Coleus Blumei Research Articles

Differential physiological and biochemical responses under variable culture conditions in micro-propagated Solenostemon scutellarioides: an important ornamental plant

Solenostemon scutellarioides is a commercially important ornamental plant. In present study, it was attempted to establish a protocol for high frequency in vitro regeneration of S. scutellarioides. Caulogenesis was found to be significant in solid MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg dm−3 BAP. Combination of GA3 (0.5 mg dm−3) and BAP (0.5 mg dm−3) induced high frequency regeneration coupled with higher plant height. The plantlets exposed to IBA (1 mg dm−3) exhibited significant root development in terms of first appearance of root and number of roots per shoot. To improve its commercial acceptability in terms of plant architecture and foliage colouration, two weeks old in vitro grown plantlets were exposed to different culture conditions namely MS strength, sucrose concentration, pH and light. A variable plant types with diverse ornamental traits were developed under different culture conditions. Electronic Supplementary MaterialSupplementary material is available for this article at 10.1007/s13659-012-0035-y and is accessible for authorized users.

Study of Water Aquaculture Coleus Blumei to Improve the Landscape Water Body Quality in Eutrophic Waters

Choose to use different size a coleus blumei，with natural palm tree hair fiber for suspend to carry a body and regulate to go together with heavy to constitute to certainly plant system, observe a coleus blumei the growth condition in water body and improvement fluid matter effect in eutrophic waters. The results showed that coleus blumei completely can give birth very well in water suspend growth；that every coleus blumei could bring about many fibrous roots which reached 0.10cm to 0.15cm in the first day and that the longest fibrous roots reached about 16.5cm to 24.0cm during 15 days. The biomass measurement discovers that the plant more big its biomass increase more big，the plant is more small it the clean increment biomass be more big.The water body clarity raises to from the 41cm to 97cm and compare to change into almost transparent clear water for the muddy lake water；and the concentrations of CODCr,TP and TN were decreases to 80.0%，88.6% and 93.8% respectively.The DO concentrations also kept in certain satisfied level for using the coleus blumei method.

Bacterial Reduction of Cr(VI) at Technical Scale—The Malaysian Experience

The bacterial reduction of Cr(VI) from industrial wastewater was evaluated using a 2.0-m(3) bioreactor. Liquid pineapple waste was used as a nutrient for the biofilm community formed inside the bioreactor. The use of rubber wood sawdust as packing material was able to immobilize more than 10(6) CFU mL(-1) of Acinetobacter haemolyticus cells after 3 days of contact time. Complete reduction of 15-240 mg L(-1) of Cr(VI) was achieved even after 3 months of bioreactor operation. Cr(VI) was not detected in the final effluent fraction indicating complete removal of Cr from solution from the flocculation/coagulation step and the unlikely re-oxidation of Cr(III) into Cr(VI). Impatiens balsamina L. and Gomphrena globosa L. showed better growth in the presence of soil-sludge mixture compared to Coleus scutellarioides (L.) Benth. Significant amounts of Cr accumulated at different sections of the plants indicate its potential application in Cr phytoremediation effort. The bacterial-based system was also determined not to be detrimental to human health based on the low levels of Cr detected in the hair and nail samples of the plant operators. Thus, it can be said that bacterial-based Cr(VI) treatment system is a feasible alternative to the conventional system especially for lower Cr(VI) concentrations, where sludge generated can be used as growth supplement for ornamental plant as well as not detrimental to the health of the workers.

Responses to low phosphorus in high and low foliar anthocyanin coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) and maize (Zea mays)

Foliar anthocyanin production is frequently induced by phosphorus deficiency, but the adaptive significance of increased anthocyanin production under P stress, if any, remains unknown. In this study we hypothesised that if anthocyanin expression is an adaptive response to mitigate the stress effects of P deficiency, genotypes with constitutive anthocyanin expression would have greater tolerance to P stress than low anthocyanin-producing genotypes. Four studies were conducted in greenhouse, outdoor chamber and field conditions to compare genetically similar maize and coleus plants with contrasting anthocyanin accumulation (i.e. 'red-leafed' vs 'green-leafed'). In low-P treatments, anthocyanin production did not consistently result in greater photosynthesis or biomass. In coleus, red-leafed phenotypes showed lower chlorophyll a/b ratios suggesting photoprotection by anthocyanins against degradation of light harvesting complex proteins. However, the opposite trend was observed in maize, where red-leafed phenotypes showed greater chlorophyll a/b ratios and lower qP (oxidation state of PSII). Based on results from the various treatments and growth conditions of this study, it could not be concluded that high foliar anthocyanin production confers a general functional advantage under low-P stress. More research comparing inducible vs constitutive production may help elucidate the role of anthocyanin biosynthesis in P deficiency responses.

First report of Alfalfa mosaic virus in eggplant in Turkey.

Coleus (Coleus blumei) is an ornamental plant hosting several species of the genus Coleviroid [type member Coleus blumei viroid 1 (CbVd-1)], family Pospiviroidae. CbVd-3, a recognized member of the family, has only been reported from Germany in 1996 (Spieker et al., 1996). According to their proposed rod-like secondary structure, the left portion of CbVd-3 is also preserved in CbVd-2 and CbVd-6, which are viroid chimeras (Spieker, 1996; Hou et al., 2009). Fifty leaf samples of coleus, including 30 from Beijing and five each from Tianjin, Nanjing, Fujian and Hainan (China), were collected from 2009 to 2010. Low molecular weight RNAs were extracted as previously reported (Li et al., 1995). RNA extraction from viroid-free coleus was used as negative control. Results of dot-blot hybridization using DIG-labeled CbVd-3 cRNA probe and RT-PCR using CbVd-3 specific primers (PF: 5’-CGGGTACCCAGCAACCTGCT-3’; PR: 5’-TGGGTACCCGCGAAGAGC-3’) showed that one sample from Beijing and one from Hainan were positive for CbVd-3. Products of the expected size were amplified only from the hybridization-positive samples. After cloning, sequence analysis of five selected clones revealed that the similarities between the sequences we obtained and the CbVd-3 sequence reported previously (GenBank accession No. X57294) varied from 99.72% to 100%. The dominant sequence has been submitted to GenBank (accession No. HQ727548). These results provide experimental evidence that the two tested plants were infected by CbVd-3. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CbVd-3 from China and the only report of this viroid outside Germany.

Assessing Tolerance to Sodium Chloride Salinity in Fourteen Floriculture Species

The use of saline irrigation water may be inevitable in the future since the freshwater supply is decreasing over time. In some regions of the United States, producers of both ornamental and agronomic crops are already facing a limited supply of high-quality water. Therefore, it is necessary to determine the salt tolerance of commonly used greenhouse bedding plants to minimize potential salt damage before use of nonpotable water sources is mandated. Research screening several bedding plants has not taken place for more than two decades. Therefore, we undertook experiments to screen popular bedding plants for salt tolerance during greenhouse production. Transplants were exposed to 0 (control), 20, 40, 60, or 80 mm sodium chloride (NaCl) in the irrigation water for 5 weeks resulting in average substrate pour-thru electrical conductivity (EC) values of 4.0 (control), 7.0, 9.8, 12.1, or 14.2 dS·m−1, respectively. Pansy (Viola tricolor) and zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia), the most sensitive species examined, exhibited 100% mortality when exposed to an EC of 14.2 dS·m−1. The least affected species for dry weight (DW) was snapdragon (Antirrhinum majus) with a 54% reduction as EC increased from 4.0 to 14.2 dS·m−1. Only fuchsia (Fuchsia hybrida) and snapdragon were unaffected by an EC of 7.0 dS·m−1, whereas at 9.8 dS·m−1 all of the species had a significantly reduced DW as compared with control plants. Verbena (Verbena ×hybrida), petunia (Petunia ×hybrida), coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides), and begonia (Begonia hiemalis) were the only species that did not undergo a significant height reduction in comparing 9.8 dS·m−1 to control. A classification of the 14 species is created here on the basis of plant DW to provide guidance as to which species could be irrigated with more saline water while not compromising plant growth and quality.

First Report of Verticillium Wilt Caused by Verticillium dahliae on Coleus verschaffeltii in Italy.

Coleus verschaffeltii Lem. (synonym C. blumei Benth., Plectranthus scutellaroides (L.) R. Br., and Solenostemon scutellarioides (L.) Codd), a perennial plant belonging to the Lamiaceae family, is used as a bedding plant for public gardens. The most popular cultivars produce speckled leaves of various colors. In October 2010, severe outbreaks of a previously unknown wilt were observed in a public garden at Torino (northern Italy) on 50 8-month-old plants. Plants were sprinkle irrigated. Initial symptoms were withering of leaves starting from the collar and brown streaks in the vascular tissue of roots, crown, and stem. Subsequently, infected tissues wilted and plants became stunted. Early leaf drop was observed and plants appeared bare, keeping few leaves only at the end of stems. Infected plants did not die but they lost the original ornamental aspect. Seventy percent of the plants were affected. Stems of 10 plants were disinfected with 1% sodium hypochlorite. Cross-sections through symptomatic vascular tissues were plated on potato dextrose agar amended with 25 ppm of streptomycin sulfate. After 10 days at 20 to 23°C, a fungus was consistently recovered from 90% of stems. Irregular, black microsclerotia, 29 to 76 × 14 to 52 (average 49 × 28) μm, developed in hyaline hyphae after 15 days of growth. Hyaline, elliptical, single-celled conidia, 3.9 to 7.2 × 1.7 to 2.8 (average 5.1 × 2.2) μm, developed on verticillate conidiophores with three phialides at each node. On the basis of these morphological characteristics, the fungus was identified as Verticillium dahliae (3). The internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of rDNA was amplified using the primers ITS1/ITS4 (4) and sequenced. BLASTn analysis (1) of the 491-bp segment showed a 99% homology with the sequence of V. dahliae (Accession No. GU461634). The ITS nucleotide sequence of our isolate has been assigned the GenBank Accession No. JF704205. Pathogenicity tests were performed twice using 45-day-old plants obtained from seeds of C. verschaffeltii grown in 1-liter pots containing a 50:20:20:10 steamed mix of peat moss/pumice/pine bark/clay. Roots of 10 healthy plants were immersed in a conidial suspension (1.7 × 107 ml-1) of one culture of V. dahliae isolated from infected plants. Ten plants immersed in sterile water served as controls. Plants were maintained in a glasshouse at daily average temperatures between 20 and 28°C and relative humidity between 50 and 80%. First wilt symptoms and vascular discoloration in the roots, crown, and stems developed 20 days after inoculation. V. dahliae was consistently reisolated from infected vascular tissues of crown and stems of symptomatic plants. Noninoculated plants remained healthy. To our knowledge, this is the first report of Verticillium wilt on C. verschaffeltii in Italy. Verticillium wilt had been previously reported on S. scutellaroides in the United States (2). At this time, the economic importance of Verticillium wilt on C. verschaffeltii in Italy is limited.

The Determination of Quercetin in Plectranthus Scutellarioides (L) R.BR. Leves Extract and its In Silico Study on Histamine H4 Receptor

Plectanthus Scutellaroides (L) R.Br., or jawer kotok, Family Lamiaceae, growts widely in Indonesia, and has a long history of therapeutic usage in Indonesia traditional jamu to cure various diseases. The brownish purple leaves of Plecranthus contain alkaloids, saponin, flavonoids, tannin, volatile oils, and quercetin which has been proven to exert antiinflammatory activity. In this research which has been proven to exert antiinflammatory activity. I this research, a determination of quercetin in plecranthus leaves extract was performed and followed by a study of this interaction with histamine H4 receptor to understand its-inflamatory. The dry leaves were macerated by using a mixture of methanol and water (1:1) for 48 hours and the solvent was evaporated at low temperature (40-50⁰C). Analysis of quercetin in the extract was performed by using reversed-phase HPLC method LC-10AT VP (shimadzu), Alantis Hilicsilica C18 (Waters) 150 mm x 4.6 mm, 5 µm as stationary phase and a mixture of acetanitrile, phosphoric acid, and methanol (40:50:10), flow rate 0.8 mL/ minute. In sillco study of quercetin with histamine H4 receptor was performed by using AutoDock Tools 3.0.5. Histamine H4receptor (H4R) belongs to G protein-coupled receptor which is involved in arthritis, astma, and inflammations. The 3D structure model of H4R was bulit by using MODELLER 9v7. Quercetin contained in Plecranthus extract was 0.05%. This compound interated H4R via hydrogen bond formation with (2.006A) and Glu 182 (2.048 A), and van der waals interaction with Trp90, Leu91, Asp94, Tyr95, Phe 168, Thr 178, Ser179, Tyr319, Phe344, and Tyr340, therefore Plecrathus leaves extract might a chance to be used as histamine H4 receptor inhibitor.

First Report of Coleus blumei viroid 2 from Commercial Coleus in China.

Coleus (Coleus blumei) is an ornamental plant that is susceptible to infection by several viroids of the genus Coleviroid, which is a member of the family Pospiviroidae. Coleus blumei viroid (CbVd) -1 was first reported in commercial yellow coleus fields in Brazil in 1989 (1). In addition, CbVd-2, CbVd-3, and CbVd-4 have only been detected from coleus in Germany in 1996 (4). CbVd-5 and CbVd-6 were recently identified in China (2). In March 2010, leaves were collected from 50 symptomless coleus plants from a commercial nursery in Hainan Province, China. Total RNA was extracted from the leaves (3). Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR using CbVd-2 specific primers (forward: 5'-AGCTTACCTGGGTTCCCT-3' and reverse: 5'-CTCTCCTCTATTTACTCTCTTCTC-3') corresponding to positions 76 to 93 and 52 to 75 on the CbVd-2 reference sequence, respectively (GenBank Accession No. NC003682). Amplification of a 301-bp product was obtained from one sample. This PCR product was then cloned into pMD18-T (Takara, Dalian, China). Twelve positive clones were sequenced and the results were subjected to BLAST analysis. Sequence analysis showed that two sequences (GenBank Accessions Nos. HQ727542 and HQ727544) shared 99% identity with the reference sequence of CbVd-2 (NC003682), and four sequences (HQ727541, HQ727543, HQ727545 and HQ727547) had 99.34% identity with the reference sequence of CbVd-2 (NC003682). The proposed secondary structures of these variants have approximately 75% paired nucleotides. Results suggested the presence of CbVd-2, which is a member of the Coleviroid genus, Pospoviroidae family. To our knowledge, this is the first report of CbVd-2 from commercial coleus in China.

Sap-direct RT-PCR for the rapid detection of coleus blumei viroids of the genus Coleviroid from natural host plants

A simple and fast sap-direct RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) for the rapid detection of 3 viroids of the genus Coleviroid is presented. The templates for cDNA synthesis were obtained directly from the sap of coleus using a pipettor, a common tool in molecular biology laboratories, and 3 coleus blumei viroids (CbVds) were detected simultaneously using a pair of universal primers designed according to sequences in the central conserved region (CCR) of CbVds. RT-PCR results demonstrated that CbVd-1, CbVd-5, and CbVd-6 can be detected accurately in viroid-infected plants but not in viroid-free plants. The results of RT-PCR, dot-blot, sequencing, and batch-detection revealed that this method can be used to identify CbVds rapidly. The method also reduces cross-contamination among different samples to a minimum. It is considered that this rapid and simple technique is an effective method for the identification and cloning of CbVds.

Exploration of the Ability of Coleus blumei to Accumulate Aluminum

In this study, the capacity of an ornamental species (Coleus blumei) to extract and accumulate aluminum was evaluated. The analyzed parameters were amount of soluble aluminum, radical growth, tolerance rate, bioaccumulation factor, and tissues aluminum concentration. The main limiting factor for aluminum accumulation is the availability of the metal. However, Coleus blumei can grow and accumulate up to 1445.7 mg kg−1 of aluminum dry base. This plant can play an important role in the treatment of polluted water with metals, since it can grow in conditions with a pH of around 4.8. The aluminum tolerance rate showed for this plant ranged between 18.8% and 25%. Therefore, this species behaves as a non-accumulator, even though the bioaccumulation factor was 3098.5 L kg−1.

Distinct substrate specificities and unusual substrate flexibilities of two hydroxycinnamoyltransferases, rosmarinic acid synthase and hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:shikimate hydroxycinnamoyl-transferase, from Coleus blumei Benth.

cDNAs and genes encoding a hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:hydroxyphenyllactate hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (CbRAS; rosmarinic acid synthase) and a hydroxycinnamoyl-CoA:shikimate hydroxycinnamoyltransferase (CbHST) were isolated from Coleus blumei Benth. (syn. Solenostemon scutellarioides (L.) Codd; Lamiaceae). The proteins were expressed in E. coli and the substrate specificity of both enzymes was tested. CbRAS accepted several CoA-activated phenylpropenoic acids as donor substrates and D-(hydroxy)phenyllactates as acceptors resulting in ester formation while shikimate and quinate were not accepted. Unexpectedly, amino acids (D-phenylalanine, D-tyrosine, D-DOPA) also yielded products, showing that RAS can putatively catalyze amide formation. CbHST was able to transfer cinnamic, 4-coumaric, caffeic, ferulic as well as sinapic acid from CoA to shikimate but not to quinate or acceptor substrates utilized by CbRAS. In addition, 3-hydroxyanthranilate, 3-hydroxybenzoate and 2,3-dihydroxybenzoate were used as acceptor substrates. The reaction product with 3-aminobenzoate putatively is an amide. For both enzymes, structural requirements for donor and acceptor substrates were deduced. The acceptance of unusual acceptor substrates by CbRAS and CbHST resulted in the formation of novel compounds. The rather relaxed substrate as well as reaction specificity of both hydroxycinnamoyltransferases opens up possibilities for the evolution of novel enzymes forming novel secondary metabolites in plants and for the in vitro formation of new compounds with putatively interesting biological activities.

ISOLASI DAN KARAKTERISASI SENYAWA BIOAKTIF EKSTRAK DIETIL ETER DAUN MIANA (Coleus scutellarioides (L) Benth) YANG AKTIF TERHADAP BEBERAPA MIKROBA UJI

Has been conducted research Isolation and characterization of compounds Bioaktif Leaf Extract Diethyl Ether Miana (Coleus scutellarioides (L) Benth) is active against some microbes Test. Maceration extraction is done with diethyl ether. Diethyl ether extracts obtained isolated by method column chromatography with using silica gel as absorbent and hexane-ethyl acetate as dilution fluid, and obtained six fractions. Fraction III-9 was isolated by Preparatif Thin Layer Chromatography (KLTP) and obtained ten tapes.Isolates fraction III-9 identified by chemical reaction with ammonia vapor, aluminum chloride and boric citro, and showed a positive reaction to the flavonoid class of compounds. Data ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy showed a maximum wavelength of 420 nm, while the infrared spectroscopy showed the existence of functional groups - C = C -; - OH; - CH3; and - CH - alifatis and - CH - aromatic. Isolates fraction III-9 with KLT-bioautgraphy was active against microbial testing Staphylococcus aureus , Candida albicans and Salmonella thyposa Key Words : Leaf Extract Diethyl Ether Miana, Maceration, KLT-Bioautography

IDENTIFYING THE STORAGE POTENTIAL OF UNROOTED SHOOT-TIP CUTTINGS OF EIGHT ORNAMENTAL SPECIES

Unrooted cuttings are typically produced in tropical climates and shipped via air freight to North American and European markets. Shipments usually occur during 3 to 4 days per week, since customers do not desire to receive cuttings on Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Thus, the number of days per week to actually harvest cuttings is limited unless those cuttings can be held in storage prior to shipment. The objective of this project was to identify the storage potential of the following eight ornamental species: Artemisia × hybrida, Angelonia angustifolia, Diascia × hybrida, Gaura lindheimeri, Ipomea batatas, Nemesia × hybrida, Solenostemon scutellarioides and Verbena × hybrida. Cuttings were harvested from stock plants and placed at 0, 5, 10, 15 or 20°C for 2, 4, 6 or 8 days and then placed into a simulated shipping environment for two days. A control group of cuttings was not stored and only received the simulated shipping treatment. Roots and shoots were visually rated after three weeks in propagation. Angelonia and Solenstemon were the least cold tolerant species, e.g., they had damaged tissue after 2 days storage at 0°C. Angelonia, Diascia, Gaura and Nemesia were the least heat tolerant species, e.g., they did not perform well in propagation following for more than 2 days of storage at 20°C. While the optimal temperature varied from 5 to 15°C for each species, all species performed well at this temperature range following 2 to 4 days of storage. This work suggests that cutting suppliers can harvest cuttings every day of the week and ship the cuttings only 1 to 2 days per week. This creates the opportunity for companies to minimize the number of trained cutters that need to be employed and to minimize transportation costs by consolidating orders harvested throughout the week into a minimum number of shipments.

Minimum Daily Light Integral for Growing High-quality Coleus

Coleus (Solenostemon scutellarioides) traditionally has been recommended as a shade plant, but many cultivars are also suitable for full sun. In regions of the country where light limits growth and photosynthesis, supplemental lights are used to increase daily light integral (DLI). Understanding the minimum DLI necessary to produce coleus would minimize supplemental lighting use, reducing costs and improving production sustainability. ‘Kong Red’ and ‘Wizard Coral Sunrise’ coleus were grown in a greenhouse under a 12-hour photoperiod and a mean DLI of 2.9, 3.8, 5.8, or 10.0 mol·m−2·d−1 to determine the lowest light level needed to produce high-quality plants. After 8 weeks, both cultivars had a 4.2-fold increase in shoot dry weight as DLI increased from 2.9 to 10.0 mol·m−2·d−1. Plants grown under 10.0 mol·m−2·d−1 were 22% to 25% taller and 18% to 21% wider compared with those grown under 2.9 mol·m−2·d−1. ‘Kong Red’ had 3.6 times as many branches and ‘Wizard Coral Sunrise’ had over twice as many branches when grown under 10.0 mol·m−2·d−1 compared with those grown under the lowest DLI. Leaf counts for both cultivars were 64% greater when grown under the highest DLI compared with those produced under the lowest DLI; leaf area for both cultivars was also positively correlated with DLI. Leaves of both cultivars had significantly more green area (i.e., less variegation) when grown under lower DLIs. Overall, both cultivars exhibited a more dense growth habit and greater degree of variegation when grown under the highest DLI. Therefore, we recommend growing ‘Kong Red’ and ‘Wizard Coral Sunrise’ coleus under a minimum DLI of 10.0 mol·m−2·d−1.

Plant Performance and Nutrient Losses during Containerized Bedding Plant Production Using Composted Dairy Manure Solids as a Peat Substitute in Substrate

Recent concerns over the environmental impact of peat harvesting have led to restrictions on the production of peat in Florida and other areas. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the use of composted dairy manure solids as a substitute for sphagnum or reed-sedge peat in container substrates on the growth of Solenostemon scutellarioides L. Codd ‘Wizard Velvet’, Tagetes patula L. ‘Safari Queen’, and Begonia ×hybrida ‘Dragon Wing Red’ and to examine the nutrient content in leachate from pots. Plants were grown for 5 weeks in a greenhouse in 15-cm plastic pots with seven substrates containing various proportions of sphagnum peat (S) or reed-sedge peat (R) and composted dairy manure solids (C), each with 20% vermiculite and 20% perlite. Substrate composition had no effect on plant quality ratings, number of flowers, or root dry mass for any of the plant species evaluated. Substrate composition did not affect the growth index (GI) or shoot dry mass of S. scutellarioides ‘Wizard Velvet’ or the GI of T. patula ‘Safari Queen’. However, growth of B. ×hybrida ‘Dragon Wing Red’ (GI and shoot dry mass) and T. patula ‘Safari Queen’ (shoot dry mass only) was highest in the 3S:0R:0C substrate. The substrates containing sphagnum peat and/or composted dairy manure solids (3S:0R:0C, 2S:0R:1C and 1S:0R:2C) had the highest NH4-N losses through the first 7 d of production. The 0S:3R:0C substrate had the highest initial leachate NO3+NO2-N losses and this trend persisted throughout most of the production cycle. Significantly more dissolved reactive phosphorus was leached from substrate mixes containing composted dairy manure solids than mixes containing only sphagnum or reed-sedge peat materials through 19 d after planting. All substrates tested as part of this study appeared to be commercially acceptable for production of container-grown bedding plant species based on plant growth and quality. However, nutrient losses from the containers differed depending on the peat or peat substitute used to formulate the substrates.

Metabolic modeling of Rosmarinic acid biosynthetic pathway

Rosmarinic acid (RA) is an ester of caffeic acid and 3, 4-dihydroxyphenyllacticacid. It is commonly found in Coleus blumei, Salvia officinalis, Melissa officinalis and Rosmarinus officinalis. The biosynthesis of RA starts with precursor molecules L-phenylalanine and L-tyrosine. Simulation of RA biosynthetic pathway was done using Gepasi Software, includes the reaction kinetics of each step of the pathway and different integration methods such as Euler's method. Optimization of the significant parameters responsible for RA biosynthesis was carried out. As the goal of the work was to increase the productivity of i.e. to maximize the concentration of the RA, the final concentration of RA ([RA]t) was selected as an objective function and selected initial concentration of the Caffeoyl-3'-4'hydroxyphenyllactic acid (3'C4HPLA) as parameter constraint and varied its initial concentration as: 0≤ [3'C4HPLA]i ≤ 0.025. Several optimization methods such as Simulated annealing, Evolutionary algorithms and Genetic algorithms were used to optimize the objective function. After optimization the final concentration of RA was slightly higher (4.566132e-002 mM) than before optimization (4.047119e- 002 mM). On the basis of results obtained, it is clear that 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid and 3'C4HPLA play major role in the high productivity of the RA.

Structure and substrate docking of a hydroxy(phenyl)pyruvate reductase from the higher plantColeus blumeiBenth.

Hydroxy(phenyl)pyruvate reductase [H(P)PR] belongs to the family of D-isomer-specific 2-hydroxyacid dehydrogenases and catalyzes the reduction of hydroxyphenylpyruvates as well as hydroxypyruvate and pyruvate to the corresponding lactates. Other non-aromatic substrates are also accepted. NADPH is the preferred cosubstrate. The crystal structure of the enzyme from Coleus blumei (Lamiaceae) has been determined at 1.47 A resolution. In addition to the apoenzyme, the structure of a complex with NADP(+) was determined at a resolution of 2.2 A. H(P)PR is a dimer with a molecular mass of 34 113 Da per subunit. The structure is similar to those of other members of the enzyme family and consists of two domains separated by a deep catalytic cleft. To gain insights into substrate binding, several compounds were docked into the cosubstrate complex structure using the program AutoDock. The results show two possible binding modes with similar docking energy. However, only binding mode A provides the necessary environment in the active centre for hydride and proton transfer during reduction, leading to the formation of the (R)-enantiomer of lactate and/or hydroxyphenyllactate.

The effect of yeast extract and methyl jasmonate on rosmarinic acid accumulation in Coleus blumei hairy roots

The leaves of axenically grown Coleus blumei were inoculated with Agrobacterium rhizogenes strain A4 and hairy root were established. PCR and Southern hybridization analysis confirmed transgenic nature of hairy root clones. Cultures of normal roots, induced by α-naphthaleneacetic acid on leaf explants, and hairy roots were evaluated for growth and rosmarinic acid content. Significantly better growth and up to 2.8 higher amount of rosmarinic acid was detected by HPLC analysis in hairy root clones. Methyl jasmonate stimulated rosmarinic acid accumulation in 6 out of 11 tested clones, while yeast extract induced RA accumulation in two and diminished it in 5 out of 11 tested hairy root clones.

Light absorption by isolated chloroplasts and leaves: effects of scattering and 'packing'.

Light absorption was quantified in the following systems: isolated chloroplasts and leaves of spinach (Spinacea oleracea L.), a mutant of geranium (Pelargonium zonale L.) widely differing in pigment content, and coleus (Coleus blumei Benth.) at different stages of leaf ontogenesis. For these species and pea (Pisum sativum L.), scattering-compensated absorption spectra of chloroplast suspensions are presented. Comparison of leaf and chloroplast spectra showed considerable changes in the extent of the 'package' effect and the lengthening of the effective optical path in a leaf. The difference between leaf and isolated chloroplast absorption could be quantitatively described by adapting Duysens's treatment of flattening. It was found that the accumulation of chlorophyll in leaves is accompanied by a monotonous enhancement of the package effect. The results are discussed with special reference to the role of light scattering in leaf optics, light utilization in photosynthesis and wavelength-dependent light gradients in a leaf.