Ipomoea Cairica Research Articles

Distribution of Starch and Neutral Lipids in the Developing Anthers ofLpomoea cairica

The Periodic Acid-Schiff (PAS) reaction was used to test for the presence of starch, and Sudan black was applied to detect neutral lipids (lipid drops) during anther development in Ipomoea cairica. Starch was observed in sporogenous and anther wall cells. Prior to meiosis in microspore mother cells (MMCs), starch was not evident, although small lipid drops appeared. A substantial amount of starch accumulated in the epidermal and endothecium cells, but starch and lipid drops were not identified in the tapetum. At the tetrad stage, starch appeared in microspores, and the amount of starch remained constant in anther cells. Early in the microspore stage, the tapetum degenerated, starch remained in the microspores, and lipid drops were completely lost. A large and conspicuous vacuole was formed in the microspores and lipid drops reformed in the cells at the late microspore stage. Following microspore division, the vegetative cell of bicellular pollen grains was filled with starch and lipid drops, and the inner middle layer degenerated. Finally, at anthesis, lipid drops and starch constituted the stored nutritive material in the mature pollen.

Potencial alelopático de macrófitas aquáticas de um estuário cego

Macrófitas aquáticas representam uma das comunidades mais produtivas e através de sua atividade metabólica são capazes de produzir grandes interferências no ambiente. As interações alelopáticas são aparentemente aumentadas sob condições de estresse biótico e abiótico e podem existir em estuários devido à competição, variações de salinidade e outros fatores. O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar as propriedades alelopáticas de extratos aquosos foliares de 25 espécies de macrófitas aquáticas de um estuário cego. Testamos os efeitos dos extratos foliares em quatro concentrações sobre a germinação de alface. Ordenamos e comparamos as espécies doadoras de acordo com a dose reposta sobre a variedade de tratamentos a partir de valores únicos de índices alelopáticos. Onze das 25 espécies diminuíram a porcentagem de germinação, todas diminuíram a velocidade de germinação e aumentaram a entropia informacional de germinação das sementes da espécie alvo em pelo menos uma das concentrações testadas. Crinum americanum L., Sagittaria montevidensis Cham. & Schl. e Ipomoea cairica (L) Sweet apresentaram os maiores valores de índice alelopático. Em geral, as menores porcentagens de germinação coincidiram com as menores velocidades e maiores entropias informacionais de germinação das sementes de alface, mostrando um conjunto de alterações ocorrendo simultaneamente com o aumento da concentração dos extratos.

Calycinal trichomes in Ipomoea cairica (Convolvulaceae): ontogenesis, structure and functional aspects

The presence of calycinal trichomes in Ipomoea has been neglected, which renders the interpretation of their functions difficult. The present work aims to characterise the structure, as well as the composition of the secretion of calycinal trichomes in Ipomoea cairica, in order to establish a relationship between their structure and function. Samples of floral buds at different developmental stages and sepals from fruits were collected and fixed for study under light as well as under scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The calyx of I. cairica is persistent and presents glandular trichomes which produce acidic polysaccharides. The trichomes are peltate and consist of a short stalk and a pluricellular secretory portion. The cells from the secretory portion contain a dense and organelle-rich cytoplasm. The fresh secretion is hyaline and fluid, but solidifies when exposed to low humidity, taking on a crystalline and fragile aspect, and they return to a gel state when in the presence of water. The calycinal trichomes in I. cairica show great structural and ultrastructural similarities to colleters and can be considered functionally analogous. The secretion, which is highly hygroscopic, spreads along the surface of the corolla and of the fruit, apparently protecting these structures against desiccation.

Oviposition preference and larval performance of the sweet potato butterfly Acraea acerata on Ipomoea species in Ethiopia

The sweet potato butterfly Acraea acerata is an indigenous species in Ethiopia that has become a major pest on the introduced sweet potato Ipomoea batatas. To assess the role of wild Ethiopian Ipomoea species as host plants, the presence of larvae on wild ipomoeas was studied, and female oviposition choice and larval performance were tested on five wild ipomoeas, as well as on sweet potato. In laboratory tests, oviposition and larval development were successful on two wild ipomoeas (Ipomoea tenuirostris and Ipomoea cairica) but no oviposition occurred on the remaining three species. Of the latter, larvae did not feed on Ipomoea hochstetteri and Ipomoea indica, and survival rates were extremely low on Ipomoea purpurea. Sweet potato was a better host plant than I. tenuirostris and I. cairica in terms of oviposition preference, larval survival and pupal size; pupae were larger, resulting in more fecund female butterflies. In the wild butterfly populations were abundant on I. tenuirostris but absent on I. cairica. Females also tended to prefer I. tenuirostris to I. cairica in oviposition choice experiments. However, no significant differences in performance were found between larvae raised on I. tenuirostris and I. cairica in the laboratory. Wild populations of A. acerata also existed on Ipomoea obscura, a plant not investigated in the present study. The abundance of A. acerata on wild ipomoeas is too low to likely affect butterfly population densities on sweet potato. However, wild populations may act as reservoirs subsequent to butterfly population bottlenecks on sweet potato.

An African Leaf Miner,Oncocephala promontoriiPéringuey, 1898 (Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae: Oncocephalini): Biological Notes and Host Records

Habitats, host plants, and preliminary biological notes are documented for Oncocephala promontorii Péringuey, 1898 for the first time. The beetle occurs in open areas of coastal grassland, forest margin, and disturbed urban areas where their Convolvulaceae host plants are found. Seven host plants are verified for the species in the field—Convolvulus arvensis L., Convolvulus farinosus L., Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam., Ipomoea ficifolia Lindl., Ipomoea obscura (L.) Ker Gawl., Ipomoea wightii (Wall.) Choisy, and an unidentified Ipomoea sp. Ipomoea purpurea (L.) Roth is recorded as a host from museum specimen labels. Two additional plants, Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet and Ipomoea coccinea L., showed feeding traces that we attribute to O. promontorii. The larvae are solitary miners that produce curvilinear to vermiform mines in the host plant leaves. Pupation is solitary in a separate pupal chamber/mine in the leaf. Imagines are generally solitary, exposed folivores that produce narrow linear feeding trenches in the dorsal leaf surface. Copulation is commonly observed on the dorsal leaf surface.

Studies on leaf epidermal micromorphology, wood element characters and phytochemical screening of three medicinal plants of Convolvulaceae

The scientific evaluation of ethnomedicinally important plants is now being done thoroughly covering various aspects of study like efficacy of the crude drugs, chemistry of active principles, different pharmacognostic parameters, etc. The use of micromorphology and anatomy is now a recognised tool in the field of plant systematics. Therefore, in this investigation the micromorphology of leaf epidermis, stem xylem element characters and phytochemical screening of three ethnomedicinally important members of the family Convolvulaceae namely Evolvulus alsinoides, Evolvulus nummularius and Ipomoea cairica have been studied. The epidermal cells are found to be irregular in shape and the outlines of the cells are wavy in every species. Stomata are amphistomatic and mainly of paracytic type except in Evolvulus nummularius. Trichomes are glandular and non-glandular, unicellular or multicellular, straight or curved. The range of stomatal index varies from 11.40 to 20.00. Palisade ratio ranges from 6.2 to 9.8. The vessel element length ranges from 60.71 um to 357.10 um and the diameter varies from 21.78 um to 66.06 um. Perforation plate is simple and transverse or obliquely placed. Fibres are typical libriform, very long and diameter ranges from 10.71 um to 16.78 um. In every case, tracheids are long with spiral to condensed spiral type of sidewall thickening and diameter is from 07.14 um to 16.07 um. The active compounds are identified by the chemical colour reaction tests belonging to the phytochemical groups of amino acids, alkaloids, reducing sugars, flavonoids, saponins, steroids and triterpenoids, tannins, etc. The findings will be a useful marker for identification of the crude drugs obtained from the selected taxa. The purpose of the study is to know the leaf epidermal micromorphology, wood element characters and phytochemical screening of three ethnomedicinally important plants of the family Convolvulaceae as it has not been properly worked out. These micromorphological features and phytochemical screening will be very helpful in proper identification of respective crude drugs obtained from these three members of Convolvulaceae and also be used in detection of drug adulterants. Thus, it will be a tool in maintaining the quality of the drug obtained from these three plant species.

The status of noxious plants in lower subtropical region of China

Recent decades, more and more noxious plants developed fast in tropical and subtropical region. Guangdong Province, located in lower subtropical region, is densely populated and its economy is developing very quickly, it is vulnerable to be damaged. It was observed that there were many noxious plants affected forest ecosystem in this area. It is crucial to understand the destructive status and the distribution of the noxious plants. Thus, we conducted investigations of noxious plant in Baiyun Mountain and Xiqiao Mountain, Guangdong Province through point, line and plot methods. The results showed that there were 39 noxious plant species from 26 families in the two sites (Baiyun Mountain and Xiqiao Mountain). Most noxious plants reached III grade, 13 species reached III grade in Baiyun Mountain and 18 species reached III grade in Xiqiao Mountain. The exotic plant Wedelia trilobata(L.) Hitchc was the most abundant species, followed by another exotic plant Ipomoea cairica (Linn.) Sweet ( Fig. 2B). All the 39 noxious plants covered over 273 hm 2 in the two sites, about occupied 10% of the forests. Over 90% of the noxious plants are lianas, the rest are herbs or shrubs. Of the 39 noxious species, six species were exotic plants, while 33 species were indigenous, suggesting that more attention should be paid to indigenous plants when we concerned invasive plants. Furthermore, global climate change (e.g., global warming, elevated CO 2) may shorten the latency of the plants and trigger the expansion of the noxious plants. Further studies are needed to reveal the relationship between global climate change and noxious plants, and to study why more and more native plants turned to threaten the ecosystem.

Hydrolytic fragmentation of seed gums under microwave irradiation

The seed gum solutions of Ipomoea purga, Ipomoea palmata, Ipomoea dasysperma, Cyanaposis tetragonolobus (Guar gum) and Crotolaria medicaginea were microwave (MW) irradiated and their degradation to oligo and monosaccharides was investigated. The gum solutions were fragmented into oligosaccharides/constituent monosaccharides depending upon the length of MW exposure in presence of catalytic amount of mineral acid or even when no acid was used. A mechanism for the microwave induced hydrolytic degradation of the seed gums has been proposed. The MW exposure time required for the partial and complete degradation of the gums was found dependent on the types of the linkages and degree of the branching present in the gums.

Screening botanical herbicide for invasive plant <I>Ipomoea cairica</I>

摘要: 本文报道了具有化感作用或潜在抑草活性的17种植物叶片水浸液对华南地区入侵杂草五爪金龙幼苗生长的化感作用，以期获得对五爪金龙有较强抑制作用的植物种类，为植物源除草剂的开发奠定基础。结果显示，17种供体植物中有12种能够抑制五爪金龙幼苗生长，抑制强度依次为假臭草〉飞机草〉黄帚橐吾〉艾蒿〉披针叶黄华〉微甘菊〉马缨丹〉鸡矢藤〉牧荆〉南美蟛蜞菊〉胜红蓟〉隆缘桉。且假臭草、艾蒿、飞机草、黄帚橐吾和披针叶黄华5种供体植物对五爪金龙的4项生长指标均产生显著或极显著影响，其中假臭草、飞机草、黄帚橐吾作用浓度较低，且资源丰富，可成为天然除草剂主要的资源植物。 关键词: 化感作用 / 入侵植物 / 五爪金龙 / 植物源除草剂

Different responses of invasive and native species to elevated CO 2 concentration

Increasing atmospheric CO 2 concentration is regarded as an important factor facilitating invasion. However, the mechanisms by which invasive plants spread at the expense of existing native plants are poorly understood. In this study, three invasive species ( Mikania micrantha, Wedelia trilobata and Ipomoea cairica) and their indigenous co-occurring species or congeners ( Paederia scandens, Wedelia chinensis and Ipomoea pescaprae) in South China were exposed to elevated CO 2 concentration (700 μmol mol −1). The invasive species showed an average increase of 67.1% in photosynthetic rate, significantly different from the native species (24.8%). On average the increase of total biomass at elevated CO 2 was greater for invasive species (70.3%) than for the natives (30.5%). Elevated CO 2 also resulted in significant changes in biomass allocation and morphology of invasive M. micrantha and W. trilobata. These results indicate a substantial variation in response to elevated CO 2 between these invasive and native plant species, which might be a potential mechanism partially explaining the success of invasion with ongoing increase in atmospheric CO 2.

Description of the immatures of Charidotella (Charidotella) flaviae Maia & Buzzi, 2005 (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae, Cassidinae)

The immature stages of Charidotella (Charidotella) flaviae Maia & Buzzi, 2005, collected on Ipomoea cairica (Linnaeus) Sweet (Solanales: Convolvulaceae) leaves, are described and illustrated. All of the immatures were from Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil.

Cytotoxic activity of Ipomoea cairica

(+)-(8R,8′S)-thujaplicatin methyl ether (1), arctigenin (2), matairesinol (3), trans-2,3-dibenzylbutyrolactone (4), vanillic acid (5), p-hydroxybenzoic acid (6), methoxybenzoic acid (7), methylparaben (8), stearic acid (9), palmitic acid (10), olenic acid (11), friedelinol (12), and a mixture of β-sitosterol (13) and stigmasterol (14) were obtained from the methanolic extract of the Ipomoea cairica (L.) Sweet (Convolvulaceae). The structure of compound 1 was established by spectroscopic analyses. Among them, 2 and 4 were demonstrated to have significant cytotoxicity against LNCaP cell line. Compound 4 was also found to be significantly active against A549 cell line.

Dispersal pattern of airborne emissions from an aluminium smelter in Ouro Preto, Brazil, as expressed by foliar fluoride accumulation in eight plant species

In order to evaluate the dispersal pattern of airborne fluoride emissions, from a single source in the city of Ouro Preto, Brazil, the fluoride impact on some herbaceous plant species was studied using the plants as passive bioindicators. Foliar fluoride contents of eight species collected at different distances from an aluminium smelter were analyzed. The plant species were: Baccaharis dracunculifolia, Bidens pilosa, Borreria verticillata, Calopogonium mucunoides, Erigeron bonariensis, Hedychium coronarium, Ipomoea purpurea and Ipomoea cairica. In all species the fluoride accumulation decreased exponentially with the distance from the emission source. There was specific and distinct variation in fluoride accumulation among the species, a group of high-accumulator species (B. dracunculifolia and Bidens pilosa) and a group of low-accumulator species (I. cairica, H. coronarium and Borreria verticillata). C. mucunoides and E. bonariensis occupied an intermediate position. There was a pattern of plant contamination response during the periods analyzed. The plants nearest to the emission source, between 0.4 km northwest and 1.1 km east, showed fluoride contamination traits in leaves reaching values between 100 and 500 μg g−1. Moreover, fluoride contents higher than 1000 μg g−1 were found in these plants. At the most distant stations, situated 2.9 km northwest and 6 km east from the factory, the fluoride content of the dry matter was less than 10 μg g−1 showing that plants at those distances were submitted to minimum contamination. There were different patterns of tolerance among the species analyzed. While B. dracunculifolia accumulated fluoride up to 1500 μg g−1 in dry matter without any signs of injury, Borreria verticillata showed severe necrosis in leaves, but the fluoride content found was not higher than 120 μg g−1.

Floral biology and breeding system of three Ipomoea weeds

The floral biology of three weeds, Ipomoea cairica, I. grandifolia and I. nil (Convolvulaceae), was studied in Botucatu and Jaboticabal, São Paulo, in southeastern Brazil. The three species are melittophilous, with a varied set of floral visitors, but with some overlapping. Cluster analysis using Jacquard similarity index indicated a greater similarity among different plant species in the same locality than among the populations at different places, in relation to floral visitor sets. The promiscuous and opportunistic features of the flowers were shown, with such type of adaptation to pollination being advantageous to weeds since pollinator availability is unpredictable at ruderal environments.

Pollination biology of an invasive weed Ipomoea cairica (Convolvulaceae) in Guangdong Province, China

During May to July, 2006 and April to May, 2007, we studied pollination biology in Ipomoea cairica, an invasive weed in Guangdong Province, China. Ipomoea cairica is a perennial creeping or climbing herbaceous vine, blooming all year round in Guangdong. The flowers gathered in cymes, with a purple or bluish purple bell-formed corolla. The petals unfolded at about 4:30-5:20 and closed at 17:40, lasting for about 12 hours. The proximity of the stigma and anthers during flowering period facilitated the transfer of self-pollen. The mean volume of nectar per flower was 5.82±2.47 μL (n=10), with a sugar concentration of 41.03±6.52% and an amino acid concentration of ca. 0.042mg/mL. During anthesis, both pollen viability and stigma receptivity remained at a high level (＞90%). The mean P/O ratio was 4,778.18±264.58 (n=10). Carpenter Bees (Xylocopa sp.) were considered as effective pollinators, while flies and butterflies were occasional visitors. Ipomoea cairica is self-incompatible as determined by an absence of fruit set in the flowers following controlled hand self-pollination, producing fruits and viable seeds only after cross-pollination.

Ocorrência de Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes) (Acari, Tenuipalpidae), Tetranychus urticae (Koch) (Acari, Tetranychidae) e Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) (Acari, Tarsonemidae) sobre folhas de Ipomoea cairica (Linnaeus) Sweet (Solanales, Convolvulaceae)

The first occurrence of three phytophagus mites on Ipomoea cairica, is reported. The species Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes), Tetranychus urticae (Koch) and Polyphagotarsonemus latus (Banks) were caught on leaves of I. cairica, around Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, Parana, Brazil, in January 20th, 2005.

Grafting of methylmethacrylate on to the plant seed galactomannans using potassium persulphate/ascorbic acid redox pair

K 2S 2O 8/ascorbic acid initiated grafting of methylmethacrylate on to guar ( Cyanaposis tetragonolobus) seed galactomannan has been studied gravimetrically at 35 ± 0.2 °C in presence of atmospheric oxygen and the conditions were optimized. Grafted guar gum was characterized using FTIR, XRD, 1H NMR and TGA analysis. Under optimal grafting conditions for the guar gum, five other wildly sourced seed galactomannans from Cassia abbreviata, Cassia javanica, Cassia reticulata, Ipomoea palmata and Ipomoea hedracea were grafted with methylmethacrylate in order to study the effect of structural diversity in the galactomannans on grafting and also for the possible commercial exploitation of these non-conventional galactomannans from Cassia and Ipomoea seeds. Results for all the galactomannans are compared and discussed.

Antinociceptive effect from Ipomoea cairica extract

Ipomoea cairica L. Sweet (Convolvulaceae) is used in Brazilian folk medicine for the treatment of rheumatism and inflammations. Ipomoea cairica ethanolic extract (100, 300, 1000 and 3000 mg/kg; per os) induced dose-dependent reduction of response in the formalin test inflammatory phase in mice. The same dose range did not modify neurogenic pain in formalin test, tail-flick reflex latency, carrageenan-induced paw edema, and Rota-Rod test motor performance. From the bio-active fraction 3,5-di- O-caffeoylquinic acid and 4,5-di- O-caffeoylquinic acid were obtained. These compounds have been previously reported to have analgesic and antioxidative effects. A possible explanation for the antinociception is that somehow the compounds present in the extract reduced the release of pro-nociceptive mediators unrelated to carrageenan-induced edema, such as histamine. Interestingly, caffeoylquinic acid derivatives have been reported to inhibit histamine release on in vitro models. The isolated caffeoylquinic acids could explain, at least in part, the antinociceptive effect of Ipomoea cairica polar extract.

Constituents of Ipomoea cairica Ethanolic Extract

Constituents of Ipomoea cairica Ethanolic Extract

Vascular flora of Norfolk Island: Some additions and taxonomic notes

A total of 75 taxa (including 1 hybrid) are reported as new to the flora of the Norfolk Island group, in the south‐west Pacific Ocean. Of these 1 is endemic (Achyranthes margaretarum), and 10 (2 pteridophytes, 8 anthophytes) taxa are considered indigenous and appear to represent either new natural long‐distance colonisations of Norfolk Island group from Australia and New Zealand or are new identifications of indigenous taxa either treated under other indigenous names or as naturalised in the Norfolk Flora. The remaining 64 taxa are considered naturalisations from resident gardens, or recent arrivals via human traffic from Australia or New Zealand. Aside from these records we discuss and update information on a further 27 taxa either covered by the last Norfolk Island flora treatment, or noted in subsequent works. A new species, Geranium gardneri, is described and treated as indigenous to Australia and naturalised in Norfolk I. and New Zealand. Nephrolepis flexuosa is reinstated for the non‐tuberous, high‐polyploid fern previously included within a broad circumscription of N. cordifolia, and which is indigenous at least to Norfolk I., Raoul I., Lord Howe I., New Zealand, and Fiji. The new combination Boehmeria australis subsp. dealbata is made for the Raoul I. (Kermadec Islands group) endemic, and Elymus multiflorus subsp. kingianus for the Norfolk and Lord Howe Island wheatgrass. The New Zealand Cordyline kaspar and Raoul I. Rhopalostylis cheesemanii are relegated to synonymy within the Norfolk I. Cordyline obtecta and Rhopalostylis baueri, respectively, which are now no longer considered endemic. Dianella intermedia and Pennantia endlicheri are treated as endemic to Norfolk I. and Senecio australis as indigenous. Two species, Ipomoea cairica and Oxalis exilis, previously treated as naturalised are recognised as indigenous, while Homalanthus populifolius is now considered naturalised and so is excluded from the indigenous flora. Anew treatment for Norfolk I. Oxalis Sect. Corniculatae is offered, and three of the four taxa reported from the island group but treated by the current flora as part of O. corniculata sens. lat. are recognised at species rank. Of these we consider only one, O. exilis, to be indigenous, and treat O. choonodes and O. radicosa as probably naturalised. We also report the first naturalised occurrence of O. corniculata sens. str. from the island group and exclude O. perennans from the flora. Isolepis cernua var. setiformis is recognised for the Norfolk I. Isolepis previously treated as probably endemic and unnamed.