Morphology-anatomical structure, size-weight characteristics, dry matter accumulation in fructifications of Taxus L. introduced in the Moscow region, Russia

Many plants that are potential producers of medicinal substances, including antitumor substances, are used in landscaping. Taxus L. is one of the such plants. Their fructifications are not only medicinal, but also edible. The aim of the article is to identify of the most promising species of yews for accumulation of dry matter in arils and seeds, as the medicinal and food plants, in the conditions of Moscow region. Morphology-anatomical structure of fructifications of three yew species was studied: T. baccata, T. × media and T. canadensis, their size-weight characteristics and dry matter content were revealed. The fructifications of the studied species are morphologically similar to each other. The fructifications, arils and seeds of T. × media and T. baccata are larger than those of T. canadensis, have a high mass and air-dry matter content. The total dry matter content in fructifications of T. baccata is 32%, in T. × media – 35%, in T. canadensis – 63%; seeds account for 7%, 8% and 45%, respectively, and arils – 25%, 27% and 18%. Based on the dry matter content of fructifications and/or seeds, T. canadensis seems to be more promising among the species studied. If edible aril is considered as a part of the fructification that is promising for food use, T. baccata and T. × media may be favoured.

1. Barkalov V.Yu. Flora of the Kuril Islands. Vladivostok, Russia: Dalnauka, 2009:466. (In Russ.)

2. Bobrov A.V. Comparative morphology and anatomy of seeds of representatives of the orders Podocarpales, Cephalotaxales and Taxales (Gymnospermae) in relation to their systematics and phylogeny: CSc (bio) thesis. Moscow, Russia: MGU, 1997:24. (In Russ.)

3. Savinov I.A., Solomonova E.V., Embaturova E.Yu., Nozdrina T.D. Botany. Taxonomy of plants and fungi. Manual: a textbook for universities. St. Peterburg, Russia: Lan’, 2022:84. (In Russ.)

4. Savinov I.A., Solomonova E.V., Trusov N.A., Simakov G.A. Botanical evaluation of medicinal potential of bittersweets (Celastrus L.). Izvestiya of Timiryazev Agricultural Academy. 2022;1(6):13–30. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.26897/0021-342X-2022-6-13-30

5. Trusov N.A., Morozova M.Yu., Yatsenko I.O., Mikheeva S.V. et al. Cultivation potential for Blue Bean Tree (Decaisnea fargesii Franch.; Lardizabalaceae R.Br.) in the Moscow region. Bulletin of KSAU. 2022;8(185):72–83. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.36718/1819-4036-2022-8-72-83

6. Woody plants of N.V. Tsitsin’s Botanical Garden of the Russian Academy of Sciences: 60 years of introduction. Ed. by A.S. Demidov. Moscow, Russia: Nauka, 2005:586. (In Russ.)

7. Ermakov A.I., Arasimovich V.V., Smirnova-Ikonnikova M.I., Murri I.K. Methods of biochemical research of plants. Moscow, USSR: Gosudarstvennoe izdatelstvo selskokhozyatstvennoy literatury, 1952;520. (In Russ.)

8. Zaytsev G.N. Mathematics in experimental botany. Moscow, USSR: Nauka, 1990:423. (In Russ.)

9. Catalog of woody plants grown in APPM nurseries. Ed. by M. Akhmechet. Moscow, Russia: APPM, 2017:432. (In Russ.)

10. Kobuzov G.M. Muratova, E.N. Modern gymnosperms. Leningrad, USSR: Nauka, 1986:191. (In Russ.)

11. Kolomiets N.E., Mar’in A.A. Family Taxaceae S.F. Gray.: composition of metabolites, pharmacological properties, preparations. Khimija rastitel’nogo syr’ja. 2024;3:28–48. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.14258/jcprm.20240313382

12. Komarov V.L. Genus 37. Yew – Taxus L. In: Flora of the USSR, vol. I.Ed. by V.L. Komarov. Leningrad, USSR: Izdatelstvo Akademii nauk SSSR, 1934:131–133. (In Russ.)

13. Koropachinskiн I.Yu. Yew Family – Taxaceae S.F. Gray. In: Vascular plants of the Soviet Far East. Vol. 4. Ed. by S.S. Kharkevich. Leningrad, USSR: Nauka, 1989:24–25. (In Russ.)

14. Red Book of the Russian Federation (plants and mushrooms). Ed. by Yu.P. Trutnev et al. Moscow, Russia: Tovarishchestvo nauchnyh izdaniy KMK, 2008:885. (In Russ.)

15. Medicinal plants. Khimiko-farmatsevticheskii zhurnal. (In Russ.) URL: http://chem.folium.ru/index.php/chem/article/view/606/606

16. Malinkina E.V., Kislukhina O.V., Rumyantsev V.Yu. Juicy fruits of wild and cultivated plants as raw material for vitaminised oils production. Mezhdunarodniy simpozium ‘Novye i netraditsionnye rasteniya i perspektivy ikh ispolzovaniya’. June 20–24, 2001. Moscow-Pushchino, Russia: Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), 2001:532–534. (In Russ.)

17. Cheryatova Yu.S., Yembaturova E.Yu., Solomonova E.V., Monakhos S.G. Morphometric characteristics of rape (Brassica napus L.) Seedpods. Natural and Technical Sciences. 2023;8(183):85–87. (In Russ.)

18. Solomonova E.V., Trusov N.A., Morozova M.Yu., Nozdrina T.D. Morphometrie and weight characteristics of exotic edible fruit Decaisnea fargesii Franch. (Lardizabalaceae R.Br.), growing in the conditions of moscow region. Socialno-ekologicheskie tekhnologii. 2020;10(3):249–264. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.31862/2500-2961-2020-10-3-249-264

19. Lebedeva D.D., Trusov N.A., Solomonova E.V. et al. Prospects of the use of coniferous plants of the Moscow region as a source of biosafy of asorbine acid. Vestnik Kurskoy gosudarstvennoy selskokhozyaystvennoy akademii. 2018;8:31–35. (In Russ.)

20. Nozdrina T.D., Trusov N.A., Solnyshkova A.A., Solomonova E.V. Obshcheuniversitetskaya nauchnaya konferentsiya molodykh uchonykh i spetsialistov ‘Den nauki’. April 01–30, 2016. Moscow, Russia: Moscow State Univetsity of Food Production, 2016:81–82. (In Russ.)

21. Savinov I.A., Solomonova E.V., Trusov N.A., Simakov G.A. Productivity of leaf mass of Celastrus orbiculatus Thunb. (Celastraceae) in the conditions of the Moscow region. Bulletin of KGAU. 2022;12:49–52. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.36718/1819-4036-2022-12-49-53

22. Plant resources of Russia and neighboring countries. Ed. by A.L. Budancev. Part I: Families Lycopodiaceae – Ephedraceae, Part II. Supplements to Volumes 1–7. St. Petersburg, Russia: Mir i sem’ya, 1996:38–40. (In Russ.)

23. Sozonova L.I.,Trusov N.A.,Solomonova E.V.Onclassificationandnomenclature of fleshy fruits. Byulleten Glavnogo botanicheskogo sada. 2012;3(198):65–67. (In Russ.)

24. Savinov I.A., Trusov N.A., Solomonova E.V., Nozdrina T.D. Structure, morphogenesis and evolutional transformation of winged fruits in representatives of the family Celastraceae R.Br. Turczaninowia. 2015;18(1):60–66. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.14258/turczaninowia.18.1.7

25. Taxoid drugs. Medical Encyclopaedia. (In Russ.) URL: http://www.med-dic. ru/html-med/t/taksoidn3e-preparat3.html

26. Toxicology of poisonous plants. Agricultural electronic library of knowledge. (In Russ.) URL: http://www.cnshb.ru/AKDiL/0045/base/k0260026.shtm

27. Trusov N.A. Aril morphological nature and its functions in some Aristolochia, Asarum, Celastrus, Euonymus, Euphorbia, Viola and Taxus. Turczaninowia. 2016;19(3):106–114. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.14258/turczaninowia.19.3.7

28. Ukhanov V.V. Genus Taxus L. – Yew. In: Trees and shrubs of the USSR: wild-growing, cultivated and promising for introduction. Ed. by S.Ya. Sokolov B.K. Shishkin. Moscow-Leningrad, USSR: Izdatelstvo Akademii nauk SSSR, 1949; I:19–31. (In Russ.)

29. Bierhorst D.W. Morphology of Vascular Plants. New York, USA: Macmillan Co, 1971:566.

30. DiFazio S.P. The Reproductive Ecology of Pacific Yew (Taxus brevifolia Nutt.) under a Range of Overstory Conditions in Western Oregon: A Thesis submitted to Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Oregon, USA: Oregon State University, 1996:178.

31. Dorken V.M., Nimsch H., Rudall P.J. Origin of the Taxaceae Aril: Evolutionary Implications of Seed-Cone Teratologies in Pseudotaxus chienii. Annals of Botany. 2019;123:133–143.

32. Dupler A.W. Ovuliferous Structures of Taxus canadensis. Botanical Gazette. 1920;69:492–520.

33. English Yew – Taxus baccata. Medicinal Plants of the Northeast. URL: http://www.bio.brandeis.edu/fieldbio/medicinal_plants/pages/English_Yew.htm

34. Solomonova E.V., Nozdrina T.D., Trusov N.A. et al. Food Potential of Alternative Pome Fruit Trees Cultivated in Moscow Region. Scientific Study and Research: Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Food Industry. 2019;20(4):597–607.

35. Howe H.F., Westley L.C. Ecology of Pollination and Seed Dispersal. In: Plant Ecology. M.I. Crawley (Ed.). Oxford, England; Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1986:185–215.

36. Solomonova E.V., Trusov N.A., Nozdrina T.D. Search for alternative plant raw materials for food industry and environmentally safe animal breeding. RUDN Journal of Agronomy and Animal Industries. 2021;16(1):18–29. https://doi.org/10.22363/2312-797X-2021-16-1-18-29

37. Suszka B. Generative and Vegetative Reproduction. In: The Yew – Taxus baccata

38. L. (Cis pospolity). H. Markewicz (Transl.). Springfield, VA: National Technical Information Service, 1975:87–102.

39. Taxuscanadensis Marshall. Flora of North America. URL: http://www.efloras.org/ florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233501254

40. Tekol Y. The Medieval Physician Avicenna Used an Herbal Calcium Channel Blocker, Taxus baccata L. Phytotherapy Research. 2007;21(7):701–702.

41. Tittensor R.M. Ecological History of Yew Taxus baccata L. in Southern England. Biol. Cons. 1980;17:243–265.

42. Trusov N.A. Development of the Seed-cones Taxus canadensis in Culture (Tsytsin Main Botanical Garden RAS, Moscow, Russia). Botanica Pacifica. A journal of plant science and conservation. 2022;11(1):74–82. https://doi.org/10.17581/bp.2022.11115