Plants

22 pages, 3336 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Valorization of Traditional Italian Walnut (Juglans regia L.) Production: Genetic, Nutritional and Sensory Characterization of Locally Grown Varieties in the Trentino Region

by Erica A. Di Pierro, Pietro Franceschi, Isabella Endrizzi, Brian Farneti, Lara Poles, Domenico Masuero, Iuliia Khomenko, Francesco Trenti, Annarita Marrano, Urska Vrhovsek, Flavia Gasperi, Franco Biasioli, Graziano Guella, Luca Bianco and Michela Troggio

Plants 2022, 11(15), 1986; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11151986 - 30 Jul 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3272

Abstract

Juglans regia (L.) is cultivated worldwide for its nutrient-rich nuts. In Italy, despite the growing demand, walnut cultivation has gone through a strong decline in recent decades, which led to Italy being among the top five net importing countries. To promote the development [...] Read more.

Juglans regia (L.) is cultivated worldwide for its nutrient-rich nuts. In Italy, despite the growing demand, walnut cultivation has gone through a strong decline in recent decades, which led to Italy being among the top five net importing countries. To promote the development of local high-quality Italian walnut production, we devised a multidisciplinary project to highlight the distinctive traits of three varieties grown in the mountainous region Trentino (northeast of Italy): the heirloom ‘Bleggiana’, a second local accession called local Franquette and the French cultivar ‘Lara’, recently introduced in the local production to increase yield. The genetic characterization confirmed the uniqueness of ‘Bleggiana’ and revealed local Franquette as a newly described autochthonous variety, thus named ‘Blegette’. The metabolic profiles highlighted a valuable nutritional composition of the local varieties, richer in polyphenols and with a lower ω-6/ω-3 ratio than the commercial ‘Lara’. ‘Blegette’ obtained the highest preference scores from consumers for both the visual aspect and tasting; however, the volatile organic compound profiles did not discriminate among the characterized cultivars. The described local varieties represent an interesting reservoir of walnut genetic diversity and quality properties, which deserve future investigation on agronomically useful traits (e.g., local adaptation and water usage) for a high-quality and sustainable production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection New Trends in Plant Science in Italy)

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14 pages, 1323 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Genetic Diversity and Population Structure of Jubaea chilensis, an Endemic and Monotype Gender from Chile, Based on SNP Markers

by Paola Jara-Arancio, Carolina da Silva Carvalho, Martín R. Carmona-Ortiz, Ramiro O. Bustamante, Priscilla M. Schmidt Villela, Sónia C. da Silva Andrade, Francisco T. Peña-Gómez, Luís A. González and Marina Fleury

Plants 2022, 11(15), 1959; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11151959 - 28 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2494

Abstract

Jubaea chilensis (Molina) Baill., also named Chilean palm, is an endemic species found in the coastal area of Mediterranean sclerophyllous forest in Chile. It has a highly restricted and fragmented distribution along the coast, being under intense exploitation and anthropogenic impact. Based on [...] Read more.

Jubaea chilensis (Molina) Baill., also named Chilean palm, is an endemic species found in the coastal area of Mediterranean sclerophyllous forest in Chile. It has a highly restricted and fragmented distribution along the coast, being under intense exploitation and anthropogenic impact. Based on 1038 SNP markers, we evaluated the genetic diversity and population structure among six J. chilensis natural groups encompassing 96% of the species distribution. We observed low levels of genetic diversity, a deficit of heterozygotes (mean H_E = 0.024; H_O = 0.014), and high levels of inbreeding (mean F_IS = 0.424). The fixation index (F_ST) and Nei’s genetic distance pairwise comparisons indicated low to moderate structuring among populations. There was no evidence of isolation by distance (r = −0.214, p = 0.799). In the cluster analysis, we observed a closer relationship among Culimo, Cocalán, and Candelaria populations. Migration rates among populations were low, except for some populations with moderate values. The K value that best represented the spatial distribution of genetic diversity was ∆K = 3. Habitat fragmentation, deterioration of the sclerophyllous forest, lack of long-distance dispersers, and a natural regeneration deficit may have driven inbreeding and low levels of genetic diversity in the palm groves of J. chilensis. Although extant populations are not at imminent risk of extinction, the rate of inbreeding could increase and migration could decrease if the effects of climate change and human impact become more acute. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Evolutionary Ecology)

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17 pages, 2737 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Grafted Tomato with Drought Tolerance

by Maria Isabel Fuentes-Merlos, Masaru Bamba, Shusei Sato and Atsushi Higashitani

Plants 2022, 11(15), 1947; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11151947 - 27 Jul 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2523

Abstract

Grafting is a method used in agriculture to improve crop production and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. This technique is widely used in tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L.; however, the effects of grafting on changes in gene expression associated with stress tolerance in [...] Read more.

Grafting is a method used in agriculture to improve crop production and tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. This technique is widely used in tomato, Solanum lycopersicum L.; however, the effects of grafting on changes in gene expression associated with stress tolerance in shoot apical meristem cells are still under-discovered. To clarify the effect of grafting, we performed a transcriptomic analysis between non-grafted and grafted tomatoes using the tomato variety Momotaro-scion and rootstock varieties, TD1, GS, and GF. Drought tolerance was significantly improved not only by a combination of compatible resistant rootstock TD1 but also by self-grafted compared to non-grafted lines. Next, we found the differences in gene expression between grafted and non-grafted plants before and during drought stress treatment. These altered genes are involved in the regulation of plant hormones, stress response, and cell proliferation. Furthermore, when comparing compatible (Momo/TD1 and Momo/Momo) and incompatible (Momo/GF) grafted lines, the incompatible line reduced gene expression associated with phytohormones but increased in wounding and starvation stress-response genes. These results conclude that grafting generates drought stress tolerance through several gene expression changes in the apical meristem. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Grafting)

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11 pages, 2815 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Chemical Constituents from the Aerial Parts of Artemisia iwayomogi and Their Anti-Neuroinflammatory Activities

by So-Ri Son, In Gyong Ju, Jinhee Kim, Keon-Tae Park, Myung Sook Oh and Dae Sik Jang

Plants 2022, 11(15), 1954; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11151954 - 27 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2018

Abstract

Neuroinflammation, predominantly mediated by microglial activation, is a key immunological response in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. In our preliminary study, the aerial part of Artemisia iwayomogi inhibits LPS-induced microglial activation. The present study aims to identify chemical constituents with anti-neuroinflammatory properties in [...] Read more.

Neuroinflammation, predominantly mediated by microglial activation, is a key immunological response in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. In our preliminary study, the aerial part of Artemisia iwayomogi inhibits LPS-induced microglial activation. The present study aims to identify chemical constituents with anti-neuroinflammatory properties in the aerial parts of A. iwayomogi. Two new guaianolide sesquiterpenes, iwayomogins A and B (1 and 2), along with thirteen known sesquiterpene lactones (3–15), one diterpene glycoside (16), and nine phenolic compounds (17–25) were isolated from the aerial parts of A. iwayomogi by repeated chromatography. The structures of the isolates were elucidated by their spectroscopic data. All isolates were evaluated for their inhibitory activities on nitric oxide (NO) production in LPS-induced BV-2 microglial cells. 2,3-Dehydro-1-epi-asperilin (11) exhibited the strongest inhibitory effect on NO production (IC₅₀ value of 1.78 μM). In the molecular docking study, three compounds (1, 2, and 11) showed good binding affinities with iNOS. Additionally, compounds 1, 2, and 11 inhibit pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α and IL-6) in dose-dependent manners. The present study demonstrates that the chemical constituents from A. iwayomogi inhibit NO production and pro-inflammatory cytokine release in BV-2 cells. However, further evaluation with biological experiments utilizing in vivo models is necessary. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biological Activities and Constituents of Plant-Derived Natural Products and Their Application)

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11 pages, 641 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Chemical Composition and In Vitro Anti-Helicobacter pylori Activity of Campomanesia lineatifolia Ruiz & Pavón (Myrtaceae) Essential Oil

by Nívea Cristina Vieira Neves, Morgana Pinheiro de Mello, Sinéad Marian Smith, Fabio Boylan, Marcelo Vidigal Caliari and Rachel Oliveira Castilho

Plants 2022, 11(15), 1945; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11151945 - 27 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2850

Abstract

Helicobacter pylori is the most common cause of gastritis and peptic ulcers, and the number of resistant strains to multiple conventional antimicrobial agents has been increasing in different parts of the world. Several studies have shown that some essential oils (EO) have bioactive [...] Read more.

Helicobacter pylori is the most common cause of gastritis and peptic ulcers, and the number of resistant strains to multiple conventional antimicrobial agents has been increasing in different parts of the world. Several studies have shown that some essential oils (EO) have bioactive compounds, which can be attributed to antimicrobial activity. Therefore, EOs have been proposed as a natural alternative to antibiotics, or for use in combination with conventional treatment for H. pylori infection. Campomanesia lineatifolia is an edible species found in the Brazilian forests, and their leaves are traditionally used for the treatment of gastrointestinal disorders. Anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective, and antioxidant properties are attributed to C. lineatifolia leaf extracts; however, studies related to the chemical constituents of the essential oil and anti-H. pylori activity is not described. This work aims to identify the chemical composition of the EO from C. lineatifolia leaves and evaluate the anti-H. pylori activity. The EO was obtained by hydrodistillation from C. lineatifolia leaves and characterized by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analyses. To assess the in vitro anti-H. pylori activity of the C. lineatifolia leaf’s EO (6 μL/mL–25 μL/mL), we performed broth microdilution assays by using type cultures (ATCC 49503, NCTC 11638, both clarithromycin-sensitive) and clinical isolate strains (SSR359, clarithromycin-sensitive, and SSR366, clarithromycin-resistant). A total of eight new compounds were identified from the EO (3-hexen-1-ol (46.15%), α-cadinol (20.35%), 1,1-diethoxyethane (13.08%), 2,3-dicyano-7,7-dimethyl-5,6-benzonorbornadiene (10.78%), aromadendrene 2 (3.0%), [3-S-(3α, 3aα, 6α, 8aα)]-4,5,6,7,8,8a-hexahydro-3,7,7-trimethyl-8-methylene-3H-3a,6-methanoazulene (2.99%), α-bisabolol (0.94%), and β-curcumene (0.8%)), corresponding to 98.09% of the total oil composition. The EO inhibited the growth of all H. pylori strains tested (MIC 6 μL/mL). To our knowledge, the current study investigates the relation between the chemical composition and the anti-H. pylori activity of the C. lineatifolia EO for the first time. Our findings show the potential use of the C. lineatifolia leaf EO against sensitive and resistant clarithromycin H. pylori strains and suggest that this antimicrobial activity could be related to its ethnopharmacological use. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Medicinal Plants: Advances in Phytochemistry and Ethnobotany)

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25 pages, 753 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Use of Biostimulants as a New Approach for the Improvement of Phytoremediation Performance—A Review

by Maria Luce Bartucca, Martina Cerri, Daniele Del Buono and Cinzia Forni

Plants 2022, 11(15), 1946; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11151946 - 27 Jul 2022

Cited by 39 | Viewed by 4893

Abstract

Environmental pollution is one of the most pressing global issues, and it requires priority attention. Environmental remediation techniques have been developed over the years and can be applied to polluted sites, but they can have limited effectiveness and high energy consumption and costs. [...] Read more.

Environmental pollution is one of the most pressing global issues, and it requires priority attention. Environmental remediation techniques have been developed over the years and can be applied to polluted sites, but they can have limited effectiveness and high energy consumption and costs. Bioremediation techniques, on the other hand, represent a promising alternative. Among them, phytoremediation is attracting particular attention, a green methodology that relies on the use of plant species to remediate contaminated sites or prevent the dispersion of xenobiotics into the environment. In this review, after a brief introduction focused on pollution and phytoremediation, the use of plant biostimulants (PBs) in the improvement of the remediation effectiveness is proposed. PBs are substances widely used in agriculture to raise crop production and resistance to various types of stress. Recent studies have also documented their ability to counteract the deleterious effects of pollutants on plants, thus increasing the phytoremediation efficiency of some species. The works published to date, reviewed and discussed in the present work, reveal promising prospects in the remediation of polluted environments, especially for heavy metals, when PBs derived from humic substances, protein and amino acid hydrolysate, inorganic salts, microbes, seaweed, plant extracts, and fungi are employed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Phytoremediation: New Approaches and Perspectives)

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17 pages, 3278 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Deep Learning Diagnostics of Gray Leaf Spot in Maize under Mixed Disease Field Conditions

by Hamish A. Craze, Nelishia Pillay, Fourie Joubert and Dave K. Berger

Plants 2022, 11(15), 1942; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11151942 - 26 Jul 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2904

Abstract

Maize yields worldwide are limited by foliar diseases that could be fungal, oomycete, bacterial, or viral in origin. Correct disease identification is critical for farmers to apply the correct control measures, such as fungicide sprays. Deep learning has the potential for automated disease [...] Read more.

Maize yields worldwide are limited by foliar diseases that could be fungal, oomycete, bacterial, or viral in origin. Correct disease identification is critical for farmers to apply the correct control measures, such as fungicide sprays. Deep learning has the potential for automated disease classification from images of leaf symptoms. We aimed to develop a classifier to identify gray leaf spot (GLS) disease of maize in field images where mixed diseases were present (18,656 images after augmentation). In this study, we compare deep learning models trained on mixed disease field images with and without background subtraction. Performance was compared with models trained on PlantVillage images with single diseases and uniform backgrounds. First, we developed a modified VGG16 network referred to as “GLS_net” to perform binary classification of GLS, which achieved a 73.4% accuracy. Second, we used MaskRCNN to dynamically segment leaves from backgrounds in combination with GLS_net to identify GLS, resulting in a 72.6% accuracy. Models trained on PlantVillage images were 94.1% accurate at GLS classification with the PlantVillage testing set but performed poorly with the field image dataset (55.1% accuracy). In contrast, the GLS_net model was 78% accurate on the PlantVillage testing set. We conclude that deep learning models trained with realistic mixed disease field data obtain superior degrees of generalizability and external validity when compared to models trained using idealized datasets. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Deep Learning in Plant Sciences)

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16 pages, 7696 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Genome-Wide Identification of R2R3-MYB Transcription Factor and Expression Analysis under Abiotic Stress in Rice

by Lihua Kang, Yangyang Teng, Qiwen Cen, Yunxia Fang, Quanxiang Tian, Xiaoqin Zhang, Hua Wang, Xian Zhang and Dawei Xue

Plants 2022, 11(15), 1928; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11151928 - 25 Jul 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2995

Abstract

The myeloblastosis (MYB) family comprises a large group of transcription factors (TFs) that has a variety of functions. Among them, the R2R3-MYB type of proteins are the largest group in plants, which are involved in controlling various biological processes such as plant growth [...] Read more.

The myeloblastosis (MYB) family comprises a large group of transcription factors (TFs) that has a variety of functions. Among them, the R2R3-MYB type of proteins are the largest group in plants, which are involved in controlling various biological processes such as plant growth and development, physiological metabolism, defense, and responses to abiotic and biotic stresses. In this study, bioinformatics was adopted to conduct genome-wide identification of the R2R3-MYB TFs in rice. We identified 190 MYB TFs (99 R2R3-MYBs), which are unevenly distributed on the 12 chromosomes of rice. Based on the phylogenetic clustering and protein sequence characteristics, OsMYBs were classified into five subgroups, and 59.6% of the Os2R_MYB genes contained two introns. Analysis of cis-acting elements in the 2000 bp upstream region of Os2R_MYB genes showed that all Os2R_MYB genes contained plant hormones-related or stress-responsive elements since 91.9%, 79.8%, 79.8%, and 58.6% of Os2R_MYB genes contain ABRE, TGACG, CGTCA, and MBS motifs, respectively. Protein–protein network analysis showed that the Os2R_MYBs were involved in metabolic process, biosynthetic process, and tissue development. In addition, some genes showed a tissue-specific or developmental-stage-specific expression pattern. Moreover, the transcription levels of 20 Os2R_MYB genes under polyethylene glycol (PEG) and cadmium chloride (CdCl₂) stress inducers were dissected by qRT-PCR. The results indicated genes with an altered expression upon PEG or CdCl₂ stress induction. These results potentially supply a basis for further research on the role that Os2R_MYB genes play in plant development and stress responses. Full article

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

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17 pages, 4373 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Prediction of Greenhouse Tomato Crop Evapotranspiration Using XGBoost Machine Learning Model

by Jiankun Ge, Linfeng Zhao, Zihui Yu, Huanhuan Liu, Lei Zhang, Xuewen Gong and Huaiwei Sun

Plants 2022, 11(15), 1923; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11151923 - 25 Jul 2022

Cited by 36 | Viewed by 3269

Abstract

Crop evapotranspiration estimation is a key parameter for achieving functional irrigation systems. However, ET is difficult to directly measure, so an ideal solution was to develop a simulation model to obtain ET. There are many ways to calculate ET, most of which use [...] Read more.

Crop evapotranspiration estimation is a key parameter for achieving functional irrigation systems. However, ET is difficult to directly measure, so an ideal solution was to develop a simulation model to obtain ET. There are many ways to calculate ET, most of which use models based on the Penman–Monteith equation, but they are often inaccurate when applied to greenhouse crop evapotranspiration. The use of machine learning models to predict ET has gradually increased, but research into their application for greenhouse crops is relatively rare. We used experimental data for three years (2019–2021) to model the effects on ET of eight meteorological factors (net solar radiation (R_n), mean temperature (T_a), minimum temperature (T_amin), maximum temperature (T_amax), relative humidity (RH), minimum relative humidity (RH_min), maximum relative humidity (RH_max), and wind speed (V)) using a greenhouse drip irrigated tomato crop ET prediction model (XGBR-ET) that was based on XGBoost regression (XGBR). The model was compared with seven other common regression models (linear regression (LR), support vector regression (SVR), K neighbors regression (KNR), random forest regression (RFR), AdaBoost regression (ABR), bagging regression (BR), and gradient boosting regression (GBR)). The results showed that R_n, T_a, and T_amax were positively correlated with ET, and that T_amin, RH, RH_min, RH_max, and V were negatively correlated with ET. R_n had the greatest correlation with ET (r = 0.89), and V had the least correlation with ET (r = 0.43). The eight models were ordered, in terms of prediction accuracy, XGBR-ET > GBR-ET > SVR-ET > ABR-ET > BR-ET > LR-ET > KNR-ET > RFR-ET. The statistical indicators mean square error (0.032), root mean square error (0.163), mean absolute error (0.132), mean absolute percentage error (4.47%), and coefficient of determination (0.981) of XGBR-ET showed that XGBR-ET modeled daily ET for greenhouse tomatoes well. The parameters of the XGBR-ET model were ablated to show that the order of importance of meteorological factors on XGBR-ET was R_n > RH > RH_min> T_amax> RH_max> T_amin> T_a> V. Selecting R_n, RH, RH_min, T_amax, and T_amin as model input variables using XGBR ensured the prediction accuracy of the model (mean square error 0.047). This study has value as a reference for the simplification of the calculation of evapotranspiration for drip irrigated greenhouse tomato crops using a novel application of machine learning as a basis for an effective irrigation program. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Crop-Water Relations: Improving Water Use Efficiency in a Changing Climate)

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15 pages, 948 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Bio-Priming of Soybean with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and Bacillus megaterium: Strategy to Improve Seed Germination and the Initial Seedling Growth

by Dragana Miljaković, Jelena Marinković, Gordana Tamindžić, Vuk Đorđević, Branislava Tintor, Dragana Milošević, Maja Ignjatov and Zorica Nikolić

Plants 2022, 11(15), 1927; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11151927 - 25 Jul 2022

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3840

Abstract

Bio-priming is a new technique of seed treatment that improves seed germination, vigor, crop growth and yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Bradyrhizobium japonicum (commercial strains) and Bacillus megaterium (newly isolated strains) as a single inoculant and [...] Read more.

Bio-priming is a new technique of seed treatment that improves seed germination, vigor, crop growth and yield. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of Bradyrhizobium japonicum (commercial strains) and Bacillus megaterium (newly isolated strains) as a single inoculant and co-inoculant during seed bio-priming to improve seed germination and initial seedling growth of two soybean cultivars. The treated seeds were subjected to germination test (GT), cold test (CT) and accelerated aging test (AAT). B. megaterium significantly improved all parameters in GT and CT; final germination, shoot length, root length, root dry weight, and seedling vigor index in AAT, as compared to control. In addition, co-inoculation significantly increased all parameters except shoot dry weight in GT; all parameters in CT; germination energy, shoot length, root length, and seedling vigor index in AAT, in comparison to the control. Moreover, Br. japonicum significantly improved the germination energy, shoot length, shoot dry weight, root dry weight, and seedling vigor index in GT; all parameters in CT; shoot length, root length, and seedling vigor index in AAT, compared with non-primed seeds. Thus, B. megaterium strains could be used in soybean bio-priming as a potential single inoculant and co-inoculant, following proper field evaluation. Full article

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

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17 pages, 2298 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Dermal Penetration Studies of Potential Phenolic Compounds Ex Vivo and Their Antioxidant Activity In Vitro

by Aurita Butkeviciute, Kristina Ramanauskiene, Vaida Kurapkiene and Valdimaras Janulis

Plants 2022, 11(15), 1901; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11151901 - 22 Jul 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1753

Abstract

Phenolic compounds with miscellaneous biological activities are an interesting component in dermatology and cosmetology practices. The aim of our study was to determine the phenolic compounds released from emulsion, emulgel, gel, ointment, and oleogel formulations penetration into human skin layers, both the epidermis [...] Read more.

Phenolic compounds with miscellaneous biological activities are an interesting component in dermatology and cosmetology practices. The aim of our study was to determine the phenolic compounds released from emulsion, emulgel, gel, ointment, and oleogel formulations penetration into human skin layers, both the epidermis and dermis, and estimate their antioxidant activity. The ex vivo penetration study was performed using Bronaugh type flow-through diffusion cells. Penetration studies revealed that, within 24 h, the chlorogenic acid released from the oleogel penetrated into skin layers to a depth of 2.0 ± 0.1 µg/mL in the epidermis and 1.5 ± 0.07 µg/mL in the dermis. The oleogel-released complex of phenolic compounds penetrating into epidermis showed the strongest DPPH free radical scavenging activity (281.8 ± 14.1 µM TE/L). The study estimated a strong positive correlation (r = 0.729) between the amount of quercetin penetrated into epidermis and the antioxidant activity detected in the epidermis extract. Plant based phenolic compounds demonstrated antioxidant activity and showed great permeability properties through the skin. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Resources of Medicinal and Cosmetic Plants Volume II)

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12 pages, 1538 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Estimation of Morphological Features and Essential Oil Content of Basils (Ocimum basilicum L.) Grown under Different Conditions

by Danguolė Juškevičienė, Audrius Radzevičius, Pranas Viškelis, Nijolė Maročkienė and Rasa Karklelienė

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1896; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141896 - 21 Jul 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2241

Abstract

This study was carried out in the experimental field and in unheated greenhouses of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Institute of Horticulture. The investigation aimed to evaluate the morphological features, amount of essential oil, and productivity of 10 basil ( [...] Read more.

This study was carried out in the experimental field and in unheated greenhouses of the Lithuanian Research Centre for Agriculture and Forestry Institute of Horticulture. The investigation aimed to evaluate the morphological features, amount of essential oil, and productivity of 10 basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) cultivars grown under different growing conditions. Studied cultivars were different according to morphological parameters, productivity, and the accumulation of essential oil. Most of the investigated parameters were influenced by growing conditions. Basil plants of cultivars Sweet Genovese and Toscano were determined to be the highest, and their height reached up to 70.5 cm. Cultivar Sweet Genovese was the most productive; its fresh herb mass per plant reached up to 0.71 kg under growing in the open field and greenhouse. Higher air temperature and constant watering of the soil in the greenhouse increased the accumulation of essential oils of basil. The biochemical analyses showed that the essential oil amount of 31% was higher when basils were grown in a greenhouse compared to an open field. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from Conference of CYSENI 2022)

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18 pages, 992 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceReview

Physiological and Molecular Responses of Woody Plants Exposed to Future Atmospheric CO₂ Levels under Abiotic Stresses

by Ana Karla M. Lobo, Ingrid C. A. Catarino, Emerson A. Silva, Danilo C. Centeno and Douglas S. Domingues

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1880; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141880 - 20 Jul 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3337

Abstract

Climate change is mainly driven by the accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere in the last century. Plant growth is constantly challenged by environmental fluctuations including heat waves, severe drought and salinity, along with ozone accumulation in the atmosphere. [...] Read more.

Climate change is mainly driven by the accumulation of carbon dioxide (CO₂) in the atmosphere in the last century. Plant growth is constantly challenged by environmental fluctuations including heat waves, severe drought and salinity, along with ozone accumulation in the atmosphere. Food security is at risk in an increasing world population, and it is necessary to face the current and the expected effects of global warming. The effects of the predicted environment scenario of elevated CO₂ concentration (e[CO₂]) and more severe abiotic stresses have been scarcely investigated in woody plants, and an integrated view involving physiological, biochemical and molecular data is missing. This review highlights the effects of elevated CO₂ in the metabolism of woody plants and the main findings of its interaction with abiotic stresses, including a molecular point of view, aiming to improve the understanding of how woody plants will face the predicted environmental conditions. Overall, e[CO₂] stimulates photosynthesis and growth and attenuates mild to moderate abiotic stress in woody plants if root growth and nutrients are not limited. Moreover, e[CO₂] does not induce acclimation in most tree species. Some high-throughput analyses involving omics techniques were conducted to better understand how these processes are regulated. Finally, knowledge gaps in the understanding of how the predicted climate condition will affect woody plant metabolism were identified, with the aim of improving the growth and production of this plant species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Effect of Carbon Dioxide Concentration on Plant Physiology)

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19 pages, 2423 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Warps and Wefts of a Polyploidy Complex: Integrative Species Delimitation of the Diploid Leucanthemum (Compositae, Anthemideae) Representatives

by Tankred Ott, Maximilian Schall, Robert Vogt and Christoph Oberprieler

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1878; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141878 - 19 Jul 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2432

Abstract

Species delimitation—owing to the paramount role of the species rank in evolutionary, ecological, and nature conservation studies—is an essential contribution of taxonomy to biodiversity research. In an ‘integrative taxonomy’ approach to species delimitation on the diploid level, we searched for evolutionary significant units [...] Read more.

Species delimitation—owing to the paramount role of the species rank in evolutionary, ecological, and nature conservation studies—is an essential contribution of taxonomy to biodiversity research. In an ‘integrative taxonomy’ approach to species delimitation on the diploid level, we searched for evolutionary significant units (the warps and wefts) that gave rise to the polyploid complex of European ox-eye daisies (Leucanthemum; Compositae-Anthemideae). Species discovery and validation methods based on genetic, ecological, geographical, and morphometric datasets were applied to test the currently accepted diploid morpho-species, i.e., morphologically delimited species, in Leucanthemum. Novel approaches were taken in the analyses of RADseq data (consensus clustering), morphometrics of reconstructed leaf silhouettes from digitized herbarium specimens, and quantification of species-distribution overlaps. We show that 17 of the 20 Leucanthemum morpho-species are supported by genetic evidence. The taxonomic rank of the remaining three morpho-species was resolved by combining genealogic, ecologic, geographic, and morphologic data in the framework of von Wettstein’s morpho-geographical species concept. We herewith provide a methodological pipeline for the species delimitation in an ‘integrative taxonomy’ fashion using sources of evidence from genealogical, morphological, ecological, and geographical data in the philosophy of De Queiroz’s “Unified Species Concept”. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Integrative Taxonomy of Plants)

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16 pages, 3100 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Imbibition of Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Seeds in Silver Nitrate Reduces Seed Germination, Seedlings Development and Their Metabolic Profile

by Joanna Szablińska-Piernik, Lesław Bernard Lahuta, Karolina Stałanowska and Marcin Horbowicz

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1877; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141877 - 19 Jul 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3005

Abstract

The use of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on plants is accompanied by the occurrence of Ag⁺ ions, so the research of the effects of both on plants should be related. Therefore, in our study, the effects of Ag NPs suspension (containing Ag [...] Read more.

The use of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) on plants is accompanied by the occurrence of Ag⁺ ions, so the research of the effects of both on plants should be related. Therefore, in our study, the effects of Ag NPs suspension (containing Ag⁰ at 20 mg/L) and AgNO₃ solutions (with the concentration of Ag⁺ ions at 20 and 50 mg/L) on the seed germination and early seedling growth (4 days) of pea (Pisum sativum L.) were compared. Both Ag NPs and AgNO₃ did not decrease seed germination, and even stimulated seedling growth. In seedlings developing in the Ag NPs suspension, an increase in monosaccharides, homoserine and malate was noted. In the next experiment, the effect of short-term seed imbibition (8 h) in AgNO₃ at elevated concentrations, ranging from 100 to 1000 mg/L, on the further seed germination, seedling growth (in absence of AgNO₃) and their polar metabolic profiles were evaluated. The seed imbibition in AgNO₃ solutions at 500 and 1000 mg/L reduced seed germination, inhibited seedlings’ growth and caused morphological deformations (twisting and folding of root). The above phytotoxic effects were accompanied by changes in amino acids and soluble carbohydrates profiles, in both sprouts and cotyledons. In deformed sprouts, the content of homoserine and asparagine (major amino acids) decreased, while alanine, glutamic acid, glutamine, proline, GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) and sucrose increased. The increase in sucrose coincided with a decrease in glucose and fructose. Sprouts, but not cotyledons, also accumulated malic acid and phosphoric acid. Additionally, cotyledons developed from seeds imbibed with AgNO₃ contained raffinose and stachyose, which were not detectable in sprouts and cotyledons of control seedlings. The obtained results suggest the possible disturbances in the mobilization of primary (oligosaccharides) and presumably major storage materials (starch, proteins) as well as in the primary metabolism of developing seedlings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological and Molecular Mechanisms of Plant Response to Metal Stress)

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11 pages, 835 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Rhizospheric Actinomycetes Revealed Antifungal and Plant-Growth-Promoting Activities under Controlled Environment

by Hazem S. Elshafie and Ippolito Camele

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1872; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141872 - 18 Jul 2022

Cited by 19 | Viewed by 2976

Abstract

Actinomycetes has large habitats and can be isolated from terrestrial soil, rhizospheres of plant roots, and marine sediments. Actinomycetes produce several bioactive secondary metabolites with antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. In this study, some Actinomycetes strains were isolated from the rhizosphere zone of [...] Read more.

Actinomycetes has large habitats and can be isolated from terrestrial soil, rhizospheres of plant roots, and marine sediments. Actinomycetes produce several bioactive secondary metabolites with antibacterial, antifungal, and antiviral properties. In this study, some Actinomycetes strains were isolated from the rhizosphere zone of four different plant species: rosemary, acacia, strawberry, and olive. The antagonistic activity of all isolates was screened in vitro against Escherichia coli and Bacillus megaterium. Isolates with the strongest bioactivity potential were selected and molecularly identified as Streptomyces sp., Streptomyces atratus, and Arthrobacter humicola. The growth-promoting activity of the selected Actinomycetes isolates was in vivo evaluated on tomato plants and for disease control against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. The results demonstrated that all bacterized plants with the studied Actinomycetes isolates were able to promote the tomato seedlings’ growth, showing high values of ecophysiological parameters. In particular, the bacterized seedlings with Streptomyces sp. and A. humicola showed low disease incidence of S. sclerotiorum infection (0.3% and 0.2%, respectively), whereas those bacterized with S. atratus showed a moderate disease incidence (7.6%) compared with the positive control (36.8%). In addition, the ability of the studied Actinomycetes to produce extracellular hydrolytic enzymes was verified. The results showed that A. humicola was able to produce chitinase, glucanase, and protease, whereas Streptomyces sp. and S. atratus produced amylase and pectinase at high and moderate levels, respectively. This study highlights the value of the studied isolates in providing bioactive metabolites and extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, indicating their potential application as fungal-biocontrol agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR))

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35 pages, 6064 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Fertilizers and Fertilization Strategies Mitigating Soil Factors Constraining Efficiency of Nitrogen in Plant Production

by Przemysław Barłóg, Witold Grzebisz and Remigiusz Łukowiak

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1855; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141855 - 15 Jul 2022

Cited by 40 | Viewed by 6507

Abstract

Fertilizer Use Efficiency (FUE) is a measure of the potential of an applied fertilizer to increase its impact on the uptake and utilization of nitrogen (N) present in the soil/plant system. The productivity of N depends on the supply of those nutrients in [...] Read more.

Fertilizer Use Efficiency (FUE) is a measure of the potential of an applied fertilizer to increase its impact on the uptake and utilization of nitrogen (N) present in the soil/plant system. The productivity of N depends on the supply of those nutrients in a well-defined stage of yield formation that are decisive for its uptake and utilization. Traditionally, plant nutritional status is evaluated by using chemical methods. However, nowadays, to correct fertilizer doses, the absorption and reflection of solar radiation is used. Fertilization efficiency can be increased not only by adjusting the fertilizer dose to the plant’s requirements, but also by removing all of the soil factors that constrain nutrient uptake and their transport from soil to root surface. Among them, soil compaction and pH are relatively easy to correct. The goal of new the formulas of N fertilizers is to increase the availability of N by synchronization of its release with the plant demand. The aim of non-nitrogenous fertilizers is to increase the availability of nutrients that control the effectiveness of N present in the soil/plant system. A wide range of actions is required to reduce the amount of N which can pollute ecosystems adjacent to fields. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Improving Fertilizer Use Efficiency–Methods and Strategies for the Future)

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20 pages, 1335 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Management of Post-Harvest Anthracnose: Current Approaches and Future Perspectives

by Alice Ciofini, Francesca Negrini, Riccardo Baroncelli and Elena Baraldi

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1856; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141856 - 15 Jul 2022

Cited by 27 | Viewed by 5446

Abstract

Anthracnose is a severe disease caused by Colletotrichum spp. on several crop species. Fungal infections can occur both in the field and at the post-harvest stage causing severe lesions on fruits and economic losses. Physical treatments and synthetic fungicides have traditionally been the [...] Read more.

Anthracnose is a severe disease caused by Colletotrichum spp. on several crop species. Fungal infections can occur both in the field and at the post-harvest stage causing severe lesions on fruits and economic losses. Physical treatments and synthetic fungicides have traditionally been the preferred means to control anthracnose adverse effects; however, the urgent need to decrease the use of toxic chemicals led to the investigation of innovative and sustainable protection techniques. Evidence for the efficacy of biological agents and vegetal derivates has been reported; however, their introduction into actual crop protection strategies requires the solutions of several critical issues. Biotechnology-based approaches have also been explored, revealing the opportunity to develop innovative and safe methods for anthracnose management through genome editing and RNA interference technologies. Nevertheless, besides the number of advantages related to their use, e.g., the putative absence of adverse effects due to their high specificity, a number of aspects remain to be clarified to enable their introduction into Integrated Pest Management (IPM) protocols against Colletotrichum spp. disease. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Interactions between Colletotrichum Species and Plants Ⅱ)

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11 pages, 289 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Salicylic Acid Improves Growth and Physiological Attributes and Salt Tolerance Differentially in Two Bread Wheat Cultivars

by Neila Abdi, Angeline Van Biljon, Chrisna Steyn and Maryke Tine Labuschagne

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1853; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141853 - 15 Jul 2022

Cited by 20 | Viewed by 2128

Abstract

Abiotic constraints such as salinity stress reduce cereal production. Salicylic acid is an elicitor of abiotic stress tolerance in plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of salicylic acid on two bread wheat cultivars (SST806 and PAN3497) grown under [...] Read more.

Abiotic constraints such as salinity stress reduce cereal production. Salicylic acid is an elicitor of abiotic stress tolerance in plants. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of salicylic acid on two bread wheat cultivars (SST806 and PAN3497) grown under salt stress (100 and 200 mM NaCl) in the presence and absence of 0.5 mM salicylic acid. The highest salt concentration (200 mM), in both PAN3497 and SST806, increased the days to germination and reduced the coleoptile and radicle dry weights. The shoot dry weight was reduced by 75 and 39%, root dry weight by 73 and 37%, spike number of both by 50%, spike weight by 73 and 54%, grain number by 62 and 15%, grain weight per spike by 80 and 45%, and 1000 grain weight by 9 and 29% for 200 and 100 mM NaCl, respectively. Salicylic acid in combination with 100 mM and 200 mM NaCl increased the shoot, root, and yield attributes. Salicylic acid increased the grain protein content, especially at 200 mM NaCl, and the increase was higher in SST806 than PAN3497. The macro-mineral concentration was markedly increased by an increase of NaCl. This was further increased by salicylic acid treatment for both SST806 and PAN3497. Regarding micro-minerals, Na was increased more than the other minerals in both cultivars. Mn, Zn, Fe, and Cu were increased under 100 mM and 200 Mm of salt, and salicylic acid application increased these elements further in both cultivars. These results suggested that salicylic acid application improved the salt tolerance of these two bread wheat cultivars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Plant Responses and Tolerance to Salinity Stress)

10 pages, 2266 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Grapevine Pinot Gris Virus Is Present in Different Non-Vitis Hosts

by Emese Demian, Nikoletta Jaksa-Czotter and Eva Varallyay

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1830; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141830 - 12 Jul 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2237

Abstract

Grapevine Pinot gris virus (GPGV) was described in Italy using a metagenomic approach: next-generation sequencing of the virus-derived small RNAs. Since that time, it has been reported all over the world. The presence of GPGV is associated with grapevine disease, but most of [...] Read more.

Grapevine Pinot gris virus (GPGV) was described in Italy using a metagenomic approach: next-generation sequencing of the virus-derived small RNAs. Since that time, it has been reported all over the world. The presence of GPGV is associated with grapevine disease, but most of the time, the disease is asymptomatic. Although the host range of this virus has not been investigated, it has been found in the non-Vitis hosts, Silene latifolia and Chenopodium album. We investigated the presence of GPGV in grapevine and other plant species growing as weeds in the vineyard. Using RT-PCR, we identified GPGV in seven non-Vitis hosts: Ailanthus, Asclepias, Crataegus, Fraxinus, Rosa, Rubus, and Sambucus. In the case of Rosa and Rubus, this finding was supported by Northern blot detection of the virus. GPGV strains in non-Vitis hosts belong to the asymptomatic clade, and are clustered according to their original geographic locations. The presence of GPGV in species other than grapevine shows that besides well-known vector and propagating material-based infections, other possible entry sites for the virus can exist, which have to be taken into consideration when developing reliable regulation strategies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Findings in Plant Virology toward Guiding Rational Control Strategies)

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11 pages, 2608 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Silencing of a Cotton Actin-Binding Protein GhWLIM1C Decreases Resistance against Verticillium dahliae Infection

by Tingyan Cao, Minghui Qin, Shuai Zhu and Yuanbao Li

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1828; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141828 - 12 Jul 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1649

Abstract

LIM proteins are widely spread in various types of plant cells and play diversely crucial cellular roles through actin cytoskeleton assembly and gene expression regulation. Till now, it has not been clear whether LIM proteins function in plant pathogen defense. In this study, [...] Read more.

LIM proteins are widely spread in various types of plant cells and play diversely crucial cellular roles through actin cytoskeleton assembly and gene expression regulation. Till now, it has not been clear whether LIM proteins function in plant pathogen defense. In this study, we characterized a LIM protein, GhWLIM1C, in upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum). We found that GhWLIM1C could bind and bundle the actin cytoskeleton, and it contains two LIM domains (LIM1 and LIM2). Both the two domains could bind directly to the actin filaments. Moreover, the LIM2 domain additionally bundles the actin cytoskeleton, indicating that it possesses a different biochemical activity than LIM1. The expression of GhWLIM1C responds to the infection of the cotton fungal pathogen Verticillium dahliae (V. dahliae). Silencing of GhWLIM1C decreased cotton resistance to V. dahliae. These may be associated with the down regulated plant defense response, including the PR genes expression and ROS accumulation in the infected cotton plants. In all, these results provide new evidence that a plant LIM protein functions in plant pathogen resistance and the assembly of the actin cytoskeleton are closely related to the triggering of the plant defense response. Full article

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

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23 pages, 8214 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Romanian Viscum album L.—Untargeted Low-Molecular Metabolomic Approach to Engineered Viscum–AuNPs Carrier Assembly

by Adina-Elena Segneanu, Catalin Nicolae Marin, Dumitru Daniel Herea, Ionut Stanusoiu, Cornelia Muntean and Ioan Grozescu

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1820; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141820 - 11 Jul 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 2603

Abstract

Viscum is one of the most famous and appreciated medicinal plants in Europe and beyond. The symbiotic relationship with the host tree and various endogenous and ecological aspects are the main factors on which the viscum metabolites’ profiles depend. In addition, European traditional [...] Read more.

Viscum is one of the most famous and appreciated medicinal plants in Europe and beyond. The symbiotic relationship with the host tree and various endogenous and ecological aspects are the main factors on which the viscum metabolites’ profiles depend. In addition, European traditional medicine mentions that only in two periods of the year (summer solstice and winter solstice) the therapeutic potential of the plant is at its maximum. Many studies have investigated the phytotherapeutic properties of viscum grown on different species of trees. However, studies on Romanian viscum are relatively few and refer mainly to the antioxidant and antiproliferative activity of mistletoe grown on Acer campestre, Fraxinus excelsior, Populus nigra, Malus domestica, or Robinia pseudoacacia. This study reports the first complete low-molecular-weight metabolite profile of Romanian wild-grown European viscum. A total of 140 metabolites were identified under mass spectra (MS) positive mode from 15 secondary metabolite categories: flavonoids, amino acids and peptides, terpenoids, phenolic acids, fatty acids, organic acids, nucleosides, alcohols and esters, amines, coumarins, alkaloids, lignans, steroids, aldehydes, and miscellaneous. In addition, the biological activity of each class of metabolite is discussed. The development of a simple and selective phyto-engineered AuNPs carrier assembly is reported and an evaluation of the nanocarrier system’s morpho-structure is performed, to capitalize on the beneficial properties of viscum and AuNPs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Spectra Analysis and Plants Research)

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23 pages, 4691 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Insights into Polyphenol–Lipid Interactions: Chemical Methods, Molecular Aspects and Their Effects on Membrane Structures

by Maarit Karonen

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1809; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141809 - 8 Jul 2022

Cited by 33 | Viewed by 3166

Abstract

Plant polyphenols have many potential applications, for example, in the fields of chemical ecology and human and animal health and nutrition. These biological benefits are related to their bioavailability, bioaccessibility and interactions with other biomolecules, such as proteins, lipids, fibers and amino acids. [...] Read more.

Plant polyphenols have many potential applications, for example, in the fields of chemical ecology and human and animal health and nutrition. These biological benefits are related to their bioavailability, bioaccessibility and interactions with other biomolecules, such as proteins, lipids, fibers and amino acids. Polyphenol–protein interactions are well-studied, but less is known about their interactions with lipids and cell membranes. However, the affinity of polyphenols for lipid bilayers partially determines their biological activity and is also important from the usability perspective. The polyphenol–lipid interactions can be studied with several chemical tools including, among others, partition coefficient measurements, calorimetric methods, spectroscopic techniques and molecular dynamics simulation. Polyphenols can variably interact with and penetrate lipid bilayers depending on the structures and concentrations of the polyphenols, the compositions of the lipids and the ambient conditions and factors. Polyphenol penetrating the lipid bilayer can perturb and cause changes in its structure and biophysical properties. The current studies have used structurally different polyphenols, diverse model lipids and various measuring techniques. This approach provides detailed information on polyphenol–lipid interactions, but there is much variability, and the results may even be contradictory, for example, in relation to the locations and orientations of the polyphenols in the lipid bilayers. Nevertheless, by using well-characterized model polyphenols and lipids systematically and combining the results obtained with several techniques within a study, it is possible to create a good overall picture of these fascinating interactions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Review Papers in Phytochemistry)

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14 pages, 2616 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Antagonist Temperature Variation Affects the Photosynthetic Parameters and Secondary Metabolites of Ocimum basilicum L. and Salvia officinalis L.

by Lucian Copolovici, Dana M. Copolovici, Cristian Moisa and Andreea Lupitu

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1806; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141806 - 8 Jul 2022

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 1887

Abstract

Climate change is one of the main challenges for actual and future generations. Global warming affects plants and animals and is responsible for considerable crop loss. This study studied the influence of antagonist successive stresses, cold–heat and heat–cold, on two medicinal plants Ocimum [...] Read more.

Climate change is one of the main challenges for actual and future generations. Global warming affects plants and animals and is responsible for considerable crop loss. This study studied the influence of antagonist successive stresses, cold–heat and heat–cold, on two medicinal plants Ocimum basilicum L. and Salvia officinalis L. The photosynthetic parameters decreased for plants under the variation of subsequent stress. Net assimilation rates and stomatal conductance to water vapor are more affected in the case of plants under cold–heat consecutive stress than heat–cold successive stress. Emissions of volatile organic compounds have been enhanced for plants under successive stress when compared with control plants. Chlorophyll concentrations for plants under successive stress decreased for basil and sage plants. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were not affected by the successive stresses when compared with the plants under only one type of treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Response to Abiotic Stress and Climate Change)

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13 pages, 965 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Antifungal and Herbicidal Potential of Piper Essential Oils from the Peruvian Amazonia

by Liliana Ruiz-Vásquez, Lastenia Ruiz Mesia, Henrry Denny Caballero Ceferino, Wilfredo Ruiz Mesia, Maria Fe Andrés, Carmen Elisa Díaz and Azucena Gonzalez-Coloma

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1793; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141793 - 7 Jul 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2792

Abstract

The chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) from ten Peruvian Piper species (Piper coruscans, Pc; P. tuberculatum, Pt; P. casapiense, Pcs; P. obliquum, Po; P. dumosum, Pd; P. anonifolium, Pa; P. reticulatum, Pr; P. soledadense [...] Read more.

The chemical composition of essential oils (EOs) from ten Peruvian Piper species (Piper coruscans, Pc; P. tuberculatum, Pt; P. casapiense, Pcs; P. obliquum, Po; P. dumosum, Pd; P. anonifolium, Pa; P. reticulatum, Pr; P. soledadense, Ps; P. sancti-felicis, Psf and P. mituense, Pm) has been studied, along with their antifungal and phytotoxic activities. These EOs contained β-bisabolene/nerolidol (Pc), β-bisabolene/δ-cadinene/caryophyllene (Pt), caryophyllene oxide (Pcs), bicyclogermacrene/10-epi-Elemol (Po), bicyclogermacrene/germacrene-D/apiol (Pd), caryophyllene/germacrene-D (Pa), germacrene-D (Pr), limonene/apiol (Ps), apiol (Psf), and apiol/bicyclogermacrene (Pm) as major components, and some are described here for the first time (Ps, Pcs, Pm). A composition-based dendrogram of these Piper species showed four major groups (G1: Pc and Pt, G2: Pcs, Po, Pd, Pa, and Pr, G3: Ps, and G4: Psf and Pm). The spore germination effects (Aspergillus niger, Botrytis cinerea, and Alternaria alternate) and phytotoxicity (Lolium perenne and Lactuca sativa) of these EOs were studied. Most of these Piper essential oils showed important activity against phytopathogenic fungi (except G1), especially against B. cinerea. Similarly, most of the essential oils were phytotoxic against L. perenne (except G1), with P. sancti-felicis (G4), P. casapiense (G2), and P. reticulatum (G2) being the most effective. Caryophyllene oxide, β-caryophyllene, β-pinene, limonene, α-humulene, and apiol were evaluated against B. cinerea, with the most effective compounds being β-pinene, apiol, and limonene. This work demonstrates the species-dependent potential of essential oils from Peruvian Piper species as fungicidal and herbicidal agents. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Natural Compounds: A Bio-Agent for Plant Protection)

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12 pages, 356 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Biological Activities of Seven Medicinal Plants Used in Chiapas, Mexico

by Liliana De La Cruz-Jiménez, Mario Alberto Hernández-Torres, Imelda N. Monroy-García, Catalina Rivas-Morales, María Julia Verde-Star, Vianey Gonzalez-Villasana and Ezequiel Viveros-Valdez

Plants 2022, 11(14), 1790; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11141790 - 6 Jul 2022

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3345

Abstract

Seven medicinal plants from Chiapas, Mexico, used by Native Americans were analyzed, aiming to improve the understanding of their medicinal properties through the evaluation of various biological activities, i.e., bactericidal, antioxidant, α-glucosidase inhibition, and toxicity, to provide a scientific basis for the management [...] Read more.

Seven medicinal plants from Chiapas, Mexico, used by Native Americans were analyzed, aiming to improve the understanding of their medicinal properties through the evaluation of various biological activities, i.e., bactericidal, antioxidant, α-glucosidase inhibition, and toxicity, to provide a scientific basis for the management of infectious and hyperglycemic diseases in the Mexican southeast. Plant extracts were obtained from Cordia dodecandra, Gaultheria odorata, Heliotropium angiospermum, Justicia spicigera, Leucaena collinsii spp. collinsii, Tagetes nelsonii, and Talisia oliviformis through maceration techniques using methanol and chloroform (1:1). Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) was employed to determine the antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter faecalis, Escherichia coli, Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeuroginosa. The antiradical/antioxidant activity was determined by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) assays and antihemolytic activity using the 2,2’-Azobis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride radical (APPH). The anti-α-glucosidase activity was evaluated in vitro through the chromogenic PNPG assay. The toxicity was assessed using the brine shrimp lethality assay. The highest antimicrobial activity was displayed by T. nelsonii, mainly against E. faecalis and P. aeuroginosa. The extracts of L. collinsii, J. spicigera, and T. nelsonii possess antioxidant properties with EC₅₀ < 50 μg/mL. J. spicigera and T. nelsonii extracts showed the highest antihemolytic activity with IC₅₀ < 14 μg/mL. T. nelsonii exhibited a remarkable inhibitor effect on the α-glucosidase enzyme and the greatest toxic effect on Artemia salina with IC₅₀ = 193 ± 20 μg/mL and LD₅₀ = 14 ± 1 μg/mL, respectively. According to our results, G. odorata, J. spicigera, T. nelsonii, and T. oliviformis extracts contained active antimicrobial compounds. At the same time, T. nelsonii stands to be a possible source of effective antineoplastic and antihyperglycemic compounds. Full article

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

16 pages, 4124 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Foliar Application of Salicylic Acid to Mitigate Water Stress in Tomato

by Eduardo Santana Aires, Andrew Kim Lopes Ferraz, Beatriz Lívero Carvalho, Fabricio Palla Teixeira, Fernando Ferrari Putti, Emanuele Possas de Souza, João Domingos Rodrigues and Elizabeth Orika Ono

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1775; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131775 - 5 Jul 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 4192

Abstract

Salicylic acid (SA) is an important plant regulator reported as a mitigator of water deficit in plants, however without a recommendation for use in field conditions. Thus, this research aims to validate the use of SA under field conditions in regions with low [...] Read more.

Salicylic acid (SA) is an important plant regulator reported as a mitigator of water deficit in plants, however without a recommendation for use in field conditions. Thus, this research aims to validate the use of SA under field conditions in regions with low water availability. For that, we evaluated CO₂ assimilation (A), stomatal conductance (g_s), transpiration (E), water use efficiency (WUE), and carboxylation efficiency (A/Ci) at 15, 30, and 45 days of continuous stress water deficit, as well as the application of salicylic acid (0.0; 0.5; 1.0; 1.5; 2.0 mM) in tomato plants subjected to continuous water deficit (45 days), in two years (2019 and 2020). The water deficit reduced the A, g_s, E and A/Ci, while the foliar application of SA increased these parameters in all evaluated times, resulting in similar or even higher values than in plants without water deficit. Water deficit caused floral abortion in tomato plants, without the application of SA, reducing the number of fruit production. In contrast, plants that received about 1.3 mM of SA increased A and A/Ci and translocated the photo-assimilates, mainly to flowers and fruits, reducing floral abortion and increasing fruit production. Thus, foliar application of SA was efficient in mitigating the deleterious effects of water deficit in tomato plants regarding the gas exchange and fruit production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physiological/Biochemical Responses to Abiotic Stress in Horticultural and Ornamental Plants)

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25 pages, 2551 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Ethnoveterinary Practices and Ethnobotanical Knowledge on Plants Used against Cattle Diseases among Two Communities in South Africa

by Mompati Vincent Chakale, John Awungnjia Asong, Madeleen Struwig, Mulunda Mwanza and Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1784; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131784 - 5 Jul 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3789

Abstract

Ethnoveterinary practices and ethnobotanical knowledge serve as potential therapeutic approaches used to manage and prevent cattle diseases within poor communities in developing nations. Most of the knowledge and practices remain inadequately documented and threatened with extinction in the future. This study aimed to [...] Read more.

Ethnoveterinary practices and ethnobotanical knowledge serve as potential therapeutic approaches used to manage and prevent cattle diseases within poor communities in developing nations. Most of the knowledge and practices remain inadequately documented and threatened with extinction in the future. This study aimed to explore the ethnoveterinary practices and knowledge on plants used to treat cattle diseases in two communities of the Ramotshere Moiloa local municipality, South Africa. A semi-structured interview guide, snowball, and purposive technique were used to collect data and recruit 90 participants. Three ethnobotanical indices (informant consensus factor (Fic), use-value (UV), and relative frequency of citation (RFC) were used for quantitative analysis. A total of 64 medicinal plants from 32 families (dominated by Compositae, Fabaceae, and Asparagaceae) were used to treat 27 cattle diseases. The plants with a high frequency of citation and RFC were Gomphocarpus fruticosus (75, 0.83), Opuntia ficus-indica (74, 0.82), Schkuhria pinnata and Portulaca oleracea (73, 0.81), Solanum lichtensteinii (70, 0.77), and Senna italica. In addition, Schkuhria pinnata and Aloe greatheadii (0.077) had the highest UV. About 28.13% of 64 identified plants were documented as ethnoveterinary medicine for treating cattle ailments, for the first time. The remedies were mainly either prepared as a decoction (52.04%), ground, or prepared as an infusion (16.33%). The plants were administered either orally (69.79%) or topically (30.2%). The ailments with a high frequency of citations were: wounds and constipation (76); arthralgia and retained placenta (69); and lumpy skin disease (68). The categories with the highest number of plants used were gastrointestinal problems (53), skin problems (33), respiratory problems (25), and fertility/reproduction disorders (21). The highest Fic score was cited for tick-borne diseases (1), followed by musculoskeletal systems (Fic = 0.89), and general system infection (Fic = 0.88). The current findings contribute to the documentation and preservation of valuable knowledge from indigenous communities for extensive use. Additionally, ethnoveterinary uses of Portulaca oleracea, Securidaca longipedunculata, and Plumbago zeylanica were recorded for the first time. Further scientific evaluation of the most cited and indigenous/native plants is recommended to establish their therapeutic potential and possible integration into the conventional veterinary sector for the welfare of cattle. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Ethnobotanical Uses, Biological Properties and Phytoconstituents of Endemic Plants)

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15 pages, 4951 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Induce Tolerance to Salinity Stress in Taro Plantlets (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott) during Acclimatization

by Obdulia Baltazar-Bernal, José Luis Spinoso-Castillo, Eucario Mancilla-Álvarez and Jericó Jabín Bello-Bello

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1780; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131780 - 5 Jul 2022

Cited by 12 | Viewed by 2640

Abstract

Soil salinity is a problem that affects soil fertility and threatens agri-food crop production worldwide. Biotechnology, through plant micropropagation and the use of biofertilizers such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), is an alternative to increase productivity and induce tolerance to salinity stress in [...] Read more.

Soil salinity is a problem that affects soil fertility and threatens agri-food crop production worldwide. Biotechnology, through plant micropropagation and the use of biofertilizers such as arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), is an alternative to increase productivity and induce tolerance to salinity stress in different crops. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different doses of the fungus Glomus intraradices on the ex vitro development of taro (Colocasia esculenta L. Schott cv. Criolla) plantlets under salinity stress during the acclimatization stage. In vitro-obtained C. esculenta plantlets were inoculated at different doses (0, 100, and 200 spores per plantlet) of G. intraradices during acclimatization. At 60 d of acclimatization in the greenhouse, plantlets were exposed to 100 mM NaCl salinity stress for 10 d. After the stress period, plantlet development, colonization percentage, and biomass were evaluated. In addition, the content of chlorophyll, carotenoids, proteins, proline, glycine-betaine, soluble phenols, and antioxidant capacity were quantified. The results showed differences in the developmental, physiological, and biochemical variables evaluated; however, no changes in total protein content were observed. Spore colonization showed that the symbiotic association has positive effects on the development of plantlets with or without salinity stress. This symbiotic interaction contributes to salinity stress tolerance in C. esculenta plantlets. The early application of AMF in in vitro-obtained taro plantlets is an alternative to increase or maintain the productivity of this crop in saline soils. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Salinity Stress Tolerance in Plants)

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19 pages, 1092 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Phenoplasticity of Essential Oils from Two Species of Piper (Piperaceae): Comparing Wild Specimens and Bi-Generational Monoclonal Cultivars

by Ygor Jessé Ramos, Jéssica Sales Felisberto, João Gabriel Gouvêa-Silva, Ulisses Carvalho de Souza, Claudete da Costa-Oliveira, George Azevedo de Queiroz, Elsie Franklin Guimarães, Nicholas John Sadgrove and Davyson de Lima Moreira

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1771; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131771 - 4 Jul 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2312

Abstract

This study tested the hypothesis that “clonal chemical heritability is a crucial factor for the conservation of chemical uniformity of Piper essential oils in controlled monoclonal cultivation”. We asexually propagated first and second-generation clones of two medicinal and aromatic species, Piper gaudichaudianum Kunth [...] Read more.

This study tested the hypothesis that “clonal chemical heritability is a crucial factor for the conservation of chemical uniformity of Piper essential oils in controlled monoclonal cultivation”. We asexually propagated first and second-generation clones of two medicinal and aromatic species, Piper gaudichaudianum Kunth and Piper mollicomum Kunth (Piperaceae), for use as experimental models since they show high chemical plasticity in the wild. Leaves from wild specimens of both species, and their respective cultivated specimens, were hydrodistilled in a Clevenger-type apparatus to produce essential oils (EOs). EOs were chemically characterised by GC-MS and GC-FID. The analysis identified 63 compounds in EO of P. mollicomum, which were predominantly monoterpenes, and 59 in EO of P. gaudichaudianum, which were predominantly sesquiterpenes. Evaluation of chemical diversity and oxi-reduction indices showed a loss of chemical homology across the intergenerational cline. Chemometric analysis indicated higher chemical plasticity between wild and intergenerational specimens of P. mollicomum, than for P. gaudichaudianum. EO compounds were significantly less oxidized throughout the generations in both species. Therefore, while clonal heritability is crucial to chemical homology, significant chemical plasticity is likely to occur when cultivated from wild specimens. Full article

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

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22 pages, 2425 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Genes Impacting Grain Weight and Number in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L. ssp. aestivum)

by Brandon J. Tillett, Caleb O. Hale, John M. Martin and Michael J. Giroux

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1772; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131772 - 4 Jul 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3143

Abstract

The primary goal of common wheat (T. aestivum) breeding is increasing yield without negatively impacting the agronomic traits or product quality. Genetic approaches to improve the yield increasingly target genes that impact the grain weight and number. An energetic trade-off exists [...] Read more.

The primary goal of common wheat (T. aestivum) breeding is increasing yield without negatively impacting the agronomic traits or product quality. Genetic approaches to improve the yield increasingly target genes that impact the grain weight and number. An energetic trade-off exists between the grain weight and grain number, the result of which is that most genes that increase the grain weight also decrease the grain number. QTL associated with grain weight and number have been identified throughout the hexaploid wheat genome, leading to the discovery of numerous genes that impact these traits. Genes that have been shown to impact these traits will be discussed in this review, including TaGNI, TaGW2, TaCKX6, TaGS5, TaDA1, WAPO1, and TaRht1. As more genes impacting the grain weight and number are characterized, the opportunity is increasingly available to improve common wheat agronomic yield by stacking the beneficial alleles. This review provides a synopsis of the genes that impact grain weight and number, and the most beneficial alleles of those genes with respect to increasing the yield in dryland and irrigated conditions. It also provides insight into some of the genetic mechanisms underpinning the trade-off between grain weight and number and their relationship to the source-to-sink pathway. These mechanisms include the plant size, the water soluble carbohydrate levels in plant tissue, the size and number of pericarp cells, the cytokinin and expansin levels in developing reproductive tissue, floral architecture and floral fertility. Full article

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

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16 pages, 3897 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

COS-OGA Applications in Organic Vineyard Manage Major Airborne Diseases and Maintain Postharvest Quality of Wine Grapes

by Francesca Calderone, Alessandro Vitale, Salvina Panebianco, Monia Federica Lombardo and Gabriella Cirvilleri

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1763; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131763 - 1 Jul 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 2357

Abstract

In most wine-growing countries of the world the interest for organic viticulture and eco-friendly grape production processes increased significantly in the last decade. Organic viticulture is currently dependent on the availability of Cu and S compounds, but their massive use over time has [...] Read more.

In most wine-growing countries of the world the interest for organic viticulture and eco-friendly grape production processes increased significantly in the last decade. Organic viticulture is currently dependent on the availability of Cu and S compounds, but their massive use over time has led to negative effects on environment health. Consequently, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of alternative and sustainable treatments against powdery mildew, gray mold and sour rot under the field conditions on Nero d’Avola and Inzolia Sicilian cultivars. In detail, the efficacy of COS-OGA, composed by a complex of oligochitosans and oligopectates, and its effects in combination with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) were evaluated to reduce airborne disease infections of grape. COS-OGA combined with AMF induced a significant reduction in powdery mildew severity both on Nero d’Avola and Inzolia with a mean percentage decrease of about 15% and 33%, respectively. Moreover, COS-OGA alone and combined with AMF gave a good protection against gray mold and sour rot with results similar to the Cu–S complex (performance in disease reduction ranging from 65 to 100%) on tested cultivars. Similarly, the COS-OGA and AMF integration provided good performances in enhancing average yield and did not negatively impact quality and microbial communities of wine grape. Overall, COS-OGA alone and in combination could be proposed as a valid and safer option for the sustainable management of the main grapevine pathogens in organic agroecosystems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)

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15 pages, 1085 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Metabolome Profiling: A Breeding Prediction Tool for Legume Performance under Biotic Stress Conditions

by Penny Makhumbila, Molemi Rauwane, Hangwani Muedi and Sandiswa Figlan

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1756; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131756 - 1 Jul 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3125

Abstract

Legume crops such as common bean, pea, alfalfa, cowpea, peanut, soybean and others contribute significantly to the diet of both humans and animals. They are also important in the improvement of cropping systems that employ rotation and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Biotic stresses hinder [...] Read more.

Legume crops such as common bean, pea, alfalfa, cowpea, peanut, soybean and others contribute significantly to the diet of both humans and animals. They are also important in the improvement of cropping systems that employ rotation and fix atmospheric nitrogen. Biotic stresses hinder the production of leguminous crops, significantly limiting their yield potential. There is a need to understand the molecular and biochemical mechanisms involved in the response of these crops to biotic stressors. Simultaneous expressions of a number of genes responsible for specific traits of interest in legumes under biotic stress conditions have been reported, often with the functions of the identified genes unknown. Metabolomics can, therefore, be a complementary tool to understand the pathways involved in biotic stress response in legumes. Reports on legume metabolomic studies in response to biotic stress have paved the way in understanding stress-signalling pathways. This review provides a progress update on metabolomic studies of legumes in response to different biotic stresses. Metabolome annotation and data analysis platforms are discussed together with future prospects. The integration of metabolomics with other “omics” tools in breeding programmes can aid greatly in ensuring food security through the production of stress tolerant cultivars. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Epidemiology and Control of Plant Diseases)

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19 pages, 2218 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Insights from a Multi-Omics Integration (MOI) Study in Oil Palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) Response to Abiotic Stresses: Part One—Salinity

by Cleiton Barroso Bittencourt, Thalliton Luiz Carvalho da Silva, Jorge Cândido Rodrigues Neto, Letícia Rios Vieira, André Pereira Leão, José Antônio de Aquino Ribeiro, Patrícia Verardi Abdelnur, Carlos Antônio Ferreira de Sousa and Manoel Teixeira Souza, Jr.

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1755; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131755 - 30 Jun 2022

Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3630

Abstract

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is the number one source of consumed vegetable oil nowadays. It is cultivated in areas of tropical rainforest, where it meets its natural condition of high rainfall throughout the year. The palm oil industry faces criticism due [...] Read more.

Oil palm (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) is the number one source of consumed vegetable oil nowadays. It is cultivated in areas of tropical rainforest, where it meets its natural condition of high rainfall throughout the year. The palm oil industry faces criticism due to a series of practices that was considered not environmentally sustainable, and it finds itself under pressure to adopt new and innovative procedures to reverse this negative public perception. Cultivating this oilseed crop outside the rainforest zone is only possible using artificial irrigation. Close to 30% of the world’s irrigated agricultural lands also face problems due to salinity stress. Consequently, the research community must consider drought and salinity together when studying to empower breeding programs in order to develop superior genotypes adapted to those potential new areas for oil palm cultivation. Multi-Omics Integration (MOI) offers a new window of opportunity for the non-trivial challenge of unraveling the mechanisms behind multigenic traits, such as drought and salinity tolerance. The current study carried out a comprehensive, large-scale, single-omics analysis (SOA), and MOI study on the leaves of young oil palm plants submitted to very high salinity stress. Taken together, a total of 1239 proteins were positively regulated, and 1660 were negatively regulated in transcriptomics and proteomics analyses. Meanwhile, the metabolomics analysis revealed 37 metabolites that were upregulated and 92 that were downregulated. After performing SOA, 436 differentially expressed (DE) full-length transcripts, 74 DE proteins, and 19 DE metabolites underwent MOI analysis, revealing several pathways affected by this stress, with at least one DE molecule in all three omics platforms used. The Cysteine and methionine metabolism (map00270) and Glycolysis/Gluconeogenesis (map00010) pathways were the most affected ones, each one with 20 DE molecules. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Responses to Environmental Stresses)

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20 pages, 981 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Utilization of Spectral Indices for High-Throughput Phenotyping

by Rupesh Tayade, Jungbeom Yoon, Liny Lay, Abdul Latif Khan, Youngnam Yoon and Yoonha Kim

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1712; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131712 - 28 Jun 2022

Cited by 21 | Viewed by 4467

Abstract

The conventional plant breeding evaluation of large sets of plant phenotypes with precision and speed is very challenging. Thus, consistent, automated, multifaceted, and high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) technologies are becoming increasingly significant as tools to aid conventional breeding programs to develop genetically improved crops. [...] Read more.

The conventional plant breeding evaluation of large sets of plant phenotypes with precision and speed is very challenging. Thus, consistent, automated, multifaceted, and high-throughput phenotyping (HTP) technologies are becoming increasingly significant as tools to aid conventional breeding programs to develop genetically improved crops. With rapid technological advancement, various vegetation indices (VIs) have been developed. These VI-based imaging approaches, linked with artificial intelligence and a variety of remote sensing applications, provide high-throughput evaluations, particularly in the field of precision agriculture. VIs can be used to analyze and predict different quantitative and qualitative aspects of vegetation. Here, we provide an overview of the various VIs used in agricultural research, focusing on those that are often employed for crop or vegetation evaluation, because that has a linear relationship to crop output, which is frequently utilized in crop chlorophyll, health, moisture, and production predictions. In addition, the following aspects are here described: the importance of VIs in crop research and precision agriculture, their utilization in HTP, recent photogrammetry technology, mapping, and geographic information system software integrated with unmanned aerial vehicles and its key features. Finally, we discuss the challenges and future perspectives of HTP technologies and propose approaches for the development of new tools to assess plants’ agronomic traits and data-driven HTP resolutions for precision breeding. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Remote Sensing Applications for Field-Based Plant Phenomics: Above and Below Ground Trait Assessment)

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14 pages, 3858 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effect of Light Intensity on the Growth and Antioxidant Activity of Sweet Basil and Lettuce

by Rūta Sutulienė, Kristina Laužikė, Tomas Pukas and Giedrė Samuolienė

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1709; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131709 - 28 Jun 2022

Cited by 28 | Viewed by 8320

Abstract

Light and nutrients are among the most important factors for sustained plant production in agriculture. As one of the goals of the European Green Deal strategy is to reduce energy consumption, greenhouse growers focus on high-value crop cultivation with less-energy-demanding growing systems. This [...] Read more.

Light and nutrients are among the most important factors for sustained plant production in agriculture. As one of the goals of the European Green Deal strategy is to reduce energy consumption, greenhouse growers focus on high-value crop cultivation with less-energy-demanding growing systems. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of fertilization at different light intensities on the growth of lettuce and basil and the activity of the antioxidant system. Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum, ‘Opal’) and lettuce (Lactuca sativa, ‘Nikolaj’) were grown in a greenhouse supplementing natural light (~80 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) with lighting at two photon flux densities (150 and 250 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹), 16 h photoperiod, and 20/16 °C day/night temperature in May (Lithuania, 55°60′ N, 23°48′ E). In each light regime treatment, half of the plants were grown without additional fertilization; the other half were fertilized twice a week with a complex fertilizer (NPK 3-1-3). The results showed that the antioxidant activity of basil was most affected by 150 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD lighting and the absence of fertilization. Altered antioxidant activity in lettuce in the presence of 250 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ PPFD additional light intensity and fertilization resulted in higher morphological parameters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Selected Papers from Conference of CYSENI 2022)

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16 pages, 4161 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effect of Irrigation and Fertilizer Management on Rice Yield and Nitrogen Loss: A Meta-Analysis

by Haonan Qiu, Shihong Yang, Zewei Jiang, Yi Xu and Xiyun Jiao

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1690; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131690 - 26 Jun 2022

Cited by 31 | Viewed by 4272

Abstract

Irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer application are two important factors affecting yield and nitrogen loss in rice fields; however, the interaction effects of different irrigation schedules and combined management of nitrogen fertilizer application on yield and nitrogen loss in rice fields remain unknown. Therefore, [...] Read more.

Irrigation and nitrogen fertilizer application are two important factors affecting yield and nitrogen loss in rice fields; however, the interaction effects of different irrigation schedules and combined management of nitrogen fertilizer application on yield and nitrogen loss in rice fields remain unknown. Therefore, we collected 327 sets of data on rice yield and 437 sets of data on nitrogen loss in rice fields from 2000 to 2021 and investigated the effects of different water-saving irrigation schedules, nitrogen application levels, and water–nitrogen couplings on rice yield, nitrogen use efficiency, and nitrogen loss (N₂O emissions, nitrogen runoff, nitrogen leaching, and ammonia volatilization) by meta-analysis using conventional flooding irrigation and no nitrogen treatment as controls. The results showed that alternate wet and dry irrigation and controlled irrigation had increasing effects on rice yield. Alternate wet and dry irrigation had a significant yield-increasing effect (average 2.57% increase) and dry cultivation significantly reduced rice yield with an average 21.25% yield reduction. Water-saving irrigation reduces nitrogen runoff and leaching losses from rice fields but increases N₂O emissions, and alternate wet and dry irrigation has a significant effect on increasing N₂O emissions, with an average increase of 67.77%. Most water-saving irrigation can increase nitrogen use efficiency. Among water-saving irrigation methods, the effect of controlled irrigation on increasing nitrogen use efficiency is 1.06%. Rice yield and nitrogen use efficiency both showed a trend of increasing then decreasing with nitrogen fertilizer application, and nitrogen loss gradually increased with the amount of nitrogen fertilizer input. Water–nitrogen coupling management can significantly reduce nitrogen loss in rice fields while saving water and increasing yield. Based on the analysis of the data in this study, when the irrigation amount was 300~350 mm and the nitrogen application amount was 200~250 kg/ha, the rice yield and nitrogen fertilizer use efficiency were at a high level, which corresponded to the irrigation schedule of controlled irrigation or alternating wet and dry irrigation in the literature. However, different rice-growing areas are affected by rainfall and land capability, etc. Further optimization and correction of the adapted water and fertilizer management system for paddy fields are needed. The optimal water–nitrogen pattern of this study can achieve high rice yield and reduce nitrogen loss. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Efficient Water Use and Nutrition Cycling in Paddy Ecosystem)

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33 pages, 2461 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

The Polyphenolic Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Five Vegetal Extracts with Hepatoprotective Potential

by Liliana Costea, Carmen Lidia Chițescu, Rica Boscencu, Manuela Ghica, Dumitru Lupuliasa, Dragoș Paul Mihai, Teodora Deculescu-Ioniță, Ligia Elena Duțu, Maria Lidia Popescu, Emanuela-Alice Luță, George Mihai Nițulescu, Octavian Tudorel Olaru and Cerasela Elena Gîrd

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1680; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131680 - 24 Jun 2022

Cited by 26 | Viewed by 3418

Abstract

Oxidative stress is among the major triggers for many important human functional disorders, which often lead to various metabolic or tissue diseases. The aim of the study is to obtain five standardized vegetal extracts (Cynarae extractum—CE, Rosmarini extractum—RE, Taraxaci extractum [...] Read more.

Oxidative stress is among the major triggers for many important human functional disorders, which often lead to various metabolic or tissue diseases. The aim of the study is to obtain five standardized vegetal extracts (Cynarae extractum—CE, Rosmarini extractum—RE, Taraxaci extractum—TE, Cichorii extractum—CHE, and Agrimoniae extractum—AE) that contain active principles with an essential role in protecting liver cells against free radicals and quantify their antioxidant actions. The compounds of therapeutic interest from the analyzed extracts were identified and quantified using the UHPLC–HRMS/MS technique. Thus, the resulting identified compounds were 28 compounds in CE, 48 compounds in RE, 39 compounds in TE, 43 compounds in CHE, and 31 compounds in AE. These compounds belong to the class of flavonoids, isoflavones, phenolic acids and dicarboxylic acids, depsides, diterpenes, triterpenes, sesquiterpenes, proanthocyanidins, or coumarin derivatives. From the major polyphenolic compounds quantified in all the extracts analyzed by UHPLC–HRMS/MS, considerable amounts have been found for chlorogenic acid (619.8 µg/g extract for TE–2032.4 µg/g extract for AE), rutoside (105.1 µg/g extract for RE–1724.7 µg/g extract for AE), kaempferol (243 µg/g extract for CHE–2028.4 µg/g extract for CE), and for naringenin (383 µg/g extract for CHE–1375.8 µg/g extract for AE). The quantitative chemical analysis showed the highest content of total phenolic acids for AE (24.1528 ± 1.1936 g chlorogenic acid/100 g dry extract), the highest concentration of flavones for RE (6.0847 ± 0.3025 g rutoside/100 g dry extract), and the richest extract in total polyphenols with 31.7017 ± 1.2211 g tannic acid equivalent/100 g dry extract for AE. Several methods (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP) have been used to determine the in vitro total antioxidant activity of the extracts to evaluate their free radical scavenging ability, influenced by the identified compounds. As a result, the correlation between the content of the polyphenolic compounds and the antioxidant effect of the extracts has been demonstrated. Statistically significant differences were found when comparing the antiradical capacity within the study groups. Although all the analyzed extracts showed good IC50 values, which may explain their antihepatotoxic effects, the highest antioxidant activity was obtained for Agrimoniae extractum (IC50_ABTS = 0.0147 mg/mL) and the lowest antioxidant activity was obtained for Cynarae extractum (IC50_ABTS = 0.1588 mg/mL). Furthermore, the hepatoprotective potential was evaluated in silico by predicting the interactions between the determined phytochemicals and key molecular targets relevant to liver disease pathophysiology. Finally, the evaluation of the pharmacognostic and phytochemical properties of the studied extracts validates their use as adjuvants in phytotherapy, as they reduce oxidative stress and toxin accumulation and thus exert a hepatoprotective effect at the cellular level. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Pharmaceutical and Nutraceutical Potential of Polyphenolic Natural Compounds)

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18 pages, 6201 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Anticancer and Antioxidant Activities of the Root Extract of the Carnivorous Pitcher Plant Sarracenia purpurea

by Yen-Hua Huang, Wei-Yu Chiang, Pin-Jui Chen, En-Shyh Lin and Cheng-Yang Huang

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1668; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131668 - 23 Jun 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 4402

Abstract

The carnivorous pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea exhibits many ethnobotanical uses, including the treatments of type 2 diabetes and tuberculosis-like symptoms. In this study, we prepared different extracts from the leaves (pitchers), stems, and roots of S. purpurea and investigated their antioxidant and anticancer [...] Read more.

The carnivorous pitcher plant Sarracenia purpurea exhibits many ethnobotanical uses, including the treatments of type 2 diabetes and tuberculosis-like symptoms. In this study, we prepared different extracts from the leaves (pitchers), stems, and roots of S. purpurea and investigated their antioxidant and anticancer properties. To evaluate the extraction efficiency, we individually used different solvents, namely methanol, ethanol, acetone, and distilled water, for S. purpurea extract preparations. The root extract of S. purpurea, obtained by 100% acetone (S. purpurea-root-acetone), had the highest anticancer activities, antioxidation capacity (the DPPH activity with IC₅₀ of 89.3 ± 2.2 μg/mL), antibacterial activities, total phenolic content (33.4 ± 0.7 mg GAE/g), and total flavonoid content (107.9 ± 2.2 mg QUE/g). The most abundant compounds in S. purpurea-root-acetone were identified using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry; 7,8-Dihydro-α-ionone was the major compound present in S. purpurea-root-acetone. In addition, the co-cytotoxicity of S. purpurea-root-acetone (combined with the clinical anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) on the survival, apoptosis, proliferation, and migration of the 4T1 mammary carcinoma) was examined. The combination of 5-FU with S. purpurea-root-acetone could be highly efficient for anti-4T1 cells. We also found that S. purpurea-root-acetone could inhibit the enzymatic activity of human dihydroorotase (huDHOase), an attractive target for potential anticancer chemotherapy. The sic most abundant compounds in S. purpurea-root-acetone were tested using an in silico analysis via MOE-Dock software for their binding affinities. The top-ranked docking conformations were observed for 7,8-dihydro-α-ionone and stigmast-5-en-3-ol, suggesting the inhibition potential against huDHOase. Overall, the collective data in this study may indicate the pharmacological potentials of S. purpurea-root-acetone for possible medical applications. Full article

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

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12 pages, 1247 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

High-Throughput Sequencing Discloses the Cucumber Mosaic Virus (CMV) Diversity in Slovakia and Reveals New Hosts of CMV from the Papaveraceae Family

by Michaela Mrkvová, Richard Hančinský, Lukáš Predajňa, Peter Alaxin, Adam Achs, Jana Tomašechová, Katarína Šoltys, Daniel Mihálik, Antonio Olmos, Ana Belén Ruiz-García and Miroslav Glasa

Plants 2022, 11(13), 1665; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11131665 - 23 Jun 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2678

Abstract

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV; Cucumovirus, Bromoviridae) is an omnipresent virus characterized by a large host range and high genetic variability. Using high-throughput sequencing, we have characterized near complete genomes of 14 Slovak CMV variants from different plant hosts. Of these, three variants [...] Read more.

Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV; Cucumovirus, Bromoviridae) is an omnipresent virus characterized by a large host range and high genetic variability. Using high-throughput sequencing, we have characterized near complete genomes of 14 Slovak CMV variants from different plant hosts. Of these, three variants originated from the Papaveraceae species (oilseed poppy, common poppy and great celandine), previously poorly described as CMV natural hosts. Based on a BLAST search and phylogenetic analysis, the Slovak CMV isolates can be divided into two genetically different Groups, Ia and II, respectively. The SL50V variant, characterized by a divergent RNA2 sequence, potentially represents a reassortant variant. In four samples (T101, SL50V, CP2, MVU2-21), the presence of satellite CMV RNA was identified along with CMV. Although mechanically transmitted to experimental cucumber plants, the role of satellite RNA in the symptomatology observed could not be established due to a complex infection of original hosts with different viruses. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Plant Viral Diseases)

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30 pages, 14868 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Potential Impacts of Climate Change on the Habitat Suitability of the Dominant Tree Species in Greece

by Nikolaos M. Fyllas, Theano Koufaki, Christodoulos I. Sazeides, Gavriil Spyroglou and Konstantinos Theodorou

Plants 2022, 11(12), 1616; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11121616 - 20 Jun 2022

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 4654

Abstract

Climate change is affecting species distribution and ecosystem form and function. Forests provide a range of ecosystem services, and understanding their vulnerability to climate change is important for designing effective adaptation strategies. Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) has been extensively used to derive habitat [...] Read more.

Climate change is affecting species distribution and ecosystem form and function. Forests provide a range of ecosystem services, and understanding their vulnerability to climate change is important for designing effective adaptation strategies. Species Distribution Modelling (SDM) has been extensively used to derive habitat suitability maps under current conditions and project species distribution shifts under climate change. In this study, we model the current and future habitat suitability of the dominant tree species in Greece (Abies cephalonica, Abies borisii-regis, Pinus brutia, Pinus halepensis, Pinus nigra, Quercus ilex, Quercus pubescens, Quercus frainetto and Fagus sylvatica), based on species-specific presence data from the EU-Forest database, enhanced with data from Greece that is currently under-represented in terms of tree species occurrence points. By including these additional presence data, areas with relatively drier conditions for some of the study species were included in the SDM development, yielding a potentially lower vulnerability under climate change conditions. SDMs were developed for each taxon using climate and soil data at a resolution of ~1 km². Model performance was assessed under current conditions and was found to adequately simulate potential distributions. Subsequently, the models were used to project the potential distribution of each species under the SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5 scenarios for the 2041–2070 and 2071–2100 time periods. Under climate change scenarios, a reduction in habitat-suitable areas was predicted for most study species, with higher elevation taxa experiencing more pronounced potential habitat shrinkages. An exception was the endemic A. cephalonica and its sister species A. borisii-regis, which, although currently found at mid and high elevations, seem able to maintain their potential distribution under most climate change scenarios. Our findings suggest that climate change could significantly affect the distribution and dynamics of forest ecosystems in Greece, with important ecological, economic and social implications, and thus adequate mitigation measures should be implemented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Collection Feature Papers in Plant Ecology)

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19 pages, 401 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Advances in Genetic Analysis and Breeding of Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz): A Review

by Assefa B. Amelework and Michael W. Bairu

Plants 2022, 11(12), 1617; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11121617 - 20 Jun 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4569

Abstract

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is the sixth most important food crop and consumed by 800 million people worldwide. In Africa, cassava is the second most important food crop after maize and Africa is the worlds’ largest producer. Though cassava is not one [...] Read more.

Cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) is the sixth most important food crop and consumed by 800 million people worldwide. In Africa, cassava is the second most important food crop after maize and Africa is the worlds’ largest producer. Though cassava is not one of the main commodity crops in South Africa, it is becoming a popular crop among farming communities in frost-free areas, due to its climate-resilient nature. This necessitated the establishment of a multi-disciplinary research program at the Agricultural Research Council of South Africa. The objective of this review is to highlight progress made in cassava breeding and genetic analysis. This review highlights the progress of cassava research worldwide and discusses research findings on yield, quality, and adaptability traits in cassava. It also discusses the limitations and the prospects of the cassava R&D program towards development of the cassava industry in South Africa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetables Breeding in South Africa)

18 pages, 1572 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Metabolism and Regulation of Ascorbic Acid in Fruits

by Xianzhe Zheng, Min Gong, Qiongdan Zhang, Huaqiang Tan, Liping Li, Youwan Tang, Zhengguo Li, Mingchao Peng and Wei Deng

Plants 2022, 11(12), 1602; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11121602 - 18 Jun 2022

Cited by 45 | Viewed by 5748

Abstract

Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, is a vital antioxidant widely found in plants. Plant fruits are rich in ascorbic acid and are the primary source of human intake of ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid affects fruit ripening and stress resistance and plays [...] Read more.

Ascorbic acid, also known as vitamin C, is a vital antioxidant widely found in plants. Plant fruits are rich in ascorbic acid and are the primary source of human intake of ascorbic acid. Ascorbic acid affects fruit ripening and stress resistance and plays an essential regulatory role in fruit development and postharvest storage. The ascorbic acid metabolic pathway in plants has been extensively studied. Ascorbic acid accumulation in fruits can be effectively regulated by genetic engineering technology. The accumulation of ascorbic acid in fruits is regulated by transcription factors, protein interactions, phytohormones, and environmental factors, but the research on the regulatory mechanism is still relatively weak. This paper systematically reviews the regulation mechanism of ascorbic acid metabolism in fruits in recent decades. It provides a rich theoretical basis for an in-depth study of the critical role of ascorbic acid in fruits and the cultivation of fruits rich in ascorbic acid. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advance in Fruit Development)

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23 pages, 2845 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceReview

Breeding of Vegetable Cowpea for Nutrition and Climate Resilience in Sub-Saharan Africa: Progress, Opportunities, and Challenges

by Tesfaye Walle Mekonnen, Abe Shegro Gerrano, Ntombokulunga Wedy Mbuma and Maryke Tine Labuschagne

Plants 2022, 11(12), 1583; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11121583 - 15 Jun 2022

Cited by 32 | Viewed by 6851

Abstract

Currently, the world population is increasing, and humanity is facing food and nutritional scarcity. Climate change and variability are a major threat to global food and nutritional security, reducing crop productivity in the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. Cowpea has the [...] Read more.

Currently, the world population is increasing, and humanity is facing food and nutritional scarcity. Climate change and variability are a major threat to global food and nutritional security, reducing crop productivity in the tropical and subtropical regions of the globe. Cowpea has the potential to make a significant contribution to global food and nutritional security. In addition, it can be part of a sustainable food system, being a genetic resource for future crop improvement, contributing to resilience and improving agricultural sustainability under climate change conditions. In malnutrition prone regions of sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) countries, cowpea has become a strategic dryland legume crop for addressing food insecurity and malnutrition. Therefore, this review aims to assess the contribution of cowpea to SSA countries as a climate-resilient crop and the existing production challenges and perspectives. Cowpea leaves and immature pods are rich in diverse nutrients, with high levels of protein, vitamins, macro and micronutrients, minerals, fiber, and carbohydrates compared to its grain. In addition, cowpea is truly a multifunctional crop for maintaining good health and for reducing non-communicable human diseases. However, as a leafy vegetable, cowpea has not been researched and promoted sufficiently because it has not been promoted as a food security crop due to its low yield potential, susceptibility to biotic and abiotic stresses, quality assurance issues, policy regulation, and cultural beliefs (it is considered a livestock feed). The development of superior cowpea as a leafy vegetable can be approached in different ways, such as conventional breeding and gene stacking, speed breeding, mutation breeding, space breeding, demand-led breeding, a pan-omics approach, and local government policies. The successful breeding of cowpea genotypes that are high-yielding with a good nutritional value as well as having resistance to biotics and tolerant to abiotic stress could also be used to address food security and malnutrition-related challenges in sub-Saharan Africa. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Vegetables Breeding in South Africa)

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24 pages, 3219 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperEditor’s ChoiceReview

Fruit Development in Sweet Cherry

by Edoardo Vignati, Marzena Lipska, Jim M. Dunwell, Mario Caccamo and Andrew J. Simkin

Plants 2022, 11(12), 1531; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11121531 - 7 Jun 2022

Cited by 24 | Viewed by 7065

Abstract

Fruits are an important source of vitamins, minerals and nutrients in the human diet. They also contain several compounds of nutraceutical importance that have significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory roles, which can protect the consumer from diseases, such as cancer, and cardiovascular disease as [...] Read more.

Fruits are an important source of vitamins, minerals and nutrients in the human diet. They also contain several compounds of nutraceutical importance that have significant antioxidant and anti-inflammatory roles, which can protect the consumer from diseases, such as cancer, and cardiovascular disease as well as having roles in reducing the build-up of LDL-cholesterol in blood plasma and generally reduce the risks of disease and age-related decline in health. Cherries contain high concentrations of bioactive compounds and minerals, including calcium, phosphorous, potassium and magnesium, and it is, therefore, unsurprising that cherry consumption has a positive impact on health. This review highlights the development of sweet cherry fruit, the health benefits of cherry consumption, and the options for increasing consumer acceptance and consumption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Horticultural Science and Ornamental Plants)

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16 pages, 2739 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Genome Size Variation in Dianthus sylvestris Wulfen sensu lato (Caryophyllaceae)

by Ana Terlević, Sandro Bogdanović, Božo Frajman and Ivana Rešetnik

Plants 2022, 11(11), 1481; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11111481 - 31 May 2022

Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2652

Abstract

Genome size (GS) is an important characteristic that may be helpful in delimitation of taxa, and multiple studies have shown correlations between intraspecific GS variation and morphological or environmental factors, as well as its geographical segregation. We estimated a relative GS (RGS) of [...] Read more.

Genome size (GS) is an important characteristic that may be helpful in delimitation of taxa, and multiple studies have shown correlations between intraspecific GS variation and morphological or environmental factors, as well as its geographical segregation. We estimated a relative GS (RGS) of 707 individuals from 162 populations of Dianthus sylvestris with a geographic focus on the Balkan Peninsula, but also including several populations from the European Alps. Dianthus sylvestris is morphologically variable species thriving in various habitats and six subspecies have been recognized from the Balkan Peninsula. Our RGS data backed-up with chromosome counts revealed that the majority of populations were diploid (2n = 30), but ten tetraploid populations have been recorded in D. sylvestris subsp. sylvestris from Istria (Croatia, Italy). Their monoploid RGS is significantly lower than that of the diploids, indicating genome downsizing. In addition, the tetraploids significantly differ from their diploid counterparts in an array of morphological and environmental characteristics. Within the diploid populations, the RGS is geographically and only partly taxonomically correlated, with the highest RGS inferred in the southern Balkan Peninsula and the Alps. We demonstrate greater RGS variation among the Balkan populations compared to the Alps, which is likely a result of more pronounced evolutionary differentiation within the Balkan Peninsula. In addition, a deep RGS divergence within the Alps likely points to persistence of the alpine populations in different Pleistocene refugia. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Genome Size Evolution of Plants)

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12 pages, 1814 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Preliminary Findings on Cadmium Bioaccumulation and Photosynthesis in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) and Maize (Zea mays L.) Using Biochar Made from C3- and C4-Originated Straw

by Mohammad Ghorbani, Petr Konvalina, Reinhard W. Neugschwandtner, Marek Kopecký, Elnaz Amirahmadi, Jan Moudrý, Jr. and Ladislav Menšík

Plants 2022, 11(11), 1424; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11111424 - 27 May 2022

Cited by 22 | Viewed by 2264

Abstract

Understanding the structural differences between feedstocks is critical for biochar effectiveness in plant growth. To examine the efficiency of biochars with unique physiological structures in a cadmium (Cd)-polluted soil, rice and maize as C3 and C4 plants, as well as biochar generated from [...] Read more.

Understanding the structural differences between feedstocks is critical for biochar effectiveness in plant growth. To examine the efficiency of biochars with unique physiological structures in a cadmium (Cd)-polluted soil, rice and maize as C3 and C4 plants, as well as biochar generated from their residues, defined as BC3 and BC4, were utilized. The experiment involved a control and a Cd-polluted soil (20 mg kg⁻¹) without biochar application, and applications of each type of biochar (20 t ha⁻¹) on Cd-polluted or unpolluted soil. In rice and maize fields, BC3 application led to the highest value of cation exchange capacity (CEC), with increases of 162% and 115%, respectively, over the control, while CEC increased by 110% and 71% with BC4 in the rice and maize field, respectively. As compared to the control, BC3 and BC4 dramatically enhanced the photosynthetic rate (Pn) of rice by 116% and 80%, respectively, and maize by 67% and 31%. BC3 and BC4 significantly decreased the Cd transfer coefficient in rice by 54% and 30% and in maize by 45% and 21%. Overall, BC3 is preferred over BC4 for establishing rice and maize in Cd-polluted soil, as it has a lower C/N ratio, a considerably higher surface area, and more notable alkaline features such as a higher CEC and nutrient storage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Crop Physiology and Crop Production)

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12 pages, 2899 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Phylogeny and Expression Atlas of the NITRATE TRANSPORTER 1/PEPTIDE TRANSPORTER FAMILY in Agave

by Shibei Tan, Yanqiong Liang, Yanlei Huang, Jingen Xi, Xing Huang, Xiaohan Yang and Kexian Yi

Plants 2022, 11(11), 1434; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11111434 - 27 May 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2049

Abstract

Agave species are widely cultivated crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants for alcoholic beverages, food and fiber production. Among these, the Agave hybrid H11648 ((A. amaniensis × A. angustifolia) × A. amaniensis) is the main cultivar for sisal fiber in the [...] Read more.

Agave species are widely cultivated crassulacean acid metabolism (CAM) plants for alcoholic beverages, food and fiber production. Among these, the Agave hybrid H11648 ((A. amaniensis × A. angustifolia) × A. amaniensis) is the main cultivar for sisal fiber in the tropical areas of Brazil, China, and African countries. The plants of Agave hybrid H11648 have a long life cycle and large leaves, which require a huge amount of nitrogen nutrient. However, the molecular basis of nitrogen transport and allocation has not been well understood in agave. In this study, we identified 19 NITRATE TRANSPORTER 1/PEPTIDE TRANSPORTER FAMILY(NPF) genes (called AhNPFs) with full-length coding sequences in Agave hybrid H11648. Our analysis of gene expression in various types of tissues revealed the tissue-specific expression pattern of AhNPFs. We further examined their expression patterns at different leaf developmental stages, under abiotic/biotic stresses and nutrient deficiency. The results reveal several candidate regulators in the agave NPF family, including AhNPF4.3/5.2/7.1. We first characterized the NPF genes in agave based on published leaf transcriptome datasets and emphasized their potential functions. The study will benefit future studies related to nitrogen nutrient in agave. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Germplasm Resources and Breeding of Agave)

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19 pages, 2841 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Effects of Extracellular Self- and Nonself-DNA on the Freshwater Microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and on the Marine Microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana

by Emanuela Palomba, Pasquale Chiaiese, Pasquale Termolino, Rosa Paparo, Edgardo Filippone, Stefano Mazzoleni and Maria Luisa Chiusano

Plants 2022, 11(11), 1436; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11111436 - 27 May 2022

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 3404

Abstract

The role of extracellular DNA (exDNA) in soil and aquatic environments was mainly discussed in terms of source of mineral nutrients and of genetic material for horizontal gene transfer. Recently, the self-exDNA (conspecific) has been shown to have an inhibitory effect on the [...] Read more.

The role of extracellular DNA (exDNA) in soil and aquatic environments was mainly discussed in terms of source of mineral nutrients and of genetic material for horizontal gene transfer. Recently, the self-exDNA (conspecific) has been shown to have an inhibitory effect on the growth of that organism, while the same was not evident for nonself-exDNA (non conspecific). The inhibitory effect of self-exDNA was proposed as a universal phenomenon, although evidence is mainly reported for terrestrial species. The current study showed the inhibitory effect of self-exDNA also on photosynthetic aquatic microorganisms. We showed that self-exDNA inhibits the growth of the microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Nannochloropsis gaditana, a freshwater and a marine species, respectively. In addition, the study also revealed the phenotypic effects post self-exDNA treatments. Indeed, Chlamydomonas showed the formation of peculiar heteromorphic aggregates of palmelloid cells embedded in an extracellular matrix, favored by the presence of DNA in the environment, that is not revealed after exposure to nonself-exDNA. The differential effect of self and nonself-exDNA on both microalgae, accompanied by the inhibitory growth effect of self-exDNA are the first pieces of evidence provided for species from aquatic environments. Full article

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

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12 pages, 1204 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Streptomyces albidoflavus Strain CARA17 as a Biocontrol Agent against Fungal Soil-Borne Pathogens of Fennel Plants

by Antonia Carlucci, Maria Luisa Raimondo, Donato Colucci and Francesco Lops

Plants 2022, 11(11), 1420; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants11111420 - 26 May 2022

Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2693

Abstract

Fennel crop is a horticultural plant susceptible to several soil-borne fungal pathogens responsible for yield losses. The control of fungal diseases occurring on fennel crops is very difficult with conventional and/or integrated means; although several chemical fungicides are able to contain specific fungal [...] Read more.

Fennel crop is a horticultural plant susceptible to several soil-borne fungal pathogens responsible for yield losses. The control of fungal diseases occurring on fennel crops is very difficult with conventional and/or integrated means; although several chemical fungicides are able to contain specific fungal diseases, they are not registered for fennel crops. The intensive use of some fungicides causes public concern over the environment and human health. The main aims of this study were to assess the ability of a strain of Streptomyces albidoflavus CARA17 to inhibit the growth of fungal soil-borne pathogens, and to protect fennel plants against severe fungal soil-borne pathogens such as Athelia rolfsii, Fusarium oxysporum, Plectosphaerella ramiseptata, Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Verticillium dahliae. This study confirmed that the CARA17 strain has been able to inhibit the mycelium growth of pathogens in vitro conditions with significant inhibition degrees, where S. sclerotiorum resulted in being the most controlled. The strain CARA17 was also able to significantly protect the fennel seedlings against fungal soil-borne pathogens used in vivo conditions, where the treatment with an antagonist strain by dipping resulted in being more effective at limiting the disease severity of each fungal soil-borne pathogen. Moreover, any treatment with the CARA17 strain, carried out by dipping or after transplanting, produced benefits for the biomass of fennel seedlings, showing significant effects as a promoter of plant growth. Finally, the results obtained showed that CARA17 is a valid strain as a biocontrol agent (BCA) against relevant fungal soil-borne pathogens, although further studies are recommended to confirm these preliminary results. Finally, this study allowed for first time worldwide the association of Plectosphaerella ramiseptata with fennel plants as a severe pathogen. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Biocontrol of Plant Diseases: Antagonist Microorganisms, Biostimulants, Induced Resistance (IR))

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