Search Results (13)

The use of preemergence herbicides is the primary method of controlling weeds in container-grown ornamental plants, but it may cause injury to common popular ornamentals. The objective of this research was to evaluate the use of overhead irrigation to reduce phytotoxicity in ornamental plants. Dimethenamid-P and flumioxazin were applied at standard label rates to container-grown coneflower (Echinacea purpurea), lady fern (Anthyrium filix-femina), and blue plumbago (Plumbago auriculata). Plants were subjected to one of four irrigation regimes at the time of herbicide treatment, including receiving 1.3 cm of overhead irrigation before treatment, immediately after treatment, both immediately before and after treatment, and no irrigation until the next irrigation cycle resumed at 4 h after treatment. For all three species, irrigation timing had minimal effect on visual injury ratings following treatment with dimethenamid-P, as injury was minimal overall. Severe injury was observed following treatment with flumioxazin, but significant recovery was noted in both lady ferns and echinacea when irrigation was applied immediately after treatment. The results indicate that irrigating plants immediately after treatment could improve crop tolerance to preemergence herbicide applications and should be further investigated as an injury management strategy for container-grown ornamental plants. Full article

Global change influences species diversity patterns. Compared with seed plants, ferns are more sensitive to temperature and humidity changes and are an ideal group for studying species diversity patterns under future climate changes. Polypodiaceae, which has important ecological and application value, such as medicinal and ornamental value, is one of the most widely distributed fern families, with rich species diversity. Here, we explore the changes in the species diversity patterns of Polypodiaceae and their influencing factors. We collected more than 300,000 data points on the distribution of Polypodiaceae to map actual current species diversity patterns. We used Maxent to establish current and future potential species distribution models using 20 predictors and determined the current species diversity patterns using the actual current species diversity patterns and current potential species distribution model method. Multiple linear regression and random forest models were used to evaluate the effects of climate factors on the species diversity patterns of Polypodiaceae. We evaluated the effects of future climate changes on the species diversity of Polypodiaceae. The species diversity of Polypodiaceae increased gradually from higher to lower latitudes and the centers were concentrated in the low latitudes of tropical rainforests. There were four distribution centers across the world for Polypodiaceae: central America, central Africa, southern Asia, and northern Oceania. The species diversity of Polypodiaceae was greatly affected by precipitation factors rather than temperature factors. Under future climate change scenarios, species diversity is expected to shift and accumulate toward the equator in mid-to-low latitudes. Species diversity is projected to remain concentrated in low-latitude regions but will tend to aggregate towards higher altitude areas as global temperatures rise, with precipitation during the warmest season identified as the most influential factor. Full article

Krameropteris is an extinct fern genus found in mid-Cretaceous Myanmar amber, assigned to the Dennstaedtiaceae, with only one previously described species, i.e., K. resinatus. This study describes a new species, K. calophyllum, also preserved in Myanmar amber. The new species is characterized by branched venation with free veinlets terminating in thickened tips, multicellular hairs along the pinnule margins, and submarginal or medial exindusiate sori at the ends of veinlets. Its sporangia are polypod-type, producing trilete spores. This new species represents the second record of an extinct fern genus of the early-diverging Dennstaedtiaceae lineage found in Myanmar amber. Krameropteris calophyllum differs from K. resinatus in its pinnule epidermal characteristics and spore morphology, with the latter exhibiting a conspicuously ornamented perine, covered with sparse tubercles and ridges. The new species provides insights into potential herbivory interactions and the relationship between mid-Cretaceous polypod ferns and the smallest mite ever recorded. These findings suggest that Dennstaedtiaceae exhibited species-level diversity by the mid-Cretaceous, indicating an earlier origin of the family, potentially as early as the Early Jurassic, consistent with recent DNA-based time divergence estimates. Full article

The effects of lead (Pb) stress on plant growth and physiological processes may depend on other environmental stresses coinciding. Knowledge of the response of shade-loving plants to stresses, particularly the relationship between Pb stress and light stress, is lacking. The effects of single and combined Pb and light stress on the growth and physiological parameters of Polystichum setiferum and Polystichum setiferum ‘Proliferum’ ferns were evaluated under glasshouse conditions. Treatments comprised control (80% shade, ~111 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ photosynthetic photon flux density, PPFD), light stress (100% full sunlight, ~525 μmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD), 1000 mg dm⁻³ Pb solution applied to plants under shade and light stress conditions. Under full sunlight, plants had damaged leaves and reduced leaf biomass, and underground parts of the plants had levels of photosynthetic pigments, reducing sugars and total flavonoids. The Pb stress decreased plant growth, reducing sugars, and free amino acids content, and at the same time increased chlorophyll content in P. setiferum and total polyphenols and flavonoid content in P. setiferum ‘Proliferum’. The combined stress of Pb and full sunlight reduced plant growth and the accumulation of pigments, reducing sugars, and free amino acids without affecting the levels of secondary metabolites. P. setiferum plants accumulated more Pb than P. setiferum ‘Proliferum.’ The fern P. setiferum ‘Proliferum’ was more tolerant to abiotic stresses than the fern P. setiferum. This study provided new insights into the response of shade-loving ornamental plants to single and combined Pb and light stress. Full article

Ferns are vascular plants with significant ornamental value, and in recent years, they have also been considered for the potential application in different economic sectors like nutrition, medicine and cosmetics. This study aimed to obtain in vitro fern gametophytes and sporophytes and evaluate their potential as secondary metabolites sources. For this study four fern species were used: Polypodium vulgare L. (PV), Asplenium trichomanes L. (AT), Athyrium filix-femina L. Roth (AF), and Osmunda regalis L. (OR). The polyphenols, flavonoids, tannins and terpenoids content and antioxidant activity were estimated by different colorimetric methods. For metabolite identification and their antioxidant activity, HP-TLC separations were used. Also, quantitative HPLC–DAD analysis was performed to estimate the content of certain metabolites. The results showed that in vitro generation of gametophytes registered higher growth rates in OR, PV, and AF, while the regeneration of sporophytes was better for PV, AT, and AF. The OR gametophyte produced the highest quantities in all analyzed metabolite classes and also had the highest antioxidant values. We report for the first time the presence of metabolites such as catechin, caffeic acid, gallic acid, ferulic acid, cinnamic acid, or rutin in OR. In this study, we demonstrated the possibility of producing potent antioxidant metabolites by in vitro cultures in ferns. Full article

Species of the genus Ultratenuipalpus bear a broad subquadrate propodosoma with many large, flattened, lanceolate to ovate dorsal setae. They also bear some plesiomorphic character states, such as the presence of three pairs of ventral ps setae. Here, we describe Ultratenuipalpus parameekeri Castro, Ochoa & Feres sp. nov. based on adult females, males, and immatures, collected on ferns from Brazil. We also re-describe Ultratenuipalpus meekeri (De Leon), the type species of the genus, based on types and newly collected material from Mexico, and include additional novel data (e.g., dorsal and ventral ornamentation, leg chaetotaxy, and setal measurements) in a standardized form. We include highly detailed images obtained using LT-SEM, accompanied by DNA barcodes, for both species. The ontogenetic additions of leg chaetotaxy are presented and discussed. Full article

Ophioviruses (genus Ophiovirus, family Aspiviridae) are plant-infecting viruses with non-enveloped, filamentous, naked nucleocapsid virions. Members of the genus Ophiovirus have a segmented single-stranded negative-sense RNA genome (ca. 11.3–12.5 kb), encompassing three or four linear segments. In total, these segments encode four to seven proteins in the sense and antisense orientation, both in the viral and complementary strands. The genus Ophiovirus includes seven species with viruses infecting both monocots and dicots, mostly trees, shrubs and some ornamentals. From a genomic perspective, as of today, there are complete genomes available for only four species. Here, by exploring large publicly available metatranscriptomics datasets, we report the identification and molecular characterization of 33 novel viruses with genetic and evolutionary cues of ophioviruses. Genetic distance and evolutionary insights suggest that all the detected viruses could correspond to members of novel species, which expand the current diversity of ophioviruses ca. 4.5-fold. The detected viruses increase the tentative host range of ophioviruses for the first time to mosses, liverwort and ferns. In addition, the viruses were linked to several Asteraceae, Orchidaceae and Poaceae crops/ornamental plants. Phylogenetic analyses showed a novel clade of mosses, liverworts and fern ophioviruses, characterized by long branches, suggesting that there is still plenty of unsampled hidden diversity within the genus. This study represents a significant expansion of the genomics of ophioviruses, opening the door to future works on the molecular and evolutionary peculiarity of this virus genus. Full article

The management of biological invasions, which pose a growing threat to natural resources and human well-being, is critical for reducing associated negative impacts. As part of the process of developing a strategy for the management of biological invasions in the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s (SANBI) gardens, we collated a list of alien plant species from 13 gardens as part of a situational analysis. We requested lists of alien plant species recorded in each of the SANBI’s gardens. A total of 380 records included 225 alien plant species belonging to 73 families. A significant number of species were intentionally introduced through horticultural trade as ornamentals (49%; n = 225), while 20.9% were consumed as either food or medicine by humans. Plant life forms included woody and herbaceous plants, graminoids, succulents and ferns. Herbaceous (42.7%; n = 225) and woody plants (3.8%) were the dominant life forms. The Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden had the highest number of alien species (88 species), followed by Kirstenbosch (61 species) and Pretoria (46 species) National Botanical Gardens, with herbaceous species constituting the largest number in all gardens (i.e., 47, 19, and 27 species, respectively). The number of species that we recorded that were listed in the National Environmental Management: Biodiversity Act (NEM: BA) (Act No. 10 of 2004): Alien and Invasive Species Regulations’ categories were not notably different from the number of unlisted species (58.2% vs. 42.8%). The number of species listed in the different categories varied significantly across the different gardens, with a significantly higher number of unlisted species and of Category 1b species in the Walter Sisulu, Kirstenbosch and Pretoria National Botanical Gardens than in other gardens. That a significantly larger number of alien species originated from South America points to the need to improve biosecurity controls on existing relations. The results of this study provided a baseline database to help comparison between successive surveys in future. Full article

The interactions between ferns and the environment have been frequently researched. However, detailed data on how ferns respond to specific stresses and a combination of stress factors during cultivation are lacking. This study assessed the effects of salinity and full sunlight and the combination of both stresses on the growth and selected metabolic parameters of two hardy ferns (Athyrium nipponicum cv. Red Beauty and Dryopteris erythrosora) under production conditions. Hardy ferns are highly interesting ornamental plants that can serve as a potential source of antioxidants for the pharmaceutical, cosmetic, and food industries. The results showed that in both ferns, salinity and salinity combined with full sunlight lowered the dry weight of the aerial part and potassium/sodium and calcium/potassium ratio compared with control plants. Salinity, full sunlight, and multi-stress did not affect the total polyphenol content in both ferns but increased the total free amino acids and flavonoids in D. erythrosora. In A. nipponicum cv. Red Beauty, all stressors decreased the total free amino acids content and the antioxidant activities determined by ABTS, DPPH, FRAP, and reducing power assays. By contrast, plants of D. erythrosora grown under full sunlight are characterized by higher antioxidant activities determined by DPPH, FRAP, and reducing power assays. Overall, a greater adaptive potential to abiotic stresses was found in D. erythrosora than in A. nipponicum cv. Red Beauty. Our findings shed some light on the physiological mechanisms responsible for sensitivity/tolerance to salinity, full sunlight, and combined stresses in hardy ferns. Full article

Using natural waste as a source of minerals and biostimulants can offer many advantages in the production of plants in containers. The research aimed to evaluate the usefulness of cakes obtained from the production of camelina seed oil (Camelina sativa) in the cultivation of ferns. The greenhouse experiment used ornamental ferns rich in health-promoting compounds: Onoclea sensibilis, Polypodium vulgare, and Polystichum polyblepharum. Plants were planted in pots filled with peat substrate mixed with camelina press cake in the form of pellets at a dose of 1 g/L or 5 g/L. Plants grown in 100% peat substrate constituted the control. It was found that the plants grown in the medium enriched with press cake were higher (P. vulgare and P. polyblepharum), wider (O. sensibilis and P. polyblepharum), and had increased dry weight (O. sensibilis and P. polyblepharum) regardless of the dose of the cake. Moreover, in all species, the addition of press cake significantly increased total chlorophyll content by 23.5–32.5% and carotenoids by 17.7–68.7% compared to the control. The effect of cake on the level of total polyphenols and flavonoids as well as antioxidant activity was unequal and depended mainly on the species and the waste dose. Overall, developing sustainable fern cultivation principles and understanding their nutritional properties could contribute to the broader use of ferns in green spaces, medicine, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Full article

Container crop production has become increasingly popular, but daily water requirements of those crops from transplanting to marketable or harvestable stages are largely unavailable. To address this concern, daily water consumption of two container-grown fern species, Davallia bullata and Nephrolepis exaltata from initial transplanting to marketable size were studied using a canopy closure model. Daily actual evapotranspiration (ET_A) of D. bullata ranged from 4.6 mL to 76.5 mL with an average of 29.0 mL per plant per day. The mean cumulative ET_A was 13.2 L during 431 days of production spanning from 8 November 2006 to 4 February 2008. Two crops of N. exaltata were produced. Daily ET_A per N. exaltata plant produced in crop 1 varied from 19.0 to 241.2 mL with an average of 69.5 mL, and daily ET_A of crop 2 differed from 5.7 to 136.8 mL with a mean of 74.0 mL. Both crops had a cumulative ET_A of 9.4 L. Such differences in daily ET_A and cumulative ET_A between the two fern species raised further concern of irrigation practices in commercial foliage plant production as multiple species are commonly produced in one greenhouse and share the same irrigation schedule. Comparing daily ET_A and cumulative ET_A values of the ferns with the other studied foliage plants indicated that daily ET_A and cumulative ET_A are species specific. Therefore, to improve irrigation efficiency, daily ET_A and cumulative ET_A values of major container-grown plants should be established. Implementing the research-based daily ET_A and cumulative ET_A in container plant production should reduce irrigation water leaching and runoff and conserving freshwater resources. Full article

Selaginella martensii, an evergreen perennial fern that is native to South America and New Zealand, is named “frosty fern” because of its beautiful white-colored leaves and it is used as an ornamental plant. Efficient propagation methods for this species have not been developed. We aimed to develop an efficient propagation method for S. martensii through in vitro culture. We investigated culture conditions that are suitable for shoot-tip proliferation and growth. The optimum shoot-tip culture conditions were determined while using Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium (quarter, half, full, or double strength) and macronutrients (sucrose and two nitrogen sources) at various concentrations. In MS medium, the shoot tips formed a maximum of 6.77 nodes per explant, and each node formed two new shoot tips (i.e., 2⁶ or 64 shoot tips). When using branching segments containing an angle meristem, the shoot-to-rhizophore formation ratio could be controlled by medium supplementation with plant-growth regulators. Sporophytes that were grown from shoot tips in vitro were acclimated in ex vitro soil conditions and successfully survived in the greenhouse. Numerous shoot tips could be obtained from in vitro-grown sporophytes and be proliferated ex vitro to produce a large number of plants. This method provides a way of shortening the time that is required for producing a large stock of S. martensii planting material. Full article

Cyrtomium falcatum is a popular ornamental fern cultivated worldwide. Native to the Korean Peninsula, Japan, and Dokdo Island in the Sea of Japan, it is the only fern present on Dokdo Island. We isolated and characterized the chloroplast (cp) genome of C. falcatum, and compared it with those of closely related species. The genes trnV-GAC and trnV-GAU were found to be present within the cp genome of C. falcatum, whereas trnP-GGG and rpl21 were lacking. Moreover, cp genomes of Cyrtomium devexiscapulae and Adiantum capillus-veneris lack trnP-GGG and rpl21, suggesting these are not conserved among angiosperm cp genomes. The deletion of trnR-UCG, trnR-CCG, and trnSeC in the cp genomes of C. falcatum and other eupolypod ferns indicates these genes are restricted to tree ferns, non-core leptosporangiates, and basal ferns. The C. falcatum cp genome also encoded ndhF and rps7, with GUG start codons that were only conserved in polypod ferns, and it shares two significant inversions with other ferns, including a minor inversion of the trnD-GUC region and an approximate 3 kb inversion of the trnG-trnT region. Phylogenetic analyses showed that Equisetum was found to be a sister clade to Psilotales-Ophioglossales with a 100% bootstrap (BS) value. The sister relationship between Pteridaceae and eupolypods was also strongly supported by a 100% BS, but Bayesian molecular clock analyses suggested that C. falcatum diversified in the mid-Paleogene period (45.15 ± 4.93 million years ago) and might have moved from Eurasia to Dokdo Island. Full article