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Arsenic (As) hyperaccumulator Pteris ferns are renowned for their capacity to accumulate As and have been used to remediate As-contaminated environmental. However, there is less information on how ...

Three new terpenes were isolated from Pteris cretica L., namely Ptercresions A (1), B (2) and C (3), together with three known sesquiterpenes and one terpene glycoside, respectively, identified as (2 S, 3 S)-pterosin C (4), (2 R,3 S)-pterosin C (5), pterosin D (6), creosideI(7). The structures of isolates were determined by HR-ESI-MS, ECD, NMR and acid hydrolysate analysis. The in vitro hepatoprotective activities of compounds 1-7 were studied against Paracetamol-induced L-02 hepatocyte injury. The results revealed that compounds 2-5 showed certain anti-hepatocyte injury activity.

The present study investigated the effect of arsenic (As) on photosynthesis and other selected physiological parameters in two ferns. The ferns (Pteris cretica 'Albo-lineata' and 'Parkerii') subjected to As doses of 100 and 250 mg kg-1 for three months, showed different As accumulation, which was higher in Albo-lineata. Overall, the obtained results indicated significant differences between studied ferns. The individual effects of As and growing period on all parameters were very variable. However, As doses generally caused a decrease of net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, maximum quantum yield of PSII, and photosynthetic pigments. The sampling period effect was significant for magnesium content of Parkerii (decrease) and contents of photosynthetic pigments of Albo-lineata (increase) and Parkerii (decrease). Results showed that Parkerii had higher sensitivity to As doses than Albo-lineata, which was also reflected by the higher free glycine content and its increase by As doses.

Pteris cretica L. — Habit: Fern. Habitat: LMWF, LMDF, BZ; 1 300–2 700 m. Distribution: I. Voucher: Mount Kenya, Forest reserve before KWS main gate, 17 Jun. 2010, Kamau 478 (EA, BM). References: Schelpe (1951), Bussmann (1994), Bussmann & Beck (1995a), Agnew (2013)., Published as part of Zhou, Ya-Dong, Mwachala, Geoffrey, Hu, Guang-Wan & Wang, Qing-Feng, 2022, Annotated checklist of the vascular plants of Mount Kenya, East Africa, pp. 1-108 in Phytotaxa 546 (1) on page 16, DOI: 10.11646/phytotaxa.546.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/6550464, {"references":["Schelpe, E. A. C. L. E. (1951) The Pteridophyta of Mount Kenya. American Fern Journal 41 (3): 65 - 74. https: // doi. org / 10.2307 / 1545044","Bussmann, R. W. (1994) The forest of Mt. Kenya (Kenya): Vegetation, ecology, destruction and management of a tropical mountain forest ecosystem. Ph. D. dissertation, Universitat Bayreuth Startseite, Bayreuth, 252 pp.","Bussmann, R. W. & Beck, E. (1995 a) The forests of Mt. Kenya (Kenya), a phytosociological synopsis. Phytocoenologia 25 (4): 467 - 560. https: // doi. org / 10.1127 / phyto / 25 / 1995 / 467","Agnew, A. D. Q. (2013) Upland Kenya wild flowers and ferns, 3 rd edn. Nature Kenya Publications, Nairobi, 733 pp."]}

Pteris cretica L. var. laeta is recorded for the first time in the Comechingones biogeographic province in central Argentina. This is the first record of P. cretica in central Argentina, and P. cretica var. laeta for the country. Until now Pteris cretica has only been known to occur, in America, in North America (Florida), Central America and South America in Neotropical biomes from Peru, Chile, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay and northern Argentina as established in the Yungas biogeographic province, and as ruderal in Buenos Aires. An updated description is provided, along with pictures, differences with P. cretica var. cretica, and characteristic of the novel habitat of the species.

This study aims to determine the composition of species, diversity, and density of ferns in the Forest area of ​​Tanglapui Village, East Alor District, Alor Regency. To make observations and divide the study site into 4 stations, namely: stasium 1 east, stasium 2 south, stasium 3 north, and stasium 4 western parts, which contained nail plants (pteridophyta). At each station two observation plots were installed for sampling. Placement of the observation plot using purposive sampling by determining the starting point and installing a plot measuring 20 m long and 10 m wide. Every nail plant found at the study site was recorded. The data obtained is then processed to see the number of nail species found, the abundance of each fern, and the index of diversity of ferns using the Shannon-Wiener diversity formula. The results showed that 22 species of ferns were found, namely Diplazium esculentum, Cyathea contaminans, Lygodium venustum sw, Drynaria quercifolia, Platycerium bifurcatum, Microsorum punctatum, Equisetum debile, Pteris biaurita L, Pytirogramma calomelanos, Polypodium virginianum sp. cuneatum, Pteris cretica L, Davallia denticulate, Asplenium attenuatum, Psilotum nudum L, Marsilia polycarpa, Pteris vittata, Nephrolepis biserrata, Pyrrosia piloselloidesi L MG, Macrothelipteris torresiana. One of the ferns that dominates the tanglapui forest area is Cyathea contaminans with a total of 509 individuals with a density of 0.32 individuals / m2. The value of diversity in the lowland tanglapui forests is 0.77.

Arsenic is a ubiquitous toxic element that can be accumulated into plant parts. The present study investigated the response of Pteris cretica and Spinacia oleracea to As treatment through the analysis of selected physiological and metabolic parameters. Plants were grown in pots in As(V) spiked soil (20 and 100 mg/kg). Plants’ physiological condition was estimated through the determination of elements, gas-exchange parameters, chlorophyll fluorescence, water potential, photosynthetic pigments, and free amino acid content. The results confirmed differing As accumulation in plants, as well as in shoots and roots, which indicated that P. cretica is an As-hyperaccumulator and that S. oleracea is an As-root excluder. Variations in physiological and metabolic parameters were observed among As treatments. Overall, the results revealed a significant effect of 100 mg/kg As treatment on the analysed parameters. In both plants, this treatment affected growth, N, Mg, S, Mn, and Zn content, as well as net photosynthetic rate, chlorophyll fluorescence, and total free amino acid content. In conclusion, the results reflect the similarity between P. cretica and S. oleracea in some aspects of plants’ response to As treatment, while physiological and metabolic parameter changes related to As treatments indicate the higher sensitivity of S. oleracea.

Soil contamination by heavy metals and metalloids is a serious problem which needs to be addressed. There are several methods for removal of contaminants, but they are costly, while the method of phytoremediation is eco-friendly and cost-effective. Pteridophytes have been found to remediate heavy metal-contaminated soil. Pteridophytes are non-flowering plant that reproduces by spores. Pteris vittata has been reported as the first fern plant to hyperaccumulate arsenic. The Pteris species belongs to the order Pteridales. Other ferns that are known phytoremediators are, for example, Nephrolepis cordifolia and Hypolepis muelleri (identified as phytostabilisers of Cu, Pb, Zn and Ni); similarly Pteris umbrosa and Pteris cretica accumulate arsenic in leaves. So, pteridophytes have a number of species that accumulate contaminants. Many of them have been identified, while various other are being explored. The present review article describes the phytoremediation potential of pteridophytes plants and suggests as a potential asset for phytoremediation programs.

—Three taxa from Taiwan in the Pteris cretica group (Pteridaceae) have extremely wide pinnae that are greater than two cm wide. Leaf and spore morphology, complemented with molecular phylogenetic results, indicate these three taxa are new for Taiwan. Compared with similar species in adjacent areas, they are described here as one new record, Pteris esquirolii, and two new species, P. rugosifolia and P. subesquirolii. Pteris rugosifolia has chartaceous and wrinkled laminae, and P. subesquirolii, similar to P. esquirolii, has coriaceous and flat laminae. Furthermore, there are differences in elevation among the three species. A table with morphological diagnostic features of these three species is included, as well as a dichotomous key for the species of the Pteris cretica group species occurring in Taiwan.

Summary • A range of fern species (45) and their allies, Equisetum (5) and Selaginella (2) species and Psilotum nudum were screened for their ability to hyperaccumulate arsenic, to develop a phylogenetic understanding of this phenomenon. A number of varieties (5) of a known arsenic hyperaccumulator Pteris cretica were additionally included in this study. • This study is the first to report members of the Pteris genus that do not hyperaccumulate arsenic, Pteris straminea and tremula . • A phylogenetic basis for arsenic accumulation in ferns was investigated. Some orders can accumulate more arsenic than others. Although members of the Equisetales and Blechnales did not hyperaccumulate arsenic, they still accumulated relatively high levels in their fronds, approaching 100 mg kg −1 when grown on a soil dosed with 100 mg kg −1 arsenic. • Arsenic hyperaccumulation was identified as a phenomenon at the extreme range of fern arsenic accumulation. Ferns that exhibit arsenic hyperaccumulation arrived relatively late in terms of fern evolution, as this character is not exhibited by primitive ferns or their allies.

Summary • Pteris vittata is the first plant reported to be a hyperaccumulator of arsenic (As), and little is known about the mechanisms of As hyperaccumulation in this plant. • Arsenic distribution at the whole plant (fronds) and cellular level was investigated using chemical analyses and energy dispersive X-ray microanalyses (EDXA). Speciation of As in the fronds was determined using X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) analyses. • The majority of As was found in the pinnae (96% of total As). The concentration of As in pinnae decreased from the base to the apex of the fronds. Arsenic concentrations in spores and midribs were much lower than in the pinnae. EDXA analyses revealed that As was compartmentalized mainly in the upper and lower epidermal cells, probably in the vacuoles. The distribution pattern of potassium was similar to As, whereas other elements (Ca, Cl, K, Mg, P and S) were distributed differently. • XANES analyses showed that approximately 75% of the As in fronds was present in the As(III) oxidation state and the remaining as As(V).

Background Arsenic toxicity induces a range of metabolic responses in plants, including DNA methylation. The focus of this paper was on the relationship between As-induced stress and plant senescence in the hyperaccumulator Pteris cretica var. Albo-lineata (Pc-Al). We assume difference in physiological parameters and level of DNA methylation in young and old fronds as symptoms of As toxicity. Results The As accumulation of Pc-Al fronds, grown in pots of haplic chernozem contaminated with 100 mg As kg− 1 for 122 days, decreased with age. Content of As was higher in young than old fronds for variants with 100 mg As kg− 1 (2800 and 2000 mg As kg− 1 dry matter, respectively). The highest As content was determined in old fronds of Pc-Al grown in pots with 250 mg As kg− 1. The increase with age was confirmed for determined nutrients – Cu, Mg, Mn, S and Zn. A significant elevation of all analysed nutrients was showed in old fronds. Arsenic accumulation affected DNA methylation status in fronds, but content of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) decreased only in old fronds of Pc-Al (from 25 to 12%). Determined photosynthetic processes showed a decrease of fluorescence, photosynthetic rate and chlorophylls of As treatments in young and old fronds. Water potential was decreased by As in both fronds. Thinning of the sclerenchymatous inner cortex and a reduction in average tracheid metaxylem in the vascular cylinder was showed in roots of As treatment. Irrespective to fronds age, physiological parameters positively correlated with a 5mC while negatively with direct As toxicity. Opposite results were found for contents of Cu, Mg, Mn, S and Zn. Conclusions The results of this paper point to changes in the metabolism of the hyperaccumulator plant Pc-Al, upon low and high exposure to As contamination. The significant impact of As on DNA methylation was found in old fronds. Irrespective to fronds age, significant correlations were confirmed for 5mC and As toxicity. Our analysis of the very low water potential values and lignification of cell walls in roots showed that transports of assimilated metabolites and water between roots and fronds were reduced. As was showed by our results, epigenetic changes could affect studied parameters of the As hyperaccumulator plant Pc-Al, especially in old fronds.

espanolLa flora vascular del archipielago de Madeira incluye 74 taxones de pteridofitas. De ellos, ocho son endemismos exclusivos, otros ocho endemismos macaronesicos, siendo la gran mayoria, unos 44, especies nativas y 14 mas son consideradas exoticas. El numero total de taxones de plantas vasculares exoticas es de 401, lo que supone aproximadamente el 33% del total de la flora. La reciente deteccion de muchas especies de helechos totalmente naturalizadas es paralela a la que ocurre con otros grupos de plantas vasculares. En este trabajo se registra por primera vez la presencia de Pteris nipponica W.C. Shieh (syn. Pteris cretica L. var. albolineata Hooker) y Goniophlebium subauriculatum (Blume) C. Presl como nuevas especies naturalizadas para la isla de Madeira. EnglishThe Madeira archipelago vascular flora includes 74 pteridophyte taxa. Of these, eight are exclusive endemics, eight are Macaronesian endemics, being the vast majority, 44, native and 14 referred as introduced taxa. The total number of alien vascular plant taxa is 401 (i.e. 33% of the total flora). The recent detection of several fully naturalized alien fern taxa is a process parallel to that observed in other groups of vascular plants. The occurrence of Pteris nipponica W.C. Shieh (syn. Pteris cretica L. var. albolineata Hooker) and Goniophlebium subauriculatum (Blume) C. Presl as new naturalized plants is recorded for the first time for the island of Madeira.

Pteris cretica var. nervosa is a dominant fern species found in antimony (Sb) mining areas, capable of forming symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), especially with those members of the Glomus genus. Despite this fern's relevance and the potential contribution of mycorrhizal symbiosis to phytoremediation, the AMF's impact on P. var. nervosa phytoremediation of Sb remains unknown. Here, we exposed P. var. nervosa to different concentrations of Sb for 6 months. Our results showed that Sb reduced shoot biomass, enlarged the root/shoot ratio, and disrupted the fronds' intracellular structure. AMF inoculation, however, was able to moderate these phenotypic changes and increased the accumulation level of Sb in plants. From a proteomics analysis of this plant's fronds, a total of 283 proteins were identified. Notably, those proteins with catalytic function, carbon fixing and ATP metabolic function were highly enriched. K-means clustering demonstrated protein-changing patterns involved in multiple metabolic pathways during exposure to Sb. Further, these patterns can be moderated by AMF inoculation. Pearson correlations were used to assess the plant biomarkers-soil Sb relationships; This revealed a strong correlation between ribosome alteration and the root/shoot ratio when inoculated with AMF, and a positive correlation between photosynthesis proteins and chlorophyll (SPAD value). Our results indicate AMF could moderate the fronds impairment by maintaining the sufficient protein levels for ribosomal functioning, photosynthesis activity and to counter ROS production. We demonstrate the effective use of AMF associated with P. cretica var. nervosa for Sb phytoremediation and the potential of applying proteomics to better understand the mechanism behind this symbiotic plant physiological response.

Our previous results showed that content of trans-zeatin (tZ) increases in leaves of heavy metal hyperaccumulators but decreases in non-hyperaccumulators growing in multiple heavy metal polluted soils. However, the relationship between arsenic (As) accumulation and endogenous forms of cytokinins (CTKs) in As hyperaccumulators remains unknown. Here a hydroponic experiment was conducted to compare the CTK forms in the As hyperaccumulator Pteris cretica var. nervosa and non-hyperaccumulator Pteris ensiformis under arsenate stress (0, 2, 5, and 10 mg L−1). A simple and cost-effective procedure for the determination of CTK forms in plants was established, and a stepwise regression analysis was used to study the relationship among total As contents and different forms of endogenous CTKs in fronds of two plants. The results showed that the optimized chromatographic parameters were Zobax SB-C18 column (5 μm × 4.6 mm × 250 mm), UV detection detector at 269 nm, a flow rate of 0.6 mL min−1, constant temperature of 45 °C and gradient elution with methanol-acetonitrile-1% acetic acid. Contents of chlorophylls in the fronds of P. ensiformis were significantly decreased with addition of As compared to P. cretica var. nervosa. Furthermore, the total As content in fronds of P. cretica var. nervosa was positively correlated to the contents of N6-(2-isopentenyl) adenine-7-β-D-glucoside (iP7G) and N6-(2-isopentenyl) adenosine (iPR). However, the total As content in fronds of P. ensiformis was negatively correlated to its trans-zeatin riboside (ZR) content. Therefore, iP7G and iPR could positively improve As accumulation by P. cretica var. nervosa.

Contamination of ground water and soil by arsenic poses serious environmental challenges globally. A possible solution to this problem is through phytoremediation using hyper-accumulating plants. This study investigates phytoremediation of soil containing 200 ± 3 mg kg−1 of arsenic using Pteris cretica ferns, and the strategies for arsenic extraction from the ferns biomass and subsequent conversions to valuable arsenic products. The Pteris cretica ferns achieved maximum arsenic accumulations of 4427 ± 79 to 4875 ± 96 mg of arsenic per kg dry biomass after 30 days. Extraction efficiencies of arsenic in the ferns fronds were 94.3 ± 2.1% for ethanol-water (1:1 v/v), 81.5 ± 3.2% for 1:1 (v/v) methanol-water, and 70.8 ± 2.9% for water alone. Molybdic acid process was used to recover 90.8 ± 5.3% of the arsenic, and 95.1 ± 4.6% of the phosphorus in the biomass extract. Quantitative precipitation of Mg3(AsO4)2 and Mg3(PO4)2 occurred on treatment of the aqueous solutions of arsenic and phosphorus after stripping at pH of 8–10. The efficiencies of Mg3(AsO4)2 and Mg3(PO4)2 precipitation were 96 ± 7.2% and 94 ± 3.4%, respectively. Arsenic nanoparticles produced from the recovered Mg3(AsO4)2, using two-stage reduction process, had average particle diameters of 45.5 ± 11.3 nm. These nanoparticles are potentially valuable for medical applications, while the Mg3(AsO4)2 could be converted to more valuable forms of arsenic or used as a pesticide, and the Mg3(PO4)2 in fertiliser. Recovery of these valuable products from phytoremediation biomass would incentivise and drive commercial industries' participation in remediation of contaminated lands.

Cytokinins (CTKs) are effective in alleviating abiotic stresses on plants, but little information is available regarding the effects of CTKs on arsenic (As) accumulation and changes of chloroplast ultrastructure in plants with different As-accumulating ability. Here a hydroponic experiment was designed to evaluate the effects of different concentration of kinetin (KT, 0–40 mg/L) on growth and chloroplast ultrastructure of As hyperaccumulator Pteris cretica var. nervosa and non-hyperaccumulator Pteris ensiformis treated by 5 mg/L arsenate for 14 days. The growth parameters, As accumulation, contents of photosynthetic pigments and chloroplast ultrastructure were examined. The results showed that KT promoted the growth of two plants, and significantly increased As accumulation and translocation in P. cretica var. nervosa and P. ensiformis at 5 and 20 mg/L, respectively. Additionally, the contents of chlorophyll a and carotenoid in two plants showed no significant difference at 20 mg/L KT compared to the control. Chloroplast ultrastructure of P. cretica var. nervosa was integral with KT application. Comparatively, the swollen chloroplasts were increased, plasmolysis appeared, and chloroplast grana slice layers and stroma lamellas were clearly separated or distorted at 5 mg/L KT in P. ensiformis. The length and width of chloroplasts in P. cretica var. nervosa were significantly increased with KT addition compared to the control. However, the length of chloroplasts in P. ensiformis was significantly decreased but their width showed no significant change. Furthermore, the deterioration of chloroplast ultrastructure in P. ensiformis was ameliorated by 40 mg/L KT. These results suggested that KT increased As accumulation and was beneficial to maintain the photosynthetic pigments for a good growth of plants. Therefore, KT could maintain and reorganize the ultrastructure integrality of As-stressed chloroplasts to some extent for the two plants, especially at high concentration.

In this study, multiple types of samples, including soils, plants, litter and soil invertebrates, were collected from a former arsenic (As) mine in China. The total As concentrations in the soils, earthworms, litter and the aboveground portions of grass from the contaminated area followed the decreasing order of 83-2224 mg/kg, 31-430 mg/kg, 1-62 mg/kg and 2-23 mg/kg, respectively. X-ray absorption near-edge structure (XANES) analysis revealed that the predominant form of As in the soils was arsenate (As(V)), while no arsenite (As(III)) was detected. In the grass and litter of the native plant community, inorganic As species (As(V) and As(III)) were the main species, while minor amounts of DMA, MMA, AsC, and an unknown As species were also detected in the extracts analyzed with high-performance liquid chromatography inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS). The As speciation and As concentrations varied with the plant species, and very high As levels (197-584 mg/kg) and proportions of inorganic As (99%) were found in two As-hyperaccumulating ferns, Pteris vittata and Pteris cretica. The major As species extracted from earthworms were inorganic, with proportions of 51-53% As(III) and 38-48% As(V). AsB was the only organic species present in the earthworm samples, although at low proportions (8.99%). The internal bioconversion of other As species is hypothesized to contribute greatly to the formation and accumulation of AsB in earthworms, although the direct external absorption of organic As from soils might be another source. This study sheds light on the potential sources of complex organoarsenicals, such as AsB, in terrestrial organisms.

Cytokinins (CTKs) enhance plant tolerance to heavy metals, but the associated mechanisms are not yet fully understood. Here, we investigated the effects of kinetin (KT, a type of CTKs) on arsenic (As) speciation and antioxidative enzymes in plant fronds, by comparing Pteris cretica var. nervosa (As hyperaccumulator) and Pteris ensiformis (non-hyperaccumulator). A hydroponic test was carried out and the two plant species were treated with 2 mg L−1 arsenite [As(III)], arsenate [As(V)] or dimethylarsinate (DMA), and then 0–1.0 mg L−1 KT was exogenously applied for 14 days. The maximum As uptake of the two experimental plants was 0.5 mg L−1 KT. Fresh plant biomass was also significantly increased, except in P. cretica var. nervosa under DMA stress. The frond superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activity in the two plant species was significantly increased by 0.5 mg L−1 KT. Additionally, a significant decline in frond peroxidase (POD) activity was observed in P. ensiformis at 1.0 mg L−1 KT under As(III) stress. However, POD activity was significantly increased in P. cretica var. nervosa, at 0.1 mg L−1 KT, under As(III) or DMA stress, and at 1.0 mg L−1 KT, under As(V) stress. Therefore, KT promoted As transport and increased frond POD activity in P. cretica var. nervosa, which contributed to its As tolerance under stress from different As species.

Enzootic bovine haematuria (EBH) in cattle occurs in upland areas of the world. In India, the disease is present in isolated pockets in the Himalayas and in the Nilgiri Hills. The variation in the disease incidence has been attributed to different environmental conditions and animal rearing practices followed in the different regions. The aim of the study was to conduct field surveys in parts of EBH endemic regions of Himachal Pradesh, a north-western Himalayan state of India. Out of the total 103 plant samples collected, a total of 95 samples were identified as ferns. The major ferns identified included, Onychium japonicum (Thunb.) Kunze, Polystichum piceopaleaceum Tagawa, Dryopteris juxtaposita Christ, Pseudocyclosorus canus (Baker) Holttum and J.W. Grimes, Onychium contiguum C. Hope, Dryopteris nigropaleacea (Fraser-Jenk.), Pteridium aquilinum (L.) Kuhn, Diplazium esculentum (Retz.) Sw., Allantodia maxima (D. Don) Ching, Woodwardia unigemmata (Makino) Nakai, Pteris cretica L., Pteris vittata L., Asplenium trichomanes L., Thelypteris phegopteris (L.) Sloss. ex Rydb, Adiantum venustum D. Don and Paraceterach vestita (Hook.) R.M. Tryon. The concentration of ptaquiloside (PTA) and pterosin B (PtB) in some of the ferns collected from Kullu and Chamba regions ranged from 0 to 358.6 ± 70.5 μg/g and 0 to 652.4 ± 50.0 μg/g, respectively. In addition, field cases of the disease in cattle were also studied in the EBH endemic districts. A total of sixteen cattle urine samples and one urinary bladder of EBH affected cattle were collected. On physical, chemical (benzidine test) and microscopic examination of urine sediment, all the sixteen field samples were found to be positive for erythrocytes and the cases were diagnosed as macrohaematuria. The clinico-pathological studies on the field cases and the presence of PTA and PtB in the ferns indicated that EBH is a prevalent disease and there is an association between chronic fern ingestion and EBH in cattle. On the basis of gross pathology, histopathology and immunohistochemistry (p53 and H-ras nuclear expression in the urothelial cells) of the urinary bladder tissue, the field case was diagnosed as transitional cell adenocarcinoma with chronic lymphocytic cystitis.

A pot experiment was conducted to compare the content of endogenous trans-zeatin (Z), plant arsenic (As) uptake and physiological indices in the fronds of As-hyperaccumulator (Pteris cretica var. nervosa) and non-hyperaccumulator (Pteris ensiformis). Furthermore, a stepwise regression method was used to study the relationship among determined indices, and the time-course effect of main indices was also investigated under 100mg/kg As stress with time extension. In the 100-200mg/kg As treatments, plant height showed no significant difference and endogenous Z content significantly increased in P. cretica var. nervosa compared to the control, but a significant decrease of height and endogenous Z was observed in P. ensiformis. The concentrations of As (III) and As (V) increased significantly in the fronds of two plants, but this increase was much higher in P. cretica var. nervosa. Compared to the control, the contents of chlorophyll and soluble protein were significantly increased in P. cretica var. nervosa but decreased in P. ensiformis in the 200mg/kg As treatment, respectively. A significant positive correlation was found between the contents of endogenous Z and total As in P. cretica var. nervosa, but such a correlation was not found in P. ensiformis. Additionally, in the time-course effect experiment, a peak value of each index was appeared in the 43rd day in two plants, except for chlorophyll in P. ensiformis, but this value was significantly higher in P. cretica var. nervosa than that in P. ensiformis. In conclusion, a higher endogenous Z content contributed to As accumulation of P. cretica var. nervosa under As stress.

هدف تحقیق، بررسی آناتومی دو گونه از جنس پتریس و ارزیابی میزان شباهتها و تفاوتهای بین آنها در جنگل های شمال ایران بوده است. اهمیت مطالعه ی این جنس از آن رو است که یافته های حاصل از آن می تواند در تهیه و نگارش فلور ایران و کلید شناسایی در خصوص این دو گونه یاریگر باشد. به همین منظور جمعیت های این دو گونه از جنس پتریس یعنی Pteris cretica و Pteris dentata از جنگل های مازندران، گیلان و گلستان جمع آوری گردید. نتایج حاصل از یافته ها نشان می دهد این دو گونه سرخس، از نظر آناتومی بر اساس مولفه اصلی اول، دوم و چهارم باهم متفاوت، ولی از نظر مولفه های اصلی دیگر باهم تفاوت معنی داری ندارند. ضمنا در میان جمعیت های گونه دنتاتا بر اساس مولفه های اصلی به جز مولفه ششم، تفاوت معنی داری مشاهده شد که می تواند نشان دهنده وجود بیش از یک زیر گونه از دنتاتا درشمال ایران باشد.نتایج حاصل از یافته ها نشان می دهد این دو گونه سرخس، از نظر آناتومی بر اساس مولفه اصلی اول، دوم و چهارم باهم متفاوت، ولی از نظر مولفه های اصلی دیگر باهم تفاوت معنی داری ندارند. ضمنا در میان جمعیت های گونه دنتاتا بر اساس مولفه های اصلی به جز مولفه ششم، تفاوت معنی داری مشاهده شد که می تواند نشان دهنده وجود بیش از یک زیر گونه از دنتاتا درشمال ایران باشد.

Given the close relationship between cytokinins (CKs), photosynthesis and nitrogen metabolism, this study assessed the effect of arsenic (As) contamination on these metabolic components in the As-hyperaccumulators Pteris cretica L. var. Albo-lineata (Pc-A) and var. Parkerii (Pc-P) as well as the As-non-hyperaccumulator Pteris straminea Mett. ex Baker (Ps). The ferns were cultivated in a pot experiment for 23 weeks in soil spiked with As at the levels 20 and 100 mg·kg-1. For the purpose of this study, the CKs were placed into five functionally different groups according to their structure and physiological roles: bioactive forms (bCKs; CK free bases); inactive or weakly active forms (dCKs; CK N-glucosides); transport forms (tCKs; CK ribosides); storage forms (sCKs; O-glucosides); and primary products of CK biosynthesis (ppbCKs; CK nucleotides). An important finding was higher CKs total content, accumulation of sCKs and reduction of dCKs in As-hyperaccumulators in contrast to non-hyperaccumulator ferns. A significant depletion of C resources was confirmed in ferns, especially Ps, which was determined by measuring the photosynthetic rate and chlorophyll fluorescence. A fluorescence decrease signified a reduction in the C/N ratio, inducing an increase of bioactive CKs forms in Pc-P and Ps. The impact of As on N utilization was significant in As-hyperaccumulators. The glutamic acid/glutamine ratio, an indicator of primary N assimilation, diminished in all ferns with increased As level in the soil. In conclusion, the results indicate a large phenotypic diversity of Pteris species to As and suggest that the CKs composition and the glutamic acid/glutamine ratio can be used as a tool to diagnose As stress in plants.

In the present work, the ultrasonic-assisted extraction (UAE) of total flavonoids (TF) from Pteris cretica L. was optimized by response surface methodology (RSM) on the basis of a single-factor experiment. The optimized UAE parameters were as follows: Ethanol concentration 56.74%, extraction time 45.94 min, extraction temperature 74.27 &deg, C, and liquid/solid ratio 33.69 mL/g. Under the optimized conditions, the total flavonoids yield (TFY) was 4.71 &plusmn, 0.04%, which was higher than that obtained by heat reflux extraction (HRE). The extracts were further analyzed by HPLC, and five major flavonoids, including rutin, quercitrin, luteolin, apigenin, and luteolin-7-O-glucoside, were identified and quantified. Furthermore, the results of the antioxidant test showed that the TF extract obtained under optimized UAE conditions exhibited good 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical (DPPH&bull, ) and 2,2-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) radical (ABTS+&bull, ), nitric oxide radical (NO&bull, ) scavenging activities, and ferrous ion (Fe2+) chelating capacity, with IC50 values of 74.49, 82.92, 89.12, and 713.41 &micro, g/mL, respectively. Results indicated that the UAE technique developed in this work was an efficient, rapid, and simple approach for the extraction of flavonoids with antioxidant activity from P. cretica.

Background Arsenic (As) toxicity induces a range of metabolic responses in plants, including DNA methylation. The focus of this paper was on the relationship between As-induced long-term stress and plant senescence in the hyperaccumulator Pteris cretica var. Albo-lineata ( Pc -Al).Results We showed that Pc -Al grown in pots of haplic chernozem contaminated with 100 mg As kg -1 (As 100 ) for 122 days could accumulate more than 2000 and 2800 mg As kg -1 dry matter in old and young fronds, respectively. Analysis of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) in Pc -Al confirmed that the overall DNA methylation status in fronds of As 100 ferns was reduced in contrast to control treatment. Compared with controls, the overall DNA methylation status in fronds of As 100 ferns was reduced (by 6% in young and 10% in old fronds); however, the decrease was significant only in old fronds. The significant correlations for 5mC, in contrast to direct As toxicity, showed that decreases of chlorophylls, fluorescence and photosynthetic rate could be affected by epigenetic changes. Photosynthetic processes were determined in As 100 treatment and showed a reduction of gas-exchange parameters, and a decrease in carotenoids and chlorophylls (by 5% and 26%, respectively). Hyperaccumulation of As resulted in a significant elevation of all analysed nutrients (Cu, Mn, Zn, Mg, S) in old fronds, but not in young fronds.Conclusions The results of this paper point to complex changes in the metabolism of the hyperaccumulator plant Pc -Al, upon exposure to As contamination. The most significant impact was found in young fronds. The physiological parameters correlated more significantly with a decrease of DNA methylation than with direct As toxicity. Our analysis of the very low water potential values and lignification of cell walls in roots showed that transports of assimilated metabolites and water between roots and fronds were reduced.

Phytochemical investigation of the aerial parts of Pteris cretica led to the isolation and elucidation of nine pterosins, including four new pterosins, creticolacton A (1), 13-hydroxy-2(R),3(R)-pterosin L (2), creticoside A (3), and spelosin 3-O-&beta, d-glucopyranoside (4), together with five known pterosins 5&ndash, 9. Their structures were identified mainly on the basis of 1D and 2D NMR spectral data, ESI-MS and literature comparisons. Compounds 1 and 3 were new type of petrosins with a six membered ring between C-14 and C-15. The new compounds were tested in vitro for their cytotoxic activities against four human tumor cell lines (SH-SY5Y, SGC-7901, HCT-116, Lovo). Results showed that compounds 1 and 2 exhibited cytotoxic activity against HCT-116 cells with IC50 value of 22.4 &mu, M and 15.8 &mu, M, respectively.

Members of genus Pteris have their established role in the traditional herbal medicine system. In the pursuit to identify its biologically active constituents, the specie Pteris cretica L. (P. cretica) was selected for the bioassay-guided isolation. Two new maleates (F9 and CB18) were identified from the chloroform extract and the structures of the isolates were elucidated through their spectroscopic data. The putative targets, that potentially interact with both of these isolates, were identified through reverse docking by using in silico tools PharmMapper and ReverseScreen3D. On the basis of reverse docking results, both isolates were screened for their antioxidant, acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, &alpha, glucosidase (GluE) inhibition and antibacterial activities. Both isolates depicted moderate potential for the selected activities. Furthermore, docking studies of both isolates were also studied to investigate the binding mode with respective targets followed by molecular dynamics simulations and binding free energies. Thereby, the current study embodies the poly-pharmacological potential of P. cretica.

The fungus Amphirosellinia nigrospora strain JS-1675 has been reported to exert antimicrobial effects against various plant-pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of A. nigrospora for the first time., The fungus Amphirosellinia nigrospora strain JS-1675 has been reported to exert antimicrobial effects against various plant-pathogenic bacteria and fungi. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of A. nigrospora for the first time. The assembly comprises 48,177,783 bp with 18 scaffolds.

Pollution and poisoning with carcinogenic arsenic (As) is of major concern globally. Interestingly, there are ferns that can naturally tolerate remarkably high As concentrations in soils while hyperaccumulating this metalloid in their fronds. Besides Pteris vittata in which As-related traits and molecular determinants have been studied in detail, the As hyperaccumulation status has been attributed also to Pteris cretica. We thus inspected two P. cretica cultivars, Parkerii and Albo-lineata, for As hyperaccumulation traits. The cultivars were grown in soils supplemented with 20, 100, and 250 mg kg−1 of inorganic arsenate (iAsV). Unlike Parkerii, Albo-lineata was confirmed to be As tolerant and hyperaccumulating, with up to 1.3 and 6.4 g As kg−1 dry weight in roots and fronds, respectively, from soils amended with 250 mg iAsV kg−1. As speciation analyses rejected that organoarsenical species and binding with phytochelatins and other proteinaceous ligands would play any significant role in the biology of As in either cultivar. While in Parkerii, the dominating As species, particularly in roots, occurred as iAsV, in Albo-lineata the majority of the root and frond As was apparently converted to iAsIII. Parkerii markedly accumulated iAsIII in its fronds when grown on As spiked soils. Considering the roles iAsV reductase ACR2 and iAsIII transporter ACR3 may have in the handling of iAs, we isolated Albo-lineata PcACR2 and PcACR3 genes closely related to P. vittata PvACR2 and PvACR3. The gene expression analysis in Albo-lineata fronds revealed that the transcription of PcACR2 and PcACR3 was clearly As responsive (up to 6.5- and 45-times increase in transcript levels compared to control soil conditions, respectively). The tolerance and uptake assays in yeasts showed that PcACRs can complement corresponding As-sensitive mutations, indicating that PcACR2 and PcACR3 encode functional proteins that can perform, respectively, iAsV reduction and membrane iAsIII transport tasks in As-hyperaccumulating Albo-lineata.

A hydroponic experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) on arsenic (As) uptake and antioxidative enzymes in fronds of Pteris cretica var. nervosa (As hyperaccumulator) and Pteris ensiformis (non-hyperaccumulator). Plants were exposed to 2 mg L

Background: Although ferns possess great potential because of some interesting medicinal properties, the phytochemical potential of ferns is relatively unexplored. Due to the lack of scientific evidence to support the traditional use of fern species in Iran, the present work focuses on evaluating the phenolic content, cytotoxicity and antioxidant properties of these plants. Methods: Toxicity of extracts was assessed by the brine shrimp test. Screening of antioxidant capacity of the rhizome and aerial parts of eight fern species was carried out using DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays. The total phenol content (TPC) of the methanol extracts were determined using the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Results: Compared to podophyllotoxin (with LC50 of 30 µg/ml), Athyrium filix-femina and Pteris cretica demonstrated a significant cytotoxic activity (with LC50 of 6.1 and 15.5 µg/ml, respectively). The methanol extract of Polystichum aculeatum was found to have significant antioxidant properties with IC50 value of 0.45 ± 0.02 µg/ml. Athyrium filix-femina exhibited the strongest ABTS radical scavenging activity (29.85 ± 1.39 µmol Trolox/g plant). Conclusion: Rhizome parts generally had higher DPPH scavenging capacity and showed better ABTS scavenging activity than aerial parts. Results showed that these ferns could be used for discovery of new and biologically active natural compounds.