Search

Species of Broussonetia have been essential in the development of papermaking technology. In Japan and Korea, a hybrid between B. monoica and B. papyrifera (= B. × kazinoki) known as kōzo and daknamu is still the major source of raw materials for making traditional paper washi and hanji, respectively. Despite their cultural and practical significance, however, the origin and taxonomy of kōzo and daknamu remain controversial. Additionally, the long-held generic concept of Broussonetia s.l., which included Sect. Allaeanthus and Sect. Broussonetia, was challenged as phylogenetic analyses showed Malaisia is sister to the latter section. To re-examine the taxonomic proposition that recognizes Allaeanthus, Broussonetia, and Malaisia (i.e., Broussonetia alliance), plastome and nuclear ribosomal DNA (nrDNA) sequences of six species of the alliance were assembled. Characterized by the canonical quadripartite structure, genome alignments and contents of the six plastomes (160,121–162,594 bp) are highly conserved, except for the pseudogenization and/or loss of the rpl22 gene. Relationships of the Broussonetia alliance are identical between plastome and nrDNA trees, supporting the maintenance of Malaisia and the resurrection of Allaeanthus. The phylogenomic relationships also indicate that the monoecy in B. monoica is a derived state, possibly resulting from hybridization between the dioecious B. kaempferi (♀) and B. papyrifera (♂). Based on the hypervariable ndhF-rpl32 intergenic spacer selected by sliding window analysis, phylogeographic analysis indicates that B. monoica is the sole maternal parent of B. × kazinoki and that daknamu carries multiple haplotypes, while only one haplotype was detected in kōzo. Because hybridizations between B. monoica and B. papyrifera are unidirectional and have occurred rarely in nature, our data suggest that daknamu might have originated via deliberate hybrid breeding selected for making hanji in Korea. On the contrary, kōzo appears to have a single origin and the possibility of a Korean origin cannot be ruled out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The tribe Massonieae Baker (Hyacinthaceae-Hyacinthoideae) presently consists of about 19 genera and 230 species distributed from Africa (south of the Sahara) to Madagascar and India. Based on atpB and trnL-F DNA sequences the tribe is monophyletic only when the genus Pseudoprospero is excluded from Massonieae. In most trnL-F trees, this genus occupies a basal position within subfamily Hyacinthoideae and is sister to the rest of the subfamily. Molecular data suggest that the remaining genera of Massonieae do not share common ancestry with the Eurasian/North-African tribe Hyacintheae Dumort. (Scilla, Hyacinthus and allies), and thus a narrow concept of the essentially Eurasian genus Scilla is supported. Members of well-supported clades in Massonieae usually show similarities in seed characteristics as determined by scanning electron microscopy. Phylogenetic position and seed morphology indicate that Massonia angustifolia and M. zeyheri do not belong to the genus Massonia but fall into a clade together with Daubenya, Androsiphon and Amphisiphon. The genus Whiteheadia appears paraphyletic in the 50% majority rule trnL-F tree and occupies a basal position next to Massonia. However, in the strict consensus tree neither monophyly nor polyphyly can be excluded for this genus. Seed appendages are documented for members of the genera Ledebouria and Lachenalia. Within the genera of Massonieae there is a tendency towards bending of the seed axis. This phenomenon is most obvious within the genus Lachenalia. Delimitation of genera based on seed morphology largely agrees with the results of molecular studies. Correlation between number, size and color of seeds, geographical distribution and phylogenetic position of the genera are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylogeographic studies have investigated genetic variation and structure within species or closely related lineages and are fundamental for understanding factors and processes of genetic divergence as well as speciation. This virtual issue collects 35 papers on phylogeographic studies published in the Journal of Plant Research and focuses on three major topics in biodiversity: (1) biogeography, (2) systematics, and (3) evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Sato's paper ([2]), a large-scale phylogenetic analysis was conducted and four types of phylogenetic relationships between chloroplast enzymes (encoded by the chloroplast and nuclear genomes) and cyanobacterial counterparts were found: Type 1, chloroplast enzymes diverged from inside of cyanobacterial clade; Type 2, chloroplast and cyanobacterial enzymes are sister groups; Type 3, chloroplast enzymes originated from homologs of bacteria other than cyanobacteria; Type 4, chloroplast enzymes diverged from eukaryotic homologs. There are many chloroplast membrane lipid synthases and photosynthesis-related enzymes that originated outside of cyanobacteria. Sato ([2]) proposes that the host-directed chloroplast formation hypothesis, in which host eukaryotes prepared the membrane lipid synthesis system in advance, should be important for re-examining the origin of chloroplasts. [Extracted from the article]

UV-absorbing substances were isolated from the translucent bracts of Rheum nobile, which grows in the alpine zone of the eastern Himalayas. Nine kinds of the UV-absorbing substances were found by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and paper chromatography (PC) surveys. All of the five major compounds are flavonoids, and were identified as quercetin 3- O-glucoside, quercetin 3- O-galactoside, quercetin 3- O-rutinoside, quercetin 3- O-arabinoside and quercetin 3- O-[6"-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)-glucoside] by UV, 1H and 13C NMR, mass spectra, and acid hydrolysis of the original glycosides, and direct PC and HPLC comparisons with authentic specimens. The four minor compounds were characterised as quercetin itself, quercetin 7- O-glycoside, kaempferol glycoside and feruloyl ester. Of those compounds, quercetin 3- O-[6"-(3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaroyl)-glucoside] was found in nature for the first time. The translucent bracts of R. nobile accumulate a substantial quantity of flavonoids (3.3-5 mg per g dry material for the major compounds). Moreover, it was clarified by quantitative HPLC survey that much more of the UV-absorbing substances is present in the bracts than in rosulate leaves. Although the flavonoid compounds have been presumed to be the important UV shields in higher plants, there has been little characterisation of these compounds. In this paper, the UV-absorbing substances of the Himalayan R. nobile were characterised as flavonol glycosides based on quercetin.

The Journal of Plant Research published 65 articles last year, including a new category called "Milestones in Plant Research" that focuses on historical achievements in plant science. They also published a review paper on self-incompatibility in flower crops and a virtual issue on phylogeographic studies in the Japanese Archipelago. Due to COVID-19, they were unable to hold a symposium in 2021, but they are preparing symposium articles for 2024. The journal is dedicated to disseminating fundamental knowledge in basic plant sciences and welcomes submissions that contribute to this field. They have welcomed new editors and thanked those who have rotated off the editorial board. The journal wishes readers a Happy New Year and encourages the submission of excellent articles in 2024. [Extracted from the article]

The article presents information on the Journal of Plant Research Awards 2006. The Best Paper Award was given to Madoka Ayano, Ryoko Imaichi and Masahiro Kato for their paper, Developmental Morphology of the Asian One-leaf Plant, Monophyllaea glabra (Gesneriaceae) with emphasis on inflorescence morphology. Another Best Paper Award was given to Toshimitsu Ikushima and Teruo Shimmen for their paper entitled Mechano-sensitive Orientation of Cortical Microtubules During Gravitropism in Azuki Bean Epicotyls.

The very high floral diversity of Orchidaceae has often been attributed to the intricate relationships between orchids and their pollinators. In particular, the interaction between long-spurred orchids and hawkmoths has been well-studied. However, several recent studies suggest that pollination is driven by complex factors, including floral syndromes and local pollinator availability. Here, we investigated contributions of thrips to seed production in the presumably hawkmoth-pollinated long-spurred orchid Habenaria radiata, using pollination experiments and floral visitor observations. These experiments and observations showed that H. radiata is pollinated by both hawkmoths and thrips. Thrips intrude into the pollen sac, causing several massulae to be shed onto the stigma of the same flower, which is located just below the pollen sac. The fruit set and seed set of flowers enclosed in mesh bags (which allow thrips in) and in flowers enclosed together with thrips in paper bags, were much higher than in flowers enclosed in paper bags without thrips. This suggests that thrips partially contribute to fruit and seed production in this species. It provides evidence that thrips can contribute to seed production in a long-spurred orchid that is morphologically adapted to lepidopteran visitors. Unlike the compact pollinia of typical orchid species, those of H. radiata are mealy and friable, and thrips can therefore dislodge the pollen grains in small clumps. We suggest that secondary pollination by thrips may be more common than previously recognized in orchids with granular pollinia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past quarter-century has witnessed a revolution in our understanding of the phylogenetics, systematics, and ecology of pteridophytes (ferns and lycophytes), particularly due to the rapid accumulation of plastid sequence data and a renewed interest in the ecology of the sexual phase of the life cycle. We here compile 19 papers recently published in the Journal of Plant Research dealing with the biology of pteridophytes, grouped into six categories: (1) breeding systems, (2) species complexes and polyploidization, (3) fossil taxa, (4) gametophyte ecology, (5) systematics, (6) biodiversity. We hope this collection of papers will be of value to researchers interested in this fascinating group of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article announces studies that won the JPR Best Paper Award 2009, including "Hybridization and Asymmetric Introgression Between Rhododendron eriocarpum and R. indicum on Yakushima Island, Southwest Japan," by Shuichiro Tagane, Michicazu Hiramatsu, and Hiroshi Okubo, and "Low Temperature-Induced Chloroplast Relocation Mediated by a Blue Light Receptor, Phototropin 2, in Fern Gametophytes," by Yutaka Kodama, Hidenori Tsuboi, Takatoshi Kagawa, and Masamitsu Wada.

Presents updates on the "Journal of Plant Research" (JPR) as of November 2004. List of the JPR Best Paper Awards for 2003; Electronic edition of the JPR; New head of the editorial board.

The Botanical Society of Japan recognizes outstanding research published in the Journal of Plant Research through annual awards. In 2024, two papers were awarded the Best Paper Awards. The first paper by Suetsugu et al. describes a new species of mycoheterotrophic plant called Monotropastrum kirishimense, which was previously thought to be monotypic. The authors used a multidisciplinary approach to reveal morphological, genetic, and ecological differences between the new species and the widely distributed Monotropastrum humile. The second paper by Noda et al. investigates the salt tolerance mechanisms of Vigna riukiuensis and suggests the potential application of this system in developing salt-tolerant crops. Additionally, the Most-Cited Paper Award went to Singh et al. for their review on crop improvement using the plant-specific transcription factor NAC. These papers contribute to the understanding of plant diversity, adaptation, and potential solutions to global challenges. [Extracted from the article]

The family Thismiaceae, known as "fairy lanterns" for their urn- or bell-shaped flowers with basally fused tepals, consists of non-photosynthetic flowering monocots mainly in tropical regions, extending into subtropical and temperate areas. Here, we propose a new mycoheterotrophic genus, Relictithismia Suetsugu & Tagane (Thismiaceae), with its monotypic species Relictithismia kimotsukiensis Suetsugu, Yas.Nakam. & Tagane from Kimotsuki Mountains in the Osumi Peninsula, Kagoshima Prefecture, Kyushu Island, southern Japan. Relictithismia resembles Haplothismia Airy Shaw in having a cluster of tuberous roots, a feature previously observed only in this genus within the family Thismiaceae. However, it differs in having solitary flowers (vs. 2–6-flowered pseudo-raceme in Haplothismia), anther thecae largely separated (vs. connate), and the presence of an annulus (vs. absent). Additionally, Relictithismia differs from the geographically overlapping genus Thismia Griff. in its stamen structure and the position of the annulus. In Relictithismia, the stamens lack connectives, and its free filaments arise from the annulus located inside the perianth mouth, while in Thismia, the stamens typically have connate connectives, forming a staminal tube pendulous from the annulus located at the mouth of the floral tube. Our morphological and phylogenetic data indicated that R. kimotsukiensis holds an early-diverging position within the family, situated outside the Old World Thismia clade. This paper offers an extensive description and color photographs of R. kimotsukiensis, complemented by notes on its phylogenetic relationship and evolutionary history. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents the list of authors of papers that received certificates as well as a supplementary prize at the Annual Meetings of the Botanical Society of Japan that were held in September 2001 and 2002.

Highlights from the article: The Botanical Society of Japan honors excellence in publications of the I Journal of Plant Research i through the Best Paper Awards and the Most-Cited Paper Award every year. They form light-harvesting chlorophyll-binding protein complexes and their peak wavelength of the absorption spectra differs ca. 20 nm from each other. The authors addressed the question of why chlorophyll I b i is absent in the core complexes of photosystems but present only in light-harvesting complexes.

The article announces that authors Michitaka Notaguchi, Yasufumi Daimon, and Kosei Sone have received the Journal of Plant Research (JPR) Best Paper Award 2010.

For almost 50 years, tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum) BY-2 cells have been widely recognized as an important cell line for plant biology. The cell line grows rapidly, can be synchronized to a high degree, and is excellent for imaging; over the years, these features have led to many high-impact discoveries. However, certain other uses of this cell line are virtually unknown. In the early days, I was involved in distributing the cells to laboratories around the world. Many of these scientists wanted to study the cell cycle; however, I also distributed the cells to scientists who were elucidating the mechanism of plant transformation by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. In fact, BY-2 cells played an essential role in the identification and analysis of Vir genes on the Ti plasmid; likewise, the cells were important for discovering the factor that induces the expression of Vir genes. Thus, BY-2 cells were crucial for the development of modern plant biotechnology. Here, I recount the story of how this came to pass and explain why the use of BY-2 cells in this work was never recognized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article announces awards given to botanists including the "Journal of Plant Research" (JPR) Best Paper Award 2007 to Masahiro Hasegawa and colleagues at the Kyushu University, and Akitoshi Iwamoto and colleagues at Tokyo University, and the JPR Most-Cited Paper Award 2007 to Kouki Hikosaka.

Presents an update on the 2005 "Journal of Plant Research" Awards by the Botanical Society of Japan. Categories of the awards; Recipients of the awards.

The need for progress in satellite remote sensing of terrestrial ecosystems is intensifying under climate change. Further progress in Earth observations of photosynthetic activity and primary production from local to global scales is fundamental to the analysis of the current status and changes in the photosynthetic productivity of terrestrial ecosystems. In this paper, we review plant ecophysiological processes affecting optical properties of the forest canopy which can be measured with optical remote sensing by Earth-observation satellites. Spectral reflectance measured by optical remote sensing is utilized to estimate the temporal and spatial variations in the canopy structure and primary productivity. Optical information reflects the physical characteristics of the targeted vegetation; to use this information efficiently, mechanistic understanding of the basic consequences of plant ecophysiological and optical properties is essential over broad scales, from single leaf to canopy and landscape. In theory, canopy spectral reflectance is regulated by leaf optical properties (reflectance and transmittance spectra) and canopy structure (geometrical distributions of leaf area and angle). In a deciduous broadleaf forest, our measurements and modeling analysis of leaf-level characteristics showed that seasonal changes in chlorophyll content and mesophyll structure of deciduous tree species lead to a seasonal change in leaf optical properties. The canopy reflectance spectrum of the deciduous forest also changes with season. In particular, canopy reflectance in the green region showed a unique pattern in the early growing season: green reflectance increased rapidly after leaf emergence and decreased rapidly after canopy closure. Our model simulation showed that the seasonal change in the leaf optical properties and leaf area index caused this pattern. Based on this understanding we discuss how we can gain ecophysiological information from satellite images at the landscape level. Finally, we discuss the challenges and opportunities of ecophysiological remote sensing by satellites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although many fossil and molecular data suggest migrations from Malesia and Asia to Australia appear to dominate floristic exchange between Australian and Asian rainforests, evidence is emerging that demonstrate dispersal of plant groups from Australia to Asia. In this paper, a new species Agathis ledongensis sp. nov. is described on the basis of silicified wood from the late Oligocene–early Miocene of the Qiutangling Formation in Ledong, Hainan Island, South China. It is the first fossil record of Agathis in the Northern Hemisphere, and the only known fossil evidence of its dispersal outside of Gondwana. The close affinity of the fossil wood from Ledong with the genus Agathis was confirmed by comparing quantitative traits in 31 wood samples of 20 species representing all three extant genera of the Araucariaceae. The percentage of tracheids with uniseriate pitting on radial walls is shown as an additional diagnostic trait for separating Agathis and Wollemia from Araucaria. The wood of Agathis ledongensis provides evidence for the dispersal of this important plant group from Australia, or another Gondwanan terrane, to eastern Asia based on reliable fossil data. It records the occurrence of this genus in Hainan Island by the early Miocene, i.e. at the beginning of the formation of the island chains between Australia and the South-East Asia and thus the provision of a land migration route. As the land routes between these continents were restricted at that time, the migration of Agathis to Malesia and Asia was presumably facilitated by long-distance dispersal of its winged seeds by wind. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on several awards and changes at the "Journal of Plant Research, including the awarding of the JPR Best Paper Award 2008 to Dr. Mari Murai-Hatano and Dr. Tsuneo Kuwagata, appointment of Dr. Hirokazu Tsukaya as editor-in-chief of the periodical beginning January 2009, and a narrative from the outgoing editor.

Unicellular green algae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii are known to make hydrogen photoproduction under the anaerobic condition with water molecules as the hydrogen source. Since the hydrogen photoproduction occurs for a cell to circumvent crisis of its survival, it is only temporary. It is a challenge to realize persistent hydrogen production because the cells must withstand stressful conditions to survive with alternation of generations in the cell culture. In this paper, we have found a simple and cost-effective method to sustain the hydrogen production over 14 days in the original culture, without supply of fresh cells nor exchange of the culture medium. This is achieved for the cells under hydrogen production in a sulfur-deprived culture solution on the {anaerobic, intense light} condition in a desiccator, by periodically providing a short period of the recovery time (2 h) with a small amount of TAP(+S) supplied outside of the desiccator. As this operation is repeated, the response time of transition into hydrogen production (preparation time) is shortened and the rate of hydrogen production (build up time) is increased. The optimum states of these properties favorable to the hydrogen production are attained in a few days and stably sustained for more than 10 days. Since generations are alternated during this consecutive hydrogen production experiment, it is suggested that the improved hydrogen production properties are inherited to next generations without genetic mutation. The properties are reset only when the cells are placed on the {sulfur-sufficient, aerobic, moderate light} conditions for a long time (more than 1 day at least). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]