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Main Conclusion: Using octoploid somatic hybrids with excessive C genome sets, AABBCCCC, a diverse allohexaploid, AABBCC, was produced by C genome reduction through subsequent crossing with various AABB cultivars. Even when somatic hybrids are produced, the plants that are produced are rarely in themselves an innovative crop. In this study, we used somatic hybrids of Brassica juncea (AABB) and B. oleracea (CC) as model cases for the genetic diversification of the somatic hybrids. One cell of 'Akaoba Takana' (B. juncea) and two cells of 'Snow Crown' (B. oleracea) were fused to create several somatic hybrids with excessive C genomes, AABBCCCC. Using AABBCCCC somatic hybrids as mother plants and crossing with 'Akaoba Takana', the AABBCC progenies were generated. When these AABBCC plants were self-fertilized, and flow cytometric (FCM) analysis was performed on the next generations, differences in the relative amount of genome size variation were observed, depending on the different AABBCCCC parents used for AABBCC creation. Further self-progeny was obtained for AABBCC plants with a theoretical allohexaploid DNA index by FCM. However, as the DNA indices of the progeny populations varied between plants used and aneuploid individuals still occurred in the progeny populations, it was difficult to say that the allohexaploid genome was fully stabilized. Next, to obtain genetic diversification of the allohexaploid, different cultivars of B. juncea were crossed with AABBCCCC, resulting in diverse AABBCC plants. Genetic diversity can be further expanded by crossbreeding plants with different AABBCC genome sets. Although genetic stability is necessary to ensure in the later generations, the results obtained in this study show that the use of somatic hybrids with excess genomes is an effective strategy for creating innovative crops., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Brassica carinata (BBCC) commonly referred to as Ethiopian mustard is a natural allotetraploid containing the genomes of Brassica nigra (BB) and Brassica oleracea (CC). It is an oilseed crop endemic to the northeastern regions of Africa. Although it is under limited cultivation, B. carinata is valuable as it is resistant/highly tolerant to most of the pathogens affecting widely cultivated Brassica species of the U's triangle. We report a chromosome-scale genome assembly of B. carinata accession HC20 using long-read Oxford Nanopore sequencing and Bionano optical maps. The assembly has a scaffold N50 of ~39.8 Mb and covers ~1.11 Gb of the genome. We compared the long-read genome assemblies of the U's triangle species and found extensive gene collinearity between the diploids and allopolyploids with no evidence of major gene losses. Therefore, B. juncea (AABB), B. napus (AACC), and B. carinata can be regarded as strict allopolyploids. We cataloged the nucleotide-binding and leucine-rich repeat immune receptor (NLR) repertoire of B. carinata and, identified 465 NLRs, and compared these with the NLRs in the other Brassica species. We investigated the extent and nature of early-generation genomic interactions between the constituent genomes of B. carinata and B. juncea in interspecific crosses between the two species. Besides the expected recombination between the constituent B genomes, extensive homoeologous exchanges were observed between the A and C genomes. Interspecific crosses, therefore, can be used for transferring disease resistance from B. carinata to B. juncea and broadening the genetic base of the two allotetraploid species., (© 2024 The Authors. The Plant Journal published by Society for Experimental Biology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Heavy metal (HM) contamination of soil due to anthropogenic activities has led to bioaccumulation and biomagnification, posing toxic effects on plants by interacting with vital cellular biomolecules such as DNA and proteins. Brassica species have developed complex physiological, biochemical, and molecular mechanisms for adaptability, tolerance, and survival under these conditions. This review summarizes the HM tolerance strategies of Brassica species, covering the role of root exudates, microorganisms, cell walls, cell membranes, and organelle-specific proteins. The first line of defence against HM stress in Brassica species is the avoidance strategy, which involves metal ion precipitation, root sorption, and metal exclusion. The use of plant growth-promoting microbes, Pseudomonas, Psychrobacter, and Rhizobium species effectively immobilizes HMs and reduces their uptake by Brassica roots. The roots of Brassica species efficiently detoxify metals, particularly by flavonoid glycoside exudation. The composition of the cell wall and callose deposition also plays a crucial role in enhancing HMs resistance in Brassica species. Furthermore, plasma membrane-associated transporters, BjCET, BjPCR, BjYSL, and BnMTP, reduce HM concentration by stimulating the efflux mechanism. Brassica species also respond to stress by up-regulating existing protein pools or synthesizing novel proteins associated with HM stress tolerance. This review provides new insights into the HM tolerance mechanisms of Brassica species, which are necessary for future development of HM-resistant crops., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Germany, part of Springer Nature.)

Sclerotinia Stem Rot (SSR) caused by the oxalic acid (OA)-secreting necrotrophic fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, causes significant yields losses in the crop Brassica sps. Oxalate oxidase (OxO) can metabolize OA to CO 2 and H 2 O 2 . Degradation of OA during the early phase of fungal-host interaction can interfere with the fungal infection and establishment processes. The present study demonstrates the potential of barley oxalate oxidase (BOxO) gene in conferring stable resistance against stem rot in a productive and highly susceptible Brassica juncea cv Varuna under field conditions. Four stable, independent, single-copy transgenic lines (B16, B17, B18, and B53) exhibited a significant reduction in the rate of lesion expansion i.e. 11-26%, 39-47%, and 24-35% reproducibly over the three-generation i.e. T 2 , T 3 , and T 4 respectively. The enhanced resistance in the transgenic lines correlated with high OxO activity, accumulation of higher levels of H 2 O 2 , and robust activation of defense responsive genes upon infection by S. sclerotiorum.

Cell wall-associated defence against zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) as well as nitro-oxidative signalling and its consequences in plants are poorly examined. Therefore, this study compares the effect of chemically synthetized ZnO NPs (~45 nm, 25 or 100 mg/L) on Brassica napus and Brassica juncea seedlings. The effects on root biomass and viability suggest that B. napus is more tolerant to ZnO NP exposure relative to B. juncea. This may be due to the lack of Zn ion accumulation in the roots, which is related to the increase in the amount of lignin, suberin, pectin and in peroxidase activity in the roots of B. napus. TEM results indicate that root cell walls of 25 mg/L ZnO NP-treated B. napus may bind Zn ions. Additionally, callose accumulation possibly contribute to root shortening in both Brassica species as the effect of 100 mg/L ZnO NPs. Further results suggest that in the roots of the relatively sensitive B. juncea the levels of superoxide radical, hydrogen peroxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitric oxide, peroxinitrite and S-nitrosoglutathione increased as the effect of high ZnO NP concentration meaning that ZnO NP intensifies nitro-oxidative signalling. In B. napus; however, reactive oxygen species signalling was intensified, but reactive nitrogen species signalling wasn't activated by ZnO NPs. Collectively, these results indicate that ZnO NPs induce cell wall remodeling which may be associated with ZnO NP tolerance. Furthermore, plant tolerance against ZnO NPs is associated rather with nitrosative signalling than oxidative modifications., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Trap cropping, in which a trap crop is planted near a cash crop, has been used successfully for reducing pest damage in some agricultural systems. We used a meta-analysis of extensive data on two trap cropping systems, diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Linnaeus), exploiting cabbage and Chilo partellus (Swinhoe) (Lepidoptera: Crambidae) exploiting maize, to show that oviposition preference for, and high larval mortality on trap crops are important indicators of effectiveness of trap cropping systems. We then evaluated Indian mustard (Brassica juncea var. juncea L. Czern.) (Capparidales: Brassicaceae) and yellow rocket (Barbarea vulgaris W. T. Aiton) (Brassicales: Brassicaceae) as trap crops for protecting broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenck) (Capparidales: Brassicaceae) against diamondback moth in Yuma, AZ, using planting configurations compatible with current practices for commercial production and without use of insecticides. In oviposition choice tests, both yellow rocket and Indian mustard were highly preferred over broccoli in the field. Furthermore, the number of larvae and pupae was significantly lower on yellow rocket and Indian mustard compared to broccoli, indicating relatively high mortality on these trap crops. Nevertheless, during the fall and spring growing seasons, no significant differences in the number of individuals on broccoli or proportion of broccoli crowns infested at harvest occurred between plots with trap crops relative to plots exclusively planted to broccoli. Thus, with the plant density and planting patterns used and without use of insecticides, there was no evidence that trap cropping was effective for reducing diamondback moth infestation of broccoli., (© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Entomological Society of America. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Due to their release into the environment, zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) may come in contact with plants. In elevated concentrations, ZnO NPs induce reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, but the metabolism of reactive nitrogen species (RNS) and the consequent nitro-oxidative signalling has not been examined so far. In this work, Brassica napus and Brassica juncea seedlings were treated with chemically synthetized ZnO NPs (∼8 nm, 0, 25 or 100 mg/L). At low dose (25 mg/L) ZnO NP exerted a positive effect, while at elevated concentration (100 mg/L) it was toxic to both species. Additionally, B. juncea was more tolerant to ZnO NPs than B. napus. The ZnO NPs could enter the root cells due to their small (∼8 nm) size which resulted in the release of Zn 2+ and subsequently increased Zn 2+ content in the plant organs. ZnO NPs disturbed superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide homeostasis and modulated ROS metabolic enzymes (NADPH oxidase, superoxide dismutase, ascorbate peroxidase) and non-enzymatic antioxidants (ascorbate and glutathione) inducing similar changes in oxidative signalling in both Brassica species. The homeostasis of RNS (nitric oxide, peroxynitrite and S-nitrosoglutathione) was also altered by ZnO NPs; however, changes in nitrosative signalling proved to be different in the examined species. Moreover, ZnO NPs triggered changes in protein carbonylation and nitration. These results suggest that ZnO NPs induce changes in nitro-oxidative signalling which may contribute to ZnO NP toxicity. Furthermore, difference in ZnO NP tolerance of Brassica species is more likely related to nitrosative than to oxidative signalling., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Verticillium stripe in canola ( Brassica napus L.) caused by Verticillium longisporum was first reported in Manitoba in 2014. In this study, Brassica crops including canola, mustard ( Brassica juncea ) and radish ( Raphanus sativus ) with visible symptoms of Verticillium stripe were collected from Portage La Prairie, Manitoba, and the pathogens were isolated. Isolates from canola and radish were identified to V. longisporum , which produced longer conidia (7.92-12.00 µm) than Verticillium dahliae (4.32-7.04 µm). An isolate derived from mustard was characterized as V. dahliae . Molecular diagnostics with 18S rDNA, 5.8S rDNA and mating-type marker primers were used to confirm the identification of Verticillium isolates. PCR-RFLP of the mitochondrial small subunit rDNA and the cytochrome b gene were also employed to distinguish V. longisporum isolates from V. dahliae . The multi-gene characterization approach allowed for lineage determination, and V. longisporum isolates from canola and radish were in the A1/D1 group. Isolates of Verticillium longisporum from canola inoculated onto the canola cultivar 'Westar' caused symptoms of stem striping, stunting and short plants. Re-isolated fungal strains from infected stems were again inoculated onto canola plants, in order to confirm that V. longisporum was the causal agent of Verticillium stripe disease in the pathogenicity test.

Annexins are multifunctional proteins with roles in plant development and alleviation of stress tolerance. In the present communication, we report on the effect of heterologous expression of Brassica juncea annexin, AnnBj2 in tobacco. Transgenic tobacco plants expressing AnnBj2 exhibited salt-tolerant and abscisic acid (ABA)-insensitive phenotype at the seedling stage. Biochemical analysis showed that AnnBj2 transgenic plants retained higher chlorophyll and proline content, and lower malondialdehyde (MDA) levels compared to the null line under salt stress. They exhibited better water retention capacity compared to the null segregant (NS) line. AnnBj2 overexpression altered the transcript levels of several stress-related marker genes involved in reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging and abiotic stress signaling. Taken together, these results suggest a positive role for AnnBj2 in salt stress response upon heterologous expression in tobacco.

Arsenic (As), a non-essential metalloid, severely affects the normal functioning of plants, animals and humans. Plants play a crucial role in metabolic, physiological and numerous detoxification mechanisms to cope up with As induced stress. This study aimed to examine the differential response in two Brassica juncea cultivars, Varuna and Pusa Jagannath (PJn) exposed to different doses of As (50, 150, 300 μM) for 48 h duration. Change in morphological traits, concentration of individual as well as total GSL, sulfur related thiol proteins, sulfur content, and phytochemicals were analyzed in both cultivars. Accumulation pattern of As showed dose dependent accumulation in both the cultivars, being more in PJn. Our finding revealed that both cultivars were tolerant at low concentrations of As, while at higher concentration Varuna excelled over PJn. The increased tolerance of Varuna cultivar exposed to 150 and 300 μM concentration of As, correlated with its increased thiol related proteins, sulfur content and phytochemicals, which serves as defence strategy in the plant against oxidative stress. Differential pattern of total as well as individual GSLs content was observed in both Varuna and PJn cultivars. Varuna cultivar showed higher level of total and aliphatic GSLs, which serves as defence compound with other detoxification machineries to combat As stress. Our findings provide foundation for developing metalloid tolerant crops by analyzing the role of different genes involved in GSL mechanism and signaling pathways in different organs of plant., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

Zinc is an essential microelement, but its excess exerts toxic effects in plants. Heavy metal stress can alter the metabolism of reactive oxygen (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS) leading to oxidative and nitrosative damages; although the participation of these processes in Zn toxicity and tolerance is not yet known. Therefore this study aimed to evaluate the zinc tolerance of Brassica organs and the putative correspondence of it with protein nitration as a relevant marker for nitrosative stress. Both examined Brassica species (B. juncea and B. napus) proved to be moderate Zn accumulators; however B. napus accumulated more from this metal in its organs. The zinc-induced damages (growth diminution, altered morphology, necrosis, chlorosis, and the decrease of photosynthetic activity) were slighter in the shoot system of B. napus than in B. juncea. The relative zinc tolerance of B. napus shoot was accompanied by moderate changes of the nitration pattern. In contrast, the root system of B. napus suffered more severe damages (growth reduction, altered morphology, viability loss) and slighter increase in nitration level compared to B. juncea. Based on these, the organs of Brassica species reacted differentially to excess zinc, since in the shoot system modification of the nitration pattern occurred (with newly appeared nitrated protein bands), while in the roots, a general increment in the nitroproteome could be observed (the intensification of the same protein bands being present in the control samples). It can be assumed that the significant alteration of nitration pattern is coupled with enhanced zinc sensitivity of the Brassica shoot system and the general intensification of protein nitration in the roots is attached to relative zinc endurance., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

The paper presents a duplex real-time PCR assay for the simultaneous detection of three potentially allergenic mustard species commonly used in food: white mustard (Sinapis alba), black mustard (Brassica nigra) and brown mustard (Brassica juncea). White mustard is detected in the "green" and black/brown mustard in the "yellow" channel. The duplex real-time PCR assay does not show cross-reactivity with other Brassicaceae species including broccoli, cauliflower, radish and rapeseed. Low cross-reactivities (difference in the Ct value ⩾ 11.91 compared with the positive control) were obtained with cumin, fenugreek, ginger, rye and turmeric. When applying 500 ng DNA per PCR tube, the duplex real-time PCR assay allowed the detection of white, black and brown mustard in brewed model sausages down to a concentration of 5mg/kg in 10 out of 10 replicates. The duplex real-time PCR assay was applied to verify correct labelling of commercial foodstuffs., (Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Asynchronous flowering of Brassica napus (canola) leads to seeds and siliques at varying stages of maturity as harvest approaches. This range of maturation can result in premature silique dehiscence (pod shattering), resulting in yield losses, which may be worsened by environmental stresses. Therefore, a goal for canola crop improvement is to reduce shattering in order to maximize yield. We performed a comprehensive transcriptome analysis on the dehiscence zone (DZ) and valve of Arabidopsis and Brassica siliques in shatter resistant and sensitive genotypes at several developmental stages. Among known Arabidopsis dehiscence genes, we confirmed that homologs of SHP1/2, FUL, ADPG1, NST1/3 and IND were associated with shattering in B. juncea and B. napus. We noted a correlation between reduced pectin degradation genes and shatter-resistance. Tension between lignified and non-lignified cells in the silique DZ plays a major role in dehiscence. Light microscopy revealed a smaller non-lignified separation layer in relatively shatter-resistant B. juncea relative to B. napus and this corresponded to increased expression of peroxidases involved in monolignol polymerization. Sustained repression of auxin biosynthesis, transport and signaling in B. juncea relative to B. napus may cause differences in dehiscence zone structure and cell wall constituents. Tension on the dehiscence zone is a consequence of shrinkage and loss of flexibility in the valves, which is caused by senescence and desiccation. Reduced shattering was generally associated with upregulation of ABA signaling and down-regulation of ethylene and jasmonate signaling, corresponding to more pronounced stress responses and reduced senescence and photosynthesis. Overall, we identified 124 cell wall related genes and 103 transcription factors potentially involved in silique dehiscence.

Glucosinolates are Capparales-specific secondary metabolites that have immense potential in human health and agriculture. Unlike Arabidopsis thaliana, our knowledge about glucosinolate regulators in the Brassica crops is sparse. In the current study, four MYB28 homologues were identified (BjuMYB28-1,-2,-3,-4) from the polyploid Brassica juncea, and the effects of allopolyploidization on the divergence of gene sequence, structure, function, and expression were assessed. The deduced protein sequences of the four BjuMYB28 genes showed 76.1-83.1% identity with the Arabidopsis MYB28. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the four BjuMYB28 proteins have evolved via the hybridization and duplication processes forming the B. juncea genome (AABB) from B. rapa (AA) and B. nigra (BB), while retaining high levels of sequence conservation. Mutant complementation and over-expression studies in A. thaliana showed that all four BjuMYB28 genes encode functional MYB28 proteins and resulted in similar aliphatic glucosinolate composition and content. Detailed expression analysis using qRT-PCR assays and promoter-GUS lines revealed that the BjuMYB28 genes have both tissue- and cell-specific expression partitioning in B. juncea. The two B-genome origin BjuMYB28 genes had more abundant transcripts during the early stages of plant development than the A-genome origin genes. However, with the onset of the reproductive phase, expression levels of all four BjuMYB28 increased significantly, which may be necessary for producing and maintaining high amounts of aliphatic glucosinolates during the later stages of plant development. Taken together, our results suggest that the four MYB28 genes are differentially expressed and regulated in B. juncea to play discrete though overlapping roles in controlling aliphatic glucosinolate biosynthesis.

Chimeras have been used to study the transmission of genetic material and the resulting genetic variation. In this study, two chimeras, TCC and TTC (where the origin of the outer, middle, and inner cell layers, respectively, of the shoot apical meristem is designated by a 'T' for tuber mustard and 'C' for red cabbage), as well as their asexual and sexual progeny, were used to analyse the mechanism and the inheritance of the variation induced by grafting. Asexual TCC progeny were obtained by adventitious shoot regeneration, while TTC sexual progeny were produced by self-crossing. This study observed similar morphological variations in both the asexual and sexual progeny, including changes in leaf shape and the pattern of shoot apical meristem termination. The leaf shape variation was stable, while the rate of shoot apical meristem termination in the TTC progenies decreased from 74.52% to 3.01% after three successive rounds of self-crossing. Specific red cabbage small RNAs were found in the asexually regenerated plants (rTTT) that were not present in TTT, indicating that small RNAs might be transmitted from red cabbage to tuber mustard during grafting. Moreover, in parallel with the variations in phenotype observed in the progeny, some conserved miRNAs were differentially expressed in rTTT and TTT, which correlated with changes in expression of their target genes. These results suggest that the change in small RNA expression induced by grafting may be an important factor for introducing graft-induced genetic variations, providing a basis for further investigating the mechanism of graft-induced genetic variation through epigenetics.

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]

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]

The Brassicaceae genus consists of many economically important mustards of value for food and medicinal purposes, namely Asian mustard (Brassica juncea), ball mustard (Neslia paniculata), black mustard (B. nigra), garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata), hedge mustard (Sisymbrium officinale), Asian hedge mustard (S. orientale), oilseed rape (B. napus), rapeseed (B. rapa), treacle mustard (Erysimum repandum), smooth mustard (S. erysimoides), white ball mustard (Calepina irregularis), white mustard (Sinapis alba), and Canola. Some of these are commercially cultivated as oilseeds to meet the global demand for a healthy plant-derived oil, high in polyunsaturated fats, i.e., B. napus and B. juncea. Other species are foraged from the wild where they grow on roadsides and as a weed of arable land, i.e., E. repandum and S. erysimoides, and harvested for medicinal uses. These plants contain a diverse range of bioactive natural products including sulfur-containing glucosinolates and other potentially valuable compounds, namely omega-3-fatty acids, terpenoids, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids, tannins, S-methyl cysteine sulfoxide, and trace-elements. Various parts of these plants and many of the molecules that are produced throughout the plant have been used in traditional medicines and more recently in the mainstream pharmaceutical and food industries. This study relates the uses of mustards in traditional medicines with their bioactive molecules and possible mechanisms of action and provides an overview of the current knowledge of Brassicaceae oilseeds and mustards, their phytochemicals, and their biological activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Early‐stage responses of Brassica juncea, B. napus and B. oleracea during black spot disease and the development of Alternaria brassicicola were evaluated. Infection of plant cells by the fungus occurred mainly through direct penetration or by appressoria and, rarely, stomata in B. juncea and B. oleracea; in B. napus, penetration was mostly direct. The process of conidial germination, germ tubes and appressoria formation on a leaf surface was correlated with the post‐inoculation time and host species (p < 0.05). Changes in the leaf surface were observed at successful infection sites as bright, wax‐deprived areas. Significant differences in progression of infection between Brassica species were observed, with B. oleracea being the most susceptible and B. napus the least. Accumulation of superoxide anion radicals and hydrogen peroxide was not only observed in plant cells, but also in A. brassicicola germ tubes and appressoria at 8 and 12 h post‐inoculation (hpi). Enhanced production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and lipid peroxidation during infection triggered diverse patterns of enzymatic and non‐enzymatic antioxidant activities and phenolic compound contents in response to A. brassicicola. In each Brassica species, a different antioxidant was the most active. With their antioxidant properties, phenolic compounds also played an essential role in these interactions. This phenomenon could be related to the disparate levels of susceptibility of the Brassica species to A. brassicicola; for example, the most susceptible, B. oleracea, showed high ROS accumulation with decreasing tendency during disease progression, unchanged phenolics content, and the highest catalase activity, differentiating it from B. juncea and B. napus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plant architecture is a crucial determinant of crop yield. The number of primary (PB) and secondary branches (SB) is particularly significant in shaping the architecture of Indian mustard. In this study, we analyzed a panel of 86 backcross introgression lines (BCILs) derived from the first stable allohexaploid Brassicas with 170 Sinapis alba genome-specific SSR markers to identify associated markers with higher PB and SB through association mapping. The structure analysis revealed three subpopulations, i.e., P1, P2, and P3, in the association panel containing a total of 11, 33, and 42 BCILs, respectively. We identified five novel SSR markers linked to higher PB and SB. Subsequently, we explored the 20 kb up- and downstream regions of these SSR markers to predict candidate genes for improved branching and annotated them through BLASTN. As a result, we predicted 47 complete genes within the 40 kb regions of all traitlinked markers, among which 35 were identified as candidate genes for higher PB and SB numbers in BCILs. These candidate genes were orthologous to ANT, RAMOSUS, RAX, MAX, MP, SEU, REV, etc., branching genes. The remaining 12 genes were annotated for additional roles using BLASTP with protein databases. This study identified five novel S. alba genome-specific SSR markers associated with increased PB and SB, as well as 35 candidate genes contributing to plant architecture through improved branching numbers. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of introgressive genes for higher branching numbers in B. juncea from S. alba. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brassica crops are well known for the accumulation of glucosinolates—secondary metabolites crucial for plants' adaptation to various stresses. Glucosinolates also functioning as defence compounds pose challenges to food quality due to their goitrogenic properties. Their disruption leaves plants susceptible to insect pests and diseases. Hence, a targeted reduction in seed glucosinolate content is of paramount importance to increase food acceptance. GLUCOSINOLATE TRANSPORTERS (GTRs) present a promising avenue for selectively reducing glucosinolate concentrations in seeds while preserving biosynthesis elsewhere. In this study, 54 putative GTR protein sequences found in Brassica were retrieved, employing Arabidopsis GTR1 and GTR2 templates. Comprehensive bioinformatics analyses, encompassing gene structure organization, domain analysis, motif assessments, promoter analysis, and cis-regulatory elements, affirmed the existence of transporter domains and stress-related regulatory elements. Phylogenetic analysis revealed patterns of conservation and divergence across species. Glucosinolates have been shown to increase under stress conditions, indicating a potential role in stress response. To elucidate the role of GTRs in glucosinolate transportation under NaCl stress in two distinct Brassica species, B. juncea and B. napus, plants were subjected to 0, 100, or 200 mM NaCl. Based on the literature, key GTR genes were chosen and their expression across various plant parts was assessed. Both species displayed divergent trends in their biochemical profiles as well as glucosinolate contents under elevated salt stress conditions. Statistical modelling identified significant contributors to glucosinolate variations, guiding the development of targeted breeding strategies for low-glucosinolate varieties. Notably, GTR2A2 exhibited pronounced expressions in stems, contributing approximately 52% to glucosinolate content variance, while GTR2B1/C2 displayed significant expression in flowers. Additionally, GTR2A1 and GTR1A2/B1 demonstrated noteworthy expression in roots. This study enhances our understanding of glucosinolate regulation under stress conditions, offering avenues to improve Brassica crop quality and resilience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Twenty-eight diverse mustard (Brassica juncea L.) genotypes were assessed for genetic variability, heritability, genetic advance, trait association and genetic diversity based on 14 yield and its attributing traits during the Rabi 2023 at the Post Graduate Research Farm, School of Agriculture, LPU, Punjab. The study revelled significant differences among the mustard genotypes both in their genotypic and phenotypic level. Significant differences were observed in traits such as number of siliquae per plant, number of siliquae on the main stem, and seed yield per plant. Moreover, it is noteworthy to emphasize that a pronounced degree of heritability was founded for all traits except for days to maturity. Significant genetic advancements expressed as a percentage mean was observed for all attributes examined, except for days 50% flowering and maturity. Seed yield per individual plant manifested a substantial and positive genotypic correlation with the number of secondary branches per plant, 1000-seed weight, biological yield per individual plant, and the harvest index. Path analysis further elucidated that biological yield per individual plant and the harvest index exerted the most substantial positive direct effects on seed yield per plant. Based on these findings, the study suggests that choosing mustard genotypes based on these particular traits could lead to a more effective strategy for increasing overall yield. Additionally, genotypes grouped into distinct clusters with higher average values for seed yield and other essential characteristics present an attractive opportunity for inclusion in hybridization efforts aimed at producing superior offspring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction and coevolution between nuclear and cytoplasmic genomes are one of the fundamental hallmarks of eukaryotic genome evolution and, 2 billion yr later, are still major contributors to the formation of new species. Although many studies have investigated the role of cytonuclear interactions following allopolyploidization, the relative magnitude of the effect of subgenome dominance versus cytonuclear interaction on genome evolution remains unclear. The Brassica triangle of U features 3 diploid species that together have formed 3 separate allotetraploid species on similar evolutionary timescales, providing an ideal system for understanding the contribution of the cytoplasmic donor to hybrid polyploid. Here, we investigated the evolutionary pattern of organelle-targeted genes in Brassica carinata (BBCC) and 2 varieties of Brassica juncea (AABB) at the whole-genome level, with particular focus on cytonuclear enzyme complexes. We found partial evidence that plastid-targeted genes experience selection to match plastid genomes, but no obvious corresponding signal in mitochondria-targeted genes from these 2 separately formed allopolyploids. Interestingly, selection acting on plastid genomes always reduced the retention rate of plastid-targeted genes encoded by the B subgenome, regardless of whether the Brassica nigra (BB) subgenome was contributed by the paternal or maternal progenitor. More broadly, this study illustrates the distinct selective pressures experienced by plastid- and mitochondria-targeted genes, despite a shared pattern of inheritance and natural history. Our study also highlights an important role for subgenome dominance in allopolyploid genome evolution, even in genes whose function depends on separately inherited molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PAP2 (Production of anthocyanin segment 2) encodes MYB transcription factor, and regulates anthocyanin synthesis by forming MYB-bHLH-WD40 complex with bHLH and WD40. In this study we cloned PAP2 gene in Brassica, and preliminarily verified the function of PAP2, providing a reference for further understanding the regulatory mechanism of anthocyanin synthesis in Brassica. Two and one copies of PAP2 gene were cloned from Brassica carinata and Brassica nigra, respectively, and named as BcaB.PAP2, BcaC.PAP2, BniB.PAP2. These three genes are composed of 3 exons and 2 introns, encoding 247 amino acids. Based on the PAP2 gene sequences cloned in this study and other reported PAP2 gene sequences of Brassica, three pairs of primers were designed to detect the PAP2 gene of A, B and C genomes respectively, and the genomic origin of PAP2 of six species in the U's Triangle of Brassica could be distinguished by allele specific PCR. The BjuB.PAP2 gene from the B genome of Brassica juncea was selected to construct an overexpression vector and transformed into Arabidopsis thaliana. The transgenic Arabidopsis leaves turned purple, indicating that PAP2 gene is regulating anthocyanin synthesis. After shading treatment for 10 days, the purple color of Brassica carinata lightened, and the anthocyanin content decreased by 41.22%. Quantitative PCR and transcriptomic studies showed that the expression of BcaB.PAP2 and BcaC.PAP2 in the leaves of shading plants decreased. The expression of structural genes for anthocyanin synthesis, such as chalcone synthase gene (CHS), chalcone isomerase gene (CHI), flavanone 3-hydroxylase gene (F3H), dihydroflavonol reductase gene (DFR), anthocyanin synthase gene (ANS), flavonoid 3-glucosyltransferase gene (UFGT) and other genes were also decreased. This study completed the cloning of PAP2 gene of Brassica carinata and Brassica nigra, and carried out their evolutionary analysis. Allele specific PCR primers were designed according to the sequences of PAP2 gene cloned in this experiment and other reported genes to provide molecular markers for the genomic transmission identification of PAP2 gene in Brassica interspecific hybrids. Through the transformation of BjuB.PAP2 gene into Arabidopsis plants, it was found that PAP2 gene was involved in the accumulation of anthocyanins. It was found that the expression of BcaPAP2 gene and anthocyanin synthesis structure gene were induced by light after shading. This study cloned the PAP2 gene in Brassica and preliminarily verified its function, providing a reference for further understanding the regulatory mechanism of anthocyanin synthesis in Brassica plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was amied to investigate morphological characteristics of pollen grains and fruits for eleven species belonging to the tribe Brassiceae of cruciferae family, species are: Brassica rapa L, Braasica deflexa Boiss.,Brassica nigra (L.) brassica juncea(L.), Brassica tournefortii Gouan, Brassica oleracea L., sinapis arvensis L., Hirschfeldia incana(L.),Savignya paraflora(Del.),Raphanus sativus L.,Eurca sativa Mill., pollen grains were studied morphologically and all dimentions were recorded. The result of this study showed that most pollen grains are tricolpate,their size varied between small,medium and ornamentation was reticulated. The morphological study of fruits showed a contrast in the ornamentation between reticulate, smooth reticulate and rough reticulate,it’s also varied in color, shape and dimensions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

KCS (β-ketoacyl-CoA synthases) proteins are known to play a role in the elongation of very long-chain fatty acid (VLCFA) by iterative addition of 2 carbon from malonyl-CoA and catalyzing multiple elongation steps from C18 to C34 (Blacklock and Jaworski 2006). KCS genes encoding elongase as condensing enzymes constitute a large gene family with individual members having substrate specificity responsible for the elongation of specific chain length; the role of individual condensing enzymes and the basis of their substrate specificity however remain to be investigated. In A. thaliana, of the 21 members of KCS gene family, roles of only a handful (KCS1, 2, 6, 9, 10, 16, 18, 20) have been elucidated, and CER6/CUT1/KCS6 is reported to be the only KCS involved exclusively in cuticular wax biosynthesis through elongation of chain length longer than C24. We have previously reported a paralogous copy of KCS6, KCS5/CER60 present across Brassicaceae sharing an average of 82% similarity at nucleotide level and 88% identity between the proteins. However, the contribution of KCS6 and KCS5 in VLCFA production, cuticular wax biosynthesis, plant development, and adaptation remain to be fully characterized. In the present investigation, comparative analysis indicated a correlation between the sequence and structural similarity. Complementation of Saccharomyces cerevisiae elo3 mutants confirmed the conservation of function across orthologs and paralogs and demonstrated the role in conferring abiotic stress tolerance. Reverse genetic models in Arabidopsis thaliana for KCS5 and KCS6 exhibited altered developmental growth, wax profile, and tolerance to abiotic stress. The present study thus highlights the role of KCS5 and KCS6 in VLCFA and wax biosynthesis and amelioration of abiotic stresses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phosphorus is the second major plant nutrient and the availability of this element to plants is a major challenge due to conversion to insoluble form by chemical reactions with metal cations depending upon the soil pH. Total of sixty eight isolates of phosphate solubilizing bacteria from rhizosphere of mustard grown in different region of Haryana was studied. The isolates were mutagenised by giving treatment of Nitrosoguanidine (50 ug/ml). Three PSB strains (15M, 22M and 25M) and six mutants (15M2, 15M6, 22M28, 22M29, 25M11 and 25M30) were evaluated for their establishment in the rhizosphere, their effect on biomass production in mustard (Brassica juncea). Total bacterial count in rhizosphere increased after 30 and 40 days of sowing while decrease in growth was observed at 60 days of sowing. The phosphate solubilizing bacterial count in the rhizosphere varied from 1 to 24, 2 to 20 and 1 to 11 at 30, 45 and 60 days after sowing. Phosphate uptake also increased upto 11–21% which shows thatmutants had significant effect on increase in plant dry biomass and P-uptake under pot house conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of soil cadmium (Cd) fractionation has become the need of the hour due to phytoextraction of Cd heavy metal by indigenous Brassica species of northwest India. The present study was conducted to explore the Cd speciation in soils treated with Cd (0, 5.0, 10.0, 20.0, 40.0, and 80.0 mg kg−1 soil) and synthetic chelate ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA-0, 1.0 and 2.0 g kg−1 soil) planted under three Brassica species (Brassica juncea L., Brassica campestris L., and Brassica napus L). The studied Cd fractions viz. exchangeable and water-soluble (EX + WS), carbonate (CARB), organic matter (OM), Mn oxide (MnOX), amorphous Fe oxide (AFeOX), crystalline Fe oxide (CFeOX), and residual (RES) differed in their Cd content in soils under three investigated Brassica species. Among all plantations, B. juncea reduced the highest soil Cd content of EX + WS form which reflected its bioavailability. The Cd supplementation significantly enhanced the Cd concentration in all Cd forms with EX + WS Cd form exhibiting higher increase even at low Cd level (5.0 mg kg−1), whereas the EDTA addition did not influence Cd fractions. The application of EDTA @ 1.0 g kg−1 soil proved beneficial as it enhanced the metal mobility for plant extraction. All species positively significantly correlated (r = 0.648** to 0.747**) with all Cd fractions but except B. juncea all confronted reduction in their total biomass. In nutshell, it suggested that Brassica species having large plant biomass could be considered as a potential candidate for phytoremediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An improvement of solid-state fluorescence from a luminous nanocomposite made from corn-starch-based bioplastic by adding intentionally Cu-doped carbon quantum dots (CQDs) has been reported. An affordable, environmentally sustainable, one-step hydrothermal technique was employed to synthesize CQDs from Brassica juncea flower extract. The morphological, structural, and physicochemical characteristics of the material were investigated. The quasi-circular shaped CQDs have been found to have a size distribution of 2–5 nm, to have yellow-greenish fluorescence upon UV stimulation, to have excellent photostability, and to be highly water soluble, with a quantum yield of up to 18.4%. Interestingly, the fluorescence spectra of intentionally Cu-doped CQDs (hereafter N, Ca, Cu-doped CQDs) were found to be brighter after 280 nm illumination than unintentional one. Furthermore, as a solid-phase dispersion matrix of CQDs, the environmentally benign and biodegradable bioplastic is appealing. As a result, this work demonstrated the effect of Cu-doping on solid-state fluorescence in the down-conversion of UVC tubes via a composite constructed by inserting CQDs into the solid-state matrix of corn-starch-based bioplastic nanocomposite, which demonstrated vivid greenish-yellow emission in the electroluminescent spectra with CIE chromatic coordinates (0.33, 0.58 vs. 0.31, 0.67). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present investigation was carried out to develop derived Brassica carinata (BBCC) lines from Brassica juncea and Brassica napus. Brassica juncea was crossed with B. napus and a variable gene pool was generated. B. carinata type variants were selected followed by intraspecific hybridization with high yield potential B. carinata lines/varieties viz., MCR-1-6, MCR-1-19, Kiran and Pusa-swarnim. Interspecific hybridization and population improvement were initiated to enrich B. carinata gene pool for desired traits and documentation of potential lines which can be further exploited for commercial breeding. Among all these lines, PDC 37-5, PDC 37-2, PDC 82-2, PDC 37-3, PDC 32-1 and PDC 36-1 having low level of SFA and high erucic acid are desirable as the former prevents crystal formation under colder climates, whereas, the latter with longer carbon chains allows more efficient conversion into aviation fuel and emission of fewer particulates than conventional oil. For seed yield, PDC 64-1, PDC 96-1 and PDC 55-1 were found promising lines. The developed lines infused with desired agronomic traits presented genetic stock for rainfed oilseed crop as well as environmentally sustainable source of renewable fuel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Crop wild relatives (CWRs) belonging to the Brassicaceae family possess extensive genetic diversity and have frequently been utilized in the enhancement of cultivated Brassica species. However, their tolerance to glyphosate, a widely used herbicide, has remained unknown. Our study examined the glyphosate response of 20 genotypes from the Brassicaceae family, which included genotypes within the U triangle and their wild relatives. We evaluated their behaviour based on morpho-biochemical responses, specifically focusing on the traits of germination percentage, root length, and survival percentage. By calculating the mean membership function value (MFV) for each genotype's response to these traits, we classified them into three distinct groups: susceptible, moderately tolerant, and tolerant. Among these genotypes, Brassica rapa (NRCPB rapa 8) demonstrated tolerance to glyphosate, as indicated by their mean MFV value of 0.68. Moderate tolerance to glyphosate was observed in Brassica juncea (Pusa Jaikisan) with a mean MFV of 0.52. Conversely, Diplotaxis catholica, Diplotaxis muralis, and Enarthrocarpus lyratus were susceptible, with mean MFV values of 0.37, 0.35, and 0.34, respectively. These findings revealed varying levels of response to glyphosate among these genotypes, with some displaying significant tolerance. The study provides valuable insights into the herbicide tolerance of Brassica CWRs and emphasizes the potential use of phenotypic and biochemical markers in evaluating herbicide tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chinese flowering cabbage (Brassica rapa var. parachinensis) is a popular and widely cultivated leaf vegetable crop in Asia. Here, we performed a high quality de novo assembly of the 384 Mb genome of 10 chromosomes of a typical cultivar of Chinese flowering cabbage with an integrated approach using PacBio, Illumina, and Hi-C technology. We modeled 47,598 protein-coding genes in this analysis and annotated 52% (205.9/384) of its genome as repetitive sequences including 17% in DNA transposons and 22% in long terminal retrotransposons (LTRs). Phylogenetic analysis reveals the genome of the Chinese flowering cabbage has a closer evolutionary relationship with the AA diploid progenitor of the allotetraploid species, Brassica juncea. Comparative genomic analysis of Brassica species with different subgenome types (A, B and C) reveals that the pericentromeric regions on chromosome 5 and 6 of the AA genome have been significantly expanded compared to the orthologous genomic regions in the BB and CC genomes, largely driven by LTR-retrotransposon amplification. Furthermore, we identified a large number of structural variations (SVs) within the B. rapa lines that could impact coding genes, suggesting the functional significance of SVs on Brassica genome evolution. Overall, our high-quality genome assembly of the Chinese flowering cabbage provides a valuable genetic resource for deciphering the genome evolution of Brassica species and it can potentially serve as the reference genome guiding the molecular breeding practice of B. rapa crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consumers appreciate microgreens for their vast variety of colors and flavors. Usually, they are grown employing peat, a substrate that is used in large quantities. In order to identify a more sustainable propagation protocol and to reduce the amount of peat consumed, alternative propagation protocols were evaluated. Jute is a biodegradable substrate with lower post-harvest costs because it does not leave particles on microgreens. This work evaluates the microgreen yield, flavor, texture, and phytochemical compounds when grown on jute. Green mustard (Brassica nigra) is one of the most popular microgreens. When growing these microgreens on jute (three repetitions), it was necessary to increase the frequency of irrigation and reduce the amount of water for each turn. In addition, the propagation time needed to be increased from 5 to 7 days. The tasters found no difference in flavor and only a slight difference in texture was observed when microgreens were grown on jute. The phenol and chlorophyll levels were unchanged, while carotenoid levels were slightly higher. Thus, the cultivation of green mustard on jute has a minimal impact on microgreens and leads to increased sustainability and reduced post-harvest costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interspecific hybridization resulted in the creation of B. juncea introgression lines (ILs) generated from B. carinata with increased productivity and adaptability. Forty ILs were crossed with their respective B. juncea recipient parents to generate introgression line hybrids (ILHs) and the common tester (SEJ 8) was used to generate test hybrids (THs). Mid-parent heterosis in ILHs and standard heterosis in THs were calculated for eight yield and yield-related traits. Heterotic genomic regions were dissected using ten ILs with significant mid-parent heterosis in ILHs and standard heterosis in THs for seed yield. A high level of heterosis for seed yield was contributed by 1000 seed weight (13.48%) in D31_ILHs and by total siliquae/plant (14.01%) and siliqua length (10.56%) in PM30_ILHs. The heterotic ILs of DRMRIJ 31 and Pusa Mustard 30 were examined using polymorphic SNPs between the parents, and a total of 254 and 335 introgressed heterotic segments were identified, respectively. This investigation discovered potential genes, viz., PUB10, glutathione S transferase, TT4, SGT, FLA3, AP2/ERF, SANT4, MYB, and UDP-glucosyl transferase 73B3 that were previously reported to regulate yield-related traits. The heterozygosity of the FLA3 gene significantly improved siliqua length and seeds per siliqua in ILHs of Pusa Mustard 30. This research proved that interspecific hybridization is an effective means of increasing the diversity of cultivated species by introducing new genetic variants and improving the level of heterosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Brassica contains a diverse group of important vegetables and oilseed crops. Genome sequencing has been completed for the six species (B. rapa, B. oleracea, B. nigra, B. carinata, B. napus, and B. juncea) in U's triangle model. The purpose of the study is to investigate whether positively and negatively selected genes (PSGs and NSGs) affect gene feature and function differentiation of Brassica tetraploids in their evolution and domestication. A total of 9,701 PSGs were found in the A, B and C subgenomes of the three tetraploids, of which, a higher number of PSGs were identified in the C subgenome as comparing to the A and B subgenomes. The PSGs of the three tetraploids had more tandem duplicated genes, higher single copy, lower multi-copy, shorter exon length and fewer exon number than the NSGs, suggesting that the selective modes affected the gene feature of Brassica tetraploids. The PSGs of all the three tetraploids enriched in a few common KEGG pathways relating to environmental adaption (such as Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, Riboflavin metabolism, Isoflavonoid biosynthesis, Plant-pathogen interaction and Tropane, piperidine and pyridine alkaloid biosynthesis) and reproduction (Homologous recombination). Whereas, the NSGs of the three tetraploids significantly enriched in dozens of biologic processes and pathways without clear relationships with evolution. Moreover, the PSGs of B. carinata were found specifically enriched in lipid biosynthesis and metabolism which possibly contributed to the domestication of B. carinata as an oil crop. Our data suggest that selective modes affected the gene feature of Brassica tetraploids, and PSGs contributed in not only the evolution but also the domestication of Brassica tetraploids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Erysiphe cruciferarum, a causative agent of powdery mildew disease, has emerged as a serious threat in Brassica juncea and its closely related species. To date, no resistant cultivars have been identified in Brassica species against powdery mildew. Here, we used histopathological, biochemical, and molecular approaches to elucidate the powdery mildew disease progression and host responses in three Brassica cenospecies, namely B. juncea, Camelina sativa, and Sinapis alba. Based on the results of disease progression, S. alba was found to be extremely resistant to powdery mildew infection, whereas B. juncea and C. sativa were highly vulnerable. In addition, the disease spread rate to uninfected parts was comparatively higher in B. juncea and C. sativa. Histopathological results revealed more pathogen-induced cell death in B. juncea and C. sativa compared to S. alba. We also examined the role of antioxidant enzymes such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) in B. juncea, C. sativa, and S. alba after powdery mildew infection. Based on our findings, the enzyme activity of SOD, POD, and CAT was relatively higher in S. alba then that of B. juncea and C. sativa after powdery mildew infection. Furthermore, we evaluated the expression levels of salicylic acid (SA) signature genes, including pathogenesis-related protein viz., PR1, PR2, and PR5 in B. juncea, C. sativa, and S. alba after E. cruciferarum infection. Based on our findings, the expression levels of SA marker genes PR1, PR2, and PR5 increased in all three species after infection. However, the fold change was relatively higher in S. alba than in B. juncea and C. sativa. In future, further studies are required to identify the potential candidates in S. alba that are involved in powdery mildew disease resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Brassica seed meals (BSMs) are widely used as biofumigants to control various soil-borne plant diseases. However, the mechanism of bacterial community reconstruction following fumigation with BSMs remains poorly understood. Methods: In the present study, to decipher the mechanism of bacterial community reconstruction in fumigated soil and to understand the effect of bacterial communities in fumigated soil on rhizosphere recruitment and subsequent disease control, we investigated the bulk soil and rhizosphere bacterial communities using field experiments in soils treated with various fumigants (Brassica campestris seed meal, Brassica juncea seed meal, and the chemical fumigant dazomet) in two greenhouses subsequently used to grow tomato and cantaloupe, respectively. Results: This study revealed that bulk soil bacterial community composition changed significantly after fumigation extinction and recovery. Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, showing high resistance and resilience in the extinction and recovery processes, respectively, represented the key microorganisms for community reconstruction and rhizosphere recruitment. Moreover, nutrients supplied by BSMs, especially available phosphorus (AP), in fumigated soils determined the post-restoration changes in bacterial community composition. Additionally, BSMs showed greater potential than chemical fumigant dazomet in rebuilding beneficial bacterial communities and controlling potential soil pathogens by enriching gram-positive phyla Firmicutes and Actinobacteria and their respective affiliated genera Bacillus and Streptomyces. Conclusion: These results provide a fundamental ecological understanding of the response of soil-inhabiting microbes to fumigation and the reconstruction of soil beneficial bacterial communities after BSM fumigation. Thus, this study improves the understanding of the effects of biofumigants on soil-borne plant disease control in agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baseline levels of glucosinolates—important defensive phytochemicals in brassicaceous plants—are determined by both genotype and environment. However, the ecological causes of glucosinolate plasticity are not well characterized. Fertilization is known to alter glucosinolate content of Brassica crops, but the effect of naturally occurring soil variation on glucosinolate content of wild plants is unknown. Here, we conducted greenhouse experiments using Boechera stricta to ask (i) whether soil variation among natural habitats shapes leaf and root glucosinolate profiles; (ii) whether such changes are caused by abiotic soil properties, soil microbes, or both; and (iii) whether soil-induced glucosinolate plasticity is genetically variable. Total glucosinolate quantity differed up to 2-fold between soils from different natural habitats, while the relative amounts of different compounds were less responsive. This effect was due to physico-chemical soil properties rather than microbial communities. We detected modest genetic variation for glucosinolate plasticity in response to soil. In addition, glucosinolate composition, but not quantity, of field-grown plants could be accurately predicted from measurements from greenhouse-grown plants. In summary, soil alone is sufficient to cause plasticity of baseline glucosinolate levels in natural plant populations, which may have implications for the evolution of this important trait across complex landscapes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Strategic, sustainable, and ecofriendly alternatives to chemical pesticides are needed to effectively control mosquitoes and reduce the incidence of their vectored diseases. We evaluated several Brassicaceae (mustard family) seed meals as sources of plant derived isothiocyanates produced from the enzymatic hydrolysis of biologically inactive glucosinolates for the control of Aedesaegypti (L., 1762). Five defatted seed meals (Brassicajuncea (L) Czern., 1859, Lepidiumsativum L., 1753, Sinapisalba L., 1753, Thlaspiarvense L., 1753, and Thlaspiarvense—heat inactivated and three major chemical products of enzymatic degradation (allyl isothiocyanate, benzyl isothiocyanate and 4-hydroxybenzyl isothiocyanate) were assayed to determine toxicity (LC50) to Ae.aegypti larvae. All seed meals except the heat inactivated T.arvense were toxic to mosquito larvae. L.sativum seed meal was the most toxic treatment to larvae (LC50 = 0.04 g/120 mL dH2O) at the 24-h exposure. At the 72-h evaluation, the LC50 values for B.juncea,S.alba and T.arvense seed meals were 0.05, 0.08 and 0.1 g/120 mL dH2O, respectively. Synthetic benzyl isothiocyanate was more toxic to larvae 24-h post treatment (LC50 = 5.29 ppm) compared with allyl isothiocyanate (LC50 = 19.35 ppm) and 4-hydroxybenzyl isothiocyanate (LC50 = 55.41 ppm). These results were consistent with the higher performance of the benzyl isothiocyanate producing L.sativum seed meal. Isothiocyanates produced from seed meals were more effective than the pure chemical compounds, based on calculated LC50 rates. Using seed meal may provide an effective method of delivery for mosquito control. This is the first report evaluating the efficacy of five Brassicaceae seed meals and their major chemical constituent against mosquito larvae and demonstrates how natural compounds from Brassicaceae seed meals can serve as a promising ecofriendly larvicides to control mosquitoes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purple heading Chinese cabbage has become popular in recent years due to its attractive color and health benefits. However, purple varieties remain rare, and the regulation mechanism of anthocyanin accumulation in Chinese cabbage is still largely unknown. By introducing the purple color trait from Brassica juncea, a new purple heading Chinese cabbage cultivar (18M-245) was generated with deep purple leaves at both the seedling and adult stages. Anthocyanin accumulation in 18M-245 increased when grown at low temperatures. FISH and genotyping results showed that the purple trait was caused by an alien chromosome addition line derived from the Brassica B genome. The LDOX coding gene BjuB014115 from the addition line was highly expressed in 18M-245, consistent with the results of anthocyanin accumulation. Meanwhile, several MYB and bHLH transcriptional factors from the Brassica A genome were found to directly bind to the promoter of BjuB014115, suggesting that interactions between the Brassica A and B genomes are involved in the regulatory network of anthocyanin biosynthesis in Chinese cabbage. Our results provide new insights into the regulation mechanism of anthocyanin biosynthesis in purple heading Chinese cabbage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

MADS-box transcription factors play an important role in regulating floral organ development and participate in environmental responses. To date, the MADSbox gene family has been widely identified in Brassica rapa (B. rapa), Brassica oleracea (B. oleracea), and Brassica napus (B. napus); however, there are no analogous reports in Brassica nigra (B. nigra), Brassica juncea (B. juncea), and Brassica carinata (B. carinata). In this study, a whole-genome survey of the MADS-box gene family was performed for the first time in the triangle of U species, and a total of 1430 MADS-box genes were identified. Based on the phylogenetic relationship and classification of MADS-box genes in Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana), 1430 MADS-box genes were categorized as M-type subfamily (627 genes), further divided into Ma, Mb, Mg, and Md subclades, and MIKC-type subfamily (803 genes), further classified into 35 subclades. Gene structure and conserved protein motifs of MIKC-type MADS-box exhibit diversity and specificity among different subclades. Comparative analysis of gene duplication events and syngenic gene pairs among different species indicated that polyploidy is beneficial for MIKC-type gene expansion. Analysis of transcriptome data within diverse tissues and stresses in B. napus showed tissue-specific expression of MIKC-type genes and a broad response to various abiotic stresses, particularly dehydration stress. In addition, four representative floral organ mutants (wtl, feml, aglf-2, and aglf-1) in the T0 generation were generated by editing four AGAMOUS (BnaAG) homoeologs in B. napus that enriched the floral organ variant phenotype. In brief, this study provides useful information for investigating the function of MADS-box genes and contributes to revealing the regulatory mechanisms of floral organ development in the genetic improvement of new varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding foraging preferences of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) is essential to maneuver pollinator movement to enhance outcrossing and hence the crop yields. In this communication, we report the role of floral volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in structuring foraging decisions of honey bees. Supercritical fluid extraction of VOCs, coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, revealed 75 VOCs. Of these, 19 were strong attractants and 8 were strong repellants. Moreover, we detected significant, but variable, species- or genome-level differences in floral scents. Honey bees avoided Brassica juncea cv. PBR357 (0.81 bee visits/sq m/min) and B. carinata cv. PC5 (0.77 bee visits/sq m/min), which possessed peak concentrations of antifeedants or repellents (dibutyl phthalate and 9-octadecenoic acid) in their floral volatiles. B. napus cvs. GSC6 and GSC7 attracted the highest number of bee visitations (1.07 and 0.99 bee visits/sq m/min, respectively), as these possessed VOCs with honey-fruity odor in high amounts and negligible levels of antifeedants. Our results highlight that variability in floral reward chemistry should be considered when breeding crops that are frequently visited upon by bee pollinators to support bee pollinators, in general, and honey industry, in particular. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lead (Pb) toxicity imposes several morphological and biochemical changes in plants grown in Pb-contaminated soils. Application of ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) in mitigating heavy metal stress has already been studied. However, the role of EDTA in mitigating heavy metal stress, especially in oilseed crops, is less known. Therefore, the study aimed to explore the potential effect of foliar application of 2.5 mM EDTA on two different varieties of Brassica juncea L., i.e., Faisal (V1) and Rohi (V2), with and without 0.5 mM Lead acetate [Pb(C2H3O2)2] treatment. Statistical analysis revealed that Pb stress was harmful to the plant. It caused a considerable decrease in the overall biomass (56.2%), shoot and root length (21%), yield attributes (20.16%), chlorophyll content (35.3%), total soluble proteins (12.9%), and calcium (61.7%) and potassium (40.9%) content of the plants as compared to the control plants. However, the foliar application of EDTA alleviated the adverse effects of Pb in both varieties. EDTA application improved the morphological attributes (67%), yield (29%), and photosynthetic pigments (80%). Positive variations in the antioxidant activity, ROS, and contents of total free amino acid, anthocyanin, flavonoids, and ascorbic acid, even under Pb stress, were prominent. EDTA application further improved their presence in the brown mustard verifying it as a more stress-resistant plant. It was deduced that the application of EDTA had significantly redeemed the adverse effects of Pb, leaving room for further experimentation to avoid Pb toxification in the mustard oil and the food chain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A formidable challenge in suburban agriculture is the sustainability of soil health following the use of wastewater for irrigation. The wastewater irrigation likely toxifies the crop plants making them unconsumable. We used a multivariate, completely randomized design in a greenhouse, comparing the phytoextraction capacities of Brassica juncea, Eruca sativa, Brassica rapa, and Brassica napus—all grown on silt loam soil irrigated with industrial wastewater, canal water, and a 1:1 mixture, during 2018. The studied Brassica plants were generally closely efficient in remediating toxic metals found in wastewater irrigated soil. Substantial differences between Brassica and Eruca plants/parts were recorded. For example, B. napus had significantly higher metal extraction or accumulation compared to E. sativa for Zn (71%), Cu (69%), Fe (78%), Mn (79%), Cd (101%), Cr (57%), Ni (92%). and Pb (49%). While the water and plant were the main predictors of metal extraction or accumulation, an interaction between the main effects substantially contributed to Cu, Mn, and Fe extractions from soil and accumulations in plants. Significant correlations between biological accumulation coefficient and biological transfer coefficient for many metals further supported the metal extraction or accumulation efficiencies as: B. napus > B. juncea > B. rapa > E. sativa. Root-stem mobility index correlation with stem-leaf mobility index indicated the metal translocation along the root-stem-leaf continuum. Therefore, we suggest that these crops may not be used for human or animal consumption when grown with industrial wastewater of toxic metal concentrations ≥ permissible limits. Rather these plants may serve as effective remediators of toxic metal-polluted soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Biotin carboxyl carrier protein (BCCP) is a subunit of Acetyl CoA-carboxylase (ACCase) which catalyzes the conversion of acetyl-CoA to malonyl-CoA in a committed step during the de novo biosynthesis of fatty acids. Lipids, lipid metabolites, lipid-metabolizing and -modifying enzymes are known to play a role in biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in plants. In this regard, an understanding of the Brassica napus BCCP genes will aid in the improvement of biotic and abiotic stress tolerance in canola. Results: In this study, we identified 43 BCCP genes in five Brassica species based on published genome data. Among them, Brassica rapa, Brassica oleracea, Brassica nigra, Brassica napus and Brassica juncea had six, seven, seven, 10 and 13 BCCP homologs, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis categorized them into five classes, each with unique conserved domains. The promoter regions of all BCCP genes contained stress-related cis-acting elements as determined by cis-element analysis. We identified four and three duplicated gene pairs (segmental) in B. napus and B. juncea respectively, indicating the role of segmental duplication in the expansion of this gene family. The Ka/Ks ratios of orthologous gene pairs between Arabidopsis thaliana and five Brassica species were mostly less than 1.0, implying that purifying selection, i.e., selective removal of deleterious alleles, played a role during the evolution of Brassica genomes. Analysis of 10 BnaBCCP genes using qRT-PCR showed a different pattern of expression because of exposure of the plants to biotic stresses, such as clubroot and sclerotinia diseases, and abiotic stresses such as drought, low temperature and salinity stresses. Conclusions: The identification and functional analysis of the Brassica BCCPs demonstrated that some of these genes might play important roles in biotic and abiotic stress responses. Results from this study could lay the foundation for a better understanding of these genes for the improvement of Brassica crops for stress tolerance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seed coat colour is an important trait in Indian mustard. Breeding for seed coat colour needs precise knowledge of mode of inheritance and markers linked to it. The present study was focussed on genetics and development of functional markers for seed coat colour. F1s (direct and reciprocal) and F2 populations were developed by crossing two contrasting parents for seed coat colour (DRMRIJ-31, brown seeded and RLC-3, yellow seeded). Phenotypic results have shown that the seed coat colour trait was under the influence of maternal effect and controlled by digenic-duplicate gene action. Further, Bju.TT8 homologs of both parents (DRMRIJ-31 and RLC-3) were cloned and sequenced. Sequencing results of Bju.TT8 homologs revealed that in RLC-3, gene Bju.ATT8 had an insertion of 1279bp in the 7th exon; whereas, gene Bju.BTT8 had an SNP (C→T) in the 7th exon. These two mutations were found to be associated with yellow seed coat colour. Using sequence information, functional markers were developed for both Bju.TT8 homologs, validated on F2 population and were found highly reliable with no recombination between the markers and the phenotype. Further, these markers were subjected to a germplasm assembly of Indian mustard, and their allelic combination for the seed coat colour genes has been elucidated. The comparative genomics of TT8 genes revealed high degree of similarity between and across the Brassica species, and the respective diploid progenitors in tetraploid Brassica species are the possible donors of TT8 homologs. This study will help in the markerassisted breeding for seed coat colour, and aid in understanding seed coat colour genetics more precisely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to climate change, the attainment of global food security is facing serious challenges in meeting the growing food demand. Abiotic stresses are the foremost limiting factors for agricultural productivity. However, not much information is available on the effect of multiple abiotic stresses on the morphological and biochemical aspects of kale and mustard. Therefore, an experiment was designed to study the effects of UV-B radiation, CO2 concentration, and high temperature on the growth, yield, and biochemistry of two Brassica species, namely B. oleracea L. var. acephala Winterbor F1 (hybrid kale) and B. juncea var. Green wave O.G. (mustard greens), which were grown under optimal nutrients and soil moisture conditions in soil–plant–atmosphere–research (SPAR) units. Two levels of UV-B radiation (0 and 10 kJ m−2 d−1), two concentrations of CO2 (420 and 720 ppm), and two different temperature treatments (25/17 °C and 35/27 °C) were imposed 12 days after sowing (DAS). Several morphological and biochemical parameters were measured at harvest (40 DAS) in both species. All the traits declined considerably under individual and multi-stress conditions in both species except under elevated CO2 levels, which had a positive impact. Marketable fresh weight decreased by 64% and 58% in kale and mustard plants, respectively, growing under UV-B treatment. A slight increase in the chlorophyll content was observed in both species under the UV-B treatment alone and in combination with high temperature and elevated CO2. Understanding the impacts of high temperature, CO2, and UV-B radiation treatments on leafy vegetables, such as kale and mustard, can help to improve existing varieties to enhance resilience towards environmental stresses while simultaneously improving yield, morphology, and biochemistry in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent breeding efforts in Brassica have focused on the development of new oilseed feedstock crop for biofuels (e.g., ethanol, biodiesel, bio-jet fuel), bio-industrial uses (e.g., bio-plastics, lubricants), specialty fatty acids (e.g., erucic acid), and producing low glucosinolates levels for oilseed and feed meal production for animal consumption. We identified a novel opportunity to enhance the availability of nutritious, fresh leafy greens for human consumption. Here, we demonstrated the efficacy of disarming the 'mustard bomb' reaction in reducing pungency upon the mastication of fresh tissue—a major source of unpleasant flavor and/or odor in leafy Brassica. Using gene-specific mutagenesis via CRISPR-Cas12a, we created knockouts of all functional copies of the type-I myrosinase multigene family in tetraploid Brassica juncea. Our greenhouse and field trials demonstrate, via sensory and biochemical analyses, a stable reduction in pungency in edited plants across multiple environments. Collectively, these efforts provide a compelling path toward boosting the human consumption of nutrient-dense, fresh, leafy green vegetables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.) is a significant oilseed crop in India. The sap-sucking pest, mustard aphid (Lipaphis erysimi) emerged as a major threat to this crop, which can harshly reduce yield. The research experiment was carried out during the Rabi seasons, 2019-20 and 2020-21 at Rewari, Haryana to comprehend the influence of L. erysimi infestation on different yield parameters of B. juncea in the field. The two cultivars of B. juncea namely, RH 725 and RB 50 were raised in a paired plot design with two different sets viz., protected and unprotected and thirteen replications each set were kept. The protected set was sprayed with insecticide Dimethoate 30 EC @ 625 ml ha-1 one time only, whereas unprotected set was kept free from insecticidal application for natural infestation of the pest. The present investigation revealed that under unprotected conditions, the yield parameters viz., weight of 100 siliquae, 100 siliquae husk, 10 main apical shoots (10 cm) and 1000 seeds, as well as seed yield, were significantly (P<0.01) affected by the L. erysimi infestation, while parameter, seed germination percentage influenced non-significantly (P>0.01). The maximum seed yield losses were registered in genotype RH 725 (26.25 %) when compared with RB 50 (25.92 %). All other yield parameters exhibited the same pattern except for three parameters i.e. weight of 100 siliquae, 100 siliquae husk and 10 main apical shoots (10 cm). In conclusion, this research highlights the colossal yield losses inflicted by L. erysimi infestation in B. juncea in unprotected conditions and the utility of insecticidal application in the enhancement of crop yield by management of this insect pest in protected conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]