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Biosystematics and Phylogenetic Taxonomy of Plants
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Biosystematics and Phylogenetic Taxonomy of Plants

A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Systematics, Taxonomy, Nomenclature and Classification".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (26 July 2024) | Viewed by 3502

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Cristina Salmeri

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Guest Editor
Department of Biological, Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Technologies, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Palermo, Italy
Interests: plant taxonomy; biosystematics; ecomorphology; plant anatomy; functional traits; mediterranean flora; biodiversity conservation; plant adaptation; plant phylogeny
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Salvatore Brullo

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Guest Editor
Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Catania, 95125 Catania, Italy
Interests: Mediterranean flora; endemic species; taxonomy; plant morphology; plant ecology; systematics; phytosociology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Modern plant taxonomy integrates characters and data from many fields of the biological sciences, such as comparative morphology, anatomy, cytology, palynology, embryology, genetics, molecular biology, physiology, ecology, phytochemistry, phytogeography, and paleobotany, in order to characterize the intra- to supraspecific levels of variability and better understand the phylogenetic relationships among plants and their evolution. Many genera and families in plants show a complex taxonomical history, with many cryptic taxa revealing a considerable morphological variation but without clear boundaries supporting a clear taxonomic delimitation. The integration of different methodological approaches can be useful in recognizing new taxa, disentangling cryptic species, delimiting patterns of hybridization, solving ancient taxonomic problems and addressing evolutionary dynamics and lineage diversification in plant groups. Biosystematic and phylogenetic studies strongly contribute to deepen our knowledge of plant diversity essential for management and conservation planning of native flora.

Therefore, this Special Issue aims to collect articles that advance knowledge and understanding of plant biodiversity, systematics and evolution, through integrative analyses of different taxonomic traits, i.e., morphological, anatomical, cytological, biochemical, genetical, etc. Studies addressing new taxa descriptions, characterization and delimitation of cryptic species, phylogenetic relationships and/or revised classification of critical taxonomic groups are welcome.

Prof. Dr. Cristina Salmeri
Prof. Dr. Salvatore Brullo
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • biosystematics
  • phylogeny
  • taxonomy
  • speciation
  • evolution
  • diversification
  • molecular biology
  • plant biodiversity
  • classification
  • vascular plants
  • wild flora
  • endemics
  • phenotypic markers
  • molecular markers
  • functional markers
  • biogeography

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

28 pages, 22650 KiB  
Article
Cypsela and Pappus Morphology and Their Significance for the Taxonomic Delimitation of the Genus Saussurea DC. s.str. and Its Allied Genera (Asteraceae)
by Rubina Abid, Muhammad Munir, Sana Riaz and Muhammad Qaiser
Plants 2024, 13(23), 3367; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13233367 - 29 Nov 2024
Viewed by 773
Abstract
The cypsela and pappus macro- and micromorphological features of 32 taxa belonging to Saussurea DC. s.str., Lipschitziella Kamelin, Himalaiella Raab-Straube, Dolomiaea DC., Aucklandia Falc., Frolovia (DC.) Lipsch. and Shangwua Yu J. Wang, Raab-Straube, Susanna, and J.Quan Liu of the tribe Cardueae (Asteraceae) [...] Read more.
The cypsela and pappus macro- and micromorphological features of 32 taxa belonging to Saussurea DC. s.str., Lipschitziella Kamelin, Himalaiella Raab-Straube, Dolomiaea DC., Aucklandia Falc., Frolovia (DC.) Lipsch. and Shangwua Yu J. Wang, Raab-Straube, Susanna, and J.Quan Liu of the tribe Cardueae (Asteraceae) were studied through light and scanning electron microscope to assess the cypsela features of the studied taxa from Pakistan and Kashmir. The cypsela morphological data could also help to discover the taxonomic relationship, as there were no specific and detailed reports available of all the taxa reported from the area under consideration. Various cypsela features, like pappus series, cypsela shape, and surface patterns, were found to be the most significant characters for the taxonomic delimitation of Saussurea s.l. The genus Saussurea s.str. was delimited from its allied genera due to having biseriate pappus, while the remaining genera pappus were either uniseriate or multiseriate; among these genera, Dolomiaea was characterized due to having multiseriate pappus, while the remaining genera, such as Lipschitziella, Himalaiella, Aucklandia, Shangwua, and Frolovia, had uniseriate pappus. Furthermore, these genera could be delimited based on cypsela shape and surface patterns. Similar to the generic delimitation, cypsela micro and macromorphological characters were also found to be useful for specific delimitation within the studied genera. Most of the cypsela morphological variables when analyzed numerically also proved the taxonomic affiliation for most of the taxa of the genus Saussurea and its allied genera. Similarly, these cypsela features could be well correlated with the gross morphological and molecular evidence at the generic and partially for the specific and infraspecific delimitation of Saussurea s.l. from Pakistan and Kashmir. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosystematics and Phylogenetic Taxonomy of Plants)
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18 pages, 4127 KiB  
Article
Karyotype’s Rearrangement in Some Hybrids of the Orchidinae Subtribe
by Alessio Turco, Robert Philipp Wagensommer, Antonella Albano, Pietro Medagli and Saverio D’Emerico
Plants 2024, 13(20), 2838; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13202838 - 10 Oct 2024
Viewed by 1115
Abstract
Based on our karyological findings in the Anacamptis Rich., Ophrys L., and Serapias L. genera, we have identified chromosomal markers within some hybrids and elucidated their interrelationships. Mitotic chromosomes of fifteen taxa were analyzed using the conventional Feulgen staining method. Only for Anacamptis [...] Read more.
Based on our karyological findings in the Anacamptis Rich., Ophrys L., and Serapias L. genera, we have identified chromosomal markers within some hybrids and elucidated their interrelationships. Mitotic chromosomes of fifteen taxa were analyzed using the conventional Feulgen staining method. Only for Anacamptis ×gennarii (Rchb. f.) H.Kretzschmar, Eccarius & Dietr. [A. morio (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase × A. papilionacea (L.) R.M.Bateman, Pridgeon & M.W.Chase] and its parental species were some data obtained and reported with the banding method with Giemsa, Hoechst 33258 fluorochrome, and the FISH techniques. Our research involved new chromosomal measurements of fifteen taxa, including six hybrids, along with schematic representations. Morphometric parameters, i.e., MCA and CVCL, were used to evaluate karyotype asymmetry. Of meaning were the analyses performed on chromosomal complements of selected hybrids, which distinctly revealed marker chromosomes present in one or both putative parental species. Among the parents identified in some hybrids, Ophrys tenthredinifera Willd. has shown some interest due to the presence in its karyotype of a pair of chromosomes (n.1) showing a notable secondary constriction on the long arm. Indeed, one of the homologs is clearly distinguishable in the analyzed hybrids, where it clearly emerges as one of the putative parents. Given the challenges in detecting certain karyomorphological features within the Orchidinae subtribe using alternative methods, such as Giemsa C-banding or fluorescence banding, the Feulgen method remains valuable for cytogenetic characterization. It helps us to understand the genomes of hybrids and parental species, thus contributing to a deeper understanding of their genetic composition. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosystematics and Phylogenetic Taxonomy of Plants)
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20 pages, 6896 KiB  
Article
Taxonomic Revision of Genus Ephedra Tourn. ex L. in Egypt with Intra-Gender Diversity in Morphometric Traits and Fatty Acid Composition
by Maha H. Khalaf, Wafaa M. Amer, Najla A. Al Shaye, Mahmoud O. Hassan and Nasr H. Gomaa
Plants 2024, 13(17), 2442; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13172442 - 1 Sep 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 929
Abstract
The genus Ephedra Tourn. ex L. (Ephedraceae) still exhibits taxonomic complexity that has not yet been resolved. This study aimed to determine the taxonomic identity of the Ephedra species in Egypt and identify the fatty acid profile and its diversity at the gender [...] Read more.
The genus Ephedra Tourn. ex L. (Ephedraceae) still exhibits taxonomic complexity that has not yet been resolved. This study aimed to determine the taxonomic identity of the Ephedra species in Egypt and identify the fatty acid profile and its diversity at the gender level as a taxonomic tool for specimens lacking reproductive cones. The current study provides a pioneering approach that distinguishes Ephedra species at the gender level. A total of 120 fresh individuals were collected from 20 locations representing different habitats where Ephedra plants grow in Egypt. In addition, herbarium specimens were deposited in Egyptian herbaria. The studied morphological traits included 30 vegetative characteristics and 72 traits of the reproductive organs of both genders. The fatty acid content was measured using gas–mass chromatography (GC-Mass). The taxonomic revision revealed that the Genus Ephedra was represented in the Egyptian flora by five species, Ephedra alata in section Alatae and E. aphylla, E. ciliata, E. foemina, and E. pachyclada in section Ephedra. South Sinai hosts these five species and represents the center of diversity for this genus in Egypt. The vegetative characteristics were subjected to principal component analysis (PCA), which revealed a distinct separation of the five studied species. Similarly, the cone traits treated by hierarchical clustering revealed intra-gender variations. The taxonomic key was developed based on the morphological traits to distinguish the studied species at the gender level. In total, 51 fatty acids were identified from the studied species and grouped as 18 saturated, 16 monounsaturated, and 17 polyunsaturated fatty acids. In the absence of reproductive cones, the lipid content and fatty acid composition of the vegetative parts displayed significant interspecific and intra-gender variations. Therefore, fatty acids can be used to efficiently identify the studied species when they lack reproductive cones. This study proved the efficacy of a multidisciplinary approach to identify Ephedra species at the gender level and recommends this trend for future studies of this genus. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biosystematics and Phylogenetic Taxonomy of Plants)
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