Assessment of cultivated cherry germplasm in Iran by multivariate analysis

Key message

This work is an important step in the conservation of genetic cherry resources, which showed distinctive and interesting agronomical characters. Also it introduces suitable genotypes for cultivation and breeding studies.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to characterize cherry germplasm that is cultivated in Iran. Thirty-three morphopomological parameters were studied in this germplasm, consisting of 70 cherry genotypes (41 sweet cherry, 24 sour cherry and 5 duke cherry genotypes). A wide variation was found in blooming time, ripening time, fruit weight, fruit color, anthocyanin, total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), fruit dimensions and flesh firmness and stone size. There were close positive correlations between fruit weight and fruit dimensions, and between fruit weight and fruit stalk weight, fruit flesh firmness and cracking and also a negative correlation between pH and TA. Dendrogram gave a clear separation between the sour, duke and sweet cherry species and also showed existing intraspecific morphological variation. Based on fruit size and organoleptic properties, the sweet cherry genotypes ‘Siah-Mashhad’, ‘Takdaneh-Mashhad’, ‘Shabestar’, ‘Siah-Daneshkade’, ‘Ghazvin’ and ‘Droongezna’ are recommended for fresh consumption. Good fruit chemical composition and late-ripening time stands out genotypes ‘Dirres-Italia’, ‘Dirres-Pardis’, ‘Maremoot’, ‘Abardeh’ and ‘Rorshon’ and make them suitable for processing. Also, ‘Gilas46’ and ‘Gilas49’ were substantially late-ripening, a characteristic that makes these genotypes highly suitable for breeding studies in case of ripening time. Furthermore, sour cherries ‘Hashtgerd2’ and ‘Hashtgerd3’ and duke cherries ‘Pardis1’ and ‘Pardis3’ were the best genotypes. This work is an important step in the conservation of genetic cherry resources in Iran, which showed distinctive and interesting agronomical characters such as low susceptibility to fruit cracking, high levels of total soluble solids, early fruit maturity and high fruit quality.     

Rapid fertility decline in Iran: analysis of intermediate variables

The remarkable decline in fertility in Iran, which saw the total fertility rate fall from 7 children per woman in 1986 to 2 in 2000, has received only limited analysis in the demographic literature. Using the 2000 Iran Demographic and Health Survey and Bongaarts' age-specific fertility model, this paper examines the role of the major proximate determinants of fertility in bringing about the rapid decrease in fertility in Iran. The analysis indicates that contraception had the largest effect on fertility, accounting for 61% of the reduction in fertility from its theoretical maximum. The fertility-inhibiting effect of marriage patterns accounted for an additional 31% reduction, and was most important among the young. Further analysis of contraceptive behaviour suggests that the current period fertility rate of 2.0 children per woman is an outcome of a synchronization of delaying and spacing of births among younger women with stopping of childbearing among women in the middle and late reproductive ages. The policy implications of the results are discussed.     

Antimicrobial activity and composition of the essential oil of Gontscharovia popovii from Iran

The aerial parts of Gontscharovia popovii (B. Fedtsch. and Gontsch.) Boriss. were collected at full flowering stage. The essential oil was isolated by hydrodistillation and analyzed by a combination of capillary GC and GC-MS. Thirty-one components were identified with the main constituent being carvacrol (71.9%), followed by linalool (5.5%), p-cymene (4.5%) and gamma-terpinene (4.4%). The in vitro antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of G. popovii was studied against seven Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria (Bacillus subtilis, Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae) and three fungi (Candida albicans, Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Aspergillus niger). The results of the bioassays showed that the oil exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against all the tested fungi and bacteria except for the resistant bacterium Pseudomonas aeruginosa.     

Chirality evaluation in flavour and essential oil analysis

The simultaneous stereodifferentiation of all aromarelevant 4(5) alkylsubstituted γ(δ)-lactones is described, using enantioselective multidimensional gas chromatography (MDG), and the column combination OV 1701/octakis(3-O-butyryl-2,6-di-O-pentyl)-γ-cyclodextrin. The method is applicated to the lactone flavour compounds of fruits, indicating the advance to the analytical differentiation between “natural” and “nature-identical” aromas. Modified cyclodextrins are also proved to be powerful tools in the chirospecific CGC analysis of monoterpenoid constituents of essential oils. Optical purity control is discussed as an indicator for their natural origin.     

Multivariate pattern analysis of wetland invertebrate communities and environmental variables in Western Australia

Abstract Macro-invertebrates, zooplankton and water quality variables were sampled at 33 wetlands near Perth, Western Australia, in January-February 1989. Wetlands were classified and ordinated using the invertebrate data. Correlations of environmental variables with the ordination were calculated and the importance of seasonality and geomorphology of the wetlands were investigated. The wetlands were also classified and ordinated using the chemical data. Analysis of variance was used to compare species richness, abundances of all invertebrates, macro-invertebrates, copepods and total phosphorus levels among groups. Six groups of wetlands were identified from the invertebrate data, two of which were outliers on the basis of very low pH and high salinity, respectively. The majority of the wetlands grouped on the basis of their degree of nutrient enrichment and colour. The analyses of chemical data gave similar groups. The coloured wetlands and least nutrient enriched non-coloured wetlands were identified as being closest to the probable state of wetlands prior to European settlement. The greatest numbers of rare species were found in wetlands from these two groups. Species richness was significantly higher in the moderately enriched wetlands than in any other group but decreased in the most enriched wetlands where abundances of invertebrates were highest. Changes in community composition among the groups of wetlands are discussed. The most highly nutrient enriched wetlands were dominated by cosmopolitan species with high abundances, whereas less enriched and coloured wetlands had species with more restricted distributions and lower abundances.     

甘蓝型特高含油量油菜种质资源及主栽品种指纹图谱构建

本研究选择特高含油量资源7份,与中国各油菜主产区具有代表性的主栽品种16份,利用SSR多引物组合法开展指纹图谱构建研究。选择多态丰富、图谱清晰稳定且来自不同连锁群的引物28对,对所有材料进行指纹图谱分析,共获SSR指纹条带302条,其中多态性条带为279条,每引物所获条带6-16条,平均10.79条,平均多态率92. 38%,通过指纹图谱将所有材料有效地区别开来。用非加权类平均法（UPGAM）聚类分析显示：高油材料之间以及高油材料与主栽品种之间遗传距离均有较大差异,在遗传距离0.171处可将23份材料分成9个类群,其中7份高油材料分处4个类群,遗传距离差异显著;而其他8份主栽品种被分别聚类在另外5个类群中;所有材料间皆具有丰富的遗传多样性,其中高油材料与主栽品种间遗传差异更大。     

Variability of content and composition of essential oil in different genotypes of peppermint

The content and composition of essential oil of ten peppermint genotypes were analyzed over three years. The parameters varied both in relation to year of investigation and the genotypes examined. Genotypes showed a specific response to environmental conditions.     

Effect of growth retardants on growth and essential oil content in Japanese mint

In field experiments with Japanese mint using different growth retardants, chlormequat chloride (2-chloroethyltrimethylammonium chloride) increased the oil content significantly and inhibited growth to some extent only, whilst ethephon (2-chloroethyl phosphonic acid) at 0.06% concentration significantly decreased growth but had no significant effect on oil content. Among the two oil components studied, menthone content only was significantly increased by 0.06% ethephon whereas the other growth retardants were ineffective. Correlation studies indicated a strong negative relationship of leaf/stem ratio with plant height and herb yield while a strong positive relationship was obtained between the latter two characters. The oil content of the plant was negatively correlated with herb yield and plant height but it was related positively with leaf/stem ratio.CIMAP Communication No. 688.     

广东省3种野生香茅属植物精油的化学成分及含量分析

利用GC-MS技术分析了广东省3种野生香茅属(Cymbopogon Spreng.)植物叶片精油的化学成分及其相对含昔.结果表明,3种植物精油中的化学成分丰富.从橘草[C. goeringii(Steud.)A.Camus]精油中鉴定出25种化学成分,主要成分为香叶醇、香茅醛、Z-柠檬醛和E-柠檬醛,相对含量分别为26.56%、23.49%、19.65%和12.78%;从扭鞘香茅[C. hamatulus(Nees ex Hook.et Arn.)A.Camus]精油中鉴定出16种化学成分,主要成分为甲基丁香酚、甲基异丁香酚、3,5,3',5'-四甲基联苯和3,4-二乙基-1,1'-联苯,相对含量分别为19.46%、12.90%、16.88%和8.63%;从青香茅[C. caesius(Nees ex Hook.et Arn.)Stapf]精油中鉴定出28种化学成分,主要成分为甲基丁香酚、甲基异丁香酚和藜芦醛,相对含量分别为29.39%、22.25%和6.58%.香茅属植物的精油成分因种类和产地不同而有一定的差异,在实际生产中应根据需要对香茅属植物资源进行合理的开发和利用.     

Antibacterial and antioxidant activity and essential oil composition of Grammosciadium scabridum Boiss. from Iran

The in vitro antibacterial and antioxidant activity of the essential oil and its two main components of Grammosciadium scabridum Boiss. (Apiaceae) growing wild in Iran, as well as the composition of its essential oil were studied. A total of 19 compounds representing 99.9% of the oil has been identified. Gamma-Terpinene (73.5%), p-cymene (14.2%) and (E)-beta-farnesene (5.3%) were characterized as the main components. The oil showed remarkable activity against three Gram-negative and four Gram-positive test bacteria, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.31 to 10.00 mg/ml. The oil and its two main components were also subjected to screening for their possible antioxidant activity by using the 2,2-diphenyl-l-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. The free radical scavenging capacity of the oil was determined with an IC50 value of 6.6 mg/ml.     

中国枸杞种质资源主要形态学性状调查与聚类分析

为了进一步研究中国枸杞种质资源的遗传多样性及其之间关系,本项目利用主成分和聚类分析方法,对宁夏保存的31份中国枸杞以及1份美国枸杞、1份韩国枸杞种质资源主要形态学性状进行了分析。结果表明,这些枸杞资源形态差异较大,遗传多样性程度较高;枸杞叶片形状、枝条硬度和颜色、花器、果实颜色等性状的演化,尤其是果实的颜色有由黑色→红色→黄色演变、叶片形状由披针→条状披针→条状演变的趋势较为明显;宁夏黄果枸杞与中宁黑果枸杞的遗传距离较远,与宁夏枸杞栽培种宁杞1号、宁杞2号遗传距离较近,再次证明宁夏黄果枸杞是宁夏枸杞的1个变种;枸杞株高、冠幅、地径、自然株型、叶片形状、枝条硬度、叶面状态、果实颜色、花的形状等在枸杞遗传性状中起支配作用,可作为枸杞新品种选育的参考指标;中国枸杞种质资源可以分为10类群,与7种3变种植物学分类结果相似;计算出了各个遗传类群之间、33份枸杞材料之间的遗传距离。     

Composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Dicyclophora persica Boiss. from Iran

The chemical composition of the essential oil of Dicyclophora persica Boiss. was identified by GC and GC-MS analysis. The analysis of the oil resulted in the identification of forty-five components constituting 98.6% of the total oil. The main constituents were a-pinene (31.5%), (Z)-beta-ocimene (23.3%), p-cymene (6.7%) and (E)-beta-ocimene (5.4%). The antimicrobial activity of the oil was tested by the disk diffusion method against four Gram-positive (Bacillus subtilis, Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus epidermidis and Enterococcus faecalis) and three Gram-negative (Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) bacteria together with a fungus (Aspergillus niger). The oil showed strong inhibition activity toward all the tested microorganisms except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa.     

Multivariate analysis of morphological variation in Cineraria deltoidea (Asteraceae, Senecioneae)

Cluster analysis and principal coordinates analysis were used to investigate phenetic variation in Cineraria deltoidea , a species that ranges from near sea level in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, to 4300 m a.s.l. on the mountains of East Africa and Ethiopia. Earlier taxonomic revisions reduced nine previously recognized species to synonyms of C. deltoidea . Two closely related species, C. decipiens and C. atriplicifolia , were also included in the analyses. Thirty-six morphological characters were examined on 111 specimens. Phenograms and scattergrams show partial clusters of specimens of C. deltoidea from individual mountains or geographical regions, but no groups are sufficiently distinct to warrant formal recognition at any rank. The East African specimens from 3000 m a.s.l. and higher tend to cluster together. Growth at high altitude in East Africa is correlated with fewer, larger capitula on longer peduncles, and an absence of a cobwebby indumentum comprising long, narrow-based trichomes. Cineraria deltoidea is thus a highly variable species with geographical and clinal variation evident throughout its range. Cineraria atriplicifolia and C. decipiens are maintained as distinct species, distinguished from C. deltoidea by their growth form, life span and auricle shape.  © 2007 University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg. Journal compilation © 2007 The Linnean Society of London, Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society , 2007, 154 , 497–521.     

茅苍术不同器官挥发油含量及其生长量的动态变化

以来自湖北英山的2年生茅苍术(Atractylodes lancea(Thunb.)DC.)为实验材料,研究了茅苍术的根、根茎、叶片、茎和花果在不同发育阶段挥发油的含量变化、分布模式及其与生长量的关系。结果表明,茅苍术的根、根茎、叶片、茎和花果中均含有挥发油,但主要存在于根茎中,占全株挥发油总量的81.79%;苍术酮、茅术醇、β-桉叶醇、芹烷二烯酮及苍术素为根茎挥发油的主要成分,占根茎挥发油总量的94.53%;β-桉叶醇和茅术醇的含量较高,占5种主要挥发油成分总量的74.85%;5种主要挥发油成分在不同器官中的形成及动态变化均不同。根茎挥发油成分在营养生长及生殖生长旺盛期积累缓慢,在营养生长及生殖生长后期积累迅速。根据研究结果确定南京地区茅苍术的最佳采收期为11月中下旬。     

Multivariate analysis of morphological and anatomical characters of Calophyllum (Calophyllaceae) in South America

Calophyllum (Calophyllaceae), previously placed in Clusiaceae, is easily recognizable by its opposite entire leaves with close parallel venation alternating with resin canals. However, distinction between species has been difficult, because of infraspecific variation in tepal and stamen number and resemblance among species that share similar habitats. Here, I report the results of multivariate analyses of morphological and anatomical characters for Calophyllum in South America, and provide a taxonomic treatment for the genus in South America, the first since that of Vesque in 1893. Thirteen preliminary morphogroups were identified. Thirty‐two morphological characters of the leaf, flower and fruit from 401 specimens, and 17 anatomical leaf characters from 45 specimens were measured and analysed using principal component analyses (PCAs) and discriminant analyses (DAs). PCAs were used to find groups and DAs were used to validate those PCAs that were potential groups. Two main subgroups were identified in the general analysis. Subgroup M1 has terete stems and smaller leaves and flowers than subgroup M2, which, instead, has quadrangular stems. Only subgroup M2 showed distinctive clusters in regional and local analyses. Distinctive clusters and morphological and anatomical characters helped us to recognize four species in South America, including a new species, Calophyllum pubescens sp. nov. . In addition, a new species, Calophyllum mesoamericanum sp. nov. , is described from Central America. © 2013 The Linnean Society of London,     

Variation in morphological characters,chemical composition,and anthocyanin content of different Chrysanthemum morifolium cultivars from Iran

The morphological traits, essential oil composition, and anthocyanin content of 17 Iranian C. morifolium cultivars were evaluated. Based on Shannon diversity index (I), such morphological characters as flower head diameter, ray floret, shape of apex, and main color of ray floret revealed more variability than the other traits. Significant genotypic variations were also observed in essential oil content (ranging from 0.1 to 0.56% (w/w)) and composition. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis of the essential oil was conducted to identify 47 compounds in which camphor (0–44.6%), chrysanthenone (0–48.96%), chrysanthenyl acetate (0–16.22%), verbenol (0–11.78%), (+)-5-epi-neointermedeol (0–25.41%), and aromadendrene (0–14.98%) were the main constituents. Results of cluster analysis of essential oil compositions divided the cultivars into four groups. Hybridization among cultivars of divergent clusters led to heterotic effects for flower quality and phytochemical characters. The relationships established between the components revealed high correlations of anthocyanin with the two major aroma compounds of verbenol and chrysanthenyl acetate while they also provided a clue to the association between aroma compounds and color pigmentation. Moreover, a correlation was established between chrysanthenone and flower head diameter (r = −0.502). Based on the results obtained, it might be suggested that smaller flowers are capable of accumulating higher amounts of chrysanthenone. Clearly, the associations between morphological traits and essential oil components provide new insights for improved breeding programs in chrysanthemum.     

Antimicrobial activity and chemical composition of the essential oil of Nepeta crispa Willd. from Iran

The composition and antimicrobial activity of the essential oil of Nepeta crispa Willd., an endemic species from Iran, was studied. The oil was obtained from the aerial parts of the plant and analyzed by GC and GC/MS. Twenty-three compounds, accounting for 99.8% of the total oil, were identified. The main constituents were 1,8-cineol (47.9%) and 4aalpha,7alpha,7abetanepetalactone (20.3%). The antimicrobial activity of essential oil of N. crispa was tested against seven gram-negative or gram-positive bacteria and four fungi. The results of the bioassays showed the interesting antimicrobial activity, in which the gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus, were the most sensitive to the oil. Also, the oil exhibited a remarkable antifungal activity against all the tested fungi.     

Antibacterial activity and chemical composition of the essential oil of Grammosciadium platycarpum Boiss. from Iran

The chemical composition of the essential oils obtained from two samples (GP1 and GP2) of Grammosciadium platycarpum Boiss. was analyzed by GC and GC-MS. The analysis of the oils resulted in the identification of twenty-two constituents. Linalool (79.0%-GP1, 81.8%-GP2) and limonene (10.0%, 5.8%) were found to be the major components, respectively. The in vitro antibacterial activities of these oils and their main compounds against seven Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria were investigated. The results exhibited that the total oils and their major components possess strong to moderate activities against all the tested bacteria except for Pseudomonas aeruginosa.     

Genetic analysis of essential oil variants inPerilla frutescens

A new chemotype (C type) ofPerilla frutescens (Labiatae) that accumulatestrans-citral as a main component of the essential oil in the leaf was crossed with five other chemotypes containing perillaldehyde (PA), elsholtziaketone (EK), perillaketone (PK), perillene (PL), and phenylpropanoid (PP) as their respective major components for comparison of genetic differences. The analyses of F₁ and F₂ progenies showed thattrans-citral is accumulated when its metabolism is blocked in the simultaneous absence of a dominant geneN, which is involved in the conversion oftrans-citral into naginataketone viacis-citral, and two polymeric genesFr ₁ andFr ₂ , which are involved in the conversion oftrans-citral into perillene. On the basis of new data obtained from various intercrosses involving the C type as one of the parents, the genotypes of different chemotypes as well as the sites of action of several genes controlling reaction steps in the biosynthesis of monoterpenes inPerilla have been revised.