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One new phenylpropanoid glycoside, myxosmoside I (1) and six known compounds, arenarioside (2), verbacoside (3), 3-formylindole (4), 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5), D-manitol (6), and glycerol monooleate (7) were isolated from the roots of Myxopyrum smilacifolium (Wall.) Blume. Their chemical structures were determined by 1D-, 2D-NMR, and mass spectra, chemical methods, and compared with those reported in the literature. All compounds were evaluated for α-glucosidase inhibitory effect. Among them, phenylpropanoid glycosides 1-3 significantly inhibited α-glucosidase activity with IC50 values of 30.0 ± 0.9, 66.6 ± 2.3, and 36.9 ± 2.0 µM, respectively.

A synopsis of the genus Chionanthus is presented for Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam. Thirteen species, including four species endemic to the area, are recognized. Amongst them, twelve species, including two endemic species, are found in Vietnam, and nine and five species are recorded in Laos and Cambodia, respectively. Several species are reported as new records for Laos and Vietnam. Chionanthus verticillatus is reduced to a synonym of C. robinsonii. Lectotypes are designated for eight names currently treated within the genus Chionanthus. The type, synonyms, citations of relevant regional taxonomic publications, brief taxonomic notes, data on ecology, phenology and distribution and a list of all available specimens from the studied area are provided for each taxon. A key for identification of the species of Chionanthus in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam is also presented.

With the increased planting of non-native trees within urban environments there is a need for investigating the impacts they may have on the indigenous biodiversity. In this study, we explored the diversity of epiphytic lichens and bryophytes as well as the tree-related microhabitats on planted, non-native green ash Fraxinus pennsylvanica and compared it to that of indigenous Fraxinus excelsior and Quercus robur. We conducted sampling on trees of similar growing conditions and size within two cities of eastern Germany (Dresden and Dessau-Roslau). In our analysis we did not find any significant differences in epiphyte diversity and abundance. By contrast, microhabitat diversity was significantly higher on F. pennsylvanica than on the indigenous tree species, which we attribute to the pioneer character of F. pennsylvanica with faster ageing. Our results underline a low impact of F. pennsylvanica on epiphytic lichen and bryophyte diversity, while indigenous animals might even benefit from the higher diversity and frequency of microhabitats on trees of this species. Therefore, its use as an ornamental tree should not be generally rejected in urban environments.

Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai is a deciduous shrub that belongs to Oleaceae Abeliophyllum and grows only in Korea. In this study, the antioxidative activity, cytotoxicity, anti-aging activity, and levels of acteoside and isoacteoside were compared between non-fermented and fermented (using Lactobacillus plantarum and Lactobacillus brevis) extracts of A. distichum Nakai. The cytotoxicity of these extracts, along with their ability to inhibit elastase activity and Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) expression, and their ability to promote type I procollagen synthesis were investigated in human dermal fibroblasts cells. These tests revealed that the fermented extract possessed higher antioxidant and anti-aging activities compared with the non-fermented extract. The levels of acteoside and isoacteoside were about 1.25 and 1.05 times higher in the fermented extract than in the non-fermented extract. It was speculated that they were converted from acteoside glucosides and isoacteoside glucosides via bioconversion by the fermentation strains. Together, these findings indicate that extracts of A. distichum Nakai show good potential as antioxidative and anti-aging cosmetic materials. Key words: Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai, Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, fermentation, antioxidative activity, anti-aging activity.

As one of the most economically significant Oleaceae family members, Jasminum sambac is renowned for its distinct sweet, heady fragrance. Using Illumina reads, Nanopore long reads, and HiC-sequencing, we efficiently assembled and annotated the J. sambac genome. The high-quality genome assembly consisted of a total of 507 Mb sequence (contig N50 = 17.6 Mb) with 13 pseudomolecules. A total of 21,143 protein-coding genes and 303 Mb repeat sequences were predicted. An ancient whole-genome triplication event at the base of Oleaceae (~66 million years ago [Ma], Late Cretaceous) was identified and this may have contributed to the diversification of the Oleaceae ancestor and its divergence from the Lamiales. Stress-related (e.g., WRKY) and flowering-related (e.g., MADS-box) genes were located in the triplicated regions, suggesting that the polyploidy event might have contributed adaptive potential. Genes related to terpenoid biosynthesis, for example, FTA and TPS, were observed to be duplicated to a great extent in the J. sambac genome, perhaps explaining the strong fragrance of the flowers. Copy number changes in distinct phylogenetic clades of the MADS-box family were observed in J. sambac genome, for example, AGL6- and Mα- were lost and SOC- expanded, features that might underlie the long flowering period of J. sambac. The structural genes implicated in anthocyanin biosynthesis were depleted and this may explain the absence of vivid colours in jasmine. Collectively, assembling the J. sambac genome provides new insights into the genome evolution of the Oleaceae family and provides mechanistic insights into floral properties.

Problem. It is important to identify the diversity of dendroflora in the territories of nature reserves, including man-made objects. The dendroflora of Odesa parks has not been studied systematically, and some publications on the topic concern either the dendroflora of the city as a whole or the description of individual parks. Moreover, these data are partially outdated and do not reflect the current state of greenery. Aim. To conduct an inventory of tree and shrub plants of the park-monument of landscape art of local significance "Park of the V.P. Filatov Institute”, analysis of the taxonomic structure of dendroflora, diversity of plant life forms, age and quantitative composition of green plantations and detection of phytososophytic plants in the park. Methods. During the inventory of tree plantations in the park the continuous account of plantings was carried out. Identification of dendroflora species was carried out using modern reference books and determinants. Definitions of life forms (tree, bush, vine) were determined by I.G. Serebryakov. Species names of trees and shrubs were given according to floristic reports and the Determinant. The age of trees and shrubs was determined by analyzing biometric indicators. The condition of trees and their decorative features were studied. Main results. In 2020 dendroflora of the monument park of garden artistry of local importance “Park of V.P. Filatov Institute” in Odesa was inventoried. 111 species of woody plants, which belong to 77 genera, 35 families, 2 classes and 2 divisions were identified, of which: trees - 66 species (59.5%), bushes - 39 species (35.1%), lianas - 6 species (5.4%). The Pinophyta division includes 22 species from 13 genera and 5 families. In terms of the number of species Cypressaceae (12 species) and Pinaceae (8 species) are leading families, and Juniperus is a leading genus. The Magnoliophyta division includes 89 species from 64 genera and 30 families. Families Rosaceae (23 species), Salicaceae (8 species), Fabaceae (7 species), Aceraceae and Oleaceae (per 5 species each) are the leading ones in terms of the number of species. Genera maple (Acer) and poplar (Populus) are the leading ones in terms of the number of species. Decorative forms for 9 species have been identified. There are 1019 specimens of woody plants in the park, 86 specimens of trees of 15 species have trunk diameter of more than 50 cm. Among phytososophytes there is one species, which is listed in the Red Data Book of Ukraine (2009) - yew (Taxus baccata) and 31 species of plants included in the Red List of Threatened Species IUCN (2012), in total 178 specimens of plants of the studied park are a subject to special protection. Conclusions. Trees, which were planted in the first half of the twentieth century, have historical and cultural significance as living witnesses of the activities of Academician V.P. Filatov and his associates.

Background: Ethnobotanical investigations conducted in Turkey demonstrated that Jasminum fruticans L. extract and fruit juice had been used against parasites in animals. In this study, the possible antihelmintic activity of various J. fruticans extracts contributing to its traditional use, was relatively assessed. In addition, the antioxidant potentials and phytochemical composition of the extracts were investigated since there is a relationship between helminthiasis, oxidative stress and phenolic metabolites. Methods: In this study, aerial parts of J. fruticans were subsequently extracted using n-hexane, ethyl acetate (EtOAc) and methanol (MeOH). In vivo anthelmintic activitiy of the extracts was compared with albendazole used as a reference in adult earthworms. Various methods, including free radical scavenging and metal-related activity assays, were used to assess the antioxidant capacity of the above-mentioned extracts. Assessment of phenolic composition was accomplished through total phenolic, phenolic acid, and flavonoid content assays as well as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) scan modes. Further chlorogenic acid (3-O-caffeoylquinic acid) contents of extracts were quantified using high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC). Results: Between all tested extracts, MeOH extract at a quantity of 50.0 mg/mL, paralysed worms in 8.1 min and killed them in 12.8 min, showing a high anthelmintic effect similar to albendazole. Similarly, in vitro DPPH radical scavenging activity, cupric ion reduction and total antioxidant capacity experiments demonstrated that MeOH extract had significant antioxidant activity. Further phytochemical screening showed that MeOH extract was richer regarding phenolic metabolites. Chlorogenic acid, ferulic acid, caffeic acid and gallic acid were only detected in the MeOH extract. Conclusion: Results justify and support the use of J. fruticans in traditional medicine as an anthelmintic agent. Furthermore, a positive correlation was found between the strong antioxidant capacity along with the phenolic composition determined in the MeOH extract and anthelmintic activity.

A permanent forest dynamics study plot was established in Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) to understand the impact of climatic variability on deciduous forest trees. A 1 ha (100 m × 100 m) Permanent Preservation Plot (PPP) was established following the Centre for Tropical Forest Science (CTFS) protocol. All the woody plants (trees, shrubs, climbers) greater than 1 cm diameter at breast height (dbh) were tagged and measured. A total of 1,586 individuals were identified, tagged and included trees, shrubs, and climbers belonging to 28 flowering plant families with Olea dioica, Cipadessa baccifera and Ziziphus oenoplia as the dominant species. The tagged 1,586 individuals included 68 species with the top 10 species accounting for 74% of total abundance. The most ubiquitous species were Hiptage benghalensis and Ziziphus oenoplia occupying 23 quadrats out of the total 25. Terminalia arjuna had the highest Importance Value Index (IVI) followed by Olea dioica and Terminalia bellirica. Combretaceae with three species had the highest Family Importance Value (FIV) followed by Euphorbiaceae, Oleaceae and Rhamnaceae. A large number of species showed random dispersion which is not significant. However, in species having aggregated dispersion, the dispersion pattern is significant (P

Ligustrum fengjieense (Oleaceae), a new species from Fengjie County, Chongqing, China, is described and illustrated. It is morphologically similar to L. pricei and L. expansum, but it can be distinguished by its extremely long pedicels and purple anthers. Color photographs, conservation assessments and taxonomical notes are provided.

This study was carried out to study the effect color of Jasmine flowers (Jasmine spp . Fam. Oleaceae) on the infestation by Macrosiphum rosae (L.) (Homoptera: Aphididae) andTetranychus urticaeKoch (Acari: Tetranychidae) using four varieties (colors) of Jasmine plants similar in the horticulture characters but different in the color of the flower only, (yellow, red, blue and white). Experiments were done in two locations (governorates), El-Orman Garden (Giza Governorate) and International Garden (Alexandria Governorate) throughout 2019 /2020 season under glasshouse conditions. Results obtained showed that the infestation with both M. rosae andT. urticaebegan to appear on the 1st February 2020 season and recorded the activity peak during mid of April month then decreased until the beginning of August at the same season. Results obtained showed also that flower colors of jasmine arrange for the attracted both the two pests as follows: yellow, red, blue and white, respectively. Results obtained also showed that both the total sugar and total protein arranged to descend in the jasmine flowers color as follows: yellow, red, blue and white). Statistical analysis showed that there were highly significant differences between the four flowers' color (varieties) of jasmine on the attraction of both the two pests. And Statistical analysis showed also that was highly significant differences between the four flowers color (varieties) of jasmine on the content of both total sugar and total protein.

Models that evaluate the potential geographic distribution of species can be used with a variety of important applications in conservation biology. Osmanthus fragrans has high ornamental, culinary, and medicinal value, and is widely used in landscaping. However, its preferred habitat and the environmental factors that determine its distribution remain largely unknown; the environmental factors that shape its suitability also require analysis. Based on 89 occurrence records and 30 environmental variables, this study constructed Maxent models for current as well as future appropriate habitats for O. fragrans. The results indicate that UV-B seasonality (19.1%), precipitation seasonality (18.8%), annual temperature range (13.1%), and mean diurnal temperature range (12.5%) were the most important factors used for interpreting the environmental demands for this species. Highly appropriate habitats for O. fragrans were mainly distributed in southwestern Jiangsu, southern Anhui, Shanghai, Zhejiang, Fujian, northern Guangdong, Guangxi, southern Hunan, southern Hubei, Sichuan, and Taiwan. Under climate change scenarios, the spatial extent of the area of suitable distribution will decrease, and the distribution center of O. fragrans will shift to the southwest. The results of this study will help land managers to avoid blindly introducing this species into inappropriate habitat while improving O. fragrans yield and quality.

Syringa pinnatifolia Hemsl. (Oleaceae) is a species of shrub with a limited distribution in China. Several chemical compounds with pharmacological effects have been isolated from S. pinnatifolia, including new lignans and sesquiterpenes. Studies of gene expression in this species require the identification of suitable reference genes that are stably expressed under different conditions and in different tissues. To identify candidate reference genes, here we used the geNorm, NormFinder, and BestKeeper algorithms to analyze the stability of 12 candidate genes. The geometric mean of the rankings generated with these algorithms was used to obtain a comprehensive ranking. TBP and PP2A were found to be appropriate reference genes for calli treated with different external stimuli, and TIP41 and TBP were found to be appropriate reference genes in differentiated tissues. When calli and differentiated tissues were considered together, TBP and TIP41 were found to be the most reliable reference genes. The selected genes were validated by analysis of HMGR expression in calli and differentiated tissues. This study is the first to screen candidate reference genes in the genus Syringa and could help guide future molecular studies in this genus., Appropriate and stable reference genes are important for normalization of gene expression. Here, we estimated the stability of 12 candidate reference genes in Syringa pinnatifolia. This study is the first to screen candidate reference genes in the genus Syringa and could help guide future molecular studies in this genus.

A novel species, Micropeltis goniothalamicola and a new record Scolecopeltidium menglaense were collected from Mae Fah Luang Botanical Gardens, Thailand. Our new taxon is different from other species in Micropeltis in having relatively smaller ascomata, 6–8-spored asci and 4–5-septate ascospores covering with mucilaginous sheath. Our new record, S. menglaense is the first host recorded from Jasmine grandiflorum (Oleaceae). Morphological comparison coupled with phylogenetic analysis of combined LSU and ITS sequence data provide evidence for the new species and new host record.

Background Osmanthus fragrans is an important economical plant containing multiple secondary metabolites including flavonoids and anthocyanins. During the past years, the roles of miRNAs in regulating the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites in plants have been widely investigated. However, few studies on miRNA expression profiles and the potential roles in regulating flavonoid biosynthesis have been reported in O. fragrans. Results In this study, we used high-throughput sequencing technology to analyze the expression profiles of miRNAs in leaf and flower tissues of O. fragrans. As a result, 106 conserved miRNAs distributed in 47 families and 88 novel miRNAs were identified. Further analysis showed there were 133 miRNAs differentially expressed in leaves and flowers. Additionally, the potential target genes of miRNAs as well as the related metabolic pathways were predicted. In the end, flavonoid content was measured in flower and leaf tissues and potential role of miR858 in regulating flavonoid synthesis was illustrated in O. fragrans. Conclusions This study not only provided the genome-wide miRNA profiles in the flower and leaf tissue of O. fragrans, but also investigated the potential regulatory role of miR858a in flavonoid synthesis in O. fragrans. The results specifically indicated the connection of miRNAs to the regulation of secondary metabolite biosynthesis in non-model economical plant.

Phytoplasmas have been associated with a disease that affects trees of at least 11 species from different botanic families in Bogotá, Colombia. ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ and ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma fraxini’ are the major groups of phytoplasma in the area of Bogotá. In this study, the genetic diversity within ‘Ca. P. asteris’ and ‘Ca. P. fraxini’ was studied in five urban tree species: Croton species (Euphorbiaceae), Fraxinus uhdei (Oleaceae), Magnolia grandiflora (Magnoliaceae), Populus nigra (Salicaceae) and Quercus humboldtii (Fagaceae). Analyses of the 16S rRNA gene using nested PCR, RFLP and sequencing showed that phytoplasmas of ‘Ca. P. asteris’ could be assigned to: subgroup 16SrI-B; a new subgroup named 16SrI-AF, with a restriction pattern similar to that of 16SrI-B; and a new subgroup named 16SrI-AG, with a restriction pattern similar to that of 16SrI-K and 16SrI-AH with a restriction pattern similar to that of 16SrI-AC. ‘Ca. P. fraxini’ isolates belonged to a new subgroup named 16SrVII-G, with a restriction pattern similar to that of 16SrVII-A. To complement the identification of the phytoplasma strains, we amplified nonribosomal genes such as leuS and secA. Unexpectedly, it was observed that in 16 trees in which 16S rRNA gene analysis showed the presence of ‘Ca. P. fraxini’ only, the leuS or secA primers amplified sequences exclusively affiliated to ‘Ca. P. asteris. In those plants, sequences belonging to ‘Ca. P. fraxini’ leuS or secA genes were not amplified. The present work contributes to the identification of novel strains of both species in Colombia, and supports previous suggestions that phytoplasmas in South America are highly variable.

Most species of woody plants indigenous to the Russian taiga are extremely sensitive to pollutants. However, many species of deciduous trees that grow in other geographical areas, including the genus Fraxinus, are fairly tolerant to progressive environmental pollution. For the introduction of cultivated plants into new environmental conditions, an impartial assessment of their introduction potential is required, which is possible only on the basis of comprehensive studies. The most important processes characterising the condition of plants are growth and development. The present study examined the introduction of three species of the Fraxinus L. genus to the middle taiga subzone. These were F. excelsior L., F. americana L. and F. pennsylvanica Marsh. The stems and leaves of the plants were measured once every 2–3 days over the course of two growth periods. Phenological observations were carried out between May and October over the course of 17 years. The introduction potential of the studied species was determined through visual assessment carried out in the autumn. The findings showed that the growth of shoots and leaves in the studied Fraxinus species began in late May-early June, varying between species by 1–5 days. The cessation of shoot and leaf growth in the studied Fraxinus species, which occurred in July, varied by up to ten days. The dates of onset and culmination of the growth of shoots and leaves appeared to be determined primarily by air temperature, with a year-by-year variability of 3–7 days. All the studied Fraxinus species showed a high degree of introduction potential and can be successfully used for gardening and landscaping purposes in the middle taiga subzone.

White fringetree is a host for the invasive emerald ash borer (EAB) but is of lower quality than the related and highly susceptible black ash. Field observations suggest that host trees grown in full sun are more resistant to EAB than those in shade, however the impact of light limitation on chemical defenses has not been assessed. We quantified constitutive and jasmonate-induced phloem defenses and growth patterns of white fringetree and black ash under differential light conditions and related them to EAB larval performance. White fringetree had significantly lower constitutive and induced activities of peroxidase, polyphenol oxidase, β-glucosidase, chitinase and lignin content, but significantly higher gallic acid equivalent soluble phenolic, soluble sugar, and oleuropein concentrations compared to black ash. Multivariate analyses based on tissue chemical attributes displayed clear separation of species and induced defense responses. Further, EAB performed significantly worse on white fringetree than black ash, consistent with previous studies. Light limitation did not impact measured defenses or EAB larval performance, but it did decrease current year growth and increase photosynthetic efficiency. Overall our results suggest that phenolic profiles, metabolite abundance, and growth traits are important in mediating white fringetree resistance to EAB, and that short-term light limitation does not influence phloem chemistry or larval success.

The dotted white geometrid moth, Naxa seriaria Motschulsky (Lepidoptera: Geometridae), is a pest of Oleaceae in Korea, Japan, and China. In this study, we identified (3Z,6Z,9Z,12Z,15Z)-heneicosapentaene (C-21 pentaene) as the only compound in extracts of the pheromone glands of female N. seriaria causing a response from receptors on the antennae of males in analyses by gas chromatography with electroantennographic detection. The synthetic sex pheromone elicited dose-dependent electrophysiological responses from antennae of male N. seriaria. In field tests, more male moths were captured in traps baited with synthetic C-21 pentaene than in unbaited traps, and increasing the loading of C-21 pentaene in the lure increased catches of male moths. Significantly more male N. seriaria moths were caught in delta traps than in bucket traps. Based on these results, C-21 pentaene is proposed to be the major, if not the only, component of the sex pheromone of N. seriaria.

A taxonomic revision of Korean Ligustrum species is presented based on critical observations of wild populations and herbarium specimens. Species delimitations were re-evaluated on the basis of morphological characters, such as plant height, texture and shape of leaf, shape of inflorescence, shape of drupe and seed, and texture of endocarp. From the results, L. leucanthum (= L. acutissimum), being recorded in Korea, is excluded from the Korean flora because it comes from misidentifications of the herbarium specimen, whose identity is L. obtusifolium. We also treated L.obtusifolium subsp. suave and L. obtusifolium subsp. microphyllum as synonyms of L.obtusifolium. Ligustrum quihoui var. latifolium is placed into synonym of L. quihoui. In addition, the record of L. ovalifolium from Korea has proved to be a misidentification of herbarium specimens, the correct identity of which is L. salicinum. Consequently, we recognized the following six Ligustrum species in Korea: L. japonicum, L. lucidum, L. quihoui, L. salicinum, L. foliosum, and L. obtusifolium. Photographs and a key to six species of Ligustrum were provided in addition to complete descriptions including information on nomenclatural types, synonyms, and taxonomic notes.

Jasmine [Jasminum sambac (L.) Aiton] is an important cultivated plant species that is valued for its ornamental, medicinal and edible values. However, the genomic information available for jasmine is limited. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genomes of single-petal (SP) and double-petal (DP) cultivars of jasmine were investigated. An entire cp genome comparison, inverted repeat contraction and expansion were analyzed among several species, including the two jasmine cultivars, and phylogenetic analysis was performed. The results showed that the complete cp genomes were 163,315 bp (SP) and 163,281 bp (DP) long, respectively. Both genomes exhibited a single circular molecule with quadripartite structure consisting of a pair of inverted repeats separated by the large and small single-copy regions. Both SP and DP cultivars contained 114 unique genes. Sequence analysis identified 31 tandem repeats, 15 forward repeats, 14 palindrome repeats and five complement repeats in both cp genomes. A total of 118 and 117 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were detected in the cp genomes of SP and DP cultivars, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis strongly supported that the SP cultivar was close to DP, and J. sambac belonged to the family Oleaceae, order Contortae. The complete cp genome sequences presented in this report may contribute to genetic and phylogenetic studies of this species.

The fruits of Ligustrum lucidum were used as an efficient biological reducer of carbonyl compounds, and trials were carried out to optimise the reductive process using acetophenone as the model substrate. In order to try to eliminate the dependence on the seasonal production of the fruits, a study was carried out to find ways to conserve them. The results reported here show that it is possible to store the dehydrated fruits of glossy privet at room temperature over a prolonged period of time, during which time they can be used as a common chemical reagent. On the other hand, studies performed on different parts of the fruits established that the seeds are responsible for the bioreduction process, with the best reduction conditions found being isolated seeds from the fruits of glossy privet at 25 °C, in a 100 mM phosphate buffer pH 6.0, using 0.67% w/v of DMSO as co-solvent with an acetophenone charge of 2.67 g/L (22 mM). Moreover, seed reuse studies showed that it is possible to recycle them, providing almost the same activity and enantioselectivity from the first to the fifth cycle, without any loss of biocatalytic properties. Finally, using whole seeds of glossy privet in optimal reaction conditions, important alcohols useful as key intermediates in the synthesis of industrial products were obtained on a laboratory scale through the reduction of specially selected ketones and aldehydes.

Phenology expresses strategies related to resource use and can play an important role in the success of invasive plants. Araucaria forests are highly fragmented ecosystems that are increasingly impacted by invasive plants, such as Ligustrum lucidum (Oleaceae). The present study aimed to describe the phenological events of L. lucidum; identify the influence climate has on its phenophases; and compare reproductive phenophases between L. lucidum and that of Araucaria forest. The phenological study was conducted over the course of 24 months, with the intensity of each phenophase being evaluated by the Fournier Index. Ligustrum lucidum exhibited phenophases throughout the entire year in Araucaria forest, all of which exhibited a seasonal pattern except for leaf fall. The same pattern was observed for the species in its native area. Day length was the best predictor of the phenology of L. lucidum. The reproductive phenology of L. lucidum differed from that of Araucaria forest, especially with regard to fruiting. The influence of day length on the phenophases of L. lucidum seems to be part of a strategy for efficient resource acquisition and allocation. The competitive advantage of L. lucidum in Araucaria forest may be due to the maintenance of its climatic niche, which gives it a different reproductive phenology in comparison to native species. The present study shows how phenology can play an important role in the invasion process and highlights the importance of creating management strategies to avoid the spread of L. lucidum in the already threatened Araucaria forest ecosystem.

The olive tree is a member of the Oleaceae family (Olea europaea). Olea europaea is commonly known as Zaitoon. The ancient Egyptians, Greeks, Romans and other Mediterranean nations cultivated olives for its edible fruits and to obtain oil from them. Leaves of the tree became important when olive leaf extract was reported to be potent in reducing incidence of degenerative diseases, particularly coronary heart disease (CHD) and cancers of the breast, skin, and colon. Olive leaves have the highest antioxidant power among the different parts of the olive tree. While in olive fruit, phenols (e.g. TYR) and terpenoid hydrocarbon (squalene) are the major components found in the oil. Much research has been carried out on the medical applications of olive. The choice of the plant was based on the good previous biological study of Olea europaea. Interest to choose this plant, may have been due to the widespread use of olive species medicinally, food industry and cosmetics.

KIEW, R. 2020. Towards a Flora of New Guinea: Oleaceae. Part 1. Jasminum, Ligustrum, Myxopyrum and Olea. Reinwardtia 19(1): 1‒25. ‒‒ Oleaceae in New Guinea is represented by five genera and about 32 species, namely Chionanthus (about 16 species), Jasminum (10 species), Ligustrum (3 species), Myxopyrum (2 species) and Olea (1 species). A key to genera as well as descriptions of and keys to species of Jasminum, Ligustrum, Myxopyrum and Olea are provided. Of the three Ligustrum species, L. glomeratum is widespread throughout Malesia, L. novoguineense is endemic and L. parvifolium Kiew is a new endemic species. Six species of Jasminum are endemic (J. domatiigerum, J. gilgianum, J. magnificum, J. papuasicum, J. pipolyi and J. rupestre). Jasminum turneri just reaches the northern tip of Australia; of the two species from the Pacific Islands J. simplicifolium subsp. australiense just reaches SE Papua New Guinea and J. didymum, a coastal species, reaches into Malesia as far north as E Java; J. elongatum is widespread from Asia to Australia. Neither Myxopyrum species is endemic: M. nervosum subsp. nervosum extends from Peninsular Malaysia to Indonesian New Guinea, and M. ovatum from the Philippines to the Admiralty Islands. The sole species of Olea, O. paniculata, stretches from Java to Australia and New Caledonia.

Abeliophyllum distichum Nakai is a Korean endemic plant of the Oleaceae family that contains acteoside, a glycosylated caffeic acid, with neuroprotective, anti‑inflammatory and antibacterial properties. Previous studies, involving Accelerated Chromatographic Isolation, a high‑performance liquid chromatography‑photodiode array detector and a liquid chromatograph‑mass selective detector, isolated and identified acteoside in A. distichum (AAD) and documented its antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory activities. The aim of the present study was to determine whether AAD could protect from DNA damage by reducing oxidative stress. AAD treatment protected plasmid DNA against damage to DNA double‑strands induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and decreased the levels of phosphorylated p53 and γ‑H2AX in ROS‑treated NIH 3T3 cells. These findings suggested that AAD could reduce ROS‑mediated cellular damage and may represent an effective, natural antioxidant with the ability to protect genetic material.

Chionanthus retusus Lindl. & Paxton (Oleaceae) is an androdioecious species, in which male individuals coexist with hermaphroditic individuals. Even though the floral scent dimorphism of dioecious taxa has been reported elsewhere, little is known about the floral scent compounds of androdioecious species. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the identity and localization of floral scent components in C. retusus in both male and hermaphrodite. The headspace of whole flowers exhibited quantitative and qualitative floral scent dimorphism. Among several constituents, including phenylethyl alcohol, benzeneacetonitrile, 2-hexen-1-ol were the main fragrance component of both sexual morphotypes. In particular, the abundance of phenylethyl alcohol (2-phenylethanol), which is one of the compounds in pollen and pollenkitt, in both sexual morphotypes might provide indirect evidence for the viability and functionality of pollen grains. However, 3-hexen-1-ol, 1-hexanol, 3-hexenyl 2-metylbutanoate, alloaromadendrene, and farnesol were only detected in hermaphrodites. These patterns of floral scent difference suggest that several compounds solely detected in each sexual type are associated with specific reproductive organs. Comparative micromorphological and ultrastructural studies of floral surfaces (e.g. floral stomata, calyx glands) and pollen grains (especially pollenkitt) revealed that all represent a putative secretory structures and materials.

The article deals with the results of the study of the phytomeliorative role of greeneries of parks and squares in the northern district of Rivne. It focuses on the main industrial enterprises and apartment buildings. To perform these tasks we used our own research of dendroflora using field, laboratory and computational methods. The benefit of study is the first time the taxonomic composition of dendroflora studied in detail. It was made assessments of sanitary and hygienic functions, oxygen-producing capacity and carbon dioxide absorption by phytocenoses. For the first time it was determined the coefficient of phytomeliorative efficiency of greeneries of parks and squares in the northern district of the city. It was found out that within the investigating area there are three parks and seven squares, the greeneries which are 26 families, 46 genera, 80 taxa with the dominance of the families Rosaceae Juss., Salicaceae Lindl. and Oleaceae Lindl. It was established that there are 24 species of trees and shrubs with dust-proofing properties, 42 species of gasproof and medium-gasproof and 8 species of low-gasproof, 34 species of tree and shrubbery plantings with phytoncidal properties. It was characterized the regularities of the balance between oxygen production and carbon dioxide evolution by phytocenoses of parks and squares, and found that 2,3 thousand tons of O2 are produced in the investigating area and 2,03 thousand tons of CO2 are absorbed per year. It was established that for the most objects of the greening district with a predominance of triple deck phytocenoses and determined a relatively high index of phytomeliorative efficiency from 6,166 to 8,955. As a result of the study, the low index with a coefficient of 1,069-1,768 wе established only for three squares that have a simplified structure of phytocenoses and insufficient number of tree and shrubbery plantings. Consequently, it was proved that the phytomeliorative role of the phytocenoses of parks and squares of the investigating area is important for the improvement of atmospheric air by minimizing the concentration of dust and pollutants in the air, reducing pathogenic bacteria, oxygen enrichment and carbon dioxide absorption. Prospects for further researches are to develop ways to improve the phytomeliorative efficiency of greeneries for general use.

Malaria is a major global public health problem caused by Plasmodium parasites. Drug resistance is becoming a great challenge. New drugs with novel mechanism of action are urgently required. In malarious countries, medicinal plants are commonly used for malaria treatment. Olea europaea is traditionally used against malaria in Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to isolate and evaluate antimalarial activity of chemical constituents extracted from Olea europaea against chloroquine-sensitive Plasmodium berghei-infected mice. Stem bark of Olea europaea was extracted with 80% methanol and fractionated with three solvents. The butanol fraction was subjected to isolation with preparative thin-layer chromatography (PTLC). Acute oral toxicity studies were conducted in mice as per the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guideline 425. Antimalarial activities of the test substances were evaluated using Peter’s 4-day suppressive test. The crude extract showed significant (p<0.01) antiplasmodial activity at all doses with a chemosuppression value of 52.40% at a dose of 600 mg/kg. All fractions also suppressed parasitaemia significantly (p<0.05), the highest suppression (45.42%) being with butanol fraction. In the phytochemical analysis, two compounds were isolated. Both compounds showed significant (p<0.05) antimalarial activities. Compound C inhibited parasitaemia up to 38.19% at a dose of 200 mg/kg. The crude extract, butanol fraction, and isolated compounds also prolonged survival time of mice. No sign of toxicity and mortality was seen in the test substances at up to a single dose of 2 g/kg. Findings of the current study may confirm the traditional antimalarial claim of Olea europaea and its relative safety as well as the potentiality of compound C for further investigations.

Medicinal plants have been used by local communities to treat all sorts of diseases, and this unique indigenous knowledge has been documented in various studies. However, using this vast knowledge to formulate and test hypothesis in ethnobotany is not yet a common practice in the discipline despite recent calls for more hypothesis-driven ethnobotanical researches. Here, we collected ethnobotanical data on 811 woody plant species in the Mpumalanga Province of South Africa to test the non-random hypothesis of medicinal plant selection, which predicts a positive correlation between the size of plant families and the number of medicinal plants in the families. We tested this hypothesis by fitting the commonly used simple linear regression model and the negative binomial model. Our analysis confirmed the hypothesis and revealed that some plant families are over-utilised—i.e. contain more medicinal plants than expected. The identification of over-utilised families is the first step towards the prioritisation of research efforts for drug discovery. The proportion of over-utilised families ranges from 50% (linear regression with untransformed data) and 55% (linear regression after log–log transformation) to 34% (negative binomial model). With the simple linear model and untransformed data, the top over-utilised families are Fabaceae (residual = + 34.44), Apocynaceae (+ 5.82) and Phyllanthaceae (+ 5.53). The log-transformed model confirms these three families as the top over-utilised families but in a slightly different sequence: Fabaceae (+ 1.55), Phyllanthaceae (+ 0.83) and Apocynaceae (+ 0.79). However, using the negative binomial model, Fabaceae is no longer even part of the top 10 over-utilised families, which are now Phyllanthaceae (+ 2.09), Apocynaceae (+ 1.51), Loganiaceae (+ 1.48), Rhamnaceae (+ 1.48), Sapotaceae (+ 1.48), Oleaceae (+ 1.39), Salicaceae (+ 1.39), Clusiaceae (+ 1.30), Boraginaceae (+ 1.28) and Lamiaceae (+ 1.18). This suggests that the relative medicinal value of some families may have been over-estimated in comparison with others. Our study is an illustration of the need to apply appropriate model while testing ethnobotanical hypotheses to inform priority setting for drug discovery.

The species of Jasminum Tourn. ex L. (Oleaceae) in Peninsular Malaysia are revised. Eighteen species are recognised, of which eight are endemic. Five of these species have been recorded from Singapore. A key to species is provided, all names are typified, and all species are described. Conservation assessments are given for all species in Peninsular Malaysia. One species is Extinct in Peninsular Malaysia, eleven are Endangered and one is Data Deficient. Jasminum shahii Kiew is described as a new species. In Singapore, two species are certainly Extinct.

Five species of woody climbers—Ampelopsis rubifolia (Wall.) Planch. (Vitaceae), Argyreia wallichii Choisy (Convolvulaceae), Combretum sundaicum Miq. (Combretaceae), Jasminum lanceolaria Roxb. (Oleaceae), and Tetrastigma obovatum Gagnep. (Vitaceae)—are reported here as new distribution records of lianas for the state flora of Manipur, India.

A recent re-evaluation of the Noronhia species from the Guineo-Congolian forests resulted in a much more restricted circumscription of N. mannii. A part of the specimens excluded from N. mannii represents the two new species described here. Both new species, N. silvatica from Liberia, Ivory Coast and Ghana, and N. cameroonensis from Cameroon, have red fruits, while N. mannii has dark purplish fruits. Both new species are small trees or shrubs found in the undergrowth of evergreen forest.

Background: Olive tree (Olea europaea, Oleaceae) leaves have been widely used in traditional herbal medicine to prevent and treat various diseases especially in Mediterranean countries. They contain several potentially bioactive compounds that may have hypoglycemic and hypolipidemic properties. Summary: The literature has recently been attempting to define the relationship between olive leaf (Olea europaea L. folium) polyphenols and a number of health problems. Oleuropein, the basic phenolic compound of olive leaf and its extract, is responsible for the characteristic bitter taste and unique aroma of olive fruits. Furthermore, it is shown that oleuropein and its hydrolyzed products have many beneficial effects on human health because of its antioxidant characters. A number of studies report that olive leaf has potentially positive effects on the parameters related to diabetes and cardiovascular diseases by various mechanisms. Besides, toxicity studies suggest that olive leaf is generally safe even at high doses. Key messages: Although current results obtained until today seem promising, the studies in this subject are usually on cell culture and animal trials. Moreover, mostly the extract forms of olive leaves are used in the studies. More randomized controlled human clinical trials with extensive toxicity studies are needed to evaluate potential health effects and safety.

Syringa reticulata subsp. amurensis (Rupr.) P. S. Green & M. C. Chang (Oleaceae) is a shrub or tree with high medicinal value as well as great ecological significance as an urban garden plant. To b...

The chloroplast genome of Abeliophyllum distichum f. lilacinum Nakai, classified to a monotypic in this genus, and an endemic species in Korea, was sequenced to understand the genetic differences among intraspecies and cultivars of A. distichum. The chloroplast genome length is 156,015 bp (GC ratio is 37.8%) and has a typical quadripartite structure: 86,779 bp large single copy (35.8%) and 17,828 bp small single copy (31.9%) regions separated by two 25,704 bp inverted repeat (43.2%) regions. The genome encodes for 133 genes (88 protein-coding genes, eight rRNAs, and 37 tRNAs). Six to 99 SNPs and seven to 18 INDEL regions (19 bp to 72 bp) were identified against available chloroplast genomes of A. distichum. Phylogenetic trees show that A. distichum f. lilacinum is clustered with the Dae Ryun cultivar which has a larger fruit body. Our analyses suggest additional research, such as Genotyping-By-Sequencing, for understanding relationship between morphology and genotype of A. distichum.

Two new genera, three new species and three new records of eriophyoid mites from China are described and illustrated: Medicavarus rhododendrus gen. nov. et sp. nov. from Rhododendron delavayi Franch. (Ericaceae); Rhycanonaequitas laevifolia gen. nov. et sp. nov. from Magnolia laevifolia (Y.W. Law & Y.F. Wu) Noot. (Magnoliaceae); Cosella quihouis sp. nov. on Ligustrum quihoui Carr. (Oleaceae); Rhombacus eucalypti Ghosh & Chakrabarti, 1987 rec. nov. on Eucalyptus sp. (Myrtaceae); Keiferana neolitsiae (Channabasavanna, 1966) rec. nov. on Cinnamomum burmanni (Nees et T. Nees) Blume (Lauraceae); Petanovicia cathartica Zhao, Li & Wang, 2018 rec. nov. on Allamanda schottii Pohl (Apocynaceae).

Green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica) is the most widely distributed ash tree in North America. Once common, it has experienced high mortality from the non-native invasive emerald ash borer (EAB; Agrilus planipennis). A small percentage of native green ash trees that remain healthy in long-infested areas, termed "lingering ash," display partial resistance to the insect, indicating that breeding and propagating populations with higher resistance to EAB may be possible. To assist in ash breeding, ecology and evolution studies, we report the first chromosome-level assembly from the genus Fraxinus for F. pennsylvanica with over 99% of bases anchored to 23 haploid chromosomes, spanning 757 Mb in total, composed of 49.43% repetitive DNA, and containing 35,470 high-confidence gene models assigned to 22,976 Asterid orthogroups. We also present results of range-wide genetic variation studies, the identification of candidate genes for important traits including potential EAB-resistance genes, and an investigation of comparative genome organization among Asterids based on this reference genome platform. Residual duplicated regions within the genome probably resulting from a recent whole genome duplication event in Oleaceae were visualized in relation to wild olive (Olea europaea var. sylvestris). We used our F. pennsylvanica chromosome assembly to construct reference-guided assemblies of 27 previously sequenced Fraxinus taxa, including F. excelsior. Thus, we present a significant step forward in genomic resources for research and protection of Fraxinus species.

Three new species of Fungitarsonemus Cromroy, 1958 (Acari: Heterostigmatina: Tarsonemidae), F. baganbilasae Karmakar & Mondal sp. nov., F. icchepaharicus Karmakar & Mondal sp. nov., F. rishyapensis Karmakar & Mondal sp. nov., are described based on the specimens collected from Bougainvillea glabra (Nyctaginaceae) in a part of the lower Gangetic plains located in Nadia district; Citrus reticulata (Rutaceae), Jasminum mesnyi (Oleaceae) and Prunus domestica (Rosaceae) in parts of the Central Himalayan biotic province spread across the hills of Darjeeling and Kalimpong district of West Bengal, India. This registers the first record of Fungitarsonemus from India.

The breakdown of self-incompatibility (SI) in angiosperms is one of the most commonly observed evolutionary transitions. While multiple examples of SI breakdown have been documented in natural populations, there is strikingly little evidence of stable within-population polymorphism with both inbreeding (self-compatible) and outcrossing (self-incompatible) individuals. This absence of mating system polymorphism corroborates theoretical expectations that predict that in/outbreeding polymorphism is possible only under very restricted conditions. However, theory also predicts that a diallelic sporophytic SI system facilitates the maintenance of such polymorphism. We tested this prediction by studying the mating system ofLigustrum vulgareL., an entomophilous hermaphroditic species of the Oleaceae family. Using stigma tests with controlled pollination and paternity assignment of open-pollinated progenies, we confirmed the existence of two self-incompatibility groups in this species. We also demonstrated the existence of self-compatible individuals in different populations of Western Europe arising from a mutation affecting the expression of the pollen component of SI. We then estimated the selfing rate in a garden experiment. Our results finally show that the observed low frequency of self-compatible individuals in natural populations is compatible with theoretical predictions only if inbreeding depression is very high.

Carotenoids and phenylpropanoids play a dual role of limiting and countering photooxidative stress. We hypothesize that their “antioxidant” function is prominent in plants exposed to summer drought, when climatic conditions exacerbate the light stress. To test this, we conducted a field study on Phillyrea latifolia, a Mediterranean evergreen shrub, carrying out daily physiological and biochemical analyses in spring and summer. We also investigated the functional role of the major phenylpropanoids in different leaf tissues. Summer leaves underwent the most severe drought stress concomitantly with a reduction in radiation use efficiency upon being exposed to intense photooxidative stress, particularly during the central hours of the day. In parallel, a significant daily variation in both carotenoids and phenylpropanoids was observed. Our data suggest that the morning-to-midday increase in zeaxanthin derived from the hydroxylation of ß-carotene to sustain non-photochemical quenching and limit lipid peroxidation in thylakoid membranes. We observed substantial spring-to-summer and morning-to-midday increases in quercetin and luteolin derivatives, mostly in the leaf mesophyll. These findings highlight their importance as antioxidants, countering the drought-induced photooxidative stress. We concluded that seasonal and daily changes in photosynthetic and non-photosynthetic pigments may allow P. latifolia leaves to avoid irreversible photodamage and to cope successfully with the Mediterranean harsh climate.

The new species Forestiera veracruzana is described and illustrated. This newly described plant is part of the tree and shrub strata of riparian forests in the lowlands and hills of the Mexican states of Veracruz and Tabasco. Forestiera veracruzana is morphologically similar to F. corollata, and F. isabeliae by the presence of petals, and possibly to F. rhamnifolia, which also grow in similar environments, but it can be readily distinguished from these by its polygamodioecious condition, the length of peduncle, and the length and shape of pistil at anthesis.

Forsythia saxatilis (Nakai) Nakai is an endemic species in Korea. We present the second complete chloroplast genome sequence of F. saxatilis showing that the chloroplast genome is 156,376 bp in length containing four subregions: a large single-copy (LSC) region of 87,097 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) region of 17,859 bp, and a pair of inverted repeat regions (IRs) of 25,710 bp. The genome contains 131 genes including 88 protein-coding genes, 35 tRNAs, and eight rRNAs. We found 40 base differences in 17 sites between our chloroplast genome and the previously reported chloroplast genome sequences of F. saxatilis. All of the differences were found in a region of 832 bp in the LSC region except for one site, which indicated potential sequencing errors in building the previously reported genome because of little substitutions in the homologous region of the other Forsythia species and even of Abeliophyllum distichum, a sister to Forsythia. The new chloroplast genomes of F. saxatilis and those of F. x intermedia and F. viridissima are identical, which suggests that F. saxatilis is maternally closely related to the other two species.

Syringa reticulata subsp. pekinensis (Ruprecht) P. S. Green & M. C. Chang (Oleaceae: Syringeae) is horticultural woody plant. To grasp a better comprehension on the molecular basis of S. reticulata...

WRKY transcription factors, one of the largest transcription factor families, play important roles in regulating the synthesis of secondary metabolites. In sweet osmanthus (Osmanthus fragrans), the monoterpenes have been demonstrated as the most important volatile compounds, and the W-box, which is the cognate binding site of WRKY transcription factors, could be identified in most of the terpene-synthesis-related genes’ promoters. However, the role of the WRKY family in terpene synthesis in sweet osmanthus has rarely been examined. In this study, 154 WRKY genes with conserved WRKY domain were identified and classified into three groups. The group II was further divided into five subgroups, and almost all members of IId contained a plant zinc cluster domain. Eight OfWRKYs (OfWRKY7/19/36/38/42/84/95/139) were screened from 20 OfWRKYs for their flower-specific expression patterns in different tissues. Simultaneously, the expression patterns of OfWRKYs and emission patterns of volatile compounds during the flowering process were determined and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry results showed that monoterpenes, such as linalool and ocimene, accounted for the highest proportion, contributing to the floral scent of sweet osmanthus in two cultivars. In addition, correlation analysis revealed the expression patterns of OfWRKYs (OfWRKY7/19/36/139) were each correlated with distinct monoterpenes (linalool, linalool derivatives, ocimene and ocimene derivatives). Subcellular localization analysis showed that p35S::GFP–OfWRKY7/38/95/139 were localized in the nucleus and OfWRKY139 had very strong transactivation activity. Collectively, the results indicated potential roles of OfWRKY139 and OfWRKYs with plant zinc cluster domain in regulating synthesis of aromatic compounds in sweet osmanthus, laying the foundation for use of OfWRKYs to improve the aroma of ornamental plants.

Addressing the risk from pests present in wood and wood products destined for international trade is an essential step towards minimizing the movement, introduction and establishment of invasive species. One method of managing the pest risk associated with wood commodities is the use of a systems approach that incorporates multiple independent measures applied along a production pathway. However, quantifying the reduction of risk can be difficult because the approach requires raw material infested with the pest of interest at a sufficient density to be able to quantify changes in pest abundance. We tested a systems approach for the production of sawn wood using green ash, Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marshall (Lamiales: Oleaceae), infested with emerald ash borer, Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), by quantifying the change in pest density during the milling process and the precise effect of heat treatment on insects in situ. Greater than 90% of emerald ash borer were removed at the first step of the milling process (debarking) and >99% were removed before the production of green sawn wood. No insects survived kilning or heat treatment. All life stages of emerald ash borer were killed at 56°C and above. Heat, however, had no sublethal effect on emerald ash borer performance. These results show that the application of a systems approach to mitigate emerald ash borer in heat-treated, sawn wood is effective. Moreover, the model-system approach developed in this study can be a template for investigating the effect of systems approaches for other phloem-feeding insects.

Rationale Floral volatiles are commonly present only at trace amounts and can be degraded or lost during vapor collection, which is often challenging from the analytical standpoint. Osmanthus fragrans Lour. is a widely cultivated plant known for the highly distinct fragrance of its flowers. The identification of specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and molecular differentiation of O. fragrans without any chemical pretreatment and VOC collection are important. Methods Twenty-eight VOCs released by the flowers from ten different cultivars of O. fragrans were identified using neutral desorption extractive atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (ND-EAPCI-MS) without any chemical pretreatment or VOC collection. Chemical identification was performed by high-resolution MSn analysis and whenever possible was confirmed by the analysis of standards. Results According to our literature search, nine of the identified VOCs, 3-buten-2-one, cyclohexadiene, 2-methylfuran, 3-allylcyclohexene, cuminyl alcohol, hotrienol oxide, epoxy-linalool oxide, N-(2-hydroxyethyl) octanamide, and 3-hydroxy-dihydro-β-ionone, have not been reported in O. fragrans in earlier studies. Confident differentiation between ten different cultivars of O. fragrans was achieved by the principal component analysis of the mass spectrometric results. Conclusions The results of our ND-EAPCI-MS analysis substantially increase our knowledge about the chemistry of the O. fragrans floral fragrance and demonstrate the power of this technique for direct molecular profiling for plant recognition or in biotechnological applications.