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Artificial grasslands of F. kryloviana in the region surrounding Qinghai Lake have been observed to a decline in productivity following three years of establishment. Traditional fertilization practices, aimed at maintaining ecological balance, have predominantly focused on the application of phosphorus. However, it remains unclear whether phosphorus fertilizers offer a superior advantage over nitrogen fertilizers in sustaining productivity. Consequently, from 2017 to 2019, we conducted an experimental to assess the impact of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilization on forage yield and quality. We designed with four levels of phosphorus and two levels of nitrogen, resulting in eight distinct fertilizer combinations. Our experimental findings indicate that the degradation of artificial grasslands leads to a shift in the allocation pattern of aboveground biomass. There was a respective decrease of 68.2 % and 62.5 % in the biomass proportions of stems and ears, contrasted by a greater than 200 % increase in the biomass proportion of leaves. The application of nitrogen not only elevated the total aboveground biomass but also promoted a preferential allocation of biomass to stems and leaves, consequently enhancing the forage's crude protein content. Nitrogen fertilization significantly increased aboveground biomass, and crude protein content by 63.21 %, and 6 %, respectively. Phosphorus fertilization's impact varied annually but favored the distribution of biomass to stems and ears. The net photosynthetic rate improved by over 53.12 % with fertilizer application, although the differences among treatments were not statistically significant. The balanced application of nitrogen and phosphorus fertilizers significantly bolstered the aboveground biomass, ear biomass, stem biomass, leaf biomass, and crude protein content in varying years by 17.25 %–209.83 %, 34.7 %–438.9 %, 25.5 %–250.2 %, 18.4 %–133.3 %, and 10.21 %–25.62 %, respectively. Our analysis revealed that nitrogen-only fertilization exhibited the most optimal fertilizer use efficiency and economic returns. In conclusion, nitrogen fertilization is crucial for sustaining the productivity and quality of F. kryloviana artificial grasslands. The local practice of 75 kg ha−1 phosphorus fertilizer is detrimental to the maintenance of productivity in F. kryloviana artificial grasslands. This study offers valuable insights into the optimization of fertilization strategies for sustainable forage production within alpine regions.

The bioecological characteristics of plants determine their status and role in the community. The advantages of dominant species in the community compared with companion species in terms of physiological and ecological characteristics remain unclear. When both dominant and companion species in grassland plant communities are clonal, these plants are able to share resources within clones (physiological integration). However, it is unclear how the clonal dominant and companion species differ in the effect of their physiological integration on sexual reproduction. We chose Leymus chinensis, the dominant species of the most widespread meadow plant communities in the semiarid and arid regions of northern China, and its main companion species L. secalinus, Calamagrostis ripidula, C. pseudophragmites, and C. epigeios and conducted a series of in situ field experiments in a homogeneous environment, including the determination of the phenotypic characteristics of reproductive ramets with connected (allowing physiological integration) and disconnected (preventing integration) tillering nodes for each species, as well as 15N leaf labeling of ramet pairs at the milk-ripe stage. In the clonal populations of the five grasses, physiological integration between vegetative ramets and reproductive ramets interconnected by tillering nodes significantly increased the leaf, stem, inflorescence and ramet biomasses of reproductive ramets, and relative changes in ramet biomass were greatest in L. chinensis. 15N labeling showed that vegetative ramets supplied nutrients to reproductive ramets through tillering nodes; the amount of translocated 15N per unit of reproductive ramet biomass was highest in L. chinensis. Overall, our results indicate that in the five clonal grasses, physiological integration between functionally different ramets under tillering node connections had a significant positive effect on sexual reproduction, indicating interspecific consistency in the contribution of physiological integration to sexual reproduction between the dominant and companion species, but this positive effect was greater in the dominant species L. chinensis than in the four main companion species. Therefore, differences in the physiological integration ability between the dominant and main companion species, identified for the first time in this study, may explain, at least partly, the dominance of L. chinensis in the community. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panax ginseng Meyer is one of Asia's most popular medicinal plants, with triterpene saponins as principal bioactive compounds. The present study investigates the possibility of ginseng cultivation in Lahaul & Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India in the Western Himalayas focusing on growth characteristics, and ginsenoside content in the roots. Plant growth parameters increased with an increase in the crop age and reached maximum maturity at the age of five years along with the production of a good amount of seeds and roots. Root fresh and dry weight of the five-year-old plant was 142.6 g and 45.5 g, respectively, which almost doubled as compared with the four-year-old plant. The HPLC analysis of P. ginseng roots leads to the identification of 14 compounds representing 31.81 ± 2.89 mg/g of total ginsenoside contents, where Rb1, Rg2 and Re were found to be major ginsenosides with 7.53 ± 0.37, 7.04 ± 0.61 and 3.77 ± 0.26 mg/g content. Protopanaxadiol (PPD) and protopanaxatriol (PPT) represent the major classes of ginsenosides present in the ginseng roots with a 0.98 ratio of PPD/PPT. Our studies revealed that the soil and climate of the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh State in the Western Himalayas are suitable for the cultivation of P. ginseng with good content of ginsenosides in five-year-old roots.

To examine the effect of turmeric extract (TE) on the growth, feed and nutrient utilization, coloration, hematology, and expression of immunity genes in goldfish (Carassius auratus), a 10-week feeding trial was conducted. Goldfish (7.56 ± 0.01 g/fish) were subjected to four feeding treatments using diets containing 0 (control group, TE0), 1, 2, and 3 g/kg (TE1 – TE3, respectively) of TE. Dietary TE supplementation did not significantly affect growth performance measured every two weeks (∼ 1 g/week weight gain), feed intake, or nutrient utilization but significantly increased the value of a* in the head, abdominal, and tail regions. The TE3 group had significantly higher total carotenoids in serum compared to other groups. Also, TE supplementation increased the total carotenoid content in the fin, skin, and liver with significant differences between TE0 vs. TE3 and TE2 groups. Moreover, dietary supplementation of TE increased white and red blood cells, total protein, albumin, and globulin with linear and/or quadratic effects. LDL-cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly decreased by increasing TE supplementation with the opposite tendencies in HDL-cholesterol levels. Lysozyme and IL-10 transcripts were significantly increased in the TE supplemented groups. Conversely, IL-1β transcript levels were significantly decreased in the liver by TE supplementation, and no significant differences were observed for HSP70 gene expression among all tested groups. Plasma glucose and cortisol levels were linearly decreased in all TE groups, and a quadratic effect was observed for plasma glucose levels. Taken together, the results of this study indicate that supplementing 2–3 g/kg of TE in diets could improve coloration, strengthen immunity, and alleviate stress in goldfish.

Panax ginseng Meyer is one of Asia's most popular medicinal plants, with triterpene saponins as principal bioactive compounds. The present study investigates the possibility of ginseng cultivation in Lahaul & Spiti, Himachal Pradesh, India in the Western Himalayas focusing on growth characteristics, and ginsenoside content in the roots. Plant growth parameters increased with an increase in the crop age and reached maximum maturity at the age of five years along with the production of a good amount of seeds and roots. Root fresh and dry weight of the five-year-old plant was 142.6 g and 45.5 g, respectively, which almost doubled as compared with the four-year-old plant. The HPLC analysis of P. ginseng roots leads to the identification of 14 compounds representing 31.81 ± 2.89 mg/g of total ginsenoside contents, where Rb1, Rg2 and Re were found to be major ginsenosides with 7.53 ± 0.37, 7.04 ± 0.61 and 3.77 ± 0.26 mg/g content. Protopanaxadiol (PPD) and protopanaxatriol (PPT) represent the major classes of ginsenosides present in the ginseng roots with a 0.98 ratio of PPD/PPT. Our studies revealed that the soil and climate of the Lahaul and Spiti district of Himachal Pradesh State in the Western Himalayas are suitable for the cultivation of P. ginseng with good content of ginsenosides in five-year-old roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hordeum jubatum is a salt tolerant forage, which plays an important role in improving saline-alkali land and animal husbandry alkali-saline grassland. Hordeum jubatum has been gradually domesticated as an ornamental grass due to its special flower color. However, no domesticated varieties of H. jubatum plant have been reported worldwide. This study reported the complete chloroplast genome of wild H. jubatum, which was 136,871 bp in length, containing a pair of inverted repeats (IRA/IRB) of 21,608 bp separated by a small single-copy (SSC) area region of 12,799 bp and the large single-copy (LSC) region of 80,856 bp. A total of 133 genes, including 85 protein-coding genes (79 PCG species), 40 transfer RNA genes (32 tRNA species), and eight ribosomal RNA genes (four rRNA species) were predicted from the chloroplast genomes. The overall GC content was 38.25%, and the corresponding values of the LSC, SSC, and IR were 36.22%, 32.15%, and 43.85%, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis showed that wild H. jubatum was clustered closely with Hordeum bogdanii.

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

Ophiorrhiza caudata is a creeping, perennial herb distributed along wet and shady areas. The species is distylous with two distinct floral morphs: pin and thrum. Flowering usually occurs during the monsoon season. No particular difference was noticed in the flowering phenology of the two morphs. Presently the species is self-incompatible, however, it shows a tendency towards intramorph compatibility. Fruit set is above 60% in open pollination and intermorph pollination. Bees and butterflies are the major pollinators. The pollen flow between the two floral morphs varies depending upon floral morphology and pollinators. Fruit is a bi-valved capsule which dehisces by a splashing drop mechanism. The seeds are very minute. The rate of seed germination and seedling establishment in the wild condition is very poor due to adverse climatic factors. Ophiorrhiza caudata is struggling for survival in its natural habitat, where habitat fragmentation, climatic factors and poor seedling establishment could account for its narrow distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual reproduction is vital for population adaptation in clonal plants. The flag leaf is considered to be the primary contributor to sexual reproduction in cereal crops, and there is no unified conclusion on the effect of the number of vegetative ramets on grain yield. However, what effects of the flag leaf and the number of vegetative ramets on sexual reproductive performance of clonal grasses are largely unknown. To test this, under field natural conditions, we grew the rhizomatous grass Leymus chinensis in a homogeneous environment and conducted studies concerning the growth, reproduction and physiology of reproductive ramets in clonal populations. We measured the growth characteristics of different aged leaves, dynamically measured the net photosynthetic rate of different aged leaves and organ biomass, measured the sexual reproductive characteristics of reproductive ramets that had different numbers of connecting vegetative ramets, and performed isotope (15N) labeling of ramet pairs at the seed-filling stage. In L. chinensis clonal populations, from the heading stage, the photosynthetic contribution of the functional leaves to seed production was much greater than that of the flag leaf; the photosynthetic capacity of both the functional leaves and the flag leaf all gradually declined. Vegetative ramets translocated their own resources to the connected reproductive ramets, and a large proportion of translocated resources were allocated to the leaf and stem to sustain life activities; increase in the number of connecting vegetative ramets increased floret number, seed number, seed-setting rate, inflorescence biomass, seed biomass, and reproductive allocation of reproductive ramets, and these parameters significantly and positively correlated with the biomass of connecting vegetative ramets. We conclude that the functional leaf rather than the flag leaf of L. chinensis is the primary contributor to seed production. Reproductive ramets adopt a strategy of growth first and reproduction later to allocate the translocated resources between the organs, but vegetative ramets are very advantageous for sexual reproduction under the tillering node connection form in L. chinensis. Overall, our study implies that vegetative ramets not only play an important role in the spatial expansion but also in the sexual reproduction of clonal plant populations.

High-mountain ecosystems are biodiversity hotspots, providing habitats that shelter a great variety of unique species. Climate change is increasing the severity and recurrence of drought events, potentially endangering many species. We studied the distribution of a monocarpic perennial plant, Saxifraga longifolia and evaluated altitudinal changes in leaf physiological performance, with a particular emphasis on trade-offs and drought vulnerability in nine natural populations. Drought vulnerability of the studied populations covering almost the entire distribution range of the species was considered taking into account both ecological and physiological markers. The distribution of S. longifolia outside the Pyrenees was limited to the high eastern and North-west mountains of the Iberian Peninsula, constituting geographically highly isolated populations. We found that trade-offs between the activation of defense responses against abiotic and biotic stresses occur in this species, with populations occurring at high elevation showing less sensitivity to drought stress but higher endogenous contents of biotic defensive compounds. Furthermore, drought stress appeared to be a key factor in the distribution of this species, with populations growing at lowest elevations being the most exposed to the potential negative effects of climate change. It is concluded that, despite S. longifolia has developed complex mechanisms to adapt to the harsh environmental conditions of high-mountain ecosystems, global change is threatening its survival, most particularly in the regions most exposed to drought events.

To understand how the environment drives spatial variation in population dynamics, we need to assess the effects of a large number of potential drivers on vital rates (survival, growth, and reproduction) and explore these relationships over large geographical areas and broad environmental gradients. In this study, we examined the effects of a wide variety of abiotic and biotic environmental factors on the demography of the forest understory herb Actaea spicata between 2017 and 2019 at 40 sites across Sweden, including the northern range margin of its distribution. We assessed the effects of potential environmental drivers on vital rates using generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs) and then quantified the impact of each important driver on population growth rate (λ) using integral projection models (IPMs). Population dynamics of A. spicata were mostly driven by environmental factors affecting survival and growth, such as air humidity, soil depth, and forest tree species composition, and thus, those drivers jointly determined the realized niche of the species. Soil pH had a strong effect on the flowering probability, while the effect on λ was relatively small. In addition to identifying specific drivers for A. spicata's population dynamics, our study illustrates the impact that spatial variation in environmental conditions can have on λ. Assessing the effects of a broad range of potential drivers, as done in this study, is important not only to quantify the relative importance of different drivers for population dynamics but also to understand species distributions and abundance patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sexual reproduction is vital for population adaptation in clonal plants. The flag leaf is considered to be the primary contributor to sexual reproduction in cereal crops, and there is no unified conclusion on the effect of the number of vegetative ramets on grain yield. However, what effects of the flag leaf and the number of vegetative ramets on sexual reproductive performance of clonal grasses are largely unknown. To test this, under field natural conditions, we grew the rhizomatous grass Leymus chinensis in a homogeneous environment and conducted studies concerning the growth, reproduction and physiology of reproductive ramets in clonal populations. We measured the growth characteristics of different aged leaves, dynamically measured the net photosynthetic rate of different aged leaves and organ biomass, measured the sexual reproductive characteristics of reproductive ramets that had different numbers of connecting vegetative ramets, and performed isotope (15N) labeling of ramet pairs at the seed-filling stage. In L. chinensis clonal populations, from the heading stage, the photosynthetic contribution of the functional leaves to seed production was much greater than that of the flag leaf; the photosynthetic capacity of both the functional leaves and the flag leaf all gradually declined. Vegetative ramets translocated their own resources to the connected reproductive ramets, and a large proportion of translocated resources were allocated to the leaf and stem to sustain life activities; increase in the number of connecting vegetative ramets increased floret number, seed number, seed-setting rate, inflorescence biomass, seed biomass, and reproductive allocation of reproductive ramets, and these parameters significantly and positively correlated with the biomass of connecting vegetative ramets. We conclude that the functional leaf rather than the flag leaf of L. chinensis is the primary contributor to seed production. Reproductive ramets adopt a strategy of growth first and reproduction later to allocate the translocated resources between the organs, but vegetative ramets are very advantageous for sexual reproduction under the tillering node connection form in L. chinensis. Overall, our study implies that vegetative ramets not only play an important role in the spatial expansion but also in the sexual reproduction of clonal plant populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endophytes are unknown symbionts that live in plant tissues without indicating their presence. The association of endophytes with plants is well established. They not only help in water and mineral uptake but also play an important role in metabolic activities of certain plants. Other nature of endophytes is to ensure defense mechanism in plants from external forces such as mammals and birds. In present investigation about endophytes in plants, Alternanthera pungens Kunth a prostrate perennial herb commonly available along the road side forming mat like appearance was selected. It belongs to family Amarathaceae of angiosperm. Traditionally the herb is used to cure measles, headache and abdominal pain. Isolates from root, stem and leaves showed the presence of endophytes. Fungal strains like Aspergillus spp, Colletorichum spp, Alternaria spp, Fusarium spp was isolated from leaf and stem region of the herb. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aims Monocarpic plants are those that flower, produce seeds and then die. Although most monocarpic plants are annual or biennial, some of them are perennial. However, relatively little is known regarding the biology of monocarpic perennials. Pyrenean saxifrage (Saxifraga longifolia) is a monocarpic perennial that is well adapted to high-mountain ecosystems. Here, we evaluated altitudinal changes in clonality in various populations growing in their natural habitat with particular emphasis on the physiological costs of clonal growth. Methods We assessed the percentage of clonal plants in nine populations growing in their natural habitat, as well as the plant stress response of clonal and non-clonal plants, in terms of photoprotection and accumulation of stress-related phytohormones, in a 3-year study at Las Blancas (2100 m a.s.l.). We also evaluated the influence of plant size on the activation of defensive responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. Key Results We found that 12 % of Pyrenean saxifrage plants growing at the highest altitudes (2100 m a.s.l.) produced lateral rosettes which survived the flowering of the main rosette and shared the same axonomorphic root, thus escaping monocarpic senescence. This clonal growth did not worsen the physiological performance of plants growing at this altitude. Furthermore, increased plant size did not negatively affect the physiology of plants, despite adjustments in endogenous stress-related phytohormones. In contrast, maturity led to rapid physiological deterioration of the rosette, which was associated with monocarpic senescence. Conclusions This study shows that the evolution of clonality has allowed Pyrenean saxifrage to survive harsh environmental conditions and it provides evidence that harsh environments push plant species to their limits in terms of life form and longevity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hordeum jubatum is a salt tolerant forage, which plays an important role in improving saline-alkali land and animal husbandry alkali-saline grassland. Hordeum jubatum has been gradually domesticated as an ornamental grass due to its special flower color. However, no domesticated varieties of H. jubatum plant have been reported worldwide. This study reported the complete chloroplast genome of wild H. jubatum, which was 136,871 bp in length, containing a pair of inverted repeats (IRA/IRB) of 21,608 bp separated by a small single-copy (SSC) area region of 12,799 bp and the large single-copy (LSC) region of 80,856 bp. A total of 133 genes, including 85 protein-coding genes (79 PCG species), 40 transfer RNA genes (32 tRNA species), and eight ribosomal RNA genes (four rRNA species) were predicted from the chloroplast genomes. The overall GC content was 38.25%, and the corresponding values of the LSC, SSC, and IR were 36.22%, 32.15%, and 43.85%, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis showed that wild H. jubatum was clustered closely with Hordeum bogdanii. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise Polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed as a tool for genetic investigations of Filipendula vulgaris (Rosaceae) and related species. Methods and Results Seventeen new polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for F. vulgaris using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Polymorphism of the 17 loci was tested in three populations. We identified a total of 203 alleles, ranging from four to 19 per locus, with levels of observed and expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.267 to 1.000 and 0.461 to 0.899, respectively. Primers were also tested for cross‐amplification in three related species. Seven loci successfully cross‐amplified in F. camtschatica and F. ulmaria, whereas we detected positive cross‐amplification in only three loci in Geum urbanum. Conclusions The newly developed microsatellite primers will serve as useful genetic tools for further population genetic studies on F. vulgaris and related species.

Premise Microsatellite markers were developed in the federally endangered species Liatris helleri (Asteraceae) to evaluate species boundaries with closely related congeners within the genus. Methods and Results Using Illumina data, 17 primer pairs were developed in populations of L. helleri. The primers amplified motifs from tri‐ to hexanucleotide repeats with one to 17 alleles per locus. Primers were also tested for cross‐amplification in L. aspera, L. microcephala, and L. pycnostachya. Conclusions The developed primers for L. helleri serve as a novel genetic tool for future investigations in this genus, allowing for more explicit species delineation as well as population genetic analyses.

Clonal plants usually reproduce asexually through vegetative propagation and sexually by producing seeds. Physiological integration, the translocation of essential resources between ramets, usually improves vegetative reproduction. However, how physiological integration affects sexual reproduction has been less studied in clonal grasses. Here, we chose Hierochloe glabra, a major early spring forage of the eastern Eurasian steppe, and conducted a series of field experiments, including sampling reproductive ramets connected by tillering nodes to different numbers of vegetative ramets and 15N leaf labeling of ramet pairs at the seed-filling stage. In the natural populations of H. glabra, vegetative ramets were taller, had more and larger leaves, and greater biomass than reproductive ramets. Except for reproductive ramet biomass, sexual reproductive characteristics significantly increased with an increase in the number and biomass of vegetative ramets connected to tillering nodes. 15N labeling showed that vegetative ramets supplied nutrients to reproductive ramets through tillering nodes. Overall, our results indicate that significant differences in morphological characteristics and biomass allocation underlie resources translocation from vegetative ramets towards reproductive ramets. Physiological integration between different functional ramets can increase sexual reproductive performance, which will be beneficial to population persistence in H. glabra.

The sand-fixation of plants is considered to be the most effective and fundamental measure in desertification control in many arid and semi-arid regions. Carex brunnescens ( Carex spp) and Leymus secalinus (Leymus), two perennial clonal herbs native to the Maqu degraded alpine areas of northwest China, are dominant and constructive species in active sand dunes that have excellent adaptability to fix sand dunes found to date. In order to study the ability and mechanism of sandland blowout remediation by two clone plants C. brunnescens and L. secalinus, the artificially emulated blowouts were set up in the populations of two clonal plants in the field. The results showed that both C. brunnescens and L. secalinus produced more new ramets in the artificially emulated blowouts than in the natural conditions, suggesting that the two clonal plants had strong ability in blowouts remediation; while the biomass, number of leaves and height of new ramets in the artificially emulated blowouts were less than in the natural conditions due to the restriction of poor nutrients in the artificially emulated blowouts. The ability of blowouts remediation by C. brunnescens was stronger than L. secalinus, as it generated more new ramets than L. secalinus in the process of blowouts remediation. The new ramets of L. secalinus in the blowouts remediation were mainly generated by the buds in the rhizomes which spread from outside of the blowouts; while those of C. brunnescens were generated both by the buds in the rhizomes which spread from outside, and by the buds in the rhizomes inside which were freed from dormancy in the deeper soil under wind erosion conditions. These findings suggest that through rapid clonal expansion capability, C. brunnescens and L. secalinus exhibited strong ability in blowouts remediation which can be one of the most effective strategies to restore and reconstruct degraded vegetations in Maqu alpine areas of northwest China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bunium persicum(BOISS)B.Fedtsch belonging to family Apiaceae is native to the region of the limited zones of the West Asia, Kherman and grows to the areas of North Khorasan and Kheraman, East of the Zagros range to Bandar Abbaas and south area of the Albroz range in Iran. It is also found in North western parts of Himalayas. Bunium persicum is found growing naturally in sub-alpine and alpine habitats of North Western Himalayas. It is a perennial herb, dwarf 30cm to tall 80cm and its flowers are small, white in color. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of five planting distances in morphoagronomic variables of Moringa oleifera Lam. The work was conducted in areas of the Agricultural Research Institute "Jorge Dimitrov", the municipality Bayamo, Granma province, Cuba, on the period from November to February of 2014-2015, respectively. A design of randomized blocks with three replications was used. Five treatments were evaluated with consistent planting distances; the cut was made at 10 cm above the floor every fortnight. Significant effects (p<0.05) between treatments, plant height and number of shoots/plants where planting distances significantly increased the number of bolters/plants (p<0.05) were found with averages of five and three in the major and minor planting distance respectively. Planting distances used influenced the morphoagronomic indicators of Moringa oleifera vc. Super Genium. Biomass yield decreased significantly (p<0.05) with increasing distance from planting 7 t/ha with the 10 cm x 10 cm, up to 2 t/ha with 20 cm x 20 cm treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elytraria acaulis (L.f.) Lindau (family Acanthaceae) is a perennial herb that is distributed in tropical Africa and Peninsular India. In India, this plant has been recorded from Northern Circar, Deccan, and Carnatic regions, on the eastern side of Peninsular India. We present here a new record from the Walayar Reserve Forest in Palakkad District, Kerala, which is the first known occurrence of this species from the western side of the peninsula. This species is added to the flora of Kerala state. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Se estudió la estrategia reproductiva de Hypoxis decumbens L. (Hypoxidaceae), una hierba perenne con flores hermafroditas, para comprobar las relaciones que se establecen entre sistema reproductivo, forma de vida, ambiente, sistema de polinización y otros caracteres morfológicos y ecológicos. H. decumbens es una especie altamente autógama, que presenta depresión por entrecruzamiento debido a la adaptación de los genotipos autógamos a su ambiente. Los principales polinizadores fueron insectos generalistas como los dípteros. Presentó flores funcionalmente solitarias, actinomórficas, con las partes florales bien expuestas, todas a la misma altura, y anteras de dehiscencia introrsa. La asignación de biomasa fue básicamente hacia estructuras femeninas, como frutos y semillas, lo que se reflejó en una alta eficiencia reproductiva. La relación polen/óvulo fue baja, lo mismo que la relación biomasa de atracción/biomasa de soporte. La unidad de dispersión fue la semilla y el síndrome de dispersión asociado fue la mirmecocoría. En esta especie se presenta un sistema reproductivo mixto, y aunque la mayor proporción de progenie es autógama, no sacrifica la oportunidad de entrecruzarse.The reproductive strategy of Hypoxis decumbens L. (Hypoxidaceae), a perennial herb with hermaphroditic flowers, was studied to check the relations between reproductive system, life form, habitat, pollination system and other morphological and ecological features. The study was done in a secondary deciduous forest with a population of 150-200 plants. Controlled pollinations were done in twenty isolated plants. The results pointed out that H. decumbens is an autogamous species, with outbreeding depression apparently reflecting environmental adaptation of the autogamous genotypes. The main pollinators were generalist insects, like dipterans. It has functionally solitary and actinomorphic flowers, with well exposed floral parts, displayed approximately at the same height, and with inner and before anthesis dehiscence of the anthers. The biomass allocation was mainly to female structures, like fruits and seeds, which was reflected in a low male-female biomass ratio, and in high fruit and seed set. The pollen-ovule and the attraction-support biomass ratios were low, associated with autogamous species, which have reliable pollination. The dispersal unit is the seed and the dispersal syndrome is myrmecochory, with the infructescence prostrate over the soil, the fruit with gradual dehiscence and with lipid droplets and placental remains (also with lipid content) in the seed coat. This species has several structural and functional attributes that sustain a mixed mating system and, although the results indicate that most of the progeny is autogamous; it does not sacrifice the opportunity for out-crossing.

In animals, age-associated disorders are believed to be connected to shifts in the antioxidant/pro-oxidant balance in favour of oxidative stress. However, the contribution of oxidative stress to ageing in long-lived perennials has not been explored to date., Here, we tested age- and sex-related changes in several photo-oxidative stress markers in Borderea pyrenaica, a small dioecious geophyte relict of the Tertiary with one of the longest life spans ever recorded for a non-clonal herb (more than 300 years). Given that survival increases with age in B. pyrenaica, we hypothesized that oxidative stress does not increase with ageing because the species develops improved anti-oxidant defence., In three field samplings performed during 2008, 2010 and 2011 in the Central Pyrenees ( NE Spain), we examined the effects of ageing and sex on photosynthetic pigment levels, PSII integrity ( F v /F m ratio), lipid peroxidation, and the extent of photo and anti-oxidant protection in chloroplasts. Furthermore, we explored whether age and sex affect plant response to severe natural desiccation., Both male and female plants maintained chlorophyll levels intact, as well as the F v/ F m ratio and the levels of lipid peroxidation, irrespective of age. This finding suggests the absence of age-associated oxidative stress at the organismal level. Furthermore, photoprotection mechanisms were found to be similarly efficient in the oldest individuals as in juvenile plants, in terms of xanthophyll cycle de-epoxidation and accumulation of low-molecular-weight antioxidants (carotenoids and tocopherols). Indeed, females over 100 years of age were the most resistant to severe desiccation, maintaining higher leaf hydration levels, less chlorophyll degradation and better PSII integrity under stress than females below 100 years, males below or above 100 years, and juveniles., Synthesis. Neither males nor females of the extraordinarily long-lived B. pyrenaica show age-dependent signs of oxidative stress. This observation suggests that age-induced oxidative stress is not a universal feature of ageing in perennial plants. Indeed, females older than 100 years showed signs of negative senescence, in that they registered improved physiological performance with increasing age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

* Premise of the study: Using genomic shotgun 454 sequencing, 50 candidate microsatellite markers were targeted for the arctic--alpine polyploid perennial herb Bistorta vivipara to distinguish between individual genets and ramets within a population. * Methods and Results: Out of the 50 markers, 31 were polymorphic for seven test samples. We have developed a multiplex protocol for 16 of these microsatellite markers. * Conclusions: Our results show that the microsatellite markers provide a powerful tool for the research on genetic variation of B. vivipara. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is still an unsolved question of fundamental biology if, and how, perennial plants senesce. Here, age- and sex-related changes in phytohormones were tested in Borderea pyrenaica, a small dioecious geophyte relict of the Tertiary with one of the longest lifespan ever recorded for any non-clonal herb (more than 300 years). Biomass allocation, together with levels of cytokinins, auxins and absicisic acid, and other indicators of leaf physiology (chlorophylls, lipid peroxidation and F/ F ratio) were measured in juvenile and mature plants, including both males and females of three age classes (up to 50 years, 50-100 years, and over 100 years). Plants maintained intact capacity of their vegetative growth and reproductive potential. Cytokinin levels decreased with age, but only in females. Such sex-related differences, however, were not associated with symptoms of physiological deterioration in leaves, but with an increased reproductive effort in females. It is concluded that B. pyrenaica does not show clear signs of senescence at the organism level. Altered cytokinin levels in females were associated with their reproductive effort, rather than to a degenerative process. The alternate use of five meristematic points in the tuber could explain the extraordinary longevity of this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Negative effects of habitat fragmentation on individual performance have been widely documented, but relatively little is known about how simultaneous effects on multiple vital rates translate into effects on population viability in long-lived species. In this study, we examined relationships between population size, individual growth, survival and reproduction, and population growth rate in the perennial plant Phyteuma spicatum. Population size positively affected the growth of seedlings, the survival of juveniles, the proportion of adults flowering, and potential seed production. Analyses with integral projection models, however, showed no relationship between population size and population, growth rate. This was due to the fact that herbivores and pathogens eliminated the relationship between population size and seed production, and that population growth rate was not sensitive to changes in the vital rates that varied with population size. We conclude that effects of population size on vital rates must not translate into effects on population growth rate, and that populations of long-lived -organisms may partly be able to buffer negative effects of small population size on vital rates that have a relatively small influence on population growth rate. Our study illustrates that we need to be cautious when assessing the consequences of habitat fragmentation for population viability based on effects on only one or a few vital rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on 13 years of monitoring, the fates of individuals and contributions of size and age to demography through the life-history from seedling to flower were investigated in a monocarpic perennial herb, Cardiocrinum cordatum (Thunb.) Makino var. glehnii (F. Schmidt) H. Hara. Of 6155 seedlings, 5264 (85.5%) and 852 (13.8%) plants died at the seedling and one-leaf stage during the 13 years, respectively. Twelve individuals (0.40%) at the three- to seven-leaf stage reproduced after vegetative growth for 7–11 years, and all of them always showed constant positive growth patterns. Significant differences of sizes were detected between surviving and non-surviving individuals in earlier years at the one- and two-leaf stages. Logistic regression models showed that the survival and stage-increase probabilities increased until 5-years-old but decreased over 6-years-old, suggesting the significance of aging effects. At the four-leaf stage, the flowering probability increased with size, while it increased with leaf-stage but not size at greater stages. Individual growth models then suggested that many plants grew moderately: not only slow-growing but also rapidly-growing individuals tended to die within 7 years. Our study clarified three aspects of the life-history of C. cordatum: longevity of about a decade, constantly positive growth to flowering, and aging effects on growth and survival. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fungal pathogens can regulate the abundance and distribution of natural plant populations by inhibiting the growth, survival, and reproduction of their hosts. The abiotic environment is a crucial component in host–pathogen interactions in natural plant populations as favorable conditions drive pathogen development, reproduction, and persistence. Foliar plant pathogens, such as fungal lesions referred to generically as “leaf spot disease,” are particularly responsive to increased moisture levels, but the manner in which the abiotic environment drives disease dynamics, and how these diseases regulate natural plant populations, is not fully understood. We investigate (1) the impact of ambient soil moisture and diffuse light on the prevalence of a leaf spot pathogen ( Phyllosticta sp.) in a natural population of Polygonatum biflorum, an understory herb native to deciduous forest understories in the eastern US, and (2) the effects of the fungal pathogen on the survival, growth, and abundance of the plants. We tracked six P. biflorum populations and disease incidence, as well as soil moisture and diffuse light, between 2003 and 2005 in the understory deciduous forest of the southern Appalachian Mountains, North Carolina, USA. Results show that both the occurrence of P. biflorum and the prevalence of P. biflorum leaf spot disease are highest where soil moisture is intermediate and diffuse light is lowest. Disease occurrence depends upon plant presence, but it also adversely impacts plant survival, abundance, and growth. These results suggest that leaf spot disease is likely to impact population dynamics, which in turn vary as a function of environmental drivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In fragmented landscapes plant species are often confined to remnants of formerly more widespread habitats, with many of their populations being small and isolated. This study experimentally examined the effects of population size and isolation on pollination, herbivory and reproductive success in the forest herb Phyteuma spicatum (Campanulaceae). In an experiment in which population size and isolation were manipulated using plants from the same origin, population size positively affected pollinator visitation, but did not alter the generally high levels of herbivory. As a result, seed production was higher in large populations. Conversely, plants originating from 14 natural populations of varying size and degree of isolation did not differ in reproductive success when grown in the same environment, suggesting similar attractiveness to pollinators and reproductive potential. The intensity of herbivory, however, was higher in progeny of small populations, at least in terms of the proportion of biomass removed. In both experiments, there were no effects of population isolation. The results suggest (1) that small population size decreases reproductive success via direct negative effects on plant–pollinator interactions, (2) that this pattern is not offset by herbivory, but (3) that herbivory enforces fragmentation effects on pollination by further reducing the number of flowering individuals and (4) that habitat fragmentation may influence plant fitness by affecting plant response to herbivory. The effects of habitat fragmentation on plant populations in present-day landscapes are thus complex, illustrating the need for more integrated studies in conservation biology that take into account both mutualistic and antagonistic plant–animal interactions. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Premise of the study: Microsatellite loci for the native prairie perennial Echinacea angustifolia were developed and evaluated for future use in population structure and paternity studies. Methods and Results: A total of 50 trinucleotide microsatellite regions were identified though an enrichment protocol that prescreens for microsatellite repeats before ligating into a vector. Of these, 11 loci were polymorphic and in Hardy—Weinberg equilibrium in three populations with varying numbers of plants. The loci had between three and 14 alleles and collectively provided high paternity exclusion probabilities. Conclusions: These sets of microsatellite primers will provide researchers and land managers with valuable information on the population genetic structure and gene flow between fragmented prairie populations.

Patterns of seed mass variation in the perennial herb Asphodelus albus (Liliaceae) were studied in one population over 3 years (1988-1990) and in three populations during 1989. Plant size, phenology and several components of plant fecundity showed no effect on mean seed mass per plant. Mean seed mass varied among populations and among plants within populations. Significant variation was also found among years and among plants within year, but most of the variation was accounted for by the within-plant component. Withinfruit variation may be as important as between fruits within plant. Fruit position within the plant influenced seed mass, being heavier the seeds at the bottom of the stalk. However, the plants markedly differed in the proportion of the variation accounted for by the position effect. The correlation between seed number per fruit and seed mass showed an interaction with fruit position. Seeds from small broods were heavier than those from large ones, but only in the lower part of the stalk. Decline in seed mass towards the top of the stalk may be attributed to seasonal reduction in resource availability. In addition, the change in the relationship between seed number and mass might be due to changes in the 'resolution' of the parent-offspring conflict, also related to nutrient availability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Centella asiatica (Linn.) Urb., a clonal perennial herb, grows abundantly on a wide range of habitats in Meghalaya and reproduces both through vegetative and sexual means. The paper presents the competitive interaction between the populations of Centella asiatica raised from stem cuttings and seedlings, designated as 'C' and 'C' respectively. The two categories of plants showed significant differences in growth performance. The numbers of stolons and seeds produced by 'C' were greater than by 'C' in both monoculture and mixtures. The total leaf area and dry matter yield of 'C' were greater in monoculture than in mixtures, while the reverse was true with 'C'. A comparison of the two categories of plants in monoculture and mixtures reveals that with increased proportion (75%) of C in mixture, the yield of C increased while the yield of C decreased in mixed populations having 75% C, thus depicting the competitive superiority of C over C. The relative yield ratio of C to C which was greater than unity also confirms that population of Centella asiatica raised from the stem cuttings is more competitive than that developing from the seedings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Premise of the study: Microsatellite primers were developed in Iris ensata (Iridaceae) to provide polymorphic markers for further studies into population genetics. • Methods and Results: Thirteen polymorphic microsatellite loci were isolated from I. ensata. These loci were successfully amplified in two natural populations of I. ensata from eastern China (Longwangshan, Zhejiang Province) and northeastern China (Jinchuan, Jilin Province). There was no significant linkage disequilibrium found for any pair of loci. These loci contained between two and 12 alleles per locus across all 48 individuals of I. ensata. The number of alleles per locus varied from two to 10 at the population level and the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.167 to 0.958 and from 0.284 to 0.853, respectively. • Conclusions: These loci showed high levels of polymorphism and could be used to study the population genetic structure, genetic relationships, and phylogeography of I. ensata. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Net primary production (NPP) is closely related to the proportion of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the leaf-stem and root of perennial herbs. However, the relationship of NPP with the C:N:P stoichiometric ratio in above- and below-ground plant tissues remains unknown under the periodic flooding stresses in the riparian zone ecosystem. In this study, the leaf-stem and root C, N, P content and biomass of Cynodon dactylon (Linn.) Pers. (C. dactylon) were investigated at the riparian zone altitudes of 145–155, 155–165, and 165–175 m above sea level (masl) of in a Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) tributary–Pengxi River. The results showed that the NPP and biomass of C. dactylon had a similar decreasing trend with a riparian zone altitudes decrease. The root of C. dactylon showed relatively lower N and P content, but much higher N and P use efficiency with higher C:N and C:P ratio than that of a leaf-stem under N limitation conditions. NPP was positively correlated to C:N in the stem-leaf to root ratio (C:Nstem-leaf/root) and C:P ratio in the root (C:Proot ratio). Hydrological and C:N:P stoichiometric variables could predict 68% of the NPP variance, and thus could be regarded as the main predictor of NPP in the riparian zone of the TGR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clonal plants usually reproduce asexually through vegetative propagation and sexually by producing seeds. Physiological integration, the translocation of essential resources between ramets, usually improves vegetative reproduction. However, how physiological integration affects sexual reproduction has been less studied in clonal grasses. Here, we chose Hierochloe glabra, a major early spring forage of the eastern Eurasian steppe, and conducted a series of field experiments, including sampling reproductive ramets connected by tillering nodes to different numbers of vegetative ramets and 15N leaf labeling of ramet pairs at the seed-filling stage. In the natural populations of H. glabra, vegetative ramets were taller, had more and larger leaves, and greater biomass than reproductive ramets. Except for reproductive ramet biomass, sexual reproductive characteristics significantly increased with an increase in the number and biomass of vegetative ramets connected to tillering nodes. 15N labeling showed that vegetative ramets supplied nutrients to reproductive ramets through tillering nodes. Overall, our results indicate that significant differences in morphological characteristics and biomass allocation underlie resources translocation from vegetative ramets towards reproductive ramets. Physiological integration between different functional ramets can increase sexual reproductive performance, which will be beneficial to population persistence in H. glabra. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed eight polymorphic microsatellite simple sequence repeat (SSR) loci from genomic DNA of a clonal perennial herb, Convallaria keiskei, using a dual-suppression-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and an improved technique. These markers with four to 10 alleles per locus identified 29 genotypes in 82 samples collected from a population in Hokkaido, Japan. The observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.241 to 0.862 and from 0.639 to 0.825, respectively. These SSR markers will be available to identify genets and evaluate genetic diversity of C. keiskei. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed as a tool for genetic investigations of Filipendula vulgaris (Rosaceae) and related species. Methods and Results: Seventeen new polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for F. vulgaris using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Polymorphism of the 17 loci was tested in three populations. We identified a total of 203 alleles, ranging from four to 19 per locus, with levels of observed and expected heterozygosity ranging from 0.267 to 1.000 and 0.461 to 0.899, respectively. Primers were also tested for cross‐amplification in three related species. Seven loci successfully cross‐amplified in F. camtschatica and F. ulmaria, whereas we detected positive cross‐amplification in only three loci in Geum urbanum. Conclusions: The newly developed microsatellite primers will serve as useful genetic tools for further population genetic studies on F. vulgaris and related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Premise: Microsatellite markers were developed in the federally endangered species Liatris helleri (Asteraceae) to evaluate species boundaries with closely related congeners within the genus. Methods and Results: Using Illumina data, 17 primer pairs were developed in populations of L. helleri. The primers amplified motifs from tri‐ to hexanucleotide repeats with one to 17 alleles per locus. Primers were also tested for cross‐amplification in L. aspera, L. microcephala, and L. pycnostachya. Conclusions: The developed primers for L. helleri serve as a novel genetic tool for future investigations in this genus, allowing for more explicit species delineation as well as population genetic analyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]