Genomic variation, environmental adaptation and feralization in ramie, an ancient fiber crop

Feralization is an important evolutionary process, but the mechanisms behind it remain poorly understood. Here, we use the ancient fiber crop, ramie (Boehmeria nivea (L.) Gaudich.) as a model to investigate genomic changes associated with both domestication and fertilization. We first produced a chromosome-scale de novo genome assembly of feral ramie and investigated structural variations between feral and domesticated ramie genomes. Next, 915 accessions from 20 countries were gathered, comprising cultivars, major landraces, feral populations and wild progenitor. Based on whole genome resequencing of these accessions, the most comprehensive ramie genomic variation map to date was constructed. Phylogenetic, demographic, and admixture signal detection analyses indicate that feral ramie is of exoferal or exo-endo origin, i.e., descended from hybridization between domesticated ramie and wild progenitor or ancient landraces. Feral ramie has greater genetic diversity than wild or domesticated ramie, and genomic regions affected by natural selection during feralization are different from those under selection during domestication. Ecological analyses showed that feral and domesticated ramie have similar ecological niches which are substantially different from the niche of the wild progenitor, and three environmental variables were associated with habitat-specific adaptation in feral ramie. Our findings advance our understanding of feralization, providing a scientific basis for the excavation of new crop germplasm resources and offering novel insights into the evolution of feralization in nature

Checklist to the Elatostema (Urticaceae) of Vietnam including 19 new records, ten new combinations, two new names and four new synonyms

Elatostema (Urticaceae) comprises several hundred herbaceous species distributed in tropical and subtropical Africa, Asia, Australia and Oceania. The greatest species richness occurs on limestone karst in Southeast Asia. Taxonomic revisions of Elatostema are largely out of date and contradict each other with respect to the delimitation of Elatostema and Pellionia. Most herbaria in SE Asia and worldwide contain significant amounts of unidentified material. As part of a broader revision of Elatostema in SE Asia, we present an updated checklist for Vietnam based on field visits, a review of specimens in herbaria worldwide, a review of type material and nomenclature. We recognize 77 taxa (75 species and two infraspecific taxa) of Elatostema in Vietnam, 23 of which were previously ascribed to Pellionia. Nineteen of these are new records for the country, i.e., E. attenuatoides, E. austrosinense, E. backeri, E. brunneinerve, E. crassiusculum, E. crenatum, E. fengshanense, E. glochidioides, E. malacotrichum, E. nanchuanense, E. oblongifolium, E. obtusum, E. oppositum, E. pergameneum, E. prunifolium, E. pseudolongipes, E. pycnodontum, E. salvinioides and E. xichouense. We place E. baviensis in synonymy of E. platyphyllum, E. colaniae in synonymy of E. myrtillus, P. macroceras in synonymy of E. hookerianum, and P. tetramera in synonymy of E. dissectum for the first time. Fourteen taxa (18% of all the recognized taxa) are endemic to Vietnam, which makes Elatostema one of the richest genera for endemic species in this country; this level of endemism is comparable to levels observed in Orchidaceae. Our checklist suggests that the highest diversity and endemism of Elatostema occurs in northern Vietnam, and that there is the greatest floristic similarity of northern Vietnam to SW China. The relationship among floristic regions is also investigated. We could find no records of Elatostema for 33 out of 63 provincial units of Vietnam, including all the southernmost provinces. We propose that further studies on the diversity of Elatostema in central and southern Vietnam are severely needed

Eight new species of Cestrum (Solanaceae) from Mesoamerica

As part of the preparation of a taxonomic revision of Cestrum (Solanaceae) for Flora Mesoamericana eight hitherto undescribed species from Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama were identified. These eight new species are described and illustrated. Affinities of the species are discussed and Global Species Conservation Assessments presented. The new species are Cestrum amistadense A.K. Monro, sp. nov. (Vulnerable) which most closely resembles Cestrum longiflorum Ruiz & Pav., Cestrum contrerasianum A.K. Monro, sp. nov. (Vulnerable) which most closely resembles Cestrum formosum C.V.Morton, Cestrum darienense A.K. Monro, sp. nov. (Near Threatened) which most closely resembles Cestrum morae Hunz., Cestrum gilliae A.K. Monro, sp. nov. (Near Threatened) which most closely resembles Cestrum morae, Cestrum haberii A.K. Monro, sp. nov. (Vulnerable) which most closely resembles Cestrum poasanum Donn.Sm., Cestrum knappiae A.K. Monro, sp. nov. (Near Threatened) which most closely resembles Cestrum acuminatum Francey, Cestrum lentii A.K. Monro, sp. nov. (Near Threatened) which most closely resembles Cestrum johnniegentrianum D’Arcy and Cestrum talamancaense A.K. Monro (Least Concern) which most closely resembles Cestrum laxum Benth

Three new species of Pilea (Urticaceae) from limestone karst in China.

Abstract. Three hitherto undescribed species of Pilea (Urticaceae) from limestone karst in China are described and illustrated. Affinities of the species are discussed and Global Species Conservation Assessments presented. The new species are Pilea cavernicola A.K. Monro, C.J. Chen & Y.G. Wei, sp. nov. (Vulnerable) which most closely resembles Pilea scripta (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) Wedd. and Pilea gracilis Handel-Mazzetti, Pilea shizongensis A.K. Monro, C.J. Chen & Y.G. Wei, sp. nov. (Endangered) which is most similar to Pilea aquarum Dunn and Pilea guizhouensis A.K. Monro, C.J. Chen & Y.G. Wei, sp. nov. (Vulnerable) which resembles Pilea boniana Gagnep. and Pilea rubriflora C. Wright mostclosely

Tetrapterys argentea

Angiosperm

Additions to the Flora of China: three new species of Elatostema (Urticaceae) from Guangxi.

Three new species are described and illustrated and their conservation status assessed: Elatostema laevicaule W.T. Wang, A.K. Monro & Y.G. Wei, E. androstachyum W.T. Wang, A.K. Monro & Y.G. Wei and E. heterocladum W.T. Wang, A.K. Monro & Y.G. Wei. All are rare endemic species from Guangxi Province, China, and are only known only from their type localities. E. laevicaule is most similar to E. filipes and is assessed as Vulnerable (VU), E. androstachyum is most similar to E. parvum and is assessed as Vulnerable (VU); E. heterocladum is most similar to both E. androstachyum and E. luxiense and is assessed as Vulnerable (VU)

Three new species of Pilea (Urticaceae) from limestone karst in China

Three hitherto undescribed species of Pilea (Urticaceae) from limestone karst in China are described and illustrated. Affinities of the species are discussed and Global Species Conservation Assessments presented. The new species are Pilea cavernicola A.K. Monro, C.J. Chen & Y.G. Wei, sp. nov. (Vulnerable) which most closely resembles Pilea scripta (Buch.-Ham. ex D.Don) Wedd. and Pilea gracilis Handel-Mazzetti, Pilea shizongensis A.K. Monro, C.J. Chen & Y.G. Wei, sp. nov. (Endangered) which is most similar to Pilea aquarum Dunn and Pilea guizhouensis A.K. Monro, C.J. Chen & Y.G. Wei, sp. nov. (Vulnerable) which resembles Pilea boniana Gagnep. and Pilea rubriflora C. Wright mostclosely