Research

9 pages, 1660 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Hydric Behavior: Insights into Primary Metabolites in Leaves and Roots of Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache Grapevine Varieties under Drought Stress

by Miguel Tamayo, Laura Sepúlveda, Excequel Ponce Guequen, Pablo Saavedra, Romina Pedreschi, Alejandro Cáceres-Mella, Juan E. Alvaro and Italo F. Cuneo

Horticulturae 2023, 9(5), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9050566 - 10 May 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1304

Abstract

The classification of grapevine cultivars into isohydric and anisohydric categories depends on their ability to close stomata under conditions of low soil water availability or high atmospheric demand. This study aimed to compare the responses of Grenache, classified as isohydric, and Cabernet Sauvignon, [...] Read more.

The classification of grapevine cultivars into isohydric and anisohydric categories depends on their ability to close stomata under conditions of low soil water availability or high atmospheric demand. This study aimed to compare the responses of Grenache, classified as isohydric, and Cabernet Sauvignon, classified as anisohydric, both grafted onto Richter 110 rootstock, and subjected to severe drought stress. Three cycles of drought stress were applied, followed by watering, while a well-watered treatment served as the control. Stomatal conductance and stem water potential were measured at predawn and midday during the drought cycles, and primary metabolites were analyzed in leaves and roots using gas chromatography. We found that Grenache had significantly higher stomatal conductance than Cabernet Sauvignon under both well-watered and water-stressed conditions. There were no significant differences in stem water potential between the two varieties, but the control treatment maintained a higher stem water potential at predawn and midday for both varieties. Primary metabolite analysis showed that both varieties accumulated sugars and polyols in their leaves and roots under drought stress, while organic acids were more abundant in leaves than in roots. Overall, the results suggest that the hydric behavior of grapevines depends on the intensity and duration of drought stress. In this study, both varieties exhibited near-isohydric behavior by regulating stomatal closure under drought stress. The metabolites identified in this study may serve as potential biomarkers of water drought stress in Grenache and Cabernet Sauvignon grapevines under the conditions of this experiment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses of Vegetable Crops)

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12 pages, 2774 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Chinese Cabbage BrCAP Has Potential Resistance against Plasmodiophora brassicae

by Jiawei Zou, Shiqi Gao, Bo Zhang, Wenjie Ge, Jing Zhang and Ruiqin Ji

Horticulturae 2023, 9(4), 517; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9040517 - 21 Apr 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1262

Abstract

Clubroot disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae Woronin (P. brassicae) has seriously influenced the production of Brassica rapa crops, but the interaction mechanism between P. brassicae and Brassica rapa is not clear. In our previous study, a differentially expressed protein, G15, was [...] Read more.

Clubroot disease caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae Woronin (P. brassicae) has seriously influenced the production of Brassica rapa crops, but the interaction mechanism between P. brassicae and Brassica rapa is not clear. In our previous study, a differentially expressed protein, G15, was found between the roots of Chinese cabbage inoculated and un-inoculated with P. brassicae through two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) and mass spectrometry, and G15 was matched with Bra011464. In this study, Bra011464 was found to have a 94% percent identity with Arabidopsis thaliana CAP, named BrCAP. The expression of BrCAP was the highest in the root compared with the stems and leaves of Chinese cabbage, and its expression in the roots of Chinese cabbage inoculated with P. brassicae was significantly higher than that in the control. The results were verified by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and in situ hybridization. Subcellular localization showed that BrCAP was localized on chloroplasts of leaf epidermal cells. To verify the function of BrCAP, it was found that the Arabidopsis thaliana mutant cap was more susceptible to infection with P. brassicae than the wild type (WT), which suggested that BrCAP has a potential role in the resistance progress of Chinese cabbage to P. brassicae. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses of Vegetable Crops)

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19 pages, 2146 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Physiological and Nutritional Responses of Ungrafted Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon Vines or Grafted to 101-14 Mgt and 1103P Rootstocks Exposed to an Excess of Boron

by Kleopatra-Eleni Nikolaou, Theocharis Chatzistathis, Serafeim Theocharis, Anagnostis Argiriou and Stefanos Koundouras

Horticulturae 2023, 9(4), 508; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9040508 - 19 Apr 2023

Viewed by 971

Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of excess boron (B) on the nutrient uptake, growth, and physiological performance of grapevines. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapevines, either own-rooted or grafted onto 1103P and 101-14 Mgt rootstocks, were exposed in a [...] Read more.

The aim of this study is to analyze the effect of excess boron (B) on the nutrient uptake, growth, and physiological performance of grapevines. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grapevines, either own-rooted or grafted onto 1103P and 101-14 Mgt rootstocks, were exposed in a hydroponic pot experiment to 0.5 mM boron for sixty days. Twenty-five days following the beginning of B treatment, the first symptoms of boron toxicity appeared, including leaf edge and margin yellowing, subsequent necrosis, and cupping of leaf blades. At harvest, sixty days after the start of the experiment, B concentration of the treated vines increased in all parts of the vine in the following order: Leaves > Roots > Trunks > Shoots. Leaf Boron concentration in treated vines ranged from 980.67 to 1064.37 mg kg⁻¹ d.w. Boron excess significantly reduced the concentrations of all macro and micronutrients studied in this experiment. The total leaf chlorophyll (Chl) concentration decreased from 35.46 to 44.45%, thirty and sixty days, respectively, from the beginning of the boron treatments. In addition, an excess amount of boron resulted in a dramatic decrease in net CO₂ assimilation rate, stem water potential, and PSII maximum quantum yield, irrespective of vine type (own-rooted or grafted). At the end of the experimental period, the total leaf phenolic content increased by 71.73% in Merlot and by 71.16% in Cabernet Franc due to Boron stress. The tressed vines grafted onto 1103P showed increased shoot and root dry weights, leaf chlorophyll content, CO₂ assimilation rates, and F_v/F_m ratio compared to vines grafted onto 101-14 Mgt. It was found that rootstocks play an important role in B toxicity. The results showed that the leaf accumulation of boron was delayed to a greater extent by 1103P rootstock compared to 101-14 Mgt, resulting in the earlier appearance of leaf toxicity symptoms in vines grafted onto 101-14 Mgt rootstock compared to 1103P. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses of Vegetable Crops)

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14 pages, 3455 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Antisense Overexpression of Gγ Subunit CsGG3.1-2 Reduces Soluble Sugar Content and Chilling Tolerance in Cucumber

by Longqiang Bai, Huixin Zhu, Yu Shi, Yaling Li, Yanxiu Miao, Xianchang Yu, Yi Zhang and Yansu Li

Horticulturae 2023, 9(2), 240; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9020240 - 10 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1342

Abstract

Plant G protein γ subunits have multiple functions in growth and development processes and in abiotic stress responses. Few functions of Gγ in horticultural crops have been revealed thus far. In this study, the potential function of CsGG3.1-2, one of the two [...] Read more.

Plant G protein γ subunits have multiple functions in growth and development processes and in abiotic stress responses. Few functions of Gγ in horticultural crops have been revealed thus far. In this study, the potential function of CsGG3.1-2, one of the two alternative splice variants of Gγ gene CsGG3.1 in cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.), was investigated using transgenic plants overexpressing antisense CsGG3.1-2 under the control of the 35S promoter. The tolerance to chilling stress in transgenic plants was significantly decreased. Cold stress-related physiological parameters and the expression of CBFs and their downstream target genes were then measured. Compared with WT, the maximum efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm), antioxidative enzymes activities, soluble protein, and proline accumulation decreased significantly in transgenic plants treated with cold stress, whereas the malonaldehyde (MDA) content increased. However, the overexpression of antisense CsGG3.1-2 did not affect the induction of cold-inducible genes. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis showed the increased expression of CBF genes and their downstream target genes in transgenic plants, suggesting that CsGG3.1-2 affects cold responses via CBF-independent pathways in cucumber. At the same time, the sucrose and fructose contents decreased in transgenic plants under both normal and cold conditions. These findings suggest that soluble sugar deficiency is associated with chilling sensitivity in transgenic plants, and CsGG3.1-2 may have a role in regulating carbohydrate metabolism in cucumber. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses of Vegetable Crops)

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14 pages, 1326 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Ultraviolet-B Radiation on the Regulation of Ascorbic Acid Accumulation and Metabolism in Lettuce

by Shujuan Liu, Lei Yu, Lipan Liu, Aihong Yang, Xingyu Huang, Anfan Zhu and Hua Zhou

Horticulturae 2023, 9(2), 200; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9020200 - 03 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1560

Abstract

To understand the effect of ultraviolet (UV)-B irradiation on the antioxidant capacity and growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), we subjected lettuce plants to UV-B irradiation (15.55 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹) for 7 days and measured yield, photosynthetic performance, hydrogen [...] Read more.

To understand the effect of ultraviolet (UV)-B irradiation on the antioxidant capacity and growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), we subjected lettuce plants to UV-B irradiation (15.55 kJ m⁻² d⁻¹) for 7 days and measured yield, photosynthetic performance, hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), reduced glutathione (GSH), and ascorbic acid (AsA) contents, and the enzyme activity and expression of genes involving AsA recycling. UV-B exposure did not significantly decrease the fresh/dry weight of the lettuce shoots. The net photosynthesis rate, internal CO₂ concentration, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance decreased during the first 4 days of irradiation and light but recovered at day 7. In UV-B-treated plants, the levels of AsA, GSH, and H₂O₂ increased significantly and simultaneously, with a positive correlation found between H₂O₂ and AsA or GSH levels. UV-B exposure upregulated the expression level of most genes encoding the enzymes involving AsA recycling but downregulated the associated enzymatic activities. The increase of AsA content in UV-B-exposed lettuce might contribute to the AsA–GSH cycle, leading to downregulation of ascorbate oxidase (AO) enzymatic activity and gene expression. UV-B irradiation had a greater impact on metabolite levels than time of UV-B treatment. These results suggest that AsA homeostasis in UV-B-treated lettuce is regulated through a feedback loop between the expression and activity of enzymes associated with AsA recycling. Short-term UV-B supplementation (24 h) could be a promising approach to enhance AsA content in lettuce. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses of Vegetable Crops)

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20 pages, 1845 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Heavy Metal Analysis and Health Risk Assessment of Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Cultivars irrigated with Fly Ash-Treated Acid Mine Drainage

by Maropeng Vellry Raletsena, Nkoana Ishmael Mongalo and Rabelani Munyai

Horticulturae 2023, 9(2), 192; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae9020192 - 02 Feb 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1621

Abstract

In water-scant regions, the reuse of (un)treated acid mine drainage effluent (AMD) water for crop irrigation has turned into a prerequisite. The study assesses the levels of heavy metals, and health risk assessment in two potato crop cultivars, namely, Fianna and Lady rosetta [...] Read more.

In water-scant regions, the reuse of (un)treated acid mine drainage effluent (AMD) water for crop irrigation has turned into a prerequisite. The study assesses the levels of heavy metals, and health risk assessment in two potato crop cultivars, namely, Fianna and Lady rosetta (both determinate and indeterminate) when exposed to irrigation with different fly ash: acid mine drainage amelioration ratios. The study investigates the health risk assessment in the potato tissues namely, stem, tubers, new and old leaves of the potato cultivars. The treatments constituted a control, 50% FA: AMD, 75% FA: AMD ratio, and 100% AMD (untreated AMD). The results showed that the heavy metals of plants irrigated with AMD mixed with FA was significantly affected differently at harvest. In summary, the concentration of Cd was over the WHO acceptable standards in untreated acid mine drainage water. Fianna recorded 1.34 mg/kg while a notably decrease was observed in Lady rosetta with (1.01 mg/kg). In any case, FA was proven to significantly lessen the Cd particles in both FA-AMD ratios: Cd content was 0.98 mg/kg and 0.84 mg/kg in 50% FA: AMD treatment for Fianna and Lady rosetta separately, while the recommended maximum limit is 0.1 mg/kg. With the readings recorded, they are slightly high according to the CODEX general standard for food contaminants and toxins in food and feed (CODEX STAN 193-1995). Then again, in 75% FA: AMD ratio, the Cd concentration was 0.04 mg/kg and 0.03 mg/kg for Fianna and Lady rosetta exclusively. It is in this way obvious that FA adsorbed the Cd ions, and the two cultivars fulfill the CODEX guideline, nonetheless the potato crop irrigated with a 75% FA: AMD ratio can be consumed by humans without causing any detrimental effects. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses of Vegetable Crops)

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14 pages, 4313 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Overexpression of the SiLEA5 Gene in Saussurea involucrata Increases the Low-Temperature Tolerance of Transgenic Tomatoes

by Xiaoyan Liu, Wenwen Xia, Xiaoli Zhang, Aowei Li, Jiawang Qin, Huili Sun, Jin Li and Jianbo Zhu

Horticulturae 2022, 8(11), 1023; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8111023 - 02 Nov 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1501

Abstract

The late embryonic development abundant protein (LEA) is a family of proteins widely present in the body and related to osmoregulation. Saussurea involucrata is an extremely cold-tolerant plant. In our previous studies, we found that the LEAs gene in Saussurea involucrata has up-regulated [...] Read more.

The late embryonic development abundant protein (LEA) is a family of proteins widely present in the body and related to osmoregulation. Saussurea involucrata is an extremely cold-tolerant plant. In our previous studies, we found that the LEAs gene in Saussurea involucrata has up-regulated expression under low temperature. To evaluate the biological function of SiLEA5 protein under low-temperature stress and its potential in agricultural breeding, we isolated the SiLEA5 gene from Saussurea involucrata, constructed a plant overexpression vector, and transformed tomato. We found that SiLEA5 protein significantly increased the yield of transgenic tomatoes by increasing their photosynthetic capacity, including net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and intercellular CO₂ concentration. Under low-temperature stress, the SiLEA5 protein can regulate proline metabolism and oxidative stress, which confers transgenic tomatos with cold resistance. Thus, our work provided evidence for the role of SiLEA5 protein in low-temperature stress resistance in plants, as well as potential applications in crop breeding and cold stress resistance research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses of Vegetable Crops)

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11 pages, 3188 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Greenness Value and Photosynthetic Rate of Tomato Leaves Based on Spectral Technologies

by Jitong Xu, Fang Wang, Zhe Zhang, Yuhang Guo, Yufeng Liu and Xiaofeng Ning

Horticulturae 2022, 8(9), 837; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8090837 - 12 Sep 2022

Viewed by 1369

Abstract

Tomatoes, a major vegetable crop, are not only delicious but can also prevent cancer and lower blood pressure. However, they are easily infected with diseases during the growth process, so it is of great significance to find a technology for nondestructive testing of [...] Read more.

Tomatoes, a major vegetable crop, are not only delicious but can also prevent cancer and lower blood pressure. However, they are easily infected with diseases during the growth process, so it is of great significance to find a technology for nondestructive testing of the tomato growth state. In this study, partial least squares regression (PLSR) was used to establish a prediction model of the tomato leaf greenness value and photosynthetic rate based on laser-induced fluorescence spectroscopy and a hyperspectral imaging system. The results showed that the best preprocessing method for the fluorescence spectral model was SD+SNV, and the best methods for the hyperspectral model were FD+SNV and FD+MSC. The results for the prediction of the photosynthetic rate based on the fluorescence spectral and hyperspectral models were as follows: the coefficient of determination (R²) values were 0.9982 and 0.9739, respectively, and the root-mean-square error of prediction (RMSEP) values were 0.2781 and 0.3374, respectively. When measuring greenness, the R² values were 0.9816 and 0.9595, and the RMSEP values were 0.1696 and 0.4032, respectively. The experimental results showed that the model based on the fluorescence spectrum had higher accuracy and lower deviation in the detection and prediction of the tomato growth state; these results provide a specific method and reference for subsequent research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses of Vegetable Crops)

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16 pages, 2382 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Elevated Temperature and Salicylic Acid on Heat Shock Response and Growth of Potato Microplants

by Jelena Rudić, Danijel Pantelić, Jasmina Oljača and Ivana Momčilović

Horticulturae 2022, 8(5), 372; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8050372 - 24 Apr 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2151

Abstract

Potato is a globally important, highly heat-susceptible crop species. We investigated the effects of prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures and exogenous salicylic acid (SA) on microplant growth and heat-shock response (HSR) in three unrelated potato genotypes/cultivars. Long-term exposure to 29 °C (mild heat [...] Read more.

Potato is a globally important, highly heat-susceptible crop species. We investigated the effects of prolonged exposure to elevated temperatures and exogenous salicylic acid (SA) on microplant growth and heat-shock response (HSR) in three unrelated potato genotypes/cultivars. Long-term exposure to 29 °C (mild heat stress) caused a significant reduction in the number of surviving explants and shoot morphometric parameters in heat-sensitive genotypes, while exposure to 26 °C (warming) caused only a decline in shoot growth. Interestingly, 26 °C-temperature treatment stimulated root growth in some investigated genotypes, indicating a difference between favorable temperatures for potato shoot and root growth. SA showed a protective effect regarding potato shoot growth at 26 °C. At 29 °C, this effect was genotype-dependent. SA did not affect the number of roots and inhibited root elongation at all temperature treatments, indicating the difference between shoot and root responses to applied SA concentration. Although HSR is mainly considered rapid and short-lived, elevated transcript levels of most investigated HSFs and HSPs were detected after three weeks of heat stress. Besides, two StHSFs and StHSP21 showed elevated expression at 26 °C, indicating extreme potato heat-susceptibility and significance of HSR during prolonged warming. SA effects on HSFs and HSPs expression were minor and alterable. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses of Vegetable Crops)

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10 pages, 1812 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Low R/FR Ratio Affects Pakchoi’s Growth and Nitrate Content under Excess Nitrate Stress

by Libang Chen, Jia Huang, Qinglin Liu, Zelin Li, Xu Chen, Jiaxi Han, Yirong Gan, Yuexuan He, Chenxiang Jiang, Yunxin Tang and Xiaoting Zhou

Horticulturae 2022, 8(3), 186; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae8030186 - 22 Feb 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1627

Abstract

Nitrate accumulation is one of the main factors of secondary soil salinization in protected horticulture in China. Previous studies have shown that a low red(R)/far-red (FR) ratio can improve the salt tolerance of plants under NaCl stress. However, the effect of a low [...] Read more.

Nitrate accumulation is one of the main factors of secondary soil salinization in protected horticulture in China. Previous studies have shown that a low red(R)/far-red (FR) ratio can improve the salt tolerance of plants under NaCl stress. However, the effect of a low R/FR ratio on plant growth under nitrate stress is not clear. In order to explore the effect of a low R/FR ratio on the adaptability of pakchoi under high nitrogen stress, the growth index, soluble protein content, soluble sugar content, nitrate content, nitrate reductase activity and Nia2 gene expression of pakchoi’s leaves were measured. The results showed that a high level of nitrogen (the addition of 80 mmol · L⁻¹ NO₃⁻ (N80) and 160 mmol · L⁻¹ NO₃⁻ (N160)) inhibited the growth of pakchoi and promoted the accumulation of osmoregulation substances and nitrate content, respectively. The reduction of the R/FR ratio under high nitrogen stress (L80) increased the fresh weight of the plants under it by 19.0%, reduced the nitrate content in the leaves by 22.7%, increased the NR activity by 29.9%, and made the Nia2 gene expression more significant, compared with N80. There was a similar mitigation effect of a low R/FR ratio under 160 mmol · L⁻¹ excessive NO₃⁻ stress. Therefore, the reduction of the R/FR ratio can effectively control the nitrate content and improve the adaptability of pakchoi under high nitrogen stress. Thus, there is a practical application prospect for a low R/FR ratio for the production of pakchoi under a high level of nitrogen. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses of Vegetable Crops)

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16 pages, 4397 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Foliar Application of Potassium Mitigates Salinity Stress Conditions in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) through Reducing NaCl Toxicity and Enhancing the Activity of Antioxidant Enzymes

by Tayyaba Naz, Muhammad Mazhar Iqbal, Muhammad Tahir, Montaser M. Hassan, Muhammad Ishaq Asif Rehmani, Mazhar Iqbal Zafar, Umber Ghafoor, Muhammad Akram Qazi, Ayman EL Sabagh and Mohamed I. Sakran

Horticulturae 2021, 7(12), 566; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7120566 - 09 Dec 2021

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 4429

Abstract

Agronomic biofortification is the purposeful utilization of mineral fertilizers to increase the concentration of desired minerals in edible plant parts for enhancing their dietary intake. It is becoming crucial to enhance the dietary intake of K for addressing hidden hunger and related health [...] Read more.

Agronomic biofortification is the purposeful utilization of mineral fertilizers to increase the concentration of desired minerals in edible plant parts for enhancing their dietary intake. It is becoming crucial to enhance the dietary intake of K for addressing hidden hunger and related health issues such as cardiac diseases and hypertension. This study was designed to enhance the potassium concentration in edible parts of spinach through its foliar application under saline environment. The salinity levels of electrical conductivity (EC) = 4, 6, and 8 dS m⁻¹ were applied using sodium chloride (NaCl) along with control. The levels of K for foliar sprays were 5 and 10 mM, along with control. The present experiment was performed under two factorial arrangements in a completely randomized design (CRD). After 60 days of sowing, the crop was harvested. Data regarding growth, ionic, physiological, and biochemical parameters, i.e., shoot dry weight, relative water content, electrolyte leakage, total chlorophyll content, tissue sodium (Na) and K concentration, activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were recorded and those were found to be significantly (p ≤ 0.05) affected by foliar application of K on spinach under saline conditions. The highest growth, physiological and biochemical responses of spinach were observed in response to foliar-applied K at 10 mM. It is concluded that agronomic bio-fortification by foliar use of K can be a useful strategy to increase tissue K intakes and minimize Na toxicity in the vegetables studied under saline conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses of Vegetable Crops)

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13 pages, 7555 KiB

Open AccessArticle

RsSOS1 Responding to Salt Stress Might Be Involved in Regulating Salt Tolerance by Maintaining Na⁺ Homeostasis in Radish (Raphanus sativus L.)

by Wanting Zhang, Jingxue Li, Junhui Dong, Yan Wang, Liang Xu, Kexin Li, Xiaofang Yi, Yuelin Zhu and Liwang Liu

Horticulturae 2021, 7(11), 458; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7110458 - 03 Nov 2021

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2712

Abstract

Radish is a kind of moderately salt-sensitive vegetable. Salt stress seriously decreases the yield and quality of radish. The plasma membrane Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter protein Salt Overly Sensitive 1 (SOS1) plays a crucial role in protecting plant cells against salt stress, [...] Read more.

Radish is a kind of moderately salt-sensitive vegetable. Salt stress seriously decreases the yield and quality of radish. The plasma membrane Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter protein Salt Overly Sensitive 1 (SOS1) plays a crucial role in protecting plant cells against salt stress, but the biological function of the RsSOS1 gene in radish remains to be elucidated. In this study, the RsSOS1 gene was isolated from radish genotype ‘NAU-TR17’, and contains an open reading frame of 3414 bp encoding 1137 amino acids. Phylogenetic analysis showed that RsSOS1 had a high homology with BnSOS1, and clustered together with Arabidopsis plasma membrane Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter (AtNHX7). The result of subcellular localization indicated that the RsSOS1 was localized in the plasma membrane. Furthermore, RsSOS1 was strongly induced in roots of radish under 150 mmol/L NaCl treatment, and its expression level in salt-tolerant genotypes was significantly higher than that in salt-sensitive ones. In addition, overexpression of RsSOS1 in Arabidopsis could significantly improve the salt tolerance of transgenic plants. Meanwhile, the transformation of RsSOS1△999 could rescue Na⁺ efflux function of AXT3 yeast. In summary, the plasma membrane Na⁺/H⁺ antiporter RsSOS1 plays a vital role in regulating salt-tolerance of radish by controlling Na⁺ homeostasis. These results provided useful information for further functional characterization of RsSOS1 and facilitate clarifying the molecular mechanism underlying salt stress response in radish. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses of Vegetable Crops)

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19 pages, 2635 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Unravelling the Role of Piriformospora indica in Combating Water Deficiency by Modulating Physiological Performance and Chlorophyll Metabolism-Related Genes in Cucumis sativus

by Mohamed E. Abdelaziz, Mohamed A. M. Atia, Mohamed Abdelsattar, Suzy M. Abdelaziz, Taha A. A. Ibrahim and Emad A. Abdeldaym

Horticulturae 2021, 7(10), 399; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7100399 - 14 Oct 2021

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2329

Abstract

Water stress is the most critical aspect restricting the development of agriculture in regions with scarce water resources, which requires enhancing irrigation water-saving strategies. The current work discusses the potential application of the plant-strengthening root endophyte Piriformospora indica against moderate (25% less irrigation [...] Read more.

Water stress is the most critical aspect restricting the development of agriculture in regions with scarce water resources, which requires enhancing irrigation water-saving strategies. The current work discusses the potential application of the plant-strengthening root endophyte Piriformospora indica against moderate (25% less irrigation water) and severe (50% less irrigation water) water stress in comparison to the optimum irrigation conditions of greenhouse cucumbers. P. indica improved growth, nutrient content, and photosynthesis apparatus under normal or water-stress conditions. On the other hand, moderate and severe water stress reduced yield up to 47% and 83%, respectively, in non-colonized cucumber plants, while up to 28 and 78%, respectively, in P. indica-colonized plants. In terms of water-use efficiency (WUE), P. indica improved the WUE of colonized cucumber plants grown under moderate (26 L/kg) or severe stress (73 L/kg) by supporting colonized plants in producing higher yield per unit volume of water consumed by the crop in comparison to non-colonized plants under the same level of moderate (43 L/kg) or severe (81 L/kg) water stress. Furthermore, P. indica increased the indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) content, activity levels of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) with an apparent clear reduction in the abscisic acid (ABA), ethylene, malondialdehyde (MDA), proline contents and stomatal closure compared to non-stressed plants under both water-stress levels. In addition, chlorophyll a, b, a + b contents were increased in the leaves of the colonized plants under water-stress conditions. This improvement in chlorophyll content could be correlated with a significant increment in the transcripts of chlorophyll biosynthesis genes (protochlorophyllide oxidoreductase [POR], chlorophyll a oxygenase [CAO]) and a reduction in the chlorophyll degradation genes (PPH, pheophorbide a oxygenase [PAO], and red chlorophyll catabolite reductase [RCCR]). In conclusion, P. indica has the potential to enhance the cucumber yield grown under moderate water stress rather than severe water stress by improving WUE and altering the activity levels of antioxidant enzymes and chlorophyll metabolism-related genes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses of Vegetable Crops)

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15 pages, 2702 KiB

Open AccessCommunication

Expression Profiling of Heat Shock Protein Genes as Putative Early Heat-Responsive Members in Lettuce

by Yeeun Kang, Suk-Woo Jang, Hee Ju Lee, Derek W. Barchenger and Seonghoe Jang

Horticulturae 2021, 7(9), 312; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7090312 - 15 Sep 2021

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2775

Abstract

High temperatures due to global warming can cause harmful effects on the productivity of lettuce, a cool-season crop. To identify lettuce heat shock protein (HSP) genes that could be involved in early responses to heat stress in plants, we compared RNA [...] Read more.

High temperatures due to global warming can cause harmful effects on the productivity of lettuce, a cool-season crop. To identify lettuce heat shock protein (HSP) genes that could be involved in early responses to heat stress in plants, we compared RNA transcriptomes between lettuce plants with and without heat treatment of 37 °C for 1 h. Using transcriptome sequencing analyses, a total of 7986 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified including the top five, LsHSP70A, LsHSP70B, LsHSP17.3A, LsHSP17.9A and LsHSP17.9B, which were the most highly differentially expressed genes. In order to investigate the temporal expression patterns of 24 lettuce HSP genes with a fold-change greater than 100 under heat stress, the expression levels of the genes were measured by qRT-PCR at 0, 1, 4, 8, 14, and 24 h time points after heat treatment. The 24 LsHSP genes were classified into three groups based on the phylogenetic analysis and/or major domains available in each protein, and we provided a potential link between the phylogenetic relationships and expression patterns of the LsHSP genes. Our results showed putative early heat-responsive lettuce HSP genes that could be possible candidates as breeding guides for the development of heat-tolerant lettuce cultivars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses of Vegetable Crops)

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Open AccessArticle

Corn Cob-Derived Biochar Improves the Growth of Saline-Irrigated Quinoa in Different Orders of Egyptian Soils

by Saudi A. Rekaby, Mahrous Awad, Ali Majrashi, Esmat F. Ali and Mamdouh A. Eissa

Horticulturae 2021, 7(8), 221; https://doi.org/10.3390/horticulturae7080221 - 03 Aug 2021

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3371

Abstract

Biochar is one of the important recycling methods in sustainable development, as it ensures the transformation of agricultural wastes into fertilizers and conditioners that improve soil properties and fertility. In the current study, corn cob-derived biochar (CB) was used to reduce the negative [...] Read more.

Biochar is one of the important recycling methods in sustainable development, as it ensures the transformation of agricultural wastes into fertilizers and conditioners that improve soil properties and fertility. In the current study, corn cob-derived biochar (CB) was used to reduce the negative effects of saline water on quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa cv. Utosaya Q37) grown on Aridisols and Entisols, which are the major soil groups of Egyptian soils. Quinoa plants were cultivated in pot experiment and were irrigated with saline water (EC = 10 dS m⁻¹). The experiment contained three treatments, including control without any treatment, biochar at a rate of 1% (w/w) (BC₁), and biochar at a rate of 3% (w/w) (BC₃). The findings of the current study showed that BC treatments realized significant effects on soil salinity, pH, soil organic matter (SOM), and plant availability and nutrients’ uptake in the two soils types. BC₃ increased the SOM in Entisols and Aridisols by 23 and 44%; moreover, the dry biomass of quinoa plants was ameliorated by 81 and 41%, respectively, compared with the control. Addition of biochar to soil increased the nutrients’ use efficiencies by quinoa plants for the two studied Egyptian soils. Biochar addition caused significant increases in the use efficiency of nitrogen (NUF), phosphorus (PUE), and potassium (KUE) by quinoa plants. BC₃ increased NUE, PUE, and KUS by 81, 81, and 80% for Entisols, while these increases were 40, 41, and 42% in the case of Aridisols. Based on the obtained results, the application of corn cob biochar improves the soil quality and alleviates the negative effects of saline irrigation on quinoa plants grown on Aridisols and Entisols Egyptian soils. Biochar can be used as a soil amendment in arid and semi-arid regions to reduce the salinity hazards. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses of Vegetable Crops)

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