Enantioselectivity of the bioconversion of chiral citronellal during the inhibition of wheat seeds germination.

Citronellal is one of the most prominent monoterpenes present in many essential oils. Low persistence of essential oils as bioherbicides has often been addressed because of the high volatility of these compounds. Bioconversion of citronellal by wheat seeds releases less aggressive and injurious compounds as demonstrated by their diminished germination. We demonstrated that optically pure citronellal enantiomers were reduced to optically pure citronellol enantiomers with retention of the configuration both in isolated wheat embryos and endosperms. Our findings reveal the potential of essential oils as allelopathic agents providing an insight into their mechanism of action and persistence.

Intraspecific variation of Chiliadenus iphionoides essential oil in Israel.

Chiliadenus iphionoides (Asteraceae), a shrub endemic to the Mediterranean region and widespread throughout Israel, is used in the traditional eastern Mediterranean medicine. Although recent research confirmed its pharmacological potential, C. iphionoides essential oil has not been adequately characterized chemically. Essential-oil samples were collected from representative wild populations throughout Israel and characterized by GC/MS analysis. Considerable interpopulation variation was found for the composition of the essential oils. Multivariate analysis showed a significant correlation between the chemical composition and the geographic location, with three main chemotypes identified.

Variation in essential oil composition within individual leaves of sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is more affected by leaf position than by leaf age.

The aroma in sweet basil is a factor affecting the commercial value of the crop. In previous studies leaf age was considered to be a factor that influences the composition of essential oil (EO). In this study it was hypothesized that a single observation of the EO content in leaves from different positions on the main stem (young vs old) could predict the developmental changes in the plant during its life cycle. Plants harvested at week 16 demonstrated an exponential increase (R(2) = 0.92) in EO concentration in leaves on the main stem and lateral shoots, indicating higher EO concentrations in younger than in older leaves. Eugenol and methyleugenol predominated (28-77%) in the extract. Eugenol levels were higher in younger leaves (∼53%), and methyl-eugenol levels predominated in older leaves (∼68%). Linalool was lower in mature leaves than in younger leaves. This suggested that eugenol converted into methyleugenol and linalool decreased as leaf mature. However, in weekly monitored plants, the levels of these compounds in the EO had limited variation in the maturing leaf regardless of its position on the stem. This proposed that the EO composition in an individual leaf is mostly affected by the leaf position on the stem and not by its maturation process. Because leaf position is related to plant development, it is probable that the plant's physiological age at the time of leaf formation from the primordial tissue is the factor affecting the EO composition. It was concluded that interpretation of scientific observations should be carried out with caution and that hypotheses should be tested utilizing multifaceted approaches.

Mint essential oil can induce or inhibit potato sprouting by differential alteration of apical meristem.

Sprouting of potatoes during storage, due to tuber dormancy release, is associated with weight loss and softening. Sprout-preventing chemicals, such as chlorpropham (CIPC), can negatively impact the environment and human health. Monthly thermal fogging with mint (Mentha spicata L.) essential oil (MEO) inhibited sprouting in eight potato cultivars during large-volume 6-month storage: the tubers remained firm with 38% lower weight loss after 140 days of storage. The sprout-inhibitory action may be nullified: treated tubers washed with water resumed sprouting within days, with reduced apical dominance. MEO application caused local necrosis of the bud meristem, and a few weeks later, axillary bud (AX) growth was induced in the same sprouting eye. MEO components analysis showed that 73% of its content is the monoterpene R-carvone. Tubers treated with synthetic R-carvone in equivalent dose, 4.5 microl l(-1), showed an inhibitory effect similar to that of MEO. Surprisingly, 0.5 microl l(-1) of MEO or synthetic R-carvone catalyzed AX sprouting in the tuber. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of an essential oil vapor inducing early sprouting of potato tubers. R-carvone caused visible damage to the meristem membrane at sprout-inhibiting, but not sprout-inducing doses, suggesting different underlying mechanisms. After 5 days' exposure to R-carvone, its derivatives transcarveol and neo-dihydrocarveol were found in buds of tubers treated with the inhibitory dose, suggesting biodegradation. These experiments demonstrate the potential of MEO vapor as an environmentally friendly alternative to CIPC in stored potatoes and as a research tool for the control of sprouting in plants.