@article {Iijima:2004p8022, title = {The biochemical and molecular basis for the divergent patterns in the biosynthesis of terpenes and phenylpropenes in the peltate glands of three cultivars of basil}, journal = {Plant Physiol}, volume = {136}, number = {3}, year = {2004}, month = {Nov}, pages = {3724{\textendash}36}, abstract = {Surface glandular trichomes distributed throughout the aerial parts of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum) produce and store monoterpene, sesquiterpene, and phenylpropene volatiles. Three distinct basil chemotypes were used to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying the divergence in their monoterpene and sesquiterpene content. The relative levels of specific terpenes in the glandular trichomes of each cultivar were correlated with the levels of transcripts for eight genes encoding distinct terpene synthases. In a cultivar that produces mostly (R)-linalool, transcripts of (R)-linalool synthase (LIS) were the most abundant of these eight. In a cultivar that synthesizes mostly geraniol, transcripts of geraniol synthase were the most abundant, but the glands of this cultivar also contained a transcript of an (R)-LIS gene with a 1-base insertion that caused a frameshift mutation. A geraniol synthase-LIS hybrid gene was constructed and expressed in Escherichia coli, and the protein catalyzed the formation of both geraniol and (R)-linalool from geranyl diphosphate. The total amounts of terpenes were correlated with total levels of terpene synthase activities, and negatively correlated with levels of phenylpropanoids and phenylalanine ammonia lyase activity. The relative levels of geranyl diphosphate synthase and farnesyl diphosphate synthase activities did not correlate with the total amount of terpenes produced, but showed some correlation with the ratio of monoterpenes to sesquiterpenes.}, keywords = {Amino Acid Sequence, Gene Expression Regulation: Plant, Genetic Variation, Molecular Sequence Data, Molecular Structure, Ocimum basilicum, Phylogeny, Sequence Homology: Amino Acid, Styrenes, Terpenes}, doi = {10.1104/pp.104.051318}, author = {Yoko Iijima and Rachel Davidovich-Rikanati and Eyal Fridman and David R Gang and Einat Bar and Efraim Lewinsohn and Eran Pichersky} } @article {Moon:2006p8003, title = {Nutlet morphology and anatomy of the genus Lycopus (Lamiaceae: Mentheae)}, journal = {Journal of Plant Research}, volume = {119}, number = {6}, year = {2006}, month = {Nov}, pages = {633{\textendash}44}, abstract = {Nutlet morphology and pericarp structure of 16 species in the genus Lycopus were studied by light microscopy (LM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and a detailed description of nutlet morphological features for all examined taxa is provided. The nutlets of all taxa in the genus Lycopus are well adapted to typical hydrochory (or nautochory) with an air-filled pericarp, and myxocarpy was not at all found. It is noteworthy that the nutlet morphology (in particular the shape of corky crests and corky ring and the distribution of glandular trichomes) and pericarp anatomy of Lycopus are unique and are well distinguished from the other genera in the tribe Mentheae. We also found some groups of the species within the genus Lycopus by the present nutlet morphological and anatomical data that appear to be useful as diagnostic characteristics for delineation purposes at the specific/interspecific levels. The earlier infrageneric classification for the genus Lycopus is, however, not well supported by the present results. In addition, the systematic and biological implications of the nutlet characteristics investigated are briefly discussed.}, keywords = {Evolution: Molecular, Genetic Variation, Lycopus, Nuts, Phylogeny}, doi = {10.1007/s10265-006-0023-6}, author = {Hye-Kyoung Moon and Suk-Pyo Hong} } @article {Moon:2008p1104, title = {Palynological evolutionary trends within the tribe Mentheae with special emphasis on subtribe Menthinae (Nepetoideae: Lamiaceae)}, journal = {Plant Systematics and Evolution}, volume = {275}, number = {1-2}, year = {2008}, month = {Jan}, pages = {93{\textendash}108}, abstract = {The pollen morphology of subtribe Menthinae sensu Harley et al. [In: The families and genera of vascular plants VII. Flowering plants.dicotyledons: Lamiales (except Acanthaceae including Avicenniaceae). Springer, Berlin, pp 167-275, 2004] and two genera of uncertain subtribal affinities (Heterolamium and Melissa) are documented in order to complete our palynological overview of the tribe Mentheae. Menthinae pollen is small to medium in size (13-43 mu m), oblate to prolate in shape and mostly hexacolpate (sometimes pentacolpate). Perforate, microreticulate or bireticulate exine ornamentation types were observed. The exine ornamentation of Menthinae is systematically highly informative particularly at generic level. The exine stratification in all taxa studied is characterized by unbranched columellae. Orbicules are consistently absent in Menthinae. Our palynological data are interpreted in a phylogenetic context at tribal level in order to assess the systematic value of pollen characters and to evaluate the existing molecular phylogenies for this group. Pollen morphology suggests Heterolamium as a close relative of subtribe Nepetinae and supports the molecular affinity of Melissa to subtribe Salviinae.}, keywords = {Angiosperms, Bireticulum, Exine Ornamentation, Labiatae, Mentheae, Menthinae, Nepetoideae, Orbicules, Palynology, Phylogeny, Pollen Morphology, Salvia Lamiaceae, Sequence Data, Systematic Implications, Tapetum, Ultrastructure}, doi = {10.1007/s00606-008-0042-y}, url = {http://www.springerlink.com/content/r53652ggm17k1457/}, author = {Hye-Kyoung Moon and Stefan Vinckier and Erik Smets and Suzy Huysmans} } @article {Juan:2004p8021, title = {Amino acids composition of Teucrium nutlet proteins and their systematic significance}, journal = {Annals of Botany}, volume = {94}, number = {4}, year = {2004}, month = {Oct}, pages = {615{\textendash}21}, abstract = {BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Plant species are considered as a good source of dietary proteins, although the nutritional quality of proteins depends on their amino acid composition. In this work the protein content and amino acid composition of nutlets of 21 Teucrium taxa (Lamiaceae) from Spain were analysed and their nutritional quality was compared with the minimum values established by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). In addition, the amino acid composition was evaluated as a chemical character to clarify the taxonomic complexity in this genus. METHODS: Amino acid content of nutlets was determined after derivatization with diethyl ethoxymethylenemalonate by high-performance liquid chromatography. Previously, nutlets samples were hydrolysed and incubated in an oven at 110 degrees C for 24 h. KEY RESULTS: The protein content was variable, ranging from 6.4 \% in T. dunense to 43.8 \% in T. algarbiense. According to the FAO values all taxa contain satisfactory amounts of leucine, threonine and valine and are deficient in lysine. The similarity analysis of Teucrium taxa using amino acid composition data did not clearly reflect the infrageneric classification of this genus. CONCLUSIONS: Annual species, such as T. spinosum, T. aristatum and T. resupinatum showed a better balanced amino acid composition. The dendrogram partly matched with the karyological complexity of Teucrium. No correlation between amino acid composition and habitat has been observed, showing that Teucrium nutlet amino acid composition may not be strongly influenced by the environment.}, keywords = {Amino Acids, Amino Acids: Essential, Evolution: Molecular, Fruit, Nutritive Value, Phylogeny, Plant Proteins, Species Specificity, Teucrium}, doi = {10.1093/aob/mch181}, author = {R Juan and J Pastor and F Mill{\'a}n and M Alaiz and J Vioque} } @article {Xiong:2005p8007, title = {Stachytarpheta leaf curl virus is a novel monopartite begomovirus species}, journal = {Arch Virol}, volume = {150}, number = {11}, year = {2005}, month = {Nov}, pages = {2257{\textendash}70}, abstract = {Begomovirus isolates were obtained from Stachytarpheta jamaicensis plants showing leaf curl and chlorosis symptoms collected in the Hainan province of China. The complete sequences of isolates Hn5-4, Hn6-1, Hn30 and Hn34 were determined to be 2748, 2751, 2748 and 2748 nucleotides long, respectively. The complete sequences of the four isolates share more than 94.9\% nucleotide sequence identity, but all of them have less than 86\% nucleotide sequence identity with other reported begomoviruses. The molecular data show that Hn5-4, Hn6-1, Hn30 and Hn34 are isolates of a distinct begomovirus species, for which the name Stachytarpheta leaf curl virus (StaLCV) is proposed. PCR and Southern blot analyses demonstrate that all the collected field samples are not associated with DNAbeta or DNA-B components. An infectious clone of StaLCV isolate Hn5-4 was constructed, and could efficiently infect Nicotiana benthamiana, N. tabacum Samsun, N. glutinosa, Lycopersicon esculentum and Petunia hybrida plants, inducing upward leaf roll and vein swelling symptoms. In addition, we illustrate that StaLCV can functionally interact with distinct DNAbeta molecules in plants.}, keywords = {China, DNA: Viral, Geminiviridae, Lamiaceae, Molecular Sequence Data, Phylogeny, Plant Diseases, Plant Leaves, Polymerase Chain Reaction}, doi = {10.1007/s00705-005-0568-z}, author = {Q Xiong and S Fan and X Guo and X Zhou} } @article {208, title = {Staminal evolution in the genus Salvia (Lamiaceae): molecular phylogenetic evidence for multiple origins of the staminal lever.}, journal = {Ann Bot}, volume = {100}, year = {2007}, month = {2007 Aug}, pages = {375-91}, abstract = {

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The genus Salvia has traditionally included any member of the tribe Mentheae (Lamiaceae) with only two stamens and with each stamen expressing an elongate connective. The recent demonstration of the non-monophyly of the genus presents interesting implications for staminal evolution in the tribe Mentheae. In the context of a molecular phylogeny, the staminal morphology of the various lineages of Salvia and related genera is characterized and an evolutionary interpretation of staminal variation within the tribe Mentheae is presented.

METHODS: Two molecular analyses are presented in order to investigate phylogenetic relationships in the tribe Mentheae and the genus Salvia. The first presents a tribal survey of the Mentheae and the second concentrates on Salvia and related genera. Schematic sketches are presented for the staminal morphology of each major lineage of Salvia and related genera.

KEY RESULTS: These analyses suggest an independent origin of the staminal elongate connective on at least three different occasions within the tribe Mentheae, each time with a distinct morphology. Each independent origin of the lever mechanism shows a similar progression of staminal change from slight elongation of the connective tissue separating two fertile thecae to abortion of the posterior thecae and fusion of adjacent posterior thecae. A monophyletic lineage within the Mentheae is characterized consisting of the genera Lepechinia, Melissa, Salvia, Dorystaechas, Meriandra, Zhumeria, Perovskia and Rosmarinus.

CONCLUSIONS: Based on these results the following are characterized: (1) the independent origin of the staminal lever mechanism on at least three different occasions in Salvia, (2) that Salvia is clearly polyphyletic, with five other genera intercalated within it, and (3) staminal evolution has proceeded in different ways in each of the three lineages of Salvia but has resulted in remarkably similar staminal morphologies.

}, keywords = {Evolution, Molecular, Flowers, Phylogeny, Salvia}, issn = {0305-7364}, doi = {10.1093/aob/mcl176}, author = {Walker, Jay B and Sytsma, Kenneth J} }