Plants

14 pages, 2780 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Effects of Elevated Tropospheric Ozone on Carbon Fixation and Stable Isotopic Signatures of Durum Wheat Cultivars with Different Biomass and Yield Stability

by Limin Ma, Chong Chen, Lorenzo Cotrozzi, Chengcheng Bu, Jiahong Luo, Guodong Yao, Guangyao Chen, Weiwei Zhang, Cristina Nali and Giacomo Lorenzini

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3185; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223185 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 979

Abstract

Tropospheric ozone (O₃) enrichment caused by human activities can reduce important crop yields with huge economic loss and affect the global carbon cycle and climate change in the coming decades. In this study, two Italian cultivars of durum wheat (Claudio and [...] Read more.

Tropospheric ozone (O₃) enrichment caused by human activities can reduce important crop yields with huge economic loss and affect the global carbon cycle and climate change in the coming decades. In this study, two Italian cultivars of durum wheat (Claudio and Mongibello) were exposed to O₃ (80 ppb, 5 h day⁻¹ for 70 consecutive days), with the aim to investigate the changes in yield and biomass, ecophysiological traits, and stable carbon and nitrogen isotope values in plants, and to compare the stable isotope responses under environmental stressors. Both cultivars showed a relative O₃ tolerance in terms of photosynthetic performance, but in cultivar Mongibello, O₃ was detrimental to the grain yield and plant biomass. The δ¹³C values in the leaves of plants identified that the impact of O₃ on CO₂ fixation by RuBisCO was dominant. The δ¹⁵N value showed significant differences between treatments in both cultivars at seven days from the beginning of the exposure, which could be considered an early indicator of ozone pollution. Under increasingly frequent extreme climates globally, the relationships among stable isotope data, ecophysiological traits, and agronomic parameters could help breed future cultivars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Cereal Science and Cereal Quality)

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19 pages, 11276 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Fitness and Rhizobacteria of F2, F3 Hybrids of Herbicide-Tolerant Transgenic Soybean and Wild Soybean

by Rong Liang, Xueqin Ji, Zewen Sheng, Jinyue Liu, Sheng Qiang and Xiaoling Song

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3184; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223184 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1276

Abstract

The introduction of herbicide-tolerant (HT) transgenic soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) into farming systems raises great concern that transgenes may flow to endemic wild soybeans (Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc.) via pollen, which may increase the ecological risks by increasing the [...] Read more.

The introduction of herbicide-tolerant (HT) transgenic soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.) into farming systems raises great concern that transgenes may flow to endemic wild soybeans (Glycine soja Sieb. et Zucc.) via pollen, which may increase the ecological risks by increasing the fitness of hybrids under certain conditions and threaten the genetic diversity of wild soybean populations. In order to demonstrate the potential risk of gene flow from the HT soybean to the wild soybean, the fitness of F2 and F3 hybrids obtained from two wild soybean populations (HLJHRB-1, JSCZ) collected from China and the HT soybean was measured under farmland and wasteland soil conditions, as well as with or without weed competition. Compared with their wild progenitors, the F2 and F3 hybrids of HLJHRB-1 displayed a higher emergence rate, higher aboveground dry biomass, more pods and filled-seed plants, as well as better composite fitness under four planting conditions. The F2 and F3 hybrids of JSCZ also displayed a higher emergence rate, higher aboveground dry biomass, more pods, and more filled seeds per plant under mixed planting, whereas these characteristics were lower under pure planting conditions in wasteland and farmland soil. Therefore, the composite fitness of JSCZ hybrids was higher or lower depending on the planting conditions. Furthermore, the soil microbial communities of the F3 of HLJHRB-1, JSCZ, and the wild soybean were investigated with 16S rDNA sequencing, which showed that low alpha diversity of rhizobacteria was relative to high fitness, and Rhizobium played an important role in promoting F3 plant growth. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Science Research in Nanjing Agricultural University: Commemorating the University’s 120th Anniversary)

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21 pages, 1083 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Potassium Application Enhanced Plant Growth, Mineral Composition, Proximate and Phytochemical Content in Trachyandra divaricata Kunth (Sandkool)

by Bakholise Bulawa, Avela Sogoni, Muhali Olaide Jimoh and Charles Petrus Laubscher

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3183; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223183 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2300

Abstract

Wild leafy vegetables are commonly included in the diet of people in rural homesteads. Among various wild edible vegetables in South Africa, Trachyandra divaricata (Sandkool) is one of the most abundant but underutilized due to the dearth of literature on its cultivation and [...] Read more.

Wild leafy vegetables are commonly included in the diet of people in rural homesteads. Among various wild edible vegetables in South Africa, Trachyandra divaricata (Sandkool) is one of the most abundant but underutilized due to the dearth of literature on its cultivation and nutritional value. In the present study, the effect of potassium application and pruning on growth dynamics, mineral composition, and proximate and phytochemical content in T. divaricata were evaluated. Treatments consisted of three potassium concentrations (0.0072, 0.0144, and 0.0216 M) supplemented in the form of potassium sulphate (K₂SO₄) with four pruning levels (unpruned, 5, 10, and 15 cm) applied in each treatment. The potassium doses were added to the nutrient solution, while the control treatment was sustained and irrigated with nutrient solution only. The results revealed a significant increase in flower bud yield, height, total dry and wet weight of shoots and roots, as well as ash and neutral detergent fibre in plants irrigated with 0.0072 M of K₂SO₄ without pruning. Conversely, chlorophyll content and Ca were comparable among treatments, while the highest yield of Na, P, N, and Zn was recorded in treatment 100 mL of K₂SO₄ with 10 cm pruning. Likewise, the highest antioxidant value (Polyphenols, Flavonol and DPPH) was obtained from plants irrigated with 0.0072 M of K₂SO₄ with 10 cm pruning. Based on these findings, T. divaricata is a promising leafy vegetable as a minimum dose (0.0072 M) of K with moderate pruning optimised its productivity in terms of growth, biomass parameters, nutritional content, and antioxidant potential. Due to its rich nutritional value, the plant should be domesticated and studied further for its potential nutraceutical benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical and Nutritional Analyses of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (MAP))

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14 pages, 1420 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Endophytic Beauveria bassiana Induces Oxidative Stress and Enhances the Growth of Fusarium oxysporum-Infected Tomato Plants

by Felix Nchu, Neo Macuphe, Ilyaas Rhoda, Lee-Ann Niekerk, Gerhard Basson, Marshall Keyster and Ninon G. E. R. Etsassala

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3182; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223182 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1872

Abstract

Studying the mechanisms through which endophytic fungi confer protection to host plants against parasites will contribute toward elucidating the endophytic fungi–plant–pathogen relationship. In this study, we evaluated the effects of endophytic Beauveria bassiana on the antioxidant activity, oxidative stress, and growth of tomatoes [...] Read more.

Studying the mechanisms through which endophytic fungi confer protection to host plants against parasites will contribute toward elucidating the endophytic fungi–plant–pathogen relationship. In this study, we evaluated the effects of endophytic Beauveria bassiana on the antioxidant activity, oxidative stress, and growth of tomatoes infected with the fusarium wilt pathogen, Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL). Tomato seedlings were inoculated with B. bassiana conidia and then contaminated with FOL experimentally. Four treatments (Control [T1], FOL only [T2], B. bassiana only [T3], and B. bassiana and FOL [T4]) were assessed. The plants from the B. bassiana and FOL treatment (T4) were significantly taller (DF = 3, 56; p < 0.001) and produced more leaves and aerial part biomass than those treated with only FOL (T2). Remarkably, plants in the two treatments with FOL (T2 and T4) had the lowest antioxidant activities; meanwhile, plants from the FOL treatment (T2) had the lowest ROS (superoxide and hydroxyl radicals) contents. Broadly, strong positive correlations between ROS and all the plant growth parameters were recorded in this study. While the current results revealed that the endophytic entomopathogen B. bassiana enhanced antioxidant capacity in plants, it did not improve the antioxidant capacity of F. oxysporum-infected plants. It is possible that the pathogenic FOL employed a hiding strategy to evade the host immune response and the antagonistic actions of endophytic B. bassiana. In conclusion, B. bassiana inoculum enhanced the growth of tomatoes infected with FOL, induced higher oxidative stress in both F. oxysporum-infected and -uninfected tomatoes, and improved antioxidant activities in plants inoculated with B. bassiana only. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Symbiosis of Plants with Mycorrhizal and Endophytic Fungi)

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17 pages, 2245 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Jewel Orchid’s Biology and Physiological Response to Aquaponic Water as a Potential Fertilizer

by Ganka Chaneva, Alexander Tomov, Momchil Paunov, Viktoria Hristova, Valentina Ganeva, Nikolina Mihaylova, Svetoslav Anev, Nikolay Krumov, Zhenya Yordanova, Boris Tsenov, Valya Vassileva, Georgi Bonchev and Miroslava Zhiponova

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3181; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223181 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1962

Abstract

Ludisia discolor is commonly known as a jewel orchid due to its variegated leaves. Easy maintenance of the orchid allows it to be used as a test system for various fertilizers and nutrient sources, including aquaponic water (AW). First, we applied DNA barcoding [...] Read more.

Ludisia discolor is commonly known as a jewel orchid due to its variegated leaves. Easy maintenance of the orchid allows it to be used as a test system for various fertilizers and nutrient sources, including aquaponic water (AW). First, we applied DNA barcoding to assess the taxonomic identity of this terrestrial orchid and to construct phylogenetic trees. Next, the vegetative organs (leaf, stem, and root) were compared in terms of the level of metabolites (reducing sugars, proteins, anthocyanins, plastid pigments, phenolics, and antioxidant activity) and nutrient elements (carbon, nitrogen, sodium, and potassium), which highlighted the leaves as most functionally active organ. Subsequently, AW was used as a natural source of fish-derived nutrients, and the orchid growth was tested in hydroponics, in irrigated soil, and in an aquaponic system. Plant physiological status was evaluated by analyzing leaf anatomy and measuring chlorophyll content and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters. These results provided evidence of the beneficial effects of AW on the jewel orchid, including increased leaf formation, enhanced chlorophyll content and photosystems’ productivity, and stimulated and prolonged flowering. The information acquired in the present study could be used in addressing additional aspects of the growth and development of the jewel orchid, which is also known for its medicinal value. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Orchidaceae Research)

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24 pages, 4152 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

The Biostimulant Effect of Hydroalcoholic Extracts of Sargassum spp. in Tomato Seedlings under Salt Stress

by Oscar Sariñana-Aldaco, Adalberto Benavides-Mendoza, Armando Robledo-Olivo and Susana González-Morales

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3180; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223180 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1931

Abstract

Currently, the use of biostimulants in agriculture is a tool for mitigating certain environmental stresses. Brown algae extracts have become one of the most important categories of biostimulants in agriculture, and are derived from the different uses and positive results obtained under optimal [...] Read more.

Currently, the use of biostimulants in agriculture is a tool for mitigating certain environmental stresses. Brown algae extracts have become one of the most important categories of biostimulants in agriculture, and are derived from the different uses and positive results obtained under optimal and stressful conditions. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of a foliar application of a hydroalcoholic extract of Sargassum spp. and two controls (a commercial product based on Ascophyllum nodosum and distilled water) with regard to growth, the antioxidant system, and the expression of defense genes in tomato seedlings grown in nonsaline (0 mM NaCl) and saline (100 mM NaCl) conditions. In general, the results show that the Sargassum extract increased the growth of the seedlings at the end of the experiment (7.80%) compared to the control; however, under saline conditions, it did not modify the growth. The Sargassum extract increased the diameter of the stem at the end of the experiment in unstressed conditions by 14.85% compared to its control and in stressful conditions by 16.04% compared to its control. Regarding the accumulation of total fresh biomass under unstressed conditions, the Sargassum extract increased it by 19.25% compared to its control, and the accumulation of total dry biomass increased it by 18.11% compared to its control. Under saline conditions, the total of fresh and dry biomass did not change. Enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants increased with NaCl stress and the application of algal products (Sargassum and A. nodosum), which was positively related to the expression of the defense genes evaluated. Our results indicate that the use of the hydroalcoholic extract of Sargassum spp. modulated different physiological, metabolic, and molecular processes in tomato seedlings, with possible synergistic effects that increased tolerance to salinity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biostimulation)

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12 pages, 2253 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Hippeastrum stapfianum (Kraenzl.) R.S.Oliveira & Dutilh (Amaryllidaceae) Ethanol Extract Activity on Acetylcholinesterase and PPAR-α/γ Receptors

by Kicia Karinne Pereira Gomes-Copeland, Cinthia Gabriel Meireles, João Victor Dutra Gomes, Amanda Gomes Torres, Simone Batista Pires Sinoti, Yris Maria Fonseca-Bazzo, Pérola de Oliveira Magalhães, Christopher William Fagg, Luiz Alberto Simeoni and Dâmaris Silveira

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3179; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223179 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1613

Abstract

Hippeastrum stapfianum (Kraenzl.) R.S.Oliveira & Dutilh (Amaryllidaceae) is an endemic plant species from the Brazilian savannah with biological and pharmacological potential. This study evaluated the effects of ethanol extract from H. stapfianum leaves on acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity and the action on nuclear receptors [...] Read more.

Hippeastrum stapfianum (Kraenzl.) R.S.Oliveira & Dutilh (Amaryllidaceae) is an endemic plant species from the Brazilian savannah with biological and pharmacological potential. This study evaluated the effects of ethanol extract from H. stapfianum leaves on acetylcholinesterase enzyme activity and the action on nuclear receptors PPAR-α and PPAR-γ. A gene reporter assay was performed to assess the PPAR agonist or antagonist activity with a non-toxic dose of H. stapfianum ethanol extract. The antioxidant capacity was investigated using DPPH^• scavenging and fosfomolybdenium reduction assays. The identification of H. stapfianum‘s chemical composition was performed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and HPLC. The ethanol extract of H. stapfianum activated PPAR-α and PPAR-γ selectively, inhibited the acetylcholinesterase enzyme, and presented antioxidant activity in an in vitro assay. The major compounds identified were lycorine, 7-demethoxy-9-O-methylhostasine, and rutin. Therefore, H. stapfianum is a potential source of drugs for Alzheimer’s disease due to its ability to activate PPAR receptors, acetylcholinesterase inhibition activity, and antioxidant attributes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)

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14 pages, 2565 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Biochemical and Transcriptional Responses in Cold-Acclimated and Non-Acclimated Contrasting Camelina Biotypes under Freezing Stress

by Jahad Soorni, Seyed Kamal Kazemitabar, Danial Kahrizi, Ali Dehestani, Nadali Bagheri, Attila Kiss, Péter Gergő Kovács, István Papp and Iman Mirmazloum

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3178; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223178 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1407

Abstract

Cold-acclimated and non-acclimated contrasting Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) biotypes were investigated for changes in stress-associated biomarkers, including antioxidant enzyme activity, lipid peroxidation, protein, and proline content. In addition, a well-known freezing tolerance pathway participant known as C-repeat/DRE-binding factors (CBFs), an inducer of [...] Read more.

Cold-acclimated and non-acclimated contrasting Camelina (Camelina sativa L.) biotypes were investigated for changes in stress-associated biomarkers, including antioxidant enzyme activity, lipid peroxidation, protein, and proline content. In addition, a well-known freezing tolerance pathway participant known as C-repeat/DRE-binding factors (CBFs), an inducer of CBF expression (ICE1), and a cold-regulated (COR6.6) genes of the ICE-CBF-COR pathway were studied at the transcriptional level on the doubled-haploid (DH) lines. Freezing stress had significant effects on all studied parameters. The cold-acclimated DH34 (a freezing-tolerant line) showed an overall better performance under freezing stress than non-acclimated plants. The non-cold-acclimated DH08 (a frost-sensitive line) showed the highest electrolyte leakage after freezing stress. The highest activity of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, and catalase) was also detected in non-acclimated plants, whereas the cold-acclimated plants showed lower enzyme activities upon stress treatment. Cold acclimation had a significantly positive effect on the total protein and proline content of stressed plants. The qRT-PCR analysis revealed significant differences in the expression and cold-inducibility of CsCBF1-3, CsICE1, and CsCOR6.6 genes among the samples of different treatments. The highest expression of all CBF genes was recorded in the non-acclimated frost-tolerant biotype after freezing stress. Interestingly a significantly higher expression of COR6.6 was detected in cold-acclimated samples of both frost-sensitive and -tolerant biotypes after freezing stress. The presented results provide more insights into freezing tolerance mechanisms in the Camelina plant from both a biochemical point of view and the expression of the associated genes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological Mechanisms and Adaptation Strategies to Improve Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Crop Plants)

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23 pages, 9440 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effect of Sowing Date on the Development of Lacy Phacelia (Phacelia Tanacetifolia Benth.)

by Zuzana Kubíková, Hana Smejkalová, Helena Hutyrová, Antonín Kintl and Jakub Elbl

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3177; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223177 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1233

Abstract

Experiments with lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.) were carried out in the period 2017–2021, during which the effect of sowing date on the stand development was assessed (height, coverage, accomplishment of individual growth stages, and weed infestation). It was demonstrated that the [...] Read more.

Experiments with lacy phacelia (Phacelia tanacetifolia Benth.) were carried out in the period 2017–2021, during which the effect of sowing date on the stand development was assessed (height, coverage, accomplishment of individual growth stages, and weed infestation). It was demonstrated that the sowing date affects the stand growth and development. In earlier sowing dates, plants developed slower than in later sowing dates but reached a greater average height (926 mm). The lowest height (802 mm) was exhibited by plants from May (sowing 3). The third sowing date also showed the worst stand canopy closure and at BBCH 31, the stand canopy closure in Sowing 1, 2, and 3 was 82.3%, 77.8%, and 67%, respectively. The third sowing date was also the highest weed infestation. The effect of sowing date on yield and yield parameters was also monitored (weight of a thousand of grains and germinative capacity). Based on the measured data, it can be concluded that the influence on the weight of thousands of grains was minimal and in germinative capacity. Significant differences were recorded only in first year in which the germinative capacity of plants from the later sowing dates was reduced. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Development and Morphogenesis)

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24 pages, 3052 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Environmental Signals Act as a Driving Force for Metabolic and Defense Responses in the Antarctic Plant Colobanthus quitensis

by Laura Bertini, Silvia Proietti, Benedetta Fongaro, Aleš Holfeld, Paola Picotti, Gaia Salvatore Falconieri, Elisabetta Bizzarri, Gloria Capaldi, Patrizia Polverino de Laureto and Carla Caruso

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3176; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223176 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1913

Abstract

During evolution, plants have faced countless stresses of both biotic and abiotic nature developing very effective mechanisms able to perceive and counteract adverse signals. The biggest challenge is the ability to fine-tune the trade-off between plant growth and stress resistance. The Antarctic plant [...] Read more.

During evolution, plants have faced countless stresses of both biotic and abiotic nature developing very effective mechanisms able to perceive and counteract adverse signals. The biggest challenge is the ability to fine-tune the trade-off between plant growth and stress resistance. The Antarctic plant Colobanthus quitensis has managed to survive the adverse environmental conditions of the white continent and can be considered a wonderful example of adaptation to prohibitive conditions for millions of other plant species. Due to the progressive environmental change that the Antarctic Peninsula has undergone over time, a more comprehensive overview of the metabolic features of C. quitensis becomes particularly interesting to assess its ability to respond to environmental stresses. To this end, a differential proteomic approach was used to study the response of C. quitensis to different environmental cues. Many differentially expressed proteins were identified highlighting the rewiring of metabolic pathways as well as defense responses. Finally, a different modulation of oxidative stress response between different environmental sites was observed. The data collected in this paper add knowledge on the impact of environmental stimuli on plant metabolism and stress response by providing useful information on the trade-off between plant growth and defense mechanisms. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antarctic Plants Responses to Abiotic Stress)

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18 pages, 3580 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Full Exploitation of Peach Palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth): State of the Art and Perspectives

by Kamila de Cássia Spacki, Rúbia Carvalho Gomes Corrêa, Thaís Marques Uber, Lillian Barros, Isabel C. F. R. Ferreira, Rosely Aparecida Peralta, Regina de Fátima Peralta Muniz Moreira, Cristiane Vieira Helm, Edson Alves de Lima, Adelar Bracht and Rosane Marina Peralta

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3175; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223175 - 21 Nov 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 4749

Abstract

The peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) is a palm tree native to the Amazon region, with plantations expanding to the Brazilian Southwest and South regions. This work is a critical review of historical, botanical, social, environmental, and nutritional aspects of edible and [...] Read more.

The peach palm (Bactris gasipaes Kunth) is a palm tree native to the Amazon region, with plantations expanding to the Brazilian Southwest and South regions. This work is a critical review of historical, botanical, social, environmental, and nutritional aspects of edible and nonedible parts of the plant. In Brazil, the importance of the cultivation of B. gasipaes to produce palm heart has grown considerably, due to its advantages in relation to other palm species, such as precocity, rusticity and tillering. The last one is especially important, as it makes the exploitation of peach palm hearts, contrary to what happens with other palm tree species, a non-predatory practice. Of special interest are the recent efforts aiming at the valorization of the fruit as a source of carotenoids and starch. Further developments indicate that the B. gasipaes lignocellulosic wastes hold great potential for being upcycled into valuable biotechnological products such as prebiotics, enzymes, cellulose nanofibrils and high fiber flours. Clean technologies are protagonists of the recovery processes, ensuring the closure of the product’s life cycle in a “green” way. Future research should focus on expanding and making the recovery processes economically viable, which would be of great importance for stimulating the peach palm production chain. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in the Valorization of Fruit and Vegetable Wastes and By-Products)

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20 pages, 8769 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A Copy Paste and Semantic Segmentation-Based Approach for the Classification and Assessment of Significant Rice Diseases

by Zhiyong Li, Peng Chen, Luyu Shuai, Mantao Wang, Liang Zhang, Yuchao Wang and Jiong Mu

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3174; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223174 - 20 Nov 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2113

Abstract

The accurate segmentation of significant rice diseases and assessment of the degree of disease damage are the keys to their early diagnosis and intelligent monitoring and are the core of accurate pest control and information management. Deep learning applied to rice disease detection [...] Read more.

The accurate segmentation of significant rice diseases and assessment of the degree of disease damage are the keys to their early diagnosis and intelligent monitoring and are the core of accurate pest control and information management. Deep learning applied to rice disease detection and segmentation can significantly improve the accuracy of disease detection and identification but requires a large number of training samples to determine the optimal parameters of the model. This study proposed a lightweight network based on copy paste and semantic segmentation for accurate disease region segmentation and severity assessment. First, a dataset for rice significant disease segmentation was selected and collated based on 3 open-source datasets, containing 450 sample images belonging to 3 categories of rice leaf bacterial blight, blast and brown spot. Then, to increase the diversity of samples, a data augmentation method, rice leaf disease copy paste (RLDCP), was proposed that expanded the collected disease samples with the concept of copy and paste. The new RSegformer model was then trained by replacing the new backbone network with the lightweight semantic segmentation network Segformer, combining the attention mechanism and changing the upsampling operator, so that the model could better balance local and global information, speed up the training process and reduce the degree of overfitting of the network. The results show that RLDCP could effectively improve the accuracy and generalisation performance of the semantic segmentation model compared with traditional data augmentation methods and could improve the MIoU of the semantic segmentation model by about 5% with a dataset only twice the size. RSegformer can achieve an 85.38% MIoU at a model size of 14.36 M. The method proposed in this paper can quickly, easily and accurately identify disease occurrence areas, their species and the degree of disease damage, providing a reference for timely and effective rice disease control. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deep Learning in Plant Sciences)

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16 pages, 2990 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Monographic Quality Parameters and Genotoxicity Assessment of Asphodelus bento-rainhae and Asphodelus macrocarpus Root Tubers as Herbal Medicines

by Maryam Malmir, Rita Serrano, Katelene Lima, Maria Paula Duarte, Isabel Moreira da Silva, Beatriz Silva Lima, Manuela Caniça and Olga Silva

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3173; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223173 - 20 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1886

Abstract

Root tubers of Asphodelus bento-rainhae subsp. bento-rainhae (AbR), an endemic species with relevant interest due to conservation concerns, and Asphodelus macrocarpus subsp. macrocarpus (AmR) have been traditionally used for culinary and medicinal purposes, mainly associated with skin infection and inflammation. The present study [...] Read more.

Root tubers of Asphodelus bento-rainhae subsp. bento-rainhae (AbR), an endemic species with relevant interest due to conservation concerns, and Asphodelus macrocarpus subsp. macrocarpus (AmR) have been traditionally used for culinary and medicinal purposes, mainly associated with skin infection and inflammation. The present study aims to establish the quality control criteria for the proper characterization of dried root tubers of both species as herbal substances, together with their preclinical safety assessments. Botanical identification using macroscopic and microscopic techniques and phytochemical evaluation/quantification of the main classes of marker secondary metabolites, including phenolic compounds (flavonoid, anthraquinone, condensed and hydrolysable tannin) and terpenoids were performed. Additionally, in vitro genotoxicity/mutagenicity was evaluated by Ames test. Evident morphological differences in the development of tubercles (3.5 × 1 cm in AbR and 8.7 × 1.4 cm in AmR) and microscopicly in the arrangements and characteristics of the vascular cylinder (metaxylem and protoxylems) were found. Anatomical similarities such as multiple-layered epidermis (velamen) and the cortex area with thin-walled idioblasts (134 ± 2.9 µm and 150 ± 27.6 µm) containing raphide crystals (37.2 ± 14.2 µm and 87.7 ± 15.3 µm) were observed between AbR and AmR, respectively. Terpenoids (173.88 ± 29.82 and 180.55 ± 10.57 mg OAE/g dried weight) and condensed tannins (128.64 ± 14.05 and 108.35 ± 20.37 mg CAE/g dried weight) were found to be the main class of marker secondary metabolites of AbR and AmR extracts, respectively. No genotoxicity (up to 5 mg/plate, without metabolic activation) was detected in these medicinal plants’ tested extracts. The obtained results will contribute to the knowledge of the value of the Portuguese flora and their future commercial cultivation utilization as raw materials for industrial and pharmaceutical use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants: Ecophysiological and Cultural Aspects for Commercial Cultivation)

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13 pages, 315 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

An Alternative Source of Biopesticides and Improvement in Their Formulation—Recent Advances

by Dragana Šunjka and Špela Mechora

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3172; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223172 - 20 Nov 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3492

Abstract

Plant protection in contemporary agriculture requires intensive pesticide application. Their use has enabled the increase in yields, simplifying cultivation systems and crop protection strategies, through successful control of harmful organisms. However, it has led to the accumulation of pesticides in agricultural products and [...] Read more.

Plant protection in contemporary agriculture requires intensive pesticide application. Their use has enabled the increase in yields, simplifying cultivation systems and crop protection strategies, through successful control of harmful organisms. However, it has led to the accumulation of pesticides in agricultural products and the environment, contaminating the ecosystem and causing adverse health effects. Therefore, finding new possibilities for plant protection and effective control of pests without consequences for humans and the environment is imperative for agricultural production. The most important alternatives to the use of chemical plant protection products are biopesticides. However, in order to increase their application and availability, it is necessary to improve efficacy and stability through new active substances and improved formulations. This paper represents an overview of the recent knowledge in the field of biopesticides and discusses the possibilities of the use of some new active substances and the improvement of formulations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Alternative Measures in Plant Protection)

15 pages, 1346 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Variability and Nativeness in the Mediterranean Taxa: Divergence and Phylogeography of Genista etnensis (Fabaceae) Inferred from Nuclear and Plastid Data

by Olga De Castro, Gianluigi Bacchetta, Salvatore Brullo, Emanuele Del Guacchio, Emanuela Di Iorio, Carole Piazza and Paolo Caputo

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3171; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223171 - 19 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1658

Abstract

Genista etnensis is a remarkable and well-known tree endemic to Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica (Mediterranean Basin). Nevertheless, its morphological variability and its native status throughout its range need to be further investigated. In this study, we aim to clarify some aspects of this [...] Read more.

Genista etnensis is a remarkable and well-known tree endemic to Sicily, Sardinia, and Corsica (Mediterranean Basin). Nevertheless, its morphological variability and its native status throughout its range need to be further investigated. In this study, we aim to clarify some aspects of this infraspecific variability by molecular means. Sequences of one nuclear and five plastid markers were analyzed under maximum parsimony by using TCS software. Plastid data were also time-calibrated under a Bayesian Inference framework. Plastid data revealed strong isolation between the populations from the Cyrno-Sardinian biogeographical province, which are also the most diverse and presumably the most archaic, and those from Sicily and Southern Italy (in this latter area, the species is naturalized). The calibration analysis indicates that the last common ancestor between G. etnensis and its sister group G. fasselata dates back to the middle Pliocene or slightly later, when sclerophyllous Mediterranean vegetation spread, whereas G. etnensis itself might have originated in the middle Pleistocene. The current, rather unusual distribution of G. etnensis could be explained by long-range seed dispersal from the western part of the range or by anthropogenic introduction into Sicily, with extinctions of transported haplotypes in the region of origin. Interestingly, the Vesuvius population, introduced from Sicily in recent times and locally naturalized, shows private genotypes, and was richer in both genotypes and haplotypes than the Sicilian ones. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Eco-Geography and Taxonomy of Plants in the Mediterranean Area)

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21 pages, 3403 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploiting Tomato Genotypes to Understand Heat Stress Tolerance

by Emma Fernández-Crespo, Luisa Liu-Xu, Carlos Albert-Sidro, Loredana Scalschi, Eugenio Llorens, Ana Isabel González-Hernández, Oscar Crespo, Carmen Gonzalez-Bosch, Gemma Camañes, Pilar García-Agustín and Begonya Vicedo

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3170; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223170 - 19 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1627

Abstract

Increased temperatures caused by climate change constitute a significant threat to agriculture and food security. The selection of improved crop varieties with greater tolerance to heat stress is crucial for the future of agriculture. To overcome this challenge, four traditional tomato varieties from [...] Read more.

Increased temperatures caused by climate change constitute a significant threat to agriculture and food security. The selection of improved crop varieties with greater tolerance to heat stress is crucial for the future of agriculture. To overcome this challenge, four traditional tomato varieties from the Mediterranean basin and two commercial genotypes were selected to characterize their responses at high temperatures. The screening of phenotypes under heat shock conditions allowed to classify the tomato genotypes as: heat-sensitive: TH-30, ADX2; intermediate: ISR-10 and Ailsa Craig; heat-tolerant: MM and MO-10. These results reveal the intra-genetical variation of heat stress responses, which can be exploited as promising sources of tolerance to climate change conditions. Two different thermotolerance strategies were observed. The MO-10 plants tolerance was based on the control of the leaf cooling mechanism and the rapid RBOHB activation and ABA signaling pathways. The variety MM displayed a different strategy based on the activation of HSP70 and 90, as well as accumulation of phenolic compounds correlated with early induction of PAL expression. The importance of secondary metabolism in the recovery phase has been also revealed. Understanding the molecular events allowing plants to overcome heat stress constitutes a promising approach for selecting climate resilient tomato varieties. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in Plant Physiology and Metabolism)

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17 pages, 984 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Varietal Resistance and Chemical Ecology of the Rice Stink Bug, Oebalus pugnax, on Rice, Oryza sativa

by Santhi Bhavanam and Michael J. Stout

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3169; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223169 - 19 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1518

Abstract

The rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax F. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a key pest of heading rice in the southern United States. Chemical insecticide application is currently the primary method of control of O. pugnax, warranting an improved management program for this species. [...] Read more.

The rice stink bug, Oebalus pugnax F. (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae), is a key pest of heading rice in the southern United States. Chemical insecticide application is currently the primary method of control of O. pugnax, warranting an improved management program for this species. The potential other management tactics for O. pugnax include eco-friendly measures such as host-plant resistance, silicon application, and the use of semiochemicals. In this study, the feeding preference and performance of O. puganx on cultivated and non-cultivated rice varieties were examined. Choice tests showed that the rice varieties Cheniere and Kaybonnet were most and least preferred by O. pugnax for feeding, respectively. The results of a no-choice experiment showed that the number of nymphs surviving to the adult stage did not differ among rice varieties, although the percent survival was low on the varieties Kaybonnet and Jazzman. Here, we also showed for the first time that silicon application had a significant negative impact on O. pugnax performance, increasing the nymph development time and reducing survival by almost 40% relative to the control. Based on these results, it could be suggested that silicon amendment is a promising management strategy for this pest. Further research is needed to examine whether silicon application also reduces the feeding damage caused by O. puganx. In addition, the chemical compositions of the metathoracic gland and dorsal abdominal gland extracts were also characterized for the first time in this study, and their biological roles and potential use in pest management are discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Induced Plant Defense and Biological Control)

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19 pages, 7157 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Gamma Radiation Induced In-Vitro Mutagenesis and Isolation of Mutants for Early Flowering and Phytomorphological Variations in Dendrobium ‘Emma White’

by Rubina Sherpa, Ramgopal Devadas, Sadashiv Narayan Bolbhat, Tukaram Dayaram Nikam and Suprasanna Penna

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3168; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223168 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2386

Abstract

In vitro mutagenesis offers a feasible approach for developing new orchid cultivars through genetic manipulation. In the present study, protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) were exposed to gamma rays (10, 20, 40, 60, 80 Gy) to study in vitro growth responses and induction of mutants [...] Read more.

In vitro mutagenesis offers a feasible approach for developing new orchid cultivars through genetic manipulation. In the present study, protocorm-like bodies (PLBs) were exposed to gamma rays (10, 20, 40, 60, 80 Gy) to study in vitro growth responses and induction of mutants in Dendrobium ‘Emma White’. Both proliferation and regeneration of PLBs decreased progressively with increasing doses, except for a significantly enhanced growth response at 10 Gy. The optimal dose of gamma radiation for mutagenesis was found in the range 10 to 25 Gy based on the growth reduction curve. Analysis using a high-throughput cell analyzer revealed a significant reduction in nuclear DNA content at > 40 Gy doses. At 10 Gy treatment, the growth attributes, such as root length, plant height and leaf number, were significantly increased by 36%, 26% and 20%, respectively, compared to the control. This increase was significant over other tested doses as well. Testing of random amplified polymorphic DNA markers revealed the presence of detectable polymorphism among gamma mutant plantlets with a polymorphism information content value at 0.41. The gamma-ray-induced earliness in flower development was observed within 294 days post ex vitro growth of 10 Gy mutant compared to the control plants flowered after 959 days. Our results highlight the significance of gamma radiation in inducing enhanced growth, morphological variations and early floral initiation in Dendrobium, providing a basic framework for mutation breeding and improvement of orchids. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Biotechnology and Crop Improvement)

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25 pages, 1144 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Fungal Pathogens and Seed Storage in the Dry State

by Isaura Martín, Laura Gálvez, Luis Guasch and Daniel Palmero

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3167; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223167 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 7841

Abstract

Seeds can harbor a wide range of microorganisms, especially fungi, which can cause different sanitary problems. Seed quality and seed longevity may be drastically reduced by fungi that invade seeds before or after harvest. Seed movement can be a pathway for the spread [...] Read more.

Seeds can harbor a wide range of microorganisms, especially fungi, which can cause different sanitary problems. Seed quality and seed longevity may be drastically reduced by fungi that invade seeds before or after harvest. Seed movement can be a pathway for the spread of diseases into new areas. Some seed-associated fungi can also produce mycotoxins that may cause serious negative effects on humans, animals and the seeds themselves. Seed storage is the most efficient and widely used method for conserving plant genetic resources. The seed storage conditions used in gene banks, low temperature and low seed moisture content, increase seed longevity and are usually favorable for the survival of seed-borne mycoflora. Early detection and identification of seed fungi are essential activities to conserve high-quality seeds and to prevent pathogen dissemination. This article provides an overview of the characteristics and detection methods of seed-borne fungi, with a special focus on their potential effects on gene bank seed conservation. The review includes the following aspects: types of seed-borne fungi, paths of infection and transmission, seed health methods, fungi longevity, risk of pathogen dissemination, the effect of fungi on seed longevity and procedures to reduce the harmful effects of fungi in gene banks. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Seed Longevity)

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9 pages, 2403 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chrysosphaerella septentrionalis sp. nov. (Chrysophyceae, Chromulinales), a New Species from the Arctic Including the Description of Chrysosphaerellaceae, fam. nov.

by Dmitry Kapustin and Maxim Kulikovskiy

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3166; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223166 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1248

Abstract

A new species, Chrysosphaerella septentrionalis, is described from a peat bog located on the bank of the Paz River (Pasvik Nature Reserve, Murmansk Region, Russia). Scale ultrastructure was studied using a scanning electron microscope. Morphologically, C. septentrionalis seems to closely resemble C. longispina [...] Read more.

A new species, Chrysosphaerella septentrionalis, is described from a peat bog located on the bank of the Paz River (Pasvik Nature Reserve, Murmansk Region, Russia). Scale ultrastructure was studied using a scanning electron microscope. Morphologically, C. septentrionalis seems to closely resemble C. longispina. However, C. septentrionalis possesses subcircular scales in addition to the oval scales, and they are much smaller than in C. longispina. We suppose that C. septentrionalis is the first pseudocryptic species within the C. longispina complex. Additionally, we proposed an infrageneric classification of Chrysosphaerella based on the scale structure and divided the genus into three sections: Chrysosphaerella, Brevispinae sect. nov. and Septispinae sect. nov. The formal description of a new family Chrysosphaerellaceae fam. nov. is also provided. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrative Taxonomy of Plants)

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28 pages, 2537 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Ethnopharmacobotany and Diversity of Mediterranean Endemic Plants in Marmilla Subregion, Sardinia, Italy

by Emma Cocco, Delia Maccioni, Enrico Sanjust, Danilo Falconieri, Emmanuele Farris and Andrea Maxia

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3165; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223165 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2181

Abstract

Human populations in various regions across the world exploit the medicinal properties of plants to treat a wide variety of diseases. Areas with both high rates of endemic taxa and persisting traditional uses of the local botanical resources are key sites for the [...] Read more.

Human populations in various regions across the world exploit the medicinal properties of plants to treat a wide variety of diseases. Areas with both high rates of endemic taxa and persisting traditional uses of the local botanical resources are key sites for the investigation of Traditional Botanical Knowledge (TBK). Commonly, in these areas, information regarding the medicinal properties of native plants has been transmitted orally from generation to generation, however, a rapid decline in this knowledge has been observed, which can be attributed to socio-economic changes in recent years. The Mediterranean basin is one such site, where human history is intimately entwined with nature. The unique geographical situation and unrivaled environmental heterogeneity of the area, have allowed both the development of diverse civilizations as well as providing the basis for the evolution of extraordinary biodiversity. The Mediterranean basin can therefore be considered a global hotspot of endemic vascular plants, and of traditional knowledge of medicinal and aromatic species. This study researches the historical subregion of Marmilla (central-southern Sardinia, Italy), which was chosen because of its specific cultural and demographic characteristics: i.e., prolonged isolation and extreme longevity of the inhabitants of the area. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 145 people from the region, and 137 medicinal plants belonging to 62 families were identified, of which around 57,3% were taxa exclusive to the Mediterranean Basin. Findings showed that the most used parts of the plant were the leaves (49%), while as far as preparations are concerned, decoction (50%) was the most used to prepare medicinal formulations, making this the highest number of medico-botanical taxa reported in a study carried out in Sardinia using a similar methodology. In addition, this study contributes towards preventing the loss of TBK by documenting the medicinal traditions, passed down orally for centuries, in the words of the participants, shedding new light on the traditional knowledge of the inhabitants of the island. The findings lay the foundations for future applied studies in the fields of phytotherapy and phytochemical investigation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethnobotanical Uses, Biological Properties and Phytoconstituents of Endemic Plants)

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19 pages, 2237 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Inhibitory Effects and Cytotoxic Activities of the Stem Extract of Sarracenia purpurea against Melanoma Cells and the SsbA Protein

by Hong-Wen Liu, Wei-Yu Chiang, Yen-Hua Huang and Cheng-Yang Huang

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3164; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223164 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1364

Abstract

The Staphylococcus aureus SsbA protein (SaSsbA) is a single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) that is categorically required for DNA replication and cell survival, and it is thus an attractive target for potential antipathogen chemotherapy. In this study, we prepared the stem extract of Sarracenia [...] Read more.

The Staphylococcus aureus SsbA protein (SaSsbA) is a single-stranded DNA-binding protein (SSB) that is categorically required for DNA replication and cell survival, and it is thus an attractive target for potential antipathogen chemotherapy. In this study, we prepared the stem extract of Sarracenia purpurea obtained from 100% acetone to investigate its inhibitory effect against SaSsbA. In addition, the cytotoxic effects of this extract on the survival, apoptosis, proliferation, and migration of B16F10 melanoma cells were also examined. Initially, myricetin, quercetin, kaempferol, dihydroquercetin, dihydrokaempferol, rutin, catechin, β-amyrin, oridonin, thioflavin T, primuline, and thioflavin S were used as possible inhibitors against SaSsbA. Of these compounds, dihydrokaempferol and oridonin were capable of inhibiting the ssDNA-binding activity of SaSsbA with respective IC₅₀ values of 750 ± 62 and 2607 ± 242 μM. Given the poor inhibition abilities of dihydrokaempferol and oridonin, we screened the extracts of S. purpurea, Nepenthes miranda, and Plinia cauliflora for SaSsbA inhibitors. The stem extract of S. purpurea exhibited high anti-SaSsbA activity, with an IC₅₀ value of 4.0 ± 0.3 μg/mL. The most abundant compounds in the stem extract of S. purpurea were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The top five most abundant contents in this extract were driman-8,11-diol, deoxysericealactone, stigmast-5-en-3-ol, apocynin, and α-amyrin. Using the MOE-Dock tool, the binding modes of these compounds, as well as dihydrokaempferol and oridonin, to SaSsbA were elucidated, and their binding energies were also calculated. Based on the S scores, the binding capacity of these compounds was in the following order: deoxysericealactone > dihydrokaempferol > apocynin > driman-8,11-diol > stigmast-5-en-3-ol > oridonin > α-amyrin. Incubation of B16F10 cells with the stem extract of S. purpurea at a concentration of 100 μg/mL caused deaths at the rate of 76%, reduced migration by 95%, suppressed proliferation and colony formation by 99%, and induced apoptosis, which was observed in 96% of the B16F10 cells. Overall, the collective data in this study indicate the pharmacological potential of the stem extract of S. purpurea for further medical applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Extracts and Their Cytotoxic Activities)

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19 pages, 5453 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Taxonomy Complexity of Some Tyrrhenian Endemic Limonium Species Belonging to L. multiforme Group (Plumbaginaceae): New Insights from Molecular and Morphometric Analyses

by Duilio Iamonico, Olga De Castro, Emanuela Di Iorio, Gianluca Nicolella and Mauro Iberite

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3163; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223163 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1495

Abstract

The delimitation of Limonium taxa is highly complicated due to hybridization, polyploidy, and apomixis. Many “microspecies” were described and aggregated into groups, most of which are still poorly known from both molecular and morphological points of view. The aim of this study is [...] Read more.

The delimitation of Limonium taxa is highly complicated due to hybridization, polyploidy, and apomixis. Many “microspecies” were described and aggregated into groups, most of which are still poorly known from both molecular and morphological points of view. The aim of this study is to investigate four endemic species from the Tyrrhenian coast of central Italy and the Ponziane Archipelago belonging to the L. multiforme group (L. amynclaeum, L. circaei, L. pandatariae, and L. pontium) by means of molecular and morphometric analyses. Molecular data by sequencing ITS and three plastid markers and morphometric data highlight new information about the taxonomy of these taxa so as to reduce them into a single specific entity. In fact, the better taxonomic choice is to consider the populations studied as part of a single species, i.e., Limonium pontium. Three subspecies are recognized, i.e., subsp. pontium [= L. circaei = L. amynclaeum; from Circeo to Gianola localities (excluding Terracina) and from islands Ponza, Palmarola, Zannone, and Santo Stefano], subsp. pandatariae comb. et stat. nov. (from island of Ventotene), and subsp. terracinense subsp. nov. (from Terracina). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Taxonomy and Nomenclature of Caryophyllales)

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19 pages, 11489 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Combined Approach of GWAS and Phylogenetic Analyses to Identify New Candidate Genes That Participate in Arabidopsis thaliana Primary Root Development Using Cellular Measurements and Primary Root Length

by Brenda Anabel López-Ruiz, Elsa H. Quezada-Rodríguez, Alma Piñeyro-Nelson, Hugo Tovar, Berenice García-Ponce, María de la Paz Sánchez, Elena R. Álvarez-Buylla and Adriana Garay-Arroyo

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3162; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223162 - 18 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1847

Abstract

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have allowed the identification of different loci associated with primary root (PR) growth, and Arabidopsis is an excellent model for these studies. The PR length is controlled by cell proliferation, elongation, and differentiation; however, the specific contribution of proliferation [...] Read more.

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have allowed the identification of different loci associated with primary root (PR) growth, and Arabidopsis is an excellent model for these studies. The PR length is controlled by cell proliferation, elongation, and differentiation; however, the specific contribution of proliferation and differentiation in the control of PR growth is still poorly studied. To this end, we analyzed 124 accessions and used a GWAS approach to identify potential causal genomic regions related to four traits: PR length, growth rate, cell proliferation and cell differentiation. Twenty-three genes and five statistically significant SNPs were identified. The SNP with the highest score mapped to the fifth exon of NAC048 and this change makes a missense variant in only 33.3% of the accessions with a large PR, compared with the accessions with a short PR length. Moreover, we detected five more SNPs in this gene and in NAC3 that allow us to discover closely related accessions according to the phylogenetic tree analysis. We also found that the association between genetic variants among the 18 genes with the highest scores in our GWAS and the phenotypic classes into which we divided our accessions are not straightforward and likely follow historical patterns. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Development and Morphogenesis)

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22 pages, 5032 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Correlation between Vegetation Structure and Species Diversity in Traditional Villages in Karst Topographic Regions of the Zunyi City, China

by Caijie Deng, Zongsheng Huang, Xiaojing Zhang, Hua Zhao, Siyu Jiang and Yuxin Ren

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3161; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223161 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1562

Abstract

Studying the relationship between vegetation structure and diversity is important in an area having karst topography and unique traditional customs. We selected a total of six traditional villages in Zunyi City, China, to collect vegetation data. Additionally, using one-way ANOVA and the Pearson [...] Read more.

Studying the relationship between vegetation structure and diversity is important in an area having karst topography and unique traditional customs. We selected a total of six traditional villages in Zunyi City, China, to collect vegetation data. Additionally, using one-way ANOVA and the Pearson correlation coefficient analytic method to analyze, the results showed that, overall, plant communities were mostly regularly distributed. The overall differentiation degree was low aggregation, intensity, and the extreme intensity mixed state. Overall, competitive pressure, growth vigor and stability were better than the natural forest. The community stability index at lower altitude was significantly higher than that at higher altitude. The recorded plant communities in the living space were typically aggregated, the plant communities were randomly distributed in the production space, and the plant communities were uniformly distributed in the ecological space. In general, the diversity indexes, except the Jh index, were the highest in the herb layer; the second was in the shrub layer and the lowest was in the tree layer. Species diversity at the middle altitude was higher than that at low and high altitudes (except for the shrub at a high altitude of 1100–1160 m). The overall plant species diversity was highest in the living space, second highest in the ecological space and lowest in the production space. On the whole, there was a significant correlation between the spatial structure of plant communities and the species diversity of plant communities at different altitudes, and in PLE spaces. The main objective of this study was to reveal the plant community structure, species diversity, and their relationship under the dual effects of national traditional culture and karst landform. Additionally, we sought to provide theoretical guidance for the construction of plant community protection and biodiversity conservation in traditional villages in karst areas. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Ecology)

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12 pages, 2241 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Cultural and Commercial Value of Tulsi (Ocimum tenuiflorum L.): Multidisciplinary Approaches Focusing on Species Authentication

by Sukvinder Kaur Bhamra, Michael Heinrich, Mark R. D. Johnson, Caroline Howard and Adrian Slater

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3160; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223160 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 5289

Abstract

Tulsi (Holy basil, Ocimum tenuiflorum L., Lamiaceae), native to Asia, has become globalised as the cultural, cosmetic, and medicinal uses of the herb have been popularised. DNA barcoding, a molecular technique used to identify species based on short regions of DNA, can discriminate [...] Read more.

Tulsi (Holy basil, Ocimum tenuiflorum L., Lamiaceae), native to Asia, has become globalised as the cultural, cosmetic, and medicinal uses of the herb have been popularised. DNA barcoding, a molecular technique used to identify species based on short regions of DNA, can discriminate between different species and identify contaminants and adulterants. This study aimed to explore the values associated with Tulsi in the United Kingdom (UK) and authenticate samples using DNA barcoding. A mixed methods approach was used, incorporating social research (i.e., structured interviews) and DNA barcoding of Ocimum samples using the ITS and trnH-psbA barcode regions. Interviews revealed the cultural significance of Tulsi: including origins, knowledge exchange, religious connotations, and medicinal uses. With migration, sharing of plants and seeds has been seen as Tulsi plants are widely grown in South Asian (SA) households across the UK. Vouchered Ocimum specimens (n = 33) were obtained to create reference DNA barcodes which were not available in databases. A potential species substitution of O. gratissimum instead of O. tenuiflorum amongst SA participants was uncovered. Commercial samples (n = 47) were difficult to authenticate, potentially due to DNA degradation during manufacturing processes. This study highlights the cultural significance of Tulsi, despite a potential species substitution, the plant holds a prestigious place amongst SA families in the UK. DNA barcoding was a reliable way to authenticate Ocimum species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue DNA Barcoding for Herbal Medicines)

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17 pages, 4263 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Phytochemical Screening and Isolation of New Ent-Clerodane Diterpenoids from Croton guatemalensis Lotsy

by Sonia Marlen Escandón-Rivera, Adolfo Andrade-Cetto, Daniel Genaro Rosas-Ramírez and Roberto Arreguín-Espinosa

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3159; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223159 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1305

Abstract

Phytochemical screening of an ethanol–water extract (EWE) from the bark of Croton guatemalensis led to the isolation and identification of eight compounds, among them: five ent-clerodane diterpenoids [junceic acid (1), 6(s)-acetoxy-15,16-diepoxy-ent-cleroda-3,13(16),14-trien-20-oic acid (crotoguatenoic acid A) ( [...] Read more.

Phytochemical screening of an ethanol–water extract (EWE) from the bark of Croton guatemalensis led to the isolation and identification of eight compounds, among them: five ent-clerodane diterpenoids [junceic acid (1), 6(s)-acetoxy-15,16-diepoxy-ent-cleroda-3,13(16),14-trien-20-oic acid (crotoguatenoic acid A) (2), 6(s)-hydroxyoxy-15,16-diepoxy-ent-cleroda-3,13(16),14-trien-20-oic acid (crotoguatenoic acid B) (3), formosin F (4), bartsiifolic acid (5)], and three flavonoids [rutin (6), epicatechin (7), and quercetin (8)]. Of these, 2 and 3 are reported here for the first time. Structures were established through conventional spectroscopy methods and their absolute configurations were determined by optical rotation and comparison of experimental electronic circular dichroism (ECD) and theoretical calculated ECD spectra. A suitable high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method for quantifying rutin (6) was developed and validated according to standard protocols. Affinity-directed fractionation was used to identify possible in vitro active compounds on α-glucosidases from Saccharomyces cerevisiae. HPLC-ESI-MS was used to identify the inhibitors as free ligands after being released from the enzymatic complex by denaturing acidic conditions. The affinity studies led to the identification of ent-clerodane diterpenoids as active compounds. In silico analysis allowed us to determine the best conformational rearrangement for the α-glucosidase inhibitors. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds from Medicinal Plants and Plant-Based Foods: Advances and Opportunities)

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27 pages, 2790 KiB

Open AccessReview

Diverse Physiological Roles of Flavonoids in Plant Environmental Stress Responses and Tolerance

by Aida Shomali, Susmita Das, Namira Arif, Mohammad Sarraf, Noreen Zahra, Vaishali Yadav, Sasan Aliniaeifard, Devendra Kumar Chauhan and Mirza Hasanuzzaman

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3158; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223158 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 58 | Viewed by 4640

Abstract

Flavonoids are characterized as the low molecular weight polyphenolic compounds universally distributed in planta. They are a chemically varied group of secondary metabolites with a broad range of biological activity. The increasing amount of evidence has demonstrated the various physiological functions of [...] Read more.

Flavonoids are characterized as the low molecular weight polyphenolic compounds universally distributed in planta. They are a chemically varied group of secondary metabolites with a broad range of biological activity. The increasing amount of evidence has demonstrated the various physiological functions of flavonoids in stress response. In this paper, we provide a brief introduction to flavonoids’ biochemistry and biosynthesis. Then, we review the recent findings on the alternation of flavonoid content under different stress conditions to come up with an overall picture of the mechanism of involvement of flavonoids in plants’ response to various abiotic stresses. The participation of flavonoids in antioxidant systems, flavonoid-mediated response to different abiotic stresses, the involvement of flavonoids in stress signaling networks, and the physiological response of plants under stress conditions are discussed in this review. Moreover, molecular and genetic approaches to tailoring flavonoid biosynthesis and regulation under abiotic stress are addressed in this review. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Regulation of Plant Secondary Metabolism in Response to Biotic and Abiotic Stress)

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14 pages, 2866 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Occurrence and Distribution of Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus Infecting Tomato Crop in Saudi Arabia

by Ahmed Sabra, Mahmoud Ahmed Amer, Khadim Hussain, Adel Zakri, Ibrahim Mohammed Al-Shahwan and Mohammed Ali Al-Saleh

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3157; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223157 - 18 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3554

Abstract

During the growing season of 2021–2022, a total of 145 symptomatic tomato leaf and fruit samples were collected from different locations in Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia, showing a moderate-to-severe mosaic with dark green wrinkling, blistering, narrowing, and deformation with necrosis spot on tomato [...] Read more.

During the growing season of 2021–2022, a total of 145 symptomatic tomato leaf and fruit samples were collected from different locations in Riyadh Region, Saudi Arabia, showing a moderate-to-severe mosaic with dark green wrinkling, blistering, narrowing, and deformation with necrosis spot on tomato leaves, while irregular brown necrotic lesions, deformation, and yellowing spots rendering the fruits non-marketable were observed on tomato fruits. These samples were tested serologically against important tomato viruses using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), and the obtained results showed that 52.4% of symptomatic tomato samples were found positive for Tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV), wherein 12 out of 76 samples were singly infected; however, 64 out of 145 had mixed infection. A sample with a single infection of ToBRFV was used for mechanical inoculation into a range of different host plants; symptoms were observed weekly, and the presence of the ToBRFV was confirmed by ELISA and reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A total RNA was extracted from selected ELISA-positive samples, and RT-PCR was carried out using specific primers F-3666 and R-4718, which amplified a fragment of 1052 bp. RT-PCR products were sequenced in both directions, and partial genome nucleotide sequences were submitted to GenBank under the following accession numbers: MZ130501, MZ130502, and MZ130503. BLAST analysis of Saudi isolates of ToBRFV showed that the sequence shared nucleotide identities (99–99.5%) among them and 99–100% identity with ToBRFV isolates in different countries. A ToBRFV isolate (MZ130503) was selected for mechanical inoculation and to evaluate symptom severity responses of 13 commonly grown tomato cultivars in Saudi Arabia. All of the tomato cultivars showed a wide range of symptoms. The disease severity index of the tested cultivars ranged between 52% and 96%. The importance ToBRFV disease severity and its expanding host range due to its resistance breaking ability was discussed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pathogenesis and Disease Control in Crops)

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Essential Oil Variability of Superior Myrtle (Myrtus communis L.) Accessions Grown under the Same Conditions

by Donya Shahbazian, Akbar Karami, Fatemeh Raouf Fard, Saeid Eshghi and Filippo Maggi

Plants 2022, 11(22), 3156; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11223156 - 18 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1237

Abstract

Myrtle (Myrtus communis L., Myrtaceae) has numerous applications in pharmacology, food technology, and cosmetic industry. The current research aimed at measuring variations in the leaf essential oil (EO) compositions of 14 superior myrtle accessions originating in natural habitats of south Iran. The [...] Read more.

Myrtle (Myrtus communis L., Myrtaceae) has numerous applications in pharmacology, food technology, and cosmetic industry. The current research aimed at measuring variations in the leaf essential oil (EO) compositions of 14 superior myrtle accessions originating in natural habitats of south Iran. The plants were grown under greenhouse conditions. Fresh leaf samples were harvested in June 2021. Based on dry matter, the extractable amount of EO in the accessions ranged from 0.42% (BN2) to 2.6% (BN5). According to GC/MS analysis, the major compounds in the EO were α-pinene (2.35–53.09%), linalyl acetate (0–45.3%), caryophyllene oxide (0.97–21.8%), germacrene D (0–19.19%), α-humulene (0–18.97%), 1,8-cineole (0–18.0%), limonene (0–17.4%), and p-cymene (0–13.2%). These myrtle accessions were classified into four groups, including I: caryophyllene oxide/germacrene D/α-humulene/methyl eugenol chemotype; II: α-pinene/p-cymene/α-humulene and (E)-β-caryophyllene; III: α-pinene/1,8-cineole, and linalool; IV: linalyl acetate/γ-terpinene/1,8, cineole/limonene. These classifications were established by considering the main EO components using hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA). In summary, this study provided new insights into available opportunities of selecting suitable genotypes for commercial cultivation purposes and planning breeding programs in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction Technologies, Isolation, Separation, and Application of Phytochemicals)

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Plants, Volume 11, Issue 22 (November-2 2022) – 177 articles

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