Ginger (Zingiber officinale) autotetraploids with improved processing quality produced by an in vitro colchicine treatment

Ginger autotetraploids were produced by immersing shoot tips in a 0.5% w/v colchicine, 2% v/v dimethyl sulfoxide solution for 2 h. Stomatal measurements were used as an early indicator of ploidy differences in culture with mean stomata length of tetraploids (49.2 μm) being significantly larger than the diploid (38.8 µm). Of the 500 shoot tips treated, 2% were characterised as stable autotetraploid lines following field evaluation over several seasons. Results were confirmed with flow cytometry and, of the 7 lines evaluated for distinctness and uniformity, 6 were solid tetraploid mutants and 1 was a periclinal chimera. Significant differences were noted between individual tetraploid lines in terms of shoot length, leaf length, leaf width, size of rhizome sections (knob weight) and fibre content. The solid autotetraploid lines had significantly wider, greener leaves than the diploids, they had significantly fewer but thicker shoots and, although ‘Queensland’ (the diploid parent from which the tetraploids were derived) had a greater total rhizome mass at harvest, its knob size was significantly smaller. From the autotetraploid lines, one line was selected for commercial release as ‘Buderim Gold’. It compared the most favourably with ‘Queensland’ in terms of the aroma/flavour profile and fibre content at early harvest, and had consistently good rhizome yield. More importantly it produced large rhizome sections, resulting in a higher recovery of premium grade confectionery ginger and a more attractive fresh market product.

Essential Oil Composition of Diploid and Tetraploid Clones of Ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) Grown in Australia

Ginger oil, obtained by steam distillation of the rhizome of Zingiber officinale Roscoe, is used in the beverage and fragrance industries. Ginger oil displays considerable compositional diversity, but is typically characterized by a high content of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons, including zingiberene, arcurcumene, â-bisabolene, and â-sesquiphellandrene. Australian ginger oil has a reputation for possessing a particular “lemony” aroma, due to its high content of the isomers neral and geranial, often collectively referred to as citral. Fresh rhizomes of 17 clones of Australian ginger, including commercial cultivars and experimental tetraploid clones, were steam distilled 7 weeks post-harvest, and the resulting oils were analyzed by GC-MS. The essential oils of 16 of the 17 clones, including the tetraploid clones and their parent cultivar, were found to be of substantially similar composition. These oils were characterized by very high citral levels (51-71%) and relatively low levels of the sesquiterpene hydrocarbons typical of ginger oil. The citral levels of most of these oils exceeded those previously reported for ginger oils. The neral-to-geranial ratio was shown to be remarkably constant (0.61 ( 0.01) across all 17 clones. One clone, the cultivar “Jamaican”, yielded oil with a substantially different composition, lower citral content and higher levels of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. Because this cultivar also contains significantly higher concentrations of pungent gingerols, it possesses unique aroma and flavor characteristics, which should be of commercial interest.

Pythiogeton ramosum, a new pathogen of soft rot disease of ginger (Zingiber officinale) at high temperatures in Australia

Pythium soft rot (PSR) of ginger caused by a number of Pythium species is of the most concern worldwide. In Australia, PSR outbreaks associated with Pythium myriotylum was recorded in 2007. Our recent pathogenicity tests in Petri dishes conducted on ginger rhizomes and pot trials on ginger plants showed that Pythiogeton (Py.) ramosum, an uncommon studied oomycete in Pythiaceae, was also pathogenic to ginger at high temperature (30–35 °C). Ginger sticks excised from the rhizomes were colonised by Py. ramosum which caused soft rot and browning lesions. Ginger plants inoculated with Py. ramosum showed initial symptoms of wilting and leave yellowing, which were indistinguishable from those of Pythium soft rot of ginger, at 10 days after inoculation. In addition, morphological and phylogenetic studies indicated that isolates of Py. ramosum were quite variable and our isolates obtained from soft rot ginger were divided into two groups based on these variations. This is also for the first time Py. ramosum is reported as a pathogen on ginger at high temperatures.

Establecimiento y micropropagación de jengibre (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) colectado en el departamento de Carazo

El presente estudio se realizó en el laboratorio de cultivo de tejidos vegetales del Programa Recursos Genéticos Nicaragüenses (REGEN), perteneciente a la Facultad de Agronomia de la Universidad Nacional Agraria (UNA), ubicada en el km 12 1/2 de la carretera norte, Managua, Nicaragua. La realización del ensayo abarcó el tiempo comprendido entre los meses mayo y septiembre de 1997. El objetivo del mismo fue lograr el establecimiento de plántulas de jengibre (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) y la definición del medio de cultivo adecuado para la micropropagación de este cultivo. La fase de establecimiento se inició con 16 explantes los cuales se implantaron en un medio de cultivo sólido conteniendo sales minerales Murashige y Skoog (MS) (1962) más 2.5 mg/l de 6-BAP. En la fase de micropropagación se utilizaron diferentes concentraciones de 6-BAP (0.0, 2.5 y 5.0 mg/l) y dos consistencias del medio de cultivo (sólido y liquido), durante 3 subcultivos. El experimento se estableció utilizando el esquema diseño de Bloques Completamente al Azar (BCA). A los datos de las variables cuantitativas se les realizó un análisis de varianza (ANDEVA). En la fase de establecimiento el 18.75% de las plantas presentaron contaminación bacteriana, no se observó contaminación con hongos y el 81.25 % se desarrollaron satisfactoriamente. La mayor proliferación de hijos se obtuvo siempre en los medios de cultivo de consistencia sólida durante los 3 subcultivos, se utilizaron 12 repeticiones por tratamiento, en las cuales se evaluaron las variables número de hijos, número de hojas, altura de planta, número de raíces y longitud de raíces. El medio de cultivo que indujo a la producción del mayor número de hijos fue al que se le adicionó 5.0 mg/l de 6-BAP con un promedio de 1.55 hijos por explante. El mayor número de ralees se registró en el medio de cultivo sólido con 2.5 mg/1 del regulador del crecimiento 6-BAP, presentando un promedio de 6.19 raíces por planta. Los medios de consistencia líquida favorecieron tanto la altura de las plantas como el número de hojas. No hubo tendencia a aumentar o disminuir el número en las variables altura de planta, número de hijos y número de raíces con respecto al número de subcultivos.

药蒲公英(Taraxacum officinale Weber)体外再生体系的建立、耐盐愈伤组织筛选和抗盐基因转化

药蒲公英(Taraxacum officinale Weber)是菊科蒲公英属的模式种，主要分布于欧洲和北美，在我国新疆也有少量分布。与Taraxacum mongolicum Hand-Mazz(我国中药市场的主流种和主要自然分布种)相比，药蒲公英的生物量更大，作为营养保健蔬菜具有更大的市场价值。药蒲公英的组织培养工作是开展基础研究的有力工具，本工作中，药蒲公英叶片外植体在含0.2mg/L IAA和1.0mg/L TDZ的MS培养基中培养2周后便产生大量的丛生芽，在含有0.5mg/L 2,4-D和2mg/L6-BA的MS培养基中培养30天后，形成明显的愈伤组织，愈伤组织块在含1.0mg/L 6-BA的MS培养基中成功再生。 体细胞无性系变异是植物愈伤组织培养中的普遍现象，我们将继代6次的愈伤组织接种于含盐培养基，得到了能够耐受1.0%NaCl的细胞系。耐盐细胞系在含盐培养基中的相对生长率和细胞活力明显高于对照（非耐盐细胞系接种于含盐培养基），由耐盐细胞系在含盐培养基中获得再生植株的工作正在进行。 直接不定芽再生途径对遗传物质具有高度保真性，是遗传转化的理想体系。我们利用此再生系统，将来源于耐盐植物山菠菜(Atriplex hortensis L.)BADH基因通过农杆菌介导的叶盘转化法导入药蒲公英，获得了PCR检测成阳性的转基因植株5株，从而建立了药蒲公英的转化体系。转基因植株的其他分子检测和耐盐性鉴定工作正在进行。

药蒲公英（Taraxacum officinale weber）耐盐变异体的筛选及其耐盐性分析研究

以药蒲公英（Taraxacum officinale Weber）叶片外植体为材料诱导愈伤组织。以NaCl作为选择因子，从愈伤组织直接筛选。在选择培养基上，大部分愈伤组织褐化死亡，在一些褐化死亡的愈伤组织周围有少量新的细胞团生长，挑选生长存活状况好的细胞团转接到新鲜培养基上，每3周继代一次，经3个月继代筛选获得了耐1.5% NaCl的药蒲公英细胞团。以普通愈伤为对照，发现随着NaCl浓度的升高，耐盐愈伤的相对生长率下降但显著高于对照;且随着盐胁迫处理时间的延长持续升高，而普通愈伤对照几乎停止生长，说明耐盐愈伤具有相对稳定的耐盐性。在蛋白水平上，耐盐愈伤与对照愈伤差异明显，SDS-PAGE分析显示：耐盐愈伤比对照多出一条34 KD大小的蛋白带，且30 KD，18 KD左右的蛋白带明显上调。相同处理条件下耐盐愈伤脯氨酸的增加幅度高于对照。盐胁迫条件下，耐盐愈伤的超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化物酶（POD）和过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性明显高于对照，且随着处理时间的延长和盐浓度的增加呈现升高的趋势，而对照则呈现先升高后下降的趋势。1.5% NaCl处理前后，耐盐愈伤的总黄酮含量显著高于对照。结果说明耐盐愈伤一方面通过积累蛋白和其他小分子有机溶质的方式调节其渗透平衡，另一方面还可通过提高抗氧化能力降低盐分造成的次级伤害。 将耐1.5% NaCl的药蒲公英愈伤组织接种在分化培养基上分化出芽，之后将再生芽转接到生根培养基中进行生根培养，经4个月得到了12株耐1.5% NaCl的药蒲公英再生植株。与野生型相比，耐盐植株叶片宽大、叶柄粗短、叶表面覆盖白色细毛，根粗壮较短，花茎中部具有2 cm左右的苞叶。RAPD和SDS-PAGE检测表明，耐盐植株与对照植株在DNA及蛋白水平上均存在明显差异。1.5% NaCl处理后，与普通再生植株相比，耐盐株系的抗氧化酶活性明显提高，脯氨酸含量上升幅度更为显著，而丙二醛含量降低，其主要药用成分黄酮的含量显著增加。这些结果说明耐盐植株的抗氧化防御能力明显增强。以上结果表明耐1.5% NaCl的药蒲公英再生植株为耐1.5% NaCl药蒲公英变异体，这些耐盐变异体有望成为抗盐耐海水蔬菜家族的新成员。同时，这些耐盐变异体植株比普通植株具有更高的医用商业价值。耐1.5% NaCl的药蒲公英再生变异体遗传稳定性的研究正在进行中。

Fruits of Lithospermum officinale L. (Boraginaceae) used as an early plant decoration (2500 years BP) in Xinjiang；China

IEECAS SKLLQG

Homeopathic Symphytum officinale increases removal torque and radiographic bone density around titanium implants in rats

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Processo de reparo em feridas de extração dentária em camundongos tratados com o complexo Symphytum officinale e Calendula officinallis

Medicamentos homeopáticos como o Symphytum officinalle e a Calendula officinallis são dotados de propriedades anti-sépticas, antiinflamatória, cicatrizantes e também agem como promotores da consolidação de fraturas ósseas. Neste trabalho, uniram-se esses dois medicamentos similares em um complexo para verificar o seu efeito no reparo em feridas de extração dentária em camundongos. O complexo Symphytum officinalle e Calendula officinallis nas potências de 6CH e 3CH, respectivamente, foi ministrado por via oral ao grupo tratado durante 5 dias antes e após a extração do incisivo superior direito. No grupo controle, administraram-se 5ml de álcool etílico a 70% diluídos em 30 ml de soro fisiológico. Após a proservação, os animais foram sacrificados, a maxila direita separada da esquerda, fixada e processada para inclusão em parafina. Após a microtomia, os cortes obtidos foram corados pela H/E. A análise histológica mostrou que, tanto no grupo controle como no tratado, o alvéolo dentário estava preenchido por tecido de granulação e tecido ósseo neoformado, com graus variáveis de maturação, rico em osteócitos. No entanto, nos animais tratados, o processo de reparo em feridas após extração dentária do incisivo superior direito mostrou um avanço progressivo de neoformação óssea mais acentuado quando comparado ao grupo controle, em tempos equivalentes. Estes resultados enfatizam as propriedades biológicas do complexo Symphytum officinalle e Calendula officinallis e sua possível utilização como recurso terapêutico na Odontologia.

Effects of ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) on DNA damage and development of urothelial tumors in a mouse bladder carcinogenesis model

Extracts of the spice ginger (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) are rich in gingerols and shogaols, which exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, anti mycobacterial, and anticarcinogenic proprieties. The present study evaluated the chemoprotective effects of a ginger extract on the DNA damage and the development of bladder cancer induced by N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxibutyl) nitrosamine (BBN)/N-methyl-N-nitrosourea (MNU) in male Swiss mice. Groups G1-G3 were given 0.05% BBN in drinking water for 18 weeks and four i.p. injections of 30 mg/kg body weight MNU at 1, 3, 10, and 18 weeks. Group G4 and G5 received only the BBN or MNU treatments, respectively, and groups G6 and G7 were not treated with BBN or MNU. Additionally, Groups G2, G3, and G6 were fed diets containing 1, 2, and 2% ginger extract, respectively, while Groups G1, G4, G5, and G7 were fed basal diet. Samples of peripheral blood were collected during the experiment for genotoxicity analysis; blood collected 4 hr after each MNU dose was used for the analysis of DNA damage with the Comet assay (assay performed on leukocytes from all groups), while reficulocytes collected 24 hr after the last MNU treatment of Groups G5-G7 were used for the micronucleus assay. At the end of the experiment, the urinary bladder was removed, fixed, and prepared for histopathological, cell proliferation, and apoptosis evaluations. Ginger by itself was not genotoxic, and it did not alter the DNA damage levels induced by the BBN/MNU treatment during the course of the exposure. The incidence and multiplicity of simple and nodular hyperplasia and transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) were increased by the BBN/MNU treatment, but dietary ginger had no significant effect on these responses. However, in Group G2 (BBN/MNU/2% ginger-treated group), there was an increased incidence of Grade 2 TCC. The results suggest that ginger extract does not inhibit the development of BBN-induced mouse bladder tumors.