typification of these taxa and their synonyms is reviewed. This includes new lectotypifications for two species described by Gaertner, Zingiber ensal and Z. minus. A note concerning the valid publication of 14 nomenclatural novelties by B. A. Abeywickrama is included.     

Genetic variation of chloroplast DNA in Zingiberaceae taxa from Myanmar assessed by PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis

We examined genetic variation in 22 accessions belonging to 11 species in four genera of the Zingiberaceae, mainly from Myanmar, by PCR–restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis to investigate their relationships within this family. Two of 10 chloroplast gene regions ( trnS-trnfM and trnK2 – trnQr ) showed differential PCR amplification across the taxa. Restriction enzyme digestion of the PCR products revealed interspecific variability. The restriction patterns were used to classify the regions as either highly conserved or variable across the taxa. None of the regions was highly conserved across the four genera, and the level of conservation varied. The gene region trnS-trnfM appeared to display interspecific variability among most of the species. However, the relative efficiency of different restriction enzymes depended on the gene regions and genera investigated. Cluster analysis revealed interspecific discrimination among the taxa. The two Curcuma species ( Curcuma zedoaria and Curcuma xanthorrhiza ) appeared to be identical, thus supporting their recent classification as synonyms. The results provide the basis for selecting specific combinations of restriction enzymes and gene regions of chloroplast DNA (cpDNA) to identify interspecific variation in the Zingiberaceae and to identify both highly conserved and variable regions. Overall, cpDNA depicted comparatively diverse genetic profile of the studied germplasm. The genetic information revealed here can be applied to the conservation and future breeding of Zingiber and Curcuma species.     

Pollen characteristics of the tribes Calycophylleae, Cinchoneae, and Hillieae (Rubiaceae)

Pollen grains were studied on acetolysed material with the aid of the SEM. They may be classified into four types. Type I is characterized by thick (0.92.1 μm) exine with reticulate surface, by distinct colpi with acute ends, and by distinct ora. It occurs in the genera Alseis, Calycophyllum, Ferdinandusa , and Schizocalyx. Ferdinandusa is further characterized by its lumina being differentiated into two distinct size classes. Type II is characterized by a usually thin (usually 0.7–1.1 μm) exine with foveolate surface, by distinct colpi with obtuse to truncate ends, and by poorly demarcated ora. It occurs in Cinchona, Joosia, Ladenbergia , and Remijia . Pollen grains of Joosia are mostly 4–colporate. Type III is characterized by a thick (1.7–2.0 μm) exine with coarsely reticulate surface, colpi are lacking or short and the ora are clearly demarcated. It occurs only in Capirona . Type IV is characterized by a thin (0.5–0.8 μm) exine with a psilate or foveolate surface and usually indistinct colpi with obtuse ends, and by distinct ora. It occurs in Cosmibuena and Dolicholobium . Pollen grains of Balmea, Hillia, Macrocnemum, Stilpnophyllum , and Wittmackanthus , combining features of Type I and II, do not fit into either of these four groups. It is concluded that both the tribes Calycophylleae and Cinchoneae remain eurypalynous in spite of a recent emendation. It is suggested that pollen characters serve best to characterize genera and small groups of genera. It is further suggested that Type I pollen is plesiomorphic in most or all characteristics.     

Isolation and screening of endophytes from the rhizomes of some Zingiberaceae plants for L-asparaginase production

Endophytes are described as microorganisms that colonize the internal tissues of healthy plants without causing any disease. Endophytes isolated from medicinal plants have been attracting considerable attention due to their high biodiversity and their predicted potential to produce a plethora of novel compounds. In this study, an attempt was made to isolate endophytes from rhizomes of five medicinal plants of Zingiberaceae family, and to screen the endophytes for L-asparaginase activity. In total, 50 endophytes (14 bacteria, 22 actinomycetes, and 14 fungi) were isolated from Alpinia galanga, Curcuma amada, Curcuma longa, Hedychium coronarium, and Zingiber officinale; of these, 31 endophytes evidenced positive for L-asparaginase production. All the L-asparaginase-positive isolates showed L-asparaginase activity in the range of 54.17–155.93 U/mL in unoptimized medium. An endophytic fungus isolated from Curcuma amada, identified as Talaromyces pinophilus, was used for further experiments involving studies on the effect of certain nutritional and nonnutritional factors on L-asparaginase production in submerged fermentation. Talaromyces pinophilus initially gave an enzyme activity of 108.95 U/mL, but gradually reduced to 80 U/mL due to strain degeneration. Perhaps this is the first report ever on the production of L-asparaginase from endophytes isolated from medicinal plants of Zingiberaceae family.     

A new species of Globba (Zingiberaceae) from Peninsular Malaysia

Ibrahim, H. & Larsen, K. 1995. A new species of Globba (Zingiberaceae) from Peninsular Malaysia. - Nod. J. Bot. 15: 157–159. Copenhagen. ISSN 0107–055X.
Globba nawawii from the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia is described, illustrated and compared with its nearest allies, G. corneri and G. unifolia .     

An Uncommon Wall Thickening of Guard Cells

Four species of the family Zingiberaceae, Curcuma amada Roxb.,C. domestica Valet., Zingiber officinale Rose, Elettaria cardamomumMat.; one species of the family Cannaceae, Canna indica L.;one species of the family Rubiaceae, Coffea arabica L.; andone species of the family Theaceae, Camellia sinensis L. showedthe presence of wall thickening at the polar ends of the guardcells. This thickening may be restricted to the outer wall atthe polar regions or may also be extended to the common innercell wall (not the part of the inner wall abutting the stomatalpore). In C. sinensis the wall thickening may be restrictedonly to the common inner wall. The thick walls are PAS-positive.     

Pollen morphology of the Gardenieae-Gardeniinae (Rubiaceae)

Pollen grains of 107 species of 61 genera of the Gardeniinae were investigated by scanning electron and light microscopy. The subtribe is europalynous and grains occur either as monads, tetrads or massulae. Grains are porate, colporate or rarely pororate. The majority of the genera has 3-zonoaperturate pollen grains. However, deviating numbers of apertures occur in Byrsophyllum (4–8) and Pseudomantalania (4–5). Pantoporate pollen occurs in Randia . The average equatorial size (E) of monads varies between 13 μm in Anomanthodiu to 59 μm in Posoqueria . The tetrads vary from 37 μm in Casasia to 61 μm in Calochone and Euclinia . The exine is usually reticulate, but also foveolate, rugulate, perforate and psilate exine occurs in the subtribe. The thickness of the exine is only 0.3 μm in tetrad grains of Randia armata and in the pantoporate monad grains of R. ruiziana , whereas the thickest exine occurs in Posoqueria (2.8 pm) and Euclinia (2.9 μm). Tectal excrescenses are generally absent. However, three genera with pollen in tetrads, namely Euclinia, Gardenia and Oligoco-don , show this feature. Contrary to the subtribe most genera are fairly stenopalynous, but in the neotropical genera Alibertia and Randia several different types of pollen are encountered.     

Genetic variation of Kaempferia (Zingiberaceae) in Thailand based on chloroplast DNA (psbA-trnH and petA-psbJ) sequences

Genetic variation and species authentication of 71 Kaempferia accessions (representing 15 recognized, six new, and four unidentified species) found indigenously in Thailand were examined by determining chloroplast psbA-trnH and partial petA-psbJ spacer sequences. Ten closely related species (Boesenbergia rotunda, Gagnepainia godefroyi, G. thoreliana, Globba substrigosa, Smithatris myanmarensis, S. supraneanae, Scaphochlamys biloba, S. minutiflora, S. rubescens, and Stahlianthus sp) were also included. After sequence alignments, 1010 and 865 bp in length were obtained for the respective chloroplast DNA sequences. Intraspecific sequence variation was not observed in Kaempferia candida, K. angustifolia, K. laotica, K. galanga, K. pardi sp nov., K. bambusetorum sp nov., K. albomaculata sp nov., K. minuta sp nov., Kaempferia sp nov. 1, and G. thoreliana, for which more than one specimen was available. In contrast, intraspecific sequence polymorphisms were observed in various populations of K. fallax, K. filifolia, K. elegans, K. pulchra, K. rotunda, K. marginata, K. parviflora, K. larsenii, K. roscoeana, K. siamensis, and G. godefroyi. A strict consensus tree based on combined psbA-trnH and partial petA-psbJ sequences revealed four major groups of Kaempferia species. We suggest that the genus Kaempferia is a polyphyletic group, as K. candida was distantly related and did not group with other Kaempferia species. Polymorphic sites and indels of psbA-trnH and petA-psbJ can be used as DNA barcodes for species diagnosis of most Kaempferia and outgroup species. Nuclear DNA polymorphism should be examined to determine if there has been interspecific hybridization and chloroplast DNA introgression in these taxa.     

中药砂仁类资源植物药理活性的比较

本文对6种砂仁类中药水煎液及挥发油进行了抑菌作用和对小鼠小肠运动影响的比较研究。结果表明春砂仁、壳砂仁和建砂仁的水煎液对革兰氏阳性菌（G+）有抑制作用;川砂仁挥发油、建砂仁水煎液对革兰氏阴性菌（G-）有抑制作用;红壳砂仁挥发油及水煎液对革兰氏阳性菌（G+）与革兰氏阴性菌（G-）均有抑制作用,而绿壳砂均无抑制作用。砂仁类的水煎液对促进肠管运动有明显作用,而挥发油即使在稀释100倍的情况下对肠管运动仍起抑制作用。     

Pollen morphology of Chinese Curcuma L. and Boesenbergia Kuntz (Zingiberaceae): Taxonomic implications

In order to find new non-molecular evidence to support the phylogenetic and taxonomic position, pollen grains of 20 populations of 16 species of Chinese Curcuma L. and Boesenbergia Kuntz (Zingiberaceae) were investigated under SEM and TEM. The pollen grains are spherical and ovoid, nonaperturate. The pollen wall is composed of a very thin exine and a thick intine. The exine is psilate or echinate. The intine consists of two layers, i.e., a thick, channeled layer (exintine) and an inner homogenous layer (endintine). The results reveal morphological congruence between the pollen grains of species of Curcuma, which according to DNA sequence data appears to be a polyphyletic genus. However the uniform pollen morphology in Curcuma provides no evidence to divide this genus into separate taxonomic entities. Our results on pollen morphology also do not provide any additional evidence to either unite or segregate Boesenbergia albomaculata and Curcumorpha longiflora in the same genus and demonstrate that more taxonomic data on the genus Boesenbergia and its relatives are needed before a final decision can be made.     

Pollen morphology and phylogenetic relationships in neotropical Phyllanthus (Euphorbiaceae)

In order to provide new insights into phylogenetic relationships among the neotropical taxa of Phyllanthus , 28 illustrations are provided of the pollen grains of 22 selected species studied from 11 sections of the subgenera represented in the neotropics. Special attention has been given to subgenus Conami because of its variability in pollen morphology: of eight species illustrated, the apertures are diploporate colpi in three species and pores in five species; exine ornamentation is vermiculate in two species and pilate in the other six species. The six species in the neotropical sections Pityrocladus and Microglochidion (subgenus Emblica ) are characterized by prolate grains with an increased number of colpi (4–8). Of particular interest are species in which the pollen exine is clypeate (with exine shields); clypeate pollen grains are illustrated in two species of subgenus Xylophylla and in one species of section Cyclanthera that has unique exine shields with single central pila. The pollen of the one Brazilian phylloclade-bearing species illustrated (in section Choretropsis ) has 3-colporate grains with reticulate exine, typical for subgenus Phyllanthus , and very different from the clypeate grains of the West Indian phylloclade-bearing species in section Xylophylla . This pollen evidence clearly demonstrates homoplasy in the origin of phylloclades in Phyllanthus . Pollen morphological data suggest that the neotropical taxa of Phyllanthus have arisen following colonization from Africa (subgenus Kirganelia ) and Asia (subgenus Emblica ). © 2002 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2002, 138 , 325–338.