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Introduction: Brassica juncea is a major oilseed crop of Brassica. The seed weight is one of yield components in oilseed Brassica crops. Research on the genetic mechanism of seed weight is not only directly related to the yield and economic value of Brassica juncea but also can provide a theory foundation for studying other Brassica crops. Methods: To map the genes for seed weight, the parental and F2 extreme bulks derived were constructed from the cross between the heavy-seeded accession 7981 and the light-seeded one Sichuan yellow (SY) of B. juncea , and used in bulk segregant sequencing (BSA-seq). Meanwhile, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) was performed for both parents at six seed development stages. Results: Our results showed that a total of thirty five SNPs were identified in thirty two genes located on chromosomes A02 and A10, while fifty eight InDels in fifty one genes located on A01, A03, A05, A07, A09, A10, B01, B02 and B04. The 7,679 differentially expressed genes were identified in developing seeds between the parents. Furthermore, integrated analysis of BSA-seq and RNA-seq data revealed a cluster of nine genes on chromosome A10 and one gene on chromosome A05 that are putative candidate genes controlling seed weight in B. juncea. Discussion: This study provides a new reference for research on Brassica seed weight and lays a solid foundation for the examination of seed in other Brassica crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mustard (Brassica juncea) is a major oilseed and medicinal crop and its consumption has considerably increased with growing human population, leading to greater demand than supply. Increasing production and productivity of oilseed brassica to meet out the projected demand of edible oils, crop management strategies need to be fabricated and implemented. The two varieties of mustard, RH 725 and RH 0749 display superior performance for yield and are recommended for farmers' fields in north India. The present study evaluated the efficacy of silicon applied in the form of orthosilicic acid (OSA) for improving the physiological and biochemical performances, growth, and yield of recommended mustard varieties under field conditions, as a function of variety, stage, dose, and application time. OSA was applied as a foliar spray at 20, 30, and 40 ppm during vegetative and flowering stages to analyse its influence on plant growth, physiology, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant enzymes, and yield attributes. Application of OSA at 30 ppm at vegetative stage and 20 ppm at flowering stage, increased activity of antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and peroxidase (POX) and metabolites, ascorbic acid and glutathione; and decreased the levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), malondialdehyde (MDA), and relative stress injury (RSI), as compared to the respective untreated controls. The increase in antioxidant enzyme activity and ascorbic acid and glutathione content and protein content was greater in RH 0749 than RH 725. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration rate, and chlorophyll fluorescence and protein content improved with the application of 20 ppm OSA, where RH 0749 responded more at the vegetative stage whereas RH 725 showed better responses at flowering stage. The growth and yield related attributes also enhanced with the foliar application of 20 ppm and 30 ppm OSA in both the varieties. RH 725 displayed an increase of 15% and RH 0749 displayed an increase of 18% in seed yield with 20 ppm OSA. Single foliar application of OSA could yield pronounced effects on growth, physiological and biochemical responses and yield of Brassica varieties. The present study indicates the ability of OSA in low dosesto modulate crop physiological and biochemical responses under field conditions can contribute to bridging the productivity gap of brassica to meet consumer demand for establishing a sustainable cropping system. Diagrammatic overview of Brassica juncea varieties subjected to OSA treatments during the vegetative and flowering stages for the experiment. 20 ppm OSA was found to be optimum dosage for improving crop productivity, according to the analysis of specific growth, physio-biochemical and yield parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to analyze changes in growth parameters and secondary metabolites by intermittently applying ozonated water (OW) to the roots of red mustard, leaf mustard, and kale, grown in a nutrient film technique hydroponic system. During the period when the plants were cultivated for 3 weeks, OW at concentrations of 1 and 3 μL·L− 1 was flushed for 0, 1, 2, 4, and 8 minutes, twice a week, for a total of six treatments. In red mustard, the 1 μL·L− 1 OW treatment for 2 minutes resulted in the most significant increases in shoot fresh weight, shoot dry weight, leaf area, and an elevated shoot/root ratio. For leaf mustard, both the 1 and 3 μL·L− 1 treatments led to notable improvements in shoot fresh weight, total glucosinolate (GSL) content, and shoot/root ratio. During the two concentrations of OW, kale exhibited substantial significant increases in total GSL content, total anthocyanin content, total phenolic content, and shoot/root ratio. These results suggest that flushing OW to the plant roots in hydroponics systems, particularly at a concentration of 1 μL·L− 1 applied for 2 minutes, can effectively enhance shoot growth, secondary metabolite synthesis, and the shoot/root ratio in Brassicaceae plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant economics, the way plants allocate and utilize resources, affect multiple soil processes through interactions with root and associated microbial communities. However, the interplay between plant economics and microbial ecological strategies remains poorly understood, which is crucial for integrated manipulation of plant‐ and microbe‐mediated functions in mitigating climate change and sustaining soil health.We used a field experiment with 11 cover crop species grown monocultures in the same base soil to test whether microbial ecological strategies are associated with plant economic strategies and if their interactions are linked to soil functions. A principal component analysis (PCA) was performed on root and leaf traits to identify the loadings of cover crop species on the plant trait space. Metagenomic analysis of rhizosphere microbial communities was conducted to infer their ecological strategies based on genetically encoded community‐aggregated traits.We found a synchronous relationship between the conservation gradient of plant economic strategies and the trade‐offs in microbial ecological strategies. Conservative plant strategists, such as Lolium multiflorum, Triticum turgidum and Brassica juncea, fostered microbial communities characterized by high growth yield potentials (Y‐strategies). This included increased microbial carbon fixation pathways, citrate cycle, ribosome and valine, leucine and isoleucine biosynthesis. As a result, microbial metabolic efficiency improved, shown by higher microbial biomass carbon content and a lower metabolic quotient (qCO2), led to enhanced soil organic carbon accumulation. In comparison, acquisitive plants like Astragalus sinicus, Vicia villosa, Trifolium incarnatum and Medicago sativa stimulated microbial resource‐acquisition strategies (A‐strategies). This included enhanced bacterial chemotaxis, secretion systems, biotin metabolism and cell motility pathways, which in turn increased soil exoenzyme activity and accelerated soil nitrogen mineralization. Consequently, these species enhanced soil nitrogen availability and had substantial feedbacks on subsequent main crop productivity.Synthesis. This study demonstrates how plant economic strategies influence the balance between different microbial ecological strategies, specifically the trade‐offs in Y‐ and A‐strategies. These interactions exert control over carbon and nitrogen dynamics in the soil ecosystem. The findings provide insights for implementing nature‐based solutions to improve agroecosystem management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growth-regulating factors (GRFs) are plant-specific transcription factors involved in the regulation of plant growth, development, and abiotic stress processes. However, the function of Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss GRFs remain largely unknown. In this study, 34 BjGRF genes were identified in B. juncea. BjGRF members of the same subfamily were found to share a similar motif composition and gene structure. In total, 663 cis-acting elements were found in the promoter regions of BjGRF genes, which were related to light response, hormone response, environmental stresses, and plant growth/development. Additionally, 48 pairs of segmental duplication genes were identified during gene duplication events, and no tandemly duplicated genes were identified. qRT-PCR analysis showed that the 34 BjGRF genes were primarily expressed in the roots, followed by the leaves. Furthermore, the 10 BjGRF genes were screened in response to drought stress, and the expression patterns of the genes were relatively consistent, with a maximum expression level at 3 or 24 h, and the selected BjGRF03 and BjGRF32 might be involved in drought stress. This preliminary study clarifies the response of the BjGRF gene family to drought stress and provides ideas for further analyses of the biological functions of BjGRF genes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat stress, especially during the reproductive stage, has been exacerbated by changing climatic conditions, resulting in reduced seed yield in crops like Indian mustard. In the present study, 154 genotypes of Indian mustard were used to find novel SSR marker-based associations for seed yield and physiological traits by linkage disequilibrium. Extensive phenotyping of 154 genotypes for seed yield and various physiological traits was done for two consecutive years (2020–2021 and 2021–2022) in timely and late-sown environments. Out of 237 SSR markers, a total of 111 polymorphic markers containing 312 alleles were used for analysis. Two different models, i.e., general linear model (GLM) and mixed linear model (MLM), were used to detect the significant marker–trait associations for timely and late-sown environment separately. A total of 12 and 10 MTAs were found to be associated under timely and late-sown conditions with seed yield and physiological traits using MLM model. Out of these promising MTAs identified in the present study, five SSRs were specifically detected only in late-sown environments which meant that these specific genomic regions and QTLs were associated under terminal heat conditions. This is the first report on the identification of marker-trait associations for physiological traits under terminal heat stress conditions. It may be possible to develop the molecular markers for significant SSRs after due validation. The findings contribute to our understanding of the genetic basis of heat tolerance and provide valuable information for breeding programs aiming to improve crop productivity under heat stress conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Leafy vegetables are very healthy for human beings having high contents of phyto- and physico-chemicals and are low in fat and calories. Mountainous regions worldwide have diverse agroclimatic conditions conducive for the cultivation of different leafy vegetables. Present research study assessed six leafy vegetables for their composition at fifteen different agroecological sites. Fresh leaves of six leafy vegetables, i.e. alfalfa, water clover, spinach, leaf mustard, pennywort, and fenugreek, were collected from the mountainous region. Procured leaf samples were brought to analytical laboratory and were subjected to physicochemical and phytochemical analysis, i.e. moisture content, pH, TSS, ascorbic acid, carotenoids, phenolic content, flavonoids, and antioxidant potential. Among all the sampling sites and vegetables, a significant variation was observed for the physicochemical and phytochemical parameters. In samples procured from different agroecological sites, the better retention of quality parameters was observed among the leaf sample collected from fifteen different agroecological sites. The highest values were recorded for moisture content in spinach at site 1, for pH in leaf mustard at sites 4, 5 and 6, for TSS in spinach at sites 6 and 9, for ascorbic acid in alfalfa at site 6, for total phenolics in spinach at site 5, for carotenoid in leaf mustard at site 5, for flavonoids in fenugreek at site 5, and for antioxidant in spinach at site 6. It can be concluded that mountainous regions are rich in agroecological conditions suitable for producing leafy vegetables carrying healthful constituents for the consumption by human beings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) show promise as a radiation source for intensive crop cultivation systems, especially for vegetables in the greenhouse. Regarding mustard greens, most studies have investigated the effects of LED lights at the seedling stage under chamber conditions for microgreens not addressed throughout their growing period up to harvest. Therefore, this study is focused to evaluate the effect of additional LED lighting time from 6 pm on the growth, yield and quality of mustard greens under a greenhouse in Kien Giang province as a typical tropical region. The experiment was arranged in a completely randomized design with 3 replications, from August 1st to September 18th, 2023. Four treatments: AL0, AL2, AL4 and AL6 correspond to lighting durations of 0, 2, 4 and 6 h of LED light, which includes a combination of 3 white lights: 1 pink light, 58 µmol·m-2·s-1 PPFD, and a Blue (18 %): Green (41 %): Red (41 %) ratio. Results showed that AL4 had the most significant positive impact on mustard plant growth, with higher dry and fresh weight, plant height, leaf width and length. However, AL6 inhibited most parameters except leaf number. Additionally, under AL4 conditions, mustard allocated more biomass to leaves, while those under AL6 conditions allocated more biomass to stems. In terms of quality, LED lighting duration negatively influenced protein content. For instance, AL0 showed the significantly greatest protein value (2.87 ± 0.08 g·kg-1) compared to others. Apart from AL0, AL6 had a considerably higher value of protein content (2.58 ± 0.2 g·kg-1) compared to AL2 (1.74 ± 0.04 g·kg-1) and AL4 (2.17 ± 0.07 g·kg-1). The additional durations of LED lighting influenced mature mustard greens' morphology, physiology and quality, providing valuable scientific information for improving vegetable quality and quantity in tropical zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica carinata is known to tolerate most of the biotic and abiotic stresses. Development of B. carinata-derived introgression lines (ILs) in the nuclear background of B. juncea, is likely to create enormous genetic variability for drought tolerance. The present study was, therefore, conducted to develop B. carinata-derived introgression lines (ILs) and characterize the genetic variability in a set of 191 ILs developed in the background of DRMRIJ 31, Pusa Mustard 30 and Pusa Agrani under both rainfed and irrigated conditions. Analysis of variance on fifteen seed yield contributing and three physiological traits displayed sufficient phenotypic variability among ILs under rainfed and irrigated conditions. Introgression lines exhibited higher or equivalent mean values for harvest index, 1000-seed weight, chlorophyll content, canopy temperature depression and leaf area index traits under rainfed conditions than in irrigated conditions. High heritability (> 60%), genotypic and phenotypic coefficient of variation (> 20%) and genetic advance as a percent of mean (> 20%) were observed for secondary branches/plants, seed yield/plant, biological yield/plant and seed yield/plot traits under both water regimes. Under moisture deficit stress conditions seed yield/plant, harvest index, 1000 seed weight and oil content had significant association and higher direct effects on seed yield/plot. Twenty-eight ILs identified to be highly productive and water use efficient, can be utilized for improving the seed yield of Indian mustard in water-scarce regions. The study demonstrates the significance of B. carinata in creating novel genetic variability for improving seed yield traits and drought tolerance in the Indian mustard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Toddlers commonly experience nutritional problems due to a variety of factorssuch as direct, indirect, main, and basic factors. Stunting is a chronic malnutrition problem that can have both long and short-term impacts on toddlers. The Bengkulu area is predominantly located along the coast, boasting an abundance of marine products. There are certain types of small fish that are considered byproducts and relatively inexpensive. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the hedonic test for fish crackers with a variety of vegetables (mustard greens, carrots, and apple tomatoes) using a hedonic test. Methods: This study was conducted in the Nutrition Laboratory for 1 month start with product manufacturing, organoleptic and acceptability tests carried out at selected public health centres that had the highest stunting criteria. The selected public health centres are Pasar Ikan, Beringin Raya, Sawah Lebar, Penurunan, Anggut Atas, Sukamerindu, and Jalan Gedang. This study was a completely randomized design (CRD). Data were analysed using the Stata 16, conducting univariate analysis (proportions and averages). Results: The fish crackers with apple tomatoes variant, composed of 250 g of fish and 50 g of apple tomatoes, showed the highest average score among other variants. This formulation had 424.42 kcal and 0.96 g of protein. The difference test showed that there was a statistically different colour (p-value=0.008) between the four variants. Conclusions: The formulation of bleberan fish crackers with tomato showed the highest preference score with an average value of 3.83, with a significant difference in the quality of the colour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The beneficial effects of endophytes on plant growth, development and yield are well known. Modulating plant growth-promoting substances and ameliorating biotic and abiotic stresses are some of the key mechanisms that are deployed by endophytes to facilitate host growth and defence. However, the understanding of the plant's genome response to their presence is still limited. Therefore, this study provides an insight into the microbiome of B. juncea seeds as well as leaves, and its impact on plant growth and development. It also correlates their presence with the changes in plant. Removal of seed-borne culturable endophytes resulted in trade-off of accelerated growth with decreased biomass. 16S metagenomics revealed that bacterial endophyte diversity and density varied with stage of the plant. We found that 22 endophytic genera including Enterococcus, Halobacteroides, Planktothrix and Streptomyces were observed irrespective of Bavistin treatment and age of the plant. Removal of culturable endophytes also led to downregulation of crucial genes involved in growth, photosynthesis (Photosystem I assembly protein, Photosystem II reaction center protein and Rubisco), transport (nitrate transporter; NRT) and regulation of plant hormones (auxin homeostasis and signalling; CYP83A1) in B. juncea. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of the response of plant' transcriptome to changes in endophyte composition indicating a strong possibility of host gene regulation by the endophytic partner. The exact mechanism of the same needs to be further explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Sugars Will Eventually be Exported Transporter (SWEET) gene family is a unique type of sugar transporter that plays a vital role in metabolic regulation, growth, development, and stress response in multiple species. This study aimed to systematically identify the SWEET gene family members and detect the regulation of gene expression and their potential roles of the SWEET gene family in Brassica juncea. Results: A total of 66 BjSWEET (Brassica juncea Sugar Will Eventually be Exported Transporter) genes distributed across 17 chromosomes were identified. The gene structure and motifs were relatively conserved, with all members containing the MtN3/saliva domain. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the SWEET gene family can be classified into four subfamilies (Clades I, II, III, and IV). Collinearity analysis revealed that there were 118 pairs of segment duplicates, indicating that some BjSWEET genes were obtained via segmental duplication. The promoter regions of the BjSWEET genes contained many plant hormone-related response elements, stress-related response elements, growth and development elements, and light-responsive regulatory elements. Furthermore, analysis of the expression profiles revealed that the expression levels of the BjSWEET genes differed among the eight different tissues. qRT‒PCR analysis of six selected BjSWEET genes revealed that the expression levels of BjSWEET17.2, BjSWEET17.4, BjSWEET12.2, and BjSWEET12.3 were significantly upregulated under drought treatment, suggesting that these genes may respond to drought stress in B. juncea. Conclusion: This study systematically identified and analyzed the SWEET gene family members in B. juncea for the first time, laying the foundation for further research on the molecular mechanisms of drought resistance in B. juncea and providing theoretical guidance for the application of these genes in other species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is a globally cultivated winter oilseed crop of the rapeseed-mustard group. It is predominantly grown in the semi-arid northwest agroclimatic zone of India, characterized by high soil salinity. Enhancing tolerance to salt stress in B. juncea is therefore crucial for sustaining its production in this region. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in coordinating gene expression under various abiotic stresses, including salt stress, but their involvement in the salt stress response in B. juncea remains largely unknown. In this study, we conducted RNA-seq analysis on control, salt-stressed, and salt-shocked young leaves of the salt-tolerant B. juncea cv CS-52. We identified a total of 3,602 differentially expressed transcripts between stress versus control and shock versus control samples. Among these, 61 were identified as potential lncRNAs, with 21 specific to salt stress and 40 specific to salt shock. Of the 21 lncRNAs specific to salt stress, 15 were upregulated and six were downregulated, while all 40 lncRNAs unique to salt shock were downregulated. Chromosomal distribution analysis of the lncRNAs revealed their uneven placement across 18 chromosomes in B. juncea. RNA-RNA interaction analysis between salt stress-upregulated lncRNAs and salt stress-related miRNAs identified 26 interactions between 10 lncRNAs and 23 miRNAs and predicted 13 interactions between six miRNAs and 13 mRNAs. Finally, six lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction networks were established, involving five lncRNAs, 13 miRNAs, and 23 mRNAs. RT-qPCR analysis revealed the upregulation of four out of five lncRNAs, along with their target mRNAs, supporting their involvement in the salt stress response in B. juncea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non‐native annual grasses are degrading rangelands in the western United States and of vital management importance. Novel management strategies are needed to extend current approaches. The aim of this study was to determine if biofumigation was a viable strategy to manage non‐native annual grasses (cheatgrass, Bromus tectorum and ventenata, Ventenata dubia). We tested the effect of Brassica juncea as ground seed meal, seed meal leachate, mustard straw, mustard straw leachate and cereal straw at increasing rates on the two non‐native species and two native perennial grasses (Idaho fescue, Festuca idahoensis and bluebunch wheatgrass, Pseudoroegneria spicata) in a growth chamber experiment. A solarization split treatment was applied using a clear cover to determine if solarization enhanced the biofumigant effect. We recorded the number of emergent seedlings after a 3‐week growth period, determined the effective dose 50%, and the above‐ and belowground biomass. Emergence was inhibited for all species using ground seed meal and seed meal leachate, with lower rates and higher consistency achieved with ground seed meal. Three species were inhibited using mustard straw leachate (not F. idahoensis). Mustard straw reduced emergence in all species but was not different from cereal straw. Solarization did not enhance the effects of the biofumigant for seed meal or mustard straw; conversely, emergence increased from the seed meal and mustard straw leachates under solarization. Responses in biomass varied across species and treatment. Biofumigation applied as ground seed meal may be a viable option for integrated weed management in rangelands, but field experimentation is necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Researchers in Indian mustard have made minimal progress in breaking the yield barrier due to limited genetic resources. To increase productivity, a combination of molecular markers and morphological features is advised to boost productivity. The purpose of current work is to characterise polymorphic SSR markers, determine genotype variability, identify suitable parents for hybridization and understand key yield factors. Methods: In 2020-21, twenty-eight Indian mustard varieties and advance breeding materials were evaluated at Ramakrishna Mission Vivekananda Educational and Research Institute's experimental field in Narendrapur, West Bengal, using statistical techniques to assess genetic estimates and molecular diversity using twenty identified polymorphic SSR primers out of thirty tested primers. Result: The study found that the number of siliqua per plant and primary and secondary branches are crucial yield components determined by correlation and path analysis. The high heritability of ten traits was observed. Genotypes were divided into four clusters with both Mahalanobis's D2 and molecular diversity analysis, with 1000 seed weight and plant height showing the highest degree of divergence. But the composition of genotypes varied in two types of clusters. Ra1F09 and Ra2B02, SSR markers, showed greater PIC values and heterozygosity among the twenty polymorphic SSR primers. Hybridization between PM25 and high oil content genotypes from cluster I, such as Sanjukta Asech and Kranti, is proposed to produce segregants with high yield, oil content and early maturity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Black, brown, and white mustards are important spice and oil crops cultivated worldwide. In this study, the effect of mustard lines in terms of growth and yield under spring sown conditions during 2 years (2020 and 2021) was investigated under semi-arid climatic conditions in Ankara, Turkey. Fifteen lines and one standard were used in this study. The experiment was carried out according to the randomized block trial design with four replications. The results demonstrated statistically significant lines × years interaction for plant height, number of branches, number of capsules, number of seeds, thousand-seed weight, seed yield and crude oil yield of black, brown, and white mustard lines. The days to emergence, 4–6 leaves rosette stages, 50% flowering, 50% encapsulation, and harvest varied according to species and years. The better production year was 2021, when the highest seed yield (3080 kg ha−1) and oil yield (612 kg ha−1) were determined from the Brassica juncea-Bj3 line, while the lower production year was 2020, when the lowest seed yield (572 kg ha−1) and oil yield (133 kg ha−1) were detected for the B. nigra-Bn5 line. The B. juncea-Bj3 line for crude oil yield (612 kg ha−1) and the Sinapis alba-Sa5 line for seed yield (2282 kg ha−1) appeared to be superior in performance compared to the other lines and standards. The lines can be further exploited for breeding programs through selection and hybridization. Considering the yield data of the lines, it was detected that the lines of Brassica juncea, Sinapis alba and Brassica nigra have an important potential as a raw material resource for different industries. HIGHLIGHTS: The experimental results showed the agronomic potential of growing Brassica species under spring conditions. The yield characteristics of 15 Brassica lines were significantly affected by the environmental situation. The Brassica juncea-Bj3 and Sinapis alba-Sa2 lines were the superior lines and had a high potential for breeding new Brassica cultivars. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel (Ni) pollution in soil is a major environmental challenge to global food security necessitating its effective remediation. In this regard using plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and bioorganic fertilizers (BOF) to increase the effectiveness of Ni phytoextraction together with hyper-accumulator plants is an effective strategy. Thus, the aim of this study was to assess how BOF, alone or in combination with Bacillus sp. MN54 (herein after referred to as BS), promotes the growth and detoxifies Ni in Brassica juncea L. under both non-contaminated and Ni-contaminated soil conditions. The experimental design included both non-spiked and Ni-spiked soils (with two Ni concentrations: 50 and 100 mg kg−1), with the addition of BS and BOF at two different application rates (1% and 2%). Results showed that Ni negatively affected the growth attributes and yield of Brassica juncea but the integrated incorporation of BOF and BS significantly improved plant growth and physiological attributes. However, Ni stress increased antioxidant enzyme activities and triggered the production of reactive oxygen species in the plants. Likewise, the highest increases in Ni bioconcentration factor (19.9%, 72.83%, and 74.2%), Ni bioaccumulation concentration (30.6%, 327.4%, and 366.8%), and Ni translocation factor (22.2%, 82%, and 69%) were observed in soils supplemented with 2% BOF and BS under non-contaminated, 50 mg kg−1, and 100 mg kg−1 Ni-stressed conditions, respectively. The enhanced plant growth with BS and BOF under Ni stress suggested that both could efficiently promote Ni phytoextraction and simultaneously improve soil health in Ni-contaminated soil. This highlighted their potential as sustainable soil amendments for remediating Ni-contaminated soils, promoting resilient plant growth and supporting long-term ecosystem recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Results Conclusion Brassica juncea L. (family Brassicaceae) or Indian mustard is a fast‐growing oilseed crop. Climate changes mean that it is very important to evaluate the effects of salinity stress on B. juncea. The aim of this study was therefore to show the metabolic effect of salinity stress on shoots and roots using two cultivation models – hydroponic and microplot – in different cultivars, including RH‐725 and RH‐761. Salinity levels of 5, 7.5, and 10 dS m⁻¹ were investigated, and compared with a control of 0 dS m⁻¹, using untargeted metabolomics with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) post‐silylation, focusing on metabolic markers such as proline and glycine‐betaine.A total of 56 metabolites were identified, with the most prevalent classes belonging to sugars (8), followed by organic acids (13), amino acids (11), and fatty acids/esters (11). Shoots were found to have a higher sugar content than roots. Increases in unsaturated fatty acids were also associated with salinity stress, compared with a decrease in saturated fatty acids. Absolute levels of proline and glycine‐betaine correlated with salinity stress, with the largest increases detected in shoots grown under hydroponic conditions, particularly for the RH‐761 cultivar. Multivariate data analyses revealed that roots were more affected than shoots, regardless of cultivation model.These findings might explain the different metabolic behavior of B. juncea's roots and shoots under various levels of salinity, associated with higher levels of free sugars in shoots and lipids in roots. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Brassica plants, methionine-derived aliphatic glucosinolates are chemically diverse natural products that serve as plant defense compounds, as well as molecules with dietary healthpromoting effects. During their biosynthesis, methylthioalkylmalate synthase (MAMS) catalyzes the elongation reaction of the aliphatic chain. The MAMS-catalyzed condensation of 4-methylthio-2-oxobutanoic acid and acetyl-CoA generates a 2-malate derivative that either enters the pathway for the synthesis of C3-glucosinolates or undergoes additional extension reactions, which lead to C4- to C9-glucosinolates. Recent determination of the x-ray crystal structure of MAMS from Brassica juncea (Indian mustard) provided insight on the molecular evolution of MAMS, especially substrate specificity changes, from the leucine biosynthesis enzyme aisopropylmalate synthase but left details of the reaction mechanism unanswered. Here we use the B. juncea MAMS2A (BjMAMS2A) isoform to analyze the kinetic and catalytic mechanisms of this enzyme. Initial velocity studies indicate that MAMS follows an ordered bi bi kinetic mechanism, which based on the x-ray crystal structure, involves binding of 4- methylthio-2-oxobutanoic acid followed by acetyl-CoA. Examination of the pH-dependence of kcat and kcat/Km are consistent with acid/base catalysis. Site-directed mutagenesis of three residues originally proposed to function in the reaction mechanism--Arg89 (R89A, R89K, R89Q), Glu227 (E227A, E227D, E227Q), and His388 (H388A, H388N, H388Q, H388D, and H388E)--showed that only two mutants (E227Q and H388N) retained activity. Based on available structural and biochemical data, a revised reaction mechanism for MAMScatalyzed elongation of methionine-derived aliphatic glucosinolates is proposed, which is likely also conserved in a-isopropylmalate synthase from leucine biosynthesis in plants and microbes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper utilized methods such as the MaxEnt model and ArcGIS, selected 47 actual planting points of Brassica juncea var. tumida and 20 environmental impact factors, and combined with the data of three future climate scenarios introduced by CMIP6 to predict the suitable climate areas of Brassica juncea var. tumida in Chongqing in the 2050s (2041−2060) and 2070s (2061−2080), providing a scientific reference for the planning and layout of Brassica juncea var. tumida planting in Chongqing. The results showed that the MaxEnt model provided excellent predictions. The cumulative contribution of dominant factors reached as high as 88.3%, including precipitation of the wettest month, annual precipitation, altitude, mean temperature of the coldest season, annual mean temperature and temperature annual range. The threshold of those factors was 178−185mm, 1170−1225mm, 100−380m, 7.8−9.0℃, 17.5−18.6℃ and 27.6−28.6℃, respectively. Under current conditions, Brassica juncea var. tumida had 11.6% of the suitable areas, including 1422 km² of the highly suitable area and 1.7% were in Fuling, Fengdu, and Zhongxian. Under the SSP1−2.6, SSP2−4.5 and SSP5−8.5 climate scenarios, in the 2050s the suitable areas amounted to 11.0%, 11.4% and 11.2%, respectively, and in the 2070s the suitable areas amounted to 10.8%, 10.6% and 9.6%. Future climate change will have adversely affect the planting and development of Brassica juncea var. tumida. To reduce these adverse effects, suitable planting areas should be selected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Eukaryotic translation initiation factors (eIFs) are the primary targets for overcoming RNA virus resistance in plants. In a previous study, we mapped a BjeIF2Bβ from Brassica juncea representing a new class of plant virus resistance genes associated with resistance to Turnip mosaic virus (TuMV). However, the mechanism underlying eIF2Bβ‐mediated virus resistance remains unclear. In this study, we discovered that the natural variation of BjeIF2Bβ in the allopolyploid B. juncea was inherited from one of its ancestors, B. rapa. By editing of eIF2Bβ, we were able to confer resistance to TuMV in B. juncea and in its sister species of B. napus. Additionally, we identified an N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) demethylation factor, BjALKBH9B, for interaction with BjeIF2Bβ, where BjALKBH9B co‐localized with both BjeIF2Bβ and TuMV. Furthermore, BjeIF2Bβ recruits BjALKBH9B to modify the m6A status of TuMV viral coat protein RNA, which lacks the ALKB homologue in its genomic RNA, thereby affecting viral infection. Our findings have applications for improving virus resistance in the Brassicaceae family through natural variation or genome editing of the eIF2Bβ. Moreover, we uncovered a non‐canonical translational control of viral mRNA in the host plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants encounter a myriad of biotic and abiotic stresses throughout their life cycle, among which aphids pose a significant challenge as herbivorous insect pests. Aphids cause both direct damage through feeding and indirect damage by transmitting viruses. Given the growing concerns about insecticide resistance and the non‐target effects of synthetic insecticides, there is an urgent need to develop novel pest control strategies that are dependent on plant defence strategies. In this study, we assessed the effects of exogenous prohydrojasmon (PDJ), a derivative of jasmonic acid, at 24 h (PDJ24) and 48 h (PDJ48) post‐treatment on the cabbage aphid, Brevicoryne brassicae L. (Hemiptera: Aphididae), feeding on Brassica juncea L. (Brassicaceae). The impact of PDJ treatments was assessed by conducting performance bioassays (survival and fecundity) and behavioural bioassays (settlement and attraction to volatiles in an olfactometer). Our findings reveal that the exogenous application of PDJ did not significantly affect on the performance and behaviour of B. brassicae at 24‐h post‐treatment. However, PDJ treatment significantly reduced the performance of B. brassicae at 48‐h post‐treatment, and affected the behaviour in terms of reduced settlement on and attraction to volatiles of PDJ‐treated plants. These results suggest that PDJ has the potential to effectively induce defences in Brassica against sucking pests. This study provides valuable insights into possibility of employing PDJ as an alternative approach for sustainable pest management in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Designed experiments were conducted to investigate the influence of ohmic heating (OH) at varying electric field strength (EFS) and holding time on the recovery of oil from mustard (Brassica juncea) seeds during mechanical expression. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) in the visible-near infrared (Vis–NIR, 399–1003 nm) and short-wave infrared (SWIR, 895–1712 nm) ranges was used to visualize the change in oil distribution induced by OH on the mustard seeds. OH treatment led to an increase in expression of oil content by 25% as compared to control samples. Chemometric techniques, including partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) and partial least squares regression (PLSR), were employed to analyze spectral data and develop models for predicting the enhancement in expressible oil due to OH treatment and its quality in terms of free fatty acids thereof. PLS-DA differentiated OH treated seeds from the control sample for by Vis–NIR and SWIR HSI at 93.0 and 95.8% accuracy, respectively. The variable selection method (iPLS) identified crucial wavelengths with minimal performance loss for accurate prediction. The PLSR model using SWIR HSI data accurately predicted oil content and fatty acid composition (R2 > 0.92), while Vis–NIR predictions exhibited a lower accuracy (R2 > 0.73). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Efficient genetic transformation approaches play pivotal roles in both gene function research and crop breeding. However, stable transformation in mustard, particularly for different horticultural types, has not been systematically studied and well-established so far. In this study, we optimized the key factors in the genetic transformation of mustard, including the optical density value of Agrobacterium suspension, the age of explants, and the combination of phytohormones at different concentrations. As a result, the optimal conditions for the genetic transformation of leaf and stem mustard included hypocotyl explants derived from 4-day-old seedlings, infection by 0.8 OD600nm Agrobacterium suspension, and then re-differentiation on a medium containing 4 mg/L trans-zeatin (tZ) and 0.1 mg/L indoleacetic acid (IAA) for leaf mustard, and for stem mustard, re-differentiation on a medium containing 2 mg/L tZ and 0.4 mg/L IAA, with positive rates of 4.74% and 5.26%, respectively. Those for root mustard were hypocotyl explants derived from 8-day-old seedlings, infection by 0.2 OD600nmAgrobacterium suspension, and a medium containing 2 mg/L tZ and 0.1 mg/L IAA, with a positive rate of 4.42%. Overall, this work provides an effective tool for both the theoretical study and genetic improvement of Brassica juncea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Brassica juncea(L.) Czern is an important oilseed crop affected by various abiotic stresses like drought, heat, and salt. These stresses have detrimental effects on the crop's overall growth, development and yield. Various Transcription factors (TFs) are involved in regulation of plant stress response by modulating expression of stress-responsive genes. The myeloblastosis (MYB) TFs is one of the largest families of TFs associated with various developmental and biological processes such as plant growth, secondary metabolism, stress response etc. However, MYB TFs and their regulation by non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) in response to stress have not been studied in B. juncea. Thus, we performed a detailed study on the MYB TF family and their interactions with miRNAs and Long non coding RNAs. Results: Computational investigation of genome and proteome data presented a comprehensive picture of the MYB genes and their protein architecture, including intron-exon organisation, conserved motif analysis, R2R3 MYB DNA-binding domains analysis, sub-cellular localization, protein-protein interaction and chromosomal locations. Phylogenetically, BjuMYBs were further classified into different subclades on the basis of topology and classification in Arabidopsis. A total of 751 MYBs were identified in B. juncea corresponding to 297 1R-BjuMYBs, 440 R2R3-BjuMYBs, 12 3R-BjuMYBs, and 2 4R-BjuMYBs types. We validated the transcriptional profiles of nine selected BjuMYBs under drought stress through RT-qPCR. Promoter analysis indicated the presence of drought-responsive cis-regulatory components. Additionally, the miRNA-MYB TF interactions was also studied, and most of the microRNAs (miRNAs) that target BjuMYBs were involved in abiotic stress response and developmental processes. Regulatory network analysis and expression patterns of lncRNA-miRNA-MYB indicated that selected long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) acted as strong endogenous target mimics (eTMs) of the miRNAs regulated expression of BjuMYBs under drought stress. Conclusions: The present study has established preliminary groundwork of MYB TFs and their interaction with ncRNAs in B. juncea and it will help in developing drought- tolerant Brassica crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The WRKY transcription factors comprise one of the most extensive gene families and serve as pivotal regulators of plant responses to heavy metal stress. They contribute significantly to maintaining plant growth and development by enhancing plant tolerance. However, research on the role of WRKY genes in response to cadmium (Cd) stress in mustard is minimal. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide analysis of the mustard WRKY gene family using bioinformatics. The results revealed that 291 WRKY putative genes (BjuWRKYs) were identified in the mustard genome. These genes were categorized into seven subgroups (I, IIa-e and III) through phylogenetic analysis, with differences in motif composition between each subgroup. Homology analysis indicated that 31.62% of the genes originated from tandem duplication events. Promoter analysis revealed an abundance of abiotic stress-related elements and hormone-related elements within the BjuWRKY genes. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that most BjuWRKY genes exhibited differential expression patterns at different Cd treatment stages in mustard. Furthermore, 10 BjuWRKY genes were confirmed to respond to Cd stress through the construction of a BjuWRKY protein interaction network, prediction of hub genes, and real-time fluorescence quantitative PCR analysis, indicating their potential involvement in Cd stress. Our findings provide a comprehensive insight into the WRKY gene family in mustard and establish a foundation for further studies of the functional roles of BjuWRKY genes in Cd stress response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to maximize yield of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea (L.) Czernj. & Cosson) by optimizing sowing dates and nutrient management, a field experiment was conducted at Rajasthan Agricultural Research Institute, Jaipur, India during 3 consecutive rabi seasons (2012–13 to 2014–15). The experiment was laid out in a split plot design with four replications. The two main plot treatments comprised date of sowing (D1: IV week of October; D2: II week of November) and four sub-plot treatments comprised nutrient applications (T1: RD-N40P60K40; T2: RD-N40P60K40+RDgypsum250; T3: RD-N40P60K40+RDgypsum250+Zn and T4: RD-N40P60K40+RDgypsum250+Zn + Fe). Result showed that the seed germination, seedling growth and seedling vigor index were better in D1 sowing over D2 sowing under control as well treated conditions. Chlorophyll content increased with the application of sulfur, zinc and iron during both the sowings, with greater magnitude in D2 sowing. Seed yield and its contributing factors viz. days to flowering, plant height, shoot length, leaf area; primary branches per plant, number and length of siliqua were significantly and variably affected by different nutrient combinations. Application of T3 significantly enhanced the seed and biological yield (23.13 and 74.03 q ha−1) (16.35% and 20.63%) over T1, respectively, and T3 was statistically at par with T4. T3 also provided the highest benefit:cost (B:C) ratio (2.14) and net returns (₹ 38168 ha−1). Thus, sowing of Indian mustard in the month of October and application of RD-N40P60K40+RDgypsum250+Zn (T3) is recommended to maximize its seed yield along with higher B:C ratio and returns under semi-arid conditions of India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Brassica juncea is a crucial oilseed crop, and its seeds possess high economic value as they are a source of edible oil. In order to understand the role of long non coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in the regulation of seed development, we carried out computational analysis using transcriptome data of developing seeds of two contrasting genotypes of B. juncea, Pusajaikisan (PJK) and Early Heera 2 (EH2). The seeds were sampled at three stages, 15, 30, and 45 days after pollination. We identified 1,539 lncRNAs, of which 809 were differentially expressed. We also carried out extensive characterization and functional analysis of seed lncRNAome. The expression patterns were analysed using k-means clustering, and the targets were analysed using pathway, transcription factor, and GO enrichment, as well as ortholog information. We shortlisted a total of 25 robust lncRNA candidates for seed size, oil content, and seed coat color. We also identified 4 lncRNAs as putative precursors of miRNAs regulating seed development. Moreover, a total of 28 miRNA-lncRNA-mRNA regulatory networks regulating seed traits were identified. We also developed a comprehensive database, (BrassIca juncea database or “BIJ” (), which provides seed omics as well as other functional genomics and genetics data in an easily accessible form. These candidate lncRNAs are suitable for including in crop improvement programs through molecular breeding, as well as for future validations through genome editing. Together, the knowledge of these candidate lncRNAs and availability of BIJ database shall leverage the crop improvement efforts in B. juncea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) toxicity is a serious concern for edible crops, soil, and the environment. Therefore, an eco-friendly, cost-effective strategy is highly in demand to mitigate Pb toxicity in plants and provide health benefits for humans. This study aimed to explore the impact of exogenous sulfur (S) in mitigating Pb toxicity in mustard. Pb toxicity severely inhibited mustard growth, development, biomass yield, chlorophyll content, and photosynthetic attributes (Fv/Fm, Pi_ABS) in mustard. Interestingly, exogenous S considerably restored these morpho-physiological attributes in mustard. The concentration of S declined under Pb stress, and it was restored after exogenous S supplementation to roots and shoots, suggesting that S is actively involved in regulating Pb and S accumulation and homeostasis processes in mustard plants. Additionally, S supplementation in Pb-exposed plants induced the antioxidant activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), as well as the concentrations of glutathione (GSH) and phytochelatin (PC) in roots. Given the binding affinity of PC with toxic metals, the reduction of Pb in the aerial part may result from the vacuolar sequestration of Pb, mediated by elevated PC synthesis in the roots of mustard supplemented with S. These overall findings might be useful for oilseed crop breeders and farmers to apply S-amendments in Pb-free edible crop production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to demonstrate the capability of Oil Palm Boiler Ash (OPBA)-based organomineral fertilizer (OMF) to maintain the growth, green biomass yield, and N uptake of green mustard under a reduced N application rate. This research was carried out from March to May 2021 in a research area in Bengkulu City with a Randomly Complete Block Design scheme and three replications. The treatment consisted of P0 = control (without OMF or urea), P1 = 200 kg urea ha-1, P2 = 325 kg OMF ha-1 + 50 kg urea ha-1, P3 = 650 kg OMF ha-1 + 50 kg urea ha-1, P4 = 975 kg OMF ha-1 + 50 kg urea ha-1, and P5 = 1300 kg OMF ha-1 + 50 kg urea ha-1. The results showed that the growth and green biomass yield increased as the application rate of OMF increased. Treatment of P5 produced the highest growth, green biomass yield, and N uptake, equivalent to P2 treatment. The green biomass yield at P5 was 161% higher than that at P0. Therefore, OMF has the potential to promote the agronomic performances of green mustard under 50% reduced N dose in Ultisols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Agricultural technology with a hydroponic system provides an alternative for farmers and communities who have limited land. This research aims to make innovations with a hydroponic monitoring system that can be done remotely via the internet that combines 2 systems, namely horizontal technique and nutrient film technique (NFT). The sample used in this study was curly mustard seeds. To combine the 2 systems, researchers designed a hydroponic prototype system using internet of things (IoT) in the form of smart hydroponics in the Blynk application. This research uses literature studies for research reference and flowcharts to regulate the flow of the program to be researched. The results showed that by using the IoT and the Blynk application, owners can monitor the nutrient content and pH of curly mustard greens remotely. The system automatically controls nutrients and pH according to the desired settings. In the growth control system of mustard curly, the use of smart hydroponics is proven to be better. Harvestable plants at the age of 34 days. Unlike the conventional system, the harvest period is at the age of 40-45 days. Therefore, smart hydroponics is more efficient because it shortens the harvesting time and saves labor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted at Department of Horticulture, Sikkim University, Gangtok, Sikkim during 2020-2021 with an objective to observe impact of organic manure and biofertilizers on growth and yield of brown mustard. The experiment had 7 treatments and 3 replications and statistical design used was Randomized Block Design. The best results were observed in treatment T6 (FYM 100%) + Azospirillium @5kg/ha) in terms of leaf length, leaf width, plant girth, number of leaf/plant, leaf weight, fresh weight of plant, dry weight of plant, leaf area index, leaf NPK content, germination percentage, root length. The second best treatment in this study was T3 (FYM 100%+ Azotobacter @500 ml/ha). The study is helpful in improvement of production of brown mustard. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is a globally cultivated winter oilseed crop of the rapeseed-mustard group. It is predominantly grown in the semi-arid northwest agroclimatic zone of India, characterized by high soil salinity. Enhancing tolerance to salt stress in B. juncea is therefore crucial for sustaining its production in this region. Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play critical roles in coordinating gene expression under various abiotic stresses, including salt stress, but their involvement in the salt stress response in B. juncea remains largely unknown. In this study, we conducted RNA-seq analysis on control, salt-stressed, and salt-shocked young leaves of the salt-tolerant B. juncea cv CS-52. We identified a total of 3,602 differentially expressed transcripts between stress versus control and shock versus control samples. Among these, 61 were identified as potential lncRNAs, with 21 specific to salt stress and 40 specific to salt shock. Of the 21 lncRNAs specific to salt stress, 15 were upregulated and six were downregulated, while all 40 lncRNAs unique to salt shock were downregulated. Chromosomal distribution analysis of the lncRNAs revealed their uneven placement across 18 chromosomes in B. juncea. RNA-RNA interaction analysis between salt stress-upregulated lncRNAs and salt stress-related miRNAs identified 26 interactions between 10 lncRNAs and 23 miRNAs and predicted 13 interactions between six miRNAs and 13 mRNAs. Finally, six lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interaction networks were established, involving five lncRNAs, 13 miRNAs, and 23 mRNAs. RT-qPCR analysis revealed the upregulation of four out of five lncRNAs, along with their target mRNAs, supporting their involvement in the salt stress response in B. juncea.

Among the oilseed crops, mustard has gained precedence in the human diet due to its superior oil quality. Genotype × environment interactions have a significant effect on plant breeding because it reduces the stability of the genotypes in diverse environments. In order to assess the impact of environments on genotypes and determine the stable genotypes in terms of seed yield and yield attributing characters in the terai agro-climatic zone, seventy-one Indian mustard genotypes were evaluated during two consecutive years,namely, 2017-18 and 2018-19, focusing on nine quantitative characters across six environments. Eberhart and Russell model (1966) of stability analysis revealed that various genotypes exhibited adaptability to favourable and unfavourable environments for different characters, influenced by the different sowing dates over the two years. However, Rohini (SC) and KMR-15-14 to be well adapted in terai agro-climatic zone in respect to seed yield and plant height, while Pusa mustard 27 (EJ 17) were adapted to specifically favorable (rich) environment for the seed yield. In terms of secondary branches per plant and number of siliquae on branches, Pusa mustard 27 (EJ 17) showed adaptability across all types of environments. Therefore, Rohini (SC) and KMR-15-14 were identified as stable genotypes for optimum seed yield across different environmental conditions.

Combining ability and heterosis was investigated in mustard hybrids obtained from 7 × 7 half diallel cross. Twenty one F1s along with seven parents were evaluated in Randomized Complete Block Design. The combined analysis of variance revealed very significant differences among the parents for all morphological variables with the exception of secondary branches and siliqua length, indicating wide diversity among the parental material used in the present study. Significant GCA and SCA variance indicated additive and non-additive gene action across all the characters. The SCA variance components were larger than the GCA variance components for most traits indicating the prevalence of non-additive gene effects. Jawahar mustard × PM-30, showed a significantly positive SCA and better parent heterosis for seed yield per plant whereas five hybrids (Kranti × PM-30, Gujarat Mustard-3 × Pusa Mahak, Jawahar Mustard × PM-30, Jawahar Mustard × Pusa Mahak and PM-30 × Pusa Mahak) exhibited significant positive SCA effect for number of siliqua/ plant. Jawahar Mustard × PM-30, Varuna×Jawahar Mustard, Gujarat Mustard-3 × PM-30, exhibited highly significant heterosis over the mid-parent.

Abstract Indian mustard (Brassica juncea; Brassicaceae) is an edible, oilseeds-yielding crop widely consumed as a food spice owing to its richness in nutrients with several health benefits. The current study aims to dissect the B. juncea metabolome heterogeneity among its different organs including leaf, stem, flower, and seed. Moreover, assessing the metabolome differences between two different varieties RH-725 and RH-761 grown at the same conditions. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS) post-silylation was used to dissect the composition of nutrient metabolites coupled to multivariate data analysis. Variation in sulphur aglycones was measured using headspace-solid phase-microextraction HS-SPME coupled to GC–MS. A total of 101 nutrient metabolites were identified with the abundance of sugars represented by monosaccharides in all organs, except for seeds which were enriched in disaccharides (sucrose). α-Linolenic acid was detected as a marker fatty acid in leaf from RH-725 at 12.5 µg/mg. Malic acid was detected as a significant variant metabolite between the two varieties as detected in the leaf from the RH-725 variety at ca. 128.2 µg/mg compared to traces in RH-761. 7 Volatile sulphur compounds were detected at comparable levels in RH-725 and RH-761, with 3-butenyl isothiocyanate was the most abundant at 0.8–2 ng/mg.

Drones have been attracting significant attention in the field of agriculture. They can be used for various tasks such as spraying pesticides, monitoring pests, and assessing crop growth. Sensors are also widely used in agriculture to monitor environmental parameters such as soil moisture and temperature. Due to the high cost of communication infrastructure and radio-wave modules, the adoption of high-density sensing systems in agriculture is limited. To address this issue, we propose an agricultural sensor network system using drones and Optical Camera Communication (OCC). The idea is to transmit sensor data from LED panels mounted on sensor nodes and receive the data using a drone-mounted camera. This enables high-density sensing at low cost and can be deployed in areas with underdeveloped infrastructure and radio silence. We propose a trajectory control algorithm for the receiving drone to efficiently collect the sensor data. From computer simulations, we confirmed that the proposed algorithm reduces total flight time by 30 % compared to a shortest-path algorithm. We also conducted a preliminary experiment at a leaf mustard farm in Kamitonda-cho, Wakayama, Japan, to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed system. We collected 5178 images of LED panels with a drone-mounted camera to train YOLOv5 for object detection. With simple On–Off Keying (OOK) modulation, we achieved sufficiently low bit error rates (BERs) under 10 − 3 in the real-world environment. The experimental results show that the proposed system is applicable for drone-based sensor data collection in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bio-based materials with high-performance are being explored extensively at the moment for improving the specific properties of reinforced polymer composites and thereby to extend the life-span of composite-based goods. Bio-fillers are one of the sought materials in the polymer composite industry for use in a wide range of matrix systems. At the same time, the annoying release of various agro-wastes into the environment prompt many researchers or scientists to utilize such wastes effectively for sustainable development by aiming zero-waste concepts. Since the current study was intended to utilize an agro-industrial waste from mustard (Brassica juncea) seed oil cake for the extraction cellulosic micro fillers and its characterization for understanding the applicability of it for polymer composite formulation, along with reducing environmental pollution. The isolation of micro cellulose was accomplished by chemical treatments and its characterization was done through physico-chemical (density, FT-IR, XRD, UV-visible spectroscopy), morphological (SEM, EDX, AFM), and thermal (TGA) means. Relatively low density (1.572 g/cm3) revealed its aptness against synthetic reinforcements for light-weight polymer composites. Likewise, high cellulose content (93.49%) with very less hemicellulose (4.97%) and lignin (0.83%) contents offers good mechanical properties to the fillers. The functional group examination revealed the presence of chemical moieties as hydroxyl, carbonyl, methyl, carboxyl, and alkene groups that confirmed the occurrence of high-functionality cellulose. Although, high crystallinity index (79.3%), desired thermal stability (206 °C), significant surface roughness (23.570 nm), and agreeable particle size (20.02 μm) make the material as a superior reinforcing one. Moreover, the extracted organic material is mainly composed of carbon (45.73 wt.%) and oxygen (41.11 wt.%) with a total yield percentage of 41±1.10 wt.%. Despite of these specific properties, the obtained micro-cellulose could be a viable alternative for synthetic or other bio-based reinforcements in synthesizing eco-friendly polymer composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here we report that non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma exposure can improve Brassica juncea (leaf mustard) seed germination rate from 50 % to 98 %. The commercially relevant germination rate was achieved by plasma exposure for only 10 minutes and the effect sustains at least for one month under an appropriate storage condition. Improved germination by plasma exposure was also observed for Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis (Chinese cabbage) seeds. The plasma device used is simple. No pure gas flow system is necessary and it is easy to handle. A large number of seeds can be treated by simply scaling up the device. Plasma exposure can be a practical method for improving seed germination of crop plants important for agriculture. • Non-thermal atmospheric-pressure plasma exposure can improve Brassica seed germination rate. • The effect sustains at least for one month under an appropriate storage condition. • The plasma device used is simple and a large number of seeds can be treated. • Plasma exposure can be a practical method for improving seed germination in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nNOVELTY STATEMENTThe combined microbial-plant remediation has increasingly been used to remediate heavy metal-contaminated soil. Some microorganisms could enhance phytoremediation efficiency by solubilizing heavy metal and improve plant growth by producing phytohormones in the heavy metal contaminated soils. In the present study, a strong cesium (Cs)-tolerant fungal strain Paecilomyces lilacinus was identified from soil microorganisms contaminated with Cs, and the enrichment conditions for Cs were optimized. Furthermore, the effects of the A10 fermentation solution on the growth of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) seedlings were investigated. The results indicated that the optimal combination of factors consisted of a culture temperature of 28 °C, pH7.0, initial concentration of Cs at 5.91 g·L−1. The maximum enrichment of Cs in the A10 was up to 75.36 mg·g−1 DW. In addition, the enrichment of Cs in Indian mustard was significantly enhanced by the application of the A10 fermentation solution, and the growth of Indian mustard was promoted under Cs stress. The present study has expanded the repertoire of microbial resources available for facilitating the Cs contaminated soil, thereby enhancing its applicability in the phytoremediation strategies.Recently, cesium (Cs) pollution has become a global environmental problem. Although much attention has been paid to combined microbe-plant remediation, there is still a lack of microbial strains with efficient Cs adsorption capacity to assist phytoremediation. The present study identified a new Cs accumulation fungus that effectively enhances the growth of Brassica juncea L. under Cs stress. In a word, the findings of this study have expanded the repertoire of microbial resources available for facilitating the Cs contaminated soil, thereby enhancing its applicability in the phytoremediation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salt stress is a prevalent environmental issue that disrupts the redox balance and metabolic processes in plants, leading to reduced crop growth and productivity. Currently, over 6.74 million hectares in India are salt‐affected, and about 75% of this land lies in states that are the major cultivators of edible oilseed crops (rapeseed‐mustard). Therefore, this study focused on the efficacy of glycine betaine (GB) supplementation in mitigating the detrimental effects of salt stress in Brassica juncea L. (Indian mustard) plants. Indian mustard plants were subjected to salt stress [0, 50, 100, and 150 mM sodium chloride] 20 days after sowing (DAS), while a foliar spray of 20 mM GB was applied to the foliage at 50 and 70 DAS. The data showed that salt stress substantially reduced growth, photosynthetic rate, membrane stability, and yield by significantly increasing lipid peroxidation, ion toxicity, cell death, electrolyte leakage, and reactive oxygen species accumulation that triggered oxidative stress. Supplementation with 20 mM GB provided tolerance to plants against salt‐induced toxicity since it substantially increased growth, biomass, water content, nutrient uptake, and photosynthetic efficiency. Additionally, GB enhances the accumulation of osmolytes, enhances the antioxidant defence system, improves ionic balance, and enhances cell viability. Taken together, the obtained data provides deeper insights into the beneficial effect of the exogenous GB application that could have biotechnological uses to enhance crop stress tolerance in challenging environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was undertaken to study the residual heterosis in F2 and F3 populations of Indian mustard [Brassica juncea (L.) Czern & Coss.]. The study material included eight parents and the 28 crosses of Indian mustard in two generations, namely F2 and F3. The experiment was conducted over two years at Uttar Banga Krishi Viswavidyalaya, Cooch Behar, West Bengal, during Rabi season 2020-21 and 2021-22. Out of the 28 crosses, three crosses namely, Npj-194 × DRMR-15-16, Npj-194 × RW- 85-59 (Sarma) and Npj-194 × SKJM-05 were found to show significantly positive residual standard heterosis over the standard variety (SKJM-05) for both the characters siliquae per plant and seed yield per plant. This provides us evidence that by improving siliquae per plant, the character seed yield per plant can be improved. The promising cross populations which have shown significant standard heterosis for seed yield in F2 and F3, can be utilized for the development of hybrid varieties, which would be very much beneficial to the marginal farmers of our country as they would be able to use the F2 and F3 seeds of the hybrid varieties without any compromise with seed yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica juncea, a member of the Brassicaceae family commonly referred to as mustard, is an allotetraploid (AABB, 2n=36) resulting from interspecific hybridization between Brassica rapa (AA, 2n=20) and Brassica nigra (BB, 2n=16). In this study, microspores were cultured using F1 hybrids between two selected B. juncea double haploid (DH) lines with high anthocyanin and glucosinolate contents in the maternal versus leafy paternity. The results of the microspore culture showed that the total number of cultured buds, obtained embryos, and embryos per bud were 2,010, 15,526, and 7.62, respectively. Colchicine was used to induce the amphidiploids (AABB). We found that 149 of the 218 regenerated plants (68.3%) were amphidoploid. Among them, 117 individuals underwent ripening and seed harvesting and were used for subsequent phenotype analysis. Leaf color, length, and other agricultural traits exhibited various patterns owing to the recombination of the parental allele. The glucosinolate (GSL) content ranged from a maximum of 29.27 μmol/g dry weight to a minimum of 6.39 μmol/g dry weight, exceeding the range of parental value. The composition of GSL was mainly aliphatic, with sinigrin accounting for approximately 89% of the total aliphatic GSL content. These DH lines and their respective unique phenotypic traits are crucial for crop breeding and are valuable resources for advancing functional genomics and developing molecular markers in B. juncea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]