Anatomical Characterization of the Adventitious Roots of Mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St.-Hil.) Mini-cuttings

Abstract Leaves of mate is one of the main non-timber forest products marketed in South America, which makes establishment of new plantations of great interest. However, vegetative propagation of mate plantlets presents difficulties, which may be associated with the complexity of adventitious root formation. The aims of this study were to anatomically characterize the adventitious roots of mate-clone mini-cuttings and investigate the relationship of phenols and starch with adventitious rooting competence in mini-cuttings treated or not with indole-butyric acid (IBA). The mini-cuttings of four clones were collected at 0, 30, and 60 days of cultivation, fixed in a solution containing 1% glutaraldehyde and 4% formaldehyde, pre-infiltrated and infiltrated in (2-hydroxyethyl) methacrylate, and sectioned in a microtome. Ferric chloride and toluidine blue were used to detect phenolic compounds and lugol to identify starch. Adventitious roots formed in mini-cuttings treated with IBA presented disorganized xylem and phloem and poles irregularly but exhibited sclerenchyma vessel elements and tracheid cells indicating functionality. Differences in the rhizogenic ability of mate clones mini-cuttings were not due to the presence of anatomical barriers or the accumulation of phenolic compounds but be associated with the presence and distribution of starch grains in vegetative propagules.

Plant growth, nutrients and potentially toxic elements in leaves of yerba mate clones in response to phosphorus in acid soils

ABSTRACT Native to subtropical region of South America, yerba mate is responsive to P under some conditions, but the degree of influence of genetic and soil on the growth and composition of the leaf is unknown. The aim of study was to evaluate plant growth, nutrients and potentially toxic elements in leaves of yerba mate clones in response to P application in acid soils. In greenhouse condition, two yerba mate clone seedlings were grown (210 days) in pots, each clone in a completely randomized design in factorial scheme (with and without P; four acid soils). The elemental composition of leaves and the growth of plants were determined. Phosphorus promoted plant growth, but this was not accompanied by increased P in leaf tissue in all conditions tested. The P effect on the elemental composition varied: decrease/null (N, K, Mg, Mn, Cu, Ni, B, Mo, Al, Cd); increase/null (C/N, C, Ca, Fe, V); increase/decrease/null (Zn, Ba, Pb) and; null (Cr). The soils affect the elemental composition of the leaves, especially Mn, with accumulation greater than 1000 mg kg-1. The Ba, Pb, Al and Zn in the leaves varied among clones. Yerba mate response to P was affected by edaphic and plant factors.

Recent advances in the bioactive properties of yerba mate

Yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil.) is a perennial shrub of Aquifoliaceae family that grows naturally in South America and is cultivated in Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Paraguay and Uruguay. The aim of this review is to summarize concisely recent advances published in the last 4 years on the antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-obesity and antimutagenic activities of yerba mate. For this, a search was made in some of the databases on the web as PubMed, Google Scholar and Medline. There are several studies in the literature reporting the effects of yerba mate in the metabolic profile related to diabetes and obesity. Among the findings of the researches are the reduction of body weight, liver triglycerides and white adipose tissue. It also increases the levels of glucagon-like peptide 1 and leptin, reduces blood glucose and insulin resistance and contributes to a lower rate of growth of adipose tissue. Regarding the antioxidant properties, chlorogenic acid, caffeic acid and rutin are the compounds that contribute to the antioxidant activity. The aqueous extract also protects the red cells of hemolysis induced by hydrogen peroxide. In mutagenesis, researches suggest that dicaffeoylquinic acids in yerba mate could be potential anti-cancer agents. Saponins in leaves of yerba mate prevent the in?ammation and colon cancer in vitro. Already in skin cancer, oral and topic treatment of rats exposed at ultraviolet radiation with mate tea prevented the lipid peroxidation and DNA damage(AU)

La yerba mate (Ilex paraguariensis A. St. Hil.) es un arbusto perenne de la familia Aquifoliaceae, que crece naturalmente en Sudamérica y es cultivada en Argentina, Brasil, Chile, Paraguay y Uruguay. Esta revisión se centró en las publicaciones de los últimos 4 años sobre las actividades antioxidante, antidiabética, antiobesidad y antimutagénicas de la yerba mate. Para esto, se efectuó una búsqueda en la que se utilizaron algunas de las bases de datos en la web como PubMed, Google Académico y Medline. Se investigaron los efectos de la yerba mate en el perfil metabólico relacionados con la diabetes y obesidad. Entre los hallazgos estuvieron la reducción del peso corporal, triglicéridos del hígado y tejido adiposo blanco. Con el consumo de la yerba mate se observó que los niveles del glucagon like peptide 1 y leptina aumentan, así como reducen la glucemia y resistencia a la insulina; contribuyendo a un menor crecimiento del tejido adiposo. El ácido clorogénico, ácido caféico y rutina contribuyen con la actividad antioxidante. El extracto acuoso protege a las células rojas de la hemólisis inducida por el peróxido de hidrógeno. En la mutagénesis, las investigaciones sugieren que los ácidos dicafeoilquínico en la yerba mate pueden ser agentes anticancerígenos potenciales. Las saponinas en las hojas previenen la inflamación y el cáncer de colon in vitro. En el cáncer de piel, el tratamiento oral y tópico de ratones expuestos a la radiación ultravioleta evitó la peroxidación lipídica y el daño del ADN(AU)