Browsing by Author "Costa, M."
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Results Per Page
Sort Options
- In vitro mass clonal propagation of Dittrichia viscosa subsp revoluta and analysis of its secondary metabolitesPublication . Costa, M.; Nogueira, J. M. F.; Miguel, Maria Graça; Romano, AnabelaIn vitro clonal propagation of native Portuguese Dittrichia viscosa subsp. revoluta was obtained from mature field-grown plants. High numbers of shoots (8-12 shoots per culture) were obtained for all clones and benzyladenine (BA) concentrations (0.44, 0.89 and 1.33 muM) tested. All clones developed numerous roots after auxin treatment, with the root length strongly dependent on auxin type (IAA, IBA, NAA). All plantlets were successfully acclimatized to ex vitro conditions, exhibiting normal development. The essential oils of D. viscosa were analysed by capillary GC and GC-MS using three types of plant material from the same clone: field-grown plant (FP), in vitro shoot-cultures (InV) and micropropagated plants (MP). The 24 identified components represented 39.9, 42.0 and 49.5% of the total oils in FP, InV and MP samples, respectively. The major constituents of the essential oils were 1,8-cineole (11.0, 5.1 and 5.1%), delta-cadinene (5.0,7.0 and 6.6%); E-nerolidol (4.4,9.7 and 11.9%); T-cadinol (7.1,14.4 and 17.4%) and a-cadinol (6.7, 8.4 and 9.4%), for FP, InV and MP, respectively. Efficient separation of the flavonoids was achieved by RP-HPLC. Quercetin was the major component whose concentrations ranged from 0.3 mg per 100 mg FW, in FP, to 48.5 mg per 100 mg FW, in InV samples.
- The effects of the use of organic solid wastes on the growth of citrus treesPublication . Costa, M.; Beltrão, José; De Brito, J. C.; Neves, Alcinda; Correia, Maribela Pestana; Guerrero, CarlosTwo types of organic solid wastes were selected to be applied in a citrus orchard: the sewage sludge (the most common on the settlements) and the manure (the most common on the agricultural fields). The sewage sludge is a residue originated from the wastewater treatment - the solid phase. Its application as an organic fertilizer may represent an alternative to the pollution effects in nature. In an orchard of orange-trees (Citrus sinensis [L.] Osbeck), the application of sludge was compared with the application of manure and with the control in order to observe the growth response of the trees. Biometric methods where used - number of leaves per tree, diameter of the trunk, leaf area, specific leaf areas and leaf chlorophyll content. In general, the citrus plants response to the application of sewage sludge and manure was positive for the plant growth, compared to the control. The application of the manure, and especially the sewage sludge (once this fertilizer / soil amendment is available in larger amounts) may be a profitable alternative application to the use of mineral fertilizers and to other soil amendments. Moreover, as the possible destinations of sewage sludge (sea, deposition in land fields, incineration) provoke environmental problems, its agricultural reuse is essential to avoid those problems, when correctly applied in relation to trace elements and to pathogenic parameters. The reuse of this solid waste may be a clean and a safe technique to preserve the environment contamination.