Search Results (11)

Protein malnutrition is present in developing countries but also in developed ones due to actual eating habits involving insufficient protein intake. In addition to this, it is estimated by the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations that the world’s population will increase to 9.1 billion people in less than 30 years. This poses a significant challenge in terms of nourishing the population. Different strategies have been proposed to address this challenge, including exploring novel protein sources such as plants. For instance, Prosopis alba pods have an 85.5% protein content. Other examples are microorganisms, such as Halobacillus adaensis which produces 571 U/mL of protease, and insects such as those belonging to the Orthoptera order, like grasshoppers, which have a protein content of 65.96%. These sources have been found in dry lands and are being explored to address this challenge. Full article

Prosopis alba and Prosopis chilensis, popularly called carob trees in the South American Chaco, are arboreal species. Carob fruits are an ancestral food for human consumption, mainly in the form of flour. In recent years, the study of carob trees in Paraguay has been based on the development of silvo-pastoral systems for livestock or as animal feed; very little is known about the compositional characteristics of the different varieties of carob that are part of the food systems, and that are used for the production of flours. Samples of flour from three autochthonous varieties of carob trees from the Central Chaco are evaluated for human consumption as a potential food ingredient in processed foods. They are evaluated for nutritional contribution, antioxidant potential and the preliminary evaluation of safety at the microbiological level. Official AOAC methods were used. The carob flour samples presented low humidity (less than 6%) and water activity (less than 0.45). The flours of the three species analyzed presented significant differences in their content of carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, dietary fiber and, consequently, in their caloric value, with a high content of polyphenols and antioxidant potential detected by ABTS. Presence of mesophilic aerobes, total coliforms and yeasts in the samples was observed. These results demonstrate the great food potential of carob flour from the Paraguayan Chaco, and indicate the need to address the food safety aspects of this type of wild-harvested food, to enhance their added value as ingredients for foodstuffs in the diet of regional populations. Full article

As a consequence of the megadrought in Central Chile, it is expected that most of the distribution of woody species will be narrowed in the northern limits because of restrictions imposed by soil matric potential on seed germination. In this study, we analyzed the effect of the soil matric potential on seed germination and initial recruitment of the sclerophyllous species Prosopis chilensis, Quillaja saponaria and Cryptocarya alba from contrasting geographic origins (i.e., seed sources). We evaluated the germination capacity (%) under different matric potentials (i.e., 0, −6, −33, −750 and −1250 kPa) for 100 days. Soil matric potential of −1250 kPa negatively affected the germination capacity of the three species. P. chilensis seeds stopped germinating under soil matric potential close to −1200 kPa, whereas in Q. saponaria and C. alba the complete inhibition of germination was under −1000 kPa. Seed sources also differed in their germination capacity by soil matric potential: northern seed sources of P. chilensis germinated with the lowest soil matric potential. There was no clear trend in Q. saponaria and C. alba, but in general, southern seed sources performed better than the northern ones. The results showed that Ѱ_m in the soil played an important role in the germinative capacity against different seed source origins, but not in soils with a north–south gradient. Full article

This study aimed to evaluate the synergy between arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and foliar biostimulant applications (phytoextracts) on an important Argentinian forest native species (Prosopis alba) during the nursery stage. We tested biochemical parameters (MDA, malondialdehyde, an oxidative stress biomarker, and photosynthetic pigments) on P. alba seedlings sprayed with three different phytoextracts and inoculated with mycorrhizal strains of different local origins. Considering that the statistical model was not significant at the preliminary level, we did not observe synergism between the different forms of bioinsumes evaluated by analysing biochemical characteristics. However, regardless of AMF inoculation, plants with foliar applications of Larrea divaricata at 3% w/v showed a lower accumulation of the oxidative stress biomarker, MDA and a lower total carotenoid content (p > 0.1). Although there were no significant differences, trends indicate positive relationships between neck diameter and mycorrhizal response in plants treated with M1 with foliar applications of Larrea divaricata at 3% w/v. However, height does not consistently respond to mycorrhizae interacting with biostimulants. Consequently, deeper analysis is needed to understand the effect of the interaction between AMF with biostimulants for improving the plant’s physiological status. Deepening research in this regard will result in significant benefits for restoration activities. Full article

This study assessed how the interactions between chemical fertilization levels and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus species (AMF) affect the seedling’s morphology and biochemical traits in Prosopis alba. Subsequently, the seedlings were inoculated or not with a mixture of native AMF from two origins of contrasting sites in the Chaco Region. Preliminarily, we observed a positive mycorrhizal response to the AMF in interaction with chemical fertilization (at 60% fertilizer concentration). These results were reflected mainly over some morphological parameters than over biochemical parameters. The lack of a clear answer is probably since the benefits of the symbiosis on the host plant could be observed in the establishment phase in the field. Full article

The present study describes how flour and phenolic enriched extracts (PEE) are obtained from seed (food waste) of 10 different P. alba (algarrobo blanco) clones and their characterization to be used as non-conventional sources of potential functional ingredients. Seed flour and PEE obtained from Argentinian P. alba cultivars were chemically characterized. The antioxidant capacity was also determined. The results showed variability in macronutrient composition of seed flour obtained from different clones. Among them, seed flour obtained from P4, P5, P6, P10, P12, and P13 clones showed a higher protein and fiber content than the other clones. On the other hand, PEE obtained from P6, P7, and P10 clones showed the highest content of phenolic component (7.32–8.58 mg GAE/g flour). The extracts obtained from them also showed high antioxidant activity (scavenging activity on ABTS^•+, HO^•, and H₂O₂). C-glycosyl flavones, including vicenin II, isoschaftoside, schaftoside, vitexin, and isovitexin were the major components extracted in all clones. These compounds have remarkable properties for disease prevention linked to oxidative stress. Therefore, the P. alba seed could be considered as functional food waste with a great potential to be used as a novel renewable and sustainable material for the production of bioactive food formulations. Full article

The mimosoid legumes are a clade of ~40 genera in the Caesalpinioideae subfamily of the Fabaceae that grow in tropical and subtropical regions. Unlike the better studied Papilionoideae, there are few genomic resources within this legume group. The tree Prosopis cineraria is native to the Near East and Indian subcontinent, where it thrives in very hot desert environments. To develop a tool to better understand desert plant adaptation mechanisms, we sequenced the P. cineraria genome to near-chromosomal assembly, with a total sequence length of ~691 Mb. We predicted 77,579 gene models (76,554 CDS, 361 rRNAs and 664 tRNAs) from the assembled genome, among them 55,325 (~72%) protein-coding genes that were functionally annotated. This genome was found to consist of over 58% repeat sequences, primarily long terminal repeats (LTR-)-retrotransposons. We find an expansion of terpenoid metabolism genes in P. cineraria and its relative Prosopis alba, but not in other legumes. We also observed an amplification of NBS-LRR disease-resistance genes correlated with LTR-associated retrotransposition, and identified 410 retrogenes with an active burst of chimeric retrogene creation that approximately occurred at the same time of divergence of P. cineraria from a common lineage with P. alba~23 Mya. These retrogenes include many biotic defense responses and abiotic stress stimulus responses, as well as the early Nodulin 93 gene. Nodulin 93 gene amplification is consistent with an adaptive response of the species to the low nitrogen in arid desert soil. Consistent with these results, our differentially expressed genes show a tissue specific expression of isoprenoid pathways in shoots, but not in roots, as well as important genes involved in abiotic salt stress in both tissues. Overall, the genome sequence of P. cineraria enriches our understanding of the genomic mechanisms of its disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerance. Thus, it is a very important step in crop and legume improvement. Full article

The aim of this work was to explore the potential of four phytoextracts derived from species with recognized antioxidant activity and/or rich in polysaccharides as plant biostimulants of seedlings of Prosopis alba. Malondialdehyde (MDA), an oxidative stress biomarker, was measured at 21 days after the acclimation phase beginning as preliminary results showed a significant accumulation of MDA in rustified seedlings compared with control seedlings at this time. As main results, rustified seedlings sprayed with I. paraguariensis and L. divaricata extracts showed lower MDA concentration than rustified seedlings without any phytoextract application. Both extracts were characterized by their antioxidant activity. These results suggest that natural extracts of I. paraguariensis and L. divaricata could be considered plant biostimulants, reducing oxidative stress biomarkers in P. alba. Full article

Understanding of ecosystem structure and functioning requires detailed knowledge about plant–animal interactions, especially when keystone species are involved. The recent consideration of parrots as legitimate seed dispersers has widened the range of mechanisms influencing the life cycle of many plant species. We examined the interactions between the burrowing parrot Cyanoliseus patagonus and two dominant algarrobo trees (Prosopis alba and Prosopis nigra) in the Monte Desert, Argentina. We recorded the abundance and foraging behaviour of parrots; quantified the handling, consumption, wasting, and dispersal of ripe and unripe pods; and tested the viability of soft and hard ripe seeds wasted and transported by parrots. We found a high abundance of burrowing parrots. They predated on soft seeds from unripe pods while exclusively feeding upon pulp wrapping hard seeds from ripe pods. Frequent pod wasting beneath the plant or transport at a distance invariably implied the dispersal of multiple seeds in each event. Moreover, soft seeds retained viability after desiccation outside the mother plant, suggesting effective seed dispersal after partial pod predation due to a predator satiation effect. In about half of the foraging flocks, at least one parrot departed in flight with pods in its beak, with 10–34% of the flock components moving pods at distances averaging 238 m (P. alba) and 418 m (P. nigra). A snapshot sampling of faeces from livestock and wild mammals suggested a low frequency of seed dispersal by endozoochory and secondary dispersal by ants and dung beetles. The nomadic movements and long flights of burrowing parrots between breeding and foraging sites can lead to the dispersal of huge amounts of seeds across large areas that are sequentially exploited. Further research should evaluate the role of the burrowing parrot as a functionally unique species in the structure of the Monte Desert woods and the genetic structure of algarrobo species. Full article

Members of the Prosopis genus are native to America, Africa and Asia, and have long been used in traditional medicine. The Prosopis species most commonly used for medicinal purposes are P. africana, P. alba, P. cineraria, P. farcta, P. glandulosa, P. juliflora, P. nigra, P. ruscifolia and P. spicigera, which are highly effective in asthma, birth/postpartum pains, callouses, conjunctivitis, diabetes, diarrhea, expectorant, fever, flu, lactation, liver infection, malaria, otitis, pains, pediculosis, rheumatism, scabies, skin inflammations, spasm, stomach ache, bladder and pancreas stone removal. Flour, syrup, and beverages from Prosopis pods have also been potentially used for foods and food supplement formulation in many regions of the world. In addition, various in vitro and in vivo studies have revealed interesting antiplasmodial, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, anticancer, antidiabetic and wound healing effects. The phytochemical composition of Prosopis plants, namely their content of C-glycosyl flavones (such as schaftoside, isoschaftoside, vicenin II, vitexin and isovitexin) has been increasingly correlated with the observed biological effects. Thus, given the literature reports, Prosopis plants have positive impact on the human diet and general health. In this sense, the present review provides an in-depth overview of the literature data regarding Prosopis plants’ chemical composition, pharmacological and food applications, covering from pre-clinical data to upcoming clinical studies. Full article

Prosopis alba seedlings, that grew at the 45 dS m⁻¹ salinity level in a previous study of growth and survival of Argentine and Peruvian Prosopis, were propagated by rooting cuttings and established in a seed orchard/long term evaluation trial on soils with low salinity (EC 5.1–7.5 dS m⁻¹) but high pH (8.9 to 10.2). A pH gradient occurred in the field with values ranging from pH 9.4 in block 1 to pH 10.3 in block 5. After five years growth, almost all of the clones had a mean height greater than 4 m and one clone was more than 5 m. Ten of the 21 tested clones had significantly greater biomass growth than the three seed propagated check varieties. The broad-sense (i.e., clone mean) heritability was estimated to be 0.45 for biomass, 0.53 for diameter and 0.59 for height indicating that strong genetic gains should be possible by selecting and vegetatively propagating the best genotypes. In the block with the highest pH values, two clones that appear to be P. alba × P. ruscifolia hybrids (i.e., P. vinallilo) had the greatest biomass. Correlations between growth during the last two months in the high salinity hydroponic greenhouse selection system and growth in the field were significant (R² = 0.262) and positive, although the relationship was negative for putative P. vinallilo clones (R² = 0.938). The several fold increase in biomass of some of the clones over the three check varieties, suggests that the greenhouse screen was successful in identifying superior salt tolerant clones. Apparently whether the greenhouse seedlings had lesser (~1 cm) to greater (~3 cm) height growth was not as important as just having a healthy live apical meristem. The observed salt tolerance of the putative P. vinalillo clones may prove useful as rootstocks for recently described high pod producing P. alba clones. Full article