DNA barcoding of the genus Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae) in the Arabian Peninsula

Verbascum and Rhabdotosperma are members of the family Scrophulariaceae. The first genus comprises approximately 360 species from almost all parts of the world, while the second contains a total of 8 species from tropical Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Since 1977, the relationships between Verbascum and Rhabdotosperma continue to be contested. The present study aims to present the phylogenetic relationships and status among Verbascum species in the Arabian Peninsula. For phylogenetic analyses, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference were performed. In total, 236 DNA sequences from 59 specimens of Arabian Verbascum were analysed. The phylogenetic analysis of one nuclear (ITS) and three chloroplastic (rbcL, matK, trnL) markers confirmed the monophyly of Verbascum, including the genus Rhabdotosperma. In addition to presenting novel phylogenetic relationships among the different Verbascum species in the Arabian Peninsula, our study reduced the species count of Arabian Verbascum to 16. Moreover, the phylogenetic analysis strongly supports the reinstatement of the genus Rhabdotosperma into Verbascum based on the Bayesian and maximum parsimony analyses

DNA barcoding of the genus Verbascum (Scrophulariaceae) in the Arabian Peninsula

Verbascum and Rhabdotosperma are members of the family Scrophulariaceae. The first genus comprises approximately 360 species from almost all parts of the world, while the second contains a total of 8 species from tropical Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. Since 1977, the relationships between Verbascum and Rhabdotosperma continue to be contested. The present study aims to present the phylogenetic relationships and status among Verbascum species in the Arabian Peninsula. For phylogenetic analyses, maximum parsimony and Bayesian inference were performed. In total, 236 DNA sequences from 59 specimens of Arabian Verbascum were analysed. The phylogenetic analysis of one nuclear (ITS) and three chloroplastic (rbcL, matK, trnL) markers confirmed the monophyly of Verbascum, including the genus Rhabdotosperma. In addition to presenting novel phylogenetic relationships among the different Verbascum species in the Arabian Peninsula, our study reduced the species count of Arabian Verbascum to 16. Moreover, the phylogenetic analysis strongly supports the reinstatement of the genus Rhabdotosperma into Verbascum based on the Bayesian and maximum parsimony analyses

The effect of insect herbivory on the growth and fitness of introduced Verbascum thapsus L.

A majority of the plant species that are introduced into new ranges either do not become established, or become naturalized yet do not attain high densities and are thus considered ecologically and economically unproblematic. The factors that limit these relatively “benign” species are not well studied. The biotic resistance hypothesis predicts that herbivores, pathogens and competition reduce growth and reproduction of individual plants and so suppress population growth of non-native species. We explored the effect of insect herbivory and surrounding vegetation on growth and fitness of the non-native biennial plant Verbascum thapsus (common mullein) in Colorado, USA. Mullein is widespread in its introduced North American range, yet is infrequently considered a management concern because populations are often ephemeral and restricted to disturbed sites. To evaluate the impact of insect herbivores on mullein performance, we reduced herbivory using an insecticide treatment and compared sprayed plants to those exposed to ambient levels of herbivory. Reducing herbivory increased survival from rosette to reproduction by 7%, from 70–77%. Of plants that survived, reducing herbivory increased plant area in the first year and plant height, the length of the reproductive spike, and seed set during the second year. Reducing herbivory also had a marked effect on plant fitness, increasing seed set by 50%, from about 48,000 seeds per plant under ambient herbivory to about 98,000 per plant under reduced herbivory. Our findings also highlight that the relationship between herbivory and performance is complex. Among plants exposed to ambient herbivory, we observed a positive relationship between damage and performance, suggesting that, as predicted by the plant vigor hypothesis, insect herbivores choose the largest plants for feeding when their choice is not restricted by insecticide treatment. In contrast to the strong effects of experimentally reduced herbivory, we found that cover of other plants surrounding our focal plants explained relatively little variation in performance outcomes. Overall, we found that herbivore-induced impacts on individual plant performance and seed set are substantial, and thus may help prevent this naturalized species from becoming dominant in undisturbed recipient communities

Resurvey of the Pentatomoidea (Heteroptera) of the La Rue-Pine Hills Research Natural Area in Union County, Illinois

A resurvey of the Pentatomoidea of the La Rue-Pine Hills Research Natural Area was conducted from September 1992 to June 1995 and the results compared with those of an earlier survey by McPherson and Mohlenbrock (1976). Sampling during the resurvey was limited to the 17 collecting sites of the earlier survey, thus permitting comparisons of the flora and fauna in the two studies. Notes were taken on the times of occurrence of adult and immature stages and on the food plants. Of the 49 pentatomoid species and subspecies included in the original survey, 36 were collected during the resurvey. Of the 13 not collected, 12 were rare and one, Holcostethus limbolarius (Stål), was relatively common during the original survey. Two additional species, Galgupha ovalis Hussey and Corimelaena obscura McPherson and Sailer, were added to the list, the latter because it was described as new subsequent to the original survey. The most noticeable change in the vegetation that accounted for differences in pentatomoid diversity and abundance was the marked reduction in abundance of common mullein, Verbascum thapsus L. The resurvey showed that 11 of the 17 sites had changed in character and plant composition, seven because of woody invasion and four because of the influence of exotic and invasive species; the remaining six had changed little. Exotic plant species have become an increasingly prominent component of the vegetative communities

PHYSIOLOGICAL AND BIOCHEMICAL MARKERS IN THE PROCESS OF RESISTANCE OF HEAVY METALS IN THE ABANDONED MINING AREA OF SIDI KAMBER, SKIKDA, ALGERIA

Mining activities produce large quantities of wastes which are highly contaminated with heavy metals. This can cause adverse effects on natural ecosystems, particularly on living organisms. The study reported here concerned the biomonitoring of pollution in the Sidi Kamber mining area, through the determination of various physiological mechanisms (bioaccumulation and translocation) and biochemical markers (chlorophyll (a) and (b), proline, total sugars and total proteins) active in resistance to heavy metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn) contamination, using three plant species Cistus monspeliensis, Rumex bucephalophorus and Verbascum sinuatum as bioindicators

Nothris verbascella (Denis & Schiffermuller), a new gelechiid moth (Lepidoptera, Gelechiidae) for the Maltese Islands

The family Geleciidae has a worldwide distribution. There are more than 4,700 described species accommodated in about 500 genera. In Malta it is represented by 37 species distributed in 26 genera. The tribe Chelariini in Europe comprises 17 species in 6 genera. In Malta only one species has been recorded so far: Anarsia lineatella Zeller, 1839peer-reviewe

A proposito de la dispersion de Verbascum boerhavii L. var. bicolor (Bad.) Arcang. en Catalunya

A propósito de la dispersión de Verbascum boerhavii var. bicolor (Bad.) Arcang. en Catalunya. Verbascum boerhavii L. var. bicolor (Bad.) Arcang., Comp. Fl. Ital. 505 (1882). = V. bicolor Bad., Osserv., 3 (1824) = V. boerhavii L. fma. bicolor (Bad.) Murb., Lunds. Univ. Arssk, 29 (2): 159 (1933). = V. maiale DC. var. bicolor (Bad.) Rouy, Fl. Fr. 9:9 (1909)

Saltbush-associated Asphondylia species (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) in the Mediterranean Basin and their chalcidoid parasitoids (Hymenoptera: Chalcidoidea)

Numerous species of gall midges (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) have been recorded from saltbush (Chenopodiaceae: Atriplex) around the world but only 11 of them belong to the large cecidomyiid genus Asphondylia. Of these, two species were de-scribed in the late 19th century from complex bud galls on Atriplex halimus in the Mediterranean Basin. In the present study Asphondylia punica is redescribed, A. conglomerata is synonymized with it, and Asphondylia scopuli is described from Atriplex lanfrancoi, an endemic plant to the Maltese Islands. Descriptions are accompanied by information about the galls and life history of the gall midges, and a review of the parasitic Hymenoptera associated with A. scopuli is provided. Four species of parasitoids were found and attributed to the families Eurytomidae, Pteromalidae, Eupelmidae and Eulophidae, of which the pteromalid Mesopolobus melitensis is described as new.peer-reviewe

Штучне формування пагонової системи в інтродукованих видів родини ранникових (Scrophulariaceae Juss.)

Results of researches of artificial formation of the sprout system in Antirrhinum majus L., Verbascum blattaria L. and Veronica longifolia L. for obtaining more compact plants with more intensive branching of the system of generative sprouts are presented.Викладено результати дослідження штучного формування пагонової системи в Antirrhinum majus L., Verbascum blattaria L. та Veronica longifolia L. для отримання більш компактних рослин з інтенсивнішим розгалуженням системи генеративних пагонів