The Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequences of Eight Fagopyrum Species: Insights Into Genome Evolution and Phylogenetic Relationships

Buckwheat (Fagopyrum genus, Polygonaceae), is an annual or perennial, herbaceous or semi-shrub dicotyledonous plant. There are mainly three cultivated buckwheat species, common buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum) is widely cultivated in Asia, Europe, and America, while Tartary buckwheat (F. tataricum) and F. cymosum (also known as F. dibotrys) are mainly cultivated in China. The genus Fagopyrum is taxonomically confusing due to the complex phenotypes of different Fagopyrum species. In this study, the chloroplast (cp) genomes of three Fagopyrum species, F. longistylum, F. leptopodum, F. urophyllum, were sequenced, and five published cp genomes of Fagopyrum were retrieved for comparative analyses. We determined the sequence differentiation, repeated sequences of the cp genomes, and the phylogeny of Fagopyrum species. The eight cp genomes ranged, gene number, gene order, and GC content were presented. Most of variations of Fagopyrum species cp genomes existed in the LSC and SSC regions. Among eight Fagopyrum chloroplast genomes, six variable regions (ndhF-rpl32, trnS-trnG, trnC, trnE-trnT, psbD, and trnV) were detected as promising DNA barcodes. In addition, a total of 66 different SSR (simple sequence repeats) types were found in the eight Fagopyrum species, ranging from 8 to 16 bp. Interestingly, many SSRs showed significant differences especially in some photosystem genes, which provided valuable information for understanding the differences in light adaptation among different Fagopyrum species. Genus Fagopyrum has shown a typical branch that is distinguished from the Rumex, Rheum, and Reynoutria, which supports the unique taxonomic status in Fagopyrum among the Polygonaceae. In addition, phylogenetic analysis based on the cp genomes strongly supported the division of eight Fagopyrum species into two independent evolutionary directions, suggesting that the separation of cymosum group and urophyllum group may be earlier than the flower type differentiation in Fagopyrum plants. The results of the chloroplast-based phylogenetic tree were further supported by the matK and Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) sequences of 17 Fagopyrum species, which may help to further anchor the taxonomic status of other members in the urophyllum group in Fagopyrum. This study provides valuable information and high-quality cp genomes for identifying species and evolutionary analysis for future Fagopyrum research.

An intensive study plot to investigate chestnut tree reproduction

Key message Pollination is a key step for fruit production. To provide a tool for future in-depth analysis of pollination in chestnut, we describe in detail a chestnut orchard (location, genotype, phenotype and seed-set of all trees). Context Chestnuts, which are insect-pollinated trees, have been massively planted around the world for nut production. Orchards are planted with clonal varieties selected from crosses between the European chestnuts (Castanea sativa) and Japanese chestnuts (C. crenata) or Chinese chestnuts (C. mollissima) because these two last species are tolerant to blight and ink diseases. Aims To characterize chestnut genetic resources and accurately model male and female fitness as well as pollen exchanges in orchards, we characterized all chestnuts of the INRAE chestnut germplasm collection located near Bordeaux (France). Methods All chestnut trees were geolocated and genotyped using 79 SNP and 98 SSR loci. We scored their flowering phenology using chestnut BBCH scale and precisely described their phenotype (height, diameter a breast height (DBH), canopy diameter…), their capacity to produce pollen (flower type, catkins length…) and their fruit production (number of burrs, seed-set…). Results We geolocated 275 trees and genotyped 273 of them. We identified 115 unique genotypes and assigned each genotype to species. To assess phenology, we evaluated 244 trees twice a week, for 6 weeks from early June to mid-July. We also described tree phenotypes with 11 variables, pollen production with 5 variables and fruit production with 3 variables. All measures were recorded in 2018 except seed set that was measured two consecutive years, in 2018 and 2019. Conclusion The data collected is very detailed and allows modelling precisely pollen exchanges between trees. Parts of this data have been successfully published in scientific articles. Data are available at: https://data.inrae.fr/dataset.xhtml?persistentId=doi:10.15454/GSJSWW Associated metadata are available at:https://metadata-afs.nancy.inra.fr/geonetwork/srv/fre/catalog.search#/metadata/02c5ca07-1536-4f89-9a0c-9e8d44a91287

Variability of biological traits of genotypes in the ‘Talisman x Asma’ crossing population

Целью исследований было изучение биологических особенностей новых гибридных форм винограда и степень их изменчивости. Гибридные формы столового винограда получены путем гибридизации обработанной колхицином материнской формы Талисман. Скрещивания проведены в 2011 г. в направлении создания крупноягодных столовых сорто-форм среднепозднего и позднего срока созревания, предназначенных для длительного хранения. Установлено что к 2020 г. всего 77 % растений в популяции сеянцев вступили в пору плодоношения, из них у 21 сеянца определен обоеполый тип цветка и у 30 растений тип цветка определен как функционально женский. Продукционный период в популяции сеянцев варьирует от 119-150 дней; наибольшую группу составляют сеянцы со средним сроком созревания (135-145 дней) - 65 % растений. Коэффициент плодоношения в популяции сеянцев находится в пределах 0,49±0,09, а коэффициент плодоносности - 1,17±0,09. При этом коэффициент плодоношения варьирует в значительно большей степени, чем коэффициент плодоносности. Отмечено низкое среднее значение полученного фактического урожая в популяции сеянцев относительно сортов-родительских форм; однако данные вариационного анализа указывают на присутствие в данной популяции растений, характеризующиеся как очень низкой урожайностью, так и высокой (V = 67-69 %). В популяции сеянцев на естественном инфекционном фоне выделены генотипы с высокой устойчивостью к оидиуму (Erysiphe necator) - более 20%. На основе статистического анализа комплекса признаков выделена группа из 29 сеянцев для дальнейшего изучения. Предварительно выделены в качестве элитных форм Магарач №19-11-3-20 (для длительного хранения) и Магарач № 19-11-3-53, М.№19-11-4-17. The aim of the research was to study the biological characteristics of new hybrid forms of grapes and the degree of their variability. Hybrid forms of table grapes are obtained by hybridization of the treated with colchicine female parent of ‘Talisman’. Crossings were carried out in 2011 in the direction of creating large-berry table varieties of medium-late and late ripening, intended for long-term storage. It was established that by 2020 only 77% of the plants in the seedling population entered the season of fruiting, 21 seedlings of which had a bisexual flower type and 30 plants had a flower type defined as functionally female. The production period in the population of seedlings varies from 119 to 150 days; the largest group consists of seedlings with an average ripening period (135-145 days) - 65% of plants. The coefficient of fruiting in the population of seedlings is within the range of 0.49±0.09, and the coefficient of fertility is 1.17±0.09. At the same time, the fruiting coefficient varies to a much greater extent than the fertility coefficient. There was a low average value of actual yield obtained in the population of seedlings relative to the varieties - parental forms; however, the data of analysis of variance indicate the presence of plants in this population, characterized by both very low and high cropping capacity (V=67-69%). In the population of seedlings against a natural infectious background, genotypes with high resistance to powdery mildew ( Erysiphe necator ) - more than 20% were identified. On the basis of statistical analysis of the complex of characters, a group of 29 seedlings was selected for further study. The ‘Magarach No. 19-11-3-20’ (for long-term storage) and ‘Magarach No. 19-11-3-53’, ‘M. No. 19-11-4-17’ were preliminarily identified as elite forms.

Two new species of Pelargonium (Geraniaceae) from the Western and Northern Cape Provinces (South Africa) and their position within P. section Hoarea

Pelargonium hammansbergense and P. roseopetalum are described as new species. Both are deciduous geophytes with turnip-shaped tubers belonging to P. section Hoarea. These two species share spathulate petals with narrow cuneate claws. However, they differ in leaf shape, flower colour and markings on the petals. Their flower structure corresponds to that of P. aridicola, P. hirtipetalum, P. pubipetalum, P. reflexipetalum and P. tripalmatum. The seven species are compared with regard to the flower and leaf morphology, palynology and chromosome numbers. They all occur in the winter rainfall region along the west coast of South Africa. The two new species described here are illustrated and a key for the identification of the seven species with a P. aridicola flower type is included.

The ability of bumblebees Bombus terrestris (Hymenoptera: Apidae) to detect floral humidity is dependent upon environmental humidity

Flowers produce local humidity that is often greater than that of the surrounding environment, and studies have shown that insect pollinators may be able to use this humidity difference to locate and identify suitable flowers. However, environmental humidity is highly heterogeneous, and is likely to affect the detectability of floral humidity, potentially constraining the contexts in which it can be used as a salient communication pathway between plants and their pollinators. In this study, we use differential conditioning techniques on bumblebees Bombus terrestris audax (Harris) to explore the detectability of an elevated floral humidity signal when presented against different levels of environmental noise. Artificial flowers were constructed that could be either dry or humid, and individual bumblebees were presented with consistent rewards in either the humid or dry flowers presented in an environment with four levels of constant humidity, ranging from low (~20% RH) to highly saturated (~95% RH). Ability to learn was dependent upon both the rewarding flower type and the environment: the bumblebees were able to learn rewarding dry flowers in all environments, but their ability to learn humid rewarding flowers was dependent on the environmental humidity, and they were unable to learn humid rewarding flowers when the environment was highly saturated. This suggests that floral humidity might be masked from bumblebees in humid environments, suggesting that it may be a more useful signal to insect pollinators in arid environments.

Behavior Selection Metaheuristic Search Algorithm for the Pollination Optimization: A Simulation Case of Cocoa Flowers

Since nature is an excellent source of inspiration for optimization methods, many optimization algorithms have been proposed, are inspired by nature, and are modified to solve various optimization problems. This paper uses metaheuristics in a new field inspired by nature; more precisely, we use pollination optimization in cocoa plants. The cocoa plant was chosen as the object since its flower type differs from other kinds of flowers, for example, by using cross-pollination. This complex relationship between plants and pollinators also renders pollination a real-world problem for chocolate production. Therefore, this study first identified the underlying optimization problem as a deferred fitness problem, where the quality of a potential solution cannot be immediately determined. Then, the study investigates how metaheuristic algorithms derived from three well-known techniques perform when applied to the flower pollination problem. The three techniques examined here are Swarm Intelligence Algorithms, Individual Random Search, and Multi-Agent Systems search. We then compare the behavior of these various search methods based on the results of pollination simulations. The criteria are the number of pollinated flowers for the trees and the amount and fairness of nectar pickup for the pollinator. Our results show that Multi-Agent System performs notably better than other methods. The result of this study are insights into the co-evolution of behaviors for the collaborative pollination task. We also foresee that this investigation can also help farmers increase chocolate production by developing methods to attract and promote pollinators.

Short Communication: Analysis of the chromosome numbers of Zinnia elegans Jacq. in single, double, and pom-pom flowers

Saifudin, Shafira S, Dwiranti A, Salamah A. 2021. Short Communication: Analysis of the chromosome numbers of Zinnia elegans Jacq. in single, double, and pom-pom flowers. Biodiversitas 22: 2771-2777. Zinnia elegans Jacq. is highly valued as an ornamental plant with a variety of flower colors, sizes, and shapes. Polyploidization has been reported in Z. elegans with pom-pom flowers, nevertheless, the variation in chromosome numbers of various flower shapes has yet to be investigated. This study aimed to analyze the chromosome numbers of Z. elegans Jacq. cultivar “California Giant,” “Lilliput,” and “Cactus Flowered Mix” with single, double, and pom-pom flowers to determine their variations and identify the morphology of the flowers. Chromosomes were prepared using the squashing method, and images were analyzed using the Chromosome Image Analyzing System (CHIAS) IV. The minimum of 5 slides was prepared for each flower type from each cultivar. The results show that the three cultivars are diploid plants (2n = 24) with varying flower morphology. The single and double flowers of Z. elegans “Lilliput” and the single flower of “Cactus Flowered Mix” showed no variation in chromosome numbers. In contrast, chromosome number variation was found in the pom-pom flower of Z. elegans “California Giant” (2n = 22, 24, 48) and the double flower of “Cactus Flowered Mix” (2n = 9, 13, 15, 24). Two cultivars, Z. elegans “California Giant” and Z. elegans “Cactus Flowered Mix,” were successfully analyzed using CHIAS IV. Statistical analysis using a t-test (? = 0.05) showed that the total chromosome length of Z. elegans “California Giant” (2n = 24) was significantly greater than that of Z. elegans “Cactus Flowered Mix” (2n = 24). Chromosome satellites were found in both cultivars.

Generalization of Foraging Experience Biases Bees Toward Flowers With Complex Morphologies

The importance of pollinators as selective agents for many floral traits is well established, but understanding their role in the evolution of complex floral shapes remains challenging. This is because pollinators often need much practice to efficiently handle morphologically complex flowers and extract their food rewards. What induces foragers to persistently visit and pollinate complex flowers despite their initial low profitability? We previously found that naive bumblebees, and unsuccessful feeding attempts of experienced ones, contribute to the pollination of complex flowers. Here we tested a complementary hypothesis, positing that successful foraging on flowers of one complex shape prepares pollinators to visit other species of different complex morphologies. We trained bumblebees to computer-controlled artificial flowers that were either simple, complex or both simple and complex. We then recorded their feeding choices and handling times on a second array of simple and complex flowers that had different shapes and required another handling technique. Bees trained on a single flower type (whether simple or complex) preferred flowers of the same type in the testing array. The foragers’ preferences after training on both flower types depended on the reward schedule during training: when both flower types rewarded equally, simple flowers were preferred at the test phase; when complex flowers provided higher reward during training, they became the preferred flower type during testing. These results suggest that successful foraging on complex flowers, especially when highly rewarding, can indeed induce insect pollinators to attempt additional flower species with other complex shapes.