As espécies de Coccoloba P. Browne (Polygonaceae) da Amazônia brasileira

O gênero Coccoloba está representado na Amazônia brasileira por 23 espécies: Coccoloba acuminata Kunth, C. arborescens (Vell.) R. A. Howard, C. ascendens Duss ex Lindau, C. brasiliensis Nees & Mart., C. charitostachya Standl., C. conduplicata Maguire, C. coronata Jacq., C. declinata (Vell.) Mart., C. densifrons Mart. ex Meisn., C. excelsa Benth., C. gentryi R. A. Howard, C. latifolia Lam., C. lehmannii Lindau, C. lucidula Benth., C. marginata Benth., C. mollis Casar., C. ovata Benth., C. paraensis Meisn., C. parimensis Benth., C. ramosissima Wedd., C. savannarum Standl., C. striata Benth. e C. tenuiflora Lindau, dentre as quais apenas C. paraensis ocorre exclusivamente na Amazônia brasileira, C. charitostachya, C. conduplicata, C. coronata, C. gentryi, C. lehmanni e C. savannarum, são citadas pela primeira vez para o Brasil. As características de maior relevância taxonômica são a posição do pecíolo em relação à ócrea, ramificação da inflorescência, tamanhos relativos das brácteas e ocréolas, perianto frutífero e pericarpo. São apresentadas chaves de identificação, descrições e ilustrações, bem como comentários sobre a distribuição geográfica, hábitats e dados fenológicos para todas as espécies estudadas.

Morfologia do polén anemófilo e alergizante no Brasil: II. Polygonaceae, Amaranthaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae e Myrtaceae

Em continuação à primeira parte deste catálogo (Barth et al., 1975), é estudada a morfologia dos grãos de polén das espécies anemófilas pertencentes às famílias Polygonaceae, Amaranthaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Leguminosae, Euphorbiaceae e Myrta ceae, cujo conhecimento interessa a estudos relacionados à poluição atmosférica e a processos alérgicos, especialmente das vias respiratórias.

Linking life-history traits, ecology, and niche breadth evolution in north american eriogonoids (polygonaceae).

Abstract Macroevolutionary and microevolutionary studies provide complementary explanations of the processes shaping the evolution of niche breadth. Macroevolutionary approaches scrutinize factors such as the temporal and spatial environmental heterogeneities that drive differentiation among species. Microevolutionary studies, in contrast, focus on the processes that affect intraspecific variability. We combine these perspectives by using macroevolutionary models in a comparative study of intraspecific variability. We address potential differences in rates of evolution of niche breadth and position in annual and perennial plants of the Eriogonoideae subfamily of the Polygonaceae. We anticipated higher rates of evolution in annuals than in perennials owing to differences in generation time that are paralleled by rates of molecular evolution. Instead, we found that perennial eriogonoid species present greater environmental tolerance (wider climate niche) than annual species. Niche breadth of perennial species has evolved two to four times faster than in annuals, while niche optimum has diversified more rapidly among annual species than among perennials. Niche breadth and average elevation of species are correlated. Moreover, niche breadth increases more rapidly with mean species elevation in perennials than in annuals. Our results suggest that both environmental gradients and life-history strategy influence rates and patterns of niche breadth evolution.

Polygonum Romanum jacq. subsp. Gallicum (Raffaelli) Raffaelli & villar Polygonaceae) en el Ampurdán (Gerona)

Article que descriu la planta poligonàcea, Polyganum Romanum, present a la zona de l' Empordà

Scale-dependent adaptive evolution and morphological convergence to climatic niche in Californian eriogonoids (Polygonaceae)

Aim Macroevolutionary patterns and processes change substantially depending on levels of taxonomic and ecological organization, and the resolution of environmental and spatial variability. In comparative methods, the resolution of environmental and spatial variability often defines the number of selective regimes used to test whether phenotypic characteristics are adaptively correlated with the environment. Here, we examine how investigator choice of the number of selective regimes, determined by varying the resolution of among-species variability in the species climatic niche (hereafter called ecological scale'), influences trait morphological diversification among Eriogonoideae species. We assess whether adaptive or neutral processes drive the evolution of several morphological traits in these species. Location South-western North America. Methods We applied a phylogenetic framework of three evolutionary models to four morphological traits and the climatic niches of Eriogonoideae (in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae). We tested whether morphological traits evolve in relation to climate by adaptive or neutral process, and whether the resulting patterns of morphological variability are conserved or convergent across the clade. We inspected adaptive models of evolution under different levels of resolution of among-species variability of the climatic niche. Results We show that morphological traits and climate niches of Eriogonoideae species are not phylogenetically conserved. Further, adaptive evolution of phenotypic traits is specific to climatic niche occupancy across this clade. Finally, the likely evolutionary process and the level of detectable niche conservatism change depending on the resolution of environmental variability of the climatic niche. Main conclusions Our study demonstrates the need to consider both the resolution of environmental variability and alternative evolutionary models to understand the morphological diversification that accompanies divergent adaptive evolution of lineages to climatic conditions.

The role of climatic tolerances and seed traits in reduced extinction rates of temperate polygonaceae.

The latitudinal diversity gradient (LDG) is one of the most striking and consistent biodiversity patterns across taxonomic groups. We investigate the species richness gradient in the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae, which exhibits a reverse LDG and is, thus, decoupled from dominant gradients of energy and environmental stability that increase toward the tropics and confound mechanistic interpretations. We test competing age and evolutionary diversification hypotheses, which may explain the diversification of this plant family over the past 70 million years. Our analyses show that the age hypothesis, which posits that clade richness is positively correlated with the ecological and evolutionary time since clade origin, fails to explain the richness gradient observed in Polygonaceae. However, an evolutionary diversification hypothesis is highly supported, with diversification rates being 3.5 times higher in temperate clades compared to tropical clades. We demonstrate that differences in rates of speciation, migration, and molecular evolution insufficiently explain the observed patterns of differential diversification rates. We suggest that reduced extinction rates in temperate clades may be associated with adaptive responses to selection, through which seed morphology and climatic tolerances potentially act to minimize risk in temporally variable environments. Further study is needed to understand causal pathways among these traits and factors correlated with latitude.

In Vitro Evaluation of the Genotoxic Activity and Apoptosis Induction of the Extracts of Roots and Leaves from the Medicinal Plant Coccoloba mollis (Polygonaceae)

Coccoloba mollis (Family Polygonaceae) is a medicinal plant popularly used in cases of memory loss, stress, insomnia, anemia, impaired vision, and sexual impotence, but the scientific literature, to date, lacks studies on the biological effects of this species, particularly with regard to cytotoxicity and induction of DNA damage. The aim of the present study was to assess in vitro (in hepatic HTC cells) ethanolic extracts of the roots and leaves of C. mollis for cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and induction of apoptosis. For these evaluations the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) cytotoxicity assay, comet assay, micronucleus test with cytokinesis block, and an in situ test for detection of apoptotic cells with acridine orange staining were used. The results showed that the extract obtained from the roots of C. mollis is more cytotoxic than that obtained from the leaves and that the reduction in cell viability observed in the MTT assay was a result, at least in part, from the induction of apoptosis. Both extracts induced DNA damage at a concentration of 20 mu g/mL in the comet assay, but no genotoxicity was detected with any of the treatments carried out in the micronucleus test.

Diversidade de ácaros em indivíduos masculinos e femininos de Triplaris americana L. (Polygonaceae) e eficiência de seu pólen como alimento para Euseius citrifolius Denmark & Muma (Acari: Phytoseiidae)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Estudo fitoquímico e atividades biológicas preliminares de extratos de Polygonum Acre (Polygonaceae) H.B.K. e Synadenium Carinatum (Euphorbiaceae) Boiss

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Polygodial, the fungitoxic component from the Brazilian medicinal plant Polygonum punctatum

Polygonum punctatum (Polygonaceae) is an herb known in some regions of Brazil as "erva-de-bicho" and is used to treat intestinal disorders. The dichloromethane extract of the aerial parts of this plant showed strong activity in a bioautographic assay with the fungus Cladosporium sphaerospermum. The bioassay-guided chemical fractionation of this extract afforded the sesquiterpene dialdehyde polygodial as the active constituent. The presence of this compound with antibiotic, anti-inflammatory and anti-hyperalgesic properties in "erva-de-bicho" may account for the effects attributed by folk medicine to this plant species.

Evolution of intraspecific variation : a comparative phylogenetic approach

Understanding the evolution of intraspecific variance is a major research question in evolutionary biology. While its importance to processes operating at individual and population levels is well-documented, much less is known about its role in macroevolutionary patterns. Nevertheless, both experimental and theoretical evidence suggest that the intraspecific variance is susceptible to selection, can transform into interspecific variation and, therefore, is crucial for macroevolutionary processes. The main objectives of this thesis were: (l) to investigate which factors impact evolution of intraspecific variation in Polygonaceae and determine if evolution of intraspecific variation influences species diversification; and (2) to develop a novel comparative phylogenetic method to model evolution of intraspecific variation. Using the buckwheat family, Polygonaceae, as a study system, I demonstrated which life-history and ecological traits are relevant to the evolution of intraspecific variation. I analyzed how differential intraspecific variation drives species diversification patterns. I showed with computer simulations the shortcomings of existing comparative methods with respect to intraspecific variation. I developed a novel comparative model that readily incorporates the intraspecific variance into phylogenetic comparative methods. The obtained results are complimentary, because they affect both empirical and methodological aspects of comparative analysis. Overall, I highlight that intraspecific variation is an important contributor to the macroevolutionary patterns and it should be explicitly considered in the comparative phylogenetic analysis. - En biologie évolutive comprendre l'évolution de la variance intraspécifique est un axe de recherche majeur. Bien que l'importance de cette variation soit bien documentée au niveau individuel et populationnel, on en sait beaucoup moins sur son rôle au niveau macroévolutif. Néanmoins, des preuves expérimentales et théoriques suggèrent que la variance intraspécifique est sensible à la sélection et peut se transformer en variation interspécifique. Par conséquent, elle est cruciale pour mieux comprendre les processus macroévolutifs. Les principaux objectifs de ma thèse étaient : (i) d'enquêter sur les facteurs qui affectent l'évolution de la variation intraspécifique chez les Polygonaceae et de déterminer si l'évolution de cette dernière influence la diversification des espèces, et (2) de développer une nouvelle méthode comparative permettant de modéliser l'évolution de la variation intraspécifique dans un cadre phylogénétique. En utilisant comme système d'étude la famille du sarrasin, les Polygonacées, je démontre que les traits d'histoire de vie sont pertinents pour comprendre l'évolution de la variation intraspécifique. J'ai également analysé l'influence de la variation intraspécifique au niveau de la diversification des espèces. J'ai ensuite démontré avec des données simulées les limites des méthodes comparatives existantes vis à vis de la variation intraspécifique. Finalement, j'ai développé un modèle comparatif qui intègre facilement la variance intraspécifique dans les méthodes comparatives phylogénétiques existantes. Les résultats obtenus lors de ma thèse sont complémentaires car ils abordent aspects empiriques et méthodologiques de l'analyse comparative. En conclusion, je souligne que la variation intraspécifique est un facteur important en macroévolution et qu'elle doit être explicitement considérée lors d'analyses comparatives phylogénétiques.

Plantas invasoras de várzea no estado de São Paulo

As plantas invasoras que ocorrem em uma determinada cultura, constituem sério problema, tendo em vista a concorrência em água, luz e nutrientes que promove com a planta cultivada, determinando uma sensível queda da produtividade da lavoura. O levantamento e reconhecimento dessas plantas, além do estudo biológico, permitem um controle mais eficiente e económico. A coleta do material botânico foi realizada através de visitas em áreas de várzeas cultivadas e em três épocas distintas do ano, com a finalidade de se levantar o maior número possível de espécies invasoras. A fenologia, o modo ou modos de reprodução, frequência e ciclo são elementos indispensáveis para um controle racional e efetivo. Apesar do maior número de espécies pertencerem as famílias Compositae e Gramineae, as espécies de maior importância econômica estão abrigadas também nas famílias Cyperaceae, Lythraceae, Onagraceae, Polygonaceae, Pontederiaceae e Portulacaceae.

Anatomia de folha e caule e quantificação espectrofotométrica de fenóis totais e taninos da erva-de-bicho (Polygonum acre Kunth var. aquatile Meisn.)

Com o objetivo de selecionar caracteres úteis na identificação de Polygonum acre Kunth var. aquatile Meisn., erva medicinal geralmente comercializada sob a forma de planta fragmentada, e para contribuir para o conhecimento botânico da espécie, descreveu-se sua anatomia e quantificaram-se os fenóis totais, taninos gálicos e condensados. O material foi processado segundo técnicas usuais de anatomia vegetal. Na análise anatômica, a comparação dos resultados com a bibliografia permitiu selecionar os seguintes caracteres como auxiliares à determinação de P. acre: 1) ausência de endoderme bem definida com estrias de Caspary conforme descrito para outras espécies do gênero Polygonum; 2) ócrea com numerosos tricomas pluricelulares e cavidades secretoras localizadas apenas na face abaxial da epiderme; 3) fibras presentes internamente ao xilema do caule; 4) feixe invertido na nervura principal; e 5) presença de pêlos lignificados no bordo da folha. As dosagens de fenóis totais e taninos demonstraram que a planta apresenta quantidade significativa de taninos condensados e que a princípio, os taninos gálicos não estão presentes na espécie.

Modern pollen samples from alpine vegetation on the Tibetan Plateau.

1  A set of 316 modern surface pollen samples, sampling all the alpine vegetation types that occur on the Tibetan Plateau, has been compiled and analysed. Between 82 and 92% of the pollen present in these samples is derived from only 28 major taxa. These 28 taxa include examples of both tree (AP) and herb (NAP) pollen types. 2  Most of the modern surface pollen samples accurately reflect the composition of the modern vegetation in the sampling region. However, airborne dust-trap pollen samples do not provide a reliable assessment of the modern vegetation. Dust-trap samples contain much higher percentages of tree pollen than non-dust-trap samples, and many of the taxa present are exotic. In the extremely windy environments of the Tibetan Plateau, contamination of dust-trap samples by long-distance transport of exotic pollen is a serious problem. 3  The most characteristic vegetation types present on the Tibetan Plateau are alpine meadows, steppe and desert. Non-arboreal pollen (NAP) therefore dominates the pollen samples in most regions. Percentages of arboreal pollen (AP) are high in samples from the southern and eastern Tibetan Plateau, where alpine forests are an important component of the vegetation. The relative importance of forest and non-forest vegetation across the Plateau clearly follows climatic gradients: forests occur on the southern and eastern margins of the Plateau, supported by the penetration of moisture-bearing airmasses associated with the Indian and Pacific summer monsoons; open, treeless vegetation is dominant in the interior and northern margins of the Plateau, far from these moisture sources. 4  The different types of non-forest vegetation are characterized by different modern pollen assemblages. Thus, alpine deserts are characterized by high percentages of Chenopodiaceae and Artemisia, with Ephedra and Nitraria. Alpine meadows are characterized by high percentages of Cyperaceae and Artemisia, with Ranunculaceae and Polygonaceae. Alpine steppe is characterized by high abundances of Artemisia, with Compositae, Cruciferae and Chenopodiaceae. Although Artemisia is a common component of all non-forest vegetation types on the Tibetan Plateau, the presence of other taxa makes it possible to discriminate between the different vegetation types. 5  The good agreement between modern vegetation and modern surface pollen samples across the Tibetan Plateau provides a measure of the reliability of using pollen data to reconstruct past vegetation patterns in non-forested areas.

Fungos ectomicorrízicos em áreas de Mata Atlântica do Nordeste do Brasil

Ectomycorrhizal associations are poorly known from tropical lowlands of South America. Recent field trips to the reserve Parque Estadual das Dunas in Natal, in Rio Grande do Norte state, Brazil, revealed a undocumented community of ectomycorrhizal fungi. This type of Mycorrhizal association is frequently in the north hemisphere in temperate and boreal forests. The aim of this work is to analyze the occurrence of ectotrophic areas in atlantic rainforest. Collections along and around the trails in the reserve revealed six genera of putatively ECM fungi which belong to the basidiomycete, Amanitaceae, Boletaceae, Russulaceae, Entolomataceae, and Sclerodermataceae family which are poorly documented in Brazil. Plants belonging to Myrtaceae, Polygonaceae, Leguminosae/Caesalpinioideae, Erythroxylaceae, Malphigiaceae, Bromeliaceae, Loganiaceae, Sapotaceae e Celastraceae were found living next to the species of fungi analized. Our results suggest that the area studied is an ectotrophic environment which shows high diversity of putatively ECM fungi and some plants probably host ECM. The tropical lands are a potential focus to study reinforced by the new records of Scleroderma in Brazil and Northwest of Brazil