Echium Vulgare Research Articles

Morphometric and phytochemical profile of seeds of metallicolous and nonmetallicolous Echium vulgare populations

The morphometric and phytochemical parameters of seeds of three populations of Echium vulgare L. were compared. Two metallicolous populations (designated as MZ and MC) originated from waste deposits left over ZnPb ore smelting and processing and the reference population originated from an uncontaminated area (NM - nonmetallicolous population). The length, width, weight, and surface area of collected seeds were measured; additionally, the germination ability and vigour index for each population were determined. Moreover, heavy metal, seed oil, and secondary metabolite concentrations were measured. The results obtained indicated differentiation in the seed size and germination ability between the populations. The smaller size of seeds from the metallicolous populations was accompanied by lower germination ability; however, the seeds from the MC population achieved the highest vigour index. Furthermore, the MC population was characterized by the lowest concentration of allantoin and rosmarinic acid; additionally, the seeds of the MC population contained higher content of seed oils and increased contribution of saturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids by ca. 60 and 45%, respectively, and a decreased (by 16%) fraction of polyunsaturated fatty acids compared with the NM population. The strong differentiation of the MC population coincided with the high seed metal accumulation.

Comparison of some secondary metabolite content in the seventeen species of the Boraginaceae family

Context: The Boraginaceae family comprises plants that have important therapeutic and cosmetic applications. Their pharmacological effect is related to the presence of naphthaquinones, flavonoids, terpenoids, phenols, or purine derivative – allantoin. Objective: In the present study, comparison of some secondary metabolite content and phytochemical relationship between 17 species of the Boraginaceae family were analyzed. Materials and methods: High performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) was used to perform a chemometric analysis in the following Boraginaceae species: Anchusa azurea Mill., Anchusa undulata L., Borago officinalis L., Buglossoides purpurocaerulea (L.) I.M. Johnst., Cerinthe minor L., Cynoglossum creticum Mill, Echium italicum L., Echium russicum J.F. Gmel., Echium vulgare L., Lindelofia macrostyla (Bunge) Popov (syn. Lindelofia anchusoides (Lindl.) Lehm.), Lithospermum officinale L., Nonea lutea (Desr.) DC., Omphalodes verna Moench (syn. Cynoglossum omphaloides L.), Pulmonaria mollis Wulfen ex Hornem., Pulmonaria obscura Dumort., Symphytum cordatum Waldst. & Kit ex Willd., and Symphytum officinale L. Results: Six active compounds in shoot extracts (allantoin, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, rutin, hydrocaffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, and chlorogenic acid) and four compounds in root extracts (allantoin, hydrocaffeic acid, rosmarinic acid, and shikonin) were identified. The presence and abundance of these compounds were used for the characterization of the species and for revealing their phytochemical similarity and differentiation. Discussion and conclusion: The present study provides the first comprehensive report of the extraction and quantification of several compounds in Boraginaceae species (some of them for the first time). Among the 17 species studied, species with potentially high pharmacological activity were recognized.

Selected secondary metabolites in Echium vulgare L. populations from nonmetalliferous and metalliferous areas

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of severe environmental conditions prevailing on metalliferous waste heaps and heavy metal-contaminated growth substrates on accumulation of selected secondary metabolites, antioxidant capacity, and heavy metal concentration in two metallicolous (MC, MZ) and one nonmetallicolous (NM) populations of Echium vulgare L. The shoots and the roots of the three studied populations were collected from their natural habitats. Additionally, the plants were cultivated on different growth substrates, i.e. a contaminated substrate obtained from the areas of growth of the MZ and MC populations and an uncontaminated one from the NM population site. Several compounds, i.e. allantoin, rutin, rosmarinic acid, chlorogenic acid, and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid were identified in the shoots. Moreover, rosmarinic acid, allantoin, and shikonin were measured in the roots. The adverse environmental conditions contributed to a ca. 10- and 4-fold increase in the concentration of allantoin in the roots and shoots, respectively, as well as a ca. 4-fold and ca. 3-fold increase in the level of 4-hydroxybenzoic acid and shikonin, respectively, in comparison with the plants from the uncontaminated site. Similarly, a great impact of the contaminated substrate on the compounds was demonstrated in the soil experiment. Regardless of the populations, even ca. 20-fold higher levels of allantoin and shikonin were observed in plants grown on the MC and MZ substrates. In contrast, the chlorogenic acid concentration was lower in plants collected from the metalliferous areas and in all populations cultivated on the contaminated substrates in comparison with plants from the uncontaminated soil. Unambiguous results were obtained in the case of rutin, i.e. decreased accumulation in both metallicolous populations from the natural environment and increased accumulation in plants grown on the contaminated substrates. The high concentrations of heavy metals in the substrates contributed to high HM concentrations in plant tissues. However, some differences were observed between the metallicolous and nonmetallicolous populations – the accumulation of metals was lower in the shoots and higher in the roots of the NM population, compared with the MZ and MC populations.

Fluorescent Pteridine Derivatives as New Markers for the Characterization of Genuine Monofloral New Zealand Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) Honey.

New Zealand manuka honey is well-known for its unique antibacterial activity. Due to its high price and limited availability, this honey is often subject to honey fraud. Two pteridine derivatives, 3,6,7-trimethyl-2,4(1H,3H)-pteridinedione and 6,7-dimethyl-2,4(1H,3H)-pteridinedione, have now been identified in New Zealand manuka honey. Their structures were elucidated by LC-QTOF-HRMS, NMR, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction after isolation via semipreparative HPLC. Their marker potential for authentic manuka honey was proved as both substances were detectable in neither the pollen-identical kanuka honey nor the nine other kinds of monofloral New Zealand honey analyzed (clover, forest, kamahi, pohutukawa, rata, rewarewa, tawari, thyme, and vipers bugloss). The fluorescence property of the pteridine derivatives can be used as an easy and fast TLC screening method for the authentication of genuine manuka honey. 6,7-Dimethyl-2,4(1H,3H)-pteridinedione has been described for the first time.

Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids from Echium vulgare in Honey Originate Primarily from Floral Nectar.

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) in honey can be a potential human health risk. So far, it has remained unclear whether PAs in honey originate from pollen or floral nectar. We obtained honey, nectar, and plant pollen from two observation sites where Echium vulgare L. was naturally abundant. The PA concentration of honey was determined by targeted analysis using a high pressure liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system (HPLC-MS/MS), allowing the quantification of six different PAs and PA-N-oxides present in E. vulgare. Echium-type PAs were detected up to 0.153 μg/g in honey. Nectar and plant pollen were analyzed by nontargeted analysis using ultrahigh pressure liquid chromatography-high resolution-mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HR-MS), allowing the detection of 10 alkaloids in small size samples. Echium-type PAs were detected between 0.3-95.1 μg/g in nectar and 500-35000 μg/g in plant pollen. The PA composition in nectar and plant pollen was compared to the composition in honey. Echimidine (+N-oxide) was the main alkaloid detected in honey and nectar samples, while echivulgarine (+N-oxide) was the main PA found in plant pollen. These results suggest that nectar contributes more significantly to PA contamination in honey than plant pollen.

Segetal flora of cereal crop agrocenoses in the Suwałki Landscape Park

Abstract Segetal flora of cereal crop agrocenoses in the Suwałki Landscape Park was studied in between the years 2012 and 2013. One hundred phytosociological Braun-Blanquet releves were taken, documenting the occurrence of 152 species of vascular plants that represented 29 botanic families. Analysis of the contributions of geographic-historical groups revealed the dominance of the native species, apophytes (87 species, making 57.2%), over anthropophytes (65 species, 42.8%). The number of short-lived species was twice greater (103 species, 67.8%) than the perennial ones (49 species, 32.2%). As regards the lifeforms, the therophytes were dominant (96 species, 63.2%) over hemicryptophytes (44 species, 28.9%) and geophytes (12 species, 7.9%). Among the species of segetal flora in the area studied, 23 valuable species classified to different categories of protection, were identified. The presence of Consolida regalis, Centaurea cyanus and Bromus secalinus, belonging to threatened species in other regions of Poland, was abundant. Also the species: Anthemis tinctoria, Echium vulgare and Anchusa officinalis were met with high frequency. The species: Agrostemma githago, Papaver argemone and Papaver dubium were represented by single plants, which can suggest their dying out. In the Park area, expansive species, threatening the biodiversity, such as Myosotis arvensis, Viola arvensis, Galeopsis tetraehit, Stellaria media, Artemisia vulgaris, Galinsoga parviflora, Elymus repens, Capsella bursa pastoris, Erodium cicutarium, Chamomilla recutita, Matricaria maritima subsp. inodora, Convolvulus arvensis, Polygonum persicaria, Polygonum lapathifolium subsp. pallidum and Polygonum lapathifolium subsp. lapathifolium, were commonly seen in the crop land.

Bioassay-guided isolation of wound healing active compounds from Echium species growing in Turkey

Ethnopharmacological relevanceThe roots and root barks of Echium sp. have been used to treat ulcers, burns and wounds in traditional Turkish medicine. Aim of the studyOn the basis of them traditional use and literature references, four Echium species were selected for evaluation of them wound healing potential. Isolation of active component(s) from the active extracts through the bioassay guided fractionation procedures. Material and methodsIn vivo the wound healing activity of the plants was evaluated by linear incision experimental models. The chloroform extract of Echium italicum L. was fractionated by successive chromatographic techniques. Wound healing activity of each fraction was investigated following the bioassay-guided fractionation procedures. Moreover, the tissue samples of isolated compounds were examined histopathologically. The healing potential was comparatively assessed with a reference ointment Madecassol®, which contains 1% extract of Centella asiatica. ResultsSignificant wound healing activity was observed from the ointment prepared with ethanol extract at 1% concentration. The ethanol root extract treated in groups of animals showed a significant increase (37.38%, 40.97% and 35.29% separately for E. italicum L, Echium vulgare L. and Echium angustifolium Miller) wound tensile strength in the incision wound model. Subfractions showed significant but reduced wound healing activity on in vivo wound models. Shikonin derivatives “Acetylshikonin”, “Deoxyshikonin” and “2-methyl-n-butyrylshikonin+Isovalerylshikonin”, were isolated and determined as active components of active final subfraction from E. italicum L. roots. The results of histopathological examination supported the outcome of linear incision wound models. ConclusionThe experimental study revealed that Echium species display remarkable wound healing activity.

Heterospecific pollen transfer from an exotic plant to native plants: assessing reproductive consequences in an Andean grassland

Background: The presence of exotic plants increases the heterospecific pollen (HP hereafter) received by native plants and reduces their reproductive output.Aims: We assessed whether the exotic herb Echium vulgare (Boraginaceae) increased HP and reduced seed output of the native plants Phacelia secunda (Boraginaceae) and Stachys albicaulis (Lamiaceae) in an Andean locality, central Chile.Methods: The presence of HP was studied in native plants growing with and without co-existence with the exotic E. vulgare. A complementary hand pollination experiment was carried out to assess whether E. vulgare pollen reduced the reproductive success of native plants.Results: In the presence of E. vulgare, 17.3% and 3.7% of P. secunda and S. albicaulis individuals that coexisted with the exotic species received HP. For P. secunda, the number of conspecific pollen grains decreased in invaded patches compared with non-invaded patches; no differences were observed for S. albicaulis. The pollen of E. vulgare negatively affected the reproductive success of S. albicaulis but not that of P. secunda.Conclusions: The presence of HP cannot be predicted from the presence of exotic plants alone, and other factors, such as flower morphology, could explain the greater HP transfer in P. secunda (actinomorphic flowers) than in S. albicaulis (zygomorphic flowers). A higher negative effect of E. vulgare pollen on P. secunda versus S. albicaulis could be related to the phylogenetic resemblance between the exotic donor and native recipient plant because pollen-stigma compatibility may be evolutionary conserved through common lineages.

Identifying new deep-rooted plant species suitable as undersown nitrogen catch crops

A five-year field study was conducted in order to identify and test plant species suitable as undersown nitrogen (N) catch crops. With the aim of maximizing the catch crop effect against N leaching loss, the main focus was on identifying species with deeper rooting than ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), which is typically used for this purpose. More than 20 species from 9 plant families were studied as undersown catch crops in spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.). The root and shoot biomass production, N uptake, carbon (C) to N ratio, root distribution, rooting depth, and reduction of soil nitrate-N (NO3-N) were measured, and observations of general performance as undersown catch crops were made. During barley growth only small differences in root growth among the catch crops was observed. Later, during autumn, striking differences in root growth appeared, and while ryegrass had few roots below 0.8 m (31.5 in) depth, a number of species showed high root intensities in the soil layer from 0.8 to 1.6 m (31.5 to 63.0 in). Dyer9s woad (Isatis tinctoria L.) and viper9s bugloss (Echium vulgare L.) showed high root intensities even at 1.6 to 2.4 m (63.0 to 94.5 in). The measured differences in root growth were significantly related to the ability of the different species to deplete soil NO3-N from deeper soil layers. Dyer9s woad, which was the most efficient, reduced soil NO3-N content in November to 15 kg N ha−1 (13 lb N ac−1) in the 0 to 2.5 m (0 to 98.4 in) soil layer compared to 53 kg N ha−1 (47 lb N ac−1) under ryegrass and 62 kg N ha−1 (55 lb N ac−1) without a catch crop, and most of this difference occurred below 1 m (39.4 in) depth. There were many other differences among the species in terms of growth, N uptake, root/shoot ratio, and C/N ratio—differences that may be of interest for their use as catch crops for N management. One major effect was that legumes took up far more N than the other species and also produced more biomass than most others. However, none of the four legumes were among the deep-rooted species identified; they were among the shallowest rooted species with a root distribution close to that of ryegrass.

Quantification of pyrrolizidine alkaloids in North American plants and honey by LC-MS: single laboratory validation

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) are a class of naturally occurring compounds produced by many flowering plants around the World. Their presence as contaminants in food systems has become a significant concern in recent years. For example, PAs are often found as contaminants in honey through pollen transfer. A validated method was developed for the quantification of four pyrrolizidine alkaloids and one pyrrolizidine alkaloid N-oxide in plants and honey grown and produced in British Columbia. The method was optimised for extraction efficiency from the plant materials and then subjected to a single-laboratory validation to assess repeatability, accuracy, selectivity, LOD, LOQ and method linearity. The PA content in plants ranged from1.0 to 307.8 µg/g with repeatability precision between 3.8 and 20.8% RSD. HorRat values were within acceptable limits and ranged from 0.62 to 1.63 for plant material and 0.56–1.82 for honey samples. Method accuracy was determined through spike studies with recoveries ranging from 84.6 to 108.2% from the raw material negative control and from 82.1–106.0 % for the pyrrolizidine alkaloids in corn syrup. Based on the findings in this single-laboratory validation, this method is suitable for the quantitation of lycopsamine, senecionine, senecionine N-oxide, heliosupine and echimidine in common comfrey (Symphytum officinale), tansy ragwort (Senecio jacobaea), blueweed (Echium vulgare) and hound’s tongue (Cynoglossum officinale) and for PA quantitation in honey and found that PA contaminants were present at low levels in BC honey.

Structure of Echivulgarine, a Pyrrolizidine Alkaloid Isolated from the Pollen of Echium vulgare.

1,2-Dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids are common toxic metabolites isolated from plants within the Boraginaceae, in particular from the genera Heliotropium and Echium. Previous studies have deduced the structures of these often potent bioactives based upon mass spectrometric evidence, but these identifications have not established conclusive connectivity and configurational data. Herein, we describe the isolation and full structural characterization of echivulgarine, occurring in the pollen of Echium vulgare and correct the structure previously ascribed to the compound, using a comprehensive combination of both experimental and calculated nuclear magnetic resonance and electronic circular dichroism spectroscopic data.

Increased genetic diversity in the populations of Echium vulgare L. colonising Zn–Pb waste heaps

Echium vulgare L. (Boraginaceae) is a tetraploid pseudometallophyte plant commonly occurring on dry, coarse textured soils as well as on heavy metal contaminated substrates. In the present study, the genetic diversity and differentiation of two populations of E. vulgare originating from Zn–Pb mining and smelting waste deposits (MP, MB populations) and one from uncontaminated soil (NM population) were examined. Patterns of genetic variability within and between the populations were assessed using three molecular marker systems – inter simple sequence repeat (ISSR), amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP), and simple sequence repeat (SSR). Our results showed that severe environmental conditions did not reduce the genetic diversity (no bottleneck effect) but increased it. All markers except for AFLP indicated differentiation between metallicolous and nonmetallicolous populations. The molecular marker systems used did not provide uniform information concerning intra- and interpopulation diversity of E. vulgare; therefore, using a single technique only instead of a combination of a few marker systems may give misleading results.

Inhibition of Candida rugosa Lipase by Different Extracts of Five Algerian Plants and their Antioxidant Activities

Lipase inhibitors are drugs used to reduce the activity of lipase found in the intestine. These inhibitors are used for the treatment of obesity and cardiovascular diseases. The purpose of this work was to explore in vitro the enzymatic and antioxidant activities of secondary metabolites extracts such as, phenolic compounds, flavonoids and tannins obtained with various extraction solvent systems: methanol/water, acetone/water and methanol/acetone/water from the aerial parts of five medicinal Algerian plants: Thymus algeriensis, Zygophyllum album, Thymus sepyllum, Marrubium vulgare L and Echium vulgare L. The lipase inhibition by these extracts described here has been for the first time. The results have shown a potent inhibitor, activity of lipase in acetone/water extraction mixture with ethyl acetate and butanol fractions from Thymus sepyllum and in methanol/acetone/water extraction mixture with ethyl acetate fraction from Marrubium vulgare L. The evaluation of antioxidant capacity was achieved by three chemical tests DPPH, Phosphomolybdenum and ABTS showing that our extracts possess potential antioxidant activities compared to standards. Keywords: Antioxidant activities, Candida rugosa lipase inhibition, Echium vulgare L, Marrubium vulgare L, Thymus algeriensis, Thymus sepyllum, Zygophyllum album.

Determination of Shikonin and Rosmarinic Acid in Echium vulgare L. and Echium russicum J.F. Gmel. by Capillary Electrophoresis

A simple and rapid capillary zone electrophoresis (CZE) procedure for determination of shikonin and rosmarinic acid in roots of Echium vulgare L. and Echium russicum J.F. Gmel. is described. The separation was achieved in less than 4 min. The analysis was performed in fused silica capillary (i.d. 75 µm, 48.5 cm total length) using 50 mM borate, at pH 9.5 as the run buffer with applied voltage of 30 kV and constant temperature (27 °C). The method ensures good linearity and repeatability with high correlation coefficients (0.994 and 0.998 for shikonin and rosmarinic acid, respectively). The compounds were detected by UV absorption at 218 (shikonin) and 202 nm (rosmarinic acid). The limits of detection (LOD) for shikonin and rosmarinic acid were 0.603 ppm and 0.270 ppm, respectively. The method was used for estimation of both components in Echium plants. We found out that the content of shikonin and rosmarinic acid were 4.4–4.8 mg/kg air-dry material and 20.0–54.2 mg/kg air-dry material, respectively, in the Echium species analyzed.

Extraction, antioxidant and antilisterial activities of polysaccharides from the flower of viper's bugloss

The objective of the present research was to investigate the effect of microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) conditions on the extraction yield, antioxidant properties and antilisterial activities of the polysaccharides from the flowers of viper's bugloss (Echium vulgare L.). The four extraction variables, time (40–100min), microwave power (200–800W), temperature (30–70°C), and the ratio of water to raw material (10–70), were optimized using response surface methodology. The experimental data were matched to a second-order polynomial equation. The optimal conditions for MAE of polysaccharides (EVFP) were time 73.8min, microwave power 769.2W, temperature 42.3°C and the ratio of water to raw material 61.4, where the actual yield of EVFP 25.11±0.87% was obtained (versus the value predicted by the model 25.36%). The results indicated that EVFP has significant radical (·OH and ·DPPH) scavenging abilities in vitro assay. Moreover, the antilisterial activity was confirmed against four species of Listeria. EVFP, at a concentration of 5mg/mL, demonstrated great antilisterial properties against Listeria ivanovii and Listeria monocytogenes, with inhibition zones of 10.76±0.32mm and 8.64±0.47mm, respectively.

Metal accumulation strategies in plants spontaneously inhabiting Zn-Pb waste deposits

Metal (Zn, Pb, Cd, Cu, Ni, Cr) accumulation in shoots of 38 plant species spontaneously colonizing three Zn-Pb waste deposits in southern Poland was studied in order to find out if the age of the waste (30–130 years) or its type (slag or flotation residues) influence metal content in plants and to identify species potentially suitable for biomonitoring and phytoremediation. The total metal concentrations in the waste upper layers ranged from 7300 to 171790mgkg−1 for Zn, from 1390 to 22265mgkg−1 for Pb, and from 66 to 1464mgkg−1 for Cd, whereas CaCl2-extracted fractions accounted for 0.034–0.11 %, 0.005–0.03 %, and 0.28–0.62 % of total Zn, Pb and Cd concentrations, respectively. The concentrations of Cu, Ni, and Cr in substrates and in plants were low and ranged within the background values. Metal accumulation in plant shoots was poorly correlated with both total and CaCl2-extracted forms of metals in the substrate and was highly variable among species and also specimens of the same species. The highest mean concentrations of Zn, Pb and Cd were found in Anthyllis vulneraria L. (901.5mgkg−1), Echium vulgare L. (116.92mgkg−1), and Hieracium piloselloides Vill. (26.86mgkg−1), respectively. Besides Reseda lutea L., no species appeared to be a good indicator of polymetallic environment pollution based on chemical analysis of shoots; however, metal accumulation in the whole plant communities of a particular contaminated area might be an accurate tool for assessment of metal transfer to vegetation irrespective of the type or age of the waste. All the species studied developed a metal exclusion strategy, thus exhibiting potential for phytostabilization of metalliferous wastelands.

Effect of cadmium on selected physiological and morphological parameters in metallicolous and non-metallicolous populations of Echium vulgare L.

Cadmium tolerance of three populations of Echium vulgare L., naturally occurring on two Zn–Pb waste deposits (metallicolous populations M1, M2) and on an uncontaminated site (non-metallicolous population, NM) was investigated. The plants were cultivated in hydroponics at 0, 5, 15, 30, or 50μM Cd for 14 days. Although Cd reduced the content of photosynthetic pigments indifferently in the three populations, plant growth parameters and root viability analyses confirmed different Cd tolerances decreasing in the order M1>M2>NM in the populations studied. Organic acids (tartrate, malate, citrate, succinate) were not responsible for the elevated Cd tolerance of the metallicolous populations, although malate and citrate might participate in Cd detoxification in the roots of the M1 and M2. Phytochelatin concentrations were higher in the roots of M1 and M2 populations of E. vulgare, suggesting their role in Cd detoxification and different Cd tolerances.

In vitroinvestigation of the potential health benefits of wild Mediterranean dietary plants as anti-obesity agents withα-amylase and pancreatic lipase inhibitory activities

Inhibition of digestive enzymes is one of the most widely studied mechanisms used to determine the potential efficacy of natural products as anti-obesity agents. In vitro studies reported here were performed to evaluate the inhibitory activity of formulations of edible plants from Italy on amylase and lipase by monitoring the hydrolysis of nitrophenyl caprilate and the hydrolysis of glycoside bonds in digestible carbohydrate foods. The formulation obtained from Capparis sicula exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on pancreatic lipase (IC50 = 0.53 mg mL(-1) ) while the Borago officinalis formulation exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on α-amylase (IC50 = 31.61 µg mL(-1) ). In order to characterise the extracts, high-performance thin-layer chromatography analysis of the formulations was performed, revealing the predominance of (±)-catechin in Mentha aquatica formulation, rutin in C. sicula, and caffeic acid and chlorogenic acid in Echium vulgare. The results obtained indicated that the extracts of C. sicula and B. officinalis could be good candidates for further studies to isolate pancreatic lipase and α-amylase inhibitors, respectively.

Big bees do a better job: intraspecific size variation influences pollination effectiveness.

Bumblebees (Bombus spp.) are efficient pollinators of many flowering plants, yet the pollen deposition performance of individual bees has not been investigated. Worker bumblebees exhibit large intraspecific and intra-nest size variation, in contrast with other eusocial bees; and their size influences collection and deposition of pollen grains.Laboratory studies with B. terrestris workers and Vinca minor flowers showed that pollen grains deposited on stigmas in single visits (SVD) were significantly positively related to bee size; larger bees deposited more grains, while the smallest individuals, with proportionally shorter tongues, were unable to collect or deposit pollen in these flowers. Individuals did not increase their pollen deposition over time, so handling experience does not influence SVD in Vinca minor.Field studies using Geranium sanguineum and Echium vulgare, and multiple visiting species, confirmed that individual size affects SVD. All bumblebee species showed size effects, though even the smallest individuals did deposit pollen, whereas there was no detectable effect with Apis with its limited size variation. Two abundant hoverfly species also showed size effects, particularly when feeding for nectar.Mean size of foragers also varied diurnally, with larger individuals active earlier and later, so that pollination effectiveness varies through a day; flowers routinely pollinated by bees may best be served by early morning dehiscence and visits from larger individuals.Thus, while there are well-documented species-level variations in pollination effectiveness, the fine-scale individual differences between foragers should also be taken into account when assessing the reproductive outputs of biotically-pollinated plants.

田间不同植物上烟粉虱的种群密度

PDF HTML阅读 XML下载 导出引用 引用提醒 田间不同植物上烟粉虱种群密度 DOI: 10.5846/stxb201212191828 作者: 作者单位: 中国农业科学院植物保护研究所,中国农业科学院植物保护研究所,中国农业科学院植物保护研究所 作者简介: 通讯作者: 中图分类号: 基金项目: 国家自然科学基金重点项目（30930062）；国家重点研究发展计划（“973”计划）项目（2009CB119220） Population density of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera：Aleyrodidae) on different plants in the field Author: Affiliation: State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests,Institute of Plant Protection,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests,Institute of Plant Protection,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences,State Key Laboratory for Biology of Plant Diseases and Insect Pests,Institute of Plant Protection,Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences Fund Project: 摘要 | 图/表 | 访问统计 | 参考文献 | 相似文献 | 引证文献 | 资源附件 | 文章评论 摘要:对廊坊地区田间81种植物上烟粉虱的发生情况进行了系统调查。结果表明，烟粉虱可为害其中44种植物，且在不同的寄主植物上烟粉虱的种群密度有显著差异；而玉米、高粱和小米等37种植物上无烟粉虱为害。烟粉虱在香水薄荷、荆芥、甘草、薄荷、藿香、益母草、猪屎豆、白晶菊、牛膝、待宵草、蓝蓟、紫花苜蓿、极香罗勒上的虫口密度最高，危害级别达到4级（每100 cm2叶片虫口密度大于50头）。在蜀葵、向日葵和烟草上每100 cm2叶片烟粉虱虫口密度较低，但单株虫口密度较高。鉴于向日葵、玉米、高粱在中国北方棉花产区广泛种植，玉米和高粱的植株高大，且烟粉虱为害对向日葵产量影响极小，可考虑选用向日葵作为田间诱集植物，玉米和高粱作为屏障植物辅助控制棉田烟粉虱。 Abstract:The whitefly, Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is a key agricultural pest in many regions of the world, and has been a destructive pest in China during the past two decades. B. tabaci is extremely polyphagous, feeding on hundreds of host plants, causing direct and indirect damage. Direct feeding by adults and nymphs induces physiological disorders in host plants, resulting in smaller production, shedding of leaves, and death in immature plants. The honeydew produced by the nymphs often causes stunting by promoting the growth of black sooty mold on leaves and reducing photosynthesis. However, the main damage is indirect: B. tabaci can transmit more than 100 plant viruses that damage many commercial plants. B.tabaci has distinct host plant preferences, and knowing these can serve as a basis for integrated pest management programs, especially because resistance to insecticides by B. tabaci is on the increase. Here we present the results of an exhaustive survey of host plants in Northern China. A systematic field survey was conducted on 81 plant species to investigate their suitability as host plants for B. tabaci at Langfang, Hebei Province. There were three plots for each plant, with a size of 16 m2 (4 m×4 m) for each plot, 243 plots were randomly arranged in total. Infection rate was characterised by the number of individuals per 100 cm2 leaf and number of individuals per whole leaves. A total of 37 species of the surveyed plants, including Zea mays L., Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench and Setaria italica (L.) Beauv. were not damaged by B.tabaci. Plant species belonging to the families Rosaceae, Nyctaginaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Linaceae, Cleomaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Rutaceae, Asclepiadaceae (surveyed one species in these families), Polygonaceae (surveyed two species), Cruciferae (surveyed four species), Poaceae (surveyed five species) were not damaged by B. tabaci. Forty-four of the investigated plant species were suitable hosts for B. tabaci. The plants from Lamiaceae, Leguminosae, Asteraceae, Convolvulaceae and Malvaceae supported the higher whitefly densities than the other plant families in our survey results. Most of the surveyed species in the Lamiaceae family were damaged, and on more than 60% of these plants, the infection rate reached grade 4 (> 50 individuals per 100 cm2 leaf). Whitefly densities on these host plants varied widely. The whitefly occurred mostly on Mentha arvensis L., Schizonepeta tenuifolia Briq, Glycyrrhiza uralensis Fisch, Mentha canadensis L., Leonurus japonicus Houtt, Crotalaria pallida Ait., Chrysanthemum paludosum Poir, Achyranthes bidentata Blume, Oenothera erythrosepala Borb., Echium vulgare L., Medicago sativa L. and Ocimum basilicum L.. The infection rate on these plants was grade 4 (> 50 individuals per 100 cm2 leaf). Althaea rosea (L.) Cavan, Helianthus annuus L. and Nicotiana tabacum L. had somewhat lower densities per 100 cm2 leaf, but themselves being much larger than the former host plant species, whole plants supported large whitefly populations. H. annuus, Z. may and S. bicolor are widely planted in cotton production areas in northern China, and the economic losses caused by whitefly infection on these plants was relatively low. H. annuus can potentially be used as a trap crop, while Z. may and S. bicolor can be used as barrier crops to manage whiteflies in cotton fields. 参考文献 相似文献 引证文献