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Summary Pantoea agglomerans (Pa), a widespread commensal bacterium, has evolved into a host‐specific gall‐forming pathogen on gypsophila and beet by acquiring a plasmid harbouring a type III secretion system (T3SS) and effectors (T3Es). Pantoea agglomerans pv. gypsophilae (Pag) elicits galls on gypsophila and a hypersensitive response on beet, whereas P. agglomerans pv. betae (Pab) elicits galls on beet and gypsophila. HsvG and HsvB are two paralogous T3Es present in both pathovars and act as host‐specific transcription activators on gypsophila and beet, respectively. PthG and PseB are major T3Es that contribute to gall development of Pag and Pab, respectively. To establish the minimal combinations of T3Es that are sufficient to elicit gall symptoms, strains of the nonpathogenic bacteria Pseudomonas fluorescens 55, Pa 3‐1, Pa 98 and Escherichia coli, transformed with pHIR11 harbouring a T3SS, and the phytopathogenic bacteria Erwinia amylovora, Dickeya solani and Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris were transformed with the T3Es hsvG, hsvB, pthG and pseB, either individually or in pairs, and used to infect gypsophila and beet. Strikingly, all the tested nonpathogenic and phytopathogenic bacterial strains harbouring hsvG and pthG incited galls on gypsophila, whereas strains harbouring hsvB and pseB, with the exception of E. coli, incited galls on beet.

Introduction Roots of Gypsophila trichotoma Wend. (Caryophyllaceae) are rich sources of glucuronide oleanane-type triterpenoid carboxylic acid 3,28-O-bidesmosides (GOTCABs). These saponins have been reported to possess synergistic cytotoxicity in combination with type I ribosome-inactivating protein saporin. Objective To develop ultra high-performance liquid chromatography - electrospray ionisation/high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI/HRMS) acquisition strategy for the recognition of Gypsophila GOTCAB saponins. Methodology A highly-selective hydrophilic interaction UHPLC method (Si-HILIC UHPLC) was developed for the separation of GOTCAB saponins from the methanol-aqueous root extract of G. trichotoma (GTR). UHPLC was coupled to an Orbitrap mass spectrometer equipped with heated electrospray ionisation (HESI) probe. ESI-HRMS and tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) data of the separated compounds was used for saponins structure assignment. Results Based on the conformity of the fragmentation of 11 previously identified GTR saponins, 21 GOTCAB forming between two and four isobaric and positional isomers are identified with proposals for their structures. Tables with assignment of characteristic fragment ions and more than 10 newly identified saponins in GTR were described. Fragmentation rules for tentative identification of three major types of saponins from GTR were summarised and possible fragmentation pathways were proposed. Type I and II consisted of acylated and sulphated GOTCABs, respectively, while type III included acylated and sulphated saponins. The type II sulphated GOTCAB saponins were all previously not described. Conclusions The study demonstrates the potential of the coupling of highly-selective (Si)-HILIC UHPLC with HRMS and MS/MS detection for analysis and identification of triterpenoid saponins. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Depending on their specificity to gypsum, plants can be classified as gypsophiles (gypsum exclusive) and gypsovags (non-exclusive). The former may further be segregated into wide and narrow gypsophiles, depending on the breadth of their distribution area. Narrow gypsum endemics have a putative similar chemical composition to plants non-exclusive to gypsum (i.e. gypsovags), which may indicate their similar ecological strategy as stress-tolerant plant refugees on gypsum. However, this hypothesis awaits testing in different regions of the world. We compared the chemical composition of four narrow gypsum endemics, one widely distributed gypsophile and six gypsovags from Turkey. Further, we explored the plasticity in chemical composition of Turkish gypsovags growing on high- and low-gypsum content soils. Differences were explored with multivariate analyses (RDA) and mixed models (REML). Narrow gypsum endemics segregated from gypsovags in their chemical composition according to RDAs (mainly due to higher K and ash content in the former). Nevertheless, differences were small and disappeared when different nutrients were analysed individually. All the gypsovags studied accumulated more S and ash when growing on high-gypsum than on low-gypsum soils. Similar to narrow gypsum endemics from other regions of the world, most local gypsum endemics from Turkey show a similar chemical composition to gypsovags. This may indicate a shared ecological strategy as stress-tolerant plants not specifically adapted to gypsum. Nevertheless, the narrow gypsum endemic Gypsophila parva showed a chemical composition typical of gypsum specialists, indicating that various strategies are feasible within narrowly distributed gypsophiles.

Saponins are amphiphilic glycoconjugates which give soap-like foams in H2O. A new triterpenoid saponin, simenoside A (1), based on gypsogenin aglycone, and the known saponin 2 were isolated from Gypsophila simonii Hub.-Mor. The structure of the new saponin was elucidated as 3-O-ß-D-galactopyranosyl-(1›2)-[ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1›3)] -ß-D-glucuronopyranosylgypsogenin 28-O-ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1›3)- [ß-D-glucopyranosyl-(1›2)-ß-D-xylopyranosyl-(1›4)] -?-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1›2)-ß-D-fucopyranosyl ester on the basis of extensive spectral analyses and chemical evidence. Saponins 1 and 2 were isolated from G. simonii for the first time. Copyright © 2014 Verlag Helvetica Chimica Acta AG, Zürich.

Summary The virulence of the bacterium Pantoea agglomerans pv. gypsophilae (Pag) on Gypsophila paniculata depends on a type III secretion system (T3SS) and its effectors. The hypothesis that plant-derived indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) plays a major role in gall formation was examined by disrupting basipetal polar auxin transport with the specific inhibitors 2,3,5-triiodobenzoic acid (TIBA) and N-1-naphthylphthalamic acid (NPA). On inoculation with Pag, galls developed in gypsophila stems above but not below lanolin rings containing TIBA or NPA, whereas, in controls, galls developed above and below the rings. In contrast, TIBA and NPA could not inhibit tumour formation in tomato caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. The colonization of gypsophila stems by Pag was reduced below, but not above, the lanolin–TIBA ring. Following Pag inoculation and TIBA treatment, the expression of hrpL (a T3SS regulator) and pagR (a quorum-sensing transcriptional regulator) decreased four-fold and that of pthG (a T3SS effector) two-fold after 24 h. Expression of PIN2 (a putative auxin efflux carrier) increased 35-fold, 24 h after Pag inoculation. However, inoculation with a mutant in the T3SS effector pthG reduced the expression of PIN2 by two-fold compared with wild-type infection. The results suggest that pthG might govern the elevation of PIN2 expression during infection, and that polar auxin transport-derived IAA is essential for gall initiation.

In order to examine the systematic application of seed-coat micro-morphology in Gypsophila and allied genera, seed surfaces of 30 species and two varieties representing four genera of tribe Caryophylleae were examined with scanning electron microscope. The seeds of examined species range between 0.5–2.1 mm in length and 0.3–2.4 mm in diameter. The exomorphology of the seed coat shows two distinctive cell patterns. The epidermis is constructed either of elongated polygonal or of broad polygonal cells. The elongated type is the most common among the studied species, but the variation in alignment of testa cells, their size and shape as well as the density of protuberances may provide further information and useful diagnostic characters at generic and specific rank. The testa cells in Gypsophila and Saponaria are shallowly undulate, deeply undulate, lobed and armed at anticlinal walls. Deeply undulate anticlinal walls were observed in both Gypsophila and Ankyropetalum and a few species of Saponaria. Non- or indistinctly grooved anticlinal walls is the more common type in Allochrusa. Seed-coat characters support the separation of Gypsophila and Saponaria to some extent but disagree with recognition of Ankyropetalum as a genus separate from Gypsophila.

In gynodioecious plant species, females are expected to have more resources available for maturing seeds because pistillate flowers are smaller, do not produce pollen, and are thus less costly that perfect flowers. The potential female advantage arising from more abundant resources is, however, likely to vary depending on whether seed production is limited by resource or pollen availability. Here we experimentally investigated the influence of pollen and resource limitation on female advantage in a gynodioecious species using two levels of pollination. Total seed production of females was always greater than that of hermaphrodites: females produced more flowers and more fruits that contained similar numbers of seeds of similar mass. Under low pollination, female and hermaphrodite plants allocated resources to increased flower production rather than to increased seed size or quality. We did not detect any influence of pollen or resource limitation on female advantage, which remained similar under low (= abundant resources) and full pollination. Outcrossed fruits performed better than selfed fruits when the same plant received both selfed and outcrossed pollen on different flowers. These differences were not greater under high pollination, possibly because resources available for each fruit did not differ between our pollen intensity treatments.

Areas surrounding the glasshouses of 60 growers, and 16 plant markets, were surveyed in 2001/ 2003 to determine the distribution of dipterous leafminers in Lithuania, including regulated species. In total, 152 species belonging to 7 families were discovered, and the infested host plants represented 46 families. The relative frequency of Liriomyza bryoniae was 32% in the vicinity of glasshouses and 19% in market places. This species attacked plant genera such as: Amaranthus, Beta, Bryonia, Chenopodium, Cucwnis, Datura, Gypsophila, Lycopersicon, Nicandra, Nicotiana, Physalis, Petunia, Sisymbrium, Solanum, Spinacia and Viola. The same plant genera also potentially provide sites for the survival of economically important species, Liriomyza huidobrensis and Liriomyza trifolii, in Lithuania.

A leaf spot of jojoba caused by Burkholderia andropogonis is described for the first time. Symptoms ranged from necrotic flecking with comparatively large watersoaked halos to larger ‘eyespot’ lesions c. 3 mm in diameter with watersoaked halos 1–1·5 mm wide. The necrosis was light tan in colour. Isolates from jojoba displayed variable pathogenicity to other known hosts of B. andropogonis (Dianthus, Cicer, Gypsophila and sorghum), but were not pathogenic, or only weakly so, to sweetcorn, Limonium and Trifolium. Identification was confirmed by cell-wall fatty acid composition and the bacterium's possession of a single polar flagellum.

SUMMARY Pantoea agglomerans pvs. gypsophilae and betae Taxonomy: Bacteria; Proteobacteria; gamma subdivision; order Enterobacteriales; family Enterobacteriaceae; species Pantoea agglomerans. Microbiological properties: Gram-negative, non-capsulated, non-spore-forming, predominately motile rode. Disease symptoms: Gall formation at wound sites, mainly in the crown region of the stem. The host range of P. agglomerans pv. gypsophilae is restricted to Gypsophila paniculata, whereas P. agglomerans pv. betae is pathogenic on Beta vulgaris and gypsophila. Disease control: Pathogenic-free transplants and sanitation. No resistant cultivars are available. Major virulence determinants: Pathogenicity plasmid (pPATH), hrp cluster, type III virulence effectors, phytohormones.

Saponins are amphiphilic glycoconjugates which give soap-like foams in H2 O. A new triterpenoid saponin, simenoside A (1), based on gypsogenin aglycone, and the known saponin 2 were isolated from Gypsophila simonii Hub.-Mor. The structure of the new saponin was elucidated as 3-O-β-D-galactopyranosyl-(1→2)-[β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→3)]-β-D-glucuronopyranosylgypsogenin 28-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→3)-[β-D-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-xylopyranosyl-(1→4)]-α-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-D-fucopyranosyl ester on the basis of extensive spectral analyses and chemical evidence. Saponins 1 and 2 were isolated from G. simonii for the first time.

The anther smut fungus Microbotryum violaceum ( = Ustilago violacea) is a parasite of many species of the Caryophyllaceae. Its host specificity has been debated since early this century, when cross-inoculation experiments indicated the existence of host-specific lineages. Recently, on the basis of spore ultrastructure, all presumed host races were lumped within M. violaceum. To measure gene flow among natural populations of anther smuts from different host species, we used microsatellite variation at 5 loci among samples from 8 Silene, 2 Saponaria, 2 Dianthus and 1 Gypsophila species. Most of the 326 M. violaceum samples investigated originated from the Swiss Alps and close surroundings. Microsatellite variation revealed almost perfect isolation among anther smut fungi from different host species. In addition, differentiation was supported by the nonrandom distribution of null alleles among samples from different host species and host genera. Null alleles were most abundant in anther smut samples from non-Silene hosts. The resolution of genetic differentiation among anther smuts from different host species was highest in those from Silene species. Genetic relationships among samples as indicated by Neighbour-Joining analysis based on genetic distances are discussed with respect to host phylogeny and host ecology. One sample was identified as Ustilago gausseni because it had verrucose instead of reticulate spores and was collected from Silene italica. Neighbour-Joining analysis revealed that this sample was similar to the M. violaceum samples from other Silene host species. Therefore, our data question spore morphology as a reliable character for anther smut systematics.

The volatile leaf oils of Eucalyptus yilgarnensis (Maiden) Brooker, E. gracilis F. Muell., E. quadrans Brooker & Hopper, E. calygocona Turcz. var. calygocona, E. celastroides Turcz subsp. celastroides, E. celastroides Turcz. subsp. virella Brooker. E. myriadena Brooker, E. aequioperta Brooker & Hopper, E. cylindrocarpa Blakely, E. ovularis Maiden & Blakely, E. cyclostoma Brooker, E. rigens Brooker & Hopper, E. famelica Brooker & Hopper, E. striaticalyx W. Fitzg. subsp. striaticalyx, E. striaticalyx W. Fitzg. subsp. gypsophila D. Nicolle, E. striaticalyx W. Fitzg. subsp. beadellii D. Nicolle, E. striaticalyx W. Fitzg. subsp. canescens D. Nicolle, E. ‘species U’, E. ‘aff. pileata’ (Eyre Peninsular form), isolated by vacuum distillation, were analysed by GC and by GC–MS. Many species contained α-pinene (0.08–33.1%), limonene (0–3.6%), 1,8-cineole (2.6–86.1%), p-cymene (0.3–14.2%), pinocarvone (0–9.0%), aromadendrene (0–29.9%), allo-aromadendrene (0–2.5%), trans-pinocarveol (0–22.0%), globulol (0.07–6.6%), spathulenol (0.07–8.0%) and torquatone (0.06–3.0%) as principal leaf oil components. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A small prostrate herb, Euphorbia salsicola, a woody shrublet with curious tubers, E. scatorhiza, and a small tree with decorative bracts, E. thulinii, are described as new species of Euphorbia. Within subgenus Lyciopsis the morphological variability of E. cuneata in Somalia is discussed and a new subspecies cretacea is described. E. gypsophila, a closely related but distinct species found only on gypsum is also described as new, together with E. dunensis, a shrublet from the coastal dunes and E. tripartita, another shrub in the same subgenus related to E. matabelensis. As far as present records show, all the new taxa are endemic in Somalia.

A 7.5-kb DNA fragment carrying genes for indole acetic acid biosynthesis in Erwinia herbicola pv. gypsophilae was used as a DNA probe to detect gall-forming E. herbicola strains. A quick colony hybridization procedure was developed to detect E. herbicola pv. gypsophilae in cuttings of gypsophila, and was compared with ELISA and pathogenicity tests. The sensitivity of the colony hybridization procedure was sufficient to detect less than 100 colony-forming units after enrichment culture. In mixed cultures, with saprophytes associated with the gypsophila plant, about 104 CFU/ml of the pathogen were detectable. The colony hybridization is specific to gall-forming E. herbicola strains, and is relatively easy to perform. The advantages of using the colony hybridization procedure for practical purposes, compared with ELISA and pathogenicity tests, are discussed.

This work was undertaken at the suggestion of Dr. J. Lanjouw and Dr. F. P. Jonker. The citation heading this paragraph indicates that the group of Caryophyllaceae with which it deals, presents unusual taxonomic difficulties. At first, it was intended to restrict the revision to the genus Gypsophila. However, in the course of the work it was realized that the small genera Bolanthus, Ankyropetalum and Phryna could not be left out of account as they had been regarded by some authors as subdivisions of Gypsophila and by others as near relatives of this genus. For this reason a complete revision of these genera too was included. The only previous revision of Gypsophila is that published by Williams (1889). His study, largely based on data derived from the literature, includes 76 species i.e. about 3/5th of the number recognized here. His views on the generic limits were strongly influenced by those expressed by BENTHAM in BENTHAM and HOOKER’s Genera Plantarum 1 (1862). Later authors did not follow him in this respect, and generally preferred BOISSIER’s delimitation (1867), so e.g. PAX and HOFFMANN in the 2nd Edition of ENGLER und PRANTL, Planzenfam. (1934). PAX had already accepted this delimitation in the first edition (1889).

A B S T R A C T A new genus Strotheria, containing the single species S. gypsophila, has been described from a locality in north-central Mexico. It is relatively common on gypsum soils at this site, along with several other gypseous endemics. The genus is presumably related to Dyssodia but differs in having succulent, non-glandular foliage and only four florets per head. Its chromosome

A B S T R A C T A rayless, diploid (n = 4), shrubby, new species of Maclzaeranthera is described from gypsum dunes near Cuatro Cienegas, Coahuila. It is most closely related to M. johnstonii, another rayless, shrubby, endemic gypsophile of this region. Machaeranthera restiformis often occurs with the wide-ranging, white-rayed species, M. gypsophila (n = 4) with which it occasionally hybridizes.

Gypsophila cut flowers were fumigated with methyl bromide against Liriomyza trifolii. Complete control was obtained at a dose of 40 g/m3 methyl bromide, for 3 h at 15–18°C. To get satisfactory results without injuring the flowers they had to be conditioned at the above temperature for 6 h prior to fumigation.