Complete chloroplast genome of Disporum sessile

Disporum sessile roots are used as a medicinal herb. To ensure the accurate identification of D. sessile, we sequenced its chloroplast genome using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Results showed that the chloroplast genome of D. sessile is 159,102 bp in size, with a large single-copy (LSC) region (85,456 bp), a small single-copy (SSC) region (17,108 bp), and two inverted repeat (IR) regions (IRa and IRb; 28,269 bp each). Additionally, the chloroplast genome contains 112 unique genes, including 78 protein-coding, four ribosomal RNA, and 30 transfer RNA genes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that D. sessile is most closely related to Colchicum autumnale

Morphology, Anatomy, Micromorphology, and Palynology of the Squirrel’s Foot Fern, <i>Davallia mariesii</i> (Davalliaceae)

Davallia mariesii T. Moore ex Baker, a member of the section Trogostolon (Copel.) M. Kato and Tsutsumi (Davalliaceae M.R. Schomb.), is a lithophytic or epiphytic herb that grows on rocks and tree trunks in montane forests. This study analyzed the morphological, anatomical, micromorphological, and palynological characteristics of D. mariesii using a digital slide scanner and a field-emission scanning electron microscope and presented an expanded and updated description. A circumendodermal band was observed in the anatomical structure of the stipe, making D. mariesii the second species in the family Davalliaceae with such a band. The frond anatomical studies revealed that the epidermal cells of the indusium were thicker than those of the epidermis on both sides and that hypostomatic fronds with stomata chambers were present. Diacytic, anisocytic, and tetracytic stomatal complexes were observed on abaxial surfaces. The indusia covered numerous sporangia. Leptosporangium consisted of an apical cap, a basal cap, an annulus, and a stalk. The spore had an ellipsoidal outline, a monolete aperture, and verrucae with colliculate ornamentation. The obtained results provide systematic data for the phylogeny of Davalliaceae and establish a basis for future taxonomic delimitation of other taxa

First Report of Root Rot of Dendropanax trifidus Caused by Fusarium oxysporum in Korea

Dendropanax trifidus belonging to the family Araliaceae, is a warm-temperate evergreen tree distributed in Jeju Island, Bogil Island, Geomun Island, Geoje Island, Wando, and Haenam in Korea. In June 2021, a root rot disease in which branches of Dendropanax trifidus seedlings turned brown and shrunk was discovered at the seedling cultivation facility in Naju-si, Republic of Korea. To identify the root rot fungus, three strains were isolated from the diseased tissues of seedlings and their mycological characteristics were investigated on potato dextrose agar. In addition, a molecular phylogenetic analysis was performed using sequences of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and translation elongation factor 1-α (EF1-α) gene. The fungus was identified as Fusarium oxysporum. For pathogenicity test, the roots of seedlings were immersed in the conidia suspension of the strains and planted. After 20 days inoculation, root rot and browning symptoms were confirmed in the inoculated plants. This is the first report of F. oxysporum on D. trifidus in Korea

Karyotype characters in the genus Ajuga L. (Chromosome size measurement)

Karyotype characters and chromosome numbers in the genus Ajuga L

Data from: Karyotype and genome size variation in genus Ajuga L. (Ajugoideae–Lamiaceae)

Chromosome number changes and karyotype evolution play an important role in plant genome diversification and eventually in speciation. The genus Ajuga L. (Lamiaceae) has approximately 50 species distributed in temperate to subtropical regions. Four of these species are currently recognized in Korea (A. decumbens Thunb., A. multiflora Bunge, A. nipponensis Makino and A. spectabilis Nakai). Understanding the karyotype evolution in Ajuga has been hampered by the small size of their chromosomes and symmetrical karyotypes. Here we used classic Feulgen staining to establish chromosome numbers and construct karyotypes of the four species of Ajuga recognized in Korea and flow cytometry was used to study their variation in genome. The chromosome number of all investigated plants was 2n = 32. Still, the 2C DNA content ranged from 2.18 pg (A. decumbens) to 4.53 pg (A. multiflora). While the chromosome numbers were the same for all investigated species, the genome size variation could potentially be used as a taxonomic marker

A Comprehensive Study of the Genus Sanguisorba (Rosaceae) Based on the Floral Micromorphology, Palynology, and Plastome Analysis

Sanguisorba, commonly known as burnet, is a genus in the family Rosaceae native to the temperate regions of the Northern hemisphere. Five of its thirty species are distributed in Korea: Sanguisorba officinalis, S. stipulata, S. hakusanensis, S. longifolia, and S. tenuifolia. S. officinalis has been designated as a medicinal remedy in the Chinese and Korean Herbal Pharmacopeias. Despite being a valuable medicinal resource, the morphological and genomic information, as well as the genetic characteristics of Sanguisorba, are still elusive. Therefore, we carried out the first comprehensive study on the floral micromorphology, palynology, and complete chloroplast (cp) genome of the Sanguisorba species. The outer sepal waxes and hypanthium characters showed diagnostic value, despite a similar floral micromorphology across different species. All the studied Sanguisorba pollen were small to medium, oblate to prolate-spheroidal, and their exine ornamentation was microechinate. The orbicules, which are possibly synapomorphic, were consistently absent in this genus. Additionally, the cp genomes of S. officinalis, S. stipulata, and S. hakusanensis have been completely sequenced. The comparative analysis of the reported Sanguisorba cp genomes revealed local divergence regions. The nucleotide diversity of trnH-psbA and rps2-rpoC2, referred to as hotspot regions, revealed the highest pi values in six Sanguisorba. The ndhG indicated positive selection pressures as a species-specific variation in S. filiformis. The S. stipulata and S. tenuifolia species had psbK genes at the selected pressures. We developed new DNA barcodes that distinguish the typical S. officinalis and S. officinalis var. longifolia, important herbal medicinal plants, from other similar Sanguisorba species with species-specific distinctive markers. The phylogenetic trees showed the positions of the reported Sanguisorba species; S. officinalis, S. tenuifolia, and S. stipulata showed the nearest genetic distance. The results of our comprehensive study on micromorphology, pollen chemistry, cp genome analysis, and the development of species identification markers can provide valuable information for future studies on S. officinalis, including those highlighting it as an important medicinal resource

Peptide Nucleic Acid Based Molecular Authentication for Identification of Four Medicinal Paeonia Species Using Melting Array Analysis of the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2 Region

Accurate taxonomic identification of plant materials in herbal medicines is important for product quality control. The genus Paeonia (Saxifragales) is the source of the herbal preparations Paeoniae Radix (Paeoniae Radix Alba and Paeoniae Radix Rubra) and Moutan Radicis Cotex. However, confusion has arisen regarding their contents due to linguistic and taxonomic ambiguities, similar morphologies and different definitions of Paeoniae Radix in the Korean and Chinese national pharmacopoeias, leading to the distribution of adulterated products. To develop a method for identifying the four Paeonia species used in these medicines, three fluorescently-labeled peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probes were designed against ITS2 sequences containing single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and used in a real-time PCR melting curve assay. Each of the four Paeonia species was accurately identified using this analysis. The accuracy and analytical stability of the PNA melting curve assay was confirmed using commercially available samples of the four Paeonia species. This assay is a reliable genetic tool to distinguish between different Paeonia-derived herbal medicines and identify the botanical origins of Paeoniae Radix and Moutan Radicis Cortex. This technique may also contribute to quality control and standardization of herbal medicines by providing a reliable authentication tool and preventing the distribution of inauthentic adulterants

The Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequences of Aconitum pseudolaeve and Aconitum longecassidatum, and Development of Molecular Markers for Distinguishing Species in the Aconitum Subgenus Lycoctonum

Aconitum pseudolaeve Nakai and Aconitum longecassidatum Nakai, which belong to the Aconitum subgenus Lycoctonum, are distributed in East Asia and Korea. Aconitum species are used in herbal medicine and contain highly toxic components, including aconitine. A. pseudolaeve, an endemic species of Korea, is a commercially valuable material that has been used in the manufacture of cosmetics and perfumes. Although Aconitum species are important plant resources, they have not been extensively studied, and genomic information is limited. Within the subgenus Lycoctonum, which includes A. pseudolaeve and A. longecassidatum, a complete chloroplast (CP) genome is available for only one species, Aconitum barbatum Patrin ex Pers. Therefore, we sequenced the complete CP genomes of two Aconitum species, A. pseudolaeve and A. longecassidatum, which are 155,628 and 155,524 bp in length, respectively. Both genomes have a quadripartite structure consisting of a pair of inverted repeated regions (51,854 and 52,108 bp, respectively) separated by large single-copy (86,683 and 86,466 bp) and small single-copy (17,091 and 16,950 bp) regions similar to those in other Aconitum CP genomes. Both CP genomes consist of 112 unique genes, 78 protein-coding genes, 4 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and 30 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes. We identified 268 and 277 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) in A. pseudolaeve and A. longecassidatum, respectively. We also identified potential 36 species-specific SSRs, 53 indels, and 62 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) between the two CP genomes. Furthermore, a comparison of the three Aconitum CP genomes from the subgenus Lycoctonum revealed highly divergent regions, including trnK-trnQ, ycf1-ndhF, and ycf4-cemA. Based on this finding, we developed indel markers using indel sequences in trnK-trnQ and ycf1-ndhF. A. pseudolaeve, A. longecassidatum, and A. barbatum could be clearly distinguished using the novel indel markers AcoTT (Aconitum trnK-trnQ) and AcoYN (Aconitum ycf1-ndhF). These two new complete CP genomes provide useful genomic information for species identification and evolutionary studies of the Aconitum subgenus Lycoctonum

Cuscuta Species Identification Based on the Morphology of Reproductive Organs and Complete Chloroplast Genome Sequences

The genus Cuscuta (Convolvulaceae) comprises well-known parasitic plants. Cuscuta species are scientifically valuable, as their life style causes extensive crop damage. Furthermore, dried seeds of C. chinensis are used as a Korean traditional herbal medicine. Despite the importance of Cuscuta species, it is difficult to distinguish these plants by the naked eye. Moreover, plastid sequence information available for Cuscuta species is limited. In this study, we distinguished between C. chinensis and C. japonica using morphological characterisation of reproductive organs and molecular characterisation of chloroplast genomes. The differences in morphological characteristics of reproductive organs such as style, stigma, infrastaminal scale, seed shape and testa ornamentation were useful for distinguishing between C. japonica and C. chinensis. Analysis of chloroplast genomes revealed drastic differences in chloroplast genome length and gene order between the two species. Although both species showed numerous gene losses and genomic rearrangements, chloroplast genomes showed highly similar structure within subgenera. Phylogenetic analysis of Cuscuta chloroplast genomes revealed paraphyletic groups within subgenera Monogynella and Grammica, which is consistent with the APG IV system of classification. Our results provide useful information for the taxonomic, phylogenetic and evolutionary analysis of Cuscuta and accurate identification of herbal medicine