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In both developed and developing countries, atmospheric pollution with particulate matter (PM) remains an important issue. Despite the health effects of poor air quality, studies on air pollution are often limited by the high costs of continuous monitoring and the need for extensive sampling. Furthermore, these particles are often enriched with potentially toxic trace elements and organic pollutants. This study evaluates both the composition of atmospheric dust accumulated during a certain timespan on Hedera helix and Senecio cineraria leaves and the potential for their use as bio-monitors. The test plants were positioned near automatic air quality monitoring stations at four different sites with respectively high, moderate and low traffic intensity. The gravimetric deposition of PM10 and PM2.5 on leaves was compared with data recorded by the monitoring stations and related to the weather conditions reported by Argentina's National Meteorological Service. To determine the presence of trace elements enriching the PM deposited on leaves, two analytical techniques were applied: XRF (not destructive) and ICP (destructive). The results indicated that only in the unpaved street location (site 2) did PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations (90 µg m−3 and 9 µg m−3) in the air exceed more than five times WHO guidelines (15 µg m−3 and 5 µg m−3). However, several trace elements were found to be enriching PM deposited on leaves from all sites. Predominantly, increased concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ti, Mn, Zn and Fe were found, which were associated with construction, traffic and unpaved street sources. Furthermore, based on its capability to sequester above 2800 µg cm−2 of PM10, 2450 µg cm−2 of PM2.5 and trace elements, Senecio cineraria can be taken into consideration for adoption as a bio-monitor or even for PM mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyzed the floral morphology and nectar production of several cultivars and species of Monarda representing five cultivars and four species grown in Georgia Piedmont and Montane regions. Over the course of two seasons, we detected significant differences among the samples in terms of inflorescence size, petal lobe and corolla widths and lengths, and total sugar content. M. didyma had larger glomerules, longer corollas and petal lobes, and higher nectar volume and total sugar content per flower. M. fistulosa and M. punctata had smaller glomerules, corolla and petal lobe lengths, and total sugar content per flower. Petal lobe and corolla length strongly correlated with sucrose and nectar production. Combined with data on horticultural performance, these results could be valuable in informing breeding goals for conservation-oriented landscape plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Until now, the therapeutic potential of metal nanoparticles (NPs) has received much attention thanks to their unique properties. In addition, natural extracts of plants have shown significant therapeutic ability in various diseases. Therefore, the present study aimed to synthesize AuNPs using aqueous extracts of Hedra helix (Hh-AuNPs), Senna alexandrina (Sa-AuNPs), Thyme vulgaris (Tv-AuNPs) and Tribulus terrestris (Tt-AuNPs) and then investigate their antioxidant and cytotoxic effects on cancerous and normal breast cell lines. For this purpose, the prepared Phyto-NPs were analyzed employing the TEM technique and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The antioxidant activities of all aqueous extracts and the Phyto-NPs were analyzed by FRAP and DPPH assays. Their cytotoxic effects against the MCF-7, MCF-10 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines were also determined using an MTT assay. UV–Vis spectrum of Hh-AuNPs, Sa-AuNPs, Tv-AuNPs and Tt-AuNPs disclosed absorption peaks at wavelengths of 560 ± 5nm, 570 ± 5nm, 550 ± 5nm and 540 ± 5, respectively. TEM image illustrated a spherical shape of Phyto-AuNPs with particle sizes of under 100nm. Phyto-AuNPs demonstrated more antioxidant activities than the plant extracts alone. Moreover, Phyto-AuNPs indicated higher cytotoxic activities against MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines compared to plant extracts. This report provides new possibilities for using the above-mentioned aqueous extracts for the green synthesis of AuNPs, which may be applied to future animal breast cancer models or one step higher clinically for breast cancer patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pinus yunnanensis is an important component of China's economic development and forest ecosystems. The growth of P. yunnanensis seedlings experienced a slow growth phase, which led to a long seedling cultivation period. However, asexual reproduction can ensure the stable inheritance of the superior traits of the mother tree and also shorten the breeding cycle. The quantity and quality of branching significantly impact the cutting reproduction of P. yunnanensis, and a shaded environment affects lateral branching growth, development, and photosynthesis. Nonetheless, the physiological characteristics and the level of the transcriptome that underlie the growth of lateral branches of P. yunnanensis under shade conditions are still unclear. In our experiment, we subjected annual P. yunnanensis seedlings to varying shade intensities (0%, 25%, 50%, 75%) and studied the effects of shading on growth, physiological and biochemical changes, and gene expression in branching. Results from this study show that shading reduces biomass production by inhibiting the branching ability of P. yunnanensis seedlings. Due to the regulatory and protective roles of osmotically active substances against environmental stress, the contents of soluble sugars, soluble proteins, photosynthetic pigments, and enzyme activities exhibit varying responses to different shading treatments. Under shading treatment, the contents of phytohormones were altered. Additionally, genes associated with phytohormone signaling and photosynthetic pathways exhibited differential expression. This study established a theoretical foundation for shading regulation of P. yunnanensis lateral branch growth and provides scientific evidence for the management of cutting orchards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on a large comparative data set available from recent studies of goatfish species of the genus Upeneus (Mullidae, Mulliformes) with seven spines in the first dorsal fin, four new species from the area of the Asian Indo-Pacific are described. Initial search for and discovery of the new species was greatly assisted by the recognition of several subgroups within two rather large taxonomic species groups, the pori and the japonicus groups, each consisting of nine previously described species. Two of the new species, Upeneus aurorae n. sp. from Luzon, Philippines, and U. huan n. sp. from Central Vietnam (W Pacific), are characterized by relatively low gill-raker counts, while U. brevignathus n. sp. from off SE Yemen (NW Indian Ocean) has high gill-raker counts. All three species share the typical characteristics of the pori-species group such as height of first dorsal fin decreasing proportionally, pectoral fins shorter or of similar length as pelvic fins, oblique bars on lower caudal-fin lobe present and white, rose-whitish or pale-red barbels in fresh and live fish. The fourth new species, U. andamanensis n. sp. from the Andaman Islands (NE Indian Ocean), mostly resembles U. guttatus and two other species of the japonicus-species group, which all belong to a subgroup characterized by the first dorsal fin being relatively high with subsequent fin elements decreasing disproportionally in height. While no fresh colour information is available for U. brevignathus n. sp., and U. andamanensis n. sp., each of them can be clearly distinguished morphologically and by preserved colour from the most similar species. A list of all valid goatfish species is included, with English common names and remarks to clarify validity judgments. The results are discussed with respect to the usefulness of using taxonomic species groupings for facilitating detection of new species and other purposes in continuing studies of the species diversity of goatfishes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies on the flora of the protected areas of the Prérif and particularly the mainland Site of Biological and Ecological Interest (SBEI) Brikcha are very limited. It is with this in mind that we carried out this study in order to identify the vascular flora and highlight the potential of this region. Using a combination of two methods, stratified probability sampling and the itinerant inventory, we carried out 50 days of field surveys between March 2023 and May 2024. The results obtained have allowed us to establish an exhaustive catalogue of 326 species, the emblematic species of which is Quercus faginea. In addition, six species have been reported for the first time in North Atlantic Morocco-1 (Man-1), of which SBEI is a part: Biscutella pseudolyrata, Coriaria myrtifolia, Gagea fibrosa, Hedera helix subsp. maroccana, Laurus nobilis and Tamarix canariensis. The species recorded are grouped into 253 genera and 81 botanical families, five of which have the highest species richness: Asteraceae (41 species, 12.58%); Fabaceae (31 species, 9.51%); Poaceae (30 species, 9.20%); Apiaceae (18 species, 5.52%) and Lamiaceae (14 species, 4.29%). A clear dominance of dicotyledons (75.46%) was also noted. Cistus and Quercus are the two most species-rich genera with four taxa each. The spring season is the preferred flowering time for 56.77% of the flora. Life forms are mainly represented by therophytes (46.01%), followed by geophytes (17.49%) and phanerophytes (14.11%). Twenty of the species inventoried are endemic (6.13%), seven of which are strictly Moroccan, six are threatened with extinction. Eleven species are rare in the broad sense of the term. Due to the richness and original diversity of its flora, the SBEI Brikcha constitutes a real phytogenetic reservoir in the Prérif, it deserves to be qualified as priority 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nonsurgical management of knee osteoarthritis should be used in less severe disease cases or while patients await total knee arthroplasty. Bracing appears to improve function, pain management, and quality of life, but further high-quality research is needed. We recommend using unloader braces specifically in unicompartmental osteoarthritis; however, patient compliance is imperative to achieve the benefits. The safety, efficacy, and benefits of topical applications of NSAIDs are well outlined in the literature, and their use should be considered in knee osteoarthritis. Further study is needed to assess the efficacy of topical applications of capsaicin and herbal remedies, such as Hedera helix, and clinical trials on the use of cannabis to manage osteoarthritis pain have yet to be reported in the literature. There is substantial evidence that corticosteroid injections are beneficial for short-term pain relief in knee osteoarthritis. Viscosupplementation may have a role in the office setting, but it is not currently recommended for routine usage due to a lack of data showing clinically relevant differences associated with its use. Currently, there is not enough evidence to support the routine use of mesenchymal stem cell injections for osteoarthritis management, and the cost is significantly higher than that of alternative therapies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaves play an important role in species discrimination. An elliptic Fourier analysis (EFA) based morphometric technique was used to assess divergence between the poorly differentiated species, Callicarpa pedunculata and C. rubella. Using leaf specimen images from herbarium collections, principal components (PCs) were extracted from the Fourier coefficients and used to describe leaf outline and leaf shape descriptors: circularity, aspect ratio, and solidity. The results indicate that symmetric (54%) and asymmetric (35%) components of the leaves of C. pedunculata and C. rubella are sources of shape variation, as shown in the width and leaf tips among the samples. MANOVA revealed significant interspecific differences (P = 0.03) between C. pedunculata and C. rubella. The jack-knife cross-validation showed 71% of correctly classified species both in C. pedunculata and C. rubella. Furthermore, the results of this study were able to reveal significant leaf shape descriptors like aspect ratio, circularity, and solidity as important diagnostic characters in discriminating C. pedunculata and C. rubella. Thus, in conclusion, leaf serrations, leaf size, and leaf lobes are important characteristics in discriminating between C. pedunculata and C. rubella. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aeschynanthus wangii Y.H.Tan & H.B.Ding, a new species of Gesneriaceae from Yunnan Province, China, is described and illustrated here. The new species morphologically resembles A. angustioblongus W.T. Wang and A. stenosepalus J.Anthony, but is significantly different from them by having lanceolate leaves with long caudate apex, brownish yellow corolla with five dark red lines from the middle of corolla tube to the top of the lobes, and calyx lobes slightly fused into calyx tube (2-4 mm) at the base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedera helix is a traditional medicinal plant. Its primary active ingredients are oleanane-type saponins, which have extensive pharmacological effects such as gastric mucosal protection, autophagy regulation actions, and antiviral properties. However, the glycosylation-modifying enzymes responsible for catalyzing oleanane-type saponin biosynthesis remain unidentified. Through transcriptome, cluster analysis, and PSPG structural domain, this study preliminarily screened four candidate UDP-glycosyltransferases (UGTs), including Unigene26859, Unigene31717, CL11391.Contig2, and CL144.Contig9. In in vitro enzymatic reactions, it has been observed that Unigene26859 (HhUGT74AG11) has the ability to facilitate the conversion of oleanolic acid, resulting in the production of oleanolic acid 28-O-glucopyranosyl ester. Moreover, HhUGT74AG11 exhibits extensive substrate hybridity and specific stereoselectivity and can transfer glycosyl donors to the C-28 site of various oleanane-type triterpenoids (hederagenin and calenduloside E) and the C-7 site of flavonoids (tectorigenin). Cluster analysis found that HhUGT74AG11 is clustered together with functionally identified genes AeUGT74AG6, CaUGT74AG2, and PgUGT74AE2, further verifying the possible reason for HhUGT74AG11 catalyzing substrate generalization. In this study, a novel glycosyltransferase, HhUGT74AG11, was characterized that plays a role in oleanane-type saponins biosynthesis in H. helix, providing a theoretical basis for the production of rare and valuable triterpenoid saponins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ethiopian mustard (Brassica carinata A. Braun) is one of the Brassica leafy vegetables and oilseed crops, which can withstand adverse environmental conditions. This study was conducted to characterize and evaluate the leaf attributes of 313 Ethiopian mustard accessions grown in the greenhouse and field in 2018/19 in Beijing, China. Data on 18 different leaf morphological attributes were collected based on the IBPGR for Brassica and Raphanus descriptor format and Fiji Image J. The collected data were subjected to descriptive statistics using JMP version 14 software. Results indicate that the majority of the accessions had serrated leaf margin, intermediate juvenile development, rounded apex leaf shape, absence of leaf pubescence, number of lobes > 5 and had intermediate number of leaves per plant with frequencies of 101, 213, 223, 244, 183 and 289, respectively. The accessions had also white midrib color, light green leaf color, purple petiole color, purple stem color and purple apex leaf color pigments with frequencies of 168, 165, 104, 113 and 122, respectively. Significant differences were observed among the accessions for leaf size attributes (p < 0.001) indicating their potential as leafy vegetables. Furthermore, there were significant accession × environment effects for the laminal length, total leaf length, leaf area, leaf weight and petiole length. Notably, 71% of the accessions had an average of 81 days flowering time. The multivariate cluster and principal component analyses divided the 313 accessions into eight groups with distinctive information; consisting of 81, 37, 79, 38, 14, 11, 6 and 47 accessions. Thus, this study provides important information about Ethiopian mustard germplasms that is vital for further advancement and genetic improvement of the crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the polyphagous behavior of the larvae of Celastrina argiolus (Holly Blue), a butterfly species found in Britain. It discusses the extensive range of food plants utilized by the larvae, challenging traditional beliefs about their feeding habits. It highlights the diverse array of plants on which the larvae have been observed feeding and laying eggs.

The digitization of natural history specimens and the popularization of citizen science are creating an unprecedented availability of large amounts of biodiversity data. These biodiversity inventories can be severely affected by species misidentification, a source of taxonomic uncertainty that is rarely acknowledged in biodiversity data management. For these reasons, taxonomists debate the use of online repositories to address biological questions at the species level. Hedera L. (ivies) provides an excellent case study as it is well represented in both herbaria and online repositories with thousands of records likely to be affected by high taxonomic uncertainty. We analyze the sources and extent of taxonomic errors in the identification of the European ivy species by reviewing herbarium specimens and find a high misidentification rate (18% on average), which varies between species (maximized in H. hibernica: 55%; H. azorica: 48%; H. iberica: 36%) and regions (maximized in the UK: 38% and Spain: 27%). We find a systematic misidentification of all European ivies with H. helix behind the high misidentification rates in herbaria and warn of even higher rates in online records. We compile a spatial database to overcome the large discrepancies we observed in species distributions between online and morphologically reviewed records. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Colchicine acts as a polyploidy inducer but at high concentrations, it causes high cell mortality. To improve the efficiency of colchicine polyploidization in cassava, leaf lobes colchicine-sensitivity tests were carried out and LD50 determined at 0.00, 0.05, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.25 g/l colchicine concentrations in the varieties Ankrah, Dagati, Tomfa and Tuaka. Methods: Colchicine treated leaf lobes were regenerated into callus on either 8 mg/l 2, 4-D or Picloram. The calli were subsequently regenerated into somatic embryos by NAA. LD50 of 0.09, 0.11, 0.13 and 0.09 mg/L colchicine concentration were determined for Ankrah, Dagati, Tomfa and Tuaka respectively in 2, 4-D. Similarly, LD50 of 0.12, 0.10, 0.14 and 0.10 mg/L were respectively obtained in Picloram. Result: In 2, 4-D, Ankrah and Tuaka were more sensitive to colchicine than Dagati and Tomfa whereas in picloram, Dagati and Tuaka showed more sensitivity. Callus proliferation differed significantly among varieties and influenced by the concentration of colchicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Predicting the hydrological response of watersheds to climate disturbances requires a detailed understanding of the processes connecting hillslopes and streams. Using a network of soil moisture and temperature sensors, electrical resistivity tomography monitoring, and a weather station we assess the above and below‐ground processes driving the hydrological response of a hillslope during snowmelt and summer monsoon. The transect covers bedrock and vegetation gradients, with a steep upper part characterized by shallow bedrock, and gentle lower part underlain by colluvium. The main vegetation cover is conifers on the upper, and grass and veratrum on the lower part. Combined with a simplified hydrological model, we show that the thin soil layer of the steep slope acts as a preferential flow path, leading to mostly shallow lateral flow, interrupted by vertical flow, mostly at tree locations, and likely facilitated by flow along fractures and roots. Vertical flow and upstream‐driven groundwater dynamics are prevailing at the colluvium, presenting a very different hydrological behavior compared to the upper part. These results show that subsurface structure and features have a strong control on the hydrological response of a hillslope and that those can create considerably varying hydrological dynamics across small spatial scales. Key Points: Vegetation, bedrock, and topographic characteristics define hydrological dynamicsShallow lateral flow characterizes steep, shallow bedrockVertical up and downward flow prevails at gentle slope underlain by colluvium [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black carbon is also known as pyrogenic carbon formed by partial combustion of organic material under limited oxygen supply. It occurs along a continuum from original organic slightly charred material to highly aromatic combustion residues such as charcoal, graphite, and soot. Black carbon is extensively studied in various environments due to its ubiquity. It is also important for the biochar community because it can specifically trace the stable polycondensed part of biochar. Different methods have been adopted for black carbon determination; among them using benzene polycarboxylic acids (BPCA) as molecular markers for the polycondensed aromatic moieties of charred materials. However, different researchers have shown interferences from organic matter during BPCA analysis. Therefore, the aim of this work was to assess if artificial formation of BPCA occurs in soil samples when the organic carbon load exceeds 5–10 mg. For this purpose, we conducted black carbon analysis of different soil samples with varying TOC contents of up to 20 mg. In addition, organic matter-rich plant materials were used as a black carbon-free control (leaves of Ivy and Beech, leaves/needles of Spruce and needles of Thuja). To exclude the high-pressure digestion as source of artificial black carbon formation, a comparison between the conventional and a microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) oxidation process was included. Our results show that for soil samples, no artificial BPCA formation occurred at least up to 20 mg of total organic carbon. Higher sample weights are unrealistic for BPCA analysis of soils using current methodology. Therefore, our results clearly demonstrate that there is no artificial BPCA formation during properly performed black carbon analysis of soil samples. On the contrary, for some samples, BPCA contents tended to decrease with increasing sample weight, and thus increasing amount of TOC. In contrast, for plant samples, artificial BPCA formation of up to 3 g kg−1 occurred when more plant material equivalent to 10 mg total organic carbon was used. However, there was no amount dependence of artificial BPCA formation. The reason for artificial BPCA formation was not the high-pressure digestion, as microwave-assisted digestion showed comparable results. However, for real-world analysis, this artificial BPCA formation is not relevant because such high soil sample weights cannot be used. Nevertheless, when using organic-rich material such as peat and charred materials, the samples should contain less than 10 mg of total organic carbon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Balsaminaceae, Impatiens brahmagiriana, under the section Annuae, collected from the Brahmagiri peak in the Wayanad district of Kerala located in the southern Western Ghats of India, is described here. This species shares morphological similarities with I. inconspicua Benth. ex Wight & Arn., and I. madapurae Bhaskar & Sringesw., but differs in the leaf character, number of flowers, length and pubescent nature of pedicels, standard petal, lateral sepals, wing petals, dorsal auricle, lip and spur. A detailed description, photographic plate and comparison table are provided to ease species identification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species, Uncifera motuoensis (Orchidaceae: Epidedroideae: Aeridinae) from Xizang Autonomous Region, China is described and illustrated with detailed photos and scientific illustration. Detailed morphological comparisons indicate that U. motouensis is similar to U. obtusifolia, but differs in having entire mid-lobe of lip, narrower leaf blade and wider pollinarium stipe. For the identification, a key to the known seven species of Uncifera is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two new species of Christisonia (Orobanchaceae), Christisonia hekouensis Gui L.Zhang, J.D.Ya & W.B.Yu and Christisonia dentosa J.D.Ya, Gui L.Zhang & W.B.Yu, found during botanical surveys in Southeast Yunnan, China, are described and illustrated. The two new species are similar to C. kwangtungensis bearing rose-red flowers and conspicuously inflated corolla tubes, and phylogenetic analyses strongly support the three species as monophyletic. However, C. hekouensis can be distinguished from C. kwangtungensis and C. dentosa by having externally puberulent calyces and corollas, corolla lobes with serrulate margins, styles that are pink and glabrous or sparsely capitate-glandular pubescent above, and with anthers less than 2 mm below the stigma. Christisonia dentosa differs from C. kwangtungensis and C. hekouensis by having dentate corolla lobe margins, internally capitate-glandular pubescent corollas, styles distinctly capitate-glandular pubescent above, and more than six anthers which are up to 10 mm below the stigma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement: Avoidance of poison ivy plants is currently the primary approach to prevent the estimated 30–50 million annual poison ivy skin rash cases. The "leaves of three let it be" mnemonic device lacks specificity to differentiate poison ivy from other three‐leaflet native plants. This report demonstrated that poison ivy leaves show marked total leaf shape variability that likely confounds accurate poison ivy plant identification, and significantly undermines a poison ivy avoidance strategy for mitigating poison ivy rash cases. Therefore, there is an ongoing need to develop prophylactic medical procedures to prevent poison ivy rash that do not depend on human poison ivy plant identification. Summary: Urushiol is the natural product produced by poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) that is responsible for millions of cases of delayed contact allergenic dermatitis in North America each year. Avoidance of poison ivy plant material is the clinically recommended strategy for preventing urushiol‐induced dermatitis symptoms. However, poison ivy leaf shape is anecdotally notoriously variable, thereby confounding accurate poison ivy identification. This study focused on quantitative analyses of poison ivy and a common poison ivy look‐alike (American hog peanut) leaf shape variability in North America to empirically validate the high degree of poison ivy leaf shape plasticity.Poison ivy and American hog peanut iNaturalist.org records were scored for seven attributes of compound leaf shape that were combined to produce a total leaf complexity score. Both the mean and the distribution of poison ivy total leaf complexity scores were significantly greater than that of American hog peanut. Non‐metric multidimensional scaling analyses corroborated a high degree of poison ivy leaf shape variability relative to American hog peanut. A poison ivy accession producing frequent palmate penta‐leaflet compound leaves was evaluated using linear regression modeling.Poison ivy total leaf complexity was exceedingly variable across a given latitude or longitude. With that said, there was a small but significant trend of poison ivy total leaf complexity increasing from east to west. Palmate penta‐leaflet formation was significantly correlated with a stochastic leaflet deep‐lobing developmental process in one unusual poison ivy accession.The empirically‐validated poison ivy leaf shape hypervariability described in this report likely confounds accurate poison ivy identification, thereby likely resulting in many accidental urushiol‐induced clinical allergenic dermatitis cases each year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Abstract—The results of radiation monitoring of gray forest soils of reference agricultural plots of Vladimir oblast, conducted in 2011 and 2016 are presented. The study established background values of specific activities of the studied radionuclides in the soils of reference sites. According to the density of contamination of the arable horizon of soils by 137Cs and 90Sr, the level of the ecological situation was determined, which made it possible to attribute the soils of all reference areas of the region to uncontaminated territories suitable without restrictions for agricultural use. The power of the exposure dose of γ radiation of soils and the contribution of 40K and 137Cs to the formation of the γ background of soils are established. Correlation analysis determined the influence of the individual physical and chemical properties of soils on the behavior and distribution of radionuclides in the soil and the relationship between the radionuclides themselves. Based on the values of the specific activity of 137Cs and 90Sr in plant products grown on the soils of reference sites in 2011 and 2016, rows of cultivated plants were constructed, with a decreasing ability to accumulate these radionuclides from the soil. All plant products grown for all types of crops fully met the sanitary and hygienic standards required to limit the content of 137Cs and 90Sr in plant feeds (green mass, straw, and grain) and food products (apples). According to the transition coefficients, it was found that the process of transition of 90Sr from soil to plants of all kinds proceeded more intensively than the transition of 137Cs. The calculated coefficients of linear correlation between the values of the specific activity of 137Cs and 90Sr in soils and plants revealed the strength and nature of their dependencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key message: The study of the origin, evolution, and diversification of the wall-associated kinase gene family in plants facilitates their functional investigations in the future. Wall-associated kinases (WAKs) make up one subfamily of receptor-like kinases (RLKs), and function directly in plant cell elongation and responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. The biological functions of WAKs have been extensively characterized in angiosperms; however, the origin and evolutionary history of the WAK family in green plants remain unclear. Here, we performed a comprehensive analysis of the WAK family to reveal its origin, evolution, and diversification in green plants. In total, 1061 WAK genes were identified in 37 species from unicellular algae to multicellular plants, and the results showed that WAK genes probably originated before bryophyte differentiation and were widely distributed in land plants, especially angiosperms. The phylogeny indicated that the land plant WAKs gave rise to five clades and underwent lineage-specific expansion after species differentiation. Cis-acting elements and expression patterns analyses of WAK genes in Arabidopsis and rice demonstrated the functional diversity of WAK genes in these two species. Many gene gains and losses have occurred in angiosperms, leading to an increase in the number of gene copies. The evolutionary trajectory of the WAK family during polyploidization was uncovered using Gossypium species. Our results provide insights into the evolution of WAK genes in green plants, facilitating their functional investigations in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new species of Cylindrolobus (Orchidaceae), C. gaoligongensis from the Gaoligong Mountain, northwestern Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to C. arunachalensis and C. gloensis, but can be distinguished from them by having orange to pink and triangular‐ovate lip mid‐lobe with mucronate apex, front margin of lateral lobes yellow to white and with short glandular hairs gradually transitioning to dense long hairs, two central calli connected to a keel toward mid‐lobe in the disk, and three rows of white long hairs at the base of the disk. Additionally, an improved description and illustration of the closely related species C. arunachalensis, is also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedera helix L. contains phytochemicals with good biological properties which are beneficial to human health and can be used to protect plants against different diseases. The aim of this research was to find the most suitable extraction method and the most favorable parameters for the extraction of different bioactive compounds from ivy leaves. Different extraction methods, namely microwave-assisted extraction (MAE), ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE), and conventional heating extraction (CHE), were used. The most suitable method for the extraction of saponins is MAE with an extraction efficiency of 58%, while for carbohydrates and polyphenols, the best results were achieved via UAE with an extraction efficiency of 61.7% and 63.5%, respectively. The antioxidant activity (AA) of the extracts was also determined. The highest AA was obtained via UAE (368.98 ± 9.01 µmol TR/gDM). Better results were achieved at 50 °C for 10 min of extraction, using 80% ethanol in water as solvent. In order to evaluate their in vitro cytotoxicity, the extracts richest in bioactive compounds were tested on NCTC fibroblasts. Their influence on the DNA content of RAW 264.7 murine macrophages was also tested. Until 200 µg/mL, the extracts obtained via UAE and MAE were cytocompatible with NCTC fibroblasts at 48 h of treatment. Summarizing the above, both MAE and UAE can be employed as green and efficient methods for producing extracts rich in bioactive compounds, exhibiting strong antioxidant properties and good noncytotoxic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lianas employ a variety of searching mechanisms to find support; however, it is not clear to what extent environmental signals are used to help direct the search. Several adventitious root climbers have been shown to bend away from light and grow toward darker areas or objects, in one case including actual tree trunks. In the literature, this negative phototropism (NP) has also been informally and inconsistently reported from a temperate root climber Hedera helix L. (common ivy). In this study, rigorous laboratory tests have confirmed the occurrence of NP in both seedlings and prostrate shoots of H. helix. Furthermore, a field experiment with potted ivy seedlings placed around tree trunks demonstrated their ability to remotely locate trees. This finding was corroborated by a survey of growth directions in wild-growing prostrate ivy shoots in two woodland habitats. An additional outdoor experiment showed that the ability to locate support is expressed in shade but supressed by full sun conditions. These results show that H. helix uses NP to locate support and indicate that this ability is a component of the species' shade escape strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The division of labor between florets responsible for reproduction and special functions occurs widely in condensed inflorescences. The capitulum of Albizia julibrissin consists of approximately 10–20 lateral flowers and usually one nectar‐secreting terminal flower; the two flower types are morphologically distinct, but the differences in reproductive function have not been revealed. To determine the differences in reproductive function between terminal and lateral flowers, we compared the ratio of terminal and lateral flowers at the flowering and young pod stages. Additionally, ovule number, stigma size, polyad size, and the ratio of flower abscission were compared between the two flower types. Significant differences were detected only in female fertility between the two flower types. At the flowering stage, 6.8% of flowers were terminal flowers, whereas at the young pod stage, all young fruits were obtained from lateral flowers. At the final stage of blooming, based on the generalized linear model analysis, the ratio of surviving terminal flowers was lower than that of the lateral flowers in a capitulum. These results suggest that the terminal flowers of A. julibrissin had female sterility or, at least, female fertility was lower than in lateral flowers. Therefore, it is necessary to reexamine some previous studies that assumed A. julibrissin to be andromonoecious with hermaphroditic terminal flowers and male lateral flowers. Further comparisons of the quality of ovules and polyads are necessary to clarify whether there is a division of labor between the terminal and lateral flowers in A. julibrissin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedera helix L. is an evergreen vine native to Europe. Nowadays, it is commonly recognized as an expansive species, posing danger to biodiversity of natural ecosystems. Obtaining the relationships between morphological variability, productive parameters of vegetative individuals, and variations in environmental factors (on the example of the Kórnik Arboretum) is important for understanding the successful adaptation and dispersion of H. helix. Thus, the issue of our studies was to discover the link between environmental factors and morphometric measurements of H. helix. We collected data on leaf length, leaf width, leaf petiole length, plant stem length, and the number of leaves per stem. We assessed values of ecological plasticity and correlation between the studied parameters. The results indicated the tolerance of ivy to wide variation in edaphic conditions. The limiting environmental factors for growth of the studied subpopulations were soil moisture and light intensity. We found large variability of leaf morphometric parameters and shoot length. Close correlation links were detected between leaf length/leaf width, leaf length/leaf petiole length, and leaf width/leaf petiole length. The length of the average leaf and the length of leaf petiole were the most variable parameters under different values of light intensity. Weak relationships were found between light intensity at the soil surface and plant stem length/the number of leaves per shoot. A high level of index of morphological integration of H. helix individuals and a close relationship between the quality index/subpopulation compositions were established in this study. A direct relationship between light intensity and specific leaf area values was established. The value of specific leaf area decreased linearly with increasing light intensity at the soil surface. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Curcuma ubonensis Boonma, Saensouk, Maknoi & P. Saensouk sp. nov. (Zingiberaceae) was recently discovered in Ubon Ratchathani Province, Eastern Thailand. Specimen identification involves comparing their morphology with descriptions in similar species' protologues. We performed measurements on specimens collected from their natural habitats, both living and preserved. Despite its resemblances with Curcuma prasina Škorničk. in having greenish inflorescence with small purple flowers that lack of epigynous glands, yet this novel species displays distinct features of a brownish-red margin of petiole (vs. C. prasina has green margin), lamina elliptic, 3.8-7.0 cm wide, margin brownish red (vs. narrowly elliptic, 1.5-3.2 cm wide, margin green); coma bract present (vs. absent), fertile bracts uniquely triangular-obovate, apex rounded (vs. almost orbicular, apex acute), and labellum reddish purple with four white stripes by two stripes rarely pale yellow extending from the basal to half of the sinus, and another two stripes from the basal along the longitudinally of each lobe to half the length of the lobe, with yellow at the middle groove of the labellum almost to the base (vs. purple with a bright yellow and swollen median band composed of two central lines extending from the base to about two-thirds the length of the labellum towards the apex, sides of the labellum with paler lines radiating towards the margin). Meticulous examination and morphological comparison of Curcuma ubonensis with related species within the Curcuma genus reveals its novelty. We comprehensively accounted for its morphological traits, including illustrations, vernacular name, ecological preferences, phenology, distribution, traditional uses, conservation status, distribution map, and a comparative table to its ally species. Furthermore, we present an updated identification key for differentiating species within the Curcuma subgenus Hitcheniopsis in Thailand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Northwest A & F University - Natural Science Edition is the property of Editorial Department of Journal of Northwest A&F University (Natural Science Edition) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

l-asparaginase is an antileukemic enzyme that hydrolyzes l-asparagine into l-aspartic acid and ammonia, causing cell starvation and apoptosis in susceptible leukemic cell populations. Currently, l-asparaginase obtained from bacterial sources is constrained by several issues, including lesser productivity, stability, selectivity, and higher toxicity. The goal of this study is to provide fungal l-asparaginase with in-vitro effectiveness towards different human carcinomas. l-asparaginase from endophytic Fusarium solani (Gene Bank accession number MW209717) isolated from the roots of the medicinal plant Hedera helix L. was characterized and optimized experimentally for maximum l-asparaginase production in addition to evaluating its subsequent cytotoxicity towards acute monocytic leukemia and human skin fibroblast cell lines. The enzyme production was maximized using potato dextrose media (15.44 IU/ml/hr) at the 5th and 6th days of fermentation with incubation temperature 30 °C, 3% asparagine, 150–180 rpm agitation rate and a 250 ml flask. Enzyme characterization studies revealed that the enzyme maintained its thermal stability with temperatures up to 60 °C. However, its optimal activity was achieved at 35 °C. On measuring the enzymatic activity at various temperatures and different pH, maximum enzyme activity was recorded at 40 °C and pH 8 using 0.1 M asparagine concentration. Results also revealed promising cytotoxic activity against acute monocytic leukemia with IC50 = 3.66 µg/ml and low cytotoxicity against tested normal human skin fibroblast cell line which suggested that it might have selective toxicity, and consequently it could be used as a less toxic alternative to the current formulations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing inappropriate antibiotic (AB) use by using effective non-antibiotic treatments is one strategy to prevent and reduce antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Andrographis paniculata (Burm. f.) Wall. ex Nees, Pelargonium sidoides DC., Echinacea species and a combination of ivy (Hedera helix L.), primrose (Primula veris L./Primula elatior L.) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris L./Thymus zygis L.) have promising clinical effects in uncomplicated, acute upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) treatment. However, mechanistic evidence of these herbal treatments is lacking. The objective of this Pstudy is to provide an overview of mechanistic evidence for these effects. Thirty-eight databases were searched. Included studies were mechanistic studies (in vitro, animal, and human studies and reviews) on these herbs; published before June 2021. Non-mechanistic studies or studies on combinations of herbs other than ivy/primrose/thyme were excluded. Furthermore, three experts in traditional, complementary and integrative healthcare (TCIH) research and pharmacognosy were interviewed to collect additional expert knowledge. The results show that A. paniculata acts through immunomodulation and antiviral activity, possibly supplemented by antibacterial and antipyretic effects. P. sidoides acts through antiviral, indirect antibacterial, immunomodulatory and expectorant effects. Echinacea species likely act through immunomodulation. The combination of ivy/primrose/thyme combines secretolytic and spasmolytic effects from ivy with antibacterial effects from thyme. Studies on primrose were lacking. This mechanistic evidence supports the difference-making evidence from clinical studies, contributes to evidence-based recommendations for their use in URTI treatment, and guides future mechanistic studies on URTI treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solitary ivy bee Colletes hederae has recently naturally colonised the British Isles. It was first recorded in Britain in Dorset, near the south coast, in 2001. By 2021 it had reached Scotland and Ireland. It had spread to Sussex, some 100km east of Dorset by 2004, but occurred only locally. In autumn 2020, to determine the distribution and abundance of the ivy bee in Sussex, we made three surveys of 100 insects foraging on ivy flowers at 57 locations during the female flight period. We found the ivy bee at all 57. It was the second most abundant insect (22%), being outnumbered by social wasps (Vespula spp. 42%), but was more numerous than honey bees (Apis mellifera 14%). In autumn 2021 we made a further presence or absence survey at 17 additional locations, and the ivy bee was seen at each one. The results show that the ivy bee is now found throughout Sussex and is abundant. Comparisons of site characteristics showed no significant effect of urban versus rural locations on ivy bee relative abundance. It was, however, significantly more relatively abundant on Downland compared to Weald and Coastal Plain locations, and on chalk and sand derived soils compared to clay and alluvium derived soils. Possible reasons for the success of C. hederae in Britain are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Firat University Journal of Experimental & Computational Engineering (FUJECE) is the property of Firat University Journal of Experimental & Computational Engineering (FUJECE) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The chemical composition, secondary metabolite concentration, digestibility parameters, and effect of polyethyleneglycol (PEG) on gas and methane production of plant material from four forage liana species: Clematis cirrhosa, Smilax aspera, Rubus ulmifolius and Hedera helix grazed by ruminants of Ain Khiar alder grove during the year were determined to assess their nutritive potential as well as their anti-methanogenic properties. C. cirrhosa and R. ulmifolius show the highest crude protein (CP) content (12.88–20.99%/kg DM), moderate NDF (32.78–45.9%/kg DM) and low ADL (5.11–12.97%/kg DM), making them the most digestible (48.06–65.04%). The incubated substrates of H. helix in autumn and winter had the lowest digestibility values (32.6 and 35.92%, respectively), given their high lignin contents (17.21 and 23.21%, respectively) and the effective nature of their tannins. The addition of PEG improved their gas production with increasing rates of 23.37% and 41.9%, respectively. This was not the case with C. cirrhosa in winter and spring for which PEG had a depressing effect on gas (− 4.42 and − 2.02%) and methane production (Algeria 37.23 and 33.3%), respectively. Based on the obtained results, the studied species confirm the excellent nutritive profiles that could guarantee a feeding resource throughout the year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the extract from the leaves of Hedera helix L. was subjected to isolation and fractionation of saponins, in order to determine their in vitro antiproliferative activity. The ethanolic extract was obtained by maceration from H.helix L. leaves, grown in Romania, and the saponins were isolated and fractionated using column chromatography. The total saponin content in the extract and the isolated saponins was determined. Three saponins of interest, hederacoside C, α-hederin and hederagenin were identified by LC/MS analysis. Four selected fractions rich in these saponins tested in vitro, showed antiproliferative effects at a concentration of 200 µg/mL in a culture of human cervix carcinoma Hep-2 cells. The tested fractions were non-cytotoxic in the range of concentration 2–400 µg/mL on normal fibroblasts cells from NCTC cell line. Our results demonstrated the selected saponin fractions isolated from H.helix L. leaves may be considered as possible antitumor agents. [Display omitted] • The determination of saponin content in Hedera helix L. extracts was optimized. • Isolation, fractionation and identification of saponins was performed. • The samples cytotoxic effect was evaluated in vitro against normal fibroblasts NCTC cells and epithelial tumor Hep-2 cells. • Estimation of the antiproliferative activity of isolated and fractionated saponins was compared to that of standard saponins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Infection with Fasciola hepatica (liver fluke) causes fasciolosis (or fascioliasis) and poses a considerable economic as well as welfare burden to both the agricultural and animal health sectors. Here, we explore the ex vivo anthelmintic potential of synthetic derivatives of hederagenin, isolated in bulk from Hedera helix. Thirty-six compounds were initially screened against F. hepatica newly excysted juveniles (NEJs) of the Italian strain. Eleven of these compounds were active against NEJs and were selected for further study, using adult F. hepatica derived from a local abattoir (provenance unknown). From these eleven compounds, six demonstrated activity and were further assessed against immature liver flukes of the Italian strain. Subsequently, the most active compounds (n = 5) were further evaluated in ex vivo dose response experiments against adult Italian strain liver flukes. Overall, MC042 was identified as the most active molecule and the EC50 obtained from immature and adult liver fluke assays (at 24 h post co-culture) are estimated as 1.07 μM and 13.02 μM, respectively. When compared to the in vitro cytotoxicity of MDBK bovine cell line, MC042 demonstrated the highest anthelmintic selectivity (44.37 for immature and 3.64 for adult flukes). These data indicate that modified hederagenins display properties suitable for further investigations as candidate flukicides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Directly or indirectly, humans select the plants that they transport and introduce outside of species native ranges. Plants that have become invasive may therefore reflect which species had the chance to invade, rather than which species would become invasive given the chance. We examine characteristics of failed introductions, along with invasion successes, by investigating (a) variation in plant characteristics across invasion stages, and (b) how observed characteristics predict the likelihood of species moving through invasion stages. Location: Australia. Time period: 1770s to present. Major taxa studied: 34,650 plant species, across 424 families. Methods: We used a comprehensive list of 34,650 plant species that are known to have been introduced to Australia, 4,081 of which are classified as naturalized and 428 as invasive. We represent plant characteristics with categorical growth forms, three functional traits (plant height, seed mass, and specific leaf area) and three factors related to species introduction histories (native regions, purpose, and minimum residence times). Results: (a) The types of species introduced determine the types of species that naturalize and become invasive; (b) species introduction histories predict the likelihood of species moving through invasion stages; and (c) the numbers of species naturalizing (~15%) and becoming invasive (~15%) slightly exceeds expectation from the "tens rule", which expects that 10% of introduced species naturalize and 10% become invasive. Main conclusions: Our findings are significant for global biosecurity, indicating that functional traits alone cannot be used to predict a species' risk of becoming invasive. Rather, evidence suggests that characteristics of species introductions—specifically, a longer time‐lag since first introduction and more pathways of introduction—define the relative risks of species moving through invasion stages. This is important for assessing future invasion risks, as future introductions may differ from those of the past. Our work highlights the need to reduce the number of species introduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bee pollen, known as a 'life-giving dust', is a product of honeybees using flower pollen grains and combining them with their saliva secretions. Thus, flower pollen could be an indicator of the bee pollen botanical source. Identification of bee pollen sources is a highly crucial process for the evaluation of its health benefits, as chemical composition is directly related to its pharmacological activity. In this study, the chemical profiles, contents of phenolic marker compounds and pharmacological activities of Hedera helix L. (ivy) bee pollen samples from Türkiye and Slovenia, as well as ivy flower pollen grains, were compared. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analyses revealed that pollen samples, regardless of where they were collected, have similar chemical profiles due to the fact that they have the same botanical origins. Marker compounds afzelin, platanoside and quercetin-3-O-β-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-galactopyranoside, common to both bee pollen and flower pollen, were isolated from bee pollen, and their structures were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS). These three compounds, as well as chlorogenic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (found in flower pollen), were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses. In vitro tests and effect-directed analyses were used to evaluate the xanthine oxidase inhibition and antioxidant activity of the marker compounds and extracts from flower pollen and bee pollen. This is the first report comparing chemical profiles and related bioactivities of the flower pollen and bee pollen of the same botanical origin, as well as the first report of the chemical profile and related bioactivities of ivy flower pollen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was conducted at the research farm of Department of Tea Husbandry and Technology, CSK HPKV, Palampur, Himachal Pradesh, India during the summer  (February–May) and monsoon (June–October) seasons of 2018. The study consists of ten weed control treatments viz. glyphosate ammonium 79.2% SG at 1.089, 2.178 and 4.356 kg ai ha-1, glyphosate ammonium 71% SG at 2.13 kg ai ha-1, paraquat 0.5 kg ha-1, tank mix combination of glyphosate with 2,4-D (Na) at 1.0+0.5 kg ha-1, glyphosate 1.5 kg ha-1, slashing and in-situ mulching of weeds before flowering, weed free and weedy check. Bidens pilosa, Paspalum distichum, Chromolaena adenophorum, Achyranthus aspera and Artemisia sp., were the dominant weeds in both summer and monsoon seasons. Glyphosate ammonium 79.2% SG at 4.356 kg ai ha-1 being at par with glyphosate 1.00 kg+2,4-D (Na) 0.5 kg ha-1 was quite effective in controlling Bidens pilosa, Paspalum distichum, Chromolaena adenophorum, Achyranthus aspera, Lantana camara, Ageratum sp. and Artemisia sp. in tea. Lowest count of other weeds (Hedera helix, Solanum xanthocarpum, Leucas aspera and Cynodon dactylon) was recorded under glyphosate+2,4-D (Na) 1.0 kg +0.5 kg ha-1 and glyphosate ammonium 79.2% at 4.356 kg ai ha-1, being comparable to weed free check. Among different weed control treatments, significantly higher green leaf yield of 3767 and 3690 kg ha-1 with weed index values of 4.29 and 6.25% was recorded with the application of glyphosate 1.0 kg ha-1+2,4-D (Na) 0.5 kg ha-1 and glyphosate ammonium 79.2% at 2.178 kg ai ha-1, respectively which were also statistically similar to weed free check. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Declines in floral resources, pollen and nectar, are considered one cause of pollinator decline. However, the supply and demand of floral resources can vary temporally. In Britain, autumn has been suggested as a period of high floral resource availability due to the flowering of ivy (Hedera helix), a common native plant, combined with fewer insects active during this season. Here, we directly quantified the proportion of pollen and nectar produced by ivy, the primary autumn food source, which is uncollected by the flower‐visiting insect community.We quantified the proportion of nectar produced but uncollected by comparing the mass of nectar sugar accumulated in insect‐accessible versus inaccessible ivy flowers and by surveying the presence of wasted, crystalised, nectar on flowers. Pollen wastage was quantified by comparing pollen counts on anthers at the start of anthesis versus anthers dropped from ivy flowers.Approximately, half the floral resources, 59% nectar and 44% pollen, were uncollected by the flower‐visiting insect community in autumn. As ivy flowers supply most of the available nectar and pollen in autumn, our results show that a large proportion of all floral resources are wasted in autumn.Our results are the first to show that a season can be characterised by a large surplus of floral resources relative to collection by flower‐visiting insects. These results demonstrate the importance of considering seasonal variation in floral resources in the conservation of bees and other flower‐visiting insects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To describe the experience of use and clinical evolution of patients with acute bronchitis treated with Hedera helix EA575 syrup for seven days. Methods: A descriptive observational study based on clinical records, which included patients between 2-14 years old with acute bronchitis prescribed by their doctor Hedera helix EA575 syrup. Sociodemographic data and the time of evolution of the cough were taken from the baseline consultation. Treatment-related variables, BSS-Pediatric Scale, visual analogue cough scale, and verbal descriptive cough score were taken from the follow-up. The satisfaction with the treatment and its success were evaluated after 14 days. Results: 80 patients between 2 and 12 years old were included. The median number of cough days was eight days. After 7 and 14 days of treatment, 50% and 76% had resolved the cough, respectively. On day 14, coughing was frequent without interfering with activities in 1 patient. The BSS-pediatric score decreased at each follow-up. Median day-and-night cough VAS was zero for day 14. Awakenings due to coughing decreased from 3 at baseline to 0 per week. 98.75% of the patients were satisfied with the treatment, and none presented adverse events. Conclusions: After seven days of treatment, half of the patients had resolved cough and night awakenings; it is suggested that treatment with Hedera helix EA575 could be beneficial and of low risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leaf morphology in plants is very important in the evaluation of intraspecific variation. Indeed, the leaves of the fig tree (Ficus carica L.) present a great diversity of shape and size. The present study consists of the botanical, morphological, and morphometric characterization of the leaves of 26 local fig tree varieties cultivated in different areas of Bejaia (northeast Algeria). Our results indicate that the morphological parameters of the leaves allowed a good differentiation of the studied cultivars according to the descriptors (UPOV) among varieties and independent of their growing environment. Moreover, the method of morphometric description proposed in this paper allows the differentiation of varieties and the comparison among them in an objective way and by simple mathematical methods. This method demonstrates the existence of a very high percentage of polymorphisms within the studied varieties, but also their classification according to the number of lobes, the depth of the lateral sinuses, and the degree of openness of the angles performed by the main veins of the leaves. The Azougagh variety is characterized by wider angles, and, on the contrary, the Tassahlit variety has the least-open angles. None of the studied varieties presented "entire" leaves. The majority presented leaves with five lobes. The varieties Tilizwith, Tazarzourth, Avarkan, Tamkarkourth, and Inconnu B differed clearly from the rest by showing leaves with seven lobes and deep lateral sinuses. In contrast, the varieties Zarika, Baccor Blanc, Avarkan Lisse, and Avgaiti presented leaves with only three lobes. This is the first work on fig tree characterization using morphometric methods, which are shown to be complementary to the UPOV code and efficient in separating even the closed varieties. It will be interesting to extend these studies to larger scales and areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although Hedera helix and Linaria vulgaris are considered toxic plants, their extracts containing many bioactive compounds are commonly used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. Plant secretory structures are considered the primary site of synthesis and accumulation of many valuable metabolites. The presence of secretory structures and the location of active substances in H. helix leaf petioles and L. vulgaris inflorescence shoots were detected using light microscopy and histochemical and fluorescence tests. The analyses showed schizogenic secretory ducts in the H. helix petioles and capitate glandular trichomes on the surface of the L. vulgaris shoots. The secretion and secretory cells of the H. helix ducts and the L. vulgaris trichomes contained acidic and neutral lipids, sesquiterpenes, polyphenols, tannins, flavonoids, phenolic acids, neutral and acidic polysaccharides, proteins and alkaloids. Data on the secretory structures and taxonomic and morpho-anatomical traits of the analysed raw materials may help evaluate their quality (falsification). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Development of management measures of invasive non-native species is priority in protected areas, particularly when actions are taken at early stages of invasion since it facilitates the recovery of natural systems. Here, we present a methodology to control an invasive evergreen vine, Hedera helix (Araliaceae). M&M: The proposal includes volunteers, which are within a research and outreach project from Universidad Nacional Comahue Bariloche in collaboration with Administración de Parques Nacionales. We removed manually the vine with garden tools, composted it in waste plastic bags in site and kept track of natural regeneration of the native forest. Results: Since 2019, 47 volunteers got involved and removed 870 kg of plant material (humid weight) from five of the six sites. Two of the five sites are at the stage of monitoring native species. Conclusions: The participation of volunteers resulted effective for plant manual removal, as the vine from invasion sites is being controlled. In this way, we are achieving successful results with minimum environmental negative impacts, at least in the plant community, as evidenced by the recolonization of the sites by native plant species and by the full removal of the ivy from intervened sites. In particular, this procedure allows to create awareness of the problem of biological invasions in the community and in future university graduates. It also reinforces inter institutional relationships linking academia with conservation management agencies, a connection sometimes difficult to achieve. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes and illustrates the morphological traits of Impatiens zhaojueensis Q. Luo (Balsaminaceae), a new species from the Sichuan Province of southwestern China. Using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), the micromorphological characteristics of its pollen grains and seeds are also described. The new species is closely related to Impatiens baishaensis, but it has larger flowers, obround dorsal petals, somewhat clawed lateral united petals, obround or obround‐dolabriform distal lobes and the ornamentation on the pollen grains has wider meshes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The poem "Referred Pain " by James Davis May is presented. First line: My physical therapist compares the body to a squirrel ; Last Line: whose absence has taught us gratitude for what we have.