Clerodane diterpenoids from the roots of Portulaca pilosa

Three trans-clerodane diterpenoids, pilosanol A, B and C, the last compound being a glucoside, have been isolated from the roots of Portulaca pilosa. They show a marked contrast in skeletal type with the constituents of aerial part. Evolutionary changes in the biosynthetic abilities of Portulaca species is discussed.     

外源硫对镉胁迫下马齿苋光合性状和矿质元素吸收的影响

从光合反应系统揭示外源硫(S)诱导马齿苋镉(Cd)耐受性的生理机制,为外源S缓解重金属毒害提供理论依据.采用营养液培养,研究外源S供体(NH4)2SO4对100 mg/L Cd胁迫下马齿苋叶片光合色素、光合特性、叶绿素荧光参数和矿质营养元素的影响.结果表明,Cd胁迫可显著降低马齿苋叶片中叶绿素a和叶绿素b含量;净光合速率、蒸腾速率、气孔导度均显著降低,而胞间二氧化碳浓度上升,表明非气孔因素是Cd胁迫诱导马齿苋光合抑制的主要因素;同时,PSⅡ实际光化学效率(ФPSII)、电子传递效率(J)、化学猝灭系数(qP)显著下降,而非化学猝灭系数(qN)显著上升,表明Cd胁迫影响马齿苋PSⅡ反应系统的正常运行.外施400 mg/L(NH4)2SO4显著提高马齿苋叶片叶绿素a含量、叶绿素b含量和叶绿素a/b比值,增强马齿苋叶片光合作用和PSⅡ原初光化学反应量子效率.对5种与光反应系统密切相关的矿质元素含量进行分析发现,Cd处理显著增加马齿苋叶片中的Ca和Fe含量,显著抑制马齿苋对Mg、Mn和Cu的吸收.Cd胁迫下马齿苋叶片的变黄与Mg、Mn的亏缺有关,而与Fe缺乏无关;添加外源S可显著提升马齿苋叶片中Ca、Mg、Fe、Cu和Mn含量,从而增强Cd胁迫下马齿苋叶片的PSII反应系统功能.     

Induction of a Crassulacean acid like metabolism in the C4 succulent plant,Portulaca oleracea L.: physiological and morphological changes are accompanied by specific modifications in phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase

The induction of a Crassulacean acid like metabolism (CAM) was evidenced after 21–23 days of drought stress in the C₄ succulent plant Portulaca oleracea L. by changes in the CO₂ exchange pattern, in malic acid content and in titratable acidity during the day–night cycle. Light microscopy studies also revealed differences in the leaf structure after the drought treatment. Following the induction of the CAM-like metabolism, the regulatory properties of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC, EC 4.1.1.31), the enzyme responsible for the diurnal fixation of CO₂ in C₄ plants but nocturnal in CAM plants, were studied. The enzyme from stressed plants showed different kinetic properties with respect to controls, notably its lack of cooperativity, higher sensitivity to L-malate inhibition, higher PEP affinity and lower enzyme content on a protein basis. In both conditions, PEPC's subunit mass was 110 kDa, although changes in the isoelectric point and electrophoretic mobility of the native enzyme were observed. In vivo phosphorylation and native isoelectrofocusing studies indicated variations in the phosphorylation status of the enzyme of samples collected during the night and day, which was clearly different for the control and stressed groups of plants. The results presented suggest that PEPC activity and regulation are modified upon drought stress treatment in a way that allows P. oleracea to perform a CAM-like metabolism. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Evaluation of the bioherbicide Myrothecium verrucaria for weed control in tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum)

An isolate of the fungus Myrothecium verrucaria was evaluated for its biocontrol potential against common purslane, horse purslane, spotted spurge, and prostrate spurge, all serious weed pests in commercial tomato fields in the southeastern US. In greenhouse and field tests, M. verrucaria was highly virulent against these weeds when applied as conidial sprays formulated in 0.2% Silwet L-77 surfactant, even in the absence of dew. In field test plots naturally infested with these weeds, seedlings in the two-to-three leaf growth stage treated with M. verrucaria at 2×10⁷ conidia mL^-1 in 0.2% Silwet, exhibited leaf and stem necrosis within 24 h following inoculation, with mortality occurring within 96 h. After 7 days, M. verrucaria had killed 90-95% of both purslane species and 85-95% of both spurge species. Tomatoes that were transplanted into plots treated with M. verrucaria remained healthy and vigorous throughout the growing season. Since M. verrucaria effectively controlled several common weeds under field conditions, this fungus appears to have potential as an effective bioherbicide for pre-plant weed control in production systems with transplanted tomato.     

Phytoremediation potential of Portulaca grandiflora Hook. (Moss-Rose) in degrading a sulfonated diazo reactive dye Navy Blue HE2R (Reactive Blue 172)

Wild and tissue cultured plants of Portulaca grandiflora Hook. have shown to be able to decolorize a sulfonated diazo dye Navy Blue HE2R (NBHE2R) up to 98% in 40 h. A significant induction in the activities of lignin peroxidase, tyrosinase and DCIP reductase was observed in the roots during dye decolorization. The wild plants and tissue cultures could independently decolorize and degrade NBHE2R into metabolites viz. N-benzylacetamide and 6-diazenyl-4-hydroxynaphthalene-2-sulfonic acid. A dye mixture and a textile effluent were also decolorized efficiently by P. grandiflora. The phytotoxicity study revealed reduction in the toxicity due to metabolites formed after dye degradation.     

Alkaloids from Portulaca oleracea L

Five alkaloids (oleraceins A, B, C, D and E) were isolated from Portulaca oleracea L., and their structures determined by spectroscopic methods as 5-hydroxy-1-p-coumaric acyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 5-hydroxy-1-ferulic acyl-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 5-hydroxy-1-(p-coumaric acyl-7'-O-beta-D-glucopyranose)-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside, 5-hydroxy-1-(ferulic acyl-7'-O-beta-D-glucopyranose)-2,3-dihydro-1H-indole-2-carboxylic acid-6-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and 8,9-dihydroxy-1,5,6,10b-tetrahydro-2H-pyrrolo[2,1-a]isoquinolin-3-one, respectively.     

扶桑绵粉蚧雌成虫在大花马齿苋上的空间格局

本文对外来入侵害虫扶桑绵粉蚧Phenacoccus solenopsisTinsley雌成虫在大花马齿苋(Portulaca grandiflora Hook)上的空间分布特征进行了研究。结果表明,在水平上的空间分布表现为聚集分布,个体间相互吸引,分布的基本成分为个体群;雌成虫密度m和平均拥挤度m*间的回归方程为:m*=12.4595+1.2649m;雌成虫在大花马齿苋枝条上、中层虫口数量均显著多于下层。确定了不同虫口密度及不同允许误差下的最适抽样数。     

马齿苋的栽培及开发利用

马齿苋Portulaca oleracea是常用的药食兼用植物。本文对其药、食用价值及开发前景作了综述,并对其栽培条件作了初步的研究。     

Influence of cucumber mosaic virus infection on the growth response of Portulaca oleracea (purslane) and Stellaria media (chickweed) to nitrogen availability

The study characterized the influence of cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) on the growth response of two annual weeds to nitrogen. Plants were grown individually along a N gradient from 4 to 32 mmol l⁻¹ and data were interpreted using growth analysis. Plant biomass increased with N concentration and was significantly higher for healthy than infected plants at the two highest N concentrations. Healthy plants of Portulaca oleracea L. were characterized by lower biomass allocation to leaves and higher biomass allocation to roots than infected plants; no change in biomass allocation was recorded for Stellaria media Vill. Relative growth rate ( rgr ), net assimilation rate ( nar ) and specific leaf area ( sla ) of plants increased with increasing N concentration. Healthy plants of P. oleracea were characterized by a higher rgr and nar and a lower sla than infected plants, whereas healthy S. media had a higher rgr but a similar nar and sla or leaf weight ratio ( lwr ) compared with infected plants. The consequences of these results on the population dynamics of weeds and virus spread are discussed.