Notes on Potentilla (Rosaceae) of Altai. 9. A new species from Kuraisky Ridge

Based on morphological characters, a new species Potentilla friesenii collected from alpine belt of Kuraisky Ridge (Altai Mts.) is described. The novelty belongs to Potentilla sect. Chrysanthae; it is most closely related to P. asiatica but differs from the latter by styles not or somewhat widened and smooth to slightly verrucose (vs. always somewhat widened and strongly verrucose) at base as well as the presence of numerous violet glands on sepals. Stability of these differences are confirmed by several years of observation in the wild and in introduction. Illustration of the new species, image of its type specimen, and distribution map are adduced; the area of P. asiatica within Altai Mts. is also presented. A novel morphological feature separating P. asiatica and P. chrysantha is found: staminal ring in P. asiatica (as well as in the new species) is dark violet while it is pale in P. chrysantha. The name P. asiatica is lectotypified.

Ceratozamia dominguezii (Zamiaceae): A New Cycad Species from Southeastern Mexico

Ceratozamia dominguezii (Zamiaceae), a new species endemic to the lowland karstic tropical rainforests of southeastern Veracruz, Mexico, is described. The new species is part of the C. robusta species complex, a group of closely related species that share unique characteristics in the genus, such as robust trunks, large strobili, and long leaves. Compared with the other species in the complex (i.e., C. robusta, C. leptoceras, C. aurantiaca and C. subroseophylla), C. dominguezii has the longest rachides, and is characterized by having papyraceous leaflets, a unique caramel color in emerging leaves, and a dark-violet color in the central portion of distal faces of male and female sporophylls. Ceratozamia dominguezii occurs within the Uxpanapa floristic refuge, which is hypothesized to have sheltered a numerous group of tropical elements during the Neogene glaciations. The recognition of C. dominguezii contributes to clarifying the present diversity of cycads in the genus Ceratozamia, and adds discussion on the role of floristic refugia in the divergence of Neotropical plants in Mexico.

A new lineage of mazaediate fungi in the Eurotiomycetes: Cryptocaliciomycetidae subclass. nov., based on the new species Cryptocalicium blascoi and the revision of the ascoma evolution

The class Eurotiomycetes (Ascomycota, Pezizomycotina) comprises important fungi used for medical, agricultural, industrial and scientific purposes. Eurotiomycetes is a morphologically and ecologically diverse monophyletic group. Within the Eurotiomycetes, different ascoma morphologies are found including cleistothecia and perithecia but also apothecia or stromatic forms. Mazaediate representatives (with a distinct structure in which loose masses of ascospores accumulate to be passively disseminated) have evolved independently several times. Here we describe a new mazaediate species belonging to the Eurotiomycetes. The multigene phylogeny produced (7 gene regions: nuLSU, nuSSU, 5.8S nuITS, mtSSU, RPB1, RPB2 and MCM7) placed the new species in a lineage sister to Eurotiomycetidae. Based on the evolutionary relationships and morphology, a new subclass, a new order, family and genus are described to place the new species: Cryptocalicium blascoi. This calicioid species occurs on the inner side of loose bark strips of Cupressaceae (Cupressus, Juniperus). Morphologically, C. blascoi is characterized by having minute apothecioid stalked ascomata producing mazaedia, clavate bitunicate asci with hemiamyloid reaction, presence of hamathecium and an apothecial external surface with dark violet granules that becomes turquoise green in KOH. The ancestral state reconstruction analyses support a common ancestor with open ascomata for all deep nodes in Eurotiomycetes and the evolution of closed ascomata (cleistothecioid in Eurotiomycetidae and perithecioid in Chaetothyriomycetidae) from apothecioid ancestors. The appropriateness of the description of a new subclass for this fungus is also discussed.

Nano-Sized Minerals from Lower Cretaceous Sandstones in Israel Observed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM)

Fine fraction in quartz arenite sandstones from Lower Cretaceous Hatira formation in Israel was observed by Transmission electron microscope (TEM). Samples were collected from Hatira and Ramon craters located in southern part of Israel and from Manara cliff from the northern part of Israel. The additional phases cause yellow, red, dark red and dark violet colors of the layered sandstones. The motivation was to identify the minerals of the fine factions that cause the variations in the colors. The minerals observed were clay minerals, mainly kaolinite (Al4Si4O20(OH)8), some illite (K0.65Al2.0[Al0.65Si3.35O10](OH)2) and smectite. Iron oxides were goethite (FeOOH) and hematite (Fe2O3), Titanium-iron oxides observed was ilmenite (FeTiO3), and Titanium-oxides were rutile (TiO2), and anatase (TiO2). Sulphates observed were jarosite (KFe3(SO4)2(OH)6) and alunite (KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6). Some of the hematite was formed by recrystallization of goethite. Ilmenite disintegrated into small iron oxides mainly hematite. Euhedral to sub-hedral rutile (TiO2) and anatase (TiO2) were preserved in clay-minerals. Crystals of alunite and jarosite were observed in sandstones in both craters. They probably crystallized due to some transgression of the Thetis Sea.

Rediscovery and taxonomic analysis of Romulea melitensis (Iridaceae) from the Maltese islands

The status of the Maltese endemic Romulea melitensis remained doubtful since its description by Beguinot in 1907, primarily because plants with the morphological characters as referred in the diagnosis have not been substantiated in situ. A sand crocus with the combination of a smallish, dark violet corolla with a yellow throat and perianth segments up to 1.5 mm wide have never been witnessed in the Maltese Islands. A detailed analysis of the protologue and the type of R. melitensis has resulted that when Beguinot examined the 30-year-old exsiccatae, two important characters were misinterpreted, leading to the current ambiguous status of R. melitensis. A detailed account accompanied by specific illustrations and tabulated datasets are given to address this taxonomic misconception. In effect, R. melitensis has wider tepals and the dark colour of the corolla referred in the protologue is exhibited only at the abaxial surface of the tepals in some individuals. Under this adjusted morphological approach, ten populations corresponding to R. melitensis have been found in the Maltese islands, three of which matching completely with the taxon’s lectotype. In addition, morphological, palynological and chorological studies on these populations strongly suggest that R. melitensis is a hybrid between R. columnae and R. variicolor - a Siculo-Maltese endemic species. An identification key to the species of Romulea occurring or reported in the past from the Maltese Islands is supplied in this work.

Results of studying the influence of the treatment with the chemical mutagens on the Сallistephus chinensis (L.) Nees plants

The authors present the influence of the treatment with the chemical mutagens on the Callistephus chinensis plants which was researched in 1998-2001. The samples originated by the studied cultivars open pollination were selected in the Experimental Farm “Novosilky” of the Institute of Horticulture of NAAS in 2002-2020. They are registered in the “data base” and included into the list of cvs of the collection of the seeds characteristics complex (Certificate of the registration of the collection of the plants genetic fund in Ukraine № 00230, November 1, 2016). The collection is registered in the National Centre of the Genetic Resources of the Plants of Ukraine and the seeds were transferred to the National Genetic Bank of the Plants of Ukraine for the long-term storage and for the use in the breeding work as new primary material. The plants of the five investigated varieties (Rubinovyie Zviozdy UT2300066), Oksana (UT2300046), Nizhnist (UT2300042), Yabluneva (UT2300081) and Prazdnichnaia (UT2300056) were treated with five physiologically active substances (DG-75, DG-72, DG-82, DG-468 and DG-608) in two concentrations during the mass flowering period. The results of the explorations showed the direct dependence of a bush diameter on its colouration. In the genotypes with the bright-red colour most of the families with diameter less than 30 cm were removed in all the generations. This also concerns the genotypes with the blue flower cluster colouration that were removed in the third generation. At the same time in the families with the wine-coloured flower clusters the plans with the bush diametr more than 30 cm prevail beginning from the second generation up the fifth one. According to the results of the researches all the studied genotypes can be combined into three groups concerning their response to the treatment by the mutagenes – sensitive (17.9 %), of the average sensitivity (62.5 %) and resistant (19.6 %). The striking exmples of the sensitive genotypes are the offsprings of the sample Rubinovyie Zviozdy which under the mutagens influence were characterized with the great variability as to several traits valuable for economy simultaneously. It is from this sample mother plant that the cultivars were selected as follows: Shokoladka (wine – coloured flower cluster), Oksamyt (dark-wine – coloured), and Sofia (dark-violet) which later on were entered into the State Register of the Plaint Cultivars Favourable for the Spread in Ukraine. In its turn, among those cvs the promise Callistephus chinensis (L.) Nees hybrid forms were selected, namely: C-125, C-116, C-233 and C-198-2 which have a complex of traits valuable for economy, including ornamentality (9.5-9.9 points), flower cluster diameter (10-14 cm) and Fusarium oxysporum resistance (8.8-9.0 points).

Determination of Flower, Pod and Seed Characteristics Related to Yield Components in Forage Pea Genotypes

In this study which was carried out during the 2015 summer season in Eskişehir, the flower, pod and seed characters attributed to yield components were investigated in 12 forage pea genotypes. They showed significant differences in terms of agronomic and morphological (flower, pod, and seed) traits. The highest fresh hay yield with 2171 kg/da and plant height with 106.6 cm were obtained from Populasyon-1. Crackerjack had lower values in some flower traits such as, whereas the higher values of pod and seed traits were obtained from cv. Rose. In addition, Population-1 included in the higher value group for standard petal width, keel petal length, calyx tube and teeth lengths, and flower length. Although cluster analysis did not reflect agronomic traits, the clustering resulted in four groups. The first group consisted of Özkaynak 1, 2, and 3 and Taşkent, Töre, and Population-2, which were the standard petal colour violet, light, and dark violet. Population-1 had both violet and white standard petal; however, it was included in the second group together with white-flowered Ulubatlı and Ürünlü according to cluster analysis. While Rose and Gölyazı were in the third group, Crackerjack was in the fourth group alone. There was a highly significant positive correlation between fresh hay yield and both standard petal width and length and flower length. Consequently, a hopeful result for summer growing in Eskişehir condition was obtained from Population-1. It was suggested that some flower characters can be used for pre-selection of yield-related traits in the evaluation of genetic diversity of pea germplasm through morphological trait.

MnNH4P2O7-Based Coating for High Temperature Assessment on the Surfaces of Cement Composites

This study examines the implementation of an MnNH4P2O7 (ammonium manganese III pyrophosphate)-based coating on structural elements to obtain temperature information with color changes. Based on the MnNH4P2O7 material, a coating was prepared and deposited on cement mortar surfaces. Heat experiments were then conducted to evaluate the thermochromism on the fabricated samples. The coated samples exhibited a superior irreversible thermochromic property at 400 °C with a color change from dark violet to light grayish blue at the heated surface. The color changes were retrieved at each temperature using a digital camera, and the change in color properties was evaluated in the RGB and L*a*b* color spaces using image processing techniques. With increasing temperature from room temperature, the RGB values were almost constant until 200 °C. At higher temperatures, the color changes started to accelerate until 400 °C. The values showed a 167%, 567%, and 49% increase in R, G, and B values, respectively, at 400 °C. In the L*a*b* color space, when the temperature was increased from room temperature to 400 °C, the L*a*b* values showed an increase of 211%, a decrease of 94%, and an increase of 78%, respectively.

High Temperature Sensing and Detection for Cementitious Materials Using Manganese Violet Pigment

In recent years, advanced materials have attracted considerable interest in the field of temperature detection and sensing. This study examined the thermochromic properties of inorganic manganese violet (MV) with increasing temperature. According to the thermochromic test, the material was found to have reversible and irreversible color change properties. The MV pigment was then applied to cementitious material at ratios of 1%, 3%, and 5%. The mixed cement samples with MV pigment were heated in a furnace, and digital images were captured at each temperature interval to evaluate the changes in the color information on the surface of the specimen. The mixed samples exhibited an irreversible thermochromic change from dark violet to grayish green above 400 °C. At the critical temperature of 440 °C, the RGB values increased by approximately 22%–55%, 28%–68%, and 7%–25%, depending on the content of MV pigment. In Lab space, the L value increased by approximately 23%–60% at 440 °C. The a value completely changed from positive to negative, and the b value changed from negative to positive. All the values differed according to the content of MV pigment at room temperature but approached similar ranges at the critical temperature, irrespective of the amount of MV pigment. To assess the changes in their microstructure and composition, scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were performed on the samples exposed to temperatures ranging from room temperature to 450 °C.

Origin of chromic effects and crystal-to-crystal phase transition in the polymorphs of tyraminium violurate

Chromic materials are nowadays widely used in various technological applications, however understanding the effect and the possibility of tuning the obtained colour of a material are still challenging. Here a combined experimental and theoretical study is presented on the solvatochromic and crystallochromic effects in the (pseudo)polymorphs of tyraminium violurate. This organic material exhibits a large solvatochromic shift (ca 192 nm) associated with broad colour change (from yellow to dark violet). Tyraminum violurate crystallizes as red crystals of form (I) from water as a solvate, and as an unsolvated form [violet crystals of (II)] from methanol solution. Form (I), when heated, undergoes two crystal-to-crystal phase transformations associated with colour change of the crystals. Crystals of (II) show extreme birefringence (ca 0.46) and high refractive index (n γ above 1.90), which can be correlated with preferential orientation of the resultant dipole moments of the ions. Examination of optical effects (UV–Vis spectra) along with theoretical calculations (QTAIM, atomic and bond polarizabilities) enabled the description of the origin of colour in the studied materials.