Development of ITS sequence based molecular marker to distinguish, Tribulus terrestris L. (Zygophyllaceae) from its adulterants

Tribulus terrestris L. (Zygophyllaceae) is one of the highly traded raw drugs and also used as a stimulative food additive in Europe and USA. While, Ayurvedic Pharmacopoeia of India recognizes T. terrestris as Goksura, Tribulus lanuginosus and T. subramanyamii are also traded by the same name raising issues of quality control. The nuclear ribosomal RNA genes and ITS (internal transcribed spacer) sequence were used to develop species-specific DNA markers. The species-specific markers efficiently amplified 295 bp for T. terrestris (TT1F and TT1R), 300 bp for T. lanuginosus (TL1F and TL1R) and 214 bp for T. subramanyamii (TS1F and TS1R). These DNA markers can be used to distinguish T. terrestris from its adulterants.     

Cladistic relationships among the Pleurotus ostreatus complex, the Pleurotus pulmonarius complex, and Pleurotus eryngii based on the mitochondrial small subunit ribosomal DNA sequence analysis

The cladistic analysis of the V4 domain sequences, performed by UPGMA, the neighbor-joining, and parsimony methods, revealed that the 19 Pleurotus strains tested in this study evolved along three lineages, each corresponding to a separate biological species: the Pleurotus ostreatus complex, the Pleurotus pulmonarius complex, and Pleurotus eryngii. Moreover, the cladistic positions of the 3 biological species show that the P. ostreatus complex and P. eryngii were derived from a common ancestor at a later stage of evolution, and that the common ancestor had diverged from the lineage of the P. pulmonarius complex during an earlier evolutionary event. The sequences of the 5 portion of the mt SSU rDNA among the strains of the P. ostreatus complex had 99.2%–99.6% homology. All test strains in the P. pulmonarius complex had completely identical sequences. The homology of the strain sequences between the P. ostreatus complex and the P. pulmonarius complex ranged from 96.0% to 96.3%. The sequence of the strain of P. eryngii showed 97.8%–98.3% and 96.5% homologies with those of the strains in the P. ostreatus and the P. pulmonarius complexes, respectively.     

Early results from genetic trials on the growth of Spanish cedar and its susceptibility to the shoot borer moth in the Yucatan Peninsula,Mexico

Cedrela odorata (Spanish cedar) is a neotropical broadleaf tree species that is in high demand for furniture and interior fittings. In 1998, seed collections were made from Spanish cedar in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico, for genetic conservation and tree improvement projects. Progeny from these collections were established in genetic trials at Bacalar, Noh Bec, and Zoh Laguna in the Yucatan. Survival at 2 years was 73.5% at Bacalar, 72% at Noh Bec, but only 20% after 6 months for several replicates at Zoh Laguna. Mean 2-year height, number of years of Hypsipyla attack on apical shoots (over 2 or 3 years) and total branching over 2 years, were 1.3 m, 0.04 years, and 2.5 branches at Bacalar, and 1.9 m, 0.35 years, and 1.6 branches at Noh Bec. Selection of the three best provenances (Escárcega, Bacalar, and Calakmul) would result in an estimated cross-site gain of 8.6% in 2-year height. Within-provenance, cross-site heritabilities for 2-year height, shoot borer attack, and branching were 0.1 ± 0.02, 0.0 ± 0.02, and 0.0 ± 0.02, respectively. Single-site heritabilities for height at 2 years, shoot borer attack, and branching were 0.09 ± 0.05, 0.02 ± 0.04, and 0.09 ± 0.05 at Bacalar and 0.16 ± 0.07, 0.0 ± 0.06, and 0.0 ± 0.07 at Noh Bec. Given the known advantage of rapid growth to avoid Hypsipyla damage over the long term and the stable performance of provenances across sites for growth traits, we recommend provenance selection over multiple trials to reduce the risk of serious damage by the insect. Good provenances and other suitable seed sources, as well as proper site selection and silvicultural practices, are important tools for increasing yields from plantations of C. odorata.     

Cassia occidentalis L.: A review on its ethnobotany,phytochemical and pharmacological profile

Cassia occidentalis L. is an annual or perennial Ayurvedic plant which is used in several traditional medicines to cure various diseases. This weed has been known to possess antibacterial, antifungal, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, anticancerous, antimutagenic and hepatoprotective activity. A wide range of chemical compounds including achrosin, aloe-emodin, emodin, anthraquinones, anthrones, apigenin, aurantiobtusin, campesterol, cassiollin, chryso-obtusin, chrysophanic acid, chrysarobin, chrysophanol, chrysoeriol etc. have been isolated from this plant. The presented review summarizes the information concerning the botany, ethnopharmacologyquery, phytochemistry, biological activity and toxicity of the C.occidentalis plant.     

Effects of a bio-assay guided fraction from Polygonum cuspidatum root on the viability,acid production and glucosyltranferase of mutans streptococci

Polygonum cuspidatum root has been traditionally used for the treatment of dental diseases in Korea. The purpose of this study was to evaluate effects of P. cuspidatum root on the development of dental caries, especially its effects against bacterial viability and caries-inducing factors of Strptococcus mutans and Strptococcus sobrinus. Among methanol extract of P. cuspidatum root and its fraction tested, ethyl acetate fraction, composed of polydatin, resveratrol, anthraglycoside B, and emodin, showed inhibitory effects on glycolytic acid production and glucosyltransferase activity of S. mutans and S. sobrinus in addition to antibacterial activities.     

Lessons from 72 years of monitoring a once-cut pine-hardwood stand on the Crossett Experimental Forest, Arkansas, U.S.A.

The Crossett Experimental Forest was established in 1934 to provide landowners in the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain with reliable, science-based advice on how to manage their loblolly (Pinus taeda) and shortleaf (Pinus echinata) pine-dominated forests. A key component of this program was the establishment of an unmanaged control, currently known as the Russell R. Reynolds Research Natural Area (RRNA). Originally intended to show how the lack of regulation reduced sawtimber production compared to more intensively managed stands, the once-cut RRNA is now recognized as an increasingly scarce example of an undisturbed, mature pine-hardwood stand. This, in turn, has led to studies on forest succession, coarse woody debris, old-growth stand structure conditions, and biomass accumulation patterns. Long-term (72 years, to date) research has shown, as an example, that the RRNA has sustained >33 m² of basal area and over 240 Mg of aboveground live tree biomass per hectare for decades, values that are near the upper end of temperate forest ecosystems (outside of rainforests). These high levels are made possible by the abundance of large pines; however, pine mortality and natural successional patterns in this undisturbed stand will likely result in declining biomass in the near future. Additional work is possible regarding endangered species habitat and paleoclimate change, and there is potential for studies on invasive species effects on mature, unmanaged forests. Monitoring will continue indefinitely on the RRNA.     

A preliminary analysis of phylogenetic relationships ofArundinaria and related genera based on nucleotide sequences of nrDNA (ITS region) and cpDNA (trnL-F intergenic spacer)

Phylogenetic relationships ofArundinaria and related genera (Pleioblastus, Pseudosasa, Oligostachyum, Bashania, Clavinodum, etc.) were assessed by analyzing the sequences of the nrDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and the cpDNAtrnL-F intergenic spacer (IGS). Comparison withtrnL-F IGS sequence, the ITS region provided the higher number of parsimony informative characters, and the interspecific variation of the ITS sequence was higher than that of thetrnL-FIGS sequence. The tree obtained by combining both sets of data showed that the species sampled inArundinaria and the related genera were monophyletic and divided into two clades. The relationships and positioning of all the taxa surveryed (includingA. oleosa, A. hsienchuensis, A. chino, A. amara, A. yixingensis, A. amabilis, A. fortunei, A. pygmaea, A. gramineus, A. fargesii, A. faberi, A. hupehense, Pseudosasa japonica cv. Tsutsumiana, P. japonica andBrachystachyum densiflorum) were also discussed. The results from the sequences were broadly consistent with morphological characters, appearing all these taxa sampled belong to the genus ofArundinaria. The topologies of the trees generated from individual data and the combined data were similar. Foundation item: This study was supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 30170788) Biography: ZHUGE Qiang (1959-), male, professor in Laboratory of Forest Genetics and Gene Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, P.R. China. Responsible editor: Song Funan     

Susceptibility of ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa (Dougl. ex Laws.), to mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins,attack in uneven-aged stands in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming USA

Mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins can cause extensive tree mortality in ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa Dougl. ex Laws., forests in the Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming. Most studies that have examined stand susceptibility to mountain pine beetle have been conducted in even-aged stands. Land managers increasingly practice uneven-aged management. We established 84 clusters of four plots, one where bark beetle-caused mortality was present and three uninfested plots. For all plot trees we recorded species, tree diameter, and crown position and for ponderosa pine whether they were killed or infested by mountain pine beetle. Elevation, slope, and aspect were also recorded. We used classification trees to model the likelihood of bark beetle attack based on plot and site variables. The probability of individual tree attack within the infested plots was estimated using logistic regression. Basal area of ponderosa pine in trees ≥25.4 cm in diameter at breast height (dbh) and ponderosa pine stand density index were correlated with mountain pine beetle attack. Regression trees and linear regression indicated that the amount of observed tree mortality was associated with initial ponderosa pine basal area and ponderosa pine stand density index. Infested stands had higher total and ponderosa pine basal area, total and ponderosa pine stand density index, and ponderosa pine basal area in trees ≥25.4 cm dbh. The probability of individual tree attack within infested plots was positively correlated with tree diameter with ponderosa pine stand density index modifying the relationship. A tree of a given size was more likely to be attacked in a denser stand. We conclude that stands with higher ponderosa pine basal area in trees >25.4 cm and ponderosa pine stand density index are correlated with an increased likelihood of mountain pine beetle bark beetle attack. Information form this study will help forest managers in the identification of uneven-aged stands with a higher likelihood of bark beetle attack and expected levels of tree mortality.     

Tree microhabitat structures as indicators of biodiversity in Douglas-fir forests of different stand ages and management histories in the Pacific Northwest,U.S.A.

The importance of structural complexity in forest ecosystems for ecosystem diversity has been widely acknowledged. Tree microhabitat structures as indicators of biodiversity, however, have only seldom been the focus of diversity research although their occurrence is highly correlated with the abundance of forest species and ecosystem functions. In this study, microhabitat structures in Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) forests were defined and their frequency and abundance in natural stands and stands of varying active management histories and stand ages was compared. Indicator microhabitat structures for natural forests were determined and the relationship of the abundance of microhabitat structures with tree diameter of Douglas-fir trees was analysed.     

寄主树木、寄主和环境因子对松褐天牛深沟茧蜂寄生率的影响研究

[目的]松材线虫病是我国对森林危害和威胁最严重的病害,控制其传播媒介昆虫松褐天牛是防治松材线虫病的主要手段。作者发现的松褐天牛深沟茧蜂(Iphiaulax monochamusi Yang)是寄生松褐天牛中老龄幼虫的重要天敌。为明确松褐天牛深沟茧蜂的寄生率与寄主树木、寄主和环境因子的关系,开展了本研究。[方法]通过解剖46株松褐天牛危害致死的马尾松,调查了松褐天牛深沟茧蜂寄生率与马尾松、松褐天牛和环境因子之间的关系。[结果]调查研究表明:寄主树木的高度、胸径和树龄对松褐天牛深沟茧蜂寄生率没有显著影响,松褐天牛的数量对松褐天牛深沟茧蜂寄生率亦没有显著影响,而松褐天牛幼虫龄期和松褐天牛幼虫在树干上的位置显著影响松褐天牛深沟茧蜂寄生率。松褐天牛深沟茧蜂寄生率与松褐天牛龄期呈显著正相关,其偏好寄生3~5龄幼虫;就天牛在其危害寄主树木上的位置而言,松褐天牛深沟茧蜂偏好寄生马尾松主干上部和在韧皮部危害的松褐天牛幼虫,其对位于马尾松树干上部的寄主幼虫寄生率最高,达27.38%,对在韧皮部生活、危害的寄主幼虫寄生率为20.18%,显著高于位于木质部生活的寄主幼虫寄生率(5.46%)。逐步回归分析表明:影响松褐天牛深沟茧蜂寄生率的关键环境因子是寄主树木的坡位和其它天敌寄生率,其中,坡位与松褐天牛深沟茧蜂呈显著正相关,其它天敌寄生率与松褐天牛深沟茧蜂寄生率呈显著负相关。[结论]以上研究初步明确了松褐天牛深沟茧蜂的寄生率与寄主树木、寄主害虫和天敌之间的关系,为今后利用该重要天敌控制松褐天牛打下了基础。     

Manual recording of minirhizotron data and its application to study the effect of herbicide and nitrogen fertiliser on tree and pasture root growth in a silvopastoral system

The use of a simple counting method using a borescope and minirhizotron system to study the interaction of roots of wild cherry trees (Prunus avium L) and pasture in an upland silvopastoral system is described. Operator variation was greatest when distinguishing different tree root categories (e.g. white, brown, woody) but was not significant in relation to total tree or grass root counts or species differences. Analysis of covariance was used to take these differences into account in a field trial using several operators. The seasonal patterns of tree and pasture root growth were different. Tree roots peaked in May before maximal shoot growth. The peak in pasture roots occurred two weeks earlier. Tree height growth was increased by the use of herbicides to control grass growth but this effect was only apparent during August when the soil was dry and when pasture root counts were reduced.