A chemotaxonomic study of mucilages in American Zamiaceae

Abstract

Methylrhamnose, fucose, rhamnose, mannose, arabinose, galactose, and glucuronolactone are the monosaccharides identified in hydrolysed mucilages collected from 37 species belonging to the five American cycad genera (Ceratozamia, Chigua, Dioon, Microcycas and Zamia). The patterns of monosaccharide distribution in the mucilages resulted to be typical at the generic level, with the exception of Chigua and Zamia the patterns of which were similar. No differences appeared among species within single genera, with the exception of Zamia in which minor differences were observed at the intrageneric level. Differences and similarities among patterns at both intergeneric and intrageneric levels are discussed for their systematic implications.     

A new cycad subspecies from Nigeria

A new subspecies of the West African Encephalartos barteri is described from plains on the Jos Plateau of northern Nigeria.     

Biflavanoids of the Cycadales

Biflavanoid patterns of leaves of 82 species of the order Cycadales comprising 3 families and 10 genera have been determined. The biflavanoids were identified by TLC, UV, NMR and MS studies. Pattern differences between species, when detected, involve the position or degree of methylation of the base compounds. On the other hand, differences in the biflavanoid patterns at the generic and family levels were sufficient to support taxonomic relationships. Thus, the absence of hinokiflavone and its derivatives clearly distinguish the Zamiaceae from the Cycadaceae and Stangeriaceae. The complete absence of biflavanoids in the latter family suggests an advanced evolutionary condition, but morphologically, this family has the most fern-like characters, and therefore has been considered by previous workers to be the most primitive of the cycads.     

A comparative chemotaxonomic study of eight taxa of the Dipsacaceae family

ABSTRACT

Eight taxa of the Dipsacaceae family were examined for their fatty acid and sterol composition. Separation and identification of the lipid fraction was achieved by gas chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The phenotypic differences among taxa were established by cluster analysis. Correlation coefficients were obtained to investigate numerical relationships among constituents of the fatty acids. The results showed many significant correlations between different constituents, as well as four clusters of taxa using two linkage types of clustering.     

Karyotype polymorphism in the cycad Zamia loddigesii (Zamiaceae) of the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

The cycad %amia loddigesii Miq. forms a morphologically variable complex on the Yucatan peninsula, Mexico. Several diploid chromosome numbers have been found in the species: In = 17, 24, 25, 26 and 27. Differing karyotypes and chromosome numbers were found in individuals of the same population and die karyotypes differ widely in numbers of metacentric and telocentric chromosomes present. Centrometric fission as well as pericentric inversions and unequal translocations are suggested to be the probable mechanisms for this karyotype variation. There appears to be a correlation between high chromosome number and increasing dryness of the habitats. Coupled with the strongly asymmetrical karyotypes, this suggests that karyotype evolution in Z- loddigesii is recent.     

Is there a floral parasite mutualism in cycad pollination? the pollination biology of Encephalartos villosus (Zamiaceae)

Observations and experiments were carried out over 5 yr to distinguish between wind and insect pollination in the cycad Encephalartos villosus Lemaire (Zamiaceae). They were also designed to determine whether a pollination mutualism exists between E. villosus and Antliarhinus zamiae (Thunberg) (Coleoptera: Brentidae), an obligate ovule parasite that routinely parasitizes a large proportion of the ovules. The percentage of fertilized ovules dropped slightly when wind was excluded from the megastrobilus. However, when insects were excluded by either net bags or insecticide there was a substantial decrease in the proportion of fertilized ovules. Five beetle species belonging to four families were found on the strobili at the time of pollination. Using data on the effectiveness of pollen transfer to the receptive ovule, as well as data on abundance and pollen loads, a pollinator importance value (PIV) was determined for each beetle species and a pollinator importance index (PII) was determined for each population. PII values showed that an undescribed weevil (Porthetes sp., Curculionidae) was consistently the most important pollinator. A. zamiae and an undescribed beetle species within the Xenoscelinae (Languriidae) played a minor role in pollination, and their contributions varied from year to year and between populations. Two additional beetle species, Metacucujus goodei Endrödy-Younga (Boganiidae) and a second species of Xenoscelinae, had very low PII values and probably had little or no effect on pollination. Low PIV scores for A. zamiae were a result of its low numbers on the microstrobilus and the tendency of the beetles to remain on the outside of the megastrobilus. In the interaction between E. villosus and A. zamiae, the cycad does not appear to benefit significantly from a pollination service and I interpret this to mean that the relationship is antagonistic rather than mutualistic. There is, however, a possible mutualism between Porthetes sp. and E. villosus.     

Thermogenic respiratory processes drive the exponential increase of volatile organic compound emissions in Macrozamia cycad cones

An important outcome of plant thermogenesis is increased emissions of volatiles that mediate pollinator behaviour. We investigated whether the large increase in emissions, mainly the monoterpene ß‐myrcene (>90%), during daily thermogenic events of Macrozamia macleayi and lucida cycad cones are due solely to the influence of high cone temperatures or are, instead, a result of increased respiratory rates during thermogenesis. We concurrently measured temperature, oxygen consumption and ß‐myrcene emission profiles during thermogenesis of pollen cones under typical environmental temperatures and during experimental manipulations of cone temperatures and aerobic conditions, all in the dark. The exponential rise in ß‐myrcene emissions never occurred without a prior, large increase in respiration, whereas an increase in cone temperature alone did not increase emissions. When respiration during thermogenesis was interrupted by anoxic conditions, ß‐myrcene emissions decreased. The increased emission rates are not a result of increased cone temperature per se (through increased enzyme activity or volatilization of stored volatiles) but are dependent on biosynthetic pathways associated with increased respiration during thermogenesis that provide the carbon, energy (ATP) and reducing compounds (NADPH) required for ß‐myrcene production through the methylerythritol phosphate (MEP) pathway. These findings establish the significant contribution of respiration to volatile production during thermogenesis.     

Morphological and geographic variation of the cycad Dioon edule Lindl. (Zamiaceae): ecological and evolutionary implications

The relationship in geographical distribution and morphological variation of leaflet width and length (diagnostic trait), between and within populations of Dioon edule Lindl., has been investigated throughout its known range in eastern Mexico (from the states of Nuevo León to Veracruz, north to south, respectively). A total of 1832 leaflets were measured for width and length from 154 plants distributed amongst five populations using four leaflet replicas from each of three leaves per plant. For leaflet width and length the variation among populations indicated significant stat-istical differences ( F _4,147 = 125.83; P  < 0.0001; R ² = 92.17% and F _4,147 = 9.04; P  < 0.001; R ² = 26.8%), respectively. With respect to leaflet width, the multiple range test showed three groups with a north to south distributional relationship along the range of the species. The correlation coefficient among paired populations, respect to geographical distance and the absolute value of the mean difference of leaflet width in each population, was positive, and different from zero ( r  = 0.82; P  = 0.013). A great variation of important ecological and evolutionary parameters was shown.  © 2003 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2003, 141 , 465–470.     

Seed coat carotenoids of the cycad genera Dioon,Encephelartos, Macrozamia and Zamia: Evolutionary significance

Seed coat carotenoids of Dioon, Encephelartos, Macrozamia and Zamia with ranges in Africa, the West Indies, Australia and Mexico are simple mixtures which conform to the theoretical primitive angiosperm “magnolian pattern”. Lycopene is the principal pigment of Zamia while Encephelartos, Dioon and Macrozamia coats contain a mixture of the unsubstituted, mono-and di-hydroxy-β-carotenes. The evolutionary significance of these results is discussed.     

Ribosomal DNA distribution in somatic chromosomes of Stangeria eriopus (Stangeriaceae, Cycadales) and molecular-cytotaxonomic relationships to some other cycad genera

Somatic chromosomes ofStangeria eriopus (Stangeriaceae, Cycadales) were investigated by fluorescentin situ hybridization (FISH) using an 18S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) probe.Stangeria eriopus showed a chromosome number of 2n=16 with a karyotype of 12 median-, 2 subterminal-, and 2 terminal-centromeric chromosomes. FISH study ofS. eriopus revealed 16 signals made up of rDNA sites located on the terminal regions of the long arms of the 7 median- and 2 subterminal-centromeric chromosomes, on terminal region of the short arm of the 1 median-centromeric chromosome, on the terminal regions of the long and the short arms of 1 median- and 2 terminal-centromeric chromosomes. This result suggests that, not only karyomorphologically but also molecular-cytologically, the genusStangeria may be more closely related to the genusCeratozamia than the genusBowenia or the genusMicrocycas previously hypothesized.     

Demography of the cycad Ceratozamia mirandae (Zamiaceae) under disturbed and undisturbed conditions in a biosphere reserve of Mexico

The cycad Ceratozamia mirandae is endemic to Chiapas, Mexico. Demographic studies were made in two of its populations in the Sepultura Biosphere Reserve under different conservation conditions; in the nucleus zone “Tres Picos” (conserved) and buffer zone “La Sombra” (disturbed and under management). Spatial distribution of C. mirandae was aggregated, showed a clumped local distribution on shallow soils on steep slopes and male and female cones appear to be synchronous in both populations. The population structure was of type I (Bongers) for both sites. Individuals between the sites showed differences in growth pattern. The oldest plants (80–90 cm tall) were estimated to be about 490 years at “La Sombra”. The finite growth rate () in the buffer zone population showed a tendency for decrease whilst in the nucleus zone this estimate remained stable. The highest elasticity values lied in the transition of the first three classes of the “La Sombra” population, in “Tres Picos” this corresponded to adult plants between 20 and 30 cm tall. Given the above, it is proposed that in the nucleus zone, reproductive adults should be of highest conservation priority, whereas in the buffer zone seedling reintroduction should be carried out regularly until the population increases. We recommend an IUCN Red List category of Vulnerable (VU C, 2a), largely due to difficult-to-control destructive annual forest fires that occur in this Reserve.     

Isolation,characterization and cross‐species amplification of microsatellite loci in the cycad genus Dioon (Zamiaceae). Potential utilization in population genetics studies of Dioon edule

Dioon edule (Zamiaceae) is an endemic Mexican cycad. Nineteen microsatellite loci were isolated from three enriched genomic libraries of D. edule var. angustifolium, D. tomasellii, and D. caputoi. Seven of these loci showed polymorphisms in D. edule. Levels of polymorphism were assessed using 16 individuals from each of seven populations throughout the range of this species. The number of alleles per locus ranged from two to five and the observed and expected heterozygosities ranged from 0.0 to 0.9821 and from 0.0088 to 0.6318, respectively. All loci show significant linkage disequilibrium. Three loci depart significantly from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium.     

中国乌头属植物药用亲缘学研究

毛莨科Ranunculaceae乌头属Aconitum L．植物作为有毒植物及药用植物一直受到广泛的关注。本属全世界约有300余种,其中超过半数分布在中国。本文在总结乌头属二萜生物碱的化学分类及其分布、特征性二萜生物碱及其分类价值以及二萜生物碱的生源关系及其分类学意义的基础上,结合其毒性和疗效讨论了国产乌头属植物亲缘关系、化学成分和疗效及毒性之间的相关性,亦即药用亲缘学的初步研究。发现牛扁亚属subgen．Lycoctonum是以牛扁碱和C18-二萜生物碱为主的类群,由于其毒性中等,因而是寻找镇痛、抗炎等新药的一个对象。从二萜生物碱化学成分来看,露蕊乌头亚属subgen．Gymnaconitum并不显得最为进化,对其分类位置尚难作出最后的结论。乌头亚属subgen．Aconitum亚属下系之间的化学分类表现出如下特征：（1）唐古特乌头系ser．Tangutica和圆叶乌头系set．Rotundifolia是以内酯型二萜生物碱为主的类群,毒性较小,是新药寻找的重点研究类群。保山乌头系ser．Bullatifolia以C20-二萜生物碱如光翠雀碱和宋果灵以及C19-二萜生物碱如乌头碱、滇乌碱和尼奥灵等为主。短柄乌头系see Brachypoda显示以3-乙酰乌头碱、乌头碱、伏乌碱等高度进化的乌头碱型二萜生物碱为主,胺醇类如尼奥灵次之,有时共存其他纳哌啉型C20-二萜生物碱的特征。准噶尔乌头系ser．Grandituberosa的化学特征是以高度进化的乌头碱型如乌头碱等和比较原始的胺醇如塔拉萨敏、尼奥灵等以及C20-二萜生物碱为主,均有较大毒性。褐紫乌头系ser．Brunnea则以C20-二萜生物碱如光翠雀碱和宋果灵为主,杂有高度进化的乌头碱型二萜生物碱如乌头碱等成分。化学分类上不支持其独立成为一个分支。以上各系组成乌头亚属的原始和中间过渡类群。其中唐古特乌头系和圆叶乌头系最为相近,褐紫乌头系可能是连接保山乌头系和短柄乌头系的“桥梁”,而准噶尔乌头系更靠近保山乌头系。（2）显柱乌头系set．Stylosa是以含大茴香酸酯基的乌头碱型二萜生物碱以及塔拉萨敏和查斯曼宁胺醇类为主的类群,是块根较大的“大乌头”的主要来源,具有很大的毒性。兴安乌头系ser．Ambigua以含大茴香酸酯基的乌头碱型和原始胺醇类如塔拉萨敏、尼奥灵等二萜生物碱为主。蔓乌头系ser．Volubilia是以含大茴香酸酯基／苯甲酸酯基的乌头碱型和塔拉萨敏胺醇类以及高度进化的乌头碱型二萜生物碱为主的中间过渡类群。乌头系ser．Inflata以含15-羟基的单酯、双酯或多酯以及胺醇类鸟头碱型二萜生物碱为主,且酯基中无大茴香酸酯基,此系是草乌的主要植物来源,具有很大的毒性,应十分慎用。这些系可能代表乌头亚属进化的类群。其中显柱乌头系与兴安乌头系可能较近缘。蔓乌头系可能是连接显柱乌头系／兴安乌头系与乌头系的中间类群。另外,保山乌头系、短柄乌头系和准噶尔乌头系可能是直接向显柱乌头系、蔓乌头系和乌头系过渡的较为原始的类群。（3）岩乌头系set．Racemulosa从化学分类角度来看是一个特殊的类群,支持其独立成一个分支。其化学特征以牛扁碱型和乌头碱型的胺醇二萜生物碱如牛扁碱、异塔拉萨亭定和C20-二萜生物碱为主。如果单纯从化学成分来看,它与牛扁亚属植物似乎有一定关系。     

Speciation along a latitudinal gradient: The origin of the Neotropical cycad sister pair Dioon sonorense–D. vovidesii (Zamiaceae)

Latitude is correlated with environmental components that determine the distribution of biodiversity. In combination with geographic factors, latitude‐associated environmental variables are expected to influence speciation, but empirical evidence on how those factors interplay is scarce. We evaluated the genetic and environmental variation among populations in the pair of sister species Dioon sonorense–D. vovidesii, two cycads distributed along a latitudinal environmental gradient in northwestern Mexico, to reveal their demographic histories and the environmental factors involved in their divergence. Using genome‐wide loci data, we determined the species delimitation, estimated the gene flow, and compared multiple demographic scenarios of divergence. Also, we estimated the variation of climatic variables among populations and used ecological niche models to test niche overlap between species. The effect of geographic and environmental variables on the genetic variation among populations was evaluated using linear models. Our results suggest the existence of a widespread ancestral population that split into the two species ~829 ky ago. The geographic delimitation along the environmental gradient occurs in the absence of major geographic barriers, near the 28th parallel north, where a zonation of environmental seasonality exists. The northern species, D. vovidesii, occurs in more seasonal environments but retains the same niche of the southern species, D. sonorense. The genetic variation throughout populations cannot be solely explained by stochastic processes; the latitudinal‐associated seasonality has been an additive factor that strengthened the species divergence. This study represents an example of how speciation can be achieved by the effect of the latitude‐associated factors on the genetic divergence among populations.     

An HPLC study of flavones from some Spanish Sideritis species

Nine flavone aglycones were identified from the ether extracts of fifteen Sideritis species by means of HPLC techniques.     

Allozyme variation in the three extant populations of the narrowly endemic cycad Dioon angustifolium Miq. (Zamiaceae) from North-eastern Mexico

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Dioon angustifolium was considered within D. edule. Recent morphometric and allozyme studies on D. edule have shown that D. angustifolium has originated from geographic isolation and is therefore considered to be a separate species. This cycad is endemic to north-eastern Mexico and is known only from three populations in the Sierra Madre Oriental mountain chain. Its populations are small when compared with its southern relative D. edule. In this study, genetic variation was determined within and between populations of D. angustifolium and the genetic consequences of habitat fragmentation and isolation of populations of this species were assessed. METHODS: Allozyme electrophoresis of 14 presumptive loci was used. The data were analysed with statistical approximations for estimating genetic diversity, structure, gene flow and recent genetic bottlenecks. KEY RESULTS: Means and standard deviations of genetic diversity estimators were: number of alleles per locus (A = 1.67 +/- 0.23), percentage of polymorphic loci (P = 52.4 +/- 23 %) and expected heterozygosity (H(E) = 0.218 +/- 0.093). The genetic variation attributable to differences among populations was 16.7 %. Mean gene flow between paired populations was Nm = 1.55 +/- 0.67, which is similar to that reported for endemic plant species of narrow geographical distribution and species with gravity-dispersed seed. A recent bottleneck is detected in the populations studied. CONCLUSIONS: Dioon angustifolium presents high levels of genetic diversity compared with other cycad species, in spite of small population sizes. The recent bottleneck effect did not effectively reduce the genetic variation to the extent of eliminating these populations. The distribution of D. angustifolium appears to be the result of historical biogeographical effects related to the Pleistocene glaciations. It is recommended that this species be catalogued in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species and conservation efforts be made to preserve it.     

福建苏铁调查研究初报

对福建苏铁经过三年多的调查、观察和研究 ,基本完成福建苏铁原产地的调查 ,认为福建原产两种苏铁 ,即苏铁与四川苏铁。本文还对福州树木园引种栽培的苏铁进行分类研究 ,有苏铁、四川苏铁、海南苏铁、攀枝花苏铁、广东苏铁、台东苏铁、元江苏铁、暹罗苏铁、石山苏铁、篦齿苏铁、越南苏铁、叉叶苏铁、多羽叉叶苏铁、多歧苏铁、刺叶苏铁等 ,另有三种形态特征比较特殊的苏铁也在本文进行了简要描述。