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Background: Potentilla sericea is a heavy metal hyperaccumulator landscaping plant. MYB transcription factors play an important role in regulating plant stress response to adversity. However, there are few studies on MYB transcription factors in stress tolerance in Potentilla sericea. In this study, the PsMYB62 gene was successfully cloned from Potentilla sericea. Methods: Bioinformatic analysis and real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) methods were used to evaluate this gene. The transgenic A. thaliana were obtained by flower dipping and the gene function was identified by determining physiological indicators under cadmium stress. Results: The open reading frame of PsMYB62 is 942 bp, which encodes 313 amino acids (aa) and belongs to the R2R3 MYB transcription factor. The plant overexpression vector PBI121-PsMYB62-GFP was constructed and successfully transferred into A. thaliana. The relative expression level of PsMYB62 was significantly increased by CdCl2, NaCl, ABA, and mannitol treatments. The germination rate of transgenic seeds was higher than those of wild type (WT) and empty vector (EV) under different concentrations of cadmium treatment. Upon treatment with 100 µmol·L-1 of CdCl2·2.5H2O, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) in the transgenic plants were significantly higher than those in the WT and EV. The contents of H2O2, O2·- and malondialdehyde (MDA) in transgenic lines were increased, but lower than those in WT and EV. The expression levels of AtGSH, AtPCS, and AtNAS4 that were related to the regulation of cadmium were increased, but the expression levels of transgenic lines were higher than those of WT and EV. Conclusion: The above results showed that PsMYB62 could be induced by cadmium and could improve the cadmium resistance of plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nephroprotective effects (NPE) of simple Potentilla reptans - aqueous leaf extract (Pr-ALE) leaves on Paracetamol induced kidney poisonousness in wistar rats. Adult male wistar rats (weight range (WR): 200-220g) were divided into 6 groups (n=6). Paracetamol (PA) and Silymarin (SY) stayed managed intraperitoneally arranged the 5th day to rats in all groups but the normal control. Furthermore, a significant nephroprotective (NP) of the aqueous leaf extract (ALE) and oral dose of PA and SY. Pr-ALE did not mortality or significant changes in the body weight. Progression of nephrotoxicity (NT) induced by PA in rats was interfered by Pr-ALE managed, and these effects were correspond to those managed with SY. This is the first record on NPE of Pr against PA-induced NT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant roots and soil prokaryotes primarily interact with each other in the rhizosphere. Changes in the rhizosphere prokaryotic structure are influenced by several factors. In this study, the community structure of the Potentilla anserina L. rhizosphere prokaryotes was identified and evaluated by high-throughput sequencing technology in different continuous cropping fields and developmental stages of the plant. In total, 2 archaeal (Euryarchaeota and Thaumarchaeota) and 26 bacterial phyla were identified in the P. anserina rhizosphere. The bacterial community was mainly composed of Acidobacteria, Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Chloroflexi, Gemmatimonadetes, Planctomycetes, Proteobacteria, and Verrucomicrobia. Moreover, the prokaryotic community structure of the rhizosphere varied significantly during plant development. Our results provide new insights into the dynamics of the P. anserina rhizosphere prokaryotic community and may provide useful information for enhancing the growth and development of P. anserina through artificial control of the soil prokaryotes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Plants from the genus Potentilla have been traditionally used for therapeutic purposes in Turkey. Methanol root extracts from four selected Potentilla species (P. anatolica, P. argentea, P. recta, and P. reptans) were probed for their chemical composition, antioxidant properties (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP, CUPRAC, phosphomolybdenum, and metal chelating activity), and enzyme (acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE), α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and tyrosinase) inhibition effects. In addition, the total phenolic, flavonoid, saponin, and triterpenoid content of the extracts were determined. Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-electrospray ionization (ESI)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) analysis revealed that the main phenolic components in extracts were coumarin, hesperidin, p -coumaric acid, gallic acid, and rutin. P. recta and P. reptans showed the highest total phenolic, saponin, and triterpenoid content. The root extracts showed significant antioxidant properties and depicted significant inhibitory effects against AChE, BChE, α-amylase, α-glucosidase, and tyrosinase. In conclusion, root extracts of Potentilla may be considered as new natural antioxidants and key enzyme inhibitors that can be exploited as bioproducts for pharmaceutical industries. Highlights • Biological activities and chemical profiles of four Potentilla roots were studied. • Various antioxidant and enzyme inhibition assays were carried out. • Coumarin, hesperidin, p -coumaric acid, gallic acid, and rutin were detected as major compounds in UHPLC analysis. • These roots may be considered as sources of bioactive compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentilla reptans is widely used in traditional medicine as an astringent, for treating diarrhoea, haemorrhoids and for bleeding gums. A recent ethnobotanical study has reported on the anti-mastitis effects of the aerial parts of P. reptans decoction. The aim of the present study is to evaluate the antibacterial potential of extracts and fractions, obtained from aerial parts of P. reptans against three strains of Staphylococcus aureus. The observed MICs were within the range of 0.325 - 2.5 mg/ml. Studied extracts and their fractions exerted mostly bacteriostatic effect, with the n-hexane fraction of hydroethanolic extract being the most active (MIC 0.313 mg/ml against S. aureus ATCC 6538 P). However, further investigations are necessary to reveal the precise mode of action of P. reptans against mastitis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS) is induced by accumulation of misfolded proteins, playing a pivotal role during the processes of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The present study was to investigate the effect of Asiatic acid from Potentilla chinensis (AAPC) on liver cell lipid metabolism, exploring the underlying mechanism of AAPC against NAFLD. In vivo , the animal NAFLD model was induced by feeding rats with high fat diet (HFD) for 18 weeks, and meanwhile the rats were treated with AAPC from weeks 8 to 18; In vitro experiment, the effect of AAPC on dyslipidemia induced by oleic acid (OA) in hepatic cells (HepG2) was evaluated. The results showed that AAPC significantly decreased lipidosis in rats and in HepG2 cells; it notably alleviated hepatocyte damage and lipid disturbance in rats. Moreover, the cell experiments showed that AAPC strongly inhibited HepG2 cell proliferation. It markedly decreased hepatocyte lipogenesis by regulating the key lipid metabolism-related factors, such as sterol regulatory element-binding protein 1c (SREBP-1c), encoding carboxylase, liver X Receptor Rα (LXRα), fatty acid synthase (FAS), and AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK). The further study elucidated that AAPC treatment significantly alleviated inflammatory response by inhibiting the nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kB) pathway. Moreover, AAPC significantly alleviated hepatocyte apoptosis and lipid metabolism disorder through reducing the extent of ERS. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that AAPC significantly ameliorates NAFLD by inhibiting the ERS pathway and lipid deposition, which may be a potential natural medicine for the treatment of NAFLD. Highlights • AAPC alleviates hepatic steatosis and hepatocyte damage. • AAPC has strong anti-oxidative effect. • AAPC reduces endoplasmic reticulum stress (ERS). • AAPC inhibits the PERK, IRE1 and ATF6 pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most important active compounds present in Potentilla tormentilla rhizomes were quantitatively determined on the basis of Raman, attenuated total reflection (ATR) and diffuse reflectance mid- and near- infrared spectra (DRIFTS) collected for the untreated plant material. Partial least-squares (PLS) models were constructed utilizing vibrational spectra and the results of reference high-performance liquid chromatography analyses. Applying Raman spectroscopy, total polyphenols, tannins, ellagitannins, procyanidins, agrimoniin, 3-O-galloylquininc acid and catechin were simultaneously quantified in tormentil rhizomes, with the relative standard errors of prediction in the 2.0–4.9% range for both calibration and validation sets. These error ranges were found to be slightly higher for infrared techniques and amounted to 2.7–6.5%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new vagrant species of the genus Phytoptus Dujardin (Eriophyoidea, Phytoptidae, Phytoptinae) from Serbia are described: Phytoptus argenteus n. sp. from Potentilla argentea and P. serbicus n. sp. from Potentilla tommasiniana. Remarks on morphology of Phytoptus alchemillae Jočić et al. 2011 collected from Alchemilla plicata in Serbia and supplementary description of infrequently encountered species Phytoptus potentillae Chen et al. 2005 from Potentilla bifurca (Poaceae) based on mummies recovered from dry plant material from southern Russia are given. Sequences of mtCOI barcode region (658 bp) of three Phytoptus species (P. alchemillae, P. argenteus n. sp., and P. serbicus n. sp.) are provided. A brief comparison of pairwise genetic distances between congeneric eriophyoid mites across taxa of Eriophyoidea (including genus Phytoptus) indicates that COI sequences of congeneric eriophyoid mites do not precisely reflect phylogenetic relations of their hosts. This fact may be explained by (a) different rate of the COI evolution in different mite clades associated with phylogenetically related and unrelated hosts or by (b) similar timing of the associations between mites and plants (while having the same rate of COI evolution). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The genus Potentilla is closely related to that of Fragaria, the economically important strawberry genus. Potentilla micrantha is a species that does not develop berries but shares numerous morphological and ecological characteristics with Fragaria vesca. These similarities make P. micrantha an attractive choice for comparative genomics studies with F. vesca. Findings: In this study, the P. micrantha genome was sequenced and annotated, and RNA-Seq data from the different developmental stages of flowering and fruiting were used to develop a set of gene predictions. A 327 Mbp sequence and annotation of the genome of P. micrantha, spanning 2674 sequence contigs, with an N50 size of 335,712, estimated to cover 80% of the total genome size of the species was developed. The genus Potentilla has a characteristically larger genome size than Fragaria, but the recovered sequence scaffolds were remarkably collinear at the micro-syntenic level with the genome of F. vesca, its closest sequenced relative. A total of 33,602 genes were predicted, and 95.1% of bench-marking universal single-copy orthologous genes were complete within the presented sequence. Thus, we argue that the majority of the gene-rich regions of the genome have been sequenced. Conclusions: Comparisons of RNA-Seq data from the stages of floral and fruit development revealed genes differentially expressed between P. micrantha and F. vesca. The data presented are a valuable resource for future studies of berry development in Fragaria and the Rosaceae and they also shed light on the evolution of genome size and organization in this family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentilla discolor has been used as the Traditional Chinese Medicine ingredient in prescription for over 400 years, and scientific evidences have confirmed its effectiveness as an anticancer agent. The present study is undertaken to assess, for the first time, the chemical composition, potential in vitro anti-tumor activities and related mechanisms of the essential oil, which was extracted from Potentilla discolor fresh roots by supercritical CO 2 fluid extraction technology. Twenty-nine compositions were identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The anti-tumor activity of the essential oil was screened against four cancer cell lines and the lowest IC 50 value was 19.02 μg/mL on T24 cell line. Then, T24 was selected as a representative cell line for the related mechanism research. As a result, cell cycle assay confirmed that the cell growth was inhibited by Potentilla discolor essential oil and cell cycle was arrested in DNA synthesis phase. A series of apoptosis analysis indicated that Potentilla discolor essential oil induced apoptosis through mitochondrion-mediated intrinsic pathway. This study revealed that Potentilla discolor essential oil has significant anti-tumor activity. It should be useful in the search for new potential anti-tumor agents and pharmaceutical industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Apomixis evolves from a sexual background and usually is linked to polyploidization. Pseudogamous gametophytic apomicts, which require a fertilization to initiate seed development, of various ploidy levels frequently co-occur with their lower-ploid sexual ancestors, but the stability of such mixed populations is affected by reproductive interferences mediated by cross-pollination. Thereby, reproductive success of crosses depends on the difference in ploidy levels of mating partners, that is, on tolerance of deviation from the balanced ratio of maternal versus paternal genomes. Quality of pollen can further affect reproductive success in intercytotype pollinations. Cross-fertilization, however, can be avoided by selfing which may be induced upon pollination with mixtures of self- and cross-pollen (i.e., mentor effects). We tested for reproductive compatibility of naturally co-occurring tetraploid sexuals and penta- to octoploid apomicts in the rosaceous species Potentilla puberula by means of controlled crosses. We estimated the role of selfing as a crossing barrier and effects of self- and cross-pollen quality as well as maternal: paternal genomic ratios in the endosperm on reproductive success. Cross-fertilization of sexuals by apomicts was not blocked by selfing, and seed set was reduced in hetero- compared to homoploid crosses. Thereby, seed set was negatively related to deviations from balanced parental genomic ratios in the endosperm. In contrast, seed set in the apomictic cytotypes was not reduced in hetero- compared to homoploid crosses. Thus, apomictic cytotypes either avoided intercytotype cross-fertilization through selfing, tolerated intercytotype cross-fertilizations without negative effects on reproductive success, or even benefitted from higher pollen quality in intercytotype pollinations. Our experiment provides evidence for asymmetric reproductive interference, in favor of the apomicts, with significantly reduced seed set of sexuals in cytologically mixed populations, whereas seed set in apomicts was not affected. Incompleteness of crossing barriers further indicated at least partial losses of a parental genomic endosperm balance requirement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentilla alba L. is used as a medicinal plant that contains a variety of biologically active substances. Natural resources are not meeting the needs of the pharmaceutical industry. We obtained the first biomass of P. alba plant-regenerants using hydroponics technique with clonal micropropagation. We have conducted a comprehensive study of the chemical composition of a vegetable raw materials P. alba, obtained in the Biotechnology Department (plant-regenerants) in comparison with raw material obtained from plants grown under field conditions (intact plants). We have established the quantitative content of the structural components in the samples: cellulose in roots and rhizomes of intact plants, 15.4%, in the roots of plant-regenerants, 4.3%, in the leaves of plant-regenerants, 2.5%; lignin in roots and rhizomes of intact plants, 40.7%, in the roots of plant-regenerants, 37.0%, and in the leaves of plant-regenerants, 36.8%. We determined the content of extractives in P. alba samples, recovered by sequential treatment with hexane, 96% and 40% ethanol solution, water and 1% aqueous sodium hydroxide solution. We identified the total content of extractives in the roots and rhizomes of intact plants at 15.3%, in the roots of plants-regenerants, 11.2%, and in the leaves of plant-regenerants, 5.1%. We characterized the chemical composition of extractives by UV-spectroscopy. Phenolic substances (λ = 279.5–280.0 nm) were dominant in the composition of the extracts. We have established the authenticity of the samples by the TLC chromatography based on the presence of flavonoids and tannins. We showed the identity of the phytochemical composition of vegetable raw materials produced by micropropagation and grown hydroponically for two months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

α-Glucosidase enzyme inhibitors are clinically used for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes mellitus. We tested α-glucosidase inhibitory effects of Potentilla astracanica Jacq. extracts ( 1, 2 ), two compounds isolated from these extracts, prunetin 5- O -β-glucopyranoside ( 3 ) and genistein 5- O -β-glucopyranoside ( 4 ), and their aglycon forms ( 5 and 6 ). All the tested materials possessed remarkable α-glucosidase inhibitor activity compared to the positive control, acarbose. Genistein ( 6 ) showed the highest activity with an IC 50 value of 1.47 (±0.11) μg/ml. An enzyme kinetics analysis revealed that 3 and 6 were uncompetitive, 5 was noncompetitive, and 4 was competitive inhibitors. Using molecular modeling techniques we tried to provide insight into molecular mechanisms of their activity and how allosteric binding of 6 affected binding interactions between the agonist (maltose) and the enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traumatic head injury is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. As a result of head trauma occurring in the retina of the various biochemical, histological and immunohistochemical effects were investigated. Sprague-Dawley rats were subjected to traumatic brain injury with a weight-drop device using 300 g-1 m weight-height impact. Twenty one rats were divided into three groups, as group 1 (vehicle-treated control), group 2 (vehicle-treated trauma) group 3 trauma + Potentilla fulgens ( P. Fulgens) 400 mg/ kg/day, i.p.). Distilled water was used as vehicle. All rats were decapitated 5 days after the induction of trauma, and the protective effects of P. Fulgens were evaluated by histological, immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses. Although further studies are necessary to evaluate the time-and dose-dependent neuroprotective effects of P. Fulgens. Depending on whether trauma inhibits apoptosis of photoreceptor cells, ganglion cells, it is thought that the the support against the degeneration of neural connections can be considered. This study indicates that P.Fulgens is potentially useful for the treatment of eye disorders induced by traumatic brain injury. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High temperature is an important environmental factor that affects plant growth and crop yield. Potentilla fruticosa L. has a developed root system and characteristics of resistance to several stresses (e.g., high temperature, cold, drought) that are shared by native shrubs in the north and west of China. To investigate thermotolerance mechanisms in P. fruticosa, 3-year-old plants were subjected to a high temperature of 42°C for 1, 2, and 3 days respectively before analysis. Then, we studied changes in cell ultrastructure using electron microscopy and investigated physiological changes in the leaves of P. fruticosa. Additionally, we used isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) coupled with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) to study proteomic changes in P. fruticosa leaves after 3 d of 42°C heat stress. we found that the cell membrane and structure of chloroplasts, especially the thylakoids in P. fruticosa leaves, was destroyed by a high temperature stress, which might affect the photosynthesis in this species. We identified 35 up-regulated and 23 down-regulated proteins after the heat treatment. Gene Ontology (GO) analysis indicated that these 58 differentially abundant proteins were involved mainly in protein synthesis, protein folding and degradation, abiotic stress defense, photosynthesis, RNA process, signal transduction, and other functions. The 58 proteins fell into different categories based on their subcellular localization mainly in the chloroplast envelope, cytoplasm, nucleus, cytosol, chloroplast, mitochondrion and cell membrane. Five proteins were selected for analysis at the mRNA level; this analysis showed that gene transcription levels were not completely consistent with protein abundance. These results provide valuable information for Potentilla thermotolerance breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a process through which epithelial cells are transformed into mesenchymal cells; EMT diminishes cell polarity and cell-cell adhesion in cancer cells, leading to enhanced migratory and invasive properties. In this experiment, zymography, cell invasion, and migration assays were performed. Results indicated that Duchesnea indica extracts (DIE) inhibited highly metastatic A549 and H1299 cells by reducing the secretions of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and urokinase-type plasminogen activator. Cell adhesion assay also demonstrated that DIE reduced the cell adhesion properties. Western blot analysis showed that DIE down-regulated the expression of N-cadherin, fibronectin, and vimentin, which are mesenchymal markers, and enhanced that of E-cadherin, which is an epithelial marker. In vivo study showed that tumor growth was significantly reduced in BALB/c nude mouse xenograft model administered with oral gavage of DIE. Therefore, DIE could be exhibits potential as a phytochemical-based platform for prevention and treatment of lung cancer. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Environ Toxicol 32: 2053-2063, 2017. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine possible phytoaccumulation of metals (Ca, Mg, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd, Co, Cr) in the following plants growing on one specific serpentine site (mountain Goc, village Kamenica, central Serbia): Chrysopogon gryllus (L.) Trin.; Cotinus coggygria Scop.; Dorycnium pentaphyllum Scop. subsp. herbaceum (Vill.) Rouy; Melica ciliata L.; Potentilla argentea L.; Sanguisorba minor Scop.; Teucrium chamaedrys L. and Teucrium montanum L. The found metal concentration in the soil was in the descending order: Mg>Fe>Ca>Ni>Cr>Mn>Co>Zn>Pb>Cu>Cd. Concentrations of Ni and Cr in the investigated soil were higher then both. Also, according to the official regulation of Republic of Serbia, the concentration of Cd was above limit values. The highest concentrations of Mg, Mn, Pb, Co, and Cr were found in species T. chamaedrys. Zn, Ni and Cd domninated P. argentea, Ca in S. minor, Cu in C. coggygria, and Fe in species T. montanum. On the basis of these results the value for biological absorption coefficient for Ca was higher than one for all researched plants. The species Ch. gryllus and P. argentea showed the bioaccumulation potential of Zn. Our results indicate possible application of the studied plants, growing on soil formed on specific serpentine geological background, in the process of phytoaccumulation of metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the biological and chemical fingerprints of three extracts (ethyl acetate, methanol, and water) from two Potentilla species (Potentilla reptans and P. speciosa) were investigated. Antioxidant, enzyme inhibitory, and cytotoxic activities were performed for the biological fingerprint. For the chemical characterization, total bioactive components, and individual phenolic components were determined using photometric and HPLC methods, respectively. The main identified phenolic compounds in these extracts were rutin and catechin. Methanol and water extracts contained the highest total phenolic and flavonoid content. The results of antioxidant assays showed that methanol and water extracts displayed higher antioxidant activity compared to the ethyl acetate extract. Generally, methanol and water extracts exhibited higher biological activities correlated with higher levels the bioactive components. For P. speciosa, the methanol extract exhibited the highest enzyme inhibitory activity (except BChE inhibitory activity). P. reptans exhibited also high antiproliferative activity against MCF-7 cells whilst P. speciosa had weak to moderate activity against both of A549 and MCF-7 cell lines. The results suggest that Potentilla species could be potential candidates for developing new phyto-pharmaceuticals and functional ingredients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drymocallis damghanensis Naderi & Faghir (Rosaceae) is described as a new species. The specimens were collected during a floristic study of an unexplored area on the rocky slopes of the Eastern Alborz Mountains (Damghan, Iran). Drymocallis damghanensis can be distinguished by its hairy carpels and rounded-obtuse teeth in leaflets. Here it is compared with the morphologically most closest taxa D. poteriifolia and D. schiraziana. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new lupane-triterpenoids (1–3) along with six known compounds (4–9) were isolated from the ethanolic extract of whole plant of Potentilla discolor Bunge. The structures of Compounds 1–3 were established by extensive 1D and 2D NMR together with other spectrum analysis, indicating that their C-27 positions were highly oxygenated, which were rarely found in nature. Their in vitro anti-proliferative activities against HepG-2, MCF-7 and T-84 cell lines were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and the results showed different activities for three cell lines with IC50 values ranging from 17.84 to 40.64 μM. In addition, the results from Hoechst 33258 and AO/EB staining as well as annexinV-FITC assays exhibited Compound 1 caused a markedly increased HepG-2 cellular apoptosis in a dose-dependent manner. The further mechanisms of Compound 1-induced cellular apoptosis were confirmed that 1 induced the production of ROS and the alteration of pro- and anti-apoptotic proteins, which led to the dysfunction of mitochondria and activation of caspase-9 and caspase-3 and finally caused cellular apoptosis. These results would be useful in search for new potential antitumor agents and for developing semisynthetic lupane-triterpenoid derivatives with high antitumor activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentilla lignosa Willd is a new additional species to the Rosaceae family in Iraq, from Qandil mountain (north-east of Erbil) within Rowanduz district (MRO). The identity of the species was confirmed by identification using keys in the available references, morphological description was prepared, and some discriminative characters are given in the associated figures. In addition, some characters of the pollen grains have been studied such as shapes, colors, sizes and numbers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentilla amicarum Ertter is provided for plants from high elevations (2700-3700 m) in the southern and central Sierra Nevada, and also the White and Sweetwater mountains of California, that have most often been treated as depauperate P. drummondii or P. bruceae, or else P. breweri with subpinnate leaves. The name P. breweri var. viridis Jepson has sometimes been applied to these plants, but the type of that name is interpreted as the hybrid of P. wheeleri and P. breweri. A hybrid origin is hypothesized involving P. breweri, P. drummondii, and/or P. glaucophylla. The size range and elevation of P. bruceae in recent floristic treatments is adjusted accordingly, and the distribution of P drummondii in California is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The multicomponent pattern and biological characterization of plant material are essential for pharmaceutical field, in the food supplements quality control procedures and to all plant-based products. These nutrients often show valuable effects related to their consumption due to the occurrence of secondary metabolites that show useful properties on health. In this framework, researches performed on this topic play a central role for human health and drug development process. The aim of this study was to compare phenolics and free anthraquinones multicomponent pattern of two wild Turkish species:Asphodeline anatolicaandPotentilla speciosausing validated high-performance liquid chromatography–photogiode array (HPLC–PDA) assays, coupled to biological evaluation. Even if some variances related to biological and enzymatic inhibition activities can be ascribed to other phytochemicals, the reported data support traditional use ofAsphodeline anatolicaandPotentilla speciosaroots as valuable natural font for the development of novel natural-derived drug formulations and/or food supplements with health and nutritional benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scientific data of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and chloroplast trnL-F sequences are needed to identify Potentilla fragarioides L. In this work, the genome DNA from the leaves of Potentilla fragarioides L. collected in Jilin province was extracted, the ITS and chloroplast trnL-F region using universal primers of angiosperm were amplified, and the purified PCR products was directly sequenced. The obtained sequences were edited by Genetyx and reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genome DNA from the leaves of Potentilla bifurca L var. humilior Rupr. collected in Jilin Province was extracted to provide scientific data of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and chloroplast trnL-F sequences for identification of Potentilla bifurca L. var. humilior Rupr., the ITS and chloroplast trnL-F region using universal primers of angiosperm was amplified, and the purified PCR products were directly sequenced. The obtained sequences were edited by Genetyx and reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Divergence in reproductive traits between closely related species that co-occur contributes to speciation by reducing interspecific gene flow. In flowering plants, greater floral divergence in sympatry than allopatry may reflect reproductive character displacement (RCD) by means of divergent pollinator-mediated selection or mating system evolution. However, environmental filtering (EF) would prevail for floral traits under stronger selection by abiotic factors than pollination, and lead to sympatric taxa being more phenotypically similar. We determine whether floral UV pigmentation and size show signatures of RCD or EF using a biogeographically informed sister taxa comparison. We determine whether 35 sister pairs in the Potentilleae tribe (Rosaceae) are allopatric or sympatric and confirm that sympatric sisters experience more similar bioclimatic conditions, an assumption of the EF hypothesis. We test whether interspecific differences are greater in allopatry or sympatry while accounting for divergence time. For UV pigmentation, sympatric sisters are more phenotypically similar than allopatric ones. For flower size, sympatric sisters show increased divergence with time since speciation but allopatric ones do not. We conclude that floral UV pigmentation shows a signature of EF, whereas flower size shows a signature of RCD. Discordant results between the traits suggest that the dominant selective agent differs between them. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context:Potentilla fulgensWall. ex Hook (Rosaceae) is a potent medicinal plant of the Western Himalayas, where its roots are traditionally used by the local people of Uttaranchal (India) to treat wounds and tiger bites. Objective: The present study scientifically evaluates the wound healing activity ofP. fulgensethanol root extract (EPF) and its ethyl acetate fraction (PFEA) on experimental rats. Materials and methods: Wounds were inflicted on animals by using both excision and incision models. The wounded animals were treated for 16 days with EPF (oral: 200–400 mg/kg and topical: 5–10% w/w) and PFEA (oral: 75 mg/kg; topical: 1.75% w/w). Various physical (wound contraction, epithelialization rate, tensile strength) and biochemical parameters (hydroxyproline, hexosamine, proteins, DNA) were examined during the study. Oxidant product (lipidperoxidase), antioxidant enzymes (catalase, superoxide-dismutase) and reduced glutathione were determined. Morphological and histopathological studies of the skin tissues were monitored. Results: A significant (p < 0.05) wound healing property was observed when the animals were treated topically with EPF (10% w/w) and PFEA (1.75% w/w). A significantly (p < 0.05) increased in the levels of hydroxyproline, hexosamine, protein and DNA up to 59.22, 70.42, 61.01 and 60.00% was observed, respectively. This effect was further demonstrated by the morphological and histopathological representation, thus showing significant (p < 0.05) re-epethelialization on the healing area. EPF and PFEA also showed significant (p < 0.05) antioxidant activity. Conclusions: The present study provided the scientific evidence, whereP. fulgensrich in polyphenolic components possess remarkable wound healing activities, thereby supporting the traditional claims. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 32 Wistar rats were divided into four equal groups: (I) sham, (II) ischemia, (III) reperfusion and (IV) Potentilla fulgens. In groups I and II, ovary torsion was not performed and no drug was administered. In group III, 1 h of ischemia and 2 h of reperfusion were performed and no drug was given. Group IV received 400 mg/kg/day Potentilla fulgens intraperitoneally 5 days before Ischemia-reperfusion. All the parameters were observed to be significantly decreased (P<0.05) in all the experimental groups compared to the control group. In the sections of the ischemia-reperfusion group, degeneration of epithelium, dilation of blood vessels were observed. Potentilla fulgens administration reduced the morphological changes by induced I/R; in particular, infiltration, hemorrhage and vascular dilatation were decreased. Potentilla fulgens application during torsion, it plays an important role in maintaining the epithelial structure with E-cadherin expression. We suggest that PECAM-1(CD31) are a regulator of the microvascular response of the tubal mucosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Although thermoregulation by large bees in cool climates has been well studied, less is known about the very different thermoregulatory strategies of small bees, especially those subjected to heat stress. 2. Studies were carried out on small (< 20 mg fresh weight), dark-coloured, solitary bees (mostly halictids and hylaeine colletids) experiencing an extreme radiative heat load, enhanced by the high-altitude location and by reflection of incident radiation by the high-albedo petals of the flowers of Potentilla lancinata. 3. When foraging in the flowers, such bees experienced peak operative temperatures exceeding 44 °C. In these conditions, males largely stopped foraging but females continued, usually limiting their flower visits to a few seconds and making frequent short flights. These flights would cool the bees down, because bees suspended in air were cooler than bees in sunlit flowers, and convective cooling during flight would further enhance the cooling effect of departure from the flower. 4. As far as is known, cooling flights in small bees have not been proposed before, providing a new avenue for exploration of bee thermoregulatory strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The largest natural population of shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa) in the Baltic States was observed in the field to reveal the scale-dependent explanatory value of site characteristics for subsequent spatial distribution modelling of the species. About 700 km was crossed during field observations in 2008-2014. Thinning of the raw field records to ensure a distance of at least 50 metres between each point yielded 1459 presences and 7327 absences. These occurrence data were related to present and historical land cover, soil, elevation, human population density, the proportion of presence sites, and P. fruticosa mean coverage in the neighbourhood. Boosted classification tree models were used to compare the value of 60 individual site features at thematically and spatially different levels of generalization as indicators of the species' presence or absence. P. fruticosa presence is significantly non-random regarding most of the studied site features but only a few of these are valuable predictors. The proportion of presences in the neighbourhood had the highest indicative value. P. fruticosa occurrence also coincides with moist thin calcareous soils according to the soil map, with larger scrubland patches according to the topographical database, and with tussock areas according to a topographical map from the 1930s. The explanatory value of nominal site characteristics primarily drops when the most indicative category is merged with other classes to form a more general category. Site characteristics calculated at the observation point are not always the most effective predictors for P. fruticosa occurrence -- features of the neighbourhood are related to the occurrence as well. The study area was classified into: confirmed absence area, unclear presence/absence area and probable presence area. Subsequent distribution modelling in the unclear area should be targeted on a species presence/absence, while abundance could be the priority within the probable presence area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ContextThe root ofPotentilla anserinaL. (Rosaceae) is an herbal medicine that has been used as an antitussive and expectorant drug for thousands of years in Chinese folk medicine. Objective: This study estimated the antitussive and expectorant effects ofP. anserinaextract to validate its traditional use. Materials and methodsThe antitussive and expectorant activities of the ethanol extract, aqueous extract, and polysaccharides fromP. anserinawere evaluated using classical animal models. ResultsThe results showed that in three antitussive tests, the aqueous extract and polysaccharides at high and low doses significantly inhibited the frequency of cough induced by ammonia and sulfur dioxide in mice and by citric acid in guinea pigs, and increased the latent period of cough in guinea pigs. Similarly, the aqueous extract and polysaccharides also showed significant expectorant activity compared with the control in phenol red secretion experiments. Polysaccharides at dose of 600 mg/kg enhanced tracheal phenol red output by 121.1%, the ammonium chloride (positive control) at dose of 1000 mg/kg by 117.4%. However, the ethanol extract at a high dose (600 mg/kg) has antitussive activity only in the sulfur dioxide induced coughing test. Moreover, the polysaccharides at the same dose showed better bioactivity than the aqueous extract in all tests. Discussion and conclusionThe results of the present study provide evidence thatP. anserinacan be used as an antitussive and expectorant herbal medicine and that polysaccharides may be the main active ingredients ofP. anserinaresponsible for its bioactivities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To investigate the effect ofPotentilla fulgensextract on lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in male mice as a function of age. Methods: Eighteen-month-old Swiss albino male mice were administered the dichloromethane-methanol extract ofP. fulgens(250 mg/kg b.w.) on alternate days via intraperitoneal route for a period of 14 days. Lipid peroxidation and activities of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx1) in liver and kidney were measured and serum oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay was estimated. Phytochemical analysis ofP. fulgensextract using high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) was carried out with gallic acid, quercetin, catechin, and epicatechin as markers. Results: Significant increase in level of thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS), decreased GPx1, and CAT activities as well as reduction in ORAC were observed in 18-month-old mice as compared to that of 2-month-old mice. Treatment withP. fulgensextract significantly lowered TBARS level, ameliorated CAT, and GPx1 activities in liver and kidney and improved serum ORAC in aging mice. HPTLC studies revealed well resolved bands ofP. fulgensextract containing epicatechin and catechin. Discussion: This study showed thatP. fulgensis a potent antioxidative agent, which can emerge as a promising candidate in alleviating the age-associated oxidative stress and related diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In vitro photoprotective and antioxidant activities of dried aqueous-methanolic (H 2 O/MeOH) crude extract and ethyl acetate (EtOAc), n -butanol ( n -BuOH) as well as aqueous (H 2 O) fractions of roots of western Himalayan plant Potentilla atrosanguinea (Himalayan cinquefoil) were evaluated. The ability of protection against UVB region followed the trend EtOAc > n -BuOH > H 2 O/MeOH > H 2 O. Total phenol content of crude H 2 O/MeOH extract was found to be 429.808 mg GAE/g. The H 2 O/MeOH crude extract showed highest antioxidant of DPPH radical scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging and cupric ion reducing of 90.04, 78.86 and 88.64% respectively at 200 μg/mL. One new compound methyl pentatetraconta-30,32,34,36,38,40,42-heptaenoate ( PA-1 ) along with a known pentadecylbutyrate ( PA-2 ) was isolated by column chromatography. Results indicated the importance of root extracts as photoprotective agents in sunscreen preparation in the pharmaceutical industry and considered as a natural source of antioxidants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple method for preparing biologically active material from plant extract may consist of four steps: obtaining an extract from selected plant, analytical chromatography with biological detection and transition to preparative scale, preparative isolation of biologically identified bands/groups of bands from chromatogram, rechromatography of isolated fractions. The next step of proceeding may be a quality analysis of separated material by, e.g., thin-layer chromatography (TLC)-MS Interface or biological studies after isolation. Extracts obtained from fourPotentillaspecies:P. erecta, P. collina, P. megalantha,andP. crantziwere separated on silica plates, developed with the nonaqueous eluent. Immersion—direct bioautography was chosen as a method of detection of bands’ activity for their selection for isolated bands. Antibacterial/bacteriostatic properties of marked areas was the preliminary criterion of choice the samples to the further examinations. Preparative thin layer chromatography allowed isolation of various number of fractions of each extracts. Obtained fractions were examined in various TLC systems (silica/nonaqueous mixture of solvents) with the various modes of development to obtain the best separation effect. The next step was a once more bioautographic detection of separated fractions on the TLC plates. The found chromatographic systems will be used to mass spectrometric determination of biologically active compounds contained in examined extracts. Bioautographic indication will be the method of choice for subsequently isolated compounds or groups of compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Resources such as water taken up by plants can be released into soils through hydraulic redistribution and can also be translocated by clonal integration within a plant clonal network. We hypothesized that the resources from one (donor) microsite could be translocated within a clonal network, released into different (recipient) microsites and subsequently used by neighbor plants in the recipient microsite. To test these hypotheses, we conducted two experiments in which connected and disconnected ramet pairs of Potentilla anserina were grown under both homogeneous and heterogeneous water regimes, with seedlings of Artemisia ordosica as neighbors. The isotopes [15N] and deuterium were used to trace the translocation of nitrogen and water, respectively, within the clonal network. The water and nitrogen taken up by P. anserina ramets in the donor microsite were translocated into the connected ramets in the recipient microsites. Most notably, portions of the translocated water and nitrogen were released into the recipient microsite and were used by the neighboring A. ordosica, which increased growth of the neighboring A. ordosica significantly. Therefore, our hypotheses were supported, and plant clonal integration mediated the horizontal hydraulic redistribution of resources, thus benefiting neighboring plants. Such a plant clonal integration-mediated resource redistribution in horizontal space may have substantial effects on the interspecific relations and composition of the community and consequently on ecosystem processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new taxa of Potentilla found in the Altai mountain region are described and illustrated: P. smirnovii from Central Altai, P. schmakovii from Mongolian Altai. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chloroform fraction of Potentilla evestita led to the isolation of three compounds which were characterized as Acacetin 1, Chrysin 2 and Umbelliferone 3. These were tested for their xanthine oxidase inhibition, antimalarial and anticancer potential. When challenged against xanthine oxidase inhibition, outstanding attenuation of the enzyme was observed with IC50 values of 11.92±0.01, 73.74±0.02 and 97.12±0.01 μM respectively. The results of antimalarial assay showed the marked anti-malarial activity of only compound 1 (IC50: 55.14 μM) against Plasmodium falciparum. Compound 1 also exhibited a moderate action against HepG2 human cell lines, while no action was observed for others. In conclusion, all the three compounds demonstrated profound activity against xanthine oxidase, needs further details studies to get molecules of clinical significance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentilla species have been used for treatment of several ailments (ulcer, respiratory problems or diarrhea) in different countries. The different solvent extracts (ethyl acetate, methanol, and water) of P. anatolica were studied for antioxidant properties, enzyme inhibitory activity, and phytochemical profile. Phytochemical profile was evaluated as total phenolic, flavonoid, saponin, triterpenoid content, and fatty acid composition. The ethyl acetate extract contained the richest concentration of total phenolics, saponins and triterpenoids. Methanol extract contained high levels of flavonoids. Ethyl acetate and methanol extracts had higher levels of total triterpenoids. The P. anatolica oil contained palmitic acid (29.21%) as major fatty acid, followed by oleic acid (21.33%), and stearic acid (10.79%). The antioxidant properties of extracts were also evaluated by using free radical scavenging(DPPH and ABTS), reducing power (FRAP and CUPRAC), metal chelating activity and phosphomolybdenum assays. All extracts exhibited antioxidant capacity. The best results of P. anatolica were noted in ethyl acetate extract (except total flavonoids, CUPRAC, metal chelating activity). The extracts of P. anatolica demonstrated potent inhibitory activity against α-amylase and α-glucosidase, AChE and tyrosinase and no activity against BChE. P. anatolica could be a potential natural source of antioxidant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method for the ecologically pure extraction of chlorogenic acid from the marsh cinquefoil in a medium of subcritical water has been developed. The content of chlorogenic acid in extracts obtained in subcritical water and in an aqueous ethanol solution has been determined by HPLC. A high efficiency of extraction of chlorogenic acid from marsh cinquefoil tap roots in subcritical water without using expensive organic solvents has been demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new taxa of Potentilla found in the Altai mountain region are described and illustrated: P. smirnovii from Central Altai, P. schmakovii from Mongolian Altai. (© 2015 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study, ischemia reperfusion injury in rats, Potentilla fulgens is to investigate the protective effects. Wistar albino rats (n=30) weighing 180-220 g were used in the experiment. Group 1 animals underwent sham laparotomy without ischemiareperfusion injury. Group 2 animals underwent laparotomy and occlusion of superior mesenteric arteries for 30 min followed by 20 min of reperfusion without pretreatment. The Potentilla fulgens group received 400 mg/kg/day Potentilla fulgens intraperitoneally 5 days before Ischemia-reperfusion injury. There was a significant difference between the group with ischemia-reperfusion group Potentilla fulgens (p<0.0001). In statistical analysis of the MDA level, data were obtained after a respective measurement in all groups. Potentilla fulgens group with ischemia-reperfusion group was a significant decrease in MDA (p<0.001). In the period after ischemia-reperfusion, marked PCNA immunoreactivities were observed in the nuclei of crypt and villus cell. In ischemia reperfusion group, the number of PCNA immunoreactivity is quite advanced and they extended throughout the middle part of the intestine folds. The number of TUNEL-positive nuclei were also developed. In ischemia-reperfusion plus P. fulgens group, the intestinal epithelium with only a few PCNA immunoreactive nuclei. TUNEL positive nuclei were noted in the gut lumen and mucosal close differentiated goblet cells. We showed that Potentilla fulgens extract significantly prevented mucosal lesions caused by intestinal ıschemia-reperfusion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alpine meadow ecosystems are susceptible to climate changes. Still, climate impact on cuticular wax in alpine meadow plants is poorly understood. Assessing the variations of cuticular wax in alpine meadow plants across different latitudes might be useful for predicting how they may respond to climate change. We studied nine alpine meadows in a climate gradient in the east side of Qinghai- Tibetan Plateau, with mean annual temperature ranging from −7.7 to 3.2°C. In total, 42 plant species were analyzed for cuticular wax, averaged 16 plant species in each meadow. Only four plant species could be observed in all sampling meadows, including Kobresia humilis, Potentilla nivea, Anaphalis lacteal, and Leontopodium nanum. The amounts of wax compositions and total cuticular wax in the four plant species varied among sampling meadows, but no significant correlation could be observed between them and temperature, precipitation, and aridity index based on plant species level. To analyze the variations of cuticular wax on community level, we averaged the amounts of n-alkanes, aliphatic acids, primary alcohols, and total cuticular wax across all investigated plant species in each sampling site. The mean annual temperature, mean temperature in July, and aridity index were significantly correlated with the averaged amounts of wax compositions and total cuticular wax. The average chain length of n-alkanes in both plant and soil linearly increased with increased temperature, whereas reduced with increased aridity index. No significant correlation could be observed between mean annual precipitation and mean precipitation from June to August and the cuticular wax amounts and average chain length. Our results suggest that the survival of some alpine plants in specific environments might be depended on their abilities in adjusting wax deposition on plant leaves, and the alpine meadow plants as a whole respond to climate change, benefiting the stability of alpine meadow ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A look at the environmental, cultural, economic, and political influences that have shaped the landscape of the Upper Mustang region of Nepal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Potentilla fulgens root traditionally used as a folk remedy in Meghalaya, India. However, systematic evaluation of its anticancer efficacy was limited. We investigated the anticancer potentials of the various extracts prepared by partitioning of the methanol extract of the root with the aim to discover major contributing factors from the most effective fractions. Methanol extract of P. fulgens roots (PRE) was prepared by maceration which was subsequently fractionated into hexane, ethyl-acetate (EA) and n-butanol soluble fractions. Various assays (clonogenic assay, Flow cytometry analysis, western blot, semiquantitative RT-PCR and the level of endogenous glutathione) were used to evaluate different parameters, such as Cell survivability, PARP-1 proteolysis, expression pattern of anti-apoptotic and γ-glutamyl-cysteine synthetase heavy subunit (GCSC) genes in both MCF-7 and U87 cancer cell lines. Since the EA-fraction showed most efficient growth inhibitory effect, it was further purified and a total of nine compounds and some monomeric and dimeric flavan-3-ols were identified and characterized. Three compounds viz., epicatechin (EC), gallic acid (GA) and ursolic acid (UA) were taken on the basis of their higher yield and 10 μg/ml of each was mixed together. The concentration used in this study for PRE, EA- and Hex-fraction was 100 μg/ml, which was higher than the IC50 value. Apoptotic cell death in the PRE, EA-fraction and EC+GA+UA treated cancer cell cultures was significantly greater than in normal cells due to suppression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 following treatment. Depletion of glutathione by downregulating GCSC was also observed. Induction of apoptosis and lowering the level of glutathione are considered to be positive activity for an anticancer agent. Therefore, modulation of GSH concentration in tumor cells by PRE and its EA-fraction opened up the possibility of a new therapeutic approach because these plant products are not harmful to normal cells and may regulate the tumor cellular response to different anticancer treatments. Thus, it would be interesting to examine efficacy of these plant products or EA-fraction in human cancer treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aims to develop an easy and eco-friendly method for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles using extracts from the medicinal plant, Potentilla fulgens and evaluation of its anticancer and antimicrobial properties. The various parts of P. fulgens were screened and the root extract was found to have the highest potential for the synthesis of nanoparticles. The root extracts were able to quickly reduce Ag + to Ag 0 and stabilized the nanoparticles. The synthesis of nanoparticles was confirmed by UV–Visible spectrophotometry and further characterized using Zeta sizer, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Electron microscopic study showed that the size of the nanoparticle was in the range of 10 to 15 nm and spherical in shape. The studies of phytochemical analysis of nanoparticles indicated that the adsorbed components on the surface of nanoparticles were mainly flavonoid in nature. Furthermore, nanoparticles were evaluated as cytotoxic against various cancer cell lines and 0.2 to 12 μg/mL nanoparticles showed good toxicity. The IC 50 value of nanoparticles was found to be 4.91 and 8.23 μg/mL against MCF-7 and U-87 cell lines, respectively. Additionally, the apoptotic effect of synthesized nanoparticles on normal and cancer cells was studied using trypan blue assay and flow-cytometric analysis. The results indicate the synthesized nanoparticle ability to kill cancer cells compared to normal cells. The nanoparticles also exhibited comparable antimicrobial activity against both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South American Transition Zone (SATZ) is a biogeographic area in which not only orogeny (Andes uplift) and climate events (aridification) since the mid-Miocene, but also Quaternary glaciation cycles had an important impact on the evolutionary history of the local flora. To study this effect, we selected Munroa argentina, an annual grass distributed in the biogeographic provinces of Puna, Prepuna and Monte. We collected 152 individuals from 20 localities throughout the species’ range, ran genetic and demographic analyses, and applied ecological niche modeling. Phylogenetic and population genetic analyses based on cpDNA and AFLP data identified three phylogroups that correspond to the previously identified subregions within the SATZ. Molecular dating suggests that M. argentina has inhabited the SATZ since approximately 3.4 (4.2–1.2) Ma and paleomodels predict suitable climate in these areas during the Interglacial period and the Last Glacial Maximum. We conclude that the current distribution of M. argentina resulted from the fragmentation of its once continuous range and that climate oscillations promoted ecological differences that favored isolation by creating habitat discontinuity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental control of growth and flowering and the freezing tolerance of two Norwegian populations of Potentilla palustris (L.) Scop, were studied under controlled environment conditions. Under short day (SD; 10 h) conditions, the plants ceased growing and entered a semi-dormant state at temperatures ranging from 9° - 21℃, while under long day (LD; 24 h) conditions, growth was highly temperature-dependent. At 21℃, the plants continued to grow and remained vegetative in LD for at least 16 weeks. Flowering was induced at all temperatures in SD, while in LD at lower temperatures only. The critical photoperiods for floral induction at 21℃ were 18 h and 20 h for the South Norwegian and the North Norwegian population, respectively. However, the initiation of floral primordia required a transition from SD to LD conditions. Three weeks of exposure to SD at an intermediate temperature was sufficient for floral induction in both cultivars, but flowering increased with increasing exposure, up to 7 weeks. SD-induced plants, that had ceased growing, resumed normal growth when returned to LD and high temperature in the absence of chilling, but only a few plants flowered without chilling. High-latitude P. palustris plants survived freezing at temperatures down to -30℃, whereas even the hardiest populations of the related wood strawberry (Fragaria vesca L.) were killed at temperatures below -10℃. We conclude that, considering the relative ease with which the frost-susceptible garden strawberry can be crossed with the frost-resistant P. palustris, the latter represents a promising progenitor for breeding new, cold-resistant strawberry cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]