Ethnopharmacological Study of Medicinal Plants in Bajwat Wildlife Sanctuary, District Sialkot, Punjab Province of Pakistan

Bajwat Wildlife Sanctuary is a complex riverine ecosystem and is unique because of the presence of river Chenab, various seasonal streams, lakes, and Head Marala barrage. These ecogeographic conditions provide diverse natural habitats for various plant and animal species to grow uninterrupted and have undocumented ethnopharmacologically important medicinal flora. The present study involves the first-ever extensive investigation to document the ethnopharmacological knowledge on medicinal plants of local healers and inhabitants of the Bajwat Wildlife Sanctuary to treat ailments. The unstructured and semistructured interviews of the local healers and inhabitants were conducted that included 130 individuals. The ethnomedicinal formulations, their method of preparation, mode of administration, parts of the plant used, diseases cured, and their categorization along with species use report (UR) were analyzed. The ethnopharmacological study led to the enlisting of 114 medicinal plant species belonging to 97 genera and distributed among 47 plant families. 2029 URs were collected with 42 general disease categories. Each plant species was reported 18 times to cure various diseases (∼18 UR), while ∼48 URs were collected on each disease category by local informants. Digestive issues (290 URs, ∼14.29%) and skin infections (279 URs, ∼13.75%) were found most commonly among the occupants of the area. The oral administration (69%) of herbal drugs and the preparation of plant extracts (32%) were the most common ethnopharmacological strategies. Inhabitants of the area were well aware of the limited use of poisonous plants. 8 (∼7%) out of the total 114 medicinal plant species were listed in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species as Least Concern, while Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. was enlisted as near-threatened. The results of the present investigation show that the occupants of the Bajwat have sound information about the ethnopharmacological consumption of medicinal plants, and some of the novel ethnomedicinal formulations were reported which provide the basic data for further pharmacological research.

PHYTOEXTRACTION OF CADMIUM AND LEAD FROM A CONTAMINATED SOIL USING EUCALYPTUS SEEDLINGS

This study aims to estimate critical concentrations of cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) in the soil which negatively affect growth of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. seedlings, and to estimate some phytoextraction parameters for heavy metals (HM) from the soil to evaluate efficiency of seedlings in their potential use in phytotechnology to improve the environment with phytoremediation. Eucalyptus seedlings were treated with Cd concentrations 0, 25, 55, 85, and 110 mg kg-1 dry soil as CdCl2, and Pb concentrations 0, 125, 250, 450, and 550 mg kg-1 dry soil as PbCl2, and the experiment was designed using the completely randomized design (CRD) as a two-factor factorial experiments and the data were analyzed using SAS system. Results showed that the highest percentage decrease in dry weight of stems, leaves and roots were 55, 68.6, and 67.2%, respectively, at the interaction (110 Cd and 550 Pb) mg kg-1 dry soil compared with control, and Cd concentrations in stems, leaves and roots ranged between (0.375-372.167), (0.417-128.167) and (0.583-162.083) mg kg-1, respectively and Pb concentrations in stems, leaves and roots ranged between (9.583-62.375), (10.042-20.417) and (2.875-73.500) mg kg-1. It was found that values ​​of translocation factor (TF), biological accumulation coefficient (BAC), bioconcentration factor (BCF) and concentration index (CI) for Cd ranged between (0.611-4.239), (1.333-28.790), (0.383- 16.840) and (1-490.812) respectively, and values ​​of TF, BAC, BCF, and CI of Pb ranged between (0.275-5.702), (0.769-4.246), (0.295-7.539) and (1-3.833) respectively, and tolerance index (TI) values ​​ranged between (0.370-1). We concluded that Eucalyptus seedlings are suitable for phytoextraction applications within phytoremediation processes of soils contaminated with Cd and Pb.

TREE SPECIES CULTIVATION ON SUBSISTENCE AGRICULTURAL FIELDS IN NORTHWESTERN ETHIOPIA

The study was intended to identify species preferences, the relationship between livelihood status and tree planting, and the major tree growing patterns of smallholder subsistence farmers in rural Ethiopia. Data was collected through household interviews and the total enumeration of all tree species on respondents’ landholdings. A total of 23 tree species were recorded integrated within the farming landscape as boundary plantings, scattered on crop fields, around the homestead and woodlots. There was a significant difference in the mean number of trees per household across the three wealth classes. Among the three wealth classes, the medium wealth category households have a relatively higher number of tree species than rich and poor households (p<0.05). Considering the ever-increasing population and the resulting demand for construction poles, fuelwood, household utensils, farm implements, and the fast-growing performance of the species, Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. was the first preferred tree species to households for planting. Tree integration in the farming landscape should be recognized since it will be invaluable in developing plans for agroforestry interventions. However, exotic tree species have dominated the status of indigenous tree species. Then, there should be a continuous and detailed extension system to upgrade the traditional management system and the tree selection to be integrated.

Spatial distribution patterns of the populations of two subterranean termites (Blattodea: Termitidae) in eucalyptus (Myrtales: Myrtaceae) plantations

The study was conducted in Afaka, Northern Guinea Savanna of Nigeria to determine the spatial distribution patterns of the populations of Ancistrotermes sp. and Microtermes sp. in Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh, Eucalyptus citriodora Hook, Eucalyptus cloeziana F. and Eucalyptus tereticornis Muell plantations. Spatial distributions patterns of the two termite species populations were determined using indices such as ratios of population variance to mean, Lloyd’s index, Green coefficient, Taylor power and Iwao’s regression models. The values of variance to mean ratios, Lloyd’s index and Green coefficient showed that the populations of both termite species had aggregated distribution pattern in all the Eucalyptus species plantations. The distribution patterns of Ancistrotermes and Microtermes differed using Taylor’s and Iwao regression models. The values of R2 in Taylor’s model ranged from 0.02 to 0.99 for Ancistrotermes sp. and 0.29 to 0.99 for Microtermes sp., while in Iwao’s model, R2 ranged from 0.10 to 0.96 for Ancistrotermes sp. and 0.08 to 0.98 for Microtermes sp. The information provided is vital to develop a sound pest management protocol for these termite species. Keywords: Spatial distribution, Ancistrotermes sp., Microtermes sp., Aggregated, Taylor’s model, Iwao’s model

Early silvicultural performance of eucalypt species grown in environmental conditions of the tropical dry forest of Colombia

The establishment of new forest plantations requires making important decisions starting with the selection of the species to be planted, as well as the choice of an adequate planting spacing to guarantee the maximization of wood production. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of nine eucalypt species planted with three different spacings under the environmental conditions of the tropical dry forest of the inter-Andean valleys of Colombia. A split-plot arrangement with two replicates was used as the experimental design. The planting spacing factor (three planting spacings) was assigned to the main plots and the species factor (nine eucalypt species) was assigned to the subplots. Survival and growth were evaluated at twenty-four months of age. The study identified the Brazilian provenances of Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh, Eucalyptus urophylla S.T. Blake, Eucalyptus grandis W. Hill, and Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell. and the Colombian provenance of Eucalyptus pellita F. Muell. as promising for commercial reforestation programs in areas with a water deficit in the tropical dry forest. Planting spacings of 3×2 m (1666 stems·ha-1) and 3×2.5 m (1333 stems·ha-1) maximized the production of basal area and the volume for the species evaluated. Finally, no interaction was detected between species and planting spacing factors, therefore, the species identified had a better performance regardless of the planting spacing used.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES AND PRESERVATIVE TREATMENT OF EUCALYPTUS AND CORYMBIA WOOD

The properties of wood influence its use as a final product, so it is essential to know their relation and influence on the quality of preservation. In this sense, for the present study we aim at the determination of the physical properties of Corymbia citriodora [Eucalyptus citriodora Hook]; Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehnh. and Eucalyptus camaldulensis Dehn. x Eucalyptus grandis, and the quality of the preservative treatment with CCA-C in an autoclave. We determined diameter, heartwood and sapwood percentages, and their relationship, as well as the basic density for the three genetic materials. The quality of the preservation was evaluated through the area treated and not treated by CCA, besides its penetration and retention. The highest proportion of sapwood, treated area, and highest density value was found in C. citriodora, whereas the hybrid E. camaldulensis x E. grandis presented the highest level of CCA retention. The diameter and density showed the highest correlation with CCA retention in wood, the length and moisture of the small logs also shown to be influential. All clones presented satisfactory chemical treatment quality for use as fence posts.

PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF Eucalyptus camaldulensis (Dehnh.) TO SIMULATED GLYPHOSATE DRIFT

Weed control with glyphosate produces damages in plantations of Eucalyptus camaldulensis, although the involved physiological mechanisms have not been completely elucidated. This work aimed at assessing the physiological responses of E. camaldulensis to simulated glyphosate drift. Greenhouse trials were performed with four-month-old E. camaldulensis clone117 seedlings. The herbicide drift was simulated applying doses of 0; 43,2; 86,4; 172,8 and 345,6 g a.e. ha−1 glyphosate. Twenty-three days after the application, we measured gas exchange and chlorophyll a fluorescence. We also quantified Rubisco activity and indicator variables of oxidative stress. Glyphosate decreased carbon photosynthetic assimilation, increased non-photochemical quenching, induced stomatal closure, and increased photoinhibition. It also decreased Rubisco activity and increased photorespiration. The herbicide produced oxidative stress, and increased the activities in the enzymes catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase, involved in the detoxification of reactive oxygen species. We concluded that glyphosate´s deleterious effects on the assimilation of CO2 in E. camaldulensis are due to stomatal and non-stomatal effects. The decrease in Rubisco activity, the increase in photorespiration, and photoinhibition stand out among non-stomatal effects. The increase in the activity of the antioxidant system is insufficient to compensate for the production of H2O2 in photorespiration, which damages the photosynthetic apparatus.