International Journal of Plant Biology

Open AccessCommunication

Exploration of the Native Plants from the Biodiversity of United Arab Emirates for Conservation and Reintroduction Efforts: Collection, Verification, Design, and Implementation of UAE Flora Database

by

Naamah Ahmed Salem Aldhabb Alyammahi

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Fouad Lamghari Ridouane

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Aseela Abdulla Almoalla

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Aishah Saeed Sulaiman Jemei Al Dhanhani

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Ahmed Gorashi

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Shaher Bano Mirza

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(2), 493-502; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14020038 - 29 May 2023

Abstract

The introduction of exotic plant species in the UAE poses substantial environmental challenges. Both poorly and well-adapted species can be detrimental to the local ecosystem by outcompeting native species and disrupting ecosystems. Native plants play a critical role in maintaining the ecological balance [...] Read more.

The introduction of exotic plant species in the UAE poses substantial environmental challenges. Both poorly and well-adapted species can be detrimental to the local ecosystem by outcompeting native species and disrupting ecosystems. Native plants play a critical role in maintaining the ecological balance of any region. In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), native plants face significant threats due to habitat loss, climate change, and invasive species. Despite their ecological importance and potential benefits, a comprehensive and accessible database of native plant species for the UAE is currently lacking. Our review paper aims to address this gap by presenting an in-depth analysis of the native plants in Fujairah and the UAE. Our work covers almost all the native plants reported to date, which have been verified and added to our database. We provide valuable insights into the type, nature, physiology, habitat types, and other key aspects of these native plants. By presenting this information in a comprehensive and accessible manner, we hope to facilitate efforts toward biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecosystem management in the UAE. To address this issue, we have developed UAE Flora: The Native Plants Database of Emirates. This Web-based, virtual database contains over 760 plants identified from more than 400 published articles, online resources, and books from national and international authors. Each entry in UAE Flora includes over 50 data fields representing various ecological, biological, and pharmacological properties that have been manually extracted from the literature. This review paper will serve as a valuable resource for researchers, policymakers, and the public interested in promoting the conservation of native plants in the UAE. Flora will serve as a plant data repository that is the first of its kind in the United Arab Emirates. Full article

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Open AccessArticle

Response of Phenolic Compounds in Lippia graveolens Kunth Irrigated with Aquaculture Wastewater and Steiner Solution

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María Isabel Nieto-Ramírez

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Ana Angélica Feregrino-Pérez

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Humberto Aguirre Becerra

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Benito Parra-Pacheco

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Mónica Vanessa Oviedo-Olvera

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Juan Fernando García-Trejo

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(2), 483-492; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14020037 - 23 May 2023

Abstract

Lippia graveolens is one of the most important aromatic species in Mexico due to antioxidant and antibiotic activities reported in its essential oil. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of irrigation with aquaculture wastewater and salicylic acid addition on [...] Read more.

Lippia graveolens is one of the most important aromatic species in Mexico due to antioxidant and antibiotic activities reported in its essential oil. The aim of this work was to assess the effect of irrigation with aquaculture wastewater and salicylic acid addition on the production of phenolic compounds in L. graveolens. L. graveolens plants (14) were irrigated with aquaculture wastewater and (14) using Steiner solution for 28 days; at the same time, salicylic acid was exogenously applied at 0.0 (control), 0.5 and 1.0 mM concentrations in both treatments at 5 and 19 experimental days. The total phenolic content was measured by Folin–Ciocalteu, the flavonoid content was determined by the aluminum chloride method, and the antioxidant capacity was measured by DPPH and FRAP assays. The results showed an increase in the total phenolic and flavonoid content in plants irrigated with aquaculture wastewater solution (17.25 ± 2.35 to 38.16 ± 4.47 mg eq GA·g⁻¹ W). The antioxidant capacity was higher in plants irrigated with Steiner solution (98.52 mg eq T·g⁻¹ W). In conclusion, L. graveolens irrigated with aquaculture wastewater leads to an increase in the total phenolic content and Steiner-solution antioxidant capacity in plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Physiology, Signalling and Communication)

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Open AccessArticle

The Influence of Nitrogen and Phosphorus Addition on Growth of the Invasive C₄ Grass Saccharum spontaneum

by

Justin A. Cummings

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Ingrid M. Parker

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Gregory S. Gilbert

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(2), 474-482; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14020036 - 20 May 2023

Abstract

Invasive C₄ grasses can inhibit the natural regeneration of secondary forest in tropical landscapes after the cessation of intensive use for grazing and agriculture. In Panama, invasive Saccharum spontaneum forms dense stands that require active management to re-establish forest successional processes. In [...] Read more.

Invasive C₄ grasses can inhibit the natural regeneration of secondary forest in tropical landscapes after the cessation of intensive use for grazing and agriculture. In Panama, invasive Saccharum spontaneum forms dense stands that require active management to re-establish forest successional processes. In this region, restoration strategies typically involve clearing grass cover manually and applying fertilizer prior to planting tree seedlings. However, if fertilizers alleviate nutrient limitation and enhance grass competition with tree seedlings, these practices may exacerbate the costs of Saccharum control and hamper restoration goals. Here, we evaluated how S. spontaneum responds to nitrogen and phosphorus addition in the field to determine whether S. spontaneum is nutrient limited in this system. S. spontaneum was limited by both nitrogen and phosphorus, as revealed through increased foliar nutrient concentrations. S. spontaneum biomass was significantly greater in both nitrogen and phosphorus addition plots after both the first growth period (early rainy season) and second growth period (late rainy season), with stronger effects of nutrient limitation during the second growth period for both N limitation and N and P co-limitation. Nutrient limitation in S. spontaneum highlights a potential risk of fertilizer applications during restoration, agriculture, and agroforestry activities in which invasion of this aggressive weed is a challenge to land management. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Plant Invasion)

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Open AccessArticle

Comparative Analysis of the Expression Profiles of Pathogenesis-Related Genes in Tomato Systemically Infected with Tobacco Mosaic and Cucumber Mosaic Viruses

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Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(2), 458-473; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14020035 - 17 May 2023

Abstract

In this study, we used RT-qPCR to examine how PR genes were expressed in model tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants that had been infected with TMV or CMV. Under greenhouse conditions, the indirect ELISA data showed that both viruses were detected for [...] Read more.

In this study, we used RT-qPCR to examine how PR genes were expressed in model tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants that had been infected with TMV or CMV. Under greenhouse conditions, the indirect ELISA data showed that both viruses were detected for the first time at 6 dpi. Then, the levels of accumulation increased very quickly, reaching a peak of 15 dpi. During the course of the study (1–15 dpi), the Delta C_T, NormFinder, BestKeeper, and GeNorm software tools revealed that the β-actin gene was the most informative reference gene in the virally infected tomato tissues. For both the TMV- and CMV-infected tomato plants, the transcriptional expression levels of most tested genes changed between activation and repression, especially in the first 12 dpi. Compared to mock-inoculated plants, the expression levels of PR-1 were induced at all time intervals except at 8 dpi for CMV and at 6, 7, and 8 dpi for TMV infection. Conversely, the greater activation and accumulation of both viruses were associated with the greater up-regulation of PR-2 at 8 dpi, with relative expression levels of 7.28- and 5.84-fold for TMV and CMV, respectively. The up-regulated expression of PR-3, PR-4, and PR-7 was shown at 4 dpi. In contrast, the PR-5 gene was inhibited in TMV at 1 dpi until 9 dpi, and the induction of this gene at 10 dpi increased by 1.72-fold, but PR-5 was observed to up-regulate the expression of CMV at 1 dpi. This study provides the first valuable information on the comparative transcriptional levels of these tomato genes between TMV and CMV infections. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Response to Stresses and Changing Environment)

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Open AccessArticle

Nonhost Resistance of Thinopyrum ponticum to Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici and the Effects of the Sr24, Sr25, and Sr26 Genes Introgressed to Wheat

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Lyudmila Plotnikova

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Valeria Knaub

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Violetta Pozherukova

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(2), 435-457; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14020034 - 01 May 2023

Abstract

The damage to wheat crops by stem rust poses a threat to the food security of the world’s population. The species Thinopyrum ponticum (Podpěra, 1902) (Z.-W. Liu and R.-C. Wang, 1993) is a non-host for the stem rust fungus Puccinia graminis f. sp. [...] Read more.

The damage to wheat crops by stem rust poses a threat to the food security of the world’s population. The species Thinopyrum ponticum (Podpěra, 1902) (Z.-W. Liu and R.-C. Wang, 1993) is a non-host for the stem rust fungus Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici Eriks. and Henn. (Pgt). The Sr24, Sr25, and Sr26 genes, transferred from the Th. ponticum to the wheat gene pool, protect cultivars from the disease in different regions of the world. The study of the non-host resistance (NHR) of Th. ponticum and the effects of the introgressed Sr24, Sr25, and Sr26 genes in wheat is important for breeding cultivars with durable resistance to stem rust. The aim of the research is to study the interaction of Pgt with Th. ponticum and common wheat lines with the Sr24, Sr25, and Sr26 genes, in addition to determining the role of ROS in resistance. Wheat lines with Sr24, Sr25, and Sr26 were resistant to the West Siberian Pgt population. Using cytological methods, it was found that the NHR of Th. ponticum and Sr24, Sr25, and Sr26 led to inhibition of the most inoculumdevelopment on the plant surface. This was mainly due to the suppression of the appressoria development and their death at the stage of penetration into the stomata. Upon contact of Pgt appressoria with stomatal guard cells, the generation of the superoxide anion O₂^•− was revealed. This interaction is similar to the stomatal immunity of Arabidopsis thaliana to non-pathogenic bacteria. The results of our studies show that the Sr24, Sr25, and Sr26 genes reproduce the action of some NHR mechanisms in wheat. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Plant Immunity)

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Open AccessArticle

The Relationships between Climate, Tree-Ring Growth, and Cone Production in Longleaf Pine

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Kimberly A. Bowman

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Xiongwen Chen

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(2), 418-434; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14020033 - 25 Apr 2023

Abstract

Historically abundant longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) trees were once a leading source of profit and ecosystem services across the southeastern United States. The widespread decline in longleaf numbers following European colonization has prompted substantial restoration efforts, though much is still not [...] Read more.

Historically abundant longleaf pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) trees were once a leading source of profit and ecosystem services across the southeastern United States. The widespread decline in longleaf numbers following European colonization has prompted substantial restoration efforts, though much is still not understood about longleaf growth and reproductive processes. In this study, we used Pearson and regression correlation analysis to quantify the relationship between cone production, radial growth, and climate signals in longleaf pine trees at three sites across their range. We documented a high amount of intersite variability; trees at all three sites experienced significant relationships between reproduction, radial growth, and climate, though in different and sometimes contrasting ways. We found a roughly equivalent number of significant cone growth and climate correlations with extreme climate events (e.g., heat stress, hurricane frequency) as with average climate conditions, and highlight the need to consider both over multiple spans of time. This study provides a new understanding of how climate variables relate to the relationship between growth and reproduction in longleaf pine trees. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Response to Stresses and Changing Environment)

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Open AccessArticle

Fruit Structure in Amphicarpic Annual Gymnarrhena micrantha (Asteraceae, Gymnarrheneae) in Relation to the Species Biology

by

Tatyana Kravtsova

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(2), 397-417; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14020032 - 24 Apr 2023

Abstract

In the amphicarpic annual Gymnarrhena micrantha Desf. (Asteraceae), aerial and subterranean fruits differ in morphology, dispersal ability and germination behavior. The aim of our work was to study their structural features in relation to the eco-physiological properties, using light and scanning electron microscopes. [...] Read more.

In the amphicarpic annual Gymnarrhena micrantha Desf. (Asteraceae), aerial and subterranean fruits differ in morphology, dispersal ability and germination behavior. The aim of our work was to study their structural features in relation to the eco-physiological properties, using light and scanning electron microscopes. Five fruit morphs were found, three of aerial achenes: ebracteate, bracteate and double bracteate ones, and two subterranean fruits with achenes, enveloped in involucral bracts, developed from (I) sessile or (II) not sessile different heads. This species shows divergent fruit differentiation, an increase in their diversity along several lines of morphological differentiation, which corresponds to a multiple seed dispersal and germination strategy. In addition to the already known distinctive features of subterranean achenes (larger size, undeveloped pappus, poor pubescence), they also differ in the simplified structure of the apical and basal achene regions, the absence of the corolla expanded base (cupula) and nectary, other cells parameters in the exotesta and endosperm, another form of the disproportionately developed embryo. The peculiarities of probably subterranean fruit II (seemingly originated through apomixis) extend to various color, pappus structure, sparse pubescence, and the ability of the fruit wall to delaminate. The lack of dense pubescence in the subterranean achenes is a key trait that could lead to increased water permeability of the fruit wall and affect germination rate. Possible adaptive significance of aerial achene structural features is discussed, including specialized corolla cupula, which may be an adaptation to dissemination by rainwater and ants. Full article

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Novel Sources of Resistance to Stagonospora nodorum and Role of Effector-Susceptibility Gene Interactions in Wheat of Russian Breeding

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Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(2), 377-396; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14020031 - 19 Apr 2023

Abstract

Virulence factors of the pathogen Stagonospora nodorum Berk. are numerous necrotrophic effectors (NEs) (SnTox), which interact with the products of host susceptibility genes (Snn), causing the development of the disease. In this study, 55 accessions of bread spring and winter wheat [...] Read more.

Virulence factors of the pathogen Stagonospora nodorum Berk. are numerous necrotrophic effectors (NEs) (SnTox), which interact with the products of host susceptibility genes (Snn), causing the development of the disease. In this study, 55 accessions of bread spring and winter wheat were screened for sensitivity to NEs SnToxA, SnTox1, and SnTox3 using different isolates of S. nodorum. In the studied panel of wheat, 47 accessions were modern commercial cultivars grown in Russia and 8 cultivars were historic wheat accessions from the N. I. Vavilov Institute of Plant Genetic Resources in Russia. In general, our wheat panel differed from other wheat collections with available data in that it was less sensitive to SnToxA and SnTox3, and more sensitive to SnTox1. Six sources of strong SNB resistance were identified in our wheat panel. In addition, during the study, wheat cultivars were identified as appropriate objects in which to study the different effects of SnTox-Snn interactions, which is important for marker-assisted selection for SNB resistance. The current study has shown, for the first time, that the expression level of Snn1 and Tsn1 susceptibility genes and the disease severity of the different wheat cultivars are interconnected. Future work should focus on the deep characterization of SnTox-Snn interactions at the molecular level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Plant Immunity)

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Open AccessReview

Impacts of Salt Stress on the Rhizosphere and Endophytic Bacterial Role in Plant Salt Alleviation

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Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(2), 361-376; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14020030 - 13 Apr 2023

Abstract

Salinity stress is among the key challenges for sustainable food production. It is continuously increasing against the backdrop of constant climate change and anthropogenic practices leading to a huge drop in soil, water, and cultivated crop quality and productivity. Halotolerant plants represent hot [...] Read more.

Salinity stress is among the key challenges for sustainable food production. It is continuously increasing against the backdrop of constant climate change and anthropogenic practices leading to a huge drop in soil, water, and cultivated crop quality and productivity. Halotolerant plants represent hot spots for endophytic bacteria which may have mechanisms to overcome salt stress. This research initiative aims to highlight the possible exploitation of bacterial endophytes as a microbial biotechnology tool in the productive success of plants exposed to saline stress. We started by solely studying the mechanisms of stress tolerance by plants and halotolerant bacteria. After that, we focused on the beneficial mechanisms of endophytic bacteria in salt stress mitigation. On one side, potent bacterium works by promoting plant performances by facilitating the plant’s nutrient uptake (P, K, Zn, N, and Fe) and by promoting the production of growth hormones (IAA and CKs). On the other side, they balance stress phytohormones (ABA, JA, GA, and ACC) produced by plants in case of soil salt augmentation. The selected potent endophytic bacteria could be exploited and applied to ameliorate the production and salt tolerance of food crops. Lastly, we elucidated deeper advanced technologies including (i) genomics unveiling the plant’s culture-dependent and culture-independent microbiomes, (ii) metabolomics focusing on genes’ metabolic pathways to discover novel secondary metabolites, (iii) transcriptomics studying gene expression, and (iv) proteomics delimiting proteins expressed in stress alleviation. These technologies have been used to understand the plant–bacterial mechanisms of interaction to combat salt stress. Full article

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Open AccessArticle

The Study of Crystals in the Fruits of Some Apiaceae Species Using Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy

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Tatiana Ostroumova

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Ekaterina Zakharova

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(2), 347-360; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14020029 - 03 Apr 2023

Abstract

Crystals in the fruits of Apiaceae are of great importance for taxonomy. The presence/absence and location of large prismatic crystals, druses, and spherical aggregates characterize genera, tribes, and subfamilies. When the fruits of Apiaceae split into mericarps, cell separation occurs, and probably cell [...] Read more.

Crystals in the fruits of Apiaceae are of great importance for taxonomy. The presence/absence and location of large prismatic crystals, druses, and spherical aggregates characterize genera, tribes, and subfamilies. When the fruits of Apiaceae split into mericarps, cell separation occurs, and probably cell death and the destruction of their walls. In clades Saniculeae and Scandicinae, this process is accompanied by the accumulation of calcium oxalate crystals in the abscission layer. However, reports of smaller crystals are rare, and their taxonomic significance is unknown. To fill this gap, we started research with four species of the clade Apieae: Ammi majus, Modesciadium involucratum, Deverra aphylla, and Rutheopsis tortuosa; in the last two species, crystals were described for the first time. We also studied crystals in Chaerophyllum bulbosum from the clade Scandicinae, and in Sanicula rubriflora from the clade Saniculeae. Conventional optical and polarizing microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) were used. In the clade Apieae, the studied species contained crystals in the exocarp and on the commissure, and often in the mesocarp parenchyma as well; the shapes of the crystals are small druses and crystal sand. The calcium content in the crystals was determined as 10–31%; crystals contain also carbon and oxygen and are most likely composed of calcium oxalate. In the fruits of Apiaceae studied, the silicon content is low (<0.3%). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Experimental Botany: Anatomical and Morphological Approaches for Biotechnology and Nature Protection)

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Open AccessBrief Report

The Contributions of Neotropical Tree Families to the Structure of Common Amazon Forest-Types

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Randall W. Myster

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(2), 339-346; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14020028 - 29 Mar 2023

Abstract

In order to investigate how familial biodiversity structures forests in the critically important Amazon, I combined past plot samplings to investigate the contributions of tree families in those samplings to the structure of common Amazon forest types. I found that the families Arecaceae, [...] Read more.

In order to investigate how familial biodiversity structures forests in the critically important Amazon, I combined past plot samplings to investigate the contributions of tree families in those samplings to the structure of common Amazon forest types. I found that the families Arecaceae, Fabaceae, Clusiaceae, and Malvaceae had the most stems; Staphyleaceae, Caricaceae, and Anacardiaceae had the largest stems; Arecaceae, Fabaceae, Lecythidaceae, and Malvaceae had the largest basal area; Fabaceae, Malvaceae, and Sapotaceae had the most genera; Annonaceae, Euphorbiaceae, Fabaceae, Lauraceae, Malvaceae, Moraceae, and Sapotaceae had the most species, and the maximum Fisher’s α diversity index was found for many families. Together, results suggest that Fabaceae and Malvaceae are the most important families structuring these forests, but also that Arecaceae and Sapotaceae may be important. Thus, conservationists and managers may help sustain structure in these forests by propagating and maintaining species in these families. Finally, correlations between total number of stems and basal area, and between total number of genera and total number of species, suggest a causal relationship between them as they structure these forests, but the lack of correlations with Fisher’s α suggest it has little structural utility for these forests. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Ecology, Biodiversity and Developmental Biology)

Open AccessArticle

Activity of Hydrolases and Their Inhibitors in Potato Plants Treated with Bacillus subtilis, Salicylic, and Jasmonic Acids and Affected by the Combined Effect of the Late Blight and the Lack of Moisture

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Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(2), 329-338; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14020027 - 29 Mar 2023

Abstract

The effect of Bacillus subtilis in combination with salicylic (SA) and jasmonic (JA) acids on the activity of amylases, cellulases, proteases, and their inhibitors in potato leaves in connection with the development of resistance to Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary in conditions of [...] Read more.

The effect of Bacillus subtilis in combination with salicylic (SA) and jasmonic (JA) acids on the activity of amylases, cellulases, proteases, and their inhibitors in potato leaves in connection with the development of resistance to Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary in conditions of moisture deficiency have been investigated. Plants grown from microtubers were treated with Bacillus subtilis suspension (10⁸ cells/mL) and with a mixture of bacteria with SA (10⁻⁶ M), JA (10⁻⁷ M), and SA + JA and were then infected with P. infestans (10⁷ spores/mL) and cultivated under drought. Treatment with B. subtilis bacteria, especially in combination with signaling molecules, contributed to a decrease in the degree of pathogen infestation on plants grown with a lack of moisture. Both salicylate and jasmonate signaling pathways play an important role in the regulation of hydrolase activity and the stimulation of plant resistance. The revealed differences in the degree of hydrolase inhibitors activation under the influence of B. subtilis bacteria and signal molecules suggest different paths to the formation of resistance to P. infestans in potato under drought conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Plant Immunity)

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Open AccessArticle

Increasing Potato Sustainability to PVY under Water Deficiency by Bacillus Bacteria with Salicylic Acid and Methyl Jasmonate

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Joanna N. Kalatskaja

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Natallia V. Baliuk

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Katsiaryna I. Rybinskaya

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Kanstantsin M. Herasimovich

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Ninel A. Yalouskaya

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Lubov G. Yarullina

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Vyacheslav O. Tsvetkov

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(1), 312-328; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14010026 - 22 Mar 2023

Abstract

The protective effect of Bacillus bacteria against viruses can be significantly expanded by combination with salicylic acid (SA) or methyl jasmonate (MeJ). In soil water deficiency conditions, potato leaves were sprayed with Bacillus subtilis strain 47 combined with MeJ and MeJ + SA [...] Read more.

The protective effect of Bacillus bacteria against viruses can be significantly expanded by combination with salicylic acid (SA) or methyl jasmonate (MeJ). In soil water deficiency conditions, potato leaves were sprayed with Bacillus subtilis strain 47 combined with MeJ and MeJ + SA displayed a decrease in PVY and preservation of the shoot’s growth. Signaling molecules with Bacillus subtilis mitigated the adverse effect of PVY under water deficiency by manipulating enzymatic/non-enzymatic antioxidant levels and activity in treated plants. The application mixtures increased the mass and number of mini-tubers during the microclonal propagation of plants. Treatment with bacteria in combination with signaling molecules significantly changed the content and phosphorylation status of a number of hydrolases, catalase, phosphorylase, annexin, and protease inhibitor. Based on the analysis of changes in the proteome, the key mechanisms mediating the induction of plant resistance to change in the tuber proteome aimed at enhancing the expression of protective protein genes that increase resistance to pathogens and abiotic stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Plant Immunity)

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Open AccessArticle

Analysis of Genetic Diversity and Population Structure in Yam (Dioscorea Species) Germplasm Using Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) Molecular Markers

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Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(1), 299-311; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14010025 - 15 Mar 2023

Abstract

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is an important food security crop with economic, nutritional, and medicinal value. It is a source of carbohydrates for millions of people in tropical and sub-tropical regions of Africa, Asia, South America, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific Islands. [...] Read more.

Yam (Dioscorea spp.) is an important food security crop with economic, nutritional, and medicinal value. It is a source of carbohydrates for millions of people in tropical and sub-tropical regions of Africa, Asia, South America, the Caribbean, and the South Pacific Islands. Determining the appropriate parents for breeding programs is the most important decision that plant breeders must make to maximize genetic variability and produce excellent recombinant varieties. However, adequate genetic diversity and the population structure of yam accessions in Kenya are not available to guide accurate selection of parents for breeding. In the present study, 25 start-codon-targeted (SCoT) molecular markers were used to determine the genetic diversity and population structure among 20 yam accessions grown in Kenya. A total of 294 fragments were amplified, of which 95% were polymorphic with an average of 11.16 polymorphic fragments per primer. The polymorphic information content (PIC) value and primer resolving power (Rp) of 0.58 and 5.91, respectively, revealed high genetic diversity among the accessions. A dendrogram based on the unweighted pair group method of arithmetic means (UPGMA) grouped the 20 yam accessions into two clusters at 0.61 genetic similarity coefficients. Bayesian structure analysis revealed the existence of three subpopulations and some admixed accessions. Analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA) revealed a variance of 60% within the subpopulations and 40% among the subpopulations. The high degree of genetic diversity in the yam accessions successfully exhibited by SCoT molecular markers may serve as a valuable aid to widen the genetic base in yam breeding programs. The selection and hybridization of parental lines from the different clusters and sub-clusters identified could provide a foundation and could be exploited for yam breeding and variety development. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Plant Systematics and Taxonomy)

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Open AccessArticle

The Structural–Rhythmological Organization of Coelogyne (Orchidaceae Juss.) Inflorescences

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Galina Kolomeitseva

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Vladimir Koval

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Andrey Ryabchenko

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(1), 286-298; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14010024 - 11 Mar 2023

Abstract

The morphostructure of inflorescences in the genus Coelogyne Lindl. was studied for the first time using a structural–rhythmological approach. Three species of Coelogyne were used to describe one-season, intercalary, and all-season inflorescences. In C. monilirachis, a new type of all-season inflorescence was [...] Read more.

The morphostructure of inflorescences in the genus Coelogyne Lindl. was studied for the first time using a structural–rhythmological approach. Three species of Coelogyne were used to describe one-season, intercalary, and all-season inflorescences. In C. monilirachis, a new type of all-season inflorescence was identified, characterized by a prolonged sympodial growth of the rachis, lack of a pronounced dormant period, and thickening of all rachis internodes except the first. This inflorescence has been determined to be a compound monochasial cyme, with each floral unit represented by a separate flower. C. ovalis has a one-season inflorescence, with the floral unit being a determinate bracteous spike (stachyoid), and C. prolifera developed intercalary inflorescences united in an indeterminate bracteous spike. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Experimental Botany: Anatomical and Morphological Approaches for Biotechnology and Nature Protection)

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Open AccessArticle

Genetic Improvement to Obtain Specialized Haematococcus pluvialis Genotypes for the Production of Carotenoids, with Particular Reference to Astaxanthin

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Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(1), 276-285; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14010023 - 08 Mar 2023

Abstract

Nowadays, the search for natural substances with a high nutraceutical effect positively impact the world market. Among the most attractive macromolecules are antioxidants, capable of preventing the development of various pathologies. Astaxanthin (ASX) is antioxidant molecule produced by the microalga H. pluvialis as [...] Read more.

Nowadays, the search for natural substances with a high nutraceutical effect positively impact the world market. Among the most attractive macromolecules are antioxidants, capable of preventing the development of various pathologies. Astaxanthin (ASX) is antioxidant molecule produced by the microalga H. pluvialis as a response to different types of stress. Usually, astaxanthin production involves the first phase of accumulation of the biomass of H. pluvialis (green phase), which is then stressed to stimulate the biosynthesis and accumulation of ASX (red phase). In this study, the H. pluvialis wild-type strain was subjected to random mutagenesis by UV. Among the different mutant strains obtained, only two showed interesting bio-functional characteristics, such as a good growth rate. The results demonstrated that the HM1010 mutant not only has a higher growth trend than the WT mutant but accumulates and produces ASX even in the green phase. This innovative genotype would guarantee the continuous production of ASX, not linked to the two-step process and the uniqueness of the product obtained. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Microalgae as a Powerful Tool for Biopharming Development)

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Open AccessArticle

The Na⁺/H⁺ Exchanger NHX1 Controls H⁺ Accumulation in the Vacuole to Influence Sepal Color in Hydrangea macrophylla

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Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(1), 266-275; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14010022 - 20 Feb 2023

Abstract

Hydrangea macrophylla is popular for its unique physiological characteristics and changeable colors. Previous studies have shown that the pH of the vacuoles of the sepal cells of hydrangea affects the color of the sepals. Located on the vacuolar membrane, NHX1 is an important [...] Read more.

Hydrangea macrophylla is popular for its unique physiological characteristics and changeable colors. Previous studies have shown that the pH of the vacuoles of the sepal cells of hydrangea affects the color of the sepals. Located on the vacuolar membrane, NHX1 is an important H⁺ proton pump that drives the exchange of metal ions. This proton pump affects the physiological environment by controlling the accumulation of H⁺ in the vacuole. In hydrangea, the HmNHX1 gene has an open reading frame of 1626 bp and encodes a total of 541 amino acids. Bioinformatic analysis showed that HmNHX1, which encodes a Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger, is located on the vacuolar membrane. Tissue-specific expression analysis showed that the expression of this gene in the treatment group was higher than that in the control group. The ion flux in the vacuoles of colored hydrangea in the treatment group and the control group were measured, and the results showed that HmNHX1 was indeed a Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger. When the results of the HmNHX1 expression analysis and ion flux measurements are combined, it can be seen that HmNHX1 regulates the accumulation of H⁺ in the vacuole, ultimately affecting the color of the plant. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Ecology, Biodiversity and Developmental Biology)

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Open AccessArticle

Litter Deposition and Nutrient Cycling of Invaded Environments by Cryptostegia madagascariensis at Tropical Cambisols from Northeastern Brazil

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Tancredo Souza

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Edjane Oliveira de Lucena

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Leonaldo Alves de Andrade

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Lucas Jónatan Rodrigues da Silva

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Gislaine dos Santos Nascimento

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Helena Freitas

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(1), 254-265; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14010021 - 20 Feb 2023

Abstract

Cryptostegia madagascariensis is an invasive plant species that covers 11% of the Brazilian northeastern territory, but its role on the litter trait in tropical ecosystems remains unclear. Here, we analyzed and compared the litter deposition, litter nutrient content, soil organic matter, and the [...] Read more.

Cryptostegia madagascariensis is an invasive plant species that covers 11% of the Brazilian northeastern territory, but its role on the litter trait in tropical ecosystems remains unclear. Here, we analyzed and compared the litter deposition, litter nutrient content, soil organic matter, and the litter decay rate from invaded and non-invaded environments by C. madagascariensis at a tropical Cambisol. The PCA analysis revealed that litter deposition, litter quality, and soil organic matter were correlated with the invaded environment. We grew plant species in greenhouse conditions to obtain a standard litter material to use in our litter bags in field conditions. We found that litter decay rate was higher in the invaded environment than in the non-invaded one. Our results suggest that C. madagascariensis changes litter traits in tropical ecosystems that in turn create negative plant–soil feedback to the native species by creating a physical barrier on soil surface and to promote its own rhizosphere. Full article

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Open AccessArticle

Exploring the Role of Salicylic Acid in Regulating the Colonization Ability of Bacillus subtilis 26D in Potato Plants and Defense against Phytophthora infestans

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Antonina Sorokan

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Guzel Burkhanova

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Andrew Gordeev

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Igor Maksimov

Int. J. Plant Biol. 2023, 14(1), 242-253; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijpb14010020 - 20 Feb 2023

Cited by 1

Abstract

Plant colonization by endophytic bacteria is mediated by different biomolecules that cause dynamic changes in gene expression of both bacteria and plant. Phytohormones, in particular, salicylic acid, play a key role in the regulation of endophytic colonization and diversity of bacteria in methaphytobiome. [...] Read more.

Plant colonization by endophytic bacteria is mediated by different biomolecules that cause dynamic changes in gene expression of both bacteria and plant. Phytohormones, in particular, salicylic acid, play a key role in the regulation of endophytic colonization and diversity of bacteria in methaphytobiome. For the first time it was found that salicylic acid influenced motility in biofilms and transcription of the surfactin synthetase gene of the endophytic strain Bacillus subtilis 26D in vitro. Treatment of Solanum tuberosum plants with salicylic acid, along with B. subtilis 26D, increased the number of endophytic cells of bacteria in potato internal tissues and level of transcripts of bacterial surfactin synthetase gene and decreased transcription of plant PR genes on the stage of colonisation with endophytes. Thus, the production of surfactin plays an important role in endophytic colonization of plants, and salicylic acid has an ability to influence this mechanism. Here we firstly show that plants treated with salicylic acid and B. subtilis 26D showed enhanced resistance to the late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans, which was accompanied by increase in transcriptional activity of plant PR-genes and bacterial surfactin synthetase gene after pathogen inoculation. Therefore, it is suggested that salicylic acid can modulate physiological status of the whole plant–endophyte system and improve biocontrol potential of endophytic strains. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Plant Immunity)

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