TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits—the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants—determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits—almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Antiulcerogenic and antispasmodic effects of plants from La Pampa, Argentina

The objective of the research was the analysis of the antiulcerogenic and antispasmodic effects of Marrubium vulgare (MV), Acmella decumbens (AD), Lippia turbinata (LT), Tribulus terrestres and Ruta chalepensis (RC) hidroalcoholic extracts. Antiulcerogenic activity was studied in mices for their ability to inhibit the gastric lesions induced on cold restraint stress. Gastrointestinal motility was evaluated with activated charcoal as intestinal transit indicator. Atropine and ranitidine were used like gastroprotectives. Atropine was used for decrease gastrointestinal motility. We proved that all plant extracts and atropine have gastroprotective activity (p< 0.01). Ranitidine did not prevent ulcers in mice. The extracts MV and AD also significantly reduced the intestinal transit in charcoal meal test when compared with atropine. LT, TT and RC extracts moderate but significantly inhibited gastrointestinal transit compared with control group (p< 0.01). These results further suggest that all extracts were found to possess antiulcerogenic and inhibitory activity on gastrointestinal motility, which might also be due to antispasmolitic activity. \nFil: Toso, R.E. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Farmacología. La Pampa, ArgentinaFil: Toribio, M.S. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Farmacología. La Pampa, ArgentinaFil: Mengelle, P. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Farmacología. La Pampa, ArgentinaFil: Boeris, M.A. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Cátedra de Fisiología. La Pampa, ArgentinaSe evaluó la actividad gastroprotectora y antiespasmódica de extractos hidroalcohólicos de Marrubium vulgare (MV), Acmella decumbens (AD), Lippia turbinata (LT), Tribulus terrestres (TT) y Ruta chalepensis (RC). Para determinar el efecto gastroprotector se indujeron úlceras por estrés y la motilidad gastrointestinal se evaluó midiendo el progreso del contenido intestinal en ratones. Atropina y ranitidina fueron utilizadas como drogas de referencia con actividad gastroprotectora y atropina fue utilizada, también, por su efecto inhibitorio sobre la motilidad gastrointestinal. Todos los extractos y la atropina mostraron actividad gastroprotectora (p<0,01). La ranitidina no previno las úlceras en ningún animal. Los ratones tratados con los extractos MV y AD mostraron mayor efecto inhibitorio de la motilidad que el logrado con atropina. Los extractos LT, TT y RC inhibieron el progreso del contenido gastrointestinal en forma más moderada, pero significativa respecto a los ratones pertenecientes al grupo control (p<0,01). Se concluye que todos los extractos ensayados poseen actividad gastroprotectora e inhibitoria de la motilidad gastrointestinal. El efecto gastroprotector logrado con la atropina, pero no con la administración de ranitidina sugiere un importante papel de la acción espasmolítica en el mecanismo de acción de los extractos

Antibacterial activity and acute and subacute toxicity assays of Polygonum hidropiperoides

The presence of toxicity was evaluated and the minimum inhibitory concentration of extracts from Polygonum hidropiperoides in bacterial strains collection of Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) and Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228) and Streptococcus equi, Proteus spp and Escherichia coli field strains was determined. To study the antimicrobial activity by the agar dilution method, the methanol extract was used. Acute and subacute toxicity assays were carried out in mice using a single dose of 5000 mg/kg and a daily dose for 14 days of 1250 mg/kg of hydroalcoholic extract, respectively. The minimum inhibitory concentration of methanol extract of Polygonum hidropiperoides was 0.18 mg/ ml for Streptococcus equi, Proteus spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and 0.37 mg/ ml for Escherichia coli. Toxicity assays showed no functional or organic changes in experimental animals. The results obtained give support to the investigation of the antimicrobial activity in vivo to determine the phytotherapeutic value of the species.Fil: Toribio, M.S. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Farmacología. La Pampa, ArgentinaFil: Oriani, D.S. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Microbiología. La Pampa, ArgentinaFil: Pombar, A.S. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Farmacología. La Pampa, ArgentinaFil: Toso, R.E. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Farmacología. La Pampa, ArgentinaFil: Fernández, J.G. Universidad Nacional de La Pampa. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Farmacología. La Pampa, ArgentinaSe evaluó la presencia de toxicidad y se determinó la concentración inhibitoria mínima de extractos obtenidos a partir de Polygonum hidropiperoides sobre cepas bacterianas de colección, Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923) y Staphylococcus epidermidis (ATCC 12228) y de campo, Streptococcus equi, Proteus spp, y Escherichia coli. Para estudiar la actividad antimicrobiana con el método de dilución en agar se utilizó el extracto metanólico. Los ensayos de toxicidad aguda y subaguda se llevaron a cabo en ratones utilizando una dosis única de 5000 mg/kg y una dosis diaria durante 14 días de 1250 mg/kg de extracto hidroalcohólico, respectivamente. La concentración inhibitoria mínima de extracto metanólico de Polygonum hidropiperoides fue de 0,18 mg/ml para Streptococcus equi, Proteus spp, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis y de 0,37 mg/ml para Escherichia coli. Los ensayos de toxicidad no evidenciaron cambios funcionales u orgánicos en los animales de experimentación. Los resultados obtenidos dan sustento a la investigación de la actividad antimicrobiana in vivo para determinar el valor fitoterapéutico de la especie. \

Evolution of Pearlite Microstructure in Low-Carbon Cast Microalloyed Steel Due to the Addition of La and Ce

The effects of rare earth elements (RE) addition on the pearlite microstructure in low-carbon microalloyed steels have been investigated under two heat treatment conditions: (1) a normalizing treatment (as a conventional heat treatment used industrially to obtain the final mechanical properties of such steels), and (2) an isothermal treatment at 650 °C. This research reports the following effects due to the addition of RE: (i) refinement of the nodule and colony size of pearlite along with the ferrite grain size in the normalized condition, without a significant change in the volume fraction of pearlite. This microstructural refinement observed at room temperature is a consequence of the refinement of cast and austenitic microstructures formed during cooling in the presence of RE; (ii) the interlamellar spacing of pearlite isothermally transformed at 650 °C, as observed by SEM and TEM, is effectively reduced in the RE-added steel. This is likely due to two different effects combined: (i) direct influence of RE on atom carbon diffusion; and (ii) pearlite growth being boundary diffusion controlled by RE partitioning.The authors from the University of Tehran gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the Office of International Affairs and the Office of Research Affairs, College of Engineering, for the project number 8107009.6.34. The authors from CENIM-CSIC would like to acknowledge the financial support from Comunidad de Madrid through DIMMAT-CM_S2013/MIT-2775 Project.Peer Reviewe

Involvement of Plant Hormones and Plant Growth Regulators on in vitro Somatic Embryogenesis

In spite of the importance attained by somatic embryogenesis and of the many studies that have been conducted on this developmental process, there are still many aspects that are not fully understood. Among those features, the involvement of plant hormones and plant growth regulators on deTermining the conversion of somatic onto embryogenic tissues, and on allowing progression and maturation of somatic embryos, are far away from being completely comprehended. Part of these difficulties relies on the frequent appearance of contradictory results when studying the effect of a particular stimulus over a specific stage in somatic embryogenesis. Recent progress achieved on understanding the interaction between exogenously added plant growth regulators over the concentration of endogenous hormones, together with the involvement of sensitivity of the tissues to particular hormone groups, might help clarifying the occurrence of divergent patterns in somatic embryogenesis, and in tissue culture in general. The aspects described above, emphasizing on the effect of the concentration of plant hormones and of the addition of plant growth regulators during the different phases of somatic embryogenesis, will be reviewed in this paper. Citations will be limited to review articles as much as possible and to individual articles only in those cases in which very specific or recent information is presented.UCR::Vicerrectoría de Investigación::Unidades de Investigación::Ciencias Agroalimentarias::Centro para Investigaciones en Granos y Semillas (CIGRAS

TRY plant trait database, enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits-the morphological, ahawnatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants-determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait-based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits-almost complete coverage for 'plant growth form'. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait-environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives