Population genetics of Hyphaene thebaica Mart., in Rabigh province, Saudi Arabia: Implications for conservation

Hyphaene thebaica is a perennial plant distributed in desert and subtropical regions of the world. In Rabigh Province, western Saudi Arabia, the few persisting populations of this species are exposed to many threats, including overcutting and, recently, human habitation. These threats are predicted to be exacerbated with the advancement of aridification caused by climate change. The conservation and revival of the diminished populations of H. thebaica requires an assessment of their genetic diversity and genetic differentiation. To accomplish this objective, we applied 10 simple sequence repeat (SSR) primer pairs, with which all are polymorphic loci. These polymorphic loci were used to determine the population genetics of 60 plant accessions sampled from 5 populations of H. thebaica located in five sites in Rabigh Province: Wadi EL Khaneg, Wadi Al Johfa, Wadi Al Hakak and Wadi Khurieba and Wadi Kuliayah . Low to moderate levels of genetic diversity were found in all populations (the values of the PPL% ranged between 52.5% and 22.5%) along with a decreased value of HT (0.388) and a considerable inbreeding value (F= 0.4552), which verified an obvious shortage of heterozygotes. High genetic differentiation among the populations and a low level of gene flow suggest isolation among the H. thebaica populations, which caused a severe deficiency in gene migration. The data obtained herein will inspire several recommendations for conservation the existing populations, including seed preservation, and management of human activities. All of these actions are urgently needed to prevent imminent extinction.

Collection Guidelines to Achieve a Viable Caper Commercial Propagation

The caper (Capparis spinosa L.) is a perennial plant characteristic of the Mediterranean region that presents difficulties in its propagation, both vegetatively and by seeds. The main aim of this study is to provide collection guidelines to achieve a viable caper commercial propagation, for which three experiments were undertaken to determine the viability and germination in different seed lots. In the first experiment, commercial and own produced seeds (collected with the same criteria as commercial seeds) were analysed; the commercial seeds presented the lowest viability and germination. The second experiment analysed the effect of the fruit (from which the seeds were extracted) at its maturation stage, obtaining the lowest seed viability and germination in the seeds extracted from the dry fruits. In the third experiment, seed viability and germination were analysed immediately after collection, following a short drying period (3 d), and after six storage months. Viability and germination decreased with seed storage. Overall, it can be stated that caper seeds are sensitive to desiccation; consequently, a general rule of thumb is to collect the fruits once a week, to extract the seeds, and to plant them immediately for germination.

Phytochemical investigation of extracts of rhizomes of Hedychium Spicatum Sm. in A. Rees of Himachal Pradesh, India

Hedychium Spicatum is a rhizomatous perennial plant of various ethnomedicinal significance, which belongs to Zingiberaceae family.In the present study, H.Spicatum extracts were investigated for the presence of major phytochemical compounds. The dried and powdered rhizomes were extracted employing Soxhlet extraction with selective solvents of varying polarities viz water, ethanol, petroleum ether and diethyl ether. Qualitative phytochemical analysis of each of these extracts of H.Spicatum suggested the existence of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, carotenoids, alkaloids, reducing sugars (carbohydrate), proteins, steroids, saponins and oils. Greater extent of unsaturation was observed in diethyl ether and petroleum ether extracts. These extracts were also examined for their physico-chemical properties. All of the studied extracts were found to be optically active, specifically dextro rotatory. The phytochemicals present in the rhizomes suggest potential ethnomedicinal application of the species in the treatment, control and management of diseases and for new drug discovery.

Antimalarial, Antioxidant Activities and Chemoprofile of Sansevieria liberica Gerome and Labroy (Agavaceae) Leaf Extract

Background. Sansevieria liberica Gerome and Labroy (Agavaceae) is a religious and ornamental perennial plant with highly valued medicinal usage in Nigeria. Sansevieria liberica is used in the management of malarial fever. The ease of development of resistance to available antimalarial drugs has resulted in increased clinical failure and mortality. The study investigated the antimalarial effects of Sansevieria liberica (SL) leaf extract in mice infected with Plasmodium berghei. Materials and Methods. The ability of SL leaf extract to suppress the growth of malaria parasites in early (suppressive) and established (curative) infections was established using animal models. The mean survival time (MST) was determined. The antioxidant potential was established using two standard in vitro models. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and phytochemical analysis methods were used to create a chemoprofile fingerprint of SL hydroethanolic leaf extract. Results. At 200, 400, and 400·mg kg−1, SL produced 68.71, 70.74, and 75.09% parasite suppression in the suppressive model while the curative model gave a percentage of cure of 71.09, 72.60, and 62.09, respectively. The animals lived longer compared to both negative and positive controls but were not fully protected. The IC50 values of SL and vitamin C were calculated to be 3.599 µg mL−1 and 3.08 µg mL−1, respectively. The reducing power of vitamin C was significantly ( P < 0.05 ) higher than that of SL extract. Some flavonoids were established as possible marker compounds for SL leaf extract. Discussion and Conclusions. The antimalarial assay results demonstrated that the use of SL in folk medicine may have scientific support.

Integrative genome, transcriptome, microRNA, and degradome analysis of water dropwort (Oenanthe javanica) in response to water stress

Water dropwort (Liyang Baiqin, Oenanthe javanica (BI.) DC.) is an aquatic perennial plant from the Apiaceae family with abundant protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. It usually grows in wet soils and can even grow in water. Here, whole-genome sequencing of O. javanica via HiSeq 2000 sequencing technology was reported for the first time. The genome size was 1.28 Gb, including 42,270 genes, of which 93.92% could be functionally annotated. An online database of the whole-genome sequences of water dropwort, Water dropwortDB, was established to share the results and facilitate further research on O. javanica (database homepage: http://apiaceae.njau.edu.cn/waterdropwortdb). Water dropwortDB offers whole-genome and transcriptome sequences and a Basic Local Alignment Search Tool. Comparative analysis with other species showed that the evolutionary relationship between O. javanica and Daucus carota was the closest. Twenty-five gene families of O. javanica were found to be expanded, and some genetic factors (such as genes and miRNAs) related to phenotypic and anatomic differentiation in O. javanica under different water conditions were further investigated. Two miRNA and target gene pairs (miR408 and Oja15472, miR171 and Oja47040) were remarkably regulated by water stress. The obtained reference genome of O. javanica provides important information for future work, thus making in-depth genetic breeding and gene editing possible. The present study also provides a foundation for the understanding of the O. javanica response to water stress, including morphological, anatomical, and genetic differentiation.

Effects of different treatments of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the growth & physiological characteristics of lotus (Nelumbo nucifera)

Lotus (Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn.) is an aquatic perennial plant with various values, such as ornamental flowers, vegetables, food, and herbal medicine. It is cultivated and consumed throughout the different regions in Vietnam as a symbol associated with local culture. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of four other treatments of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on the growth of lotus in crop 2021. In the present study, we examined the effects of 4 treatments: control - no AgNPs (CT), treating the soil with AgNPs 4mg/L 5 days before planting (T1), treating plants with AgNPs 4mg/L before planting (T2), and a combination of soil treatment, plant treatment, and periodic foliar application at 4mg/L (T3). The results show that AgNPs application by different methods significantly increased plant height, leaf diameter, fresh leaf weight, dry leaf weight, and some biochemical aspects compared with the control. Furthermore, exposure to AgNPs elevated the activities of peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD). Among the different of AgNPs applications, plants treated with T3 showed the highest efficiency. In addition, the chlorophyll content and diameter of floating and upright leaves were positively correlated with dry leaf mass. Thus, the current use of AgNPs in agricultural sciences offers the prospect of researching their impact on various plants in the future.

Effects of Platycodon grandiflorum on Gut Microbiome and Immune System of Immunosuppressed Mouse

Platycodon grandiflorum (PG) is a perennial plant that has been used as a traditional remedy to control immune-related diseases. PG was steamed and dried to improve its taste (PGS). The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of PG and PGS (PG-diets) on the gut microbiome and immune system. We treated PG-diets to immunosuppressed mice via cyclophosphamide (CPA) injection. After two weeks of the supplement, we evaluated specific genera related to body weight and serum immunoglobulin levels and analyzed 16S rRNA sequencing and metagenomics statistical analysis. PG-diets groups showed an increased abundance of microorganisms in immunodeficient mice compared to the control group (NC). Moreover, Akkermansia significantly decreased in response to the CPA in the NC group at the genus level, whereas its abundance increased in the PG-diets groups. We also found that the modulation of the gut microbiome by PG-diets was correlated with body weight, IgA, and IgM levels. The results demonstrate that PG-diets may improve the health benefits of immunosuppressed mice by altering the gut microbiome, though not much difference was found between PG and PGS treatments. Finally, this is the first study showing the effects of PGS-diets on the gut microbiome and immune system as a potential nourishing immunity supplement.

How gathering wild rice under human-mediated drought stress could have inadvertently paved the way to Asian rice incipient domestication and cultivation

In eastern China, on the southern end of the Yangtze Valley, early Holocene hunter-gatherers were foraging various plants, including wild rice – Oryza rufipogon Griff. – an aquatic and perennial plant which is the wild progenitor of domesticated rice. According to optimal foraging theory, these foragers should have tried to enhance the efficiency of harvesting wild rice seeds by draining water around the plants before seeds ripened and shattered. This proto-cultivation practice led to unintended consequences given that wild rice responds to drought stress owing to its phenotypic plasticity. Plant and panicle architectures were modified with transitions to more compact and erect tillers and to a closed panicle shape. They provide incentives to early foragers for intensifying their proto-cultivation practices and so could have also triggered initial cultivation of rice. They also triggered incipient domestication of rice, starting by the transition to selfing. According to this narrative, it is even possible that rice incipient domestication preceded cultivation.