Synopsis of the genus Drosera (Droseraceae) in Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo

While some African Floras were continuously revised and several are now almost completed, the Flora of Angola’s ‘Conspectus Florae Angolensis’ still remains incomplete. This applies also for Droseraceae and the genus Drosera. Our study aims to provide an identification key for Drosera of Angola and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, including all morphological characters of the different Angolan and Congolese taxa. Loans from different herbaria were studied. A list of important morphological characters was combined with data obtained by observations and measurements. Beside the identification key, nine species descriptions with drawings of the main characteristics, distribution maps and SEM-pictures of pollen and seed morphology are provided. The possibility of hybridisation is discussed. Despite difficulties such as varying morphology or hybridisation in some species, the identification key enables researchers to identify specimens by morphological characters.

Fruit and seed morphology in some representatives of the genus Malus Mill.

Aim. The study of morphological characteristics of fruits and seeds of the genus Malus is the key to the effective use of the apple genetic diversity in landscape-gardening, fruit growing, introductory and breeding. Methods. Morphological features of fruits and seeds of nine species and three varieties of apple (M. baccata, M. coronaria ‘Red Tip’, M. floribunda, M. fusca, M. halliana, M. niedzwetzkyana, M. × purpurea, M. × purpurea ‘Ola’, M. × purpurea ‘Royalty’, M. × purpurea ‘Selkirk’, M. trilobata, M. tschonoskii, M. toringoides) were studied. Generally accepted tech- niques of research was used. Results. The fruit weight of apple species and varieties varied from 0.30 g (M. fusca) to 61.20 g (M. coronaria ‘Red Tip’), the weight of 1000 seeds — from 5.00 g (M. fusca) to 62.77 g (M. coronaria ‘Red Tip’). The largest number of seeds in the fruit was characteristic of M. toringoides (6.64), the smallest — M. tschonoskii (0.25); developed seeds were not detected in the fruits of M. trilobata for 2019–2020 years. The lowest level of variability among biometric indicators of the studied representatives of the genus Malus was in terms of fruit height, fruit diameter and seed height, the highest — in terms fruit weight and number of seeds in the fruit. Conclusions. Detailed characteristics of fruits and seeds of the genus Malus, growing in the National Dendrological Park “Sofiyivka”, were compiled as a result of research. The obtained data can be used as a supplement to the botanical characteristic, and as a comparative material for taxonomy and phylogeny.

Taxonomic Significance of Seed Morphology in Veronica L. (Plantaginaceae) Species from Central Europe

In this study, 1159 seeds of 29 Central European species of the genus Veronica were analyzed based on scanning electron microscopy images. The species belonged to nine subgenera: Beccabunga, Chamaedrys, Cochlidiosperma, Pellidosperma, Pentasepalae, Pocilla, Pseudolysimachium, Stenocarpon and Veronica, following the newest phylogenetic classification of the genus. Nine measured characteristics of seeds and nine ratios were analyzed statistically using ANOVA followed by post hoc testing, cluster analysis and discriminant analysis. In most cases, the results were not congruent with the contemporary classification of the genus. Examinations of qualitative seed features by scanning electron microscopy included the cochlidiospermous or discoid seed type, the seed shape, the general sculpture of the seed coat surface, the sculpture of anticlinal and periclinal walls and some species-specific traits such as the presence of the epidermal appendix. All these features, apart from seed shape, were useful to distinguish all subgenera and some species within subgenera: Beccabunga, Chamaedrys, Pellidosperma, Pocilla (only V. filiformis) and Veronica. The identification key based on the seed micromorphological features was prepared.

New Techniques for Seed Shape Description in Silene Species

Seed shape in Silene species is often described by means of adjectives such as reniform, globose, and orbicular, but the application of seed shape for species classification requires quantification. A method for the description and quantification of seed shape consists in the comparison with geometric models. Geometric models based on mathematical equations were applied to characterize the general morphology of the seeds in 21 species of Silene. In addition to the previously described four models (M1 is the cardioid, and M2 to M4 are figures derived from it), we present four new geometric models (model 5–8). Models 5 and 6 are open cardioids that resemble M3, quite different from the flat models, M2 and M4. Models 7 and 8 were applied to those species not covered by models 2 to 6. Morphological measures were obtained to describe and characterize the dorsal view of the seeds. The analyses done on dorsal views revealed a notable morphological diversity and four groups were identified. A correlation was found between roundness of dorsal view and the geometric models based on lateral views, such that some of the groups defined by seed roundness are also characterized by the similarity to particular models. The usefulness of new morphological tools of seed morphology to taxonomy is discussed.

Seed Micromorphology, In Vitro Germination, and Early-Stage Seedling Morphological Traits of Cattleya purpurata (Lindl. & Paxton) Van den Berg

In the context of a symbiotic plant-fungus interaction study concerning Cattleya purpurata, we focused on some aspects of seed morphology and biology, and the early stages of seedling development. Seed morphology was characterized using light and scanning electron microscopy. In vitro seed germination capability was evaluated, comparing symbiotic and asymbiotic methods. The morphology of the seeds was overall comparable to that of other congeneric species, showing classical adaptations related to the aerodynamic properties and to the wettability of seeds, but calcium oxalate druses were identified inside the suspensor cells. Asymbiotic seed germination was successful in all tested media (17.1–46.5%) but was higher on 1/2 Murashige & Skoog. During symbiotic interaction with the fungal strain MUT4178 (Tulasnella calospora), germination rate was significantly lower than that obtained with the best three asymbiotic media, suggesting a low fungal compatibility. Seedling morphology was in line with other taxa from the same genus, showing typical characteristics of epiphytic species. Our observations, in particular, highlighted the presence of stomata with C-shaped guard cells in the leaves, rarely found in Cattleyas (where usually they are reniform), and confirm the presence of tilosomes in the roots. Idioblasts containing raphides were observed in both roots and leaves.

Study morphology of loquat plants (Eriobotrya Japonica Lindl.) from Karo, Dairi, and Simalungun Districts, North Sumatra

Abstrak. Loquat (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) is a flowering plant that belongs to the Rosacea family. The loquat has many health benefits. Cultivation and information about loquat plants in Indonesia are still limited, so they are rarely found and known by the public. Limited information and data regarding loquat plants is also an obstacle to the development of loquat plants. Research on loquat plants aims to analyze the morphological characters in three districts, namely, Karo, Dairi, and Simalungun districts. This research was conducted using a descriptive method. The analysis of the morphological characteristics of loquat plants using morphological data scoring into binary data. The similarity between individuals was analyzed using clusters with the NTSYS program version 2.0 with the UPGMA method of the SimQual function. Morphological Observation Results Loquat plants (Eriobotrya japonica Lindl.) in Karo, Dairi, and Simalungun Districts have uniform characters in the morphology of stems, leaves, and flowers. However, the observed fruit and seed morphology showed different characters. Different characters exist in the shape of the fruit and seeds. The morphological similarity level of loquat plants was grouped at a similarity coefficient value of 95%. Clusters I and II have the highest similarity with a coefficient value of 100%. Cluster III has the lowest similarity with a coefficient value of 97%.

In Silico Analysis of Fatty Acid Desaturases Structures in Camelina sativa, and Functional Evaluation of Csafad7 and Csafad8 on Seed Oil Formation and Seed Morphology

Fatty acid desaturases add a second bond into a single bond of carbon atoms in fatty acid chains, resulting in an unsaturated bond between the two carbons. They are classified into soluble and membrane-bound desaturases, according to their structure, subcellular location, and function. The orthologous genes in Camelina sativa were identified and analyzed, and a total of 62 desaturase genes were identified. It was revealed that they had the common fatty acid desaturase domain, which has evolved separately, and the proteins of the same family also originated from the same ancestry. A mix of conserved, gained, or lost intron structure was obvious. Besides, conserved histidine motifs were found in each family, and transmembrane domains were exclusively revealed in the membrane-bound desaturases. The expression profile analysis of C. sativa desaturases revealed an increase in young leaves, seeds, and flowers. C. sativa ω3-fatty acid desaturases CsaFAD7 and CsaDAF8 were cloned and the subcellular localization analysis showed their location in the chloroplast. They were transferred into Arabidopsis thaliana to obtain transgenic lines. It was revealed that the ω3-fatty acid desaturase could increase the C18:3 level at the expense of C18:2, but decreases in oil content and seed weight, and wrinkled phenotypes were observed in transgenic CsaFAD7 lines, while no significant change was observed in transgenic CsaFAD8 lines in comparison to the wild-type. These findings gave insights into the characteristics of desaturase genes, which could provide an excellent basis for further investigation for C. sativa improvement, and overexpression of ω3-fatty acid desaturases in seeds could be useful in genetic engineering strategies, which are aimed at modifying the fatty acid composition of seed oil.