Isolation and Characterization of Cyclotides from Brazilian Psychotria: Significance in Plant Defense and Co-occurrence with Antioxidant Alkaloids.

Plants from the genus Psychotria include species bearing cyclotides and/or alkaloids. The elucidation of factors affecting the metabolism of these molecules as well as their activities may help to understand their ecological function. In the present study, high concentrations of antioxidant indole alkaloids were found to co-occur with cyclotides in Psychotria leiocarpa and P. brachyceras. The concentrations of the major cyclotides and alkaloids in P. leiocarpa and P. brachyceras were monitored following herbivore- and pathogen-associated challenges, revealing a constitutive, phytoanticipin-like accumulation pattern. Psyleio A, the most abundant cyclotide found in the leaves of P. leiocarpa, and also found in P. brachyceras leaves, exhibited insecticidal activity against Helicoverpa armigera larvae. Addition of ethanol in the vehicle for peptide solubilization in larval feeding trials proved deleterious to insecticidal activity and resulted in increased rates of larval survival in treatments containing indole alkaloids. This suggests that plant alkaloids ingested by larvae might contribute to herbivore oxidative stress detoxification, corroborating, in a heterologous system with artificial oxidative stress stimulation, the antioxidant efficiency of Psychotria alkaloids previously observed in planta. Overall, the present study reports data for eight novel cyclotides, the identification of P. leiocarpa as a cyclotide-bearing species, and the absence of these peptides in P. umbellata.

Events Associated with Early Age-Related Decline in Adventitious Rooting Competence of Eucalyptus globulus Labill.

The development of adventitious roots is affected by several factors, including the age of the cutting donor plant, which negatively affects rooting capacity. Eucalyptus globulus quickly loses rooting capacity of cuttings as the donor plant ages, although the molecular and biochemical mechanisms behind this process are still unclear. To better understand the bases of rooting competence loss in E. globulus, the time required for a significant decline in rhizogenic ability without exogenous auxin was determined in microcuttings derived from donor plants of different ages after sowing. Tip cuttings of donor plants were severed before and after loss of rooting competence of microcuttings to test the hypothesis that auxin and carbohydrate homeostasis regulate rooting competence decline. There were no significant changes in concentration of carbohydrates, flavonoids, or proteins before and after the loss of rooting capacity. Peroxidase (EC 1.11.1.7) total activity increased with loss of rooting competence. Auxin concentration showed the opposite pattern. In good agreement, TAA1, a key gene in auxin biosynthesis, had lower expression after loss of rooting capacity. The same applied to the auxin receptor gene TIR1, suggesting reduced auxin sensitivity. On the other hand, genes associated with auxin response repression (TPL, IAA12) or with the action of cytokinins, the rhizogenesis inhibitor-related ARR1, showed higher expression in plants with lower rooting competence. Taken together, data suggest that age negatively affects E. globulus rooting by a combination of factors. Decreased endogenous auxin concentration, possibly caused by less biosynthesis, lower auxin sensitivity, higher expression of genes inhibiting auxin action, as well as of genes related to the action of cytokinins, appear to play roles in this process.

Shoot accumulation kinetics and effects on herbivores of the wound-induced antioxidant indole alkaloid brachycerine of Psychotria brachyceras.

A major shoot-specific monoterpene indole alkaloid produced by Psychotria brachyceras, brachycerine, is regulated by either wounding or jasmonate application. Highest concentrations of the alkaloid are found in inflorescences, suggesting a defence role. Brachycerine has antimutagenic and antioxidant properties, capable of quenching singlet oxygen, hydroxyl radical, and superoxide. This study aimed at characterizing the putative role of brachycerine in P. brachyceras responses to wounding and herbivory. Damage to leaves increased the content of brachycerine locally. Wounding did not affect phenolics content in P brachyceras leaves, and no tannins were detected in the species. In generalist herbivore bioassays, neither brachycerine nor P. brachyceras extracts showed toxic effects. In vivo hydrogen peroxide staining assay showed less wound-generated peroxide accumulation in alkaloid treated tissues. This pattern was confirmed in quantitative assays measuring tissue hydrogen peroxide concentrations. Data indicate that brachycerine is not a herbivore deterrent, but rather an indirect chemical defence, modulating oxidative stress caused by mechanical damage.