Ability of the endangered species Papaver fauriei to produce hybrids with a cultivated poppy (Papaver sp.)

Papaver fauriei is an endemic and endangered species that grows only on the gravelly alpine slopes of Mt. Rishiri, Japan. Cultivated poppy (Papaver sp.), the species name of which is unknown, has been introduced to the natural habitats of P. fauriei through human activities. Because the appearance and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of these two poppies are highly similar, it is of concern that they could produce hybrids in their natural habitats. Thus, first, the ability of these two poppies to produce hybrids was analyzed by artificial fertilization in this study. A large number of seeds were produced by reciprocal crosses between P. fauriei and the cultivated poppy, comparable with the number of seeds obtained by self‐ or cross‐fertilization of P. fauriei or the cultivated poppy. In addition, high germination was observed for seeds obtained from crosses between the two poppies, and deleterious phenotypes, such as albinism and dwarfism, were not detected in the F₁ generation. These results indicate that after pollination, there is no reproductive isolation between the two poppies. Second, we sequenced the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of 240 poppy individuals collected from the gravelly alpine slopes of Mt. Rishiri, and 66 showed the sequence of P. fauriei, whereas 174 showed the sequence of the cultivated poppy. However, the ITS sequence that confirms hybridism between the two poppies was not detected in these individuals, indicating that hybridization of P. fauriei and the cultivated poppy rarely occurs under natural conditions. Unknown mechanism(s) appear to prevent cross‐pollination between the two poppies.     

Issue Information

Cover Image Left: Papaver fauriei growing only on the gravelly alpine slopes of Mt. Rishiri. Right: Cultivated poppies (Papaver sp.) found in seaside towns on Rishiri Island. Photographed by Kazuki Kosugi and Tetsuya Kondo. Rishiri Island, Hokkaido, Japan

     

Complete chloroplast genome of cultivated flowering cherry, <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus</Emphasis> ×<Emphasis Type="Italic">yedoensis</Emphasis> ‘Somei-yoshino’ in comparison with wild <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prunus yedoensis</Emphasis> Matsum. (Rosaceae)

Prunus ×yedoensis Matsum. ‘Somei-yoshino’ is the most common and widespread cultivar of the ornamental flowering cherries. We hereby report its complete chloroplast (cp) genome sequences generated by whole-genome next-generation sequencing approach. The cp genome size was 157,792 bp in length consisting of four regions; large single-copy region (85,914 bp), small single-copy region (19,120 bp), and a pair of inverted repeat regions (26,379 bp). The genome contained a total of 131 genes, including 86 coding genes, 8 rRNA genes, and 37 tRNA genes. A total of 92 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were detected within the cp genome. Its molecular features were compared with the complete cp genome of wild P. yedoensis, which occurs rarely in natural habitats of Mt. Halla in Jeju Island, Korea, displaying nearly indistinguishable morphology as P. ×yedoensis ‘Somei-yoshino’. Although both cp genomes were structured highly alike, the sequence variations between them were revealed in several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Using additional individuals of wild and cultivated flowering cherries, PCR amplification confirmed that those SNPs were phylogenetically informative, providing distinction between wild and cultivated flowering cherries. In future study, the SNPs and SSRs reported in this study could be used to identify wild individuals from morphologically identical cultivars of flowering cherries and also to conserve the genetic diversity of wild flowering cherries in Jeju Island.     

Research Note: Simple molecular discrimination of cultivated Porphyra species (Porphyra yezoensis and Porphyra tenera) and related wild species (Bangiales,Rhodophyta)

To discriminate between cultivated Porphyra species (Porphyra yezoensis and Porphyra tenera) and closely related wild Porphyra species, we developed a polymerase chain reaction‐restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR‐RFLP) analysis of the rbcL gene using five restriction enzymes. Although our previous PCR‐RFLP analyses of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) rDNA and plastid RuBisCO spacer regions could not always discriminate wild P. yezoensis, wild P. tenera, and closely related wild species, the PCR‐RFLP profiles of the rbcL gene were useful in discriminating samples collected from natural habitats. Therefore, PCR‐RFLP analysis of the rbcL gene will help in the simple identification of a large number of samples, not only for the establishment of reliable cultures as breeding material, but also for the taxonomic investigations of species that are closely related to cultivated Porphyra.     

Utilization of Papaver

The well-known opium poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) furnishes opiates, ornamentals, poppy seed, poppy seed oil, poppycake, poppy flour, poppy straw and potherbs. Poppies also furnish analgesics, anodynes, ant food, antibiotics, anti-malarials, aphrodisiacs, baby rattles, bird food, copper indicators, cough remedies, demulcents, diaphoretics, diarrhea cures, febrifuges, fuel, fumitories, goiter treatments, hemostatics, hypnotics, imbedding media, indicators of the geographic origin of opium, molybdenum indicators, polyploidy inducers, salad vegetables, sedatives, sudorifics, tranquilizers and vesicants.     

Polymorphic sites in transcribed spacers of 35S rRNA genes as an indicator of origin of the <Emphasis Type="Italic">Paeonia</Emphasis> cultivars

Region ITS1–5.8S rDNA–ITS2 is sequenced in 27 varieties of cultivated ornamental peonies, ten of which presumably originate from Paeonia lactiflora, one from P. officinalis, 13 from hybridization of P. lactiflora and P. peregrina, or P. officinalis, and three are Itoh hybrids. Comparative analysis of distribution patterns of polymorphic sites (PS) for the obtained DNA sequences and data from GenBank is carried out. Hypotheses of origin of the studied varieties, except for two, which, as previously assumed, originate from hybridization of P. lactiflora and P. peregrina, are confirmed. It is shown that the sequence ITS1–5.8S rDNA–ITS2 is a good genetic marker for cultivars of the P. lactiflora group and Itoh hybrids, and that the PS distribution patterns in these sequences can provide valuable information on the kinship and origin of individual varieties. However, insufficient knowledge of wild species from the P. officinalis kinship group limits the use of this marker in the study of varieties obtained through interspecific hybridization within the Paeonia section.     

Sesquiterpenes of six Porella species (hepaticae)

The distribution in six Porella species of drimane-, aromadendrane- and pinguisane-type sesquiterpenes and norsesquiterpenes is described. The sharp pungent substance of P. gracillissima, P. fauriei and P. macroloba is (+)-tadeonal.     

Endophytic Colonization and In Planta Nitrogen Fixation by a Herbaspirillum sp. Isolated from Wild Rice Species

Nitrogen-fixing bacteria were isolated from the stems of wild and cultivated rice on a modified Rennie medium. Based on 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequences, the diazotrophic isolates were phylogenetically close to four genera: Herbaspirillum, Ideonella, Enterobacter, and Azospirillum. Phenotypic properties and signature sequences of 16S rDNA indicated that three isolates (B65, B501, and B512) belong to the Herbaspirillum genus. To examine whether Herbaspirillum sp. strain B501 isolated from wild rice, Oryza officinalis, endophytically colonizes rice plants, the gfp gene encoding green fluorescent protein (GFP) was introduced into the bacteria. Observations by fluorescence stereomicroscopy showed that the GFP-tagged bacteria colonized shoots and seeds of aseptically grown seedlings of the original wild rice after inoculation of the seeds. Conversely, for cultivated rice Oryza sativa, no GFP fluorescence was observed for shoots and only weak signals were observed for seeds. Observations by fluorescence and electron microscopy revealed that Herbaspirillum sp. strain B501 colonized mainly intercellular spaces in the leaves of wild rice. Colony counts of surface-sterilized rice seedlings inoculated with the GFP-tagged bacteria indicated significantly more bacterial populations inside the original wild rice than in cultivated rice varieties. Moreover, after bacterial inoculation, in planta nitrogen fixation in young seedlings of wild rice, O. officinalis, was detected by the acetylene reduction and ¹⁵N₂ gas incorporation assays. Therefore, we conclude that Herbaspirillum sp. strain B501 is a diazotrophic endophyte compatible with wild rice, particularly O. officinalis.     

Utility of a multidisciplinary approach for genome diagnostics of cultivated and wild germplasm resources of medicinal Withania somnifera, and the status of new species, W. ashwagandha, in the cultivated taxon

Realizing the inconsistencies that exist in the extent and nature of differentiation in the Withania somnifera genetic resources in India, the 21 cultivated and wild accessions, and the two hybrids (cultivated?×?wild accessions and vice versa) were investigated for morphological, cytogenetical, chemical profiling, and crossability features. Their nuclear and chloroplast genomes were also assayed at the nucleotide sequence level, and by use of DNA markers. Chloroplast DNA diversity and somatic chromosome number (2n?=?48) were not helpful in identifying the differences. Other approaches, on the other hand, especially restriction endonuclease digests, types and sequence length composition of ITS 1 and ITS 2 of nuclear ribosomal DNA, AFLP fingerprinting, and crossability barriers unambiguously provided startling discrete differences between the cultivated and wild accessions, indicating a clear division of W. somnifera into two distinct lineages. These data, therefore, are indicative of the fact that because of the unique characteristics of its nuclear genome, and strong crossability barriers vis-à-vis wild accessions of W. somnifera, the cultivated accessions should be relegated to the rank of the separate species, W. ashwagandha.     

Diversity and distribution of lepidopteran stemborer species and their host plants in Botswana

Lepidopteran stemborers are amongst the most important insect pests of maize, sorghum and sugarcane in sub-Saharan Africa. With the exception of Chilo partellus (Swinhoe), which was accidentally introduced into Africa, the other stemborer pests are indigenous to the continent and have co-evolved with native grasses and sedges. In addition to pest species, wild habitats harbour diverse non-economic stemborer species, some of which are new to science. However, the diversity and distribution of both non-economic and pest species of stemborer are currently mostly unknown in Botswana. Accordingly, country-wide surveys were conducted during 2014/15 and 2015/16 austral summer to determine species diversity and distribution in cultivated and wild host plants of stemborers in Botswana. A total of 1597 stemborer larvae and 228 pupae were collected, constituting 63.1 and 36.9 larvae and 84.8 and 15.2% pupae from cultivated versus wild habitats, respectively. In addition to C. partellus, Sesamia calamistis Hampson and Eldana saccharina Walker which were previously reported, 12 more stemborer species were recorded for the first time in Botswana, including nine undescribed species. These species were from the Sciomesa, Sesamia and Conicofrontia genera and Tortricidae and Pyralidae families. Fourteen wild host and two cultivated host plant species of stemborers were recorded. Chilo partellus was most abundant (89.5%) in cultivated habitats whilst E. saccharina (33.6%) was most abundant in wild habitats. Stemborer species diversity was higher in wild habitats than cultivated. Current results highlight the significance of wild, especially wetland habitats for ecological functions and conservation of lepidopteran stemborer biodiversity.     

Contrasting consequences of plant domestication for the chemical defenses of leaves and seeds in lima bean plants

Plant domestication is assumed to result in reduced levels of defensive compounds in crops, because this makes the plants more suitable for consumption by humans and livestock. We argue that this should mainly be reflected in the concentrations of defense compounds in the plant parts that are used for consumption and not necessarily for other parts of crop plants. We tested this hypothesis for domesticated lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus), by comparing its chemical defenses against a leaf herbivore, the beet armyworm (Spodoptera exigua), and a seed predator, the beetle Zabrotes subfasciatus. For seeds and leaves we determined the concentrations of cyanogenic glycosides (CNGs) in cultivated varieties and wild populations and evaluated the preference and performance of the herbivores when exposed to leaves and seeds from wild and cultivated plants. Concentrations of CNGs were significantly different between wild and cultivated plants. In the leaves the concentration of CNGs in the cultivated varieties were more than double that of the wild leaves. In contrast, seeds from cultivated plants had up to 20 times lower CNG concentration compared to seeds from the wild populations. Insect preference and performance do not parallel the chemical data. Larvae of S. exigua preferred wild leaves but had higher survival on cultivated leaves. The beetles, however, strongly preferred seeds from cultivated plants and females developed more quickly on these seeds. We conclude that domestication of P. lunatus has altered the concentration of CNGs in both the seeds and the leaves in opposite directions. This results in differential effects on the herbivores that attack these two plant structures. The contrasting effect of domestication on different plant tissues can be explained by the fact that bean plants have been specifically selected for human consumption of the seeds. Tissue-specific effects of plant domestication on plant defenses can be expected for other crops as well.     

Wild and Weed Azuki Beans in Japan

Wild azuki bean, a progenitor of an Asiatic food legume (Vigna angularis var.nipponensis: Fabaceae), and its weed form are distributed widely in the Japanese Archipelago. The straggling or climbing wildform occurs in sleeve or mantle plant communities, and the weakly climbing or bushy weed form is found in relatively open human-disturbed habitats. The wild form has small seeds with a black-mottled pattern on green or grey skin; the weed form has larger seeds with variable color patterns. Wild and weed forms have black, easily dehiscent pods, distinct from their cultivated counterpart which has red large seeds and indehiscent light-colored pods. The wild form is not utilized, but the weed form is recognized by farmers and has several folk names as a weed, a contaminated form of azuki bean, and a substitute for azuki as a food. The frequent occurrence of weed azuki bean in Japan is attributable to adaptation of the wildform to lack of climbing support in human-disturbed habitats, escape from old cultivars, and natural establishment from the derivatives of hybrids between cultivars and wild forms.     

Papaver bracteatum,potential commercial source of codeine

Papaver bracteatum, native to Iran and southern Russia, has been grown successfully in many countries. Research in the northwest United States has confirmed the potential for its commercial production as a source of the alkaloid thebaine. Potential for the chemical conversion of thebaine into codeine, one of man’s most widely used alkaloidal medicinal agents, is reviewed. Economic and social advantages of growing this species over opium poppy (Papaver somniferum) are discussed. The value of the seed oil for cooking and industrial use is considered.     

Variation in low molecular weight carbohydrate composition of Phaseolus vulgaris seeds

Variations in the low M_r, carbohydrate composition have been observed in wild forms of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) seed. In four of 23 samples, verbascose content in the seeds was quite high and the ratio verbascose—stachyose was more than 1.0. This type of carbohydrate composition was named type A, and has a much higher verbascose content and lower galactinol and stachyose content than the rest of the wild forms, named type B. Although the total and individual carbohydrate content, with the exception of the verbascose content, of the cultivated forms of the common bean were higher than those of wild forms, the carbohydrate composition of the cultivated forms was essentially similar to type B of the wild forms. This carbohydrate composition was considered to be basic to the species.     

The specific identity and the life history of JapaneseSyringoderma (Syringodermatales,phaeophyceae)

Observations on JapaneseSyringoderma from Rishiri Island, which had been previously identified asS. australe, were made based on newly collected fertile material. These results and comparisons with the type specimen ofSyringoderma abyssicola (=Chlanidophora abyssicola) revealed that the Rishiri Island plants should be identified asSyringoderma abyssicola. Syringoderma abyssicola from Rishiri Island formed unilocular sporangia among the paraphyses on the fan-shaped blades in winter. The first products (uni-spores) in the unilocular sporangia form flagella, and soon after form cell walls before release. Then these reduced gametophytes divide into tetrads and form swarmers, each of which contains a chloroplast with a stigma. These swarmers germinate into branched filaments, from which thicker erect filaments of apical growth tissue. At 5–10 C these erect filaments formed fan-shaped blades under long-day conditions, and unilocular sporangia under short-day conditions corresponding respectively to spring and winter at Rishiri Island. Accordingly, the seasonal growth pattern of the species is considered to be controlled by responses to photoregime and temperature. Dedicated to the memory of the late Professor Muneao Kurogi.     

Population Structure of Rat-Derived Pneumocystis carinii in Danish Wild Rats

The rat model of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia is frequently used to study human P. carinii infection, but there are many differences between the rat and human infections. We studied naturally acquired P. carinii in wild rats to examine the relevance of the rat model for human infection. P. carinii DNA was detected in 47 of 51 wild rats and in 10 of 12 nonimmunosuppressed laboratory rats. Evidence for three novel formae speciales of rat-derived P. carinii was found, and these were provisionally named Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. rattus-secundi, Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. rattus-tertii, and Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. rattus-quarti. Our data suggest that low-level carriage of P. carinii in wild rats and nonimmunosuppressed laboratory rats is common and that wild rats are frequently coinfected with more than one forma specialis of P. carinii. We also examined the diversity in the internally transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of the nuclear rRNA operon of Pneumocystis carinii f. sp. carinii by using samples from wild rats and laboratory rats and spore trap samples. We report a lack of variation in the ITS1 and ITS2 regions that is consistent with an evolutionary bottleneck in the P. carinii f. sp. carinii population. This study shows that human- and rat-derived P. carinii organisms are very different, not only in genetic composition but also in population structure and natural history.     

Phylogenetic relationships on 14 morphologically similar species of Pucciniastrum in Japan based on rDNA sequence data

We analyzed the phylogenetic relationships of 49 specimens comprising 14 morphologically similar species of Pucciniastrum distributed in Japan based on the sequence data of the large subunit rDNA (D1/D2), 5.8S rDNA, and internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. Neighbor-joining and parsimony analyses generated six major groups for both the D1/D2 and ITS regions. Pucciniastrum circaeae and P. epilobii formed a single group. P. hydrangeae-petiolaris, P. coryli, P. fagi, P. hikosanense, P. tiliae, and P. boehmeriae were each a distinct clade, and P. fagi formed a close relationship with P. hikosanense. However, these analyses did not support the monophyly of the following species: P. kusanoi, P. actinidiae, P. corni, P. styracinum, P. yoshinagai, and P. miyabeanum. Contribution no. 201, Laboratory of Plant Parasitic Mycology, Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Japan     

Antioxidant and Proteinase Inhibitory Activities of Selected Poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) Genotypes

Poppy seeds (Papaver somniferum L.) belong to tasty food ingredients however, they should be considered also as valuable source of biologically active compounds. Content of selected metabolites, antioxidant and proteinase inhibitory activities were analyzed in vitro in extracts from seeds of fifteen poppy genotypes. Considerable variation in all parameters was detected within the set of analyzed poppy genotypes. The genotype Major expressed the highest antioxidant activity determined by all four methodological approaches (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, RP). The genotype MS 423 exhibited the highest inhibitory activities against trypsin, thrombin and collagenase. Very specific position among all had the genotype Redy . Its grain extract reached significantly high levels in 9 out of 14 measured parameters (TPC, TFC, TTC, TAC, FRAP, RP, inhibitory activities against trypsin, thrombin, collagenase). Edible grains of poppy are valuable source of natural compounds which may be beneficial in pathological states associated with oxidative stress or increased proteinase activities.