乌奴龙胆中五个新的环烯醚萜甙

从藏药乌奴龙胆（ＧｅｎｔｉａｎａｕｒｎｕｌａＳｍｉｔｈ）（龙胆科）的全草中分离到５个新的环烯醚萜甙,命名为乌奴龙胆甙（ｇｅｎｔｉｏｕｍｏｓｉｄｅ）Ａ－Ｅ;它们的结构主要通过光谱分析得以确定。其中,乌奴龙胆Ａ－Ｃ是二聚环烯醚萜甙,而乌奴龙胆甙Ｄ和Ｅ为马钱素型的环烯醚萜甙,所有这些化合物的分子中都具有一个２,３－二羟基苯甲酰基或其衍生物的取代基。     

Xanthones et C-glucosides flavoniques du genre Gentiana (section Cyclostigma)

Xanthones with a uniform 1,3,7,8-oxidation pattern, the C-glycosides isoorientin and isovitexin, and in some cases mangiferin, were isolated from the aerial parts of G. nivalis, G. brachyphylla, G. favrati, G. rostani, G. utriculosa and G. schleicheri Kunz. The distribution of these compounds within the section Cyclostigma is given. Comparison of phenolic patterns in other sections of Gentiana is made.     

Chemotaxonomy of Gentianopsis: Xanthones, C-glycosylflavonoids and carbohydrates

In the genus Gentiana s.l. (Gentianaceae), the status of the section Crossopetalum Froel, is still very much debated. On Morphological grounds. Ma regarded this section as an independent genus which he called Gentianopsis. In this paper we discuss this proposal, taking into account chemotaxonomic data (xanthones, carbohydrates and C-glycosylflavones) arising from an examination of leaves and flowers of 13 species including the type-species Gentianopsis barbata. Isoscoparin, primeverose. 1,3,7- and 1,3,7,8-O-substituted xanthones were present in all species, while 1,3,5,8-O-substituted xanthones were absent. These criteria clearly differentiate the group from Gentianella (occurrence of 1,3,5,8-O-substituted xanthones, absence of 1,3,7-O-substituted xanthones, presence of swertisin, absence of primeverosel in which they were previously included. Furthermore, a comparison of Crossopetalum with two species belonging to Gentiana s.s. (the type G. lutea L. and G. orbicularis Schur.) discloses some analogy with respect to xanthone composition (only 1,3,7- or 1,3,7,8-substitution, respectively). However, the presence of gentianoise in Gentiana s.s., in contrast to its absence in Gentianopsis, indicates that the latter should be excluded from Gentiana. The assessment on morphological grounds of the validity of the genus Gentianopsis Ma is thus reinforced. The evolutionary signification of the chemical characters and the phyletic relationships of Gentianopsis with the other genera of the Gentianinae are discussed.     

Xanthone and flavonol constituents of Swertia hookeri

The whole plant of Swertia hookeri, collected at flowering has been shown to contain two tri- and nine tetraoxygenated free, glucosyloxy, and stearyl ester xanthones and one flavonol stearyl ester. Among these, three are previously unreported in nature and one was known previously only as a synthetic compound. The xanthones are based on 1,3,5,-, 1,3,5,8- and 1,3,7,8-oxygenated systems with the middle oxygenation pattern predominating. The two ester compounds appeared only at the flowering stage. Plants collected at the pre-flowering stage gave the corresponding free compounds. The biochemical and biological significance of these findings are appraised.     

龙胆科獐牙菜属新分类纲要

獐牙菜属是龙胆科中的一个大属,广泛分布于亚洲、北美洲、欧洲和非洲.本文报道獐牙菜属下的两个新组(sect.Montana和sect.Echinulata)和七个新系(ser.Repentes,ser.Kilimandscharicae,ser.Coombosae,ser.Japonicae,ser.Swertopsis,ser.Pumilae和ser.Abyssinicae).同时对獐牙菜属中的一些类群进行了分类修订,本分类纲要将被獐牙菜属世界专著采用.     

RAPD variation in relation to population size and plant fitness in the rare Gentianella germanica (Gentianaceae)

We investigated the distribution of genetic variation and the relationship between population size and genetic variation in the rare plant Gentianella germanica using RAPD (random amplified polymorphic DNA) profiles. Plants for the analysis were grown from seeds sampled from 72 parent plants in 11 G. germanica populations of different size (40-5000 fruiting individuals). In large populations, seeds were sampled from parents in two spatially distinct subpopulations comparable in area to the total area covered by small populations. Analysis of molecular variance revealed significant genetic variation among populations (P <0.001), while genetic variation among subpopulations was marginally significant (P <0.06). Average molecular variance within subpopulations in large populations did not differ significantly from whole-population values. There was a positive correlation between genetic variation and population size (P <0.01). Genetic variation was also positively correlated with the number of seeds per plant in the field (P <0.02) and the number of flowers per planted seed in a common garden experiment (P <0.051). We conclude that gene flow among natural populations is very limited and that reduced plant fitness in small populations of G. germanica most likely has genetic causes. Management should aim to increase the size of small populations to minimize further loss of genetic variation. Because a large proportion of genetic variation is among populations, even small populations are worth preserving.     

Molecular systematics and biogeography of Crawfurdia, Metagentiana and Tripterospermum (Gentianaceae) based on nuclear ribosomal and plastid DNA sequences

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The systematic position of the genus Metagentiana and its phylogenetic relationships with Crawfurdia, Gentiana and Tripterospermum have not been explicitly addressed. These four genera belong to one of two subtribes (Gentianinae) of Gentianeae. The aim of this paper is to examine the systematic position of Crawfurdia, Metagentiana and Tripterospermum and to clarify their phylogenetic affinities more clearly using ITS and trnL intron sequences. METHODS: Nucleotide sequences from the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA and the plastid DNA trnL (UAA) intron were analysed phylogenetically. Ten of fourteen Metagentiana species were sampled, together with 40 species of other genera in the subtribe Gentianinae. KEY RESULTS: The data support several previously published conclusions relating to the separation of Metagentiana from Gentiana and its closer relationships to Crawfurdia and Tripterospermum based on studies of gross morphology, floral anatomy, chromosomes, palynology, embryology and previous molecular data. The molecular clock hypothesis for the tested sequences in subtribe Gentianinae was not supported by the data (P < 0.05), so the clock-independent non-parametric rate smoothing method was used to estimate divergence time. This indicates that the separation of Crawfurdia, Metagentiana and Tripterospermum from Gentiana occurred about 11.4-21.4 Mya (million years ago), and the current species of these three genera diverged at times ranging from 0.4 to 6.2 Mya. CONCLUSIONS: The molecular analyses revealed that Crawfurdia, Metagentiana and Tripterospermum do not merit status as three separate genera, because sampled species of Crawfurdia and Tripterospermum are embedded within Metagentiana. The speciation and rapid radiation of these three genera is likely to have occurred in western China as a result of upthrust of the Himalayas during the late Miocene and the Pleistocene.     

Xanthones of Centaurium pulchellum

1-Hydroxy-3,7,8-trimethoxyxanthone, 1,8-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxyxanthone and 1,8-dihydroxy-3,5-dimethoxyxanthone have been isolated from the whole plant of Centaurium pulchellum; the compounds were characterized by UV and NMR spectroscopy.     

Nectar sugar composition and volumes of 47 species of Gentianales from a southern Ecuadorian montane forest

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: This study investigates 47 taxonomically related species (Gentianales), all native to a tropical montane forest in southern Ecuador, in terms of nectar chemistry and nectar volumes in relation to pollination biology. METHODS: Nectar volumes of covered (24-h production) and uncovered (standing crop) flowers were measured in the natural habitat. Sucrose, fructose and glucose were quantified in the nectar using high performance liquid chromatography. Flower visitors were observed. KEY RESULTS: Nectar sugar concentration did not differ significantly among the pollination syndromes. Regarding sugar composition, the only significant differences were found in chiropterophilous and myiophilous flowers, which had a significantly lower sugar ratio than sphingophilous flowers. A separation of chiropterophilous and myiophilous flowers from the other pollination syndromes is further substantiated by non-linear multidimensional scaling using the chord-normalized expected species shared index of dissimilarity based on nectar sugar compositions. The matrix test revealed no correlation of observed floral visitors to nectar concentrations; however, a weak significant correlation was found between floral visitors and nectar sugar compositions. The nectar volumes of covered and uncovered flowers are related to, and differ significantly among, pollination syndromes. Matrix tests revealed correlation between floral visitors and nectar volume of covered flowers and, to a lesser extent, of uncovered flowers. CONCLUSIONS: Sucrose is the predominant floral nectar sugar in the order Gentianales, suggesting that nectar sugar composition is a conservative characteristic. However, some degree of an adaptive convergence of floral nectar compositions to principal pollinator type within the constraints set by phylogenetic history is likely. The driving force to visitation appears to be the volume of nectar the visitor can expect to consume.     

Spatial evolutionary and ecological vicariance analysis (SEEVA), a novel approach to biogeography and speciation research,with an example from Brazilian Gentianaceae

Aim Spatial evolutionary and ecological vicariance analysis (SEEVA) is a simple analytical method that evaluates environmental or ecological divergence associated with evolutionary splits. It integrates evolutionary hypotheses, phylogenetic data, and spatial, temporal, environmental and geographical information to elucidate patterns. Using a phylogeny of Prepusa Mart. and Senaea Taub. (Angiospermae: Gentianaceae), SEEVA is used to describe the radiation and ecological patterns of this basal gentian group across south‐eastern Brazil. Location Latin America, global. Methods Environmental data for 151 geolocated botanical collections, associated with specimens from seven species, were compiled with Arc GIS, and were matched with geolocated base layers of eight climatological variables, as well as one each of geological, soil type, elevational and vegetation variables. Sister groups were defined on the basis of the six nested nodes that defined the phylogenetic tree of these two genera. A (0, 1)‐scaled divergence index (D) was defined and tested for each of 12 environmental and for each of the six phylogenetic nodes, by means of contingency analyses. We contrast divergence indices of nested clades, allopatric and sympatric sister clades. Results The level of ecological divergence between sister clades/species, defined in terms of D measures, was substantial for five of six nodes, with 21 of 72 environmental comparisons having D > 0.75. Soil types and geological age of bedrock were strongly divergent only for basal nodes in the phylogeny, by contrast with temperature and precipitation, which exhibited strong divergence at all nodes. There has been strong divergence and progressive occupation of wetter and colder habitats throughout the history of Prepusa. Nodes separating allopatric sister clades exhibited larger niche divergence than did those separating sympatric sister clades. Main conclusions SEEVA provides a multi‐source, direct analysis method for correlating field collections, phylogenetic hypotheses, species distributions and georeferenced environmental data. Using SEEVA, it was possible to quantify and test the divergence between sister lineages, illustrating both niche conservatism and ecological specialization. SEEVA permits elucidation of historical and ecological vicariance for evolutionary lineages, and is amenable to wide application, taxonomically, geographically and ecologically.