Plant economy of the Trzciniec culture based on charred plant remains from Pielgrzymowice 9 site, in the context of archaeobotanical finds from southern Poland

In the paper, new carpological data from Pielgrzymowice site 9 are presented in the context of archaeobotanical finds from southern Poland. The results were obtained from detailed analyses of 45 samples from 38 archaeological features. Only charred plant remains were taken into account as they are considered contemporaneous with the Middle Bronze Age settlement. Among the cultivated plants, Panicum miliaceum, Triticum dicoccum, Triticum monococcum and Triticum sp. were documented. Among wild plants, several taxa were found, including Chenopodium t. album, Chenopodium sp., Melandrium / Silene, Polygonum lapathifolium and Fallopia convolvulus, among others. In archaeobotanical samples, Geranium sp., cf. Lamiaceae also appeared. In addition, plants typical of grasslands, forests and ruderal areas were noted, such as Coronilla varia, Rumex acetosella, Plantago media, Plantago lanceolata, Stellaria graminea and Hypericum perforatum. These results were compared with data coming from nine sites of the Trzciniec culture from Lesser Poland to track the Middle Bronze Age plant-based economy in southern Poland.

Skuteczność chwastobójcza wybranych herbicydów stosowanych w jęczmieniu jarym

Celem prowadzonych badań była ocena skuteczności chwastobójczej wybranych herbicydów stosowanych w jęczmieniu jarym, odmiana Poldek. Doświadczenie przeprowadzono w latach 2012–2014. W doświadczeniu stosowano następujące kombinacje herbicydowe: kontrola (bez odchwaszczania), Pike 20 WG (metsulfuron metylu), Aurora 40 WG (karfentrazon etylu), Tayson 464 SL + Pike 20 WG (2,4-D + dikamba + metsulfuron metylu), Pike 20 WG + Aurora 40 WG (metsulfuron metylu + karfentrazon etylu), Galmet 20 SG + Galaper 200 EC (metsulfuron metylu + fluroksypyr), Granstar Ultra SX 50 WG (tifensulfuron metylu + tribenuron metylu). Ocenę skuteczności zwalczania najliczniej występujących gatunków chwastów przeprowadzono 30 dni po zastosowaniu preparatów metodą szacunkową. Dodatkowo dwa tygodnie przed zbiorem jęczmienia oceniono wtórne zachwaszczenie łanu metodą botaniczno-wagową, określając skład florystyczny, liczebność poszczególnych gatunków oraz powietrznie suchą masę chwastów. Gatunkami dominującymi w uprawie jęczmienia były: Galinsoga parviflora, Polygonum lapathifolium subsp. lapathifolium, Galium aparine, Matricaria maritima subsp. inodora, Chenopodium album i Stellaria media. Najbardziej skuteczne w zwalczaniu dominujących w jęczmieniu gatunków chwastów były kombinacje herbicydowe Tayson 464 SL + Pike 20 WG oraz Pike 20 WG + Aurora 40 WG, Galmet 20 SG + Galaper 200 EC. Po aplikacji tych kombinacji herbicydowych uzyskano również najwyższy plon ziarna jęczmienia.

Ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) as predators of conifer seeds

Many species of ground beetles (Coleoptera: Carabidae) are important predators of seeds. While the consumption of herb seeds has been intensively studied, little attention has been paid to the consumption of seeds of gymnosperm plants. Here, we determined the consumption of seeds of six coniferous species by four common carabid species and compared carabid preference for conifer and selected common angiosperm weed seed species. In no-choice experiments, the large carabid species Pseudoophonus rufipes preferentially consumed the seeds of Picea abies, Larix decidua and Pinus sylvestris. Pinus sylvestris was also preferred by another large carabid, Pterostichus melanarius. The smaller carabids Harpalus affinis and H. rubripes consumed conifer seeds reluctantly. The intensity of seed consumption by carabids decreased with increasing seed size. In choice experiments, both of the large carabid species preferred the small conifer seeds of P. sylvestris and L. decidua over herb seeds of similar size (Dipsacus fullonum, Galeopsis speciosa, Polygonum lapathifolium). Carabids may prefer conifer seeds because of their soft seed coats, regardless of their chemical protections. Postdispersal predation of seeds by carabids may be an important mortality factor in some conifer species.

AVALIAÇÃO DAS CONCENTRAÇÕES DE NUTRIENTES E METAIS PESADOS NAS PRINCIPAIS MACRÓFITAS AQUÁTICAS DO RESERVATÓRIO DE SANTANA – RJ NO PERÍODO DE TRÊS ANOS

As macrófitas aquáticas colonizam o reservatório de Santana desde seu enchimento em 1955 em função da eutrofização da água, especialmente a ingressa pelo Canal de Santa Cecília, bombeada do Rio Paraíba do Sul. A colheita mecânica é o principal método adotado para a retirada destas plantas, visando prevenir interferências no meio ambiente e usos múltiplos da água e do corpo hídrico. Este trabalho foi realizado por três anos com o objetivo da avaliar as composições químicas das principais macrófitas que formam a biomassa retirada pela colheita mecânica e inferir sobre os riscos de sua utilização na recuperação de solos de áreas degradadas. As macrófitas avaliadas foram Salvinia molesta, Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, Enydra sessilis, Polygonum lapathifolium, Eichhornia azurea, Urochloa subquadripara, Panicum rivulare, Egeria densa e Potamogeton pectinatus. Os padrões de concentrações de nutrientes foram diferentes entre plantas marginais, flutuantes e submersas, houve variação sazonal dentro das espécies, os valores foram compatíveis com a literatura e as concentrações de metais pesados foram abaixo das exigências legais para fertilizantes orgânicos. Os resultados sugerem baixo risco ambiental da utilização direta desta biomassa na recuperação de áreas degradadas.

Segetal flora of cereal crop agrocenoses in the Suwałki Landscape Park

Segetal flora of cereal crop agrocenoses in the Suwałki Landscape Park was studied in between the years 2012 and 2013. One hundred phytosociological Braun-Blanquet releves were taken, documenting the occurrence of 152 species of vascular plants that represented 29 botanic families. Analysis of the contributions of geographic-historical groups revealed the dominance of the native species, apophytes (87 species, making 57.2%), over anthropophytes (65 species, 42.8%). The number of short-lived species was twice greater (103 species, 67.8%) than the perennial ones (49 species, 32.2%). As regards the lifeforms, the therophytes were dominant (96 species, 63.2%) over hemicryptophytes (44 species, 28.9%) and geophytes (12 species, 7.9%). Among the species of segetal flora in the area studied, 23 valuable species classified to different categories of protection, were identified. The presence of Consolida regalis, Centaurea cyanus and Bromus secalinus, belonging to threatened species in other regions of Poland, was abundant. Also the species: Anthemis tinctoria, Echium vulgare and Anchusa officinalis were met with high frequency. The species: Agrostemma githago, Papaver argemone and Papaver dubium were represented by single plants, which can suggest their dying out. In the Park area, expansive species, threatening the biodiversity, such as Myosotis arvensis, Viola arvensis, Galeopsis tetraehit, Stellaria media, Artemisia vulgaris, Galinsoga parviflora, Elymus repens, Capsella bursa pastoris, Erodium cicutarium, Chamomilla recutita, Matricaria maritima subsp. inodora, Convolvulus arvensis, Polygonum persicaria, Polygonum lapathifolium subsp. pallidum and Polygonum lapathifolium subsp. lapathifolium, were commonly seen in the crop land.

Comparison of fertility and germination of seeds in selected taxa of the genus Polygonum / Porównanie plenności i zdolności kiełkowania nasion u wybranych taksonów z rodzaju Polygonum

The study compared the fertility of common segetal weeds of the Polygonum type: Polygonum persicaria L., Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium and Polygonum lapathifolium L. subsp. pallidum (With.) Fr. from different agrocenoses from the area of the Wigry National Park and its buffer zone. These taxa are particularly found in large numbers in root crops and spring cereals. Owing to favourable habitat conditions in a potato crops they reach large sizes and produce a much larger number of seeds compared with specimens from other agrocenoses. On the stubble, they constitute a component of secondary infestation, reaching fertility similar to that of cereal crops. In addition, the germination of seeds P. persicaria L., P. lapathifolium L. subsp. lapathifolium and P. lapathifolium L. subsp. pallidum (With.) Fr. tested in various combinations, in light and darkness, after the treatment of stratification and using gibberellic acid. It was shown that regardless of the conditions, the seeds that best germinated were P. lapathifolium L. subsp. pallidum (With.) Fr.

Phytochemical and pharmacological evaluations of Polygonum lapathifolium stem extract for anthelmintic and antiemetic activity

The present study is an attempt to preliminary phytochemical investigation, anthelmintic and anti-emetic activity studies on methanolic extract of Polygonum lapathifolium stems. The phytochemical screening shows the presence of phytosterols, diterpens, amino acid & protein, alkaloid and flavonoids, those are responsible for antiviral, antibacterial, antiallergic, antihypertensive, antiarrythmic, hepatoprotective, anti-inflammatory effects in mammals. In Anthelmintic activity test (using Pheretima posthuma model) five concentrations (20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 mg/ml in distilled water) of extracts were used which involved the determination of time of paralysis (vermifuge) and time of death (vermicidal activity) of the worms, where the concentration of 60, 80 &100 mg/ml showed a significant anthelmintic activity. Observations were comparable with the standard drug at concentration of 10mg/ml of piperizine citrate. On the other hand, in anti-emetic test, emesis was induced by the oral administration of copper sulphate 50mg/kg body weight to four days age of young chicks using chick emesis model. The antiemetic activity was determined by calculating the mean decrease in number of retching in contrast with those of control disorders. The extracts (150 mg /kg orally) showed statistically significant antiemetic effect (90.45% Inhibition) compared with reference drug metoclopramide (50mg/kg intraperitoneally) which showed 82.48% Inhibition. From these observations, it was concluded that stems extracts have potential anthelmintic and anti-emetic properties. The plant may further be explored for its various pharmacological activities.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/icpj.v2i3.13582 International Current Pharmaceutical Journal, February 2013, 2(3): 57-62