Identification of the Chemotypes of Ocimum forskolei and Ocimum basilicum by NMR Spectroscopy

The chemotypes of Ocimum forskolei Benth and Ocimum basilicum L. growing wild in Oman have been established by ¹³C‐NMR analyses of the vegetative and floral oils of the plants. The chemotypes, estragole for O. forskolei and linalool for O. basilicum, suggested by ¹³C‐NMR fingerprinting were also confirmed by GC‐FID and GC/MS analyses. The oil of O. forskolei demonstrated better activities against bacteria and dermatophytes. The significance of the presence of estragole and linalool in the volatile oils of plants whose fragrances are traditionally inhaled, added to food, or rubbed on the skin are discussed.     

Regulation of early growth and antioxidant defense mechanism of sweet basil seedlings in response to nutrition

Basil cultivars are among most used crops worldwide, but high level of morpho-physiological variations is mainly due to the cultivation characteristics. The present study aimed to investigate the physiological changes and the accumulation of secondary metabolites as a response to prolonged nutrient deprivation in shoots and roots of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L. var. minimum). Sweet basil seedlings were grown in media with quarter, half and full strength of micro and macronutrients under different levels of KNO₃ alone or in combination with different levels of NH₄NO₃. Evaluated parameters included characteristics of germination, development of leaves, content of photosynthetic pigments and responses of different parameters related to oxidative stress. While the early growth is influenced mainly due to NH₄NO₃ presence, all the levels of nutrient supply were found to trigger and maintain the antioxidant defence system of sweet basil seedlings. With the variations among seedling parts, the ammonium nutrition was notably enhanced levels of activity of SOD, CAT, A-POX, G-POX and P-POX, but had no effect on total antioxidant activity and total phenolic content, including flavonoids, which is mainly accumulated in nutrient deprived roots. In addition, phenylalanine ammonia-lyase activity was analysed and potential pathways of secondary metabolites synthesis were discussed. The enzymatic and non-enzymatic system in O. basilicum var. minimum seedlings was capable to reverse the stress conditions during growth under nutrient deprivation.     

Comparative anatomy of the nectary spur in selected species of Aeridinae (Orchidaceae)

Background and Aims

To date, the structure of the nectary spur of Aeridinae has not been studied in detail, and data relating to the nectaries of ornithophilous orchids remain scarce. The present paper compares the structural organization of the floral nectary in a range of Aeridinae species, including both entomophilous and ornithophilous taxa.

Methods

Nectary spurs of Ascocentrum ampullaceum (Roxb.) Schltr. var. aurantiacum Pradhan, A. curvifolium (Lindl.) Schltr., A. garayi Christenson, Papilionanthe vandarum (Rchb.f.) Garay, Schoenorchis gemmata (Lindl.) J.J. Sm., Sedirea japonica (Rchb.f.) Garay & H.R. Sweet and Stereochilus dalatensis (Guillaumin) Garay were examined by means of light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy.

Key Results and Conclusions

The diverse anatomy of the nectary is described for a range of Aeridinae species. All species of Ascocentrum investigated displayed features characteristic of ornithophilous taxa. They have weakly zygomorphic, scentless, red or orange flowers, display diurnal anthesis, possess cryptic anther caps and produce nectar that is secluded in a relatively massive nectary spur. Unicellular, secretory hairs line the lumen at the middle part of the spur. Generally, however, with the exception of Papilionanthe vandarum, the nectary spurs of all entomophilous species studied here (Schoenorchis gemmata, Sedirea japonica, Stereochilus dalatensis) lack secretory trichomes. Moreover, collenchymatous secretory tissue, present only in the nectary spur of Asiatic Ascocentrum species, closely resembles that found in nectaries of certain Neotropical species that are hummingbird-pollinated and assigned to subtribes Maxillariinae Benth., Laeliinae Benth. and Oncidiinae Benth. This similarity in anatomical organization of the nectary, regardless of geographical distribution and phylogeny, indicates convergence.     

Trichome micromorphology of the East Asiatic genus Chelonopsis (Lamiaceae) and its systematic implications

The micromorphology of trichomes of the leaves of 17 taxa (including two varieties) of the genus Chelonopsis Miq. and of six species representing four additional genera (Bostrychanthera deflexa Benth., Colquhounia coccinea Wall. var. coccinea, Co. seguinii Vaniot. var. seguinii, Gomphostemma chinense Oliv. var. chinense, G. crinitum Wall. ex Benth. and Physostegia virginiana (L.) Benth.) was surveyed by light and scanning electron microscopy. Two basic types of trichomes can be identified: non-glandular and glandular trichomes. The non-glandular trichomes can be subdivided into two subtypes: simple unbranched and branched trichomes. Based on the cell number, simple unbranched trichomes are further divided into four shapes (unicellular, two-celled, three-celled, and more than three cells), whilst branched trichomes are separated into three shapes (biramous, stellate, and dendroid trichomes). The glandular trichomes can in turn be subdivided into four subtypes: subsessile, capitate, clavate, and sunken. Non-glandular trichomes with two cells (NGTW) and subsessile glandular trichomes (GSU) are most widespread in all taxa examined. The indumentum shows considerable variation among different sections or species. Consequently, trichome micromorphology and distribution have high taxonomic value for Chelonopsis at both infrageneric and interspecific levels. The presence of capitate glandular trichomes (GCA) provides an additional morphological character to clarify the boundaries between subgenus Chelonopsis and Aequidens Wu and Li. Within subgenus Aequidens, non-glandular trichomes with more than three cells (NGMT) and clavate glandular trichomes (GCL) are important characters for sectional division between sect. Aequidens Wu and Li and sect. Microphyllum Wu and Li. Again, three forms of three-celled trichomes can be used as a distinctive taxonomic character at specific level between C. albiflora Pax et K. Hoffm. ex Limpr., C. forrestii J. Anthony, and C. souliei (Bonati) Merr. in sect. Aequidens. This study supports Wu's delimitation of subgenus and sections and the subsequent review work by Xiang et al. Additionally, distribution of trichome types is correlated with the altitudinal distribution and habitats of some species in Chelonopsis.     

Fatty acid composition,antioxidant and antibacterial properties of the microwave aqueous extract of three varieties of Labisia pumila Benth

Background

The present study was conducted in order to evaluate the fatty acid profile, anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial activities from the microwave aqueous extract of the leaves of three different varieties of Labisia pumila Benth.

Results

The chemical analysis of the extract showed that fatty acids (palmitic, palmitoleic, stearic, oleic, linoleic and α-linolenic) acid as the main components in three varieties of L. pumila leaves. Furthermore, the obtained results of the anti-oxidant revealed that L. pumila var. alata contained higher anti-oxidative activities compared to var. pumila and var. lanceolata. However, these values were lower than the tested anti-oxidant standards. On the other hand, the aqueous leaf extracts in all three varieties of L. pumila were also found to inhibit a variable degree of antibacterial activities against eight bacteria (four Gram-positive and four Gram-negative bacteria).

Conclusions

In this study, it was observed the leaves of three varieties of L. pumila exhibited variable patterns of fatty acids and the microwave aqueous extraction possess anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial activities.     

Meiotic chromosome pairing in Actinidia chinensis var. deliciosa

Polyploids are defined as either autopolyploids or allopolyploids, depending on their mode of origin and/or chromosome pairing behaviour. Autopolyploids have chromosome sets that are the result of the duplication or combination of related genomes (e.g., AAAA), while allopolyploids result from the combination of sets of chromosomes from two or more different taxa (e.g., AABB, AABBCC). Allopolyploids are expected to show preferential pairing of homologous chromosomes from within each parental sub-genome, leading to disomic inheritance. In contrast, autopolyploids are expected to show random pairing of chromosomes (non-preferential pairing), potentially leading to polysomic inheritance. The two main cultivated taxa of Actinidia (kiwifruit) are A. chinensis (2x and 4x) and A. chinensis var. deliciosa (6x). There is debate whether A. chinensis var. deliciosa is an autopolyploid derived solely from A. chinensis or whether it is an allopolyploid derived from A. chinensis and one or two other Actinidia taxa. To investigate whether preferential or non-preferential chromosome pairing occurs in A. chinensis var. deliciosa, the inheritance of microsatellite alleles was analysed in the tetraploid progeny of a cross between A. chinensis var. deliciosa and the distantly related Actinidia eriantha Benth. (2x). The frequencies of inherited microsatellite allelic combinations in the hybrids suggested that non-preferential chromosome pairing had occurred in the A. chinensis var. deliciosa parent. Meiotic chromosome analysis showed predominantly bivalent formation in A. chinensis var. deliciosa, but a low frequency of quadrivalent chromosome formations was observed (1 observed in 20 pollen mother cells).     

值得注意的中国植物(续二)

继续报道了大戟科等10个分类单位:发表了防城巴豆(Crotonhanceivar.tsoiH.S.Kiu)和七星毛桐(Mallotusbarbatusvar.wuiH.S.Kiu)两个新变种;补充了合柱金莲木(Siniarhodoleuca)广东的标本;柳叶钝果寄生(Taxillusdelavayi)广西及贵州的标本;香港巴豆(Crotonhancei)的标本;小黄珠子草(Phyllanthuswilfordii)的标本;茎花守宫木(Sauropusbonii)为海南新记录;山麻杆(Alchorneadavidii)为广东新记录;分布于广东、广西、香港、云南的卵叶石岩枫(Mallotusrepandusvar.scabrifolius)的代表性标本;论述了毛果巴豆(CrotonlachnocarpusBenth.)为中国特有种。     

Solidago Canadensis Complex of the Great plains

Three taxa of theSolidago canadensis L. complex are recognized for the Great Plains region:S. canadensis L. var.scabra Torr. & Gray,S. canadensis L. var.gilvocanescens Rydb., andS. canadensis L. var.hargeri Fern. Confusion has resulted from the use of var.gilvocanescens for two different plants: a shortleaved prairie ecotype most closely related to var.scabra and a short-haired form ofS. canadensis var.hargeri. The name rightly belongs to the former.     

Analyses of the volatile leaf oils of Juniperus deppeana and its infraspecific taxa: Chemosystematic implications

Eight OTUs of Juniperus deppeana were collected and their volatile leaf oils analysed by GC/GCMS. The volatile oils are dominated by oxygenated terpenes such as camphor, linalool, cis-verbenol, 4-terpineol, verbenone, borneol and trans-sabinene hydrate. The major monoterpene found was α-pinene. Sesquiterpenoids were minor components of the volatile leaf oils. The six named taxa were only distinguished by combinations of terpenoid characters. The differentiation of the Arizona J. deppeana (var. pachyphlaea ?) and J.d. forma sperryi from the other taxa in Mexico was the major subdivision found. Juniperus deppeana forma sperryi was clearly distinguished as were J.d. var. robusta and J.d. var. patoniana.     

RAPD-based assessment of genetic similarity and distance between Lupinus species in section Albus

It was earlier suggested that the lupine taxa identified as Lupinus graecus Boissier et Spruner, L. jugoslavicus Kazim. et Now., and L. vavilovi Majss. et Atab. should be considered one species, L. albus, with two botanical varieties: var. albus (bitter cultivated form) and var. graecus (wild ancestor). We investigated this possibility by examining the genetic distance between L. albus, L. termis and L. vavilovi with RAPD markers. The genetic distances between taxa were found to be very small (<0.1), similar to results for other conspecific taxa. In addition, only three of 146 amplified fragments examined were unique to a specific taxon (L. vavilovi). We conclude that the three taxa studied belong to one species and can be divided into two varieties, as suggested earlier.     

CHROMOSOME NUMBERS IN CHIHUAHUAN DESERT CACTACEAE. TRANS-PECOS TEXAS

Chromosome numbers are presented for 100 collections of Cactaceae from the Trans-Pecos region of Texas. A total of 65 taxa representing 52 species and 12 genera were counted, including first reports for 45 taxa and new ploidy levels for four taxa. Notable among those listed are counts for Opuntia schottii var. grahamii (n = 11, ca. 22), O. stanlyi (n = 22), O. arenaria (n = 11), O. phaeacantha var. spinosibacca (n = 22), O. lindheimeri var. lindheimeri (n = 11), O. strigil (n = 11), Echinocereus enneacanthus var. cf. dubius (n = ca. 22), E. pectinatus var. neomexicanus (n = 22), and Thelocactus bicolor var. bicolor (n = 22). Endomitosis was found to be present in O. phaeacantha var. spinosibacca, Mammillaria pottsii, and Neolloydia intertexta var. dasyacantha. Meiotic irregularities were noted in some species belonging to the genera Opuntia and Echinocereus. Phytogeographic considerations are inferred from the chromosomal data for O. polyacantha, O. lindheimeri, and O. ficusindica. A base number of x = 11 in Cactaceae is supported.     

Notes concerning an application of the Sydney code of botanical nomenclature to Salvia Dorrii (Lamiaceae)

In compliance with the 1981 Sydney Code of Botanical Nomenclature, the combinationSalvia dorrii var.incana (Benth). Strachan is made for what has previously been calledS. dorrii var.carnosa (Greene) Cronq.     

Evidence of three parallel evolutions of leaf dwarfism and phytogeography in Lysimachia sect. Nummularia in Japan and Taiwan

Phylogenetic analyses were performed using nrITS variations of eight species including one variety of the genus Lysimachia sect. Nummularia in Japan and Taiwan, with another 34 Lysimachia species and Glaux maritime obtained from a DNA database. Among the four dwarf-leaf taxa in Japan and Taiwan, L. japonica var. minutissima of Japan and two Taiwanese species were placed into two different clades; and L. liukiuensis of Japan, was positioned outside of these two clades. These results suggest that three independent dwarfism events generated the four dwarf-leaf taxa; and that there were likely multiple migration events from China to Japan and Taiwan.     

Rice weevil response to basil oil fumigation

Basil oil, Ocimum basilicum L., is a volatile plant essential oil that is known to have insecticidal activity against stored product pests such as rice weevil, Sitophilus oryzae (L.). Basil oil was diluted in acetone and applied to a sponge held inside a tea strainer for fumigations in containers with and without rice. Basil oil fumigation (3 ml, 10% concentration) caused high mortality in adult rice weevils when weevils were exposed in air in a sealed 1 L plastic container. However, when basil oil was placed in packaged rice, weevil mortality was low and reproduction was not affected. Effectiveness of plant essential oil fumigation should be conducted under realistic conditions to avoid experimental artifacts and misleading results.     

Variation patterns within the genusCarex L. sect.Digitatae (Fries) Christ in Bulgaria

Seventeen natural Bulgarian populations of the species of the genusCarex sect.Digitatae were studied morphologically and karyologically. Stepwise discriminant analysis was used as a multivariate test for the separation of groups of populations from different taxa and to find a subset of characters contributing most for this separation. The following taxa were found in Bulgaria:C. humilis Leysser var.humilis; C. humilis var.longifolia Stoeva etPopova, var. n.;C. digitata L.;C. ornithopoda Willd. subsp.bulgarica (Vel.) Stoeva etPopova, comb. n. Aneuploid series of some chromosome numbers were found inC. digitata — 2n=48, 50, 52, 54, 56 and inC. ornithopoda subsp.bulgarica?2n=52, 53, 54, 56.C. humilis has 2n=36 and a much more heterogeneous karyotype than that of the above taxa. The values of the Euclidean distance between the populations vary within similar limits in both speciesC. humilis andC. digitata; this is not in accordance with the karyological results. The within and between population morphological variations were compared in each species. The first dominates in overall variation, which is probably connected with the very large populations and their mosaic space structure.     

Effect of molecular weight of condensed tannins from warm-season perennial legumes on ruminal methane production in vitro

The objectives of the present study were to determine if the molecular weight of condensed tannins (CT) from warm-season perennial legumes affects the biological activity of CT relative to suppression of methane (CH₄) production by ruminants, and to identify potential North American native forage plants to use for mitigation of enteric CH₄ emission. Eight North American native warm-season perennial legumes were evaluated: Leucaena retusa Benth. (littleleaf leadtree), Desmanthus illinoensis (Michx.) MacMill. Ex B.L. Rob. & Fernald (Illinois bundleflower), Lespedeza stuevei Nutt. (tall lespedeza), Mimosa strigillosa Torr. & A. Gray (powderpuff), Neptunia lutea (Leavenworth) Benth. (yellow puff), two ecotypes of Acacia angustissima var. hirta (Nutt.) B.L. Rob (prairie acacia), and Desmodium paniculatum (L.) DC. var. paniculatum (panicledleaf ticktrefoil). Two introduced legumes were also included: Arachis glabrata Benth. (rhizoma peanut) and Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don (sericea lespedeza). Forages were fermented with cattle rumen fluid for 48 h anaerobically using an in vitro gas production technique. D. paniculatum, L. stuevei, and M. strigillosa were high in CT, ranging from 11.7 to 12.5%. D. illinoensis, L. cuneata, N. lutea, and two ecotypes of A. angustissima var. hirta had less CT (P < 0.05), ranging from 8.1 to 8.9%, whereas L. retusa and A. glabrata had the least CT (P < 0.05), measuring 3.2 and 0.5%, respectively. Weight-average molecular weight (M_W) of CT ranged from 1483 Da for L. cuneata to 552 Da for L. stuevei. In vitro CH₄ production was greatest for L. retusa and A. glabrata at 40.7 mg/g DM and 38.2 mg/g DM, respectively. The least amount of in vitro CH₄ was produced by fermentation of two ecotypes of A. angustissima var. hirta, which measured 0.8 and 0.6 mg/g DM, respectively. In vitro CH₄ production regressed on CT M_W resulted in a R² of 0.0009 (P = 0.80), strongly suggesting that CT M_W does not explain the biological activity of in vitro CH₄ production by the forage legumes surveyed. Five of the seven North American native warm-season perennial legumes have promise for use in ruminant diets for the purpose of CH₄ emission mitigation.     

The influence of auxin, cacodylic Acid, and amitrole on the abscission of petiole explants

The influence of indoleacetic acid, cacodylic acid (hydroxy-dimethylarsine oxide), and amitrole (3-amino-1,2,4-triazole) on the petiole explant abscission rate was studied in three species. Indoleacetic acid increased the abscission rate in both bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. var. Red Kidney) and Coleus (Coleus blumei Benth) at 10⁻³ and 10⁻⁴m but had no effect on abscission in privet (Ligustrum ovalifolium). Cacodylic acid was found to stimulate abscission in explants of beans and privet, but not in Coleus. Amitrole did not stimulate abscission under any circumstance tested. In no case was the abscission rate dependent on the time at which any of the chemicals was applied. These data do not support the two-phase response of explants to applied auxin.     

云南境内紫苏种下变异的研究

选取26个性状,应用不加权算术平均配对法对来自云南各地的20份紫苏试材进行了数值分类学研究。结果表明:这20份紫苏试材可分成紫苏、回回苏、耳齿紫苏、野生紫苏和白苏5个变种;并对白苏变种的设立和耳齿紫苏变种的分布进行了探讨。