Assessment of plant species diversity associated with the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua, Fabaceae) at the Mediterranean scale

Background and aims – The thermophilous woodlands of the Mediterranean region constitute reservoirs of genetic resources for several fruit trees. Among them, the carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua) is a key component of traditional Mediterranean agroecosystems but its ecology was never assessed at the scale of its whole distribution area. Fortunately, phytosociological literature shelters invaluable resources for several issues in conservation, among them the possibility to analyse plant biodiversity at regional or continental scale. Here, we present the results of a comprehensive survey of the phytosociological literature associated to carob tree. Methods – We collected 1542 floristic relevés performed in 18 geographical areas distributed around the Mediterranean in which the presence of C. siliqua was recorded. Species composition of the plant communities was analysed by multivariate ordination and hierarchical classification, and species diversity was evaluated by rarefaction and prediction analyses of Hill numbers. Key results – Multivariate analyses revealed that plant communities associated with the carob tree are well differentiated between the Western and Eastern basins. A wider range of floristic differentiation is revealed in the Western basin where the vegetation reaches its maximal heterogeneity. By comparison, in the Eastern basin the plant assemblages associated with the carob tree are more homogeneous and with a lower species richness but a higher Simpson diversity. Conclusions – The large ecological range of the Mediterranean carob trees is potentially an important evolutionary legacy for the conservation of genetic resources and seed sourcing for new uses such as restoration ecology.

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The ecological status of the carob-tree (Ceratonia siliqua, Leguminosae) in the Mediterranean

Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society ◽

10.1111/j.1095-8339.2003.00254.x ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 144 (4) ◽

pp. 431-436 ◽

Cited By ~ 21

Author(s):

L. RAMÓN-LACA ◽

D. J. MABBERLEY

Keyword(s):

Ecological Status ◽

Ceratonia Siliqua ◽

Carob Tree ◽

The Mediterranean

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Genetic variation in herbivore resistance within a strawberry crop wild relative (Fragaria vesca L.)

Arthropod-Plant Interactions ◽

10.1007/s11829-019-09724-w ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 14 (1) ◽

pp. 31-40 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Daniela Weber ◽

Paul A. Egan ◽

Anne Muola ◽

Johan A. Stenberg

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Genetic Resources ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Distribution Area ◽

Fragaria Vesca ◽

Wild Relative ◽

Crop Wild Relative ◽

Continental Scale ◽

Woodland Strawberry ◽

Resistance Traits

Abstract To decrease the dependency on chemical pesticides, the resistance of cultivated strawberry to pests needs to be increased. While genetic resources within domesticated varieties are limited, wild genotypes are predicted to show high heritable variation in useful resistance traits. We collected 86 wild accessions of Fragaria vesca L. from central Sweden and screened this germplasm for antibiosis (pest survival and performance) and antixenosis (pest preference) traits active against the strawberry leaf beetle (Galerucella tenella L.). First, extensive common garden experiments were used to study antibiosis traits in the sampled plant genotypes. Heritable genetic variation among plant genotypes was found for several antibiosis traits. Second, controlled cafeteria experiments were used to test for plant genetic variation in antixenosis traits. The leaf beetles avoided egg laying on plant genotypes possessing high antibiosis. This indicates a high degree of concordance between antibiosis and antixenosis and that the beetles’ egg-laying behavior optimizes the fitness of their offspring. The existence of high genetic variation in key resistance traits suggests that wild woodland strawberry contains untapped resources that are sought to reduce pesticide dependence in cultivated strawberry. Given that only a very small portion of the species’ distribution area was sampled, even higher variation may be expected at the continental scale. As a whole, the genetic resources identified in this study serve to strengthen the position of woodland strawberry as a key crop wild relative.

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Effect of seawater irrigation on germination and seedling growth of Carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) from Gouraya National park (Béjaïa, Algeria)

REFORESTA ◽

10.21750/refor.10.01.84 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 1-10

Author(s):

Abdenour Kheloufi ◽

◽

Lahouaria Mounia Mansouri ◽

Keyword(s):

National Park ◽

Dry Weight ◽

Germination Percentage ◽

Ceratonia Siliqua ◽

Total Inhibition ◽

Carob Tree ◽

The Mediterranean ◽

Pre Treatment ◽

Ceratonia Siliqua L ◽

Representative Area

The carob tree (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is an important component of the Mediterranean vegetation and its cultivation is important environmentally and economically. It is also an interesting leguminous species for afforestation-reforestation. In this study, carob seeds collected in a representative area of the Mediterranean basin at the national park of Gouraya (Béjaïa, Algeria), were subjected to germination tests under Mediterranean seawater (SW) irrigation of different concentrations (0, 10, 30, 50 and 100% SW) for 15-day period. Before germination tests, a 20 min pre-treatment with 96% sulphuric acid was necessary to overcome seed coat dormancy which does not permit germination. Results showed that the seeds of C. siliqua were able to germinate at different seawater concentration, except for 50% SW and 100% SW which resulted in total inhibition of germination. The maximum number of C. siliqua seed germination of 100% FGP (final germination percentage) appeared at 0% SW and 10% SW. Only 35.5% of the seeds have germinated in 30% SW. Ungerminated seeds of C. siliqua from different SW treatments showed medium germination recovery (FGPRecov) of 39.9% at 50% SW and low recovery of 18.2% at 100% SW when transferred to distilled water after 15 day-period. Seedlings length and seedling fresh and dry weight were significantly (P<0.001) decreased with increasing SW concentrations. Seedling water content remained constant in 10% SW in comparison with the control, while it decreased very slightly in 30% SW. These findings may serve as useful information for C. siliqua habitat establishment and afforestation-reforestation programs in coastal sites and for exploiting seawater in the area.

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Genetic variation in herbivore resistance within a strawberry crop wild relative (Fragaria vesca L.)

10.1101/728360 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Daniela Weber ◽

Paul A. Egan ◽

Anne Muola ◽

Johan A. Stenberg

Keyword(s):

Genetic Variation ◽

Genetic Resources ◽

Egg Laying ◽

Distribution Area ◽

Fragaria Vesca ◽

Wild Relative ◽

Crop Wild Relative ◽

Continental Scale ◽

Woodland Strawberry ◽

Resistance Traits

AbstractTo decrease the dependency on chemical pesticides, the resistance of cultivated strawberry to pests needs to be increased. While genetic resources within domesticated varieties are limited, wild genotypes are predicted to show high heritable variation in useful resistance traits. We collected 86 wild accessions of Fragaria vesca L. from central Sweden and screened this germplasm for antibiosis (pest survival and performance) and antixenosis (pest preference) traits active against the strawberry leaf beetle (Galerucella tenella L.). First, extensive common garden experiments were used to study antibiosis traits in the sampled plant genotypes. Heritable genetic variation among plant genotypes was found for several antibiosis traits. Second, controlled cafeteria experiments were used to test for plant genetic variation in antixenosis traits. The leaf beetles avoided egg laying on plant genotypes possessing high antibiosis. This indicates a high degree of concordance between antibiosis and antixenosis, and that the beetles’ egg-laying behaviour optimizes the fitness of their offspring. The existence of high genetic variation in key resistance traits suggests that wild woodland strawberry contains untapped resources that are sought to reduce pesticide-dependence in cultivated strawberry. Given that only a very small portion of the species’ distribution area was sampled, even higher variation may be expected at the continental scale. As a whole, the genetic resources identified in this study serve to strengthen the position of woodland strawberry as a key crop wild relative.

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