Russian Academy of Natural Sciences

The taxonomic diversity of the genus Atraphaxis in Mongolia and adjacent territories was studied. Maximum Likelihood and Bayesian analyses applied for six concatenated plastid regions (cpDNA trnL(UAA) intron, trnL– trnF IGS, and rpl32–trnL(UAG) IGS regions, rps16 intron, trnH-psbA, matK), and to the ITS1–5.8S–ITS2 regions of nrDNA of 46 species of the genus Atraphaxis, as well as reconstruction of plastid haplotype and ITS ribotype networks, revealed the following three new species sympatrically distributed in southern Mongolia: A. alashanica, A. gubanovii, and A. mongolensis. Molecular data and morphological characteristics indicate the hybrid nature of these species from (1) A. bracteata and A. ledebourii, (2) A. ledebourii and A. alashanica, and (3) A. pungens and A. alahanica. Atraphaxis bracteata was involved in the origin of A. selengensis, whereas A. manshurica arose as a hybrid of A. ledebourii and A. bracteata. The morphological characters of the species are illustrated by original photo tables. Distributional maps of the Mongolian species, descriptions of the new species, and an identification key to 22 Atraphaxis species from Mongolia and adjacent regions are also provided.

A new mineral iskandarovite, Sb 6 O 7 (SO 4 ) 2 was discovered at the tract of Kukhi-Malik, Fan-Yagnob coal deposit, ca.75 km N of Dushanbe, Tajikistan.Iskandarovite is an exhalative mineral formed directly from a gas of the natural underground coal fire.The mineral forms colorless prismatic crystals (50-120 m).Mohs hardness is ~ 2.0.Refractive indices: = 1.985(3), = 2.052(5), (calc.)= 2.069(9) (590 nm).The mineral is non-soluble in H 2 O and ethanol at room temperature.Raman spectra show the absence of water, hydroxyl, carbonate, or other anions.The chemical composition determined by electron-microprobe analysis is (wt.%):Sb 2 O 3 -82.57;Bi 2 O 3 -1.28;As 2 O 3 -0.05;SO 3 -15.17;total -99.07.The empirical formula (based on 15 O apfu) is: Sb 5.95 Bi 0.06 As 0.01 S 1.99 O 15 .The strongest lines of the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are (d-I-hkl): 10. 1-40-110; 5.08-50-220; 3.26-25-311; 3.146-100-241; 2.933-73-331.Iskandarovite is orthorhombic, Ccc2, unit-cell parameters a = 12.0402(3), b = 18.9599(5), c = 5.8638(2) , V = 1338.59(7) 3 , Z = 4, and the crystal structure was refined to R 1 = 0.0236 on the basis of 2053 unique reflections with F o > 4F o .The crystal strucure of iskandarovite is based on sulfate tetrahedra and [O 7 Sb 6 ] 4+ rod-like chains that are elongated along the c axis.Synthetic Sb 6 O 7 (SO 4 ) 2 analogue is known.The crystal chemistry of 13 known Sb(III) sulfates and oxysulfates is reviewed.

Biofortification of wheat with anthocyanins is a strategy for solving the problem of “hidden hunger” and preventing chronic diseases. In this study, the blue aleurone trititrigia line ‘Istra 116’ is characterized as a new genetic resource for wheat breeding. Field and laboratory assessments (the years 2021–2024) compared its characteristics with the commercial trititrigia variety in ‘Pamyati Lyubimovoy’ and wheat varieties (Triticum aestivum L.). ‘Istra 116’ showed excellent agronomic qualities: a higher coefficient of productive tillering (1.93 versus 1.2), longer spikes (up to 17.5 cm) and grain yield (4.2 t/ha), exceeding the control for trititrigia (2.6 t/ha) and comparable to winter wheat (4.5 t/ha). A laboratory baking assessment confirmed its satisfactory quality (overall score 4.5/5). The blue pigment from the aleurone layer partially passed into the flour, giving the bread a darker crust but retaining the anthocyanins in the finished product. The results position ‘Istra 116’ as a dual-purpose genetic resource: a potential commercial biofortified crop and a valuable donor of the blue aleurone layer trait for traditional wheat breeding, offering a practical way to increase the nutritional value of basic foodstuffs.

Nouveaux signalements de Frullania Raddi (Frullaniaceae, Marchantiophyta) au Pérou, y compris des notes sur F. tetraptera Nees & Mont. et ses synonymes. Neuf espèces de Frullania Raddi sont nouvellement signalées pour le Pérou, appartenant à F. subg. Chonanthelia Spruce (F. beauverdii Steph., F. cuencensis Taylor, F. holostipula S.Hatt. & D.G.Griffin, F. pluricarinata Gottsche, F. winteri Steph.), F. subg. Homotrophanta Spruce (F. nodulosa (Reinw., Blume & Nees) Nees), F. subg. Meteoriopsis Spruce (F. intumescens (Lehm. & Linden.) Lehm. & Lindenb. var. intumescens, F. lobatohastata Steph.) et une espèce incertae sedis (F. pyricalycina Steph.). Les androcées sont nouvellement décrits pour F. beauverdii Steph., une espèce antérieurement considérée comme endémique de la Bolivie. Le matériel original de F. tetraptera Nees & Mont. ainsi que des spécimens péruviens supplémentaires de cette espèce sont dioïques et dévient des circonscriptions publiées antérieurement. Frullania conferta Spruce, un synonyme antérieur de F. tetraptera Nees & Mont., est rétabli en tant qu'espèce distincte sur la base de différences dans sa condition sexuelle monoïque ainsi que dans la morphologie du lobule, des styles et de la bractée du gynécée. Un autre synonyme antérieur, F. semiconnata Lindenb. & Gottsche, est nouvellement proposé comme synonyme de F. mexicana Lindenb. Frullania mexicana diffère de F. tetraptera et F. conferta par la morphologie de sa bractée du gynécée et le nombre de carènes du périanthe. Les lectotypes sont désignés pour F. conferta, F. cuencensis Taylor, F. semiconnata et F. tetraptera.

Societal Impact Statement This study examines how the fruits of non‐photosynthetic forest plants in the Monotropoideae (Ericaceae) have evolved into the diversity observed today. By analyzing four Asian species, we identified a shift from dry, dehiscent fruits that release seeds into the air to fleshy, berry‐like fruits adapted for animal dispersal. This transition was likely driven by “a step into the shadows”: life in shaded, humid forest understories, where wind dispersal is less effective. The move toward animal‐mediated dispersal illustrates how even achlorophyllous plants can evolve new strategies, offering valuable insights into the links between plant form and ecology. Summary The fruit is a key evolutionary innovation in angiosperms, enabling diverse seed dispersal strategies. However, how fruit structure influences dispersal success remains poorly understood in rarely studied groups such as non‐photosynthetic mycoheterotrophic plants. Here, we examine fruit structure in the Monotropoideae (Ericaceae)—a lineage of mycoheterotrophic herbs with two fruit types: dehiscent capsules and indehiscent, berry‐like fruits. To decipher how fruit structure relates to dispersal strategy and evolution, we investigated fruit development and anatomy in four species that occur in Asia: Hypopitys monotropa , Monotropa uniflora , Monotropastrum humile , and Monotropastrum kirishimense . These species represent both capsule‐bearing and berry‐bearing lineages and together account for four of the seven monotropoid taxa recorded from Asia. Our results show that Monotropastrum shares key fruit traits with Monotropa , reflecting their close evolutionary relationship, whereas Hypopitys exhibits distinct features. We document an evolutionary shift from dehiscent capsules to indehiscent, berry‐like fruits, accompanied by a progressive loss of seed‐release mechanisms and reduction of hard tissue in the fruit wall. This shift was likely associated with adaptation to humid, shaded forest understories, where wind dispersal is less effective, as well as with intrinsic traits of these non‐photosynthetic plants, including their highly reduced vegetative and reproductive organs. The evolution of berries in Monotropoideae likely promoted endozoochory, a dispersal strategy that may be favored under these conditions.

The influence of crown illumination on leaf damage of horse chestnut species (Aesculus hippocastanum L., Aesculus glabra Willd, Aesculus flava Aiton, Aesculus pavia L., Aesculus × carnea Hayne, Aesculus parviflora Walter, Aesculus chinensis Bunge) affected by ohrid leaf miner (Cameraria ohridella Deschka & Dymić) was studied using some accessions from the arboretum botanical tree collection. A. hippocastanum, A. glabra, A. flava had the lowest chl a content in the foliage on the sunlit side of the crown, while in A. pavia, A. parviflora and A. chinensis this indicator was the highest. The chl a content in the leaves of A. hippocastanum and A. flava under shaded conditions was 1.3 and 2.4 times higher than in the sunlit part, while in A. pavia, A. parviflora and A. chinensis the chl a content on the shaded side was 1.2, 1.6 and 1.3 times lower. The quantitative content of chl b in the sunlit part of the crown in A. hippocastanum and A. flava was significantly higher than in the other species. Moreover, while A. flava and A. parviflora had the highest chl b content in the foliage of the shaded part of the crown, A. glabra and A. × carnea had the lowest. Similarly, differences in proline levels were found in the leaves of different horse chestnut species on the sunny side of the crown. Higher proline levels in less infested species were identified. Water content imbalances due to feeding by leaf miners were most characteristic of the severely affected species. Chlorophyll fluorescence determination revealed high photochemical activity with an effective defense system in resistant species, while non-resistant species exhibited weak defense mechanisms in both sunlight and shade. To assess horse chestnut species the hyperspectral analysis indices (DSWI and SIPI) were also successfully applied. Changes in chl a and chl b content, proline levels, and leaf water-holding properties can be used to assess the resistance of horse chestnut species using classical physiological and biochemical methods. Hyperspectral analysis indices (DSWI and SIPI) can also be successfully applied.

The purpose of this study is to examine the characteristics of the initial stage of robbery and armed robbery investigations. This article explores the specifics of this initial stage of robbery and armed robbery investigations. The importance of this stage is justified by the subsequent effectiveness of the investigation. The investigator or inquiry officer must properly structure the initial stage of the investigation to obtain all available evidence that will be used in court. Conclusions. The study identified the most important methods of investigating robberies and armed robberies that should be used by investigators. Among the proposals is the need to expand the competence of investigators by using digital technologies in forensics, computer modeling.

This is the first molecular phylogenetic study of the genus Isopaches based on a large set of specimens from numerous remote regions of Eurasia and North America.Along with three previously known species, it includes a new species from South America -I.valdiviensis.The latter is formally diagnosed, illustrated, and compared to similar taxa, including another southern hemisphere species, I. pumicicola.We have shown that the genus Isopaches is a group of closely related and slightly divergent taxa and revealed a possible hybrid relation between I. bicrenatus and I. alboviridis.The main morphological differences of the species including sex allocation, leaf width/length ratio, shape of gemmae etc., are discussed.Overlap in some of these characters in different species is shown.A key to all species of the genus is provided. - Isopaches, . , , -I.valdiviensis. , , I. pumicicola., Isopaches , I. bicrenatus I. alboviridis. , ,