An image dataset of cleared, x-rayed, and fossil leaves vetted to plant family for human and machine learning

Leaves are the most abundant and visible plant organ, both in the modern world and the fossil record. Identifying foliage to the correct plant family based on leaf architecture is a fundamental botanical skill that is also critical for isolated fossil leaves, which often, especially in the Cenozoic, represent extinct genera and species from extant families. Resources focused on leaf identification are remarkably scarce; however, the situation has improved due to the recent proliferation of digitized herbarium material, live-plant identification applications, and online collections of cleared and fossil leaf images. Nevertheless, the need remains for a specialized image dataset for comparative leaf architecture. We address this gap by assembling an open-access database of 30,252 images of vouchered leaf specimens vetted to family level, primarily of angiosperms, including 26,176 images of cleared and x-rayed leaves representing 354 families and 4,076 of fossil leaves from 48 families. The images maintain original resolution, have user-friendly filenames, and are vetted using APG and modern paleobotanical standards. The cleared and x-rayed leaves include the Jack A. Wolfe and Leo J. Hickey contributions to the National Cleared Leaf Collection and a collection of high-resolution scanned x-ray negatives, housed in the Division of Paleobotany, Department of Paleobiology, Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington D.C.; and the Daniel I. Axelrod Cleared Leaf Collection, housed at the University of California Museum of Paleontology, Berkeley. The fossil images include a sampling of Late Cretaceous to Eocene paleobotanical sites from the Western Hemisphere held at numerous institutions, especially from Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument (late Eocene, Colorado), as well as several other localities from the Late Cretaceous to Eocene of the Western USA and the early Paleogene of Colombia and southern Argentina. The dataset facilitates new research and education opportunities in paleobotany, comparative leaf architecture, systematics, and machine learning.

Spray solution deposition and Asian rust control in soybean cultivars

ABSTRACT The control of Asian soybean rust depends on fungicide efficacy and the application technology; however, the leaf architecture of soybean cultivars may also interfere in disease control. This study aimed to evaluate Asian rust control and fungicide deposition using spray nozzles in three soybean cultivars. A randomized block design was used, with treatments arranged in a split-plot scheme; the plots were three soybean cultivars (SYN 1561 IPRO, M6410 IPRO, and M6210 IPRO) and the subplots three spray nozzles (11002 BD, AIXR 110015 and TTJ60 11002), in addition to a control with no fungicide application, and four replicates. The volume median diameter, droplet coverage, leaf area index, area under the disease progress curve, 1,000-grain weight and crop yield were evaluated. The 11002BD and AIXR11005 nozzles provided better spray deposition in cultivars with lower leaf area indexes at the R1 phenological stage. Nozzles 11002BD, AIXR110015 and TTJ60 ensured better management of Asian rust than that of the control treatment, regardless of leaf area index. Cultivar SYN1561 obtained the largest grain yield and highest leaf area index in the season with the highest rainfall, regardless of the spray nozzle used.

Short communication: Variations in leaf morphological characters of Shorea leprosula in progeny trial stand of a logging concession in Kalimantan, Indonesia

Indonesia has the highest distribution of Dipterocarpaceae members, and Shorea leprosula is one of the species that has a natural hybrid in its habitat. Furthermore, the members have intermediate morphological character with the neighboring species, Shorea curtisii. This study aimed to investigate the morphological variations of Shorea leprosula Miq. Progeny trial in PT Sari Bumi Kusuma. The morphological level of 72 Shorea leprosula in PT Sari Bumi Kusuma was identified through sampling. Furthermore, macroscopic and microscopic observations were conducted, and the measurement data were analyzed using cluster and principal component analyses to explain the morphological variable contribution. The results showed leaf architecture variations in laminar shape, apex shape, base shape, and midrib thickness category. The cluster analyses classified the samples into four cluster groups and they consist of a notophyll leaf size category with a rounded base. Meanwhile, the second group consists of an ellipse laminar shape with medium midrib thickness, and the third has an oblong laminar with an obtuse apex shape. The fourth group has a notophyll leaf size category with an obtuse base. The principal component analysis showed that the base shape has the highest contribution to diversity in the samples.

Simulated Herbicide Spray Retention on Floating Aquatic Plants as Affected by Carrier Volume and Adjuvant Type

Foliar delivery of herbicides is a common means for plant management in aquatic environments. Though this technique is decades old, little is known about vegetative spray retention relative to this application method. A more complete understanding of maximizing herbicide retention could lead to improved plant management while simultaneously decreasing pesticide load in aquatic environments. Therefore, outdoor mesocosm experiments were conducted in 2020 to evaluate the effect of adjuvant type on foliar spray retention in waterhyacinth. Additionally, the effect of carrier volume on spray retention in waterhyacinth, waterlettuce, and giant salvinia was documented. Spray deposition did not differ among the nine adjuvants tested; however, spray retention was reduced 6 to 11% when an adjuvant was excluded from the spray solution. The effect of carrier volume on spray retention in waterhyacinth, waterlettuce, and giant salvinia was also investigated. Decreases in spray retention was most sensitive to increased carrier volume in waterhyacinth, followed by giant salvinia and waterlettuce. Among species, spray retention potential, as determined by intercept estimates, was greatest in waterlettuce and giant salvinia regardless of carrier volume. Asymptotes estimates for waterhyacinth, waterlettuce, and giant salvinia were 33, 46, and 79% spray retention, respectively. In other words, spray retention was the lowest and remained relatively constant at these values for the high carrier volumes tested (935 and 1870 L ha−1), which were likely due to the presence of pubescence on leaves and flatter leaf architecture represented by waterlettuce and giant salvinia compared to the glabrous vertical leaves of waterhyacinth. Future research will evaluate these concepts under field conditions.

Times of Trinexapac-ethyl application associated to plant densities in agronomic performance of second-season corn

Plant growth regulators, which can alter the plant size and anatomy, allow the use of cultivars of interest that do not have a modern leaf architecture, making higher plant densities possible. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic performance of second season corn, grown at different plant densities and under Trinexapac-ethyl applications at different stages of crop development. The field study was carried out in two growing seasons (2013 and 2014), at the Fazenda Escola of the State University of Londrina. Fifteen treatments were evaluated in a randomized block, 5 x 3 factorial design, at five plant densities (40,000, 60,000, 80,000, 100,000 and 120,000 plants per hectare), of Trinexapac-ethyl applied in three stages: control (no application), V6 and V9, with four replications. The morphological plant characteristics, the yield components and grain yield were evaluated. Increases in plant density raise the plant height, reduce the number of grains per ear, ear length and 100-kernel weight, and have no influence on grain yield. The application of Trinexapac-ethyl in stage V9 reduces plant and ear insertion height and 100-kernel weight.

Short communication: Leaf architecture of 35 species of Dipterocarpaceae cultivated in Forest Area with Special Purposes in Carita, Banten, Indonesia

MeinataA, Na’iem M, Adriyanti DT, Syahbudin A. 2021. Short communication: Leaf architecture of 35 species of Dipterocarpaceae cultivated in Forest Area with Special Purposes in Carita, Banten, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 22: 2952-2960. Dipterocarpaceae is a major commercial timber characterized by high unbranched bole, paired stipules, and winged fruit. The identification process in the family becomes problematic, in cases where the generative organ is absent. Therefore, a new approach needs to be established to address any misidentification leading to improper utilization. This study aims to determine the leaf architecture in 35 species of Dipterocarpaceae cultivated in Forest Area with Special Purposes (KHDTK) Carita, Banten, Indonesia. The ten leaf samples collected were the third and fourth leaves from terminal shoots of a single tree of each species. Subsequently, the data were observed and measured based on the 17 morphological characters. Each character was then scored and analyzed using multivariate analyses cluster to determine the relationship between species. Dipterocarpaceae generally has pinnate leaf category, geniculate petiole, and entire margin. Furthermore, the phenon line in the dendrogram is cut at 0.695 similarity level to establish meaningful interpretation. The 35 species observed were grouped into 4 major clusters. Small leaf group, inconsistent tertiary vein pattern group, symmetrical leaves with cordate base leaf group, and other groups that do not resemble mentioned characters. The key determination comprised 34 couplets with three characters repeated due to limited descriptors.

Correlating Structure and Morphology of Andiroba Leaf (Carapa guianensis Aubl.) by Microscopy and Fractal Theory Analyses

The Amazon rainforest is considered a megadiverse biome, where several species of its rich flora are still unknown. The anatomy of their leaves usually identifies species. In this paper, we present a complete characterization of the leaf surface of Amazon Carapa guianensis Aubl. (Andiroba), using microscopy and fractal theory to be considered a possible tool for investigating different leaves spatial patterns, especially in species with similar leaf architecture. The SEM results revealed the cellular structures and other non-cellular structures that make up the leaf architecture, both for the abaxial and adaxial sides. The cells responsible for the plant photosynthesis process were observed in the internal structure of the leaf. The wettability analysis showed that the abaxial side is more hydrophobic, while the adaxial side is more hydrophilic. AFM images exposed the relevant details of the microstructure of the leaf abaxial side, such as stomata, pores, furrows, contour, particles, and rough profiles generated by topographic irregularities. The statistical parameters revealed that the scale size influences the topographic roughness, surface asymmetry, and shape of the height distribution, also observed by advanced parameters obtained according to the standard of the international organization for standardization (ISO). The fractal and advanced fractal parameters confirmed changes in spatial patterns as a function of scale size. The largest area exhibited greater spatial complexity, low dominant spatial frequencies, more excellent surface percolation, intermediate topographic homogeneity, and high uniformity of spatial patterns.

Short Communication: Leaf architectural analysis of confusing Syzygium species: Syzygium aqueum (Burm.f.) Alston and Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & L.M.Perry (Myrtaceae)

Viacrucis III JDL, Buot Jr. IE. 2021. Short Communication: Leaf architectural analysis of confusing Syzygium species: Syzygium aqueum (Burm.f.) Alston and Syzygium samarangense (Blume) Merr. & L.M.Perry (Myrtaceae). Biodiversitas 22: 3341-3348. Among species of Myrtaceae family which has economic and ecological importance are the two Syzygium species, Syzygium aqueum and Syzygium samarangense. Both species are cultivated throughout the tropics because of their edible fruits and medicinal properties of various plant parts. However, despite their wide utilization, the two species are often confusing due to their morphological similarity. In this study, leaf architecture of S. aqueum and S. samarangense have been evaluated to delineate the two confusing taxa. Selected laminal and venation characters were compared. Results showed many similar characters shared between the two species, however, laminar size, apex and base shape, areolation, and freely ending veinlets (FEVs) were found to be distinct. Multivariate analyses, cluster analysis employing Gower similarity index, using unweighted pair-group average (UPGMA) and single linkage (nearest neighbor) algorithm, and ordination using Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA), illustrated that they are grouped separately. The variations in laminal and venation characters are additional set of information that will allow accurate differentiation of the two species. However, it is recommended that additional taxonomical analysis using various methods, such as molecular techniques, be employed and characters, such as floral morphology, be studied to contribute in the resolution of the taxonomic complexity of this group and other taxonomic controversies

SAMBA controls the rate of cell division in maize development through APC/C interaction

SAMBA has been identified as a plant-specific regulator of the anaphase-promoting complex (APC/C) which controls unidirectional cell cycle progression in Arabidopsis, but so far its role was not studied in monocots. Here, the association of SAMBA with APC/C was shown to be conserved in maize. Two samba CRISPR alleles showed growth defects that aggravated with plant age such as dwarfed plants due to shortened upper leaf length, erect leaf architecture, and reduced leaf size due to an altered cell division rate and cell expansion. Despite the fact that in both alleles the frameshift occurred at the same position, the two alleles differed in the severity and developmental onset of the phenotypes, because samba-1 represented a knock-out allele, while translation re-initiation in samba-3 resulted in a truncated protein that was still able to interact with the APC/C and regulate its function, albeit with altered APC/C activity or efficiency. Our data are consistent with a dosage-dependent role for SAMBA to control developmental processes for which a change in growth rate is pivotal.