The genus Aegilops represents the secondary gene pool of wheat. A better understanding of the germination behaviour of Aegilops species is important to improve their use in breeding programmes and strengthen their in situ/ex situ conservation. In this study, we investigated the germination behaviour of nine Aegilops species, five of them not yet investigated, under two alternating and two constant temperatures. Seed germination was higher than 60% in all temperature treatments and species. Alternating temperatures promoted higher germination rates in all the species and significantly enhanced seed germination in three species (Aegilops biuncialis, Aegilops geniculata and Aegilops neglecta), in comparison with constant temperatures. One of the rarest and least productive species in the genus (Aegilops uniaristata) displayed the highest germination. This study suggests that different (seed) regeneration strategies/niches occur across Aegilops species.
New records for the flora of Tunisia and, in part, for North Africa of taxa of Orobanche sect. Orobanche subsect. Minores (Beck) Teryokhin, are reported. These records come from field research carried out between 2010 and 2014 in the Kroumiria region in northwestern Tunisia and herbarium studies. Infraspecific taxa and chorological data about the identified taxa (Orobanche amethystea Thuill., Orobanche canescens C. Presl, Orobanche hederae Duby, Orobanche litorea Guss., Orobanche minor Sm. and Orobanche pubescens d'Urv.) are reported. Literature data on host and distribution are also revised. Orobanche litorea is new to North Africa, and O. canescens has been confirmed for North Africa more than 100 years after the only known collection. Orobanche hederae and O. pubescens are new to Tunisia.
The distribution of the enigmatic Mongolian Aquilegia ganboldii is confirmed for Russian South Siberia, North Korea and northeast China. It seems to be closely related to Aquilegia oxysepala var. oxysepala and Aquilegia buergeriana. A diagnostic key to A. ganboldii and related taxa is provided.
Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms-Laub.) is an invasive aquatic weed that has one of the highest growth indices of vascular plants, producing large amounts of biomass. Its use for composting, livestock feed and biogas production has been proposed as a management strategy for its control. The work presented here is an assessment of the potential spread of water hyacinth due to the release of seeds from the by-products of some of these manufacturing processes. We tested experimentally if the seeds were destroyed or did not lose germinability when they had passed through the gut of sheep, remained in compost piles or been used in biogas bioreactors. We made optical and electronic microscopic observations, and calculated retrieval and germination percentages of the seeds subjected to these treatments. After having passed through the gut of sheep, the anatomical organization of the seed was completely destroyed, only 30.50 ± 5.83% of the seeds were retrieved and the germinability was null (0 ± 0%). The biogas production and compost-treated seeds both had retrieval percentages of 100 ± 0% and germination values of 1.00 ± 0.57 and 3.50 ± 0.96% respectively, with several anatomical damages. The use for compost or biogas production as a management strategy to control this pest is not completely safe from an environmental perspective and the selected management option should focus on sheep fodder production.
Antirhea surigaoensis, a new species of Antirhea from Surigao del Norte, Philippines is described. It closely resembles Antirhea philippinensis (Benth.) Rolfe; however, it can be easily distinguished by having triangular stipules, longer petioles, stipules, peduncles, bracts, calyx tubes, corolla lobes, anther and style and densely sericeous perianth on the outside.
