Plants

21 pages, 5691 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Transcriptional and Post-Translational Regulation of Plant bHLH Transcription Factors during the Response to Environmental Stresses

by Yasmina Radani, Rongxue Li, Harriet Mateko Korboe, Hongyu Ma and Liming Yang

Plants 2023, 12(11), 2113; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112113 - 26 May 2023

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3746

Abstract

Over the past decades, extensive research has been conducted to identify and characterize various plant transcription factors involved in abiotic stress responses. Therefore, numerous efforts have been made to improve plant stress tolerance by engineering these transcription factor genes. The plant basic Helix–Loop–Helix [...] Read more.

Over the past decades, extensive research has been conducted to identify and characterize various plant transcription factors involved in abiotic stress responses. Therefore, numerous efforts have been made to improve plant stress tolerance by engineering these transcription factor genes. The plant basic Helix–Loop–Helix (bHLH) transcription factor family represents one of the most prominent gene families and contains a bHLH motif that is highly conserved in eukaryotic organisms. By binding to specific positions in promoters, they activate or repress the transcription of specific response genes and thus affect multiple variables in plant physiology such as the response to abiotic stresses, which include drought, climatic variations, mineral deficiencies, excessive salinity, and water stress. The regulation of bHLH transcription factors is crucial to better control their activity. On the one hand, they are regulated at the transcriptional level by other upstream components; on the other hand, they undergo various modifications such as ubiquitination, phosphorylation, and glycosylation at the post-translational level. Modified bHLH transcription factors can form a complex regulatory network to regulate the expression of stress response genes and thus determine the activation of physiological and metabolic reactions. This review article focuses on the structural characteristics, classification, function, and regulatory mechanism of bHLH transcription factor expression at the transcriptional and post-translational levels during their responses to various abiotic stress conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Signaling and Responses in Plants)

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12 pages, 322 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Alfalfa, Cabbage, Beet and Fennel Microgreens in Floating Hydroponics—Perspective Nutritious Food?

by Sanja Fabek Uher, Sanja Radman, Nevena Opačić, Mia Dujmović, Božidar Benko, Denis Lagundžija, Valent Mijić, Lucija Prša, Srđan Babac and Jana Šic Žlabur

Plants 2023, 12(11), 2098; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112098 - 25 May 2023

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3553

Abstract

Microgreens are young plants of various vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, cereals and edible wild plants that were first associated with nouvelle cuisine as decoration in dishes due to their attractive appearance and strong flavor. Recently, they have become more sought after in [...] Read more.

Microgreens are young plants of various vegetables, medicinal and aromatic plants, cereals and edible wild plants that were first associated with nouvelle cuisine as decoration in dishes due to their attractive appearance and strong flavor. Recently, they have become more sought after in the market due to their high nutritional value. This is due to the growing interest of consumers in a healthy lifestyle that includes a varied diet with emphasis on fresh, functional foods. Nowadays, commercial production of microgreens is shifting to modern hydroponic systems due to their numerous advantages, such as accelerated plant growth and biomass production, earlier harvesting, and more production cycles that positively affect yield and chemical composition. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the content of specialized metabolites and antioxidant capacity of hydroponically grown alfalfa (Medicago sativa) cv. ‘Kangaroo’, yellow beet (Beta vulgaris var. conditiva) cv. ‘Yellow Lady’, red cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. rubra) cv. ‘Red Carpet’, and fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) cv. ‘Aganarpo’ microgreens. The highest content of total phenols (408.03 mg GAE/100 g fw), flavonoids (214.47 mg GAE/100 g fw), non-flavonoids (193.56 mg GAE/100 g fw) and ascorbic acid (74.94 mg/100 g fw) was found in fennel microgreens. The highest content of all analyzed chlorophyll pigments (Chl_a 0.536 mg/g fw, Chl_b 0.248 mg/g fw, and TCh 0.785 mg/g fw) was found in alfalfa microgreens. However, in addition to alfalfa, high levels of chlorophyll a (0.528 mg/g fw), total chlorophyll (0.713 mg/g fw) and the highest level of total carotenoids (0.196 mg/g fw) were also detected in fennel microgreens. The results suggest that microgreens grown on perlite in floating hydroponics have high nutritional potential as a functional food important for human health and therefore could be recommended for daily diet. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Specialized Metabolites of Plants—Evaluation of Functional and Biological Value)

23 pages, 15771 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

A High-Precision Plant Disease Detection Method Based on a Dynamic Pruning Gate Friendly to Low-Computing Platforms

by Yufei Liu, Jingxin Liu, Wei Cheng, Zizhi Chen, Junyu Zhou, Haolan Cheng and Chunli Lv

Plants 2023, 12(11), 2073; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12112073 - 23 May 2023

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3146

Abstract

Timely and accurate detection of plant diseases is a crucial research topic. A dynamic-pruning-based method for automatic detection of plant diseases in low-computing situations is proposed. The main contributions of this research work include the following: (1) the collection of datasets for four [...] Read more.

Timely and accurate detection of plant diseases is a crucial research topic. A dynamic-pruning-based method for automatic detection of plant diseases in low-computing situations is proposed. The main contributions of this research work include the following: (1) the collection of datasets for four crops with a total of 12 diseases over a three-year history; (2) the proposition of a re-parameterization method to improve the boosting accuracy of convolutional neural networks; (3) the introduction of a dynamic pruning gate to dynamically control the network structure, enabling operation on hardware platforms with widely varying computational power; (4) the implementation of the theoretical model based on this paper and the development of the associated application. Experimental results demonstrate that the model can run on various computing platforms, including high-performance GPU platforms and low-power mobile terminal platforms, with an inference speed of 58 FPS, outperforming other mainstream models. In terms of model accuracy, subclasses with a low detection accuracy are enhanced through data augmentation and validated by ablation experiments. The model ultimately achieves an accuracy of 0.94. Full article

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23 pages, 2187 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Image-Based High-Throughput Phenotyping in Horticultural Crops

by Alebel Mekuriaw Abebe, Younguk Kim, Jaeyoung Kim, Song Lim Kim and Jeongho Baek

Plants 2023, 12(10), 2061; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102061 - 22 May 2023

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 8610

Abstract

Plant phenotyping is the primary task of any plant breeding program, and accurate measurement of plant traits is essential to select genotypes with better quality, high yield, and climate resilience. The majority of currently used phenotyping techniques are destructive and time-consuming. Recently, the [...] Read more.

Plant phenotyping is the primary task of any plant breeding program, and accurate measurement of plant traits is essential to select genotypes with better quality, high yield, and climate resilience. The majority of currently used phenotyping techniques are destructive and time-consuming. Recently, the development of various sensors and imaging platforms for rapid and efficient quantitative measurement of plant traits has become the mainstream approach in plant phenotyping studies. Here, we reviewed the trends of image-based high-throughput phenotyping methods applied to horticultural crops. High-throughput phenotyping is carried out using various types of imaging platforms developed for indoor or field conditions. We highlighted the applications of different imaging platforms in the horticulture sector with their advantages and limitations. Furthermore, the principles and applications of commonly used imaging techniques, visible light (RGB) imaging, thermal imaging, chlorophyll fluorescence, hyperspectral imaging, and tomographic imaging for high-throughput plant phenotyping, are discussed. High-throughput phenotyping has been widely used for phenotyping various horticultural traits, which can be morphological, physiological, biochemical, yield, biotic, and abiotic stress responses. Moreover, the ability of high-throughput phenotyping with the help of various optical sensors will lead to the discovery of new phenotypic traits which need to be explored in the future. We summarized the applications of image analysis for the quantitative evaluation of various traits with several examples of horticultural crops in the literature. Finally, we summarized the current trend of high-throughput phenotyping in horticultural crops and highlighted future perspectives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Phenomics for Precision Agriculture)

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13 pages, 1216 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Influence of Chestnut Extract and Its Components on Antibacterial Activity against Staphylococcus aureus

by Sara Štumpf, Gregor Hostnik, Tomaž Langerholc, Maša Pintarič, Zala Kolenc and Urban Bren

Plants 2023, 12(10), 2043; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102043 - 20 May 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2721

Abstract

Increasing antimicrobial resistance has caused a great interest in natural products as alternatives or potentiators of antibiotics. The objective of this study was to isolate individual tannins from crude chestnut extract as well as to determine the influence of both crude extracts (tannic [...] Read more.

Increasing antimicrobial resistance has caused a great interest in natural products as alternatives or potentiators of antibiotics. The objective of this study was to isolate individual tannins from crude chestnut extract as well as to determine the influence of both crude extracts (tannic acid extract, chestnut extract) and individual pure tannins (gallic acid, vescalin, vescalagin, castalin, castalagin) on the growth of Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. Their antibacterial activity was monitored by measuring the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) as well as the duration of the lag phase, growth rate and generation time. The effect of growth medium strength on the MIC of different tannins was also investigated. Bacterial growth was followed spectrophotometrically, and MIC values were determined by the microdilution method. The MIC values of various isolated compounds allowed us to determine the bioactive compounds and their contribution to antimicrobial activity. It was found that MIC values increase with increasing growth medium strength and that the lag phase lengthens with increasing tannin concentrations, while the growth rates decrease. Comparing the results of the two studies, the antimicrobial activity of tannins against S. aureus was not as pronounced as in the case of E. coli, which may indicate that a different mechanism of action is responsible for the antimicrobial effects of tannins on Gram-positive than on Gram-negative bacteria, or that a different mechanism is more pronounced. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytochemical Composition and Biological Activity)

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12 pages, 3106 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Comparative Metabolomic Analysis Reveals the Role of OsHPL1 in the Cold-Induced Metabolic Changes in Rice

by Ziwei Wu, Zhiyu Guo, Kemiao Wang, Rui Wang and Chuanying Fang

Plants 2023, 12(10), 2032; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102032 - 19 May 2023

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2190

Abstract

Cytochrome P450 (CYP74) family members participate in the generation of oxylipins and play essential roles in plant adaptation. However, the metabolic reprogramming mediated by CYP74s under cold stress remains largely unexplored. Herein, we report how cold-triggered OsHPL1, a member of [...] Read more.

Cytochrome P450 (CYP74) family members participate in the generation of oxylipins and play essential roles in plant adaptation. However, the metabolic reprogramming mediated by CYP74s under cold stress remains largely unexplored. Herein, we report how cold-triggered OsHPL1, a member of the CYP74 family, modulates rice metabolism. Cold stress significantly induced the expression of OsHPL1 and the accumulation of OPDA (12-oxo-phytodienoic acid) and jasmonates in the wild-type (WT) plants. The absence of OsHPL1 attenuates OPDA accumulation to a low temperature. Then, we performed a widely targeted metabolomics study covering 597 structurally annotated compounds. In the WT and hpl1 plants, cold stress remodeled the metabolism of lipids and amino acids. Although the WT and hpl1 mutants shared over one hundred cold-affected differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), some displayed distinct cold-responding patterns. Furthermore, we identified 114 and 56 cold-responding DAMs, specifically in the WT and hpl1 mutants. In conclusion, our work characterized cold-triggered metabolic rewiring and the metabolic role of OsHPL1 in rice. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Metabolism and Stress in Plants)

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17 pages, 3881 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Transcriptome and Metabolome Analysis of Selenium Treated Alfalfa Reveals Influence on Phenylpropanoid Biosynthesis to Enhance Growth

by Fengdan Wang, Jie Yang, Yi Hua, Kexin Wang, Yue Guo, Yalin Lu, Siqi Zhu, Pan Zhang and Guofu Hu

Plants 2023, 12(10), 2038; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102038 - 19 May 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2606

Abstract

Selenium (Se) plays an important role in the growth of plants. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial legume forage crop with high nutritional value and Se-rich functions. Many studies have shown that selenium can promote alfalfa growth, but few have explored [...] Read more.

Selenium (Se) plays an important role in the growth of plants. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is a perennial legume forage crop with high nutritional value and Se-rich functions. Many studies have shown that selenium can promote alfalfa growth, but few have explored the molecular biology mechanisms behind this effect. In this study, alfalfa was divided into two groups. One group was sprayed with sodium selenite (Na₂SeO₃) and the other group was sprayed with distilled water as a control. This study determined the growth, reproductive traits, physiological changes, transcriptome and metabolome of both groups of alfalfa. We found that foliar spraying of 100 mg/L Na₂SeO₃ could significantly increase the growth rate, dry weight, total Se content, amount of pollen per flower, pollen viability, pod spirals, and seed number per pod of alfalfa plants. The level of chlorophyll, soluble protein, proline, and glutathione also increased dramatically in Na₂SeO₃-sprayed alfalfa seedlings. After transcriptome and metabolome analysis, a total of 614 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 1500 differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs), including 26 secondary differentially metabolites were identified. The DEGs were mainly enriched in MAPK signaling pathway, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, isoflavonoid biosynthesis, cutin, suberine, and wax biosynthesis, and glycerolipid metabolism. The DEMs were mainly enriched in flavone and flavonol biosynthesis, carbon metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Integrative analysis of transcriptome and metabolome showed that the foliar spraying of Na₂SeO₃ mainly affects phenylpropanoid biosynthesis to promote alfalfa growth. Full article

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42 pages, 8517 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Leguminous Seedborne Pathogens: Seed Health and Sustainable Crop Management

by Eliana Dell’Olmo, Antonio Tiberini and Loredana Sigillo

Plants 2023, 12(10), 2040; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102040 - 19 May 2023

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 5046

Abstract

Pulses have gained popularity over the past few decades due to their use as a source of protein in food and their favorable impact on soil fertility. Despite being essential to modern agriculture, these species face a number of challenges, such as agronomic [...] Read more.

Pulses have gained popularity over the past few decades due to their use as a source of protein in food and their favorable impact on soil fertility. Despite being essential to modern agriculture, these species face a number of challenges, such as agronomic crop management and threats from plant seed pathogens. This review’s goal is to gather information on the distribution, symptomatology, biology, and host range of seedborne pathogens. Important diagnostic techniques are also discussed as a part of a successful process of seed health certification. Additionally, strategies for sustainable control are provided. Altogether, the data collected are suggested as basic criteria to set up a conscious laboratory approach. Full article

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20 pages, 1529 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

New Strategies to Increase the Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Woody Ornamental Plants in Mediterranean Climate

by Luca Leotta, Stefania Toscano, Antonio Ferrante, Daniela Romano and Alessandra Francini

Plants 2023, 12(10), 2022; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102022 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3723

Abstract

The native flora of different Mediterranean countries, often woody species, was widely recognized for its ornamental potential. The shrubs, in particular, are a typology of plants very widespread in the Mediterranean environment and constituent the ‘Macchia’, the typical vegetation of this ecosystem. The [...] Read more.

The native flora of different Mediterranean countries, often woody species, was widely recognized for its ornamental potential. The shrubs, in particular, are a typology of plants very widespread in the Mediterranean environment and constituent the ‘Macchia’, the typical vegetation of this ecosystem. The use of native shrubs for the realization of ornamental green areas has been recently examined for their adaptability to abiotic stress. Abiotic stresses, in fact, are the major limiting growth factor in urban and peri-urban areas. The identification and use of tolerant ornamental species allow the reduction of management costs and preserve the aesthetical value of green areas. Tolerance to drought stress, for instance, in the Mediterranean climate can improve the ecosystem services of these plants in the urban environment. In this review, the possibility to early individuate different plant species’ mechanisms to tolerate or avoid the stresses is analysed, as well as the possibility to increase abiotic stress tolerance through genetic and agronomic strategies. The exploration of wild or spontaneous species can be a good source for selecting tolerant plants to be used as ornamental plants in urban areas. Among agronomic strategies, biostimulants, mulching, and plant combination can provide a useful solution to counteract abiotic stress in the urban environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Floriculture and Landscape Architecture)

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32 pages, 7731 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Foliar Applications of Salicylic Acid on Boosting Salt Stress Tolerance in Sour Passion Fruit in Two Cropping Cycles

by Thiago Galvão Sobrinho, André Alisson Rodrigues da Silva, Geovani Soares de Lima, Vera Lúcia Antunes de Lima, Vitória Ediclécia Borges, Kheila Gomes Nunes, Lauriane Almeida dos Anjos Soares, Luciano Marcelo Fallé Saboya, Hans Raj Gheyi, Josivanda Palmeira Gomes, Pedro Dantas Fernandes and Carlos Alberto Vieira de Azevedo

Plants 2023, 12(10), 2023; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102023 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3054

Abstract

Brazil stands out as the largest producer of sour passion fruit; however, the water available for irrigation is mostly saline, which can limit its cultivation. This study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the effects of salicylic acid in the induction [...] Read more.

Brazil stands out as the largest producer of sour passion fruit; however, the water available for irrigation is mostly saline, which can limit its cultivation. This study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the effects of salicylic acid in the induction of tolerance in sour passion fruit to salt stress. The assay was conducted in a protected environment, using a completely randomized design in a split-plot scheme, with the levels of electrical conductivity of the irrigation water (0.8, 1.6, 2.4, 3.2, and 4.0 dS m⁻¹) considering the plots and concentrations of salicylic acid (0, 1.2, 2.4, and 3.6 mM) the subplots, with three replications. The physiological indices, production components, and postharvest quality of sour passion fruit were negatively affected by the increase in the electrical conductivity of irrigation water, and the effects of salt stress were intensified in the second cycle. In the first cycle, the foliar application of salicylic acid at concentrations between 1.0 and 1.4 mM partially reduced the harmful effects of salt stress on the relative water content of leaves, electrolyte leakage, gas exchange, and synthesis of photosynthetic pigments, in addition to promoting an increase in the yield and quality parameters of sour passion fruit. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies to Improve Water-Use Efficiency in Plant Production)

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17 pages, 1070 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Role of Blue and Red Light in the Orchestration of Secondary Metabolites, Nutrient Transport and Plant Quality

by Alice Trivellini, Stefania Toscano, Daniela Romano and Antonio Ferrante

Plants 2023, 12(10), 2026; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12102026 - 18 May 2023

Cited by 43 | Viewed by 6656

Abstract

Light is a fundamental environmental parameter for plant growth and development because it provides an energy source for carbon fixation during photosynthesis and regulates many other physiological processes through its signaling. In indoor horticultural cultivation systems, sole-source light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have shown great [...] Read more.

Light is a fundamental environmental parameter for plant growth and development because it provides an energy source for carbon fixation during photosynthesis and regulates many other physiological processes through its signaling. In indoor horticultural cultivation systems, sole-source light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have shown great potential for optimizing growth and producing high-quality products. Light is also a regulator of flowering, acting on phytochromes and inducing or inhibiting photoperiodic plants. Plants respond to light quality through several light receptors that can absorb light at different wavelengths. This review summarizes recent progress in our understanding of the role of blue and red light in the modulation of important plant quality traits, nutrient absorption and assimilation, as well as secondary metabolites, and includes the dynamic signaling networks that are orchestrated by blue and red wavelengths with a focus on transcriptional and metabolic reprogramming, plant productivity, and the nutritional quality of products. Moreover, it highlights future lines of research that should increase our knowledge to develop tailored light recipes to shape the plant characteristics and the nutritional and nutraceutical value of horticultural products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Light and Plant Nutrition)

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19 pages, 2818 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Comparison of Phytochemical Composition and Untargeted Metabolomic Analysis of an Extract from Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (Mill.) I. I. Johnst and Porophyllum ruderale (Jacq.) Cass. and Biological Cytotoxic and Antiproliferative Activity In Vitro

by Ángel Félix Vargas-Madriz, Ivan Luzardo-Ocampo, Ulisses Moreno-Celis, Octavio Roldán-Padrón, Jorge Luis Chávez-Servín, Haydé A. Vergara-Castañeda, Mónica Martínez-Pacheco, Carmen Mejía, Teresa García-Gasca and Aarón Kuri-García

Plants 2023, 12(10), 1987; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12101987 - 15 May 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3770

Abstract

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (CA) and Porophyllum ruderale (PR) are representative edible plants that are a traditional food source in Mexico. This research aimed to analyze the phytochemical composition and untargeted metabolomics analysis of CA and PR and evaluate their antiproliferative effect in vitro. The [...] Read more.

Cnidoscolus aconitifolius (CA) and Porophyllum ruderale (PR) are representative edible plants that are a traditional food source in Mexico. This research aimed to analyze the phytochemical composition and untargeted metabolomics analysis of CA and PR and evaluate their antiproliferative effect in vitro. The phytochemical composition (UPLC-DAD-QToF/MS-ESI) identified up to 38 polyphenols and selected organic acids that were clustered by the untargeted metabolomics in functional activities linked to indolizidines, pyridines, and organic acids. Compared with PR, CA displayed a higher reduction in the metabolic activity of human SW480 colon adenocarcinoma cells (LC₅₀: 10.65 mg/mL), and both extracts increased the total apoptotic cells and arrested cell cycle at G0/G1 phase. PR increased mRNA Apc gene expression, whereas both extracts reduced mRNA Kras expression. Rutin/epigallocatechin gallate displayed the highest affinity to APC and K-RAS proteins in silico. Further research is needed to experiment on other cell lines. Results suggested that CA and PR are polyphenol-rich plant sources exhibiting antiproliferative effects in vitro. Full article

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

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16 pages, 9819 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of CCO Gene Family in Liriodendron chinense

by Guoxia Xue, Lingfeng Hu, Liming Zhu, Ya Chen, Chen Qiu, Ruifang Fan, Xiaoxiao Ma, Zijian Cao, Jinhui Chen, Jisen Shi and Zhaodong Hao

Plants 2023, 12(10), 1975; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12101975 - 14 May 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2837

Abstract

Carotenoid cleavage oxygenase (CCO) is an enzyme that can catalyze carotenoids to volatile aromatic substances and participate in the biosynthesis of two important phytohormones, i.e., abscisic acid (ABA) and strigolactone (SL). However, the genome-wide identification and analysis of the CCO gene family in [...] Read more.

Carotenoid cleavage oxygenase (CCO) is an enzyme that can catalyze carotenoids to volatile aromatic substances and participate in the biosynthesis of two important phytohormones, i.e., abscisic acid (ABA) and strigolactone (SL). However, the genome-wide identification and analysis of the CCO gene family in the rare and endangered woody plant Liriodendron chinense has not been reported. Here, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the CCO gene family in the L. chinense genome and examined its expression pattern during different developmental processes and in response to various abiotic stresses. A total of 10 LcCCO genes were identified and divided into 6 subfamilies according to the phylogenetic analysis. Subcellular localization prediction showed that most of the LcCCO proteins were located in the cytoplasm. Gene replication analysis showed that segmental and tandem duplication contributed to the expansion of this gene family in the L. chinense genome. Cis-element prediction showed that cis-elements related to plant hormones, stress and light response were widely distributed in the promoter regions of LcCCO genes. Gene expression profile analysis showed that LcNCED3b was extensively involved in somatic embryogenesis, especially the somatic embryo maturation, as well as in response to heat and cold stress in leaves. Furthermore, qRT-PCR analysis showed that LcNCED3b obviously responded to drought stress in roots and leaves. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the LcCCO gene family and a potential gene target for the optimization of the somatic embryogenesis system and resistance breeding in the valuable forest tree L. chinense. Full article

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

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17 pages, 1791 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Terrestrial and Floating Aquatic Plants Differ in Acclimation to Light Environment

by Marina López-Pozo, William W. Adams III, Stephanie K. Polutchko and Barbara Demmig-Adams

Plants 2023, 12(10), 1928; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12101928 - 9 May 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3427

Abstract

The ability of plants to respond to environmental fluctuations is supported by acclimatory adjustments in plant form and function that may require several days and development of a new leaf. We review adjustments in photosynthetic, photoprotective, and foliar vascular capacity in response to [...] Read more.

The ability of plants to respond to environmental fluctuations is supported by acclimatory adjustments in plant form and function that may require several days and development of a new leaf. We review adjustments in photosynthetic, photoprotective, and foliar vascular capacity in response to variation in light and temperature in terrestrial plants. The requirement for extensive acclimation to these environmental conditions in terrestrial plants is contrasted with an apparent lesser need for acclimation to different light environments, including rapid light fluctuations, in floating aquatic plants for the duckweed Lemna minor. Relevant features of L. minor include unusually high growth rates and photosynthetic capacities coupled with the ability to produce high levels of photoprotective xanthophylls across a wide range of growth light environments without compromising photosynthetic efficiency. These features also allow L. minor to maximize productivity and avoid problems during an abrupt experimental transfer of low-light-grown plants to high light. The contrasting responses of land plants and floating aquatic plants to the light environment further emphasize the need of land plants to, e.g., experience light fluctuations in their growth environment before they induce acclimatory adjustments that allow them to take full advantage of natural settings with such fluctuations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Photosynthesis under Environmental Fluctuations)

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14 pages, 1009 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Productivity of Three Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Varieties as Influenced by Nutrient Supply and Meteorological Conditions in Boreal Environmental Zone

by Daiva Janusauskaite

Plants 2023, 12(10), 1938; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12101938 - 9 May 2023

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3141

Abstract

In order to grow crops that reduce the negative impact on the environment, as well as meet the nutritional needs of the increasing human population, it is necessary to include new and more sustainable production strategies into current agricultural systems. The aim of [...] Read more.

In order to grow crops that reduce the negative impact on the environment, as well as meet the nutritional needs of the increasing human population, it is necessary to include new and more sustainable production strategies into current agricultural systems. The aim of our study was to evaluate the optimal nutritional conditions of semi-leafless pea productivity and ascertain the influence of meteorological factors on the productivity of these plants under boreal environmental conditions. The test involved three semi-leafless pea varieties, one of which was a new variety, and eight N fertilization treatments were used: (1) without fertilizers (N₀), (2) without N fertilizers (N₀), (3) N₁₅, (4) N₃₀, (5) N₄₅, (6) N₁₅₊₁₅, (7) N₆₀, and (8) N₆₀. Plots of the second–seventh treatment received a base application of P₄₀K₈₀; the eighth treatment received P₈₀K₁₆₀. Fertilizer efficiency depended on the meteorological conditions. Based on their productivity, the pea varieties were arranged in the following descending order: Ieva DS ˃ Respect ˃ Simona. Compared with unfertilized peas, NPK fertilizers enhanced the seed yield by 10.6–12.9% on average. Splitting the N₃₀ rate and applying N₆₀, under a background of P₄₀K₈₀, was not efficient. The optimal rate of N_15–45P₄₀K₈₀ fertilizers for peas was determined. Meteorological factors significantly influenced seed yield by 75.2%, 44.1%, and 79.9% for varieties Ieva DS, Simona, and Respect, respectively. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Strategies for Nutrient Use Efficiency Improvement in Plants)

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11 pages, 1055 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Genetic Divergence and Population Structure of Xanthomonas albilineans Strains Infecting Saccharum spp. Hybrid and Saccharum officinarum

by Zhong-Ting Hu, Mbuya Sylvain Ntambo, Jian-Ying Zhao, Talha Javed, Yang Shi, Hua-Ying Fu, Mei-Ting Huang and San-Ji Gao

Plants 2023, 12(10), 1937; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12101937 - 9 May 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2304

Abstract

Leaf scald caused by Xanthomonas albilineans (Xa) is a major bacterial disease in sugarcane that represents a threat to the global sugar industry. Little is known about the population structure and genetic evolution of this pathogen. In this study, 39 Xa [...] Read more.

Leaf scald caused by Xanthomonas albilineans (Xa) is a major bacterial disease in sugarcane that represents a threat to the global sugar industry. Little is known about the population structure and genetic evolution of this pathogen. In this study, 39 Xa strains were collected from 6 provinces in China. Of these strains, 15 and 24 were isolated from Saccharum spp. hybrid and S. officinarum plants, respectively. Based on multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), with five housekeeping genes, these strains were clustered into two distinct phylogenetic groups (I and II). Group I included 26 strains from 2 host plants, Saccharum spp. hybrid and S. officinarum collected from 6 provinces, while Group II consisted of 13 strains from S. officinarum plants in the Zhejiang province. Among the 39 Xa strains, nucleotide sequence identities from 5 housekeeping genes were: ABC (99.6–100%), gyrB (99.3–100%), rpoD (98.4–100%), atpD (97.0–100%), and glnA (97.6–100%). These strains were clustered into six groups (A–F), based on the rep-PCR fingerprinting, using primers for ERIC2, BOX A1R, and (GTG)5. UPGMA and PCoA analyses revealed that group A had the most strains (24), followed by group C with 11 strains, while there was 1 strain each in groups B and D–F. Neutral tests showed that the Xa population in S. officinarum had a trend toward population expansion. Selection pressure analysis showed purification selection on five concatenated housekeeping genes from all tested strains. Significant genetic differentiation and infrequent gene flow were found between two Xa populations hosted in Saccharum spp. hybrids and S. officinarum. Altogether, these results provide evidence of obvious genetic divergence and population structures among Xa strains from China. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Detection and Diagnostics of Bacterial Plant Pathogens)

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15 pages, 3057 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Differences in Organic Solute and Metabolites of Leymus chinensis in Response to Different Intensities of Salt and Alkali Stress

by Ge Yan, Yujie Shi, Chunsheng Mu and Junfeng Wang

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1916; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091916 - 8 May 2023

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2481

Abstract

To explore differences in the physiological metabolic response mechanisms of grassland perennial plants to different intensities of salt–alkali stress, we employed GC-MS to identify the metabolome of perennial rhizome-saline-tolerant Leymus chinensis (L. chinensis). L. chinensis reduced stress damage by accumulating osmotic [...] Read more.

To explore differences in the physiological metabolic response mechanisms of grassland perennial plants to different intensities of salt–alkali stress, we employed GC-MS to identify the metabolome of perennial rhizome-saline-tolerant Leymus chinensis (L. chinensis). L. chinensis reduced stress damage by accumulating osmotic solutes during salt–alkali stress, although the types of accumulated solutes varied with stress and concentration gradients. Soluble sugars increased only under mild salt–alkali stress. Under salt and mild alkali stress, amino acids increased. Under severe salt–alkali stress, organic acids increased. Betaine increased as a typical osmolute under salt–alkali stress. Metabolic analysis identified 20 metabolites, including 4 amino acids, 6 sugars, and 10 organic acids. The majority of them increased in response to stress. Under mild salt stress, the metabolites included glycine and proline. Under mild alkali stress, they primarily consisted of sugars such as isomaltose and lactulose, whereas under severe salt–alkali stress, they primarily consisted of organic acids such as citric acid and isocitric acid. Pathway analysis showed that six pathways were affected. Glycine, serine, and threonine metabolism was affected under mild salt stress. Alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism and butanota metabolism were affected under mild alkali stress, while energy metabolism pathways, such as the TCA cycle and glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, were affected under severe salt–alkali stress. The results indicate the importance of betaine in stress resistance and the significance of organic acid in severe salt stress, and they also demonstrate that energy supply was one of the key mechanisms in response to severe salt–alkali stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Physiology and Metabolism)

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17 pages, 3629 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Trunk Water Potential Measured with Microtensiometers for Managing Water Stress in “Gala” Apple Trees

by Luis Gonzalez Nieto, Annika Huber, Rui Gao, Erica Casagrande Biasuz, Lailiang Cheng, Abraham D. Stroock, Alan N. Lakso and Terence L. Robinson

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1912; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091912 - 8 May 2023

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 3145

Abstract

The weather variations around the world are already having a profound impact on agricultural production. This impacts apple production and the quality of the product. Through agricultural precision, growers attempt to optimize both yield and fruit size and quality. Two experiments were conducted [...] Read more.

The weather variations around the world are already having a profound impact on agricultural production. This impacts apple production and the quality of the product. Through agricultural precision, growers attempt to optimize both yield and fruit size and quality. Two experiments were conducted using field-grown “Gala” apple trees in Geneva, NY, USA, in 2021 and 2022. Mature apple trees (Malus × domestica Borkh. cv. Ultima “Gala”) grafted onto G.11 rootstock planted in 2015 were used for the experiment. Our goal was to establish a relationship between stem water potential (Ψ_trunk), which was continuously measured using microtensiometers, and the growth rate of apple fruits, measured continuously using dendrometers throughout the growing season. The second objective was to develop thresholds for Ψ_trunk to determine when to irrigate apple trees. The economic impacts of different irrigation regimes were evaluated. Three different water regimes were compared (full irrigation, rainfed and rain exclusion to induce water stress). Trees subjected the rain-exclusion treatment were not irrigated during the whole season, except in the spring (April and May; 126 mm in 2021 and 100 mm in 2022); that is, these trees did not receive water during June, July, August and half of September. Trees subjected to the rainfed treatment received only rainwater (515 mm in 2021 and 382 mm in 2022). The fully irrigated trees received rain but were also irrigated by drip irrigation (515 mm in 2021 and 565 mm in 2022). Moreover, all trees received the same amount of water out of season in autumn and winter (245 mm in 2021 and 283 mm in 2022). The microtensiometer sensors detected differences in Ψ_trunk among our treatments over the entire growing season. In both years, experimental trees with the same trunk cross-section area (TCSA) were selected (23–25 cm⁻² TCSA), and crop load was adjusted to 7 fruits·cm⁻² TCSA in 2021 and 8.5 fruits·cm⁻² TCSA in 2022. However, the irrigated trees showed the highest fruit growth rates and final fruit weight (157 g and 70 mm), followed by the rainfed only treatment (132 g and 66 mm), while the rain-exclusion treatment had the lowest fruit growth rate and final fruit size (107 g and 61 mm). The hourly fruit shrinking and swelling rate (mm·h⁻¹) measured with dendrometers and the hourly Ψ_trunk (bar) measured with microtensiometers were correlated. We developed a logistic model to correlate Ψ_trunk and fruit growth rate (g·h⁻¹), which suggested a critical value of −9.7 bars for Ψ_trunk, above which there were no negative effects on fruit growth rate due to water stress in the relatively humid conditions of New York State. A support vector machine model and a multiple regression model were developed to predict daytime hourly Ψ_trunk with radiation and VPD as input variables. Yield and fruit size were converted to crop value, which showed that managing water stress with irrigation during dry periods improved crop value in the humid climate of New York State. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote and Proximal Sensing for Plant Research)

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21 pages, 11067 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of Allium hookeri Extracts on Hair-Inductive and Anti-Oxidative Properties in Human Dermal Papilla Cells

by Seokmuk Park, Nayeon Han, Jung-Min Lee, Jae-Ho Lee and Seunghee Bae

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1919; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091919 - 8 May 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3861

Abstract

Oxidative stress and cellular senescence in dermal papilla cells (DPCs) are major etiological factors causing hair loss. In this study, the effect of the Allium hookeri extract (AHE) on hair-inductive and anti-oxidative properties was investigated in human DPCs. As a result, it was [...] Read more.

Oxidative stress and cellular senescence in dermal papilla cells (DPCs) are major etiological factors causing hair loss. In this study, the effect of the Allium hookeri extract (AHE) on hair-inductive and anti-oxidative properties was investigated in human DPCs. As a result, it was found that a non-cytotoxic concentration of the extracts increased the viability and size of the human DPC spheroid, which was associated with the increased expression of hair-growth-related genes in cells. To determine whether or not these effects could be attributed to intracellular anti-oxidative effects, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry alongside various biochemical analyses are conducted herein. An ingredient called alliin was identified as one of the main components. Furthermore, AHE treatment induced a significant decrease in H₂O₂-mediated cytotoxicities, cell death, and cellular senescence in human DPCs. Upon analyzing these results with a molecular mechanism approach, it was shown that AHE treatment increased β-Catenin and NRF2 translocation into the nucleus while inhibiting the translocation of NF-κB (p50) through p38 and PKA-mediated phosphorylations of GSK3β, an upstream regulator of those proteins. These results overall indicate the possibility that AHE can regulate GSK3β-mediated β-Catenin, NRF2, and NF-κB signaling to enhance hair-inductive properties and ultimately protect against oxidative stress-induced cellular damage in human DPCs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioprospecting of Natural Products from Medicinal Plants)

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23 pages, 7132 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Macro and Micro-Nutrient Accumulation and Partitioning in Soybean Affected by Water and Nitrogen Supply

by Ingrid Silva Setubal, Aderson Soares de Andrade Júnior, Silvestre Paulino da Silva, Artenisa Cerqueira Rodrigues, Aurenívia Bonifácio, Evandro Henrique Figueiredo Moura da Silva, Paulo Fernando de Melo Jorge Vieira, Rafael de Souza Miranda, Nicolas Cafaro La Menza and Henrique Antunes de Souza

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1898; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091898 - 6 May 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3345

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the influence of water availability and nitrogen fertilization on plant growth, nutrient dynamics, and variables related to soybean crop yield. Trials were performed in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, using randomized blocks in a split-split plot arrangement. The plots corresponded [...] Read more.

This study aimed to investigate the influence of water availability and nitrogen fertilization on plant growth, nutrient dynamics, and variables related to soybean crop yield. Trials were performed in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil, using randomized blocks in a split-split plot arrangement. The plots corresponded to water regimes (full and deficient), the split plots to N fertilization (0 and 1000 kg ha⁻¹ N-urea), and the split-split plots to harvest times of soybean plants (16, 23, 30, 37, 44, 58, 65, 79 and 86 days after emergence), with three replicates. In general, the accumulation and partitioning of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulphur (S), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn) and boron (B) were decreased in plants subjected to water deficit and without N fertilization. Although nitrogen fertilization promoted elevated N accumulation in tissues, it did not result in any significant yield gain, and the highest seed yields were found in plants under full irrigation, regardless of N supplementation. However, deficient irrigation decreased the seed oil content of N-fertilized plants. In conclusion, N fertilization is critical for nutrient homeostasis, and water availability impairs biomass and nutrient accumulation, thereby limiting soybean yield performance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Basis of Crops and Fruit Plants in Response to Stress)

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19 pages, 937 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

The Effect of Cadmium on Plants in Terms of the Response of Gene Expression Level and Activity

by Dagmar Moravčíková and Jana Žiarovská

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1848; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091848 - 30 Apr 2023

Cited by 25 | Viewed by 4795

Abstract

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that can cause damage to living organisms at different levels. Even at low concentrations, Cd can be toxic to plants, causing harm at multiple levels. As they are unable to move away from areas contaminated by Cd, [...] Read more.

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal that can cause damage to living organisms at different levels. Even at low concentrations, Cd can be toxic to plants, causing harm at multiple levels. As they are unable to move away from areas contaminated by Cd, plants have developed various defence mechanisms to protect themselves. Hyperaccumulators, which can accumulate and detoxify heavy metals more efficiently, are highly valued by scientists studying plant accumulation and detoxification mechanisms, as they provide a promising source of genes for developing plants suitable for phytoremediation techniques. So far, several genes have been identified as being upregulated when plants are exposed to Cd. These genes include genes encoding transcription factors such as iron-regulated transporter-like protein (ZIP), natural resistance associated macrophage protein (NRAMP) gene family, genes encoding phytochelatin synthases (PCs), superoxide dismutase (SOD) genes, heavy metal ATPase (HMA), cation diffusion facilitator gene family (CDF), Cd resistance gene family (PCR), ATP-binding cassette transporter gene family (ABC), the precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid synthase (ACS) and precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid oxidase (ACO) multigene family are also influenced. Thanks to advances in omics sciences and transcriptome analysis, we are gaining more insights into the genes involved in Cd stress response. Recent studies have also shown that Cd can affect the expression of genes related to antioxidant enzymes, hormonal pathways, and energy metabolism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Insight into Cadmium Phytoremediation)

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22 pages, 4850 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Sensitivity of the Photosynthetic Apparatus in Maize and Sorghum under Different Drought Levels

by Martin Stefanov, Georgi Rashkov, Preslava Borisova and Emilia Apostolova

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1863; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091863 - 30 Apr 2023

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2911

Abstract

Drought is one of the main environmental stress factors affecting plant growth and yield. The impact of different PEG concentrations on the photosynthetic performance of maize (Zea mays L. Mayflower) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Foehn) was investigated. The activity of [...] Read more.

Drought is one of the main environmental stress factors affecting plant growth and yield. The impact of different PEG concentrations on the photosynthetic performance of maize (Zea mays L. Mayflower) and sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L. Foehn) was investigated. The activity of the photosynthetic apparatus was assessed using chlorophyll fluorescence (PAM and JIP test) and photooxidation of P₇₀₀. The data revealed that water deficiency decreased the photochemical quenching (qP), the ratio of photochemical to nonphotochemical processes (Fv/Fo), the effective quantum yield of the photochemical energy conversion in PSII (Φ_PSII), the rate of the electron transport (ETR), and the performance indexes PI_total and PI_ABS, as the impact was stronger in sorghum than in maize and depended on drought level. The PSI photochemistry (P₇₀₀ photooxidation) in sorghum was inhibited after the application of all studied drought levels, while in maize, it was registered only after treatment with higher PEG concentrations (30% and 40%). Enhanced regulated energy losses (Φ_NPQ) and activation of the state transition under drought were also observed in maize, while in sorghum, an increase mainly in nonregulated energy losses (Φ_NO). A decrease in pigment content and relative water content and an increase in membrane damage were also registered after PEG treatment. The experimental results showed better drought tolerance of maize than sorghum. This study provides new information about the role of regulated energy losses and state transition for the protection of the photosynthetic apparatus under drought and might be a practical approach to the determination of the drought tolerance of plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Adaptive Mechanisms of Plants to Biotic or Abiotic Stresses)

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23 pages, 4362 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi and Compost-Based Biostimulants Enhance Fitness, Physiological Responses, Yield, and Quality Traits of Drought-Stressed Tomato Plants

by Fatima Ezzahra Soussani, Abderrahim Boutasknit, Raja Ben-Laouane, Rachid Benkirane, Marouane Baslam and Abdelilah Meddich

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1856; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091856 - 30 Apr 2023

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 4814

Abstract

Climate change-driven water resource constraints cause tomatoes to suffer from drought. The use of biostimulants has emerged as an important approach to enhancing resilience to drought. However, the roles of biostimulants in the physicochemical characteristics of tomatoes in response to drought are poorly [...] Read more.

Climate change-driven water resource constraints cause tomatoes to suffer from drought. The use of biostimulants has emerged as an important approach to enhancing resilience to drought. However, the roles of biostimulants in the physicochemical characteristics of tomatoes in response to drought are poorly understood. In this study, we evaluated the ability of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and compost (versus NPK application) to improve the agro-physiology, yield, and fruit quality of tomato plants and their tolerance to drought by comparing them with conventional chemical fertilizers (NPK). Under drought conditions, plant growth traits associated with yield and fruit bioactive compounds (carotenoids: 73%; lycopene: 53%; polyphenols: 310%; and flavonoids: 158%) were increased in the AMF-tomato treatment. Compost significantly enhanced sugars (ca. 60%) and protein contents (ca. 20%). Moreover, AMF protected the photosynthetic apparatus from drought-induced oxidative stress, improved photosynthetic efficiency, leaf water potential, and osmolytes, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) accumulation by increasing peroxidase (POX) (140%) and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) (340%) activities compared to their controls. Our findings revealed that NPK is an important nutrient-based fertilizer for plant growth and development. However, its efficiency as a fertilizer is quite low. In addition, we highlighted different mechanisms mediated by AMF and compost, inducing drought tolerance in tomato plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crops and Environmental Stresses: Phenomes to Genomes)

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35 pages, 2281 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

A Scoping Review of Genus Viscum: Biological and Chemical Aspects of Alcoholic Extracts

by Michelle Nonato de Oliveira Melo, João Vitor da Costa Batista, Evelyn Maribel Condori Peñaloza, Adriana Passos Oliveira, Rafael Garrett, Stephan Baumgartner and Carla Holandino

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1811; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091811 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3539

Abstract

The genus Viscum comprises a large number of semi-parasitic shrubs popularly known as Mistletoe. The Viscum species grow in many countries of Europe, Africa and Asia with different popular uses in ornamentation, foods and medicine. Many studies about Viscum have been done over [...] Read more.

The genus Viscum comprises a large number of semi-parasitic shrubs popularly known as Mistletoe. The Viscum species grow in many countries of Europe, Africa and Asia with different popular uses in ornamentation, foods and medicine. Many studies about Viscum have been done over the last years focusing on biological activities and chemical composition of the aqueous extracts, mainly related to anthroposophical medicines. However, it is known that non-aqueous preparations, as alcoholic extracts, have demonstrated different biological activities that are species—and host tree—dependent. Considering the potential of these alcoholic extracts, a scoping review was conducted using data from three online databases: PubMed, Scopus and Embase. Inclusion criteria consisted of the in vitro, in vivo, ex vivo, clinical and chemical studies of alcoholic extracts from Viscum species. The present review summarized 124 original publications about fourteen Viscum species. Viscum album, Viscum articulatum and Viscum coloratum were the main studied species. Alcoholic extracts demonstrated hypotensive, anticancer, antimicrobial, analgesic and anti-inflammatory capabilities, among other biological activities. Flavonoids, phenolic acids and terpenoids represented 48%, 24% and 11% of the total identified compounds, respectively. This review contributes to the knowledge of alcoholic preparations of the Viscum species and points out the lack of clinical studies concerning these different extracts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Extraction, Characterization and Biological Activity of Natural Products)

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19 pages, 2331 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Transcriptomic Analysis on the Peel of UV-B-Exposed Peach Fruit Reveals an Upregulation of Phenolic- and UVR8-Related Pathways

by Marco Santin, Samuel Simoni, Alberto Vangelisti, Tommaso Giordani, Andrea Cavallini, Alessia Mannucci, Annamaria Ranieri and Antonella Castagna

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1818; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091818 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2273

Abstract

UV-B treatment deeply influences plant physiology and biochemistry, especially by activating the expression of responsive genes involved in UV-B acclimation through a UV-B-specific perception mechanism. Although the UV-B-related molecular responses have been widely studied in Arabidopsis, relatively few research reports deepen the [...] Read more.

UV-B treatment deeply influences plant physiology and biochemistry, especially by activating the expression of responsive genes involved in UV-B acclimation through a UV-B-specific perception mechanism. Although the UV-B-related molecular responses have been widely studied in Arabidopsis, relatively few research reports deepen the knowledge on the influence of post-harvest UV-B treatment on fruit. In this work, a transcriptomic approach is adopted to investigate the transcriptional modifications occurring in the peel of UV-B-treated peach (Prunus persica L., cv Fairtime) fruit after harvest. Our analysis reveals a higher gene regulation after 1 h from the irradiation (88% of the differentially expressed genes—DEGs), compared to 3 h recovery. The overexpression of genes encoding phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), chalcone syntase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), and flavonol synthase (FLS) revealed a strong activation of the phenylpropanoid pathway, resulting in the later increase in the concentration of specific flavonoid classes, e.g., anthocyanins, flavones, dihydroflavonols, and flavanones, 36 h after the treatment. Upregulation of UVR8-related genes (HY5, COP1, and RUP) suggests that UV-B-triggered activation of the UVR8 pathway occurs also in post-harvest peach fruit. In addition, a regulation of genes involved in the cell-wall dismantling process (PME) is observed. In conclusion, post-harvest UV-B exposure deeply affects the transcriptome of the peach peel, promoting the activation of genes implicated in the biosynthesis of phenolics, likely via UVR8. Thus, our results might pave the way to a possible use of post-harvest UV-B treatments to enhance the content of health-promoting compounds in peach fruits and extending the knowledge of the UVR8 gene network. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Multifaceted Responses of Plants to Visible and Ultraviolet Radiation)

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14 pages, 2305 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Synergistic Action of Biosynthesized Silver Nanoparticles and Culture Supernatant of Bacillus amyloliquefacience against the Soft Rot Pathogen Dickeya dadantii

by Afsana Hossain, Jinyan Luo, Md. Arshad Ali, Rongyao Chai, Muhammad Shahid, Temoor Ahmed, Mohamed M. Hassan, Roqayah H. Kadi, Qianli An, Bin Li and Yanli Wang

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1817; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091817 - 28 Apr 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3167

Abstract

Nanomaterials are increasingly being used for crop growth, especially as a new paradigm for plant disease management. Among the other nanomaterials, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) draw a great deal of attention because of their unique features and multiple usages. Rapid expansion in nanotechnology and [...] Read more.

Nanomaterials are increasingly being used for crop growth, especially as a new paradigm for plant disease management. Among the other nanomaterials, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) draw a great deal of attention because of their unique features and multiple usages. Rapid expansion in nanotechnology and utilization of AgNPs in a large range of areas resulted in the substantial release of these nanoparticles into the soil and water environment, causing concern for the safety of ecosystems and phytosanitary. In an attempt to find an effective control measure for sweet potato soft rot disease, the pathogen Dickeya dadantii was exposed to AgNPs, the cell-free culture supernatant (CFCS) of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens alone, and both in combination. AgNPs were synthesized using CFCS of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain A3. The green synthesized AgNPs exhibited a characteristic surface plasmon resonance peak at 410–420 nm. Electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction spectroscopy determined the nanocrystalline nature and 20–100 nm diameters of AgNPs. Release of metal Ag⁺ ion from biosynthesized AgNPs increases with time. AgNPs and CFCS of B. amyloliquefaciens alone exhibited antibacterial activity against the growth, biofilm formation, swimming motility, and virulence of strain A3. The antibacterial activities elevated with the elevation in AgNPs and CFCS concentration. Similar antibacterial activities against D. dadantii were obtained with AgNPs at 50 µg·mL⁻¹, 50% CFCS alone, and the combination of AgNPs at 12 µg·mL⁻¹ and 12% CFCS of B. amyloliquefaciens. In planta experiments indicated that all the treatments reduced D. dadantii infection and increased plant growth. These findings suggest that AgNPs along with CFCS of B. amyloliquefaciens can be applied to minimize this bacterial disease by controlling pathogen-contaminated sweet potato tuber with minimum Ag nano-pollutant in the environment. Full article

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

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16 pages, 1723 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Salvia officinalis L. Essential Oil

by Zvonimir Jažo, Mateo Glumac, Vlatka Paštar, Sanida Bektić, Mila Radan and Ivana Carev

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1794; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091794 - 27 Apr 2023

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 5274

Abstract

In our study, we investigated the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of essential oils isolated from Dalmatian sage (Salvia officinalis L.) collected along the Adriatic coast of Croatia. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the morphology of the stem and [...] Read more.

In our study, we investigated the chemical composition and cytotoxic activity of essential oils isolated from Dalmatian sage (Salvia officinalis L.) collected along the Adriatic coast of Croatia. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to examine the morphology of the stem and leaf surfaces. Essential oil excretory glands were detected on both the leaves and stem surfaces. The essential oils were isolated by hydrodistillation, and their chemical composition was determined by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Sage essential oils were mixtures of terpene compounds, among which the most common were: α- and β-thujone, camphor, and 1,8-cineol. Cytotoxic activity was tested using MTS assay on multiple cell lines: normal and immortalized fibroblasts (HF77FA and HDF-Tert), immortalized lung line (BEAS-2B), and breast adenocarcinoma (MDA-MB-231). The growth of treated cells was determined relative to control conditions without treatment. The immortalized lung line was the least resistant to the activity of the essential oils, whereas immortalized fibroblasts were the most resistant. Statistical analysis has connected the cytotoxic effect and chemical composition of the studied essential oils. To the best of our knowledge, this work is the first testing of the cytotoxic activity of S. officinalis EO’s on the BEAS-2B, HF77FA, and HDF-Tert cell lines. The presented data on essential oil chemical composition and cytotoxic effect on 4 types of human cells supports pharmacotherapeutic potential this plant is known to have. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Essential Oils of Plants (Chemical Composition, Variation and Properties))

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24 pages, 3556 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Agronomic Investigation of Spray Dispersion of Metal-Based Nanoparticles on Sunflowers in Real-World Environments

by Dávid Ernst, Marek Kolenčík, Martin Šebesta, Ľuba Ďurišová, Hana Ďúranová, Samuel Kšiňan, Ramakanth Illa, Ivo Safarik, Ivan Černý, Gabriela Kratošová, Veronika Žitniak Čurná, Jana Ivanič Porhajašová, Mária Babošová, Huan Feng, Edmund Dobročka, Marek Bujdoš, Kristyna Zelena Pospiskova, Shadma Afzal, Nand K. Singh, Sasikumar Swamiappan and Elena Aydın Show full author list Hide full author list

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1789; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091789 - 27 Apr 2023

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3114

Abstract

In environmental and agronomic settings, even minor imbalances can trigger a range of unpredicted responses. Despite the widespread use of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) and new bio-nanofertilizers, their impact on crop production is absent in the literature. Therefore, our research is focused on the [...] Read more.

In environmental and agronomic settings, even minor imbalances can trigger a range of unpredicted responses. Despite the widespread use of metal-based nanoparticles (NPs) and new bio-nanofertilizers, their impact on crop production is absent in the literature. Therefore, our research is focused on the agronomic effect of spray application of gold nanoparticles anchored to SiO₂ mesoporous silica (AuSi-NPs), zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs), and iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe₃O₄-NPs) on sunflowers under real-world environments. Our findings revealed that the biosynthetically prepared AuSi-NPs and ZnO-NPs were highly effective in enhancing sunflower seasonal physiology, e.g., the value of the NDVI index increased from 0.012 to 0.025 after AuSi-NPs application. The distribution of leaf trichomes improved and the grain yield increased from 2.47 t ha⁻¹ to 3.29 t ha⁻¹ after ZnO-NPs application. AuSi-NPs treatment resulted in a higher content of essential linoleic acid (54.37%) when compared to the NPs-free control (51.57%), which had a higher determined oleic acid. No NPs or residual translocated metals were detected in the fully ripe sunflower seeds, except for slightly higher silica content after the AuSi-NPs treatment. Additionally, AuSi-NPs and NPs-free control showed wide insect biodiversity while ZnO-NPs treatment had the lowest value of phosphorus as anti-nutrient. Contradictory but insignificant effect on physiology, yield, and insect biodiversity was observed in Fe₃O₄-NPs treatment. Therefore, further studies are needed to fully understand the long-term environmental and agricultural sustainability of NPs applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Use of Nanomaterials in Agriculture 2.0)

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26 pages, 4699 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Characterization of Purple Carrot Germplasm for Antioxidant Capacity and Root Concentration of Anthocyanins, Phenolics, and Carotenoids

by María Belén Pérez, Sofía Carvajal, Vanesa Beretta, Florencia Bannoud, María Florencia Fangio, Federico Berli, Ariel Fontana, María Victoria Salomón, Roxana Gonzalez, Lucia Valerga, Jorgelina C. Altamirano, Mehtap Yildiz, Massimo Iorizzo, Philipp W. Simon and Pablo F. Cavagnaro

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1796; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091796 - 27 Apr 2023

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4238

Abstract

The present study characterized a genetically and phenotypically diverse collection of 27 purple and two non-purple (one orange and one yellow) carrot accessions for concentration of root anthocyanins, phenolics, and carotenoids, and antioxidant capacity estimated by four different methods (ORAC, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP), [...] Read more.

The present study characterized a genetically and phenotypically diverse collection of 27 purple and two non-purple (one orange and one yellow) carrot accessions for concentration of root anthocyanins, phenolics, and carotenoids, and antioxidant capacity estimated by four different methods (ORAC, DPPH, ABTS, FRAP), in a partially replicated experimental design comprising data from two growing seasons (2018 and 2019). Broad and significant (p < 0.0001) variation was found among the accessions for all the traits. Acylated anthocyanins (AA) predominated over non-acylated anthocyanins (NAA) in all the accessions and years analyzed, with AA accounting for 55.5–100% of the total anthocyanin content (TAC). Anthocyanins acylated with ferulic acid and coumaric acid were the most abundant carrot anthocyanins. In general, black or solid purple carrots had the greatest TAC and total phenolic content (TPC), and the strongest antioxidant capacities, measured by all methods. Antioxidant capacity, estimated by all methods, was significantly, positively, and moderately-to-strongly correlated with the content of all individual anthocyanins pigments, TAC, and TPC, in both years (r = 0.59–0.90, p < 0.0001), but not with the carotenoid pigments lutein and β-carotene; suggesting that anthocyanins and other phenolics, but not carotenoids, are major contributors of the antioxidant capacity in purple carrots. We identified accessions with high concentration of chemically stable AA, with potential value for the production of food dyes, and accessions with relatively high content of bioavailable NAA that can be selected for increased nutraceutical value (e.g., for fresh consumption). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Qualitative and Quantitative Changes in Plant Metabolite Contents)

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14 pages, 351 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Study of Cannabis Oils Obtained from Three Varieties of C. sativa and by Two Different Extraction Methods: Phytochemical Characterization and Biological Activities

by Sebastián Pino, Luis Espinoza, Carlos Jara-Gutiérrez, Joan Villena, Andrés F. Olea and Katy Díaz

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1772; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091772 - 26 Apr 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4537

Abstract

Currently, much effort is being placed into obtaining extracts and/or essential oils from Cannabis sativa L. for specific therapeutic purposes or pharmacological compositions. These potential applications depend mainly on the phytochemical composition of the oils, which in turn are determined by the type [...] Read more.

Currently, much effort is being placed into obtaining extracts and/or essential oils from Cannabis sativa L. for specific therapeutic purposes or pharmacological compositions. These potential applications depend mainly on the phytochemical composition of the oils, which in turn are determined by the type of C. sativa and the extraction method used to obtain the oils. In this work, we have evaluated the contents of secondary metabolites, delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), and cannabidiol (CBD), in addition to the total phenolic, flavonoids, and anthraquinone content in oils obtained using solid–liquid extraction (SLE) and supercritical fluid extraction (SCF). Different varieties of C. sativa were chosen by using the ratio of THC to CBD concentrations. Additionally, antioxidant, antifungal and anticancer activities on different cancer cell lines were evaluated in vitro. The results indicate that oils extracted by SLE, with high contents of CBD, flavonoids, and phenolic compounds, exhibit a high antioxidant capacity and induce a high decrease in the cell viability of the tested breast cancer cell line (MCF-7). The observed biological activities are attributed to the entourage effect, in which CBD, phenols and flavonoids play a key role. Therefore, it is concluded that the right selection of C. sativa variety and the solvent for SLE extraction method could be used to obtain the optimal oil composition to develop a natural anticancer agent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Essential Oils Extraction Methods, Chemistry and Bioactivities: New Insights and Findings)

16 pages, 1308 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Development of In Vitro Anther Culture for Doubled Haploid Plant Production in Indica Rice (Oryza sativa L.) Genotypes

by Csaba Lantos, Mihály Jancsó, Árpád Székely, Tímea Szalóki, Shoba Venkatanagappa and János Pauk

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1774; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091774 - 26 Apr 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3412

Abstract

Anther culture is an efficient biotechnological tool in modern plant breeding programs to produce new varieties and parental lines in hybrid seed productions. However, some bottlenecks—low induction rate, genotype dependency, albinism—restrict the widespread utilization of in vitro anther culture in rice breeding, especially [...] Read more.

Anther culture is an efficient biotechnological tool in modern plant breeding programs to produce new varieties and parental lines in hybrid seed productions. However, some bottlenecks—low induction rate, genotype dependency, albinism—restrict the widespread utilization of in vitro anther culture in rice breeding, especially in Oryza sativa ssp. indica (indica) genotypes, while an improved efficient protocol can shorten the process of breeding. Three different induction media (N₆NDK_, N₆NDZ, Ali-1) and four plant regeneration media (mMSNBK1, MSNBK3, MSNBKZ1, MSNBKZ2) were tested with five indica rice genotypes to increase the efficiency of in vitro androgenesis (number of calli and regenerated green plantlets). The production of calli was more efficient on the N₆NDK medium with an average 88.26 calli/100 anthers and N₆NDZ medium with an average of 103.88 calli/100 anthers as compared to Ali-1 with an average of 6.96 calli/100 anthers. The production of green plantlets was greater when calli was produced on N₆NDK medium (2.15 green plantlets/100 anthers) compared when produced on to N₆NDZ medium (1.18 green plantlets/100 anthers). Highest green plantlets production (4.7 green plantlets/100 anthers) was achieved when mMSNBK1 plant regeneration medium was used on calli produced utilizing N₆NDK induction medium. In the best overall treatment (N₆NDK induction medium and mMSNBK1 plant regeneration medium), four tested genotypes produced green plantlets. However, the genotype influenced the efficiency, and the green plantlets production ranged from 0.4 green plantlets/100 anthers to 8.4 green plantlets/100 anthers. The ploidy level of 106 acclimatized indica rice plantlets were characterized with flow cytometric analyses to calculate the percentage of spontaneous chromosome doubling. Altogether, 48 haploid-, 55 diploid-, 2 tetraploid- and 1 mixoploid plantlets were identified among the regenerant plantlets, and the spontaneous chromosome doubling percentage was 51.89%. Utilization of DH plants have been integrated as a routine method in the Hungarian rice breeding program. The tetraploid lines can be explored for their potential to offer new scopes for rice research and breeding directions in the future. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)

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20 pages, 368 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Recommendations for the Assessment of Potential Environmental Effects of Genome-Editing Applications in Plants in the EU

by Michael F. Eckerstorfer, Marion Dolezel, Margret Engelhard, Valeria Giovannelli, Marcin Grabowski, Andreas Heissenberger, Matteo Lener, Wolfram Reichenbecher, Samson Simon, Giovanni Staiano, Anne Gabrielle Wüst Saucy, Jan Zünd and Christoph Lüthi

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1764; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091764 - 25 Apr 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 4707

Abstract

The current initiative of the European Commission (EC) concerning plants produced using certain new genomic techniques, in particular, targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis, underlines that a high level of protection for human and animal health and the environment needs to be maintained when using [...] Read more.

The current initiative of the European Commission (EC) concerning plants produced using certain new genomic techniques, in particular, targeted mutagenesis and cisgenesis, underlines that a high level of protection for human and animal health and the environment needs to be maintained when using such applications. The current EU biosafety regulation framework ensures a high level of protection with a mandatory environmental risk assessment (ERA) of genetically modified (GM) products prior to the authorization of individual GMOs for environmental release or marketing. However, the guidance available from the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) for conducting such an ERA is not specific enough regarding the techniques under discussion and needs to be further developed to support the policy goals towards ERA, i.e., a case-by-case assessment approach proportionate to the respective risks, currently put forward by the EC. This review identifies important elements for the case-by-case approach for the ERA that need to be taken into account in the framework for a risk-oriented regulatory approach. We also discuss that the comparison of genome-edited plants with plants developed using conventional breeding methods should be conducted at the level of a scientific case-by-case assessment of individual applications rather than at a general, technology-based level. Our considerations aim to support the development of further specific guidance for the ERA of genome-edited plants. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Potential Unintended Effects of Genetic Technologies in Plants)

25 pages, 1822 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Aroma Components in Horticultural Crops: Chemical Diversity and Usage of Metabolic Engineering for Industrial Applications

by Farhat Abbas, Yiwei Zhou, Dylan O’Neill Rothenberg, Intikhab Alam, Yanguo Ke and Hui-Cong Wang

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1748; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091748 - 24 Apr 2023

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 6978

Abstract

Plants produce an incredible variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that assist the interactions with their environment, such as attracting pollinating insects and seed dispersers and defense against herbivores, pathogens, and parasites. Furthermore, VOCs have a significant economic impact on crop quality, as [...] Read more.

Plants produce an incredible variety of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that assist the interactions with their environment, such as attracting pollinating insects and seed dispersers and defense against herbivores, pathogens, and parasites. Furthermore, VOCs have a significant economic impact on crop quality, as well as the beverage, food, perfume, cosmetics and pharmaceuticals industries. These VOCs are mainly classified as terpenoids, benzenoids/phenylpropanes, and fatty acid derivates. Fruits and vegetables are rich in minerals, vitamins, antioxidants, and dietary fiber, while aroma compounds play a major role in flavor and quality management of these horticultural commodities. Subtle shifts in aroma compounds can dramatically alter the flavor and texture of fruits and vegetables, altering their consumer appeal. Rapid innovations in -omics techniques have led to the isolation of genes encoding enzymes involved in the biosynthesis of several volatiles, which has aided to our comprehension of the regulatory molecular pathways involved in VOC production. The present review focuses on the significance of aroma volatiles to the flavor and aroma profile of horticultural crops and addresses the industrial applications of plant-derived volatile terpenoids, particularly in food and beverages, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and biofuel industries. Additionally, the methodological constraints and complexities that limit the transition from gene selection to host organisms and from laboratories to practical implementation are discussed, along with metabolic engineering’s potential for enhancing terpenoids volatile production at the industrial level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Volatile Organic Compounds: Revealing the Hidden Interactions)

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15 pages, 2484 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of Graphene Oxide on the Growth and Photosynthesis of the Emergent Plant Iris pseudacorus

by Zixin Zhou, Jiaxin Li, Cui Li, Qiang Guo, Xincun Hou, Chunqiao Zhao, Yu Wang, Chuansheng Chen and Qinghai Wang

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1738; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091738 - 23 Apr 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2840

Abstract

The extensive applications of graphene oxide (GO) inevitably lead to entry into the natural aquatic environment. However, information on its toxicity to emergent plants is still lacking. In this study, an emergent plant, Iris pseudacorus, was exposed to GO (1, 20, 80, and [...] Read more.

The extensive applications of graphene oxide (GO) inevitably lead to entry into the natural aquatic environment. However, information on its toxicity to emergent plants is still lacking. In this study, an emergent plant, Iris pseudacorus, was exposed to GO (1, 20, 80, and 140 mg·L⁻¹) under hydroponic conditions for 15 weeks. Changes in plant growth were assessed by analyzing plant biomass and photosynthetic pigment contents; the photosynthesis response was verified by measuring chlorophyll a fluorescence; and the nutrient levels of the plant were evaluated. Results showed that GO at 20–140 mg·L⁻¹ significantly increased plant dry weight by 37–84% and photosynthetic pigment contents by 26–178%, and 80 mg·L⁻¹ was the optimal concentration. PSII activity, adjustment capacities of electron transport in PSII, the grouping or energetic connectivity between PSII units, light energy conversion efficiency, photosynthesis performance indexes (by 11–51%), and contents of several nutrient elements (N, Fe, and Cu) were increased by 49–69%, 34–84%, and 11–38%, respectively. These findings indicate that GO can enhance plant growth by promoting plant photosynthesis performance and improving plant nutrient levels, and has great application potential in promoting the growth and development of this emergent plant as a phytoremediation agent. Full article

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20 pages, 2768 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

New Data on Native and Alien Vascular Flora of Sicily (Italy): New Findings and Updates

by Salvatore Cambria, Dario Azzaro, Orazio Caldarella, Michele Aleo, Giuseppe Bazan, Riccardo Guarino, Giancarlo Torre, Antonia Egidia Cristaudo, Vincenzo Ilardi, Alfonso La Rosa, Valentina Lucia Astrid Laface, Fabio Luchino, Francesco Mascia, Pietro Minissale, Saverio Sciandrello, Luca Tosetto and Gianmarco Tavilla

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1743; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091743 - 23 Apr 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3666

Abstract

In this paper, based on fieldwork and herbaria surveys, new data concerning the presence of 32 native and alien vascular species for Sicily (Italy) are provided. Among the native species, the occurrence of the following taxa is reported for the first time or [...] Read more.

In this paper, based on fieldwork and herbaria surveys, new data concerning the presence of 32 native and alien vascular species for Sicily (Italy) are provided. Among the native species, the occurrence of the following taxa is reported for the first time or confirmed after many decades of non-observation: Aira multiculmis, Arum maculatum, Carex flacca subsp. flacca, Mentha longifolia, Oxybasis chenopodioides, Najas minor and Xiphion junceum. Furthermore, we document the presence of three native species (Cornus mas, Juncus foliosus and Limonium avei) that, despite being repeatedly observed in Sicily and reported in the literature, are inexplicably omitted by the most recent authoritative checklists regarding the flora of Italy. Finally, fifteen alien species new to Sicily (including one new to Europe, i.e., Pyrus betulifolia) are reported and seven poorly documented allochthonous taxa are confirmed for the island, and for two of them, a status change is proposed. These new or confirmed records allow us to better define the European and national distribution of the targeted taxa and offer new insights on the native and alien flora of Sicily. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ecology and Management of Invasive Plants)

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17 pages, 2274 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Efficacy of Biological Control Agents and Resistance Inducer for Control of Mal Secco Disease

by Giuseppa Rosaria Leonardi, Giancarlo Polizzi, Alessandro Vitale and Dalia Aiello

Plants 2023, 12(9), 1735; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12091735 - 22 Apr 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2573

Abstract

Mal secco, caused by Plenodomus tracheiphilus, is an economically important fungal vascular disease in citrus-growing countries of the Mediterranean basin. Preventing fungal infections usually requires a high number of copper treatments but European legislation imposes the minimization of their accumulation in soil. In [...] Read more.

Mal secco, caused by Plenodomus tracheiphilus, is an economically important fungal vascular disease in citrus-growing countries of the Mediterranean basin. Preventing fungal infections usually requires a high number of copper treatments but European legislation imposes the minimization of their accumulation in soil. In our study, biological control agents (BCAs) and a plant resistance inducer (PRI), tested in four different experiments on citrus seedlings under controlled conditions, have resulted in promising strategies to control mal secco disease. Foliar (Experiment I) and soil (Experiment II) applications of two formulations of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain D747 (Amylo-X^® LC and Amylo-X^® WG) provided similar performances in reducing the disease amount (incidence and symptoms severity) over time compared to the untreated control, whereas copper hydroxide (Kocide Opti^®) used as standard was the most effective treatment over time. In the third experiment, Pythium oligandrum strain M1 (Polyversum^®) and Trichoderma asperellum strain ICC012 + Trichoderma gamsii strain ICC080 (Remedier^®) were able to reduce disease incidence and symptoms severity compared to the untreated control. Remedier^® provided the best performances in reducing the disease amount, whereas the Polyversum^® application was the least effective treatment over time. The effectiveness of the Trichoderma spp. formulation in reducing P. tracheiphilus infections did not significantly differ from the standard copper compound (Kocide Opti^®). Comprehensively, in the last experiment (IV), acibenzolar-S-methyl (ASM) alone and in mixture with metalaxyl-M proved as effective as B. amyloliquefaciens strain FZB24, with no dose–response relationships observed. These findings provide important insight for the integrated management of mal secco disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Citrus Fungal and Oomycete Diseases)

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23 pages, 1225 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Impact of Heavy Metal Accumulation on Some Physiological Parameters in Silphium perfoliatum L. Plants Grown in Hydroponic Systems

by Radu Liviu Sumalan, Vlad Nescu, Adina Berbecea, Renata Maria Sumalan, Manuela Crisan, Petru Negrea and Sorin Ciulca

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1718; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081718 - 20 Apr 2023

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 4725

Abstract

Heavy metals like cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), resulting from anthropogenic activities, are elements with high persistence in nature, being able to accumulate in soils, water, and plants with significant impact to human and animal health. This study investigates [...] Read more.

Heavy metals like cadmium (Cd), copper (Cu), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn), resulting from anthropogenic activities, are elements with high persistence in nature, being able to accumulate in soils, water, and plants with significant impact to human and animal health. This study investigates the phytoremediation capacity of Silphium perfoliatum L. as a specific heavy metal hyperaccumulator and the effects of Cu, Zn, Cd, and Pb on some physiological and biochemical indices by growing plants under floating hydroponic systems in nutrient solutions under the presence of heavy metals. One-year-old plants of S. perfoliatum grown for 20 days in Hoagland solution with the addition of (ppm) Cu-400, Zn-1200, Cd-20, Pb-400, and Cu+Zn+Cd+Pb (400/1200/20/400) were investigated with respect to the control. The level of phytoremediation, manifested by the ability of heavy metal absorption and accumulation, was assessed. In addition, the impact of stress on the proline content, photosynthetic pigments, and enzymatic activity, as being key components of metabolism, was determined. The obtained results revealed a good absorption and selective accumulation capacity of S. perfoliatum plants for the studied heavy metals. Therefore, Cu and Zn mainly accumulate in the stems, Cd in the roots and stems, while Pb mainly accumulates in the roots. The proline tended to increase under stress conditions, depending on the pollutant and its concentration, with higher values in leaves and stems under the associated stress of the four metals and individually for Pb and Cd. In addition, the enzymatic activity recorded different values depending on the plant organ, its type, and the metal concentration on its substrate. The obtained results indicate a strong correlation between the metal type, concentration, and the mechanisms of absorption/accumulation of S. perfoliatum species, as well as the specific reactions of metabolic response. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytomonitoring and Phytoremediation of Environmental Pollutants)

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22 pages, 1724 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Sideritis scardica Extracts Demonstrate Neuroprotective Activity against Aβ_25–35 Toxicity

by Antonis Ververis, Kristia Ioannou, Sotiris Kyriakou, Niki Violaki, Mihalis I. Panayiotidis, Michael Plioukas and Kyproula Christodoulou

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1716; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081716 - 20 Apr 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 4344

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative condition, primarily affecting seniors. Despite the significant time and money spent over the past few decades, no therapy has been developed yet. In recent years, the research has focused on ameliorating the cytotoxic amyloid beta [...] Read more.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most prevalent neurodegenerative condition, primarily affecting seniors. Despite the significant time and money spent over the past few decades, no therapy has been developed yet. In recent years, the research has focused on ameliorating the cytotoxic amyloid beta (Aβ) peptide aggregates and the increased elevated oxidative stress, two interconnected main AD hallmarks. Medicinal plants constitute a large pool for identifying bioactive compounds or mixtures with a therapeutic effect. Sideritis scardica (SS) has been previously characterized as neuroprotective toward AD. We investigated this ability of SS by generating eight distinct solvent fractions, which were chemically characterized and assessed for their antioxidant and neuroprotective potential. The majority of the fractions were rich in phenolics and flavonoids, and all except one showed significant antioxidant activity. Additionally, four SS extracts partly rescued the viability in Aβ_25–35-treated SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cells, with the initial aqueous extract being the most potent and demonstrating similar activity in retinoic-acid-differentiated cells as well. These extracts were rich in neuroprotective substances, such as apigenin, myricetin-3-galactoside, and ellagic acid. Our findings indicate that specific SS mixtures can benefit the pharmaceutical industry to develop herbal drugs and functional food products that may alleviate AD. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plant Extracts)

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12 pages, 1271 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Green Extracts and UPLC-TQS-MS/MS Profiling of Flavonoids from Mexican Oregano (Lippia graveolens) Using Natural Deep Eutectic Solvents/Ultrasound-Assisted and Supercritical Fluids

by Manuel de Jesús Bernal-Millán, Miriam del Carmen Carrasco-Portugal, J. Basilio Heredia, Pedro de Jesús Bastidas-Bastidas, Erick Paul Gutiérrez-Grijalva, Josefina León-Félix and Miguel Ángel Angulo-Escalante

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1692; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081692 - 18 Apr 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2939

Abstract

Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) is an important source of bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids. These have presented different therapeutic properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory; however, their functionality is related to the quantity and type of compounds, and these characteristics depend on [...] Read more.

Mexican oregano (Lippia graveolens) is an important source of bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids. These have presented different therapeutic properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory; however, their functionality is related to the quantity and type of compounds, and these characteristics depend on the extraction method used. This study aimed to compare different extraction procedures to identify and quantify flavonoids from oregano (Lippia graveolens). Emerging and conventional technologies include maceration with methanol and water, and ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) using deep eutectic solvents (DES) such as choline chloride-ethylene glycol, choline chloride-glycerol, and choline chloride-lactic acid. Supercritical fluid extraction using CO₂ as a solvent was also studied. Six different extracts were obtained and the total reducing capacity, total flavonoid content, and antioxidant capacity by ABTS^•+, DPPH^•, FRAP, and ORAC were evaluated. In addition, flavonoids were identified and quantified by UPLC-TQS-MS/MS. Results showed that UAE-DES had the best extraction effect and antioxidant capacity using colorimetric methods. However, maceration-methanol was superior in compound content, and highlighting naringenin and phloridzin were the major compounds. In addition, this extract was microencapsulated by spray drying, which provided a protection feature of their antioxidant potential. Oregano extracts are rich in flavonoids and the microcapsules present promising results for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Bioactive Compounds in Plants: Store House of Modern Drugs)

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17 pages, 3394 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Colletotrichum Species Associated with Anthracnose in Salix babylonica in China

by Mengyu Zhang, Dewei Li, Yuanzhi Si, Yue Ju and Lihua Zhu

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1679; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081679 - 17 Apr 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3466

Abstract

Salix babylonica L. is a popular ornamental tree species in China and widely cultivated in Asia, Europe, and North America. Anthracnose in S. babylonica poses a serious threat to its growth and reduces its medicinal properties. In 2021, a total of 55 Colletotrichum [...] Read more.

Salix babylonica L. is a popular ornamental tree species in China and widely cultivated in Asia, Europe, and North America. Anthracnose in S. babylonica poses a serious threat to its growth and reduces its medicinal properties. In 2021, a total of 55 Colletotrichum isolates were isolated from symptomatic leaves in three provinces in China. Phylogenetic analyses using six loci (ITS, ACT, CHS-1, TUB2, CAL, and GAPDH) and a morphological characterization of the 55 isolates showed that they belonged to four species of Colletotrichum, including C. aenigma, C. fructicola, C. gloeosporioides s.s., and C. siamense. Among them, C. siamense was the dominant species, and C. gloeosporioides s.s. was occasionally discovered from the host tissues. Pathogenicity tests revealed that all the isolates of the aforementioned species were pathogenic to the host, and there were significant differences in pathogenicity or virulence among these isolates. The information on the diversity of Colletotrichum spp. that causes S. babylonica anthracnose in China is new. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Protection and Biotic Interactions)

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18 pages, 1324 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

LED Lighting to Produce High-Quality Ornamental Plants

by Alice Trivellini, Stefania Toscano, Daniela Romano and Antonio Ferrante

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1667; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081667 - 16 Apr 2023

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 8436

Abstract

The flexibility of LED technology, in terms of energy efficiency, robustness, compactness, long lifetime, and low heat emission, as well as its applications as a sole source or supplemental lighting system, offers interesting potential, giving the ornamental industry an edge over traditional production [...] Read more.

The flexibility of LED technology, in terms of energy efficiency, robustness, compactness, long lifetime, and low heat emission, as well as its applications as a sole source or supplemental lighting system, offers interesting potential, giving the ornamental industry an edge over traditional production practices. Light is a fundamental environmental factor that provides energy for plants through photosynthesis, but it also acts as a signal and coordinates multifaceted plant-growth and development processes. With manipulations of light quality affecting specific plant traits such as flowering, plant architecture, and pigmentation, the focus has been placed on the ability to precisely manage the light growing environment, proving to be an effective tool to produce tailored plants according to market request. Applying lighting technology grants growers several productive advantages, such as planned production (early flowering, continuous production, and predictable yield), improved plant habitus (rooting and height), regulated leaf and flower color, and overall improved quality attributes of commodities. Potential LED benefits to the floriculture industry are not limited to the aesthetic and economic value of the product obtained; LED technology also represents a solid, sustainable option for reducing agrochemical (plant-growth regulators and pesticides) and energy inputs (power energy). Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effects of LED Light Spectra and Intensities on Plant Growth 2.0)

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14 pages, 2768 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Variations in Total Protein and Amino Acids in the Sequenced Sorghum Mutant Library

by Adil Khan, Nasir Ali Khan, Scott R. Bean, Junping Chen, Zhanguo Xin and Yinping Jiao

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1662; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081662 - 15 Apr 2023

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3052

Abstract

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is the fifth most important cereal crop worldwide; however, its utilization in food products can be limited due to reduced nutritional quality related to amino acid composition and protein digestibility in cooked products. Low essential amino acid levels [...] Read more.

Sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) is the fifth most important cereal crop worldwide; however, its utilization in food products can be limited due to reduced nutritional quality related to amino acid composition and protein digestibility in cooked products. Low essential amino acid levels and digestibility are influenced by the composition of the sorghum seed storage proteins, kafirins. In this study, we report a core collection of 206 sorghum mutant lines with altered seed storage proteins. Wet lab chemistry analysis was conducted to evaluate the total protein content and 23 amino acids, including 19 protein-bound and 4 non-protein amino acids. We identified mutant lines with diverse compositions of essential and non-essential amino acids. The highest total protein content in these lines was almost double that of the wild-type (BTx623). The mutants identified in this study can be used as a genetic resource to improve the sorghum grain quality and determine the molecular mechanisms underlying the biosynthesis of storage protein and starch in sorghum seeds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mutagenesis in the Age of Next-Generation-Sequencing and Genome Editing)

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14 pages, 2696 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

SDG26 Is Involved in Trichome Control in Arabidopsis thaliana: Affecting Phytohormones and Adjusting Accumulation of H3K27me3 on Genes Related to Trichome Growth and Development

by Jing Zeng, Lanpeng Yang, Minyu Tian, Xiang Xie, Chunlin Liu and Ying Ruan

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1651; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081651 - 14 Apr 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2941

Abstract

Plant trichomes formed by specialized epidermal cells play a role in protecting plants from biotic and abiotic stresses and can also influence the economic and ornamental value of plant products. Therefore, further studies on the molecular mechanisms of plant trichome growth and development [...] Read more.

Plant trichomes formed by specialized epidermal cells play a role in protecting plants from biotic and abiotic stresses and can also influence the economic and ornamental value of plant products. Therefore, further studies on the molecular mechanisms of plant trichome growth and development are important for understanding trichome formation and agricultural production. SET Domain Group 26 (SDG26) is a histone lysine methyltransferase. Currently, the molecular mechanism by which SDG26 regulates the growth and development of Arabidopsis leaf trichomes is still unclear. We found that the mutant of Arabidopsis (sdg26) possessed more trichomes on its rosette leaves compared to the wild type (Col-0), and the trichome density per unit area of sdg26 is significantly higher than that of Col-0. The content of cytokinins and jasmonic acid was higher in sdg26 than in Col-0, while the content of salicylic acid was lower in sdg26 than in Col-0, which is conducive to trichome growth. By measuring the expression levels of trichome-related genes, we found that the expression of genes that positively regulate trichome growth and development were up-regulated, while the negatively regulated genes were down-regulated in sdg26. Through chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-seq) analysis, we found that SDG26 can directly regulate the expression of genes related to trichome growth and development such as ZFP1, ZFP5, ZFP6, GL3, MYB23, MYC1, TT8, GL1, GIS2, IPT1, IPT3, and IPT5 by increasing the accumulation of H3K27me3 on these genes, which further affects the growth and development of trichomes. This study reveals the mechanism by which SDG26 affects the growth and development of trichomes through histone methylation. The current study provides a theoretical basis for studying the molecular mechanism of histone methylation in regulating leaf trichome growth and development and perhaps guiding the development of new crop varieties. Full article

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29 pages, 511 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Phytoremediation as an Effective Remedy for Removing Trace Elements from Ecosystems

by Agnieszka Mocek-Płóciniak, Justyna Mencel, Wiktor Zakrzewski and Szymon Roszkowski

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1653; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081653 - 14 Apr 2023

Cited by 67 | Viewed by 10892

Abstract

The pollution of soil by trace elements is a global problem. Conventional methods of soil remediation are often inapplicable, so it is necessary to search intensively for innovative and environment-friendly techniques for cleaning up ecosystems, such as phytoremediation. Basic research methods, their strengths [...] Read more.

The pollution of soil by trace elements is a global problem. Conventional methods of soil remediation are often inapplicable, so it is necessary to search intensively for innovative and environment-friendly techniques for cleaning up ecosystems, such as phytoremediation. Basic research methods, their strengths and weaknesses, and the effects of microorganisms on metallophytes and plant endophytes resistant to trace elements (TEs) were summarised and described in this manuscript. Prospectively, bio-combined phytoremediation with microorganisms appears to be an ideal, economically viable and environmentally sound solution. The novelty of the work is the description of the potential of “green roofs” to contribute to the capture and accumulation of many metal-bearing and suspended dust and other toxic compounds resulting from anthropopressure. Attention was drawn to the great potential of using phytoremediation on less contaminated soils located along traffic routes and urban parks and green spaces. It also focused on the supportive treatments for phytoremediation using genetic engineering, sorbents, phytohormones, microbiota, microalgae or nanoparticles and highlighted the important role of energy crops in phytoremediation. Perceptions of phytoremediation on different continents are also presented, and new international perspectives are presented. Further development of phytoremediation requires much more funding and increased interdisciplinary research in this direction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytoremediation and Plant Morphophysiology in Contaminated Areas)

20 pages, 1956 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Evaluation of the Fruit Quality and Phytochemical Compounds in Peach and Nectarine Cultivars

by Raffaella Petruccelli, Alessandra Bonetti, Leonardo Ciaccheri, Francesca Ieri, Tommaso Ganino and Cecilia Faraloni

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1618; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081618 - 12 Apr 2023

Cited by 29 | Viewed by 5531

Abstract

Qualitative traits and chemical properties of 32 peach cultivars (yellow flesh and white flesh fruits) and 52 nectarine cultivars (yellow flesh and white flesh fruits) of different pomological characteristics is performed, and the correlation between cultivars and chemical characteristics is analyzed. Yellow nectarines [...] Read more.

Qualitative traits and chemical properties of 32 peach cultivars (yellow flesh and white flesh fruits) and 52 nectarine cultivars (yellow flesh and white flesh fruits) of different pomological characteristics is performed, and the correlation between cultivars and chemical characteristics is analyzed. Yellow nectarines have a higher variability in soluble solids concentration (SSC) and titratable acidity (TA) values. Evaluation of color parameters (a*, b*, L*) shows a significant interaction between pulp color (white vs. yellow) and types (peaches vs. nectarines) of fruit. The difference between yellow and white fruits is stronger in nectarines than in peaches. Sucrose is the main sugar detected in peach fruits, with a percentage content of 78.37% and 76.70% of the total sugar content in yellow and white peaches, respectively, and 78.29% and 78.12% in yellow and white nectarines, respectively. Variability is found among cultivars for the chemical compounds analyzed. The yellow flesh has higher amounts of total carotenoids and TPC, while white-flesh fruits present an average antioxidant value higher than yellow-flesh fruits. No significant correlation is found for polyphenol content and DPPH, while an interaction (p < 0.005) between neochlorogenic acid content and peaches and nectarines is evidenced, with a neochlorogenic acid content higher in nectarines than in peaches. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Antioxidant Activity of Plant Extracts)

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24 pages, 4921 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Transcriptomics and Metabolomics Analysis Provides Insight into Leaf Color and Photosynthesis Variation of the Yellow-Green Leaf Mutant of Hami Melon (Cucumis melo L.)

by Hongwei Han, Yuan Zhou, Huifang Liu, Xianjun Chen, Qiang Wang, Hongmei Zhuang, Xiaoxia Sun, Qihua Ling, Huijun Zhang, Baike Wang, Juan Wang, Yaping Tang, Hao Wang and Huiying Liu

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1623; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081623 - 12 Apr 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3143

Abstract

Leaf color mutants are ideal materials for studying the regulatory mechanism of chloroplast development and photosynthesis. We isolated a cucumis melo spontaneous mutant (MT), which showed yellow-green leaf phenotype in the whole growing period and could be inherited stably. We compared its leaves [...] Read more.

Leaf color mutants are ideal materials for studying the regulatory mechanism of chloroplast development and photosynthesis. We isolated a cucumis melo spontaneous mutant (MT), which showed yellow-green leaf phenotype in the whole growing period and could be inherited stably. We compared its leaves with the wild type (WT) in terms of cytology, physiology, transcriptome and metabolism. The results showed that the thylakoid grana lamellae of MT were loosely arranged and fewer in number than WT. Physiological experiments also showed that MT had less chlorophyll content and more accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) than WT. Furthermore, the activity of several key enzymes in C₄ photosynthetic carbon assimilation pathway was more enhanced in MT than WT. Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses showed that differential expression genes and differentially accumulated metabolites in MT were mainly co-enriched in the pathways related to photosystem-antenna proteins, central carbon metabolism, glutathione metabolism, phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and flavonoid metabolism. We also analyzed several key proteins in photosynthesis and chloroplast transport by Western blot. In summary, the results may provide a new insight into the understanding of how plants respond to the impaired photosynthesis by regulating chloroplast development and photosynthetic carbon assimilation pathways. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Transcriptome Analysis and Gene Regulation in Plant Growth Development)

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11 pages, 7735 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of OsRCA Overexpression on Rubisco Activation State and Photosynthesis in Maize

by Yujiao Feng, Hao Wu, Huanhuan Liu, Yonghui He and Zhitong Yin

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1614; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081614 - 11 Apr 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2834

Abstract

Ribulose–1,5–bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) is the rate–limiting enzyme for photosynthesis. Rubisco activase (RCA) can regulate the Rubisco activation state, influencing Rubisco activity and photosynthetic rate. We obtained transgenic maize plants that overproduced rice RCA (OsRCA^OE) and evaluated photosynthesis in these plants [...] Read more.

Ribulose–1,5–bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) is the rate–limiting enzyme for photosynthesis. Rubisco activase (RCA) can regulate the Rubisco activation state, influencing Rubisco activity and photosynthetic rate. We obtained transgenic maize plants that overproduced rice RCA (OsRCA^OE) and evaluated photosynthesis in these plants by measuring gas exchange, energy conversion efficiencies in photosystem (PS) I and PSII, and Rubisco activity and activation state. The OsRCA^OE lines showed significantly higher initial Rubisco activity and activation state, net photosynthetic rate, and PSII photochemical quantum yield than wild–type plants. These results suggest that OsRCA overexpression can promote maize photosynthesis by increasing the Rubisco activation state. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological Basis and Genetic Regulation of Plant Photosynthesis: For Higher Efficiency)

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17 pages, 6011 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Active vs. Passive Thermal Imaging for Helping the Early Detection of Soil-Borne Rot Diseases on Wild Rocket [Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) D.C.]

by Massimo Rippa, Andrea Pasqualini, Rossella Curcio, Pasquale Mormile and Catello Pane

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1615; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081615 - 11 Apr 2023

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2966

Abstract

Cultivation of wild rocket [Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) D.C.] as a baby-leaf vegetable for the high-convenience food chain is constantly growing due to its nutritional and taste qualities. As is well known, these crops are particularly exposed to soil-borne fungal diseases and need [...] Read more.

Cultivation of wild rocket [Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) D.C.] as a baby-leaf vegetable for the high-convenience food chain is constantly growing due to its nutritional and taste qualities. As is well known, these crops are particularly exposed to soil-borne fungal diseases and need to be effectively protected. At present, wild rocket disease management is performed by using permitted synthetic fungicides or through the application of agro-ecological and biological methods that must be optimized. In this regard, the implementation of innovative digital-based technologies, such as infrared thermography (IT), as supporting systems to decision-making processes is welcome. In this work, leaves belonging to wild rocket plants inoculated with the soil-borne pathogens Rhizoctonia solani Kühn and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary were analyzed and monitored by both active and passive thermographic methods and compared with visual detection. A comparison between the thermal analysis carried out in both medium (MWIR)- and long (LWIR)-wave infrared was made and discussed. The results achieved highlight how the monitoring based on the use of IT is promising for carrying out an early detection of the rot diseases induced by the investigated pathogens, allowing their detection in 3–6 days before the canopy is completely wilted. Active thermal imaging has the potential to detect early soil-borne rotting diseases. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Application of Infrared Sensing and Thermal Imaging on Plants and Crops)

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16 pages, 1806 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of Exogenous Sodium Nitroprusside Spraying on Physiological Characteristics of Soybean Leaves at the Flowering Stage under Drought Stress

by Zhipeng Qu, Yumei Tian, Xinyu Zhou, Xiaomei Li, Qi Zhou, Xiyue Wang and Shoukun Dong

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1598; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081598 - 10 Apr 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2256

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a significant role in plant drought resistance. However, the effects of the exogenous application of NO to crops under drought stress vary within and among species. In this study, we explored the influence of exogenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on [...] Read more.

Nitric oxide (NO) plays a significant role in plant drought resistance. However, the effects of the exogenous application of NO to crops under drought stress vary within and among species. In this study, we explored the influence of exogenous sodium nitroprusside (SNP) on the drought resistance of soybean leaves in the full flowering stage using two varieties: drought-tolerant HN44 and non-drought-tolerant HN65. Spraying SNP on soybean leaves at the full flowering period under drought stress improved the NO content in soybean leaves. The activities of nitrite reductase (NiR) and nitrate reductase (NR) in leaves were affected by NO inhibition. The activity of antioxidant enzymes in leaves increased with the extension of SNP application time. Contents of osmomodulatory substances, including proline (Pro), soluble sugar (SS), and soluble protein (SP) increased gradually with the extension of SNP application time. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content decreased as the NO content increased, thus reducing membrane system damage. Overall, spraying SNP reduced damage and improved the ability of soybean to cope with drought. This study explored the physiological changes of SNP soybean under drought stress and provided theoretical basis for improving drought-resistant cultivation of soybean. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Regulation of Plant Responses to Heat and Drought Stress)

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16 pages, 3595 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Antitumor and Antioxidant Activities of In Vitro Cultivated and Wild-Growing Clinopodium vulgare L. Plants

by Maria Petrova, Lyudmila Dimitrova, Margarita Dimitrova, Petko Denev, Desislava Teneva, Ani Georgieva, Polina Petkova-Kirova, Maria Lazarova and Krasimira Tasheva

Plants 2023, 12(8), 1591; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants12081591 - 9 Apr 2023

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3610

Abstract

Clinopodium vulgare L. is a valuable medicinal plant used for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and wound-healing properties. The present study describes an efficient protocol for the micropropagation of C. vulgare and compares, for the first time, the chemical content and composition and antitumor and [...] Read more.

Clinopodium vulgare L. is a valuable medicinal plant used for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and wound-healing properties. The present study describes an efficient protocol for the micropropagation of C. vulgare and compares, for the first time, the chemical content and composition and antitumor and antioxidant activities of extracts from in vitro cultivated and wild-growing plants. The best nutrient medium was found to be Murashige and Skoog (MS) supplemented with 1 mg/L BAP and 0.1 IBA mg/L, yielding on average 6.9 shoots per nodal segment. Flower aqueous extracts from in vitro plants had higher total polyphenol content (29,927.6 ± 592.1 mg/100 g vs. 27,292.8 ± 85.3 mg/100 g) and ORAC antioxidant activity (7281.3 ± 82.9 µmol TE/g vs. 7246.3 ± 62.4 µmol TE/g) compared to the flowers of wild plants. HPLC detected qualitative and quantitative differences in phenolic constituents between the in vitro cultivated and wild-growing plants’ extracts. Rosmarinic acid was the major phenolic constituent, being accumulated mainly in leaves, while neochlorogenic acid was a major compound in the flowers of cultivated plants. Catechin was found only in cultivated plants, but not in wild plants or cultivated plants’ stems. Aqueous extracts of both cultivated and wild plants showed significant in vitro antitumor activity against human HeLa (cervical adenocarcinoma), HT-29 (colorectal adenocarcinoma) and MCF-7 (breast cancer) cell lines. The best cytotoxic activity against most of the cancer cell lines, combined with the least detrimental effects on a non-tumor human keratinocyte cell line (HaCaT), was shown by the leaf (250 µg/mL) and flower (500 µg/mL) extracts of cultivated plants, making cultivated plants a valuable source of bioactive compounds and a suitable candidate for anticancer therapy. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Production of Secondary Metabolites In Vitro)

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