P. Caputo

• Professor at University of Naples Federico II

Moreyra and co-authors, in their recent paper published in Plants, presented a desperately needed Hyb-Seq phylogeny of the genus Cirsium sensu lato. Through their findings, they provided a critical assessment of an earlier proposal of ours to separate Cirsium sect. Eriolepis and Cirsium italicum into the genera Lophiolepis and Epitrachys, respectiv...

Campanula fragilis Cirillo is a species distributed in central and southern Italy and includes two subspecies with uncertain taxonomic position and distribution. By means of nuclear and chloroplast markers, we attempted at testing the genetic distinctness of the two subspecies, as well as their possible correspondence with geographical or ecologica...

Archives and correspondences are often overlooked resources in assessing taxonomic and nomenclatural information and this sometimes affects taxonomic proposals. Here we show that unpublished illustrations not only can definitively help in identifying unresolved or poorly known names but can be themselves original material and sometimes must serve a...

Santolina is a clear example of a genus lying in an alpha-taxonomic status, with species accepted only based on qualitative morphological descriptions. In particular, taxonomic issues still need to be resolved for Santolina populations from southern France and north-eastern Spain, so that we carried out an integrative taxonomic study involving morp...

Sardinia and Corsica are two Mediterranean islands where the genus Armeria is represented by 11 taxa, 10 out of which are endemic. An integrative approach, using molecular phylogeny, karyology, seed and plant morphometry was used to resolve the complex taxonomy and systematics in this group. We found that several taxa are no longer supported by new...

Centaurea L. is one of the most widespread, differentiated, and critical genera of Asteraceae in the Euro-Mediterranean area, with more than 100 currently recognized species inhabiting the region. The controversial C. tenorei group, narrowly endemic to the Peninsula of Sorrento (Campania region, southern Italy), includes three weakly differentiated...

The genus Santolina (Asteraceae, Anthemideae) includes 26 species of aromatic evergreen shrubs endemic to the western Mediterranean Basin. Santolina is widely used as ornamental plant, in xerigardening, and in ethnobotany. The Santolina chamaecyparissus complex, including about half of the known species diversity, has been properly investigated on...

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and status changes to the Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as Suppl. material 1.

Genista etnensis is a remarkable and well-known tree endemic to Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica (Mediterranean Basin). Nevertheless, its morphological variability and its native status throughout its range need to be further investigated. In this study, we aim to clarify some aspects of this infraspecific variability by molecular means. Sequences of...

A traditional karyomorphological approach was carried out in order to investigate the cytotaxonomic relationships among the species of the Santolina chamaecyparissus complex. All the 14 species included in this species complex were analysed for a total of 39 populations. Metaphase plates were obtained by squashing root tips stained with Feulgen tec...

Using molecular data and representative species coverage, we confirmed the monophyly of Cirsium sect. Eriolepis and, therefore, we propose to treat it as a separate genus (Lophiolepis). Besides, based on molecular and morphological evidence we segregate Cirsium italicum into the separate genus Epitrachys, sister to a large clade including Carduus,...

The genus Mcneillia has been recently segregated from Minuartia L. based on molecular results, also supported by morphology. However, to date, a comprehensive study on the phylogenetic relationships within this genus is lacking. In this paper, we provide a multigene phylogeny of all the species and subspecies of Mcneillia employing two nuclear and...

Background: Head and neck cancer (HNC) and its treatments often result in adverse effects that impair a patient's quality of life. Although intensive rehabilitative strategies can be used, their applicability can be limited due to patient-specific and socioeconomic barriers. Telehealth interventions represent a possible novel approach to increase...

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of native vascular flora in Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and exclusions to the Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrigenda are provided as Suppl. material 1.

Riassunto. Vengono descritte le xerofite ita-liane di nuova introduzione nell'area espositi-va denominata il "Deserto" dell'Orto Botanico di Napoli. Queste specie vengono discusse per loro aspetti tassonomici, per il significato didattico e divulgativo che rivestono e per la loro importanza per la conservazione ex situ di specie vegetali di specifi...

The goal of this systematic review was to define a consensus within the current literature regarding the impact/effect of cannabis or cannabinoids on the treatment of patients with head and neck cancer. We conducted a review of PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases, using a comprehensive search strategy, focusing on articles relating to head...

Caves present unique habitats for the development of microbial communities due to their peculiar environmental conditions. In caves decorated with frescoes, the characterization of microbial biofilm is important to better preserve and safeguard such artworks. This study aims to investigate the microbial communities present in the Fornelle Cave (Cal...

This is the thirteenth of a series of miscellaneous contributions, by various authors, where hitherto unpublished data relevant to both the Med-Checklist and the Euro+Med (or Sisyphus) projects are presented. This instalment deals with the families Amaryllidaceae (incl. Alliaceae), Apocynaceae, Caryophyllaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Compositae, Crassulac...

Tracheostomies are often utilized in critically ill patients on prolonged mechanical ventilation, to enhance respiratory function and facilitate ventilator weaning. Many coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients develop serious respiratory illness requiring ventilator management. In the early phase of this pandemic, the risk of disease spread le...

The names of the Italian taxa in Cirsium sect. Eriolepis are discussed. The accepted names are: Cirsium echinatum, C. eriophorum subsp. eriophorum, C. eriophorum subsp. spathulatum, C. ferox, C. italicum, C. lacaitae, C. lobelii, C. morisianum, C. scabrum, C. tenoreanum, C. vallis-demonii subsp. vallis-demonii, C. vallis-demonii subsp. calabrum com...

A method based on the use of electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in the radiofrequency band was experimented to eliminate heterotrophic organisms from biofilms encrusting linen canvasses used for paintings. Artificial biofilms were used for exposure to EMR. Biofilms were grown on fragments of canvasses sampled from the backside of a painting. The fragm...

This study focuses on the experimentation of a method based on the use of UV-C irradiation to eliminate the biofilms present in a tomb located in the necropolis of Porta Nocera, in Pompeii. For this study, the autotrophic component of the biofilm was isolated in the laboratory, while, contemporarily, the characterization of the composition of the p...

The authors announce the rediscovery at the Library of the Botanical Garden of Naples of a document by Karel B. Presl about the flora of Sicily (southern Italy), i.e., (the possible proofs of) the first issue of the Prodromus to his Flora Sicula, after 200 years from its preparation. This document, for reasons unknown, was not widely distributed to...

Authors report 139 new nomenclatural combinations in the sections Cynanchicae, Thliphthisa and Hexaphylla of the genus Asperula L. (Rubiaceae). These changes were deemed necessary as a consequence of numerous molecular phylogenetic studies which have provided abundant evidence on the polyphyletic nature of the genus. As the complete species-level p...

The authors briefly discuss about the list of the taxa endemic to Campania (southern Italy) and the typification of their names. The names Santolina neapolitana and Seseli polyphyllum (and other linked names) are lectotypified on herbarium specimens kept at LY and BOLO. A new combination at subspecific rank is proposed for Globularia neapolitana, v...

As part of ongoing studies on the taxonomy of Cirsium Miller (1754: no pagination) sect. Eriolepis (Cassini in Cuvier 1826: 331) Dumortier (1827: 74) (Asteraceae) (Del Guacchio & Iamonico 2015), and in the context of the “Italian loci classici census” project (see e.g., Domina et al. 2012, Peruzzi et al. 2019), aimed at typifying all the names of t...

The authors studied Statice names derived from the Tournefortianum “Limonium Lusitanicum, Auriculae Ursi folio”. The name S. auriculaeursifolia, basionym of the accepted Limonium auriculaeursifolium, is typified by a specimen in Lamarck's herbarium in Paris. The controversial name S. auriculifolia, often regarded as a synonym of L. auriculaeursifol...

In this contribution, we treat all the names in the genus Eucalyptus published by F. Dehnhardt, including the much‐discussed E. camaldulensis. Current opinion would suggest that Dehnhardt applied this name to a plant different from that to which the name has commonly been applied. Hence, E. camaldulensis was conserved with a conserved type. Despite...

We examined the patterns of genetic variation in the narrow endemic Asperula crassifolia (Campania, southern Italy), taking into account the schizoendemic distribution of the Mediterranean members of Asperula sect. Cynanchicae. We obtained plastid DNA sequences of the rps16 intron and the trnC-petN intergenic spacer for several members of A. sect....

A novel technique, effective in eliminating biodeteriogens from biofilms encrusting terracotta artifacts, is presented here. This method is based on the use of high-strength electromagnetic radiation (EMR) in the radiofrequency band. Shards of terracotta from historical pots at the Botanical Garden of Naples, Italy, were used. The shards, after ste...

Four names in Statice, i.e. S. densiflora, S. densiflora var. humilis, S. densiflora var. obtusifolia, and S. secundiramea are typified by employing illustrations or herbarium specimens kept in NAP. Two of these names are basionyms for the accepted combinations Limonium densiflorum and L. secundirameum. The controversial name S. oleifolia, the negl...

The authors have considered all the Linnaean names in Scabiosa, proposing 13 new typifications (10 lectotypes, 2 neotypes, and noting 1 automatic typification). The designation of S. columbaria as the type of Scabiosa is recognized as attributable to Rafinesque. A previous synonymization (Scabiosa pterocephala L.) is discussed. Several elements bel...

Since its introduction from Central-South America to Italy almost 500 years ago, the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was largely cultivated across the peninsula in hundreds of different landraces. However, globalisation and technological modernisation of agricultural practices in the last decades promoted the cultivation of few varieties at the...

The Centaurea tenorei group (Asteraceae), strictly endemic to the Peninsula of Sorrento (southern Italy), has been recently split into three microspecies: C. tenorei s.str., C. montaltensis and C. lacaitae. Seven pertinent names are typified in this work and preliminarily identified according to the three species concept. The selected types clearly...

The German botanist and head-gardener Friedrich Dehnhardt described several new names in Tritonia in poorly known publications covering plants cultivated in the former Hortus Camaldulensis (Naples, southern Italy). The names have been generally neglected or misinterpreted, and original specimens have not been traced. We have examined grey literatur...

We investigated the genetic diversity of the last natural population of Abies alba Mill. in Campania region (southern Italy) using nuclear and chloroplast microsatellite markers. We found high genetic diversity despite small population size and geographic isolation, especially when comparing our microsatellite data with information from the literat...

The present work is aimed at studying several Asperula (Rubiaceae) sect. Cynanchicae populations in southern Apennines, Italy, with particular reference to those referred to A. calabra, by employing biometrical methods on macromorphological data. Among other historical misapplications, A. cynanchica subsp. cynanchica seems to be very rare or missin...

Methodologies used by the authors in the study of biofilms encrusting artifacts, monuments and archaeological sites are illustrated. Techniques adopted in each step of the study, i.e., sampling, identification of biofilm microbial components, analysis of inorganic and organic components of biofilms and removal of biodeteriogens by using radio frequ...

In the present study, we attempt to reconstruct the phylogeny of Asperula sect. Cynanchicae (Rubiaceae: Rubieae), using both nuclear and chloroplast DNA markers. We test different methodological approaches to clarify relationships and to hypothesize divergence times for the section. The inferred phylogenetic hypothesis shows that sect. Cynanchicae...

The present investigation investigated the genetic structure of a monophyletic group of endemic species belonging to the Genista ephedroides species group: G. bocchierii, G. cilentina, G. demarcoi, G. dorycnifolia, G. ephedroides, G. gasparrinii, G. insularis, G. numidica, G. tyrrhena subsp. tyrrhena, G. tyrrhena subsp. pontiana and G. valsecchiae,...

The present investigation investigated the genetic structure of a monophyletic group of endemic species belonging to the Genista ephedroides species group: G. bocchierii, G. cilentina, G. demarcoi, G. dorycnifolia, G. ephedroides, G. gasparrinii, G. insularis, G. numidica, G. tyrrhena subsp. tyrrhena, G. tyrrhena subsp. pontiana and G. valsecchiae,...

Cyperus esculentus is widespread in tropical and temperate zones and is also present in cooler regions. It is used as a crop plant, but it also occurs in the wild and as a weed. As a consequence of its ecological plasticity, C. esculentus has remarkable variability, with several morphotypes. Four wild-type varieties are presently recognized, in add...

The present investigation investigated the genetic structure of a monophyletic group of endemic species belonging to the Genista ephedroides species group: G. bocchierii, G. cilentina, G. demarcoi, G. dorycnifolia, G. ephedroides, G. gasparrinii, G. insularis, G. numidica, G. tyrrhena subsp. tyrrhena, G. tyrrhena subsp. pontiana and G. valsecchiae,...

We investigated phototrophic microorganisms dwelling on stone walls made of Piperno, a volcanic rock frequently used as construction material in historical buildings in Naples, Italy. Biofilms from three historical buildings in the center of the city and from a natural Piperno quarry located in a suburban area were examined. Light and electron micr...

The Graeco-Roman harbor of Neapolis (Naples, Italy), chronologically constrained between the late 4th century BC and the 6th century AD, offers a unique sight on relationship between past and present into the history of the marine biodiversity. In fact, the digs expose fossil leaf of Posidonia oceanica with epiphytic communities of microorganisms....

In the present report, we have analysed the subgenus Vicia by karyological and molecular approaches with the aim to clarify the relationships among Vicia species included in this subgenus by previously evidenced morphological investigations. Multivariate analysis using several karyomorphological parameters in addition to symmetry indices has allowe...

In this paper, we studied the relationships of the only surviving Italian population of Ipomoea imperati (Convolvulaceae), a pantropical sandy coastal species, in Sicily and other populations in the Mediterranean region. Herbarium samples which are representative of extinct populations growing in Campania (Italy) were also investigated together wit...

A methodology aiming at identifying and removing biofilms from cultural heritage was applied to stones from tuff walls in historical sites. Identification of phototrophic encrusting microorganisms was carried out by optical and electron microscopy, as well as by molecular techniques (DNA analyses and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE))....

Taxonomic and nomenclatural issues in Asperula aristata L. f. and allied taxa are discussed and the identity of the autonymic subspecies of A. aristata established as being the taxon commonly, but erroneously, called A. aristata subsp. scabra. The synonymy of other names in the group is also discussed, and eight of them are typified. Asperula exari...

Campi Flegrei is a large volcanic area situated northwest of Naples, Italy. Two archeological sites, the Sybil's Cave and the Piscina Mirabilis, are artificial caves dug in the yellow tuff and used during antiquity for various purposes. This paper describes for the first time the algal biodiversity of these caves and determines whether environmenta...

Four species of Scabiosa L. are transferred to Lomelosia Raf. (Dipsacaceae) to complete the relocation of all scabious taxa with a pitted epicalyx into Lomelosia. The new combinations are: L. deserticola (Rech. f.) P. Caputo & Del Guacchio, L. poecilocarpa (Rech. f.) P. Caputo & Del Guacchio, L. schimperiana (Boiss. & Buhse) P. Caputo & Del Guacchi...

Vicia barbazitae, a taxon belonging to section Vicia of subgenus Vicia, was recovered and analysed by cytological, karyological and molecular methods with the aim of both proposing a general characterisation of this species and studying the relationships among the species of section Vicia . Phylogenetic relationships among the species of the sectio...

The authors report the use of nuclear [internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences 1 and 2] and chloroplast DNA (trnS-trnG intergenic spacer sequences) in Viola subsect. Viola for separate tracking of maternal lineages and detecting dubious herbarium specimens. A phylogenetic investigation carried out on ITS data after removal of all material with...

Automated karyotype analyses and sequence of rDNA spacers have been analysed for the species belonging to sections Atossa, Microcarinae, Wiggersia and Vicia. Karyomorphological parameters, based on Rec, Syi and TF% indices, have been determined and evidenced that, in term of symmetry, the karyotype of Vicia lathyroides was the most asymmetric one....

Authors studied the phylogeny of Dipsacaceae using maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses on sequence data from chloroplast (trnL intron, trnL–trnF intergenic spacer, psbB–psbH gene complex) and nuclear genomes (ITS1 and ITS2). Both data partitions as well as their combination show that Dipsacaceae is a monophyletic group. Topology in tribe Scabio...

Crocus imperati Ten. and Crocus suaveolens Bertol. are the most controversial endemic crocuses in Italy; they have been interpreted by various authors as different species or infraspecific entities and their chorologies are afflicted by numerous misidentifications. This work, by means of an extensive in vivo study across the whole ranges of the two...

A chloroplast DNA restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis has been carried out on representatives species of Orchis (Orchidaceae) and of the allied genera Aceras, Dactylorhiza, and Anacamptis. One species of Cephalanthera and one of Serapias were used as outgroups. The consensus tree from a cladistic analysis showed that Orchis, as presen...

Preliminary data on the molecular phylogeny of Lomelosia Rafin. (Dipsacaceae) - Lomelosia is a genus includ- ing over 50 annual and perennial species distributed in the Mediterranean area and its neighbouring south-eastern regions with outliers reaching Far East. A phylogenetic investigation on 17 species of the genus and an appropriate set of out-...

The genus Pinnularia Ehr. (Bacillariophyceae, Bacillariophyta) is very frequently found in algal communities of acidic environments. Several Pinnularia strains isolated from the thermal acidic area of Pisciarelli (Naples, Italy) have been investigated by using a combination of morphological, ecophysiological and molecular techniques and have been c...

Vicia esdraelonensis, a rare taxon belonging to section Hypechusa of subgenus Vicia, was recovered and analyzed by cytological, karyological, and molecular methods, with the aim of both characterizing this species and furthering our knowledge of the phylogeny of subgenus Vicia. Automated karyotype analysis, nuclear DNA content, and chromatin organi...

Dipsacaceae phylogeny: preliminary evidence from two genomes - We undertook a phylogenetic analysis of Dipsacaceae Juss. using Maximum Parsimony analysis on nucleotide sequence data from both chloroplast (trnL intron, trnL-trnF intergenic spacer, psbB-psbH gene complex) and nuclear genomes (ITS1 and ITS2). Both chloroplast and nuclear data partitio...

Nuclear DNA contents, automated karyotype analyses, and sequences of internal transcribed spacers from ribosomal genes have been determined in the species belonging to section Hypechusa of the subgenus Vicia. Karyomorphological results and phylogenetic data generated from the comparison of rDNA (genes coding for rRNA) sequences showed that sect. Hy...

Il genere Lomelosia Rafin. (Dipsacaceae) include circa 50 specie distribuite dal bacino mediterraneo alla catena montuosa himalayana, che colonizzano prevalentemente terreni xerici (1). Caratteristiche principali del genere sono la presenza di un epicalice provvisto di otto fovee all'estremità distale, sormontato da una corona membranosa, più o men...

Nuclear DNA contents, automated karyotype analyses, and sequences of rDNA spacers have been determined for the species of Vicia belonging to sect. Peregrinae, as well as for V. mollis. The phylogenetic data generated from the comparison of rDNA sequences and karyomorphological results would both indicate that Vicia mollis is a sister group to sect....

The cladistic analysis of the DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacers of ribosomal cistrons (ITS1 and ITS2) for 20 species of Cicer L. (among which all the annuals), shows that various sections of the genus are not monophyletic. Annual species do not form a clade: C. arietinum, in fact, is closely related to both C. echinospermum and C. r...

In this paper the names of Asperula neglecta and A. nitens, described on Central Italian plants by the nineteen- century botanist Giovanni Gussone, were typified. Typification was based on original material collected by Gussone and kept at NAP. The systematics and taxonomy of these poorly known taxa were discussed. Our preliminary observations on d...

Phylogenetic relationships among 17 taxa of Dipsacaceae were inferred from nucleotide sequence variation in both the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA and the chloroplast trnL(UAA) intron sequences. The combined phylogenetic analysis, carried out by using two taxa from Valerianaceae as an outgroup yielded a single m...

This book presents the current state of our knowledge of the systematics of the approximately 300 species of cycads. It has been developed from 15 papers presented at the conference in Miami. Guidelines are presented for the designation of species, species boundaries and species groupings, thus clarifying what has been a confused area of research....

In the present paper a Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) investigation was carried out on DNAs from five Crocus sativus L. (saffron) accessions cultivated in different countries and on six closely related Crocus species. Aims of the study are to check whether cultivated saffron has maintained a constant genomic organisation and to clarify its...

 A molecular investigation on the species of Genista belonging to sect. Spartocarpus was undertaken with the aim of inferring phylogenetic relationships within the section. The combined cladistic analysis of ITS 1 and 2 and of the chloroplast DNA trnL(UAA) intron yielded a single most parsimonious cladogram with G. aetnensis as sister group to the...

A sequence analysis has been carried out on the ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacers (ITS) of Sardinian and Sicilian Orchis, Anacamptis and Neotinea endemics, aiming at the understanding of genetic relatedness of these geographically isolated entities. Resulting sequences were compared with those of strictly related species with broader distr...

The mode of inheritance of chloroplast DNA has been determined in Encephalartos by employing a restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of chloroplast DNA. Artificial F1 hybrids were produced between a female specimen of E. natalensis and a male specimen of E. woodii. The hybridization patterns of all hybrids correspond, in all cases, with...

A molecular phylogenetic investigation, based on the internal transcribed spacers (ITS) of nuclear ribosomal DNA, was undertaken on members of Anacamptis, Orchis, Neotinea, and allied genera, focussing on taxa growing in the Near East and Eastern Europe, and especially in Israel. We found that Eastern Mediterranean orchids do not represent a monoph...

Seven individuals of Orchis x pseudoanatolica Fleishm., a natural hybrid between Orchis pauciflora Ten. and O. quadripunctata Cyr. ex Ten. (Orchidaceae), collected in two close localities in Southern Italy, were characterized by employing molecular methods in order to identify their parents and to define their maternal lineages. Restriction analysi...

Cyanidium caldarium, Cyanidioschyzon merolae and Galdieria sulphuraria are three unicellular algae characteristic, of acid thermal environments. Recently, on the basis of morphological characters, three new species of Galdieria (G. partita, G. daedala, G. maxima ) isolated from acid-thermal springs in Russia have been instituted. A selected region...

A small population (16 individuals) of Orchis colemanii Cortesi, a natural hybrid between O. mascula (L.) L. and O. pauciflora Ten. was sampled from a locality near Sassano (National Park of Cilento, province of Salerno, Southern Italy) in order to assess its genetic structure. Filter hybridizations of O. colemanii, O. mascula and O. pauciflora DNA...

Molecular approach to the identification and characterization of natural hybrids between Orchis pauciflora and Orchis quadripunctata (Orchidaceae).

Phylogenetic relationships among members of genus Orchis and allied genera Aceras, Anacamptis, Barlia, Dactylorhiza, Gymnadenia, Himantoglossum, Neotinea, Ophrys, Platanthera, and Serapias were inferred from nucleotide sequence variation in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions of nuclear ribosomal DNA. Sequences were subjected to various a...

Ribosomal DNA sequences were employed to infer relationships among EuropeanPottiaceae. Intragenic spacer I was sequenced for sixTrichostomoideae (Eucladium verticillatum, Pleurochaete squarrosa, Tortella flavovirens, T. nitida, T. tortuosa, Trichostomum brachydontium) and seven taxa from the other European subfamilies included inPottiaceae (Bryoery...