The evolution of toxic phenolic compounds in a group of Anacardiaceae genera

Aguilar-Ortigoza, Carlos Jorge; Sosa, Victoria

doi:10.2307/4135614

Cited by 30 publications

(22 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…Sclerocarya birrea is commonly cultivated for its edible fruit and bark whose decoction is used for medicinal purposes. As a member of the Spondoideae, it lacks the toxic phenolic compounds (e.g., biflavonoids, alkylcatechols and alkylresorcinols) (Aguilar-Ortigoza and Sosa 2004) that mediate insect interactions as they do in other anacardiaceous genera (e.g., Calophya and Schinus , Burckhardt and Basset 2000). Nevertheless, reports of the “insecticial” properties of its leaves, bark, and fruits do suggest that Sclerocarya birrea has effective chemical defenses, such as high-levels of tannins or flavonoids, that have been documented in its tissues (Prinsloo and Street 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beetle and plant arrow poisons of the Ju|’hoan and Hai||om San peoples of Namibia (Insecta, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae; Plantae, Anacardiaceae, Apocynaceae, Burseraceae)

Chaboo¹,

Biesele²,

Hitchcock³

et al. 2016

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The use of archery to hunt appears relatively late in human history. It is poorly understood but the application of poisons to arrows to increase lethality must have occurred shortly after developing bow hunting methods; these early multi-stage transitions represent cognitive shifts in human evolution. This paper is a synthesis of widely-scattered literature in anthropology, entomology, and chemistry, dealing with San (“Bushmen”) arrow poisons. The term San (or Khoisan) covers many indigenous groups using so-called ‘click languages’ in southern Africa. Beetles are used for arrow poison by at least eight San groups and one non-San group. Fieldwork and interviews with Ju|’hoan and Hai||om hunters in Namibia revealed major differences in the nature and preparation of arrow poisons, bow and arrow construction, and poison antidote. Ju|’hoan hunters use leaf-beetle larvae of Diamphidia Gerstaecker and Polyclada Chevrolat (Chrysomelidae: Galerucinae: Alticini) collected from soil around the host plants Commiphora africana (A. Rich.) Engl. and Commiphora angolensis Engl. (Burseracaeae). In the Nyae Nyae area of Namibia, Ju|’hoan hunters use larvae of Diamphidia nigroornata Ståhl. Larvae and adults live above-ground on the plants and eat leaves, but the San collect the underground cocoons to extract the mature larvae. Larval hemolymph is mixed with saliva and applied to arrows. Hai||om hunters boil the milky plant sap of Adenium bohemianum Schinz (Apocynaceae) to reduce it to a thick paste that is applied to their arrows. The socio-cultural, historical, and ecological contexts of the various San groups may determine differences in the sources and preparation of poisons, bow and arrow technology, hunting behaviors, poison potency, and perhaps antidotes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beetle and plant arrow poisons of the Ju|’hoan and Hai||om San peoples of Namibia (Insecta, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae; Plantae, Anacardiaceae, Apocynaceae, Burseraceae)

Chaboo¹,

Biesele²,

Hitchcock³

et al. 2016

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“…However, due to the wide range of families and the lack of complete phylogenies to genus level for many families, a series of polytomies were created. Exceptions (classification source given in parentheses) were the Anacardiaceae (Aguilar‐Ortigoza & Sosa 2004), Arecaceae (Uhl & Dransfield 1987), Clusiaceae (Gustafsson, Bittrich & Stevens 2002), Fabaceae (Polhill 1994), Lauraceae (Li et al . 2004), and Meliaceae (Muellner et al .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Traits of recalcitrant seeds in a semi‐deciduous tropical forest in Panamá: some ecological implications

2005

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Summary 1.We used cross-species and phylogenetic analyses to compare seed traits of 36 species with desiccation-sensitive and 189 with desiccation-tolerant seeds from a semi-deciduous forest in Panamá. 2. When correcting for phylogenetic dependence between taxa, the desiccation-sensitive seeds were significantly larger than desiccation-tolerant seeds (3383 vs 283 mg) and typically shed during the wet (as opposed to dry) season. Both traits presumably reduce the rate of seed drying and hence the risk of desiccation-induced mortality for the desiccation-sensitive species. 3. Growing-house germination trials in simulated understorey and canopy gap environments revealed that the desiccation-sensitive species germinated most rapidly. Additionally, on a proportion basis, the desiccation-sensitive seeds allocated significantly less resources to seed physical defences (endocarp and /or testa) which may partially facilitate rapid germination. Both relationships were significant when correcting for phylogenetic dependence and seed mass. 4. Our results suggest that, for large-seeded species which will dry slowly, desiccation sensitivity may be advantageous. Rapid germination may reduce the duration of seed exposure to predation, and the low investment in physical defence means that, per unit mass, desiccation-sensitive seeds are a more efficient use of resources in seed provisioning.

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“…Phenolic compounds, produced widely in plants, have been implicated in many “secondary” ecological roles, including modulating interactions with insects and microbes, and screening ultraviolet light (Matsuki 1996; Cooper‐Driver and Bhattacharya 1998; Taiz and Zeiger 2006). Despite their diversity of structure, broad taxonomic distribution, importance in ecology, and long history in phytochemical research, we know remarkably little about the origin of and macroevolutionary change in such secondary metabolites (Malcolm 1991; Aguilar‐Ortigoza and Sosa 2004; Nyman and Julkunen‐Tiitto 2005).…”

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confidence: 99%

PHYLOGENETIC TRENDS IN PHENOLIC METABOLISM OF MILKWEEDS (ASCLEPIAS): EVIDENCE FOR ESCALATION

2009

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Although plant-defense theory has long predicted patterns of chemical defense across taxa, we know remarkably little about the evolution of defense, especially in the context of directional phylogenetic trends. Here we contrast the production of phenolics and cardenolides in 35 species of milkweeds (Asclepias and Gomphocarpus). Maximum-likelihood analyses of character evolution revealed three major patterns. First, consistent with the defense-escalation hypothesis, the diversification of the milkweeds was associated with a trend for increasing phenolic production; this pattern was reversed (a declining evolutionary trend) for cardenolides, toxins sequestered by specialist herbivores. Second, phylogenetically independent correlations existed among phenolic classes across species. For example, coumaric acid derivatives showed negatively correlated evolution with caffeic acid derivatives, and this was likely driven by the fact that the former are used as precursors for the latter. In contrast, coumaric acid derivatives were positively correlated with flavonoids, consistent with competition for the precursor p-coumaric acid. Finally, of the phenolic classes, only flavonoids showed correlated evolution (positive) with cardenolides, consistent with a physiological and evolutionary link between the two via malonate. Thus, this study presents a rigorous test of the defense-escalation hypothesis and a novel phylogenetic approach to understanding the long-term persistence of physiological constraints on secondary metabolism. K E Y W O R D S : Apocynaceae, cardenolide, coevolution, evolutionary trend, flavonoid, plant-defense theory.

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The evolution of toxic phenolic compounds in a group of Anacardiaceae genera

Cited by 30 publications

References 47 publications

Beetle and plant arrow poisons of the Ju|’hoan and Hai||om San peoples of Namibia (Insecta, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae; Plantae, Anacardiaceae, Apocynaceae, Burseraceae)

Beetle and plant arrow poisons of the Ju|’hoan and Hai||om San peoples of Namibia (Insecta, Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae; Plantae, Anacardiaceae, Apocynaceae, Burseraceae)

Traits of recalcitrant seeds in a semi‐deciduous tropical forest in Panamá: some ecological implications

PHYLOGENETIC TRENDS IN PHENOLIC METABOLISM OF MILKWEEDS (ASCLEPIAS): EVIDENCE FOR ESCALATION

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