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AbstractPteris reptans (Pteridaceae), a native fern of Sri Lanka, has its distribution in India with exclusive limited occurrence in the state of Kerala. The plants from Kerala were examined for their quantity of spores per sporangium, micromorphology using SEM, gametophyte and sporophytic developmental phases. Upon examination, it was discovered that the sporangium of all accessions contained 32 tetrahedral spores with a continuous cingulum and noticeable tubercles on both surfaces. Normal shaped spore frequencies per sporangia ranged erratically from 81% to 95%. The fern exhibited Vittaria-type of spore germination. Gametophytic development followed the Adiantum-type in early stages with further Ceratopteris-type growth. A thorough analysis of antheridial development was done, but throughout the whole investigation, no archegonium was seen. Without any gametic fusion, juvenile sporophytes were produced apogamously on the prothalli. The filamentous stage was retained until the third week after germination and the sporophytes started emerging from the 12th week. After 90–95 days no further sporophytes emerged. Developmental morphology of the sporophyte was studied by observing trends in frond characteristics. The study is the first report on detailed apogamous development of P. reptans and also describes propagation methods for ex-situ multiplication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims: Pteris is widely distributed with ca. 65 species in the Tropics. In Brazil, 24 species were recognized and five of them are endemic to the Atlantic Forest. The objective of the present paper is to re-evaluate the taxonomy of Pteris occurring in Brazil, based on new morphological evidence of old and recent specimens deposited in herbaria, analysis of types, and observations in the field. M&M: The new approaches are based on morphological data such as SEM images of the spores and from the examination of herbarium collections mainly from SP and RB Herbaria. Results: Four species are being recognized in the present paper (P. lata, P. organensis, P. praealta, and P. sericea). For two of them, two new combinations into Pteris are presented: P. organensis and P. praealta. A key to distinguishing the newly recognized species and its relative taxa, as well as descriptions, illustrations, and comments are presented in this paper. Conclusions: By reviewing herbarium materials, mainly observing the morphology of the spores, and collecting more specimens in the field, it was possible to recognize three species (Pteris lata, P. organensis, and P. praealta) in Brazil and also verify the correct application of the name Pteris sericea to the Brazilian plants. All these names had been previously synonymized in previous studies. After this study, 27 species of Pteris are recognized in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This greenhouse study evaluated the effects of soil enrichment with Pteris vittata rhizosphere bacteria on the growth and accumulation of arsenic in P. vittata grown on a naturally As-rich soil. Inoculations were performed with a consortium of six bacteria resistant to 100 mM arsenate and effects were compared to those obtained on the sterilized soil. Selected bacteria from the consortium were also utilized individually: PVr_9 homologous to Agrobacterium radiobacter that produces IAA and siderophores and shows ACC deaminase activity, PVr_15 homologous to Acinetobacter schindleri that contains the arsenate reductase gene, and PVr_5 homologous to Paenarthrobacter ureafaciens that possesses all traits from both PVr_9 and PVr_15. Frond and root biomass significantly increased in ferns inoculated with the consortium only on non-sterilized soil. A greater increase was obtained with PVr_9 alone, while only an increased root length was found in those inoculated with either PVr_5 or PVr_15. Arsenic content significantly decreased only in ferns inoculated with PVr_9 while it increased in those inoculated with PVr_5 and PVr_15. In conclusion, inoculations with the consortium and PVr_9 alone increase plant biomass, but no increase in As phytoextraction occurs with the consortium and even a reduction is seen with PVr_9 alone. Conversely, inoculations with PVr_5 and PVr_15 have the capacity of increasing As phytoextraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Niche differentiation is a crucial issue in speciation. Although it has a well-known role in adaptive processes of hybrid angiosperms, it is less understood in hybrid ferns. Here, we investigate whether an intermediate ecological niche of a fern hybrid is a novel adaptation that provides insights into fern hybrid speciation. Methods Pteris fauriei (Pteridaceae) is a natural hybrid fern, occurring in environments between its parent species. The maternal Pteris minor is found in sunny areas, but the habitat of the paternal Pteris latipinna is shady. We combined data from morphology, leaf anatomy and photosynthetic traits to explore adaptation and differentiation, along with measuring the environmental features of their niches. We also performed experiments in a common garden to understand ecological plasticity. Key Results The hybrid P. fauriei was intermediate between the parent species in stomatal density, leaf anatomical features and photosynthetic characteristics in both natural habitats and a common garden. Interestingly, the maternal P. minor showed significant environmental plasticity and was more similar to the hybrid P. fauriei in the common garden, suggesting that the maternal species experiences stress in its natural habitats but thrives in environments similar to those of the hybrid. Conclusions Based on the similar niche preferences of the hybrid and parents, we propose hybrid superiority. Our results indicate that the hybrid P. fauriei exhibits greater fitness and can compete with and occupy the initial niches of the maternal P. minor. Consequently, we suggest that the maternal P. minor has experienced a niche shift, elucidating the pattern of niche differentiation in this hybrid group. These findings offer a potential explanation for the frequent occurrence of hybridization in ferns and provide new insights into fern hybrid speciation, enhancing our understanding of fern diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twelve new and noteworthy fern taxa consisting of one North American record for a non-native species (Dryopteris hangchowensis), one native species state record (Asplenium heteroresiliens), four non-native species state records (Anisocampium niponicum, Ceratopteris aff. thalictroides, Lygodium microphyllum, and Pteris quadriaurita), three noteworthy native species (Crepidomanes intricatum, Dryopteris australis, and Vandenboschia boschiana), and three naturally occurring hybrids (Asplenium ×gravesii, Asplenium ×kentuckiense, and Asplenium ×trudellii) of interest are reported and described herein as significant additions to the flora of Alabama. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the taxonomic treatment of Doryopteris from the states of Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo, Brazil, including some hybrids recognized for the first time in the literature. Fourteen species occur in the study area, plus three putative hybrids. Doryopteris × kollmannii, hybr. nov., is newly described; Doryopteris × angularis and Doryopteris × branneri were originally described as species, but have been lately considered as synonyms of D. rediviva and D. varians, respectively. Lectotypifications are proposed for D. raddiana var. patula, Litobrochia raddiana, Pteris collina, P. concolor, P. sagittifolia, and P. varians. We provide descriptions, illustrations, and taxonomic comments for all taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two novel illudalane sesquiterpenoids, named as semipterosin D (1) and semipterosode A (2), together with eight known illudalane sesquiterpenoids (3–10), were isolated from the aerial parts of Pteris semipinnata. Their structures were elucidated by HR-ESI-MS, NMR spectral data, CD and literature comparisons. Compound 1 is the first C12 illudalane sesquiterpenoid, and compound 2 is the second report of the C13 illudalane sesquiterpenoid in natural products. Compounds 4–6 and 10 were isolated from this plant for the first time. New compounds were assessed for their anti-inflammatory activity. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited the NF-κB induction by 26.6% and 43.7%, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new pterosins, named as semipterosin A (1), B (2) and C (3), together with 11 known pterosins (4–14), were isolated from the aerial parts of Pteris semipinnata. Their structures were elucidated by HRESI-MS, NMR spectral data, CD and literature comparisons. Three new pterosins were assessed for their anti-inflammatory activity. Compounds 1–3 inhibited the NF-kB induction by 40.7%, 61.9% and 34.0%, respectively. This is the first report of the isolation of compounds 6–14 from this plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dark Septate Endophytes (DSE) are a group of ascomycetes that live in intracellular and extracellular root tissue to facilitate plant growth and stress tolerance in extreme environments. However, little is known about the DSE fungi isolated from certain plant roots such as Pteris vittata, especially under drought condition. Pteris vittata is known for its ability to live in various types of substrates and ecosystems. In this study, we obtained DSE fungi from the fern roots Pteris vittata collected from the area of Universitas Negeri Jakarta. DSE isolation was carried out by inoculating the Pteris vittata fern roots with a size of 0.5 cm on the surface of sterilized PDA media for 5-7 days at 27°C. Observations were made every 24 hours using a stereo microscope to see the first hyphae appeared from the plant roots. The results exhibited 13 samples of roots with hyphae colonization and were suspected to be DSE fungi. Of the 13 root isolates, only 3 isolate (PP2, PP4A, and PPB) showed the DSE growth (23%) with melanin pigment. The morphological characteristics of endophytic DSE fungi collected from Pteris vittata roots represented septate hyphae, brownish to black colony color, a growing zone, and a velvety texture. For the isolate PP2, it showed sclerotia while for the isolate PP4, it exhibited light brown colonies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As), a toxic metalloid and human carcinogen, has caused severe soil pollution around the world. Pteris vittata is the first known As hyperaccumulator and has been widely and successfully used to remediate As-contaminated soils. Mineral nutrients are crucial for As transfer in soil and As uptake, translocation, detoxification and accumulation in P. vittata. In addition, rhizosphere microbes also play a role in As mobilization, transformation, and plant As uptake. This review summarizes the effects of water status, nutrient elements (phosphorus, sulfur, selenium and calcium), and rhizosphere microbes on the efficiency of phytoextraction of As by P. vittata, providing insights into improvement of phytoremediation in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Six fern species are newly reported or substantiated as indigenous to New Caledonia: Davallia sessilifolia, Dicranopteris caudata, Dryopteris arborescens, Pteris terminalis, Trichomanes atrovirens, and T. kurzii. This is the first record of Dryopteris for New Caledonia. Our findings are based on extensive fieldwork, inspection of specimens in relevant herbaria including type material, comparisons with authoritative references, and phylogenetic analyses of chloroplast DNA sequences. The global and New Caledonian distribution, morphological diagnosis, and conservation status are given for each species. Davallia sessilifolia, Dryopteris arborescens, Pteris terminalis, and Trichomanes atrovirens are provisionally assessed as Critically Endangered or Endangered in New Caledonia, because they have few populations that are each of limited size, and some are also threatened by fire or introduced deer and pigs. While Dicranopteris caudata occurs in open habitats, the others are largely confined to humid habitats at high elevation, or to the wetter forested valleys of north-east Grande Terre. These are the most likely habitats in which to find more populations of these species, but also other new species records and new endemic ferns. Alongside the recent description of several new endemic species, the addition of so many non-endemic indigenous species to a fern and lycophyte flora of approximately 300 species is an indication that considerable work remains to be done in documenting these plants in New Caledonia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant-soil interactions affect arsenic and nutrient availability in arsenic-contaminated soils, with implications for arsenic uptake and tolerance in plants, and leaching from soil. In 22-week column experiments, we grew the arsenic hyperaccumulating fern Pteris vittata in a coarse- and a medium-textured soil to determine the effects of phosphorus fertilization and mycorrhizal fungi inoculation on P. vittata arsenic uptake and arsenic leaching. We investigated soil arsenic speciation using synchrotron-based spectromicroscopy. Greater soil arsenic availability and lower nutrient content in the coarse-textured soil were associated with greater fern arsenic uptake, lower biomass (apparently a metabolic cost of tolerance), and arsenic leaching from soil, due to lower transpiration. P. vittata hyperaccumulated arsenic from coarse- but not medium-textured soil. Mass of plant-accumulated arsenic was 1.2 to 2.4 times greater, but aboveground biomass was 74% smaller, in ferns growing in coarse-textured soil. In the presence of ferns, mean arsenic loss by leaching was 195% greater from coarse- compared to the medium-textured soil, and lower across both soils compared to the absence of ferns. In the medium-textured soil arsenic concentrations in leachate were higher in the presence of ferns. Fern arsenic uptake was always greater than loss by leaching. Most arsenic (>66%) accumulated in P. vittata appeared of rhizosphere origin. In the medium-textured soil with more clay and higher nutrient content, successful iron scavenging increased arsenic release from soil for leaching, but transpiration curtailed leaching.

Phytoremediation of arsenic (As) by Pteris vittata (P. vittata) is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method for restoring As-contaminated sites. However, the phytoextraction efficiency is low in some cases, such as clay soil, thus biochar was applied to enhance the efficiency of As extraction. The paper investigated the effect of biochar on soil characteristic, As mobility, and As uptake in P. vittata with a 90-day greenhouse experiment. Biochar derived from rice straw was added at rates of 0.5, 1.5, and 4% (w/w). The results showed that, under biochar amendment, soil pH raised from 5.24 to 6.03 and 4.91 to 5.85, soil dissolved organic carbon (DOC) increased 11.1–46.1% and 2.8–11.2%, respectively, in rhizosphere and bulk soils. Biochar also increased soil catalase (CAT) activity significantly, especially for the rhizosphere soil. Besides, biochar increased the labile As in the soils and transfer coefficient from roots to aboveground, thereby enhancing As accumulation by P. vittata tissues. The accumulation of As in fronds of P. vittata was up to 350 mg kg−1 in 1.5% biochar, which was more than twice the control and far beyond other biochar treatments. The results indicate that biochar addition is favorable to improve phytoremediation of P. vittata in As-contaminated soil and 1.5% (w/w) biochar may be a reasonable application ratio, thus providing an effective solution to enhance the efficiency of As phytoextraction. Biochar increased soil catalase activity in the rhizosphere of P. vittata. Biochar increased the labile concentration of arsenic in soil and arsenic accumulation in P. vittata significantly. Combining biochar and P. vittata reduced arsenic in soil. Biochar amendment was favorable for phytoremediation of P. vittata in arsenic-contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation is green technology based on the application of plants to remediate contaminated media. This paper reviews five species of local plants used for phytoremediation in Thailand: Pteris vittata L., Pityrogramma calomelanos L., Chrysopogon zizanioides L., Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, and Pistia stratiotes L. For each plant, its pollutant removal efficiency and mechanism is reviewed. The main mechanisms of phytoremediation, such as phytoextraction, rhizofiltration, phytostabilization, phytodegradation, rhizodegradation, and phytovolatilization, are concisely described. Screening local plants for phytoremediation is a cost-effective and easy to manage approach to derive suitable plants that are resistant to harmful environmental conditions. To be suitable, plants should have a fast growth rate, produce a large biomass yield, have a high tolerance to the toxic effects of the pollutants, and have a good capacity for pollutant uptake. Moreover, applying the proper species for each contaminant enhances the removal efficiency and supports sustainable phytoremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pteris vittata L. has emerged as a prominent arsenic hyperaccumulator, holding immense potential for phytoremediation strategies aimed at mitigating arsenic contamination in the environment. in vitro culture of explants obtained from rhizome, crozier portion of juvenile leaf and fully expanded young leaf of Pteris vittata L on MS medium supplemented with different concentration of auxins and cytokinin of all combination studied. In Pteris vittata L. shoot is formed in 2, 4D plus BAP and NAA plus BAP combinations. Through an indepth examination of tissue culture techniques and growth regulator utilization in the context of Pteris vittata L., this paper aims to contribute to the ongoing discourse on sustainable and effective strategies for remediating arsenic-contaminated environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese brake fern (Pteris vittata) can increase tolerance to arsenic (As) and cadmium (Cd) toxicity by regulating rhizosphere microbial diversity. However, effects of combined As–Cd stress on microbial diversity and plant uptake and transport remain poorly understood. Therefore, effects of different concentrations of As and Cd on Pteris vittata (P. vittata) metal uptake and translocation and rhizosphere microbial diversity were examined in a pot experiment. The results indicated that As primarily accumulated aboveground in P. vittata (bioconcentration factor (BCF) ≤ 51.3; translocation factor (TF) ≈ 4), whereas Cd primarily accumulated belowground (BCF ≤ 39.1; TF < 1). Under single As, single Cd, and As–Cd combined stress, the most dominant bacteria and fungi were Burkholderia-Caballeronia-P (6.62–27.92%) and Boeremia (4.61–30.42%), Massilia (8.07–11.51%) and Trichoderma (4.47–22.20%), and Bradyrhizobium (2.24–10.38%) and Boeremia (3.16–45.69%), respectively, and their abundance ratios had a significant impact on the efficiency of P. vittata for As and Cd accumulation. However, with increasing As and Cd concentrations, abundances of plant pathogenic bacteria such as Fusarium and Chaetomium (the highest abundances were 18.08% and 23.72%, respectively) increased, indicating that As and Cd concentrations reduced P. vittata resistance to pathogens. At high soil concentrations of As–Cd, although plant As and Cd contents increased and microbial diversity was highest, enrichment efficiency and transportability of As and Cd decreased substantially. Therefore, pollution intensity should be considered when evaluating P. vittata suitability for phytoremediation of combined As–Cd contaminated soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two species, Adiantum capillus-veneris and Pteris togoensis, (Pteridaceae) are reported for the pteridoflora of Senegal for the first time. Both are found on waterfalls in the Kedougou region in the south-east of Senegal. Adiantum capillusveneris forms scattered colonies on the cliff of a very sunny waterfall, while Pteris togoensis grows on the slope of a shady cliff where the soil is very rich in humus. Both species occur in hard-to-reach areas not frequented by the local population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pteris sect. Hypsopodium (Pteridaceae) was reported to contain about nine species. Here we describe two new species based on morphological and molecular evidence, namely Pteris faba Y.S.Chao sp. nov. from Papua New Guinea and the Philippines, and Pteris rubella Y.S.Chao & C.W.Chen sp. nov. from the Solomon Islands. We provide type information, voucher specimens used, distribution, details of habitats and photographs showing diagnostic characters for both species. With the two new species recognised in this study, and three other species newly resolved as members of Pteris section Hypsopodium (Pteris mertensioides, P. polylepis, and P. quinquepartita) the number of species in section Hypsopodium increases to 14, with most species distributed in Asia and Oceania. Pteris section Hypsopodium can be distinguished from other sections by having bipinnate laminae in combination with red-brown rachises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was the development of a new multi-analytical approach to evaluate chemical alterations and differences in the element content in relation to arsenic (As) in the As hyperaccumulator fern P. vittata. P. vittata plants were grown on two natural As-rich soils with either high or moderate As (750 and 58 mg/kg). Dried samples from plant tissues were then analysed by means of micro-energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (μ-XRF), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) and hyperspectral imaging (HSI) with a multivariate approach. The As and micro- and macronutrients content was evaluated by μ-XRF and a significant correlation between As, potassium (K), iron (Fe), calcium (Ca) and manganese (Mn) contents were found at both moderate and high As levels. The same samples were then analysed by ATR-FTIR spectroscopy and HSI (SWIR range, 1000–2500 nm). Interestingly, by FTIR analysis it was found that the main differences between the control and the As-contaminated samples are due to the intensity of the absorption band related to polysaccharides (i.e., cellulose, hemicellulose and pectin), lignin, lipid and amide groups. The same chemical alterations were detected by an HSI analysis and all the FTIR and HSI data were validated by a PCA analysis. These results suggest a possible complexation of As ions with the amide group. Moreover, the proposed μ-XRF, HSI and ATR-FTIR combining approach could be a promising strategy to monitor in-field phytoremediation approaches by directly controlling the As content in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of toxic elements, such as arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), in the root zone of As-hyperaccumulator Pteris cretica cv. Albo-lineata and non-As-hyperaccumulator P. straminea, on the enzymatic activity of β-glucosidase, dissolved organic carbon (C) in soil, toxic element accumulation in fern roots, and root biomass were evaluated in a pot experiment. Ferns were cultivated in soils from the locality of Suchdol (control) and Litavka (high contamination) for six months. For all toxic elements, an increasing trend in their contents in the roots was observed with soil contamination for both ferns. Differences between ferns were observed in As and Zn accumulation. Pteris cretica had a significantly higher As accumulation than P. straminea. Zinc accumulation in the roots showed an opposite trend. A significant difference between ferns was confirmed in the dissolved organic C content. Our results showed a significantly higher content of dissolved organic C in the P. straminea root zone than in P. cretica. The significant effect of toxic elements in the soil on β-glucosidase activity was observed. Toxic elements inhibited β-glucosidase activity in the root zone of P. cretica, and an increase in P. straminea was determined in the Litavka soil. The results suggest a higher sensitivity of P. straminea to toxic element contamination in soil, leading to increased β-glucosidase activity and increased dissolved organic C content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoremediation of arsenic-contaminated water was successfully conducted by means of the perennial fern Pteris vittate, which is an arsenic-hyperaccumulator plant able to grow in hydroponic cultures. In order to avoid the costs linked to the disposal of As-contaminated biomass, in this work, Pteris vittata waste roots were tested as a low-cost bio-adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue (MB) from water in a fixed-bed adsorption configuration. As a matter of fact, methylene blue can negatively impact the growth and health of algae and plants by blocking light from reaching them in water, which can alter their normal biological processes. Previous works have already shown the potentiality of such material toward the uptake of methylene blue; however, all the studies conducted were just focused on batch-mode experiments. In this work, column runs were carried out at 20 °C, evaluating the bed void fraction for each test and hence estimating the apparent density of the material (300 g/L). The breakthrough curves collected were fitted by means of a mathematical model based on the linear driving force (LDF) approximation to obtain information on the mass transfer mechanism occurring in the system. A relation for the product between the LDF mass transfer coefficient and the solid specific surface ( k L D F a s ) with respect to the Reynolds ( R e ) dimensionless number was obtained ( k L D F a s = 0.45 R e ). The range of validity of such expression was R e < 0.025 . Its applicability was deeply discussed: in such conditions, the technology is ready to be tested at larger scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Exposure to arsenic (As) from a diet of contaminated rice is a widespread problem and a serious concern in several parts of the world. There is a need to develop sustainable, effective, and reliable strategies to reduce As accumulation in rice. Our goal was to develop and test a simple crop rotation method of alternating rice with the As hyperaccumulator plant, Chinese brake fern (Pteris vitatta L.), to reduce As concentrations in rice grains. A greenhouse column study was performed for 2 years using As-contaminated rice paddy soil from West Bengal. Rice was grown under flooded conditions and irrigated with As-contaminated water to simulate field conditions. Chinese brake fern was grown between two rice cycles in experimental columns, while control columns were left unplanted. Our results show that at the end of two cycles, there was a statistically significant decrease in soil As concentrations in the treatment columns compared to the control columns. After one rotation with the fern, there was a significant decline in As concentrations in rice grains in treatment plants and a concomitant decline in both noncarcinogenic and carcinogenic health risks. Our results indicate that there could be substantial benefit in implementing this simple crop rotation model to help lower human health risks from As exposure via rice ingestion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pteris vittata is a hyperaccumulator fern able to uptake arsenic by roots accumulating it in the fronds. Recent studies showed that Pteris vittata can be used efficiently for arsenic-contaminated water treatment, paving the way for long-lasting decontamination strategies established on nature-based solutions. This raises the issue of biomass disposal, which rather than being incinerated could represent a valuable untapped source of fibers for sustainable and higher-value biocomposites. Here, Pteris vittata waste roots were collected and used to develop composites based on high-density polyethylene. Composites with two amounts of filler (10 wt.% and 20 wt.%) added with 5 wt.% of maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene, were manufactured and tested in terms of mechanical and thermal properties. Mechanical property analysis showed that, compared to neat high-density polyethylene, composites at 20 wt.% filler content with coupling agent displayed an increase around 54% in tensile strength, 100% in Young’s modulus, 46% in flexural strength and 45% in flexural modulus. These results demonstrate the potential of Pteris vittata waste roots application for sustainable composite materials production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pteris has numerous representatives of Asian and Oceanic origin naturalized in America, some of them recognized as invasive weeds. Pteris ensiformis was introduced in America in the middle of the 19th century and subsequently naturalized in USA and Central America, but the records of its distribution in South America are isolated and the establishment or naturalization of the populations is unclear. As part of a broader study whose objective is to review the diversity of ferns and lycophytes in the Paranaense forest P. ensiformis was found for the first time in Argentina. In addition to describing, illustrating, and distinguishing the species from other species of the genus in the country, we review the distribution of P. ensiformis in South America comparing herbarium collections and iNaturalist observations, a citizen science platform. Additionally, a status for the species is proposed or suggested in each country where it is registered according to its stage of the naturalization process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pteris congesta an endemic and endangered species was investigated to identify morphological differences between its sterile and fertile leaves. Our findings have unveiled, leaf dimorphism in both morphology and growth patterns between fertile and sterile leaves. The sterile leaves petioles exhibited equivalent growth to the laminae, achieving complete leaf expansion within a month. In contrast, the petioles of fertile leaves elongated more than twice the size of the leaf blades that remain closed for the initial 30 days. Spore germination was carried out in both sterile and non-sterile soils, and juvenile sporophytes were cultivated to allow for morphological comparisons with those collected from the wild. One month after sowing the spores germinated in both soils resulting in a uniseriate germ filament Vittaria-type, and differentiated into laminar gametophytes, forming a Ceratopteris-type prothallus. The first leaf of the sporophyte emerged two months after sowing, and its development was completed one month later. Based on our studies, we propose that seedlings cultivated from spores germinated in soil can be used for the reintroduction of endangered fern species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pteris vittata, the first discovered arsenic (As) hyperaccumulator, has great potential in Ascontaminated soil remediation. However, as a fern, it is sensitive to water deficiency. In this study, acetic acid and calcium acetate were added to As-contaminated soils in pots to investigate their effects on the drought tolerance, growth and As remediation efficiency of P. vittata. Comparing with the plants pretreated with municipal drinking water, plants pretreated with 20 mM acetic acid or calcium acetate solutions exhibited strikingly increased drought tolerance. In addition, 20 mM calcium acetate significantly increased shoot As concentration by 165% and the total shoot As amount by 55.1%, probably due to the elevated soil pH and a subsequent 14.2% increase of soil available As. Taken together, this study demonstrates that the appropriate application of calcium acetate can enhance both drought tolerance and As accumulation in P. vittata, which is of significance for the phytoremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic is a metalloid widely distributed in the environment and of global concern for human health. In a promising breakthrough for sustainable arsenic soil remediation, a fern, Pteris vittata L., was discovered to take up arsenic from the soil and accumulate it in its fronds at up to ~100 times soil concentrations. Successively harvesting the fronds removes, or phytoextracts, arsenic from the soil with potential environmental and economic benefits including low site disturbance and low cost. The practical use of P. vittata for soil remediation faces challenges largely stemming from the complex nature of the soil. Here, we review soil geochemical processes governing the transport of arsenic from soil to the roots of arsenic-hyperaccumulating ferns. We find that phytoextraction is a soil-dependent process, but that key soil attributes including texture are often not reported. We show that rhizosphere processes play a crucial role in arsenic phytoextraction, and that nutrient management is most successful with ecologically based approaches including sparingly soluble nutrient forms. We conclude that a multi-scale ecological approach is needed to validate P. vittata behavior across controlled and field conditions, and arsenic movement between soil, water, and plant compartments. Our synthesis suggests that phytoextraction as currently practiced is limited to soils with low arsenic concentrations and that P. vittata cultivation is climate-limited to a zone smaller than its range as a wild species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to find the interaction between ionome and metabolome profiles of Pteris vittata L., an arsenic hyperaccumulator plant, to reveal its metal tolerance mechanism. Therefore, at the Pb–Zn mining sites located in Thai Nguyen province, Vietnam, where these species dominate, soil and plant samples were collected. Their multi-element compositions were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and thus referred to as the "ionomics" approach. In parallel, the widely targeted metabolomics profiles of these plant samples were performed using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-QqQ-MS). Nineteen elements, including both metals and nonmetals, were detected and quantified in both tissues of thirty-five plant individuals. A comparison of these elements' levels in two tissues showed that above-ground parts accumulated more As and inorganic P, whereas Zn, Pb, and Sb were raised mostly in the under-ground samples. The partial least squares regression (PLSR) model predicting the level of each element by the whole metabolome indicated that the enhancement of flavonoids content plays an essential contribution in adaptation with the higher levels of Pb, Ag, and Ni accumulated in the aerial part, and Mn, Pb in subterranean part. Moreover, the models also highlighted the effect of Mn and Pb on the metabolic induction of adenosine derivatives in subterranean parts. At the same time, the model presented the most contribution of As to the metabolisms of the amino acids of this tissue. On those accounts, the developed integration approach linking the ionomics and metabolomics data of P. vittata improved the understanding of the molecular mechanism of hyperaccumulation characteristics and provided markers that could be targeted in future investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High concentrations of zinc along with other metals are released by steel mills, and this has a number of negative effects on organism health; most notably, neurological symptoms have been recorded with a high risk of brain atrophy. In the current study, Zn (II) was eliminated from steel mill effluent, utilizing chemically processed Pteris vittata plant leaves as a biosorbent. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were applied to characterize the chemically modified Pteris vittata leaves, from now onward abbreviated as CMPVL. In order to identify the ideal parameter, batch studies were conducted varying a single parameter affecting the biosorption process at a time, including variations in temperature (293–323 K), initial metal concentration (20–300 mg/L), and adsorbent doses (0.01–0.12 g), pH (2–8), as well as contact time (10–140 min). To describe the isothermal experimental results, a number of models were used including Freundlich, Langmuir, Temkin, Jovanovich, and Harkins–Jura. Among these models, the Langmuir model provided a significant fit to the isotherm data with an R2 of 0.9738. The kinetics data were fitted to the pseudo first order, pseudo second order, power function, Natarajan–Khalaf, and intraparticle diffusion models. The highest R2 (0.9976) value was recorded for the pseudo second order model. Using the Langmuir isotherm, the highest uptake ability (84.74 mg/g) of Zn was recorded. The thermodynamic investigation, carried out at various temperatures, led to the conclusion that the biosorption process was exothermic and spontaneous in nature. The CMPVL, thus, has the potential to function well as an alternative to existing carbon-based adsorbents in the effective elimination of zinc from aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of metal(loid)s in phytoliths can physically immobilize the toxic materials and reduce toxicity in plant bodies and soil. Spider brake (Pteris multifida) is a well-known As hyperaccumulator that also harbors phytolith. However, As accumulation in phytoliths has not yet been studied with P. multifida. Soil water content is considered the main factor influencing phytolith accumulation. In this study, the As concentration in the phytoliths of P. multifida was compared with that in common reed (Phragmites australis) phytoliths with various soil water content. The range of As concentration in the phytoliths of P. multifida was 414.70–1610.74 mg kg−1, and the range for P. australis phytoliths was 41.67–126.54 mg kg−1. In P. multifida, higher soil water content increased As accumulation in the phytolith but did not affect the phytolith content in the plant. In P. australis, the higher soil water content increased phytolith content in the plant but decreased As concentration in phytoliths. This study suggests that P. multifida has higher As content in phytoliths than P. australis, and this accumulation can be affected by soil water content. The current findings provide how As encapsulated in phytolith and detoxified in different plants and conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three new terpenes were isolated from Pteris cretica L., namely ptercresions A (1), B (2) and C (3), together with two known terpenes and one terpene glycoside respectively identified as callisalignene D (4), berberiside A (5), creoside I (6). The structures of isolates were determined by HR-ESI-MS, ECD, NMR and acid hydrolysate analysis. The in vitro hepatoprotective activities of compounds 1-6 were studied against paracetamol-induced L-02 hepatocyte injury. The results revealed that compounds 2-4 showed moderate anti hepatocyte injury activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The timing and efficiency of arsenic (As) accumulation is crucial for using the hyperaccumulator P. vittata in remediation of As-contaminated soils. In this study, through an innovative microXRF-based approach, using a new "pinna powder" sampling method, we monitored As accumulation over time in fronds of individual P. vittata plants grown in the greenhouse and in the field on two natural soils, with high (750 mg/kg) and moderate (58.4 mg/kg) As concentrations. Results, validated by multivariant statistical analysis show that the peak of As occurs on both soils at 45/60 days and at 100/120 days in greenhouse and field grown plants, respectively. Furthermore, in field trials, the timing of As accumulation in both soils was similar during the first autumn-winter and the second spring-summer phytoextraction cycle. After the two cycles, soil As content was reduced by 70.4% in the high-As soil and 26.4% in the moderate one. Moreover, candidate genes involved in As hyperaccumulation -the arsenite antiporter PvACR3 , the As (V)-reductases Pv2.5-8 and the organic cation transporter PvOCT4 - are expressed in response to As in field-grown plants with similar kinetics in both soils. In conclusion, we established by this innovative technique, the timing of maximum As accumulation that is linked to the intrinsic hyperaccumulation mechanism and represents a highly powerful tool to set up the duration of phytoextraction cycles. [Display omitted] • Development of a microXRF-based technique to monitor As accumulation in P. vittata. • Field-grown ferns at high and moderate As show an As accumulation peak between 100/120 days. • PvACR3, Pv2.5.8 and PvOCT4 expression in field-grown ferns responds to As in soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, biochar derived from pyrolyzed aboveground parts of Pteris vittata (P. vittata) was modified with iron(Fe) and applied to aqueous solutions containing arsenite (As[III]) or arsenate (As[V]) for remediation purposes. The adsorption efficiency, biochar characteristics pre- and post-adsorption, microscopic As distribution, and As morphology were analyzed. Additionally, the potential and leaching safety of P. vittata biochar for As-contaminated water remediation were evaluated. Results indicated that P. vittata biochar contained oxygen-containing functional groups and aromatic structures. Modification with Fe increased specific surface area and total pore volume. Unmodified P. vittata biochar displayed low adsorption of As(III) and As(V), while Fe modification significantly enhanced As adsorption capacity and reduced As leaching by 69%–89%. Maximum adsorption capacities of Fe-modified P. vittata biochar for As(III) and As(V) were 7.64 and 10.2 mg/g, respectively, as determined by Langmuir fitting. The superior adsorption efficiency of As(V) over As(III) by Fe-modified biochar was attributed to better electrostatic interaction with the adsorbent. Analysis revealed similar As species in P. vittata biochar before and after adsorption, with a significant presence of As(III). Remarkably, As in P. vittata remained highly stable during pyrolysis and adsorption, possibly due to strong Fe–As binding. Fe-modified P. vittata biochar shows promise for application, but further pretreatment may be necessary to achieve optimal results. [Display omitted] • Fe modification improves the As adsorption of P. vittata biochar. • Adsorption performance of P. vittata biochar is linked to its As content. • Fe-modified P. vittata biochar has higher adsorption of As(V) than As(III). • As Speciation remains stable during pyrolysis and adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The perennial fern Pteris vittata is an Arsenic-hyperaccumulator plant able to grow in hydroponic cultures and hence used for phytoremediation of contaminated water. In order to abate the costs linked to the disposal of As contaminated biomass, in this work Pteris vittata waste roots were tested as a new low-cost bio-adsorbent for the removal of Methylene Blue (MB). The latter was selected as a representative cationic dye since its wide usage in industrial applications. The pH of zero charge was evaluated to be 6.2, hence all the adsorption tests were performed at a neutral pH. Isotherms at 20 °C and 40 °C showed a typical Langmuir trend with a maximum adsorption capacity (q max) of 112 mg/g and 154 mg/g respectively. Kinetic tests were also carried out for different solid-liquid ratios and fitted by a mathematical model. The effective diffusivity of MB in the solid was estimated using the maximum likelihood method and the values of 5.99·10−8± 9.6·10−9 cm2/s and 9.56·10−8± 4.5·10−9 cm2/s were obtained at 20 °C and 40 °C respectively. After calculating the Biot number it was found out that both the intra-particle resistance and the external mass transfer resistance are important for the description of the rate of the dye uptake. This paper sets the basis for further investigation of such material in continuous systems in order to verify its feasibility of application in industrial apparatus. • Pteris vittata roots were tested as low-cost adsorbent for Methylene Blue uptake. • Langmuir isotherm was used to describe the system at equilibrium. • The effective diffusivity of Methylene Blue in the roots was estimated. • Intra-particle resistance is the limiting step of adsorption kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper highlights a taxonomic account of genus Pteris L. (Pteridaceae E.D.M. Kirchn.) with newly reported species Pteris amoena Blume, which was collected from the Pange range of Tale Wildlife Sanctuary and Hapoli Primary Forest, Hapoli, Lower Subansiri District of Arunachal Pradesh. The present communication is based on plant exploration and in-depth surveys done by the first two authors and through scrutiny of herbaria and literature. All the species are enumerated in this list along with worldwide distribution (outside India), local distribution in Arunachal Pradesh, northeastern India as NEI included with other Indian states. Reported species shows some morphological closeness with P. terminalis Wall. ex. J.Agardh but differ in having bright pink axes and more rounded and crenately toothed segment-apices. All these characters differentiate to this species to its closely related species and testifying that P. amoena Blume as a new report to the Arunachal Pradesh. Detailed description, distributional range, ecology and specimen examined of newly reported taxa are provided in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The intercropping of arsenic (As) hyperaccumulator Chinese brake fern (Pterisvittata L.) with maize (Zea mays L.) is being widely utilized to enhance phytoremediation without impeding agricultural production. Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi can regulate the physiological and molecular responses of plants in tolerating heavy metal stress. We studied the effects of inoculation with AM fungi on As uptake by maize and P. vittata grown in soil contaminated with As. The results show that infection with the fungus Claroideoglomus etunicatum (Ce) increased the biomass of maize and P. vittata. Moreover, infection with Ce significantly reduced the accumulation of As and the coefficient for root–shoot transport of As in maize, whereas it enhanced the accumulation of As and coefficient for root–shoot transport of As in P. vittata. Infection with Ce led to a high content of available As in the soil planted with P. vittata, while there was a lower content of available As in the soil planted with maize. The different concentrations of available As in the soils suggest that inoculation with Ce may enhance the secretion of organic acids, particularly citric acid and tartaric acid, by maize roots and promote rhizosphere acidification, which then causes a decrease in As uptake by maize. Inoculation with Ce decreased the secretion of citric acid from P. vittata and promoted rhizosphere alkalization, which then caused an increase in As uptake by P. vittata and maize. Thus, co-combining AM fungi in the intercropping of the hyperaccumulator P. vittata with maize could be a promising approach to improving the efficiency of remediating As-contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pteris cretica L. var. nervosa is one of the most well-known Chinese medicines. Although it is widely used to treat jaundice hepatitis, the main ingredient for its treatment was not thoroughly explored until recently. Essentially, the purpose of this study is to find the monomer compound in Pteris cretica L. var. nervosa, which is most likely to be effective in treating liver injury. Through the model of LPS/D-gal-induced liver injury in mice, the best therapeutic site of the total extract was explored, the chemical components of the parts with the best therapeutic effect were separated, a total of 10 flavonoids were isolated, and the RAW264.7 cells induced by LPS were used as the experimental model to explore the preliminary anti-inflammatory activity of NO production in vitro. Finally, the anti-inflammatory activity and the highest content in this plant Luteolin-7-O-rutinoside (LUT) were selected, as the object of study in vivo. It was found that LUT could not only reduce alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) levels, but also significantly reduce the release of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), and interleukin-1β (IL-1β), and inhibit PI3K/AKT/AMPK/NF-κB pathway. In addition, LUT can increase levels of SOD and GSH to reduce oxidative stress. It has an obvious therapeutic effect on acute liver injury induced by LPS/D-gal in mice. Therefore, infer LUT is a functional substance in Pteris cretica L. var. nervosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic contamination causes numerous health problems for humans and wildlife via bioaccumulation in the food chain. Phytoremediation of arseniccontaminated soils with the model arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata provides a promising way to reduce the risk, in which the growth and arsenic absorption ability of plants and the biotransformation of soil arsenic may be greatly affected by rhizosphere microorganisms. However, the microbial community composition in the rhizosphere of P. vittata and its functional role in arsenic phytoremediation are still poorly understood. To bridge this knowledge gap, we carried out a field investigation and pot experiment to explore the composition and functional implications of microbial communities in the rhizosphere of four P. vittata populations with a natural arsenic contamination gradient. Arsenic pollution significantly reduced bacterial and fungal diversity in the rhizosphere of P. vittata (p < 0.05) and played an important role in shaping the microbial community structure. The suitability of soil microbes for the growth of P. vittata gradually decreased following increased soil arsenic levels, as indicated by the increased abundance of pathogenic fungi and parasitic bacteria and the decrease in symbiotic fungi. The analysis of arsenic-related functional gene abundance with AsChip revealed the gradual enrichment of the microbial genes involved in As(III) oxidation, As(V) reduction, and arsenic methylation and demethylation in the rhizosphere of P. vittata following increased arsenic levels (p < 0.05). The regulation of indigenous soil microbes through the field application of fungicide, but not bactericide, significantly reduced the remediation efficiency of P. vittata grown under an arsenic contamination gradient, indicating the important role of indigenous fungal groups in the remediation of arsenic-contaminated soil. This study has important implications for the functional role and application prospects of soil microorganisms in the phytoremediation of arsenic-polluted soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chromium (Cr), a metal that is released in appreciable amounts from the steel industry into water bodies, is not only the main causative agent of lung cancer in human but also negatively affects the metabolic activities of plants. Keeping in view the hazardous effects of Cr(VI), the present study was aimed to eliminate it from industrial effluents of steel mills installed in Dargai District Malakand, Pakistan, using chemically modified Pteris vittata plant leaves as an adsorbent. The instrumental techniques such as FTIR, surface area analysis, SEM, TGA and EDX were used to evaluate surface functionality, morphology, thermal stability and elemental composition of the modified leaves. To identify the ideal conditions for the biosorption process, batch adsorption tests were carried out under varied conditions of pH, contact time, initial metal concentration, biosorbent dose, as well as temperature. Various models, such as those of Freundlich, Jovanovich, Temkin, Langmuir, and Harkins–Jura, were utilized to explain the isothermal experimental data. The high value of R2 (0.991) was exhibited by the Langmuir model. Pseudo-first-order, power function, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion, and Natarajan–Khalaf models were employed to obtain an insight into kinetics of the process. The highest R2 value, close to unity was recorded with pseudo-second order. At pH = 2, the best elimination of Cr was observed with maximum uptake capacity qmax(66.6 mg/g) as calculated from the Langmuir isotherm. The thermodynamic analysis, which was conducted at different temperatures, showed that the nature of this sorption process was exothermic and spontaneous. The modified leaves-based biosorbent could be used as an alternative adsorbent for effective Cr elimination from water, and its use could be extended to other heavy metals and organic pollutants as well, and further experimentation are needed in this regard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We the Editor, authors and Publisher have retracted the following article: Jianping Hu, Shiping Liu, Ying Long, Ning Tao, Bo Yang & Liyong Zhang (2021) Ptercresions A-C: a new terpene glycoside and two sesquiterpenes with hepatoprotective activity from Pteris cretica L, Natural Product Research, DOI: The above article has been retracted because on reanalysing the compounds the authors believe that the structure identification of compound 2 is wrong. Upon realising this error, the authors brought the issue to the journal Editor and Publisher. We have been informed in our decision-making by our policy on publishing ethics and integrity and the COPE guidelines on retractions. The retracted article will remain online to maintain the scholarly record, but it will be digitally watermarked on each page as "Retracted". [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bacterial infections have been substantially increasing with higher mortality and new regimens required for their management. The present work deals with the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) using leaf extract of Pteris vittata at pH 9.0. The AgNPs showed a single absorption peak at 407 nm. The morphology of AgNPs was found to be spherical in shape analyzed by scanning electron micrographs. The X‐ray diffraction studies revealed the face‐centered cubic structure of AgNPs with a 17‐nm average crystallite size. They showed the antimicrobial activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and the cell growth was completely ceased at the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC); 100 μg/mL, with rapidly decreased cell viability. This bactericidal effect was due to the enhancement of cell permeability caused by cell disruption. The AgNPs lead to show a promising antiquorum‐sensing activity by inhibition of toxin protease and pyocyanin in P. aeruginosa by 88% and, 94% respectively, at the sub‐MIC concentration (0.25× MIC). These results conclude that the green synthesis of AgNPs shows a promising antimicrobial and antivirulence activity against P. aeruginosa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, benchtop micro-X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (µXRF) was evaluated as a green and cost-effective multielemental analytical technique for P. vittata. Here, we compare the arsenic (As) content values obtained from the same samples by µXRF and inductively coupled plasma-optical emissions spectrometry (ICP–OES). To obtain samples with different As concentrations, fronds at different growth time points were collected from P. vittata plants grown on two natural As-rich soils with either high or moderate As (750 and 58 mg/kg). Dried samples were evaluated using multielement-µXRF analysis and processed by PCA. The same samples were then analysed for multielement concentrations by ICP–OES. We show that As concentrations detected by ICP–OES, ranging from 0 to 3300 mg/kg, were comparable to those obtained by µXRF. Similar reliability was obtained for micro- and macronutrient concentrations. A positive correlation between As and potassium (K) contents and a negative correlation between As and iron (Fe), calcium (Ca) and manganese (Mn) contents were found at both high and moderate As. In conclusion, we demonstrate that this methodological approach based on μXRF analysis is suitable for monitoring the As and element contents in dried plant tissues without any chemical treatment of samples and that changes in most nutrient concentrations can be strictly related to the As content in plant tissue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dargai District Malakand, Pakistan, is a tax-free zone that attracts many industrialists to install their plants in this area. Along with other industries, a number of steel mills are polluting the natural environment of this locality. This study aimed to evaluate heavy metals levels in steel mills effluents and fabricate an efficient adsorbent from the leaves of plants growing on the banks of the drainage lines of the industries and having high phytoremediation capabilities, through chemical modifications. Initially, the effluents were analyzed for heavy metal concentrations, then the leaves of a plant (Pteris vittata) with better phytoremediation capability were chemically modified. The leaves of Pteris vittata were crushed into a fine powder, followed by chemical modification with HNO3, then washed with distilled water, neutralized with NaOH and finally activated through calcium chloride to enhance its biosorption ability, abbreviated as CMPVL. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), surface area analyzer, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to characterize the CMPVL. The modified leaves in the powdered form were then used for the reclamation of Fe(II) present in the effluents of the mentioned industries. Batch biosorption tests were performed under varied physicochemical conditions of pH (2–9), contact time (10–140 min), temperature (293–333 K), biosorbent dose (0.01–0.13 g), and initial metal concentration (20–300 mg L−1) to optimize the removal of the selected metal. Langmuir, Jovanovic, Freundlich, Temkin, and Harkins–Jura isotherm models were used to assess the equilibrium data. With a high R2 value of 0.977, the Langmuir model offered an excellent match to the equilibrium data. The pseudo-first order, pseudo-second order, power function, intraparticle diffusion, and Natarajan–Khalaf models were applied to experimental kinetics data. With R2 values of 0.999, the pseudo-second order model well fitted the obtained data. The Van't Hoff equation was used to calculate ΔH°, ΔS° and ΔG° of Fe(II) sorption on CMPVL. The ∆H° and ∆G° were negative, whereas ΔS° was positive, suggesting that the biosorption process was exothermic, favorable, and spontaneous. The selected plant leaves were found to be efficient in the reclamation of iron from the industrial effluents (as the plant has a high natural capability for remediating the selected metal ion) after chemical modification and may be used as an alternative to activated carbon as being a low-cost material and a high phytoremediator of iron metal. Such natural phenomena of phytoremediation should be utilized in obtaining efficient adsorbents for other metals as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pteris fauriei group (Pteridaceae) has a wide distribution in Eastern Asia and includes 18 species with similar but varied morphology. We collected more than 300 specimens of the P. fauriei group and determined ploidy by flow cytometry and inferred phylogenies by molecular analyses of chloroplast and nuclear DNA markers. Our results reveal a complicated reticulate evolution, consisting of seven parental taxa and 58 hybrids. The large number of hybrid taxa have added significant morphological complexity to the group leading to difficult taxonomic issues. The hybrids generally had broader ranges and more populations than their parental taxa. Genetic combination of different pairs of parental species created divergent phenotypes of hybrids, exhibited by both morphological characteristics and ecological fidelities. Niche novelty could facilitate hybrid speciation. Apogamy is common in this group and potentially contributes to the sustainability of the whole group. We propose that frequent hybridizations among members of the P. fauriei group generate and maintain genetic diversity, via novel genetic combinations, niche differentiation, and apogamy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was aimed to explore the potential of Pteris cretica L. to be used as herbal remedy. The P. cretica dried plant powder was subjected to a standard physicochemical (proximate analysis) protocol, which showed promising results and was consistent with the WHO recommended ranges that are required to use the plant as a remedy. To identify the bioactive chemical constituents of chloroform extract, the extract was subjected to a series of column chromatography and p-HPLC through the antibacterial and antioxidant bioassays guidance. The two most bioactive sub-fractions of chloroform extract were subjected to GC-MS analysis which revealed the presence of seventeen compounds, the major constituents being eicosane (16.8%), hexadecane (14.1%), methyl hexadecanoate (11.2%), 3,3,8-trimethyldecane (9.1%), 2,6,10-trimethyldodecane (7.8%), tricosane (5.1%) and tetradecane (3.86%). Proximate analysis results show that P. cretica plant is good for herbal remedy, and the bioassay results on chloroform fractions and sub-fractions show that this plant has significant antibacterial and antioxidant potentials. To use this plant as herbal remedy, there is need in further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic phosphorus (P o) is a large component of soil P, but it is often unavailable for plant uptake. Purple acid phosphatases (PAP) can hydrolyze a wide range of P o , playing an important role in P o utilization by plants. In this study, we investigated a novel secretary PvPAP1 from the As-hyperaccumulator Pteris vittata , which can effectively utilize exogenous P o , including adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and phytate. Unlike other PAP, PvPAP1 was abundantly-expressed in P. vittata roots, which was upregulated 3.5-folds under P-deprivation than P-sufficient conditions. When expressed in tobacco, its activity in the roots of PvPAP1-Ex lines was ∼8 folds greater than that in wild-type (WT) plants. Besides, PvPAP1 exhibited its secretory ability as evidenced by the sapphire-blue color on the root surface after treating with 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate. In a long-term experiment using sand media, PvPAP1 -expressing tobacco plants showed 25–30 % greater root biomass than WT plants when using ATP as the sole P source. This is because PvPAP1- expression enhanced its phosphatase activity by 6.5–9.2 folds in transgenic tobacco, thereby increasing the P contents by 39–41 % in its roots under ATP treatment and 9.4–30 % under phytate treatment. The results highlight PvPAP1 as a novel secreted phosphatase crucial for external P o utilization in P. vittata , suggesting that PvPAP1 has the potential to serve as a valuable gene resource for enhancing P o utilization by crop plants. [Display omitted] • A novel purple acid phosphatase gene PvPAP1 was isolated from P. vittata; • PvPAP1 was upregulated under P-deprivation compared to P-sufficient conditions; • Expressing PvPAP1 enhanced phosphatase activity in plants; • Expressing PvPAP1 promoted plant growth using ATP as the sole P source; • Expressing PvPAP1 increased P uptake in plant roots under ATP and phytate treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To achieve "production while remediation" in arsenic (As) -contaminated farmlands, a field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of five Pteris vittata L. (PV) - maize intercropping modes on the growth, nutrient, and As accumulation characteristics of PV and maize. The intercropping increased the As content of PV by 2.9%–132.0% and decreased the As content in maize shoots by 15.5%–37.0%. Total As accumulation in above-ground plant parts reached 202.03–941.97 g hm−2. Intercropping also improved nitrogen and phosphorus content in maize kernels by 27.6%–124.7% and 15.9%–31.5%, respectively. Additionally, intercropping increased maize kernel 100-grain weight by 10.0%–16.6% and resulted in a 1.1%–24.1% increase in maize yield compared to sole cultivation. The intercropping transformed soil As from iron-bound to calcium-bound and aluminum-bound forms. Analysis of soil microbial diversity showed that the intercropping decreases the abundance of Chloroflexi and increases the abundance of Proteobacteria. Among the five modes, the intercropping mode with 4 rows of maize and 4 rows of PV showed the highest remediation efficiency and mechanized operation. These findings contribute to a theoretical framework and technical support for the simultaneous soil pollution remediation and productive farming practices. [Display omitted] • Intercropping increased PV 's arsenic (As) accumulation while reducing As content in maize. • Intercropping enhanced N and P content in maize kernels, leading to higher 100-grain weight and overall maize yield. • The intercropping mode with wide and narrow rows of maize and interleaved double rows of PV had the highest maize yield. • The intercropping mode with 4 rows of maize and 4 rows of PV showed the highest remediation efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the research was to determine the protective effect and mechanism of Pteris wallichiana J. Agardh extract (PWE) on DSS-induced ulcerative colitis (UC) in mice. In this research, PWE is rich in flavonoids and diterpenoids by UPLC-MS/MS analysis. In LPS-induced RAW264.7 cells, PWE reduced the productions of inflammatory factors (i.e., NO, TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β). In DSS-induced UC in mice, PWE improved disease activity index (DAI) score, attenuated oxidative stress by decreasing MPO and MDA activities and activating GSH and SOD levels, and inhibited TNF-α, IL-6, and IL-1β expressions in the colonic tissues. PWE also improved the intestinal barrier by upregulating the expressions of tight junction proteins, including occludin and ZO-1. Moreover, PWE extract alleviated intestinal inflammation by suppressing the TLR4/MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway. Conclusion: PWE can alleviate DSS-induced UC in mice by increasing the expressions of intestinal tight junction proteins and inhibiting the TLR4/NF-κB inflammatory pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reconstructing the development of sporangia in seed-free vascular plants provides crucial information about key processes enabling the production of spores that are important in the life cycle of these plants. By applying fluorescence imaging in intact tissues using dyes and confocal microscopy, this study aimed to reconstruct the key steps during the development of sporangia. Special emphasis was taken on the cell wall structures of tapetum and spore mother cells that have been challenged by microscopical documentation in the past. After staining the cell wall and cytoplasm using calcofluor white and basic fuchsin, the sporangium development of Pteris multifida was observed using confocal microscopy. The clear cell lineages from the sporangial initial cell to stalk, epidermis, inner tapetum, outer tapetum, and sporogenous cells were revealed by confocal imaging. The sporangium development improved in this work will be useful for a general understanding of fern spore formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inorganic arsenic (As) is a toxic and carcinogenic pollutant that has long-term impacts on environmental quality and human health. Pteris vittata plants hyperaccumulate As from soils. Soil bacteria are critical for As-uptake by P. vittata. We examined the use of taxonomically diverse soil bacteria to modulate As speciation in soil and their effect on As-uptake by P. vittata. Aqueous media inoculated with Pseudomonas putida MK800041, P. monteilii MK344656, P. plecoglossicida MK345459, Ochrobactrum intermedium MK346993 or Agrobacterium tumefaciens MK346997 resulted in the oxidation of 5–30% As(III) and a 49–79% reduction of As(V). Soil inoculated with P. monteilii increased extractable As(III) and As(V) from 0.5 and 0.09 in controls to 0.9 and 0.39 mg As kg−1 soil dry weight, respectively. Moreover, and P. vittata plants inoculated with P. monteilii, P. plecoglossicida, O. intermedium strains, and A. tumefaciens strains MK344655, MK346994, MK346997, significantly increased As-uptake by 43, 32, 12, 18, 16, and 14%, respectively, compared to controls. The greatest As-accumulation (1.9 ± 0.04 g kg−1 frond Dwt) and bioconcentration factor (16.3 ± 0.35) was achieved in plants inoculated with P. monteilii. Our findings indicate that the tested bacterial strains can increase As-availability in soils, thus enhancing As-accumulation by P. vittata. Novelty statementPteris vittata, a well-known As-hyperaccumulator, has the remarkable ability to accumulate higher levels of As in their above-ground biomass. The As-tolerant bacteria-plant interactions play a significant role in bioremediation by mediating As-redox and controlling As-availability and uptake by P. vittata. Our studies indicated that most of the tested bacterial strains isolated from As-impacted soil significantly enhanced As-uptake by P. vittata. P. monteilii oxidized 20% of As(III) and reduced 50% of As(V), increased As-extraction from soils, and increased As-uptake by 43% greater compared with control. Therefore, these strains associated with P. vittata can be used in large-scale field applications to remediate As-contaminated soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]