Marian Wiwart

Antifungal Activity of the Essential Oils from Some Species of the Genus Pinus

The chemical composition of the essential oils from the needles of Pinus ponderosa (north american pine), P. resinosa (red pine) and P. strobus (eastern white pine) has been determined by GC/MS (FID). The essential oils from P. resinosa and P. ponderosa in comparison to P. strobus have been characterized by the higher content of β-pinene (42.4%, 45.7% and 7.9% respectively). On the other hand, α-pinene (17.7%) and germacrene D (12.2%) were dominant compounds of P. strobus. Moreover the essential oil from P. resinosa was more rich in myrcene-15.9%. Estragole and Δ-3-carene, each one in amount ca 8% were identified only in P. ponderosa. The content of essential oils in the needles slightly varied - 0.65% - P. resinosa, 0.4% - P. strobus, 0.3% - P. ponderosa. The antifungal activity has been investigated towards Fusarium culmorum, F. solani and F. poae. The strongest activity was observed for the essential oil from P. ponderosa, which fully inhibited the growth of fungi at the following concentrations - F. culmorum, F. solani at 2% and F. poae at 5%.

Fusarium toxins and total fungal biomass indicators in naturally contaminated wheat samples from north-eastern Poland in 2003

Concentrations of fungal metabolites were measured in 32 wheat grain samples from north-eastern Poland in 2003. The samples originated from fields cultivated conventionally (but varying in chemical protection level) or cultivated organically. Concentrations of Fusarium toxins (HT-2, DON, 3-AcDON, NIV), trichodiene, microbial biomass indicators (fungal ergosterol and general adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP)) and seed vigour were assessed. A large variation between samples was observed, depending on their origin. Seed from organic farms contained similar amounts of Fusarium toxins but more ergosterol and ATP than conventionally grown and chemically protected seed. The highest levels of toxins and ergosterol were detected in samples from conventional cultivation lacking chemical protection. Intensive agronomic practices (including complete chemical protection) significantly lowered the levels of ergosterol, ATP and trichodiene, as compared with other cultivation systems.

Antifungal Activity of Biflavones from Taxus baccata and Ginkgo biloba

Bilobetin and 4‴-O-methylamentoflavone were isolated and identified in the needles of Taxus baccata, for the first time in this species. The antifungal activity of biflavones from T. baccata and Ginkgo biloba, namely amentoflavone, 7-O-methylamentoflavone, bilobetin, ginkgetin, sciadopitysin and 2,3-dihydrosciadopitysin towards the fungi Alternaria alternata, Fusarium culmorum, Cladosporium oxysporum was determined employing computer-aided image analysis couplet to a microscope. Bilobetin exhibited a significant antifungal activity with values of ED50 14, 11 and 17 μm respectively. This compound completely inhibited the growth of germinating tubes of Cladosporium oxysporum and Fusarium culmorum at a concentration 100 μm. Activity of ginkgetin and 7-O-methylamentoflavone towards Alternaria alternata was stronger than that of bilobetin. Moreover, slight structural changes in the cell wall of Alternaria alternata exposed to ginkgetin at concentration of 200 μm were observed

Mycotoxin profiles in the grain of Triticum monococcum, Triticum dicoccum and Triticum spelta after head infection with Fusarium culmorum

BACKGROUND The aim of study was to investigate mycotoxin profiles in the grain of spring lines of Triticum monococcum (12 lines), T. dicoccum (13 lines) and T. spelta (five lines), in comparison to the T. aestivum cultivar Sumai-3 which is resistant to Fusarium head blight. The grain was obtained from control heads and heads artificially inoculated in the field with Fusarium culmorum. Mycotoxins were determined by LC-MS/MS. RESULTS A total of 11 toxins were identified in control grain samples. Deoxynivalenol (DON) concentrations exceeded 0.5 mg kg(-1) in only three samples of T. monococcum grain and in one sample of T. dicoccum grain. Inoculation with F. culmorum resulted in a substantial increase in the concentrations of DON (to 63 mg kg(-1)) in the T. monococcum and DON-3-glucoside (to 5.6 mg kg(-1)) in the T. dicoccum. Inoculation contributed to a drop in tentoxin levels (by 57% in T. spelta) and to an increase of cyclodepsipeptide concentrations (in particular enniatins B and B(1)) being two-fold (T. monococcum) to four-fold (T. dicoccum) higher on average than in control samples. The Sumai-3 responded to inoculation with nearly a two-fold drop in the levels of the cyclodepsipeptides. CONCLUSION The results of a discriminant analysis for all identified toxins indicate that einkorn, emmer and spelt differ significantly with regard to the mycotoxin profiles of their grain.

Estimation of Fusarium Head Blight of Triticale Using Digital Image Analysis of Grain

The response of spring triticale to the infection of heads with mixture of Fusarium culmorum and F. avenaceum isolates was investigated with the application of colour image analysis of grains. The results seem to suggest that there is a strong relationship between declining values of the two yield components: kernels weight per spike and one thousand kernels weight (TKW), and the values of colour components H S and I (hue, saturation, intensity); the presence of the relationship is confirmed by high values of simple correlation coefficients. The technique applied in the experiment makes it possible to diagnose a case of Fusarium infestation at a nearly 90% probability, the result that creates the basis for further research towards the elaboration of a completely automatic system of colour image analysis of grain.

Concentrations of Some Metabolites Produced by Fungi of the Genus Fusarium and Selected Elements in Spring Spelt Grain

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the content of selected elements and metabolites produced by fungi of the genus Fusarium in spelt (Triticum spelta L.) grain and husks and common wheat (T. aestivum L.) grain. Concentrations of trichothecenes, a volatile metabolite trichodiene (TRICH), as well as ergosterol (ERG) and adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP) (a total microbial biomass indicator), were assessed. Toxin concentrations in spelt grain and husks harvested in 2003 and 2004 were comparable. Average deoxynivalenol concentrations reached 450 and 523 μg/kg in grain and 2,162 and 855 μg/kg in husks, respectively. Spelt grain, in comparison with common wheat grain, contained significantly higher concentrations of P, S, Mg, Zn, and Cu and a lower concentration of Al, whereas the concentrations of Ca, Fe, and Pb were significantly higher in the husks than in the grain of this cereal. A comparison of concentrations of Fusarium spp. metabolites in the grain of spelt and common wheat showed that the to...

HPTLC determination of catechins in different clones of the genus Salix

Conditions have been optimized for SPE—HPTLC determination of catechins in different clones of the genus Salix. A mixture of catechin, epicatechin, gallocatechin, and catechin gallate standards was separated on silica gel RP-18WF254 plates with acetonitrile—water—formic acid, 20 + 80 + 6 (v/v), as mobile phase. The best separation of catechin and epicatechin was achieved by multiple gradient development (MGD) with increasing concentrations of acetonitrile (from 20 to 22%) in the water—formic acid mixture. UV detection at » = 282 nm and » = 500 nm (after derivatization with vanillin—H3PO4) were compared for estimation of catechin content. Catechin only was detected in the willow extracts examined. The catechin content of the clones investigated varied between 68.75 and 427.55 mg per 100 g dried plant material.

Intraspecific Polymorphisms of Cytogenetic Markers Mapped on Chromosomes of Triticum polonicum L.

Triticum genus encloses several tetraploid species that are used as genetic stocks for expanding the genetic variability of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Although the T. aestivum (2n = 6x = 42, AABBDD) and T. durum (2n = 4x = 28, AABB) karyotypes were well examined by chromosome staining, Giemsa C-banding and FISH markers, other tetraploids are still poorly characterized. Here, we established and compared the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) patterns on chromosomes of 20 accessions of T. polonicum species using different repetitive sequences from BAC library of wheat ‘Chinese Spring’. The chromosome patterns of Polish wheat were compared to tetraploid (2n = 4x = 28, AABB) Triticum species: T. durum, T. diccocon and T. turanicum, as well. A combination of pTa-86, pTa-535 and pTa-713 probes was the most informative among 6 DNA probes tested. Probe pTa-k374, which is similar to 28S rDNA sequence enabled to distinguish signal size and location differences, as well as rDNA loci elimination. Furthermore, pTa-465 and pTa-k566 probes are helpful for the detection of similar organized chromosomes. The polymorphisms of signals distribution were observed in 2A, 2B, 3B, 5B, 6A and 7B chromosomes. Telomeric region of the short arm of 6B chromosome was the most polymorphic. Our work is novel and contributes to the understanding of T. polonicum genome organization which is essential to develop successful advanced breeding strategies for wheat. Collection and characterization of this germplasm can contribute to the wheat biodiversity safeguard.

The Chemical Composition of Microbiota decussata

From the leaves of Microbiota decussata (Cupressaceae) biflavones: cupressuflavone, amentoflavone and 7-O-methylamentoflavone were isolated and identified. The amount of cupressuflavone in Microbiota decussata and xCupressocyparis leylandii (Leyland cypress) (Cupressaceae) was determined by HPLC (1.82% and 0.83%, respectively). The chemical composition of essential oils from bark and leaves of Microbiota decussata was established by GC-MS (GC-FID) analysis. As a major component thujopsene (39.2% and 45.9%, respectively) was identified. Wiridiflorol (3.0%) and τ-muurolol (0.3%) were present only in leaves but globulol (1.5%) exclusively in bark. The content of essential oils in M. decussata was high - 5.4% in bark and 12.6% in leaves. The essential oils from M. decussata and xC. leylandii were bioassayed towards different fungi of the genus Fusarium. Leyland cypress essential oil at 2% concentration fully inhibited the growth of all fungi.

A comparison of contents of group A and B trichothecenes and microbial counts in different cereal species

Concentrations of trichothecenes and the amounts of microbial biomass were compared in grain of bread wheat, durum wheat, triticale, rye, oat and barley. Grain samples came from lines regionalised in Poland grown under identical climatic and agricultural conditions in 2007. Among the six analysed cereals, the highest mean concentration of toxic metabolites of 151.89 µg/kg was found for grain of Triticum durum, whereas the lowest was for barley grain (25.56 µg/kg). The highest contamination with microscopic fungi was recorded in case of barley and rice grain (mean concentrations of ergosterol were 12.53 mg/kg and 11.24 mg/kg, respectively). In case of the analysed cereals, the total microbial biomass expressed in the amount of ATP turned out to be the highest (4.7 × 105 relative light units [RLU]) for rye and oat (3.2 × 105 RLU). The results of the applied classical discrimination analysis indicate a significant diversification of species in terms of all the 11 analysed metabolites.