Biomarkers for the prediction of the resistance and susceptibility of grapevine leaves to downy mildew.

We examined metabolic profiles of acetone and butanol extracts obtained from the leaves of 18 seedlings of the Bulgarian wine-making cultivar Storgozia. The acetone extracts contained the components from the leaf surface, while the butanol extracts were enriched with polar components from inside the leaf tissue. The leaves displayed different degrees of resistance and susceptibility to the etiological agent downy mildew, Plasmopara viticola. Based on the statistically significant correlations (P<0.05) between the GC-MS data of the identified metabolites and the estimated leaf resistances, 10 individual components were proposed as possible biomarkers for the downy mildew resistance and susceptibility in grapevine. All were found in the butanol extracts, and can be considered to form two groups: compounds with high correlations (r=+/-0.50 to +/-1.00) - 3-hydroxybutanoic acid, 2,3,4-trihydroxybutanoic acid, 2,3,4-trihydroxybutanoic acid (isomer), hexadecanoic acid, 3-hydroxyhexanoic acid and myo-inositol, and compounds with moderate correlations (r=+/-0.30 to +/-0.49) hydroxybutanedioic acid, alanine, glutamine, arabinoic acid and aldohexoses. Among them, the more polar compounds were related to sensitivity, and only hexadecanoic and the monohydroxycarboxylic acids were related to resistance in grapevine.

Volatile and polar compounds in Rosadamascena Mill 1803 cell suspension.

Studies were conducted on low molecular metabolites (volatiles and polar compounds) produced by Rosa damascena Mill 1803 cell suspension culture, cultivated under different regimes: as a free suspension (in flasks and in bioreactor) and in a two-phase system (in the presence of Amberlite XAD-4 as a second phase). It was established that the main groups of volatiles were hydrocarbons and free acids and their esters and only traces of terpenoids were found. The main components of polar fraction were free acids, especially amino acids and oxidized acids. Depending on the culture conditions, significant differences were established in the amounts of all compounds under study in biomasses, culture media and adsorbed on the second phase (Amberlite XAD-4).

Intraspecific variability in the alkaloid metabolism of Galanthus elwesii.

Alkaloid pattern of individuals from 16 Bulgarian Galanthus elwesii populations was investigated by GC/MS and TLC. Twenty-one Amaryllidaceae alkaloids were detected and 14 of them were identified. Crinane type alkaloids, haemanthamine or crinine, dominated alkaloid metabolism in most of the populations. With exception of one population, where the separate individuals showed variable alkaloid profiles (dominated by crinine or haemanthamine) the individuals of the rest of populations have identical and characteristic alkaloid profiles. Some populations showed remarkable differences in respect to their alkaloid pattern-type of biosynthesis, main alkaloids and number of alkaloids. Populations dominated by galanthamine type alkaloids were found as well. These data demonstrate that like the morphological features, the alkaloid metabolism of G. elwesii is also variable.

Alkaloids in Bulgarian Pancratium maritimum L.

A GC/MS analysis of alkaloids from leaves, bulbs and roots of Pancratium maritimum was performed. From the identified 16 alkaloids, 5 alkaloids were reported for the first time for this plant. Several compounds with pharmacological activity were found. Haemanthamine was main alkaloid in the leaves and bulbs whereas galanthane was found to be main alkaloid in roots.

GC/MS analysis of some bioactive constituents from Carthamus lanatus L.

Sterols, triterpenes, volatiles, polar and other constituents in aerial parts of Carthamus lanatus were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Over 90 compounds were identified most of them new for the species. Sitosterol and stigmasterol were the most abundant of 10 sterols identified in the sterol fraction. Taraxasterol, alpha- and beta-amyrine prevailed in the triterpene fraction. Volatiles, sterols and a fraction of the dichloromethane extract showed strong cytotoxicity (Artemia salina assay).

Development in primary cell culture of demosponges.

We have established primary cell culture of the marine demosponge Dysidea avara and Suberites domuncula. Microbial contamination was controlled by the use of a pool of antibiotics confirming the goodness of this procedure. Effect of pH, temperature and light was studied to establish the better growth conditions. The comparison of lipid composition of sponge and cells suggested a series of experiments to optimise the medium. A glucose dose-dependent experiment showed that the ideal glucose concentration is 1 g l(-1). Supplementing the medium with unsaturated fatty acid and retinol, no promotion of growth was observed, but the compounds were totally metabolised by cells. Increments from 70 to 160% in the number of cells were observed, supplementing the medium with different concentration of cholesterol. These results suggest that the analysis of the chemical composition of sponge and cells give indication on the composition of the nutrient media.

Chemical composition of Cystoseira crinita Bory from the Eastern Mediterranean.

The chemical composition of the brown alga Cystoseira crinita Bory from the Eastern Mediterranean was investigated. Fourteen sterols have been identified, five of them for the first time in algae. The structure of one new sterol was established. The origin of seven sterols with short side chains was discussed. In the volatile fraction 19 compounds and in the polar fraction 15 compounds were identified. The main lipid classes were isolated and their fatty acid composition was established.

GC-MS of Crinum latifolium L. alkaloids.

A GC-MS analysis of underivatized alkaloids from leaves of Crinum latifolium was performed. From the identified 15 alkaloids, 9 were found for the first time in this plant. Almost all alkaloids belonged to the crinane type. Substantial changes in the methylation and oxidation pattern of the alkaloids at and after flowering were observed.