INDEPENDENT ORIGINATION OF FLORAL ZYGOMORPHY, A PREDICTED ADAPTIVE RESPONSE TO POLLINATORS: DEVELOPMENTAL AND GENETIC MECHANISMS

Observations of floral development indicate that floral organ initiation in pentapetalous flowers more commonly results in a medially positioned abaxial petal (MAB) than in a medially positioned adaxial petal (MAD), where the medial plane is defined by the stem and the bract during early floral development. It was proposed that the dominant MAB petal initiation might impose a developmental constraint that leads to the evolution of limited patterns of floral zygomorphy in Asteridae, a family in which the floral zygomorphy develops along the medial plane and results in a central ventral (CV) petal in mature flowers. Here, I investigate whether the pattern of floral organ initiation may limit patterns of floral zygomorphy to evolve in pentapetalous angiosperms. I analyzed floral diagrams representing 405 species in 330 genera of pentapetalous angiosperms to reconstruct the evolution of floral organ initiation and the evolution of developmental processes that give rise to floral zygomorphy on a phylogenetic framework. Results indicate that MAB petal initiation is the most common; it occupies 86.2% of diversity and represents the ancestral state of floral organ initiation in pentapetalous angiosperms. The MAD petal initiation evolved 28 times independently from the ancestral MAB petal initiation. Among the 34 independent originations of floral zygomorphy, 76.5% of these clades represent MAB petal initiation, among which only 47% of the clades result a CV petal in mature flowers. The discrepancy is explained by the existence of developmental processes that result in floral zygomorphy along oblique planes of floral symmetry in addition to along the medial plane. Findings suggest that although the early floral organ initiation plays a constraining role to the evolution of patterns of floral zygomorphy, the constraint diverges along phylogenetically distantly related groups that allow the independent originations of floral zygomorphy through distinct development processes in pentapetalous angiosperms. In additional study, the butterfly-like flowers of Schizanthus are adapted to pollination by bees, hummingbirds, and moths. I investigated the genetic basis of the zygomorphic corolla, for which development is key to the explosive pollen release mechanism found in the species of Schizanthus adapted to bee pollinators. I examined differential gene expression profiles across the zygomorphic corolla of Schizanthus pinnatus, a bee-pollinated species, by analyzing RNA transcriptome sequencing (RNA- seq). Data indicated that CYC2 is not expressed in the zygomorphic corolla of Sc. pinnatus, suggesting CYC2 is not involved in the development of floral zygomorphy in Schizanthus (Solanaceae). The data also indicated that a number of genes are differentially expressed across the corolla

Extraordinarily high leaf selenium to sulfur ratios define ‘se-accumulator’ plants

Background and Aims: Selenium (Se) and sulfur (S) exhibit similar chemical properties. In flowering plants (angiosperms) selenate and sulfate are acquired and assimilated by common transport and metabolic pathways. It is hypothesized that most angiosperm species show little or no discrimination in the accumulation of Se and S in leaves when their roots are supplied a mixture of selenate and sulfate, but some, termed Se-accumulator plants, selectively accumulate Se in preference to S under these conditions. Methods: This paper surveys Se and S accumulation in leaves of 39 angiosperm species, chosen to represent the range of plant Se accumulation phenotypes, grown hydroponically under identical conditions. Results: The data show that, when supplied a mixture of selenate and sulfate: (1) plant species differ in both their leaf Se ([Se]leaf) and leaf S ([S]leaf) concentrations; (2) most angiosperms show little discrimination for the accumulation of Se and S in their leaves and, in non-accumulator plants, [Se]leaf and [S]leaf are highly correlated; (3) [Se]leaf in Se-accumulator plants is significantly greater than in other angiosperms, but [S]leaf, although high, is within the range expected for angiosperms in general; and (4) the Se/S quotient in leaves of Se-accumulator plants is significantly higher than in leaves of other angiosperms. Conclusion: The traits of extraordinarily high [Se]leaf and leaf Se/S quotients define the distinct elemental composition of Se-accumulator plants

The Melianthaceous seed and its Rhamnaceous affinity

. La semilla de Melianthaceae y su afinidad con Rhamnaceae. En el presente trabajo, se ha estudiado la anatomia y morfología de la semilla de Bersama (Bersamataceae) y Melianthus (Melianthaceae) con el objeto de clarificar su posición sistemática. La exotesta de Bersama y Melianthus, con una empalizada de células de Malpighi bien diferenciada, abundante endosperma y embrión recto y escasamente diferenciado, muestra ciertas afinidades con la exotesta albuminosa de las semillas de Rhamnaceae y Elaeagnaceae. Utilizando también datos carpológicos, florales y morfológico-vegetativos adicionales, se sugiere que Bersamataceae, junto con Melianthaceae y Rhamnaceae/Elaeagnaceae constituyen una ramificación lateral relíctica de un ancestro roside exo-mesotestado. La morfología y anatomía de las semillas evidencian la anómala y tradicional inclusión de Bersama y Melianthus en el orden Sapindales, cuyas semillas presentan diferente pautas en la estructura de la espermodermis y en la vascularización de la misma. La anatomía de la semilla, no confirma ninguna de las relaciones que se han sugerido, alternativamente, con Lardizabalaceae exo-mesotestales ni con Malvales exotegmicos. Por otra parte, consideramos insostenibles las afinidades con Celastrales exotégmicos, que han sido consideradas como una posible conexión entre Rosales arcaicos exo-mesotestados y Rhamnales/Elaeagnales exotestados. Se sugiere que ambas familias, Bersamataceae y Melianthaceae, constituyen el orden Melianthales que, junto con Rhamnaceae (Rhamnales, s. e.) y Elaeagnaceae (Elaeagnales) representan remanentes avanzados de un phyllum profusamente ramificado, cuyas relaciones se remontan directamente hacia Fabales, pasando por Rosales, Sapindales, Icacinales y Celastrales

Microlobiusxylon paranaensis gen. et sp. nov. (fabaceae, mimosoideae) from the pliocene-pleistocene of ituzaingó formation, paraná basin, Argentina

A fossil wood with Fabaceae affinity from the Pliocene-Pleistocene sediments of Ituzaingó Formation is described. The silicified wood was collected at the Toma Vieja fossil locality, Paraná Basin, Argentina. The relationship and comparison with the nearest living relatives (NLRs) are discussed. Wood anatomical characters suggest an affinity with the genus Microlobius C. Presl. In South America, the genus Microlobius occurs in Brazil, Bolivia (Santa Cruz), Argentina (Chaco and Formosa) and Paraguay and is an important extant element of the Paraguay-Paraná system. The presence of this fossil in the Ituzaingó Formation supports the idea that the morphogenus Microlobiusxylon might have been an important component of seasonally dry tropical forests (SDTFs) during the Pliocene-Pleistocene. Today, this forest type has a relict distribution, occurring in isolated localities in the north of Argentina, southeast of Bolivia and Brazil, but in the past were more widespread to the east and south in South America. The presence of Microlobiusxylon paranaensis gen. et sp. nov. would indicate a temperate-warm climate during the Pliocene-Pleistocene.É descrita uma madeira fóssil afim à família Fabaceae em sedimentitos plio-pleistocênicos da Formação Ituzaingó. A madeira silicificada foi coletada na localidade fossilífera Toma Vieja (Paraná, Argentina). O lenho fóssil foi comparado com seu parente atual mais próximo. Sua estrutura anatômica sugere afinidade com o gênero Microlobius C. Presl. Na América do Sul, o gênero Microlobius aparece no Brasil, Bolívia (Santa Cruz), Argentina (Chaco e Formosa) e Paraguai, e é um gênero importante do sistema Paraguai-Paraná. A presença deste fóssil na Formação Ituzaingó avaliza a ideia de que o morfogênero Microlobiusxylon foi um membro importante das florestas tropicais sazonais (SDTFs) durante o Plio-Pleistoceno. Estas florestas são relictos em localidades isoladas no norte da Argentina e no sudeste da Bolívia e do Brasil, mas no passado estendeu-se mais para o leste e o sul da América do Sul. Microlobiusxylon paranaensis gen. et sp. nov.sugere a vigência de um clima temperado-cálido ao longo do Plio-Pleistoceno.Fil: Franco, María Jimena. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Brea, Mariana. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; Argentin

Managing coextinction of insects in a changing climate

AbstractApproximately a quarter of global terrestrial biodiversity is represented by plant dwelling insects and the potential for thousands of species to be extinguished through widespread disturbances such as a changing climate is high. From a large database of 1,019 insect species on 104 plant species, we identified that 70 species were of immediate conservation concern due to their reliance on threatened plant species. A further 15 insect species were of lesser conservation concern because they rely on several threatened plant species for survival. Of those insects that feed from non-threatened plant species, 178 host-specific species are likely to be at risk in the event that climate change or synergistic factors reduces their host plant’s range size. Insect groups that appear most prone to extinction are sessile feeders and highly host specific groups such as whiteflies, scales, mealybugs. Many weevils are also host specific and at higher risk, possibly as they are dispersal inhibited, such as through brachyptery. More surprisingly, mobile plant louse groups (Psylloidea) were also at high risk. Endophagous insects are predicted to be at high risk, but were under-studied here.Regions such as gullies and mountains provide refugia for some species. The fluctuations in temperature (less within refugia), and average humidity (higher in refugia) appear particularly important in these habitats. Particular vegetation types are associated with refugial regions, with a recognised Threatened Ecological Community (TEC) of flora species associated with the highest peaks of the Eastern Mastif, and there is evidence of insect species restricted to these peaks. For the majority of plant species that are not restricted to certain areas, their insect assemblages differ significantly between plant populations, particularly across different mountains.With the assistance of end-users, we have developed an adaptation management framework. The framework assists with conserving plant-dwelling insect species, after they are identified as in need of conservation action. Whilst the primary reason for the development of the framework was to provide adaptation actions in the face of climate change, the framework can be used when insects require conservation action to ameliorate impacts of other threatening processes. Previously published frameworks can be utilized to determine whether an insect is threatened with extinction. Despite the availability of such tools, a survey of end-users still indicted that lack of expertise is the most important factor inhibiting considering plant-dwelling insects.Land managers currently struggle to determine which insect species inhabit their lands, let alone knowing which are in need of conservation. To assist land managers with these problems, we suggest the employment of dedicated conservation entomologists by the Federal and State governments. Their role would be to bridge the interface between taxonomists, government conservation bodies, land managers and disturbance ecologists. The conservation entomologist’s principle tasks would be to identify insects most at risk of extinction, nominate them for listing, and develop management plans to ensure their survival

First Record of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) in Argentina

Debido a la reciente detección de Helicoverpa armigera en Brasil y Paraguay en 2013, se colocaron trampas de feromonas en el cultivo de garbanzo en dos localidades de la provincia de Tucumán para detectar la presencia de este noctuido en Argentina. Esta plaga fue detectada en ambas localidades confirmando la presencia de H. armigera en Argentina por primera vez.Because of the recent presence of Helicoverpa armigera in Brazil and Paraguay in 2013, pheromone traps were deployed in chickpea crops at 2 localities in Tucumán province to determine if this noctuid was present in Argentina. This pest was detected at both locations, confirming the presence of H. armigera in Argentina for first time.Fil: Murúa, María Gabriela. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres"(p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Scalora, Franco S.. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Navarro, Fernando Ruben. Universidad Nacional de Tucumán. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales e Instituto Miguel Lillo. Instituto Superior de Entomología; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Cazado, Lucas Emiliano. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino. Provincia de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial "Obispo Colombres"(p). Instituto de Tecnología Agroindustrial del Noroeste Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Casmuz, Augusto Sebastián. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Villagrán, Maria Elvira. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; ArgentinaFil: Lobos, Enrique. Universidad Nacional de Santiago del Estero. Facultad de Agronomia y Agroindustrias; ArgentinaFil: Gastaminza, Gerardo Alfredo. Gobierno de Tucumán. Ministerio de Desarrollo Productivo. Estación Experimental Agroindustrial Obispo Colombres; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Spatial Patterns and Sequential Sampling Plans for Estimating Densities of Stink Bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) in Soybean in the North Central Region of the United States

Stink bugs are an emerging threat to soybean (Fabales: Fabaceae) in the North Central Region of the United States. Consequently, region-specific scouting recommendations for stink bugs are needed. The aim of this study was to characterize the spatial pattern and to develop sampling plans to estimate stink bug population density in soybean fields. In 2016 and 2017, 125 fields distributed across nine states were sampled using sweep nets. Regression analyses were used to determine the effects of stink bug species [Chinavia hilaris (Say) (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae) and Euschistus spp. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae)], life stages (nymphs and adults), and field locations (edge and interior) on spatial pattern as represented by variance–mean relationships. Results showed that stink bugs were aggregated. Sequential sampling plans were developed for each combination of species, life stage, and location and for all the data combined. Results for required sample size showed that an average of 40–42 sample units (sets of 25 sweeps) would be necessary to achieve a precision of 0.25 for stink bug densities commonly encountered across the region. However, based on the observed geographic gradient of stink bug densities, more practical sample sizes (5–10 sample units) may be sufficient in states in the southeastern part of the region, whereas impractical sample sizes (\u3e100 sample units) may be required in the northwestern part of the region. Our findings provide research-based sampling recommendations for estimating densities of these emerging pests in soybean

Incidence of Extra-Floral Nectaries and their Effect on the Growth and Survival of Lowland Tropical Rain Forest Trees

Received the best poster in Organismal Biology award at the NMS Undergraduate Research ForumMutualistic relationships between organisms have long captivated biologists, and extra-floral nectaries (EFNs), or nectar-producing glands, found on many plants are a good example. The nectar produced from these glands serves as food for ants which attack intruders that may threaten their free meal, preventing herbivory. However, relatively little is known about their impact on the growth and survival of plants that exhibit EFNs. To better understand the ecological significance of EFNs, I examined their incidence on 896 species of lowland tropical rain forest tree in Yasuni National Park in Amazonian Ecuador. Of those species that were observed in the field, EFNs were found on 96 species (11.2%), widely distributed among different angiosperm families. This rate of incidence is high but consistent with other locations in tropical regions. Furthermore, this study adds 13 new genera and 2 new families (Urticaceae and Caricaceae) to the list of trees exhibiting EFNs. Using demographic data from a long-term forest dynamics plot, I compared the growth and survival rates of species that have nectaries with those that do not. This same process was also done with EFN incidence previously recorded at two different locations, Barro Colorado Island, Panama and Pasoh Forest Reserve, Malaysia. Results show that while species with EFNs have generally higher diameter growth rates, they also have higher mortality rates than species without, suggesting a cost to this ecological strategy.URO Summer Research FellowshipNo embarg

IDENTIFIKASI ORDO FABALES DIKAWASAN UNIVERSITAS ISLAM NEGERI SUMATERERA UTARA DAN UNIVERSITAS NEGERI MEDAN

Ordo Fabales memiliki sebanyak 3 famili yaitu Mimosaceae, Caesalpiniaceae dan Fabaceae. Daerah Universitas Islam Negeri Sumatera Utara (UINSU) dan Universitas Islam Negeri Medan (UNIMED) banyak ditanami tumbuhan dengan jenis pohon trembesi, yang dapat menyerap partikel-pertikel polutan udara. Tujuan penelitian ini untuk mengidentifikasi ordo fabales di Kawasan UINSU dan UNIMED.  Penelitian dilakukan pada daerah Medan pada bulan 18 Oktober 2023 samapai waktu yang tidak ditentukan. Metode penelitian ini menggunakan metode survey melalui pengamatan langsung dilapangan dan dokumentasi. Untuk hasil dari yang telah ditemukan pada daerah dua universitas terdapat 3 famili dengan 7 spesies denga masing-masing manfaat serta kegunaannya bagi lingkungan memiliki tipe yang berbeda-beda

Evolution of antagonistic relationships in proteins: a case study of RADIALIS- and DIVIRICATA-like genes

The antagonistic relationship of proteins describes the opponent interactions that result in one protein suppressing the function of another. Developmental genetic studies of Antirrhinum majus demonstrated that two transcription factors from the MYB gene family, RAD and DIV, interact through antagonism to regulate floral dorsoventral asymmetry. Interestingly, similar antagonistic interactions were found among proteins of FSM1 (RAD-like), MYBI (DIV-like), and DRIF in Solanum lycopersicum, which is involved in fruit development. Here, we report on the homology of these antagonistic MYB proteins based on reconstruction of the phylogeny of I-box-like and R-R-type clades, where RAD- and DIV-like belong, respectively. Three paralogs of RAD-/I-box-like genes, RAD1, RAD2, and RAD3 are reprensent in the phylogeny, which originated in the common ancestor of the core eudicots. In contrast, R-R-type sequences fall into two major clades, RR1 and RR2, which are the result of gene duplication in the common ancestor of monocots and dicots. RR1 was divided into clades, RR1A, RR1B, and RR1C, while RR2 divided into clades, RR2A/DIV1, RR2B/DIV2, and RR2C/DIV3. We demonstrate that among similar antagonistic interactions in A. majus and So. lycopersicum, RAD-like genes originate from the RAD2 clade, while DIV-like genes originate from distantly related paralogs of the R-R-type lineage