Effect of different liming levels on the biomass production and essential oil extraction yield of Cunila galioides Benth / Efeito de diferentes níveis de calagem na produção de biomassa e no rendimento de extração de óleo essencial de Cunila galioides Benth

Poejo is an aromatic and medicinal plant native to highland areas of south Brazil, in acid soils with high Al3+ concentration. The main objective of the present work was to evaluate the effect of liming on the extraction yield of essential oil of three chemotypes of poejo (Cunila galioides Benth). For this purpose, the experiments were performed in a greenhouse, using 8-litre pots. The treatments were four dosages of limestone (0, 3.15, 12.5, and 25 g.L-1) and a completely random experimental design was used, with four replications and three chemotypes, set up in a 3 × 4 factorial arrangement. The parameters evaluated were dry weight of aerial parts, essential oil content and chemical composition of essential oil. Results showed that liming affects the biomass production, essential oil yield and chemical composition, with cross interaction verified between chemotype and limestone dosage. For the higher dosage lower biomass production, lower yield of essential oil as well as the lowest content of citral (citral chemotype) and limonene (menthene chemotype) was observed. In the ocimene chemotype, no liming influence was observed on the essential oil yield and on the content of major compounds. The dosage of 3.15 g.L-1 can be considered the best limestone dosage for the production of poejo for the experimental conditions evaluated.

O poejo é uma espécie aromática e medicinal, autóctone do sul do Brasil, encontrada em regiões de campos nativos de altitude, onde os solos se caracterizam por apresentar elevada acidez e altas concentrações de Al3+. O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar o efeito da calagem na produção de biomassa e de óleo essencial de três quimiotipos (QT) de poejo (Cunila galioides Benth.). O experimento foi conduzido em casa de vegetação utilizando-se recipientes com capacidade de oito litros. Os tratamentos consistiram de quatro dosagens de calcário dolomítico (0; 3,15; 12,5; 25 g.L-1 de substrato) e o delineamento experimental foi completamente casualisado, utilizando-se três quimiotipos de poejo (citral, menteno e ocimeno), quatro tratamentos e quatro repetições, em esquema fatorial 3 × 4. Foram avaliados o peso de matéria seca da parte aérea das plantas, o teor de óleo essencial e a composição química dos componentes majoritários presentes no óleo. Os resultados mostraram efeito da calagem na produção de biomassa, no teor e na composição química do óleo, ocorrendo efeito de interação entre quimiotipo e dosagem de calcário. Na maior dosagem, observou-se a menor produção de biomassa média, o teor de óleo essencial foi significativamente menor, assim como os componentes citral (QT-citral) e limoneno (QT-menteno). Para o quimiotipo ocimeno, as dosagens de calcário não influenciaram o teor e os componentes majoritários do óleo essencial, mas prejudicaram a produção de biomassa em doses elevadas. A calagem com 3,15 g.L-1 de substrato, elevando o pH para 5,0, pode ser considerada a melhor dosagem de calcário e a mais adequada faixa de pH para a produção de poejo, nas condições experimentais avaliadas.

Influência de citocininas na micropropagação de Mentha x gracilis Sole / Cytokinin influence on Mentha x gracilis Sole micropropagation

Mentha x gracilis Sole é um híbrido que produz óleos essenciais ricos em monoterpenos. Tendo em vista a propagação clonal desta planta, segmentos nodais provenientes de plantas assépticas, foram cultivados em meio de Murashige e Skoog (MS) suplementado com 0; 0,5; 1,0 e 2,0 µM de cinetina, benzilaminopurina (BAP) ou thidiazuron (TDZ). Após 30 dias, as plantas foram transferidas para meio MS não suplementado com citocinina. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos em meio suplementado com 2 µM de TDZ, mostrando ser método viável para a produção rápida de grande número de mudas. Após a transferência das plantas para a casa de vegetação, as plantas propagadas com TDZ apresentam maior número de tricomas glandulares.

Mentha x gracilis Sole is a hybrid that produces essential oils rich in monoterpenes. Aimed at the clonal propagation of this plant, nodal segments from aseptic plants were cultured in Murashige and Skoog (MSO) medium supplemented with 0; 0.5; 1.0 and 2.0 µM kinetin, benzyl adenine (BAP) or thidiazuron (TDZ). After 30 days, plants were transferred to MOS medium without cytokinin supplementation. The best results were obtained in medium supplemented with 2 µM TDZ, which proved to be a viable method for the rapid production of a large number of seedlings. After transference to the greenhouse, plants propagated with TDZ had a larger number of glandular trichomes.

Research of changes in quantities and qualities of leaf volatile oils of Zhumeria majdae Rech. f.and Wendelbo in Different Stages of Growth

The monotypic Iranian Zhumeria majdae [Lamiaceae], known locally by the name of Mohrekhosh, was recently described as the first member of a new genus [Zhumeria]. It has a limited geographical rang in southern Iran at Hormozgan province. The leaves have been used for many years as curative and antiseptic. The aim of the present study was to detect and compare the constituents of the essential oils of Zhumeria majdae in different stages of growth. In this research, the constituents of essential oils of Zhumeria majdae leaves at the before of flowering and the end of flowering in Geno mountain of Hormozgan province were analyzed via GC and GC/MS and compared together. The oil yield of the dried leaves by hydrodistillation at two stage were 7.5 and 9.3%, respectively [v/w]. At the essential oils of the before of flowering and the end of flowering stages, 22 and 16 compounds, accounting for 99.9% of the oil, were identified. The numbers and contents of constituents of essential oils of Zhumeria majdae in different stages of growth are different

Specific leaf mass, fresh: dry weight ratio, sugar and protein contnts in species of Lamiaceae from different light enviroments

Samples from eleven species of Lamiaceae were collected from different light environments in Venezuela for laboratory analysis.The studied species were: Plectranthus scutellarioides (Ps), Scutellaria purpurascens (Sp), Hyptis pectinata (Hp), H. sinuata (Hs), Leonorus japonicus (Lj), Plecthranthus amboinicus (Pa) Ocimum basilicum (Ocb), O.campechianum (Occ) Origanum majorana (Orm), Rosmarinus officinali ,(Ro) and Salvia officinalis (So). Protein and soluble sugar contents per unit of area were measured, Specific Leaf Mass (SLM)and fresh: dry weight (FW/DW) ratios were calculated. The higher values for soluble sugars contents were present in sun species: Lj, Pa, Ocb, Occ, Or. m, Ro and So; the lower values were obtained in low light species: Ps, Sp, Hp, Hs. The values of protein content do not show any clear trend or difference between sun and shade environments. The lowest values for the fresh weight: dry weight ratio are observed in sun species with the exception of Lj and Pa, while the highest value is observed in Pa, a succulent plant. The higher values of specific leaf mass (SLM)(Kg DMm-2) are observed in sun plants. The two way ANOVA revealed that there were significant differences among species and between sun and low light environments for sugar content and FW: DW ratio, while SLM was significant for environments but no significant for species, and not significant for protein for both species and environments. The soluble sugar content, FW: DW ratio and SLM values obtained in this work, show a clear separation between sun and shade plants. The sugar content and FW:DW ratio are distinctive within the species,and the light environment affected sugar content, FW:DW ratio and SLM. These species may be shade-tolerant and able to survive in sunny environments. Perhaps these species originated in shaded environments and have been adapting to sunny habitats

En once especies de la familia Lamiaceae: Plecthranthus scutellarioides R. Br. (Ps); S cutellaria purpurascens Sw.(Sp); Hyptis pectinata (L.) Poit.(Hp); Hyptis sinuata Kunth (Hs); Ocimum basilicum L.(Ocb); Ocimum campechianum Miller.(Occ); Origanum majorana L.(Orm); Rosmarinus officinalis L.(Ro); Salvia officinalis L.(So) and Plecthranthus amboinicus (Lour) Spreng.(Pa) and Leonorus japonicus Hout., (Lj), provenientes de diferentes ambientes de exposición a la luz solar, fueron medidos los contenidos de proteínas y azúcares, expresados por unidad de área y fueron calculados la masa específica foliar (MEF)y la relación peso fresco: peso seco (PF:PS). Los mayores valores en el contenido de azúcar fueron observados en plantas que crecieron a exposición directa de luz solar: Lj, Pa, Ocb, Occ, Or. m, Ro and So; mientras que los menores valores se presentaron en aquellas plantas provenientes de ambientes más frecuentemente sombreados e interrumpidos por rayos de sol: Ps, Sp, Hp, Hs. Los valores en el contenido de proteínas no muestran diferencias. Los menores valores de PF:DW fueron observados en las plantas expuestas a radiación solar directa, con la excepción de L. japonicus y P. amboinicus ,esta última es suculenta. Los mayores valores de MEF se presentaron en plantas de sol. El análisis de varianza de dos vías reveló que había diferencias significativas entre especies y ambientes para el contenido de azúcares y la relación PF: PS, mientras que para MEF, la diferencia fue significativa solo entre ambientes; en el caso del contenido de proteínas las diferencias no fueron significativas para especies y ambientes. El contenido de azúcares, la relación PF: PS y la MEF muestran una clara separación entre las especies de sol y las de sombra. Parece que en las especies de Lamiaceae estudiadas, el contenido de azúcares, y la relación PF: PS son distintivos entre las especies mismas y la radiación solar afecta el contenido de azúcares, la relación PF: PS y la MEF. Podría suponerse que estas especies sean tolerantes a la sombra y capaces a su vez, de vivir en ambientes soleados, más aún, de acuerdo a estos resultados y a otros relativos a estas mismas especies, pudiera interpretarse que tienen su origen en ambientes sombreados y que han ido ocupando y adaptándose a ambientes soleados, basándose en la plasticidad fisiológica inducida por las variaciones ambientales de luz

Micropropagation of Paulownia fortuneii through in vitro axillary shoot proliferation.

Primary cultures were established with nodal segments from juvenile shoots of two- year-old Paulownia fortuneii trees from a clonal plantation in Andhra Pradesh. A medium containing half-strength MS salts + RAP (1 mg/L) + sucrose (2%) produced optimum bud break in nodal explants. The same basal medium with reduced hormone level (0.5 mg/L) supported maximum multiplication of secondary cultures of P. fortuneii (1:6 in 6 weeks). Specific treatments were tested to enhance this rate of multiplication. In one approach, five to six week old in vitro grown shoots were ratooned (cutting the main shoot at the bottom leaving one node). The stumps (ratooned basal node) produced 2 to 3 axillary shoots, which grew into 4 to 5 nodes by 3 weeks; thus, providing additional shoots from the same explant. This provided 30% additional shoots in 4 cycles. Secondly, reducing the light intensity to 1200 lux resulted in higher shoot elongation, i.e, formation of 8 nodes in 5 weeks with healthier shoots than the normal intensity of 3000 lux under which only 6 nodes were produced in 6 weeks. In vitro-grown shoots could be successfully rooted ex vitro in vermiculite + cocopeat mixture (1:1 v/v) under 90% humidity, transferred to soil in polybags for hardening in the green house for 2 weeks and shifted to shade net for further hardening. After one month, the plants could be successfully transplanted to field with 95% survival. Micropropagated plants showed an excellent growth in the field attaining a height of 1.5 m and a collar diameter of 2.8 cm in 3 months.

Rapid micropropagation of Geodorum densiflorum (Lam) Schltr. in liquid culture.

Technique for rapid mass propagation of Geodorum densiflorum (Lam)Schltr. has been developed by using thin sections of stems of in vitro regenerated plantlets as explant source. Thin sections of stems (1.0-1.5 mm) when cultured in modified liquid and semisolid Knudson C (KnC) medium produced 1.8 and 1.2 protocorm like bodies (PLBs) per explant respectively. Peptone (2 g l-1) was effective in promoting the survival percentage of the explants but had no effect on PLB production. BAP and NAA when used individually enhanced the rate of PLB production. But a significant and manifold increase in PLB production was noted when BAP (3 mg l-1) and NAA (0.5 mg l-1) in combination were added to peptone supplemented liquid and semisolid KnC medium. PLBs thus obtained were subcultured in semisolid KnC medium and obtained well developed plantlets within 10-12 weeks.