Characterization of 19 microsatellite loci in the clonal monkshood Aconitum kusnezoffii (Ranunculaceae)

A review on efforts for improvement in medicinally important chemical constituents inAconitum through biotechnological interventions

The genus Aconitum belongs to the family Ranunculaceae, is endowed with more than 350 species on the earth. Medicinally important aconitine type of diterpenoid alkaloids are the characteristic compounds in most of the Aconitum species. The present review endeavored the major research carried out in the field of genetic resource characterization, pharmacological properties, phytochemistry, major factors influencing quantity, biosynthetic pathways and processing methods for recovery of active ingredients, variety improvement, propagation methods, and important metabolite production through cell/organ culture of various Aconitum species. More than 450 derivatives of aconitine-type C19 and C20-diterpenoid alkaloids along with a few other non-alkaloidal compounds, such as phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, terpenoids, and fatty acids, have been identified in the genus. A few Aconitum species and their common diterpenoid alkaloid compounds are also well characterized for analgesic, inflammatory and cytotoxic properties. However, the different isolated compound needs to be validated for supporting other traditional therapeutical uses of the plant species. Aconitine alkaloids shared common biosynthesis pathway, but their diversification mechanism remains unexplored in the genus. Furthermore, the process needs to be developed on secondary metabolite recovery, mass-scale propagation methods, and agro-technologies for maintaining the quality of products. Many species are losing their existence in nature due to over-exploitation or anthropogenic factors; thus, temporal monitoring of the population status in its habitat, and suitable management programs for ascertaining conservation needs to be developed.

Habitat effects on reproductive phenotype, pollinator behavior, fecundity, and mating outcomes of a bumble bee-pollinated herb

PREMISE

Fecundity and mating outcomes commonly differ among plant populations occupying contrasting environments. If self-pollination occurs primarily among flowers within plants, contrasting reproductive outcomes among populations must reflect environmental effects on plant-pollinator interactions. Specifically, local conditions could affect features of plant phenotypes that influence pollinator behavior, in turn modifying plant reproductive outcomes.

METHODS

We compared phenotypes, pollinator abundance and behavior, and female fecundity and mating in two meadow populations and two forest populations of Aconitum kusnezoffii within 3 km of each other. Mating outcomes were assessed using microsatellites.

RESULTS

Meadow plants generally produced more, shorter ramets with more, larger flowers, but less nectar per flower than forest plants. These differences likely largely represent phenotypic plasticity. Individual bumble bees visited more flowers on forest plants, likely because the more abundant bees in the meadows depleted nectar availability, as indicated by briefer visits to individual flowers. Despite similar fruit set in both habitats, forest plants set more seeds per fruit. Nevertheless, meadow plants produced more seeds overall, owing to sevenfold greater flower production. Consistent with individual bees visiting fewer flowers on meadow plants, more of their seeds were outcrossed. However, the outcrossed seeds of forest plants included more male mates.

CONCLUSIONS

Reproductive outcomes can vary among populations of animal-pollinated plants as a result of differences in the availability of effective pollinators and environmental effects on plant phenotypes, and their functional consequences for pollinator behavior that governs pollen dispersal.

Identification and characterization of microsatellites in Aconitum reclinatum (Ranunculaceae), a rare species endemic to North America

PREMISE OF THE STUDY

Aconitum reclinatum is the only representative species of Aconitum subg. Lycoctonum in North America, with restricted ranges and endangered populations. Polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for A. reclinatum for further investigation of genetic diversity and population structure.

METHODS AND RESULTS

Using Illumina HiSeq technology, we sequenced a genomic library for identification of simple sequence repeat markers. A total of 12 polymorphic primer pairs were developed and tested on 66 individuals from four populations in North America. The number of alleles ranged from one to seven per locus with an average of 3.48. Levels of observed and expected heterozygosity varied from 0 to 1.000 and 0 to 0.736, respectively, at population level. Three primer pairs were successfully amplified in three of four closely related species.

CONCLUSIONS

The microsatellites isolated in this study will be useful in further research on the genetic diversity and conservation genetics of A. reclinatum populations in North America.