Barbarea Vulgaris Research Articles

The Main Pests Are Insects and Diseases of Agricultural Crops in the South of Kyrgyzstan

In the south of Kyrgyzstan, the largest areas are occupied by agrocenosis of vegetable, fruit, industrial, and grain crops. The article presents the main pests and pathogens of agricultural crops in the south of Kyrgyzstan. The purpose of the research is to identify the dominant pests and diseases of agricultural crops and to find effective biological measures to combat them in the conditions of southern Kyrgyzstan. In recent years, outbreaks of mass reproduction of tomato mining moth (Tuta absoluta (Meyrick, 1917)) on tomatoes, cherry slimy sawfly (Caliroa cerasi (Linnaeus, 1758)) and cherry fly (Rhagoletis cerasi (Linnaeus, 1758)) on cherries and cherries, Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineataSay), late blight (Phytophthora infestans (Mont.) de Bary) on potatoes, powdery mildew (Erysiphe cichoracearum f. cucurbitacearumPot.) on vegetables, corn moth (Ostrinia nubilalis Hübner, 1796), bread beetle (Zabrus tenebrioides (Goeze, 1777)) and bug (Eurygaster integriceps Puton, 1881) on cereals, mite (Tetranychus urticae), aphid (Aphidoidea) and cotton scooper (Helicoverpa armigera Hübner) on cotton, phytonomus (Phytonomus variabilis) on perennial grasses, winter scooper (Agrotis segetum (Denis et Schiffermüller) 1775), apple moth (Carpocapsa pomonella (Linnaeus, 1758)), apple moth (Hyponomeuta malinellus (Zeller, 1838)), unpaired silkworm (Lymantria dispar Linnaeus, 1758), curly leaves (Taphrina deformans (Berk.) Tul.), bacterial burn (Erwinia amylovora (Burrill, 1882) Winslow et al., 1920), scab (Venturia inaequalis (Cooke) G. Winter) and powdery mildew on fruit crops, epiphytotic rust diseases (Puccinia) of cereals, oatmeal (Avena fatua) and sunflowers (Barbarea vulgaris) on cereals. An overview of drugs used in crop protection systems is also given. Chemical pesticides still remain the main means of protecting agricultural crops from pests and diseases, in the future, the use of the latest technologies in plant protection, the introduction of new biological preparations into plant protection practice should be used.

Plant viruses in the system of seed potato production

Solanum tuberosum L. is susceptible to 40 different virus species and 2 viroids. To prevent plant viruses from spreading in field conditions, it is necessary to have reliable data on the species composition of plant reservoirs of viral infection, the total activity of insect vectors, and possible ways of virus transmission in a particular territory of seed material production. Attention should be paid to the factors that facilitate and hinder the disease development in crops and to disease symptoms in different potato varieties. Manifestations of viral infections were monitored on every plant from the sample at the stages of initial growth, bud formation, and flowering and before the removal of potato haulms. Insects were collected using standard entomological method. The total RNA was isolated employing commercial kits for the extraction of nucleic acids from plant material “PhytoSorb” (Syntol Llc) and the benchtop automated extraction instrument KingFisher Flex (ThermoScientific) with magnetic particles. Plant viral infection was observed to accumulate if potato planting material was not renewed. The tested potato plants contained mixed viral infection, which consisted of viruses from mosaic group: PVY, PVX, PVM, PVS PVA, as well as PSTVd and PLRV. Without the renewal of seed potatoes, the concentration of plant viruses in an agroecosystem rises and causes secondary infections in potato plants. The research identified the main insect-vectors in the agroecosystem of potato fields: insects from genera Cicadella, Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata, Dolycoris baccarum, Mythimna separata, Lygus pratensis, and Rhopalosiphum padi. Many wild weeds serve as fodder plants for insect vectors facilitating the accumulation of plant viruses in agroecosystems. It was established that perennial weeds were the main plant reservoirs of dangerous viral infections, e.g. Sonchus arvensis and Taraxacum officinale. We determined that Trifolium pratense typus L., Chenopodium album L., Plantago major L., Barbarea vulgaris W.T. Aiton, and Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. were the reservoirs of PVY. All these factors can lead to an epiphytotic situation.

Phytoalexins of the crucifer Barbarea vulgaris: Structural profile and correlation with glucosinolate turnover

Phytoalexins are antimicrobial plant metabolites elicited by microbial attack or abiotic stress. We investigated phytoalexin profiles after foliar abiotic elicitation in the crucifer Barbarea vulgaris and interactions with the glucosinolate-myrosinase system. The treatment for abiotic elicitation was a foliar spray with CuCl2 solution, a usual eliciting agent, and three independent experiments were carried out. Two genotypes of B. vulgaris (G-type and P-type) accumulated the same three major phytoalexins in rosette leaves after treatment: phenyl-containing nasturlexin D and indole-containing cyclonasturlexin and cyclobrassinin. Phytoalexin levels were investigated daily by UHPLC-QToF MS and tended to differ among plant types and individual phytoalexins. In roots, phytoalexins were low or not detected.In treated leaves, typical total phytoalexin levels were in the range 1–10 nmol/g fresh wt. during three days after treatment while typical total glucosinolate (GSL) levels were three orders of magnitude higher. Levels of some minor GSLs responded to the treatment: phenethylGSL (PE) and 4-substituted indole GSLs. Levels of PE, a suggested nasturlexin D precursor, were lower in treated plants than controls. Another suggested precursor GSL, 3-hydroxyPE, was not detected, suggesting PE hydrolysis to be a key biosynthetic step. Levels of 4-substituted indole GSLs differed markedly between treated and control plants in most experiments, but not in a consistent way.The dominant GSLs, glucobarbarins, are not believed to be phytoalexin precursors. We observed statistically significant linear correlations between total major phytoalexins and the glucobarbarin products barbarin and resedine, suggesting that GSL turnover for phytoalexin biosynthesis was unspecific. In contrast, we did not find correlations between total major phytoalexins and raphanusamic acid or total glucobarbarins and barbarin.In conclusion, two groups of phytoalexins were detected in B. vulgaris, apparently derived from the GSLs PE and indol-3-ylmethylGSL. Phytoalexin biosynthesis was accompanied by depletion of the precursor PE and by turnover of major non-precursor GSLs to resedine. This work paves the way for identifying and characterizing genes and enzymes in the biosyntheses of phytoalexins and resedine.

On the quantitative criteria of subspecies in insects. Case study of Entomoscelis adonidis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in European Russia and the Caucasus.

Many insect subspecies are described without a statistical assessment of differences. In this work, an attempt is made to statistically process the morphological differences of some recently described subspecies. In this regard, a taxonomic review of Entomoscelis adonidis (Pallas, 1771) (Coleoptera, Chrysomelidae) and related taxa described from European Russia and the Caucasus is presented. Statistical processing of numerous materials (782 specimens) from type localities of the nominal taxa adonidis, spuria Jacobson, 1896, caucasica Kippenberg, 2020, and bashkiriae Kippenberg, 2020, and their environs showed the presence of geographical variability in several characters, which, however, does not reach the level of species or subspecies. For subspecies, the classic "75 %" rule is applied. Therefore, all these specimens are considered to belong to the same species and subspecies. For nomenclature stability and to clarify the taxonomic position of closely related taxa, the neotype of Chrysomela adonidis Pallas is designated from the type locality; the neotype is in accordance with the currently used interpretation of E. adonidis adonidis. Besides that, the lectotype of Entomoscelis adonidis var. spuria Jacobson is designated. The paratypes of E. adonidis caucasica Kippenberg and E. dorsalis bashkiriae Kippenberg were studied. The following new synonyms are proposed: E. adonidis adonidis (Pallas, 1771) = E. adonidis caucasica Kippenberg, 2020 (syn. nov.) = E. dorsalis bashkiriae Kippenberg, 2020 (syn. nov.). The status of E. adonidis var. spuria Jacobson, 1896 as a junior synonym of E. adonidis adonidis is confirmed. The endophallus, particularly, flagellum of E. adonidis was studied for the first time. Several Brassicaceae species, namely Berteroa incana, Barbarea vulgaris, Sisymbrium officinale, Capsella bursa-pastoris, and Thlaspi arvense, as well as Adonis vernalis (Ranunculaceae) are confirmed as host plants of the adults of E. adonidis in cages.

Assemblage of Ceutorhynchinae Weevils Associated With Brassicaceae in Quebec (Canada) Agroecosystems.

Ceutorhynchinae Gistel (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are a highly diverse phytophagous group of weevils in which the most species rich genus, Ceutorhynchus Germar (Coleoptera: Curculionidae), is mainly associated with Brassicaceae. Some Ceutorhynchinae, such as the invasive cabbage seedpod weevil (CSW), Ceutorhynchus obstrictus (Marsham), are important pests of cultivated Brassicaceae, and others are natural enemies of weeds and potential biological control agents. This study aims to characterize Ceutorhynchinae assemblages in canola growing regions of Quebec. Ceutorhynchinae were sampled in areas adjacent to canola fields or other crops in six administrative regions of Quebec during the summers of 2019 and 2020. A total of 25 Ceutorhynchinae species were collected and identified. Canonical analysis and multivariate regression tree analysis revealed that the assemblage of Ceutorhynchinae varied regionally and was either dominated by the invasive canola pest CSW or by the native weevil Ceutorhynchus neglectus Blatchley. Our results also highlighted new biological associations between weevils and Brassicaceae like the CSW with the yellow rocket, Barbarea vulgaris R. Br., native Ceutorhynchus pauxillus Dietz with common pepper grass, Lepidium densiflorum, and native Ceutorhynchus semirufus LeConte with Pennsylvania bittercress, Cardamine pensylvanica Muhl. This study also provides a useful tool to find new biological control agents against Brassicaceae weeds and to monitor the abundance and diversity of this taxon and provide baseline data to assess future impacts of exotic parasitoids of CSW on native weevils.

Segetal vegetation in Matricaria recutita (l.) crops according to protection methods and its influence on growth dynamics and inflorescence formation

Aim. After all, the quality of medicinal raw materials, and subsequently the preparations made from them, directly depend on the number of weeds present in the crop. Currently, producers of agricultural products who cultivate medicinal plants, namely medicinal chamomile, are faced with such a question as the protection of medicinal crops from harmful organisms, especially weeds, during cultivation technology. The research was aimed at establishing the dependence of the growth dynamics of medicinal chamomile plants and the productivity of inflorescences on the degree of weediness of crops by segetal plants. Methods. The weed protection system included agrotechnical, chemical and integrated methods of control. Results. It was found that the most common weeds in the chamomile agrophytocenosis were Centaurea cyanus L., Polygonum patulum, Convolvulus arvensis L., Avena fatua, Echinochloa crus-galli L., Galinsoga parviflora Cav., Chenopodium album L., Galium aparine L., Raphanus raphanistrum L., Barbarea vulgaris R.Br. It was established that the use of the autumn sowing period of chamomile contributed to more effective suppression of weeds, since a certain number of weeds die in winter at low temperatures.The average weediness after harvesting the predecessor before preparing the field for sowing medicinal chamomile was 115–123 pcs./m2. Agrotechnical protection measures reduced the number of weeds to 42–50 pcs./m2, the use of herbicide, respectively – 17–18 pcs./m2, integrated protection – 12–15 pcs./m2. Conclusion. We have established that the Perlyna Lisostepu variety has significant resistance to weeds. As for the dependence of the growth dynamics and productivity of chamomile on the implementation of weed control measures, the combination of all measures, that is the use of only an integrated method, makes it possible to best deal with harmful plants namely to reduce their number on average over the years of research to 12 pcs./m2 and obtain a yield of 1.5 t/ha of raw mass of inflorescences.

Development of a quantification method for routine analysis of glucosinolates and camalexin in brassicaceous small-sized samples by simultaneous extraction prior to liquid chromatography determination

Glucosinolates and camalexin are secondary metabolites that, as phytoanticipins and phytoalexins, play a crucial role in plant defence. The present work proposes an improved analytical method for routine analysis and quantification of glucosinolates and camalexin in brassicaceous small-sized samples by using the very specific desulfation process of glucosinolates analysis and the specificity of fluorescence detection for camalexin analysis. The approach is based on a simultaneous ultrasound-assisted extraction followed by a purification on an anion-exchange column. Final analyses are conducted by HPLC-UV-MS for desulfo-glucosinolates and HPLC coupled to a fluorescence detector (HPLC-FLD) for camalexin. The method is linear for glucosinolates (50–3500 µM) and camalexin (0.025–5 µg.mL−1) with an LOD/LOQ of 3.8/12.6 µM and 0.014/0.046 µg.mL−1 respectively. The method demonstrated adequate precision, accuracy and trueness on certified reference rapeseed. A practical application of our approach was conducted on different Brassicaceae genera (Barbarea vulgaris, Brassica nigra, Capsella bursa-pastoris, Cardamine hirsuta, Coincya monensis, Sinapis arvensis, and Sisymbrium officinale) and Arabidopsis thaliana genotypes (Columbia and Wassilewskija). Futhermore, different plant organs (seeds and leaves) were analysed, previously inoculated or not with the pathogenic fungus Alternaria brassicicola.

Hybridization and complex evolution of Barbarea vulgaris and related species (Brassicaceae)

Barbarea, winter-cress, is a genus of 29 species in Brassicaceae, the mustard family, which has emerged as a model for evolution of plant defence and specialised metabolites. Notably, some Barbarea species have evolved the ability to produce triterpenoid saponins as the only ones in Brassicaceae, some of which make plants resistant to important herbivores. Resistance has, however, been lost in a distinct group of plants within B. vulgaris ssp. arcuata, which is genetically strongly diverged from other B. vulgaris plants. This divergence is not reflected present in taxonomy. Thus, a phylogeny is needed to understand evolution and defence in Barbarea. Here, we analysed the nuclear ITS and the plastid matK, ndhF, rps16, and psbA-trnH DNA regions from seven out of 29 Barbarea species, 57 accessions of B. vulgaris, 10 accessions of other Barbarea species, and eight outgroup species, in addition to sequences available from GenBank. All Barbarea species formed a highly supported monophyletic group, separated from sister genera. Several clades seem to have radiated within the genus with no simple branching pattern, and discordant nuclear and plastid DNA phylogenies indicate reticulate evolution and chloroplast capture. One of the complex patterns may have resulted from chloroplast capture of a non-Nordic Barbarea species not included in the study. Two pairs of species were almost identical, B. australis and B. grayi, and B. orthoceras and B. stricta. Despite hybridization, chloroplast capture, and incongruence among the plastid and nuclear DNA data, the high level of intraspecific diversity, coupled with lineage specificity, lead us to recognize three groups of Barbarea vulgaris: G-type (glabrous) and P-type (pubescent) individuals of the current B. vulgaris ssp. arcuata as two distinct groups and the current B. vulgaris ssp. vulgaris as the third. Despite the high molecular diversity below species level, the evolutionary history of the saponin-based resistance remains unsettled due to unresolved basal branching.

Prospects for habitat management to suppress vegetable pests in Australia

AbstractHabitat management is an ecologically based approach to suppress pest densities, utilising properties of non‐crop vegetation to improve the impact of natural enemies or to directly affect pest behaviour. Research in this approach has escalated dramatically this century, extending to uptake in some crops, but adoption in Australia has been lower than overseas. Here, we address the need of the Australian vegetable sector to reduce reliance on insecticides by assessing the scope for habitat management in brassica (Brassicaceae), lettuce (Lactuca sativa) (Asteraceae), capsicum (Capsicum annuum) (Solanaceae), carrot (Daucus carota) (Apiaceae), French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) (Fabaceae) and sweetcorn (Zea mays) (Poaceae) crops. Each crop is of major economic importance, and together, they represent contrasting botanical families and production systems that are associated with different arthropod complexes. We review studies of habitat management that are based on provision of shelter, nectar, alternative prey or pollen for natural enemies (top‐down effects) or changing pest behaviour (bottom‐up effects) through intercropping or trap crops. The likely utility of these approaches under Australian conditions is assessed, and recommendations are made to promote adoption and for adaptive research. Nectar‐ and pollen‐providing plants, such as alyssum (Lobularia maritima) (Brassicaceae), offer strong potential to promote natural enemies in multiple crops whilst trap crops, especially yellow rocket (Barbarea vulgaris) (Brassicaceae), have more targeted utility against diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), the most serious pest of brassicas. Opportunities for intercrops and banker plant species are also identified. Our recommendations serve as a platform for researchers and for farmer‐led studies to help realise the full potential of habitat management approaches in Australian vegetable production systems.

Cruciferous Weeds Do Not Act as Major Reservoirs of Inoculum for Black Rot Outbreaks in New York State.

Cruciferous weeds have been shown to harbor diverse Xanthomonas campestris pathovars, including the agronomically damaging black rot of cabbage pathogen, X. campestris pv. campestris. However, the importance of weeds as inoculum sources for X. campestris pv. campestris outbreaks in New York remains unknown. To determine if cruciferous weeds act as primary reservoirs for X. campestris pv. campestris, fields that were rotating between cabbage or had severe black rot outbreaks were chosen for evaluation. Over a consecutive 3-year period, 148 cruciferous and noncruciferous weed samples were collected at 34 unique sites located across five New York counties. Of the 148 weed samples analyzed, 48 X. campestris isolates were identified, with a subset characterized using multilocus sequence analysis. All X. campestris isolates originated from weeds belonging to the Brassicaceae family, with predominant weed hosts being shepherd's purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris), wild mustard (Sinapis arvensis), yellow rocket (Barbarea vulgaris), and pennycress (Thlaspi arvense). Identifying pathogenic X. campestris weed isolates was rare, with only eight isolates causing brown necrotic leaf spots or typical V-shaped lesions on cabbage. There was no evidence of cabbage-infecting weed isolates persisting in an infected field by overwintering in weed hosts; however, similar cabbage and weed X. campestris haplotypes were identified in the same field during an active black rot outbreak. X. campestris weed isolates are genetically diverse both within and between fields, but our findings indicate that X. campestris weed isolates do not appear to act as primary sources of inoculum for B. oleracea fields in New York.

Reciprocal mutations of two multifunctional β-amyrin synthases from Barbarea vulgaris shift α/β-amyrin ratios.

In the wild cruciferous wintercress (Barbarea vulgaris), β-amyrin-derived saponins are involved in resistance against insect herbivores like the major agricultural pest diamondback moth (Plutella xylostella). Enzymes belonging to the 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase family have been identified and characterized in B. vulgaris G-type and P-type plants that differ in their natural habitat, insect resistance and saponin content. Both G-type and P-type plants possess highly similar 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase enzymes that mainly produce β-amyrin (Barbarea vulgaris Lupeol synthase 5 G-Type; BvLUP5-G) or α-amyrin (Barbarea vulgaris Lupeol synthase 5 P-Type; BvLUP5-P), respectively. Despite the difference in product formation, the two BvLUP5 enzymes are 98% identical at the amino acid level. This provides a unique opportunity to investigate determinants of product formation, using the B. vulgaris 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase enzymes as a model for studying amino acid residues that determine differences in product formation. In this study, we identified two amino acid residues at position 121 and 735 that are responsible for the dominant changes in generated product ratios of β-amyrin and α-amyrin in both BvLUP5 enzymes. These amino acid residues have not previously been highlighted as directly involved in 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase product specificity. Our results highlight the functional diversity and promiscuity of 2,3-oxidosqualene cyclase enzymes. These enzymes serve as important mediators of metabolic plasticity throughout plant evolution.

Growth, root respiration and photosynthesis of a root-sprouting short-lived herb after severe biomass removal

The predominance of short-lived species in disturbed habitats supports the view that generative regeneration is an advantageous strategy under these conditions. However, there are short-lived species that survive the destruction of aboveground biomass and resprout from roots. Yet, there is only limited knowledge on the effect of injury on the plant growth of individuals regrowing from roots, and nearly no research has been conducted on the physiological regulation of root-sprouting.We experimentally tested the effect of total shoot biomass removal on the growth, root respiration and photosynthesis of the short-lived, root-sprouting herb Barbarea vulgaris (Brassicaceae) to assess the efficiency and importance of the root sprouting ability.Regenerating plants compensated for the loss of photosynthetic area by producing a higher number of leaves with higher SLA, but we did not observe compensatory photosynthesis, which could potentially counterbalance the loss of photosynthetic area and allow accelerated growth. The root respiration rate significantly decreased immediately after injury and then slightly and consequentially increased. The belowground biomass of the injured plants decreased by more than four times a month after the injury comparing to the biomass measured immediately after the disturbance. This result suggests the intensive consumption of reserves located in roots, although the root respiration values did not indicate it.Although we found physiological constraints that limited more vigorous resprouting, we conclude that the root-sprouting ability of short-lived species represents a useful strategy for population persistence in frequently disturbed habitats, in places lacking seed banks or when disturbances occur during less-than-suitable germination conditions.

Effects of a saponin-based insect resistance and a systemic pathogen resistance on field performance of the wild crucifer Barbarea vulgaris

Effects of a saponin-based insect resistance and a systemic pathogen resistance on field performance of the wild crucifer Barbarea vulgaris

Engineering and optimization of the 2-phenylethylglucosinolate production in Nicotiana benthamiana by combining biosynthetic genes from Barbarea vulgaris and Arabidopsis thaliana.

2-Phenylethylglucosinolate (2PE) derived from homophenylalanine is present in plants of the Brassicales order as a defense compound. It is associated with multiple biological properties, including deterrent effects on pests and antimicrobial and health-promoting functions, due to its hydrolysis product 2-phenylethyl isothiocyanate, which confers 2PE as a potential application in agriculture and industry. In this study, we characterized the putative key genes for 2PE biosynthesis from Barbarea vulgaris W.T. Aiton and demonstrated the feasibility of engineering 2PE production in Nicotiana benthamiana Domin. We used different combinations of genes from B. vulgaris and Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. to demonstrate that: (i) BvBCAT4 performed more efficiently than AtBCAT4 in biosynthesis of both homophenylalanine and dihomomethionine; (ii) MAM1 enzymes were critical for the chain-elongated profile, while CYP79F enzymes accepted both chain-elongated methionine and homophenylalanine; (iii) aliphatic but not aromatic core structure pathway catalyzed the 2PE biosynthesis; (iv) a chimeric pathway containing BvBCAT4, BvMAM1, AtIPMI and AtIPMDH1 resulted in a two-fold increase in 2PE production compared with the B. vulgaris-specific chain elongation pathway; and (v) profiles of chain-elongated products and glucosinolates partially mirrored the profiles in the gene donor plant, but were wider in N. benthamiana than in the native plants. Our study provides a strategy to produce the important homophenylalanine and 2PE in a heterologous host. Furthermore, chimeric engineering of the complex 2PE biosynthetic pathway enabled detailed understanding of catalytic properties of individual enzymes - a prerequisite for understanding biochemical evolution. The new-to-nature gene combinations have the potential for application in biotechnological and plant breeding.

Glucosinolate profiles and phylogeny in Barbarea compared to other tribe Cardamineae (Brassicaceae) and Reseda (Resedaceae), based on a library of ion trap HPLC-MS/MS data of reference desulfoglucosinolates

A library of ion trap MS2 spectra and HPLC retention times reported here allowed distinction in plants of at least 70 known glucosinolates (GSLs) and some additional proposed GSLs. We determined GSL profiles of selected members of the tribe Cardamineae (Brassicaceae) as well as Reseda (Resedaceae) used as outgroup in evolutionary studies. We included several accessions of each species and a range of organs, and paid attention to minor peaks and GSLs not detected. In this way, we obtained GSL profiles of Barbarea australis, Barbarea grayi, Planodes virginica selected for its apparent intermediacy between Barbarea and the remaining tribe and family, and Rorippa sylvestris and Nasturtium officinale, for which the presence of acyl derivatives of GSLs was previously untested. We also screened Armoracia rusticana, with a remarkably diverse GSL profile, the emerging model species Cardamine hirsuta, for which we discovered a GSL polymorphism, and Reseda luteola and Reseda odorata. The potential for aliphatic GSL biosynthesis in Barbarea vulgaris was of interest, and we subjected P-type and G-type B. vulgaris to several induction regimes in an attempt to induce aliphatic GSL. However, aliphatic GSLs were not detected in any of the B. vulgaris types. We characterized the investigated chemotypes phylogenetically, based on nuclear rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, in order to understand their relation to the species B. vulgaris in general, and found them to be representative of the species as it occurs in Europe, as far as documented in available ITS-sequence repositories. In short, we provide GSL profiles of a wide variety of tribe Cardamineae plants and conclude aliphatic GSLs to be absent or below our limit of detection in two major evolutionary lines of B. vulgaris. Concerning analytical chemistry, we conclude that availability of authentic reference compounds or reference materials is critical for reliable GSL analysis and characterize two publicly available reference materials: seeds of P. virginica and N. officinale.

Viruses in the agrobiocenosis of the potato fields

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the most popular crops in the world. About 40 phytopathogenic viruses have been identified on potato in various countries and regions with various natural and climatic conditions. The situation is compounded by the fact that many viral infections persist and accumulate in wild and weedy plants. The viruses spread speed depends on the transmission method, the quickest virus transmission method being flying insects. We have identified 27 species of wild weeds from 13 botanical families. PLRV potato virus (potato leaf roll virus) and PVY (potato virus Y) were detected on the perennial sow thistle (Sonchus arvensis). On the wild camomile (Tripleurospermum inodorum) - PVS (potato virus S), belonging to the Flexiviriadae family, genus Carlavirus. The PVY virus was found on meadow clover (Trifolium pratense typus L.), wild spin (Chenopodium album L.), dooryard plantain (Plantago major L.), upland cress (Barbarea vulgaris W.T.Aiton), ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia L). Potato mosaic group viruses were detected by PCR method in Lygus pratensis and Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata. Thus, it was identified a pathobiocenosis that includes pathogens – PVY, PVS, PLRV, vectors – Lygus pratensis and Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata and susceptible to infection organisms, which are wild weeds – Sonchus arvensis and Tripleurospermum inodorum, Trifolium pratense typus, Chenopodium album, Plantago major, Barbarea vulgaris, ambrosia artemisiifolia are virus reservoirs.

Innate preference hierarchies coupled with adult experience, rather than larval imprinting or transgenerational acclimation, determine host plant use in Pieris rapae.

The evolution of host range drives diversification in phytophagous insects, and understanding the female oviposition choices is pivotal for understanding host specialization. One controversial mechanism for female host choice is Hopkins’ host selection principle, where females are predicted to increase their preference for the host species they were feeding upon as larvae. A recent hypothesis posits that such larval imprinting is especially adaptive in combination with anticipatory transgenerational acclimation, so that females both allocate and adapt their offspring to their future host. We study the butterfly Pieris rapae, for which previous evidence suggests that females prefer to oviposit on host individuals of similar nitrogen content as the plant they were feeding upon as larvae, and where the offspring show higher performance on the mother's host type. We test the hypothesis that larval experience and anticipatory transgenerational effects influence female host plant acceptance (no‐choice) and preference (choice) of two host plant species (Barbarea vulgaris and Berteroa incana) of varying nitrogen content. We then test the offspring performance on these hosts. We found no evidence of larval imprinting affecting female decision‐making during oviposition, but that an adult female experience of egg laying in no‐choice trials on the less‐preferred host Be. incana slightly increased the P. rapae propensity to oviposit on Be. incana in subsequent choice trials. We found no transgenerational effects on female host acceptance or preference, but negative transgenerational effects on larval performance, because the offspring of P. rapae females that had developed on Be. incana as larvae grew slower on both hosts, and especially on Be. incana. Our results suggest that among host species, preferences are guided by hard‐wired preference hierarchies linked to species‐specific host traits and less affected by larval experience or transgenerational effects, which may be more important for females evaluating different host individuals of the same species.

Chemical defence in Brassicaceae against pollen beetles revealed by metabolomics and flower bud manipulation approaches.

Divergence of chemical plant defence mechanisms within the Brassicaceae can be utilized to identify means against specialized pest insects. Using a bioassay-driven approach, we (a) screened 24 different Brassica napus cultivars, B. napus resyntheses and related brassicaceous species for natural plant resistance against feeding adults of the pollen beetle (Brassicogethes aeneus), (b) tested for gender-specific feeding resistance, (c) analysed the flower bud metabolomes by a non-targeted approach and (d) tested single candidate compounds for their antifeedant activity. (a) In no-choice assays, beetles were allowed to feed on intact plants. Reduced feeding activity was mainly observed on Sinapis alba and Barbarea vulgaris but not on B. napus cultivars. (b) Males fed less and discriminated more in feeding than females. (c) Correlation of the metabolite abundances with the beetles' feeding activity revealed several glucosinolates, phenylpropanoids, flavonoids and saponins as potential antifeedants. (d) These were tested in dual-bud-choice assays developed for medium-throughput compound screening. Application of standard compounds on single oilseed rape flower buds revealed highly deterrent effects of glucobarbarin, oleanolic acid and hederagenin. These results help to understand chemical plant defence in the Brassicaceae and are of key importance for further breeding strategies for insect-resistant oilseed rape cultivars.

Diamondback Moth Larvae Trigger Host Plant Volatiles that Lure Its Adult Females for Oviposition.

Simple SummaryThe diamondback moth is a serious pest of crucifer crops. To control this pest, the use of intercropping (such as trap crops) is gaining attention since they are ecologically safe. However, such approaches require an understanding host plants which are most attractive to the pest. In this study, we quantified different volatiles released by Barbarea vulgaris in response to the diamondback moth larval feeding. We investigated olfactory responses of the adult diamondback moth to natural and simulated volatiles released by infested plants. We also investigated how volatile effects changed in response to larval feeding treatments. Overall, our findings indicated the relationship between key volatile compound, host plant cues emission and regulation of the diamondback moth adult female behavior due to key volatile triggered by the diamondback moth larvae feeding on B. vulgaris.The diamondback moth (DBM) is a destructive pest of crucifer crops. In this study, DBM larvae shown to herbivore induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) that were attractive to adult females exposed in a Y-tube olfactometer. Our results showed that olfactory responses of adult females to HIPVs induced by third instar larvae feeding on Barbarea vulgaris were significantly higher (20.40 ± 1.78; mean moths (%) ± SD) than those induced by first instar larvae (14.80 ± 1.86; mean moths (%) ± SD). Meanwhile, a significant concentration of Sulphur-containing isothiocyanate, 3-methylsulfinylpropyl isothiocyanate, and 4-methylsulfinyl-3-butenyl isothiocyanate were detected in HIPVs released by third instar larvae compared to those released by first instar larvae while feeding on B. vulgaris. When the DBM females were exposed to synthetic chemicals, singly and in blend form, a similar response was observed as to natural HIPVs. Our study demonstrated that the relationship between isothiocyanates acting as plant defense compounds, host plant cues emission and regulation of the DBM adult female behavior due to key volatile triggered by the DBM larvae feeding on B. vulgaris.

Bazı Barbarea (Brassicaceae) Taksonlarının Tohum Morfolojisi

The seed macro- and micromorphologies of four taxa (Barbarea auriculata Hausskn. ex Bornm. var. auriculata, Barbarea trichopoda Hausskn. ex Bornm., Barbarea verna (Mill.) Asch. and Barbarea vulgaris R. Br. subsp. vulgaris) belonging to Barbarea R. Br. were investigated with scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Significance of seed features as taxonomic characters including seed color, shape, winged, measures, seed coat pattern were determined. Two coat patterns were observed; irregularly-reticulate and tuberculate-reticulate, and three shapes were distinguished; broadly oblong, oblong and broadly elliptic. The results showed that the morphological characteristics of seed could be contribute as criteria to distinguish taxa. This is the first SEM study about seed surface of any Barbarea taxa.