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Koshy KC, Gopakumar B, Sebastian A, S. AN, Johnson AJ, Govindan B, Baby S. Flower-fruit dynamics, visitor-predator patterns and chemical preferences in the tropical bamboo, Melocanna baccifera. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277341. [PMID: 36383625 PMCID: PMC9668177 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mast seeding and associated events in Melocanna baccifera, the largest fruit producing bamboo, is an enigma. So far there are no comprehensive accounts on its flowering phenology, fruiting dynamics and animal interactions. In this study, spanning over 13 years (2009 to 2022), we observed eight M. baccifera clumps in JNTBGRI Bambusetum from flowering initiation, fruiting to eventual death. Flowering phenology, floral characteristics, floret types, breeding system, bee visitation, pollination, fruit production and predators were recorded; predation patterns were correlated with fruit chemistry. Flowering duration of clumps ranged from 20 (March 2009-October 2010) to 120 (September 2012-August 2022) months. Bisexual florets are dichogamous and protogynous; and female duration (22-72 h) is many times higher than male duration (2-6 h). The highest ever fruit production for an individual bamboo clump (456.67 Kg) was recorded. Of the total fallen fruits (38371), 38.11% were predated, 43.80% good fruits (no predator hits) and 18.09% immature fruits. A positive correlation between reward (fruits) versus predation was observed, especially in short intervals of high fruit production. Pollen predators (Apis cerana indica, Halictus taprabonae, Braunsapis cupulifera, Trigona iridipennis), fruit predators, ranging from arthropods to mammals, viz., millipede (Spinotarsus colosseus), slug (Mariaella dussumieri), snails (Cryptozona bistrialis, Macrochlamys sp.), borers (Achroia grisella, Blattella germanica), mammals (monkeys Macaca radiata, rats Rattus rattus, porcupine Hystrix indica, wild boar Sus scrofa, palm civet Paradoxurus hermaphroditus), seedling predators (rabbit Lepus nigricollis, deer Axis axis), and insect/pest predators (ants Crematogaster biroi, Oecophylla smaragdina, mantis Euchomenella indica) were identified. Fruit predation is linked to its age and chemistry. Apart from new insights on flowering phenology, breeding system, pollination and fruiting dynamics, this study demonstrates the vibrant interaction between M. baccifera flowers/fruits and visitors/predators, and provides significant leads towards elucidating the cause of rat multiplication and other events associated with its gregarious flowering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konnath Chacko Koshy
- Plant Genetic Resources Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- * E-mail: , (SB); (KCK)
| | - Bhaskaran Gopakumar
- Plant Genetic Resources Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Antony Sebastian
- Plant Genetic Resources Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Ajikumaran Nair S.
- Phytochemistry and Phytopharmacology Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Anil John Johnson
- Phytochemistry and Phytopharmacology Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Balaji Govindan
- Phytochemistry and Phytopharmacology Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Sabulal Baby
- Phytochemistry and Phytopharmacology Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
- * E-mail: , (SB); (KCK)
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UPLC-Q-TOF-MS/MS Analysis of Phenolic Compounds from the Fruit of Cephalostachyum fuchsianum Gamble and Their Antioxidant and Cytoprotective Activities. MOLECULES (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 27:molecules27123767. [PMID: 35744892 PMCID: PMC9227481 DOI: 10.3390/molecules27123767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 06/09/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Bamboo is a widely distributed graminaceous plant in China and is a potential source of bioactive substances. Incidentally, bamboo’s fruit is rich in phytochemicals such as polyphenols and flavonoids, which are significant to human health. In this study, we identified the phenolic compounds of the fruit and investigated the antioxidant activities of Cephalostachyum fuchsianum Gamble (CFG) fruit polyphenols with in vitro and in vivo tests for the first time. UPLC–Q–TOF–MS/MS analysis results showed that the fruit contained 43 phenolic compounds, including 7 hydroxybenzoic acids, 12 flavonoids, 7 coumarins, 10 hydroxycinnamic acids, 1 terpenoid, and 5 lignans. The TPC of SP extracts was higher than that of IBPs extracts in FP and FF. The SP extracts in FP showed better antioxidant activities in vitro compared to those in FF. In addition, polyphenols from CFG fruits protected against H2O2-induced oxidative damage in HepG2 cells, and the protective effect of polyphenols in FP was superior to that in FF. The analysis results showed that CFG fruit has great potential in exploiting natural chemical substances, which can provide valuable pieces of information for the further development and utilization of CFG.
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Charlton BD, Owen MA, Zhang H, Swaisgood RR. Scent anointing in mammals: functional and motivational insights from giant pandas. J Mammal 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyaa014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Although several mammals impregnate their fur with environmental odors, a phenomenon termed scent anointing or rubbing, the functional relevance of this behavior often is unclear. One theory is that scent anointing could be a form of scent matching with environmental odors to signal competitiveness and home range occupation. In this study we presented giant pandas with a range of odors to determine whether scent matching could provide a functional explanation for scent anointing in this species. We found that only a musk-based perfume elicited significantly more scent-anointing and scent-marking behavior than control. Males were also significantly more likely to scent-anoint and scent-mark than females. A preference for anointing, but not scent marking, when presented with peppermint (an insecticide) also was revealed. Our results suggest that giant pandas differentially scent-anoint with foreign odors to signal home range occupation, and possibly to repel ectoparasites. We also highlight how chemical signaling of resource-holding potential is likely to play an important role in determining competitive interactions between adult male giant pandas.
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Affiliation(s)
- B D Charlton
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, CA, USA
| | - M A Owen
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, CA, USA
| | - H Zhang
- China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, Wolong, Sichuan, People’s Republic of China
| | - R R Swaisgood
- Institute for Conservation Research, San Diego Zoo Global, Escondido, CA, USA
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Zheng X, Lin S, Fu H, Wan Y, Ding Y. The Bamboo Flowering Cycle Sheds Light on Flowering Diversity. FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE 2020; 11:381. [PMID: 32362903 PMCID: PMC7180196 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2020.00381] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2019] [Accepted: 03/17/2020] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Bamboo is a perennial flowering plant with a distinctive life cycle: many bamboo species remain in the vegetative phase for decades, followed by mass synchronous flowering and subsequent death. The phenomenon of bamboo flowering is not fully understood, but its periodicity is a major research focus. Here, we collected information on bamboo flowering events by investigating historical documents and field studies at the Bamboo Research Institute of Nanjing Forestry University. We compiled information on more than 630 flowering events, 124 of which accurately recorded the flowering cycle time. We summarized the specific flowering cycles of 85 bamboo species, as well as four kinds of bamboo flowering habits in detail. We present a theory of the bamboo flowering cycle and discuss the reasons for the observed variations in bamboo flowering. This review also introduces two mechanisms by which bamboo forests are rejuvenated after flowering and explains the flowering phenomena of bamboo forests using the bamboo flowering cycle theory. Finally, we present suggestions for forest management strategies. Bamboo flowering is a normal physiological phenomenon, even though it has unique elements compared with flowering in other plants. The results presented here provide valuable reference material for understanding bamboo flowering and its periodicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Zheng
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuyan Lin
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huajun Fu
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yawen Wan
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- College of Biology and the Environment, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yulong Ding
- Co-Innovation Center for Sustainable Forestry in Southern China, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- Bamboo Research Institute, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Yulong Ding
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Khan MIR, Saha RK, Saha H. Muli bamboo (Melocanna baccifera) leaves ethanolic extract a non-toxic phyto-prophylactic against low pH stress and saprolegniasis in Labeo rohita fingerlings. FISH & SHELLFISH IMMUNOLOGY 2018; 74:609-619. [PMID: 29183812 DOI: 10.1016/j.fsi.2017.11.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 11/22/2017] [Accepted: 11/24/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Bamboo (Melocanna baccifera) plant plays a significant role in traditional Asian medicine and it can be used as an alternative to various chemo-therapeutics or prophylactic agents used in aquaculture. In the present study, the 1st experiment was done for the preparation of extracts from bamboo leaves by using 90% alcohol as a solvent. In the 2nd experiment, toxicity study was carried on Labeo rohita fingerlings (average length of 10.3 ± 1.5 cm and weight 18.5 ± 1.5 g) using BLAL (Bamboo Leaf Alcoholic) extract and it did not show any mortalities in fish even at the dose of 20 g kg-1 body weight, which can be regarded as virtually non-toxic with minimal effect. The 3rd experiment was conducted to find out the effect of BLAL extract based isocaloric and isonitrogenous feed (doses: control- 0.0%, diet T1-0.01%, diet T2-0.1%, diet T3-1% BLAL extract kg-1 feed) on the haemato-immuno-biochemical parameters of L. rohita fingerlings (average length 15.7 ± 1.5 cm and weight 20.2 ± 1.5 g). Regular sampling was done (on 7th, 15th, 30th and 60th day of feeding) for different haematological, immunological and biochemical parameters. The study revealed that the best response occurred within 7 days of feeding with BLAL extract and long-term feeding have shown immunosuppressive condition in the fish. In the 4th experiment, fish were exposed to multiple stressors like low pH stress, and Saprolegnia parastica infection after feeding with BLAL extract (0.1%) based feed for 7 days. The study showed that the BLAL extract can make fish resistant to single stress however, not able to reduce the fish mortality under multiple stresses (S. parastica infection under low pH). Thus, it can be concluded that the BLAL has the potentiality to be used as a non-toxic phyto-prophylactic which can induce non-specific immune response, reduces the low pH stress responses and increases the resistance against saprolegniasis under neutral pH condition in rohu fingerlings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Idrish Raja Khan
- Department of Aquatic Health and Environment, College of Fisheries, CAU, Lembucherra, Agartala, Tripura-799210, India
| | - Ratan Kumar Saha
- Department of Aquatic Health and Environment, College of Fisheries, CAU, Lembucherra, Agartala, Tripura-799210, India
| | - Himadri Saha
- Department of Aquatic Health and Environment, College of Fisheries, CAU, Lembucherra, Agartala, Tripura-799210, India.
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Govindan B, Johnson AJ, Viswanathan G, Ramaswamy V, Koshy KC, Baby S. Secondary metabolites from the unique bamboo, Melocanna baccifera. Nat Prod Res 2018; 33:122-125. [DOI: 10.1080/14786419.2018.1434647] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Balaji Govindan
- Phytochemistry and Phytopharmacology Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Anil John Johnson
- Phytochemistry and Phytopharmacology Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Gayathri Viswanathan
- Phytochemistry and Phytopharmacology Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Venkataraman Ramaswamy
- Department of Chemistry, Sri Paramakalyani College (Manonmaniam Sundaranar UniversityTirunelveli), Alwarkurichi, India
| | - Konnath Chacko Koshy
- Plant Genetic Resources Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, India
| | - Sabulal Baby
- Phytochemistry and Phytopharmacology Division, Jawaharlal Nehru Tropical Botanic Garden and Research Institute, Thiruvananthapuram, India
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