Search Results (69)

(1) Background: The escalating issue of soil degradation caused by excessive chemical fertilizer application poses significant threats to the sustainable development of Chinese flowering cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis (L.) var. utilis Tsen et Lee) production. This research aimed to identify the impacts of reduced chemical fertilizer application integrated with organic amendments on cabbage yield and rhizosphere soil microenvironment characteristics. (2) Methods: A biennial field experiment was conducted during the 2022–2023 growing seasons at Lijun Town, Yinchuan City, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Five treatments were tested: (i) Control (CK, no fertilizer); (ii) Conventional chemical fertilization (CF1, chemical fertilizer only); (iii) Reduced chemical fertilization (CF2, 30% less chemical fertilizer); (iv) CF2 + Well-decomposed chicken manure (FCM, 30% less chemical fertilizer + rotted chicken manure); and (v) CF2 + Vermicompost (FEM, 30% less chemical fertilizer + vermicompost). (3) Results: In 2023, the FCM treatment reduced electrical conductivity (EC) by 24.80% and pH by 2.16%, while the FEM treatment decreased EC by 31.13% and pH by 3.84% compared to controls. The FEM treatment significantly enhanced total nitrogen content by 12.71% and 8.85% relative to CF1 and FCM treatments, respectively. Compared to CF1, FEM increased soil organic matter content by 10.49% in 2022 and 11.24% in 2023. Organic fertilizer amendments elevated available nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels while enhancing sucrase activity: FCM and FEM treatments increased sucrase activity by 23.62% and 32.00%, respectively, in 2022. Organic fertilization improved bacterial diversity and richness, optimized microbial community structure, and increased the relative abundance of Bacillus. It also upregulated microbial metabolic pathways related to carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. Soil nutrients and bacterial community structure showed positive correlations with yield, whereas soil enzyme activities exhibited negative correlations. Key factors influencing yield were identified as Proteobacteria, Chloroflexi, available potassium, organic matter, available nitrogen, Actinobacteria, Firmicutes, total nitrogen, pH, and sucrase activity. (4) Conclusions: Integrated analysis of yield and soil microenvironmental parameters demonstrates that the fertilization regimen combining 30% chemical fertilizer reduction with vermicompost amendment (FEM) constitutes a more efficient fertilization strategy for Chinese flowering cabbage, making it suitable for regional promotion in the Ningxia area. Full article

The incorporation of Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) rice straw into fields may influence the growth of subsequent crops, but its ecological risks for winter vegetables remain largely unreported. Investigating the effects of Bt rice straw extracts on the seed germination and plant growth of pakchoi (Brassica campestris L. ssp. Chinensis Makino var. communis Tsen et Lee) can provide a theoretical foundation for ecological risk assessments. In this study, straw extracts from non-Bt rice (Tianyouhuazhan), homozygous Bt rice (T775), and heterozygous Bt rice (F₁ of T775 hybrid) were used as experimental materials at concentrations of 10, 20, and 40 g·L⁻¹. Results showed that, compared to non-Bt extract, 40 g·L⁻¹ homozygous Bt extract increased seedling height and leaf peroxidase (POD) activity but inhibited catalase (CAT) and root superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities. The 20 g·L⁻¹ extract boosted root CAT activity yet suppressed leaf CAT and POD activities. The 10 g·L⁻¹ extract enhanced root length but reduced leaf CAT and POD activities. The 40 g·L⁻¹ heterozygous Bt extract increased leaf and root POD activity but inhibited germination rate and leaf SOD activity. The 10 g·L⁻¹ extract promoted root length and seedling POD activity but suppressed leaf POD activity. In plant growth assessments, the 10 g·L⁻¹ homozygous Bt extract reduced underground dry weight, and the 10 g·L⁻¹ heterozygous Bt extract inhibited both above and underground dry weight, while the 20 g·L⁻¹ heterozygous Bt extract increased aboveground dry weight. In conclusion, the effects of homozygous and heterozygous Bt rice straw extracts on pakchoi varied with concentration and physiological indices, showing no clear pattern. Optimizing straw return concentrations based on Bt rice variety differences is essential to mitigate ecological risks. Full article

Brassica campestris L. var. toria, a major oilseed crop cultivated in India, is primarily an entomophilic species. Hymenopteran flower-visiting species provide important ecological services like pollination or pest control in Brassica crops. In this context, a study was conducted during 2015–2017 in three localities in Assam, a state in northeast India that falls under two global biodiversity hotspots—Indo–Burma and Himalayan—to bring data on the diversity of hymenopteran flower visitors of toria crops by using multiple sampling techniques and to compare the efficiency of these techniques. Altogether, nine sampling treatments were used. To assess the sampling effectiveness of the different treatments, the data from the two cropping periods of toria in each locality were analysed cumulatively and comparatively. Variable transect outperformed the other sampling methods with the highest number of hymenopteran flower visitor species recorded in toria crops at 54, representing 84.4% of the total number of species, and was followed by standard transect (34 species, 53.1%), elevated yellow trap (22 species, 34.4%), and observation plot (21 species, 32.8%). However, the importance of multiple sampling methods in this diversity study was noticed; one method alone could not sample all the species recorded. The cluster of traps and netting with transect walks was proven to be complementary and considered useful for future research studies in the upstream basin of the Burhidihing River of Assam, India. Full article

Background/Objectives: Globally, antibiotic contamination has become an emerging issue in agricultural lands. The presence of antibiotic residues in farmlands, especially through the application of manure fertilizers containing veterinary antibiotics, e.g., tetracycline (TC), can cause severe toxicity, which inhibits crop growth and performance, subsequently threatening human health via consumption of contaminated products. This study was conducted to evaluate the phytotoxicity of TC on Kimchi cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) during seed germination, seedling, and vegetative growth stages, along with its physiological responses and bioaccumulation under TC stress. Methods: The responses of cabbage plants to TC stress were assessed through a germination test and a pot experiment, conducted for three days and six weeks, respectively, under different doses of TC (0, 5, 10, 25, and 50 mg/L). Results: As a result of the germination test, higher TC doses (25 and 50 mg/L) tended to delay seed germination, but all treatments achieved a 100% germination percentage by Day 3 after sowing. Eight days after sowing, the length of shoots and roots of seedlings exhibited a TC dose-dependent decline, specifically under 50 mg TC/L, showing a considerable decrease of 24% and 77%, respectively, compared to control. Similar results were observed in the plants transitioning from the seedling to vegetative stages in the pot experiment. Four and six weeks after sowing, the 50 mg TC/L dose showed the strongest phytotoxicity in cabbage plants with physiological parameters, such as the maximum photosystem II quantum yield (F_v/F_m), pigment content (chlorophyll and carotenoid), biomass, and leaf number, significantly reduced by 26 to 60% compared to control. Interestingly, at lower TC doses (5 and 10 mg/L), a hormesis effect was observed in the phenotype and biomass of the plants. In addition, the degree of TC accumulation in the plants was highly dose-dependent at Week 4 and Week 6, but a temporal decline in TC accumulation was noted between these time points in all TC treatments. This phenomenon might affect the value of the bio-concentration factor (BCF) as an indicator of the plant’s tendency to uptake TC. That is, in Week 6, the dose-dependent reduction in BCF for TC in the plants was likely attributed to a dilution effect caused by plant biomass increase or a degradation mechanism within the plant. Conclusions: Overall, our findings suggest that tetracycline toxicity induces seed germination delay and influences seedling elongation and photosynthetic functions, ultimately impairing crop growth and performance. Also, the antibiotic dynamics related to accumulation and degradation in plants were identified. These results will not only suggest the toxicity threshold of TC for cabbage but also provide insights into effective soil management strategies for food production safety and agroecosystem sustainability in antibiotic-contaminated soils. Full article

The striped flea beetle (SFB), Phyllotreta striolata, is a major pest of Brassicaceae crops, causing substantial yield losses worldwide. Effective biocontrol strategies, particularly the development of mycoinsecticides, require the identification of virulent entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) and the establishment of reliable bioassay systems. However, establishing reliable bioassay systems for SFB has been particularly challenging, especially for larval stages due to their recalcitrant rearing requirements. This study aimed to establish a standardized bioassay protocol to evaluate EPF efficacy against SFB. A specialized larval collection apparatus was developed, and the virulence of three EPF strains (Beauveria bassiana BbPs01, Metarhizium robertii MrCb01, and Cordyceps javanica IjH6102) was assessed against both adult and larval stages using a radish slice-based rearing system. Intriguingly, BbPs01 and MrCb01 exhibited significantly higher LT₅₀ values in larvae than in adults, contrary to the typical pattern of greater larval susceptibility observed in most insect systems. We hypothesized that isothiocyanate—specifically sulforaphane, a compound abundant in radish tissues—exerts fungistatic effects that impair fungal growth and virulence. Follow-up experiments confirmed that radish-derived sulforaphane inhibited fungal activity. Through alternative host plant screening, Chinese flowering cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis var. utilis) was identified as an optimal larval diet that minimally interferes with EPF bioactivity, enabling reliable virulence assessments. This study presents critical methodological advancements for SFB biocontrol research, providing a robust framework for standardized larval bioassay and novel insights into plant secondary metabolite interactions with entomopathogens. The optimized system supports the development of targeted mycoinsecticides and contributes to a deeper understanding of tri-trophic interactions in crucifer pest management. Full article

Correct floral morphology determines the accuracy of fruit formation, which is crucial for reproductive success in higher plants. Despite this, an abnormal, multi-pistil phenotype has been observed in the flowers of many plants. In this review, we gather information on the multi-pistil phenomenon in various species and highlight potential causes, as well as possible consequences, of the trait. Our assessment of the reported multi-pistil phenotype in rice (Oryza sativa L.), wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), Medicago, sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.), rye (Secale cereale L.), and rapeseed (Brassica napus L. and B. campestris L.) leads us to conclude that hybridization and mutation are the main factors that give rise to this phenotype. We also delve into the inheritance patterns of the multi-pistil phenotype and factors that influence this trait, such as nuclear–cytoplasmic interactions, temperature conditions, and shading. Finally, we discuss the effects of multi-pistil flowers on the yield of these plants. This analysis increases our understanding of floral development and lays the foundation for the potential utilization of the multi-pistil trait to increase seed production in crops. Full article

Tetracyclines (TCs) pollution in vegetable fields is a widely recognized concern, yet the health and ecological risks of TCs residues in the soil–cabbage food chain remain unclear. This study used enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to investigate the health risks associated with TCs contamination in soil–cabbage (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis) systems to better understand TCs accumulation in soil–cabbage and its impact on human health. The human health risks of the edible parts of Chinese cabbage and the ecological risks of TCs-contaminated soils were assessed using the health risk quotient method (RQ) and risk quotient method, respectively. The results showed that after 65 days of tetracycline (TC), chlortetracycline (CTC), and oxytetracycline (OTC) treatments, the degradation rates of TCs in soil were higher in black soil than in purplish clay soil, following the order of OTC > CTC > TC. As the three types of TCs concentration increased (0–20 mg kg⁻¹), their accumulation in the leaves and roots of Chinese cabbage in purplish clay soil was generally higher than in black soil. The health risk values of the three types of TCs in Chinese cabbage were also higher in purplish clay soil than in black soil, following the order of TC > CTC > OTC. Under controlled pot experimental conditions, the TC content in Chinese cabbage grown in purplish clay soil posed moderate risks to children aged 1–6 years (0.1 < HQ < 1.0), while the CTC and OTC contents in Chinese cabbage leaves indicated low risks to both adults and children (HQ ≤ 0.1). Additionally, all three TCs in both soils posed high ecological risks (RQ ≥ 1.0), with risk values being higher in purplish clay soil than in black soil, following the order of TC > CTC > OTC. Consequently, more fertile soils can help mitigate the impact of TCs pollution on human health and ecological safety. Full article

Soil acidification activates most of the cationic heavy metals in soil and thus enhances their accumulation in crops, posing an accentuated threat to human health, while there is limited knowledge regarding the accumulation of metalloid arsenic (As) in crops, which is influenced by acidification due to its opposite behavior in soil. In this study, the acidification processes of neutral purple soil together with the accompanied changes in soil properties and As fractionation were examined through a column-leaching experiment. Subsequently, growth and As accumulation in pakchoi (Brassica campestris L.) were investigated under various combinations of soil pH and As pollution levels in a pot experiment. This allowed us to elucidate the mechanisms of As accumulation in pakchoi under the co-stresses of soil acidification and As pollution. The results indicated that soil acidification followed a two-phase process, initially rapid and later slow, with a turning point at a pH of 4.7–4.8. Below this critical pH, the leaching rates of base ions and As accelerated significantly and the decomposition of primary minerals began, primarily from chlorite to green/mesospheric minerals, resulting in a substantial increase in the content of amorphous iron oxide. Meantime, soil As was transformed from highly labile forms, such as non-specifically and specifically adsorbed forms, to less active ones like amorphous hydrous oxide-bound and residual forms, resulting in decreased As availability. In this context, As pollution remarkably delayed the growth of pakchoi, while the influence of acidification on growth only occurred when the soil was acidified to a pH lower than 6, as demonstrated by a substantial biomass reduction at higher As levels and a 41.8% biomass decrease at pH 4.6. Moreover, soil acidification exacerbated the inhibitory effect of As on pakchoi growth. The As contents in the edible parts of pakchoi dramatically increased with the increase in the soil As level, and soil acidification did not mitigate As accumulation in plants via the suppression of soil As availability but rather greatly increased it due to the bioconcentration effect caused by As toxicity. In conclusion, significant interactions existed between soil acidification and As pollution in terms of soil properties and As transformation, leading to comprehensive effects on growth and As accumulation in crops. Full article

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is an important crop for healthy edible oil and stockfeed worldwide. However, its growth and yield are severely hampered by black rot, a destructive disease caused by Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc). Despite the identification of several quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with resistance to black rot in Brassica crops, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain largely unexplored. In this study, we investigated Xcc-induced transcriptomic and metabolic changes in the leaves of two rapeseed varieties: Westar (susceptible) and ZS5 (resistant). Our findings indicated that Xcc infection elicited more pronounced overall transcriptomic and metabolic changes in Westar compared to ZS5. Transcriptomic analyses revealed that the phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, cutin, suberine and wax biosynthesis, tryptophan metabolism, and phenylalanine metabolism were enriched in both varieties. Notably, photosynthesis was down-regulated in Westar after infection, whereas this down-regulation occurred at a later stage in ZS5. Integrated analyses of transcriptome and metabolome revealed that the tryptophan metabolism pathway was enriched in both varieties. Indolic glucosinolates and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) are two metabolites derived from tryptophan. The expression of genes involved in the indolic glucosinolate pathway and the levels of indolic glucosinolates were significantly elevated in both varieties post-infection. Additionally, exogenous application of IAA promoted the development of black rot, whereas the use of an IAA synthesis inhibitor attenuated black rot development in both resistant and susceptible rapeseed varieties. These findings provide valuable molecular insights into the interactions between rapeseed and Xcc, facilitating the advancement of black rot resistance breeding in Brassica crops. Full article

Soil acidity is a divesting factor that restricts crop growth and productivity. Conversely, silicon nanomaterials (Si-NMs) have been praised as a blessing of modern agricultural intensification by overcoming the ecological barrier. Here, we performed a sequential study from seed germination to the yield performance of mustard (Brassica campestris) crops under acid-stressed conditions. The results showed that Si-NMs significantly improved seed germination and seedling growth under acid stress situations. These might be associated with increased antioxidant activity and the preserve ratio of GSH/GSSG and AsA/DHA, which is restricted by soil acidity. Moreover, Si-NMs in field regimes significantly diminished the acid-stress-induced growth inhibitions, as evidenced by increased net photosynthesis and biomass accumulations. Again, Si-NMs triggered all the critical metrics of crop productivity, including the seed oil content. Additionally, Si-NMs, upon dolomite supplementation, further triggered all the metrics of yields related to farming resilience. Therefore, the present study highlighted the crucial roles of Si-NMs in sustainable agricultural expansion and cropping intensification, especially in areas affected by soil acidity. Full article

Polyploid plants often exhibit superior yield, stress resistance, and quality. In this study, homologous tetraploid wucai (Brassica campestris L.) was successfully obtained by spraying seedling growth points with colchicine. The morphological, cytological, and physiological characteristics of diploid and tetraploid wucai were analyzed, and transcriptomic sequencing was performed at three stages of development. Tetraploid seedings grew slowly but exhibited darker leaves, enlarged organs and cells, increased stomatal volume, decreased stomatal density, improved nutritional content, and enhanced photosynthesis. Differentially expressed genes (DEGs) identified in diploid and tetraploid plants at three stages of development were enriched in different pathways. Notably, DEGs identified in the tetraploid plants were specifically enriched in starch and sucrose metabolism, pentose and glucuronate interconversions, and ascorbate and aldarate metabolism. In addition, we found that the light green module was most relevant to ploidy, and DEGs in this module were significantly enriched in the glycolysis/gluconeogenesis and TCA cycle pathways. The differential expression of key glycolysis-associated genes at different developmental stages may be the driver of the observed differences between diploid and tetraploid wucai. This study lays a technical foundation for the development of polyploid wucai germplasm resources as well as the breeding of new varieties with improved quality, yield, and stress resistance. It also provides a good empirical reference for the genetic breeding of closely related Brassica species. Full article

Pak choi exhibits a wide range of phenotypic and morphological variations, significantly impacting its carbohydrate composition. This study aimed to analyze these variations by employing UPLC-MS/MS technology on eight biological replicates of seven Pak choi cultivars. The untargeted metabolic analysis identified 513 metabolites, focusing on 16 key carbohydrates, including monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Monosaccharides were the most prevalent, which were followed by di-, poly-, and oligosaccharides. Suzhouqing had the highest number of differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs), while Xiangqingcai had the least. Notably, the cultivars Xiangqingcai, Suzhouqing, and Aijiaohuang showed significant metabolite differentiation. The study found 114 metabolites that differed significantly between Suzhouqing and Aijiaohuang, of which 69 were upregulated and 45 were downregulated. In Xiangqingcai and Aijiaohuang, 66 metabolites were upregulated and 49 were downregulated. Between Xiangqingcai and Suzhouqing, 80 metabolites were downregulated and 53 were upregulated. Key carbohydrate digestion and absorption pathways were identified alongside the most enriched flavonoid biosynthesis pathway in Xiangqingcai and Suzhouqing. The findings highlight the considerable carbohydrate variation among Pak choi cultivars, providing valuable insights for targeted carbohydrate extraction and improving nutritional and agricultural practices. Full article

Brassica campestris (syn. Brassica rapa) is often known as mustard and is grown worldwide owing to its health-promoting characteristics associated with the presence of nutrients and phytochemicals. Along with the nutritional components, B. campestris also contains anti-nutrients (phytates, oxalates, tannins, alkaloids, saponins) that can cause adverse severe health effects to consumers, including rashes, nausea, headaches, bloating and nutritional deficiencies. In the present study, heating (blanching) and fermentation (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum) treatments were applied to reduce the load of the anti-nutrients of B. campestris leaves harvested at three different growth stages: the first stage (fourth week), the second stage (sixth week) and the third stage (eighth week). Results revealed that fermentation treatment using Lp. plantarum increases the ash (5.4 to 6%), protein (9 to 10.4%) and fiber (9.6 to 10.7%) contents, whereas moisture (0.91 to 0.82%), fat (9.9 to 9.1%) and carbohydrate (64.5 to 64.2%) contents decreased among B. campestris samples, and the trend was similar for all three stages. Blanching and fermentation lead to the reduction in phytates (46, 42%), saponins (34, 49%), tannins (1, 10%), oxalates (15, 7%) and alkaloids (10, 6%), separately as compared to raw samples of B. campestris leaves. In contrast, fermentation had no considerable effect on phytochemical contents (total phenolic and total flavonoids) and antioxidant potential (DPPH and FRAP). The action of blanching followed by fermentation caused more decline in the aforementioned toxicants load as compared to blanching or fermentation alone. Structural modifications in blanching and the biochemical conversions in fermentation lead to enhanced stability of nutrients and antioxidant potential. Taken together, these findings suggest blanching followed by fermentation treatments as a reliable, cost-effective and safer approach to curtail the anti-nutrient load without affecting the proximate composition, phytochemical attributes and antioxidant activity. Full article

Amidst the burgeoning expanse of the poultry sector, the escalation of chicken manure production has ensued, potentially exacerbating ecological contamination. However, the application of chicken manure is bound to transmute the habitat of edaphic microorganisms, precipitating an alteration in the soil’s microbial consortium. The composting of biochar-amended chicken manure and wood chips (biochar composting products, BCPs) was used to improve Chinese cabbage (Brassica campestris L.) production and regulate soil properties and bacterial community structure. On the 40th day of Chinese cabbage growth, soil and Chinese cabbage were collected for laboratory analysis. The effects of different proportions of BCPs (0, 1%, 3%, 5% and 7% biochar) on soil fertility, enzyme activity, the microbial community and the growth of Chinese cabbage were studied under facility conditions. The results showed that the growth performance and quality of Chinese cabbage were significantly increased with increasing BCP ratios. Soil fertility indicators including pH, AN, AP, AK and SOM were significantly increased, except for the pH value in the 1% BCP group. The activities of phosphatase, catalase and urease were increased for all groups of BCP treatment. The soil microbial community response was significantly different, and the application of 5% and 7% BCPs reduced the abundance, diversity and evenness of soil bacteria. Chinese cabbage growth performance was positively correlated with an increase in BCP supplemental levels in the range of 3–5%. Also, the abundance, diversity and uniformity of the soil microbial community were improved in the 3% BCP treatment group. Therefore, the dominant bacterial phyla were Bacteroidetes, Actinobacteriota, Gemmatimonadota, Myxococcota, Bdellovibrionota and Firmicutes, especially the Bradyrhizobium of Proteobacteria. BCP treatment reduced the degradation of soil organic matter. In addition, it also improved the relative abundance of sequences associated with improving soil fertility. Collectively, these findings offer insights for the re-evaluation of application management strategies for BCP organic fertilizers. Full article

The purple-leaf phenotype in pak choi is due to the accumulation of anthocyanin. The main regulated genes are unclear. The gene controlling the purple-leaf phenotype was mapped on A03 using BSA-seq, but the candidate interval was not further narrowed with InDel markers. Based on our previous study, we hypothesized that the candidate gene that regulates purple leaves in pak choi may also be the Dark_Pur gene from B. juncea. Using the Dark_Pur-1 marker to identify P₁, P₂, F₁, and F₂, it was confirmed that the purple trait in purple-leaf pak choi was controlled by the Dark_Pur gene from B. juncea through distant hybridization. A DNA segment of approximately 514 Kb containing the Dark_Pur gene was reintroduced into pak choi from B. juncea. Meanwhile, a new purple pak choi germplasm line was created with green pak choi × purple B. juncea via distant hybridization, which proved that distant hybridization is an effective method for creating new germplasms. Furthermore, the purple-leaf phenotypes of 20 pak choi varieties were identified, and the purple-leaf traits of all lines were derived from B. juncea via distant hybridization. At present, few studies have focused on the background of the purple trait in pak choi; however, in this study, our results suggest that there is a high probability that the purple trait in pak choi may be completely derived from purple B. juncea via distant hybridization. This study also lays a good foundation for research on the creation of new germplasms through distant hybridization among the Brassica species. Full article