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Abstract Background It is critical to understand the sensitivity, response direction and magnitude of carbohydrates and secondary compounds to warming for predicting the structure and function of the tundra ecosystem towards future climate change. Results Open-top chambers (OTCs) were used to passively increase air and soil temperatures on Changbai Mountain alpine tundra. After seven years’ continuous warming (+ 1.5 °C), the vegetation coverage, nonstructural carbohydrates (soluble sugars and starch) and secondary compounds (total phenols, flavonoids and triterpenes) of leaves and roots in three dominant dwarf shrubs, Dryas octopetala var. asiatica, Rhododendron confertissimum and Vaccinium uliginosum, were investigated during the growing season. Warming did not significantly affect the concentrations of carbohydrates but decreased total phenols for the three species. Carbohydrates and secondary compounds showed significantly seasonal pattern and species-specific variation. No significant trade-off or negative relationship between carbohydrates and secondary compounds was observed. Compared to Dr. octopetala var. asiatica, V. uliginosum allocated more carbon on secondary compounds. Warming significantly increased the coverage of Dr. octopetala var. asiatica, did not change it for V. uliginosum and decreased it for Rh. confertissimum. Rh. confertissimum had significantly lower carbohydrates and invested more carbon on secondary compounds than the other two species. Conclusions Enhanced dominance and competitiveness of Dr. octopetala var. asiatica was companied by increased trend in carbohydrate concentrations and decreased ratio of secondary compounds to total carbon in the warming OTCs. We, therefore, predict that Dr. octopetala var. asiatica will continue to maintain dominant status, but the competition ability of V. uliginosum could gradually decrease with warming, leading to changes in species composition and community structure of the Changbai tundra ecosystem under future climate warming.

Introduction: Wheat ranks first among crops regarding cultivated area and production worldwide and in Iran. Drought stress is the most common abiotic stress that decreases the grain yield of crops. Physiologic characteristics with some traits related to grain yield and its components are used as indices to evaluate wheat cultivars under drought stress conditions. This experiment aimed to study the grain yield components and some physiologic characteristics of the flag leaf and their relationship with grain yield in commercial wheat varieties under postanthesis drought stress conditions. Materials and methods: This experiment was conducted at Razi University. The experiment was arranged as a split plot basis on a randomized complete block design with three replications. Two moisture treatments (no stress and post-anthesis drought stress) were placed in the main plots and 14 wheat cultivars were considered in the sub-plots. Traits related to grain yield (including biologic, grain and straw yields and harvest index), grain yield components (including number of spikes per square meter, number of grains per spike and 1000-grains weight) and some physiologic characteristics of flag leaf (including flag leaf area, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, chlorophyll a/b ratio and proline content) were measured. Results: The effect of drought stress on biological yield, grain yield, harvest index, number of grains per spike, 1000-grain weight, flag leaf area, chlorophyll a/b ratio and flag leaf proline content was significant, but on straw yield, number of spikes per square meter, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and total chlorophyll was not significant. Wheat cultivars significantly differed in the mentioned characteristics (except for chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b and total chlorophyll). The damage of post-anthesis drought stress on the grain yield reduction was more than straw yield (41 vs. 9% reduction). Among the grain yield components, 1000-grain weight had greater damage than the number of grains per spike (35 vs. 11% reduction) in response to drought stress. Drought stress decreased the amount of chlorophyll but increased the chlorophyll a/b ratio and proline content of the flag leaf. Correlation analysis showed that under normal moisture conditions, harvest index and chlorophyll content in flag leaf had the highest positive correlation with grain yield. While, under post-anthesis drought stress conditions, the highest positive correlation belonged to the proline content of flag leaf and 1000-grain weight. Conclusion: Some physiologic characteristics of flag leaf (such as proline) with grain yield components (such as 1000-grain weight) could be used to evaluate wheat cultivars under post-anthesis drought stress conditions.Keywords: 1000-grain weight, flag leaf area, harvest index, proline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present in vitro study investigated the effects of temperature and available sugar on the bacterial community of Pennisetum sinese leaf during fermentation. P. sinese leaves were cultured in MRS broth containing 0.4 and 1.6g sugar and incubated at 25°C and 45°C for 9, 18, and 36h. The results showed that the dominant phyla during sugar fermentation were Firmicutes, followed by Proteobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Compared to a low incubation temperature (25°C), a high incubation temperature (45°C) decreased the relative abundances of Exiguobacterium and Acinetobacter and increased those of Bacillus and Paenibacillus. Leaf samples incubated at 25°C showed higher bacterial alpha diversity indices than those incubated at 45°C. Principal coordinate analysis revealed that the bacterial community structure was altered by the high incubation temperature. Sugar concentration of 1.6g/50ml increased the relative abundances of Bacillus and Klebsiella but decreased those of Paenibacillus and Serratia as compared to sugar concentration of 0.4g/50ml. pH was the primary factor that influenced the succession of bacterial communities during sugar fermentation in P. sinese leaves. In conclusion, ambient temperatures (25°C and 45°C) and high sugar concentration restructured the bacterial communities on P. sinese leaves by facilitating the dominance of Bacillus and Paenibacillus. This study provided insights into the mechanisms by which bacterial communities on P. sinese leaves are enriched. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Low molecular weight soluble compounds in rhizosphere soils are important composition of soil organic carbon, which are mainly derived from root exudates and easily affected by biological and abiotic factors. Here, we investigated the effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF, Funneliformis mosseae) on soluble sugars, flavonoids, and phenolic acids in the rhizosphere soil of black locust seedlings grown under elevated CO2 and Cd-contaminated soils. Results: F. mosseae decreased (p < 0.05) contents of mannose, glucose, galactose, arabinose, total flavonoids, quercetin, total phenolic acids, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, and caffeic acid in rhizosphere soils under elevated CO2 + Cd; however, the concentration of p-coumaric acid increased (p < 0.05). Additionally, F. mosseae led to significant decreases in mannose, galactose, quercetin, gallic acid, chlorogenic acid, and p-hydroxybenzoic acid in roots under elevated CO2 + Cd; however, glucose content in roots increased (p < 0.05). Contents of small compounds in roots significantly affected low molecular weight soluble compounds in rhizosphere soils, and F. mosseae colonization rate and rhizosphere soil C, pH, and DTPA-Cd significantly influenced the accumulation of low molecular weight soluble compounds. Conclusions: F. mosseae colonization significantly decreased the accumulation of low molecular weight soluble compounds in the rhizosphere of black locust under elevated CO2 + Cd, leading to significant increases in pH and Cd content in rhizosphere soils, which could improve our understanding of the regulation of AMF on rhizosphere soil carbon pool and the migration of heavy metals under elevated CO2 scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought negatively affects plants by altering morphological, physiological and metabolic processes and ultimately reducing yields. Garlic (Allium sativum L.), an important member of the Alliaceae family, is also sensitive to drought and maximizing the yield of garlic bulbs is largely dependent on water availability. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of drought stress on morphological and physiological characteristics, as well as on phenolic, sugar, inulin and free amino acid content and antioxidant activity in two Croatian garlic ecotypes, 'Istarski crveni' (IC) and Istarski bijeli (IB). Drought was induced by using polyethylene glycol 8000 (PEG) solution (−0.6 MPa) starting 21 days after clove planting and lasted for 20 days. Drought reduced plant height, number of leaves and plant weight, but increased root length in both ecotypes compared to the control treatment. Among the physiological parameters, significant differences were observed between the two ecotypes studied in the spectral characteristics of the leaves, namely reflection in red, green and blue, VAL, values of the vegetation indices related to the chlorophyll content (CHI, GI), and the anthocyanin content (ARI). Ecotype IC showed higher antioxidant activity in the control treatment due to higher total phenolic content (TPC), but under drought conditions higher DPPH radical scavenging activity was determined in ecotype IB and higher values of FRAP in IC. Sucrose and glucose generally decreased under drought, while inulin increased in IB but decreased in IC. Total free amino acid content increased under drought in both ecotypes. In conclusion, drought tolerance of IB might be associated with increased accumulation of inulin and higher levels of amino acids, especially those shown to contribute to drought resistance. In IC, drought tolerance is associated with an increase in some amino acid compounds and better root growth in depth, probably due to a more efficient translocation of sucrose to the underground part of the plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) as resource reserves of plants play important roles in energy supply for normal growth and reproduction under environmental stress. The yield of perennial crops is mainly determined by the carbohydrate production and allocation in the current growth season, as well as the re-allocation of NSC reserves. However, the contribution of NSC to crop yield has not been fully determined. Fengdan (Paeonia ostii) is a variety of oil Peony that is newly developed in China. The effects of tree age and NSC on yield were examined by investigated the variations of biomass, soluble sugars, starch, and NSC in the organ and whole tree levels in the dormant and ripening stages of Fengdan populations with 4-, 6-, and 8-year-old in 2020 and 5-, 7-, and 9-year old in 2021. Results showed that the biomass, yield (seed biomass), soluble sugars, starch, and NSC reserve of Fengdan at the whole tree level increased with the increase in age. Although consistent correlations were observed between soluble sugars, starch and NSC storage, and yield among the plants with different ages, Fengdan showed allometric growth relationships between the accumulation of soluble sugars, starch, and NSC and yield and biomass (standardized major axis analyses slope b ≠ 1). Tree age significantly affected biomass and its allocation and NSC levels, especially the yield of Fengdan plants. The results of the investigation of the variations in the relationships between the yield and seasonal fluctuations of NSC and biomass indicate that roots is the key storage structure, whereas stems both serve as sink and/or source functions for the adult (7-9a) plants. NSC level, particularly the concentration of soluble sugars, in stems mainly influences Fengdan yield. These findings together provide new insights into the mechanisms underlying the yield formation of Fengdan and have implications for manipulating sink-source relationship to achieve high yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Melatonin (MLT) is a bioactive molecule involved in the physiological functioning of plants. Reports related to preharvest applications of melatonin on the postharvest performance of cut flowers are not available in the literature. Materials & methods: This study evaluated the effects of different concentrations of exogenous MLT [0 mM (MT0), 0.5 mM (MT1), 0.7 mM (MT2), 1 mM (MT3)] applied preharvest on the physiological characteristics and postharvest performance of cut tuberose, a globally demanded cut flower. Results & discussion: The results revealed that all treatments increased postharvest vase life by up to 4 d. The MT1, MT2, and MT3 treatments increased total soluble proteins (TSP) by 25%, 41%, and 17%, soluble sugars (SS) by 21%, 36%, and 33%, an+d postharvest catalase (CAT) activity by 52%, 66%, and 70%, respectively. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) decreased in all preharvest treatments by up to 23% and 56%, respectively. Proline concentration decreased in all treatments, particularly MT3 (38%). These findings suggest that preharvest MLT treatment is a promising strategy for improving the postharvest quality of cut tuberose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cooking is an important process before rice is consumed and constitutes the key process for rice flavor formation. In this paper, dynamic changes in aroma- and sweetness-related compounds were tracked during the entire cooking process (including washing with water, presoaking, and hydrothermal cooking). The volatiles, fatty acids, and soluble sugars in raw rice, washed rice, presoaked rice, and cooked rice were compared. After being washed with water, the total volatiles decreased while aldehydes and unsaturated fatty acids increased. Meanwhile, oligosaccharides decreased and monosaccharides increased. The changes in fatty acids and soluble sugars caused by the presoaking process were similar to those in the water-washing process. However, different changes were observed for volatiles, especially aldehydes and ketone. After hydrothermal cooking, furans, aldehydes, alcohols, and esters increased while hydrocarbons and aromatics decreased. Moreover, all fatty acids increased; among these, oleic acids and linoleic acid increased most. Unlike with washing and presoaking, all soluble sugars except fructose increased after hydrothermal cooking. Principal component analysis showed that cooked rice possessed a volatile profile that was quite different from that of uncooked rice, while washed rice and presoaked rice possessed similar volatile profiles. These results indicated that hydrothermal cooking is the pivotal process for rice flavor formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agrobiological evaluation of vegetable soybean cultivars (Glycine max var. Shirofumi) according to a complex of economically valuable traits for introduction in the conditions of the Forest-Steppe of Ukraine it was carried out with the aim of selecting the source material and selecting promising breeding forms according to morpho-biological and physiologicalbiochemical characteristics. The research was conducted in the conditions of the educational and production department of Uman National University of Horticulture during 2020-2022, collection cultivars of different ecological and geographical origins were used. The cultivars 'Sac' (166.00 g plant-1), 'Vesta' (139.33 g plant-1), 'Fiskeby V' (133.33 g plant-1), and 'Fiskeby V-E5' (146.67 g plant-1) possessed a large mass of edamame beans. The maximum yield of edamame beans was formed by plants of the 'L 380-2-13' (12.67 t ha-1), 'Vesta' (12.33 t ha-1), 'Sac' (13.20 t ha-1), 'Fiskeby V' (13.97 t ha-1), and 'Fiskeby V-E5' (14.53 t ha-1). Weather conditions during the period of research significantly influenced the yield and biochemical composition of edamame varieties. The yield of edamame beans ranged from 5.40 t ha-1in 2020 (min) to 22.40 t ha-1 in 2021 (max), and the coefficient of variation by varieties was at the level of 19-41%. This phenomenon is explained by the minimum amount of precipitation in 2020 and the high amount in 2021, which is confirmed by the hydrothermal coefficient during the period of intensive pod growth (VII-VIII) - 2020 - 0.3; 2021 - 1.3 and 1.1 respectively for the month. The protein concentration in Edamame beans was in the range of 27.94-36.29%. A higher protein content relative to the standard was noted in one sample - 'Karikachi' - 36.29%. Minimal accumulation of oligosaccharides was noted in 'Sac' and 'Astra' cultivars, which indicates their suitability for consumption. Promising cultivars were identified by the amount of fixed nitrogen - 'Sac' (168.00 ± 4.32 kg ha-1), 'Astra' (161.67 ± 2.36 kg ha-1) and SybNYYSOH 6 (158.19 ± 4.56 kg ha-1). The conducted regression analysis showed close relationships (from moderate to functional) between various indicators of the development and productivity of the nodulation apparatus of edamame cultivars. The evaluation of the collection cultivars of vegetable soybeans, their use according to the variability of morphological features and productivity made it possible to single out the 'Sac' among the introduced collection cultivars based on a set of valuable traits for use in the selection process to create new cultivars of vegetable soybeans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Woody plant species store nonstructural carbohydrates (NSCs) for many functions. While known to buffer against fluctuations in photosynthetic supply, such as at night, NSC stores are also thought to buffer against environmental extremes, such as drought or freezing temperatures by serving as either back‐up energy reserves or osmolytes. However, a clear picture of how NSCs are shaped by climate is still lacking. Here, we update and leverage a unique global database of seasonal NSC storage measurements to examine whether maximum total NSC stores and the amount of soluble sugars are associated with clinal patterns in low temperatures or aridity, indicating they may confer a benefit under freezing or drought conditions. We examine patterns using the average climate at each study site and the unique climatic conditions at the time and place in which the sample was taken. Altogether, our results support the idea that NSC stores act as critical osmolytes. Soluble Sugars increase with both colder and drier conditions in aboveground tissues, indicating they can plastically increase a plants' tolerance of cold or arid conditions. However, maximum total NSCs increased, rather than decreased, with average site temperature and had no relationship to average site aridity. This result suggests that the total amount of NSC a plant stores may be more strongly determined by its capacity to assimilate carbon than by environmental stress. Thus, NSCs are unlikely to serve as reservoir of energy. This study is the most comprehensive synthesis to date of global NSC variation in relation to climate and supports the idea that NSC stores likely serve as buffers against environmental stress. By clarifying their role in cold and drought tolerance, we improve our ability to predict plant response to environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) in obtaining soluble sugars (SS) from the peach palm by-product and to characterize the extract obtained in terms of phenol composition and antioxidant potential. The effect of the sample/solvent ratio on the extraction of AS was evaluated, then a Box- Behnken experimental design was applied to evaluate the effect of the independent variables (pH, temperature and time). Conventional extraction in an orbital shaker (EOS) was conducted for comparative purposes. The aqueous extracts were also characterized in terms of phenolic content and composition and antioxidant activity. The solubility of sugars in water was higher in the sample/water ratio of 2.5 mg mL-1. Based on the responses of the experimental design adopted, it was found that SA was obtained at pH = 4.0, temperature of 35 °C and extraction time of 5 minutes, which resulted in the removal of 16.44 g 100 g-1 of AT. Furthermore, the UAE method was more effective in removing SS (15.23 g 100 g-1) and total phenolic compounds (308.51 mg 100 g-1) compared to the orbital agitation extraction method (EOS). However, in relation to antioxidant activity, the ABTS+ FRAP methods did not show a significant difference between UAE and EOS. It was possible to detect five phenolic acids presents in the middle sheath of the peach palm heart, whose contents were similar in the extractions performed by UAE and EOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cultivating red-stalked rhubarb plants is an important source of raw materials for producing health-promoting foods. The quality and quantity of rhubarb crops are significantly dependent on planting material. To obtain high-quality planting material for the value selection of the rhubarb 'Raspberry', we evaluated the morphological and physiological responses of micropropagated plantlets to different growth substrates and light quality during early growth ex vitro in the greenhouse. The plantlets were grown in high-EC (GM1) and low-EC (GM2) peat substrates under four light-emitting diodes (LED) light treatments as supplementary lighting (SL) in the wintertime: 100% red (R), 100% blue (B), white light [44.4% green (G), 24.4% B, 28.9% R; 2.2% far red (FR)] and R+B+G+FR (49.4/16.3/10.3/23.8%) light. Compared to the control (natural sunlight), applied LED lighting significantly increased all growth parameters, but only in plantlets grown in GM1 substrate. Among LED treatments, R+B+G+FR light had the most stimulative effect on all growth parameters (length of leaf petioles, leaf area, biomass) and soluble sugar production. Still, it decreased the levels of phenolic compounds in the leaf petioles. Phenolic synthesis, mainly anthocyanins, was the highest under white light (622.8 mg·100 g−1 dry mass), followed by red (601.8 mg·100 g−1), blue (464.4 mg·100 g−1), and R+B+G+FR light (416.4 mg·100 g−1). High anthocyanin accumulation under R-LED light was associated with high antioxidant activity and growth cessation. Hence, for optimal effects related to plant growth and anthocyanin biosynthesis, the use of W-LED lighting is recommended for the early growth ex vitro of micropropagated rhubarb plantlets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pleurotus ostreatus is one of the most cultivated mushrooms worldwide. It is a lignocellulolytic fungus cultivated on different substrates, whose more common raw material is straw. The present study investigated the biological efficiency of Pleurotus ostreatus as affected by the different age of straw and the growing media preparation process in four production cycles. The content of organic carbon significantly decreased during the growing media preparation, while the content of total nitrogen, moisture, and ash, as well asthe pH value, showed an opposite trend. The first production cycle was characterized by the highest total and soluble sugar content. A dramatic reduction in soluble sugars was recorded at the end of the preparation of the growing media, regardless of the production cycle, while the total sugars were slightly reduced during the production cycle. The microbial population was significantly influenced by the growing media preparation, while only bacteria were slightly influenced by the straw's age. In contrast, cellulase activity significantly increased in the old straw, while an opposite trend was observed for pectinase activity. The β-glucosidase activity was influenced only by the growing media preparation. As expected, cluster analysis showed that the microbial community changed in each phase of growing media preparation. Finally, the biological efficiency of Pleurotus ostreatus decreased from 26.28% to 15.49% with increasing age of the straw, which may presumably be ascribed to the higher content of sugars in fresh straw compared to the older ones. Therefore, fresh straw should be used to prepare the growing media of Pleurotus ostreatus in order to increase its biological efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sweet basil is a popular culinary herb used in many cuisines around the world and is widely grown commercially for retail as a live potted plant. However, basil is easily damaged by temperatures below 12 °C meaning plants must be transported from the grower to the retailer in a warm transport chain, adding considerable commercial cost in temperate countries. Improvement of chilling tolerance has been demonstrated in post-harvest crops such as tomato fruits and, indeed, fresh cut basil, by manipulation of the red:far red ratio of light provided to plants throughout the photoperiod and for a significant duration of the growing process in controlled environment chambers. We tested the effectiveness of periodic short-duration end-of-production supplementary far red light treatments designed for use with basil plants grown in a large scale commercial glasshouse for the live potted basil market. Four days of periodic, midday supplementary far red light given at end of production induced robust tolerance to 24 h of 4 °C cold treatment, resulting in greatly reduced visual damage, and reduced physiological markers of chilling injury including electrolyte leakage and reactive oxygen species accumulation. Antioxidant levels were also maintained at higher levels in live potted basil following this cold treatment. RNAseq-based analysis of gene expression changes associated with this response pointed to increased conversion of starch to soluble raffinose family oligosaccharide sugars; increased biosynthesis of anthocyanins and selected amino acids; inactivation of gibberellin signaling; and reduced expression of fatty acid desaturases, all previously associated with increased chilling tolerance in plants. Our findings offer an efficient, non-invasive approach to induce chilling tolerance in potted basil which is suitable for application in a large-scale commercial glasshouse.

The growing interest in functional foods is driven by the exploration of new foods with positive health effects. Pleasant sensory features are essential for consumer acceptance. In this work, we investigated the composition of the bioactive compounds, antioxidant activity, and aroma profiles of four edible flowers: Cucurbita moschata Duchesne, Dianthus chinensis L., Fuchsia regia (Vand. ex Vell.) Munz., and Viola cornuta L. For the first time, we quantified the water-soluble group of B vitamins. Significant variations in the content of soluble sugars, vitamins, and secondary metabolites were observed. V. cornuta showed the highest concentration of vitamin C and carotenoids, while C. moschata had the highest content of vitamin B and flavonoids. F. regia stood out for its exceptionally high content of total phenolics, while D. chinensis surpassed the other flowers in soluble sugar content. The aroma profile analysis revealed a diverse array of volatile organic compounds, with each species having its own unique composition. C. moschata was characterized by p-dimethoxybenzene and D. chinensis by non-terpene compounds; F. regia displayed high amounts of decanal and nonanal, while V. cornuta was rich in myrcene and α-farnesene. These findings provide valuable insights into the secondary metabolites and aroma profiles of these flowers, enhancing our understanding of their bioactive compounds and potential health benefits.

Common vetch (Vicia sativa L.) is an important annual diploid leguminous forage. In the present study, transcriptomic profiling in common vetch in response to salt stress was conducted using a salt-tolerant line (460) and a salt-sensitive line (429). The common responses in common vetch and the specific responses associated with salt tolerance in 460 were analyzed. Several KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways, including plant hormone and MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) signaling, galactose metabolism, and phenylpropanoid phenylpropane biosynthesis, were enriched in both lines, though some differentially expressed genes (DEGs) showed distinct expression patterns. The roots in 460 showed higher levels of lignin than in 429. α-linolenic acid metabolism, carotenoid biosynthesis, the photosynthesis-antenna pathway, and starch and sucrose metabolism pathways were specifically enriched in salt-tolerant line 460, with higher levels of accumulated soluble sugars in the leaves. In addition, higher transcript levels of genes involved in ion homeostasis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging were observed in 460 than in 429 in response to salt stress. The transcriptomic analysis in common vetch in response to salt stress provides useful clues for further investigations on salt tolerance mechanism in the future.

Key message: VaSUS2 enhances cold tolerance of transgenic tomato and Arabidopsis by regulating sucrose metabolism and improving antioxidant enzymes activity. Sucrose synthetase (SUS) is a key enzyme of sugar metabolism, and plays an important role in response to abiotic stress in plant. However, the function of VaSUS2 remains unknown in cold tolerance. Here, the cloning and functional characterization of the plasma membrane-localized VaSUS2 gene isolated from Vitis amurensis was studied. The transcript level of VaSUS2 was up-regulated under cold stress in Vitis amurensis. Heterologous expression of VaSUS2 in tomato increased SUS activity, which promoted the accumulation of glucose and fructose under cold treatment. The transgenic tomato and Arabidopsis exhibited higher levels of antioxidant enzymes activity, lower relative electrolyte leakage (REL), malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) content compared to wild type under cold stress. Importantly, the ability of scavenging reactive oxygen species (ROS) in transgenic plants was significantly improved. Moreover, yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) indicated that VaSnRK1 might be a potential interaction protein of VaSUS2. qRT-PCR showed that sucrose metabolism-related genes SlSUS, SlSPS and SlINV were significantly up-regulated in transgenic tomatoes. Meanwhile, the expression levels of antioxidant enzyme genes and cold-related genes CBF1, COR47 and ICE1 were up-regulated in transgenic plants. Taken together, these results suggested that VaSUS2 was involved in cold tolerance by increasing the levels of soluble sugars, improving the activity of antioxidant enzymes, and up-regulating the expression of cold-related genes in transgenic tomatoes and Arabidopsis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthocyanins, soluble sugars, and organic acids play a vital role in the color and flavor of grape berries. N and KH2PO4 are essential nutrients for grape growth and development. However, the research on the effects of foliar spraying of KH2PO4 on the skin color and flavor of grapes under different N levels were not systematic. In this study, "Flame seedless" grapes were used as the test material. There were six treatments in this experiment, including low nitrogen (LN), low nitrogen + KH2PO4 (LNK), moderate nitrogen (MN), moderate nitrogen + KH2PO4 (MNK), high nitrogen (HN), and high nitrogen + KH2PO4 (HNK). Foliar spraying of KH2PO4 on grapes significantly increased total K, anthocyanin contents, and the color index of red grapes (CIRG) in LN, MN, and HN. In the N and KH2PO4 treatments, foliar spraying of KH2PO4 significantly increased the content of methylated, acetylated, and coumarylated anthocyanins under MN treatment. The glucose and fructose contents of MNK were the highest compared to other treatments. The sole use of N showed the highest glucose and fructose contents with MN application. Anthocyanin had a significant positive correlation with soluble sugars; and showed a significant negative correlation with organic acids. Overall, foliar spraying of 0.5% KH2PO4 improved the color and flavor of "Flame seedless" grapes under all N levels, with the most significant effect at MN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study presents the results of a 3-year field trial aimed at assessing the yield and quality of raw material for ensiling in the cultivation of three maize varieties differing in their agronomic and genetic profile, conditioned by the selection of nitrogen fertilizer. Maize cultivar ES Metronom showed a significant advantage over other cultivars when fertilized with UltraGrain stabile, or alternatively Super N-46. The application of nitrogen-stabilized fertilizers or urea + N-Lock significantly increased the yield of maize green fodder for ensiling. The "stay-green" maize cultivars were characterized by a higher content of non-structural carbohydrates, including starch and water-soluble sugars, and a lower content of structural carbohydrates, compared to the conventional cultivar, which increased their suitability for ensiling. The negative effect of maize fertilization with ammonium nitrate and ammonium nitrate + N-Lock on the chemical composition of green fodder was demonstrated by a reduced starch content and increased structural carbohydrate contents, including crude fiber and NDF. In turn, the positive effect of maize fertilization with urea and urea + N-Lock on the chemical composition of maize fodder was shown by increased starch content and reduced structural carbohydrate contents, including crude fiber and its NDF and ADF fractions. The analysis of the number and weight of leaves may indicate a highly effective utilization of nitrogen ("stay-green" maize hybrids), leading to the faster formation of leaves with a larger assimilation surface, which is the basis for the efficient absorption of solar radiation. The results obtained clearly show that only the correct choice of maize variety for silage cultivation, combined with nitrogen fertilizer guaranteeing access to N during the growing season, can guarantee a high yield for ensiling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effects of nitrate (NO3−) to ammonium (NH4+) ratios on vegetative growth parameters, mineral uptake, physiological and biochemical responses of two semi-vigorous apple rootstocks (MM106 and MM111) in hydroponically grown under greenhouse conditions were evaluated. Treatments were five nutrient solutions of differing NO3−:NH4+ ratios as follows (100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60, 20:80) and two apple rootstocks. After 120 days of treatment, parameters were determined. The NO3−:NH4+ ratios significantly affected the vegetative growth of MM106 and MM111 rootstocks. Rootstocks fertilized with a high NH4+ ratio produced larger leaves, longer roots, stems, and diameter, while the plants under NO3− treatment alone had smaller and shorter roots. N-form significantly influenced the uptake and utilization of essential plant nutrients in both rootstocks. Leaf concentrations of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), and calcium (Ca) were highest with NO3−. Leaf concentrations of phosphorous (P), magnesium (Mg), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) increased as NH4+ supplied more of the N-ratio. The highest chlorophyll a and b and total chlorophyll were observed at the 20:80 NO3−:NH4+ ratio. In comparison, the lowest content was at the highest dose of NO3− (100:0) treatment. The highest soluble sugars were obtained in the leaves of MM106 and MM111 at the ratio of 80:20. Soluble sugars in the root of both rootstocks decreased by increasing the NH4+ ratios in the nutrient solution. Our results show that supplying rootstocks with high NO3− as N form can affect vegetative growth and mineral uptake at this stage of growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: The rapid increase in the world population and the need to increase agricultural production, and on the other hand, the rapid change of climate conditions, are the significant challenges facing the world in the coming years. Wheat, the most important plant in the cereal family, plays a vital role in the world's food security now and in the future. Therefore, producing new cultivars with high yields and carefully selecting cultivars suitable for cultivation in different climatic zones are important future research priorities. Materials and methods: This study investigated the reaction of different bread wheat cultivars regarding yield and its components. It also aimed to study the growing degree days (GDD) and some physiological traits related to cold tolerance in different bread wheat cultivars. This study was conducted as two independent experiments during the 2013-14 cropping year at the research field, Campus of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Razi University, Kermanshah, Iran. The first experiment was a randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments included 12 bread wheat cultivars (Norstar, Zarin, Kavir, Baz, Sivand, Alvand, Pishgam, Pishtaz, Orum, Shahryar, Bahar, and Parsi). The second experiment was a factorial experiment in a randomized complete block design with three replications. In this experiment, 12 bread wheat cultivars were evaluated as the first factor and sampling times as the second factor in three levels: early January, early February, early March. Results: The results of this study showed that Sivand and Parsi spring cultivars with the highest plant growth rate in different stages of development, with 5170 and 5100 kg/ha, respectively, and Norstar winter cultivar with the lowest plant growth rate in various stages of development, with 2230 kg/ha, had the lowest value of grain yield. The correlation between grain yield, growing degree days requirement to flowering, and physiological maturity were negatively significant. Cultivars with lower grain yield had higher growing degree day’s requirements. Examination of the growing degree days requirement of cultivars up to the flowering stage showed that, on average, spring cultivars had lower growing degree day requirements than winter cultivars. The accumulation of soluble sugars in the crown of winter and intermediate cultivars during winter was higher than spring cultivars. The accumulation of soluble sugars in the wheat crown was downward during the winter, so at the beginning of winter, the crown had a higher sugar content than in the middle and late winter. Winter and intermediate cultivars, on average, had higher leaf greenness and maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II than spring cultivars. Conclusion: According to the results obtained in the study area, on average, winter and intermediate cultivars were superior to spring cultivars in terms of physiological traits related to cold tolerance. But, due to the obtained seed yield. However, according to the grain yield obtained in this study, spring cultivars are more recommended among cultivated cultivars than the other two growth types in Kermanshah and similar climate zones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Overexpression of GpZF improve drought tolerance in transgenic grass pea. • Antioxidant enzymes activity in transgenic lines was higher than the wild-type plants. • GpZF was without QALGGH motif in grass pea. The genes encoding Cys2/His2-type zinc finger proteins constitute a large family in higher plants consisting of a family of plant transcription factors. GpZF encodes a Cys2/His2-type zinc finger protein. This study identified a novel zinc finger transcription factor gene(GpZF) in the grass pea (Lathyrus sativus L.) involved in response to drought stress. GpZF was cloned in grass pea, and relative gene expression analysis showed that the GpZF gene in independent transgenic lines was more under mild and severe treatments (50% and 25% field capacity-FC). Furthermore, GpZF overexpressing grass pea results in more relative water content, free proline, soluble sugars, and chlorophyll content than the wild-type (WT) plants under 50% and 25% FC stresses, suggesting that this gene may improve drought tolerance by stress-responsive genes. Moreover, after exposure to drought stress, transgenic plants decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) and H 2 O 2 content by increasing significant enzymatic antioxidant activities. The GpZF overexpression has resulted in higher antioxidant enzymes activities (catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POX), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX)) of transgenic plants than those of the WT plants. Furthermore, in 25% FC, the independent transgenic lines revealed higher survival rates and dry weight than the WT plants. In conclusion, GpZF positively affects drought stress tolerance in Lathyrus sativus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

"Crop-forcing" is an effective technique to delay grape maturation to a period of lower temperatures, and in this way, improve grape quality. Because of the aggressiveness of this technique (removal of leaves and fruit to reinitiate a second vegetative cycle), it may affect the level of reserves and could provoke progressive vine exhaustion. The aim of the present work is to evaluate the short- and medium-term evolution of carbohydrate reserves in different plant organs and the effect of "crop-forcing" under different irrigation regimes on seasonal biomass production and its distribution. The study was carried out over a four years period (2017–2020), applying "crop-forcing" in three consecutive years (2017–2019) to the same vines on two different dates and using two irrigation strategies. The application of "crop-forcing" did not decrease root reserve levels in either the year of application or the following year, but did modify starch and soluble sugar levels in shoots and leaves in some moments of the vegetative cycle during the years of "crop-forcing" application. Total biomass production in terms of grams per vine was lower in the "crop-forcing" treatments and continued to be so when "crop-forcing" was no longer applied. The percentage of biomass in vegetative organs increased at the expense of productive organs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The Qinghai–Tibet Plateau is the main production area of Hippophae rhamnoides ssp. sinensis (Rha) and H. tibetana (Tib), but studies on the types and contents of soluble sugars, organic acids, free phenolics, bound phenolics, vitamin C (VC), tocopherol (VE) and carotenoids of the two sea buckthorn berries from this region have not been reported. In this paper, we found that the soluble sugars in Rha and Tib were mainly glucose and fructose; Rha exhibited a higher content of total sugar and fructose compared to Tib. The organic acids were mainly quinic acid and malic acid; Rha exhibited a higher content of total acids and quinic acid, but lower tartaric acid and citric acid compared to Tib. Rha also possessed a higher total (free and bound) phenolic as well as total (free and bound) flavonoid content than those in Tib; twelve phenolic compounds were analyzed, among which flavonols were dominant. Catechin, isorhamnetin and quercetin were the main phenolic substances. VC and VE (γ-tocopherol (γ-VE) and δ-tocopherol (δ-VE)) were higher in Rha than Tib. The total carotenoid, lutein, β-carotene and lycopene content of Tib was remarkably higher than that in Rha. Moreover, both Rha and Tib showed good in vitro and cellular antioxidant activities, and Rha had a stronger antioxidant activity. Taken together, Rha had a higher antioxidant activity, which may be due to its higher content of phenolics, flavonoids, VC and VE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interaction between selenium (Se) and sulfur (S) was investigated in green and red lettuce grown in a hydroponic system containing a basal mineral complement at contrasting levels of Se and S. The experiment aimed to evaluate the impact of Se and S supplementation on the quality traits of the lettuce, including soluble sugars, organic acids, total protein and nitrate (NO3-) to result in better lettuce yield with improving quality. The Se and S concentrations determined in the lettuce leaves showed complex dependence on the various levels of selenate (SeO42-) and sulfate (SO42-) supplied via the foliar application and the nutrient solution, respectively. The foliar application of Se resulted in a synergistic interaction between both elements. With elevated Se and S (Se2/S2), Se accumulation was enhanced drastically in red lettuce, and in green lettuce, the S concentration increased significantly. Regarding carbohydrate accumulation, including water-soluble sugars, a lower Se dose under adequate S conditions enhanced glucose levels significantly by 3.2 and 2.1-fold in green and red lettuce, respectively. A synergistic interaction between Se and S was found following higher Se and S treatment (Se2/S2), resulting in a significant (p = 0.05) reduction in glucose and fructose concentrations. However, higher S strikingly increased the accumulation of the reducing sugars (glucose and fructose) by 5.3 and 3.0-fold for glucose and 3.7 and 5.6-fold for fructose in green and red lettuce, respectively. Meanwhile, sucrose increased by 2.0-fold in red lettuce and remained unaltered in green lettuce. A low nitrate level (NO3-) was maintained in response to adequate or elevated S and Se levels. Se levels (Se1 and Se2) did not affect total protein concentration under contrasting sulfate/selenate. However, potential effects in terms of protein accumulation were associated with an adequate or increased S concentration. The data suggest that lower Se and sufficient S doses significantly increase glucose levels in both pigmented lettuce cultivars. Additionally, the synergistic interaction between Se and S could benefit the final nutritional value and quality of lettuce, especially for nitrate, where Se and S enrichment can ensure low nitrate levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lilium candidum L. is a plant with rich cultural traditions and huge potential in floriculture and modern medicine. Our study analyzed the effects of light emitting diodes (LEDs) of variable quality on adventitious organogenesis induced in bulb scales placed on Murashige and Skoog medium. In addition to the spectral compositions of red (100%), blue (100%), and red and blue light (RB ratio 7:3), RB light was mixed in equal proportions (50%) with green (RBG), yellow (RBY), UV (RBUV), and far red (RBfR) light. We also tested white LED (Wled). Fluorescent lamp light (Fl) and darkness (D) served as controls. We assessed the effects of light on the morphometric features as well as the physiological and biochemical quality of the bulblets (adventitious bulbs). Bulb formation was observed under all light qualities, even in darkness, albeit to a limited extent. White LED light (Wled) treatment translated into the highest efficiency of bulblet formation and the greatest number of bulbs with developed leaves. The leaves, even though the shortest ones, also developed as a result of RBG treatment, and this light mixture enhanced the diameter of the forming bulblets. The bulbletsunder this light spectrum accumulated the most chlorophyll and carotenoids. The bulblets formed under B, RBfR and RBG LED had more than two times higher phenoliclevels than those formed under R LED and Fl. The bulbletsformed under B LED were the richest in soluble sugars, similarly to those developing in darkness (D). Key message: Efficient micropropagation of Lilium candidum L. was achieved on media without growth regulators under different LED light quality which affected organogenesis, photosynthetic pigments, soluble phenolics and sugars composition in bulblets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nitrogen of 20–40 g plant−1 is favor of sugar accumulation and acid degradation. • Key genes and TFs were highly induced at a nitrogen of 40 g plant−1. • 3.Provide a scientific basis for promoting sugar accumulation via fertilization. Nitrogen fertilization plays a key role in the accumulation of soluble sugars and organic acids in blackberry (Rubus spp.). To understand the effects of different levels of nitrogen fertilization on the accumulation of soluble sugars and organic acids in floricane-fruiting blackberry cultivar 'Shuo Feng' ripe fruit and the underlying molecular mechanisms, a comprehensive analysis of physiological, metabolomic and transcriptomic data was carried out. The five nitrogen application levels for the blackberry plants were 0 g plant−1 (CK), 20 g plant−1 (T1), 40 g plant−1 (T2), 60 g plant−1 (T3) and 80 g plant−1 (T4). The appropriate nitrogen application level (20–40 g plant−1) increased the accumulation of soluble sugars and decreased the content of organic acids in the fruit; the opposite was true under nitrogen deficiency (0 g plant−1) and excessive nitrogen application (80 g plant−1). Transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of the CK, T2 and T4 treatments revealed candidate genes regulating soluble sugar and organic acid accumulation. Appropriate nitrogen fertilization upregulated the expression of sucrose synthase (SuS1, SuS2), endoglucanase (EGase1) and beta-glucosidase (BG4, BG5 and BG7) genes to increase soluble sugar accumulation and upregulated the expression of NAD-malate dehydrogenase (NAD-ME) and NADP-dependent malic enzyme (NADP-ME) genes to increase organic acid catabolism. While nitrogen deficiency and excessive nitrogen application upregulated the expression of sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS1) and alpha-amylase (AMY1, AMY2) genes, as well as AP2/ERF, WRKY, bHLH and MYB1 transcription factors, to increase starch catabolism and inhibit organic acid degradation, which improved blackberry resistance to nitrogen stress. This study provides an accurate scientific basis for promoting the effective accumulation of sugars in blackberry fruit via fertilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel is an essential micronutrient for plant growth and development. However, in excessive amounts caused by accidental pollution of soils, this heavy metal is toxic to plants. Although silicon is a non-essential nutrient, it accumulates in most monocots, particularly the vital crop maize (corn, Zea mays). In fact, this metalloid mineral can alleviate the toxicity of heavy metals, though the mechanism is not entirely clear yet. Herein, we measured proteome, gene expression, enzyme activities, and selected sugars to investigate such effect thoroughly. Deep proteomic analysis revealed a minor impact of 100 µM Ni, 2.5 mM Si, or their combination on roots in 12-day-old hydroponically grown maize seedlings upon 9 days of exposure. Nonetheless, we suggested plausible mechanisms of Si mitigation of excessive Ni: Chelation by metallothioneins and phytochelatins, detoxification by glycine betaine pathway, and restructuring of plasma membrane transporters. Higher activity of glutathione S-transferase confirmed its plausible involvement in reducing Ni toxicity in combined treatment. Accumulation of sucrose synthase and corresponding soluble sugars in Ni and combined treatment implied high energy requirements both during heavy metal stress and its mitigation. Expression analysis of genes coding a few differentially accumulated proteins failed to reveal concordant changes, indicating posttranscriptional regulation. Proposed mitigation mechanisms should be functionally validated in follow-up studies. [Display omitted] • Glycine betaine pathway could be involved in mineral-mediated metal detoxification. • Si could trigger the restructuring of plasma membrane transporters in maize roots. • Activity of glutathione S-transferase implied its involvement in Si mitigation. • Accumulation of sugars suggested high energy demand during Ni and combined exposure. • Discordant protein and transcript abundances indicated posttranscriptional regulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Persian clover (Trifolium resupinatum L.) represents an annual forage legume cultivated for forage quality and for its importance as ameliorating plant within the forage crop rotation. The researches performed on the determination of the optimal planting period at the beginning of autumn proved the existence of a direct relationship between the sum of temperatures at planting, at the beginning of winter, and the dry matter yield, respectively between the number of sprigs at the beginning of winter and the content in soluble sugars in roots. According to planting date, the dry matter yield oscillated between 1.5 t/ha in the variant planted on 20th September and 9.4 t/ha in the variant planted on 10th August.

IntroductionMelatonin (MLT) is a bioactive molecule involved in the physiological functioning of plants. Reports related to preharvest applications of melatonin on the postharvest performance of cut flowers are not available in the literature.Materials & methodsThis study evaluated the effects of different concentrations of exogenous MLT [0 mM (MT0), 0.5 mM (MT1), 0.7 mM (MT2), 1 mM (MT3)] applied preharvest on the physiological characteristics and postharvest performance of cut tuberose, a globally demanded cut flower.Results & discussionThe results revealed that all treatments increased postharvest vase life by up to 4 d. The MT1, MT2, and MT3 treatments increased total soluble proteins (TSP) by 25%, 41%, and 17%, soluble sugars (SS) by 21%, 36%, and 33%, an+d postharvest catalase (CAT) activity by 52%, 66%, and 70%, respectively. Malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) decreased in all preharvest treatments by up to 23% and 56%, respectively. Proline concentration decreased in all treatments, particularly MT3 (38%). These findings suggest that preharvest MLT treatment is a promising strategy for improving the postharvest quality of cut tuberose.

Soluble sugars are an important determinant of fruit taste, but their accumulation mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we report two vacuolar invertase inhibitor genes involved in sugar accumulation in peach, PpINHa and PpINH3. Transient overexpression of PpINH3 in peach fruits resulted in an increase in sugar content, while the opposite trend was detected for PpINHa. Unexpectedly, PpINH3 and PpINHa both had no physical interaction with vacuolar invertase (VIN). Moreover, the PpVIN genes had no or extremely low expression in fruits at the ripening stage. These results suggested that the regulatory role of PpINHa and PpINH3 in sugar accumulation is unlikely due to their interaction with PpVINs. Additionally, overexpression of PpINHa and PpINH3 had an impact on transcription of genes related to fruit sugar metabolism and transport, which is likely responsible for their regulatory role in fruit sugar accumulation. Altogether, these results indicated an important role of PpINHs in fruit accumulation in peach. Our study provides new insights into molecular mechanisms underlying sugar accumulation, which could be useful for genetic improvement of fruit taste in breeding programs of peach and other fruit crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity is among the most significant threats hindering global food security. The impact of Trichoderma, biochar, and combination on Spinach plants under salt stress conditions was investigated. Our results confirmed that salt stress (75, 150 mM) negatively affected morphological and physiological parameters of Spinach plants such as shoot (26.4%, 45.9%), and root length (16.1%, 51.2%), fresh and dry weights of root and shoot, membrane stability index (9.8%, 18.5%), relative water content(4.5%, 16.8%), chlorophyll content, mineral contents, endogenous phytohormones (auxin, gibberellins, abscisic acid, jasmonic acid, and salicylic acid) and total soluble protein content. However, electrolyte leakage, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species production (such as hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radical), sodium, soluble sugars, proline contents, and antioxidant enzymes activities (peroxidase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase) significantly increased as a response to salt stress. The use of Trichoderma, biochar, and combination led to significant increases in all the above parameters; nevertheless, these treatments led to significant decreases in EL%, MDA, ROS, and sodium content in the stressed plants. The results proved the combination of Trichoderma and biochar is the most effective in alleviating the damaging impacts of salt on Spinach plants by increasing the up-regulation of antioxidants and decreasing membrane leakage and ROS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Soluble sugar is a key quality trait of soybean seeds. We developed rapid and economic extraction and quantification methods for seed soluble sugars using an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography system with a refractive index detector. We evaluated the soluble sugar compositions of 1164 soybean accessions collected from diverse ecoregions and grown in multiple locations and years. Total soluble sugar (TSS) content was influenced by accession type, year of cultivation, and ecoregion. The mean contents of fructose, glucose, sucrose, raffinose, stachyose and TSS were 3.31, 5.21, 55.60, 6.60, 35.47, and 106.19 mg g-1, respectively. The highest mean TSS content (108.71 mg g-1) was observed in accessions from Northern Region of China. Cultivars contained higher contents of sucrose, raffinose, and TSS, whereas landraces had a higher content of stachyose. Fourteen accessions with mean TSS contents >130 mg g-1 were identified as elite soybean resources. TSS was correlated with sucrose, raffinose, stachyose, protein, oil and total tocopherol. The main soluble sugar components were correlated with latitude and longitude, indicating that the geographical origin of the accessions affected their seed soluble sugar compositions. The developed methods and elite identified accessions can be used in the food and feed industry and in soybean breeding programs aimed at improving soybean seed nutrition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Haberlea rhodopensis is a Balkan endemic plant that belongs to the Gesneriaceae family, and is believed to have medicinal use and health-promoting properties. This study aimed to (i) prepare aqueous (HAE) and ethanolic (HEE) extracts from the leaves of H. rhodopensis from in vitro propagated plants, (ii) screen for their potential antiproliferative and antimigratory activities, and (iii) chemically characterize both HAE and HEE by identifying compounds which may contribute to their observed bioactivity thereby further supporting their potential use in biomedical applications. The antiproliferative activity of both extracts was assessed against six human cancer cell lines by employing the sulforhodamine-B (SRB) assay. HEE was found to be more potent in inhibiting cancer cell growth as compared to HAE. Therefore, HEE's antimigratory effects were further studied in hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) and non-small cell lung adenocarcinoma (A459) cell lines as they were among the most sensitive ones to its antiproliferative activity. HEE was found to exert significant antimigratory concentration-dependent effects in both cell lines assessed with the wound healing assay. Chemical characterization by UPLC-MS/MS analysis identified that HEE contains higher levels of flavonoids, phenolic compounds, pigments (chlorophyll–/-b, lycopene, and β-carotene), monoterpenoids, and condensed tannins compared to HAE, while HAE, contains higher levels of soluble protein and sugars. Furthermore, HEE demonstrated remarkable antioxidant activity evaluated by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH●), 2,2-azinobis (3-ethyl-benzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS●+) and ferric reducing/antioxidant power (FRAP) assays. We have obtained comprehensive results highlighting the potential of HEE as a source of bioactive compounds with anticancer properties. Future studies should aim at identifying the chemical constituents responsible for the bioactivities observed, and focus on investigating HEE's effects, in in vivo preclinical cancer models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field experiment was carried out in the autumn season of 2020 in Al-Baghdadi region, Ramadi district, Anbar Governorate, to study the response of some physiological traits of mung bean to foliar nutrition with arginine and iron. Split plots arrangement according to randomized complete block design was used at three replications. Iron concentrations (0, 60, 120 and 180 mg L-1) occupied the main plots, while arginine concentrations (0, 50 and 100 mg L-1) occupied the sub-plots. The results showed that the spraying of arginine at a 50 mg L-1 gave the highest means of leaves content of nitrogen and soluble sugars, whereas the 100 mgArginine L-1 gave the highest means of plant dry weight, CGR, number of branches per root, leaves content of hydrogen peroxide and SOD enzyme activity. Also, the spraying of iron at a 60 mg L-1 was significantly superior and achieved the highest mean of SOD enzyme activity (126.87 unit ml-1 protein), while the 120 mg Iron L-1 had the highest means of leaves content of nitrogen (2.39%) and number of branches (16.4 branch root-1), whereas the 180 mg Iron L-1 gave the highest means of leaves content of soluble sugars (13.80%), plant dry weight (16.65 g plant-1), CGR (11.154 g m-2 day-1) and leaves content of hydrogen peroxide (4.04%). The interaction between arginine and iron had a significant effect on most studied traits, arginine at 100 mg L-1 with iron at 180 mg L-1 gave a highest value of plant dry weight, CGR and leaves content of hydrogen peroxide [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Citrus fruit quality is defined as the combination of physical and chemical traits; some of which may change during the ripening phase, e.g., acidity and sugar content. A clear understanding of their genetic control would be very helpful for marker-assisted breeding programs especially with regard to the juvenile phase and some reproductive features that hamper the selection of improved hybrids. A genetic study was thus performed on the heredity of quality traits and QTL detection based on segregation in a progeny generated from a cross between clementine cv "Commun" (Citrus × reticulata cv clementine) and mandarin cv "Willow leaf" (C. reticulata Blanco). Parental and consensus genetic linkage maps were constructed using 645 SNP and SSR markers. These maps were represented by 10 linkage groups in clementine and 12 linkage groups in mandarin, representing 75% and 58% respectively of the previously published clementine reference map. A total of 16 traits, including fruit mass, equatorial diameter, juice percentage, total soluble solids, acidity, pH, glucose, fructose, sucrose, and citric and malic acid concentrations were evaluated at three maturation dates. High variations indicating transgressive segregation were found for all traits, with normal or close to normal distributions. QTL analysis performed using the multiple QTL model allowed the detection of 34 QTLs on the three maps. QTLs were distributed in different linkage groups and generally detected at only one date of the ripening phase. The percentage of total variation explained ranged from 12 to 37% per QTL. Major QTLs (R2 ≥ 30%) were detected for equatorial diameter, glucose, and fructose (expressed in percentage dry matter) on linkage groups 8 and 9. Co-localization of QTLs controlling correlated and uncorrelated traits were mainly found on linkage groups 2, 4, 8, and 9, particularly between fruit mass and acidity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterlogging causes various metabolic, physiological, and morphological changes in crops, resulting in yield loss of most legumes in rainfed and irrigated agriculture. However, research on cowpea genotypes using physiological and biochemical traits as a measure of tolerance to waterlogging stress is limited. We evaluated the impacts of 7 days of waterlogging (DOW) and 7 days of recovery (DOR) on the physiology and biochemistry of two cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp) genotypes (UCR 369 and EpicSelect.4) with contrasting waterlogging tolerance. Cowpea genotypes were grown in a controlled environment until the R2 stage and then subjected to 7 DOW. Later, the waterlogged plants were reoxygenated for an additional 7 DOR. Overall, cowpea genotypes had a contrasting response to waterlogging using different mechanisms. Compared to the control, the photosynthetic parameters of both cowpea genotypes were impaired under 7 DOW and could not recover at 7 DOR, with a larger decline in EpicSelect.4.7 DOW caused significant loss in the chlorophyll and carotenoid content of both genotypes. However, only waterlogged UCR 369 was not photo-inhibited and able to restore the levels of chlorophyll and carotenoids at 7 DOR. In addition, 7 DOW induced intense stress in UCR 369 with increased zeaxanthin, sucrose, and flavonoid content, while these metabolites were decreased in EpicSelect.4. On the other hand, glucose, fructose, and phenolic content were increased in EpicSelect.4 but decreased in UCR 369 at 7 DOR. In summary, compared to EpicSelect.4, UCR 369 restored their photosynthetic pigments and metabolites to the control levels at 7 DOR, indicating a likely tolerance to waterlogging stress. • Cowpea genotypes respond to waterlogging using contrasting mechanisms. • Cowpea genotypes that accumulate more zeaxanthin, sucrose, and flavonoids during waterlogging show greater tolerance. • UCR 369 restored the studied physiological and biochemical parameters to their control levels after recovery. • Downregulation of carbon assimilation in EpicSelect.4 was driven by both stomatal and non-stomatal factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The reconfiguration of the primary metabolism is essential in plant–pathogen interactions. We compared the local metabolic responses of cucumber leaves inoculated with Pseudomonas syringae pv lachrymans (Psl) with those in non-inoculated systemic leaves, by examining the changes in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotides pools, the concentration of soluble carbohydrates and activities/gene expression of carbohydrate metabolism-related enzymes, the expression of photosynthesis-related genes, and the tricarboxylic acid cycle-linked metabolite contents and enzyme activities. In the infected leaves, Psl induced a metabolic signature with an altered [NAD(P)H]/[NAD(P)+] ratio; decreased glucose and sucrose contents, along with a changed invertase gene expression; and increased glucose turnover and accumulation of raffinose, trehalose, and myo-inositol. The accumulation of oxaloacetic and malic acids, enhanced activities, and gene expression of fumarase and l-malate dehydrogenase, as well as the increased respiration rate in the infected leaves, indicated that Psl induced the tricarboxylic acid cycle. The changes in gene expression of ribulose-l,5-bis-phosphate carboxylase/oxygenase large unit, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase and chloroplast glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase were compatible with a net photosynthesis decline described earlier. Psl triggered metabolic changes common to the infected and non-infected leaves, the dynamics of which differed quantitatively (e.g., malic acid content and metabolism, glucose-6-phosphate accumulation, and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity) and those specifically related to the local or systemic response (e.g., changes in the sugar content and turnover). Therefore, metabolic changes in the systemic leaves may be part of the global effects of local infection on the whole-plant metabolism and also represent a specific acclimation response contributing to balancing growth and defense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: It is critical to understand the sensitivity, response direction and magnitude of carbohydrates and secondary compounds to warming for predicting the structure and function of the tundra ecosystem towards future climate change. Results: Open-top chambers (OTCs) were used to passively increase air and soil temperatures on Changbai Mountain alpine tundra. After seven years' continuous warming (+ 1.5 °C), the vegetation coverage, nonstructural carbohydrates (soluble sugars and starch) and secondary compounds (total phenols, flavonoids and triterpenes) of leaves and roots in three dominant dwarf shrubs, Dryas octopetala var. asiatica, Rhododendron confertissimum and Vaccinium uliginosum, were investigated during the growing season. Warming did not significantly affect the concentrations of carbohydrates but decreased total phenols for the three species. Carbohydrates and secondary compounds showed significantly seasonal pattern and species-specific variation. No significant trade-off or negative relationship between carbohydrates and secondary compounds was observed. Compared to Dr. octopetala var. asiatica, V. uliginosum allocated more carbon on secondary compounds. Warming significantly increased the coverage of Dr. octopetala var. asiatica, did not change it for V. uliginosum and decreased it for Rh. confertissimum. Rh. confertissimum had significantly lower carbohydrates and invested more carbon on secondary compounds than the other two species. Conclusions: Enhanced dominance and competitiveness of Dr. octopetala var. asiatica was companied by increased trend in carbohydrate concentrations and decreased ratio of secondary compounds to total carbon in the warming OTCs. We, therefore, predict that Dr. octopetala var. asiatica will continue to maintain dominant status, but the competition ability of V. uliginosum could gradually decrease with warming, leading to changes in species composition and community structure of the Changbai tundra ecosystem under future climate warming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluctuations in light intensity and temperature lead to periods of asynchrony between carbon (C) supply by photosynthesis and C demand by the plant organs. Storage and remobilization of non-structural carbohydrates (NSC) are important processes that allow plants to buffer these fluctuations. We aimed to test the hypothesis that C storage and remobilization can buffer the effects of temperature and light fluctuations on growth of tomato plants. Tomato plants were grown at temperature amplitudes of 3 or 10℃ (deviation around the mean of 22℃) combined with integration periods (IP) of 2 or 10 days. Temperature and light were applied in Phase (high temperature simultaneously with high light intensity, (400 mmol m-2 s-1), low temperature simultaneously with low light intensity (200 mmol m-2 s-1) or in Antiphase (high temperature with low light intensity, low temperature with high light intensity). A control treatment with constant temperature (22℃) and a constant light intensity (300 mmol m-2 s-1) was also applied. After 20 days all treatments had received the same temperature and light integral. Differences in final structural dry weight were relatively small, while NSC concentrations were highly dynamic and followed changes of light and temperature (a positive correlation with decreasing temperature and increasing light intensity). High temperature and low light intensity lead to depletion of the NSC pool, but NSC level never dropped below 8% of the plant weight and this fraction was not mobilizable. Our results suggest that growing plants under fluctuating conditions do not necessarily have detrimental effects on plant growth and may improve biomass production in plants. These findings highlight the importance in the NSC pool dynamics to buffer fluctuations of light and temperature on plant structural growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coffea arabica L. is as a tropical crop that can be grown under monocrop or agroforestry (AFS) systems, usually at altitudes greater than 600 m, with suitable environmental conditions to bean quality. This study aimed to assess the effect of altitude (650, 825, and 935 m) and light conditions (deep shade—DS, and moderate shade—MS provided by native trees, and full Sun—FS) on the physical and chemical attributes of green coffee beans produced in the Gorongosa Mountain. Regardless of altitude, light conditions (mainly MS and FS) scarcely affected most of the studied physical and chemical attributes. Among the few exceptions in physical attributes, bean mass tended to lower values under FS in all three altitudes, whereas bean density increased under FS at 650 m. As regards the chemical compound contents, sporadic changes were found. The rises in trigonelline (MS and FS at 935 m), soluble sugars (FS at 935 m), and the decline in p-coumaric acid (MS and FS at 825 m), may indicate an improved sensory profile, but the rise in FQAs (FS at 825 m) could have a negative impact. These results highlight a relevant uncertainty of the quality changes of the obtained bean. Altitude (from 650 to 935 m) extended the fruit maturation period by four weeks, and altered a larger number of bean attributes. Among physical traits, the average sieve (consistent tendency), bean commercial homogeneity, mass, and density increased at 935 m, whereas the bean became less yellowish and brighter at 825 and 935 m (b*, C* colour attributes), pointing to good bean trade quality, usually as compared with beans from 650 m. Furthermore, at 935 m trigonelline and 5-CQA (MS and FS) increased, whereas FQAs and diCQAs isomers declined (in all light conditions). Altogether, these changes likely contributed to improve the sensory cup quality. Caffeine and p-coumaric acid showed mostly inconsistent variations. Overall, light conditions (FS, MS, or DS) did not greatly and consistently altered bean physical and chemical attributes, whereas altitude (likely associated with lower temperature, greater water availability (rainfall/fog), and extended maturation period) was a major driver for bean changes and improved quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: phenylalanine treatment affect on chilling tolerance during postharvest cold storage. OBJECTIVE: This work aimed to investigate exogenous application of phenylalanine (Phe; 0, 15 and 30 mM) on berry phenolic compounds, quality and chilling tolerance of 'Red Sahebi' grape during 60 days at 1°C. METHODS: Every 15 days (storage durations were 0, 15, 30, 45, and 60 days), approximately 150 gr of grape bunches were sampled randomly from cool chamber for following physicochemical and microbial analysis. RESULTS: Phe-treated grape at 30 mM maintained higher titratable acid, total sensory score, total soluble solid, soluble sugars, organic acids, and antioxidant capacity compared to control grapes. At the end of storage time, 30 mM Phe-treated grapes showed higher flavonols (11% myricetin, 20% quercetin, and 23% kaempferol), flavanols (22% catechin, 34% epicatechin, and 40% epigallocatechin) and anthocyanins (42% malvidin-3-O-glucoside, 30% delphinidin-3-O-glucoside, 25% cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, and 23% pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside) compared to control samples due to lower polyphenol oxidase but higher antioxidant enzyme activities. Also, 30 mM Phe was found to be effective for berry trans-resveratrol and phenolic acid preservation, displayed less fungal decay. The efficiency of Phe on chilling tolerance was monitored by lower rachis browning, electrolyte leakage, and malondialdehyde but higher abscisic acid content. CONCLUSION: Phenylalanine application retained higher TA, TSS, and vitamin C, antioxidant capacity and total sensory score in treated fruits and alleviates chilling injury of table grape during cold storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most terrestrial plants can establish a reciprocal symbiosis with arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi to cope with adverse environmental stresses. The development of AM symbiosis is energetically costly and needs to be dynamically controlled by plants to maintain the association at mutual beneficial levels. Multiple components involved in the autoregulation of mycorrhiza (AOM) have been recently identified from several plant species; however, the mechanisms underlying the feedback regulation of AM symbiosis remain largely unknown. Here, we report that AM colonization promotes the flavonol biosynthesis pathway in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and an AM-specific UDP-glucosyltransferase SlUGT132, which probably has the flavonol glycosylation activity, negatively regulates AM development. SlUGT132 was predominantly expressed in the arbuscule-containing cells, and its knockout or knockdown mutants showed increased soluble sugar content, root colonization level and arbuscule formation. Conversely, overexpression of SlUGT132 resulted in declined soluble sugar content and mycorrhization degree. Metabolomic assay revealed decreased contents of astragalin, tiliroside and cynaroside in slugt132 mycorrhizal roots, but increased accumulation of these flavonoid glycosides in SlUGT132-overexpressing plant roots. Our results highlight the presence of a novel, SlUGT132-mediated AOM mechanism, which enable plants to flexibly control the accumulation of soluble sugars and flavonoid glycosides in mycorrhizal roots and modulate colonization levels., (© 2024 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

Eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) ranks fifth in importance among vegetable crops of the Solanaceae family, in part due to the high antioxidant properties and polyphenol content of the fruit. Along with the popular purple-fruited varieties of S. melongena, there are cultivars, the fruits of which are rich in phenolic compounds, but are white-colored due to the lack of anthocyanin biosynthesis. Determination of the amount of anthocyanins and other phenolic compounds, as well as carotenoids and sugars, is included in the assessment of the quality of eggplant fruits of commercial (technical) ripeness. In addition to antioxidant and taste properties, these metabolites are associated with fruit resistance to various stress factors. In this study, a comparative analysis of the content of anthocyanins, carotenoids and soluble sugars (sucrose, glucose, fructose) in the peel and pulp of the fruit of both technical and biological ripeness was carried out in purple-fruited (cv. Vlas) and white-fruited (cv. Snezhny) eggplant accessions of domestic selection. The peel and pulp of biologically ripe fruits of the cvs Vlas and Snezhny were used for comparative transcriptomic analysis. The key genes of the flavonoid and carotenoid metabolism, sucrose hydrolysis, and soluble sugar transport were shown to be differentially expressed between fruit tissues, both within each cultivar and between them. It has been confirmed that the purple color of the peel of the cv. Vlas fruit is due to substantial amounts of anthocyanins. Flavonoid biosynthesis genes showed a significantly lower expression level in the ripe fruit of the cv. Vlas in comparison with the cv. Snezhny. However, in both cultivars, transcripts of anthocyanin biosynthesis genes (DFR, ANS, UFGT) were not detected. Additionally, the purple fruit of the cv. Vlas accumulated more carotenoids and sucrose and less glucose and fructose than the white fruit of the cv. Snezhny. Biochemical data corresponded to the differential expression pattern of the key genes encoding the structural proteins of metabolism and transport of the compounds analyzed., Competing Interests: The authors declare no conflict of interest., (Copyright © AUTHORS.)

Salicylic acid (SA) is known as an influential signal molecule in plant responses to environmental stresses. In this study, the effects of SA as a pre-treatment of psyllium (Plantago ovata) seeds on seedling growth, photosynthetic pigments, proteins and amino acids, and accumulation of soluble sugars and starch in response to salinity stress were investigated. Psyllium seeds were soaked with 0 and 500 μM SA for 24 h and sown in the research greenhouse of Iranshahr University in 2019, and the seedlings were exposed as a factorial design to 0, 25, 50, 100, 150 and 300 mM NaCl at 3-day intervals for 20 days. The results showed the seedling growth rate, photosynthetic pigments including chlorophylls and carotenoids, protein concentration as well as accumulation of soluble sugars and starch were severely reduced due to salinity stress. However, the accumulation of free amino acids and proline increased in response to salt stress. SA treatment improved the length of the shoot, increased the amount of pigments, decreased the amount of amino acids, and caused the accumulation of proteins and proline. In addition, an increase in the amount of non-reducing sugars and starch, which was associated with no change or decrease in the concentration of reducing sugars at high salinity levels, occurred in response to SA. These results show that priming the seeds with SA before sowing can increase the plant tolerance to salinity stress through the accumulation of non-reducing sugars and proline and thus maintain the turgor pressure of cells.