Search Results (979)

Plant genetics and chemotaxonomic analysis are considered key parameters in understanding evolution, plant diversity and adaptation. Korean Peninsula has a unique biogeographical landscape that supports various aromatic plant species, each with considerable ecological, ethnobotanical, and pharmacological significance. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the chemotaxonomic traits, biological activities, phylogenetic relationships and potential applications of Korean aromatic plants, highlighting their significance in more accurate identification. Chemotaxonomic investigations employing techniques such as gas chromatography mass spectrometry, high-performance liquid chromatography, and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy have enabled the identification of essential oils and specialized metabolites that serve as valuable taxonomic and diagnostic markers. These chemical traits play essential roles in species delimitation and in clarifying interspecific variation. The biological activities of selected taxa are reviewed, with emphasis on antimicrobial, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and cytotoxic effects, supported by bioassay-guided fractionation and compound isolation. In parallel, recent advances in phylogenetic reconstruction employing DNA barcoding, internal transcribed spacer regions, and chloroplast genes such as rbcL and matK are examined for their role in clarifying taxonomic uncertainties and inferring evolutionary lineages. Overall, the search period was from year 2001 to 2025 and total of 268 records were included in the study. By integrating phytochemical profiling, pharmacological evidence, and molecular systematics, this review highlights the multifaceted significance of Korean endemic aromatic plants. The conclusion highlights the importance of multidisciplinary approaches including metabolomics and phylogenomics in advancing our understanding of species diversity, evolutionary adaptation, and potential applications. Future research directions are proposed to support conservation efforts. Full article

The ongoing genetic erosion of natural Prunus armeniaca populations in their native habitats underscores the urgent need for targeted conservation and restoration strategies. This study provides the first comprehensive characterization of P. armeniaca populations in the Almaty region of Kazakhstan, integrating morphological descriptors (46 parameters), molecular markers, geobotanical, and remote sensing analyses. Geobotanical and remote sensing analyses enhanced understanding of accession distribution, geological features, and ecosystem health across sites, while also revealing their vulnerability to various biotic and abiotic threats. Of 111 morphologically classified accessions, 54 were analyzed with 13 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers and four DNA barcoding regions. Our findings demonstrate the necessity of integrated morphological and molecular analyses to differentiate closely related accessions. Genetic analysis identified 11 distinct populations with high heterozygosity and substantial genetic variability. Eight populations exhibited 100% polymorphism, indicating their potential as sources of adaptive genetic diversity. Cluster analysis grouped populations into three geographic clusters, suggesting limited gene flow across Gorges (features of a mountainous landscape) and greater connectivity within them. These findings underscore the need for site-specific conservation strategies, especially for genetically distinct, isolated populations with unique allelic profiles. This study provides a valuable foundation for prioritizing conservation targets, confirming genetic redundancies, and preserving genetic uniqueness to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the future conservation and use of P. armeniaca genetic resources in the region. Full article

Garlic root maggots are the main pest of garlic in Qi County, Henan Province, China, which has become an important factor restricting the development of the garlic industry. Earwigs play an important role in controlling root maggots because of their similar ecological niches. In this study, through DNA barcoding and morphological identification, the following root maggots and main earwigs species from Qi County were quickly identified: Delia platura (Meigen), Bradysia odoriphaga Yang et Zhang, Delia antiqua (Meigen), Muscina angustifrons (Loew), Lucilia sericata (Meigan), and the main species of earwigs was Gonolabis marginalis (Dohrn). D. platura was the dominant species and accounted for 98% among all garlic root maggots. The predation ability for each stage of G. distincta on the larvae and pupae of D. platura showed that G. distincta at different developmental stages preyed on both the the larvae and the entire pupae of D. platura. Among them, female adults had the strongest predation ability and the largest daily predation on first instar larvae of gray D. platura (71.25 ± 0.66). First instar nymphs of G. distincta also had a certain predation ability with the daily predation of first instar larvae being (1.85 ± 0.13). The predation ability of G. distincta at different instars on the larvae of the same instar of D. platura increased with the increasing of the instar. For the first to second instar larvae of D. platura, the female adult of G. distincta had the strongest predation ability, followed by the male adult of G. distincta, and then the fifth instar nymph of G. distincta. There was no significant difference in the predation ability between the male and female adults of G. distincta, but the adults’ predation capacities were significantly higher than that of the fifth instar nymph of G. distincta. The capacity of the fifth instar nymph of G. distincta was significantly higher than the fourth instar nymph of G. distincta, the fourth instar nymph of G. distincta was significantly higher than the first to third instar nymphs, and there was no significant difference in the predation amount among the first to third instar nymphs. The predation selection experiment indicated that the fifth instar nymphs and the male and female adults of G. distincta showed a positive preference for the first to third instar larvae of D. platura and a negative preference for the pupae of D. platura. Our study provided a preliminary scientific basis for green prevention and control of garlic root maggot. Full article

The root of Plumbago indica L. is commercially available in herbal markets in both crude and powdered forms. P. indica root is a key ingredient in numerous polyherbal formulations. However, P. indica has two closely related species, P. zeylanica L. and P. auriculata Lam. Since only P. indica is traditionally used in Thai polyherbal products, adulteration with other species could potentially compromise the therapeutic efficacy and overall effectiveness of these formulations. To address this issue, a MassARRAY iPLEX assay was developed to accurately identify and differentiate P. indica from its closely related species. Five single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) sites—positions 18, 112, 577, 623, and 652—within the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region were selected as genetic markers for species identification. The assay demonstrated high accuracy in identifying P. indica and was capable of detecting the species at DNA concentrations as low as 0.01 ng/µL. Additionally, the assay successfully identified P. zeylanica in commercial crude drug samples, highlighting potential instances of adulteration. Furthermore, it was able to distinguish P. indica in mixed samples containing P. indica, along with either P. zeylanica or P. auriculata. The developed MassARRAY iPLEX assay proves to be a reliable and effective molecular tool for authenticating P. indica raw materials. Its application holds significant potential for ensuring the integrity of herbal products by preventing misidentification and adulteration. Full article

North Africa has a poorly and unevenly known hoverfly fauna. Xanthogramma Schiner, 1861 (Syrphinae, Syrphini) is represented in this territory by some scattered records of four species, Xanthogramma dives (Rondani, 1857), Xanthogramma evanescens Becker & Stein, 1913 (endemic to North Africa), Xanthogramma marginale (Loew, 1854), and Xanthogramma pedissequum (Harris, 1776). After examination of old Xanthogramma material collected in Tanger, Morocco, from the ‘Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales, Madrid, Spain (MNCN)’, specimens with distinctive morphology were spotted and found to be different from a syntype of X. evanescens collected in the same locality. Consequently, we revised all the available material of Xanthogramma from North Africa, characterised a new species, proposed a lectotype for X. evanescens, and provided an identification key to the North African species of this genus. The new species is also found in Tunisia and differs from X. evanescens in facial width, colour of the thoracic pleura, length of mesonotum hairs, wing pollinosity, and shape of the yellow maculae on tergum 2. Full article

Members of the genus Nemipterus are economically important fish species distributed in the tropical and subtropical Indo-West Pacific region. The majority of species in this genus inhabit waters with sandy–muddy substrates on the continental shelf, although different species are found at slightly varying water depths. In this study, we sequenced seven species within the genus Nemipterus after identifying the specimens using complementary morphological analysis and DNA barcoding. Each species yielded over 40,000,000 clean reads, totaling over 300,000,000 clean reads across the seven species. A total of 276,389 unigenes were obtained after de novo assembly and a total of 168,010 (60.79%) unigenes were annotated in the protein database. The comprehensive functional annotation based on the KOG, GO, and KEGG databases revealed that these unigenes are mainly associated with numerous physiological, metabolic, and molecular processes, and that the seven species exhibit similarity in these aspects. By constructing a phylogenetic tree and conducting divergence time analysis, we found that N. bathybius and N. virgatus diverged most recently, approximately during the Neogene Period (14.9 Mya). Compared with other species, N. bathybius and N. virgatus are distributed in deeper water layers. Therefore, we conducted selection pressure analysis using these two species as the foreground branches and identified several environmental-responsive genes. The results indicate that genes such as aqp1, arrdc3, ISP2, Hip, ndufa1, ndufa3, pcyt1a, ctsk, col6a2, casp2 exhibit faster evolutionary rates during long-term adaptation to deep-water environments. Specifically, these genes are considered to be associated with adaptation to aquatic osmoregulation, temperature fluctuations, and skeletal development. This comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights into the evolutionary biology and environmental adaptability of threadfin breams, contributing to the conservation and sustainable management of these species. Full article

This review highlights the critical role of chemotaxonomy in the identification, authentication, and discovery of bioactive compounds in medicinal plants. By analyzing secondary metabolites using techniques like UV spectroscopy, FTIR, HPLC, GC-MS, NMR, LC-MS-Qtof, and MALDI-TOF MS, chemotaxonomy ensures accurate plant identification, supporting the safe and effective use of plants in herbal medicine. Key secondary metabolites used in chemotaxonomic identification include alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolics, tannins, and plant peptides. Chemotaxonomy also facilitates the discovery of novel compounds with therapeutic potential, contributing to drug development. The integration of chemotaxonomy with genomics and proteomics allows a deeper understanding of plant biosynthesis and the mechanisms behind bioactive compound production. However, challenges due to variability in metabolite profiles and the lack of standardized methods remain, and future research should focus on developing global databases, improving standardization, and incorporating artificial intelligence and machine learning to enhance plant identification and bioactive compound discovery. The integration of chemotaxonomy with personalized medicine offers the potential to tailor plant-based therapies to individual genetic profiles, advancing targeted treatments. This review underscores chemotaxonomy’s importance in bridging traditional knowledge and modern science, offering sustainable solutions for medicinal plant use and drug development. Full article

Due to the potential role of Auchenorrhyncha in the transmission of the bacterium Xylella fastidiosa in a wide variety of cultivations, during recent years in Europe, many studies have focused on species composition, abundance and seasonal appearance of Auchenorrhyncha. However, females and nymphs are difficult to identify, as species-level identification relies primarily on male genitalia morphology. Sampling was conducted over four years in olive fields in Lesvos Island, in the Northeast Aegean, Greece, using sweep nets and Malaise traps. Both adults and nymphs were collected, with males identified to species level, while females and nymphs were separated on different morphotypes. Representatives from each morphotype and identified adults were sequenced using the mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI) gene. Using a classical morphological approach, 58 species were identified to species level, and using DNA barcoding, nymph morphotypes and females were successfully identified within the families Cicadellidae, Aphrophoridae, Delphacidae and Issidae. A phylogenetic tree was generated, clustering nymphs together with the corresponding adults. Our results demonstrate the utility of combining morphological and molecular methods for accurate species identification and highlight the importance of enriching online databases with additional species records. Full article

Madagascar harbors a rich marine biodiversity, yet detailed knowledge of its fish species remains limited. Of the 1689 species listed in 2018, only 22% had accessible cytochrome oxidase I (COI) sequences in public databases. In response to growing pressure on fishery resources, this study aims to strengthen biodiversity monitoring tools. Its objectives were to enrich the COI database for Malagasy marine fishes, create the first 12S reference library, and evaluate the taxonomic resolution of different 12S metabarcodes for eDNA analysis, namely MiFish, Teleo1, AcMDB, Ac12S, and 12SF1/R1. An integrated approach combining morphological, molecular, and phylogenetic analyses was applied for specimen identification of fish captured using various types of fishing gear in Toliara and Ranobe Bays from 2018 to 2023. The Malagasy COI database now includes 2146 sequences grouped into 502 Barcode Index Numbers (BINs) from 82 families, with 14 BINs newly added to BOLD (The Barcode of Life Data Systems), and 133 cryptic species. The 12S library comprises 524 sequences representing 446 species from 78 families. Together, the genetic datasets cover 514 species from 84 families, with the most diverse being Labridae, Apogonidae, Gobiidae, Pomacentridae, and Carangidae. However, the two markers show variable taxonomic resolution: 67 species belonging to 35 families were represented solely in the COI dataset, while 10 species from nine families were identified exclusively in the 12S dataset. For 319 species with complete 12S gene sequences associated with COI BINs (Barcode Index Numbers), 12S primer sets were used to evaluate the taxonomic resolution of five 12S metabarcodes. The MiFish marker proved to be the most effective, with an optimal similarity threshold of 98.5%. This study represents a major step forward in documenting and monitoring Madagascar’s marine biodiversity and provides a valuable genetic reference for future environmental DNA (eDNA) applications. Full article

The molecular identification of valuable genotypes is an important problem of germplasm management. In this study, we evaluated the potential of 11 universal primer pairs for the DNA barcoding of locally derived cultivars of subtropical crops (actinidia, feijoa, citrus, and tea). A total of 47 accessions (elite cultivars, forms, and breeding lines) of these four genera were included in the study. The efficiency of the following universal primers was assessed using Sanger sequencing: ITS-p5/ITS-u4, ITS-p5/ITS-u2, ITS-p3/ITS-u4, 23S,4.5S&5S, 16S, petB/petD, rpl23/rpl2.l, rpl2 intron, rpoC1 intron, trnK intron, and trnE-UUC/trnT-GUU. Among these primers, trnE-UUC/trnT-GUU showed greater intraspecific polymorphisms, while rpl2 intron and 16S displayed the lowest polymorphism levels in all crops. In addition, the 23S,4.5S & 5S, and rpoC1 intron were efficient for intraspecific analysis of tea and actinidia species. Using five efficient chloroplast primers, a total of 22/6 SNPs/InDels were observed in tea accessions, 45/17 SNPs/InDels in actinidia, 23/3 SNPs/InDels in mandarins, and 5/4 SNPs/InDels in feijoa. These results will be useful for the further development of DNA barcodes of related accessions. Full article

DNA barcoding of intraspecific diversity of agricultural crops is important to develop the genetic passports of valuable genotypes and cultivars. The advantage of DNA-barcoding as compared to traditional genotyping of cultivars is that the procedure can be unified and applied for the broad range of accessions. This not only makes it cost efficient, but also allows to develop open access genetic databases to accumulate information of the world’s germplasm collections of different crops. In this regard, the aim of the review was to analyze the latest research in this field, including the selection of loci, universal primers, strategies of amplicons analysis, bioinformatic tools, and the development of databases. We reviewed the advantages and disadvantages of each strategy with the focus of cultivars identification. The data indicates that following chloroplast loci are the most prominent for the intraspecific diversity analysis: (trnE-UUC/trnT-GUU, rpl23/rpl2.l, psbA-trnH, trnL-trnF, trnK, rpoC1, ycf1-a, rpl32-trnL, trnH-psbA and matK). We suggest that the combination of three or four of these loci can be a sufficient DNA barcode for cultivar-level identification. This combination has to be selected for each crop. Advantages and disadvantages of different approaches of amplicons analysis are discussed. The bioinformatic tools and databases for the plant barcoding are reviewed. This review will be useful for selecting appropriate strategies for barcoding of intraspecific diversity of agricultural crops to develop genetic passports of valuable cultivars in germplasm collections worldwide. Full article

This study reports the first record of Lyconus brachycolus in Spanish waters. A single specimen measuring 216 mm in total length was captured on 13 October 2024 in the Cantabrian Sea (north of Spain, 43.8467 N, −6.2109 W) by bottom trawl at a depth of 412 m. A detailed morphological description, updated characteristics, and illustrations are provided. For comparative purposes, an update of the species’ morphological characteristics was carried out. In an integrative taxonomic approach, the DNA barcode was obtained, which confirmed the morphological identification of the specimen as Lyconus brachycolus. A molecular taxonomic analysis using this marker showed the existence of two clades separated by 5.1%, corresponding to Lyconus brachycolus and Lyconus pinnatus, the two currently valid species of the genus. Full article

The genus Grypoctonus Speiser, 1928 (Diptera: Asilidae) is a fuzzy-looking assassin fly, and adults have only been observed in autumn and winter. Currently containing four described species, this genus is readily distinguished from other Chinese asilids by the presence of two r-m crossveins. Through integrative taxonomic analysis of over 200 specimens from multiple Chinese provinces, we combined morphological assessment with DNA barcoding and four species delimitation methods (ABGD, ASAP, mPTP, and GMYC). Four species are newly described: G. aureus sp. nov., G. sagittatus sp. nov., G. solarius sp. nov., and G. yongshani sp. nov. (the latter described solely from morphological examination of historical specimens). Genetic analyses revealed distinct barcoding gaps, with an interspecific distance of 1.38–7.07% versus an intraspecific distance of no more than 0.92%. We revised the generic diagnosis, provided a distribution map, and a revised key to all known species of Grypoctonus. Full article

Fusarium spp. represent a critical threat to maize production and food safety due to their mycotoxin production. This study introduces a refined molecular identification protocol integrating four genomic regions—ITS1, IGS, TEF-1α, and β-TUB—for robust species differentiation of Fusarium spp. isolates from post-harvest maize in Bulgaria. The protocol enhances species resolution, especially for closely related taxa within the Fusarium fujikuroi species complex (FFSC). A newly optimized multiplex PCR strategy was developed using three primer sets, each designed to co-amplify a specific pair of toxigenic genes: fum6/fum8, tri5/tri6, and tri5/zea2. Although all five genes were analyzed, they were detected through separate two-target reactions, not in a single multiplex tube. Among 17 identified isolates, F. proliferatum (52.9%) dominated, followed by F. verticillioides, F. oxysporum, F. fujikuroi, and F. subglutinans. All isolates harbored at least one toxin biosynthesis gene, with 18% co-harboring genes for both fumonisins and zearalenone. This dual-protocol approach enhances diagnostic precision and supports targeted mycotoxin risk management strategies. Full article

The Dalbergia genus, a morphologically diverse group within the Fabaceae family, encompasses species of significant value in furniture production and medicinal and aromatic applications. The taxonomy of Dalbergia has relied on morphological traits, chloroplast (cp) DNA fragments, and cp genomic data. However, genomic resources for tropical liana species within this genus remain scarce. In this study, we assembled and analyzed the cp genomes of 3 liana species—Dalbergia peishaensis, D. pinnata, and D. tsoi—and compared them with those of 26 other Dalbergia species to explore their cp genome characteristics and evolutionary patterns. We employed a combination of traditional cp genome analysis and methods adapted from plant whole-genome sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that D. peishaensis has a close relationship with D. cultrata, forming a recently diverged clade, whereas D. tsoi and D. pinnata are positioned within a basal clade of the Dalbergia genus, suggesting an earlier divergence. The Dalbergia cp genomes exhibit considerable variation in size, with evidence of pseudogenization, gene loss, and duplication observed in the three liana species. Notably, the infA gene, previously reported as absent in the chloroplast genomes of Dalbergia species, was identified in the cp genomes of these three liana Dalbergia species. A total of 4533 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were identified, providing valuable insights into cp genome evolution and facilitating future population genetics studies, particularly when combined with the high structural variation observed in the genus through whole-genome analysis methods. Additionally, seven highly divergent regions were identified as potential DNA barcode hotspots. This study enhances the genomic characterization of liana Dalbergia species and offers a robust framework for future plant cp genome analyses by integrating methodologies originally developed for whole-genome studies. Full article