Review of the situation of Hedeoma multiflora Benth: (Peperina de las Lomas): an aromatic-medicinal argentine species at risk / Revisión de la situación de Hedeoma multiflora Benth: (Peperina de las Lomas): especie aromática medicinal argentina en riesgo

Aromatic and medicinal plants (AMPs) have great potential for the synthesis of secondary metabolites, which are used by the pharmaceutical and food industry. In addition, they are part of ancestral medicine and the livelihood of many families in regional economies. Argentina has a high number of AMPs. However, the intensive extraction system (overexploitation), together with other anthropic actions, puts them at risk. The "peperina de las lomas" (Hedeoma multiflora Benth. (Lamiaceae)) is within this problem. This native species, xerophyte, is distributed in central Argentina, in stony mountain areas, forming small bushes. In this work, the existing information of the species was collected, covering from its environmental problems to the most recent investigations, oriented towards its conservation and the development of its germplasm. These data will serve to promote activities aimed at preventing the degradation of this resource and promoting its sustainable use.

Las plantas aromáticas y medicinales (PAMs) tienen un gran potencial para la síntesis de metabolitos secundarios, los cuales son utilizados por la industria farmacéutica y alimentaria. Además, son parte de la medicina ancestral y el sustento de muchas familias de las economías regionales. Argentina posee un alto número de PAMs. Sin embargo, el sistema de extracción intensivo (sobreexplotación), junto a otras acciones antrópicas, las coloca en riesgo. La "peperina de las lomas" (Hedeoma multiflora Benth. (Lamiaceae)) se encuentra dentro de esta problemática. Esta especie nativa, xerófita, se distribuye en el centro de Argentina, en zonas pedregosas serranas, formando pequeñas matas. En este trabajo se recopiló la información existente de la especie abarcando, desde su problemática ambiental hasta las investigaciones más recientes, orientadas a su conservación y al desarrollo de su germoplasma. Estos datos servirán para promover actividades destinadas a evitar la degradación de este recurso y propiciar su aprovechamiento sustentable.

Traditional uses, conservation status and biotechnological advances for a group of aromatic / medicinal native plants from America / Usos tradicionales, estado de conservación y avances biotecnológicos para un grupo de plantas aromáticas / medicinales nativas de América

Medicinal and aromatic plants are biologically and economically valuable species because of their intrinsic value as plants, ability to produce secondary metabolites, possible use in the pharmaceutical and food industries, germplasm availability and applications in traditional medicine. In addition, they hold social and economic importance due to the ancestral knowledge they represent and because they are part of the livelihood of many families. Most of them are collected from the wild and are in serious danger of extinction. Through biotechnological tools it is possible to develop their germplasm and obtain new and improved varieties from wild material, while advocating the alternative of production by cultivation instead of extracting it from nature. The objective of this review is to provide an updated perspective on the traditional uses, conservation status and biotechnological advances in a group of 30 plant species native to the American continent.

Las plantas medicinales y aromáticas deben ser valoradas tanto por su valor intrínseco como tales, por su capacidad de producir metabolitos secundarios, su posible uso en las industrias farmacéutica y alimentaria y por sus aplicaciones en medicina tradicional. Además, tienen importancia social y económica debido al conocimiento ancestral que representan y porque son parte del sustento de muchas familias. La mayoría de estas especies son recolectadas de la naturaleza y están en grave peligro de extinción. A través de herramientas biotecnológicas es posible desarrollar su germoplasma y obtener variedades nuevas y mejoradas a partir de material silvestre; esta estrategia propicia la alternativa de producción por cultivo en lugar de extraerla de la naturaleza. El objetivo de esta revisión es proporcionar una perspectiva actualizada de los usos tradicionales, el estado de conservación y los avances biotecnológicos en un grupo de 30 especies de plantas nativas del continente americano.

Analysis of genetic variability by ISSR markers in Calibrachoa caesia

Background: Calibrachoa Cerv. (ex La Llave & Lexarza) is a genus of the Solanaceae family (La Llave and Lexarza, 1825). This genus has a high ornamental and economic value due to its intrinsic variability and multiplicity of flower colours. In Argentina there are eight native species, and one of them is Calibrachoa caesia. The genetic diversity among 35 accessions of C. caesia, from five departments in the province of Misiones, was analyzed using ISSR markers. Results: Thirteen ISSR primers yielded a reproducible banding pattern, with 701 amplified loci and 98 percent of polymorphism. The ISSR primers 5’CT, 5’CA, 5’GA, 5’GACA, 3’CAC, 3’TG and 3’TC generated 100% polymorphic patterns. The Rp values ranged from 23.20 to 10.29 for 5’GACA and 3’AG primers, respectively, while the average values for MI and PIC were 0.367 and 0.231, respectively. The more informative primers were 5’GACA and 5’GA, and the less informative was 3’AC. Simple matching coefficient of similarity varied from 0.8875 to 0.6659, indicating high levels of genetic similarity among the genotypes studied. The UPGMA cluster analysis indicated three distinct clusters; one comprised genotypes of the five departments, while the second included individuals from Guaraní and Oberá regions and the third cluster included the San Pedro individuals. The overall grouping pattern is in agreement with principal coordinate analysis (PCoA). Conclusions: The Bayesian cluster analysis revealed structuring of the C. caesia population and two clusters were identified, which correspond to UPGMA major clades. The AMOVA test for all populations showed highest genetic variation within populations (90 percent), meanwhile the Fst coefficient was 0.098, indicating a medium differentiation between populations. These results showed a great intrapopulation genetic diversity but no significant difference was detected among populations...

A new variety of Bacopa monnieri obtained by in vitro polyploidization

The commercial value of Bacopa monnieri, a widespread herbaceous plant in Argentina, can be substantially improved increasing its flower size by chromosome doubling with colchicine. MS supplemented with 0.25 mg/L of 6-benzylaminopurine proved to be an appropriate medium for the in vitro multiplication of nodal segments of B. monnieri. Polyploidization was achieved submerging nodal segments during 24 or 48 hrs in colchicine solution 0.001 and 0.01 percent P/V, in 1 percent DMSO. Segments submerged in water and in DMSO 1 percent aqueous solution were used as controls. DNA contents from recovered plants was measured and characterized and their phenotype described. Two tetraploid plants originated from independent events were detected. These plants showed significant differences in size and colour both in leaves and flowers compared to untreated controls.

Construction of a molecular identification profile of new varieties of Nierembergia linariaefolia by anchored microsatellites

The objective of the present work was to establish the molecular identification profile for six new varieties of Nierembergia linariaefolia to incorporate the fingerprint, as complementary information to the standard registration data. Total DNA was extracted from young leaves following the protocol of the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide. Anchored microsatellites were used as molecular markers. The amplification reactions were carried out with seven primers. A total of 251 loci were detected, 98 percent of them were polymorphic. The average of polymorphic loci was 35 loci per primer and, 41 loci per genotype. Six out of the seven primers used discriminated all the individuals involved in the present study; consequently, it was possible to generate the molecular identification profile for the six new varieties. This result, supported together with our previous reports, indicates that the anchored microsatellites are a very useful technique for the fingerprints generation in N. linariaefolia.

Establishment of an in vitro micropropagation protocol for Mecardonia tenella

Mecardonia tenella is an attractive herbaceous native plant, characterized by their intense green foliage and their abundant yellow flowers. It is a very interesting plant for pot and/or garden. A trait to improve in this species is the size of the flowers. The goal of the present paper is to study the in vitro behaviour of M. tenella and to establish a routine protocol for its micropropagation. For the in vitro establishment of M. tenella, nodal segments were disinfected by standard methods using ethanol/sodium hypochloride and cultured on hormone-free MS medium, supplemented with a mixture of antibiotics and an antifungal. In order to study the hormonal requirements of the species, nodal segments were cultured on basal MS supplemented with antibiotic/antifungal mixture and the following concentrations of BAP and NAA (mg/L): 0.0; 0.25; 0.5 and 1.0. These plant regulators were tested in all possible combinations. In vitro plants growing in hormone-free medium were used as explant source. The best results were obtained in the treatments containing 0.25 and 0.5 mg/l BAP with a multiplication rate of 32 shoots per explant. The regenerated shoots rooted spontaneously. When transferred to the greenhouse, the ex vitro plants grew and flowered normally.

Wild ornamental germplasm exploration and domestication based on biotechnological approaches: In vitro colchicine treatment to obtain a new cultivar of Scoparia montevidiensis

The genus Scoparia is native from Argentina. The diversity of colours and shape of their flowers bestows this genus a very interesting ornamental potential. The purpose of the present study is to explore the Scoparia species germplasm by means of in vitro polyploidization in order to improve their ornamental qualities. Accessions of S. montevidiensis var. montevidiensis, S. montevidiensis var. glandulifera, S. nudicaulis, S. hasleriana and S. dulcis were collected and maintained under greenhouse conditions. The Murashige-Skoog medium, supplemented with 0.25 mg/L BAP was used for the nodal segments multiplication of the five Scoparia species. Except for S. hasleriana, the multiplication rate of the other species ranged between 10 and 12 shoots per explant. The colchicine doses tested with S. montevidiensis were: 0.0; 0.1; 0.05; 0.01 and 0.001% (24 and 48 hrs). From a total of 364 recovered plants, 4 solid tetraploid and 16 chimeras were detected. Significant differences were observed for the size of flower, leaves, and the stem diameter among the tetraploid plants and between them and the control. The tissue culture proved to be a powerful tool both to multiply the Scoparia material incorporated to our germplasm collection and to obtain new improved varieties of this beautiful genus.