Tree Bark Phenols Regulate the Physiological and Biochemical Performance of Gladiolus Flowers

The postharvest physiology of cut flowers is largely dependent on vase life, which is the maximum number of days before flower senescence. The use of tree bark extracts (major forest plant residues), as an eco-friendly and natural antioxidant preservative in holding solutions, is a novel tool for extending flower longevity. The morphological, physiological, biochemical, and genetic responses of Gladiolus grandiflorus cut spikes to Magnolia acuminata and Taxus cuspidata bark extracts as additives in holding solutions were investigated. G. grandiflorus subjected to bark extracts as well as catechin and protocatechuic acid (main phenols) displayed significant increased longevity (up to 18 days), an increased number of open florets, and increased floret fresh weight. Increases in the relative water content, leaf chlorophyll, carotenoids, soluble sugars, and protein content were observed in addition to a reduction in microbial growth in the cut spikes. Gas exchange parameters were higher in the bark extract treatments than in the controls. Higher antioxidant activities were detected and associated with increased superoxide dismutase and catalase enzyme activities and reduced H2O2 accumulation. The bark extract treatments associated with reduced expression of GgCyP1 (produces cysteine protease) and increased expression of both GgDAD1 (defends against apoptotic activity) and GgEXPA1 (regulates petal expansion). Several mechanisms were implicated in these effects, including maintenance of water content, enhanced management of reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased sugar and protein composition, and control of microbial growth. Thus, bark extracts and isolated phenols could be developed as an eco-friendly, non-toxic, and cost-effective natural preservative for cut gladiolus flowers.

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5-Aminolevulinic Acid and Soil Fertility Enhance the Resistance of Rosemary to Alternaria dauci and Rhizoctonia solani and Modulate Plant Biochemistry

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants8120585 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 8 (12) ◽

pp. 585 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Hosam O. Elansary ◽

Diaa O. El-Ansary ◽

Fahed A. Al-Mana

Keyword(s):

Rhizoctonia Solani ◽

Biotic Stress ◽

Aminolevulinic Acid ◽

Antioxidant Activities ◽

Soluble Sugars ◽

Gas Chromatography Mass Spectrometry ◽

Antioxidant Enzyme Activities ◽

Gas Exchange Parameters ◽

Antioxidant Genes ◽

Alternaria Dauci

Fungal infection of horticultural and cereal crops by Alternaria dauci and Rhizoctonia solani represents an important biotic stress that could be alleviated by application of 5-aminolevulinic acid (ALA) to fertile and poor soils. Therefore, in this study, the morphological, physiological, biochemical, and genetic effects of ALA application (eight weekly applications at 3–10 ppm) to A. dauci- and R. solani-infected Salvia rosmarinus (rosemary) in fertile and poor soils were investigated. ALA-treated plants produced the longest and highest number of branches and had higher fresh and dry weights. There were increases in the major essential oil constituents (1,8-cineole, linalool, camphor, and borneol), as shown by Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS); higher antioxidant activities in DPPH and β-carotene-bleaching assays; upregulated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) antioxidant enzyme activities; increased total phenolics, chlorophyll, soluble sugars, and proline; increased gas exchange parameters; enhanced leaf water potential and relative water content (RWC); and upregulated expression of DREB2 and ERF3 (stress-related genes) and FeSOD, Cu/ZnSOD, and MnSOD (antioxidant genes). Several mechanisms were involved, including stress tolerance, antioxidative, and transcription regulation mechanisms. Furthermore, ALA performance was increased in higher-quality soils with higher nutrient content. This study demonstrated the novel application of ALA as a biotic stress ameliorant with enhanced performance in fertile soils.

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The Role of Soluble Sugars in Vase Solutions during the Vase Life of Eustoma grandiflorum

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.48.2.222 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 48 (2) ◽

pp. 222-226

Author(s):

Ya-Ching Chuang ◽

Yao-Chien Alex Chang

Keyword(s):

Sucrose Solution ◽

Sucrose Concentration ◽

Soluble Sugars ◽

Flower Senescence ◽

Vase Life ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Eustoma Grandiflorum ◽

Flower Opening ◽

Stems And Leaves

The vase life of Eustoma cut flowers can be extended by adding sugars to the vase solution, but the exact role of sugars and how they are translocated in tissues are not clear. Thus, we observed the preserving effect of different sugars in vase solutions on Eustoma and compared sugar concentrations in vase solutions and in the flowers as well as stems and leaves of cut flowers in a solution containing 200 mg·L−1 8-hydroxyquinoline sulfate (8-HQS) with and without 20 g·L−1 sucrose during different flowering stages. Inclusion of glucose, fructose, or sucrose in the vase solution extended the vase life of cut flowers with no significant differences among sugar types. During flower opening, the concentration of added sucrose in the vase solution dropped, and the fresh weight (FW), glucose concentration, and sucrose concentration of flowers in sucrose solutions increased, whereas flowers in solutions without sucrose had lower FW and glucose concentrations. During flower senescence, sugar concentration in the vase solution did not change much, but the FW and sucrose concentrations in all flowers declined, although the FW of sucrose-treated flowers fell more slowly. For stems and leaves in the sucrose solution, sugar concentrations increased during the first 7 days with only glucose slightly declining during senescence, whereas the FW was maintained during the entire vase life. In contrast, FWs of those in the solution without sucrose gradually declined. In conclusion, sucrose in the vase solution promoted flower opening and maintained the water balance of Eustoma cut flowers. Glucose and fructose also extended the vase life, likely in similar ways.

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Distinct Respiration and Physiological Changes during Flower Development and Senescence in Two Freesia Cultivars

HortScience ◽

10.21273/hortsci.45.7.1088 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 45 (7) ◽

pp. 1088-1092 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Zhen Shu ◽

Yimin Shi ◽

Hongmei Qian ◽

Yiwei Tao ◽

Dongqin Tang

Keyword(s):

Respiration Rate ◽

Flower Development ◽

Developmental Stages ◽

Soluble Sugars ◽

Membrane Lipid ◽

Flower Senescence ◽

Vase Life ◽

Antioxidant Enzyme Activities ◽

Freesia Hybrida ◽

Mda Content

Two cultivars of Freesia hybrida, ‘Shangnong Jinhuanghou’ and ‘Shangnong Hongtaige’, were used to study the respiration rate and physiological responses during flower development and senescence. Phenotypically, the vase life of ‘Shangnong Hongtaige’ was significantly shorter than that of ‘Shangnong Jinhuanghou’. At the whole flower level, both cultivars displayed similar change patterns on respiration rate. However, the change patterns in tepals, stamens, and pistils showed some differences in the two cultivars. A respiratory climacteric existed in most organs in both cultivars except for the stamen of ‘Shangnong Jinhuanghou’. During flower development and senescence, the levels of soluble proteins and soluble sugars were very high at early stages, followed by a dramatic decrease, and the lowest levels occurred in wilted tepals in both cultivars. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities increased slightly at early developmental stages followed by a constant decrease in two cultivars, and SOD activities in ‘Shangnong Jinhuanghou’ were significantly higher than those in ‘Shangnong Hongtaige’. Peroxidase activities showed a constant increase before tepals started wilting followed by a decrease in wilted tepals in both cultivars. In both cultivars, electrolytic leakage and malondialdehyde (MDA) content in tepals increased with the progression of development and senescence. MDA content in ‘Shangnong Hongtaige’ was much higher than that in ‘Shangnong Jinhuanghou’. These results indicated that the respiratory climacteric, the decrease of antioxidant enzyme activities, the peroxidation of membrane lipid, and the loss of soluble compounds could be considered as indicators of flower senescence in Freesia.

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Optimising the DPPH Assay for Cell-Free Marine Microorganism Supernatants

Marine Drugs ◽

10.3390/md19050256 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 19 (5) ◽

pp. 256

Author(s):

Yehui Gang ◽

Tae-Yang Eom ◽

Svini Dileepa Marasinghe ◽

Youngdeuk Lee ◽

Eunyoung Jo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Water Content ◽

Antioxidant Activities ◽

Fermented Foods ◽

Solution Stability ◽

Marine Microorganism ◽

Marine Microorganisms ◽

Dpph Assay ◽

Aqueous Methanol ◽

Potential Applications ◽

Pseudoalteromonas Rubra

Antioxidants prevent ageing and are usually quantified and screened using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay. However, this assay cannot be used for salt-containing samples, such as the cell-free supernatants of marine microorganisms that are aggregated under these conditions. Herein, the DPPH solvent (methanol or ethanol) and its water content were optimized to enable the analysis of salt-containing samples, aggregation was observed for alcohol contents of >70%. The water content of methanol influenced the activities of standard antioxidants but did not significantly affect that of the samples. Based on solution stability considerations, 70% aqueous methanol was chosen as the optimal DPPH solvent. The developed method was successfully applied to the cell-free supernatants of marine bacteria (Pseudoalteromonas rubra and Pseudoalteromonas xiamenensis), revealing their high antioxidant activities. Furthermore, it was concluded that this method would be useful for the screening of marine microorganism–derived antioxidants, which also has numerous potential applications, such as salt-fermented foods.

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Characterization of Phytoconstituents from Alcoholic Extracts of Four Woody Species and Their Potential Uses for Management of Six Fusarium oxysporum Isolates Identified from Some Plant Hosts

Plants ◽

10.3390/plants10071325 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (7) ◽

pp. 1325

Author(s):

Mohamed Z. M. Salem ◽

Abeer A. Mohamed ◽

Hayssam M. Ali ◽

Dunia A. Al Al Farraj

Keyword(s):

Antioxidant Activity ◽

Free Radical ◽

Benzoic Acid ◽

Fusarium Oxysporum ◽

Leaf Extract ◽

Antioxidant Activities ◽

Radical Scavenging ◽

Bark Extract ◽

Leaf Extracts ◽

Conium Maculatum

Background: Trees are good sources of bioactive compounds as antifungal and antioxidant activities. Methods: Management of six molecularly identified Fusarium oxysporum isolates (F. oxy 1, F. oxy 2, F. oxy 3, F. oxy 4, F. oxy 5 and F. oxy 6, under the accession numbers MW854648, MW854649, MW854650, MW854651, and MW854652, respectively) was assayed using four extracts from Conium maculatum leaves, Acacia saligna bark, Schinus terebinthifolius wood and Ficus eriobotryoides leaves. All the extracts were analyzed using HPLC-VWD for phenolic and flavonoid compounds and the antioxidant activity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical scavenging and β-carotene-linoleic acid (BCB) bleaching assays. Results: In mg/kg extract, the highest amounts of polyphenolic compounds p-hydroxy benzoic, benzoic, gallic, and rosmarinic acids, with 444.37, 342.16, 311.32 and 117.87, respectively, were observed in C. maculatum leaf extract; gallic and benzoic acids with 2551.02, 1580.32, respectively, in A. saligna bark extract; quinol, naringenin, rutin, catechol, and benzoic acid with 2530.22, 1224.904, 798.29, 732.28, and 697.73, respectively, in S. terebinthifolius wood extract; and rutin, o-coumaric acid, p-hydroxy benzoic acid, resveratrol, and rosmarinic acid with 9168.03, 2016.93, 1009.20, 1156.99, and 574.907, respectively, in F. eriobotryoides leaf extract. At the extract concentration of 1250 mg/L, the antifungal activity against the growth of F. oxysporum strains showed that A. saligna bark followed by C. maculatum leaf extracts had the highest inhibition percentage of fungal growth (IPFG%) against F. oxy 1 with 80% and 79.5%, F. oxy 2 with 86.44% and 78.9%, F. oxy 3 with 86.4% and 84.2%, F. oxy 4 with 84.2, and 82.1%, F. oxy 5 with 88.4% and 86.9%, and F. oxy 6 with 88.9, and 87.1%, respectively. For the antioxidant activity, ethanolic extract from C. maculatum leaves showed the lowest concentration that inhibited 50% of DPPH free radical (3.4 μg/mL). Additionally, the same extract observed the lowest concentration (4.5 μg/mL) that inhibited BCB bleaching. Conclusions: Extracts from A. saligna bark and C. maculatum leaves are considered potential candidates against the growth of F. oxysporum isolates—a wilt pathogen—and C. maculatum leaf as a potent antioxidant agent.

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Identification of Xylem Occlusions Occurring in CutClematis(ClematisL., fam.RanunculaceaeJuss.) Stems during Their Vase Life

The Scientific World JOURNAL ◽

10.1100/2012/749281 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 2012 ◽

pp. 1-12 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Agata Jedrzejuk ◽

Julia Rochala ◽

Jacek Zakrzewski ◽

Julita Rabiza-Świder

Keyword(s):

Water Uptake ◽

Plant Material ◽

Microbial Growth ◽

Vascular System ◽

Vase Life ◽

Cut Flower ◽

Cut Flowers ◽

Bacterial Development ◽

Growth Formation ◽

New Treatments

During the vase life of cut stems obstruction of xylem vessels occurs due to microbial growth, formation of tyloses, deposition of materials in the lumen of xylem vessels and the presence of air emboli in the vascular system. Such obstructions may restrict water uptake and its transport towards upwards thus lowering their ornamental value and longevity of cut flowers.Clematisis a very attractive plant material which may be used as cut flower in floral compositions. Nothing is known about the histochemical or cytological nature of xylem blockages occurring in cut stems of this plant. This study shows that inclematis, tyloses are the main source of occlusions, although bacteria and some amorphic substances may also appear inside the vessels. A preservative composed of 200 mg dm−38-HQC (8-hydroxyquinolin citrate) and 2% sucrose arrested bacterial development and the growth of tyloses. This information can be helpful in the development of new treatments to improve keeping qualities of cutclematisstems.

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Comparison of the Mineral and Nutraceutical Profiles of Elephant Garlic (Allium ampeloprasum L.) Grown in Organic and Conventional Fields of Valdichiana, a Traditional Cultivation Area of Tuscany, Italy

Biology ◽

10.3390/biology10101058 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (10) ◽

pp. 1058

Author(s):

Stefano Loppi ◽

Riccardo Fedeli ◽

Giulia Canali ◽

Massimo Guarnieri ◽

Stefano Biagiotti ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Trace Elements ◽

Rare Earth ◽

Rare Earth Elements ◽

Water Content ◽

Human Health ◽

Soluble Sugars ◽

Allium Ampeloprasum ◽

Icp Ms ◽

Essential Trace Elements ◽

Reference Plant

In the Valdichiana area (Tuscany, Italy) an ancient native landrace of elephant garlic (Allium ampeloprasum L.), locally known as “Aglione della Valdichiana”, has long been cultivated. The aim of this study was to check whether there are differences in the mineral and nutraceutical profiles of the Aglione della Valdichiana cultivated conventionally and organically. Based on the analysis by ICP-MS of a wide array of major, minor, essential, and non-essential trace elements as well as rare earth elements, and the evaluation of the content of polyphenols, flavonoids, antioxidants, soluble proteins, soluble sugars, and starch, as well as the weight and water content, it was concluded that differences in the mineral and nutraceutical profiles of organically and conventionally grown bulbs were very limited. Only a statistically (p < 0.05) higher concentration of Cd (+2620%), Co (+113%), Mn (+55%), Rb (+180%), and Sb (+180%), as well as glucose (+37%) in conventionally cultivated bulbs emerged. Cadmium was the only element slightly higher than in the “reference plant,” but with a negligible risk (three orders of magnitude lower) for human health based on consumption. It is concluded that we failed to find evidence of healthier food or a higher nutraceutical quality for organically cultivated elephant garlic.

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Spondias purpurea L. Stem Bark Extract: Antioxidant and in vitro Photoprotective Activities

Journal of the Brazilian Chemical Society ◽

10.21577/0103-5053.20210082 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Francisco Alessandro Rodrigues ◽

Priscylla Giffony ◽

Sarah dos Santos ◽

Jhonyson Guedes ◽

Maria Elenir Ribeiro ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Active Ingredient ◽

Antioxidant Activities ◽

Stem Bark ◽

Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography ◽

Bark Extract ◽

Protection Factor ◽

Phenolic Constituents ◽

Stem Bark Extract ◽

Spondias Purpurea

Plant phenolic extracts are widely recognized as an important source of natural antioxidant substances and potential compounds for cosmetic formulations. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical profile, photoprotective and antioxidant activities of stem bark extract of Spondias purpurea L. (ciriguela) and its application in photoprotective formulations. Thirty phenolic constituents were annotated by ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an electrospray ionization quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry in mode negative (UPLC‑QTOF-MS2). The stem bark extract antioxidant and chelation potential, expressed in half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50), showed 6.25 and 352.22 μg mL−1, respectively. The phenolic extract was used as an active ingredient in six sunscreen formulations, with concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 10%. The ultraviolet (UV) protection properties of the formulations were evaluated by sun protection factor (SPF) values obtained in 0.2 mg mL−1 (0.495 to 2.27) and 2.0 mg mL−1 (2.29 to 15.87). The SPF value for the extract (14.37 and 26.16) was high, but there was a reduction in the base formulation. However, these results suggested that the bioactive extracted of stem bark of Spondias purpurea L. has interesting potential to reduce the damage caused by UV radiation and may be utilized as an active ingredient in a sunscreen formulation.

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