Diversification of chiles (Capsicum, Solanaceae) through time and space: New insights from genome-wide RAD-seq data.

Capsicum L. encompasses 43 American species, including the five domesticated worldwide consumed sweet and hot chiles. This study presents new, updated and age-calibrated phylogenetic hypothesis on the genus evolution incorporating nearly all currently accepted Capsicum species. A new model of spatial diversification of Capsicum is proposed based on analyses of several thousands of genome-wide RAD-seq derived SNPs. Maximum likelihood approaches were used to reconstruct phylogenies and to estimate dates of all major splits. Ancestral ranges were inferred and diversification events were modeled in a time frame using a Bayesian approach. Nine clades corresponding to genetically and (mostly) geographically well-defined lineages, which diversified starting around mid-upper Miocene, were recovered with strong support. The Northern and Central Andes were inferred to represent the most likely ancestral range of the genus Capsicum. A few early vicariant and dispersal events were estimated to have driven the geographic divergence of the main Capsicum clades. Each lineage was inferred to have diversified within a distinct region of South America and expanded geographically to different extent. Extant species diversification was inferred to have begun at the beginning of Pliocene and continued through the Pleistocene. The Central Andes, represented mainly by the territory of present-day Bolivia, were proposed to play a central role in the diversification of lineages comprising domesticated capsicums and their wild allies. The genome-wide approach allowed for high resolution and support of deep phylogenetic nodes providing novel insights into the affinities of major lineages and clades as well as on the geographic expansion of Capsicum. This study provides the first dated evolutionary history of the genus encompassing most of the chile species diversity.

Solanaceae diversity in South America and its distribution in Argentina.

Solanaceae is one of the most diverse families in the Americas, particularly in Argentina where it represents the fourth family in terms of species number. Although checklists for most South American countries have been published, some are outdated and there has been no analysis of Solanaceae diversity at country level. We present an updated summary of Solanaceae diversity in South America, an analysis of its distribution in Argentina, and preliminary conservation assessments for all species endemic to Argentina. Regression analyses were used for evaluating the ratio between taxa/area and endemic/total species, multivariate ordering methods were used to analyze the relationships between Argentine ecoregions, and the IUCN criteria were applied for conservation assessments. Results show that Solanaceae comprises 1611 species in South America. The highest diversity is in Peru, which, together with Ecuador, possesses more diversity than expected for the area; Chile and Brazil have the greatest percentage of endemic species. In Argentina, the Chaco ecoregion hosts the highest number of taxa, but largest number of endemic species is found in the Monte ecoregion. According to the IUCN criteria, 28 endemic species from Argentina are considered threatened. We discuss South American countries and Argentine ecoregions in terms of conservation priorities.

Phytochemical Study of the Genus Salpichroa (Solanaceae), Chemotaxonomic Considerations, and Biological Evaluation in Prostate and Breast Cancer Cells.

Twelve Salpichroa taxa have been phytochemically analyzed. From the aerial parts of S. scandens, four known salpichrolides A, C, I, S, and an unreported withanolide named salpichrolide V (1), were isolated. In S. dependens, S. gayi, S. glandulosa subsp. glandulosa, S. glandulosa subps. weddellii, S. leucantha, S. micrantha, S. microloba, S. proboscidea, S. ramosissima, S. tristis var. tristis, and S. weberbauerii, no withanolides were found. The chemical content of ca. 85% of the Salpichroa taxa is in agreement with molecular studies, which suggest that Salpichroa and Jaborosa, a genus considered morphologically close to Salpichroa, are distant in the systematic of the Solanoideae subfamily. Moreover, the in vitro cytotoxic activity of a set of natural salpichrolides and derivatives was examined against two prostate carcinoma cell lines (PC3 and LNCaP) and two human breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and T47D). Several compounds showed moderate activity (IC50  = 64.91 - 29.97 µm).

Changes in the circumscription of Deprea (Physalideae, Solanaceae): thirty two new combinations.

According to the latest phylogenetic and cytogenetic results, Larnax and Deprea should be merged in order to form a natural group. Consequently, we propose 32 combinations of Larnax species names under Deprea: Depreaabra-patriciae (S.Leiva & Barboza) S.Leiva & Deanna, comb. nov., Depreaaltomayoensis (S.Leiva & Quip.) Barboza & Deanna, comb. nov., Depreaandersonii (N.W.Sawyer) Deanna & S.Leiva, comb. nov., Depreabongaraensis (S.Leiva) Deanna & Barboza, comb. nov., Depreachotanae (S.Leiva, Pereyra & Barboza) S.Leiva, comb. nov., Depreadarcyana (N.W.Sawyer) Barboza & S.Leiva, comb. nov., Depreadilloniana (S.Leiva, Quip. & N.W.Sawyer) Barboza, comb. nov., Depreagrandiflora (N.W.Sawyer & S.Leiva) Deanna & Barboza, comb. nov., Depreaharlingiana (Hunz. & Barboza) S.Leiva & Deanna, comb nov., Depreahawkesii (Hunz.) Deanna, comb. nov., Depreakann-rasmussenii (S.Leiva & Quip.) S.Leiva & Barboza, comb. nov., Deprealongipedunculata (S.Leiva, E.Rodr. & J.Campos) Barboza, comb. nov., Deprealutea (S.Leiva) Deanna, comb. nov., Depreamacasiana (Deanna, S.Leiva & Barboza) Barboza, comb. nov., Depreamaculatifolia (E.Rodr. & S.Leiva) S. Leiva, comb. nov., Depreanieva (S.Leiva & N.W.Sawyer) Barboza & Deanna, comb. nov., Depreaparviflora (N.W.Sawyer & S.Leiva) S.Leiva, comb. nov., Depreapedrazae (S.Leiva & Barboza) Deanna & S.Leiva, comb. nov., Depreaperuviana (Zahlbr.) S.Leiva & Barboza, comb. nov., Depreapilosa (S.Leiva, E.Rodr. & J.Campos) Deanna, comb. nov., Depreapomacochaensis (S.Leiva) Barboza, comb. nov., Depreapsilophyta (N.W.Sawyer) S.Leiva & Deanna, comb. nov., Depreapumila (S.Leiva, Barboza & Deanna) S.Leiva, comb. nov., Depreapurpurea (S.Leiva) Barboza & S.Leiva, comb. nov., Depreapurpureocarpa (S.Leiva, Deanna & Barboza) Deanna, comb. nov., Depreasachapapa (Hunz.) S.Leiva & Deanna, comb. nov., Depreasagasteguii (S.Leiva, Quip. & N. W.Sawyer) Barboza, comb. nov., Depreasawyeriana (S.Leiva, E.Rodr. & J.Campos) S.Leiva, comb. nov., Depreaschjellerupiae (S.Leiva & Quip.) Barboza & Deanna, comb. nov., Depreasteyermarkii (Hunz.) S.Leiva & Barboza, comb. nov., Depreatoledoana (Barboza & S.Leiva) Barboza, comb. nov., and Depreavasquezii (S.Leiva, E.Rodr. & J.Campos) Deanna, comb. nov.

Estudios epidérmicos en helechos y licófitas medicinales de la Provincia de Córdoba, Argentina / Epidermal studies in medicinal ferns and licophytes from the Province of Córdoba, Argentina

(Estudios epidérmicos en helechos y licófitas medicinales de Provincia de Córdoba, Argentina). Se realiza un análisis epidérmico de los órganos vegetativos y reproductivos de 28 helechos y licófitas medicinales, que crecen en Córdoba (Argentina). Los objetivos fueron: a) caracterizar en detalle la epidermis de todos los órganos; b) contribuir a la diferenciación de taxones estrechamente relacionados y c) proveer información adicional para un adecuado control de calidad de los helechos medicinales que se comercializan. Se describen en detalle distintos tipos de pelos, escamas, microescamas, estructuras de respiración y características de las células epidérmicas. Para cada taxón, se provee una descripción acompañada de dibujos lineales y fotomicrografías. Se describen por primera vez pelos y escamas inéditos y se mencionan tipos de estomas novedosos en varios taxones. Desde el punto de vista taxonómico, el indumento y los tipos de estomas fueron los caracteres más significativos para diferenciar taxones. El aporte al control de calidad queda resumido en los caracteres diagnósticos de la clave y en la iconografía que permiten la identificación de una especie cuando la droga vegetal se encuentra fragmentada o pulverizada.