In vivo determination of the volatile metabolites of saprotroph fungi by comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography.

In this work, we discuss the use of multiway principal component analysis combined with comprehensive two-dimensional gas chromatography to study the volatile metabolites of the saprophytic fungus Memnoniella sp. isolated in vivo by headspace solid-phase microextraction. This fungus has been identified as having the ability to induce plant resistance against pathogens, possibly through its volatile metabolites. Adequate culture media were inoculated, and its headspace was then sampled with a solid-phase microextraction fiber and chromatographed every 24 h over seven days. The raw chromatogram processing using multiway principal component analysis allowed the determination of the inoculation period, during which the concentration of volatile metabolites was maximized, as well as the discrimination of the appropriate peaks from the complex culture media background. Several volatile metabolites not previously described in the literature on biocontrol fungi were observed, as well as sesquiterpenes and aliphatic alcohols. These results stress that, due to the complexity of multidimensional chromatographic data, multivariate tools might be mandatory even for apparently trivial tasks, such as the determination of the temporal profile of metabolite production and extinction. However, when compared with conventional gas chromatography, the complex data processing yields a considerable improvement in the information obtained from the samples.

Occurrence of isoflavonoids in Brazilian common bean germplasm (Phaseolus vulgaris L.).

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) is present in the daily diet of various countries and, as for other legumes, has been investigated for its nutraceutical potential. Thus, 16 genotypes from different gene pools, representing seven types of seed coats and different responses to pathogens and pests, were selected to verify their isoflavone contents. The isoflavonoids daidzein and genistein and the flavonols kaempferol, myricetin, and quercetin were found. Grains of the black type showed the highest concentrations of isoflavonoids and were the only ones to exhibit daidzein. IAC Formoso, with high protein content and source of resistance to anthracnose, showed the greatest concentration of genistein, representing around 11% of the content present in soybean, as well as high levels of kaempferol. Arc 1, Raz 55, and IAC Una genotypes showed high content of coumestrol. The results suggest the use of IAC Formoso to increase the nutraceutical characteristics in common bean.

Genetic structure of tree and shrubby species among anthropogenic edges, natural edges, and interior of an atlantic forest fragment.

Two species, Psychotria tenuinervis (shrub, Rubiaceae) and Guarea guidonia (tree, Meliaceae), were used as models to compare the genetic structure of tree and shrubby species among natural edges, anthropogenic edges, and a fragment interior. There were significant differences between two genetic markers. For isozymes, P. tenuinervis presented greater heterozygosity (expected and observed) and a higher percentage of polymorphic loci and median number of alleles than G. guidonia. For microsatellites, there was no difference in genetic variability between the species. Only P. tenuinervis, for isozymes, showed differences in genetic variability among the three habitats. There was no genetic structure (F (ST) < 0.05) among habitats in both plant species for both genetic markers. Isozymes showed great endogamy for both plant species, but not microsatellites. The forest fragmentation may have negative effects on both spatial (among edges and interior) and temporal genetic variability.