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34 pages, 2464 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Diversity of Useful Plants in Cabo Verde Islands: A Biogeographic and Conservation Perspective

by Maria Cristina Duarte, Isildo Gomes, Silvia Catarino, Miguel Brilhante, Samuel Gomes, Aline Rendall, Ângela Moreno, Arlindo Rodrigues Fortes, Vladmir Silves Ferreira, Isaurinda Baptista, Herculano Dinis and Maria Manuel Romeiras

Plants 2022, 11(10), 1313; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11101313 - 15 May 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 5277

Abstract

Cabo Verde’s biodiversity is threatened by activities that meet human needs. To counteract this, an integration of scientific and indigenous knowledge is required, but no comprehensive list of the useful local plants is available. Thus, in this work, we assess (1) their diversity [...] Read more.

Cabo Verde’s biodiversity is threatened by activities that meet human needs. To counteract this, an integration of scientific and indigenous knowledge is required, but no comprehensive list of the useful local plants is available. Thus, in this work, we assess (1) their diversity and phytogeography; (2) the role of geophysical, historical, and socio-economic factors on species distribution and uses; and (3) potentially relevant species for sustainable development. Data were obtained from flora, scientific publications, historical documents, herbarium specimens and field work. Many species were introduced since the 15th century to support settlement and commercial interests. We identified 518 useful taxa, of which 145 are native, 38 endemic and 44 endangered. The number of useful taxa is correlated with altitude and agricultural area, as well as with rural population indicators, but not with total population or socio-economic indicators such as gross domestic product. Native taxa are mostly used for fuelwood, forage and utilitarian purposes. Agrobiodiversity and traditional practices seem crucial to cope with recurrent droughts and ensure food security. Most of the introduced species do not present conservation problems, contrasting with the overuse of some native taxa. The safeguarding of native populations will ensure the sustainable exploitation of these resources and benefit the local economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematics and the Conservation of Plant Diversity)

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18 pages, 5866 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Relevance of Discovering and Recovering the Biodiversity of Apulian Almond Germplasm by Means of Molecular and Phenotypic Markers

by Michele Antonio Savoia, Loredana Del Faro, Pasquale Venerito, Liliana Gaeta, Marino Palasciano, Cinzia Montemurro and Wilma Sabetta

Plants 2022, 11(4), 574; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11040574 - 21 Feb 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2477

Abstract

Almond cultivation has great traditional and economic relevance in Southern Italy, especially in the Apulia region, where almond trees feature an ample and ancient varietal richness. To contrast the loss of plant genetic erosion and to safeguard the available bioresources, as well as [...] Read more.

Almond cultivation has great traditional and economic relevance in Southern Italy, especially in the Apulia region, where almond trees feature an ample and ancient varietal richness. To contrast the loss of plant genetic erosion and to safeguard the available bioresources, as well as to reinforce the local production, the regional Re.Ge.Fru.P. project aimed to re-evaluate, identify, and characterize the Apulian almond germplasm that is still uncharacterized and not jet studied using a dual (genetic and morphological) approach. Collection was conducted in the regional territory of 187 among the most widespread and minor or marginalized genotypes that were molecularly fingerprinted by means of 18 nuclear microsatellites (simple sequence repeats, SSRs). The high number of scored alleles reflected the great level of diversification within the Apulian germplasm, as also confirmed by neighbor joining and structure analysis, that clearly distinguished different genotype clusters. The phenotypic characterization using 17 morphological and phenological descriptors mirrored the genetic results, revealing a high degree of variability. The morphological traits with the best discriminatory ability were nut ventral suture, shell softness and shape and petal color. This work emphasizes the importance of recovering the genetic variability of Apulian almond germplasm, and the need to promote added value and enhance the local agri-food economy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematics and the Conservation of Plant Diversity)

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16 pages, 1748 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessment of Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of the Endangered Astragalus exscapus subsp. transsilvanicus through DNA-Based Molecular Markers

by Katalin Szabo, Doru Pamfil, Alexandru Sabin Bădărău and Monica Hârţa

Plants 2021, 10(12), 2732; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122732 - 11 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3745

Abstract

Astragalus exscapus L. subsp. transsilvanicus (Schur) Nyár. (Fabaceae) is a rare plant endemic to the Transylvanian Plateau, represented by 24 identified populations. Limited information on the genetic variation and population structure is available, which obstructs efficient measures for conservation strategy. The [...] Read more.

Astragalus exscapus L. subsp. transsilvanicus (Schur) Nyár. (Fabaceae) is a rare plant endemic to the Transylvanian Plateau, represented by 24 identified populations. Limited information on the genetic variation and population structure is available, which obstructs efficient measures for conservation strategy. The present study aimed to analyze the genetic diversity and population structure of eight populations of A. exscapus subsp. transsilvanicus revealed by sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) markers. A total of 164 bands were amplified, 96.7% of which (159) were polymorphic. Nei’s gene diversity index (He) was estimated to be 0.228 at the population level and 0.272 at the subspecies level. The genetic differentiation among populations (Gst) was 0.165, which indicated a low proportion of total genetic diversity. The analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) indicated that 17% of the total variation of A. exscapus subsp. transsilvanicus is found among the populations, while 83% was found within the populations. A UPGMA dendrogram, principal coordinate analysis, and the STRUCTURE software grouped the populations into two clusters uncorrelated with the provenience of the 125 individuals, which might be attributed to fragmentation processes, insect pollination, population size, and specific environmental conditions of the habitats. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematics and the Conservation of Plant Diversity)

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19 pages, 5259 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversity and Cytogenomic Characterization of Wild Carrots in the Macaronesian Islands

by Guilherme Roxo, Mónica Moura, Pedro Talhinhas, José Carlos Costa, Luís Silva, Raquel Vasconcelos, Miguel Menezes de Sequeira and Maria Manuel Romeiras

Plants 2021, 10(9), 1954; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10091954 - 18 Sep 2021

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2853

Abstract

The Macaronesian islands constitute an enormous reservoir of genetic variation of wild carrots (subtribe Daucinae; Apiaceae), including 10 endemic species, but an accurate understanding of the diversification processes within these islands is still lacking. We conducted a review of the morphology, ecology, and [...] Read more.

The Macaronesian islands constitute an enormous reservoir of genetic variation of wild carrots (subtribe Daucinae; Apiaceae), including 10 endemic species, but an accurate understanding of the diversification processes within these islands is still lacking. We conducted a review of the morphology, ecology, and conservation status of the Daucinae species and, on the basis of a comprehensive dataset, we estimated the genome size variation for 16 taxa (around 320 samples) occurring in different habitats across the Macaronesian islands in comparison to mainland specimens. Results showed that taxa with larger genomes (e.g., Daucus crinitus: 2.544 pg) were generally found in mainland regions, while the insular endemic taxa from Azores and Cabo Verde have smaller genomes. Melanoselinum decipiens and Monizia edulis, both endemic to Madeira Island, showed intermediate values. Positive correlations were found between mean genome size and some morphological traits (e.g., spiny or winged fruits) and also with habit (herbaceous or woody). Despite the great morphological variation found within the Cabo Verde endemic species, the 2C-values obtained were quite homogeneous between these taxa and the subspecies of Daucus carota, supporting the close relationship among these taxa. Overall, this study improved the global knowledge of DNA content for Macaronesian endemics and shed light into the mechanisms underpinning diversity patterns of wild carrots in the western Mediterranean region. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematics and the Conservation of Plant Diversity)

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12 pages, 2518 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Propagation Methods for the Conservation and Preservation of the Endangered Whorled Sunflower (Helianthus verticillatus)

by Robert N. Trigiano, Sarah L. Boggess, Christopher R Wyman, Denita Hadziabdic and Sandra Wilson

Plants 2021, 10(8), 1565; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10081565 - 30 Jul 2021

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4263

Abstract

Helianthus verticillatus Small, the whorled sunflower, is a perennial species only found at a few sites in the southeastern United States and was declared federally (USA) endangered in 2014. The species spreads locally via rhizomes and can produce copious seeds when sexually compatible [...] Read more.

Helianthus verticillatus Small, the whorled sunflower, is a perennial species only found at a few sites in the southeastern United States and was declared federally (USA) endangered in 2014. The species spreads locally via rhizomes and can produce copious seeds when sexually compatible genotypes are present. Vegetative propagation of the species via cuttings and the optimum conditions for seed germination have not been determined. To investigate asexual propagation via cuttings, stem sections were harvested in late May, June, and July in Knoxville, Tennessee (USA) and trimmed to a minimum of two nodes. The base of the cuttings was treated with either auxin or water, and grown in a Promix BX potting medium with intermittent mist and 50% shade for one month. Seeds were harvested from a population of multiple genotypes in Maryville, Tennessee and used to determine viability and the range of temperatures suitable for germination. A clonal population was developed and used for three years to assess sexual compatibility at three locations in Knoxville, Tennessee. Ninety-five percent of the cuttings from May rooted in two-to-three weeks and formed more than 20 adventitious roots per cutting with auxin and 18 with water treatments. The ability of cuttings to root decreased in June to about 20%, and none rooted in July with either water or auxin pretreatments. Pre-germination tetrazolium tests indicated that about 91% of seeds (achenes) were viable. Subsequent germination tests revealed high germination at varying temperatures (96 to 99% of seeds (achenes) germinated at 22/11, 27/15, and 29/19 °C), whereas germination was significantly inhibited by 33/24 °C. Fifty percent of the seeds germinated at 22/11 °C in 7.5 days, whereas only 2.0 to 2.5 days were required for 50% germination at 27/15, 29/19, and 33/24 °C. Seeds were not produced at any of the clonal planting locations during the three years. Vegetative propagation via rooted cuttings was successful in the mid-spring, seed germination was possible over a wide range of temperatures, and self-incompatibility was evident in this species. The results of this study will permit fast and efficient propagation of multiple and selected genotypes for conservation, commerce, and breeding of elite cultivars with disease resistance or other desirable attributes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematics and the Conservation of Plant Diversity)

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29 pages, 3500 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Natural and Historical Heritage of the Lisbon Botanical Gardens: An Integrative Approach with Tree Collections

by Ana Raquel Cunha, Ana Luísa Soares, Miguel Brilhante, Pedro Arsénio, Teresa Vasconcelos, Dalila Espírito-Santo, Maria Cristina Duarte and Maria Manuel Romeiras

Plants 2021, 10(7), 1367; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071367 - 4 Jul 2021

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 4045

Abstract

Botanical gardens have long contributed to plant science and have played a leading role in ex situ conservation, namely of threatened tree species. Focusing on the three botanical gardens of Lisbon (i.e., Botanical Garden of Ajuda—JBA, Lisbon Botanical Garden—JBL, and Tropical Botanical Garden—JBT), [...] Read more.

Botanical gardens have long contributed to plant science and have played a leading role in ex situ conservation, namely of threatened tree species. Focusing on the three botanical gardens of Lisbon (i.e., Botanical Garden of Ajuda—JBA, Lisbon Botanical Garden—JBL, and Tropical Botanical Garden—JBT), this study aims to reveal their natural heritage and to understand the historical motivations for their creation. Our results showed that these gardens contain a total of 2551 tree specimens, corresponding to 462 taxa, within 80 plant families. Of these, 85 taxa are found in the three gardens, and more than half of the taxa are hosted in JBL (334 taxa), whereas 230 and 201 taxa were recorded in JBT and JBA, respectively. The motivations for the creation of each garden are reflected in the different geographic origins of the trees they host in their living collections. The Palearctic species are dominant in JBA and JBL, and Tropical trees prevail in JBT. With more than 250 years of history, these gardens hold an invaluable natural and historical heritage, with their living collections providing valuable sources of information for the conservation of threatened plant species, at local and global scales. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematics and the Conservation of Plant Diversity)

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17 pages, 939 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Assessment and the Within-Plant Variation of the Morpho-Physiological Traits and VOCs Profile in Endemic and Rare Salvia ceratophylloides Ard. (Lamiaceae)

by Rosa Vescio, Maria Rosa Abenavoli, Fabrizio Araniti, Carmelo Maria Musarella, Adriano Sofo, Valentina Lucia Astrid Laface, Giovanni Spampinato and Agostino Sorgonà

Plants 2021, 10(3), 474; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10030474 - 3 Mar 2021

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2669

Abstract

Salvia ceratophylloides (Ard.) is an endemic and rare plant species recently rediscovered as very few individuals at two different Southern Italy sites. The study of within-plant variation is fundamental to understand the plant adaptation to the local conditions, especially in rare species, and [...] Read more.

Salvia ceratophylloides (Ard.) is an endemic and rare plant species recently rediscovered as very few individuals at two different Southern Italy sites. The study of within-plant variation is fundamental to understand the plant adaptation to the local conditions, especially in rare species, and consequently to preserve plant biodiversity. Here, we reported the variation of the morpho-ecophysiological and metabolic traits between the sessile and petiolate leaf of S. ceratophylloides plants at two different sites for understanding the adaptation strategies for surviving in these habitats. The S. ceratophylloides individuals exhibited different net photosynthetic rate, maximum quantum yield, light intensity for the saturation of the photosynthetic machinery, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, leaf area, fractal dimension, and some volatile organic compounds (VOCs) between the different leaf types. This within-plant morpho-physiological and metabolic variation was dependent on the site. These results provide empirical evidence of sharply within-plant variation of the morpho-physiological traits and VOCs profiles in S. ceratophylloides, explaining the adaptation to the local conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematics and the Conservation of Plant Diversity)

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13 pages, 3216 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Seed Total Protein Profiling in Discrimination of Closely Related Pines: Evidence from the Pinus mugo Complex

by Konrad Celiński, Joanna Sokołowska, Agata Zemleduch-Barylska, Roman Kuna, Hanna Kijak, Aleksandra Maria Staszak, Aleksandra Wojnicka-Półtorak and Ewa Chudzińska

Plants 2020, 9(7), 872; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants9070872 - 9 Jul 2020

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3174

Abstract

The Pinus mugo complex includes several dozen closely related European mountain pines. The discrimination of specific taxa within this complex is still extremely challenging, although numerous methodologies have been used to solve this problem, including morphological and anatomical analyses, cytological studies, allozyme variability, [...] Read more.

The Pinus mugo complex includes several dozen closely related European mountain pines. The discrimination of specific taxa within this complex is still extremely challenging, although numerous methodologies have been used to solve this problem, including morphological and anatomical analyses, cytological studies, allozyme variability, and DNA barcoding, etc. In this study, we used the seed total protein (STP) patterns to search for taxonomically interesting differences among three closely-related pine taxa from the Pinus mugo complex and five more distant species from the Pinaceae family. It was postulated that STP profiling can serve as the backup methodology for modern taxonomic research, in which more sophisticated analyses, i.e., based on the DNA barcoding approach, have been found to be useless. A quantitative analysis of the STP profiles revealed characteristic electrophoretic patterns for all the analyzed taxa from Pinaceae. STP profiling enabled the discrimination of closely-related pine taxa, even of those previously indistinguishable by chloroplast DNA barcodes. The results obtained in this study indicate that STP profiling can be very useful for solving complex taxonomic puzzles. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Systematics and the Conservation of Plant Diversity)

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