Rhus Glabra Research Articles

Dietary foundations for pollinators: nutritional profiling of plants for bee health

Human activities, including urban expansion, intensive farming practices, and the application of pesticides have significantly reshaped bee habitats. Understanding the nutritional content of pollen, the primary source of bees’ proteins and lipids, is important for maintaining their diet and health. In this study, we set out to determine the nutritional composition of pollen from various plant families and genera. Our objectives were to analyze the levels of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs), amino acids (AAs), protein-to-lipid (P:L) ratios, and omega-6:3 ratios of 57 pollen species native to North America. These data suggest a potential trade-off between NEFA and AA content within pollen, suggesting that a diverse floral diet may benefit bees more than a single pollen source. The AA profiles showed considerable diversity, with all pollen species providing the essential amino acids (EAAs) required for bee health, except for methionine which was lacking in Rhus glabra pollen. The plant family Asteraceae was especially abundant in EAAs. P:L ratios varied widely further emphasizing bees’ need for access to a diverse array of nutritional profiles. There were no overall nutritional differences between pollen from native and introduced plant species. This study highlights the significance of a diverse array of floral resources to meet the comprehensive nutritional needs of bees, contributing to the support of pollinator populations and the broader ecological system.

Note: Pawnee Native Sumac/Tobacco Resurgence

Research of historical tobacco changes and continuation in current practices has led to recommendations after thoughtful consideration by the Pawnee Nation Agricultural Committee and the Chiefs' Council. Preparation of a native tobacco mixture taught to the author by Boy Chief is explained. Traditionalists recently allowed the use of a native tobacco/native smooth sumac mixture in tribal ceremonies. Because native tobacco is additive-free and has a lower nicotine content, this mixture is considered healthier than commercially marketed tobacco for use in ceremonies.

The use of Groasis Waterboxx devices to improve mineland reclamation efforts by increasing transplant survival and growth of five native woody species

The reclamation of disturbed lands worldwide is a difficult and increasing problem. In the Mountain West region of the United States, mining activities commonly occur in zones dominated by native woody plants. The restoration of woody plants in these areas is challenging, and direct seeding efforts result in poor seedling emergence and establishment. Therefore, seedling transplants are often used, but they frequently experience high mortality during the first year, particularly due to summer stresses. We evaluated if the Groasis Waterboxx device could be used to mitigate drought stress on seedling transplants and improve their establishment on a reclaimed waste rock dump. The Waterboxx device collects precipitation into a polypropylene reservoir and slowly dispenses water onto the soil next to the seedling. To test such a hypothesis, 400 seedlings from five native woody plants (Atriplex canescens, Cercocarpus ledifolius, Pinus edulis, Purshia tridentata, and Rhus glabra) were planted with and without a Waterboxx. The Waterboxx device improved soil water potential, at 40 cm, it took 1 month longer to go below −1 MPa under a Waterboxx. Survival increased 30–65% in four of the five species, and seedling vigor increased for three of the five species. Vigor was higher with all plant species at both planting times and was significantly better in 50% of comparisons. Results support the use of the Waterboxx for improving seedling establishment on mineland overburden sites in the semiarid mountain west. The effectiveness of the Waterboxx device provides merit for future testing where drought challenges seedling establishment.

Belowground exploration by trees and shrubs

Unlike trees, shrubs (i.e., multiple-stemmed woody plants) do not need evenly spaced large diameter structural roots and therefore should be more responsive to heterogeneous distributions of soil resources and spread further per unit belowground biomass. We therefore hypothesized that compared to trees, shrubs respond more to asymmetric distributions of nutrients, reach nutrient-rich patches of soil faster, and do so with less below-ground biomass. To test these three hypotheses, we planted individual seedlings of shrubs (Cornus racemosa, Rhus glabra, and Viburnum dentatum) and trees (Acer rubrum, Betula populifolia, and Fraxinus americana) in the centers of sand-filled rectangular boxes. In one direction we created a stepwise gradient of increasing nutrients with slow-release fertilizer; in the other direction, no fertilizer was added. Seedlings were harvested when their first root reached the plexiglass-covered fertilized end of their box; time taken, above-ground biomass, and below-ground biomass per nutrient segment were determined. Shrubs and trees did not consistently differ in precision of root foraging (i.e., the ratio of biomass in the fertilized and unfertilized soil) or in rates (g/day) and efficiencies (cm/day) of lateral root growth. Interspecific variation appeared more related to species’ habitats than to growth form. The fastest and most efficient roots were produced by the shrub (R. glabra) and the tree (B. populifolia), both characteristic of poor and heterogeneous soils. Root foraging by R. glabra was also facilitated by rapid rhizomatous expansion.

Three complete chloroplast genomes from two north American Rhus species and phylogenomics of Anacardiaceae

BackgroundThe suamc genus Rhus (sensu stricto) includes two subgenera, Lobadium (ca. 25 spp.) and Rhus (ca. 10 spp.). Their members, R. glabra and R. typhina (Rosanae: Sapindales: Anacardiaceae), are two economic important species. Chloroplast genome information is of great significance for the study of plant phylogeny and taxonomy.ResultsThe three complete chloroplast genomes from two Rhus glabra and one R. typhina accessions were obtained with a total of each about 159k bp in length including a large single-copy region (LSC, about 88k bp), a small single-copy regions (SSC, about 19k bp) and a pair of inverted repeats regions (IRa/IRb, about 26k bp), to form a canonical quadripartite structure. Each genome contained 88 protein-coding genes, 37 transfer RNA genes, eight ribosomal RNA genes and two pseudogenes. The overall GC content of the three genomes all were same (37.8%), and RSCU values showed that they all had the same codon prefers, i.e., to use codon ended with A/U (93%) except termination codon. Three variable hotspots, i.e., ycf4-cemA, ndhF-rpl32-trnL and ccsA-ndhD, and a total of 152–156 simple sequence repeats (SSR) were identified. The nonsynonymous (Ka)/synonymous (Ks) ratio was calculated, and cemA and ycf2 genes are important indicators of gene evolution. The phylogenetic analyses of the family Anacardiaceae showed that the eight genera were grouped into three clusters, and supported the monophyly of the subfamilies and all the genera. The accessions of five Rhus species formed four clusters, while, one individual of R. typhina grouped with the R. glabra accessions instead of clustering into the two other individuals of R. typhina in the subgenus Rhus, which showed a paraphyletic relationship.ConclusionsComparing the complete chloroplast genomes of the Rhus species, it was found that most SSRs were A/T rich and located in the intergenic spacer, and the nucleotide divergence exhibited higher levels in the non-coding region than in the coding region. The Ka/Ks ratio of cemA gene was > 1 for species collected in America, while it was < 1 for other species in China, which dedicated that the Rhus species from North America and East Asia have different evolutionary pressure. The phylogenetic analysis of the complete chloroplast genome clarified the Rhus placement and relationship. The results obtained in this study are expected to provide valuable genetic resources to perform species identification, molecular breeding, and intraspecific diversity of the Rhus species.

Sumac

The spice sumac is prepared from the fruit of the small deciduous tree Rhus coriaria L. (family Anacardiaceae), cultivated mainly in the Mediterranean region, North Africa, and the Middle East. The genus Rhus contains well over a hundred individual species of flowering plants, some varieties of which are edible, including not only R. coriaria but also R. glabra L. (or smooth sumac) used by the indigenous peoples of North America, Rhus typhina L. (staghorn sumac), and R. aromatica Aiton (fragrant sumac), among others. In the Middle East and Turkey, sumac is commonly included in food preparations to impart a tangy, citruslike flavor. Primarily in the Middle East, sumac is used extensively in traditional medicine. Sumac extracts may be used to treat diarrhea, diseases of the mouth and throat, gastrointestinal distress, inflammatory conditions of the skin, and pain, to name a few. Recent human studies examining the potential health benefits of sumac are limited and mainly explore the actions of R. coriaria toward cardiometabolic risk factors. This narrative overview summarizes these clinical trials, as well as relevant, associated animal experiments, and suggests opportunities for future research.

Ex vivo Antimicrobial Evaluation of Different Drugs Using RT-PCR Test

Introduction: Various medicaments are used in conjugation with mechanical cleaning and shaping to render root canals free of microbes. The different medicaments used tend to react among themselves sometimes resulting in deleterious products. For this reason use of alternative medicine, therapy is advocated.&#x0D; Aim: To evaluate the antimicrobial extent of different homeopathic drugs in comparison to the Ayurvedic and Allopathic medicines.&#x0D; Materials and Methods: A biofilm model of 8 mm dentine discs was prepared from single-rooted teeth, which were inoculated with E. faecalis for 21 days. 100 samples were divided into six groups Group I: Saline (negative Control), Group II: 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate, Group III: Propolis, Group IV: RHUS Glabra, Group V: Zincum Oxydatum. The infected biofilm was then treated with the medicaments for seven days followed by testing to obtain threshold cycle (Ct) values using the Real-time polymerase chain reaction technique. DNA isolation was carried out and amplification was done using 16S rRNA gene sequence-based nested species-specific primers. DNA denaturation was done using DNA Thermocycler and a threshold cycle was obtained using Real-time Polymerize chain reaction technique. &#x0D; Results: The threshold cycle (Ct) values obtained were subjected to statistical analysis that revealed a significant difference between the groups and among all 2% Chlorhexidine Gluconate, being the highest (30.3460±0.02505) followed by Propolis (30.1365±0.02621) then RHUS Glabra (30.0865±0.02581) better than Zincum Oxydatum (29.8070±0.02319) and least being Saline (29.6380±0.02505).&#x0D; Conclusion: All the homeopathic medicines showed antimicrobial properties comparable to the allopathic and ayurvedic drugs. Among RHUS Glabra and Zincum Oxydatum, RHUS Glabra performed significantly better.

Seed Cryopreservation and Germination of Rhus glabra and the Critically Endangered Species Rhus michauxii.

Rhus michauxii is a perennial rhizomatous shrub native to the southeastern United States that is found mainly in sunny, dry, open rocky or sandy woodlands. Moreover, it is found on ridges or river bluffs in the inner coastal plane and lower piedmont of Virginia, Georgia, and the Carolinas. Habitat conversion to agriculture, suppression of fires, and low reproduction have caused R. michauxii to become rare and it is now federally listed as threatened. Methods are needed to multiply and conserve R. michauxii. Protocols were developed for seed cryopreservation, in vitro germination, and micropropagation for R. glabra and R. michauxii. Seed scarification in concentrated sulfuric acid for 6 h and germination on ½ MS medium resulted in germination up to 96% for control and cryopreserved seeds of R. glabra and 70 and 40% for control and cryopreserved seeds of R. michauxii. Shortly after germination in vitro, young seedlings were established in a greenhouse potting mix providing new plants from the endemic Georgia R. michauxii populations. Several of the findings meet goals within the R. michauxii recovery plan by providing methods for sexual and asexual multiplication and long-term seed storage under cryogenic conditions. The protocols developed will assist in the safeguarding and conservation of dwindling natural R. michauxii populations.

The Evolution of Smoking and Intoxicant Plant Use in Ancient Northwestern North America

Smoking pipes discovered in archaeological contexts demonstrate that Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest of North America have practiced smoking for over 4,500 years. Archaeometry and ancient residue metabolomics provide evidence for the association of particular plants with these artifacts. In this article, we synthesize recent research on ancient smoking and present current knowledge on the spatiotemporal distribution of smoking in the past. The presence of stone smoking pipes in the archaeological record is paired with our understanding of past plant use based on chemical residue analyses to create a picture of precontact smoking practices. Archaeological pipe data demonstrate that smoking was a widely distributed practice in the inland Northwest over the past several thousand years, but not on the coast. Distributional data—including positive and negative evidence from chemical residue studies—show that tobacco was an important smoke plant in the region as early as around 1,410 years ago and as far north as the mid-Columbia region. Ancient residue metabolomics contributes to a richer understanding of past use of specific plants through the identification of tobacco species and other indigenous plants, includingRhus glabra,Cornus sericia, andSalviasp., as contributing to the chemical residues in ancient pipes.

An Ancient Residue Metabolomics-Based Method to Distinguish Use of Closely Related Plant Species in Ancient Pipes.

Residues from ancient artifacts can help identify which plant species were used for their psychoactive properties, providing important information regarding the deep-time co-evolutionary relationship between plants and humans. However, relying on the presence or absence of one or several biomarkers has limited the ability to confidently connect residues to particular plants. We describe a comprehensive metabolomics-based approach that can distinguish closely related species and provide greater confidence in species use determinations. An ~1430-year-old pipe from central Washington State not only contained nicotine, but also had strong evidence for the smoking of Nicotiana quadrivalvis and Rhus glabra, as opposed to several other species in this pre-contact pipe. Analysis of a post-contact pipe suggested use of different plants, including the introduced trade tobacco, Nicotiana rustica. Ancient residue metabolomics provides a new frontier in archaeo-chemistry, with greater precision to investigate the evolution of drug use and similar plant-human co-evolutionary dynamics.

Extracts of medical plants suppress the SOS response and reduce mutagenesis in E. coli

One of the promising directions in the fight against the emergence and spread of farm animal microbiota resistance factors is the development and search for feed additives that can inhibit the SOSresponse. SOS-response is one of the main mechanisms of the occurrence of mutations in bacteria. Plants used in traditional medicine can be a promising source of safe substances that reduce the SOS-response of bacteria. A screening of plants potentially containing substances with antiSOS activity was performed. During the initial screening, the E. coli MG 1655 pRecA-lux biosensor strain with ciprofloxacin as RecA inducer was used. Seven plants were identified whose extracts reduced the expression of the RecA operon. In further experiments on bacteria exposed to antibiotics, we identified four plants whose exstracts significantly reduced the mutagenesis rate of clinical E. coli strains: Austrian broom (Cytisus austriacus), greater celandine (Chelidonium majus), walnut (Juglans regia) and smooth sumac (Rhus glabra).

Browse potential of bristly locust, smooth sumac, and sericea lespedeza for small ruminants

Temperate grass and legume yield and quality are markedly reduced during hot, dry summer months in the southern USA; therefore, browse species could add feed options for small ruminants during this season. Our objective was to compare total biomass yield and forage nutritive value of two browse species, leguminous bristly locust (Robinia hispida) and smooth sumac (Rhus glabra), as well as a leguminous shrub known as sericea lespedeza (Lespedeza cuneate), during summer months (June, July, August and September). Plants were sampled monthly during growing-seasons in 2012 and 2013 to determine biomass yield (foliar, shoot, and total above ground) and foliar nutritive value [crude protein (CP), acid detergent fiber (ADF), acid detergent lignin (ADL), and condensed tannins (CT)]. There was a species × harvest time interaction for foliar biomass yield (P = 0.0125). This interaction was likely due to low yield in June for bristly locust compared with sericea lespedeza and smooth sumac, but in all other months (July, August, and September) yields were similar for each species. Bristly locust had the highest CP (16.9%), followed by sericea lespedeza (14.8%), and smooth sumac (12.3%). Acid detergent fiber and ADL were similar between bristly locust (ADF 38.5%; ADL 24.1%) and sericea lespedeza (ADF 38.4%; ADL 23.1%), but was lower for smooth sumac (ADF 22.1%, ADL 6.3%; P < 0.05). Condensed tannins, an anti-nutritive yet anti-parasitic phenolic compounds, were highest in smooth sumac, intermediate in bristly locust, and lowest in sericea lespedeza. Plant foliar percentage (ratio of foliar to shoot mass), was highest in smooth sumac (55.1%), followed by sericea lespedeza (47.7%), and bristly locust (42.6%). Overall, smooth sumac had the highest foliar biomass and lowest ADF and ADL; however, this species had the lowest CP and highest CT. Consequently, average foliar biomass yield of all three browse species in our study far exceeded forage yield from dominant forage species [tall fescue (Schedonorus arundinaceus) and bermudagrass (Cyanodon dactylon)] in this region and may provide high-yielding, low input, anti-parasitic fodder for small ruminants during this period in the Southeastern U.S.

Removal of Listeria monocytogenes Biofilm with Some Local Plant Extracts of Kurdistan Region

The results of removing or reducing biofilm were determined using subinhibitory concentrations (SICs) of some local plants in the flora of Kurdistan region of Iraq on biofilm production in Listeria monocytogenes. About 10–500 µg/ml of the plant extracts were used against growth and biofilm production in tissue culture plates which were measured spectroscopically. The SIC effects of each of Eugenia caryophyllata (Clove) and Rhus glabra (Sumac) have significantly affected on planktonic cells and reduced sessile cells or biofilm formation in L. monocytogenes. Remarkably, the data showed strong biofilm reduction under synergistically effect of the plant extract mixed with the antimicrobial agents in multidrugresistant L. monocytogenes. Whereas the SIC some of other plant extracts such as Salix candida and pomegranate (Punica granatum) have significantly enhanced biofilm expression in L. monocytogenes, but the use of these extracts synergistically with some antibiotics also resulted in inhibition of biofilm in comparison to merely use of either the extracts or antibiotics. The result of statistical analyses shows that P &gt; 0.05. The results showed that the combination of plant extract with antibiotic together has more effect than using plant merely.

Drivers of nocturnal water flux in a tallgrass prairie

Abstract Nocturnal transpiration can impact water balance from the local community to earth‐atmosphere fluxes. However, the dynamics and drivers of nocturnal transpiration among coexisting plant functional groups in herbaceous ecosystems are unknown. Here, we addressed the following questions: (1) How do nocturnal (Enight) and diurnal (Eday) transpiration vary among coexisting grasses, forbs, and shrubs in a tallgrass prairie? (2) What environmental variables drive Enight and do these differ from the drivers of Eday? (3) Is Enight associated with daytime physiological processes? We measured diurnal and nocturnal leaf gas exchange on perennial grass, forb and woody species in a North American tallgrass prairie. Measurements were made periodically across two growing seasons (May–August 2014–2015) on three C4 grasses (Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans and Panicum virgatum), two C3 forbs (Vernonia baldwinii and Solidago canadensis), one C3 sub‐shrub (Amorpha canescens) and two C3 shrubs (Cornus drummondii and Rhus glabra). By extending our study to multiple functional groups, we were able to make several key observations: (1) Enight was variable among co‐occurring plant functional groups, with the highest rates occurring in C4 grasses, (2) Enight and Eday exhibited different responses to vapour pressure deficit and other environmental drivers, and (3) rates of Enight were strongly related to predawn leaf water potential for grasses and woody species, and were likely modulated by small‐scale changes in soil moisture availability. Our results provide novel insight into an often‐overlooked portion of ecosystem water balance. Considering the high rates of Enight observed in C4 grasses, as well as the widespread global occurrence of C4 grasses, nocturnal water loss might constitute a greater proportion of global evapotranspiration than previously estimated. Additionally, future predictions of nocturnal water loss may be complicated by stomatal behaviour that differs between the day and at night. Finally, these data suggest a water‐use strategy by C4 grasses wherein the high rates of Enight occurring during wet periods may confer a competitive advantage to maximize resource consumption during periods of greater availability. A plain language summary is available for this article.

An assessment of diurnal water uptake in a mesic prairie: evidence for hydraulic lift?

Hydraulic lift, the passive movement of water through plant roots from wet to dry soil, is an important ecohydrological process in a wide range of water-limited ecosystems. This phenomenon may also alter plant functioning, growth, and survival in mesic grasslands, where soil moisture is spatially and temporally variable. Here, we monitored diurnal changes in the isotopic signature of soil and plant xylem water to assess (1) whether hydraulic lift occurs in woody and herbaceous tallgrass prairie species (Rhus glabra, Amorpha canescens, Vernonia baldwinii, and Andropogon gerardii), (2) if nocturnal transpiration or grazing by large ungulates limits hydraulic lift, and (3) if a dominant grass, A. gerardii, utilizes water lifted by other tallgrass prairie species. Broadly, the results shown here suggest that hydraulic lift does not appear to be widespread or common in this system, but isolated instances suggest that this process does occur within tallgrass prairie. The isolated instance of hydraulic lift did not vary by grazing treatment, nor did they result in facilitation for neighboring grasses. We suggest that the topographic complexity of this tallgrass prairie and the high rates of nocturnal transpiration observed in this study likely limit the frequency and occurrence of hydraulic lift. These results suggest that hydraulic lift can be a patchy process, particularly in heterogeneous landscapes.

Heavy metal contamination increases fluctuating asymmetry inRhus glabraL. (Anacardiaceae)

Abstract Fluctuating asymmetry—small random deviations from perfect bilateral symmetry—is commonly used as an indicator of environmental stress. I used the extent of fluctuating asymmetry in leaves to evaluate the degree to which heavy metal contamination has an observable phenotypic effect on the developmental stability of Rhus glabra (Anacardiaceae), the smooth sumac. Sumac from a deserted mining site near Picher, Oklahoma, displayed significantly greater size-corrected unsigned fluctuating asymmetry than that of sumac from a control site near Tulsa, Oklahoma. These results suggest that heavy metal contamination has a significant effect on the stability of developmental processes in R. glabra and suggest that fluctuating asymmetry may be used as an indicator of environmental pollution.

Comparative analysis of antibacterial activity of povidone iodine and homoeopathic mother tinctures as antiseptics

Objectives: Antiseptics are used extensively in hospitals and other health care centers (clinics) to control the growth of microbes on living tissues. They are essential parts of infection control practices, especially in wound treatment and aid in the prevention of nosocomial infections. This study was done to evaluate and compare the antibacterial effectiveness of povidone iodine and eight commonly used homoeopathic mother tinctures. Materials and Methods: The present study was conducted in the Faculty of Pharmacy and alternative Medicine, The Islamia University of Bahawalpur. All the selected Homeopathic mother tinctures were purchased by Masood Homeopathic Pharmaceuticals, Pakistan. Prepared PYODINEâ (povidone iodine) solution 10% w/v, batch no. 084F4 used as positive control while 70% ethanol was used as negative control in each test. These tinctures were tested against three clinically important human skin-pathogenic bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pyogenes, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) by disc diffusion method with povidone iodine as positive standard. Results: Seven out of eight mother tinctures showed more or less antibacterial activity; some of them have high activity than povidone iodine. Rhus glabra had maximum activity (zone of inhibition 32 mm) against Streptococcus pyogenes and Pseudomonas aeruginosa than povidone iodine and among all the tested mother tinctures. Conclusion: This study confirms the antibacterial activity and more effectiveness of Thuja occidentalis and Rhus glabra mother tinctures than povidone iodine. The other tested mother tinctures also have antibacterial activity against tested bacteria, except Echinacea.

Effects of Soil Salinity on Growth, Ion Relations, and Compatible Solute Accumulation of Two Sumac Species: Rhus glabra and Rhus trilobata

The effects of soil salinity on growth, photosynthetic pigments, ion relations, and compatible solute accumulation of two sumac seedlings (Rhus glabra and Rhus trilobata) treated with five salinity levels in a completely randomized block design with four replications were studied. Both species were inhibited by soil salinity, but salt-damaged symptoms appeared much earlier and more severely in R. glabra, and relative height growth rates (RGRH) and photosynthetic pigment contents were much higher on average in R. trilobata. The biomass increment, root/shoot ratio, and relative shoot dry weight (DW) were significantly affected only in R. glabra. Rhus trilobata showed stable potassium (K+) concentration and low sodium (Na+) accumulation in roots, stems, and leaves, and a proline concentration 10 times greater than that of R. glabra. Overall, our findings suggest that R. trilobata is more salt-tolerant than R. glabra, which is presumably rooted in its better performance in ionic homeostasis and osmotic regulation.

Establish a cell viability assay to identify novel cytotoxic Organic Anion Transporting Polypeptide 1B3 substrates

Organic anion transporting polypeptides (OATPs) mediate the uptake of numerous structurally diverse compounds. The normally liver‐specific OATP1B3 is also expressed in different cancers, suggesting that it can be a therapeutic target for anticancer drug delivery. Because OATP1B3 also transports chemotherapy drugs, we established a cell based assay to screen for novel cytotoxic OATP1B3 substrates. We screened a library of Kansas plant extracts to isolate and chemically identify novel cytotoxic compounds that could be developed as lead compounds to treat OATP1B3‐expressing cancers. In this study, we used Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells that stably express OATP1B3 and measured cell viability of wild‐type and OATP1B3‐expressing CHO cells in the presence of Kansas plant extracts of different polarities using a luminescent cell viability assay. We identified the butanol fractions of Rhus aromatica (V345) and Rhus glabra (V585) that kill OATP1B3‐expressing CHO cells at much lower concentrations than wild‐type CHO cells, suggesting that these extracts contain cytotoxic OATP1B3‐substrates. We will further sub‐fractionate these extracts to isolate and chemically identify the cytotoxic natural products. In conclusion, this cell‐based viability assay might be a good tool to identify potential cytotoxic OATP1B3 substrates that can be delivered into OATP1B3‐expressing cancers.

Rhus glabra response to season and intensity of fire in tallgrass prairie

Altered fire regimes play a key role in shrub expansion in grasslands worldwide. We assessed how season and type or intensity of fire affected the growth and demography of Rhus glabra, a common woody invader in North American mesic grasslands. Fire during any season killed 99% of ramets but stimulated new ramet recruitment from belowground buds, resulting in a near-complete turnover of ramet populations. During the first 2 years following fire, populations on spring-burned sites had the greatest post-fire ramet densities and population growth rates, and winter- and spring-burned populations showed the highest resprouting rates. However, after 10 years, R. glabra cover on summer-burned sites was 3.5 times greater than on autumn- or winter-burned treatments. Thus, short-term post-fire responses may not be good predictors of long-term changes in abundance. Low-intensity spring backfires resulted in the highest ramet population growth rates, whereas high-intensity headfires in any season resulted in slower growth, and populations burned with low-intensity winter fires declined. In addition, season of fire influenced browsing pressure, suggesting that plant responses may be partially a result of indirect effects of fire on rates of herbivory. Overall, our results demonstrate that the application of frequent autumn or winter backfires is an effective management tool for limiting R. glabra expansion in grasslands, and that long-term data are critical for management decision-making, particularly in systems characterised by high interannual climate variability.