Species Of Rubiaceae Research Articles

Rubia austrozhejiangensis sp. nov. (Rubiaceae) from Zhejiang, China

Rubia austrozhejiangensis Z. P. Lei, Y. Y. Zhou & R. W. Wang, a new species of Rubiaceae from China, is described and illustrated. The new species is similar to R. ovatifolia Z. Ying Zhang and R. argyi (H. Lév. & Vaniot) H. Hara ex Lauener, but differs from the former in having stems and branches cylindrical, not quadrate‐angled, long‐ovate to ovate‐lanceolate leaf blades, many‐flowered inflorescence, and smaller mericarps, 3–4 mm in diameter. In R. ovatifolia, stems and branches are quadrate‐angled, leaf blades ovate, ovate‐cordate to rounded cordate, and the inflorescences are sparsely flowered. Compared to R. argyi, the new species has cylindrical, not quadrate‐angled stems and branches, leaf blades that are long‐ovate to ovate‐lanceolate, 3–5‐veined, and slightly reflexed corolla lobes. In R. argyi, stems and branches are quadrate‐angled or winged, the corolla lobes are spreading, and the mericarps are 5–7 mm in diameter.

Dendroid colleters on vegetative and reproductive apices in Alibertia sessilis (Rubiaceae) differ in ultrastructure and secretion

In this work we compare the structure and secretion of dendroid colleters on stipules, bracts and sepals of Alibertia sessilis, a non-nodulate Rubiaceae species from Brazilian cerrado, with notes on the plant phenology. Samples were processed according to usual methods for anatomy, histochemistry and ultrastructure. Colleters are conical and constituted by a central axis of elongated parenchyma cells from which radiate numerous epidermal cells. Epidermal cells are cylindrical on the vegetative apex and digitiform or bulbous on reproductive apex. Both colleters produce hydrophilic and lipophilic compounds. On the vegetative apex, epidermal cells present numerous well-developed Golgi bodies associated with a network of smooth endoplasmatic reticulum (SER), scarce oil bodies and profiles of rough endoplasmatic reticulum (RER), indicating the involvement of these glands in the production of mainly polysaccharides in addition to protein and lipids. Differently, epidermal cells on bracts and sepals present abundant and prominent oil drops, fewer Golgi bodies and a well developed network of SER with locally dilated cisterns indicating predominance of lipids. Ecrine and granulocrine mechanisms are common to colleters of both apices. We hypothesize that exudates protect vegetative meristems and developing organs against desiccation in the dry season and against insects and pathogens during the wet season. Predominantly lipidic secretion protects the floral organs against dehydration in the dry season and can attract floral visitants. These aspects are relevant if one considers that A. sessilis inhabits the cerrado, an environment characterized by a well-delimited dry season, high irradiance and elevated vapor pressure deficits.

Efeito de culturas antecessoras à cana-de-açúcar na composição florística de plantas daninhas

This study, during one year period, dealt with the identification of the floristic composition of weeds in areas of sugarcane production, in Felixlândia, Minas Gerais State (Brazil), in response to predecessor crops to sugarcane planting. The experiment was carried out at the EPAMIG Experimental Farm, in a randomized complete block design with six treatments and four replications, being evaluated the sugarcane variety SP81-3250. The treatments were the predecessor crops to sugarcane: Pennisetum glaucum , Crotalaria juncea , Stizolobium aterrimum , Cajanus cajan and Glycine max, plus a control (degraded pasture of Brachiaria decumbens ). The floristic composition was evaluated during the four seasons of the year, being identified 23 weed species distributed in 18 genera and 13 families. The most representative families were Leguminosae and Solanaceae, with four species, followed by Malvaceae, with three species and two Rubiaceae and Convolvulaceae species. The B. decumbens specie was found in all periods of the year and in all different treatments of predecessor crops to sugarcane during winter and spring seasons. The differences in floristic composition as much to the predecessor cultivations as the evaluated periods become relevant for planning the proper management of weeds in sugarcane crop.

PATRONES DE RIQUEZA ESPECÍFICA DE LAS FAMILIAS MELASTOMATACEAE Y RUBIACEAE EN LA CORDILLERA ORIENTAL, COLOMBIA, NORTE DE LOS ANDES Y CONSIDERACIONES PARA LA CONSERVACIÓN

La revista Colombia Forestal publica manuscritos originales en temáticas del campo forestal y diversos aspectos de los recursos naturales y del medio ambiente, los cuales se discriminan en las categorías de artículo de investigación, de revisión, de reflexión y notas técnicas de acuerdo con lo estipulado por COLCIENCIAS para las publicaciones científicas. De acuerdo a la clasificación de áreas científicas de la Organización para la Cooperación y el Desarrollo Económico (OCDE), la revista Colombia Forestal pertenece al gran área de Ciencias Agrícolas(4), área de Agricultura, Silvicultura y Pesca(4A) y a la disciplina Forestal (4A02).

New β-carboline alkaloids from Galianthe ramosa (Rubiaceae)

Galianthe Griseb. (Rubiaceae, tribe Spermacoceae) is a genus comprising 50 endemic species in South America, its main center of diversity is located in central and southern Brazil. In our continuing chemical and biological investigations concerning Rubiaceae species from Cerrado, we report the isolation of new compounds 1 and 2, together with the known epi-catechin (3), ursolic and oleanolic acid. The alkaloid 2 inhibited the enzyme malato synthase from pathogenic fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis wich is considered an important target since it is not found in human.

Pollen morphology of Rubiaceae Juss. species occurring in an area of caatinga (dryland) vegetation in Bahia State, Brazil

The palynology of the following 16 species of Rubiaceae, from Brejinho das Amestistas, was investigated: Coccocypselum hirsutum Bartl. ex DC., Cordiera rigida Kuntze, Coutarea hexandra K.Schum., Declieuxia fruticosa Kuntze, Diodella apiculata (Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.) Delprete, D. radula (Willd. ex Roem. & Schult.) Delprete, D. teres Small., Emmeorhiza umbellata K.Schum., Leptoscela ruellioides Hook. f., Mitracarpus baturitensis Sucre., Mitracarpus villosus Cham. & Schltdl., Palicourea rigida Kunth, Psyllocarpus asparagoides Mart., Richardia grandiflora Steud., Staelia aurea K. Schum., and Staelia galioides DC. The pollen grains were acetolysed to and their morphological characters were analyzed using light and scanning electron microscopy. They varied in size from small to large; were suboblate to subprolate; inaperturate (P. rigida), colpate and colporate in the remaining species, with an aperture number that varied from three to several. The exines were microreticulate in most species, reticulate (C. hirsutum, C. rigida and P. rigida), bireticulate (D. fruticosa), microechinate-perforated (C. hexandra), echinate-granulate (R. grandiflora), echinate-granulate-perforate (D. apiculata and D. teres), and psilate (P. asparagoides). Based on the results, palynological data can be used to distinguish these species.

Molecular cloning and characterization of strictosidine synthase, a key gene in biosynthesis of mitragynine from Mitragyna speciosa

Mitragynine is one of the most dominant indole alkaloids present in the leaves of Mitragyna speciosa , a species of Rubiaceae. This alkaloid is believed to be synthesized via condensation of the amino acid derivative, tryptamine and secologanine by the action of strictosidine synthase (STR). The cDNA clone encoding STR from M. specios a was cloned through reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and denoted as StrMs1. The clone is a full-length cDNA with a size of 1257 bp, which contains an open reading frame of 1056 bp starting from base pair 18 to 1076. Sequence analysis showed that StrMs1 has high homology with other STRs of TIA-producing plants. Nucleotide sequence of StrMs1 was deposited in GenBank with accession number ADK91432. The deduced amino acid sequence has 352 residues with a predicted molecular weight of 39 kDa and isoelectric point at pH 5.78. Southern blot performed showed that there is only one copy of StrMs1 present in the genome of M. speciosa . Expression pattern on different tissues tested using RT-PCR revealed that besides leaf, the expression was also detected in root, stem and flower. Expression profiles under plant defense signal using salicylic acid (SA) was investigated on leaf tissues and the results showed that the transcript of StrMs1 were detected before and after treatment with salicylic acid. Result obtained from phylogenetic analysis suggested that StrMs1 is the most evolved protein among other STRs. However, the 3-D prediction of StrMs1 showed that there are alpha helices and beta propeller structures, which remain conserved withother STRs. Key word: Strictosidine synthase, Mitragyna speciosa, StrMs1, semiquantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), molecular evolution, protein prediction.

PEMURNIAN, IDENTIFIKASI DAN UJI AKTIVITAS ANTIDIABETES SENYAWA METABOLIT SEKUNDER EKSTRAK ETIL ASETAT DAUN KACA PIRING (Gardenia augusta, Merr)

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Composição florística e fisionomia de floresta estacional semidecídua submontana na Chapada Diamantina, Bahia, Brasil

Resumo O estudo visou conhecer a composição florística e descrever a fisionomia de um trecho de floresta estacional semidecídua submontana e investigar as relações florísticas na Chapada Diamantina. A fisionomia foi caracterizada pelo perfil e hábitos das espécies. Foram identificadas 117 espécies de 85 gêneros em 49 famílias. Alguns táxons mais ricos em espécies são recorrentes em outras florestas estudadas no Brasil, destaque às famílias Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, Lauraceae e Apocynaceae, e aos gêneros Ocotea, Myrcia, Casearia e Inga. O dossel apresenta árvores de 10 a 16 m de altura, destacando-se Micropholis gardneriana e Pogonophora schomburgkiana, com emergentes até 26 m de altura. O subdossel é formado por indivíduos com 6 a 9 m de altura, representado pela grande maioria das espécies de árvores. O sub-bosque é formado, em sua maioria, por indivíduos jovens das espécies dos estratos superiores, espécies de Rubiaceae e Melastomataceae e Parodiolyra micrantha (Poaceae). Comparações com outras florestas revelaram táxons de maior constância relativa e maior riqueza do componente arbóreo na Chapada Diamantina: Myrtaceae, Fabaceae, Anacardiaceae, Apocynaceae, Sapotaceae, Simaroubaceae, Calyptranthes, Pouteria, Simarouba, Tapirira, Clusia, Miconia, Myrcia e Protium. O estudo revelou distinção entre a floresta estacional semidecídua submontana e as demais formações florestais da Chapada Diamantina, reforçando a necessidade de ampliação dos estudos florísticos e estruturais dessas florestas.

Phylogenetic signal of orbicules at family level: Rubiaceae as case study

AbstractOrbicules are tiny a‐cellular sporopollenin structures that occur in the anthers of many angiosperms together with the pollen grains. Although their occurrence is common, little is known about their function and systematic usefulness. With regard to orbicules, Rubiaceae (Gentianales) are the most intensively studied plant family and therefore an ideal case to present the evolution and phylogenetic signal of orbicule characters at family level. The occurrence and morphology of orbicules was investigated in 64 species of Rubiaceae using scanning electron microscopy. Five relevant orbicule features (presence/absence, abundance, size, shape, ornamentation) were optimized onto a custom‐made phylogeny of the family. By optimizing the five orbicule characters some evolutionary trends can be observed. The previously suggested trend in angiosperms towards orbicule absence in more derived taxa is confirmed for Rubiaceae. Orbicules appear to have been independently lost at least nine times within the family, with two subsequent reversals. Small orbicules represent the plesiomorphic character state for the family. A trend from spherical towards irregular orbicules is observed, while ornamented orbicules occur only in derived lineages. Orbicule characters are constant at generic level and in most cases at tribal level, and therefore have potential for systematics. The presence of orbicules is correlated with the occurrence of a non‐amoeboid tapetum.

Martensianthusnomen novum to replaceNeomartensiaBorhidi et Lozada-Pérez 2010 (Rubiaceae) non Yoshida et Mikami 1996 (Delesseriaceae)

The existence of an earlier homonym of the generic name Neomartensia Yoshida et Mikami in the family Delesseriaceae of the red algae made necessary to give a new name: Martensianthus for six Rubiaceae species of the Mexican flora to replace the later homonym Neomartensia Borhidi et Lozada-Perez 2010.

Frequency of visits and efficiency of pollination by diurnal and nocturnal lepidopterans for the dioecious tree Randia itatiaiae (Rubiaceae)

In plants pollinated by different groups of animals, the most frequent visitors may not be the most effective for fitness because of their differential efficiency in pollen transfer. We addressed this question by studying a rare dioecious species of Rubiaceae in Brazil. The flowers of Randia itatiaiae are gender-heteromorphic and hypocrateriform with greenish corolla tubes ~2 cm long, and exhale a strong sweet scent during the entire period of anthesis, which starts at sunset for female flowers. Sucrose was the dominant or co-dominant nectar sugar for both genders. In spite of these typical sphingophilous-phalaenophilous traits, the flowers last for 6 days, and nectar was available in both diurnal and nocturnal assessments. Moreover, the flowering of R. itatiaiae did not overlap the phenodynamics of the Sphingidae community. Accordingly, two functional groups of Lepidoptera – Hesperiidae during the day and Sphingidae and Noctuidae at night – visited the flowers. Visits by either group resulted in equivalent fruit set and seed number per fruit, although the frequency of visits to flowers was higher during the day than at night. Diurnal and nocturnal lepidopterans may exert similar pressures on floral morphology, in addition to divergent pressures on other characters, such as the temporal dynamics of anthesis and nectar production. The pollination system of R. itatiaiae is specialised at the coarse scale, because its floral morphology precludes pollination by animals other than lepidopterans; however, its floral phenotype also represents a generalist compromise between the conflicting pressures exerted by diurnal and nocturnal groups of lepidopterans.

Morfoanatomia de folha e caule de Genipa americana L., Rubiaceae

Genipa americana L., conhecida como jenipapo, é uma Rubiaceae nativa do Brasil e as suas folhas são utilizadas pela população como antidiarreico e febrífugo, e o caule como anti-hemorrágico, contra luxações e contusões. Com o objetivo de caracterizar macro e microscopicamente folhas adultas e caules jovens para o controle de qualidade farmacognóstico, essa planta medicinal foi analisada segundo a metodologia clássica de morfoanatomia vegetal. Genipa americana apresenta folhas simples, opostas, de formato obovado a oblanceolado e pecíolos curtos. A epiderme foliar é uniestratificada e revestida por cutícula delgada e levemente estriada. Os estômatos são paracíticos e restritos à superfície abaxial. Há tricomas tectores uni e pluricelulares predominantemente na superfície abaxial. O mesofilo é dorsiventral. Em secção transversal, a nervura central é plano-convexa e o pecíolo é circular, ambos apresentando um feixe vascular colateral em disposição cilíndrica e outros menores. O caule possui felogênio localizado nas camadas subepidérmicas, colênquima anelar e um cilindro floemático externo ao de xilema, sendo ambos percorridos por raios parenquimáticos estreitos. Ocorrem idioblastos contendo compostos fenólicos, areia cristalina e drusas de oxalato de cálcio na folha e no caule.

Tipos polínicos encontrados em esfingídeos (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) em área de Floresta Atlântica do sudeste do Brasil: uso da palinologia no estudo de interações ecológicas

(Tipos polinicos encontrados em esfingideos (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) em area de Floresta Atlântica do Sudeste do Brasil: uso da palinologia no estudo de interacoes ecologicas). Foram determinadas as especies de plantas utilizadas por uma comunidade de esfingideos (Lepidoptera, Sphingidae) atraves da avaliacao dos tipos polinicos que os especimes apresentavam sobre seus corpos, em uma area de Floresta Atlântica do Sudeste do Brasil. Foram registrados 63 tipos polinicos de 27 familias distribuidos assimetricamente ao longo do ano. Houve predominio de especies de Rubiaceae, Bromeliaceae e Fabaceae. Polen do tipo Inga esteve presente em quase todos os meses amostrados e em grande numero de especies de esfingideos. Tipos polinicos relativos a familias que nao apresentam atributos morfologicos adaptativos ao uso por Sphingidae foram responsaveis pela maior parte das amostras, o que demonstra forte aspecto generalista no comportamento de forrageamento deste grupo de lepidopteros. Este estudo reforca a utilidade do uso da palinologia no entendimento de padroes de interacoes inseto-planta em ambientes tropicais.

Essential oil constituents of Psychotria leiocarpa

The Rubiaceae family is composed mostly of trees, shrubs, or infrequently herbs and comprises about 450 genera and 6.500 species with a complex taxonomy. For Psychotria leiocarpa Cham. & Schltdl., leaves were analyzed for their alkaloid and iridoid content [1–5]. A number of studies have reported different pharmacological effects of Psychotria alkaloids, such as inhibition of the aggregation of human platelets [6], cytotoxicity [7], and analgesic activity [8]. The crude ethanolic extract of P. leiocarpa leaves yielded a nonspecific analgesic activity in the tail flick test [9]. To the best of our knowledge, there are no previous studies dealing with the volatiles of this species. As part of our research on Rubiaceae species [1–5], we now report the chemical composition of the essential oil. Leaves of P. leiocarpa were collected in Osorio, Rio Grande do Sul, South Brazil, in July 2008. A voucher specimen (Carlos 6) was deposited at the herbarium of the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul (ICN, SOBRAL 7898). The oil was obtained from 100 g of fresh leaves by hydrodistillation using a Clevenger-type apparatus for four hours. The oil obtained had a yield of 0.1%. Analysis of the oil was performed using a Shimadzu GC-17A equipped with Shimadzu GC 10 software, using a DB-5 fused silica capillary column (25 m, 0.25 mm; film thickness 0.25 m). The oven temperature was programmed from 60–300 C at 3 C/min, with helium as carrier gas at an inlet pressure of 80 kPa (1 mL/min). Injector (split mode) and detector temperatures were set at 220 C and 250 C, respectively. The percentage compositions were obtained from electronic integration measurements using flame ionization detection (FID, 250 C). The sample was analyzed by GC/MS in the same chromatographic conditions as described above, using a Shimadzu QP-5000-quadrupole MS system, operating with an ionization energy of 70 eV and an interface temperature of 250 C, with a scan time of 1.25 scans/s and an acquisition mass range of 40.0–650.0 Da. The identification of the oil components was accomplished by comparison of their GC retention indices as well as their mass spectra with corresponding data of authentic compounds or of components of reference oils; some mass spectra were compared with those of the NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) computer data library or with spectral data given in the literature [10–13]. Thirty-three compounds were identified, comprising 95.9% of total volatiles for Psychotria leiocarpa leaves (Table 1). The essential oil was characterized exclusively by sesquiterpenes. P. leiocarpa oil consists of a large amount of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons with germacrane and cadinane skeletons, such as bicyclogermacrene (35.6%) and germacrene D (17.6%), respectively.

THREE NEW SPECIES OF CHASSALIA AND PSYCHOTRIA (RUBIACEAE) FROM CENTRAL AFRICA

Three new species of Rubiaceae from Central Africa are described and illustrated. Chassalia lutescens O.Lachenaud & D.J.Harris (widespread from Cameroon to Democratic Republic of Congo) is recognised inter alia by the T-shaped ventral furrow of the seeds and the orange-yellow discoloration of inflorescences in herbarium specimens. Psychotria nodiflora O.Lachenaud & D.J.Harris (Central African Republic, Congo-Brazzaville and Democratic Republic of Congo), belonging to Psychotria subgen. Psychotria sect. Involucratae, is unique among African species of the genus in having paired axillary inflorescences. Psychotria pteropus O.Lachenaud & D.J.Harris (Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of Congo) belongs to Psychotria subgen. Tetramerae; it is closely related to P. leptophylla Hiern but differs in its narrow corolla tube and globose to ellipsoid fruits.

Pentagonia lanciloba, a new species of Rubiaceae (Hippotideae) from northwestern Ecuador

Pentagonia lanciloba, a new species of Rubiaceae (Hippotideae) from the wet forests of northwestern Ecuador, is described. This new species is characterized by pinnatifid leaf blades with tapered and long-decurrent subsessile bases, floral bracts with long-acuminate to caudate apices, calyces with narrowly-lanceolate and remarkably long lobes (15–28 mm), and tomentose, orange to red corollas. The new species is illustrated, and its relationship to morphologically similar species is discussed.

Estudios sobre Rubiaceas Mexicanas, XXIX.Arachnothryx sanchezii(Guettardeae) yBouvardia mitlensis(Spermacoceae) nuevas especies de Oaxaca

Two new species of the family Rubiaceae were collected by the members of the Society for the Study of Biotic Resources of Oaxaca (SERBO) in the state Oaxaca (Mexico). One of them is the Arachnothryx sanchezii shrub with scandent twigs and broadly spiked inflorescences, related to A. heteranthera , belonging to the Guettardeae tribe according the new molecular studies of Rova et al. (2009). The other species is Bouvardia mitlensis , a low dense shrub with small leaves and plentiful small white flowers belonging to the Bouvardioides section, near to B. erecta and B. rosei .

Strategies to develop polymorphic markers for Coffea arabica L.

This study reports the implementation of three strategies for the development of genetic markers and their evaluation in both progenitors of an F2 population used for the construction of a genetic map of Coffea arabica. The strategies were Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequences (CAPS), Single Strand Conformational Polymorphism (SSCP), and sequence analysis predicted Single Nucleotide Polymorphism (SNP). The methodologies were developed from different sequence sources: For CAPS, we used 25 COS sequences derived from Hedyotis spp. and 29 COSII sequences derived from Solanaceae and Rubiaceae species; for SSCP, we used 111 coffee EST sequences, 50 COSII sequences, and 10 C. arabica BAC end sequences. A low polymorphism was identified with the CAPS and SSCP methodologies. A total of 61 SNPs were identified in silico from 5,371 ESTs of coffee and from amplified, cloned, and sequenced COSII markers. Sixteen of these SNPs were validated with Luminex technology and 2 of them were polymorphic in C. arabica genotypes. This study highlights the difficulties of finding polymorphism in the species C. arabica where SNP identification seems to be the best strategy to search for polymorphic markers for this low diversity plant.

Tarenna pembensis and Pavetta curalicola, two new species of Rubiaceae from northern Mozambique

Two new species of Rubiaceae, Tarenna pembensis J. E. Burrows and Pavetta curalicola J. E. Burrows, are described from the coastal region of northern Mozambique.