Search Results (466)

Capsicum annuum is a Solanaceae crop that is sensitive to cold, which affects its growth and development upon prolonged exposure and ultimately reduces yield. In response, a complex regulatory network of cold-responsive genes is activated. Earlier studies have shown that SnRKs play a positive role in enhancing cold tolerance in different crops, including peppers; however, the underlying molecular mechanisms and downstream targets have yet to be fully elucidated. In this study, yeast hybrid screening using CaSnRK2.4 identified a potential interacting partner CaPDX1. The interaction between CaPDX1 and CaSnRK2.4 was further confirmed through Y2H, luciferase complementation, and bimolecular fluorescence complementation assays. Subcellular localization showed that CaPDX1 and CaSnRK2.4 are localized in the nucleus as well as in the cell membrane. Silencing of CaPDX1 through VIGS showed increased susceptibility of peppers to cold stress, negatively influenced antioxidant enzymatic activities, and increased relative electrolyte leakage and malondialdehyde levels. Conversely, transient overexpression of CaPDX1 in peppers enhanced cold tolerance by reducing the accumulation of REL and MDA. Ectopic expression of CaPDX1 in Arabidopsis thaliana significantly improved its cold tolerance, accompanied by enhanced activity of antioxidant enzymes and increased chlorophyll content. In summary, these results indicate that CaPDX1 is a positive regulator of cold tolerance in pepper, and its mechanism of action involves interaction with CaSnRK2.4 and the regulation of physiological and molecular responses in pepper under cold stress. Full article

Nucleoside diphosphate kinase (NDPK) is a ubiquitous enzyme that maintains cellular nucleotide balance by catalyzing the transfer of phosphate groups between nucleoside diphosphates and triphosphates. Although the evolutionary conservation of NDPK is well established, several aspects of its diversification and functional adaptation remain unclear. The central question of this work is how NDPK evolved across plant species, focusing on the Solanaceae family and how its evolutionary history relates to the diversification of its cellular functions. Phylogenetic and molecular dating analyses showed that the division between NDPK groups 1 and 2 predates the divergence of plants and animals, whereas plant-specific NDPK types (I–IV) originated early in streptophyte evolution. Solanaceae species retain a conserved set of NDPK genes, including a type III isoform with features consistent with mitochondrial targeting. Functional assays in isolated potato tuber mitochondria revealed high NDPK activity in the intermembrane space, sustaining ADP supply to oxidative phosphorylation. Activation of mitochondrial NDPK induced a phosphorylative respiratory state, which partially dissipated the mitochondrial membrane potential and significantly reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. GDP and UDP were preferentially phosphorylated, conferring a stronger antioxidant effect than other nucleotides. Consistently, the mitochondrial isoform StNDPK3 was upregulated during tuber development. Together, our results demonstrate that NDPKs are evolutionarily conserved yet functionally diversified enzymes in plants and identify mitochondrial NDPK as a key modulator of mitochondrial redox homeostasis. By linking nucleotide metabolism to Δψ_m control and ROS suppression, this study highlights a previously underappreciated antioxidant mechanism that integrates mitochondrial energy metabolism with developmental and stress-related processes in plants. Full article

Scopolamine, also known as hyoscine, is a naturally occurring tropane alkaloid derived from plants of the Solanaceae family. Clinically, the compound has long been used for the prevention of motion sickness and postoperative nausea and vomiting, as well as for ophthalmological procedures requiring mydriasis and cycloplegia. However, beyond these established indications, increasing attention has been directed toward its broader neuropharmacological actions. This narrative review aims to summarise current knowledge regarding the pharmacological properties of scopolamine, with particular emphasis on its mechanisms of action and emerging implications in neuroscience and neuropsychiatric disorders. Scopolamine acts as a non-selective antagonist of muscarinic receptor subtypes M1–M5, interfering with cholinergic neurotransmission. Experimental and clinical studies demonstrate that scopolamine induces transient cognitive impairment. This property has led to its widespread use as a pharmacological model of Alzheimer’s disease, enabling investigation of cholinergic contributions to cognitive decline. More recently, several early clinical studies suggested that intravenous administration may produce rapid reductions in depressive symptoms, possibly through modulation of glutamatergic neurotransmission and activation of mTORC1-dependent synaptic plasticity pathways in the prefrontal cortex. Nevertheless, subsequent trials have yielded inconsistent results, and the therapeutic relevance of these findings remains uncertain. Current evidence indicates that scopolamine’s neuropsychiatric effects likely arise from complex interactions between cholinergic, glutamatergic, and neurotrophic signalling systems. Taken together, scopolamine represents both a valuable experimental tool for studying cholinergic function and a mechanistic framework for the development of novel therapeutics targeting rapid neuroplastic processes in neuropsychiatric disorders. Full article

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a globally important vegetable crop and a key model species for studying reproductive development in other Solanaceae members with edible fleshy fruits, such as eggplant, sweet and hot peppers, and Physalis spp. The morphogenesis and patterning of tomato floral organs fundamentally determine fruit yield and quality. Recent advances in high-throughput sequencing and gene editing have significantly deepened our understanding of the molecular network regulating tomato reproductive development. This process, from the transition of vegetative shoot apical meristem to the inflorescence meristem, forming floral meristems with primordia of sepals, petals, stamens, carpels, and fruits, is precisely coordinated by a genetic network involving homeobox and other types of transcription factors, along with signaling pathways. This review systematically outlines the core regulatory network, with an emphasis on the MADS-domain transcription factor family and its associated ABCDE model. Integrating insights from hormone signaling and mutant phenotypes, we summarize the maintenance of inflorescence meristem identity, the specification of floral meristems, and the morphogenetic patterns and core gene regulatory mechanisms for each floral whorl in tomato. We further extend this framework to the flower–fruit continuum, examining how carpel development, floral meristem termination, and ovule differentiation influence fruit morphology, locule number, pericarp structure, and metabolic traits. Finally, we discuss the integration of floral organ development with molecular design breeding and formulate a forward-looking research agenda that translates floral regulatory mechanisms to breeding strategies for yield, uniformity, and fruit quality. This synthesis provides a theoretical foundation and genetic resources for the genetic improvement of tomato flower architecture and its underlying regulatory mechanisms. Full article

The escalating demand for sustainable, nutrient-dense feeds underscores the need to valorize the agro-industrial byproducts utilizing innovative bioconversion strategies. In this context, we have studied the feasibility of incorporating tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) cultivation residues into Black Soldier Fly (BSF) larvae diets to produce high-protein insect meals. These residues are known to contain the naturally occurring toxic steroidal alkaloids tomatidine and α-tomatine, prohibiting their incorporation into human and animal diets. Herein, the tomato cultivation biomass was dried and mill-ground, and its varying volumes were incorporated into standard poultry feed (seven diet levels with 0–100% biomass inclusion) and tested in BSF-larvae-rearing trials to produce insect meals. The optimal results with respect to larvae growth, protein accumulation (highest value = 30.61%), lipid–fiber content, and antioxidant capacity were determined for insect meals obtained from BSF larvae reared with a ration composed of 40% tomato plant biomass. In addition, the toxicity of this insect meal was substantially low, as a consequence of the observed groundbreaking reduction in the contained toxic steroidal alkaloids α-tomatine and its aglycone tomatidine. The results herein reveal the efficacy of the BSF-larvae-rearing process in acting as a biological filter for the bioconversion of the toxic tomato cultivation waste into a functional, safe, and protein-rich livestock feed, supporting the principles of a circular economy. Full article

The threat of plant diseases in economically significant crops of the Solanaceae family, especially tomatoes and potatoes, is a significant challenge to global food security, highlighting the necessity of fast and convenient diagnostic methods. This paper introduces an enhanced MobileNetV2 model to perform automated disease classification through the use of a domain-specific self-supervised learning (SSL) pretraining approach. The model was first trained on 54,303 unlabeled plant images to learn basic botanical representations, followed by fine-tuning under six experimental conditions to optimize disease classification performance. Findings show that SSL pretrained weights consistently outperform traditional ImageNet-based transfer learning, achieving 0.9158 overall accuracy and a weighted F1-score of 0.9143 in joint tomato and potato classification. The model demonstrates strong cross-crop generalization, correctly identifying Early Blight and Late Blight with accuracies of 0.9600 and 0.9359, respectively, and effectively separating disease-specific visual symptoms from host morphology. Confusion matrix analysis further indicates a reduction in misclassification of visually similar necrotic lesions, a common challenge in supervised models. Overall, the proposed SSL architecture enhances the performance of lightweight convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to a large extent, providing a strong, computationally efficient solution for field-deployable diagnostics in precision agriculture, particularly for tomato and potato crops. Full article

Oyamel forest, Abies religiosa (Kunth) Schltdl. et Cham., is a high-mountain ecosystem that contains abundant biodiversity, contributes to supporting traditional medicine, and represents a reservoir of medicinal plants. Despite this medicinal relevance, the potential of the flora of the Mexican Oyamel forest from Santuario del Agua Presa Corral de Piedra (SAPCP), Mexico, has been scarcely studied. This review focused on identifying the flora of the SAPCP which has been reported as medicinal resource in the literature through the recovery of ethnomedicinal uses and their proven pharmacological effects. In addition, phytochemical reports of the SAPCP medicinal flora and their pharmacological activities were integrated and analyzed to estimate their medicinal potential. The results showed that the SAPCP forest represents an important source of medicinal plants, with 39% of the total species reporting at least one ethnomedicinal use belonging to different taxonomic families, but mainly included Asteraceae, Lamiaceae, Rosaceae, and Solanaceae. The most commonly observed ethnomedicinal uses among all the species were against inflammation, infections, diarrhea, and diabetes, while antioxidant, antidiabetic, and anti-inflammatory effects were predominantly proven as pharmacological effects. The phytochemical results revealed a great diversity of secondary metabolites, although flavonoids, phenolic acids, and triterpenes were observed in a major number of species, many of which have been proven to exert anti-inflammatory, antidiabetic, and antibacterial effects through several action mechanisms. In conclusion, these results highlight the importance of sustainable management and the conservation of forest species, as they provide a reservoir of medicinal species that produce bioactive metabolites. Full article

The FAR1-RELATED SEQUENCES (FRS) gene family plays a crucial role in light signaling, stress adaptation, and developmental regulation processes directly impacting crop growth and yield. This study identified 49 GmFRS genes unevenly distributed across 17 soybean chromosomes, phylogenetically classified into seven subgroups (I–VII), with subgroup VII forming an exclusive evolutionary subgroup alongside orthologs from Poaceae and Solanaceae. Members within each subfamily share conserved motif compositions and similar exon/intron structures. Gene duplication and selection pressure analyses revealed that the GmFRS family expanded primarily through WGD duplication events and then non-syntenic gene duplication, with all members evolving under purifying selection. Promoter analysis identified abundant cis-acting elements implicated in responses to light, phytohormones and other abiotic stimuli. Organ-/tissue-specific expression profiling demonstrated organ-preferential expression for family members, with the highest transcript levels observed in flowers (32.7%). Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) analysis further indicated that the expression of most GmFRS genes is light-inducible and exhibits marked sensitivity to far-red light. This study may elucidate soybean FRS family functions in light signaling, development, and stress adaptation, while also providing foundational insights for molecular breeding in Glycine max. Full article

Pepino (Solanum muricatum Aiton) is highly susceptible to Alternaria solani-induced early blight, a well-studied pathogen in other Solanaceae but rarely investigated in pepino. Although branching critically shapes plant architecture and environmental adaptability, its relationship with disease resistance remains unclear. Field trials compared natural growth (W1) and manual bud removal (W2); W2 showed a disease incidence of 51.0% ± 4.8, significantly lower than that of W1 (64% ± 4.8), and a reduced disease index (DI) of 3.79 ± 1.46 at 30 days after treatment. Pot experiments evaluated three plant growth regulators (PGRs): flumetralin (TA), pendimethalin (TB), and butralin (TC). All suppressed lateral buds, with TA most effective—achieving a 75.25% ± 1.23 bud suppression rate (BSR) and 61.00% ± 1.46 bud suppression efficacy (BSE), along with shorter plant height (16.0 ± 1.4 cm), thicker stems (7.43 mm ± 0.29), and larger leaves (12.39 cm² ± 0.73) compared to the control. Under A. solani stress, PGR-treated plants exhibited markedly enhanced resistance, as evidenced by smaller lesion areas, elevated superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD) activity, reduced malondialdehyde (MDA), and increased defense hormones—especially salicylic acid (SA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA). TA boosted SA and IAA by 2.25× and 2.35× compared to the control. These findings demonstrate that PGRs mediated bud suppression not only optimizes plant architecture but also strengthens antioxidant and hormonal defenses, offering a sustainable strategy for pepino production. Full article

Seed imbibition and germination under water stress conditions are critical determinants of successful crop establishment; therefore, understanding imbibition responses under osmotic stress is essential for improving seed quality assessment and management strategies for crop production under suboptimal water availability. This study aimed to analyze the effect of reduced water potential on the imbibition curve and triphasic pattern of seeds in several Solanaceae species. The study used seeds from three Solanaceae crops—chili (Capsicum annuum L., varieties Simpatik and Sempurna), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., varieties Niki and Rempai), and eggplant (Solanum melongena L., varieties Tangguh and Provita). The seeds were subjected to various levels of osmotic stress using polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) to simulate water potentials of 0.00, −0.30, −1.90, and −4.10 MPa. Lower water potential in the growing medium reduced the seed’s ability to absorb the water. The triphasic pattern consistently appeared only in chili seeds, whereas in tomatoes and eggplants, it varied across varieties and water potential conditions. Lower water potential delayed the end of Phase I and prolonged the duration of Phase II. These findings confirm that the standard imbibition pattern cannot be generalized to all seeds, and therefore, the imbibition response is specific to seed type, variety, and germination environment. Full article

The Solanaceae family includes some of the most economically and agronomically important crops, such as tomato, potato, pepper and eggplant. Recently, CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing has emerged as a powerful tool for functional genomics and crop improvement, enabling precise and efficient genetic modifications. This review provides an overview of CRISPR/Cas-mediated genome editing technologies and their applications in the major cultivated Solanaceae crops. The use of CRISPR/Cas9 systems for targeted gene knockout and knock-in approaches is described, together with advances in precision editing strategies such as base editing and prime editing, which allow precise nucleotide substitutions and small sequence changes. The expanding CRISPR toolbox is further explored through alternative Cas proteins, such as Cas12a and Cas13 with distinct targeting features and potential applications. Emerging delivery strategies, including ribonucleoprotein-mediated editing in protoplasts, virus-induced gene editing (VIGE), de novo induction of meristems and genome editing by grafting, represent promising approaches to generate transgene-free edited plants. In addition, the current status of field trials involving genome-edited Solanaceae crops in Europe is outlined, considering the regulatory landscape and legislative requirements for their release in the environment. Despite regulatory constraints, some genome-edited crops have reached the market, highlighting their potential to contribute to sustainable agriculture and crop improvement. Full article

Oxalis tuberosa (oca) is a tuber crop native to the Andes, valued for its nutrition but understudied genetically. Its strict short-day (SD) tuberization suggests a photoperiodic control mechanism similar to that of potato, where an FT-like protein acts as a mobile “tuberigen” signal. To identify this key regulator, we generated a de novo genome assembly for oca using long- and short-read sequencing. Integrated transcriptomic analysis of leaves under long-day (LD) and SD conditions, along with stems, roots, and tubers, enabled gene annotation and expression analysis. Our study focused on the Phosphatidylethanolamine-Binding Protein (PEBP) gene family, the source of florigen and tuberigen signals. We identified 23 OtPEBP genes and characterized their expression patterns. Among these, we discovered three FT-like homologs that are specifically and strongly upregulated in leaves under SD conditions. We therefore propose these genes as the prime candidates for the mobile tuberigen signal in oca. This work provides the foundational genomic resource for O. tuberosa and advances our understanding of the conserved photoperiodic network controlling storage organ formation beyond the Solanaceae family. Full article

Spodoptera eridania (Cramer, 1792) is increasingly reported from potato (Solanum tuberosum L., Solanaceae) in the Brazilian Cerrado, where infestations can cause substantial yield losses. Insecticides may alter the behavioral ecology of agricultural pests. The adaptability of S. eridania mediated by insecticides, especially regarding oviposition behavior, remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial distribution and oviposition traits of S. eridania on potato plants under chlorfenapyr spraying. Egg masses were collected weekly, day after planting (DAP), totaling 322 collections up to the 91st DAP. Evaluations included the vertical plant strata (upper, middle and lower thirds), leaf surface (adaxial vs. abaxial), and density of scales covering egg masses (high, low, or absent). Results showed that nearly 90% of egg masses were deposited in the upper and middle thirds of the plants. Insecticide spraying modulated oviposition behavior because females preferred the middle third in treated plants, whereas oviposition predominated in the upper third of untreated plants. Moreover, under chlorfenapyr, 93.0 ± 1.2% of egg masses were placed on the abaxial surface. These findings highlight the role of insecticide-mediated behavioral shifts in shaping host-pest interactions and provide relevant insights for integrated pest management of S. eridania in potato field systems. Full article

The pepper Bs2 resistance gene confers resistance to susceptible Solanaceae plants against pathogenic strains of Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria carrying the avrBs2 avirulence gene. Previously, we generated Bs2-transgenic Citrus sinensis plants that exhibited enhanced resistance to citrus canker caused by Xanthomonas citri subsp. citri (Xcc), although the underlying mechanisms remained unknown. To elucidate the molecular basis of the early defense response, we performed a comparative transcriptomic analysis of Bs2-expressing and non-transgenic plants 48 h after Xcc inoculation. A total of 2022 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 1356 up-regulated and 666 down-regulated genes. In Bs2-plants, 36.8% of the up-regulated DEGs were associated with defense responses and biotic stress. Functional annotation revealed major changes in genes encoding receptor-like kinases, transcription factors, hormone biosynthesis enzymes, pathogenesis-related proteins, secondary metabolism, and cell wall modification. Among hormone-related pathways, genes linked to ethylene biosynthesis and signaling were the most strongly regulated. Consistently, endogenous ethylene levels increased in Bs2-plants following Xcc infection, and treatment with an ethylene-releasing compound enhanced resistance in non-transgenic plants. Overall, our results indicate the Bs2 expression activates a complex defense network in citrus and may represent a valuable strategy for controlling canker and other Xanthomonas-induced diseases. Full article

Agricultural systems in Mediterranean-type climates are increasingly threatened by drought, salinity, extreme temperatures, heavy metal contamination, and pathogen pressure, all of which undermine crop productivity and agroecosystem stability. In this context, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), natural symbionts of most terrestrial plants, emerge as key biological agents capable of enhancing crop resilience. Following PRISMA guidelines, this systematic review synthesizes current knowledge on the role of AMF in mitigating abiotic and biotic stresses, highlighting their potential as a central component of sustainable Mediterranean agriculture. The available evidence demonstrates that AMF symbiosis significantly increases plant tolerance to multiple stressors across major crop families, including Poaceae, Fabaceae, Solanaceae, and Asteraceae. Under abiotic constraints, AMF improve water and nutrient uptake via extensive hyphal networks, modulate ion homeostasis under salinity, enhance tolerance to thermal extremes, and reduce heavy metal toxicity by immobilizing contaminants. Regarding biotic stresses, AMF induce systemic resistance to pathogens, stimulate secondary metabolite production that deters herbivores, and suppress parasitic nematode populations. Moreover, co-inoculation with other biostimulants, such as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria, shows synergistic benefits, further improving crop productivity and resource-use efficiency. Overall, AMF represent an effective and multifunctional nature-based tool for improving the sustainability of Mediterranean agroecosystems. However, further research is required to evaluate AMF performance under simultaneous multiple stress factors, thereby reflecting real-world conditions and enabling a more integrated understanding of their agronomic potential. Full article