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Abstract In the present study we propose a new Catasetum taxon belonging to the group of species with symmetrical and converging antennae. It was found in a vegetation of “terra firme” and “campinarana” in the central Brazilian Amazon. A detailed description of the taxon is given as well as a photograph plate and comments relating to distribution, habitat, phenology and conservation status. It is compared to C. rivularium and C. barbatum which are sympatric species and somewhat similar to the new taxon. Furthermore, we present a key to Catasetum species with symmetrical and convergent antennae occurring in the Brazilian Amazon.

Epiphytic species are ecologically important and a significant component of biodiversity. To ensure their efficient conservation, we need to understand their ecology and host plant associations. It is also important to investigate how the predicted temperature change will affect their future distribution. Here, we use data collected in Nepal to investigate how epiphytic orchids are associated with host species, their distribution patterns, and how they may be threatened by the predicted increase in temperature towards the end of the 21st century. We used the phi coefficient (Φ) of association to calculate the associations of epiphytic orchid species with plants and rarefaction to describe the diversity of orchids associated with a particular host species. We used interpolation to estimate the distribution of epiphytic orchids and their host species along altitudinal gradients. The phi (Φ) coefficient of association revealed that 30 species of host plants showed more association with different orchid species than expected. The number of epiphytic orchids increased with the number of host individuals. We predict that an increase in temperature by ~3 °C, which is a more moderate value of temperature increase by the end of the 21st century, will affect at least 52 narrow-ranged species of orchids and 58 narrow-ranged species of host plants. Therefore, we should make efforts to prevent many plant species from becoming extinct, as an increase in temperature is likely to affect their existence.

Hemiepiphytes have captured the attention of biologists since they seemingly hold clues to the evolution of epiphytes themselves. Hemiepiphytes are known to occur sporadically in the leptosporangiate ferns, but our understanding of their evolution remains limited by the relatively small number of detailed observations. This study adds to our knowledge by documenting seven species previously assumed to be holoepiphytes. This finding was based on fieldwork conducted in the Baining Mountains of Papua New Guinea that resulted in 319 collections representing 206 species. Approximately 3% of these species were hemiepiphytes: Asplenium acrobryum, A. amboinense, A. scandens, A. scolpendropsis, Crepidomanes aphlebioides, Leptochilus macrophyllus, and Sphaerostephanos scandens. All started growth as low-trunk epiphytes, and later, as larger climbing plants, exhibited strongly dimorphic roots consisting of short clasping ones that affixed the rhizome to the trunks and long feeding roots that entered the soil. Most of the seven hemiepiphyte species that we found exhibited distichous phyllotaxy and dorsiventrally flattened rhizomes, suggesting morphological convergence associated with this habit in four families. These new records suggest that large hemiepiphytic clades occur in Asplenium and Leptochilus. Our observations expand the geographic and taxonomic breadth of hemiepiphytic ferns, provide a baseline estimate of their diversity within a tropical flora, and offer morphological and phylogenetic clues to uncover additional records.

There are approximately 30,000 species in the family Orchidaceae, with some species growing terrestrially and others growing as epiphytes. Though the pollination biology of many of these species is not well known, there has been a diversity of taxa recorded as orchid pollinators. Insects, birds, and even a record of a mammal species have been documented as successful pollinators, while some orchids are able to reproduce without the use of a pollen vector. The goal of this review is to provide an overview of orchid pollination tactics, with references to more specific studies of each, and to analyze a large subset of publications to determine differences in pollinator taxa and specificity between epiphytic and terrestrial orchid genera. This review examines pollination data from over 400 orchid species, including 74 epiphytic and 83 terrestrial orchid genera. Two pollinator taxa, Coleoptera and Hymenoptera (Class: Insecta), were found to pollinate significantly more terrestrial than epiphytic orchid genera, while other taxa showed no significant differences. Hymenoptera were the dominant taxa of pollinator in regards to the overall number of species recorded; however, based on species interaction webs that were built, the Lepidoptera (Class: Insecta) have stronger interactions with the orchid species they pollinate, suggesting a more specific relationship between the two.

Subalpine habitats in sky islands in the Southwestern USA are currently facing large-scale transformations. Lichens have widely been used as bioindicators of environmental change. On the Colorado Plateau, fruticose lichens occur in patchy, disconnected populations, including unique lichen-draped conifer sites in subalpine forests in the La Sal Mountains in southeastern Utah. Here, we document the distribution and fungal diversity within these lichen communities. We find that lichen-draped conifer sites in the La Sal Mountains are restricted to only three known, small areas in Picea englemannii forests above 3000 m above sea level, two of which have recently been impacted by wildfire. We document 30 different species of lichen-forming fungi in these communities, several which represent the first reports from the Colorado Plateau. We also characterize mycobiont haplotype diversity for the fruticose lichens Evernia divaricata, Ramalina sinensis, and multiple Usnea species. We also report a range of diverse fungi associated with these lichens, including genetic clusters representing 22 orders spanning seven classes of Ascomycetes and fewer clusters representing Basidiomycetes. Our results provide a baseline for ongoing monitoring and help to raise awareness of unique lichen communities and other biodiversity in the region.

The Cyclanthaceae comprise a relatively small family of about 230 species and 12 genera in the Pandanales that is widespread in wet Neotropical forests. The great majority of species can be divided into three growth forms (understory herbs, epiphytes, and root-climbing hemiepiphytes) that share functional traits with similar growth forms present in the Araceae, a member of the Alismatales and not closely related. Our objectives were first to characterize the diversity, functional growth forms, and ecological traits of Cyclanthaceae at the La Selva Biological Station. Specific functional leaf and canopy traits of terrestrial herbs and epiphytes are very similar and associated with ecological success in both families. We further examined the functional traits of root-climbing hemiepiphytes, a specialized growth form that links the two families but rare in other families and argue that their specialized functional traits allow them to be considered as a distinct functional growth form. A key trait in distinguishing hemiepiphytes which are rare outside of the Cyclanthaceae and Araceae is the severance of the main stem hydraulic connection to the soil early in plant development. We used field data to examine the possible evolutionary pathways of developmental and ecological transition from terrestrial to hemiepiphyte growth forms. The broader ecological success of hemiepiphytic Araceae compared to Cyclanthaceae is hypothesized to result from the presence of heteroblasty in developing stems and leaves which allows more efficient utilization of complex canopy light environments of wet tropical forests.

We describe and illustrate Maxillaria luizotavioi, a new orchid species from the Brazilian Amazon belonging to Maxillaria sect. Rufescens. The new species can be distinguished from Maxillaria cruentata from Colombia, the morphologically most similar species, by having pale yellow sepals and petals, lanceolate lateral sepals and dark vinous lip with rounded to obtuse apex. Additionally, we provide an identification key to the species of the section that occurs in Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climatic niches are key factors driving global and regional species distributions. The Atlantic Forest domain is considered one of the most threatened biomes in the world, and one of the main centres of plant diversity and endemism in the Neotropics. Of the over 13,000 species of vascular plants, nearly 15% are vascular epiphytes. Here we analysed for the first time how current epiphyte niches will be affected under future climate projections (SSP126 and SSP585) within 1.5 million km2 of Atlantic Forest in South America. Using the largest database of vascular epiphytes to date (n = 1521 species; n = 75,599 occurrence records) and ordination models, we found that the Atlantic Forest is expected to become warmer and drier and that up to 304 epiphyte species (20%) will have their average niche positions displaced outside the available climate space by the years 2040–2100. The findings from this study can help to inform ongoing legislative conservation efforts in one of the world's most biodiverse regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Similar to plants in many other families, members of the Hymenophyllaceae use numerous substrates for growth, e.g., soil, rocks or tree bark. However, substrate preference does not only differ among species but can also vary among members of the same species. There have been several attempts in the past to appropriately capture this variation, but none proved feasible or was replicated in any subsequent work. In our approach, we use textual information from numerous sources like checklists, floras and species descriptions to come up with a quantitative index of the preference of 450 species of filmy ferns (=c. 75% of all species of the family) for epiphytic, lithophytic or terrestrial growth. We show that the majority of species have clear habitat preferences, while strict habitat specificity is rather uncommon. Our compilation will be an important input for future ecological and phylogenetic studies in this family, but the presented approach is of much more general interest: it is immediately applicable to other taxonomic groups and should eventually allow us to replace the current approach of assigning species to distinct categories (epiphyte, lithophyte or terrestrial) by one that finally reflects biological variability more appropriately. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The seed morphology of three species belonging to the genus Bromheadia was analyzed under light and scanning electron microscopy. The seeds of B. cecieliae and B. truncata were studied for the first time. Differences in the qualitative and quantitative characteristics between the terrestrial B. finlaysoniana and the epiphytes B. cecieliae and B. truncata were observed, which were in concordance with the life form. Due to the variability of the seed shapes, a new methodology is proposed to analyze the distance between the embryo and the testa cells, with the aim of demonstrating the presence of air space within the seed. The method is compared to previous formulae used to measure free air space. Furthermore, a new measurement, the angle in twisted testa cells of epiphytic orchids, is proposed, to evaluate the degree of torsion in medial cells. Although the wide distribution of B. finlaysoniana could be related to the great buoyancy of their seeds in contrast to the limited distribution of B. cecieliae, we consider that environmental factors are more influential than the buoyancy of seeds when understanding the distribution of these taxa. Future studies on seeds morphology in orchid genera with terrestrial and epiphytic taxa will provide new insights into this research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epiphytes on Posidonia oceanica play a crucial role for determination of the ecological status of marine environment in time and space besides the seagrasses alone. The study was aimed to estimate the spatiotemporal ecological status linked to variation in biometry of an epiphytic micro-calcareous red alga, Hydrolithon boreale, found on leaves of the meadow with the exclusive environmental parameters along the entire Turkish coast of the Mediterranean Sea. Collection of Posidonia oceanica samples was conducted at 64 stations in winter (December 2018–January 2019) and 112 stations in summer (June–July 2019) by SCUBA (0.4 × 0.4 m of a quadrate frame) in the infralittoral zone along the entire Turkish Mediterranean coast surrounded by the siliciclastic Taurus Mountain Range which favor growth of epiphytic micro-calcareous red algae. Percent occurrence of the epiphyte changed seasonally—lower in winter (25%) than in summer (44%). The epiphyte which is an indicator and sensitive to undisturbed marine area grew up well to 5 mm in diameter, 0.35 mm in thickness of the crust size, and was populated up to 1006 ind/m2 in summer owing to the increased utilization of the carbonate by the epiphyte with the increased water temperature. The size was contrasted to the density (abundance and biomass) in space. The biometry was significantly dependent on the siliciclastic-carbonate deposition as inferred from SiO4–Si of the water in relation to the leaf area index (LAI) of P. oceanica. Therefore, this deposition induced specimens to grow in size, followed by the reduced density concerning the N-based nutrient of the water. Further major environmental parameters which negatively affected the biometry were pH and total suspended matter of the water, analogous to turbidity. Of the trace elements, Ni was negatively correlated with the biometry, whereas the LAI was however positively correlated with all the anthropogenic-sourced trace elements (V, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, and Pb) in the leaves. Of the bottom types, the calcite rock had a higher density than the other soft bottoms in contrast to the size of the epiphyte. Future studies could be based on the present study for determination of the ecological status regarding two dominant epiphytes on leaves of two seagrasses (H. boreale on P. oceanica and partly Pneophyllum fragile on Cymodocea nodosa) found in the different environments and substrates in space and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bryophytes are prolific producers of unique, specialized metabolites that are not found in other plants. As many of these unique natural products are potentially interesting, for example, pharmacological use, variations in the production regarding ecological or environmental conditions have not often been investigated. Here, we investigate metabolic shifts in the epiphytic Radula complanata L. (Dumort) with regard to different environmental conditions and the type of phorophyte (host tree). Plant material was harvested from three different locations in Sweden, Germany, and Canada and subjected to untargeted liquid chromatography high-resolution mass-spectrometry (UPLC/ESI-QTOF-MS) and data-dependent acquisition (DDA-MS). Using multivariate statistics, variable selection methods, in silico compound identification, and compound classification, a large amount of variation (39%) in the metabolite profiles was attributed to the type of host tree and 25% to differences in environmental conditions. We identified 55 compounds to vary significantly depending on the host tree (36 on the family level) and 23 compounds to characterize R. complanata in different environments. Taken together, we found metabolic shifts mainly in primary metabolites that were associated with the drought response to different humidity levels. The metabolic shifts were highly specific to the host tree, including mostly specialized metabolites suggesting high levels of ecological interaction. As R. complanata is a widely distributed generalist species, we found it to flexibly adapt its metabolome according to different conditions. We found metabolic composition to also mirror the constitution of the habitat, which makes it interesting for conservation measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial symbionts of plants constitute promising sources of biocontrol organisms to fight plant pathogens. Bacillus sp. G2112 and Pseudomonas sp. G124 isolated from cucumber (Cucumis sativus) leaves inhibited the plant pathogens Erwinia and Fusarium. When Bacillus sp. G2112 and Pseudomonas sp. G124 were co-cultivated, a red halo appeared around Bacillus sp. G2112 colonies. Metabolite profiling using liquid chromatography coupled to UV and mass spectrometry revealed that the antibiotic phenazine-1-carboxylic acid (PCA) released by Pseudomonas sp. G124 was transformed by Bacillus sp. G2112 to red pigments. In the presence of PCA (>40 µg/mL), Bacillus sp. G2112 could not grow. However, already-grown Bacillus sp. G2112 (OD600 > 1.0) survived PCA treatment, converting it to red pigments. These pigments were purified by reverse-phase chromatography, and identified by high-resolution mass spectrometry, NMR, and chemical degradation as unprecedented 5N-glucosylated phenazine derivatives: 7-imino-5N-(1′β-D-glucopyranosyl)-5,7-dihydrophenazine-1-carboxylic acid and 3-imino-5N-(1′β-D-glucopyranosyl)-3,5-dihydrophenazine-1-carboxylic acid. 3-imino-5N-(1′β-D-glucopyranosyl)-3,5-dihydrophenazine-1-carboxylic acid did not inhibit Bacillus sp. G2112, proving that the observed modification constitutes a resistance mechanism. The coexistence of microorganisms—especially under natural/field conditions—calls for such adaptations, such as PCA inactivation, but these can weaken the potential of the producing organism against pathogens and should be considered during the development of biocontrol strategies.

Orchids have been long fascinating biologists and ecologists because of their remarkable range of life history strategies, floral and vegetative morphology, pollination syndromes, and symbiotic fungi. However, the diversity and distribution patterns of orchids remain unclear in several regions, seriously hindering the understanding of orchid diversity and their maintenance mechanisms. In this study, species richness, abundance, and environmental conditions of epiphytic and terrestrial orchids were investigated along an elevation gradient of Mt. Victoria, Myanmar, ranging from 600 to 3000 m with 200-m intervals. A binary species-based network was structured between epiphytic orchids and their hosts to further address the effect of hosts on orchid distribution. In total, 94 orchid species were recorded, including 58 epiphytic and 36 terrestrial orchids. A hump-shaped pattern of epiphytic orchid richness occurred along the elevation gradient, with the highest richness at ca. 2200 m, whereas terrestrial orchid richness follows a monotonous decrease. Both elevation and slope significantly affected the species composition and diversity of epiphytic and terrestrial orchids, while terrestrial orchids were also affected by herb coverage. The network between epiphytic orchids and their hosts exhibited a low level of connectance, and significant nestedness with a high level of modularity and specialization. Interactions in the network were heterogeneously distributed among hosts, as Lithocarpus variolosus, Rhododendron arboretum, and Lyonia ovalifolia hosted a wide variety of orchid species and hence played an important role in maintaining the diversity pattern of epiphytic orchids, while the bulk of species exhibited few interactions. Twenty epiphytic orchids (such as Sunipia grandiflora, Liparis viridiflora, Porpax grandiflora and Liparis tsii), which were only attached to specific host species, may be exposed to a high risk of extinction with the intensification of human activities. This study provides basic data for the conservation and management of orchids in Mt. Victoria, Myanmar.

Background: Bromeliaceae are widespread in Mexico and present in all types of vegetation. A high number of species are restricted to the country. Jalisco is the fifth Mexican state regarding Bromeliaceae richness and 18 % of its species are state endemics. Questions and / or Hypotheses: How bromeliads are distributed in Western Sierra-Coast region of Jalisco? What is the endemism status of bromeliads in the region? Studied species: Native Bromeliaceae of WSC. Study site and dates: WSC region in Jalisco, collections from 1926 to 2020. Methods: Data were obtained by herbarium material revision and field expeditions. We analyzed life form, distribution by vegetation type, altitudinal range, and recollection activity per year. A richness map was generated. To determine the affinity of the bromeliad flora with other regions of the state, a cluster analysis was performed using UPGMA method. Results: We found nine genera and 53 species, richest genera were Tillandsia and Pitcairnia. Epiphyte was the commonest life form. Oak forest had the highest species number, most taxa were found between 250-750 m asl. Most collections come from the municipality of Cabo Corrientes accounting for 66 % of total species in WSC. The study area hosts, six species of endemic bromeliads. Conclusions: Despite to their restricted distribution, none of the endemic species from WSC are listed under special protection. The WSC should be considered for conservation. The tourism development, deforestation and climate change could have a negative impact on bromeliads, especially epiphytes that depend entirely on the host trees.

The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau (QTP), the highest and largest plateau in the world, plays a vital role in maintaining the balance of the global ecosystem and China's ecological barriers. The QTP ecosystems are facing serious challenges under the scenario of global climate change. Epiphytic plant diversity is one of the most significant contributors to forest diversity. Epiphytic bryophytes play an important role in forest ecosystem functioning. However, previous studies of epiphytic bryophyte diversity have rarely considered both phorophyte diversity and their ecological networks, factors that are crucial for revealing the ecological processes of community assembly and the mechanisms of biodiversity maintenance and ecosystem stability. We investigated the diversity of epiphytic bryophytes and their host trees in 18 forest sites in the southeastern QTP and analyzed the characteristics of their ecological network. A total of 57 epiphytic bryophyte species in 35 genera and 24 families and 72 individuals of host trees belonging to 14 genera and 10 families were recorded. Epiphytic bryophyte species on Picea, Abies, and Sorbus accounted for 77% of all species. The ecological network structure of epiphytic bryophytes-phorophytes exhibited low connectance and nestedness and a low degree of specialization. The cover of epiphytic bryophytes was significant positively correlated with host tree size (diameter at breast height) and not significantly correlated with bark roughness. Both tree size and bark roughness were weakly positively correlated with epiphytic bryophyte richness. The study results showed that increasing tree diversity is essential for the maintenance of the epiphytic bryophyte diversity in forests of the QTP. Biodiversity conservation of epiphytic bryophytes is consistent with conservation of their host trees.

The aboveground parts of terrestrial plants are colonized by a variety of microbes that collectively constitute the phyllosphere microbiota. Decades of pioneering work using individual phyllosphere microbes, including commensals and pathogens, have provided foundational knowledge about how individual microbes adapt to the phyllosphere environment and their role in providing biological control against pathogens. Recent studies have revealed a more complete repertoire of phyllosphere microbiota across plant taxa and how plants respond to and regulate the level and composition of phyllosphere microbiota. Importantly, the development of several gnotobiotic systems is allowing causative and mechanistic studies to determine the contributions of microbiota to phyllosphere health and productivity. New insights into how the phyllosphere carries out key biological processes, including photosynthesis, biomass accumulation, reproduction, and defense against biotic and abiotic insults, in either the presence or absence of a normal microbiota could unleash novel plant- and microbiota-based technologies to improve agriculturally relevant traits of crop plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bunodeopsis pelagica is one of the few species of sea anemones known to be found in the floating algae of Sargassum spp. It has been reported in the North Atlantic, particularly in the Canary Islands and the coast of Jamaica. The present study is the first to report the occurrence of B. pelagica in the Mexican Atlantic, found as epiphyte on Sargassum natans off Alacranes reef (southern Gulf of Mexico) and in Puerto Morelos reef (Mexican Caribbean), revealing that this species is much more widespread than has been reported. Bunodeopsis pelagica is mainly distinguished from other species of Bunodeopsis by having simple minute protuberances on its column, while its congeners have larger and much more developed vesicular projections. With the record of B. pelagica , the number of known species of actiniarian sea anemones from the Mexican Atlantic increases to 23. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dragon fruit, pitahaya or pitaya are common names for the species in the Hylocereus group of Selenicereus that produce edible fruit. These Neotropical epiphytic cacti are considered promising underutilized crops and are currently cultivated around the world. The most important species, S. undatus, has been managed in the Maya domain for centuries and is the focus of this article. Transcriptome profiles from stems of wild and cultivated plants of this species were compared. We hypothesized that differences in transcriptomic signatures could be associated with genes related to drought stress. De novo transcriptome assembly and the analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) allowed us to identify a total of 9,203 DEGs in the Hunucmá cultivar relative of wild Mozomboa plants. Of these, 4,883 represent up-regulated genes and 4,320, down-regulated genes. Additionally, 6,568 DEGs were identified from a comparison between the Umán cultivar and wild plants, revealing 3,286 up-regulated and 3,282 down-regulated genes. Approximately half of the DEGs are shared by the two cultivated plants. Differences between the two cultivars that were collected in the same region could be the result of differences in management. Metabolism was the most representative functional category in both cultivars. The up-regulated genes of both cultivars formed a network related to the hormone-mediated signaling pathway that includes cellular responses to auxin stimulus and to hormone stimulus. These cellular reactions have been documented in several cultivated plants in which drought-tolerant cultivars modify auxin transport and ethylene signaling, resulting in a better redistribution of assimilates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gracilaria fisheri is an important red seaweed on the sea coast of Thailand. Cultivation of this seaweed has brought economic benefits to the farmers in this country. However, its low growth and quality are problematic due to high contamination and epiphyte outbreaks. This study was performed to examine the growth and epiphytic responses of G. fisheri to Ascophyllum seaweed extract (SE). The algal samples were treated with SE at different concentrations (0, 0.1, 0.5, and 1 g SE L–1). Three sets of experiments were conducted in the laboratory under controlled culture conditions of salinity of 30‰, temperature of 25–26°C, and light intensity of 200 μmol photons m–2 s–1. The algal samples were soaked for 30 min in SE alone (Experiment 1), in Provasoli Enriched Seawater (PES)+SE (Experiment 2), and in PES+SE with a 5% CO2 supplement (Experiment 3). The results showed a significant reduction in epiphytes (>90%) in the sample after one week of treatment with 1 g SE L-1. The use of SE significantly stimulated the branching of G. fisheri (p < 0.05). In comparison to the control plant (PES), the growth rate of the samples treated with PES+0.1 g SE L-1 was 3.40 ± 0.51% day-1 in the first week of culture, and this was increased to 3.84 ± 0.63% day-1 in the samples treated with PES+1 g SE L–1. The growth rate was significantly increased to 5.46 ± 1.05% day-1 in the samples treated with PES+1 g SE L-1 with a 5% CO2 supplement. This study suggested that the use of the Ascophyllum seaweed extract could inhibit epiphytic attachment and that supplementation with 5% CO2 resulted in enhanced growth of G. fisheri under controlled culture conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subalpine habitats in sky islands in the Southwestern USA are currently facing large-scale transformations. Lichens have widely been used as bioindicators of environmental change. On the Colorado Plateau, fruticose lichens occur in patchy, disconnected populations, including unique lichen-draped conifer sites in subalpine forests in the La Sal Mountains in southeastern Utah. Here, we document the distribution and fungal diversity within these lichen communities. We find that lichen-draped conifer sites in the La Sal Mountains are restricted to only three known, small areas in Picea englemannii forests above 3000 m above sea level, two of which have recently been impacted by wildfire. We document 30 different species of lichen-forming fungi in these communities, several which represent the first reports from the Colorado Plateau. We also characterize mycobiont haplotype diversity for the fruticose lichens Evernia divaricata, Ramalina sinensis, and multiple Usnea species. We also report a range of diverse fungi associated with these lichens, including genetic clusters representing 22 orders spanning seven classes of Ascomycetes and fewer clusters representing Basidiomycetes. Our results provide a baseline for ongoing monitoring and help to raise awareness of unique lichen communities and other biodiversity in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Philodendron rio-pretense C.A.S.Bat. & M.L.Soares belongs to the subgenus Philodendron. This newly described species is similar to P. carinatum and P. wurdackii but differs from these species primarily due to a combination of the following characteristics: persistence of the prophyll (twisted); stipe short, locules 4 – 7, ovules 1 – 2 and funiculus with trichomes. Notes on the habitat, geographic distribution and conservation status are also provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The actinorhizal plant, Coriaria myrtifolia, is a neurotoxic plant species endemic to the western Mediterranean area, which forms a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with members of Frankia cluster 2. Contrarily to other Frankia clusters, the occurrence and mode of dispersal for infective cluster 2 units outside of the host plant rhizosphere remains controversial. The present study was designed to investigate the structure of the microbiomes of C. myrtifolia phytosphere, rhizosphere, and soil samples extending outward linearly up to 1 km. Results showed that the epiphyte and endophyte communities were not significantly different from each other for most of the plant tissues. The communities associated with the below-ground tissues (nodule and root) were significantly different from those found on the above-ground tissues (fruit, leaves, and stems) and had a higher community richness. Coriaria myrtifolia phytomicrobiomes were dominated by Cyanobacteria for leaf, stem, and fruit while Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were dominant in the root and nodule organelles. The nodule, a special niche for nitrogen fixation, was mainly inhabited by Frankia but contained several non-Frankia bacteria. Beside Frankia cluster 2, the presence of clusters 1, 4, and large numbers of cluster 3 strains have been detected in nodules, roots, and rhizospheres of C. myrtifolia. Despite Frankia being found in all plots using plant trapping bioassays with C. myrtifolia seedlings, Frankia cluster 2 was not detected in soil metagenomes showing the limits of detection by this approach. This result also suggests that in the absence of appropriate host plant species, Frankia cluster 2 has a reduced number of infective units present in the soil outward from the rhizosphere. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research that has been conducted documenting species richness patterns on tropical mountains has resulted in conflicting observations: monotonic declines with increasing elevation, monotonic increases with increasing elevation, and a mid‐elevation "bulge." Currently, it is unclear if these differences are due to environmental differences among study areas, the taxonomic groups or ecological groups (e.g., growth form) sampled, or the scale of study along elevation gradients. Because of the difficulty in sampling and identifying canopy‐dwelling plants, the number of inventories quantifying tropical epiphytes is relatively limited and recent. In this study, we provide a detailed qualitative and quantitative assessment of the vascular epiphyte flora and its spatial distribution on Volcán Maderas, Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua, including weather and environmental measurements along the entire elevation gradient of the volcano. We sampled epiphytes in five distinct forest types associated with increasing elevation as follows: dry forest, humid forest, wet forest, cloud forest, and elfin forest. Five weather stations were placed along the elevation gradient for us to relate observed patterns to environmental conditions. A mid‐elevation peak in species richness was detected for all vascular epiphytes at approximately 1000 m in elevation (cloud forest), yet epiphyte abundance increased with increasing elevation. In total we identified 206 taxa of vascular epiphytes belonging to 26 families and 73 genera. The most species‐rich family was the Orchidaceae with 55 species for the entire elevation gradient, followed by Bromeliaceae (29 species), Araceae (23), Polypodiaceae (25), Dryopteridaceae (16), and Piperaceae (11), with all other families represented by fewer than 10 species each. We found that richness patterns differ phylogenetically across epiphyte groups, possibly due to different adaptive strategies, and species for the most part appear to be narrowly distributed within specific habitat zones along the elevation gradient. Variables associated with moisture, precipitation, humidity, mist, or cloud cover are key to understanding the observed patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aims – A recent taxonomic and molecular study of the genus Cyrtorchis revealed three new species. Here, we describe one of these new species, endemic to the Cameroon Volcanic Line (CVL), and compare it to its closest relatives. Its conservation status is provided along with detailed information on its ecology and reproductive biology.Material and methods – A detailed examination of 21 herbarium specimens was performed using standard practices of herbarium taxonomy. The conservation status of the new species was assessed using the IUCN Red List Categories and Criteria. Furthermore, we investigated the reproductive biology of the new species in an easily accessible subpopulation in Cameroon and tested the hypothesis of hawkmoth pollination in the genus Cyrtorchis. Key results – The newly discovered species, here named C. okuensis, is restricted to the montane forest (1600 to 2500 m elevation) of the CVL and is currently assessed as Near Threatened (NT). Among angraecoid orchids in which hawkmoth pollination is recorded (~16 species), C. okuensis has the shortest nectar spur (19–40 mm). In situ observations revealed hawkmoths with short proboscis of the genus Hippotion (H. celerio, H. eson, and H. osiris) as the main pollinators. The rate of pollination and fruiting under natural conditions was low and among the 448 surveyed flowers only 38.8% (174/448 flowers) had their pollinia removed, 19% produced fruits (87/448 flowers), and 16% (70/448 flowers) set mature fruits. Conclusion – Cyrtorchis okuensis is clearly differentiated from C. submontana by its longer and wider floral bracts, longer anther caps, and wider triangular dorsal sepal.

Abstract Research that has been conducted documenting species richness patterns on tropical mountains has resulted in conflicting observations: monotonic declines with increasing elevation, monotonic increases with increasing elevation, and a mid‐elevation “bulge.” Currently, it is unclear if these differences are due to environmental differences among study areas, the taxonomic groups or ecological groups (e.g., growth form) sampled, or the scale of study along elevation gradients. Because of the difficulty in sampling and identifying canopy‐dwelling plants, the number of inventories quantifying tropical epiphytes is relatively limited and recent. In this study, we provide a detailed qualitative and quantitative assessment of the vascular epiphyte flora and its spatial distribution on Volcán Maderas, Isla de Ometepe, Nicaragua, including weather and environmental measurements along the entire elevation gradient of the volcano. We sampled epiphytes in five distinct forest types associated with increasing elevation as follows: dry forest, humid forest, wet forest, cloud forest, and elfin forest. Five weather stations were placed along the elevation gradient for us to relate observed patterns to environmental conditions. A mid‐elevation peak in species richness was detected for all vascular epiphytes at approximately 1000 m in elevation (cloud forest), yet epiphyte abundance increased with increasing elevation. In total we identified 206 taxa of vascular epiphytes belonging to 26 families and 73 genera. The most species‐rich family was the Orchidaceae with 55 species for the entire elevation gradient, followed by Bromeliaceae (29 species), Araceae (23), Polypodiaceae (25), Dryopteridaceae (16), and Piperaceae (11), with all other families represented by fewer than 10 species each. We found that richness patterns differ phylogenetically across epiphyte groups, possibly due to different adaptive strategies, and species for the most part appear to be narrowly distributed within specific habitat zones along the elevation gradient. Variables associated with moisture, precipitation, humidity, mist, or cloud cover are key to understanding the observed patterns.

The actinorhizal plant, Coriaria myrtifolia, is a neurotoxic plant species endemic to the western Mediterranean area, which forms a nitrogen-fixing symbiosis with members of Frankia cluster 2. Contrarily to other Frankia clusters, the occurrence and mode of dispersal for infective cluster 2 units outside of the host plant rhizosphere remains controversial. The present study was designed to investigate the structure of the microbiomes of C. myrtifolia phytosphere, rhizosphere, and soil samples extending outward linearly up to 1 km. Results showed that the epiphyte and endophyte communities were not significantly different from each other for most of the plant tissues. The communities associated with the below-ground tissues (nodule and root) were significantly different from those found on the above-ground tissues (fruit, leaves, and stems) and had a higher community richness. Coriaria myrtifolia phytomicrobiomes were dominated by Cyanobacteria for leaf, stem, and fruit while Actinobacteria and Proteobacteria were dominant in the root and nodule organelles. The nodule, a special niche for nitrogen fixation, was mainly inhabited by Frankia but contained several non-Frankia bacteria. Beside Frankia cluster 2, the presence of clusters 1, 4, and large numbers of cluster 3 strains have been detected in nodules, roots, and rhizospheres of C. myrtifolia. Despite Frankia being found in all plots using plant trapping bioassays with C. myrtifolia seedlings, Frankia cluster 2 was not detected in soil metagenomes showing the limits of detection by this approach. This result also suggests that in the absence of appropriate host plant species, Frankia cluster 2 has a reduced number of infective units present in the soil outward from the rhizosphere.

Hymenophyllaceae (filmy ferns), with ca. 430 species, are the most species-rich family of early diverging leptosporangiate ferns but have a poor fossil record dating back to the Late Triassic period. Traditionally, Hymenophyllaceae comprise two species-rich genera or clades: Hymenophyllum (hymenophylloids) and Trichomanes sensu lato (s.l.) (trichomanoids). Unequivocal fossils of Hymenophyllum have been reported from the Early Cretaceous of central Mongolia and the early Eocene of Okanogan Highlands, Washington, USA. However, despite being a highly diversified lineage with an estimated 184 extant species, Trichomanes s.l. lack a definitive fossil record, which severely affects the reliability of the molecular dating of this group. Here, we report the first unequivocal fossil record of Trichomanes s.l. as T. angustum comb. nov. on the basis of fertile material with tubular involucres and long exserted receptacles from the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, Myanmar. This species was previously tentatively assigned to Hymenophyllites due to a lack of fertile evidence. Inferred to be an epiphytic fern, T. angustum further enriches the species diversity of the epiphytic palaeocommunities in the mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber, which are mainly composed of Porellalean leafy liverworts and Dicranalean and Hypnodendralean mosses. Fossil records indicate that Hymenophyllaceae probably originated in the tropical Pangea at the latest in the Triassic when all continents were coalesced into a single landmass and had already accumulated some notable diversity in low-middle latitude areas of Laurasia by the mid-Cretaceous period.

The introduction of invasive macrophyte species can affect submerged macrophyte community composition and abundance, which in turn can alter the functions of lake ecosystems. Knowing when and how invasive macrophytes arrive and spread can help disentangle the effects of invasive species from other stressors on lake ecosystems. This requires a long‐term (decades) perspective of macrophyte community composition, which is rarely available. An alternative is paleolimnological inferences of macrophyte community composition from fossil diatom assemblages, which requires knowledge of epiphytic diatom communities. Here, we investigated the epiphytic diatom community composition of three common submerged macrophyte species (Chara sp., Potamogeton robbinsii, and the invasive Myriophyllum spicatum) in a typical temperate, mixed forest lake, Chandos Lake, Ontario, Canada, to provide a basis for future paleolimnological research. Non‐parametric, multivariate analysis of variance indicated a statistically significant difference in the epiphytic diatom communities of different macrophyte species, despite principal components analysis showing some overlap among the diatom communities. Diatom community composition of all macrophytes had abundant Achnanthidium minutissimum and Cocconeis placentula. Generalized linear models and univariate analysis of variance identified six diatoms (Encyonopsis microcephala, Epithemia turgida, Gomphonema parvulius, Navicula gerloffi, Rhopalodia gibba, and Rossithidium anastasiae) that were significantly different among macrophyte species. Although it remains uncertain whether these differences are sufficient to infer historical macrophyte community composition from epiphytic diatom fossil assemblages, our results indicate the potential of such an approach and offer suggestions for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study we describe a new species, Epidendrum itacolomiensis, from the historically well collected region of the Itacolomi peak, Minas Gerais, Brazil. We compare the new species with taxa belonging to the E. proligerum complex. The new species has some of the smallest flowers of the complex and is similar to E. bothryanthum and E. parahybunense, but it is easily distinguished from them by the erect stems, the absence of a distinct ventral vesicle in the pedicellate ovary formed by an inflated cuniculus, and pale pink flowers. It also differs from E. bothryanthum by the entire lip. We also provide an illustration, photographs, and an identification key for the species complex. This study highlights that even extensively collected areas in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest may hide new orchid taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biocontrol with hypocrealean entomopathogenic fungi (EF) is a key tool to develop Integrated Pest Management (IPM) programs for the progressive replacement of synthetic chemical insecticides with more environmentally friendly pest control measures. These fungi stand out among entomopathogens not only for their contact mechanism of infection through the arthropod integument, but also for developing close associations with plants including the endophytic lifestyle and rhizosphere competence that can enable them to make broader contributions to IPM and crop production. Anyhow, the interaction of EF with the plants incorporates multitrophic complexity at different levels including insect pests, plants, and their natural enemies. The aim of the present review was to gather and summarize all available data on multitrophic interactions of EF. These fungi can influence both the chemical ecology of host-plant selection by insect pests and the host or prey selection by parasitoid or predators, respectively. Moreover, EF treatments are compatible with natural enemies in terms of safety and effectiveness, which could allow biocontrol strategies for their synergistic application in IPM programs. A comprehensive understanding of the impact of these multitrophic interactions in longer term, farm-level real-life biocontrol implementation studies will provide new opportunities in plant protection and production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Orchidaceae, with more than 25,000 species, is one of the largest flowering plant families that can successfully colonize wide ecological niches, such as land, trees, or rocks, and its members are divided into epiphytic, terrestrial, and saprophytic types according to their life forms. Cellulose synthase (CesA) and cellulose synthase-like (Csl) genes are key regulators in the synthesis of plant cell wall polysaccharides, which play an important role in the adaptation of orchids to resist abiotic stresses, such as drought and cold. In this study, nine whole-genome sequenced orchid species with three types of life forms were selected; the CesA/Csl gene family was identified; the evolutionary roles and expression patterns of CesA/Csl genes adapted to different life forms and abiotic stresses were investigated. The CesA/Csl genes of nine orchid species were divided into eight subfamilies: CesA and CslA/B/C/D/E/G/H, among which the CslD subfamily had the highest number of genes, followed by CesA, whereas CslB subfamily had the least number of genes. Expansion of the CesA/Csl gene family in orchids mainly occurred in the CslD and CslF subfamilies. Conserved domain analysis revealed that eight subfamilies were conserved with variations in orchids. In total, 17 pairs of CesA/Csl homologous genes underwent positive selection, of which 86%, 14%, and none belonged to the epiphytic, terrestrial, and saprophytic orchids, respectively. The interspecies collinearity analysis showed that the CslD genes expanded in epiphytic orchids. Compared with terrestrial and saprophytic orchids, epiphytic orchids experienced greater strength of positive selection, with expansion events mostly related to the CslD subfamily, which might have resulted in strong adaptability to stress in epiphytes. Experiments on stem expression changes under abiotic stress showed that the CslA might be a key subfamily in response to drought stress for orchids with different life forms, whereas the CslD might be a key subfamily in epiphytic and saprophytic orchids to adapt to freezing stress. This study provides the basic knowledge for the further systematic study of the adaptive evolution of the CesA/Csl superfamily in angiosperms with different life forms, and research on orchid-specific functional genes related to life-history trait evolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epiphytic diatoms are phytoplankton groups commonly attached to substrates such as macroalgae. This study analyzes the community structure and diversity of epiphyte diatoms attached to Eucheuma denticulatum cultivated using the horizontal floating cage method. Six thalli of E. denticulatum propagules were taken randomly from each station. The samples were analyzed and identified in the laboratory. The research results clarified that epiphytic diatom composition consisted of 3 classes, two orders, 38 genera, and 79 species. The three classes that have been found include class Coscinodiscophyceae (10 genera) with percentages ranging between 8-34%, class Fragillaryophyceae (12 genera) with percentages ranging between 34-46%, and class Bacillariophyceae (16 genera) with percentages ranging between 26-46%. The uniformity index was 0.8287- 0.9286, which is considered relatively high. The dominance species index was 0.0644-0.2055, categorized as low. Fluctuations in water's physical and chemical factors have no significant effect on the growth of diatom epiphytes in the thallus of E. denticulatum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical dry forests (TDFs) undergo a substantial dry season in which plant species must endure several months of drought. Although TDFs support a diverse array of plant growth forms, it is not clear how they vary in mechanisms for coping with seasonal drought. We measured organic tissue stable isotopic composition of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) across six plant growth forms including epiphytes, terrestrial succulents, trees, shrubs, herbs, and vines, and oxygen (δ18O) of four growth forms, to distinguish among patterns of resource acquisition and evaluate mechanisms for surviving annual drought in a lowland tropical dry forest in Yucatan, Mexico. Terrestrial succulent and epiphyte δ13C was around -14‰, indicating photosynthesis through the Crassulacean acid metabolism pathway, and along with one C4 herb were distinct from mean values of all other growth forms, which were between -26 and -29‰ indicating C3 photosynthesis. Mean tissue δ15N across epiphytes was -4.95‰ and was significantly lower than all other growth forms, which had values around +3‰. Tissue N concentration varied significantly among growth forms with epiphytes and terrestrial succulents having significantly lower values of about 1% compared to trees, shrubs, herbs and vines, which were around 3%. Tissue C concentration was highest in trees, shrubs and vines, intermediate in herbs and epiphytes and lowest in terrestrial succulents. δ18O did not vary among growth forms. Overall, our results suggest several water-saving aspects of resource acquisition, including the absolute occurrence of CAM photosynthesis in terrestrial succulents and epiphytes, high concentrations of leaf N in some species, which may facilitate CO2 drawdown by photosynthetic enzymes for a given stomatal conductance, and potentially diverse N sources ranging from atmospheric N in epiphytes with extremely depleted δ15N values, and a large range of δ15N values among trees, many of which are legumes and dry season deciduous.

The entomopathogenic fungus Akanthomyces muscarius strain IMI 268317, previously known as Lecanicilliummuscariumand Verticillium lecanii, is currently used as a microbial insecticide to protect tomatoes from serious leaf-inhabiting pests in greenhouses. However, its persistence on tomato leaves has been unidentified. Understanding the events and processes of phyllosphere colonisation by this strain should help in developing its practical applications. This study assessed the epiphytic abilities of this strain on tomato leaves in humid conditions, simulating closed greenhouse environments. Conidia applied on tomato leaflets strongly adhered 12 h after inoculation. The mucilage-like materials were found around the germinated conidia after 3 days after inoculation (dpi), which possibly strengthened the adhesion. A total of 15% of conidia germinated at 3 dpi, of which 2% formed typical conidium or an enlarged structure on germ-tube tips. Many conidia were produced on phialide tips that branched from elongated hyphae at 7 dpi; however, invasion into leaf tissue was not observed. On the leaflets, inoculated conidia suspensions of 1 × 105 and 1 × 106 conidia/mL, colony forming units increased 52.6 and 8.8 folds from 0 to 14 dpi, respectively. These results suggested that A. muscarius strain IMI 268317 has high epiphytic abilities on tomato leaflets in a humid condition.

A new species of the species-rich fern genus Lepisorus (Polypodiales, Polypodiaceae) has been found to occur in Shan state, Myanmar. Lepisorus medioximus is described based on morphological characters and phylogenetic evidence. Phylogenetic analyses showed that the specimens of L. medioximus formed a distinct clade nested in the Pseudovittaria clade. The morphological comparison demonstrated that the species is distinct from phylogenetically related species, namely L. elegans, L. contortus, and L. tosaensis, in the morphology of the rhizome scales, size, and shape of the lamina, position of sori, and paraphyses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The entomopathogenic fungus Akanthomyces muscarius strain IMI 268317, previously known as Lecanicilliummuscariumand Verticillium lecanii, is currently used as a microbial insecticide to protect tomatoes from serious leaf-inhabiting pests in greenhouses. However, its persistence on tomato leaves has been unidentified. Understanding the events and processes of phyllosphere colonisation by this strain should help in developing its practical applications. This study assessed the epiphytic abilities of this strain on tomato leaves in humid conditions, simulating closed greenhouse environments. Conidia applied on tomato leaflets strongly adhered 12 h after inoculation. The mucilage-like materials were found around the germinated conidia after 3 days after inoculation (dpi), which possibly strengthened the adhesion. A total of 15% of conidia germinated at 3 dpi, of which 2% formed typical conidium or an enlarged structure on germ-tube tips. Many conidia were produced on phialide tips that branched from elongated hyphae at 7 dpi; however, invasion into leaf tissue was not observed. On the leaflets, inoculated conidia suspensions of 1 × 105 and 1 × 106 conidia/mL, colony forming units increased 52.6 and 8.8 folds from 0 to 14 dpi, respectively. These results suggested that A. muscarius strain IMI 268317 has high epiphytic abilities on tomato leaflets in a humid condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the aggravating factors in the amount of frost damage, is the presence of epiphytic ice nucleation bacteria on plant philosopher. Biological control of ice nucleation bacteria seems to be a promising option to reduce this type of frost damage. In this study, the antimicrobial capacity of epiphytic bacteria and actinomycetes was evaluated through growth inhibition of ice nucleation active bacteria (Pseudomonas fragi raf3) on pistachio in Rafsanjan. For this purpose, samples were collected from healthy pistachio leaves in Rafsanjan. Among the isolated bacteria and actinomycetes, two isolates (A4 and B52) with the highest inhibitory zone were subject to different biochemical and physiological tests. Results showed that the zone of inhibition growth of ice nucleation bacterium on Petri dish, was 20 mm and 14 mm for isolates A4 and B52 respectively. Analysis of morphological and biochemical characteristics showed that isolate A4 was noted to be Gram-positive and to form white, dry colonies similar to actinomycetes. It was able to degrade glucose and sucrose as a carbon source and able to produce lipase, protease and catalase enzymes. This isolate was able to grow in conditions with pH 5 and 7, as well as, showed 2, 5,7 and 10% (w/v) salt-salt (sodium chloride) tolerance. It was tetracycline-sensitive and penicillin-resistance. The other antagonist isolate, B52, had yellow colonies on nutrient agar media Gram-negative bacterium, catalase positive, oxidase negative, facultative anaerobic and lactose fermenting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During surveys of insect pathogenic fungi (IPF) in Thailand, fungi associated with scale insects and plants were found to represent five new species of the genus Ascopolyporus in Cordycipitaceae. Their macroscopic features resembled both Hyperdermium and Ascopolyporus. Morphological comparisons with the type and known Ascopolyporus and Hyperdermium species and phylogenetic evidence from a multigene dataset support the appointment of a new species of Ascopolyporus. Moreover, the data also revealed that the type species of Hyperdermium, H. caulium, is nested within Ascopolyporus, suggesting that Hyperdermium is congeneric with Ascopolyporus. The specimens investigated here differ from other Ascopolyporus species by phenotypic characters including size and color of stromata. Phylogenetic analyses of combined LSU, TEF1, RPB1 and RPB2 sequences strongly support the notion that these strains are distinct from known species of Ascopolyporus, and are proposed as Ascopolyporus albus, A. galloides, A. griseoperitheciatus, A. khaoyaiensis and A. purpuratus. Neohyperdermium gen. nov. is introduced for other species originally assigned to Hyperdermium and Cordyceps occurring on scale insects and host plants as epiphytes, accommodating two new combinations of Hyperdermium pulvinatum and Cordyceps piperis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tropical forest ecosystems are rich in epiphytes that make up a significant portion of the overall plant diversity. However, epiphytic plants are often understudied due to inaccessibility and the lack of basic ecological information poses challenges to their conservation, particularly in a time of rapid global change. The mule-ear orchid, Trichocentrum undulatum (Orchidaceae), is a large flowering epiphyte found in southern Florida (USA), the Greater, and Lesser Antilles including Cuba. The plant is Florida state-listed as endangered with only one remaining small and declining population in a coastal mangrove forest due to historical extraction and habitat destruction. Currently, there is no systematic understanding of the species' habitat requirements. To fill this void, we compared the habitat and microhabitat of the species on its northern distribution edge (southern Florida) and the core range (in Cuba). The Florida population has only one host species, Conocarpus erectus, found in one habitat type. This is in sharp contrast to the 92 documented hosts and 5 habitats across 8 provinces in Cuba. Based on our findings from Cuba, we suggest conservation and restoration options in Florida by proposing potential suitable host plants and habitats. Proactive restoration of this species will help to ease the threat from sea-level rise to the species by securing and expanding range margins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Blue mold caused by Penicillium expansum is one of the most significant postharvest diseases of apples. Some microorganisms associated with the surface of ripening apples possess the ability to inhibit the growth of P. expansum. However, the existing literature about their colonization in the stages before ripening is not explored in depth. This study aims to characterize the antagonistic capacity of bacterial populations from five fruit development stages of ‘Royal Gala’ apples. The results have shown that the density of the bacterial populations decreases throughout the ripening stages of fruit (from 1.0 × 105 to 1.1 × 101 cfu/cm2). A total of 25 bacterial morphotypes (corresponding to five genera identified by 16S RNA) were differentiated in which Bacillus stood out as a predominant genus. In the in vitro antagonism tests, 10 Bacillus strains (40%) inhibited the mycelial growth of P. expansum from 30.1% to 60.1%, while in fruit bioassays, the same strains reduced the fruit rot ranging from 12% to 66%. Moreover, the bacterial strains with antagonistic activity increased in the ripening fruit stage. B. subtilis subsp. spiziennii M24 obtained the highest antagonistic activity (66.9% of rot reduction). The matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization- time of flight mass spectrometry analysis revealed that bacteria with antagonistic activity produce antifungal lipopeptides from iturin and fengycin families.

Beauveria bassiana, known for its entomopathogenic characteristics, is the most widely used biocontrol agent against many insect pests and may also be active against soil-borne pathogens. It inhabits the surfaces or inner tissues of various plant species without causing any visible signs or symptoms. Here we show that B. bassiana strain GHA, the active ingredient of a commercial microbial insecticide, colonises tomato plants. GHA grew on intact leaf surfaces of tomato in high humidity, but never entered stomata. Viable hyphae and conidia were detected, and the population on inoculated leaves significantly increased until 14 days after inoculation. On tomato leaves, GHA conidiated normally via conidiophores and phialides, and also via microcycle conidiation (conidiophores and phialides form directly from germ tubes and produce conidia). Hyphae were also detected inside the rachis, even more frequently after plant surfaces were scarified. These results suggested that B. bassiana strain GHA can grow epiphytically and endophytically on tomato plants.

Three species of the genus Ishige (Phaeophyceae, Ishigeaceae) are known from Korea, Japan and Mexico; they include Ishige foliacea Okamura, I. okamurae Yendo and I. sinicola (Setchell and N.L. Gardner) Chihara. Two species, I. foliacea and I. okamurae, are present in the algal flora of Korea and Japan. The original description of I. okamurae defined two forms of branches, filiform and foliose, but later the foliose branch was recognized as a new species I. foliacea, which is epiphytic on I. okamurae but can also be free-living. The currently proposed lectotype for I. foliacea is based on a free-living form and does not reflect the intent of the original description of the species. In this study, we conducted the DNA barcoding for herbarium specimens to identify Ishige species. Additionally, the variation in cox3 sequences obtained from I. okamurae specimens with two morphological forms collected from waters around the Korean Peninsula was sufficient to separate two species, I. okamurae and its epiphyte I. foliacea. The epiphytic I. foliacea on the lectotype specimen of I. okamurae is designated as lectotype I. foliacea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Current knowledge of flower visitors and pollination of the Philippine lipstick vine species (Aeschynanthus cf. leucothamnos) has not been properly documented. Here, we report the first photographic evidence of floral visitation by a naked-faced spiderhunter (Arachnothera clarae) on A. cf. leucothmnos from Burauen, Leyte, Philippines. We also describe the bird's foraging behavior and its potential as a pollinator of the lipstick vine genus Aeschynanthus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The roots of the red mangrove, Rhizophora mangle, provide a nursery habitat for many species, due to the tridimensional structure they provide, which delimits an area difficult to access to large predators. Moreover, they provide a hard substrate for many benthonic species, which attach to the roots and contribute to the tridimensional structure of the ecosystem. Among these organisms, there are several macroalgae, which contribute to the primary productivity of the ecosystem and provide food and shelter to herbivores. In the present study we identified the macroalgae associated with the roots of Rhizophora mangle, in Cholón beach, Rosario Islands National Park, Caribbean Colombia. We report a total of 36 species of macroalgae: 21 Rhodophyta, eleven Chlorophyta, and four Phaeophyceae. Of these, 19 are new records for the islands, and six are new records for Colombia. This is the first study on the macroalgae associated with mangrove roots in the Colombian Caribbean, and it highlights both the high diversity of the marine flora of the Southwestern Caribbean, as well as the paucity of studies on the topic.

Bawean Island is a small island located between two islands (Java and Borneo). Geographically, the diversity of plants, especially epiphytic plants on this island is very interesting to be studied. This research aims to investigate the diversity of epiphytic plants, focussing on epiphytic orchids, Hoya and Dischidia in Bawean Island Nature Reserve and Wildlife Reserve. It was conducted through an inventory of epiphytic orchids and hoya growing on host trees. The results showed there were 10 species of epiphytic orchid and 3 species of epiphytic Hoya, and 1 species of Dischidia growing on-location studies. The epiphytic orchids which found in location studies included Phalaenopsis amabilis, Aerides odorata, Cymbidium aloifolium, Dendrobium anosmum, Rhynchostylis retusa, Liparis condylobulbon, Taeniophyllum biocellatum, Cymbidium sp., Eria sp. Orchid species that most often found in the study location was Phalaenopsis amabilis. In addition, this study recorded Taeniophyllum biocellatum as an endemic orchid from Java that was found on this island. The epiphytic Hoya recorded in there, i.e. Hoya diversifolia, H. verticillata, and H. amoena, and also only found 1 species of Dischidia was Dischidia imbricata. There were 12 species of trees as the host trees of epiphytic, i.e. Irvingia malayana, Tectona grandis, Diospyros buxyfolius were the host trees frequently found as the host of the epiphytic plant. Zone 3 as an area of 1/3 basal part of a total length of the branches was the most preferred zone by epiphytic orchids and hoya. The epiphytic orchid and hoya hardly found in Zone 5.

Platycerium bifurcatum is an epiphytic fern, occurring mainly in the forests of Australia and New Guinea. The location and spatial structure of its sporangia makes this fern a unique research model for physiological experiments. Our research aimed to determine changes in photosynthesis in the sporophilic and trophophilic parts of P. bifurcatum leaves during spore tying and maturation. For this purpose, the JIP-test and gas-exchange measurements of leaves were performed. In the study, we showed that changes typical of plant responses to stress factors also happened at critical periods in plant ontogenesis (e.g., in the generative phase) not related to environmental stress. Measurements of chlorophyll a fluorescence kinetics, the intensities of net/gross photosynthetic rate, and the respiration of sporotrophophilic leaves indicated that the intensities of these processes were related to the location of spores and to the stage of sporulation. The results are the first to describe the photosynthesis process and dark respiration of leaves during sporulation in ferns.