Effect of carbon and nitrogen sources on in vitro flower and fruit formation and withanolides production in Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal.

We studied the influence of sucrose and nitrogen concentration on in vitro flowering and fruit setting in elongated shoots of Withania somnifera. BA (1.5 mg/l) and IAA (0.3 mg/l) on MS medium supplemented with 4% sucrose showed 67% of in vitro flower induction frequency, 9 flowers/shoot, 4 fruits/shoot and 11 seeds/fruit in elongated-shoots. Different concentrations of nitrogen sources (L-glutamine, adenine sulphate, ammonium nitrate, potassium nitrate and sodium nitrate 5-25 mg/l) were tested in combination with 4% sucrose and BA at 1.5 mg/l and IAA at 0.3 mg/l. Highest number of flowers (20 flowers/shoot; 2.2-fold) and fruits (16 fruits/shoot; 3.39-fold), fruit setting (12 seeds/fruit; 1.08-fold) at a higher frequency (88 %) were achieved on MS medium augmented with 15 mg/l adenine sulphate with same PGRs and sucrose concentration. The maximum production of withanolide A (0.68 mg/g DW) and withanolide B (0.77 mg/g DW) was recorded in in vitro fruits. Highest accumulation of withaferin A (2 mg/g DW) was quantified from in vitro flowers, whereas, it was low in in vitro fruits (0.49 mg/g DW withaferin A). However, withanone (0.23 mg/g DW) was found accumulated uniformly in both in vitro flowers and fruits compared to control.

Experimental benznidazole treatment of Trypanosoma cruzi II strains isolated from children of the Jequitinhonha Valley, Minas Gerais, Brazil, with Chagas disease

Trypanosoma cruzi strains from distinct geographic areas show differences in drug resistance and association between parasites genetic and treatment response has been observed. Considering that benznidazole (BZ) can reduce the parasite burden and tissues damage, even in not cured animals and individuals, the goal is to assess the drug response to BZ of T. cruzi II strains isolated from children of the Jequitinhonha Valley, state of Minas Gerais, Brazil, before treatment. Mice infected and treated with BZ in both phases of infection were compared with the untreated and evaluated by fresh blood examination, haemoculture, polymerase chain reaction, conventional (ELISA) and non-conventional (FC-ALTA) serologies. In mice treated in the acute phase, a significant decrease in parasitaemia was observed for all strains. Positive parasitological and/or serological tests in animals treated during the acute and chronic (95.1-100%) phases showed that most of the strains were BZ resistant. However, beneficial effect was demonstrated because significant reduction (p < 0.05%) and/or suppression of parasitaemia was observed in mice infected with all strains (acute phase), associated to reduction/elimination of inflammation and fibrosis for two/eight strains. BZ offered some benefit, even in not cured animals, what suggest that BZ use may be recommended at least for recent chronic infection of the studied region.

Seasonal variation of total phenolic, antioxidant activity and minerals in fresh tea shoots [camellia sinensis var sinensis]

Seasonal variation of total phenolics, antioxidant activity and minerals in fresh tea shoots, consisting of one apical bud and two adjoining leaves sampled from Muradiye, Tuglali, Gundogdu, Enstitu 9, Hamzabey, Hayrat and Pazar 20 clones grown in Eastern Black Sea region in Turkey was investigated during three harvest season [May, July and September] in both 2006 and 2007 years. The total phenolics of all clones were lower in cool months of May in both years [average 33.00-90.27 mg GAE/g dry weight basis]. Thereafter, the levels of total phenolics increased throughout the warmer months from July to September. Antioxidant activity determined by p-carotene bleaching assay showed similar trends which increased from 1[st] harvest [May] to 3[rd] harvest [September]. All clones showed nearly 100% antioxidant activity at 2[nd] and 3[rd] harvest season which higher than standard synthetic antioxidant BHA [butylated hydroxyanisole]. However, seasonal variation of minerals [N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Cu, Mn, Zn] showed different results according to clones used. These results seem to suggest that the harvest time is crucial to determining the antioxidant potential of fresh tea shoots

Growth and accumulation of cadmium in Amaranthus [Amaranthus tricolor L.] as influenced by various levels of cadmium in soil

A pot experiment with six levels of cadmium [0, 1, 3, 5. 7 and 9 mg kg[-1] soil] conducted to investigate the effects of cadmium on the growth of Amaranthus [Amaranthus tricolor L.] a popular leafy vegetable crop in Bangladesh, and Cd accumulation in it. Plants were harvested at 30 and 45 days after sowing [DAS]. Plant height and biomass production of shoot and root were significantly affected by Cd treatments and there was a depression of yield due to increased Cd application. Cadmium accumulation in Amaranthus and the shoot: root ratio of Cd increased with increasing Cd concentrations in soil. The increase of soil contamination level led to a decrease of bioaccumulation coefficient in shoot and root at both the stages. The capacity for Cd accumulation in edible parts of Amaranthus with the absence of any visual symptoms indicates a potential danger for human consumption

Valor nutricional de los alimentos de Tayassu pecari (Artiodactyla: Tayassuidae) en el Parque Nacional Corcovado, Costa Rica / Nutritional values in the diet of white-lipped peccary Tayassu pecari (Artiodactyla: Tayassuidae) in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica

We determined the potential nutritional levels in 25 species of plants, and in earthworms, that constitute part of the diet of white-lipped peccary (Tayassu pecari) in Corcovado National Park, Costa Rica, from January 1998 to March 1999. The highest content of fat and energy was found in seeds of the Myristicacea family. The highest content of calcium was found in vegetative parts of Dieffenbachia spp. Nutritious contents differed among plant parts (seeds, fruits, stems and leaves). Fat and energy content were larger in seeds and fruits, whereas the largest content of protein was found in fruits and leaves. Mineral content also differed among plant parts. Calcium, potassium and magnesium were higher in leaves whereas copper and zinc were higher in seeds. Differences of diet between white-lipped peccaries in Corcovado and in other tropical regions of Latin America could be partially explained by our results. We found several species with higher fat and energy content than palms, which can explain the low consumption of palm seeds in Corcovado. It is possible that the regular consumption of stems and leaves of some species is related to their high mineral content. Seasonality of reproduction in Corcovado seems to be related not only to fruit availability but also to the nutritional quality of food.

Se determinó el valor nutritivo y mineral de 25 especies vegetales y una especie animal (lombriz de tierra) que forman parte de la dieta del chancho cariblanco (Tayassu pecari) en el Parque Nacional Corcovado, Costa Rica, desde enero de 1998 hasta marzo de 1999. Los mayores contenidos de grasa y energía bruta se encontraron en semillas de la familia Myristicaceae. El mayor contenido de calcio se encontró en partes vegetativas de Dieffenbachia spp. Los contenidos nutritivos fueron diferentes entre las diferentes partes vegetativas analizadas (semillas, frutos, tallos y hojas). El contenido de grasa y energía bruta fue mayor en semillas y frutos, mientras que el mayor contenido de proteina cruda se encontró en frutos y hojas. El contenido de minerales tambien fue diferente entre las partes vegetativas analizadas. Los contenidos de calcio, potasio y magnesio fueron mayores en hojas mientras que los de cobre y zinc fueron mayores en semillas. Diferencias en la dieta de los chanchos cariblancos de Corcovado con los de otras regiones tropicales de Latinoamérica pueden ser parcialmente explicadas con los resultados nutritivos de este estudio. Se encontraron varias especies con mayor contenido de grasa y energía bruta que las palmas, lo que puede explicar el bajo consumo de semillas de palmas en Corcovado. Es posible que el consumo regular de partes vegetativas (hojas y tallos) de algunas especies se deba al alto contenido mineral de estas. La estacionalidad de la reproducción parece estar relacionada no solo a la disponibilidad de alimentos sino tambien a la calidad nutritiva de los mismos.

Use of meristem tip culture to eliminate carnation latent virus from carnation plants.

A successful protocol for meristem tip culture to eliminate carnation latent virus from carnation cv. scania has been described . The virus was found to be mechanically transmissible to Chenopodium quinoa, C. amaranticolor, Dianthus barbatus and Saponaria vaccaria. Murashige and Skoog'smedium (MS) supplemented with NAA (1.0 microM) and Kn (20.0 microM) proved best for meristem establishment and microshoots were rooted in MS medium supplemented with IBA (5.0 microM). Meristems measuring 0.1 and-0.2 mm yielded virus free plants and larger meristems were not effective.

Triagem fitoquímica preliminar de tetrapterys multiglandulosa A. Juss. (Malpighiaceae) / Preliminary phytochemical screening of tetrapterys multiglandulosa A. Juss. (Malpighiaceae)

Este trabalho foi desenvolvido com o objetivo de identificar os princípios tóxicos da tetrapterys multigalndulosa A. Juss. Realizou-se triagem fitoquímica nas folhas (brotos e maduras) frescas, através de marcha analítica clássica e Cromatografia em Camada Delgada (CCD) pesquisando-se os seguintes princípios ativos: heterosídeos antrasênicos, saponínicos, flavônicos, cardiotônicos, taninos (hidrolisáveis e condensados), alcalóides (terciários e quaternários), composto esteróides e cumarínicos. Os resultados obtidos mostraram na folha jovem e madura, presença de heterosídeos flavônicos e esteróides. Taninos condensados e alcalóides quaternários foram encontrados somente na folha madura.