Endogenous isoflavone methylation correlates with the in vitro rooting phases of Spartium junceum L. (Leguminosae)

Spartium junceum L. (Leguminosae) is a perennial shrub, native to the Mediterranean region in southern Europe, widespread in all the Italian regions and, as a leguminous species, it has a high isoflavone content. An in vitro culture protocol was developed for this species starting from stem nodal sections of in vivo plants, and isoflavone components of the in vitro cultured tissues were studied by means of High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analytical techniques. Two main isoflavones were detected in the S. junceum tissues during the in vitro propagation phases: Genistein (4,5,7-Trihydroxyisoflavone), already reported in this species, and its methylated form 4,5,7-Trimethoxyisoflavone, detected for the first time in this plant species (0.750 ± 0.02 mg g−1 dry tissue). The presence of both of these compounds in S. junceum tissues was consistently detected during the in vitro multiplication phase. The absence of the methylated form within plant tissues in the early phases of the in vitro adventitious root formation was correlated with its negative effect displayed on root induction and initiation phases, while its presence in the final “root manifestation” phase influenced positively the rooting process. The unmethylated form, although detectable in tissues in the precocious rooting phases, was no longer present in the final rooting phase. Its effect on rooting, however, proved always to be beneficial

Novel bioproducts from lavander to be tested against Myzus persicae Sulzer (Homoptera: Aphididae)

Sustainable agriculture aims at integrating three main objectives: a healthy environment, economic profitability, and social and economic equity. Floriculture represents an important sector of agriculture where sustainable cultivation practises must also provide final products in perfect condition. In order to reduce the harmful effects of pesticides, EU legislation has reduced the number of active substances permitted for use in pest management. It is thus important to identify natural bioproducts with potential to control pests, diseases, or to stimulate growth in ornamental plants.The green peach aphid Myzus persicae Sulzer (Homoptera: Aphididae) is a cosmopolitan species that is able to transmit viruses to a wide number of plants. It infests vegetables and ornamental plants grown in the field and in the greehouses and it manifest insecticide resistance. FINNOVER n.1195 is an EU Interreg-Alcotra project that aims to bring new perspectives to floriculture enterprises by recovering useful bioproducts from the waste produced during the distillation of essential oils from lavender and other aromatic species. The chemical analysis of this industrial by-product showed that it can be considered as an inexpensive source of phenols and flavonoids. Water wastes contained persistent amounts of volatile compounds and were also rich in sugars and compounds with a significant antioxidant activity. Pulsed ultrasound-assisted extraction was employed to extract the solid by-products, obtained after essential oils production, using food-grade solvents. DOE, UVvisible spectrometry and chemometrics were employed to optimize the extractions. All the extracts presented a promising total phenolic content (60\u201370 mg GAE /100 mL) and radical scavenging activity (100\u2013150 mg AAE/100 mL). The antiprobing effect of these natural products, besides the possibility to overcome the insecticide resistance, is under evaluation. The research found that the by-products of essential oil distillation can represent a valuable, but overlooked, source of multifunctional compounds. This work was carried out with the financial support from the Interreg V-A ALCOTRA 2014\u20132020, Project n\ub0 1195, FINNOVER

Filiferol, a chalconoid analog from Washingtonia filifera possibly involved in the defense against the red palm weevil Rhynchophorus ferrugineus Olivier

A chalconoid analog, 1,3,5-benzentriol 2-[(2S,3R)-3-(3,4-dihydroxylphenyl)-2,3-dihydroxylpropyl], named filiferol (I), has been isolated and purified for the first time from the leaf basal tissues of the palm species Washingtonia filifera. The chem. structure of I has been elucidated unambiguously by spectroscopic and chem. methods. I has been based on a flavonol structure with the redn. of the common flavonoid keto group to give an unprecedented methylene carbon on the three carbon chain. An analogous compd. with S stereochem. at C3 has been obtained as synthetic intermediate for developing an enantioselective synthesis of (2R,3S)-(+)-catechin. Even though I proved to be deprived of antifungal properties, it displays a very effective larvicidal activity against red palm weevil, Rhynchophorus ferrugineus, an important pest affecting cultivated and ornamental palms. I has been isolated from leaf tissues of W. filifera, a species resistant to this pest, but this mol. seems instead undetectable in tissues of other palm species susceptible to the parasite. The presence of I could, therefore, account for W. filifera natural resistance to the attacks of the red palm weevil. [on SciFinder(R)

Ultrasound-Assisted Extraction of Lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Miller, Cultivar Rosa) Solid By-Products Remaining after the Distillation of the Essential Oil

FINNOVER is an EU Interreg-Alcotra project that aims to bring new perspectives to floriculture enterprises by recovering useful bioproducts from the waste produced during processing of several aromatic species. In this study, a new operation strategy to recover lavender (Lavandula angustifolia Mill.) solid by-products remaining after the extraction of the essential oil was developed. Pulsed ultrasound-assisted extraction was employed as a sustainable and eco-compatible technology to extract, in a very short time (10 min), this agricultural waste using a food-grade solvent (a mixture of ethanol/water). All the extracts obtained from both flower and leaf waste and flower-only residues, exhibit a promising total phenolic content (38\u201340 mg gallic acid/g of dry waste), radical scavenging activity (107\u2013110 mg Trolox/g of dry waste) and total flavonoid content (0.11\u20130.13 mg quercetin/g of dry waste). Moreover, the chromatographic analysis of these extracts has shown that this overlooked agriculture waste can represent a valuable source of multifunctional compounds. Particularly, they exhibit a content of polyphenols and flavonoids up to 200 times higher than the corresponding leachate, and they are a valuable source of gentisic acid (1.4\u201313 mg/g dry waste) representing a new low-cost ingredient usable in different fields (i.e., cosmetic)

The role of stress on the unravelling of somatic embryogenesis competence

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