Dormición física de las semillas de leguminosas nativas de Argentina

Leguminosae es una familia con un alto valor de uso como alimento, forraje, medicina y para fines ornamentales y de restauración ecológica. Uno de los principales problemas para el uso y manejo de muchas de estas especies es la presencia de semillas con dormición física. En el presente trabajo se evaluó la presencia de dormición física en nueve especies nativas de Argentina y los posibles métodos que permitan la salida de este estado. Las semillas de Caesalpinia gilliesii, Geoffroea decorticans y Prosopis alpataco presentaron semillas sin dormición, mientras que las semillas de Crotalaria incana, C. pumila, C. stipularia, Desmanthus virgatus, Galactia texana y Senna aphylla presentaron dormición física. Los métodos más eficientes para romper la dormición física de las semillas de las especies del género Crotalaria fueron la escarificación mecánica y el calor húmedo (100°C); la escarificación mecánica, la química (ácido sulfúrico: 20 y 30 minutos) y la escarificación con calor húmedo (80 y 100°C) para D. virgatus; la escarificación mecánica para G. texana; y la escarificación mecánica y la química (ácido sulfúrico: 10, 20 y 30 minutos) para S. aphylla. Estos resultados contribuyen al conocimiento de la biología de las semillas de estas especies y a su utilización en programas de propagación de plantas en invernaderos, restauración ecológica y conservación.Leguminosae is a family with high value of use for food, medicine, forage, ornamental and restoration ecology purposes. One obstacle for the use and management of many legume species is the presence of seeds with physical dormancy. Here, we evaluated the presence of physical dormancy in nine native species of Argentina and identified possible methods for breaking dormancy. Caesalpinia gilliesii, Geoffroea decorticans, and Prosopis alpataco have seeds with no physical dormancy, whereas Crotalaria incana, C. pumila, C. stipularia, Desmanthus virgatus, Galactia texana, and Senna aphylla have seeds with physical dormancy. The most effective methods for breaking physical dormancy were mechanical and wet heat (100°C) scarification for Crotalaria spp.; mechanical, acid (20 and 30 min) and wet heat scarification (80 and 100°C) for D. virgatus; mechanical scarification for G. texana and mechanical and all acid scarification treatments for S. aphylla. These results contribute to the knowledge of the germination biology for these species, and are of particular interest for their propagation in glasshouse and for restoration and conservation programs.Fil: Galindez, Guadalupe. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Escuela de Agronomía. Laboratorio de Investigaciones Botánicas; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Ceccato, Diana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Recursos Biológicos; ArgentinaFil: Malagrina, Gisela. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Recursos Biológicos; ArgentinaFil: Pidal, Barbara. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Recursos Biológicos; ArgentinaFil: Chilo, Gladys. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria; ArgentinaFil: Bach, Hernán Gerónimo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Recursos Biológicos; ArgentinaFil: Fortunato, Renée Hersilia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria. Centro de Investigación de Recursos Naturales. Instituto de Recursos Biológicos; ArgentinaFil: Ortega Baes, Francisco Pablo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Salta. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales. Escuela de Agronomía. Laboratorio de Investigaciones Botánicas; Argentin

Ethnobotany among the Gashaka inhabitants of Gashaka Gumti National Park, Taraba State, Nigeria

The study was carried out to investigate use of medicinal plants by the indigenous people of Gashaka enclave to bridge the dearth of information on the indigenous knowledge of the medicinal uses of the existing plant species in the area. The inhabitants of Gashaka village were 300 at the time of this study and 30 were sampled. Simple random sampling technique was employed to select the respondents who were interviewed by the use of Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) technique to obtain information on their indigenous knowledge on plant species used for medicinal purpose. All the respondents (100%) claimed that they utilize various parts of plant for treatment of yellow-fever, stomach pain, dysentery, toothache, typhoid, and malaria among other illness. Some species of plants identified to have medicinal uses include Parkia biglobosa, Albizia lebbeck, Prosopis africana, Piliostigma thonninggii, Cassia simea, Daniellia oliverii, Burkea africana, Afzelia africana, Tamarindus indica, Terminalia glaucosens, Terminalia macroptera, Adansonia digitata, Steculia setigera, Bridelia ferruginea, Vitex doniana, Vitelllaria paradoxa, Ficus sycomovus, Nauclea latifolia, Grewia mollis, Anogeissus leiocarpus and Crossopteryx fibriguga. The bark (47%) was most utilized by the majority of the respondents, followed by leaves (23%). The study revealed that medicinal plants form an important component of the natural wealth of Gashaka community of Taraba state, which have been used for treatment various ailments and it has established the fact that various plants were used in one way or the other as medicine. Pragmatic conservation education and strategies should be recommended in order to conserve the rich floral diversity; for further investigation, other ways by which the abundant plant species are utilized in Gashaka Gumti National Park is recommended in other enclaves of the park.Keywords: Gashaka, Indigenous Knowledge, Medicinal Uses, Conservation, National Par

Pollen Analysis of the Honeys Samples Produced in the Three Phyto-geographical Zones of Benin

The aim of this work was the melissopalynologycal analysis of the honey samples collected both during the dry and rainy seasons of the three phyto-geographical zones of Benin. The analysis was performed by conventional methods on 60 honeys samples. The total of 138 taxa have been identified at family level (31), genus level (20) and to the level species (87). The number of pollens counted varies according to the phyto-geographical zones. Thus, 17091 pollens have been counted in the samples of the Sudanian zone; 13884 in those of the Sudano-Guinean zone and 7960 pollens in those of the Guinean zone. The pollen content of the honey samples reflects the plant species of the three phyto-geographical zones. The most dominant plant taxa were Combretaceaes (26.01%) and Parkia biglobosa (10.67%) in Sudanian zone, Combretaceae (29.52%) in SudanoGuinean zone. In the Guinean zone, the dominant taxa were Zea mays (18.35%) and Terminalia (15.34%). The specific richness varies from 6 to 43 in the Sudanian zone, from 7 to 34 in the Sudano-Guinean zone and from 1 to 28 taxa in the Guinean zone. None of the density of the dominant pollens reached 45%, thus all the analyzed honeys are polyfloral

Tree diversity status and abundance in Ehor tropical rainforest reserve in Edo state, Nigeria

This study assessed the status of biodiversity and the tree abundance investigated in BC areas 12/1, 15/1 and 16/1 of Ehor Forest Reserve, Edo State, Nigeria. Systemic line transect was employed for laying of plots. Two transects with a distance of 500m between them were laid at the centre of each of the three BC areas. Four sample plots (20m x 20m) per transect were laid. Within each plot, woody plant species with diameter at breast height (dbh) ≥ 5 cm were identified and their dbh and height measured. A total of 541 individual trees were measured within the sample plots. The results indicated that 206, 809 and 675 average number of trees per hectare were encountered in BC areas 12/1, 15/1 and 16/1 respectively. The mean basal area per hectare were 1.82 m2 ha-1 for BC 12/1 area, 26.66 m2 ha-1 for BC 15/1 area and 28.24 m2 ha-1 for BC 16/1 area. The species richness indices computed were 6.92, 8.64 and 8.19 for BC areas 12/1, 15/1 and 16/1 respectively and the values of Shannon-Wiener diversity Index (HꞋ) for BC areas 12/1, 15/1 and 16/1 were 3.19, 3.54 and 3.40 respectively. These indices were very high, indicating that the forest is a potential biodiversity hotspot. The indices compared favourably with several protected tropical rainforest areas that are biodiversity hotspots. The most abundant tree species were Ceiba pentandra (19 stems/ha) and Mansonia altissima (19 stems/ha) found in BC 12/1. In BC 15/1, out of 49 tree species, Berlina coriacea, Celtis zenkeri, and Brachystegia kennedyi had the highest density with 75 stems, 63 stems and 50 stems per hectare respectively while in BC 16/1, the species with the highest density were Trichilia welwitschii (69 stems/ha), Celtis zenkeri (63 stems/ha) and Blighia sapida (47stems/ha). This research revealed the rich status of tree species diversity. Therefore, there is need to ensure sustainable management of the reserve in order to maintained and improved on its present status.Keywords: Biodiversity status, tree species abundance, tropical rainforest, Ehor Forest Reserv

Inventário das espécies vegetais na Serra da Canastra, Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra, Minas Gerais, Brasil

O Bioma Cerrado está dentro das áreas prioritárias para a conservação da biodiversidade do planeta, devido a alta diversidade florística existente entre as savanas mundiais, e pela ameaça de devastação pela mudança do uso da terra. O levantamento das espécies arbóreas, arbustivas, gramíneas, ervas e trepadeiras foi realizado na Serrada Canastra, no Parque Nacional da Serra Canastra (MG), em pontos de amostragem de 2 em 2 Km. As espécies vegetais amostradas somaram-se em 269, sendo 84 espécies arbóreas, 66 arbustivas, 45 ervas, 70 gramíneas e quatro trepadeiras, distribuídas em 43 famílias botânicas. As espécies que tiveram maior densidade por hectares, segundo sua forma de vida foram: A) Cariniana legalis (Mart.) Kuntze., arbórea; B) Dasiphyllum brasiliense (Spreng.) Cabrera, trepadeira; C) Clibadium armanii (Balbis) Sch. Bip. exBaker, arbustiva; D) Ichnanthus pallens (Sw.) Munro ex Benth., gramínea; e E) Thelypterispatens (Sw.) Small, erva. __________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThe “Cerrado” Biome was into priority areas to world biodiversity conservation by high floristic diversity existent between the world savannas, and by threat of devastation result of the land-use change. The survey of the tree, shrub,grass, herb and forb species was sampled in “Serra da Canastra”, at the “Serra daCanastra” National Park (MG), in sampled points of each 2 km. The plant speciess ampled sum in total 269, being 84 tree species, 66 shrub species, 45 herb species, 70 grass species and four forb species, distributed in 43 botanical families. The speciesthat had high density by hectare, referent its life form were: A) Cariniana legalis (Mart.) Kuntze., tree; B) Dasiphyllum brasiliense (Spreng.) Cabrera, forb; C) Clibadium armanii (Balbis) Sch. Bip. ex Baker, shrub; D) Ichnanthus pallens (Sw.) Munro ex Benth., grass; and E) Thelypteris patens (Sw.) Small, herb

Seasonal forests and ecotone areas in the state of Tocantins, Brazil : structure, classification and guidelines for conservation

O objetivo deste estudo foi descrever a riqueza, estrutura e diversidade de espécies arbóreas em áreas de Floresta Estacional e ecótono (Floresta Estacional/Floresta Ombrófila) no estado do Tocantins, buscando subsídios para a conservação, manejo florestal, compensação de reserva legal e recuperação ambiental, além de discutir as identidades fitogeográficas em comparação com outras florestas do Brasil. Em 18 bacias hidrográficas, conduziu-se amostragem da vegetação arbórea (DAP > 5 cm) de 22 áreas (amostras) por meio do inventário de 477 parcelas de 400 m². Foram elaboradas análises de classificação pelo método TWINSPAN, em duas escalas distintas. A primeira avaliou a diversidade beta entre as parcelas amostradas no estado do Tocantins e a segunda buscou analisar a similaridade das florestas do Tocantins em relação a outras florestas do bioma Cerrado e suas áreas de tensão ecológica. As florestas amostradas apresentaram ampla variação em termos de riqueza (33 a 243 espécies), densidade (486 a 1.179 ind.ha-1), área basal (14,04 e 37,49 m².ha-1), índices de diversidade (H´ = 2,75 a 4,59) e de equabilidade (J´= 0,72 a 0,86). As análises de classificação convergiram para resultados comuns, identificando quatro ambientes dissimilares em termos florísticos e estruturais no estado do Tocantins: Floresta Estacional Decidual, Floresta Estacional Semidecidual, ecótono Floresta Estacional Semidecidual/Floresta Ombrófila e ecótono Floresta Estacional Decidual/Floresta Ombrófila. A fim de manter a diversidade de plantas e de ambientes na região de transição Floresta Amazônica e Cerrado, sugere-se que o processo de criação de unidades de conservação no estado do Tocantins deva ser intensificado e tenha como base para seleção das áreas critérios biogeográficos.The purpose of this study was to describe the richness, structure and diversity of tree species occurring in seasonally dry forests and some ecotone areas (Seasonal Forest/Ombrophilous Forest) in the state of Tocantins (Brazil). We aimed to provide information for conservation, management, environmental compensation and restoration strategies, and discuss their phytogeography identities in relation to other Brazilian forests. We selected 22 areas in 18 hydrogeographic basins and performed an inventory of all trees species (DHB > 5 cm) occurring in 477 plots of 400 m². We conducted a classification analysis of the vegetation using the TWINSPAN method in two different scales. The first assessed the beta diversity among plots within the state of Tocantins, and the second analysed similarities between these forests and other forests ecosystems in the Cerrado ecoregion and related ecotones in Central Brazil. A wide variation of species richness (33 to 243 species), density (486 to 1179 trees.ha-1), basal area (14.04 to 37.49 m². ha-1), diversity indexes (H’ = 2.75 to 4.59) and evenness (J’ = 0.72 to 0.86) across the sites was found. Based on floristic and structural aspects, classification analyses identified four major forests types: Seasonal Deciduous Forest, Seasonal Semi-deciduous Forest, and two ecotones Seasonal Semideciduous Forest/Ombrophilous Forest and ecotone Seasonal Deciduous Forest / Ombrophilous Forest. In order to maintain plant and habitat diversity in the Amazon/Cerrado transition zone, the creation of conservation areas should be intensified using biogeographical patterns as site selection criteria

Effects of Forest Fire on the Regeneration Potentials of Tree Species in Olokemeji Forest Reserve, Ogun State, Nigeria

Effects of forest fire on the regeneration potential of trees at Olokemeji Forest Reserve was established in this study. The Olokemeji fire experimental plot was selected at the reserve. The site was divided into three plots; late fire treatment was applied to Plot A, Early fire treatment was also applied to Plot B and no fire treatment at plot C (Control plot). The diameter at breast height (dbh) and tree height (m) of the tree species in the plots were assessed prior and post fire treatment. The regeneration potential of the selected plots after burning were assessed through the occurrence of saplings and seedlings obtained. The highest basal area (m2) were found in plot C followed by plot B and Plot C with mean value of 0.64, 0.55 and 0.30 m2 respectively. The number of stems per plot ranged from 25 to 67. The regeneration potentials of the three plots were found to be noteworthy. Early and late year fire regime adopted had both positive and negative effect on the regeneration potentials of tree species. This study has established the effect and relevance of fire on forest and wildlife management. It’s therefore recommended in this study that Prescribed or controlled burning should be encouraged as appropriate sivilcultural management tool for stimulating basal area growth, natural regeneration, production of tree species seedlings and saplings

Ethnobotanical knowledge of children in selected communities in plateau state, Nigeria: Drivers of children’s plant knowledge and the conservation implications for the future of biodiversity

The study was conducted to assess the ethnobotanical knowledge of primary school children in six selected communities of Plateau State, Nigeria and to determine the drivers of their knowledge including methods of knowledge acquisition and transmission. Six different rural communities from Plateau State Nigeria were  selected for the study; two schools in each community (total, 156 respondents). Data was collected through a mixed methods approach, using focus group plant identification exercise, picture identification activity, and oral interviews. Data was analyzed using simple descriptive statistics and frequencies. Results revealed that children had a relatively low knowledge of plants (30.3%), although this was mostly indigenous plants. A greater  proportion (40.6 %) of children held no ethnobotanical knowledge, 19.5 % could identify both exotic and  indigenous plants, while a further 9.6% identified only exotic species. Furthermore, the results revealed that parents, mostly mothers were the major transmitters of plant knowledge. We conclude that children’s ethnobotanical knowledge of plants was relatively low, and that there is a need to deliberately encourage local involvement of children in practical plant learning activities to help improve their plant knowledge if they are to become effective and knowledgeable custodians and stewards of our future biodiversity

Inferences palaeoenvironment on the Pozo de la Chola site, sub-andean region of Jujuy province (2000-1500 year bp) based on an analysis of the macroremains

El presente estudio tiene como objetivo la identificación taxonómica de carbones y carporestos silvestres arqueológicos procedentes del sitio Pozo de la Chola. Este se encuentra localizado en la región del piedemonte de la provincia de Jujuy. Fitogeográficamente se ubica en una franja ecotonal entre la provincia fitogeográfica Chaqueña (Distrito Chaqueño Occidental), donde predomina un clima subtropical serrano; y la provincia fitogeográfica de las Yungas. Los grupos humanos dejaron improntas del entorno ambiental donde vivieron a través del uso de diversas especies silvestres, tanto combustibles como posiblemente comestibles. El fin último es inferir el paleoambiente para el período comprendido entre los 2000-1500 años AP a partir de la asociación florística resultante de éste estudio. A través del método de extracción de zaranda húmeda y seca, los diversos carporestos fueron recuperados de todos los niveles de excavación del área completa ocupada por el sitio arqueológico. El material antracológico se recuperó directamente en planta, se aplico el método de fractura para obtener los tres planos tradicionales de observación (sección transversal, longitudinal radial y longitudinal tangencial) microscópicas de 34 muestras con un promedio de 19 fragmentos de carbones por muestra. Una vez descriptos los caracteres diagnósticos por comparación con muestras actuales se realizo la identificación taxonómica. Los resultados indican, hasta al momento, la cercanía al sitio de tres unidades florísticas con elementos vinculados al Chaco chaqueño húmedo, Chaco seco a serrano y un ambiente ribereño.This aims study taxonomic identification of charcoals, seeds and fruits archaeological from Pozo de la Chola archaeological site. Phytogeographically is located in a transition area between Chaco phytogeographical province (Western Chaco District), where a Serrano subtropical climate prevails, and the Yungas province. In the piedmont region of the Jujuy province. Through the use of fuel and edible species, the human groups environmental left prints of environment where they lived. Another aim of this contribution is infer the paleoenvironment in the period between 2000-1500 year BP from the resulting floristic association. Through the extraction method of wet and dry sieve, the various carporestos were recovered from all levels of excavation of the area occupied by the archaeological site. The anthracological samples were recovered directly in floor. The 34 samples of charcoals were identified by examining freshly fractured surfaces (cross, radial and tangential sections) using reflected light. Diagnostic features are described and by compared to current species taxonomic identification is made. That suggests, up to the time, the proximity to the site of three floristic units with elements linked to: Humid Chaco, Chaco dry to-Serrano and a coastal environment.Fil: Ramos, Rita Soledad. Provincia de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Universidad Autónoma de Entre Ríos. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Centro de Investigaciones Científicas y Transferencia de Tecnología a la Producción; ArgentinaFil: Ortiz, María Gabriela. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Salta. Unidad Ejecutora en Ciencias Sociales Regionales y Humanidades. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Unidad Ejecutora en Ciencias Sociales Regionales y Humanidades; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy; ArgentinaFil: Alavar, Alvaro José. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Jujuy. Facultad de Humanidades y Ciencias Sociales. Centro Regional de Estudios Arqueológicos; Argentin

Mycorrhizal status of indigenous tree species in a forest biome of the Eastern Cape, South Africa

Mycorrhizal fungi are intimately associated with plant roots, affecting plant growth, health and increasing the plants' tolerance to environmental stress. Several mycorrhizal types are recognized based primarily on morphological characteristics within plant roots. When considering propagation and management of an indigenous plant species, it is essential to know its mycorrhizal status. Root samples from 17 tree species common to the pockets of forest in the Eastern Cape province, and representing the families Rubiaceae, Scrophulariaceae, Oleaceae, Podocarpaceae, Myrsinaceae, Anacardiaceae, Caesalpinoideae, Papilionoideae, Rutaceae, Meliaceae, Celastraceae, Flacouticeae and Ebenaceae, were sampled and examined for mycorrhizal colonization. Microscopic examination of all the species produced evidence of morphological structures indicative of endomycorrhizal associations as indicated by the presence of intercellular hyphae combined with vesicles, arbuscules or hyphal coils. Hyphal coils (also known as Paris-type associations) appeared to be abundant, especially within the Cassine genus. Arbuscules (also known as Arum-type associations) were scarce but sometimes present, and vesicles were prolific in Olea capensis. Most of the tree species examined have been assigned arbuscular mycorrhizal status. No ectomycorrhizal associations were recorde