Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus), roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa)

Uses of 16 species of Hibiscus, section Furcaria DC, are discussed, with particular reference to kenaf (H. cannabinus L.) and roselle (H. sabdariffa L.), the two most important species grown commercially as fiber plants. Other uses of this versatile group include use as ornamentals and employment of various plant parts as food, medicine, wood for musical instruments, and in superstitious rites. Comparative morphology of certain vegetative and floral parts of 11 species and seeds of 12 species is discussed. Reaction of plants of 11 species to root-knot nematodes is reported. Ratings varied from highly susceptible to highly resistant; kenaf was more susceptible to nematodes than the other 10 species. Suggested origins, distribution, and genetic relationships of kenaf, roselle, and related species are treated.     

Cold-acclimation of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. and Hibiscus syriacus L. in natural and controlled environments

Abstract Seasonal cold-acclimation patterns and the effects of photoperiod and temperature on cold-hardiness of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis L. and Hibiscus syriacus L. were determined. Field-grown H. rosasinensis consistently failed to survive freezing at - 2°C. Two genotypes of field- and container-grown H. syriacus initiated cold-acclimation in mid September, in response to decreasing daylength, and continued to an ultimate midwinter hardiness level of - 27°C in early February. Controlled environment experiments using combinations of short days (SD) and cool day/night temperatures were unable to induce even minimal cold acclimation of H. rosasinensis. In controlled environments, H. syriacus attained a moderate amount of cold tolerance at warm temperatures and long days (LD). Low night temperature combined with LD, warm day produced the same degree of cold-acclimation as the SD treatments. While not essential, SD enhanced H. syriacus cold-acclimation in controlled environments. A - 5°C frost treatment of intact plants did not enhance cold-hardiness of H. syriacus.     

木槿属植物海滨木槿的研究进展

近几十年来,从木槿属植物中分离得到多种化合物,如木脂素、黄酮、萜类、mansonones类等化合物类型。文章重点介绍了木槿属及该属植物海滨木槿的研究进展,有助于对该属植物海滨木槿的进一步开发与研究。     

Antioxidant Properties of Heat-treated Hibiscus syriacus

The antioxidant properties of heat-treated Hibiscus syriacus was investigated using DPPH test. The stems and the roots of Hibiscus syriacus were examined, respectively. As a result, the extracts of heat-treated Hibiscus syriacus at 100°C for 24 h were more effective than those of non-treated Hibiscus syriacus in reducing the stable free radical 1,1-Diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH).     

Fullerene-Based Symmetry in Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Pollen

The fullerene molecule belongs to the so-called super materials. The compound is interesting due to its spherical configuration where atoms occupy positions forming a mechanically stable structure. We first demonstrate that pollen of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis has a strong symmetry regarding the distribution of its spines over the spherical grain. These spines form spherical hexagons and pentagons. The distance between atoms in fullerene is explained applying principles of flat, spherical, and spatial geometry, based on Euclid’s “Elements” book, as well as logic algorithms. Measurements of the pollen grain take into account that the true spine lengths, and consequently the real distances between them, are measured to the periphery of each grain. Algorithms are developed to recover the spatial effects lost in 2D photos. There is a clear correspondence between the position of atoms in the fullerene molecule and the position of spines in the pollen grain. In the fullerene the separation gives the idea of equal length bonds which implies perfectly distributed electron clouds while in the pollen grain we suggest that the spines being equally spaced carry an electrical charge originating in forces involved in the pollination process.     

A mucilage from Hibiscus moscheutos leaves

A mucilage, Hibiscus-mucilage ML, from leaves ofHibiscus moscheutos was found to be peptidoglycan with a molecular weight ofca 1800000. Its intrinsic viscosity in aqueous solution was 26.1. The major constituent is a partially acetylated, acidic polysaccharide composed ofL-rhamnose:D-galactose:D-glucose:D-galacturonic acid:D-glucuronic acid in a molar ratio of 18:12:1:12:11. Chemical and physico-chemical studies indicated its main structural features. It had considerable hypoglycemic activity when administered to mice.     

Characterization and Cytopathology of Hibiscus Latent Ringspot Virus Isolated from Kenaf (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) in Italy

Hibiscus latent ringspot virus (HLRV) was isolated from kenaf plants (Hibiscus cannabinus L.) in Italy. and identified as III. RV by its host range, purification, electron microscopy and serology. Ultrastructural studies showed that infected plants contained membranous cytoplasmic inclusion bodies. characteristic of nepoviruses, and sometimes also crystalline aggregates.     

A Histochemical Study of Nectaries of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Different histochemical and cytochemical methods were employedon nectaries of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis. Light microscopy revealedthe presence of oil and mucilage cells in the subglandular tissue.Electron microscopy showed intense activity of ATPase in thephloem subtending the nectary. When CaCl₂ or tannic acid areadded to the fixative, electron-dense globular deposits areencountered in close contact with the plasmalemma of the secretorycells. In this case the endoplasmic reticulum appears in alternatingelectron-dense areas. In young nectaries the application oftannic acid results in electron-opaque deposits at the cellplate of dividing cells. The prolonged incubation of nectariesin OsO₄ results in an obvious difference in staining betweennectary hairs and subglandular cells. Structures stained selectivelywith OsO₄ are the endoplasmic reticulum, nuclear envelope, plastids,and mitochondria. The cytochemical experiments support the viewthat in nectaries of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, the pre-nectaroriginates from the phloem and it is symplastically carriedvia the plasmodesmata to the secretory cells of the hair fromwhere it is secreted. The principal element which is involvedboth in the pre-nectar transport and nectar secretion is theendoplasmic reticulum. Key words: Lipid staining, polysaccharides, tannic acid, calcium binding sites, ATPase activity, osmium impregnation     

Hibiscus vitifolius,a new fibre crop

This is a discussion of an investigation conducted on the morphology and anatomy ofHibiscus vitifolius, the physical and chemical properties of its fibre and yarn, and a preliminary study on reaction to dyes. The quality and physical and chemical properties of the fibre closely resemble those of jute. But further agronomic investigations are needed to assess more fully its potentialities as a commercial crop to supplement the growing demand for jute. Because of its short reed length and higher tex values, it may be best utilized, at present, as a mixture with jute.     

Hibiscus latent ringspot virus, a newly recognised virus from Hibiscus rosa-sinensis (Malvaceae) in western Nigeria

Hibiscus latent ringspot virus (HLRV) was prevalent in Hibiscus rosa-sinensis in Ibadan, Nigeria. It was readily transmitted mechanically to 22 of 73 species from seven of 20 families, but was best propagated in Nicotiana clevelandii or Hibiscus cannabinus and assayed in Chenopodium murale. HLRV was readily purified from systemically infected hosts by differential centrifugation of leaf extracts clarified with 8.0% n-butanol, followed by molecular permeation chromatography on controlled-pore glass beads (700 Å, 120–200 mesh). The virus has isometric particles c. 28 nm in diameter which sedimented as three components (T, M and B), with sedimentation coefficients (s°_{20, w}) of 51; 114 and 132 S and buoyant densities in caesium chloride of 1.32, 1.49 and 1.52 g/cm³, respectively. All three components contained a single polypeptide of rnol. wt 53.6 × 10³. T component particles contained only protein but M and B components also contained single-stranded RNA of rnol. wt 2.2 × 10⁶ and 2.5 × 10⁶, respectively. The properties of HLRV suggest affinities with nepoviruses but no serological relationship was detected between HLRV and 15 recognised or possible members of the nepovirus group.     

Protein Electrophoresis of Single Pollen Grains of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis

Electrophoresis and staining of proteins from the single pollen grains of Hibiscus rosasinensis have been developed by using general ultrathin polyacrylamide gel combined with highly-sensitive silver staining technique. The result revealed that the pollen abortion could occur in different stages of pollen development. The protein patterns varied greatly in different stages of pollen development, even in the different pollen grains in the same anther at the same development stage. Some bands exhibited a disjunction by classical Mendelian ratio 1: 1, suggesting that the gene loci were heterogeneous and the proteins were related to the expression of the genes at the early stage of pollen development.     

Characterization of Ty3-gypsy-like elements in Hibiscus syriacus

Southern blot analysis revealed a ubiquitous distribu-tion and high copy number of Ty3-gypsy-like elements in the genome of Hibiscus syriacus. Comparative phylogenetic analysis of the large subunit of Rubisco and the integrase region of Ty3-gypsy elements in various plant species indicated that the retrotransposon-like sequences have different evolutionary histories and their own unique polymorphism in the H. syriacus population. Sequence-tagged site-restriction fragment length polymorphisms (STS-RFLP) analysis also indicated great variability in the numbers and sequences of Ty3-gypsy-like elements within H. syriacus varieties. Ty3-gypsy-like elements may still be active within H. syriacus, since Northern analysis of wounded leaves of H. syriacus variety Saehan with a probe for the integrase domain gave strong hybridization signals. The sequence heterogeneity and ubiquity of the Ty3-gypsy-like elements in H. syriacus genomes could provide reliable DNA markers for line identification as well for the analysis of genetic diversity in H. syriacus.