Search Results (93)

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) seeds, rich in triacylglycerols, have poor fatty acid-to-sugar conversion during storage, affecting longevity and vigor. Previous experiments have shown that the aging of safflower seeds is mainly related to the impairment of energy metabolism pathways such as glycolysis, fatty acid degradation, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The treatment with exogenous sucrose can partially promote the germination of aged seeds. However, the specific pathways through which exogenous sucrose promotes the germination of aged safflower seeds have not yet been elucidated. This study aimed to explore the molecular mechanism by which exogenous sucrose enhances the vitality of aged seeds. Phenotypically, it promoted germination and seedling establishment in CDT-aged seeds but not in unaged ones. Biochemical analyses revealed increased soluble sugars and fatty acids in aged seeds with sucrose treatment. Enzyme activity and transcriptome sequencing showed up-regulation of key enzymes and genes in related metabolic pathways in aged seeds, not in unaged ones. qPCR confirmed up-regulation of genes for triacylglycerol and fatty acid-to-sugar conversion. Transmission electron microscopy showed a stronger connection between the glyoxylate recycler and oil bodies, accelerating oil body degradation. In conclusion, our research shows that exogenous sucrose promotes aged safflower seed germination by facilitating triacylglycerol hydrolysis, fatty acid conversion, and glycometabolism, rather than simply serving as a source of energy to supplement the energy deficiency of aged seeds. These findings offer practical insights for aged seeds, especially offering an effective solution to the aging problem of seeds with high oil content. Full article

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a plant in the family of Asteraceae, and the dried tubular flowers are used as medicine, which contain active ingredients such as safflower yellow pigment and safflower glycosides. They play important roles in many fields. NF-Y, as an important transcription factor in plants, regulates a variety of plant life activities. In this study, we identified and analysed 11 CtNF-Y gene family members from safflower for the first time. Their core motifs, which are conserved structural domains, gene structures, and cis-acting elements, are described in this study. In addition, there was good collinearity between safflower CtNF-Y and other species. Protein–protein interaction network analysis showed that the CtNF-YA1 and CtNF-YB subfamilies were the core proteins of the interaction network. Real-time quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR) studies showed that the expression level of the CtNF-Y gene was regulated by safflower flower colour and safflower flowering period. Subcellular localisation results showed that three CtNF-Y proteins were located in the nucleus, the cellular regulatory centre of the plant. This study will provide valuable insights into the selection of key candidate genes in the network of regulatory mechanisms for the formation of safflower flower colour and flowering time. Full article

In recent decades, a significant decline in arthropods’ abundance and biodiversity, as a consequence of intensive agricultural practices and reductions in their natural environments, has been observed. While landscape-scale biodiversity studies are well documented in the literature, the impact of field-level agricultural management remains less understood. To address this gap, a sampling of diversity was carried out through Malaise traps on five agricultural surfaces with different management schemes: two characterized by the presence of trees (Populus L. spp. and Eucalyptus spp.), two herbaceous fields in different development stages (flowering Carthamus tinctorius L. and stubble of Triticum aestivum), and one mixed system (an agroforestry plantation composed of Populus L. spp. and Carthamus tinctorius L.). Data collection focused on evaluating the total animal biomass (weight and number) and the richness and evenness components of diversity using Shannon and Simpson indices at the Order level. The sampled arthropods belonged to six Orders of Insecta and one Order of Arachnida. The agroforestry system had a higher total animal biomass, in terms of weight, than the other treatments (61.24% higher than in the eucalyptus system, 58.91% higher than in the wheat stubble, 42.63% higher than in the flowering safflower system, and 11.63% higher than in the poplar plantation), with the number of total arthropods following a similar trend. The results demonstrated that the biomass, richness, and evenness of the collected arthropods varied according to the management practices applied, and higher values were recorded in the agroforestry system. Although preliminary, the findings suggest the suitability of mixed systems for sustaining higher diversity than traditional monoculture management schemes. Full article

Bamboo’s single color and susceptibility to mold substantially limit its wide application. Therefore, dyeing and mold prevention have become pivotal technologies for the high-value-added utilization of bamboo. This study selected the extracts of three plants (Caesalpinia sappan L. (Cs), Rubia cordifolia L. (Rc), and Carthamus tinctorius L. (Ct)) for dyeing and mold prevention experiments. The results showed that the three extracts had good dyeing effects on bamboo, with total color differences (ΔE*) of 31.69, 21.61, and 32.29 compared to untreated bamboo, respectively. Additionally, these had a moderate inhibitory effect on mold. The introduction of metal mordants effectively enhances the dyeing effect of plant dyes and the effectiveness of mold inhibition. Through the joint modification of Cs and Cu, the color fixation rate increased from 3.12% to 9.20% compared with the Cs extract. A Cu 1 g:300 mL Cs extract impregnation of bamboo can completely inhibit the growth of Aspergillus niger, and a 1 g:1100 mL ratio can completely inhibit the growth of Trichoderma viride. This study provides a new concept for applying plant dyes in the dyeing and mold prevention treatment of bamboo. The dual-effect treatment of dyeing and mold prevention enhances the visual characteristics of bamboo while imparting it with good mold prevention performance. Full article

Medicinal plants, recognized as significant natural resources, have gained prominence in response to the increasing global demand for herbal medicines, necessitating the large-scale production of these plants and their derivatives. Medicinal plants are exposed to a variety of internal and external factors that interact to influence the biosynthesis and accumulation of secondary metabolites. With the rapid development of omics technologies such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics, multi-omics technologies have become important tools for revealing the complexity and functionality of organisms. They are conducive to further uncovering the biological activities of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants and clarifying the molecular mechanisms underlying the production of secondary metabolites. Also, artificial intelligence (AI) technology accelerates the comprehensive utilization of high-dimensional datasets and offers transformative potential for multi-omics analysis. However, there is currently no systematic review summarizing the genomic mechanisms of secondary metabolite biosynthesis in medicinal plants. Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) has rich and diverse bioactive flavonoids, among of which Hydroxysafflor yellow A (HSYA) is specific to safflower and emerging as a potential medication for treating a wide range of diseases. Hence, significant progress has been made in the study of safflower as an excellent example for the regulation of secondary metabolites in medicinal plants in recent years. Here, we review the progress on the understanding of the regulation of main secondary metabolites at the multi-omics level, and summarize the influence of various factors on their types and contents, with a particular focus on safflower flavonoids. This review aims to provide a comprehensive insight into the regulatory mechanisms of secondary metabolite biosynthesis from the perspective of genomics. Full article

Auxin response factors (ARFs) are a class of transcription factors widely present in plants. As an important economic crop, research on the effects of safflower ARFs on endogenous auxin and effective components is relatively limited. In this study, a total of 23 ARF genes were identified from the safflower genome. Sequence alignment and domain analysis indicated the presence of conserved B3 and Auxin_resp domains in these ARFs. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that CtARF could be classified into five subfamilies, a conclusion also supported by gene structure, consensus motifs, and domain compositions. Transcriptome data showed that ARFs are expressed in all flower colors, but the expression levels of ARF family members vary among different flower colors. CtARF19 had relatively higher expression in deep red flowers, CtARF3 had higher expression in white flowers, CtARF2/12 had higher expression in yellow flowers, and CtARF21/22 had higher expression in light red flowers. Protein–protein interaction network analysis indicated that ARF family members (CtARF2/3/4/5/15/18/19/22) are located within the interaction network. Cis-acting element analysis suggested that CtARF genes may be regulated by hormone treatment (AuxRR-core) and abiotic stress, and the results of qRT-PCR also confirmed this. Additionally, the content of endogenous auxin and active components in safflower with different flower colors significantly changed upon treatment with hormones that affect IAA content. In summary, our study provides valuable insights into the biological functions of CtARF genes under exogenous hormone conditions and their effects on active components. Full article

In classical biological control of weeds, the risk posed by a candidate agent to close relatives of the target weed in the intended area of release is a key criterion (i.e., candidate agents that demonstrate a high degree of host specificity). In this study, we investigated if the rosette crown-feeding fly Botanophila turcica Hennig (Diptera: Anthomyiidae) could meet this criterion and thus be considered a good candidate to control saffron thistle Carthamus lanatus L. (Asteraceae: Cardueae) in Australia. Previous studies indicated that B. turcica is specific to Ca. lanatus and did not infest the closely related crop, safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.). However, more recent field observations made in Greece reported that B. turcica infested safflower in cultivated fields. To determine if B. turcica is safe for release as a biocontrol agent, we re-examined the host range of B. turcica by performing new host-specificity testing combined with field surveys carried out in the south of France during two consecutive years. We also investigated the species identity of the flies by comparing DNA sequences (COI barcode region) of specimens collected in France from Ca. lanatus and Centaurea solstitialis L. with those from Greece collected from Ce. solstitialis and Centaurea diffusa Lam. Our COI analyses confirmed that French and Greek samples identified as B. turcica belonged to the same species, while a second group of Greek samples matched B. brunneilinea, indicating two distinct species. Our results also demonstrated that B. turcica has a wider host range than previously suggested. Laboratory testing indicated that Ca. lanatus, Ca. tinctorius, and Ce. solstitialis are suitable for the development of B. turcica. Field surveys also revealed that Ce. diffusa is part of the host range of the fly. Based on the results reported here, B. turcica may have the potential to control both the target weed, Ca. lanatus, and Ce. Solstitialis, but it may also be a threat to safflower, Ca. tinctorius. Further investigations to assess under what conditions B. turcica attacks Ca. tinctorius may help clarify the level of risk to Australian growers. Full article

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a versatile oilseed crop valued for its adaptability, high oil quality, and antioxidant properties. This study investigates the influence of flower color (FC) on the phenotypic diversity of 172 safflower accessions, analyzing agronomic traits, metabolite profiles, and antioxidant capacities. Frequency distribution, effect size, principal component analysis (PCA), and network analysis were employed to elucidate trait associations and interrelationships. FC significantly impacted traits such as oleic acid (OA), linoleic acid (LA), oleic desaturation ratio (ODR), and N-feruloylserotonin (FS), with large effect sizes (η² > 0.16). Medium effects were observed for 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) scavenging capacity, palmitic acid (PA), and flowering date (FD). PCA and network analyses highlighted relationships between FC and other fatty acid and antioxidant traits. Qualitative traits such as seed coat color (SCC) and thorn of involucre (TI) also showed significant associations with FC, underscoring its role as a phenotypic marker. These findings provide a robust framework for trait-based breeding strategies in safflower and emphasize the need for further genetic validation of these associations. Full article

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a promising oilseed crop with potential applications in the food, pharmaceutical, and industrial sectors. Understanding the oil content and fatty acid composition of safflower germplasm is crucial for breeding programs aimed at enhancing its agronomic and nutritional traits. This study assessed the oil content and fatty acid composition in 87 safflower accessions. Significant variations were observed, with the oil content ranging from 36.88% to 18.44%. Genotype Egypt 1 exhibited the highest oil content. Among fatty acids, China 1 had the highest myristic acid (0.170%) content, while Remzibey had the lowest (0.100%). Palmitic acid ranged from 6.13% to 8.20%, with Egypt 3 and Bangladesh 3 at the extremes. For palmitoleic acid, Jordan 5 had the highest content (0.53%) and Bangladesh 2/Portugal 2 the lowest (0.03%). Linoleic acid varied from 37.7% (China 7) to 77.73% (Iran 1). A correlation analysis indicated strong positive correlations between protein and oil content, as well as between palmitic and myristic acids, and between palmitic and linoleic acids. Conversely, protein exhibited highly negative correlations with myristic, palmitic, and palmitoleic acids. The protein percentage showed a high heritability but a low genetic advance, while palmitic acid, oil percentage, stearic acid, linoleic acid, palmitoleic acid, and oleic acid showed a high heritability and a moderate genetic advance as a percentage of the mean. These findings can aid in developing cultivars with enhanced fatty acids, oil quality, and nutritional value, facilitating sustainable production for a wide range of industrial applications. Full article

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a medicinal and edible cash crop that is widely cultivated worldwide. However, the genetic diversity of safflower germplasm resources and the reasons for the variations in safflower flower colour remain unclear. In this study, we used a combination of agronomic traits and Indel markers to assess the genetic diversity of 614 safflower germplasm resources. The results showed that most of the evaluated agronomic traits had high variability. The mean values of the Shannon’s information index (I) and polymorphism information content (PIC) in 50 pairs of Indel markers were 0.551 and 0.296, respectively. The population structure, neighbour-joining phylogeny, and principal coordinate analyses classified all genotypes into four subgroups, and 214 safflower core germplasms were constructed. Multiple analyses of genetic diversity parameters, range conformity, and the percentage of variance difference showed that the core germplasm did not differ significantly and could represent the original germplasm better. Transcriptome and metabolome analyses revealed that flavonoid synthesis-related genes, including CHS, F3H, ANS, and BZ1, were differentially expressed in different coloured safflowers. Most significantly, different genes and metabolite compounds in white safflowers were enriched upstream from the phenylpropanoid metabolic pathway to the production of naringenin, whereas those in red safflowers were concentrated in the downstream pathway from eriodictyol. Meanwhile, the preliminary quantification of anthocyanins and carotenoids extracted from red, orange, and white types of safflower showed that the level of both anthocyanins and carotenoids were highest in red types. This work provides new insights into the formation of different safflower flower colours and in the conservation and management of safflower germplasm. Full article

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), a versatile medicinal and economic crop, harbors untapped genetic resources essential for stress resilience and metabolic regulation. The TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA/PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR (TCP) transcription factors, exclusive to plants, are pivotal in orchestrating growth, development, and stress responses, yet their roles in safflower remain unexplored. Here, we report the comprehensive identification and characterization of 26 safflower TCP genes (CtTCPs), categorized into Class I (PROLIFERATING CELL FACTOR, PCF) and Class II (CINCINNATA and TEOSINTE BRANCHED1/CYCLOIDEA, CIN and CYC/TB1) subfamilies. Comparative phylogenetics, conserved motif, and gene structure analyses revealed a high degree of evolutionary conservation and functional divergence within the gene family. Promoter analyses uncovered light-, hormone-, and stress-responsive cis-elements, underscoring their regulatory potential. Functional insights from qRT-PCR analyses demonstrated dynamic CtTCP expression under abiotic stresses, including abscisic acid (ABA), Methyl Jasmonate (MeJA), Cold, and ultraviolet radiation b (UV-B) treatments. Notably, ABA stress triggered a significant increase in flavonoid accumulation, correlated with the upregulation of key flavonoid biosynthesis genes and select CtTCPs. These findings illuminate the complex regulatory networks underlying safflower’s abiotic stress responses and secondary metabolism, offering a molecular framework to enhance crop resilience and metabolic engineering for sustainable agriculture Full article

Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) is a traditional Chinese medicinal herb renowned for its high flavonoid content and significant medicinal value. However, the dynamic changes in safflower petal flavonoid profiles across different flowering phases present a challenge in optimizing harvest timing and medicinal use. To enhance the utilization of safflower, this study conducted an integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analysis of safflower petals at different flowering stages. Our findings revealed that certain flavonoids were more abundant during the fading stage, while others peaked during full bloom. Specifically, seven metabolites, including p-coumaric acid, naringenin chalcone, naringenin, dihydrokaempferol, apigenin, kaempferol, and quercetin, accumulated significantly during the fading stage. In contrast, dihydromyricetin and delphinidin levels were notably reduced. Furthermore, key genes in the flavonoid biosynthesis pathway, such as 4CL, DFR, and ANR, exhibited up-regulated expression with safflower’s flowering progression, whereas CHI, F3H, and FLS were down-regulated. Additionally, exposure to UV-B stress at full bloom led to an up-regulation of flavonoid content and altered the expression of key flavonoid biosynthetic genes over time. This study not only elucidates the regulatory mechanisms underlying flavonoid metabolism in safflower but also provides insights for maximizing its medicinal and industrial applications. Full article

Considering the increase in market requests for bio-products, it is necessary to study the possibility of cultivating industrial crops in areas still untapped to extend the total cultivation surface, reducing land competition with food crops. With this aim in mind, we studied the harvesting performance and cost, and seed losses of Safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) cultivation during two growing seasons and in three different locations: (A) an agroforestry field, (B) a marginal field and (C) a dedicated field utilized as a control. The overall efficiency of the cultivation system was higher in location C in respect to the other two fields. The yield was 12–22% and 21–26% higher in location C compared to locations B and A, respectively, while seed losses were 40–33% and 28–50% lower in C compared to locations A and B, as well as the total harvesting costs, which were 45% and 31–35% lower in location C compared to locations A and B, respectively. Despite this, the results highlighted how the reduction in cultivation efficiency given by limiting factors was lower compared to that of other crops, highlighting the possibility of cultivating Safflower for bio-products’ production on alternative lands. Full article

Oilseed plants are a valuable group of foods in human nutrition. Uncommon oilseed plants, such as safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.), camelina (Camelina sativa L.), and black cumin (Nigella sativa L.), have been gaining increasing attention. The unique chemical compositions of these plants, which contribute to potential health benefits, underscore the importance of further exploration and study. The continuation of development of research in this field, resulting in the well-documented positive impact of these plants on human health, may lead to the possibility of them becoming new functional foods in the future. This review aims to present the potential health-promoting properties of the aforementioned uncommon oilseed plants based on recent literature reports and intends to inspire further exploration of their unique features. Among others, recent reports on the anticancer, antioxidant, and antibacterial potential, as well as the preventive potential in the case of metabolic diseases of these plants, were discussed. The importance of further development of these problems was also emphasized. Full article

This study aimed to examine the hepatic and anti-steatotic protective effects of methanolic extract from Carthamus tinctorius (safflower) flowers (SFFE), using a rat model of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), and to examine the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects. Adult male Wistar rats were used for this study. First, T2DM was induced in some rats by feeding them a high-fat diet (HFD) for 4 weeks, followed by a single dose of streptozotocin (STZ) (35 mg/kg, i.p.). Experimental groups included the following five groups (n = 8 in each): control, control + SFFE, T2DM, T2DM + SFFE, and T2DM + SFFE + brusatol (an Nrf2 inhibitor, 2 mg/kg, i.p.). SFFE was administered at a concentration of 300 mg/kg, and all experiments concluded after 8 weeks. Treatments with SFFE significantly reduced fasting blood glucose levels, free fatty acids (FFAs), cholesterol, triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in both the control and T2DM rats, but they failed to reduce fasting insulin levels in these groups. SFFE treatments also improved the liver structure and reduced hepatocyte vacuolization and hepatic levels of triglycerides and cholesterol in T2DM rats, in addition to increasing the hepatic mRNA levels of keap1 and the cytoplasmic levels and nuclear activities of Nrf2 in both the control and T2DM rats. SFFE also stimulated the expression levels of PPARα and CPT-1 but reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA), mRNA levels of SREBP1, fatty acid synthase, and acetyl CoA carboxylase in both the control and T2DM rats; meanwhile, it reduced hepatic mRNA and the nuclear activities of NF-κB and increased levels of glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and heme oxygenase-1 in the livers of both groups of treated rats. Furthermore, SFFE suppressed the levels of caspase-3, Bax, tumor necrosis factor-α, and interleukin-6 in the T2DM rats. Treatment with brusatol prevented all of these effects of SFFE. In conclusion, SFFE suppresses liver damage and hepatic steatosis in T2DM through Nrf2-dependent hypoglycemic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypolipidemic effects. Full article