Climate change is a major threat to global biodiversity, and will alter species ranges, plant and animal phenology, and species interactions within ecosystems. Climate mediates plant-insect interactions, and consequently has the potential for positive or negative effects on biological control systems. Observational evidence suggests that a recent dramatic reduction in the density of diffuse knapweed, Centaurea diffusa Lamarck, in sites in British Columbia, Canada is attributed to the biological agent Larinus minutus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). This decline took place over several years of late spring and summer drought which suggested an association between dry conditions and successful biological control. To explore this, I conducted field experiments using rain shelters and watering treatments to assess the effectiveness of plant attack by L. minutus under moist and dry conditions. I found that L. minutus reduced seed production regardless of moisture conditions, with a trend towards greater seed reduction under dry conditions. Two or more species of insects in the same genera have been introduced in some weed biocontrol programs. If the species are ecological equivalents and compete the introduction of both species may be detrimental and reduce their impacts. If however the species vary in their distributions, the introduction of congeners may be advantageous. I review the following cases of species pair releases: the beetles Chrysolina quadrigemina (Suffrian) and Chrysolina hyperici (Forster) for St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.); the gallflies Urophora affinis Frfld. and Urophora quadrifasciata (Meig.) for Centaurea species; the weevils Neochetina bruchi Hustache and Neochetina eichhorniae Warner for water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms.) and the beetles Galerucella pusilla Duftschmidt and Galerucella calmariensis L. for purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria L.). I found that congeneric agents can offer complementary control of target weeds in slightly different habitats. Given the increasing focus on possible non-target effects of biological control introductions, I recommend that greater care be taken to avoid mixed species introductions and that judicious use be made of controlled field experimentation to determine species impacts. Molecular studies of species before introduction could help prevent the accidental introduction of multiple species.

Centaurea tchihatcheffii Fisch. &amp / Mey. is a critically endangered annual plant species with a narrow distribution in G&ouml / lbaSi, Ankara. The aim of this study is to understand the population dynamics of the species to help find the best way to conserve species for long term viability. The two healthiest subpopulations containing more than 1.5 million individuals were studied to estimate demographic parameters i.e. survival and reproduction rates by monitoring marked individuals, to identify pollinators, dispersers and pollen &amp / seed predators and to investigate population status, natural threats and their effects. The species is considered a weed in cereal plantations, showing adaptations of ruderal habit: High population densities (~18.5-63.2 individuals/0.5 m2), persistent seed bank with many viable seeds (~20,000/m2), rapid growth matching favorable weather conditions (almost 15 weeks from rosette to flowering), high survival with premature deaths making up only 2-20% of natural deaths mostly at rosette stage, no density dependent mortality, seed production by selfing and crossing via generalist pollinators, high reproduction rates (1200-7000 seeds/m2) and promotion of growth on aerated soil whereas inhibition with herbicides. Insect and avian predators do not cause an important damage to population. Absence of mutualists aiding in pollination (honeybee) and dispersal (ants) is out of question. There is no natural limitation on population persistence. The major threats are anthropogenic, i.e. cereal cultivation, construction and collection of individuals from natural populations. Conservation of remaining subpopulations as a reserve and alternative methods in cereal cultivation like reduced or no herbicide application should be considered as high priority conservation strategies.

Morphological plasticity of brown knapweed (Centaurea jacea L.) was examined. South bohemian populations of subsp. jacea were compared to plasticity in larger area. The plasticity of local population overlaps with both subspecies. The correlation between abiotical factors and determination characteristics were found. Molecular survey using ISSR method shows no difference between subspecies. The final resolution of subspecies existence will be questioned in following study.

Climate change is a major threat to global biodiversity, and will alter species ranges, plant and animal phenology, and species interactions within ecosystems. Climate mediates plant-insect interactions, and consequently has the potential for positive or negative effects on biological control systems. Observational evidence suggests that a recent dramatic reduction in the density of diffuse knapweed, Centaurea diffusa Lamarck, in sites in British Columbia, Canada is attributed to the biological agent Larinus minutus Gyllenhal (Coleoptera: Curculionidae). This decline took place over several years of late spring and summer drought which suggested an association between dry conditions and successful biological control. To explore this, I conducted field experiments using rain shelters and watering treatments to assess the effectiveness of plant attack by L. minutus under moist and dry conditions. I found that L. minutus reduced seed production regardless of moisture conditions, with a trend towards greater seed reduction under dry conditions. Two or more species of insects in the same genera have been introduced in some weed biocontrol programs. If the species are ecological equivalents and compete the introduction of both species may be detrimental and reduce their impacts. If however the species vary in their distributions, the introduction of congeners may be advantageous. I review the following cases of species pair releases: the beetles Chrysolina quadrigemina (Suffrian) and Chrysolina hyperici (Forster) for St. John’s wort (Hypericum perforatum L.); the gallflies Urophora affinis Frfld. and Urophora quadrifasciata (Meig.) for Centaurea species; the weevils Neochetina bruchi Hustache and Neochetina eichhorniae Warner for water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms.) and the beetles Galerucella pusilla Duftschmidt and Galerucella calmariensis L. for purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria L.). I found that congeneric agents can offer complementary control of target weeds in slightly different habitats. Given the increasing focus on possible non-target effects of biological control introductions, I recommend that greater care be taken to avoid mixed species introductions and that judicious use be made of controlled field experimentation to determine species impacts. Molecular studies of species before introduction could help prevent the accidental introduction of multiple species. / Science, Faculty of / Zoology, Department of / Graduate

Plant-soil feedback has been a well-studied mechanism in recent years of the success of invasive plants, the shift of species in succession, and the structure of plant communities in general. It is a process during which the plant affects the soil with its growth and these changes are reflected in the growth of other plants. Despite the large number of previous studies, relatively little attention is paid to the interaction of plant-soil feedback with other factors, which I consider important for understanding its role in natural plant communities. The aim of the work was to clarify the influence of plant-soil feedback on model species Arrhenatherum elatius and Centaurea scabiosa and to compare its influence with other factors - interspecific competition and herbivory (simulated loss of aboveground biomass). The influence of factors was investigated using biomass and changes in plant physiology, specifically chlorophyll fluorescence and the content of elements in aboveground biomass. The plant-soil feedback mechanism of the model species was assessed using the content of elements in the soil after cultivation. In the biomass of the species Arrhenatherum elatius, the factors of plant-soil feedback and competition manifested themselves in mutual interaction, when the presence of a competitor changed...

Miklová V.: Cytotoxic and cholinesterase inhibitory activity of extracts from selected species of the Centaurea L. genus II. Diploma thesis, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Hradec Králové, 2020. This Diploma Thesis was carried out at the Department of Pharmaceutical Botany FAF UK and it is a part of a screening of biologically active secondary metabolites of selected on taxa of the genera Centaurea L. and Psephellus L. in the family Asteraceae. Secondary metabolites are responsible for various effects on the human body. The study is focused on the phytochemical research of extracts prepared from aerial parts (cauloms with leaves) of Centaurea cyanus L., Centaurea stoebe L., Cyanus montanus (L.) Hill, Centaurea benedicta L., Centaurea jacea L., Centaurea macrocephala Muss. Puschk. ex. Willd, Centaurea solstitialis L., Centaurea nigra L., Centaurea scabiosa L., Psephellus bellus (Trautv.) Wagenitz, Centaurea pannonica (Heuff.) Hayek and Psephellus dealbatus (Willd) K. Koch. Both ethyl acetate and summary ethanolic extracts were prepared for detection of individual groups of secondary metabolites by thin-layer chromatohraphy. Consistently with previously published results, sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, coumarins, phenolic compounds,...

Faschingbauer J.: Cytotoxic and cholinesterase inhibitory activity of extracts from selected species of the Centaurea L. genus. Diploma thesis, Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Hradec Králové, 2019. During the screening of biologically active secondary metabolites of plants carried out at the Department of Pharmaceutical Botany FAF UK, selected taxa of the genus Centaurea (Asteraceae) were investigated. This study is focused on a basic phytohemical research of extracts prepared from Centaurea cyanus, Centaurea jacea, Centaurea scabiosa, Centaurea pseudophrygia, Centuarea stoebe, Centaurea solstitialis a Centaurea benedicta. Extracts were prepared for evidence of the proof reactions of TLC and MS analysis (EI, ESI) to clarify a potential presence of alkaloids. EtOAc and ethanol extracts were evaluated for potential inhibitory activity against human erythrocyte acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and plasma butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) and cytotoxicity against selected 9 tumor lines. C. cyanus alkaloid extract had interesting cholinesterase activity which selectively inhibited BChE (IC50 BChE = 22.62 ± 3.62 μg / ml, IC50 AChE = 221.50 ± 44.56 g / ml). Other EtOAc extracts of selected Centaurea species were considered inactive (IC50 > 100 μg/ml)....

La région méditerranéenne, hot-spot de biodiversité avec un fort taux d'endémisme, est classée parmi les zones les plus touchées par le changement climatique. La conservation des espèces nécessite de comprendre finement leur démographie face à ces changements, mais aussi leur capacité à s’adapter à ces nouvelles conditions. Au cours de cette thèse, deux espèces végétales rares méditerranéennes ont été étudiées, Centaurea corymbosa et Brassica insularis, en utilisant des modèles mathématiques récents pour analyser des suivis démographiques de long-terme (22 ans et 18 ans). Dans la première partie de cette thèse, des modèles de projection matriciels ont été construits afin d’analyser la variation spatio-temporelle des taux d’accroissement des populations de C. corymbosa. Cela a permis d'identifier les facteurs climatiques clefs qui impactent les taux d’accroissement des populations, et plus finement, les paramètres de survie, de floraison et de fécondité. Une analyse de viabilité des populations a été réalisée sous différents scénarios climatiques. Dans un second temps, une analyse de la capacité des populations de C. corymbosa à répondre à ces changements climatiques a été effectuée avec un modèle de projection intégral. Les changements des traits d’histoire de vie au cours du temps ont montré que la stratégie de floraison observée répond aux variations climatiques en suivant la même direction que la stratégie optimale. Ceci montre que les populations sont capables de s’adapter au changement climatique. Enfin, des modèles de capture-recapture (CR) ont été construits afin de déterminer l’influence de la faible détectabilité des individus sur l’estimation des paramètres démographiques chez B. insularis. Les probabilités de survie estimées par l’approche classique sont inférieures à celles estimées par les modèles CR. Les paramètres estimés par les deux approches sont en général très corrélés, à l'exception d'une population montrant des problèmes d'identification des individus. L'ensemble de cette thèse est replacé dans le cadre de la biologie de la conservation des espèces végétales, notamment en suggérant de prendre en compte leur capacité de réponse au changement climatique. / Mediterranean region is a biodiversity hot-spot with a high endemism rate and is classified among the areas most sensitive to climate change. Deep understanding of demography and evolution following these changes is a necessity for species conservation. During this thesis, two rare Mediterranean plant species have been studied, Centaurea corymbosa and Brassica insularis, using recent mathematical models to analyse long term demographic datasets (22 and 18 years). In the first part of this thesis, matrix projection models have been used to analyse spatio-temporal variation in population growth rate in C. corymbosa. Major climatic parameters that impact population growth rate and survival, flowering and fecundity have been identified. A population viability analysis has been performed under various climatic scenarios. In a second part, an analysis of the population ability of C. corymbosa to response to these climatic changes has been performed using integral projection models. Temporal variation of life-history traits showed that the realized flowering strategy varied with climatic conditions following the same direction than the optimal flowering strategy. It can thus be concluded that the studied populations can adapt to climatic changes. Finally, capture-recapture models have been applied on the Brassica insularis dataset to analyse the effect of plant detectability on demographic parameter estimations. Survival probabilities obtained with the classical approach are lower than the ones estimated using the CR models. However, the parameters estimated using both methods are highly correlated, except for one population where individual identification is problematic. Results of this thesis are linked to some considerations in conservation biology of plants, particularly in link to their ability to respond to climatic changes.

Thesis (M.S.)--Montana State University--Bozeman, 2004. / Typescript. Chairperson, Graduate Committee: Roger L. Sheley. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 26-30).

Drabbová, A.: Title of Diploma Thesis: Centaurea cyanus L. (Asteraceae) alkaloids and their biological activity related to Alzheimer's disease. Charles University, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Department of Pharmaceutical Botany, Hradec Králové 2020. Ethyl acetate and chloroform alkaloids extracts were prepared from Centaurea cyanus L. seeds. A novel alkaloid AD-1 (Adrabbin) was isolated from the ethyl acetate extract by common chromatografic methods (column chromatography, preparative TLC). Its structure was elucidated by mass spektrometry, NMR analysis and determination of optical rotation. The alkaloid AD-1 (Adrabbin) possesses a unique structure which consists of a cyclic indole moiety. Also LC-MS analysis of fractions obtained by flash chromatography was performed. In those fractions were detected molecular ions related to compounds previously isolated from other Centaurea species. Alkaloid AD-1 (Adrabbin) was tested on ability to inhibit human cholinesterases, prolyl oligopeptidase and gylcogen synthase kinase 3β. The compound was considered against human cholinesterases inactive (IC50 values > 100 µM). Interestibgly, the alkaloid inhibited prolyl oligopeptidase the same intensity as a standard berberine (AD-1: IC50 143,0 ± 6,0 µM; berberin: IC50 142,0 ± 21,0 µM). The novel compound...