Resin acids of Pinus resinosa needles

The principal resin acids in the needles of Pinus resinosa are the labdane diterpenes, the new 8,13-epoxy-14-labden-19-oic acid (epimanoyl oxide acid), 8,13β-epoxy-14-labden-19-oic acid (manoyl oxide acid), 8(17),E-12,14-labdatrien-19-oic acid (communic acid) and 15-oxo-8(17)-labden-19-oic acid (imbricataloic acid). A survey of needles from representative populations of P. resinosa showed a limited variability in resin acid composition consistent with the uniformity of other traits. The composition of needle resin acids for putative P. nigra x resinosa hybrids strongly suggests the improbability of P. resinosa as the pollen parent.     

Neue sesquiterpene,triterpene, flavanone und andere aromatische verbindungen aus Flourensia heterolepis

The investigation of a further Flourensia species afforded in addition to already known compounds 12 new sesquiterpene acids isolated as their methyl esters, a new eudesmane diol, four lupane derivatives and two flavanones, two cinnamic acid derivatives, also isolated as methyl esters and a ketone. The structures are elucidated mainly by spectroscopic methods and by some chemical transformations. Several of the compounds isolated are more or less similar to those isolated from other Flourensia species; the considerable amounts of eudesmanes, however, are unusual. The overall picture of the genus is still relatively uniform. Close relationships to Helianthella are obvious, while to Helianthus, placed in the same subtribe, no clear relations are visible.     

Eudesmanolides and costic acid derivatives from Flourensia macrophylla

The aerial parts of Flourensia macrophylla afforded, in addition to compounds similar to those from other Flourensia species, four new eudesman     

Morphometric analyses and new taxonomic circumscription of South American species of Flourensia (Asteraceae,Heliantheae, Enceliinae)

Flourensia (Asteraceae, Heliantheae, Enceliinae) is an amphitropical genus of resinous subshrubs, shrubs and small trees with 13 North American and 20 South American species among which disagreement on the species limits of some members still exists. To resolve the taxonomy of the South American taxa, we carried out a combination of clustering (Ward's method with Gower distance coefficient) and ordination analyses (Principal Coordinate Analyses) based on 34 vegetative and reproductive characters scored from herbarium material, including types. Based on the results, we recognize 12 South American species: F. angustifolia, F. cajabambensis, F. fiebrigii, F. heterolepis, F. hirtissima, F. macrophylla, F. niederleinii; F. peruviana, F. polycephala, F. thurifera, F. tortuosa and F. suffrutescens. A number of species are placed in synonymy: Flourensia blakeana and F. hirta are synonymized under the name F. fiebrigii; Flourensia campestris, F. leptopoda, F. oolepis and F. riparia are synonymized under F. thurifera; Flourensia macroligulata is synonymized under F. tortuosa, and Flourensia polyclada is synonymized under F. suffrutescens. A taxonomic treatment of four redefined species as well as a key and distribution maps to all South American Flourensia species are provided.     

Chemistry and Biology of the Genus Flourensia (Asteraceae)

Flourensia species are dominant plants that are adapted to semidesertic and desertic regions. It is believed that they are successful plants because they employ several protection mechanisms, including the formation of a waxy film on their aerial parts to protect them from dehydration. This waxy film contains chemical compounds that are capable of inhibiting the growth of other plants and of acting as allelopathic and herbicidal agents and as germination inhibitors. These plants also limit herbivory, and they exhibit insecticidal, insect antifeedant, antibacterial, antifungal, antialgal, and antitermite activities. Sesquiterpenes, flavonoids, benzofurans, chromenes, coumarins, lupan triterpenes, aliphatic lactones, and aromatic and acetilenic compounds have all been isolated from the organic extracts of Flourensia species. Monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, and aliphatic hydrocarbons are the main constituents found in their essential oils. This review is an overview of the chemical constituents and of the biological activities of Flourensia species.     

Interaction between the Ectomycorrhizal Fungus Paxillus involutus, Damping-off Fungi and Pinus resinosa Seedlings

Paxillus involutus, an ectomycorrhizal fungus, had an inhibitory effect on the root pathogenic fungus Fusarium moniliforme and two isolates of F. oxysporum when grown in paired cultures on modified Melin Norkrans’ medium. In contrast, one isolate of F. oxysporum was not inhibited and another damping-off fungus, Cylindrocarpon destructans inhibited growth of Pax. involutus in similar paried cultures. Survival of Pinus resinosa (red pine) seedlings was increased significantly when they were grown in vitro concomitantly with either Pax. involutus and F. moniliforme or Pax. involutus and the three isolates of F. oxysporum, compared with seedlings inoculated with either F. moniliforme or F. oxysporum isolates alone. pax. involutus showed no protective effect against C. destructans. The number of colony forming units of Fusarium spp. was reduced significantly in the root extract and rhizosphere substrate of P. resinosa seedlings inoculated with Pax. involutus. Spore germination of Fusarium spp. was reduced significantly when treated with culture filtrate of Pax. involutus and root extract of P. resinosa seedlings inoculated with Pax. involutus. Neither colony forming units nor spore germination of C. destructans was affected either by culture filtrate of Pax. involutus or root extract of P. resinosa seedlings inoculated with Pax. involutus.     

Comparative Benzofuran Chemistry of Enceliopsis

Enceliopsis (Asteraceae) is a small genus of herbaceous perennials from the Great Basin desert of the U.S.A. Phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of several benzofuran derivatives in Enceliopsis argophylla, E. covillei and E. nudicaulis. The compounds were either identical or very similar to benzofurans isolated from Encelia and Flourensia which supports the close affinity of these genera, as suggested previously, based on morphological, cytological and breeding studies.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Deinococcus sedimenti</Emphasis> sp. nov. isolated from river sediment

A novel Gram-positive, oval-shaped, non-motile bacterium designated strain 16F1L^T was isolated from sediment collected from the Han River in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence (1,448 bp), this strain was identified as a member of the genus Deinococcus that belongs to the class Deinococci. Similarities in the 16S rRNA gene sequence were shown with Deinococcus daejeonensis MJ27^T (99.0%), D. grandis DSM 3963^T (98.1%), D. radiotolerans C1^T (97.5%), and D. caeni Ho-08^T (97.2%). Strain 16F1L^T was classified as a different genomic species from closely related Deinococcus members, based on less than 70% DNA-DNA relatedness. Genomic DNA G+C content of strain 16F1L^T was 67.2 mol%. Strain 16F1L^T was found to grow at temperatures of 10–37°C (optimum 25°C) and pH 7–8 (optimum pH 7) on R2A medium, and was catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. Strain 16F1L^T showed resistance to gamma radiation (D₁₀ > 2 kGy). In addition, this strain had the following chemotaxonomic characteristics: the major fatty acids were C_15:1ω6c and C_16:1ω7c; the polar lipid profile contained phosphoglycolipids, unknown aminophospholipids, an unknown aminoglycolipid, unknown aminolipids, an unknown glycolipid, an unknown phospholipid, and an unknown polar lipid; the major quinone was MK-8. Phylogenetic, genotypic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic characteristics indicated that strain 16F1L^T represents a novel species within the genus Deinococcus, for which the name Deinococcus sedimenti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 16F1L^T (=KCTC 33796^T =JCM 31405^T).     

Sesquiterpenoids from Chiloscyphus,Clasmatocolea and Frullania species

Eight liverworts, Chiloscyphus polyanthus and Clasmatocolea vermicularis (Lophocoleaceae), Frullania apiculata, F. clavata, F. folciloba, F. gaudichaudii, F. serrata and F. ternatensis (Frullaniaceae) were chemically investigated. ent-7,8-Eudesmanolides are important chemical markers of C. polyanthos and C. vermicularis. The latter species also produces 6,7-eudesmanolides which are the chemical markers of Frullania species. C. polyanthos and C. vermicularis are chemically quite close to some Diplophyllum species belonging to Scapaniaceae. The structure of 5β-hydroxydiplophyllolide previously isolated from C. polyanthos was revised to ent-7α-hydroxydiplophyllolide by analysis of its ¹H NMR spectrum. From the chemical constituents, the six Frullania species are classified to three chemotypes.     

A new species of flourensia (Asteraceae: Heliantheae) from northern Peru

Flourensia cajabambensis, a new species from northern Peru, is described and illustrated, and its relationships are discussed. A key to the Peruvian species ofFlourensia is presented.     

Chloroplast biogenesis. XXIX. The occurrence of several novel chlorophyll a and b chromophores in higher plants

With the use of low temperature spectrofluorometry and matrix calculations it was demonstrated that the chlorophyll a pool of higher plants is made up of four different chlorophyll a chromophores. The latter were segregated by high pressure liquid chromatography on a silica column. They were designated Chl a (E432 F664), Chl a (E436 F670), Chl a (E443 F672) and Chl a (E446 F674), where E refers to the Soret excitation maximum and F to the fluorescence emission maximum at 77 K in ether. Likewise the Chl b pool was shown to consist of at least four different Chl b chromophores which were designated: Chl b (E465), Chl b (E470), Chl b (E475) and Chl b (E485). It was proposed that the various chlorophyll chromophores differed by the degree of oxidation of their side chains at the 2 and 4 positions of the macrocycle. It was also suggested that the chemical modifications at the 2 and 4 positions of the macrocycle may play an important role in positioning the different chlorophyll chromophores in the thylakoid membranes.     

Possible role of disturbance in shaping the northern distribution of Pinus resinosa

Abstract. The objective of this study is to determine the factors responsible for the distribution of Pinus resinosa (red pine) at its northern limit in northwestern Québec. Pinus resinosa is found only on islands and protected lake shores at its northern distribution boundary. The influence of climate on the germination of P. resinosa seed and on the phenology of P. resinosa was investigated in the Lake Duparquet region of northwestern Québec. The results indicate that P. resinosa seed readily germinates at island- and inland sites, which indicates that germination is not responsible for the distribution of P. resinosa in the Lake Duparquet region. Also, cones and seeds developed normally at island sites and an inland plantation, which suggests that seed production is not hindering the expansion of P. resinosa. These results, together with other studies in the literature, suggest that no climatic factor could explain the present distribution of P. resinosa nor its northern limit. The fire regime appears to be responsible for the restriction of P. resinosa to lake environments and hinders the northward expansion of P. resinosa. The typical crown fire regime of the boreal forest is not conducive for P. resinosa regeneration and restricts the species to fire-sheltered locations such as islands and protected lake shores.     

A comparative cytogenetic analysis of five pine species from North America, Pinus banksiana, P. contorta, P. monticola, P. resinosa, and P. strobus

The genus Pinus comprises more than 100 species, which are widely distributed in the Northern hemisphere. Cytogenetic information on North American pines is very limited despite their economic importance. In the present study, a detailed comparative cytogenetic analysis is presented for five pine species from North America, P. resinosa, P. monticola, P. contorta, P. banksiana, and P. strobus. Morphometric analysis and physical mapping of rDNA probes were performed. The karyotype of P. monticola was considered ancestral with small difference in relative chromosome lengths. P. banksiana, P. contorta, and P. strobus karyotypes were considered semi-asymmetrical and less ancestral type. P. banksiana showed five secondary constrictions, P. strobus six, and P. contorta eight. P. resinosa karyotype was semi-asymmetrical and derived with 14 secondary constrictions identified on eight different chromosomes. Karyological data were consistent with molecular cytogenetic information. A significant association was observed between the number and locations of secondary constrictions and the 18S-5.8S-26S rDNA sites detected using fluorescence in situ hybridization. The two methods were used to establish a reliable comparative karyotype of the selected pines. In general, karyotype and chromosome evolution were not related to genetic relationships among pine species studied.     

Protein synthesis inPinus resinosa and the ectomycorrhizal fungusPaxillus involutus prior to ectomycorrhiza formation

Summary Seedlings of Pinus resinosa Ait. in test tubes were inoculated with the ectomycorrhizal fungus Paxillus involutus Fr. or with discs of sterile modified Melin-Norkrans (MMN) medium. Paxillus involutus was also inoculated to control tubes in the absence of Pinus resinosa seedlings. In vivo labelling of proteins in Pinus resinosa roots and in Paxillus involutus mycelium was carried out using ³⁵S l-methionine 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 7 days after inoculation. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDSPAGE) of the protein extracts from the four treatments and autoradiography demonstrated that the presence of root exudates altered protein synthesis in Paxillus involutus as three major bands disappeared when Paxillus involutus was exposed to root exudates. Protein synthesis in Pinus resinosa was also altered when Paxillus involutus was introduced into the tubes, since at least two bands were more intense when seedlings were inoculated with Paxillus involutus, as compared to control roots. No difference was observed in the growth and the label incorporation of Paxillus involutus growing with or without root exudates. Ectomycorrhizal roots were not formed during this experiment. Gene regulation in this ectomycorrhizal association occurs, therefore, prior to the formation of ectomycorrhizal roots.     

Factors affecting cactus recruitment in semiarid Chile: A role for nurse effects?

The nurse-protégé hypothesis states that adult plants of one species provide micro-environmental conditions that favor the establishment of seedlings of a second species with no effect for the first species. Several studies suggest this effect should be prevalent in arid and semiarid zones as adult plants often provide shelter from low moisture and high temperature. Echinopsis chiloensis and Eulychnia acida are endemic columnar cacti that inhabit the arid and semiarid zones of Chile. In this study, we examined the pattern of recruitment of both cactus species at Reserva Nacional Las Chinchillas, located ～60 km east from the Pacific coast. We determined number, growth and survivorship of young cacti (<30 cm height) through biannual monitoring between 2009 and 2012 in microhabitats that strongly differ in their abiotic variables (minimum and maximum temperature and mean relative humidity, moisture content, and physical and chemical soil characteristics), under five different shrub species and in open spaces, and examined the association of these cacti with potential nurse plants. Most young cacti occurred under shrubs, the microhabitat having the lowest mean and maximum temperatures and the highest relative humidity. In particular, E. chiloensis and E. acida were found under the shrubs Flourensia thurifera and Bahia ambrosioides, respectively, in a higher frequency than expected by chance, suggesting that these shrub species behave as nurse plants through species-specific effects than are not accounted for by differences in soil nutrients.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Spirosoma luteolum</Emphasis> sp. nov. isolated from water

A novel Gram-negative and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated as 16F6E^T, was isolated from a water sample. Cells were yellowish in color and catalase- and oxidase-positive. The strain grew at 10–37°C (optimum at 25°C) but not at 4 and 42°C, and pH 5–7 (optimum at pH 7). It showed moderate resistance to gamma-ray irradiation. Comparative phylogenetic analysis showed that strain 16F6E^T belonged to the family Cytophagaceae of the class Cytophagia. Furthermore, this isolate showed relatively low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (90.7–93.1%) to the members of the genus Spirosoma. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c/C_16:1 ω6c), C_16:1 ω5c, C_16:0 N alcohol, and C_16:0. The polar lipid profile indicated presence of phosphatidylethanolamine, unknown aminophospholipids, an unknown amino lipid, unknown phospholipids, and unknown polar lipids. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain 16F6E^T was 56.5 mol%. Phenotypic, phylogenetic, and chemotaxonomic properties indicated that isolate 16F6E^T represents a novel species within the genus Spirosoma, for which the name Spirosoma luteolum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 16F6E^T (=KCTC 52199^T =JCM 31411^T).     

Dihydroflavonol 4-Reductase Genes Encode Enzymes with Contrasting Substrate Specificity and Show Divergent Gene Expression Profiles in Fragaria Species

During fruit ripening, strawberries show distinct changes in the flavonoid classes that accumulate, switching from the formation of flavan 3-ols and flavonols in unripe fruits to the accumulation of anthocyanins in the ripe fruits. In the common garden strawberry (Fragaria×ananassa) this is accompanied by a distinct switch in the pattern of hydroxylation demonstrated by the almost exclusive accumulation of pelargonidin based pigments. In Fragaria vesca the proportion of anthocyanins showing one (pelargonidin) and two (cyanidin) hydroxyl groups within the B-ring is almost equal. We isolated two dihydroflavonol 4-reductase (DFR) cDNA clones from strawberry fruits, which show 82% sequence similarity. The encoded enzymes revealed a high variability in substrate specificity. One enzyme variant did not accept DHK (with one hydroxyl group present in the B-ring), whereas the other strongly preferred DHK as a substrate. This appears to be an uncharacterized DFR variant with novel substrate specificity. Both DFRs were expressed in the receptacle and the achenes of both Fragaria species and the DFR2 expression profile showed a pronounced dependence on fruit development, whereas DFR1 expression remained relatively stable. There were, however, significant differences in their relative rates of expression. The DFR1/DFR2 expression ratio was much higher in the Fragaria×ananassa and enzyme preparations from F.×ananassa receptacles showed higher capability to convert DHK than preparations from F. vesca. Anthocyanin concentrations in the F.×ananassa cultivar were more than twofold higher and the cyanidin:pelargonidin ratio was only 0.05 compared to 0.51 in the F. vesca cultivar. The differences in the fruit colour of the two Fragaria species can be explained by the higher expression of DFR1 in F.×ananassa as compared to F. vesca, a higher enzyme efficiency (K _cat/K _m values) of DFR1 combined with the loss of F3’H activity late in fruit development of F.×ananassa.     

Comparative studies of mucopolysaccharides from marine animals. II. Illex illecebrosvs (Lesueur) and various crustaceans

Various mucopolysaccharides (MPS) were extracted from the tentacles of the squid, Illex illecebrosus (Leseuer) and the viscera of crustaceans comprising the blue crab, Callinectes sapidus Rathbun, the green crab, Carcinus maenas (Linné), the red crab, Geryon quinquedens Smith, the rock crab, Cancer irroratus Say, the lobster (body and head), Homarus americana Milne Edwards, and the shrimp (head), Pandalus borealis (Kröyer). The MPS were analyzed for uronic acid, hexosamine, N-sulfate, protein, neutral sugar, and anticoagulant activity. Chemical analysis of the two fractions extracted from the squid tentacles, suggests that fraction F1 is similar to chondroitin sulfate and F2 is heparin-like. In the crustaceans, the MPS extracted appear to resemble chondroitin sulfate and heparin. The blood anticoagulant activity of the MPS from the red crab was ≈66 IU/mg, whereas those obtained from the other species ranged from 7 to 30 IU/mg. Based on these data and the chemical analysis, it appears that the MPS from the red crab is heparin-like, while the MPS from the other species are more like chondroitin sulfate.     

Aeration: A simple method to control vitrification and improve in vitro culture of rare australian plants

Summary Aeration of tissue cultured rare Australian plantsConostylis wonganensis S.D. Hopper (Haemodoraceae);Diplolaena andrewsii Ostenf.;Drummondita ericoides Harvey (Rutaceae);Eremophila resinosa F. Muell. (Myoporaceae);Eucalyptus ‘graniticola’ (Myrtaceae);Lechenaultia pulvinaris C. Gardner (goodeniaceae); andSowerbaea multicaulis E. Pritzel (Liliaceae) has been found to reduce vitrification in sensitive species as well as significantly improving shoot quality and transfer to soil in most study species. A simple 7-mm hole with a double-layer insert of filter paper in the polypropylene screw lids of the culture vessel decreased shoot vitrification over a 4-wk culture period. The method has implications for facilitating the tissue culture of other rare Australian plants and reducing the occurrence of this developmental abnormality.     

造纸废水灌溉对毛白杨苗木生长及养分状况的影响

为了探讨工业造纸废水用于杨树人工林灌溉的可行性,以三倍体毛白杨(triploid Populus tomentosa)1年生盆栽苗木为对象,研究了不同浓度造纸废水(分别稀释到12.5％ (IF7Q)、16.7％ (1F5Q)、25％(1F3Q)、33.3％ (1F2Q)、50％ (1F1Q))灌溉对苗木生长及养分状况、土壤化学性质的影响.结果表明:造纸废水灌溉对土壤pH值、速效P含量无显著影响(P＞0.05),但能显著提高土壤有机质、全N及碱解N的含量(P＜0.05).适当稀释的废水灌溉能促进三倍体毛白杨的苗木生长,提高土壤和植株养分水平:灌溉后1F5Q地径、苗高生长量分别为10.5 mm和97.3 cm,较CK分别显著增加102％和47％ (P＜0.05);1F5Q和1F3Q处理苗木总生物量为247 g和230 g,分别较CK显著提高19％和11％(P＜0.05);废水灌溉可显著提高植株根、叶N含量和茎P含量(P＜0.05),但对植株叶、根P含量和茎N含量影响不大(P＞0.05).造纸废水通过一定处理后,可应用于苗木灌溉并促进其生长,提高地力.对于三倍体毛白杨,将废水稀释到16％-25％能起到较好的灌溉效果.