Vegetation Composition of Abu Tartur Mining Region (Western Desert, Egypt): Biological and Phytochemical Survey of Some Studied Taxa

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1 Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology A 6 (2016) doi: / / D DAVID PUBLISHING Vegetation Composition of Abu Tartur Mining Region (Western Desert, Egypt): Biological and Phytochemical Survey of Some Studied Taxa Maha Mohamed Abdelmonem El-Shamy Botany Department, Faculty of Science, Mansoura University, Mansoura 35516, Egypt Abstract: Groundwater in Egypt plays an important role in the country s water budget. South Western desert represent an arid of desert biome within world s net-work of the biosphere reserves. In this study, the plant wild vegetation were surveyed in Abu Tartur mining area located in the Southern part of Western depending essentially on the seepage from water line tubes which supplies water demands at Abu Tartur. The vegetation-environment relationships in Abu Tartur are described. Data sets (42 species in 38 plots) beside the pip-line enriched from 13 wells were analyzed, using multivariate procedures, i.e., two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN), detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) and detrended canonical correspondence analysis (CCA), to produce a classification of plant communities in the studied areas and to examine the relationships of that plant communities to certain edaphic factors. Five plant communities were identified. Astragalus vogelii, Chenopodium murale, Citrullus colocynthis, Fagonia arabica, Farsetia aegyptia, Hyoscyamus muticus, Morettia philaeana, Cynodon dactylon, Trichodesma africana, Tamarix nilotica, Senna italica, Schouwia purpurea, Salsola volkensii and Phragmites australis were common in the study area. Phytochemical survey for nitroprpionic compounds in some taxa belonging to Fabaceae family showed the absence of these toxic compounds by using GC/MS analysis. Also some phytochemical components of Astragalus vogalii were extracted and identified by GC/MS spectra. A biological activity, in this regard was the screening of methanol extracts for some wild taxa of Abu Tartur against natural Tetranychus urticae as acricidal activity and the methanol extracts of some taxa give high mortality results, like Farsetia aegyptia (86.6%) and Fagonia arabica Burm. f. (70.0%). Key words: Abu Tartur, vegetation composition, aliphatic nitro-compounds, Astragalus vogelii, acaricidal activity. 1. Introduction The desert areas in Egypt are considered as a promising economic support for future development, even though they did not be paid enough concern yet [1]. The Western Desert of Egypt comprises an area of more than 400,000 km 2 in the Eastern Sahara. It is one of the most arid regions on Earth and is nearly barren of people today. It is made of two major physiographic provinces separated by the prominent Eocene scarp. The north area of the scarp is known as the Libyan Plateau or Northern Libyan Desert, and the Southern Nubian sandstone has been eroded by wind to form flat-topped gebels [2]. Phosphate ore is an important economic deposit in Corresponding author: Maha Mohamed Abdelmonem El-Shamy, Ph.D., research field: applied plant ecology. Egypt. Abu Tartur phosphate deposit is one of the largest phosphates mining area (1,000 million tons) in the Middle East. The mining area is located in the Western Desert of Egypt, about 60 km from El-Kharga city and 10 km from the main road between El-Karga and El-Dakhla Oases [3]. Desert plants are under tremendous pressure and are subjected to large fluctuations over time due to highly unpredictable environment with respect to water availability, a relatively short growth period and extreme aridity. Deserts are generally regarded as fragile, which are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic disruption. Native plants are the part of the desert ecosystem that has been damaged by overgrazing, cutting down the woody plants for fuel, abuse of off-road vehicles, urbanization, mining and other

2 Vegetation Composition of Abu Tartur Mining Region (Western Desert, Egypt): 39 activities. They represent good sources for many purposes, such as livestock, fibers, biofuel and pharmaceutical raw materials. In Egypt, desert vegetation is the most important characteristic of natural plant life. In a survey of the vegetation units in the Western Desert of Egypt, outside the oases five desert zones are distinguished along a precipitation gradient and support the growth of accidental vegetation [4]. Plant life of the major inhabited oases in the Western Desert have been intensively studied, such as Bahariya, Farafra, Kharga, Dakhla and Siwa Oasis [5, 6], Wadi El-Natrun [7] and Abu Tartur mining area [8]. Leaflets of 78 species of Astragalus species from Iran were analyzed for toxic aliphatic nitro compounds. The catabolites of nitro compounds 3-nitropropanol and 3-nitropropionic acid are especially toxic to cattle and sheep. Nitro compounds were detected in six species of Astragalus, and all the nitro-bearing species were herbaceous [9]. Livestock should be prevented from grazing nitro-bearing Astragalus. NO 2 complexed with ferrous hemoglobin can prevent its reoxygenation [10]. The methemoglobin concentration in the blood of fatally poisoned animals may exceed 30% [11]. The two-spotted spider mite Tetranychus urticae, was first described by Koch in 1836 and it is an ubiquitous pest with a global distribution [12]. T. urticae is a member of the family: Tetranychidae is the most notorious pest responsible for significant yield losses in many economic crops, vegetables and fruit trees in Egypt, and horticultural, ornamental agronomic crops worldwide [13]. This is because T. urticae feed on the leaves, causing a reduction in photosynthetic activity. The high reproductive potential and extreme short life cycle, combined with frequent acaricide applications, facilitate the resistance build-up [14]. This study was conducted to study the floristic composition, distributional pattern and life-form of the wild flora in the mining region of Abu Tartu and survey phytochemical composition for aliphatic nitro-compounds, such as 3-nitropropionic acid, in some taxa of Fabaceae recorded in mining region and some compounds extracted from Astragalu svogalli, as well as biological activities of ethanol extract for some taxa of the studied area. 2. Materials and Methods 2.1 Study Area The investigated area extends between Kharga and Dakhla Oasis in the Nubian Desert as a part of the Southern Sahara [15]. It has been conducted in two consecutive extreme desert zones [16], where the accidental type of vegetation exists. The mining area of Abu Tartur lies between Northern latitudes and Eastern longitudes [17] (Fig. 1a). Groundwater in mining region is considered the sole source for water used mainly for mining activities and other human purposes [18]. The plant vegetation of study area depends essentially on the seepage from water line tubes (Fig. 1b), which are funded from 13 wells and extend for about 14 km along the mining region to be used in the extraction of phosphate raw material and human activities for the individuals working there. 2.2 Climatic Data of Study Area According to Köppen-Geiger climate classification system [19], the study area lies in the zone of subtropical arid deserts. The temperature regime is characterized by mild winters and very hot summers. Whereas, the average temperature in January remains rather constant between 12 C and 4 C, in July mean temperature rises to approximately 39 C. It is hyperarid region, mostly rainless with an annual intensity rainfall of 0.1 mm and average evaporation rate of mm/month (Table 1). 2.3 Soil Sampling Soil samples are collected from each quadrate, which

3 40 Vegetation Composition of Abu Tartur Mining Region (Western Desert, Egypt): Fig. 1 (a) Water pips line (b) Position of the studied quadrates Water pips line and position of the studied quadrates in Abu Tartur mining area. Table 1 Climatic variables Climatic data of study area. Month Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May Jun. Jul. Aug. Sep. Oct. Nov. Dec. Max. temperature ( C) Average high ( C) Daily mean ( C) Average low ( C) Min. temperature ( C) Average precipitation (mm) Average relative humidity (%) Mean monthly sunshine (h) ,943.0 Year mean is representing profile at a depth of 0-50 cm. The soil texture (using drying sieve method) and the maximum water-holding capacity are determined by the methods described by Margesin and Schinner [20]. Total CaCO 3, oxidizable organic carbon were estimated in air dry soil, while, electrical conductivity (EC) and ph for each sample were determined as a soil solution 1:5 dilution in deionized water, also anaions like, biocarbonate, chlorides and sulphates were estimated [21]. 2.4 Vegetation Analysis A total of 38 quadrates with each 20 m 20 m (approximately the mean minimum area of the prevailing plant communities), were selected, beside the line of water pips extend along the mining region in March Quadrates were subjectively chosen at locations, where either dense vegetation or change in species composition was encountered. Thirty eight quadrates were positioned using GPS model Trimble SCOUT M, and distributed along the studied area (Table 2). The relative values of density and cover are calculated for each plant species and summed up to give an estimate of its important value (IV) in each quadrate, which is out of 200 according to community analysis package (CAP) [22]. The classification technique applied here was the two way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN), while the ordination technique is the deternded corresponding analysis (DCA) [23, 24]. Classification, identification, nomenclature and floristic categories are followed by Ref. [25]. The description and classification of life form spectra were according to Ref. [26]. 2.5 Phytochemical Screening for Some Taxa of Fabaceae Plant samples, Astragalus vogelii (Webb), Trigonella hamosa L., Vicia monentha Retz, Medicago

4 Vegetation Composition of Abu Tartur Mining Region (Western Desert, Egypt): 41 Table 2 Thirty eight quadrates positioned using GPS model Trimble SCOUT M. Quadrate No. Latitudes (N) Longitudes (E ) Quadrate No. Latitudes (N) Longitudes (E) polymorpha L., Senna italica and Melilotus indicus were collected from the field during March 2014, then aerial parts of the plant material were dried at room temperature and kept in plastic bags. Afterwards, 20 g were taken and extracted with 250 ml acetone for 72 h, and filtered through Whatman filter paper. Shoots were washed once by 20 ml acetone, and the extract was concentrated by rotary evaporator to about 8 ml. The 3-nitropropionic acid (3-NPA) was eluted from silica gel column (55 cm 4 cm) using 100 ml of 40%-65% of ethyl acetate and 1% formic acid in chloroform, then fractions were collected and concentrated by rotary evaporator to thickness and re-dissolved in small volume of acetone. Elutes were characterized by thin layer chromatography (TLC) [27] to assure the presence of nitropropionic acid using gas chromatograph-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Also, some phytochemical components were investigated from acetone extract of Astragalus vogalii (Webb) collected from mining area. 2.6 Biological Activities for Some Collected Taxa Laboratory screening for two-spotted spider mites (T. urticae) was at the temperature of 27 C ± 2 C and the relative humidity was 65% ± 5%. Castor bean, Ricinus commumis L. (Euphorbiaceae family) is considered one of the main wild host for T. urticae. A culture of many replicates of adult females of T. urticae in plates was hold. Use different plant extracts by immersion disks of castor bean leaves in specific plant extract for 15 s and repeat for other plant extracts. Each replicate contain three disks and each disk contain 10 individuals of adult females [28]. 3. Results and Discussion 3.1 Ecological, Vegetation and Floristic Compositions The habitat investigated in this study is a relatively simple one, in which the species can withstand hard environmental conditions. This is not only reflected by the preponderance of annuals, but also by the presence of several highly adapted, drought-resistant species [29]. In this respect, the vegetation along the mining area has very much in common with that of the Kurkurs of Gebel Uweinat and some neighboring areas of South-Western Egypt [30, 31].

5 42 Vegetation Composition of Abu Tartur Mining Region (Western Desert, Egypt): The sandy soils of study reserves support a xerophytic vegetation formed of nearly 30%. The results presented here suggest that the distribution of different life forms chiefly depends on soil properties, and water seepage from pipe line on the climatic factors of the study area. These results were in accordance with Ayyad et al. [32]. The floristic composition of Abu-Tartur area indicated that the total number of recorded species is 42 taxa, belonging to 17 families (one belonged to class monocots and the rest related to the dicots). Poaceae, Fabaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Brassicaceae and Astraceae are represented by the highest number of species (64%). The life-form resulted from evolved adaptation to environment and climate [33]. The recorded species are classified into 35.71% perennials, 2.38% biennials and 61.9% annuals. The life-form spectra of the species recorded in the study area showed six types (Table 3), the majority of plant species are therophytes (61.9%), then hemicryptophytes (16.7), chamaephytes and geophytes of the same percent (7.14%), followed by phanerophytes (4.8%) and cryptophytes (2.4%). High percentage of therophytes coincide with the floristic characters of the arid zones [34] (Fig. 2). The phytogeographical distribution of plant species from mining area was given in Table 4. Results of the total chorological analysis of the surveyed flora revealed that 50% of the studied species are pluri-regionals, 38.10% are bi-regionals and 11.9% are Mono-regional. More than half of the species (52.37%) distributed in Saharo and than 49% in Irano-Turanian 30.95% in Mediterranean, 21.42% in Sindian and 19.05% in Cosmopolitan, further species were either Sudano-Zambezian (11.9%), Palaeotropical (9.52%) or Pantropical (4.76%). Psamophyte vegetation type had the highest species diversity among the vegetation types. This study was carried out at Abo-Tartur mining area nearby the line of water pipes, where 38 quadrates with different degrees of conservation were ecologically analyzed with respect to their vegetation cover and density and soil characteristics. The development of plant communities has been mainly influenced by edaphic condition and water seepage (which enriched from 13 wells). Multivariate analysis is used in this study, namely, classification and ordination. Many studies in different parts of Egypt based on a multivariate approach to community analysis have been carried out [35-37]. The application of TWINSPAN on the relative IV of the 15 perennial species recorded in 38 sampled plots helped to distinguish four vegetation groups (Fig. 3). The four clusters are named after dominant species as follows: Astragalus vogelii, Morettia phialeana, Schwouwia purpurea, Farsetia aegyptiaca, Trichodesma africanum, Senna italica, Phragmites australis, Tamarix nilotica, Fagonia arabica, Hyoscyamus muticus, Malva parviflora, Chenopodium murale, Citrullus colocynthis, Sonchus oleraceus, Cynodon dactylon, Salsola volkensii. These groups were named after their leading dominant species, i.e., those have the highest relative IV, as follows: (A) Trigonella hamosa-citrullus colocynthis, (B) Malva parviflora-polygonum equesitiform, (C) Morettia phialeana-astragalus vogalii-fagonia arabica and (D) Schwouwia purpurea-chenopodium murale. In group A, there were five quadrates mostly dominated by Trigonella hamosa (IV = 29.23%) with Citrullus colocynthis as co-dominants (IV = 24.66%), followed by Melilotus indicus and Chenopodium murale with the same mean of relative cover and relative density (IV = 22.0%). These quadrates have a high content of fine sand, water holding capacity, calcareous sediments and low amounts of organic carbon (Tables 5 and 6). In Group B, Malva parviflora (mean IV = 59.6%) is the characteristic species of this group, comprising three quadrates with high salinity and much calcareous sediments. Next to it was Polygonum equesitiform (IV = 32.08%), followed by Vicia monantha (IV = 23.04%) and Melilotus indicus (IV = 20.83%). The low numbers of annuals are recorded in this group (Tables 5 and 6).

6 Vegetation Composition of Abu Tartur Mining Region (Western Desert, Egypt): 43 Table 3 Life form, lifespan and chorology of plant species recorded in mining area of Abu Tartur. Family Species Life/habitspan Life form Chorotype Aizoaceae Trianthema triquetra Willd. Annual herb Th PAN Asteraceae Cichorium endivia L. Annual herb Th ME + IT Launaea mucronata (Forssk.) Muschl. Annual herb H ME + SA Sonchus oleraceus L. Annual herb Th COSM Brassica tornifortii Gouan. Annual herb Th ME + IT + SA Brassicaceae Farsetia aegytiaca Turr. Perennial subshrub Ch SA + SZ Moretti aphialeana (Delile) DC. Annual herb Th SA + SZ Schwouwia purpurea (Fossk.) Schwinf Annual herb Th SA Boraginaceae Trichodesma africanum (L.) R. Br. Annual herb Th SA + SZ Caesalpiniaceae Senna italica Mill. Perennial Shrub G SA + SZ Chenopodium murale L. Annual herb Th COSM Bassia arabica (Boiss.) Maire & Weiller Perennial subshrub Th SA + IT Chenopodiaceae Bassia indica (Wight) A. J. Scott. Annual herb Th SA + IT Bassia muricata (L.) Asch. Annual herb Th SA + IT Beta vulgaris L. subps. msritima (L.) Arcang. Biennial herb Th ME + IT + ES Salsola volkensii Ascl. & Schweinf. Perennial subshrub Ch ME + SA +IT Convolvulaceae Convolvuolus arvensis L. Perennial herb H COSM Cucurbitaceae Citrullus colocynthis L. Perennial herb H ME +SA + IT Euphorbiaceae Euphorbia granulate Forssk. Annual herb H SA + SZ Astragalus vogalii (Webb) Borum. Annual herb Th SA Medicago polymorpha L. Annual herb Th COSM Fabaceae Melilotus indicus (L.) All. Annual herb Th ME + IT + SA Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr. Perennial shrub Ph SA Trigonella hamosa L. Annual herb Th ME + ES Vicia monantha Retz. Annual herb Th IT + ME Malvaceae Malva parviflora L. Annual herb Th IT + ME Poaceae Avena fatua L. Annual herb Th PAL Cynodondactylon (L.) Pers. Perennial herb G COSM Echinochloa crus-galli Annual herb Th PAN Eleusine indica Annual herb Th PAL Eragrostis cilianensis (All.) F. T. Hubb. Annual herb Th ME + SA + IT Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch Perennial herb H ME + SA + IT Paspalidium geminatum (Forssk.) Perennial herb H PAL Phragmites australis (Cav.) Perennial herb Helo COSM Polygonaceae Polygonum equsiteforme Sm. Perennial herb G ME + IT Rumex vesicarius L. Annual herb Th PAL Portulacea Portulaca oleracea L. Annual herb Th COSM Resedaceae Reseda decursiva L. Annual herb Th SA Solanaceae Hyosyamousmuticus L. Perennial herb H SA +IT Solanum nigrum L. Annual herb Th COSM Tamaricaceae Tamarix nilotica (Ehreub.) Bunge Perennial tree Ph SA + IT Zygophyllaceae Fagonia arabica Burm F. Perennial shrub Ch SA Ph = phanerophytes, Ch = chamophytes, H = hemicryptophytes, Th = therophytes, G = geophytes, Helo = helophytes. COSM = cosmopolitan, PAN = pantropical, PAL = palaeotropical, ME = meditrranean, ES = Euro-Siberian, SA = Saharo-Arabian, IT = Irano-Turanian, SZ = Sudano-Zambzian.

7 44 Vegetation Composition of Abu Tartur Mining Region (Western Desert, Egypt): Life form (%) Fig. 2 The relation between chorotype and life form of studied species. Table 4 Phytogeographical analysis for the flora of study area Chorotype No. of species Percentage Mono-regional SA % Bi-regionals ME + IT % ME + SA % SA + IT % ME + ES % SA + SZ % SA + IT % Total % Pluri-regionals COSM % PAN % PAL % ME + SA + IT % ME + ES + IT % Total % Total % In Group C, 22 quadrates is characterized by the dominance of Morettia phialeana (IV = 48.75% and Astragalus vogalii (IV = 41.44%) than Fagonia arabica (IV = 14.32%). This group occupied the plains with high content of fine sand, high EC, CaCO 3 and low content of organic carbon. Many annuals are recorded in this group, as Bassia indica, Reseda decursiva, Trichodisma africana and Chenopodium murale. Also there are some perennials, as Tamarix nilotica and Convolvulus arvensi (Tables 5 and 6).

8 Vegetation Composition of Abu Tartur Mining Region (Western Desert, Egypt): 45 Fig. 3 Dendrogram of the first TWINSPAN dichotomy differentiated the 38 quadrates into two main groups. Table 5 The mean values ± standard deviations (SD) of IV values of the diversity indices in the four groups derived from TWINSPAN. Species Vegetation groups A B C D Astragalus vogelii subsp. vogelii (Webb) Bornm ± ± ± Avena fatua L ± ± Bassia muricata L ± ± 9.99 Beta vulgaris L. subsp. maritima (L.) 2.07 ± ± Brassica tournefortii Gouan ± Chenopodium murale L ± ± ± Cichorium endivia L ± Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad ± Convolvulus arvensis L ± ± ± Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers ± ± Echinochloa crusgalli (L.) P ± Eleusine indica (L.) Gaertn ± Eragrostis cilianensis All ± Fagonia arabica L ± Farsetia aegyptia Turra ± ± Hyoscyamus muticus L ± ± Imperata cylindrica (L.) Raeusch ± Bassia indica (Wight) ± ± ± Launaea mucronata (Forssk.) Muschl ± ± ± 5.49 Malva parviflora L ± ± ± ± Medicago polymorpha L ± Melilotus indicus (L.) All ± ± ± Morettia phiaena Boiss ± ± Paspalidium geminatum (Forsk.) Stapf ± Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud ± ± 13.21

9 46 Vegetation Composition of Abu Tartur Mining Region (Western Desert, Egypt): (Table 5 continued) Species Vegetation groups A B C D Polygonum equisetiform Sm ± ± Portulaca oleracea L ± Reseda decursiva Forssk ± ± Rumex vesicarius L ± Salsola tetrandra Forssk ± 1.92 Salsola volkensii Schweinf. & Asch ± Schouwia purpurea (Forssk.) Schweinf ± ± Senna italica Mill ± ± ± Sesbania sesban (L.) Merr ± ± Solanum nigrum L ± ± Sonchus oleraceus L ± ± ± ± 9.25 Euphorbia granulates Forssk ± 5.24 Tamarix nilotica (Ehrenb.) Bunge ± Trianthema triquetra Willd ± 7.19 Trichodisma africana (L.) Lehm ± ± ± 4.88 Trigonella hamosa L ± Vicia monantha Retz ± ± Bassia arabica (Boiss.) ± Table 6 The mean values ± standard deviations (SD) of the measured soil variables and the diversity indices in the four groups derived from TWINSPAN. Environmental variables Vegetation groups after TWINSPAN A B C E Coarse sand ± ± ± ± 6.88 Fine sand ± ± ± ± Silt and clay ± ± ± ± Porosity ± ± ± ± 3.39 WHC ± ± ± ± 9.48 Org. C 0.80 ± ± ± ± 0.62 CaCO ± ± ± ± EC ± 1, ± ± ± 1, Cl ± ± ± ± SO ± ± ± ± HCO ± ± ± ± 0.03 ph 8.18 ± ± ± ± 0.49 WHC: water holding capacity; Org. C: organic carbon; EC: electrical conductivity. In group D, Schwouwia purpurea (mean IV = 37.9%) and Chenopodium murale (mean IV = 34.8%) dominates the moist lands with high levels of coarse sand, EC and CaCO 3. Some perennials were recorded in this group, as Cynondon dactylon, Farsetia agyptia, Senna italica, Sesbania sesbane and Phragmites australis (Tables 5 and 6). When plotted on the first two DCA ordination axes, the stands tend to cluster into the four groups, which resulted from TWINSPAN and are described in Fig. 4. The ordination biplot displays graphically which stands are transitional in their composition within the groups differentiated by clustering. It is obvious from Fig. 4 that the four groups have a wide extension along asix 2 (vertical axis). Table 7 shows that the eigenvalue for the first DCA axis was relatively high, indicating that it captured the graeter proportion of the variations in species composition among quadrates,

10 Vegetation Composition of Abu Tartur Mining Region (Western Desert, Egypt): 47 but the species-environment correlation were low for the CCA (Figs. 5 and 6). Application of both the classification and ordination techniques has resulted in a clear demonstration of the vegetation pattern in the study area in quantitative terms and in the characterization of more phytosociological groups than that identified in many other studies [37, 38]. Axis 1 Fig. 4 Axis 2 The ordination results of the DCA analysis of the floristic data set. Table 7 The results of ordination for the three CCA axes, interest correlation of soil variables, together with eigenvalues and species-environment correlation. Axes Parameter Axe 1 Axe 2 Axe 3 Eigenvalues Species-environment correlations Coarse sand Fine sand Silt clay Porosity WHC Org. C CaCO EC Cl SO HCO ph

11 48 Vegetation Composition of Abu Tartur Mining Region (Western Desert, Egypt): Fig. 5 Axis Org.C Echinoch CaCO3 3 Tamarix Fagonia 2- SO4-4 - Porosity Silt Silt & clay.cl E.C. Cl - Cynodon Phragmit Astragal coarse Coarse sand s Chenopod Org.C SO SO Porosity Silt Silt.clay & clay 32 E.C. - Cl - 26 HCO3- Fine sand Morettia - HCO3-3 Melilotu Trigonel Fine sand W.H.C. Citrullu -0.6 Axis The correlation between their distribution and the studied soil variables by application of CCA. ph Axis CaCO Coarse sand Coarse sand 38 ph W.H.C Axis 2 Fig. 6 CCA species-environment biplot. Arrows representing the environmental factors and circles ( ) indicating 38 quadrates. 3.2 Phytochemical Screening for Some Taxa of Fabaceae After the examination of acetone extracts by TLC and GC-MS analysis for plant samples (Astragalus vogelii (Webb), Trigonella hamosa L., Vicia monentha Retz., Medicago polymorpha L., Senna itallica Mill. and Melilotus indicus (L.) All.), it was found that there is nonitropropinic acid or their derivatives in these species of Fabaceae family, so it may recommended as fodder for domestic animals of the study area. 3.3 Identification of Acetone Extract Constituents of Astragalus vogelii (Webb) Bornm. by Using GC/MS Technique The components of acetone extract were identified by the aid of GC/MS technique. The GC chromatogram showed 33 peaks corresponding to 33 compounds were characterized by comparing their mass spectra with those of their analogous reported by National Institute of Standerds and Technology (NIST) virtual library. The resulted natural products (Fig. 7

12 Vegetation Composition of Abu Tartur Mining Region (Western Desert, Egypt): 49 and Table 8) could be classified into one monoterpene, two diterpenes, one triterpene, six steroids, one shikimate, one flavonoid, six miscellaneous compounds and 15 acetogenins. This screening can help in more study for Astragalus vogelii as a natural products and more survey for more components from that taxa. The GC chromatogram for Astraglus vogelii (Webb) Bornm. showed that 33 natural compounds were characterized by comparing their mass spectra with those of their analogous reported by NIST library [39]. 3.4 Acaricidal Screening of Some Wild Taxa of Abu Tartur Mining Area The methanolic extract of 14 wild plant species collected from Abu Tartur mining area were screened for their acaricidal activity at 7,000 ppm against T. urticae Koch after 3 d and 7 d of treatment. The results obtained in Table 9 showed that Farsetia aegyptia (86.6%) was the most effective acaricidal activity, followed by Fagonia indica (70%), Morettia philaeana and Rumex vesicaricus (66.6%), while Trichodesma africana and Reseda decursiva (26.6%) showed the lowest activity percentage after 7 d of treatment. The acaricidal activity of the ethyl acetate root extract of Senna italica subsp. arachoides, was recorded [40] when tested against Hyalomma marginatum rufipes. Also, insecticidal effects of total glucosinolates extracted from Farsetia aegyptia Turra. Fig. 7 Structural formulae of some characterized natural compounds from shoot system of Astragalus vogelii (Webb) Bornm.. Table 8 Chemical constituents of acetone extract from shoot system of Astragalus vogelii (Webb) Bornm.. Series R t (min) Compound Area (%) MW MF (E)-Decenal C 10 H 18 O (E; Z)-2,4-decadienal C 10 H 16 O E-carvone oxide (1) C 10 H 14 O Methoxy-4-vinylphenol (2) C 9 H 10 O 2

13 50 Vegetation Composition of Abu Tartur Mining Region (Western Desert, Egypt): (Table 8 continued) Series R t (min) Compound Area (%) MW MF n-hexadecane C 16 H ,6,7,7a-tetrahydro-4,4,7a-trimethyl-2(4H)-benzofuranone (3) C 11 H 16 O n-dodecanoic acid C 12 H 24 O (3a,4,5,6,7,7a-hexahydro-4,4,7a-trimethyl-2-benzofuranyl)-ethanone (4) C 13 H 20 O (4-hydroxy-2,2,6-trimethyl-7-oxabicyclo[4.1.0]hept-1-yl)-3-buten-2-one (5) C 13 H 20 O Z-8-hexadecene C 16 H n-tetradecanoic acid C 14 H 28 O Neophytadiene (6) C 20 H Hexahydrofarnesyl acetone (7) C 18 H 36 O n-hexadecanoic acid C 16 H 32 O n-heptadecanoic acid C 17 H 34 O Phytol isomer (8) C 20 H 40 O (Z,Z,Z)-9,12,15-Octadecatrienoic acid C 18 H 30 O n-tricosane C 23 H Methyl-5-(4,8,12-trimethyltridecyl)dihydrofuran-2(3H)-one (9) C 21 H 40 O n-eicosanoic acid C 20 H 40 O Octadecanamide C 18 H 37 NO Glycerol 1-palmitate C 19 H 38 O n-hexacosane C 26 H Decanedioic acid, bis(2-ethylhexyl) ester C 26 H 50 O ,4 -Dihydroxy-2,3 -dimethoxy-isoflavan (10) C 17 H 18 O n-nonacosane C 29 H (3β)-Cholest-5-en-3-ol C 27 H 46 O Campesterol C 28 H 48 O Stigmasterol C 29 H 48 O β-sitosterol C 29 H 50 O β-amyrin C 30 H 50 O (22E)-Stigmasta-4,22-dien-3-one (11) C 29 H 46 O Stigmast-4-en-3-one (12) C 29 H 48 O Rt: retention time; MW: molcular weight; MF: molecular formula. Table 9 The percentages of mortality for two-spotted spider mites (TSSE) with the treatment of methanol extracts of some wild plants of Abu Tartur mining area. No. Species Families After 3 d Mortality (%) After 7 d 1 Trigonella hamosa L Astragalus vogelii (Webb) Bornm. Melilotus indicus (L.) All. Fabaceae Senna italica Mill Polygonum equisetiforme Sm. Rumex vesicarius L. Polygonaceae Farsetia aegyptia Turra Schouwia purpurea (Forssk.) Schweinf. Brassicaceae Morettia philaeana (Delile) DC Bassia muricata (L.) Asch. Chenopodiaceae Trichodesma africanum (L.) R. Br. Boraginaceae Citrullus colocynthis (L.) Schrad. Cucurbitaceae Reseda decursiva Forssk. Resedaceae Fagonia arabica Burm. f. Zygophyllaceae

14 Vegetation Composition of Abu Tartur Mining Region (Western Desert, Egypt): 51 on Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) were estimated [41]. The effect of Fagonia arabica water extract was studied on Hyalopterus pruni and Armeniaca vulgaris which applied on apricot trees [42]. Acaricidal activity assessment against T. urticae Koch of different extracts of Polygonum equisetiforme aerial parts revealed that butanol extract has the highest activity [43]. This study recommended that natural insecticides were more effective and safe than chemical ones in pest control. Also more studies may show the better concentrations of methanol extracts or whether water or other solvents may give better results. 4. Conclusions Desert plants are under tremendous pressure and are subjected to large fluctuations over time due to highly unpredictable environment with respect to water availability, a relatively short growth period and extreme aridity. Deserts are generally regarded as fragile, which are highly vulnerable to anthropogenic disruption. Plant wild vegetation in Abu Tartur mining area depends essentially on the seepage from water line tubes which supplies water demands at Abu Tartur. Phytochemical investigation of some members related of family Fabaceae are devoid of toxic nitropropunic compounds, so they can be used by some desert animals. Also the biological survey for methanolic extracts for some wild taxa can be used as bio-acaricidal substances which are related to green technology. References [1] Ibrahim, H. G., and Ahmed, S. S Environmental Assessment of the Urban Regions at Industrial Desert Societies: A Case Study of Abu Tartour Mining Area, Egypt. Presented at the 5th International Architectural Conference of Urbanization and Environment (Theory and Applications), April 20-22, [2] Mandel, R. D., and Simmons, A. H Prehistoric Occupation of Late Quaternary Landscapes near Kharga Oasis, Western Desert of Egypt. Geoarchaeology 16 (1): [3] Aly, H. F., Ali, M. M., and Raha, M. H Dissolution Kinetics of Western Desert Phosphate Rocks, Abu Tartur with Hydrochloric Acid. Arab Journal of Nuclear Science and Applications 46 (5): [4] Abd El-Ghani, M. M Floristics and Environmental Relations in Two Extreme Desert Zones Western Egypt. Global Ecology Biogeography 9 (6): [5] Abd El-Ghani, M. M Vegetation Composition of Egyptian Inland Saltmarshes. Bot. Bull. Acad. Sin. 41: [6] Abd El-Ghani, M. M., and Fawzy, A. M Plant Diversity around Springs and Wells in Five Oases of the Western Desert, Egypt. International Journal of Agriculture & Biology 8 (2): [7] El-Ghani, M. A., Hamdy, R. S., and Hamed, A Aspects of Vegetation and Soil Relationships around Athalassohaline Lakes of Wadi El-Natrun, Western Desert, Egypt. Journal of Biology and Earth Sciences 4 (1): [8] Abu-Ziada, M. E., Al-Shamy, M. M., and Jalal, M. J Ecological Study on Vegetation of Abu Tartur Plateau, the New Valley, Egypt. Journal of Environmental Science and Technology 9 (1): [9] Salem, M. A., and Abuhadara, M. N An Investigation of the Occurrence of 3-Nitropropionic Acid in Some Leguminous Plants in North West of Libya. In Proceedings of International Conference on Chemical and Environmental Sciences (ICCES 2012), [10] Niknam, V., Ebrahimzadeh, H., and Maassoumi, A. A Toxic Nitro Compounds in Astragalus Species. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 31 (6): [11] Ebrahimzadeh, H., Maassoumi, A. A., and Niknam, V Analysis of Bifurcate Haired Astragalus Species from Iran for Toxic Nitro Compounds. Iran. J. Bot. 8 (2): [12] Stumpf, N., and Nauen, R Biochemical Markers Linked to Abamectin Resistance in Tetranychus urticae (Acari: Tetranychidae). Pestic. Biochem. Physiol. 72 (2): [13] Salman, M. S Comparative Toxicological Studies of Certain Acaricides on Two-Spotted Spider Mite Tetranychus urticae Koch and Its Predator Stethorus gilvifrons Mulsant. Ph.D. thesis, Plant Protection Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Suez Canal University. [14] Van Leeuwen, T., Pottelberge, S. S., and Tirry, L Comparative Acaricide Susceptibility and Detoxifying Enzyme Activities in Field-Collected Resistant and Susceptible Strains of Tetranychus urticae. Pest Manag. Sci. 61 (5):

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