Molecular phylogenetics of Acacia (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) based on the chloroplast MATK coding sequence and flanking TRNK intron spacer regions

The tribe Acacieae (Fabaceae: Mimosoideae) contains two genera, the monotypic African Faidherbia and the pantropical Acacia, which comprise about 1200 species with over 950 confined to Australia. As currently recognized, the genus Acacia is subdivided into three subgenera: subg. Acacia, subg. Aculeiferum, and the predominantly Australian subg. Phyllodineae. Morphological studies have suggested the tribe Acacieae and genus Acacia are artificial and have a close affinity to the tribe Ingeae. Based on available data there is no consensus on whether Acacia should be subdivided. Sequence analysis of the chloroplast trnK intron, including the matK coding region and flanking noncoding regions, indicate that neither the tribe Acacieae nor the genus Acacia are monophyletic. Two subgenera are monophyletic; section Filicinae of subgenus Aculeiferum does not group with taxa of the subgenus. Section Filicinae, eight Ingeae genera, and Faidherbia form a weakly supported paraphyletic grade with respect to subg. Phyllodineae. Acacia subg. Aculeiferum (s. s.) is sister to the grade. These data suggest that characters currently used to differentiate taxa at the tribal, generic, and subgeneric levels are polymorphic and homoplasious in cladistic analyses.     

Plant community distribution and variation along the Awash river corridor in the main Ethiopian rift

The vegetation along the Awash River (1200-km long) in the main Ethiopian Rift, and its relationship with environmental factors was studied. Seven plant communities were described from the study area: (1) Acacia nilotica subsp . leiocarpa. – Carissa edulis type; (2) Acacia robusta subsp . usambarensis – Acokanthera schimperi type; (3) Celtis africana – Mimusops laurifolia type; (4) Acacia senegal – Acacia mellifera – Dobera glabra type; (5) Acacia nilotica subsp. indica – Ficus capreaefolia type; (6) Lannea schimperi – Glycine wightii type; and (7) Tamarix nilotica – Acacia hocki community type. It has been shown that the plant communities along the river follow an altitudinal gradient. The vegetation of the Awash River is mainly the result of the interactions between edaphic factors, the hydrology, altitude, slope and climate.     

Permanent genetic resources added to Molecular Ecology Resources Database 1 August 2010-30 September 2010

This article documents the addition of 229 microsatellite marker loci to the Molecular Ecology Resources Database. Loci were developed for the following species: Acacia auriculiformis × Acacia mangium hybrid, Alabama argillacea, Anoplopoma fimbria, Aplochiton zebra, Brevicoryne brassicae, Bruguiera gymnorhiza, Bucorvus leadbeateri, Delphacodes detecta, Tumidagena minuta, Dictyostelium giganteum, Echinogammarus berilloni, Epimedium sagittatum, Fraxinus excelsior, Labeo chrysophekadion, Oncorhynchus clarki lewisi, Paratrechina longicornis, Phaeocystis antarctica, Pinus roxburghii and Potamilus capax. These loci were cross-tested on the following species: Acacia peregrinalis, Acacia crassicarpa, Bruguiera cylindrica, Delphacodes detecta, Tumidagena minuta, Dictyostelium macrocephalum, Dictyostelium discoideum, Dictyostelium purpureum, Dictyostelium mucoroides, Dictyostelium rosarium, Polysphondylium pallidum, Epimedium brevicornum, Epimedium koreanum, Epimedium pubescens, Epimedium wushanese and Fraxinus angustifolia.     

Preliminary Insights into the Habitat Preferences of the Centralian Bandy Bandy （Vermicella vermiformis）（Squamata： Elapidae） in Central Australia

Bandy Bandy’s（Vermicella spp.）are a striking,black-and-white ringed genus of small elapid snakes endemic to Australia.All taxa are burrowers and little is known of their biology and ecology.We investigated the habitat preferences of the only arid-dwelling species,the centralian bandy bandy（Vermicella vermiformis）,in the MacDonnell Ranges west of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory.Using systematic road-cruising,we encountered 16V.vermiformis over a 12 months period between 2009 and 2010.We used logistic regression to model the occurrence of the species against a range of different habitat variables collected at multiple scales.Despite the small sample size,V.vermiformis exhibited a clear preference for acacia shrubland habitats,with acacia variables present in all AICc ranked models in the 95%confidence set.The factors driving this association,together with the preference for habitat not burnt in the most recent wildfires,may be related to the abundance of their only known prey,blind snakes（Ramphotyphlops spp.）.     

两种相思叶片光合作用对干旱的反应

比较了绢毛相思和大叶相思的叶特性,旱季的田间光合速率和供水短缺对光合速率、气孔传导率和蒸腾速率的影响。绢毛相思的比叶重、单位叶面积的叶绿素含量和叶绿素a/b均较大叶相思高,但叶片含水量略低。绢毛相思的中午时叶片水势为-0.6±0.05MPa,而大叶相思则为-1.18±0.07MPa。绢毛相思叶片水势降低时,叶片鲜重的变化较大叶相思大。旱季10月,两种相思的日平均光合速率相近似,但绢毛相思有较高的气孔传导率和蒸腾速率。干旱处理引起大叶相思叶片水势降低较绢毛相思大。当绢毛相思叶片水势从-0.76MPa降至-1.35MPa,日平均光合速率降低49.4％;而大叶相思,叶片水势从-1.22MPa降低至-2.2MPa,日平均光合速率降低55.0%。大叶相思叶片水势降低的幅度比较大,光合速率降低亦大。     

Effect of method of processing foliage of Acacia mangium and inclusion of bamboo charcoal in the diet on performance of growing goats

Two experiments were conducted to examine the effect of including charcoal and of different processing methods of foliage from Acacia mangium in the diet on intake and performance of goats. In experiment 1, four male goats were used in a Latin square arrangement. The treatments were: control, no bamboo charcoal, and 0.5, 1.0 or 1.5 g bamboo charcoal per kg body weight (BW). The diet consisted of 10 g/kg initial BW dry matter (DM) of concentrate and Para grass, respectively. Acacia was fed ad libitum at a level of 130% of the individual fresh intake the previous day. The time for each period was 21 days with the last seven days for data collection. Adding bamboo charcoal to the diet did not increase DM intake of Acacia, total DM intake or neutral detergent fiber or acid detergent fiber digestibilities, but had a significant effect on DM, organic matter (OM) and crude protein (CP) digestibilities and nitrogen (N) retention higher values being obtained in treatments 0.5 and 1.0, significantly higher than in the control or 1.5 treatments.

In experiment 2, 42 goats were randomly allotted to 6 different treatment groups. The treatments were three different methods of processing Acacia: fresh foliage, wilted foliage or dried foliage. Each method was tested with or without adding bamboo charcoal (0.5 g charcoal/kg BW). The diet was the same as in Exp. 1. The experimental time was 12 weeks. The goats fed the diet with bamboo charcoal consumed similar amounts of total DM and DM of Acacia as the goats fed the diet without bamboo charcoal and grew significantly faster (53 and 44 g/day, respectively, with and without charcoal). The processing method of Acacia foliage had a significant effect on total DM intake and DM intake of Acacia. The highest total DM intake was obtained by goats fed wilted Acacia, significantly different from fresh and dried Acacia. The weight gain of goats fed wilted or dried Acacia was higher than that of goats fed fresh Acacia, but this difference was not significant. In conclusion, the value of Acacia mangium as a feed for goats can be improved by wilting the foliage and feeding 0.5 to 1 g/kg BW of bamboo charcoal per day     

Renato Perotti

Summary

The author studies two sets of sub-fossil woods belonging to the roman buildings of Ghirza (North Africa). The woods were not well preserved and two small to allow an easy identification. They belong undoubtly to the genus Acacia. The species probably are: Acacia raddiana Savi and Acacia scorpioides (L.) Chev. Both these species grow today in the Saharian desert and are cultivated in the North African Oasis.     

广西高峰林场相思树的真菌病害调查

相思树是从澳大利亚引进的速生丰产林种,在广西以高峰林场为主要种植基地。经初步调查,不同相思树上发生的真菌性病害不同,马占相思树、厚荚相思树、直干相思树、纹英相思树、杂交相思发生炭疽病,其病原茵为胶孢炭疽菌(Colletotrichum gloeosporioides),在马占相思、直干相思、纹荚相思和杂交相思的叶片上只产生病原菌的无性阶段,而在厚荚相思叶片上可同时出现无性阶段和有性阶段;马占相思树和杂交相思树上发生的白粉病菌为白粉菌Oidium sp．,其中杂交相思白粉病发生普遍而严重,发病期多在3-5月;黑木相思树发生叶尖枯病,病原为异色拟盘多毛孢(Pestalotiopsis versicolor),一年四季均可发病;马占相思树干基部心腐病发生严重,造成木材的大量损失,病原尚未得到确定。本文对病害的症状特点、病原菌形态特征进行了描述。     

Detection and identification of cyanogenic glucosides in six species of Acacia

The presence of prunasin in Acacia deanei ssp. paucijuga, sambunigrin in Acacia cunninghamii, and acacipetalin in Acacia giraffae has been established by both chromatographic and NMR spectral evidence. Mandelonitrile glucosides of unknown configuration in Acacia parramattensis and Acacia pulchella and (an) as yet unidentified glycoside(s) in Acacia farnesiana are also reported.     

三种相思植物对短期大气污染的响应

3种2－3年生相思盆栽于代表不同污染程度的交通繁忙区、工业生产区和相对清洁区,4个月后进行植物叶片气体交换和叶绿素荧光特征参数的测定。结果表明,生长在污染区的相思植物的净光合速率（Pn）、气孔导度（gs）和光系统Ⅱ原初光化学效率（Fv／Fm）均出现不同程度的下降,下降幅度因植物种类和污染类型的不同而有差异,不同实验点上大腺相思叶片蒸腾速率（E）和水分利用效率（WUE）则维持相对稳定,多花和流苏相思的WUE均以污染环境下较低,根据Pn、gs和Fv/Fm的变化以及实验点上其它植物对应测定值比,推测3种相思植物对大气污染都表现出中等强度的抗性,且多花相思和流苏相思相对好于大腺相思。     

广东鹤山丘陵人工林林下鸟群落研究

2003年5月到2004年4月,在鹤山人工林中张网6353网小时,捕到林下鸟28种110只,平均网捕率为1.73只/100网h。其中冬候鸟的种类和数量分别占整个网捕鸟种类和数量的42.86%和33.64%。优势种是大山雀(P arusm ajor)、白头鹎(Py cnonotus sinensis)和红胁蓝尾鸲(T arsig er cyanurus)。鹤山20a林龄的人工林林下鸟群落具有:种类和数量贫乏、网捕率低、画眉科的鸟少等特点。林下鸟群落的种类、数量、组成和网捕率与植被有关,相思林种类最丰富、网捕率最高;针叶林种类最少、网捕率最低;4种植被类型中林下鸟种类和网捕率大小排序是:相思林>荷木林>桉树林>针叶林。相思林与荷木林有最大的种的相似性(0.43)、而相思林与针叶林种的相似性最小(0.20)。林下鸟丰度和网捕率均存在季节变化,冬季种类最丰富、春季次之、而夏季和秋季种类最少。在针叶林(F3,44=4.514,p<0.01)和荷木林中(F3,44=4.449,p<0.01),林下鸟的网捕率有极显著的季节变化,冬季的网捕率最高、夏季的网捕率最低;而在相思林(F3,44=1.893,p>0.05)和桉树林中(F3,44=1.212,p>0.05),林下鸟的网捕率季节差异不显著。     

Acacipetalin in Acacia constricta from north America

Acacipetalin, previously known only from the African legumes Acacia sieberiana var. woodii and Acacia hebeclada, has been isolated from an American species of the genus, Acacia constricta.     

羽叶金合欢的DNA提取和SSR引物筛选

利用SSR分子标记对羽叶金合欢( Acacia pennata )的野生种和栽培种进行了分析,利用改良的CTAB方法优化了其总DNA的提取方法,并优化了PCR扩增条件.从已有的金合欢属植物的82对SSR引物中筛选出多态性高,稳定性好的12对引物作为羽叶金合欢的SSR分析引物,为进一步对其进行遗传多样性研究提供了依据.     

Cotyledon architecture and anatomy in the Acacieae (Leguminosae: Mimosoideae)

Cotyledon size, shape, venation pattern and anatomy have been investigated in Faidherbia albida and 152 species of Acacia representing the three subgenera Acacia, Aculeiferum and Heterophyllum. Cell volumes of epidermis, palisade and storage tissue, stomatal frequency, stomatal index and frequency of stomatal types have been determined for F. albida and 12 species from each subgenus. The data obtained support the recognition of the subgenera of Acacia as separate taxa but provide no indication of their status. The evidence from cotyledons also supports the separation of Faidherbia from Acacia , and the amalgamation of the Acacieae and Ingeae.     

羽叶金合欢的DNA 提取和SSR 引物筛选

利用SSR 分子标记对羽叶金合欢( Acacia pennata) 的野生种和栽培种进行了分析, 利用改良的CTAB方法优化了其总DNA 的提取方法, 并优化了PCR 扩增条件。从已有的金合欢属植物的82 对SSR 引物中筛选出多态性高, 稳定性好的12 对引物作为羽叶金合欢的SSR 分析引物, 为进一步对其进行遗传多样性研究提供了依据。     

Differential phenolic profiles in six African savanna woody species in relation to antiherbivore defense

Low molecular weight phenolics are suggested to have a role in mediating diet selection in mammalian herbivores. However, very little is known about low molecular weight phenolic profiles of African savanna woody species. We determined low molecular weight phenolic profiles of six woody species with different life history, morphological and functional traits. We investigated interspecific phytochemical variation between species and found that: (1) related Acacia species were chemically dissimilar; (2) similarity percentage analysis revealed that Acacia grandicornuta was most dissimilar from other species and that the evergreen and unpalatable Euclea divinorum had a qualitatively similar chemical profile to the deciduous and palatable Acacia exuvialis and Combretum apiculatum; (3) C. apiculatum had the highest chemical diversity; (4) relative to spineless plants, spinescent plants contained significantly less HPLC phenolics and condensed tannins; and (5) the major quantitative difference between the evergreen and unpalatable E. divinorum and other species was its high myricitrin concentration.     

Book Review

Book reviewed in this article:
Flora Of Australia: Volume 16, Eleagnaceae, Proteaceae 1
Flora Of Australia, Volume 12, Mimosaceae (excl. Acacia), Caesalpiniaceae
Plant Variation and Evolutionb
Auxiliary Plants, Plant Resources of South-East Asia, No 11     

Parallel diversification of Australian gall-thrips on Acacia

The diversification of gall-inducing Australian Kladothrips (Insecta: Thysanoptera) on Acacia has produced a pair of sister-clades, each of which includes a suite of lineages that utilize virtually the same set of 15 closely related host plant species. This pattern of parallel insect-host plant radiation may be driven by cospeciation, host-shifting to the same set of host plants, or some combination of these processes. We used molecular-phylogenetic data on the two gall-thrips clades to analyze the degree of concordance between their phylogenies, which is indicative of parallel divergence. Analyses of phylogenetic concordance indicate statistically-significant similarity between the two clades. Their topologies also fit with a hypothesis of some degree of host-plant tracking. Based on phylogenetic and taxonomic information regarding the phylogeny of the Acacia host plants in each clade, one or more species has apparently shifted to more-divergent Acacia host-plant species, and in each case these shifts have resulted in notable divergence in aspects of the phenotype including morphology, life history and behaviour. Our analyses indicate that gall-thrips on Australian Acacia have undergone parallel diversification as a result of some combination of cospeciation, highly restricted host-plant shifting, or both processes, but that the evolution of novel phenotypic diversity in this group is a function of relatively few shifts to divergent host plants. This combination of ecologically restricted and divergent radiation may represent a microcosm for the macroevolution of host plant relationships and phenotypic diversity among other phytophagous insects.     

Evaluation of the cytotoxic,anticancer, and genotoxic activities of Acacia nilotica flowers and their effects on N-methyl-N-nitrosourea-induced genotoxicity in mice

Molecular Biology Reports - In this study, two main research objectives were examined: (1) the cytotoxic and anticancer activities of the aqueous methanol extract from Acacia nilotica flowers on...     

Interfacial rheology of surface-active biopolymers: Acacia senegal gum versus hydrophobically modified starch

Acacia gum is a hybrid polyelectrolyte containing both protein and polysaccharide subunits. We study the interfacial rheology of its adsorption layers at the oil/water interface and compare it with adsorbed layers of hydrophobically modified starch, which for economic and political reasons is often used as a substitute for Acacia gum in technological applications. Both the shear and the dilatational rheological responses of the interfaces are considered. In dilatational experiments, the viscoelastic response of the starch derivative is just slightly weaker than that for Acacia gum, whereas we found pronounced differences in shear flow: The interfaces covered with the plant gum flow like a rigid, solidlike material with large storage moduli and a linear viscoelastic regime limited to small shear deformations, above which we observe apparent yielding behavior. In contrast, the films formed by hydrophobically modified starch are predominantly viscous, and the shear moduli are only weakly dependent on the deformation. Concerning their most important technological use as emulsion stabilizers, the dynamic interfacial responses imply not only distinct interfacial dynamics but also different stabilizing mechanisms for these two biopolymers.