Lathyrane diterpenes from Euphorbia prolifera and their inhibitory activities on LPS-induced NO production

A new lathyrane diterpene (1), an unreported spectroscopic data lathyrane diterpenene (2), and two known analaogues (3 and 4) have been isolated from Euphorbia prolifera. Their structures were elucidated as (12E,2S,3S,4R,5R,6S,9S,11S,15R)-3-butyryloxy-5,15-diacetoxy-6,17-epoxylathyra- 12-en-14-one (1), (12E,2S,3S,4R,5R,6S,9S,11S,15R)-3-propionyloxy-5,15-diacetoxy-6,17- epoxylathyra-12-en-14-one (2), (12E,2S,3S,4R,5R,6S,9S,11S,15R)-3-benzoyloxy-5,15-diacetoxy -6,17-epoxylathyra-12-en-14-one (3), and 15-O-acetyl-17-hydroxyjolkinol (4) by spectroscopic methods (IR, ESIMS, HR-ESIMS, NMR, and X-ray crystallography). The inhibitory activities on LPS-induced NO production of these diterpenes were evaluated and compounds 1, 3 and 4 showed inhibitory effects.     

过渡金属樟脑磺酸盐的制备和表征

合成了一系列过渡金属(锌、铜、镍、锰、钴和镉)樟脑磺酸盐,并用红外光谱仪和热重分析对其进行了表征。热重分析研究表明,所合成的几种过渡金属樟脑磺酸盐均含6个结晶水,并讨论了其无水化合物的热稳定性,其次序为:Cu(C10H15O4S)2相似文献   

靖远松叶蜂对松叶蜂醇丙酸酯的林间反应

靖远松叶蜂Ｄｉｐｒｉｏｎｊｉｎｇｙｕａｎｅｎｓｉｓ雄蜂对其它松叶蜂性信息素的进一步林间反应表明：（２Ｓ,３Ｒ,７Ｒ）－３,７－二甲基－２－十三碳醇（松叶蜂醇）丙酸酯和（２Ｓ,３Ｒ,７Ｓ）－二甲基－２－十三碳醇（松叶蜂醇）丙酸酯的混合物对雄蜂的引诱作用最强。因此认为,松叶蜂醇丙酸酯的这两种异构体很可能是靖远松叶蜂性信息素的主要组分,可应用于种群监测等     

Utilization of browse supplements with varying tannin levels by Ethiopian Menz sheep: 2. Nitrogen metabolism

The effect of different condensed tannins concentrations on protein metabolism from browse supplements was investigated in a 90-day trial using sixty-six male Ethiopian Menz sheep. Teff straw (Eragrostis tef) was fed ad libitum (control diet), or supplemented with 190 g dried leaves of six Sesbania sesban accessions with increasing levels of condensed tannin (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S6), lablab (Dolichos lablab), tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis), leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) and goetzei (Sesbania goetzei) in a completely randomized block design. The condensed tannins were highest in goetzei; S6, S5 and leucaena, intermediate in S4, S3, S2 and S1, and lowest in tagasaste and lablab. The supplemented animals had significantly (P < 0.05) higher total dry matter and nitrogen (N) intake than the ones fed teff straw alone. The digestibility of N was lower for the control diet than for any other treatment (P < 0.05). S1 and S2 supplemented diets had significantly higher (P < 0.05) N digestibilities than all other diets. Faecal N, urinary N and urinary N per kg N excreted were significantly different (P < 0.0001) between diets. With increasing tannin levels (among Sesbania accessions) there was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in urinary N (S1 > S2 > S3 > S4 > S5), and an increase (P < 0.05) in faecal N (S1 < S2 < S3 < S4 < S5). Supplementation increased faecal N output significantly (P < 0.0001) as well as the N retention. Among the forage supplements, N retention was significantly (P < 0.0001) lower in lablab-, tagasaste-, leucaena-, S4- and goetzei-supplemented diets, than for S1, S2, S5 and S6. Apparent nitrogen digestibility was positively correlated (P < 0.001) with the supplement dry matter and crude protein (CP) degradation after 24 h (r = 0.93 and r = 0.85, respectively), the CP content (r = 0.87), and was negatively correlated with acid detergent fibre and neutral detergent fibre (r = –0.87 and –0.87, respectively). The CP degradability characteristics of the forages differed (P < 0.001) in water solubility (93–470 g kg^-1 CP), rate of degradation (2.58–9.73 %/h), lag phase (–1.36–13.37 h), and estimated escape protein (262–619 g kg^-1 CP). With increasing tannin levels (among Sesbania accessions), there was a significant decrease (P < 0.0001) in the rate of degradation (S1 > S2 > S3 > S4 > S5), and an increase in the estimated escape protein. The estimated rumen degradable protein (supplements) varied from 482 to 744 g kg^-1 CP, while intestine digestible protein and the undegradable protein varied from 140 to 314 g kg^-1 CP, hence the browses can supply adequate levels of rumen degradable and bypass protein. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Lignification in poplar tension wood lignified cell wall layers

The lignification process in poplar tension wood lignified cell wall layers, specifically the S(1) and S(2) layers and the compound middle lamella (CML), was analysed using ultraviolet (UV) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Variations in the thickness of the gelatinous layer (G-layer) were also measured to clarify whether the lignified cell wall layers had completed their lignification before the deposition of G-layers, or, on the contrary, if lignification of these layers was still active during G-layer formation. Observations using UV microscopy and TEM indicated that both UV absorbance and the degree of potassium permanganate staining increased in the CML and S(1) and S(2) layers during G-layer formation, suggesting that the lignification of these lignified layers is still in progress during G-layer formation. In the context of the cell-autonomous monolignol synthesis hypothesis, our observations suggest that monolignols must go through the developing G-layer during the lignification of CML and the S(1) and S(2) layers. The alternative hypothesis of external synthesis (in the rays) does not require that monolignols go through the G-layer before being deposited in the CML, or the S(1) and S(2) layers. Interestingly, the previous observation of lignin in the poplar G-layer was not confirmed with the microscopy techniques used in the present study.     

Cerebroside and ceramide from the pollen of Brassica napus L.

The new cerebroside 1-O-(β-d-glucopyranosyl)-(2 S, 3 S, 4R, 8E)-2-[(2′R)-2′-hydroxytetracosenoilamino]-8-octadecene-1,3,4-triol (1) and ceramide (2 S, 3 S, 4R, 8E)-2-[(2′R)-2′-hydroxytetracosenoilamino]-8-octadecene-1,3,4-triol (2) were isolated from the ethyl acetate extract of the pollen of Brassica napus L. The structures of 1 and 2 were elucidated on the basis of chemical and spectroscopic method. Two new compounds were evaluated for activity in vitro assays for the cytotoxic activities against human tongue squamous carcinoma cell line (Tca8113).     

Utilization of browse supplements with varying tannin levels by Ethiopian Menz sheep: 1. Intake, digestibility and live weight changes

The effect of tannins in browse supplements on intake, digestibility and live weight changes was evaluated using sixty-six male Ethiopian Menz sheep in a 90-day trial. Teff straw (Eragrostis tef) was fed ad libitum (control diet), or supplemented with 190 g dried leaves of six Sesbania sesban accessions with increasing levels of condensed tannin (S1, S2, S3, S4, S5 and S6), lablab (Dolichos lablab), tagasaste (Chamaecytisus palmensis), leucaena (Leucaena leucocephala) and goetzei (Sesbania goetzei), in a completely randomized block design. The condensed tannins were highest in goetzei, S6, S5 and leucaena, intermediate in S4, S3, S2 and S1, and lowest in tagasaste and lablab. The forages differed significantly (P < 0.05) in their rates of degradation and truly undegradable dry matter. Lablab had lower water solubility and higher (P < 0.05) truly undegradable dry matter than the other browse supplements. With increasing tannin levels among Sesbania accessions, there was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in the rate of degradation. Animals supplemented with forage legumes with low condensed tannin levels such as lablab, S1, S2, and S3 had a lower teff straw intake than those on the control diet. The converse was true for those fed with the high tannin supplements such as S4, S5, S6 and goetzei. Supplementation significantly (P < 0.05) increased total dry matter intake and live weight gains (LWG). The animals on the control diet lost weight (–1.9 g/kgW^0.75, while the supplemented animals gained between 2.9 and 4.4 g/kgW^0.75 daily. Leucaena supplementation promoted higher (P < 0.05) LWG than lablab, S1 and goetzei. With increasing tannin levels among Sesbania accessions, there was an increase (S1 < S2 < S3 < S4) followed by a decrease (S6 > S5 > goetzei) in LWG. The digestibilities of total DM and the supplements did not differ significantly (P < 0.05) between the diets, although the neutral detergent fibre (NDF) digestibility decreased significantly (P < 0.05) with supplementation. The control diet had significantly higher NDF digestibility than the leucaena, S3, S4, S5 and S6 supplemented diets. Results have beneficial attributes at low levels in ruminants. Condensed tannins confer important advantages in ruminant nutrition with respect to the prevention of excessive degradation of protein in the rumen. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Study on the structure–function relationship of 20(S)-panaxadiol and its epimeric derivatives in myocardial injury induced by isoproterenol

This study was aimed to investigate structure–function relationship of 20(S)-panaxadiol (PD) and its epimeric derivatives ((20S, 24S)-epoxy-dammarane-3β, 12β, 25-triol, PDD1 and (20S, 24R)-epoxy-dammarane-3β, 12β, 25-triol, PDD2) in myocardial ischemia injury in rats. It was shown that PD and PDD2 resulted in a reduction in creatine kinase activity. PD and PDD2 inhibited the elevation of malondialdehyde content, the reduction of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase activities. The pathohistological changes were ameliorated by PD and PDD2. The configuration of C-24 of funan ring was linked to the pharmacological action of 20(S)-panaxadiol and its epimeric derivatives.     

Land-use changes alter CO2 flux patterns of a tall-grass Andropogon field and a savanna-woodland continuum in the Orinoco lowlands

Land use changes in the savannas of the Orinoco lowlands have resulted in a mosaic of vegetation. To elucidate how these changes have affected carbon exchanges with the atmosphere, we measured CO2 fluxes by eddy covariance and soil CO2 efflux systems along a disturbance gradient beginning with a cultivated tall-grass Andropogon field (S1) and extending over three savanna sites with increasing woody cover growing above native herbaceous vegetation. The savanna sites included a herbaceous savanna (S2), a tree savanna (S3) and a woodland savanna (S4). During the wet season, maximum diurnal net ecosystem exchange (NEE) over the S1-S4 sites was 6.6-9.3, 6.6-7.9, 10.6-11.3 and 9.3-10.6 micromol m(-2) s(-1), respectively. The rate of CO2 uptake over S1 was lower than that for C4 grasses elsewhere because of pasture degradation. Soil respiration and temperature were exponentially related when soil water content (theta) was above 0.083 m(3) m(-3); however, soil respiration declined markedly as theta decreased from 0.083-0.090 to 0.033-0.056 m(3) m(-3). There were bursts of CO2 emission when dry soils were rewetted by rainfall. During the wet season, all sites constituted carbon sinks with maximum net daily ecosystem production (NEP) of 2.1, 1.7, 2.1 and 2.1 g C m(-2) day(-1), respectively. During the dry season, the savanna sites (S2-S4) became carbon sources with maximum emission fluxes of -0.5, -1.4 and -1.6 g C m(-2) day(-1), respectively, whereas the tall-grass field (S1) remained a carbon sink with a maximum NEP of 0.3 g C m(-2) day(-1) at the end of the season. For all measurement periods, annual NEP of sites S1-S4 was 366, 6, 116 and 139 g C m(-2), respectively. Comparisons of carbon source/sink dynamics across a wide range of savannas indicate that savanna carbon budgets can change in sign and magnitude. On an annual basis, gross primary production over the S1-S4 stands was 797, 803, 136 and 1230 g C m(-2), respectively. Net primary productivity (NPP) of the S1-S4 stands, calculated from eddy covariance measurements as the daily sum of NEE and day and night heterotrophic respiration was 498, 169, 181 and 402 g C m-2 year-1, respectively. These values were slightly higher than NPP based on harvest measurements (432, 162, 176 and 386 g C m(-2) year(-1), respectively), presumably because fine roots were incompletely harvested. Soil water content limited carbon uptake at all sites, and water-use efficiency (WUE) was related to rainfall dynamics. During the dry season, all sites except the cultivated tall-grass Andropogon field (S1) had a negative WUE. Although our results are specific to the Orinoco vegetational mosaic, the effects of land-use practices on the controls and physiological functions of the studied ecosystems may be generalized to other savannas.     

A new cerebroside from Polygala japonica

The isolation of a new cerebroside, 1-O-beta-d-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3S,4R,11E)-2-[(2'R)-2'-hydroxypalmitoylamino]-11-octadecene-1,3,4-triol (polygalacerebroside) (1), from the aerial part of Polygala japonica is reported.     

A comparison on DNA methylation levels in bamboo at five developmental stages

Bamboo shoots grow quickly through the rapid elongation of internodes. In order to verify whether DNA methylation affects bamboo shoot elongation, we compared DNA methylation levels at five developmental stages of bamboo (Phyllostachys praecox), including young bamboo shoot of 40-cm at length (S1), bamboo shoot of 2-cm at length (S2), young leaf (Y1), leaf (Y2), and aging leaf (M), by using amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) based on KpnI/MseI and Acc65I/MseI platforms. The polymorphism ratio of methylated to unmethylated DNA sites in bamboo shoot (S1 and S2) was higher than that in leaf (Y1, Y2 and M). The polymorphism ratio of methylated to unmethylated DNA sites in S2 was highest (32%). Our results suggest that DNA methylation changed greatly at bamboo growing stages, especially in stage of rapid elongation of internodes.     

Two 22S-solanidine-type steroidal alkaloids from Fritillaria anhuiensis

Phytochemical investigation of the fresh bulbs of Fritillaria anhuiensis S. C. Chen et S. E. Yin, resulted in the isolation of a known steroidal alkaloid solanidine of (22S,25S)-solanid-5-en-3β-ol (1), which has never yet been found as a natural substance, and of a new steroidal alkaloid (22S,25S)-solanid-5,20(21)-dien-3β-ol. Compounds 1 and 2 were the first solanidine-type alkaloids with 22-S configuration discovered from nature. Their structures were elucidated based on spectroscopic analysis, including 1D and 2D NMR experiments.     

新型酚醛树脂改性大豆蛋白基胶黏剂的研究

以脱脂大豆粉为原料制备大豆蛋白基胶黏剂(豆胶,S),以普通甲醛制备的酚醛树脂(PF_1)和高浓度甲醛制备的酚醛树脂(PF_2)为交联剂,使用前将两者直接混合得酚醛树脂改性豆胶(PF_1/S、PF_2/S)。利用差示扫描量热(DSC)、红外光谱(FT-IR)、动态热机械性能(DMA)和核磁共振碳谱(~(13) C NMR)分析对产品性能进行了测试与表征。结果表明:等物质的量之比条件下,高浓度甲醛较之普通甲醛制备的酚醛树脂改性豆胶胶合板干、湿剪切强度分别提高4.3%和11.6%,并且强度稳定性好;动态DSC分析表明,PF_2可以降低豆胶体系的固化温度和活化能,与豆胶的交联反应较容易;~(13) C NMR分析表明,PF_2体系羟甲基达88.73%,明显高于PF_1的80.91%;FT-IR分析证实酚醛树脂与豆胶中的氨基发生反应,并且PF_2反应效率更高;DMA分析表明,PF_2/S能够改善胶合产品的力学性能和热稳定性,降低豆胶的固化反应起始温度,提高固化反应速率。     

基于哑变量的湿地松树皮厚度模型研究

拟合立地质量等级的湿地松树皮厚度模型,为测算生长于不同立地湿地松出材量、出材率及树皮材积提供依据。根据宁德市湿地松样木和样地的调查数据,运用R软件拟合4类树皮厚度模型,选用赤池信息准则(AIC)、贝叶斯准则(BIC)、偏差(B)、绝对偏差(AB)与决定系数(R2)为模型评价指标,使用含熵权值的TOPSIS法筛选最优模型,于得到的4类树皮厚度最优模型中加入立地质量等级哑变量,得到胸高处树皮厚度模型lnTBB=(-3.075S1-3.154S2-3.157S3-3.325S4)+1.125lnD1.3,任意高度处树皮厚度模型TB=(0.005S1-0.026S2-0.101S3-0.141S4)-0.616RC+0.761DR+0.040dob,相对树皮厚度模型TRB=0.137+0.903DR2.009S1+1.806S2+2.126S3+1.855S4,去皮直径模型dib=(-0.087S1+0.138S2+0.223S3+0.293S4)+0.881dob,这4个哑变量模型R2相对于原模型分别提升了8.9%、41.6%、20.4%和1.2%,各项低优指标均降低,经配对t检验,4个哑变量模型的预估值与实测值不存在明显差异,比原模型拟合效果更佳。     

New sphingolipids from the root of Isatis indigotica and their cytotoxic activity

Two new sphingolipids were isolated from the 95% EtOH extract of traditional Chinese medicinal plant Isatis indigotica. Their structures were elucidated as (2S,3R)-3-hydroxymethyl-N-(2'-hydroxynonacosanoyl)-trideca-9E-sphingenine(1) and 1-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-(2S,3R)-3-hydroxymethyl-N-(2'-hydroxynonacosanoyl)-trideca-9E-sphingenine(2) on the basis of spectroscopic data. Their cytotoxic effects were evaluated by using MTT method.     

Organic and inorganic sulfur transport in the xylem sap and the sulfur budget of Picea abies trees

Temporal changes in inorganic and organic sulfur compounds (sulfate, glutathione, cysteine, methionine) were analyzed in xylem sap of 40-year-old Norway spruce (Picea abies (L.) Karst.) trees growing on acidic soils at a healthy and a declining stand in the Fichtelgebirge (North Bavaria, Germany). Studies were carried out (1) to quantify glutathione (GSH) transport in the xylem of spruce, (2) to study the significance of reduced sulfur versus sulfate (SO(4) (2-)) transport in the xylem, and (3) to compare total sulfur (S) transport in the xylem with the amount of foliar uptake of SO(2) in an air-polluted environment. Glutathione was the main reduced S compound in the xylem ranging in concentration from 0.5 to 5 &mgr;mol l(-1). Concentrations of inorganic SO(4) (2-) in the xylem sap were up to 50 times higher than those of GSH ranging from 60 to 230 &mgr;mol l(-1). During the growing season, concentrations of all S compounds in the xylem were highest in May (up to 246 &mgr;mol l(-1)) and decreased during summer and fall (up to 21 &mgr;mol l(-1)). On average, SO(4) (2-) concentrations in xylem sap were 30% higher at the declining site compared with the healthy site. Diurnal changes in organic S compounds were significant for GSH and cysteine with high concentrations during the night and low concentrations during the day. Diurnal changes in inorganic concentrations were not significant. Xylem sap concentrations of SO(4) (2-) and cysteine were twice as high and GSH concentrations were tenfold higher in surface roots than in branches. At both sites, transport of organic S was low (up to 3% of total S) compared to transport of SO(4) (2-). Annual transport of total S in the xylem (SO(4) (2-) was the main component) ranged from 60 to 197 mmol tree(-1) year(-1) at the healthy site and from 123 to 239 mmol tree(-1) year(-1) at the declining site. Although gaseous uptake of SO(2) was estimated to be similar at both sites (38 mmol tree(-1) year(-1); Horn et al. 1989), the ratio between annual gaseous uptake of SO(2) and transport of S in the xylem was 1:4 and 1:5 at the healthy and declining sites, respectively.     

Cycloartane saponins from Astragalus peregrinus as modulators of lymphocyte proliferation.

From Astragalus peregrinus, four cycloartane-type saponins have been isolated and their structures elucidated by spectral means as 20(R),24(S)-epoxy-9 beta,19-cyclolanostane-3 beta,6 alpha,16 beta,25-tetrol 3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside (1), 20(R),24(S)-epoxy-9 beta,19-cyclolanostane-3 beta,6 alpha,16 beta,25-tetrol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->4)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (2), 20(R),24(S)-epoxy-9 beta,19-cyclolanostane-3 beta,6 alpha,16 beta,25-tetrol 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (3) and 20(R),25-epoxy-9 beta,19-cyclolanostane-3 beta,6 alpha,16 beta,24(S)-tetrol (24-O-acetyl)- 3-O-alpha-L-rhamnopyranosyl-(1-->2)-(6'-O-acetyl)-beta-D-glucopyranoside (4). Compounds 2 and 3 showed to stimulate the proliferation of mouse splenocytes and were not significantly cytotoxic.     

Heptaketides with antiviral activity from three endolichenic fungal strains Nigrospora sp., Alternaria sp. and Phialophora sp

Two new heptaketides, (+)-(2S,3S,4aS)-altenuene (1a) and (-)-(2S,3S,4aR)-isoaltenuene (2a), together with six known compounds, (-)-(2R,3R,4aR)-altenuene (1b), (+)-(2R,3R,4aS)-isoaltenuene (2b), 5'-methoxy-6-methyl-biphenyl-3,4,3'-triol (3), alternariol (4), alternariol-9-methyl ether (5), and 4-hydroxyalternariol-9-methyl ether (6) were isolated from the EtOAc extract of an endolichenic fungal strain Nigrospora sphaerica (No.83-1-1-2). Compounds 1a and 1b were separated from enantiomers 1 by chiral HPLC, and so were 2a and 2b from enantiomers 2. Interestingly, 1-6 were also obtained from other two endolichenic fungal strains Alternaria alternata (No.58-8-4-1) and Phialophora sp. (No.96-1-8-1). The structures of 1-6 were elucidated by means of MS, HR-MS, NMR, and X-ray diffraction. Furthermore, the absolute configurations of 1a-2b were determined by CD experiments and CD calculation. Of these compounds, 4 and 5 showed antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus (HSV) in vitro, with IC(50) values of 13.5 and 21.3 μM, and with selective index (SI) values of 26.5 and 17.1, respectively.     

Photosynthetic gas exchange and accumulation of phytotoxins in mangrove seedlings in response to soil physico-chemical characteristics associated with waterlogging

We evaluated photosynthetic gas exchange and the accumulation of iron, manganese and sulfur in seedlings of five mangrove species (Aegiceras corniculatum (L.) Blanco, Avicennia marina (Forsk.) Vierh., Bruguiera gymnorrhiza (L.) Lamk., Hibiscus tiliaceus L. and Rhizophora stylosa Griff.) growing under anoxic soil conditions at low irradiance. Seedlings of the viviparous mangroves showed no significant responses to root anoxia. The presence of ferrous sulfate or manganous sulfate had a smaller effect on CO(2) assimilation, transpiration rate and stomatal behavior than the presence of sodium sulfide. Sodium sulfide inhibited photosynthetic gas exchange and caused complete stomatal closure in all species. Stomatal closure was probably the result of the damaging effect of sulfide ions on root cell membranes. Some leaf epinasty and wilting were also observed in response to the Na(2)S treatment in all species. A combination of FeSO(4), MnSO(4) and Na(2)S had a smaller effect on photosynthesis than Na(2)S alone, especially for Avicennia marina and Rhizophora stylosa seedlings, which maintained appreciable rates of CO(2) assimilation (2.49 and 3.84 &mgr;mol m(-2) s(-1), respectively) in the presence of all three phytotoxins. Roots of phytotoxin-treated seedlings of all species accumulated significant amounts of the corresponding toxin compared with roots of the control plants. The FeSO(4) or MnSO(4) treatments had no effect on foliar concentrations of iron or manganese, whereas the Na(2)S treatment resulted in an accumulation of S in the leaves of all species. Interactions between Fe(2+) and Mn(2+) and sulfide in the culture medium appeared to reduce their uptake by the seedlings. We conclude that high concentrations of sulfides in mangrove sediments may adversely affect both growth and survival of mangrove seedlings at low irradiances.     

Low light availability affects leaf gas exchange,growth and survival of Euterpe edulis seedlings transplanted into the understory of an anthropic tropical rainforest

Euterpe edulis Mart. (Arecaceae) is a threatened palm tree of the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest understory with fundamental importance for the restoration of degraded forest environments. We assessed the leaf gas exchange, growth and survival of E. edulis seedlings transplanted at three different forest sites (S1, S2 and S3) in the same area in which cocoa trees had been cultivated in a rustic agroforestry system. Measurement was carried out during the first year after seedling transplantation. The sites were characterised according to canopy openness (CO) and total daily photosynthetic photon flux density (PPFD). Average CO and PPFD values were 13.3%, 8.0% and 6.7%, and 3.34, 2.79 and 0.62 mol m^?2 d^?1 for S1, S2 and S3, respectively. A progressive decline in seedling survival was observed in all sites throughout the experiment. At 387 d after planting, survival at S1, S2 and S3 was 57%, 44% and 37%, respectively. The gross light-saturated photosynthetic rate (A_max), leaf area and plant biomass were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in S1 and S2 when compared with S3. The values of dark respiration rate (R _d) and photosynthetic compensation irradiance (I _c) were sufficiently low for a positive carbon balance. Notwithstanding, the interpretation of results of microclimate variables together with leaf gas exchange and growth variables indicated that seedlings at all sites were in a suboptimal condition to achieve A_max, which is probably the main cause of the dramatic decline in the seedlings’ survival throughout the first year after transplantation. From a practical point of view, if the values of CO and PFD are lower than 10% and 3 mol m^?2 d^?1, respectively, it is suggested that the transplanting of E. edulis seedlings to the understory of abandoned agroforestry systems be accompanied by cultural practices, such as the thinning and pruning of tree tops.