The complete chloroplast genome of a fern genus Thelypteris interrupta.

In this study, we report the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of Thelypteris interrupta, a fern member, and comparative analysis with its related family members. The cp genome was 155,983 bp long, with a typical quadripartite structure including a pair of inverted repeat regions (25,614 bp) separated by a large (82,769 bp) and small (21,986 bp) single-copy (SC) region. The genome encodes a total of 88 protein-coding genes, 35 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. Additionally, we identified 86 RNA editing sites in 52 genes; most of the substitution was U to C (52 sites), while C to U conversion occurred in 34 positions. The phylogenetic analysis strongly supported the relationship of T. interrupta with Ampelopteris prolifera and Christella appendiculata of Thelypteridoideae family.

Vessel elements of two thelypteroid ferns-part I.

BACKGROUND: Hydraulically efficient xylem was evolved in the vascular plants as an apomorphy of the group. Main xylem components involved in water conduction are tracheid and vessel. Vessels, in which two ends are perforated, constituted major evolutionary innovation within vascular plants, presumably providing more efficient solute conduction. Not all vascular plants have vessels. In pteridophytes vessels are present only in seven genera. The contention lies regarding the presence and distribution of vessel in pteridophytes are the impulsive force of this investigation. METHODS: Tracheary elements are isolated following the standard maceration technique, then hand-razor cut longisections are passed through the aqueous alcohol grades and air-dried samples are placed on stub, sputter coated with gold and examined with SEM. RESULTS: Two thelypteroid ferns viz. Ampelopteris prolifera (Retz.) Copel. and Thelypteris interrupta (Willd.) K. Iwats. are having vessel elements in root, rhizome, stipe, rachis, primary vein/costa, root-rhizome and rhizome-petiole junction i.e. through entire vascular connection of the plant body though the vessel network is interrupted and joined with parenchyma at the end in some places. Presence of vessel elements in the costa of pteridophytic taxa is first time reported by this study. Vessel end-walls are obliquely placed (root, rhizome, and stipe) but oblique to horizontal orientation is noticed in the primary vein/costa. End-walls are with simple, intermediate and compound perforation plates observed through SEM imaging as well as with tissue specific stain. Studied taxa are grown either in terrestrial microclimate of two contrasting environments i.e. sun and shade (A. prolifera) or in open swampy land (T. interrupta) with moderate to highly disturbed places as rapid proliferating populations showing interpopulation variations of tracheary elements length-width(s) and vessel end-wall length-width(s). CONCLUSION: Vessel elements are present throughout the entire vascular connections of the plant body of A. prolifera (Retz.) Copel. and T. interrupta (Willd.) K. Iwats. Interpopulation variation of tracheary elements length-width(s) and vessel end-wall length width(s) are noticed. Till date only seven genera of pteridophytes are reported for the presence of vessel and these two genera are the new addition with the previous.

Bioaccumulation of heavy metals from wastewater through a Typha latifolia and Thelypteris palustris phytoremediation system.

Animal production is a source of heavy metals in livestock wastewater and also a key link in the food chain, with negative impacts on human and animal health. In intensive animal production systems, the most critical elements are zinc and copper. In order to development of innovative non-invasive strategies to reduce the environmental impact of livestock, this study assessed the ability of two plants, Typha latifolia and Thelypteris palustris, to bioaccumulate the heavy metals used in animal nutrition, from wastewater. Four mesocosms (width 2.0 m, length 2.0 m, 695 L of water, 210 kg of soil) were assembled outdoors at the Botanical Garden. Two of them were planted with T. latifolia (TL treated, n = 30; TL control, n = 30) and two with T. palustris (TP treated, n = 60; TP control, n = 60). In T0 a solution of a mineral additive premix (Zn 44.02 mg/L; Cu 8.63 mg/L) was dissolved in the treated mesocosms. At T0, d 15 (T1) and d 45 (T2) samples of roots, leaves, stems, soil and water were collected, dried, mineralized and analyzed using ICP-MS in order to obtain HMs content. We found that T. latifolia and T. palustris accumulate and translocate Zn, Cu from contaminated wastewater into plant tissues in a way that is directly related to the exposure time (T2 for Zn: 271.64 ±â€¯17.70, 409.26 ±â€¯17.70 for Cu: 47.54 ±â€¯3.56, 105.58 ±â€¯3.56 mg/kg of DM, respectively). No visual toxicity signs were observed during the experimental period. This phytoremediation approach could be used as an eco-sustainable approach to counteract the output of heavy metals.

Typha latifolia and Thelypteris palustris behavior in a pilot system for the refinement of livestock wastewaters: A case of study.

In animal livestock heavy metals are widely used as feed additives to control enteric bacterial infections as well as to enhance the integrity of the immune system. As these metals are only partially adsorbed by animals, the content of heavy metals in manure and wastewaters causes soil and ground water contamination, with Zn2+ and Cu2+ being the most critical output from pig livestock. Phytoremediation is considered a valid strategy to improve the purity of wastewaters. This work studied the effect of Zn2+ and Cu2+ on the morphology and protein expression in Thelypteris palustris and Typha latifolia plants, cultured in a wetland pilot system. Despite the absence of macroscopic alterations, remodeling of cell walls and changes in carbohydrate metabolism were observed in the rhizomes of both plants and in leaves of Thelypteris palustris. However, similar modifications seemed to be determined by the alterations of different mechanisms in these plants. These data also suggested that marsh ferns are more sensitive to metals than monocots. Whereas toleration mechanisms seemed to be activated in Typha latifolia, in Thelypteris palustris the observed modifications appeared as slight toxic effects due to metal exposure. This study clearly indicates that both plants could be successfully employed in in situ phytoremediation systems, to remove Cu2+ and Zn2+ at concentrations that are ten times higher than the legal limits, without affecting plant growth.

Traffic-emitted metal status and uptake by Carex meyeriana Kunth and Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens Fernald growing in roadside turfy swamp in the Changbai Mountain area, China.

Six traffic-emitted metals (Cr, Zn, Cu, Cd, Pb, and Ni) were determined in soil and plants for below- and aboveground parts along different distances from highway to evaluate their behavior and uptake by Carex meyeriana Kunth and Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens Fernald growing in turfy swamps. The results indicated that the different plant tissues showed significantly different levels of metal content. Nonlinear regression analysis indicated that metal contents leveled off at constant values before they decreased as the distance from the roadside increased. The high R2 values of the regression model indicated good fit of the exponential function applied to depict the distribution pattern of the metal elements. It was deduced that Cr, Cu, and Cd in Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens Fernald were mainly derived from the soil; Carex meyeriana Kunth and Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens Fernald absorbed Pb mainly through the stomata from atmospheric depositions; Cr, Cu, and Cd in Carex meyeriana Kunth and Zn in Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens Fernald were mainly affected by soil and atmospheric depositions. After excluding the effects of traffic, only the bioaccumulation factor of Cd (1.34) in Carex meyeriana Kunth and the translocation factor of Zn (1.13) in Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens Fernald were greater than 1, suggesting that Carex meyeriana Kunth could be a good candidate for assimilating Cd from soils and Thelypteris palustris var. pubescens Fernald could be suitable for the phytoextraction of Zn.

New combinations in Neotropical Thelypteridaceae.

288 new combinations of Neotropical Thelypteridaceae taxa are proposed in order to recognize monophyletic genera, based on the results of the most recent molecular phylogeny of the family, as well as the morphological uniformity of characters for each genus. The new nomenclatural combinations correspond to 186 Amauropelta taxa, 77 species of Goniopteris, and 25 Steiropteris taxa. A key to all native Neotropical genera of the family is also presented.

New pteridophyte species and combinations from the Marquesas Islands, French Polynesia.

Intensive botanical exploration of the Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia) for the Vascular Flora of the Marquesas Islands and Flore de la Polynésie française projects has resulted in numerous additional new collections from these islands. Study of these collections has brought to light 11 new species of pteridophytes (ferns and lycophytes) which are described herein: Blechnum pacificum Lorence & A. R. Sm., sp. nov., Cyclosorus castaneus A. R. Sm. & Lorence, sp. nov., Cyclosorus florencei A. R. Sm. & Lorence, sp. nov., Dryopteris macropholis Lorence & W. L. Wagner, sp. nov., Dryopteris sweetorum Lorence & W. L. Wagner, sp. nov., Polystichum kenwoodii Lorence & W. L. Wagner, sp. nov., Polystichum uahukaense Lorence & W. L. Wagner, sp. nov., Pteris hivaoaensis Lorence & K. R. Wood, sp. nov., Pteris marquesensis Lorence & K. R. Wood, sp. nov., Pteris tahuataensis Lorence & K. R. Wood, sp. nov., and Thelypteris marquesensis Lorence & K. R. Wood, sp. nov. One new combination is made: Cyclosorus marquesicus (Holttum) Lorence & A. R. Sm., comb. nov. (based on Plesioneuron marquesicum Holttum). An analysis of the conservation status of these new Marquesas Islands taxa reveals they are in need of inclusion in the IUCN Red List with conservation status ranging from vulnerable (one species), and endangered (four species), to critically endangered (five species).