Domestication Syndrome in Caimito (Chrysophyllum cainito L.): Fruit and Seed Characteristics
López, Isis; Petersen, Jennifer J.; Anaya, Natalia; Cubilla-Rios, Luis; Potter, Daniel
2010-01-01
Domestication Syndrome in Caimito (Chrysophyllum cainitoL.): Fruit and Seed Characteristics: The process of domestication is understudied and poorly known for many tropical fruit tree crops. The star apple or caimito tree (Chrysophyllum cainito L., Sapotaceae) is cultivated throughout the New World tropics for its edible fruits. We studied this species in central Panama, where it grows wild in tropical moist forests and is also commonly cultivated in backyard gardens. Using fruits collected over two harvest seasons, we tested the hypothesis that cultivated individuals of C. cainito show distinctive fruit and seed characteristics associated with domestication relative to wild types. We found that cultivated fruits were significantly and substantially larger and allocated more to pulp and less to exocarp than wild fruits. The pulp of cultivated fruits was less acidic; also, the pulp had lower concentrations of phenolics and higher concentrations of sugar. The seeds were larger and more numerous and were less defended with phenolics in cultivated than in wild fruits. Discriminant Analysis showed that, among the many significant differences, fruit size and sugar concentration drove the great majority of the variance distinguishing wild from cultivated classes. Variance of pulp phenolics among individuals was significantly higher among wild trees than among cultivated trees, while variance of fruit mass and seed number was significantly higher among cultivated trees. Most traits showed strong correlations between years. Overall, we found a clear signature of a domestication syndrome in the fruits of cultivated caimito in Panama. PMID:20543881
Petersen, Jennifer J; Parker, Ingrid M; Potter, Daniel
2014-01-01
Species in the early stages of domestication, in which wild and cultivated forms co-occur, provide important opportunities to develop and test hypotheses about the origins of crop species. Chrysophyllum cainito (Sapotaceae), the star apple or caimito, is a semidomesticated tree widely cultivated for its edible fruits; it is known to be native to the neotropics, but its precise geographic origins have not been firmly established. Here, we report results of microsatellite marker analyses supporting the hypothesis that the center of domestication for caimito was the Isthmus of Panama, a region in which few crop species are believed to have originated, despite its importance as a crossroads for the dispersal of domesticated plants between North and South America. Our data suggest that caimito was domesticated in a geographically restricted area while incorporating a diverse gene pool. These results refute the generally accepted Antillean origin of caimito, as well as alternative hypotheses that the species was domesticated independently in the two areas or over a broad geographic range including both. Human-mediated dispersal from Panama to the north and east was accompanied by strong reductions in both genotypic and phenotypic diversity. Within Panama, cultivated and wild trees show little neutral genetic divergence, in contrast to striking phenotypic differentiation in fruit and seed traits. In addition to providing a rare example of data that support the hypothesis of a narrow geographic origin on the Isthmus of Panama for a now widespread cultivated plant species, this study is one of the first investigations of the origins of an edible species of the large pantropical family Sapotaceae. PMID:25035796
Petersen, Jennifer J; Parker, Ingrid M; Potter, Daniel
2014-03-01
Species in the early stages of domestication, in which wild and cultivated forms co-occur, provide important opportunities to develop and test hypotheses about the origins of crop species. Chrysophyllum cainito (Sapotaceae), the star apple or caimito, is a semidomesticated tree widely cultivated for its edible fruits; it is known to be native to the neotropics, but its precise geographic origins have not been firmly established. Here, we report results of microsatellite marker analyses supporting the hypothesis that the center of domestication for caimito was the Isthmus of Panama, a region in which few crop species are believed to have originated, despite its importance as a crossroads for the dispersal of domesticated plants between North and South America. Our data suggest that caimito was domesticated in a geographically restricted area while incorporating a diverse gene pool. These results refute the generally accepted Antillean origin of caimito, as well as alternative hypotheses that the species was domesticated independently in the two areas or over a broad geographic range including both. Human-mediated dispersal from Panama to the north and east was accompanied by strong reductions in both genotypic and phenotypic diversity. Within Panama, cultivated and wild trees show little neutral genetic divergence, in contrast to striking phenotypic differentiation in fruit and seed traits. In addition to providing a rare example of data that support the hypothesis of a narrow geographic origin on the Isthmus of Panama for a now widespread cultivated plant species, this study is one of the first investigations of the origins of an edible species of the large pantropical family Sapotaceae.
Meira, Nicole Anzanelo; Klein, Luiz Carlos; Rocha, Lilian W; Quintal, Zhelmy Martin; Monache, Franco Delle; Cechinel Filho, Valdir; Quintão, Nara Lins Meira
2014-02-03
Chrysophyllum cainito, popularly known as "star apple", caimito, "abiu-roxo" or "abiu-do-Pará", is a tree of about 25m in height. Besides its culinary use, it is also used in folk medicine for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and several inflammatory diseases. The crude methanolic extract (CME) was submitted to phytochemical studies for obtaining fractions and isolated compounds. They were monitored by thin-layer-chromatography (TLC). The biological activity was evaluated in mice using the carrageenan-induced mechanical hypersensitivity and paw oedema. Biochemical assays, such as myeloperoxidase (MPO) and activity and cytokines levels quantification, were carried out to analyse the involvement of neutrophil migration and IL-1β and TNFα production. Some adverse effects were investigated using the open-field and rota-rod tests, and it was also measured the rectal temperature. This study demonstrates, for the first time, the anti-hypersensitivity and anti-inflammatory effects of CME, fractions and two isolated triterpenes obtained from the leaves of Chrysophyllum cainito on carrageenan-induced hypersensitivity and paw-oedema. The mice treated with CME or chloroform fraction (CHCl3) presented reduction in mechanical hypersensitivity. The effect of the CME seemed to be partially related to the anti-inflammatory activity, as the paw-oedema and MPO activity were also significantly inhibited. The isolated compound Lup-20(29)-en-3β-O-hexanoate demonstrated more reduction of the hypersensitivity than 3β-Lup-20(29)-en-3-yl acetate, suggesting that this molecule might be partially responsible for the biological effects obtained with CME and CHCl3 fractions. Finally, animals treated with CME and CHCl3 did not present changes in locomotor activity, motor performance or body temperature. Our data demonstrates, for the first time, that the crude extract, fractions and pure compounds obtained from the Chrysophyllum cainito leaves possess important anti-hypersensitive properties against inflammatory pain in mice. The mechanisms through which Chrysophyllum cainito exerts its anti-hypersensitive actions are still unclear, and require further investigation; however, this could well constitute a new and attractive alternative for the management of persistent inflammatory and neuropathic pain in humans. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database
Chrysophyllum cainito or “Caimito” is a fruit native from to the West Indies and most tropical areas including Central America and Mexico. The generic name is based on Greek words for ‘gold’ and ‘leaf’ which refers to the leaves of some species that are often covered with golden hairs underneath. Pr...
Meira, Nicole Anzanelo; Rocha, Lilian W; da Silva, Gislaine F; Quintal, Zhelmy Martin; Delle Monache, Franco; Cechinel Filho, Valdir; Quintão, Nara Lins Meira
2016-05-26
Chrysophyllum cainito L. (Sapotaceae), commonly known as caimito or star apple, is a neotropical tree valued for its ornamental quality and edible fruits. Besides its culinary use, the leaves are also popularly used to treat diabetes mellitus and several inflammatory diseases. This study aimed to complement previous data obtained about the anti-hypersensitivity effects of the crude methanol extract (CME), CHCl3 fraction and isolated compounds obtained from C. cainito. The CME, CHCl3 fraction and two isolated triterpenes identified as 3β-Lup-20(29)-en-3-yl acetate (1) and Lup-20(29)-en-3β-O-hexanoate (2) were evaluated regarding their effects using clinical pain models, such as post-operative, inflammatory and neuropathic pain. Acute inflammatory pain models induced by PGE2, epinephrine, LPS and CFA were also used to improve the knowledge about the mechanism of action. The animals treated with the CME and submitted to PGE2, epinephrine, LPS or CFA had the mechanical hypersensitivity significantly reduced. When repeatedly administered, the CME enhanced the mechanical withdrawal threshold of mice submitted to post-operative pain model, CFA-induced chronic inflammatory pain and two different models of neuropathic pain. In turn, the CHCl3 fraction presented anti-hypersensitivity effect against epinephrine- or LPS-induced hypersensitivity, with a more prominent activity in both the neuropathic pain models. The compound 1 seems to present the same profile of the CHCl3, whereas compound 2 exhibited activity similar to the CME. This data suggests that the CME effect involves interference in the production, release or action of some chemical mediators, such as PGE2, sympathetic amines, cytokines, etc. Part of these effects was observed with the CHCl3 fraction, emphasizing the prominent inhibition of neuropathic pain. The results also demonstrated that part of the CME effects are due to the presence of the triterpenes 1 and 2, but it is important to mention that we cannot discard the effects of countless other compounds presented in the crude extract, acting in a synergic way. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.
Wood anatomy of the neotropical Sapotaceae. VII, Chrysophyllum
B. F. Kukachka
1978-01-01
In the neotropics, the genus Chrysophyllum consists of C. cainito and a number of species which have recently been assigned to the genus Cynodendron. Many taxonomists have not accepted the new genus Cynodendron and this is supported by the present study of the wood anatomy. In this restricted sense, Chrysophyllum consists of a group of closely related species that are...
Arana-Argáez, Víctor Ermilo; Chan-Zapata, Ivan; Canul-Canche, Jaqueline; Fernández-Martín, Karla; Martín-Quintal, Zhelmy; Torres-Romero, Julio Cesar; Coral-Martínez, Tania Isolina; Lara-Riegos, Julio Cesar; Ramírez-Camacho, Mario Alberto
2017-01-01
The aim of this work was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of the methanol extract (MeOH) from Chrysophyllum cainito leaves on the MΦs functions. Peritoneal murine MΦs isolated from Balb/c mice were treated with the MeOH extract and stimulated with LPS. The effect on the phagocytosis was evaluated by flow cytometry assay. The nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) production was measured by the Griess reagent and phenol red reaction, respectively. Levels of IL-6 and TNF-α was measured using an ELISA kit. Viability of MΦs and Vero cells was determined by the MTT method. The MeOH extract of C. cainito leaves inhibited significantly the phagocytosis, and decreased IL-6 and TNF-α production as well as NO and H 2 O 2 released by the MΦs, in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, MeOH extract of C. cainito showed low cytotoxicity effect against the cells. These results suggest that MeOH extract of C. cainito leaves has an immunosuppressive effect on murine MΦs, without effects on cell viability. GC-MS chromatogram analysis of MeOH extract showed that lupeol acetate and alpha-amyrin acetate are the principal compounds.
Arana-Argáez, Víctor Ermilo; Chan-Zapata, Ivan; Canul-Canche, Jaqueline; Fernández-Martín, Karla; Martín-Quintal, Zhelmy; Torres-Romero, Julio Cesar; Coral-Martínez, Tania Isolina; Lara-Riegos, Julio Cesar; Ramírez-Camacho, Mario Alberto
2017-01-01
Background: The aim of this work was to evaluate the immunomodulatory effect of the methanol extract (MeOH) from Chrysophyllum cainito leaves on the MΦs functions. Material and Methods: Peritoneal murine MΦs isolated from Balb/c mice were treated with the MeOH extract and stimulated with LPS. The effect on the phagocytosis was evaluated by flow cytometry assay. The nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production was measured by the Griess reagent and phenol red reaction, respectively. Levels of IL-6 and TNF-α was measured using an ELISA kit. Viability of MΦs and Vero cells was determined by the MTT method. Results: The MeOH extract of C. cainito leaves inhibited significantly the phagocytosis, and decreased IL-6 and TNF-α production as well as NO and H2O2 released by the MΦs, in a concentration-dependent manner. In addition, MeOH extract of C. cainito showed low cytotoxicity effect against the cells. Conclusion: These results suggest that MeOH extract of C. cainito leaves has an immunosuppressive effect on murine MΦs, without effects on cell viability. GC-MS chromatogram analysis of MeOH extract showed that lupeol acetate and alpha-amyrin acetate are the principal compounds. PMID:28480396
Déciga-Campos, Myrna; Ortiz-Andrade, Rolffy; Sanchez-Recillas, Amanda; Flores-Guido, José Salvador; Ramírez Camacho, Mario A
2017-03-01
Preclinical Research The purpose of this work was to assess the antinociceptive and antihyperalgesic properties of an herbal preparation, composed of four vegetal species: Pouteria campechiana (P. campechiana), Chrysophyllum cainito (C. cainito), Citrus limonum (C. limonum), and Annona muricata (A. muricata), that is commonly used in combination (PCCA) in traditional Mayan medicine for the treatment of diabetes and pain. An ethanolic extract of PCCA was prepared at a ratio of 1:1:1:1 for each plant. The systemic antinociceptive effect of PCCA extract (50-600 mg/kg, p.o.) was dose-dependent in the rat formalin (1%) producing 66% antinociceptive response at 400 mg/kg, p.o. A concentration-dependent antinociceptive effect of the PCCA extract (20-160 mg/paw) was also demonstrated in the rat capsaicin (0.2%) test. The PCCA extract (100-400 mg/kg, p.o.) had antihyperalgesic effects in alloxan diabetic rats. These findings demonstrate the antinociceptive and antihyperalgesic effects of PCCA and supports the use of the plant extracts in Mayan folk medicine. Drug Dev Res 78 : 91-97, 2017. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Majumdar, Rakhi; Tantayanon, Supawan; Bag, Braja Gopal
2017-10-01
A simple green chemical method for the one-step synthesis of palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) has been described by reducing palladium (II) chloride with the leaf extract of Chrysophyllum cainito in aqueous medium. The synthesis of the palladium nanoparticles completed within 2-3 h at room temperature, whereas on heat treatment (70-80 °C), the synthesis of colloidal PdNPs completed almost instantly. The stabilized PdNPs have been characterized in detail by spectroscopic, electron microscopic and light scattering measurements. The synthesized PdNPs have been utilized as a green catalyst for C-C coupling reactions under aerobic and phosphine-free conditions in aqueous medium. In addition, the synthesized PdNPs have also been utilized as a catalyst for a very efficient sodium borohydride reduction of 3- and 4-nitrophenols. The synthesized PdNPs can retain their catalytic activity for several months.
Moo-Huchin, Víctor M; Moo-Huchin, Mariela I; Estrada-León, Raciel J; Cuevas-Glory, Luis; Estrada-Mota, Iván A; Ortiz-Vázquez, Elizabeth; Betancur-Ancona, David; Sauri-Duch, Enrique
2015-01-01
The aim of this study was to determine the antioxidant compounds, antioxidant activity and content of individual phenolic compounds of freeze-dried peel from three tropical fruits grown in Yucatan, México: purple star apple (Chrysophyllum cainito L.), yellow cashew and red cashew (Anacardium occidentale). The freeze-dried peels were good source of antioxidant compounds. ABTS and DPPH values in the peel from each fruit were 3050.95-3322.31 μM Trolox/100g dry weight (DW) or 890.19-970.01 mg of vitamin C/100 g DW, and 1579.04-1680.90 μM Trolox/100 g DW or 340.18-362.18 mg of vitamin C/100 g DW, respectively. Six phenolic compounds were identified in the peel from the tropical fruits studied: ferulic, caffeic, sinapic, gallic, ellagic and myricetin. This study demonstrated that freeze-dried peels from purple star apple, yellow cashew and red cashew, could serve as potential sources of antioxidants for use in food and pharmaceutical industries. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Dalling, James W.; Cernusak, Lucas A.; Winter, Klaus; Aranda, Jorge; Garcia, Milton; Virgo, Aurelio; Cheesman, Alexander W.; Baresch, Andres; Jaramillo, Carlos; Turner, Benjamin L.
2016-01-01
Background and Aims Conifers dominated wet lowland tropical forests 100 million years ago (MYA). With a few exceptions in the Podocarpaceae and Araucariaceae, conifers are now absent from this biome. This shift to angiosperm dominance also coincided with a large decline in atmospheric CO2 concentration (ca). We compared growth and physiological performance of two lowland tropical angiosperms and conifers at ca levels representing pre-industrial (280 ppm), ambient (400 ppm) and Eocene (800 ppm) conditions to explore how differences in ca affect the growth and water-use efficiency (WUE) of seedlings from these groups. Methods Two conifers (Araucaria heterophylla and Podocarpus guatemalensis) and two angiosperm trees (Tabebuia rosea and Chrysophyllum cainito) were grown in climate-controlled glasshouses in Panama. Growth, photosynthetic rates, nutrient uptake, and nutrient use and water-use efficiencies were measured. Key Results Podocarpus seedlings showed a stronger (66 %) increase in relative growth rate with increasing ca relative to Araucaria (19 %) and the angiosperms (no growth enhancement). The response of Podocarpus is consistent with expectations for species with conservative growth traits and low mesophyll diffusion conductance. While previous work has shown limited stomatal response of conifers to ca, we found that the two conifers had significantly greater increases in leaf and whole-plant WUE than the angiosperms, reflecting increased photosynthetic rate and reduced stomatal conductance. Foliar nitrogen isotope ratios (δ15N) and soil nitrate concentrations indicated a preference in Podocarpus for ammonium over nitrate, which may impact nitrogen uptake relative to nitrate assimilators under high ca. Significance Podocarps colonized tropical forests after angiosperms achieved dominance and are now restricted to infertile soils. Although limited to a single species, our data suggest that higher ca may have been favourable for podocarp colonization of tropical South America 60 MYA, while plasticity in photosynthetic capacity and WUE may help account for their continued persistence under large changes in ca since the Eocene. PMID:27582361
Dalling, James W; Cernusak, Lucas A; Winter, Klaus; Aranda, Jorge; Garcia, Milton; Virgo, Aurelio; Cheesman, Alexander W; Baresch, Andres; Jaramillo, Carlos; Turner, Benjamin L
2016-11-01
Conifers dominated wet lowland tropical forests 100 million years ago (MYA). With a few exceptions in the Podocarpaceae and Araucariaceae, conifers are now absent from this biome. This shift to angiosperm dominance also coincided with a large decline in atmospheric CO 2 concentration (c a ). We compared growth and physiological performance of two lowland tropical angiosperms and conifers at c a levels representing pre-industrial (280 ppm), ambient (400 ppm) and Eocene (800 ppm) conditions to explore how differences in c a affect the growth and water-use efficiency (WUE) of seedlings from these groups. Two conifers (Araucaria heterophylla and Podocarpus guatemalensis) and two angiosperm trees (Tabebuia rosea and Chrysophyllum cainito) were grown in climate-controlled glasshouses in Panama. Growth, photosynthetic rates, nutrient uptake, and nutrient use and water-use efficiencies were measured. Podocarpus seedlings showed a stronger (66 %) increase in relative growth rate with increasing c a relative to Araucaria (19 %) and the angiosperms (no growth enhancement). The response of Podocarpus is consistent with expectations for species with conservative growth traits and low mesophyll diffusion conductance. While previous work has shown limited stomatal response of conifers to c a , we found that the two conifers had significantly greater increases in leaf and whole-plant WUE than the angiosperms, reflecting increased photosynthetic rate and reduced stomatal conductance. Foliar nitrogen isotope ratios (δ 15 N) and soil nitrate concentrations indicated a preference in Podocarpus for ammonium over nitrate, which may impact nitrogen uptake relative to nitrate assimilators under high c a SIGNIFICANCE: Podocarps colonized tropical forests after angiosperms achieved dominance and are now restricted to infertile soils. Although limited to a single species, our data suggest that higher c a may have been favourable for podocarp colonization of tropical South America 60 MYA, while plasticity in photosynthetic capacity and WUE may help account for their continued persistence under large changes in c a since the Eocene. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the Annals of Botany Company. All rights reserved. For Permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.
Inhibitory activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase by plant extracts from the Brazilian cerrado.
Souza, Paula Monteiro de; Sales, Paloma Michelle de; Simeoni, Luiz Alberto; Silva, Elton Clementino; Silveira, Dâmaris; Magalhães, Pérola de Oliveira
2012-03-01
Diabetes mellitus is the most common disease in the world. One therapeutic approach for treating diabetes is inhibition of α-amylase and α-glucosidase activities to reduce postprandial blood glucose levels. In vitro tests showed that several plant extracts from Brazilian cerrado species can inhibit the activity of α-amylase and α-glucosidase. The extracts of Eugenia dysenterica, Stryphnodendron adstringens, Pouteria caimito, Pouteria ramiflora, and Pouteria torta showed strong α-amylase and α-glucosidase inhibitory activity. Eugenia dysenterica, P. caimito, P. ramiflora, and P. torta aqueous extracts exerted the highest activity against α-amylase (IC₅₀) values of 14.93, 13.6, 7.08, and 5.67 µg/mL, respectively) and α-glucosidase (IC₅₀ values of 0.46, 2.58, 0.35, and 0.22 µg/mL, respectively). Stryphnodendron adstringens ethanol extract also exhibited inhibitory activity against both enzymes (IC₅₀) 1.86 µg/mL against α-amylase and 0.61 µg/mL against α-glucosidase). The results suggest that the activity of these cerrado plants on α-amylase and α-glucosidase represents a potential tool for development of new strategies for treatment of diabetes. © Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York.
Wood anatomy of the neotropical Sapotaceae. VI, Chloroluma
B. F. Kukachka
1978-01-01
The old genus Chloroluma has been reinstated to generic status after having been in synonomy under Chrysophyllum for many years. The description is based on the type species C. gonocarpa which is characterized by: Its clear yellow wood; pores in radial-echelon arrangement; rhombic, two-sized, and microcrystals frequent in the axial parenchyma and wood rays; colored...
Wood anatomy of the neotropical Sapotaceae : XVII. Gambeya
Bohumil Francis Kukachka
1980-01-01
Gambeya is an African genus to which Aubréville added Gambeya excelsa (Huber) Aubr., based on the Amazonian Chrysophyllum excelsum Huber. Whether Gambeya is the appropriate taxon for the American species remains to be resolved. Wood specimens indicate that several species occur in the Americas ranging from Southern Mexico to the Peruvian Amazon. The woods of the...
Philippe, Bidie Alain; Karine, Ndjoko; Barthélemy, Attioua Koffi; Noél, Zirihi Guédé; David, N'guessan Jean; Joseph, Djaman Allico; Hosttetmann, Kurt
2010-09-13
Chrysophyllum perpulchrum (Sapotaceae) is used in the traditional Ivory Coast pharmacopeia to cure fevers. The extract of C. perpulchrum used for this study was the powdered form obtained from the maceration of the dried plant bark in 96% methanol, followed by evaporation to dryness. In the present study, the antioxidative and radical-scavenging activities of the methanolic extract were studied with three standard biological tests: DPPH reduction, ferric thiocyanate (FTC) lipidic peroxidation inhibition and thiobarbituric acid reacting substances (TBARS). Gallic acid and quercetin were used as references. The total amount of phenolic compounds in the extract was determined by ultraviolet (UV) spectrometry and calculated as gallic acid equivalents. Catechin and two dimeric procyanidins were found to be the compounds responsible for the activities. They were chemically dereplicated in the extract by LC-MS. For quantitation purposes, they were isolated by successive chromatographic methods and characterized by mass spectrometry (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectrometry. The quantities of these compounds in C. perpulchrum were 5.4% for catechin (P1), and 5.6 and 9.2% for dimers (compounds 2 (P2) and 3 (P3)), respectively. They displayed antioxidant activity with IC(50) values of 2.50 ± 0.15 µg/mL (P1), 2.10 ± 0.2 µg/mL (P2) and 2.10 ± 0.1 µg/mL (P3). The total extract, the active fractions and the pure compounds inhibited the lipid peroxidation by the FTC method and the TBARS method in the range of 60%. These values were comparable to those seen for quercetin.
Reis, D F; Machado, M M D; Coutinho, N P; Rangel, J V; Moretti, M S; Morais, P B
2018-04-23
Macroinvertebrate shredders consume preferably leaves conditioned by fungi and bacteria which offer greater palatability to them. Plant species in Cerrado present high concentration of chemical elements such as lignin and cellulose, phenols and tanins thus making them less attractive for shredders consumption and limiting the palatability. This study aimed to evaluate the feeding preference of a macroinvertebrate shredder of the genus Phylloicus for plant material from two different biomes (Cerrado and Mata Atlântica), after conditioning in a stream of Mata Atlântica and observing their physical and chemical characteristics. Senescent leaves were collected, monthly from the litterfall of riparian vegetation in a 500 m stretch of a stream in each biome from August 2014 to January 201. The most abundant species in each stream was selected for the experiment. The experimental design consisted in with two treatments. The first (T1) comprised leaf discs from Chrysophyllum oliviforme (Cerrado species) together with leaf discs of Miconia chartacea (Atlantic Forest species) which were conditioned in the Atlantic Forest stream. The second treatment (T2) involved leaf discs of Miconia chartacea conditioned in Mata Altlântica and Cerrado streams. Both tests had showed significant differences between the two treatments (T1 and T2). For T1, there was consumption of M. chartacea leaf discs by Phylloicus sp., but there was no consumption of C. oliviforme discs. For T2, there was preference for M. chartaceae leaves conditioned in a stream of Mata Atlântica than in Cerrado stream. The results showed that Phylloicus sp., had presented preference for food detritus of the Mata Antlântica biome and rejection to the one from Cerrado biome.
Brito-Rocha, E; Schilling, A C; Dos Anjos, L; Piotto, D; Dalmolin, A C; Mielke, M S
2016-01-01
Individual leaf area (LA) is a key variable in studies of tree ecophysiology because it directly influences light interception, photosynthesis and evapotranspiration of adult trees and seedlings. We analyzed the leaf dimensions (length - L and width - W) of seedlings and adults of seven Neotropical rainforest tree species (Brosimum rubescens, Manilkara maxima, Pouteria caimito, Pouteria torta, Psidium cattleyanum, Symphonia globulifera and Tabebuia stenocalyx) with the objective to test the feasibility of single regression models to estimate LA of both adults and seedlings. In southern Bahia, Brazil, a first set of data was collected between March and October 2012. From the seven species analyzed, only two (P. cattleyanum and T. stenocalyx) had very similar relationships between LW and LA in both ontogenetic stages. For these two species, a second set of data was collected in August 2014, in order to validate the single models encompassing adult and seedlings. Our results show the possibility of development of models for predicting individual leaf area encompassing different ontogenetic stages for tropical tree species. The development of these models was more dependent on the species than the differences in leaf size between seedlings and adults.
Gama-Rodrigues, Emanuela F; Gama-Rodrigues, Antonio Carlos; Barros, Nairam F; Moço, Maria Kellen S
2011-11-01
This study was conducted to link soil and litter microbial biomass and activity with soil and litter quality in the surface layer for different pure and mixed stands of native tree species in southeastern Bahia, Brazil. The purpose of the study was to see how strongly the differences among species and stands affect the microbiological attributes of the soil and to identify how microbial processes can be influenced by soil and litter quality. Soil and litter samples were collected from six pure and mixed stands of six hardwood species (Peltogyne angustifolia, Centrolobium robustum, Arapatiella psilophylla, Sclerolobium chrysophyllum, Cordia trichotoma, Macrolobium latifolium) native to the southeastern region of Bahia, Brazil. In plantations of native tree species in humid tropical regions, the immobilization efficiency of C and N by soil microbial biomass was strongly related to the chemical quality of the litter and to the organic matter quality of the soil. According to the variables analyzed, the mixed stand was similar to the natural forest and dissimilar to the pure stands. Litter microbial biomass represented a greater sink of C and N than soil microbial biomass and is an important contributor of resources to tropical soils having low C and N availability.
Bianchini, Edmilson; Garcia, Cristina C; Pimenta, José A; Torezan, José M D
2010-09-01
Size structure and spatial arrangement of 13 abundant tree species were determined in a riparian forest fragment in Paraná State, South Brazil (23°16'S and 51°01'W). The studied species were Aspidosperma polyneuron Müll. Arg., Astronium graveolens Jacq. and Gallesia integrifolia (Spreng) Harms (emergent species); Alseis floribunda Schott, Ruprechtia laxiflora Meisn. and Bougainvillea spectabilis Willd. (shade-intolerant canopy species); Machaerium paraguariense Hassl, Myroxylum peruiferum L. and Chrysophyllum gonocarpum (Mart. & Eichler ex Miq.) Engl. (shade-tolerant canopy species); Sorocea bonplandii (Baill.) Bürger, Trichilia casaretti C. Dc, Trichilia catigua A. Juss. and Actinostemon concolor (Spreng.) Müll. Arg. (understory small trees species). Height and diameter structures and basal area of species were analyzed. Spatial patterns and slope correlation were analyzed by Moran's / spatial autocorrelation coefficient and partial Mantel test, respectively. The emergent and small understory species showed the highest and the lowest variations in height, diameter and basal area. Size distribution differed among emergent species and also among canopy shade-intolerant species. The spatial pattern ranged among species in all groups, except in understory small tree species. The slope was correlated with spatial pattern for A. polyneuron, A. graveolens, A. floribunda, R. laxiflora, M. peruiferum and T. casaretti. The results indicated that most species occurred in specific places, suggesting that niche differentiation can be an important factor in structuring the tree community.
Frugivory by the fish Brycon hilarii (Characidae) in western Brazil
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Reys, Paula; Sabino, José; Galetti, Mauro
2009-01-01
Frugivory and seed dispersal have been poorly studied in Neotropical freshwater fishes. We studied frugivory and seed dispersal by the piraputanga fish ( Brycon hilarii, Characidae) in the Formoso River, Bonito, western Brazil. We examined the stomach contents of 87 fish and found the diet of piraputanga consisted of 24% animal prey (arthropods, snails, and vertebrates), 31% seeds/fruits and 45% other plant material (algae/macrophytes/leaves/flowers). The piraputangas fed on 12 fruit species, and were considered as seed dispersers of eight species. Fruits with soft seeds larger than 10 mm were triturated, but all species with small seeds (e.g. Ficus, Psidium) and one species with large hard seed ( Chrysophyllum gonocarpum) were dispersed. Piraputangas eat more fruits in the dry season just before the migration, but not during the spawning season. Fish length had a positive relation with the presence of fruits in their guts. The gallery forest of the Formoso River apparently does not have any plant species that depend exclusively on B. hilarii for seed dispersal because all fruit species are also dispersed by birds and mammals. Based on seed size and husk hardness of the riparian plant community of Formoso River, however, the piraputangas may potentially disperse at least 50% of the riparian fleshy fruit species and may be particularly important for long-distance dispersal. Therefore, overfishing or other anthropogenic disturbances to the populations of piraputanga may have negative consequences for the riparian forests in this region.
NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)
Tornabene, L. L.; Ryan, J. G.; Stewart, R. H.
2001-05-01
The Gatun Structure, (Latitude N 09 deg 05' 58.1", Longitude W 79 deg 47' 21.8", situated in the triple-canopy rainforest 10 km to the WSW of the Gamboa and about 2 km south of the Isle of Barbacoas, Republic de Panama), is a partially inundated, quasi-concentric surface feature 2.2km in diameter, which appears in aerial photographs and in radar imagery as an arcuate chain of islands with a raised central feature. Although deeply eroded, the structure possesses traits consistent with complex crater morphology: an elevated circular central uplift feature approximately 500-600 m in diameter and 50m high, and arcuate boundary ridges (a possible rim structure) ranging from 50-100 meters high. Within the central peak, highly altered and fractured siltstone of the Gatuncillo formation (Eocene) are uplifted and exposed through surrounding calcareous units of the Caimito formation (Oligocene), the major target rocks in the structure. The structure is crosscut by numerous dikes of unshocked basalt and basaltic andesite related to volcanism along the Panamanian segment of the Central American arc to the south. Analysis of mineral assemblages of units within the structure, and mineral compositions were measured via SEM-EDS and electron microprobe, using the JEOL SEM-Probe facility at the Center for the Study of Materials in Extreme Conditions (CeSMEC) at Florida International University. Bulk chemical and trace element analysis of whole rock samples were conducted via DC Plasma spectrometry at USF. Occurring concentrically within the structure, are limestones with anomalous spherical glass inclusions, both black and white hypocrystalline glasses (melt rocks?), lithic breccias, and melt-bearing breccias, some of which contain flow banding and evidence of selective melting. Three types of spherules (glass, fluid-drop and lithic), a pyroxene-quartz "necklace" disequilibrium structure and possibly shocked amphibole are all petrographic indicators of a possible impact event. In addition, the presence of maskelynite has been based on petrography, SEM-EDS and by RAMAN spectroscopy. RAMAN results indicated that many plagioclase grains in a blue-green clast bering breccia (suevite?) were highly disordered and amorphous. Considering the distance of the Gatun structure from the explosive volcanism of Panamanian arc (approximately 30 km away), and the presence of spherules, maskelynite and other disequilibrium shock features, an impact origin is our preferred interpretation for the Gatun structure.
Woodring, W.P.
1973-01-01
Chapter E adds 112 described species and subspecies (a few briefly described) to the some 440 covered in preceding chapters : 27 additional gastropods, 18 scaphopods, and 67 pelecypods in 10 families. It is estimated that about 125 species are to be added in chapter F, the final chapter.The Arcidae is by far the largest family in the pelecypods so far studied : 30 species in six genera. The genus Anadara is the largest in that family : 25 species, representing the subgenera Hawaiarca?, Rasia, Tosarca, Grandiarca, Potiarca, and Cunearca. Potiarca, based on a living western Pacific species, is adopted for many American species heretofore assigned to Cunearca.Eighteen of the 27 additional gastropods were found at a new locality in the late Eocene part of the Gatuncillo formation. They 'are assigned to 16 genera, 14 of which are not represented at other Gatuncillo localities. The genera include Faunus, Turnpanotonos, and Bezaneonia, which are rare in America, and the rare endemic American genus Harrisianella.The marine member of the Bohio (?) formation is now assigned to the late Eocene, instead of late Eocene or early Oligocene—the only change in age assignment. Eocene affinities are especially strengthened by the presence of Samanoetia samanensis and Volvariella?, if indeed the unnamed species represents that genus, as seems likely. Both the marine member of the Bohio( ?) and the late Oligocene part of the Bohio contain early small species of Anadara, subgenus Rasia.The fossils from the moderately deep-water facies of the late Oligocene Caimito formation include the earliest hexagonal Dentalium of the subgenus Dentalium s.s., from the American mainland, and a widespread and abundant species of the essentially deep-water subgenus Fissidentalium.Anadara chiriquiensis chiriquiensis, a relatively small form of the subgenus Grandiarca that is widely distributed in the Miocene Caribbean province, occurs in the Culebra formation. For the most part it indicates brackish water.Among the fossils from the La Boca formation proper, Cyphoma aff. C. intermedia is the earliest representative of an endemic American genus, and Isognomon mimeticus, a remarkable, narrowly mytiliform species is the type of the new subgenus Mimonion. Both the Culebra and La Boca, both of early Miocene age, contain predecessors of Gatun species.As in other chapters, the largest number of species is from the middle Miocene Gatun formation: 50 species. Bailya crossata is the first Tertiary species of the genus from the Caribbean region, and the earliest now known. A bizarre, incomplete gastropod is described as xancid?, genus?. The Gatun contains 13 of the 24 species of Anadara and half of the 12 species of the subgenus Rasia of that genus. In consideration of two battered and worn specimens of a large form of the subgenus Grandiarca, identified as Anadara grandis patricia?, the similar Tertiary forms in the Caribbean region are reviewed and divided into a brackish-water group and a marine group. The Gatun fauna now totals some 330 species.
Frederiksen, Norman O.
1980-01-01
This palynological study is based on 71 outcrop and core samples of the Jackson Group and adjacent strata from the type area of the group in western Mississippi and also from eastern Mississippi and western Alabama. The Jackson Group consists entirely of marine strata in the region of study. It includes the fossiliferous greensands of the Moodys Branch Formation at the base and the calcareous Yazoo Clay at the top. One hundred seventy-four sporomorph (spore and pollen) types are known from the Jackson Group and adjacent strata in the area of study; all but four of them were observed by the writer. The 174 types are assigned to 74 form genera, 37 modern genera, and 25 new species. Eleven species of pollen grains appear to have accurately determined restricted stratigraphic ranges within the sequence studied. Parsonsidites conspicuus Frederiksen and Ericipites aff. E. ericius (Potonie) Potonie have first occurrences (range bottoms) at the base of the Jackson Group. Aglaoreidia pristina Fowler has its first occurrence near the top of the Jackson. Eight species have last occurrences at or just below the top of the Jackson Group. These are Casuarinidites cf. C. granilabratus (Stanley) Srivastava, Chrysophyllum brevisulcatum (Frederiksen) n. comb., Cupanieidites orthoteichus Cookson and Pike, Symplocos gemroota n. sp., Nudopollis terminalis (Pflug and Thomson) Elsik, Sabal cf. S. granopollenites Rouse, Caprifoliipites tantulus n. sp., and Nypa echinata (Muller) n. comb. From the upper part of the Claiborne Group up through most of the Jackson, the dominant sporomorph types are Cupuliferdipollenites spp., Momipites coryloides Wodehouse, Cupuliferoidaepollenites liblarensis (Thomson) Potonie, Momipites micTofoveolatus (Stanley) Nichols, Quercoidites microhenricii (Potonie) Potonie, and Araliaceoipollenites granulatus (Potonie) n. comb. All these were probably produced by trees of the Juglandaceae and Fagaceae. Relative frequencies of each of these pollen types fluctuate little within the interval from the upper part of the Claiborne to near the top of the Jackson. Near the top of the Jackson Group, there is a rapid rise to dominance or near dominance of the sporomorph assemblages by Quercoidites inamoenus (Takahashi) n. comb. (Fagaceae, Dryophyllum or Quercus). This remains the dominant sporomorph species through the lower part of the Vicksburg Group. On the basis of these range and relative-frequency data for spores and pollen grains, the Jackson Group is divided into two zones. Zone I includes the upper part of the Claiborne Group and all but the uppermost part of the Jackson Group; zone II includes the uppermost part of the Yazoo Clay and extends into the overlying Vicksburg Group. The two zones and the boundary between them can be traced from western Mississippi to western Alabama. Sporomorph data support evidence from physical stratigraphy and from other fossils that only a minor disconformity is present between the Claiborne and Jackson Groups in this region. In western Mississippi, the zone I-zone II boundary is below the minor disconformity separating the open marine Yazoo Clay from the uppermost lagoonal part of that formation. Sporomorph data agree with faunal evidence that no unconformity is between the Jack son and Vicksburg Groups in eastern Mississippi. No sporomorph-bearing samples were available from the uppermost part of the Yazoo Clay at Little Stave Creek in western Alabama; however, samples from above and below the uppermost part of the Yazoo show that the zone I-zone II boundary either coincides with, or is slightly below, the unconformity separating the Jackson and Vicksburg Groups there. The information on sporomorph ranges and relative frequencies suggests that the flora and the vegetation of southeastern North America changed little from late middle Eocene time until almost the end of the late Eocene. Then, perhaps because of a change in climate, some species disappeared from the regional f