Anchusa Arvensis Research Articles

Green synthesized AgNPs of the Anchusa arvensis aqueous extract resulting in impressive protein kinase, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities.

This study focused on analyzing the pharmacological activities of AgNPs synthesized from an aqueous plant extract of Anchusa arvensis. The effectiveness of AgNPs was evaluated for protein kinase inhibition, antioxidant, antibacterial, and antifungal activities. The AgNPs and plant were used to regulate the protein kinase activity using the liquid TSB and ISP4 medium protein kinase inhibition study demonstrated that nanoparticles exhibited a larger zone of inhibition (9.1 ± 0.8) compared to the plant extract (8.1 ± 0.6). The antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH reagent, and the results indicated that AgNPs displayed potent free radical scavenging properties. In terms of antibacterial activity, AgNPs showed higher efficacy against Enterobacter aerogens (20.1 ± 0.9), Bordetella bronchiseptaca (19.1 ± 0.9), and Salmonella typhimurium (17.2 ± 0.8) at 4 mg/mL. The antifungal activity of AgNPs was prominent against Aspergillus fumagatus (14.1 ± 0.9), Mucor species (19.2 ± 0.8), and Fusarium solani (11.2 ± 0.8) at 20 mg/mL. These findings suggest that AgNPs possess multiple beneficial properties, including bactericidal/fungicidal effects, protein kinase inhibition, and potential free radical scavenging abilities. Therefore, AgNPs have potential applications in various fields, such as biomedicine and industry, due to their ability to counteract the harmful effects of free radicals.

THP-1 Cells Line Cytotoxicity, Antileishmanial Activity, Brine Shrimp Lethality and Characterization of Silver Nanoparticles Synthesized Using Anchusa arvensis Aqueous Extract

The current development was focused on environmentally friendly and cost-effective synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs). This investigation aims to synthesize AgNPs using Anchusa arvensis aqueous plant extract. The characterization was confirmed by means of different techniques including, X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Fourier Transform Infrared (FT-IR) Spectroscopy, and UV-visible analysis. The crystalline morphology of AgNPs is demonstrated by X-ray diffraction, with mean crystallite diameter ranges from 20–25 nm. The spherical geometry of particles was revealed via SEM images. The FT-IR Spectroscopy confirmed that, aqueous extract of plant contains essentials phytoconstituents such as, O–H stretching vibration of carboxylic acid, C–H is the stretching vibration of alkane, C–O indicate the stretching vibration of alcohol, C=C corresponds to stretching vibration of aromatic compounds, which were responsible for the formation of AgNPs. The synthesized nanoparticles were stable at temperatures up to 50 °C, as well as in neutral and basic pH, but were unstable at acidic pH. The synthesized AgNPs had promising antileishmanial and THP-1 Cell line cytotoxic activity against Leishmanial promastigotes, with an averaged mortality (%) of 85.3±0.7% at IC50 values of 35.3±1.81 μg/mL and 65.3±0.7% with IC50 values of 45.3±1.81 μg/mL, respectively. The brine shrimp lethality of synthesized nanoparticles showed that the concentration greater than 200 μg/mL was biologically compatible.

Lycopsis arvensis

This datasheet on Lycopsis arvensis covers Identity, Hosts/Species Affected, Further Information.

Florisztikai adatok a Tiszántúl északi pereméről II.

Jelen dolgozatban 2006 és 2019 közötti időszakból, a Borsodi-ártér és a Sajó–Hernád-sík területéről gyűjtött florisztikai megfigyeléseinket tesszük közzé, összesen 126 fajról, és egy hibridről. Különös figyelmet fordítottunk a térségben jellemző kavicsbányákra, ezért az adataink egy jelentős része valamilyen módon összefüggésbe hozható a kavicsbányászati tevékenységek során létrejött élőhelyekkel. A dolgozatban bemutatjuk néhány országszerte ritka vagy szórványos őshonos faj (például Chenopodium murale, Ch. rubrum, Lycopsis arvensis, Chamaenerion dodonaei, Reseda luteola, Senecio viscosus, Gnaphalium luteoalbum, Cyperus glomeratus), ill. újjövevény (Lepidium densiflorum, L. virginicum) újabb előfordulásait. Védett, de nem feltétlenül ritka fajok lokális elterjedéséhez is kiegészítésekkel szolgálunk (például Pseudolysimachion longifolium, Nymphoides peltata, Epipactis tallosii, Leucanthemella serotina). Néhány faj előfordulását tiszántúli (Sherardia arvensis, Thymelaea passerina, Silene conica) vagy alföldi (Monotropa hypopitys) kitekintésben is jelentősnek tartjuk.

Cytotoxicity of Anchusa arvensis Against HepG-2 Cell Lines: Mechanistic and Computational Approaches.

Liver cancer is a devastating cancer with increasing incidence and mortality rates worldwide. Plants possess numerous therapeutic properties, therefore the search for novel, naturally occurring cytotoxic compounds is urgently needed. The anticancer activity of plant extracts and isolated compounds from Anchusa arvensis (A. arvensis) were studied against the cell culture of HepG-2 (human hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines) using 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-yl)-diphenyl tetrazoliumbromide (MTT) assay. Apoptosis was investigated by performing Acridine orange -ethidium bromide staining, styox green assay and DNA interaction study. We also used tools for computational chemistry studies of isolated compounds with the tyrosine kinase. In MTT assay, the crude extract caused a significant cytotoxic effect with IC50 of 34.14 ± 0.9 μg/ml against HepG-2 cell lines. Upon fractionation, chloroform fraction (Aa.Chm) exhibited the highest antiproliferative activity with IC50 6.55 ± 1.2 μg/ml followed by ethyl acetate (Aa.Et) fraction (IC50, 24.59 ± 0.85 μg/ml) and n-hexane (Aa.Hex) fraction (IC50 29.53 ± 1.5μg/ml). However, the aqueous (Aa.Aq) fraction did not show any anti-proliferative activity. Bioactivity-guided isolation led to the isolation of two compounds which were characterized as para-methoxycatechol (1) and decane (2) through various spectroscopic techniques. Against HepG-2 cells, compound 1 showed marked potency with IC50 6.03 ± 0.75 μg/ml followed by 2 with IC50 18.52 ± 1.9 μg/ml. DMSO was used as a negative control and doxorubicin as a reference standard (IC50 1.3 ± 0.21 μg/ml). It was observed that compounds 1-2 caused apoptotic cell death evaluated by Acridine orange -ethidium bromide staining, styox green assay and DNA interaction study, therefore both compounds were tested for molecular docking studies against tyrosine kinase to support cytotoxic activity. This study revealed that the plant extracts and isolated compounds possess promising antiproliferative activity against HepG-2 cell lines via apoptotic cell death.

In Silico, Cytotoxic and Antioxidant Potential of Novel Ester, 3-hydroxyoctyl -5- trans-docosenoate Isolated from Anchusa arvensis (L.) M.Bieb. Against HepG-2 Cancer Cells.

BackgroundCancer is one of the chronic health conditions worldwide. Various therapeutically active compounds from medicinal plants were the current focus of this research in order to uncover a treatment regimen for cancer. Anchusa arvensis (A. anchusa) (L.) M.Bieb. contains many biologically active compounds.MethodsIn the current study, new ester 3-hydroxyoctyl -5- trans-docosenoate (compound-1) was isolated from the chloroform soluble fraction of A. anchusa using column chromatography. Using MTT assay, the anticancer effect of the compound was determined in human hepatocellular carcinoma cells (HepG-2) compared with normal epithelial cell line (Vero). DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging assays were performed to assess the antioxidant potential. The Molecular Operating Environment (MOE-2016) tool was used against tyrosine kinase.ResultsThe structure of the compound was elucidated based on IR, EI, and NMR spectroscopy technique. It exhibited a considerable cytotoxic effect against HepG-2 cell lines with IC50 value of 6.50 ± 0.70 µg/mL in comparison to positive control (doxorubicin) which showed IC50 value of 1.3±0.21 µg/mL. The compound did not show a cytotoxic effect against normal epithelial cell line (Vero). The compound also exhibited significant DPHH scavenging ability with IC50 value of 12 ± 0.80 µg/mL, whereas ascorbic acid, used as positive control, demonstrated activity with IC50 = 05 ± 0.15 µg/mL. Similarly, it showed ABTS radical scavenging ability (IC50 = 130 ± 0.20 µg/mL) compared with the value obtained for ascorbic acid (06 ± 0.85 µg/mL). In docking studies using MOE-2016 tool, it was observed that compound-1 was highly bound to tyrosine kinase by having two hydrogen bonds at the hinge region. This good bonding network by the compound might be one of the reasons for showing significant activity against this enzyme.ConclusionOur findings led to the isolation of a new compound from A. anchusa which has significant cytotoxic activity against HepG-2 cell lines with marked antioxidant potential.

Revision of F. K. Meyer’s herbarium from Albania

Herbarium specimens collected by F. K. Meyer in Albania have been studied and revised. As a result of the revisions of the holotype specimens – Campanula latifolioides should be treated as synonym of Campanula trichocalycina, Chamaecytisus mitrushii as synonym of Chamaecytisus purpureus, Euphorbia cikaea as synonym of Euphorbia herniariifolia, Genista albanica as synonym of Anthyllis hermanniae, Medicago coerulescens as synonym of Medicago disciformis and Seseli angustum as synonym of Carum graecum. Twenty-one taxa are erroneously reported from the country (Acer opalus, Allium pallens subsp. tenuifolium, Anchusa arvensis subsp. orientalis, Arbutus ×andrachnoides, Arum longispathum, Brachypodium phoenicoides, Bupleurum baldense and subsp. gussonei, Cardamine chelidonia, Carex appropinquata, Carex hispida, Dianthus biflorus, Glyceria arundinacea, Lonicera glutinosa, Onosma halacsyi, Orobanche aegyptiaca, Orobanche oxyloba, Plantago maritima subsp. serpentina, Stachys parolinii, Stipa endotricha and Valeriana crinii subsp. epirotica), including Bupleurum baldense, Carduus carduelis, Erysimum diffusum, Salix serpillifolia, Senecio gallicus and Stellaria palustris which have preceding reports also. Two species are erroneously reported or questionable (Orchis militaris and Thymus leucotrichus) and 12 taxa are proposed to treat as questionably occur in Albania (Achillea seidlii, Chamaecytisus supinus, Dianthus giganteus, Echinops spinosissimus, Euphorbia villosa, Jovibarba globifera, (and subsp. hirta), Koeleria pyramidata, Saxifraga scardica, Sideritis scardica, Viola alba and Viola epirota).

Zbiorowiska roślinne upraw okopowych Wigierskiego Parku Narodowego

Two associations were identified in the agrocenoses of the WNP tuber crops: one community, characterised by the occurrence of characteristic species from the alliance Panico-Setarion, and two associations: Veronico-Fumarietum officinalis and Galinsogo-Setarietum. The syntaxons identified were internally diverse and divided into lower phytosociological units classified as variants. Patches of the community with species of the alliance Panico-Setarion usually established on light soils. Their appearance was mainly affected by acidophilous species, such as Setaria viridis, Setaria pumila, Spergula arvensis and Anthemis arvensis. In some patches more nitrophilous weeds were found with a high cover, including Matricaria maritima subsp. inodora, Chenopodium album, Viola arvensis and Stellaria media. Patches of Veronico-Fumarietum officinalis with a high share of characteristic species and indicators of this association, that is Fumaria officinalis, Lamium amplexicaule, Veronica agrestis, Veronica persica and Anchusa arvensis, were established in tuber crops cultivated on fertile soils, mainly proper brown or grey brown podzolic soils. Patches of the association Galinsogo-Setarietum were established in habitats in the proximity of buildings. They were characterised by a mass occurrence of Galinsoga parviflora and Galinsoga ciliata, the latter one being less frequent. Nitrophilous species also had a high cover in these patches. They included Chenopodium album, Stellaria media and Polygonum lapathifolium subsp. lapathifolium. Higrophilous species, e.g. Mentha arvensis and Bidens tripartite, were found is some patches, too.

The accumulation of strontium by native plants grown on Gumuskoy mining soils

The Gümüsköy mining area is located about 25km west of Kütahya and the largest silver deposit in Turkey. The present study investigated the translocation and accumulation of Sr from the Gümüşköy mining soils into 11 native plants. Plant and soil samples were collected from the field, and Sr concentrations were analyzed by ICP-MS. The average Sr values in the soil, root, and shoot of the native plants in the study area were 148.55, 163.65, and 163.93ppm, respectively. The plants were separated to several groups (the best plants, good plant and candidate plants) according to ECS and ECR values of these plants. These groups showed that the best plants; Carduus nutans, Onosma sp., Alyssum saxatile, Anchusa arvensis and Centaurea cyanus, good plants; Verbascum thapsus, Isatis, Phlomis sp., Cynoglossum officinale and Glaucium flavum and candidate plants; Silene compacta for Sr. The present study revealed that both the best and good plants in the study area had very high potential to remove Sr, Therefore, these plants can be useful for remediation or phytoremediation studies of soils polluted by Sr.

Determination of secondary metabolites and antioxidant activity of some boraginaceae species growing in Iran

Purpose: To evaluate the antioxidant potential, flavonoids, and total phenols as well as cyanidin 3- glucoside and delphinidin 3-glucoside contents of some Boraginaceae species that grow in Iran.Methods: The aqueous and ethanol extracts of the plants were prepared. The free radical scavenging activity of the extracts was determined using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical method. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents of the extracts were assessed by Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminium chloride colorimetric assays, respectively. Furthermore, cyanidin 3-glucoside and delphinidin 3- glucoside contents of the extracts were determined using high- performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method.Results: The most powerful free radical scavenging activity with 50 % inhibitory concentration (IC50) of 23.13 ± 1.90 μg mL-1 was exerted by the ethanol extract of Nonea caspica, while the weakest IC50 of 364.38 ± 14.18 μg mL-1 was shown by the aqueous extract of Onosma sericeum. Total phenolic content varied among the plants, ranging from 270.33 ± 2.60 to 3.40 ± 0.28 mg GAE g-1 dry weight. The ethanol extracts of Nonea caspica and Anchusa arvensis displayed the highest total flavonoid content (252.60 ± 1.80 and 29.13 ± 1.05 mg QE g-1 dry weight, respectively). The highest contents of cyanidin and delphinidin 3-glucosides were found in the ethanol extracts of Nonea caspica and Anchusa arvensis, respectively.Conclusion: The results show that some of the plants have potent antioxidant activities which may justify the ethno-therapeutic usage of these plants by traditional healers.Keywords: Boraginaceae, Polyphenol, Antioxidant activity, Cyanidin 3-glucoside, Delphinidin 3- glucoside, Nonea caspica, Onosma sericeum, Anchusa arvensis

Effects of Some Boraginaceae Species Extracts on Albumin, Hemoglobin and Crystalline Glycation Reaction

Non-enzymatic glycation of proteins is the major cause of diabetic complications and therefore, inhibition of this reaction could reduce the morbidity of this disease. The aim of this study was to evaluate the in vitro effects of aqueous and hydroethanol extracts of Echium italicum L., Anchusa arvensis L. and Trichodesma incanum (Bunge) A. DC. of Boraginaceae on albumin, hemoglobin, and crystalline glycation reaction. The results showed that the hydroethanol extract of Echium italicum in the concentrations of 100, 50 and 10 mg/dl could reduce the rate of albumin glycation to 85.10±1.85, 64.14±1.12 and 40.13±1.17%, respectively, and also in the same conditions, rates of hemoglobin glycation were reduced to 69.20±1.71, 46.13±1.93 and 27.73±0.90%, respectively. Moreover, extracts of three tested plants have antiglycation effects on crystalline glycation reaction. Under the identical conditions, the inhibitory effects of hydroethanol extracts of Echium italicum on the albumin, hemoglobin, and crystalline glycation reaction were higher than other extracts. The findings showed that the extracts of tested species, particularly in the hydroethanol form, could be used to prevent and treat complications of diabetes mellitus.be used to prevent and treat complications of diabetes mellitus.

Kształtowanie się zbiorowisk chwastów grochu siewnego (Pisum sativum L.) pod wpływem herbicydu i następstwa roślin

Summary This paper presents the results obtained in the crop rotation experiment carried out in the years 2008–2010. It concerns weed infestation of pea (Venus variety) cultivated in six-field crop rotation: sugar beet – maize – spring barley – pea – winter oilseed rape – winter wheat, and in monoculture since 1993. Two levels of crop protection were compared: level 0 – no chemical protection, and H – with the protection of herbicide (linuron) applied after sowing at 1.5 kg/ha doses. The species composition and the number of weeds were determined at the development stage of 2–4 leaves of pea and prior to the mechanical cultivation using a frame with an area of 0.25 m 2 . On the objects without chemical protection in crop rotation and in monoculture the number of weeds amounted to 237 plants/m 2 and 614 plants/m 2 , respectively. The applied herbicide reduced the number of weeds in the crop rotation by 87.8% and by 82.5% in the monoculture. Regardless of the chosen method of crop protection, the following weed species dominated: Chenopodium album, Thlaspi arvense and Capsella bursa-pastoris. In monocultural cultivation Lycopsis arvensis, Polygonum convolvulus and also perennial weeds occurred as well.

Cytological differentiation of the embryo sac in Boraginaceae

In <em>Lycopsis arvensis, Cerinthe minor, Lithospermum arvense</em> and <em>Echium vulgare</em> the endosperm is divided into two parts: central and lateral. In <em>Lithospermum</em> and <em>Echium</em>, high podyploid single endosperm haustoria are formed and take part in nourishment of the embryo. In <em>Lycopsis</em> and Cerinthe, the lateral cells are lower ploid, while the polyploid synergids supply the embryo with nourishment.

Skuteczność chwastobójcza mieszaniny nikosulfuronu, rimsulfuronu i dikamby stosowanej z adiuwantami w kukurydzy

The field experiments were conducted in Brody, near Poznan, during 2011 and 2012 to investigate the effects of time of application and addition of adjuvants on the efficacy of nicosulfuron + rimsulfuron + dicamba and grain yield of maize. The following weed species were investigated Chenopodium album, Fallopia convolvulus, Lycopsis arvensis and Echinochloa crus-galli. Three nicosulfuron + rimsufluron + dicamba application rates were applied with addition of non-ionic surfactant (S), methylated esters (MSO) and ammonium nitrate (AMN). The herbicide mix was applied once at 400 and 200 g/ha, and twice at 170/170 g/ha with S or MSO and AMN. Evaluated adjuvants provided enhancement of control of reduced rates of nicosulfuron + rimsufluron + dicamba for all weeds. MSO was generally slightly greater effective for weed control than S. Nicosulfuron + rimsufluron + dicamba with adjuvants applied twice at reduced rates greatly increased weed control that ranged between 90 and 100%. Twice application of herbicide mixtures with adjuvants provided slight increase, as compared to other treatments, and high increase, as compare to the untreated treatment, of maize grain yield. Badania polowe prowadzono w Brodach pod Poznaniem, w latach 2011–2012, w celu oceny wpływu terminu aplikacji i dodatku adiuwantów na skuteczność zwalczania chwastów mieszaniną nikosulfuron + rimsulfuron + dicamba i plon ziarna kukurydzy. W kukurydzy stwierdzono obecność Chenopodium album, Fallopia convolvulus, Lycopsis arvensis i Echinochloa crus-galli. Nikosulfuron + rimsulfuron + dikamba stosowano w trzech dawkach z dodatkiem surfaktanta niejonowego (S), metylowych estrów (MSO) i saletry amonowej (AMN). Mieszaninę stosowano jednokrotnie w dawce 400 lub 200 g/ha i dwukrotnie w dawce 170/170 g/ha z S lub MSO i AMN. Badane adiuwanty wpływały na zwiększenie skuteczności mieszaniny nikosulfuron + rimsulfuron + dikamba stosowanej w dawkach zredukowanych, w stosunku do wszystkich chwastów. MSO adiuwant wpływał generalnie korzystniej niż S na działanie herbicydu. Nikosulfuron + rimsulfuron + dikamba stosowane z adiuwantami w dawkach zredukowanych, w systemie dawek dzielonych wpłynęły na wzrost skuteczności chwastobójczej do poziomu 90–100%. Herbicyd stosowany w systemie dawek dzielonych z adiuwantami prowadził do nieznacznego wzrostu w stosunku do pozostałych kombinacji i znacznego wzrostu plonu ziarna kukurydzy w porównaniu do kontroli.

Zachwaszczenie jęczmienia jarego uprawianego po różnych przedplonach

A field study was carried out between the years 2008–2009 at the Research Station Swadzim that belongs to Poznań University of Life Sciences. The objective of the study was to determine the effect of tillage system and previous crop on the changes in infestation and species compositions in spring barley. As compared to the traditional tillage, direct drilling increased over 100% mass of weeds per unit area. Number of weeds was higher by 60% and more on the plots with direct drilling. There was significant influence of previous crop on number of weeds in spring barley. Number of weeds was 40% higher when spring barley was cultivated after fodder beet compared to the plots where spring barley was cultivated after maize. The dominance species were: Viola arvensis, Chenopodium album, Senecio vulgaris, Geranium pusillum, Anthemis arvensis, Matricaria maritima, Lycopsis arvensis, Brassica napus and Echinochloa crus-galli. There was no significant influence of previous crop on values of dominance index (C). Significant higher value were recorded on the treatments with spring barley cultivated with conventional tillage technology. Higher values of Shannon’s biodiversity index (H) were obtained on the treatments where spring barley was cultivated in direct drill after maize crop and also after fodder beet crop when ploughing cultivation system was applied. Badania przeprowadzono w latach 2008–2009, w Zakładzie Doświadczalno-Dydaktycznym Gorzyń, filia Swadzim należącym do Uniwersytetu Przyrodniczego w Poznaniu. Ich celem była ocena wpływu sposobu uprawy gleby i rodzaju przedplonu na stan i stopień zachwaszczenia jęczmienia jarego. Na obiektach z siewem bezpośrednim obserwowano ponad dwukrotny wzrost masy chwastów na jednostce powierzchni, natomiast wzrost ich liczby w stosunku do tradycyjnej uprawy płużnej wynosił ponad 60%. Rodzaj przedplonu wpływał na liczbę chwastów w łanie jęczmienia jarego. Na obiektach, na których był on wysiewany po kukurydzy charakteryzował się o 40% większą liczbą chwastów w odniesieniu do jego uprawy po buraku pastewnym. W zasiewach szczególnie licznie występowały takie gatunki, jak: Viola arvensis, Chenopodium album, Senecio vulgaris, Geranium pusillum, Anthemis arvensis, Matricaria maritima, Lycopsis arvensis, Brassica napus i Echinochloa crus-galli. Nie stwierdzono istotnego wpływu przedplonu na wartość wskaźnika dominacji (C). Istotnie wyższe wartości tego wskaźnika odnotowano w odniesieniu do zachwaszczenia jęczmienia uprawianego w technologii tradycyjnej. Wyższe wartości wskaźnika bioróżnorodności Shannona (H) wykazano w odniesieniu do zachwaszczenia przy uprawie jęczmienia w stanowisku po kukurydzy w technologii siewu bezpośredniego, natomiast w stanowisku po buraku pastewnym wskaźnik ten przyjmował wyższe wartości, gdy zastosowano płużną uprawę roli.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids in members of the Boraginaceae from Sinai (Egypt)

Altogether 40 pyrrolizidine alkaloids were detected in the alkaloid extracts of Paracaryum rugulosum , P. intermedium , Anchusa milleri , Gastrocotyle hispida (syn. Anchusa hispida ), Anchusa arvensis, Lappula spinocarpos , Trichodesma africanum , Alkanna orientalis , and Alkanna tuberculata (syn. A . tinctoria ) which were analyzed by capillary GLC and GLC-MS. 24 alkaloids were unambiguously identified by comparing their specific retention indices and mass fragmentations with those of authentic alkaloids and literature data. The relevance of PAs as chemical defence compounds for desert plants against herbivores is discussed.

Puccinia recondita causing leaf rust on cultivated wheats, wild wheats, and rye

Aecial and telial host range, interfertility, teliospore dimensions, and amount of nuclear DNA were determined for Puccinia recondita collected either worldwide from species of cultivated wheats (Triticum aestivum and Triticum turgidum ssp. durum and rye (Secale cereale), or from wild emmer (Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides) and four species of wild wheat (Aegilops) in Israel. The results indicate that the collections belong in two major groups: Group I (from cultivated wheats and wild emmer), which has Thalictrum speciosissimum (in the Ranunculaceae) as principal aecial host; and Group II (principally from wild wheats or rye), which has several species in the Boraginaceae, such as Anchusa aggregata, Anchusa italica, Echium glomeratum, and Lycopsis arvensis as aecial hosts. In glasshouse experiments, intercrosses could be made readily among collections within Groups I and II but not between the two groups. Group I consisted of all collections from Triticum aestivum, Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides, and most collections from Triticum turgidum ssp. durum. For Group I collections, four species of Aegilops, Hordeum maritimum, S. cereale, as well as Triticum aestivum and Triticum turgidum ssp. durum and ssp. dicoccoides could all serve as telial host in glasshouse experiments. Group II consisted of four types, all clearly different from Group I. Type A was from Triticum turgidum ssp. durum found in fields near Anchusa italica, which was its only aecial host; Triticum aestivum, Triticum turgidum ssp. durum, and Triticum turgidum ssp. dicoccoides could serve as telial hosts. Type B was from Aegilops ovata and had E. glomeratum, Anchusa undulata, and L. arvensis as aecial hosts. Type C was from Aegilops longissima, Aegilops sharonensis, and Aegilops variabilis and had Anchusa aggregata, Anchusa undulata and L. arvensis as aecial hosts. Type D was from S. cereale and had L. arvensis and Anchusa undulata as aecial hosts. In addition to differences in host range, teliospores were wider and bigger in cross sectional area, and nuclear DNA content of pycniospores was 1.3–1.6 times greater in Group II than in Group I. The results suggest that Groups I and II have evolved separately for an extended period and are now morphologically distinct and genetically isolated from each other. Furthermore, differences in both telial and aecial host species, in teliospore dimensions, and in amount of nuclear DNA indicate that subgroups within Group II are beginning to show genetic divergence. Key words: aecial hosts, Aegilops, Anchusa, Echium, Hordeum, leaf rust, Lycopsis, Puccinia recondita, Puccinia triticina, Secale, Thalictrum, Triticum.

COMPARATIVE GERMINATION ECOLOGY OF THREE SHORT-LIVED MONOCARPIC BORAGINACEAE*

SUMMARY Germination of seeds and seed bank dynamics of Cynoglossum officinale, Echium vulgare and Anchusa arvensis were studied under natural conditions. The effects of constant and alternating temperature, soil moisture and light were studied in controlled environments. Additionally, for Cynoglossum officinale moist-chilling requirements and the effect of depth of sowing on germination were investigated. The various ways in which Cynoglossum officinale, Echium vulgare and Anchusa arvensis live with mortality-risks related to germination and survival of seeds, are discussed. In the field, Cynoglossum officinale germinates from February till May, Echium vulgare from March till November and Anchusa arvensis from March till July. These three species have a small persistent seed bank. Cynoglossum officinale seeds can persist on the soil surface and on the infructescences, the latter seed bank may last for two years. At 2 and 15 cm depth buried seeds germinated within one year. After three years at 2 cm depth 85% of the Echium vulgare seeds and c. 40% of the Anchusa arvensis seeds had germinated. At 15 cm depth these percentages were c. 25% and c. 5%, respectively. The maximum number of Cynoglossum officinale seeds germinated at 0–10 C 12D/12L and 12% soil moisture. The light response proved to be different for seeds from different populations. A six weeks moist-chilling period can break dormancy. The highest germination percentage was found for a depth of sowing of 1 cm. Echium vulgare germinated quickly under a wide variety of temperature and soil-moisture conditions. The highest germination percentage was found at 20–30 C 12D/12L and 6–12% soil moisture. The seeds germinated in darkness just as well as in light. The maximum number of Anchusa arvensis seeds germinated at 15–25 C 12D/12L and 6% soil moisture. The light response proved to be different for seeds from different populations. A classification of the species could be made, though not strictly, in a species with such characteristics that the mortality risk is reduced in space and time (Cynoglossum officinale) and species with characteristics through which the risk is reduced in space and spread in time (Echium vulgare and Anchusa arvensis).

Seed survival and periodicity of seedling emergence in ten species of annual weeds

SUMMARYSeeds or fruits of 10 species of annual weeds were collected in each of 3 years and mixed with the top 7 · 5 cm of sterilised soil (confined in cylinders sunk in the ground outdoors and cultivated three times yearly. The numbers of seedlings emerging were recorded for 5 yr and the numbers of viable seeds remaining then determined. Emergence of Anagallis arvensis, Anchusa arvensis, Chaenorrhinum minus and Euphorbia peplus was mainly in spring; Lamium amplexicaule and Myosotis arvensis also had a spring peak but emergence continued in summer and autumn. Seedlings of Aphanes arvensis appeared almost entirely in autumn and those of Lamium purpureum between May and October. Veronica arvensis had spring and autumn peaks, while Fumaria densiflora showed no definite pattern. Except for Anagallis arvensis and F. densiflora, in which there was apparent innate dormancy due to the seed coat, most seedlings appeared in the first year with a decrease, usually exponential, from year to year. This was most rapid in C. minus and E. peplus, of which few viable seeds remained after 5 yr. Seed survival for the other species ranged from 2·6% of those sown for Anchusa arvensis to 14·8% for F. densiflora.