Interspecific variation of seed morphological and micro-morphological traits in the genus Vicia (Fabaceae).

Seed macro- and micro-morphology were analyzed to evaluate their capacity to discriminate species in the genus Vicia (Fabaceae). To assess the interspecific variation of the taxa in the genus Vicia, 41 accessions were obtained from the USDA-ARS germplasm collection in the USA and 19 accessions were collected from Korea. Seed morphological characteristics such as shape, color, mottling, finish, length, width, diameter, hilum shape, hilum color, hilum length, and lens distance from the hilum were examined under a stereomicroscope. Testa texture characteristics such as testa pattern, papillae type, density, height, ribbing, surface deposits, and peaks topped with wax were examined under scanning electron microscopy. Various gross-morphological traits of seeds of Vicia species have been analyzed and compared. The present study revealed significant variation in testa traits. Testa were papillose and papillose with mounds, the latter being observed only in Vicia lathyroides. The present study revealed 20 key traits that could be used to diagnose Vicia species and classify them.

Taxonomic relationships in some Vicia species from Egypt, based on seed morphology and SDS-PAGE of seed proteins / As relações taxonômicas das espécies Vicia oriundas do Egito, baseadas na morfologia da semente e na SDS-PAGE das proteínas da semente

The seed morphology and seed proteins of 11 Vicia taxa from Egypt were studied. Macro-and micro-morphological characters, including seed shape, color, size, hilum shape and seed sculpture were described and analyzed. The secondary sculpture of the cell wall varies from papillose in nearly all Vicia species to lophate in V. hirsuta. Further, the seed proteins of studied taxa were investigated by SDS-PAGE and 39 different bands were scored. The similarity analysis based on the SDS-PAGE profile and seed morphology was found to be a useful characteristic for the discrimination of Vicia species both on the subgeneric and the sectional levels. The present study did not acknowledge V. tetrasperma and V. hirsuta as subgenus Ervum. As a result, division of Vicia into two subgenera i.e. Vicia and Cracca, is supported.

Analisam-se a morfologia e as proteínas de sementes de 11 táxons de Vicia oriundos do Egito. As características macro- e micro-morfológicas, como forma da semente, cor, tamanho, forma do hilo e a escultura da semente são descritas e analisadas. A escultura secundaria da parede celular varia na papilose em quase todas as espécies de Vicia até a lofada em V. hirsuta . As proteínas das sementes dos táxons foram analisadas por SDS-PAGE onde 39 bandas diferentes foram detectadas. A análise de similaridade baseada no perfil de SDS-PAGE e na morfologia da semente foi uma característica útil para discriminar as espécies de Vicia em níveis subgenérico e seccional. Essa investigação rejeitou V. tetrasperma e V. hirsuta como subgênero de Ervum, mas aceitou a divisão de Vicia em dois subgêneros, ou seja, Vicia e Cracca.

Polymorphism in a histone H1 subtype with a short N-terminal domain in three legume species (Fabaceae, Fabaeae).

A number of alleles of an orthologous gene His6 encoding histone H1 subtype f (H1-6 in pea) accumulated in chromatin of old tissues were sequenced in three legume species: seven alleles in Pisum sativum, four in Vicia unijuga and eight in Lathyrus gmelinii. In the total of 19 alleles sequenced in the three species, 29 non-synonymous substitutions and six indels were found in the coding region; most of amino acid substitutions (26 of 29) and all indels occurred in the C-terminal hydrophilic domain of the encoded protein. All species were polymorphic for some non-synonymous substitutions, V. unijuga was also polymorphic for one and P. sativum for two indels. Three near-isogenic lines of P. sativum bearing different alleles showed differences in many quantitative traits; that in the growth dynamic could be tentatively attributed to the allelic substitution of subtype H1-6. The frequencies of four electromorphs in a sampled locality of V. unijuga were found to be close to those observed 25 years ago, although their rapid change in the past was supposed in the previous study.

The presence of co-flowering species facilitates reproductive success of Pedicularis monbeigiana (Orobanchaceae) through variation in bumble-bee foraging behaviour.

Background and Aims The presence of co-flowering species can alter pollinator foraging behaviour and, in turn, positively or negatively affect the reproductive success of the focal species. Such interactions were investigated between a focal species, Pedicularis monbeigiana, and a co-flowering species, Vicia dichroantha, which was mediated by behaviour alteration of the shared bumble-bee pollinator. Methods Floral display size and floral colour change of P. monbeigiana were compared between pure (P. monbeigiana only) and mixed (P. monbeigiana and V. dichroantha) plots in two populations. Pollinator visitation rates, interspecific floral switching and successive within-plant pollinator visits were recorded. In addition, supplemental pollination at plant level was performed, and the fruit set and seed set were analysed in pure and mixed plots with different densities of P. monbeigiana. Key Results Pollinator visitation rates were dramatically higher in mixed plots than in pure plots. The higher pollinator visitation rates were recorded in both low- and high-density plots. In particular, successive flower visits within an individual plant were significantly lower in mixed plots. Supplemental pollination significantly increased fruit set and seed set of individuals in pure plots, while it only marginally increased seed set per fruit of plants in mixed plots. Conclusions The presence of V. dichroantha can facilitate pollination and increase female reproductive success of P. monbeigiana via both quantity (mitigating pollinator limitation) and quality (reducing geitonogamy) effects. This study suggests that successive pollinator movements among flowers within a plant, as well as pollinator visitation rates and interspecific flower switching, may be important determinants of the direction and mechanisms of interaction between species.

Phylogenetic significance of stylar features in genus Vicia (Leguminosae): an analysis with molecular phylogeny.

Tribe Fabeae consists of five genera, Lathyrus (160 spp.), Lens (4-6 spp.), Pisum (2-3 spp.), Vavilovia (monotypic), and Vicia (160 spp.), and shows a diversity in stylar features. At least six different stylar types are known in the tribe. In order to reclassify the tribe at the rank of genus, we tried to discover apomorphies in stylar features using a molecular phylogenetic study. We surveyed internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of nuclear ribosomal DNA of representative species, selected from each group having different types of styles in the tribe. We paid particular attention in sampling to members of Vicia section Vicilla, as stylar features are heterogeneous within this section. Consequently, our sample set included 15 species of section Vicilla, 23 species of other Fabeae, and two species of Trifolieae, which were used as a sister group of Fabeae. Based on our analysis, we found that a laterally compressed style and an abaxially tufted hairy style would be advanced against a dorsiventrally compressed style and an evenly hairy style, respectively, in genus Vicia. The species group, which shares the latter apomorphy, is composed of 56 species and was dispersed into 11 sections of two subgenera in the recent system of genus Vicia. We consider future revision of Fabeae should treat this species group as a single higher taxon.