Distribution, quantitative morphological variation and preliminary molecular analysis of different growth forms of wild rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) in the northern Cederberg and on the Bokkeveld Plateau

Malgas, Rhoda; Potts, Alastair J.; Oettlé, Noel; Koelle, Bettina; Todd, Simon; Verboom, G. Anthony; Hoffman, M. Timm

doi:10.1016/j.sajb.2009.07.004

Cited by 36 publications

(47 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The MaxEnt model predicted A. linearis to occur mainly in mountainous areas with well-drained sandstone and quartzitic soil types and is therefore consistent with ecological knowledge of the species. This potential distribution under current conditions is comparable (yet somewhat more restricted in some areas), to the distribution of wild rooibos developed by Malgas et al (2010), which may be due to the absence of soil information in their analysis. Although the model indicated both cultivated rooibos as well as its wild relatives tend to prefer similar habitats, the cultivated rooibos had a significant greater range.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

“…A list of variables appropriate for modelling rooibos was obtained from previous studies of species distributions within the Fynbos Biome (Midgley et al 2002;Malgas et al 2010) as well as from farmers' knowledge of the variables limiting rooibos distribution. In her study of abiotic and biotic parameters as drivers of A. linearis' environmental suitability, G erard (2010) concluded that rooibos is mainly driven by abiotic factors and indicates climate as a limiting aspect of its distribution.…”

Section: Environmental Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Its climatic distribution is dictated particularly by the combination of winter rainfall and hot dry summers with an annual rainfall of at least 300-350 mm (Dahlgren 1968). Cultivated and wild A. linearis differ mainly in terms of morphology, growth, and flowering patterns (Malgas et al 2010). Cultivated plants are reseeders, whereas certain ecotypes of wild A. linearis are slower growing resprouters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modelling the distribution of Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos tea): implications of climate change for livelihoods dependent on both cultivation and harvesting from the wild

Lötter¹,

Maitre²

2014

Ecology and Evolution

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Aspalathus linearis (Burm. f.) R. Dahlgren (rooibos) is endemic to the Fynbos Biome of South Africa, which is an internationally recognized biodiversity hot spot. Rooibos is both an invaluable wild resource and commercially cultivated crop in suitable areas. Climate change predictions for the region indicate a significant warming scenario coupled with a decline in winter rainfall. First estimates of possible consequences for biodiversity point to species extinctions of 23% in the long term in the Fynbos Biome. Bioclimatic modelling using the maximum entropy method was used to develop an estimate of the realized niche of wild rooibos and the current geographic distribution of areas suitable for commercially production. The distribution modelling provided a good match to the known distribution and production area of A. linearis. An ensemble of global climate models that assume the A2 emissions scenario of high energy requirements was applied to develop possible scenarios of range/suitability shift under future climate conditions. When these were extrapolated to a future climate (2041–2070) both wild and cultivated tea exhibited substantial range contraction with some range shifts southeastwards and upslope. Most of the areas where range expansion was indicated are located in existing conservation areas or include conservation worthy vegetation. These findings will be critical in directing conservation efforts as well as developing strategies for farmers to cope with and adapt to climate change.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 70%

Section: Environmental Variablesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Modelling the distribution of Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos tea): implications of climate change for livelihoods dependent on both cultivation and harvesting from the wild

Lötter¹,

Maitre²

2014

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Dahlgren, provides a unique system to study the biogeography of root nodule communities in both cultivated and wild ancestral populations for numerous reasons. First, this legume is adapted to the extremely nutrient-poor soils of the Core Cape Region of South Africa, a plant biodiversity hotspot undergoing desertification (Malgas et al, 2010;Lötter et al, 2014). Its seeds germinate under elevated soil fertility during postfire successions, transitioning towards severely nutrient-poor conditions over its life span (Maistry et al, 2015).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecological patterns of root nodule diversity in cultivated and wild rooibos populations: a community prediction approach

Ramoneda

Roux

Frossard

et al. 2020

Preprint

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There is interest in understanding the factors behind the biogeography of root-associated bacteria due to the joint effects that plant host, climate, and soil conditions can have on bacterial diversity. For legume crops with remaining wild populations, this is of even more importance, because the effects of cropping on undisturbed root-associated bacterial communities can be addressed. Here, we used a community prediction approach to describe the diversity of the root nodule bacterial communities of rooibos (Aspalathus linearis), an endemic legume crop from South Africa. The goal was to reveal whether patterns of root nodule community composition in paired cultivated and wild rooibos populations could be related to geographical distance, plant traits, and plant population type (i.e. cultivated or uncultivated). We identified a core of dominant and widespread Mesorhizobium ZOTUs that each defined one of 4 different root nodule community classes. Rooibos cultivation impacted root nodule bacterial diversity at regional and local scales, while the geographical origin of the root nodule communities was the strongest predictor of root nodule community structure. Beyond impacts of cultivation on root nodule bacterial diversity, this study suggests a mixture of dispersal limitation and ecological drift regionally, and selection by different plant populations locally, define the biogeography of rooibos root nodule bacterial communities.

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“…f.) R. Dahlgren (rooibos) is a shrub that belongs to the family Leguminosae and grows up to 2 m high. This legume shrub is commonly known as rooibos (red bush) and is endemic to the Cape Floristic Region in the Western and Northern Cape provinces of South Africa (Van Heerden et al 2003;Malgas et al 2009). Rooibos shoots and leaves are used to manufacture a popular beverage called rooibos tea which has several beneficial health effects (Boone et al 1999).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nodulation of rooibos (Aspalathus linearis Burm. f.), an indigenous South African legume, by members of both the α-Proteobacteria and β-Proteobacteria

Hassen¹,

Bopape²,

Habig³

et al. 2011

Biol Fertil Soils

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Distribution, quantitative morphological variation and preliminary molecular analysis of different growth forms of wild rooibos (Aspalathus linearis) in the northern Cederberg and on the Bokkeveld Plateau

Cited by 36 publications

References 19 publications

Modelling the distribution of Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos tea): implications of climate change for livelihoods dependent on both cultivation and harvesting from the wild

Modelling the distribution of Aspalathus linearis (Rooibos tea): implications of climate change for livelihoods dependent on both cultivation and harvesting from the wild

Ecological patterns of root nodule diversity in cultivated and wild rooibos populations: a community prediction approach

Nodulation of rooibos (Aspalathus linearis Burm. f.), an indigenous South African legume, by members of both the α-Proteobacteria and β-Proteobacteria

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