Contemporary mangrove forest areas took shape historically and their genetic connectivity depends on sea-faring propagules, subsequent settlement, and persistence in suitable environments. Mangrove species world-wide may experience genetic breaks caused by major land barriers or opposing ocean currents influencing their population genetic structure. For Malay Peninsula, several aquatic species showed strong genetic differentiation between East and West coast regions due to the Sunda shelf flooding since the Last Glacial Maximum. In this study genetic diversity and structure of Avicennia marina populations in Malay Peninsula were assessed using nuclear microsatellite markers and chloroplast sequences. Even though all populations showed identical morphological features of A. marina, three evolutionary significant units were obtained with nuclear and cytoplasmic markers. Avicennia marina along a 586 km stretch of the West coast differed strongly from populations along an 80 km stretch of the East coast featuring chloroplast capture of Avicennia alba in an introgressive A. marina. Over and above this expected East-West division, an intra-regional subdivision was detected among A. marina populations in the narrowest region of the Strait of Malacca. The latter genetic break was supported by an amova, structure, and barrier analysis whereas RST > FST indicated an evolutionary signal of long-lasting divergence. Two different haplotypes along the Western coast showed phylogeographic relationship with either a northern or a putative southern lineage, thereby assuming two Avicennia sources facing each other during Holocene occupation with prolonged separation in the Strait of Malacca. Migrate-n model testing supported a northward unidirectional stepping-stone migration route, although with an unclear directionality at the genetic break position, most likely due to weak oceanic currents. Low levels of genetic diversity and southward connectivity was detected for East coast Avicennia populations. We compared the fine-scale spatial genetic structure (FSGS) of Avicennia populations along the exposed coast in the East vs. the sheltered coast in the West. A majority of transects from both coastlines revealed no within-site kinship-based FSGS, although the remoteness of the open sea is important for Avicennia patches to maintain a neighborhood. The results provide new insights for mangrove researchers and managers for future in-depth ecological-genetic-based species conservation efforts in Malay Peninsula.

Rambai (Baccaurea motleyana Müll. Arg.), a member of the Phyllanthaceae family, is one of the underutilized fruits native to Indonesia, Malaya Peninsula, and Thailand. Nowadays, B. motleyana is cultivated for its fruits in many parts of Northern Australia, China, and Southeast Asia. The edible part of the fruit is white and contains reddish arillodes that taste sweet to acid‐sweet. The ripe fruit is consumed fresh and can be processed into juice, jams, organic vinegar, and wine. Traditionally, the fruit and its bark are used to treat stomach and eye diseases, respectively. The fruits of B. motleyana are a good source of vitamins, minerals, and fibers, and they also contain bioactive compounds such as phenolic acids, flavonoids, carotenoids, and terpenes. This scientific review describes the nutritional composition, phytochemistry, and pharmacology of B. motleyana. In addition, most recent information is provided to promote the widespread consumption of B. motleyana fruit as well as to create research interest on this interesting species among the scientific community.

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Biodiversity has become the talk of topic for so many years of its rapid decrease worldwide. Due to the geographical position and soil fertility Bangladesh is exceptionally endowed with a huge variety of plant species. In Bangladesh, the destruction of plant species in the forests and protected areas is a continuous process due to increasing population pressure, rural poverty, joblessness, lack of knowledge, absence of public awareness and other natural calamities etc. which pose a serious threat to the plant biodiversity. The Government and researchers of Bangladesh have undertaken several surveys, scientific researches, and monitoring, which helps to document related databases, to protect and restore ecosystems and biodiversity. This paper is based on the literature survey of some renowned researchers’ studies and applications in biodiversity conservation in Bangladesh. Thus, this study attempts to review the present scenario of plant diversity, causes of loss or depletion of plant diversity, initiatives taken for the conservation by the government and last but not least the prospects of plant biodiversity in Bangladesh.

Squash (Cucurbita pepo L.) is highly polymorphic in nature which could contribute its different regeneration potentiality for different genotypes. The present investigation was carried to know the effects of plant growth regulators, explant types, explants age and AgNO3 on in vitro regeneration potentiality of hybrid squash genotype and to optimize regeneration protocol. In this protocol, cotyledon and hypocotyl segments were grown on MS medium supplemented with 1.5 mg/l 6-Benzylaminopurine (BA) and 0.2 mg/l α-Naphthalene acetic acid (NAA), successfully induced callus and subsequently shoots for C. pepo L. cv. First Runner. The height percentage of shoot production frequency was 66.7% from 6 days old cotyledon explants in MS + 1.5 mg/l BA + 0.2 mg/l NAA combination. The shoot regeneration frequency was increased up to 86.67% when 2.0 mg/l AgNO3 was added with MS + 1.5 mg/l BA + 0.2 mg/l NAA media combination by using 5 days old cotyledon explants. Shoot regeneration potentiality of four other C. pepo genotypes were also investigated with this system and showed a substantial amount of regeneration potentiality for different genotypes. Regenerated shoots induced the height 93.33% rooting frequency which promoted long, thick roots on 10 to 12 days in MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/l NAA. The regenerated plantlets with long and thick roots were acclimatized in pot soil and eventually grown in natural environment with culture facility. The present study describes a simple and efficient protocol for in vitro plant regeneration of hybrid C. pepo genotypes and may be utilized for further transgenic development.