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Two new eremophilanolides, sibiriolides A (1) and B (2), were isolated from the aerial parts of Xanthium sibiricum. The structures of the new compounds were identified as 4S,5R,7R,8R, 11R-2-oxo-1(10)-eremophilen-12,8-olide (1) and 4S,5R,7R,8R,11S-2-oxo-1(10)-eremophilen-12,8-olide (2) by HREIMS and NMR spectroscopic techniques in combination with X-ray crystallographic analysis and CD measurements.
BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The proportion of resources devoted to reproduction in the plant is called the reproductive effort (RE), which is most commonly expressed as the proportion of reproductive biomass to total plant biomass production (RE(W)). Reproductive yield is the outcome of photosynthates allocated to reproductive structures minus subsequent respiratory consumption for construction and maintenance of reproductive structures. Thus, RE(W) can differ from RE in terms of photosynthates allocated to reproductive structures (RE(P)). * METHODS: Dry mass growth and respiration of vegetative and reproductive organs were measured in Xanthium canadense and the amount of photosynthates and its partitioning to dry mass growth and respiratory consumption were determined. Differences between RE(W) and RE(P) were analysed in terms of growth and maintenance respiration. * KEY RESULTS: The fraction of allocated photosynthates that was consumed by respiration was smaller in the reproductive organ than in the vegetative organs. Consequently, RE(P) was smaller than RE(W). The smaller respiratory consumption in the reproductive organ resulted from its shorter period of existence and a seasonal decline in temperature, as well as a slower rate of maintenance respiration, although the fraction of photosynthates consumed by growth respiration was larger than in the vegetative organs. * CONCLUSIONS: Reproductive effort in terms of photosynthates (RE(P)) was smaller than that in terms of biomass (RE(W)). This difference resulted from respiratory consumption for maintenance, which was far smaller in the reproductive organ than in vegetative organs.
Energy-use efficiency and energy assimilation, investment and allocation patterns are likely to influence plant growth responses to increasing atmospheric CO2 concentration ([CO2]). Here, we describe the influence of elevated [CO2] on energetic properties as a mechanism of growth responses in Xanthium strumarium. Individuals of X. strumarium were grown at ambient or elevated [CO2] and harvested. Total biomass and energetic construction costs (CC) of leaves, stems, roots and fruits and percentage of total biomass and energy allocated to these components were determined. Photosynthetic energy-use efficiency (PEUE) was calculated as the ratio of total energy gained via photosynthetic activity (Atotal) to leaf CC. Elevated [CO2] increased leaf Atotal, but decreased CC per unit mass of leaves and roots. Consequently, X. strumarium individuals produced more leaf and root biomass at elevated [CO2] without increasing total energy investment in these structures (CCtotal). Whole-plant biomass was associated positively with PEUE. Whole-plant construction required 16.1% less energy than modeled whole-plant energy investment had CC not responded to increased [CO2]. As a physiological mechanism affecting growth, altered energetic properties could positively influence productivity of X. strumarium, and potentially other species, at elevated [CO2].
Leaf lifespan in response to resource availability has been documented in many studies, but it still remains uncertain what determines the timing of leaf shedding. Here, we evaluate the lifetime carbon (C) balance of a leaf in a canopy as influenced by nitrogen (N) availability. Stands of Xanthium canadense were established with high-nitrogen (HN) and low-nitrogen (LN) treatments and temporal changes of C gain of individual leaves were investigated with a canopy photosynthesis model. Daily C gain of a leaf was maximal early in its development and subsequently declined. Daily C gain at shedding was nearly zero in HN, while it was still positive in LN. Sensitivity analyses showed that the decline in the daily C gain resulted primarily from the reduction in light level in HN and by the reduction in leaf N in LN. Smaller leaf size in LN than in HN led to higher light levels in the canopy, which helped leaves of the LN stand maintain for a longer period. These results suggest that the mechanism by which leaf lifespan is determined changes depending on the availability of the resource that is most limiting to plant growth.
The paper deals with the isolation of the constituents of Xanthium spinosum L. and the determination of its biological activity (toxicity). The taxon which is found also in our flora has not been studied from this aspect yet. The used methodology is of a bioassay-guided separation character. The Tubifex tubifex test (TT test) served as the basic biological test. From the methanol extract of the aerial part, ent-kaurane diterpene atractyloside was isolated, from the acetone extract of the aerial part, xanthumin and deacetylxanthumin, two derivatives of xanthanolides--sesquiterpene lactones, were isolated, and from the ethanol extract, phytosterols--beta-sitosterol and stigmasterol. From the acetone extract of fruits, fatty acids were obtained.
Antitrypanosomal activity of crude 50% ethanolic extract of Xanthium strumarium leaves was studied in vitro and in vivo. The extract exhibited trypanocidal activity at all four concentrations tested i.e. 5, 50, 500 and 1000 micrograms/ml, in vitro. In vivo trial revealed that the extract exerted antitrypanosomal effect at dosage of 100, 300 and 1000 mg/kg, intraperitoneally. At 100 and 300 mg/kg doses the survival period of the Trypanosoma evansi infected mice was significantly prolonged. However, the extract was found to be toxic to the animals at 1000 mg/kg dose.
Two H2O-soluble toxic kaurene glycosides 3 and 4 responsible in part for the poisonous properties of the burr of Xanthium pungens have been isolated and identified. The structures of the compounds were elucidated using high resolution 2D nmr and mass spectral techniques.
The antihyperglycemic effect of caffeic acid, one of the phenolic compounds contained in the fruit of Xanthium strumarium, was investigated. After an intravenous injection of caffeic acid into diabetic rats of both streptozotocin-induced and insulin-resistant models, a dose-dependent decrease of plasma glucose was observed. However, a similar effect was not produced in normal rats. An insulin-independent action of caffeic acid can thus be considered. Otherwise, this compound reduced the elevation of plasma glucose level in insulin-resistant rats receiving a glucose challenge test. Also, glucose uptake into the isolated adipocytes was raised by caffeic acid in a concentration-dependent manner. Increase of glucose utilization by caffeic acid seems to be responsible for the lowering of plasma glucose.
Leaf dark respiration (R) is an important component of plant carbon balance, but the effects of rising atmospheric CO(2) on leaf R during illumination are largely unknown. We studied the effects of elevated CO(2) on leaf R in light (R(L)) and in darkness (R(D)) in Xanthium strumarium at different developmental stages. Leaf R(L) was estimated by using the Kok method, whereas leaf R(D) was measured as the rate of CO(2) efflux at zero light. Leaf R(L) and R(D) were significantly higher at elevated than at ambient CO(2) throughout the growing period. Elevated CO(2) increased the ratio of leaf R(L) to net photosynthesis at saturated light (A(max)) when plants were young and also after flowering, but the ratio of leaf R(D) to A(max) was unaffected by CO(2) levels. Leaf R(N) was significantly higher at the beginning but significantly lower at the end of the growing period in elevated CO(2)-grown plants. The ratio of leaf R(L) to R(D) was used to estimate the effect of light on leaf R during the day. We found that light inhibited leaf R at both CO(2) concentrations but to a lesser degree for elevated (17-24%) than for ambient (29-35%) CO(2)-grown plants, presumably because elevated CO(2)-grown plants had a higher demand for energy and carbon skeletons than ambient CO(2)-grown plants in light. Our results suggest that using the CO(2) efflux rate, determined by shading leaves during the day, as a measure for leaf R is likely to underestimate carbon loss from elevated CO(2)-grown plants.
Acetolactate synthase (ALS) was isolated from a field population of cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium) that developed resistance to the herbicide Scepter following three consecutive years of application. The active ingredient of Scepter, imazaquin, gave an inhibitor concentration required to produce 50% inhibition of the enzyme activity that was more than 300 times greater for the resistant enzyme than for the wild-type cocklebur ALS. Tests with flumetsulam and chlorimuron show that the resistant ALS was not cross-resistant to these two other classes of ALS inhibitors.
Experiments on Xanthium leaf discs were carried out to determine whether concomitant photoreactivation could be detected and if so, to compare its effects with photoreactivation due to post-irradiation treatments. Attempts mere made to simulate certain intensities of unfiltered solar radiation. A small but definite amount of simultaneous reactivation was observed. The dose reduction factor averaged 0.57. It was not clear whether the reactivation was due mainly to direct photoreactivation, photoprotection, or to heating effects. A much larger amount of reactivation due to post-irradiation treatments (direct photoreactivation) was noted with the dose reduction factor averaging 0.30.
Transpiration and temperatures of single, attached leaves of Xanthium strumarium L. were measured in high intensity white light (1.2 calories per square centimeter per minute on a surface normal to the radiation), with abundant water supply, at wind speeds of 90, 225, and 450 centimeters per second, and during exposure to moist and dry air. Partitioning of absorbed radiation between transpiration and convection was determined, and transpiration resistances were computed.Leaf resistances decreased with increasing temperature (down to a minimum of 0.36 seconds per centimeter). Silicone rubber replicas of leaf surfaces proved that the decrease was due to increased stomatal apertures. At constant air temperature, leaf resistances were higher in dry than in moist air with the result that transpiration varied less than would have been predicted on the basis of the water-vapor pressure difference between leaf and air.The dependence of stomatal conductance on temperature and moisture content of the air caused the following effects. At air temperatures below 35 C, average leaf temperatures were above air temperature by an amount dependent on wind velocity; increasing wind diminished transpiration. At air temperatures above 35 C, leaf temperatures were below air temperatures, and increasing wind markedly increased transpiration. Leaf temperatures equaled air temperature near 35 C at all wind speeds and in moist as well as in dry air.
Cambial division continued in decapitated Xanthium plants without concomitant xylem fiber differentiation. The application of indoleacetic acid to these plants did not affect the production of cambial derivatives or induce xylem fiber differentiation. When naphthaleneacetic acid was applied either to the second internode or to the stump of a lateral shoot, xylem fiber differentiation was induced in the newly formed cambial derivatives on the xylem side of the cambium in the stem. When naphthaleneacetic acid was applied unilaterally, xylem fiber differentiation was restricted to that side of the stem in the first internode and hypocotyl. Naphthaleneacetic acid also enhanced the production of cambial derivatives. Gibberellic acid enhanced cambial derivative production but did not affect the differentiation of xylem fibers. Similar numbers of cambial derivatives were produced in some naphthaleneacetic acid-treated plants in which xylem fiber differentiation was induced and in gibberellic acid-treated plants which did not differentiate xylem. When naphthaleneacetic acid was applied 72 hours after decapitation, the oldest of the cambial derivatives on the xylem side failed to develop into fibers although younger cells did. These results suggest that auxin has its direct effect on the induction of xylem differentiation rather than the induction of divisions prerequisite to differentiation.
Two basic experiments defined a long-day inhibitory effect on Xanthium flowering: the basal half of a single leaf on long day inhibits response of the tip half to a short day; and a long-day leaf inhibits response of a short-day leaf, providing it is between the short-day leaf and a receptive bud (whether above or below the short-day leaf). Five hypotheses were explored with the conclusions that the tip half can synthesize florigen, and inhibition is not due to prevention of florigen synthesis, translocational effects, or a translocatable long-day inhibitor. Inhibition is localized and may be a condition of the leaf or a relatively immobile substance. Studies of critical dark period, light intensity, and interruption of a dark period show that, when the leaf is not producing florigen, it is actively inhibitory. Immature leaves are more inhibitory than older leaves. The effect was found not to pass dead tissue, and iron-deficient tissue will cause inhibition, though it will not cause promotion.
Leaf resistance for water vapor (total diffusion resistance minus boundary layer resistance), transpiration, and leaf temperature were measured in attached leaves of greenhouse-grown Xanthium strumarium L. plants that had been pretreated for 72 hours with high (40 C day, 35 C night), or low (10 C day, 5 C night) air temperatures. Measurements were made in a wind tunnel at light intensity of 1.15 cal cm(-2) min(-1), air temperatures between 5 and 45 C, and wind speed of 65 cm sec(-1). Leaf resistances in low temperature pretreated plants were higher (8 to 27 sec cm(-1)) than in controls or high temperature pretreated plants (0.5 to 3 sec cm(-1)) at leaf temperatures between 5 and 25 C. Thus, the pretreatment influenced stomatal aperture.
We have shown Xanthium strumarium exhibit two distinct leaf movement rhythms with one occurring in continuous light and presumably related to an endogenous rhythm initiated by the "light-on" signal and the other occurring in continuous dark and presumably related to an endogenous rhythm initiated by the "light-off" signal. Characteristic of the light-on rhythm is a sudden and rapid downward movement of the leaf occurring about 16 hours after the light-on signal. Characteristic of the light-off rhythm is an immediate and sudden upward movement following the light-off signal. Under certain photoperiodic treatments, the two movements seem to be in conflict.The characteristic light-on downward movement was predominant in the light-dark 14: 10 and 16: 8 treatments while the light-off upward movement was predominant in light-dark 8: 16 and 10: 14 treatments. In the light-dark 12: 12 treatment, one movement was predominant in about half of the cases and vice versa. Thus leaf movements of X. strumarium plants given these light-dark treatments were found to fit a hypothesis based on the participation of both a light-on and a light-off rhythm. The over-all leaf movement rhythm may be controlled by what might be called two clocks. Both of these clocks may have essentially the same basic mechanism with one important distinction. One is rephased by the light-on signal and the other by the light-off signal. Furthermore, the leaf movements related to each clock are distinctive.The hypothesis of the participation of a light-on and a light-off rhythm was also found to be applicable to published data (M. Holdsworth, 1959. Effects of day length on the movements of pulvinate leaves. New Phytol. 58: 29-45). Interpretation of the Bauhinia leaf movements along this line is also presented.
Greenhouse-grown plants of Xanthium strumarium L. were exposed in a growth cabinet to 10 C during days and 5 C during nights for periods of up to 120 hours. Subsequently, CO(2) exchange, transpiration, and leaf temperature were measured on attached leaves and in leaf sections at 25 or 30 C, 19 C dew point of the air, 61 milliwatts per square centimeter irradiance, and CO(2) concentrations between 0 and 1000 microliters per liter ambient air. Net photosynthesis and stomatal conductance decreased and dark respiration increased with increasing duration of prechilling. The reduction in net photosynthesis was not a consequence of decreased stomatal conductance because the intercellular CO(2) concentration in prechilled leaves was equal to or greater than that in greenhouse-grown controls. The intercellular CO(2) concentration at which one-half maximum net photosynthesis occurred remained the same in prechilled leaves and controls (175 to 190 microliters per liter). Stomata of the control plants responded to changes in the CO(2) concentration of the air only slightly. Prechilling for 24 hours or more sensitized stomata to CO(2); they responded to changes in CO(2) concentration in the range from 100 to 1000 microliters per liter.
The degree of stomatal sensitivity to CO(2) was positively correlated with the content of abscisic acid of leaves of Xanthium strumarium grown in a greenhouse and then transferred for 24 hours or more to a cold (5/10 C, night/day) or a warm growth chamber (20/23 C). This correlation did not exist in plants kept in the greehouse continuously (high abscisic acid, no CO(2) sensitivity), nor in plants transferred from the cold to the warm chamber (low abscisic acid, high CO(2) sensitivity). The abscisic acid content of leaves was correlated with water content only within narrow limits, if at all. At equal water contents, prechilled leaves contained more abscisic acid than leaves of plants pretreated in the warm chamber. There appear to be at least two compartments for abscisic acid in the leaf.