Sesquiterpenoids in subtribe Centaureinae (Cass.) Dumort (tribe Cardueae, Asteraceae): distribution, 13C-NMR spectral data and biological properties

Asteraceae Bercht. & J. Presl is one of the biggest and most economically important plant families. The taxonomy and phylogeny of Asteraceae is rather complex and according to the latest and most reliable taxonomic classification of Panero & Funk, based on the analysis of nine chloroplast regions, the family is divided into 12 subfamilies and 35 tribes. One of the largest tribes of Asteraceae is Cardueae Cass. with four subtribes (Carlininae, Echinopinae, Carduinae and Centaureinae) and more than 2500 species. Susanna & Garcia-Jacas have organized the genera of Centaureinae (about 800 species) into seven informal groups, which recent molecular studies have confirmed: 1. Basal genera; 2. Volutaria group; 3. Rhaponticum group; 4. Serratula group; 5. Carthamus group; 6. Crocodylium group; 7. Centaurea group. This review summarizes reports on sesquiterpenoids from the Centaureinae subtribe of the Asteraceae family, as well as the 13C NMR spectral data described in the literature. It further reviews studies concerning the biological activities of these metabolites. For this work, literature data on sesquiterpenes from the Centaureinae subtribe were retrieved with the help of the SciFinder database and other similar data banks. All entries from 1958 until the end of 2011 were considered. This review is addressed to scientists working in the metabolomics field such as chemists, botanists, etc., the spectroscopic data reported make this work a good tool for structural elucidation, the biological section gives useful information to those who wish to study the structure activity relationships

AGAPETA ZOEGANA (L.) (LEPIDOPTERA: COCHYLIDAE), A SUITABLE PROSPECT FOR BIOLOGICAL CONTROL OF SPOTTED AND DIFFUSE KNAPWEED, CENTAUREA MACULOSA MONNET DE LA MARCK AND CENTAUREA DIFFUSA MONNET DE LA MARCK (COMPOSITAE) IN NORTH AMERICA

The taxonomy, distribution, life history, and host plant relationships of the cochylid moth Agapeta zoegana (L.), an oligophagous, facultatively multivoltine root feeder, are discussed. The results of oviposition and larval feeding tests with 56 plant species in five families are presented and show that A. zoegana is restricted to a few closely related species of Centaurea. In Europe the moth is widely distributed and abundant in the majority of the root-feeding guilds of Centaurea maculosa Monnet de la Marck studied, with densities of 23.6 larvae per 100 roots in eastern Austria/northwestern Hungary and less than 8 larvae per 100 roots in central Hungary and the Alsace. The acceptance of target North American species (the tetraploid form of C. maculosa and the diploid Centaurea diffusa Monnet de la Marck), the damage caused, and the active searching ability rate A. zoegana as a potentially effective natural enemy of spotted and diffuse knapweed in North America. Agapeta zoegana will be especially promising as it predominantly attacks the rosette, which is, according to a recently developed population model for diffuse knapweed in Canada, the most sensitive stage determining equilibrium knapweed density. Agapeta zoegana is compatible with Pelochrista medullana Staudinger (Lepidoptera: Cochylidae), another knapweed root feeder recently introduced into North America, and will complement the seed-feeding species already established. The moth was approved for release in Canada and the USA and has been established in British Columbia since 1984 on C. diffus

Floristic Composition and Structure of Zerat Forest, Central Ethiopia

This  study  was  conducted  in  Zerat  Afromontane  Forest  in  North Showa  Zone of Amhara Regional State of Ethiopia. The objective of the study was to investigate floristic composition and structure of the forest as well as to explore factors accounting for loss of forest in the study area.  Systematic sampling was used to collect vegetation data from 66 sample plots of size 20 x 20 m (400m2). In-depth interviews were conducted with farmers living in close vicinity to the forest to identify challenges and threats on the forest.  R-statistical package, Estimate-S and Microsoft Excel were used to analyze the data.  Vegetation classification was performed using R-statistical package. Rarefaction was applied to compare the species richness of the plant communities in the study area.  Sorensen’s similarity coefficient was used to detect similarities among the plant communities. A total of 156 plants belonging to 133 genera and 67 families were identified.  Asteraceae is the most dominant family followed by Fabaceae and Lamiaceae. It was noted that 17 of the plants encountered in the study area are endemic to Ethiopia. Three plant communities were identified in the study area: Juniperus procera Community Type, Senecio gigas-Scorpiurus muricatus Community Type, and Maytenus obscura- Chenopodium album Community Type. Anthropogenic distrubances such as grazing by domestic animals, fuel wood and timber extraction are the main threats to the forest in the study area. Conservation measures such as awareness creation, provision of alternative energy sources and minimizing illegal timber production need to be practiced for sustainable use of the forest.

Colección, documentación y conservación de semillas de especies nativas del Jardín Botánico Oro Verde FCA UNER y zonas aledañas

El Jardín Botánico Oro Verde de la Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos (JBOV FCA UNER) incluye, al igual que zonas aledañas, plantas nativas de importancia por sus usos actuales o potenciales predominando los medicinales, melíferos, ornamentales, alimenticios y tintóreos con otros usos registrados como los forestales, forrajeros, veterinarios, restauración de hábitats, magia y rituales, construcción, carpintería. Este proyecto tuvo como objetivo contribuir a su preservación recolectando, coleccionando, evaluando calidad germinativa y conservando sus semillas. La colección se hizo en sobres de polipropileno, la germinación según las condiciones de la cámara de germinación del Laboratorio de Análisis de Semillas de la Facultad o en condiciones naturales y la conservación en tubos y frascos de vidrio en freezer (-18 °C). La colección de semillas 2018-2022 registró 291 muestras y 225 taxones, y 86 muestras más colectadas por el jardín en 2016-2017. Se conservaron 128 accesiones correspondientes a 108 taxones. Varios de ellos fueron caracterizados por su calidad germinativa, peso, dimensiones e imágenes y se desarrolló una base de datos relacional con toda la información obtenida. La revisión bibliográfica de los usos actuales o potenciales confirmó la relevancia de toda lo coleccionado y/o conservado, la mayoría con múltiples aplicaciones

"Cardos" of two worlds: Transfer and resignification of the uses of thistles from the Iberian Peninsula to Argentina

"Thistles" constitute a group of prickly herbaceous plants included in tribe Cardueae (Asteraceae), but in the popular sense that concept is frequently applied to other species of the same family, as well as to some Dipsacaceae, Bromeliaceae, Apiaceae or Cactaceae. Since antiquity, the cultivation and use of thistles for food and medicinal purposes have been well known in the Mediterranean cultures. The different popular knowledge could allow us to refer to a "thistle culture". During the exploration of America, many of those species and their associated knowledge were transferred from the Old to the New World. In Argentina, several species of thistles, especially Cynara cardunculus, spread extensively throughout the pampas. From early times, they constituted a source of food and lowquality fuel, and in several cases, they were also employed in popular medicine, with diverse uses, some of which are still in practice. The local importance of some species is mentioned in literature, arts, and gastronomy. In the 20th century, a large production of artichokes from introduced crops that increased local agrodiversity was recorded in Argentina. This contribution summarizes some aspects of the transfer and resignification of the thistle from the Iberian Peninsula to Argentina.Fil: Hernández Bermejo, Jacinto Esteban. Universidad de Córdoba; EspañaFil: Delucchi, Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; ArgentinaFil: Charra, Gustavo. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Etnobotánica y Botánica Aplicada; ArgentinaFil: Pochettino, María Lelia. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Etnobotánica y Botánica Aplicada; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Hurrell, Julio Alberto. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Laboratorio de Etnobotánica y Botánica Aplicada; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata; Argentin

Colección, documentación y conservación de semillas de especies nativas del Jardín Botánico Oro Verde FCA UNER y zonas aledañas

El Jardín Botánico Oro Verde de la Facultad de Ciencias Agropecuarias, Universidad Nacional de Entre Ríos (JBOV FCA UNER) incluye, al igual que zonas aledañas, plantas nativas de importancia por sus usos actuales o potenciales predominando los medicinales, melíferos, ornamentales, alimenticios y tintóreos con otros usos registrados como los forestales, forrajeros, veterinarios, restauración de hábitats, magia y rituales, construcción, carpintería. Este proyecto tuvo como objetivo contribuir a su preservación recolectando, coleccionando, evaluando calidad germinativa y conservando sus semillas. La colección se hizo en sobres de polipropileno, la germinación según las condiciones de la cámara de germinación del Laboratorio de Análisis de Semillas de la Facultad o en condiciones naturales y la conservación en tubos y frascos de vidrio en freezer (-18 °C). La colección de semillas 2018-2022 registró 291 muestras y 225 taxones, y 86 muestras más colectadas por el jardín en 2016-2017. Se conservaron 128 accesiones correspondientes a 108 taxones. Varios de ellos fueron caracterizados por su calidad germinativa, peso, dimensiones e imágenes y se desarrolló una base de datos relacional con toda la información obtenida. La revisión bibliográfica de los usos actuales o potenciales confirmó la relevancia de toda lo coleccionado y/o conservado, la mayoría con múltiples aplicaciones