fERN

Beddome , in his monumental work on the ferns of British India, first time separately mentioned Cachar and Sylhet Districts as the places of occurrence of 25 species of ferns. Almost hundred years after Beddome`s work, there have been spark of new enthusiasm among scholars to record pteridophytes of different districts of Barak Valley in Southern Assam of India. In the last twenty years, many publications have been made which accounted large number of pteridophytes from the valley.

The article features a thematic scientific and historical reconstruction of a 4th-3rd century B.C. women’s headdress. The burial of a woman discovered during the construction of a road in East Kazakhstan was extracted from the excavation in a one-piece block and delivered to Scientific-Restoration Laboratory “The Island of Krym” for conservation and preparation for its museum exhibition in the present state. The clothing was not decorated with durable materials, and the only findings comprised fragments of textile and traces of applications discovered with the use of X-ray technology. The complex headdress was better preserved due to the numerous wooden and golden foil decorative elements. The general contour of the headdress is rather clearly marked with a dark spot of decayed material. Fragments of a smooth wooden plate lying underneath the skull were identified as an integral headband of the crown. The locations and fastening methods were identified for all decorations: an openwork image of a mythical bird standing on its feet surrounded by rods symbolizing fern in various stages of growth; plaques and beads. An examination of decayed material revealed a wig in the form of braids and the lower edge of a silk cover. Graphical research supported by experimental modeling allowed to perform a material reconstruction of the headdress with the use of new materials.

Petrified stems (rhizomes) of a fern are described from Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian) beds in Bahariya Oasis. The discovered stems are related to Paradoxopteris stromeri Hirmer (fern rachii) and to Weichselia reticulata Stokes & Webb. (fern pinnae); both already known from also Cenomanian beds of this Oasis. Haloed axes are described from Late Cretaceous (Campanian) beds, i.e. younger than the beds containing the petrified stems. Comments on the nature of these axes, the affinities of the stems and the palaeoenvironments of the area in the two mentioned geologic ages (Cenomanian & Campanian) are given.

Beddome , in his monumental work on the ferns of British India, first time separately mentioned Cachar and Sylhet Districts as the places of occurrence of 25 species of ferns. Almost hundred years after Beddome`s work, there have been spark of new enthusiasm among scholars to record pteridophytes of different districts of Barak Valley in Southern Assam of India. In the last twenty years, many publications have been made which accounted large number of pteridophytes from the valley.

Protein extractability from Nephrolepis biserrata and Arthropteris orientalis was studied under various conditions. The extraction of fern protein was conducted using alkaline, alcohol and saline treatments under various conditions of treatment concentrations and time of agitation. Central composite design of Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used for identification of the best condition and extraction yield optimization. Results showed that alkaline treatment produced the highest extraction yield with maximum protein recovery of 5.11 mg/mL and 2.03 mg/mL for Nephrolepis biserrata and Arthropteris orientalis respectively at 0.1 M NaOH concentration and 30 min of agitation time.

The free-floating aquatic fern Azolla is small and heterosporic, with a worldwide distribution in quiet waters (rivers, dams, creeks, etc.) and is considered an invasive species. This is the only known fern with a permanent symbiotic association with the heterocystic nitrogen-fixing cyanobacterium Anabaena azollae where the cyanobiont is transmitted through the Azolla generations without a de novo infection. The cyanobiont and other bacteria genera inhabit an ovoid cavity in each dorsal lobe of the leaf. The cyanobiont has a high rate of nitrogen fixation and thus this symbiosis was analyzed regarding its biofertilization (incorporated in soil or as manure). In addition, due to the amino acids and protein contents, this fern can also be used as food, and due to the high ability to uptake heavy metals and other pollutants, it can be used as phytoremediator. Since this fern is grown in tropical and subtropical zones where most of the countries have problems regarding the living conditions (health, sanitary, and food, among others) of people, this fern can be a very useful and cheap tool to cope with the severe problems that they face.

Silver fern (Pityrogramma calomelanos L.) is a terrestrial or lithophytic herbaceous fern used for ornamental and medicinal purposes. In its farina it produces the cytotoxic and anticancer compound dihydrochalcone. In vitro induction of apospory and apogamy, and direct field establishment of aposporous gametophytes and subsequent sporophyte development has been accomplished. Half-strength Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 3.33 µM N 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 2.32 µM kinetin (Kn) showed earlier development and produced higher numbers of aposporous gametophytes than half-strength MS basal medium. Crozier explants developed higher numbers (mean value 29.2) of gametophytes, but were slower than frond explants (mean value 23.2). The gametophytes originated from the epidermal hairs progressed from uniseriate filamentous to cordate through bi-, tri-and multiseriate and spatulate stage with the development of antheridia. Reduction in the nutrient and sucrose concentrations in the media favoured apogamy. Sucrose-free 1/10 strength MS medium and agar plates developed a mean of 30.4 and 29.9 sporophytes, respectively in the light. The greenhouseestablished gametophytes developed sporophytes. The established sporophytes ex vitro showed 95% survival rate. Apogamous sporophytes and the source plant showed the same chromosome numbers (2n = 116). The established protocol accomplishes apogamy and apospory in silver fern, and the aposporous gametophytes can be used for Communicated by P. Debergh

Davallia (Pachypleuria) angustata (Wall. ex Hook. & Grev.) is a common epiphytic fern that grows on tree trucks and palm trees in south-east Asia. The plant is a resurrection plant, capable of rapid recovery from desiccation, but is not a CAM plant like some other epiphytic ferns. Under well-watered conditions Davallia shows a diurnal cycle of photosynthesis with maxima in mid-morning ~0900 hours (solar time). Under optimum conditions, the optimum irradiance (Eopt) = 879.3 ± 65.31 μmol photons m–2 s–1 or ~45% of full sunlight qualifying it as a sun plant. The maximum photosynthetic electron transport rate (ETRmax) was 77.77 ± 3.423 μmol e– m–2 s–1 or, on a Chl a basis 350 ± 36.0 μmol g–1 (Chl a) s–1. The photosynthetic efficiency (α0) is α0 = 0.2404 ± 0.02076 e– photon–1 or 1.082 ± 0.137 e– photon m2 g–1 (Chl a). Eopt and maximum photosynthesis (ETRmax) are directly proportional to one another (y = mx, r = 0.8813, P < <0.001). The slope of the line is the average photosyntheti...

Mangroves render several ecosystem services globally, one of which is pharmacological products. This study was done to verify whether Acrostichum aureum, a species of mangrove, common in the Niger Delta has anti-bacterial property. Several leaf samples were plucked from the trees at Eagle Island and placed in a cooler and sent to the lab for further analysis. The leaves were dried and ground into fine powder with manual grinding machine and 100 g of the powdered sample was measured and placed in 1000 ml of each of the extraction solvents (hot water and methanol).  Five different concentrations (32.25 mg/ml, 65.5 mg/ml, 125 mg/l, 250 mg/l and 500 mg/l) were made from each of the extracts using dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). Furthermore, bacterial species (Escherichia coli, Salmonella paratyphi, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) were isolated and a stock of each sample was made in agar slant and stored in the refrigerator at 4°C.  Mueller Hinton Sensitivity Agar (MHA) med...

PREMISE Apomixis, asexual reproduction by seed, spore, or egg, has evolved repeatedly across the tree of life. Studies of animals and angiosperms show that apomictic lineages are often evolutionarily short-lived and frequently exhibit different distributions than their sexual relatives. However, apomixis is rare in these groups. Less is known about the role of apomixis in the evolution and biogeography of ferns, where ~10% of species are apomictic. Apomixis is especially common in the fern genus Pteris (34-39% of species), but due to the limited taxonomic and geographic sampling of previous studies, the true frequency of apomixis and its associations with geography and phylogeny in this lineage remain unclear. METHODS We used spore analyses of herbarium specimens to determine reproductive mode for 127 previously unsampled Pteris species. Then, we leveraged biogeographic and phylogenetic analyses to estimate the global distribution and evolution of apomixis in Pteris. KEY RESULTS Among all Pteris species examined, we found 21% to be exclusively apomictic, with 71% exclusively sexual and 8% having conflicting reports. Apomixis is unevenly distributed across the range of the genus, with the paleotropics exhibiting the highest frequency, and has evolved numerous times across the Pteris phylogeny, with predominantly East- and South-Asian clades containing the most apomictic species. CONCLUSIONS Apomixis arises frequently in Pteris, but apomictic species do not appear to diversify. Species that encompass both apomictic and sexual populations have wider ranges than exclusively sexual or apomictic species, suggesting sexual and apomictic ferns could occupy separate ecological niches. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

The diversity of ferns and lycopods, their lifeforms and the environmental performance were studied near Lake Cadagno in the Piora valley. For easier determination of the local diversity, a key to the species found in the area is given. Fast chlorophyll fluorescence is a valuable tool to check the photosynthetic plant performance as a measure for adaptation to local environmental conditions. As tropical ferns react strongly to a varying light regime, two local species, Athyrium distentifolium and Dryopteris dilatata, were selected, both growing at sunny drier as well as shaded more humid sites, to measure the kinetics if their chlorophyll fluorescence rise after a a strong light pulse. Although the ecological indicators (Landolt et al. 2010) of both species are similarly characterized as humid and shadow, leaves of the two species after exposed to the sun or in the shadow behave differently upon a strong artificial light pulse.

The laminar scales of the fern Elaphoglossum paleaceum were studied to determine if they act as a morphological mechanism to protect leaves from excess light. We hypothesized that if scales serve this purpose, then individual plants growing in high light would have greater laminar scale density than those in low light. For our first experiment, plants from high light roadsides were collected and subjected to artificial scale removal and then exposed to super-saturating pulse of light for 30 min. We found that leaves with their scales removed exhibited significantly greater photoinhibition than leaves with scales intact. Leaves with intact scales recovered fully after twelve hours whereas those with scales removed remained photoinhibited. Scale density on the adaxial side of leaves was positively correlated with light intensity. The data from this study indicate that fern laminar scales help reduce photoinhibition and potentially function as a morphological defense against photodamage.

Objective: Disruption of the sense of agency and of being causally determinant in action was explored in the present research by inducing an erroneous external spatial feedback in response to the subject’s behaviour.
Methods: ERPs and theta frequency band oscillation (ERD) were recorded from 15 subjects when they were receiving mismatching/matching feedback information. In addition, subjective sensitivity to the external cues was monitored by BIS (Behavioral Inibition System) and BAS (Behavioral Activation System) measures.
Results: One negative ERP deflection of higher amplitude was revealed in response to false feedback, peaking at 210 ms post-stimulus, central-posteriorly localized. A specific cortical network, more central-posteriorly distributed, seems to be implicated. Moreover, theta synchronization was observed in response to false feedback within the posterior cortical site.
Conclusions: A direct relationship between ERP/theta band oscillation was supposed, as a marker of salient and unattended cues that produce an alerting response. Moreover, BIS showed an enhanced response to external feedback, and specifically to false feedback, with an increased negative deflection and theta frequency band effect.
Significance: ERP negativity may represent a monitoring system, comparable with erroneous feedback effect. Moreover, specific motivation towards negative context was related to higher BIS, since they were more sensitive to negative, false outcome

† Background and Aims The oldest group of plants in which nectar secretions have been observed are the Polypodiopsida (ferns sensu lato). Nectaries have been reported in a dozen extant genera. The function of these nectaries has been investigated in several fern species, and in some circumstances has been demonstrated to have an antiherbivore role, attracting and maintaining biotic defence (ants and/or other predatory arthropods). This study documents foliar nectaries in Pleopeltis crassinervata, a widespread Central American epiphyte growing on a variety of trees in cloud forest areas of Veracruz, Mexico. This is a new record for this genus and species. † Methods As previous experimental work on epiphytic species of Polypodium has demonstrated a protective role of ants for developing fronds, we conducted similar experiments (using nylon nail polish to cover nectaries rather than excluding ants with bands of sticky resin as in earlier work). The fronds of Pl. crassinervata developed over 6 weeks, at which time damage was assessed. The experiment was simultaneously conducted on a sympatric species lacking nectaries, Polypodium furfuraceum. Herbivore placement experiments were conducted with large and small caterpillars on both of these ferns. † Key Results Fronds with nectaries covered suffered greater damage from herbivores over the course of their development, compared with fronds that had uncovered nectaries functioning normally. The parallel experiment on Po. furfuraceum showed no difference between manipulated and control fronds. Six species of ants (Brachymyrmex minutus, Crematogaster formosa, Paratrechina longicornis, Solenopsis geminata, S. picea and Wasmannia auropunctata) were observed visiting nectaries of Pl. crassinervata; most were effective in removing herbivore larvae placed on the fronds. † Conclusions The long evolutionary history of ferns may explain why some previous studies of fern nectaries have shown little or no benefit to ferns from nectary visitors, as any coevolved herbivores are those resistant to ant defence. The results suggest that ants protect Pl. crassinervata fronds against herbivory. The presence of nectaries, and the relationship with ants, may contribute to this fern's widespread occurrence and persistence in the face of disturbance, though many other factors also play a role. Ant defence may be more likely to benefit a widespread species of disturbed habitats that encounters a wide range of non-adapted herbivores.

The growing demand for natural medicines, food products and cosmetics stimulates the search and studies on the diversity of plant species. Ferns are a promising source of biologically active substances for pharmaceutical and medical purposes. Out of 63 species of wild ferns in Ukraine, 39 species contain biologically active substances, which are used, or can be used for medicinal and food purposes. Most of them have limited distribution and resources. Many of them are endangered and are in need of protection. This article highlights some aspects of the distribution, resource significance, and protection status in Ukraine and\or Europe, as well as the medicinal value of the wild medicinal ferns of Ukraine.

Highlights  Adaxial epidermis of floating fronds holds sunken stomata and multicellular trichomes  The submerged leaves contain numerous filamentous trichomes.  The spore-bearing organs are represented by submerged sori.  The microsporangiate sori contain a number of small spherical microsporangia  The megasporangiate sori include a small number of large ovoid-oval  megasporangia

Pleopeltis is a genus of the family Polypodiaceae, whose circumscription is still unresolved. The genus comprises about 90 species distributed mainly in the Neotropics. The apomorphies of the genus include the presence of persistent peltate scales and foliar nectaries. In Argentina, Pleopeltis macrocarpa (Bory ex. Willd.) Kaulf. is distributed in the Yungas ecoregion and in the Paranaense region. The aims of this work were to analyze the morphoanatomical characteristics and conduct histochemical studies of the glands present in foliar and rhizome scales to evaluate the secretion products. Samples were collected from different localities of Catamarca and Tucumán and deposited at the herbarium of Fundación Miguel Lillo (LIL). Leaves were cleared; cross sections of the lamina, petiole, rhizome and root were made and treated with different stains. The study of the characters mentioned as apomorphic for the genus (scales and nectaries) involved histochemical techniques. The results show that Pleopeltis macrocarpa is a drought-tolerant species and that both the environment characteristics and the anatomical and morphological traits correspond to those of a xeric or semi-xeric plant. This work makes novel contributions regarding the description of glands in foliar and rhizome scales and paraphyses; the determination of chemical compounds of the glands; the description of the cellulosic thickenings in cells of the scale wings, the fimbriae at the base of rhizome scales and glandular hairs in the abaxial epidermis; and the confirmation of the presence of foliar nectaries and description of their structure.

The traditional use of plants in popular medicine has also indicated the way in the search for pharmacological agents. The need for new drugs is evidenced by the strong resistance of microorganisms. The fern Lygodium venustum had its antimicrobial potential measured, in this work, by the broth microdilution method. Its ability to modulate the action of antibiotics was also tested. Its hexane, dichloromethane and methanol fractions obtained from the ethanolic extract of fresh leaves were assayed. The Minimum Inhibitory Concentration was evaluated from the standard strains of Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida krusei. To check the modulating activity of antibiotics were used multi-resistant strains of P. aeruginosa, E. coli and S. aureus and the same yeast strains used in CIM. The drugs used in modulating were antifungal and aminoglycosides. All results showed MIC ≥1024μg/mL activity. The fractions neither enhanced the action of antifungal agents against strains of Candida, nor the aminoglycosides against P. aeruginosa. However, interesting results potentiating the action of these were obtained against the E. coli and S. aureus. Such results suggest that secondary metabolites which are in this plant may be used to create new drugs in combination with aminoglycosides. This was the first report of activity-modifying action of antibiotics for fractions obtained from a fern family Lygodiaceae.