Bioclimatic Origin Shapes Phylogenetic Structure of Tirmania (Pezizaceae): New Species and New Record from North Africa.

The phylogenetic relationships among Tirmania were investigated using the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and large subunit (LSU) regions of the nuclear-encoded ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and compared with morphological and bioclimatic data. The combined analyses of forty-one Tirmania samples from Algeria and Spain supported four lineages corresponding to four morphological species. Besides the two previously described taxa, Tirmania pinoyi and Tirmania nivea, here we describe and illustrate a new species, Tirmania sahariensis sp. nov., which differs from all other Tirmania by its distinct phylogenetic position and its specific combination of morphological features. We also present a first record of Tirmania honrubiae from North Africa (Algeria). Our findings suggest that restrictions imposed by the bioclimatic niche have played a key role in driving the speciation process of Tirmania along the Mediterranean and Middle East

LSU-RPB2-ITS consensus Bayesian phylogram of genus <i>Picoa</i> reconstructed in MrBayes 3.1.

<p>Bold nodes are significantly supported by both inference methods employed (>70% BP and >95% PP). Nodes annotated were significantly supported by only one of these methods. Values represent Bayesian posterior probabilities, and RAxML bootstrap proportions, respectively.</p

SEM and LM images of some of the samples studied.

<p><b>a-b</b>. Autoptic specimen of <i>Picoa juniperi</i> from Vittadini’s herbarium WU10-145 ex PAD; <b>c</b>. BMBH1; <b>d</b>. BMBT26; <b>e</b>. AH 19584; <b>f</b>. M-0157945; <b>g</b>. AH 39246; <b>h</b>. AH 39286; <b>i</b>. AH 38931; <b>j</b>. AH 39206; <b>k</b>. BMBH9; <b>l</b>. BMBH5; <b>m</b>. BMBO19. Bars: <b>a</b> = 10 μm; <b>b</b> = 5 μm; <b>c-d</b> = 5 μm; <b>e-f</b> = 5 μm; <b>g</b> = 10 μm; <b>h-j</b> = 5 μm; <b>k-l-m</b> = 5 μm.</p

Collection of <i>Picoa</i> species studied in the present work.

<p>Collection of <i>Picoa</i> species studied in the present work.</p

Type studies in African <i>Picoa</i> lineage.

<p><b>a-e</b>. <i>Phaeangium lefebvrei</i> holotype FH 301557; <b>f-h</b>. <i>Terfezia schweinfurthii</i> syntype S F8693; <b>i-m</b>. <i>Picoa lefebvrei</i> M 157945. Bars: 5 μm.</p

Macroscopical images of some of the samples studied.

<p><b>a</b>. AH 39247; <b>b</b>. AH 39268; <b>c</b>. VK 2043; <b>d</b>. VK 2106; <b>e</b>. AH 38906; <b>f</b>. AH 39139; <b>g</b>. AH 38893; <b>h</b>. AH 38956; <b>i</b>. VK 2148; <b>j</b>. habitat of <i>Picoa</i> in Castilblanco de Henares (Guadalajara, Spain); <b>k</b>. habitat of <i>Picoa</i> under <i>Helianthemum lippii</i> var. <i>sissiliflorum</i>; <b>l</b>. BMBC15; <b>m</b>.BMBH4.</p

Contrasted Genetic Diversity, Relevance of Climate and Host Plants, and Comments on the Taxonomic Problems of the Genus <i>Picoa</i> (Pyronemataceae, Pezizales)

<div><p>The species concept within the genus <i>Picoa</i> Vittad. is here revisited in light of new molecular and ecological data obtained from samples collected throughout the Mediterranean basin. Two highly diverse widespread clades and four additional minor lineages were significantly supported by three genes dataset (ITS, 28s LSU and RPB2) inferences for 70 specimens. The two widespread clades occur in very different geographical and ecological areas associated with exclusive host plants in the genus <i>Helianthemum</i>. SEM study of spore surface morphology in these lineages revealed the existence of smooth ascospores in the majority of these clades. However the most frequent lineage in Europe and coastal North Africa displayed either smooth or verrucose spores. Hence this morphological criterion cannot be reliably used to discriminate between the different clades. In addition, SEM observations made on ascospores from several original collections of <i>P</i>. <i>juniperi</i> and <i>P</i>. <i>lefebvrei</i> supported the hypothesis that ornamentation depends on the degree of maturity in some of these lineages. Geographical and ecological, rather than morphological data are here suggested as the most useful characters to separate the different lineages in <i>Picoa</i>. Further studies focusing on these features are needed before the names <i>P</i>. <i>juniperi</i> and <i>P</i>. <i>lefebvrei</i> can be unambiguously linked with the genetic lineages observed.</p></div

Echinops spinosissimus Turra Root Methanolic Extract: Characterization of the Bioactive Components and Relative Wound Healing, Antimicrobial and Antioxidant Properties

Echinops spinosissimus Turra subsp. bovei (Asteraceae) is a medicinal plant in western Algeria. Traditionally, roots and inflorescences are employed as hypertensive agents and in the treatment of hemorrhoids. The current study evaluates the chemical composition, antioxidant, antimicrobial, and wound-healing properties of the root methanolic extract from E. spinosissimus subsp. bovei. The content of total phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins was determined. In addition, the phenolic profile was typified. The studied plant extract resulted in being primarily composed of Apigenin, Kaempferol, and their derivatives. The total phenolic content was equal to 95.31 &plusmn; 2.90 mg GAE/g DW, while the number of flavonoids and condensed tannins was 16.01 &plusmn; 0.16 mg CE/g DW and 8.30 &plusmn; 0.65 mg CE/g DW, respectively. The methanolic extract was found to exhibit antioxidant activity towards the DPPH radical, with an IC50 of 7.99 &plusmn; 0.28 mg/mL and a TAC of 30.30 &plusmn; 0.54 mg AAE/g DW, as well as an antibacterial effect, especially against P. aeruginosa. No significant wound-healing property was observed, even though the histopathological observations showed enhanced wound-healing quality. According to our evidence, E. spinosissimus could represent a source of phytochemicals with potential beneficial effects for human health in terms of antioxidant and antibiotic properties, although further investigations on this species are needed

ITS consensus Bayesian phylogram of genus <i>Picoa</i> and its sister taxon <i>Geopora</i> reconstructed in MrBayes 3.1.

<p>Bold nodes are significantly supported by both inference methods employed (>70% BP and >95% PP). Nodes annotated were significantly supported by only one of these methods. Values represent Bayesian posterior probabilities, and RAxML bootstrap proportions, respectively.</p

Geographic origin of the collections belonging to the two major lineages observed.

<p>Lineage II in green; lineage VI in blue.</p