Article
Plant Sciences
Lina Raudone, Jolita Radusiene, Fatih Seyis, Fatih Yayla, Gabriele Vilkickyte, Mindaugas Marksa, Liudas Ivanauskas, Cuneyt Cirak
Summary: This study evaluated the distribution patterns of phenolic compounds in seven wild Achillea species and their plant parts, as well as their antioxidant activity. The results showed that the qualitative and qualitative profiles of caffeoylquinic acids and flavonoids were species-specific. A. setacea had the highest total amount of caffeoylquinic acids, while A. arabica had the highest accumulation of mono-caffeoylquinic acids and flavonoids. The leaves of all studied species had priority in terms of radical scavenging activity over inflorescences and stems.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bipin Neupane, Sadikshya Poudel
Summary: This study investigated neglected and underutilized species in two rural municipalities in Lamjung district of Nepal, finding that socio-demographic factors play a significant role in characterizing, evaluating, and conserving these species on-farm. Basic education status and agriculture as a primary occupation were found to have a major influence on conservation efforts, highlighting the importance of involving various stakeholders such as government, academics, entrepreneurs, and producers in promoting neglected and underutilized species.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Gezahegn Kassa, Tamrat Bekele, Sebsebe Demissew, Tesfaye Abebe
Summary: Expanding and enhancing agroforestry homegardens can increase and maintain biodiversity while ensuring ecological and socioeconomic sustainability. A study conducted in Ethiopia examined plant species richness, plant use, and the classification and identification of different types of homegardens. The results highlight the valuable role of agroforestry homegardens in conserving and maintaining biological diversity.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Victoria Reyes-Garcia, Rodrigo Camara-Leret, Benjamin S. Halpern, Casey O'Hara, Delphine Renard, Noelia Zafra-Calvo, Sandra Diaz
Summary: There is a growing demand for conservation frameworks that preserve place-based relationships between people and nature. The biocultural approach combines biology conservation priorities with cultural values to globally assess the status of culturally important species (CIS). The findings show that CIS are more culturally vulnerable or endangered than they are biologically, indicating a disregard for cultural considerations in conservation efforts.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
(2023)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Andleeb Zehra, Mukesh Meena, Dhanaji M. Jadhav, Prashant Swapnil, Harish
Summary: This review paper examines and provides an overview of the various conservation strategies and regulatory framework to protect endangered plants, particularly the Safed Musli. However, due to a lack of effective conservation, these plants are on the verge of extinction.
Review
Plant Sciences
Harihar Jaishree Subrahmaniam, Dominique Roby, Fabrice Roux
Summary: Studies have shown the importance of positive interactions between genotypes in wild plant species, influenced by kin selection theory and the elbow-room hypothesis. However, there are shortcomings in existing research, such as a lack of reliable estimates of genetic relatedness among genotypes and ecological characterization of natural habitats. A combination of evolutionary ecology and genomics is proposed to establish the eco-genomic landscape of positive genotype-by-genotype interactions in wild plant species.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Muhammad Majeed, Khizar Hayat Bhatti, Andrea Pieroni, Renata Soukand, Rainer W. Bussmann, Arshad Mahmood Khan, Sunbal Khalil Chaudhari, Muhammad Abdul Aziz, Muhammad Shoaib Amjad
Summary: The study found that different religious groups in Jhelum District, Pakistan use a variety of wild food plants, with some differences but still sharing a common range of species. The cultural knowledge among non-Muslim groups is eroding due to the influence of modern lifestyles.
Review
Horticulture
Stuart Alan Walters
Summary: Horseradish is a medicinal plant species with numerous health benefits, containing rich biologically active compounds including glucosinolates and their breakdown products, isothiocyanates, which have preventive and inhibitory effects on diseases like cancer. It also exhibits antibacterial and antioxidant properties, aids in digestion, and reduces constipation. Its potential for improving human health should be promoted through extensive marketing campaigns.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Kenneth Otieno Onditi, Wenyu Song, Xueyou Li, Simon Musila, Zhongzheng Chen, Quan Li, James Mathenge, Esther Kioko, Xuelong Jiang
Summary: Understanding the interactions between abiotic factors and species diversity and distribution patterns is crucial for improving biodiversity management tools such as protected areas. This study explores the interactions of terrestrial mammal diversity patterns and abiotic factors in Kenya and finds that climate and human footprint play significant roles in determining mammal diversity patterns.
ECOLOGICAL INDICATORS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Daniela Pauletto, Lucieta Guerreiro Martorano, Lucas Sergio de Sousa Lopes, MichellinyPinheiro de Matos Bentes, Thiago Almeida Vieira, Thiago Gomes de Sousa Oliveira, Verena Santos de Sousa, Adria Fernandes da Silva, Pricila da Silva Ferreira de Lima, Aldeize Santos Tribuzy, Iandra Victoria Pinto Guimaraes
Summary: This study examined the composition and use of plant species in agroforestry home gardens in three municipalities in the western region of Para, Brazilian Amazonia. The findings revealed that a few plant species, particularly fruit-bearing plants, dominated these gardens. These gardens serve multiple purposes, including food and medicinal needs, highlighting their economic and environmental significance.
Article
Plant Sciences
Thais M. Teixeira, Alison G. Nazareno
Summary: Intraspecific genetic variation is crucial for wild populations, and evaluating genetic diversity patterns is essential for guiding conservation policies, especially for threatened species. A study on the critically endangered plant Mimosa catharinensis using SNP markers revealed moderate genetic diversity levels, high outcrossing rates, and an apparent lack of inbreeding, despite a recent bottleneck in population history. This population genomic research addresses key issues in evolution and conservation biology, providing valuable insights for safeguarding genetic diversity in this unique species.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Sarah K. Jones, Natalia Estrada-Carmona, Stella D. Juventia, M. Ehsan Dulloo, Marie-Angelique Laporte, Chiara Villani, Roseline Remans
Summary: Improving biodiversity in food systems is crucial for healthier diets and sustainable food production. There are significant differences in agrobiodiversity status among countries, with developed countries scoring higher on average compared to developing countries.
Article
Agronomy
Habtamu Seyoum Aragaw, Donatus Nohr, Daniel Callo-Concha
Summary: The study evaluated the nutritional potential of underutilized edible plant species growing in the understories of coffee agroforestry systems in southwestern Ethiopia. Findings indicated that these species could be potential sources of dietary nutrients needed locally, with notable contributions from certain plants like Amaranthus graecizans, Portulaca oleracea, Dioscorea cayenensis, and the fruit Rubus apetalus.
AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Chika Egawa, Teru Yuta, Asuka Koyama
Summary: The invasion of alien plants due to urbanisation has increased rapidly worldwide. Some of these plants have large flowers and long flowering periods, potentially benefiting wild pollinating insects by increasing nectar sugar and pollen availability. However, although these resource-rich alien plants make a significant contribution to floral resource supply, they are not the main food source for pollinating insects. Maintaining floral resource diversity, including native plants, is still necessary in suburban ecosystems to satisfy insect demand.
ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Frank Berendse, Rob H. E. M. Geerts, Wim Th. Elberse, Thiemo Martijn Bezemer, Paul W. Goedhart, Wei Xue, Erik Noordijk, Cajo J. F. ter Braak, Hein Korevaar
Summary: A 60-year experiment in the Netherlands showed that increasing and declining nitrogen deposition had negative and positive effects on plant species diversity, respectively. The recovery of plant species diversity was observed with declining nitrogen deposition, but the former species composition was not fully restored. Time was found to be a crucial factor for the recovery of diverse, flowering meadows.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2021)