Se registra la presencia, no documentada previamente, de Cactophagus spinolae sobre 2 cactáceas, laspitayas Stenocereus pruinosus y S. stellatus, en 2 regiones del centro de México. El daño en los tallos lo provocanlas larvas de este curculiónido. En general, se presenta en baja frecuencia, aunque es significativamente mayor en S.stellatus, así como en la región del valle de Tehuacán. Cuando se extiende a la rama principal puede matar a la planta,lo que representa una seria amenaza para las pitayas del centro de México, cuya importancia ecológica, cultural yeconómica es reconocida. Aunque el curculiónido es considerado una plaga muy dañina en especies del género Opuntiay pocos son los registros para otras cactáceas, es posible que haya adquirido nuevas plantas huéspedes, por lo que esnecesario realizar un seguimiento de su presencia en las cactáceas de México.

The ethnobotanical importance of the family Piperaceae is recognized mainly for its medicinal properties. A total of 106 species of two genera of this family (Piper and Peperomia) have been collected in Oaxaca, but only 18 are recorded in scientific publications as medicinal, edible, veterinary, or ritual plants. The objectives of this study are to describe the traditional knowledge and uses of the Piperaceae in areas of high biocultural diversity of Oaxaca and to analyze the relationship between its geographic distribution with ethnobotanical records among ethnic groups. Fieldwork was carried out between 2013 and 2016, and voucher specimens were reviewed in Mexican herbaria. Two multivariate analyses were applied to compare the geographic distribution of Piperaceae with ethnobotanical knowledge in Oaxaca. A total of 13 species of Peperomia, and 7 of Piper were collected, besides some unidentified species of both genera. Seven use categories were registered, with medicinal and edible being the most important. A high percentage (65%) of the species is named in at least one native language. Most species have a single use, mainly medicinal. Peperomia has been collected in Oaxaca since 1980, while Piper since 1960. Multivariate analysis indicated the existence of a differentiated ethnobotanical knowledge of this family among ethnic groups, related to the geographic distribution of species. This study evidences that ethnic groups, who maintain areas of higher biodiversity, obtain these species mainly from the wild, from specific microenvironments; hence, conservation practices must be reinforced for them, as for all ecosystems in general.

Background: Field observations of damage in columnar cacti of central Mexico, and previous evidence in scientific literature, indicated the absence of systematic information about kinds of damage, vectors, and pathogens, in this botanical family. Questions: How is the knowledge of damage and defense mechanisms in cacti? Is there a pattern in causal agents and their geographical distribution in the Americas? Methods: A database of 58 taxa by 51 types of damage was developed from literature recorded in ISI Web of Knowledge, Cabdirect, and Google Scholar, and it was analyzed by multivariate methods. Results: From 1,500 species of Cactaceae, only 58 have been studied through this scope. Subfamily Cactoideae has been the most studied, in particular tribe Echinocereeae (= Pachycereeae columnar cacti). Multivariate analysis grouped cacti according to the kind of damage: biotic, or abiotic. Damage due to biotic factors was sub-grouped depending on the herbivores. Damage by abiotic factors is more frequent in extreme latitudes. Fourteen species of columnar cacti were reported with herbivory and rot damage in Central Mexico, of which eight represent new records of damaged cacti. Conclusions: The evidence from field observations, and few recent publications suggest that some generalist herbivores are becoming dangerous in this region, Future research is necessary in order to understand the dynamics of the dispersion of some kinds of damage, the role of human disturbance, and the role and changes in defense mechanisms in wild and domesticated cacti.

Antecedentes y Objetivos: En México existen alrededor de 156 especies de gimnospermas nativas pertenecientes a seis familias. Para el estado de Oaxaca, se registran 45 especies de gimnospermas y sus habitantes poseen un sobresaliente conocimiento ancestral en el uso tradicional de este grupo taxonómico. El presente estudio contribuye al registro y documentación del conocimiento tradicional de las gimnospermas en Oaxaca, a evaluar la importancia de las familias botánicas como fuente de recursos, analizar las relaciones existentes entre los grupos étnicos y la riqueza de especies útiles, así como a comparar los registros obtenidos con el número de gimnospermas a nivel nacional y estatal. Métodos: El estudio se realizó en 84 municipios en tres Regiones Terrestres Prioritarias al noreste de Oaxaca. Los datos etnobotánicos fueron recopilados mediante observación participante moderada, caminatas etnobotánicas, entrevista libre a guías locales y colecta de ejemplares botánicos. Los datos se analizaron cualitativamente para integrar el conocimiento tradicional, etnoflorístico y los aspectos ecológicos de las especies. Resultados clave: Se registraron 30 especies de las familias Cupressaceae, Pinaceae, Podocarpaceae y Zamiaceae. El mayor número de especies útiles (16) registradas pertenece a Pinaceae. Entre los zapotecos se encontraron usos para 16 diferentes especies, los mixes utilizan diez y los mazatecos nueve. Todos los taxa registrados tienen nombre común, 71% en lengua local y 97% en español. Los usos más frecuentes fueron el maderable, la construcción, el ornamental y el combustible. El bosque mesófilo de montaña es el tipo de vegetación del área estudiada que contiene el mayor número de gimnospermas útiles, con 15 especies. De los taxa registrados 45% son endémicos de México, seis especies de Pinaceae y ocho de Zamiaceae se consideran endémicos de Oaxaca. Conclusiones: Este estudio incrementa los registros sobre gimnospermas útiles en el estado de Oaxaca. Se requiere reconsiderar y entender el valor local de estas especies dentro de la cosmovisión étnica, para preservar los usos tradicionales y promover programas de manejo sostenible.

<!-- *** Custom HTML *** --> Columnar cacti are distributed naturally in arid and semi-arid zones of America. Almost 50% are found in Mexico, were 45 species have been used for 8,500 years and currently are commercialized in regional or international markets. Rot damage in monopodic stems or branches was observed recently in columnar cacti of Central Mexico. Previous reports suggested Cactophagus spinolae (Gyllenhal) and Scyphophorus acupunctactus Gyllenhal as the main causes of damage, and both were feeding on new hosts. This paper recorded organisms associated with the process of rot damage in some columnar cacti of Central Mexico. In 2012, field trips during dry and rainy seasons documented damage and collected insects in five columnar cacti of Central Mexico. The presence of the organisms varied in relation to the host and damage stage: primary, intermediate, and late. The primary stage when rot damage begins is characterized by C. spinolae, as well as Chalcolepidius approximatus Erichson, and larvae of some Lepidoptera. The other stages are characterized by saprophages or parasitoids. Most insects found in the study were new records of species of Cactaceae. Knowledge of ecological interactions and dynamics of plant communities during rot damage is necessary to propose control and sanitation measures, and understand the effect of disturbance in the presence of these herbivores.

Lycophyta and Polypodiophyta have been used by humans worldwide since ancient times, yet little has been documented. This paper analyzes and discusses the different uses of these plants in three Priority Terrestrial Regions (PTR) of conservation in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico. Our objectives were to: 1) document the traditional knowledge and uses of Lycophyta and Polypodiophyta among ethnic and mestizo groups; 2) analyze the variation in the use of taxa among these ethnic and mestizo groups, in terms of altitudinal distribution and type of vegetation in habitats supporting these species. Fifty species and two varieties of useful Lycophyta and Polypodiophyta from 29 genera and 15 families, were recorded. Mazatecs, Zapotecs, and Mixes are the ethnic groups with the greatest number of records of useful species from these taxonomic groups. More than 68% of such species are recognized with common names in the local languages. There are two conditions of useful plants: 1) among species used by at lea...