Application of chemotaxonomy of leafy spurges (Euphorbia spp.) in biological control

Abstract

Abstract:Triterpenoid profiles from latex of 56 accessions of European leafy spurges (Euphorbia spp.) were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography. Qualitative and quantitative differences for components of the profiles were employed to distinguish between accessions. Triterpenoid profiles were diagnostic for the species, E. amygdaloides, E. agraria, E. cyparissias, E. lucida, and E. seguierana and were similar for each of these species in accessions collected from distant areas of Europe. By contrast, the 37 accessions of the E. esula complex were separated into 15 groups on qualitative and quantitative differences for components in the profiles. Identical profiles were detected among neighboring accessions as well as those in collections from widely distant sites; conversely, different profiles also were identified for such collections. Profiles among these groups were compared with profiles of 39 United States (U.S.) accessions of leafy spurge from Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Profiles of U.S. accessions, which were less variable than those from Europe, grouped into only 3 of the 15 European groups, whereas one U.S. group could not be placed directly into a European group. This study demonstrates that latex analyses of European leafy spurges can distinguish between spurge populations and will identify potential plant sources of biocontrol agents for application against their leafy spurge counterparts in North America.

High chemical diversity of a plant species is accompanied by increased chemical defence in invasive populations

“…To our knowledge, only little attention has been paid to the relevance of the combination of both quantitative and qualitative variation of metabolites of invasive plants, although there are several successful invasive species exhibiting chemotypic variation such as Tanacetum vulgare L. (Asteraceae), Senecio jacobaea L. (Asteraceae), Melaleuca quinquenervia (Cav.) S. T. Blake (Myrtaceae) and others (Holden and Mahlberg 1992;Randrianalijaona et al 2005;Joshi and Vrieling 2005;Wheeler et al 2007;Macel and Klinkhamer 2010).…”

On the Position of the Genus Karimbolea (Asclepiadaceae)

“…Sarcostemma is represented on Madagascar with ap- indicators (Mahlberg et al, 1987;Harvey et al, 1988;Mahlberg, Pleszczynska, and Furr, 1988;Holden and Mahlberg, 1992). Because the Asclepiadaceae and, therefore, members of the tribe Asclepiadeae possess this laticifer, we considered its triterpenoid profile to be a useful taxonomic indicator for interpreting the position of Karimbolea.…”

“…Our objectives are 1) to establish the relationship of Karimbolea to these tribes, and 2) to identify the sister taxon of Karimbolea within its tribe. We supplement the morphological studies with analyses of latex triterpenoid profiles, which have been employed in the genus Euphorbia, Euphorbiaceae (Mahlberg et aI., 1987;Mahlberg, Pleszczynska, and Furr, 1988;Harvey et aI., 1988;Holden and Mahlberg, 1992) and in the genus Hoya, Asclepiadaceae (Groeneveld, 1982). (Liede and Hammer 2507, 2526, 2527Singer s.n.…”

Biology and host specificity ofChamaesphecia hungarica andCh. Astatiformis (Lep.: Sesiidae) two candidates for the biological control of leafy spurge,Euphorbia esula (Euphorbiaceae) in North America

“…There is considerable controversy as to whether leafy spurge is a single variable species or an aggregate of two or more species (see for example Radcliff-Smith, 1985 ;Stahevitch et al, 1988 ;Crompton et al, 1990 ;Evans et al, 1991 ;Holden & Mahlberg, 1992 and references therein). Furthermore there remains uncertainty about the relationship of North American leafy spurge and European taxa.…”