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Floral mimics deceive their pollinators by developing visual and olfactory resemblance to various models. We report a flower that exhibits phenotypes like aerial litter and deceives an aerial litter specialist beetle to achieve pollination. We assessed the floral phenology and the effective pollinators of an Australian understorey treelet, Meiogyne heteropetala (Annonaceae). The similarities of morphology, colour and odour between the flowers and co‐occurring aerial litter were investigated. The terpene synthase involved in floral scent emission was identified by expression patterns and product profile. The behavioural responses of the pollinator to various odours were assessed using bioassays. The erotylid beetle Loberus sharpi is the most likely effective pollinator because it was the only pollen‐laden visitor during the pistillate phase. Loberus sharpi was exclusively found in aerial litter and M. heteropetala flowers. The flowers offer an honest shelter reward. The beetle also oviposits there, but most larvae eventually perished as the petals dropped onto the forest floor. The morphology and spectral reflectance of the flowers overlap with aerial litter. The floral scent was dominated by monoterpenes, especially 1,8‐cineole. The cineole synthase MhCINS was the only highly expressed floral terpene synthase and possessed a highly similar product profile to the floral scent composition. The volatile composition of M. heteropetala flowers is distinct from other congeners and highly similar to aerial litter, indicating advergence to aerial litter. Visual and odour resemblance, coupled with low larval survivorship, provides evidence that the beetles were deceived into pollinating the flowers. Behavioural experiments showed that the pollinator was attracted to both aerial litter and M. heteropetala flowers. The beetles were also attracted to 1,8‐cineole and synthetic mixes of floral odour and MhCINS products. The beetles were unable to distinguish floral scent from MhCINS products nor from 1,8‐cineole, suggesting MhCINS alone sufficed to attract the pollinator olfactorily. The beetles, however, preferred aerial litter over flowers. The beetles likely categorised the flower as a general, but not the most preferred, brood substrate. Synthesis. This study reports the first case of floral mimicry of aerial litter and characterises the biochemical process responsible for olfactory mimicry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Objectives Methods Results Conclusions Limonene and linalool are used in cosmetic products for their floral scents, but their oxidation products are strong contact allergens whose mechanisms of action are still not fully understood.The effects of limonene hydroperoxide (Lim‐2‐OOH) and linalool hydroperoxides (Lin‐6/7‐OOH) on the lipid profile of a human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT) were evaluated. 2,4‐Dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) was also included.Lim‐2‐OOH and Lin‐6/7‐OOH were synthesised according to previous methods. HaCaT cells were treated with allergens (10 μM) for 24 h and the cellular lipid extracts were analysed by C18 liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). Data analysis was performed using Lipostar software. Statistical analysis was carried out using Metaboanalyst and R software.All three sensitisers used caused significant changes in the lipidome of HaCaT cells in a similar trend. There was an upregulation in several plasmanyl/plasmenyl phospholipids (O‐/P‐phosphatidylcholines [PC] and O‐/P‐phosphatidylethanolamines [PE]), sphingolipids (HexCer) and triacylglycerol lipid species, and a decrease in some polyunsaturated fatty acids‐containing phospholipid (PE and PC) species suggesting oxidative stress and inflammation.This study is the first to evaluate the plasticity of the HaCaT cell lipidome in response to allylic hydroperoxide allergens Lim‐2‐OOH and Lin‐6/7‐OOH, together with the experimental contact allergen DNFB. These allergens are able to upregulate and downregulate certain lipid classes to a varying degree. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Kirkuk University for Agricultural Sciences is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

SUMMARY: Floral scent plays a crucial role in the reproductive process of many plants. Humans have been fascinated by floral scents throughout history, and have transported and traded floral scent products for which they have found multiple uses, such as in food additives, hygiene and perfume products, and medicines. Yet the scientific study of how plants synthesize floral scent compounds began later than studies on most other major plant metabolites, and the first report of the characterization of an enzyme responsible for the synthesis of a floral scent compound, namely linalool in Clarkia breweri, a California annual, appeared in 1994. In the almost 30 years since, enzymes and genes involved in the synthesis of hundreds of scent compounds from multiple plant species have been described. This review recapitulates this history and describes the major findings relating to the various aspects of floral scent biosynthesis and emission, including genes and enzymes and their evolution, storage and emission of scent volatiles, and the regulation of the biochemical processes. Significance Statement: This reviews describes our existing knowledge of how flowers produce and emit volatile compounds, and discusses the reasons for why research in this area lagged behind other topics in plant biochemistry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media and the internet have impacted how companies and organizations advertise to consumers. Digital advertising has created the opportunity to engage with consumers, target specific groups, and capture metrics of use to help build effective advertising strategies. The floral industry is a large sector within the agricultural arena, which is primed to engage with young consumers. This research examined the effectiveness of utilizing static and animated social media advertisements to increase consumers' intention to purchase floral products. Using an online survey and an experimental design, this study examined 8,488 respondents' intention to purchase floral products after viewing static and animated social media advertisements. This study identified respondents' attitudes, social norms, age, and internet use to be significant predictors in their intent to purchase floral products. Recommendations from a theoretical and applied perspective are discussed within relation to the study's findings to advance strategic advertising in the floral industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

China's flower industry is developing rapidly, and the size of the retail market is increasing year by year. Studying the factors influencing residents' flower purchasing behavior and understanding their flower needs can help promote the sustainable development of the flower industry. Based on customer satisfaction theory, this paper uses 838 consumer research questionnaires from 15 districts in Shanghai to analyze the influence of customer satisfaction on residents' flower purchasing behavior by conducting a binary logit model and to investigate the moderating effect of flower purchasing purpose on the influence of satisfaction. The results show that price satisfaction and satisfaction with promotional methods have a significant negative effect on flower purchasing behavior, service satisfaction has a significant positive effect on purchasing behavior, and different customer purchase purposes lead to different intensities of the effect of satisfaction on purchasing behavior. According to the conclusion of the study, three countermeasures are proposed: to popularize the knowledge of flower culture, guide the concept of flower consumption, and promote the transformation of flower consumption to daily consumption; to conduct regular research on consumers by flower merchants to clarify consumers' needs and improve their satisfaction; to clarify consumers' purchase intention, increase the investment in the research and development and cultivation of flower products, and improve the supply level of flowers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental monitoring is crucial for assessing the overall state of the ecosystems in terms of contaminant impact and chemical landscape. The use of honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies considerably eases the sampling activities, as honey bees are exposed to a wide range of substances that are transported and accumulated within the beehives. In this work, combining low-resolution and high-resolution mass spectrometry, the APIStrip passive sampler has been employed to evaluate the presence of pesticide residues and the overall characterization of beehive environments. A total of 180 APIStrips have been deployed in 10 Danish apiaries, located in different landscapes, during a five-month sampling period. The targeted methodology for pesticide analysis was based on gas and liquid chromatography coupled with triple quadrupole mass spectrometry, covering 430 pesticide residues. A total of 29 pesticide residues were identified (fluopyram and azoxystrobin being the most frequently detected), with remarkable differences in the pesticide load between apiaries. For its part, the use of non-targeted approaches through liquid chromatography coupled with an Orbitrap mass spectrometer allowed the detection of unknown compounds that were specific of certain environments. Natural products such as eupatilin and gnaphaliin, which are derived from plant sources, were present exclusively in one of the apiaries. Additionally, the detection of drimane sesquiterpenoids, including compounds potentially originating from the Aspergillus genus , suggests the capability of APIStrips to early detect fungal contamination within beehives. This dual approach of low- and high-resolution mass spectrometry maximizes the analytical potential of APIStrips as a tool capable of detecting a wide range of substances with implications for both agricultural practices and ecological health. [Display omitted] • Dual HRMS and LRMS approach to obtain holistic information about chemical landscape. • APIStrips allow the univocal, chemical characterization of beehives. • Landscape type influences but does not solely determines the pesticide load. • APIStrips effective in differentiating high and low pesticide pressure areas. • Detection of fungi-related natural products and floral volatiles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of work is to identify the place of Lemko carving traditions in applied art, to describe peculiarities of Lemko carving traditions, and identify its leading artists. The research is related to the fact that Lemko national carpenters and carvers created real masterpieces, distinguished by uniqueness and originality of artistic forms. Methodology of research consists is applying comparative, historical, and logical methods. Scientific novelty of the work consists in the expansion of ideas about the place of Lemko carving traditions in applied art. The specialities of Lemko carving traditions have been shortly described, it has been resumed that Lemkos depicted floral ornaments on their products. It has been assumed that flat carving (plates, trays) probably arose, the products are combined from leaves of various trees, flowers, and bunches of grapes. Firstly, peasants decorated with floral ornament household items, for example, wooden boxes (chests), lizhnyks (woollen plaids), house tragars (decorative wooden beams). Soon, the masters transferred decorative elements to industrial souvenirs (plates, cassettes, and trays). It has been emphasised that one of the most outstanding masters of Rusyn wood carving in Lemko region is M. Orysyk (1885–1946) («Lemko-Rusyn» (1930s) is the most famous work) and V. Odrekhivskyi, the Honored Worker of Arts of Ukraine (1964), the member of the Union of Artists of Ukraine. Conclusions. Highly artistic Lemko carvings reflect the centuries-old traditions of carving, as well as the rich history of the formation and development of Lemko culture, which give us the opportunity to learn the true value of Lemkos. Woodcarving became a very popular type of artistic and decorative wood processing in Lemko region at the border of the 19th and 20th centuries and a significant part of applied art. The purpose of work is to identify the place of Lemko carving traditions in applied art, to describe peculiarities of Lemko carving traditions, and identify its leading artists. The research is related to the fact that Lemko national carpenters and carvers created real masterpieces, distinguished by uniqueness and originality of artistic forms. Methodology of research consists is applying comparative, historical, and logical methods. Scientific novelty of the work consists in the expansion of ideas about the place of Lemko carving traditions in applied art. The specialities of Lemko carving traditions have been shortly described, it has been resumed that Lemkos depicted floral ornaments on their products. It has been assumed that flat carving (plates, trays) probably arose, the products are combined from leaves of various trees, flowers, and bunches of grapes. Firstly, peasants decorated with floral ornament household items, for example, wooden boxes (chests), lizhnyks (woollen plaids), house tragars (decorative wooden beams). Soon, the masters transferred decorative elements to industrial souvenirs (plates, cassettes, and trays). It has been emphasised that one of the most outstanding masters of Rusyn wood carving in Lemko region is M. Orysyk (1885–1946) («Lemko-Rusyn» (1930s) is the most famous work) and V. Odrekhivskyi, the Honored Worker of Arts of Ukraine (1964), the member of the Union of Artists of Ukraine. Conclusions. Highly artistic Lemko carvings reflect the centuries-old traditions of carving, as well as the rich history of the formation and development of Lemko culture, which give us the opportunity to learn the true value of Lemkos. Woodcarving became a very popular type of artistic and decorative wood processing in Lemko region at the border of the 19th and 20th centuries and a significant part of applied art. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A total of 26 volatile components were detected, divided into eight types. • Citronellyl acetate and phenylethyl alcohol were characteristic aroma components. • All eight volatile component types were detected in G-'YLH,' covered all types. • The ground-planted had more types of aroma compounds than the vase-inserted. In this paper, we explore the release of volatile components in different flowering stages between ground-planted and vase-inserted herbaceous peony. A dynamic headspace sampling technique combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyze the volatile components of ground-planted and vase-inserted flowers of Paeonia lactiflora 'Yulinhong,' Paeonia lactiflora 'Yingmohong,' Paeonia lactiflora 'Zhaocaixia,' Paeonia lactiflora 'Taohua Feixue,' Paeonia lactiflora 'Fenchi Jinyu,' and Paeonia lactiflora 'Lanju.' A total of 26 volatile components were detected in the four flowering stages of the herbaceous peony of the following eight types: alcohols; esters; aldehydes; ethers; hydrocarbons; phenols; ketones; terpenes. Among these, citronellyl acetate and phenylethyl alcohol were observed to have the highest content and were determined as characteristic aroma components of the six cultivars. All eight volatile component types were detected in G-'YLH,' covered all types; G-'LJ' contained five types, second only to G-'YLH,' G-'THFX' and V-'THFX' contained three and four types, respectively, and only two types were observed for V-'YMH' and V-'FCJY.' Comparisons of the volatile composition at different periods under ground-planted and vase-inserted conditions revealed G-'YLH' to exhibit the highest number of volatile components for both conditions, with seven and five types detected, respectively, followed by G-'YMH,' G-'ZCX,' G-'FCJY,' and G-'LJ.' This work provides a theoretical basis for further molecular biology research on new herbaceous peony scent cultivars and the development and application of herbaceous peony floral products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The little red flying‐fox (Pteropus scapulatus, Pteropodidae) is the most widely distributed of the four Australian mainland flying‐fox (Pteropus) species. They move very large distances following foraging resources and congregate in large numbers which often causes human‐animal conflict. To better understand the resources that drive these movements and aggregations, we investigated the diet of the little red flying‐fox using data from five sources: (i) faecal eDNA metabarcoding of field sampled little red flying‐foxes; (ii) identification of foraging locations through satellite tracking; (iii) a literature search; (iv) a search of online databases; and (v) an expert survey. Our sources revealed a specialist nectarivore diet containing 204 species, dominated by floral products from the plant family Myrtaceae. We consider a small number of widely occurring and structurally dominant Myrtaceae, particularly from the genera Corymbia, Eucalyptus and Melaleuca, as major diet species that regularly drive mass aggregations. In addition, we consider a moderate number of species dominated by the Myrtaceae as important diet species and a large number of species from diverse taxa as supplementary diet species. Fruit represents approximately 5% of the diet suggesting that the little red flying‐fox is unlikely to be a major pest of horticultural crops or disperser of weeds. The combination of long‐distance movement and a wide range of diet species results in a long‐distance pollination service to many plant species which likely promotes genetic mixing between isolated populations of plants. Our understanding of the little red flying‐fox diet allows us to better predict mass migrations and aggregations at a continental scale and allows us to clearly identify key foraging habitat so that informed management decisions can be made. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article provides a comparison of several food industry products, including the BTX AgilePlus PLUS Bipolar Transfection System from BTX, the clean-in-place option for the DynaClean sanitary conveyors from Dynamic Conveyor Corp., and the UV-Box high-efficiency chamber from Air Science.

Copyright of Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Hortícolas is the property of Revista Colombiana de Ciencias Horticolas and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The correct affiliation is listed below: 'Graduate School of Agricultural Science, Tohoku University, Sendai 9800845, Japan'. Correction to: I Scientific Reports i https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-35137-0, published online 16 May 2023 The original version of this Article contained an error in Affiliation 3, which was incorrectly given as 'Graduate School of Agricultural Science Graduate, Tohoku University, Sendai 9800845, Japan'. [Extracted from the article]

The play that I have selected to explain the various aspects of beauty in the works of Girish Karnad is Flowers. The priest is the protagonist of the play and being a reserved man, he has lived all his life in isolation from the mechanical world. As John Keats mentions in his most celebrated Ode on the Grecian Urn, Beauty is truth, Truth Beauty That is all ye know on Earth And all ye need to know. As we turn the pages of the work, our senses are enlightened by the many glimpses of beauty. Beauty is celebrated at various levels in this particular play of Karnad. But the play also shows certain foibles of human beings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molecular and genetic networks underlying the determination of floral organ identity are well studied, but much less is known about how the flower is partitioned into four developmentally distinct whorls. The SUPERMAN gene is required for proper specification of the boundary between stamens in whorl 3 and carpels in whorl 4, as superman mutants exhibit supernumerary stamens but usually lack carpels. However, it has remained unclear whether extra stamens in superman mutants originate from an organ identity change in whorl 4 or the overproliferation of whorl 3. Using live confocal imaging, we show that the extra stamens in superman mutants arise from cells in whorl 4, which change their fate from female to male, while floral stem cells proliferate longer, allowing for the production of additional stamens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present paper, techno-functional properties of rennet derived from C. cardunculus , prepared at various pH (from 3 to 6), were investigated. It was found that the extract prepared at pH 3 had the best milk-clotting properties (MCA/PA ratio). It presented also the highest enzyme content, determined by densitometry analysis on 1D and 2D gels electrophoresis. Formation of milk gels produced by the extracts and chymosin was monitored using dynamic rheology and turbiscan. It can be assumed that by lowering rennet pH, milk pH decreases, causing a significant increase of curd firmness and both elastic (G′) and viscous (G″) moduli. Results obtained by turbiscan showed similar ΔBS values of gels produced, after 2 h, by chymosin and the crude extract at pH 3. In conclusion, C. cardunculus extract prepared at low pH has the potential to be employed as an efficient milk-clotting agent in the production of dairy products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for food has intensified the search for compounds of plant origin to protect field crops from predators and pathogens, as these compounds have less environmental impact and are considered healthier than synthetic compounds. Among plant species with insecticidal activity, Spathodea campanulata has been identified as a potential source of insecticidal compounds. Therefore, in this study we verified the insecticidal effect of nectar from S. campanulata against three different insects. In addition, the oxidant activity of nectar and proteomic assay were conducted to identify the insecticide potential. Both gross and dialyzate nectar showed a promising toxic effect against Euschistus heros (Fabr.), Helicoverpa zea (Boddie) and Anticarsia gemmatalis (Hübner) insects. According to oxidant tests, non-denatured nectar showed a higher oxidant activity than denatured nectar, in both albumin degradation and TBARS tests. SDS-PAGE and 2D-PAGE were used to characterize the nectar proteins, revealing 13 spots that were compatible to either proteins or peptides. The most relevant spots were analyzed by mass spectrometry, confirming the presence of proteins associated with insecticidal activity. In conclusion, it is hypothesized that S. campanulata nectar has insecticidal effects and this activity is linked to the classes of pro-oxidant proteins or peptides present in its chemical composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The major objective of this study is to investigate the effect of various enhancing & inhibiting factors on the level of performance of the flower producers and exporters in Ethiopia. The research questions raised were related to major enhancing & inhibiting factors affecting performance of flower producers and exporters. 122 questionnaires were distributed to flower producers and exporters but only 110 questionnaires were collected. However, only 100 questionnaires were found usable. Descriptive, Correlation and regression analysis was used to analyze the data. In this study, samples were taken from producers and exporters operating in Ethiopia. Both enhancing and inhabiting factors heavily influenced the performance of flower producers and exporters. Potential domestic market, proximity to major flower markets, & privileged access too many markets are found major enhancing factors. On the other hand, being a landlocked country & the Non-availability of strong domestic market for flower were found the major inhibiting factors. From the finding it can be concluded that all enhancing and inhibiting factors influence flower producers and exporters performance. However, the impact of each enhancing and inhibiting factor is different. The instrument used in this study should enable managers to bench mark performance and plan improvements. This study will assist the management of the producers and exporters of flowers in order to enhance their level of performance and serve as an orienting point for policy makers and the Ethiopian Horticulture Producers and Exporters Association. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Arman flora from the volcanogenic-sedimentary beds of the Arman Formation is systematically studied using materials from the Arman River basin and the Nelkandya-Khasyn interfluve (Magadan oblast, Northeastern Russia). Seventy-three species of fossil plants belonging to 49 genera are described. They consist of liverworts, horsetails, ferns, seed ferns, cycadaleans, bennettitaleans, ginkgoaleans, czekanowskialeans, conifers, gymnosperms of uncertain systematic affinity, and angiosperms. The Arman flora shows a unique combination, with relatively ancient Early Cretaceous ferns and gymnosperms occurring alongside younger Late Cretaceous plants, primarily angiosperms. The similarity of the Arman flora to the Penzhina and Kaivayam floras of northwestern Kamchatka and the Tylpegyrgynai flora of the Pekul'nei Ridge allows the Arman flora to be dated as Turonian and Coniacian (Late Cretaceous), which is corroborated by isotopic (U-Pb and Ar/Ar) age determination for the plant-bearing layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the period from 2011 to 2013, several plant diseases repeatedly occurred in vegetable crops grown in Yuanmou County, Yunnan Province, China. Affected plants included cowpea, sword bean, string bean, tomato, lettuce, and water spinach. The diseased plants exhibited symptoms of witches'-broom growth and floral deformations, linking each disease to phytoplasmal infection. Phylogenetic and virtual RFLP analyses of the phytoplasmal 16S rRNA gene sequences amplified from DNA of diseased plants revealed that all of the individual strains present in the diverse vegetable plants were affiliated with a single ‘ Candidatus Phytoplasma’ species (‘ Ca. Phytoplasma aurantifolia’) and a single ribosomal subgroup (16SrII-A). While presence of subgroup 16SrII-A phytoplasma in this geographic region was reported previously, such widespread infections in diverse plant hosts are unveiled for the first time in this study. In pursuing the source of the infections, we found that areas surrounding the affected vegetable fields were extensively invaded by parthenium weeds ( Parthenium hysterophorus ); and many of the weed plants exhibited abnormal morphologies that were suspicious of, and later diagnosed with, phytoplasmal infections. Results from genotyping of 16S rRNA and lineage-specific immunodominant membrane protein genes revealed that the vegetable-infecting phytoplasmas and the parthenium weed phytoplasma belong to the same genetic lineage. The findings indicate that parthenium weed poses a substantial risk as a reservoir of phytoplasmal infection of nearby agricultural crops in the geographic region since the ecosystems of Yuanmou are insect-rich, and parthenium weed is known to attract diverse leafhoppers. Further studies are warranted to assess the impact of farmland invasions by the noxious weed and to devise practical measures for improved weed control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollen deposition and pollen tube formation are key components of angiosperm reproduction but intraspecific variation in these has rarely been quantified. Documenting and partitioning (populations, plants and flowers) natural variation in these two aspects of plant reproduction can help uncover spatial mosaics of reproductive success and underlying causes. In this study, we assess variation in pollen deposition and pollen tube formation for the endemic monoecious shrub Cnidoscolus souzae throughout its distribution range in Mexico, and determine how this variation is structured among populations, plants and flowers. We also infer the relative importance of pollen quantity and quality in determining pollination success in this species. While we found no evidence suggesting that pollen receipt limits C. souzae reproduction across 19 populations, we did find extensive variation in pollen load size and pollen tube number per flower. Total variation in pollen receipt and pollen tube number was mostly explained by intra-individual and among-population variance. Furthermore, pollen load size had a stronger effect on the number of pollen tubes at the base of the style than pollen germination rate, suggesting that pollen quantity may be more important than quality for pollen tube success in C. souzae. Our results suggest that both small within-plant flower differences and broad-scale differences in community attributes can play an important role in determining pollination success. We emphasise the need to evaluate patterns and sources of variation in pollen deposition and pollen tube formation as a first step in understanding the causes of variation in pollination success over broad spatial scales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The essential oils from the leaves and flowers of Cantinoa stricta (Benth.) Harley & J.F.B. Pastore (Lamiaceae) were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by GC/FID and GC/ MS. The major components of both oils were caryophyllene oxide (leaf -- 31.6%; flower -- 21.7%) and cis-pinane (leaf -- 15.4%; flower -- 9.7%). The flower oil also contained significant amounts of a-pinene (9.4%) and b-pinene (9.1%). The oils were tested in vitro against U251 (glioma), UACC-62 (melanoma), MCF-7 (breast), NCI-H460 (lung), PC-3 (prostate), K-562 (leukemia) human cancer cell lines and against HaCat (no cancer cell), using the sulforhodamine B method. Both oils showed antiproliferative activity against all tested cells lines (TGI < 50 µg/mL), with exception of K562 cells. The highest activity was observed against MCF-7 cell lines (TGI = 4.54-10.36 µg/mL). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flowers and vegetative parts essential oils of Anvillea garcinii were analyzed by GC-FID and GC-MS using polar and nonpolar columns which led to the identification of total 140 compounds from both oils, among which 130 compounds were identified for the first time in the genus Anvillea. In the flowers oil 126 compounds were identified, whereas 119 compounds were identified in the vegetative parts oil of A. garcinii representing 95.7% and 94.9% of the total oil composition, respectively. The major components in the flowers oil were bornyl acetate (33.7%), cis-nerolidol (7.3%) and camphene (6.1%). In contrast, the major compounds in the vegetative parts oil were cis-nerolidol (16.0%), terpinen-4-ol (10.4%) and cabreuva oxide B (6.4%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Main conclusion: A novel terpene synthase ( Tps ) gene isolated from Camellia brevistyla was identified as hedycaryol synthase, which was shown to be expressed specifically in flowers. Camellia plants are very popular because they bloom in winter when other plants seldom flower. Many ornamental cultivars of Camellia have been bred mainly in Japan, although the fragrance of their flowers has not been studied extensively. We analyzed floral scents of several Camellia cultivars by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and found that Camellia brevistyla produced various sesquiterpenes in addition to monoterpenes, whereas Camellia japonica and its cross-lines produced only monoterpenes, including linalool as the main product. From a flower of C. brevistyla, we isolated one cDNA encoding a terpene synthase (TPS) comprised of 554 amino acids, which was phylogenetically positioned to a sole gene clade. The cDNA, designated CbTps1, was expressed in mevalonate-pathway-engineered Escherichia coli, which carried the Streptomyces mevalonate-pathway gene cluster in addition to the acetoacetate-CoA ligase gene. A terpene product was purified from recombinant E. coli cultured with lithium acetoacetate, and analyzed by H-nulcear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-NMR) and GC-MS. It was shown that a sesquiterpene hedycaryol was produced, because H-NMR signals of the purified product were very broad, and elemol, a thermal rearrangement product from hedycaryol, was identified by GC-MS analysis. Spectroscopic data of elemol were also determined. These results indicated that the CbTps1 gene encodes hedycaryol synthase. Expression analysis of CbTps1 showed that it was expressed specifically in flowers, and hedycaryol is likely to be one of the terpenes that attract insects for pollination of C. brevistyla. A linalool synthase gene, which was isolated from a flower of Camellia saluenensis, is also described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The anti-senescence biogenic polyamines (PAs) putrescine (Put), spermidine (Spd) and spermine (Spm) are involved in plant growth processes and responses to stress. The physiological mechanism of exogenous Put to affect the senescence of cut lisianthus flowers during vase life was investigated. Fresh cut lisianthus flowers were treated with distilled water (control), 0.5, 1 and 2 mM Put and then held at 25 °C up to 12 days. Exogenous Put supply at 2 mM extended vase life, which was associated with reduced electrolyte leakage and MDA content. Put treatment also reduced activity of lipoxygenase (LOX), is responsible for membrane lipid peroxidation. Put treatment also enhanced activities of catalase (CAT) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) and decreased H2O2 accumulation during vase life. Thus, exogenous Put supply could maintain membrane integrity by increasing antioxidant system activity, thereby retarding the senescence of cut lisianthus flower during vase life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A total of 62 honey samples of six floral origins (rapeseed, lime, heather, cornflower, buckwheat and black locust) were analysed by means of proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry (PTR-MS) and HPLC-DAD. The data were evaluated by principal component analysis and k-nearest neighbours classification in order to examine consistent differences in analytical fingerprints between various honeys allowing their discrimination. The study revealed, that both techniques were able to distinguish the floral origins, however the HPLC shows advantage over PTR-MS providing substantially better differentiation of all analysed honey types. Especially HPLC fingerprints recorded at 210 nm were most suitable for discrimination of botanical origin with the use of chemometric analysis. The obtained classification rates were: 100%, 93%, 100%, 83%, 100%, 100% (HPLC) and 69%, 67%, 78%, 67%, 100%, 88% (PTR-MS) for rapeseed, lime, heather, cornflower, buckwheat and black locust, respectively. Even if performance of PTR-MS in general was lower than HPLC, it might be useful for fast on-line screening of buckwheat honey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this present study was determination of essential and toxic element concentrations in 34 mono- and multi-floral honey samples from four geographical regions of Hungary, and examination of the connection between the floral origin and the element content. Ten elements (Al, Ca, Cu, Fe, K, Mg, Mn, P, S and Zn) were identified by ICP-OES and six (As, Cd, Cr, Mo, Pb, Se) were analysed by ICP-MS. Potassium, calcium, and phosphorus were the most abundant elements with mean concentrations of 372, 47.9 and 44.3 mg kg −1 , respectively. The essential element content was very low in the analysed samples and generally below literature values. The concentrations of toxic elements were sufficiently low as to pose no risk to human health. The concentrations of aluminium, arsenic, cadmium and lead were low, with mean concentrations of 1028, 15.6, 0.746 and 45.5 μg kg −1 , respectively. Three honey groups (acacia, rape and sunflower) were distinguished by linear discriminant analysis from their element content. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The oil-collecting hair morphology and pilosity on female foretarsi for all 26 species of the southern African endemic bee genusRedivivawas studied and related to host plant use based on about 2700 flower visitation records. Four different types of tarsal pilosity and six principal hair types are identified.Redivivabees collect floral oil from 12 plant genera representing the families Iridaceae, Orchidaceae, Scrophulariaceae and Stilbaceae, withDiasciabeing the most frequently used host. Differences in foretarsal pilosity reflect the availability of floral oil and elaiophore morphology of the principal host flowers.Redivivaspecies with short female forelegs exhibit a greater diversity of tarsal oil-collecting pilosity than long-legged species. This contradicts an earlier hypothesis that the pilosity of species with shorter legs might be less complex than inRedivivawith elongate forelegs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potential consequences of deploying weed and non-weed floral resources in a three trophic-level system were evaluated in the laboratory. Four flowering plants were used: the two common weeds shepherd’s purse Capsella bursa-pastoris (globally widespread) and white rocket Diplotaxis erucoides (a common weed in Europe) and two common flowering plants: buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum and alyssum Lobularia maritima . Adults of the aphid parasitoid Diaeretiella rapae were exposed to flowering buckwheat and survived 4–5 times longer than those in the control (water only) and 2–3 times longer than when provided with flowering alyssum, or the other two species. All plant species significantly increased parasitoid longevity, egg load and achieved fecundity compared with the control, with buckwheat having the greatest effect. This work illustrates that the functional diversity of ‘weeds’, if appropriately managed, has potential to enhance biological control efficacy without the need for agronomic and other challenges which are involved in adding specific non-crop flowering plants such as buckwheat to agroecosystems. In the field, factors such as the plants’ phenology, agronomy and competitiveness with the crop will need to be evaluated before they can be truly ranked. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, plant-pollinator interactions have been interpreted as pollination syndrome. However, the validity of pollination syndrome has been widely doubted in modern studies of pollination ecology. The pollination ecology of five Asian Buddleja species, B. asiatica, B. crispa, B. forrestii, B. macrostachya and B. myriantha, in the Sino-Himalayan region in Asia, flowering in different local seasons, with scented inflorescences were investigated during 2011 and 2012. These five species exhibited diverse floral traits, with narrow and long corolla tubes and concealed nectar. According to their floral morphology, larger bees and Lepidoptera were expected to be the major pollinators. However, field observations showed that only larger bees (honeybee/bumblebee) were the primary pollinators, ranging from 77.95% to 97.90% of total visits. In this study, floral scents of each species were also analysed using coupled gas chromatography and mass spectrometry ( GC- MS). Although the five Buddleja species emitted differentiated floral scent compositions, our results showed that floral scents of the five species are dominated by substances that can serve as attractive signals to bees, including species-specific scent compounds and principal compounds with larger relative amounts. This suggests that floral scent compositions are closely associated with the principal pollinator assemblages in these five species. Therefore, we conclude that floral scent compositions rather than floral morphology traits should be used to interpret plant-pollinator interactions in these Asian Buddleja species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies of pollinator foraging behaviour often require artificial flowers that can refill themselves, allowing pollinators to forage for long periods of time under experimental conditions. Here I describe a design for inexpensive flowers that can refill themselves upon demand and that are easy enough to set up and clean that they can be used in arrays of 30 or more flowers. I also summarize of a variety of artificial flower designs developed by other researchers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]