Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry Analysis of Natural Products in Gypsophila paniculata

Gypsophila paniculata is an ornamental crop with medicinal value. To date, limited information has been reported about the natural products in G. paniculata to explain its medicinal function. The current study reports the natural products found in G. paniculata stem for the first time. Thirty-three compounds were isolated from the extract of G. paniculata stem and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, 10 of which have contents >2%. These were 2-O-methyl-D-mannopyranose (37.4706%), glycerol (12.5669%), two tetratetracontane isomer (7.6523 + 3.5145%), tetrahygro-4-pyranol (5.3254%), 1,6-anhydro-beta-d-glucopyranos (4.7507%), palmitic acid (4.1848%), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxystyrene (3.7439%), methyl-octadeca-9,12-dienoate (2.7490%), and 2-deoxy-D-galactose (2.6193%). Another bioactive compound, condrillasterol, was identified with 1.3384% content. We also reported that G. paniculata possesses antioxidant activity possibly associated with the presence of a phenolic chemical 4-hydroxy-3-methoxystyrene. Our data collectively demonstrate that G. paniculata contains some bioactive compounds with high contents and antioxidants, consistent with its role as a medicinal herb.

Genetic Structure of Invasive Baby’s Breath (Gypsophila paniculata L.) Populations in a Michigan Dune System

Coastal sand dunes are dynamic ecosystems with elevated levels of disturbance and are highly susceptible to plant invasions. One invasive plant that is of concern to the Great Lakes system is Gypsophila paniculata L. (perennial baby’s breath). The presence of G. paniculata negatively impacts native species and has the potential to alter ecosystem dynamics. Our research goals were to (1) estimate the genetic structure of invasive G. paniculata along the Michigan dune system and (2) identify landscape features that influence gene flow in this area. We analyzed 12 populations at 14 nuclear and two chloroplast microsatellite loci. We found strong genetic structure among populations (global FST = 0.228), and pairwise comparisons among all populations yielded significant FST values. Results from clustering analysis via STRUCTURE and discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) suggest two main genetic clusters that are separated by the Leelanau Peninsula, and this is supported by the distribution of chloroplast haplotypes. Land cover and topography better explained pairwise genetic distances than geographic distance alone, suggesting that these factors influence the genetic distribution of populations within the dunes system. Together, these data aid in our understanding of how invasive populations move through the dune landscape, providing valuable information for managing the spread of this species.

Assessment of invasive Gypsophila paniculata control methods in the northwest Michigan dunes

Baby’s breath (Gypsophila paniculata L.) is an invasive species in Michigan’s northern lower peninsula and is a problem in much of northern North America. It is of particular concern in coastal dune habitats of northwest Michigan, because the areas where it is most dense are also populated by several endemic and threatened species. Current removal methods include manual removal with a spade and directed spray-to-wet foliar application of glyphosate to individual plants using backpack sprayers. We assessed these methods by measuring G. paniculata density and presence–absence frequency before and after treatment using a point-intercept grid, establishing how type and timing of treatment within the growing season influences treatment efficacy and determining the proportion of plants that resprout after treatment. Our results show a consistent reduction in G. paniculata density after treatment with herbicide or manual removal (P < 0.001) but minimal impact on presence–absence frequency. These results indicate a need for quantitative data in the assessment of management efficacy to show a clearer picture of density reduction when extirpation is no longer a viable outcome of management. Through the assessment of treatment timing of manual removal and glyphosate treatments over time, we found no evidence that either treatment type was effective at reducing density when applied before plants flowered, but there was evidence that both treatments were effective when applied later in the growing season when plants were flowering. Resprouting of marked plants occurred in 14% of manually removed plants and 2% of herbicide-treated plants. Our results suggest that managers should treat G. paniculata infestations for consecutive years to remove regrowth and focus treatment during flowering for best control.

ALTERNATIVAS ORGÁNICAS PARA LA DESINFECCIÓN DE SUELOS EN EL CULTIVO DE Gypsophila paniculata

Las alternativas orgánicas para desinfección de suelos, en los cultivos de flores de verano, posee gran importancia para el sector floricultor ecuatoriano, no solo por el costo de los métodos químicos convencionales sino por su impacto en la salud humana y el medio ambiente. El presente estudio consistió en comparar los siguientes tratamientos de desinfección en el cultivo de Gypsophila paniculata en: dos paquetes comerciales orgánicos, a base de microorganismos biocontroladores y biopreparados, de las empresas Bioseb (T1) y Agroinnovación (T2); tres tratamientos basados en la técnica de Biosolarización, con diferentes dosis de material orgánico; 2 kg·m-2 de material vegetal + 0.5 kg·m-2 de gallinaza (T3), 4 kg·m-2 de material vegetal + 2 kg·m-2 de gallinaza (T4), 5kg·m-2 de gallinaza (T5) y un testigo químico Dazomet 98% (T0). Mediante la evaluación de las variables productivas, se determina como mejor tratamiento: de Biosolarización (T3) y de los paquetes orgánicos comerciales (T1).