First account of vivipary in Saussurea lappa (Decne.) Sch. Bip. (Asteraceae)

Abstract

Saussurea lappa (Decne.) Sch. Bip. (Asteraceae) is a crop used for its medicinal and aromatic properties, but it has become critically endangered due to overharvesting in natural habitats. It is included in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, and current proactive efforts include the large-scale cultivation of this species to ensure reliable seed and market supply and economic improvement in local farming communities. This plant is being propagated by seed germination for commercial purposes; hence, seeds are required for propagation purposes. Here, we present the first report of vivipary (precocious germination) in S. lappa, seemingly induced by excessive humidity resulting in limited seed production. Vivipary is significant from an agricultural perspective because it is characterised by the lack of seed dormancy with concomitant unexpected precocious sprouting of crop grains and wild species. It is a detrimental trait challenging the safeguarding of food supplies since it causes economic losses as a consequence of lower yields. The occurrence of vivipary is a rare and unique reproductive mechanism in plants and may be a strategic resource for survival in the endangered S. lappa. Forthcoming studies addressing the reproductive biology will be beneficial to understand the evolution of this species and the implications of vivipary in agriculture, seed production, and ultimately, food security in this and other commercial crops.

First observation of true vivipary in Grindelia squarrosa (Asteraceae)

“…Similarly, in the case of Hedychium elatum R.Br. (Bhadra et al 2013), Ageratina adenophora (Karmakar and Hazra 2016), Saussurea lappa (Chauhan et al 2018), and Bidens pilosa (Karmakar et al 2019), true vivipary was induced by high monsoon rainfall. Also, in some cereals, seeds germinate on the maternal plants if they get enough moisture.…”

“…True vivipary describes the precocious seed germination (sexually produced offspring) and the growth of the embryo to a considerable size before dispersal (detachment from the maternal plant). Pseudovivipary, in contrast, describes the formation and growth of apomictic or asexual propagules such as bulbils or plantlets in the place of sexual reproductive structures of the maternal plant (Elmqvist and Cox 1996;Chauhan et al 2018). Vivipary is a rare phenomenon in plants and it has been documented in less than 0.1% of angiosperms (195 species, 143 genera, and more than 80 families) including both wild and cultivated species (Elmqvist and Cox 1996;Cota-Sánchez and Abreu 2007;Anand and Mathur 2012;Chauhan et al 2018;Karmakar et al 2019).…”

“…Pseudovivipary, in contrast, describes the formation and growth of apomictic or asexual propagules such as bulbils or plantlets in the place of sexual reproductive structures of the maternal plant (Elmqvist and Cox 1996;Chauhan et al 2018). Vivipary is a rare phenomenon in plants and it has been documented in less than 0.1% of angiosperms (195 species, 143 genera, and more than 80 families) including both wild and cultivated species (Elmqvist and Cox 1996;Cota-Sánchez and Abreu 2007;Anand and Mathur 2012;Chauhan et al 2018;Karmakar et al 2019). Generally, true vivipary occurs mostly in tropical species (especially in mangroves), whereas pseudovivipary is found mostly in arctic, alpine, and desert species (Elmqvist and Cox 1996;Cota-Sánchez and Abreu 2007).…”

Bidens pilosa L.: Exclusive report of vivipary in a non‐mangrove taxa from the eastern Himalayas

“…They also opined that vivipary is a tactic to increase survival and adaptation to enable the endurance of a species in stressed conditions. Vivipary is an intermittent and distinctive reproductive mechanism in plants and may be a resource for survival in the endangered Sassurea lappa , a non‐mangrove member of Asteraceae (Chauhan et al, ). In Ageratina adenophora , from the same family, pseudo‐viviparous germination induced by high monsoon rainfall was also reported (Karmakar & Hazra, ).…”

Clinical significance of Saussurea Costus in thyroid treatment

“…The acetone extract from S. costus and CS, exhibited both cholagogic effect and inhibitory effect on the formation of gastric ulcer (induced by restraint in water) in mice. 19 In ethanol-induced lesion in rats, amino acid-sesquiterpene adducts, saussureamines A, B and C, isolated from the root of S. costus showed anti-ulcer effect. Costunolide and DCL also showed a gastro protective effect on acidified ethanol-induced gastric mucosal lesions in rats.…”