Julio Pastor

Genetic structure and phylogeography in Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa around the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts of the Iberian Peninsula, based on AFLP and plastid markers

The Spanish populations of Juniperus oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa are restricted to coastal dune habitats of the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts. Here, we investigate the genetic structure in this taxon and the possible existence of detailed phylogeographic structure associated with the Strait of Gibraltar using data from amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and plastid markers for 14 populations in three regions: Andalusia, the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands. Principal coordinate analysis (PCOA) data revealed a lack of clear genetic structure in J. oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa based on AFLP. The highest AFLP genetic diversity was found in Andalusia. Plastid markers revealed 14 haplotypes, only two of them were shared among the regions. Andalusian populations had the highest number of exclusive haplotypes. Our results support Andalusia as a reservoir of genetic diversity for J. oxycedrus subsp. macrocarpa, and, as for other gymnosperms, this area could be considered as a genetic refugium. The frequent presence of common and exclusive haplotypes in Andalusia might indicate the colonisation of the Spanish Mediterranean coast from the Atlantic populations. Colonisation of these new areas could be promoted by biological factors, such as the existence of long-lived individuals or potential for seed dispersal. Finally, the Strait of Gibraltar did not constitute a natural barrier to the expansion of this species along the coast, as identical haplotypes are found on the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts.

Nutritional characteristics of seed proteins in 28 Vicia species (Fabaceae) from Southern Spain.

The study of local plants could provide useful data for the possible development of future crops with good nutritional and functional properties. The nutritional characteristics of the seed proteins of 28 Vicia species (31 taxa) (Fabaceae) from Spain were studied. Protein contents in studied Vicia ranged from 20.1% in V. articulata to 32% in V. pyrenaica. V. altissima, which is only deficient in Trp, showed the most balanced amino acid composition, while the remaining taxa were limiting in Met, Cys, and Trp. In vitro protein digestibility (IVPD) ranged from 78% in V. incana to 86.3% in V. hirsuta. In addition to the amino acid composition and IVPD, other nutritional parameters, such as amino acid score, biological value, protein efficiency ratio, or protein digestibility corrected amino acid score, were studied. Results confirm the interest of studying wild populations of cultivated and non cultivated Vicia species as potentially interesting sources of seeds with good nutritional characteristics.

Leaf wax alkanes in the genus coincya

Abstract Leaf wax alkanes in the genus Coincya vary between C 22 and C 31 . This series is dominated by alkanes with an odd number of carbon atoms. The most abundant alkanes are C 29 , C 31 and C 27 . The main one, C 29 , ranges from 53.3% in C. monensis subsp. nevadensis to 95.0% in C. monensis subsp. recurvata var. setigera . A positive correlation between the content of C 29 and the glaucous character was observed. Likewise, there was a negative correlation between the availability of water and the amount of C 29 .

Leaf wax alcohols inCoincya (Brassicaceae)

Free and ester alcohol compositions have been determined for leaf waxes in ten taxa belonging to the genusCoincya (Brassicaceae) on the Iberian Peninsula (Spain and Portugal). Size of leaf wax alcohols in the genusCoincya varies between 20 and 31 carbon atoms. This series is dominated by alcohols with an even number of carbon atoms. The most abundant alcohols are C24, C26 and C28 among even and C25, C27 and C29 among odd alcohols, both in free alcohols and in wax esters.

Systematic relevance of seed coat anatomy in the European heathers (Ericeae, Ericaceae)

The anatomy of the seed coat of the European species of tribe Ericeae (Calluna, Daboecia and Erica) of the Ericaceae family was studied, and the taxonomic importance of their characters was analyzed. The seed coat is mostly formed by a one-cell layer with thick, pitted inner walls and thin outer walls that collapse at maturity over the inner walls. The cell junctions are either raised with anticlinal walls up to four times the height of the periclinal walls or are not raised with similar values for the height of both the anticlinal and periclinal walls. Three main cell junction types were found and described. The thickness of the inner walls is variable, but there is a large overlap among the results for different species. Calluna vulgaris is the only species with no pits, and E. multiflora has a pitted pattern on its inner walls, which is distinctive from the rest of the species. Our main results agree with the external seed morphology, and valuable new data were obtained for certain groups such as the E. cinerea-E. terminalis or the E. scoparia complex. The similarities that are found in seed coat characters are not in accordance with the classical taxonomic delimitation of infrageneric groups within Erica.

Protein and amino acid composition of select wild legume species of tribe Fabeae

The nutritional characteristics of seed proteins of 50 Spanish wild taxa of Lathyrus, Lens, Pisum and Vicia have been compared. The highest average protein richness and the in vitro protein digestibility have been observed in the genus Vicia and Lens, respectively, whereas the genus Pisum showed the lowest protein-digestibility corrected amino acid score. Using the K-means algorithm three clearly distinguished groups of taxa have been established in relation to their essential amino acid contents, protein richness, digestibility and nutritional parameters. The most adequate protein profile was observed in the taxa of group 1. This group includes four taxa of genus Lathyrus and nine taxa of genus Vicia. It should be noted that seven of the thirteen taxa included in this group have never been used as crops.

Aportación a la morfología y anatomía de frutos y semillas del género Digitalis L. en el suroeste de España

Se ha realizado un estudio morfologico y anatomico de los frutos y semillas de los taxones del genero Digitalis L. del suroeste de Espana. Estas especies, D. obscura, D. purpurea y D. thapsi pueden diferenciarse por los caracteres de las capsulas, que atanen fundamentalmente a su consistencia, forma del apice y a la presencia o ausencia de pelos eglandulares. Con respecto a las semillas, todas tienen testa reticulada aunque las de D. obscura se diferencian de las del resto de los taxones por su tamano, coloracion y paredes radiales de las celulas epidermicas. El cambio de apariencia de las semillas, al pasar de un estaclo seco a hidratado, dundamentalmente en D. thapsi y D. purpurea , podria estar relacionado con el sistema de dispersion y con su germinacion.

Leaf wax ketones in the genus Coincya

Abstract Leaf wax ketones in the genus Coincya vary between C 22 and C 31 , and is dominated by those with an odd number of carbon atoms. The most abundant ketones are C 25 , C 27 and C 29 . The main one, C 29 , ranges from 57.7% in C. monensis subsp. cheiranthos var. setigera to 21.2% in C. monensis subsp. nevadensis . A positive correlation between the content of C 29 and the glaucous character was observed.

Contribución al estudio cariológico del género Ornithogalum en Andalucía occidental (España)

Summary A karyological study of Ornithogalum in western Andalucia has been made. The chromosome numbers are for these taxa: O. pyrenaicum 2n = 16, O. narbonense 2n = 54, O. orthophyllum subsp. baeticum 2n = 52,54, O. broteroi 2n = 34, O. reverchonii2n = 32 and O. arabicum 2n = 51. Karyograms, their formulas as well as apparent size and asymmetry of the karyotype are given for the most of species studied.

Estudio de las núculas de Acinos Mill. y Micromeria Benth. (Lamiaceae) del SW de España

Se realiza un estudio micromorfologico y anatomico en nuculas de Acinos alpinus subsp. meridionalis y Micromeria graeca subsp. graeca, tanto al microscopio optico como al microscopio electronico de barrido. Acinos presenta nuculas lisas, con pericarpo grueso y capa en empalizada con cristales en el lumen de las esclereidas. Micromeria tiene nuculas ruguladas, con pericarpo mas delgado y capa en empalizada sin cristales. Por ultimo, se comentan brevemente los sistemas de dispersion mas frecuentes en estos generos.