Search

Campanula medium L. `Champion Blue' and `Champion Pink' and Lupinus hartwegii Lindl. `Bright Gems' were grown in 8- or 16-h initial photoperiods, transplanted when 2-3, 5-6, or 8-9 true leaves developed, and placed under 8-, 12-, or 16-h final photoperiods. The lowest flowering percentage for `Champion Blue' (Campanula were grown in the 16-h final photoperiod, indicating that `Champion Blue' and `Champion Pink' are long-day plants. Plants grown initially in the 8-h and finished in the 16-h photoperiod had the longest stems. Stem diameter was generally thickest for plants grown in the 8-h compared with the 16-h initial photoperiod. However, the 8-h initial photoperiod delayed anthesis compared with the 16-h initial photoperiod. `Champion Blue' and `Champion Pink' plants transplanted at the 2-3 leaf stage from the 16 hour initial to the 8-h final photoperiod had flowering percentages of 64% and 63%, respectively; however, when transplanted at the 8-9 leaf stage, plants were fully mature and 100% flowering occurred indicating that all plants were capable of flowering. In year 2, plants receiving high intensity discharge (HID) supplemental lighting during the 16-h initial photoperiod reached anthesis in 11 fewer days compared with plants not receiving HID supplemental lighting. High profits were obtained from Campanula grown in the 8-h initial photoperiod and transferred at 5-6 true leaves into the 16-h final photoperiod. Lupinus hartwegii plants had a high flowering percentage (96% to 100%) regardless of photoperiod or transplant stage. The 16-h final photoperiod decreased days to anthesis compared with the 8- or 12-h final photoperiod indicating that L. hartwegii is a facultative long-day plant. Increasing length of final photoperiod from 8- to 16-h increased stem length. Juvenility was not evident for Lupinus in this study. In year 2, Lupinus cut stems were generally longer and thicker when given HID supplemental lighting, especially when grown in the 8- or 12-h final photoperiod. Supplemental lighting also reduced days to anthesis. Highest profits were generally produced from Lupinus plants grown with supplemental HID lighting (during the initial photoperiod) until 8-9 true leaves had developed.

Two new genuine triterpenes previously semisynthesized and given the names dimethyl serratagenate and acetyl dimethyl serratagenate, besides three known coumaronochromones named lupinalbins A, C and E, in addition to three common Lupin isoflavones known as genistein, luteone and 2'-hydroxy genistein as well as, the more frequent β-sitosterol glucoside and the less frequent syringin were isolated from the chloroform fraction of the aerial parts of L. varius. Moreover, the same compounds were almostly detected by co-chromatography with the corresponding fraction obtained from L. hartwegii. The identification of these compounds was based on different methods of chemical and spectral evidences.

A new lupin alkaloid, (−)-13 β -hydroxymultiflorine, was isolated from an ethanol extract of the seeds of Lupinus varius , together with 13 known lupin alkaloids. In addition, two new lupin alkaloids, (+)-2 β -hydroxyaphylline and (+)-13 α -hydroxyaphyllidine, were isolated from seeds of L. hartwegii , together with another 11 known lupin alkaloids. The identification of all compounds was established by spectral analysis.

Transformed cell suspension and hairy root cultures were established by infecting seedlings of Lupinus polyphyllus and L. hartwegii with various wild type strains of Agrobacterium tume-faciens and A. rhizogenes. Transformation of the cultures was confirmed either by their phyto­hormone autotrophy, detection of opines or southern analysis. Glueosides of genistein and 2′-hydroxygenistein, were found to be the main secondary metabolites in normal and trans­formed suspension cultures as well as in hairy root cultures. Although some of the isoflavone glycosides of the cultures were apparently new constituents of Lupinus, they were afterwards also found in young seedlings.

Some highly productive suspension and hairy root cultures were found among several trans­formed cultures of Lupinus polyphyllus and L. hartwegii. A transformed suspension culture Lupo 30150 and a root culture Luha 15834 containing the highest specific isoflavone glucoside content were characterized and compared with normal phytohormone-dependent lines with respect to product stability as well as to their responsiveness to external triggers, e.g. response to changes in the medium. While phytohormone-dependent suspension cultures lost their ini­tial ability to form increased levels of isoflavonoids on phytohormone-free medium, the trans­formed phytohorm one-independent suspension Lupo 30150 remained a highly productive line, despite the fact that its specific levels decreased to 60% of the initial values during several years in liquid medium. Highest stability of product patterns and levels were noted for the transformed root culture. Phytohorm ones had little effect on growth and isoflavonoid levels in suspension cultures, while they reduced both strongly in root cultures. In the presence of 2,4-D the root culture changed into an aggregated low producing suspension culture from which the root state was recovered on phytohorm one-free medium. As long as the root state was main­ tained, isoflavonoid levels could not be distinctly improved by media variation while specific isoflavonoid levels of suspensions were increased by stress factors such as phosphate depletion. When suspensions were transferred to fresh medium phenylalanine ammonia-lyase was greatly induced within 24 h, while the activity remained nearly unchanged in root cultures.

From the aerial parts of Lupinus hartwegii, two new flavone C-glycosides apigenin-7-O-beta-apiofuranosyl-6, 8-di-C-beta-glucopyranoside (1) and apigenin-7-O-beta-apiofuranosyl-6-C-beta-glucopyranosyl-8-C-(6z.qprime;-O-E-feruloyl)- beta-glucopyranoside (2) have been isolated together with two known isoflavonoid glucosides genistein-7-O-beta-glucopyranoside (3) and genistein-7, 4'-di-O-beta-glucopyranoside (4) as well as two known compounds ferulic acid 4-O-beta-glucopyranoside (5) and sparteine (6). The structures of the isolated compounds were verified by means of MS and NMR spectral analyses.

The effects of different concentrations of citric acid, aluminium sulphate, maleic hydrazide and sucrose were studied on cut stalks of Lupinus hartwegii. Citric acid and aluminium sulphate considerably enhanced the number of fresh flowers. Maleic hydrazide at 200 and 400 p.p.m. caused a significant reduction in the extent of abscission of flower buds and withered flowers. At 9% sucrose, withering was markedly enhanced. A maximum vase-life of 5.3 days was noted at 500 p.p.m. of citric acid as compared to 2.9 days in the controls. Probable explanations for the findings have been put forward and the results have been discussed in the light of available literature.

The administration of l -tryptophan-[3- 14 C] to Lupinus hartwegii (3-day-old seedlings and 8-week-old plants) resulted in the formation of gramine-[ methylene - 14 C], indicating that gramine is produced by the same biosynthetic route in this species as in barley. Radioactive indole-3-aldehyde, labelled specifically on its aldehyde carbon, was isolated from the 8-week-old plants. However no significant amount of this compound was detected in 7-day-old seedlings, and it is suggested that indole-3-aldehyde is formed by the metabolism of gramine in the maturing plant.

1. Segments of embryos from mature lupine seed (Lupinus hartwegii Lindl.) were taken from the shoot (A piece with shoot apex, B and C pieces taken just below the A piece), the hypocotyl (H piece), and the primary root tip (R piece) and were grown aseptically in media containing various growth substances. 2. Comparisons of sectioned materials of the cultured tissues with comparable tissues from intact plants revealed similar patterns of growth and development. 3. The A pieces developed into plantlets bearing shoots and roots in a medium containing 5 x 10-8 gm/l NAA. In the medium not supplied with any growth substance A pieces developed into shoots but did not form roots. None of the other embryo segments, as cultured, produced buds or shoots in any of the media tested. 4. B and C pieces developed callus which showed some internal organization, while H and R pieces showed some abnormal enlargements but, in general, developed the same type of organization characteristic of the region. The greatest amount of...