The antimicrobial properties of essential oils have been documented, and their use as “biocides” is gaining popularity. The aims of this study were to analyze the chemical composition and assess the biological activities of Hedychium essential oils. Oils from 19 Hedychium species and cultivars were analyzed by gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. The antifungal and insecticidal activities of these oils were tested against Colletotrichum acutatum, C. fragariae, and C. gloeosporioides, and three insects, the azalea lace bug (Stephanitis pyrioides), the yellow fever mosquito (Aedes aegypti), and the red imported fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). Hedychium oils were rich in monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes, especially 1,8-cineole (0.1%–42%), linalool (<0.1%–56%), α-pinene (3%–17%), β-pinene (4%–31%), and (E)-nerolidol (0.1%–20%). Hedychium oils had no antifungal effect on C. gloeosporioides, C. fragariae, and C. acutatum, but most Hedychium oils effectively killed azalea lace bugs. The oils also show promise as an adult mosquito repellent, but they would make rather poor larvicides or adulticides for mosquito control. Hedychium oils acted either as a fire ant repellent or attractant, depending on plant genotype and oil concentration.

To accomplish our objective of broadening the number of regenerable cotton lines, we developed a protocol capable of producing plants through somatic embryogenesis of diverse cotton species. Callus was initiated from hypocotyl and cotyledon explants on a callus initiation medium [CIM; modified MS with 1 mg L−1 kinetin and 2 mg L−1 naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)]. Friable embryogenic callus was periodically selected and transferred onto callus selection/maintenance medium (CS/MM) [modified MS with 0.1 mg L−1 kinetin and 0.5 mg L−1 NAA]. The selected callus was then transferred into a liquid embryo initiation medium (EIM) (modified MS medium in which NH4NO3 was removed and KNO3 amount doubled) followed by transfer to solid embryo maturation media EMMS2 (0.5 mg L−1 NAA + 0.05 mg L−1 kinetin). The liquid step not only decreased the culturing time but also increased the number of embryos per gram of cultured tissue. Germinating somatic embryos were placed on MS medium with no hormones and plantlets were acclimatized before transfer to the greenhouse. Significant numbers of somatic embryos and their derived plantlets were obtained from a commercial cultivar of G. hirsutum, Deltapine 90 and G. barbadense accession GB‐35B126 (PI‐528306). The mean embryos per gram for Deltapine 90 on EMMS2 were higher than those previously reported for Coker 312. Highly significant differences were found between the two genotypes for both embryo and plant production. To our knowledge, this is the first report of regeneration of G. barbadense through somatic embryogenesis.

new chromosome number and cyto-molecular characterization of the African Baobab (Adansonia digitata L.)-"the tree of Life" nurul islam-faridi 1,5* , Hamidou F. Sakhanokho 2,5 & c. Dana nelson 3,4 the African baobab (Adansonia digitata L.), also referred to as the "Tree of Life", is a majestic, longlived and multipurpose tree of sub-Saharan Africa. Internationally, a growing demand for baobab products in the food, pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries has been observed. Considering this, there is a need for scientific information on the genetics and breeding of A. digitata, including cytogenetics, genetic diversity and reproductive biology. The objectives of our cytogenetic research were to determine the genome size, chromosome number, and organization of ribosomal DNA (45S and 5SrDNA) of A. digitata. Flow cytometry analysis revealed a 2C-DNA value of 3.8 ± 0.6 pg (1Cx monoploid genome size 919.1 ± 62.9 Mbp). Using our improved chromosome preparation technique, we were able to unequivocally count the chromosomes resulting in 2n = 4x = 168, a revised chromosome number for A. digitata. Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis revealed two massively large variants of 45S rDNA and their corresponding nucleolus organizer regions (NOR). The NOR variants were about two to four times larger than the main body of their respective chromosomes. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this phenomenon in a plant species. Furthermore, we found that FISH analysis using the Arabidopsis-type telomere repeat sequence probe clarified and confirmed the new chromosome number and characterized the 45S rDNA structural organization. The African baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) is the largest and best known of the eight Adansonia species and reported to be native to mainland Africa 1-3. It is widespread throughout the hot, drier regions of tropical Africa, extending from northern Tanzania and Namibia to Ethiopia, Sudan, and the northern fringes of the Sahara 1. Adansonia digitata is often referred to by its vernacular name, baobab, which is believed to originate from the Arabic word "buhibab" or "fruit with many seeds" 4,5. The genus Adansonia is named after Michel Adanson who brought baobab seeds to Paris in 1754 and who was the first person to provide a comprehensive description and drawing of the tree after his visit to Senegal 5,6. Despite having hermaphrodite flowers, A. digitata is mainly selfincompatible 7. This majestic tree, known as the "Tree of Life", is deciduous, reaching up to 20-25 m in height and 20 m in trunk diameter 1,2,8 and living for hundreds or even thousands of years 9. A recent radiocarbon dating 10 study estimated the age of the Glencoe baobab tree located in the Limpopo Province of South Africa to be about 1,800 years 11. The baobab is a multipurpose tree that is extensively used for both its nutritional and medicinal values. Virtually, every part of the baobab tree is useful, and the "Tree of Life" lives up to its name as it is reported to have

Production of viable interspecific seedlings from a cross between Lagerstroemia indica L. ‘Tonto’ × L. speciosa (L.) Pers. was confirmed by comparison of morphological traits and genetic markers. Traits such as plant height and width showed marked variation within the seedling population whereas variation in other traits such as flower size and color was very limited. Seedlings were found to be functionally sterile as either male or female parents. Observed sterility prevents the maximum introgression of important complex traits such as cold hardiness by sib mating or backcrossing into clones derived from this parental combination. ‘Princess’ was confirmed to be a sterile hybrid of L. indica and L. speciosa whereas ‘Monia’ was indicated to have L. indica in its ancestry but not L. speciosa.