Salt effect on yield and composition of shoot essential oil and trichome morphology and density on leaves of Mentha pulegium

The aim of the present work was to study salt effect on the yield and composition of shoot essential oil (EO) and the structures responsible for its biosynthesis in Mentha pulegium L. Shoot EO was extracted by hydrodistillation and composition was determined by GC–MS method. Apical and basal leaves were taken for microscopy analyses; small fresh samples were observed directly without fixation or metallisation with environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) and stereomicroscope (SM). Fresh separate epidermis was used for light microscopy (LM). Salt stress enhanced EO yield by about 2.75 times and affected the percentage of menthone, which is the major compound (51%), increasing that of pulegone. Menthone, pulegone, and neomenthol constituting the monoterpene class were found to be the principal components. The anatomical study showed three types of trichomes: (i) non-glandular, multicellular, simple hairs; (ii) small, capitate glandular trichomes; (iii) and peltate glandular trichomes. In control plants, the density and size of trichomes varied with leaf side (abaxial or adaxial) and developmental stage. Salt stress results in significant modifications affecting trichome distribution and size on both sides.     

Dual extraction of essential oil and podophyllotoxin from Juniperus virginiana

The leaves (needles) of eastern red cedar (Juniperus virginiana L.) contain two important natural products: essential oil and podophyllotoxin. The hypothesis of this study was that it may be possible to extract both essential oil and podophyllotoxin from the leaves of the tree, by using a dual extraction method. Podophyllotoxin was obtained from the leaves following steam distillation of the leaves to produce the essential oil, indicating that steam distillation did not degrade podophyllotoxin. Furthermore, a product with 6% purity podophyllotoxin was obtained from the steam-distilled plant material, demonstrating the possibility for the establishment of an industrially economic protocol for dual extraction of these two natural products. Our study demonstrated that J. virginiana leaves, currently a waste-product from the timber industry, could be sequentially extracted for essential oil and podophyllotoxin and utilized as a by-product instead. We also found that the J. virginiana heartwood (a traditional source for cedarwood essential oil) does not contain podophyllotoxin. This is the first study to report both podophyllotoxin and essential oil in J. virginiana, and the first report on the dual extraction of these two natural products from the same biomass samples.     

Larvicidal property of essential oils against Culex quinquefasciatus Say (Diptera: Culicidae)

Essential oils from 22 aromatic plant species were tested for mortality of the mosquito larvae Culex quinquefasciatus. Lethal concentrations were determined for individual essential oils. Essential oils obtained from Thymus vulgaris, Satureja hortensis and Thymus satureioides plants showed the highest effect, with LC₅₀ found lower than 50 μg/ml (33, 36 and 44 μg/ml, respectively). Analyses showed that majority substances for T. vulgaris were thymol and p-cymene (60.3 and 10.1%, respectively); carvacrol and γ-terpinene for S. hortensis (48.1 and 36.7%, respectively), and borneol and thymol for T. satureioides (30.3 and 32.5%, respectively).The selected essential oils also showed very good effectiveness with respect to mortality and percentage of adult emergence upon short-term exposure in water contaminated with lethal doses of individual oils. While there was 77% adult emergence from the larvae in the control, in T. vulgaris, T. satureoides and S. hortensis there was only 12.3, 15.3 and 16.0% adult emergence, respectively. High antioviposition effectiveness was found in all selected oils. Almost 100% deterrence of female oviposition was determined for all oils in concentrations of 0.02%. Significant differences were seen with tested concentrations of 0.01 and 0.005%, where the oil of T. vulgaris proved most effective (repellency about 99.8 and 62.3%, respectively).     

砂生槐根瘤内抗小麦纹枯病生防菌株的筛选及其鉴定

为了筛选对小麦纹枯病菌具有生防作用的菌株,从西藏米林县采集的砂生槐根瘤中分离到45株内生细菌,采用平板对峙法、菌丝生长速率法进行拮抗菌株筛选,用显微观察法研究受抑制病原菌菌丝变化;通过摇瓶培养法测定所筛选拮抗菌株的溶磷、固氮及分泌IAA功能,并对其进行盆栽接种防效试验;依据形态观察、生理生化反应及16S rDNA序列同源性分析确定所筛选菌株系统发育地位。结果表明,经过初筛和复筛,45株内生菌中,菌株R4对小麦纹枯病菌的拮抗效果较明显,对其抑菌圈直径达20.5 mm,抑菌率达98.2%,显著推迟菌核的萌发。受R4作用的小麦纹枯病菌菌丝末端分枝增多、部分原生质浓缩、形成瘤状结。菌株R4抗菌谱广,具有溶磷、固氮和分泌IAA活性。盆栽防效试验中,经菌株R4发酵液处理后,小麦纹枯病发病率和病情指数均显著降低,防治效果最高达73.82%。通过形态、生理生化特性及16S rDNA基因序列同源性比对分析,该菌株被鉴定为土地类芽孢杆菌Paenibacillus terrae。     

Emerging cultivation of oregano in Sicily: Sensory evaluation of plants and chemical composition of essential oils

The characterization of the essential oil profile together with the sensory analysis of five samples of oregano, four of which cultivated in different areas of Sicily and one of commercial origin, have been carried out. The Sicilian cultivated samples belong to Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum (Link) Béguinot (syn. O. heracleoticum L.), the most typical Sicilian oregano species. The essential oils, obtained by hydrodistillation, have been analysed by GC-FID-MS. On the whole, 53 compounds representing more than 98% of the oils have been fully characterized. The four cultivated samples showed a very similar chemical profile, thymol and γ-terpinene being the main compounds followed by p-cymene, α-terpinene, carvacrol and thymol methyl ethers, myrcene and carvacrol. The commercial sample, instead, showed a different profile, with carvacrol largely being the main component (>77%), followed by p-cymene, γ-terpinene and thymol, in that order.According to the chemical composition, the sensory profile of the Sicilian oregano samples proved fairly homogenous, whereas different results were obtained for the commercial sample. Indeed, the intensity of sensory attributes “typical oregano flavour” and off-flavour are similar for the four cultivated samples; instead the commercial sample has less freshness and a lower typical oregano flavour, associated with a higher level of off-flavour.     

Effects of plant essential oils on immature and adult sweetpotato whitefly, Bemisia tabaci biotype B

Effects of essential oils derived from garden thyme, Thymus vulgaris L., patchouli, Pogostemon cablin (Blanco) Benth., and lemon-scent gum, Corymbia citriodora (Hook.) K. D. Hill & L. A. S. Johnson, on mortality of eggs, first-instar nymphs, and pupae, and on adult oviposition, of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) biotype B were determined under laboratory conditions. Three concentrations of essential oils, 0.125%, 0.25% and 0.5% (v/v), were applied in contact toxicity experiments. In separate experiments, 0.5% essential oil treatment was tested for repellency. Greater mortality was observed with increasing dose of essential oils. No phytotoxicity was observed on plants treated with these essential oils. First-instar nymphs were more sensitive to essential oil treatments, compared with eggs and pupae. The greatest effect was found with essential oil extracted from T. vulgaris, which reduced the survival rate of B. tabaci by 73.4%, 79.0% and 58.2% after treatment of eggs, nymphs and pupae, respectively, as compared with controls. In no-choice tests, the cumulative survival rates of B. tabaci females treated with T. vulgaris, P. cablin and C. citriodora were 46.4%, 38.8% and 26.8% lower, respectively, as compared with controls. In choice tests, the mean numbers of eggs laid on P. cablin, T. vulgaris and C. citriodora oil-treated plants were 74.5%, 59.0% and 48.0% fewer, respectively, than on control plants. Based on this study, essential oil derived from T. vulgaris possessed the greatest contact toxicity, while P. cablin oil exerted the strongest repellency to B. tabaci. Hence, these two oils could be used as effective and environmentally sustainable bio-insecticides for the control of B. tabaci.     

河南省小麦条锈菌特异性SSR标记的筛选

为了简便地进行小麦条锈菌的早期检测,在前期工作的基础上,以小麦条锈病、叶锈病、白粉病的病叶和健康叶片为实验材料,采用来自条锈菌的SSR引物进行河南省小麦条锈菌的分子检测。结果表明, 在所用的条锈菌特异性SSR引物中,发现有4对引物能够将条锈菌和其他的病原菌区分开来。通过对来自河南省不同地区的小麦条锈病和叶锈病病叶的鉴定,其中2对引物 RJ3、RJ21的稳定性和可重复性均较好,表明这2对引物可以用于小麦条锈菌的分子检测。     

Essential oil composition of Hypericum perfoliatum L. and Hypericum tomentosum L. growing wild in Tunisia

The essential oils obtained by hydrodistillation from the aerial parts of Tunisian native Hypericum perfoliatum L. (sect. Drosocarpium Spach.) and Hypericum tomentosum (sect. Adenosepalum Spach.) were analyzed by GC and GC–MS. Thirty-two compounds were identified in the essential oils of H. perfoliatum with α-pinene (13.1%), allo-aromadendrene (11.4%), germacrene-D (10.6%), n-octane (7.3%), α-selinene (6.5%) and β-selinene (5.5%) as main constituents. Sixty-seven components were identified in the oil of H. tomentosum with menthone (17.0%), n-octane (9.9%), β-caryophyllene (5.3%), α-pinene (5.2%), lauric acid (4.1%) and β-pinene (3.7%) as the most abundant components. Both oils were characterized by the presence of many components which could have numerous applications in food, pharmaceutical and perfume industries.     

Improvement of essential oil yield of oil-bearing (Rosa damascena Mill.) due to surfactant and maceration

The essential oil content of the oil-bearing rose (Rosa damascene Mill.) is relatively low, around 0.3-0.4 mL kg⁻¹ in fresh flowers. There is a need to increase essential oil yield of oil-bearing rose. The objective was to examine the effect of Tween 20 (polyoxyethylene sorbitan monolaurate) applied with, or without, maceration of flowers on oil content and composition of oil-bearing rose harvested at beginning of flowering, full bloom, and end of flowering. Addition of Tween 20 at 1000 mL L⁻¹ and 2500 mL L⁻¹ increased essential oil yield by 26% (to 0.44 mL kg⁻¹) and 54% (to 0.54 mL kg⁻¹) respectively relative to the untreated control that gave 0.35 mL kg⁻¹ yield. Maceration, in combination with the addition of Tween 20 at 1000 mL L⁻¹ and Tween 20 at 2500 mL L⁻¹, increased oil yield by 69% (to 0.59 mL kg⁻¹) and 94% (to 0.68 mL kg⁻¹) respectively. Among the three phenological phases of harvest, harvesting at the beginning of flowering gave the highest yield followed by the full bloom and then by the end of flowering phases. Since the interaction effect was not significant, the differences obtained among the treatments were regardless of the phase, and vice versa. Treatments did not significantly alter composition of the essential oil. Postharvest pre-extraction application of Tween 20 in combination with maceration could be used in the rose industry for increasing the essential oil yield.     

Composition and physical properties of cress (Lepidium sativum L.) and field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) oils

The fatty acid profiles and tocopherol and phytosterol contents of crude oils of cress (Lepidium sativum L.) and field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) are reported, along with yields from the corresponding seeds. The physical properties of these oils were also determined, which included oxidative stability, kinematic viscosity, viscosity index, low temperature fluidity, specific gravity, acid value, lubricity, and iodine value. The oil content of dried cress and field pennycress seeds was 22.7 and 29.0 wt%, respectively. The primary fatty acids found in cress oil were oleic (30.6 wt%) and linolenic acids (29.3 wt%), whereas field pennycress oil was principally composed of erucic (32.8 wt%) and linoleic (22.4 wt%) acids. Cress oil contained high concentrations of γ- (1422 ppm) and δ- (356 ppm) tocopherols, whereas α-tocopherol (714 ppm) was the primary tocopherol discovered in field pennycress oil. The overall tocopherol concentrations of cress and field pennycress oils were 1799 and 851 ppm, respectively. The primary phytosterols elucidated in cress and field pennycress oils were sitosterol and campesterol, with avenasterol also present in significant quantity in cress oil. The total phytosterol concentration in cress oil (14.41 mg/g) was greater than that in field pennycress (8.55 mg/g) oil. Field pennycress oil exhibited excellent low temperature fluidity, whereas cress oil was more stable to oxidation and over a range of temperatures displayed lower kinematic viscosities as well as a higher viscosity index. The acid and iodine values of field pennycress oil were lower than those for cress oil, but both oils had excellent lubrication properties.     

Variations in essential oil yield and composition during Cinnamomum cassia bark growth

To extract essential oil for industrial use, the yields and compositions of bark oil during Cinnamomum cassia growth (1-3 years old for the branch bark; 5-12 years old for the stem bark) were determined. The branch bark fraction had a higher essential oil yield than the whole branch. The essential oil yield from branch bark varied within 2.70-3.11% (w/w), while that from stem bark was 0.41-2.61% (w/w) due to differences in age and segment (top, center and lower) of the tree. There were 41 volatile compounds identified in bark oil, among which the majority presented high fluctuations in percentage of composition both in different growth stages and segments. Variations in oil yields did not present the same pattern as the percentages of trans-cinnamaldehyde. The results suggest that choosing bark according to trees’ growth stages and separating stem barks into top, center and lower sections within a tree should significantly improve the extraction efficiency.     

Lipase mediated hydrolysis of Mimusops elengi and Parkinsonia aculeata seed oils for the determination of positional distribution of fatty acids

Two medicinally important seed oils viz. Mimusops elengi and Parkinsonia aculeata were analyzed for fatty acids distribution pattern in triacylglycerols using pancreatic lipase hydrolysis method. The seed oils contain high percentage of unsaturated acids (M. elengi 64.8% and P. aculeata 82.7%). The lipolytic data revealed that linoleic acid dominates at 2-position of triacylglycerols of all seed oils. M. elengi contain erucic acid in small amount (0.3%).     

Chemical composition and anti-fungal properties of the essential oils and crude extracts of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth

The hydrodistilled essential leaves and stems oils of Orthosiphon stamineus Benth were analysed by GC–MS/MS. Sixty nine compounds representing 97.6 and 97.4% of the total leaves and stems oils, respectively were identified, of which β-caryophyllene (24.0 and 35.1%), α-humulene (14.2 and 18.4%), β-elemene (11.1 and 8.5%), 1-octen-3-ol (8.2 and 7.0%), β-bourbonene (3.4 and 3.0%), β-pinene (2.1 and 1.7%), caryophyllene oxide (1.6 and 2.2%), camphene (1.6 and 1.3%) and limonene (1.2 and 1.1%) were the major compounds. Thus, the monoterpenes and sesquiterpenes were the predominant portions of the oils. Essential oils and methanol extract of O. stamineus and the derived fractions of hexane, chloroform, and ethyl acetate were tested for anti-fungal activity, which was determined by disc diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) determination methods. The oils, methanol extract and derived fractions of methanol extract displayed great potential of anti-fungal activity as a mycelial growth inhibitor against the tested phytopathogenic fungi such as Botrytis cinerea, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani, Colletotricum capsici and Phytophthora capsici, in the range of 49.3–70.3% and minimum inhibitory concentration ranging from 500 to 1000 μg/ml.     

Variability in essential oil and bioactive chiral monoterpenoid compositions of Indian oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) populations from northwestern Himalaya and their chemotaxonomy

The chemical composition of essential oils isolated from aerial parts of native populations of Origanum vulgare L. from northwestern Himalaya was investigated by enantioselective gas chromatography (enantio-GC), capillary-gas chromatography (capillary-GC) and GC–MS. Seventy compounds, which accounted for 84.9–97% of the oil composition, have been identified. The oils were allotted to two main groups; the first group had a high percentage of components belonging to the thymol/carvacrol biosynthetic pathway and the second was characterized by a different sesquiterpene composition and a high linalool and bornyl acetate percentage. Essential oils of O. vulgare populations from Rilkot and Dhanachuli areas in northwestern Himalaya were characterized by high monoterpenoids proportions as compared to Nainital and Bhowali populations, which were dominated by sesquiterpenoids. High proportions of thymol (29.2–82%) were found only in two populations. Composition of the samples collected from Dhanachuli area differed from Nainital and Bhowali collections by a unique presence of carvacrol. Notably, there were significant differences in the concentration of rest of the terpenes in all the collections. On enantio-GC, enantiomeric excess for (3R) (−)- and (3S) (+)-linalool, (S) (+)- and (R) (−)-terpinen-4-ol, (S) (−)- and (R) (+)-α-terpineol, (1S) (−)-bornyl acetate and (1S) (−)-borneol were established in populations from Bhowali and Dhanachuli area. Moreover, linalool type oregano may be useful in promoting wider commercial utilization of the biodiversity of this species.     

玉米灌浆期3种鳞翅目害虫的空间分布

采用网格式取样200株玉米,整株剖秆调查亚洲玉米螟、桃蛀螟和棉铃虫在玉米上的数量,用地统计学的方法分析和模拟它们在田间的水平分布;采用生态位理论分析3种害虫在玉米植株上的生态位和种间竞争。结果表明,亚洲玉米螟、桃蛀螟和3种鳞翅目害虫整体在玉米田中的水平分布分别适合球形、高斯、球形模型拟合,均属于聚集分布。Kriging插值模拟图显示,亚洲玉米螟和桃蛀螟为核心分布型;在垂直分布上,雌穗上3种害虫数量最多,占总虫量的69.82%。亚洲玉米螟的基础生态位宽度最大,在整株玉米上都可危害;桃蛀螟则主要在玉米中、上部;棉铃虫基础生态位最窄,只在雌穗附近危害。3种害虫在玉米茎秆上种间竞争激烈,异种害虫无法共存;雌穗上种间竞争程度小于茎秆,异种害虫可以共存。     

Prior weakening of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium propagules for enhancing efficiency of Brassica amendments

In a two year field study, the effect of varying intensities of sub-lethal heating on the efficiency of Brassica amendments in controlling viable populations of Macrophomina phaseolina and Fusarium oxysporum f sp. cumini was determined in an arid region of India. After 30 d of dry summer exposure of pathogen infested soil, incorporation of mustard residues and oil cake (0.18% and 0.04% w/w) and then applying one irrigation caused significant reduction by 75.3–81.3% in viable counts of M. phaseolina that causes dry root rot of legumes and by 93.9% in counts of F.o. f. sp. cumini causing wilt of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) at 0–15 and 16–30 cm depths. Increasing duration of summer exposure to 60 d improved the reductions in viable propagules of M. phaseolina by 83.6–90.4% and in F.o. f. sp. cumini by 78.2–94.8% at same soil depths. At certain heat levels, reduction in viable population of Fusarium due to amendments and irrigation was greater than that recorded in Macrophomina. Significantly low levels of reduction in pathogenic propagules of Macrophomina (63.9–71.4%) and Fusarium (48.0–57.2%) under shade compared to unshaded conditions indicated that mild heating did not cause discernible weakening effect. In second season also, 89.2–91.5% and 78.5–95.8% reduction in counts of Macrophomina and Fusarium, respectively was achieved by the application of amendments after 60 d of summer exposure at 0–30 cm soil depth. These results suggested a new approach to improve the control of soil-borne plant pathogens in hot arid regions by combining prolonged sub-lethal heating, effective naturally available on-farm wastes as soil amendments and one summer irrigation.     

转小麦 TaPDI-A、 TaTRXh-A和 TaPP2Ac-D基因拟南芥植株的主要抗旱性研究

核氧还蛋白（nucleoredoxin,NRX）可通过还原目标蛋白的二硫键来调控其生物活性,在植物的生长发育和抗逆境胁迫中发挥着重要作用。蛋白质二硫键异构酶（protein disulfide isomerase,PDI）、h型硫氧还蛋白（h-type thioredoxin,TRXh）和蛋白磷酸酶2A催化亚基（protein phosphatase 2A catalytic subunit,PP2Ac）是小麦核氧还蛋白TaNRX1的互作蛋白。为了明确TaNRX1互作蛋白的抗旱性功能,本研究在拟南芥中过表达了小麦 TaPDI-A、 TaTRXh-A和 TaPP2Ac-D基因,对野生型和转基因拟南芥的表型和抗旱相关生理指标进行了鉴定。结果表明,干旱胁迫处理后,转 TaPDI-A、 TaTRXh-A和 TaPP2Ac-D基因拟南芥的根长、存活率、脯氨酸含量均大于野生型,离体叶片失水率、丙二醛（MAD）含量均小于野生型。二氨基联苯胺（diaminobenzidine,DAB）对H₂O₂组织定位染色结果表明,干旱胁迫处理后,转 TaPDI-A、 TaTRXh-A和 TaPP2Ac-D基因拟南芥的H₂O₂含量均低于野生型。上述结果说明,TaNRX1的互作蛋白基因 TaPDI-A、 TaTRXh-A和 TaPP2Ac-D增强了拟南芥对于干旱胁迫的抵抗能力。本研究可为小麦抗旱育种提供候选基因和理论基础。     

Chemical variation in essential oil of Cryptomeria fortunei from various areas of China

Essential oils were extracted by hydrodistillation from the leaves of Cryptomeria fortunei from the principal habitats in China. The essential oil yields of samples from various locations ranged from 0.61 to 1.66% (w/w). GC-MS analysis revealed eighty-seven compounds, constituting 85.89-94.75% of the total essential oils. The main constituents were kaurene (0-44.69%), phyllocladene (0.07-32.98%), kaur-16-ene (0-32.28%), elemol (5.28-18.92%), α-cadinol (0-11.39%), α-eudesmol (0-11.21%), α-pinene (2.32-9.15%). The samples were separated into 3 chemotypes by hierarchical cluster analysis, according to the composition of the corresponding essential oils. Chemical composition of essential oils was significantly related to nine geographic distributions among populations. Our results revealed chemical polymorphism in the essential oils of the C. fortunei leaf in China. The chemical variability could be attributed to genetic and environmental factors. The chemical diversity of the oils offers opportunity to choose C. fortunei leaves and essential oils with preferential compound for green plant protection, pharmaceutical, perfume and food industries.     

Potential use of Asteraceae extracts to control Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and selectivity to their parasitoids Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae) and Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae)

Extracts of 12 Asteraceae were tested on Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) and on their parasitoids Telenomus remus (Hymenoptera: Scelionidae) and Trichogramma pretiosum (Hymenoptera: Trichogrammatidae). The plants Lychnophora ericoides and Trichogonia villosa were toxic for 97.7 ± 0.15% of one-day-old eggs of S. frugiperda and Lepidaploa lilacina for 72.0 ± 2.50% for two-day-old eggs of this insect. Extracts of Vernonia holosenicea, Lychnophora ramosissima and Chromolaena chaseae had higher impact on S. frugiperda, while those of Eremanthus elaeagnus and L. ericoides were more selective to T. pretiosum and T. remus. Asteraceae extracts present potential for integrated pest management programs of S. frugiperda.     

野生一粒小麦根干旱响应蛋白的筛选与鉴定

为解析野生一粒小麦根响应干旱胁迫的调控网络,用20%(w/v)PEG6000处理两叶一心期野生一粒小麦,通过对小麦根蛋白质的分离和鉴定,分析了干旱胁迫下野生一粒小麦根中的蛋白质变化。结果共分离、鉴定得到85个表达差异倍数在1.5以上的蛋白质。这些差异蛋白主要涉及碳代谢(27%)、氨基酸代谢(15%)、解毒与防御(11%)、分子伴侣(8%)、能量代谢(8%)、信号传导(6%)、蛋白质代谢(5%)、脂代谢(4%)、转录与翻译(4%)、核苷酸代谢(2%)以及骨架蛋白(1%)。对这些表达差异蛋白进行进一步的功能分析,发现大部分信号传导相关蛋白上调表达;碳代谢途径中的糖酵解相关蛋白下调表达,而磷酸戊糖途径相关蛋白上调表达。同时下调表达的还包括蛋白质代谢相关蛋白。大部分氨基酸代谢相关蛋白质下调表达,但是谷氨酸脱羧酶及甲硫氨酸合酶含量上升。结果表明,干旱胁迫增强了野生一粒小麦根中信号传导与磷酸戊糖途径代谢,促进了谷氨酸与甲硫氨酸的生物合成,降低了糖酵解与蛋白质代谢等过程。研究结果丰富了野生一粒小麦根响应干旱胁迫机制信息。