Asian Plant Research Journal

Three New Names and a New Combination in Magnolia (Magnoliaceae) from China, Costa Rica and Ecuador

2026-06-23T11:37:40+00:00

Under the broad generic concept of Magnolia adopted by POWO and many recent treatments, the flowering plant family Magnoliaceae comprises two monogeneric subfamilies, Liriodendroideae and Magnolioideae, represented by Liriodendron L. and Magnolia L., respectively. Accordingly, two further Chinese species currently placed in the segregate genera Michelia and Lirianthe are herein formally transferred to Magnolia. They are the 2021 described and published Michelia retusa from Hainan, which retains its specific epithet when transferred to Magnolia, and the 2023 described and published Lirianthe jingxiensis from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, which is given the proposed replacement name of Magnolia bandanensis to avoid the creation of a later illegitimate homonym when it is transferred to Magnolia. Also, as Magnolia multinervia and M. napoensis, described as new species in 2012 and 2019 respectively, are illegitimate later homonyms of existing fossil names, the necessary two replacement names M. limonensis and M. misahualliensis are proposed for these neotropical Central and South American Magnolia species.

Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.) Growth and Yield Enhancement by Non-rhizobial Root Nodule Endophytic Bacteria

2026-07-08T07:51:35+00:00

Limited attention has been given to non-rhizobial root-nodule bacterial endophytes in relation to the growth and yield of Arachis hypogaea. This study evaluated two non-rhizobial endophytes, Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain OG1 and Alcaligenes faecalis strain OT1, isolated from root nodules of A. hypogaea and identified through cultural, morphological, biochemical and molecular characterisation. The isolates were applied as a combined soil inoculant to two groundnut varieties, SAMNUT 25 and SAMNUT 26, under greenhouse conditions. The treatments comprised uninoculated control, NPK fertiliser and Pseudomonas-Alcaligenes inoculation in 4000.0 g of soil per pot. After 120 days, growth and yield parameters and selected soil chemical properties were assessed. Across the uninoculated, NPK and Pseudomonas-Alcaligenes treatments, respectively, germination time was 5.2, 6.0 and 4.3 days; shoot length was 53.5, 58.4 and 61.9 cm; root length was 22.7, 19.1 and 34.9 cm; nodule number was 240.0, 37.8 and 506.2; and pod number was 11.3, 3.3 and 16.7. Compared with the uninoculated and NPK treatments, the Pseudomonas-Alcaligenes treatment improved several growth and yield-related traits. The treatment also enhanced soil organic matter and nitrogen content, while soil pH, available phosphorus and cation exchange capacity were not significantly altered. The findings indicate that combined inoculation with selected non-rhizobial root-nodule endophytic bacteria may support groundnut growth, nodulation, yield-related performance and selected soil fertility indicators under greenhouse conditions.

Water Hyacinth: Exploring Its Potential for Phytoremediation

2026-06-26T12:52:21+00:00

Water pollution has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental challenges worldwide because of rapid industrialisation, urbanisation, and agricultural intensification. Conventional wastewater treatment methods are often expensive, energy-intensive, and difficult to implement in resource-limited regions. Phytoremediation, a sustainable and environmentally friendly approach that uses plants to remove, degrade, or stabilise pollutants, has gained considerable attention as an alternative remediation strategy. Among aquatic macrophytes, Eichhornia crassipes (Water hyacinth) has demonstrated considerable potential for wastewater treatment because of its rapid growth, extensive root system, high biomass production, and pollutant uptake capacity. This review examines the phytoremediation potential of Water hyacinth for removing heavy metals, organic pollutants, excess nutrients, and pathogenic microorganisms from contaminated water bodies. The mechanisms involved in pollutant removal, including phytoextraction, rhizofiltration, adsorption, phytodegradation, and microbial-assisted remediation, are discussed. Numerous studies have reported removal efficiencies exceeding 70–95% for various contaminants, highlighting the effectiveness of Water hyacinth as a low-cost and eco-friendly remediation tool. Furthermore, the review explores recent advancements, challenges associated with biomass management and invasiveness, and future prospects involving biotechnology and integrated treatment systems. Overall, Water hyacinth represents a promising nature-based approach for sustainable water quality management and environmental restoration.