For over a century, documented scientific research and debate has revolved around the therapeutic properties of the medicinal plant Echinacea angustifolia. With overwhelming evidence demonstrating the biological activity of its root phytochemical constituents, the genetic improvement of E. angustifolia by selecting phytochemically rich genotypes has garnered both scientific and commercial interest. This dissertation presents results of multi-disciplinary experiments intended to help establish scientifically based guidelines for breeding efforts aimed at developing therapeutically superior varieties of E. angustifolia in British Columbia. Cultivated E. angustifolia populations from British Columbia and Washington were grown in a common greenhouse environment to identify possible genetically superior populations with respect to root concentrations of therapeutically relevant caffeic acid derivatives (CAD) and alkamides. However, none of the studied cultivated E. angustifolia populations showed significant genetic differences in terms of root phytochemical traits. In the second part, an investigation into correlations between root and shoot phytochemical concentrations in field- and greenhouse-grown plants revealed that concentrations of therapeutically relevant marker compounds in shoots were generally poor predictors of concentrations in roots. Some weak yet significant positive correlations were observed between root and shoot concentrations of CADs but were inconsistent between the two environments. Significant genotype by environment interactions were documented for the first time in phytochemical traits of E. angustifolia in a study of five genetically homogeneous populations grown in three different environments, including 1 greenhouse and 2 field sites in British Columbia. For the final objective, in vitro bioassays showed that environmentally and genotypically related differences in concentrations of CADs and alkamides in E. angustifolia ethanolic root extracts did not translate into significant differences in their anti-inflammatory potential as measured by pro-inflammatory interleukin (IL-6 and IL-8) secretion in human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells challenged with rhinovirus. When used in isolation however, pure tetraene alkamide showed a significant inhibitory effect on secretion, thereby further supporting the use of high alkamide production as a selection criterion for therapeutic E. angustifolia cultivar development. A series of recommendations derived from these findings are presented along with ideas for important future studies in the field of Echinacea research.

For over a century, documented scientific research and debate has revolved around the therapeutic properties of the medicinal plant Echinacea angustifolia. With overwhelming evidence demonstrating the biological activity of its root phytochemical constituents, the genetic improvement of E. angustifolia by selecting phytochemically rich genotypes has garnered both scientific and commercial interest. This dissertation presents results of multi-disciplinary experiments intended to help establish scientifically based guidelines for breeding efforts aimed at developing therapeutically superior varieties of E. angustifolia in British Columbia. Cultivated E. angustifolia populations from British Columbia and Washington were grown in a common greenhouse environment to identify possible genetically superior populations with respect to root concentrations of therapeutically relevant caffeic acid derivatives (CAD) and alkamides. However, none of the studied cultivated E. angustifolia populations showed significant genetic differences in terms of root phytochemical traits. In the second part, an investigation into correlations between root and shoot phytochemical concentrations in field- and greenhouse-grown plants revealed that concentrations of therapeutically relevant marker compounds in shoots were generally poor predictors of concentrations in roots. Some weak yet significant positive correlations were observed between root and shoot concentrations of CADs but were inconsistent between the two environments. Significant genotype by environment interactions were documented for the first time in phytochemical traits of E. angustifolia in a study of five genetically homogeneous populations grown in three different environments, including 1 greenhouse and 2 field sites in British Columbia. For the final objective, in vitro bioassays showed that environmentally and genotypically related differences in concentrations of CADs and alkamides in E. angustifolia ethanolic root extracts did not translate into significant differences in their anti-inflammatory potential as measured by pro-inflammatory interleukin (IL-6 and IL-8) secretion in human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells challenged with rhinovirus. When used in isolation however, pure tetraene alkamide showed a significant inhibitory effect on secretion, thereby further supporting the use of high alkamide production as a selection criterion for therapeutic E. angustifolia cultivar development. A series of recommendations derived from these findings are presented along with ideas for important future studies in the field of Echinacea research.

For over a century, documented scientific research and debate has revolved around the therapeutic properties of the medicinal plant Echinacea angustifolia. With overwhelming evidence demonstrating the biological activity of its root phytochemical constituents, the genetic improvement of E. angustifolia by selecting phytochemically rich genotypes has garnered both scientific and commercial interest. This dissertation presents results of multi-disciplinary experiments intended to help establish scientifically based guidelines for breeding efforts aimed at developing therapeutically superior varieties of E. angustifolia in British Columbia. Cultivated E. angustifolia populations from British Columbia and Washington were grown in a common greenhouse environment to identify possible genetically superior populations with respect to root concentrations of therapeutically relevant caffeic acid derivatives (CAD) and alkamides. However, none of the studied cultivated E. angustifolia populations showed significant genetic differences in terms of root phytochemical traits. In the second part, an investigation into correlations between root and shoot phytochemical concentrations in field- and greenhouse-grown plants revealed that concentrations of therapeutically relevant marker compounds in shoots were generally poor predictors of concentrations in roots. Some weak yet significant positive correlations were observed between root and shoot concentrations of CADs but were inconsistent between the two environments. Significant genotype by environment interactions were documented for the first time in phytochemical traits of E. angustifolia in a study of five genetically homogeneous populations grown in three different environments, including 1 greenhouse and 2 field sites in British Columbia. For the final objective, in vitro bioassays showed that environmentally and genotypically related differences in concentrations of CADs and alkamides in E. angustifolia ethanolic root extracts did not translate into significant differences in their anti-inflammatory potential as measured by pro-inflammatory interleukin (IL-6 and IL-8) secretion in human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells challenged with rhinovirus. When used in isolation however, pure tetraene alkamide showed a significant inhibitory effect on secretion, thereby further supporting the use of high alkamide production as a selection criterion for therapeutic E. angustifolia cultivar development. A series of recommendations derived from these findings are presented along with ideas for important future studies in the field of Echinacea research. / Land and Food Systems, Faculty of / Graduate

Orientador: João Antonio da Costa Andrade / Banca: Paulo Bahiense Ferraz Filho / Banca: Cristina Lacerda Soares Petrarolha Silva / Resumo: Técnicas como a redução do espaçamento entre linhas, permitindo um melhor arranjo das plantas no campo, juntamente com o aumento da densidade de semeadura, podem ser empregadas para aumentar a interceptação da radiação solar, visando o aumento do rendimento para cultivares de milho. O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar a variação genética do Composto Flintisa Anão de milho, verificando se o mesmo apresenta potencial para melhoramento em condições de espaçamento reduzido e alta densidade populacional, em duas épocas de semeadura (normal e safrinha). Foram avaliadas, 150 progênies na safrinha/2004 e 118 na época normal (safra 2004/05), no espaçamento de 0,45 m entre linhas e densidade de 80.000 plantas ha-1, para os caracteres florescimento feminino, altura de plantas, altura de espigas, tombamento, prolificidade, grãos ardidos, rendimento. Variância genética aditiva, herdabilidade, correlação entre os caracteres, resposta correlacionada de um caráter mediante a seleção em outro e ganho esperado com seleção foram estimados para cada época e conjuntamente, considerando as progênies comuns nos dois ambientes. As herdabilidades estimadas foram 84,91 e 61,27% para altura de plantas, 80,90 e 66,86% para altura de espigas, 39,59 e 48,60% para tombamento, 60,12 e 45,01% para prolificidade e 78,07 e 63,32% para rendimento, respectivamente para época normal e safrinha. Os ganhos esperados com seleção de intensidade 20% foram 23,78 e 19,2% para rendimento, 12,36 e 10,5% para prolificidade e 19,10 e 12,9% para altura de espigas, respectivamente para época normal e safrinha. Considerando a análise conjunta, as herdabilidades e ganhos foram intermediários entre as duas épocas. As magnitudes dos parâmetros genéticos permitiram verificar que existe suficiente variabilidade genética no Composto Flintisa Anão, indicando a possibilidade de ganhos substanciais...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Techniques as spacing row reduction, allowing a better plant arrangement in the field, together with the increase of the sowing density, can be used to increase the interception of the solar radiation, seeking the increase of the grain yield for some maize cultivars. The objective of this work was to quantify the genetic variation of the Dwarf Flintisa Composite of maize, to verify its potential for improvement in reduced spacing between rows and high density of plants in two seasons (summer planting and no crop season). There were evaluated 150 progenies in no crop season (March to July/2004) and 118 progenies in summer planting (November/2004 to March/2005), in 0.45 m spacing rows and density of 80000 plants ha-1, for the traits feminine flowering, plant height, ear height, fall index, prolificacy, burning grains and grain yield. Addictive genetic variance, heritability correlation between traits, correlated answer of a trait by selection in other and expected gain selection, were estimated for each season and jointly. The heritability estimates were 84,91 e 61,27% for plant height, 80,90 e 66,86% for year height, 60.12 e 45.01% for prolificacy e 78.07 e 63.32% for grain yield, respectively to summer planting and no crop season. The expected gain with selection of 20% intensity were 23.78 and 19.2% for grain yield, 12.36 and 10.5% for prolificacy and 19.10 and 12.9% for ear height, respectively for summer crop and no crop season. In the joint analyses the heritabilities and expected gains were intermediate between two crop season. The genetics parameters magnitude showed that enough genetic variability in Dwarf Flintisa Composite indicating the possibility of substantial gain with selection in conditions of high density and reducing spacing between rows in summer crop and no crop season, and too to obtain a unique adapted population for both...(Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:29:44Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2005-07-29Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T18:39:44Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 garcia_fq_me_ilha.pdf: 402195 bytes, checksum: 891e0de8ce83ee54cd2757950f8ec5f3 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Técnicas como a redução do espaçamento entre linhas, permitindo um melhor arranjo das plantas no campo, juntamente com o aumento da densidade de semeadura, podem ser empregadas para aumentar a interceptação da radiação solar, visando o aumento do rendimento para cultivares de milho. O objetivo deste trabalho foi quantificar a variação genética do Composto Flintisa Anão de milho, verificando se o mesmo apresenta potencial para melhoramento em condições de espaçamento reduzido e alta densidade populacional, em duas épocas de semeadura (normal e safrinha). Foram avaliadas, 150 progênies na safrinha/2004 e 118 na época normal (safra 2004/05), no espaçamento de 0,45 m entre linhas e densidade de 80.000 plantas ha-1, para os caracteres florescimento feminino, altura de plantas, altura de espigas, tombamento, prolificidade, grãos ardidos, rendimento. Variância genética aditiva, herdabilidade, correlação entre os caracteres, resposta correlacionada de um caráter mediante a seleção em outro e ganho esperado com seleção foram estimados para cada época e conjuntamente, considerando as progênies comuns nos dois ambientes. As herdabilidades estimadas foram 84,91 e 61,27% para altura de plantas, 80,90 e 66,86% para altura de espigas, 39,59 e 48,60% para tombamento, 60,12 e 45,01% para prolificidade e 78,07 e 63,32% para rendimento, respectivamente para época normal e safrinha. Os ganhos esperados com seleção de intensidade 20% foram 23,78 e 19,2% para rendimento, 12,36 e 10,5% para prolificidade e 19,10 e 12,9% para altura de espigas, respectivamente para época normal e safrinha. Considerando a análise conjunta, as herdabilidades e ganhos foram intermediários entre as duas épocas. As magnitudes dos parâmetros genéticos permitiram verificar que existe suficiente variabilidade genética no Composto Flintisa Anão, indicando a possibilidade de ganhos substanciais... / Techniques as spacing row reduction, allowing a better plant arrangement in the field, together with the increase of the sowing density, can be used to increase the interception of the solar radiation, seeking the increase of the grain yield for some maize cultivars. The objective of this work was to quantify the genetic variation of the Dwarf Flintisa Composite of maize, to verify its potential for improvement in reduced spacing between rows and high density of plants in two seasons (summer planting and no crop season). There were evaluated 150 progenies in no crop season (March to July/2004) and 118 progenies in summer planting (November/2004 to March/2005), in 0.45 m spacing rows and density of 80000 plants ha-1, for the traits feminine flowering, plant height, ear height, fall index, prolificacy, burning grains and grain yield. Addictive genetic variance, heritability correlation between traits, correlated answer of a trait by selection in other and expected gain selection, were estimated for each season and jointly. The heritability estimates were 84,91 e 61,27% for plant height, 80,90 e 66,86% for year height, 60.12 e 45.01% for prolificacy e 78.07 e 63.32% for grain yield, respectively to summer planting and no crop season. The expected gain with selection of 20% intensity were 23.78 and 19.2% for grain yield, 12.36 and 10.5% for prolificacy and 19.10 and 12.9% for ear height, respectively for summer crop and no crop season. In the joint analyses the heritabilities and expected gains were intermediate between two crop season. The genetics parameters magnitude showed that enough genetic variability in Dwarf Flintisa Composite indicating the possibility of substantial gain with selection in conditions of high density and reducing spacing between rows in summer crop and no crop season, and too to obtain a unique adapted population for both...(Complete abstract click electronic access below)