Two new species from the brevantherum clade of solanum (solanaceae) from eastern Brazil

pre-printTwo new species of Solanum (Solanaceae) from eastern Brazil are described. Solanum anisocladum Giacomin & Stehmann is similar to S. megalochiton Mart., but differs by the indument of the adaxial leaf surface, which is composed of long porrect-stellate and unbranched trichomes. It also has a more robust habit and a unique branching pattern of the flowering stems. It is restricted to the Atlantic Rainforest of northeastern Brazil and was previously misidentified as S. megalochiton. The other species, Solanum caelicolum Giacomin & Stehmann, is endemic to Espírito Santo state and is most similar to S. hirtellum (Spreng.) Hassl., but differs mainly by its adaxial leaf indument, with porrect-stellate trichomes with a central ray smaller than the lateral ones, by its comparatively larger fruiting calyx that can reach up to three times the diameter of the mature berry and by its sessile to subsessile unbranched congested inflorescence. Both species belong to the Brevantherum clade, one of the main lineages identified in the genus Solanum, and are placed together in a clade which contains species from S. sects. Extensum D'Arcy and Stellatigeminatum Child. Complete descriptions, distributions, and preliminary conservation assessments of the new species are given

A sticky and heavily armed new species of Solanum (Solanum subg. Leptostemonum, Solanaceae) from eastern Brazil

We describe a new species of spiny Solanum (Solanum subg. Leptostemonum), endemic to the Brazilian Atlantic Forest and associated with granitic outcrops (inselbergs or sugar loaf mountains). Solanum kollastrum Gouvêa & Giacomin, sp. nov. is morphologically similar to the poorly known S. sublentum Hiern, but is a heavily armed, much more robust plant with stellate-glandular indumentum. Together with S. sublentum, it is morphologically related to some species of Solanum such as S. hexandrum Vell., S. robustum H.Wendl., and S. stagnale Moric. that share strongly accrescent calyces, large leaves with the bases decurrent on to the petiole, pendent simple inflorescences and large, robust flowers. The new species is restricted to a few known populations in southern Bahia and north-eastern Minas Gerais states and conservation efforts are needed

VALORIZANDO AS PRAIAS DO LAGO VERDE DOS MUIRAQUITÃS DE ALTER DO CHÃO (SANTARÉM, PA) ATRAVÉS DO CONHECIMENTO DE SUA FLORA: PRODUZINDO UM GUIA COM A COMUNIDADE

O turismo ecológico, voltado para a apreciação de suas belas praias, constitui uma das principais atividades econômicas da vila de Alter do Chão em Santarém, Pará. O projeto de extensão 'Praias Amazônicas Boraris: Juventude indígena pela valorização da vegetação de praia do Lago Verde dos Muiraquitãs de Alter do Chão, Pará', está sendo desenvolvido há dois anos, e vem sendo realizado com o envolvimento de docentes e discentes da UFOPA e a comunidade indígena Borari, da vila de Alter do Chão no mapeamento, identificação e levantamento etnobotânico das espécies de plantas das praias do lago verde. Este levantamento é uma forma de valorizar a vegetação em si e conscientizar a população e os visitantes da importância de sua conservação para a manutenção do ecossistema em questão. Este trabalho contempla a continuidade do projeto e as etapas finais para a realização de seus objetivos: a realização de oficinas com os comunitários e organização de um guia de identificação de plantas que sirva a eles e à população em geral. Até o presente momento, foram realizadas três visitas à vila de Alter do Chão para coletar dados etnobotânicos para compor o banco de dados das espécies, que servirão de base para a elaboração do guia botânico das praias do lago verde. Fora realizada duas oficinas com os catraieiros, no intuito de capacitar lideranças comunitárias em conceitos básicos de identificação botânica, para auxiliar na formação de propagadores do conhecimento em Alter do Chão, como fomento ao ecoturismo sustentável, além de discutir com os comunitários a forma como o trabalho vem sendo realizado, assim como diálogos em relação à elaboração do guia botânico das praias do lago verde. Para consulta de informações relacionadas às espécies, foi utilizado como referência o banco de dados levantado gerado a partir das coletas e identificação das espécies do projeto. Os dados etnobotânicos foram obtidos através de entrevistas semiestruturadas. Para elaboração das pranchas que farão parte do guia botânico das praias do lago verde, fora utilizado o Programa Adobe Photoshop 2015, o qual, em cada folha destaca-se o nome da espécie, imagens de referência e informações sobre usos etnobotânicos levantados.  Palavras-chave: comunidades tradicionais, indígenas, ecoturismo sustentável

Morphological Trait Evolution in Solanum (Solanaceae): Evolutionary Lability of Key Taxonomic Characters

Solanum is one of the world\u27s largest and economically most important plant genera, including 1245 currently accepted species and several major and minor crops (e.g., tomato, potato, brinjal eggplant, scarlet eggplant, Gboma eggplant, lulo, and pepino). Here we provide an overview of the evolution of 25 key morphological traits for the major and minor clades of this giant genus based on stochastic mapping using a well-sampled recently published phylogeny of Solanum. The most evolutionarily labile traits (showing \u3e100 transitions across the genus) relate to plant structure (growth form and sympodial unit structure), herbivore defence (glandular trichomes), pollination (corolla shape and colour), and dispersal (fruit colour). Ten further traits show evolutionary lability with 50–100 transitions across the genus (e.g., specialised underground organs, trichome structure, leaf type, inflorescence position and branching, stamen heteromorphism). Our results reveal a number of highly convergent traits in Solanum, including tubers, rhizomes, simple leaves, yellow corollas, heteromorphic anthers, dioecy, and dry fruits, and some unexpected pathways of trait evolution that could be explored in future studies. We show that informally named clades of Solanum can be morphologically defined by trait combinations providing a tool for identification and enabling predictive phylogenetic placement of unsampled species

Phylogenomic discordance suggests polytomies along the backbone of the large genus Solanum

Premise Evolutionary studies require solid phylogenetic frameworks, but increased volumes of phylogenomic data have revealed incongruent topologies among gene trees in many organisms both between and within genomes. Some of these incongruences indicate polytomies that may remain impossible to resolve. Here we investigate the degree of gene-tree discordance in Solanum, one of the largest flowering plant genera that includes the cultivated potato, tomato, and eggplant, as well as 24 minor crop plants. Methods A densely sampled species-level phylogeny of Solanum is built using unpublished and publicly available Sanger sequences comprising 60% of all accepted species (742 spp.) and nine regions (ITS, waxy, and seven plastid markers). The robustness of this topology is tested by examining a full plastome dataset with 140 species and a nuclear target-capture dataset with 39 species of Solanum (Angiosperms353 probe set). Results While the taxonomic framework of Solanum remained stable, gene tree conflicts and discordance between phylogenetic trees generated from the target-capture and plastome datasets were observed. The latter correspond to regions with short internodal branches, and network analysis and polytomy tests suggest the backbone is composed of three polytomies found at different evolutionary depths. The strongest area of discordance, near the crown node of Solanum, could potentially represent a hard polytomy. Conclusions We argue that incomplete lineage sorting due to rapid diversification is the most likely cause for these polytomies, and that embracing the uncertainty that underlies them is crucial to understand the evolution of large and rapidly radiating lineages.Peer reviewe

Phylogenomic Discordance Suggests Polytomies Along the Backbone of the Large Genus Solanum

Premise of the study Evolutionary studies require solid phylogenetic frameworks, but increased volumes of phylogenomic data have revealed incongruent topologies among gene trees in many organisms both between and within genomes. Some of these incongruences indicate polytomies that may remain impossible to resolve. Here we investigate the degree of gene-tree discordance in Solanum, one of the largest flowering plant genera that includes the cultivated potato, tomato, and eggplant, as well as 24 minor crop plants. Methods A densely sampled species-level phylogeny of Solanum is built using unpublished and publicly available Sanger sequences comprising 60% of all accepted species (742 spp.) and nine regions (ITS, waxy, and seven plastid markers). The robustness of this topology is tested by examining a full plastome dataset with 140 species and a nuclear target-capture dataset with 39 species of Solanum (Angiosperms353 probe set). Key results While the taxonomic framework of Solanum remained stable, gene tree conflicts and discordance between phylogenetic trees generated from the target-capture and plastome datasets were observed. The latter correspond to regions with short internodal branches, and network analysis and polytomy tests suggest the backbone is composed of three polytomies found at different evolutionary depths. The strongest area of discordance, near the crown node of Solanum, could potentially represent a hard polytomy. Conclusions We argue that incomplete lineage sorting due to rapid diversification is the most likely cause for these polytomies, and that embracing the uncertainty that underlies them is crucial to understand the evolution of large and rapidly radiating lineages

Potencial inseticida de plantas medicinais encontradas na Amazônia Central contra o pulgão-da-couve Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae)

Resumo. O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar o potencial inseticida e a ação repelente sobre o pulgão-da-couve [Brevicoryne brassicae (L.)] de extratos de cinco espécies de plantas ocorrentes e cultivadas na Amazônia Central: Crescentia cujete L., Himatanthus articulatus (Vahl) Woodson, Syzygium malaccense (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry, Schnella sp. e Protium sp. Os extratos foram utilizados na concentração de 10% e o inseticida botânico a base de azadiractina (Azamax®) foi usado como controle. Para avaliação inseticida, discos de folhas de couve-manteiga com 3,5 cm de diâmetro foram individualizados em placas de Petri (6 cm ø) e infestados com 10 ninfas de B. brassicae (até 48 h de idade). 1,0 mL de cada um dos tratamentos foi pulverizado sobre os discos e após 24 h foi avaliada a mortandade. Para avaliação da repelência, discos foliares (3,5 cm ø) foram divididos em duas partes: 1,0 mL de cada tratamento foi pulverizado em uma das metades do disco, na mesma concentração empregada para avaliação da atividade inseticida. Uma hora após a pulverização, cinco adultos de B. brassicae foram transferidos para o centro do disco e após 24 h foi avaliado o número de adultos sobre a área tratada e não tratada do disco foliar. O resultados foram submetidos a teste de normalidade e análise de variância (ANOVA).  O contato direto e residual dos extratos de C. cujete, H. articulatus e Schnella sp. causaram uma mortalidade de ninfas entre 97,6 e 100%, resultados esses mais expressivos que S. malaccense (54,6%) e Azamax® (35,1%).  Não foi detectada ação repelente dos extratos sobre B. brassicae. Insecticidal potential of medicinal plants found in Central Amazon region against cabbage aphid Brevicoryne brassicae (L.) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) Abstract. The present work aimed to evaluate the insecticidal potential of five plant native or widely cultivated species of  Central Amazon, Brazil - Crescentia cujete L., Himatanthus articulatus  (Vahl) Woodson, Syzygium malaccense  (L.) Merr. & L.M. Perry, Schnella sp. and Protium sp. - against cabbage aphid [Brevicoryne brassicae (L.)]. The extracts were used at a concentration of 10% and the botanical insecticide based on azadirachtin (Azamax®) was used as control. For insecticide evaluation, discs of kale leaves with 3.5 cm diameter were individualized in Petri dishes (6 cm ø) and infested with 10 nymphs of B. brassicae (up to 48 h old). 1.0 mL of each treatment was sprayed over the discs and after 24 h the mortality was evaluated. For repellence test, discs of kale leaves (3.5 cm ø) were divided into 2 parts: 1.0 mL of each treatment was sprayed over a half of the disc, in the same concentrations used for insecticide activity. One hour later, 5 adults of B. brassicae were transferred to the center of the leaf disc and after 24 h the number of adults over the treated and non treatd area of the kale disc was measured. The results were submitted to normality test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The direct and residual contact of the extracts of C. cujete, H. articulatus and Schnella sp. caused a mortality of nimphs between 97.6 and 100%. These results were more expressive than S. malaccense (54.6%) and Azamax® (35.1%).  None repellent action caused by the extracts over B. brassicae was detected

A list of land plants of Parque Nacional do Caparaó, Brazil, highlights the presence of sampling gaps within this protected area

Brazilian protected areas are essential for plant conservation in the Atlantic Forest domain, one of the 36 global biodiversity hotspots. A major challenge for improving conservation actions is to know the plant richness, protected by these areas. Online databases offer an accessible way to build plant species lists and to provide relevant information about biodiversity. A list of land plants of “Parque Nacional do Caparaó” (PNC) was previously built using online databases and published on the website "Catálogo de Plantas das Unidades de Conservação do Brasil." Here, we provide and discuss additional information about plant species richness, endemism and conservation in the PNC that could not be included in the List. We documented 1,791 species of land plants as occurring in PNC, of which 63 are cited as threatened (CR, EN or VU) by the Brazilian National Red List, seven as data deficient (DD) and five as priorities for conservation. Fifity-one species were possible new ocurrences for ES and MG states

Basin-wide variation in tree hydraulic safety margins predicts the carbon balance of Amazon forests

Funding: Data collection was largely funded by the UK Natural Environment Research Council (NERC) project TREMOR (NE/N004655/1) to D.G., E.G. and O.P., with further funds from Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES, finance code 001) to J.V.T. and a University of Leeds Climate Research Bursary Fund to J.V.T. D.G., E.G. and O.P. acknowledge further support from a NERC-funded consortium award (ARBOLES, NE/S011811/1). This paper is an outcome of J.V.T.’s doctoral thesis, which was sponsored by CAPES (GDE 99999.001293/2015-00). J.V.T. was previously supported by the NERC-funded ARBOLES project (NE/S011811/1) and is supported at present by the Swedish Research Council Vetenskapsrådet (grant no. 2019-03758 to R.M.). E.G., O.P. and D.G. acknowledge support from NERC-funded BIORED grant (NE/N012542/1). O.P. acknowledges support from an ERC Advanced Grant and a Royal Society Wolfson Research Merit Award. R.S.O. was supported by a CNPq productivity scholarship, the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP-Microsoft 11/52072-0) and the US Department of Energy, project GoAmazon (FAPESP 2013/50531-2). M.M. acknowledges support from MINECO FUN2FUN (CGL2013-46808-R) and DRESS (CGL2017-89149-C2-1-R). C.S.-M., F.B.V. and P.R.L.B. were financed by Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—Brasil (CAPES, finance code 001). C.S.-M. received a scholarship from the Brazilian National Council for Scientific and Technological Development (CNPq 140353/2017-8) and CAPES (science without borders 88881.135316/2016-01). Y.M. acknowledges the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and ERC Advanced Investigator Grant (GEM-TRAITS, 321131) for supporting the Global Ecosystems Monitoring (GEM) network (gem.tropicalforests.ox.ac.uk), within which some of the field sites (KEN, TAM and ALP) are nested. The authors thank Brazil–USA Collaborative Research GoAmazon DOE-FAPESP-FAPEAM (FAPESP 2013/50533-5 to L.A.) and National Science Foundation (award DEB-1753973 to L. Alves). They thank Serrapilheira Serra-1709-18983 (to M.H.) and CNPq-PELD/POPA-441443/2016-8 (to L.G.) (P.I. Albertina Lima). They thank all the colleagues and grants mentioned elsewhere [8,36] that established, identified and measured the Amazon forest plots in the RAINFOR network analysed here. The authors particularly thank J. Lyod, S. Almeida, F. Brown, B. Vicenti, N. Silva and L. Alves. This work is an outcome approved Research Project no. 19 from ForestPlots.net, a collaborative initiative developed at the University of Leeds that unites researchers and the monitoring of their permanent plots from the world’s tropical forests [61]. The authros thank A. Levesley, K. Melgaço Ladvocat and G. Pickavance for ForestPlots.net management. They thank Y. Wang and J. Baker, respectively, for their help with the map and with the climatic data. The authors acknowledge the invaluable help of M. Brum for kindly providing the comparison of vulnerability curves based on PAD and on PLC shown in this manuscript. They thank J. Martinez-Vilalta for his comments on an early version of this manuscript. The authors also thank V. Hilares and the Asociación para la Investigación y Desarrollo Integral (AIDER, Puerto Maldonado, Peru); V. Saldaña and Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana (IIAP) for local field campaign support in Peru; E. Chavez and Noel Kempff Natural History Museum for local field campaign support in Bolivia; ICMBio, INPA/NAPPA/LBA COOMFLONA (Cooperativa mista da Flona Tapajós) and T. I. Bragança-Marituba for the research support.Tropical forests face increasing climate risk1,2, yet our ability to predict their response to climate change is limited by poor understanding of their resistance to water stress. Although xylem embolism resistance thresholds (for example, Ψ50) and hydraulic safety margins (for example, HSM50) are important predictors of drought-induced mortality risk3-5, little is known about how these vary across Earth's largest tropical forest. Here, we present a pan-Amazon, fully standardized hydraulic traits dataset and use it to assess regional variation in drought sensitivity and hydraulic trait ability to predict species distributions and long-term forest biomass accumulation. Parameters Ψ50 and HSM50 vary markedly across the Amazon and are related to average long-term rainfall characteristics. Both Ψ50 and HSM50 influence the biogeographical distribution of Amazon tree species. However, HSM50 was the only significant predictor of observed decadal-scale changes in forest biomass. Old-growth forests with wide HSM50 are gaining more biomass than are low HSM50 forests. We propose that this may be associated with a growth-mortality trade-off whereby trees in forests consisting of fast-growing species take greater hydraulic risks and face greater mortality risk. Moreover, in regions of more pronounced climatic change, we find evidence that forests are losing biomass, suggesting that species in these regions may be operating beyond their hydraulic limits. Continued climate change is likely to further reduce HSM50 in the Amazon6,7, with strong implications for the Amazon carbon sink.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe