Daturanolide A–C,Three New Withanolides from Datura metel L. and Their Cytotoxic Activities

Three new withanolides ( 1 – 3 ), named as daturanolide A–C, along with six known withanolides ( 4 – 9 ) were isolated from the flowers of Datura metel L. Their structures with absolute configurations were elucidated by a series of spectroscopic methods, electronic circular dichroism (ECD) analyses, and X‐ray crystallography. All the isolates were evaluated for cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines (HCT116, U87‐MG, NCI‐H460, BGC823, and HepG2), and 6 exhibited marked cytotoxicity.     

Water homeostasis by wild larvae of Manduca sexta

Modulation of faecal water loss is the principal mechanism by which larval Lepidoptera maintain water homeostasis in the laboratory. Is this also true of larvae in nature? We observed 12 fifth‐instar larvae of Manduca sexta feeding on Datura wrightii in the Sonoran Desert, U.S.A. The two main sources of water stress were: evaporative water loss across the cuticle, which appeared to be promoted by increasing body temperatures and decreasing relative humidities during daytime observation periods; and attacks by tachinid flies, which prompted caterpillars to defaecate large quantities of water and to regurgitate digestive fluid onto themselves. In both cases, caterpillars responded by producing drier faecal pellets. A subset of caterpillars consumed water‐rich flower buds of D. wrightii, which led to the production of comparatively wet faecal pellets. These data demonstrate that larval water balance in nature is affected by a variety of biotic and abiotic factors and that larvae respond to these perturbations by modulating the loss of water in the faeces.     

RNA,proteins and polyamines during gametophytic and androgenetic development of pollen in Nicotiana tabacum and Datura innoxia

Variations in polyamines, proteins and RNA during in vivo gametogenesis and in vitro androgenesis in Datura innoxia and in Nicotiana tabacum were studied. Spermidine was the major polyamine during gametogenesis in both species. Marked differences in proteins, RNA and polyamines were evident during meiosis and at the first haploid mitosis. In Nicotiana an unknown amine (X₆₀) appears at the beginning of the first haploid mitosis. At the same time a rapid increase in the concentrations of RNA and proteins is observed. In Datura, at the time of the first haploid mitosis there is large increase in amine and RNA levels followed by an arginine peak. During androgenesis, putrescine and spermidine were the major polyamines in both species. In Nicotiana during androgenesis an unknown amine (X₈₁) was observed together with putrescine and spermidine. This unknown compound peaks during the developmental stages of embryogenesis. In Datura androgenic induction was marked by an arginine peak followed by an increase in the putrescine and spermidine levels associated with maximum RNA. These biochemical events are tentatively correlated with structural changes during pollen development. The significance of these results is discussed in relation to the role of polyamines during gametogenesis and androgenesis.     

曼陀罗茎段愈伤组织诱导和再生植株的研究

本试验以曼陀罗茎段为外植体,在附加不同植物激素组合的培养基中对愈伤组织的诱导和植株再生进行研究。结果表明:采用修改的MS培养基(除去甘氨酸,维生素B1含量增加至0.5mg/L,pH5.5)附加2mg/L2,4-D可由曼陀罗茎段诱导大量胚性愈伤组织;愈伤组织继代选用0.5mg/L2,4-D为宜;不定芽的诱导采用MS培养基(20g蔗糖,8g琼脂,0.1g水解干酪素) 6-BA(0.5mg/L);幼苗进一步转接至1/2MS IBA(0.2mg/L)生根培养基中,可完成曼陀罗茎段愈伤组织诱导和再生植株的组织培养过程。     

Genomic and chemical evidence for local adaptation in resistance to different herbivores in Datura stramonium

Because most species are collections of genetically variable populations distributed to habitats differing in their abiotic/biotic environmental factors and community composition, the pattern and strength of natural selection imposed by species on each other's traits are also expected to be highly spatially variable. Here, we used genomic and quantitative genetic approaches to understand how spatially variable selection operates on the genetic basis of plant defenses to herbivores. To this end, an F₂ progeny was generated by crossing Datura stramonium (Solanaceae) parents from two populations differing in their level of chemical defense. This F₂ progeny was reciprocally transplanted into the parental plants’ habitats and by measuring the identity by descent (IBD) relationship of each F₂ plant to each parent, we were able to elucidate how spatially variable selection imposed by herbivores operated on the genetic background (IBD) of resistance to herbivory, promoting local adaptation. The results highlight that plants possessing the highest total alkaloid concentrations (sum of all alkaloid classes) were not the most well-defended or fit. Instead, specific alkaloids and their linked loci/alleles were favored by selection imposed by different herbivores. This has led to population differentiation in plant defenses and thus, to local adaptation driven by plant-herbivore interactions.     

曼陀罗药用价值的开发和利用

现代医学和临床研究表明,曼陀罗含有莨菪碱、东莨菪碱等多种生物活性物质,在生物医药领域的研究和应用中,具有广阔的前景。为了更好地开发利用这一药用植物资源,本文对其生物学特性,药用成分及开发利用现状等方面进行了综述,力求为相关研究提供参考。     

曼陀罗药用价值的开发和利用

现代医学和临床研究表明,曼陀罗含有莨菪碱、东莨菪碱等多种生物活性物质,在生物医药领域的研究和应用中,具有广阔的前景。为了更好地开发利用这一药用植物资源,本文对其生物学特性,药用成分及开发利用现状等方面进行了综述,力求为相关研究提供参考。     

Anther-stigma separation is associated with inbreeding depression in Datura stramonium,a predominantly self-fertilizing annual

Abstract.— Genetically based variation in outcrossing rate generates lineages within populations that differ in their history of inbreeding. According to some models, mating-system modifiers in such populations will demonstrate both linkage and identity disequilibrium with fitness loci, resulting in lineage-specific inbreeding depression. Other models assert that differences among families in levels of inbreeding depression are mainly attributable to random accumulation of genetic load, unrelated to variation at mating-system loci. We measured female reproductive success of selfed and outcrossed progeny from naturally occurring lineages of Datura stramonium , a predominantly self-fertilizing annual weed that has heritable variation in stigma-anther separation, a trait that influences selfing rates. Progeny from inbred lineages (as identified by high degree of anther-stigma overlap) showed equal levels of seed production, regardless of cross type. Progeny from mixed lineages (as identified by relatively high separation between anthers and stigma) showed moderate levels of inbreeding depression. We found a significant correlation between anther-stigma separation and relative fitness of selfed and outcrossed progeny, suggesting that family-level inbreeding depression may be related to differences among lineages in inbreeding history in this population. Negative inbreeding depression in putatively inbred lineages may be due in part to additive effects or to epistatic interactions among loci.