Seed-specific expression in Arabidopsis thaliana of oleate hydroxylase enzymes from castor bean and Lesquerella fendleri resulted in the accumulation of hydroxy fatty acids in the seed oil. By using various Arabidopsis mutant lines it was shown that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) n-3 desaturase (FAD3) and the FAE1 condensing enzyme are involved in the synthesis of polyunsaturated and very-long-...

Accidental and intended Ricinus communis intoxications in humans and animals have been known for centuries but the causative agent remained elusive until 1888 when Stillmark attributed the toxicity to the lectin ricin. Ricinus communis is grown worldwide on an industrial scale for the production of castor oil. As by-product in castor oil production ricin is mass produced above 1 million tons pe...

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are approximately 21 nt non-coding RNAs which regulate post-transcriptional gene expression. miRNAs are key regulators of nearly all essential biological processes. Aiming at understanding miRNA's functions in Euphorbiaceae, a large flowering plant family, we performed a genome-scale systematic study of miRNAs in Euphorbiaceae, by combining computational prediction and experi...

The effects of plant species (castor bean (Ricinus communis L.) versus sunflower (Helianthus annus L.)) and irrigation regime (freshwater versus secondary treated municipal wastewater) on soil properties and on seed and biodiesel yield were studied in a three year pot trial. Plant species were irrigated at rates according to their water requirements with either freshwater or wastewater effluent...

Chemical control of plant-parasitic nematodes, essentially, involves the use of synthetic nematicides. However, apart from its very high cost, increased concern for the environment has necessitated a reduction in the amount of nematicide used for nematode control. Additionally, there has been an increase in the intensity of search for other efficient, ecologically sound and safe control methods...

In a 1987 field study juveniles of Meloidogyne arenaria assayed at the time of peanut harvest were almost undetectable in plots planted with American jointvetch (Aeschynomene americana), castor bean (Ricinus communis), partridge pea (Cassia fasiculata), sesame (Sesamum indicum), and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum), whereas plots with peanut (Arachis hypogaea) averaged 120 juveniles/100 cm(3) soil. ...

Diacylglycerol acyltransferase (EC 2.3.1.20) activity was detected in the microsomal fractions of maturing maize scutellum, soybean cotyledon, peanut cotyledon, and castor bean endosperm. The activity detected was high enough to account for the in vivo rate of triacylglycerol synthesis. The activity of the maize enzyme was characterized using diolein micelles prepared by sonication in Tween 20 ...