Search Results (2,826)

In vitro regeneration and flowering systems provide valuable platforms for rose breeding and biotechnological applications. Although the effects of plant growth regulators (PGRs) on Rose regeneration have been extensively studied, the contribution of growth additives, either alone or in combination with PGRs, remains insufficiently understood in Rosa chinensis. This study investigated the effects of PGRs (6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP), 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), and indole-butyric acid (IBA)) combined with three growth additives, putrescine (Put), phloroglucinol (PG), and casein hydrolysate (CH), at different concentrations on the vegetative and reproductive responses of R. chinensis in an in vitro system. No flowering occurred in media without PGRs, regardless of the growth additive treatment, highlighting the essential role of PGRs in floral induction. However, the integration of growth additives with PGRs significantly enhanced regeneration and flowering performance. Among the tested additives, Put showed the strongest stimulatory effect, increasing in vitro flower production and improving floral characteristics. PG promoted several morphological traits, including shoot regeneration and flower stem elongation, but was less effective than Put. CH exhibited limited effects on both vegetative growth and reproductive development. These findings indicate that Put supplementation in PGR-based media is an effective approach for improving regeneration and flowering efficiency in R. chinensis, with potential applications in rose biotechnology and breeding programs. Full article

The production of multiple proteins using a single open reading frame (sORF)/polyprotein system is a powerful strategy for coordinated multi-protein expression in eukaryotes. The most widely used approach relies on 2A peptides, but conventional 2A systems suffer from several limitations, and their viral origin makes them less than ideal for commercial crop biotechnology applications. Self-excising protein (SEP) modules are a promising alternative that enables coordinated production of multiple proteins from a single ORF encoding a polyprotein precursor. SEPs provide distinct advantages over conventional systems and effectively address many of the limitations inherent to the 2A approach. An SEP module is a fusion protein composed of an N-terminal excising domain (NED) and a C-terminal excising domain (CED) joined by a peptide linker. Using this architecture, a panel of SEP modules has been developed by pairing an engineered intein (serving as the NED) with various CEDs, including a second engineered intein, a 2A-like peptide, and ubiquitin. These modules release multiple proteins from the polyprotein precursor with nearly stoichiometric expression and clean cleavage. Coordinated coexpression using SEPs has been successfully demonstrated in several eukaryotic systems, including yeast, mammalian cells, and plants. This review offers a comprehensive analysis of the SEP technology while underscoring its major applications. Full article

Background/Objectives: Hatching egg sanitization protocols are primarily developed to protect embryos during the embryonic stage from exposure to horizontally transmitted pathogenic bacteria, thereby ensuring their survival. This study aimed to evaluate the antibacterial efficacy of Cymbopogon nardus (L.) Rendle (Poaceae) essential oil, alone or combined with UV-C radiation, as a potential sanitization protocol for hatching eggs. Methods: Unwashed table eggs, used as an experimental model, were sprayed with C. nardus essential oil at two concentrations (0.625–1.25%) and exposed to UV-C radiation for different exposure times (0–10 min). Mesophilic bacterial load and the physical characteristics of the eggshell were subsequently evaluated. Results: A significant reduction in the mesophilic bacterial load on the eggshell surface was observed following the application of the treatments. C. nardus essential oil promoted reductions greater than 2 log₁₀ CFU/mL, demonstrating strong antimicrobial activity. The application of UV-C radiation alone resulted in a progressive decrease in the bacterial population, reaching approximately 2 log₁₀ CFU/mL after 10 min of exposure. However, the combination of the essential oil and UV-C radiation showed the highest antibacterial efficacy, reducing bacterial counts to below 1 log₁₀ CFU/mL, indicating that the combination of the two technologies was more effective than either treatment applied alone. No significant macroscopic changes were observed in the physical characteristics of the eggshells. Conclusions: The combined application of C. nardus essential oil and UV-C radiation on the eggshell surface may represent a promising sanitization protocol with potential application for hatching eggs. Full article

Fructans and fructooligosaccharides (FOSs) are structurally diverse fructose-based carbohydrates synthesized from sucrose through the coordinated action of fructosyltransferases. These compounds are widely distributed in plants and have attracted increasing attention due to their dual relevance in plant physiology and human nutrition. In plants, fructans function as dynamic carbon reserves and play key roles in tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought, cold, and salinity. In parallel, their selective fermentability and prebiotic properties have positioned them as valuable functional ingredients in food and nutraceutical applications. This review provides an updated overview of fructan and FOS metabolism, focusing on their biosynthetic pathways, structural diversity, and physiological roles in plants. Particular attention is given to the occurrence and potential functions of fructans in fruits, a topic that remains comparatively underexplored. We also discuss recent advances in strategies aimed at enhancing fructan accumulation through breeding, metabolic engineering, and synthetic biology approaches. Finally, emerging opportunities for the biotechnological exploitation of fructan metabolism are highlighted, including crop biofortification, development of functional foods, and the improvement of plant resilience to environmental stress. Full article

Fruit-specific promoters (FSPs) are a class of regulatory DNA sequences that direct transgene expression exclusively in fruit tissues or during specific stages of fruit development. They are indispensable molecular tools in modern agricultural biotechnology, with broad applications in fruit quality improvement, nutritional enhancement, and shelf-life extension. By functioning as precise molecular switches that regulate fruit-specific gene expression, FSPs overcome the limitations of constitutive promoters and facilitate precision molecular breeding for fruit quality improvement. This review systematically summarizes recent advances in FSP research. First, based on their spatiotemporal expression patterns, FSPs are classified into four categories: immature fruit-specific, fruit ripening-specific, whole fruit development stage-specific, and dual-stage (immature fruit/ripening) promoters. Their origins, expression characteristics, and key cis-regulatory elements are comprehensively summarized. Second, the complex transcriptional regulatory network governing FSP activity is discussed from the perspectives of cis-regulatory elements, major transcription factor families (such as MADS-box and NAC proteins), and epigenetic regulation, including DNA methylation and histone modifications. Furthermore, recent advances in key methodologies, including promoter cloning, functional characterization, and CRISPR/Cas9-mediated precise editing of cis-regulatory elements, are reviewed, together with their applications in crop genetic improvement, plant molecular farming, and fundamental molecular biology research. Finally, this review highlights the major challenges limiting the application of FSPs, including the relatively weak transcriptional activity of natural promoters, insufficient tissue specificity, and limited cross-species applicability. Future perspectives are discussed, emphasizing the integration of artificial intelligence-assisted promoter design, high-throughput screening, and single-cell omics technologies to develop finely tunable synthetic promoters. These advances are expected to provide both a theoretical foundation and technical support for precision molecular breeding in fruit crops. Full article

The wild dragon fruit (Selenicereus spp.) with orange peel and fuchsia pulp, known as “Naranja de Churuja”, represents a promising plant genetic resource from the Amazonas region of Peru. The objective of this study was to develop an in vitro micropropagation protocol for this local accession by evaluating shoot induction and proliferation, in vitro rooting, and ex vitro acclimatization. During the multiplication phase, nine combinations of 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) were evaluated using cladode segments. Shoot induction was high in most treatments (95.56–100.00%), and the combination of 2.0 mg L⁻¹ BAP + 0.1 mg L⁻¹ IBA produced the highest number of shoots per explant (9.67), whereas 1.0 mg L⁻¹ BAP without IBA promoted the greatest shoot elongation (2.34 cm). During the rooting phase, 1.50 mg L⁻¹ IBA produced the highest number of roots per explant (3.41), whereas 1.00 mg L⁻¹ IBA generated the greatest shoot length (4.12 cm). During ex vitro acclimatization, all plants survived (100% survival), but growth depended significantly on the substrate, with the moss treatment promoting the greatest development. In conclusion, an efficient micropropagation protocol was established for the wild “Naranja de Churuja” accession, with potential for mass propagation, germplasm conservation, and future biotechnological applications, including genetic transformation and genome editing. Full article

This review aims to assess and synthesize the recent scientific literature on bioactive phytochemicals derived from Cyanobacteria and microalgae, with a focus on their pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. A total of 837 articles published over the past seven years were retrieved from multiple databases, including studies reporting antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and other pharmacological and nutritional properties. After applying defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 86 studies were selected for detailed analysis. Among these, 28% focused on nutritional and dietary applications, 26% on antioxidant activities, 22% on other pharmacological potentials, 13% on antimicrobial effects, and 11% on anti-inflammatory properties. The most frequently studied genera were Arthrospira/Limnospira (Cyanobacteria) (29 articles), followed by Chlorella (Chlorophyta) (13), Nannochloropsis (10), and Phaeodactylum (Bacillariophyceae) (8). Regarding the types of products studied, crude extracts or biomass were the most common (68.96%), followed by pigments (10.34%), lipids (8.04%), proteins (6.89%), and polysaccharides (5.74%). In terms of methodology, 72% of the studies employed in vitro approaches, with 42% using non-cellular assays and 30% using cellular assays, while in vivo and in silico approaches were used in 23% and 5% of studies, respectively. The available literature indicates that Cyanobacteria- and microalgae-based products are a promising source of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications. However, as most of the current evidence remains preliminary and derived largely from in vitro studies, these findings should be regarded as an early indication of potential that requires further in vivo and clinical validation. Full article

Helichrysum arenarium (L.) Moench is a European native species typically associated with dry, sunny, sandy, and nutrient-poor habitats. In European herbal practice, preparations from H. arenarium inflorescences are traditionally used for the symptomatic relief of digestive complaints. Polyphenolic constituents, particularly flavonoid and chalcone derivatives, are among the most characteristic compounds detected in the inflorescences. Intensive harvesting and degradation of natural habitats have increased pressure on wild populations. Since H. arenarium is legally protected in many countries, biotechnological approaches for plant biomass production represent a promising alternative. In the present study, shoot and callus cultures were established, and detailed extract profiling was performed using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with diode-array detection and electrospray ionization multistage mass spectrometry (UHPLC-DAD-ESI-MS³). Cytotoxic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, wound-healing, anti-collagenase, and anti-hyaluronidase activities were also evaluated. In vitro-derived materials were compared with inflorescences and shoots of the maternal plant. The analyzed materials showed pronounced tissue-dependent metabolic differentiation. The highest callus growth rate was observed for the Ha-C-1 line, which also accumulated the highest levels of chlorogenic acid (25.80 ± 3.09 mg/g dry extract) and isochlorogenic acid A (55.83 ± 13.78 mg/g dry extract). Apigenin was detected in the inflorescence extract, reaching 3.55 ± 1.42 mg/g dry extract. The extracts did not markedly affect HaCaT viability at 15.63–500 µg/mL, while the strongest bioactivities were observed for inflorescence and maternal plant extracts. Full article

Plant regeneration demonstrates the remarkable developmental plasticity of plants, enabling tissue repair, organ formation, and adaptation to environmental challenges through cellular reprogramming and redifferentiation. This capacity underpins numerous horticultural and biotechnological applications, including grafting, micropropagation, somatic embryogenesis, organogenesis, and genetic transformation. While regeneration has traditionally been explained by the coordinated actions of auxin and cytokinin together with key developmental regulators such as WUSCHEL, BABY BOOM, and WUSCHEL-related homeobox genes, recent studies indicate that regeneration is also influenced by stress signaling, metabolic reprogramming, reactive oxygen species, and epigenetic regulation. Among these regulatory components, polyamines have emerged as important modulators of cell division, differentiation, stress responses, and morphogenic competence during in vitro regeneration. Likewise, autophagy, a conserved intracellular recycling pathway, has gained increasing attention for its role in maintaining cellular homeostasis, facilitating metabolic adaptation, and supporting developmental transitions under tissue culture conditions. This review summarizes current knowledge on the independent roles of polyamines and autophagy in plant cell reprogramming and in vitro regeneration, with particular emphasis on wound responses, somatic embryogenesis, and organogenesis. In addition, it highlights common physiological processes through which these pathways may influence regeneration and identifies the limited understanding of their potential relationship as an important direction for future research. Full article

The dramatic rise in global aquaculture has brought renewed focus on filamentous fungi impacting fish health and aquafeeds. The fungal genus Aspergillus has a Janus-like role in aquaculture. On the pathogenic side, opportunistic pathogens like A. flavus, A. niger and A. fumigatus cause outbreaks of aspergillosis, with granulomatous lesions and significant mortality, especially in fish with impaired immunity and/or poor environmental conditions. Toxigenic strains of A. flavus and A. parasiticus also contaminate aquafeeds with aflatoxins, some of the most toxic natural hepatotoxins and carcinogens, which have been shown to affect growth, immunity and aflatoxin residues in edible fish fillets. On the positive side, non-toxigenic strains of A. niger, A. oryzae and A. awamori are increasingly used as fungal probiotics, solid-state fermenters to upgrade plant protein feed supplements, and as sources of industrially useful hydrolytic enzymes, secondary metabolites and antifungal compounds. Synthesizing evidence from over 90 peer-reviewed studies, this narrative review elucidates how species, strain, and rearing context jointly determine whether Aspergillus behaves as a pathogen or as a functional additive. We highlight knowledge gaps, offer an interpretative model and suggest practical strategies to limit risks and leverage the biotechnological uses of Aspergillus for sustainable aquaculture. The novelty of this review lies in integrating, within a single finfish-focused framework, the three usually separate faces of Aspergillus—pathogen, aflatoxin producer, and functional feed additive—and in translating this dual nature into practical, strain-level guidance for aquaculture. Full article

This study evaluated the effects of different seed priming treatments on the ex situ propagation of the Balkan endemic species Silene sendtneri Boiss. Seeds were subjected to hydropriming, silicic acid, salicylic acid, proline and combined salicylic acid–proline treatments prior to in vitro cultivation. Following aseptic germination, seedlings were transferred to Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 1.0 mg L⁻¹ BA and 0.2 mg L⁻¹ IBA, and their shoot multiplication response, rooting, and acclimatization success were assessed. Seed priming significantly influenced subsequent propagation stages. Plantlets derived from seeds treated with 0.5 mM salicylic acid and 10 mM proline + 0.5 mM salicylic acid exhibited the highest multiplication rates, superior morphological quality, increased rooting frequency, and the greatest acclimatization success. Hydropriming and higher proline concentrations generally resulted in reduced propagation performance. The results indicate that seed priming can influence multiple stages of the ex situ propagation process and may represent a simple and practical addition to micropropagation protocols aimed at improving conservation-oriented plant production of endemic species. Full article

Cystoseira sensu lato (s.l.) (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) form structurally complex marine forests along the warm-temperate coasts of the Mediterranean Sea and the eastern Atlantic Ocean. They are experiencing widespread decline, yet their conservation and restoration are hindered by taxonomic uncertainty. Within Cystoseira sensu stricto (s.s.), species boundaries among taxa traditionally referred to as C. compressa, C. foeniculacea, C. humilis (including the C. canariensis morphotype), and C. pustulata have long been debated due to the high plasticity and partial overlap of diagnostic morphological traits. Here we reassess species boundaries within the Cystoseira s.s. complex using an integrative approach combining morphology, ecology, and multilocus genetic data. We collected specimens from 20 sites spanning the Mediterranean–Atlantic distribution. Genomic DNA was extracted from 220 specimens and Sanger sequencing generated 243 new sequences (ITS2: n = 99; cox1: n = 88; rbcL–rbcS: n = 56). We inferred single-locus and concatenated phylogenies, reconstructed haplotype networks, and applied multiple single-locus species delimitation approaches to test the robustness of inferred boundaries. We consistently recovered two primary lineages corresponding to C. foeniculacea and a C. compressa complex, the latter including specimens historically identified as C. pustulata and the C. humilis with the C. canariensis morphotype. Within an integrative framework that prioritises cross-locus concordance and diagnosability, we recognise two species-level lineages in Cystoseira s.s. and treat the morpho-ecologically coherent entities within C. compressa at the variety rank. Accordingly, we propose the new status and combination Cystoseira compressa var. pustulata (Ercegović) D’Ambros Burchio & Falace, comb. et stat. nov. Full article

The skin barrier is essential for maintaining epidermal homeostasis and preventing transepidermal water loss (TEWL). This study investigated the ability of a Hyssopus officinalis cell culture hydroethanolic extract to support epidermal barrier function by modulating ceramide-related enzymes and structural proteins. Hydroethanolic extracts from cell cultures grown under light and dark conditions were characterized by high-resolution mass spectrometry. Dark-grown cultures accumulated higher levels of rosmarinic acid, hydroxytyrosol glycosides, and polymethoxyflavones than light-grown cultures and intact plants. In keratinocytes, the extract from dark-grown cells (HoEx) at 0.002% w/v exhibited significant antioxidant activity (20% ROS reduction) and increased β-glucocerebrosidase (GBA) activity (25%) as well as the expression of β-glucocerebrosidase (44%), serine palmitoyltransferase (34%), involucrin (17%), and filaggrin (44%) compared with control. In human skin explants, 0.5% w/w HoEx increased ceramide content (36%) and total epidermal lipid levels (99%) relative to control. In a clinical study involving 10 volunteers with mechanically stressed skin, 0.5% w/w HoEx increased GBA activity by 30% and reduced TEWL by 15%, whereas placebo treatment led to a 55% decrease in GBA activity and a 25% increase in TEWL. Collectively, these findings indicate that HoEx modulates multiple epidermal pathways involved in lipid processing and differentiation under in vitro, ex vivo, and stressed in vivo conditions. While the study was not designed to establish mechanistic causality, the coordinated modulation of ceramide-related enzymes, structural proteins, and TEWL suggests that HoEx may support epidermal barrier function within the limits of the tested models. HoEx therefore represents a standardized source of bioactive compounds with potential relevance for dermocosmetic applications. Full article

Machine learning has become an important tool in plant genomic prediction for modeling complex genotype–phenotype relationships and improving breeding decisions. However, many high-performing models, particularly ensemble and deep learning approaches, remain difficult to interpret, limiting their biological applicability. This review summarizes major machine learning methods and explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) approaches used in plant genomics, including SHAP (SHapley Additive exPlanations), LIME (Local Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations), attention mechanisms, permutation importance, tree-based feature importance, and gradient-based attribution methods. XAI can help identify influential SNPs, genomic regions, candidate genes, regulatory elements, and omics features associated with complex traits. For example, SHAP analysis in an almond germplasm collection identified a genomic region associated with shelling fraction, illustrating how XAI can generate testable hypotheses for further validation. The review further discusses applications in trait prediction, breeding, functional genomics, and multi-omics integration. Importantly, we emphasize major limitations, including data bias, model instability, correlated genomic markers, limited model transferability, and the common misconception that feature importance implies biological causality. We recommend integrating XAI with linkage disequilibrium pruning, stability assessment, biological annotation, and experimental validation before prioritizing candidate genes. Overall, XAI should be considered a framework for model interpretation, feature prioritization, and hypothesis generation rather than a replacement for experimental validation in plant genomics and breeding. Full article