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Fabaceae
Selected AbstractsGrazing and community structure as determinants of invasion success by Scotch broom in a New Zealand montane shrublandDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 1 2003P. J. Bellingham Abstract. Scotch broom (Cytisus scoparius (L.) Link; Fabaceae) is a problematic invasive plant in many countries, and while attention has been paid to traits that make it a successful invader, there has been less focus on the properties of ecosystems that it invades. We conducted an experiment in a New Zealand montane shrubland with tussock grasses that has been invaded by Scotch broom to determine features that rendered it susceptible to invasion. We planted broom seedlings into the shrubland (control) and into three treatments: (1) resident shrubs removed, (2) tussocks removed and (3) shrubs and tussocks removed. We measured broom seedling mortality and growth over two growing seasons. The site was grazed by sheep in the first season, and scarcely grazed in the second, wetter season. Survivorship across all treatments after 19 months was 42%, and was lowest where shrubs were retained but tussocks removed. Broom seedlings grew taller and had greater leaf areas in treatments that retained shrubs. Neighbouring (within 49 cm) shrubs had no effects on survivorship or growth of broom seedlings. Neighbouring tussocks increased survivorship of broom seedlings but depressed their growth. Grazing by sheep was the most important determinant of survivorship and growth of broom seedlings, and effects were uniform regardless of experimental treatments. Initial high mortality of seedlings (48% in the first 3 months) was due to grazing, and height growth was often negative during periods of grazing. In the second growing season when the site was less grazed and there was greater rainfall, there was a rapid increase in height across all treatments. Continued grazing of the site by sheep is likely to be the chief means of retarding the invasion. [source] Genetic divergence and ecological specialisation of seed weevils (Exapion spp.) on gorses (Ulex spp.)ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 3 2008MYRIAM BARAT Abstract 1.,Reproductive isolation of sympatric populations may result from divergent selection of populations in different environments, and lead to ecological specialisation. In Brittany (France), the gorse Ulex europaeus (Fabaceae, Genisteae), may be encountered in sympatry with one of the two other gorse species present: U. gallii and U. minor. A recent study based on morphological identification of seed predators of gorse has shown that two weevil species (Curculionoidea, Apionidae) infest gorse pods at different seasons and have different host ranges: Exapion ulicis infests U. europaeus in spring, whereas E. lemovicinum infests U. gallii and U. minor in autumn. Weevil populations may thus have diverged in sympatry. 2.,As morphological identification of weevils is often difficult and some of the characters used may exhibit individual or environmental variation, mitochondrial and nuclear sequences of weevils collected within pods of the three gorse species in 10 populations of Brittany were used to reconstruct their phylogeny. 3.,The results reveal that species differentiation based on morphological characters is confirmed by the two molecular data sets, showing that E. ulicis and E. lemovicinum are distinct species, and suggesting the absence of host races. Finally, E. ulicis was able to use U. gallii and U. minor pods in spring in some years in some populations, which appeared to depend on the availability of pods present during its reproductive period. 4.,Divergence between E. ulicis and E. lemovicinum may have resulted from temporal isolation of reproductive periods of weevil populations followed by specialisation of insects to host phenology. [source] The impact of a parasitic nematode, Thripinema fuscum, on the feeding behavior and vector competence of Frankliniella fuscaENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 2 2009Kelly R. Sims Abstract Frankliniella fusca (Hinds) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) is the predominant thrips species found inhabiting and reproducing in peanut, Arachis hypogaea L. (Fabaceae), and is one of at least seven thrips species reported to transmit Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). The entomogenous nematode Thripinema fuscum Tipping & Nguyen (Tylenchida: Allantonematidae), a natural enemy of F. fusca, parasitizes larval and adult populations under field conditions. All known Thripinema species render the host female thrips sterile and have the potential to suppress pest populations to near extinction. As a result, secondary spread of TSWV in peanut is reduced. Reduction of the virus under field conditions may also be due to lower transmission rates caused by parasite-induced alterations in host feeding behavior. Therefore, the feeding rates of healthy and parasitized F. fusca male and female cohorts on leaf discs were recorded daily for 10 days and digital images were subjected to image analysis and viral transmission rates were compared daily using double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Thripinema fuscum reduced the feeding of female F. fusca by nearly 65%, and the ability of females to transmit TSWV by 50%. Potential mechanisms underlying the parasite-induced alterations in feeding behavior and transmission are discussed. Parasitism by T. fuscum significantly reduced male longevity, but female longevity was not affected. These results provide further evidence that T. fuscum aids in regulating viruliferous F. fusca pest populations and suggests its potential as a biological control agent for inoculative release in peanut. [source] Role of prey,host plant associations on Harmonia axyridis and Episyrphus balteatus reproduction and predatory efficiencyENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 1 2008Ammar Alhmedi Abstract In order to predict possible locations of Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) and Episyrphus balteatus DeGeer (Diptera: Syrphidae) in the field, we studied their oviposition and prey preferences in relation to several host plant,prey associations under laboratory conditions. Oviposition preference of H. axyridis and E. balteatus females was determined for three aphid (Homoptera: Aphididae),host plant associations: Microlophium carnosum Buckton on stinging nettle [Urtica dioica L. (Urticaceae)], Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris on green pea [Pisum sativum L. (Fabaceae)], and Sitobion avenae F. on wheat [Triticum aestivum L. (Poaceae)]. Prey preference of H. axyridis and E. balteatus larvae was determined with the aphids M. carnosum, A. pisum, and S. avenae. Harmonia axyridis females showed a strong oviposition preference for the stinging nettle,M. carnosum association. The preferred association for ovipostion by E. balteatus was pea-hosting A. pisum, on which fecundity was also highest. Feeding behaviour was less restricted in H. axyridis, in which the preferred preys were M. carnosum and S. avenae. A lower specificity of predation was observed in E. balteatus larvae with respect to A. pisum. These laboratory experiments may help us to understand the spatial distribution of H. axyridis and E. balteatus in the field. [source] Neighbouring monocultures enhance the effect of intercropping on the turnip root fly (Delia floralis)ENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 3 2007Maria Björkman Abstract Knowledge of insect behaviour is essential for accurately interpreting studies of diversification and to develop diversified agroecosystems that have a reliable pest-suppressive effect. In this study, we investigated the egg-laying behaviour of the turnip root fly, Delia floralis (Fall.) (Diptera: Anthomyiidae), in an intercrop-monoculture system. We examined both the main effect of intercropping and the effect on oviposition in the border zone between a cabbage monoculture [Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata (Brassicaceae)] and a cabbage-red clover intercropping system [Trifolium pratense L. (Fabaceae)]. To investigate the border-effect, oviposition was measured along a transect from the border between the treatments to the centre of experimental plots. Intercropping reduced the total egg-laying of D. floralis with 42% in 2003 and 55% in 2004. In 2004, it was also found that the spatial distribution of eggs within the experimental plots was affected by distance from the adjoining treatment. The difference in egg-laying between monoculture and intercropping was most pronounced close to the border, where egg-laying was 68% lower on intercropped plants. This difference in egg numbers decreased gradually up to a distance of 3.5 m from the border, where intercropped plants had 43% fewer eggs than the corresponding monocultured plants. The reason behind this oviposition pattern is most likely that flies in intercropped plots have a higher probability of entering the monoculture if they are close to the border than if they are in the centre of a plot. When entering the monoculture, flies can pursue their egg-laying behaviour without being disrupted by the clover. As the final decision to land is visually stimulated, flies could also be attracted to fly from the intercropped plots into the monoculture, where host plants are more visually apparent. Visual cues could also hinder flies in a monoculture from entering an intercropped plot. Other possible patterns of insect attack due to differences in insect behaviour are discussed, as well as the practical application of the results of this study. [source] A tritrophic analysis of host preference and performance in a polyphagous leafminerENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 2 2006Martín Videla Abstract The optimal oviposition theory predicts that oviposition preferences of phytophagous insects should correlate with host suitability for their offspring. As plant host suitability depends not only on its quality as food, but also on its provision of enemy-free space, we examined the relationship between adult host preference and offspring performance for the leafminer Liriomyza huidobrensis (Blanchard) (Diptera: Agromyzidae) on various host plants, considering also the interaction with natural enemies. Preference and offspring performance were assessed through observational field data and laboratory experiments in central Argentina. Field data suggested a positive host preference , performance linkage, as the leafminer attained larger body size on the crops where it was more abundant. Laboratory trials supported these results: Vicia faba L. (Fabaceae) was the preferred host in the laboratory as well as in the field, performance of L. huidobrensis being also best on this host, with highest survival rates and shortest development time. The actively feeding larval stage showed the largest plant-related effects. Higher overall parasitism rates were found on plants from which smaller leafminers were reared, reinforcing the preference,performance linkage. On the other hand, the main parasitoid Phaedrotoma scabriventris Nixon (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) reached larger body size, and caused higher mortality rates on crops where the leafminer was larger. Changes in abundance of particular parasitoid species could thus modify overall parasitism trends. [source] Plant preference in relation to life history traits in the zoophytophagous predator Dicyphus hesperusENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 1 2004Juan Antonio Sanchez Abstract Dicyphus hesperus Knight (Heteroptera: Miridae) is an omnivorous predator used to control pests of greenhouse vegetables. Plant preferences and life history traits were studied using nine plant species: Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. (Solanaceae), Capsicum annuum L. (Solanaceae), Verbascum thapsus L. (Scrophulariaceae), Nepeta cataria L. (Lamiaceae), Stachys albotomentosa (Lamiaceae), Nicotiana tabacum L. (Solanaceae), Vicia sativa L. (Fabaceae), Zea mays L. (Gramineae), and Chrysanthemum coronarium L. (Asteraceae). Plants were selected from among potential target crops, natural hosts, plants used for mass rearing, and plants on which D. hesperus has not been reported. Plant preference was measured by multi-choice host plant selection and oviposition assays. Development and reproduction were measured on each of the plant species on both a plant diet alone and on a plant diet supplemented with Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) eggs. Dicyphus hesperus females and nymphs expressed a preference for some plants over others. Plant preference ranged from low preference plants, such as Z. mays, V. sativa, C. coronarium, and C. annuum, to high preference plants such as V. thapsus, N. tabacum, and S. albotomentosa. When E. kuehniella eggs were supplied, there were few differences in the development time and fecundity of D. hesperus among plants, with the exception of corn and broad bean, where fecundity was lower. On a plant diet alone, nymphs were able to complete their development on V. thapsus, C. annuum, and N. cataria. However, mortality and development time were much lower on V. thapsus than on C. annuum and N. cataria. On most of the plant species D. hesperus did not lay any eggs when fed on a plant diet alone. On V. thapsus, females laid a few eggs and lived longer than when fed on prey. Dicyphus hesperus females tended to prefer host plants on which nymph survival without prey was greatest. [source] Survival and oviposition of a western corn rootworm variant feeding on soybeanENTOMOLOGIA EXPERIMENTALIS ET APPLICATA, Issue 2 2003Timothy R. Mabry Abstract The role of soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merril (Fabaceae), in the circumvention of crop rotation was evaluated by observing the effects of soybean herbivory on western corn rootworm, Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) survival and oviposition. Field collected D. virgifera adults resistant to annual rotation of corn, Zea mays (L.) (Poaceae), and soybean were given the opportunity to feed on a soybean pre-treatment diet prior to diet combinations of corn, soybean, and/or water. The number of days that the adults survived after removal of the diet combinations was used as a measure of insect vigor and diet quality. Willingness to feed on a soybean foliage pre-treatment did not indicate greater ability to benefit nutritionally from soybean herbivory. Adult D. virgifera previously feeding on corn, soybean, or water survived starvation for 8.3 ± 0.15 days, 5.1 ± 0.13 days, and 3.9 ± 0.14 days, respectively. Diabrotica virgifera recover from 2 days of starvation or poor diet if subsequently given access to corn tissues for 2 days. Eggs were laid within 1 day of access to poor diet or starvation. Other D. virgifera, captured as they flew from a cornfield into a soybean field, were maintained on soybean foliage or only water until they died. Of the beetles with access to soybean foliage, 24% fed within 24 h after capture and survived 1 day longer than insects given only water. Only 20% of these D. virgifera were able to lay eggs without consuming additional corn prior to death. Few D. virgifera enter soybean fields capable of immediate oviposition. Female reproductive status and diet quality influence the likelihood of oviposition following exposure to stress. The effects of soybean herbivory may contribute to the proximate mechanism of resistance to crop rotation. [source] A novel host shift and invaded range of a seed predator, Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae), of an invasive weed, Leucaena leucocephalaENTOMOLOGICAL SCIENCE, Issue 1 2009Midori TUDA Abstract An endophagous seed predator, Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchinae), utilizes Neotropical Leucaena (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae). One of its hosts, Leucaena leucocephala, is a fast-growing nitrogen-fixing tree that serves as a multipurpose beneficial plant but eventually becomes an aggressive invader where it was introduced. Herein, we report A. macrophthalmus invasion of the Far East, South Asian tropics and subtropics (Japanese Pacific Islands, Taiwan, Southern China, Northern Thailand and Southern India). Of other field-collected mimosoid legumes, an introduced tree, Falcataria moluccana, in Taiwan was found to be used by the seed predator. Conversely, our published work review revealed that the seed predator had retained high host specificity to Leucaena species in its native and introduced regions. Acanthoscelides macrophthalmus was able to utilize aphagously postharvest mature seeds for oviposition and larval development, which is a trait of post-dispersal seed predators. We confirmed that A. macrophthalmus that was reared on L. leucocephala was able to utilize F. moluccana as well. Although the relatively high host specificity of the oligophagous beetle is suitable for controlling the weedy L. leucocephala, the potential host range expansion confirmed by this study must be cautioned. [source] Detection of an invasive gall-inducing pest, Quadrastichus erythrinae (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), causing damage to Erythrina variegata L. (Fabaceae) in Okinawa Prefecture, JapanENTOMOLOGICAL SCIENCE, Issue 2 2007Nami UECHI Abstract In 2005, Quadrastichus erythrinae Kim, 2004 (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae), which induces stem, petiole, and leaf galls on Erythrina variegata L. (Fabaceae), was found on the following six islands in Okinawa Prefecture, Japan: Okinawa, Kume, Miyako, Ishigaki, Iriomote, and Hateruma. Galls were also found in Vietnam. In Japan, no further infestation records have been reported from any of Japan's other south-western prefectures where Erythrina species grow. Because no Erythrina galls were observed in Okinawa Prefecture before 2005, Q. erythrinae seems to have invaded quite recently. [source] The genus Astragalus L. (Fabaceae) in Europe with exclusion of the former Soviet Union,FEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 5-6 2008D. Podlech Prof. Dr. A modern treatment of the European species of the genus Astragalus with complete descriptions of all species and a key is given. Excluded are the species which occur only in the former Soviet Union (Baltic states, White Russia, Ukraine, Moldavia and Russia itself) and those of Turkey in Europe, because these will by treated by Andrej Sytin (St. Petersburg) in a special paper and due to the fact, that I could not investigate enough material of all the species concerned. 112 species will be treated here. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Die Gattung Astragalus L. (Fabaceae) in Europa unter Ausschluss der früheren Sowjetunion Eine moderne Bearbeitung der europäischen Arten der Gattung Astragalus mit vollständigen Beschreibungen aller Arten und einem Bestimmungsschlüssel wird vorgelegt. Ausgeschlossen sind diejenigen Arten, welche nur in der ehemaligen Sowjetunion (Baltische Staaten, Belarus/Weißrussland, Ukraine, Moldavien und Russland selbst) sowie der Europäischen Türkei vorkommen, weil sie von Andrej Sytin (St. Petersburg) in einer eigenen Arbeit behandelt werden und ich selbst zuwenig Material derselben untersuchen konnte. 112 Arten werden hier behandelt. [source] Some new and interesting Astragalus species (Fabaceae) from TurkeyFEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 1-2 2008D. Podlech Prof. Dr. During the work on a revision of the Old World Astragali, 14 new species could be found among the unnamed material of several herbaria. Furthermore two new sections had to be described. They are presented here. Sect. Hololeuce: A. nigropedunculatus,A. suserianus; Sect. Incani: A. darendensis; Sect. Malacothrix: A. adiyamanensis, A. aladagensis, A. calvertii; Sect. Onobrychoidei: A. helbaekii, A. pseudovegetus, A. rausianus, A. sakaryaensis, A. tunceliensis; Sect. Ornithopodium: A. horasanicus; Sect. Stereothrix: A. mahmutlarensis; Sect. Synochreati: A. mugliensis; Sect. Davisiana, sect. nova; Sect. Woronowia, sect. nova. One species had to be renamed: A. blandulus and three new records for the flora of Turkey are indicated: A. apricus (sect. Caprini), A. dzhebrailicus (sect. Hololeuce) and A. expetitus (sect. Hymenostegis). (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Einige neue und interessante Astragalus -Arten (Fabaceae) aus der Türkei Während der Arbeit an einer Revision der altweltlichen Astragalus -Arten konnten in bisher unbestimmtem Material verschiedener Herbarien 14 neue Arten gefunden werden. Auch zwei Sektionen der Gattung mussten neu aufgestellt werden. Sie werden hier beschrieben. Sect. Hololeuce: A. nigropedunculatus,A. suserianus; Sect. Incani: A. darendensis; Sect. Malacothrix: A. adiyamanensis, A. aladagensis, A. calvertii; Sect. Onobrychoidei: A. helbaekii, A. pseudovegetus, A. rausianus, A. sakaryaensis, A. tunceliensis; Sect. Ornithopodium: A. horasanicus; Sect. Stereothrix: A. mahmutlarensis; Sect. Synochreati: A. mugliensis; Sect. Davisiana, sect. nova; Sect. Woronowia, sect. nova. Eine Art musste umbenannt werden: A. blandulus. Drei Arten konnten für die Türkei neu nachgewiesen werden: A. apricus (Sect. Caprini), A. dzhebrailicus (Sect. Hololeuce) und A. expetitus (Sect. Hymenostegis). [source] A contribution to the phylogeny of annual species of Astragalus (Fabaceae) in the Old World using hair micromorphology and other morphological charactersFEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 5-6 2007F. Taeb A cladistic analysis including 32 annual and nine perennial species of Astragalus along with four outgroups from related genera is performed using characters from hair micromorphology, floral morphology and some other morphological sources. The hair characters show the similar evolutionary trends as known earlier for the genus Astragalus, but they exhibit lower variability in comparison with other major subgroups of Astragalus. The obtained data was compared with the data from molecular systematics. The most important results of this study are: 1) medifixed hairs are developed at least two times among annual Astragalus, 2) fruit morphology, does not provide strong evidence in delimitation of the sections within annual Astragalus, 3) presence of long and thick hairs with largely tuberculate base should be considered as an advanced character, and can be regarded as an important synapomorphy among annual Astragalus, 4) the position of some species of the large and heterogeneous sect. Sesamei, e.g. A. persepolitanus and A. coronilla, and their possible close relationship with the species of the sect. Oxyglottis should be re-assessed, 5) the species of the sect. Ankylotus show close relationship to sect. Platyglottis, based on floral morphology and hair characters, 6) there are not enough supports from hair, floral morphology and biogeography for considering A. annularis, A. epiglottis (as Glottis epiglottis), A. pelecinus (as Biserrula pelecinus) and A. vogelii (as Podlechiella vogelii) as separated from Astragalus (as suggested by molecular data). Moreover, the inclusion of Barnebyella calycina again in Astragalus is well supported by morphological data. (© 2007 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Zur Phylogenie annueller Arten von Astragalus (Fabaceae) in der Alten Welt auf der Basis der Haar-Mikromorphologie und anderer morphologischer Merkmale Eine kladistische Analyse, umfassend 32 annuelle und neun perennierende Arten von Astragalus mit vier Nebengruppen verwandter Gattungen, wurde auf der Basis von Mikromorphologie, Blütenmorphologie und einiger anderer morphologischer Quellen vorgenommen. Die Merkmale der Haare zeigen ähnliche evolutionäre Tendenzen wie sie bereits früher von der Gattung Astragalus bekannt waren, doch zeigen sie im Vergleich zu anderen, umfassenderen Untergruppen von Astragalus, eine geringere Variabilität. Die so gewonnenen Daten werden mit Daten der molekularen Systematik verglichen. Die wichtigsten Ergebnisse dieser Studie sind: 1. Die im mittleren Bereich fixierten Haare entwickelten sich innerhalb der annuellen Astragalus zweimal; 2. Die Morphologie der Früchte liefert keinen eindeutigen Beweis zur Abgrenzung der Sektionen innerhalb der annuellen Astragalus -Arten; 3. Die Anwesenheit langer, dicker Haare mit einer großen tuberkularen Basis ist als abgeleitetes Merkmal zu betrachten und kann als wichtige Synapomorphie innerhalb annueller Astragalus -Arten betrachtet werden; 4. Die Stellung einiger Arten der großen, heterogenen Sekt. Sesamei, z. B. A. persepolitanus und A. coronilla und ihre möglicherweise enge Verwandtschaft mit den Arten der Sekt. Oxyglottis sollte neu beurteilt werden. 5. Die Arten der Sekt. Ankylotus zeigen aufgrund ihrer Blütenmorphologie und der Merk- male ihrer Haare enge Verwandtschaft zur Sekt. Platyglottis; 6. Es gibt nicht genügend Hinweise bezüglich Haare, Blütenmorphologie und Biogeographie um A. annularis, A. epiglottis (als Glottis epiglottis), A. pelecinus (als Biserrula pelecinus) und A. vogelii (als Podlechiella vogelii) von Astragalus abzutrennen (wie es die molekularen Daten aussagen). Dagegen ist die Wiedereingliederung von Barnebyella calycina in die Gattung Astragalus gut durch die morphologischen Daten gestützt. [source] New species of the genus Astragalus L. (Fabaceae), mainly from the "Flora Iranica" areaFEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 1-2 2005Sh. Zarre Dr. During the work on the genus Astragalus for the "Flora Iranica" and a planned revision of the whole genus in the Old World several new species (35) could be discovered among the material recently investigated. They are described here: Sect. Aegacantha: A. vallis-astoris; Sect. Alopecuroidei: A. ebrahimabadensis; Sect. Ammodendron: A. harirudensis; Sect. Brachycarpus: A. ohbaensis, A. pishanxianensis; Sect. Craccina: A. tenuissimus; Sect. Dissitiflori: A. ahangarensis, A. capitis-regni, A. sessiliflorus, A. shogotensis; Sect. Erioceras: A. hecatae; Sect. Hololeuce: A. repentinus; Sect. Hymenostegis: A. qorvehensis; Sect. Hypoglottidei: A.nezva-montis; Sect. Incani: A. dorudensis, A. hamadryadis, A. harazensis, A. innotabilis; Sect. Malacothrix: A. absconditus, A. anodiophilus, A. khunsarensis, A. meshkinensis, A. segregatus, A. shehbazii, A. taebiae; A. tahbaziae, A. vicinalis; Sect. Onobrychoidei: A. affinis, A. dysbatophilus; A. ignotus; Sect. Ornithopodium: A. zourabadensis; Sect. Platyglottis: A. semitarius; Sect. Polycladus: A. swatensis; Sect. Stereothrix: A. bavanatensis, A. damghanensis. (© 2005 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Neue Arten von Astragalus L. (Fabaceae) vorwiegend aus dem Areal der "Flora Iranica" Im Verlauf der Bearbeitung der Gattung Astragalus für die "Flora Iranica" und für eine geplante Revision aller altweltlichen Arten der Gattung konnten in dem reichhaltigen Material, das uns in neuerer Zeit zur Bearbeitung zugänglich wurde, 35 neue Arten aufgefunden werden, die hier beschrieben werden: Sect. Aegacantha: A. vallis-astoris; Sect.: Alopecuroidei: A. ebrahimabadensis; Sect. Ammodendron: A. harirudensis; Sect. Brachycarpus: A. ohbaensis, A. pishanxianensis; Sect. Craccina: A. tenuissimus; Sect. Dissitiflori: A. ahangarensis, A. capitis-regni, A. sessiliflorus, A. shogotensis; Sect. Erioceras: A. hecatae; Sect. Hololeuce: A. repentinus; Sect. Hymenostegis: A. qorvehensis; Sect. Hypoglottidei: A.nezva-montis; Sect. Incani: A. dorudensis, A. hamadryadis, A. harazensis, A. innotabilis; Sect. Malacothrix: A. absconditus, A. anodiophilus, A. khunsarensis, A. meshkinensis, A. segregatus, A. shehbazii, A. taebiae; A. tahbaziae, A. vicinalis; Sect. Onobrychoidei: A. affinis, A. dysbatophilus; A. ignotus; Sect. Ornithopodium: A. zourabadensis; Sect. Platyglottis: A. semitarius; Sect. Polycladus: A. swatensis; Sect. Stereothrix: A. bavanatensis, A. damghanensis. [source] New lactones in liquorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.),FLAVOUR AND FRAGRANCE JOURNAL, Issue 2 2006Regula Näf Abstract The lactonic fraction of a commercial liquorice root extract (licorice, Glycyrrhiza glabra L., family Fabaceae), exhibiting a pleasant sweet, woody, dried fruit-like odour, contains mainly fatty acids (C2,C16) and phenols (phenol, guaiacol), together with common saturated linear , -lactones (C6,C14) and, in trace amounts, a series of new 4-methyl- , -lactones and 4-ethyl- , -lactones. Their structures have been confirmed by synthesis. Spectral data and organoleptic descriptors are given. Some 5-methyl- , -lactones, which can easily be confused with the 4-ethyl- , -lactones, are also discussed. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Plant functional type classifications in tropical dry forests in Costa Rica: leaf habit versus taxonomic approachesFUNCTIONAL ECOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Jennifer S. Powers Summary 1.,One way to simplify the high taxonomic diversity of plant species in vegetation models is to place species into groups based on shared, dominant traits. Many studies have suggested that morphological and physiological traits of tropical dry forest tree species vary with leaf habit (i.e. leaves from evergreen, deciduous or semi-deciduous species) and thus this characteristic may serve as a useful way to distinguish ecologically meaningful functional types. 2.,In this study we examine whether 10 plant traits vary with leaf habit in replicated leaves and individual trees of 87 species from a tropical dry forest in Costa Rica. We also looked for evidence of phylogenetic conservatism, i.e. closely related species sharing similar trait values compared to more distantly related taxa. 3.,While some of the traits varied within and among individual trees of the same species, interspecific variation accounted for 57,83% of the variance among samples. Four traits in addition to leaf habit showed evidence of phylogenetic conservatism, but these results were strongly dependent on the inclusion of the 18 species of legumes (Fabaceae) in our dataset. Contrary to our predictions, none of the traits we measured differed among leaf habits. However, five traits (wood density, leaf C, leaf N, N/P and C/N) varied significantly between legumes and other functional types. Furthermore, when all high-nitrogen non-legume taxa were compared to the high-nitrogen legumes, six traits excluding leaf N differed significantly, indicating that legumes are functionally different from other tree species beyond high N concentrations. Similarly, the 18 legume taxa (which all have compound leaves) also differed from other compound-leaved species for six traits, thus leaf type does not explain these patterns. 4.,Our main conclusions are that (i) a plant functional type classification based on leaf habit alone has little utility in the tropical dry forest we studied, and (ii) legumes have a different suite of traits including high leaf carbon and wood density in addition to high leaf nitrogen. Whether this result generalizes to other tropical forests is unknown, but merits future research due to the consequences of these traits for carbon storage and ecosystem processes. [source] Parasitoids of Paratachardina lobata (Hem., Kerriidae): surveys for biological control of the invasive lobate lac scaleJOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2008S. Schroer Abstract Paratachardina lobata is an invasive pest in southern Florida, threatening a great number of economically important and native plants. The lobate lac scale does not cause problems in its area of origin, India and Sri Lanka, presumably due to various parasitoid wasps. In an attempt to discover promising parasitoids for biological control against the invasive pest in Florida, P. lobata infesting Pongamia pinnata (Fabaceae) was collected bimonthly from August 2005 to June 2006 at 14 sites in southern India. Four parasitoids were demonstrably associated with P. lobata: a eulophid Aprostocetus bangaloricus Narendran, an encyrtid Ooencyrtus kerriae Hayat and two aphelinids, Marietta leopardina Motschulsky and an undescribed Coccophagus Westwood sp. These chalcidoid wasps were found regularly at all heavily infested sites with an average emergence number per collection period of 62.8, 31.7, 11.9 and 90.5 respectively. The mean number emerged 20,28 days after the collection date, excluding the Coccophagus sp., which occurred significantly later, on average 41 days after collection. Species emergence was examined and parasitized scales dissected. Parasitoid remains were interpreted to understand the mode of parasitism. The Coccophagus sp. was found to be a secondary parasitoid. Marietta leopardina occurred as a primary parasitoid, but only in low number and this species is also known to be hyperparasitic on chalcidoid wasps. Aprostocetus bangaloricus and O. kerriae are promising candidates for the lobate lac scale control in Florida. They are primary parasitoids of P. lobata and occurred at almost every collection site, especially where P. lobata was very abundant. [source] Desert vines: a comparison of Australia with other areasJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2005R. F. Parsons Abstract Aim, To characterize the Australian desert vine flora and to compare it with that of deserts in other continents. Location, The Stony Deserts, the Simpson Desert and the four main deserts of Western Australia. Methods, The Western Australian Herbarium data base and published papers were used to develop vine checklists for each Australian desert studied. A literature search was used to classify the families and genera into phytogeographical elements and to provide data for intercontinental comparisons. Results, Thirty-seven vine species are listed for the six Australian deserts studied. They constitute from 0.8 to 2.7% of the vascular flora, which is within the normal range for arid zone floras. Comparing Australian data with those from the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts (North America), for non-vine taxa, very different phylogenetic lines are present. However, for vines, three of the four most important families are the same in each case, viz. Convolvulaceae, Fabaceae and Asclepiadaceae. This reflects large pantropical and cosmopolitan families shared between all three data sets. At the generic level, in Australia pantropical taxa and taxa from the Old World tropics far outnumber endemic ones, as do pantropical and neotropical genera in North America. Herbaceous vines predominate in Australian deserts as they do in North American ones, but nevertheless, the percentage of woody vines is higher in Australia (32%) than in North America (highest value of 24%). Earlier views that Australian deserts are rich in annual vines are not supported. Main conclusions, For many life-forms, the Australian flora is composed of very different phylogenetic lines to the floras of other continents. However, for desert vines, at the level of family and even of genus, there are surprising similarities between Australia and even a continent as distant as North America, because of shared pantropical and cosmopolitan taxa. [source] Spatial analysis of taxonomic and genetic patterns and their potential for understanding evolutionary historiesJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 11 2004Sophia A. Bickford Abstract Aim, The aim of this research is to develop and investigate methods for the spatial analysis of diversity based on genetic and taxonomic units of difference. We use monophyletic groups of species to assess the potential for these diversity indices to elucidate the geographical components of macro-scaled evolutionary processes. Location, The range occupied by Pultenaea species in temperate and sub-tropical eastern Australia, extending from western South Australia (133° E,32° S) to Tasmania (146° E,43° S) to coastal central Queensland (148° E,20° S). Methods, We applied a series of both spatially explicit and spatially implicit analyses to explore the nature of diversity patterns in the genus Pultenaea, Fabaceae. We first analysed the eastern species as a whole and then the phylogenetic groups within them. We delineated patterns of endemism and biotic (taxon) regions that have been traditionally circumscribed in biogeographical studies of taxa. Centres of endemism were calculated using corrected weighted endemism at a range of spatial scales. Biotic regions were defined by comparing the similarity of species assemblages of grid cells using the Jaccard index and clustering similar cells using hierarchical clustering. On the basis that genetically coherent areas were likely to be more evolutionary informative than species patterns, genetic indices of similarity and difference were derived. A matrix of similarity distances between taxa was generated based on the number of shared informative characters of two sections of trnL-F and ndhF chloroplast nuclear regions. To identify genetically similar areas, we clustered cells using the mean genetic similarities of the species contained within each pair of cells. Measures of the mean genetic similarity of species in areas were delineated using a geographically local multi-scalar approach. Resultant patterns of genetic diversity are interpreted in relation to theories of the evolutionary relationships between species and species groups. Results, Centres of Pultenaea endemism were defined, those of clades 1 congruent with the spatially separated centres of clades 2 and 3. The taxonomic classification analysis defined cells with shared groups of species, which in some cases clustered when plotted in geographic space, defining biotic regions. In some instances the distribution of biotic regions was congruent with centres of endemism, however larger scale groupings were also apparent. In clade 1 one set of species was replaced by another along the extent of the range, with some connectivity between some geographically disjunct regions due to the presence of widespread species. In the combined analysis of clade 2 and 3 species the major biotic (taxonomic) groups with geographic coherence were defined by species in the respective clades, representing the geographic separation of these clades. However distinctive biotic regions within these main groupings of clades 2 and 3 were also apparent. Clustering cells using the mean genetic similarities of the species contained within each pair of cells indicated that some of the taxonomically defined biotic boundaries were the result of changes in composition of closely related species. This was most apparent in clades 1 and 2 where most cells were highly genetically similar. In clade 3 genetically distinct groups remained and were in part defined by sister taxa with disjunct distributions. Gradients in mean genetic similarity became more apparent from small to larger scales of analysis. At larger scales of analysis, regions of different levels of genetic diversity were delineated. Regions with highest diversity levels (lowest level of similarity) often represented regions where the ranges of phylogenetically distinctive species intergraded. Main conclusions, The combined analysis of diversity, phylogeny and geography has potential to reveal macro-scaled evolutionary patterns from which evolutionary processes may be inferred. The spatial genetic diversity indices developed in this study contribute new methods for identifying coherent evolutionary units in the landscape, which overcome some of the limitations of using taxonomic data, and from which the role of geography in evolutionary processes can be tested. We also conclude that a multiple-index approach to diversity pattern analysis is useful, especially where patterns may be the result of a long history of different environmental changes and related evolutionary events. The analysis contributes to the knowledge of large-scale diversity patterns of Pultenaea which has relevance for the assessment of the conservation status of the genus. [source] Vicariance or dispersal: the use of natural historical data to test competing hypotheses of disjunction on the Tyrrhenian coastJOURNAL OF BIOGEOGRAPHY, Issue 1 2001George F. Estabrook Aim To illustrate the use of natural historical data to evaluate vicariance and dispersal as hypotheses competing to explain disjunct populations. Location Nine disjunct areas on the margin of the Tyrrhenian basin of the Mediterranean Sea. Methods First describe how each hypothesized mechanism might explain the observed morphological variation in the model species complex, Genista ephedroides (Fabaceae); then confront the hypotheses with natural historical data including geology, oxygen isotopes, palynology, macro-, micro- and nano-fossils, and sea level changes, and with the ecological tolerances of the model species complex. Results Dispersal seems the more credible explanation. Main conclusion Patterns of morphological (or other) variation among related disjunct taxa can fit both vicariance and dispersal hypotheses. However they can possibly be distinguished by considering natural historical data. [source] Medicinal plants of Erute county, Lira district, Uganda with particular reference to their conservationAFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 2 2010Christine Oryema Abstract A medicinal plant study was carried out in eighteen parishes and 54 villages of Erute county, Lira district, Uganda. Parishes and villages were selected using stratified random sampling techniques. Questionnaires, interviews and discussions with the local people were used to obtain information on the names of the plants, their medicinal uses and conservation methods. The number of the medicinal plants species used was 180 belonging to 144 genera and 57 families of flowering plants. The major families recorded for medicinal purpose included Fabaceae (37 species), Asteraceae (26 species), Euphorbiaceae (eleven species), Vitaceae (eight species), Verbenaceae (seven species), Poaceae (six species), Solanaceae (five species), and Rubiaceae (four species). There is a need for putting in place measures to conserve these plants. Unfortunately, most of the healers or users were not interested in cultivation of the plants. The situation could worsen with the social changes and demand for land for agriculture in the district. Résumé Nous avons réalisé une étude des plantes médicinales dans 18 paroisses et 54 villages du Comté d'Erute, dans le district de Lira, en Ouganda. Paroisses et villages furent sélectionnés au moyen de techniques d'échantillonnage au hasard stratifié. On a eu recours à des questionnaires, des interviews et des discussions avec les populations locales pour obtenir des informations sur le nom des plantes, leur utilisation médicinale et les méthodes de conservation. Il y avait 180 plantes médicinales appartenant à 144 genres et à 57 familles de plantes à fleurs. Les principales familles rapportées dans le domaine médicinal comprenaient les Fabaceae (37 espèces), les Asteraceae (26 espèces), les Euphorbiaceae (11 espèces), les Vitaceae (8 espèces), les Verbenaceae (7 espèces), les Poaceae (6 espèces), les Solanaceae (5 espèces), et les Rubiaceae (4 espèces). Il faut instaurer des mesures pour conserver ces plantes. Malheureusement, la plupart des guérisseurs ou des utilisateurs n'étaient pas intéressés par la culture de ces plantes. La situation pourrait empirer en raison des changements sociaux et de la demande de terres pour l'agriculture dans ce district. [source] Germination responses of Spartidium saharae (Coss. & Dur.) Pomel (Fabaceae) to temperature and salinityAFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2010Zammouri Jamila Abstract Spartidium saharae is an endemic species of the Saharo-Arabian region. It is a tall shrub widely distributed in many sandy habitats including desert dunes and sandy systems in south-western part of Tunisia, where water and salinity are serious constraints. Laboratory experiments were carried out to assess temperature and salinity effects on seed germination. The seed germination responses were determined in complete darkness over a wide range of temperatures and salinities. Germination was inhibited by either an increase or decrease in temperature from the optimal temperature range (15,20°C). Highest germination percentages were obtained under nonsaline conditions and an increase in NaCl concentrations progressively inhibited seed germination. An interaction between salinity and temperature yielded no germination at 200 mm NaCl. Résumé Spartidium saharae (Coss. & Dur.) Pomel est une légumineuse, exclusivement saharienne endémique de l'élément saharo-arabique. Cette espèce est un arbuste de haute taille, assez commune dans les habitats sableux et les dunes de sable au Sud-ouest de la Tunisie. Les effets de la température, de la salinité ainsi que leurs interactions sur la germination des semences ont étéévalués. La germination des semences a été retardée et réduite avec l'augmentation ou la diminution de la température par rapport à l'optimum thermique (15 à 20°C). Le maximum de germination a été obtenu dans des conditions non salines, l'augmentation du NaCl réduit d'une manière significative le pourcentage de germination. L'interaction de la température et du sel sur la germination entraine une inhibition totale de la germination à 200 mM de NaCl. Mots clés: Germination; Spartidium saharae, Température, Salinité. [source] Trade-offs between direct and indirect defences of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus)JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 5 2008Daniel J. Ballhorn Summary 1Plant defence theory predicts trade-offs among defence traits as a result of resource limitation or pleiotropic effects. Although theoretically widely accepted, empirical demonstrations of such trade-offs are surprisingly scarce and mechanistic explanations are usually lacking. 2We quantified cyanogenesis (the release of hydrogen cyanide (HCN)) as a direct defence and the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as an indirect defence against herbivores. To elucidate whether the trade-offs occur at the genetic or phenotypic level we investigated cultivated and wild-type accessions of lima bean (Fabaceae: Phaseolus lunatus L.) and compared different leaf developmental stages. Genetic relationships among the accessions were studied using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis. 3Cyanogenesis and the release of VOCs differed significantly among the accessions and were negatively correlated: high cyanogenic accessions released low amounts of VOCs and vice versa. The same remained true for the ontogenetic stages, since primary leaves of all accessions hardly ever produced HCN at all, yet regularly showed high release rates of VOCs. 4Low and high cyanogenic accessions of lima bean formed distinct clades in an AFLP-based dendrogram, while wild-types and cultivars did not separate. The first pattern indicates that the underlying defensive syndromes are genetically conserved, while the latter is likely to be caused by a multiple origin of cultivated lima beans or an extensive gene flow among cultivated and wild plants. 5Synthesis. Trade-offs between cynogenesis and VOC release were obvious both between accessions and at the ontogenetic level, and thus cannot be explained by pleiotropy. We contend that allocation restrictions and/or adaptations to different enemy pressures are most likely to explain why lima bean can invest into cyanogenesis or VOCs, but not both. [source] Nectar and Pollen Sources for Honeybee (Apis cerana cerana Fabr.) in Qinglan Mangrove Area, Hainan Island, ChinaJOURNAL OF INTEGRATIVE PLANT BIOLOGY, Issue 11 2006Yi-Feng Yao Abstract In the present study, nectar and pollen sources for honeybee (Apis cerana cerana Fabr.) were studied in Qinglan mangrove area, Hainan Island, China, based on microscopic analysis of honey and pollen load (corbicular and gut contents) from honeybees collected in October and November 2004. Qualitative and quantitative melittopalynological analysis of the natural honey sample showed that the honey is of unifloral type with Mimosa pudica L. (Mimosaceae) as the predominant (89.14%) source of nectar and pollen for A. cerana cerana in October. Members of Araceae are an important minor (3%-15%) pollen type, whereas those of Arecaceae are a minor (<3%) pollen type. Pollen grains of Nypa fruticans Wurmb., Rhizophora spp., Excoecaria agallocha L., Lumnitzera spp., Bruguiera spp., Kandelia candel Druce, and Ceriops tagal (Perr.) C. B. Rob. are among the notable mangrove taxa growing in Qinglan mangrove area recorded as minor taxa in the honey. The absolute pollen count (i.e. the number of pollen grains/10 g honey sample) suggests that the honey belongs to Group V (>1 000 000). Pollen analysis from the corbicular and gut contents of A. cerana cerana revealed the highest representation (95.60%) of members of Sonneratia spp. (Sonneratiaceae), followed by Bruguiera spp. (Rhizophoraceae), Euphorbiaceae, Poaceae, Fabaceae, Arecaceae, Araceae, Anacardiaceae, and Rubiaceae. Of these plants, those belonging to Sonneratia plants are the most important nectar and pollen sources for A. cerana cerana and are frequently foraged and pollinated by these bees in November. (Managing editor: Ya-Qin Han) [source] Identification and Characterization of a Potyvirus Isolated from Siratro PlantsJOURNAL OF PHYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2008L. J. Regatieri Abstract The present work describes the identification and characterization of a potyvirus isolated from siratro (Macroptilium atropurpureum Urb.) in the north-west region of the State of São Paulo, Brazil. The virus was transmitted by mechanical inoculation. Its host range was restricted mainly to members of the Fabaceae. A cDNA fragment of about 930 bp was amplified by RT/PCR, cloned and sequenced. The fragment, which included the coat protein gene, had amino acid identity percentages between 88 and 98% with isolates of Bean common mosaic virus (BCMV). Phylogenetic analysis grouped the siratro potyvirus and BCMV isolates in 99% of the replicates, including Azuki mosaic virus, Dendrobium mosaic virus, Blackeye cowpea mosaic virus and Peanut stripe virus, which have been classified as BCMV strains. This is the first citation on the presence of BCMV in siratro plants in Brazil. [source] Seedling regeneration, environment and management in a semi-deciduous African tropical rain forestJOURNAL OF VEGETATION SCIENCE, Issue 5 2009Edward N. Mwavu Abstract Questions: How is seedling regeneration of woody species of semi-deciduous rain forests affected by (a) historical management for combinations of logging, arboricide treatment or no treatment, (b) forest community type and (c) environmental gradients of topography, light and soil nutrients? Location: Budongo Forest Reserve, Uganda. Methods: Seedling regeneration patterns of trees and shrubs in relation to environmental factors and historical management types were studied using 32 0.5-ha plots laid out in transects along a topographic gradient. We compared seedling species diversity, composition and distribution patterns along topographic gradients and within types of historical management regimes and forest communities to test whether environmental factors contributed to differences in species composition of seedlings. Results: A total of 85 624 woody seedlings representing 237 species and 46 families were recorded in this rain forest. Cynometra alexandri C.H. Wright and Lasiodiscus mildbraedii Engl. had high seedling densities and were widely distributed throughout the plots. The most species-rich families were Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Rubiaceae, Meliaceae, Moraceae and Rutaceae. Only total seedling density was significantly different between sites with different historical management, with densities highest in logged, intermediate in logged/arboricided and lowest in the nature reserve. Forest communities differed significantly in terms of seedling diversity and density. Seedling composition differed significantly between transects and forest communities, but not between topographic positions or historical management types. Both Chao-Jaccard and Chao-Sørensen abundance-based similarity estimators were relatively high in the plot, forest community and in terms of historical management levels, corroborating the lack of significant differences in species richness within these groups. The measured environmental variables explained 59.4% of variance in seedling species distributions, with the three most important being soil organic matter, total soil titanium and leaf area index (LAI). Total seedling density was positively correlated with LAI. Differences in diversity of >2.0 cm dbh plants (juveniles and adults) also explained variations in seedling species diversity. Conclusions: The seedling bank is the major route for regeneration in this semi-deciduous tropical rain forest, with the wide distribution of many species suggesting that these species regenerate continuously. Seedling diversity, density and distribution are largely a function of adult diversity, historical management type and environmental gradients in factors such as soil nutrient content and LAI. The species richness of seedlings was higher in soils both rich in titanium and with low exchangeable cations, as well as in logged areas that were more open and had a low LAI. [source] Microsatellite markers for the invasive plant species white sweetclover (Melilotus alba) and yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis)MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES, Issue 6 2007L. M. WINTON Abstract We describe specific primers that amplify nine microsatellite DNA loci from Melilotus alba and Melilotus officinalis, both invasive plant species (Fabaceae) throughout North America. Allelic diversity was slightly lower for M. alba than for M. officinalis, as was expected heterozygosity. For both species, heterozygote deficit was observed at several loci. Genotypic diversity was very high for both species; the 29 plant samples of each species all had different multilocus genotypes. These markers will be used to determine the origins of the sweetclover invasion in Alaska and to compare patterns of diversity between subarctic and lower latitude populations. [source] Characterization of polymorphic microsatellite loci in the tropical ant-plant Leonardoxa africana (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae)MOLECULAR ECOLOGY RESOURCES, Issue 1 2005G. DEBOUT Abstract Ten microsatellite loci were isolated from the African ant-plant Leonardoxa africana (Fabaceae: Caesalpinioideae). They differentiate the two most divergent subspecies of this polytypic complex, L. a. africana and L. a. gracilicaulis, showing promise for the study of gene flow. In each of these two subspecies, high levels of within-population variation were observed, with a number of alleles ranging from one to 10 in ssp. africana and from one to 7 in ssp. gracilicaulis, and heterozygosity from 0 to 0.933 in ssp. africana and to 0.867 in ssp. gracilicaulis. All loci amplified successfully in the two other subspecies of L. africana. [source] Specific resistances against Pseudomonas syringae effectors AvrB and AvrRpm1 have evolved differently in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), soybean (Glycine max), and Arabidopsis thalianaNEW PHYTOLOGIST, Issue 4 2010Nicolas W. G. Chen Summary ,In plants, the evolution of specific resistance is poorly understood. Pseudomonas syringae effectors AvrB and AvrRpm1 are recognized by phylogenetically distinct resistance (R) proteins in Arabidopsis thaliana (Brassicaceae) and soybean (Glycine max, Fabaceae). In soybean, these resistances are encoded by two tightly linked R genes, Rpg1-b and Rpg1-r. To study the evolution of these specific resistances, we investigated AvrB- and AvrRpm1-induced responses in common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris, Fabaceae). ,Common bean genotypes of various geographical origins were inoculated with P. syringae strains expressing AvrB or AvrRpm1. A common bean recombinant inbred line (RIL) population was used to map R genes to AvrRpm1. ,No common bean genotypes recognized AvrB. By contrast, multiple genotypes responded to AvrRpm1, and two independent R genes conferring AvrRpm1-specific resistance were mapped to the ends of linkage group B11 (Rpsar-1, for resistance to Pseudomonas syringae effector AvrRpm1 number 1) and B8 (Rpsar-2). Rpsar-1 is located in a region syntenic with the soybean Rpg1 cluster. However, mapping of specific Rpg1 homologous genes suggests that AvrRpm1 recognition evolved independently in common bean and soybean. ,The conservation of the genomic position of AvrRpm1-specific genes between soybean and common bean suggests a model whereby specific clusters of R genes are predisposed to evolve recognition of the same effector molecules. [source] Pollen source and resource limitation to fruit production in the rare species Eremosparton songoricum (Fabaceae)NORDIC JOURNAL OF BOTANY, Issue 4 2010Xiang Shi Eremosparton songoricum (Litv.) Vass. is a rare, central Asian desert species which shows lower fruit set and seed set (<16%) than most hermaphroditic species. We hypothesized that fruit production was limited by pollen and resources. To evaluate potential fruit abortion due to pollen limitation, supplemental hand-pollination was undertaken, the mating system was investigated and the foraging behavior of pollinators was recorded. To investigate possibile resource limitation, flowers and young pods were artificially removed and fertilization were manipulated. The results showed that under natural pollination, the number of pollen deposited on the stigma greatly exceed the number of ovules per ovary. Mating system experiments showed that the species is self-compatible, but depended on pollinators to set seeds. Supplemental outcross pollination increased fruit set significantly. The most frequent effective pollinator Megachile terminate Morawitz, was observed pollinating many flowers of the same individual plant (74.5±1.3%). These results suggested that fruit production is affected by insufficient outcross pollen rather than by pollen quantity. Removal of 2/3 of the flowers and young pods led to significantly higher fruit set, as did addition of fertilizers (N,P,K: 0.025,0.05,0.013,g, N,P,K: 0.05,0.1,0.025,g) showing that reducing resource acceptors and increasing inorganic resources both helps to improve fruit set. We therefore conclude that reproductive success of E. songoricum is limited by both outcross pollen and available nutrients. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||