BACKGROUND The search for a relatively cheap, widely available, widely accepted and effective contraceptive of plant origin; that is equally non-invasive in administration, non-hormonal in action, non-toxic and that is relatively long-acting, generated our interest in this study (in order to meet the increasing need for population control). The aim of this study was to determine the effects of ...

In order to identify ecotyps of field binweed (Convolvulus arvensis L.), seeds from eight proviences, including 125 populations were gathered and sent to Weed Research Department of Plant Pests & Diseases Research Institute, Tehran, Iran. These seeds planted in a uniform environment condition in Tehran. On the base of 24 morphological and physiological characteristics of seedling that derived f...

Measurements of natural selection in hermaphrodite populations require the analysis of performance through both female and male sex functions. Here, we investigate selection on three floral traits: flower number, flower length, and corona width through both sex functions in natural populations of the tristylous daffodil Narcissus triandrus. Selection through female function was examined in six ...

BACKGROUND AND AIMS The role of flower specialization in plant speciation and evolution remains controversial. In this study the evolution of flower traits restricting access to pollinators was analysed in the bifid toadflaxes (Linaria sect. Versicolores), a monophyletic group of ~30 species and subspecies with highly specialized corollas. METHODS A time-calibrated phylogeny based on both nuc...

Ten Italian globe artichoke clones belonging to the Romanesco typology were characterized in the western coastal area of Italy (Cerveteri, Rome), using a combination of morphological (UPOV descriptors), biochemical (HPLC analysis), and molecular (AFLP, ISSR, and SSR markers) traits. Significant differences among clones were found for many of the quantitative and qualitative morphological traits...

In dioecious plants, reproductive efforts of male and female plants can be differentially affected by herbivory due to sex-specific allocation and re-modulation of resources. Here, we investigate the effects of foliar herbivory by the polyphagous species Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval) (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) on male and female reproductive traits of Silene latifolia (Poir.) (Caryophyllaceae...

In the present work copper iron sulfide nanocrystalline thin film grown by chemical bath deposition (CBD) at acidic value of pH onto glass substrates has been systematically studied for effect annealing temperature. The deposited was characterized SEM its morphology, morphology showed a flower like structure, highly beneficial maximum absorption light. Raman Spectroscopy and XRD confirmed forma...

The number of interactions with flower visitor species differs considerably among insect pollinated plants. Knowing the causes for this variation is central to the conservation of single species as well as whole plant /flower visitor communities. Species specific constraints on flower visitor numbers are seldom investigated at the community level. In this study we tested whether flower size par...

The present investigation demonstrates Couroupita guianensis flower buds extract mediated synthesis of stable silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). Instant formation of AgNPs was primarily confirmed by the appearance of yellowish brown colour and characteristic silver SPR band in the UV-visible spectrum. Elemental and crystalline natures of the AgNPs were identified from EDX and XRD pattern, respective...

Protective floral structures may evolve in response to the negative effects of floral herbivores. For example, water calyces--liquid-filled, cup-like structures resulting from the fusion of sepals--may reduce floral herbivory by submerging buds during their development. Our observations of a water-calyx plant, Chrysothemis friedrichsthaliana (Gesneriaceae), revealed that buds were frequently at...