Wild Plant Populations Research Articles

Keragaman Serangga pada Tanaman Terong Ungu (Solanum melongena)

Indonesia as a mega-biodiversity country has a very diverse diversity of insects. The diversity of these insects has both beneficial and detrimental roles. The beneficial role of insects is that they act as pollinators, predators of pests and regulators of wild plant populations, while the detrimental roles of insects are plant-eating pests and disease vectors in plants. Insects have many habitats, one of which is purple eggplant or solanum melongena. Eggplant is cultivated for consumption and contains many ingredients. This plant is widely cultivated because it contains nutrients consisting of minerals and vitamins such as A, B and C, is low in calories and fat, and contains some protein, fiber and carbohydrates. This research is included in the quantitative descriptive research. This research is located on the agricultural land of PT. BIO, which is located at Jl. Banjar Sari No. 38, Dusun Awisurat, Tanjungsari, Kec. Tanjungsari, Sumedang Regency, West Java and takes place for 2 weeks in November 2022. Insect data collection uses insect nets and data that can be analyzed using relative abundance and Shannon-Wiener diversity index values. The insects found consisted of 6 orders namely Diptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Orthoptera, Mantodea and Hymenoptera. The six orders consist of 9 families. The eggplant planting area has a Shannon-Wiener diversity index value of 1.8 so that the planting area conditions are close to natural conditions with an index value of > 2. From the findings, insects can be classified into four groups based on their role in eggplant plants. Based on their roles, six pest species, three predator species, one pollinator species and one non-pest species. The abundance of insect species in eggplant planting fields has low criteria except for Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata which is moderate. The level of insect diversity in purple eggplant plantings was moderate, with the species that had the highest abundance being Henosepilachna vigintioctopunctata

Heritability and variance components of seed size in wild species: influences of breeding design and the number of genotypes tested.

Seed size affects individual fitness in wild plant populations, but its ability to evolve may be limited by low narrow-sense heritability (h2). h2 is estimated as the proportion of total phenotypic variance (σ2P) attributable to additive genetic variance (σ2A), so low values of h2 may be due to low σ2A (potentially eroded by natural selection) or to high values of the other factors that contribute to σ2P, such as extranuclear maternal effects (m2) and environmental variance effects (e2). Here, we reviewed the published literature and performed a meta-analysis to determine whether h2 of seed size is routinely low in wild populations and, if so, which components of σ2P contribute most strongly to total phenotypic variance. We analyzed available estimates of narrow-sense heritability (h2) of seed size, as well as the variance components contributing to these parameters. Maternal and environmental components of σ2P were significantly greater than σ2A, dominance, paternal, and epistatic components. These results suggest that low h2 of seed size in wild populations (the mean value observed in this study was 0.13) is due to both high values of maternally derived and environmental (residual) σ2, and low values of σ2A in seed size. The type of breeding design used to estimate h2 and m2 also influenced their values, with studies using diallel designs generating lower variance ratios than nested and other designs. e2 was not influenced by breeding design. For some breeding designs, the number of genotypes included in a study also influenced the resulting h2 and e2 estimates, but not m2. Our data support the view that a diallel design is better suited than the alternatives for the accurate estimation of σ2A in seed size due to its factorial design and the inclusion of reciprocal crosses, which allows the independent estimation of both additive and non-additive components of variance.

The Road ahead on Implementing Non-Invasive Genetic Monitoring of Multispecies in the Carpathians

Genetic monitoring represents a valuable tool for natural resource managers in managing and conserving wild populations of plants and animals. Even though there is a clear need to establish genetic monitoring programmes urgently, several barriers could occur depending on the region, such as lack of funding, gaps in national strategies, poor international collaboration, and transboundary issues. This review aims to analyze the genetic and non-genetic variables used in previous studies and projects to reveal the premises for conducting genetic studies on multispecies using existing knowledge. However, we found that sex marker, the number of samples per individual per year, and the rate of non-invasive samples were correlated with each other, as well as the number of sample types used and monitoring time. We show that developing nations are indeed challenged by the cost of large-scale and temporal coverage of the genetic studies. In contrast, high amounts of funds, complex methods, and national genetic monitoring programs are concentrated in well-developed countries, and the results are providing powerful tools for both species management and long-term conservation.

Development of a Predictive Model for Estimating Stocks of Medicinal Plants Using GIS Tools on the Example of the Middle Urals

Introduction. Intensive anthropogenic impact leads to a sharp reduction in natural reserves of many valuable plants. In this regard, previously obtained data on stocks quickly become obsolete. Therefore, the inventory of stocks of medicinal plants in the Russian Federation as a whole and the Middle Urals, in particular, remains an urgent problem. Unfortunately, modern technologies are not being implemented intensively enough in the domestic pharmacy. In our opinion, the reasons for this are expensive software, insufficient theoretical and practical skills to work on personal computers, as well as the specifics of the industry. Despite this, the use of geographic information systems (GIS) in pharmacy is quite promising [7–9]. The use of geographical information systems as a methodological basis will make it possible to map the areas of medicinal plants, to analyze plant communities not only for the territory of the Middle Urals at a high scientific level [1, 4].Aim. Development of predictive models for the distribution of medicinal plants based on a comprehensive assessment of the state of populations of wild medicinal plants of the Middle Urals.Materials and methods. The determination of raw material reserves of the studied species of medicinal plants was carried out on specific thickets according to the generally accepted methodology. The authenticity of raw materials was established by the macroscopic method when collecting samples of raw materials. In the course of the study, stocks of 4652 populations of 27 species of medicinal plants growing in the Middle Urals were studied. The collection of the material was carried out in the period from 2006 to 2019 during the survey of the administrative districts of the Perm Krai and the Sverdlovsk region. A comparative comprehensive assessment of resource and phytochemical indicators was studied using the example of 6 species of wild medicinal plants: Origanum vulgare L., Lamiaceae, Hypericum perforatum L., Hypericaceae and Hypericum maculatum Crantz, Hypericaceae, Tanacetum vulgare L., Asteraceae, Artemisia absinthium L., Asteraceae, Leonurus quinquelobatus Gilib., Lamiaceae, Achillea millefolium L., Asteraceae.Results and discussion. In the course of resource and phytochemical studies of representatives of the medicinal flora of the Middle Urals, a comprehensive assessment of the state of populations of wild medicinal plants – sources of medicinal plant raw materials (herba Origani vulgaris, herba Hyperici, flores Tanaceti vulgaris, herba Artemisiae absinthii, herba Achilleae millefolii and herba Leonuri) was carried out. A geospatial analysis of the distribution of medicinal plant populations by soil types within the regions of the Middle Urals was carried out. An algorithm for constructing predictive models of the distribution of populations of wild medicinal plants of the Middle Urals has been worked out. A set of maps of the "occurrence" of medicinal plants in the study area has been developed.Conclusion. The conducted complex of studies will allow updating information about the medicinal flora of the Middle Urals. Developed on the example of a number of representatives of the medicinal flora of the Middle Urals, the algorithm for constructing forecast maps can be used for any regions in the presence of appropriate topos.

The Microbially Extended Phenotype of Plants, a Keystone against Abiotic Stress

Abstract Background: Climate change affects every region across the globe with heterogeneous effects on local temperatures and precipitation patterns. In plants, sessile organisms, climate change imposes more drastic effects leading to loss of yield or even death. However, plants establish mutualistic interactions with microorganisms that boost plant tolerance against abiotic stresses or strengthen the plant immune system against pathogens, thus, enhancing their survival and fitness. Moreover, in the wild, microbial endophytes provide important ecosystem services. Purpose and scope: Little we know about the mechanisms of response against the adverse effects of climate change on natural populations of wild plants and even less about the potential role played by microbial biostimulants. In this article, we review the effects of biostimulants on plant responses against abiotic stresses, with a particular focus on the role of mycorrhizas and leaf endophytes. Results: We have reviewed the effects of the main abiotic stresses in plants, the mechanisms that plants use to face these abiotic challenges, and the interaction plant-biostimulant-abiotic stress, highlighting the primary responses and parameters to evaluate different plant responses. Conclusion: Abiotic stresses can check the phenotypic plasticity of plants and also trigger a complex and heterogeneous array of responses to face different abiotic stresses, and beneficial microorganisms do play an essential role in enhancing such responses. Our laboratory has initiated a project to characterise microbial populations associated with plants from wild areas and analyse their potential role in aiding the plants to cope with abiotic stresses.

Useful Plants from the Wild to Home Gardens: An Analysis of Home Garden Ethnobotany in Contexts of Habitat Conversion and Land Use Change in Jeju, South Korea

Home gardens are often the most agrobiodiverse sites in the anthropogenic environment, a space where crops and other useful plants are often transplanted from other components of the landscape. This study investigates the plant composition of home gardens and their usefulness in 12 small towns and villages—with three of these chosen as the focus for in-depth research—situated in the Jeju province of South Korea. The goal of the research is to explore their roles in local ethnobotany in the context of habitat conversion and land use change. The 131 home gardens surveyed in these villages yielded 164 species- and variety-level plant taxa (52 wild, 109 domesticated, and 3 introduced), of which 95 were useful plant taxa (39 wild, 55 domesticated, and 1 introduced). Use of home garden plants was predominantly for food and medicinal purposes. Home garden plant usefulness was more multi-functional and thus more versatile than practices associated with these plants in non-garden habitats. Plant diversity in home gardens was supported by the presence of nearby forest and grassland areas. Interview data indicate that plant users were motivated to transplant wild plants into their home gardens in order to secure a consistent supply, given decreases in wild plant populations in the last 15–20 years. The loss and overharvesting of forests and other wild plant habitats have caused the decrease in these plant populations. Underlying drivers of the habitat conversion and land use change influencing increased wild plant transplants to home gardens are local livelihood and lifestyle changes, including the earlier expansion of commercial agriculture beginning in the late 1960s and the accelerated growth of tourism since 2000.

Seedling performance, phenotypic traits and growing media for domestication of Lilium polyphyllum

Societal Impact StatementMedicinal plants are a key component of primary health care for much of the world's population. However, overharvesting and indiscriminate collection from the wild threatens medicinal plant populations with extinction. One conservation solution to preserve biodiversity is to domesticate and cultivate threatened medicinal plants, in order to provide a sustainable source close to the local populations who use the species. Here, we present work to cultivate the critically endangered (CR) medicinal herb, Lilium polyphyllum. To reduce unsustainable wild harvesting, we identify different climatic zones, habitats and growing media, which will aid domestication of this endangered species and help local populations to cultivate the plant near its natural habitat.Summary Lilium polyphyllum (Liliaceae) is a perennial, bulbous medicinal herb, used in more than 30 Ayurvedic medicinal formulations as an aphrodisiac, galactagogue and anti‐ageing agent. The species is categorized as critically endangered on the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) Red List due to habitat degradation and unregulated collection. To alleviate the pressure on wild populations and increase conservation, the IUCN Red List recommends its domestication in suitable habitats. The present study was carried out over three consecutive years to evaluate the performance and survival of the species in two agro‐climatic zones in Garhwal Himalaya, Uttarakhand, India. L. polyphyllum seedlings were raised and transplanted into different growing mediums and treatments (control, manure, litter and polyhouse) in both temperate (Pothivasa, 2200 m a.s.l.) and alpine (Tungnath, 3600 m a.s.l.) regions to identify a suitable site and or habitat for future mass production. Experiments revealed yield and performance in polyhouse beds were greatest in the temperate region. Plant survival was also high in polyhouse beds in both the temperate (81%) and alpine (40%) sites. Phenotypic and growth traits of plants grown from bulbs collected from the wild population of the temperate site performed better in both morphology and in yield than those in the alpine site after one growing season. Cocopeat and sand may be responsible for the improved growth of plants. In conclusion, plant survival rate, growth performance and yield under polyhouse conditions were higher in lower altitudes (temperate regions), which may provide a production centre for seedlings to interested farmers in other regions.

Role of Wild Food Environments for Cultural Identity, Food Security, and Dietary Quality in a Rural American State

Wild foods are primary components of traditional and Indigenous food systems that are valued for food security while being vulnerable to global change. This case study examines practices, experiences, and perceptions associated with wild food environments through a household survey in the rural American state of Montana. Findings highlight that wild food environments contribute to cultural identity, sense of place, food security, and dietary quality of surveyed households while being vulnerable to loss of traditional ecological knowledge as well as climate and land-use change. Of the 182 informants, 80% hunt, 83% fish, and 68% forage wild botanicals. More than half of the informants agreed that wild food procurement is part of their cultural identity (66%). Collectively, informants procure more than 172 wild food species with the most prevalent being deer, waterfowl, elk, trout, bass, a range of berries, mushrooms, and botanicals used medicinally. Participants have a multidimensional value system where wild food procurement is valued for diets, recreation, family time, spirituality, and connection to the environment. The majority of participants agreed that the consumption of wild foods contributes to the nutritional quality (87%) and diversity (82%) of their diets while lowering food costs (59%). At least half of the informants reported observing changes in climate patterns over the past decade including increased temperature (50%) and more extreme and variable weather patterns (38%) that they perceive are impacting wild food environments including shifts in wild game, fish, and edible plant populations. Based on findings, we support that wild food environments and associated bio-cultural resources are a critical place to understand, conserve, and promote for nutrition. We thus advance the concept of “conservation for nutrition”. Community engagement, education, and policy plans are called for to promote wild food environments toward supporting sustainable diets and planetary health.

Can rolling composite wildflower blocks increase biodiversity in agricultural landscapes better than wildflowers strips?

Abstract Biodiversity and abundance of wildlife has dramatically declined in agricultural landscapes. Sown, short‐lived wildflower (WF) strips along the margins of crop fields are a widespread and often subsidised in agri‐environmental schemes, intended to enhance biodiversity, provide refuges for wild plant and arthropod populations and to provide ecosystem services to crops. Meanwhile, WF elements are also criticised, since their functionality decreases with plant succession, the removal of aged WF strip poses an ecological trap for the attracted arthropod populations and only common and mobile species benefit. Further, insects in WF strips are impacted by pesticides from agricultural fields due to shared boundaries with crop fields and by edge effects. The performance of the measure could be improved by combining several WF strips of different successional stages, each harbouring a unique community of plants and arthropods, into persistent, composite WF block, where successional stages exist in parallel. Monitoring data on many taxa in the literature shows, that a third of species are temporarily present in an ageing WF stip, thus offering composite WF blocks should increase cumulative species richness by 28%–39% compared to annual richness in WF strips. Persistence of composite WF blocks would offer reliable refuge for animal and plant populations, also supporting their predators and herbivores. Further, WF blocks have less boundaries to crops compared to WF strips of the same area, and are less impacted by edge effects and pesticides. Policy implications. Here I suggest a change of conservation practice changing from successional WF strips to composite WF blocks. By regular removal and replacement of aged WF strips either within the block (rotational) or at its margins (rolling), the habitat heterogeneity in composite WF block could be perpetuated. Rolling composite WF blocks change locations over years, and the original location can be reconverted to arable land while a nearby WF block is still available to wildlife. A change in agricultural schemes would be necessary, since in some European countries clustered WF strips are explicitly not subsidised.

Medicinal flora of the Middle Urals – a prospective source of obtaining medicines

Introduction. Medicinal plant raw materials are one of the most important sources of herbal remedies used both for the prevention and treatment of a number of diseases [1, 2]. Even with the development of modern science and chemistry, medicinal plant raw materials are widely used in both folk and official medicine. The advantage of medicinal plants is their wide range of biological activity, low toxicity and the possibility of long-term use without significant side effects. Human economic activity has a noticeable negative effect on the condition of wild-growing plants: their stocks are decreasing, and some species disappear altogether. Today, given the high level of development of industry and agriculture, the procurement of raw materials for wild medicinal plants is not always possible. Information on the quantitative assessment of the raw material base of wild medicinal plants in the Middle Urals, the content of biologically active substances in medicinal plant raw materials is partially outdated, which determines the need for their systemic resource study and chemical-pharmacognostic study.Aim. Comprehensive assessment of the state of populations of wild medicinal plants in the Middle Urals.Materials and methods. Determination of stocks of raw materials of the studied species of medicinal plants was carried out on specific thickets according to the generally accepted method. The authenticity of the raw materials was established by a macroscopic method when collecting raw material samples. In the course of the study, samples of medicinal plant materials of 5 types were prepared. The determination and assessment of the main indicators of the good quality of medicinal plant raw materials (the content of active and extractive substances, moisture in the mass upon drying, total ash and ash insoluble in a 10% solution of hydrochloric acid) was carried out according to the methods and requirements of the State Pharmacopoeia of the Russian Federation XIV edition. In the raw materials Artemisiae absinthii herba and Leonuri herba, the amount of extractives was determined by the gravimetric method. The quantitative assessment of the content of essential oil in the samples of Origani vulgaris herba and Tanaceti vulgaris flores was carried out by the method of hydrodistillation. To determine the quantitative content of the sum of flavonoids in Hyperici herba, Artemisiae absinthii herba, Leonuri herba and the sum of flavonoids and phenolcarboxylic acids in Tanaceti vulgaris flores, a spectrophotometric method was used.Results and discussion. In the course of resource and phytochemical studies of representatives of the medicinal flora of the Middle Urals, a comprehensive assessment of the state of populations of wild medicinal plants – sources of medicinal plant raw materials (Origani vulgaris herba, Hyperici herba, Tanaceti vulgaris flores, Artemisiae absinthii herba and Leonuri herba) was carried out. The results are included in the electronic inventory of wild medicinal plants of the Middle Urals.Conclusion. The conducted complex of studies will allow updating information about the medicinal flora of the Middle Urals in order to use raw materials for the creation of medicines.

Does Gene Editing in the Wild Require Broad Public Deliberation?

How strong is the argument for requiring public deliberation by very large publics-at national or even global levels-before moving forward with efforts to use gene editing on wild populations of plants or animals? Should there be a general moratorium on any such efforts until such broad public deliberation has been successfully carried out? This article works toward recommendations about the need for and general framing of broad public deliberation. It finds that broad public deliberation is highly desirable but not flatly necessary before moving forward with any local cases of gene editing in the wild. It also finds that broad public deliberation would be most helpful in generating very general guidance and is unlikely to be appropriate for specific cases. Broad public deliberation is most helpful for cases that involve higher levels of uncertainty and moral ambiguity, but separating out a distinct class of cases for deliberation is not yet possible.

Migration without interbreeding: Evolutionary history of a highly selfing Mediterranean grass inferred from whole genomes.

Wild plant populations show extensive genetic subdivision and are far from the ideal of panmixia which permeates population genetic theory. Understanding the spatial and temporal scale of population structure is therefore fundamental for empirical population genetics – and of interest in itself, as it yields insights into the history and biology of a species. In this study we extend the genomic resources for the wild Mediterranean grass Brachypodium distachyon to investigate the scale of population structure and its underlying history at whole‐genome resolution. A total of 86 accessions were sampled at local and regional scales in Italy and France, which closes a conspicuous gap in the collection for this model organism. The analysis of 196 accessions, spanning the Mediterranean from Spain to Iraq, suggests that the interplay of high selfing and seed dispersal rates has shaped genetic structure in B. distachyon. At the continental scale, the evolution in B. distachyon is characterized by the independent expansion of three lineages during the Upper Pleistocene. Today, these lineages may occur on the same meadow yet do not interbreed. At the regional scale, dispersal and selfing interact and maintain high genotypic diversity, thus challenging the textbook notion that selfing in finite populations implies reduced diversity. Our study extends the population genomic resources for B. distachyon and suggests that an important use of this wild plant model is to investigate how selfing and dispersal, two processes typically studied separately, interact in colonizing plant species.

Genome features of common vetch (Vicia sativa) in natural habitats.

Wild plants are often tolerant to biotic and abiotic stresses in their natural environments, whereas domesticated plants such as crops frequently lack such resilience. This difference is thought to be due to the high levels of genome heterozygosity in wild plant populations and the low levels of heterozygosity in domesticated crop species. In this study, common vetch ( Vicia sativa ) was used as a model to examine this hypothesis. The common vetch genome (2n = 14) was estimated as 1.8 Gb in size. Genome sequencing produced a reference assembly that spanned 1.5 Gb, from which 31,146 genes were predicted. Using this sequence as a reference, 24,118 single nucleotide polymorphisms were discovered in 1243 plants from 12 natural common vetch populations in Japan. Common vetch genomes exhibited high heterozygosity at the population level, with lower levels of heterozygosity observed at specific genome regions. Such patterns of heterozygosity are thought to be essential for adaptation to different environments. The resources generated in this study will provide insights into de novo domestication of wild plants and agricultural enhancement.

Metagenomic Studies of Viruses in Weeds and Wild Plants: A Powerful Approach to Characterise Variable Virus Communities.

High throughput sequencing (HTS) has revolutionised virus detection and discovery, allowing for the untargeted characterisation of whole viromes. Viral metagenomics studies have demonstrated the ubiquity of virus infection – often in the absence of disease symptoms – and tend to discover many novel viruses, highlighting the small fraction of virus biodiversity described to date. The majority of the studies using high-throughput sequencing to characterise plant viromes have focused on economically important crops, and only a small number of studies have considered weeds and wild plants. Characterising the viromes of wild plants is highly relevant, as these plants can affect disease dynamics in crops, often by acting as viral reservoirs. Moreover, the viruses in unmanaged systems may also have important effects on wild plant populations and communities. Here, we review metagenomic studies on weeds and wild plants to show the benefits and limitations of this approach and identify knowledge gaps. We consider key genomics developments that are likely to benefit the field in the near future. Although only a small number of HTS studies have been performed on weeds and wild plants, these studies have already discovered many novel viruses, demonstrated unexpected trends in virus distributions, and highlighted the potential of metagenomics as an approach.

A quick glance at noteworthy articles for September 2021

A quick glance at noteworthy articles for September 2021

The impact of climate change on disease in wild plant populations and communities

AbstractDisease in wild plant populations has received less attention from plant pathologists than diseases of managed plants in agriculture, horticulture, and plantation forestry. Plant ecologists, however, have contributed much to an understanding of how pathogens, other plant–microbe interactions, and arthropods affect population structure and community assemblages of wild plants. Consequentially, this lack of attention has meant that the potential impacts of climate change on disease in wild plant populations are less appreciated than on major food crops, where modelling of such impacts is now well established. However, plant ecologists and soil microbiologists have long studied long‐term climatic effects through a combination of observational studies and manipulative field experiments. Here, strategies are discussed to bring together these different perspectives into an integrated approach to address the future impacts of climate change on plant, environmental, and ecosystem health. The approach taken will be first to note the temporal and spatial scales that can be considered, ranging from microhabitats to whole biomes, review what is known about climate change impacts on natural vegetation, referring briefly to climate change impacts on crop diseases, and then what is known about impacts in wild populations at both the individual species and also the ecosystem level. The more general area of plant–soil–microbe–pathogen interactions is covered as one of the more important areas where climate change may have much impact on plant health through indirect rather than direct effects. The special cases of introduced invasive plants and the connectedness of agricultural systems with the wider landscape are discussed.

ДИКИЕ ВИДЫ DAUCUS L. В СЕЛЕКЦИИ И СОХРАНЕНИИ EX SITU В УСЛОВИЯХ МОСКОВСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

Wild ancestors and close relatives provide valuable genetic resources for improving cultivated carrots (Daucus carota L. subsp. Sativus (Hoffm.) Arcang.). Remaining knowledge gaps in taxonomy, distribution and characteristics of commercially valuable traits limit their wide usage in selection and negatively affect ex situ (gene bank) and in situ (natural habitat) conservation planning. Since some populations of wild plants are adapted to extreme climatic conditions, unfavorable soils, pests and diseases, they have significant potential to contribute to selection to solve emerging and foreseeable future problems in the agrotechnology of table carrots. The aim of the study is to study wild species of Daucus genus by morphological characteristics in the Moscow region in order to expand their usage in selection and ex situ preservation. According to the research results, it was found that the trait “anthocyanin colour of the leaf petiole” of D. setifolius (Turkey, Antalya) is a marker when hybridizing with cultivated carrots. The marker trait “anthocyanin colour of flowers” was recorded in D. carota L. var. maximus, D. carota (Tajikistan), D. carota (Uzbekistan, Kashkadarya region). D. carota subsp. halophilus is a genetic source for resistance to salt stress. In the future, the formation of Daucus germ plasm collections and ex situ preservation contribute to the expanded usage of wild species in selection for resistance of cultivated table carrots to bio- and abiostress.

Measurements of lethal and nonlethal inbreeding depression inform the de novo domestication of Silphium integrifolium.

Inbreeding depression, or the reduction in fitness of progeny with related parents, has the potential to adversely affect the long-term viability of both wild and captive plant populations. Silphium integrifolium, a prairie plant native to the central United States, has been identified as a potential candidate for domestication as a perennial oilseed crop. Little is known about the potential for inbreeding depression in this species, but it is expected to be nonnegligible because S. integrifolium is both perennial and self-incompatible. Here, we measure lethal inbreeding depression expressed through embryo deaths, and nonlethal inbreeding depression expressed through changes in vigor and fitness phenotypes of progeny. First, we made controlled crosses among related and unrelated individuals to determine the effect of two different levels of inbreeding on seed production. Then, we grew inbred and outbred progeny from this population to reproductive maturity and measured 11 key traits. We found that within an improved S. integrifolium population, individuals carried an average of slightly less than one lethal allele per gamete. In progeny, significant inbreeding depression was observed in at least one family for eight of the 11 measured traits. Inbreeding depression is likely to be an important challenge to S. integrifolium domestication, reducing overall population fecundity and values for important phenotypes. These effects may grow worse as selection reduces effective population size. We recommend several strategies for S. integrifolium breeding to help mitigate these problems.

Modeling scale up of anthropogenic impacts from individual pollinator behavior to pollination systems.

Understanding how anthropogenic disturbances affect plant–pollinator systems has important implications for the conservation of biodiversity and ecosystem functioning. Previous laboratory studies show that pesticides and pathogens, which have been implicated in the rapid global decline of pollinators over recent years, can impair behavioral processes needed for pollinators to adaptively exploit floral resources and effectively transfer pollen among plants. However, the potential for these sublethal stressor effects on pollinator–plant interactions at the individual level to scale up into changes to the dynamics of wild plant and pollinator populations at the system level remains unclear. We developed an empirically parameterized agent‐based model of a bumblebee pollination system called SimBee to test for effects of stressor‐induced decreases in the memory capacity and information processing speed of individual foragers on bee abundance (scenario 1), plant diversity (scenario 2), and bee–plant system stability (scenario 3) over 20 virtual seasons. Modeling of a simple pollination network of a bumblebee and four co‐flowering bee‐pollinated plant species indicated that bee decline and plant species extinction events could occur when only 25% of the forager population showed cognitive impairment. Higher percentages of impairment caused 50% bee loss in just five virtual seasons and system‐wide extinction events in less than 20 virtual seasons under some conditions. Plant species extinctions occurred regardless of bee population size, indicating that stressor‐induced changes to pollinator behavior alone could drive species loss from plant communities. These findings indicate that sublethal stressor effects on pollinator behavioral mechanisms, although seemingly insignificant at the level of individuals, have the cumulative potential in principle to degrade plant–pollinator species interactions at the system level. Our work highlights the importance of an agent‐based modeling approach for the identification and mitigation of anthropogenic impacts on plant–pollinator systems.

Spatiotemporal seed transfer zones as an efficient restoration strategy in response to climate change

AbstractRestoration of wild plant populations in a changing environment is not a simple task, and it becomes increasingly complex and challenging in the context of climate change. In the present study, a spatiotemporal approach was used to delimit provisional seed transfer zones (STZs), for restoration activities involving two wild perennial grasses in Argentina. Ecogeographical land characterization maps were built specifically for the two species of Trichloris genus for the present bioclimatic conditions to define the different STZs; then, they were projected for two future climate scenarios (2050 and 2070). This allowed us to identify populations occurring in cells that underwent changes in ecogeographical categories, potential future beneficiaries of germplasm, and populations that could be used as corresponding source populations under the present conditions. Finally, the conservation status of populations was surveyed and a germplasm collection for future restoration activities was proposed. For the 2050 scenario, for Trichloris crinita, 32 potential beneficiary populations belonging to nine changing categories were identified, whereas for Trichloris pluriflora, four changing categories determined seven beneficiary populations. The number of changing categories and, consequently, the beneficiary populations increased in the 2070 scenario in both species. Several potential seed source populations are already stored in Argentine germplasm banks, but there is little representation of potential beneficiary populations. Spatial locations of still non‐conserved populations, both seed sources and beneficiaries, were prioritized for future germplasm collecting missions. This novel approach used for Trichloris spp. can also be adopted for other species for collection and/or restoration purposes in the light of climate change.