Floral nectar is the primary reward directly consumed by floral visitors and its chemical composition affects their behaviour fidelity. In turn, are expected to alter or indirectly through introduction of external contaminants, such as pollen grains microorganisms. To understand effect exogenous factors on chemistry, we investigated modifications sugar amino acid in relation perennial herb Gentiana lutea . We quantified contamination visitor exclusion experiments field, estimating yeast...

This work explores the thermal treatment of V/P/O catalyst precursors to achieve active and selective catalysts for oxidation n-butane maleic anhydride (MA) in a continuous-flow fixed-bed reactor. Vanadyl pyrophosphate (V4+, VPP), key component, is produced together with suitable V5+ vanadium orthophosphate (VOPO4) allotropic forms by thermally treating vanadyl hydrogen phosphate hemihydrate (VHP) under various atmospheres temperature ramps. The characterization conducted using X-ray...

The geographical distribution of Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is quite wide. However, in Italy, this species very rare and grows spontaneously only Sicily Sardinia. PCR-RAPD technique has been utilized work to determine the genetic relationship among Sicilian, Sardinian Indian samples HPLC analysis whitaferin A was used as a marker evaluate phytochemical differences. difference between Sicilian plants W. turned out be smaller than that species. well showed specimen strongly differed from...

From Italian plants of Withania somnifera six withanolides were isolated, whose structures allowed us to assign the race W. Israel chemotype III. In vitro cultures under different conditions obtained, as well infection by Agrobacterium rhizogenes. HPLC analysis in derived tissues showed low contents withanolides.

Abstract Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and Inter-Simple Sequence Repeats (ISSR) markers were employed to examine samples from Quercus cerris, Q. suber crenata in order test the hypothesis of hybrid origin cerris a part its distribution area where two putative parents do not overlap at present. Leaves 21 37 individual trees collected natural sites northern Italy, is currently lacking; six plants central Italy also analysed. Results Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic mean...

We report a molecular approach to the study of phylogenetic relationships Avena diploid and polyploid species based on RFLP detected with three cDNA probes nuclear genes belonging multigenic families (low pI α-amylase, avenin, globulin). All were highly informative in detection polymorphism between oat species. Associations determined from cluster (UPGMA) analysis distance values calculated data separately for each two levels ploidy. Results general agreement morphology analyses,...

A. nebrodensis (Nebrodi fir, Sicilian fir) is restricted to a small area of the Madonie Natural Park in Sicily. According recent estimates, its only population consists 30 adult individuals and fluctuating number juveniles derived from natural regeneration; besides, some hundreds cultivated plants are preserved as ex situ collection. We used RAPD data six 10-mer primers examine consequences extensive historical clearance human pressures on extant population. Data multiple life stages...

AbstractViola pumila Chaix is a rare violet with Eurasian-continental distribution. It has undergone severe population decline during the last decades, and endangered in Europe. Its southernmost extrazonal occurrence northern Italy, only four populations. Inter-simple sequence repeat markers were used to detect genetic diversity level distribution Italian stand compare it small sample from Germany. Estimates of revealed retention variation weak structure populations V. pumila. Comparable...

ABSTRACT Cytisus aeolicus Guss, is an endemic plant restricted to the isles of Vulcano, Stromboli and Alicudi in Aeolian archipelago. All known populations were assayed for genetic variability using enzyme polymorphism. Allozyme variation at 16 loci coding 10 systems was examined. The great majority turned out be monomorphic or fixed heterozygous. observed depauperation indicative historical factors, such as bottleneck effect associated with migration, founder population re-establishment....

A cladistic analysis based on morphological characters was performed Cytisus and related genera. Terminal taxa were three Mediterranean endemics (C. aeolicus, C. emeriflorus, tribracteolatus), all sections of genus Cytisus, other genera the tribe. The main dichotomy within tribe, between group Genista group, is corroborated. Both genera, seem to be paraphyletic. s.s. composed at least clades. cladograms indicate a link emeriflorus with sect. Tubocytisus, aeolicus villosus. tribracteolatus...

The biogeography and the ecology of genus Turbinicarpus are scarcely known taxonomic segregation Rapicactus from has been debated. present study aims to (i) evaluate distribution all taxa in full distributional range (NE Mexico); (ii) investigate potential ecological divergence between Turbinicarpus; (iii) analyse influence environmental variables on plant morphology. pattern belonging s.l. (Turbinicarpus + Rapicactus) was mapped using information 12 herbaria, as well unpublished databases....

RAPD technique using haploid DNA from megagametophyte tissue was applied to detect the pattern of genetic variation within Abies nebrodensis, a species endemic Sicily. Results were compared with reference system composed representatives five Mediterranean firs: A. alba, cephalonica, nordmanniana, numidica, and pinsapo. Diploid genotypes for loci inferred segregation patterns in megagametophytes individual trees. Therefore, it possible distinguish between homo- heterozygotes carrying fragment...

Background and aims – Sedum hispanicum acts as a pioneer species on the gypsum outcrops of Emilia Romagna region (Northern Italy). The was studied in two Sites Community Importance through comparative phenological genetic diversity analysis to provide insights into strategies adopted by for successful reproduction harsh conditions these rocky outcrops.Methods Phenology examined individuals from four sampling sites chosen one study area (Gessi Bolognesi e Calanchi dell'Abbadessa, GB) March...

One hundred and fifty-two species of Phaseoleae, Desmodieae, Indigofereae, Millettieae, Sophoreae Swartzieae were subjected to a taximetric study. The serological relationships analysed using 37 antigenic systems 12 antisera upon representative sample from the six tribes. comparative use data allowed following conclusions be drawn: (1) tribe Phaseoleae is not natural taxon; primitive complex Diocleinae-Glycininae, more derived Phaseolinae, Cajaninae deserve tribal rank; position remaining...

ABSTRACT The genetic diversity of isolated populations Cytisus villosus has been studied by means enzyme polymorphism analysis. Two types were studied: “terrestrial islands” in Sicily, and “true the Aeolian archipelago. In number alleles heterozygosity are lower than islands”. Isolation amongst Sicilian seems to be more recent isolation populations, may attributed climatic changes which occurred during Holocene and/or human activities. disjunction much origin isles themselves; colonization...

ABSTRACT C. emeriflorus is an endemic species occurring in two disjunct areas some 200 km apart: the Pre-Alps of Lombardia and Friuli. Four populations from western area five eastern were sampled order to ascertain amount distribution variation throughout range species. Phenetic measures isozyme polymorphism used. Diversity values showed that polymorphic, despite its restricted small population size; phenetic distances revealed partitioning diversity was largely within rather than among...

Lucia Contea* , Daniele Dallaib Andrea Modicaa Giovanna Pezzia Christian Rebecchic & Fabrizio Buldrinia a Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche e Ambientali, Università Bologna, Italyb della Vita, degli Studi Modena Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italyc Naturali Vibrazioni Rebecchi (CF RBCCRS70M28F257A), Castelvetro (Modena), Italy

Abstract Salt soluble storage proteins were extracted from seeds of Ephedra distachya, foeminea, Gnetum gnemon, montanum and Welwitschia mirabilis separated by chromatographic procedures. The molecular weight the main globulin ranges 300 to 350 kD. Denaturation SDS resolved holoprotein in monomers Mr 40 60 Oligomers up 120 kD observed Ephedra. Reduction disulphide bridges DTE paris polypeptides 10 35 characters above indicate that Gnetopsida is a legumin-like protein.