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Identification of orchid species is important in orchid conservation. Diversity in orchids can be studied from morphological and anatomical aspects. Observation of morphological characters is easier because it can be done on all plant parts, including stems, flowers, leaves, roots, seeds, and fruit. This research was conducted to study the morphological diversity quantitatively between hybrid Phalaenopsis orchid varieties. The research aims to identify the morphological characteristics of 15 hybrid genotype/accession of Phalaenopsis orchids, followed by descriptor for ornamental orchid plants. Observation variables, including 19 quantitative parameters from leaf characterization and flower characterization. Data analysis was performed using the NTYSYS (Numerical Taxonomy and Multivariate Analysis System) version 2.02i to determine genetic distance; Grouping (cluster) using the UPGMA (Unpair Group of Mean Arithmetic) method. The results of the grouping dendrogram showed that based on the quantitative morphological characters of 15 species of Phalaenopsis hybrid orchids, there were three major groups at 0.92 Dist, namely group I consist of 8 hybrid Phalaenopsis orchids, group II consisted of 6 hybrid Phalaenopsis orchids, and group III only had the P. Shu Long Beauty orchid. P. Shu Long Beauty had the greatest diversity of 1.44 Dist with the other 14 accessions. Taisuko kaaladian "v3" and Dtps. Fullers C-Plus 3790 has a diversity of 0.07. Whereas Dtps. Fullers Sunset has a diversity of 0.90 with the accessions Taisuko kaaladian" v3", Dtps. Fullers C-Plus 3790, P. Red Shoe Ox1408, and P. Ox Black Face Ox1647. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floral nectar sugar composition is assumed to reflect the nutritional demands and foraging behaviour of pollinators, but the relative contributions of evolutionary and abiotic factors to nectar sugar composition remain largely unknown across the angiosperms. We compiled a comprehensive dataset on nectar sugar composition for 414 insect-pollinated plant species across central Europe, along with phylogeny, paleoclimate, flower morphology, and pollinator dietary demands, to disentangle their relative effects. We found that phylogeny was strongly related with nectar sucrose content, which increased with the phylogenetic age of plant families, but even more strongly with historic global surface temperature. Nectar sugar composition was also defined by floral morphology, though it was not related to our functional measure of pollinator dietary demands. However, specialist pollinators of current plant-pollinator networks predominantly visited plant species with sucrose-rich nectar. Our results suggest that both physiological mechanisms related to plant water balance and evolutionary effects related to paleoclimatic changes have shaped floral nectar sugar composition during the radiation and specialisation of plants and pollinators. As a consequence, the high velocity of current climate change may affect plant-pollinator interaction networks due to a conflicting combination of immediate physiological responses and phylogenetic conservatism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discussing homology relationships among secretory structures remains a relatively underexplored area in botanical research. These structures are widely dispersed within Malpighiales, one of the largest orders of eudicots. Within Malpighiales, both extranuptial and nuptial nectaries are present, and they do not seem homoplastic or share evolutionary connections. Particularly in Malpighiaceae, extensive research has focused on the ecological interactions mediated by glands. Botanists largely agree that elaiophores in sepals of Neotropical Malpighiaceae have evolved from extrafloral nectaries on leaves. However, the evolutionary origin of elaiophores has yet to be thoroughly examined, particularly in comparison to outgroups. This study provides empirical evidence on the ontogeny of elaiophores and investigates their evolutionary origins and homology relationships across different lineages of Malpighiales using comparative anatomy. Our findings suggest that elaiophores are likely homologous to extranuptial nectaries found in sepals of other Malpighiales lineages, originating from nectaries on leaves. This discussion is a starting point for future studies exploring the evolution of nectaries found in flowers, whether extranuptial or nuptial, and their potential origins from nectaries in vegetative organs such as leaves. Understanding these relationships could shed light on the selective pressures influencing floral morphologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flowers are plant structures characteristic of the phylum Angiosperms composed of organs thought to have emerged from homologous structures to leaves in order to specialize in a distinctive function: reproduction. Symmetric shapes, colours, and scents all play important functional roles in flower biology. The evolution of flower symmetry and the morphology of individual flower parts (sepals, petals, stamens, and carpels) has significantly contributed to the diversity of reproductive strategies across flowering plant species. This diversity facilitates attractiveness for pollination, protection of gametes, efficient fertilization, and seed production. Symmetry, the establishment of body axes, and fate determination are tightly linked. The complex genetic networks underlying the establishment of organ, tissue, and cellular identity, as well as the growth regulators acting across the body axes, are steadily being elucidated in the field. In this review, we summarise the wealth of research already at our fingertips to begin weaving together how separate processes involved in specifying organ identity within the flower may interact, providing a functional perspective on how identity determination and axial regulation may be coordinated to inform symmetrical floral organ structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The orchid genus Vietorchis comprises three species, all discovered in the 21 century. Each of these species is achlorophyllous, mycoheterotrophic and is known to be endemic to Vietnam. The type species of the genus, V. aurea, occurs in a single location in northern Vietnam within a lowland limestone karstic area. Vietorchis furcata and V. proboscidea, in contrast, are confined to mountains of southern Vietnam, far away from any limestone formations. Taxonomic placement of Vietorchis remained uncertain for the reason of inconclusive morphological affinities. At the same time, the genus has never been included into molecular phylogenetic studies. We investigate the phylogenetic relationships of two species of Vietorchis (V. aurea and V. furcata) based on three DNA datasets: (1) a dataset comprising two nuclear regions, (2) a dataset comprising two plastid regions, and (3) a dataset employing data on the entire plastid genomes. Our phylogenetic reconstructions support the placement of Vietorchis into the subtribe Orchidinae (tribe Orchideae, subfamily Orchidoideae). This leads to a conclusion that the previously highlighted similarities in the rhizome morphology between Vietorchis and certain mycoheterotrophic genera of the subfamilies Epidendroideae and Vanilloideae are examples of a convergence. Vietorchis is deeply nested within Orchidinae, and therefore the subtribe Vietorchidinae is to be treated as a synonym of Orchidinae. In the obtained phylogenetic reconstructions, Vietorchis is sister to the photosynthetic genus Sirindhornia. Sirindhornia is restricted to limestone mountains, which allows to speculate that association with limestone karst is plesiomorphic for Vietorchis. Flower morphology is concordant with the molecular data in placing Vietorchis into Orchidinae and strongly supports the assignment of the genus to one of the two major clades within this subtribe. Within this clade, however, Vietorchis shows no close structural similarity with any of its genera; in particular, the proximity between Vietorchis and Sirindhornia has never been proposed. Finally, we assembled the plastid genome of V. furcata, which is 65969 bp long and contains 45 unique genes, being one of the most reduced plastomes in the subfamily Orchidoideae. The plastome of Vietorchis lacks any rearrangements in comparison with the closest studied autotrophic species, and possesses substantially contracted inverted repeats. No signs of positive selection acting on the protein-coding plastid sequences were detected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mutation breeding can improve the flower color and biochemical content. French marigold (Tagetes patula L.) is an ornamental and edible flower plant used for medicinal purposes. The latest study aimed to obtain potential genotypes with modified flower morphology, which contain high polyphenol content and antioxidant activity induced by gamma irradiation in M4 populations. The plant material was a wild type (MG21 genotype), a local genotype from Takengon, Aceh, Indonesia, with red-orange tubular and ligulate flower types and its five mutants with different flower morphologies. The wild type and its mutant genotypes vegetative propagation reached planting from October 2022 until March 2023 at an altitude of 1100 m asl (6° 46′ 6.268″ N latitude, 107° 2′ 57.703″ E longitude). Flower morphology assessment ensued through various observations based on UPOV and RHSCC criteria, and phenotypic measurement employed a colorimeter. The polyphenol analysis determined the total anthocyanin content (TAC), total phenolic content (TPC), and total flavonoid content (TFC). The antioxidant activity estimation of T. patula used the Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power (FRAP) assay. The results also showed the diversity of mutant flower morphology, followed by different polyphenol contents and antioxidant activity. The highest TAC, TPC, and TFC were evident in Type-C (all-ligulate, red group), which was also higher than the wild type (tubulate and ligulate, red group). In addition, the highest FRAP occurred in Type-A (tubuligulate and ligulate, orange-red group), Type-B (allligulate, orange-red group), and Type-C, while the wild type was the lowest. The research revealed two potential mutant genotypes, type A and C, with high polyphenol content and antioxidant capability due to gamma irradiation in the M4 populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: Contrasting morphologies in Disocactus are the result of differential development of the vegetative and floral tissue where intercalary growth is involved, resulting in a complex structure, the floral axis. Species from the Cactaceae bear adaptations related with their growth in environments under hydric stress. These adaptations have translated into the reduction and modification of various structures such as leaves, stems, lateral branches, roots and the structuring of flowers in a so-called flower-shoot. While cacti flowers and fruits have a consistent structure with showy hermaphrodite or unisexual flowers that produce a fruit called cactidium, the developmental dynamics of vegetative and reproductive tissues comprising the reproductive unit have only been inferred through the analysis of pre-anthetic buds. Here we present a comparative analysis of two developmental series covering the early stages of flower formation and organ differentiation in Disocactus speciosus and Disocactus eichlamii, which have contrasting floral morphologies. We observe that within the areole, a shoot apical meristem commences to grow upward, producing lateral leaves with a spiral arrangement, rapidly transitioning to a floral meristem. The floral meristem produces tepal primordia and a staminal ring meristem from which numerous or few stamens develop in a centrifugal manner in D. speciosus and D. eichlamii, respectively. Also, the inferior ovary derives from the floral meristem flattening and an upward growth of the surrounding tissue of the underlying stem, producing the pericarpel. This structure is novel to cacti and lacks a clear anatomical delimitation with the carpel wall. Here, we present a first study that documents the early processes taking place during initial meristem determination related to pericarpel development and early floral organ formation in cacti until the establishment of mature floral organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Numerous members of the WOX gene family play pivotal roles during the processes of growth and development in many plants, as has been demonstrated. Cymbidium goeringii, Cymbidium ensifolium, and Cymbidium sinense are ornamental plants with a fascinating floral morphology that are economically important in China. However, there is limited knowledge about the members of the WOX gene family and their functions in these three Cymbidium species. Hence, the WOX genes in three Cymbidium species were identified on the ground of the genomes data of C. goeringii, C. ensifolium, and C. sinense in this study. These identified WOX genes were further studied for their physicochemical properties, evolutionary relationship, gene structure, protein structure, and cis-acting elements of promoters, as well as the expression pattern of the WOX genes in different tissues of C. goeringii. The findings revealed that eight WOX genes in C. goeringii, twelve WOX genes in C. ensifolium, and nine WOX genes were identified. These WOX genes were further subdivided into WUS, ancient, and intermediate clades. The length of the coding region ranged from 149 to 335 aa, and it was predicted that all WOX genes would be located on the cell nucleus. The promoter cis-acting elements primarily comprised stress response, phytohormone response, plant growth and development, and transcription factor elements. Furthermore, both the transcriptomic data and RT-qPCR analysis showed that most WOX genes may be involved in multiple developmental stages of C. goeringii. To sum up, these results may serve as a theoretical foundation for further study of the function analysis of WOX genes in orchids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mordellistena peloponnesensis Batten, 1980, previously known from Cyprus and Greece, is reported from Italy and Turkey for the first time. The species is redescribed based on type specimens and additional material from its entire known distributional range. Eighteen DNA barcoding sequences of M. peloponnesensis from Greece, Cyprus, and Italy were generated, and genetic variability across the sampling localities was examined. Three mitochondrial haplotypes were detected within M. peloponnesensis. Specimens from mainland Italy share the same haplotype as those from Rhodes and Cyprus, whereas Sardinian specimens exhibit a distinct haplotype. The third haplotype is represented by one specimen from Cyprus. The DNA barcoding sequences of M. peloponnesensis were compared with those of the morphologically allied M. gemellata Schilsky, 1898, and M. pyrenaea Ermisch, 1966, to reveal the phylogenetic relationships between the species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dioecy has evolved many times independently within the angiosperms. The distribution, frequency of occurrence, and floral morphology of dioecious angiosperms constitute the foundations for comparative studies of dioecy, yet for many groups they are still poorly characterized. We assessed species of Miconia for the presence of a dioecious reproductive system, characterized the floral morphology for staminate and pistillate flowers, and used herbarium records to analyze patterns of distribution and elevational range. We find that dioecious Miconia represent an uncommon case of a mismatched stage of organ abortion between staminate and pistillate flowers, with functionally pistillate flower morphology being largely consistent across species and morphological expression in functionally staminate flowers varying from near-absent gynoecia to slight reductions in gynoecia. We identify 60 dioecious species and 15 putatively dioecious species within Miconia that are distributed primarily in montane habitats between 1000 and 3500 m in the Andes, parts of Central America, and the Caribbean. Our results double the last known count of dioecy in Miconia and highlight the gradient of vestigial morphology in staminate flowers. Last, we provide discussion on the significance of dioecy in relation to floral development, pollination, and ecology in Miconia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Impatiens comprises more than 1000 species and displays enormous morphological diversity. As a taxon that is notoriously difficult to classify morphologically, the taxonomic significance of pollen morphology has been discussed in previous studies. However, there was only limited study on the evolution of palynological and macroscopic character in this genus before. In this paper, we observed pollen of 143 species of Impatiens, including all representatives of infrageneric groups and discussed their taxonomic value. Meanwhile, based on the reconstructed phylogenetic framework, we selected five pollen traits, and nine macroscopic traits including both vegetative and reproductive organs for evolutionary analysis. The character reconstruction showed that the morphology and number of aperture, granules in lumina, seed number of per capsule, number of sepals, lateral united petals connate, spur length, and phyllotaxy could be identified as unambiguous, while other characters were ambiguous in the last common ancestor of Impatiens. The results of comprehensively macroscopic characters and palynological evidence suggest that these traits experienced a complicated evolution, exhibit high levels of instability and variability and occur character multiple reversals in the evolutionary processes of Impatiens due to different selection pressures. In addition, we found that there is an evident mosaic evolution in this genus. Pollen and macroscopic character are conserved with a slower evolutionary rate in the I. subgen. Clavicarpa, however, these characters showed higher diversity with a rapid rate of evolution in the I. subgen. Impatiens. Furthermore, the relationship between floral morphology and pollinators was discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oil-tea belongs to the Camellia genus, an important oil crop in China. However, oil-tea is taxonomically challenging due to its morphological variation, polyploidy, and interspecific hybridization. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the flower organs' morphology and pollen micro-morphology of 18 oil-tea genotypes in detail and discussed their significance for oil-tea taxonomy. The quantitative parameters of flowers were measured using Vernier caliper measurements. Pollen morphology was observed and photographed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated that the flower size varied significantly among the tested oil-tea genotypes, with the corolla diameter ranging from 42.25 μm in C. meiocarpa 'LP' to 89.51 μm in C. oleifera 'ASX09'. The pollen grains of oil-tea are monads and medium grade in pollen size. There were two types of polar views, including triangular or subcircular, with a polar axis length (P) ranging from 27.5 μm in C. oleifera 'CY67' to 59.04 μm in C. mairei (H. Lév.) Melch. var. lapidea (Y.C. Wu) Sealy. The equatorial views exhibited oblate, spherical, or oblong shapes, with an equatorial axis length (E) of 21.32 to 41.62 μm. The pollen exine sculpture was perforate, verrucate, and reticulate. The perforation lumina diameter (D) ranged from 0.29 μm in C. magniflora Chang to 1.22 μm in C. yuhsienensis Hu, and the perforation width (W) varied from 0.77 μm in C. osmantha to 1.40 μm in C. gauchowensis 'HM349', respectively. Qualitative clustering analysis (Q-type cluster) and principal component analysis (PCA) were conducted using eleven indexes of flower and pollen morphology, and the 18 oil-tea genotypes were classified into three categories. In addition, the correlation analysis showed that there was a significant correlation between pollen size and flower morphology or pollen exine sculpture. These results offer valuable information on the classification and identification of the 18 oil-tea germplasm resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Platanthera Rich. (Orchidoideae) comprise a speciose genus of orchids primarily in the northern hemisphere, with up to 200 known species worldwide. Individual species are known to self‐pollinate, but many rely on insect pollinators with characteristics such as floral color, timing of floral odor emissions, nectar rewards, and spur length associated with particular pollination syndromes. As with many orchids, some orchid–pollinator associations are likely highly co‐evolved, but we also know that some Platanthera spp. are the result of hybridization events, which implies a lack of pollinator fidelity in some cases. Some Platanthera spp. occur in large numbers which, coupled with the numerous Platanthera–pollinator systems, make them accessible as study species and useful for co‐evolutionary studies. Due to the likely effects of climate change and ongoing development on Platanthera spp. habitats, these orchids and their associated pollinators should be a focus of conservation attention and management. However, while there is a fairly substantial literature coverage of Platanthera–pollinator occurrence and interactions, there are still wide gaps in our understanding of the species involved in these systems. In this systematic review, we outline what is current knowledge and provide guidance on further research that will increase our understanding of orchid–insect co‐evolutionary relationships. Our review covers 157 orchid species and about 233 pollinator species interacting with 30 Platanthera spp. We provide analyses on aspects of these interactions such as flower morphology, known insect partners of Platanthera species, insect‐Platanthera specificity, pollination visitor timing (diurnal vs. nocturnal), floral rewards, and insect behavior affecting pollination outcomes (e.g., pollinia placement). A substantial number of Platanthera spp. and at least a few of their known pollinators are of official (IUCN) conservation concern – and many of their pollinators remain unassessed or even currently unknown – which adds to the urgency of further research on these co‐evolved relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchidaceae display enormous diversity in their flower morphology, which is particularly evident in their pollen dispersal units (pollinia, pollinaria). The packaging of pollen by elastoviscin leads to a great diversity of these morphologically and structurally complex pollen units. Despite being one of the most diverse angiosperm families, the available palynological data on orchids remain limited and sometimes contradicting. This study provides new insights into the pollen morphology and ultrastructure of five orchid species from the subfamily Epidendroideae, using combined light, scanning electron, and transmission electron microscopy. The aim was to compare the morphology and ultrastructure of pollen dispersal units and to elucidate the chemical nature of the pollen wall layers and of elastoviscin. Our combined light and electron microscopy investigation demonstrated the presence of six tetrad types even within a single pollinium, which is unique for orchids. The application of different staining methods confirmed the assumed lipidic nature of elastoviscin and the differences in its contrast and ultrastructure suggest a mixture of sticky materials with dissimilar chemical compositions. This study affirmed that sporopollenin is mostly restricted to the outer pollen grains of peripheral tetrads in compact and sectile pollinia, while inner tetrads exhibit highly reduced non-sporopollenin pollen walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cleistogamy is a type of self-pollination that relies on the formation of a stigma-enclosing floral structure. We identify three homeodomain-leucine zipper IV (HD-Zip IV) genes that coordinately promote the formation of interlocking trichomes at the anther margin to unite neighboring anthers, generating a closed anther cone and cleistogamy (flower morphology necessitating strict self-pollination). These HD-Zip IV genes also control style length by regulating the transition from cell division to endoreduplication. The expression of these HD-Zip IV genes and their downstream gene, Style 2.1, was sequentially modified to shape the cleistogamy morphology during tomato evolution and domestication. Our results provide insights into the molecular basis of cleistogamy in modern tomato and suggest targets for improving fruit set and preventing pollen contamination in genetically modified crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Members of the genus Clivia show considerable variation in flower pigmentation and morphology. Such variation is affected by mutations that emerge in candidate flower development genes over time. Besides population history, mutations can further illuminate the effects of demographic events in populations in addition to population genetic parameters including selection, recombination, and linkage disequilibrium (LD). The current study aimed to find sequence variants in 2 anthocyanin biosynthetic genes (DFR and bHLH) of Clivia miniata and use the data to assess population genetic factors from a random collection of orange/red- and yellow-flowered specimens. Overall, average nucleotide diversity in the 2 anthocyanin genes was moderate (π = 0.00646), whereas haplotypes differed significantly (H d ≥ 0.9). Gene evolution was seemingly driven by mutations (CmiDFR) or recombinations (CmibHLH001). LD decayed swiftly within the analyzed gene regions and supported the feasibility of assessing trait-variant associations via the association/linkage mapping approach. In the end, most associations were found to be spurious, but 1 haplotype in CmibHLH001 showed a promising correlation to the orange/red flower phenotype in Clivia specimens. In all, the present study is the first to measure gene-level diversity in C. miniata —data that had never been reported so far. Furthermore, the study also identified allelic and haplotypic variants that may be beneficial in future association genetic studies of Clivia. Such studies, however, consider large diverse populations to control for statistical bias intrinsic to the analysis of small datasets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy from hydrogen has been looked upon with great favours to encounter the shortage of fossil fuels in energy generation. Safety issues and storage concerns of hydrogen has been a major drawback in this regard. Here, a novel material g–C 3 N 4 –MoS 2 –Ni(OH) 2 is crafted to achieve promisingly sufficient storage capacity for hydrogen. Hydrothermal route is optimized in a best possible way to achieve flower like structure of MoS 2. It is then blended with fine sheets of Ni(OH) 2 and as synthesized g-C 3 N 4 to develop the promising nanocomposite g–C 3 N 4 –MoS 2 –Ni(OH) 2. Morphological investigation using TEM and SEM analyses revealed flower-like structure near fine sheets of Ni(OH) 2 and g-C 3 N 4. Fruitfully, the modified surface of the nanocomposite resulted in an enhanced hydrogen storage capability. The hydrogen sorption experiments were carried out at 150 °C for 15 and 30 min intervals under 10 bar hydrogen pressure, and the hydrogen desorption process was carried out from room temperature (RT) to 200 °C with a ramping rate of 15 °C min−1 in an argon medium with a flow rate of 100 mL min−1. During non-isothermal H 2 desorption, S150 composite exhibits better hydrogen storage capacity of 2.79 and 3.21 wt% under hydrogenation intervals of 15 and 30 min respectively. Furthermore, S150 desorbed 3.7 wt% H 2 in 20 min at isothermal desorption of 200 °C. A ternary structure of g–C 3 N 4 –MoS 2 –Ni(OH) 2 comprising flower like morphology covered by thin sheets of Ni(OH) 2 and g-C 3 N 4 is successfully developed via hydrothermal route. The hydrogenation test carried over the material at 150 °C, 30 min, 10 bar hydrogen gas pressures resulted in release of 3.21 wt% amount of hydrogen at 200 °C with 15 °C min−1 ramping rate under argon medium with 100 mL min−1 gas flow for the above ternary nanocomposite. [Display omitted] • Novel-Flower-like g–C 3 N 4 –MoS 2 –Ni(OH) 2 composites was developed by wet impregnation method. • Metal free ternary composites was achieved for high specific surface area. • First time we reporting better H 2 storage performance for g–C 3 N 4 –MoS 2 –Ni(OH) 2 composites. • Best H 2 storage capacity of 3.21 wt% are observed under 30 min hydrogenation by S150 composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spathiphyllum is a mostly Neotropical genus of the Araceae plant family. Many species have a long flowering period and emit a strong, pleasant, and species‐specific floral scent. In Mexico, Spathiphyllum is represented by 14 species, 9 of which are endemic. Here, we describe the morphology, floral scent composition, and flowering phenology of a hitherto unknown species, S. hentrichianum sp. nov. This species is characterized by having a petiole not sheathed to the geniculum, leaf blades with less than 25 primary lateral veins per side, 1–2 ovules per locule, and 3–5 ovules per ovary. The strong scent consists of various terpenes and aromatic compounds, mainly (E,E)‐α‐Farnesene, (E)‐Cinnamyl acetate and (E)‐Cinnamyl alcohol. The new species is morphologically similar to S. cochlearispathum, but the latter differs in having a petiole sheathed to the geniculum, leaf blades with up to 31 primary lateral veins per side, 2–6 ovules per locule and 6–16 ovules per ovary, and the floral scent is also different between both species. In S. cochlearispathum, the scent is dominated by aromatic compounds, one terpene and one nitrogen‐containing compound, such as Methyl salicylate, Methyl p‐anisate, Methyl (E)‐cinnamate, (R)‐Linalool and 2‐Phenylacetonitrile. The flowering cycle of an inflorescence in S. hentrichianum lasted between 25 and 29 days. We suggest that detailed volatile organic compounds in the floral scent could be useful when defining a new taxon, especially among cryptic and sympatric aroid species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PremiseGenetic variation influences the potential for evolution to rescue populations from impacts of environmental change. Most studies of genetic variation in fitness-related traits focus on either vegetative or floral traits, with few on floral scent. How vegetative and floral traits compare in potential for adaptive evolution is poorly understood.MethodsWe measured variation across source populations, planting sites, and genetic families for vegetative and floral traits in a hybrid zone. Seeds from families of Ipomopsis aggregata, I. tenuituba, and F1 and F2 hybrids of the two species were planted into three common gardens. Measured traits included specific leaf area (SLA), trichomes, water-use efficiency (WUE), floral morphology, petal color, nectar, and floral volatiles.ResultsVegetative traits SLA and WUE varied greatly among planting sites, while showing weak or no genetic variation among source populations. Specific leaf area and trichomes responded plastically to snowmelt date, and SLA exhibited within-population genetic variation. All aspects of floral morphology varied genetically among source populations, and corolla length, corolla width, and sepal width varied genetically within populations. Heritability was not detected for volatiles due to high environmental variation, although one terpene had high evolvability, and high emission of two terpenes, a class of compounds emitted more strongly from the calyx than the corolla, correlated genetically with sepal width. Environmental variation across sites was weak for floral morphology and stronger for volatiles and vegetative traits. The inheritance of three of four volatiles departed from additive.ConclusionsResults indicate stronger genetic potential for evolutionary responses to selection in floral morphology compared with scent and vegetative traits and suggest potentially adaptive plasticity in some vegetative traits.

The double flower developmental process is regulated via a complex transcriptional regulatory network. To understand this highly dynamic and complex developmental process of Dianthus spp., we performed a comparative analysis of floral morphology and transcriptome dynamics in simple flowers and double flowers. We found that the primordium of double flowers of ‘X’ was larger in size compared to that of simple flowers of ‘L’ in Dianthus chinensis. RNA-seq and Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) during flower development, identified stage-specific gene network modules. Expression analysis by RNA-seq indicated that a group of genes related to floral meristem identity, primordia position and polarity were highly expressed in double flowers genotypes compared to simple flowers genotypes, suggesting their roles in double-petal formation. A total of 21 DEGs related to petal number were identified between simple and double flowers. The experiments of in situ hybridization revealed that DcaAP2L, DcaLFY and DcaUFO genes were expressed in the intra-sepal boundary and petal boundary. We proposed a potential transcriptional regulatory network for simple and double flower development. This study provides novel insights into the molecular mechanism underlying double flower formation in Dianthus spp.

The article "Chemical Composition and Biological Activities of Essential Oil from Oreocallis grandiflora" discusses the chemical composition and medicinal properties of the essential oil obtained from Oreocallis grandiflora, a plant found in southern Ecuador to northern Peru. The essential oil is mainly composed of aromatic compounds, monoterpene hydrocarbons, and oxygenated monoterpenes. The article also mentions the traditional medicinal uses of O. grandiflora, including anti-inflammatory, digestive, diuretic, hepatic, hypoglycemic, and vulnerary properties. Additionally, the essential oil exhibits antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, suggesting potential applications in natural medicine and food preservation. [Extracted from the article]

The Ranunculales are a hyperdiverse lineage in many aspects of their phenotype, including growth habit, floral and leaf morphology, reproductive mode, and specialized metabolism. Many Ranunculales species, such as opium poppy and goldenseal, have a high medicinal value. In addition, the order includes a large number of commercially important ornamental plants, such as columbines and larkspurs. The phylogenetic position of the order with respect to monocots and core eudicots and the diversity within this lineage make the Ranunculales an excellent group for studying evolutionary processes by comparative studies. Lately, the phylogeny of Ranunculales was revised, and genetic and genomic resources were developed for many species, allowing comparative analyses at the molecular scale. Here, we review the literature on the resources for genetic manipulation and genome sequencing, the recent phylogeny reconstruction of this order, and its fossil record. Further, we explain their habitat range and delve into the diversity in their floral morphology, focusing on perianth organ identity, floral symmetry, occurrences of spurs and nectaries, sexual and pollination systems, and fruit and dehiscence types. The Ranunculales order offers a wealth of opportunities for scientific exploration across various disciplines and scales, to gain novel insights into plant biology for researchers and plant enthusiasts alike. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Salvia L., representing the largest genus within the mint family, is noted for its global distribution of approximately 1000 species, with East Asia, and particularly China, recognized as a critical center of diversity for the genus. Methods: Our research was conducted through extensive fieldwork in Guidong County, Hunan Province, China, where we identified a previously undescribed species of Salvia. The identification process involved detailed morphological observations, phylogenetic analyses, and plastid genomics. Results: The newly discovered species, Salvia guidongensis, exhibits unique characteristics not commonly observed in the East Asian lineage of Salvia, including dual floral colors within natural populations--either pale purple or pale yellow. Morphologically, while it shares similarities with members of sect. Glutinaria, S. guidongensis is distinct in its floral morphology, stature, and specific foliar traits. Phylogenetic analysis places S. guidongensis in a unique clade within the East Asian lineage of Salvia, suggesting it may serve as an important evolutionary link. Additionally, we explored the plastome features of S. guidongensis, comparing them with those of closely related species. Discussion: The discovery of S. guidongensis not only entriches the taxonomic tapestry of Salvia but also provides critical insights into the biogeography and evolutionary pathways of the genus in East Asia. By integrating morphological and molecular data, we validate the novel status of S. guidongensis and highlight its significance in bridging taxonomic and evolutionary gaps within Sect. Glutinaria of Salvia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel p-n heterojunction photocatalyst of CoMoO 4 /NiS-3 was constructed by electrostatic adsorption (In CoMoO 4 /NiS-3, the content of CoMoO 4 accounts for 30%). Through SEM and crystal structure, it can be seen that the composite catalyst has a starry flower morphology and is successfully synthesized. The fluorescence emission spectra show that CoMoO 4 /NiS-3 can accelerate the separation rate of photogenerated carriers. The electron transfer mechanism can be determined by ultraviolet characterization and electrochemical methods. Hydrogen evolution experiments can be observed that the amount of hydrogen evolution by the composite catalyst CoMoO 4 /NiS-3 is 225.1 μmol, which is 2.74 and 4.89 times higher than that of the CoMoO 4 and NiS catalysts, respectively. Through the control of the starry flower morphology and the contact interface of p-n heterojunction, the internal electric field is effectively constructed to inhibit the recombination rate of photogenerated carriers, which provides a powerful theoretical model for high performance hydrogen evolution reaction. The formation of p-n heterojunction effectively improves the transmission path of photogenerated carriers and greatly improves the performance of photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. [Display omitted] • The p-n heterojunction between NiS and CoMoO 4 has good stability. • Dispersion of NiS on CoMoO 4 is important for the hydrogen evolution reaction activity. • The electron transport path and hydrogen evolution mechanism of CoMoO 4 /NiS composite catalyst are proposed. • High-efficiency hydrogen evolution is realized through CoMoO 4 /NiS heterojunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchids are notable for the variety of rewards produced for their pollinators. Nevertheless, many species are rewardless and pollinated by food‐deceptive strategies. This is the case for Cattleya, a Neotropical genus of more than 100 species supposedly pollinated by food‐deception.Here, I studied a member of the clade Sophronitis (Cattleya cernua) in forest areas of southeastern Brazil. The study included analyses of floral morphology, light microscopy of secretory tissues, histochemistry of flower resources, and measurements of nectar volume and concentration. Data on pollinators and mechanisms of pollination were collected in the field by means of film records, while breeding systems were studied using experimental treatments applied to cultivated specimens.The flower traits of Cattleya cernua show strong adaptation to avian pollination. Flowers produce 1–7 μl of a moderately concentrated nectar (17–50%). A secretory tissue at the distal portion of the cuniculus is responsible for nectar secretion. Secreted nectar is stored in the nectar chamber. Pollinaria deposition on the apex of bird beaks allows both short‐ and long‐billed birds to pollinate the flowers. Plants from the studied population were fully self‐compatible but pollinator‐dependent. Pollinator frequency was higher than in food‐deceptive Cattleya.As far as is known, this is the first record of nectar production in Cattleya. The discovery of a reward‐producing species (C. cernua) within a genus entirely pollinated by food‐deception strategies (Cattleya) provides clues and new insights into understanding the diversification of Laeliinae across the Neotropics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Variegated flowers, characterized by the presence of different colors in flowers, have high economic and aesthetic values. The main pigment in the orchid's purple flowers is anthocyanin, while the chalcone synthase (CHS) gene is the key to anthocyanin biosynthesis. Analysis of the CHS gene can reveal some changes, including mutations, in the process of color patterning in flowers. This study aims to determine the structure of the CHS gene related to color patterning in Dendrobium 'Enobi' and Phalaenopsis hybrid with variegated flowers. The methods applied in this study are floral morphology observation, DNA isolation, CHS gene amplification, anthocyanin measurement, and bioinformatic analysis. Morphologically, the variegated pattern has appeared since the flowers were still in the bud on both orchids. Based on the anthocyanin content analysis, the difference in the genus is not directly related to the differences in the flower's anthocyanin content. In addition, the purple zone in the D. 'Enobi' and Phalaenopsis hybrid has a longer fragment of CHS than the white zone. Our analysis suggested several mutations in the white zone and differences in the type and location of several conserved domain proteins. Mutations at the CHS gene fragment might cause decreased anthocyanin pigment formation in the white region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Agapetes oxycoccoides J. Murata, Nob. Tanaka & Ohi‐Toma from Kachin State, Myanmar is described and illustrated. In its floral morphology, this species is very similar to Vaccinium oxycoccos L. Extrafloral nectaries on the margins of young leaves of this species and of A. moorei Hook.f. are reported here for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are numerous studies about on nanoparticle synthesis by reducing metal salts via bio-extracts. Organic@inorganic hybrid nanoflowers (hNFs), are synthesized with expensive molecules such as enzymes, DNA and proteins. There are few studies for synthesis of hybrid nanoflowers via bio-extracts. However, the use of algae extracts as an organic component and studies on potential applications are very few. For the first time, the algae extract obtained from the brown macroalgae Desmarestia menziesii was used as the organic component of hNFs. Effect of medium pH, and algal extract concentration on morphological characteristic of hNFs were evaluated. The dye degradation and antioxidant activities of hNFs synthesized under optimum conditions were determined. hNFs were not synthesized in the acidic conditions of the PBS buffer (pH 5), The synthesis of hNFs was realized with coordination of Cu+2 and algae extract (0.65, 1, and 1.65 mL) in PBS (pH 7.4 and 9). hNFs with ideal flower morphology (size: 16–19 µm) were obtained by using 1.65 mL of extract under pH 7.4 condition. The basic skeletons (C, O, P, Cu), presence of phosphate crystals (PO4−3) and cristalinity of hNFs were determined by EDX, FT-IR and XRD, respectively. Antioxidant activity of hNFs against DPPH were determined depending on concentration (IC50: 950 µg/ mL). The highest catalytic activities of hNFs against methylene blue and brilliant blue dyes were observed at the mediums of pH 7 (69.81%) and pH 5 (75.7%), respectively. Organic@inorganic hNFs were synthesized by using brown macroalgae D. menziesii depending on extract concentration and medium pH. According to our findings, these hNFs are suitable for using as catalyst and antioxidant agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Mimosa L. (Leguminosae; Caesalpinioideae; mimosoid clade), comprising more than 500 species, is an intriguing genus because, like other members of the mimosoid clade, it presents an enormous variation in floral characteristics and high merism lability. Thus, this study aimed to elucidate the floral development and identify which ontogenetic pathways give rise to merism variation and andromonoecy in Mimosa caesalpiniifolia, M. pudica, M. bimucronata, and M. candollei. Floral buds at various stages of development and flowers were collected, fixed, and processed for surface analysis (SEM). The development of the buds is synchronous in the inflorescences. Sepals appear simultaneously as individualized primordia in M. caesalpiniifolia and in reversed unidirectional order in M. bimucronata, with union and formation of an early ring-like calyx. Petal primordia appear in unidirectional order, with a noticeably elliptical shape in M. caesalpiniifolia. The wide merism variation in Mimosa results from the absence of organs from inception in the perianth and androecium whorls: in dimerous, trimerous, or tetramerous flowers, the additional organs primordia to compose the expected pentamerous flowers are not initiated. The haplostemonous androecium of M. pudica results from the absence of antepetalous stamens from inception. In the case of intraspecific variations (instabilities), there is no initiation and subsequent abortion of organs in the events of reduction in merosity. In addition, extra primordia are initiated in supernumerary cases. On the other hand, staminate flowers originate from the abortion of the carpel. Mimosa proved to be an excellent model for studying merism variation. The lability is associated with actinomorphic and rather congested flowers in the inflorescences. Our data, in association with others of previous studies, suggest that the high lability in merism appeared in clades that diverged later in the mimosoid clade. Thus, phylogenetic reconstruction studies are needed for more robust evolutionary inferences. The present investigation of ontogenetic processes was relevant to expand our understanding of floral evolution in the genus Mimosa and shed light on the unstable merism in the mimosoid clade. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid systems represent 'new ecological opportunities', as the changes in their vegetative and reproductive traits may facilitate colonization of new niches. The Cactaceae species Xiquexique gounellei and Xiquexique tuberculatus present different habitat preferences in the Brazilian Caatinga, however, across their distributions, some populations occur sympatrically and some individuals showed vegetative characteristics intermediate between these two species, suggesting a hybrid zone. These individuals also clearly did not belong to either of the two species, leading us to suppose that they could be hybrids, named as X. × heptagonus. Taking into account this assumption, we used a series of protocols to compare the floral attributes and signals, and floral biology displayed by the putative hybrid with those of its parents. The results showed that the flowers of the hybrid are morphologically intermediate to those of their parents. The colour of the external elements of the perianth is transgressive, and the white colour of the internal perianth-segments is shared between the three taxa. Scent analyses showed that X. × heptagonus has a scent profile that is intermediate to those of its parents, with only a few compounds indicating a transgressive phenotype. Both taxa of Xiquexique received visits from nectarivorous bats (Glossophaginae and Lonchophyllinae) and from the hawkmoths Agrius cingulata and Erinnyis ello. Our results reinforce the existence of this hybrid in the genus Xiquexique being derived from the possible parent species present. We also revealed how the floral morphology and the visual and olfactory cues of X. × heptagonus were shaped by the hybridization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The inflorescence of Etlingera elatior forms tubular, true flowers in an acropetal sequence that blooms ostentatiously. The aromatic plant also produces excellent flavour and fragrance afforded by the presence of secretory structures capable of accumulating, storing, and releasing volatile compounds. However, there is a lack of botanical description of the flowering morphology and the type of secretory structures involved in plant-pollinator interactions. This study aims to describe the floral morphology, characterise the diverse micromorphology of the epidermal outgrowths in the true flower, and analyse their histochemical contents by scanning electron and light microscopes. Labellum defines the anthesis stage of the true flower: unveiling by petals at anthesis and furling inwards that closes the top part of the flower at post-anthesis. In addition to the floral advertisement accessory function demonstrated by the labellum, the closure provides additional exaptation of post-pollination protection to the flower. Both glandular trichomes and osmophores are involved in biochemical functions that release heterogeneous substances (mucilage, terpenes, and phenolic compounds) to help secure anthesis. Non-glandular trichomes, on the other hand, are structurally involved in the floral development by providing physical and mechanical protection to the flower by acting as glue to maintain the closed structure of the flower, connecting floral accessories, and forming a formidable barrier surrounding the ovary, the most important reproductive organ of the flower. Findings from the present study demonstrate that the presence of secretory structures coordinated with the flower's functional traits enhances the pollination mechanism. It is the maiden report for E. elatior on epidermal outgrowths and their participation in floral structure and development besides plant-pollinator interaction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to identify wild barley alleles controlling grain size and weight with the potential to improve barley yield in Australia and worldwide. The HEB-25 nested association mapping population was used, which samples 25 different wild barley accessions in a 'Barke' genetic background. The HEB-25 population was evaluated in field conditions at Strathalbyn in South Australia in 2015 and 2016. Seven yield component traits reflecting ear length, grain number per ear and grain dimension were measured. Among 114 quantitative trait loci (QTL) identified for the seven traits in both years, many co-localise with known genes controlling flowering and spike morphology. There were 18 QTL hotspots associated with four loci or more, of which one at the beginning of chromosome 5H had wild alleles that increased both grain number per ear and thousand-grain weight. A wide range of effects was found for wild alleles for each trait across all QTL identified, providing a rich source of genetic diversity that barley breeders can exploit to enhance barley yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollinators navigate a complex and dynamic nutritional landscape while foraging for floral resources. Bees are a group of flower-visiting insects that rely on pollen as their sole protein source, and thus, bees have strong incentives to seek pollen with high protein content. Indeed, research has shown that bees may prefer to visit flowers with high-protein pollen, but the mechanisms by which bees are able to detect plants with this high-protein pollen are unknown. One hypothesis is that plants with high-protein pollen advertise this resource quality through volatile emissions. We established 17 native perennial plant species from three plant families (Fabaceae, Asteraceae, and Lamiaceae) in a large field experiment to explore the relationship between nutritional quality, inflorescence volatile emissions, and pollinator visitation. We sampled twenty garden plots composed of these native plant species for 2 years. Our results showed that floral morphology significantly affected pollinator visitation; floral morphology that restricted the accessibility of floral resources reduced the overall foraging female bee visitation rate. In contrast, the visitation rate of foraging female bumble bees was higher on plants with floral morphology that restricted access. Moreover, we showed that (1) plants with less accessible inflorescences had significantly higher pollen protein content and (2) lower volatile emissions, while (3) there was a significant interaction between accessibility and pollen protein for foraging female honey bee visitation; honey bees preferred accessible flowers with lower pollen protein. We found no evidence in support of the hypothesis that floral volatiles advertise pollen protein content. Overall, floral accessibility related significantly to both floral volatile emissions and pollen protein content, determining both the identity of floral visitors and affecting the frequency with which they visited. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Legumes provide nutritious floral resources for bees thus are commonly considered for use in schemes to enhance pollinators in agroecosystems. In particular, legume landraces are important elements in practices towards sustainable agriculture. Differences in flower morphology and nectar may affect the attraction of pollinators. The aim of the present study was to investigate possible differences in pollinator attraction between a Vicia faba L. landrace and a commercial variety and to indicate differences in floral characteristics and nectar quality traits which can be associated with bee visits. To assess this, floral morphological trait measurements and chemical analysis using high‐resolution mass spectrometry‐based non‐targeted screening of the flower nectar were carried out and bee visits on faba bean flowers were recorded. Floral traits that contributed to the separation of the two accessions were 'intensity of streaks' and 'extent of anthocyanin colouration' on standard petal which were more pronounced in the landrace. All nectar traits examined contributed to the separation of the two V. faba accessions. Chemical substances such as amino acids and sugars which are important for bee nutrition are differentially increased in the landrace compared with the commercial variety. The landrace attracted more bee genera (Apis, Anthophora, Eucera) and bee visits compared with the commercial variety (only Eucera) supporting that the floral and nectar differences between the accessions of the same plant species are important to bees. The well‐fitting interrelation of the landrace flowers and bee visits can have possible implications in agricultural practices such as crop breeding for pollinator friendly varieties through selecting floral traits, improvement of foraging resources for pollinators in agroecosystems and subsequently food production. Exploitation of the V. faba landrace in agroecological schemes to support conservation of flora and fauna genetic resources in situ should be considered also for the benefit of future food stability and security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel strategy that selecting Ti 3 C 2 T x MXene as the precursor of TiO 2 and the support panel for ZnO crystal growth was reported for the synthesis of ZnO/TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x hybrids with serial unique 3D architectures via a facile solvothermal method. The morphology changed from blooming flowers (especially for a regular 3D hexagon blooming rose) to ice-cream ball, macaron, hamburger, and urchin morphologies with an increase in the Ti 3 C 2 T x concentration. The special morphologies were controlled by the direction and the support of ZnO growth that influenced by the functional groups and morphology of Ti 3 C 2 T x. The distinctive in situ formation of multi-layered interphases was originated from the morphology of regular 3D flowers with separated 2D nanosheets, and the co-growth of the component simultaneously increased interfacial compatibility. Both of them were beneficial to enhance the electromagnetic wave absorption (EWA) performances. All the series of composites exhibited better EWA properties than TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x without the hierarchical structure, manifesting that the synergistic effect of component design and hierarchical architectures played a crucial role in EWA performances. Among the composites, S4 that had a spherical blooming flower morphology exhibited the minimum reflection loss of −31.96 dB at a thickness of 2.5 mm, and the effective frequency bandwidth reached up to 2.24 GHz at a thickness of 5 mm. The reasons for the differences in EWA properties of the series of composites were discussed in detail from aspect of EWA mechanism. This work provides a new idea for the rational design of high-performance absorbers. [Display omitted] • ZnO/TiO 2 /Ti 3 C 2 T x hybrids with 3D hexagon rose morphology were obtained. • Serial unique 3D architectures were obtained by adjusting the ratio of Ti 3 C 2 T x. • Ti 3 C 2 T x were the precursor and the induced support of crystal growth. • The hybrids exhibited a minimum RL of −31.96 dB at 2.5 mm. • A conformational EWA mechanism was systematically proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The taxonomy of Calyceraceae, a small family of angiosperms endemic to southern South America and sister of Asteraceae, has recently been revised based on molecular phylogenetic analyses and the evolution of flower morphology. Despite the efforts for precision by those authors, some further nomenclatural adjustments to the classification previously provided are needed: Boopis Juss. is applied as the correct name for the "Pilose group," and Xiphodesma Pozner & Zijlstra is a new genus name published to accommodate B. anthemoides Juss. In addition, lectotypes are designated for four names: Anomocarpus tenuis Miers, B. anthemoides var. subscandens Speg., B. leucanthema Poepp. ex Less., and B. pusilla Phil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potato virus X (PVX) vectors expressing the Arabidopsis thaliana FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) or tomato FT ortholog SINGLE-FLOWER TRUSS (SFT) shortened the generation time in tomato due to accelerated tomato flowering and ripening by 14–21 d, and caused a 2–3-fold increase in the number of flowers and fruits, compared with non-infected or empty vector-infected plants. The Arabidopsis FT was more effective than the tomato orthologue SFT and there was no alteration of the flower or fruit morphology. The virus was not transmitted to the next generation; therefore viral vectors with expression of a heterologous FT will be a useful approach to speed breeding in tomato and other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several barriers contribute to reproductive isolation between plant species, which can be classified as pre- or post-pollination. Understanding the strength of these barriers could clarify the factors that maintain reproductive isolation and thus species integrity. In this study, we quantified reproductive isolation between two bat-pollinated co-occurring Bauhinia species (B. acuruana and B. pentandra) with similar flower morphology. Over the course of 18 months, we assessed reproductive isolation between these two Bauhinia species by quantifying the individual strengths and absolute contributions of five pre- and post- pollination barriers. Our data showed that both species are completely isolated in their reproduction by a combination of several barriers. Although they co-occur in a few populations, we found a high degree of geographic isolation between them. And although their flowering periods overlap, there is a significant difference in flowering peaks. Both species have the same pollinating bats, but the interspecific transfer of pollen between the plant species may be reduced due to the different length of the flower stamens, resulting in different pollen deposition on the bats' bodies. We have documented complete incompatibility between taxa and conclude that pre- and post-pollination barriers are important factors in preventing gene flow, even in contact zones between these two species of Bauhinia. We highlight that our work is the first study to use methods to estimate the strength of reproductive isolation barriers between bat-pollinated species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gerbera (Gerbera hybrida) is a widely cultivated ornamental plant. However, its genetic improvement is limited by the lack of genetic analysis and molecular markers for traits. In this study, we analyzed the phenotypic and genotypic variation of 140 F1 progeny from two gerbera varieties with different flower types and colors. We evaluated the flower's morphology, color, and pigment content of the F1 population and performed cluster principal component analysis (PCA) and correlation analysis. The results showed that the main ornamental traits of the hybrid progeny varied greatly. The segregation ratios of single and double flowers and ligulate and split ray florets were both 1:1. The flower colors of the F1 progeny were mainly red and purple-red, similar to the male parent's color. Furthermore, we conducted a genetic analysis of the hybrid progeny using EST-SSR markers and performed association analysis with phenotypic traits. We identified 2, 2, 3, 1, and 2 loci to be associated with peduncle length (PL), ray floret length (RFL), and outer ray floret; the level of apex relative to the top of involucre (LAI); outer corolla lips (OCL); and the b* of ray floret color, respectively. Our results reveal the genetic patterns of important ornamental traits and provide a theoretical basis and practical tools for gerbera genetic breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Newly investigated leafy twigs bearing axillary fruits from the Eocene Parachute Creek Member of the Green River Formation in eastern Utah, USA, have provided more information on the species previously attributed to the Proteaceae as Banksia comptonifolia R.W.Br. The leaves are simple, estipulate with short petioles, and elongate laminae with prominent angular nonglandular teeth. The laminae have a thick midvein and pinnate craspedodromous secondaries, and are distinctive in the presence of a thick, often coalified, marginal rim. Vegetative and reproductive buds occur in the axils of the leaves. These features indicate that the species belongs to Palibinia Korovin—an extinct Eudicot genus previously known only from the Paleogene of Asia and Europe. Small pedicellate ovoid fruits 1.5–2.2 mm wide are borne in fascicles of three and are seen to be capsules with four apical valves. Despite the specific epithet referring to similarity of the foliage to that of Comptonia (Myricaceae), the fasciculate inflorescence organization with axillary flowers is quite distinct from the catkins characteristic of that family. Assignment to Banksia or other Proteaceae with complex inflorescences and follicular fruits is also problematic. Additionally, MacGinitie′s transfer of the species to Vauquelinia of the Rosaceae is contradicted by the lack of stipule scars on the twig and by differences in leaf venation and floral morphology. We transfer the species to Palibinia comptonifolia (R.W.Br.) comb. nov., but its familial affinity within the Pentapetalae remains uncertain. This new occurrence augments records from the Paleogene of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, China, England, and Germany. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceropegia lenewtonii (Plowes) Bruyns (=Huernia keniensis), currently belonging to the Huernia section of the genus Ceropegia, is a stapeliad species distributed in Africa and the Arabian Peninsula; but it is widely cultivated as ornamental in most parts of the world. This species of stapeliad presents "carrion flowers" associated with a sapromyophilous pollination syndrome since the flowers emit an unpleasant odor. In this work, we describe the floral morphology and anatomy of the calyx, corolla, and corona of this species based on bright-field and scanning electron microscope techniques. We detected the presence of diverse floral secretor tissues, and based on different histochemical tests, the principal component of the secreted substance was identified. We interpret the functions of the glands and compare with other related species of stapeliads. Our results indicate that flowers of C. lenewtonii present colleters in sepals, osmophores in corolla, and primary and secondary nectaries in corona. All these floral glands have specific functions that involve the processes of pollination and reproduction of this species, as well as protection and defense mechanisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants exhibit contrasting flower morphologies depending on their reproductive strategy, with autogamous species typically having smaller flowers than allogamous ones. Flower size can restrict the reproductive potential of species, as the development among flower parts is interrelated. This can result in a constraint on ovary size in adult plants, reducing the number of ovules produced, particularly in autogamous species with small flowers, in contrast to allogamous species with larger flowers. To test this hypothesis, we studied the static allometric relationships (allometry measured at mature flowers) of monkeyflower species (Erythranthe) endemic to the Andean region, including an autogamous species (E. glabrata), two allogamous species (E. depressa and E. lutea), and hybrids obtained from E. depressa × E. lutea crosses. We measured flower traits, counted ovules, and determined the static allometric relationships among traits for all taxa. Our study revealed that static allometric relationships are highly maintained among studied Erythranthe, with flower length serving as a crucial indicator of the dimensions that different flower parts reach. This suggests that flower length is an important factor determining the maternal reproductive potential in Erythranthe, with both autogamous and allogamous species showing a positive relationship between flower length and ovule number. Overall, investigating allometric relationships in Erythranthe, including hybrids, can shed light on the complex interactions between flower morphology and reproductive strategies in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Floral morphology and fruit diversity are two essential attributes of a plant to establish mutualistic association with pollinators. Pollinators will have a direct influence on fruit setting and yield. The present paper represents the floral morphology and fruit diversity of six wild melon genotypes (Cucumis melo ssp. agrestis). The staminate and pistillate flowers were analysed for their size, sepal and petal colour and pedicel length. It was observed that female flowers of wild genotypes were longer than male flowers, however male flowers possessed larger diameter, longer pedicel length and corolla length over female flowers. Among the six genotypes studied, HUB-13 produced maximum male flowers per vine (156.75), longest female flower (5.33 cm), longest pedicel and corolla and largest ovary (6.11 mm diameter). Genotype HUB-4 produced maximum female flowers per vine (39.50) with lower male to female sex ratio (2.65:1) and recorded longest male flower length (4.43 cm). Genotype, HUB-2 recorded lowest flower length (2.40 cm, 2.85 cm) and diameter, smallest corolla length (1.25 cm, 1.13 cm) and pedicel length (1.05 cm and 0.50 cm) for male and female flowers respectively. The sepals and petals were green and yellow in colour respectively with varied intensity. The genotype, HUB-9 recorded maximum ovary length (1.83 cm), fruit weight (86.03 g), fruit yield per vine (1.98 kg) and fruit yield per hectare (9.48 t/ha). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Greenhouse-grown roses are irradiance-dependent flowering plants needing more supplemental lighting for higher marketability and postharvest quality. To investigate physiological and biochemical responses of two varieties of Rosa hybrida, 'Jumilia' and 'Samurai', under supplementary lighting, light-emitting diode (LED) panels equipped with R (red), B (blue), and F-R (far-red) LEDs (60:30:10%) in two light intensities of LED75 and LED150 μmol m−2 s−1 PPFD (photosynthetic photon flux density) were applied and compared with high-pressure sodium (HPS) and metal halide (MH) lights (emitting 150 μmol m−2 s−1 PPFD) and without supplemental lighting as the control condition in a greenhouse during the short days on hydroponically cultured roses. Flower morphology and physiological and biochemical changes, flower endogenous ethylene production at harvest, changes in flower water uptake, and postharvest longevity along the shelf-life were determined. The results showed LED-exposed roses under 75 or 150 μmol m−2 s−1 PPFD had higher plant height, leaf area, and leaf chlorophyll, carotenoid, and soluble carbohydrates contents, as compared to the other light sources. A higher number of flowers and a lower chlorophyll/carotenoid proportion allocated to leaves were measured under mixed LEDs than those exposed to HPS, MH, and control conditions. Cut roses treated with LED lighting also had improved quality and performance in terms of postharvest life longevity, showing delayed senescence symptoms due to higher water uptake and less ethylene production than other light treatments. It is concluded that LED light exposure improves the postharvest life of cut rose flowers by affecting the roses' physiological parameters. These results may extend further development towards integrating LED technology in the cut rose flower distribution chain from greenhouse to storage facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollinator insects are declining worldwide, also due to the alteration of their diet with severe implications on their health status. Pollinators diet relies mainly on flower rewards (i.e. pollen and nectar), and a precise characterization of their chemical composition is crucial in defining pollinators' nutritional ecology. In this context, the pollen represents a challenging source to investigate, especially due to operative challenges during collection operations and to the small amounts produced per flower.Here, we designed and tested a novel, easy‐to‐assemble tool for pollen sampling: E‐PoSa (Electronic Pollen Sampler), based on the use of a portable vacuum cleaner. We compared it with some of the most used sampling methods for pollen (i.e. anthers sieving and sampling of the whole anthers) by looking at the differences in their quantitative recovery and nutritional profile. Its applicability in ecological studies was also corroborated by an assessment of its recovery rate obtained from a panel of wildflower species in an operational environment.The data obtained showed a significantly higher pollen recovery capacity of E‐PoSa compared with the conventional sieving approach and the success in retrieving enough pollen to conduct phytochemical analyses from a broad range of flower morphologies in the field. Our results also demonstrated that high purity pollen can be collected with E‐PoSa and that the device does not introduce any significant variation in the nutritional analysis compared with the conventional sieving.This new sampling approach represents a cheap and easy‐to‐assemble tool encouraging its future use not only in the field of pollen nutrition but also in a wide variety of other contexts related to pollination ecology. Acknowledging the potential influences of the sampling techniques and moving towards shared standardized field protocols will advance the comprehension of species interactions and foraging patterns of pollinators and their nutritional needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was conducted to evaluate the variability among the dragon fruit (Hylocereus spp.) genotypes in Kerala. The study was conducted in ten dragon fruit orchards of four different districts namely, Trivandrum, Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam and Thrissur during the period 2019-2021. The plants were evaluated based on the UPOV guidelines to identify the different genotypes that were being cultivated in Kerala with respect to their morphology and flowering along with yield and quality attributes. The results revealed that the commercial cultivation of dragon fruit in Kerala was found to be dominated by the dark pink/purple fleshed dragon fruit (Hylocereus costaricensis). The variability within this species was analysed using statistical techniques like factor analysis and cluster analysis. Maximum variability (59.38%) in the stem and flower characters were contributed by the intensity of red colour of bract, stem waxiness, stem sturdiness, margin of rib, spine colour, bud shape, bud apex shape, number of stigma lobes, length of style and distance between areoles. Similarly, maximum variability (62.74%) in the quality attributes were contributed by the fruit weight, position of bract towards peel, fruit width, fruit weight without peel, fruit length, flesh colour, fruit shape, width of base of bract, length of apical bract, outer TSS, TSS-acid ratio and core TSS. Based on the qualitative traits alone, six clusters were formed indicating the variations in plants which in turn, revealed the presence of different genotypes within the dark pink/purple fleshed dragon fruit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The increasing global importance of pink peppertree (Schinus terebinthifolia, Anacardiaceae) as a high-value commercial crop and its potential for expansion in production demand appropriate management due to uncertainties regarding its sexual system. This study focused on evaluating the morphology of sterile and fertile floral whorls, as well as analyzing the sexual system of pink pepper in two populations in northeastern Brazil. The results revealed no significant differences in the morphological characteristics of the flowers between the studied areas, suggesting that the species possesses notable adaptability to environmental conditions. However, a significant difference in the proportion of staminate individuals was observed in both areas, representing over 88% and 72%, respectively. A correlation was observed between the size of the stamens and the presence of apparently atrophied pistils (r=0.275; df=178; p

Common broom Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link is a native shrub, common both in Europe and Poland and in many other areas of the world, it is considered an invasive plant. e size of the organs of generative reproduction and the factors determining it are still poorly understood. The study of the size of broom flowers, fruits, seeds and leaves was carried out on 16 plots in western Poland. Habitats were described using Ellenberg’s index values, which allowed us to divide the study into two types: warm, rich in nitrogen, and moister with higher pH. It has been shown that a significant part of the variability in the size of flowers and their elements is conditioned by inter-individual differences. Some features (wings and keel area, number of seeds, or nitrogen content in stems) are also dependent on the type of habitat. Probably the key factor influencing the size of generative organs and the number of seeds is the availability of water in the environment. In more moist habitats and with a higher pH, the organs of generative reproduction are larger, and the nitrogen content is lower. The size of individual elements of the perianth is significantly correlated with each other, and the number of seeds depends on the size of the keel. Depending on environmental factors, the size of the generative organs may affect the efficiency of pollination, which in turn determines the size and number of seeds. The ability of C. scoparius to adapt to various edaphic conditions, the ability to establish symbiosis with atmospheric nitrogen-fixing bacteria, and the production of size-diverse flowers that can be pollinated by insects of various sizes determine its invasive success.

Climate change can cause changes in expression of organismal traits that influence fitness. In flowering plants, floral traits can respond to drought, and that phenotypic plasticity has the potential to affect pollination and plant reproductive success. Global climate change is leading to earlier snow melt in snow-dominated ecosystems as well as affecting precipitation during the growing season, but the effects of snow melt timing on floral morphology and rewards remain unknown. We conducted crossed manipulations of spring snow melt timing (early vs. control) and summer monsoon precipitation (addition, control, and reduction) that mimicked recent natural variation, and examined plastic responses in floral traits of Ipomopsis aggregata over 3 years in the Rocky Mountains. We tested whether increased summer precipitation compensated for earlier snow melt, and if plasticity was associated with changes in soil moisture and/or leaf gas exchange. Lower summer precipitation decreased corolla length, style length, corolla width, sepal width, and nectar production, and increased nectar concentration. Earlier snow melt (taking into account natural and experimental variation) had the same effects on those traits and decreased inflorescence height. The effect of reduced summer precipitation was stronger in earlier snow melt years for corolla length and sepal width. Trait reductions were explained by drier soil during the flowering period, but this effect was only partially explained by how drier soils affected plant water stress, as measured by leaf gas exchange. We predicted the effects of plastic trait changes on pollinator visitation rates, pollination success, and seed production using prior studies on I. aggregata. The largest predicted effect of drier soil on relative fitness components via plasticity was a decrease in male fitness caused by reduced pollinator rewards (nectar production). Early snow melt and reduced precipitation are strong drivers of phenotypic plasticity, and both should be considered when predicting effects of climate change on plant traits in snow-dominated ecosystems.