Various Patterns of Composition and Accumulation of Steroids and Triterpenoids in Cuticular Waxes from Screened Ericaceae and Caprifoliaceae Berries during Fruit Development.

Cuticular waxes are primarily composed of two classes of lipids: compounds derived from very-long-chain fatty acids and isoprenoids, particularly triterpenoids and steroids. Isoprenoids can occur in cuticular waxes in high amounts, dominating the mixture of aliphatic long-chain hydrocarbons, while in other plants they are found in trace concentrations. Triterpenoids occurring in fruit cuticular waxes are of interest due to their potential role in the protection against biotic stresses, including pathogen infections, and their impact on the mechanical toughness of the fruit surface, maintaining fruit integrity, and post-harvest quality. The aim of the present study was the determination of the changes in the triterpenoid profile of the fruit cuticular waxes of four plant species bearing edible berries: Vaccinium myrtillus, V. vitis-idaea, and Arbutus unedo of the Ericaceae and the edible honeysuckle Lonicera caerulea of the Caprifoliaceae. Triterpenoids were identified and quantified by GC-MS/FID (gas chromatography-mass spectrometry/flame ionization detection) at three different phenological stages: young berries, berries at the onset of ripening, and mature berries. During fruit development and maturation, the triterpenoid content in cuticular waxes displayed species-specific patterns of changes. The steroid content seemed to be directly correlated with the developmental stage, with a very typical point of transition between growth and ripening being observed in all the fruit analyzed in this study.

Variability in the production of tannins and other polyphenols in cell cultures of 12 Nordic plant species.

MAIN CONCLUSION: The polyphenol profiles of 18 cell cultures from 12 plant species were screened. The detected polyphenol fingerprints were diverse and differed from polyphenol profiles typically found in corresponding plant species. Cell cultures originating from 12 different plant species growing or grown in the Nordic countries were screened for their ability to synthesize polyphenols to assess their suitability for future studies and applications. The focus was on plant families Rosaceae and Ericaceae. On average, the Rosaceae cultures were the most efficient to produce hydrolysable tannins and the Ericaceae cultures were the most efficient to produce proanthocyanidins. This is in line with the general trend of polyphenols found in Rosaceae and Ericaceae leaves and fruits, even though several individual cell cultures differed from natural plants in their polyphenolic composition. Overall, several of the studied cell cultures exhibited capability in producing a large variety of polyphenols, including tannins with a high molecular weight, thus also showing promise for further studies concerning, for example, the accumulation of specific polyphenols or biosynthesis of polyphenols in the cell cultures.

Interaction of calcineurin with its activator, chlorogenic acid revealed by spectroscopic methods.

Chlorogenic acid (CHA) has been proved to be an activator of calcineurin (CN) in our previous research. In this study, the activation of single chain calcineurin (BA) by CHA, their interaction and concomitant changes in protein conformation were studied using fluorescence and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Evidence is present that binding of CHA to CN is responsible for the stimulation of enzyme and results in structural changes. Aromatic residues reorient into new environments upon binding of CHA, the binding constant for the reaction was (2.76 +/- 0.64) x 10(4) M(-1) by one binding site, which indicated that CHA bound to BA statically and the change of secondary structure was mainly due to reduced alpha-helical content and increased beta-turns. The results obtained in this study should be useful for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the interactions between CN and its activators.

Use of wastewater and compost extracts as nutrient sources for growing nursery and turfgrass species.

Nutrient salts present in liquid by-products following waste treatment are lost resources if not effectively recycled, and can cause environmental problems if improperly disposed. This research compared the growth response and mineral nutrient status of two nursery and two turfgrass species, hydroponically supplied with nutritive by-product extracts derived from anaerobically digested municipal solid waste (MSW) and aerobically composted organic wastes from the mushroom and MSW industries. Forsythia (Forsythia x intermedia 'Lynwood') and weigela (Weigela florida 'Red Prince'), and creeping bentgrass (Agrostis palustris Huds.) and Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), were grown in nutrient solutions/extracts prepared from: (i) half-strength Hoagland's #2 solution (HH; control), (ii) Plant Products liquid fertilizer (PP; g kg(-1): 180 N; 39 P; 224 K), (iii) spent mushroom compost (SMC), (iv) MSW compost (GMC), and (v) intra-process wastewater from the anaerobic digestion of MSW (ADW). Additional nutrient solutions (SMC-A, GMC-A, and ADW-A) were prepared by amending the original solutions with N, P, and/or K to concentrations in HH (mg L(-1): 105 N; 15 P; 118 K). Plants receiving the SMC-A extract grew best or at least as well as those in HH, PP, and the amended GMC-A and ADW-A solutions. This study indicated that, with proper amendments of N, P, K and other nutrients, water-soluble constituents derived from organic waste treatment have potential for use as supplemental nutrient sources for plant production.