Márta Ladányi

Morphological, phytochemical and molecular characterization of intraspecific variability of wormwood ( Artemisia absinthium L.)

A trial with nine wormwood accessions was installed to carry out a systematic evaluation of intraspecific diversity. Six morphological features, essential oil (EO) yield and thujone content were measured. Besides, 11 RAPD and 15 ISSR molecular markers were tested to determine the genetic diversity of the accessions. The experiment was carried out in open field in 2016.Accession “Pakozd” exhibited largest growth (64.9 cm) and genotype “Norwegen” was the smallest (29.9 cm). This latter accession had also the smallest but thickest leaves. Concerning morphological features, the Norwegian population was the most homogenous one (CV%: 10.6-20.1) while “Belgin” brought about largest variability (CV%: 18.4-45.3).Based on EO yield, the studied accessions were divided into three significantly diverse groups. The highest yield was produced by “Spanish” accession (3.215 ml/100 g), “Norwegen” and “Belgien” produced medium values (1.569-1.892 ml/100 g) and six accessions showed EO yields below 1% (0.349-0.832 ml/100 g). Three acces-sions (“Leipzig”, “Belgien” and “Norwegen”) had high amount of thujone in the oil (50-89%) while in all other accessions thujones were absent or present only below 1%. “Belgien” accession had balanced ratio of α- and β-thujones while in the other ones β-thujone was the absolute main component.High polymorphism was found among the wormwood accessions also by molecular markers: 81.15% for RAPD and 73.10% for ISSR primers. Based on the Nei’s genetic distances the three groups of genotypes were identical to those in the case of EO yield.The study confirmed the large intraspecific variability of wormwood but revealed that it is not definitely connected to geographical origin of the populations.

Lipid peroxidation and changes in the activity of superoxide dismutase caused by water deficit in basil (Ocium basilicum L.) and savory (Satureja hortensis L.)

Summary Two aromatic species (Ocimum basilicum L. and Satureja hortensis L.) with different water requirements were submitted to varying water supply, as characterised by different soil water capacities [SWC; control (C), 70% SWC; Stress 1 (S1), 50% SWC; and Stress 2 (S2), 30% SWC] in a growth chamber. The effect of water deficit on the formation of malondialdehyde (MDA), a product of lipid peroxidation (LPO), and on superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity were evaluated at three phenological phases (before flowering, at full-flowering, and after flowering) in both plant species. The results revealed that MDA contents were significantly higher in savory than in basil. However, significant increases in MDA contents, as a consequence of changes in the water supply, were detected only in basil (by 23% and 49% in S1 and S2, respectively). In contrast, SOD activities in control plants showed similar values in both species. Elevated SOD activities were detected in basil and in savory as a reaction to water deficit stress, with maximum SOD activities occurring during full-flowering (3.212 Units mg–1 protein and 2.655 Units mg–1 protein in basil and savory, respectively). We conclude that water deficit stress (to 50% or 30% SWC) may result in increased SOD activities, which were responsible for the decreased levels of superoxide free radicals in both species examined. However, under the conditions used here, enhanced LPO was detectable only in basil, known as a plant with a high water requirement.

Effects of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields on turkeys

Abstract Several studies have examined the potential biological effects of electromagnetic fields (EMF) on birds; however, little attention has been paid to the extremely low frequency (ELF; 0‐300 Hz; 0‐50 &mgr;T) radiation found in an urbanized environment. For monitoring the effects of ELF EMF, we used a turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) model, because the nucleated erythrocytes of turkeys contain &bgr;‐adrenoceptors, and norepinephrine‐ (NE‐) activated &bgr;‐adrenoceptors have an important role in physiological and behavioral processes. Our aims were the following: 1) to investigate the intracellular mechanisms; 2) to compare the intracellular mechanisms in the treated and control groups over time, considering inter‐individual differences and intra‐subject correlations; 3) and to study the reversible nature of the response. The turkeys in the treatment group were treated in vivo with ELF EMF (50 Hz; 10 &mgr;T) for 3 wk after a 1‐wk‐long adaptation period. The animals were not exposed to ELF EMF during the regeneration period (5 wk following the exposure). The NE‐activated &bgr;‐adrenoceptor function was detected by measuring the amount of 3′5′‐cyclic‐adenosine‐monophosphate (cAMP), and the biochemical enzyme parameters were defined. Repeated measurements of cAMP levels were analyzed using marginal models and a piecewise linear mixed model to compare treatment and control groups over time. According to our results, NE‐activated &bgr;‐adrenoceptor function was decreased in the treated birds in a time‐dependent manner, while there were no differences between toxicological parameters in the serum, compared to the normal ranges. The decreased NE‐dependent &bgr;‐adrenoceptor function could be compensated by the homeostatic complex during the 5‐wk regeneration period. Extended experimental periods and more sophisticated analysis methods may help prevent harmful environmental effects on birds; furthermore, these findings could affect public health and the economy.

Examination of biogenic amines in grapevine musts originating from vineyards treated with different viticultural practices

ABSTRACT Viticultural practices as defoliation (DF) and cluster tipping (CT) (hereinafter referred to as the abbreviation) are often used for crop regulation to enhance quality. Reduced yield can be accompanied not only with more favourable sugar-acid composition but also with changes of other chemical compounds in the berries, for example, biogenic amines as well. The latter play a significant role in human health. The experiment has been carried out at three different growing sites of Hungary in 2014. DF was done at full bloom, CT occurred when the berry reached pea size. Berry sampling for biogenic amine analysis was carried out several times during the ripening period. In our trial, we examined the effect of the above-mentioned treatments, the sites and the sampling dates on the amount of berries’ biogenic amine content. We concluded that DF and CT changed the amount of each type of amines in the berries. According to our measurements the treatments and the site did affect the amount and composition of biogenic amines, but the sampling time not. The treatments were most effective in the case of histamine which is crucial for triggering allergic reactions.

Compositional variability in essential oils of twelve wormwood (Artemisia absinthium L.) accessions grown in the same environment

ABSTRACT One hundred and twenty individuals from twelve accessions of Artemisia absinthium grown in experimental plots were harvested during the vegetative period in order to evaluate volatile compositions. The essential oils were obtained by hydrodistillation and analyzed by the GCMS method. Evaluating the components higher than 1% of GC area, a total of sixty-nine compounds were identified, among them thirty monoterpenes and thirty-nine sequiterpenes. Major components of the oils were α-thujone (0–51.7%), β-thujone (0–89.8%), cis-epoxyocimene (0– 75.7%), trans-sabinyl acetate (0–94.5%), sabinene (0–33.8%), β-myrcene (0–68.4%), linalool 15 (0–52.1%), ect. Based on main compounds we defined different chemotypes. The components (Z)-iso-citral, selin-11-en-4-α-ol, (Z)- and (E)-nuciferol isobutyrate characterise new chemotypes of wormwood as they have never been mentioned before in its EO. A connection between chemotype and habitat can not be justified in most cases. Natural populations of the accessions may have similar heterogeneity to those purchased on market.

Bois noir affects the yield and wine quality of Vitis vinifera L. cv. ‘Chardonnay’

The Bois noir (BN) disease induced by ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma solani’ (CPs) is common in European vineyards. Its damage has not been fully investigated, especially with regards to wine attributes. The impact of BN on yield, berry composition and wine characteristics of Vitis vinifera L. cv. ‘Chardonnay’ was therefore comprehensively characterized in a 3-year field experiment in Hungary, Eger winegrowing region. Additionally, the bindweed-related tuf-b1 genotype was identified to be involved in the BN pathosystem in the experimental vineyard. Infection of CPs tuf-b1 genotype resulted in severe yield loss, the average decrease in number of bunches and total yield per vine was 56.7% and 68.4%, respectively. Analyses of wines produced from grapes of BN infected vines revealed decreased alcohol, epicatechin and iron contents; and increased organic acids, titratable acidity, catechin and calcium contents. Sensory evaluation of these wines confirmed unfavourable characteristics, i.e. higher acidity, bitterness, and usually pinkish discolouration. Negative impact on berry composition and wine quality were pronounced in the vintage with favourable weather conditions for grapevine production, whereas the negative effects of BN infection were less prominent, even masked, in the vintages with unfavourable weather (wet and cool). To reduce BN-caused damage, the need for improved preventative and curative measures for BN disease is highlighted.

Panel performance monitoring by Poincaré plot: A case study on flavoured bottled waters

The application of the Poincaré method is discussed on the field of sensory panel performance monitoring. The Poincaré plot evaluates and visualizes the difference from the consensus for each panelist even for one product and for one attribute. Sensory tests were carried out on 5 commercially available brands of pear-lemon and josta flavoured bottled waters. Several sensory parameters were assessed and a complex dissimilarity index was calculated. Based on this index the attributes and panelists can be ranked highlighting the attribute which was the hardest to evaluate and the most consistent panel member. Our method has been compared to the other methods using the sum of ranking difference method and cross-validated by leave-one-out technique. Regarding both the ranking of the panelists and the ranking of the attributes significant differences were found between the Poincaré method and the traditional techniques since the sum of ranking difference was greater than the critical value of 39 and 79 at 5%, respectively. Only the Poincaré method was able to indicate sweet flavour as the easiest attribute to evaluate. Free R code is available to carry out the calculations and apply this method.