Browse
Parietaria L. is a genus comprised of 20 species distributed throughout temperate and subtropical areas of the world. The leaf and pollen characters of four species of Parietaria from different locations in Iran were investigated with light and scanning electron microscopy, in order to assess their diagnostic significance to provide additional evidence on species delimitation. All pollen grains were small in size and found to be porate. Most of the pollen characters, such as shape and sculpturing of pollen grains, exine diameter, were overlapped between species and indicated limited taxonomic value. The pore and annulus diameter could be provided additional taxonomic characters that can be used for species delimitation in the genus. Moreover, the leaf epidermis provided new qualitative data (laminar hydathodes, bladder-based trichomes) that could delimit the species. The characters like twin stomata and laminar hydathode observed in P. officinalis were reported for the first time in this genus.
The epiphyllous liverwort collection was continued after the Covid pandemic in 2023 at the low and medium elevations of Batanta Island in the tropical rainforest belt by the entomolo-gist Tibor Kovács and his colleagues, which were identified by Tamás Pócs. The collection resulted in 35 species of which 9 liverworts proved to be new to Batanta Island along the species already known from the previous collections: Cheilolejeunea trapezia, Cheilolejeunea vittata, Cololejeunea schmidtii, Cololejeunea tenella, Colura herzogi, Drepanolejeunea cyclops, Leptolejeunea maculata, Microlejeunea punctiformis, and Radula javanica. Further three taxa are new even to science: Cololejeunea tiberii, Cololejeunea touwii subsp. batantae subsp. nov. and Drepanolejeunea levicornua var. incurviloba var. nov., which were described and illustrated by macro and microphotos. One previous identification was corrected. The results of 7 years of collecting activity resulting in 48 epiphyllous liverwort taxa known from Batanta Island are summarised.
To carry out a floristical inventory of plants used in traditional medicine in the HaouzRehamna region, a series of ethnobotanical surveys were conducted during five campaigns (2012–2017) with a representative sample of 1,700 people. These researches are completed by the determination of species collected in the field. It is worth mentioning that, taking into account the recent changes at the international level on taxonomy, the results obtained allowed us to elaborate a catalogue of 415 plant species (bryophytes (2 species); lichens (1), superior mushrooms (1), pteridophytes (4), gymnosperms (8), chlamydosperms (2) and angiosperms (397)) belonging to 291 genera and 99 botanical families, of which nine are the most representative and total 53.49%, namely: Asteraceae (11.33%), Lamiaceae (10.12%), Fabaceae (8.43%), Apiaceae (6.50%), Solanaceae (4.34%), Poaceae (3.86%), Rosaceae (3.37%), Brassicaceae (3.13%) and Cucurbitaceae (2.41%). On the contrary, the other 90 families represent a specific number less than or equal to 1.93%. The data also reflect a high degree of monotypic, where a single species represented 47.48% of the recorded families, and 79.03% of the genera were monotypic. The spontaneous plants occupy the first place with 241 species (58.07%). In addition, the classification by genus showed that the genus Mentha is the most used by its number of species (8 species). Moreover, we noted the use of 12 hybrid species. The chorological analysis revealed the domination of taxa with Mediterranean distribution for spontaneous species. Therophytes (27%) and phanerophytes (23.36%) are the most represented life forms. The results of this study could serve as a basis for future research in the field of floristics and ecology for the conservation of biodiversity.
Haloxylon aphyllum is a significant species adapted to salinity conditions and plays an important role in stabilising soil, providing forage, and serving as a source of firewood for residents. In this study, the genetic diversity of four populations of H. aphyllum in Iran was examined using four primers to assess genetic diversity, which produced a total of 41 bands. The AMOVA test showed that the studied populations differed in their genetic content. Specifically, 46% of genetic variability occurred within populations, while 54% arose between populations, indicating a high degree of genetic variation among H. aphyllum populations. The Mantel test presented a significant correlation between genetic distance and geographic distance. Additionally, the STRUCTURE analysis presented comprehensive information on the genetic structure of the studied H. aphyllum populations. The presence of genetic diversity and heterozygosity among H. aphyllum populations suggests local adaptation among populations, which may be due to the heterogeneity of environmental factors such as soil moisture and nutrients that create genetic heterogeneity.
A new parasitic lichenicolous fungus Knudsenia, with the type species, K. flavoparmeliarum, growing on the thallus of the corticolous lichen Flavoparmelia caperata in subalpine and alpine regions of Central Himalaya (Uttarakhand, India) is described, illustrated, and compared with other morphologically similar lichenicolous fungi. It is characterised by having inconspicuous galls; stromatic ascomata with sterile brownish black to black tissue which is K+ majenta, N–, I–; hymenial gel K/I–; exciple evident; paraphyses simple to sparsely branched, apically not pigmented; asci bitunicate, elongate, clavate to subcylindrical with an indistinct ocular chamber with a very short stalk, 8-spored, K/I+ reddish brown; ascospores hyaline, spherical to ellipsoid at maturity, simple to rarely 1-pseudoseptate [(9.0–)9.5–10.5–11.5(–12.0) × (1.0–)1.2–1.5–2.0(–2.5) µm], I–, perispore absent. Since the species lacks molecular data, hence, it was tentatively placed in the family Planistromellaceae pending further studies.
New Records for the Liverwort and Hornwort Flora of Vietnam, 3
Epiphyllous collections of Pierre Tixier in the Natural History Museum, Paris
Pierre Tixier deposited a large amount of bryophyte collections, including epiphylls, in the Cryptogamic Herbarium of the Natural History Museum in Paris (PC). A very large part of his valuable epiphyllous specimens collected between 1957 and 1965 in the southern half of Vietnam remained unidentified. Based on study of a small portion of these collections, 44 species are reported including six new to the country (Dendroceros subplanus, Ceratolejeunea singapurensis, Cheilolejeunea rigidula, Cololejeunea angulata, C. stephanii and Thysananthus aculeatus). Ceratolejeunea and Dendroceros are genera new to Vietnam.
Bellevalia Lapeyr. (Asparagaceae) underwent numerous changes in infrageneric classification based on morphological characteristics between 1854 and 1980. In 1939, a comprehensive classification was proposed, based on the morphological features of the flowers and leaves of 45 species. This classification, which was unique at the time, divided the genus into four sections and six subsections. In 2021, a phylogenetic study was conducted on 14 Bellevalia species using four plastid genes. The study led to a revised infrageneric classification determined by the presence or absence of cilia at the leaf margins. In this study, morphological characteristics, particularly the presence of cilia at the leaf margins, were assessed for of 40 Bellevalia species and categorised according to the recent infrageneric classification. The results showed that 13 species exhibited glabrous or smooth leaf margins while 27 displayed non-glabrous leaf margins. Three types of cilia were observed in non-glabrous species: a) ribbon-shape, b) turbinate or conical, and c) papilla. Notably, the species with glabrous leaf margins were exclusively found in the Irano-Turanian region, whereas non-glabrous species were distributed throughout the Irano-Turanian, Mediterranean and Saharo-Sindian regions.
In this study, palynological characteristics of 23 specimens of Helichrysum Mill., representing 12 Iranian species were investigated. We evaluated pollen grains (25 per specimens) and tested them by 15 qualitative and quantitative characteristics using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Pollen grain descriptions of most species were presented for the first time in the world. The pollen grains were tricolporate, radially symmetrical and isopolar in all examined samples. They were small, and rarely medium in size. The polar outline view (amb) was the same among the species. The overall views of pollen grains were prolate-spheroidal, oblate-spheroidal, subprolate, prolate and spheroidal. However, the more abundant type was prolate-spheroidal. The exine sculpture was echinate, and tectum is perforate. The ANOVA test revealed a significant variation (P < 0.001) for all the quantitative characteristics. In PCA analysis, the colpus length, width, and length/width ratio traits, polar and equatorial axes length, were the most variable features and some species were characterised by these characters. Results indicated that a few qualitative characteristics such as polar outline view and exine sculpture lack taxonomic importance via their stability among species. Also, the palynological traits had enough potential to separate the taxonomic boundaries of H. rubicundum and H. globiferum, but approximately the species clustering pattern did not agree with Flora Iranica.
Forest regeneration is a natural process of forest resource reclamation through production of young ones (saplings and seedlings). Tree species show variable regeneration potential in different associations and response to natural and man-made factors. Banj oak (Quercus leucotrichophora A. Camus), one of the important forest forming tree species in western montane Himalaya, is facing regeneration failure in different locations. The present study attempted to assess the population structure and regeneration of Q. leucotrichophora and associated tree species in five different stands (sites) of a less explored region (Tehri Garhwal, Uttarakhand, Western Himalaya). To investigate the phytosociological attributes, ten sampling quadrats (400 m2) were laid in random sampling manner in each forest stand for surveying tree layer, 2 sub-quadrats (25 m2) for saplings, and 5 sub-quadrats (1 m2) for seedlings in each sampling quadrat. Among the studied forest stands, tree species richness ranged 8 to 11 (8.8±1.3), total stem density (ind/ha) 750 to 950 (846±85.6), and total basal area (m2/ha) 18.68 to 29.18 (24.1±3.9). Based on abundance data the banj oak showed ‘good’ regeneration statuses (density of seedling > saplings > adult trees) in all forests. The distribution of adult tree individuals into different size classes (DBH classes) also indicate ‘good’ regeneration pattern (higher density in lower size classes and gradual decrease in density towards higher classes or forming a reverse J-shaped pattern). However, majority of the banj oak associated species (e.g. Prunus cerasoides, Pyrus pashia, Rhododendron arboreum, etc.) represented ‘fair’ regeneration statuses (seedlings > or ≤ saplings ≤ adult trees). Overall, the results of this study shed light on the positive prospects for Q. leucotrichophora regeneration and the importance of sustainable coexistence between human communities and these vital forest ecosystems.
Abstract
The fungal genus Fusarium encompasses a diverse group of species responsible for synthesizing mycotoxins, particularly deoxynivalenol, fumonisin, and zearalenone and inducing Fusarium head blight in wheat. The research was undertaken over a period of two consecutive growing seasons (2020 and 2021) on the premises and facilities of the Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (MATE). The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of growing season, nitrogen fertilization, and wheat variety on Fusarium infection as well as mycotoxin contamination in wheat kernel. Zearalenone was absent throughout the course of the two growing seasons, whereas deoxynivalenol was found solely in 2020. The findings demonstrate that nitrogen fertilization failed to exhibit a statistically significant impact on both Fusarium infection and mycotoxin production. The impact of wheat variety on Fusarium infection and deoxynivalenol was not found to be statistically significant. However, it exerted a significant effect on fumonisin production. The growing season exerted a statistically significant impact on the incidence of Fusarium infection and the ensuing contamination with mycotoxins, attributable to augmented precipitation levels in 2021 compared to 2020, specifically during the flowering period when the spike of wheat is highly susceptible to Fusarium infection.
