As a valuable industrial compound, cichoric acid has antiviral, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties. It is effectively used in obesity prevention and for neuroprotective purposes. Here, we aimed to compare the effects of plant growth regulators and UV-B radiation on the induction of cichoric acid production under tissue culture conditions. For this purpose, Lactuca undulata, an herbaceous medicinal plant, was used as a new source of cichoric acid. Leaf explants were initially cultured on ½ MS (Murashige and Skoog) medium containing 0.1, 1 mg/L Kinetin (Kin) and 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). The callus was then exposed to different UV-B exposure times (0, 20, 40, and 60 min) and was harvested after 5, 10, and 15 days. The highest amounts of total phenol, cichoric acid, chlorogenic acid, and caffeic acid were achieved in callus samples that were treated with 20 and 40 minutes of UV-B radiation for 10 days. Cichoric acid content reached an amount of 6.15±0.292 mg/g DW after 20 min of radiation. Pearson’s correlation coefficient analysis (PCC) showed that Phenylalanine Ammonia Lyase (PAL) activity did not correlate with the production of caffeic acid derivatives. These results suggested that UVB irradiation can be used as an elicitor to induce the production of cichoric acid in Lactuca undulata callus cultures.

Rapid adaptive evolution has been advocated as a mechanism that promotes invasion. Demonstrating adaptive evolution in invasive species requires rigorous analysis of phenotypic shifts driven by selection. Here, we document selection‐driven evolution of Phyla canescens, an Argentine weed, in two invaded regions (Australia and France). Invasive populations possessed similar or higher diversity than native populations, and displayed mixed lineages from different sources, suggesting that genetic bottlenecks in both countries might have been alleviated by multiple introductions. Compared to native populations, Australian populations displayed more investment in sexual reproduction, whereas French populations possessed enhanced vegetative reproduction and growth. We partitioned evolutionary forces (selection vs. stochastic events) using two independent methods. Results of both analyses suggest that …