In commercial terms, Criollo cacao trees (
Theobroma cacao
L.) are reputed to be the source of the commercial product (fermented and dried cocoa beans), which sells for the best price on the market. ...Nevertheless, the term “Criollo” has numerous meanings and interpretations depending on if it is used by commercial users or botanists, growers or breeders. Our review aims to specify which cocoas can justifiably carry the Criollo name. “Criollo” is a botanical subspecies of
Theobroma cacao,
i.e.
Theobroma cacao
subsp.
cacao
; however, the true Criollos form just one of the ten currently accepted genetic groups in the species. We thus provide an overview of genetic studies on the subject (published or not), along with what is currently known about “True Criollo” or “Ancient Criollo” cacao trees. In fact, there are few representatives in collections that are duly acknowledged to be true Criollos, particularly in the two International Cocoa Genebanks, where only seven clones are available. It is nonetheless certain that some true Criollos do exist in other collections but have not been formally identified (by genetic studies) as members of the Criollo genetic group. Likewise, some true Criollos, be they cultivated or subspontaneous, exist in Mexico and Central and South America (Venezuela and Colombia). However, certain clones called “modern Criollos”, which are closely related to the true Criollos but arise from hybridization with other genetic groups, are more common.
Numerous collecting expeditions of Theobroma cacao L. germplasm have been undertaken in Latin-America. However, most of this germplasm has not contributed to cacao improvement because its ...relationship to cultivated selections was poorly understood. Germplasm labeling errors have impeded breeding and confounded the interpretation of diversity analyses. To improve the understanding of the origin, classification, and population differentiation within the species, 1241 accessions covering a large geographic sampling were genotyped with 106 microsatellite markers. After discarding mislabeled samples, 10 genetic clusters, as opposed to the two genetic groups traditionally recognized within T. cacao, were found by applying Bayesian statistics. This leads us to propose a new classification of the cacao germplasm that will enhance its management. The results also provide new insights into the diversification of Amazon species in general, with the pattern of differentiation of the populations studied supporting the palaeoarches hypothesis of species diversification. The origin of the traditional cacao cultivars is also enlightened in this study.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
In the last decades, illegal logging has posed a serious threat for the integrity of forest ecosystems and for biodiversity conservation in tropical Africa. Although international treaties and ...regulatory plans have been implemented to reduce illegal logging, much of the total timber volume is harvested and traded illegally from tropical African forest regions. As a result, the development and the application of analytical tools to enhance the traceability and the identification of wood and related products is critical to enforce international regulations. Among available techniques, DNA barcoding is a promising approach for the molecular identification of plant species. However, although it has been used successfully for the discrimination of animal species, no set of genetic markers is available for the universal identification of plant species. In this work, we firstly characterized the genetic diversity of 17 highly-valuable African timber species from five genera (Afzelia, Guibourtia, Leplea, Milicia, Tieghemella) across their distribution ranges in West and Central Africa using the genome skimming approach in order to reconstruct their chloroplast genomes and nuclear ribosomal DNA. Next, we identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for the discrimination of closely-related species. In this way, we successfully developed and tested novel species-specific genetic barcodes for species identification.
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DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
Although Cassius Dio chiefly follows the annalistic model, even when writing about the emperors, his geography and ethnography should not be despised. While he moves along the stages of the Roman ...conquest to the balance point of the Augustan age, and further to his own times, he inserts notices of varied length which give some hints on his vision of the world, culture, and curiosity. The ethnographic descriptions, though bearing the imprint of the classical tradition, are not devoid of originality, e.g. when he reverses the opposition between Romans and barbarians. The paper emphasizes his peculiar points of interest and the effects of his personal experience.
In memoriam : Paul Bamps (1932-2019) Lachenaud, Olivier; Fabri, Régine
Plant ecology and evolution,
03/2020, Letnik:
153, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
In memoriam: Paul Bamps (1932-2019)
Paul Bamps (1932-2019), former head of the Vascular Plants Department at the National Botanic Garden of Belgium, passed away last year at the age of 87. A survey ...is presented here of his distinguished scientific career -
started in the 1950s in the Congo and continued within the Botanic Garden from the 1960s onwards - and of his outstanding contribution to African botany. Twenty-six species and one genus of plants have been named in his honour. A list of his scientific publications is presented in appendix,
as well as a list of taxa and combinations which he published and a list of taxa named after him.
Urban development is an increasing threat to the integrity of formerly remote protected areas, in some cases resulting in their downgrading, downsizing or degazetting. One-quarter of previously ...remote protected areas are now within 17 km of a city and thus face the threat of urbanization. Here we describe a case of avoided downgrading, downsizing and degazetting of a protected area in the Mondah forest of Gabon, north of Libreville. Since its creation in 1934 the Forêt Classée de la Mondah has been downsized regularly, losing 40% of its area over 80 years. During this time the forest surrounding the Forêt Classée was subject to usage for urban and peri-urban needs, including agriculture, sand extraction, collection of medicinal plants, ceremonies, and housing construction. In 2010 the area was threatened with further downsizing. The presence of narrowly endemic plant species in the area was suspected, and mapping and evaluation of these species was proposed in an effort to maintain the protected area boundaries. Botanical field work, including ex situ conservation measures and participant observation in nearby forest communities, was conducted; 24 endemic species, all threatened by urbanization, were evaluated using the criteria for the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. The borders of the protected area were maintained because of its role in maintaining irreplaceable habitat for threatened species. The area was renamed Raponda Walker Arboretum in 2012.
Background and aims - The taxonomic status of Duvernoia gigantophylla Lindau from southern Cameroon is considered in relation to the wider Justicia extensa-laxa complex of tropical Africa. Its ...unusual litter-gathering habit (currently unique in Acanthaceae)
is also discussed.
Methods - This study was based on normal practices of herbarium taxonomy and morphological analysis. All relevant protocols were followed in the production of the conservation assessment and selection of the lectotype.
Key results -
A new combination Justicia gigantophylla (Lindau) H.J.Sm. & C.Moran is proposed for this narrowly endemic and endangered species, which is re-instated, with a new description and conservation assessment. A basic key to the wider J. extensa-laxa complex is presented. Justicia
gigantophylla is assessed as Endangered (EN B1ab(iii)+2ab(iii)) according to the 2012 criteria of IUCN and a new lectotype is also designated.
In the last decades, illegal logging has posed a serious threat for the integrity of forest ecosystems and for biodiversity conservation in tropical Africa. Although international treaties and ...regulatory plans have been implemented to reduce illegal logging, much of the total timber volume is harvested and traded illegally from tropical African forest regions. As a result, the development and the application of analytical tools to enhance the traceability and the identification of wood and related products is critical to enforce international regulations. Among available techniques, DNA barcoding is a promising approach for the molecular identification of plant species. However, although it has been used successfully for the discrimination of animal species, no set of genetic markers is available for the universal identification of plant species. In this work, we firstly characterized the genetic diversity of 17 highly-valuable African timber species from five genera (Afzelia, Guibourtia, Leplea, Milicia, Tieghemella) across their distribution ranges in West and Central Africa using the genome skimming approach in order to reconstruct their chloroplast genomes and nuclear ribosomal DNA. Next, we identified single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for the discrimination of closely-related species. In this way, we successfully developed and tested novel species-specific genetic barcodes for species identification.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
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