Search

Seeds of domesticated Vicia (vetch) species (family Fabaceae-Faboideae) are produced and consumed worldwide for their nutritional value. Seed accessions belonging to 16 different species of Vicia-both domesticated and wild taxa-were subjected to a chemotaxonomic study using ultraperformance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS) analyzed by chemometrics. A total of 89 metabolites were observed in the examined Vicia accessions. Seventy-eight out of the 89 detected metabolites were annotated. Metabolites quantified belonged to several classes, viz., flavonoids, procyanidins, prodelphinidins, anthocyanins, stilbenes, dihydrochalcones, phenolic acids, coumarins, alkaloids, jasmonates, fatty acids, terpenoids, and cyanogenics, with flavonoids and fatty acids amounting to the major classes. Flavonoids, fatty acids, and anthocyanins showed up as potential chemotaxonomic markers in Vicia species discrimination. Fatty acids were more enriched in Vicia faba specimens, while the abundance of flavonoids was the highest in Vicia parviflora. Anthocyanins allowed for discrimination between Vicia hirsuta and Vicia sepium. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on employing UPLC-MS metabolomics to discern the diversity of metabolites at the intrageneric level among Vicia species.

Lack of complete genomic information concerning Vicia sepium (Fabaceae: Fabeae) precludes investigations of evolution and populational diversity of this perennial high-protein forage plant suitable for cultivation in extreme conditions. Here, we present the complete and annotated chloroplast genome of this important wild resource plant. V. sepium chloroplast genome includes 76 protein-coding genes, 29 tRNA genes, 4 rRNA genes, and 1 pseudogene. Its 124,095 bp sequence has a loss of one inverted repeat (IR). The GC content of the whole genome, the protein-coding, intron, tRNA, rRNA, and intergenic spacer regions was 35.0%, 36.7%, 34.6%, 52.3%, 54.2%, and 29.2%, respectively. Comparative analyses with plastids from related genera belonging to Fabeae demonstrated that the greatest variation in the V. sepium genome length occurred in protein-coding regions. In these regions, some genes and introns were lost or gained; for example, ycf4, clpP intron, and rpl16 intron deletions and rpl20 and ORF292 insertions were observed. Twelve highly divergent regions, 66 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) and 27 repeat sequences were also found in these regions. Detailed evolutionary rate analysis of protein-coding genes showed that Vicia species exhibit additional interesting characteristics including positive selection of ccsA, clpP, rpl32, rpl33, rpoC1, rps15, rps2, rps4, and rps7, and the evolutionary rates of atpA, accD, and rps2 in Vicia are significantly accelerated. These genes are important candidate genes for understanding the evolutionary strategies of Vicia and other genera in Fabeae. The phylogenetic analysis showed that Vicia and Lens are included in the same clade and that Vicia is paraphyletic. These results provide evidence regarding the evolutionary history of the chloroplast genome.

Variation of 16 isozymes in Vicia barbazitae and in two couples of morphologically similar vetch species, Vicia grandiflora – Vicia qatmensis and Vicia lathyroides – Vicia cuspidata , in comparison with seven other species of sections Vicia and Sepium is described in order to get new evidence about their differentiation, phylogenetic and sectional position. The cladistic parsimony analysis of the isozyme data using Vicia bithynica of section Pseudolathyrus as an outgroup placed V . barbazitae , V . qatmensis , V . grandiflora and Vicia incisa in the same major clade together with Vicia sepium , the type species of section Sepium (syn. Atossa ). The isozyme data thus support revised circumscription of sections Vicia and Sepium by transferring V . barbazitae , V . grandiflora , V . qatmensis and V . incisa , currently placed in section Vicia , to section Sepium . Vicia grandiflora and V . qatmensis differ in orthozymes of PGD-A, but are placed in the same subclade of sister species as both differ from the other species in shared orthozymes of FDH-A, PGM-A, DIA-B and AAT-C. Vicia cuspidata and V . lathyroides differ by unique orthozymes of MDH-B, PGM-A, SKD-A and SOD-B, but are placed in the same subclade of sister species as both differ from the other species in shared orthozymes of FDH-A, IDH-A, MDH-A and PGI-B.

Field margins are important habitats for various plant species in agro-ecosystems but they can also be exposed to agrochemicals. In this experimental field study, effects of herbicide, insecticide, and fertilizer misplacements in field margins on the plant frequency and reproductive capacity of four wild plant species ( Ranunculus acris , Lathyrus pratensis , Vicia sepium , Rumex acetosa ) were investigated from 2010 to 2012. Individual and combined effects of the agrochemicals were studied in a randomized block design and plant community assessments were performed every year. Additionally, seeds of the four species were harvested in 2012 to detect effects on plant reproduction. Plant frequencies of the four species were significantly reduced in all herbicide and fertilizer treatments in the third year. The plant frequency of R. acris and L. pratensis was more affected in the fertilizer treatments than in the herbicide treatments, whereas the plant frequency of V. sepium and R. acetosa was similarly affected by fertilizer and herbicide treatments. However, the treatment combinations of fertilizer and herbicide resulted in additive effects on the plant frequency of V. sepium and R. acetosa . Furthermore, herbicide treatments suppressed the formation of flowers and, hence, led to a significantly reduced seed production of R. acris , L. pratensis , and V. sepium . Because field margins are exposed to repeated agrochemical applications over several years, the observed effects will possibly lead to shifts in plant community compositions and cause the disappearance of the affected plants in the long run. In the current risk assessment of herbicides for nontarget plants no reproduction effects are considered, and therefore, it seems that herbicide effects on wild plants species are potentially underestimated.

Summary 1. Dissecting drivers of plant defence investment remains central for understanding the assemblage of communities across different habitats. There is increasing evidence that direct defence strategies against herbivores, including secondary metabolites production, differ along ecological gradients in response to variation in biotic and abiotic conditions. In contrast, intraspecific variation in indirect defences remains unexplored. 2. Here, we investigated variation in herbivory rate, resistance to herbivores and indirect defences in ant-attracting Vicia species along the elevation gradient of the Alps. Specifically, we compared volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and ant attraction in high- and low-elevation ecotypes. 3. Consistent with adaptation to the lower herbivory conditions that we detected at higher elevations in the field, high-elevation plants were visited by fewer ants and were more susceptible to herbivore attack. In parallel, constitutive volatile organic compound production and subsequent ant attraction were lower in the high-elevation ecotypes. 4. We observed an elevation-driven trade-off between constitutive and inducible production of VOCs and ant attraction along the environmental cline. At higher elevations, inducible defences increased, while constitutive defence decreased, suggesting that the high-elevation ecotypes compensate for lower indirect constitutive defences only after herbivore attack. 5. Synthesis. Overall, direct and indirect defences of plants vary along elevation gradients. Our findings show that plant allocation to defences are subject to trade-offs depending on local conditions, and point to a feedback mechanism linking local herbivore pressure, predator abundance and the defence investment of plants.

Effects of habitat fragmentation on species diversity and herbivore-parasitoid interactions were analyzed using the insect community of seed feeders and their parasitoids in the pods of the bush vetch (Vicia sepium L.). Field studies were carried out on 18 old meadows differing in area and isolation. The area of these meadows was found to be the major determinant of species diversity and population abundance of endophagous insects. Effects of isolation were further analyzed experimentally using 16 small plots with potted vetch plants isolated by 100–500 m from vetch populations on large old meadows. The results showed that colonization success greatly decreased with increasing isolation. In both cases, insect species were not equally affected. Parasitoids suffered more from habitat loss and isolation than their phytophagous hosts. Minimum area requirements, calculated from logistic regressions, were higher for parasitoids than for herbivores. In addition, percent parasitism of the herbivores significantly decreased with area loss and increasing isolation of Vicia sepium plots, supporting the trophic-level hypothesis of island biogeography. Species with high rates of absence on meadows and isolated plant plots were not only characterized by their high trophic level, but also by low abundance and high spatial population variability. Thus conservation of large and less isolated habitat remnants enhances species diversity and parasitism of potential pest insects, i.e., the stability of ecosystem functions.

Extrafloral nectaries on the abaxial surface of stipules were investigated in the Vicia angustifolia, Vicia sativa, Vicia sepium and Vicia grandiflora. In V. angustifolia nectaries were also located on the calyx surface. Nectaries were consisted of secretory hairs and 2-31ayers of subepidermal cells. Secretory hair was built of four cells of head, one stalk cell and basal cell. Head cells showed character of transfer cells because of walls ingrowths and dense cytoplasm with numerous mitochondria.

The bush vetch (Vicia sepium) takes one of the first places among leguminous grasses by the amount of proteins. The previous studies show that the bush vetch is one of the most perspective leguminous fodder grasses in Lithuania. The seeds of 13 V. sepium cenopopulations from different places of the country were sown in spring in mixture with Phleum pretense and Festuca pratensis and investigated in an experimental station (central Lithuania, medium loam, pH-7) in 2004–2007. The aim of the work was to investigate the diversity of flowering spectrum and the environmental impact on the time of flowering of V. sepium. Oneand two-time flowering cenopopulations were found, and early and late flowering forms of the bush vetch were distinguished by the experimental season. Cenopopulations from southwestern and northern regions flowered twice more frequently than cenopopulations from the southern region. Cenopopulations originating from the eastern region were characterized by early and one-time flowering. The greatest influence on the flowering term and duration was exerted by the amount of precipitation.

Vicia sepium L., as a pan-temperate species, it is suitable as a constituent part of grazed grasslands because it can be resistant to winter kill and it contains abundant proteins. In this study, complete chloroplast genome of V. sepium was explored and phylogenetic analysis was done. The result showed that the whole genome was 124,095 bp long with IR loss. The overall GC content was 35.03%. A total of 109 genes were identified, including 80 protein-coding, 30 transfer RNA, and four ribosome RNA genes. Similar to most of the IRLC plastoms, rpl22, rps16 and one intron of clpP were lost. The phylogenetic analysis of protein-coding genes from 25 Fabaceae species belonging to IRLC showed that V. sepium was similar to V. sativa. The chloroplast genome reported here will promote our understanding of the phylogeny and evolution of the genus Vicia.

Calcaric regosols are a valuable land resource, distributed widely across western China. Soil quality has deteriorated considerably in recent years owing to the blind pursuit of economic benefits. A 2-year field experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of using spent mushroom compost, leguminous plant (Vicia sepium L.) compost, and a combination of the two (at a 1:1 and 2:1 ratio), on rice yield and soil quality in a suburb of China. Vicia sepium L. composted with spent mushroom compost at a 1:1 ratio produced the highest grain and stover yield, grain and stover phosphorus concentration, and phosphorus uptake of rice; they were 56.5%, 93.2%, 89.3%, 198.6% and 22.2% greater than control soil, respectively. The 2:1 ratio (Vicia sepium L.: spent mushroom compost) produced the highest grain N concentration, stover N concentration, and N uptake; they were 31.6%, 31.4%, and 40.7% higher than control, respectively. Soil physical, chemical, and environmental properties were improved with the application of Vicia sepium L. composted with spent mushroom compost at a 2:1 ratio. In particular, soil water-stable aggregates, organic carbon, particulate organic carbon, total nitrogen, available potassium, and cation exchange capacity increased, whereas bulk density, pH, and phytoavailable heavy metals decreased. This organic treatment is beneficial to improve soil quality indicators, and contribute to soil restoration.

Vicia sepium Linnaeus, Species Plantarum 2: 737. 1753. "Habitat in Europae sepibus." RCN: 5420. Lectotype (Ali in Bot. Not. 120: 49. 1967): Herb. Linn. No. 906.31 (LINN). Current name: Vicia sepium L. (Fabaceae: Faboideae)., Published as part of Jarvis, Charlie, 2007, Chapter 7: Linnaean Plant Names and their Types (part V), pp. 911-926 in Order out of Chaos. Linnaean Plant Types and their Types, London :Linnaean Society of London in association with the Natural History Museum on page 922, DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.291971

Summary Flora and vegetation of ancient forests differ from that of new forests. Former agricultural use is still detectable in the composition of the flora centuries after new forests are established. The reason for the very slow migration of some forest species has been discussed and it has been suggested that establishment of ancient forest species in new forests may be hampered by altered soil conditions and competitive species in new forests. In the present paper we tested whether ancient and other forest species are able to germinate and establish in new or ancient forest after seed addition. Eight herb species were sown in 5 ancient forests and 4 recent forests in Eastern Denmark in 1998. Four of the species had been shown in previous investigations to occur more often in ancient forests (Vicia sepium, Roegneria canina, Impatiens noli-tangere, Rumex sanguineus); whereas the remaining four occurred equally in ancient and recent forests (Galium odoratum, Milium effusum, Impatiens parviflora, Circaea lutetiana). Two of four ancient forest species (Impatiens noli-tangere and Rumex sanguineus) seemed unable to germinate in the experiment wherever they were sown. The two other ancient forest species and the four forest species with no preference for ancient forests all increased their abundance after seed addition in both forest types, but most in new forests. Though soil variables were important for the distribution of most species, germination seemed less affected except for one ancient forest species. The general picture was that soil variables did not influence the germination and establishment of new plants, and did not inhibit establishment more in new forests than in ancient, but this experiment only recorded the effect for two years after sowing and the soil variables may prove to be important over a longer period of time series. Seed size was not related to germination of species.