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Antimicrobial infectious disease has become a major problem in the world. It has been found as its continual distribution is at extremely frightening rate. The most curable technique is the design and synthesis of effective nano-based drugs as green alternative. In this study, ZnO and Co3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were produced from their precursor salts in the volume ratios of 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1 with Solanum lycopersicum leaf as a capping and reducing agent. Characterizations were performed using TGA/DTA, XRD, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, SAED, UV-Vis, and FTIR techniques. After 450°C and 500°C, ZnO and Co3O4 NPs were found to be thermally stable, respectively. For the ZnO and Co3O4 NPs in 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1 volume ratios, respectively, their average crystalline sizes were 51, 20, 29 and 26, 21 and 28 nm. The degree of crystallinity is confirmed by SEM in conjunction with TEM-HRTEM, and SAED. Among the numerous volume ratios, Co3O4 (1:3) and Co3O4 (1:1) showed 100% promised activity against Alternaria solani pathogen. Antimicrobial infectious disease has become a major serious problem in the modern world. It has been found as its continual distribution is at an extremely frightening rate. The most curable technique for this worldwide issue is the design and synthesis of effective nano-based drugs as green alternative solutions. In this study, ZnO and Co3O4 nanoparticles (NPs) were produced from their respective precursor salts in the volume ratios of 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1 with Solanum lycopersicum leaf as a capping and reducing agent. Characterizations were performed using TGA/DTA, XRD, SEM, TEM, HRTEM, SAED, UV-Vis, and FTIR techniques. After 450°C and 500°C, greenly synthesized ZnO and Co3O4 NPs were found to be thermally stable, respectively. For the ZnO and Co3O4 synthesized in 1:3, 1:1, and 3:1 volume ratios, respectively, their average crystalline sizes were 51, 20, 29 and 26, 21 and 28 nm. The degree of crystallinity is confirmed by SEM examination in conjunction with TEM-HRTEM, and SAED. Among the numerous volume ratios, Co3O4 (1:3) and Co3O4 (1:1) showed 100% promised activity against Alternaria solani pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In modern agriculture, sustainable production and efficiency are unimaginable without the use of agrochemicals such as pesticides, fertilisers, herbicides, etc. Nanotechnology has the potential to augment food quality, plant protection, detection of plant and animal diseases, monitoring of plant growth, global food production, and seed quality. The potential for a wide range of applications makes a basic understanding of nanotechnology important. This article presents an introduction to nanotechnology and discusses the implications of it for the tomato crop. The review aims to systematise and discuss research data related to the effect of nanomaterials on tomato, an important fruit crop used as a model plant for research which provides knowledge about this fast-developing research area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Supplemental lighting is necessary for winter greenhouse tomato production, and optimised spectra must consider both yield and energy use. In a 20-week winter greenhouse experiment, two common commercial tomato cultivars – 'Merlice' and 'Brioso' – were grown under four LED spectra with 38%, 63%, 81%, and 95% red photons. As the percentage of red photons increased, the blue and green percentages decreased (not at the same ratio). Stem length, specific leaf area, and dry mass partitioning were not significantly affected by spectra in either cultivar, but increasing the red percentage from 38% to 95% decreased harvested fruit fresh mass by 13%, total plant dry mass by 7.1%, and fruit dry mass by 9.5% in 'Merlice'. There were no significant differences in these parameters for 'Brioso'. The yield kWh−1 increased with increasing percent red in both cultivars because LED fixtures with higher fractions of photons from 660 nm red LEDs have higher photon efficacies (µmol J−1). The efficacies of the lamps in this study were estimated to range from 2.6 to 3.6 µmol J−1. Growers must consider tradeoffs that can occur between yield and efficacy in some cultivars, and how these factors apply to their situation, when choosing the spectrum for their greenhouse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fruit mutants with the silenced TomloxB gene (tomato lipoxygenase B) have proven to be an alternative in extending postharvest life; however, their interaction with other classical technologies, such as the use of edible coatings, has been scarcely explored. The synergy between the two treatments can improve aspects of fruit quality during its postharvest life or even increase this period. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of coatings (candelilla wax (CW) and Semperfresh® (S)) on the postharvest life and lipoxygenase activity of genetically modified (GM) tomatoes. Wild Type (WT) and GM tomatoes with the antisense TomLoxB gene insertion were used. LOX activity values on day 18 were 721 U/mg protein, in fruits coated with CW, below the WT fruit (859 U/mg protein) and other GM fruits with other coatings (916 to 996 U/mg protein). CW was the coating that exhibited the best results in preserving the postharvest life of the GM tomato for up to 30 days, compared to the other coatings (24 days). Genetic modification in tomatoes prolonged their postharvest life, which increased further with the use of coatings such as CW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Mangroves are often found in coastal areas and tropical wetlands that can withstand high salinity. We hypothesized that endophytes that are harbouring in the roots of mangrove plants may improve the innate immunity of host plants to survive naturally in saline environment. Retrieving these endophytes and sequential characterization may function as a novel bio-effector for non-host food crops as well. We focused on the integrated approach towards formulating a novel bacterial consortium. Thirty-one bacterial endophytes isolated from the roots of mangrove plants were screened for plant growth promoting potential by inoculating our model crop (Tomato). Seven most promising isolates impacting plant growth were identified. In-vitro plant growth promoting characters were also analysed. The root colonization by the isolates was confirmed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Among the screened isolates, four of them were found to be compatible with each other when grown together and were selected to formulate a novel biostimulant consortia. The consortia treated Tomato plants exhibited superior phenological characters. In the pot experiment, plant height of the treated plants was about ≈43 cm while the non-treated plants under salt stress could grow only up to a height of ≈26 cm. Similarly, a total fruit yield of ≈6.8 kg was observed in case of treated plants under salt stress whereas the non-treated plants under salt stress could only produce ≈4.7 kg of fruit. This study demonstrated that the beneficial bacteria inhabiting in mangrove roots can increase the potential of conferring salt tolerance to non-host crops, thereby contributing to sustainable agriculture. • Retrieval of root endophytic bacterial strains from Sundarban's Mangroves. • Assessment of plant growth promoting traits for formulating consortia. • Seed biopriming in non-host model crop (Tomato). • Quantification of plant morpho-physico parameters by in-vitro pot experiment. • Validation of open-field stability and fruit yield under salt stress. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant secondary metabolites, including essential oils (EOs), are becoming an alternative to traditional methods of controlling phytopathogens. In the present work we evaluated the antifungal activity of EOs from two populations of Aloysia polystachya on the causal agent of gray mold, Botrytis cinerea. The chemical composition of EOs showed carvone and α-thujone as the main components of each EO, determining that they were two different chemotypes. The antifungal effect of both chemotypes against B. cinerea was evaluated in their vapor phase, at different concentrations. The MIC for the carvone-rich chemotype was 71 μL L−1, while the α-thujone-rich chemotype completely inhibited growth at a concentration of 189 μL L−1. Both chemotypes significantly inhibited the germination of fungal conidia. The normal morphology of the hyphae of B. cinerea was compromised in the presence of both chemotypes, showing flattening and emptying of the content, compared to the untreated mycelium. The effect of the chemotypes on the disease caused by the fungus was also evaluated in artificially inoculated tomatoes, with the carvone-rich chemotype being more effective in reducing the characteristic symptoms. None of the chemotypes produced alterations in postharvest quality parameters. Our data allow us to propose the EO of A. polystachya with abundant content of the terpene carvone, as a natural strategy for the control of the pathogen B. cinerea. This research is important to show how the existence of variants within the same botanical species implies differences in their effectiveness as fungicides. • Same botanical species can show different composition in their essential oils (EOs). • EOs from two A. polystachya populations had carvone and thujone as main components. • Carvone-rich EO inhibited B. cinerea growth at all doses. • Both EOs inhibited conidial germination of B. cinerea. • Carvone-rich EO was more efficient in controlling B. cinerea on tomato fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation deals with the determination of phytochemical constituents of healthy and leaf curl virus infected tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) leaves. Specimens were collected from Koraye in Zaria and transported to the Herbarium unit for proper authentication. Healthy and curl leaves of Solanum lycopersicum were washed thoroughly three times with running tap water and once with sterile distilled water, air dried at temperature on a sterile blotter. After complete drying, young leaves were pulverized. The powdered material was weighed and kept in air tight container in dark place for further extraction procedure. Extraction was done by methanol method, where 100g each of pulverized powder of both healthy and infected Solanum lycopersicum leaves was put in a cornical flask and (1000ml) of measuring cylinder was used to measure 500ml of 70% methanol. The results obtained from the qualitative phytochemical analysis revealed the presence of; Alkaloids, Flavonoids, Tanins, Cardiac glycosides, Phenols and Saponins in both healthy and infected leaves of Solanum lycopersicum and the absence of; Carbohydrates, Steroids and Anthroquinone in both healthy and infected leaves of Solanum lycopersicum. While the quantitative analysis revealed the presence of 8.2% and 3.8% Alkaloids, 49.6% and 48.2% Flavonoids, 30.6% and 19.99%, Tanins 30.6% and 19.9%, Phenols 13.6% and 7.022% Saponins 1.2% and 0.1% in both healthy and infected leaf curl of Solanum lycopersicum. Evidently, from the above investigation there are no reducing sugars in Solanum lycopersicum leaves and there are metabolites in some healthy and infected leaf curl of Solanum lycopersicum leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum L.) were developed in soils with different fly ash (FA) amendments (25, 50, 75, 100% FA) to measure the effects of FA on metal accumulation, chlorophyll pigments, chlorophyll fluorescence, growth, biomass, gas exchange parameters, and the ascorbate glutathione pathway (AsA-GSH). The metal concentration was much higher in FA compared to the garden soil/(control). The observed metal translocation was higher in roots than shoots. Plants raised in soils treated with 50% or more FA showed significant decreases in growth, biomass, gas exchange parameters, protein, chlorophyll pigments, and fluorescence parameters. Additionally, a significant increase in antioxidants under higher FA-amended soils were observed. Our results showed that the ability of Solanum lycopersicum plants to effectively synchronize the actions of antioxidant enzymes associated in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging – notably superoxidase dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and glutathione reductase (GR) – with good maintenance of the AsA/DHA ratio, that could be connected to FA stress tolerance. The toxic metals present in FA caused oxidative stress in Solanum lycopersicum , as evident from the increase in electrolyte leakage (EL), lipid peroxidation (MDA), and ROS levels. Furthermore, the AsA-GSH cycle plays a key role in alleviating oxidative damage caused by FA application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water containing ultrafine/nano bubbles (UFBs) promoted the growth of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) in soil damaged by cultivation of tomato in the previous year or bacterial wilt-like disease and also promoted the growth of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) when lettuce was grown in the soil damaged by repeated cultivation of lettuce. On the other hand, UFB supply did not affect plant growth in rock wool or healthy soil. Furthermore, the growth of lettuce was not affected by UFB water treatment in the soil damaged by the cultivation of tomato. UFB water partly suppressed the growth of the pathogen of bacteria wilt disease, Ralstonia solanacearum in vitro. These data suggest that UFB water is effective to recover the plant growth from soil damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Avances is the property of Instituto de Informacion Cientifica y Tecnologica and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The fungus Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL) is known to cause vascular wilt on tomato almost over the world. Inoculation of FOL reduced plant growth and increased wilt of tomato. The following study examined the possible role of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) consortium comprising of Rhizophagus intraradices , Funneliformis mosseae and Claroideoglomus etunicatum against FOL in tomato and explored in an inducing plant systemic defense. AMF inoculation reduced the wilt disease within vascular tissue and in vivo production of fusaric acid was observed which may be responsible in reduced wilting. FOL had an antagonistic effect on AMF colonization, reduced the number of spores, arbuscules and vesicles. AMF also inhibited the damage induced by Fusarium wilt through increasing chlorophyll contents along with the activity of phosphate metabolising enzymes (acid and alkaline phosphatases). Moreover, tomato plants with mycorrhizal inoculation showed an increase in the level of antioxidant enzymes including glutathione reductase, catalase, and etc. with an ultimate influence on the elimination of reactive oxygen species. Moreover, rise in phosphatase along with antioxidant enzymatic systems and enhanced photosynthetic performance contributed to induced resistance against FOL in tomato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fusarium wilt, incited by Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (FOL), causes serious production losses of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants. Biological control, using an antagonistic of Trichoderma species, is a bio-rationale and an alternative method to synthetic pesticides against most phytopathogens. The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of T. harzianum and/or T. viride in reducing Fusarium wilt and to determine the relationship between disease severity and plant growth promoting traits of these species. Trichoderma viride exhibited better phosphate solubilization and production of cellulases, ligninases, chitinases, proteases, hydrogen cyanide (HCN), siderophores and indole acetic acid (IAA) than T. harzianum. For field assessment, five treatments with three replicates were used. The field was inoculated with the wilt fungus (FOL). Both Trichoderma spp. used were applied as a seed treatment, mixed in the soil, and FOL inoculated soil served as the untreated control. During the two consecutive years, seed treatment with T. viride exhibited the least disease severity, the highest physiological activity, the highest biochemical and antioxidant contents, and tomato plants treated with it exhibited the best growth and yield. It was concluded that Trichoderma viride can potentially be used to reduce Fusarium wilt and promote plant growth and yield in commercial tomato production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important and widely cultivated fruit. By characterizing local germplasm, exclusive breeding material is successfully identified and improved varieties could be created. The research conducted between November 2020 and 2021 at the Ayub Agricultural Research Institute (AARI) in Pakistan used developmental, vegetative and fruit traits to individualize sixty tomato inbred lines for 17 morphological traits. The study showed that 6 qualitative and 11 quantitative morphological traits exhibited a wide range of variation, while 8 traits showed a high coefficient of variation among genotypes according to biplot principal component analysis (PCA). According to biplot PCA, the first component contributed 17.6% of the variation, while the second component contributed 13.0%. Together, the first and second components explained 30.6% of the variation. A correlation analysis was performed to determine the relationship between genotypic traits and phenotypic traits. A very positive correlation was observed between inter-nodal distance, flower per cluster and immature fruit color. The morphological data for firmness, pericarp thickness, fruit width, TSS, inter-nodal distance, number of flowers and fruits per cluster showed specific characteristics that can be used to distinguish the genotypes. The highest value of lycopene of 21.2 mg kg−1 fresh weight was observed among the genotypes. We conclude the results of this study, presenting the crop quality and yield characteristics that could be used in future plant breeding and genetic enhancement of tomato germplasm for improved food security. Based on yield characteristics, Nyagous, Korneseivje and Earliana were selected as the best and most promising genotypes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant litter decomposition is a natural pathway of heavy metal cycling in soil ecosystems, but the dynamics of heavy metal release during litter decomposition are relatively poorly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of species, soil fauna and soil Cd addition on litter decomposition and Cd release dynamics. Therefore, we selected two plants, Solanum nigrum and S. lycopersicum with large differences in Cd accumulation capacity. First, they were enriched with Cd during the growing period and leaf litter was harvested after 6 months of pretreatment. Then, the decomposition of leaf litter was conducted with or without soil Cd and Eisenia fetida through lab pot tests. Our results showed that leaf litter Cd led to a significant decrease in litter decomposition rate (K value), with a maximum decrease of 32.1% in S. nigrum and 30.1% in S. lycopersicum. We observed that the presence of E. fetida significantly increased K value, but the effect was similar in the +leaf Cd treatment and the -leaf Cd treatment, both for S. nigrum and S. lycopersicum. Interestingly, the litter Cd concentration did not decrease during decomposition, but showed an increasing trend, especially for S. nigrum in the +soil Cd treatment. Moreover, the litter Cd remains was higher in the +soil Cd treatment compared to the -soil Cd treatment for both S. nigrum and S. lycopersicum , no matter whether with or without E. fetida. This result suggests that the Cd may be transferred from soil to litter, thus increasing the litter Cd remains. Overall, our study shows that leaf litter Cd slowed down the carbon cycling in ecosystems. In addition, the release of litter Cd has a lag, and the litter has a certain adsorption capacity for soil Cd, which intensifies the harm to the ecology during litter transfer. [Display omitted] • The E. fetida alleviated the inhibition effect of leaf Cd on decomposition. • Soil Cd increased the leaf litter Cd remains, which slowed down the leaf Cd release. • Leaf Cd increased lignin and cellulose content and slowed down decomposition. • The lag of leaf Cd release increases the risk of Cd pollution after litter transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Tomato production in the tropics is threatened by whitefly, Bemisia tabaci and tomato leaf curl virus. • 19 tomato genotypes were screened for whitefly population per leaf and tomato leaf curl disease severity. • Tomato genotypes 2016/Res-1, 2015/Res-5, 2014/Res-1 and 2014/Res-4 were categorized as resistant. • Leaf trichome density and total phenol content were reliable morphological and biochemical markers. Tomato production in the tropics is threatened by whitefly infestation and tomato leaf curl virus (ToLCV) causing severe economic losses. No stable resistance to these biotic challenges has been identified in eastern India. Therefore, initial screening of 19 advance breeding lines of tomato was carried out during the year 2016–17. Based on the whitefly population per leaf and tomato leaf curl disease severity, eight tomato genotypes were selected for final screening during the year 2017–18. Morphological leaf traits and biochemical parameters in tomato leaf were assessed in selected genotypes and considered as potential mediators of resistance. Significant variation was observed for whitefly infestation and ToLCV disease severity among the tomato genotypes tested. Higher leaf trichome density with narrow and thinner leaves and higher total phenol content in leaf emerged as reliable morphological and biochemical markers for early selection of tomato genotype resistant to whitefly and ToLCV disease. The resistance of tomato genotypes 2016/Res-1, 2015/Res-5, 2014/Res-1 and 2014/Res-4 to both whitefly and ToLCV disease is based on antixenotic properties and they could be utilized in future breeding to enhance stable resistance against these biotic challenges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Journal of Seed Science is the property of Associacao Brasileira de Tecnologia de Sementes and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is an important worldwide vegetable crop. This paramount crop would be infected by a serious set of pathogenic fungal diseases. Growth and production are hampered by early blight caused by Alternaria phragmospora. In vitro the production of growth promoted hormone indole acetic acid (IAA) by Aspergillus flavus isolated from the medicinal plant, Euphorbia geniculata was stimulated in culture media supplemented or not by tryptophan (120 and 40 μg mL−1) respectively. The blue fluorescence test showed that the endophytic A. flavus was lacking to produce aflatoxins. Inoculation of S. lycopersicum with A. flavus enhanced the fresh weight (FW) and plant length (PL) of S. lycopersicum significantly in comparison to untreated plants. The PL of treated plants was 39.05 cm ± 3.16, while control was 22.19 cm ± 4.54. IAA stimulated overproduction of lateral roots and root hairs in treated plants compared to control. After spraying with A. phragmospora , the treated plant with A. flavus showed healthy leaves and completely protected (100%) from the disease symptoms. There were significant increases in chlorophyll (1.68 mg g−1 FW), flavonoids (105.4 mg g−1 dry weight), carbohydrates (155.5 mg g−1 dry weight), phenolics (0.9 mg g−1 dry weight) and total proteins contents (94.13 mg g−1 dry weight) in treated plants relative to untreated control plants. Our findings demonstrated the contribution of A. flavus to improve the growth and the secondary metabolites contents of tomato, which subsequently leads to the improvement of the resistance of this plant to an aggressive plant pathogen like A. phragmospora. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-destructive methods have been widely recognized for evaluating fruit quality traits of many horticultural crops and food processing industry. Destructive (analytical) test, and non-destructive evaluation of the quality traits were investigated and compared for 'Red Rose' tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) fruit grown under protected environment. Fresh tomato fruit at five distinctive maturity stages namely; breaker (BK), turning (TG), pink (PK), light-red (LR), and red (RD) were labeled and scanned using the handheld near infra-red (NIR) enhanced spectrometer at a wavelength range of 285–1200 nm. The labeled tomato samples were then measured analytically for flesh firmness, lycopene, β-carotene, total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoids content (TFC). The results revealed that quality traits could be estimated using NIR spectroscopy with a relatively high coefficient of determination (R2): 0.834 for total phenolic content, 0.864 for lycopene, 0.790 for total flavonoid content, 0.708 for β-carotene; and 0.679 for flesh firmness. The accumulation of Lyco and β-Car rapidly increased in tomatoes harvested between the TG and the LR maturity stages. Harvesting tomatoes at BK maturity stage resulted in significantly higher flesh firmness than harvesting at the later maturity stages. Tomato fruits had the lowest TPC and TFC contents at the earliest maturity stage (BK), while they had intermediate TPC and TFC levels at LR and RD maturity stages. NIR spectroscopic measurements of fruit firmness and lipophilic antioxidants in tomato fruit at various maturity stages were partially in accordance with those estimated by destructive (analytical) methods. Based on these findings, we recommend using non-destructive NIR spectroscopy as an effective tool for predicting tomato fruit quality during harvest stage and postharvest processing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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In greenhouse organic horticulture there is a great challenge in supplying the crop with adequate amounts of nutrients at the right stage of crop development. This has been identified as one of the main factors compromising yields in organic systems as compared with conventional hydroponic systems based on the use of synthetic fertilisers. In organic systems, the supply of nutrients is reliant on microbial degradation of organic complexes, a process that is dependent on factors such as temperature, soil water content and pH. Different organic fertilisers will also have different characteristics with respect to mineralisation of nutrients. In order to evaluate different strategies for organic fertilisation in long-term greenhouse crops such as high-wire tomato crops, an experiment with three different treatments was performed. The different strategies evaluated were one based on blood meal, kalimagnesia and the commercial product Baralith Enslow (composed of clay and ground lucerne), one with poultry manure and kalimagnesia, and one with solid biogas digestate and kalimagnesia. A five-month tomato crop was grown. Lysimeter samples were taken from the growing media biweekly for monitoring of plant available nutrients. The results suggested that nitrogen was likely to have been the limiting factor for plant growth, however, the biogas digestate delivered mineralised nitrogen throughout the experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The whitefly (Bemisia tabaci Gennadius) transmitted Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) disease is a limiting factor in tomato production. Breeding resistance into tomatoes is one of the options to manage the disease. Among various screening techniques available for TYLCV, whitefly mediated individual plant inoculation technique is the most reliable one. Till date, six independently inherited major resistance genes and few Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) have been mapped in wild tomato species including S. chilense (Ty-1, Ty-3, Ty-4 and Ty-6), S. habrochaites syn. L. hirsutum (Ty-2), and S. peruvianum (ty-5). Ty-1 and Ty-2 genes express complete or nearly complete dominance, while Ty-3 shows partial dominance. These three genes have been extensively used in resistance breeding programs to combat both the monopartite and the bipartite begomoviruses. Since the Ty-genes in general exhibit partial or incomplete dominance, single gene F1 hybrids are less effective than the pure lines homozygous for the resistance gene. Therefore, for hybrids to be effective either both the parents should be resistant or they involve multiple resistance genes. In this review, we have compiled up-to-date information on TYLCV occurrence and pathogen variability, allele mining, genetic mapping and cultivar development; and visualised future prospects of TYLCV resistance breeding in tomato. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) include bacteria in the soil rhizosphere that promote plant growth and development through a wide variety of mechanisms. In this study, potential effects of three rhizobacteria Bacillus subtilis (57-2), B. mojavensis (36-1) and B. pseudomycoides (80-1) isolated from tomato rhizosphere on induction of resistance to Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) were examined through biochemical and histological analyses. These PGPR isolates significantly reduced Fusarium wilt incidence up to 70%. However, the combination of isolates was found either less or not effective in suppressing the disease severity when compared to those of application by the individual isolates. The induction of peroxidase (POX, EC 1.11.1.7) and catalase (CAT, 1.11.1.6) enzymes was found to be significantly higher in treatment groups than in comparison with the control group. Present biochemical study revealed that three Bacillus spp. resulted in great accumulation of proline and key defense enzymes (POX and CAT). In situ studies also demonstrated that hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) accumulation and the callose deposition at reaction sites as a response to the pathogen attack reached to maximum level, 24 h after pathogen inoculation. The present findings revealed that PGPR isolates could be effectively used for the biocontrol of Fol through enhancing disease resistance responses of tomato plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of the ingestion of tomato before bed on obese postmenopausal women's urinary 6-sulphatoxymelatonin (aMT6s) level and sleep quality. We quantified melatonin concentrations in beefsteak tomato, black tomato, and two commercial tomato juices and found that beefsteak tomato contained the highest level of melatonin. In this 8-week open-label, randomized controlled dietary intervention trial, 36 subjects completed the entire trial. The tomato group ate 250 g of beefsteak tomatoes 2 h before sleep for 8 weeks. Blood and urine samples were collected at the baseline and in the 8th week and were analyzed. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) in the tomato group significantly decreased with time (p for trend = 0.0297). After 8 weeks of the beefsteak intervention, all components of the PSQI in tomato group had significantly improved, and their aMT6s level was 10-fold significantly higher than that of the control group. Therefore, supplementation with beefsteak tomato before sleep can increase circulating melatonin and improve sleep quality in obese postmenopausal women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Symbiotic interactions play a vital role in maintaining the phosphate (Pi) nutrient status of host plants and providing resilience during biotic and abiotic stresses. Serendipita indica , a mycorrhiza-like fungus, supports plant growth by transporting Pi to the plant. Despite the competitive behaviour of arsenate (AsV) with Pi, the association with S. indica promotes plant growth under arsenic (As) stress by reducing As bioavailability through adsorption, accumulation, and precipitation within the fungus. However, the capacity of S. indica to enhance Pi accumulation and utilization under As stress remains unexplored. Axenic studies revealed that As supply significantly reduces intracellular ACPase activity in S. indica , while extracellular ACPase remains unaffected. Further investigations using Native PAGE and gene expression studies confirmed that intracellular ACPase (isoform2) is sensitive to As, whereas extracellular ACPase (isoform1) is As-insensitive. Biochemical analysis showed that ACPase (isoform1) has a Km of 0.5977 µM and Vmax of 0.1945 Unit/min. In hydroponically cultured tomato seedlings, simultaneous inoculation of S. indica with As on the 14thday after seed germination led to hyper-colonization, increased root/shoot length, biomass, and induction of ACPase expression and secretion under As stress. Arsenic-treated S. indica colonized groups (13.33 µM As+ Si and 26.67 µM As+ Si) exhibited 8.28–19.14 and 1.71–3.45-fold activation of ACPase in both rhizospheric media and root samples, respectively, thereby enhancing Pi availability in the surrounding medium under As stress. Moreover, S. indica (13.33 µM As+ Si and 26.67 µM As+ Si) significantly improved Pi accumulation in roots by 7.26 and 9.46 times and in shoots by 4.36 and 8.85 times compared to the control. Additionally, S. indica induced the expression of SiPT under As stress, further improving Pi mobilization. Notably, fungal colonization also restricted As mobilization from the hydroponic medium to the shoot, with a higher amount of As (191.01 ppm As in the 26.67 µM As+ Si group) accumulating in the plant's roots. The study demonstrates the performance of S. indica under As stress in enhancing Pi mobilization while limiting As uptake in the host plant. These findings provide the first evidence of the As-Pi interaction in the AM-like fungus S. indica , indicating reduced As uptake and regulation of PHO genes (ACPase and SiPT genes) to increase Pi acquisition. These data also lay the foundation for the rational use of S. indica in agricultural practices. [Display omitted] • As enhances the activity of secretory ACPase associated with S. indica , while inhibiting the activity of intracellular ACPase isoforms. • S. indica colonization triggers the expression of ACPase with recovery in ACPase activity in roots and leading to the secretion of ACPase into the rhizosphere under As stress. • The Pi solubilization facilitated by S. indica -associated ACPase remains unaffected by As. • Pi-transporter of S. indica improves Pi-uptake and mobilization with reduced As translocation from root to shoot [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phylloplane microbes have been studied as strategic tools in management against plant pathogens. Non-pathogenic bacteria and fungi have been applied as crop protectants against various plant diseases. The present study aimed at evaluating the potentiality of Aspergillus niger spores in altering the activity of four key enzymes related to defense in tomato. The experiment was designed such that two groups of 50 tomato plants were considered: group 1 - sprayed with autoclaved distilled water (control) and group 2 - sprayed with A. niger spores. Spraying was carried out under aseptic conditions. The experimental parameters included analysis of the activity of peroxidase (POX), polyphenol oxidase (PPO), phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) and tyrosine ammonia lyase (TAL) as well as expression of POX and PPO isoforms. The results demonstrated an inductive effect of A. niger on the activity of POX, PPO, PAL and TAL. Enhanced expression of POX and PPO isoforms was also observed. The results indicated that A. niger can be considered probiotic for the management of tomato against its phytopathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context: Lycopene, a carotenoid found in tomatoes, possesses antiangiogenic activities that might be useful in the management of prostate enlargement. However, the current evidence is still inconclusive in regard to this matter. Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of combined oral dutasteride and lycopene consumption in reducing posttransurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) bleeding. Settings and Design: Twenty-two individuals diagnosed with benign prostatic hyperplasia were randomly allocated into two groups of equal size. Thirty days prior to TURP, individuals in Group 1 (control) were given daily oral dutasteride 0.5 mg and placebo pill and individuals in Group 2 (intervention) were given dutasteride 0.5 mg and lycopene 30 mg. Subjects and Methods: The parameters measured in this study were pre- and post-TURP plasma erythrocyte count and microvessel density (MVD) of resected prostate tissue stained with CD34. Statistical Analysis Used: Data homogeneity was tested using the Shapiro–Wilk test. Individuals' characteristics were analyzed using the Mann–Whitney U-test and plasma erythrocyte and MVD analyzed using the t-test. Spearman's correlation analysis was performed to find significant correlations between the two variables. Results: There were two dropouts. The mean MVD in the control group was significantly higher compared to the intervention group (28.2 ± 12.3 vs. 18.3 ± 7.6 vessel/mm2, P = 0.044). Reduction of post-TURP plasma erythrocytes was significantly higher in the control group compared to the intervention group (−0.34 ± 0.18 vs. −0.17 ± 0.12 106/μL, P = 0.048). Conclusions: Daily consumption of dutasteride and lycopene for at least 30 days reduced the formation of blood vessels in the prostate and reduced blood loss post-TURP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free N-glycans (FNGs) are ubiquitous in growing plants. Further, acidic peptide:N-glycanase is believed to be involved in the production of plant complex-type FNGs (PCT-FNGs) during the degradation of dysfunctional glycoproteins. However, the distribution of PCT-FNGs in growing plants has not been analyzed. Here, we report the occurrence of PCT-FNGs in the xylem sap of the stem of the tomato plant. Abbreviations: RP-HPLC: reversed-phase HPLC; SF-HPLC: size-fractionation HPLC; PA-: pyridylamino; PCT: plant complex type; Hex: hexose; HexNAc: N-acetylhexosamine; Pen: pentose; Deoxyhex: deoxyhexose; Man: D-mannose; GlcNAc: N-acetyl-D-glucosamine; Xyl: D-xylose; Fuc: L-fucose; Lea: Lewis a (Galβ1-3(Fucα1-4)GlcNAc); PCT: plant complex type; M3FX: Manα1-6(Manα1-3)(Xylβ1-2)Manβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-4(Fucα1-3)GlcNAc-PA; GN2M3FX: GlcNAcβ1-2Manα1-6(GlcNAcβ1-2Manα1-3)(Xylβ1-2)Manβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-4(Fucα1-3)GlcNAc-PA; (Lea)1GN1M3FX: Galβ1-3(Fucα1-4)GlcNAc1-2 Manα1-6(GlcNAcβ1-2Manα1-3)(Xylβ1-2)Manβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-4(Fucα1-3)GlcNAc-PA or GlcNAc1-2Manα1-6(Galβ1-3(Fucα1-4)GlcNAc1-2Manα1-3)(Xylβ1-2)Manβ1-4GlcNAcβ1-4(Fucα1-3)GlcNAc-PA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The potato tuber moth (PTM) is an oligophagous herbivore and a severe pest of solanaceous crops in many countries of the world. Previously, we reported host expansion and damage potential of PTM on tomato, a congeneric crop of potato. Here we tested adult olfactory behaviour of PTM to leaves of five different cultivated tomato varieties including Moneymaker, Campari, Ailsa craig, LA3475 and E6203, and one wild species, Solanum pimpinellifolium. Tomato leaf hydro-distilled oils of Moneymaker, Campari, Ailsa craig, S. pimpinellifolium and E6203 showed strong attractiveness and LA3475 exhibited repulsiveness for adult PTM of both sexes in two-armed bioassays. Volatiles of Moneymaker, Campari, Ailsa Craig, S. pimpinellifolium and E6203 showed attractiveness for mated adult PTM of both sexes (> 70%). The extracted oil of all tomato leaves contains monoterpenes, sesquiterpenes, diterpenes and C 6 alcohols as well as other components. Phytol is one of the common and major compounds in all tomato varieties. Phytol showed weak attractiveness: 60.8–63.6% and 57.6–60.6% for male and female PTM, respectively when tested at concentrations of 0.1–10 mg/mL. Therefore, the attractiveness of tomato leaf volatiles might be due to synergistic effects of plant volatile mixtures. Identification PTM attractant volatile in tomato leaf is important in its control in environmentally friendly manner. Unlabelled Image • Potato tuber moth (PTM) is the invaded pest of potato. • Potential threat to the congener, tomato was evaluated by the behavioral response to tomato leaf volatiles. • Four tomato varieties were highly attractive. • Diterpenoid, phytol was the main and common volatile from the attractive plants. • Behavioral response could predict the potential host expansion to economic crop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]