Yellow Bush Research Articles

Morphometric Studies of Accessions of Duranta erecta L. (Vebernaceae) Complex in Nigeria

Studies were conducted to broaden the systematic knowledge of the genus Duranta erecta L., to contribute a better understanding of their taxonomic and evolutionary relationships. Previous studies have pointed out complexity in the taxonomy and nomenclature of the species. A total of 224 samples were collected from six geo-political zones of Nigeria, and were grouped into 38 accessions. The plants were compared using 21 morphological characters involving qualitative and quantitative characteristics. Multivariate analyses such as Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Cluster Analysis (CA) were employed to evaluate the intraspecific variabilities. The results showed that all the plants exhibited significant differences in all the quantitative attributes with the variegated type having the longest and widest leaves ranging from 12.20 cm and 5.08 cm, respectively. The qualitative characters delimited the plants accessions into distinctive groups of eight morphological forms namely; green bush, yellow bush, variegated yellow, variegated white, variegated yellow double, plain yellow, broad green, thorny green type. The PCA showed that leaf length, leaf width, internode length and length of inflorescence were some of the quantitative characters while leaf shape, leaf colour, leaf margin, flower colour and leaf apex are some of the qualitative traits that accounted for the delimitation. Unpaired Weighted Group Multivariate Analysis (UPGMA) using the Euclidian separated the 38 accessions into two major clusters; cluster I (flower producing) and cluster II (non-flower producing) Duranta erecta. Morphological variations and field observations suggested that there could be gene flow among the accessions of Duranta erecta studied and gene flow is an important factor in population genetics, shaping the diversity of species.

Systematic implication of GC-MS analysis of secondary metabolites in <em>Duranta erecta</em> L. Forms in Nigeria

Duranta erecta L. is one of the most important plants used in landscaping with many medicinal properties though not studied well. Several reports have been previously published on the variations in this species leading to various taxa names. The methanol extracts were analysed by GC-MS in order to identify specific compounds unique to the different forms that exists. Eighty-nine compounds were scored for the eight forms, carboxylic acids and alcohol occupied the most abundant compounds and ketone, aldehyde, alkane, alkene, alkyne, nitrile, ester, amide, epoxide and heterocyclic compounds were also detected. All the eight forms revealed similarity percentage value lower than 50% and the highest value for the compounds was observed between variegated yellow and variegated yellow double (VY X VYD 32.14%) and the lowest between variegated white and thorny green (VW X TG 14.08%). The Cluster Analysis (CA) revealed that all the variegated forms cluster together while the broad green, yellow bush and green bush form another cluster. The thorny green remains in isolation from other forms and standing as the major cluster two. On PC1 highest score was correlated with TG form while others had values with negative scores. In component 2 (PC2), highest score is correlated with YV, VW, VYD and VY which are morphologically similar while others had negative scores. GC-MS was successfully employed in this study to classify the forms therein proposing as hybrids using the multivariate analysis.

Lowest Lethality Dose (LDLO) of Various Seeds When Exposed to Detergent

This study determines the lowest lethal dose (LDLO) of detergent on various seeds. Plants provide food and countless ecological benefits but oversight in wastewater release contaminates natural and agricultural vegetation. Due to widespread pollution, plant survival is in danger, making food scarcity and climate change imminent threats. Detergent is a common pollutant in the environment which greatly contributes to water pollution and harms plants. A useful index for environmental testing is the LDLO, the lowest lethality dose that will begin to inhibit growth. In this study, a representative selection of seeds, cabbage (Brassica oleracea), beets (Beta vulgaris), yellow bush bean (Phaseolus vulgaris), and turnips (Brassica rapa subsp) are exposed to various concentrations of detergent ranging from .5 mL to .1 mL in an attempt to find the LDLO of detergent of each species. Results showed that cabbage seeds had the highest tolerance to detergent at .25 ml of detergent diluted in .25ml of water and beet seeds had the lowest tolerance at <.025 mL of detergent. Visual observations showed that the outer layer of bush beans became an abnormal shade of black from its usual light yellow hue. The results of this experiment reveal that cabbage seeds can tolerate higher doses of detergent as demonstrated by higher germination rates. The study suggests that cabbages can survive in areas exposed to higher concentrations of detergent. However, beets should not be planted in areas containing even small traces of detergent. 

A Study on the Larvicidal Properties of Ethanolic Leaf Extracts of lupinus arboreus (Yellow Bush) On Mosquito

This work investigated the larvicidal properties of the leaf extracts of yellow bush (Lupinus arboreus) on mosquito. The leaves of Lupinus arboreus and mosquito larvae were collected from Ihiagwa and Nekede, Owerri, Imo State respectively using sterile containers. The leaves were washed, air dried and ground into powdery form. Fifty grams (50 g) of the sample was soaked in 250 ml of ethanol and shaken at regular intervals. After 48 hours of soaking, the percolates were then filtered using whatman filter paper and the solvent (ethanol) evaporated using rotary evaporator to obtain ethanol extract of Lupinus arboreus. Phytochemical studies were also conducted qualitatively to identify the presence of bioactive chemical constituents. The results showed that all the mosquito larvae were weakened after 10-20 minutes of observations at different concentrations of 20 ml/15 ml, 40 ml/15 ml, 80 ml/15 ml and 160 ml/15 ml obtained from stock solutions made from 5 g of extract in 15 ml of distilled water. The mortality rate of the larvae after 24 hours at different concentrations ranged from 2-10. The highest mortality rate occurred at 160 ml/15 ml. The mortality rate of mosquito larvae after 48 hours ranged from 5-15. The concentration of 160 ml/15 ml again recorded the highest mortality rate of 15 mosquito larvae while 20 ml/15 ml concentration had the least mortality of 5. Phytochemical constituents such as glycosides, flavonoids and steroids were abundantly present, while phenol and alkaloids were also present but in trace amounts. The result obtained in this study has given hope in the race to find an effective, eco-friendly means of controlling or killing mosquito larvae. Therefore, Lupinus arboreus could be used at high concentration in controlling mosquito larvae.

The Nigerian Chikadoma Plant

Introduction: A plant commonly referred to as Chikadoma in Nigeria, yellow bush in English, is traditionally used for the treatment of microbial infections and inflammation. Objectives: This study evaluated a novel gel formulation of the Nigerian Chikadoma plant extract for its topical antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activities against pure clinical isolates (Bacillus subtilis, Salmonella paratyphi, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, and Aspergillus niger), and carrageenan-induced edema on experimental rodents, respectively. Materials and Methods: Concentration of 1% w/w Carbopol-934 was employed as the gelling agent. The physiochemical parameters of formulations (viscosity, pH, spreadability, extrudability, and stability) were examined for a month to ensure that when applied on the skin, it never produced any skin irritation/erythema/edema. Results: The physiochemical and stability assessment of the gel formulation showed viscosity, pH, spreadability, extrudability, and stability within standard specifications. The antimicrobial studies showed activity against some of the test microorganisms, while the carrageenan-induced edema was inhibited. Both showed high degree of reproducibility. Conclusion: The formulated gel of Nigerian Chikadoma plant extract significantly possesses herbal anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial effects, and the gel preparation was stable under normal storage environment and did not manifest skin irritation/erythema and edema when applied on the skin.

Propagation and seedling growth of some species used as ornamental hedges in landscape design

Propagation and seedling growth characteristics of five plant species: Duranta repens (Yellow bush), Hamelia patens (Fire bush), Ficus retusa (Yellow ficus), Buxus sempervirens (Boxwood / West indies) and Acalypha wilkesiana (Copper leaf), were examined in the nursery as indices of suitability for use as hedge plants in the landscape. The experiment was laid out in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with four replicates where the treatments were the plant species. Cuttings were cultivated in polyethylene pots filled with top soil medium. Data collected included: time to rooting, rooting percentage, number of leaves/plant, seedling height and stem girth. They were subjected to analysis of variance and means separated using Least Significant Difference (LSD) at 5% probability level. It took Acalypha wilkesiana , Duranta repens and Hamelia patens species shortest time (21 days) to root while Buxus sempervirens and Ficus retusa took the longest time (28 days) for rooting. Duranta repens species produced the highest rooting percentage (80.5%) at 28 days after planting and the highest number of leaves/plant (15leaves). This study revealed Duranta repens as the easiest to propagate among these species. All plant species evaluated except Ficus retusa are easily propagated in the nursery thus indicating their potential suitability for commercial production in the nursery and use as hedge plants. Duranta repens and Buxus sempervirens are recommended as hedge plant choices based on their ease of propagation and early establishment.

Wandering and Wildflowering: Walking with Women into Intimacy and Ecological Action

Wandering and Wildflowering: Walking with Women into Intimacy and Ecological Action

Chemically Induced Flow in Contaminated Unsaturated Soil

Core Ideas Chemically induced water movement in unsaturated sand is due mainly to matric gradients. A secondary cause is osmotic gradients. Physico‐chemical (matric) and osmotic effects were included in Richards’ equation. Mechanistic modeling and thermodynamic analyses support results on net flow direction. Sensitivity analysis indicates hydraulic parameters as the main contributors to observations. Laboratory experiments and numerical modeling were conducted to assess the effects of glycerol concentration gradients on water flow through an unsaturated loamy sand (Yellow bush sand, Australia) at 46% glycerol mass fraction and 12.5% volumetric water content. When the contaminated and uncontaminated experimental soil sections were placed into contact, two opposite mechanisms were found to drive the flow: (i) the matric potential gradient affected by concentration‐dependent surface tension, viscosity, and density repelled contaminated water; and (ii) the osmotic potential gradient had an opposite effect. Experiments demonstrated that the tested sand did not exhibit the complete semipermeable characteristic necessary to induce pure osmotic flow. Rather, physicochemical effects caused by dissolved glycerol were more relevant for water flow than those induced by the osmotic potential. We confirmed our experimental finding by numerical modeling that explicitly accounted for these effects compared with our experiments and earlier experiments conducted with 7% butanol–water mixtures as benchmarks. Our results were finally confirmed by a thermodynamic interpretation of matric and osmotic potentials. Experiments suggest that a rapid transient condition occurred on the first day and that equilibrium was recovered only after >60 d. The results support the hypothesis that chemically induced water flow in the vadose zone is contributed mainly by matric and only secondarily by osmotic effects, which have displaced 3 to 10% water during the initial transient condition. Predictive tools of contaminant hydrology in unsaturated soil may have to account for the osmotic effects in particular applications that involve soil with high osmotic efficiency.

RUG WEAVING AND VEGETABLE DYEING IN BEYPAZARI

Ozet Dokuma eski el sanatlarimizdan biridir ve ortunme, giyinme, soguktan korunma gibi ihtiyaclar dogrultusunda kumas dokumaciligi dogmustur. Daha sonra Anadolu’da farkli teknik, motif ve kompozisyonlar gelistirilerek Turk dokumalarinin bugunku zenginligi ortaya cikmistir. Turk dokuma tekniklerinin en yaygin olanlarindan biri kilim dokumalardir. Arastirmada; Beypazari Halk Egitim Merkezi’nde dokunan kilimler ve yun kilim ipliklerinin boyanmasinda kullanilan bitkiler incelenmistir. Beypazari’nda yoreye ait isimlerle adlandirilan Citimel, Basakli, Kurtagzi, Beypazari, Avsar ve Ejderha desenli yolluk kilimler dokunmaktadir. Bunlardan en fazla kullanilani “Citimel” diye adlandirilan yolluk kilimdir. Kilimlerde kullanilan ipliklerin boyanmasinda; palamut tozu, sari cali, pinar otu, ceviz kabugu, boyalik otu ve indigo kullanilmaktadir. Anahtar Kelimeler: Kilim, kilim dokumaciligi, bitkisel boyacilik, Beypazari.

Partner choice in Medicago Truncatula – Sinorhizobium symbiosis

In nitrogen-fixing symbiosis, plant sanctions against ineffective bacteria have been demonstrated in previous studies performed on soybean and yellow bush lupin, both developing determinate nodules with Bradyrhizobium sp. strains. In this study, we focused on the widely studied symbiotic association Medicago truncatula-Sinorhizobium meliloti, which forms indeterminate nodules. Using two strains isolated from the same soil and displaying different nitrogen fixation phenotypes on the same fixed plant line, we analysed the existence of both partner choice and plant sanctions by performing split-root experiments. By measuring different parameters such as the nodule number, the nodule biomass per nodule and the number of viable rhizobia per nodule, we showed that M. truncatula is able to select rhizobia based on recognition signals, both before and after the nitrogen fixation step. However, no sanction mechanism, described as a decrease in rhizobia fitness inside the nodules, was detected. Consequently, even if partner choice seems to be widespread among legumes, sanction of non-effective rhizobia might not be universal.

Wood Decomposition Following a Perennial Lupine Die-Off: A 3-Year Litterbag Study

Woody debris is a conspicuous feature of many ecosystems and can be a large pool of stored carbon and nutrients. In the California coastal prairie, yellow bush lupines (Lupinus arboreus) experience mass die-offs, producing large quantities of woody detritus. Live lupines are fed upon by the stem-boring caterpillars of the ghost moth, Hepialus californicus, and outbreaks of ghost moths are one factor contributing to lupine die-offs. A common detritivore, the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber, frequently inhabits ghost moth tunnels in lupine wood. We used a litterbag experiment to test the hypothesis that H. californicus increases decomposition of woody lupine detritus by facilitating its use by P. scaber. Isopod access to wood was crossed with simulated ghost moth boring to measure the independent and interactive effects of these two arthropods on total mass loss, as well as on carbon, nitrogen, and lignin dynamics. Isopods initially colonized litterbags but were not more abundant on L. arboreus logs that had simulated ghost moth boring than on logs without boring. They were rare in litterbags collected at 12 months or later and had no effect on wood decomposition. Simulated ghost moth boring increased wood decomposition (P = 0.0021), from 50.5 to 55.1% mass loss after 3 years. This effect was likely due to increased surface area for microbial utilization of the wood. Lupine wood had an initial lignin content of 14.70 ± 0.67%, but lignin did not appear to decompose during the 3 years of this study, and by the end of the experiment accounted for 32.6 ± 1.12% of the remaining wood. Neither ghost moth boring nor isopod access affected lignin loss. Lupine wood from a die-off in 2002 was estimated to have contained three times more nitrogen per unit area than the yearly input of annual grass litter. The slow decomposition of lupine wood, however, restricts the rate at which nitrogen is released into the soil and results in the storage of carbon and nutrients in lupine wood for several years following such die-offs.

(Z,E)-6,8-heneicosadien-11-one: major sex-pheromone component of Orgyia vetusta (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae)

The western tussock moth, Orgyia vetusta Boisduval (Lepidoptera: Lymantriidae), formerly known as Hemerocampa vetusta (Boisduval), occurs primarily in coastal areas of central California and south into Mexico, with occasional records east of the central Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys (Ferguson 1978). Two biotypes, feeding on perennial yellow bush lupine, Lupinus arboreus Sims (Fabaceae), or silver dune lupine, Lupinus chamissonis Eschsch. (this study), and on California live oak, Quercus agrifolia Née (Fagaceae), respectively, have been recognized and were originally considered two separate species (Edwards 1881; Ferguson 1978). Various fruit and nut trees have also been reported as host plants (Atkins 1958)

Outcrossing rate and inbreeding depression in the perennial yellow bush lupine, Lupinus arboreus (Fabaceae)

Little is known about the breeding systems of perennial Lupinus species. We provide information about the breeding system of the perennial yellow bush lupine, Lupinus arboreus, specifically determining self-compatibility, outcrossing rate, and level of inbreeding depression. Flowers are self-compatible, but autonomous self-fertilization rarely occurs; thus selfed seed are a product of facilitated selfing. Based on four isozyme loci from 34 maternal progeny arrays of seeds we estimated an outcrossing rate of 0.78. However, when we accounted for differential maturation of selfed seeds, the outcrossing rate at fertilization was lower, ∼0.64. Fitness and inbreeding depression of 11 selfed and outcrossed families were measured at four stages: seed maturation, seedling emergence, seedling survivorship, and growth at 12 wk. Cumulative inbreeding depression across all four life stages averaged 0.59, although variation existed between families for the magnitude of inbreeding depression. Inbreeding depression was not manifest uniformly across all four life stages. Outcrossed flowers produced twice as many seeds as selfed flowers, but the mean performance of selfed and outcrossed progeny was not different for emergence, seedling survivorship, and size at 12 wk. Counter to assumptions about this species, L. arboreus is both self-compatible and outcrosses ∼78% of the time.

Yellow Bush Lupine Invasion in Northern California Coastal Dunes II. Mechanical Restoration Techniques

AbstractInvasion of coastal dunes by Lupinus arboreus (yellow bush lupine) results in soil enrichment and displacement of native plants. Restoration by means of heavy equipment was tested as an alternative to costly manual techniques in a heavily invaded area of relatively flat terrain. Two experiments were conducted in consecutive years at the Eureka Dunes Protected Area in Humboldt County, California. Each experiment consisted of three plots subjected to one of three primary treatments: removal of vegetation with a brush rake, removal of vegetation with a brush rake followed by removal of litter and duff with a plough blade or bucket, and removal of vegetation with tractor‐pulled chokers. Plots were then subdivided into smaller secondary treatment plots subjected to one of two treatments or a control. Secondary treatments consisted of weedmat placed for a 1‐ or 2‐year duration. The goal of the treatments was to remove and prevent reestablishment of nonnative vegetation, including but not limited to bush lupine; success was measured by percent cover of recolonizing vegetation 1.5 years after treatment ended. In the first experiment, primary treatment (vegetation removal) but not secondary (prevention of reestablishment) resulted in significant differences in cover by the end of the experiment. The brush rake and plough blade treatment was most successful at preventing reestablishment of nonnative vegetation. In the second experiment, secondary treatment (prevention of reestablishment) but not primary (removal of vegetation) resulted in significant differences at the end of the experiment. Re‐invasion increased with the amount of time subplots were left uncovered. The difference in the results of the first and second experiments was attributed to variation in rainfall and, to a lesser extent, to localized variation in species composition. Results suggest that mechanical restoration by means of combination of the brush rake and plough blade primary treatment with the 2‐year weedmat secondary treatment would be most successful in meeting the dual goals of removal of nonnative vegetation and prevention of its reestablishment.

Yellow Bush Lupine Invasion in Northern California Coastal Dunes I. Ecological Impacts and Manual Restoration Techniques

AbstractWe studied the ecological effects of the invasion of coastal dunes by Lupinus arboreus (yellow bush lupine), an introduced species, and used the results to develop manual restoration techniques on the North Spit of Humboldt Bay. Vegetation and soil data were collected in five vegetation types representing points along a continuum of bush lupine's invasive influence. We collected data on the number and size of shrubs, vegetation cover, and soil nutrients. One set of plots was subjected to two restoration treatments: removal of lupine shrubs only, or removal of all nonnative vegetation and removal of litter and duff. Treatments were repeated annually for four years, and emerging lupine seedlings were monitored for three years. Prior to treatment, ammonium and nitrate were found to increase along the lupine continuum, but organic matter decreased at the extreme lupine end. Yellow bush lupine was not the most significant variable affecting variation in soil nutrients. After four years, nonnative grasses, including Vulpia bromoides, Holcus lanatus (velvet grass), Bromus spp. (brome), and Aira spp. (European hairgrass), were significantly reduced in those restoration plots from which litter and duff was removed. Native species increased significantly in vegetation types that were less influenced by lupine. By the third year, soil variables differed among vegetation types but not by treatment. Bush lupine seedling emergence was higher, however, in plots receiving the litter and duff removal treatment. Based on these results, we conclude that bush lupine invasion results in both direct soil enrichment and indirect enrichment as a result of the associated encroachment of other nonnative species, particularly grasses. Although treatment did not affect soil nutrients during the period of this study, it did reduce establishment of nonnative grasses and recruitment of new bush lupine seedlings. Restoration should therefore include litter and duff removal. In areas that are heavily influenced by lupine and contain few native propagules, revegetation is also required.