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The taxonomic classification of the genera Salsola L., Pyankovia Akhani and Roalson, and Xylosalsola Tzvelev within Chenopodiaceae Vent. (Amaranthaceae s.l.) remains controversial, with the precise number of species within these genera still unresolved. This study presents a comparative analysis of the complete plastid genomes of S. foliosa, S. tragus, P. affinis, and X. richteri species collected in Kazakhstan. The assembled plastid genomes varied in length, ranging from 151,177 bp to 152,969 bp for X. richteri and S. tragus. These genomes contained 133 genes, of which 114 were unique, including 80 protein-coding, 30 tRNA, and 4 rRNA genes. Thirteen regions, including ndhC-ndhD, rps16-psbK, petD, rpoC2, ndhA, petB, clpP, atpF, ycf3, accD, ndhF-ndhG, matK, and rpl20-rpl22, exhibited relatively high levels of nucleotide variation. A total of 987 SSRs were detected across the four analyzed plastid genomes, primarily located in the intergenic spacer regions. Additionally, 254 repeats were identified, including 92 tandem repeats, 88 forward repeats, 100 palindromic repeats, and only one reverse repeat. A phylogenetic analysis revealed clear clustering into four clusters corresponding to the Salsoleae and Caroxyloneae tribe clades. These nucleotide sequences obtained in this study represent a valuable resource for future phylogenetic analyses within the Salsoleae s.l. tribe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyankovia brachiata (Pall.) Akhani & Roalson 2007, is an annual plant belonging to the genus Pyankovia, family Amaranthaceae, which is widely distributed in the inland deserts of Northwest China. P. brachiata was previously categorized under the genus Salsola in Salsoleae and has been a long-standing topic of debate. Therefore, the complete chloroplast genome of P. brachiata must be studied to provide a theoretical reference for species classification. In this study, we sequenced P. brachiata samples and determined the species' complete chloroplast genome. The complete chloroplast genome was 149,922 bp in length, with one large single copy (LSC: 83,565 bp), one small single copy (SSC: 18,535 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb, 23,911 bp each). It contains 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding, eight rRNA, and 37 tRNA genes. The phylogenetic position showed that P. brachiata has the closest relationship with Caroxylon passerinum (accession number: NC057191.1). This study will provide genetic information and be beneficial to understanding the systematic position of P. brachiata within the Amaranthaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Alligatorweed [Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb.; Amaranthaceae] is a globally problematic, aquatic invasive weed with a long history as a target for control efforts. Although chemical and biological control methods have been widely studied to manage alligatorweed infestations, many research questions remain unanswered. This paper seeks to assess the efficacy of two understudied alligatorweed control methods: submersed herbicide applications and biological control with alligatorweed thrips (Amynothrips andersoni O'Neill 1968; Thysanoptera: Phlaeothripidae). These assessments were carried out in mesocosm experiments, in two stages. The first stage tested five herbicides applied as submersed injections at two different rates, and the second tested the same five herbicides alone and in combination with alligatorweed thrips biological control. The submersed herbicides used in this study were penoxsulam, bispyribac-sodium, imazamox, fluridone, and topramezone. The control effect of these treatments was measured as percent biomass reduction 12 weeks after treatment. These data showed that, with the exception of bispyribac-sodium, submersed herbicide application was generally successful at reducing alligatorweed biomass. Also, thrips biological control was broadly effective at reducing alligatorweed biomass. However, these data did not identify a specific herbicide whose control was significantly benefitted by thrips biological control at the rates these herbicides were applied. While the results of this study show promise for combining submersed herbicides and alligatorweed thrips for integrated alligatorweed management, questions remain regarding this combined control strategy including whether or not these results translate to the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytochemical study on the roots of Achyranthes bidentata Blume led to the isolation of sixteen compounds including three new ones (1–3). Their chemical structures were determined as oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside-3-O-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-galactopyranoside) (1), methyl (8Z,11Z)-5,6,7-trihydroxytetradeca-8,11-dienoate (2), methyl (6E,11Z)-5,8,9-trihydroxytetradeca-6,11-dienoate (3), fulgidic acid (4), (9E,11E)-13-oxooctadeca-9,11-dienoic acid (5), (9Z,11E,15Z)-13-hydroxyoctadeca-9,11,15-trienoic acid (6), oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside-3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→4)-β-D-glucuronopyranoside (7), oleanolic acid 28-O-β-D-glucopyranoside-3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucuronopyranoside (8), oleanolic acid 3-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-[α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucuronopyranoside (9), oleanolic acid 3-O-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→3)-β-D-glucuronopyranoside (10), blumenol C glucoside (11), citroside A (12), 6S,9S-roseoside (13), ginsenoside Rg1 (14), 20-hydroxyecdysone (15), and benzyl α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→6)]-β-D-glucopyranoside (16) by spectroscopic analysis. Compounds 1, 7 and 11–16 inhibited NO production in LPS-activated RAW264.7 cells with IC50 values in the range from 28.03 to 54.23 µM (positive control, L-NMMA: IC50 = 35.52 µM). Compounds 14 and 15 showed anti α-glucosidase activity with IC50 values of 176.24 and 156.92 µM, respectively, compared with the positive control, acarbose, IC50 = 160.99 μM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amaranthaceae s.l. is a widely distributed family consisting of over 170 genera and 2000 species. Previous molecular phylogenetic studies have shown that Amaranthaceae s.s. and traditional Chenopodiaceae form a monophyletic group (Amaranthaceae s.l.), however, the relationships within this evolutionary branch have yet to be fully resolved. In this study, we assembled the complete plastomes and full‐length ITS of 21 Amaranthaceae s.l. individuals and compared them with 38 species of Amaranthaceae s.l. Through plastome structure and sequence alignment analysis, we identified a reverse complementary region approximately 5200 bp long in the genera Atriplex and Chenopodium. Adaptive evolution analysis revealed significant positive selection in eight genes, which likely played a driving role in the evolution of Amaranthaceae s.l., as demonstrated by partitioned evolutionary analysis. Furthermore, we found that about two‐thirds of the examined species lack the ycf15 gene, potentially associated with natural selection pressures from their adapted habitats. The phylogenetic tree indicated that some genera (Chenopodium, Halogeton, and Subtr. Salsolinae) are paraphyletic lineages. Our results strongly support the clustering of Amaranthaceae s.l. with monophyletic traditional Chenopodiaceae (Clades I and II) and Amaranthaceae s.s. After a comprehensive analysis, we determined that cytonuclear conflict, gene selection by adapted habitats, and incomplete lineage sorting (ILS) events were the primary reasons for the inconsistent phylogeny of Amaranthaceae s.l. During the last glacial period, certain species within Amaranthaceae s.l. underwent adaptations to different environments and began to differentiate rapidly. Since then, these species may have experienced morphological and genetic changes distinct from those of other genera due to intense selection pressure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Geoclimatic events driving South American aridization have generated biota differentiation due to barriers and new environment formation. New environments allow species climatic niche evolution, or the geographical expansion of an existing one. Understanding the role these processes play may clarify the evolution of South American biota. Gomphrena L. ranges across almost all the continent's arid environments. We tested whether South American drylands are biogeographically connected through the Gran Chaco but, due to different aridity levels, lineage diversification could have also been associated with the evolution of climatic niches and morphological or physiological traits. With available data, we generated a dated phylogeny, estimated ancestral ranges, performed diversification analyses, reconstructed ancestral states of two characters, and examined if niches have changed between lineages. Results showed that Gomphrena diversified throughout the easternmost South American drylands ~15.4 Ma, and subsequently three independent clades colonized the western arid regions during the last Andean pulse, and after the marine transgressions (~4.8–0.4 Ma) via the Gran Chaco. The colonization implied an increase in the diversification rate of annuals over perennials and the progressive east–west differentiation of the occupied climatic niche. This diversification was influenced by C4 photosynthesis, which could have acted as a niche opener to conquer new environments after the Paranaean Sea withdrew. Spatiotemporal patterns found in Gomphrena suggest that geographical expansion and evolution of climatic niches played a common but decoupled role in promoting diversification. These results show that the Gran Chaco may have acted as a historical connection linking South American drylands. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aerva lanata plant belongs to the family Amaranthaceae. Aerva lanata is also referred as the Mountain knotgrass.The leaves of Aerva lanata is one of the indigenous medicinal plants used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus, kidney stones and its associated problems in Africa. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the in vitro antiurolithiatic activity of the medicinal plant Aerva lanata (mountain knotgrass). The present study indicates the physicochemical & phytochemical studies of Aerva lanata. Ethyl acetate extract showed its maximum efficiency in the dissolution of calcium oxalate crystals. Our results have clearly indicated that the Ethyl acetate extract of Aerva lanata shows better results than Methanolic extract and it was quite promising for further studies in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nomenclatural status and typification of the names Arthrocaulon macrostachyum, Salicornia fruticosa, S. fruticosa var. deflexa, S. fruticosa var. glaucescens, S. fruticosa var. intermedia, S. fruticosa var. humilis, S. fruticosa var. pachystachya, S. fruticulosa, S. glauca, S. lignosa, S. macrostachya var. virescens, S. macrostachya var. glaucescens, S. perennis, S. radicans, S. radicans var. caespitosa, S. sarmentosa, S. sempervirens, and S. virginica, as well as an unnamed β-variety of S. fruticosa proposed by A. Bertoloni, are investigated. Concerning A. macrostachyum, we document that the type indicated in literature (G00177362) is not a holotype, and that lectotypification is necessary. A specimen from G (G00687638) is here designated as a lectotype. On the level of variety, Arthrocnemum fruticosum var. macrostachyum is an earlier legitimate name for Salicornia fruticosa var. pachystachya. Furthermore, Piirainen et al. are incorrect when citing Forsskål's "Salicornia" from Alexandria as "S. virginica Forssk."; it is not a new name and should be cited as S. virginica auct. non L., as published in Forsskål's Flora Aegyptiaco-Arabica. Like with numerous other parallel cases in Flora Aegyptiaco-Arabica, Forsskål's designation of "Salicornia virginica" for an Arabian plant is to be considered a misapplication of the earlier Linnaean name for an American plant. Arthrocnemum glaucum (a nomen illegitimum of Ungern-Sternberg), was listed as type species of Arthrocnemum by the Names in Current Use project; the basionym, Salicornia glauca Delile, is here lectotypified and identified as Arthrocaulon meridionale, published by Ramirez et al. Updated synonymies of Arthrocaulon macrostachyum, A. meridionale, Salicornia fruticosa, and S. perennis are proposed. Salicornia sempervirens is an invalid name according to Art. 36.1a of ICN. No original material was found for S. radicans var. caespitosa. This paper also refer to lecto- or neotypifications on specimens deposited at BM, G, LINN-HS, LY, MPU, NAP, and PAL, and their current taxonomic positions are suggested in a taxonomic part of the paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amaranthus roxburghianus H.W. Kung 1935, belonging to the Amaranthaceae family, is recognized for its significant medicinal properties. However, molecular research on this species has been limited. This study represents the inaugural documentation of the sequencing and assembly of the complete plastome of A. roxburghianus. The genome spans a total length of 149,969 base pairs (bp), exhibiting a conventional quadripartite structure. This structure comprises a large single-copy (LSC) region of 83,917 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,124 bp, and two inverted repeat (IR) regions, each extending to 23,964 bp. In its entirety, the A. roxburghianus plastome encompasses 128 genes, of which 107 are unique, encompassing 77 individual protein-coding genes, 26 unique tRNA genes, and four unique rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis has shown a close resemblance between A. roxburghianus and A. polygonoides, both part of the subgenus Albersia. Although the genus Amaranthus is roughly divided into three subgenera, additional plastid genomic data are required for a more accurate assignment of A. albus and A. blitoides. The sequencing of this plastome is a significant step forward, likely to expedite the development of molecular markers and significantly contribute to genetic assays involving this distinctive species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyankovia brachiata (Pall.) Akhani & Roalson 2007, is an annual plant belonging to the genus Pyankovia, family Amaranthaceae, which is widely distributed in the inland deserts of Northwest China. P. brachiata was previously categorized under the genus Salsola in Salsoleae and has been a long-standing topic of debate. Therefore, the complete chloroplast genome of P. brachiata must be studied to provide a theoretical reference for species classification. In this study, we sequenced P. brachiata samples and determined the species’ complete chloroplast genome. The complete chloroplast genome was 149,922 bp in length, with one large single copy (LSC: 83,565 bp), one small single copy (SSC: 18,535 bp), and two inverted repeat regions (IRa and IRb, 23,911 bp each). It contains 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding, eight rRNA, and 37 tRNA genes. The phylogenetic position showed that P. brachiata has the closest relationship with Caroxylon passerinum (accession number: NC057191.1). This study will provide genetic information and be beneficial to understanding the systematic position of P. brachiata within the Amaranthaceae.

Amaranthus roxburghianus H.W. Kung 1935, belonging to the Amaranthaceae family, is recognized for its significant medicinal properties. However, molecular research on this species has been limited. This study represents the inaugural documentation of the sequencing and assembly of the complete plastome of A. roxburghianus. The genome spans a total length of 149,969 base pairs (bp), exhibiting a conventional quadripartite structure. This structure comprises a large single-copy (LSC) region of 83,917 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,124 bp, and two inverted repeat (IR) regions, each extending to 23,964 bp. In its entirety, the A. roxburghianus plastome encompasses 128 genes, of which 107 are unique, encompassing 77 individual protein-coding genes, 26 unique tRNA genes, and four unique rRNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis has shown a close resemblance between A. roxburghianus and A. polygonoides, both part of the subgenus Albersia. Although the genus Amaranthus is roughly divided into three subgenera, additional plastid genomic data are required for a more accurate assignment of A. albus and A. blitoides. The sequencing of this plastome is a significant step forward, likely to expedite the development of molecular markers and significantly contribute to genetic assays involving this distinctive species.

Pollen morphology of Beta trigyna, B. vulgaris and B. vulgaris subsp. maritima, last of those studied for the first time, was investigated using light and scanning electron microscopy, based on 10 herbarium specimens. The aim of the study was to provide detailed data on the pollen characteristics of these taxa to identify similarities and differences between them. Pollen grains are pantoporate, spheroidal, circular in outline; small- and medium-sized. Exine sculpture is nanoechinate, tectum is psilate or psilate-perforate. Pore membranes are nanoechinate. Diagnostic relevance of the characters of pollen grains is discussed (pollen and pore diameters, distance between pores and between pore centres, nanoechini size and density, number of nanoechini on pore membranes, structure of columellae). UPGMA dendrograms based on palynological data support the differentiation of B. trigyna (section Corollinae), B. vulgaris and B. vulgaris subsp. maritima (section Beta). The obtained characteristics of pollen grains of Beta species can be used in spore-pollen analysis, especially in identifying the impact of human economic activity in the past. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Highlighting affordable alternative crops that are rich in bioactive phytoconstituents is essential for advancing nutrition and ensuring food security. Amaranthus blitum L. (AB) stands out as one such crop with a traditional history of being used to treat intestinal disorders, roundworm infections, and hemorrhage. This study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic and hematologic activities across various extracts of AB and investigate the phytoconstituents responsible for these activities. Methods In vitro anthelmintic activity against Trichinella spiralis was evaluated in terms of larval viability reduction. The anti-platelet activities were assessed based on the inhibitory effect against induced platelet aggregation. Further, effects on the extrinsic pathway, the intrinsic pathway, and the ultimate common stage of blood coagulation, were monitored through measuring blood coagulation parameters: prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and thrombin time (TT), respectively. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Results Interestingly, a previously undescribed compound (19), N-(cis-p-coumaroyl)-ʟ-tryptophan, was isolated and identified along with 21 known compounds. Significant in vitro larvicidal activities were demonstrated by the investigated AB extracts at 1 mg/mL. Among tested compounds, compound 18 (rutin) displayed the highest larvicidal activity. Moreover, compounds 19 and 20 (N-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-ʟ-tryptophan) induced complete larval death within 48 h. The crude extract exhibited the minimal platelet aggregation of 43.42 ± 11.69%, compared with 76.22 ± 14.34% in the control plasma. Additionally, the crude extract and two compounds 19 and 20 significantly inhibited the extrinsic coagulation pathway. Conclusions These findings extend awareness about the nutritional value of AB as a food, with thrombosis-preventing capabilities and introducing a promising source for new anthelmintic and anticoagulant agents.

Simple Summary: The digitization of herbarium collections is an important process that allows access to sometimes huge amounts of data that can be used in various natural sciences. In recent years, the collections of one of the thirty oldest herbariums in the world—the herbarium of the Jagiellonian University—have been digitized. This paper presents the resources of the economically very important Amaranthaceae family, which include 8801 herbarium sheets. They were analyzed in taxonomic, geographical, historical, and functional terms. Herbaria constitute a form of documentation, store and secure comparative material, as well as constitute an extra original gene bank. They are an invaluable database among others for the biological, ethnobotanical and agricultural sciences. The digitization of herbarium collections significantly facilitates access to archival materials; however, searching them is still time-consuming. Therefore, our work aims to analyze the herbarium collection of 8801 sheets for specimens representing the economically important family Amaranthaceae (Chenopodiaceae-Amaranthaceae clade) deposited the oldest herbarium in Poland, the herbarium of the Jagiellonian University (KRA). These specimens have been collected from almost all the continents in dozens of countries for over 200 years. The analyses conducted, including the taxonomic coverage, geographical characteristics and origin, temporal coverage and utility importance of representative species, present the discussed resources in a more accessible way and may become a more attractive form for scientists potentially interested in more advanced research work. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Pollen morphology of genera Oreobliton, Aphanisma, Beta, Hablitzia, and Patellifolia (Betoideae, Amaranthaceae) was studied using LM and SEM. • Two types of exine sculpture were observed: nanoechinate and psilate. • Three pollen types (Hablitzieae, Corollinae, Beta/Macrocarpae) were revealed. • Diagnostic pollen characters separating the tribes Hablitzieae and Beteae were exine thickness and structure of columellae. • Cluster analysis supports the differentiation of sections Corollinae, Beta, and Macrocarpae. Pollen morphology of 10 taxa belonging to the genera Oreobliton, Aphanisma, Beta, Hablitzia , and Patellifolia (subfamily Betoideae, Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae sensu APG IV) was investigated using both light and scanning electron microscopy. The research aimed to provide data on their pollen characteristics and to evaluate their significance for taxonomy and phylogeny. All pollen grains are pantoporate, spheroidal in shape, usually circular in outline (rarely polygonal), small and medium-sized. Two types of exine sculpture were recognised: type I – nanoechinate, and type II – psilate. For the first time, a psilate type of exine sculpture was revealed in the pollen grains of a member of subfam. Betoideae (Beta macrocarpa). Three pollen types (I – Hablitzieae, II – Corollinae, and III – Beta/Macrocarpae) were found and described based on the pollen diameter, pore diameter, distance between pores and between pore centres, pore number, C/D value, exine thickness, nanoechini: height, width at the base, number/4 µm², and number on pore membranes. The diagnostic pollen characters that separate the tribes Hablitzieae and Beteae are: exine thickness and structure of columellae. UPGMA dendrogram, based on quantitative pollen traits, supports the differentiation of most taxa at genera and species level. UPGMA dendrogram, based on qualitative palynological data, supports the differentiation of sections Corollinae, Beta, and Macrocarpae. The pollen morphology of Aphanisma blitoides, Beta lomatogona, B. macrocarpa, B. macrorhiza, Oreobliton thesioides , and Patellifolia patellaris , was studied for the first time in the present investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salicornia europae is a marine plant that grows in coastal areas and tides. In Sumbawa, this plant lives in the former area of ponds and is usually called lamota. S. europae contains beneficial ingredients such as minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, unsaturated fatty acids, and sugars. Marine plant innovations in S. europae, rich in iodine in processed yogurt, have not been well explored. This study aimed to develop the processing of lamota into a functional yogurt drink. A complete randomized design (CRD) was used in this experiment, using a single factor of 6 levels of lamota concentration. Iodine content, ash content, pH, and scoring tests were carried out to determine the lamota yogurt's best quality. The results showed that the iodine content of the product was 29.01 mcg/g dry weight, and ash content was 10.59%. The pH showed that adding lamota minimally affected the pH of the yoghurt. The organoleptic test found that a 25% addition of lamota extract was the preferred concentration compared to 5, 10, 15, and 20% based on color, taste, texture, and aroma. The panelist describes the 25% lamota addition as greenish, salty, watery texture and green aroma. Based on the iodine content and the best consumer acceptance, the yogurt with a 25% addition of lamota could be categorized as rich in iodine drink and a promising product to improve the functional characteristics of yogurt and develop a value-added local marine commodity with a unique flavor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Humans were always in need of new medications to fight the many developing diseases that they face. In recent years, the race to develop new medicines has increased caused for new diseases to occur by bacteria and viruses developed causing accumulation, local damage, and inflammation or irritation. Suaeda maritima (S. maritima) is a plant that was used in the past to treat illness and the plant extracts showed several biological activities especially hepatoprotective, antimicrobial, and antidiabetic activities. The present goal of this work is to prepare plant extracts with varied polarities from the mixture of leaves and stems of S. maritima and examine their bacteriostatic and antidiabetic activities by in vitro methods. The crude extract was prepared from the mixture of leaves and stems powder samples by methanol using the maceration method for 36 h. The methanol was removed from the extract by the usual method and then fractionated methanol extract with different polarities solvents. The bacteriostatic and antidiabetic activities of plant extracts were determined by using disc diffusion and enzyme methods. The prepared varied polarities extract at four different concentrations (2000, 1000, 500, and 250 µg/mL) were used to evaluate their bacteriostatic activity against the Gram (+ and −) bacterial strains. Among the six plant extracts, ethyl acetate extract showed the highest bacterial activity, and the lowest activity was in DCM extract. However, at low concentrations, almost all plant extracts of the selected plant didn't show any bacteriostatic activity. The antidiabetic activity of plant varied extracts was assessed by using an α-glucosidase bioassay and the highest IC50 was obtained in methanol extract and the lowest was in hexane extract from this bioassay. The other plant crude extracts also showed promising activity against the α-glucosidase bioassay. The plant extracts with significant activity from the selected plant could be used as natural medication to treat diabetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bassia scoparia, an annual potherb belonging to the family Amaranthaceae, has been widely used in traditional Chinese and Japanese medicine for over 2000 years. Herein, we presented its complete chloroplast. The chloroplast genome sequence was 151,278 bp in length with a 36.6% content of GC. The genome showed the typical quadripartite structure, comprising a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (24,353 bp) separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region (84,067 bp) and a small single-copy (SSC) region (18,505 bp). This chloroplast genome harbored 133 predicted genes, including 88 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, and eight ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that B. scoparia was closely related to B. littorea. This newly sequenced chloroplast genome not only enhances our understanding of the genome of Bassia but also provides valuable insights for the evolutionary study of the family Amaranthaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Baolia H.W.Kung & G.L.Chu is a monotypic genus only known in Diebu County, Gansu Province, China. Its systematic position is contradictory, and its morphoanatomical characters deviate from all other Chenopodiaceae. Recent study has regarded Baolia as a sister group to Corispermoideae. We therefore sequenced and compared the chloroplast genomes of this species, and resolved its phylogenetic position based on both chloroplast genomes and marker sequences. Results: We sequenced 18 chloroplast genomes of 16 samples from two populations of Baolia bracteata and two Corispermum species. These genomes of Baolia ranged in size from 152,499 to 152,508 bp. Simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were primarily located in the LSC region of Baolia chloroplast genomes, and most of them consisted of single nucleotide A/T repeat sequences. Notably, there were differences in the types and numbers of SSRs between the two populations of B. bracteata. Our phylogenetic analysis, based on both complete chloroplast genomes from 33 species and a combination of three markers (ITS, rbcL, and matK) from 91 species, revealed that Baolia and Corispermoideae (Agriophyllum, Anthochlamys, and Corispermum) form a well-supported clade and sister to Acroglochin. According to our molecular dating results, a major divergence event between Acroglochin, Baolia, and Corispermeae occurred during the Middle Eocene, approximately 44.49 mya. Ancestral state reconstruction analysis showed that Baolia exhibited symplesiomorphies with those found in core Corispermoideae characteristics including pericarp and seed coat. Conclusions: Comparing the chloroplast genomes of B. bracteata with those of eleven typical Chenopodioideae and Corispermoideae species, we observed a high overall similarity and a one notable noteworthy case of inversion of approximately 3,100 bp. of DNA segments only in two Atriplex and four Chenopodium species. We suggest that Corispermoideae should be considered in a broader sense, it includes Corispermeae (core Corispermoideae: Agriophyllum, Anthochlamys, and Corispermum), as well as two new monotypic tribes, Acroglochineae (Acroglochin) and Baolieae (Baolia). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Krascheninnikovia ewersmanniana is a dominant desert shrub in Xinjiang, China, with high economic and ecological value. However, molecular systematics research on K. ewersmanniana is lacking. To resolve the genetic composition of K. ewersmanniana within Amaranthaceae and its systematic relationship with related genera, we used a second-generation Illumina sequencing system to detect the chloroplast genome of K. ewersmanniana and analyze its assembly, annotation, and phylogenetics. Total length of the chloroplast genome of K. ewersmanniana reached 152,287 bp, with 84 protein-coding genes, 36 tRNAs, and eight rRNAs. Codon usage analysis showed the majority of codons ending with base A/U. Mononucleotide repeats were the most common (85.42%) of the four identified simple sequence repeats. A comparison with chloroplast genomes of six other Amaranthaceae species indicated contraction and expansion of the inverted repeat boundary region in K. ewersmanniana, with some genes (rps19, ndhF, ycf1) differing in length and distribution. Among the seven species, the variation in non-coding regions was greater. Phylogenetic analysis revealed Krascheninnikovia ceratoides, Dysphania ambrosioides, Dysphania pumilio, and Dysphania botrys to have a close monophyletic relationship. By sequencing the K. ewersmanniana chloroplast genome, this research resolves the relatedness among 35 Amaranthaceae species, providing molecular insights for germplasm utilization, and theoretical support for studying evolutionary relationships. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new quinochalcone C-glycoside featuring a unique quinonoid moiety, named celochalcoside (1), was isolated from the n-butanol extract of the aerial parts of Celosia trigyna L. The structure was determined by extensive spectroscopic analysis as well as mass spectrometric data. Compound 1 showed moderate cytotoxic activities against breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7), colon cancer cell lines (HT-29) and hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines (HepG2) with IC50 values of 23.16, 37.05 and 18.35 μg/ml, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Highlighting affordable alternative crops that are rich in bioactive phytoconstituents is essential for advancing nutrition and ensuring food security. Amaranthus blitum L. (AB) stands out as one such crop with a traditional history of being used to treat intestinal disorders, roundworm infections, and hemorrhage. This study aimed to evaluate the anthelmintic and hematologic activities across various extracts of AB and investigate the phytoconstituents responsible for these activities. Methods: In vitro anthelmintic activity against Trichinella spiralis was evaluated in terms of larval viability reduction. The anti-platelet activities were assessed based on the inhibitory effect against induced platelet aggregation. Further, effects on the extrinsic pathway, the intrinsic pathway, and the ultimate common stage of blood coagulation, were monitored through measuring blood coagulation parameters: prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT), and thrombin time (TT), respectively. The structures of isolated compounds were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis. Results: Interestingly, a previously undescribed compound (19), N-(cis-p-coumaroyl)-ʟ-tryptophan, was isolated and identified along with 21 known compounds. Significant in vitro larvicidal activities were demonstrated by the investigated AB extracts at 1 mg/mL. Among tested compounds, compound 18 (rutin) displayed the highest larvicidal activity. Moreover, compounds 19 and 20 (N-(trans-p-coumaroyl)-ʟ-tryptophan) induced complete larval death within 48 h. The crude extract exhibited the minimal platelet aggregation of 43.42 ± 11.69%, compared with 76.22 ± 14.34% in the control plasma. Additionally, the crude extract and two compounds 19 and 20 significantly inhibited the extrinsic coagulation pathway. Conclusions: These findings extend awareness about the nutritional value of AB as a food, with thrombosis-preventing capabilities and introducing a promising source for new anthelmintic and anticoagulant agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fall armyworm, Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith, 1797) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae), is a polyphagous species capable to develop on several cultivated and non-cultivated host plants, including weeds. On this basis, we evaluated the survival and development of S. frugiperda on leaves of hairy fleabane (Conyza bonariensis L.; Asteraceae) and slender amaranth (Amaranthus viridis L.; Amaranthaceae) in laboratory trials. Spodoptera frugiperda neonates were initially fed on leaves of non-Bt maize and then were transferred to hairy fleabane or slender amaranth leaves at different time points. On hairy fleabane leaves, only 12% of larvae in L5 and L6 stages developed into pupae and adults, with similar duration of immature stage of those developed in maize leaves. In contrast, S. frugiperda larvae from L1 to L6 stages developed into pupae on slender amaranth leaves, but only those from the L2 stage onwards originated adults (9–65%). On maize, > 64% of neonates developed to adulthood. Surviving larvae fed on early instars on slender amaranth leaves had up to 10 d longer developmental time of neonate-to-pupa and neonate-to-adult periods compared to those developed on maize. Pupal weights of surviving insects on slender amaranth leaves were also lower (104.9–67.4 mg/pupa) than on maize (207.4 mg/pupa). In summary, our findings indicate that the hairy fleabane is not a suitable host for S. frugiperda, whereas slender amaranth is a viable food source for the survival end development of this species, mainly for advanced instars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Insect pests can be controlled by manipulating their behaviour, which can be achieved by understanding the cues they use to find their food plants. In this study, we explored how the sugar beet weevil, Asproparthenis punctiventris, responds to the odours of various food plants. Using an olfactometer, we tested the reactions of adult weevils to the volatile leaf odours of different food plants, including sugar beet and chard. The results showed that both male and female weevils were attracted to the leaf odours of young sugar beet and chard plants. However, only males responded positively to the odour of the garden orache, while there was no response to the odours of fat hen or the common amaranth. This suggests that the weevil uses leaf odours to locate sugar beet and other food plants. Knowledge of the olfactory responses of this pest can provide a basis for improved monitoring or mass trapping strategies. Understanding the stimuli used by insect pests to find their food plants can be a first step towards manipulating their behaviour and, thus, controlling them. We investigated the responses of the sugar beet weevil Asproparthenis punctiventris (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to the volatile leaf odours of its food plants, including Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris (Altissima and Cicla groups), Atriplex hortensis, Chenopodium album, and Amaranthus retroflexus, in a four-arm olfactometer. A bioassay procedure was developed, and the frequency of visits and time spent by adult weevils in the quadrant of the olfactometer with leaf volatiles was recorded, as was their first choice of quadrant. Females and males were equally attracted to the leaf odours of young B. vulgaris subsp. vulgaris plants, i.e., sugar beet and chard, as indicated by the overall picture of the behavioural parameters analysed. Males, but not females, responded positively to the leaf odour of the garden orache (A. hortensis), and no response was observed when the weevils were tested with the leaf odours of fat hen (C. album) or common amaranth (A. retroflexus). These results suggest that A. punctiventris uses leaf odours to locate sugar beet and other food plants. Knowledge of the olfactory responses of this pest can provide a basis for improved monitoring or mass trapping strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Better understanding of the relationship between plant specialized metabolism and traditional medicine has the potential to aid in bioprospecting and untangling of cross‐cultural use patterns. However, given the limited information available for metabolites in most plant species, understanding medicinal use–metabolite relationships can be difficult. The order Caryophyllales has a unique pattern of lineages of tyrosine‐ or phenylalanine‐dominated specialized metabolism, represented by mutually exclusive anthocyanin and betalain pigments, making Caryophyllales a compelling system to explore the relationship between medicine and metabolites by using pigment as a proxy for dominant metabolism. Methods: We compiled a list of medicinal species in select tyrosine‐ or phenylalanine‐dominant families of Caryophyllales (Nepenthaceae, Polygonaceae, Simmondsiaceae, Microteaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Amaranthaceae, Limeaceae, Molluginaceae, Portulacaceae, Cactaceae, and Nyctaginaceae) by searching scientific literature until no new uses were recovered. We then tested for phylogenetic clustering of uses using a "hot nodes" approach. To test potential non‐metabolite drivers of medicinal use, like how often humans encounter a species (apparency), we repeated the analysis using only North American species across the entire order and performed phylogenetic generalized least squares regression (PGLS) with occurrence data from the Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF). Results: We hypothesized families with tyrosine‐enriched metabolism would show clustering of different types of medicinal use compared to phenylalanine‐enriched metabolism. Instead, wide‐ranging, apparent clades in Polygonaceae and Amaranthaceae are overrepresented across nearly all types of medicinal use. Conclusions: Our results suggest that apparency is a better predictor of medicinal use than metabolism, although metabolism type may still be a contributing factor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some plant species retain mature seeds in plant canopies aboveground which are released later during opportune windows for germination and establishment. This process, known as serotiny, can lead to aerial seedbanks that exist simultaneously with soil seedbanks. However, little is known about how serotiny affects the persistence of weed seeds in the aerial seedbank. A randomized-stratified survey of 117 sites in southern Alberta, Canada, was conducted in 2022 to determine whether the summer-annual tumbleweed Russian thistle (Salsola tragus L.) exhibits seed serotiny. The observational study confirmed that Russian thistle plants exhibit serotiny and that the seeds can exist simultaneously in aerial and soil seedbanks. On average, the plants sampled retained 332 ± 62 viable seeds plant-1 seven to eight months after senescence. This time frame followed winter and emergence of the subsequent generation of plants from the soil seedbank. Russian thistle plants that were attached to the soil retained about double (P = 0.0274) the number of seeds (549 ± 133 viable seeds plant-1) than those detached from the soil (270 ± 71 viable seeds plant-1), likely due to seeds dislodging during movement of the tumbleweeds with prevailing winds. Seeds persisting in aerial seedbanks could evade decay, predation, or lethal germination leading to seed mortality in the soil seedbank, and increase the likelihood of seed persistence and successful establishment of new plants in stressful environments.

Amaranthus is a genus of C4 dicotyledonous herbaceous plant species that are widely distributed in Asia, Africa, Australia, and Europe and are used as grain, vegetables, forages, and ornamental plants. Amaranth species have gained significant attention nowadays as potential sources of nutritious food and industrial products. In this study, we performed a comparative genome analysis of five amaranth species, namely, Amaranthus hypochondriacus, Amaranthus tuberculatus, Amaranthus hybridus, Amaranthus palmeri, and Amaranthus cruentus. The estimated repeat content ranged from 54.49% to 63.26% and was not correlated with the genome sizes. Out of the predicted repeat classes, the majority of repetitive sequences were Long Terminal Repeat (LTR) elements, which account for about 13.91% to 24.89% of all amaranth genomes. Phylogenetic analysis based on 406 single-copy orthologous genes revealed that A. hypochondriacus is most closely linked to A. hybridus and distantly related to A. cruentus. However, dioecious amaranth species, such as A. tuberculatus and A. palmeri, which belong to the subgenera Amaranthus Acnida, have formed their distinct clade. The comparative analysis of genomic data of amaranth species will be useful to identify and characterize agronomically important genes and their mechanisms of action. This will facilitate genomics-based, evolutionary studies, and breeding strategies to design faster, more precise, and predictable crop improvement programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blutaparon portulacoides (A.St.-Hil.), also known as capotirguá, pirrixu, and bredo-de-praia, is a bactericidal and anti-inflammatory agent used in folk medicine to treat leukorrhea. The present study evaluated the effects of an ethanolic extract of B. portulacoides (EEBp) on the reproductive performance, embryo-fetal development, and chromosomal stability of mice of pregnant female mice treated during the gestational period with oral EEBp (500 or 1000 mg/kg) or vehicle (1% Tween 80). EEBp did not alter biometric parameters, placental index, placental efficiency, or other parameters related to reproductive performance, neither embryo-fetal development and DNA integrity, but 500 and 1000 mg/kg EEBp decreased fetal and placental weight, respectively. Although the frequency of external and skeletal malformations did not differ between these groups and the control group, EEBp increased the frequency of reduced ossification of the presphenoid and xiphoid, which can be considered variants of normality. These findings indicate that EEBp is a safe and cost-effective treatment for leukorrhea during pregnancy, although caution should be exercised in its use. [Display omitted] • Extract of B. portulacoides did not significantly interfere with the reproductive performance • Extract of B. portulacoides did not significantly interfere with the embryo-fetal development of female mice. • Ethanolic extract of B. portulacoides was not genotoxic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During field surveys of eriophyoid mites in Razavi and North Khorasan provinces (Iran) in summer 2023, two new Aceria spp. (Acari: Eriophyoidea: Eriophyidae) on Amaranthaceae plants were discovered, illustrated and described: Aceria sodaesp. nov. on Soda rosmarinus (Bunge ex Boiss.) Akhani and Aceria esfarayeniensissp. nov. on Salsola arbusculiformis Drobow. Furthermore, a list of Aceria spp. on Amaranthaceae species around the world, their type host plants and their relationship to hosts are provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Growing medium affects microgreen properties significantly. • Flax and radish sango microgreens shows higher production yields. • Bioactives varied significantly across all selected microgreens. • Radish sango microgreens are good source of bioactive compounds. Microgreens from different botanical species seven grown using in two selective medium (Soil and Cocopeat) were examined for morphological, proximate, chemical composition, and antioxidant activities of selected microgreen species. The selected microgreens grown in two different growing substrates (soil and cocopeat) showed a significant effect on their quality parameters. Flaxseed and radish sango microgreens show good results in morphological parameters (shoot height and length, and yield) compared with broccoli, cabbage, pak choi, beetroot, and red amaranthus microgreens. Microgreens contain high levels of moisture content (91.92–95.33 g/100 g, FW) and relatively low amounts of fat (2.23–7.58 g/100 g, DW) and protein (2.04–6.11 g BSA/100 g, DW) content were reported. Comparative analysis of microgreens concluded flaxseed and cabbage microgreens have the greatest total chlorophyll content (26.28–29.16 µg/g, FW), meanwhile the microgreens obtained from beetroot had the greatest levels of carotenes (7.42–8.09 µg/g, FW) and cabbage microgreens shown high level of ascorbic acid content (329.20–438.71 mg/100 g, FW). Whereas radish sango microgreens contains high level of anthocyanins (28.06–45.87 µmol/100 g, FW), total phenol content (241.98–667.48 mg GAE/100g, FW), total flavonoid content (27.64–39.44 mg QUE/100 g, FW) and antioxidant activity (DPPH and FRAP) (61.71–89.24 %, FW and 14.39–17.46 µmol TE/g, FW) compared to other microgreens. Further, all results were compared and verified by principle component analysis. Throughout the research, it was noticed and concluded that growing media is crucial for the growth and development of microgreens, and any modifications to the substrate will have an important effect on both the nutritional value and morphological traits of microgreens. Overall, cocopeat cocopeat-based growing medium was the most effective growing medium for the cultivation of microgreens to increase microgreens plant growth, yield, nutritional, biochemical composition, and antioxidant activity of microgreens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Traditional medicine has become part and parcel of the present era for the maintaining and preventing of ailments. Alternanthera brasiliana and Alternanthera paronychioides (Amaranthaceae) are widely used in traditional medicine. Ab is widely familiar as penicillin in Brazil. Ap is known to treat gout, hyperuricemia, rheumatic arthritis, nephritis etc. as folk medicine. The present study aims to compare standardization profiles for A. brasiliana and A. paronychioides. Materials and Methods: Sample Ab and Ap were collected and authenticated. Authenticated samples were subjected to powder microscopy, physico-chemical, phytochemical, HPTLC and HPLC fingerprint and PXRD analysis. Results: Powder microscopic investigations revealed the characteristic features for identification. Physico-chemical investigation revealed the slightly acidic nature of both plants. The phytochemical test showed the existence of phenol, terpenoids and steroids as major secondary metabolites in both species. Photo documentation, fingerprints and spectral comparison by HPTLC and fingerprints by HPLC validate the existence of similar compounds in both Ab and Ap. PXRD analysis revealed the variance of elements present in both species. Conclusion: Comparative physico-chemical, phytochemical and HPLC, HPTLC, and P-XRD instrumental analysis of A. brasiliana and A. paronychioides provides distinct features for identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new gall-forming Aceriini mite, Aceria sadeghii sp. nov., was discovered and described in the Razavi Khorasan Province of Iran. It caused distortion on the upper side of the leaves without hypertrichosis on leaves of Krascheninnikovia ceratoides (L.) Güldenstädt (Amaranthaceae). This is the second eriophyoid species found on this host plant genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

makkah - Saudi Arabia, is one of the most important cities, which faced a reduction in natural vegetative cover, due to the hot aridity, with a maximum temperature around 40-49°C, and scarcity of rainfall, the rate of rainfall is between 50-80 mm/year. A plant is supposed to be native if it has occurred naturally in a particular region, ecosystem, or habitat without human intervention. The aim of this study was to study the flora around Makkah city by choosing eight stands from different localities. The field work included relevé, the plots were about 10 × 10 meters in size. The study revealed that the eight stands were represented by 20 species belong to 8 families, Fabaceae and Apocynaceae were dominant by (34%), (25%) followed by Amaranthaceae (13%), Poaceae (12%) and Cucurbitaceae (5%); then (Apiaceae & Asteraceae) were represented by (4%), while Solanaceae was represented by only (3%) of the vegetation. Phanerophytes (40%) were the dominant while Hemicryptophytes (He) were the lowest value of life form (10%). The Floristic categories Saharo-Arabian (SA) and Sudano-Zambezian (AZ) were the dominant (38%), while Mediterranean (ME), Saharo-Sindian (SSI), Tropical (TR), Irano-Turanian (IT) were lowest value (6%). Rhazya stricta has a high number of species that were observed in native plants in study area (17%), while Cenchrus biflorus, Leptadenia pyrotechnica, Lycium shawii, Panicum turgidum, Senegalia asak, Senna italica, Stipellula capensis, Vachellia flava and Vachellia tortilis were the lowest with 3% over the stands. Finally, the diversity in species deficiency in Makkah. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As an unconventional food plant with excellent nutritional qualities, Amazon spinach stands out among other horticultural species, as it has high potential for use in agriculture. However, the literature regarding the use of organic sources in seedling production is incipient. Meanwhile, the he objective of this work was to evaluate the quality of spinach seedlings from the Amazon produced with alternative substrates. The experiment was carried out in the garden of the Universidade Federal do Acre, from March to April 2022. The experimental design was in randomized blocks, with five treatments and four blocks. The treatments were the different substrates, where: T1 = palm substrate, T2 = palm substrate with charcoal, T3 = commercial substrate, T4 = commercial substrate + palm substrate and T5 = commercial substrate + palm substrate with charcoal. The evaluations took place after 30 days of cultivation, evaluating: height, diameter, leaf length and width, total number of shoots and leaves, root length, fresh mass of shoots and roots, dry mass of shoots and roots, mass total fresh and dry, and the Dickson Quality Index calculated. There was a significant effect of the substrates used for the evaluated variables of the spinach seedlings. The alternative substrates mixed with the commercial one, presented itself as an alternative in the production of seedlings. The palm substrate witch charcoal and palm substrate, when mixed with the commercial one, is an alternative to produce quality seedlings for Brazilian spinach [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of tricotyledony has been reported in more than 15 dicotyledonous families and is mainly resulted from genetic variability, artificial selection and mutagenesis, and environmental stresses. Amaranthaceae species sand rice (Agriophyllum squarrosum) is a pioneer plant on moving sand dunes and wildly distributed in arid and semi-arid regions of the mid-latitude Asia. In the current study, tricotyledony was identified in two accessions and two elite lines derived from four natural populations of sand rice. The occurrence frequencies ranges from 0.83 to 14.29%. Tricotyledony correlates with variations of growth phenotype in different accessions. The tricotyledonous plant of Duolunbei was shown defect in seed development, whereas for Shigatse, tricotyledony was associated with significantly increased seed weight. Similarly, tricotyledony was also observed in two phylogenetically related species quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.). These results indicate that tricotyledony is a widespread and conserved/convergent phenomenon across dicotyledonous species in response to extreme environments and/or internal genetic variation. To dissect the genetic architecture of tricotyledony, a chemical mutagenesis library was constructed where four pleiocotyledonous sand rice mutants were identified. Further functional characterization of these genetic loci will shed light on how the cotyledon number is canalized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ecological niche models of species occurrence have gained interest in biological control programs to improve efficiency, reduce risks, and to inform when and how control agents may be released and/or surveyed. Alligator weed, Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. (Amaranthaceae), is an amphibious aquatic plant native to southern South America that has invaded several countries around the world. In this study, our aim was to quantify the current and to model the future alligator weed geographical distributions in its native range in South America, and in its introduced range (USA, the country where biological control of the weed was first implemented). Additionally, we modelled the current and potential distribution of its biocontrol agent Agasicles hygrophila Selman & Vogt (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), released in the USA in 1964, and other potential biocontrol agents, including the flea beetles Disonycha argentinensis Jacoby and Systena sp. In total, 19438 occurrence records of alligator weed, 253 of A. hygrophila, 48 of D. argentinesis, and 19 of Systena sp. were compiled. Niche models predicted expanded distributions of alligator weed, particularly in northern regions of South America. However, the models of the flea beetles A. hygrophila, D. argentinensis, and Systena sp. did not predict geographic range expansion and the future scenarios are similar to current distributions. Our study predicts an increase in the suitable areas for alligator weed in South America in future scenarios of global warming, whereas these new areas would not be as favourable for the biocontrol agents historically used. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lack of successful biological control of alligatorweed, Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb. (Amaranthaceae), by Agasicles hygrophila Selman & Vogt (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in the USA is an emerging problem as A. philoxeroides expands into temperate climates due to poor cold tolerance of the beetles. Sourcing climatically suited biotypes of biological control agents is traditionally done through foreign exploration into their native range; however, surveying introduced populations may provide a cost‐effective and regulatory‐friendly alternative. To compare foreign biotypes to those established in the USA, two populations of A. hygrophila were collected from the coolest extent of their range in South America, and two populations were collected from stable populations in the southeastern USA. For comparing cold tolerance among introduced populations, eight populations were collected from across a climatic gradient. For all populations, cold tolerance was measured as a function of supercooling point, critical thermal minimum (CTmin), chill coma, and temperature‐dependent survival and development of eggs and larvae. Results of cold‐tolerance measures for North American populations were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA) to reduce dimensionality and detect trends in cold tolerance among populations. For foreign and locally collected A. hygrophila, South American populations were significantly more cold tolerant as measured by CTmin (Δ1.98 °C), chill coma (Δ1.95 °C), larval survival (Δ35.0%), and development time of eggs (24.7% faster) and larvae (17.4% faster) at 15 °C. Comparisons among North American populations found significant differences in cold tolerance across populations; however, results were less consistent than those observed for foreign populations. The first principal component (PC) explained 43.0% of variation in cold‐tolerance metrics and was strongly related to mean temperature of the coldest quarter. The use of a multivariate approach to evaluate and compare cold‐tolerance phenotypes provides strong evidence of local adaptation in introduced populations of A. hygrophila. However, South American populations may still provide the best chance for control of A. philoxeroides in northern infestations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2020, S. Mosyakin and B. Mandák described a new species from the Chenopodium album aggregate, C. ucrainicum. The description of the species was based mainly on its distinct morphological characters. This study aims to improve our understanding of C. ucrainicum by combining karyological, cytological, molecular, and distribution information. All analyses demonstrated that C. ucrainicum is closely related to C. ficifolium and C. suecicum , the species with the 'BB' subgenome. It has the same diploid number of chromosomes (2 n  = 2 x  = 18), has very similar genome size (mean ± SD, 1.865 ± 0.026 pg), and is included in the same haplogroup together with polyploid species with the subgenome combination 'BBDD'. Nevertheless, the haplotype of C. ucrainicum is unique and is not shared with any known closely related species, indicating that the species is very well delimited from other related taxa. A similar result was obtained by RAD-seq data. This finding is particularly significant because species with the 'BB' genome played an integral part in the evolution of several allopolyploid taxa, some of which are widespread weeds (C. album s.s. , C. berlandieri) or economically important species (C. quinoa). Morphologically, the closest species remains C. suecicum , which is, however, very well genetically differentiated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

New Zealand (NZ) spinach (Tetragonia tetragonoides) is an important leafy vegetable crop in Brazil and other countries. This plant is used as a substitute for common spinach because it is rustic and tolerant to tropical and subtropical environmental conditions. It is often affected by a leaf and stem spot disease, which increases in severity during the warm climatic periods. Cercospora tetragoniae has been reported as the cause of this disease, but this is based on an early description of a Cercosporalike species on this host in Argentina, first named Cercosporina tetragoniae but later recombined into Cercospora. In the present study, isolates of Cercospora-like fungi were obtained from NZ spinach and beetroot plants in Brazil, and a multigene molecular study including the act, cal, gapdh, his3, ITS, and tef1-a regions was carried out to identify the causative pathogen. Additionally, morphological and cross inoculation studies were conducted with isolates obtained from diseased plants. The pathogen was confirmed as Cercospora beticola, a common and harmful pathogen of beetroot (Beta vulgaris). Cross-inoculations of isolates obtained from NZ spinach and beetroot showed that the isolates are infective to both hosts. This increases knowledge of epidemiology and management of this important disease. Several attempts to re-collect samples from the type locality in Argentina failed. NZ spinach is no longer grown at La Plata (Argentina), the type locality of C. tetragoniae. Therefore, the task of re-collecting the pathogen is still pending, for epitype designation and for a full clarification of the taxonomic status of C. tetragoniae. The possibility of the pathogen being seed-transmitted has been assessed, and evidence obtained justifies further assessment of this aspect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Species within the genus Chenopodium hold significant research interest due to their nutritional richness and salt tolerance. However, the morphological similarities among closely related species and a dearth of genomic resources have impeded their comprehensive study and utilization. In the present research, we conduct the sequencing and assembly of chloroplast (cp) genomes from six Chenopodium and related species, five of which were sequenced for the first time. These genomes ranged in length from 151,850 to 152,215 base pairs, showcased typical quadripartite structures, and encoded 85 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 1 pseudogene, 37 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Compared with the previously published sequences of related species, these cp genomes are relatively conservative, but there are also some interspecific differences, such as inversion and IR region contraction. We discerned 929 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and a series of highly variable regions across 16 related species, predominantly situated in the intergenic spacer (IGS) region and introns. The phylogenetic evaluations revealed that Chenopodium is more closely related to genera such as Atriplex, Beta, Dysphania, and Oxybase than to other members of the Amaranthaceae family. These lineages shared a common ancestor approximately 60.80 million years ago, after which they diverged into distinct genera. Based on InDels and SNPs between species, we designed 12 pairs of primers for species identification, and experiments confirmed that they could completely distinguish 10 related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Amaranthus L. is represented by 12 species in the flora of Bulgaria. Most of them are ruderal plants, widely distributed in the country. The representatives of amaranth in the Bulgarian flora are insufficiently studied. The aim of the present study is to study the morphological and karyological variability of one of the most widely distributed annual representatives of the genus in the country - Amaranthus albus L. A diploid chromosome number 2n = 2x = 32 was established. The total length of the haploid chromosome number in the studied populations varied from 14.57 µm to 27.39 µm. The pollen morphology and the seed morphology were examined using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microscopic techniques can be applied to solve taxonomic problems in the field of plant systematic and are extremely versatile in nature. This study was focused on the new approaches to visualizing the imaging, tool to cover the micro‐structural techniques applied to the pollen study of Amaranthaceae floral biology. In this detailed study, we used light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy to examine the shape and changes in pollen of 16 types of Amaranthaceae plants from the salty arid zone of Riyadh Saudi Arabia. We observed subtle variations among the studied species through meticulous examination of morpho‐palynological features such as symmetry, size, shape, pore ornamentation, and exine characteristics. The pollen grains were round and had rough or prickly outer coverings. They had different numbers of tiny pores; some were slightly sunken. These findings were utilized to develop a pollen taxonomy key, facilitating accurate identification and classification of Amaranthaceous species. Our results shed light on the taxonomic significance of pollen morphology for species differentiation within the Amaranthaceae family. Furthermore, this study provides valuable insights into the influence of geographical and ecological factors on pollen diversity and evolution. This study of pollen imaging visualization of Amaranthaceous species contributes to the opportunity for taxonomic evaluation and fill knowledge gaps in studies of Amaranthaceous flora identification using classical microscopic taxonomic tools for their accurate identification. Research Highlights: The pollen characters of selected Amaranthaceae species were visualized using scanning electron microscopy to observe sculptural wall pattern.The comprehensive Amaranthaceous pollen examination approach allowed us to accurately identify their micromorphology.This high‐resolution imaging technique provided detailed insights into the surface structures and ornamentation of the pollen grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Glasswort (Salicornia herbacea) is a succulent plant that grows widely around intertidal zone of Gomishan Lagoon in eastern boarders of the Caspian Sea in Iran. Due to its medicinal, industrial, and economic values, tendency of local people to utilize it from natural habitats, and thus its plantation is growing in recent years. One of the challenges to managing a glasswort farm is to know the appropriate date to harvest since glasswort seeds ripe quickly and seedfall happens considerably by little shake. An effective way of defining appropriate harvesting dates should be correlated mostly with visual characteristics of the plant; like its color change. If NDVI values derived from remote sensing imageries show a meaningful correlation with the amount of visible greenness of the plant, and its ripening stage, then the qualitative estimation of the color of the field can be substituted with the quantitative estimating the amount of filed reflectance and consequently defining appropriate harvesting time of the plant. Experimental research was therefore conducted to answer this problem by relating the changes in Glasswort color classes and its amount of seedfall to the amount of Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values that were obtained from SENTINEL 2 remotely sensed imagery. Field sampling was started from 2019.11.8 to 2019.12.21. The proportion of greenness, redness and brownness of the plants within each sample plots were estimated. The amount of falling seeds were also collected and weighed within each sample plots. The maximum NDVI values of 41 Sentinel-2 images during 2018-2020 within Glasswort phenological period were extracted and were correlated with the color class of the plant and the weight of seedfall in sample plots. Results showed a strong correlation between NDVI and brownness color class (R²=0.80) and a strong negative correlation with amount of seedfall of the plant (R²=-0.83). When the brownness color class of the Glasswort filed exceeds 50 percent, the seeds have reached to their highest maturity and are ready to be harvested. This strong but negative correlation between maximum NDVI values and Glasswort seedfall supports the findings of the correlation of the filed data. Our findings therefore can help filed workers to have an observable phenomenon of the plant to decide when to start harvesting Glasswort in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: This work investigates whether rhizosphere microorganisms that colonize halophyte plants thriving in saline habitats can tolerate salinity and provide beneficial effects to their hosts, protecting them from environmental stresses, such as aromatic compound (AC) pollution. Methods: To address this question, we conducted a series of experiments. First, we evaluated the effects of phenol, tyrosine, 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic (2,4-D) acids on the soil rhizosphere microbial community associated with the halophyte Allenrolfea vaginata. We then determined the ability of bacterial isolates from these microbial communities to utilize these ACs as carbon sources. Finally, we assessed their ability to promote plant growth under saline conditions. Results: Our study revealed that each AC had a different impact on the structure and alpha and beta diversity of the halophyte bacterial (but not archaeal) communities. Notably, 2,4-D and phenol, to a lesser degree, had the most substantial decreasing effects. The removal of ACs by the rhizosphere community varied from 15% (2,4-D) to 100% (the other three ACs), depending on the concentration. Halomonas isolates were the most abundant and diverse strains capable of degrading the ACs, with strains of Marinobacter, Alkalihalobacillus, Thalassobacillus, Oceanobacillus, and the archaea Haladaptatus also exhibiting catabolic properties. Moreover, our study found that halophile strains Halomonas sp. LV-8T and Marinobacter sp. LV-48T enhanced the growth and protection of Arabidopsis thaliana plants by 30% to 55% under salt-stress conditions. Discussion: These results suggest that moderate halophile microbial communities may protect halophytes from salinity and potential adverse effects of aromatic compounds through depurative processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on molecular phylogenetic and morphological studies, the new genera Sedobassia Freitag & G. Kadereit and Spirobassia Freitag & G. Kadereit were described in the tribe Camphorosmeae (Chenopodiaceae/Amaranthaceae sensu APG IV). Palynomorphological peculiarities are often used in taxonomy as additional diagnostic features. Pollen grains from 26 herbarium specimens belonging to 13 taxa of Bassia, Sedobassia, Spirobassia and Neokochia genera in Eurasia and North America were acetolyzed and studied using both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Dry pollen grains were also studied. The structure of the columellae of pollen grains was analyzed for the first time in the current study. The aim of this research was to provide data on their pollen characteristics and to evaluate the taxonomic value of these data for generic and species-specific identification. The pollen grains are pantoporate, spheroidal in shape, circular in outline, slightly undulate, undulate or straight on the edges; and medium- or small-sized. Pores are circular, with distinct or indistinct margins. Exine sculpture is nanoechinate; tectum psilate or psilate-perforate. Pore membranes with nanoechini. Taxonomic relevance of the most important characters of pollen grains is discussed (pollen diameter, pore number, pore diameter, distance between pores and between pore centers, pollen diameter(C)/distance between pore centers(D) value, nanoechini density, presenсe/absence of perforations, structure of columellae, number of nanoechini on pore membranes). Pollen morphology proved to be an important additional source of information for species-specific identification. This study provides new data and analyzes the morphological features of pollen grains of Bassia (in the currently accepted circumscription), palynomorphological similarities, and differences between taxa of the genera Bassia, Sedobassia, Spirobassia, and Neokochia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salsola baryosma is a valuable food source for livestock in Saudi Arabia, notably for camels. Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most common agents of infection-related mortality and morbidity worldwide. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the activity of the aqueous ethanolic extract of Salsola baryosma (AEESB) against Staphylococcus aureus and to identify the key polyphenol and volatile components using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS), respectively. The results indicated that AEESB displayed a remarkable activity against Staphylococcus aureus, as evidenced by a disc diffusion assay and DNA fragmentation assay. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) was 43 µg/mL. The HPLC analysis of AEESB resulted in the identification of fourteen polyphenolic bioactive compounds, where ferulic acid (3055.87 µg/g), gallic acid (1749.35 µg/g) and caffeic acid (421.89 µg/g) were the major phenolic acids in Salsola baryosma. While rutin (911.41 µg/g), naringenin (539.40 µg/g) and daidzein (265.42 µg/g) were the major flavonoids. Subsequent analysis of Salsola baryosma by GC-MS revealed thirty volatile components; the major percentages were oleic acid (34.86%), l-(+)-ascorbic acid 2,6-dihexadecanoate (13.25%), and butylated hydroxytoluene (8.24%). In addition, extracts from the aerial parts of S. baryosma demonstrated anti-microbial activity against Staphylococcus aureus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salicornia europaea is a salt-tolerant eudicot species in the Amaranthaceae family that is widely distributed in coastal wetlands and other saline-alkali lands. In this study, the complete chloroplast genome of S. europaea was determined using Illumina paired-end sequencing technology. The genome was 153,163 bp in length with 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes. The genome displayed a quadripartite structure consisting of a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,953 bp, a large single-copy (LSC) region of 84,566 bp, and two inverted repeats (IRs) of 49,644 bp, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that Salicornia europaea exhibited the closest relationship with S. bigelovii. This study contributes to the pool of salt-tolerant gene species and serves as a valuable reference for further research on Salicornia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Soil salinization is a widespread problem, causing soil degradation and limiting agricultural productivity worldwide. However, the protection and restoration of halophyte species communities can effectively help improve and reconstruct saline–alkali land. We collected seeds of Suaeda salsa (Linn.) Pall., a highly salt-tolerant and widely distributed halophytic species, from seven different saline–alkali habitats, numbered S1–S7, of Songnen Plain, China, and tested their germination and seedling growth responses to saline–alkali stress. Results showed a strong saline–alkali tolerance in S. salsa seeds, but the germination characteristics and saline–alkali tolerance varied across provenances, highlighting the geographical variations in germination responses. The saline–alkali tolerance of S1 and S7 locations was significantly higher than that of others. Suaeda salsa has important applications in the restoration of saline–alkali soil. However, the seeds from appropriate provenances must be screened to ensure the best saline-alkaline tolerant variety. The germplasm materials from the selected varieties can also be used as high-quality sources to study the mechanism of saline–alkali tolerance in halophytes. These seeds can also serve as excellent germplasm resources for the restoration of saline–alkali soil. Salinity is a pressing and widespread abiotic stress, adversely affecting agriculture productivity and plant growth worldwide. Seed germination is the most critical stage to seedling growth and establishing plant species in harsh environments, including saline stress. However, seed germination characteristics and stress tolerance may vary among geographical locations, such as various provenances. Suaeda salsa (Linn.) Pall. (S. salsa) is a halophytic plant that exhibits high salt tolerance and is often considered a pioneer species for the restoration of grasslands. Understanding the germination characteristics and stress tolerance of the species could be helpful in the vegetation restoration of saline–alkali land. In this study, we collected S. salsa seeds from seven different saline–alkali habitats (S1–S7) in the Songnen Plain region to assess the germination and seedling growth responses to NaCl, Na2CO3, and NaHCO3, and to observe the recovery of seed germination after relieving the salt stress. We observed significant differences in germination and seedling growth under three salt stresses and among seven provenances. Resistance to Na2CO3 and NaHCO3 stress was considerably higher during seedling growth than seed germination, while the opposite responses were observed for NaCl resistance. Seeds from S1 and S7 showed the highest tolerance to all three salt stress treatments, while S6 exhibited the lowest tolerance. Seeds from S2 exhibited low germination under control conditions, while low NaCl concentration and pretreatment improved germination. Ungerminated seeds under high salt concentrations germinated after relieving the salt stress. Germination of ungerminated seeds after the abatement of salt stress is an important adaptation strategy for black S. salsa seeds. While seeds from most provenances regerminated under NaCl, under Na2CO3 and NaHCO3, only seeds from S4 and S7 regerminated. These findings highlight the importance of soil salinity in the maternal environment for successful seed germination and seedling growth under various salinity-alkali stresses. Therefore, seed sources and provenance should be considered for vegetation restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]