Effects of salicylic and benzoic acid on yield and yield components of moisture stressed tomato (solanum lycopersicun l.) at Kadawa Sudan Savannah

Salicylic acid and Benzoic acids are antitranpirants usually used to reduce the rate of moisture loss and increase productivity of irrigated crops. To test antitranspiracy of Salicylic and Benzoic acids, field experiments were conducted during the two successive dry Seasons of 2011/2012 and 2012/2013 at the Agricultural Research Station Farm, Kadawa (11̊ 38ʹ 40.3ʺ N,8̊ 25ʹ3.9ʺ E) 498m elevation above sea level. The aim was to study the effects of antitranspirants and moisture stress on crop growth and development stages of tomato. The treatments consisted of two antitranspirants at four different concentrations of 0, 200, 400 and 600 ppm, and three moisture stress stages, vegetative, flowering and fruit setting. Antitranspirants and moisture stresses were assigned to the main plot and concentrations were used as sub–plot treatment. These were replicated three times and laid out in a split-plot design. The gross plot size was 3.6m x 3.0m (10.8m2) consisting of 6 rows of 3m length, while the net plot size was 1.2m 1.8m (2.16 m2) consisting of 2 inner most rows. Data were taken on tomato growth and yield attributes. Data generated were analysed using statistical analytics software (SAS). The results of the study revealed that application of both Antitranspirants enhanced growth and yield components such as fruit diameter, number of fruits plant1, average fruit weight, marketable fruit yield and total fruit yield of tomato. Significant interactions between and among the factors were also recorded for fruit diameter, number of fruits plant-1 marketable fruit yield and the total fruit yield. Application of 200 and 400 ppm of of Salicylic acid at fruit setting produced the highest total fruit yield (6.66 tha-1) which was statistically similar to 600 ppm of Benzoic (6.10 t ha-1) at flowering while the control had the lowest. Total fruit yield was positively and significantly correlated with number of fruit plant-1 and average fruit weight. Number of fruits plant-1 was found to have the highest direct contribution to the yield. Flowering and fruiting stages were found to be the critical growth stages for moisture stress of tomato. Foliar application of 400 ppm of Salicylic acid at fruit setting stage appeared to promote tomato yield in the study area.

Metabolites From the Mangrove-Derived Fungus Cladosporium sp. HNWSW-1

Two new benzoic acids, cladoslide A (1) and cladoslide B (2); one new β-carboline derivative, cladospomine (3); and one new pyridin-2(1H)-one, cladoslide C (4), were isolated from the fermentation cultures of the mangrove-derived fungus Cladosporium sp. HNWSW-1, along with the previously reported N-acetyl-β-oxotryptamine (5), (4S,5S,11R)-iso-cladospolide B (6), (4S,5S,11S)-iso-cladospolide B (7), and (4R,5S,11R)-iso-cladospolide B (8). Their structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analysis, Rh2(OCOCF3)4-induced ECD experiments, and Marfey’s method. Compound 1 showed cytotoxicity against the K562 cell line with IC50 values of 13.10 ± 0.08 μM. Moreover, compounds 1 and 5 exhibited inhibitory activity against α-glycosidase with IC50 values of 0.32 ± 0.01 mM and 0.17 ± 0.01 mM, respectively.

Influence of Crystallization Additives on Morphology of Selected Benzoic Acids - A Molecular Dynamics (MD) Simulation Study

The possibility to modify the morphology by crystallization additives of model substances was studied using molecular dynamics simulations. For this 2,6-dimethoxybenzoic acid and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid, each having two polymorphic forms, including a form without carboxylic acid homodimers in their crystal structure were selected. For each polymorph 2-3 largest crystal faces were selected for the study and the crystal was cut along these planes by preparing a simulation box with these planes facing towards solution containing additives. In the performed study it was evaluated which additives potentially can influence the crystal morphology and possibly also polymorph obtained in the crystallization by significantly changing the growth rate of crystal by adsorbing on the surface. For the study 4-5 additives providing different intermolecular interaction possibilities were selected. Among the studied additives urea showed the most complete adsorption and the longest residence time on surfaces of both substances, with the exceptions of few specific planes.

Preliminary Observations on Viola calcarata as a Source of Bioactive Compounds: Antioxidant Activity and Phytochemical Profile of Two Alpine Subspecies

Viola L. is a botanical genus with approximately 525 to 620 species, spread worldwide. Several violets are traditionally used as edible flowers and have been recently proved to be a source of bioactive compounds, including flavonols, flavanols, benzoic acids, and cinnamic acids. However, no information is available about the phytochemical profile of the Viola calcarata complex, which is found in the Alpine environment. Thus, the present research aimed to assess the antioxidant activity and the presence of bioactive compounds (anthocyanins and phenolic compounds) in V. calcarata subspecies, to promote their biodiversity and use in the agrifood sector. Two V. calcarata subspecies were chosen, with different colors: V. calcarata subspecies calcarata L., with white (CW), yellow (CY), and violet flowers (CV); and V. calcarata subspecies villarsiana (Roem & Schult.) Merxm., with bicolor (violet and yellow—VB) flowers. CY showed a significantly higher phenolic content (1116.43 mg GAE 100 g−1 FW) than the other subspecies, while CV showed higher values in anthocyanins content (44.73 mg C3G 100 g−1 FW). Regarding the antioxidant activity, CW (215.07 mmol Fe2+ kg−1 FW, 99.53 µmol TE g−1 FW, and 32.30 µmol TE g−1 FW for FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS, respectively) and VB (217.33 mmol Fe2+ kg−1 FW, 90.97 µmol TE g−1 FW, and 29.17 µmol TE g−1 FW for FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS, respectively) showed the highest values. Through HPLC, a total of eight phenolic compounds were quantitatively identified among the two subspecies, including flavonols, cinnamic acids, benzoic acids, catechins, and vitamin C. Though different in their composition, the two subspecies are rich in phenolic compounds, highlighting the importance of preserving their biodiversity and their potential use in the agrifood sector.

Role of pK a in establishing the crystal structures of six hydrogen-bonded compounds of 4-methylquinoline with different isomers of chloro- and nitro-substituted benzoic acids

The structures of the six hydrogen-bonded 1:1 compounds of 4-methylquinoline (C10H9N) with chloro- and nitro-substituted benzoic acids (C7H4ClNO4), namely, 4-methylquinolinium 2-chloro-4-nitrobenzoate, C10H10N+·C7H3ClNO4 −, (I), 4-methylquinoline–2-chloro-5-nitrobenzoic acid (1/1), C10H9N·C7H4ClNO4, (II), 4-methylquinolinium 2-chloro-6-nitrobenzoate, C10H9.63N0.63+·C7H3.37ClNO4 0.63−, (III), 4-methylquinolinium 3-chloro-2-nitrobenzoate, C10H9.54N0.54+·C7H3.46ClNO4 0.54−, (IV), 4-methylquinolinium 4-chloro-2-nitrobenzoate, C10H10N+·C7H3ClNO4 −, (V), and 4-methylquinolinium 5-chloro-2-nitrobenzoate, C10H10N+·C7H3ClNO4 −, have been determined at 185–190 K. In each compound, the acid and base molecules are linked by a short hydrogen bond between a carboxy (or carboxylate) O atom and an N atom of the base. The O...N distances are 2.5652 (14), 2.556 (3), 2.5485 (13), 2.5364 (13), 2.5568 (13) and 2.5252 (11) Å, respectively, for compounds (I)–(VI). In the hydrogen-bonded acid–base units of (III) and (IV), the H atoms are each disordered over two positions with O site:N site occupancies of 0.37 (3):0.63 (3) and 0.46 (3):0.54 (4), respectively, for (III) and (IV). The H atoms in the hydrogen-bonded units of (I), (V) and (VI) are located at the N-atom site, while the H atom in (II) is located at the O-atom site. In all the crystals of (I)–(VI), π–π stacking interactions between the quinoline ring systems and C—H...O hydrogen bonds are observed. Similar layer structures are constructed in (IV)–(VI) through these interactions together with π–π interactions between the benzene rings of the adjacent acid molecules. A short Cl...Cl contact and an N—O...π interaction are present in (I), while a C—H...Cl hydrogen bond and a π–π interaction between the benzene ring of the acid molecule and the quinoline ring system in (II), and a C—H...π interaction in (III) are observed. Hirshfeld surfaces for the title compounds mapped over d norm and shape index were generated to visualize the weak intermolecular interactions.