Vernicia Fordii Research Articles

Plastid DNA Barcoding and RtActin cDNA Fragment Isolation of Reutealis Trisperma: A Promising Bioresource for Biodiesel Production.

Reutealis trisperma belonging to the family Euphorbiaceae is currently used for biodiesel production, and rapid development in plant-based biofuel production has led to its increasing demand. However, massive utilization of bio-industrial plants has led to conservation issues. Moreover, genetic information on R trisperma is still limited, which is crucial for developmental, physiological, and molecular studies. Studying gene expression is essential to explain plant physiological processes. Nonetheless, this technique requires sensitive and precise measurement of messenger RNA (mRNA). In addition, the presence of internal control genes is important to avoid bias. Therefore, collecting and preserving genetic data for R trisperma is indispensable. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the application of plastid loci, rbcL, and matK, to the DNA barcode of R trisperma for use in conservation programs. In addition, we isolated and cloned the RtActin (RtACT) gene fragment for use in gene expression studies. Sequence information was analyzed in silico by comparison with other Euphorbiaceae plants. For actin fragment isolation, reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was used. Molecular cloning of RtActin was performed using the pTA2 plasmid before sequencing. We successfully isolated and cloned 592 and 840 bp of RtrbcL and RtmatK fragment genes, respectively. The RtrbcL barcoding marker, rather than the RtmatK plastidial marker, provided discriminative molecular phylogenetic data for R Trisperma. We also isolated 986 bp of RtACT gene fragments. Our phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that R trisperma is closely related to the Vernicia fordii Actin gene (97% identity). Our results suggest that RtrbcL could be further developed and used as a barcoding marker for R trisperma. Moreover, the RtACT gene could be further investigated for use in gene expression studies of plant.

Dissection of leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinases: insight into resistance to Fusarium wilt in tung tree.

The tung tree is a woody oil plant native to China and widely distributed in the subtropics. The three main species commonly known as Vernicia are V. fordii, V. montana, and V. cordata. The growth and development of V. fordii are affected by a large number of plant pathogens, such as Fusarium wilt caused by Fusarium sp. In contrast, V. montana shows significant resistance to Fusarium wilt. The leucine-rich repeat receptor-like protein kinase (LRR-RLK) is the largest class of receptor-like kinases associated with plant resistance to Fusarium wilt. Here, we identified 239 VmLRR-RLKs in V. montana, and found that there were characteristic domains of resistance to Fusarium wilt in them. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that the VmLRR-RLKs are divided into 14 subfamilies, indicating that homologous genes in the same group may have similar functions. Chromosomal localization analysis showed that VmLRR-RLKs were unevenly distributed on chromosomes, and segment duplications were the main reason for the expansion of VmLRR-RLK family members. The transcriptome data showed that six orthologous pairs were up-regulated in V. montana in response to Fusarium wilt, while the corresponding orthologous genes showed low or no expression in V. fordii in resistance Fusarium wilt, further indicating the important role of LRR-RLKs in V. montana's resistance to infection by Fusarium spp. Our study provides important reference genes for the future use of molecular breeding to improve oil yield and control of Fusarium wilt in tung tree.

Persulfate activation with sodium alginate/sulfide coated iron nanoparticles for degradation of tetrabromobisphenol a in soil

The accumulation of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) in soil posed a serious threat to ecosystem and human health. Sodium alginate/sulfide coated iron nanoparticles (SA@S–Fe NPs) was synthesized by a two-step modification of Fe NPs prepared with tung tree leaves extracting solution, and utilized as a persulfate (PS) activator to degrade TBBPA in soil. Response surface methodology (RSM) optimization showed a theoretical maximum TBBPA degradation reaching 99.79% at the 34.28 °C, SA@S–Fe NPs and PS additions of 3.57 g kg−1 and 36.35 mM, respectively. The degradation mechanism of TBBPA suggested that the main reactive species produced in the SA@S–Fe NPs/PS system were •OH, SO4•−, and O2•−. Proposed mechanisms for the degradation of TBBPA in soil involved debromination, benzene rings split, hydroxylation, demethylation, and complete mineralization to CO2 and H2O. We also further studied the effect to soil physicochemical properties and morphology structure during TBBPA degradation in SA@S–Fe NPs/PS system, which showed that SOM, TN, C/N and TOC slightly reduced, the heavy metals Fe, Cu and Zn still existed in stable residue form, and the soil morphology showed a certain degree of aggregation. Therefore SA@S–Fe NPs/PS technology can effectively degrade soil TBBPA, maintain soil fertility, curb the migration of heavy metals, and environmental risks.

Identification and Pathogenicity of Pestalotiod Fungi Associated with Woody Oil Plants in Sichuan Province, China.

Pestalotiod fungi are associated with a wide variety of plants worldwide and occur as endophytes, pathogens, and saprobes. The present study provides an updated phylogeny for genera Neopestalotiopsis, Pestalotiopsis, and Seiridium using fresh collections from woody oil plants (Camellia oleifera, Olea europaea, Paeonia suffruticosa, Sapium sebiferum, and Vernicia fordii) in Sichuan Province, China. We coupled morphology and combined sequence data analyses of ITS, tub2, and tef1-α for Neopestalotiopsis and Pestalotiopsis, with ITS, LSU, tub2, tef1-α, and rpb2 for Seiridium. Three novel species of Neopestalotiopsis (N. mianyangensis, N. paeonia-suffruticosa, N. terricola) and three of Seiridium (S. guangyuanum, S. vernicola, S. oleae), were found. Three other species, Pestalotiopsis kenyana, Seiridium ceratosporum, and S. rosarum were identified and reported as new records. All isolated species are fully described and illustrated. Additionally, the sexual morph of Pestalotiopsis kenyana is described for the first time. Pathogenicity tests revealed that Neopestalotiopsis mianyangensis, N. paeonia-suffruticosa, N. terricola, Pestalotiopsis kenyana, Seiridium guangyuanum, S. vernicola, and S. oleae are pathogenic on detached olive leaves.

Genome-wide characterization and evolutionary analysis of linker histones in castor bean (Ricinus communis).

H1s, or linker histones, are ubiquitous proteins in eukaryotic cells, consisting of a globular GH1 domain flanked by two unstructured tails. Whilst it is known that numerous non-allelic variants exist within the same species, the degree of interspecific and intraspecific variation and divergence of linker histones remain unknown. The conserved basic binding sites in GH1 and evenly distributed strong positive charges on the C-terminal domain (CTD) are key structural characters for linker histones to bind chromatin. Based on these features, we identified five linker histones from 13 GH1-containing proteins in castor bean (Ricinus communis), which were named as RcH1.1, RcH1.2a, RcH1.2b, RcH1.3, and RcH1.4 based on their phylogenetic relationships with the H1s from five other economically important Euphorbiaceae species (Hevea brasiliensis Jatropha curcas, Manihot esculenta Mercurialis annua, and Vernicia fordii) and Arabidopsis thaliana. The expression profiles of RcH1 genes in a variety of tissues and stresses were determined from RNA-seq data. We found three RcH1 genes (RcH1.1, RcH1.2a, and RcH1.3) were broadly expressed in all tissues, suggesting a conserved role in stabilizing and organizing the nuclear DNA. RcH1.2a and RcH1.4 was preferentially expressed in floral tissues, indicating potential involvement in floral development in castor bean. Lack of non-coding region and no expression detected in any tissue tested suggest that RcH1.2b is a pseudogene. RcH1.3 was salt stress inducible, but not induced by cold, heat and drought in our investigation. Structural comparison confirmed that GH1 domain was highly evolutionarily conserved and revealed that N- and C-terminal domains of linker histones are divergent between variants, but highly conserved between species for a given variant. Although the number of H1 genes varies between species, the number of H1 variants is relatively conserved in more closely related species (such as within the same family). Through comparison of nucleotide diversity of linker histone genes and oil-related genes, we found similar mutation rate of these two groups of genes. Using Tajima's D and ML-HKA tests, we found RcH1.1 and RcH1.3 may be under balancing selection.

Divergence of flowering-related genes to control flowering in five Euphorbiaceae genomes.

Reproductive growth and vegetative growth are a pair of main contradictions in the process of plant growth. Flowering, as part of reproductive growth, is a key switch in the life cycle of higher plants, which affects the yield and economic benefits of plants to a certain extent. The Euphorbiaceae species, including castor bean (Ricinus communis), physic nut (Jatropha curcas), tung tree (Vernicia fordii), cassava (Manihot esculenta), and rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), have important economic values because they are raw materials for the production of biodiesel, rubber, etc. The flowering mechanisms are still excluded in the Euphorbiaceae species. The flowering-related genes of Arabidopsis thaliana (Arabidopsis) were used as a reference to determine the orthologs of these genes in Euphorbiaceae genomes. The result showed that 146, 144, 114, 114, and 149 of 207 A. thaliana genes were respectively matched to R. communis, V. fordii, J. curcas, H. brasiliensis, and M. esculenta. These identified genes were clustered into seven pathways including gibberellins, floral meristem identity (FMI), vernalization, photoperiod, floral pathway integrators (FPIs), and autonomous pathways. Then, some key numbers of flowering-related genes are widely conserved in the Euphorbiaceae genomes including but not limited to FPI genes LFY, SOC1, FT, and FMI genes AG, CAL, and FUL. However, some genes, including FRI, FLC, and GO, were missing in several or all five Euphorbiaceae species. In this study, we proposed the putative mechanisms of flowering-related genes to control flowering and provided new candidate flowering genes for using marker-assisted breeding to improve variety quality.

Genome-wide identification and transcriptional profiling of the basic helix-loop-helix gene family in tung tree (Vernicia fordii).

The basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor gene family is one of the largest gene families and is extensively involved in plant growth, development, biotic and abiotic stress responses. Tung tree (Vernicia fordii) is an economically important woody oil plant that produces tung oil rich in eleostearic acid. However, the characteristics of the bHLH gene family in the tung tree genome are still unclear. Hence, VfbHLHs were first searched at a genome-wide level, and their expression levels in various tissues or under low temperature were investigated systematically. In this study, we identified 104 VfbHLHs in the tung tree genome, and these genes were classified into 18 subfamilies according to bHLH domains. Ninety-eight VfbHLHs were mapped to but not evenly distributed on 11 pseudochromosomes. The domain sequences among VfbHLHs were highly conserved, and their conserved residues were also identified. To explore their expression, we performed gene expression profiling using RNA-Seq and RT-qPCR. We identified five, 18 and 28 VfbHLH genes in female flowers, male flowers and seeds, respectively. Furthermore, we found that eight genes (VfbHLH29, VfbHLH31, VfbHLH47, VfbHLH51, VfbHLH57, VfbHLH59, VfbHLH70, VfbHLH72) were significant differential expressed in roots, leaves and petioles under low temperature stress. This study lays the foundation for future studies on bHLH gene cloning, transgenes, and biological mechanisms.

Evolution and function of ubiquitin-specific proteases (UBPs): Insight into seed development roles in plants

The tung oil produced by the tung tree (Vernicia fordii) provides resources for the manufacture of biodiesel. Ubiquitin-specific proteases (UBPs) are the largest group of deubiquitinases and play key roles in regulating development and stress responses. Here, 21 UBPs were identified in V. fordii, roughly one-half the number found in Manihot esculenta and Hevea brasiliensis. Most UBP duplications are produced from whole-genome duplication (WGD), and significant differences in gene retention existed among Euphorbiaceae. The great majority of UBP-containing blocks in V. fordii, V. montana, Ricinus communis, and Jatropha curcas exhibited extensive conservation with the duplicated regions of M. esculenta and H. brasiliensis. These blocks formed 14 orthologous groups, indicating they shared WGD with UBPs in M. esculenta and H. brasiliensis, but most of these UBPs copies were lost. The UBP orthologs contained significant functional divergence which explained the susceptibility of V. fordii to Fusarium wilt and the resistance of V. montana to Fusarium wilt. The expression patterns and experiments suggested that Vf03G1417 could affect the seed-related traits and positively regulate the seed oil accumulation. This study provided important insights into the evolution of UBPs in Euphorbiaceae and identified important candidate VfUBPs for marker-assisted breeding in V. fordii.

Evaluation of Tung Oil (Vernicia fordii (Hemsl.)) for Controlling Termites

In worldwide, the use of chemical pesticides to protect wood has been greatly restricted. In recent years, a large number of researchers devoted to the search for natural, safe and non-polluting bioactive chemical compounds from plants as an alternative to synthetic organic chemical preservative. In Chinese folk, tung oil can be used as paint for wooden furniture to protect them from pests. This study aimed to evaluate the chemical compositions of raw and heated tung oil and their activity against termite. In choice bioassays, weight loss of wood treated with 5% raw or heated tung oil after 4 weeks was significantly less than that of the control group. In no-choice bioassays, there was a significant difference in termite survival and wood weight loss on raw and heated tung oil-treated wood. When tung oil-treatment concentrations increased to 5%, wood weight loss was less than 10%. There was no significant difference in termite survival and wood weight loss between raw and heated tung oil-treated wood. Survival of termites in both tung oil wood treatments was significantly lower than that in the starvation control after 4 weeks. Raw and heated tung oil significantly improved the resistance of pine wood to termites, and have the potential for the development of natural wood preservatives.

Functional Heterogeneity of the Young and Old Duplicate Genes in Tung Tree (Vernicia fordii).

Genes are subject to birth and death during the long evolutionary period. Here, young and old duplicate genes were identified in Vernicia fordii. We performed integrative analyses, including expression pattern, gene complexity, evolution, and functional divergence between young and old duplicate genes. Compared with young genes, old genes have higher values of Ka and Ks, lower Ka/Ks values, and lower average intrinsic structural disorder (ISD) values. Gene ontology and RNA-seq suggested that most young and old duplicate genes contained asymmetric functions. Only old duplicate genes are likely to participate in response to Fusarium wilt infection and exhibit divergent expression patterns. Our data suggest that young genes differ from older genes not only by evolutionary properties but also by their function and structure. These results highlighted the characteristics and diversification of the young and old genes in V. fordii and provided a systematic analysis of these genes in the V. fordii genome.

The First Report on Transgenic Hairy Root Induction from the Stem of Tung Tree (Vernicia fordii).

Tung tree (Vernicia fordii) is an industrially important oil-bearing woody plant of the Euphorbiaceae family. Functional studies of tung tree at the molecular level are limited by the lack of an efficient transgenic system. The Agrobacterium rhizogenes-mediated hairy root generation system is an alternative to typical plant transformation systems. However, its application in many plants has been blocked due to the inability of existing methods to induce hairy roots. Thus, it is critical to build a method suitable for the hairy induction of the specific plant of interest. In this study, a modified method for tung tree was developed, and it is the first report that hairy roots could be effectively induced in the stem of tung tree. With the method, an average of 10.7 hairy roots per seedling were generated in tung tree, approximately 67% of seedlings produced transgenic hairy roots and approximately 13.96% of the hairy roots of these seedlings were transgenic. This modified method is also suitable for the hairy root induction of two other oil-bearing plants of the Euphorbiaceae family, Ricinus communis and Vernicia montana. This modified method will accelerate functional studies of tung tree at the molecular level and also shed light on plants lacking a transgenic system.

Enhancement of Performance and Reduction in Emissions of Hydrogen Supplemented Aleurites Fordii Biodiesel Blend Operated Diesel Engine

The exponential growth in demand for energy and the non-availability of fossil energy and the immediate concern about environmental problems have intensified alternative fuels researchers' work. Aleurites Fordii (AF) biodiesel is a biomass-derived biofuel that can sequester carbon dioxide and release environmentally balancing O2 and is thought to blend in 5-15% range with conventional petro-diesel fuel. Further, these blends were tested with 5% and 10% of total energy with GH2 in a 4-stroke, 10 kW, water cooled, naturally aspirated, constant speed, in-direct injection compression ignition engine performance enhancement and reduction in emissions. All safety-related issues in handling and storage of GH2 were considered as per National Fire Protection Association recommended standards. 5% AF biodiesel blend with 5% GH2 (AFBD5H5) shown better performance with minimum emissions except NOx was identified and compared with 90C pre-heated AF Straight Vegetable Oil (AFSVO), pure AF biodiesel (AFBD), 5% hydrogen supplemented AF Biodiesel (AFBD5H) and conventional petro-diesel operations.

Genomic insights into lineage-specific evolution of the oleosin family in Euphorbiaceae

BackgroundLipid droplets (LDs) present in land plants serve as an essential energy and carbon reserve for seed germination and seedling development. Oleosins, the most abundant structural proteins of LDs, comprise a small family involved in LD formation, stabilization and degradation. Despite their importance, our knowledge on oleosins is still poor in Euphorbiaceae, a large plant family that contains several important oil-bearing species.ResultsTo uncover lineage-specific evolution of oleosin genes in Euphorbiaceae, in this study, we performed a genome-wide identification and comprehensive comparison of the oleosin family in Euphorbiaceae species with available genome sequences, i.e. castor bean (Ricinus communis), physic nut (Jatropha curcas), tung tree (Vernicia fordii), Mercurialis annua, cassava (Manihot esculenta) and rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis), and a number of five, five, five, five, eight and eight members were found, respectively. Synteny analysis revealed one-to-one collinear relationship of oleosin genes between the former four (i.e. castor bean, physic nut, tung tree and M. annua) as well as latter two species (i.e. cassava and rubber tree), whereas one-to-one and one-to-two collinear relationships were observed between physic nut and cassava, reflecting the occurrence of one recent whole-genome duplication (WGD) in the last common ancestor of cassava and rubber tree. The presence of five ortholog groups representing three previously defined clades (i.e. U, SL and SH) dates back at least to the Malpighiales ancestor, because they are also conserved in poplar (Populus trichocarpa), a tree having experienced one Salicaceae-specific recent WGD. As observed in poplar, WGD was shown to be the main driver for the family expansion in both cassava and rubber tree. Nevertheless, same retention patterns of WGD-derived duplicates observed in cassava and rubber tree are somewhat different from that of poplar, though certain homologous fragments are still present in rubber tree. Further transcriptional profiling revealed an apparent seed-predominant expression pattern of oleosin genes in physic nut, castor bean and rubber tree. Moreover, structure and expression divergence of paralogous pairs were also observed in both cassava and rubber tree.ConclusionComparative genomics analysis of oleosin genes reported in this study improved our knowledge on lineage-specific family evolution in Euphorbiaceae, which also provides valuable information for further functional analysis and utilization of key members and their promoters.

D6 protein kinase in root xylem benefiting resistance to Fusarium reveals infection and defense mechanisms in tung trees

Fusarium oxysporum, a global soil-borne pathogen, causes severe disease in various cultivated plants. The mechanism underlying infection and resistance remains largely elusive. Vernicia fordii, known as the tung tree, suffers from disease caused by F. oxysporum f. sp. fordiis (Fof-1), while its sister species V. montana displays high resistance to Fof-1. To investigate the process of infection and resistance ability, we demonstrated that Fof-1 can penetrate the epidermis of root hairs and then centripetally invade the cortex and phloem in both species. Furthermore, Fof-1 spread upwards through the root xylem in susceptible V. fordii trees, whereas it failed to infect the root xylem in resistant V. montana trees. We found that D6 PROTEIN KINASE LIKE 2 (VmD6PKL2) was specifically expressed in the lateral root xylem and was induced after Fof-1 infection in resistant trees. Transgenic analysis in Arabidopsis and tomato revealed that VmD6PKL2 significantly enhanced resistance in both species, whereas the d6pkl2 mutant displayed reduced resistance against Fof-1. Additionally, VmD6PKL2 was identified to interact directly with synaptotagmin (VmSYT3), which is specifically expressed in the root xylem and mediates the negative regulation responding to Fof-1. Our data suggested that VmD6PKL2 could act as a resistance gene against Fof-1 through suppression of VmSYT3-mediated negative regulation in the lateral root xylem of the resistant species. These findings provide novel insight into Fusarium wilt resistance in plants.

Triacylglycerol biosynthesis in shaded seeds of tung tree (Vernicia fordii) is regulated in part by Homeodomain Leucine Zipper 21.

Light quantity and quality affect many aspects of plant growth and development. However, few reports have addressed the molecular connections between seed oil accumulation and light conditions, especially dense shade. Shade-avoiding plants can redirect plant resources into extension growth at the expense of leaf and root expansion in an attempt to reach areas containing richer light. Here, we report that tung tree seed oil accumulation is suppressed by dense shade during the rapid oil accumulation phase. Transcriptome analysis confirmed that oil accumulation suppression due to dense shade was attributed to reduced expression of fatty acid and triacylglycerol biosynthesis-related genes. Through weighted gene co-expression network analysis, we identified 32 core transcription factors (TFs) specifically upregulated in densely shaded seeds during the rapid oil accumulation period. Among these, VfHB21, a class I homeodomain leucine zipper TF, was shown to suppress expression of FAD2 and FADX, two key genes related to α-eleostearic acid, by directly binding to HD-ZIP I/II motifs in their respective promoter regions. VfHB21 also binds to similar motifs in the promoters of VfWRI1 and VfDGAT2, two additional key seed lipid regulatory/biosynthetic genes. Functional conservation of HB21 during plant evolution was demonstrated by the fact that AtWRI1, AtSAD1, and AtFAD2 were downregulated in VfHB21-overexpressor lines of transgenic Arabidopsis, with concomitant seed oil reduction, and the fact that AtHB21 expression also was induced by shade. This study reveals some of the regulatory mechanisms that specifically control tung tree seed oil biosynthesis and more broadly regulate plant storage carbon partitioning in response to dense shade conditions.

Phenolic constituents from twigs of Aleurites fordii and their biological activities.

Three new neolignan glycosides (1–3), a new phenolic glycoside (15), and a new cyanoglycoside (16) were isolated and characterized from the twigs of Aleurites fordii together with 14 known analogues (4–14 and 17–19). The structural elucidation of the new compounds was performed through the analysis of their NMR, HRMS, and ECD spectra and by chemical methods. All isolated compounds were tested for their antineuroinflammatory and neuroprotective activities.

Vernicia fordii (Hemsl.) Airy Shaw extract stimulates insulin secretion in pancreatic β-cells and improves insulin sensitivity in diabetic mice

Ethnopharmacological relevanceVernicia fordii (Hemsl.) Airy Shaw (V. fordii) is also known as the tung tree and its leaves and fruit are used as an oriental treatment for dyspepsia, edema, and skin diseases, which are known as diabetic complications. Aim of the studyIn this study, we aimed to investigate the methanolic extract (VF5) of the leaves of V. fordii as an insulin secretagogue and its probable mechanism and verify the effect in HFD-fed mice. Materials and methodsThe insulin secretagogue activity of different doses of VF5 (0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 μg/ml) was assessed using in vitro insulin secretion assay and confirmed the anti-diabetic effect in mice fed HFD for 4 weeks with different doses of VF5 (10, 20 and 50 mg/kg oral) for another 6 weeks. Glbenclamide (30 mg/kg, oral) was used as positive control drug. The possible mechanisms were evaluated by using Gö6983 (10 μM), U73122 (10 μM) and nifedipine (10 μM). The major constituents of VF5 were analyzed by UPLC-QToF-MS and 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy. ResultsUPLC-QToF-MS and NMR spectroscopy analysis indicated that one of the main active components of VF5 was tigliane-diterpene esters. VF5 functioned as an insulin secretagogue and enhanced mitochondria respiration and insulin homeostasis. We confirmed that VF5 preserved the β-cell and reduced the β-cell expansion which caused by metabolic stress under HFD. The antidiabetic role of VF5 in HFD fed mice was assessed by glucose tolerance test (GTT) and insulin tolerance test (ITT), fasting plasma insulin level, fasting blood glucose level, AKT signal in peripheral tissue in the absence of toxic effects. Mechanistically, insulinotropic effect of VF5 was mediated by activation of PKCα via intracellular Ca2+ influx and enhanced mitochondria function. ConclusionVF5 exhibits potent insulin secretagogue function and improves insulin sensitivity and protection of pancreatic β-cells from metabolic stress without toxicity. Taken together, our study suggests that VF5 could be potentially used for treating diabetes and metabolic diseases through improving β-cell function.

Extraction and Quality Evaluation of Biodiesel from Six Familiar Non-Edible Plants Seeds

Biodiesel produced from non-edible plant sources is cost-effective, biodegradable, environment friendly, and compatible with petro-diesel, but new sources and extraction processes still need to be discovered. Here, we explored the fuel properties of seeds from six non-edible plant sources, including Sapindus mukorossi (Soapnut, SP), Vernicia fordii (Tung, TO), Ricinus communis (Castor, CA), Toona sinensis (Juss. TS), Ailanthus altissima (Heaven tree, AA), and Linum usitatissimum L. (Lin seed, LS) from China. The optimum extraction conditions were obtained by optimizing the most important variables (reaction temperature, ratio of alcohol to vegetable oil, catalyst, mixing intensity, and purity of reactants) that influence the transesterification reaction of the biodiesel. All six plants contained high seed oil content (SOC; % w/v) with the highest in the TO-54.4% followed by SP-51%, CA-48%, LS-45%, AA-38%, and TS-35%, respectively, and all expressed satisfactory physico-chemical properties as per international standards of ASTM D6751 and EN14214. Our data provide a scientific basis for growing these plants in unproductive agricultural lands as an alternative energy sources for biodiesel production either standalone or blended with petro-diesel.

Insecticidal Activities Against Odontotermes formosanus and Plutella xylostella and Corresponding Constituents of Tung Meal from Vernicia fordii.

Simple SummaryOdontotermes formosanus (Shiraki) (O. formosanus) and Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus) (P. xylostella) are common industrial and agricultural pests with a wide distribution range, multiple host species, few natural predators, and rapid reproduction. The control of these pests relies heavily on synthetic chemical pesticides; however, environmental pollution and the rise of insect resistance induced by the excessive use of synthetic chemical pesticides pose serious challenges. The present study was designed to systematically evaluate the insecticidal activities of different extracts of tung meal against the above two pests and to reveal the chemical constituents of the main active parts. The result confirmed the remarkable insecticidal activity of tung meal and provided a theoretical basis for its development as a potential plant insecticide.The environmental pollution, pesticide resistance, and other associated problems caused by traditional chemical pesticides with limited modes of action make it urgent to seek alternative environmentally-friendly pesticides from natural products. Tung meal, the byproduct of the detoxified Vernicia fordii (Hemsl.) seed, has been commonly used as an agricultural fertilizer and as a pesticide. However, its active insecticidal extracts and ingredients remain elusive. In the present study, the contact toxicities of tung meal extracts against the agricultural and forest pests like O. formosanus and P. xylostella were examined. Our results showed that ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts showed the strongest toxicity against O. formosanus and P. xylostella, respectively. In order to further explore the chemical profiles of the ethyl acetate and petroleum ether extracts, UPLC-Q/TOF-MS and GC-MS analyses have been performed, and 20 and 29 compounds were identified from EA and PE extracts, respectively. The present study, for the first time, verified the noteworthy insecticidal activities on the aforementioned agricultural and forest pesticides and revealed the potential active parts and chemical composition, which are conducive to further exploiting the potential of tung meal as a natural plant-derived insecticide for biological control of agricultural and forest pests.

Comparative study of low NOx and CO2 emission novel biodiesels on direct injection CI Engine

In this experimental study an attempt is made to find out a biodiesel, whose NOx and CO2 emissions are less and encouraging. Vegetable oils namely Babul oil (Acacia Arabica), Tung Oil (Aleurites fordii) and Grape seed oil (vitis vinifera) were transesterified to reduce their viscosity. These biodiesels were studied as fuel in direct injection 3.7 kW, 1500 rpm with electrical resistance loading. Experiments were conducted at constant speed of 1500 rpm at different percentages of full load of the engine. Out of these three, Grape seed oil methyl ester (GSME) has its performance closer to that of diesel fuel followed by Babul Oil Methyl Ester (BOME) and Tung Oil Methyl Ester (TOME). The brake thermal efficiency of GSME is marginally lower than that of Diesel at full load. The CO2 emissions of these biodiesels were 13%, 17% and 29% lower than that of diesel fuel emissions at full load for BOME, GSME and TOME respectively. The NOx emissions of BOME and TOME were lower by 22% and 27% lower than that of diesel fuel. However the smoke emissions are higher than that of pure diesel operation of the engine.