Search

Corydalis miaotaiensis (Papaveraceae), a new species from the Qinling‐Daba mountains region, central China, is described. It is similar to Corydalis ternatifolia C.Y. Wu, Z.Y. Su & Lidén, but differs from the latter in the crested (versus ecristate) outer petals, unbranched, suberect to erect (versus branched, ascending) stems, bipinnate (versus biternate) rosette leaves, and in the presence (versus absence) of axillary bulbils, long stolons, and long shoots. Corydalismiaotaiensis exhibits a notable growth pattern, initially suberect to erect but gradually transitioning to wholly decumbent with its developed stolons and long shoots, rendering it distinctive within the genus Corydalis. This underscores the need to consider growth habit when describing Corydalis species. An identification key to C. miaotaiensis and related species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs) are a class of secondary metabolites that possess diverse pharmaceutical properties and are exclusively accumulated in specific plant genera. The Pictet–Spengler condensation, catalyzed by norcoclaurine synthase (NCS), represents a key enzymatic reaction in the biosynthetic pathway of BIAs. While NCS genes have been identified in several plant families such as Papaveraceae, Berberidaceae, and Ranunculaceae, no NCS genes have been reported in Menispermaceae, which is another genus known to accumulate BIAs. Here, NCSs were isolated and functionally characterized from the Menispermaceae family plant Stephania tetrandra. In vitro enzyme assay identified two functional StNCSs which could catalyze the formation of (S)‐norcoclaurine. These functionally characterized genes were then integrated into engineered yeast to enable the production of norcoclaurine. Phylogenetic analysis of the NCS enzymes revealed that the StNCSs predominantly clustered into two clades. The functional StNCSs clustered with known NCSs, highlighting the presence of a specific NCS catalytic domain. This study not only provides additional genetic components for the synthetic biology‐based production of BIAs in yeast but also contributes to the understanding of the phylogenetic relationships and structure–function relationship of NCS genes involved in the origin and production of BIAs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Papaveraceae, commonly known as the poppy family, contains many species with horticultural and/or pharmaceutical importance and has been the subject of various molecular studies. However, a widely accepted tribal classification for Papaveraceae remains lacking. In this study, we used a sampling covering all 48 of the currently recognized genera of Papaveraceae. Our study is to employ broad morphological data in combination with sequence data from two nuclear and seven plastid DNA regions to reconstruct phylogenetic relationships within the family. Our analyses indicate that Pteridophylloideae is sister to the clade containing Hypecooideae and Fumarioideae, and these three lineages are in turn sister to Papaveroideae. The alternative topologies constraining Pteridophylloideae as sister to the other poppy species, to Papaveroideae or to Hypecooideae, as recovered in previous studies, are all rejected. Fumarioideae contains nine main clades, and Fumarieae is nested in traditional Corydaleae. Within Papaveroideae, three main clades are recovered and Platystemoneae is embedded within traditional Papavereae. Both topologies constraining traditional Corydaleae or Papavereae as monophyletic are significantly rejected. Within this phylogenetic framework, the evolution of selected characters is inferred and diagnostic morphological characters at different taxonomic levels are identified and discussed. Based on morphological and molecular evidence, a new tribal classification of Papaveraceae is presented, in which 4 subfamilies, 14 tribes (including 7 newly described tribes), and 43 genera are recognized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Meconopsis biluoensis, a new species of Papaveraceae in an alpine meadow from Yunnan, Southwest China, is described and illustrated. Morphologically, it resembles Meconopsis georgei, while it is distinct in acaulescent and hispid with clearly expanded bases on the leaves. A genus‐level molecular phylogenetic analysis supported the closest relationship between M. biluoensis and M. georgei. In a finer population‐level molecular phylogenetic analysis using ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and the chloroplast genome, individuals from M. biluoensis and M. georgei were clearly separated, and the extremely short branch length indicated that the two species had a very short differentiation time. The species has currently been assessed as "endangered" (EN) due to its small‐sized population and narrow distribution following the IUCN categories and criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Papaveraceae, Corydalis sunhangii, in the section Trachycarpae, is described and illustrated from Nyingchi City, Xizang, China. The new species has some resemblance to Corydalis kingdonis, but differs by radical leaves prominent, usually several, blade tripinnate (vs. insignificant, few, blade bi‐ to triternate); cauline leaf usually one, much smaller than radical leaves, usually situated in lower half of stem (vs. usually two, larger than radical leaves, concentrated in upper third of stem); racemes densely 13–35‐flowered (vs. rather lax, 4–11‐flowered); claw of lower petal shallowly saccate (vs. very prominently and deeply saccate); capsule oblong, with raised lines of dense papillae (vs. broadly obovoid, smooth). Phylogenetic analysis, based on 68 protein‐coding plastid genes of 49 samples, shows that C. sunhangii is not closely related to any hitherto described species, which is consistent with our morphological analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas) is the most damaging broadleaf weed in France. Massively parallel amplicon sequencing was used to investigate the prevalence, mode of evolution and spread of resistance‐endowing ALS alleles in 422 populations randomly sampled throughout poppy's range in France. Bioassays were used to detect resistance to the synthetic auxin 2,4‐D in 43 of these populations. RESULTS: A total of 21 100 plants were analysed and 24 mutant ALS alleles carrying an amino‐acid substitution involved or potentially involved in resistance were identified. The vast majority (97.6%) of the substitutions occurred at codon Pro197, where all six possible single‐nucleotide non‐synonymous substitutions plus four double‐nucleotide substitutions were identified. Changes observed in the enzymatic properties of the mutant ALS isoforms could not explain the differences in prevalence among the corresponding alleles. Sequence read analysis showed that mutant ALS alleles had multiple, independent evolutionary origins, and could have evolved several times independently within an area of a few kilometres. Finally, 2,4‐D resistance was associated with mutant ALS alleles in individual plants in one third of the populations assayed. CONCLUSION: The intricate geographical mosaic of mutant ALS alleles observed is the likely result of the combination of huge population sizes, multiple independent mutation events and human‐mediated spread of resistance. Our work highlights the ability of poppy populations and individual plants to accumulate different ALS alleles and as yet unknown mechanisms conferring resistance to synthetic auxins. This does not bode well for the continued use of chemical herbicides to control poppy. © 2023 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Entyloma includes pathogenic and saprobic species that infect or colonize dicotyledonous host plants. Although most Entyloma species are known only from native areas of occurrence, some species were introduced with their host plants and spread outside their natural areas. The identification of introduced species is important for detection and management of invasive species. In this study, the morphology, phylogeny and species boundaries of Entyloma eschscholziae, recently introduced from North America to Europe, are revisited. Morphology was similar among the type and other specimens of E. eschscholziae analysed on Eschscholzia californica. Both asexual and sexual morphs were observed. The rDNA ITS1‐5.8S‐ITS2 sequences of the E. eschscholziae specimens from Europe and New Zealand and the environmental sequence obtained from grassland soil in California, United States, were identical. Morphological and molecular analyses confirm that the causative agents of white smut on E. californica in native (North America) and introduced (Europe, New Zealand) areas belong to the same species. DNA barcodes obtained in this study (especially ITS sequence from the designated epitype specimen) could be used to facilitate its molecular identification. Specimens on Dendromecon rigida, previously assigned to E. eschscholziae, are morphologically distinct. An attempt to obtain DNA barcode data from degraded holotype material was not successful and no more recent material is available. However, based on the morphological differences and high host specificity found in Entyloma spp., it is appropriate to describe a new species, Entyloma dendromeconis, for this smut pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current climate change leads to an increase in the frequency and intensity of droughts and to a decreased precipitation predictability. The few studies investigating plant evolutionary responses to contrasting predictability regimes showed that intrinsic precipitation predictability shapes plant phenotypic variation, drives evolution of phenotypic plasticity and can vary in strength and direction of selection. This suggests that the selection pressure induced by decreased precipitation predictability may lead to plants coping better with severe drought events.To investigate whether past precipitation predictability influences plant responses to different drought conditions, we performed a common‐garden experiment applying control, short‐term and long‐term drought treatments on seedlings of Papaver rhoeas (Papaveraceae) whose progenitors experienced less versus more precipitation predictability treatments for three consecutive generations. In addition, to assess whether competition modulates plant responses, half of the plants were grown together with the widespread herbaceous plant Galium album (Rubiaceae).In the presence of long drought episodes, plants whose progenitors experienced less predictable precipitation survived longer than those whose progenitors experienced more predictable precipitation. Furthermore, plants whose progenitors experienced less predictable precipitation had lower biomass, which is likely to reduce water loss via transpiration, and, across all drought treatments, they showed lower root investment. However, no trait differences were detected under competition, indicating that interspecific competition may limit the expression of evolutionary responses to changes induced by precipitation predictability.Altogether our results indicate that lower precipitation predictability mainly promotes the evolution of drought‐escape and drought‐avoidance strategies. Overall, our experiment highlights that precipitation predictability is an important evolutionary driver of plant functional responses, potentially shifting evolutionary trajectories of plants under increasing intensity of drought events. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some snail species pose a serious threat for human health, economy, and the environment due to their widespread distribution and the transmission of dangerous parasites causing, among others, schistosomiasis and fascioliasis. Scientists from around the world have been studying the effects of plant extracts on snails for many years in order to find an alternative to molluscicides of synthetic origin. The main purpose of this study was to collect the results obtained so far on the effect of plant alkaloids on snails in the context of their molluscicidal properties. This work presents the results of publications on the effect of plant alkaloids on snails, which were published in the years 1974–2021. The Solanaceae, Papaveraceae, and Asteraceae are the plant families most frequently cited for containing alkaloids with molluscicidal activity. The alkaloids identified as molluscicidal belonged to various groups, of which the most numerous were pseudoalkaloids and tyrosine‐derived alkaloids. Most of the tested alkaloids were characterized by a high mortality rate among the studied groups of snails. Based on the collected research results, it was found that plant alkaloids can be extremely useful in the fight against problematic species of snails and cause much lower harm to the environment than synthetic molluscicides. The main purpose of this study was to collect results obtained so far on the effect of plant alkaloids on snails in the context of their molluscicidal properties. The alkaloids identified as molluscicidal belonged to various groups, of which the most numerous were pseudoalkaloids and tyrosine‐derived alkaloids. Based on collected research results, it was found that plant alkaloids can be extremely useful in fight against problematic species of snails and cause much lower harm to the environment than synthetic molluscicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Corydalis, with ca. 530 species, has long been considered taxonomically challenging because of its great variability. Previous molecular analyses, based on a few molecular markers and incomplete taxonomic sampling, were clearly inadequate to delimit sections and subgenera. We have performed phylogenetic analyses of Corydalis and related taxa, using 65 shared protein‐coding plastid genes from 313 accessions (including 280 samples of ca. 226 species of Corydalis) and 152 universal low‐copy nuclear genes from 296 accessions (including 271 samples of Corydalis) covering all 42 previously recognized sections and five independent "series". Phylogenetic trees were inferred using Bayesian Inference and Maximum Likelihood. Eight selected morphological characters were estimated using ancestral state reconstructions. Results include: (i) of the three subgenera of Corydalis, two are fully supported by both the plastid and nuclear data; the third, subg. Cremnocapnos, is weakly supported by plastid DNA only, whereas in the nuclear data the two included sections form successive outgroups to the rest of the genus; (ii) among all 42 sections and five "series", 25 sections and one "series" are resolved as monophyletic in both data sets; (iii) the common ancestor of Corydalis is likely to be a perennial plant with a taproot, yellow flowers with a short saccate spur, linear fruits with recurved fruiting pedicels, and seeds with elaiosomes; (iv) we provide a new classification of Corydalis with four subgenera (of which subg. Bipapillatae is here newly described), 39 sections, 16 of which are consistent with the previous classification, 16 sections have been recircumscribed, one section has been reinstated and six new sections are established. Characters associated with lifespan, underground structures, floral spur, fruit and elaiosomes are important for the recognition of subgenera and sections. These new phylogenetic analyses combined with ancestral character reconstructions uncovered previously unrecognized relationships, and greatly improved our understanding of the evolution of the genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study introduces a novel intelligent film based on chitosan (Ch) incorporated with a new natural dye of red poppy as a colorimetric sensor for the real‐time detection of shrimp freshness. The colour changeability of red poppy anthocyanins (RPAs) in a pH range of 2–12 was confirmed by the UV–vis spectra. The indicator film can respond to the ammonia vapour, with the colour changing of RPAs (brown/light yellow to dark brown) over time. The colorimetric films' light screening, tensile strength and antioxidant properties after the addition of RPAs show an increase. The anthocyanin‐loaded films produce a substantial colour change from brown to light yellow consistent with the shrimp spoilage at the pH threshold, which can inform the quality deterioration of the shrimp. Due to these benefits, the Ch‐RPAs indicator film can be used to visually and real‐timely monitor shrimp freshness in package. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: This study aimed to produce an intelligent gelatin film containing chitosan nanofibre (CNF) and β‐cyclodextrin/corn poppy complex (β‐CD/CP) and monitor shrimp spoilage. The crystalline properties, surface morphology and chemical structure of the films were characterised. The results showed that the addition of CNF caused the appearance of a new peak at 2θ = 12.16° and improved the crystalline properties of the film. According to Fourier Transform Infrared (FT‐IR) results, new interactions were formed between CNF and the β‐CD/CP complex. Also, the addition of the β‐CD/CP complex significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the water solubility (WS) of the gelatin‐based film from 96% to 42%. The results of shrimp spoilage monitoring showed that after 7 days of storage, the colour of the intelligent film changed from coral to goldenrod due to the change in pH from 8.3 to 10.5 and the formation of ammonia vapours due to the decomposition of proteins, which shows the potential of the intelligent films containing the β‐CD/CP to be used for monitoring of seafood products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the proposal to reject the name Argemone pyrenaica (Papaver pyrenaicum) in the journal Taxon. The article provides a detailed analysis of the taxonomic history and distribution of the genus Papaver, specifically focusing on the species Oreomecon alpina (formerly known as Papaver alpinum) and its subspecies. The author argues that the resurrection of the name Papaver pyrenaicum would be disruptive to nomenclatural stability and proposes the rejection of the name Argemone pyrenaica to maintain the current use of Papaver lapeyrouseanum or Oreomecon lapeyrouseana. The proposal aims to secure the correct species- and subspecies-level epithet for the entity commonly referred to as P. lapeyrouseanum. [Extracted from the article]

This work aimed to evaluate the usefulness of ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry for the simultaneous determination of five alkaloids and three main components of acetaminophen‐caffeine‐aspirin tablets in hot pot broth. The sample was extracted by hydrochloric acid (0.1 mol) and sodium hydroxide was used to adjust the potential of hydrogen. Then acetonitrile was used to extract the target compounds and cleaned up by one enhanced matrix removal product. Standard curves were made by adding mixing standard solutions of different concentrations. Eight isotope internal standards were used to improve the accuracy of the quantification. The linear ranges were 0.4–40.0 μg/kg for morphine, codeine, acetaminophen, caffeine, and salicylic acid, as well as 0.08–8.0 μg/kg for thebaine, papaverine, and noscapine, respectively. The eight compounds had good linearities and the detection limits of were in the range of 0.003–0.3 μg/kg. The recovery values were higher than 82% and the precision was lower than 14.7% in the experiment. A lot of actual testing of hot pot broth samples showed that the method is simple, effective, and sensitive, which is suitable for the determination and confirmation of the eight targeted compounds added to the hot pot broth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY: Species belonging to the order Ranunculales have attracted much attention because of their phylogenetic position as a sister group to all other eudicot lineages and their ability to produce unique yet diverse benzylisoquinoline alkaloids (BIAs). The Papaveraceae family in Ranunculales is often used as a model system for studying BIA biosynthesis. Here, we report the chromosome‐level genome assembly of Corydalis tomentella, a species of Fumarioideae, one of the two subfamilies of Papaveraceae. Based on comparisons of sequenced Ranunculalean species, we present clear evidence of a shared whole‐genome duplication (WGD) event that has occurred before the divergence of Ranunculales but after its divergence from other eudicot lineages. The C. tomentella genome enabled us to integrate isotopic labeling and comparative genomics to reconstruct the BIA biosynthetic pathway for both sanguinarine biosynthesis shared by papaveraceous species and the cavidine biosynthesis that is specific to Corydalis. Also, our comparative analysis revealed that gene duplications, especially tandem gene duplications, underlie the diversification of BIA biosynthetic pathways in Ranunculales. In particular, tandemly duplicated berberine bridge enzyme‐like genes appear to be involved in cavidine biosynthesis. In conclusion, our study of the C. tomentella genome provides important insights into the occurrence of WGDs during the early evolution of eudicots, as well as into the evolution of BIA biosynthesis in Ranunculales. Significance Statement: Here, we report the chromosome‐level genome of Corydalis tomentella and present a shared whole‐genome duplication event of Ranunculales, differing from the paleohexaploidy event of core eudicots. The genome enabled us to reconstruct the BIA biosynthetic pathway for both sanguinarine biosynthesis shared by papaveraceous species and the cavidine biosynthesis that is specific to Corydalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Meconopsis wanbaensis subsp. undulatissima D. W. H. Rankin, a new subspecies from the south‐west part of Sichuan Province of China, is described and illustrated. The description of M. wanbaensis T. Yoshida is revised and its relationships with other members of Meconopsis Vig. section Grandes Fedde series Integrifoliae Grey‐Wilson are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biosynthetic origins of the structurally related racemic isoxazolidine Papaveraceae alkaloids Setigerumine I, Dactylicapnosinine and Dactylicapnosine have remained elusive since their original isolation over two decades ago. Herein we report the first biosynthetic hypothesis for their formation and, inspired by it, the first synthesis of (±)‐Setigerumine I with accompanying computational rationale. Based on the results, these isoxazolidine alkaloids arise from racemizing oxidative rearrangements of prominent isoquinoline alkaloids Noscapine and Hydrastine. The key steps featured in this synthesis are a room temperature Cope elimination and a domino oxidation/inverse‐electron demand 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition of an axially chiral, yet configurationally unstable, intermediate. The work opens this previously inaccessible family of natural products for biological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Corydalis austroshaanxiensis, a new species of Corydalis sect. Incisae Fedde (Papaveraceae) from Shaanxi, China, is described. It is most similar to C. pseudoincisa C.Y. Wu, Z.Y. Su & Lidén, but differs in the outer petals being retuse to emarginate, with dorsal crest (versus acuminate, rounded to shortly mucronate, without crest), lowermost pedicels that are conspicuously elongating and basally recurved in fruit (versus slightly elongating, straight, erect‐spreading), sepals that are 3–4 × ca 3 mm (versus 1.5–2.0 × ca 1.5 mm), lower petals that usually have a linear reddish tint at base (versus without reddish tint), capsules that are narrowly to broadly elliptic to obovoid (versus linear to narrowly oblong), and by the racemes corymbose, forming a very dense cluster of upper fruits (versus racemes not corymbose‐like, flower dense in anthesis, lax in fruit). The original materials of C. pseudoincisa is shown to be mosaic, and the original descriptions and illustrations annotated as C. pseudoincisa only fit in part C. pseudoincisa. A revised circumscription for C. pseudoincisa is thus provided. We suggest the need for caution when identifying additional specimens as paratypes that differ from the holotype in distinct characters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasingly wide application of chloroplast (cp) genome super‐barcode in taxonomy and the recent breakthrough in cp genetic engineering make the development of new cp gene resources urgent and significant. Corydalis is recognized as the most genotypes complicated and taxonomically challenging plant taxa in Papaveraceae. However, there currently are few reports about cp genomes of the genus Corydalis. In this study, we sequenced four complete cp genomes of two endangered lithophytes Corydalis saxicola and Corydalistomentella in Corydalis, conducted a comparison of these cp genomes among each other as well as with others of Papaveraceae. The cp genomes have a large genome size of 189,029–190,247 bp, possessing a quadripartite structure and with two highly expanded inverted repeat (IR) regions (length: 41,955–42,350 bp). Comparison between the cp genomes of C. tomentella, C. saxicola, and Papaveraceae species, five NADH dehydrogenase‐like genes (ndhF, ndhD, ndhL, ndhG, and ndhE) with psaC, rpl32, ccsA, and trnL‐UAG normally located in the SSC region have migrated to IRs, resulting in IR expansion and gene duplication. An up to 9 kb inversion involving five genes (rpl23, ycf2, ycf15, trnI‐CAU, and trnL‐CAA) was found within IR regions. The accD gene was found to be absent and the ycf1 gene has shifted from the IR/SSC border to the SSC region as a single copy. Phylogenetic analysis based on the sequences of common CDS showed that the genus Corydalis is quite distantly related to the other genera of Papaveraceae, it provided a new clue for recent advocacy to establish a separate Fumariaceae family. Our results revealed one special cp genome structure in Papaveraceae, provided a useful resources for classification of the genus Corydalis, and will be valuable for understanding Papaveraceae evolutionary relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Opium poppy, belonging to the family Papaveraceae, is grown for its alkaloid compounds of pharmaceutical value. Downy mildew caused by Peronospora somniferi and Pe. meconopsidis, substantially impacts crop production. The present study was conducted to identify the host range of Pe. somniferi and Pe. meconopsidis within selected weed and ornamental members of the Papaveraceae family. Nine Papaver spp., Meconopsis cambrica and a nonhost control (tomato, Solanum lycopersicum) were challenged with both pathogens under controlled glasshouse or laboratory conditions using infested soil or foliar applied sporangia as inocula. Peronospora somniferi and Pe. meconopsidis induced disease symptoms, including sporulation, in at least one trial for all tested species except for Pa. atlanticum and tomato. Species‐specific PCR testing of foliage of challenged plants confirmed infections by both pathogen species of symptomatic plants, identifying these as hosts. Positive PCR tests were also obtained from Pa. atlanticum plants for both pathogens. However, in the absence of pathogen sporulation structures as further evidence of infection, the host status of Pa. atlanticum remains inconclusive. Testing of seeds collected from Pe. somniferi and Pe. meconopsidis infected plants of Pa. somniferum, Pa. dubium, Pa. rhoeas and Pa. nudicaule showed presence of both pathogens, indicating likely ability for seed transmission in these species. We identified new hosts of these pathogens and discuss potential implications of these alternative hosts in pathogen survival, dissemination and epidemic initiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Mojave Desert of the southwestern U.S. is home to two protected species of poppy in the genus Arctomecon Torr. & Frém. (Papaveraceae). A pollinator of these species is the specialist bee Perdita meconis Griswold (Andrenidae) a specialist on poppy pollen.Recently, the easternmost population of P. meconis, which was associated with A. humilis Coville in Utah, has become locally extinct, and other historically associated bee pollinators have become scarce. Implicated in the disruption of this pollination system is invasion by the Africanised honey bee.Here we report on the status of P. meconis in historic populations associated with congener A. californica Torr. & Frém., 100 km west in Clark Co., Nevada where the Africanised honey bee is also adventive.We surveyed flower visitors at eight A. californica populations in 2017, six of which had been surveyed in 1995. In general, we found no disruptions of the historic pollination system of A. californica despite the presence of abundant Africanised honey bees, which largely foraged at other flower species.The most likely cause of the disparate effects of the Africanised honey bee in Utah and Nevada is livestock grazing. Grazing in Utah has been continuous for over three decades and while cattle do not graze A. humilis, they graze its floral competitors, forcing honey bees to forage on poppy flowers. In Nevada, protections afforded to the desert tortoise halted grazing approximately when the Africanised honey bee invaded, making diverse floral forage available for honey bees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to investigate nutritional, physiological and immunological effects of a plant‐derived blend of isoquinoline alkaloids (Sangrovit® Extra) in healthy dogs. Two groups of healthy, adult beagles (N = 10) were tested in a cross‐over experiment, lasting two consecutive three‐week periods. The experimental group received 1.2 g additive/kg feed, according to the recommendation of 10–20 mg/kg live weight per day. The control group received the same feed without additive. Complete blood count, immunological parameters and amino acid concentrations in serum were assessed. Faeces were analysed for short‐chain fatty acids, lactate and ammonium; moreover, their quantity and consistency were determined. Neither feed intake, total apparent nutrient digestibility (crude protein and fat, organic matter, sodium, potassium) were affected by intake of the product. Lymphocyte and monocyte counts were slightly increased in both groups. Elevation was not treatment dependant. IgA, IgG, haptoglobin in serum and flow cytometric phenotyping of peripheral lymphocytes were not affected by alkaloids supplementation. Numerically greater methionine concentrations in blood serum occurred in the experimental group (p = 0.182). Quantity and consistency of faeces and ammonium concentration in faeces were not affected by the additive. Faecal concentrations of short‐chain organic acids differed between groups (acetic acid, % of total SCFA: control group 52.3 ± 5.2 vs. experimental group 57.1 ± 4.5, p = 0.042), lactate concentrations (d‐, l‐ and total) did not. Due to the shift of SCFA proportions in faeces, an effect of isoquinoline alkaloids (IQs) on the metabolic activity of intestinal microbiota is probable. In conclusion, the addition of IQs in the given dose was well tolerated and did not have adverse effects in healthy dogs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Corydalis is recognized as one of the most taxonomically challenging plant taxa. It is mainly distributed in the Himalaya–Hengduan Mountains, a global biodiversity hotspot. To date, no effective solution for species discrimination and taxonomic assignment in Corydalis has been developed. In this study, five nuclear and chloroplast DNA regions, ITS, ITS2, matK, rbcL, and psbA‐trnH, were preliminarily assessed based on their ability to discriminate Corydalis to eliminate inefficient regions, and the three regions showing good performance (ITS, ITS2 and matK) were then evaluated in 131 samples representing 28 species of 11 sections of four subgenera in Corydalis using three analytical methods (NJ, ML, MP tree; K2P‐distance and BLAST). The results showed that the various approaches exhibit different species identification power and that BLAST shows the best performance among the tested approaches. A comparison of different barcodes indicated that among the single barcodes, ITS (65.2%) exhibited the highest identification success rate and that the combination of ITS + matK (69.6%) provided the highest species resolution among all single barcodes and their combinations. Three Pharmacopoeia‐recorded medicinal plants and their materia medica were identified successfully based on the ITS and ITS2 regions. In the phylogenetic analysis, the sections Thalictrifoliae, Sophorocapnos, Racemosae, Aulacostigma, and Corydalis formed well‐supported separate lineages. We thus hypothesize that the five sections should be classified as an independent subgenus and that the genus should be divided into three subgenera. In this study, DNA barcoding provided relatively high species discrimination power, indicating that it can be used for species discrimination in this taxonomically complicated genus and as a potential tool for the authentication of materia medica belonging to Corydalis. This study provides an effective method for the classification and identification of this taxonomically challenging plant taxa, promotes the formation of a more integrated taxonomic system of Corydalis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current lectotype of Bocconia frutescens at LINN is shown not to comprise original material and must be overturned. We select an illustration by Sloane based on a specimen at BM, as lectotype. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Angiosperms possess enormous morphological variation in plant architectures and floral forms. Previous studies in Pentapetalae and monocots have demonstrated the involvement of TCP domain CYCLOIDEA/TEOSINTE BRANCHED1‐like (CYC/TB1) genes in the control of floral symmetry and shoot branching. However, how TCP/CYC‐like (CYL) genes originated, evolved and functionally diversified remain unclear. We conducted a comparative functional study in Ranunculales, the sister lineage to all other eudicots, between Eschscholzia californica and Cysticapnos vesicaria, two species of Papaveraceae with actinomorphic and zygomorphic flowers, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that CYL genes in Papaveraceae form two paralogous lineages, PapaCYL1 and PapaCYL2. Papaveraceae CYL genes show highly diversified expression patterns as well as functions. Enhanced branching by silencing of EscaCYL1 suggests that the role of CYC/TB1‐like genes in branching control is conserved in Papaveraceae. In contrast to the arrest of stamen development in Pentapetalae, PapaCYL genes promote stamen initiation and growth. In addition, we demonstrate that CyveCYLs are involved in perianth development, specifying sepal and petal identity in Cysticapnos by regulating the B‐class floral organ identity genes. Our data also suggest the involvement of CyveCYL genes in the regulation of flower symmetry in Cysticapnos. Our work provides evidence of the importance of TCP/CYC‐like genes in the promotion of morphological diversity across angiosperms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic habitat disturbance has potential consequences for ant communities. However, there is limited information on the effects of ant responses on associated ecological processes such as seed dispersal. We investigated the effect of disturbance on the abundance, richness, and composition of ant communities and the resulting seed‐dispersal services for a herbaceous myrmecochore, Corydalis giraldii (Papaveraceae), in an undisturbed habitat (forest understory), moderately disturbed habitat (abandoned arable field), and highly disturbed habitat (road verge) on Qinling Mountains, China. In total, we recorded 13 ant species, and five out of these were observed to transport seeds. The community composition of dispersers was significantly different amongst habitats. The richness of the dispersers did not differ among the habitats, but their total abundance varied significantly across habitats and was 21% lower in the road verge than in the abandoned arable fields. The major seed‐dispersing ant species in both the forest understory and the abandoned arable field were large‐bodied (Myrmica sp. and Formica fusca, respectively), whereas the major seed‐dispersing ants found in the road verge were the small‐bodied Lasius alienus. This difference resulted in lower seed removal rates and dispersal distances in the road verge than in the other two habitats. The different dispersal patterns were attributed primarily to differences in dispersing ant abundance and identity, most likely in response to habitats with different degree of anthropogenic disturbance. The possible influence of disturbance on the ecological specialization of ant‐seed dispersal interaction is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed dispersal in myrmecochorous plants, in which a sequence of two or more steps is often involved, has profound effects on plant benefits. First, seeds mature or fall onto to the ground (primary dispersal), then ants transport them into nests (ant dispersal), and sometimes ants subsequently discard seeds out of nests (re‐dispersal). By neglecting one or the other of these phases, we might misjudge the benefits of myrmecochory to plants. Here, we investigated the difference between two common Chinese myrmecochorous plants, Corydalis incisa and C. wilfordii, in the importance of each dispersal step by examining 1) primary dispersal distance, 2) seed removal rates and dispersal distance by ants, and 3) frequency of seeds discarded out of nests and the re‐dispersal distance. We found that the mean primary dispersal distance of C. incisa was about eight times longer than that of C. wilfordii. The presence of an elaiosome increase the attractiveness of seeds to ants, and both the removal rate and dispersal distance were greater in C. wilfordii than in C. incisa. Two ant species, Pheidole noda and Pristomyrmex pungens are the major dispersers. Pheidole noda, the larger‐bodied ant species, discarded most seeds of both species out of nests, whereas Pr. pungens discarded only C. wilfordii seeds. The mean re‐dispersal distances of the two plant species were similar, but that of C. incisa and C. wilfordii were about threefold and fivefold shorter than the distances in the step of ant dispersal, respectively. In the field, no predators were found to interact with the discarded seeds in 72 h. Our results indicate that the importance of each dispersal phase differ between the two Corydalis species, and this difference is largely attributable to the differential role of ant identity and seed characteristics. It is concluded that re‐dispersal also needs to be considered in studies of myrmecochory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bocconia (10 species) and Macleaya (2 species) are two disjunct genera between South America and eastern Asia (EAS) in the Papaveraceae offering an opportunity to compare its biogeographic history with that of the well‐known disjunction between EAS and eastern North American (ENA). Our phylogenetic analyses of the chloroplast matK and rbcL gene sequences of Ranunculales including two species of Macleaya and six species of Bocconia supported the monophyly of Bocconia, Macleaya, and Chelidonioideae to which Bocconia and Macleaya belong. Nucleotide sequences of matK, rbcL, and nrDNA ITS supported the sister relationship of Bocconia and Macleaya. Biogeographic analyses of Chelidonioideae using S‐DIVA (statistical dispersal vicariance analysis) and DEC (dispersal extinction cladogenesis) methods inferred Eurasia as the most likely ancestral area of Bocconia and Macleaya and suggested no extinction events in either Bocconia or Macleaya. This agrees with the “Out‐of‐Asia” pattern of the EAS‐ENA disjunction. Molecular dating of Ranunculales with fossil‐based calibrations showed that Bocconia and Macleaya diverged in the late Eocene and early Oligocene, which is much earlier than most EAS‐ENA disjunct taxa. The disjunction may have formed via long distance dispersal or boreotropical connections via the North Atlantic and Bering land bridges. Both Bocconia and Macleaya diversified in the late mid‐Miocene, but Bocconia has apparently experienced a greater diversification probably aided by the evolution of the bird dispersal syndrome in fruit and seed after migration to South America. The greater diversification of Bocconia is also evidenced by the diverse leaf morphology and growth habit in response to colonization in various local habitats in South America. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthesis of a variety of furanone derivatives is described using multicomponent reaction of 15-nonacosanole extracted from Fumaria officinalis, electron-deficient acetylenic compounds, and epoxides in the presence of catalytic amount of nano KF/Clinoptilolite. Aerial parts of F. officinalis were collected from Alborz Mountains (north of Iran) in September 2014. Voucher specimens (2625T) were deposited in the chemistry department of Qaemshahr University in Mazandaran-Iran. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of nectarlessness flowers in nectar-producing plants is a common and stable phenomenon in many species, but their occurrence is still not well understood. The aim of this study is to examine a question from both the plant and pollinator perspectives: why do nectar-producing species produce some nectarless flowers within a plant? We investigate the distribution patterns of nectarless flowers in natural populations and their variation among the populations and years in a spring-flowering self-incompatible perennial herb plant, Corydalis ambigua Chem. & Schlecht (Fumariaceae), we observed the foraging behavior of bumblebees to nectariferous and nectarless inflorescences. We also examined the differences in reproductive success between inflorescence types and the effect of nectar production on flower production of the next flowering season. The results indicated that the frequencies of nectarless flowers varied among inflorescences, individuals, and populations and between years. Plants can revise or keep their inflorescence types or change nectar production status in the next growing season. Bumblebees visited both types with equal frequency but different foraging behavior, which resulted in lower seed production in nectarless inflorescences. However, nectarless inflorescences may save more energy and result in larger bulbs, which produce more flowers in the next flowering season. We found that although nectarless flowers resulted in lower seed set in nectarless inflorescence or individuals, they could affect bumblebees' foraging behavior and further promote the effective output of pollen. In addition, the resource savings could enhance plant reproductive success in the next flowering season. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specific scope: This Standard describes the conduct of trials for the efficacy evaluation of insecticides against Stenocarus ruficornis on poppy. Specific approval and amendment: First approved in 2018‐09. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Specific scope: This Standard describes the conduct of trials for the efficacy evaluation of insecticides against Neoglocianus maculaalba and Dasineura papaveris on poppy. Specific approval and amendment: First approved in 2018‐09. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stylophorum lasiocarpum is illustrated and its relationships are discussed. Instructions for its cultivation are given. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To get a better understanding of their taxonomic importance, we examined morphological, leaf epidermal and seed micromorphological characters of 19 taxa of annual Papaver L. belonging to the sections Papaver, Carinatae Fedde and Rhoeadium Spach. Among the studied taxa, the pattern of the coat of the seed testa cells and seed epidermal cell showed large variation. The granulate type of testa sculpturing was most common, but other types were represented by one or two species. In contrast, most of the taxa have broadly similar leaf epidermal characteristics. We conclude that variation in seed characters are significant for the taxonomy at the specific and generic levels, whereas leaf epidermis morphology, with few exceptions, is mostly only useful for separation of taxa within species. Based on the results, P. lacerum Popov is regarded as a synonym of P. commutatum Fisch. & C. A. Mey, while P. piptostigma Bienert ex Fedde, P. halophilum (Fedde) Cullen and P. tubuliferum Fedde are regarded as synonyms of P. macrostomum Boiss. et Huet ex Boiss. var. macrostomum. Further, Papaver gaubae Cullen & Rech. f. and P. bipinnatum C. A. Mey. are included into the synonymy list of P. glaucum Boiss. et Hausskn. and P. arenarium M.-Bieb., respectively. In contrast, Papaver chelidoniifolium Fisch. & C. A. Mey. var. pinnatum Tavakkoli & Assadi from Gilan province is described as a new variety, and P. rhoeas L. var. strigosum Boenn. and var. glabrum Fedde and P. commutatum subsp. euxinum Kadereit are introduced as new records to Iran. The evolutionary and phylogenetic implications of the observed variation in seed characteristics are also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primers for seven unlinked and highly polymorphic microsatellite loci were developed for Corydalis ambigua to investigate its mating system and population genetics. This species can be used to explore the impact of an alien bumblebee on plant reproduction. Genetic diversity and other population genetic parameters were estimated in two populations with and without the alien bumblebee. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 4 to 20, and observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.355 to 0.969. These markers can be applied to study mating systems and population genetics in C. ambigua. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oil from the leaves of M acleaya cordata R. Br. obtained by hydrodistillation was analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry ( GC/ MS). Sixty-eight compounds consisting up to 92.53% of the essential oil were identified by GC and GC/ MS analysis. The antibacterial activity and minimum inhibitory concentration ( MIC) of the essential oil against several pathogens were evaluated. The results showed that bacteria had different sensitivities to essential oil of M . cordata with diameters of inhibition zones ranging from 8.5 ± 0.6 to 18.6 ± 1.9 mm and MIC values from 125 to 500 μg/m L. Among these bacteria, R alstonia solanacearum was the most sensitive to essential oil. In addition, kill-time assay also showed that the essential oil had a significant effect on the growth rate of surviving R . solanacearum. We concluded that the mechanism of action of the essential oil against R . solanacearum might be described as essential oil acting on membrane integrity according to the results of the leakage of electrolytes, the losses of content (proteins and reducing sugars) assays and electron microscopy observation. The treated cell membranes were severely damaged. The results presented here indicate that the essential oil of M . cordata may be a potential source of antimicrobial agents in the future. Practical Applications Crop diseases, food poisoning and food spoilage caused by microorganisms are still the most important issues facing the food industry and consumers. Today, essential oils with antioxidant and antimicrobial activities are ideal resources in the field of research on food and feed additives. The chemical composition of the essential oil from the leaves of M acleaya cordata was analyzed. The essential oil showed antimicrobial activities. In addition, kill-time assay also showed that the essential oil had a significant effect on the growth rate of surviving R alstonia solanacearum. We concluded that the mechanism of action of the essential oil against R . solanacearum might be described as essential oil acting on membrane integrity according to the results of the leakage of electrolytes, the losses of proteins and reducing sugars, and electron microscopy observation. Hence, the essential oil of M . cordata may be suggested as a new potential source of natural antimicrobial agent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed dormancy is a common strategy of many plants to survive in natural and agricultural ecosystems. This study examined the effects of some chemical factors, including gibberellic acid and potassium nitrate, the prechilling temperature, duration and conditions and the light regimes on the seed dormancy-breaking of Papaver rhoeas L. and Papaver dubium L. The results showed that all the tested seed dormancy-breaking treatments significantly stimulated the germination of the two Papaver species. The seed germination was significantly influenced in relation to the seeds that were treated with 0-1250 p.p.m. of gibberellic acid. The maximum germination was observed in P. rhoeas L. at 750 p.p.m. and in Pa. dubium L. at 500 p.p.m. in the light/dark regime. There was a significant increase in the germination with an increase in the potassium nitrate concentration. The greatest germination was achieved at the lowest potassium nitrate concentration (0.5 g L−1) in the light/dark regime. The wet prechilling was more effective than the dry prechilling in the dormancy-breaking of both P. rhoeas L. and Pa. dubium L. The highest germination percentage was found in the wet prechilling condition after 45 days' prechilling duration. The combination of gibberellic acid and potassium nitrate was more successful than their separate application in the stimulation of germination in both Papaver species. Among the combined treatments of prechilling and gibberellic acid, the highest germination of P. rhoeas L. was recorded in the seeds that were treated with wet prechilling for 45 days with 750 p.p.m. gibberellic acid, while in Pa. dubium L., the maximum germination was recorded with wet prechilling for 45 days with 500 p.p.m. of gibberellic acid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rust fungi in the genus Melampsora usually cause disease on hosts in the Salicaceae. Identification of Melampsora species is often complicated due to few differences in spore morphology and little publicly available comparative sequence data. Weeping willow trees (primarily Salix babylonica and its hybrids) have been reported to be infected by 11 Melampsora species; however, most of these records are based on morphological characterization. New collections of rust fungi on weeping willows from the central USA were analysed using a combination of morphology, ITS and LSU r DNA sequencing, and host data to determine that they represent an undescribed rust fungus, Melampsora ferrinii sp. nov. Additional studies of herbarium material revealed that M. ferrinii has occasionally been collected but identified as M. epitea. In addition to North America, M. ferrinii is also present in South America and has been infecting weeping willows there since at least the 1990s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the clinical importance of herbal drugs has received considerable attention in reducing free radical-induced tissue injury. Oxidative stress has been proposed as a possible mechanism involved in lead toxicity that causes reproductive system failure in both human and animals. Fumaria parviflora L., a traditional herb, has been used to cure various ailments in Persian folk medicine. This study was carried out to investigate whether ethanolic extract of F. parviflora leaves could protect the male rats against lead-induced testicular oxidative stress. Adult Wistar rats were treated with 0.1% lead acetate in drinking water with or without 200 mg kg day−1 F. parviflora extract via gavage for 70 days. Lead acetate treatment resulted in significant reduction in testis weight, seminiferous tubules diameter, epididymal sperm count, serum testosterone level, testicular content of superoxide dismutase ( SOD) and glutathione peroxidase ( GPx). Moreover, significant elevation was observed in content of malondialdehyde ( MDA) in lead-treated rats. However, co-administration of F. parviflora extract showed a significant increase in selected reproductive parameters in lead-treated rats. The results indicated that ethanolic extract of F. parviflora leaves has a potential to restore the suppressed reproduction associated with lead exposure and prevented lead-induced testicular toxicity in male Wistar rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dactylicapnos sect. Pogonosperma Lidén & M. K. Pathak sect. nov. is established and revised based on morphology, and found to include four species: D. gaoligongshanensis from west Yunnan, D. arunachalensis Lidén & M. K. Pathak sp. nov., endemic to central Arunachal Pradesh, D. grandifoliolata (syn. D. ventii) and D. paucinervia (K. R. Stern) Lidén & M. K. Pathak comb. nov., the two latter species widespread in the east Himalayas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

* Premise of the study: Eudicots diverged early in the evolution of flowering plants and now comprise more than 70% of angiosperm species. In spite of the importance of eudicots, our understanding of the early evolution of this clade is limited by a poor fossil record and uncertainty about the order of early phylogenetic branching. The study of Lower Cretaceous fossils can reveal much about the evolution, morphology, and ecology of the eudicots. * Methods: Fossils described here were collected from Aptian sediments of the Potomac Group exposed at the Dutch Gap locality in Virginia, USA. Specimens were prepared by degaging, then described and compared with leaves of relevant extant and fossil plants. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis of morphological characters using parsimony while constraining the tree search with the topology found through molecular phylogenetic analyses. * Key results: The new species is closely related to ranunculalean eudicots and has leaf architecture remarkably similar to some living Fumarioideae (Papaveraceae). * Conclusions: These are the oldest eudicot megafossils from North America, and they show complex leaf architecture reflecting developmental pathways unique to extant eudicots. The morphology and small size of the fossils suggest that they were herbaceous plants, as is seen in other putative early eudicots. The absence of co-occurring tricolpate pollen at Dutch Gap either (1) reflects low preservation probability for pollen of entomophilous herbs or (2) indicates that some leaf features of extant eudicots appeared before the origin of tricolpate pollen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we examined the germination ecology with special reference to the temperature requirements for embryo development and germination of Corydalis cava subsp. cava, under both outdoor and laboratory conditions. Corydalis cava is a spring flowering woodland tuberous geophyte widely distributed across Europe. Germination phenology, including embryo development and radicle and cotyledon emergence, was investigated in a population growing in northern Italy. Immediately after harvest, seeds of C. cava were sown both in the laboratory under simulated seasonal temperatures and naturally. Embryos, undifferentiated at the time of seed dispersal, grew during summer and autumn conditions, culminating in radicle emergence in winter, when temperatures fell to ca 5°C. Cotyledon emergence also occurred at ca 5°C, but first emergence was delayed until late winter and early spring. Laboratory experiments showed that high (summer) followed by medium (autumn) and low temperatures (winter) are needed for physiological dormancy loss, embryo development and germination respectively. Unlike seeds of C. cava that germinated in winter, in other Corydalis species radicle emergence occurred in autumn ( C. flavula) or did not depend on a period of high summer temperature to break dormancy ( C. solida). Our results suggest that subtle differences in dormancy and germination behavior between Corydalis species could be related to differences in their geographical distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

* Premise of the study: On a compound leaf, leaflet primordia are repetitively formed along the apical--basal axis, with the direction varying among taxa. Why and how the directions vary among species is yet to be solved, although a change in a single factor was proposed to cause the variation. In this study, we compared two species in the Papaveraceae with different directions of leaflet initiation, Chelidonium majus subsp. asiaticum (basipetal) and Eschscholzia californica (acropetal). Because E. californica has been studied in some detail, we focused on C. majus and asked how basipetal pattern is achieved. * Methods: Since only immature leaf primordial tissue has leaflet-generating competency, we performed histological and gene expression analyses on markers of the tissue maturation state. In addition, we performed a time-course analysis of leaf primordial growth. * Key results: Quantitative reverse transcription-PCR analysis demonstrated that a putative regulator of tissue maturation in C. majus, the CINCINNATA homolog, had higher expression in apical parts than in basal parts during the organogenetic phase. In contrast, expression of the CIN homolog was not elevated in either the apical or basal parts in E. californica during the organogenetic phase. * Conclusions: In C. majus, apical parts of leaf primordia have already lost leaflet-generating competency during the organogenetic phase. We propose that precocious progression of the maturation process instructs basipetal progression of leaflet initiation in C. majus. This is not the mirror image of data on E. californica, which shows the opposite direction in leaflet formation, indicating that variation in direction is not attributable to a change in a single factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise of the Study: Zygomorphy has evolved multiple times in angiosperms. Near-actinomorphy is the ancestral state in the early diverging eudicot family Papaveraceae. Zygomorphy evolved once in the subfamily Fumarioideae from a disymmetric state. Unusual within angiosperms, zygomorphy takes place along the transverse plane of the flower. Methods: We investigated floral development to understand the developmental bases of the evolution of floral symmetry in Papaveraceae. We then assessed the expression of candidate genes for the key developmental events responsible for the shift from disymmetry to transverse zygomorphy, namely CRABSCLAW for nectary formation (PAPCRC), SHOOTMERISTEMLESS (PaPSTL) for spur formation, and CYCLOIDEA (PAPCYL) for growth control. Key Results: We found that an early disymmetric groundplan is common to all species studied, and that actinomorphy was acquired after sepal initiation in Papaveroideae. The shift from disymmetry to zygomorphy in Fumarioideae was associated with early asymmetric growth of stamen filaments, followed by asymmetric development of nectary outgrowth and spur along the transverse plane. Patterns of PaPSTL expression could not be clearly related to spur formation. PAPCRC and PAPCYL genes were expressed in the nectary outgrowths, with a pattern of expression correlated with asymmetric nectary development in the zygomorphic species. Additionally, PAPCYL genes were found asymmetrically expressed along the transverse plane in the basal region of outer petals in the zygomorphic species. Conclusion: Genes of PAPCRC and PAPCYL families could be direct or indirect targets of the initial transversally asymmetric cue responsible for the shift from disymmetry to zygomorphy in Fumarioideae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new species of Meconopsis (Papaveraceae), M. bulbilifera, M. exilis and M. lamjungensis, members of the M. lyrata aggregate, are described and characterised. Differences separating them from similar species are discussed and photos showing the diagnostic features are provided. Diagnostic features and distributions of the related species, M. lyrata, M. compta, M. polygonoides and M. wumungensis are also provided as is a key to the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perennial herb Meconopsis cambrica, a western European endemic, is the only European species of the otherwise Himalayan genus Meconopsis and has been interpreted as a Tertiary relict species. Using rbcL and ITS sequence variation, we date the split between M. cambrica and its sister clade Papaver s.str. to the Middle to Upper Miocene (12.8 Myr, 6.4-19.2 Myr HPD). Within M. cambrica, cpDNA sequence variation reveals the existence of two groups of populations with a comparable level of genetic variation: a northern group from Great Britain, the Massif Central, the western Pyrenees and the Iberian System, and a southern group from the central and eastern Pyrenees. Populations from the Cantabrian Mountains were placed in both groups. Based on ITS sequence variation, the divergence between these two groups can be dated to 1.5 Myr (0.4-2.8 Myr HPD), and the age of the British populations is estimated as 0.37 Myr (0.0-0.9 Myr HPD). Amplified fragment length polymorphism results confirm the distinctive nature of the populations from Britain, the Massif Central and the central and eastern Pyrenees. These patterns of latitudinal variation of M. cambrica differ from patterns of longitudinal differentiation found in many other temperate species and imply glacial survival of the northern populations in northerly refugia. The primary differentiation into northern and southern cpDNA groups dates to near the onset of the Quaternary and suggests that an ancient phylogeographic pattern has survived through several glacial periods. Our data provide evidence that the species has persisted for a long period with a highly fragmented and probably very localized distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

* Premise of the Study: Little research has been done at the molecular level on the tribe Fumarieae (Papaveraceae). Papaveraceae is a model plant group for studying evolutionary patterns despite the lack of a reference phylogeny for this tribe. We investigated the phylogenetic relationships within the tribe to complete the molecular data for this family in order to help understand its character evolution and biogeographic pattern. * Methods: We used maximum-parsimony and Bayesian approaches to analyze five DNA regions for 25 species representing 10 of the 11 Fumarieae genera and five outgroups. Evolutionary pathways of four characters (habit, life span, type of fruit, and number of seeds per fruit) were inferred on the phylogeny using parsimony. The ancestral distribution areas were reconstructed using dispersal -- vicariance analysis. * Key Results: Fumarieae is monophyletic and includes three groups that agree with the morphology-based subtribes: Discocapninae, Fumariinae, and Sarcocapninae. Within subtribes, the relationships among genera were different from those obtained with morphological data. Annual life span, nonchasmophytic habit, and a several-seeded capsule were the basal character states for the tribe. The ancestor occupied a continuous area between West Eurasia and Africa. Vicariances explain the divergence between lineages Discocapninae (South Africa) and Fumariinae -- Sarcocapninae (Mediterranean), and the disjunction of Fumariinae (Mediterranean -- Central Asia). * Conclusions: Molecular phylogeny confirms the subtribal classification of Fumarieae based on morphology. However it provides different results regarding the relationships among genera within each subtribe, which affects the inference of the evolutionary pathway followed by the four selected characters. The disjunct distribution of the tribe is explained by different vicariance scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Dactylicapnos macrocapnos complex is revised, and D. platycarpa Lidén, D. odontocarpa Lidén and D. macrocapnos subsp. echinosperma Lidén are recognised as new taxa. The complex consists of a chain of 4 vicariant taxa from northwestern India (Garhwal) to western Bhutan (Thimphu). Dactylicapnos cordata Lidén (eastern Nepal, Darjeeling) is described and contrasted with its close relative, the geographically disjunct D. burmanica (western Yunnan, Burma). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low inputs in nitrogen may affect canola (Brassica napus L.) competitiveness and allelopathic potential as well as grain and oil yields. A 2-yr study was conducted to assess nitrogen supply effect on the ability of four canola hybrids to compete with corn poppy (Papaver rhoeas L.) as well as its effect on canola seed and oil yields. Phytotoxic potential of canola hybrids on germination and growth of winter wild oat (Avena sterilis spp. ludoviciana L.), corn poppy, and wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis L.) was also determined using a perlite-based bioassay. At canola blossom, corn poppy plant number in nitrogen-treated plots was 23% less than that in the nitrogen-untreated ones. Canola seed and oil yield was reduced 18.6 and 23.7%, respectively, by the competition of 100 corn poppy plants m-2, with 'Elan' and `Titan' the most productive hybrids. Nitrogen supply did not increase in all cases the competitive ability or the seed and oil yields. In the laboratory, germination of the winter weeds was completely inhibited by the greatest extract concentration (5 g 100 mL1) of all hybrids. Nitrogen supply did not affect, in most cases, the phytotoxicity of canola hybrids, while phytotoxicity did not significantly differ among hybrids. Conclusively, the hybrids Elan and Titan, cultivated without any herbicide or nitrogen fertilizer, could be viable as a shortterm alternative crop system for canola seed and oil production, especially in organic or low-input fields infested by corn poppy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]