Consistent Grime’s CSR Strategy of Daisy Fleabane Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. despite Its High Morphological Variability—A Case Study from Zagreb and Medvednica Mt., Croatia

Alongside the direct destruction of natural habitats and changes in land use, invasive species are considered one of the greatest threats to global biodiversity. Daisy fleabane Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. is among the most widespread invasive plants in Croatia. Invasions of E. annuus may be aided by morphological variability, which this study investigates. The variability of life traits (stem height, fresh and dry leaf mass, length, width and leaf area, specific leaf area, and leaf dry matter content) was examined among 18 locations throughout Zagreb and Medvednica Mt. Overall, 87 plant specimens and 435 leaves were measured and analysed using univariate and multivariate statistics. Viable populations were recorded in diverse habitat types, mostly with marked human impact. We determined Grime’s CR plant life strategies for all, except for two localities with C/CR plant strategies. Two populations with a more pronounced competitive strategy had high leaf dry matter content, with smaller leaves and medium height stems. Significant differences between the localities were found, with the specific leaf area (SLA) and plant height being the most diverse. Despite its high morphological variability, daisy fleabane had a consistent CSR strategy, which likely enables its widespread invasions across variable habitats.

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.

Complete Genome Sequence of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens EA19, an Endophytic Bacterium with Biocontrol Potential Isolated from Erigeron annuus

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain EA19 is an endophyte isolated from Erigeron annuus with antifungal activity against Blumeria graminis f. sp. tritici , Magnaporthe oryzae , and Fusarium graminearum . The genome sequence of this strain is 3.96 Mb and contains 3,421 coding sequences, which will facilitate an understanding of the mechanisms of biocontrol.

Three new gall mite records (Acari: Acariformes: Eriophyoidea) from Hungary and supplementary description of two species

Three eriophyoid species are recorded for the first time in Hungary, viz. Paraepitrimerus erigeronsis Xue et Hong collected from Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. (Asteraceae), Phyllocoptes parvulus (Nalepa) from Potentilla reptans L. (Rosaceae) and Aceria salicina (Nalepa) from Salix alba L. (Salicaceae). In addition, supplementary description of the vagrant phyllocoptine mite, Paraepitrimerus erigeronsis, and the deuterogynous and leaf margin rolling Aculus craspedobius (Nalepa) from Salix integra Thunb. (Salicaceae) is provided.

Stable colonization of native plants and early invaders by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi after exposure to recent invaders from the Asteraceae family

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Glomeromycota) are globally distributed symbionts of plant roots. Relationships with arbuscular mycorrhizae can provide crucial support for the establishment of any plant in an unfavorable environment. We hypothesized that invasions of neophytes are associated with changes in the colonization of native plants and early invaders (archeophytes) by AMF. We examined changes in AMF colonization in yarrow Achillea millefolium, wild carrot Daucus carota (native plants), tansy Tanacetum vulgare and false oat-grass Arrhenatherum elatius (archeophytes) in response to the invasion of four neophytes from the Asteraceae family, namely great globe-thistle Echinops sphaerocephalus, New York aster Symphyotrichum novi-belgii agg., annual fleabane Erigeron annuus, and Canada goldenrod Solidago canadensis. We found that the AMF colonization of the Asteraceae neophytes was high in the studied monodominant invasions, and the AMF colonization of the neophytes was higher than or equal to that of the studied native plants and archeophytes. Changes in plant dominance did not serve as predictors of the extent of AMF colonization of the native plants and archeophytes despite the invaded plots being associated with strong changes in the availability of primary and secondary mineral nutrients. The absence of a response of AMF colonization of native and archeophyte plant species to the invasion of neophytes suggests that AMF are passengers, rather than drivers, in the course of Asteraceae invasions in central European environments.

Anti-Obesity Effect of Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. Extract Containing Phenolic Acids

Erigeron annuus (L.) Pers. water extract (EAW) was investigated for its anti-obesity effects in C57BL/6J mice on a high-fat diet. Mice were divided into groups fed normal and high-fat diets (ND and HFD, respectively), and HFD mice were treated with EAW (50, 100, and 200 mg/kg/day) for 8 weeks. Inhibition of HFD-induced obesity by EAW was evaluated using biochemical parameters, immunohistochemistry, real-time PCR, and immunoblot assay. EAW supplementation significantly diminished the final body weight, adipose tissue size, and epididymal adipose tissue volume compared with mice with obesity induced by HFD (p < 0.05 for all). EAW also decreased serum triglyceride (TG) and LDL-cholesterol (LDL-c) levels in obese mice. EAW attenuated HFD-induced obesity by down-regulating C/EBPα, PPARγ, and SREBP-1c to suppress adipogenesis. Moreover, this study indicated that EAW activates the AMPK pathway and increases ACC phosphorylation and downstream CPT1 expression in HFD-induced obese mice. Furthermore, several phenolic acids with anti-obesity properties have been identified in EAW, including quinic acid, caffeic acid, chlorogenic acid, and 3,4-dicaffeoylquinic acid. Based on these data, EAW has anti-obesity effects in vivo, which indicates that it is an excellent candidate for the development of anti-obesity functional foods.