Quantifying chemodiversity considering biochemical and structural properties of compounds with the R package chemodiv

New Phytologist, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 237(6), P. 2478 - 2492

Published: Dec. 17, 2022

Summary Plants produce large numbers of phytochemical compounds affecting plant physiology and interactions with their biotic abiotic environment. Recently, chemodiversity has attracted considerable attention as an ecologically evolutionary meaningful way to characterize the phenotype a mixture compounds. Currently used measures diversity, related dissimilarity, generally do not take structural or biosynthetic properties into account. Such can be indicative compounds' function inform about (in)dependence, should therefore included in calculations these measures. We introduce R package chemodiv , which retrieves biochemical from databases provides functions for calculating visualizing chemical diversity dissimilarity phytochemicals other types Our enables that takes richness, relative abundance – most importantly and/or illustrate use examples on simulated real datasets. By providing quantifying multiple aspects chemodiversity, we hope facilitate investigations how varies across levels biological organization, its importance ecology evolution plants organisms.

Language: Английский

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Phytochemical diversity impacts herbivory in a tropical rainforest tree community

Ecology Letters, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(11), P. 1898 - 1910

Published: Sept. 30, 2023

Metabolomics provides an unprecedented window into diverse plant secondary metabolites that represent a potentially critical niche dimension in tropical forests underlying species coexistence. Here, we used untargeted metabolomics to evaluate chemical composition of 358 tree and its relationship with phylogeny variation light environment, soil nutrients, insect herbivore leaf damage rainforest plot. We report no phylogenetic signal most compound classes, indicating rapid diversification metabolomes. found locally co-occurring were more chemically dissimilar than random local dispersion metabolite diversity associated lower herbivory, especially specialist herbivores. Our results highlight the role mediating plant-herbivore interactions their potential facilitate differentiation manner contributes Furthermore, our findings suggest pressure is important mechanism promoting phytochemical forests.

Language: Английский

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Horned Melon Pulp, Peel, and Seed: New Insight into Phytochemical and Biological Properties

Antioxidants, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 11(5), P. 825 - 825

Published: April 23, 2022

Artificial neural intelligence was established for the estimation, prediction, and optimization of many agricultural food processes to enable enhanced balanced utilization fresh processed fruits. The predictive capabilities artificial networks (ANNs) are evaluated estimate phytochemical composition antioxidant antimicrobial activity horned melon (Cucumis metuliferus) pulp, peel, seed. Using multiobjective optimization, main goals were successively achieved through analysis potential against sensitive microorganisms peel (Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aspergillus brasiliensis, Penicillium aurantiogriseum), pulp (Salmonella enterica subsp. serotype Typhimurium), seed samples (Saccharomyces cerevisiae Candida albicans), its connection with nutritional activity. highly potent extracts obtained from peels which represent a waste part strong antifungal capacity. Briefly, calculated inhibition zone minimums 25.3−30.7 mm, while optimal results carotenoids, phenolics, vitamin C, proteins, lipids, DPPH, ABTS, RP were: 332.01 mg β-car/100 g, 1923.52 GAE/100 928.15 mg/100 5.73 g/100 2.3 226.56 μmol TE/100 8042.55 7526.36 respectively. These imply possibility using extract as an agent safety quality.

Language: Английский

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Testing the Effectiveness of Synthetic Chemical Lures to Increase Fruit Bat‐Mediated Seed Dispersal in a Tropical Forest

Biotropica, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 57(1)

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Tropical deforestation is occurring at alarming rates, creating an urgent need for global prioritization of restoration efforts. One potential forest recovery strategy to boost seed‐dispersing animal activity (e.g., fruit‐eating bats) increase seed availability in degraded areas. In this study, we investigated the efficacy synthetic chemical lures attracting fruit bats and enhancing rain northeastern Costa Rica. The were composed a few volatile organic compounds commonly found ripe bat‐dispersed fruits. Daily deployment resulted significant capture Carollia spp., key neotropical disperser, but no detectable effect on other bats. 15‐day also increased average total seeds collected traps. However, explained only small portion variance rain, highlighting context‐dependency these results. Still, contrast previously studied essential oil‐based lures, hold be applied across broader spectrum initiatives due simplified manufacturing improved reproducibility. Although additional research understand full use efforts, our study demonstrates effectiveness potentially augmenting rain.

Language: Английский

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Different tools for different trades: contrasts in specialized metabolite chemodiversity and phylogenetic dispersion in fruit, leaves, and roots of the neotropical shrubs Psychotria and Palicourea (Rubiaceae)

Plant Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 22, 2025

Abstract Plants produce an astonishingly diverse array of specialized metabolites. A crucial step in understanding the origin such chemodiversity is describing how manifests across spatial and ontogenetic scales relevant to plant–biotic interactions. Focusing on 21 sympatric species Psychotria Palicourea sensu lato (Rubiaceae), we describe patterns metabolite diversity using a combination field collections, untargeted metabolomics, ecoinformatics. We compare α, β, γ metabolites expanding leaves, unripe pulp, immature seed, ripe mature fine roots. Within species, fruit tissues from stages had ≥α than ≤β leaves. Pooled highest all organs, combined higher incidence organ‐specific mass spectral features Roots ≤α leaves lowest β organs. Phylogenetic correlations chemical distance varied by plant organ class. Our results organs provide support for contributions chemodiversity. This study contributes growing within evolutionary ecology biological diversification. Future studies combining our data with biotic interaction experiments can test existing hypotheses roles ecological interactions evolution

Language: Английский

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Fruit secondary metabolites shape seed dispersal effectiveness

Trends in Ecology & Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 36(12), P. 1113 - 1123

Published: Sept. 8, 2021

Language: Английский

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Interactions between nutrients and fruit secondary metabolites shape bat foraging behavior and protein absorption

Ecosphere, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(4)

Published: April 1, 2024

Abstract Frugivore foraging behavior is largely influenced by two key groups of chemical traits: nutrients and secondary metabolites. Many metabolites function in plant defense, but their consumption can negatively impact both mutualistic antagonistic frugivores, often due to toxic properties the or through nutrient absorption interference. Frugivores are assumed maximize acquisition while avoiding minimizing metabolite intake, relative roles co‐occurring not well understood. Here, we used a neotropical fruit bat investigate interactive effects broadly bioactive metabolite, piperine, on essential processes acquisition, namely absorption. Through manipulation piperine concentrations artificial diets, showed that captive bats prioritize regardless levels even though strong deterrent its own. Furthermore, our findings reveal has no detectable influence total sugar absorption, it reduces protein which crucial limited frugivore diet. Overall, results demonstrate importance considering interaction between traits pulp better understand physiology.

Language: Английский

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Genomic factors limiting the diversity of Saccharomycotina plant pathogens

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Feb. 28, 2025

The Saccharomycotina fungi have evolved to inhabit a vast diversity of habitats over their 400-million-year evolution. There are, however, only few known fungal pathogens plants in this subphylum, primarily belonging the genera Eremothecium and Geotrichum . We compared genomes 12 plant-pathogenic strains 360 plant-associated identify features unique phytopathogens. Characterization oxylipin synthesis genes, compound believed be involved pathogenicity, did not reveal any differences gene presence within or between strains. A reverse-ecological approach, revealed that plant lack several metabolic enzymes assist other phytopathogens overcoming defenses. This includes L-rhamnose metabolism, formamidase nitrilase genes. result suggests are limited infecting ripening fruits as they without necessary degrade common phytohormones secondary metabolites produced by plants.

Language: Английский

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CRISPR-Cas-Mediated Optimization of Plant-Derived Natural Products of Biomedical Significance

Reference series in phytochemistry, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 893 - 932

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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Volatile Chemical Variation of Essential Oils and Their Correlation with Insects, Phenology, Ontogeny and Microclimate: Piper mollicomum Kunth, a Case of Study

Plants, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 11(24), P. 3535 - 3535

Published: Dec. 15, 2022

The aim of this study was to monitor the volatile chemical composition from leaves and reproductive organs Piper mollicomum Kunth (PM), in its reproduction period, as well register inflorescence visitors, microclimate phenological information. essential oils (EOs) obtained different fresh by hydrodistillation were identified quantified Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) GC coupled a Flame Ionization Detector (GC/FID), respectively. cercentage content some volatiles present organs, such limonene, 1,8-cineole, linalool eupatoriochromene, increased during maturation period inflorescences, decreased fruiting suggesting defense/attraction activities. Furtermore, biosynthetic dichotomy between 1,8-cineole (leaves) (reproductive organs) recorded. A high frequency bee visits registered weekly, correlations showed positive relationship variable terpenes. Microclimate has an impact on species’ cycles insect visiting behavior. All volatiles, insects, phenology allowed us important data about complex information network PM. These results are extremely relevant for understanding mechanisms chemical–ecological plant–insect interactions Piperaceae, basal angiosperm.

Language: Английский

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