Along the Rivers and into the Plain: Early Crop Diversity in the Central and Western Balkans and Its Relationship with Environmental and Cultural Variables

Agriculture is a complex and dynamic socio-ecological system shaped by environmental, economic, and social factors. The crop resource pool is its key component and one that best reflects environmental limitations and socio-economic concerns of the farmers. This pertains in particular to small-scale subsistence production, as was practised by Neolithic farmers. We investigated if and how the environment and cultural complexes shaped the spectrum and diversity of crops cultivated by Neolithic farmers in the central-western Balkans and on the Hungarian Plain. We did so by exploring patterns in crop diversity between biogeographical regions and cultural complexes using multivariate statistical analyses. We also examined the spectrum of wild-gathered plant resources in the same way. We found that the number of species in Neolithic plant assemblages is correlated with sampling intensity (the number and volume of samples), but that this applies to all archaeological cultures. Late Neolithic communities of the central and western Balkans exploited a large pool of plant resources, whose spectrum was somewhat different between archaeological cultures. By comparison, the earliest Neolithic tradition in the region, the Starčevo-Körös-Criş phenomenon, seems to have used a comparatively narrower range of crops and wild plants, as did the Linearbandkeramik culture on the Hungarian Plain.

Pharmacological and nutritional benefits of flaxseed’s (Linum usitatissimum Linn.) biocomponents

Linum usitatissimum (Linn.), Commonly known as flaxseed or flaxseed, belongs to the family Linaceae. Flaxseed is a crop of blue flowers that produce small, flat seeds of golden yellow to reddish-brown color. It is a native of the Mediterranean and West Asia. Due to its health benefits associated with the high content of linolenic acid (ALA), flaxseed has played a major role in diet and research. The ALA is an essential omega-3-fatty acid, and also due to its presence a major lignan, i.e. secoisolaricyrcinol diglucoside (SDG). There is also a wide range of uses of flaxseed oil in skin health, anticoagulants, anticancer, ulcer treatment, muscle growth, and weight loss. The nutritional composition of flaxseed is about 30% carbohydrate, 18% protein, and 39% fat. Flaxseed contains most carbohydrates in the form of fiber and contains more than 45% omega-3 fatty acids. It also contains dietary fibers, proteins and polyunsaturated fatty acids. All the ingredients possess different health benefits. Although plant resources are the key ingredient in drug discovery, the popularity of flaxseed always fascinate scientists, the number of articles giving information about the chemical components of flaxseed and its potential clinical use is very little. This review provides a systematic summary of the research completed over the past decade and provides an up-to-date summary of the various bioactive and outlines the relationship between the nutritional and pharmacological use of chemical ingredients and its flaxseed.

Molecular Authentication, Propagation Trials and Field Establishment of Greek Native Genotypes of Sambucus nigra L. (Caprifoliaceae): Setting the Basis for Domestication and Sustainable Utilization

In the context of sustainable utilisation of valuable but neglected plant resources, a multifaceted study is presented herein for Greek native genotypes of elderberry (Sambucus nigra L., Caprifoliaceae), a species with an appreciated pharmaceutical and nutritional value. At the first phase, fresh plant materials (leaves, softwood cuttings) were collected from nine geographically separated genotypes originating from wild-growing Greek native germplasm of S. nigra. The leaf samples were genetically authenticated using DNA barcoding (ITS2). The next phase included the development of an asexual propagation protocol via cuttings which included screening of the collected genotypes in terms of propagation success, and further experimentation over a two-year period on a prioritised genotype. The propagation results highlighted the importance of external application of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) rooting hormone at levels of 2000–4000 ppm, which consistently presented high rooting rates (100%) of summer softwood, leafy cuttings of apical or sub-apical type. At the same time, rooting quality in terms of root number and length as well as early plant growth after rooting, were improved by external hormone application resulting in high rates of plant survival. This study reports first-time data on multifaceted assessment of Greek native S. nigra genotypes on molecular authentication and asexual propagation, thus ultimately setting the basis for domestication and sustainable utilization of this species.

Distribution of Bombus haemorrhoidalis Smith and its Interrelationship with Host Plants in Chitwan Annapurna Landscape of Central Nepal

Occurrence and variety of flowering host plant of native Bombus pollinators are viewed as basicalternatives than the imported species. The use of native bumblebee species for pollination wasconsidered more significant than imported bumblebees to reduce environmental impact and pestproblems. B. haemorrhoidalis is the most dominant species of Chitwan Annapurna Landscape inagricultural and wild flora during April to September 2019. We followed assessable walking trailsand used insect net for sample collection. The effect of different environmental variables on the floralhost plant resources of this native bumblebee was examined. With eight locations ranging from 1407to 2506 meters above sea level, twenty-seven species of seventeen plant families were identified aspollen and nectar foraging host plants. B haemorrhidalis distribution frequency is correlated withrelative humidity (0.07438968) and altitude (0.495657857). The most visited plant family wasBalsaminaceae and plant was Imatian scrabida. This study gives the knowledge of abundance of hostplants, ecological and biological relationship of the B. haemorrhoidalis in Nepal

Medicinal Plants Used in Ethnoveterinary Practices in Adea Berga District, Oromia Region of Ethiopia

In Ethiopia, locally available materials, mainly medicinal plants, are commonly utilized to manage livestock diseases. However, this practice is currently being threatened by several factors including loss of traditional knowledge and depletion of plant resources. This calls for an urgent need to document the ethnoveterinary knowledge in the country and conserve the associated medicinal plants. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to document traditional knowledge on use of medicinal plants in the Adea Berga district, Oromia region of Ethiopia, to manage livestock ailments. Ethnobotanical data were collected largely through semistructured interviews conducted with purposively selected traditional healers of the district. The study identified 59 medicinal plants used in ethnoveterinary practices in the district. The great majority (90.4%) of the medicinal plants were used in fresh forms, which were mainly administered orally. The majority (65.4%) of the medicinal plants were gathered from the wild. Data revealed that yoke sore (wound) had the highest informant consensus factor (ICF) value (1.00), followed by leech infestation (0.92) and endoparasite infections (0.90). The highest fidelity level (FL) (100%) and rank order priority (ROP) (100%) values were obtained for the plants Nicotiana tabacum, Malva parviflora, and Calpurnia aurea that were used to treat leech infestation, retained placenta, and snake poisoning, respectively. Priority for further pharmacological and phytochemical investigations needs to be given to the aforementioned three plants with the highest FL and ROP values as such values may indicate their higher potency against the respective ailments.

KARAKTERISTIK PENGELOLAAN HUTAN RAKYAT DALAM PERSPEKTIF SISTEM (Studi di Desa Semoyo Kabupaten Gunung Kidul)

. Community smallholder forests in various places in Indonesia have different characteristics that depend on many factors that cause the development of community smallholder forests. This study aims to determine the characteristics of community smallholder forest management, the components and the interrelationships between the components that constructed the community smallholder forest system. The study was conducted at Semoyo Village, Gunungkidul Regency. Data were collected by interviewing seventy-two respondents who were purposively chosen, then tabulated and analyzed in a descriptive qualitative manner. Diameter of tree measurements on the respondent's forest land are carried out by census. In the next stage, the construction of the community smallholder forest system is carried out in a causal loop diagram based on the management characteristics found. The results show that the community smallholder forest system is composed of the main components of cultivated land, plant resources, human resources, management activities, and the purpose of managing forests. The component of land resources and human resources determines the agroforestry planting patterns chosen. The activity components, which are planting, maintaining, and cutting, have a positive loop and form different stand structures in different agroforestry planting patterns

Preservation, enrichment and use of the collection fund of energy and aromatic plants of M. M. Gryshko National Botanical Garden of NAS of Ukraine as a scientific object that is a national treasure

Intr0ducti0n. Because plants are an important factor in the existence of the biosphere and life on Earth, plant resources are an invaluable asset that requires comprehensive study, conservation and rational use in the context of global climate change. Matcrials and mcth0ds. The subject of research was the collection of spice, essential, medicinal, energy, oilseeds, sugar plants. The object of the study was the process of introduction, selection, conservation and enrichment of genetic resources of energy and aromatic plants. Methods of introduction, acclimatization, adaptation, selection, biotech- nology are used. Physiological, biochemical, allelopathic, and ecological methods were also used. Rcsults and discus- si0n. For many years of introduction and selection work in the department of cultural flora of NBG collected valuable gene pool of useful plants (about 2000 taxa) part of which, namely “Collection Fund of Energy and Aromatic Plants of the National Botanical Garden of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine ” (over 1500 samples) is included in the List of scientific objects that make up the National Heritage.The structure and features of the scientific object (systematic, morphological-biological, botanical-geographical, ecological) are comprehensively studied and the social and economic significance of the respective groups of useful plants is assessed. About 100 varieties have been created by various selection and genetic methods, which are recommended for growing in all agro-climatic zones of Ukraine. For the first time, about 50 new highly productive economically valuable crops from the collection fund have been introduced into the State Reg- ister of Plant Varieties of Ukraine. Based on the use of the collection fund, about 50 promising phytotechnologies for the production of biofuels, food products and phytomedicines have been developed. For the first time in Ukraine more than 40 Methods of examination of varieties of new energy and aromatic crops for difference, homogeneity and stability have been developed. C0nclusi0ns. As a result of many years of introductory and selection-genetic work in the department of cultural flora of the NBG, the “Collection Fund of Energy and Aromatic Plants” was created — as a scientific object that is a National Heritage. Important scientific and practical results on the preservation, enrichment and use of the collection have been obtained.

Three Antimitotic Compounds Found in Banana Pseudo-Stem By Using Earthworms.

To identify antimitotic compounds from abundant and inexpensive plant resources, banana pseudo-stem was (BPS) chosen. Onion root tip assay and earthworm regeneration assay were carried out to test theantimitotic potential of aqueous extract of BPS.Earthworm (Eudrilus eugeniae) regeneration assay exploits the regeneration ability of amputated earthworms that retain the clitellum region. Aqueous extract of BPS decreased the mitotic index in Allium cepa root tips. Besides, thisaqueous extract of BPS inhibited the regeneration of blastema from amputated earthworms as well. Validation of this extract with MTT (3-(4,5-dimethyl thiazolyl-2-yl)- 2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assay using MCF-7 breast cancer cell linefurther supported the presence of antimitotic compounds. Aqueous BPS extract was further fractionated with ethyl acetateand it was found to inhibit the regeneration of new tissues from amputated earthworms. Liquid Chromatography and Mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis was performed with aqueousBPS extract to predict the lead compounds.Prediction analysis with mass values revealed the presence of three different compounds viz. α-tocotrienol, 1,2,4-nonadecanetriol and 3',4',7-trihydroxyisoflavone, which were already reported to inhibit the cell division. All our results strongly supported that banana pseudo-stem extract possesses antimitotic compounds. This is the first report of identification of putative antimitotic compounds from aqueous extract of Musa paradisiaca var. Robusta by using earthworms.

Ethno-bamboo Approaches to the Pala’wan in the Mangrove Area of Palawan Island, the Philippines

Bamboo is an important resource in Southeast Asia, which is a hotspot of bamboo species diversity globally, and has historically contributed to livelihoods in various environments. Subsistence livelihoods are still widely found in Southeast Asia, especially in isolated villages, and various kinds of plant resources, including bamboo, support local livelihoods. Understanding the relationship between human society and plants is important to understand the historical process of expansion and adaptation of human society in Southeast Asia; however, despite its importance, information on bamboo utilization remains limited. A field survey was conducted in a village located in the mangrove area of Palawan Island, the Philippines. The residents were the Pala’wan. Data was obtained through participatory observation and interview survey to at least 30 villagers. In the village, 10 bamboo species, both wild and cultivated, were utilized for various purposes, with a large and specific demand for bamboo of cultivated species. These species are medium to large in size, and some are distributed widely both inmainland and insular Southeast Asia. These bamboo species are considered to have been brought by Southeast Asian people along with other useful plants and have adapted to the new environment. To understand the long-term relationship between Asian people and plants, it is necessary to consider bamboo, and multidisciplinary integration of knowledge, which can be called as the “ethno-bamboo approach,” can uncover new aspects of this relationship.