Biologically active compounds of species, hybrids, and cultivars of peony introduced in the M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine

Purpose. To reveal the raw material potential of the representatives of the genus Paeonia L. introduced in the M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (NBG) in terms of the content of biologically active compounds. Methods. Introduced plants of the genus Paeonia: P. lactiflora Pall., P. officinalis L. and its hybrid forms: P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’, F1 (P. officinalis ‘Rub­ra Plena’ ´ P. peregrina Mill.), cultivar NBG ‘Kvazimodo’ (P. lactiflora ‘M-lle Jeanne Riviere’ ´ F1 [P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’ ´ P. peregrina)], P. anomala L. were the object of the research. The content of polyphenolic compounds, homopolysaccharides, ascorbic acid and other substances was determined by spectrophotometry, titrimetry and colorimetry. The analysis of biologically active compounds was carried out by the method of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Results. Species and varietal differences in the amount of polyphenols in plants of various species and forms were determined. It was found that the roots of the studied F1 plants (P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’ ´ P. peregrina), cultivar NBG ‘Kvazimodo’, P. lactiflora contain a much higher amount of polysaccharides compared to the roots of P. anomala. In peony plants, the average share of vitamin C is 37.65% and varies among representatives of the genus in the range from 22.10 ± 2.18 [F1 (P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’ ´ P. peregrina)] to 47.60 ± 3.69 (P. anomala) and 49.30 ± 5.50% (P. lactiflora). The maximum content of carotenoids was found in the roots of P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’ (2.10 ± 0.21 mg%) and F1 (P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’ ´ P. peregrina) (2.20 ± 0.13 mg%). A significant amount of free gallic acid was observed in the roots of P. anomala, and halotannins in P. lactiflora. Conclusions. The results of phytochemical studies of plants of species, hybrids and cultivars of the genus Paeonia introduced in the M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of the NAS of Ukraine showed that they accumulate a significant level of basic biologically active compounds: flavonoids, tannins, mono- and polysaccharides, pigments roots of P. lactiflora and P. officinalis are promising in terms of the complex of active ingredients, since they contain them in greater quantities than those of P. anomala. Hybrid forms of P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’, F1 (P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’ ´ P. peregrina), cultivar ‘Kvazimodo’, created on the basis of these species, are not inferior to the parent species in terms of the content of phenolic compounds, sugars, pigments and ascorbic acid. In the roots, the share of peoniflorin is for P. lactiflora (1.95%), anomala (1.09%), P. officinalis ‘Rubra Plena’ (0.95%), P. officinalis (0.78%). The studied species, hybrids and cultivars are offered for cultivation in the purpose of harvesting medicinal raw materials as a source of biologically active compounds with the possibility of supplementing or even repla­cing the official species of anomalous peony (P. anomala).

A NEW SPECIES OF NEPENTHES (NEPENTHACEAE) AND ITS NATURAL HYBRIDS FROM ACEH, SUMATRA, INDONESIA

VICTORIANO, M. 2021. A new species of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) and its natural hybrids from Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia. Reinwardtia 20(1): 17–26. — A new species of Nepenthes (Nepenthaceae) from Aceh Province, Indonesia, Nepenthes longiptera Victoriano is herein described and illustrated. The species is unique among all other Nepenthes in Sumatra by the presence of wings on its upper pitchers. Comprehensive description, photographs, geographical distribution and preliminary IUCN conservation assessment are provided for the new species. Hybrids of this new taxon with other species are also reported in this paper.

Comparative Analysis of the Complete Chloroplast Genomes of Four Chestnut Species (Castanea)

Chloroplast (cp) DNA genomes are traditional workhorses for studying the evolution of species and reconstructing phylogenetic relationships in plants. Species of the genus Castanea (chestnuts and chinquapins) are valued as a source of nuts and timber wherever they grow, and chestnut species hybrids are common. We compared the cp genomes of C. mollissima, C. seguinii, C. henryi, and C. pumila. These cp genomes ranged from 160,805 bp to 161,010 bp in length, comprising a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions (25,685 to 25,701 bp) separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region (90,440 to 90,560 bp) and a small single-copy (SSC) region (18,970 to 19,049 bp). Each cp genome encoded the same 113 genes; 82–83 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA genes, and four ribosomal RNA genes. There were 18 duplicated genes in the IRs. Comparative analysis of cp genomes revealed that rpl22 was absent in all analyzed species, and the gene ycf1 has been pseudo-genized in all Chinese chestnuts except C. pumlia. We analyzed the repeats and nucleotide substitutions in these plastomes and detected several highly variable regions. The phylogenetic analyses based on plastomes confirmed the monophyly of Castanea species.

Asymmetric Phenotypes of Sterile Hybrid Males From Reciprocal Crosses Between Species of the Anopheles gambiae Complex

Haldane’s rule of speciation states that sterility or inviability affects the heterogametic sex of inter-species hybrids. Darwin’s corollary to Haldane’s rule implies that there are asymmetric phenotypes in inter-species hybrids from reciprocal crosses. Studying the phenotypes of F1 hybrids among closely related species of malaria mosquitoes can assist researchers in identifying the genetic factors and molecular mechanisms of speciation. To characterize phenotypes of sterile hybrid males in the Anopheles gambiae complex, we performed crosses between laboratory strains of An. merus and either An. gambiae or An. coluzzii. The reproductive tracts had normal external morphology in hybrid males from crosses between female An. merus and male An. gambiae or An. coluzzii. Despite being sterile, these males could copulate with females for a normal period of time and could transfer a mating plug to induce female oviposition and monogamy. In contrast, the entire reproductive tracts in hybrid males from crosses between female An. gambiae or An. coluzzii and male An. merus were severely underdeveloped. These males had atrophic testes and reduced somatic organs of the reproductive system including male accessary glands and ejaculatory duct. In addition, hybrid males with underdeveloped reproductive tracts displayed a shorter copulation time with females and failed to induce female oviposition and monogamy due to their inability to form and transfer a plug to females during mating. The asymmetry of the phenotypes associated with hybrid male sterility suggests that different genetic factors and molecular mechanisms are responsible for reproductive isolation in reciprocal crosses among species of the An. gambiae complex.

A Microsatellite Genotyping-Based Genetic Study of Interspecific Hybridization between the Red and Sika Deer in the Western Czech Republic

Although inter-species hybrids between the red and sika deer can be phenotypically determined only exceptionally, there is the eventuality of identification via molecular genetic analysis. We used bi-parentally inherited microsatellite markers and a Bayesian statistical framework to re-examine the proportion of hybrids in the Czech red and sika deer populations. In total, 123 samples were collected, and the nuclear dataset consisted of 2668 allelic values. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 10 (BM1818) to 22 (BM888 and T193), yielding the mean of 16 alleles per locus across the deer. The mean allelic diversity of the red deer markedly exceeded that of the Japanese sika deer. Interspecific hybrids were detected, enabling us to confirm the genetic introgression of the sika deer into the red deer populations and vice versa in western Bohemia. The mean hybrid score equaled 10.6%, with 14.3% of the hybrids being among red deer–like individuals and 6.7% among sika-like ones. At two western Bohemian locations, namely, Doupovské hory and Slavkovský les, the total percentages of hybrid animals equaled 18.8 and 8.9, respectively. No red deer alleles were detected in the sika populations of the subregions of Kladská, Žlutice, and Lány. The NeighborNet network clearly separated the seven red and sika deer sampling populations according to the geography. The knowledge gained from the evaluated data is applicable in hunting management to reduce hybridization with the European deer.

Development of Highly Validated SNP Markers for Genetics Analyses of Chestnut Species.

To better study and manage chestnut trees and species, we identified nuclear single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers using restriction-associated DNA sequencing. Out of 343 loci tested, 68 SNP markers were selected that withhold stringent quality criteria such as quasi-systematic amplification across species and Mendelian segregation in both purebred and hybrid individuals. They provide sufficient power for species, hybrids and backcross characterization as well as for clonal identification, as shown by a comparison with single sequenced repeat (SSR) loci.

Flora of Vladimir Oblast, Russia: an updated grid dataset (1867–2020)

The dataset covers wild tracheophytes (native species, naturalised aliens and casuals) of Vladimir Oblast, Russia. It includes only one occurrence per species per grid square, thereby recently confirmed earlier records are not duplicated. Georeferences are based on the WGS84 grid scheme with 342 squares with areas ranging from 94.7 km2 in the northernmost part to 98.2 km2 on the southern boundary (5′ lat. × 10′ long.). Each occurrence is linked to the corresponding grid square centroid, therefore actual coordinates, habitat details and voucher information are unavailable. In late 2011, the earlier version of the dataset was used for the production of grid maps in the standard "Flora of Vladimir Oblast: checklist and atlas". Additional records, obtained during field excursions of 2012 and 2013, were fully included in the "Flora of Vladimir Oblast: grid data analysis". The stable version of the dataset with 123,054 grid records (as of 1867–2013) was published in GBIF in 2017. Data obtained in the field during 2014–2020, as well as those extracted from recently published sources, were digitised, structured and finally published in GBIF in April 2021. The last update added 7,000 new grid records. Currently, "Flora of Vladimir Oblast, Russia: an updated grid dataset (1867–2020)" contains 130,054 unique occurrences of 1,465 vascular plant taxa (species, hybrids, species aggregates) from Vladimir Oblast and tiny parts of the adjacent areas. The average number of grid records has grown over the seven years from 363 to 380 species. The grid occurrences are largely based on the field studies by the author, performed during 1999–2020 (121,737 records), as well as on data extracted from the relevant literature, unpublished sources, herbarium collections and citizen science projects (8,317 records). The taxonomic backbone of the occurrence grid dataset follows the accompanying checklist dataset to ensure correct cross-linking of the names. As of April 2021, the dataset on the Vladimir Oblast flora represents the fourth largest dataset on vascular plants of Russia published in GBIF.

Variability and inheritance of fiber length and wilt resistance in a complex 4-5 specific and backcross hybridization of cotton

In this paper presents data of researches about fiber length in the 4-5 species. The largest number of plants with the indicated analyzed trait in hybrid combinations, obtained with the participation of the variety Omad, appeared with a number of variations in fiber length at 35,0-36,0 mm and above. Investigation of 4-species hybrids of F2 and back cross hybridization allowed some improvement in the average value of trait when compared with F1. Despite the emergence of transgressive plants with fiber length 36,1-37,0 mm and above, the average trait of composite 5 species hybrids F2 remained almost at the level of F1, i.e. 35.5-36.0 mm. The greatest number of positive recombinants occurred in 5 species back crossing developed with the participation of Termez-31.