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Significance Liquid manipulation is of significance not only for industrial spraying and drainage facilities, but also for the survival of creatures. Plant leaves perform excellently in rainwater drainage and leaf drying at the apex to avoid damage. Here we demonstrate that apex structure enhances water shedding with high dripping frequencies and low retention volumes. Based on the understanding of the tiny apex structure in controlling water delivery at the plant leaf, the evolutionary law of leaf apex shape could be further revealed. The shape-controlled liquid manipulation mechanism would improve the microfluidic and drainage systems., The rapid removal of rain droplets at the leaf apex is critical for leaves to avoid damage under rainfall conditions, but the general water drainage principle remains unclear. We demonstrate that the apex structure enhances water drainage on the leaf by employing a curvature-controlled mechanism that is based on shaping a balance between reduced capillarity and enhanced gravity components. The leaf apex shape changes from round to triangle to acuminate, and the leaf surface changes from flat to bent, resulting in the increase of the water drainage rate, high-dripping frequencies, and the reduction of retention volumes. For wet tropical plants, such as Alocasia macrorrhiza, Gaussian curvature reconfiguration at the drip tip leads to the capillarity transition from resistance to actuation, further enhancing water drainage to the largest degree possible. The phenomenon is distinct from the widely researched liquid motion control mechanisms, and it offers a specific parametric approach that can be applied to achieve the desired fluidic behavior in a well-controlled way.

Este articulo deriva de un trabajo realizado por Arias Jara como trabajo de grado en el 2016 en la universidad central de Ecuador, “Obtencion del almidon de la Alocasia macrorrhiza y cuantificacion del oxalato de calcio”.Objetivo: Disminuir las emisiones de gases producidos por la combustion de la gasolina mediante la mezcla 90:10 comburente-etanol a partir del bioetanol obtenido del Bore (Alocasia macrorrhiza).Metodologia: El proceso para la obtencion de etanol involucra un pretratamiento de la materia prima a traves de lavado y descascarado, licuado, pre-secado, pre-triturado, secado, triturado y cernido y posteriormente una fermentacion microbiana utilizando la levadura Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Conclusiones: Las adiciones de bioetanol en mezclas 90:10 comburente, bioetanol genero un aumento en la calidad del combustible, debido al oxigeno presente en la mezcla lo que mejora la combustion.A raiz de este trabajo se concluye que el Bore (Alocasia macrorrhiza) es la materia prima promisoria en la produccion de un bioetanol con las concentraciones mas elevadas de almidon y mejores resultados a partir de fermentacion con Saccharomyces cerevisiae.Originalidad: Proporcionar una nueva materia prima para la produccion de un bioetanol destinado para las mezclas con la gasolina.Limitaciones: El desconocimiento de la planta la cual comunmente es llamada maleza, ademas de las pocas referencias hacia la parte de produccion de bioetanol

Giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhiza var. Tonga) grows wild in Pacific Island countries and has become invasive in most countries. Proximate analysis of giant taro (GT) corm at USP Alafua Central Laboratory showed ~12 MJ ME/kg, 127 g crude protein/kg DM. Currently however, the crop has low food value in the region and its use in poultry feeding is still limited because of the acrid taste due to the presence of calcium (Ca) oxalate. Two preliminary studies (PS) were conducted to evaluate the feeding value of GT for poultry. Study 1 investigated the effect of coconut oil addition on the utilsation of GT corm meal by layers and broilers. Replacing dietary maize with whole GT corm meal at 200 g/kg adversely affected performance of broilers and layers (P < 0.05). Addition of coconut oil at 9:1 (corm meal: oil) improved utilisation of the meal by laying hens but not in broilers. Study 2 investigated the effect of peeling and inorganic calcium addition on the utilisation of GT corm meal by laying hens. Results showed that feeding whole GT corm meal at 200 g/kg diet had adverse effects on egg production and egg qualities (P < 0.05) but peeling or increasing dietary Ca carbonate level from 40 to 60 g/kg improved the utilisation of whole or peeled corm in terms of egg production and egg qualities. In view of the ready availability and low food value, more research is recommended into processing and diet formulation to improve the utilsation of GT corm meal by poultry.

Six previously undescribed piperidine alkaloids were isolated from the rhizomes of Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Schott. Their structures were elucidated based on 1D and 2D NMR, IR, HR-ESI-MS spectroscopic analysis and the application of a modified Mosher method. All isolated alkaloids were evaluated for cytotoxicity against five human cancer cell lines (CNE-1, Detroit 562, Fadu, MGC-803, and MCF-7) using the MTT method. Only one compound exhibited cytotoxic effects against Detroit 562, Fadu, and MCF-7 cell lines with IC50 values less than 10 μM.

La presente investigacion tiene como objetivo evaluar la eficiencia entre dos sistemas pilotos de biofiltros para el tratamiento de las aguas residuales mediante el analisis de los parametros fisico - quimico y microbiologico con la finalidad de brindar un aporte en el tratamiento y reaprovechamiento del agua residual para fines de riego de cultivos y mitigar la contaminacion en los canales de regadio y como consiguiente en el rio Rimac, en beneficio de los habitantes y el ambiente. Para ello, se empleo un diseno experimental, se implementaron dos biofiltros de caracteristicas similares, el primer sistema de biofiltro (SB1) conformado por un canal de desbaste, tanque septico, humedal subsuperficial de flujo vertical (HSSFV) y humedal superficial (HS), y el segundo sistema de biofiltro (SB2) conformado por un canal de desbaste, tanque septico, lombrifiltro y humedal superficial; empleando a las especies Cyperus papyrus, Alocasia macrorrhiza y Eichhornia crassipes en el SB1, Eisenia foetida y Eichhornia crassipes en el SB2. Los resultados obtenidos de los parametros Solidos Suspendidos Totales (SST), Demanda Bioquimica de Oxigeno (DBO5), nitrato (NO-3), nitrito (NO-2), fosfatos (PO4-3) y Coliformes Termotolerantes (CT) fueron registrados durante dos meses, llegando a las siguientes conclusiones, el SB1 fue mas eficiente en la remocion de SST, DBO5 y CT con valores de 95.71%, 91.55% y 99.87%, respectivamente. En tanto, el SB2 mostro valores de 90.33%, 91.23% y 97.28%, respectivamente. Por otro lado, el SB2 presento una mayor remocion de PO4-3 con un valor de 94.5% frente al 92.23% en el SB1. ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to evaluate the efficiency between two biofilter pilot systems for the treatment of wastewater, by analyzing the physical - chemical and microbiological parameters, in order to provide a contribution in the treatment and reuse of wastewater. for irrigation purposes of crops and to mitigate the contamination in the irrigation canals and as a consequence in the Rimac river for the benefit of the inhabitants and the environment. To do this, an experimental design was used, two biofilters of similar characteristics were implemented, the first biofilter system (SB1) conformed by a roughing channel, septic tank, subsurface vertical flow wetland (HSSFV) and surface wetland (HS), and the second biofilter system (SB2) consisting of a roughing channel, septic tank, vermicomeller and surface wetland; using the species Cyperus papyrus, Alocasia macrorrhiza and Eichhornia crassipes in SB1, Eisenia foetida and Eichhornia crassipes in SB2.The results obtained from the parameters Total Suspended Solids (TSS), Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD5), nitrate (NO-3), nitrite (NO-2), phosphates (PO4-3) and Thermotolerant Coliforms (TC) were recorded during Two months, reaching the following conclusions, SB1 was more efficient in the removal of SST, BOD5 and CT with values of 95.71%, 91.55% and 99.87%, respectively. Meanwhile, SB2 presented values of 90.33%, 91.23% and 97.28%, respectively. On the other hand, SB2 showed a greater removal of PO4-3 with a value of 94.5% compared to 92.23% in SB1. Keywords: Biofilter system, wastewater, wetland, vermicelli.

Major starch-producing aroids include Alocasia macrorrhiza (giant taro), Amorphophallus campanulatus (elephant foot yam), Colocasia esculenta (taro), Cyrtosperma merkusii (giant swamp taro), and Xanthosoma sagittifolium (cocoyam). Starch, as the major component of corms and cormels of these species, can amount over 80% of the dry weight. Lack of systematic information on these starches greatly limits the further development of aroids as cash crops. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the isolation, composition, granular and molecular structures, physicochemical properties, modifications, and uses of aroid starches. Future research directions on aroid starches are suggested.

Five new indole alkaloids, alocasins A-E (3-7), together with known hyrtiosin B (1) and hyrtiosulawesin (2) were isolated from Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) SCHOTT; their structures were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. Compounds 1-7 were in vitro tested for cytostatic activity on human throat cancer (Hep-2), human hepatocarcinoma (Hep-G2), and human nasopharyngeal carcinoma epithelial (CNE) cell lines by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) method; compounds 2, 3, 6 and 7 showed mild antiproliferative activity against Hep-2 and Hep-G2 whereas compounds 2 and 4 showed gentle antiproliferative activity against CNE.

The effects of peeling and limestone flour level on the utilisation of Alocasia macrorrhiza corm meal (ACM) by laying hens were investigated. Maize-based diets with two concentrations of limestone flour (40 and 60 g/kg) and diets containing 200 g peeled and unpeeled ACM meal/kg with the same levels of limestone flour were fed to five replicate pens containing 10 20-week-old Shaver brown pullets (1635 ± 148 g), each for 105 days. Results showed no interaction or main effects of ACM or limestone concentration on feed intake, egg weight, egg mass, feed conversion efficiency, egg shape index, surface area and Haugh unit (P > 0.05). Feeding whole ACM with 40 g limestone/kg diet reduced hen-day production and shell thickness (P < 0.05) but this was overcome by increasing limestone concentration to 60 g/kg diet. Peeled ACM with both concentrations of limestone flour maintained laying performance and egg quality. We concluded that feeding 200 g whole ACM depresses egg production and shell quality in laying hens, but increasing dietary limestone concentration overcomes this adverse effect. The concentration of limestone flour in the diet has no effect on laying performance. Higher inclusion levels of ACM, calcium source and level that will maintain laying performance and reduce feed cost need to be investigated.

International audience; Thermogenesis and heat generating tissues in inflorescences of the giant taro (Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G. Don) were studied from December 2005 to February 2006, on the Island of Espiritu Santo, Vanuatu. Temperatures were recorded in the ambient air, in the peduncle tissue, and on 12 positions within spadices during periods of maximum thermogenic activity, in the early morning hours of the female and male phases. The study showed that there were three thermogenic tissues: the sterile appendix, the fertile male part, and the differentiated sterile area below the fertile male part. During the female phase, heat was generated by the sterile appendix and the differentiated sterile area below the fertile male part, the smallest region of the spadix (mean ± SD = 0.86 ± 0.24 cm, 3.17% of the spadix length), and most probably by the fertile male part. Within the spadix, average temperatures gradually increased from the base of the female part and reached the first peak at the midpoint of the differentiated sterile area below the fertile male part (36.11 ± 1.54 °C). After that, they gradually decreased towards the midpoint of the fertile male part and increased again, reaching a second (main) peak at 1/4 of the sterile appendix height (44.83 ± 1.87 °C). From 1/4 to 1/2 of the appendix height they remained at more or less the same level, and then they decreased towards the tip of the spadix. During the male phase, heat was generated only within the fertile male part.; La thermogenèse et les tissus thermogénétiques du taro géant (Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G. Don) ont été étudiés de Décembre 2005 à Février 2006 sur l’île d’Espiritu Santo au Vanuatu. Les températures ont été mesurées dans l’air ambiant, dans le pédoncule ainsi que dans 12 emplacements à l’intérieur des spadices pendant les périodes d’activité thermogénétique maximale, au petit matin et pendant les phases femelles et mâles. L’étude a montré l’existence de trois tissus thermogénétiques : l’appendice stérile, la partie mâle fertile et la zone stérile différenciée située sous la partie mâle fertile. Durant la phase femelle, la chaleur était générée par l’appendice stérile et par la zone stérile différenciée sous la zone mâle fertile, soit la plus courte zone (0,86 ± 0,24 cm de long, soit 3,17 % du spadice), enfin très probablement par la zone mâle fertile elle-même. Á l’intérieur du spadice, les températures augmentaient progressivement à partir de la base de la partie femelle et atteignaient leur premier pic à la moitié de la zone stérile différenciée sous la zone mâle fertile (36,11 ± 1,54 °C). Ensuite, elles diminuaient graduellement vers le milieu de la zone mâle fertile, augmentaient à nouveau avant d’atteindre le second pic (le principal) au quart de la hauteur de l’appendice stérile (44,83 ± 1,87 °C). Entre le quart et la moitié de la hauteur de l’appendice, elles conservaient plus ou moins le même degré de température, puis décroissaient vers l’apex du spadice. Durant la phase mâle, la chaleur n’était générée que par la partie mâle fertile.

The enhanced degradation of refractory organic compounds by assisting plant during the activated sludge process has been a hotspot. Aniline was used as a model compound to study the reinforcement degradation of alocasia macrorrhiza during the activated sludge process. With the help of the assisting plant, the removal ratio of aniline could increase from 70% to 97.8% with reaction time 25hr, MLSS 3500 mg/L. three main factors including MLSS, reaction time and initial concentration of aniline were studied by using single factor analysis method and orthogonal experiment. The suitable condition was selected on the basis of the aniline removal capability. According to the result of range analysis, the sequence for the three factors was reaction time > MLSS > initial concentration. The optimal condition was MLSS 3500 mg/L, Initial concentration 30 mg/L and reaction time 14hr, respectively.

Herein is reported a synthesis of alocasin A (1), an alkaloid component of Alocasia macrorrhiza, a herbaceous plant used in folk medicine throughout southern Asia. A double Suzuki–Miyaura cross-coupling reaction between a 3-borylindole and 2,5-dibromopyrazine was used to assemble the heteroaromatic framework of the natural product. Removal of the protecting groups gave a synthetic sample of 1, the spectroscopic data of which matched those in the isolation report of this compound.

A dynamic model of leaf photosynthesis for C 3 plants has been developed for examination of the role of the dynamic properties of the photosynthetic apparatus in regulating CO 2 assimilation in variable light regimes. The model is modified from the Farquhar-von Caemmerer-Berry model by explicitly including metabolite pools and the effects of light activation and deactivation of Calvin cycle enzymes. It is coupled to a dynamic stomatal conductance model, with the assimilation rate at any time being determined by the joint effects of the dynamic biochemical model and the stomatal conductance model on the intercellular CO 2 pressure. When parametrized for each species, the model was shown to exhibit responses to step changes in photon flux density that agreed closely with the observed responses for both the understory plant Alocasia macrorrhiza and the crop plant Glycine max. Comparisons of measured and simulated photosynthesis under simulated light regimes having natural patterns of lightfleck frequencies and durations showed that the simulated total for Alocasia was within ±4% of the measured total assimilation, but that both were 12-50% less than the predictions from a steady-state solution of the model. Agreement was within ±10% for Glycine max, and only small differences were apparent between the dynamic and steady-state predictions. The model may therefore be parametrized for quite different species, and is shown to reflect more accurately the dynamics of photosynthesis than earlier dynamic models.

A new ceramide alomacrorrhiza A was isolated from the ethanolic extract of the plantAlocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Schott. Its chemical structure was elucidated as (2S, 3S, 4R)-2A/-[(2’R)-2’-hydroxy-hexacosanoyl]-tetradecane-1,3,4-triol based on extensive 1D, 2D NMR, EI-MS, FABMS, HR-FAB-MS spectroscopic data and chemical degradation studies.

Alocasin A (I), B (IIa), C (IIb), D (IIc) and alocasin E (III) are isolated together with known compounds hyrtiosin B and hyrtiosulawesin.

International audience; Tropical root and tuber crops are staple foods in developing countries where they are the main source of carbohydrates and a potential source of secondary metabolites such as carotenoids. Enhancing carotenoid content has considerable potential for improving human nutrition in these areas. Except for cassava and sweet potato, carotenoid content has not been evaluated in large germplasm collections. We describe a simple HPLC-DAD-based protocol for the reliable characterization of carotenoids in root crops. Less than 5% variation in carotenoid content was found among samples collected from tubers of the same plant or from clones of the same genotype. Carotenoids were evaluated in 153 accessions representing 10 different species. Each species had a specific profile of carotenoids, and accessions of the same species differed greatly in their individual content. The database assembled during this study represents a useful tool for nutritionists and breeders working on biofortification of root crops with carotenoids.

International audience; This investigation was aimed at understanding the morphological variation and reproductive biology of wild populations of giant tar (Alocasia macrorrhizos) in Vanuatu. It is an aroid species, which grows in vigorous, relatively small and dense populations, consisting of phenotypically uniform or very similar individuals. The most variable traits observed in wild populations are number of inflorescences, number of infructescences per plant, and corm length. These traits are highly variable even within genetically uniform populations and are highly influenced by age differences between plants. Flowering is frequent and most of the plants are highly fertile. However, sexual reproduction is rare due to self-incompatibility (between plants genetically homogeneous within the same population) and the absence of efficient pollinators. Self-incompatibility can be partly overcome by repeated self-pollination. Thermogenesis was studied on a large sample of inflorescences and little variation concerning the thermogenic potential was observed. Our results showed that, despite optimal flowering conditions (concerning pollen fertility, stigma receptivity, and thermogenic potential), propagation of wild Alocasia macrorrhizos populations in Vanuatu was mainly vegetative. Giant taro plants might have been carried beyond the range of their most effective pollinators. Other factors were considered: the presence of numerous earwigs (Labidura truncata) insects within inflorescences, which could have a competing effect with the usual pollinators of giant taro, and the long distances between genetically homogeneous populations.

L'activité thermogénétique des inflorescences de populations sauvages d'Alocasia macrorrhizos (L.) G. Don a été enregistrée à Espiritu Santo (Vanuatu, Pacifique Sud), entre décembre 2002 et février 2003, puis entre février 2004 et mars 2004. Les températures ont été mesurées à l'aide de six thermocouples cuivre-constantan (type T) de taille infra-millémétrique, reliés à une centrale d'acquisition automatique Campbell Scientific 10X. La période thermogénétique dure de 36 à 42 heures et ne fut détectée que sur la partie mâle et sur l'appendice stérile. On enregistre les plus hautes températures sur les appendices stériles. Ces températures commencent à monter lentement avant minuit, et atteignent un pic entre 05h45 et 06h00, lorsque l'odeur de l'inflorescence devient plus intense. La température maximale moyenne des 59 inflorescences mesurées était de 43,9 ± 0,6 °C. Le maximum absolu fut de 47,4 °C. L'écart maximal à la température ambiante fut de 25,6 °C. L'activité thermogénétique de la partie mâle démarrait 10 à 15 heures avant que l'inflorescence ne devienne très odorante, et s'arrêtait 2 à 3 heures après la libération du pollen. Deux pics furent enregistrés: le premier apparaissait 15 min après celui de l'appendice stérile, alors que le deuxième apparaissait au moment de la libération du pollen. Les insectes visiteurs les plus abondants étaient des perce-oreilles (Labidura truncata Kirby, Labiduridae, Dermaptera). La production de graines était extrêmement rare.

We report a case of crystalline keratopathy caused by Alocasia macrorrhiza. The diagnosis was made based on the observation of needle-like crystals in the corneal stroma following injury to that eye. The condition resolved in 3 months with the disappearance of the crystals confirmed by follow-up confocal microscopy.

1 A case of poisoning due to the raw root tuber of a Chinese medicinal plant, Alocasia macrorrhiza is pre sented. 2 The patient developed neurological (severe pain and numbness in the perioral area and throat) and gastro intestinal (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain) symptoms immediately after eating the root tuber. 3 A. macrorrhiza has properties and morphology very similar to another medical plant, A. odora. The root tuber of the latter is known to contain a neurotoxin, sapotoxin.

A new genus and four new Phyllocoptinae species are described and illustrated from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. They are: Asetiabacarus n. gen. and Asetiabacarus maesae n. sp. (infesting Maesa japonica (Thunb.) Moritzi and Zll.), Abacarus virosae n. sp. (infesting Fluggea virosa (Roxb. ex Willd.) Baill.), Tetra sinicae n. sp. (infesting Coriaria sinica Maxim.), and Leipothrix guangxiensis n. sp. (infesting Alocasia macrorrhiza (L.) Schott).

We measured the gas exchange and growth responses of Alocasia macrorrhiza to three light regimes; short lighflecks (SF), long lightlecks (LF), and uniform diffuse light (U), all with the same total daily photon flux density. Relative growth rates (RGR) were highest in the U regime and lowest in the LF regime. Carbon gain was limited by low photosynthetic induction state in the LF plants. A greater contribution from post-illumination CO 2 fixation resulted in increased RGR for the SF plants relative to the LF plants. Photosynthetic capacities and efficiency of sunfleck utilization were unaffected by growth light regime, indicating that there was no acclimation to the temporal distribution of light (...)

When leaves of Alocasia macrorrhiza that had been preconditioned in 10 micromoles photons per square meter per second for at least 2 hours were suddenly exposed to 500 micromoles photons per square meter per second, there was an almost instantaneous increase in assimilation rate. After this initial increase, there was a secondary increase over the next minute. This secondary increase was more pronounced in high CO(2) (1400 microbars), where assimilation rate was assumed to be limited by the rate of regeneration of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP). It was absent in low CO(2) (75 microbars), where RuBP carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) was assumed to be limiting. It was therefore concluded that it represented an increase in the capacity to regenerate RuBP. This fast-inducing component not only gained full induction rapidly, but also lost it rapidly in low photon flux density (PFD) with a half time of 150 to 200 seconds. It was concluded that in environments with fluctuating PFD, this fast-inducing component is an important factor in determining a leaf's potential for photosynthetic carbon gain. It is especially important during brief periods (30 seconds) of high PFD that follow moderately long periods (1 to 10 minutes) of low PFD.

The consequences of light adaptation and acclimation of photosynthesis on photosynthetic nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), particularly as it relates to the efficiency of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase (Rubisco) use in photosynthetic CO2 assimilation, was studied in the sun species Glycine max and the shade species Alocasia macrorrhiza. Both G. max and A. macrorrhiza were found to possess the capacity for light acclimation of CO2 assimilation, but over distinctly different ranges of photon flux density (PFD). For each species, light acclimation of photosynthesis had little effect on the rate of photosynthesis per unit Rubisco protein or the light response of Rubisco carbamylation and CA 1P metabolism. In contrast, photosynthesis per unit Rubisco protein was significantly higher in G. max than in A. macrorrhiza, due in part to a lower total (fully carbamylated) molar activity (activity per unit enzyme) of A. macrorrhiza Rubisco than that of G. max. Comparison of the light response of Rubisco regulatory mechanisms between G. max and A. macrorrhiza indicated some degree of adaptation, such that carbamylation was higher and CA 1P levels lower at lower PFDs in the shade species than the sun species. However, this adjustment was not sufficient for Rubisco in low light grown A. macrorrhiza to be fully active at the growth PFD. Photosynthesis in A. macrorrhiza appeared to become RuBP regeneration-limited at lower PFDs than G. max, and this was probably the determinant of the light saturated rate of photosynthesis in the shade species. The low efficiency of Rubisco use in A. macrorrhiza was a major contributing factor to its five- to sixfold lower photosynthetic NUE than G. max. Shade species such as A. macrorrhiza appear to make far from maximal use of Rubisco protein N.