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Most woodland ferns thrive under conditions of high air humidity, frequent precipitation and exposure to extended periods of leaf wetness, but it is not known how widespread foliar water uptake is in this plant group. In a tracer experiment with deuterated water (HO) applied to the leaf surface of five temperate woodland ferns ( Athyrium filix- femina, Dryopteris filix- mas, Polystichum aculeatum, Polystichum braunii and Asplenium scolopendrium), we tested (1) whether these species exhibit foliar water uptake and (2) whether the capability to absorb water through the leaf epidermis increases with the frequency of epidermal trichomes. All species had significantly higher abundances of H in tissue water, when extracted distant to the place of application, compared to the background level (0.052-0.504 vs. 0.015 at.%), evidencing uptake through the epidermis and leaf-internal translocation. A positive relation between trichome density and H incorporation was found only for the second-order pinnae but not for the more central frond sections. The results suggest that foliar water uptake may be widespread among temperate woodland ferns across different families and that leaf trichome structure probably influences this process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ferns reproduce through small and usually haploid spores. The general paradigm states that whereas species produce good shaped spores, hybrids are sterile and form aborted spores. Apomictic fern species represent an unusual case, and it is believed that they produce an unbalanced spore spectrum. Until now, no comprehensive comparison of sexual and apomictic taxa using extensive spore fitness data has been published. Based on a representative data set of 109 plants from 23 fern taxa, we accomplished the first robust analysis of spore fitness using spore abortion index (SAI), the ratio of aborted to all examined spores. One thousand spores were analyzed for each plant. Focusing mainly on two major European fern taxa ( Asplenium, Dryopteris), we compared this trait for different fern reproductive types (sexual/apomicts/hybrids) and ploidy levels (diploid versus polyploid). Our results confirmed the general assumption that shows higher SAI for apomictic taxa (18%) when compared to sexual taxa (3%). Furthermore, hybrids are characterized by having almost all spores aborted (99.8%) with the notable exception of pentaploid Dryopteris × critica (93.1%), the hybrid between sexual and apomictic taxa. We found no significant difference in SAI between sexual taxa of various ploidy levels or between sexual taxa of genera Dryopteris and Asplenium. Additionally, we carried out an optimization of the SAI method, outlying important guidelines for the use of this method in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the identification and isolation of phloroglucinol derivatives from dryopteris crassirhizoma using high performance liquid chromatography coupled with linear ion trap-orbitrap mass spectrometry (HPLC-LTQ)-orbitrap mass spectrometry. Topics discussed include the antioxidant and anticancer activities of dryopteris crassirhizoma, the structures of the derivatives of phloroglucinol, and the potential compositions of dryopteris crassirhizoma for its antileukemic activity.

In the present study, antibacterial activity of four kinds of phloroglucinol derivatives extracted from Dryopteris fragrans (L.) Schott against S. aureus, S. epidermidis and P. acnes has been tested. Aspidin BB exerted the strongest antibacterial activity with minimal inhibition concentration (MIC) values ranging from 7.81 to 15.63 μg/mL. The time-kill assay indicated that aspidin BB could kill P. acnes completely at 2 MIC (MBC) within 4 h. By using AFM, we demonstrated extensive cell surface alterations of aspidin BB-treated P. acnes. SDS-PAGE of supernatant proteins and lipid peroxidation results showed that aspidin BB dose-dependently affected membrane permeability of P. acnes. DNA damage and protein degradation of P. acnes were also verified. SDS-PAGE of precipitated proteins revealed possible targets of aspidin BB, i.e., heat shock proteins (26 kDa) and lipase (33 kDa) which could all cause inflammation. Aspidin BB also seriously increased the inhibition rate of lipase activity from 10.20 to 65.20 % to possibly inhibit the inflammation. In conclusions, the effective constituents of D. fragrans (L.) Schott to treat acne might be phloroglucinol derivatives including aspidin BB, aspidin PB, aspidinol and dryofragin. Among this, aspidin BB inhibited the growth of P. acnes by disrupting their membrane, DNA and proteins and finally leaded to the cell death. The obtained data highlighted the potential of using aspidin BB as an alternative treatment for acne vulgaris. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dryopteris huberi is a neglected species endemic to the northern and central parts of Brazil. In this paper we describe, illustrate, and distinguish it from D. patula, the most similar species, as well as from D. wallichiana, the only other species of the genus in Brazil. Second-step lectotypifications are provided for D. huberi and D. wallichiana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apogamous fern species are often difficult to distinguish from related species because of their continuous morphological variations. To clarify the genetic relationships among the members of the Dryopteris varia complex, we analyzed the nucleotide sequences of the plastid gene rbcL and the nuclear gene PgiC. We also analyzed the diploid sexual species D. caudipinna and D. chinensis, which have not been included in the complex, but were recently shown to be closely related to the complex in a molecular phylogenetic study. The PgiC sequences of the diploid sexual species, D. varia, D. saxifraga, D. sp. 'protobissetiana' (undescribed diploid sexual species), D. caudipinna, and D. chinensis, were well differentiated and hence designated A, B, C, D, and E, respectively. Thus, the PgiC constitution of apogamous species in the complex was as follows: D. bissetiana, B + C; D. kobayashii, B + C + E); D. pacifica, A + C, A + B + C, or A + C + D; D. sacrosancta, A + C + E; and D. saxifragivaria, B + C. These results suggest that these apogamous species are formed by hybridizations of species including not only the three diploid sexual species of the D. varia complex (A, B, and C) but also the two diploid sexual species D. caudipinna (D) and D. chinensis (E), which do not belong to the complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spore morphology of the Korean members of the genus Dryopteris was examined by scanning electron microscopy. In particular, spores of D. hangchowensis, D. woodsiisora, D. saxifragivaria, and D. subexaltata were examined here for the first time. Three perispore types were recognized on the basis of the shape of macro-ornamentations on perispore: these include rugate, echinate, and spinose. The rugate perispore type appeared to be the most common in the genus, and probably represents plesiomorphic condition in the genus Dryopteris. The echinate perispore type is found in D. expansa, and spinose perispore type in D. formosana. The results of this study demonstrate that the perispore characteristics, particularly the shape of macro-ornamentation and surface texture, have diagnostic value at the species level. Indeed, most of the Dryopteris taxa in Korea could be distinguished by their perispore characters. In addition, spores of sexual diploid individuals of D. saxifraga were much smaller than those of agamosporous triploid individuals, supporting the contention that the size of spores in ferns is generally related to ploidy levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to assess the anthelmintic property of plant-derived polyphenolic compounds extracted and isolated from Dryopteris crassirhizoma against Dactylogyrus intermedius in goldfish. The active ethyl acetate extract was loaded on an open silica gel column and eluted with chloroform–methanol. According to 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C-NMR, and mass spectral data, the structures of three purified compounds were identified as protocatechuic acid, sutchuenoside A, and kaempferitrin. Among these compounds, sutchuenoside A and kaempferitrin were observed to be effective with median effective concentration (EC 50) of 3.01 and 2.71 mg L −1, respectively. The alterations in the tegument of the parasites treated with isolated compound were examined using scanning electron microscopes. Ultrastructural micrographs revealed shrinkage of body surface, dense tegumental folds, and disheveled protuberances. The structural deformities in the treated parasites were indicative of an efficient anthelmintic activity of the isolated compound kaempferitrin. In addition, the 48-h median lethal concentration for sutchuenoside A and kaempferitrin against goldfish were 12.03- and 11.98-fold higher than corresponding EC 50. The present results showed that ethyl acetate extract of D. crassirhizoma may be considered as a potent source, and sutchuenoside A and kaempferitrin as new natural parasitic agents against D. intermedius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to assess the anthelmintic property of plant-derived polyphenolic compounds extracted and isolated from Dryopteris crassirhizoma against Dactylogyrus intermedius in goldfish. The active ethyl acetate extract was loaded on an open silica gel column and eluted with chloroform–methanol. According to 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C-NMR, and mass spectral data, the structures of three purified compounds were identified as protocatechuic acid, sutchuenoside A, and kaempferitrin. Among these compounds, sutchuenoside A and kaempferitrin were observed to be effective with median effective concentration (EC 50) of 3.01 and 2.71 mg L −1, respectively. The alterations in the tegument of the parasites treated with isolated compound were examined using scanning electron microscopes. Ultrastructural micrographs revealed shrinkage of body surface, dense tegumental folds, and disheveled protuberances. The structural deformities in the treated parasites were indicative of an efficient anthelmintic activity of the isolated compound kaempferitrin. In addition, the 48-h median lethal concentration for sutchuenoside A and kaempferitrin against goldfish were 12.03- and 11.98-fold higher than corresponding EC 50. The present results showed that ethyl acetate extract of D. crassirhizoma may be considered as a potent source, and sutchuenoside A and kaempferitrin as new natural parasitic agents against D. intermedius. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dryopteris shibipedis was once treated as an extinct species in the Red List (2007) by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, but 'rediscovered' in the Tsukuba Botanical Garden. To clarify its origin, using 'overlooked' cultivated stocks we analyzed nuclear PgiC intron sequences. As the PgiC genotype of D. shibipedis can be explained by a combination of alleles of D. kinkiensis and those of D. pacifica, the hypothesis of hybrid origin of the species is supported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to find natural agents against Dactylogyrus intermedius in goldfish, petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, acetone, and methanol extracts of three medicinal plants ( Dryopteris crassirhizoma, Kochia scoparia, and Polygala tenuifolia) were screened for antiparasitic properties using in vivo anthelmintic efficacy assay. Among these extracts investigated, methanolic extract of D. crassirhizoma was observed the most effective with EC value of 22.97 mg L after 48 h of exposure, which exhibited a 100% efficacy against D. intermedius at 60.00 mg L, followed by the methanolic extracts of K. scoparia and P. tenuifolia with EC values of 31.28 and 154.79 mg L, showing 100% efficacy against D. intermedius at 60.00 and 500.00 mg L, respectively. In addition, acute toxicity assay indicated that 48-h LC values of methanolic extracts of D. crassirhizoma, K. scoparia, and P. tenuifolia were 4.10-, 2.27-, and 5.00-fold higher than the corresponding EC. The obtained results demonstrated that methanolic extracts of D. crassirhizoma, K. scoparia, and P. tenuifolia have the potential for the development of novel therapy for the control of D. intermedius in aquaculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dryopteris gemmifera, a new endemic species of Dryopteridaceae from Hainan Island, is described and illustrated. The new species is characterized by its 2-pinnatifid fronds, costae sparsely covered with narrow and flat scales, and especially by the presence of proliferous buds on the distal part of the rachis. The affinity between Dryopteris gemmifera and related species, D. fuscipes and D. guangxiensis, as well as the systematic position of this new species, is briefly discussed. An identification key to all eleven species of Dryopteris from Hainan Island is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sporophytes induction from spore-derived gametophytes and the morphogenic potential of homogenised sporophytes were performed in several ferns: Adiantum capillus-veneris, Asplenium adiantum-nigrum, Ceterach officinarum, Davallia canariensis, Dicksonia antarctica, Dryopteris dilatata, Dryopteris filix-mas, and Polypodium cambricum. The influence of growth rate, the formation of sexual organs, and the homogenisation of the gametophyte on sporophyte formation were studied. Gametophytic growth and sporophyte development were not antagonistic events and no correlation was found between the proportion of sexual phenotypes and rate of sporophyte formation. A pre-treatment of the rhizome with BAP exhibited swelling and upon transferral to Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium developed numerous fronds. Homogenised sporophytes of A. capillus-veneris, D. canariensis, and P. cambricum cultured on MS basal medium regenerated sporophytes while on MS with 4.4 μM BAP favoured formation of aposporous gametophytes and/or dedifferentiated cellular aggregates. In A. adiantum-nigrum, BAP induced either aposporous gametophytes or sporophytes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract  The rhizomes of Dryopteris species have popularly been used as vermifuge in flatworm infections. The aim of this work was to evaluate the in vitro schistosomicidal activity of some phloroglucinol compounds, obtained from the rhizomes of Dryopteris species, against Schistosoma mansoni adult worms. All worm pairs were dead after 24 h of incubation with aspidin 25 to 100 μM (1), flavaspidic acid 50 and 100 μM (2), methylene-bis-aspidinol 100 μM (3), and desaspidin 25 to 100 μM (4). Worms incubated with 1 (25 to 100 μM) and 2 (50 to 100 μM) showed decrease motor activity with tegumental alterations, while 3 (100 μM) and 4 (10 to 100 μM) showed decrease motor activity without tegumental alterations. Desaspidinol (5) and filicinic acid (6), at the tested concentrations (10 to 100 μM), did not show activity against adult worms of S. mansoni. Praziquantel (10 μM), used as positive control, caused death of the parasites and tegumental alterations without separation of worms. In the groups treated with 100 µM of compounds 1–4, the viability of the adult worms was similar to the positive control group, in which the worms were dead. Also, both the egg productions and the development of eggs produced by the adult worms were inhibited by the incubation with compounds 1–4 (10 and 100 μM) in comparison with the negative control (RPMI 1640 medium). It is suggested that the in vitro schistosomicidal effects of phloroglucinols derivatives 1, 2, 3, and 4 may be related to the inhibition of oxidative phosphorylation pathway in S. mansoni. The present results confirmed the traditional indications of rhizomes from Dryopteris species, which possess phloroglucinol compounds, in the treatment of tapeworm infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We were interested in whether the contrasting regional distribution patterns of three congeneric, frequently co-occurring fern species ( Dryopteris carthusiana, D. dilatata and D. expansa) could be explained by differential biomass allocation strategies and different phenotypic plasticities to light availability. The morphology and habitat preference of these ferns are known to be very similar, but in Estonia, their frequencies of occurrence differ sharply–– Dryopteris carthusiana is common, D. expansa grows in scattered localities, and D. dilatata is rare. We grew the species under different levels of illumination (100, 50, 25 and 10% of full daylight) in an experimental garden to compare their autecological responses to shading. After one growing season there were clear interspecific differences in total plant biomass accumulation–– D. carthusiana > D. expansa > D. dilatata––indicating the possible competitive inferiority of the latter at the young sporophyte stage. D. expansa was the least shade-tolerant, with biomass decreasing sharply under less than 50% illumination; D. dilatata was the most shade-tolerant, with similar growth at all illumination levels. In relative biomass allocation patterns, the most notable differences among species were in the relative shares of biomass stored in rhizomes. In D. carthusiana and D. expansa this share was nearly constant and independent of the illumination conditions. D. dilatata allocated very little biomass into rhizome in deep shade, but was able to increase this share more than twofold in 50% light. Dryopteris dilatata was clearly shown to be morphologically the most plastic of the three. In four traits––rhizome mass, frond:below-ground biomass ratio, stipe length and specific leaf area––its degree of ontogenetic plasticity to light was significantly higher than that of D. expansa and D. carthusiana. While the general performance (biomass production) of species in the experiment coincided with that observed in nature, the results of plasticity estimation were somewhat surprising––it is difficult to explain the inferior performance of a species ( D. dilatata) through high morphological plasticity. Probably, the species is rare either because of certain climatic restrictions, or because it is presently expanding its distribution and is in the phase of invading Estonian understory communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dryopteris is one of the largest and most taxonomically complex fern genera in the Dryopteridaceae, with 127 species occurring throughout temperate, sub-temperate, subtropical, and tropical China. Investigations of the evolutionary relationships of a subset of these Chinese Dryopteris species, using DNA sequence-based methods, specifically tested the monophyly of the genus and the validity of the previous subgeneric classifications. Sixty species of Dryopteris, four closely related non- Dryopteris and three species of Arachniodes, were used as outgroup taxa. The rps4-trnS region of the chloroplast genome was sequenced in these species for the first time. Both maximum parsimony (MP) and neighbor-joining (NJ) analyses identified six polyphyletic clades that contained Dryopteris species. These results were supported by a Bayesian analysis of the same data set. The phylogenetic patterns strongly suggest the polyphyletic status of Dryopteris; the monophyletic groupings of the species do not correspond with either Fraser-Jenkins [In: Bull Brit Mus (Nat Hist) Bot 14(3):183–218, } or Wu (In: Flora Reipublica Popularis Sinicae Tomus 5 (1) pp 1–241, ] subgeneric classification of Dryopteris, except in a few specific cases. This work represents the first molecular systematic analyses of Chinese Dryopteris, and we propose the next steps necessary to recognize new subgenera of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dryopteris varia complex is highly variable in morphology, resulting in taxonomic confusion in delimiting taxon boundaries and determining relationships. We have examined the variation in morphology, chromosome number and mode of reproduction of the Korean members of the D. varia complex to clarify their taxonomic identities. Landmark analysis of the leaf blades and pinnae and the principal components analysis of 31 morphological characters revealed seven entities within the D. varia complex in Korea; these comprise D. varia s. str., D. pacifica, D. sacrosancta, D. bissetiana, D. saxifraga, D. saxifragivaria, and the Suak population which is considered to be a new taxon. Mitotic chromosome counts and examination of reproduction modes indicated that D. bissetiana in Korea appears to be agamosporous with diploid (2 n = 82) or triploid (2 n = 123) chromosome numbers. However, D. saxifraga is sexual diploid or agamosporous triploid, and the other taxa are agamosporous triploid. Dryopteris bissetiana, D. saxifraga and D. saxifragivaria are similar in major morphological characteristics, but show differences in attachment and shape of rachis scales. The results also suggest that agamosporous triploid D. saxifragivaria was probably derived from hybridization between sexual diploid D. saxifraga and D. bissetiana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reconstruction of recent historical population sizes allowed us to investigate the influence of random evolutionary processes on present-day genetic diversity in populations of Dryopteris cristata. This long-lived, allotetraploid fern is rare and endangered in the study area at the southwestern border of its European distribution. Random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) diversity of 280 individuals from 14 populations of D. cristata was extraordinarily low, suggesting an ancient bottleneck in the species’ history. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) of 25 different RAPD multiband phenotypes revealed significant genetic variation among three geographical regions (15%) and among populations within regions (34%); 51% of total variance was attributed to variation within populations. High population differentiation indicated limited gene flow among populations, and genetic divergence was not correlated with geographical distance. There was no relationship between genetic variation within population, estimated as molecular variance, and present-day population size. Populations with recent historical bottlenecks of fewer than 25 individuals showed a substantial and significant reduction in genetic variation, compared with populations without bottlenecks. Comparatively high levels of genetic variation were still maintained in small remnants (60–110 individuals) of formerly large populations. Average deviations of frequencies of widespread polymorphic markers within populations from their frequencies in the whole dataset were significantly higher in small or recently bottlenecked populations than in constantly large populations, thus providing evidence for random sampling effects during genetic bottlenecks and drift in small populations. The present investigation demonstrates the importance of population history for understanding present-day genetic diversity within natural populations, as well as for conservation biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Germination of Dryopteris spores is mediated by the physiologically active, far-red-absorbing form of phytochrome, Pfr, and external Ca is necessary for the transduction of the light signal. Because knowledge about the cytoplasmic calcium ion concentration, [Ca], is of great importance for understanding the role of calcium during signal transduction, this value was measured using fura-2 in fern spores undergoing the normal developmental progression into germination. Fura-2 was loaded into the spores by electroporation, which does not disrupt the normal process of germination. The intensity of the fluorescence emission of the loaded fura-2 was analysed by a microspectrophotometric assay of single spores, and successful loading could be obtained by the application of ten electrical pulses (field strength 7.5 kV · cm, half-life (time constant) 230 μs). Fura-2 was alternately excited by light of wavelengths 355 and 385 nm through an inverted fluorescence microscope, and the emitted fura-2 fluorescence was collected by a silicon-intensified video camera. The cytoplasmic calcium ion concentration was calculated from the ratio of the camera output obtained for both wavelengths and displayed by a pseudo-color technique. Spores responded to changes of the extracellular Ca concentration, and this observation is considered as evidence that fura-2 is loaded into the cytoplasm. The substitution of a low external [Ca] (1 mM ethyleneglycol-bis(2-aminoethyl-ether) {ie166-01},N′-tetraacetic acid (EGTA)) by 1 mM CaCl caused a fast increase of [Ca] from approx. 50 nM to above 500 nM. In contrast, the subsequent substitution of CaCl by EGTA decreased [Ca] again below 100 nM within 0.5 h. Furthermore, the application of ionomycin could initiate a change in [Ca2+] according to the Ca gradient established between the extracellular medium and cytoplasm. In spores sown on a Ca-free medium, [Ca], analysed in a buffer containing EGTA, was found to be around 50 nM during the first days of cultivation, independent of the irradiation protocol. However, if spores were grown in darkness on a Ca-containing medium and analysed in EGTA, [Ca] was significantly higher (≧ 500 nM). In red-light-irradiated spores, [Ca] was found to decrease with increasing time after irradiation, and was determined to be less than 100 nM when analysis was done 44 h after germination was initiated by the light treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochrome-mediated germination of fern spores of Dryopteris paleacea Sw. was initiated by a saturating red-light (R) irradiation after 20 h of imbibition. For its realization external Ca was required, with a threshold at a submicromolar concentration, and an optimum was reached around 10 M. At concentrations ≥10 M only a reduced response was obtained, based probably on an unspecific osmotic or ionic effect. The germination response was inhibited by La, an antagonist of Ca. From these results it is concluded that Ca influx from the medium into the spores may be an important event in phytochrome-mediated germination. In the absence of Ca the R-stimulated system remained capable of responding to Ca, added as late as 40 h after R. Moreover, Ca was effective even if added after the active form of phytochrome, Pfr, had been abolished by far-red (FR) 24 h after R. Thus, the primary effect of Pfr, that initiates the transduction chain, does not require calcium. 'Coupling' of Pfr to subsequent dark reactions has been investigated by R-FR irradiations with various dark intervals. The resulting 'escape kinetics' were characterized by a lag phase (6 h) and half-maximal escape from FR reversibility (19 h). These kinetics were not significantly changed by the presence or absence of calcium. Thus, direct interaction of Pfr and calcium is not a step in the transduction chain initiated by the active form of photochrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spores of the ferns, Dryopteris filix-mas, D. paleacea and Polystichum minutum, sown on plain agar in quartz-distilled water, required several hours of red light in order to germinate. When, however, water agar was replaced by agar made up with a mineral nutrition medium, a single pulse of red light (about 1 min) was able fully to induce germination. Under these conditions spores became light-sensitive a few minutes after sowing. Thus, zero germination in dark controls was obtained only when all light was excluded immediately after sowing or when saturating far-red was given thereafter. The effect of the mineral medium was also obtained using low ion concentrations with an osmolality of less than 100 μmol l. Thus, a specific ion effect appears more probable than an unspecific osmotic effect. Species differences in light sensitivity and in dark-germination levels, as reported in the literature, might partly be the consequence of different culture media and of light acting at a very early stage after sowing, which hitherto was assumed to be still insensitive to light. On water agar as well as on mineral agar, the inducing effect of a single red pulse could be increased by the appropriate pretreatment, i.e. by preirradiation with red light for several hours, followed by a saturating pulse of far-red, the latter abolishing the direct inducing effect of the red preirradiation. The nature of both the ion-phytochrome interaction and the phytochrome-phytochrome interaction has not yet been analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the calcium requirement of phytochrome-mediated fern spore germination and early rhizoid growth is well established, the calcium-binding proteins that serve as transducers for these responses are not known. Here we report the presence of annexin-like proteins in germinating spores of Dryopteris filix-mas (L.) Schott and Anemia phyllitidis (L.) Sw. and evidence that they may be important participants in early photomorphogenic changes in gametophytes. Immunolocalization and immunoblot assays of these proteins were carried out using polyclonal antibodies raised either against a 35-kDa annexin-like protein from pea or against anchorin CII from chicken. Western-blot analysis showed that crude protein extracts obtained from both species after red-light treatment contained two cross-reactive protein bands with molecular weights around 70 kDa. These proteins were annexin-like in that they bound to a phosphatidylserine affinity column in a calcium-dependent fashion. Using this column, two protein bands around 70 kDa, i.e. 67 and 73 kDa, were partially purified together with proteins at 36 kDa and a doublet at 54 kDa. Proteins of these latter molecular weights are suggested to be members of the annexin family, but no cross-reactivity could be found between these and the two antibodies used in our investigations. Immunodetectable levels of these proteins were observed only after light-mediated induction of spore germination. Imaging of the immuno-localization patterns observed with both antibodies showed that the annexin-like proteins are concentrated at the extreme tips of the rhizoids in D. filix-mas and A. phyllitidis during rhizoid initiation and all stages of elongation. We suggest that these proteins may play a major role in the tip-oriented exocytosis events that are critical for the initiation and growth of fern rhizoids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The archegonial mucilage of Athyrium filix-femina and A. distentifolium paralyses spermatozoids of Dryopteris filix-mas (and in one case D. inaequalis) before they penetrate the archegonial venter. The archegonial mucilage of Dryopteris filix-mas has a weak positive chemotactic influence on the spermatozoids of the two Athyrium species. The spermatozoids of Dryopteris were never observed in the archegonia of Athyrium. Incompatibility was not observed within and between the two Athyrium species, within Dryopteris filix-mas or between Athyrium filix-femina and two Asplenium species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The leaf indument of a number of North American, Macaronesian and European Dryopteris taxa is described. Trichome characters provide very useful taxonomical data for the study of species complexes and for tracing relationships among geographically isolated or separated taxa. The new combination, D. expansa var. alpina, is made. The present study sustains best the Wagner ' D. semicristata' relationship scheme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Segregation of genotypes through homoeologous chromosome pairing in the apogamous species Dryopteris nipponensis was tested by electrophoretic analysis. Of 284 progeny examined (250 gametophytes and 34 sporophytes), from the parental sporophyte with the Pgi-2 genotype abc, five showed different genotypes from that of the parent (three aac, one bbc and one bcc). This is the first evidence for genetic segregation in the progeny of apogamous fern species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article lists nomenclatural novelties and typifications appearing in the 2015 issue of the journal "Brittonia."