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Chikurmanis or katuk (Sauropus androgynus (L.) Merr.) is a traditional leafy vegetable that is consumed widely in Indonesia. The leaf is rich in vitamins, minerals, nutrients, and dietary fiber. The study aimed to investigate the leaf growth pattern and morphological characteristics of the chikurmanis cultivated in the tropical lowland ecosystem. The research was conducted on local farmland in Marga Sakti Sebelat, Bengkulu, Indonesia on December 2023 by survey method. The results showed that the leaf of chikurmanis grew in the daytime and continued to grow at nighttime as indicated in midrib length, leaf width, and foliole number. It is likely that nighttime growth become predominant in chikurmanis. The plant was a type of shrub with complete organs of stem, branch, root, flower, and leaf. The leaf was arranged as a compound leaf with many folioles in opposite positions. Midrib length (M) x leaf width (W) with a zero intercept of linear regression was the most reliable predictor of leaf area with the formula Y = 0.4964MxW (R² = 0.9677). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the role of Kelpak® on growth, nutritional content, phytohormones, and phenolic acids in the angiosperm Ceratotheca triloba (Bernh.) Hook.f. grown under macronutrient-deficient conditions. Seeds were germinated in the greenhouse and established seedlings were treated with 50% Hoagland's solution (50% HS) or nutrient-deficient solutions lacking one of the following: nitrogen (-N), phosphorus (-P), potassium (-K), which were either treated with or without Kelpak® (control). After 4 months of growth, macronutrient deficiency severely reduced growth and nutritional composition in plants. Nevertheless, the detrimental effects of insufficient macronutrient supply on growth were ameliorated with the application of Kelpak®, with a fourfold (-N), threefold (-P), and twofold (-K) increase in leaf and root fresh weight. Mineral and carbohydrate levels increased in plants deprived of N and P when Kelpak® was applied in the different soils. Macronutrient stress (N, P, K) increased phytohormone production in C. triloba more than in 50% HS-treated plants. The phytohormone content in macronutrient-deficient leaves was further enhanced with the application of Kelpak®. On the contrary, application of Kelpak® suppressed the production of phenolic acids in 50% HS, -N, and -K-treated plants when compared to the control treatments. The interaction between macronutrient deficiency and Kelpak® application played an important role in the regulation of phytohormone and phenolic acid concentration in C. triloba. The current findings demonstrated the potential of Kelpak® as an efficient biostimulant that enhances nutrient uptake for improved growth and biochemicals in C. triloba under macronutrient stress condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We evaluated the effect of different watering regimes on the growth, chlorophyll fluorescence, phytohormones, and phenolic acids in Ceratotheca triloba (Bernh.) Hook.f., a commonly consumed African indigenous leafy vegetable. The study was conducted in the greenhouse under different watering regimes [seven (daily); three (thrice); two (twice); one (once) day(s) per week] for a period of 2 and 4-months. In each pot (7.5 cm diameter; 150 ml volume), 50 ml of water was applied per treatment. At the end of the experiment, plant growth, chlorophyll fluorescence, phytohormones, and phenolic acids were determined. A decrease in water availability resulted in a consistent decline in plant growth after a 4-month growth period. The severity of reduced water availability was more noticeable in plants watered once a week with a 1.4-fold reduction in growth and quantum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) value of 0.80. The significant decline in growth and chlorophyll fluorescence was probably due to the increased production of abscisic acid (ABA) and cytokinin (CK) content together with the detected phytohormones in plants with restricted water supply. Furthermore, plants watered once a week had a trade-off between growth and phenolic acid production, with significantly higher (threefolds) concentrations of vanillic, ferulic, caffeic, and 4-coumaric acids in 4-month-old plants. Even though C. triloba grew best in well-watered soil, the plant had the potential to adapt and survive in soils with limited water supply for longer periods of growth. These findings suggest that regulation of phytohormones and phenolic acids played an important role in improving the growth of C. triloba under limited water conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme temperatures, drought and salinity stress adversely affect seed germination and seedling growth in crop species. Seed priming has been recognized as an indispensable technique in the production of stress-tolerant plants. Seed priming increases seed water content, improves protein synthesis using mRNA and DNA and repair mitochondria in seeds prior to germination. The current study aimed to determine the role of biostimulants-seed-priming during germination and seedling growth of Ceratotheca triloba (Bernh.) Hook.f. (an indigenous African leafy vegetable) under low temperature, low osmotic potential and salinity stress conditions. Ceratotheca triloba seeds were primed with biostimulants [smoke-water (SW), synthesized smoke-compound karrikinolide (KAR 1 ), Kelpak ® (commercial seaweed extract), phloroglucinol (PG) and distilled water (control)] for 48 h at 25 °C. Thereafter, primed seeds were germinated at low temperatures, low osmotic potential and high NaCl concentrations. Low temperature (10 °C) completely inhibited seed germination. However, temperature shift to 15 °C improved germination. Smoke-water and KAR 1 enhanced seed germination with SW improving seedling growth under different stress conditions. Furthermore, priming seeds with Kelpak ® stimulated percentage germination, while PG and the control treatment improved seedling growth at different PEG and NaCl concentrations. Generally, high concentrations of PEG and NaCl brought about detrimental effects on seed germination and seedling growth. Findings from this study show the potential role of seed priming with biostimulants in the alleviation of abiotic stress conditions during seed germination and seedling growth in C. triloba plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Participatory variety selection (PVS) is a process that tests promising genotypes in farmers' fields through a close farmer–researcher collaboration approach, which enhances the acceptance of new varieties by farmers. However, limited studies have been conducted to select Amaranthus genotypes that have potential for future breeding programmes in South Africa. Therefore, this study was aimed at selecting Amaranthus genotype(s) that is/are preferred by farmers in northern KwaZulu-Natal, using the PVS approach. Seedlings of fifteen Amaranthus genotypes were each planted in separate 10 × 10 m plots. Fourteen local farmers managed these genotypes and also determined the preferred traits to be used to evaluate them. These traits were: mild taste; profuse stem branching; big and numerous leaves; soft texture; and longer shelf life. Plants at four months after transplant were then evaluated and ranked according to farmers' preferred traits using score sheets designed on a four-point Likert scale or five-point hedonic scale. However, genotype ACAT seed fair had the best scoring for appealing taste and aroma, and profuse branching. The TOT 8789 genotype had the largest and softest leaves. Again, A. thunbergii had the most numerous leaves of them all. These genotypes are thus recommended for multi-environment testing, seed multiplication, genetic improvement, and promotion for cultivation in South Africa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Steam blanching (in 5% lemon juice) retained the colour and quality of Solanum retroflexum Dun. • Hot water/steam blanching reduced the tannin, oxalate and phytate contents. • Hot water/ steam blanching increased the peak responses for steroidal saponins. • Three biomarkers were identified for the separation of the steam blanching. • Steam blanching preserved the functional compounds in Nightshade leaves. Not much information is available on the changes of phenolic metabolites or anti-nutritive compounds in African nightshade leaves during moist cooking. Blanching methods (boiling, microwave, and steaming) using 5–20% lemon juice was compared with the plain water as a control. Lemon juice at 20% significantly increased the total colour differences (ΔE). Chlorophyll content and the overall acceptance were highest for samples steamed in 5% lemon juice. Steam blanching in plain water reduced the tannin, oxalate and phytate contents but showed higher comparative peak responses for steroidal saponins. Neochlorogenic, chlorogenic, and caffeoylmalic acid, kaempferol O-rhamnosyl hexoside, and rutin were identified blanched leaves. Principle component analysis (PCA) discriminated between blanching treatments while Orthogonal Projections to Latent Structures Discriminant Analysis (OPLS-DA) showed clear group distinctions between the blanching treatments. Chlorogenic acid, neochlorogenic acid and cryptochlorogenic acid were the responsible biomarkers for the separation of the steam blanching treatments. Thus, steam blanching preserves the functional compounds in nightshade leaves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]