69 research outputs found
Genetic variation patterns in some groups of Centaurea (Asteraceae) in Italy
In the current work the data of the isozyme analysis of all the twenty studied Italian Centaurea
taxa were compared. They belong to Centaurea parlatoris, C. cineraria, C. tenorei and C. jacea
groups. The following parameters of the genetic variability were considered: the total number
of the alleles, the mean number of alleles per locus (A), the mean percentage of polymorphic
loci (P95), the expected heterozygosity (He) that is a measure of the intra-population diversity,
the Wright’s fixation index (F) and inbreeding coefficient (FIS) that are measures for the deviation
from the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium.
The present study contributes to insight some aspects of the genetic diversity related to the distribution
range (endemics or widespread taxa) of the studied Centaurea species. The mean proportion
of polymorphic loci and the mean number of alleles per locus (A) in the endemic
species are comparable with the widespread ones, while the intra-population diversity (He)
results about 40% higher in the populations of the widespread taxa than the endemics. The loci
with a major role for the processes of differentiation and evolution of the genus Centaurea in
South Italy and Sicily are: Mdh-1, Pgi-2 and Idh-1.
Italian Centaurea species with the highest genetic diversity usually inhabit extreme habitats (rocky,
sandy places, etc.) and localities with significant human impact or the borderline of their area of distribution.
Sicily could be considered a centre of differentiation of the endemic groups of C. cineraria
and C. parlatoris which show relatively high intra-population variability
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
Geographical parthenogenesis, genome size variation and pollen production in the arctic-alpine species Hieracium alpinum
Distribution, ecological role and symbioses of selected shrubby species in the Mediterranean Basin: a review
Among the Mediterranean ecosystems, shrublands are a characteristic type of vegetation, widespread in different habitats. Owing to different factors such as the physiological, morphological, reproductive, phenological and regenerative properties, as well as the inter-intraspecific interactions, each shrubby species represents an important element within the plant community and plays a specific ecological role. In this review, attention was focused on the ecological functions and type of plant-microsymbiont interactions in respect of selected shrubby species within the Mediterranean Basin: Amelanchier ovalis, Astragalus nebrodensis, Crataegus laciniata, Lycium intricatum, Prunus spinosa and Viburnum tinus
Volatile Components from Aerial parts of Centaurea diffusa and C. micrantha ssp. melanosticta and their biocidal activity on microorganisms affecting historical art crafts
The chemical composition of the essential oils from aerial parts of two taxa of Centaurea belonging to subgenus Acrolophus, Centaurea diffusa Lam. and C. micrantha Hoff. ssp. melanosticta (Lange) Dostàl, respectively collected in Croatia and Spain, were evaluated by GC and GC-MS. The main components of C. diffusa were hexadecanoic acid (31.1%), (Z,Z)-9,12-octadecadienoic acid (10.7%) and damascenone isomers (6.4%), whereas hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (27.8%), hexadecanoic acid (8.3%) and caryophyllene oxide (6.4%) were the most abundant components of C. micrantha ssp. melanosticta. The oils showed good antibacterial and antifungal activities against some microorganisms that infest historical art work
Genetic diversity of the critically endangered Verbascum davidoffii Murb. (Scrophulariaceae) and implications for conservation
Verbascum davidoffii Murb. (Scrophulariaceae), one of the rarest plant species in Bulgarian flora, is a local
endemic, protected by the National Biodiversity Act, included in the Red List of vascular plants, as well as in
the Red Data Book of Bulgaria with conservation status “Critically Endangered”. Its distribution is limited due
to anthropogenic pressure, specific ecological requirements and low reproductive capability. In this study, we
aimed to measure the genetic diversity level in the unique single world population of Verbascum davidoffii
located in Pirin National Park, Bulgaria. We found high genetic diversity in the excitant population of the
species. The present study indicates that the primary objective in conservation of Verbascum davidoffii is to
preserve as much as possible of its evolutionary potentia
Modelli di variabilità genetica in alcuni gruppi del genere Centaurea (Centaureinae, Asteraceae) in Italia
Новая для флоры Болгарии находка Rubus phoenicolasius Maxim. (Rosaceae)
The article provides information about the new finding for Bulgaria (Vitosha Mountain Range) of an East Asian species Rubus phoenicolasius Maxim., invasive for Europe and North America
Studio della struttura epidermica delle foglie di Centaurea parlatoris s.l. (Centaurinae, Asteraceae) in Sicilia
Morphological, cytological and palynological features of three closely related Centaurea species (Asteraceae) from Turkey
This study was carried out to determine the main distinctive morphological, cytological and palynological features of three closely related Centaurea L. taxa (Asteraceae) growing in Turkey: C. aytugiana Bancheva, Kaya et Binzet, C. stenolepis Kerner and C. salicifolia M. Bieb. ex Willd. The first species, recently described from Karabük province, Turkey (Bancheva et al. 2014), is an endemic of Karabük province, whereas the remaining taxa have larger distribution ranges. The results show that the morphological (including pollen-morphological) traits and chromosome numbers proved to be of high diagnostic value and are very useful for determination
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