Modern Phytomorphology

Biomorphological peculiarities of Glebionis coronaria (Asteraceae) introduced in Ukrainian Polissya

2018-06-21T16:45:23-04:00

The results of the long-term study of ontomorphogenesis of annual grass Glebionis coronaria introduced in the Botanical garden of Zhytomyr National Agroecological University located in the Polissya natural region of Ukraine are presented in the paper. The latent, pregenerative and generative periods of development cycle have been determined for these plants during 2013–2017 research years. On the basis of biomorphological analysis, five age states of individuals have been described: seeds in the rest condition, sprouts, juveniles, immatures, and generatives. Plants of G. coronaria formed well-developed vegetative and generative organs, as well as produced viable seeds confirming sufficient adaptation to the regional conditions. Obtained results testify to the fact of perspective further investigations and cultivation of G. coronaria in Ukrainian Polissya, especially aimed with its application in food industry and pharmacy.

Yield components of haricot beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) depending on cultivation technology elements at the irrigated lands of the Steppe zone

2018-06-21T16:58:46-04:00

Phaseolus vulgaris (haricot beans) is one of the most important pulse crops with high nutritive and strategic value. The goal of our study was to define changes in morphological elements playing the crucial role in crop productivity, namely, in the yield components (number of the pods and seeds per plant) depending on the cultivation technology treatments. We studied effects of moldboard plowing depth, mineral fertilizers application doses and inter-row spacing on the above-mentioned haricot beans yield components in conditions of the Steppe zone in field trials. The trials were carried out at the irrigated lands represented by the dark-chestnut solonets soil, in four replications by using the split plot design method with partial randomization during the period of 2014–2016. The data obtained in the trials were processed by using ANOVA and correlation analysis. Results of the study showed significant increase in the number of pods and seeds per plant of haricot beans with decrease of inter-row spacing width and higher mineral fertilizers application doses. Depth of plowing had no significant effect on the number of pods, and slightly effected the number of seeds per plant of haricot beans. The maximum number of pods (17.2) and seeds (71.7) per plant of the crop was provided by the agrotechnical complex with moldboard plowing at the depth of 28–30 cm, mineral fertilizers application dose of N₉₀P₉₀, and inter-row spacing of 15 cm.

Spatiotemporal differentiation and distribution patterns of the genus Plantago L. (Plantaginaceae) in the plain part of Ukraine during the Allerød–Holocene

2018-07-23T06:03:55-04:00

Results of an analysis and generalization of data on participation of pollen grains of Plantago species (Plantaginaceae) in the collective pollen floras of the Allerød–Holocene deposits of the forest, forest-steppe and steppe zones of Ukraine are considered. Five model species (P. lanceolata, P. major, P. maxima, P. media and P. urvillei) were identified. It has been found that each of model species had its own individual history of distribution in the plain part of Ukraine during the Allerød–Holocene, which was caused by natural and anthropogenic factors. For pollen grains of each model taxon of Plantago, a set of quantitative and qualitative diagnostic characters has been provided, which should be taken into account in their identification during the palynological studies of the Pleistocene–Holocene deposits of Ukraine and adjacent territories.

Seed shape quantification in the order Cucurbitales

2018-02-17T07:50:58-05:00

Seed shape quantification in diverse species of the families belonging to the order Cucurbitales is done based on the comparison of seed images with geometric figures. Quantification of seed shape is a useful tool in plant description for phenotypic characterization and taxonomic analysis. J index gives the percent of similarity of the image of a seed with a geometric figure and it is useful in taxonomy for the study of relationships between plant groups. Geometric figures used as models in the Cucurbitales are the ovoid, two ellipses with different x/y ratios and the outline of the Fibonacci spiral. The images of seeds have been compared with these figures and values of J index obtained. The results obtained for 29 species in the family Cucurbitaceae support a relationship between seed shape and species ecology. Simple seed shape, with images resembling simple geometric figures like the ovoid, ellipse or the Fibonacci spiral, may be a feature in the basal clades of taxonomic groups.

Distribution, morphology, anatomy and histochemistry of Crepidium acuminatum

2018-03-11T12:10:28-04:00

Crepidium acuminatum is largely confine to the Himalayan region although it has been reported in South India, where its presence distribution needs to be critically studied. This study describes the morphological, anatomical and histochemical aspects of the materials of the authenticated species collected from Himalayas. This study also highlights the features of histochemistry and anatomy that should be used for the correct identification and authentication of C. acuminatum, especially because of the therapeutic importance of the species and its possible adulteration by other orchids.

Trichomes micromorphology and cytological investigation on Acinos alpinus subsp. meridionalis in Algeria

2018-04-10T14:16:32-04:00

Anatomical and karyological features were investigated in four populations of Acinos alpinus subsp. meridionalis (Nyman) P. Ball., an Ibero-Maghreban species. Plant material was collected in the field during flowering stage, in contrasting bioclimatic conditions. Fresh material was used for analysis of trichomes morphology with light microscopy. Young meristems and flower buds were fixed for karyological analysis. Two types of capitate glandular, one type of peltate glandular, and four types of non-glandular trichomes were observed on different parts of the plants, including the stems, leaves and flowers. Trichomes distribution and density showed variability among organs, but no intraspecific variability was found. The chromosome number 2n = 2x = 18 is reported for the first time for Algerian populations. Furthermore, aberrant meiotic behavior in the form of cytomixis was observed in one population of A. alpinus subsp. meridionalis – cytoplasmic strand was formed between more than two cells at different stages of meiosis. Other types of abnormalities such as lagging chromosomes, and formation of triads with microcytes were also discovered. Results are discussed in comparison with literature.

Infraspecific morphological and molecular variation of Linum nervosum (Linaceae) in Iran

2018-05-26T05:29:28-04:00

Linum nervosum is among species that can hybridize with L. usitatissimum and produce fertile offsprings. Genetic diversity analysis of this wild relative of flax is important from conservation and breeding points of view. In the present study, 55 randomly selected plants of six different populations of L. nervosum varieties, including var. nervosum and var. bungei, were studied for morphological and genetic variability as well as population structure. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) did not show significant morphological difference between populations. PCA as well as PCA biplot confirmed that some morphological traits have taxonomic value. UPGMA clustering separated the populations of varieties in two distinct clusters, indicating degrees of morphological differentiation between them. Furthermore, UPGMA confirmed the variability in morphological characters within populations. Neighbor Joining tree and Neighbor-Net analysis of ISSR data revealed inter- and intrapopulation genetic variability. STRUCTURE plot revealed allelic difference of these varieties and some degree of intervarietal gene flow. K-means clustering showed the fragmentation of populations in support of AMOVA test, which revealed significant genetic difference among them. In general, obtained results confirmed the alternation of taxonomic level of L. bungei to the variety of L. nervosum.

Floral anatomy and micromorphology of Hyacinthoides italica (L.) Rothm. A case of complete stachyospory in Asparagaceæ

2018-07-16T11:00:09-04:00

Floral vasculature and gynoecium architecture were studied in Hyacinthoides italica (L.) Rothm. Each locule shelters two ovules inserted basally and surprisingly supplied by axis bundles only, while lateral bundles of the carpels branch out into strands along the epidermises of septal nectaries. We brought then to the fore an unexpected trade-off between the supply of upper ovules in H. non-scripta and that of secretory tissues in the studied species. Moreover, a new pattern of septal nectary is described, with outer and inner cavities.