Central Siberian Botanical Garden, Russian Academy of Sciences

The distribution patterns of plant families along the aridity gradient with regard to their role in the floristic composition and the structure of grasslands in Inner Asia have been studied. We have determined the relationships between the aridity, diversity, and activeness of 35 leading plant families using the Thornthwaite index on the basis of formalized analysis of 6256 relevés. The analyzed range of the aridity gradient covers 88% of the gradient represented in Eurasia. Communities are analyzed from subalpine tall-grass meadows in the hyper humid areas of the Altai-Sayan mountains to the deserts of Central Asia. Different results had been obtained when comparing family–species spectra with different levels of aridity considering species composition and importance values (activeness). The correlations between the aridity index and 35 families in 16 synoptic relevés indicate that, of the ten most rich families, Asteraceae, Chenopodiaceae, Fabaceae, and Poaceae show a strong positive relationship with the aridity index; the family Brassicaceae shows a moderately positive relationship with aridity index; the family Ranunculaceae shows a strong negative relationship with aridity index; and Apiaceae, Caryophyllaceae, and Rosaceae have a moderately negative relationship with aridity index. The correlation analysis of the importance values of the 35 families with the aridity index showed that Asteraceae, Fabaceae, and Poaceae are not associated with the aridity gradient, suggesting their significant ecological and phytocoenotic heterogeneity. Among other top families, Chenopodiaceae and Brassicaceae have strong positive relationships with aridity; Caryophyllaceae, Lamiaceae, and Ranunculaceae have a strong negative relationship with aridity; and Apiaceae and Rosaceae have a moderately negative relation. The use of species constancy and abundance in taxonomic spectra analysis can take into account the phytocoenotic importance of plants. This approach can be used to search for indicators of climatic processes, including those related to the aridification of Inner Asia.

The genus Adonis (Ranunculaceae) contains about 30 species and is widespread in Eurasia. This genus contains some species of pharmaceutical and ornamental interest, yet a phylogenetic framework for understanding its evolution is still lacking. It has been hypothesized that Adonis originated in the Qinghai‐Tibet Plateau (QTP) and migrated out of the QTP through three dispersal routes. This biogeographical hypothesis has never been tested using molecular data. Using nine plastid and nuclear DNA regions, we first reconstructed a robust phylogenetic framework for Adonis with its currently recognized 31 species. We then inferred evolutionary patterns of morphological characters, estimated divergence times, and reconstructed ancestral ranges. Our results show that Adonis and its two subgenera A. subg. Adonis and subg. Adonanthe are monophyletic with strong support. Among the four non‐monotypic sections, only A. sect. Adonanthe is recognized as monophyletic. Habit, basal leaf, pollen, and carpel carry a strong phylogenetic signal in Adonis , while achene, beak shape, and beak length exhibit relatively higher levels of evolutionary flexibility. Adonis originated in the QTP in the Oligocene (ca. 30 Ma) and subsequently dispersed into the Irano‐Turanian region in the early Miocene (ca. 20 Ma). In Adonis , four out‐of‐QTP dispersal routes were recognized from the late Miocene to the Pliocene. This study provides the first comprehensive phylogeny for Adonis and highlights the indispensable role of the QTP uplift and associated climatic events in shaping the current distribution and endemism of Adonis , hence contributing to the knowledge on the historical biogeography of plants in Eurasia.

The genus Spiraea is well represented in the Russian flora. Several phytochemical and bioactivity studies, completed so far with several individual species of this genus, indicate young Spiraea shoots as a promising source of pharmaceutically and nutraceutically active natural products. Therefore, a broad-scale phytochemical analysis of shoot extracts from multiple Russian Spiraea species (i.e., profiling of secondary metabolites and assignment of their structures), complemented with comprehensive activity screening, might give access to valuable information on the structure–activity relationship (SAR) of their constituents. However, despite a lot of phytochemical and bioactivity information on individual species being available, these data are mostly fragmentary and do not allow for building a general picture, and in-depth comprehensive studies are still missing. Therefore, to fill this gap, here, we present a comprehensive metabolite profiling study accomplished with 15 of the most widely spread Russian Spiraea species, which was complemented with appropriate bioactivity screening of their first-year shoot alcoholic extracts. A chromatography–mass spectrometric (LC-MS) analysis revealed 33 major constituents of the shoot isolates, which were dominated by flavonoids (quercetin and kaempferol derivatives) and hydroxycinnamic acids (caffeic, ferulic, and coumaric acid derivatives). Their relative quantification indicated that most of the identified major components were distributed among all of the studied extracts with minimal overlap in their composition and relative abundance. The antioxidant activity screening revealed the high efficiency of all of the extracts as potential redox protectors, acting at the levels of radical scavenging (DPPH assay) and quenching cation radicals (TEAC assay) and superoxide anion radicals (NBT assay). Screening the antiviral and antimicrobial activity of the same extracts revealed significant antiviral activity at a concentration of 2 µg/mL, and high (MIC < 1 mg/mL) or moderate (1 mg/mL ≤ MIC ≤ 4 mg/mL) antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains. The structures responsible for the manifestation of the studied types of activity were tentatively assigned using a bioinformatics-based strategy. This analysis revealed the most bioactive Spiraea species that might be promising for further in-depth phytochemical analysis and evaluations of their structure–activity relationships (SARs). In this context, we consider S. humilis, which simultaneously showed antioxidant, antimicrobial, and antiviral activity; S. media, with marked antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic properties; S. ussuriensis, a strong antioxidant and cytotoxic species; and S. trilobata, with a combination of antioxidant and antiviral properties.

Miscanthus sinensis Andersson (Poaceae) grows in monsoon climate. For this reason, when cultured under the conditions of a short growing season of Western Siberia, full-fledged seeds do not have time to form. We have studied a large number of specimens of this species from Primorsky Krai in the collection of the Central Siberian Botanical Garden, SB RAS. Using these samples, it was possible for the first time to select forms that produce high-quality mature seeds in local conditions during a short growing season, possibly due to spontaneous hybridization of early flowering forms. We obtained the first and second (G1 and G2) generations from these seeds and checked for hybrids. The aim of this study is selection, biomorphological characterization of early flowering ornamental forms of M. sinensis and analysis of genetic polymorphism of the selected forms (S1, S2) and the obtained G1 and G2 generations using ISSR markers. Under the conditions of introduction, the selected samples of M. sinensis were characterized by complex resistance, high decorativeness, reached the ontogenetic state of mature generative plants and differed from other samples in the collection by early flowering and the formation of full-fledged seeds. Thus, the forms of M. sinensis we selected are promising for landscape design and breeding. When studying the genetic structure of G1, G2 and two generations of the sample using ISSR markers, three effective stable unique PCR fragments were identified. A study of the genetic variability of the resulting G1 generation showed complete uniformity of genotypes. In the G2 generation, variability was observed, and we found five sets of genotypes, which were also confirmed in the dendrogram. As a result, unique molecular polymorphic fragments were identified. Their length was 300–3000 bp, and the genetic formula for certification of M. sinensis was compiled.

Eight Hebeloma specimens from the high-altitude zone of Altai Mountains (West Siberia) were analyzed using morphological and molecular methods. Three species were identified (H. alpinum, H. dunense, H. excedens), including the previously unreported in Russia species H. excedens. The detailed morphological description and ecological data on H. excedens based on the studied collections are provided.

The article presents the first records: for Russia of one species of chrysophyte algae and one species of agaricoid basidiomycetes, for the Republic of Belarus of three lichenicolous fungi and four species of slime molds, for Uzbekistan and Tajikistan by one species of lichens, and the first records for regions of Russia: one charophyte for the Tambov Region, one diatom species for the Udmurtian Republic, five species of siphonous yellow-green algae for the Republic of Altai, Altai Territory and Nenets Autonomous Okrug, 22 species of basidiomycetes for St. Petersburg, Tyumen Region, and Republic of Altai, including two new species for the Asian part of Russia, two new species for Siberia, and three new species for West Siberia, nine myxomycetes for the Altai Territory, Novosibirsk Region, and Republic of Altai, two species of lichenicolous fungi for the Tver Region, eight species of lichens for the Irkutsk, Omsk, Tver regions, Altai Territory, Republic of Tuva, 19 species of mosses for the Kurgan, Magadan and Ryazan regions, Republic of North Ossetia — Alania, including one new species for the Caucasus. The data on their localities, habitats, distribution are provided. The specimens are kept in the herbaria ALTB, GSU, IBIW, LE, MAG, MSK, NSK, OMSK, PTZ, TOB, YSU, VU, of Institute of Botany, Plant Physiology and Genetics of the National Academy of Sciences of Tajikistan, collection of the Laboratory for Algology in the Papanin Institute for Biology of Inland Waters of the Russian Academy of Sciences, in the private collections of V. S. Vishnyakov, S. M. Goskova, and S. I. Genkal

The Arctic and the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) are two northern regions with the most extensive cold habitats on Earth and have undergone dramatic warming in recent decades. However, we know little about the historical connection of the Arctic and QTP biotas and their respective diversification processes. Here, we used Meconopsis and Oreomecon, an Arctic–QTP disjunct angiosperm genus pair with poor seed dispersal abilities, to shed light on the evolutionary connection of the Arctic and QTP floras and their respective diversification patterns. Our results show that the Meconopsis-Oreomecon clade colonized the Arctic from the QTP in the Late Eocene, suggesting the hitherto earliest known dispersal event between the two regions. The Arctic Oreomecon split from the QTP Meconopsis at ~34 Ma, associated with their climatic niche differentiation and aridification of the Asian interior. Although both Oreomecon and Meconopsis pre-adapted to open and low-temperature environments and had similar diversification patterns, they diversified asynchronously in respondence to different Cenozoic climate cooling events. The Arctic is approaching its carrying capacity, whereas the QTP is still far from saturation. These findings improve knowledge of evolutionary connection and difference between Arctic and QTP floras, and have important conservation implications given enhanced warming in both regions.

The structure of two coenopopulations (CP 1 and CP 2) of Dracocephalum ruyschiana L. located in different ecological and cenotic conditions of the Altai Mountains is considered for various years. The monomodality of the ontogenetic spectra with the predominance of mature generative individuals has been established. In the ontogenetic spectra, there is an accumulation of young plants and a reduction in the proportion of old individuals. A density drop in CP 1 from 2004 to 2022 and an increase in CP 2 from 2008 to 2022 were revealed. The calculated demographic indicators and those of the development rate confirm the rejuvenation of the studied CPs. According to the delta-omega classification, CP 1 develops from aging to mature, while the type of CP 2 has not changed, it remains mature. Our CP analysis shows a significant vulnerability of the demographic indicators from nonsimultaneous germination of seeds due to their different dormancy and the amount of precipitation. In addition, the changes in the ontogenetic structure and demographic indicators in 2022 are caused by overgrowth of the communities with shrubs, namely, Caragana arborescens Lam., Spiraea trilobata L., and Cotoneaster niger (Ehrh.) Fr. in CP 1, and the presence of plant debris in CP 2.

Background: This is a comparative metabolomic study of the medicinal plant Dryopteris fragrans (L.) Schott from the family Dryopteridaceae Herter (or Aspidiaceae Mett. ex Frank) growing under cold pole conditions in the Oymyakon region of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia). Methods: The aerial parts of D. fragrans were subjected to extraction using supercritical CO2 extraction and maceration methods. Several experimental conditions were investigated, including a pressure range of 50–300 bar and a temperature range of 31–60 °C. A 1% volume of ethanol was used as a co-solvent in the liquid phase of the extraction. Results: The most effective D. fragrans extraction conditions were 200 Bar pressure and a temperature of 55 °C. Tandem mass spectrometry was used to detect the target analytes. A total of 141 bioactive compounds (86 compounds from the polyphenol group and 55 compounds from other chemical groups) were tentatively identified in extracts of aerial parts of D. fragrans. Among these, thirty chemical constituents from the polyphenol group were identified for the first time. Other compound classes that were newly identified in D. fragrans include naphthoquinones (5,8-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2,3-dihydro-1,4-naphthoquinone, 1,8-dihydroxy-anthraquinone, 1,4,8-trihydroxyanthraquinone, chrysophanol, etc.), diterpenoids (tanshinone IIa, cryptotanshinone, isocryptotanshinone II, tanshinone IIb, etc.), polysaccharides, triterpenoids, and sesquiterpenes. Conclusions: These results highlight that D. fragrans is rich in bioactive compounds and put forward several newly detected compounds for further investigation.

The interplay of key innovation and ecological opportunity is commonly recognized to be the catalyst for rapid radiation. Underground storage organs (USOs), as a vital ecological trait, are advantageous for adaptation of plants to extreme environments, but receive less attention compared to aboveground organs. Repeated evolution of various USOs has occurred across the plant tree of life. However, whether repeated occurrences of a USO in different clades of a group can promote its replicated radiations in combination with the invasion of similar environments remains poorly known. Corydalis is a megadiverse genus in Papaveraceae and exhibits remarkable variations in USO morphology and biome occupancy. Here, we first generated a robust phylogeny for Corydalis with wide taxonomic and genomic coverage based on plastome and nuclear ribosomal DNA sequence data. By dating the branching events, reconstructing ancestral ranges, evaluating diversification dynamics, and inferring evolutionary patterns of USOs and biomes and their correlations, we then tested whether the interplay of USO evolution and biome shifts has driven rapid diversification of some Corydalis lineages. Our results indicate that Corydalis began to diversify in the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau (QTP) at ca. 41 Ma, and 88% of dispersals happened through forests, suggesting that forests served as important dispersal corridors for range expansion of the genus. The storage root has originated independently at least six times in Corydalis since the Miocene, and its acquisition could have operated as a key innovation towards the adaptation to the alpine biome in the QTP. Repeated evolution of this game-changing trait and invasions of alpine biome, in combination with geoclimatic changes, could have jointly driven independent radiations of the two clades of Corydalis in the QTP at ca. 6 Ma. Our study provides new insights into the joint contribution of USO repeated evolution and biome shifts to replicated radiations, hence increasing our ability to predict evolutionary trajectories in plants facing similar environmental pressures. [Biome shift; diversification rates; Papaveraceae; phylogenomics; Qinghai–Tibet Plateau; underground storage organs.]

The results on upgrading the Synchrotron Radiation Technological Station of the SR beamline from the VEPP‑4 storage ring are presented with an aim of developing a method for X‑Ray fluorescence analysis using SR for detecting light elements in the samples of strawberry plants. An experimental setup for detecting such elements as Al, Si, P, S, Cl, K, Ca, and Ti is described, an estimation of their minimum detection limit is performed, and an application of this technique to studying the influence of a silicon-chelate-based biostimulant on the plant development is reported using the example of common strawberry.

For the first time, in vitro propagation of Atraphaxis davurica Jaub. & Spach, A. davurica var. chikoensis Yurtseva & Mavrodiev, and A. selengensis Yurtseva & Mavrodiev was developed, and callus cultures of Atraphaxis species were obtained. Qualitative and quantitative analyses of secondary metabolites and of antiradical activity in microshoots and callus cultures were performed in comparison with natural specimens. Biochemical composition of natural specimens of A. davurica, A. davurica var. chikoensis, and A. selengensis is also reported for the first time. The Murashige–Skoog medium supplemented with 0.5 µM 6-benzylaminopurine was chosen as the optimal medium for the in vitro propagation. Calluses were obtained from stem internode explants on the Murashige–Skoog medium supplemented with 5 µM 6-benzylaminopurine and 2.5 µM α-naphthaleneacetic acid. Eighteen phenolic compounds, including (+)-catechin, L-epicatechin, quercetin, and emodin, were detected in the studied samples by HPLC. Catechins and flavonols, which were not specific to the natural specimens, were present in callus culture. Callus culture of A. davurica is characterized by a high level of (+)-catechin (1.44 mg g⁻¹). Microshoots of these species showed a high concentration of some flavonols (up to 3.85 mg g⁻¹). The in vitro culture had a high level of anthraquinones (1.44–4.62 times higher than that in natural specimens). Thus, in vitro culture of Atraphaxis species has good potential for enhanced production of catechins, tannins, phenolic acids, anthraquinones, and some flavonols. Furthermore, cell suspension cultures can be implemented from calluses: a promising avenue for large-scale production of biologically active compounds.

Ajaniopsis is a monotypic genus of Asteraceae endemic to the Tibetan Plateau, growing on alpine scree slopes. It has been widely recognized as a separate genus and employed in many evolutionary and ecological analyses for its unique morphological characters. Despite being treated as an endangered species and once included in lists of key protected plant species, its systematic position has never been critically evaluated in a phylogenetic context. Furthermore, neither its past nor future distributional range has been assessed or predicted. In this study, we undertook morphological and molecular investigations to elucidate its systematics, and employed niche modeling to evaluate its historical, current, and potential future distributional range. Our phylogenetic analyses, based on the plastid genome and two nuclear DNA regions, show that Ajaniopsis is deeply nested in the mega‐diverse genus Artemisia . Morphological analysis indicates that its unique characters are also present in many distantly related species of Artemisia , implying significant convergent evolution. Consequently, Ajaniopsis can be reduced into Artemisia rather than being considered a distinct genus. Niche modeling reveals that its distributional range underwent a dramatic contraction ca. 3.3 Ma and is likely to continue shrinking in the future. This dramatic range contraction might be associated with climate changes and human activities in its unique habitat. Therefore, immediate in situ conservation is imperative for this critically endangered species, necessitating the establishment of a nature reserve on the Tibetan Plateau. Our studies highlight that it is beneficial to explore the evolutionary history of endangered species in detail when drafting conservation strategies.

The alpine biome, above the natural tree line, is home to distinctive biotas that can tolerate harsh environmental conditions,and is especially sensitive to the impacts of global warming. However, the actual timeframe during which alpine floras began to appearon a global scale remains unknown. Here, we used Anemone (c. 200 species), an herbaceous plant genus inhabiting a variety of hab-itats from lowland to high-alpine zone across multiple continents, to obtain new insights into the historical assembly of this biome.Using nuclear ITS and plastid atpB-rbcL, trnL-F, matK, and rbcL sequences, we built a phylogeny that includes 159 individuals of146 extant Anemone species and 19 outgroups. Within this phylogenetic framework, we estimated divergence times, reconstructedancestral ranges, and inferred the evolutionary shifts in habitat types. Phylogenetic analyses strongly support the non-monophyleticAnemone, in which the Clematis-Anemoclema clade is nested. Two subgenera of Anemone, subg. Anemone and subg. Anemonidium,are strongly supported as monophyletic. Except for Anemone sect. Keiskea, whose Anemone deltoidea is grouped with A. sect. He-patica, the other seven sections of this genus are monophyletic. Anemone originated in East Asian non-alpine habitats around31 Ma, but range expansion and habitat shifts from non-alpine to alpine mainly occurred after the Miocene Climatic Optimum(c. 14 Ma). The alpine Anemone lineages in different biogeographic regions originated near-synchronously, beginning in the middleMiocene (c. 16–12 Ma). We also found that the other alpine floristic elements across multiple continents emerged roughly at the sametime. Our findings suggest that the rise of global alpine floras is near-synchronous and began in the middle Miocene, possibly in as-sociation with the mid-Miocene global cooling and regional orogenetic activities. The mid-late Miocene is an essential period for theassembly and evolution of global alpine floras. The alpine floristic diversity comprises pre-adapted immigrants from other alpinezones through long-distance dispersal and descendants from local lowland ancestors, as well as from other regional lowland ancestorsto a lesser extent

A survey of the moss flora of the southernmost part of the Russian Primorsky Territory yielded several intriguing taxa, whose identity is assessed herein based on an integrative morpho-molecular approach. Bellibarbula recurva was previously known in inland Asia only from the Sino-Himalayan region and the new locality is distant from the earlier known ones to ca. 3000 km. Despite the morphological uniformity, Russian specimens are remarkably distinct in sequences of all three obtained DNA markers, approaching an American specimen in the rps4 sequence. Another probable relic, Symblepharis cf. crispifolia, appeared to be fairly common in the southern part of the Primorsky Territory, where low mountains are covered with hard-leaved forests. Russian specimens of Symblepharis cf. crispifolia var. brevipes show significant divergence from S. crispifolia s.str., which also has complex phylogenetic structure, obscuring further taxonomic implications. The description and illustrations of both taxa based on Russian specimens are provided, and the area, where both species occur, is briefly characterized; it includes numerous thermophilous species, which are rare or do not occur northwards. Our case study uncovers the problem of cryptic speciation within species distributed in temperate climate and is considered to represent relics of Arcto-Tertiary flora.

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An antiviral effect of extracts prepared from aerial parts of nine species and from leaves of two species of the genus Spiraea L. was investigated for potential antiviral activity toward influenza A (H1N1) virus. The toxicity of dry extracts was analyzed, and the most selective extract was identified in vitro. The study’s material was collected in the Asian part of Russia. The plant extracts were prepared via three-stage countercurrent repercolation involving a complete cycle. All 40%-ethanolic extracts from Spiraea manifested antiviral activity against influenza A (H1N1) virus, with a selectivity index (SI) ranging from 1 to 10. IC50 values indicated that the S. salicifolia L. S15 leaf extract (5.9 µg/mL) has the most pronounced antiviral effect and the lowest toxicity (CC50 = 57.6 µg/mL) among the studied samples. The SI of this extract was 10, which exceeded that of the antiviral agent rimantadine (SI = 6). Biologically active compounds in the extract with the highest antiviral activity were identified using UV spectrometry and high-performance liquid chromatography. The S. salicifolia leaf extract was found to contain phenolic acids (chlorogenic, gentisic, caffeic, ferulic, and cinnamic acids), flavonols (quercetin, quercetin-3-glucuronoside, hyperoside, isoquercitrin, rutin, spiraeoside, avicularin, quercitrin, kaempferol, nicotiflorin, astragalin, and isorhamnetin-3-rutinoside), flavones (orientin, luteolin-7-glucoside, and vitexin), and coumarin. Predominant biologically active compounds in the S. salicifolia S15 leaf extract were such flavonols as rutin (19.3 mg/g), isoquercitrin (16.6 mg/g), isorhamnetin-3-rutinoside (10.6 mg/g), and astragalin (9.5 mg/g). Extraction of S. salicifolia leaves by repercolation is a more suitable method for extracting active ingredients with an antiviral effect.