Diploid and polyploid species derived from the euploid series x = 11 occur in the genus Psidium, as well as intraspecific cytotypes. Euploidy in the genus can alter the gene copy number, resulting in ...several "omics" variations. We revisited the euploidy, reported genomic (nuclear 2C value, GC%, and copy number of secondary metabolism genes) and epigenomic (5-mC%) differences in Psidium, and related them to essential oil yield and composition. Mean 2C values ranged from 0.90 pg (P. guajava) to 7.40 pg (P. gaudichaudianum). 2C value is intraspecifically varied in P. cattleyanum and P. gaudichaudianum, evidencing cytotypes that can be formed from euploid (non-reduced) and/or aneuploid reproductive cells. GC% ranged from 34.33% (P. guineense) to 48.95% (P. myrtoides), and intraspecific variations occurred even for species without 2C value intraspecific variation. Essential oil yield increased in relation to 2C value and to GC%. We showed that P. guajava (diploid) possesses two and P. guineense (tetraploid) four copies of the one specific TPS gene, as well as eight and sixteen copies respectively of the conserved regions that occur in eight TPS genes. We provide a wide "omics'' characterization of Psidium and show the outcome of the genome and epigenome variation in secondary metabolism.
Terpenoids are essential for plant growth, development, defense, and adaptation mechanisms. Psidium cattleyanum (Myrtaceae) is a fleshy fruit tree species endemics from Atlantic Forest, known for its ...pleasant fragrance and sweet taste, attributed to terpenoids in its leaves and fruits. In this study, we conducted genome-wide identification, evolutionary and expression analyses of the terpene synthase gene (TPS) family in P. cattleyanum red guava (var. cattleyanum), and yellow guava (var. lucidum Hort.) morphotypes. We identified 32 full-length TPS in red guava (RedTPS) and 30 in yellow guava (YlwTPS). We showed different expression patterns of TPS paralogous in the two morphotypes, suggesting the existence of distinct gene regulation mechanisms and their influence on the final essential oil content in both morphotypes. Moreover, the oil profile of red guava was dominated by 1,8-cineole and linalool and yellow guava was enriched in α-pinene, coincident in proportion to TPS-b1 genes, which encode enzymes that produce cyclic monoterpenes, suggesting a lineage-specific subfamily expansion of this family. Finally, we identified amino acid residues near the catalytic center and functional areas under positive selection. Our findings provide valuable insights into the terpene biosynthesis in a Neotropical Myrtaceae species and their potential involvement in adaptation mechanisms.
The present investigation aimed to develop inclusion complexes (ICs) from
(GAU) essential oil (EO) and its major compound
-caryophyllene (
-CAR), and to evaluate their herbicidal (against
and
) and ...cytogenotoxic (on
) activities. The ICs were obtained using 2-hydroxypropyl-
-cyclodextrin (HP
CD) and they were prepared to avoid or reduce the volatility and degradation of GAU EO and
-CAR. The ICs obtained showed a complexation efficiency of 91.5 and 83.9% for GAU EO and
-CAR, respectively. The IC of GAU EO at a concentration of 3000 µg mL
displayed a significant effect against weed species
and
. However, the
-CAR IC at a concentration of 3000 µg mL
was effective only on
. In addition, the cytogenotoxic activity evaluation revealed that there was a reduction in the mitotic index and an increase in chromosomal abnormalities. The produced ICs were able to protect the EO and
-CAR from volatility and degradation, with a high thermal stability, and they also enabled the solubilization of the EO and
-CAR in water without the addition of an organic solvent. Therefore, it is possible to indicate the obtained products as potential candidates for commercial exploration since the ICs allow the complexed EO to exhibit a more stable chemical constitution than pure EO under storage conditions.
The intensive application of agrochemicals in crops has negatively impacted the environment and other organisms. The use of naturally occurring compounds may be an alternative to mitigate these ...effects. Plants are secondary metabolite reservoirs and may present allelopathic activity, which is potentially interesting to be used in bioherbicide formulations. In this context, the present work aimed to evaluate the phytotoxic and cytotoxic effects of essential oils extracted from leaves of Sparattanthelium botocudorum and Sparattanthelium tupiniquinorum in bioassays with the plant models Lactuca sativa L. and Sorghum bicolor L. Moench. The essential oils were applied at concentrations of 3,000, 1,500, 750, 375 and 187.5 ppm. Chemical characterization of the oils was performed, and their impact on the percentage of germinated seeds, initial development of L. sativa and S. bicolor seedlings, and changes in the mitotic cycle of meristematic cells from L. sativa roots was evaluated. The major compound of the essential oils was germacrene D, followed by bicyclogermacrene, β-elemene and germacrene A. The phytotoxicity assay showed that the essential oils of both species reduced the root and shoot growth in L. sativa and decreased the germination and shoot growth in S. bicolor. Inhibition was dependent on the tested oil concentration. In the cytotoxicity assay, a decrease in mitotic index and chromosomal and nuclear alterations were observed, which resulted from aneugenic and clastogenic action.
Some forest trees have been polyploidized to improve their traits and to supply new germplasms for breeding programs. As trees have a long juvenile stage, the early characterization of the chromosome ...set doubling effects is crucial for previous selection. Thus, we aimed to characterize the chemical variability of essential oils from diploid and autotetraploid germplasms (autotetraploid A and B) of Eucalyptus benthamii, as well as to evaluate their larvicidal and allelopathic effects. Autotetraploid A showed a higher essential oil yield than diploid and autotetraploid B, which did not differ quantitatively. Aromadendrene, viridiflorol and α-pinene were the major compounds in the diploid essential oil. In contrast, compounds were present in autotetraploids, such as 1,8-cineole, limonene, α-terpineol, and α-terpinyl-acetate. Essential oils from the diploid at 50-200 ppm were twice as larvicidal than those from autotetraploids against Aedes aegypti larvae. Considering the phytotoxicity bioassays using Lactuca sativa, essential oils from both ploidy levels affected root growth. Moreover, the essential oils inhibited shoot growth at all concentrations tested (187.5; 375; 750; 1500; and 3000 ppm). Autotetraploid A and B had the same effect on shoot growth as glyphosate. The essential oils had no cytogenotoxic effect on root meristematic cells of L. sativa, whereas phytotoxic potential was identified mainly in shoot growth. This work demonstrated a dramatic change in secondary metabolism (terpene composition) related to an increase in the ploidy level in Eucalyptus germplasms. In addition, we report the novelty of the chemical composition of essential oils among germplasms and their potential use as larvicidal and post-emergence weed control agents.
Inclusion complexes (ICs) of 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin with the essential oil (EO) from Seculo XXI cultivar of
were prepared using kneading (KN) and freeze-drying (FD) methods. The resulting ICs ...clusters have a nanometric size, with a diameter of approximately 80 and 40 nm for KN and FD, respectively. Complexation efficiency was 80.3% and 50.8% for KN and FD methods, respectively. The larvicidal activity of the EO in DMSO on
had LC
and LC
values of 51.49 and 64.51 µg mL
, respectively. For the KN method, the toxicity corresponded to 77.54 and 107.29 µg mL
for LC
and LC
, respectively. FD method demonstrated toxicity at concentrations above 600 µg mL
. Thus, ICs enable the use of EO in breeding sites for
, thus being potential products to be commercially exploited.
Dogs represent the most important domestic reservoir of L. chagasi (syn. L. infantum). A vaccine against canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) would be an important tool for decreasing the anxiety ...related to possible L. chagasi infection and for controlling human visceral leishmaniasis (VL). Because the sand fly salivary proteins are potent immunogens obligatorily co-deposited during transmission of Leishmania parasites, their inclusion in an anti-Leishmania vaccine has been investigated in past decades. We investigated the immunogenicity of the "LbSapSal" vaccine (L. braziliensis antigens, saponin as adjuvant, and Lutzomyia longipalpis salivary gland extract) in dogs at baseline (T0), during the post-vaccination protocol (T3rd) and after early (T90) and late (T885) times following L. chagasi-challenge. Our major data indicated that immunization with "LbSapSal" is able to induce biomarkers characterized by enhanced amounts of type I (tumor necrosis factor TNF-α, interleukin IL-12, interferon IFN-γ) cytokines and reduction in type II cytokines (IL-4 and TGF-β), even after experimental challenge. The establishment of a prominent pro-inflammatory immune response after "LbSapSal" immunization supported the increased levels of nitric oxide production, favoring a reduction in spleen parasitism (78.9%) and indicating long-lasting protection against L. chagasi infection. In conclusion, these results confirmed the hypothesis that the "LbSapSal" vaccination is a potential tool to control the Leishmania chagasi infection.
Display omitted
•CD4+/ CD8+ T-cell (proinflammatory profile) is related with a resistance to CVL.•Polyclonal B-cell expansion is associated with high susceptibility in CVL.•IFN-γ and TNF-α are ...disease resistance related biomarkers.•IL-4, TGF-β and IL-10 are disease susceptibility related biomarkers.
The natural history of canine visceral leishmaniasis (CVL) has been well described, particularly with respect to the parasite load in different tissues and immunopathological changes according to the progression of clinical forms. The biomarkers evaluated in these studies provide support for the improvement of the tools used in developing vaccines against CVL. Thus, we describe the major studies using the dog model that supplies the rationale for including different biomarkers (tissue parasitism, histopathology, hematological changes, leucocytes immunophenotyping, cytokines patterns, and in vitroco-culture systems using purified T-cells subsets and macrophages infected with L. infantum) for immunogenicity and protection evaluations in phases I and II applied to pre-clinical and clinical vaccine trials against CVL. The search for biomarkers related to resistance or susceptibility has revealed a mixed cytokine profile with a prominent proinflammatory immune response as relevant for Leishmania replication at low levels as observed in asymptomatic dogs (highlighted by high levels of IFN-γ and TNF-α and decreased levels in IL-4, TGF-β and IL-10). Furthermore, increased levels in CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell subsets, presenting intracytoplasmic proinflammatory cytokine balance, have been associated with a resistance profile against CVL. In contrast, a polyclonal B-cell expansion towards plasma cell differentiation contributes to high antibody production, which is the hallmark of symptomatic dogs associated with high susceptibility in CVL. Finally, the different studies used to analyze biomarkers have been incorporated into vaccine immunogenicity and protection evaluations. Those biomarkers identified as resistance or susceptibility markers in CVL have been used to evaluate the vaccine performance against L. infantum in a kennel trial conducted before the field trial in an area known to be endemic for visceral leishmaniasis. This rationale has been a guiding force in the testing and selection of the best vaccine candidates against CVL and provides a way for the veterinary industry to register commercial immunobiological products.
The present investigation aimed to develop inclusion complexes (ICs) from Psidium gaudichaudianum (GAU) essential oil (EO) and its major compound β-caryophyllene (β-CAR), and to evaluate their ...herbicidal (against Lolium multiflorum and Bidens pilosa) and cytogenotoxic (on Lactuca sativa) activities. The ICs were obtained using 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPβCD) and they were prepared to avoid or reduce the volatility and degradation of GAU EO and β-CAR. The ICs obtained showed a complexation efficiency of 91.5 and 83.9% for GAU EO and β-CAR, respectively. The IC of GAU EO at a concentration of 3000 µg mLsup.−1 displayed a significant effect against weed species B. pilosa and L. multiflorum. However, the β-CAR IC at a concentration of 3000 µg mLsup.−1 was effective only on L. multiflorum. In addition, the cytogenotoxic activity evaluation revealed that there was a reduction in the mitotic index and an increase in chromosomal abnormalities. The produced ICs were able to protect the EO and β-CAR from volatility and degradation, with a high thermal stability, and they also enabled the solubilization of the EO and β-CAR in water without the addition of an organic solvent. Therefore, it is possible to indicate the obtained products as potential candidates for commercial exploration since the ICs allow the complexed EO to exhibit a more stable chemical constitution than pure EO under storage conditions.
Display omitted
•The essential oil obtained from leaves of guava (Psidium guajava L.) shows promising larvicidal activity against A. aegypti.•The essential oils from Brazilian guava cultivars ...differed with regard to their larvicidal effects on A. aegypti.•This difference was related to the chemical composition, which varied qualitatively and semi-quantitatively.•The SEC cultivar was the most promising, with lowest LC50 and with one of the highest extraction yields among the cultivars.
The mosquito Aedes aegypti L. is one of the largest vectors of human pathogens, including the dengue and chikungunya viruses. However, its control is challenging. Synthetic insecticides are one of the most used methods of vector control, but their use raises a series of environmental issues. Therefore, the application of natural products constitutes an alternative practice, as they can be effective, easily biodegradable and inexpensive. The essential oil obtained from leaves of guava (Psidium guajava L.) has shown promising larvicidal activity against A. aegypti. However, the existence of different essential oil chemotypes in this species makes it necessary to study the influence of such variation on the larvicidal activity. In the present work, the essential oils from the guava cultivars SEC, C4, C6, PAL and PET were evaluated for larvicidal effect on A. aegypti. The oils were found to be efficient, with LC50 ranging from 39.48 to 64.25μgmL−1. SEC was the most promising cultivar, with lowest LC50 and one of the highest extraction yields among the cultivars (0.35%). The chromatographic profile of the essential oils evidenced mainly sesquiterpenes; hence, this group of compounds may be responsible for the larvicidal effect. Besides constituting a larvicide alternative, the use of essential oils could also create new income sources for guava producers, since a large amount of plant matter is generated as a result of successive prunings.