The phenolic profile of pea (Pisum sativum): a phytochemical and pharmacological overview

Phytochemistry Reviews - Pisum sativum L., (Fabaceae), commonly known as dry, green or field pea, is one of the most popular and economically important legumes. It enjoys a worldwide culinary,...     

Morphological variation in the Chamaecytisus proliferus (L.f.) Link complex (Fabaceae: Genisteae) in the Canary Islands

FRANCISCO-ORTEGA, J., JACKSON, M. T., SANTOS-GUERRA, A. & FORD-LLOYD, B. V., 1993. Morphological variation in the Chamaecytisus proliferus (L.f.) Link complex (Fabaceae: Genisteae) in the Canary Islands . A multivariate study (Principal Component Analysis and Cluster Analysis, Warďs method) of 47 morphological traits from 164 populations of Chamaecytisus proliferus (L.f.) Link from the Canary Islands confirmed that this species complex is formed by seven morphological types. At least eight traits discriminated between these types. Patterns of variation follow a cline within Gran Canaria, Tenerife and La Palma. These results also show that morphological variation is greater in the eastern islands (i.e. Gran Canaria and Tenerife) than in the western islands (La Gomera, El Hierro and La Palma) and that no morphological differences are found between plants of typical tagasaste from wild and cultivated populations.     

Evaluation of antipyretic potential of Clitoria ternatea L. extract in rats.

The methanol extract of Clitoria ternatea L. root (MECTR) blue flowered variety (Family: Fabaceae), was evaluated for its anti-pyretic potential on normal body temperature and yeast-induced pyrexia in albino rats. Yeast suspension (10 ml/kg body wt.) increased rectal temperature after 19 hours of subcutaneous injection. The extract, at doses of 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg body wt., p.o., produced significant reduction in normal body temperature and yeast-provoked elevated temperature in a dose-dependent manner. The effect extended up to 5 hours after the drug administration. The anti-pyretic effect of the extract was comparable to that of paracetamol (150 mg/kg body wt., p.o.), a standard anti-pyretic agent.     

Polymorphism of lectin genes in Lathyrus plants

The carbohydrate-binding sequences of the lectin genes from spring vetchling Lathyrus vernus (L.) Bernh., marsh vetchling L. palustris (L.), and Gmelin's vetchling L. gmelinii (Fitsch) (Fabaceae) were determined. Computer-aided analysis revealed substantial differences between nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of the lectin gene regions examined in each of the three vetchling species tested. In the phylogenetic trees based on sequence similarity of carbohydrate-biding regions of legume lectins, the sequences examined formed a compact cluster with the lectin genes of the plants belonging to the tribe Fabeae. In each plant, L. vernus, L. palustris, and L. gmelinii, three different lectin-encoding genes were detected. Most of the substitutions were identified within the gene sequence responsible for coding the carbohydrate-binding protein regions. This finding may explain different affinity of these lectins to different carbohydrates, and as a consequence, can affect the plant host specificity upon development of symbiosis with rhizobium bacteria.     

Phylogenetic analysis of symbiotic genes of nodule bacteria in the plants of the genus Lathyrus (L.) (Fabaceae)

The comparative analysis of the symbiotic genes nifD, nifH, nodA of wild-growing Lathyrus L. species (Fabaceae) connected by genes sequences of 16S aRNA to Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae, Rhizobium tropici, Agrobacterium sp., and Phyllobacterium sp. was carried out. It was demonstrated that all tested genes of strains taken for analysis had high degree of homology with analogous genes of Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae. It was suggested that symbiotic genes were introduced into Rhizobium tropici, Agrobacterium sp., and Phyllobacterium sp. strains by means of horizontal gene transfer over from Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viceae strain. The recombinant strains were formed, capable to nodulate Lathyrus L. species that earlier was not considered characteristic for these plants.     

New species and new record of Tetranychus Dufour from Australia, with a key to the major groups in this genus based on females (Acari: Prostigmata: Tetranychidae)

A new species of spider mite, Tetranychus bunda sp. n., is described and illustrated from Australia. It was found damaging the foliage of Desmodium tortuosum (Sw.) DC. (Fabaceae) in Darwin, Northern Territory. In addition, the geographical range of Tetranychus fijiensis Hirst is extended to include Australia. This species was found in the Northern Territory feeding on frangipani ( Plumeria sp., Apocynaceae), betel palm ( Areca catechu L., Arecaceae) and Macarthur feather palm ( Ptychosperma macarthurii [H. Wendl. ex Veitch] (H. Wendl. ex Hook. f., Arecaceae)). Details of the biology of T. bunda sp. n. and T. fijiensis are given. A key to the major groups of Tetranychus Dufour of the world, based on females, is presented and species known to occur in Australia are outlined.     

Host plant recognition by the root feeding clover weevil, Sitona lepidus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae)

This study investigated the ability of neonatal larvae of the root-feeding weevil, Sitona lepidus Gyllenhal, to locate white clover Trifolium repens L. (Fabaceae) roots growing in soil and to distinguish them from the roots of other species of clover and a co-occurring grass species. Choice experiments used a combination of invasive techniques and the novel technique of high resolution X-ray microtomography to non-invasively track larval movement in the soil towards plant roots. Burrowing distances towards roots of different plant species were also examined. Newly hatched S. lepidus recognized T. repens roots and moved preferentially towards them when given a choice of roots of subterranean clover, Trifolium subterraneum L. (Fabaceae), strawberry clover Trifolium fragiferum L. (Fabaceae), or perennial ryegrass Lolium perenneL. (Poaceae). Larvae recognized T. repens roots, whether released in groups of five or singly, when released 25 mm (meso-scale recognition) or 60 mm (macro-scale recognition) away from plant roots. There was no statistically significant difference in movement rates of larvae.     

A new species of Lathyrus L. (section Cicercula; Fabaceae) from Turkey

A new species, Lathyrus egirdiricus H.Genc & A.Sahin (section Cicercula; Fabaceae), is described from Turkey, with illustrations and taxonomic comments. Characteristics of the species are compared with those of the related species Lathyrus hirsutus L., L. stenophyllus Boiss. & Heldr., L. sativus L., L. cassius Boiss. and L. gorgoni Parl., from which it differs mainly in the shape, length, width and venation of leaflets, length and width of the stipule, flower colour, legume and style length. © 2008 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2008, 158 , 301–305.     

Gibberellic acid and thidiazuron promote micropropagation of an endangered woody tree (Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb.) using in vitro seedlings

Plant Cell, Tissue and Organ Culture (PCTOC) - Pterocarpus marsupium Roxb., which belongs to the Fabaceae family, is a promising herbal drug producing forest tree widely known as the ‘Indian...     

Polymorphism of lectin genes in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Lathyrus</Emphasis> plants

The carbohydrate-binding sequences of the lectin genes from spring vetchling Lathyrus vernus (L.) Bernh., marsh vetchling L. palustris (L.), and Gmelin’s vetchling L. gmelinii (Fitsch) (Fabaceae) were determined. Computer-aided analysis revealed substantial differences between nucleotide and predicted amino acid sequences of the lectin gene regions examined in each of the three vetchling species tested. In the phylogenetic trees based on sequence similarity of carbohydrate-biding regions of legume lectins, the sequences examined formed a compact cluster with the lectin genes of the plants belonging to the tribe Fabeae. In each plant, L. vernus, L. palustris, and L. gmelinii, three different lectin-encoding genes were detected. Most of the substitutions were identified within the gene sequence responsible for coding the carbohydrate-binding protein regions. This finding may explain different affinity of these lectins to different carbohydrates, and as a consequence, can affect the plant host specificity upon development of symbiosis with rhizobium bacteria.     

Olfactory Responses of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anaphes iole</Emphasis> (Hymenoptera: Mymaridae) to Volatile Signals Derived from Host Habitats

Anaphes iole Girault is a frequent parasitoid of Lygus spp. eggs in the United States, and has potential as a biological control agent against Lygus hesperus Knight in different crops. Feeding and oviposition by L. hesperus induce emission of plant volatiles, but studies to date do not address the role of plant volatiles in the host-searching behavior of A. iole. In this study, a four-arm olfactometer was used to test the responses of female parasitoids to odors emanating from cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L., Malvaceae) plants damaged by L. hesperus females, L. hesperus males, larvae of the nonhost Spodoptera exigua Hubner, or mechanically, or to odors from L. hesperus females alone. In addition, various plants damaged by L. hesperus females were evaluated in the olfactometer: cotton, alfalfa (Medicago sativa L., Fabaceae), common groundsel (Senecio vulgaris L., Asteraceae), annual ragweed (Ambrosia artemisifolia L., Asteraceae), and redroot pigweed (Amaranthus retroflexus L., Amaranthaceae). In all olfactometry bioassays, treatment odors were compared against three controls (humidified air). Results showed that A. iole females were consistently attracted to odors derived from different plant–L. hesperus complexes, while odors from plants subjected to nonhost (S. exigua) or mechanical damage and L. hesperus females alone were not attractive or only variably attractive. These findings suggest that while searching for hosts A. iole females use specific volatiles induced by L. hesperus feeding and oviposition to locate hosts inhabiting a wide variety of plants, including annual and perennial species from four plant families. It was suggested that future research should seek to identify the chemical elicitors involved in the release of plant volatiles attractive to A. iole females.     

Acylated flavonol glycosides as probing stimulants of a bean aphid,Megoura crassicauda,from Vicia angustifolia

A bean aphid, Megoura crassicauda, which feeds selectively on the plant genus Vicia (Fabaceae), was found to be stimulated to probe an extract solution of the host plant, narrowleaf vetch, Vicia angustifolia L., depositing characteristic stylet sheaths on a parafilm membrane. Two acylated flavonol glycosides were isolated as the specific probing stimulants from the extracts and characterized as quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)-[2"-O-(E)-p-coumaroyl]-beta-D-glucopyranoside and quercetin 3-O-alpha-L-arabinopyranosyl-(1-->6)-[2"-O-(E)-p-coumaroyl]-beta-D-galactopyranoside. A mixture of these compounds in the same equivalency strongly induced the probing response from M. crassicauda, suggesting their kairomonal roles during host recognition.     

Contrasting effects of tropospheric ozone on five native herbs which coexist in calcareous grassland

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of increased tropospheric ozone concentrations on the growth and morphology of five native herbs commonly found to coexist in calcareous grassland in areas of Britain and continental Europe: Anthyllis vulneraria L., Cirsium acaule (L.) Scop., Festuca ovina L., Pilosella offtcinarum F. Shultz & Shultz-Bip and Lotus comiculatus L. In a chronic fumigation (mean O₃ concentration of 71 ppb (71 nl 1^?1) for 7 h d^?1 AOT40 4585 ppb-h) which lasted for 21 d, the effects of ozone were assessed using classical growth analysis. Large reductions in mean relative growth rates for shoot and root weight and root length were observed for the two legumes (Fabaceae) Lotus corniculatus and Anthyllis vulneraria, although these were only statistically significant for Lotus corniculatus. Significant reductions in specific root length (length per unit dry weight) were found for Cirsium acaule and Pilosella officinarum (Asteraceae), while for Festuca ovina (Poaceae) the allometric coefficient was reduced significantly following exposure to ozone. An acute fumigation (mean O₃ concentration of 196 ppb, 7 h) resulted in a range of visible injury, from no injury (Festuca ovina and Pilosella officinarum) through moderate levels of injury (Cirsium acaule and Lotus corniculatus) to extensive and widespread injury (Anthyllis vulneraria). Scoring of visible damage showed that this was only statistically significant for the two legumes, Lotus corniculatus and Anthyllis vulneraria. These results suggest that native herbs may differ in their sensitivity to tropospheric ozone. Both chronic and acute exposures revealed that members of the Fabaceae may be most sensitive to ozone pollution, but the study also suggests that subtle changes in root morphology occurred for members of the Asteraceae. These findings are discussed in relation to the critical levels of ozone set recently for plants and the implications of increasing tropospheric ozone for the conservation of native plant communities.     

Seed morphology and its systematic implications for genus Astragalus L. sections Onobrychoidei DC., Uliginosi Gray and Ornithopodium Bunge (Fabaceae)

Forty-eight species of Astragalus L. sections Onobrychoidei DC., Uliginosi Gray and Ornithopodium Bunge (Fabaceae) in Turkey were studied in order to describe and investigate their seed morphologies and to evaluate the diagnostic value of this character using a stereoscopic microscope and a scanning electron microscope (SEM). SEM pictures of seeds were taken as a whole and in detail. The systematic implications of the findings are discussed. Six main seed types were observed. A key to identifying the different seed types is provided.     

A view of plant dehydrins using antibodies specific to the carboxy terminal peptide

Dehydrins are characterized by the consensus KIKEKLPG amino acid sequence found near the carboxy terminus, and usually repeated from one to many times within the protein. A synthetic peptide containing this consensus sequence was used to produce specific antibodies that recognize dehydrins in a wide range of plants. This range covered two families of monocots, viz. Gramineae (Hordeum vulgare L., Triticum aestivum L., Zea mays L., Oryza sativa L.) and Liliaceae (Allium sativa L.), and five families of dicots, Malvaceae (Gossypium hirsutum L.), Solanaceae (Lycopersicon esculentum L.), Brassicaceae (Raphanus sativus L.), Fabaceae (Vigna unguiculata L.), and Cucurbitaceae (Cucumis sativus L.). Two families of gymnosperms, Pinaceae (Pinus edulis Engelm.) and Ginkgoaceae (Ginkgo biloba L.), were also included. For several plants in which dehydrin cDNA and genomic clones have previously been characterized, it now appears that the dehydrin family of proteins is larger, and the regulation of dehydrin expression much more complex, than earlier studies have shown.     

Pollen analysis of honeys from the central zone of the Argentine province of Entre Ríos

Based on the melissopalynology 38 honey samples collected in the central region of the Argentine province of Entre Ríos were classified by botanical and geographical origin. According to qualitative analysis, 20 honey samples were monofloral and 18 were multifloral. Dominant pollen types were Scutia buxifolia Reissek (Rhamnaceae) in six samples, Baccharis spp. (Asteraceae) in five, Lotus spp. (Fabaceae) in three, Eucalyptus spp. (Myrtaceae) and Eryngium spp. (Apiaceae) in two, Ammi visnaga (L.) Lam. (Apiaceae) and Trithrinax campestris (Burmeist.) Drude & Griseb. (Arecaceae) in one sample. One hundred and nineteen pollen types were identified belonging to 52 families; 75% of which were native species. The families best represented in number of species were Asteraceae and Fabaceae. Pollen types such as Scutia buxifolia, Trithrinax campestris, Schinus spp. (Anacardiaceae), Mimosoideae from Prosopis spp., Acacia spp., Mimosa ostenii Speg. ex Burkart, and M. strigillosa Torr. & A. Gray are considered the indicators for this geographical origin. The studied honeys were also characterized by a high frequency of Apiaceae, Brassicaceae, Astereae, Echium plantagineum L. and cultivated Papilionoideae forage species such as Melilotus albus Desr., Lotus spp. and Trifolium spp. Honeydew elements were scarce.     

Cassia occidentalis L. (a new source of rotenoids): its in vitro regulation by feeding precursors and larvicidal efficacy

Rotenoids are group of ketonic compounds having chromno chromanone ring structure. In the present study Rotenoids were isolated from various plant parts and callus cultures of Cassia occidentalis L., (Fabaceae), and identified using TLC, gas–liquid chromatography and other spectral techniques comparable to that of the standard rotenoids. The recovery of rotenoids was found to be maximum in the roots and minimum in stem. The isolated compounds were found to effective against Anopheles stephensi larvae with lethal concentration (LC50 and LC 90) as 110.73 and 206.79 ppm, respectively. Precursors were used to enhance the rotenoid production in vitro. Treatment dose of 0.05 mM of both Phenylalanine and Methionine increased the production 1.18 times than the control.     

Sphingoid long-chain base composition of glucosylceramides in Fabaceae: a phylogenetic interpretation of Fabeae

The sphingoid long-chain base (LCB) composition of glucosylceramides was characterized in 31 species of Fabaceae including the model legumes Lotus japonicus and Medicago truncatula. With the exception of Lupinus texensis L, the 8-trans/cis-unsaturated isomers of 4-hydroxy-8-sphingenines [i.e., t18:1 (8t) plus t18:1 (8c)] were the major components in each species. In tribe Fabeae, each species from four genera—Pisum, Lathyrus, Lens, and Vicia—showed that more than 50% of dihydroxy sphingoid LCBs are 8-sphingenines [i.e., d18:1 (8t) plus d18:1 (8c)]. These results suggest that the sphingoid LCB composition of glucosylceramides reflects the phylogenetic relationships within the Fabeae.     

Elicitation enhanced the production of bioactive compound and biomass accumulation in callus cultures of Glycyrrhiza glabra L.

In Vitro Cellular & Developmental Biology - Plant - Licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra L.), Fabaceae, has a wide range of medicinal properties due to the metabolites found in the plant tissues....