Sample selection, calibration and validation of models developed from a large dataset of near infrared spectra of tree leaves

Near infrared spectroscopy is widely used to rapidly and cost-effectively collect chemical information from plant samples. Large datasets with hundreds to thousands of spectra and reference values are increasingly becoming more common as researchers accumulate data over many years or across research groups. These datasets potentially contain great spectral and chemical variation and could produce a broadly-applicable calibration model. In this study, partial least squares regression was used to model relationships between near infrared spectra and the foliar concentration of two ecologically-important chemical traits, available nitrogen and total formylated phloroglucinol compounds in Eucalyptus leaves. The nested spatial structure within the extensive dataset of spectra and reference values from 80 species of Eucalyptus was taken into account during calibration development and model validation. Geographic variation amongst samples influenced how well available nitrogen could be predicted. Predictive error of the model was greatest when tested against samples from different Australian states and local government areas to the calibration set. In addition, the results showed that simply relying on spectral variation (assessed by Mahalanobis distance) may mislead researchers into how many reference values are needed. The prediction accuracy of the model of available nitrogen differed little whether 300 or up to 987 calibration samples were included, which indicated that an excessive number of reference values were obtained. Lastly, a suitable multi-species calibration for formylated phloroglucinol compounds was produced and the difficulties associated with predicting complex chemical traits were discussed. Directing effort towards broadly applicable models will encourage sharing of calibration models across projects and research groups and facilitate the integration of near infrared spectroscopy in many research fields.

An Efficient Two-Step Synthesis of Jensenone Isolated from Eucalyptus jensenii. Synthesis of Analogues and Evaluation as Antioxidants

A phloroglucinol derivative, jensenone (1) isolated from leaves of Eucalyptus jensenii has been synthesized for the first time through a short and efficient two-step procedure starting from commercially available phloroglucinol. The methodology provides a simplified route to introduce diformyl moiety for synthesis of biologically active formylated phloroglucinol compounds such as antimalarial robustadials, cancer chemopreventive euglobals, and antifouling sideroxylonals. Several analogues of jensenone have also been synthesized and evaluated for antioxidant capacity.

Wound wood formation in Eucalyptus globulus and Eucalyptus nitens: anatomy and chemistry

The wound-associated wood that developed 17 months following artificial xylem injury in Eucalyptus globulus (Labill) and Eucalyptus nitens (Maiden) was examined anatomically and chemically. This new tissue located immediately adjacent to the wound site and termed "wound wood" was highly variable consisting of callus, altered wood of increased parenchyma density, and dark extractives, visible to the naked eye. Subsequent chemical analysis of crude wound wood extracts by HPLC coupled to negative ion electrospray mass spectrometry revealed the presence of a diverse range of polyphenolic compounds including hydrolysable tannins, proanthocyanidins, flavanone glycosides, and formylated phloroglucinol compounds. A number of polyphenols were unequivocally identified including engelitin, pedunculagin, and tellimagrandin I. Other compounds present in wound wood include various hydroxystilbene glycosides and volatile terpenes. The importance of the diverse range of secondary metabolites detected in wound wood is discussed in relation to tree wound repair responses.

The effect of inactivating tannins on the intake of Eucalyptus foliage by a specialist Eucalyptus folivore (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) and a generalist herbivore (Trichosurus vulpecula)

The paucity of evidence on eucalypt browsing by common brushtail and common ringtail possums suggests that ringtails preferentially eat foliage from trees within the subgenus Monocalyptus. In contrast, brushtails eat less eucalypt foliage than do ringtails and prefer trees from the subgenus Symphyomyrtus. Trees from these subgenera differ in their defensive chemicals. Both contain tannins but it appears that only the symphyomyrts synthesise formylated phloroglucinol compounds (FPCs). We fed possums foliage from several individual Eucalyptus rossii and E. consideniana, both monocalypts, to avoid the confounding factor of FPCs, and examined the effects of blocking tannins by dipping foliage in polyethylene glycol (PEG). Ringtails and brushtails differed in their abilities to eat foliage from these eucalypts. The ringtails ate much more than did the brushtails and showed a small (about 10%) but significant increase in feeding in response to PEG. The brushtails were reluctant to eat foliage from either eucalypt species but doubled their intake when leaves were coated with PEG. Even so, they still did not eat enough to meet maintenance requirements for energy and nitrogen. Neither ringtails nor brushtails preferred foliage from any individual E. rossii tree, suggesting that all trees were equally defended. However, brushtails preferred foliage from some E. consideniana to others. Monocalypt tannins are clearly important barriers to feeding in brushtail possums, but further research with higher doses of PEG will confirm whether they are the only deterrent chemicals in monocalypt foliage.