Germplasm screening of Myrtus communius Var. Italica l. for cultivar development from dir lower (Malakand Division), Pakistan

Habb-ul-Aas is a commercial drug obtained from Myrtus communis L and widely used for abdominal disorders in Pakistan. This sclerophyllous shrub is commonly found in the Lower Dir, Malakand Division, Pakistan. This plant is used as crude drug in herbal as well as pharmaceutical industry due to presence of aromatic oil obtained from various parts of the plant. Two varieties viz., italic and baetica of the plant exist in the world; however, no study reported before about the existence of this species up to the varietal level from Pakistan. The current study was undertaken to characterize the existing germplasm by using certain morphometric parameters in relation to physiognomic features. They exhibit high variability among characters, especially for characteristics useful in selecting cultivars for commercial production. Among the various ecotypes, MBT3 possessed high shoot length (29.96cm), leaf area (2.3cm), fruit volume (0.97ml) & fruit weight (0.88g) and pulp (0.87g) and therefore recommended for the cultivar development.

Resistance of different ecotypes of Gastrodia elata to tuber rot / 中国中药杂志

Tuber rot has become a serious problem in the large-scale cultivation of Gastrodia elata. In this study, we compared the resistance of different ecotypes of G. elata to tuber rot by field experiments on the basis of the investigation of G. elata diseases. The histological observation and transcriptome analysis were conducted to reveal the resistance differences and the underlying mechanisms among different ecotypes. In the field, G. elata f. glauca had the highest incidence of tuber rot, followed by G. elata f. viridis, and G. elata f. elata and G. elata f. glauca×G. elata f. elata showed the lowest incidence. Tuber rot showcased obvious plant source specificity and mainly occurred in the buds and bottom of G. elata plants. After infection, the pathogen spread hyphae in host cortex cells, which can change the endophytic fungal community structure in the cortex and parenchyma of G. elata. G. elata f. glauca had thinner lytic layer and more sugar lumps in the parenchyma than G. elata f. elata. The transcription of genes involved in immune defense, enzyme synthesis, polysaccharide synthesis, carbohydrate transport and metabolism, hydroxylase activity, and aromatic compound synthesis had significant differences between G. elata f. glauca and G. elata f. elata. These findings suggested that the differences in resis-tance to tuber rot among different ecotypes of G. elata may be related to the varied gene expression patterns and secondary metabolites. This study provides basic data for the prevention and control of tuber rot and the improvement of planting technology for G. elata.

Caracterización socioeconómica de fincas cafeteras del departamento de Nariño, Colombia / Socioeconomic characterization of coffee farms of the department of Nariño, Colombia

RESUMEN La adopción de tecnologías generadas para el cultivo del café depende, en gran medida de factores, como la disponibilidad de recursos y el nivel de escolaridad de los productores, lo cual, determina la importancia de analizar las condiciones socioeconómicas, en la estructuración de los sistemas productivos de café. El objetivo de esta investigación fue analizar las principales características sociales y económicas de los cafeteros en los ecotopos 220A y 221A, departamento de Nariño. Con base en un marco muestral de 16.767 predios cafeteros, se seleccionaron aleatoriamente 159 productores (86, del ecotopo 220A y 73, del 221A), con el objeto de aplicar el formulario de encuesta. En el análisis estadístico, 58 variables categóricas fueron sometidas a un análisis multivariado, mediante el método de correspondencias múltiples y análisis de clasificación jerárquica. El ecotopo 220A, se caracterizó por tener áreas de café entre 1 y 3 hectáreas, viviendas con techos de eternit y zinc, pisos de cemento, energía eléctrica, acueducto y unidad sanitaria. El rendimiento está entre 1.001 y 2.000kg.ha-1, costos de producción menores a COP1.500.000 (USD444,83). Los caficultores asisten a jornadas de capacitación y su núcleo familiar está compuesto por 4-7 personas. En el ecotopo 221A predominan las casas con techo de teja, pisos en cemento, energía eléctrica, acueducto y unidad sanitaria; las aguas servidas se disponen en pozos sépticos. No se aplican las buenas prácticas agrícolas (BPA), los rendimientos son menores a 1.500kg.ha-1 cps (café pergamino seco) y los costos de producción son inferiores a COP1.500.000ha-1. año-1 (USD444,83).

ABSTRACT The adoption of technologies generated for the coffee crop, depends to a great degree on factors such as the availability of resources and the producer´s scholarship which determines the importance of socioeconomic conditions in the coffee productive system structure. The objective of this investigation was to analyze the main coffee grower´s social and economic characteristics in the 220A and 221A Nariño Department ecotopes. 159 producers (86 from the ecotype 220A and 73 from the ecotope 221A), were selected randomly based on a sampling frame of 16.767 coffee farms, with the purpose of applying the survey questionnaire. In the statistical analysis, 58 categorical variables were used, they were subjected to a multivariate analysis using the multiple correspondence method and hierarchical classification analysis. The 220A ecotope was characterized by having coffee areas between 1 and 3 hectares, houses with eternit and zinc roofs, cement floors, electric power, aqueduct and sanitary unit. The performance is between 1.001 and 2.000kg.ha1, the cost of production is less than COP1.500,000 (USD44,83); the coffee growers attend training sessions and their family nucleus is made up of 4 - 7 people. In the ecotope 221A the houses with tile roof, cement floors, electricity, aqueduct and sanitary unit predominate; wastewater is disposed of in septic tanks. Good agricultural practices (GAP) aren't used, the yields are less than 1.500kg.ha-1 (dried parchment coffee) and the cost of production is less than $1.500.000 ha-1. year-1

Volatiles induction in response to mechanical damage is reduced by domestication in murtilla / La inducción de volátiles en respuesta al daño mecánico es reducida por la domesticación en murtilla

Volatiles compounds are involved in defensive induction against insects, playing an important role in insect-plant interaction being induced by response to mechanical damage. However, they could decrease according to the domestication degree in cultivated plants. Currently, it has been established that secondary metabolites are reduced due to the domestication process in murtilla. Hence, the follow question emerges: Are volatile organic compounds induced by mechanical damage reduced in cultivated murtilla plants in relation to wild plants? Two cultivated ecotypes and their respective wild counterparts were sampled. Volatiles compounds were obtained using Porapak-Q columns and analyzed by gas chromatography. Results showed that compounds as 2-hexanone, α-pinene, 2-thujene, 3-thujene and 1,8- cineole were more abundant in wild plants exposed to a mechanical damage than cultivated plants. Hence, these compounds have been associated to induced defense, these results suggest that domestication reduced the induction of defensive volatiles in cultivated murtilla in response to mechanical damage.

Los compuestos volátiles están implicados en la defensa inducida contra insectos, desempeñando un papel importante en esta interacción. Sin embargo, estos compuestos podrían disminuir según el grado de domesticación. Actualmente, se ha reportado que algunos metabolitos secundarios son reducidos en plantas de murtilla domesticadas. Por lo tanto, surge la siguiente pregunta de investigación: ¿Los compuestos orgánicos volátiles inducidos por el daño mecánico son reducidos en plantas cultivadas de murtilla en comparación con plantas silvestres? Para dos ecotipos cultivados y sus respectivas contrapartes silvestres, los compuestos volátiles fueron capturados usando columnas de Porapak-Q y las muestras analizadas por cromatografía gaseosa. Los resultados mostraron que compuestos tales como 2- hexanona, α-pineno, 2-tujeno, 3-tujeno y 1,8-cineol fueron más abundantes en plantas silvestres expuestas a daño mecánico que en cultivadas. Debido a que estos compuestos se han asociado a defensa inducida, estos resultados sugieren que la domesticación reduce la inducción de volátiles en plantas cultivadas sometidas a daño mecánico.

Diversidad genética de tres poblaciones de Physalis peruviana a partir del fraccionamiento y patrón electroforético de proteínas de reserva seminal / Genetic diversity in three populations of Physalis peruvianausing fractionation and electrophoretic patterns of seed storage protein

En el presente trabajo, es estudiada la diversidad genética de tres poblaciones atribuidas a ecotipos de aguaymanto, Physalis peruaviana. Las tres poblaciones eran atribuidas a los ecotipos Agroandino (provincia de San Pablo), Celendino (provincia de Celendín) y Cajabamba (provincia de Cajabamba) del departamento de Cajamarca. Se realizó la cuantificación proteica y evaluó el polimorfismo de las proteínas de reserva seminal (SSPs) mediante electroforesis en gel de poliacrilamida denaturante (SDS-PAGE). Además, se identificaron características bioquímicas de las proteínas seminales en esta especie. No se hallaron diferencias entre las tres poblaciones basados en la cuantificación proteica. Las globulinas (82.4%) fueron la fracción mayoritaria seguida por las albuminas (13.9%), glutelinas (3.7%) y prolaminas (0.7%). Sólo las albuminas mostraron polimorfismo, hallándose 21 proteínas entre ~ 6.5 a ~45 kDa y tres perfiles electroforéticos diferentes, los cuales fueron compartidos entre las poblaciones. Se identificaron las leguminas y vicilinas en la fracción globulina. Las glutelinas mostraron proteínas de mismo peso molecular (PM) a las leguminas; y las prolaminas sólo una banda de bajo PM. La población de San Pablo fue completamente homogénea a diferencia de la población de Cajabamba que mostró la mayor diversidad genética seguida de Celendín. No fue posible diferenciar las poblaciones designadas como ecotipos Agroandino, Cajabamba y Celendino basados en el análisis de proteínas seminales.

The genetic diversity of three populations designated as ecotypes of golden berry (Physalis peruaviana) is studied using protein quantification and polymorphism of seed storage proteins (SSPs) by denaturating polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). As well, biochemical characteristics of seed proteins were identified. The populations were from San Pablo province (Agroandino ecotype), Celendín province (Celendino ecotype) and Cajabamba province (Cajabamba ecotype), all from Cajamarca Department. There was not difference among the three populations based on protein quantification. Globulins (82.4%) were the majority fraction followed for albumins (13.9%), glutelins (3.7%) and prolamins (0.7%). Only albumins showed polymorphism, showing 21 proteins between ~6.5 to ~45 kDa and three different electrophoretic profiles, which were share among the three populations. Legumins and vicilins were identified in globulin fraction. Glutelins showed proteins of same molecular weight (MW) to legumins; and prolamins only a band of low MW. San Pablo province population (Agroandino ecotype) was completely uniform, while Cajabamba population showed higher genetic diversity followed by Celendin population. Our results shows that, based on seed proteins analyses is not possible to distinguish the three populations designated as Agroandino, Cajabamba and Celendino ecotypes.

Contribution to the discussions on the origin of the cerrado biome: Brazilian savanna / Contribuição às discussões sobre a origem do bioma cerrado: savana brasileira

Theories that attempt to explain the origin of the cerrado biome are mostly based on the isolated action of three major factors: climate, fire and soil. Another factor that has been mentioned is that of human interference. We hypothesise that the evolutionary origin of this biome resulted from the complex interaction of climate, fire and soil, with climate being the triggering agent of this assumed interaction. Fire, as well as acid and dystrophic soils, would be factors involved in the selection of savanna species throughout climatic events, during the Tertiary and the Quaternary, e.g. Pliocene and Pleistocene. The genesis of the physiognomies that would give rise to cerrado sensu lato, rather than forest formations, could have occurred due to the strong pressure exerted by the reduction in water availability, and the selection of the species adapted to the new conditions imposed by the environment. The characteristics of cerrado sensu lato soil, originated from edaphic impoverishment caused by lixiviation and successive past fires, would remain, even after hydric availability increased following the Pleistocene glaciations.

Teorias que tentam explicar a origem do bioma cerrado baseiam-se, principalmente, na ação isolada de três fatores principais: o clima, o fogo e o solo. Outro fator mencionado ainda é a interferência humana. Quanto à origem evolutiva desse bioma, o presente estudo propõe uma hipótese que considerou a complexa interação dos três primeiros fatores, mencionados acima, considerando o clima como elemento desencadeador dessa possível interação. O fogo e solos ácidos e distróficos teriam atuado como fatores de seleção de espécies savânicas, ao longo das oscilações climáticas durante o terciário e o quaternário, e.g. Plioceno e Pleistoceno. A gênese das fisionomias que passariam a compor o chamado cerrado sensu lato, em detrimento de formações florestais, teria resultado da forte pressão exercida pela redução da disponibilidade hídrica e da seleção de espécies adaptadas às novas condições impostas pelo ambiente. As características do solo, que passariam a manter o cerrado sensu lato, oriundas do empobrecimento edáfico pela lixiviação e sucessivos incêndios pretéritos, permaneceriam, mesmo com o restabelecimento de uma maior disponibilidade hídrica, após as glaciações do Pleistoceno.

Producción de IFN-γ en cultivos de linfocitos humanos por efecto de los extractos metanólicos de cuatro ecotipos de Lepidium peruvianum, Chacón (Brassicaceae)

Se estudió la actividad inmunoduladora sobre cultivos de linfocitos T humanos de sangre periférica. Se evaluó la producción de IFN-γ inducida por los extractos metanólicos (EM) de los ecotipos blanco, negro, rojo y morado de Lepidium peruvianum (conocida también como Lepidium meyenii Walp.) maca. Luego de cultivar los linfocitos con los respectivos EM de maca durante 14 horas sólo el EM del ecotipo morado indujo la producción significativa de IFN-γ cuantificada mediante Elispot. El extracto metanólico del ecotipo morado de maca posee propiedades inmunoestimuladoras importantes, desencadenando la activación de linfocitos T humanos.

The immunomodulatory activity was studied in function of the production of γ-IFN induced by the methanolic extracts (ME) of the white, black, red and purple ecotypes of Lepidium peruvianum, Chacón (at present Lepidium meyenii Walp.) maca, on cultures of human T lymphocytes obtained of periferic blood. After cultivating the lymphocytes with the respective ME of maca during 14 hours, only the ME of the purple ecotype induced the significant production of IFN-γ by Elispot quantified. The methanolic extract of the purple ecotype of maca possesses important immunostimulatory properties triggering the activation of the human T lymphocytes.

Efecto de cuatro ecotipos de Lepidium peruvianum Chacón sobre la producción de óxido nítrico in vitro

Los macrófagos desempeñan un rol importante en la respuesta innata y adaptativa, durante su activación producen mediadores citotóxicos como Óxido Nítrico (NO). El objetivo fue evaluar la producción de NO por macrófagos peritoneales de ratón cultivados con extractos metanólicos (EM) de los ecotipos rojo, negro, morado y blanco de Lepidium peruvianum Chacón (también conocida como Lepidium meyenii Walp). Los EM se prepararon empleando maca pulverizada macerada en metanol (1:2) durante 10 días. Los macrófagos peritoneales se obtuvieron de ratones 3 días después de haberles inyectado 1 ml de Caldo Tioglicolato por vía intraperitoneal; se cultivaron por triplicado durante 18 h a 37 °C en medio RPMI 1640 suplementado con 10% de suero de bovino fetal. La dosis de EM fue de 800 μg/ml por ecotipo, se consideraron controles sin EM. La producción de NO se determinó por acumulación de nitrito en el medio y se evidenció con el reactivo de Peter Griess, las concentraciones de nitrito se calcularon en base a la curva estándar elaborada con NaNO2. Las concentraciones producidas de nitrito fueron de 7,45; 6,79; 5,76; 5,61 y 6,81 mM para los EM de los ecotipos morado, negro, blanco, rojo y control respectivamente. Los cuatro ecotipos indujeron la producción de NO, aunque con el ecotipo morado fue superior (p>0,05).

The macrophages play an important role in the innate and adaptative response. Upon appropriate activation, macrophages released a variety of cytotoxic mediators like the Nitric Oxide (NO). The objective was to evaluate the production of NO for murine peritoneal macrophages cultivated with methanol extracts (ME) of different ecotypes of Lepidium peruvianum Chacón (at present Lepidium meyenii Walp.) red, black, purple and white. The ME was prepared using maca powdered macerated in methanol (1:2) during 10 days. Peritoneal macrophages were obtained of mice 3 days after having injected them 1 ml of thioglycolate broth; they were cultivated for triplicate during 18 hrs at 37 °C in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with 10% fetal calf serum. The dose of ME was of 800 μg/ml for ecotype, were considered controls without ME. The production of NO was assayed by nitrite accumulation in the supernatant culture and it was evidenced with Peter Griess's reagent, the nitrite concentrations were calculated based on the standard curve elaborated with NaNO2. The produced concentrations of nitrite were of 7,45; 6,79; 5,76; 5,61 and 6,81 mM for the ME purple, black, white, red ecotypes and control respectively, although with the purple ecotype it was superior (p> 0,05).

Selection and Optimization of 2-DE System for Leaf Proteome Profiling of Different Ecotypes of Reed Growing in Natural Habitats / 生物化学与生物物理进展

An optimized two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2-DE) system for analyzing plant proteins was developed by evaluating different reagents and concentrations used in the sample extraction solutions and lysis buffers. Two main sample preparation methods, referred to as trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-acetone method and phenol extraction-ammonium acetate/methanol (phenol-NH4Ac/methanol) precipitation method, were compared. Four ecotypes of reed plants (Phragmites communis Trin.) from the desert region of north-western China were used as experimental materials: (1) swamp reed (SR) which grows in water about 1 m deep; (2) dune reed (DR) which grows on 5～10 m high sand dunes; (3) heavy salt meadow reed (HSMR) which grows on low-lying salt flats; and (4) light salt meadow reed (LSMR) which grows in the transition area between DR and HSMR growing areas. The optimized phenol-NH4Ac/methanol precipitation method consisted of extracting leaf proteins of different ecotypes of reed with water-saturated phenol and then precipitating with a 5-fold volume of 0.1 mol/L NH4Ac in methanol, followed by dissolving in the lysis buffer. The optimized protein lysis buffer consisted of 7 mol/L urea, 2 mol/L thiourea, 4% CHAPS, 2% Ampholine(pH 3.5～10∶pH 5～8 = 1∶4) and 65 mmol/L DTT. The prepared protein sample (80 ?g) was then separated by 2-DE gel and detected by silver staining method. This improved 2-DE system resulted in a 2-D protein profile of higher resolution and higher protein yields as analyzed by PDQuest software. Good results were also obtained when this 2-DE system was used in 2-D analysis of proteins from other plant materials, such as rice leaves, indicating that it is a suitable 2-DE system for analyzing leaf proteins of different plant species.