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Special Issue "Factors Affecting Yield, Quality, Antioxidants, Mineral Composition and Residual Biomass Valorization of Vegetable Crops 2.0"

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A special issue of Plants (ISSN 2223-7747). This special issue belongs to the section "Plant Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 July 2022) | Viewed by 12184

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Nadezhda A. Golubkina

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Federal Scientific Center of Vegetable Production, Odintsovo District, Vniissok, Selectsionnaya 14, 143072 Moscow, Russia
Interests: vegetable crops; biofortification; selenium; iodine; microorganism inoculation; soil chemical analyses; plant chemical analyses; functional food; quality indicators; cholophylls; antioxidants; ascorbic acid; carotenoids; polyphenols; flavonoids; antocyanyns; mineral element composition
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Prof. Dr. Gianluca Caruso

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Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Portici, 80055 Naples, Italy
Interests: vegetable crops; conventional farming; organic management; soilless growing; fertilization; biofortification; microorganism inoculation; light modification; yield components; quality indicators; antioxidants; mineral element composition; residual biomass valorization
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Prof. Dr. Viliana Vasileva

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Maize Research Institute, 5835 Knezha, Bulgaria
Interests: plant growing; technologies for growing forage crops; maize
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Prof. Dr. Agnieszka Sękara

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Department of Horticulture, Faculty of Biotechnology and Horticulture, University of Agriculture in Krakow, 29-Listopada 54, 31-425 Krakow, Poland
Interests: plant eco-physiology; biotic and abiotic stresses; biofortification and biostimulation of horticultural crops and cultivated mushrooms; functional food
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Dr. Liubov Skrypnik

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Laboratory of Natural Antioxidants, Institute of Living Systems, Immanuel Kant Baltic Federal University, Kaliningrad, Russia
Interests: biofortification; selenium; plant nutrition; plant chemical analyses; functional food; biological active compounds; antioxidants; polyphenols; flavonoids; agri-food waste; extraction processes
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Dr. Alessio Tallarita

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Department of Agricultural Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
Interests: vegetables, crop systems, nutrition, quality, biomass

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Vegetable crops are widespread worldwide and characterized by management systems differing from each other with regard to the farming practices performed. However, all the systems should be managed in order to make them sustainable, both under the production and environmental safeguard perspectives. The crucial role of either farming or environmental factors on vegetable crop systems has been attracting the scientific community’s attention and stimulating its research interest. Among farming practices, fertilization plays a major role, as all the essential macro- and micronutrients should be supplied in order to fulfill plant requirements for growth and development, thus boosting crop yield and improving produce quality. The use of beneficial microorganisms interacting with those naturally present in the plants, such as nitrogen-fixing symbiotic bacteria, may enhance plant nutrient absorption, growth, yield, and quality and affect the antioxidant synthesis and activity.

Indeed, the several literature reports relevant to the present topics have not worked out all the issues that have arisen and, therefore, in this interesting field of research, plenty of challenges should be addressed. In this respect, remarkable attention should be given to the interactive dynamics among nutrient uptake, plant development, and synthesis of antioxidants. The latter are essential plant secondary metabolites acting in plant growth as well as in plant–microbe, plant–plant, and plant-environment relationships, whose presence in significant concentrations also allows producing vegetables labeled as functional food.

In this Special Issue, we warmly welcome articles (original research, reviews, modeling approaches, perspectives, opinions) that focus on factors affecting yield, quality, antioxidant compounds and activity, mineral composition, and residual biomass valorization of vegetable crops grown in an open field or greenhouse, carried out upon investigations regarding agronomical, biochemical, physiological, genetic aspects of plant, soil, microbiome, nutrients, and hormone interactions in any vegetable species, including those industry-oriented (legumes, tomato, potato).

Dr. Nadezhda A. Golubkina
Dr. Gianluca Caruso
Prof. Dr. Viliana Vasileva
Dr. Agnieszka Sękara
Dr. Liubov Skrypnik
Dr. Alessio Tallarita

Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Plants is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

vegetable open field system
vegetable greenhouse system
conventional farming
organic management
soilless growing
genotype
fertilization
biofortification
microorganism inoculation
irrigation
weed control
light modification
produce processing
nutrient uptake
nutrient metabolism
nitrogen fixation
mineral element composition
sugars
organic acids
proteins
antioxidant compounds
antioxidant activity
residual biomass composition
residual biomass energy potential

Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Effect of Selenium Application and Growth Stage at Harvest on Hydrophilic and Lipophilic Antioxidants in Lamb’s Lettuce (Valerianella locusta L. Laterr.)

and

Plants 2021, 10(12), 2733; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122733 - 12 Dec 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2250

Abstract

Lamb’s lettuce (Valerianella locusta L. Laterr.) is a leafy green vegetable that is rich in various biological active compounds and is widely used in ready-to-eat salads. The cultivation conditions and growth stage could affect the secondary metabolism in plants and thereby modify their food value. In the present study, the effect of selenium (Se) application in various concentrations (5.0, 10.0, and 20.0 µM) on the contents of Se, phenolic compounds, vitamin C, carotenoids, chlorophylls, and antioxidant activity of hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts of lamb’s lettuce harvested at three growth stages (38, 52, and 66 days after sowing (DAS)) was studied. Se application significantly increased the Se concentration in the shoots (up to 124.4 μg g⁻¹ dry weight), as well as the contents of chlorogenic acid, total flavonoids, total phenolics, ascorbic acid, chlorophyll b, and the antioxidant activity of hydrophilic and lipophilic extracts. A higher content of phenolic compounds and higher antioxidant activity of hydrophilic extracts was observed at the first growth stage (38 DAS). On the contrary, higher contents of lipophilic compounds (chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, lutein, β-carotene) and higher antioxidant activity of lipophilic extracts were found for shoots harvested at later stages (52 and 66 DAS). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors Affecting Yield, Quality, Antioxidants, Mineral Composition and Residual Biomass Valorization of Vegetable Crops 2.0)

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Open AccessArticle

Production of Gynogenic Plants of Red Beet (Beta vulgaris L.) in Unpollinated Ovule Culture In Vitro

Tatyina Zayachkovskaya

Elena Domblides

Vladimir Zayachkovsky

Lyudmila Kan

Arthur Domblides

and

Alexey Soldatenko

Plants 2021, 10(12), 2703; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10122703 - 08 Dec 2021

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2323

Abstract

The unique and balanced components of the biochemical composition, together with high antioxidant activity, make the red beet necessary a dietary vegetable crop, much contributing to healthy food ration. The application of the technology for producing gynogenic plants in vitro increases the genetic diversity and significantly reduces the period of time required to obtain the appropriate homozygous lines used to create the F1 hybrids that are demanded in the market. For induction of gynogenesis, we used IMB medium developed by us with the addition of 55 g/L sucrose, 3 g/L phytogel, 200 mg/L ampicillin, and 0.4 mg/L thidiazuron (TDZ) and cultured at 28 °C in the dark for 4–6 weeks. Shoot regeneration from embryoids and callus was performed on MS medium with 20 g/L sucrose, 3 g/L phytogel, 1 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP), and 0.1 mg/L gibberellic acid (GA₃). Immersion of the obtained microshoots with 5–7 well-developed leaves for 10–15 s into concentrated sterile indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) solution (50 mg/L) followed by their cultivation on solid medium ½ _IMB with 2% sucrose and 3 g/L phytogel was the most efficient method for root formation. The addition of silver nitrate (22 mg/L) to the nutrient medium provoked an increase in the number of induced ovules up to nine per Petri dish (up to 25% of induced ovules). Gynogenic development was produced in six out of 11 genotypes studied, and the plants that were then acclimatized to ex vitro conditions were obtained in three genotypes (Nezhnost’, Dobrynya, b/a 128). The evaluation of ploidy of gynogenic plants that was carried out by flow cytometry and direct counting of chromosomes stained with propion-lacmoide revealed that all obtained gynogenic plants were haploids (2n = x = 9). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors Affecting Yield, Quality, Antioxidants, Mineral Composition and Residual Biomass Valorization of Vegetable Crops 2.0)

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Open AccessArticle

Iodine and Selenium Biofortification of Chervil Plants Treated with Silicon Nanoparticles

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Plants 2021, 10(11), 2528; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10112528 - 20 Nov 2021

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1757

Abstract

Production of functional food with high levels of selenium (Se) and iodine (I) obtained via plant biofortification shows significant difficulties due to the complex interaction between the two elements. Taking into account the known beneficial effect of silicon (Si) on plant growth and development, single and joint foliar biofortification of chervil plants with potassium iodide (150 mg L⁻¹) and sodium selenate (10 mg L⁻¹) was carried out in a pot experiment with and without Si nanoparticles foliar supplementation. Compared to control plants, nano-Si (14 mg L⁻¹) increased shoot biomass in all treatments: by 4.8 times with Si; by 2.8 times with I + Si; by 5.6 times with Se + Si; by 4.0 times with I + Se + Si. The correspondent increases in root biomass were 4.5, 8.7, 13.3 and 10.0 times, respectively. The growth stimulation effect of Se, I and I + Se treatments resulted in a 2.7, 3.5 and 3.6 times increase for chervil shoots and 1.6, 3.1 and 8.6 times for roots, respectively. Nano-Si improved I biofortification levels by twice, while I and Se enhanced the plant content of each other. All treatments decreased nitrate levels, compared to control, and increased the photopigment accumulation. Improvement of total antioxidant activity and phenolic content was recorded only under the joint application of Se + I + Si. Foliar nano-Si treatment affected other element content in plants: decreased Na⁺ accumulation in single and joint supplementation with Se and I, restored Fe, Mn and Cr amount compared to the decreased levels recorded in separately Se and I fortified plants and promoted Al accumulation both with or without Se and I biofortification. The results of this research suggest high prospects of foliar nano-Si supply for enhancing both growth and joint I/Se biofortification of chervil. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors Affecting Yield, Quality, Antioxidants, Mineral Composition and Residual Biomass Valorization of Vegetable Crops 2.0)

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Review

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Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Silicon Mitigates Negative Impacts of Drought and UV-B Radiation in Plants

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Plants 2022, 11(1), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11010091 - 28 Dec 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2332

Abstract

Due to climate change, plants are being more adversely affected by heatwaves, floods, droughts, and increased temperatures and UV radiation. This review focuses on enhanced UV-B radiation and drought, and mitigation of their adverse effects through silicon addition. Studies on UV-B stress and addition of silicon or silicon nanoparticles have been reported for crop plants including rice, wheat, and soybean. These have shown that addition of silicon to plants under UV-B radiation stress increases the contents of chlorophyll, soluble sugars, anthocyanins, flavonoids, and UV-absorbing and antioxidant compounds. Silicon also affects photosynthesis rate, proline content, metal toxicity, and lipid peroxidation. Drought is a stress factor that affects normal plant growth and development. It has been frequently reported that silicon can reduce stress caused by different abiotic factors, including drought. For example, under drought stress, silicon increases ascorbate peroxidase activity, total soluble sugars content, relative water content, and photosynthetic rate. Silicon also decreases peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase activities, and malondialdehyde content. The effects of silicon on drought and concurrently UV-B stressed plants has not yet been studied in detail, but initial studies show some stress mitigation by silicon. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors Affecting Yield, Quality, Antioxidants, Mineral Composition and Residual Biomass Valorization of Vegetable Crops 2.0)

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Open AccessFeature PaperReview

Joint Biofortification of Plants with Selenium and Iodine: New Field of Discoveries

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Plants 2021, 10(7), 1352; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants10071352 - 02 Jul 2021

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2611

Abstract

The essentiality of selenium (Se) and iodine (I) to human beings and the widespread areas of selenium and iodine deficiency determine the high significance of functional food production with high levels of these elements. In this respect, joint biofortification of agricultural crops with Se and I is especially attractive. Nevertheless, in practice this topic has raised many problems connected with the possible utilization of many Se and I chemical forms, different doses and biofortification methods, and the existence of wide species and varietal differences. The limited reports relevant to this subject and the multiplicity of unsolved questions urge the need for an adequate evaluation of the results obtained up-to-date, useful for developing further future investigations. The present review discusses the outcome of joint plant Se–I biofortification, as well as factors affecting Se and I accumulation in plants, paying special attention to unsolved issues. A particular focus has been given to the prospects of herb sprouts production enriched with Se and I, as well as the interactions between the latter microelements and arbuscular-mycorrhizal fungi (AMF). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Factors Affecting Yield, Quality, Antioxidants, Mineral Composition and Residual Biomass Valorization of Vegetable Crops 2.0)

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