Development of the male and female gametophyte in Capsicum annuum L. var. California Wonder

The study of reproductive organs and their developmental stages during sporogenesis and gametogenesis is an important step for basic and applied sciences. In this order and to develop knowledge about Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae), flower buds in different developmental stages were investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy. The bell pepper bisexual flowers have homoantherous stamens with tetrasporangiate anthers. The pattern of anther wall formation is basic type, while previously described as dicotyledonous type. Microspore mother cells meiosis has simultaneous cytokinesis and tetrads are tetrahedral. Two-celled mature pollen grains are tricolporate with scabrate ornamentation. The gynoecium is bicarpellate and epigynous, with hemianatropous, unitegmic and tenuinucellate ovules. After megaspore mother cell meiosis, cytokinesis is simultaneous. The chalazal megaspore of the linear tetrad functions as the functional megaspore. Embryo sac development is of monosporic Polygonum type and consists of seven cells. We give the first reproductive calendar for the species that allows prognostication of gametogenesis on the basis of sporophytic parameters related to reproductive organ development and floral bud form and size. Some of these developmental characteristics should be useful for comparative studies and investigation of phylogenetic relationships within Solanaceae family.     

Embryology of the Theaceae - anther and ovule development of Camellia, Franklinia, and Schima

The anther and ovule development of Camellia, Franklinia, and Schima (Theaceae, Camellioideae) were observed. The three genera share the following embryological traits: anther wall formation of basic type, tapetum of glandular type, walls of endothecial cells with secondary thickening, and production of pseudopollen grains in connective, which are dispersed into pollen sacs at anthesis, ovule bitegmic-tenuinucellate, micropyle formed by inner integument alone, hypostase present, and both integuments generally five-to-seven cell layered. One autapomorphy of the Camellioideae found in the present study is the production of pseudopollen. The three genera surveyed differ with respect to the number of middle layers in the anther, the presence or absence of stomata on connective epidermis, morphology of pseudopollen, type of embryo sac formation, form of ovule, ovular vasculature, and the proliferation of ovular epidermis, etc. Among the three genera, Franklinia and Schima are presumed to be closer embryologically, and Schima possesses more numerous specialized features.     

Evolution of the inflated calyx syndrome in Solanaceae

Species that express the inflated calyx syndrome (ICS) are found in several genera of the Solanaceae. The MADS-box protein MPF2, together with the plant hormones cytokinin and gibberellin, has been shown to be responsible for this trait in Physalis floridana. We have used sequence data from 114 species belonging to 35 genera to construct a molecular phylogeny of Solanaceae. Apart from the 2 Witheringia species analyzed, species within a given genus cluster together on the resulting cladogram. Witheringia solanacea is embedded within the Physalinae, but Witheringia coccoloboides is placed basal to the Iochrominae. The ICS trait seems to be of multiple origins both within the Solanaceae and the Physaleae. Surprisingly, expression of MPF2-like genes in floral organs appears to be plesiomorphic in both the Physaleae and the Capsiceae. Some species in these tribes that show neither ICS nor calyx accrescence fail to express the MPF2-like gene in floral organs. Among those that do express this gene in the calyx are the species Capsicum baccatum, Lycianthes biflora, Tubocapsicum anomalum, W. solanacea, and Vassobia breviflora, all of which form small calyces that do not respond to externally applied hormones. The plesiomorphic nature of MPF2-like gene expression in the calyx of the Physaleae and Capsiceae raises the possibility that originally ICS also was actually a plesiomorphic character in these 2 groups. However, this trait might have undergone changes in a number of species due to secondary loss of components in ICS formation, like hormone response of calyx development. These findings are discussed in an evolutionary context of a molecular pathway leading to ICS.     

The systematic significance of morphological and anatomical variation in fruits of Crotalaria and related genera of tribe Crotalarieae (Fabaceae)

The phylogenetic and taxonomic significance of morphological and anatomical trends in fruits of tribe Crotalarieae has been evaluated, with emphasis on the genus Crotalaria and its seemingly distinctive, inflated and balloon‐shaped pods. In addition to the normal explosive dehiscence as a means of dispersal, several genera (including Crotalaria) show independent evolution of modifications apparently adapted for dispersal by wind, water and gravity. Transverse sections were made of mature pods of 142 species from the 12 currently recognized genera of Crotalarieae. The taxa differ in the orientation of the fibres (related to dehiscence or non‐dehiscence), the overall thickness of the fruit wall, the relative proportions of the pericarp layers, the degree of lignification and the presence or absence of trichomes. Three basic pericarp types can be distinguished: type I, with one, two or three zones of various numbers of cell layers of fibres (almost all genera); type II, with a single cell layer of fibres (only in Rothia, Robynsiophyton, Lebeckia and Lotononis sections Listia and Leobordea); and type III, with one zone of several cell layers of gelatinous fibres and multicellular trichomes associated with the endocarp (only in some species of Calobota and Wiborgiella). Considerable variation was encountered in the tribe, but Crotalaria appears to be rather uniform, with type I predominating. © 2010 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2011, 165 , 84–106.     

云南20种蕨类植物叶表皮微形态特征研究

利用光学显微镜对云南20种不同科、属的蕨类植物的叶表皮形态进行了观察和研究。结果表明：它们的叶片表面存在不同的附属物,而有的种类无附属物;20种蕨类植物共具8种气孔器类型(极细胞型、腋下细胞型、辐射状细胞型、双不等细胞型、无规则四细胞型、共环极细胞型、聚腋下细胞型和不规则型), 它们在气孔器组成上具多型现象,气孔均为下生型,分布方式及大小多样;叶表皮细胞的微形态在科属间表现出一定的差异,主要有不规则型、多边型或规则条状,表皮细胞垂周壁呈波纹状、深波状或波浪状。上述研究结果为蕨类植物的系统分类及演化提供依据。     

Epidermal and hypodermal characteristics in North American Cactoideae (Cactaceae)

Dermal and hypodermal anatomical features of 70 species representing 21 genera of North American Cactoideae were studied. Results show that all species examined have parallelocytic stomata and anticlinal wall surface varies from straight to undulate. Cuticle thickness is mostly narrow (1–10 μm) contrary to the general opinion that cuticle is thick in most cacti; however, few species such as Ariocarpus fissuratus and several species of Pachycereus show a distinctive thick cuticle. More than 80% of the species studied have a single-layered epidermis. Papillae occur in eight species belonging to four genera. Notable papillae are a feature shared by all members of Peniocereus subg. Peniocereus. Other species show a bullate surface produced by irregular patches of secondary epidermal cell divisions. Commonly, the hypodermis is composed of more than two cell layers with distinctive collenchymatous walls as reported in many South American species. Silica bodies, prismatic crystals, druses, sphaerocrystals, and tannins are the most common cellular inclusions that distinguish several genera and appear to have taxonomic value. However, a more thorough search in species of Cephalocereus, Coryphantha, Echinocereus, Mammillaria, Neobuxbaumia, Pilosocereus, and Turbinicarpus is needed to support the previous assertion. Electronic Publication     

青海省甘蒙柽柳群落植被区系分析

为了探明青海省甘蒙柽柳(Tamarix austromongolica Nakai)群落植被的区系特征,对同德县然果村甘蒙柽柳古树林群落的古树资源基本特征和结构特征进行了分析,并对该古树林群落及同德县班多村和贵德县曲卜藏村甘蒙柽柳幼树林群落的科属组成、生活型和区系特征进行了分析和比较;在此基础上,提出甘蒙柽柳古树林群落的保护策略.调查结果显示:在然果村古树林群落中,胸径大于1.40 m的甘蒙柽柳百年古树有203株,最高植株的株高、胸径和地径分别为22.85、1.78和3.39 m;群落中小叶杨(Populus simonii Carr.)百年古树有15株,最高植株的株高和胸径分别为25.00和4.18 m.在垂直结构上,然果村古树林群落分为乔木层、灌木层和草本层3个层次,其中,草本层包括多年生丛草层和一年生杂草层2个层次;在水平结构上,甘蒙柽柳均匀散布在群落内,小叶杨呈带状聚集分布,大部分灌木呈丛状分布,草本植物则呈小丛或单生态分布.然果村古树林群落有种子植物8科18属21种,班多村幼树林群落有种子植物10科18属20种,曲卜藏村幼树林群落有种子植物8科12属12种.区系分析结果表明:在科水平上,3个甘蒙柽柳群落均以世界分布型为主;在属水平上,然果村古树林群落和班多村幼树林群落均以北温带分布型为主,占总属数(不包括世界分布型)的37.50%和43.75%,而曲卜藏村幼树林群落则以世界分布型为主,中亚分布型次之.比较结果表明:3个群落的甘蒙柽柳植株大小差异明显,物种组成和区系成分也有一定差异.综合考虑认为,甘蒙柽柳古树林群落保护应采取就地保护和迁地保护相结合的方式.     

Morphology and ultrastructure of orbicules in the subfamily Ixoroideae (Rubiaceae)

Orbicules were studied in 43 species belonging to 32 genera of the five tribes of the Ixoroideae (Rubiaceae). The orbicules were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), light microscopy (LM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Orbicules are present in all species investigated of the tribes Pavetteae, Octotropideae and Coffeeae. In the tribes Gardenieae and Aulacocalyceae orbicules were found in some species, while they were absent in others. 15 species out of 11 genera lack orbicules. Three orbicule types (III, V, and VI) could be distinguished, mainly on the basis of general morphological and ultrastructural variations. Orbicules that belong to type III (0.50-1.29μm) have perforations in their wall, a regular or irregular shape and two or three electron transparent cores. This orbicule type, exclusively found in all Pavetteae species investigated, can be divided into two subtypes. Orbicules of subtype IIIa are present in all genera related to Ixora, and orbicules of subtype IIIb in those genera related to Tarenna. Orbicules of type V (0.97-1.86μm) are present in Himalrandia tetrasperma (Aulacocalyceae), and in all Octotropideae genera investigated, except Feretia. Complexes of more than three individual orbicules characterize this type. They are irregularly shaped and have many perforations as well as sporopollenin granules on the orbicule wall. In all species investigated of tribe Coffeeae, type VI orbicules (0.56-1.60μm) are present. These orbicules are characterized by their embedded position towards the tapetal membrane, their aggregated form and by the presence of perforations as well as sporopollenin granules on their orbicule wall. In the tribe Gardenieae different types of orbicule were found (V, VI and orbicules that cannot be classified in our typology). Our results suggest that orbicule characters in the Ixoroideae may be systematically useful on tribal level.     

Jumping plant lice (Homoptera: Psylloidea) of the temperate neotropical region. Part 1: Psyllidae (subfamilies Aphalarinae, Rhinocolinae and Aphalaroidinae)

The psyllid-fauna of temperate and subantarctic South America comprises members of three families: Calophyidae, Triozidae and Psyllidae. Three subfamilies of the Psyllidae are revised in this paper: the Aphalarinae are represented by two species in two genera, one of which develops on Aquifoliaceae; the Rhinocolinae are represented by two congeneric species on Anacardiaceae while the Aphalaroidinae contain 38 species in seven genera trophically linked to the Compositae, Euphorbiaceae, Leguminosae, Myzodendraceae, Rhamnaceae, Solanaceae and Zygophyllaceae. The family Psyllidae (= Aphalaridae syn. nov. , =Spondyliaspididae syn. nov. ) and the constituent subfamily Aphalaroidinae (= Arepuninae syn nov. , = Ciriacreminae auct. pp) are redefined. Three genera and 30 species are described as new and two new generic, two new specific synonyms, and five new combinations are proposed. Information on larvae and host plant relationships is also given. Lectotypes are designated for eight species and a type-species is fixed for one genus. Keys are provided for the identification to species.     

Dyssochroma viridiflorum (Solanaceae): a reproductively bat-dependent epiphyte from the Atlantic rainforest in Brazil

Few Neotropical plant species seem to depend on the same animal type both for pollination and seed dispersal, and the known instances refer mostly to birds as the agents in these two phases of a plant reproductive cycle. Dyssochroma viridiflorum (Solanaceae), an epiphyte endemic to the Atlantic rainforest in south-eastern Brazil, was found to be visited by phyllostomid bats for nectar as well as for fruits, with the pollination and seed dispersal of the plant ensured by these flying mammals. The greenish flowers open at night and are visited by the nectar-feeding bat Glossophaga soricina, whereas the yellowish-white fruits are consumed by two species of fruit-eating bats, Carollia perspicillata and Sturnira lilium. Only clinging visits, an uncommon behavioural pattern for glossophagine bats while feeding on flowers, were recorded. The small seeds of D. viridiflorum are swallowed along with the fruit pulp and later defecated on the bats' flying pathways. It is suggested that species of Dyssochroma and two other solanaceous bat-pollinated genera, Merinthopodium and Trianaea, form a derived and bat-dependent clade within the Juanulloeae.     

A SYSTEMATIC STUDY OF ENDOTHECIAL THICKENINGS IN THE ORCHIDACEAE

Endothecial cell thickenings were examined in anther macerations of representative species from 210 genera of the Orchidaceae. Nearly all species examined possessed the characteristic thickened walls which, in several tested species, gave a positive reaction to phloroglucinol, indicating the presence of lignin. Four basic thickening types were identified; distribution of the types was found to be largely in agreement with previously recognized suprageneric groups. Type I thickenings are tightly packed channels of loops or helices and were found in the “neottioid” genera, the Apostasioideae, and putatively basal genera in the remaining subfamilies. Because of its occurrence in the Apostasioideae, which is believed to be the most basal subfamily, Type I is hypothesized to be the plesiomorphic thickening type for the remainder of the Orchidaceae. Type II thickenings appear as scattered loops and may be a synapomorphy for the Orchidoideae, as they were found in all genera sampled from the subfamily except Disperis. Type III thickenings are circular in appearance and were found in the Cypripedioideae and in some members of the Spiranthoideae and Epidendroideae. Type IV thickenings show little regular arrangement, appearing to be scattered bars, and were observed primarily in the Epidendroideae and also in some Spiranthoideae. Three subtypes were recognized in Type III and Type IV. Some genera, such as Triphora, Goodyera, and Elythranthera, had thickenings that appeared intermediate between the recognized types. In general, terrestrial genera were found to have regularly arranged, well-developed thickenings, while many epiphytic groups showed congested, irregular, thinner thickenings.     

Unraveling the sequence dynamics of the formation of genus-specific satellite DNAs in the family solanaceae

Tandemly repeated DNAs, referred to as satellite DNAs, often occur in a genome in a genus-specific manner. However, the mechanisms for generation and evolution for these sequences are largely unknown because of the uncertain origins of the satellite DNAs. We found highly divergent genus-specific satellite DNAs that showed sequence similarity with genus-specific intergenic spacers (IGSs) in the family Solanaceae, which includes the genera Nicotiana, Solanum and Capsicum. The conserved position of the IGS between 25S and 18S rDNA facilitates comparison of IGS sequences across genera, even in the presence of very low sequence similarity. Sequence comparison of IGS may elucidate the procedure of the genesis of complex monomer units of the satellite DNAs. Within the IGS of Capsicum species, base substitutions and copy number variation of subrepeat monomers were causes of monomer divergence in IGS sequences. At the level of inter-generic IGS sequences of the family Solanaceae, however, genus-specific motif selection, motif shuffling between subrepeats and differential amplification among motifs were involved in formation of genus-specific IGS. Therefore, the genus-specific satellite DNAs in Solanaceae plants can be generated from differentially organized repeat monomers of the IGS rather than by accumulation of mutations from pre-existent satellite DNAs.     

江西三清山外来植物

通过野外调查和查阅文献,对江西三清山外来植物的种类组成、原产地、生活型、入侵途径等进行分析。结果表明,三清山外来植物有140种,隶属于47科103属,科属种数分别占三清山维管束植物总数的24.23%、11.73%和6.94%。其中外来入侵植物有31科56属82种,分别占外来植物总数的65.96%、53.85%、58.57%。以菊科、豆科、苋科、葫芦科、茄科、十字花科、藜科和旋花科为优势科;外来植物以美洲来源最多;生活型以陆生草本为主;引入途径以有意引入最突出;入侵危害程度以Ⅱ级为主。     

Novel Transposable Elements in Solanaceae: Evolutionary Relationships among Tnt1-related Sequences in Wild Petunia Species

Transposable elements (TEs) are widespread in eukaryotic genomes. The diversity and abundance of TEs are highly variable among species and may correspond to particular relationships between a species and the elements in its genome. There are often many TE families within a single genome; thus, the amplification of one TE family may influence the amplification of other families. LTR retrotransposons (LTR-RTs) are extremely abundant in flowering plants, and Tnt1 is one of the most well known. First characterized in tobacco, Tnt1-related sequences have since been reported in other genera of Solanaceae. In this study, we investigated the profile of Tnt1-related sequences among the species of three Solanaceae genera through genomic amplification and the cloning of partial sequences. The analysis of these sequences revealed high levels of diversity and showed that the sequences are not as closely related to Tnt1 as had been previously hypothesized. The classification of the sequences yielded ten possible families of LTR-RTs, which are, in addition to Tnt1, all members of the Tork clade within the Copia superfamily. However, the sequences did not follow the phylogeny of the species and were not homogeneously distributed. One family includes only sequences of taxa that inhabit dry areas. These findings were consistent with previous suggestions of an early association of Tnt1-related elements with the evolution of several Solanaceae species.     

荒漠早春开花植物囊果草大小孢子发生与雌雄配子体发育

囊果草(Leontice incerta Pall.)为生长于天山北坡荒漠和低山山坡的小檗科(Berberidaceae)多年生早春开花植物,具有较高的观赏价值、饲用价值和生态价值,为探究该物种的有性生殖特征,并为后续进行栽培育种等工作提供理论依据,作者利用光学显微镜和石蜡制片技术,对该物种大/小孢子发生和雌/雄配子体发育进行了观察。结果表明,(1)花药具4室,药壁由5层细胞组成,发育为基本型。药室内壁在发育后期具纤维状加厚现象;腺质型绒毡层具2核或多核现象。(2)小孢子母细胞减数分裂时胞质分裂为同时型;小孢子四分体为四面体型,被胼胝质壁所包围,游离小孢子形成后胼胝质壁逐渐消失。成熟花粉多为2细胞型,偶见3细胞型。(3)雌蕊由1心皮组成,子房1室,倒生胚珠,具双珠被,厚珠心。大孢子四分体呈线形排列,最终发育为7细胞8核的蓼型胚囊,助细胞具发达的漏斗形丝状器。这些特点说明,囊果草大/小孢子发生和雌/雄配子体发育正常,未见败育现象,表现出较原始的发育特征。研究结果丰富了小檗科植物的胚胎学资料,为该物种及其近缘物种的生殖生物学研究积累了理论基础。     

中国特有属藤山柳属(猕猴桃科)的花药和胚珠发育及其分类学意义

首次报道了刚毛藤山柳（Clematoclethra scandens subsp.scandens）的花药和早期胚珠发育的胚胎学特征：花药4室;发育完整的花药壁6层,为基本型花药壁,由外至内分别为表皮、药室内壁、两层中层和两层绒毡层;腺质型绒毡层为2核或3核,纤维性加厚发生于药室内壁;小孢子母细胞减数分裂为同时型胞质分裂,小孢子四分体多为四面体型;成熟花粉粒为2-细胞型,3孔沟或稀4孔沟。早期胚珠为近倒生,单珠被,薄珠心,珠孔由单珠被构成。比较胚胎学研究认为藤山柳属和猕猴桃科的其它两个属都具有单珠被胚珠及其他相似的花药发育特征,这些特征和形态分类系统范畴的第伦桃科和山茶科有明显区别。因此,本文支持花粉形态学、细胞学和分子系统学的观点,认为藤山柳属与水东哥属和猕猴桃属构成一个较好的单系,一并放在猕猴桃科。     

浙江省台州市种子植物区系分析

台州市种子植物丰富,据统计有野生种子植物150科、784属、1892种(含种下分类群),其中裸子植物6科、12属、16种,被子植物144科、772属、1876种。优势科明显,其中10种以上的科有45个,含526属、1453种,分别占总属数、总种数的67.09%、76.80%。本区系历史悠久,起源古老,小属和极小属共707个,占总属数的90.18%。科的分布区类型以热带、亚热带分布最多,其次是世界分布,第3是温带分布。属的分布区类型可划分为14类,以温带性成分为主,也兼有相当比例的热带性成分,具有亚热带特性。地理成分复杂,与世界各地联系广泛。该地区有中国特有属14属,列为国家首批保护的珍稀植物20种。     

Palynological variation in balsaminoid ericales. I. Marcgraviaceae

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Marcgraviaceae are a rather small family of seven genera and approx. 130 neotropical species. This study aims to present a detailed palynological survey of the family in order to comment on the intrafamily relationships and possible correlations with pollinators. METHODS: In total, 119 specimens representing 67 species and all genera are observed using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Furthermore, eight species from five genera are studied with transmission electron microscopy. KEY RESULTS: Our results show that pollen grains of Marcgraviaceae are small (20-35 microm), have three equatorial apertures, granules on the colpus membrane, oblate spheroidal to prolate spheroidal shapes, mainly psilate to perforate ornamentations, and lalongate colpus-shaped thinnings at the inner layer of the exine, and show the presence of orbicules. Based on our fragmentary knowledge of the pollination biology of the family, there are no clear correlations between pollinators and pollen features. CONCLUSIONS: The genus Marcgravia has a high percentage of reticulate sexine patterns and a relatively thin nexine. Sarcopera can be defined by the presence of an oblate spheroidal to even suboblate shape, while Ruyschia and Souroubea typically show prolate spheroidal to subprolate pollen grains. The presence of a thick foot layer in the pollen wall is characteristic of the genera Norantea, Sarcopera and Schwartzia. Pollen features that are taxonomically useful within the family are the shape, sexine sculpturing, and ultrastructure of the pollen wall.     

狼毒大戟的小孢子发生与雄配子体发育

采用石蜡制片技术研究了狼毒大戟（Euphorbia fischeriana）的小孢子发生及雄配子体发育过程,结果表明：狼毒大戟的花药为四分孢子囊,花药壁为五层,发育为基本型;变形绒毡层,细胞为双核;小孢子母细胞减数分裂中的胞质分裂为同时型;四分体排列通常为四面体型,少数左右对称型;成熟花粉为三细胞型,椭球形,具三沟孔。研究结果为狼毒大戟的生物学研究及应用开发积累基础资料。