Development of Simple Sequence Repeats (SSR) Markers in Setaria italica (Poaceae) and Cross-Amplification in Related Species

Foxtail millet is one of the world’s oldest cultivated crops. It has been adopted as a model organism for providing a deeper understanding of plant biology. In this study, 45 simple sequence repeats (SSR) markers of Setaria italica were developed. These markers showing polymorphism were screened in 223 samples from 12 foxtail millet populations around Taiwan. The most common dinucleotide and trinucleotide repeat motifs are AC/TG (84.21%) and CAT (46.15%). The average number of alleles (Na), the average heterozygosities observed (Ho) and expected (He) are 3.73, 0.714, 0.587, respectively. In addition, 24 SSR markers had shown transferability to six related Poaceae species. These new markers provide tools for examining genetic relatedness among foxtail millet populations and other related species. It is suitable for germplasm management and protection in Poaceae

日本産トキワススキの遺伝的多様性

日本産および台湾産のトキワススキについて，遺伝的多様度を解析した。その結果，3個体については，遺伝子に変異が見いだされたが，日本のトキワススキは殆どがクローンであった。これに対して台湾のトキワススキは，多様な遺伝子型よりなる集団であった。もし日本のトキワススキが在来種だとすると，現在では，その殆どが１クローンになってしまっていることになる。しかし野外での観察や聞き取り結果などもふまえると，日本のトキワススキは移入個体が人為的に増殖された可能性がある。後者の場合は，絶滅危惧種として保全する必要はなくなるだろう。また，前者の場合も，現在の分布域の全部ないし一部が，本来の自生地ではなく移入されたものである可能性が残る。いずれにせよ，日本の個体群の起源については，他のアジア地域の個体群との比較を含めた再検討が必要となる。また，遺伝的な差異の見られた日本産の3個体については，いずれも少数の遺伝子しか異なっておらず，近縁種はおろか，別遺伝子型他個体との交雑も考えにくく，該当遺伝子座の突然変異の可能性が高いと考えられる

Agrostis dimorpholemma (Gramineae), a New Record from Southern Taiwan and It’s Morphological Variation

A new record of grass, Agrostis dimorpholemma Ohwi from Taiwan is described and illustrated. This species is presently known and only found at Hsin-I Hsiang, on roadside of Provincial road No. 18 near Yu-shan National Park, between 2,200-2,500 m alt. Meanwhile, the possible hybrid origin of the plants is also discussed

Two New Records of Scleria Bergius (Cyperaceae) in Taiwan

Scleria laeviformis Tang & Wang and S. scrobiculata Nees & Mey. ex Nees are newly recorded sedges in Taiwan. Descriptions and line drawings are provided for both species. A key to species of Scleria in Taiwan is also provided

Interactive Key to Taiwan Grasses Using Characters of Leaf Anatomy – The ActKey Approach

ActKey is an online interactive key program and database for identification of organisms. It differs from traditional dichotomous keys in providing multi-access entry points. Rather than answering questions to key couplets while following a pre-defined path, ActKey provides a wider strategy for identifying an unknown plant. The program is web-based and supports most popular internet browsers. Visitors can use interactive keys at the the www.efloras.org website as tools for identifications, and an earlier version of ActKey with over 70 interactive keys can be found at http://flora.huh.harvard.edu:8080/actkey/. Moreover, ActKey enables the taxonomist to create and edit a key online and publish it online instantly. The www.efloras.org website designed by Hong Song is used to host taxon- and specimen-based information, and ActKey is one of its many features. In this paper, we will demonstrate how to construct an ActKey for identifying Taiwan grasses using a character set of leaf anatomy. Fifteen characters were used. Pop-up windows display images illustrating the character states. Data from microscopic examination of sections of leaf blades of 176 species in five subfamilies of grasses in Taiwan are included. The constructed ActKey will be useful to identify Taiwan grasses especially when flowering material is unavailable

Chikusichloa Koidz. (Poaceae): A Newly Recorded Genus in the Flora of Taiwan

Chikusichloa mutica Keng, a native species of the Poaceae within Malesia and mainland China, was recently found at low elevations of northern Taiwan, providing a new record for this species and the genus for the flora of Taiwan. Chikusichloa Koidz. can be easily distinguished from the other five genera of the subfamily Oryzoideae by its bisexual spikelets, stipitate florets, and only one stamen per floret. Herein, the authors provide a line drawing, photographs, distribution map, and description of Chikusichloa mutica

New Naturalized Grasses in Taiwan

Holcus lanatus L., Phalaris canariensis L. and Festuca arundinacea Schreb. are new naturalized grasses which have been found recently in Taiwan. Descriptions and line drawings are provided for each species

The Genus Bromus L. (Poaceae) in Taiwan: a DELTA Database for Generating Key and Descriptions

We examined herbarial specimens of the genus Bromus L. (Bromeae, Festucoideae, Poaceae) in Taiwan and recognized four taxa. They were Bromus catharticus Vahl, B. formosanus Honda, B. morrisonensis Honda and B. rigidus Roth. Besides, B. remotiforus (Steud.) Ohwi var. piananensis Ohwi was treated as an uncertain taxon. The DELTA (Descriptive Language for Taxonomy) database programs were used to generate an identification key and descriptions of the taxa

Cenchrus ciliaris L., A Newly Naturalized Grass in Taiwan

Cenchrus ciliaris L. is reported as a newly naturalized grass in Taiwan. Its description, line drawing and a key to the species of Cenchrus of Taiwan are provided

The Genus Poa L. (Poaceae) in Taiwan: a Delta Database for Generating Key and Descriptions

We examined herbarium specimens of the genus Poa L. (Festuceae, Festucoideae, Poaceae) in Taiwan and recognized seven taxa. The DELTA (DEscriptive Language for TAxonomy) database programs were used to generate an identification key and descriptions of the taxa