Herbivory and anti-herbivore defences in wild and cultivated Cnidoscolus aconitifolius: disentangling domestication and environmental effects

Solís-Montero, Virginia; Martínez-Natarén, Daniela A.; Parra-Tabla, Vı́ctor; Ibarra-Cerdeña, Carlos N.; Munguía-Rosas, Miguel A.

doi:10.1093/aobpla/plaa023

Cited by 12 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 39 publications

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“…Cnidoscolus (tribe Manihoteae) ( Figure 5 e) is a large genus with nearly 100 species restricted to subtropical and tropical America [ 42 ]. Cnidoscolus is universally urticant, with the only exception of a non-stinging form of C. aconitifolius , which is an important green vegetable in northern Central America (“chaya”) [ 43 ]. The other group of Euphorbiaceae with stinging hairs are only remotely related (tribe Plukenetieae) and are provided with Tragia -type stinging hairs.…”

Section: Stinging Hairsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution, Ecology, Chemistry and Toxicology of Plant Stinging Hairs

Ensikat

Wessely

Engeser

et al. 2021

Toxins

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Plant stinging hairs have fascinated humans for time immemorial. True stinging hairs are highly specialized plant structures that are able to inject a physiologically active liquid into the skin and can be differentiated from irritant hairs (causing mechanical damage only). Stinging hairs can be classified into two basic types: Urtica-type stinging hairs with the classical “hypodermic syringe” mechanism expelling only liquid, and Tragia-type stinging hairs expelling a liquid together with a sharp crystal. In total, there are some 650 plant species with stinging hairs across five remotely related plant families (i.e., belonging to different plant orders). The family Urticaceae (order Rosales) includes a total of ca. 150 stinging representatives, amongst them the well-known stinging nettles (genus Urtica). There are also some 200 stinging species in Loasaceae (order Cornales), ca. 250 stinging species in Euphorbiaceae (order Malphigiales), a handful of species in Namaceae (order Boraginales), and one in Caricaceae (order Brassicales). Stinging hairs are commonly found on most aerial parts of the plants, especially the stem and leaves, but sometimes also on flowers and fruits. The ecological role of stinging hairs in plants seems to be essentially defense against mammalian herbivores, while they appear to be essentially inefficient against invertebrate pests. Stinging plants are therefore frequent pasture weeds across different taxa and geographical zones. Stinging hairs are usually combined with additional chemical and/or mechanical defenses in plants and are not a standalone mechanism. The physiological effects of stinging hairs on humans vary widely between stinging plants and range from a slight itch, skin rash (urticaria), and oedema to sharp pain and even serious neurological disorders such as neuropathy. Numerous studies have attempted to elucidate the chemical basis of the physiological effects. Since the middle of the 20th century, neurotransmitters (acetylcholine, histamine, serotonin) have been repeatedly detected in stinging hairs of Urticaceae, but recent analyses of Loasaceae stinging hair fluids revealed high variability in their composition and content of neurotransmitters. These substances can explain some of the physiological effects of stinging hairs, but fail to completely explain neuropathic effects, pointing to some yet unidentified neurotoxin. Inorganic ions (e.g., potassium) are detected in stinging hairs and could have synergistic effects. Very recently, ultrastable miniproteins dubbed “gympietides” have been reported from two species of Dendrocnide, arguably the most violently stinging plant. Gympietides are shown to be highly neurotoxic, providing a convincing explanation for Dendrocnide toxicity. For the roughly 648 remaining stinging plant species, similarly convincing data on toxicity are still lacking.

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Section: Stinging Hairsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distribution, Ecology, Chemistry and Toxicology of Plant Stinging Hairs

Ensikat

Wessely

Engeser

et al. 2021

Toxins

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“…These leaves were then taken to the laboratory where the area and perimeter were measured with a leaf area meter (CID Biosciences Inc. CI-202, Camas, WA, USA). The number of trichomes on the leaf border were also counted because, on this part of the leaf, there is a larger density of trichomes and also because the trichomes on other parts of the leaves were scarce or absent in the domesticated plants and, therefore, not comparable (Solís-Montero et al 2020). Leaves collected during the last month of sampling were also weighed fresh and after being oven-dried at 75°C for 36 h.…”

Section: Experimental Design and Data Collectionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Johnstone), a clonally propagated crop with edible leaves (Ross-Ibarra and Molina-Cruz, 2002;Munguía-Rosas et al 2019). Chaya offers an excellent study model with which to address the effect of domestication on PP since, in contrast to many other clonally propagated crops (Duenham et al 2020), its domestication history, arti cial selection targets and wild ancestor are all known (Ross-Ibarra 2003;Munguía-Rosas et al 2019;Solís-Montero et al 2020). Chaya was domesticated by the Maya, who selected for plants with more, bigger and softer leaves (Munguia-Rosas et al 2019).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of domestication on phenotypic plasticity in chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Mill) I.M. Johnstone)

Munguía-Rosas¹

2021

Preprint

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It is widely recognized that phenotypic plasticity may increase the survival of plants in environmentally variable habitats. However, the manner in which artificial selection affects the phenotypic plasticity of crops is poorly understood and there is no previous study in clonally propagated crops. The goal of this study was to assess the effect of domestication on phenotypic plasticity in leaf traits, growth rates and allocation patterns, under contrasting light environments, in the clonally propagated crop chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolious (Mill) I.M. Johnstone). Leaf area, leaf perimeter, leaf specific area, leaf production, trichome density, growth in height, growth in stem diameter and slenderness were measured in 97 clones belonging to 20 genotypes (10 wild and 10 domesticated). The clones were allocated to two contrasting light environments: fully exposed to sun vs. placement beneath a shade cloth. Reaction norms for each trait were compared between wild and domesticated clones. Results suggest that domestication and light environment had a non-additive effect on phenotypic plasticity in leaf production and slenderness. Reduced plasticity in these traits was observed in domesticated plants compared to that of their wild relatives. Leaf production and slenderness are associated with the shade avoidance syndrome, which is evident in wild plants but not manifested in domesticated plants. Reduced plasticity in leaf production also suggests yield stability, since the leaves form the edible part of chaya. I conclude that artificial selection reduces phenotypic plasticity in the yield of chaya and in its response to variation in the light environment.

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“…Clonal propagation is also possible in the wild relatives but unlikely without human assistance 25,43 . Domestication syndrome includes the increased production of bigger leaves with signi cantly fewer trichomes and more succulent stems 25,44 .…”

Section: Study Speciesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Artificial Selection Optimizes Clonality in Chaya (Cnidoscolus Aconitifolius)

Munguía‐Rosas

2021

Preprint

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In angiosperms, clonality is a derived trait and is present in several wild and cultivated plant species. Therefore, over time, natural and artificial selection have optimized the novel function of being a propagule in organs whose previous function was exclusively vegetative. Although increased resource storage and resistance to desiccation have been suggested as the main adaptations for clonality in crops, there is little empirical evidence to support this assertion. Here, I assessed the changes that the stems of chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius), a clonal crop, have undergone through domestication and evaluated their performance as propagules. To infer which traits have been optimized by artificial selection, I compared stem traits and their performance in root development and clone survival between wild and domesticated plants. I found that, relative to their wild ancestors, the stems of domesticated chaya have a greater storage capacity for water and starch. Additionally, the stems of domesticated plants produced more roots, shoots and leaves, and their clones lived longer. My results strongly suggest that artificial selection has optimized water and starch storage by stems in chaya. Because these traits also confer greater fitness, they could be considered adaptations to clonal propagation.

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Herbivory and anti-herbivore defences in wild and cultivated Cnidoscolus aconitifolius: disentangling domestication and environmental effects

Cited by 12 publications

References 39 publications

Distribution, Ecology, Chemistry and Toxicology of Plant Stinging Hairs

Distribution, Ecology, Chemistry and Toxicology of Plant Stinging Hairs

Effect of domestication on phenotypic plasticity in chaya (Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Mill) I.M. Johnstone)

Artificial Selection Optimizes Clonality in Chaya (Cnidoscolus Aconitifolius)

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