Molecular phylogenetics and character evolution in Haplanthodes (Acanthaceae), an endemic genus from peninsular India

AbstractHaplanthodes (Acanthaceae) is an Indian endemic genus with four species. It is closely related to Andrographis which is also mainly distributed in India. Haplanthodes differs from Andrographis by the presence of cladodes in the inflorescences, sub actinomorphic flowers, stamens included within the corolla tube, pouched stamens and oblate pollen grains. To understand the phylogenetic relationship of Haplanthodes with Andrographis and Haplanthus, another related genus, we used four plastid markers, matK, rbcL, psbA-trnH and trnGR to construct a molecular phylogeny. Our results established the monophyly of this genus and revealed a sister relationship to Andrographis and Haplanthus. Further, to understand the historical biogeography of the genus, we inferred the divergence time and performed ancestral area reconstruction. Our analyses suggest that Haplanthodes has evolved during Late Miocene 5.85 Ma [95%HPD: 2.18-10.34 Ma] in peninsular India where it might have shared a common ancestor with Andrographis. To understand character evolution, the ancestral states of important morphological characters were inferred based on the equal rate model and discussed. The generic status of Haplanthus is not resolved due to incomplete sampling.

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Revision of the scolopendrid centipede Digitipes Attems, 1930, from India (Chilopoda: Scolopendromorpha): reconciling molecular and morphological estimates of species diversity

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.3626.1.5 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 3626 (1) ◽

pp. 99-145 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

JAHNAVI JOSHI ◽

GREGORY D. EDGECOMBE

Keyword(s):

Western Ghats ◽

Molecular Phylogenetics ◽

Sister Group ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Molecular Data ◽

Indian Species ◽

Ecological Data ◽

Peninsular India ◽

Putative Species ◽

The Western Ghats

Recent work on molecular phylogenetics of Scolopendridae from the Western Ghats, Peninsular India, has suggested the presence of six cryptic species of the otostigmine Digitipes Attems, 1930, together with three species described in previous taxonomic work by Jangi and Dass (1984). Digitipes is the correct generic attribution for a monophyletic group of Indian species, these being united with three species from tropical Africa (including the type) that share a distomedial process on the ultimate leg femur of males that is otherwise unknown in Otostigminae. Second maxillary characters previously used in the diagnosis of Digitipes are dismissed because Indian species do not possess the putatively diagnostic character states. Two new species from the Western Ghats that correspond to groupings identified based on monophyly, sequence diver-gence and coalescent analysis using molecular data are diagnosed based on distinct morphological characters. They are D. jangii and D. periyarensis n. spp. Three species named by Jangi and Dass (Digitipes barnabasi, D. coonoorensis and D. indicus) are revised based on new collections; D. indicus is a junior subjective synonym of Arthrorhabdus jonesii Ver-hoeff, 1938, the combination becoming Digitipes jonesii (Verhoeff, 1938) n. comb. The presence of Arthrorhabdus in In-dia is accordingly refuted. Three putative species delimited by molecular and ecological data remain cryptic from the perspective of diagnostic morphological characters and are presently retained in D. barnabasi, D. jangii and D. jonesii. A molecularly-delimited species that resolved as sister group to a well-supported clade of Indian Digitipes is identified as Otostigmus ruficeps Pocock, 1890, originally described from a single specimen and revised herein. One Indian species originally assigned to Digitipes, D. gravelyi, deviates from confidently-assigned Digitipes with respect to several charac-ters and is reassigned to Otostigmus, as O. gravelyi (Jangi and Dass, 1984) n. comb.

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Arnebia purpurea: a new member of formerly monotypic genus Huynhia (Boraginaceae-Lithospermeae)

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.204.2.3 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 204 (2) ◽

pp. 123 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Andrea Coppi ◽

Lorenzo Cecchi ◽

Daniele Nocentini ◽

Federico Selvi

Keyword(s):

Sequence Data ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Plastid Dna ◽

Corolla Tube ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

New Combination ◽

Monotypic Genus ◽

Perennial Species ◽

Dna Sequence Data ◽

Equatorial Belt

The taxonomic position and affinities of the rare Turkish endemic Arnebia purpurea are analyzed using nuclear and plastid DNA sequence data and morphological characters. Phylogenetic analysis of a wide sample of old-world Lithospermeae consistently retrieved a clade with this species sister to Huynhia pulchra, the only member of the genus Huynhia. All other members of Arnebia s.l. (including Macrotomia) formed a separate clade subdivided in two lineages corresponding to the groups of the annual and the perennial species. Consequently, Arnebia does not appear monophyletic. Floral and palynological characters support the affinity of A. purpurea to Huynhia pulchra, in especially the stamens inserted at different heights in the corolla tube and the pollen grains with a single row of endoapertures along the equatorial belt. We therefore advocate the placement of A. purpurea in Huynhia and propose a new combination, implying that the latter is no longer a monotypic genus but includes two species with a sharply allopatric range in the Middle-East. Further studies with additional markers and a wider taxon sampling will help to elucidate relationships in Arnebia s.l..

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A new species of Asian gracile skink (Scincidae: Lygosominae: Subdoluseps) from the rain-shadow belts of Nilgiri hills, Western Ghats, India

Zootaxa ◽

10.11646/zootaxa.4950.2.7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 4950 (2) ◽

pp. 361-376

Author(s):

S. R. GANESH ◽

ACHYUTHAN N. SRIKANTHAN ◽

AVRAJJAL GHOSH ◽

OMKAR DILIP ADHIKARI ◽

SHREE VARSHA VIJAY KUMAR ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Species ◽

Western Ghats ◽

Tamil Nadu ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Eastern Ghats ◽

Indian Species ◽

Peninsular India ◽

Sister Relationship ◽

Dry Zone ◽

A New Species

We describe a new species of Asian gracile skink from the dry leeward slopes of the Nilgiri hills, Tamil Nadu state, India which forms a part of the eastern, rain shadow escarpment of the Western Ghats in peninsular India. The new species, Subdoluseps nilgiriensis sp. nov., is characterized by: slender, small-sized body (47–67 mm); sandy brown above, with each scale tipped with black; a thick black lateral band from snout to tail; a distinct white labial streak; dirty white venter, with throat having mild black striations; 28–29 midbody scale rows; 71–74 mid ventral scales; 66–69 paravertebral scales. The new species is described based on external morphological characters, genetic data and geographical isolation. Based on two mitochondrial DNA genes, we show that the new species shares a sister relationship with Subdoluseps pruthi (Sharma, 1977) which is found in parts of the Eastern Ghats in peninsular India. The discovery of this new population raises two novel scenarios. Firstly, it renders the genus Subdoluseps evolutionarily polyphyletic with respect to the Indian species included in this genus. Secondly, it falsifies the notion that S. pruthi group skinks are restricted to the Eastern Ghats. Our results further indicate that the dry zone of peninsular India has unrealized skink diversity that needs to be further explored.

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A natural intergeneric hybrid of Gesneriaceae from Brazil

Phytotaxa ◽

10.11646/phytotaxa.497.2.2 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 497 (2) ◽

pp. 79-96

Author(s):

ANDRÉA ONOFRE DE ARAUJO ◽

MAURO PEIXOTO ◽

CINTIA NEVES DE SOUZA ◽

EDUARDO CUSTÓDIO GASPARINO ◽

JULIANA TOLEDO FARIA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Chromosome Numbers ◽

Pollen Morphology ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Intergeneric Hybrid ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Natural Hybrid ◽

Pollen Data ◽

Cytological Data ◽

High Viability ◽

Structural Abnormalities

A natural hybrid between Goyazia and Mandirola (Gloxiniinae, Gesneriaceae) from Cerrado (Brazil) is here described, supported by pollen morphology, cytological data and morphological characters. The microsporogenesis of Mandirola hirsuta and that of the hybrid were analyzed in order to evaluate the cytogenetic characteristics. The haploid chromosome numbers observed were n = 12 for M. hirsuta and n = 11, 13, 16 and 26 for the hybrid. Structural abnormalities (monads, dyads, triads and micronuclei) were observed at the final of the hybrid’s meiosis. High viability rates of the pollen were recorded for Goyazia and Mandirola (>90%) and low viability for the hybrid (34.7%). The pollen grains were acetolyzed, measured and photographed for pollen morphology analysis. Quantitative pollen data were analyzed through descriptive and multivariate statistics. The hybrid has intermediate pollen characteristics between G. petraea and M. hirsuta; it is more related to G. petraea by the measures of diameters and ectoapertures; it is more similar to M. hirsuta mainly regarding the microreticulum on the mesocolpium region. The hybrid and Mandirola share vegetative and flower size, while the colors of the hybrid are similar to Goyazia. Pollen morphology, cytological data and morphological characters brought clear evidence for the recognition of the intergeneric hybrid, which we named as Goydirola x punctata.

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The systematics of Raspailiidae (Demospongiae: Poecilosclerida: Microcionina) re-analysed with a ribosomal marker

Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom ◽

10.1017/s0025315407058201 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 87 (6) ◽

pp. 1571-1576 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Dirk Erpenbeck ◽

Sue List-Armitage ◽

Belinda Alvarez ◽

Bernard M. Degnan ◽

Gert Wörheide ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Gene Tree ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Character Evolution ◽

28S Rdna ◽

The Other ◽

Data Set ◽

Rdna Gene ◽

Insight Into

We present a 28S rDNA gene tree of selected Raspailiidae, Axinellidae and other demosponges to obtain insight into raspailiid phylogeny and character evolution. The Raspailiidae in our data set cluster in a well-supported clade, distinguished from Axinellidae, Agelasida and Hadromerida. Raspailia (s.s.), Eurypon, Sollasella, Aulospongus and Ectyoplasia form a Raspailiidae clade. Some Raspailia subgenera, in particular R. (Parasyringella), are not retrieved monophyletically. Trikentrion falls into the Thrinacophorinae, and not the Cyamoninae as earlier hypothesized. The axinellid genera Ptilocaulis and Reniochalina also cluster with Raspailiidae, distant from the other Axinellidae. The suitability of particular morphological characters for raspailiid phylogeny is discussed.

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Molecular phylogeny and systematics of the centipede genus Ethmostigmus Pocock (Chilopoda : Scolopendromorpha) from peninsular India

Invertebrate Systematics ◽

10.1071/is18030 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 32 (6) ◽

pp. 1316 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Jahnavi Joshi ◽

Gregory D. Edgecombe

Keyword(s):

Dna Sequence ◽

Molecular Phylogenetics ◽

Sequence Data ◽

Indian Plate ◽

Eastern Ghats ◽

Integrative Approach ◽

Phylogenetic Position ◽

Ecological Data ◽

Peninsular India ◽

Dna Sequence Data

Integrative taxonomy assesses the congruence between different lines of evidence for delimiting species, such as morphological, molecular or ecological data. Herein molecular phylogenetics is used to test monophyly and determine the phylogenetic position of the Old World tropical centipede genus Ethmostigmus Pocock, 1898, and to define species boundaries for Ethmostigmus in peninsular India. A phylogeny of the family Scolopendridae based on DNA sequence data for three markers from 427 specimens sampling in all major lineages (144 individuals generated in this study) recovers Ethmostigmus as a monophyletic group, but relationships among the genera in its subfamily Otostigminae are poorly supported. Two species delimitation methods for DNA sequence data and phylogeny are integrated with morphology and geographic data to propose a well-supported species hypothesis for Ethmostigmus on the peninsular Indian plate. Five species of Ethmostigmus are recognised in peninsular India, of which E. coonooranus Chamberlin, 1920 and three new species, namely, E. agasthyamalaiensis, sp. nov., E. sahyadrensis, sp. nov. and E. praveeni, sp. nov., occur in the Western Ghats, a biodiversity hotspot. The lesser-known Eastern Ghats harbour one species, E. tristis (Meinert, 1886), which has been nearly unreported for 130 years. This study highlights the value of an integrative approach to systematics, especially in underexplored, high biodiversity regions and where morphological variation is limited among closely related species.

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Morphological and molecular phylogenetic analyses of Zepedanulus ishikawai (Arachnida: Opiliones: Laniatores: Epedanidae) in the southern part of the Ryukyu Archipelago

The Canadian Entomologist ◽

10.4039/tce.2021.42 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-28

Author(s):

Yoshimasa Kumekawa ◽

Haruka Fujimoto ◽

Osamu Miura ◽

Ryo Arakawa ◽

Jun Yokoyama ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phylogenetic Tree ◽

Phylogenetic Analyses ◽

Divergence Time ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Ryukyu Archipelago ◽

Divergence Time Estimates ◽

Time Estimates ◽

Molecular Phylogenetic ◽

History Of ◽

Polymerase Chain

Abstract Harvestmen (Arachnida: Opiliones) are soil animals with extremely low dispersal abilities that experienced allopatric differentiation. To clarify the morphological and phylogenetic differentiation of the endemic harvestman Zepedanulus ishikawai (Suzuki, 1971) (Laniatores: Epedanidae) in the southern part of the Ryukyu Archipelago, we conducted molecular phylogenetic analyses and divergence time estimates based on CO1 and 16S rRNA sequences of mtDNA, the 28S rRNA sequence of nrDNA, and the external morphology. A phylogenetic tree based on mtDNA sequences indicated that individuals of Z. ishikawai were monophyletic and were divided into clade I and clade II. This was supported by the nrDNA phylogenetic tree. Although clades I and II were distributed sympatrically on all three islands examined (Ishigaki, Iriomote, and Yonaguni), heterogeneity could not be detected by polymerase chain reaction–restriction fragment length polymorphism of nrDNA, indicating that clades I and II do not have a history of hybridisation. Also, several morphological characters differed significantly between individuals of clade I and clade II. The longstanding isolation of the southern Ryukyus from the surrounding islands enabled estimation of the original morphological characters of both clades of Z. ishikawai.

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Quality Control Assessment of an Ayurvedic Medicine - Durvadi Ghrita

International Journal of Ayurvedic Medicine ◽

10.47552/ijam.v11i4.1712 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (4) ◽

pp. 754-758

Author(s):

Sangita Kamaliya ◽

Vaghela D B ◽

Harisha C R ◽

Shukla V J

Keyword(s):

High Performance ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Acid Value ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Ayurvedic Medicine ◽

Herbal Drugs ◽

Herbal Drug ◽

Saponification Value ◽

Physicochemical Evaluation ◽

Layer Chromatography

Background: Durvadi Ghrita is a Sneha Kalpana which is claimed to be effective in Madhumehajanya Timira (Diabetic Retinopathy). In present study, it has been used for Nasya. Objective: Present study was planned to look out on herbal drugs used in the preparation of Durvadi Ghrita and standardization of drug by pharmacognostical and physicochemical parameters and HPTLC evaluation. Methods: Identification and authentication of all the raw drug was done by pharmacognostical study i.e. morphological characters, organoleptic characters and powder microscopy. Physicochemical evaluation and HPTLC of final product were done. Results: Pharmacognostical study of all the raw drugs of Durvadi Ghrita showed presence of oil globule, prismatic crystals of Durva. Lignified branched trichome, pollen grains of Utpala Kinjalaka. Trichome, border pitted vessels of Manjishtha. Collenchyma cells, border pitted vessel of Elvaluka. Lignified fibres, oil globules of Sita. Pitted fibres, pitted vessels of Usheera. Scalariform vessels, prismatic crystals of Musta. Pitted vessels and lignified fibres, crystal fibres of Chandana. Lignified cork, and stone cells of Padmaka etc. Pharmaceutical evaluation of Durvadi Ghrita showed results Specific Gravity 0.9125, Refractive Index 1.47, Acid Value 0.4608, Iodine Value 11.45 and Saponification Value 128.856. High Performance Thin Layer Chromatography, 12 spots were found at 254 nm and five spots were found at 366 nm. Conclusion: Identification and authentication of herbal drug used in the preparation of Durvadi Ghrita has been done. Pharmacognostical and physicochemical evaluation of prepared drug has been carried out which can be further useful for standardization of Durvadi Ghrita and other clinical researches.

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Pollen morphology of the Polish species of the genus Ribes L.

Acta Societatis Botanicorum Poloniae ◽

10.5586/asbp.1998.036 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 67 (3-4) ◽

pp. 275-285 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Dorota Wrońska-Pilarek

Keyword(s):

Native Species ◽

Pollen Morphology ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Prolate Spheroidal ◽

Diagnostic Features ◽

Grain Diameter

This paper presents results of studies on pollen morphology of 6 Polish species of the genus Ribes L. (family Grossulariaceae). Observations were carried out with LM and SEM. Pollen diagnoses were illustrated by series of microphotographs. Grains of examined species are small to medium-sized and prolate spheroidal or subprolate in shape, rarely prolate. They represent three pollen classes: zonocolporate, pantoaperturate and pantoporate. Three types of ectoapertures have been observed: colpi, pori and colpoids. Endoapertures are pori, in number (4-) 6-7-8 (-14) per grain. Ornamentation is psilate or fossulate, with the exception of the ectoaperture areas, which are granulate. According to the author, the polarity or apolarity, type of pollen class and ectoaperture, number of endopori and ratio of exine thickness to grain diameter are the main diagnostic features of the pollen grains of the native species of Ribes. The key to Polish species, basing on the morphological characters of grains is given too.

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ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDIES OF SOME ANTICANCER PLANTS POLLEN GRAINS

International Journal of Advanced Research ◽

10.21474/ijar01/13695 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 9 (10) ◽

pp. 1386-1393

Author(s):

Jayshree Sandesh Thaware ◽

Keyword(s):

Electron Microscopy ◽

Scanning Electron Microscopy ◽

Pollen Morphology ◽

Pollen Grains ◽

Morphological Characters ◽

Electron Microscopic ◽

Plant Parts ◽

Morphological Studies ◽

Datura Metel ◽

Scanning Electron

Pollen is appropriately referred by some as Golden dust extremely valuable on account of their tremendous applications in science, industries and public health. No other plant part even though extremely tiny in size is packed with so much information and power. Similar to other plant parts, pollen characters are so varied that the classification system of plants can be built up entirely on the basis of pollen morphology.Palynology is the distinct branch of biology that deals with the dispersed microscopic tiny living and fossil entities including pollen grains, spores, algal and fungal fragments and others. An important aspect of Palynology is the Pollen morphology. The importance of Palynology in taxonomic and phylogenetic consideration of plants is well known. The changes occurring through hybridization and years of cultivation are reflected in pollen morphology. The scope and interest in the study of pollen morphology have widened with the advent of Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and with regards to unipalynous taxa particularly the understanding of finer morphology is of fundamental importance. SEM gives a correct understanding of exine surface as the electron photographs of the surface replica of the exine provides the exact picture of the ornamentation pattern. The variation in the pollen morphological characters helps in the classification of plant taxa and their assessment of their phylogenetic relationship. In the present investigation, the pollen morphological studies were carried out of some ethnomedicinal plants like Catharanthus roseus, Allamanda cathartica, Datura metel, Brassica juncea, Raphanus sativus and Cleome viscosa pollen grains by Scanning electron microscopy. All that they possess anticancer characteristics in common.

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