Size-dependent sex allocation in Solanum lycocarpum St. Hil. (Solanaceae)

Resource allocation to reproduction can change depending on size, as predicted by the size-dependent sex allocation. This theory is based on the fact that small individuals will invest in the allocation of sex with lower cost of production, usually male gender. In plants, there are some andromonoecy species, presence of hermaphrodite and male flowers in the same individual. Andromonoecy provides a strategy to optimally allocate resources to male and female function, evolving a reproductive energy-saving strategy. Thus, our objective was to investigate the size-dependent sex allocation in Solanum lycocarpum St. Hil. We tested the hypothesis that plants with larger size will invest in the production of hermaphrodite flowers, because higher individuals have greater availability of resources to invest in more complex structures involving greater energy expenditure. The studied species was S. lycocarpum, an andromonoecious species. From June 2016 to March 2017 the data were collected in 38 individuals, divided in two groups: the larger plant group (n=18; height=3-5 m) and the smaller plant group (n=20; height=1-2 m).Our data show that there was effect of plant size on the flower production and the sexual gender allocation. The larger plants showed more flowers and higher production of hermaphrodite flowers. Furthermore, in the flower scale, we observed allometric relationship among the flower’s traits with proportional investments in biomass, anther size and gynoecium size. Our results are in agreement with size-dependent sex allocation theory and andromonoecy hypothesis related to mechanisms for optimal resource allocation to male and female function.

Histological digestive tract of milkfish’s (Chanos chanos Forskal.) from District Ujung Pangkah, Gresik

Milkfish is a commodity with a high production rate. From the milkfish commodity, Gresik is the center of fishery production in East Java. Milkfish belongs to the herbivore group with the type of food from the plant group. Milkfish cultivation in traditional ponds still uses natural food as the main food for the cultivated commodities. Fish food affects the structure of the digestive tract, especially the intestines of fish. herbivorous fish have very long intestines even many times the body length, compared to omnivorous and carnivorous fish. Thus, this study aims to find out more clearly about the structure of the milkfish gut tissue. The digestive tract is related to the process of digestion, absorption and disposal of food waste, so it has an important role in the growth of fish. The research method used was descriptive experimental by making preparations of fish intestinal tissue and staining with Hematoxylin Eosin. The intestines of the fish observed were the front, middle and back. Observation of the preparations using a microscope with a dot slide scan photo. From the results of the study obtained an overview of the intestinal tissue structure of the upper (proximal), middle (middle) and lower (distal) fish. The structure of the front, middle and back of the milkfish gut tissue is similar, the difference lies in the number and thickness of the villi.

The Currently Earliest Angiosperm Fruit from the Jurassic of North America

Angiosperms are the single most important plant group in the current ecosystem. However, little is known about the origin and early evolution of angiosperms. Jurassic and earlier traces of angiosperms have been claimed multiple times from Europe and Asia, but reluctance to accept these records remains. To test the truthfulness of these claims, palaeobotanical records from continents other than Europe and Asia constitute a crucial test. Here I document a new angiosperm fruit, Dilcherifructus mexicana gen. et sp. nov, from the Middle Jurassic of Mexico. Its Jurassic age suggests that origin of angiosperms is much earlier than widely accepted, while its occurrence in the North America indicates that angiosperms were already widespread in the Jurassic, although they were still far away from their ecological radiation, which started in the Early Cretaceous.

Fly Pollination of Kettle Trap Flowers of Riocreuxia torulosa (Ceropegieae-Anisotominae): A Generalized System of Floral Deception

Elaborated kettle trap flowers to temporarily detain pollinators evolved independently in several angiosperm lineages. Intensive research on species of Aristolochia and Ceropegia recently illuminated how these specialized trap flowers attract particular pollinators through chemical deception. Morphologically similar trap flowers evolved in Riocreuxia; however, no data about floral rewards, pollinators, and chemical ecology were available for this plant group. Here we provide data on pollination ecology and floral chemistry of R. torulosa. Specifically, we determined flower visitors and pollinators, assessed pollen transfer efficiency, and analysed floral scent chemistry. R. torulosa flowers are myiophilous and predominantly pollinated by Nematocera. Pollinating Diptera included, in order of decreasing abundance, male and female Sciaridae, Ceratopogonidae, Scatopsidae, Chloropidae, and Phoridae. Approximately 16% of pollen removed from flowers was successfully exported to conspecific stigmas. The flowers emitted mainly ubiquitous terpenoids, most abundantly linalool, furanoid (Z)-linalool oxide, and (E)-β-ocimene—compounds typical of rewarding flowers and fruits. R. torulosa can be considered to use generalized food (and possibly also brood-site) deception to lure small nematocerous Diptera into their flowers. These results suggest that R. torulosa has a less specific pollination system than previously reported for other kettle trap flowers but is nevertheless specialized at the level of Diptera suborder Nematocera.

Non-Nepenthes Carnivorous Plants in Indonesia: Current Knowledge on Diversity, Ethnobotany, and Phytochemistry

One of the most unique plant groups in the world is carnivorous plants. Indonesia is home to many species of this plant group. Nepenthaceae, represented by single genus Nepenthes, is relatively well known, but the others are not. A literature study and several field trips were conducted to give a summary of the diversity and the potential uses of the non-Nepenthes carnivorous plants in Indonesia. Three families with a total number of 29 species have been reported for Indonesia, namely Lentibulariaceae (20 species), Droseraceae (8 species), and Byblidaceae (1 species). One species, Aldrovanda vesiculosa is listed as Endangered based on IUCN Red List. The results reveal that several species possess ethnobotanical and medicinal uses as well as other potential such as in phytoremediation and nanoparticle biosynthesis. Several bioactivities have been reported such as anticancer, antihypertensive, antitumor, antioxidant, antibacterial, or even hepatoprotective. Among the most important bioactivity is anticancer which is supported by the presence of secondary metabolites named plumbagin, which so far has been found in three species. Our result indicates that this plant group is highly potential and warrants further studies and or development.

Diversity of roots and root systems in pauciennial dicots

Исторически сложившийся в ботанике стереотип представлений об аллоризном строении корней и корневых систем малолетних (одно-двулетних) растений из класса Двудольных может стать серьезной помехой для объективной оценки разнообразия этой интереснейшей группы жизненных форм цветковых растений. При более внимательном изучении морфологии и анатомии корней в динамике их онтогенетического развития выявляется существенная неполнота наших знаний в этой области и отсутствие необходимого уровня развития терминологии, которые сказываются на содержательности изданных учебных пособий. Рассмотренные в этих пособиях хрестоматийные примеры дают далеко не полную картину природного разнообразия морфологической и анатомической структуры корней и в них, часто бывают недооценены или просто опущены важные детали в процессе их развития. К числу таких деталей относится коллет - структура в переходной зоне между главным корнем и гипокотилем, которой свойственна своя анатомия и морфология (развитие волосков или ризоидов), включая примордии боковых корней, закладывающихся внутри коллета иногда еще в ходе эмбриогенеза. Historically borned stereotype on allorhizy of pauciennial (annual-biennial) plants from Dicots can be valuable interference for objective representations (describing) of this extremely interesting flowering plant group diversity. Via more attentive and deep research of the morphology and anatomy of roots in their ontogenetic development dynamics we can observe (reveal) ncompleteness of our knowledge in this area and unsufficient level of terminology which could have negative influence on our published text-books content. Hackneyed examples that were presented in these text-books can illustrate far from the full picture of natural diversity of root morphology and anatomy with some valuable details of their development obviously underestimated or simply omitted. There is a collet amongst these details - more or less inflated transition zone between radicle and hypocotyl with its own anatomy and morphology features (cover from trichomes or rhyzoides), including lateral roots primordia which can be initiated inside even during embryogenesis.

Biogeographic Overview of Ulmaceae: Diversity, Distribution, Ecological Preferences, and Conservation Status

The elm family (Ulmaceae) is a woody plant group with important scientific, societal, and economic value. We aim to present the first biogeographic synthesis investigating the global diversity, distribution, ecological preferences, and the conservation status of Ulmaceae. A literature review was performed to explore the available data for all extant species. Our study made it possible to map the actual global distribution of Ulmaceae with high precision, and to elucidate the centers of diversity, located mainly in China and in the southeastern USA. A detailed comparative analysis of the macroclimatic niche for each species was produced, which shows the general biogeographic pattern of the family and pinpoints the outlier species. The results corroborate recent molecular analyses and support the division of Ulmaceae into two taxonomically, biogeographically, and ecologically well-differentiated groups: the so-called temperate clade with 4 genera and 43 species and the tropical clade with 3 genera and 13 species. The elm family is often described as a typical temperate plant group, however the diversity peak of all Ulmaceae is located in the subtropical zone, and a non-negligible part of the family is exclusively distributed in the tropics. We also noticed that a high proportion of Ulmaceae is linked to humid macro- or microhabitats. Finally, we highlighted that nearly 25% of all Ulmaceae are threatened. Fieldwork, conservation efforts, and research activities are still necessary for this family, particularly for the tropical members and the most endangered species.

The other sexual revolution: hormonal control of family planning in plants

The development of hormonal contraceptives stands out as a key contribution of biochemistry to the 20th century, part of the wider ‘sexual revolution’ that dramatically changed society in many Western countries. But unbeknown to them, the pioneers of the contraceptive pill had been beaten to the idea by a few hundred million years, by a rather unlikely group of organisms that have been using hormones as contraceptives since their own sexual revolutions back in the swinging Palaeozoic. Since their successful conquest of land in the Ordovician, land plants had been restricted in the genetic mixing and expansion of populations by their relative immobility. A series of key innovations in the seed plant group, and in particular in flowering plants, enabled plants to mate and to disperse their offspring over much longer distances, by harnessing the wind or animals to provide mobility. However, all this ‘outsourcing’ created new challenges; coordinating and optimizing reproductive effort is not straightforward when it depends on a third party. Here, I discuss some of the key signalling molecules – sex hormones, as it were – that plants use to plan their families and manage their fertility, and why this matters to us, now more than ever.

DIVERSITY OF PTERIDOPHYTES IN WESTERN GHATS- A REVIEW

Pteridophytes are vascular cryptogams that dominated the earth 250 million years ago. Currently, there are 13,600 species of pteridophytes around the world, and is the second most dominant plant group. In India, there are 1200 pteridophyte species with 70 families and 192 genera. The pteridophyte hotspots in India are the Himalayas, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats, Central India, and Andaman and the Nicobar Islands. The Western Ghats occupies only 6% of the Indian landmass and still holds a pteridophyte diversity of 383 species. Fern and fern allies are highly sensitive to changes in their natural habitat, thus habitat destruction, anthropogenic influences, climate change, etc., are causing a fast decline in their population. Epiphytic species are easily destroyed due to the felling of trees and because of this at present 41- 43% of epiphytic pteridophytes in India are reported to be threatened. It necessitates the frequent analysis of the pteridophyte flora of a region to ensure the existence of its species diversity. The potential of in-vitro and ex-situ conservation techniques can be explored for the conservation of threatened pteridophyte species