Allelopathic potential of Medicago arborea, a Mediterranean invasive shrub

Summary. Biological invasions are nowadays a major problem in ecology. Allelopathy has been shown to be involved in such invasions, but this mechanism has been little studied in France. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the allelopathic potential of Medicago arborea, an invasive species in the French Mediterranean region. Foliar extracts were tested on three target species (Lactuca sativa, Lepidium sativum and Linum strictum). We showed that Medicago arborea has high allelopathic potential to affect the growth and germination of other species. Yellow flax (Linum strictum), native to the invaded area, was the most sensitive of the tested plant species to foliar extracts of Medicago arborea. Our study pointed out the role of allelopathy in processes leading to biological invasion, and more generally in population dynamics.     

Allelopathic effect of Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii extracts on the germination and growth of several plant species

Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii is an invasive cyanobacterium and a potential producer of the alkaloid toxin cylindrospermopsin (CYN). Extracts of two strains of C. raciborskii were tested for their effects on the germination and growth of Lactuca sativa, Phaseolus vulgaris, Pisum sativum and Solanum lycopersicum. Germination was not significantly inhibited for any of the plant species tested, but growth was affected, depending on the species. Root and stem growth in L. sativa was generally stimulated by both strains. Ph. vulgaris root growth was stimulated by both strains but no effect was visible in stem growth. S. lycopersicum root growth was inhibited by both strains and stem growth was inhibited only by the CYN strain. P. sativum root growth was also inhibited by both strains but stem growth was stimulated. CYN accumulation was also differential with toxin transfer to the stem. Ph. vulgaris accumulated the highest CYN concentration. This study suggests that plants behave differently in their response to this toxin and that roots and stems also show different abilities to react and accumulate the toxin. Knowledge of the impact of CYN- and non-CYN-producing cyanobacteria in different plant species and translocation of the toxin to different plant parts is essential for the avoidance of human as well as environmental health hazards.     

Fungal disease resistance of Caribbean sea fan corals (Gorgonia spp.)

An on-going, Caribbean-wide epizootic affecting sea fan corals (Gorgonia spp.) is caused by the fungus Aspergillus sydowii (Thom et Church). We examined the role of crude extracts in resistance of two species of sea fans, Gorgonia ventalina (L.) and G. flabellum (L.), against A. sydowii and a bacterial pathogen of fish, Listonella anguillarum (MacDonell et Colwell). Sea fans were collected in January 1997 from San Salvador, Bahamas, and in June 1997 and January 1998 from Alligator Reef, Florida Keys, USA. Crude extracts from both species were tested to determine concentrations inhibiting germination of A. sydowii spores. Crude extracts from both species inhibited spore germination at concentrations as low as 1.5 mg ml⁻¹; most samples were active at 5 to 10 mg ml⁻¹. These concentrations are within the range estimated in living tissue and were higher in healthy colonies suggesting their role in mediating disease susceptibility. We also detected within-colony gradients in antifungal activity, which varied with the disease state of the colony. In healthy sea fans, resistance was highest at colony edges and lowest in medial and central regions of the colony. Among sea fans with lesions in the colony center, resistance in tissue from proximal and medial regions was as high as tissue from the colony edge (i.e. distal region). The increase in antifungal activity suggests an inducible response by the coral host to the fungal pathogen. This response is most evident among sea fans with lesions in the colony center and not among colonies with lesions at the edge. Antibacterial activity of crude extracts against L. anguillarum was highest at the colony edge but did not vary with disease state or tissue location. Received: 10 March 1999 / Accepted: 10 November 1999     

Simultaneous analysis of tissue- and genotype-specific variation in Solidago altissima (Asteraceae) rhizome terpenoids, and the polyacetylene dehydromatricaria ester

Solidago altissima is a dominant perennial of old field succession in North America with the ability to form dense, almost monospecific stands; the plant is also considered an aggressive invasive throughout Europe and Japan. S. altissima’s success is facilitated by large belowground rhizome systems that allow clonal spread and possible allelopathic suppression of competitors. A diversity of polar and nonpolar terpenes and polyacetylenes have been described from S. altissima rhizomes; however, there is little information documenting the concentration or distribution of these allelochemicals and how they relate to plant defense hypotheses. We thus developed a GC–MS method to simultaneously quantify rhizome terpenes and polyacetylenes that spanned a range of polarities and confirmed the presence of 19 terpenoids in addition to the polyacetylene dehydromatricaria ester (DME). We, (1) determined relative concentrations and variability of mono-, sesqui-, neutral diterpenes, diterpene acids and DME within a central NY population; (2) compared accumulation of these compounds in differently developed rhizome tissue; and (3) tested the alleopathic effect of DME at naturally occurring concentrations on germination and seedling growth of Asclepias syriaca, a common competitor of S. altissima. Overall, diterpene acids dominated the phytochemical profile of most genotypes (averaging 0.75% of fresh mass) with kolavenic acid being the single most abundant component. Monoterpene, sesquiterpene and acidic diterpene concentrations were all significantly greater in the actively elongating (current-year) rhizomes compared to established rhizomes and followed optimal defense theory predictions. Conversely, DME levels were lower in the current-year rhizomes than in established rhizomes. DME inhibited seed germination of A. syriaca in a dose-dependent manner. The tissue-specific accumulation of the different compounds may represent a biosynthetic and/or allocational strategy that limits the exposure of young-tissue to high concentrations of DME possibly limiting the cytotoxic effects of DME.     

Rapana venosa as a bioindicator of environmental pollution

The aim of this investigation was to examine biochemical differences in the gastropod Rapana venosa (R. venosa) from polluted (RvP) and nonpolluted (RvN) sites of the Black Sea's Bulgarian coast that may serve as bioindicators of environmental quality. Mussels Mytilus galloprovincialis (MMg) were collected from polluted (MMgP) and nonpolluted (MMgN) sites at the same time for comparison. Bioactive compounds and the antioxidant activity of dry matter (DM) methanol extracts from RvP and RvN were determined. Three-dimensional fluorometry (3D-FL) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses were used to evaluate polyphenols and proteins. DM methanol extracts from RvP, and to lesser extent RvN, showed high amounts of total phenolics (23.22±2.9 and 15.60±1.8 mg GAE · g^?1 DW) and exhibited high levels of antioxidant activity in some radical scavenging assays (μ MTE · g^?1 DW): 56.38±5.2 and 33.79±3.3 by 2,2azino-bis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) diamonium salt (ABTS·⁺); 54.79±5.6 and 33.7±2.6 by cupric reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC); 62.34±6.8 and 30.31±3.9 by the 1diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl method (DPPH). A correlation in the above indices was found between R. venosa and M. galloprovincialis, but all results were relatively higher for M. galloprovincialis than for R. venosa. The obtained indices of R. venosa may serve as a bioindicator of environmental ecological quality.     

Preferences of six leaf beetle species among qualitatively different leaf age classes of three Salicaceous host species

Summary. As Salicaceous plants produce new leaves for a prolonged period of time, they expose a wide range of differentially aged leaves to herbivores during the growing season. In this work, I show that young leaves of three Salicaceous species, Populus tremula L., Salix phylicifolia L. and S. pentandra L., contain more nitrogen than conspecific old leaves. In P. tremula and S. pentandra young leaves also contained more low-molecular weight secondary compounds, phenolic glucosides. Leaves of S. phylicifolia did not contain phenolic glucosides in detectable amounts. Furthermore, in P. tremula and S. pentandra young leaves contained less polymeric digestability-reducing phenolics, condensed tannins, than old leaves. In S. phylicifolia, higher concentrations of condensed tannins were found in young leaves. In laboratory feeding trials with six leaf beetle species, young leaves of the studied plants were invariably preferred in all tested herbivore × host species combinations. In particular, it is remarkable that three leaf beetle species with known different overall relationships to phenolic glucosides equally preferred more glucoside-containing young S. pentandra leaves over conspecific old ones. Four beetle species were found to prefer young leaves of S. phylicifolia despite the higher content of condensed tannins in young leaves. These results indicate that the general preference of leaf beetles for young leaves of Salicaceous plants probably does not primarily result from variable distribution of secondary compounds. Apparently, the preference for young leaves is fundamentally due to variation in leaf nutritive traits, such as nitrogen content. Received 9 February 2001.     

Phytotoxic effects of phenolic acids from <Emphasis Type="Italic">Merostachys riedeliana,</Emphasis> a native and overabundant Brazilian bamboo

Merostachys riedeliana Rupr. is a native and overabundant bamboo species in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Moderate to strong allelopathic activity may be one mechanism that explains this super-dominance and the changes in structure and composition of forest areas occupied by bamboo. This study evaluated the phytotoxic effect of M. riedeliana extracts and fractions and identified their putative allelochemicals. We investigated the presence of allelochemicals in soil collected from stands occupied by M. riedeliana. Furthermore, we evaluated the putative effect of tree allelochemicals, individually and combined, on germination and growth. The aqueous extract of leaves and its ethyl acetate fraction presented the highest inhibitory effects on seed germination and seedling growth. The effect of the extracts and fractions on the target species was species-specific. Neither the individual nor the combined phenolic acids significantly inhibited seed germination; however, a pronounced growth inhibition was observed in M. bimucronata seedlings treated with vanillic acid and in E. verna and M. bimucronata seedlings treated with combined phenolic acids. Isovitexin, vitexin, isoorientin, orientin, and their O-glycoside derivatives, the lactonic dimer of the p-hydroxybenzoic acid and 3,4-methylenedioxymandelic acid were identified in the aqueous extracts and ethyl acetate fraction by Liquid Chromatography-Diode Array Dectector/Electrospray Ionization/Mass Spectrometry (LC-DAD/ESI–MS/MS). The Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometer (GC–MS) profile of the same extract and fraction showed the presence of benzoic, benzeneacetic, salicylic, p-hydroxybenzoic, p-hydroxyphenylacetic, vanillic, p-coumaric, protocatechuic, syringic, gallic, m-coumaric vanillylmandelic, 4-methylmandelic, 3,4-methylenedioxymandelic and trans-ferulic acids. The p-benzoic acid and the apigenin 6-C-glucoside (isovitexin) were identified in the soil extract collected from under bamboo-growing areas. Even though laboratory bioassays are not completely predictive of the allelopathic effects that occur in nature, the results of this study provide preliminary evidence of allelopathy as a possible species-specific inhibition mechanism of native species that explain the impoverishment of floristic richness and the functional groups in areas where M. riedeliana is overabundant.     

Sensitive crop species and appropriate bioassays for potential use in phytotoxicity assessment of Pb-contaminated soils

The present study aims to determine the phytotoxic effects of lead (Pb) on corn (Zea mays), wheat (Triticum aestivum), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), cabbage (Brassica oleracea) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa) and to identify the sensitive crop species and appropriate bioassays for potential use in phytotoxicity assessment of Pb-contaminated soil. In a laboratory experiment, Pb(NO₃)₂ was added to the background soil to obtain eight Pb treatments. The results indicate that the seed germination rate of lettuce decreases by 14.44%, 30.00% and 40.00% at 2000, 3000 and 4000 mg Pb kg^?1 soil, respectively. However, the germination of corn, wheat, cucumber and cabbage is not significantly influenced by the Pb-contaminated soil treated with all the tested concentrations. Furthermore, the root elongation is more sensitive to Pb than is seed germination. The minimum concentrations of adverse effect of maize, wheat, cucumber, cabbage and lettuce are 2000, 3000, 1300, 800 and 300 mg Pb kg^?1 soil, respectively. Moreover, dicotyledon species are more sensitive than monocotyledon species. In the genotoxicity study, the mitotic index (MI) fluctuates with an increasing Pb concentration. The micronuclei (MN) frequencies of cucumber, cabbage and lettuce exhibit a dose-dependent effect at concentrations ranging from 1300 to 4000 mg Pb kg^?1 soil. It can be concluded that lettuce is a good candidate for indicating the toxicity of Pb in soil. Root elongation and the micronucleus frequency of dicotyledon are appropriate bioassays for potential use in phytotoxicity assessment of Pb-contaminated soil.     

Stabilization of the As-contaminated soil from the metal mining areas in Korea

Phytoextraction is a remediation technology with a promising application for removing arsenic (As) from soils and waters. Several plant species were evaluated for their As accumulation capacity in hydroponic culture amended with As. Cucumis sativus (cucumber) displayed the highest tolerance against As among 4 plants tested in this study (corn, wheat, sorghum and cucumber). The germination ratio of Cucumis sativus was more than 50% at the high concentration of 5,000 mg-As/l. In Cucumis sativus grown in a solution contaminated with 25 mg-As/l, the accumulated As concentrations in the shoot and root were 675.5 ± 11.5 and 312.0 ± 163.4 mg/kg, respectively, and the corresponding values of the translocation and bioaccumulation factors for As were 1.9 ± 0.9 and 21.1 ± 8.4, respectively. These results indicate Cucumis sativus is to be a candidate plant for phytoextraction of As from soils and water.     

Allelopathic effects of weeds extracts against seed germination of some plants

This study investigated the allelopathic effects of various weeds extracts on seed germination of 11 crop species. Most of the weed extracts tested had inhibitory effects on seed germination of common bean, tomato, pepper, squash, onion, barley, wheat, and corn at different application rates as compared with the 10% acetone control. Chickpea seed germination was inhibited by extracts of Solanum nigrum L., Chenopodium album L., and Matricaria chamomilla L. (10%, 20% and 22.5%, respectively) at the end of 21 day incubation period. However, Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers., and Reseda lutea L. extracts stimulated chickpea seed germination at the rates of 95%, 94%, and 93%, respectively, compared to control. It was concluded that some of the weed extracts tested in this study could be used as inhibitor while others could be used as stimulator for the crops.     

Effect of the allelochemicals from the macrophyte Egeria densa on the competitive interactions of pelagic and littoral cladocerans

Macrophytes release allelochemicals, which affect pelagic cladocerans such as Daphnia. Using population growth experiments, we analysed the effects of allelochemicals from the macrophyte Egeria densa on the interaction between Daphnia mendotae and three littoral cladocerans (Diaphanosoma birgei, Macrothrix triserialis and Simocephalus mixtus). We found that allelochemicals from E. densa increased the abundance of all the tested cladocerans in spite of the presence of a competitor. This effect was stronger (nearly three to four times higher than in controls) for D. birgei and M. triserialis in the absence of D. mendotae. Independent of the presence of allelochemicals, S. mixtus, but not D. birgei and M. triserialis, reduced the abundance of D. mendotae as compared to controls. The rate of population increase (r) per day was significantly elevated due to the presence of Egeria’s allelochemicals (from 0.07–0.16?d^?1 without allelochemicals against 0.12–0.24?d^?1 with allelochemicals). In our competition experiments, the rates of population increase of the cladocerans were lower than those in single-species cultures when cultured in the absence of allelochemicals. However, in the presence of allelochemicals this trend was not consistent. Thus, the positive effects of Egeria’s allelochemicals over the cladoceran populations may enhance the grazing pressure on phytoplankton.     

Interference of three weed extracts on uptake of nutrient in three different varieties of paddy through radio tracer techniques

Interference of three dominant weed extracts viz., Ageratum conyzoides L., Melilotus indica All. and Parthenium hysterophorus L. were examined on seed germination, seedling growth, and nutrient uptake (32P and 65Zn) in three different varieties (PD-10, PD-12 and PB) of paddy (Oryza sativa L.). Among the three different varieties irrespective of weed extracts, PD-10 and PD-12 were resistant and PB was susceptible in terms of seed germination, radicle length and plumule dry weight; and PD-12 and PB were resistant and susceptible, respectively, in terms of plumule length and total seedling dry weight. A. conyzoides caused maximum reduction in seed germination and M. indica in seedling growth in different varieties of paddy. The weed extracts interfered in uptake of both 32P and 65Zn and there was a gradual decrease in uptake of both nutrients with increasing concentration of extracts in both root and shoot. The uptake of 32P and 65Zn was more inhibitory with the extracts of A. conyzoides and M. indica, respectively in different varieties. The inhibition in seed germination, seedling growth and nutrient uptake may be due to the presence of phenolics and other secondary metabolities. The phenolics such as gallic, vanillic, protocatechuic and p-hydroxybenzoic acids were identified from these weed extracts.     

Antimicrobial activities of extracts from tropical Atlantic marine plants against marine pathogens and saprophytes

Studies investigating disease resistance in marine plants have indicated that secondary metabolites may have important defensive functions against harmful marine microorganisms. The goal of this study was to systematically screen extracts from marine plants for antimicrobial effects against marine pathogens and saprophytes. Lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts from species of 49 marine algae and 3 seagrasses collected in the tropical Atlantic were screened for antimicrobial activity against five ecologically relevant marine microorganisms from three separate kingdoms. These assay microbes consisted of the pathogenic fungus Lindra thalassiae, the saprophytic fungus Dendryphiella salina, the saprophytic stramenopiles, Halophytophthora spinosa and Schizochytrium aggregatum, and the pathogenic bacterium Pseudoaltermonas bacteriolytica. Overall, 90% of all species surveyed yielded extracts that were active against one or more, and 77% yielded extracts that were active against two or more assay microorganisms. Broad-spectrum activity against three or four assay microorganisms was observed in the extracts from 48 and 27% of all species, respectively. The green algae Halimeda copiosa and Penicillus capitatus (Chlorophyta) were the only species to yield extracts active against all assay microorganisms. Among all assay microorganisms, both fungi were the most resistant to the extracts tested, with less than 21% of all extracts inhibiting the growth of either L. thalassiae or D. salina. In contrast, over half of all lipophylic extracts were active against the stramenopiles H. spinosa and S. aggregatum, and the bacterium P. bacteriolytica. Growth sensitivity to hydrophilic extracts varied considerably between individual assay microorganisms. While 48% of all hydrophilic extracts were active against H. spinosa, 27% were active against P. bacteriolytica, and only 14% were active against S. aggregatum. Overall, more lipophilic extracts inhibited microbial growth than hydrophilic extracts. The variability observed in the antimicrobial effects of individual extracts against each assay microorganism reflects the importance of choosing appropriate test microbes in assays from which ecologically relevant information is sought. Results from this survey demonstrate that antimicrobial activities are prevalent among extracts from marine algae and seagrasses, suggesting that antimicrobial chemical defenses are widespread among marine plants.     

Searching for synergism: effects of combinations of phenolic compounds and other toxins on oxidative stress in Lymantria dispar caterpillars

Synergistic combinations of plant allelochemicals are commonly believed to increase their effectiveness as defenses against insect herbivores. For example, temperate deciduous trees produce large amounts of phenolic compounds (primarily tannins), but many of these trees also produce smaller amounts of other potentially toxic compounds. This study tested the hypothesis that mixtures of phenolics and other types of toxins produce a greater effect on oxidative stress (a measure of toxicity) than do phenolics alone. Oxidative stress was measured in Lymantria dispar (gypsy moth) larvae as a shift in the redox balance of glutathione (GSH) towards a higher percentage of its oxidized form (glutathione disulfide; GSSG). We began by showing that larvae that ingested ellagitannins and chlorogenic acid (phenolics) contained greatly elevated levels of reactive oxygen species in their midgut contents, but this was not sufficient to shift the redox balance of GSH in their midgut tissues. Therefore, the phenolic compounds were tested in pairwise combinations with juglone (a quinone), rutin, kaempferol, or quercitrin (flavonoids), quinine, berberine, gramine, or glaucine (alkaloids), and soy or Quillaja saponins. When each of these allelochemical combinations was treated on hybrid poplar (Populus tremula × P. alba) leaves and consumed by L. dispar larvae for a 2-day period, none significantly shifted the redox balance of GSH. GSH levels were induced by the combination of phenolics with an alkaloid and a saponin, suggesting that a “cocktail” of allelochemicals might produce a more effective plant defense. GSH levels were also found to increase with larval age, both within and between instars. Increased levels of GSH may help explain the greater resistance of late-instar than early-instar larvae to plant defenses. Overall, the results of this study do not support the hypothesis that the combined effects of phenolic compounds and other toxins in sugar maple (Acer saccharum) leaves produce a synergistic increase in oxidative stress in L. dispar larvae. Further work is needed to test the general hypothesis that the allelochemical diversity in plants functions, in part, to produce synergistic toxicological effects in insect herbivores.     

Accelerating Forest Succession in a Fragmented Landscape: The Role of Birds and Perches

Previous research suggests that in highly fragmented forest landscapes ecological succession can be arrested by lack of seeds, but that seed deposition abundance and diversity of bird-dispersed plants can be enhanced by bird-attracting structures such as snags. Consequently, bird perches remain a potential tool for accelerating ecological succession and reforesting disturbed land. Consequently, in order to determine the effectiveness of bird perches in reclaiming forested landscapes, seed dispersal, seedbank storage, and recruitment of bird-dispersed plants was studied on a central Florida mined site with clay-rich soil undergoing primary succession over a seven-year period. Data collection included 20 continuous months of seed dispersal data, an analysis of the total and germinable seedbanks, and plant recruitment at one and two years after a fire destroyed perches and burnt vegetation. Seed dispersal to perches reached a peak seedfall by weight in August, which was attributable to nonmigratory birds. Myrica cerifera, the most abundant species dispersed to the sites, was the only species dispersed during the winter and spring months, and it may be a keystone species for the frugivorous bird guild in central Florida. Seedfall beneath perches had a higher diversity of seed genera, and seed numbers (340 seeds m⁻² yr⁻¹) were 150 times greater than in sites without perches. Seeds of bird-dispersed plants in the seedbank under perches numbered 77 ± 33 (m⁻²) in total and 17 ± 5 for the viable seedbank. The population density of bird-dispersed plants was 1.4 and 2.0 plants m⁻² at one and two years afler the fire. Less than 0.06% of the dispersed seeds survived to become seedlings. Species composition shifted from seedfall to seedlings, with small-seeded, early-successional (r-selected) shrubs and herbs becoming relatively more common than the desired large-seeded, late-successional (K-selected) tree species. Perches attracted birds and associated seeds, but the physically harsh conditions created by primary succession and/or high predation on seeds appeared to reduce the success of the desired late-successional plant species. Nonetheless, there was a higher abundance and diversity of bird-dispersed plants under perches, suggesting that perch structures have a limited ability to enhance plant diversity under conditions of primary succession.     

Timing of metamorphosis and larval segregation of the Atlantic eels Anguilla rostrata and A. anguilla, as revealed by otolith microstructure and microchemistry

Otolith microstructure and microchemistry were examined in juveniles of American (Anguilla rostrata) and European (A. anguilla) eels. Otolith increment width markedly increased from age 132 to 191 d (156 ± 18.9 d; mean ± SD) in A. rostrata and 163 to 235 d (198 ± 27.4 d; mean ± SD) in A. anguilla, both of which were coincident with drastic decreases in otolith Sr:Ca ratios, suggesting that metamorphosis from leptocephalus to glass eel began at those ages in each species. The duration of metamorphosis was estimated to be 18 to 52 d from otolith microstructure, for both species studied. Ages at recruitment were 171 to 252 d (206 ± 22.3 d; mean ± SD) in A. rostrata and 220 to 281 d (249 ± 22.6 d; mean ± SD) in A. anguilla. In these two species, positive linear relationships were found in ages between the beginning of metamorphosis and recruitment, suggesting that early metamorphosing larvae recruited at younger ages. Duration of the leptocephalus stage to recruitment in A. anguilla was about 40 d longer than that in A. rostrata. The geographical segregation between the two species in the Atlantic Ocean seems to be involved in the differences in the duration of the leptocephalus stage (age at metamorphosis). Received: 8 November 1999 / Accepted: 8 May 2000     

Allelochemicals of the invasive neophyte Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. & Zucc. (Polygonaceae)

Polygonum cuspidatum Sieb. and Zucc., a traditional Chinese medicine is now a wide-spread invasive neophyte in Europe and America. The novel weapon hypothesis states that some invasive weed species owe part of their success as invaders to allelopathy mediated by some allelochemicals. Previous HPLC/UV/ESI-MS analysis showed that the constituents of the roots of P. cuspidatum from China were obviously different from the species collected in Switzerland (present as an invasive neophyte) with respect to piceatannol glucoside, resveratroloside and some proanthocyanidin. This work isolated these special constituents from the invasive plant and studied their allelopathy effect, as well as the related structures by the seedling and growing model of Lepidium sativum (garden cress, Brassicaceae). The results revealed that stilbenes as piceatannol glucoside, resveratroloside and proanthocyanidins as catechin, epicatechin from this plant were comparatively stronger allelochemicals than the reported allelochemical (−)-catechin, which may partly explain the invasive behavior of this plant in Europe.     

Effects of melatonin on cadmium accumulation in the accumulator plant Perilla frutescens

To enhance the phytoremediation ability of the heavy metal accumulator Perilla frutescens, melatonin (MT) was applied at different concentrations (0, 25, 50, 100, 150, and 200?μmol/L) to P. frutescens growing in cadmium (Cd) contaminated soil (10?mg/kg). The MT treatments increased the root and shoot biomasses of P. frutescens, with the maximum increase in the 150?μmol/L MT treatment (79.51% and 36.18% higher, respectively, than those of the control). The MT treatments also enhanced superoxide dismutase activity, peroxidase activity, and the soluble protein concentration of P. frutescens, and 100–200?μmol/L MT increased the chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll concentrations in P. frutescens. The MT treatments increased the Cd concentrations in roots and shoots of P. frutescens in a dose-dependent manner. Different MT concentrations increased the Cd accumulation amounts of roots and shoots of P. frutescens, with the maxima accumulation amounts in the 150?μmol/L MT treatment (226.98% and 85.89% higher, respectively, than those of the control). These results show that MT can promote the growth and phytoremediation ability of P. frutescens growing in Cd-contaminated soil, and the optimum MT dose is 150?μmol/L.     

Morpho-histological and enzymatic alterations in earthworms Drawida willsi and Lampito mauritii exposed to urea,phosphogypsum and paper mill sludge

The effects of varying concentrations of urea, phosphogypsum and paper mill sludge (PMS) on the morphology, histology, tissue protein content, lipid peroxidation (LPX), activities of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and catalase in earthworms Drawida willsi and Lampito mauritii have been studied over an exposure period of 24?hr. Integumentary lesions, clitellar swelling and loss of pigmentations were found to be major morpho-pathological changes in the worms. Histology indicated cuticular damage, ruptured epithelium and muscle fibres with accumulation of cellular debris. Lowest tissue protein content (57.02?±?4.02?mg/g tissue) and highest LPX (0.113?±?0.04, 0.137?±?0.08?nmol/mg protein) were noticed in D. willsi at a high concentration of PMS, whereas highest tissue protein content was observed in L. mauritii (115.32?±?7.18?mg/g tissue) with the same treatment. In both the species, LDH activity was minimum at a high concentration of urea (0.172?±?0.02; 0.247?±?0.08?U/mg protein). AChE activity was highest (0.099?±?0.002?U/mg protein) at a high concentration of PMS in D. willsi, whereas catalase activity was the maximum (0.338?±?0.02?U/mg protein) at high concentrations of PMS in L. mauritii. The study indicated that morpho-histological and enzymatic alterations in these earthworms exposed to agrochemicals could be useful biomarkers to evaluate soil toxicity.     

Antimicrobial activities of extracts from Indo-Pacific marine plants against marine pathogens and saprophytes

This study is the second of two surveys designed to systematically screen extracts from marine plants for antimicrobial effects against ecologically relevant marine microorganisms, and to compare results on a geographical basis. In the preceding survey, extracts from tropical Atlantic marine algae and seagrasses were screened in growth inhibition assays against the pathogenic fungus Lindra thalassiae, the saprophytic fungus Dendryphiella salina, the saprophytic stramenopiles, Halophytophthora spinosa and Schizochytrium aggregatum, and the pathogenic bacterium Pseudoaltermonas bacteriolytica. In this study, the same assay microorganisms were used to examine the antimicrobial effects of lipophilic and hydrophilic extracts from 54 species of marine algae and two species of seagrasses collected from Indo-Pacific reef habitats. Overall, 95% of all species surveyed in this study yielded extracts that were active against one or more, and 77% yielded extracts that were active against two or more assay microorganisms. Broad-spectrum activity against three or four assay microbes was observed in the extracts from 50 to 21% of all species, respectively. Extracts from the green alga Bryopsis pennata and the red alga Portieria hornemannii inhibited the growth of all assay microorganisms. Given that antimicrobial activity was prevalent among extracts of Indo-Pacific marine plants, it is interesting to note that the inhibitory effects of each extract varied considerably between the assay microorganisms. Overall, H. spinosa and D. salina were the most susceptible while L. thalassiae, S. aggregatum, and P. bacteriolytica were the most resistant to the extracts tested. These results provide good evidence that antimicrobial chemical defenses are widespread among Indo-Pacific marine plants. Further, the activity profiles of plant extracts suggest that antimicrobial secondary metabolites can have pathogen-selective or broad-spectrum effects. To confirm these results, chemical studies will be needed to isolate and characterize the compounds responsible for the observed antimicrobial activities.