Studies on weed infestation and tea growth under various weed management methods in a young Tea (Camellia sinensis [L.] kuntze) plantation

A field experiment was conducted in the low country of Sri Lanka, during the period 1994–1995 to investigate the severity of weed infestation and tea growth in relation to weed management methods in newly established tea (Camellia sinensis[L.] Kuntze). Manual weeding (hand and slash weeding) at various intervals was compared with various herbicides, with or without mulching. Weed control with herbicides was superior to that of hand weeding at 6-week intervals or more. Weed control with oxyfluorfen at 0.29 kg ai ha−1 + paraquat at 0.17 kg ai ha−1 or glyphosate at 0.99 kg ai ha−1 + kaolin at 3.42 kg ha−1 were superior. Plots unweeded for 12 weeks or more produced significantly greater (P < 0.05) weed biomass than plots unweeded for 6 weeks. Although the least weed dry weight (P < 0.05) and the greatest number of weed species were recorded with hand weeding at 2 week intervals, there was no particular benefit on tea growth when compared with hand weeding at 6 and 12 week intervals. Inter row mulching in chemically treated plots was more favorable for tea growth than no mulching, while living weed cover in unmulched slash weeded plots suppressed tea growth. A combination of mulching and herbicides, particularly oxyfluorfen and paraquat, followed by hand weeding at least every 6–8 weeks was considered the most appropriate weed management system for young tea.

Atividade anti-inflamatória e citotoxicidade dos extratos glicólicos de Cynara cardunculus var. scolymus (L.) Fiori (alcachofra), Myracrodruon urundeuva Allemão (aroeira-do-sertão) e Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze (chá verde)

Pós-graduação em Biopatologia Bucal - ICT

Enraizamento de estacas de Camellia sinensis L. em função da época de coleta de ramos, genótipos e ácido indolbutírico

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

Antimicrobial activity of Calendula officinalis, Camellia sinensis and chlorhexidine against the adherence of microorganisms to sutures after extraction of unerupted third molars

Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the antimicrobial effect of mouthwashes containing Calendula officinalis L., Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze and 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate on the adherence of microorganisms to suture materials after extraction of unerupted third molars. Material and Methods: Eighteen patients with unerupted maxillary third molars indicated for extraction were selected (n=6 per mouthwash). First, the patients were subjected to extraction of the left tooth and instructed not to use any type of antiseptic solution at the site of surgery (control group). After 15 days, the right tooth was extracted and the patients were instructed to use the Calendula officinalis, Camellia sinensis or chlorhexidine mouthwash during 1 week (experimental group). For each surgery, the sutures were removed on postoperative day 7 and placed in sterile phosphate-buffered saline. Next, serial dilutions were prepared and seeded onto different culture media for the growth of the following microorganisms: blood agar for total microorganism growth; Mitis Salivarius bacitracin sucrose agar for mutans group streptococci; mannitol agar for Staphylococcus spp.; MacConkey agar for enterobacteria and Pseudomonas spp., and Sabouraud dextrose agar containing chloramphenicol for Candida spp. The plates were incubated during 24-48 h at 37 degrees C for microorganism count (CFU/nnL). Results: The three mouthwashes tested reduced the number of microorganisms adhered to the sutures compared to the control group. However, significant differences between the control and experimental groups were only observed for the mouthwash containing 0.12% chlorhexidine digluconate. Conclusions: Calendula officinalis L. and Camellia sinensis (L.) Kuntze presented antimicrobial activity against the adherence of microorganisms to sutures but were not as efficient as chlorhexidine digluconate.

Biologia de Ceratobasidium spp. associada à doença queima dos fios no chá (Camellia sinensis L.)

Pós-graduação em Agronomia (Proteção de Plantas) - FCA

Enraizamento de estacas de Camellia sinensis L. em função da época de coleta de ramos, genótipos e ácido indolbutírico

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da época de coleta de ramos, genótipo e concentração de ácido indolbutírico (AIB) no enraizamento de estacas de Camellia sinensis L. Para tal, foram coletados ramos dos genótipos IAC 259, F 15 e Comum, em Pariquera-Açu, SP, Brasil, no inverno, primavera, verão e outono. em seguida, foram preparadas estacas que foram tratadas com AIB (0, 2.000, 4.000, 6.000 e 8.000 e 10.000mg L-1), plantadas em vermiculita e mantidas em viveiro sob 70% de sombreamento e irrigação periódica. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 4x3x6 (quatro épocas, três genótipos e seis concentrações de AIB), com quatro repetições de oito estacas. A época ideal para se coletar os ramos foi o inverno. Estacas coletadas no inverno apresentaram mortalidade média de 41%, enquanto nas estacas vivas o enraizamento médio foi de 66%, influenciado apenas pelo genótipo, todas apresentaram brotações e apenas 32% apresentaram calos. O AIB influenciou o número e o comprimento das raízes formadas em estacas no inverno. Na primavera, apesar da menor mortalidade (31%), apenas 0,34% das estacas vivas apresentaram raiz e 49% brotação, enquanto 97% das estacas apresentaram calo. No verão e outono a mortalidade das estacas foi extremamente alta, respectivamente, 93 e 81% das estacas.

Regeneración de plantas de té (Camellia sinensis) por cultivo in vitro de meristemas, yemas axilares y segmentos uninodales

Tres tipos de explantes de dos clones ( C H 1 4 I N TA y C H 3 1 8 I N TA ) d e t é (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) fueron evaluados para su regeneración in vitro, bajo la influencia de dos citocininas (BAP y CIN) y una giberelina (AG3). Previa desinfección, con etanol 70% (1 minuto) e hipoclorito de sodio 1,5% (20 minutos) y tres enjuagues con agua destilada estéril, los explantes fueron aislados y cultivados en los distintos medios de cultivo. Las mejores respuestas en formación de vástagos se registraron con los segmentos uninodales de ambos clones cultivados en el medio ½ MS + 1 mg/L de BAP o con el cultivo de yemas axilares del clon CH 14 INTA en el medio ½ MS + 1 mg/L de BAP o del clon CH 318 INTA en el medio ½ MS + 1 mg/L BAP + 1 mg/L AG3. Los mejores resultados con el empleo de meristemas caulinares se obtuvieron en el medio ½ MS + 1 mg/L de CIN y 1 mg/L de AG3. Los vástagos obtenidos fueron enraizados mediante su cultivo en ¼ MS + 6 mg/L de IBA.

Medicinal plants - prophylactic and therapeutic options for gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets? A systematic review.

BACKGROUND Gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets lead to significant economic losses in livestock husbandry. A high morbidity has been reported for diarrhea (calves ≤ 35 %; piglets ≤ 50 %) and for respiratory diseases (calves ≤ 80 %; piglets ≤ 40 %). Despite a highly diverse etiology and pathophysiology of these diseases, treatment with antimicrobials is often the first-line therapy. Multi-antimicrobial resistance in pathogens results in international accordance to strengthen the research in novel treatment options. Medicinal plants bear a potential as alternative or additional treatment. Based on the versatile effects of their plant specific multi-component-compositions, medicinal plants can potentially act as 'multi-target drugs'. Regarding the plurality of medicinal plants, the aim of this systematic review was to identify potential medicinal plant species for prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases and for modulation of the immune system and inflammation in calves and piglets. RESULTS Based on nine initial sources including standard textbooks and European ethnoveterinary studies, a total of 223 medicinal plant species related to the treatment of gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases was identified. A defined search strategy was established using the PRISMA statement to evaluate 30 medicinal plant species starting from 20'000 peer-reviewed articles published in the last 20 years (1994-2014). This strategy led to 418 references (257 in vitro, 84 in vivo and 77 clinical trials, thereof 48 clinical trials in veterinary medicine) to evaluate effects of medicinal plants and their efficacy in detail. The findings indicate that the most promising candidates for gastrointestinal diseases are Allium sativum L., Mentha x piperita L. and Salvia officinalis L.; for diseases of the respiratory tract Echinacea purpurea (L.) MOENCH, Thymus vulgaris L. and Althea officinalis L. were found most promising, and Echinacea purpurea (L.) MOENCH, Camellia sinensis (L.) KUNTZE, Glycyrrhiza glabra L. and Origanum vulgare L. were identified as best candidates for modulation of the immune system and inflammation. CONCLUSIONS Several medicinal plants bear a potential for novel treatment strategies for young livestock. There is a need for further research focused on gastrointestinal and respiratory diseases in calves and piglets, and the findings of this review provide a basis on plant selection for future studies.

Propagação de Camellia sinensis: efeito do genótipo, estaca, substrato, recipiente e ácido indolbutírico

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

HPLC analyses of flavanols and phenolic acids in the fresh young shoots of tea (Camellia sinensis) grown in Australia

As part of a 4-year project to study phenolic compounds in tea shoots over the growing seasons and during black tea processing in Australia, an HPLC method was developed and optimised for the identification and quantification of phenolic compounds, mainly flavanols and phenolic acids, in fresh tea shoots. Methanol proved to be the most suitable solvent for extracting the phenolic compounds, compared with chloroform, ethyl acetate and water. Immediate analysis, by HPLC, of the methanol extract showed higher separation efficiency than analyses after being dried and redissolved. This method exhibited good repeatability (CV 3-9%) and recovery rate (88-116%). Epigallocatechin gallate alone constituted up to 115 mg/g, on a dry basis, in the single sample of Australian fresh tea shoots examined. Four catechins (catechin, gallocatechin, epicatechin and epigallocatechin) and six catechin gallates (epigallocatechin gallate, catechin gallate, epicatechin gallate, gallocatechin gallate, epicatechin digallate and epigallocatechin digallate) have been identified and quantified by this HPLC method. In addition, two major tea alkaloids, caffeine and theobromine, have been quantified, while five flavonol glycosides and six phenolic acids, including quinic acids and esters, were identified and quantified. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Seasonal variations of phenolic compounds in Australia-grown tea (Camellia sinensis)

Seasonal variations of phenolic compounds in fresh tea shoots grown in Australia were studied using an HPLC method. Three principal tea flavanols [epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), epicatechin gallate (ECG), and epigallocatechin (EGC)] and four grouped phenolics [total catechins (Cs), total catechin gallates (CGs), total flavanols (Fla), and total polyphenols (PPs)] in fresh tea shoots were analyzed and compared during the commercial harvest seasons from April 2000 to May 2001. The levels of EGCG, ECG, and CGs in the fresh tea shoots were higher in the warm months of April 2000 (120.52, 34.50, and 163.75 mg/g, respectively) and May 2000 (128.63, 44.26, and 183.83 mg/g, respectively) and lower during the cool months of July 2000 (91.39, 35.16, and 132.30 mg/g, respectively), August 2000 (91.31, 31.56, and 128.64 mg/g, respectively), and September 2000 (96.12, 33.51, and 136.90 mg/g, respectively). Thereafter, the levels increased throughout the warmer months from October to December 2000 and remained high until May 2001. In the warmer months, the levels of EGCG, ECG, and CGs were in most cases significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those in the samples harvested in the cooler months. In contrast, the levels of EGC and Cs were high and consistent in the cooler months and low in the warmer months. The seasonal variations of the individual and grouped catechins were significant (P < 0.05) between the cooler and warmer months. This study revealed that EGCG and ECG could be used as quality descriptors for monitoring the seasonal variations of phenolics in Australia-grown tea leaves, and the ratio (EGCG + ECG)/EGC has been suggested as a quality index for measuring the differences in flavanol levels in fresh tea shoots across the growing seasons. Mechanisms that induce seasonal variations in tea shoots may include one or all three of the following environmental conditions: day length, sunlight, and/or temperature, which vary markedly across seasons. Therefore, further studies under controlled conditions such as in a greenhouse may be required to direct correlate flavonoid profiles of green tea leaves with their yields and also to with conditions such as rainfall and humidity.

Propagação de Camellia sinensis: efeito do genótipo, estaca, substrato, recipiente e ácido indolbutírico

Tem sido relatado que as estacas de Camellia sinensis possuem baixa capacidade de emitir raízes, motivando assim a realização de estudos básicos para otimização do processo de propagação por estacas. Assim sendo, o presente trabalho objetivou quantificar o potencial rizogênico de diferentes genótipos e o efeito da posição da estaca no ramo e incisão na base, do substrato, tamanho do recipiente e ácido indolbutírico no enraizamento de estacas semi-lenhosas dessa espécie. Para tal, foram coletados ramos dos genótipos IAC 259, F15 e Comum, em Pariquera-Açu-SP, no inverno de 2010. em seguida, preparadas as estacas, contendo uma gema e uma folha, foram mantidas em viveiro com 70% de sombreamento. Estacas da posição basal e mediana dos ramos são as mais adequadas para estaquia devido a menor mortalidade e maior enraizamento. A injúria na base da estaca não afeta a mortalidade e o enraizamento das estacas, porém induz à formação de calo. Também não houve diferenças na mortalidade e no enraizamento das estacas quando as mesmas foram mantidas em recipiente de 50, 90 e 120 cm³. Comparado com vermiculita, areia e casca de arroz carbonizada, o solo foi o melhor substrato para estaquia, que na presença do ferimento, juntamente com o tratamento das estacas com 10 g L-1 de AIB promoveu a maior porcentagem de enraizamento. Todavia, ainda nessa condição a mortalidade média das estacas foi de 42%. O potencial de enraizamento do genótipo Comum foi superior ao do IAC 259 e F15.

Chemical composition and sensory evaluation of tea (Camellia sinensis) commercialized in Pakistan

The quality of black and green commercial tea samples was accessed by physicochemical analysis, mineral analysis and sensory evaluation. Significant variations in physicochemical and organoleptic parameters were observed. The moisture, protein, fat, crude fiber, water extracts and ash contents of the commercial tea samples were found to be in the range of 2.46- 7.47, 0.87-1.141, 0.94-2.15, 11.23-17.21, 32.34-53.61, and 3.29-5.86%, respectively while caffeine and catechin were found in the range of 2.34-4.33% and 0-7.44%, respectively. The highest percentage of moisture, protein, fat, and crude fiber contents were observed in green tea samples while highest percentage of ash and water extracts were observed in black tea samples. Calcium, magnesium, sodium, potassium and manganese were found to be in the range of 1.47-3.84 mg/l, 2.97- 5.66 mg/l, 0.39-1.83 mg/l, 3.01-4.00 mg/l., 1.09-2.43 mg/l, respectively with maximum amounts found in green tea as compared to black tea.