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Plants, Volume 12, Issue 10 (May-2 2023) – 143 articles

Cover Story (view full-size image): In flowering plants, during mitosis–meiosis transition, the pollen mother cell (PMC) walls are drastically remodeled, whereby cellulose-rich walls gradually disappear and a considerable amount of callose (β-1,3 glucans), secreted from PMCs, fills the extracellular spaces of anther locules completely. This hyper-callose accumulation is a ‘histological hallmark’ of PMCs entering the meiosis cycle. Recently, it was uncovered that the anther callose depletion impacts male meiosis initiation and progression, with severe consequences on key meiotic events, such as homologous pairing and synapses, resulting in male sterility. Thus, the findings answered the question regarding the biological meaning of callose deposition during mitosis–meiosis transition in sexual plants. View this paper
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11 pages, 3675 KiB  
Article
Large Field Screening for Resistance to Broomrape (Orobanche crenata Forsk.) in a Global Lentil Diversity Panel (GLDP) (Lens culinaris Medik.)
by Youness En-nahli, Kamal Hejjaoui, Rachid Mentag, Nour Eddine Es-safi and Moez Amri
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2064; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102064 - 22 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1529
Abstract
Broomrape (Orobanche crenata Forsk.) is a serious problem causing important losses to lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) production and productivity in Mediterranean countries. Despite intensive breeding activities, no resistance sources against O. crenata have been identified so far. In this study, a [...] Read more.
Broomrape (Orobanche crenata Forsk.) is a serious problem causing important losses to lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) production and productivity in Mediterranean countries. Despite intensive breeding activities, no resistance sources against O. crenata have been identified so far. In this study, a Global Lentil Diversity Panel (GLDP) of 1315 genotypes including local populations, landraces, accessions, improved lines and released varieties were evaluated for their resistance to O. crenata under highly infested field conditions at ICARDA Marchouch research station, Morocco. The trial was conducted according to an augmented design with repeated susceptible checks. The best-performing genotypes were selected based on the correlations between Orobanche infestation parameters and agronomic performance. Results showed significant variation (p < 0.005) among the studied genotypes and between the tested genotypes and checks for BY, D2F, D2M, PH, EODW and NEO. Out of the 1315 tested genotypes, only (1%) showed high to moderate resistance levels to O. crenata. Most of these genotypes are improved lines originating from different breeding programs. the PCA analysis clustered all the tested genotypes into four different groups. Good resistance levels were recorded for the genotypes ILL7723, ILL 7982, ILL 6912, ILL 6415, ILL 9850, ILL 605, ILL 7915, ILL 1861 and ILL 9888 showing a parasitism index and grain yield ranging from 1.69 to 5.99 and 10.97 to 60.19 g m−2, respectively. Person’s correlation showed significant negative correlations between agronomic traits and infestation parameters. Both the path and spatial analysis showed that the D2F, NEO, D2OE, SEV and parasitism index (PI) were the strongest driver traits that influenced the seed yield (SY). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Breeding of Crop Disease-Resistant Cultivars)
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22 pages, 2606 KiB  
Article
First Approach to the Aroma Characterization of Monovarietal Red Wines Produced from Varieties Better Adapted to Abiotic Stresses
by Francesco Agostinelli, Ilda Caldeira, Jorge M. Ricardo-da-Silva, Miguel Damásio, Ricardo Egipto and José Silvestre
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2063; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102063 - 22 May 2023
Viewed by 1717
Abstract
Adaptation strategies in the wine sector consist of the use of cultural techniques to limit damages caused by climate change, using, among other resources, varieties better adapted to the scenarios of abiotic stress exacerbation, namely water and thermal stress, as well as those [...] Read more.
Adaptation strategies in the wine sector consist of the use of cultural techniques to limit damages caused by climate change, using, among other resources, varieties better adapted to the scenarios of abiotic stress exacerbation, namely water and thermal stress, as well as those more tolerant to heatwaves. With the intention to determine the aromatic characterization of ten monovarietal wines produced from cultivars with high productive performance in a global warming scenario (‘Petit Verdot’, ‘Marselan’, ‘Merlot’, ‘Touriga Franca’, ‘Syrah’, ‘Vinhão’, ‘Bobal’, ‘Preto Martinho’, ‘Trincadeira’, and ‘Alicante Bouschet’), grown in Esporão vineyard (Alentejo, Portugal) and submitted to deficit irrigation (Ks ± 0.5), their aromatic character has been analyzed. Each grape variety was vinified at a small scale, in duplicate, and the wines were evaluated by a sensory panel, which rated several sensory attributes (visual, olfactory, and gustatory). Sensory analysis revealed a discrete appreciation for the monovarietal wines tasted, showing a differentiation at the olfactory level that was not too marked, although present, between the samples. The free volatile compounds were analysed using gas chromatography-olfactometry (GC-O), identified using a gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technique and semi-quantified using the gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (GC-FID) technique. Based on the interpolation of the results of the various statistical analyses carried out, 49 probable odor active compounds (pOACs) were identified and based on the odor activity values (OAVs), 24 of them were recognized as odor active compounds (OACs) originated mainly during the fermentation processes. An aromatic characterization of the varieties has been proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Grapevine Response to Abiotic Stress)
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16 pages, 1564 KiB  
Article
Molecular Responses of Red Ripe Tomato Fruit to Copper Deficiency Stress
by Paco Romero and María Teresa Lafuente
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2062; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102062 - 22 May 2023
Viewed by 1297
Abstract
Fruit nutritional value, plant growth, and yield can be compromised by deficient copper (Cu) bioavailability, which often appears in arable lands. This condition causes low Cu content and modifications in the ripening-associated processes in tomato fruit. This research studies the transcriptomic changes that [...] Read more.
Fruit nutritional value, plant growth, and yield can be compromised by deficient copper (Cu) bioavailability, which often appears in arable lands. This condition causes low Cu content and modifications in the ripening-associated processes in tomato fruit. This research studies the transcriptomic changes that occur in red ripe tomato fruit grown under suboptimal Cu conditions to shed light on the molecular mechanisms underlying this stress. Comparative RNA-sequencing and functional analyses revealed that Cu deficiency during cultivation activates signals for metal ion transport, cellular redox homeostasis, pyridoxal phosphate binding, and amino acid metabolism while repressing the response to phosphate starvation in harvested fruit. Transcriptomic analyses highlighted a number of novel Cu stress-responsive genes of unknown function and indicated that Cu homeostasis regulation in tomato fruit may involve additional components than those described in model plants. It also studied the regulation of high-affinity Cu transporters and a number of well-known Cu stress-responsive genes during tomato fruit ripening depending on Cu availability, which allowed potential candidates to be targeted for biotechnological improvements in reproductive tissues. We provide the first study characterizing the molecular responses of fruit to Cu deficiency stress for any fruit crop. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Regulation of Fruit Ripening and Postharvest)
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23 pages, 2187 KiB  
Review
Image-Based High-Throughput Phenotyping in Horticultural Crops
by Alebel Mekuriaw Abebe, Younguk Kim, Jaeyoung Kim, Song Lim Kim and Jeongho Baek
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2061; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102061 - 22 May 2023
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3526
Abstract
Plant phenotyping is the primary task of any plant breeding program, and accurate measurement of plant traits is essential to select genotypes with better quality, high yield, and climate resilience. The majority of currently used phenotyping techniques are destructive and time-consuming. Recently, the [...] Read more.
Plant phenotyping is the primary task of any plant breeding program, and accurate measurement of plant traits is essential to select genotypes with better quality, high yield, and climate resilience. The majority of currently used phenotyping techniques are destructive and time-consuming. Recently, the development of various sensors and imaging platforms for rapid and efficient quantitative measurement of plant traits has become the mainstream approach in plant phenotyping studies. Here, we reviewed the trends of image-based high-throughput phenotyping methods applied to horticultural crops. High-throughput phenotyping is carried out using various types of imaging platforms developed for indoor or field conditions. We highlighted the applications of different imaging platforms in the horticulture sector with their advantages and limitations. Furthermore, the principles and applications of commonly used imaging techniques, visible light (RGB) imaging, thermal imaging, chlorophyll fluorescence, hyperspectral imaging, and tomographic imaging for high-throughput plant phenotyping, are discussed. High-throughput phenotyping has been widely used for phenotyping various horticultural traits, which can be morphological, physiological, biochemical, yield, biotic, and abiotic stress responses. Moreover, the ability of high-throughput phenotyping with the help of various optical sensors will lead to the discovery of new phenotypic traits which need to be explored in the future. We summarized the applications of image analysis for the quantitative evaluation of various traits with several examples of horticultural crops in the literature. Finally, we summarized the current trend of high-throughput phenotyping in horticultural crops and highlighted future perspectives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Phenomics for Precision Agriculture)
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19 pages, 9663 KiB  
Article
Identification of the Plant Family Caryophyllaceae in Korea Using DNA Barcoding
by Dong-Pil Jin, Sunhee Sim, Jong-Won Park, Ji-Eun Choi, Jiwon Yoon, Chae Eun Lim and Min-Ha Kim
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2060; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102060 - 22 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1318
Abstract
Caryophyllaceae is a large angiosperm family, with many species being utilized as ornamental or medicinal plants in Korea, in addition to several endangered species that are managed by the government. In this study, we used DNA barcoding for the accurate identification of Korean [...] Read more.
Caryophyllaceae is a large angiosperm family, with many species being utilized as ornamental or medicinal plants in Korea, in addition to several endangered species that are managed by the government. In this study, we used DNA barcoding for the accurate identification of Korean Caryophyllaceae. A total of 78 taxa (n = 215) were sequenced based on three chloroplast regions (rbcL, matK, and psbA–trnH) and nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS). In the neighbor-joining tree, a higher accuracy of identification was generally observed when using ITS (>73%) rather than chloroplast regions (<62%). The highest resolution was found for rbcL + ITS (77.6%), although resolution varied according to the genus. Among the genera that included two and more species, five genera (Eremogone, Minuartia, Pseudostellaria, Sagina, and Stellaria) were successfully identified. However, the species of five other genera (Cerastium, Gypsophila, Dianthus, Silene, and Spergularia) showed relatively low resolutions (0–61.1%). In the cases of Cerastium, Dianthus, and Silene, ambiguous taxonomic relationships among unidentified species may have been a factor contributing to such low resolutions. However, in contrast to these results, Gypsophila and Spergularia have been identified well in previous studies. Our findings indicate the need of taxonomic reconsideration in Korea. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Diversity and Phylogenetic Relationships of Vascular Plants)
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28 pages, 3488 KiB  
Article
Elucidation of Physiological, Transcriptomic and Metabolomic Salinity Response Mechanisms in Medicago sativa
by Stacy D. Singer, Madeline Lehmann, Zixuan Zhang, Udaya Subedi, Kimberley Burton Hughes, Nathaniel Z.-L. Lim, Rodrigo Ortega Polo, Guanqun Chen, Surya Acharya, Abdelali Hannoufa and Tao Huan
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2059; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102059 - 22 May 2023
Viewed by 1454
Abstract
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a widely grown perennial leguminous forage crop with a number of positive attributes. However, despite its moderate ability to tolerate saline soils, which are increasing in prevalence worldwide, it suffers considerable yield declines under these growth conditions. [...] Read more.
Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a widely grown perennial leguminous forage crop with a number of positive attributes. However, despite its moderate ability to tolerate saline soils, which are increasing in prevalence worldwide, it suffers considerable yield declines under these growth conditions. While a general framework of the cascade of events involved in plant salinity response has been unraveled in recent years, many gaps remain in our understanding of the precise molecular mechanisms involved in this process, particularly in non-model yet economically important species such as alfalfa. Therefore, as a means of further elucidating salinity response mechanisms in this species, we carried out in-depth physiological assessments of M. sativa cv. Beaver, as well as transcriptomic and untargeted metabolomic evaluations of leaf tissues, following extended exposure to salinity (grown for 3–4 weeks under saline treatment) and control conditions. In addition to the substantial growth and photosynthetic reductions observed under salinity treatment, we identified 1233 significant differentially expressed genes between growth conditions, as well as 60 annotated differentially accumulated metabolites. Taken together, our results suggest that changes to cell membranes and walls, cuticular and/or epicuticular waxes, osmoprotectant levels, antioxidant-related metabolic pathways, and the expression of genes encoding ion transporters, protective proteins, and transcription factors are likely involved in alfalfa’s salinity response process. Although some of these alterations may contribute to alfalfa’s modest salinity resilience, it is feasible that several may be disadvantageous in this context and could therefore provide valuable targets for the further improvement of tolerance to this stress in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insights into the Improvement of Forage Crop Species)
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13 pages, 2874 KiB  
Article
Metabolomic and Transcriptomic Analysis Reveal the Role of Metabolites and Genes in Modulating Flower Color of Paphiopedilum micranthum
by Xinyan Deng, Chao Hu, Chengzhi Xie, Aixian Lu, Yibo Luo, Tao Peng and Weichang Huang
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2058; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102058 - 22 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1387
Abstract
Food-deceptive flowers primarily use visual signals (such as color) to mimic model plants and deceive insects into achieving pollination. Paphiopedilum micranthum is a food-deceptive orchid that has a pink labellum and two purple petals with a yellow base and has been proven to [...] Read more.
Food-deceptive flowers primarily use visual signals (such as color) to mimic model plants and deceive insects into achieving pollination. Paphiopedilum micranthum is a food-deceptive orchid that has a pink labellum and two purple petals with a yellow base and has been proven to be pollinated by bumblebees. However, the chemical and molecular bases of the floral color are not well understood. We conducted targeted metabolite profiling and transcriptomic analysis to determine the color signal and its genetic basis in P. micranthum. We found that both anthocyanins and carotenoids contribute significantly to the formation of floral color that determines the color signal. Higher concentrations of anthocyanins (cyanidin and peonidin) and carotenoids (primarily lutein and zeaxanthin) were detected in the petal compared to the labellum. The upregulation of structural genes of CHS, F3H, DFR and ANS on the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway in petals was identified, as well as three genes of LCYE, BCH, and CCD4 on the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. Furthermore, we discovered that three R2R3-MYBs and one bHLH transcription factors were co-expressed with the expression of different genes. These genes and transcription factors may be responsible for the spatial color difference of P. micranthum. Our study emphasizes that the color of this food-deceptive orchids is achieved through specific genes and transcription factors associated with the pigment biosynthesis pathway. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Floral Biology 2.0)
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12 pages, 2653 KiB  
Article
Epigenetic Modifications Related to Potato Skin Russeting
by Pawan Kumar, Yulia Kaplan, Jeffrey B. Endelman and Idit Ginzberg
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2057; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102057 - 22 May 2023
Viewed by 1691
Abstract
Potato tuber skin is a protective corky tissue consisting of suberized phellem cells. Smooth-skinned varieties are characterized by a clean, shiny appearance compared to the darker hue of russeted potatoes. The rough skin of russeted cultivars is a desired, genetically inherited characteristic; however, [...] Read more.
Potato tuber skin is a protective corky tissue consisting of suberized phellem cells. Smooth-skinned varieties are characterized by a clean, shiny appearance compared to the darker hue of russeted potatoes. The rough skin of russeted cultivars is a desired, genetically inherited characteristic; however, unwanted russeting of smooth-skinned cultivars often occurs under suboptimal growth conditions. The involvement of epigenetic modifiers in regulating the smooth skin russeting disorder was tested. We used smooth-skin commercial cultivars with and without the russeting disorder and three lines from a breeding population segregating for russeting. Anatomically, the russet skin showed similar characteristics, whether the cause was environmentally triggered or genetically determined. The old outer layers of the corky phellem remain attached to the newly formed phellem layers instead of being sloughed off. Global DNA methylation analysis indicated a significant reduction in the percentage of 5-methylcytosine in mature vs. immature skin and russet vs. smooth skin. This was true for both the smooth-skin commercial cultivars and the russeted lines. The expression level of selected DNA methyltransferases was reduced in accordance. DNA demethylase expression did not change between the skin types and age. Hence, the reduced DNA methylation in mature and russet skin is more likely to be achieved through passive DNA demethylation and loss of methyltransferase activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Beyond Mendel's Laws)
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17 pages, 2616 KiB  
Article
Effect of Various LED Light Qualities, Including Wide Red Spectrum-LED, on the Growth and Quality of Mini Red Romaine Lettuce (cv. Breen)
by Joo Hwan Lee, Yong Beom Kwon, Yoo Han Roh, In-Lee Choi, Jidong Kim, Yongduk Kim, Hyuk Sung Yoon and Ho-Min Kang
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2056; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102056 - 22 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1744
Abstract
Recently, LEDs with various light qualities have been used in closed plant factories, and they are known to have different effects on the growth and quality of crops. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the change in growth and quality in mini [...] Read more.
Recently, LEDs with various light qualities have been used in closed plant factories, and they are known to have different effects on the growth and quality of crops. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the change in growth and quality in mini red romaine lettuce using LEDs with various light qualities. Wide red spectrum (WRS)-LEDs, blue (B)-LEDs, blue + red (BR)-LEDs, red (R)-LEDs, and white (W)-LEDs were used as the artificial light sources. Regarding growth, the R-LED treatment showed the most positive effect, but the leaf shape was not normal and the Hunter b* value was not suitable because it was higher than that of the other treatments. The Hunter a*, SPAD, and NDVI values of the B- and BR-LED treatments were effective, but this was not the case for those of the R- and W-LED treatments. The anthocyanin reflectance index 1 (ARI1) was 20 times higher in the B-LED treatment than in the R-LED treatment, and the ascorbic acid content was the highest in the WRS-LED treatment. In the sensory evaluation, bitterness and sweetness showed opposite tendencies. Regarding the overall preference, the BR-LED treatment received the highest score. Correlation analysis showed that the bitterness was closely correlated with the anthocyanin content and leaf color. Taken together, BR-LEDs provided a good top fresh weight, dark red leaves, and high anthocyanin and ascorbic acid contents, with the highest overall preference; therefore, BR-LEDs were the most suitable for the cultivation of mini red romaine lettuce. Full article
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32 pages, 10774 KiB  
Review
Phytochemical Compounds Involved in the Bone Regeneration Process and Their Innovative Administration: A Systematic Review
by Alina Hanga-Farcaș, Florina Miere (Groza), Gabriela Adriana Filip, Simona Clichici, Luminita Fritea, Laura Grațiela Vicaș, Eleonora Marian, Annamaria Pallag, Tunde Jurca, Sanda Monica Filip and Mariana Eugenia Muresan
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2055; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102055 - 22 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2564
Abstract
Bone metabolism is a complex process which is influenced by the activity of bone cells (e.g., osteocytes, osteoblasts, osteoclasts); the effect of some specific biomarkers (e.g., parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, osteopontin, osteoprotegerin, osterix, RANKL, Runx2); and the characteristic signaling pathways [...] Read more.
Bone metabolism is a complex process which is influenced by the activity of bone cells (e.g., osteocytes, osteoblasts, osteoclasts); the effect of some specific biomarkers (e.g., parathyroid hormone, vitamin D, alkaline phosphatase, osteocalcin, osteopontin, osteoprotegerin, osterix, RANKL, Runx2); and the characteristic signaling pathways (e.g., RANKL/RANK, Wnt/β, Notch, BMP, SMAD). Some phytochemical compounds—such as flavonoids, tannins, polyphenols, anthocyanins, terpenoids, polysaccharides, alkaloids and others—presented a beneficial and stimulating effect in the bone regeneration process due to the pro-estrogenic activity, the antioxidant and the anti-inflammatory effect and modulation of bone signaling pathways. Lately, nanomedicine has emerged as an innovative concept for new treatments in bone-related pathologies envisaged through the incorporation of medicinal substances in nanometric systems for oral or local administration, as well as in nanostructured scaffolds with huge potential in bone tissue engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plant Extracts)
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17 pages, 3431 KiB  
Article
Integrated Full-Length Transcriptome and Metabolome Profiling Reveals Flavonoid Regulation in Response to Freezing Stress in Potato
by Zhiguo Zhu, Lingling Wei, Lei Guo, Huihui Bao, Xuemei Wang, Philip Kear, Zhen Wang and Guangtao Zhu
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2054; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102054 - 22 May 2023
Viewed by 1248
Abstract
Cold stress impairs plant growth and development, resulting in crop failure. Cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is sensitive to freezing, while its wild relative, S. commersonii, has a strong freezing tolerance. To decipher the anti-freezing mechanism of CM, we carried out [...] Read more.
Cold stress impairs plant growth and development, resulting in crop failure. Cultivated potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is sensitive to freezing, while its wild relative, S. commersonii, has a strong freezing tolerance. To decipher the anti-freezing mechanism of CM, we carried out a transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of an anti-freezing variety of CM (a type of S. commersonii) and a freeze-sensitive variety of DM (a type of Solanum tuberosum L.). A total of 49,232 high-quality transcripts from 12,811 gene loci, including 46,772 coding sequences and 2018 non-coding RNAs, were identified. KEEG enrichment analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between the two varieties showed that the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway was strongly induced by freezing stress, which was proven by flavonoid metabolome analysis. Consistent with the accumulation of more flavonoids, nearly all the pathway genes were significantly upregulated in CM than those in DM. The transcript levels of two chalcone synthase (CHS-1) isoforms and four isoforms of flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase (F3′H-1) were confirmed by qRT-PCR. Co-expression analysis identified one Myb-related and three UGTs (UDP-glycosyltransferase) that were significantly upregulated in CM during freezing stress. Our findings support that the flavonoid pathway was significantly enhanced by freezing stress and the greater accumulation ofglycosylatedflavonoids in resistant types than that of sensitive types, maybe accounting for the increased freezing tolerance of freeze-resistant potato varieties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology)
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17 pages, 1432 KiB  
Article
Close-to-Nature Silviculture to Maintain a Relict Population of White Oak on Etna Volcano (Sicily, Italy): Preliminary Results of a Peculiar Case Study
by Sebastiano Sferlazza, Guglielmo Londi, Donato Salvatore La Mela Veca, Federico Guglielmo Maetzke, Salvatore Vinciguerra and Giovanni Spampinato
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2053; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102053 - 22 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1666
Abstract
Habitat loss is a potential long-term effect of projected climate change for Mediterranean forest ecosystems. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of a close-to-nature silvicultural practice to conserve an old-growth white oak forest patch in Sicily (Italy) and promote regeneration dynamics. The study area, [...] Read more.
Habitat loss is a potential long-term effect of projected climate change for Mediterranean forest ecosystems. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of a close-to-nature silvicultural practice to conserve an old-growth white oak forest patch in Sicily (Italy) and promote regeneration dynamics. The study area, although small, is distinctive for its isolation, position and environmental characteristics. We conducted a Before–After Control–Impact (BACI) study to analyse the responses of different taxonomic groups (vascular plants and birds) to silvicultural treatments (selection thinning, no thinning), and to determine whether close-to-nature silviculture practices may cause significant shifts in the investigated communities. Specifically, we assessed the responses of (1) vascular plants by means of species diversity and taxonomic distinctness indices and (2) birds in terms of diversity, abundance and forest specialisation. Preliminary results suggest that cautious close-to-nature silviculture practice could—by mimicking natural gap dynamics—contribute to maintaining old-growth forest patches and promote oak seedling emergence without short-term detrimental impacts on biodiversity. Although the monitoring has to be repeated over the long-term, the multi-taxon approach and indices incorporating information on taxonomic relationships into diversity measures were demonstrated to be valuable tools for interpreting biotic community structure and dynamics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Conservation Biology and Ecology of Forest Woody Species)
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17 pages, 3673 KiB  
Article
Integrated Transcriptome and Metabolome Analyses Reveal Details of the Molecular Regulation of Resistance to Stem Nematode in Sweet Potato
by Shouchen Qiao, Jukui Ma, Yannan Wang, Jingwei Chen, Zhihe Kang, Qianqian Bian, Jinjin Chen, Yumeng Yin, Guozheng Cao, Guorui Zhao, Guohong Yang, Houjun Sun and Yufeng Yang
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2052; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102052 - 22 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1228
Abstract
Stem nematode disease can seriously reduce the yield of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam). To explore resistance mechanism to stem nematode in sweet potato, transcriptomes and metabolomes were sequenced and compared between two sweet potato cultivars, the resistant Zhenghong 22 and [...] Read more.
Stem nematode disease can seriously reduce the yield of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam). To explore resistance mechanism to stem nematode in sweet potato, transcriptomes and metabolomes were sequenced and compared between two sweet potato cultivars, the resistant Zhenghong 22 and susceptible Longshu 9, at different times after stem nematode infection. In the transcriptional regulatory pathway, mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling was initiated in Zhenghong 22 at the early stage of infection to activate genes related to ethylene production. Stem nematode infection in Zhenghong 22 also triggered fatty acid metabolism and the activity of respiratory burst oxidase in the metabolic pathway, which further stimulated the glycolytic and shikimic pathways to provide raw materials for secondary metabolite biosynthesis. An integrated analysis of the secondary metabolic regulation pathway in the resistant cultivar Zhenghong 22 revealed the accumulation of tryptophan, phenylalanine, and tyrosine, leading to increased biosynthesis of phenylpropanoids and salicylic acid and enhanced activity of the alkaloid pathway. Stem nematode infection also activated the biosynthesis of terpenoids, abscisic acid, zeatin, indole, and brassinosteroid, resulting in improved resistance to stem nematode. Finally, analyses of the resistance regulation pathway and a weighted gene co-expression network analysis highlighted the importance of the genes itf14g17940 and itf12g18840, encoding a leucine-rich receptor-like protein and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate synthase, respectively. These are candidate target genes for increasing the strength of the defense response. These results provide new ideas and a theoretical basis for understanding the mechanism of resistance to stem nematode in sweet potato. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Molecular Role of Plant Receptors in Resistance to Biotic Stress)
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15 pages, 3725 KiB  
Article
A Study of GUS Expression in Arabidopsis as a Tool for the Evaluation of Gene Evolution, Function and the Role of Expression Derived from Gene Duplication
by Leonardo Bruno, Matteo Ronchini, Giorgio Binelli, Antonella Muto, Adriana Chiappetta, Maria Beatrice Bitonti and Paolo Gerola
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2051; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102051 - 22 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1376
Abstract
Gene duplication played a fundamental role in eukaryote evolution and different copies of a given gene can be present in extant species, often with expressions and functions differentiated during evolution. We assume that, when such differentiation occurs in a gene copy, this may [...] Read more.
Gene duplication played a fundamental role in eukaryote evolution and different copies of a given gene can be present in extant species, often with expressions and functions differentiated during evolution. We assume that, when such differentiation occurs in a gene copy, this may be indicated by its maintenance in all the derived species. To verify this hypothesis, we compared the histological expression domains of the three β-glucuronidase genes (AtGUS) present in Arabidopsis thaliana with the GUS evolutionary tree in angiosperms. We found that AtGUS gene expression overlaps in the shoot apex, the floral bud and the root hairs. In the root apex, AtGUS3 expression differs completely from AtGUS1 and AtGUS2, whose transcripts are present in the root cap meristem and columella, in the staminal cell niche, in the epidermis and in the proximal cortex. Conversely, AtGUS3 transcripts are limited to the old border-like cells of calyptra and those found along the protodermal cell line. The GUS evolutionary tree reveals that the two main clusters (named GUS1 and GUS3) originate from a duplication event predating angiosperm radiation. AtGUS3 belongs to the GUS3 cluster, while AtGUS1 and AtGUS2, which originate from a duplication event that occurred in an ancestor of the Brassicaceae family, are found together in the GUS1 cluster. There is another, previously undescribed cluster, called GUS4, originating from a very ancient duplication event. While the copy of GUS4 has been lost in many species, copies of GUS3 and GUS1 have been conserved in all species examined. Full article
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17 pages, 9736 KiB  
Article
12-Oxophytodienoate Reductase Overexpression Compromises Tolerance to Botrytis cinerea in Hexaploid and Tetraploid Wheat
by Evgeny Degtyaryov, Alexey Pigolev, Dmitry Miroshnichenko, Andrej Frolov, Adi Ti Basnet, Daria Gorbach, Tatiana Leonova, Alexander S. Pushin, Valeriya Alekseeva, Sergey Dolgov and Tatyana Savchenko
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2050; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102050 - 22 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1782
Abstract
12-Oxophytodienoate reductase is the enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of phytohormone jasmonates, which are considered to be the major regulators of plant tolerance to biotic challenges, especially necrotrophic pathogens. However, we observe compromised tolerance to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea in transgenic [...] Read more.
12-Oxophytodienoate reductase is the enzyme involved in the biosynthesis of phytohormone jasmonates, which are considered to be the major regulators of plant tolerance to biotic challenges, especially necrotrophic pathogens. However, we observe compromised tolerance to the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Botrytis cinerea in transgenic hexaploid bread wheat and tetraploid emmer wheat plants overexpressing 12-OXOPHYTODIENOATE REDUCTASE-3 gene from Arabidopsis thaliana, while in Arabidopsis plants themselves, endogenously produced and exogenously applied jasmonates exert a strong protective effect against B. cinerea. Exogenous application of methyl jasmonate on hexaploid and tetraploid wheat leaves suppresses tolerance to B. cinerea and induces the formation of chlorotic damages. Exogenous treatment with methyl jasmonate in concentrations of 100 µM and higher causes leaf yellowing even in the absence of the pathogen, in agreement with findings on the role of jasmonates in the regulation of leaf senescence. Thereby, the present study demonstrates the negative role of the jasmonate system in hexaploid and tetraploid wheat tolerance to B. cinerea and reveals previously unknown jasmonate-mediated responses. Full article
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12 pages, 6268 KiB  
Article
Shift in the Light Quality of Night Interruption Affects Flowering and Morphogenesis of Petunia hybrida
by Yoo Gyeong Park and Byoung Ryong Jeong
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2049; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102049 - 21 May 2023
Viewed by 1192
Abstract
Petunia hybrida Hort. “Easy Wave Pink”, a qualitative long-day plant (LDP), was investigated to study the effects of the night interruption light (NIL) provided by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) quality shifting on the morphogenesis, blooming, and transcription of photoreceptor genes. Plants were grown in [...] Read more.
Petunia hybrida Hort. “Easy Wave Pink”, a qualitative long-day plant (LDP), was investigated to study the effects of the night interruption light (NIL) provided by light-emitting diodes (LEDs) quality shifting on the morphogenesis, blooming, and transcription of photoreceptor genes. Plants were grown in a closed-type plant factory employing white (W) LEDs at an intensity of 180 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD provided for short day (SD, 10 h light, 14 h dark), long day (LD, 16 h light, 8 h dark), or SD with 4 h night interruption (NI) with LEDs at an intensity of 10 μmol·m−2·s−1 PPFD. The NIL quality was shifted from one light spectrum to another after the first 2 h of NI. Light treatments consisting of all possible pairings of W, far-red (Fr), red (R), and blue (B) light were tested. The SD and LD were referenced as the control, while 12 NI treatments involved altering LED NIL qualities, as follows: from R to B (NI-RB), from B to R (NI-BR), from Fr to R (NI-FrR), from R to Fr (NI-RFr), from Fr to B (NI-FrB), from B to Fr (NI-BFr), from B to W (NI-BW), from W to B (NI-WB), from W to Fr (NI-WFr), from Fr to W (NI-FrW), from W to R (NI-WR), and from R to W (NI-RW). The NI-RFr resulted in the longest shoots, while the NI-WR and NI-RW resulted in the shortest shoots. NI-WR, NI-RW, NI-BW, NI-WB, NI-RFr, NI-RB, NI-BR, and LD all exhibited flowering. High-level expressions of photoreceptor genes were confirmed in the NI-RFr, NI-FrR, NI-BFr, NI-RW, and NI-WR treatments. Morphogenesis and blooming were both impacted by the photoperiod. The first NIL had no effects on the flowering or the morphogenesis, but the second NIL had a profound impact on both. Full article
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21 pages, 4940 KiB  
Article
Genome-Wide Identification, Expression and Stress Analysis of the GRAS Gene Family in Phoebe bournei
by Jiarui Chang, Dunjin Fan, Shuoxian Lan, Shengze Cheng, Shipin Chen, Yuling Lin and Shijiang Cao
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2048; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102048 - 21 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1362
Abstract
GRAS genes are important transcriptional regulators in plants that govern plant growth and development through enhancing plant hormones, biosynthesis, and signaling pathways. Drought and other abiotic factors may influence the defenses and growth of Phoebe bournei, which is a superb timber source [...] Read more.
GRAS genes are important transcriptional regulators in plants that govern plant growth and development through enhancing plant hormones, biosynthesis, and signaling pathways. Drought and other abiotic factors may influence the defenses and growth of Phoebe bournei, which is a superb timber source for the construction industry and building exquisite furniture. Although genome-wide identification of the GRAS gene family has been completed in many species, that of most woody plants, particularly P. bournei, has not yet begun. We performed a genome-wide investigation of 56 PbGRAS genes, which are unequally distributed across 12 chromosomes. They are divided into nine subclades. Furthermore, these 56 PbGRAS genes have a substantial number of components related to abiotic stress responses or phytohormone transmission. Analysis using qRT-PCR showed that the expression of four PbGRAS genes, namely PbGRAS7, PbGRAS10, PbGRAS14 and PbGRAS16, was differentially increased in response to drought, salt and temperature stresses, respectively. We hypothesize that they may help P. bournei to successfully resist harsh environmental disturbances. In this work, we conducted a comprehensive survey of the GRAS gene family in P. bournei plants, and the results provide an extensive and preliminary resource for further clarification of the molecular mechanisms of the GRAS gene family in P. bournei in response to abiotic stresses and forestry improvement. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in Horticultural Plant Genomics)
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14 pages, 1770 KiB  
Article
Optimization of One-Time Fertilization Scheme Achieved the Balance of Yield, Quality and Economic Benefits of Direct-Seeded Rice
by Shuang Cheng, Zhipeng Xing, Chao Tian, Wen’an Weng, Qun Hu and Hongcheng Zhang
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2047; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102047 - 21 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1098
Abstract
There is limited information available to assess the impact of one-time fertilization on the yield, quality, and economic benefits of direct-seeded rice. This study reports the effects of three one-time fertilizer treatments (BBU1, BBU2, and BBU3) on the yield, quality, and economic benefits [...] Read more.
There is limited information available to assess the impact of one-time fertilization on the yield, quality, and economic benefits of direct-seeded rice. This study reports the effects of three one-time fertilizer treatments (BBU1, BBU2, and BBU3) on the yield, quality, and economic benefits of direct-seeded rice, where controlled-release nitrogen (N) fertilizer (CRNF) provided 50%, 60%, and 70% of the total N (270 kg N ha−1), and the control treatment (CK) was a split application of conventional urea (CU). The results showed that the yield of direct-seeded rice decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with the increased application ratio of CRNF under one-time fertilization, which was mainly related to N accumulation between the heading time and maturity stages. Compared to CK, the one-time fertilization treatments (BBU1, BBU2, and BBU3) maintained high milling quality, with significantly reduced chalkiness (p < 0.05), which could be related to the slow rate of N release from the CRNF. In addition, the one-time fertilization treatments reduced the protein content and increased the amylose content of the milled rice, which significantly improved the eating quality (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was no significant difference in yield and economic benefit between BBUI and CK (p > 0.05). Overall, CRNF replacing conventional urea with 50% total N could be helpful to reduce fertilization frequency, achieve high yield and high economic efficiency, and improve rice quality of direct-seeded rice under one-time fertilization. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Crop Physiology and Crop Production)
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14 pages, 7010 KiB  
Article
Impact of Insect-Resistant Transgenic Maize 2A-7 on Diversity and Dynamics of Bacterial Communities in Rhizosphere Soil
by Xiaohui Xu, Xin Liu, Fan Li, Chaofeng Hao, Hongwei Sun, Shuke Yang, Yue Jiao and Xingbo Lu
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2046; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102046 - 21 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1158
Abstract
Artificial modification of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins can effectively improve their resistance to target pests, but the effect of such modification on the diversity of rhizosphere microorganisms remains unclear. Transgenic maize 2A-7 contains two artificially modified Bt proteins, mCry1Ab and mCry2Ab. These proteins [...] Read more.
Artificial modification of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) proteins can effectively improve their resistance to target pests, but the effect of such modification on the diversity of rhizosphere microorganisms remains unclear. Transgenic maize 2A-7 contains two artificially modified Bt proteins, mCry1Ab and mCry2Ab. These proteins can enter soil and pose a potential threat to soil microbial diversity. To assess their impacts on rhizosphere bacteria communities, the contents of the two Bt proteins and changes in bacterial community diversity in the rhizosphere soils of transgenic maize 2A-7 and its control variety were analyzed at different growth stages in 2020. The results showed that the two Bt proteins were detected at low levels in the rhizosphere soils of 2A-7 plants. No significant differences in soil bacterial diversity were detected between 2A-7 and its control variety at any of the growth stages. Bioinformatics analysis indicated that the growth stage, rather than the cultivar, was the main factor causing changes in bacterial communities. This research provides valuable data for understanding the impact of Bt crops on the soil microbiome, and establishes a theoretical basis for evaluation of their safety. Full article
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16 pages, 1202 KiB  
Review
GASA Proteins: Review of Their Functions in Plant Environmental Stress Tolerance
by Mohamed Taieb Bouteraa, Walid Ben Romdhane, Narjes Baazaoui, Mohammad Y. Alfaifi, Yosra Chouaibi, Bouthaina Ben Akacha, Anis Ben Hsouna, Miroslava Kačániová, Sanja Ćavar Zeljković, Stefania Garzoli and Rania Ben Saad
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2045; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102045 - 21 May 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1790
Abstract
Gibberellic acid-stimulated Arabidopsis (GASA) gene family is a class of functional cysteine-rich proteins characterized by an N-terminal signal peptide and a C-terminal-conserved GASA domain with 12 invariant cysteine (Cys) residues. GASA proteins are widely distributed among plant species, and the majority [...] Read more.
Gibberellic acid-stimulated Arabidopsis (GASA) gene family is a class of functional cysteine-rich proteins characterized by an N-terminal signal peptide and a C-terminal-conserved GASA domain with 12 invariant cysteine (Cys) residues. GASA proteins are widely distributed among plant species, and the majority of them are involved in the signal transmission of plant hormones, the regulation of plant development and growth, and the responses to different environmental constraints. To date, their action mechanisms are not completely elucidated. This review reports an overview of the diversity, structure, and subcellular localization of GASA proteins, their involvement in hormone crosstalk and redox regulation during development, and plant responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. Knowledge of this complex regulation can be a contribution to promoting multiple abiotic stress tolerance with potential agricultural applications through the engineering of genes encoding GASA proteins and the production of transgenic plants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change)
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16 pages, 2799 KiB  
Article
Genomic Evaluation of Coffea arabica and Its Wild Relative Coffea racemosa in Mozambique: Settling Resilience Keys for the Coffee Crop in the Context of Climate Change
by Inocência da Piedade Ernesto Tapaça, Lopes Mavuque, Riccardo Corti, Samuele Pedrazzani, Ivete S. A. Maquia, Castigo Tongai, Fábio Luiz Partelli, José C. Ramalho, Isabel Marques and Ana I. Ribeiro-Barros
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2044; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102044 - 20 May 2023
Viewed by 1898
Abstract
Climate change is negatively affecting the coffee value chain, with a direct effect on approximately 100 million people from 80 countries. This has been attributed to the high vulnerability of the two-mainstream species, Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora, to extreme weather events, [...] Read more.
Climate change is negatively affecting the coffee value chain, with a direct effect on approximately 100 million people from 80 countries. This has been attributed to the high vulnerability of the two-mainstream species, Coffea arabica and Coffea canephora, to extreme weather events, with notable uneven increases in market prices. Taking into account the narrow genetic plasticity of the commercial coffee cultivars, wild-relatives and underutilized Coffea species are valuable genetic resources. In this work, we have assessed the occurrence of Coffea species in to understand the degree of genetic relationships between Coffea species in the country, as well as the patterns of genetic diversity, differentiation, and genetic structure. Only one wild species was found, C. racemosa, which showed a high level of genetic separation with C. arabica, based on plastid, as well as SSR and SNP analysis. C. arabica presented low levels of diversity likely related to their autogamous nature, while the allogamous C. racemosa presented higher levels of diversity and heterozygosity. The analysis of the functional pathways based on SNPs suggests that the stress signaling pathways are more robust in this species. This novel approach shows that it is vital to introduce more resilient species and increase genomic diversity in climate-smart practices. Full article
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13 pages, 1216 KiB  
Article
The Influence of Chestnut Extract and Its Components on Antibacterial Activity against Staphylococcus aureus
by Sara Štumpf, Gregor Hostnik, Tomaž Langerholc, Maša Pintarič, Zala Kolenc and Urban Bren
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2043; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102043 - 20 May 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1449
Abstract
Increasing antimicrobial resistance has caused a great interest in natural products as alternatives or potentiators of antibiotics. The objective of this study was to isolate individual tannins from crude chestnut extract as well as to determine the influence of both crude extracts (tannic [...] Read more.
Increasing antimicrobial resistance has caused a great interest in natural products as alternatives or potentiators of antibiotics. The objective of this study was to isolate individual tannins from crude chestnut extract as well as to determine the influence of both crude extracts (tannic acid extract, chestnut extract) and individual pure tannins (gallic acid, vescalin, vescalagin, castalin, castalagin) on the growth of Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Their antibacterial activity was monitored by measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) as well as the duration of the lag phase, growth rate and generation time. The effect of growth medium strength on the MIC of different tannins was also investigated. Bacterial growth was followed spectrophotometrically, and MIC values were determined by the microdilution method. The MIC values of various isolated compounds allowed us to determine the bioactive compounds and their contribution to antimicrobial activity. It was found that MIC values increase with increasing growth medium strength and that the lag phase lengthens with increasing tannin concentrations, while the growth rates decrease. Comparing the results of the two studies, the antimicrobial activity of tannins against S. aureus was not as pronounced as in the case of E. coli, which may indicate that a different mechanism of action is responsible for the antimicrobial effects of tannins on Gram-positive than on Gram-negative bacteria, or that a different mechanism is more pronounced. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Composition and Biological Activity)
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16 pages, 4146 KiB  
Article
Laws Governing Nitrogen Loss and Its Numerical Simulation in the Sloping Farmland of the Miyun Reservoir
by Yan Li, Liang Jin, Jiajun Wu, Chuanqi Shi, Shuo Li, Jianzhi Xie, Zhizhuang An, Linna Suo, Jianli Ding, Dan Wei and Lei Wang
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2042; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102042 - 19 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 802
Abstract
Surface flow (SF) and subsurface flow (SSF) are important hydrological processes occurring on slopes, and are driven by two main factors: rainfall intensity and slope gradient. To explore nitrogen (N) migration and loss from sloping farmland in the Miyun Reservoir, the characteristics of [...] Read more.
Surface flow (SF) and subsurface flow (SSF) are important hydrological processes occurring on slopes, and are driven by two main factors: rainfall intensity and slope gradient. To explore nitrogen (N) migration and loss from sloping farmland in the Miyun Reservoir, the characteristics of total nitrogen (TN) migration and loss via SF and SSF under different rainfall intensities (30, 40, 50, 60, 70, and 80 mm/h) and slope gradients (5°, 10°, and 15°) were studied using indoor stimulated rainfall tests and mathematical models. Nitrogen loss via SF and SSF was found to increase exponentially and linearly with time, respectively, with SSF showing 14–78 times higher loss than SF. Under different rainfall intensities, SSF generally had larger TN loss loading than SF, thereby indicating that SSF was the main route for TN loss. However, the TN loss loading proportion via SF increasing from 14.03% to 35.82% with increasing rainfall intensity is noteworthy. Furthermore, compared with the measurement data, the precision evaluation index Nash-Suttcliffe efficient (NSE) and the determination coefficient (R2) of the effective mixing depth model in the numerical simulation of TN loss through SF in the sloping farmland in the Miyun Reservoir were 0.74 and 0.831, respectively, whereas those of the convection-dispersion equation for SSF were 0.81 and 0.811, respectively, thus indicating good simulation results. Therefore, this paper provides a reference for studying the mechanism of N migration and loss in sloping farmland in the Miyun Reservoir. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water and Nitrogen Management in Soil-Crop System)
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22 pages, 4091 KiB  
Article
Foliar Phenotypic Plasticity Reflects Adaptation to Environmental Variability
by William W. Adams III, Jared J. Stewart, Stephanie K. Polutchko, Christopher M. Cohu, Onno Muller and Barbara Demmig-Adams
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2041; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102041 - 19 May 2023
Viewed by 1435
Abstract
Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes adapted to native habitats with different daylengths, temperatures, and precipitation were grown experimentally under seven combinations of light intensity and leaf temperature to assess their acclimatory phenotypic plasticity in foliar structure and function. There were no differences among ecotypes when [...] Read more.
Arabidopsis thaliana ecotypes adapted to native habitats with different daylengths, temperatures, and precipitation were grown experimentally under seven combinations of light intensity and leaf temperature to assess their acclimatory phenotypic plasticity in foliar structure and function. There were no differences among ecotypes when plants developed under moderate conditions of 400 µmol photons m−2 s−1 and 25 °C. However, in response to more extreme light or temperature regimes, ecotypes that evolved in habitats with pronounced differences in either the magnitude of changes in daylength or temperature or in precipitation level exhibited pronounced adjustments in photosynthesis and transpiration, as well as anatomical traits supporting these functions. Specifically, when grown under extremes of light intensity (100 versus 1000 µmol photons m−2 s−1) or temperature (8 °C versus 35 °C), ecotypes from sites with the greatest range of daylengths and temperature over the growing season exhibited the greatest differences in functional and structural features related to photosynthesis (light- and CO2-saturated capacity of oxygen evolution, leaf dry mass per area or thickness, phloem cells per minor vein, and water-use efficiency of CO2 uptake). On the other hand, the ecotype from the habitat with the lowest precipitation showed the greatest plasticity in features related to water transport and loss (vein density, ratio of water to sugar conduits in foliar minor veins, and transpiration rate). Despite these differences, common structure–function relationships existed across all ecotypes and growth conditions, with significant positive, linear correlations (i) between photosynthetic capacity (ranging from 10 to 110 µmol O2 m−2 s−1) and leaf dry mass per area (from 10 to 75 g m−2), leaf thickness (from 170 to 500 µm), and carbohydrate-export infrastructure (from 6 to 14 sieve elements per minor vein, from 2.5 to 8 µm2 cross-sectional area per sieve element, and from 16 to 82 µm2 cross-sectional area of sieve elements per minor vein); (ii) between transpiration rate (from 1 to 17 mmol H2O m−2 s−1) and water-transport infrastructure (from 3.5 to 8 tracheary elements per minor vein, from 13.5 to 28 µm2 cross-sectional area per tracheary element, and from 55 to 200 µm2 cross-sectional area of tracheary elements per minor vein); (iii) between the ratio of transpirational water loss to CO2 fixation (from 0.2 to 0.7 mol H2O to mmol−1 CO2) and the ratio of water to sugar conduits in minor veins (from 0.4 to 1.1 tracheary to sieve elements, from 4 to 6 µm2 cross-sectional area of tracheary to sieve elements, and from 2 to 6 µm2 cross-sectional area of tracheary elements to sieve elements per minor vein); (iv) between sugar conduits and sugar-loading cells; and (v) between water conducting and sugar conducting cells. Additionally, the proportion of water conduits to sugar conduits was greater for all ecotypes grown experimentally under warm-to-hot versus cold temperature. Thus, developmental acclimation to the growth environment included ecotype-dependent foliar structural and functional adjustments resulting in multiple common structural and functional relationships. Full article
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42 pages, 8517 KiB  
Review
Leguminous Seedborne Pathogens: Seed Health and Sustainable Crop Management
by Eliana Dell’Olmo, Antonio Tiberini and Loredana Sigillo
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2040; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102040 - 19 May 2023
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2120
Abstract
Pulses have gained popularity over the past few decades due to their use as a source of protein in food and their favorable impact on soil fertility. Despite being essential to modern agriculture, these species face a number of challenges, such as agronomic [...] Read more.
Pulses have gained popularity over the past few decades due to their use as a source of protein in food and their favorable impact on soil fertility. Despite being essential to modern agriculture, these species face a number of challenges, such as agronomic crop management and threats from plant seed pathogens. This review’s goal is to gather information on the distribution, symptomatology, biology, and host range of seedborne pathogens. Important diagnostic techniques are also discussed as a part of a successful process of seed health certification. Additionally, strategies for sustainable control are provided. Altogether, the data collected are suggested as basic criteria to set up a conscious laboratory approach. Full article
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18 pages, 2376 KiB  
Article
Influence of Planting Density on Sweet Potato Storage Root Formation by Regulating Carbohydrate and Lignin Metabolism
by Qinggan Liang, Hongrong Chen, Hailong Chang, Yi Liu, Qinnan Wang, Jiantao Wu, Yonghua Liu, Sunjeet Kumar, Yue Chen, Yanli Chen and Guopeng Zhu
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2039; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102039 - 19 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1366
Abstract
An appropriate planting density could realize the maximum yield potential of crops, but the mechanism of sweet potato storage root formation in response to planting density is still rarely investigated. Four planting densities, namely D15, D20, D25, and D30, were set for 2-year [...] Read more.
An appropriate planting density could realize the maximum yield potential of crops, but the mechanism of sweet potato storage root formation in response to planting density is still rarely investigated. Four planting densities, namely D15, D20, D25, and D30, were set for 2-year and two-site field experiments to investigate the carbohydrate and lignin metabolism in potential storage roots and its relationship with the storage root number, yield, and commercial characteristics at the harvest period. The results showed that an appropriate planting density (D20 treatment) stimulated cambium cell differentiation, which increased carbohydrate accumulation and inhibited lignin biosynthesis in potential storage roots. At canopy closure, the D20 treatment produced more storage roots, particularly developing ones. It increased the yield by 10.18–19.73% compared with the control D25 treatment and improved the commercial features by decreasing the storage root length/diameter ratio and increasing the storage root weight uniformity. This study provides a theoretical basis for the high-value production of sweet potato. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Ecophysiology of Root Systems-Environment Interaction)
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17 pages, 3881 KiB  
Article
Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis of Selenium Treated Alfalfa Reveals Influence on Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis to Enhance Growth
by Fengdan Wang, Jie Yang, Yi Hua, Kexin Wang, Yue Guo, Yalin Lu, Siqi Zhu, Pan Zhang and Guofu Hu
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2038; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102038 - 19 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1440
Abstract
Selenium (Se) plays an important role in the growth of plants. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial legume forage crop with high nutritional value and Se-rich functions. Many studies have shown that selenium can promote alfalfa growth, but few have explored [...] Read more.
Selenium (Se) plays an important role in the growth of plants. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial legume forage crop with high nutritional value and Se-rich functions. Many studies have shown that selenium can promote alfalfa growth, but few have explored the molecular biology mechanisms behind this effect. In this study, alfalfa was divided into two groups. One group was sprayed with sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) and the other group was sprayed with distilled water as a control. This study determined the growth, reproductive traits, physiological changes, transcriptome and metabolome of both groups of alfalfa. We found that foliar spraying of 100 mg/L Na2SeO3 could significantly increase the growth rate, dry weight, total Se content, amount of pollen per flower, pollen viability, pod spirals, and seed number per pod of alfalfa plants. The level of chlorophyll, soluble protein, proline, and glutathione also increased dramatically in Na2SeO3-sprayed alfalfa seedlings. After transcriptome and metabolome analysis, a total of 614 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 1500 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), including 26 secondary differentially metabolites were identified. The DEGs were mainly enriched in MAPK signaling pathway, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, isoflavonoid biosynthesis, cutin, suberine, and wax biosynthesis, and glycerolipid metabolism. The DEMs were mainly enriched in flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, carbon metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Integrative analysis of transcriptome and metabolome showed that the foliar spraying of Na2SeO3 mainly affects phenylpropanoid biosynthesis to promote alfalfa growth. Full article
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17 pages, 4532 KiB  
Article
Mechanism of Mepiquat Chloride Regulating Soybean Response to Drought Stress Revealed by Proteomics
by Shoukun Dong, Xin Wang, Xiaomei Li, Yumei Tian, Xinyu Zhou, Zhipeng Qu, Xiyue Wang and Lijun Liu
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2037; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102037 - 19 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1086
Abstract
Soybeans are the main sources of oil and protein for most of the global population. As the population grows, so does the demand for soybeans. However, drought is a major factor that limits soybean production. Regulating soybean response to drought stress using mepiquat [...] Read more.
Soybeans are the main sources of oil and protein for most of the global population. As the population grows, so does the demand for soybeans. However, drought is a major factor that limits soybean production. Regulating soybean response to drought stress using mepiquat chloride (MC) is a feasible method; however, its mechanism is still unclear. This study used PEG-6000 to simulate drought stress and quantitative proteomic techniques to reveal changes in Heinong44 (HN44) and Heinong65 (HN65) subjected to drought following the application of 100 mg/L of MC. The results showed that SOD in HN44 did not change significantly but decreased by 22.61% in HN65 after MC pretreatment, and MDA content decreased by 22.75% and 21.54% in HN44 and HN65, respectively. Furthermore, MC improved the GSH–ASA cycle and simultaneously promoted the Calvin cycle process to enable the plant to maintain a certain carbon assimilation rate under osmotic stress. In addition, MC upregulated some proteins during gluconeogenesis and starch metabolism and increased soluble sugar content by 8.41% in HN44. MC also reduced ribosomal protein abundance, affecting translation and amino acid metabolism. In summary, MC improved GSH–ASA cycle and Calvin cycle under stress to alleviate oxidative damage and maintain crop growth. Our study is the first to report the mechanism of MC regulation in soybean under osmotic stress, providing new insights for the rational application of MC in soybean. Full article
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14 pages, 3196 KiB  
Article
Analysis of MsTERT Gene Expression Profile in Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) Indicates Their Response to Abiotic Stress and Seed Aging
by Shoujiang Sun, Wen Ma and Peisheng Mao
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2036; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102036 - 19 May 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1285
Abstract
Seed aging is always taken as a crucial factor for vigor loss due to delayed seed germination and seedling growth, which limits hay production. Many studies have found that telomeres are closely related to abiotic stress and seed vigor. However, the molecular mechanism [...] Read more.
Seed aging is always taken as a crucial factor for vigor loss due to delayed seed germination and seedling growth, which limits hay production. Many studies have found that telomeres are closely related to abiotic stress and seed vigor. However, the molecular mechanism of telomeres’ response to abiotic stress, seed vigor, and the maintenance mechanism of plant telomere homeostasis still remain unclear. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) enjoys the title of “King of Forage”, and is an important protein forage for the dairy industry as planted in the world. This comprehensive investigation was performed to explore the molecular characterization, phylogenetic relationship, and gene expression analysis of MsTERT under abiotic stress and during seed aging in alfalfa. In this study, MsTERT was identified from the ‘Zhongmu 1’ alfalfa genome and encoded a coding sequence (CDS) of 3615 bp in length, consisting of telomerase- RNA-Binding Domain (RBD) and Reverse Transcriptase (RT) domains, 1024 amino acids, an isoelectric point of 9.58, and a relative molecular mass of 138.94 kD. Subcellular localization showed that MsTERT was mainly localized in the nucleus and mitochondria. The results of the expression profile showed that MsTERT was observed to respond to various stress conditions such as salt (100 mmol/L NaCl) and drought (20% PEG 6000). Furthermore, exogenous hormones IAA, ABA, and GA3 showed the potential to affect MsTERT expression. Additionally, MsTERT also responded to seed aging. Our results revealed a marginal but significant association between relative telomere length, MsTERT expression, and seed germination percentage, suggesting that the length of telomeres was shortened, and expression of MsTERT decreased with alfalfa seed aged. These results provide some evidence for the hypothesis of relative telomere length and/or TERT expression serving as biomarkers of seed aging. Although this finding is helpful to offer a new way to elucidate the molecular mechanism of vigor loss in alfalfa seed, further investigation is required to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which the MsTERT gene regulates seed vigor. Full article
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22 pages, 5071 KiB  
Article
Machine Learning Methods for Automatic Segmentation of Images of Field- and Glasshouse-Based Plants for High-Throughput Phenotyping
by Frank Gyan Okyere, Daniel Cudjoe, Pouria Sadeghi-Tehran, Nicolas Virlet, Andrew B. Riche, March Castle, Latifa Greche, Fady Mohareb, Daniel Simms, Manal Mhada and Malcolm John Hawkesford
Plants 2023, 12(10), 2035; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102035 - 19 May 2023
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2150
Abstract
Image segmentation is a fundamental but critical step for achieving automated high- throughput phenotyping. While conventional segmentation methods perform well in homogenous environments, the performance decreases when used in more complex environments. This study aimed to develop a fast and robust neural-network-based segmentation [...] Read more.
Image segmentation is a fundamental but critical step for achieving automated high- throughput phenotyping. While conventional segmentation methods perform well in homogenous environments, the performance decreases when used in more complex environments. This study aimed to develop a fast and robust neural-network-based segmentation tool to phenotype plants in both field and glasshouse environments in a high-throughput manner. Digital images of cowpea (from glasshouse) and wheat (from field) with different nutrient supplies across their full growth cycle were acquired. Image patches from 20 randomly selected images from the acquired dataset were transformed from their original RGB format to multiple color spaces. The pixels in the patches were annotated as foreground and background with a pixel having a feature vector of 24 color properties. A feature selection technique was applied to choose the sensitive features, which were used to train a multilayer perceptron network (MLP) and two other traditional machine learning models: support vector machines (SVMs) and random forest (RF). The performance of these models, together with two standard color-index segmentation techniques (excess green (ExG) and excess green–red (ExGR)), was compared. The proposed method outperformed the other methods in producing quality segmented images with over 98%-pixel classification accuracy. Regression models developed from the different segmentation methods to predict Soil Plant Analysis Development (SPAD) values of cowpea and wheat showed that images from the proposed MLP method produced models with high predictive power and accuracy comparably. This method will be an essential tool for the development of a data analysis pipeline for high-throughput plant phenotyping. The proposed technique is capable of learning from different environmental conditions, with a high level of robustness. Full article
(This article belongs to the Section Plant Modeling)
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