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A new species of leaf-mining moth described here as Micrurapteryx baranchikovi Kirichenko, Akulov & Triberti, sp. nov. was detected in large numbers feeding on Thermopsis lanceolata (Fabaceae) in the Republic of Khakassia (Russia) in 2020. A morphological diagnosis of adults, bionomics and DNA barcoding data of the new species are provided. The developmental stages (larva, pupa, adult), male and female genitalia, as well as the leaf mines and the infestation plot in Khakassia are illustrated; the pest status of the new species in the studied region is discussed. Additionally, parasitism rate was estimated, the parasitoid wasps reared from pupae of the new species were identified (morphologically and genetically) and illustrated . Among them, one ichneumonid, Campoplex sp. aff. borealis (Zetterstedt) and two braconids, Agathis fuscipennis (Zetterstedt) and Illidops subversor (Tobias et Kotenko), are novel records for the Republic of Khakassia. Furthermore, they are all documented as parasitoids of Gracillariidae for the first time. The DNA barcode of A. fuscipennis is newly obtained and can be used as a reference sequence for species identification.

Habitatlar üzerinde devam eden baskı ile artan nüfus, endüstriyel ve kentsel gelişim, artan tarım uygulamaları, istilacı türlerin artan tehditleri ve iklim değişikliğinin etkileri ile birlikte bugün tehlike altında olmayan birçok tür, gelecekte büyük olasılıkla tehdit altına girecektir. Bu nedenle tehdit altında olan ya da olmayan tüm türler için yaşayabilir popülasyonların sürdürülmesini sağlamak amacı ile ortaya koyulan eylemler, türlerin yerinde korunmasını esas almalı ve bu eylem planları gerekli müdahale derecesine bağlı olarak tür yönetimi, eylem, koruma veya kurtarma planları olarak sınıflandırılmalıdır. Bu çalışmada, gelecekte gerçekleştirilmesi önerilen tür yönetimi planlarındaki ilk adım olması amacı ile Dünya Doğa ve Doğal Kaynakları Koruma Birliği (IUCN) Kırmızı Listesi’nde yer alan ve ülkemizde soyu tükenme tehlikesi altında bulunan Fabaceae familyasına ait türlerin (Lathyrus, Astragalus, Vicia, Lotus, Thermopsis) detaylı bir araştırması gerçekleştirilmiştir. Çalışmada, (1) Fabaceae familyasına ait türlerin yayılış gösterdiği biyocoğrafik bölgelere, (2) yetiştiği habitatlara, (3) ekolojik özelliklerine, (5) karşı karşıya oldukları tehditlere, (6) ekonomik önemlerine, (7) etnobotanik özelliklerine ve halk arasındaki kullanım olanaklarına ilişkin detaylara yer verilmiştir. Ayrıca bu çalışma ile, türlerin lokasyonlarına ait güncel kayıtlar da değerlendirilmiştir. Yapılan değerlendirmeler sonucunda familyaya ait türlerin doğal yaşam alanlarına yönelik en önemli tehdit unsurlarının iklim değişikliği, aşırı otlatma, arazi ıslahı, saman yapma ve erozyon, baraj yapımı ve kentleşmenin neden olduğu bozulmalar olduğu görülmüştür. Tarımsal faaliyetler ve insan kaynaklı habitat kaybı ve bozulmaları da önemli tehdit unsurlarındandır. Bu çalışmaya göre ülkemizin önemli genetik zenginliklerinden olan ve IUCN Kırmızı Liste’sindeki Fabaceae familyasına ait türlerin nesillerini devam ettirebilmeleri amacı ile gerekli koruma önlemlerinin alınması ve koruma bilincinin geliştirilmesi gerekmektedir. Ayrıca, bu türlerin kullanım alanlarının belirlenmesi, ekolojik ve ekonomik önemlerinin saptanması son derece önemlidir. Türlerin korunmasına yönelik eylem planlarının hazırlanması ve genetik çeşitliliğin de içinde yer aldığı sürdürülebilir koruma ve kullanım stratejilerinin geliştirilmesi ise bu türlerin tüm yönleriyle araştırılmasına bağlıdır Many species that are not endangered today will likely be threatened in the future because of the growing population, the rising need for industrial and urban development and agricultural practices, the increasing threats of invasive species, and the effects of climate change. Therefore, actions aiming to maintain viable populations for all threatened or non-threatened species should be based on in-situ conservation of the species. These action plans should be classified as species management, action, conservation, or rescue plans depending on the degree of intervention required. For the future species management plans, in this study, the species belonging to the Fabaceae family (Lathyrus, Astragalus, Vicia, Lotus, Thermopsis), which are in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List and under threat of extinction in Turkey, has been reviewed based on the details about (1) their biogeographic regions, (2) habitats, (3) ecological characteristics, (4) potential threats, (5) economic importance, (6) ethnobotanical features and (7) usage opportunities among the people. Additionally, this study evaluates up-to-date records of the species' locations. As a result of the evaluations, the most critical threats to the natural habitats of the species belonging to the Fabaceae family are climate change, overgrazing, land reclamation, haymaking and erosion, deterioration caused by dam construction, and urbanization. Agriculture and anthropogenic habitat loss and degradation are also important threats. According to this study, it is vital to take the necessary conservation measures and develop conservation awareness for the future. Additionally, it is essential to determine these species' usage areas and determine their ecological and economic importance. The preparation of action plans for the conservation of species and the development of sustainable conservation and usage strategies, including genetic diversity, depend on the investigation of these species in all aspects

Thermopsis divaricarpa (Fabaceae) is a common wildflower in the montane zone of the Colorado Rocky Mountains, but its reproductive ecology is still largely unknown. Montane meadows are recognized for their relatively high species richness and important ecosystem services. Thus, knowledge of the reproductive ecology of T. divaricarpa is useful when assessing community-level responses to climate change in the montane zone of the Rockies. We investigated the phenology, breeding system, and pollination of this species in the southern Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Our results suggest that T. divaricarpa flowers from early June to mid-July, exhibits a facultative xenogamous breeding system, and may be pollinated by bumble bees. Pollen grains of T. divaricarpa are singular, ellipsoidal, and tricolpate. Beetles consume floral tissue, but their role as pollinators is questionable.

3-Formyl- and 3-bromo-N-methylcytisine derivatives of the alkaloid N-methylcytisine from Thermopsis alterniflora were synthesized. Their structures were established using NMR spectroscopy and X-ray crystal structure analyses. The crystal structure of 3-formyl-N-methylcytisine perchlorate involves two protonated cations mutually bonded by a bifurcated N–H…O H-bond. A Br…O donor–acceptor interaction is observed in the crystal of 3-bromo-N-methylcytisine.

Thermopsis turkestanica Gand. is a perennial herbaceous plant belonging to the genus Thermopsis, Leguminosae, and is mainly distributed in dry areas. Most of the species in this genus have high med...

A Gram-stain-negative strain, 23-3-2T, was isolated from a nodule of Thermopsis lanceolate grown in Northwest China. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the strain was closely related to Mesorhizobium camelthorni CCNWXJ 40-4T and M. alhagi CCNWXJ 12-2T having 98.0 and 97.9% similarities, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the protein-coding genes atpD and glnA showed lower similarity with the same closely related species (94.5 and 89.9%, respectively), which suggest that 23-3-2T strain represents a distinctly delineated genospecies of the genus Mesorhizobium. The 23-3-2T strain grew at 20–37 °C temperature (optimum 28 °C) and 5.0–9.0 pH range (optimum pH 7.0). The cells contained Q-10 as the sole respiratory quinone and 18:1ω7c (24.56%) as the major cellular fatty acid. The DNA relatedness between the strain 23-3-2T and the two reference strains was 39–44%. Based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties, strain 23-3-2T represents a novel species of the genus Mesorhizobium, for which the name Mesorhizobium zhangyense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 23-3-2T (= CGMCC 1.15528T = NBRC 112337T). The respective DPD Taxon Number is TA00147.

The features, population characteristics of reproduction, nutrition, and lifestyle of an extremely poorly studied narrow-range species of underground rodents—the false zokor (Myospalax aspalax)—have been described on the basis of original field materials. The data were obtained within the Russian part of the species range in Zabaikal’skii krai. The false zokor is characterized by a pronounced sexual dimorphism in body size (males are larger) and a predominance of females in the population. Mating takes place in April; at other times of the year, zokors lead a solitary lifestyle. The size of the brood is small: 3.7 embryos per breeding female. Their preferred food is bulbs and rhizomes of Allium, Thermopsis, Phragmites, and Leymus. In Eastern Transbaikalia, they are active in winter.

Interspecific and intergeneric crosses were performed between species in the genera Baptisia and Thermopsis with the goal of creating hybrids with the best qualities of both parents. Baptisia australis (L.) R. Br. was used as both the male and female parent in intergeneric crosses. Thermopsis chinensis Benth. ex S. Moore, T. lupinoides (L.) Link, and T. villosa Fernald & B.G. Schub. were used as male and female parents in both interspecific and intergeneric crosses. Pollen was collected from B. alba (L.) Vent., B. bracteata Muhl. ex Elliott, and B. lanceolata (Walt.) Ell. and used to make interspecific and intergeneric crosses. Putative hybrids were obtained from both interspecific and intergeneric crosses. Interspecific crosses produced a higher percentage of pollinations resulting in seed set and the number of seeds per pollination than intergeneric crosses. Morphological differences between parent species and progeny were evident in putative hybrids resulting from intergeneric crosses between T. villosa and B. australis and T. villosa and B. alba. Most putative hybrids bloomed during the second year after germination. Because seedlings could be obtained from both interspecific and intergeneric crosses, hybrids within and between the genera Baptisia and Thermopsis are feasible. The Fabaceae family contains 670–750 genera and 18,000–19,000 species. Baptisia (commonly called false or wild indigo) and Thermopsis (commonly named false lupine) of the Fabaceae belong to the tribe Thermopsidae, which comprises 46 species in six genera. All species in Thermopsis and Baptisia are herbaceous; they are the only two genera in Thermopsidae that do not have woody species. Thermopsis contains 23 species and has a wide-spread distribution with species endemic to Asia and much of temperate North America. Although Thermopsis is considered to have originated in central Asia, T. chinensis Benth. ex S. Moore and T. fabacea (Pallas) Candole are thought to have originated in North America and migrated over the Bering Land Strait to Asia. Three Thermopsis species, T. fraxinifolia Nutt. ex M.A. Curtis, T. mollis (Michx.) M.A. Curtis ex A. Gray, and T. villosa Fernald & B.G. Schub., are native to the southeastern United States. Baptisia contains 15–17 species that are endemic to the southeastern and midwestern United States.

Background The hepatocellular carcinoma is a devastating disease and it’s a fifth common cancer. It has increased from the last ten years and the third commonest cause of cancer-related death. Many species of Thermopsis have been used as a source of traditional oriental medicines. Its many species are endemic in different regions of the world, for example, Thermposis turcica (T. Turcica) is endemic to turkey. The Current study was designed to investigate the anticancerous and apoptotic mechanisms via gene expression analysis of various extracts from T. turcica in HepG2 cell line. Methods Different doses of T. turcica extracts were used in MTT assay; cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic concentrations were used in comet test and qRT PCR to find the genotoxicity and gene expression analysis of apoptotic and repair genes. Results In MTT cytotoxicity assay, Ethyl acetate extracts showed the highest cytotoxic effect, compared to other extracts. Methanol had more effect at a higher concentration compared to ethanol. Water and hexane had the least cytotoxic effects. Depending upon the MTT results, cytotoxic and non-cytotoxic doses were selected as 200 µg/ml and 50 µg/ml, respectively. Ethyl acetate showed the highest DNA damage (22.33±1.52) at cytotoxic concentration. While least was observed in water extract (8.33±1.73; 4.33±0.57) at both concentrations, respectively. All groups were significantly differ (P>0.05) from the control group at 200 µg/ml concentration. Up regulation of the p53, p21, Cyclin D1, NFKB, TRAIL-R1 and TRAIL-R2 was observed, Whereas, down-regulation was observed in PCBP4, Bax, bcl-2 and bcl-xl genes at all concentrations of the all extracts. Caspase 3, 8 and 7 were also expressed at all doses of different extracts, except for the hexane and water, where they were down-regulated. DNA repair genes were up regulated except at the non-cytotoxic concentrations of hexane and at both concentrations of water extracts (figure 1). Conclusions Various extracts of T. turcica, expressed the anti-cancerous activity in the HepG2 cells and Ethyl acetate extracts had the highest cytotoxic and genotoxic activity.

Thermopsis Külköylüoğlu et al., 2003 * Thermopsis thermophila Külköylüoğlu et al., 2003: NA, Published as part of Meisch, Claude, Smith, Robin J. & Martens, Koen, 2019, A subjective global checklist of the extant non-marine Ostracoda (Crustacea), pp. 1-135 in European Journal of Taxonomy 492 on page 106, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2019.492, http://zenodo.org/record/3271099

Globally, chronic nitrogen (N) deposition into terrestrial ecosystems has resulted in changes in community composition, depending on the responses of co-existing species to increasing soil N availability. The levels of plant non-structural carbohydrates (NSCs) produced by photosynthesis are associated with leaf N content, and together they represent the capital of a plant for its life including competitive ability. However, the specific ways that concentrations of plant NSCs, and also N, influence the growth of plants, and thus their productivity, are still abscue. Here, we explored the effect of variations in plant leaf NSCs (starch and soluble sugars) and N concentrations on the growth of plants with different soil N uptake capacities, i.e. two grasses (Leymus chinensis and Stipa baicalensis), two forbs (Potentilla tanacetifolia and Galium verum), and one legume (Thermopsis lanceolate) in Inner Mongolian grasslands subjected to three N addition rates (i.e., 0, 10, or 20 g N m−2 yr−1) and three N forms [i.e., NH4NO3, (NH4)2SO4, or CO(NH2)2] for four years. Irrespective of N addition rate and N form, N addition significantly increased aboveground biomass of the grasses, but not that of the forbs or the legume. The grasses had higher increase in N concentrations than the forbs and the legume. N addition increased the starch concentrations of grasses, but decreased that of forbs and the legume. Changes in the aboveground biomass of all tested plant species were significantly positively correlated with changes in concentrations of both NSCs and N. Our results indicate that, irrespective of the N addition rates and N forms, greater increase in NSCs and N concentrations contributed to higher aboveground productivity in grasses, but not in forbs and legumes. These results imply that future nitrogen deposition will benefit grasses over other plant forms, and thus the former may become more dominant in grasslands in northern China.

The present studies cover antibacterial activity of 15 crude extracts (5 extracts each from hexane, dichloromethane and methanol) from five ethnomedicinal plants viz. Anaphalis nepalensis, Piptanthus nepalensis, Senecio raphanifolius, Thermopsis barbata and Thermopsis inflate collected from Sagarmatha region of Nepal against one Gram-positive (Staphylococcus aureus) and three Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aureginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia) bacterial strains. Plants used to treat at least one ailment considered to be caused by bacterial infection were identified and further investigated for their antibacterial activity. Crude extracts were obtained by the successive extraction method and examined in-vitro using the agar well diffusion process. Among 15 extracts examined, 13 (86 %) extracts showed antibacterial property against Staphylococcus aureus followed by 8 (53 %) extracts against Escherichia coli and 6 (40 %) extracts each against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumonia. Plant extracts were more likely to inhibit Grampositive bacteria, Staphylococcus aureus. With respect to Gram-negative bacteria, it was more common for plant extracts to inhibit Escherichia coli than Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Klebsiella pneumonia. Overall, 86 % of plant extracts showed activity against Gram-positive test bacteria, and 45 % showed activity against Gramnegative test bacteria. This research results will promote to search for alternative, inexpensive and simply available antibacterial of plant origin.

The vast majority of the species of family Leguminosae have an apocarpous monomerous gynoecium. However, only a few taxa regularly produce multicarpellate gynoecia. The only known species of papilionoid legumes which has both a typical “flag blossom” and more than one carpel is Thermopsis turcica (tribe Thermopsideae). We studied the floral ontogeny of T. turcica with special reference to its gynoecium initiation and development. Flowers arise in simple terminal racemes in a helical order and are subtended by bracts. Bracteoles are initiated but then suppressed. Sepals appear more or less simultaneously. Then, petals emerge and remain retarded in development until later stages. The gynoecium usually includes three carpels with an abaxial one initiating first and two adaxial carpels arising later and developing somewhat asynchronously. The abaxial carpel appears concomitant with the outer stamens and is always oriented with its cleft toward the adaxial side, while the adaxial carpels face each other with their clefts and have them slightly turned to the adaxial side. Rarely uni-, bi- or tetracarpellate flowers arise. Seed productivity of T. turcica is on approximately the same level as in unicarpellate species of Thermopsis hence supporting the fact that the multicarpellate habit is adaptive or at least not harmful in this species.

This study was undertaken to evaluate genotoxic potential of Thermopsis turcica aqueous extracts on the roots of onion bulb (Allium cepa L.) by comet assay and random amplified polymorphic DNA technique. The Allium root growth inhibition test indicated that the EC50 and 2×EC50 values were 8 and 16 mg/ml concentrations of T. turcica aqueous extracts, respectively. The negative control (distilled water), positive control (methyl methane sulfonate, 10 mg/l) and 8 and 16 mg/ml concentrations of T. turcica extracts were introduced to the roots of onion bulbs for 24 and 96 h. The root growth, DNA damage in root cells and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) profiles of root tissue were used as endpoints of the genotoxicity. The comet assay clearly indicated that dose-dependent single strand DNA breaks in the root nuclei of onions were determined for the treatment concentrations of T. turcica extracts. In comparison to RAPD profile of negative control group, RAPD polymorphisms became evident as disappearance and/or appearance of RAPD bands in treated roots. The diagnostic and phenetic numerical analyses of RAPD profiles obviously indicated dose-dependent genotoxicity induced by Thermopsis extracts. In conclusion, the results clearly indicated that water extract of T. turcica has genotoxic potential on the roots of onion bulbs as shown by comet assay and RAPD technique.

Interspecific and intergeneric crosses were performed between species in the genera Baptisia and Thermopsis in an attempt to create hybrids with the best qualities of both parents. Interspecific crosses produced a higher percentage of fertile crosses and number of seeds per fertile cross than intergeneric crosses. Germination rate was not different between interspecific and intergeneric crosses. When comparing species to determine the best female parents, we found no difference between female parents for percentage of fertile crosses or germination rate. However, Thermopsis female parents produced a higher number of seed per cross than Baptisia female parents. When comparing species to determine the best male parents, crosses with Thermopsis male parents produced more seed per cross than those with Baptisia male parents, but were not different for percentage of fertile crosses or germination rate. Since seedlings could be obtained from both interspecific and intergeneric crosses, production of a Baptisia-Thermopsis hybrid is feasible. Steps to increase the percentage of fertile crosses and number of seedlings include new species as parents, use of bridge parents, embryo rescue, and selection of the male and female parents that produced the most fertile crosses for further breeding efforts.

A relict endemic species originating from Turkey, Thermopsis turcica, was excluded from Thermopsis in consideration of morphologic studies based on its flowers and fruits as well as micromorphological features that were obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and data from supporting molecular analyses internal transcribed spacer (ITS). Additionally, phylogenetic analyses (maximum parsimony and neighbour-joining) were conducted using PAUP 4.0 software. These analyses supported a new taxonomical position for the Turkish species. SEM and morphological studies indicated that the species has unique features that have not been observed in other Thermopsideae species. The unique features and characteristics are comprehensively illustrated here. For confirmation of our purpose, the chromosome number and karyotype of V. turcica were determined via the KAMERAM software program. As a result, all detailed examinations and comparisons of Vuralia and related genera suggest that Vuralia is a new monotypic genus within Thermopsideae, and a new genus and combination nova were established for this Turkish species.

We determined that highly successful vegetative propagation is possible for Baptisia, Thermopsis and Eupatorium. This is significant because vegetative propagation of these native genera has not been widely practiced in commercial ornamental production. Seed propagation has been utilized over vegetative propagation due to historically low rooting percentages and reduced crowning (bud formation at the root-shoot union) when vegetative propagation is employed. However, vegetative propagation can enable the production of ornamental nursery stock quicker and with greater uniformity in finishing time compared to seed propagation. Vegetative propagation can also facilitate the perpetuation of threatened or endangered species that have small or isolated populations (limited sexual reproduction) or can be used to build numbers of phenotypically superior individuals without wild digging. Four model species representing three native herbaceous genera that include multiple threatened or endangered species were used in the study. Four concentrations of K-IBA (potassium salt of Indole-3-butyric acid) were examined along with 28 and 56 days in a propagation environment to determine the best rooting percentage and root quality for each species. An economic analysis was conducted to test the efficacy of treatment with K-IBA versus double-sticking two untreated cuttings. In addition to developing a commercially viable propagation protocol for these three species, we also determined that treatment with K-IBA is not necessary for successful propagation of the majority of these species, but that more time in a commercial propagation environment leads to higher rooting percentages at a reduced propagation cost.

Native plants are often recommended to reduce inputs in urban landscapes. Morphological and physiological responses of Liatris spicata, Liatris pycnostachya, Liatris aspera, Liatris scariosa, Liatris cylindracea, Amsonia tabernaemontana, Thermopsis caroliniana, and Baptisia australis to varying fertility and moisture conditions were studied to determine their ability to reduced input. A field study showed wet adapted species L. pycnostachya and L. spicata had greater increased dry mass in response to irrigation compared to dry adapted species while there was no response to fertilizer in all species. A greenhouse trial showed T. caroliniana and B. australis had greater decreased dry weight compared to other species. A. tabernaemontana, L. scariosa, and L. cylindracea displayed decreased growth and photosynthesis with high water treatment. For all other species, higher water availability increased photosynthetic rate and growth. A third study showed no significant response in root morphology to deficit irrigation. This research shows the ability of native plants to reduce inputs in species dependent. Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs

Very little is known about rhizobia that form nodules on Thermopsis spp. We report the isolation of a Mesorhizobium huakuii strain with a unique nodA gene that form nodules on Thermopsis lupinoides in Kamtchatka, Russia. The isolate did not form nodules on Thermopsis chinensis or Thermopsis caroliniana , which suggests it may be host specific.

The importance of indigenous knowledge is being increasingly realized for identifying sustainable interventions enabling environmental conservation coupled with socio-economic development of local communities. This study aimed to evaluate livestock diet composition, diet overlap, forage selection and livestock husbandry and associated land use practices in a typical traditional village landscape in the cold arid region of the trans-Himalaya, India. The village territory (4300–4600 m amsl.) was differentiated into (i) irrigated cropping on terraced slopes, (ii) meadows valued for hay and mulch material and (iii) meadows grazed by cows, non-lactating dzomos (female offspring of cow–yak cross), goats, donkeys and sheep. The traditional livestock husbandry and grazing management practices included: (i) dependence of livestock almost exclusively on grazing during summer (May–September) and on stall feeding during winter (November–March), (ii) regulation of utilization of hay and mulch material by the village council, (iii) divison of grazing area into blocks, each grazed for 5–7 days followed by an equally long rest phase and (iv) regulation of animal movements by herders such that donkeys did not mix with other animals and all animals spent almost equal foraging time in moist depressions dominated by graminoids and dry slopes by legumes and forbs. The livestock types did not differ significantly in respect of foraging period and bite rate. Bite size and daily forage intake of goats and sheep were markedly lower but search cost higher as compared to those of dzomos, donkeys and cows. Sheep and goats foraged on all plant species, while Astragalus zanskarensis was excluded by cows, Caragana versicolor by cows and dzomos and Thermopsis inflata and Potentilla fruticosa by cows, dzomos and donkeys. Goats showed the highest degree of selection for T. inflata and all other livestock types for Carex infuscata. The highest level of similarity in diet composition during grazing was observed between sheep and goats followed by that between donkeys and cows. Goats and dzomos showed the highest diet breadth value (0.73) followed by sheep (0.53) and cows or donkeys (0.44). The bulk of stall-feed comprised the species that were not preferred during grazing. Local people consider Cousinia thomsonii and Cicer microphyllum to be the best quality winter feed for all livestock. Thermopsis inflata was considered harmful to dzomos, cows and donkeys and Seseli trilobum to dzomos and cows. People do not harvest C. versicolor, a poor forage but an excellent fuelwood species, from village lands as they consider it as a ‘keystone’ species facilitating regeneration and growth of high-quality forage species. The traditional land use and animal husbandry systems need to be improved with appropriate scientific and institutional inputs to meet the challenges arising from market forces on one hand and environmental conservation on the other.

Based on nuclear ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, Thermopsideae is phylogenetically studied within a genistoid background. Analysis reveals that the tribe is not supported as a monophyletic group. Some species of Sophora s.s are nested within it. The central Asian desert Ammopiptanthus forms an isolated clade but is relatively remote to other Thermopsideae members. Piptanthus, Anagyris, Baptisia, and Thermopsis are clustered together into a robust clade. We hence propose that the tribe could either be reduced to just the four 'core genera' with Ammopiptanthus excluded, or, as an alternative, that Thermopsideae could become part of a new Sophoreae s.s. if it is re-circumscribed in the future. Both Piptanthus and Baptisia appear as monophyletic. The genus Anagyris is closer to some east Asian Thermopsis species than to Piptanthus. The east Asian and North American disjunct Thermopsis is not monophyletic. The ITS results suggest a geographical division between the Old World and New World Thermopsis. The east Asian species are clustered with Piptanthus and Anagyris, whereas the North American species are allied to Baptisia. Nonetheless, the only two north-eastern east Asian native Thermopsis species appear to be more related to the North American group than to the east Asian one. The related biogeographical significance has therefore been additionally discussed. (c) 2006 The Linnean Society of London.

Thermopsis thermophila n. gen. n. sp., a new freshwater ostracod species is described from hot springs in Nevada, U.S.A. The animals were collected within a temperature range of 40–55 °C. The new genus belongs to the Ostracoda Podocopida Cypridoidea Cyprididae Cypridopsinae.

Although alkaloids are known feeding deterrents for lepidopteran larvae, including the spruce budworm, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens), few studies have investigated their effects on lepidopteran oviposition. Quinolizidine-containing alkaloid extracts and isolated quinolizidine alkaloids were obtained from 2 Chinese plants, Sophora alopecuroides L. and Thermopsis lanceolata Robert Brown, to evaluate their effects on spruce budworm oviposition. Application of extracts from either plant on Parafilm substrate significantly deterred oviposition at dosages as low as 4.7 and 7.9 μg/cm 2 , respectively, in dual-choice bioassays. Of 9 quinolizidine alkaloids produced by these plants, 6 deterred oviposition on Parafilm substrate treated at 7.9 μg/cm 2 or less. The most effective compounds were aloperine (0.3 μg/cm 2 = 1.3 nmol/cm 2 ), sparteine (1.6 μg/cm 2 = 6.8 nmol/cm 2 ), and cytisine (1.6 μg/cm 2 = 8.4 nmol/cm 2 ). Oviposition was deterred also on fresh host foliage, 8-cm twigs of balsam fir, Abies balsamea (L.) Miller, which had been sprayed with either a 1-ml aliquot of alkaloid extract (10 mg/ml) of S. alopecuroides or 1 ml of an aloperine solution (1 mg/ml). There was no effect on longevity of males or females continuously exposed to artificial substrate treated with aloperine or alkaloid extract from S. alopecuroides in no-choice bioassays, nor was the ability of males to inseminate females affected. However, female production of egg masses was inhibited, although clutch size (eggs per egg mass) was not affected. These results are the 1st demonstration of the behaviorally deterring and physiologically inhibiting effects of quinolizidine alkaloids on lepidopteran oviposition.

Thermopsis species have been suspected of causing livestock losses. One human case series of Thermopsis poisoning was located in the literature. We report 23 suspected cases of Thermopsis exposures, some resulting in significant toxicity..Retrospective chart review of all calls involving "buffalo beans" received by the Regional Poison Centre from 1990-1995.There was a total of 23 exposures, 21 of which involved children12 years of age. Amounts ingested varied as did the plant part ingested. Eighteen of the patients developed symptoms within a few hours and symptoms lasted up to 12 hours. Symptoms included vomiting (14), dizziness (5), abdominal pain (3), drowsiness (2), nausea (2), headache (1), oral irritation (1), tachycardia (1), tremors (1), and other general signs (3). Of the 23 cases, 15 were managed at home but eight were referred to a health care facility, with two requiring admission. In one of the admissions, laboratory data revealed an elevated creatine kinase which remained elevated for 48 hours. Management was symptomatic and included decontamination, fluids, and observation. Plants were not professionally identified, but were referred to by the name "buffalo bean" or "buffalo pea." However, in some cases, relying on the name "buffalo bean" lead to misidentification of the plant and possible underestimation of toxicity.Ingestion of Thermopsis can be associated with significant morbidity. Gastric lavage may be of value in large ingestions prior to symptoms but effectiveness of activated charcoal is questionable. Patients should be observed for several hours for symptoms and supportive treatment instituted as required.

The lipid groups and fatty-acid composition of Thermopsis alterniflora (Leguminosae) bean seeds and shells were established. It was shown that shell lipids have a greater content of unsaponified substances, galactolipids, and esterfied unsaturated 18:1, 18:2, and 18:3 acids (75% total) than seed lipids.

A purified alkaloid preparation containing N-methylcytisine, cytisine, 5,6-dehydrolupanine, thermopsine and anagyrine from Thermopsis montana induced prolonged recumbency and microscopic acute hyaline skeletal myodegeneration with myofibre regeneration in cattle similar in type and severity to that induced by Thermopsis montanta plant material. This indicates that the alkaloid(s) of Thermopsis montana are responsible for the myopathy caused by the plant. An alkaloid preparation containing mostly anagyrine from a Lupinus sp. and an alkaloid preparation containing only cytisine from Laburnum anagyroides each caused microscopic skeletal muscle degeneration and necrosis similar to, but less severe than, the alkaloid extract from T. montana, but without clinical recumbency. Dosage and severity of response suggest that neither of those two alkaloids alone can account for the effects induced by Thermopsis. The data suggest that quinolizidine alkaloids with a alpha-pyridone A-ring may be responsible for the lesions and that individual alpha-pyridones may have additive effects.

Five species of Pedicularis were examined for evidence of alkaloid transfer from host plants. Pedicularis groenlandica and P. bracteosa were found to take up the pyrrolizidine alkaloid senecionine from the host Senecio triangularis. Pedicularis crenulata contained anagyrine from its host Thermopsis montana and P. grayi contained N-methylcytisine from its Thermopsis divaricarpa host. Pedicularis racemosa contained quinolizidines from a Lupinus argenteus hybrid. In addition, P. bracteosa was found to contain pinidinol, taken up from the host Picea engelmannii.

Sophora lupinoides Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 1: 374. 1753. "Habitat in Camtschatca. G. Demidoff." RCN: 2943. Proposed conserved type (Zhu & Kirkbride in Taxon 55: 1047. 2006): Kamchatka, Pallas s.n. (BM). Current name: Thermopsis lupinoides (L.) Link (Fabaceae: Faboideae). Note: The lectotype of Thermopsis lupinoides (L.) Link (Steller, Herb. Linn. No. 522.19 (LINN), designated by Kit Tan in Turland & Jarvis in Taxon 46: 480. 1997) has been found to be identifiable as the Siberian/Chinese species long known as T. lanceolata R. Br., and not the species from Kamchatka to which it has generally been applied. Zhu & Kirkbride have therefore proposed the Linnaean name for conservation with a conserved type., Published as part of Jarvis, Charlie, 2007, Chapter 7: Linnaean Plant Names and their Types (part S), pp. 806-877 in Order out of Chaos. Linnaean Plant Types and their Types, London :Linnaean Society of London in association with the Natural History Museum on page 866, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.291971

concentrated during processing of the first crude extract (produced by a polar extractant) by a less polar solvent. The yield of lipids extracted from the resinous wastes can reach 90–98% of the waste mass. Herein we communicate results from a study of processing wastes of aerial parts of Peganum harmala L. (Zygophyllaceae) and Thermopsis alterniflora Regel et Schmalh. (Fabaceae) and the biological activity of lipid concentrates obtained from them. Waste samples were obtained from the pilot plant of the Yunusov Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances, AS, RU. Lipids from reprocessed raw material of these plants were previously studied [5, 6]. The wastes were a dark-green resinous mass with a brown tint and herbaceous aroma. Preliminary analyses for the presence of lipids were carried out by common TLC methods on Silufol plates and plates with thin layers of silica gel [7] using comparison with authentic samples. The results showed that the samples were rich in lipids and lipophilic compounds, which were observed previously in the starting material [5, 6]. Their qualitative composition including neutral lipids (NL), glycolipids (GL), and phospholipids (PL) in addition to carotinoids and chlorophyll pigments also turned out to be identical. Next the waste samples were treated with CHCl 3 . The lipid extracts were washed of ballast materials and separated using column chromatography. Components of individual lipid groups and lipophilic compounds in the isolated fractions were identified using TLC. The solvent systems for TLC were hexane:Et 2 O:AcOH (90:10:1 and 70:30:1) for NL; (CH 3 ) 2 CO:C 6 H 6 :H 2 O (91:30:8) for GL, and CHCl 3 :MeOH:NH 4 OH (65:25:4) for PL. The yields of lipids from the two samples were >50% of the waste mass. The ratio of NL to polar lipids (GL and PL) in processing wastes of P. harmala was 2:1; in T. alterniflora wastes, 1:1. NL of the studied wastes consisted almost half of free fatty acids. The remainder consisted of triacylglycerides, esters of fatty alcohols, triterpenols, and sterols in addition to lipophilic compounds (carotinoids, hydrocarbons, fatty alcohols, phytosterols, and pigments). Lipids from P. harmala waste contained much more diacylglycerides, monoacylglycerides, and unidentified compounds than those of T. alterniflora. GL dominated the polar lipids. GL contained digalactosyldiacylglycerides, sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerides, and sterylglycosides and their fattyacid esters. The principal component of the GL of the studied samples was monogalactosyldiacylglycerides. The PL consisted of five components. The main ones were phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidylinositols, and phosphatidic acids. The minor ones were phosphatidylglycerines and phosphatidylcholines. Unsaponified components and total fatty acids of all lipids were isolated from the two samples by alkaline hydrolysis under forcing conditions [7]. Quantitative analysis of the fractions showed that lipids from T. alterniflora wastes contained more unsaponified components (21.8%) than those from P. harmala wastes (17.0%).

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Many of the Turkish medicinal plants have useful medicinal aspects and contain alkaloids of potential medicinal uses. Continuing our researches carried out on various medicinal plants have resulted in the isolation and structure elucidation of new and known alkaloids. During the last ten years, the isolation and structure elucidation of several new alkaloids from Fumaria, Corydalis, Ruta, Haplophyllum, Galium, Leucojum, Buxus, Thermopsis, Senecio, Consolida and Veratrum species growing in Turkey have been completed.

Interest in virus diseases of perennial ornamentals has been increasing because of their increasing monetary value, because wholesale producers perceive an advantage in marketing disease-free stock, and because widespread international movement of these plants carries the risk of introduction of exotic viruses. In an ongoing study to identify and document viral diseases of perennial ornamentals used in the United States commercial horticultural industry, three virus-like diseases of astilbe (Astilbe chinensis), fuschia (Fuschia cv. Gartenmeister) and false lupine (Thermopsis caroliniana) occurring in Minnesota were investigated. Symptomatic plants were selected from lots in commercial greenhouses and garden centers in several locations in Minnesota. Astilbe with systemic chlorosis was found to be infected with Tobacco ringspot virus (TRSV). Fuschia with leaf mottling and leaf deformation was found to be infected with Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), and false lupine with mosaic and leaf deformation symptoms was found to be infected with Bean yellow mosaic virus (BYMV). Identification of the three viruses was based on: 1) virion presence and morphology in partially purified leaf extracts using electron microscopy (EM) and immunosorbent electron microscopy (1); 2) enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay using crude leaf extracts; and 3) biological properties, including symptoms produced in indicator plants. Antisera to BYMV (ATCC PVAS-368), CMV (ATCC PVAS-30), and TRSV (ATCC PVAS-157) were obtained from the American Type Culture Collection, Manassas, VA. No other virus-like particles were observed with EM in partially purified leaf extracts of the three plants, no virus-like particles were observed in similar preparations from asymptomatic plants, and indicator plant tests did not indicate the presence of any other mechanically transmissible viruses. The TRSV isolate from astilbe and the BYMV isolate from false lupine produced typical symptoms on indicator plants susceptible to known isolates of these two viruses. The CMV isolate from fuschia was similar to previously described isolates of CMV (2) in most respects and was readily transmitted in a nonpersistent manner by Myzus persicae, but was unusual in that it did not infect Nicotiania benthamiana, N. glutinosa, and tomato, which are normally highly susceptible to infection by CMV. The identity of the fuschia CMV isolate was further confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplification with CMV-specific oligonucleotide primers (3). The PCR product was of the predicted size (500 bp) and was cleaved by restriction digestion with EcoRI, suggesting that the fuschia virus is a Type II CMV isolate (3). To my knowledge, this is the first report of TRSV infection in astilbe, CMV infection in fuschia, and of a viral disease of false lupine. References: (1) Y. C. Ahlawat et al. Plant Dis. 80:590, 1996. (2) A. A. Brunt et al. Viruses of Plants. CAB International, Wallingford, UK, 1995. (3) S. Wylie et al. Aust. J. Agric. Res. 44:41, 1993.

An analysis of flavonoid distributional data from detailed biochemical systematic investigations of Baptisia and Thermopsis species supports the contention that the two genera are closely related with Baptisia being the more advanced evolutionarily and exhibiting greater evolutionary vigor. B. megacarpa may represent an ancestral complex which gave rise to several major Baptisia lines. Enzymes involved in methoxylation and 4′-glucosylation of flavonoids in Thermopsis have higher substrate specificities than those involved in 7-glucosylation.

From the epigeal part ofThermopsis alterniflora Rgl.et Schmalh. (Fabaceae), in addition to formononetin, ononin, cynaroside, and rothindin, two new acylated flavone glycosides have been isolated and, on the basis of chemical transformations and spectral characteristics, their structures have been established as 4′,5,7-trihydroxy-3′-methoxyflavone 7-O-(6″-O-crotonoyl-β-D-glucopyranoside) and 4′,5,7-trihydroxyflavone 7-O-(6″-O-crotonoyl-β-D-glucopyranoside).

Isolation and structural elucidation of a new alkaloid, (−)-O-acetylbaptifoline, and of (+)-lupanine from Thermopsis chinensis. Absolute stereochemical relationships of lupine alkaloids contained in Thermopsis species

The distribution of 12 flavones and 19 isoflavones in 13 taxa of Thermopsis is reported.

The paper gives the chromosome numbers of 45 species from 72 Mongolian localities, belonging to the genera:Amygdalus, Asparagus, Astragalus, Cancrinia, Caragana, Chamaerhodos, Chelidonium, Chesneya, Dianthus, Hypecoum, Lathyrus, Lilium, Oxytropis, Papaver, Potentilla, Schizonepeta, Sibbaldia, Thermopsis, Trifolium, Trigonella, Vicia. Chromosome morphology of three species ofChamaerhodos and taxonomical remarks on some other species are added. A new combinationSibbaldia sericea (Grubov) Sojak is proposed.

1. The epigeal part ofThermopsis alterniflora at the beginning of flowering contains 3.35% of combined alkaloids. The separation of the combined bases yielded cytisine, N-methylcytisine, pachycarpine, thermopsine, and the new alkaloid alteramine.

From the lipophilic fraction of the substances from the herbage ofThermopsis alterniflora we have isolated a molecular compound of two flavonoids, one of which has been identified as chrysoeriol, while the second, with the composition C16H12O5, mp 274–275°C, is a new isoflavone which we have called teralin. On the basis of spectral characteristics and the products of alkaline fusion, we have proposed for it the structure of 4′,7-dihydroxy-2′-methoxyisoflavone.