Potential of Leguminous Cover Crops in Management of a Mixed Population of Root-knot Nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.)

Root-knot nematode is an important pest in agricultural production worldwide. Crop rotation is the only management strategy in some production systems, especially for resource poor farmers in developing countries. A series of experiments was conducted in the laboratory with several leguminous cover crops to investigate their potential for managing a mixture of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne arenaria, M. incognita, M. javanica). The root-knot nematode mixture failed to multiply on Mucuna pruriens and Crotalaria spectabilis but on Dolichos lablab the population increased more than 2- fold when inoculated with 500 and 1,000 nematodes per plant. There was no root-galling on M. pruriens and C. spectabilis but the gall rating was noted on D. lablab. Greater mortality of juvenile root-knot nematodes occurred when exposed to eluants of roots and leaves of leguminous crops than those of tomato; 48.7% of juveniles died after 72 h exposure to root eluant of C. spectabilis. The leaf eluant of D. lablab was toxic to nematodes but the root eluant was not. Thus, different parts of a botanical contain different active ingredients or different concentrations of the same active ingredient. The numbers of root-knot nematode eggs that hatched in root exudates of M. pruriens and C. spectabilis were significantly lower (20% and 26%) than in distilled water, tomato and P. vulgaris root exudates (83%, 72% and 89%) respectively. Tomato lacks nematotoxic compounds found in M. pruriens and C. spectabilis. Three months after inoculating plants with 1,000 root-knot nematode juveniles the populations in pots with M. pruriens, C. spectabilis and C. retusa had been reduced by approximately 79%, 85% and 86% respectively; compared with an increase of 262% nematodes in pots with Phaseolus vulgaris. There was significant reduction of 90% nematodes in fallow pots with no growing plant. The results from this study demonstrate that some leguminous species contain compounds that either kill root-knot nematodes or interfere with hatching and affect their capacity to invade and develop within their roots. M. pruriens, C. spectabilis and C. retusa could be used with effect to decrease a mixed field populations of root-knot nematodes.     

The effects of glacial atmospheric CO2 concentrations and climate on isoprene emissions by vascular plants

Isoprene (C₅H₈) emissions by terrestrial vegetation vary with temperature and light intensity, and play an important role in biosphere–chemistry–climate interactions. Such interactions were probably substantially modified by Pleistocene climate and CO₂ cycles. Central to understanding the nature of these modifications is assessment and analysis of how emissions changed under glacial environmental conditions. Currently, even the net direction of change is difficult to predict because a CO₂‐depleted atmosphere may have stimulated emissions compensating for the negative impacts of a cooler climate. Here, we address this issue and attempt to determine the direction of change from an experimental standpoint by investigating the interaction between isoprene emissions and plant growth of two known isoprene‐emitting herbaceous species (Mucuna pruriens and Arundo donax) grown at glacial (180 ppm) to present (366 ppm) CO₂ levels. We found a significant enhancement of isoprene emissions per unit leaf area in M. pruriens under subambient CO₂ concentrations relative to ambient controls but not for A. donax. In contrast, canopy emissions remained unaltered for both plant species because enhanced leaf emissions were offset by reductions in biomass and leaf area. Separate growth experiments with M. pruriens revealed that lowering day/night temperatures by 5°C decreased canopy isoprene emissions irrespective of the CO₂ level. Incorporation of these results into a simple canopy emissions model highlights their potential to attenuate reductions in the total isoprene flux from forests under glacial conditions predicted by standard models.     

Mucuna pruriens seed extract reduces oxidative stress in nigrostriatal tissue and improves neurobehavioral activity in paraquat-induced Parkinsonian mouse model

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease which causes rigidity, resting tremor and postural instability. Treatment for this disease is still under investigation. Mucuna pruriens (L.), is a traditional herbal medicine, used in India since 1500 B.C., as a neuroprotective agent. In this present study, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of aqueous extract of M. pruriens (Mp) seed in Parkinsonian mouse model developed by chronic exposure to paraquat (PQ). Results of our study revealed that the nigrostriatal portion of Parkinsonian mouse brain showed significantly increased levels of nitrite, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced levels of catalase compared to the control. In the Parkinsonian mice hanging time was decreased, whereas narrow beam walk time and foot printing errors were increased.     

Alkaloidal constituents of Mucuna pruriens seeds

The seeds of Mucuna pruriens (L.) DC. after chemical analysis afforded four tetrahydroisoquinoline alkaloids which have been isolated for the first time from M. pruriens. Out of them, two are new whose structures have been elucidated by spectroscopic methods.     

Isoprene emission by plants is affected by transmissible wound signals

Isoprene (2-methyl 1,3-butadiene) is emitted from many plants, but the signals regulating isoprene emission are unknown. Mounting leaves in a gas exchange chamber or taking small leaf punches for biochemical analysis was found to reduce the rate of isoprene emission (Loreto & Sharkey 1993). This phenomenon was investigated by putting terminal leaflets of velvet bean (Mucuna deeringeniana L.) and kudzu [Pueraria lobaia (Willd) Ohwi.] into a gas exchange chamber and monitoring isoprene emission and photosynthesis. Lateral leaflets or remote leaves were then wounded or mechanically stimulated. The rate of isoprene emission was reduced after 1 min by up to 75% by burning a lateral leaflet with a match. Even a 7 ms^?1 (25km h^?1) wind imposed on a lateral leaflet reduced isoprene emission from the terminal leaflet by 18%. Photosynthesis rates were either unaffected by these treatments or reduced more slowly than isoprene emission rates, indicating that the effect of isoprene emission rates was not a consequence of changes in photosynthetic activity. Isoprene emission from a terminal leaflet was reduced by burning leaves above and below the monitored leaflet when on the same stem. The effect was much reduced if the burned leaf (all three leaflets) was on a different stem from the monitored leaflet. Reduction of the rate of isoprene emission was observed even when the burned leaf was 52 cm distant from the measured leaflet. Increasing the distance between the stressed leaf and the monitored leaf caused the effect to be slower and smaller. It is speculated that a signal is generated by wounding which propagates through the plant at 1.3 mm s^?1. This velocity was consistent throughout the measurements and is similar to the rate of propagation of electrical signals such as action potentials and variation potentials. The effect of the environmental stress, and particularly the wind effect, can be frequent in nature and should be considered when estimating local and regional emission of isoprene for modelling atmospheric chemistry. If leaf samples used for isoprene determination are exposed to the type of stress we investigated, isoprene emission inventories based on leaf level measurements will be underestimated.     

油麻藤种子中凝集素的纯化及性质的研究

中药常春油麻藤种子中含有Ａ型血专一性的凝集素（ＭＳＬ）．该凝集素可经盐析、离子交换及凝胶过滤进行纯化,当其浓度为０．４９μｇ／ｍｌ时就能凝集人Ａ型血细胞,对人类Ｂ、Ｏ型及兔红细胞无作用．Ｇａｌ,ＧａｌＮＡｃ和胃粘蛋白对ＭＳＬ的凝血活性有强抑制作用．ＭＳＬ含中性糖５．７％,凝胶过滤测得分子量为１３１８００,ＳＤＳ－ＰＡＧＥ测得分子量为６６０００和３３０００,表明ＭＳＬ可能由两个不同亚基组成．ＭＳＬ还是一种促有丝分裂原,对人外周血中淋巴细胞的转化率可达７６．２％．     

Aluminium avoidance by Mucuna pruriens

The hypothesis was tested that the avoidance of acid subsoil by the velvet bean Mucuna pruriens is based on a mechanism acting on the whole root system rather than on individual roots. In a split-root experiment with circulating nutrient solution the growth of plants with Al-containing (+/+) or Al-free (0/0) solution on both sides of the root system was compared with that of plants which had a choice (0/+). Two levels of Al (110 and 185 μ M ) were tested at two levels of Ca (50 and 1250 μ M ). In the 185 μ M Al treatment the concentration of monomeric Al varied between 53 μ M , directly after refreshing the solution, and 5 μ M at harvest time.
An external Al concentration of 110 μ M had no effect on shoot and root dry weight, while 185 μ M Al applied to both sides of the root system (+/+) increased root dry weight and reduced shoot dry weight and shoot/root ratio, compared with the 0/0 control. Application of 185 μ M Al to half of the roots, ied to a significant shift in root growth in favour of the control side; this response is described here as Al avoidance. On the basis of total root length, root dry weight and root surface area, the ratio of 0/+ roots was 3.1, 2.8 and 2.4, respectively.
Al avoidance at 185 μ M Al was confirmed in another experiment, in which root response was measured to a local P source, supplied in a third compartment containing only KH₂PO₄. A significant increase in root length and dry weight in this compartment was observed, when other roots of the same plant were growing in the presence of Al. This result indicates that Al avoidance by Mucuna roots is related to P preference.     

Continuous production of the pharmaceutical 7,8-dihydroxy N-di-n-propyl 2-aminotetralin using a phenoloxidase from cell cultures of Mucuna pruriens

Alginate-entrapped cells of Mucuna pruriens as well as the phenoloxidase isolated from the cell cultures, are able to ortho-hydroxylate several mono-, bi- and tri-cyclic monophenols. In this study, 7,8-dihydroxy N-di-n-propyl 2-aminotetralin, a catechol of pharmaceutical interest and difficult to prepare chemically, could be produced in considerable quantities by bioconversion of the precursor 7-hydroxy N-di-n-propyl 2-aminotetralin. A continuous flow system on a laboratory scale was used, which consisted of a phenoloxidase suspension in dialysis tubing as the biocatalysator in an airlift fermentor coupled with an aluminium oxide column for selective product isolation. Product formation continued for at least 50 h, resulting in ca. 130 mg product per liter, this being a bioconversion percentage of 25%. When the enzyme preparation was reused, 85% of the original activity was measured.Alan S. Horn deceased at January 2nd, 1990     

Floral traits of mammal‐pollinated Mucuna macrocarpa (Fabaceae): Implications for generalist‐like pollination systems

Floral traits are adapted by plants to attract pollinators. Some of those plants that have different pollinators in different regions adapt to each pollinator in each region to maximize their pollination success. Mucuna macrocarpa (Fabaceae) limits the pollinators using its floral structure and is pollinated by different mammals in different regions. Here, we examine the relationships between floral traits of M. macrocarpa and the external morphology of mammalian pollinators in different regions of its distribution. Field surveys were conducted on Kyushu and Okinawajima Island in Japan, and in Taiwan, where the main pollinators are the Japanese macaque Macaca fuscata, Ryukyu flying fox Pteropus dasymallus, and red‐bellied squirrel Callosciurus erythraeus, respectively. We measured the floral shapes, nectar secretion patterns, sugar components, and external morphology of the pollinators. Results showed that floral shape was slightly different among regions and that flower sizes were not correlated with the external morphology of the pollinators. Volume and sugar rate of nectar were not significantly different among the three regions and did not change throughout the day in any of the regions. However, nectar concentration was higher in Kyushu than in the other two regions. These results suggest that the floral traits of M. macrocarpa are not adapted to each pollinator in each region. Although this plant limits the number of pollinators using its flower structure, it has not adapted to specific mammals and may attract several species of mammals. Such generalist‐like pollination system might have evolved in the Old World.     

Who can open the flower? Assessment of the flower opening force of mammal‐pollinated Mucuna macrocarpa

Effective pollinators in Fabaceae species with papillionaceous flowers should have sufficient force to open the petals and expose the stamens and pistils from the keel petals. Here, we assessed the force that is required (operative force) to open the petals of the mammal‐pollinated Mucuna macrocarpa, in parallel with estimating the force of bee species. The operative force of M. macrocarpa was quantified by a digital force gauge and the force of three bee species that frequent these flowers was estimated from body mass. The operative force was 1.635 ± 0.146 (mean ± SD) newton (N). This force was far larger than that estimated for the largest bee in the study area. In addition, the operative force of M. macrocarpa was 16–409 times greater than that of bee‐pollinated plants. Our results demonstrate that the operative force of M. macrocarpa flowers is adapted to mammalian openers, preventing potential nectar robbers.