Spatial Congruence or Mismatch Between Phylogenetic and Functional Structure of Seed Plants Along a Tropical Elevational Gradient: Different Traits Have Different Patterns

Compared to species richness, few studies have investigated the patterns and relationship of phylogenetic and functional structures along elevational gradients. Here, we used the general additive models to determine the trends of taxonomic diversity (species richness, SR), phylogenetic and functional diversity (PD and FD), phylogenetic structure net relatedness index (NRI), and functional structure net functional relatedness index (NFRI) of seed plants along the elevational gradient in Mount Kenya, a tropical mountain in Africa. We measured growth form, fruit type, maximum height, and maximum leaf size of each species, calculated the phylogenetic signal of each trait, and tested the Pearson correlation coefficients between NRI and NFRI of each trait. Our results showed that SR, PD, and FD decreased gradually along the elevational gradient. NRI exhibited a fluctuating pattern along the elevational gradient, while NFRI of the four functional traits showed noticeably different patterns. We concluded that the relationship between the phylogenetic and functional structures in different functional traits could be congruent or mismatched along the elevational gradient. Compared with relatively conservative categorical traits (e.g., growth form and fruit type), continuous traits (e.g., height and leaf size) have a random or convergent evolutionary pattern. Therefore, they could be more easily affected by the environment and possibly have higher phenotypic plasticity

An annotated checklist of vascular plants of Cherangani hills, Western Kenya

Cherangani hills, located in Western Kenya, comprises of 12 forest blocks, maintaining great plant diversity. However, little attention to plant diversity studies has been paid to it in the past years. Here, we present a checklist of the vascular plants of this region obtained through intensive field investigations and matching of herbarium specimens. In total, 1296 species, including 17 endemic species are documented, belonging to 130 families and 608 genera. This flora represents 18.50%, 43.83% and 54.17% of the Kenyan species, genera and families, respectively. The habit, habitat and voucher specimens, as well as brief notes on the distribution of each taxon recorded are presented in this checklist. It is the first exhaustive inventory of the terrestrial vascular plants in Cherangani hills which is a significant regional centre for plant diversity

A checklist of seed plants of Mount Kenya, East Africa

This is a comprehensive checklist of seed plants based on data from various scientific expeditions to Mount Kenya since the 1900s. These data sources include published floras and field guides such as Flora of Tropical East Africa, Upland Kenya Wild Flowers and Ferns, Wild Flowers of East Africa and Kenya Trees Shrubs and Lianas, data of specimens from East African Herbarium, Nairobi, Kenya (EA) and Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF, https://www.gbif.org/), and data from our own scientific expedition from 2009 to 2016 (specimens were stored at Herbarium of Wuhan Botanical Garden, Wuhan, China, HIB). Species were assigned to vegetation zones according to the sampling locations and habitat descriptions described in the monographs. Growth forms of species were classified as either woody or herbaceous plants

A taxonomic revision of Cynanchum thesioides (Apocynaceae) with two new synonyms

Cynanchum thesioides, a species widely distributed in north-eastern Asia, is revised to include two new synonyms: Vincetoxicum sibiricum f. linearifolium, described from Shandong, China in 1877, but long neglected and Cynanchum gobicum, previously believed to be endemic to Mongolia. Typification for C. thesioides and all its synonyms is given, including lectotypification of V. sibiricum var. australe and V. sibiricum f. linearifolium. An updated description, three figures showing the diverse habitats, habits and variation in morphological characters, and a general distribution map are also provided

Phylogeography of Haplocarpha rueppelii (Asteraceae) suggests a potential geographic barrier for plant dispersal and gene flow in East Africa

East Africa is a biodiversity hotspot. Haplocarpha rueppelii (Sch.Bip.) Beauverd is mainly distributed in the alpine grassland of East Africa. Here we sampled 65 individuals of eight populations/locations of H. rueppelii including hairy and glabrous forms from Mts. Elgon, Aberdare, Kenya, Kilimanjaro and Bale Mountains. We then sequenced one nuclear and three chloroplast DNA fragments and conducted phylogeographic analyses to test the taxonomic rank of the two forms and causes for the differentiation (intrinsic reproductive isolation and geographic barrier). The results demonstrate that the species consists of two major groups, one includes the populations from Mts. Elgon, Aberdare and Bale, while the other includes Mts. Kenya and Kilimanjaro. The species has established in Mts. Kenya and Aberdare during the Pleistocene. However, migration rate for individuals between the two mountains was low as showed by gene flow analysis. A barrier for plant dispersal and gene flow would have existed between Mts. Aberdare and Kenya since at least Pleistocene. No change of the taxonomic concept of this species is needed. This study reveals a potential geographic barrier in East Africa. We hope it will arouse more scientists' interests in phylogeography and biodiversity of East Africa

Potential Antioxidative and Anti-Hyperuricemic Components Targeting Superoxide Dismutase and Xanthine Oxidase Explored from <i>Polygonatum Sibiricum</i> Red.

Polygonatum sibiricum Red. (P. sibiricum) has been used as a traditional Chinese medicine with a wide range of pharmacology effects. However, the responsible bioactive compounds and their mechanisms of action concerning its antioxidative and anti-hyperuricemic activities remain unexplored. In this work, the antioxidant capacity of P. sibiricum was firstly evaluated with the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azinobis-(3ethylbenzthiazoline)-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, from which the ethyl acetate (EA) fraction exhibited the highest DPPH, ABTS radical scavenging, and ferric-reducing capacities. Meanwhile, the EA fraction displayed the highest total phenolic and flavonoid contents among the four fractions. Next, the potential ligands from the EA fraction were screened out by bio-affinity ultrafiltration liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UF-LC-MS) with superoxide dismutase (SOD) and xanthine oxidase (XOD). As a result, N-trans-p-coumaroyloctopamine, N-trans-feruloyloctopamine, N-trans-feruloyltyramine were identified as potential SOD ligands, while N-cis-p-coumaroyltyramine was determined as potential XOD ligand. Additionally, these four ligands effectively interact with SOD and XOD in the molecular docking analysis, with binding energies (BEs) ranging from –6.83 to –6.51 kcal/mol, and the inhibition constants (Ki) from 9.83 to 16.83 μM, which were better than the positive controls. In conclusion, our results indicated that P. sibiricum has good antioxidative and anti-hyperuricemic activities, and its corresponding active ligands targeting SOD and XOD could be explored by the UF-LC-MS method

The first report of Nervilia lilacea Jum. & H. Perrier (Orchidaceae, Epidendroideae) from Kenya and the Northern Hemisphere

Volume: 135Start Page: 35-3

Lobelia hongiana (Campanulaceae), a new species from Guangxi, China

Volume: 95Start Page: 27End Page: 3

Comparative and phylogenetic analysis of the complete chloroplast genomes of six Polygonatum species (Asparagaceae)

Abstract Polygonatum Miller belongs to the tribe Polygonateae of Asparagaceae. The horizontal creeping fleshy roots of several species in this genus serve as traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies have mainly reported the size and gene contents of the plastomes, with little information on the comparative analysis of the plastid genomes of this genus. Additionally, there are still some species whose chloroplast genome information has not been reported. In this study, the complete plastomes of six Polygonatum were sequenced and assembled, among them, the chloroplast genome of P. campanulatum was reported for the first time. Comparative and phylogenetic analyses were then conducted with the published plastomes of three related species. Results indicated that the whole plastome length of the Polygonatum species ranged from 154,564 bp (P. multiflorum) to 156,028 bp (P. stenophyllum) having a quadripartite structure of LSC and SSC separated by two IR regions. A total of 113 unique genes were detected in each of the species. Comparative analysis revealed that gene content and total GC content in these species were highly identical. No significant contraction or expansion was observed in the IR boundaries among all the species except P. sibiricum1, in which the rps19 gene was pseudogenized owing to incomplete duplication. Abundant long dispersed repeats and SSRs were detected in each genome. There were five remarkably variable regions and 14 positively selected genes were identified among Polygonatum and Heteropolygonatum. Phylogenetic results based on chloroplast genome strongly supported the placement of P. campanulatum with alternate leaves in sect. Verticillata, a group characterized by whorled leaves. Moreover, P. verticillatum and P. cyrtonema were displayed as paraphyletic. This study revealed that the characters of plastomes in Polygonatum and Heteropolygonatum maintained a high degree of similarity. Five highly variable regions were found to be potential specific DNA barcodes in Polygonatum. Phylogenetic results suggested that leaf arrangement was not suitable as a basis for delimitation of subgeneric groups in Polygonatum and the definitions of P. cyrtonema and P. verticillatum require further study

Comparative genomics of 11 complete chloroplast genomes of Senecioneae (Asteraceae) species: DNA barcodes and phylogenetics

Background Majority of the species within Senecioneae are classified in Senecio, making it the tribe's largest genus. Certain intergeneric relationships within the tribe are vaguely defined, with the genus Senecio being partly linked to this ambiguity. Infrageneric relationships within Senecio remain largely unknown and consequently, the genus has undergone continuous expansion and contraction over the recent past due to addition and removal of taxa. Dendrosenecio, an endemic genus in Africa, is one of its segregate genera. To heighten the understanding of species divergence and phylogeny within the tribe, the complete chloroplast genomes of the first five Senecio and six Dendrosenecio species were sequenced and analyzed in this study. Results The entire length of the complete chloroplast genomes was 150 kb and 151 kb in Dendrosenecio and Senecio respectively. Characterization of the 11 chloroplast genomes revealed a significant degree of similarity particularly in their organization, gene content, repetitive sequence composition and patterns of codon usage. The chloroplast genomes encoded an equal number of unique genes out of which 80 were protein-coding genes, 30 transfer ribonucleic acid, and four ribosomal ribonucleic acid genes. Based on comparative sequence analyses, the level of divergence was lower in Dendrosenecio. A total of 331 and 340 microsatellites were detected in Senecio and Dendrosenecio, respectively. Out of which, 25 and five chloroplast microsatellites (cpSSR) were identified as potentially valuable molecular markers. Also, through whole chloroplast genome comparisons and DNA polymorphism tests, ten divergent hotspots were identified. Potential primers were designed creating genomic tools to further molecular studies within the tribe. Intergeneric relationships within the tribe were firmly resolved using genome-scale dataset in partitioned and unpartitioned schemes. Two main clades, corresponding to two subtribes within the Senecioneae, were formed with the genus Ligularia forming a single clade while the other had Dendrosenecio, Pericallis, Senecio and Jacobaea. A sister relationship was revealed between Dendrosenecio and Pericallis whereas Senecio, and Jacobaea were closely placed in a different clade. Conclusion Besides emphasizing on the potential of chloroplast genome data in resolving intergeneric relationships within Senecioneae, this study provides genomic resources to facilitate species identification and phylogenetic reconstructions within the respective genera