Identification of sentinel plant species for evaluating phytotoxicity of veterinary antibiotics in mediterranean europe

Background Antibiotics used to treat livestock species enter agricultural fields when they are excreted by grazing animals or are present in manure that is added to fields as fertiliser. In the European Union, the potential effects of such antibiotics on terrestrial plants must be evaluated following the standardised OECD 208 method, which specifies the crop and wild species that should serve as “sentinels” for assessing antibiotic exposure. The present study aimed to compare this approved list of sentinel species against crop and wild plant species actually present in agricultural and pasture lands in Mediterranean Europe in order to identify the most appropriate sentinel plants for the region. The study focused on Spain as a region representative of Mediterranean Europe. Georeferenced layers for wild plant species and cultivated areas (crops), livestock density and land cover were combined, and then selection criteria were applied, leading to the identification of sentinel crop species for agriculture and pasture scenarios. Results In the agriculture scenario, the sentinel crop species were barley, wheat, corn, sunflower, dried pie, alfalfa, vetch, oilseed rape and sugar beet; the sentinel wild species were Papaver rhoeas, Galium aparine and Chenopodium album. In the pasture scenario, sentinel wild species were Bromus tectorum, Agrostis capillaris, Trifolium pratense, Lotus corniculatus and Galium aparine. The following common weed species in field boundaries or in pasture lands also emerged as potential sentinel species for risk assessment, even though they are not listed in the OECD 208 method: Sonchus oleraceus, Avena sterilis, Dactylis glomerata, Hordeun murinum and Lolium rigidum. Conclusions The sentinel species identified in this study may be useful in risk assessment procedures covering Mediterranean Europe. The method developed for this study could be useful for identifying sentinel species for other geographical areas.

Identification of acem acem leaves as hand washing media for pesticide user

To replace the unavailability of water and soap in the fields, Karo farmers use a type of wild plant known as “daun acem acem” to clean their hands that are exposed to pesticides. This study aims to identify wild plant species that were carried out on horticultural farms that were used by farmers to clean the pesticide exposure. The research location is in Sumber Mufakat village, Kabanjahe district, Karo district in 2019-2020. This is a descriptive survey where the leaf as samples were taken by making observation plots measuring 1mx1m and placing them at random research locations in 20 farmer fields. The data analyzed in descriptive by compare and tracing in exploration. The result found that acem acem leaves have a leaf shape like clover and have flowers. Generally grows wild around plants that contain lots of water. This plant also contains water, especially in the stems and roots. This mountain clover is included in the genus oxalis and the species Oxalis dehradunensis Raizada. Farmers are sure that these leaves are effective in cleaning the pesticides at the skin exposure. This plant contains saponins, flavonoids, polyphenols, tannins, and oxalic acid and is effective to increase the personal hygiene of farmers.

Preserving for the future the — once widespread but now vanishing — knowledge on traditional pig grazing in forests and marshes (Sava-Bosut floodplain, Serbia)

Background Traditional knowledge is key for sustainability, but it is rapidly disappearing. Pig keeping in forests and marshes is an ancient, once widespread, now vanishing practice, with a major economic and ecological potential. The knowledge of pig keepers and the foraging activity of pigs are hardly documented. Methods We studied the knowledge of traditional pig keepers (svinjars) on wild plants and pig foraging on the Sava-Bosut forest-marsh complex in Serbia. We conducted picture-based interviews about 234 locally common and/or salient plant species, and participatory fieldwork (11 days) and visual observation (21 days) on pig foraging. Results 181 wild plant species were known by svinjars and 106 taxa were consumed by pigs. Svinjars knew well and could name most regularly foraged species. 98 species were reported by svinjars as foraged and 56 as not eaten. 28 species were observed by the authors as eaten regularly, while 21 were nibbled and 17 avoided. Contradictory information on foraging was rare both among svinjars (8 species) and between svinjars and researchers (7 species); several of these species were rare. Leaves of 92, fruits or seeds of 21 and ‘roots’ of 20 species were reported or observed as eaten, usually with high seasonality. Svinjars were overall observant, but knew little about some less salient species (e.g. Veronica, Circaea). The most common forages (reported and/or observed) were fruits (Quercus, fleshy fruits), grasses (Agrostis, Glyceria), herbs (Ranunculus ficaria, Circaea), nutritious ‘roots’ (Carex spp., Iris), young shrub leaves (Crataegus, Carpinus) and ‘tame’ plants growing in the sun (Persicaria dubia, Erigeron annuus). Traditional, now extinct pig breeds were reported as less selective and more ‘knowledgeable’ about plants, as they received less additional fodder. Svinjars learnt their knowledge since childhood, from community members, but long-term personal observations and everyday encounters with pigs were also important sources of knowledge. Conclusions A deeper understanding of pig foraging could contribute to using pigs in nature conservation management, resource management and organic farming, and to a better understanding of wild boar foraging. The knowledge of svinjars is a disappearing intangible cultural heritage of European importance. Knowledge holders deserve recognition, and legal and financial support to continue this tradition.

Ecological and Biological Properties of Satureja cuneifolia Ten. and Thymus spinulosus Ten.: Two Wild Officinal Species of Conservation Concern in Apulia (Italy). A Preliminary Survey

This study evaluated the effects of ecology (plant community, topography and pedology), as well as of climate, on the composition of essential oils (EOs) from two officinal wild plant species (Lamiales) from Apulia, namely Satureja cuneifolia Ten. and Thymus spinulosus Ten. Few scientific data on their chemical composition are available, due to the fact that the first has a limited distribution range and the second is endemic of southern Italy. Results for both species, never officially used in traditional medicine and/or as spices, showed that the ecological context (from a phytosociological and ecological point of view) may influence their EO composition, and hence, yield chemotypes different from those reported in the literature. S. cuneifolia and Th. spinulosus can be considered good sources of phytochemicals as natural agents in organic agriculture due to the presence of thymol and α-pinene. Overall, the obtained trend for EOs suggests a potential use of both species as food, pharmacy, cosmetics and perfumery. Hence, their cultivation and use represent a positive step to reduce the use of synthetic chemicals and to meet the increasing demand for natural and healthier products.

The response of Hymenocrater longiflorus to water stress and proline application under in vitro cultivation

Hymenocrater longiflorus Benth. (surahalala) is a wild plant species having properties to be categorized as both pharmaceutical and ornamental plants. To date, the genomics of this plant is unknown and the gene expression profiling of the genes related to its metabolite has never been studied before. In order to study the responses of surahalala plant grown under in vitro conditions to abiotic stresses and the deferential expressions of the genes related to its essential oils under exogenous proline application; three levels of PEG6000 (0, 10, and 20%) and five levels of proline (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20 µM) were applied in mixture with its culture medium. Accordingly, induced water deficit increased oxidant levels while decreased fresh weight of surahalala tissues; whereas, application of proline up to 15 µM was able to relatively compensate the negative effect of water deficit. Contrarily, high proline level (20 µM) showed negative effect surahalala plants which is probably due to the stress simulation (nutrition) in this plant under high proline concentration. Since PEG and proline applications increased essential oil contents, the best combination of proline and PEG treatment in the surahalala plant for achieving the highest content of its essential oils were 10 µM and 10% levels, respectively. The expression profiles of TPS27, L3H, TPS2, TPS1, OMT and GDH3 in this plant were successfully carried out and the results verified the involvement of these genes in 1,8-cineole, carvone, α-pinene, thymol, estragole, and β-Citronellol biosynthesis, respectively. In addition, our results indicated that these genes could get involved in the other metabolite synthesis under water deficit conditions.

Wild Plants Used as Vegetables by Transhumant People Around the Georgia–Turkey Border in the Western Lesser Caucasus

Recent ethnobotanical studies in the Caucasus, mainly in Georgia, reveal the significant ethnobotanical knowledge of local people related to wild edible plants. However, few studies have been conducted in the Lesser Caucasus, west Georgia, and Turkish Caucasus. This study aims to represent and evaluate the cultural importance of wild vegetable plants and their patterns of use along the Georgia–Turkey border. During the transhumance period in the summers of 2017 and 2018, 104 participants (65 in Turkey and 39 in Georgia) were interviewed using a semistructured questionnaire. The Cultural Importance Index and Relative Frequency of Citation were used to compare the relative importance of species in each region. The use of 83 wild plant species from 23 plant families as vegetables was documented, with 45 species recorded in Georgia and 72 species in Turkey. One-third of the recorded wild plant species and 52 use instances out of 122 species-use combinations were shared on both sides of the border. Women and men had mentioned almost the same number of species, and there was a nonsignificant correlation between the plant knowledge and age. Although there were no significant differences in the plant parts used, the way people used plants as vegetables varied significantly across the border. Considering the floral similarity across the border, the number of species used in common and shared vegetable plant knowledge was quite low. There is not a significant difference between the two countries in terms of the most frequently cited and culturally important species ( Rumex , Urtica , and Polygonum spp.). However, the recognition of some of the most important shared species ( Heracleum , Chaerophyllum , Arctium , and Campanula spp.) diverged significantly in different administrative regions.