Leaf allocation patterns and 13C and 15N natural abundances of tropical lianas (Passiflora sp.) as dependent on external climbing support

The transformation from self-supporting lianas to host-supported climbing lianas is related to re-allocation of biomass and nutrients among plant organs. Therefore, first, variations in leaf mass per area (LMA), leaf carbon and nitrogen allocation and ¹³C and ¹⁵N natural abundances were analysed among three tropical Passiflora species (P. edulis, P. ligularis, and P. tripartita) in a greenhouse study. Second, the influence of a climbing support was considered for each species and parameter. P. ligularis leaves were most enriched in ¹³C in both treatments when compared with the other two species. This enrichment was caused by a high LMA, which is related to a high internal resistance to CO₂ diffusion. For P. edulis and P. tripartita, δ¹³C was additionally increasing with nitrogen content per area. Generally, there were no differences when considering carbon and nitrogen allocation to leaves of host-supported and self-supporting lianas. The only hints towards increased investment into leaves after the transition from self-supporting to host-supported stages could be seen by a trend to increased leaf areas and masses. δ¹³C values of supported P. edulis or P. tripartita plants were significantly increasing faster than those of non-supported plants once the interactions of leaf mass or nitrogen content per area were accounted for. Hence, the offer of a climbing support had only a minor impact on δ¹³C or δ¹⁵N values in vitro, but this could be different with increasing age of lianas in vivo.     

Assessing the subsequent effect of nitrogen released from tobacco-waste on maize crop using a 15N isotope technique

The investigation of the residual effect of nitrogen (N) released from tobacco-waste (TW) using isotope techniques will provide valuable data for sustainable organic farming. For this aim, a pot experiment was conducted using the ¹⁵N isotope technique. The experiment was based on a completely randomised design with four replications and was conducted on a calcareous ustochrepts soil. TW at levels of 0, 10, 20, 30 and 40 t ha^?1 and N fertiliser as (NH₄)₂SO₄ at levels of 0, 20, 40, 60 and 80 kg N ha^?1 were used for the Bezostaja-1 wheat variety. Concerning mineral N fertilisation with 20 and 80 kg N ha^?1, additional treatments with ¹⁵N-labelled (NH₄)₂SO₂ (10 at.% exc.) have been applied. Following harvesting wheat plants, the Pioneer 3377 maize variety was used to see the residual effect of TW. After harvesting, dry matter yields were recorded and total N concentrations were determined. ¹⁵N determinations and calculations were also made for ¹⁵N treatments separately. TW had a significant residual effect on the growth of corn plant under the pot condition. Increasing rates of TW significantly increased the dry matter yield of corn plant following wheat from 3.31 t ha^?1 (at control) to 7.89 t ha^?1 (at the TW treatment of 40 t ha^?1). The ¹⁵N values derived from the ¹⁵N fertiliser decreased with increasing TW application. The average values of N derived from N fertiliser (Ndff) varied from 2.14 to 3.09% at the rates of 20 and 80 kg N ha^?1, respectively. However, N derived from TW (Ndftw) significantly increased from 16.93 to 24.59% (at 20 kg N ha^?1), and it also increased from 23.06 to 28.15% (at 80 kg N ha^?1) with increasing TW applications from 20 to 40 t ha^?1, respectively.     

Beispiele für die Anwendung der 15N-Tracertechnik in der Düngungsforschung mit emissionsspektrometrischen Analysenverfahren (NOI-5; Isonitromat-5200)

Es werden Varianten der Probenchemie für ¹⁵N-Bilanzexperimente in der Düngungsforschung vorgestellt, die den Erfordernissen des Isonitromat-5200 und des NOI-5 angepaßt sind. Die skizzierten Methoden umfassen die destillative Präparation markierter N-Mengen (0,1–1 mg) aus Bodenextrakten, verbunden mil einem Zvsatz unmatkierter N-Mengen bei der Titration sowie eine für den Routinebetrieb geeignete N-Bestimmung in nicht angereicherten Pflanzenaufschlüssen mit dem Isonitromat-5200 als ¹⁵N-Verdünnungsanalyse. Weiterhin werden einfache apparative Varianten zur Bestimmung von sog. Gasförmigen Düngersticksloffverlusten durch Denitrifizierung in gasdichten Kammern dargestellt.

Durch ¹⁵N-Analyse von Luftproben über ¹⁵N-angereicherten natürlichen Bodenmonolithen mit dem NOI-5 können unmittelbar die vom Dünger freigesetzten N₂ und N₂O-Mengen bestimmt werden. Bei Spezialversuchen in stickstofffreier Neon(He)-Atmosphäre können gebildete N₂-, NO- und N₂O-Spuren (um 1 Vol. %)nach gaschromatographischer Trennung (auf Perapak-Q) individuell am NOI-5 gemessen werden. Unter Verwendung von CO₂-Trägergas werden die N-Komponenten in einem Azotometer isoliert und mit Hilfe eines Dosierhahnes, dessen Volumen den geforderten Gasdruck garantiert, in Entladungsrohre überführt.     

Originalarbeiten 133m Xe zur Markierung von Gasphasen bei technischen Tracerexperimenten

Bei technischen Tracerexperimenten bereitet die Markierung von Gasphasen Schwierigkeiten, wenn man auf Außenwandmessungen angewiesen ist, da die Auswahl an geeigneten Radionukliden bzw. radioaktiv markierten Verbindungen dann sehr beschrānkt ist. Eine gute Ergänzung des Radionuklidangebotes für den genannten Zweck bietet ^133mXe, Halbwertszeit 2,3 d, E_γ = 0,23 MeV (16%). ^133mXe erhält man mit guten Ausbeuten bei einer Reaktoraktivierung von natürlichem Xenon. Die Sälligungsaktivität fär ^133mXe beträgt bei einem Fluß von 5,0 μ 10¹³ n/cm²s 48,5 mCi/cm³ Xenon (unter Normalbedingungen). An Veweilzeitmessungen von Gasphasen in technischen Anlagen werden die Einsatzmöglichkeiten des ^133mXe dargestellt.     

Phytochemical Constituents,Antioxidant Activity,and Toxicity Assessment of the Aerial Part Extracts from the Infraspecific Taxa of Matthiola fruticulosa (Brassicaceae) Endemic to Sicily

In a project designed to investigate the specific and infraspecific taxa of Matthiola endemic to Sicily (Italy) as new potential sources of bioactive compounds in this work, the infraspecific taxa of Matthiola fruticulosa were studied, namely, subsp. fruticulosa and subsp. coronopifolia. HPLC–PDA/ESI–MS and SPME–GC/MS analyses of hydroalcoholic extracts obtained from the aerial parts of the two subspecies led to the detection of 51 phenolics and 61 volatile components, highlighting a quite different qualitative–quantitative profile. The antioxidant properties of the extracts were explored through in vitro methods: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), reducing power and Fe²⁺ chelating activity assays. The results of the antioxidant tests showed that the extracts possess a different antioxidant ability: particularly, the extract of M. fruticulosa subsp. fruticulosa exhibited higher radical scavenging activity than that of subsp. coronopifolia (IC₅₀ = 1.25 ± 0.02 mg/mL and 2.86 ± 0.05 mg/mL), which in turn displayed better chelating properties (IC₅₀ = 1.49 ± 0.01 mg/mL and 0.63 ± 0.01 mg/mL). Lastly, Artemia salina lethality bioassay was performed for toxicity assessment. The results of the bioassay showed lack of toxicity against brine shrimp larvae for both extracts. The data presented indicate the infraspecific taxa of M. fruticulosa as new and safe sources of antioxidant compounds.     

Effective Removal of Tetracycline by Using Biochar Supported Fe3O4 as a UV-Fenton Catalyst

Novel Fe3O4-decorate hierarchical porous carbon skeleton derived from maize straw(Fe3O4@MSC)was synthesized by a facile co-precipitation process and a calcination process,which was developed as a UV assisted heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst.The as-synthesized catalysts were characterized via X-ray powder diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscope(SEM),transmission electron microscope(TEM),Brunauer-Emmet-Teller(BET)and vibrating sample magnetometer(VSM)at room temperature.The morphology and structure analysis revealed that the as-prepared Fe3O4@MSC retained the original pore morphology of the maize straw material.The non-uniform poly- hedral Fe3O4 grew on the whole surface of the MSC,which reduced the aggragation of Fe3O4 and provided more active sites to strengthen the UV-assisted Fenton-like reaction.As a result,the tetracycline(TC)degradation efficiency after 40 min reaction and total organic carbon(TOC)removal efficiency after 2 h reaction of Fe3O4@MSC catalyzing UV-Fenton system reached 99.2%and 72.1%,respectively,which were more substantial than those of Fe3O4@MSC/H2O2(31.5%and 2%),UV/H2O2 system(68%and 23.4%)and UV/Fe3O4/H2O2(80% and 37.5%).The electron spin resonance(ESR)results showed that the ·OH played an important role in the catalytic reaction.A possible degradation pathway of TC was proposed on the basis of the identified intermediates.Overall,the UV assisted heterogeneous Fenton-like process in Fe3O4@MSC improved the cycle of Fe^3+/Fe^2+ and activated the interfacial catalytic site,which eventually realized the enhancement of degradation and mineralization to tetracycline.     

Screening of medicinal plants traditionally used in Peruvian Amazon for in vitro antioxidant and anticancer potential

Plants mentioned in this study have numerous records in traditional Peruvian medicine being used in treatment of cancer and other diseases likely to be associated with oxidative stress. Amongst the eight plant species tested, only Dysphania ambrosioides exhibited combinatory antioxidant and anti-proliferative effect on a broad spectrum of cancer cells (DPPH and ORAC values = 80.6 and 687.3 μg TE/mg extract, respectively; IC₅₀ against Caco-2, HT-29 and Hep-G2 = 129.2, 69.9 and 130.6, respectively). Alkaloids and phenolic compounds might significantly contribute to anticancer/antioxidant activity of this plant. The results justify the traditional medicinal use of this plant. Our findings further suggest that D. ambrosioides might serve as a prospective material for further development of novel plant-based antioxidant and/or anti-proliferative agents. Detailed analysis of chemical composition together with toxicology assessments and in vivo antioxidant/anti-proliferative activity of this plant should be carried out in order to verify its potential practical use.     

The oak (Quercus brantii) acorn as a growth promotor for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss): growth performance,body composition,liver enzymes activity and blood biochemical parameters

Abstract

Medicinal plants play an important role in aquaculture as feed additives. This study aimed to investigate effects of alcoholic extract of acorn on growth performance, body composition, digestive enzymes activity and blood biochemical parameters of rainbow trout (O. mykiss) as a commercially important fish. Five dietary treatments were supplemented: 100, 200, 400 and 600?mg.kg^?1 of the extract. Fishes were fed twice per day for 8?weeks, and results showed that acorn extract positively affected all investigated parameters in rainbow trout fishes. Digestive enzymes activity and growth performance were increased, while activity of liver enzymes and cortisol were lowed in comparison to control individuals. Body composition of treated animals was also enhanced. Comparison between treated groups together with integrative biomarker response (IBR) values indicated greatest effects in animals fed with 400 and 600?mg.kg^?1 of the extract. Positive effects of the acorn represent promising start point for further studies.     

Practical halving; the Nelumbo nucifera evidence on early eudicot evolution

We present a stepwise optimal genome halving algorithm designed for large eukaryote genomes with largely single-copy genes, taking advantage of a signature pattern of paralog distribution in ancient polyploids. This is applied to the genome of Nelumbo nucifera, the sacred lotus, which is the descendant of a duplicated basal eudicot genome. In concert with the reconstructed ancestor of the grape, we investigate early events in eudicot evolution and show that the chromosome number of the common ancestor of lotus and grape was likely between 5 and 7. We show that the duplication of the ancestor of lotus and the triplication of the ancestor of grape were not closely preceded by any additional such event before the divergence of their two lineages.     

Determination of some trace metals with a new synthesized polymer resin by FAAS in various tea and herbal plants samples

In this work, a new polymer resin with a functional groups capable of holding trace metals has been synthesized. The structure of polymer resin has been examined by BET-N₂ method analyzer, IR spectrometer, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and elemental microanalyser. The synthesized polymer resin was used for the simultaneous separation and preconcentration of the trace metals from various tea and herbal plants samples. After extraction process, flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) was used to determine the trace metals. The analytical parameters and solid phase extraction (SPE) performance such as pH, sample volume, flow rates of sample, flow rates of eluent, concentration, volume and type of eluent and effect of interference ions, were investigated. The limits of detection (DL) of the SPE procedure for trace metals, were calculated to be (3s) in the range of 0.9?4.0 μg L^?1 (n = 21) and the factors of preconcentration (PF) were obtained at 200 for Cd, Co, Cu, Fe, Ni and Zn, and at 50 for Cr, Mn and Pb ions and the relative standard deviation (RSD) at ≤ 2% (n = 11).