Strychnos 1990 - 2004 - Crops for the Future
Strychnos 1990 - 2004 - Crops for the Future
Strychnos 1990 - 2004 - Crops for the Future
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Author<br />
Title<br />
Year<br />
Source title<br />
Reference<br />
H. W. Pritchard, M. I. Daws, B. J. Fletcher, C. S. Gamene, H. P. Msanga and W.<br />
Ecological correlates of seed desiccation tolerance in tropical African dryland tree<br />
<strong>2004</strong><br />
American Journal of Botany<br />
91(6): 863-870<br />
Abstract<br />
In <strong>the</strong> tropics, species with recalcitrant or desiccation-sensitive, Type III seeds are largely restricted<br />
to regions with comparatively high rainfall, because desiccation-induced seed death will be minimal<br />
in <strong>the</strong>se environments. However, species with recalcitrant seeds do occur in drylands, although little<br />
is known about ecological adaptations to minimize seed death in <strong>the</strong>se environments. Here, we<br />
present data <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> seed desiccation tolerance of 10 African dryland species (Dovyalis caffra, Khaya<br />
senegalensis, Kigelia africana, Lannea microcarpa, Sclerocarya birrea, <strong>Strychnos</strong> cocculoides,<br />
Syzygium cumini, Trchilia emetica, Vitellaria paradoxa and Ximenia americana) and examine <strong>the</strong><br />
relationships between seed size, rainfall at <strong>the</strong> time of seed shed, and desiccation tolerance <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong>se<br />
and a fur<strong>the</strong>r 70 species from <strong>the</strong> scientific literature. The combined data set encompasses species<br />
from 33 families. Three species (Syzygium cumini, T. emetica, and V. paradoxa) had desiccationsensitive<br />
seeds, and <strong>the</strong> remaining seven species investigated were desiccation-tolerant. The<br />
desiccation-sensitive species had large (>0.5 g) seeds, germinated rapidly, and had comparatively<br />
small investments in seed physical defenses. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, seed was shed in months of high rainfall<br />
(>60 mm). In comparison, <strong>for</strong> species with desiccation-tolerant seeds, seed mass varied across five<br />
orders of magnitude, and seed was shed in wet and dry months. Although infrequent in dryland<br />
environments (approximately 11% of <strong>the</strong> species examined here), species with desiccation-sensitive<br />
seeds do occur; large size, rapid germination, and <strong>the</strong> timing of dispersal all reduce <strong>the</strong> likelihood of<br />
seed drying. Fur<strong>the</strong>rmore, desiccation-sensitivity may be advantageous <strong>for</strong> large-seeded species by<br />
increasing <strong>the</strong> efficiency of resource use in seed provisioning.<br />
Author<br />
Title<br />
Year<br />
Source title<br />
Reference<br />
Brochado, C. D., A. P. de Almeida, B. P. Barreto, L. P. Costa, L. S. Ribeiro, R. L.<br />
Flavonol robinobiosides and rutinosides from Alternan<strong>the</strong>ra brasiliana (Amaranth<br />
2003<br />
Journal of <strong>the</strong> Brazilian Chemical Society<br />
14(3): 449-451<br />
Abstract<br />
The extract of <strong>the</strong> medicinal species Alternan<strong>the</strong>ra brasiliana Kuntze af<strong>for</strong>ded six di- and triglycosyl<br />
kaempferol and quercetin derivatives. Their structures were elucidated based on <strong>the</strong> H-1- and C-13-<br />
NMR data and are reported here <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> first time in this genus. Kaempferol 3-O-robinobioside and<br />
kaempferol 3-O-rutinoside significantly inhibited <strong>the</strong> human lymphocyte proliferation in vitro.