Use of Biotechnological Methods to Support the Production of New Peach Hybrids

Peach [Prunus persica (L.) Batsch] is among the most demanded fruit crops in the world. Biotechnological methods help to originate new hybrid forms in order to increase the cultivar diversity and create new valuable genotypes. Cross combinations between the cultivars Clyde Wilson, Jerseyglo, Loadel, Summerglo and the promising cultivar ‘Nikitskiy Podarok’ have been done. The embryos of these hybrids germinated and formed plantlets after stratification at 4 °C for 45–60 days. The best regeneration rates in the hybrids ‘Loadel’ × ‘Nikitskiy Podarok’ and ‘Summerglo’ × ‘Nikitskiy Podarok’ (96.30% and 92.59%, respectively) were noted on hormone-free Monnier culture medium supplemented with 400.0 mg L−1 casein hydrolyzate. When the newly formed plantlets had necrosis of the shoot apex or immature roots, nodal shoot segments were used. At the same time, a high regeneration capacity was noted in the hybrids ‘Summerglo’ × ‘Nikitskiy Podarok’ and ‘Loadel’ × ‘Nikitskiy Podarok’ on B5 culture medium with 0.75 mg L−1 6–benzyl–aminopurine (BAP) + 0.1 mg L−1 indole–3–butyric acid (IBA). After the second subculture, the number of new adventitious shoots was 5.18 ± 0.18 and 4.95 ± 0.18 shoots per explant, respectively. The plants obtained from the hybrid embryos in a soil mixture soil: peat: sand (3:1:1) were adapted. The main morphological and anatomical features of the leaf blades in newly originated peach hybrids have been studied: the thickness of their tissues and the distribution of stomatal apparatus, as well as the physiological parameters of the photosystem II activity in regenerants cultured in vitro and during their in vivo acclimatization. The high capacity to post aseptic adaptation in the obtained hybrids has been shown.

Quantitative Anatomical Characteristics of the Leaf Blades of the Several Species of Crataegus L.

Introduction. The Crataegus L. (Hawthorn) is a common herb in numerous Pharmacopoeias. The State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation provides hawthorn fruits and flowers for medical utilization. With that, the literature data confirms the medical utility of hawthorn leaves since the “leaves” and the “flowers with leaves” have pharmacopoeial status worldwide. Therefore, those are considered as prospective forms of Crataegus raw material for Russian pharmaceutical production. However, most species remain poorly pharmacognostically investigated regarding the quantitative microscopic characteristics (the sizes of stomatal apparatus (SA) and epidermal leaf blade (LB) trichomes), which could be substantial for establishing the authenticity of the raw material.Aim. Examine epidermal anatomy of Crataegus spp. Leaf blades (LBs) and perform a comparative study of several quantitative diagnostic features of LBs of hawthorn plants from the sect. Sanguineae and the sect. Crataegus, growing in diverse regions of the Russian Federation.Materials and methods. Samples of hawthorn leaves (C. sanguinea, C. maximowiczii, C. dahurica, C. rhipidophylla, C. monogyna and C. pallasii) were collected in natural habitats in Western Siberia (Kemerovo) and in arboretums of Botanical Gardens (Moscow, Stavropol). Measurements of anatomical structures were carried out using a light microscope accompanied by an ocular micrometre.Results and discussion. The LB surface phenotypic diversity within hawthorn species and sections was studied. The LBs were described in terms of meterages (longitude and width) of SA, meterages and shape of sedentary multicellular leaf teeth glands. The peculiarities of pubescence and the sizes of simple unicellular non-glandular trichomes were also observed.Conclusion. The results of quantitative anatomical examination provided the characteristic features determining these elements at the species and section levels. Thus, it may facilitate authentication and quality control of whole or ground Crataegus medicinal raw material.

Effect of shading on the English oak (Quercus robur L.) seedlings water regime

Shading is a common urban stress in the city due to the light block from buildings. Oaks stands are found as part of park areas, forests and in point gardening in many large cities of the world. In this work we examined anatomical and physiological aspects of the adaptation of oak seedlings to the lack of light. To determine the intensity of transpiration, leaf hydration, and water deficiency, the weight indicators of the leaves were measured. Anatomically, the analysis of the leaf epidermis was carried out by microscopy of varnish prints. Changes were revealed in the anatomical structure of the leaf and were irreversible in the water regime undo shading. It was found the correlation between stomatal apparatus of the leaves and incoming solar radiation amount. With the optimal combination of hydrometeofactors, the evaporation rate in the heavily shaded leaves during the day did not exceed 15 ± 0.9 g/(m2h), which was 30…35% of the transpiration intensity in the well-lit control leaves. Then, shading by 80% reduced transpiration by 50…65 %. The influence of the degree of shading on the water regime of oak seedlings is shown for the first time at forest-steppe region.

THE GENUS CYPRIPEDIUM IN THE COLLECTION OF THE CENTRAL SIBERIAN BOTANICAL GARDEN OF THE SIBERIAN BRANCH RUSSIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES

The article is devoted to the study of the genus Cypripedium L., three of the studied species of this genus are included in the Red Book of the Russian Federation. Biological material was taken from natural phytocenoses of the Novosibirsk region and the Altai Republic and introduced on the collection site of the Central Siberian Botanical Garden. The adaptive response of individuals was studied at the morphological level depending on environmental changes in ex situ conditions. The presence of all main stages in the phenological cycle in the adapting representatives of the three species (except for fruiting in Cypripedium × ventricosum) is an indicator of optimal ecological conditions for ex situ. A comparative analysis of morphometric characters in generative individuals was carried out and significant differences between in situ and ex situ were revealed. The adaptive changes associated with the response to natural abiotic ecological conditions were also identified. The revealed differences in morphometric data for the three species allow us to note the presence of a significant adaptive reaction in C. calceolus and C. macranthon and relative adaptive inertia in C. × ventricosum. The ecological optimum in abiotic factors for the three studied species from the genus Cypripedium is the indicators for 2018.The factors for 2018 became optimal for the developmentt of generative buds, which led to 100 % flowering of individuals in C. macranthon in 2019. We also performed a dental analysis of the lower surface of the bracts in three species and studied the morphology of the stomatal apparatus. We have noted significant differences between the species, under the same eco-conditions, in the size of stomata and their number per 1 cm2.

Morpho-anatomical adaptation of the leaves of certain Veronica species to arid conditions

This study’s objective was to evaluate the adaptive potential of the leaves of Veronica (V. austriaca, V. incana, and V. prostrata) in the arid conditions of the Kryvyi Rih Botanical Garden NAS of Ukraine (KBG) located in the Right-Bank Steppe Cisdnieper. Leaves have been obtained from the collection of ornamental plants of KBG, where these plants are introduced for ten years. The seasonal dynamics of leaf development have been studied during the growing season of 2018, when the most arid climatic conditions were observed.The leaves of the investigated species were found to be dorsoventral, amphistomatic, with an anomocytic stomatal apparatus and bifacial mesophyll. Changes in the anatomical structures of the leaf blade towards xeromorphism were determined. In particular, in all studied specimens thickening of the cuticle, adaxial and abaxial epidermises (except V. prostrata, where the upper epidermis decreased by 35 %) mesophyll occurred. The number of stomata on the abaxial epidermis in all species decreased (the most notably in V. prostrata). Such increase of xeromorphism in V. austriaca, V. incana, and V. prostrata is an adaptive reaction of plants to the effects of extreme arid weather and climatic conditions of the Kryvorizhzhya, which testifies to the plasticity of investigated species and their high adaptation potential to the climatic conditions of the Right-Bank Steppe Cisdnieper.

Fruits of Crataegus submollis Sarg.: morphological and anatomical study

Actuality. Fruit of Crataegus L. are successfully used in medicine in the Russian Federation as a source of cardiotonic substances. One of the sources of raw material is Crataegus submollis Sarg., which is cultivated as an edible and ornamental plant everywhere. Previous studies revealed that preparations from fruit of Crataegus submollis Sarg. show diuretic activity and antidepressant action. Therefore, we consider Crataegus submollis Sarg. to be of interest as a new source of medicinal plant raw material, its fruit can be used both fresh and dried. Purpose. The aim of the article is to study the morphological and anatomical features of fresh fruit of Crataegus submollis Sarg. Materials and methods. The material of the study was the fresh and frozen fruit of Crataegus submollis Sarg. collected in September October 2018 in the Botanical garden of Samara University (Samara). The research was carried out by the method of light microscopy in transmitted and reflected light in the light background. Results. Performed analysis allowed to reveal structural characteristics of fruit of Crataegus submollis Sarg. which included cellular structure of the epidermis, lack of stomatal apparatus in epidermis, presence of cortical pores, trichome characteristics, and seed constitution. Conclusion. Our findings allow to develop the section Microscopic Signs of the pharmacopoeial monograph Fresh Fruit of Crataegus submollis Sarg..

Anatomical structure of the stem Bidens tripartita (Asteraceae) in connection with habitat

Internal structure of the stem in internodes of metamers middle and upper zones of inhibition, amplificationzone in generative individuals Bidens tripartita L. is described. It is of a transitional type, for a longer length – hollow.Epidermis with an anomocytic type of stomatal apparatus. Anatomical structure of the stem in plants from two communitieswas compared. Due to close biotope conditions, the biometric parameters of the structures do not differ.

In Vitro Regeneration, Ex Vitro Rooting and Foliar Stoma Studies of Pseudostellaria heterophylla (Miq.) Pax

Pseudostellaria heterophylla, in the family Caryophyllaceae, is an important Chinese medicinal plant commonly used to treat various diseases in children and valued for its ornamental properties. In this study, nodal segments were obtained from wild plants and used as explants to develop an efficient micropropagation protocol for this species. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.5 mg·L−1 6-benzyladenine (6-BA) was the most suitable medium for inducing axillary buds and enhancing their growth, and MS medium containing 0.1 mg·L−1 indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) was the most effective for inducing in vitro rooting. To reduce labor, time, and cost, microshoots were rooted under ex vitro conditions. Pretreatments of the shoots with 100 mg·L−1 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) for 1 min ensured successful rooting in 86.7% of shoots. Comparison of the leaf microstructure between in vitro- and ex vitro-rooted plantlets revealed abnormal stomatal apparatus in the former. The stomatal apparatus of ex vitro plantlets were normal, although the stomatal density was reduced, which indicated that these plantlets were more likely to be able to adapt to environmental conditions in the field. We identified the optimal medium for P. heterophylla multiplication with respect to increased rooting efficiency of micropropagated shoots under ex vitro conditions. This results presented here will be helpful for agricultural cultivation of P. heterophylla.

Features of the anatomy of the leaves of Laurocerasus officinalis M. Roem.

The article presents the results of microscopic analysis of the leaves of L. officinalis. The main anatomical and diagnostic features that can be used in identifying and evaluating the authenticity of medicinal plant raw materials are established. Analysis of the anatomical structure showed that the leaves of L. officinalis are dorsoventral; the leaf plastic is hypostomatic, and the stomatal apparatus is anomocytic. The main vein of the leaf blade and petiole is represented by a bicollateral conducting bundle. Idioblasts represented by round- shaped essential oil cells were first identified in the columnar and spongy mesophyll of the leaf and petiole. Single diamond-shaped crystals and calcium oxalate druses were also found in the leaves. The information obtained can serve as a basis for the development of the section "Microscopy" in the draft regulatory documentation.

Comparative leaf blade anatomy and micromorphology in the systematics and phylogeny of Bambusoideae (Poaceae: Poales)

Leaf blade anatomical and micromorphological data have increasingly proved to be useful in the systematics and phylogeny of Bambusoideae. The presence of well-developed, asymmetrically strongly infolded mesophyll cells (arm cells) as seen in cross-section is regarded a synapomorphy for bamboos, whereas many well-known, widely used features for diagnosing groups remain to be formally tested in a comprehensive phylogenetic framework. In this review, we investigate the use of anatomical and micromorphological features in defining and delimiting minor and major groups in Bambusoideae. A general description of the leaf blade as seen in cross-section and surface view is provided for the subfamily, as well as features commonly found in the three currently recognized tribes (Arundinarieae, Bambuseae and Olyreae) and their subtribes. Some features, including midrib vasculature, fusoid cells and stomatal apparatus, are discussed in the light of systematic and phylogenetic perspectives, along with a clarification of terminology. Illustrations of relevant features are also provided. This review allowed us to elucidate anatomical and micromorphological features useful in defining and delimiting lineages but also to highlight some research priorities in Bambusoideae.