Chloroplast and nuclear DNA exchanges among Begonia sect. Baryandra species (Begoniaceae) from Palawan Island, Philippines, and descriptions of five new species.

The Philippine island of Palawan is highly biodiverse. During fieldwork there in 2011 & 2014 we found five unknown species in the large genus Begonia. The species are similar in their rhizomatous stems, four-tepaled flowers, inferior two- or three-locular ovaries with bilamellate placentas, and are assignable to Begonia sect. Baryandra. Our observations support the recognition of these as five new species endemic to Palawan: B. elnidoensis, B. gironellae, B. quinquealata, B. tabonensis and B. tenuibracteata which are described here. The five new species were added to phylogenies based Bayesian analysis of nrDNA (ITS) and chloroplast DNA (ndhA, ndhF-rpl32, rpl32-trnL, trnC-trnD), along with 45 other allied ingroup species. A majority of the species show incongruent positions in the two phylogenies, with evidence of prevalent chloroplast capture. Models show chloroplast capture is more likely in plant populations with high levels of inbreeding following a reduction in selfing rate after hybridisation; we suggest that this is a possible explanation for the massive amount of chloroplast exchange seen in our phylogeny, as Begonia species often exist as small isolated populations and may be prone to inbreeding depression. Our data also indicate a level of nuclear genetic exchange between species. The high prevalence of hybrid events in Begonia is potentially an important factor in driving genomic change and species evolution in this mega-diverse genus.

Alginate encapsulation of Begonia microshoots for short-term storage and distribution.

Synthetic seeds were formed from shoot tips of two in vitro grown Begonia cultivars using 3% sodium alginate in Murashige and Skoog medium (MS) salt solution as the gel matrix and 100 mM calcium chloride for complexation. Synthetic seed formation was achieved by releasing the sodium alginate/explant combination into 100 mM calcium chloride (CaCl2 ·H2O) solution for 30 or 45 min. Both control and encapsulated shoots were transferred into sterile Petri dishes and stored at 4°C or 22°C for 0, 2, 4, 6, or 8 weeks. Conversion of synthetic seeds into plantlets for both storage environments was assessed in MS medium or peat-based substrate. No significant difference was found between the 30 and 45 min CaCl2 ·H2O treatments or the two cultivars. Encapsulation of explants improved survival rate over time irrespective of the medium type or storage environment. Survival rates of 88, 53, 28, and 11% for encapsulated microshoots versus 73, 13, 0, and 0% for control explants were achieved in microshoots stored for 2, 4, 6, and 8 weeks, respectively. The best results were obtained when synthetic seeds were stored at 4°C and germinated on MS medium. Regenerated plantlets were successfully established in potting soil.

Meiotic aberrations during 2n pollen formation in Begonia.

Unreduced gametes are the driving force for the polyploidization of plants in nature, and are also an important tool for ploidy breeding. The final heterozygosity of a 2n pollen grain depends on the cytological mechanism behind 2n pollen formation. In this study, chromosome pairing and chromosome segregation during the microsporogenesis of seven Begonia genotypes were analysed using fluorescent chromosome staining on (squashed) pollen mother cells. Among the seven genotypes, five genotypes produce 2n pollen (B. 'Bubbles', B. 'Florence Rita', B. 'Orococo', B. 'Tamo' and B276) and two genotypes produce only normal n pollen (B. fischeri and B243). All 2n pollen producers showed a mechanism equivalent to first division restitution (FDR), in which chromosomes did not segregate during meiosis I but only during meiosis II. This FDR was the result of (a) an irregular chromosome pairing in B. 'Tamo', (b) stickiness of chromosomes associated with numerous chromosome bridges in B. 'Florence Rita' and B276, and (c) a combination of irregular chromosome pairing and stickiness of chromosomes in B. 'Bubbles'. The exact mechanism of the nuclear restitution in B. 'Orococo' could not be determined. Other mechanisms, such as early asymmetric cytokinesis, omission of meiosis II, parallel or tripolar spindle formation, were rather uncommon. Unpaired chromosomes (univalents) were observed in all genotypes, but they had moved to one of the poles by the end of anaphase I or II. Only B. 'Tamo' formed a high number of micronuclei. Consequently, this genotype formed a large number of malformed pollen. Obviously, chromosome behaviour during meiosis in Begonia is very dynamic, which may have important consequences for chromosome evolution and biodiversity within the genus.

Following the initiation and development of individual leaf primordia at the level of the shoot apical meristem: the case of distichous phyllotaxis in Begonia.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: By using the technique of replicas of a developing apex it is possible to obtain a direct measure of phyllotactic parameters (plastochrone and platochronic ratio) involved in the initiation of two successive primordia at the level of the SAM. The goal of this study is to compare, in a real time setting, the value of phyllotactic parameters in distichous systems using Begonia as a case study, with the value of the same parameters in spiral phyllotactic systems. METHODS: To determine the real-time sequence of events at the level of the SAM, replicas were made of the developing apex at different intervals using previously described techniques. Impression moulds were made at 24-h intervals. The following phyllotactic parameters were measured: plastochrone, angle of divergence, plastochrone ratio and ratio between the diameter of the leaf and the apex. RESULTS: The time between the appearance of two successive leaves is 15-20 d. The average value of the plastochrone ratio (R) is 1.3, and the ratio of the leaf to the diameter of the apex (Gamma) is 2.5. The angle of divergence varies from 165 masculine to 180 masculine. The speed of advection of the primordium from the apex, varies from 0.28 to 0.37 microm d(-1). CONCLUSIONS: The speed of advection of primordia in Begonia is lower than that of Anagalis. This is not in accordance with theoretical simulations that predict the opposite. In Begonia, the plastochrone ratio does not reflect the real time of appearance of two successive primordia. The time separating the appearance of two primordia is not directly related to the distance of these two primordia from the centre of the apex but is related instead to the enlargement of leaves.

[Pharmacognostic studies on Begonia sinensis rhizome].

OBJECTIVE: To establish the characteristic method of rude medicinal material of rhizome of Begonia sinensis. METHOD: The characteristic features of the rhizome were studies by morphological and microscopic observation. RESULTS: The description and transverse features of transverse section of the rhizome were described, and in the powder the microscopic features such as cluster needle crystals, tentacle, ring-thread vessel were found. CONCLUSION: The characteristics can be used to differentiate the rhizome of Begonia sinensis.