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We describe a new species, Didymocarpus janakiae Rhuthuparna & V.Gowda from the eastern Himalayas of India. We provide a detailed description of the species' morphology, diagnostic characters, and colour photographs to support its classification as a new taxon. The new species shows morphological affinities with D. middletonii Souvann., Soulad. & Tagane, D.cinereus D.Don, and D. punduanus var. pulchrus (C. B. Clarke) Su.Datta & B.K.Sinha. It is similar to D. middletonii in its calyx shape but can be distinguished by its glabrous calyx and glandular hairy corolla (versus calyx sparsely covered with multi‐cellular hairs and glabrous corolla). Similarly, it resembles D. punduanus var. pulchrus and D. cinereus D.Don in the shape and purplish colour of the corolla, but D. janakiae can be distinguished from these two species by its urceolate calyx (versus campanulate), and longer calyx tube (6.7–10.4 mm versus ca 6 mm in D. cinereus and 3–6 mm in D. punduanus var. pulchrus). Currently D. janakiae is only known from its type locality, therefore we assess it as Critically Endangered as per the IUCN guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Cytogenetic traits such as an organism's chromosome number and genome size are taxonomically critical as they are instrumental in defining angiosperm diversity. Variations in these traits can be traced to evolutionary processes such as polyploidization, although geographic variations across cytogenetic traits remain underexplored. In the pantropical monocot family Zingiberaceae (~1500 species), cytogenetic traits have been well documented; however, the role of these traits in shaping taxonomic diversity and biogeographic patterns of gingers is not known. Methods: A time‐calibrated Bayesian phylogenetic tree was constructed for 290 taxa covering three of the four subfamilies in Zingiberaceae. We tested models of chromosome number and genome size evolution within the family and whether lineage age, taxonomic diversity, and distributional range explain the variations in the cytogenetic traits. Tests were carried out at two taxonomic ranks: within Zingiberaceae and within genus Hedychium using correlations, generalized linear models and phylogenetic least square models. Results: The most frequent changes in chromosome number within Zingiberaceae were noted to be demi‐polyploidization and polyploidization (~57% of the time), followed by ascending dysploidy (~27%). The subfamily Zingiberoideae showed descending dysploidy at its base, while Alpinioideae showed polyploidization at its internal nodes. Although chromosome counts and genome sizes did not corroborate with each other, suggesting that they are not equivalent; higher chromosome number variations and higher genome size variations were associated with higher taxonomic diversity and wider biogeographic distribution. Conclusions: Within Zingiberaceae, multiple incidences of polyploidization were discovered, and cytogenetic events appear to have reduced the genome sizes and increased taxonomic diversity, distributional ranges and invasiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe six new species in the genus Globba L.: Globba corniculata sp. nov., Globba paschimbengalensis sp. nov., Globba polymorpha sp. nov., Globba tyrnaensis sp. nov., Globba janakiae sp. nov., and Globba yadaviana sp. nov. collected from the Indian part of the Eastern Himalayas (West Bengal) and Northeast India. We provide a detailed morphological description of all six species along with photographic plates, distribution maps, and tentative conservation assessments. We also provide a dichotomous identification key for all the Indian Globba species and discuss the newly described species in relation to those that are morphologically similar to them. Finally, we highlight the taxonomic collection challenges in the ecologically sensitive Eastern Himalayas and Northeast regions of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article emphasizes the urgent need to address ecological challenges in India and Asia by preserving entire biogeographical regions. Topics include redefining taxonomy to highlight evolutionary significance, the perception of botany as a boring subject, and the importance of modernizing botanical gardens as science centers for effective outreach and education.

The budgerigar (Melopsittacus undulatus) is one of the most widely studied parrot species, serving as an excellent animal model for behavior and neuroscience research. Until recently, it was unknown how sexual differences in the behavior, physiol- ogy, and development of organisms are regulated by differential gene expression. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous short non-coding RNA molecules that can post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression and play a critical role in gonadal differentiation as well as early development of animals. However, very little is known about the role gonadal miRNAs play in the early development of birds. Research on the sex-biased expression of miRNAs in avian gonads are limited, and little is known about M. undulatus. In the current study, we sequenced two small non-coding RNA libraries made from the gonads of adult male and female budgerigars using Illumina paired-end sequencing technology. We obtained 254 known and 141 novel miRNAs, and randomly validated five miRNAs. Of these, three miRNAs were differentially expressed miRNAs and 18 miRNAs involved in sexual differentiation as determined by functional analysis with GO annotation and KEGG pathway analysis. In conclusion, this work is the first report of sex-biased miRNAs expression in the budgerigar, and provides additional sequences to the avian miRNAome database which will foster further functional genomic research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on wasteland development and restoration are major themes in many conservation-specific studies across the world and many recent schemes in India have focused on wasteland developments as well. Topics include the administrative and technical involvement of the Government of India in wasteland development has been big enough and dedicating Integrated Wasteland Development Programme under the Department of Land Resources.

The fundamental value of universal nomenclatural systems in biology is that they enable unambiguous scientific communication. However, the stability of these systems is threatened by recent discussions asking for a fairer nomenclature, raising the possibility of bulk revision processes for "inappropriate" names. It is evident that such proposals come from very deep feelings, but we show how they can irreparably damage the foundation of biological communication and, in turn, the sciences that depend on it. There are four essential consequences of objective codes of nomenclature: universality, stability, neutrality, and transculturality. These codes provide fair and impartial guides to the principles governing biological nomenclature and allow unambiguous universal communication in biology. Accordingly, no subjective proposals should be allowed to undermine them., (© The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Institute of Biological Sciences.)

We describe Hedychiumziroense sp. nov. from Northeast India (NE India) which was discovered during one of our recent botanical explorations in Arunachal Pradesh. We provide detailed morphological comparison of this species with four other Hedychium species ( H.griersonianum R.M.Sm., H.ellipticum Buch.-Ham. ex Sm., H.gomezianum Wall. and H.yunnanense Gagnep.), with which it shares some morphological similarities. The new species is characterised by a dense cylindrical spike, pubescent rachis, folded bracts, 2-3 flowers per cincinnus, deeply cleft labellum and a distinctive late monsoonal flowering phenology from August to September.

The budgerigar ( Melopsittacus undulatus ) is one of the most widely studied parrot species, serving as an excellent animal model for behavior and neuroscience research. Until recently, it was unknown how sexual differences in the behavior, physiology, and development of organisms are regulated by differential gene expression. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous short non-coding RNA molecules that can post-transcriptionally regulate gene expression and play a critical role in gonadal differentiation as well as early development of animals. However, very little is known about the role gonadal miRNAs play in the early development of birds. Research on the sex-biased expression of miRNAs in avian gonads are limited, and little is known about M. undulatus . In the current study, we sequenced two small non-coding RNA libraries made from the gonads of adult male and female budgerigars using Illumina paired-end sequencing technology. We obtained 254 known and 141 novel miRNAs, and randomly validated five miRNAs. Of these, three miRNAs were differentially expressed miRNAs and 18 miRNAs involved in sexual differentiation as determined by functional analysis with GO annotation and KEGG pathway analysis. In conclusion, this work is the first report of sex-biased miRNAs expression in the budgerigar, and provides additional sequences to the avian miRNAome database which will foster further functional genomic research., Competing Interests: The authors declare there are no competing interests.