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The genus Fuchsia is generally used in herbal preparations to treat conditions caused by microorganisms. Based on the popular use of this type of plants, the objective of this study was to obtain sequential extracts of increasing polarity from the branches of Fuchsia lycioides by maceration at room temperature and by the Soxhlet method at 60ºC, to later evaluate the antifungal capacity of the extracts against different clinical isolates of the Candida genus. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited strong anti-fungal activity, selectively inhibiting C. albicans strains with MIC and CMF values of 10 and 15 µg/mL, respectively; comparable with the drug itraconazole®. The analysis of the extract by GC-MS showed a high concentration of terpenoids (mainly phytol) and phenylpropanoids (mainly cinnamic acid), possibly responsible for the antifungal activity of the ethyl acetate extract of F. lycioides.

The article discusses the possibility of using representatives of the genus Fuchsia L. as outdoor ornamental plants, in summer, in container gardening. The main features of vegetative propagation of several species and hybrids of this genus have been identifi ed. The most promising ones have been identifi ed and evaluated.

Thirteen historical specimens (including original material, mainly syntypes and isolectotypes) of Allan and Richard Cunningham's taxa of Epilobium and Fuchsia (Onagraceae) from New Zealand recently discovered in the Turczaninow Herbarium (KW-TURCZ) at the National Herbarium of Ukraine (KW) are discussed in comparison with digital images of and data on other relevant specimens from several other herbaria, such as K, BM, WELT, etc. These specimens, collected in New Zealand by Allan Cunningham in 1826 and 1838 and by Richard Cunningham in 1833–1834, represent the following taxa (as outlined by A. Cunningham): Epilobium alsinoides, E. atriplicifolium, E. confertum, E. hirtigerum, E. nerterioides, E. nummulariifolium, E. pedunculare, E. thymifolium, E. virgatum (A.Cunn., non Lam.), and Fuchsia procumbens. It is demonstrated that type designations for some names in Epilobium mentioned above remain problematic; some names appear to be not yet typified effectively. These problems are caused by several factors, such as misplaced original labels or specimens, errors or misinterpretations in curatorial or copied labels, a complicated numbering system applied by A. Cunningham, etc. Critical re-assessment of all available original and other associated specimens of the mentioned names in Epilobium, especially those in K, is needed. Before such re-assessment, we refrain from any nomenclatural actions affecting type designations. The recent discovery in KW-TURCZ of important historical specimens (not only Onagraceae but also many other plant families) collected in New Zealand in the first half of the 19th century by Allan Cunningham, Richard Cunningham, J. Everard Home and some other early explorers is not only interesting from a historical viewpoint but also important for taxonomy, especially for proper application of names validated by A. Cunningham.

Differential visitation of pollinators due to divergent floral traits can lead to reproductive isolation via assortative pollen flow, which may ultimately be a driving force in plant speciation, particularly in areas of overlap. We evaluate the effects of pollinator behavioral responses to variation of intraspecific floral color and nectar rewards, on reproductive isolation between two hybrid flower color morphs (fuchsia and blue) and their parental species Penstemon roseus and P. gentianoides with a mixed-pollination system. We show that pollinators (bumblebees and hummingbirds) exhibit different behavioral responses to fuchsia and blue morphs, which could result from differential attraction or deterrence. In addition to differences in color (spectral reflectance), we found that plants with fuchsia flowers produced more and larger flowers, produced more nectar and were more visited by pollinators than those with blue flowers. These differences influenced the foraging behavior and effectiveness as pollinators of both bumblebees and hummingbirds, which contributed to reproductive isolation between the two hybrid flower color morphs and parental species. This study demonstrates how differentiation of pollination traits promotes the formation of hybrid zones leading to pollinator shifts and reproductive isolation. While phenotypic traits of fuchsia and red flowers might encourage more efficient hummingbird pollination in a mixed-pollination system, the costs of bumblebee pollination on plant reproduction could be the drivers for the repeated shifts from bumblebee- to hummingbird-mediated pollination.

This study focused on the occurrence of xylophagous beetles and nematodes in the different parts of Pinus sylvestris L.trees of different health condition in the pure stands in Zhytomyr region (Central Polissya). Stem fragments with thin,thick and transitional bark, branches and twigs were examined in each of 12 model trees. Xylophagous beetles were identified by adults or by galleries. Nematodes were isolated from wood samples in the laboratory using the Baermann method and identified by morphometric characteristics. Among 10 species of xylophagous beetles, Ips acuminatus(frequency 16.7%; dominance 17.9%) and I. sexdentatus (frequency 11.1%, dominance 54.6%) dominated, which prefer the fragments with thin and thick bark respectively. No xylophagous beetle was found in the healthy and slightly weakened trees. Among 15 nematode species, 40% were saproxylic, 33.3% entomophilic, 13.3% phytophagous, and by 6.7% predators and species associated with fungi. An entomophilic nematodes Cryptaphelenchus macrogaster f. acuminati was common in all parts of stem and branches (frequency of occurrence 25–33.3%). An entomophilic nematodes Parasitorhabditis acuminati and a predator Fuchsia buetschlii acuminati had the highest frequency of occurrence (41.7%) under the thin bark and in the branches. The frequency of these species in colonized with xylophagous insects stem fragments with thin bark was significantly higher than in respective not colonized fragments., Це дослідження зосередило увагу на появі ксилофагових жуків та нематод у різних частинах Pinus sylvestris L. дерева різного стану здоров’я в чистих насадженнях Житомирської області (Центральне Полісся). Фрагменти стебла з тонкими,у кожному з 12 модельних дерев обстежували товсту та перехідну кору, гілки та гілочки. Ксилофагові жуки були ідентифіковані дорослими або галереями. Нематоди були виділені із зразків деревини в лабораторії за допомогою Baermann метод та ідентифікований за морфометричними характеристиками. Серед 10 видів ксилофагових жуків, Ips acuminatus(частота 16,7%; домінування 17,9%) та I. sexdentatus (частота 11,1%, домінування 54,6%), які домінували віддайте перевагу фрагментам відповідно з тонкою і густою корою. Жодного ксилофагового жука у здорового та незначного ослаблені дерева. Серед 15 видів нематод 40% були сапроксильними, 33,3% ентомофільними, 13,3% фітофаговими та на 6,7% хижаків та видів, пов’язаних із грибами. Ентомофільна нематода Cryptaphelenchus macrogaster f. акумінати були поширені у всіх частинах стебла та гілок (частота зустрічальності 25–33,3%). Ентомофільний нематоди Parasitorhabditis acuminati і хижак Fuchsia buetschlii acuminati мали найвищу частоту залягання (41,7%) під тонкою корою та на гілках. Частота цих видів у колонізованих з ксилофагами фрагменти стебла комах з тонкою корою були значно вище, ніж у відповідних не колонізованих фрагментів., Это исследование было сосредоточено на встречаемости жуков-ксилофагов и нематод в различных частях Pinus sylvestris L. деревья разного состояния в чистом насаждении в Житомирской области (Центральное Полесье). Фрагменты стебля с тонкими,толстая и переходная кора, ветви и сучья исследовались на каждом из 12 модельных деревьев. Жуки-ксилофаги были определяется взрослыми или галереями. Нематоды были выделены из образцов древесины в лаборатории с помощью прибора Baermann. методом и идентифицированы по морфометрическим характеристикам. Среди 10 видов жуков-ксилофагов Ips acuminatus(частота 16,7%; доминирование 17,9%) и I. sexdentatus (частота 11,1%, доминирование 54,6%), которые предпочитают фрагменты с тонкой и толстой корой соответственно. Жук-ксилофаг у здоровых и слабых ослабленные деревья. Среди 15 видов нематод 40% были сапроксильными, 33,3% энтомофильными, 13,3% фитофагами и на 6,7% хищников и видов, связанных с грибами. Энтомофильная нематода Cryptaphelenchus macrogasterе. acuminati был обычен во всех частях стебля и ветвей (встречаемость 25–33,3%). Энтомофильный нематоды Parasitorhabditis acuminati и хищник Fuchsia buetschlii acuminati имели самую высокую частоту встречаемость (41,7%) под тонкой корой и в ветвях. Частота встречаемости этих видов в колониях ксилофагов.Фрагментов стебля насекомых с тонкой корой было достоверно больше, чем у соответствующих незаселенных фрагментов.

A new species of Kohleria (Gesneriaceae) is described from the Colombian Andes, in the departments of Huila and Cauca. The new species, Kohleria huilensis, has long been documented from the Merenberg Natural Reserve (La Plata, Huila), but has been confused with K. inaequalis var. inaequalis and K. inaequalis var. ocellata. The new species is distinguished by the following characters: white sericeous and sparse villous indumenta on vegetative structures; calyx lobes elongate with revolute margins; corolla magenta to fuchsia, ventral lobe orbicular with apex truncate; filaments hirsute with glandular trichomes distally; and staminodes < 2.8 mm long.

The flora of Onagraceae is presented for the Bahia State, Brazil. Twenty native species are recognized in two genera. Fuchsia , represented only by F. regia , is reported for the first time in the State. The genus Ludwigia presented 19 species, seven of which are new occurrences for Bahia: L. affinis , L. brachyphylla , L. elegans , L. decurrens , L. quadrangularis , L. sericea and L. torulosa . Identification keys, descriptions and comments for taxa as well as photos and distribution maps for species in the state are presented.

While feeding, foragers can alter their environment. Such alteration constitutes ecological niche construction (ENC) if it enables future benefits for the constructor and conspecific individuals. The environmental modification may also affect non-constructing, bystander species, especially if they share resources with constructor species. If so, ENC could confer the constructor species a competitive advantage by both enhancing its foraging returns and reducing those of bystander species. Expectations - (E1) ENC frequency should vary positively with the recent and current density of the constructor species, and (E2) constructors should use modifications disproportionately. In contrast, bystanders should (E3) experience intensified competition for the affected resource, and (E4) exhibit diverse, possibly mitigating, responses to ENC, depending on opportunity and relative benefits. We investigated these expectations in Argentina for competition for Fuchsia magellanica nectar between an invasive bumble bee Bombus terrestris (terr: putative constructor), which often bites holes at the bases of floral tubes to rob nectar, and native B. dahlbomii (dahl: bystander), which normally accesses Fuchsia nectar through the flower mouth (front visits). Robbing holes constitute ENC, as they persist until the 7-day flowers wilt. The dynamics of the incidence of robbed flowers, abundance of both bees and the number and types of their flower visits (front or robbing) were characterised by alternate-day surveys of plants during 2.5 months. After initially accessing Fuchsia nectar via front visits, terr switched to robbing and its abundance on Fuchsia increased 20-fold within 10 days (E2). Correspondingly, the incidence of robbed flowers varied positively with recent and past terr abundance (E1). In contrast, dahl abundance remained low and varied negatively with the incidence of robbed flowers (E3). When terr ceased visiting Fuchsia, dahl abundance increased sixfold within 10 days (E3), possibly because many dahl previously had avoided competition with terr by feeding on other plant species (E4). While terr was present, dahl on Fuchsia used front visits (tolerance) or used existing robbing holes (adoption: E4). The diverse dahl responses suggest partial compensation for competition with terr. ENC alters competitive asymmetry, favouring constructor species. However, bystander responses can partially offset this advantage, perhaps facilitating coexistence.Los animales pueden alterar su ambiente como consecuencia del forrajeo. Esta alteración constituye una forma de construcción de nicho ecológico (CNE) cuando la misma promueve beneficios para el constructor y otros individuos de la misma especie. Esta modificación ambiental puede también afectar otras especies no involucradas directamente en la CNE, especialmente cuando comparten recursos con la especie constructora. En este caso, la CNE puede conferir una ventaja competitiva a la especie constructora, incrementado sus beneficios alimenticios en detrimento de los de las especies no constructoras. Expectativas - (E1) La frecuencia de eventos de CNE debería variar positivamente con la densidad presente y pasada de la especie constructora, y (E2) los individuos de la especie constructora deberían usar las modificaciones asociadas a la CNE en forma diferencial. Por el contrario, los individuos de las otras especies que usen el mismo recurso deberían (E3) experimentar una intensificación de la competencia, y (E4) exhibir una diversidad de respuestas, algunas que atenúen las consecuencias negativas de la CNE, lo que va a depender de la oportunidad y de los beneficios relativos. En Argentina, investigamos el cumplimiento de estas expectativas en la competencia por el néctar de Fuchsia magellanica entre el abejorro invasor, Bombus terrestris (terr: la especie constructora), quien frecuentemente agujerea la base de tubos florales para robar néctar, y el abejorro nativo B. dahlbomii (dahl: la especie afectada), quien normalmente accede al néctar de Fuchsia en forma legítima a través de la apertura de la flor (visitas frontales). Los agujeros realizados por terr constituyen un caso de CNE, ya que persisten a lo largo de la vida de la vida de la flor (aprox. 7-day). En este trabajo relevamos la incidencia de flores robadas, la abundancia de las dos especies de abejas, y el número y tipo de sus visitas florales (frontales o de robo) día por medio durante 2.5 meses. Inicialmente terr accedió las flores de Fuchsia frontalmente, pero más tarde cambió su comportamiento convirtiéndose en un robador casi exclusivo a lo largo de un período de 10 días en que su abundancia se incrementó 20 veces (E2). En consecuencia, la incidencia de flores robadas varió positivamente con la abundancia de terr presente y pasada (E1). Por el contrario, la abundancia de dahl fue baja y varió negativamente con la incidencia de flores robadas (E3). En particular, la abundancia de dahl se incrementó seis veces en un período de 10 días una vez que terr cesó de visitar las flores de Fuchsia (E3), posiblemente porque dahl evitó la competencia con terr forrajeando en otras especies de plantas (E4). Cuando terr estuvo presente, dahl visitó las flores de Fuchsia frontalmente (tolerancia) o usó los agujeros existentes (adopción de comportamiento robador: E4). Estas respuestas diversas de dahl sugieren una compensación parcial de los efectos negativos de la competencia con terr. La CNE incrementa la asimetría de la competencia, favoreciendo la especie constructora. Sin embargo, las diferentes respuestas de las especies afectadas pueden compensar parcialmente esta desventaja competitiva, tal vez facilitando la coexistencia.

Medicinal plants are widely used in folk medicine but quite often their composition and biological effects are hardly known. Our study aimed to analyze the composition, cytotoxicity, antimicrobial, antioxidant activity and cellular migration effects of Anthyllis vulneraria, Fuchsia magellanica, Fuchsia triphylla and Lysimachia nummularia used in the Romanian ethnomedicine for wounds. Liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to analyze 50% (v/v) ethanolic and aqueous extracts of the plants&rsquo, leaves. Antimicrobial activities were estimated with a standard microdilution method. The antioxidant properties were evaluated by validated chemical cell-free and biological cell-based assays. Cytotoxic effects were performed on mouse fibroblasts and human keratinocytes with a plate reader-based method assessing intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP), nucleic acid and protein contents and also by a flow cytometer-based assay detecting apoptotic&ndash, necrotic cell populations. Cell migration to cover cell-free areas was visualized by time-lapse phase-contrast microscopy using standard culture inserts. Fuchsia species showed the strongest cytotoxicity and the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activity. However, their ethanolic extracts facilitated cell migration, most probably due to their various phenolic acid, flavonoid and anthocyanin derivatives. Our data might serve as a basis for further animal experiments to explore the complex action of Fuchsia species in wound healing assays.

A taxonomic revision is presented for ten species that comprise the Miconia ulmarioides complex (Melastomataceae: Miconieae). This group is characterized by four-merous flowers with four-locular ovaries, short, stout, pink to fuchsia anthers, punctiform or truncated styles and short outer calyx teeth. All species in the group are small trees and shrubs from the northern Andes in Colombia and Venezuela and the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Coastal Cordillera of Venezuela, with one species (M. nubicola) endemic to Jamaica. Leandra ossaeoides is transferred to Miconia (as M. ossaeoides) and M. albertii is synonymized under M. ulmarioides. We designate new lectotypes for M. arbutifolia, M. spinulosa, M. inaperta, M. octoscenidium, M. spinulosa var. subintegrifolia, M. ulmarioides, M. aegrotans, and M. ulmarioides var. fendleri. Descriptions, morphological discussions, key to taxa, and photographs of key features are included for all species.

Background: In small dioecious populations stochastic events may increase biased sex ratios decreasing the viability of populations. Moreover, pollinators may promote pollen limitation if sexual dimorphism related to pollinator attraction, such as flower size and number of flowers are present. Questions: 1) In order to estimate the viability of natural populations of Fuchsia parviflora , population size, sex ratio and fruit production were estimated in natural populations. In addition, number of flowers and floral traits were compared between genders as a way to predict pollinator preferences to particular gender. Studied species: Fuchsia parviflora is an endemic Mexican dioecious, animal-pollinated shrub. Methods: In 2012 and 2013 population sizes and sex ratios were estimated in 12 populations in the states of Michoacan and Jalisco. In addition, the number of flowers and floral traits were estimated between genders. Results: Population sizes varied widely from 14 to 550 individuals and an overall significant male- bias was found. Male frequency varied from 50 % to 78 % among populations and some male-biased populations were also the small populations. A significant negative correlation between population size and male frequency was found, but no relationship was found between population size and number of flowers or fruit production. Reproductive plant height varied among populations but not between genders within populations. Male plants had larger number of flowers but floral longevity did not differ between genders. Consistently in all evaluated populations, staminate flowers had longer floral tubes and wider corolla diameter than pistillate flowers. Conclusions: In accordance to stochastic sex ratio fluctuations by small population sizes, it was expected to find populations with male and female-biased sex ratios. However, the absence of female-biased sex ratio suggests that male plants may have a higher survival chance but this hypothesis has to be tested. Although populations seem not to be seed-limited, some populations were cut during this study to plant avocado trees, suggesting the need to implement conservation efforts to preserve populations of F. parviflora .

The genus Fuchsia has 110 known species and numerous hybrids. These ornamental plants with brightly colored flowers originate from Central and South America, New Zealand, and Tahiti, but a wider variety are now grown all over the world. Few viruses have been reported in Fuchsia spp.: a carlavirus, Fuchsia latent virus (FLV) (1–3), a cucumovirus, Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) (3), and two tospoviruses, Impatiens necrotic spot virus (INSV) and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) (4). In August 2009, five plants, each representing a different cultivar of Fuchsia hybrid, from home gardens in the Auckland and Southland regions of New Zealand, displayed variable symptoms including mild chlorosis, mild mottle, or purple spots on leaves. Plants tested negative for CMV, INSV, and TSWV using commercial ImmunoStrips (Agdia Inc., Elkhart, IN); however, flexuous particles of ~650 to 700 nm were found by electron microscopy in all samples. Local lesions were also observed on Chenopodium quinoa plants 4 weeks after sap inoculation. Total RNA was extracted from all plants with a RNeasy Plant Mini Kit (Qiagen Inc., Doncaster, Australia) and tested by reverse transcription (RT)-PCR using two generic sets of primers (R. van der Vlugt, personal communication) designed to amplify fragments of ~730 and 550 bp of the replicase and coat protein genes of carlaviruses, respectively. Amplicons of the expected size were obtained for all samples, cloned, and at least three clones per sample were sequenced. No differences within clones from the same samples were observed (GenBank Accession Nos. HQ197672 to HQ197681). A BLASTn search of the viral replicase fragment showed the highest nucleotide identity (76%) to Potato rough dwarf virus (PRDV) (EU020009), whereas the coat protein fragment had maximum nucleotide identity (70 to 72%) to PRDV (EU020009 and DQ640311) and Potato virus P (DQ516055). Sequences obtained were also pairwise aligned using the MegAlign program (DNASTAR, Inc., Madison, WI) and results showed that the isolates had 83 to 97% identity to each other within each genome region. Further sequences (HQ197925 and HQ197926) were obtained from a Fuchsia plant originating from Belgium, a BLASTn analysis showed high nucleotide identity (84 to 99%) to the New Zealand isolates. The low genetic identity to other Carlavirus members suggests that these isolates belong to a different species from those previously sequenced. On the basis of electron microscopy and herbaceous indexing, the isolates had similar characteristics to a carlavirus reported from Fuchsia in Italy (1) and FLV reported in Canada (2). The Italian carlavirus isolate was obtained and tested with the same primers by RT-PCR. Pairwise analysis of the Italian sequences (HQ197927 and HQ197928) with the New Zealand and Belgian sequences showed between 84 and 95% similarity within each genome region. These results suggest that the carlavirus infecting these plants is the same virus, possibly FLV. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this carlavirus infecting Fuchsia spp. in New Zealand, but the virus has probably been present for some time in this country and is likely to be distributed worldwide. References: (1) G. Dellavalle et al. Acta Hortic. 432:332, 1996. (2) L. J. John et al. Acta Hortic. 110:195, 1980. (3) P. Roggero et al. Plant Pathol. 49:802, 2000. (4) R. Wick and B. Dicklow. Diseases in Fuchsia. Common Names of Plant Diseases. Online publication. The American Phytopathological Society, St. Paul, MN, 1999.

Fuchsia regia and F. campos-portoi (Onagraceae) belong to section Quelusia; a group native to the Patagonian, Southern and South eastern Brazilian regions. To date, no studies coupling detailed pollinator observations and breeding system experiments have been published for these species. Studies were performed at the Parque Nacional do Itatiaia (Rio de Janeiro), in altitudes ranging from 1300 to 2790 meters a.s.l. The flowers are nectariferous and protogynous. Yet, both species are self-compatible and facultatively autogamous, since more than 43% of the intact flowers undergo delayed self-pollination. Hummingbirds (four species), Acroceridae flies and bees (Apis mellifera and Bombus brasiliensis), in that order of importance, were recorded as pollinators of F. regia. In F. campos-portoi, bees of B. brasiliensis were the most frequent pollinators, followed by hummingbirds (three species). Experimental crosses between the two species yielded no fruits, in spite of their sharing of pollinators and of the existence of hybrids mentioned in literature

Anthyllis vulneraria L., Fuchsia sp., Galium mollugo L., and Veronica beccabunga L. were selected to analyse the phenolic content and the antioxidant activity by ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC) assays. The highest polyphenol, tannin, and flavonoid contents were measured in Fuchsia species (7.40 ± 0.8, 5.62 ± 0.7 and 0.72 ± 0.1 g/100 g dry weight), while the lowest values were detected in Anthyllis vulneraria (0.68 ± 0.02, 0.17 ± 0.03 and 0.45 ± 0.01 g/100 g dry weight) and Galium mollugo (1.77 ± 0.05, 0.49 ± 0.04 and 0.16 ± 0.06 g/100 g dry weight). The leaf extract of Fuchsia sp. had the highest, while the herb of A. vulneraria had the lowest antioxidant effect measured by both methods, which is probably related to total polyphenol, tannin, and flavonoid contents.

Anthocyanins are beneficial bioflavonoids that have numerous roles in human health maintenance, disease prevention, and overall well-being. In addition, anthocyanins are key to the consumer appeal of many ornamental plants. Most citrus (Citrus L.) plants do not produce anthocyanins under warm tropical and subtropical conditions. Anthocyanin pigments, responsible for the “blood” color of blood orange [Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck], are produced after exposure to cold conditions during the fruit’s development. The transcription factor Ruby is responsible for the production of anthocyanin in blood orange. Functionally, similar genes exist in other fruit crops such as grape [Vitis vinifera L. (VvmybA1 and VvmybA2)] and apple [Malus ×domestica Borkh (MdMYB10)]. Here, VvmybA1 and Ruby genes were constitutively expressed in ‘Mexican’ lime (Citrus aurantifolia Swingle). This cultivar performs optimally under Florida’s humid subtropical environment and has a short juvenile phase. Constitutive expression of VvmybA1 or Ruby resulted in anthocyanin pigmentation in the leaves, stems, flowers, and fruit. An increased pigmentation of the outer layer(s) of stem tissue was observed in ‘Mexican’ lime overexpressing the VvmybA1, whereas lower anthocyanin levels were observed in plants overexpressing Ruby. Enhanced pigmentation was also observed in the young leaves; however, pigment intensity levels decreased as the leaves matured. Flower color ranged from light pink to fuchsia and the fruit pulp of several ‘Mexican’ lime lines were maroon; similar to a blood orange. The results demonstrate that expression of anthocyanin-related genes can affect temporal pigmentation patterns in citrus. It also opens up the possibility for the development of modified blood orange and other cultivars adapted to the subtropical environment.

Flowering of long-day (LD) plants is promoted by low-intensity (photoperiodic) lighting during an otherwise long night. Conventional lamps that emit a relatively low red (R; 600–700 nm) to far-red (FR; 700–800 nm) light ratio (e.g., incandescent lamps) create an intermediate phytochrome photoequilibria (PPE) and are sometimes more effective at promoting flowering of LD plants (LDP) than lamps that emit a higher R:FR (e.g., fluorescent lamps) and establish a higher PPE. Thus, we postulated that flowering of several LDPs would be increasingly promoted as the fraction of FR radiation increased relative to R light and the established PPE decreased. Rudbeckia (Rudbeckia hirta), snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus), Fuchsia (Fuchsia × hybrida), and three cultivars of Petunia (Petunia × hybrida) were grown at 20 °C under a truncated 9-h ambient photoperiod with or without 4-h NI lighting by incandescent lamps or light-emitting diodes that emitted seven different R:FR and created estimated PPE from 0.16 to 0.89. For all three Petunia cultivars and snapdragon, flowering was earliest under an NI with an intermediate PPE and delayed under short days (SDs) or an NI that elicited the highest or lowest PPE. For Rudbeckia and Fuchsia, all NI treatments promoted flowering except for the highest PPE NI, which was perceived as an SD. There were relatively subtle effects of the NI treatments on extension growth except in Petunia, in which all three cultivars showed a quadratic response to the PPE under the NI treatments, where plants were tallest at flowering under intermediate PPE. We conclude that an NI that establishes an intermediate PPE optimally promotes flowering of a variety of LDPs. These results are not consistent with the established paradigm for how light quality regulates flowering of LDPs, particularly in Arabidopsis, suggesting that the paradigm is not necessarily applicable to plants outside of the Brassicaceae.

Masdevallia luerorum from the southern Pacific region of Costa Rica is described and illustrated. It resembles M. lata, but differs in the single flowered inflorescence, the shorter sepals, the broad and cylindrical sepaline tube, the smaller mentum beneath the column-foot, a smaller secondary mentum, a slight deflection between the two mentums, and the lip with marginal folds near the middle, apically rounded and conspicuously verrucose. Initial phylogenetic evidence indicated that Masdevallia nicaraguae is closely allied to M. luerorum. However, M. nicaraguae is distinguished by the white flowers suffused with fuchsia stripes toward the bases of sepals and the thick and triangular, shorter sepaline tails of the lateral sepals. Moreover, both species are isolated geographically Se describe e ilustra Masdevallia luerorum del Pacífico sur de Costa Rica. Es similar a M. lata, pero difiere en la infloresencia uniflora, los sépalos más cortos, el tubo sepalino amplio y cilíndrico un mentón más pequeño debajo del pie de la columna, un mentón secundario más corto, una ligera deflexión entre ambos mentones, y el labelo con pliegues marginales cerca de la mitad y apicalmente redondeado y conspicuamente verrucoso. Evidencia filogenética inicial indicó que Masdevallia nicaraguae está estrechamente relacionada con M. luerorum. Sin embargo, M. nicaraguae se distingue por las flores blancas con rayas fucsia hacia las bases de los sépalos y colas sepalinas triangulares, más cortas y gruesas. Además, ambas especies están aisladas geográficamente. Universidad de Costa Rica/[814-B3-080]/UCR/Costa Rica UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Jardín Botánico Lankester (JBL)

Green walls provide an option for reducing the thermal load on buildings, reducing the requirement for mechanised air conditioning and helping to mitigate urban heat islands. The range and extent of benefits can vary with green wall typology. This research investigated green facades utilising wall shrubs and climbing plants to reduce air temperature adjacent to, and surface temperatures of, brick walls. Artificial wall sections were used to provide replicated data sets in both outdoor and controlled environmental conditions. During periods of high solar irradiance outdoors, the presence of live Prunus laurocerasus plants placed against walls significantly reduced air and surface temperatures compared to blank walls, but also in comparison to excised (non-transpiring) plant sections. Largest temperature differentials were recorded mid-late afternoon, where air adjacent to vegetated walls was 3°C cooler than non-vegetated walls. Prunus also provided significant wall cooling in controlled environment studies, but was intermediate in its surface cooling capacity (6.3°C) compared to other species; Stachys and Hedera providing >7.0°C cooling. When evaluated on a per leaf area basis, however, other species demonstrated greater cooling potential with Fuchsia, Jasminum and Lonicera out-performing others. Not only was it evident that different species varied in their cooling capacity, but that the mechanisms for providing wall cooling varied between species. Fuchsia promoted evapo-transpiration cooling, whereas shade cooling was more important in Jasminum and Lonicera. Plant physiology and leaf area/morphology should be considered when selecting species to maximise cooling in green wall applications. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

The vast diversity of floral colours in many flowering plant families, paired with the observation of preferences among pollinators, suggests that floral colour may be involved in the process of speciation in flowering plants. While transitions in floral colour have been examined in numerous genera, we have very little information on the consequences of floral colour transitions to the evolutionary success of a clade. Overlaid upon these patterns is the possibility that certain floral colours are more prevalent in certain environments, with the causes of differential diversification being more directly determined by geographical distribution. Here we examine transition rates to anthocyanin + carotenoid rich (red/orange/fuschia) flowers and examine whether red/orange flowers are associated with differences in speciation and/or extinction rates in Mimulus. Because it has been suggested that reddish flowers are more prevalent at high elevation, we also examine the macroevolutionary evidence for this association and determine if there is evidence for differential diversification at high elevations. We find that, while red/orange clades have equivalent speciation rates, the trait state of reddish flowers reverts more rapidly to the nonreddish trait state. Moreover, there is evidence for high speciation rates at high elevation and no evidence for transition rates in floral colour to differ depending on elevation.

Auxins are the only compounds used in commercial plant propagation to stimulate rooting, although efforts have been made to find other efficient compounds. Another group of rooting promoters could be plant growth retardants (PGRs) which act as inhibitors of gibberellin synthesis. The aim of the experiment was to determine the effect of flurprimidol and naphthalene-1-acetic acid (NAA) applied by quick-dip method on rooting and development of Fuchsia hybrida 'Swingtime' cuttings and their subsequent growth. Anatomical analysis of the rooting process was also done. Flurprimidol and NAA did not influence the percentage of rooted fuchsia cuttings but increased the number of adventitious roots. Both compounds were involved in earlier formation of root primordia. Flurprimidol and NAA, used simultaneously or separately, increased the number and length of axillary shoots of fuchsia cuttings. The effect of flurprimidol on the number of roots and shoots was stronger than that of NAA, but diminished after transplanting the rooted cuttings. The influence of flurprimidol on axillary shoot length was weaker as its concentration increased.

An illustrated list of species of sawflies collected during 2014 and 2015 in southern Ecuador is given. One genus and species, Pristiphora fernandezi Smith (Tenthredinidae), is new for the country. Ecological data are provided for Lagideus podocarpus Smith, sp. n. (Pergidae) that was observed feeding on Fuchsia vulcanica L. (Onagraceae). Three new combinations are proposed: Bolivius notabilis (Konow, 1899), Plaumanniana biclinea (Konow, 1899), and Proselandria alvina (Konow, 1899) (Tenthredinidae: Selandriinae). Copyright © 2016 Jean-Luc Boevé et al.

Primulina purpurea F. Wen, B. Zhao & Y.G Wei, a new species from East Guangxi, China, is described and illustrated. The new species resembles P. medica (D. Fang) Y. Z. Wang, but differs from the latter by having broadly ovate to elliptic, left-right slightly asymmetry leaf blade, brightly purple to fuchsia corolla, broadly lanceolate to narrowly ovate bracts with villous hairs outside and pubescent hairs inner, pistil 23.5–26.8 mm long, staminodes 3, capsule 4.5-5.0 cm long. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjpt.v19i2.13131 Bangladesh J. Plant Taxon. 19(2): 167-172, 2012 (December)

Fuchsia species (Onagraceae) have been introduced into Indonesia as ornamental plants and are cultivated in gardens and parks of mountainous areas. A rust disease was found on leaves of Fuchsia macrostemma var. globosa at Cipanas, West Java, Indonesia in February 2010. There has been no previous report on the rust disease of Fuchsia species in Indonesia. Based on morphological characteristics of the causal rust fungus it was identified as Pucciniastrum epilobii. Its occurrence and morphology are reported.

Miconia walterjuddii, a new species of Melastomataceae from the mountains in northeast Cuba, is described. This species can be easily assigned to Miconia section Chaenopleura due to its short anthers that open by two longitudinal slits. Sequence data from nrITS confirm this placement. This new species is characterized by its inconspicuous lepidote indumentum of minute adpressed scales ca. 0.05 mm long; small flowers in dichasia, forming a compact, many-flowered, rounded to subcorymbose cymes, with purple to fuchsia colored petals.

The use of saline irrigation water may be inevitable in the future since the freshwater supply is decreasing over time. In some regions of the United States, producers of both ornamental and agronomic crops are already facing a limited supply of high-quality water. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the salt tolerance of commonly used greenhouse bedding plants to minimize potential salt damage before use of nonpotable water sources is mandated. Research screening several bedding plants has not taken place for more than two decades. Therefore, we undertook experiments to screen popular bedding plants for salt tolerance during greenhouse production. Transplants were exposed to 0 (control), 20, 40, 60, or 80 mm sodium chloride (NaCl) in the irrigation water for 5 weeks resulting in average substrate pour-thru electrical conductivity (EC) values of 4.0 (control), 7.0, 9.8, 12.1, or 14.2 dS·m−1, respectively. Pansy (Viola tricolor) and zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia), the most sensitive species examined, exhibited 100% mortality when exposed to an EC of 14.2 dS·m−1. The least affected species for dry weight (DW) was snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) with a 54% reduction as EC increased from 4.0 to 14.2 dS·m−1. Only fuchsia (Fuchsia hybrida) and snapdragon were unaffected by an EC of 7.0 dS·m−1, whereas at 9.8 dS·m−1 all of the species had a significantly reduced DW as compared with control plants. Verbena (Verbena ×hybrida), petunia (Petunia ×hybrida), coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides), and begonia (Begonia hiemalis) were the only species that did not undergo a significant height reduction in comparing 9.8 dS·m−1 to control. A classification of the 14 species is created here on the basis of plant DW to provide guidance as to which species could be irrigated with more saline water while not compromising plant growth and quality.

Sexual polyploidization has both a theoretical as well as an applied significance. Morphological screening for large pollen grains and shape of pollen produced by the individual, cytological investigation of hybrid progeny, and unbalanced separation of chromosomes at anaphase I in pollen mother cells were used to detect the gametes with somatic chromosome number in Fuchsia. The interspecific hybrids of F. fulgens (sect. Ellobium) × F. magellanica (sect. Quelusia), F. fulgens (sect. Ellobium) × F. splendens (sect. Ellobium), and F. triphylla (sect. Fuchsia) × F. splendens (sect. Ellobium) produced at the University of Auckland, New Zealand, showed both large and normal pollen grains in the same anther indicating the presence of unreduced gametes. Cytological investigation carried out on the hybrid progeny of F. fulgens (diploid, 2n=22, sect. Ellobium) × F. magellanica (tetraploid, 2n=44, sect. Quelusia) and F. triphylla (diploid, sect. Fuchsia) × F. arborescens (diploid, sect. Schufia) revealed unexpected chromosome numbers of 2n=44 and 2n=33, respectively. In general, the hybrids showed low fertility caused by genetically unbalanced gametes resulted from random disjunction of chromosomes at anaphase I. Studies on meiosis together with the presence of different shapes and sizes of pollen grains in Fuchsia proved indirectly that unreduced gametes are the products of first division meiotic nuclear restitution. These unreduced gametes were viable irrespective of pollen shape, their predominance in the hybrids, nuclear DNA amount and species phylogenetic position.

Mutualisms or interspecific interactions involving net mutual benefits, are an important component of ecological theory, although effectively demonstrating mutualism is notoriously difficult. Among two New Zealand endemics, a slightly elevated germination rate of Fuchsia excorticata (Onagraceae) seeds after passage through tree weta (Orthoptera: Anostostomatidae) compared with seeds manually extracted from fruit, led to the proposal that a mutualistic relationship exists between this plant and animal. An improved germination rate, or any other single trait, however, does not alone constitute evidence for mutualism; the relative costs and benefits of numerous components of the interaction need to be accounted for. We considered the costs and benefits to F. excorticata of the putative seed dispersal mutualism with tree weta. Tree weta provided with F. excorticata fruits destroyed 78% of the seeds they consumed, did not move fruit; and faeces containing seeds were deposited near their roost holes (which are naturally in trees). The seeds remaining after fruit consumption and those that are ingested but survive gut passage are unlikely to be deposited in suitable habitat for seedling survival. Plant food preferences of captive tree weta assessed using pairwise leaf choice tests showed that the leaves of F. excorticata were the least preferred of six commonly encountered plants. In addition, we found that tree weta did not show a preference for F. excorticata fruit over a standard leafy diet, indicating they are unlikely to be actively seeking fruit in preference to other sources of food. These observations indicate that any interaction between tree weta and F. excorticata is likely to be opportunistic rather than mutualistic, and highlight the difficulty of characterizing such interactions.

New Zealand is home to giant king crickets called weta, which are the only insects known to consume fleshy-fruits and disperse seeds after gut passage. Although they disperse seeds in viable condition after consumption, their importance as seed dispersers is unknown. We conducted a series of field observations and laboratory experiments to investigate intraspecific variation in the capacity of Wellington tree weta (Hemidenina crassidens) to disperse seeds of tree fuchsia (Fuchsia excorticata). We asked three questions. How frequently do weta disperse fuchsia seeds? Do seed passage rates differ between sexes and different-sized weta? Might weta select for particular seed sizes via differential seed mortality after ingestion? A total of 2,272 F. excorticata seedlings germinated from 241 scats (i.e., faecal pellets) that were collected from the field. Experimental results showed that, on average, 15% of seeds ingested by weta successfully germinated, whereas 75% germinated in control trials. Larger weta dispersed greater numbers of seeds in experimental trials, while no differences in dispersal rates were observed between sexes. Regardless of sex and size, weta preferentially dispersed larger seeds. When interpreted collectively, results indicate that (1) weta are frequent seed dispersers of F. excorticata, although many seeds are destroyed during ingestion, (2) larger-bodied weta consistently disperse greater quantities of seeds, which is unusual in seed dispersal mutualisms, and (3) weta preferentially disperse larger seeds, suggesting that they might interact evolutionarily with New Zealand plants.

A eficácia de três estirpes de Clonostachys rosea no controle do mofo cinzento (MC) em fúcsia (Fuchsia speciosa) foi comparada. Em experimento em estufa em Porto Alegre, RS, a incidência do MC foi reduzida em 40, 73 e 80% com a aplicação das estirpes GSAL, GFO4 e G8 de C. rosea, em 2004, e em 83, 89 e 94%, respectivamente, em 2005. Em experimentos em estufa comercial de mudas em Vacaria, RS, nos dois anos, as plantas foram aspergidas semanalmente com: (1) com água + espalhante adesivo (0,01%); (2) aplicação sequencial com clorotalonil, folpet, oxicloreto de cobre, mancozeb, iprodione e thiram, a partir de 26 dias do plantio; (3) suspensão de conídios da estirpe GFO4, 39 vezes a partir dos 26 dias do transplantio; e (4) suspensão de GFO4, 29 vezes a partir dos 61 dias do transplantio. A redução da incidência e da severidade do MC nos tratamentos com C. rosea se equivaleu ao com fungicidas, sem efeito na fotossíntese ou condutância estomática. O número de mudas obtidas de plantas tratadas com C. rosea e fungicidas foi superior à testemunha em 2005. The efficacy of three strains of C. rosea in the control of Gray Mold (GM) in fuchsia was compared. In a greenhouse experiment conducted in Porto Alegre, RS, the incidence of GM was reduced by 40, 73, and 80% with application of strains GSAL, GFO4, and G8 in 2004, and by 83, 89 and 94%, respectively, in 2005. Other experiments were conducted in the same years in a commercial crop of fuchsia grown from cuttings in a greenhouse in Vacaria, RS. The plants were sprayed weekly, as follows, with: (1) water plus a wetting agent, 0.01% (control); (2) chlorothalonil, folpet, copper, mancozeb, iprodione, and thiram beginning at 26 days after transplanting; (3) a conidial suspension of strain GFO4 of C. rosea applied 39 times beginning at 26 days after transplanting, and (4) GF04 conidial suspensions applied 29 times beginning at 61 days after transplanting. C. rosea reduced the incidence and severity of GM to levels similar to those in the fungicide-treated plants, and did not affect photosynthesis or stomatic conductance. The number of cuttings obtained from plants treated with C. roseum and fungicides was higher than the control in 2005.

The white jelly-leaf mushroom (Tremella fuciformis Berk.) is a widely consumed edible fungus in Asia, particularly in China (Stamets 2000). In 2013, fresh T. fuciformis yield reached 385,000 t from all over China. Fujian Province is the main producing area of T. fuciformis, with 358,000 t in 2013. However, in October 2015, a serious rot disease with more than 30% incidence was found on T. fuciformis at a mushroom factory in Sanming, Fujian, China (26.30°N, 118.42°E). The symptoms mainly occurred on the bottom surface of T. fuciformis. Infected fruiting bodies were covered by white mycelia that later turned red or fuchsia. In the final stages of infection, the T. fuciformis fruiting bodies turned dark red or brown before rotting. The aerial mycelium of the pathogen was isolated from surface tissues of symptomatic fruiting bodies. On potato dextrose agar (PDA), the pathogen colony appeared red, reddish, then white to cream-color, successively. Aerial mycelia were white and grew vigorously to a height of 1 t...

Tabebuia karsoana is a shrub or small tree species from the northern karst of Puerto Rico, where it is confined to ridges and hilltops. Its habit and general flower appearance are similar to those of T. haemantha (Bertero ex Spreng.) A. DC. However, T. karsoana is distinguished by leaflets densely covered with white peltate scales on both sides, the corolla fuchsia with a white microscopically papillose throat, the stamens with arcuate filaments, and the anthers divaricate and connivent, among other features. In addition, the two species’ distributions do not overlap and their habitats are contrasting. According to IUCN criteria, the new species can be defined as “endangered” and consequently needs legal protection.

Chromosome numbers are reported for 13 species and four artificially produced interspecific hybrids of Fuchsia (Onagraceae). The chromosome number of F. encliandra is reported here for the first time and new chromosome numbers were obtained for F. triphylla and F. boliviana. an approximately 2.4‐fold variation in DNa C‐value was observed with a range of values from 1.46 pg to 3.44 pg per 2C nucleus. The lowest C‐values were found in the species from New Zealand. The four polyploidy species had considerably lower 1Cx‐values than most of the diploid species. The nuclear DNA content of the hybrids was, as expected, intermediate between those of the parental species.

We assessed the degree of pollen and fruit‐dispersal limitation in the endemic gynodioe‐cious New Zealand tree fuchsia Fuchsia excorticata over several seasons and at 17 sites throughout New Zealand. The flowers were visited mainly by two endemic honeyeaters (bellbirds and tui), and in some cases very frequently by silvereyes, which also occasionally rob nectar from flowers. We confirmed that hermaphrodites account for more than half the plants in all populations, are fully self‐compatible, and can autonomously self in the absence of pollinators (especially in plants with smaller herkogamy). Fruit production in hermaphrodites and (particularly) females was frequently pollen‐limited (mean Pollen Limitation Indices of 0.17 and 0.40, respectively), and was correlated with visual assessments of pollen loads on the stigma, a useful index of pollinator service. A comparison of the proportion of ripe or overripe fruit on branches exposed to birds versus branches enclosed in wire cages showed that uncage...

inoculations showed that two previously described rust fungi (Basidiomycota: Pucciniales), Caeoma peltatum on Phyllocladus spp. and Uredo fuchsiae on Fuchsia spp., both endemic to New Zealand, are different stages of a single species. Uredinial and telial states formed on Fuchsia excorticata after inoculation with aeciospores from Phyllocladus trichomanoides. The oblong teliospores form directly from subepidermal hyphae, then divide to become metabasidia, each cell of which germinates to form a long suprastomatal sterigma andbasidiospore. The rust closely resembles species in the family Mikronegeriaceae, and is named Mikronegeria fuchsiae sp. nov. This is the first record of a member of the Mikronegeriaceae in New Zealand.

Two trawl samples of natural sunken wood collected near Vanuatu were identified based on histological studies. Detailed descriptions were made and microphotographs of the cell types were taken, using the three classical sections (cross, tangential and radial). The botanical characters were compared first to the native flora of Vanuatu, then also to the introduced species. The possibility of transportation by ocean currents with a mainly southern and eastern direction is discussed. The first sample lacks apparent colonization marks. Its main histologic character is the presence of `paedomorphic type I rays' which relates it to the shrubby genera Fitchia (Asteraceae) and Fuchsia (Onagraceae): both are known in Polynesia but they seem not to be recorded from Vanuatu. The second wood sample is densely colonized by molluscs and other fauna. It comes from a tree close to the Fabaceae-Mimosoideae, possibly belonging to the genera Leucaena or Serianthes, both known from Vanuatu. Our work shows for the first time that, even after prolonged submergence in water at substantial depth (> 500 m), the wood structure may be well preserved. Therefore, the botanical identification and the determination of the origin of the sunken wood were possible. The two selected samples show completely different colonization patterns, which could be related to differences in chemical composition or to time elapsed since sinking.

The effect of climate management as a tool for integrated control of Botrytis cinerea in fuchsia culture was studied in two glasshouse experiments. This included: (i) a conventional, temperature based (T) and (ii) a humidity/temperature based (HT) climate control. When neighbouring plants came in contact with one another, a novel, economical method of direct ventilation of the canopy was employed as an additional treatment in each glasshouse. Despite significant differences in plant growth, no distinct effects on the susceptibility of clonal fuchsia plants or on the growth rate of stem blight lesions within the canopy were found for the different climate managements. Using the HT strategy, the canopies were effectively dehumidified during the night in contrast to the T management. Towards the end of the cultivation, a period with dense canopies, direct ventilation was most effective in dehumidifying the canopy. The differences in microclimate were correlated with B. cinerea stem infection and sporulation incidence. Best results were achieved using a combination of the HT strategy with direct ventilation, reducing stem blight values to less than a third as compared to the T management. With regard to plant health, climate management in glasshouses can only be improved by specific manipulation of the canopy climate: in presence of susceptible plant tissue, a management providing vapour pressure deficit values within the canopy above 1 hPa, or more safely, 1.5 hPa, is recommended.

Predation efficacy and compatibility of the predatory lady beetles Coleomegilla maculata lengi Timberlake and Delphastus catalinae (Horn) against the greenhouse whitefly, Trialeurodes vaporariorum (Westwood) were studied in laboratory on glabrous fuchsia (Fuchsia hybrida Voss cv Lena Corolla) and pubescent poinsettia plants (Euphorbia pulcherrima Willd ex Klotzch cv Dark Red Annette Hegg). On glabrous plants (fuchsia), fourth-instar and adults of C maculata were the most efficient, both against whitefly eggs and pupae. On pubescent plants (poinsettia), the larger stages of C maculata were negatively affected and less efficient than adults of D catalinae. The presence of plant structure did not affect the voracity of either predator species. Finally, the simultaneous use of both predator species generated inter-specific competition. These results provide recommendations for biological control of whitefly in horticultural greenhouses.

1. We used an environmentally driven, process-based model to investigate the relative benefits of deciduous and evergreen leaves, in terms of net annual canopy carbon uptake, for a canopy of two tree species with contrasting leaf habit: deciduous Fuchsia [Fuchsia excorticata (J. R. Forst. and G. Forst) L. f.]; and annual-evergreen Wineberry (Aristotelia serrata J. R. Forst. and G. Forst, W. R. B. Oliv.). 2. Parameters for the model were derived from a year of measurements at a field site with a maximum leaf area index (L) of 5.4 m 2 m -2 , of which Wineberry and Fuchsia comprised 4.9 and 0.5 m 2 m -2 , respectively. Net annual C uptake (A NET ; daily photosynthesis minus respiration at night) was 930 g C m -2 , of which Wineberry and Fuchsia contributed 850 and 80 g C m -2 , respectively. Canopy respiration at night (R N ) accounted for 29 and 18% of daily uptake for Wineberry and Fuchsia, respectively. The model was used to simulate the effects of an evergreen phenology for both species. This increased A NET relative to that estimated using the observed phenology by only 1% for Wineberry, and 4% for Fuchsia. This was attributable to increased net C uptake during winter with the evergreen phenology being offset by increased R N , and reduced A NET during summer. 3. This comparison was repeated for sites spanning the natural range of Wineberry and Fuchsia across New Zealand. In terms of net C balance, the relative advantage of an evergreen phenology decreased with average winter temperature for both species, to the point where a deciduous phenology resulted in a higher value for A NET for Fuchsia at sites where frosts limited winter uptake. 4. Our simulations suggest that there is no clear advantage, in terms of annual C balance, for a deciduous or evergreen phenology at sites with relatively mild winters. In contrast, at sites where frost-induced photoinhibition limits photosynthesis for over-wintering leaves, a deciduous phenology results in a higher value of A NET for species, such as Fuchsia, with leaves that are very active photosynthetically during spring and summer. The lack of deciduousness in the New Zealand flora may be due to the low number of tree species with such photosynthetic characteristics, and this may be attributable to the generally poor nutrient availability in forest soils.

Our results and those we review indicate that the exine has a great capacity for modifications that enable nutrients to pass through from the anther loculus to the microspore cytoplasm. Avenues of passage include strands, some of which are viscin threads, from the tapetum to microspores in, for example, Betula, Fuchsia, and Epilobium. Micro channels in Lopezia, Gaura, and Gelsemium extend through the ectexine, endexine, and intine to the cytoplasm. The bulge regions in Epilobium represent portions of the endexine that become very greatly enlarged, forming conducting channels that transport materials into the microspore cytoplasm. Results with tracers such as colloidal iron and lanthanum have also shown that exines of microspores are permeable across areas lacking obvious channels.Key words: Betula, Epilobium, exine, Fuchsia, Gaura, Gelsemium, Lopezia, microchannels, pollen, tapetum, tufts, viscin threads.

Among the Ipomoea plants, both Ipomoea nil and Ipomoea tricolor display bright blue flowers, and Ipomoea purpurea exhibits dark purple flowers. While all of these flowers contain cyanidin-based anthocyanin pigments, the mutants of I. nil, I. purpurea, and I. tricolor carrying the magenta, pink, and fuchsia alleles, respectively, produce reddish flowers containing pelargonidin derivatives, and all of them are deficient in the gene for flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase (F3'H). The magenta allele in I. nil is a nonsense mutation caused by a single C to T base transition generating the stop codon TGA, and the cultivar Violet carries the same mutation. Several tested pink mutants in I. purpurea carry inserts of the 0.55-kb DNA transposable element Tip201 belonging to the Ac/Ds superfamily at the identical site. No excision of Tip201 from the F3'H gene could be detected, and both splicing and polyadenylation patterns of the F3'H transcripts were affected by the Tip201 integration. The fuchsia allele in I. tricolor is a single T insertion generating the stop codon TAG, and the accumulation of the F3'H transcripts was drastically reduced by the nonsense-mediated RNA decay. Spontaneous mutations in Ipomoea, including a possible founder mutation in the pink allele, are also discussed.

Roses in nursery and landscape settings are frequently damaged by black spot, whose caus al agent is the fungus Diplocarpon rosae F.A. Wolf. Potassium silicate was as- sessed as a media-applied treatment for decreasing the severity and incidence of black spot infection. Roses were treated with 0, 50, 100, or 150 mg·L-1 silicon as potassium silicate in cor po rat ed into ir ri ga tion water on either a weekly or daily schedule. Five weeks after treatments were initiated, plants were in oc u lat ed with D. rosae. Roses began to show vi- sual symptoms of infection s 4 days later. Roses that had 150 mg·L-1 silicon applied on a daily schedule had significantly more silicon present in their leaves than other treatments as mea sured by scanning electron microscopy and energy-dis per sive x-ray analysis. In ad di tion, roses that had 100 and 150 mg·L-1 silicon ap plied on a daily schedule had few er black spot lesions per leaf and fewer in fect ed leaves than any of the other treat ments by the end of the ex per i ment 7 weeks later. Although roses treat ed with high er levels of sili- con on a daily basis fared better than roses in the other treatments, all of the roses were heavi ly in fect ed with D. rosae by the end of the study. The results reported here indicate that us ing potassium silicate in ir ri ga tion water may be a useful component of a dis ease man age ment sys tem. been shown to increase with these additions in cer tain crops, including rice, cucumbers, bar ley, and sugarcane (Ayres, 1966; Dyke, 1979; Epstein, 1999; Miyake and Takahashi, 1983). Supplemental applications of silicon are ben e ficial to crops not only because silicon is considered a necessary element for the healthy growth of many plants (Cheng, 1982; Epstein, 1999), but also because silicon additions af fect soil properties such that there is an in creased availability of media phosphorus (Mengel and Kirkby, 1987). Foliar applications of silicon com pounds on grapes, cucumbers, zucchini, musk mel on, and rose have revealed that this ap pli ca tion method may also be useful for improving plant defenses (Bowen et al., 1992; Gillman and Zle- sak, 2000; Menzies et al., 1992). It has been speculated that foliar applications of sol u ble silicon may serve to increase plant resistance to disease by absorption of silicon through the leaf (Menzies et al., 1992), or by the creation of a protective silicon barrier on the surface of the leaf (Bowen et al., 1992). Black spot of rose, caused by the fungus Diplocarpon rosae, is the most trou ble some disease of roses worldwide (Horst, 1983). Outdoor production situations, common in nurseries, provide free water for spore dis- pers al and germination. Susceptible cultivars can quickly defoliate, making them unsalable. Previous research has shown that foliar ap- pli ca tion of sodium silicate to rose cuttings de creas es leaf drop and black spot infection as well as increasing rooting of cuttings (Gill- man and Zlesak, 2000). The effects of soluble silicon on resistance to black spot when ap plied to the media in which the roses are growing

Summary We measured the seasonal and temperature responses of leaf photosynthesis and respiration of two co-occurring native New Zealand tree species with contrasting leaf phenology: winter-deciduous fuchsia (Fuchsia excorticata J. R. Forst & G. Forst) and annual evergreen wineberry (Aristotelia serrata J. R. Forst & G. Forst). There was no difference in the amount of nitrogen per unit leaf area (Narea, range 40– 160 mmol m –2 , P = 0.18) or specific leaf area (S, range 8–27 m 2 kg –1 , P = 0.87) in summer leaves of wineberry or fuchsia. The amount of nitrogen per unit leaf area and S varied significantly with height of leaves in the canopy for both species (r 2 range 0.61–0.87). Parameters describing the maximum rates of rubisco carboxylation (Vcmax) and electron transport (Jmax) were related significantly to Narea, and were 60% higher on average in spring and summer leaves than in autumn and winter leaves for both species. The seasonal effect remained significant ( P < 0.001) when Narea was included in a regression model, indicating that seasonal changes were not only due to changes in Narea. Values for Vcmax and Jmax were 30% lower in wineberry leaves than in fuchsia leaves on average, although the difference ranged from 15% in summer leaves to 39% in autumn leaves. Activation energies describing the temperature dependence of Vcmax and Jmax in wineberry were 111 and 114% of corresponding values for fuchsia (Ea (Vcmax) = 39.1 kJ mol –1 , Ea (Jmax )= 32.9 kJ mol –1 ). Respiration at night was the same (P = 0.34) at 10 °C for both species (R10 = 0.7 µmol m –2 s –1 ), although activation energies (E0) were higher in wineberry than in fuchsia (47.4 and 32.9 kJ mol –1 K –1 , respectively). These results show that rates of photosynthesis are higher in winter-deciduous fuchsia than in annual evergreen wineberry.

Summary • Here leaf lifespans were investigated using interval-censored failure time analysis. The utility of this relatively novel approach is illustrated by comparing the leaf lifespan of winter-deciduous fuchsia (Fuchsia excorticata) and annual-evergreen wineberry (Aristotelia serrata). • Leaf emergence and mortality were first described using growth equations. Individual leaf lifespans were investigated using a parametric failure-time regression model that accounted for the interval-censored nature of leaf lifespan data. • Bud burst began 7 d earlier, the rate of leaf emergence was 0.06 leaves per shoot d−1 faster, and emergence ended 44 d earlier in fuchsia than in wineberry. The rate of leaf mortality was greatest in mid-summer in fuchsia, but nearly constant over the year for wineberry. There was a highly significant effect of the date of leaf emergence on leaf lifespan. Leaves emerging earlier in the growing season had shorter lifespans relative to later emerged leaves in fuchsia, whereas the reverse was true for wineberry. There was no significant effect of shoot height, branch order, or the number leaves of per shoot length on leaf lifespan. • These results highlight the utility of studying phenology at the individual leaf level using failure time analysis. Although growth equations precisely describe leaf emergence and mortality in wineberry and fuchsia, they obscured key differences between the species that were identified using failure time analysis.

SummaryThe influence of several factors on in vitro shoot organogenesis of two evergreen azalea genotypes was investigated. A 5 × 5 factorial experiment was conducted with varying TDZ and IAA levels to determine optimum shoot organogenesis from leaf tissues of ‘Fuchsia’ and ‘Hino Crimson’. Leaf explants grown on a medium containing 22.7 µM TDZ and 22.8 µM IAA produced the highest shoot regeneration frequency for both ‘Fuchsia’ (64%) and ‘Hino Crimson’ (82%), and developed the highest mean number of shoots per explant, 5.9 and 4.9, respectively. Incubation of leaf explants in the dark for one week followed by culture under low-light intensity (30 u.mol m-2 s ) for five weeks, or incubation in the dark for two weeks followed by culture under either low-light or high-light intensities (90 µmol m–2 s–1) for four weeks resulted in the highest shoot regeneration frequencies and mean number of shoots per explant. Shoot regenerants were subcultured onto Anderson’s medium with 0,1.2 and 2.3 µM TDZ, or 2.3 µM zeati...

Stem elongation in Fuchsia × hybrida was influenced by cultivation at different day and night temperatures or in different light qualities. Internode elongation of plants grown at a day (25°C) to night (15°C) temperature difference (DIF+10) in white light was almost twofold that of plants grown at the opposite temperature regime (DIF−10). Orange light resulted in a threefold stimulation of internode elongation compared with white light DIF−10. Surprisingly, internode elongation in orange light was similar for plants grown at DIF−10 and DIF+10. Flower development was accelerated at DIF−10 compared with DIF+10 in both white and orange light. To examine whether the effects of DIF and light quality on shoot elongation were related to changes in gibberellin metabolism or plant sensitivity to gibberellins (GAs), the stem elongation responses of paclobutrazol-treated plants to applied gibberellins were determined. In the absence of applied gibberellins paclobutrazol (>0.32 μmol plant−1) strongly retarded shoot elongation. This inhibition was nullified by the application of about 10–32 nmol of GA1, GA4, GA9, GA15, GA19, GA20, GA24, or GA44. The results are discussed in relation to possible effects of DIF and light quality on endogenous gibberellin levels and gibberellin sensitivity of fuchsia and their effects on stem elongation.

Stem elongation in Fuchsia x hybrida was influenced by cultivation at different day and night temperature or in different light qualities. Internode elongation of plants grown at a day (25°C) night (15°C) temperature difference (DIF 10) in white light was almost twofold of that of plants grown at the opposite temperature regime (DIF-10). Orange light resulted in a threefold stimulation of internode elongation as compared to white light DIF-10. Surprisingly, internode elongation in orange light was similar for plants grown at DIF-10 and DIF 10. In white light an increase in irradiance level did not affect shoot length at either DIF treatment. Flower development was accelerated at DIF-10 as compared to DIF 10 in both white and orange light. To examine whether DIF- and light quality-induced changes in shoot elongation were related to changes in gibberellin metabolism or plant sensitivity to gibberellins, the stem elongation responses of paclobutrazol-treated plants to exogenously applied GAs were determined. In the absence of applied gibberellins, paclobutrazol (> 0.32 μmol plant-1) strongly retarded shoot elongation. This inhibition was nullified by the application of GA1, GA4, GA9, GA15, GA19, GA20, GA24 and GA44 of about 10 to 32 nmol plant-1, but not by GA12 which only slightly increased stem elongation at an amount of 100 nmol plant-1. The results are discussed in relation to possible effects of DIF and light quality on endogenous gibberellin levels and gibberellin sensitivity of fuchsia, and their effect on stem elongation.

Shoot-tip explants of evergreen azalea cv. Fuchsia grown on Anderson's medium and containing different cytokinins produced the highest proliferation rate on a medium containing thidiazuron (TDZ). TDZ concentrations ranging from 0.23 to 2.3 μM resulted in both good bud-break rate (4 to 5) and shoot quality (> 0.5 cm in length). Adding 2.3 μM zeatin to Anderson's medium containing 0.23 or 2.3 μM TDZ increased the number of axillary shoots/explant. However, increasing the zeatin concentration to 4.6 μM resulted in a reduced shoot proliferation rate. A medium containing 1.15 μM TDZ and 2.3 μM zeatin resulted in an 18-fold increase for 'Fuchsia' and a 9-fold increase for 'Hino Crimson' after 6 weeks of culture. It was found that explants grown on a half-strength Anderson's medium with 87.6 mM sucrose generally had better shoot proliferation rate and shoot quality than at higher ionic strength.

 Premise of the study: Fuchsia (Onagraceae) anthers, pollen, and an ornithophilous Fuchsia -like fl ower from an earliest Miocene lacustrine diatomite deposit at Foulden Maar, southern New Zealand confi rm a long record for Fuchsia in New Zealand and probably an equally long history for its distinctive honeyeater pollination syndrome. The anthers contain in situ pollen of the fossil palynomorph previously assigned to Diporites aspis Pocknall et Mildenh. (Onagraceae: Fuchsia L.).  Methods: We undertook comparative studies of the fl ower and anther morphology of the newly discovered macrofossils and compared the in situ pollen grains from the anthers with dispersed pollen grains from extant species.  Key results: The anther mass is referred to a new, extinct species, Fuchsia antiqua D.E.Lee, Conran, Bannister, U.Kaulfuss & Mildenh. (Onagraceae), and is associated with a fossilized Fuchsia -like fl ower from the same small mining pit. Because Diporites van der Hammen is typifi ed by a fungal sporomorph, the replacement name for D. aspis is Koninidites aspis (Pocknall & Mildenh.) Mildenh. gen. & comb. nov. Phylogenetic placement of the fossils agrees with a proximal position to either sect. Skinnera or sect. Procumbentes. These are the oldest macrofossils of Fuchsia globally.  Conclusions: The fl oral structures are remarkably similar to those of modern New Zealand Fuchsia . They suggest that the distinctive honeyeater bird-pollination syndrome/association seen in modern New Zealand was already established by the late Oligocene–earliest Miocene. The implications for the biogeography and paleoecology of Fuchsia in Australasia are discussed.