PHYTOTOXIC EFFECTS OF
Calotropis procera (Ait.) R. Br. EXTRACT
ON THREE WEED PLANTS
Aasifa GULZAR, Mohammad Badruzamman SIDDIQUI, Usman ARERATH
Abstract. A
study was conducted to
determine the potential and nature of allelopathic interference of
Calotropis proceraon seed germination and seedling growth of three weed
species (Ageratum conyzoides L.,Cannabis sativa L. andTrifolium repens
L). Aqueous extracts of Calotropis proceraat 0.5, 1.0, 2.0 and 4.0%
concentrations were applied to determine their effect on seed
germination and seedling growth of test plants under laboratory
conditions. The aqueous extracts had retardary effect on seed
germination, root length and shoot length. Germination percentage, root
length and shoot length of weed species decreased
progressively
when treated with increasing extract concentration (0.5, 1, 2 and 4%).
The pH values did not increase at all extract concentrations.
Therefore, the change in pH values in this experiment is not
responsible for the inhibition of test species growth.The phenolic
content analysed show more pronounced increase in its contents at 4%
concentrations. The study concludes that C. procera releases phenolics
into the extract and these are probably involved in the growth
inhibitory effect, which causes allelopathy operative in the community
dominated by C. proceraand provide an advantage to the weed.
Keywords: Allelopathy, aqueous extract; Calotropis procera, Phenolics; pH.
SIMPLE METHOD OF Solanum tuberosum
L. cv. Gersa
TUBERIZATION STIMULATION
Florica-Izabela ARDELEAN, Adriana PETRUŞ-VANCEA
Abstract. This paper presents the results of a study regarding the increasing in vitro tuberization of Solanum tuberosumL. cv. Gersa (potato), valuable from the eco-sanogenous point of view, due to the high anthocyanin content, by adding sucrose (30, 60, 90 g /l) in the solid Murashige-Skoog culture medium, without growth regulators. At 90 days of culture, the addition of 90 g / l sucrose was found to be the optimal stimulation in vitrotuberization process. In terms of morphological and anatomical feature, the newly-formed tubers showed normal aspects specific to this type of vegetative organ. Stimulation method has proven to be a simple, no extraadditives ingredient in the base medium, cheap, namely bio-economic.
Keywords: tuberization; potato; vitrotuber; sucrose; morphology; anatomy.
Athanasios ANTONOPOULOS, Ioannis Christou KARAPANOS, Spyridon Alexandrou PETROPOULOS, Harold Christopher PASSAM
Abstract. Curly-leaf, plain-leaf and turnip-rooted parsley were cultivated under two levels of N (75 and 300 ppm applied in the form of ammonium nitrate) for their foliage, which was stored at 2 or 7 0 C for 40 days after harvest. During storage leaves lost up to 80% fresh weight due to water loss. Despite this partial dehydration, the leaves of all cultivars retained their green colour (i.e. chlorophyll content), especially at 2 o C. Moreover, with the exception of turnip-rooted parsley, the essential oil content of the leaves on a fresh weight basis increased during storage. The higher rate of N application (300 ppm) increased the chlorophyll content of the leaves of all cultivars, but did not affect their essential oil content. The higher N rate also increased the number and weight of leaves per plant. Overall, therefore, it is indicated that high N application increases parsley yield and quality (greenness) without affecting the aroma. Additionally, partial dehydration of parsley leaves during storage does not adversely affect parsley colour or aroma and therefore may be preferable to total drying.
Keywords: nitrogen application; Petroselinum crispum; water loss; temperature.
SOIL ENZYMES AS AN INDICATOR FOR SOIL CONTAMINATED WITH HEAVY METALS
Alina Dora SAMUEL, Cristian Felix BLIDAR, Liviu POP
EDITORIAL RETRACTION: The Editors of the peer-reviewed Analele Universităţii din Oradea, Fascicula Biologie (AUOFB) journal found themselves in the unpleasant position to editorially retract the paper entitled “Soil enzymes as an indicator for soil contaminated with heavy metals”, by Samuel, A.D., Blidar, C.F., Pop, L., which appeared in Vol. 21, Issue 2 (2014): 70-73 (Received: 25 July 2014, Accepted: 8 November 2014), following the request of its authors, claiming that part of the published data was incorrect. The Editors of AUOFB regret the time and effort invested by reviewers and others for evaluating this paper.
Cristian Felix BLIDAR, Cristina ILEA
Abstract: Viola wittrockianais one of the most popular ornamental plant, cultivated for beauty, uniqueness and resistance. The global use of pansies in decorating outdoor spaces, such as gardens and parks, has determined production and cultivation of an increasing number of varied coloristic plants, recent studies of researches coming to help achieving this aspect. The main aim of this aticle is to analyze the efficiency of using an liquid medium provided with filter paper bridges (Blidar type), for in vitrogrowth and development of pansies, in comparasion with those placed on agarized substrate. Both cultured media used were Murashige-Skoog type. The control variant was represented by the classic, traditional agarized medium, and the sample was the liquid medium (agaragar free), provided with filter paper bridge, the role of this structure being to maintaining and sustain the inocula, that Viola wittrockiana seeds. In the end of experiment has proved the superior efficacy of filter paper bridge in vitro pansies growth compared with using a agarized medium, aspect determinated with the help of 5 biometric and 2 gravimetric parameters, whose development was observed for 60 days.
Keywords: Viola wittrockiana, filter paper bridge, in vitro, vegetable biotechnology, ornamental plants
Nadejda EFREMOVA
Abstract. This paper presents the results of a study concerning the determination of the effect of extremely high frequency wave’s treatment on protein content and the activity of one of the most efficient antioxidant enzyme catalase in selected wine yeast strains. It was established that the highest values of protein, as likewise of catalase activity in Saccharomyces cerevisiae CNMN-Y-18 and Saccharomyces cerevisiaeCNMN-Y-20 were determined at the optimal time of irradiation – 15 min. Thus, indices of protein varied from 39.26 to 41.00% dry biomass. Catalase activity was increased with 34.00 and 38.00%, respectively, more than control. It was found that double irradiation has had positive effect on protein content in two selected yeast strains. Thus, it can be proposed that enzyme activity and protein accumulation can be modulated by the treatment of millimeter waves with specific frequencies.
Keywords: Saccharomyces cerevisiae; antioxidant enzyme; catalase; extremely high frequency waves, irradiation.
Zeinab Abd El Rahman SALAMA, Abd El Moneem NAGIB, Abd El Kader Moursy Abd El SAMAD, Hanan Anwar Aly TAIE, Rasha Mohamed Mohamed MOHASIB
Abstract. Red Prickly pear and red grape peels fruits are rich in phenols and flavonoids, which have been suggested to be responsible for their health benefits. Total phenolic compounds content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), total anthocyanin content (TAC), their antioxidant and anticancer properties were examined. The TPC was 6.34 mg and 4.86 mg as Gallic /g DW, respectively. The total flavonoid content was 3.35 mg and 2.0 mg as qurectein/g DW, respectively. Total anthocyanin was found to be 2.65 mg/g dry weight in red grape peel. IC50 is used to express the amount or concentration of extracts needed to scavenge 50% of the free radicals. The value of IC50is inversely proportional to the scavenging activity of the peel extract. The scavenging activity of the methanolic extract (100 μg/ml) of prickly pear peel (58.65%) and red grape peel (49.72%) was significantly lower than that of the synthetic antioxidant BHT (79.36%). Prickly pear and red grape peels methanolic extract exhibited cytotoxic effects on cancer human cells in a dose dependent manner assessed by MTT assay. Treatment with methanolic extract of prickly pear and red grape peels for 24 h resulted in a significant differences at p>0.05 in cell viability for all types of Human cancer cell lines. A significant increase was observed in hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HePG 2) 33.5% treated with prickly pear peel extract higher than that found in red grape peel 16.20%. Pronounced cytotoxic activity of red grape peel extract was observed in human colon carcinoma (HCT116) 24.50% higher than that found in prickly pear peel extract 20.6%.Low cytotoxic activity of prickly pear peel extract was observed in lung carcinoma cell line (A549) 9.86% lower than that found in red grape peel 12.03%.Low cytotoxic activity of red grape peel extract was observed on human hepatocellular carcinoma cell line (HePG 2) 16.20% lower than that found in red prickly pear peel extract 33.5%. The results suggest that red prickly pear and red grape peels fruits are rich in active constituents such as: phenols and flavonoids , which have been suggested to be responsible for their antioxidant and anticancer effects.
Keywords:Red prickly pear; red grapes; peels; phenolic; flavonoid; antioxidant; anticancer.