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At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

Distribution of phytoecdysteroids in the Caryophyllaceae.

Certain genera within the Caryophyllaceae (especially Silene and Lychnis) have received a significant amount of attention with regard to the isolation and identification of ecdysteroids. However, the taxonomy of this family is difficult. Hence, the occurrence of phytoecdysteroids in members of the Caryophyllaceae is presented, and combined with new data on ecdysteroid agonist (phytoecdysteroid) and antagonist activities, in order to survey the distribution of phytoecdysteroid-containing species within this large family, and to assess the utility of phytoecdysteroids as chemotaxonomic markers. The new data presented (representing ca. 110 species) have been obtained by the application of sensitive biological/biochemical methods for the detection of ecdysteroid agonists and antagonists, using Drosophila melanogaster B(II) bioassay and ecdysteroid-specific immunoassays. In the antagonist version of the B(II) bioassay, only weak ecdysteroid antagonist activities were detected in a few of the extracts. From both new and previously available data, it was found that phytoecdysteroids were present predominantly in the Genera Lychnis, Petrocoptis, Sagina and Silene. Comparison of ecdysteroid occurrence with a molecular phylogeny for the tribe Sileneae [Taxon 44 (1995) 525] revealed close association of ecdysteroid occurrence with certain groups of this tribe. In 14 species of Silene examined, there is a reasonable, but not absolute, relationship between the presence of ecdysteroids in the seeds and in other plant parts. Where ecdysteroids are present in the plant, highest concentrations are generally present in the roots.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Reticulate phylogenetics and phytogeographical structure of Heliosperma (Sileneae, Caryophyllaceae) inferred from chloroplast and nuclear DNA sequences.

The Balkan Peninsula is known to be one of the most diverse and species-rich parts of Europe, but its biota has gained much less attention in phylogenetic and evolutionary studies compared to other southern European mountain systems. We used nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences and intron sequences of the chloroplast gene rps16 to examine phylogenetic and biogeographical patterns within the genus Heliosperma (Sileneae, Caryophyllaceae). The ITS and rps16 intron sequences both support monophyly of Heliosperma, but the data are not conclusive with regard to its exact origin. Three strongly supported clades are found in both data sets, corresponding to Heliosperma alpestre, Heliosperma macranthum and the Heliosperma pusillum clade, including all other taxa. The interrelationships among these three differ between the nuclear and the plastid data sets. Hierarchical relationships within the H. pusillum clade are poorly resolved by the ITS data, but the rps16 intron sequences form two well-supported clades which are geographically, rather than taxonomically, correlated. A similar geographical structure is found in the ITS data, when analyzed with the NeighbourNet method. The apparent rate of change within Heliosperma is slightly higher for rps16 as compared to ITS. In contrast, in the Sileneae outgroup, ITS substitution rates are more than twice as high as those for rps16, a situation more in agreement with what has been found in other rate comparisons of noncoding cpDNA and ITS. Unlike most other Sileneae ITS sequences, the H. pusillum group sequences display extensive polymorphism. A possible explanation to these patterns is extensive hybridization and gene flow within Heliosperma, which together with concerted evolution may have eradicated the ancient divergence suggested by the rps16 data. The morphological differentiation into high elevation, mainly widely distributed taxa, and low elevation narrow endemics is not correlated with the molecular data, and is possibly a result of ecological differentiation.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Identification and quantitative analysis of the phytoecdysteroids in Silene species (Caryophyllaceae) by high-performance liquid chromatography. Novel ecdysteroids from S. pseudotites.

Many species in the genus Silene (Caryophyllaceae) have previously been shown to contain ecdysteroids and this genus is recognised as a good source of novel ecdysteroid analogues. We have used ecdysteroid-specific radioimmunoassays and the microplate-based Drosophila melanogaster B(II) cell bioassay for ecdysteroid agonist and antagonist activities to identify further phytoecdysteroid-containing species in this genus. The main ecdysteroid components from 10 Silene species (S. antirrhina, S. chlorifolia, S. cretica, S. disticha, S. echinata, S. italica, S. portensis, S. pseudotites, S. radicosa, S. regia) were isolated and identified, mainly by normal-phase and reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. The amount of each ecdysteroid was determined by comparing chromatogram peak areas with those for reference 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) on reversed-phase HPLC. 20E is the most abundant ecdysteroid in each of the Silene extracts. Polypodine B, 2-deoxy-20-hydroxyecdysone and ecdysone are also common ecdysteroids in these Silene species, but the proportions of these ecdysteroids vary between the Silene species. HPLC proved to be a quick and effective way to screen Silene species, determine ecdysteroid profiles and, hence, identify extracts containing novel analogues. An extract of the aerial parts of S. pseudotites was found to contain several new ecdysteroids. These have been isolated and identified spectroscopically (by NMR and mass spectrometry) as 2-deoxyecdysone 22beta-D-glucoside, 2-deoxy-20,26-dihydroxyecdysone and 2-deoxypolypodine B 3beta-D-glucoside. Additionally, (5alpha-H)-2-deoxyintegristerone A (5alpha-2H 91%, 5alpha-1H 9%) was isolated as an artefact. This study contributes to the understanding of ecdysteroid distribution in Silene species and provides further information on the chemotaxonomic significance of ecdysteroids in Silene species.

Caryophyllaceae↗
PubMed2002

The neighborhood matters: effects of neighbor number and sibling (or kin) competition on floral traits in Spergularia marina (Caryophyllaceae).

Effects of abiotic factors on the expression of floral and gender traits have been well documented in wild plant species; by contrast, little is known of the effect(s) on an individual's floral phenotype of the genetic composition of its neighboring conspecifics. Here we report the results of a greenhouse experiment conducted to detect the effects of genetic attributes of an individual's local environment on the expression of floral traits in the selfing annual, Spergularia marina (Caryophyllaceae). First, to test the hypothesis that negative effects of intraspecific competition are stronger when an individual competes with genetically similar individuals than when it competes with unrelated genotypes, we evaluated the effects of the number of nearest-neighbor kin (vs. unrelated individuals) on floral traits. Plants adjacent to two kin produced significantly fewer stamens per flower than plants adjacent to one or no siblings, indicating that kin competition reduced allocation to male function. Second, to test the hypothesis that the genetic diversity of a neighborhood influences the phenotype of a focal plant, we determined whether the number of maternal families represented among an individual's nearest neighbors influences its phenotype. The number of maternal families surrounding a focal plant did not affect floral trait expression. These results suggest that in S. marina, male function is more sensitive than female function to the genetic environment and that as an individual's genetic similarity to its neighbors increases, so do the negative effects of competition for limited resources.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Selfing and resource allocation in Schiedea salicaria (Caryophyllaceae), a gynodioecious species.

Abstract Levels of selfing and resource allocation patterns were investigated in Schiedea salicaria (Caryophyllaceae), a gynodioecious species with high levels of inbreeding depression and nuclear control of male sterility. Selfing levels were higher in hermaphrodites than females, especially when adjusted for early acting inbreeding depression. The sexes of S. salicaria were similar in most allocation patterns including number of flowers and capsules per inflorescence, seeds per flower, and seed mass. Seeds produced by females had higher levels of germination than seeds of hermaphrodites, a likely result of high selfing levels and the expression of inbreeding depression in the progeny of hermaphrodites. Invasion of females in populations of S. salicaria is probably related to the expression of inbreeding depression at germination and in later life history stages. Comparisons with related species of Schiedea that also have nuclear control of male sterility suggest that reallocation of resources in hermaphrodites to male function occurs as females increase in frequency, but that resource reallocation is not important for the success of females when they first invade populations.

Caryophyllaceae↗
PubMed2006

Predicting the pathway to wind pollination: heritabilities and genetic correlations of inflorescence traits associated with wind pollination in Schiedea salicaria (Caryophyllaceae).

The transition from biotic to abiotic pollination was investigated using Schiedea, a genus exhibiting a remarkable diversity of inflorescence architecture associated with pollination biology. Heritabilities and genetic correlations of inflorescence traits were estimated in gynodioecious Schiedea salicaria (Caryophyllaceae), a species that has likely undergone a recent transition to wind-pollination. Using a partial diallel crossing design, significant narrow-sense heritabilities were detected for inflorescence condensation (h2 = 0.56 to 0.68 in the two sexes) and other traits related to the extent of wind pollination in Schiedea species. Heritabilities were generally higher in hermaphrodites than in females. Strong genetic correlations may constrain the evolution of some inflorescence traits that facilitate wind pollination, such as simultaneous shortening of inflorescence length and elongation of the subtending internode. The presence of significant narrow-sense heritabilities for traits associated with wind pollination suggests, however, that selection for more effective wind pollination in the windy, pollinator-limited environments where S. salicaria grows could lead to the evolution of the highly condensed inflorescences characteristic of other wind-pollinated species of Schiedea.

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed2006

Pollination and seed predation by moths on Silene and allied Caryophyllaceae: evaluating a model system to study the evolution of mutualisms.

Nursery pollinators, and the plants they use as hosts for offspring development, function as exemplary models of coevolutionary mutualism. The two pre-eminent examples--fig wasps and yucca moths--show little variation in the interaction: the primary pollinator is an obligate mutualist. By contrast, nursery pollination of certain Caryophyllaceae, including Silene spp., by two nocturnal moth genera, Hadena and Perizoma, ranges from antagonistic to potentially mutualistic, offering an opportunity to test hypotheses about the factors that promote or discourage the evolution of mutualism. Here, we review nursery pollination and host-plant interactions in over 30 caryophyllaceous plants, based on published studies and a survey of researchers investigating pollination, seed predation, and moth morphology and behavior. We detected little direct evidence of mutualism in these moth-plant interactions, but found traits and patterns in both that are nonetheless consistent with the evolution of mutualism and merit further attention.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Distribution and properties of major ribosome-inactivating proteins (28 S rRNA N-glycosidases) of the plant Saponaria officinalis L. (Caryophyllaceae).

We have studied the distribution of the protein synthesis inhibitory activity in the tissues of Saponaria officinalis L. (Caryophyllaceae). Seven major saporins, ribosome-inactivating proteins, were purified to apparent homogeneity from leaves, roots and seeds using a new procedure of RIPs isolation including ion-exchange and hydrophobic chromatography. They all catalysed the depurination of rat liver ribosomes, which generate the Endo's diagnostic rRNA fragment upon treatment with acid aniline, thus indicating that A4324 from the 28S rRNA has been released (Endo et al. (1987) J. Biol. Chem. 262, 5908-5912). The molecular mass of saporins by SDS-PAGE ranged between 30.2 and 31.6 kDa and by gel-filtration between 27.5 and 30.1 kDa. Amino acid composition and amino-terminal amino acid sequence indicate that all saporins may be considered isoforms. Only two saporins present in roots were glycosylated (SO-R1 and SO-R3). All saporins are very active on cell-free translation systems derived from rabbit reticulocyte lysates, rat liver, Triticum aestivum L., Cucumis sativus L. and Vicia sativa L. However, they are poor inhibitors of an Escherichia coli translation system. They inhibit protein synthesis in HeLa, BeWo and NB 100 cells, HeLa cells being the most resistant. The enzymatic activity of at least one saporin isoform was dependent on magnesium concentration in the standard rat liver cell-free system.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2001

Genetic diversity of heavy metal-tolerant populations in Silene paradoxa L. (Caryophyllaceae): a chloroplast microsatellite analysis.

Eight populations of Silene paradoxa L. (Caryophyllaceae) growing in copper mine deposits, in serpentine outcrops or in uncontaminated soil in central Italy were studied. Genetic diversity was estimated using five polymorphic chloroplast microsatellite loci (cpSSR), identifying 27 different chloroplast haplotypes. The effective number of alleles, the haplotypic diversity and a stepwise mutational model-based parameter (DSH2) were computed. The effective number of alleles observed within populations from copper mine deposits was 20% that of the serpentine neighbouring populations, suggesting the occurrence of a founder effect. Moreover, 13 of the 27 different haplotypes scored were exclusive to only one population, indicating genetic isolation for all tolerant populations. Even the copper-tolerant populations appeared to have evolved independently. Finally, analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) of the cpSSR markers gave statistical significance to the grouping of populations according to their geographical location. This study demonstrates that cpSSR markers could be a useful complementary tool to isoenzymes or random amplified polymorphic DNA markers for elucidating the pattern of genetic differentiation in heavy metal-tolerant populations.

Alleles↗
PubMed2000

Genetic diversity and heavy metal tolerance in populations of Silene paradoxa L. (Caryophyllaceae): a random amplified polymorphic DNA analysis.

Metal-contaminated sites can occur naturally in serpentine outcrops or as consequence of anthropogenic activities, such as mining deposits, aerial fallout from smelters and industrial processes. Serpentine outcrops are characterized by high levels of nickel, cobalt and chromium and present a typical vegetation which includes endemisms and plants which also live in uncontaminated soils. These latter metal-tolerant populations provide the opportunity to investigate the first steps in the differentiation of plant populations under severe selection pressure and to select plants to be used in the phytoremediation of industrially contaminated soils. In this report eight populations of Silene paradoxa L. (Caryophyllaceae) growing in copper mine deposits, in serpentine outcrops or in noncontaminated soil in central Italy, were analysed using random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) markers to investigate the pattern of genetic variation. The genetic diversity observed in populations at copper mine deposits was found to be at least as high as that of the neighbouring serpentine populations. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) of the RAPD markers gave high statistical significance to the groupings of populations according: (i) with their geographical location; and (ii) with the metals present in the soil of origin (copper vs. nickel), indicating that RAPD markers detected a polymorphism related to the soil contamination by copper. Finally, two RAPD bands exclusive to copper-tolerant populations were identified.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed2004

Evolution of a RNA polymerase gene family in Silene (Caryophyllaceae)-incomplete concerted evolution and topological congruence among paralogues.

Four low-copy nuclear DNA intron regions from the second largest subunits of the RNA polymerase gene family (RPA2, RPB2, RPD2a, and RPD2b), the internal transcribed spacers (ITSs) from the nuclear ribosomal regions, and the rps16 intron from the chloroplast were sequenced and used in a phylogenetic analysis of 29 species from the tribe Sileneae (Caryophyllaceae). We used a low stringency nested polymerase chain reaction (PCR) approach to overcome the difficulties of constructing specific primers for amplification of the low copy nuclear DNA regions. Maximum parsimony analyses resulted in largely congruent phylogenetic trees for all regions. We tested overall model congruence in a likelihood context using the software PLATO and found that ITSs, RPA2, and RPB2 deviated from the maximum likelihood model for the combined data. The topology parameter was then isolated and topological congruence assessed by nonparametric bootstrapping. No strong topological incongruence was found. The analysis of the combined data sets resolves previously poorly known major relationships within Sileneae. Two paralogues of RPD2 were found, and several independent losses and incomplete concerted evolution were inferred. The among-site rate variation was significantly lower in the RNA polymerase introns than in the rps16 intron and ITSs, a property that is attractive in phylogenetic analyses.

DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases↗
PubMed2004

'Junk' DNA and long-term phenotypic evolution in Silene section Elisanthe (Caryophyllaceae).

Nuclear DNA content variation over orders of magnitude across species has been attributed to 'junk' repetitive DNA with limited adaptive significance. By contrast, our previous work on Silene latifolia showed that DNA content is negatively correlated with flower size, a character of clear adaptive relevance. The present paper explores this relationship in a broader phylogenetic context to investigate the long-term evolutionary impacts of DNA content variation. The relationship between nuclear DNA content and phenotype variation was determined for four closely related species of Silene section Elisanthe (Caryophyllaceae). In addition to a consistent sexual dimorphism in DNA content across all of the species, we found DNA content variation among populations within, as well as among, species. We also found a general trend towards a negative correlation between DNA content and flower and leaf size over all four species, within males and females as well as overall. These results indicate that repetitive DNA may play a role in long-term phenotypic evolution.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2000

Pollen discounting and the evolution of selfing in Arenaria uniflora (caryophyllaceae).

Although most models of mating system evolution assign a central role to the male transmission advantage of selfing genotypes, empirical data on the male fitness consequences of increased self-pollination are still uncommon. Here, I use measures of pollen import and export by focal plants in genotyped arrays to investigate the effects of floral morphology and pollination environment on self and outcross male function. Plants from an autogamous population of Arenaria uniflora (Caryophyllaceae) exhibit complete pollen discounting relative to closely related outcrossers, as do morphologically intermediate F1 hybrids between the two populations. However, the low cumulative male fitness of hybrids probably results from reduced pollen number or competitive ability, rather than a nonlinear relationship with floral morphology. When surrounded by selfers, plants from the outcrosser population self-fertilize at nearly the same rate as selfers (>80%), but have much lower self male fitness due to reduced fruit set. Because outcross siring success is also extremely low (<8%) in this treatment, these mate-limited outcrossers are at male fitness disadvantage to both pseudocleistogamous selfers and nonlimited outcrossers. The relative male fitness of plants with different mating systems appears dependent on the ecological context, as well as on morphological trade-offs.

Biological Evolution↗
PubMed2025

The genome sequence of Greek sea-spurrey, Spergularia bocconei (Scheele) Graebn. (Caryophyllaceae).

We present a genome assembly from a specimen of Spergularia bocconei (Greek sea-spurrey; Streptophyta; Magnoliopsida; Caryophyllales; Caryophyllaceae). The genome sequence has a total length of 466.20 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 18 chromosomal pseudomolecules suggesting the individual is an allotetraploid (2 n = 4 x = 36). The mitochondrial and plastid genome assemblies have lengths of 327.07 kilobases and 152.41 kilobases, respectively.

Boccone's sea-spurrey↗
PubMed1999

Inbreeding depression and selfing rates in a self-compatible, hermaphroditic species, Schiedea membranacea (Caryophyllaceae).

Inbreeding depression and selfing rates were investigated in Schiedea membranacea (Caryophyllaceae), a hermaphroditic species endemic to the Hawaiian Islands. Most theoretical models predict high inbreeding depression in outcrossing hermaphroditic species and low inbreeding depression in inbreeding species. Although high outcrossing rates and high levels of inbreeding depression are characteristic of many species of Schiedea, self- fertilization is common among relatives of hermaphroditic S. membranacea, and high selfing rates and low levels of inbreeding depression were predicted in this species. Sixteen individuals grown in the greenhouse were used to produce selfed and outcrossed progeny. Inbreeding depression, which was evident throughout the stages measured (percentage viable seeds per capsule, mean seed mass, percentage seed germination, percentage seedling survival, and biomass after 8 mo), averaged 0.70. Inbreeding depression among maternal families varied significantly for all measured traits and ranged from -0.12 to 0.97. Using isozyme analysis, the multilocus selfing rate varied from 0.13 to 0.38 over 4 yr. Contrary to the initial prediction of high selfing and low inbreeding depression based on phylogenetic relationships within Schiedea, low selfing rates and high levels of inbreeding depression were found in S. membranacea. These results indicate that outcrossing is stable in this species and maintained by high levels of inbreeding depression.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Developmental instability in hybrids between Lychnis viscaria and Lychnis alpina (Caryophyllaceae).

Developmental instability shown by increased fluctuating asymmetry can be caused by either genetic or environmental stress. Genomic coadaptation and heterozygosity are the genetic factors that are commonly assumed to increase the level of developmental stability. Therefore, in hybrid populations the level of fluctuating asymmetry (FA) can be lower due to higher heterozygosity or higher due to disruption of coadapted gene complexes, depending on the degree of divergence between hybridizing taxa. Here I present data on FA in petals from hybrids between Lychnis viscaria (Caryophyllaceae) and Lychnis alpina and from parental species grown in a common garden environment. Petal asymmetry of hybrids was clearly higher than that of either parental species grown in common environment. Between the two parental species petal asymmetry did not differ. The mean size of the petals in hybrids was about the same as in L. viscaria, thus indicating no heterotic effect. Therefore, it seems that hybrids between L. viscaria and L. alpina do suffer from the disruption of coadapted gene complexes as indicated by higher developmental instability.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

The genetics of floral divergence and postzygotic barriers between outcrossing and selfing populations of Arenaria uniflora (Caryophyllaceae).

The genetic architecture of floral traits involved in the evolution of self-pollination provides a window into past processes of mating system divergence. In this study, we use two generations of crosses between highly selfing and predominantly outcrossing populations of Arenaria uniflora (Caryophyllaceae) to determine the minimum number, average dominance relationships, and pleiotropic effects of genetic factors involved in floral divergence. Comparison of the F1 and F2 phenotypic means with the expectations of a completely additive model of gene action revealed a primarily additive genetic basis for floral characters associated with mating system variation. The exception was flower life span, which showed partial dominance of the outcrosser phenology. In contrast to similarly divergent species, the substantial differences in flower size between these A. uniflora populations appear to involve relatively few genes of large effect (minimum number of effective factors = 2.2 +/- 2.8 SE). In addition, correlations among traits in the F2 generation indicate that pleiotropy may be an important feature of the genetic architecture of floral evolution in A. uniflora. The evolution of selfing via major modifiers of floral morphology is consistent with other evidence for ecological selection for preemptive self-pollination in A. uniflora. Analyses of the genetic basis of autonomous selfing were complicated by hybrid breakdown in both F1 and F2 generations. Only F1 hybrids showed reductions in female fertility, but about 30% of F1 and F2 hybrids exhibited partial or complete male sterility. Male sterile flowers were characterized by short stamens, reduced petals, and a lack of protandry, as well as indehiscent anthers. This morphological breakdown mimics environmental disruptions of floral development and may result from novel genic interactions in hybrids.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2002

Presence and behaviour of B-chromosomes in Acanthophyllum laxiusculum (Caryophyllaceae).

Two karyotypic variants were recognized in populations of Acanthophyllum laxiusculum Schiman-Czeika. Variant A had 2N = 30 and variant B showed the presence of 0 to 3 B-chromosomes in addition to 2N = 30 chromosomes. Analysis of chromosome behaviour at meiosis showed that the presence of B-chromosomes increases chiasma frequency in A-chromosomes; this effect was higher for plants with odd numbers of B-chromosomes compared with plants with even numbers of B-chromosomes. Comparisons of variants A and B, suggests that B-chromosomes have an effect pollen stainability and seed production. It seems that the presence of B-chromosomes may increase pollen stainability and seed production in variant B.

Behavior↗