Vicia Cracca Research Articles

Agriculture students’ weed collections: Choices of plants and errors in identification

AbstractRequiring students to create weed collections is a common technique for teaching weed identification. Data compiled over 18 years from students’ weed collections in a college‐level course included over 350 species of plants. Almost half of the specimens belonged to the Asteraceae or Poaceae. The 30 most frequently collected species accounted for almost two‐thirds of the specimens but Chenopodium album L., the most frequently collected species, accounted for only 4.8% of the total. Overall, 73.1% of specimens were correctly identified to species. Five species (Abutilon theophrasti Medik., Vicia cracca L., Portulaca oleracea L., Plantago major L., and Asclepias syriaca L.) were correctly identified at least 97% of the time. Misidentification was highest with Scorzoneroides autumnalis (L.) Moench [synonym (syn.) Leontodon autumnalis L.], Malva neglecta Wallroth, Erysiumum cheiranthoides L., Echinochloa crus‐galli (L.) Beauv., and Erigeron canadensis L. (syn. Conyza canadensis) and within the genera Sonchus L., Setaria P. Beauv., and Digitaria Haller. Misidentification was the lowest in the Equisetaceae, Apocynaceae, Oxalidaceae, and Plantaginaceae and highest in the Lamiaceae, Poaceae, Brassicaceae, and Asteraceae. Variability in individual species’ morphology may have contributed to misidentification.

Climatic conditions and landscape diversity predict plant–bee interactions and pollen deposition in bee‐pollinated plants

Climate change, landscape homogenization, and the decline of beneficial insects threaten pollination services to wild plants and crops. Understanding how pollination potential (i.e. the capacity of ecosystems to support pollination of plants) is affected by climate change and landscape homogenization is fundamental for our ability to predict how such anthropogenic stressors affect plant biodiversity. Models of pollinator potential are improved when based on pairwise plant–pollinator interactions and pollinator's plant preferences. However, whether the sum of predicted pairwise interactions with a plant within a habitat (a proxy for pollination potential) relates to pollen deposition on flowering plants has not yet been investigated. We sampled plant–bee interactions in 68 Scandinavian plant communities in landscapes of varying land‐cover heterogeneity along a latitudinal temperature gradient of 4–8°C, and estimated pollen deposition as the number of pollen grains on flowers of the bee‐pollinated plants Lotus corniculatus and Vicia cracca. We show that plant–bee interactions, and the pollination potential for these bee‐pollinated plants increase with landscape diversity, annual mean temperature, and plant abundance, and decrease with distances to sand‐dominated soils. Furthermore, the pollen deposition in flowers increased with the predicted pollination potential, which was driven by landscape diversity and plant abundance. Our study illustrates that the pollination potential, and thus pollen deposition, for wild plants can be mapped based on spatial models of plant–bee interactions that incorporate pollinator‐specific plant preferences. Maps of pollination potential can be used to guide conservation and restoration planning.

Estimation of irradiation doses of transuranic radionuclides to plants of phytocenoses of the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve

Estimation of irradiation doses of transuranic radionuclides to plants of phytocenoses of the Polesie State Radiation-Ecological Reserve

Multi-Omics Analysis of Vicia cracca Responses to Chronic Radiation Exposure in the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

Our understanding of the long-term consequences of chronic ionising radiation for living organisms remains scarce. Modern molecular biology techniques are helpful tools for researching pollutant effects on biota. To reveal the molecular phenotype of plants growing under chronic radiation exposure, we sampled Vicia cracca L. plants in the Chernobyl exclusion zone and areas with normal radiation backgrounds. We performed a detailed analysis of soil and gene expression patterns and conducted coordinated multi-omics analyses of plant samples, including transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. Plants growing under chronic radiation exposure showed complex and multidirectional biological effects, including significant alterations in the metabolism and gene expression patterns of irradiated plants. We revealed profound changes in carbon metabolism, nitrogen reallocation, and photosynthesis. These plants showed signs of DNA damage, redox imbalance, and stress responses. The upregulation of histones, chaperones, peroxidases, and secondary metabolism was noted.

Draft Genome Sequence of Rhizobium sp. Strain 32-5/1, Isolated from Vicia cracca L. Root Nodules in the Russian Arctic.

This study reports the whole-genome sequence of an endosymbiotic bacterium, Rhizobium sp. strain 32-5/1, isolated from root nodules of the legume Vicia cracca L. in the Arctic region of Russia. The genome consists of two plasmids and one chromosome, with a total length of 5,621,108 bp and 59.5% GC content.

Pest thrips do not set field margins aside: preferred wildflowers sustain pest Frankliniella spp. (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) and their migration in commercial strawberry

Wildflowers in uncultivated field margin are important resources supporting both pest and non-pest thrips populations in agroecosystems. Environmental factors related to wildflowers have never been used as predictors to model pest thrips density in adjacent crops. Wild and cultivated flowers were sampled in strawberry field agroecosystem in Orléans Island, near Quebec City, Canada. Pest flower thrips Frankliniella intonsa and F. tritici had a wide wildflower host range, with preferences toward Leucanthemum vulgare, Trifolium pratense, Sonchus asper, and Cichorium intybus. Regression modeling revealed significant positive relationships between pest thrips density on specific wildflowers (Vicia cracca, Sinapis arvensis, S. asper, C. intybus, L. vulgare) and their density in strawberry flowers. Furthermore, thrips density within the crop decreased with distance from uncultivated field margin. Regarding crop management, knowing the associations between thrips pests and preferred wild flora as well as their spatial distribution in strawberry fields is an undeniable advantage.

Floral resources in Swedish grasslands remain relatively stable under an experimental drought and are enhanced by soil amendments if regularly mown

Abstract One of the main reasons why insect pollinators are declining is a lack of floral resources. In agricultural landscapes, remaining seminatural grasslands play a key role for providing such resources. However, droughts pose an increasing threat to the abundance and continuity of flowers. Soil amendments are a novel management tool for Swedish grasslands aiming to increase carbon sequestration and soil water holding capacity. In this study, we examined how drought is affecting floral resources (i.e. floral units, nectar quantity and nectar continuity) in grasslands with different mowing regimes, and if soil amendments could mitigate potential negative drought effects. In summer 2019, we set up an experiment combining rain‐out shelters (‘drought’), soil amendments (‘compost’) and different mowing regimes (‘mown’ vs. ‘abandoned’) in four extensively managed Swedish grasslands (48 plots, size 2 m2). Between May and August 2021, we counted the floral units nine times in each plot. We derived values for the nectar sugar production per floral unit from an existing database. We observed a decrease in floral units under drought in the mown, but not in the abandoned plots. Nectar quantity and continuity over the season were not significantly affected by drought across both mowing regimes—in the abandoned plots the nectar provision even extended slightly in duration (towards late summer). The compost treatment had positive effects on the floral units, nectar quantity and continuity (extending it towards early summer) in the mown, but not in the abandoned plots. The plant species in our study reacted differently to the treatments. Most of the nectar was provided by only few species (mainly Lathyrus pratensis, Vicia cracca and Anthriscus sylvestris). The results are species specific, thus other plant communities might respond differently. However, our experiment shows that nectar provision (based on database values) in grasslands with a native plant community and natural soil conditions remains relatively stable under drought. We also found that soil amendments increase floral resources in managed grasslands.

PHYTOEXTRACTION OF HEAVY METALS BY HERBAL PLANTS ON TECHNOGENIC SOILS

The purpose of the work is to study the specifics of the natural restoration of vegetation on highly toxic embryozems (on the example of the technogenic dump from the large chemical production «Usoliekhimprom», Irkutsk region). It was shown that organo-accumulative embryozem is the first stage of soil formation and the beginning of plant colonization. The level of technogenic soils pollution with heavy metals was assessed by a set of indicators, based on them, organo-accumulative embryozems were classified as soils with an extremely dangerous level of pollution. It was found that the first pioneers on these embryozems were 9 aboriginal species of herbaceous plants: Melilotus albus Medikus., Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall., Trifolium hybridum L., Trifolium repens L., Trifolium pratense L., Vicia cracca L., Medicago sativa L., Sonchus arvensis L., Chamerion angustifolium (L.) Scop. A number of their unique features allow them to grow in conditions of very strong soil pollution – this is a high level heavy metals accumulation in phytomass, good adaptation of mineral nutrition to hard growing conditions, an increase in biomass during the growing season, and the absence of visual signs of damage. The obtained results give every reason to recommend these herbaceous plants for use as phytoextractors of heavy metals on technogenic dumps.

The species composition of weeds in sunflower crops in the steppe zone of the Krasnodar Territory

In sunflower crops cultivated in the steppe zone of the Krasnodar Territory, 92 species of weeds were identified. The core of the weed component of agrocenoses consists of 2 especially active species - Amaranthus retrof-lexus L. and Chenopodium album L., 5 highly active species - Ambrosia artemisiifolia L., Convolvulus arvensis L., Abu-tilon theophrasti Medik., Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) Beauv., Persicaria maculosa S.F. Gray, 2 medium-active species Cir-sium setosum (Willd .) Bess. and Vicia cracca L. and 2 fairly active species Sinapis arvensis L. and Lathyrus tuberosus L. These are the types that should be paid special attention to while developing protective measures. In addition, 22 inactive species and 59 inactive species were identified, the presence of which in sunflower crops is due to a decrease in the level of technology of this crop cultivation. The territorial totality of weeds of the ecotope of segetal habitats is a segetal flora, one of the subdivisions of which is the partial flora of the ecotope under the cultivation of sunflower culture. The species composition of the segetal flora is characterized by stability, therefore it can be predicted for a certain time perspective. The activity of species changes with the change of crops in the crop rotation scheme, which significantly increases the role of phytosanitary monitoring.

DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analysis of endemic Astragalus nezaketiae and Vicia alpestris subsp. hypoleuca (Fabaceae): Evidence from nrDNA ITS and cpDNA matK and rbcL sequences

In this study, we performed DNA barcoding and phylogenetic analysis using one nuclear (ITS) and two chloroplast DNA regions (matK and rbcL) of endemic Astragalus nezaketiae A. Duran & Aytaçand Vicia alpestris Stev. subsp. hypoleuca (Boiss.) Davis taxa in Turkey. PCR reactions were performed using universal primers. Sequences of the PCR products were edited using BioEdit and FinchTV software and contigs were obtained. All contigs were Blasted at NCBI and similarities were analysed. Using the MEGA 6.0 program, maximum likelihood trees were constructed including some sequences retrieved from NCBI. For Astragalus nezaketiae; in the ITS analysis, Astragalus nezaketiae appeared separately from other species, and for matK, Astragalus nezaketiae appeared together with Astragalus cicer L. However, rbcL tree was polytomic. For Vicia alpestris subsp. hypoleuca; in ITS, rbcL and matK results Vicia alpestris subsp. hypoleuca were found together with Vicia cracca L., Vicia benghalensis L. and Vicia villosa Roth species. Analysis of the combined data revealed similar results with all barcode regions for Vicia alpestris subsp. hypoleuca while different phylogenetic results were obtained for Astragalus nezaketiae.

Heavy Metal Pollution Characteristics and Risk Assessment of Golden Snub-nosed Monkey (Rhinopithecus roxellana) Habitat in Shennongjia Mountains

The golden snub-nosed monkey is one of the most endangered animal species endemic to China. In order to explore the characteristics and health risks of golden snub-nosed monkeys exposed to heavy metals, we collected the plant food sources, soil, and water samples from the golden snub-nosed monkey habitat in the Shennongjia Mountains; examined the contents of seven heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, and As); and adopted the comprehensive pollution index, potential ecological risk index, and Nemerow index to evaluate pollutants in the water, soil, and food plants. At the same time, the Target Hazard Quotient method was used to assess heavy metals in the food plants. The results showed that the heavy metal concentration of the habitat water was 0.004-1.220 μg·L-1. The water comprehensive pollution index showed that the habitat water was safe. In addition, the ω(Cd)(0.162-0.822 mg·kg-1) in the soil was 2.71 times the background value of the soil in Hubei province, indicating a moderate risk of ecological harm. The over-standard rates of Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni in food plants were 29%, 29%, 18%, and 35%, respectively; the pollution indexes of lichen and bark were 6.038 and 7.709, which were at a heavy pollution level; and the pollution indexes of Abies fragesii and Vicia cracca were 2.716 and 2.034, which indicated a moderately polluted level. The rest of the plants were at a safe level. Our health risk analysis showed that the risk of lichen and bark were higher than that of leaves, followed by fruits. Among the seven metals, As most threatened the health of the golden snub-nosed monkeys (THQ>1). In general, heavy metals had polluted the habitats of the golden snub-nosed monkeys in the Shennongjia Mountains, and we are certain that the heavy metal pollution was associated with human activities. Thus, human activities in the Shennongjia Mountains should be reasonably restricted in the future. Our results can provide scientific support for the population conservation of golden snub-nosed monkeys in China and provide research samples in the health risk valuation of heavy metals in endangered animals through food plants.

CONTENT OF POTASSIUM AND CALCIUM IN PLANTS OF THE MIDDLE MOUNTAIN DAGESTAN

The results of a study on the content of potassium and calcium in plants of the Middle Mountain province of Dagestan are presented. The content of macroelements was determined on «Savant AA Σ» atomic absorption spectrometer. The K content in plants varied from 0.16 to 3.21%, Ca - from 0.02 to 3.47%. The content of mobile forms of elements on the northern slope is slightly higher than on the southern (1.2 times). The coefficient of biogeochemical mobility K ranges from 5 to 100.3, Bx Ca – from 1.2 to 204.1. On the southern slope, K and Ca are most actively absorbed from the herb-cereal phytocenoses Plantago media, Plantago lanceolata, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium medium, Inula britannica, Achillea millefolium, Psephellus daghestanicus, Galium verum, Astragalus onobrychioides, Medicago glutinosa. On the northern slope, K, Ca Astrantia biebersteinii, Inula germanica, Trifolium campestre, Vicia truncatula, Vicia cracca, Betonica macrantha, Origanum vulgare, and Betonica orientalis accumulate most actively. The least accumulation of K and Ca is observed in plants of the Poaceae family. The difference in the content of K and Ca in plants depends on the content of mobile forms of elements in the soil, biological characteristics of plants, and environmental factors.

Vicia cracca (Tufted vetch)

This datasheet on Vicia cracca covers Identity, Distribution, Uses, Further Information.

Новые ассоциации и высшие синтаксоны ивняков в восточноевропейском секторе Арктики

Новые ассоциации и высшие синтаксоны ивняков в восточноевропейском секторе Арктики

EFFECT OF MATURITY STAGES ON POTENTIAL NUTRITIVE VALUE OF VICIA CRACCA (L.) HAY

The aim of the current experiment was to determine the effect of harvesting stage on the potential nutritive value. Vicia cracca plant was harvested at three maturity stages (before flowering, flowering and seeding). Vicia cracca plants were dried at 70 °C and grinded in a hand-mill with 1 mm sieve for chemical analysis. Crude protein, crude oil, crude ash, condensed tannin, acid detergent fiber (ADF), and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) parameters were investigated as the chemical composition. Harvesting stage had a significant (p ≤ 0.01) effect on chemical composition. Dry matter, NDF and ADF contents were increased with advancing maturity whereas crude protein, crude oil, condensed tannin and crude ash contents were decreased. As a conclusion, the nutritive value of Vicia cracca plant decreased with increasing maturity. Vicia cracca hays harvested at three maturity stages were adequate in term of mineral content for ruminant. Therefore, the Vicia cracca plant can be harvested or grazed before flowering and flowering stages due to high crude protein, crude oil and low ADF and NDF.

English

The purpose of this study was to determine the feed values of some legume forage plants growing in a natural environment. The plant materials used in the study were as follows: Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), varigated alfalfa (Medicago varia), bird vetch (Vicia cracca), mountain vetch (Vicia alpestris), mountain clover (Trifolium montanum), kura clover (Trifolium ambiguum), three-headed clover (Trifolium trichocephalum), purple crownvetch (Coronilla varia), and bird’s foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus). The feeds were examined in terms of nutrient content, relative feed value, true dry matter digestibility, true organic matter digestibility, true neutral detergent fiber digestibility, and relative feed quality. The legume forage plants were found to be significantly different from each other in terms of nutrient contents (P<0.05). The mountain clover was found to have the highest contents of crude protein and crude fat among the legume forage plants examined in this study, while the alfalfa was found to have more contents of dry matter and NDF than the other legume forage plants. On the other hand, the dry matter intake was found to be the highest in the three-headed clover, the dry matter digestibility and relative feed value were found to be the highest in the purple crownvetch, and the relative feed quality was found to be the highest in the mountain vetch. The nutrient contents, relative feed values, and relative feed quality values of the forage plants showed that they could be used in animal feeding.

Comparative assessment of the amino acids content of some legumes species in Southern Ukraine

The data on the composition and amount of amino acids have been analyzed in the raw materials of five legume species. All of them grow in Southern Ukrainian flora (Securigera varia (L.) Lassen, Vicia cracca L., Lupinus luteus L., Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall., Melilotus albus Medic.) and may be used as a source of amino acids, especially essential, whose resource has to be replenished from the outside. Aim. We have studied and compared the amino acid profile of some species of the Ukrainian South Legumes, and used the multidimensional statistical cluster analysis to construction of histograms based on the amino acids content and composition of such plants as: Securigera varia (L.) Lassen, Vicia cracca L., Lupinus luteus L., Melilotus officinalis (L.) Pall., Melilotus albus Medic. Materials and methods. The raw materials were harvested at the South of Ukraine and were investigated by gas-liquid chromatography. The amino acid analyzer has been used after hydrochloric acid hydrolysis at elevated temperature. Results. 19 amino acids have been identified, of which nine are essential or partially interchangeable. The non-polar amino acid proline is in the lead in terms of quantity among the essential amino acids. Its amount was 6932 mg/100 g and the ability to accumulate it was noted in Melilotus officinalis (2276 mg/100 g). The smallest proline amount was found in Lupinus luteus (388 mg/100 g). The sulfur-containing non-polar amino acid methionine is in the smallest amount in the selected plants (506 mg/100 g). Our attention was drawn to the absence of the polar amino acid glutamine among the non-essential amino acids in some plants. Securigera varia, Vicia cracca, and Melilotus officinalis did not contain glutamine. In this subgroup, the polar aspartic acid was found in the highest amount (6824 mg/100 g) with the highest content in Vicia cracca and the lowest – in Melilotus albus (2660 mg/100 g and 385 mg/100 g, respectively). Conclusions. The analysis of the presence and number of amino acids was the basis for our multidimensional statistical cluster analysis and histograms of the presentation of the amino acid profile of the studied plant members of the family Fabaceae L. In constructing the dendrogram, three clusters were identified, and representatives of one genus (Melilotus L.) were attributed to different clusters which is significant for further chemosystematic studies.

Рекультивированные земли как резерв кормовой базы животноводства

Abstract. The purpose is to establish the possibility of using mined brick clay pits for grazing livestock and preparing animal feed. The paper deals with the investigation of the above ground phytomass field layer (Fh) being formed dusing the natural growth of mined brick clay pits. Methodology. Species composition of the projective cover and aboveground phytomass were established on the counting areas of 0.5 × 0.5 sizes evenly spaced on the bottom and slopes of pit. At each of the quarry elements at least 30 registration sites were laid. In addition a similar number of registration sites were laid next to the quarry where clay was not mined. Researches were carried out in the district of pine-birch pre-forest steppe forests of the Trans Urals plain province, the west Siberian plain forest region. Results. It was found that the soil of mined out pits does not contain heavy metal and other chemical elements hazardous to animals. The total aboveground phetomass of Fh at the bottom and slopes of the quarry is 1101.1 and 812.6 kg/ha in absolutely dry, state, respectively. The total projective cover at the bottom of the quarry 3 years after the technical stage of reclamation is 64.7 % and on the slopes 42.5 %. The presence of meadow species in the composition, in particular of legumes family (Vicia cracca L.; V. hybridum L.; V. sativa L.; V. vernus L.; V. sylvatica L.; Trifolium pretense L.; T. lupinaster L.; T. repens L.; T. hybridum L.; T. medium L.; Lathyrus pratensis L.; Melilotu salbus Medikus; M. officinalis L. Pall.; Medicago lupulina L.) indicates a high feed value of FR. Scientific novelty. The transfer of mined out brick clay pits for temporary agricultural use will contribute at the formation of soil on the bottom and slopes of the quarry and ultimately, increase the productivity of future plantations.

The complete chloroplast genome of Vicia cracca L

Vicia cracca L. is a widespread perennial herb in the Northern Hemisphere. It has purple flowers and leave tendrils for climbing on neighboring vegetation. For knowing the chloroplast genome, a sample’s genomic was extracted, sequenced, assembled and annotated. The chloroplast genome of this plant is a circular form of 126,272bp in length with IR loss. After annotation, a total of 108 genes were predicted, of which, 75 encode proteins, 3 rRNA, 30 tRNA. The evolutionary history, inferred using Maximum Likelihood method, indicates that V. cracca was grouped within Vicia in Fabaceae. The complete cp genome will be helpful for further studies on molecular biology, evolution, population genetics, taxonomy or resources protection.

Влияние антропогенного загрязнения среды г. Тюмени на показатели жизнедеятельности травянистых растений

The purpose of this study was the investigation of lipid peroxidation products and photosynthetic pigment content in cells of herbs of various species in conditions of anthropogenic pollution of Tyumen. The material for the research was collected near different plants of Tyumen: metallurgical, engine, oil refinery, battery manufacturing as well as highway pollution. The following species of plants were analysed: coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara), red clover (Trifolium rubens), chamomile (Matricaria chamomilla) and wild vetch (Vicia cracca). Heavy metal concentration in soils of urban areas turned out to be elevated compared to background sites. Especially high heavy metal content was registered near metallurgical and battery manufacturing plants. Changes in photosynthetic pigment concentration turned out to be species-specific. An increase in photosynthetic pigments was obtained in chamomile cells, while in other plants oppression of photosynthetic apparatus was revealed. Concentration of lipid peroxidation cells of chamomile, meadow grass and wild vetch was increased compared to background site, while in coltsfoot and red clover it decreased. Heavy metal content in soils positively correlated with lipid peroxidation in plants. Oxidation stress in chamomile cells created energetic starvation, which was reflected in a positive correlation between photosynthetic pigments and the concentration of conjugated dienes in cells.