On the typification of the Linnaean name Crepis foetida (Asteraceae)

The Linnaean name Crepis foetida is lectotypified with an illustration from the third volume of Morison's Plantarum historiae universalis Oxoniensis. While the designated lectotype can be identified with C. foetida s.l., it cannot be ascribed with certainty to any of the currently accepted subspecies of this taxon and is therefore considered demonstrably ambiguous

Alien flora in freshwater ecosystems. Basic knowledge for mitigating threats to native biodiversity in Lazio region (central Italy)

Freshwater ecosystems are among the most biologically diverse on Earth providing essential ecosystem services for nature and society. Human impacts to lakes, rivers, streams, wetlands, and associated riparian habitats are dramatically reducing biodiversity and robbing critical natural resources and services. The degradation of freshwater ecosystems is more rapid than in terrestrial ones. Main anthropogenic threats include pollution, land-use change, and biological invasions. Regarding biological invasions, one of the main drivers of biodiversity loss at the global level, floristic lists represent fundamental step to help manage non native species. Here we present the list of aliens occurring in freshwater ecosystems of Lazio region (central Italy) and their characterization. The list includes 118 taxa (11.9% of the alien regional flora), belonging to 89 genera and 49 families). Richest families are Asteraceae (18 taxa; 15.2%) and Poaceae (10; 8.5%); richest genera are Amaranthus, Cyperus, Euphorbia, Oenothera, Symphyotrichum. Eleven taxa are listed among the worst European alien species. Therophytes, which usually suggest xeric conditions, are highly represented (30 taxa; 28.8%), highlighting their capability of adapting to diverse environmental conditions. The high proportion of taxa with a wide distribution (; 28, 23.7%) reveals the occurrence of r-selected species; 38 taxa (33.2%), native to the Americas, confirm the high migration and commercial flows between New and Old Worlds. In Several taxa occur in more than one habitat (acquatic, riparian, humid), with aquatic habitats including the highest percentage of invasive (27.3%). Most invasive species are: Alternanthera philoxeroides, Lemna minuta, Ludwigia peploides, Pontederia crassipes (free-floating macrophytes) and Arundo donax and Robinia pseudoacacia (terrestrial species). The number of invasive species decreases with inundation rates, whereas casual aliens increase. The analysis of Hydroecological regions shows a high percentage (33.3%) of invasive for HER13 (“Appennino Centrale”), probably due to the occurrence of industrial sites in the Sacco river valley (sounthern Lazio)

Intricate networks in nomenclature: cases of naming in Arthrocaulon, Arthrocnemum, and Salicornia (Amaranthaceae)

The nomenclatural status and typification of the names Arthrocaulon macrostachyum, Salicornia fruticosa, S. fruticosa var. deflexa, S. fruticosa var. glaucescens, S. fruticosa var. intermedia, S. fruticosa var. humilis, S. fruticosa var. pachystachya, S. fruticulosa, S. glauca, S. lignosa, S. macrostachya var. virescens, S. macrostachya var. glaucescens, S. perennis, S. radicans, S. radicans var. caespitosa, S. sarmentosa, S. sempervirens, and S. virginica, as well as an unnamed β-variety of S. fruticosa proposed by A. Bertoloni, are investigated. Concerning A. macrostachyum, we document that the type indicated in literature (G00177362) is not a holotype, and that lectotypification is necessary. A specimen from G (G00687638) is here designated as a lectotype. On the level of variety, Arthrocnemum fruticosum var. macrostachyum is an earlier legitimate name for Salicornia fruticosa var. pachystachya. Furthermore, Piirainen et al. are incorrect when citing Forsskål’s “Salicornia” from Alexandria as “S. virginica Forssk.”; it is not a new name and should be cited as S. virginica auct. non L., as published in Forsskål’s Flora Aegyptiaco-Arabica. Like with numerous other parallel cases in Flora Aegyptiaco-Arabica, Forsskål’s designation of “Salicornia virginica” for an Arabian plant is to be considered a misapplication of the earlier Linnaean name for an American plant. Arthrocnemum glaucum (a nomen illegitimum of Ungern-Sternberg), was listed as type species of Arthrocnemum by the Names in Current Use project; the basionym, Salicornia glauca Delile, is here lectotypified and identified as Arthrocaulon meridionale, published by Ramirez et al. Updated synonymies of Arthrocaulon macrostachyum, A. meridionale, Salicornia fruticosa, and S. perennis are proposed. Salicornia sempervirens is an invalid name according to Art. 36.1a of ICN. No original material was found for S. radicans var. caespitosa. This paper also refer to lecto- or neotypifications on specimens deposited at BM, G, LINN-HS, LY, MPU, NAP, and PAL, and their current taxonomic positions are suggested in a taxonomic part of the paper

La flora del Fiume Cavata. Guida pratica alla conoscenza delle piante acquatiche

Raramente le piante riscuotono l’interesse dell’escursionista e ancor più le piante acquatiche che si presentano spesso molto simili fra di loro e di difficile osservazione nel corpo idrico. Questa guida fotografica vuole essere di aiuto al riconoscimento delle piante che popolano i fiumi dell’Agro Pontino. L’escursionista, in canoa o a piedi lungo l’argine, potrà dare un nome agli alberi e alle “erbe” acquatiche. La guida è incentrata sul fiume Cavata, ricco di storia naturale e umana, ma risulta utile anche per gli altri fiumi e canali del territorio. Con la speranza che la conoscenza di questi particolari organismi vegetali possa risvegliare in noi un maggior rispetto per l’ambiente, gli autori augurano al “viandante fluviale” una piacevole e fresca escursione

The weed vegetation of the bean “Fagiolo Cannellino di Atina” and the red pepper “Peperone di Pontecorvo” PDO crops (Latium, central Italy)

The weed vegetation of the bean “Fagiolo Cannellino di Atina” (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) and the red pepper “Peperone di Pontecorvo” (Capsicum annuum L.) PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) crops was surveyed by means of 16 relevés, sampled in four farms of southern Latium during July 2019. The relevés were subjected to multivariate analysis, which revealed that the two crops are weeded by vegetation types referable to two different subassociations of Panico-Polygonetum persicariae (Spergulo-Erodion, Eragrostietalia, Digitario-Eragrostietea). Namely, communities colonizing bean fields, which are more mesophilous and richer in Eurasian taxa, are ascribable to the subassociation sorghetosum halepensis. Communities colonizing red pepper fields, which are more thermophilous and richer in Mediterranean taxa, are ascribable to the subassociation cyperetosum rotundi. Floristic, structural, and chorological features of the communities are discussed in relation to environmental factors and agricultural management

Taxonomy Complexity of Some Tyrrhenian Endemic Limonium Species Belonging to L. multiforme Group (Plumbaginaceae): New Insights from Molecular and Morphometric Analyses

The delimitation of Limonium taxa is highly complicated due to hybridization, polyploidy, and apomixis. Many “microspecies” were described and aggregated into groups, most of which are still poorly known from both molecular and morphological points of view. The aim of this study is to investigate four endemic species from the Tyrrhenian coast of central Italy and the Ponziane Archipelago belonging to the L. multiforme group (L. amynclaeum, L. circaei, L. pandatariae, and L. pontium) by means of molecular and morphometric analyses. Molecular data by sequencing ITS and three plastid markers and morphometric data highlight new information about the taxonomy of these taxa so as to reduce them into a single specific entity. In fact, the better taxonomic choice is to consider the populations studied as part of a single species, i.e., Limonium pontium. Three subspecies are recognized, i.e., subsp. pontium [= L. circaei = L. amynclaeum; from Circeo to Gianola localities (excluding Terracina) and from islands Ponza, Palmarola, Zannone, and Santo Stefano], subsp. pandatariae comb. et stat. nov. (from island of Ventotene), and subsp. terracinense subsp. nov. (from Terracina)

Piezoelectric nanocomposite bioink and ultrasound stimulation modulate early skeletal myogenesis

Despite the significant progress in bioprinting for skeletal muscle tissue engineering, new stimuli-responsive bioinks to boost the myogenesis process are highly desirable. In this work, we developed a printable alginate/Pluronic-based bioink including piezoelectric barium titanate nanoparticles (nominal diameter: ∼60 nm) for the 3D bioprinting of muscle cell-laden hydrogels. The aim was to investigate the effects of the combination of piezoelectric nanoparticles with ultrasound stimulation on early myogenic differentiation of the printed structures. After the characterization of nanoparticles and bioinks, viability tests were carried out to investigate three nanoparticle concentrations (100, 250, and 500 μg mL−1) within the printed structures. An excellent cytocompatibility was confirmed for nanoparticle concentrations up to 250 μg mL−1. TEM imaging demonstrated the internalization of BTNPs in intracellular vesicles. The combination of piezoelectric nanoparticles and ultrasound stimulation upregulated the expression of MYOD1, MYOG, and MYH2 and enhanced cell aggregation, which is a crucial step for myoblast fusion, and the presence of MYOG in the nuclei. These results suggest that the direct piezoelectric effect induced by ultrasound on the internalized piezoelectric nanoparticles boosts myogenesis in its early phases

La flora commensale delle colture D.O.P. "Peperone di Pontecorvo" e "Fagiolo cannellino di Atina" (Lazio meridionale)

Il “Peperone di Pontecorvo” (Capsicum annuum L. ‘Cornetto di Pontecorvo’) e il “Fagiolo cannellino di Atina” (Phaseolus vulgaris L. ‘Cannellino di Atina’) (Fig. 1) sono due colture annuali a ciclo estivo-autunnale della Provincia di Frosinone (Lazio), che hanno ottenuto il marchio D.O.P. nel 2010. I disciplinari di produzione prevedono la semina primaverile (peperone) o estiva (fagiolo), l’irrigazione e, infine, la raccolta estiva o autunnale. Per quanto riguarda le concimazioni e il diserbo chimico, questi sono consentiti per il peperone, mentre vengono vietati per il fagiolo. Le aree di produzione sono localizzate rispettivamente nella bassa Valle del Liri (a circa 50 m s.l.m.) e nella media Valle di Comino (a circa 400 m s.l.m.) e sono entrambe estremamente ridotte (poche centinaia di km2), fatto che conferisce alle due colture un intimo legame con il territorio. I substrati sono di natura alluvionale ed il fitoclima è Temperato Submediterraneo, a contatto con la fascia a fitoclima Mediterraneo nel caso di Pontecorvo (Pesaresi et al. 2017). Data l’utilità dello studio della flora commensale delle colture, sia dal punto di vista naturalistico-ambientale sia agronomico, e la totale mancanza di informazioni su questa per il “Peperone di Pontecorvo” e il “Fagiolo cannellino di Atina”, nel mese di luglio 2019 è stata effettuata un’indagine floristica in quattro aziende campione, due produttrici di peperoni e due di fagioli (Commissione Europea 2019). Il rilevamento è stato svolto tramite plot di area fissa di dimensioni 1 × 16 m, effettuando un rilievo al centro di ogni appezzamento coltivato (Chytrý, Otýpková 2003, Güler et al. 2016). Ad ogni agricoltore è stato, inoltre, chiesto di compilare un questionario riguardante le principali pratiche agronomiche effettuate. In totale sono stati censiti 52 taxa di piante vascolari, 35 nei campi di peperone e 27 nei campi di fagiolo, riferibili a 43 generi e 21 famiglie; le famiglie più rappresentate sono Asteraceae, Poaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Polygonaceae e Brassicaceae ed il genere più rappresentato è Euphorbia. I taxa più frequenti sono Amaranthus retroflexus L., Convolvulus arvensis L., Portulaca oleracea L., Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers., Cyperus rotundus L., Sonchus oleraceus L., Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop., Xanthium italicum Moretti e Chenopodium album L. subsp. album. Tra i molti taxa ampiamente diffusi, ne sono stati rinvenuti alcuni poco comuni in regione (Anzalone et al. 2010): Chrozophora tinctoria (L.) A.Juss., Euphorbia chamaesyce L., Lotus hispidus DC. e Visnaga daucoides Gaertn. L’analisi strutturale (Fig. 2a) ha evidenziato la presenza di una flora prevalentemente terofitica (67% di taxa annuali nelle colture di fagiolo, 82% in quelle di peperone), e subordinatamente geofitica ed emicriptofitica. La maggior incidenza di terofite nella flora commensale dei peperoni è riconducibile ad un contesto fitoclimatico caratterizzato da una maggiore aridità, comunque presente nonostante le irrigazioni. Tra le geofite, rilevante è il ruolo rivestito dalle rizomatose Cyperus rotundus L., nelle colture di peperone, e Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers., in quelle di fagiolo; entrambe queste specie sono infestanti di notevole rilevanza in agricoltura (Holm et al. 1977). In termini corologici (Fig. 2b), la flora totale è caratterizzata da una notevole incidenza di neofite (maggiormente rappresentate nella flora commensale dei peperoni) e cosmopolite (più presenti in quella dei fagioli). Tra le neofite, tutte invasive e quasi tutte di provenienza americana, vi sono Amaranthus hybridus L. subsp. hybridus, A. retroflexus L., Artemisia verlotiorum Lamotte, Datura stramonium L., Erigeron canadensis L., E. sumatrensis Retz., Euphorbia maculata L., E. prostrata Aiton e Veronica persica Poir. Tra i taxa ad ampia distribuzione sono presenti Chenopodium album L. subsp. album, Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers., Cyperus rotundus L., Digitaria sanguinalis (L.) Scop., Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) P.Beauv. subsp. crusgalli, Euphorbia helioscopia L., Persicaria maculosa Gray, Portulaca oleracea L. e Rumex crispus L. Le archeofite sono invece esclusive delle colture di fagiolo e sono rappresentate da Abutilon theophrasti Medik. e Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. Seguono per importanza i taxa eurimediterranei, più rappresentati nelle colture di peperoni. L’applicazione degli indici di Ellenberg (Pignatti 2005, Domina et al. 2018) ha evidenziato come la flora commensale dei peperoni sia leggermente più termofila ed eliofila, coerentemente con il fitoclima, e leggermente più nitrofila, come conseguenza delle concimazioni chimiche. In generale, l’indagine ha confermato la spiccata omogeneità della flora commensale delle colture a ciclo estivo nel Lazio, evidenziando notevoli affinità tra i contingenti floristici indagati e quelli, recentemente studiati, delle colture di mais (Abbate et al. 2013, Fanfarillo et al. 2019)

Lectotypification of two names in Limoniastrum (Plumbaginaceae)

The halophytic shrub genus Limoniastrum has recently been recircumscribed to include only two Mediterranean-Saharan species, Limoniastrum monopetalum (L.) Boiss. (≡ Statice monopetala L.) and L. guyonianum Boiss. Protologues of both species are briefly discussed and lectotypes are designated using material at BM (Herb. Clifford) and G (Herb. Boissier)

Testing seed germination from herbaria: Application of seed quality enhancement techniques and implication for plant resurrection and conservation

Herbaria are an important source of data and material useful in many fields, including plant conservation. Seeds preserved in herbarium specimens may have the potential to germinate, although few studies focused on this topic. Here, the first systematic assessment of six techniques, including priming techniques and melatonin application, aimed at improving the germination of seeds from herbarium specimens is presented. Seed germination of 26 species common in Europe, some of which congeneric to extinct species, collected in herbaria and in the wild (20,549 seeds in total, including 19,509 from 297 herbarium specimens from 8 different herbaria) was tested with the following treatments: exogenous melatonin addition to the germination medium, priming with melatonin, osmopriming, hydropriming for 24 and 48 hours, standard soil, heat sterilization and gibberellins addition. More than 85% of the fresh seeds and 1% of the seeds collected in herbaria germinated, including seeds older than 50 years. Data show that treatment with exogenous melatonin had a positive effect on the germination of fresh seeds, but a negative effect on the germination of herbarium-derived seeds. Furthermore, osmopriming treatment had a slightly positive effect on the germination of herbarium-derived seeds. Osmopriming and exogenous melatonin addition seem to be promising techniques that need further investigation and improvement and might be useful for the development of an optimal germination protocol for old and herbarium-derived seeds. The germination of seeds from herbaria could be an important tool in plant conservation, with the aim of reversing the extinction trend of many species through de-extinction, safeguarding biodiversity, and genetic variability. This study provides preliminary data for the development of germination protocols, especially for old seeds of species of conservation interest, to maximise the chance of recovering lost genetic diversity and leading to the first de-extinction ever