This research was financed by the Spanish Ministry of Education and Science (CGL2007‐63488/BOS). A.R.C., P.J.G. and J.M.F. were funded by Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (grants SFRH/BD/130527/2017, SFRH/BPD/115781/2016, IF/00728/2013 respectively).

https://besjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/1365-2664.13343

Combined effects of seed provenance, plant facilitation and restoration site on revegetation success

Chamaerops humilis L. (Mediterranean dwarf palm) is an important floristic element of the western Mediterranean region because it is the only palm species naturally distributed in both Europe and Africa. The combination of a time-calibrated phylogeny, a haplotype network and genetic diversity analyses based on plastid sequences, together with previous nuclear DNA fingerprint results, helped reconstruct the colonization history of the dwarf palm. Based on a sample of 218 individuals taken from 29 geographical areas that cover the current distribution of Chamaerops, we detected four plastid DNA (petA-psbJ) haplotypes distributed in two haplotype groups (lineage 1: haplotypes A/B; lineage 2: haplotypes C/D). Haplotypes A, B, and C showed a widespread geographical distribution in both Africa and Europe, whereas haplotype D was restricted to two African localities. Paleobotanical data, species distribution modeling and divergence time estimates suggest that Chamaerops diverged from Trachycarpus in the Miocene (27.05–6.05 Ma), followed by a split of the two C. humilis lineages that remained isolated during the Miocene-Pliocene. Divergence estimates also support a derived split into two haplotypes (A/B) in the Pleistocene, when the Mediterranean Sea barrier was in existence. This, together with geographical distribution of haplotypes A and B, strongly suggests that the disjunct distribution of C. humilis haplotypes in Europe and Africa is the result of long-distance dispersal (LDD) events rather than vicariance. In agreement with recurrent gene flow (events of LDD colonization), AMOVA revealed that most of the genetic variance was found among populations (61.52%). Irrespective of predominant plant translocations by humans or seed dispersal by natural means, our results support that current populations are the result of relatively recent contacts between Africa and Europe in the Quaternary.

The colonization history of the Mediterranean dwarf palm (Chamaerops humilis L., Palmae)

A general feature of soil health is the sustainment of soil organic carbon (SOC) concentration and its stock. Digital soil mapping (DSM) development allowed for the implementation of soil properties mapping at various spatial and time scales. However, many of these studies were made in temperate or cold environments from central and northern Europe or United States or in stably arid ecosystems ofAustralia. Geographical information on the SOC are often fragmented, and this does not allow for a comparison on SOC regional variability in contrasting areas. Here a systematic research of peer-reviewed papers in the Web of science (WoS) and Scopus databases was carried out to highlight knowledge gaps in SOC studies in the Mediterranean area. The systematic searches identified 500 articles in WoS and750 in Scopus, but only few of them were eligible as ad hoc studies. Regarding WoS, after screening, 150 studies were further analysed for inclusion in the map and only 128 included in the final map (1995-2018). From Scopus, only 104 studies were included in the map (1995-2017). Of all the countries around the Mediterranean Basin, report studies on SOC are available for 15 countries, only. Data gaps identified included the absence of long-term monitoring networks in the south of Europe, a scarcity of information from countries on the eastern coast of the Adriatic and Mediterranean sea and almost lack of detailed information on SOC models and maps from north Africa.Model exportation built in neighbourhood countries (e.g. from Sicily, Italy, to northern Tunisia, or Andalusia, Spain, to northern Morocco) are strongly needed.

Modelling of Soil Organic Carbon in the Mediterranean area: a systematic map

In this work we evaluated methanolic extracts from different parts (leaves, seeds, fruit peel and pulp) of Chamaerops humilis L. for antioxidant activity and the ability to inhibit enzymes linked with neurodegenerative diseases: acetylcholinesterase (AChE), butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and tyrosinase (TYR). The total content of phenolics, flavonoids and condensed tannins was also determined. The antioxidant and inhibitory activities of the extracts varied significantly according to the tissue. Seed extracts showed the greatest ability to scavenge DPPH (IC50 = 81.28 µg mL−1) and ABTS (1440.42 µmolTE $$ {{\text{g}}^{-1}}_{\text{extract}} $$
 ) and to reduce iron (1142.46 µmolAAE $$ {{\text{g}}^{-1}}_{\text{extract}} $$
 ). Seed and peel extracts strongly inhibited AChE (IC50 = 660.16 and 653.68 µg mL−1, respectively) and BChE (IC50 = 304.86 and 701.54 µg mL−1, respectively). The strongest inhibition of TYR was achieved by the seed and pulp extracts (268.97 and 279.99 µg mL−1, respectively). The highest levels of phenolics and condensed tannins were found in the seed extract (1564.88 µmolGAE $$ {{\text{g}}^{-1}}_{\text{extract}} $$
 and 170.00 µmolcE $$ {{\text{g}}^{-1}}_{\text{extract}} $$
 , respectively) whereas the leaf extract was the richest in flavonoids (139.88 µmolQE $$ {{\text{g}}^{-1}}_{\text{extract}} $$
 ). HPLC-DAD analysis indicated the presence of flavonoids and phenolic acids (hydroxycinnamic acids) in the leaf and pulp extracts. A high correlation was found between the total condensed tannins content and the antioxidant and enzyme inhibition activities, suggesting these compounds are responsible for the biological activity of the extracts. Overall, our results indicate that C. humilis extracts may provide a new and alternative source of agents for medical and industrial applications.

Bioactive properties of Chamaerops humilis L.: antioxidant and enzyme inhibiting activities of extracts from leaves, seeds, pulp and peel.

https://www.uv.es/patricio/docs/Segarra-Moragues_et_al-Botanical_Journal_of_the_Linnean_Society

Silvia Scibetta

Papers

Genetic and morphologic diversity of European fan palm (Chamaerops humilis L.) populations from different environments from Sicily