Impact of development periods on chemical properties and bioactive components of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) varieties

This study aimed to determine the chemical properties (fatty acid composition, oil content, sterol and tocopherol compositions) of the oils extracted from the seeds of safflower (Dinçer, Remzibey, Balci, Linas, Yenice, Olas) varieties harvested in different periods from flowering to ripening period. In parallel with the increase of harvest time, the humidity rate decreased, while the oil ratios increased. It was determined that palmitic (16:0) and stearic (18:0) acids, which are significant saturated fatty acids, and oleic (18:1) and linoleic (18:2) acids, which are unsaturated fatty acids, are quite high in the oils of all safflower varieties. These fatty acids showed significant changes from the first harvest to the last harvest. The total saturated fatty acid ratios decreased, while the amount of unsaturated fatty acids increased as the maturation progressed. The first and latest harvest samples of Dinçer, Remzibey, Balcı, Linas, Yenice, Olas cultivars were selected and their sterol and tocopherol compositions were examined. The highest level of sterol in all cultivars was β-sitosterol and the amount of sterols decreased towards full maturity. It was determined that α-tocopherol was the dominant tocopherol found in the safflower oils and the amount of tocopherol increased towards full maturity.     

Physiological and Epigenetic Reaction of Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) to the Foliar Application of Silicon under Soil Salinity Conditions

Soil salinity is an important environmental factor affecting physiological processes in plants. It is possible to limit the negative effects of salt through the exogenous application of microelements. Silicon (Si) is widely recognized as an element improving plant resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses. The aim of the research was to determine the impact of foliar application of Si on the photosynthetic apparatus, gas exchange and DNA methylation of barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grown under salt stress. Plants grown under controlled pot experiment were exposed to sodium chloride (NaCl) in the soil at a concentration of 200 mM, and two foliar applications of Si were made at three concentrations (0.05%, 0.1% and 0.2%). Measurements were made of relative chlorophyll content in leaves (CCl), gas exchange parameters (C_i, E, g_s, and P_N), and selected chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (F_v/F_m, F_v/F₀, PI and RC/ABS). Additionally, DNA methylation level based on cytosine methylation within the 3′CCGG 5′ sequence was analyzed. Salinity had a negative effect on the values of the parameters examined. Exogenous application of Si by spraying leaves increased the values of the measured parameters in plants. Plants treated with NaCl in combination with the moderate (0.1%) and highest (0.2%) dose of Si indicated the lowest methylation level. Decrease of methylation implicated with activation of gene expression resulted in better physiological parameters observed in this group of barley plants.     

红花细胞和组织培养研究进展

红花是重要的油药两用作物,本文对红花细胞和组织培养的国内外研究进展进行了综述,主要包括愈伤组织的诱导、次生代谢产物的合成及细胞的大规模培养、器官发生、体细胞胚胎发生等几个方面,并对该领域的发展前景进行了展望.     

Physiological and Proteomic Analysis in Chloroplasts of Solanum lycopersicum L. under Silicon Efficiency and Salinity Stress

Tomato plants often grow in saline environments in Mediterranean countries where salt accumulation in the soil is a major abiotic stress that limits its productivity. However, silicon (Si) supplementation has been reported to improve tolerance against several forms of abiotic stress. The primary aim of our study was to investigate, using comparative physiological and proteomic approaches, salinity stress in chloroplasts of tomato under silicon supplementation. Tomato seedlings (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were grown in nutrient media in the presence or absence of NaCl and supplemented with silicon for 5 days. Salinity stress caused oxidative damage, followed by a decrease in silicon concentrations in the leaves of the tomato plants. However, supplementation with silicon had an overall protective effect against this stress. The major physiological parameters measured in our studies including total chlorophyll and carotenoid content were largely decreased under salinity stress, but were recovered in the presence of silicon. Insufficient levels of net-photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance were also largely improved by silicon supplementation. Proteomics analysis of chloroplasts analyzed by 2D-BN-PAGE (second-dimensional blue native polyacrylamide-gel electrophoresis) revealed a high sensitivity of multiprotein complex proteins (MCPs) such as photosystems I (PSI) and II (PSII) to the presence of saline. A significant reduction in cytochrome b6/f and the ATP-synthase complex was also alleviated by silicon during salinity stress, while the complex forms of light harvesting complex trimers and monomers (LHCs) were rapidly up-regulated. Our results suggest that silicon plays an important role in moderating damage to chloroplasts and their metabolism in saline environments. We therefore hypothesize that tomato plants have a greater capacity for tolerating saline stress through the improvement of photosynthetic metabolism and chloroplast proteome expression after silicon supplementation.     

Effect of Irrigation Regimes on Oil Content and Composition of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) Cultivars

Safflower oil contains a large amount of unsaturated fatty acids, however, the composition of the oil may be affected by drought stress. This experiment determined the effect of three irrigation regimes (60, 75 and 90% soil moisture depletions of available water) on oil composition of safflower cultivars (Kuseh, PI and IL111). Amounts of oil and oil composition of the seeds were determined by gas chromatography (GC). The oil contents of IL111, PI and Kuseh cultivars were 30.73, 27.63 and 25.25%, respectively. The oil contents, palmitic, stearic, oleic and linoleic acid contents were reduced by about 13, 63, 60, 14 and 10% by drought, respectively. The stearic acid contents of PI, IL111 and Kuseh were reduced by 72, 61 and 37% and palmitic acid contents of the same cultivars were reduced by drought by 65, 53 and 51%, respectively. Whereas, the linoleic acid contents of Kuseh, PI and IL111 were reduced by only 10, 8 and 5% and oleic acid contents of the same cultivars were reduced by only 14, 13 and 14% under the drought stress, respectively. The results showed that although drought stress reduced the amount of oil and oil composition of safflower cultivars, the decrease was due to a dramatic reduction in saturated fatty acids contents. Thus, proper irrigation regimes may enhance safflower oil quality.     

Foliar Spraying of Silicon Associated with Salicylic Acid Increases Silicon Absorption and Peanut Growth

Silicon - Silicon (Si) combined with foliar spraying of salicylic acid (SA) can affect the absorption of this beneficial element. A study with Si non-accumulators plants (soybean and bean) observed...     

Foliar Application of Cerium Oxide-Salicylic Acid Nanoparticles (CeO2:SA Nanoparticles) Influences the Growth and Physiological Responses of Portulaca oleracea L. under Salinity

In the present study, the effects of foliar application of salicylic acid (100 μM), cerium oxide (50 mg L⁻¹), and cerium oxide:salicylic acid nanoparticles (CeO₂: SA-nanoparticles, 50 mg L⁻¹ + 100 μM) on the growth and physiological responses of purslane (Portulaca oleracea L.) were examined in non-saline and saline conditions (50 and 100 mM NaCl salinity). Foliar applications mitigated salinity-induced adverse effects, and the highest plant height and N, P, Mg, and Mn content were recorded in the variant with non-saline × foliar use of CeO₂: SA-nanoparticles. The highest values of fresh and dry weight were noted in the treatment with no-salinity × foliar use of CeO₂:SA-nanoparticles. The highest number of sub-branches was observed in the foliar treatments with CeO₂-nanoparticles and CeO₂:SA-nanoparticles without salinity stress, while the lowest number was noted in the 100 mM NaCl treatment. Moreover, the foliar application of CeO₂:SA-nanoparticles and cerium-oxide nanoparticles improved the total soluble solid content, K, Fe, Zn, Ca, chlorophyll a, and oil yield in the plants. The salinity of 0 and 50 mM increased the K content, 1000-seed weight, total soluble solid content, and chlorophyll b content. The use of 100 mM NaCl with no-foliar spray increased the malondialdehyde, Na, and H₂O₂ content and the Na⁺/K⁺ ratio. No-salinity and 50 mM NaCl × CeO₂: SA-nanoparticle interactions improved the anthocyanin content in plants. The phenolic content was influenced by NaCl₁₀₀ and the foliar use of CeO₂:SA-nanoparticles. The study revealed that the foliar treatment with CeO₂:SA-nanoparticles alleviated the side effects of salinity by improving the physiological responses and growth-related traits of purslane plants.     

Effects of Silicon on the Growth,Photosynthesis and Chloroplast Ultrastructure of Oryza sativa L. Seedlings under Acid Rain Stress

Silicon - Silicon (Si) is a beneficial element for plants and can increase plant resistance. In the present work, a hydroponic experiment was carried out to study the effects of Si on the growth...     

Exogenous Silicon Modulates Growth,Physio-Chemicals and Antioxidants in Barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) Exposed to Different Temperature Regimes

Silicon - The exogenous application of silicon (Si) is reported to enhance tolerance of plants against various environmental stresses. Therefore, the present study was carried out to examine the...     

Fatty Acid Composition of the Oil from Developing Seeds of Different Varieties of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.)

Fatty acid composition and moisture and oil content were determined for Montola-2001 and Centennial safflower varieties at three different harvest dates from flowering to maturity, which were grown as autumn and spring crops in two different locations in 2001–2002 and 2002–2003. The experiment was carried out using split–split plots in a randomized complete block design with three replicates. Sowing dates affected oil content and fatty acid compositions significantly (P < 0.01), whereas moisture content in both years was not significantly affected. Moisture content declined 15 days from flowering period to maturity, while oil content increased. The rate of the palmitic acid formation decreased in both varieties 15 days from flowering period to maturity, whereas formation rates of the oleic and linoleic acids increased in Montola-2001 and Centennial varieties, respectively.     

Foliar Application of Nano-Silicon Complexes on Growth,Oxidative Damage and Bioactive Compounds of Feverfew Under Drought Stress

Silicon - Drought stress limits the growth and yield of essential oils of valuable medicinal plants such as feverfew (Tanacetum parthenium). So, foliar application efficiency of nano-silicon...     

有机硅季铵盐型表面活性剂的合成及其应用研究

概述了有机硅季铵盐型表面活性剂的性质和合成方法。并介绍了有机硅季铵盐型表面活性剂在杀菌剂、农药、污水处理、纺织、日用化学品等领域中的应用。最后对有机硅季铵盐型表面活性剂的发展前景进行了展望．指出了其研究趋势和研究重点。