Myrmecophytic Acacia species produce food bodies (FBs) to nourish ants of the Pseudomyrmex ferrugineus group, with which they live in an obligate mutualism. We investigated how the FBs are protected from exploiting nonmutualists. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the FB proteomes and consecutive protein sequencing indicated the presence of several Kunitz-type protease inhibitors (PIs). PIs...

Riparian ecosystem along rivers and streams are characterised by lateral and longitudinal ecological gradients and, as a result, harbour unique biodiversity. Riparian ecosystems in the fynbos of the Western Cape, South Africa, are characterised by seasonal dynamics, with summer droughts followed by high flows during winter. The unique hydrology and geomorphology of riparian ecosystems play an i...

Nitrogen is one of the major elements available to plants through biological nitrogen fixation, which has received much attention in recent years. The present study aims at improving tree legumes viz., Albizzia lebbeck, Pithecolobium dulce, Sesbania grandiflora, Albizzia amara, Enterolobium saman, Erythrina indica, Leucaena leucocephala, Acacia mellifera, Pongamia glabra and Acacia auriculiform...

Identification of mechanisms that allow some species to outcompete others is a fundamental goal in ecology and invasive species management. One useful approach is to examine congeners varying in invasiveness in a comparative framework across native and invaded ranges. Acacia species have been widely introduced outside their native range of Australia, and a subset of these species have become in...

Acacia nilotica once regarded as one of the worst weeds because of its invasiveness, potential for spread, economic and environmental impacts, thus it can easily grow and spread on large massive area for its survival. But recent studies and experiments shows that Acacia nilotica has many effective and efficient phytochemical activities in curing human diseases. Previous studies revealed that th...

Acacia senegal L. (Fabaceae) seeds are essential ingredient of "Pachkutta," a specific Rajasthani traditional food. The present study explored antiatherosclerotic and cardioprotective potential of Acacia senegal seed extract, if any, in hypercholesterolemic diet-induced atherosclerosis in rabbits. Atherosclerosis in rabbits was induced by feeding normal diet supplemented with oral administratio...

The aim of this contribution was to review the species of Ctenocolum which are mainly distributed in the Neotropical region. The larvae of this genus have a high degree of specificity with the tribe Millettieae feeding mainly on seeds of Lonchocarpus Kunth (Fabaceae, Papilionoideae) and until now we do not know other bruchine consuming seeds of this genus. Here 13 valid species were studied, fi...