EFFECT OF PICLORAM ON TRANSPORT IN YOUNG BEAN,MESQUITE, AND HUISACHE PLANTS

The effect of 4-amino,3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) on transport from leaves to the roots was studied using young bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.), mesquite (Prosopis juliflora var. velutina (Woot.) Sarg.), and huisache (Acacia farnesiana (L) Willd.) plants. The only picloram treatments which were effective in enhancing transport of ¹⁴C-assimilate or ¹⁴C-picloram to the roots were those made to the shoots or roots one day or more before application of the label to the shoots. The enhancement of transport was not evident when un-labeled picloram or 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T), or both, were applied at the same time as the ¹⁴C-label. Enhancement of transport was to the more mature stem or root tissues. Inorganic nitrogen applied to nitrogen-deficient bean plants also increased transport of ¹⁴C-assimilate to the roots, especially the rate.     

Identification of Prosopis juliflora and Prosopis pallida Accessions Using Molecular Markers

There has been much taxonomic confusion over the identification of Prosopis species, especially where introduced. Prosopis juliflora is the most widespread species in the arid and semi-arid tropics, although it has been confused with other species, particularly the closely related Prosopis pallida. In this study, RAPDs markers were used for the first time to distinguish between these species. Eighteen primers were used in amplification reactions, which yielded an average of 120 bands per accession. A dendrogram showing genetic similarities among accessions was constructed using UPGMA cluster analysis and the Nei and Li similarity coefficient. The genetic similarity observed between P. juliflora and P. pallida is similar to the value in sympatric Prosopis species in North America, and reconsideration of the series rank in section Algarobia is suggested. Species-specific markers confirmed that material in Burkina Faso is P. juliflora, but suggested that material collected in Brazil, Cape Verde and Senegal is P. pallida, whereas this has previously been identified as P. juliflora.     

Phylogenetic analysis of Acacia (Mimosaceae) as revealed from chloroplast RFLP data

 Chloroplast DNA of 22 species of Acacia (Tourn.) Miller was digested with ten restriction endonucleases, Southern-blotted and probed with cloned fragments covering the chloroplast genome of tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.). Phyletic and phenetic analyses of the resulting 176 polymorphic bands recorded among the 22 species were performed. The phylogram was reconstructed using heuristic search and Wagner parsimony. The resulting most parsimonious consensus phylogram displayed three major phyletic lineages, consistent with the previously established three subgenera of Acacia. The 10 species of subgenus Acacia and the 6 species of subgenus Heterophyllum formed two monophyletic sister clades. The 5 species of subgenus Aculeiferum studied and Acacia albida (Syn. Faidherbia albida) grouped together and were basal to the clades of subgenera Acacia and Heterophyllum. The phylogram indicated that subgenus Heterophyllum diverged earlier from subgenus Aculeiferum than did subgenus Acacia; however, the phenogram indicated the reverse. The study indicated that A. nilotica and A. farnesiana are sister species, though A. nilotica is Afro-Asiatic and A. farnesiana is American. The phenogram separated the three subgenera in agreement with the phylogram, but the two dendrograms differed regarding the topologies of the species and the distance of evolution between subgenera Acacia and Heterophyllum. Received: 8 July 1998 / Accepted: 24 July 1998     

RAPD and microsatellite transferability studies in selected species of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prosopis</Emphasis> (section Algarobia) with emphasis on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Prosopis juliflora</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P. pallida</Emphasis>

The genus Prosopis (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae), comprises 44 species widely distributed in arid and semi-arid zones. Prosopis pallida (Humb. & Bonpl. ex Willd.) Kunth and P. juliflora (Sw.) DC. are the two species that are truly tropical apart from P. africana, which is native to tropical Africa (Pasiecznik et al. 2004), and they have been introduced widely beyond their native ranges. However, taxonomic confusion within the genus has hampered exploitation and better management of the species. The present study focusses primarily on evaluating the genetic relationship between Prosopis species from the section Algarobia, containing most species of economic importance, though P. tamarugo from section Strombocarpa is also included for comparison. In total, 12 Prosopis species and a putative P. pallida × P. chilensis hybrid were assessed for their genetic relationships based on RAPD markers and microsatellite transferability. The results show that P. pallida and P. juliflora are not closely related despite some morphological similarity. Evidence also agrees with previous studies which suggest that the grouping of series in section Algarobia is artificial.     

Genetic diversity within and among two Argentinean and one Mexican species of Acacia (Fabaceae)

Acacia is a pantropical genus comprising > 1450 species. Following Vassal's treatment Acacia is considered as a single genus with three subgenera (Acacia, Aculeiferum and Phyllodineae). Acacia caven, A. curvifructa and A. farnesiana belong to subgenus Acacia and the relationship between them is controversial. The aim of this study was to elucidate the relationship between the three species using amplified fragment length polymorphism, analysing 15 populations of these species, and to compare the results obtained with those from a morphological analysis. Genetic diversity indices (percentage of polymorphic loci, genetic diversity) showed that genetic variation in A. caven is higher than that in A. curvifructa and A. farnesiana. Of the total genetic diversity in A. caven and A. farnesiana, most is found within populations (∼70%). Analysis with STRUCTURE showed that the optimal number of clusters (K) was ten, and in all cases where populations were grouped they were geographically close and/or belong to the same variety. The morphological canonical discriminant analysis did not result in a separation between all individuals, indicating that they do not harbour consistent morphological discontinuities. Altogether, the results of our molecular analyses showed the existence of significant differences between A. caven, A. curvifructa and A. farnesiana, which argues for recognizing them as different species. © 2015 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society, 2015, 177 , 593–606.     

Nutrient resorption responses to water and nitrogen amendment in semi-arid grassland of Inner Mongolia, China

Litterfall and fine root production is a major pathway for carbon and nutrient cycling in forest ecosystems. We investigated leaf litterfall, fine-root mass, production and turnover rate in the upper soil (0–30 cm) under four major tree species (Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia nilotica, Azadirachta indica, Prosopis juliflora) of the semi-arid region of India. All the four tree species showed an unimodal peak of leaf litterfall with distinct seasonality. Leucaena leucocephala and Acacia nilotica had maximum leaf litterfall between September and December while Azadirachta indica and Prosopis juliflora shed most of their leaves between February and May. Annual leaf litterfall of the four species ranged from 3.3 Mg ha^?1 (Leucaena leucocephala) to 8.1 Mg ha^?1 (Prosopis juliflora). Marked seasonal variations in amount of fine root biomass were observed in all the four tree species. Fine root production was maximum in Prosopis juliflora (171 g m^?2 y^?1) followed by Azadirachta indica (169 g m^?2 y^?1), Acacia nilotica (106 g m^?2 y^?1) and Leucaena leucocephala (79 g m^?2 y^?1). Fine root biomass showed a seasonal peak after the rainy season but fell to its lowest value during the winter and dry summer season. Fine root turnover rate ranged from 0.56 to 0.97 y^?1 and followed the order Azadirachta indica > Leucaena leucocephala > Prosopis juliflora > Acacia nilotica. The results of this study demonstrated that Prosopis juliflora and Azadirachta indica had greater capability for maintaining site productivity as evidenced from greater leaf litterfall and fine root production.     

Effects of picloram and ethylene on leaf movement in huisache and mesquite seedlings

Application of 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) to roots stimulated the production of ethylene in both mesquite [Prosopis juliflora (Swartz) DC. var. glandulosa (Torr.) Cockerell] and huisache [Acacia farnesiana (L.) Willd.] seedlings. Herbicide levels rose in tissues before we detected increased ethylene production. Rates of ethylene production by various parts of the plant paralleled herbicide concentrations. In both species, picloram caused loss of leaf movement and epinastic curvature of leaves and stems. Only huisache was defoliated by picloram. Rates of ethylene production increased before we observed any leaf movement or defoliation responses. Fumigation of plants with levels of ethylene, calculated to approximate those in herbicide-treated plants at the initial loss of leaf movement, caused the same symptoms as picloram treatment. The time sequence of ethylene fumigation and loss of the ability for leaf movement is compatible with the hypothesis that there is a causal relationship between picloram and ethylene production and loss of leaf movement.     

Classification of Prosopis juliflora invasion in the Lake Baringo basin and environmental correlations

The spread of Prosopis juliflora in the Baringo basin, Kenya, has led to severe changes in the ecosystem with negative socio‐economic impacts. The drivers that foster the invasiveness of Prosopis are not fully understood. Thus, a method to quantify the degree of infestation will support the determination of environmental preferences and the risk assessment of future Prosopis invasion. We developed a methodology for characterising and classifying degrees of Prosopis infestation in vegetation stands and propose its application in environmental correlation models. The relative cover was identified as the most suited attribute for assessing and monitoring the invasion of Prosopis. The distance of invaded stands from original plantations and environmental attributes related to water availability (ground water table, rainfall and soil water–holding capacity) have potential to predict potential or future invasion risks.     

Characteristics of Woodland Rhizobial Populations from Surface- and Deep-Soil Environments of the Sonoran Desert

A collection of 74 rhizobial isolates recovered from nodules of the desert woody legumes Prosopis glandulosa, Psorothamnus spinosus, and Acacia constricta were characterized by using 61 nutritional and biochemical tests. We compared isolates from A. constricta and Prosopis glandulosa and tested the hypothesis that the rhizobia from a deep-phreatic rooting zone of a Prosopis woodland in the Sonoran Desert of southern California were phenetically distinct from rhizobia from surface soils. Cluster analysis identified four major homogeneous groups. The first phenon contained slow-growing (SG) Prosopis rhizobia from surface and deep-phreatic-soil environments. These isolates grew poorly on most of the media used in the study, probably because of their requirement for a high medium pH. The second group of isolates primarily contained SG Prosopis rhizobia from the deep-phreatic rooting environment and included two fast-growing (FG) Psorothamnus rhizobia. These isolates were nutritionally versatile and grew over a broad pH range. The third major phenon was composed mainly of FG Prosopis rhizobia from surface and dry subsurface soils. While these isolates used a restricted range of carbohydrates (including sucrose) as sole carbon sources, they showed better growth on a range of organic acids as sole carbon sources and amino acids as sole carbon and nitrogen sources than did other isolates in the study. They grew better at 36°C than at 26°C. The FG Acacia rhizobia from surface-soil environments formed a final major phenon that was distinct from the Prosopis isolates. They produced very high absorbance readings on all of the carbohydrates tested except sucrose, grew poorly on many of the other substrates tested, and preferred a 36 to a 26°C incubation temperature. The surface populations of Prosopis rhizobia required a higher pH for growth and, under the conditions used in this study, were less tolerant of low solute potential and high growth temperature than were phreatic-soil isolates. SG Prosopis rhizobia from phreatic and surface soils were physiologically distinct, suggesting adaptation to their respective soil environments.     

Biofuels and invasive species from an African perspective – a review

A large number of proposed biofuel crops share the same traits as known invasive plant species, many of which are already present in Africa and include species such as Prosopis glandulosa Torrey (Mimosaceae), P. juliflora (Sw.) DC, Leucaena leucocephala (Lam.) de Wit (Mimosaceae), Azadirachta indica A. Juss. (Meliaceae), and others. In this paper, we mainly assess the impacts of invasive Prosopis species in Africa, particularly in Kenya and South Africa. Introduced Prosopis species have invaded over 4 million hectares in Africa, threatening crop and pasture production, reducing underground water reserves, and displacing native plant and animal species. This has major implications for millions of people who depend on natural resources for their survival. It is therefore suggested that known invasive or potentially invasive plant species not be introduced to countries or regions for biofuel production. If (after a stringent cost–benefit analysis) the introduction of a potentially invasive species is deemed critical for economic development and the benefits clearly outweigh the potential costs, countries should endeavour to abide by the Principles and Criteria for Sustainable Biofuel Production developed by the Roundtable on Sustainable Biofuels.     

Spatial Associations, Size–Distance Relationships and Population Structure of Two Dominant Life Forms in a Semiarid Enclave of the Venezuelan Andes

The role of three thorny legume species as nurse plants and competitive relationships with columnar cacti were evaluated in a semiarid enclave of the Venezuelan Andes. Abundance and size of three columnar cacti species (Stenocereus griseus, Cereus repandus and Pilosocereus tillianus) under isolated shrubs of three thorny legumes species (Prosopis juliflora, Acacia farnesiana and A. macracantha) were recorded and compared with open areas. Using size–distance data we inferred the intensity of intra- and interspecific competition between both life forms in a “cardonal” (xeric zone) and “espinar” (mesic zone) of the enclave. Sixty-one columnar cacti were found beneath the three thorny legume species (92%), while only 5 cactus individuals were found in open areas (8%). Comparison of observed and expected number of cactus individuals shows that S. griseus and C. repandus are significantly associated with isolated shrubs of A. farnesiana and A. macracantha. Although P. juliflora contributed more than 40% of the total legume plant cover, the number of columnar cacti under its isolated shrubs was significantly lower than would be expected by chance. In all, 19 of 21 possible plant–plant combinations between and within columnar cacti and legume shrubs were recorded (espinar: 18, cardonal: 13, common combinations: 12). In both zones, intra- and interspecific combinations among columnar cacti species were relatively high (positive correlation between the sum of neighbour plant sizes and the distances separating them). Our results strongly suggest, at least for case of S. griseus and C. repandus, that these columnar cacti species require nurse plants for their establishment. The results on interference need still support from further research. We discuss the effects of plant–plant positive interactions on natural regeneration of these columnar cacti.     

Involvement of Ethylene in Picloram-induced Leaf Movement Response

The relationship of root-applied 4-amino-3,5,6-trichloropicolinic acid (picloram) to ethylene production and the leaf movement response in honey mesquite (Prosopis juliflora [Swartz] DC. var. glandulosa [Torr.] Cockerell) and huisache (Acacia farnesiana [L.] Willd.) was studied in detail. The threshold and saturation levels of exogenous ethylene and root-applied picloram necessary to inhibit leaf movement were determined. Internal levels of ethylene in excess of those necessary to saturate the leaf movement inhibition response occurred in tops of treated plants before and after symptom expression. These internal levels of ethylene, while averages for the entire plant tops, probably occur at the specific site of action and thus account for the action of picloram in inhibition of leaf movement and related responses. Quantitative differences in the leaf movement response of both species to picloram and ethylene were observed. In huisache alone, a very small change in ethylene levels was necessary to produce a major blockage of the leaf movement response, suggesting that the gas may have a natural function in that species.     

Bioaccumulation and effect of cadmium in the photosynthetic apparatus of Prosopis juliflora

In the present study Prosopis juliflora plants grown in hydroponics solution were exposed to 50,100 and 1000 μM CdCl₂. The cadmium uptake, transport and toxicity on the photosynthetic activities in the plants were measured at 48 h after starting cadmium treatments. The results showed that the concentration of Cd²⁺ in P. juliflora tended to increase with addition of Cd²⁺ to hydroponics solution. However, the increase of Cd²⁺ in roots and leaves varied largely. In this sense, the accumulation of Cd²⁺ in P. juliflora roots increased significantly in proportion with the addition of this metal. In contrast a relatively low level of Cd²⁺ transportation index, and bioaccumulation factor were found in P. juliflora at 48 h after of treatments. On the other hand the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) and the activity of photosystem II (Fv/Fo) ratios in P. juliflora leaf treated with Cd²⁺ not showed significantly changes during the experiment. These results suggested that the photosynthetic apparatus of P. juliflora was not the primary target of the Cd²⁺ action. Further studies will be focused in understanding the participation of the root system in Prosopis plants with the rhizosphere activation and root adsorption to soil Cd²⁺ under natural conditions.     

Symbiotic properties of sinorhizobia isolated from Acacia and Prosopis nodules in Sudan and Senegal

The host specificity, infection process and effectiveness of nodules produced by several African sinorhizobial strains on different Acacia and Prosopis species (Leguminosae, Mimosoideae) were studied. Sinorhizobium arboris strain HAMBI 1552^T, S. kostiense strains HAMBI 1489^T and HAMBI 1493, S. saheli strain HAMBI 1496 and S. terangae bv. acaciae strain ORS 1058 induced nitrogen fixing nodules on seedlings of the following African or Latin American species (marked with ^*): A. angustissima ^* , A. mellifera, A. nilotica, A. oerfota (synonym A. nubica), A. senegal, A. seyal, A. sieberiana, A. tortilis subsp. raddiana, P. chilensis ^* , P. cineraria, P. juliflora and P. pallida ^* . All strains increased plant yield significantly compared with uninoculated seedlings watered with nitrogen-free medium, but none appeared to be superior. The sinorhizobial strains were unable to effectively nodulate Sesbania rostrata (Papilionoideae).All roots had hairs, but particularly in the case of Acacia spp. they were often sparse. After inoculation root hairs were deformed and, in general, infection in Acacia spp. occurred through short root hairs and in Prosopis spp. through longer ones. After entry, the rhizobia filled infection pockets in the root hair, which later expanded into sac-like structures. When infection threads occurred, they usually started from sac-like structures. Elongation and ramification of the nodules indicated that Acacia spp. and Prosopis spp. have indeterminate nodules. A persistent apical meristem, which is the characteristic feature of the indeterminate nodule type, was much clearer in Prosopis spp. than in Acacia spp. Sinorhizobial strains formed tumour-like structures with undifferentiated cell tissue on the Australian acacia A. holosericea and ineffective, nodule-like structures on the African P. africana.     

Germination of Prosopis juliflora (Sw) DC seeds after scarification treatments

Invasive plant species are the second most important threat to global biodiversity loss after land‐use change. Invasive species can modify native community composition, deplete species diversity and affect ecosystem processes. The Caatinga is one of the most human‐affected Brazilian ecosystems owing to non‐sustainable use of its natural resources. Prosopis juliflora is an important invasive plant species in the Caatinga ecosystem. Seed germination is a critical stage in plant life cycles and is a major factor in the establishment and success of invasive plant species. Among the factors that affect seed germination and dormancy, coat‐imposed seems to be the most important for P. juliflora. In Prosopis species, the ingestion of fruits by wild and domestic animals may promote and accelerate germination, enhancing the dispersal of seeds and fruits of these species. We investigated the germination capacity of P. juliflora seeds after artificial mechanical and chemical scarification and analyzed the changes in seedling vigor caused by the scarification treatments. Germination rate, germination time (TMG) and germination synchrony (E) differed significantly with the length of the scarification treatments in H₂SO₄ for both seeds with endocarps and seeds without endocarps (non‐endocarp seeds). Sulfuric acid affected plant survival more strongly than germination rate, particularly in non‐endocarp seeds.     

Somatic embryogenesis and plant regeneration in Acacia farnesiana and A. schaffneri

Summary Efficient plant regeneration systems via somatic embryogenesis have been developed for Acacia farnesiana and Acacia schaffneri [Leguminosae (Mimosoideae)]. The protocol used in this study consisted of placing immature, zygotic embryos of these species in Murashige and Skoog semi-solid basal medium supplemented with 9.05 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 4.65 μM kinetin to induce callus. Some parts of the callus were used for direct embryo differentiation and others for establishment of cell suspension cultures. In the first case, somatic embryos were produced on semi-solid differentiation media without growth regulators or with abscisic acid (ABA). The higher number of somatic embryos, 345 and 198 embryos per g callus in A. farnesiana and A. schaffneri, respectively was obtained in media without growth regulators, but adding ABA increased the percentage of embryos that reached more advanced differentiation stages. The production of somatic embryos was achieved starting from cell suspensions only when these suspensions were plated into the semi-solid differentiation medium. Somatic embryos germinated on medium containing 217 μM adenine sulfate with efficiencies of 69% in A. farnesiana and 47% in A. schaffneri. Some somatic embryos that developed into plantlets were acclimatized in the greenhouse, and they grew into normal plants.     

Direct measurement of denitrification in a Prosopis (Mesquite) dominated Sonoran Desert ecosystem

Summary Denitrification was directly measured using the acetylene inhibition technique in a Sonoran Desert ecosystem dominated by Prosopis glandulosa. Soil under Prosopis and from the unvegetated area between Prosopis was wetted with 50 mm of water and denitrification measured for 48 hours. The mean denitrification rate under Prosopis was 11.6 g N ha^-1h^-1 compared to only 0.2 g N ha^-1h^-1 away from Prosopis. The denitrification response to wetting was rapid and rates peaked about 24 h after water application.The much higher denitrification under Prosopis probably results from high available organic C under Prosopis, but other soil chemical and physical changes effected by Prosopis may influence denitrification rates. About 0.5 kg N ha^-1 of Prosopis cover may be lost from this ecosystem by denitrification after infrequent major rainfalls.     

Biochemical and morphological evidence for host race evolution in desert mistletoe,Phoradendron californicum (Viscaceae)

Allozymes and morphological characters were used to test whether host race evolution—the genetic divergence of parasitic populations caused by adaptation to different host species—has occurred in desert mistletoe,Phoradendron californicum. Populations ofPhoradendron californicum from two hosts,Acacia greggii andProsopis glandulosa, were surveyed from the Mojave and Colorado deserts. Electrophoretic data indicated genetic differentiation of mistletoes occurring on these hosts. Three of four morphological characters (internode length, main shoot lateral shoot diameter ratio and berry color) also showed significant host-specific differentiation. These data support the hypothesis that host race formation has occurred or is occurring in this parasitic angiosperm.     

Diurnal and Seasonal Changes in Photosynthesis and Photosystem 2 Photochemical Efficiency in Prosopis juliflora Leaves Subjected to Natural Environmental Stress

The plants of Prosopis juliflora growing in northern India are exposed to large variations of temperature, vapour pressure deficits (VPD), and photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD) throughout the year. Under these conditions P. juliflora had two short periods of leaf production, one after the winter season and second after summer, which resulted in two distinct even aged cohorts of leaves. In winter with cold nights (2–8 °C) and moderate temperatures during the day, the plants showed high rates of photosynthesis. In summer the midday temperatures often reached <45 °C and plants showed severe inhibition of photosynthesis. The leaves of second cohort appeared in July and showed typical midday depression of photosynthesis. An analysis of diurnal partitioning of the absorbed excitation energy into photochemistry showed that a smaller fraction of the energy was utilised for photochemistry and a greater fraction was dissipated thermally, further the photon utilisation for photochemistry and thermal dissipation is largely affected by the interaction of irradiance and temperature. The plants showed high photochemical efficiency of photosystem 2 (PS2) at predawn and very little photoinhibition in all seasons except in summer. The photoinhibition in summer was pronounced with very poor recovery during night. Since P. juliflora exhibited distinct pattern of senescence and production of new leaves after winter and summer stress period, it appeared that the ontogenic characteristic together with its ability for safe dissipation of excess radiant energy in P. juliflora contributes to its growth and survival.     

Stress Tolerance and Ecophysiological Ability of an Invader and a Native Species in a Seasonally Dry Tropical Forest

Ecophysiological traits of Prosopis juliflora (Sw.) DC. and a phylogenetically and ecologically similar native species, Anadenanthera colubrina (Vell.) Brenan, were studied to understand the invasive species’ success in caatinga, a seasonally dry tropical forest ecosystem of the Brazilian Northeast. To determine if the invader exhibited a superior resource-capture or a resource-conservative strategy, we measured biophysical and biochemical parameters in both species during dry and wet months over the course of two years. The results show that P. juliflora benefits from a flexible strategy in which it frequently outperforms the native species in resource capture traits under favorable conditions (e.g., photosynthesis), while also showing better stress tolerance (e.g., antioxidant activity) and water-use efficiency in unfavorable conditions. In addition, across both seasons the invasive has the advantage over the native with higher chlorophyll/carotenoids and chlorophyll a/b ratios, percent N, and leaf protein. We conclude that Prosopis juliflora utilizes light, water and nutrients more efficiently than Anadenanthera colubrina, and suffers lower intensity oxidative stress in environments with reduced water availability and high light radiation.