Distribution and Diversity of Orchids—2nd Edition

A special issue of Diversity (ISSN 1424-2818). This special issue belongs to the section "Biogeography and Macroecology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 June 2024) | Viewed by 3014

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
1. Department of Biodiversity Research, Czechglobe, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prokišova 7, 37000 České Budějovice, Czech Republic
2. Institute for Environmental Studies, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Benatska 2, 128 01 Prague 2, Czech Republic
Interests: species diversity; population and metapopulation dynamics; evolution of life histories; landscape connectivity; nature protection; insect pests and their predators; orchids; large mammals
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Institute of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Department of Biodiversity and Nature Tourism, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Kreutzwaldi 5, 51006 Tartu, Estonia
Interests: population biology of threatened species; conservation biology; distribution ecology; nature tourism; orchid ecology; plant ecology
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Guest Editor
Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, 647 Contees Wharf Rd., Edgewater, MD 20137, USA
Interests: orchid–fungus symbiosis; orchids; plant ecology
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Orchids are disappearing worldwide, mostly due to habitat loss, but other factors like climate change are likely to increase in importance during the 21st century. Thus, one of the most worrying issues is that we still do not know the optimal abiotic and biotic requirements for population persistence of many of the ca. 30,000 species of orchids. On top of that, there are still unclear issues in orchid taxonomy, nomenclature and systematics. This all makes it very difficult to develop effective conservation methods for this endangered plant group.

This Special Issue aims to fill in some of these gaps in our knowledge. To achieve this, we welcome a range of contributions (including original research articles, reviews, perspectives, and opinion pieces) on themes including but not limited to:

  • Orchid species distribution models;
  • Orchid diversity in individual regions/countries;
  • Orchid population dynamics and its effects on orchid diversity;
  • Floristic studies and taxonomic revisions of problematic taxa in orchids;
  • Genetic studies of orchid species used for determination of differences between species.

We kindly invite you to submit a manuscript focused on any of the above topics. If you are interested in this opportunity or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Prof. Dr. Pavel Kindlmann
Prof. Dr. Tiiu Kull
Dr. Melissa McCormick
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • orchids
  • species distribution models
  • diversity
  • taxonomic revisions
  • genetic studies

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 5183 KiB  
Article
BBS Gene Expression and Its Diversity in the Genus Dendrobium
by Tomoko Takamiya, Manako Saito, Aoi Miyamoto, Mio Oikawa, Liyue Zhang, Kazuki Yanagihashi, Erika Okawa, Yuuka Takahashi, Yui Suzuki, Misaki Watanabe, Tadahiro Yahagi, Keiichi Matsuzaki, Hiroshi Iijima, Tomohisha Yukawa and Yuki Ogura-Tsujita
Diversity 2024, 16(6), 337; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16060337 - 7 Jun 2024
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Abstract
Dendrobium officinale Kimura & Migo in the genus Dendrobium of Orchidaceae is an important medicinal plant that produces various bibenzyl and phenanthrene derivatives. In some orchids, these derivatives have been reported to increase with fungal infection. Bibenzyl biosynthesis is regulated by bibenzyl synthase (BBS). [...] Read more.
Dendrobium officinale Kimura & Migo in the genus Dendrobium of Orchidaceae is an important medicinal plant that produces various bibenzyl and phenanthrene derivatives. In some orchids, these derivatives have been reported to increase with fungal infection. Bibenzyl biosynthesis is regulated by bibenzyl synthase (BBS). Although six genes of the BBS family have been registered from D. officinale, their gene regulation mechanisms are unclear. The infection of Dendrobium with mycorrhizal fungi also reportedly increases the expression of genes involved in biosynthesis; however, the effect of mycorrhizal fungi on bibenzyl production is unknown. The present study examined the effects of three mycorrhizal fungi isolated from D. officinale on BBS gene expression and bibenzyl production over time. One of the Tulasnellaceae operational taxonomic units induced BBS gene expression and increased two representative bibenzyls, gigantol and dendrophenol, at specific time points. Furthermore, 19 BBS sequences were cloned from 12 Dendrobium species, and a phylogenetic analysis was performed. The results indicated that repeated BBS gene duplication occurred during the evolution of the genus, and further duplication occurred after speciation. These results suggest that it is possible to optimize metabolite production by selecting suitable symbiotic fungi. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution and Diversity of Orchids—2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 11949 KiB  
Article
Advances in the Study of Orchidinae Subtribe (Orchidaceae) Species with 40,42-Chromosomes in the Mediterranean Region
by Alessio Turco, Robert Philipp Wagensommer, Pietro Medagli, Antonella Albano and Saverio D’Emerico
Diversity 2024, 16(1), 41; https://doi.org/10.3390/d16010041 - 9 Jan 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1534
Abstract
This study presents an updated analysis of cytogenetic data for several species within the 40,42-chromosome genera of the subtribe Orchidinae. The research includes insights into the distribution of heterochromatin obtained using C-banding and fluorochrome techniques. Our investigation confirmed variation in the distribution [...] Read more.
This study presents an updated analysis of cytogenetic data for several species within the 40,42-chromosome genera of the subtribe Orchidinae. The research includes insights into the distribution of heterochromatin obtained using C-banding and fluorochrome techniques. Our investigation confirmed variation in the distribution of heterochromatin and repetitive DNA sequences among species pertaining to Neotinea s.l. and Orchis s.str. These variations also potentially contribute to the diversification of these species. Cytogenetic analyses of the Neotinea group demonstrated that both H33258 and DAPI staining result in blocks of fluorescent regions on numerous chromosomes. Particular attention was paid to the cytological composition of the polyploid Neotinea commutata, focusing on its potential origin. Based on the karyological results acquired, a hypothesis concerning the origin of N. commutata is proposed. The most noteworthy revelations regard the O. mascula complex. In these species, the telomeric areas of all chromosome sets display extensive heterochromatin. Fluorochrome staining revealed telomeric blocks on many chromosomes that were not seen with Giemsa staining. This highlighted a distinct feature of O. mascula, where particularly large C-bands surrounding the centromeric regions of multiple chromosomes were found. However, in O. mascula, O. provincialis, O. pauciflora, and O. patens, C+ chromatin may not show a significant response to fluorochrome Hoechst or DAPI+ staining. The unique cytomorphological arrangement observed in the O. mascula species, unlike other members of the O. mascula complex, suggest epigenetic phenomena. Additional data are presented for the genera Dactylorhiza and Gymnadenia. A deeper understanding of the diversity of chromosomal structures among these orchids promises to shed light on the mechanisms underlying speciation, adaptation, and the remarkable diversity characteristic of the Orchidaceae family. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Distribution and Diversity of Orchids—2nd Edition)
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