A biomimetic "cactus spine" with hierarchical groovestructure is designed and fabricated using simple electrospinning. This novel artificial cactus spine possesses excellent fog collection and water transportation ability. A model cactus equipped with artificial spines also shows a great water storage capacity. The results can be helpful in the development of water collectors and may make a con...

Invasive pests, such as the cactus moth, Cactoblastis cactorum (Berg) (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae), have not reached equilibrium distributions and present unique opportunities to validate models by comparing predicted distributions with eventual realized geographic ranges. A CLIMEX model was developed for C. cactorum. Model validation was attempted at the global scale by comparing worldwide distrib...

Herbivory has long been recognized as a significant driver of plant population dynamics, yet its effects along environmental gradients are unclear. Understanding how weather modulates plant-insect interactions can be particularly important for predicting the consequences of exotic insect invasions, and an explicit consideration of weather may help explain why the impact can vary greatly across ...

The aim of this study is to determine preparations of cheeps from cactus fruits. Cactus (opuntiassp), cactaceae family is well adapted to arid and hot dry lands, where the plants have a marked capacity to withstand prolonged drought. Cactus fruit have many uses such as: food popular, in medicine, for water treatment, for consumer health and etc. Re cactus pear also cactus apple, prickly pear Ba...

Multiple biological structures have demonstrated fog collection abilities, such as beetle backs with bumps and spider silks with periodic spindle-knots and joints. Many Cactaceae species live in arid environments and are extremely drought-tolerant. Here we report that one of the survival systems of the cactus Opuntia microdasys lies in its efficient fog collection system. This unique system is ...

The origin, distribution, and taxonomy of Opuntia dillenii are reported and the various investigations are reviewed, which have been carried out with this cactus during the last 25 years. Biological and chemical characterization revealed properties typical of succulent plants and betalains as most noticeable constituents accompanied by flavonoids, other phenolics, ascorbic acid, and certain min...

The aims of this work were to study the chemical composition of the essential oil from the leaves of Pereskia aculeata and to evaluate some biological activities of three leaf extracts. The phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and in vitro antimicrobial and antifungal activities were determined. The methanol extract showed antioxidant activity (EC50 7.09 mg/mL) and high polyphenols content (...

First of all, I want to thank my supervisor Prof. Wilhelm Barthlott. His lectures were the main reason why I became interested in botany as a student. He made my PhD study possible by funding my position and he continuously supported me. I am thankful for the many things that I could learn from him. I could also benefit much from his knowledge on the Rhipsalideae. I am also grateful that he gav...

A floristic survey of the Cactaceae family was carried out in municipality Santa Maria, Brazil, which is localized central region Rio Grande do Sul state. The study conducted between August 2017 and November 2018, during time 14 species were recorded. Five are on endangered list Sul. threatened Echinopsis oxygona (Link) Zucc. Ex. Pfeiff. Otto, Parodia horstii (F. Ritter) N.P. Taylor, glaucina R...

Opuntia dillenii (Ker Gawl.) Haw., a well-known member of the Cactaceae family, played an important role in agriculture and medicine. In this study, extraction conditions physico-chemical properties water-soluble polysaccharides (OMP) from mucilage were investigated. The cactus cladodes used study collected Binh Thuan province, Vietnam. optimum water with conventional heating included at temper...