Dataset on the qualitative characteristics of roselle varieties (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.).

Roselle (Hibiscus sabdariffa L.) is a worldwide known species of great importance due to its medicinal properties and pleasant flavor. In Paraguay, it is used as an alternative crop by family-run farmers; however, the varieties used in the country are unknown, so no information is available on this crop. The qualitative characterization would collect knowledge serving as a basis for the registration of varieties produced in Paraguay. In addition, such data are useful for future genetic improvement programs considering this crop. The present work was carried out at the Multidisciplinary Center for Technological Research and the experimental farmland of the Faculty of Agricultural Sciences of the National University of Asuncion, during the years 2022 and 2023. The main objective was to carry out a morphological characterization of four Roselle varieties: Ana Delia, Benito, Dogo, and Creole. The design consisted of completely randomized blocks, with four treatments (varieties) and four replications; each experimental unit (block) was composed of 24 plants, distributed in four rows; 12 plants, selected from the central rows, were harvested for the evaluations. Stem color, leaf shape, leaf margin, rib color, petiole color, flower color, calyx color, calyx sepal opening, capsule shape, capsule color, capsule anthocyanin coloration, and pubescence level were evaluated. The results demonstrate qualitative differences between the varieties, which help to compare and classify them for a better variety selection.

Bougainvillea glabra Choisy (Nyctinaginacea): review of phytochemistry and antimicrobial potential.

The Bougainvillea glabra or bougainvillea is a climbing plant native from South America belonging to the Nyctaginaceae family. The bougainvillea is recognized worldwide for its horticultural importance, due to the color of its bracts, commonly known as "flowers," made up of bracts, which are the striking parts, and the true flowers, which are white and small. Bougainvillea is widely known in traditional medicine to treat respiratory diseases such as cough, asthma, and bronchitis, gastrointestinal diseases, also for its antibacterial and insecticidal capacity. The antimicrobial potential of the involucre of this plant has not been studied, despite research showing a high phytochemical presence of secondary metabolites such as alkanes, phenols, terpenes, and betalains. This review compiles information about the traditional uses of B. glabra, its botanical description, ecological relevance, phytochemistry, antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity, such as the toxicology of bracts and flowers.

The roles of the ostiole in the fig-fig wasp mutualism from a morpho-anatomical perspective.

The syconium is the urn-shaped inflorescence shared by all species of the genus Ficus. The orifice at the apex of the syconium is called the ostiole, and it is covered by interlocking bracts. The ostiolar bracts can have different arrangements, which only allow the entry of mutualist wasps and promote reproductive isolation among Ficus species. Here, we analyze the ostiolar structures that could play a role as selective filter and therefore impact the fig-fig wasp mutualism in the neotropical Ficus sections Americanae and Pharmacosycea. Samples of syconia with pistillate flowers during the receptive phase of seven species of Ficus were examined using light and scanning electron microscopy. Tests for histolocalization of substances were employed to detect secretory activity throughout the ostiolar tissues. Our results indicated that the ostiole has two components: ostiolar bracts and the periostiolar zone. Interspecies variation in ostiolar bract arrangement in both sections studied was broader than previously reported. We report for the first time for Ficus: (i) two types of ostiolar osmophores (mesophyll and diffuse), that could be a source of volatile compounds for attracting fig wasps; (ii) colleters in the axil of ostiolar bracts, which probably lubricate and facilitate the entry of pollinating wasps into the syconial cavity; (iii) secretory trichomes around the ostiolar bracts, and (iv) syconium basal bracts (F. isophlebia) covering the ostiole, which are the first physical barrier that the fig wasps must overcome to access receptive pistillate flowers. We describe the zones that compose the ostiole, which support the hypothesis that the ostiole is a selective filter in the interactions of fig trees with Agaonidae fig wasps. We also suggest that ostiolar osmophores, colleters, the periostiolar zone, and the arrangements of the ostiolar bracts may be informative with respect to Ficus systematics.

Heterochrony and repurposing in the evolution of gymnosperm seed dispersal units.

BACKGROUND: Plant dispersal units, or diaspores, allow the colonization of new environments expanding geographic range and promoting gene flow. Two broad categories of diaspores found in seed plants are dry and fleshy, associated with abiotic and biotic dispersal agents, respectively. Anatomy and developmental genetics of fleshy angiosperm fruits is advanced in contrast to the knowledge gap for analogous fleshy structures in gymnosperm diaspores. Improved understanding of the structural basis of modified accessory organs that aid in seed dispersal will enable future work on the underlying genetics, contributing to hypotheses on the origin of angiosperm fruits. To generate a structural framework for the development and evolution of gymnosperm fleshy diaspores, we studied the anatomy and histochemistry of Ephedra (Gnetales) seed cone bracts, the modified leaves surrounding the reproductive organs. We took an ontogenetic approach, comparing and contrasting the anatomy and histology of fleshy and papery-winged seed cone bracts, and their respective pollen cone bracts and leaves in four species from the South American clade. RESULTS: Seed bract fleshiness in Ephedra derives from mucilage accumulated in chlorenchyma cells, also found in the reduced young leaves before they reach their mature, dry stage. Cellulosic fibers, an infrequent cell type in gymnosperms, were found in Ephedra, where they presumably function as a source of supplementary apoplastic water in fleshy seed cone bracts. Papery-winged bract development more closely resembles that of leaves, with chlorenchyma mucilage cells turning into tanniniferous cells early on, and hyaline margins further extending into "wings". CONCLUSIONS: We propose an evolutionary developmental model whereby fleshy and papery-winged bracts develop from an early-stage anatomy shared with leaves that differs at the pollination stage. The ancestral fleshy bract state may represent a novel differentiation program built upon young leaf anatomy, while the derived dry, papery-winged state is likely built upon an existing differentiation pattern found in mature vegetative leaves. This model for the evolution of cone bract morphology in South American Ephedra hence involves a novel differentiation program repurposed from leaves combined with changes in the timing of leaf differentiation, or heterochrony, that can further be tested in other gymnosperms with fleshy diaspores.

A low-cost biosorbent-based coating for the highly sensitive determination of organochlorine pesticides by solid-phase microextraction and gas chromatography-electron capture detection.

In this study, an environmentally friendly and low-cost biosorbent coating was evaluated, for the first time, as the extraction phase for solid-phase microextraction (SPME) supported on a nitinol alloy. The characterization of the new fiber was performed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The applicability of the biosorbent-based fiber in the determination of δ-hexachlorocyclohexane, aldrin, heptachlor epoxide, α-endosulfan, endrin and 4,4'-DDD in water samples was verified, with separation/detection by gas chromatography coupled to electron capture detection (GC-ECD). The influencing parameters (temperature, extraction time and ionic strength) were optimized simultaneously using a central composite design. The optimum conditions were: extraction time of 80min at 80°C and sodium chloride concentration of 15% (w/v). Satisfactory analytical performance was achieved with limits of detection (LOD) between 0.19 and 0.71ngL-1 and limits of quantification (LOQ) between 0.65 and 2.38ngL-1. The relative recoveries for the analytes were determined using river and lake water samples spiked at different concentrations and ranged from 60% for α-endosulfan to 113% for δ-hexachlorocyclohexane, with relative standard deviations (RSD) lower than 21%. The fiber-to-fiber reproducibility (n=3) was also evaluated and the RSD was lower than 14%. The extraction efficiency obtained for the proposed biosorbent coating was compared to a commercially available DVB/Car/PDMS coating. The proposed fiber provided very promising results, including LODs at the level of parts per trillion and highly satisfactory thermal and mechanical stability.

Lectin from inflorescences of ornamental crop Alpinia purpurata acts on immune cells to promote Th1 and Th17 responses, nitric oxide release, and lymphocyte activation.

Alpinia purpurata is an ornamental crop known as a source of bioactive molecules. This is the first study to report isolation of a lectin (carbohydrate-binding protein) from A. purpurata inflorescences (ApuL). The immunomodulatory potential of ApuL was evaluated by investigating its effects on the production of cytokines and release of nitric oxide by human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). In addition, the differentiation and activation of lymphocytes treated with ApuL was evaluated by immunophenotyping assays. ApuL is an acidic and oligomeric protein with native molecular mass of 34kDa. The hemagglutinating activity (HA) of ApuL was inhibited by the glycoproteins fetuin and ovalbumin, was resistant to heating at 100°C and stimulated in the presence of calcium and magnesium ions. ApuL showed highest HA at pH 7.5 but failed to agglutinate erythrocytes at pH 8.0 and 9.0. ApuL induced the release of cytokines belonging to Th1 (IFN-γ, TNF-α, and IL-6) and Th17 (IL-17A) profiles as well as of nitric oxide, stimulating a pro-inflammatory environment. Moreover, ApuL also stimulated the production of IL-10, an anti-inflammatory cytokine with regulatory role. Incubation with lectin resulted in differentiation and activation of both T CD8+ and CD4+ subsets of lymphocytes, as evident from the expression of the CD28 costimulatory molecule. In conclusion, A. purpurata inflorescence is a source of an immunomodulatory lectin with potential immunoregulatory application, thereby adding biotechnological value to this ornamental crop.

Importance of anatomical leaf features for characterization of three species of Mapania (Mapanioideae, Cyperaceae) from the Amazon Forest, Brazil / Importância dos caracteres anatômicos foliares na caracterização de três espécies de Mapania (Mapanioideae, Cyperaceae) da Floresta Amazônica, Brasil

Mapania belongs to Mapanioideae, a quite controversial subfamily in Cyperaceae due to the existence of unusual characters in both reproductive and vegetative organs. The genus is represented by seven species in Northern Brazil but taxonomic valuable information related to the leaf organs is still unknown. The present study aimed the anatomical description of the leaf organs (either basal leaves or cataphylls and involucral bracts) of three representative Brazilian species of Mapania. Samples of cataphylls, basal leaves and involucral bracts were sectioned and stained for observations under light microscopy. The involucral bracts provide the most elucidative characters (ten) to distinguish the three species The basal leaves provides six distinguishing characters and are useful to M. macrophylla and M. pycnostachya, as they are absent in M. sylvatica. Mesophyll arrangement in the involucral bracts supports the circumscription of M. macrophylla and M. pycnostachya in M. sect. Pycnocephala and of M. sylvatica in M. sect. Mapania. Some features as thin-walled epidermal cells, stomata level and aerenchyma were considered to be adaptive to the humid environment in which the species occur. The translucent cells are here considered as aerenchyma precursors and a supportive function is assumed for the bulliform cells on the basal leaves and involucral bracts. No silica bodies were found which confirm it as a diagnostic character of Mapania among Hypolytreae genera.(AU)

Mapania pertence à subfamília Mapanioideae que apresenta caracteres incomuns às demais Cyperaceae, tanto vegetativos como reprodutivos. O gênero é representado por sete espécies no norte do Brasil e apresenta ainda lacunas de informações especialmente relacionadas aos órgãos foliares. O presente estudo objetivou a descrição anatômica dos órgãos foliares (folhas basais, ou catafilos, e brácteas involucrais) de três espécies representativas de Mapania no território brasileiro. Amostras de catafilos, folhas basais e brácteas involucrais foram seccionadas e coradas para observações em microscopia de luz. As brácteas involucrais foram as mais elucidativas na separação das espécies, com dez caracteres variáveis, uma vez que ocorrem em todas as espécies durante o estágio reprodutivo. As folhas basais forneceram seis caracteres úteis na distinção de M. macrophylla e M. pycnostachya, já que não ocorrem em M. sylvatica. seguidas das folhas basais. O arranjo do mesofilo das brácteas involucrais suporta a circunscrição de M. macrophylla e M. pycnostachya em M. sect. Pycnocephala e de M. sylvatica em M. sect. Mapania. Características adaptativas ao ambiente úmido também foram encontradas, como epiderme com paredes delgadas, níveis dos estômatos e presença de aerênquima. As células translúcidas do mesofilo foram descritas como precursoras de aerênquima e considerou-se que as células buliformes presentes nas folhas e brácteas involucrais apresentam função de suporte desses órgãos. Corpos silicosos não foram encontrados sustentando o seu uso na delimitação de Mapania e dos demais gêneros de Hypolytreae.(AU)

Importance of anatomical leaf features for characterization of three species of Mapania (Mapanioideae, Cyperaceae) from the Amazon Forest, Brazil / Importância dos caracteres anatômicos foliares na caracterização de três espécies de Mapania (Mapanioideae, Cyperaceae) da Floresta Amazônica, Brasil

Mapania belongs to Mapanioideae, a quite controversial subfamily in Cyperaceae due to the existence of unusual characters in both reproductive and vegetative organs. The genus is represented by seven species in Northern Brazil but taxonomic valuable information related to the leaf organs is still unknown. The present study aimed the anatomical description of the leaf organs (either basal leaves or cataphylls and involucral bracts) of three representative Brazilian species of Mapania. Samples of cataphylls, basal leaves and involucral bracts were sectioned and stained for observations under light microscopy. The involucral bracts provide the most elucidative characters (ten) to distinguish the three species The basal leaves provides six distinguishing characters and are useful to M. macrophylla and M. pycnostachya, as they are absent in M. sylvatica. Mesophyll arrangement in the involucral bracts supports the circumscription of M. macrophylla and M. pycnostachya in M. sect. Pycnocephala and of M. sylvatica in M. sect. Mapania. Some features as thin-walled epidermal cells, stomata level and aerenchyma were considered to be adaptive to the humid environment in which the species occur. The translucent cells are here considered as aerenchyma precursors and a supportive function is assumed for the bulliform cells on the basal leaves and involucral bracts. No silica bodies were found which confirm it as a diagnostic character of Mapania among Hypolytreae genera.

Mapania pertence à subfamília Mapanioideae que apresenta caracteres incomuns às demais Cyperaceae, tanto vegetativos como reprodutivos. O gênero é representado por sete espécies no norte do Brasil e apresenta ainda lacunas de informações especialmente relacionadas aos órgãos foliares. O presente estudo objetivou a descrição anatômica dos órgãos foliares (folhas basais, ou catafilos, e brácteas involucrais) de três espécies representativas de Mapania no território brasileiro. Amostras de catafilos, folhas basais e brácteas involucrais foram seccionadas e coradas para observações em microscopia de luz. As brácteas involucrais foram as mais elucidativas na separação das espécies, com dez caracteres variáveis, uma vez que ocorrem em todas as espécies durante o estágio reprodutivo. As folhas basais forneceram seis caracteres úteis na distinção de M. macrophylla e M. pycnostachya, já que não ocorrem em M. sylvatica. seguidas das folhas basais. O arranjo do mesofilo das brácteas involucrais suporta a circunscrição de M. macrophylla e M. pycnostachya em M. sect. Pycnocephala e de M. sylvatica em M. sect. Mapania. Características adaptativas ao ambiente úmido também foram encontradas, como epiderme com paredes delgadas, níveis dos estômatos e presença de aerênquima. As células translúcidas do mesofilo foram descritas como precursoras de aerênquima e considerou-se que as células buliformes presentes nas folhas e brácteas involucrais apresentam função de suporte desses órgãos. Corpos silicosos não foram encontrados sustentando o seu uso na delimitação de Mapania e dos demais gêneros de Hypolytreae.

Floral colleters in Pleurothallidinae (Epidendroideae: Orchidaceae).

PREMISE OF THE STUDY: The term colleter is applied to trichomes or emergences positioned close to developing vegetative and floral meristems that secrete a sticky, mucilaginous, and/or lipophilic exudate. Several ecological functions are attributed to these glands, but none are exclusive to colleters. Patterns of morphology and distribution of colleters may be valuable for systematics and phylogeny, especially concerning problematic and large groups such as the subtribe Pleurothallidinae, and are also essential to understand the evolution of these glands in Orchidaceae as a whole. METHODS: We used scanning electron and light microscopy to examine the structure and occurrence of trichomes on bracts and sepals and in the invaginations of the external ovary wall (IEOW) in flowers in several developmental stages from species in seven genera. KEY RESULTS: The exudate was composed of polysaccharides, lipophilic, and phenolic compounds. Colleters were secretory only during the development of floral organs, except for the glands in the IEOW that were also active in flowers at anthesis. After the secretory phase, fungal hyphae were found penetrating senescent trichomes. CONCLUSIONS: Trichome-like colleters seem to be a widespread character in Epidendroideae, and digitiform colleters are possibly the common type in this subfamily. Mucilage from IEOW colleters may aid in the establishment of symbiotic fungi necessary for seed germination. The presence of colleters in the IEOW may be a case of homeoheterotopy, in which extrafloral nectaries that produce simple sugar-based secretions (as in other orchid species) have changed to glands that produce secretions with complex polysaccharides, as in Pleurothallidinae.