On the recognition of the long neglected Vitis adenoclada Hand.-Mazz. (Vitaceae) from southern China

This study reports the recognition of Vitis adenoclada Hand.-Mazz. from southern China. The species was not recognized in the Flora Reipublicae Ropularis Sinicicae and Flora of China treatments. Recent field studies and examination of herbarium collections including the type material suggest that Vitis adenoclada is morphologically similar to V. heyneana, in their densely arachnoid tomentose abaxial leaves, yet it can be easily distinguished from the latter by its red-purple glandular hairs on the young branches (vs. glandular hairs absent in V. heyneana) and inflorescences usually subtended by a tendril at the base (vs. only occasionally with a tendril in V. heyneana). Vitis adenoclada may be a species of hybrid origin, with the highly tomentose Vitis heyneana as one of the parental species, and likely the glandular-hair bearing V. davidii as the other parental species. Vitis adenoclada is recorded from southern China in Guangdong, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hunan and Zhejiang provinces.

Effect of irrigation on the production and volatile compounds of sweet basil cultivars (Ocimum basilicum L.)

Summary Introduction: Irrigation plays an important role in the cultivation of medicinal plants. There is a lack of information on intraspecific variability of reactions to the effect of drought. Objective: The aim of the current study was to test the effect of irrigation on four sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivars (‘Genovese’, ‘Kasia’, ‘Keskenylevelű’, ‘Wala’). Methods: In an open field experiment irrigated and non-irrigated treatments were set. Plants were harvested in full flowering stage. Before the harvest, the stomatal conductance and chlorophyll content were measured. The production-related parameters were recorded. In the plant material the glandular hair density, essential oil content and composition (GC-MS) and volatile composition (SPME-GC-MS) were identified. Results: Stomatal conductance of the irrigated plants was 2.5–4.5 times higher than in the non-irrigated ones. The chlorophyll content showed only slight changes. The irrigation had a positive effect on the production. The leaf to stem ratio was not modified by the watering. Irrigation negatively influenced the glandular hair density and the EO content, however it increased the EO yield by 40–129%, depending on the cultivar. Significant compositional changes were registered only in the EO of cultivar ‘Kasia’ for linalool, 1,8-cineole and tau-cadinole ratios. Conclusion: Irrigation increases the biomass and EO yield of basil while the composition of the EO is mostly unchanged. Only slight differences were observed among the cultivars.

A revision of taxonomic relation between Oenothera royfraseri and O. turoviensis (sect. Oenothera, subsect. Oenothera; Onagraceae) based on multivariate analyses of morphological characters

The taxonomic relation between Oenothera royfraseri and O. turoviensis (sect. Oenothera, subsect. Oenothera; Onagraceae) has remained unresolved. According to the representatives of the so-called American school of taxonomy (W. Dietrich, P.H. Raven, W.L. Wagner) the former name is one of almost 70 synonyms of widely treated O. biennis (AB-II plastome-genome combination) while the latter is a synonym of O. parviflora (BC-IV arrangement). On the other hand, European researchers (K. Rostański, A. Soldano, V. Jehlík) tend to assign both names to one species, under the name O. royfraseri. In order to establish the taxonomic relation of the studied taxa, morphometric comparisons, based on qualitative and quantitative traits, were carried out. The studies included European specimens labelled as O. royfraseri and/or O. turoviensis (with the nomenclatural types of the two names) as well as representatives of the two other species, O. biennis and O. parviflora, which were taken as a background. The performed multivariate statistical analyses (correspondence analysis, principal component analysis, discriminant analysis followed by canonical discriminant analysis) provided strong evidence supporting the American’s hypothesis on separateness of the two species. As it was demonstrated, O. royfraseri and O. turoviensis differ mostly by the sepal tips arrangement, which is considered by American and European researchers as one of the most essential variables in taxa recognition within the group. The obtained results have also indicated that O. royfraseri is distinct from European representatives of O. biennis, which is partially concordant with Rostański’s opinion. The two last-mentioned species can be discriminated by red vs. green papillae, strigillose vs. glandular hair predominance, respectively, as well as by quantitative features of the flowers, which are significantly larger in O. biennis.

Physalis macrophysa (Solanaceae: Physalinae: subgenus Rydbergis), its taxonomic disposition and relation to other material with large inflated fruiting calyces

Examination of the lectotype and isotype material of Physalis macrophysa Rydb. show its compatibility with P. longifolia, having nearly glabrous, ovate-lanceolate to broadly lanceolate leaves, and the presence of short, simple antrorse hairs on the petioles and pedicels. Other than its large inflated fruiting calyces (3.0–4.0 cm × 2.5–3.0 cm), it has little in common morphologically with another large inflated calyced Physalis macrosperma which is endemic to deep sands from a portion of the West Gulf Coastal Plain of the United States. Instead, P. longifolia has stems and pedicles that are either nearly glabrous or with antrorse, appressed, non-glandular hair and ovate-lanceolate leaves versus short glandular and non-glandular, spreading, upright hair and cordate to truncate leaves in the aforementioned Physalis macrosperma. We agree with previous authors that P. macrophysa Rydb., if meriting taxonomic status, should be treated as P. longifolia var. subglabrata (Mack. & Bush) Cronquist forma macrophysa (Rydb.) Steyermark or, alternatively, it may simply represent variation within P. longifolia not deserving of any taxonomic status.

Vesicular Arbuscular Mycorrhiza Influences the Histo-Anatomic Characteristics of Vegetative Organs in Artemisia annua

Recent studies have shown that vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae stimulate plant growth in case of Artemisia annua plants. According to these studies mycorrhization can enhance plant height and biomasses, shoot branching and inter-nodal length, foliar glandular hair density, and nutrient status of shoots and leafs. Contradictory data were obtained in case of leaf chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate. The effects of vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae on roots, shoots and leafs anatomy of A. annua have not been studied yet. The aim of this paper was to compare the microscopic characteristics of the vegetative organs from the Artemisia annua plants treated with vesicular-arbuscular mycorrhizae, with those from the control plants. Rhizophagus irregularis influenced the development of vascular tissues in root and stem of Artemisia plants by increasing their surface in the organs. Mycorrhization also reduced the percentage of lignification in the cortex of the root, increased the percentage of palisade parenchyma in leaf and had a positive effect on foliar glandular hair density. Further investigations are necessary to find out the role of these histo-anatomic alterations in the growth and development of Artemisia plants.

A new species and new synonym in Rubus subgenus Cylactis (Rosaceae)

Rubus zixishanensis Huan C. Wang & Q. P. Wang, is described and illustrated as a new species endemic to Yunnan, Southwest China. It belongs to the subgenus Cylactis and is the only species with crimson petals in this subgenus. Rubus zixishanensis is most similar to R. arcticus, but clearly differs from the latter by its whole plant with tiny glandular hair, and stems creeping or decumbent, stipules narrowly lanceolate to linear, base shortly adnate to petioles, calyx abaxially setose, sepals consistently 5, petals crimson and pistils 5–9. In addition, the name R. naruhashii Yi Sun & Boufford, a replacement name of R. clivicola Walker, is treated as a taxonomic synonym of R. potentilloides W. E. Evans.

The application of near-infrared spectra micro-image in the imaging analysis of biology samples

In this research, suitable imaging methods were used for acquiring single compound images of biology samples of chicken pectorales tissue section, tobacco dry leaf, fresh leaf and plant glandular hair, respectively. The adverse effects caused by the high water content and the thermal effect of near infrared (NIR) light were effectively solved during the experiment procedures and the data processing. PCA algorithm was applied to the NIR micro-image of chicken pectorales tissue. Comparing the loading vector of PC3 with the NIR spectrum of dry albumen, the information of PC3 was confirmed to be provided mainly by protein, i.e., the 3rd score image represents the distribution trend of protein mainly. PCA algorithm was applied to the NIR micro-image of tobacco dry leaf. The information of PC2 was confirmed to be provided by carbohydrate including starch mainly. Compared to the 2nd score image of tobacco dry leaf, the compared correlation image with the reference spectrum of starch had the same distribution trend as the 2nd score image. The comparative correlation images with the reference spectra of protein, glucose, fructose and the total plant alkaloid were acquired to confirm the distribution trend of these compounds in tobacco dry leaf respectively. Comparative correlation images of fresh leaf with the reference spectra of protein, starch, fructose, glucose and water were acquired to confirm the distribution trend of these compounds in fresh leaf. Chemimap imaging of plant glandular hair was acquired to show the tubular structure clearly.

A new species of Miconia (Melastomataceae: Miconieae) from the eastern slope of the Peruvian Andes

Miconia glandulipetala is described as a new species from the eastern slope of the central Peruvian Andes. This new species is recognized as a member of the “Leandra + Ossaea (scorpioid)” clade based on its secund flowers and ovoid seeds with testa cells in an aligned pattern and par-convex periclinal walls. The taxon is easily recognized by the presence of 4-merous flowers, 4-locular ovaries, and a subapical glandular hair formed on the margin of each petal.