EVALUACIÓN DE LA CAPACIDAD FÉRTIL DE LA RETAMA (Spartium junceum)

En el presente estudio se han establecido comparaciones entre el modelo estándar de la gametogénesis masculina o microsporogénesis para plantas angiospermas, que sigue una pauta o regla de formación que puede ser monitoreada, y la microsporogénesis en Spartium junceum (retama) Se han seleccionado plantas en diferentes estadios de formación: prefloración, floración y postfloración y anteras en antesis para evaluar tanto la maduración del polen como su viabilidad. Se ha utilizado la metodología de estudios correlacionales y de regresión para evaluar la causalidad y la relación entre las diferentes variables en estudio, para tal efecto se han evaluado las correlaciones entre los diferentes estadios de células que siguen una pauta de proporcionalidad preestablecida y regresiones para predecir el número de células que se forman en cada estadio, además para poder predecir valores esperados entre los diferentes estadios. Asimismo se han utilizado pruebas de ji cuadrado para determinar si las desviaciones entre los valores esperados y los observados corresponden o no a una proporción establecida por el modelo de gametogénesis para las plantas angiospermas. Se ha determinado que Spartium junceum no sigue las pautas del modelo y que las relaciones y proporciones entre los diferentes estadios está alterada y hay una baja producción de polen viable tiene una alta capacidad fértil, lo cual hace suponer que hay una fuerte presión de selección a favor de los granos de polen mejor conformados. El presente estudio corrobora las hipótesis planteadas en los anteriores trabajos con tres especies diferentes (Antirrhinum m., Brassica c. y Zea m.) según las cuales hay una baja de la capacidad fértil en las plantas angiospermas debido a laos factores climáticos cambiantes ante lo cual la planta responde con una selección de su polen a favor de los mejor conformados y viables.

Natural Dyeing of Cellulose and Protein Fibers with the Flower Extract of Spartium junceum L. Plant

In this study, the natural dye was extracted from Spartium junceum L. (SJL) flowers and applied on cellulose (cotton) and protein (wool) fabric. Fabrics were pre-mordant with alum prior to the dyeing process. Considering the global requirements on zero waste and green policy, the dyeing process was intended to be as much as possible environmentally friendly but still effective. Therefore, mordant concentration was optimized due to the reduction of the negative impact. The efficiency of the dyeing process was investigated by examination of fabrics’ color characteristics and colorfastness to washing properties. In this paper, we have proved that the extracted dye from Spartium junceum L. is an acidic dye (mordant dye) which is more applicable for the treatment of wool fabrics. In this paper, it was proved that phytochemicals responsible for coloring are part of the flavonoids group. The UV absorption spectra of extracted dye show 4 bands in the region of λmax 224, 268, 308 and 346 nm which are ascribed to bands characteristic for flavonoids. Wool fabric pre-mordant with 3% alum and dyed shows great chromatic (C*) properties where C* value is in a range from 47.76 for unwashed samples to 47.50 for samples after 5 washing cycles and color hue (h°) is in a range 82.13 for unwashed samples to 81.52 for samples after 5 washing cycles. The best result regarding the colorfastness properties is shown by the wool sample treated with 3% alum after 5 washing cycles (total difference in color (Delta E*) = 0.87). These results confirm that metal (Al) from alum mordant make strong chemical bonds with wool substrate and dye since Delta E* values decrease in comparison to Delta E* values of the cotton samples treated the same way. The results revealed it is possible to reduce the concentration of mordant up to 3% and obtain satisfactory results regarding the colorfastness. Nevertheless, future research will go in the direction of replacing synthetic mordant with a more environmentally friendly one.

Spanish Broom Fibres Properties and Extraction for Application in Composites: A Review

The development of a number of natural fibre products for textiles was attempted during the period of Italian autarchy (1935–1943) under the direct support of the Fascist regime. Among these was Spanish broom fibre, which derives from the stem of Spartium junceum, a spontaneous plant in large parts of Italy, especially in the Southern region of Calabria. The extraction of the fibre proved cumbersome though, especially for the hardness of the stem. Therefore, different retting processes were developed, mechanical, chemical and also bacterial, in the latter case through the use of Clostridium felsineum, which proved effective to a point, allowing the production of textiles. The historical events linked to the fall of the dictatorship led to some oblivion and also to the possible loss of archive materials. The objective of this review is to elicit ideas and developments concerning an effective extraction and degumming of Spanish broom fibres and evaluate the more recent applications to the field of biocomposites.

Anatomical and biochemical studies of Spartium junceum infected by Xylella fastidiosa subsp. multiplex ST 87

Spartium junceum L. is a typical species of Mediterranean shrubland areas, also grown in gardens and parks as an ornamental. In recent years in Europe, S. junceum has been recurrently found to be infected by different subspecies and genotypes of the quarantine regulated bacterium Xylella fastidiosa (Xf). This work presents for the first time the anatomy of S. junceum plants that we found, by means of genetic and immunochemistry analysis, to be naturally infected by Xf subsp. multiplex ST87 (XfmST87) in Monte Argentario (Grosseto, Tuscany, Italy), a new outbreak area within the EU. Our anatomical observations showed that bacteria colonized exclusively the xylem conductive elements and moved horizontally to adjacent vessels through pits. Interestingly, a pink/violet matrix was observed with Toluidine blue staining in infected conduits indicating a high content of acidic polysaccharides. In particular, when this pink-staining matrix was observed, bacterial cells were either absent or degenerated, suggesting that the matrix was produced by the host plant as a defense response against bacterial spread. In addition, a blue-staining phenolic material was found in the vessels and, at high concentration, in the pits and inter-vessels. SEM micrographs confirmed that polysaccharide and phenolic components showed different structures, which appear to be related to two different morphologies: fibrillary and granular, respectively. Moreover, our LM observations revealed bacterial infection in xylem conductive elements of green shoots and leaves only, and not in those of other plant organs such as roots and flowers.

Inhibition of browning problem during the callogenesis of Spartium junceum L.

During different phases of in vitro culture, plant tissues may be exposed to some stresses that never encounter in their natural habitats. The most significant stresses which interfere with in vitro culture are pathogenic contamination and browning disorder. Since browning sign is occurred during all phases of in vitro culture of Spartium junceum L., the present study was done preventing explants from browning during disinfection and callogenesis phases using exposure time of sterilants (ethanol 0, 30, 60 s and home bleach 0, 10, 15 min), antioxidant compounds (PVP 0.5%, Activated charcoal 0.1%, Curcumin 0.1%), Running water (30 and 60 min) plant growth regulators (2,4-D 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 mg L-1 and BA 0, 0.1 and 0.2 mg L-1), and by changing light/dark conditions was designed. The results showed that ethanol 70% (30 s) in combination with home bleach 20% (10 min) had the best effect in control contaminations and browning sign in nodal explants of S. junceum. The application of PVP 0.5% in medium was the best treatment to control of browning nodal explants in callus induction phase. The highest callus formation and the lowest explant browning were obtained on the medium supplemented with 0.5 mg L-1 2,4-D under the darkness condition. According to the results of this study, how disinfection methods, culture medium compositions and light conditions were effective on the browning and callogenesis of Spartium junceum L.

Chemical–physical and dynamical–mechanical characterization on Spartium junceum L. cellulosic fiber treated with softener agents: a preliminary investigation

Long cellulose fiber (10–30 cm), extracted from Spartium junceum, was chemically treated with different softening agents with the aim to improve its textile applicability. A preliminary sensory evaluation of the treated fibers revealed an evident, though qualitative, improvement of the fiber softness. The effects of the softening agents on the fiber was evaluated quantitatively, by means of macroscopic measurements of the wettability, viscoelasticity, and thermal (thermal gravimetry) properties. Moreover, the effects of the softening treatments on the microscopic structure of the fiber and on its properties at a molecular level, were studied by optical and scanning electron microscope and X-ray diffraction (XRD), respectively. The macroscopic analysis showed that the softeners used increases the hydrophilicity and water wettability of the cellulose fiber with respect to the raw one. Moreover, the dynamical mechanical analysis on sample yarns showed that the softeners increase the interfiber frictional forces. A linear correlation between the interfiber friction and the increase of hydrophilicity and fiber wettability was shown. The treated fiber exhibits a more homogeneous thermal behaviour, due to more homogeneous structural features, since the thermal-induced cellulose fibrils depolimerization undergoes a marked temperature range contraction. These data can be well related with those obtained by microscopy analysis, showing that the fiber surface, after the treatment, appears thinner and less rough, as well as with the XRD analysis, which shows that softeners induce a significant decrease of the fiber crystallinity.

A new species of the genus Cryptognathus Kramer (Acari: Cryptognathidae) from the Aegaen region of Turkey

A new species viz. Cryptognathus karabagiensis sp. nov., collected from soil and litter under Spartium junceum (Fabaceae), Cedrus libani (Pinaceae), Vitis vinifera (Vitaceae) and Pistacia terebinthus (Anacardiaceae) in Afyonkarahisar, Manisa and Muğla provinces (the Aegaen region of Turkey), is described and illustrated based on adult females. Also, an updated key to all known species of the genus Cryptognathus is presented.