Botanica Orientalis: Journal of Plant Science最新文献

{"title":"Disturbances and biodiversity in forest ecosystems: A temperate zone perspective","authors":"A. Fischer","doi":"10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5552","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5552","url":null,"abstract":"In the temperate zone windstorms and bark beetle attacks represent the main natural forest disturbances; in steep mountain areas snow avalanches also may “destroy” forest stands completely. In the densely populated and intensively used temperate zone of Europe affected forest stands will be cleared and reforested immediately after such “catastrophes”. Therefore we have only little knowledge about the influence of such natural disturbances on both the stand development and the biodiversity of native forest ecosystems. And we do not have quantitative data on to which degree forest management changes the biodiversity compared to the natural disturbances. Since about two decades several permanent plot studies have been running in European forests affected by such natural disturbances, mainly with focus on plant species. Here we first outline the importance of disturbances for biodiversity in forest ecosystems and then discuss whether it is possible to combine both biodiversity protection and forest management. For that we use four recent case studies carried out in the two oldest national parks in Germany, three of them being long-term observations on permanent plots for up to two decades. Disturbances like wind throw, bark beetle outbreak and snow avalanche strongly influences the tree layer structure, creating micro-habitats for many plant, animal and fungi species, which naturally belong to the forest ecosystem. Such disturbances in future should be included into management schemes in forestry to improve biodiversity. We found evidence that it is really possible to combine timber utilization with biodiversity protection. As long as the management impact is reduced (e.g. single tree harvesting, using natural regeneration), species diversity of several taxonomic groups (in our study: vascular plants, soil living Carabidae, and soil living fungi) may not be different significantly from a pristine forest. Interconnecting resource use with biodiversity protection will be a main task for both foresters and conservationist in the decades to come – and it seems to be a possible option for a sustainable land use in many parts of the world. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5552 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 1-9","PeriodicalId":252680,"journal":{"name":"Botanica Orientalis: Journal of Plant Science","volume":"15 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"126436081","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Beetle on the battle: Defoliation of Parthenium hysterophorus by Zygogramma bicolorata in Kathmandu valley, Nepal","authors":"B. Shrestha, K. Thapa-Magar, A. Paudel, U. Shrestha","doi":"10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5559","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5559","url":null,"abstract":"Zygogramma bicolorata , a Mexican beetle, is the most widely distributed biocontrol agent of the invasive weed Parthenium hysterophorus . The occurrence and distribution of this beetle in Nepal has been poorly documented. We monitored and mapped the occurrence of this beetle in Kathmandu valley for two years from August 2009 to September 2011. A small population of the beetle was first encountered in a wasteland at Sundarighat of Kirtipur Municipality in August 2010. By September 2011, the beetle has spread over half of the valley areas where P. hysterophorus was present, but damage to the weed was appreciable only at Sundarighat. The effectiveness of biocontrolling process is likely to be limited by shorter period of defoliating activity of the beetle, prolific seed production by Parthenium round the year, and environmental pollution. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5559 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 100-104","PeriodicalId":252680,"journal":{"name":"Botanica Orientalis: Journal of Plant Science","volume":"41 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134189721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A new record of Nymphaea (Nymphaeaceae) for Flora of Nepal","authors":"B. B. Raskoti, R. Ale, G. D. Bhatt","doi":"10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5958","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5958","url":null,"abstract":"Occurrence of Nymphaea lotus var. pubescens Willd. (Nymphaeaceae) in Nepal is reported. Detailed description, illustration and relevant notes are provided. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5958 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 105-107","PeriodicalId":252680,"journal":{"name":"Botanica Orientalis: Journal of Plant Science","volume":"15 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121048106","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physiology of fruit cracking in wax apple (Syzygium samarangense)","authors":"P. Lu, Chin-Ho Lin","doi":"10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5954","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5954","url":null,"abstract":"The cause of fruit cracking can be diverse and the reasons vary among species. Wax apple (Sy zygium samarangense ) fruit is an economically valuable fruit in Southeast Asia and in Taiwan. The main problem in the production of wax apple is cracking which reduces its market value. The aim of this study is to identify the factors associated with fruit cracking in wax apple. Results showed that the contents of total soluble sugars and total titratable acid were both 20% higher in cracked fruits than in uncracked fruits, and the osmotic potential was 40% lower; water potential was similar; turgor pressure was 60% higher, and specific activity of polygalacturonase was 131% higher. Based on the above results, the physiological factors for fruit cracking in wax apple are hypothesized. The increase in total soluble sugars and total titratable acid during fruit maturation leads to decreased tissue osmotic potential. Water absorption in response to this decrease in osmotic potential can cause cells to swell, which increase the turgor pressure resulting in rupture of the cells and tissues. The increase in polygalacturonase activity weakens the cell walls. Those combined factors result in fruit cracking. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5954 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 70-76","PeriodicalId":252680,"journal":{"name":"Botanica Orientalis: Journal of Plant Science","volume":"53 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"122253620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution pattern of the epiphytic orchid Rhynchostylis retusa under strong human influence in Kathmandu valley, Nepal","authors":"Y. P. Adhikari, A. Fischer","doi":"10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5956","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5956","url":null,"abstract":"We studied distribution pattern of the epiphytic orchid Rhynchostylis retusa (L.) Blume with respect to (i) site characteristics and host conditions, and (ii) the type and intensity of land use in Kathmandu Valley, central Nepal. We established a 1.5 km grid net and analyzed epiphytic orchids at each point, searching for 10 trees as close as possible to the grid point. There we analyzed bark water-holding capacity, bark pH, bark roughness and light intensity. We assessed the probability of the occurrence of R. retusa in different land use patterns. Our results indicated that R. retusa was not a host-specific orchid species. It was found on different host tree species. However, Ficus religiosa was the most common host species. The correlation between R. retusa occurrence and microclimate condition was weak. R. retusa, to a certain degree, preferred light intensity of 40-80% of full sun light, rough bark with pH around 6.5 and bark with a wide range of water holding capacity. The distribution pattern of R. retusa was influenced by certain types of land use. The probability to find R. retusa was highest in forest patches and parks and lowest in agricultural and dense populated area. The study reveals that to improve the population size of R. retusa, trees (mainly Alnus nepalensis, Ficus religiosa and Schima wallichii) should be planted in areas where the orchid species is recently missing.","PeriodicalId":252680,"journal":{"name":"Botanica Orientalis: Journal of Plant Science","volume":"26 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"114989058","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bee flora in mid hills of Central Nepal","authors":"Subodh Adhikari, N. Ranabhat","doi":"10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5558","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5558","url":null,"abstract":"Beekeeping is one of the promising ventures for economically poor families in Nepal. Knowledge about the bee flora of a certain area is very crucial for the farmers. A study was conducted in mid hills of Central Nepal during 2003-04 and 2008-09 to monitor the common plant species visited by bees with their visiting time and seasons. The flowering period of those plant species were also observed. Observations were made on the bees’ activities on flowers of different plant species. Relevant information was also collected through informal key informant interviews. The plant species visited by the bees and the bee species (mainly Apis cerena with some Apis melifera ) themselves were collected, preserved and identified. Plants were categorized as major, medium and minor sources of pollen and/or nectar. The pollen and nectar statuses in different plants were also determined. A total of 158 plant species were identified as main bee flora in the study area. Among them, 19 species were horticultural plants, 42 species were crop plants, 15 species were ornamental plants and 82 species were wild plants. In total, 38 species were recognized as major, 35 as medium and 30 as minor sources for both nectar and pollen. Months from March to May and August to October were the honey flow periods. Species of Brassica, Citrus, Pyrus, Berberis, Rubus, Callistemon, Bombox and Artemisia were some of the important plants which bloomed during those months. Winter (mid November to January) and rainy (June and July) seasons were identified as the dearth periods for bees to collect honey. Some of the plants that bloom during winter were Pisum sativum, Ipomoea batata and Eupatorium sp. Similarly, Lagerstroemia sp . , Impatiens balsamina , Sesamum indicum , Zea mays and many cucurbits bloomed during rainy season. Study has shown that mid-hills of Central Nepal is rich in bee flora and has great potential for beekeeping as many plants bloomed even in dearth periods. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5558 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 45-56","PeriodicalId":252680,"journal":{"name":"Botanica Orientalis: Journal of Plant Science","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"129010248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Terricolous lichens as indicator of anthropogenic disturbances in a high altitude grassland in Garhwal (Western Himalaya), India.","authors":"Himanshu Rai, R. Khare, R. Gupta, D. Upreti","doi":"10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5554","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5554","url":null,"abstract":"Lichens are known to be more sensitive indicators of ecosystem functioning and disturbances than any other cryptogams and vascular plant communities. Himalayan habitats, despite their stressed climates, harbor some of the unique biodiversity of the region, vital for overall ecosystem functioning and stability. Lichens, due to their desiccation tolerance, are able to survive in high altitude habitats and evolved into diverse categories and functional groups. Present study examines the terricolous lichen community in Chopta-Tungnath temperate-alpine grassland of Garhwal Himalaya, in order to identify potential elements (species/growth form) as indicator of anthropogenic disturbances. Terricolous lichens were sampled from twelve sites distributed in three stratified macrohabitats, along increasing altitudinal gradient. A total of twenty soil lichen species belonging to ten genera, six families and four morphological groups (i.e. leprose, foliose, dimorphic and fruticose) were identified. Terricolous lichen diversity was negatively correlated ( r = 0.70; p <0.05) with altitude. Among the four growth forms, fruticose growth form was indicator of grazing disturbance, distinguishing low grazed high altitude (3400-4001 m asl) areas with highly grazed low altitude (2700-3000 m asl) to mid altitude (3000-3400 m asl) areas. Terricolous lichen diversity in the study area was found constrained by vascular plants at lower altitudes, human-related impacts (tourism and livestock grazing induced trampling) at mid-altitudes and habitat characteristics (low soil cover) at higher altitudes. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5554 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 16-23","PeriodicalId":252680,"journal":{"name":"Botanica Orientalis: Journal of Plant Science","volume":"51 9 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"121207378","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Epiphytic cyanobacterial diversity in the sub-Himalayan belt of Garhwal region of Uttarakhand, India","authors":"Mukesh Kumar, R. Gupta, A. Bhatt, S. Tiwari","doi":"10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5955","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5955","url":null,"abstract":"Cyanobacteria constitute the largest, most diverse and widely distributed group of prokaryotes that perform oxygenic photosynthesis. These are known to comprise a diverse flora of morphologically distinct forms. Some species are epiphytic occurring on a variety of plants. The present study was undertaken to study the distribution pattern of epiphytic cyanobacterial flora in the foot-hills of Garhwal Himalaya. An extensive survey was carried out in different seasons at four cyanobacteria-rich localities (Dakpatthar, Kotdwar, Rishikesh and Laldhang) of Uttarakhand state of India. A total of 39 epiphytic cyanobacterial taxa (12 heterocystous and 27 non-heterocystous) belonging to 2 orders, 7 families and 17 genera were recorded from this region. Highest number of species (25) was reported from Rishikesh, followed by Kotdwar with 14 species and Laldhang and Dakpatthar each with 12 species. Principal Component Analysis showed significant variation for epiphytic cyanobacterial diversity among studied sites, whereas cluster analysis categorized epiphytic cyanobacterial diversity under two categories, viz. Cluster I with 9 species and Cluster II with 30 species. Study concludes that variation in epiphytic cyanobacterial diversity might be compared to physicochemical properties of soil and climatic conditions along altitudes. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5955 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 77-89","PeriodicalId":252680,"journal":{"name":"Botanica Orientalis: Journal of Plant Science","volume":"78 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"133473062","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Response of plant species to abandonment of subalpine fields, Manang, Nepal","authors":"C. Baniya","doi":"10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5553","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5553","url":null,"abstract":"Spatial dimension of abandoned fields has been expanding more in rural subalpine zones of Nepal leading to various patterns of secondary succession. The secondary succession in the subalpine Himalayas has not yet been evaluated. Here, I describe a study initiated in Manang district, Central Nepal where enough abandoned fields of different chronosequences were located. A definitive successional pattern was predicted from the data obtained from sampling 256 plots of 1 × 1 m 2 each systematically in a total of 43 abandoned fields from 1 to 55 years after abandonment. Change in composition pattern of 11 most important plant species was analyzed through the Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA). The first two axes of DCA explained 19.1 % of the total variation in the species composition. Early, mid and late successions were three stages distinguished each by their abundance scores and life-forms composition. Malva neglecta, Phleum alpinum and Fagopyrum esculentum were dominant at the recently abandoned fields. Cynoglossum zeylanicum, Malaxis muscifera, Medicago falcata and Pennisetum flaccidum were mid succession species, and Thymus linearis, Tanacetum gossypinum, Pinus wallichiana and Poa annua represented the late succession species.","PeriodicalId":252680,"journal":{"name":"Botanica Orientalis: Journal of Plant Science","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130355351","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bioactivity and biochemical analysis of water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)","authors":"B. Baral, Geeta Shrestha Vaidya, N. Bhattarai","doi":"10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5556","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3126/BOTOR.V8I0.5556","url":null,"abstract":"Water hyacinth ( Eichhornia crassipes ) is an invasive aquatic weed causing serious threats to water ecosystems throughout the world. Recently, considerable attention has been given at harvesting the plant for practical uses. An experiment on the bioactivity of water hyacinth was conducted using the soxhlet extraction (hot method) and cold percolation method in chloroform and ethanol in order to evaluate the antimicrobial properties of the plant. Plant samples were also analyzed for the presence of major pharmacologically active compounds. The antimicrobial assay was performed using well diffusion method against nine different clinical bacterial strains and six phytopathogenic fungal strains. The chloroform hot extract showed activity against 22.22% (Zone of Inhibition, ZOI < 13mm) bacteria and 66.66% (ZOI < 12mm) fungi; while the cold extract showed activity against 50% (ZOI < 13mm) fungi, but no activity against bacteria. Similarly, the ethanol hot extract showed activity against 77.77% (ZOI < 19mm) bacteria and 66.66% (ZOI < 20mm) fungi, while the cold extract showed activity against 77.77% (ZOI < 10mm) bacteria and 50% (ZOI < 14mm) fungi. The ethanolic hot and cold extract proved to be far better than the chloroform fraction showing more antibacterial activity, while they share the same value and possess same effectiveness against the different fungi. Chemical analysis indicated that the major components in these extracts were saponins, polyoses, alkaloid salts, and reducing compounds. The present study showed that the devastating aquatic weed, with strong antimicrobial potentials and presence of biologically active phytochemicals, may be useful for developing alternative compounds to treat infectious diseases caused by bacterial and fungal pathogens. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/botor.v8i0.5556 Botanica Orientalis – Journal of Plant Science (2011) 8: 33-39","PeriodicalId":252680,"journal":{"name":"Botanica Orientalis: Journal of Plant Science","volume":"8 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2012-03-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"130438424","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}