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Abstract

Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Master in J. Roy. Hort.Soc. 14: 250 (1892). Syn = Thuja articulata Vahl, Symb. Bot. 2: 96 (1791). (basionym), = Callitris quadrivalvis Vent., = Callitris articulata (Vahl) Link.
... Remarks: The highly diagnostic fossil remains from the Pliocene of SPT constitute the record of Tetraclinis which is youngest and closest to its present relict stands. Presently, the genus Tetraclinis comprises a single extant species, Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Mast., also known as Cartagena Cypress, which is native from warm and dry areas of North Africa, but also found in the islands of Malta and Cyprus, and in southern Spain (Sierra de Cartagena, Murcia) (Morte and Honrubia, 1996). However, the genus Tetraclinis has a good fossil record comprising cones, seeds, and foliage (Kvaček, 1989;Kovar-Eder and Kvaček, 1995;Mai, 1985;Zidianakis et al., 2007), particularly in the Oligocene and Miocene strata across Europe. ...
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The section of São Pedro da Torre (NW Portugal) is relevant because its rich pollen content, chronologically correlated to the late Pliocene assemblages of the reference section of Rio Maior. The purpose of this study was to carry out, for the first time in the area, a taxonomic analysis of the carpological remains and integrate the results with those of the previous palynological studies. Our carpological analysis pointed out several taxa not recorded previously in the area, mostly belonging to genera extirpated from Europe, such as Azolla cf. aspera, Hypericum tertiaerum, Itea europaea, Eurya stigmosa, Proserpinaca reticulata, Symplocos casparyi, Symplocos germanica and Tetraclinis salicornioides. This taxonomic composition was only detected in Piacenzian deposits from Italy, the area of southern Europe where the chronological sequence of fruit and seed assemblages is less discontinuous. For most of these taxa the occurrence at São Pedro da Torre constitutes a westward extension of the distribution during Neogene. Symplocos germanica occurs for the first time in the Pliocene and is recorded much more westwards and southwards than previously known. The integrated plant record shades light on the vegetation, paleoenvironments and plant extirpation patterns throughout the Pliocene in the Iberian Peninsula. Although limited, the results from this contribution are intended to stimulate the search for fruit and seed assemblages in Portugal as well as in similar poorly studied areas, where Pliocene successions keep a future potentiality in documenting further the late occurrences in Europe of extirpated plant taxa, which are relevant for paleoclimatic and biogeographic reconstructions.
... Actuellement, le développement du secteur artisanal engendrant une forte demande de cette matière première ainsi que l'action des aléas environnementaux font que les écosystèmes des tétraclinaies (forêts de thuya) connaissent un recul graduel pouvant être irréversible [2]. Les études réalisées sur l'arbre de thuya concernent surtout la filière d'aménagement et/ou la phyto-écologie de cette essence forestière [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11], la régénération post-incendie [12], le séchage du bois de thuya [13] et l'attaque des champignons [14]. Aucun travail visant la caractérisation physique de la loupe de thuya n'a été entrepris. ...
... In conclusion, our results showed a high relative abundance of spores in some cases, which should be preserved and utilized in such ecosystems by including them in nursery plant production programs. Indeed, mycorrhizal inoculation technologies can partially overcome problems of dieback of C. sinensis seedlings after transplanting, as observed by Morte and Honrubia (1996). Further investigations are also required to identify Glomus sp. at the species level in order to 5318 Afr. ...
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Many microorganisms form symbioses with plants that range on a continuous scale, from parasitic to mutualistic. Among these, the most widespread mutualistic symbionts is the arbuscular mycorrhiza, formed between arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi and vascular flowering plants and other plants. A study of diversity of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in Camellia sinensis was conducted in four plantation territories of Uttarakhand. Microscopic analysis of the mycorrhizal status of roots has revealed that samples from all four locations belonged only to AM fungi. The mycorrhizal colonization level was found high thus reflecting the mycotrophic nature of C. sinensis (L.). Results of isolation and identification of spores from all field-collected soil samples has revealed relatively higher spore count. All recovered spores were found to belong to the Glomales Order, represented by Glomaceae family. Isolation has also brought into notice that three groups were dominant: the first one included light yellow colored spores, second, corresponded dark yellow-brown colored spores and third, magenta colored spores. The morphological characters indicated that the spore populations consisted of 3 – 6 morphotypes. The Glomus genus was represented by three species; that is, Glomus mossae, Glomus fasciculatum, Glomus sp. 1 (an unidentified species).
... Actuellement, le développement du secteur artisanal engendrant une forte demande de cette matière première ainsi que l'action des aléas environnementaux font que les écosystèmes des tétraclinaies (forêts de thuya) connaissent un recul graduel pouvant être irréversible [2]. Les études réalisées sur l'arbre de thuya concernent surtout la filière d'aménagement et/ou la phyto-écologie de cette essence forestière [3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11], la régénération post-incendie [12], le séchage du bois de thuya [13] et l'attaque des champignons [14]. Aucun travail visant la caractérisation physique de la loupe de thuya n'a été entrepris. ...
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This work is an original contribution to the study of density and drying shrinkage of the root burl wood of thuja (Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters) coming from the forest of Khemisset (Morocco). The density is often used for prediction of mechanical properties of wood. As for the linear shrinkage, the degree of anisotropy between the radial, tangential and longitudinal shrinkage prefigure mechanical behaviour of wood. The measurements of these physical properties were performed on 77 samples (2×2×2cm3) cut according to radial, tangential and longitudinal directions. The analysis of density measurements allows to classify the wood of the root burl of thuja as a dense wood. The density of the root burl wood is higher than that of the thuja wood. This difference is explained by the presence of dark growths composed of cells with thicker walls than those of the thuja wood. The analysis of shrinkage measurements show a small anisotropy, explained in the microscopic scale by a very variable orientation of cells in a reference plan. This result presupposes a mechanical behaviour close to isotropic for the wood of the root burl of thuja.
... In conclusion, our results showed a high relative abundance of spores in some cases, which should be preserved and utilized in such ecosystems by including them in nursery plant production programs. Indeed, mycorrhizal inoculation technologies can partially overcome problems of dieback of C. sinensis seedlings after transplanting, as observed by Morte and Honrubia (1996). Further investigations are also required to identify Glomus sp. at the species level in order to determine the symbiotic performance of AM fungi with C. sinensis. ...
... In conclusion, our results showed a high relative abundance of spores in some cases, which should be preserved and utilised in such ecosystems by including them in nursery plant production programs. Indeed, mycorrhizal inoculation technologies can partially overcome problems of dieback of T. articulata seedlings after transplanting, as observed by [20], who found that the survival of mycorrhizal Tetraclinis plants was superior (60%) to that of control plants (40%). Further investigations are also required to identify Glomus sp. and Acaulospora sp. at the species level in order to determine the symbiotic performance of AM fungi with Tetraclinis articulata. ...
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A survey of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi was conducted in seven Tetraclinis woodlands. Microscopic analysis of the mycorrhizal status of T. articulata (Vahl) Masters roots revealed that all samples formed only AM, and no ectomycorrhizal fungi were detected. The mycorrhizal colonisation level was generally high (more than 80%), thus reflecting the mycotrophic nature of T. articulata. A "Paris-type" mycorrhizal structure was noted in all studied samples. The number of AM fungal spores detected in field-collected soils was relatively high. All recovered spores belonged to the Glomineae order, represented by Glomaceae and Acaulosporaceae families. Two groups were dominant: the first one included small (90 μm), hyaline, white to dark-yellow spores, and the second involved large (295 μm), light orange to dark orange-brown spores. The morphological characters indicated that the spore populations consisted of 3-6 morphotypes. The Glomus genus was represented by five species, i.e. Glomus aggregatum, Glomus constrictum, Glomus sp. 1, Glomus sp. 2, and Glomus sp. 3, while the Acaulospora genus was represented by only one unidentified species.
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Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Masters, commonly known as Sandarac tree and Araâr, is the only species representing the genus Tetraclinis Masters. The plant has been extensively used for medicinal, artistic, and ritual purposes since its first recorded use in 1800 B.C. Recently, a full range of ethnobotanical investigations has been undertaken to document the plant’s empirical knowledge. They reported the use of different parts, such as leaves, stems, cones, bark, and roots, as part of folk healing practices to manage diabetes mellitus, hypertension, fever, stomach disorders, and diarrhea, among others. The phytochemical studies have identified at least 130 compounds from leaves, cones, resin, bark, and woods. These chemical constituents are categorized into phenolic acids, flavonoids and their derivatives, volatile compounds, phytosterols, and fatty acids, among others. Furthermore, they have strongly been correlated with the promising antimicrobial, antioxidant, neuroprotective, antiurolithiatic, anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and cytotoxic properties of the plant. Toxicological studies argued that the plant is quite safe and devoid of eventual toxicity; however, in-depth investigations are required to validate the safety of the plant. The remarkable antimicrobial and antioxidant potencies of various extracts from the plant against a wide range of foodborne pathogens support their possible use to increase the shelf life of foodstuffs in the food industry. Likewise, various plant-based extracts have been proven to exert substantial biocidal properties, making them potential alternatives to synthetic pesticides in agriculture. The present review provides an up-to date comprehensive insight about the ethnobotanical uses of T. articulata along with its phytochemistry and biological activities to furnish directions for further studies. We also discussed the biocidal potency of the plant and highlighted its usage to extend the shelf life of perishable foods.
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Family Cupressaceae is the largest coniferous plant family. Essential oils of many species belonging to family Cupressaceae are known to have several biological activities specially antimicrobial activity. The essential oils from aerial parts of Calocedrus decurrens Torr., Cupressus sempervirens stricta L. and Tetraclinis articulata (Vahl) Mast. were prepared by hydrodistillation. The chemical composition of the essential oils has been elucidated by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy analysis. The prepared essential oils were examined against selected species of Gram-positive, Gram-negative bacteria and Candida species. Broth dilution methods were used to detect minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) and minimum fungicidal concentration (MFC). Sixteen compounds were identified in the essential oils of both Calocedrus decurrens and Cupressus sempervirens L. and fifteen compounds were identified in the essential oil of Tetraclinis articulata. δ-3-Carene (43.10%), (+)-Cedrol (74.03%) and Camphor (21.23%) were the major constituents in the essential oils of Calocedrus decurrens, Cupressus sempervirens L. and Tetraclinis articulata, respectively. The essential oils showed strong antimicrobial activities against the selected microorganisms in concentration range 0.02 3- 3.03 µL/mL. This study could contribute to the chemotaxonomic characterization of family Cupressaceae. In addition, it proved that the essential oils under investigation possess potential antimicrobial properties.
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Single node stem sections of Quercus shumardii Buckl. seedlings were used to propagate Shumard oak in vitro. Stem sections in liquid woody plant medium (WPM) with 8.9 μ m (2 mg liter ⁻¹ ) BA produced the greatest number of shoots ≥10 mm. The cytokinin 2iP did not promote axillary shoot growth. Shoots were rooted with 73% success under ex vitro conditions in Jiffy-7 peat pellets after a basal dip in 2.5 μ m (0.5 g-liter ⁻¹ ) IBA. Plantlets were acclimatized successfully to greenhouse conditions. Chemical names used: N -(phenylmethyl)-1 H -purin-6-amine (BA), N -(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-1 H -purin-6-amine (2iP), 1 H -indole-3-butanoic acid (IBA), (1α,2β,4aα,4bβ,10β)-2,4a,7-trihy- droxy-1-methyl-8-methylenegibb-3-ene-1,10-dicarboxylic acid 1,4a-lactone (GA 3 ).
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Plantlet regeneration of 2 tropical conifer species (Pinus oocarpa Schiede and Cupressus lusitanica Miller) was accomplished using expiants obtained from embryonic and seedling tissues. Adventitious buds were induced on P. oocarpa cotyledonary expiants obtained from 7- and 10-day-old seedlings. The expiants were placed on a defined nutrient medium containing cytokinin alone or in combination with an auxin for 21 days and then were transferred to a culture medium without hormones. Further bud development and shoot elongation occurred in this medium. Hypocotylary expiants obtained from 4-week-old C. lusitanica seedlings were cultured for 21 days on nutrient medium supplemented with various cytokinins alone or in combination with an auxin. Further development of buds and subsequent shoot elongation occurred when the expiants were transferred to nutrient medium without growth regulators. Elongated shoots of both species were rooted after treatment with an auxin. Successful transfer of the rooted plantlets to soil under greenhouse conditions has been achieved for both species.
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