Bioactive Compounds of Fruit Parts of Three Eugenia uniflora Biotypes in Four Ripening Stages.

Variability of secondary metabolites in edible (peel and pulp) and inedible (seeds) parts of three pitanga varieties, red, red-orange and purple, was investigated during the maturation process. Hydrolysable tannins, anthocyanins, and flavonoids were quantified by HPLC/DAD and carotenoids by absorbance. Peel/pulp showed greater complexity of constituents (carotenoids, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and hydrolysable tannins), while only tannins were identified in seeds, but in quantities of 10 to 100 times greater. The red-orange variety showed the highest levels of phenolic compounds in seeds and peel/pulp, except anthocyanins. The analysis of the principal response curves showed that the pitanga biotype has greater influence on metabolite variation than ripening stages. During peel/pulp maturation, a reduction in the levels of flavonoids and tannins contrasted with an increase in carotenoids and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside in all varieties, whereas in the seeds oenothein B, the major tannin, increased up to 1.32 g/100 g fresh weight. Such marked differences between fruit parts demonstrate that the seeds in stages E3 and E4 are a source of hydrolysable tannins, compounds known for their antitumor activity, while peel/pulp of all varieties in the ripe stage provide natural antioxidants, such as carotenoids and flavonoids. Lastly, the purple biotype can be a rich source of the cyanidin-3-O-glucoside pigment a potent bioactive compound.

Physiological Responses to the Foliar Application of Synthetic Resistance Elicitors in Cape Gooseberry Seedlings Infected with Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. physali.

Vascular wilt caused by Fusarium oxysporum is the most limiting disease that affects cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana L.) crops in Colombia. The use of synthetic elicitors for vascular wilt management is still scarce in Andean fruit species. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect and number of foliar applications of synthetic elicitors such as jasmonic acid (JA), salicylic acid (SA), brassinosteroids (BR), or a commercial resistance elicitor based on botanical extracts (BE) on disease progress and their effect on the physiology of cape gooseberry plants inoculated with F. oxysporum f. sp. physali. Groups of ten plants were separately sprayed once, twice, or three times with a foliar synthetic elicitor, respectively. Elicitor applications were performed at the following concentrations: JA (10 mL L-1), SA (100 mg L-1), BR (1 mL L-1) and BE (2.5 mL of commercial product (Loker®) L-1). The results showed that three foliar BR, SA, or BE applications reduced the area under the disease progress, severity index, and vascular browning in comparison to inoculated plants without any elicitor spray. Three BR, SA, or BE sprays also favored stomatal conductance, water potential, growth (total dry weight and leaf area) and fluorescence parameters of chlorophyll compared with inoculated and untreated plants with no elicitor sprays. Three foliar sprays of SA, BR, or BE enhanced photosynthetic pigments (leaf total chlorophyll and carotenoid content) and proline synthesis and decreased oxidative stress in Foph-inoculated plants. In addition, the effectiveness of three foliar BR, SA, or BE sprays was corroborated by three-dimensional plot and biplot analysis, in which it can evidence that stomatal conductance, proline synthesis, and efficacy percentage were accurate parameters to predict Foph management. On the hand, JA showed the lowest level of amelioration of the negative effects of Foph inoculation. In conclusion, the use of the synthetic elicitors BR, SA, or BE can be considered as a tool complementary for the commercial management of vascular wilt in areas where this disease is a limiting factor.

Photosynthetic model for citrus cultivar Huangguogan / Modelo fotossintético para cultivar cítrico Huangguogan

Grafting is an effective measure to improve the photosynthetic rate of citrus. The light responses of photosynthesis in leaves of two-year old grafted Huangguogan (citrus cultivar Huangguogan), Huanggougan / Trifoliate (HG/PT), Huanggougan / Tangerine (HG/CR), and Huanggougan / Ziyang Xiangcheng (HG/CJ) were studied using the LI-COR 6400 portable photosynthesis system. Light-response curves and photosynthetic parameters were analyzed and fitted using the rectangular hyperbola model (RHM), the exponential model (EM), the non rectangular hyperbola model (NRHM), and the modified rectangular hyperbola model (MRHM). The results showed that: (1) Grafting can change the photosynthetic characteristics of Huangguogan, and the value of photosynthesis rate of HG/CJ is the greatest; (2) The light-response curves of net photosynthetic rate (PN), the light compensation point (LCP), and the dark respiration rate (RD) were well fitted using the above four models. The modified rectangular hyperbola was the best model in fitting the data; the nonrectangular hyperbola model was the second, and the rectangular hyperbola model was the poorest one.(AU)

O enxerto é uma medida eficaz para melhorar a taxa fotossintética de citros. As respostas leves da fotossíntese em folhas de Huangguogan (cultivar de citros Huangguogan), Huanggougan / Trifoliate (HG / PT), Huanggougan / Tangerine (HG / CR) e Huanggougan / Ziyang Xiangcheng (HG / CJ) foram estudadas usando o sistema de fotossíntese portátil LI-COR 6400.Curvas de resposta à luz e parâmetros fotossintéticos foram analisados e ajustados usando o modelo de hipérbole retangular (RHM), o modelo exponencial (EM), o modelo de hipérbole não retangular (NRHM) e o modelo de hipérbole retangular modificado (MRHM). Os resultados mostraram que: (1) O enxerto pode mudar as características fotossintéticas de Huangguogan, e o valor da taxa de fotossíntese de HG / CJ é o maior; (2) As curvas de resposta à luz da taxa fotossintética líquida (PN), do ponto de compensação de luz (LCP) e da taxa de respiração escura (RD) foram bem ajustadas usando os quatro modelos acima. A hipérbole retangular modificada foi o melhor modelo na adaptação dos dados; o modelo de hipérbole não-retangular foi o segundo, e o modelo de hipérbole retangular foi o mais pobre.(AU)

Photosynthetic model for citrus cultivar Huangguogan / Modelo fotossintético para cultivar cítrico Huangguogan

Grafting is an effective measure to improve the photosynthetic rate of citrus. The light responses of photosynthesis in leaves of two-year old grafted Huangguogan (citrus cultivar Huangguogan), Huanggougan / Trifoliate (HG/PT), Huanggougan / Tangerine (HG/CR), and Huanggougan / Ziyang Xiangcheng (HG/CJ) were studied using the LI-COR 6400 portable photosynthesis system. Light-response curves and photosynthetic parameters were analyzed and fitted using the rectangular hyperbola model (RHM), the exponential model (EM), the non rectangular hyperbola model (NRHM), and the modified rectangular hyperbola model (MRHM). The results showed that: (1) Grafting can change the photosynthetic characteristics of Huangguogan, and the value of photosynthesis rate of HG/CJ is the greatest; (2) The light-response curves of net photosynthetic rate (PN), the light compensation point (LCP), and the dark respiration rate (RD) were well fitted using the above four models. The modified rectangular hyperbola was the best model in fitting the data; the nonrectangular hyperbola model was the second, and the rectangular hyperbola model was the poorest one.

O enxerto é uma medida eficaz para melhorar a taxa fotossintética de citros. As respostas leves da fotossíntese em folhas de Huangguogan (cultivar de citros Huangguogan), Huanggougan / Trifoliate (HG / PT), Huanggougan / Tangerine (HG / CR) e Huanggougan / Ziyang Xiangcheng (HG / CJ) foram estudadas usando o sistema de fotossíntese portátil LI-COR 6400.Curvas de resposta à luz e parâmetros fotossintéticos foram analisados e ajustados usando o modelo de hipérbole retangular (RHM), o modelo exponencial (EM), o modelo de hipérbole não retangular (NRHM) e o modelo de hipérbole retangular modificado (MRHM). Os resultados mostraram que: (1) O enxerto pode mudar as características fotossintéticas de Huangguogan, e o valor da taxa de fotossíntese de HG / CJ é o maior; (2) As curvas de resposta à luz da taxa fotossintética líquida (PN), do ponto de compensação de luz (LCP) e da taxa de respiração escura (RD) foram bem ajustadas usando os quatro modelos acima. A hipérbole retangular modificada foi o melhor modelo na adaptação dos dados; o modelo de hipérbole não-retangular foi o segundo, e o modelo de hipérbole retangular foi o mais pobre.

Multi-scale impact of chronic exposure to environmental concentrations of chlordecone in freshwater cnidarian, Hydra circumcincta.

Chlordecone (CLD) is an organochlorine pesticide widely used in the past to control pest insects in banana plantations in the French West Indies. Due to its persistence in the environment, CLD has contaminated the soils where it has been spread, as well as the waters, and is still present in them. The objective of our study was to evaluate the effects of chronic exposure to environmentally relevant CLD concentrations in an animal model, the freshwater hydra (Hydra circumcincta). In a multi-marker approach, we have studied the expression of some target stress genes, the morphology, and the asexual reproduction rates. Our data showed that exposure to low concentrations of chlordecone leads to (i) a modulation of the expression of target genes involved in oxidative stress, detoxification, and neurobiological processes, and (ii) morphological damages and asexual reproduction impairment. We have observed non-monotonic dose-response curves, which agree with endocrine-disrupting chemical effects. Thus, "U-shaped" dose-response curves were observed for SOD, GRed, Hym355, and potentially GST gene expressions; inverted "U-shaped" curves for GPx and CYP1A gene expressions and reproductive rates; and a biphasic dose-response curve for morphological damages. Therefore, in the range of environmental concentrations tested, very low concentrations of CLD can produce equally or more important deleterious effects than higher ones. Finally, to our knowledge, this study is the first one to fill the lack of knowledge concerning the effects of CLD in Hydra circumcincta and confirms that this diploblastic organism is a pertinent freshwater model in the risk assessment.

Arsenic tolerance of cyanobacterial strains with potential use in biotechnology / Tolerancia a arsénico de cianobacterias con usos biotecnológicos

The arsenic content of various water bodies in Argentina is higher than the acceptable levels for human and animal uses. Cyanobacteria are widely distributed in aquatic environments and can bioaccumulate arsenic (As). This study presents the response of indigenous cyanobacteria to As(III) and As(V), including the species Tolypothrix tenuis, Nostoc muscorum and Nostoc minutum, previously used with biotechnological purposes. As(III) resulted more toxic than As(V) in all cases, causing cell death in the range of 5-20 mg/l. T. tenuis growth was sensitive to As(V) with lethal inhibition at 625 mg/l, whereas the Noctoc species were stimulated. EC50 values found were 73.34 mg/l for N. muscorum and 989.3 mg/l for N. minutum. Batch cultures of N. minutum showed improvements in both growth parameters and photosynthetic pigment content in the presence of 1,000 mg/l As(V). Increases of 66.7%, 75.5%, 40% and 20.7% in cell productivity, chlorophyll a, total carotenoids and C-phycocyanin respectively were observed, reaching a bioaccumulated arsenic value of 37.4 μg/g at the stationary growth phase.(AU)

El contenido de arsénico de diversos cuerpos de agua de Argentina es superior a los niveles aceptados para consumo humano y animal. Las cianobacterias están ampliamente distribuidas en los ambientes acuáticos y pueden bioacumular As. Este estudio presenta la respuesta de cianobacterias autóctonas a As(III) y As(V), incluyendo las especies Tolypothrix tenuis, Nostoc muscorum y Nostoc minutum utilizadas previamente con fines biotecnológicos. As(III) resultó más tóxico que As(V) en todos los casos, causando muerte celular en el rango de 5-20 mg/l. El crecimiento de T. tenuis fue sensible a As(V) con inhibición letal a 625 mg/l. Sin embargo, las especies de Noctoc resultaron estimuladas. Los valores de EC50 encontrados fueron de 73,34 mg/l para N. muscorum y 989,3 mg/l para N. minutum. Los cultivos batch de N. minutum mostraron mejoras en los parámetros de crecimiento y en el contenido de pigmentos fotosintéticos en presencia de 1000 mg/l As(V). Los incrementos observados en productividad celular, contenido de clorofila a, carotenoides totales y C-ficocianina fueron de 66,7 %; 75,5 %; 40 % y 20,7 % respectivamente, alcanzando un valor de arsénico bioacumulado de 37,4 μg/g en la fase estacionaria.(AU)

Arsenic tolerance of cyanobacterial strains with potential use in biotechnology / Tolerancia a arsénico de cianobacterias con usos biotecnológicos

The arsenic content of various water bodies in Argentina is higher than the acceptable levels for human and animal uses. Cyanobacteria are widely distributed in aquatic environments and can bioaccumulate arsenic (As). This study presents the response of indigenous cyanobacteria to As(III) and As(V), including the species Tolypothrix tenuis, Nostoc muscorum and Nostoc minutum, previously used with biotechnological purposes. As(III) resulted more toxic than As(V) in all cases, causing cell death in the range of 5-20 mg/l. T. tenuis growth was sensitive to As(V) with lethal inhibition at 625 mg/l, whereas the Noctoc species were stimulated. EC50 values found were 73.34 mg/l for N. muscorum and 989.3 mg/l for N. minutum. Batch cultures of N. minutum showed improvements in both growth parameters and photosynthetic pigment content in the presence of 1,000 mg/l As(V). Increases of 66.7%, 75.5%, 40% and 20.7% in cell productivity, chlorophyll a, total carotenoids and C-phycocyanin respectively were observed, reaching a bioaccumulated arsenic value of 37.4 μg/g at the stationary growth phase.

El contenido de arsénico de diversos cuerpos de agua de Argentina es superior a los niveles aceptados para consumo humano y animal. Las cianobacterias están ampliamente distribuidas en los ambientes acuáticos y pueden bioacumular As. Este estudio presenta la respuesta de cianobacterias autóctonas a As(III) y As(V), incluyendo las especies Tolypothrix tenuis, Nostoc muscorum y Nostoc minutum utilizadas previamente con fines biotecnológicos. As(III) resultó más tóxico que As(V) en todos los casos, causando muerte celular en el rango de 5-20 mg/l. El crecimiento de T. tenuis fue sensible a As(V) con inhibición letal a 625 mg/l. Sin embargo, las especies de Noctoc resultaron estimuladas. Los valores de EC50 encontrados fueron de 73,34 mg/l para N. muscorum y 989,3 mg/l para N. minutum. Los cultivos batch de N. minutum mostraron mejoras en los parámetros de crecimiento y en el contenido de pigmentos fotosintéticos en presencia de 1000 mg/l As(V). Los incrementos observados en productividad celular, contenido de clorofila a, carotenoides totales y C-ficocianina fueron de 66,7 %; 75,5 %; 40 % y 20,7 % respectivamente, alcanzando un valor de arsénico bioacumulado de 37,4 μg/g en la fase estacionaria.

Detection of synergistic combinations of Baccharis extracts with terbinafine against Trichophyton rubrum with high throughput screening synergy assay (HTSS) followed by 3D graphs. Behavior of some of their components.

Forty four extracts from nine Baccharis spp. from the Caulopterae section were tested in combination with terbinafine against Trichophyton rubrum with the HTSS assay at six different ratios with the aim of detecting those mixtures that produced a ≥50% statistically significant enhancement of growth inhibition. Since an enhanced effect of a combination respective of its components, does not necessarily indicate synergism, three-dimensional (3D) dose-response surfaces were constructed for each selected pair of extract/antifungal drug with the aid of CombiTool software. Ten extracts showed synergistic or additive combinations which constitutes a 22% hit rate of the extracts submitted to evaluation. Four flavonoids and three ent-clerodanes were detected in the active Baccharis extracts with HPLC/UV/ESI-MS methodology, all of which were tested in combination with terbinafine. Results showed that ent-clerodanes but not flavonoids showed synergistic or additive effects. Among them, bacchotricuneatin A followed by bacrispine showed synergistic effects while hawtriwaic acid showed additive effects.

The influence of vegetation on bird distribution in dry forests and oak woodlands of western Mexico

The bird species distribution along a dry forest-oak woodland vegetation gradient was studied in autumn and spring in two consecutive years. Intra-seasonal comparisons showed that bird species had similar distributions in each of the two years. Inter-seasonal changes were mainly due to compositional differences even though resident species generally used similar habitats in both seasons. Ordination analyses, based on the first year bird species abundances, showed a clearly segregated distribution between forest and woodland birds. Within these two vegetation types, the distribution tended to be more individualistic. Nevertheless further habitats could be identified according to groups of birds having similar distributions. These habitats did not correspond to the plant associations which resulted from a previous classification of the vegetation. Observations of the plant use by the birds during the study period showed that, in most cases, the plant variables associated with ordination analyses are unlikely to be very important for the bird species life cycles.

Se estudió la distribución de especies de aves a lo largo de un gradiente de vegetación bosque seco – bosque de encino en el otoño y primavera de dos años consecutivos. Las comparaciones intra-estacionales mostraron distribuciones similares de las especies de aves en ambos años. Los cambios inter-estacionales se debieron principalmente a diferencias en la composición, aunque las especies residentes normalmente usan hábitats similares en ambas estaciones. Los análisis de ordenación, basados en las abundancias de las aves en el primer año de muestreo, mostraron una distribución claramente segregada entre aves del bosque seco y del bosque de encino. Aunque la distribución de las especies fue más azarosa dentro de cada tipo de vegetación, se pudieron identificar ciertos hábitats en base a grupos de aves con distribuciones similares. Estos hábitats no correspondieron con las asociaciones vegetales identificadas. Las observaciones del uso de las plantas durante el período de estudio sugieren, en la mayoría de los casos, que las variables vegetales asociadas con los ejes de ordenación no serían muy importantes para el ciclo de vida de las especies de aves. Sin embargo, se requiere investigación adicional para comprender su verdadera función.