Comparative foliar epidermal morphology of the West African species of Amaranthaceae Juss.

The species are generally amphistomatic except Pandiaka heudelotii that is hypostomatic. Anomocytic and paracytic stomatal types were mostly found but cyclocytic and diacytic types may accompany, especially in Cyathula spp. The anticlinal wall pattern varies from undulate to curved and curved‐straight in the family. Other useful epidermal features are peltate scales, trichomes of different types such as candelabra type, unicellular and multicellular conical types, long acicular glandular forms that may be tuberculate or non‐tuberculate and the filiform type; all can be employed at species level for delimitation purpose. Sub‐familial grouping of the genera is supported while monophyly and polyphyly suggested in Gomphrenoideae and Amarantheae respectively can be inferred from the extent of character variations in the species. An indented dichotomous key is presented for species delimitation. (© 2012 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Seed morphology and its systematic implications for genus Oxytropis DC. (Fabaceae)

In the present study, seeds of 13 Oxytropis DC. species (including two latest synonyms) classified in subg. Oxytropis (sect. Dolichocarpon, sect. Chrysantha and sect. Eumorpha), subg. Euoxytropis (sect. Orobia) and subg. Phacoxytropis (sect. Protoxytropis, sect. Janthina and sect. Mesogaea) from Turkey were examined using light and scanning electron microscopy to evaluate the taxonomic relevance of macro- and micro-morphological seed characters. As a result of the study, species-specific characters have been determined. Seeds exhibit variation in size, shape, surface sculpturing pattern, hilum position and weight. Seeds ranged from 1.61 to 4.04 mm in length and from 1.02 to 2.56 mm in width. Five different seed shapes were recognised, as prolonged semielliptic, reniform, prolonged reniform, quadratic and cardiform, with a length to width ratio ranging from 1.02 ± 0.08 to 1.75 ± 0.27. Rugulate, rugulate–reticulate and lophate sculpturing patterns were observed in the studied species. According to the results, seed characters, such as the size (length, width and the length/width ratio), the shape, the surface sculpturing and the weight appear to have low taxonomic value in distinguishing subgenera, sections and species.     

Electrophoretic characterization of rice varieties using single seed (salt soluble) proteins

Summary Variation of salt soluble protein fractions of seeds has been observed in a number of rice varieties as recorded in their electrophoregram tracings: both qualitative and quantitative differences were present. Analysis of variance has been found to be useful in estimating the quantitative differences. These tracings or patterns appear to be unique for each of the varieties investigated and seem to be genetical in nature as they remain constant under different environmental conditions, and therefore could be conveniently used for variety identification.     

山东蔊菜属种子形态学研究及其系统分类学意义

对山东菜属植物的种子,从大小、翅、颜色和种子微形态等方面进行了研究;结果表明该属的种子为卵形或近圆形,呈扁平状;种子表面纹饰为网状或乳突状。与近缘属种子形态的研究表明,菜属和豆瓣菜属亲缘关系较近。因种子的形态特点比较稳定,所以菜属的种子特点可以为其分类、生药鉴定以及演化提供种子形态学方面的证据。     

Bimodal karyotype in Cynomorium coccineum L. and its systematic implications

The presence of a bimodal karyotype in Cynomorium coccineum (2n = 28) is used to support its separation from Balanophoraceae and the maintenance of Cynomoriaceae as a separate family.     

Trichome micromorphology in Alcea L. and allied genera (Malvaceae) and its systematic implication

Trichomes of 26 species of Alcea (Malvaceae) were investigated using light (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The trichomes show a great micromorphological variation, which provides data useful for species delimitation in Alcea. Two basic types of trichomes could be distinguished in Alcea and allied genera: glandular and eglandular. The glandular trichomes could in turn be subdivided into two subtypes: capitate and clavate. The eglandular trichomes could be subdivided into five subtypes: simple, fascicled, stellate, fascicled-stellate and pluri-radiate. Characters of taxonomic interest are: trichome density (glabrous to dense), number of arms per trichome, orientation relative to the epidermal surface (appressed to erect) and presence/absence of a stalk. According to the results the species of Alcea can be divided into four informal groups based on trichome types. The results further support the exclusion of the annual Althaea species from the perennial ones and their close relationship to Malva. In addition, a close relationship between perennial Althaea and basal Alcea lineages is supported. Based on the evolutionary framework provided by recent molecular phylogenetic investigations, the following trends can be observed in the Malva alliance: long and narrow-armed trichomes are primitive in relation to short and thick-armed trichomes; dense indumentum coverage is primitive in relation to moderately dense or glabrous ones; presence of simple hairs on stem (particularly on leaves) is more advanced than their absence; spreading villous-stellate and fascicled trichomes are more advanced than appressed stellate ones. Clavate trichomes, which were found exclusively in a few species of Alcea, should be considered as a derived state in relation to capitate ones, and they may provide a synapomorphy for the crown group of Alcea.     

Electrophoretic analysis of seed proteins in the dicotyledoneae

SDS-PAGE was used to analyze seed protein extracts from plants representing 58 orders of the Dicotyledoneae. In most seeds, includingMagnolia grandiflora, the most prevalent storage protein class appeared to be the 11 S or legumin-like proteins. These data suggest that the legumin-like proteins are ubiquitous throughout the plant kingdom. Supported by the Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station, Publication Number J-7788.     

Immunochemical characterization of seed proteins of some species of the genusArachis L.

Relationships between seed protein patterns of 16 species ofArachis were studied by means of immunochemical methods (immunoelectrophoresis and double diffusion). The broad similarity of these patterns suggests that protein patterns are conservative in this genus from an evolutionary viewpoint. The differences which have evolved support recent schemes for classifying the genus, particularly the breakdown into sections. It also suggests thatA. villosa andA. correntina should probably be recognized as distinct species. The strong relationship indicated betweenA. hypogaea andA. batizocoi supports the hypothesis that the latter may be source of one of the genomes ofA. hypogaea. The possibility thatA. cardenasii might be the source of the other genome did not receive such strong positive support.     

Seed morphology of Erica L. sect. Loxomeria Salisb. ex Benth., sect. Eremocallis Salisb. ex Benth. and sect. Brachycallis I. Hansen,and its systematic implications

Abstract

Several quantitative and qualitative seed characters of the seven European species of Erica sect. Loxomeria, Eremocallis and Brachycallis were studied. Two main seed types are found based on size and shape: regular ellipsoid or oblong seeds of ca. 0.4 mm for E. ciliaris and the E. tetralix group, and curved to kidney‐shaped seeds of 0.6–0.9 mm for E. cinerea, E. maderensis and E. terminalis. The testa surface in E. ciliaris is reticulate, with indented outer periclinal walls. Erica cinerea has inflated outer anticlinal walls. This character is exclusive for this species within the European (and nearby areas) species of the genus. The seeds of E. maderensis are similar to those of E. terminalis. According to seed morphology, the classical infrageneric classification, by which E. terminalis would be grouped with the E. tetralix group in sect. Eremocallis and E. maderensis in sect. Brachycallis with E. cinerea, is artificial.     

Electrophoretic investigation of systematic relationships in the marine mussels Modiolus modiolus L., Mytilus edulis L., and Mytilus galloprovincialis Lmk. (Mytilidae; Mollusca)

Genetic variation was assayed electrophoretically at 13–16 loci in Modiolus modiolus, Mytilus edulis, and Mytilus galloprovincialis. High genetic distance ( D ) values were observed between Modiolus modiolus and Mytilus edulis (1.516 ± 0.523) and between Modiolus modiolus and Mytilus galloprovincialis (1.564 ± 0.539), whereas the distance between Mytilus edulis and M. galloprovincialis (0.167 ± 0.118) was rather low. The systematic status ot Mytilus edulis and M. galloprovincialis is discussed in relation to these lindings and the genetic distance values are used to estimate divergence times which in turn are compared with paleontological estimates. The observations of high average heterozygosity in Modiolus modiolus, and high correlations of locus heterozygosity between taxa are discussed briefly.     

Molecular characterization of Haloxylon salicornicum Moq. in Saudi Arabia

The purpose of write this paper is to study the genetic variability between and within different Halosylon salicornicum populations in different regions of Saudi arabia Kingdom, using the determination of genetic fingerprint method by Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR). Because this plant highly vulnerable to depletion by humans in all places of existence, it is an economically valuable plant where raft is an important pastoral resource in central and northern Arabia. It also has multiple medical uses. It is a plant that can withstand abiotic stresses such as drought and high temperature, making it suitable for cultivation in marginal lands in arid areas. All of the above was a catalyst for plant characterization using a number of Haloxylon salicornicum samples, collected from different regions of Saudi Arabia to find out the genetic variation of species, genetic diversity in knowing the plant community is an essential step towards the design of programs for plant breeding as well as preserved from extinction. This was done using the Inter Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR). The results showed there were significant differences and molecular differences between plant samples. The average polymorphism between the genetic inputs of the studied Haloxylon salicornicum samples was 53.7%, and this percentage of genetic variability is significant for progress in growth and plant regeneration in the face of unfair practices against it, in addition to adverse environmental conditions in most years. As evidenced by the percentage of matrix similarity. The ISSR results indicate that the genotype between five different regions genotypes ranged from 0.365 to 0.527, indicating that Haloxylon salicornicum is a local plant capable of surviving and adapting to the environmental conditions in Saudi Arabia through the positive change in the genetic makeup of this species.     

Light control of amaranthin synthesis in isolated Amaranthus cotyledons

The effect of light on the amaranthin synthesis stimulated by exogenous precursors has been studied in isolated cotyledons of Amaranthus tricolor and A. caudatus. The results indicate that light acts at the level of the formation of the dihydropyridine moiety of the pigment.     

Amasterol,an ecdysone precursor and a growth inhibitor from Amaranthus viridis

A sterol isolated from the roots of Amaranthus viridis has been assigned the structure 24-methylene-20- hydroxycholest-5,7-en-3β-ol.     

Electrophoretic transfer of proteins from fixed and stained gels

A procedure by which sodium dodecyl sulfate gels can be fixed and stained with Coomassie blue and subsequently transferred to nitrocellulose for immunostaining is outlined. The procedure involves the complete removal of the stain followed by equilibration of the gel in sodium dodecyl sulfate running buffer. The efficiency of transfer is comparable to unfixed gels and the protein pattern of the transfer appears to be sharper, presumably due to less diffusion during the transfer process. The procedure does not affect the antigenicity of the proteins that have been examined by subsequent immunostaining. This method is particularly useful for situations in which sample size or concentration are limiting factors resulting in insufficient material for duplicate gels.     

Alcantarea (Bromeliaceae) leaf anatomical characterization and its systematic implications

Alcantarea (Bromeliaceae) has 26 species that are endemic to eastern Brazil, occurring mainly on gneiss–granitic rock outcrops (‘inselbergs’). Alcantarea has great ornamental potential and several species are cultivated in gardens. Limited data is available in the literature regarding the leaf anatomical features of the genus, though it has been shown that it may provide valuable information for characterizing of Bromeliaceae taxa. In the present work, we employed leaf anatomy to better characterize the genus and understand its radiation into harsh environments, such as inselbergs. We also searched for characteristics potentially useful in phylogenetic analyses and in delimiting Alcantarea and Vriesea. The anatomical features of the leaves, observed for various Alcantarea species, are in accordance with the general pattern shown by other Bromeliaceae members. However, some features are notable for their importance for sustaining life on rock outcrops, such as: small epidermal thick‐walled cells, uneven sinuous epidermal walls, hypodermis often differentiated into lignified layers with thick‐walled cells, aquiferous hypodermis bearing collapsible cells, and the presence of well developed epicuticular stratum. Alcantarea leaves tend to show different shapes in the spongy parenchyma, and have chlorenchymatous palisade parenchyma arranged in more well‐defined arches, when compared to Vriesea species from the same habitat.     

Species relationships inPhaseolus: Electrophoretic analysis of seed storage proteins

Relationships among storage proteins in seeds from cultivars and primitive accessions of the four economically most important species ofPhaseolus — P. vulgaris, P. coccineus, P. acutifolius andP. lunatus — were studied. Analysis of SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic patterns of storage seed proteins revealed common characteristics in the major groups of polypeptides forP. vulgaris, P. coccineus andP. acutifolius, while clear differences existed between thesePhaseolus species and P.lunatus.     

Pollen morphology in the genus Veronica L. (Plantaginaceae) and its systematic significance

Pollen grains of 30, mainly annual, species from 134 populations of the genus Veronica (Plantaginaceae, formerly Scrophulariaceae) from the Mediterranean Region, have been studied with light and scanning electron microscopy. Three pollen types are defined based on pollen size and exine surface sculpture. In some cases within the study group pollen size can be useful in species determination. Hypothetical relationships of pollen grain size and aperture number with ploidy level, style length and corolla diameter are discussed. The ornamentation of the exine in Veronica, although generally a conservative character within the genus, gives some additional support to the most recent infrageneric classification of Veronica.