Early shoot and root growth dynamics as indicators for the survival of black poplar cuttings

The relationship between early root and shoot formation at the beginning of the vegetation period and cutting survival on sandy and loamy fluvisol for 14 genotypes of black poplars was analyzed. Considerable cutting mortality was observed only within the first 80 days since planting. Intensive root formation in the first 20 days since the planting and vigorous shoot growth and development in subsequent 20 days was observed in easy-to-root genotypes. Coefficients of correlation revealed close relationship between early root and shoot growth and development and cutting survival of tested genotypes. The obtained results could be used in the breeding process, as well as for the design of cultivar-adjusted nursery and plantation establishment technology. Tested shoot characteristics, were found to be especially interesting since they could be measured rapidly, by non-destructive means.     

Balibalosides,an Original Family of Glucosylated Sesterterpenes Produced by the Mediterranean Sponge Oscarella balibaloi

The chemical investigation of the recently described Mediterranean Homoscleromorpha sponge Oscarella balibaloi revealed an original family of five closely related glucosylated sesterterpenes 1–4, named balibalosides. Their structure elucidation was mainly inferred from NMR and HRMS data analyses. Balibalosides differ by the pattern of acetyl substitutions on the three sugar residues linked to the same aglycone sesterterpenoid core. From a biosynthetic perspective, these compounds may represent intermediates in the pathways leading to more complex sesterterpenes frequently found in Dictyoceratida, a sponge Order belonging to Demospongiae, a clade which is phylogenetically distinct from the Homoscleromorpha. While steroid and triterpenoid saponins were already well known from marine sponges, balibalosides are the first examples of glycosilated sesterterpenes.