Morphological and Phytochemical Studies on Xanthium strumarium L.

Xanthium strumarium L. belonging to family Asteraceae is an annual herb with abundance occurring in India. This plant has been used in the indigenous system of medicine for a long time in India as well as other countries. The morphological studies reveal that there is notable difference in the plant habit, leaves, stem, root and flowers among this plant. Morphological study also helps for correct identification and nomenclature of plant. The chemicals present in root, stem and leaves drugs are analyzed physically as well as chemically by qualitative and quantitative parameters. In present study reveals morphology, medicinal properties and phytochemical studies of plants for correct identification authenticity of drugs. The details are presented in the present paper.

Polymorphism of quantitative traits of hellebore green (Helleborus viridis L.)

Hellebores in a number of countries are economically important ornamental crops, and these plants are also sources of glycosides used for medicinal purposes. In the literary sources, it was not possible to find information on the variability of the traits of Helleborus viridis L., and this must be known for directed plant breeding. Therefore, the aim of this work is to analyze the polymorphism of quantitative traits in hellebore green in the collection of the Tsytsin Main Botanical Garden (Moscow, Russia). Quantitative data collection was carried out in 2021. There were 20 traits, including 2 traits of plant habit, 8 traits of a leaf, 6 for a flower and 4 for a fruit. Statistical processing of the data was carried out using the calculation of the coefficients of variation and carrying out one-way analysis of variance. It was found that a high percentage of polymorphism falls on the parameters of the leaf, and a low variability - in the traits of a flower and a fruit. Features of the genotype affect the parameters of leaves by 20-30%, and no significant effect on other parameters was found. Keywords: HELLEBORUS VIRIDIS L., HELLEBORE GREEN, ANALYSIS OF VARIABILITY, CORRELATION, CONTAINER GROWING

Regeneration from leaf explants of steppe cherry (Prunus fruticosa Pall)

The article represents data on morphogenesis from leaf explants of three steppe cherry genotypes, as well as the degree of somaclonal variability at in vitro and ex vitro stages, and in the field. It was revealed that a content of 6-benzylaminopurine, 4.43 μM, in combination with auxin, 0.5–0.6 μM, stimulates in the light the direct organogenesis in the tissues of the leaf base. This reaction was observed from 16.7 to 75.0% of explants, depending on the genotype. An equal 6-benzylaminopurine - auxin ratio (1: 1) led to the callus along with microshoots. Depending on the genotype, up to 30.0% of explants had such a mixed type of organogenesis. The mitotic index value in the apical leaflets differed depending on the day time. At the stage of micropropagation itself, an increase of the mitotic index was observed from 10 to 16 hours; at the stage ex vitro, no significant differences in the mitosis frequency were revealed within this time interval. No significant differences were found between the level of the mitotic index for plants obtained directly from leaves and those from buds. The mitosis passed without disturbances. No phenotypic changes in plant habit, shape and color of leaves were found.

Morphological diversities and associated preference traits in Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) landraces from central and southern Benin

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) production in Benin is limited by several biotic and abiotic stresses. The objectives of this study were to document varietal trait preferences and peanut genetic diversity for breeding programs. A survey in the South and Center of Benin and an agro-morphological characterization was carried out. Results showed that farmers used five criteria, namely yield (seeds and pods), size of seeds, number of seeds per pod, oil content, and quality of the paste for selecting a variety. The clustering based on ten qualitative traits showed a variability structure in three groups based on the leaflets shape, plant habit, and branching pattern. The principal component analysis carried out on the quantitative traits indicated six groups of accessions. The group 3 of the latest analysis is composed of Azii alorga and Kamalo with interesting characteristics and showing a good criteria as seeds size (SDL= 14.62 ± 0.48 mm), and pods size (average pod length and width respectively PoL = 33.70 ± 1.14 mm, Pow = 14.87 ± 0.29 mm). The results should be prioritized for breeding programs to improve the good criteria found in other peanut varieties. It will be helpful for farmers in selecting performant varieties.

Assessment of relationship between biometric characteristics of stone and crown morphotype of Prunus Pumila L.

Prunus pumila is an introductory species with a disjunctive culturing area, which is caused by the instability of plants to rotting on waterlogged soils with unstable winters and high snow cover. One of the varieties of Prunus pumila in natural habitats grows on acidic soils and sometimes in wetlands. In the introduction population of the Chelyabinsk region, not all varieties could take part in the formation of the introduction population. In terms of stone shape and plant habit, no specimens matching the description of the P. pumila var. depressa variety could be identified. On the basis of the classification of plant morphotypes developed by us it was possible in some cases to obtain significant differences in the distribution of stone indices in groups with different types of crowns. The maximum differences were found in groups with the crown type of raised shrub and tree shrub for the index length / width and length / thickness of the stone. In the first case, a significant difference was obtained at the 1% significance level (tf = 2.81), and in the second even at the 0.1% significance level (tf = 3.78).

The mutual study of the Ugandan and Rostov rice varieties

Rice is one of the most important food crops in the world. The development of new rice varieties requires a thorough study and involvement of gene pool from different countries in breeding work. The purpose of the current study was to conduct a mutual ecological testing of the rice varieties in the Rostov region of Russia (FSBSI “Agricultural Research Center “Donskoy”) such as ‘Akustik’, ‘Aromatik 1’, ‘Aromatny’, ‘Kuboyar’, ‘Yuzhanin’ and the Ugandan (NaCRRI) ‘Nerica 1’, ‘Nerica 4’, ‘Komboka’, ‘Wita 9’. These samples have shown a wide range of resistance to blast and other diseases. The research was carried out in the Proletarsky district of the Rostov region. As a result, the rice varieties were studied for a number of important economic and biological traits. The growing season from sowing to ripening was 131–139 days for two varieties ‘Nerica 1’ and ‘Nerica 4’ under the conditions of the Rostov region, and 110 days for the standard variety ‘Komandor’. The other two varieties ‘Komboka’ and ‘Wita 9’ were very late maturing and did not bloom. All samples had a modern low-growing plant habit with upright rigid leaves and long drooping panicles (17–23 cm). Plant height of the Ugandan varieties ranged from 70 to 90 cm. The grains were elongated with 29–31 mg of weight. Number of spikelets per panicle was 85 and 200, respectively. The varieties ‘Nerica 1’ and ‘Nerica 4’ were used in hybridization with the Russian varieties ‘Kontakt’ and ‘Boyarin’. The preliminary study of Russian rice varieties in Uganda showed that RU 105 (‘Aromatny’) and RU 101 (‘Aromatik 1’) were resistant to rice yellow spot virus (‘RYMV’), blast and brown leaf spot. The varieties were selected for further study in the conditions of Uganda.

A new species of succulent plants from the Muko-jima group of the Bonin Islands, Japan: Sedum mukojimense (Crassulaceae)

A taxonomic re-examination of Sedum boninense, which is endemic to the Muko-jima and Chichi-jima groups of the Bonin Islands, Japan, was carried out. Morphological and physiological comparisons revealed differences between plants from the Muko-jima and Chichi-jima groups in the shape and size of leaves and underground bulb scale leaves, plant habit, habitat and flowering season. Molecular phylogenetic analysis using the ITS region revealed that the plants from respective island groups formed sister clades. Therefore, the plant from Muko-jima group is described as a new species of S. mukojimense.

Loxostigma puhoatense (Gesneriaceae), a new species from North Central Vietnam

Loxostigma puhoatense N.D. Do et al., sp. nov., a new species of Gesneriaceae, is described and illustrated from Pu Hoat Nature Reserve, Nghe An Province, Vietnam. This species is morphologically similar to L. dongxingensis and L. damingshanensis in the plant habit, indumentum system of vegetative and reproductive characters, shape of leaf blades, calyx, pistil but differs from the latter two by the abaxially reddish-purple leaf blade with pubescent along veins, lateral veins 11–19, shorter white to pale yellowish-white corolla (3.7–3.8 cm long) with purple-spotted and glabrous inside, longer abaxial stamens in 2–2.1 cm, shorter and densely glandular-puberulent ovary in 1–1.2 cm, and sparsely glandular-puberulent style. Data on distribution, ecology, phenology, and vernacular of the new species are provided.

BULBOPHYLLUM ACEHENSE (ORCHIDACEAE), A NEW SPECIES OF SECTION BECCARIANA FROM ACEH, SUMATRA, INDONESIA

Sumatra island has been considered as one of the diversity centers for Bulbophyllum species in Indonesia. During botanical exploration held in the mid of 2019, specimens of the genus Bulbophyllum (Orchidaceae) section Beccariana have been collected from highland forests in Aceh Province, Sumatra, Indonesia. Their flower morphology and plant habitus are relatively close to Bulbophyllum cornutum (Blume) Rchb.f. (section Beccariana). Therefore, the aim of this research is to compare the Bulbophyllum sp. from Aceh with closely resemble species in section Beccariana, also to describe and illustrate the morphological characteristics of this Bulbophyllum species from Aceh. Morphological description was carried out by characterizing the flowers and plant habit of the living plants, spirit materials, dried herbarium specimens and photographs. Morphological comparisons with other closely resemble Bulbophyllum species were carried out based on data from protologue, living plants, herbarium specimens and several taxonomic references. The result based on morphological comparisons has showed there were several distinct differences on their flower characteristics, especially on the labellum. Therefore, this Bulbophyllum sp. from Aceh is here described and illustrated as new species, namely Bulbophyllum acehense.Keywords: Bulbophyllum, Sumatra, Orchidaceae

CULTIVATION POSSIBILITIES OF SOME COMMON BEANS VARIETIES UNDER SECOND CROP CONDITIONS

This research was carried to determine the yield and yield components on some common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) varieties in 2017 and 2018 years, in Diyarbakir, southeast Anatolia of Turkey. In the experiment, Onceler-98, Karacasehir-90, Yunus-90, Akman-98, Goynuk-98, Aras-98, Terzibaba, Adabeyazi, Cihan and Noyanbey cultivars were used. Experiment was set up in randomized complete block design with three replications. Plots were 6 m length with five rows, the inter-row and intra-row spacing were 0.7 m and 0.10 m. Seeds were sown after wheat harvest as second crops. The differences among cultivars were significant for number of days of flowering and maturity, plant height, number of pods and seeds per plant, grain yield and 100 seed weight. Number of days to flowering ranged from 48.0 to 62.8; number of days to maturity ranged from 99.8 to 113.8. The number of pods and seeds per plant varied from 12.8 to 30.8, and 24.3 to 105.6, respectively. Grain yield ranged from 792.3 kg ha-1 (Cihan and Noyanbey) to 2709 kg ha-1 (Goynuk-98 and Onceler-98). In the experiment area, high heat temperature and high evaporation throughout July and August, negatively affected the blooming, pollination and fertilization on cultivars of dwarf and determinate plant habit types. Brushy type and late-maturing varieties should be preferred under second crop conditions.