Brassica Nigra Research Articles

Effect of Spacing and Planting Time on Growth, Yield and Yield Components of Mustard (Brassica nigra L.) Cultivar in Unwana, Ebonyi State, Nigeria

A field experiment was conducted at the Department of Horticulture and Landscape Technology teaching and research farm during 2022 cropping season, to investigate the effect of spacing and planting time on the growth, yield and yield components of mustard in Unwana agro-ecology of Southeastern Nigeria. Two (2) planting time and six (6) plant spacings were evaluated in a split-plot fitted in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with three (3) replications. The factor A was time of planting (March and August), which occupied the main plot while factor B which was plant spacing (20x15cm, 30x15cm, 40x15cm, 50x15cm, 60x15cm and 70x15cm) occupied the sub-plots. Data were collected on plant height, leaf number, total yield, straw yield, oil yield and oil content at harvest. Result obtained showed that the growth, yield and yield components of mustard were significantly (P˂0.05) improved by time of planting and plant spacing used. March time of planting increased seed yield and yield components seed yield (102.90gha-1), straw yield (25.97gha-1), oil yield (654.10kg/ha), and oil content (41.56%) than August planting time (39.40gha-1, 20.93gha-1, 477.50kg/ha and 39.02% seed yield, straw yield, oil yield and oil content, respectively. On the other hand, result revealed that the plot planted with 20x15 plant spacing significantly increased the plant height and leaf number (18.98cm and 16.62) at 4WAP, respectively with the corresponding total yield (103.20gha-1) than other plant spacing used. The result showed that it was more productive to grow mustard at closer spacing (20x15cm) as depicted by the yield and yield components advantages.

Evidence of true seed transmissible nature of turnip mosaic virus in mustard species

Mustard is a commercial oilseed crop worldwide infected by a highly infectious turnip mosaic virus (TuMV). In the experimental field at ICAR-IARI, New Delhi, in 2022, a 100% incidence of TuMV infection was observed in brown, black and yellow mustard. A very low aphid population suggested the possibility of seed transmission. Earlier, the virus genome was characterized by high throughput sequencing and it was a recombinant of World-B and Asian-BR isolates. The presence of TuMV in immature seeds was confirmed in eight field-grown genotypes via RT-PCR using CP-specific primers designed from the same genome sequence. TuMV was found to be localized in embryo and cotyledon, indicating its true seed-borne nature. Presence of TuMV was also confirmed by RT-PCR in the grow out plants from seeds of field grown eight infected genotypes and 9 genotypes collected from seed stock, that were grown in an aphid-free growth chamber. Further, out of 24 seedlings of Pusa Gold (seed stock) and Pusa Karishma (seeds from field grown plants), 20 and 17 seedlings were found infected with TuMV, respectively. The internally seed-borne nature of the virus leads to its early establishment at the seedling stage, leading to stunting and leaf-puckering symptoms in the progeny plants. This study is the first evidence of seed embryo infection and seedling transmission of TuMV of all the three species of mustard plants (brown, black and yellow mustard). Seed transmission of TuMV in mustard genotypes have implications for the seed exchange programme of mustard seeds.

Butterfly eggs prime anti-herbivore defense in an annual but not perennial Arabidopsis species

Main conclusionUnlike Arabidopsis thaliana, defenses of Arabidopsis lyrata against Pieris brassicae larval feeding are not primable by P. brassicae eggs. Thus, egg primability of plant anti-herbivore defenses is not phylogenetically conserved in the genus Arabidopsis.While plant anti-herbivore defenses of the annual species Arabidopsis thaliana were shown to be primable by Pieris brassicae eggs, the primability of the phylogenetically closely related perennial Arabidopsis lyrata has not yet been investigated. Previous studies revealed that closely related wild Brassicaceae plant species, the annual Brassica nigra and the perennial B. oleracea, exhibit an egg-primable defense trait, even though they have different life spans. Here, we tested whether P. brassicae eggs prime anti-herbivore defenses of the perennial A. lyrata. We exposed A. lyrata to P. brassicae eggs and larval feeding and assessed their primability by (i) determining the biomass of P. brassicae larvae after feeding on plants with and without prior P. brassicae egg deposition and (ii) investigating the plant transcriptomic response after egg deposition and/or larval feeding. For comparison, these studies were also conducted with A. thaliana. Consistent with previous findings, A. thaliana’s response to prior P. brassicae egg deposition negatively affected conspecific larvae feeding upon A. thaliana. However, this was not observed in A. lyrata. Arabidopsis thaliana responded to P. brassicae eggs with strong transcriptional reprogramming, whereas A. lyrata responses to eggs were negligible. In response to larval feeding, A. lyrata exhibited a greater transcriptome change compared to A. thaliana. Among the strongly feeding-induced A. lyrata genes were those that are egg-primed in feeding-induced A. thaliana, i.e., CAX3, PR1, PR5, and PDF1.4. These results suggest that A. lyrata has evolved a robust feeding response that is independent from prior egg exposure.

Toxicity Assessment of Tannery Sludge Extract During Early Seedling Growth in Brassica nigra, Vigna radiata, Vigna mungo, Raphanus sativus and Capsicum frutescens

Tannery sludge (TS) contains a number of useful components like Organic carbon, Organic Matter, PO43-, Ca2+, Mg2+, and other nutrients essential for plant growth. However, presence of water-soluble toxic metals in TS may cause phytotoxicity. Primary objective of this work was to adopt a bio-chemical strategy for assessing the potential consequences of agricultural application of tannery sludge, via sludge characterization and subsequent bioassay investigations. Heavy metal concentration in the TS was found to be in the order of: Cr (19576±2065.52) > Pb (16.98±2.54) > Cu (1.76±0.20) > Ni (0.98±0.00) > Cd (0.19±0.00) mg kg-1. Further, bioassay tests were performed in terms of germination index (GI), relative seed germination (RSG) and relative root growth (RRG) on Brassica nigra, Vigna radiata, Vigna mungo, Raphanus sativus, and Capsicum frutescens. RSG and RRG were found to be more than 80% whereas, GI was > 66% in all the tested crops exposed to TS extract at 1:5 and 1:10 (w/v) dilutions. Results revealed that the toxicants present in the TS were failed to cause toxicity at early seedling growth and may be used as a soil conditioner after appropriate dilution. However, long term field trails are essential before agricultural utilization.

Diastereomeric pure pyrazolyl-indolyl dihydrofurans: Unveiling isomeric selectivity in antibacterial action via in vitro and in silico insights

Developing pure diastereoisomeric molecular hybrids for the selective inhibition of bacterial growth opened new avenues for combating the ever-increasing microbial resistance. Considering this, a series of diastereoisomeric pure pyrazolyl-dihydrofurans (7a-7y) were synthesized and characterized using NMR, LCMS, and X-ray crystallography. DFT based method was used to explore the configurational stability of cis over trans isomeric form. Considering 7a and 8a as representative isomeric forms with same structural framework, the difference in their bio-efficacy against bacterial and fungal strains was assessed using serial dilution method. The relatively high inhibition of bacterial growth by the cis isomeric form (7a) (MIC = 1.562 µg/mL), amoxicillin (MIC = 3.125 µg/mL) inspired us to broaden the substrate scope for synthesizing a series of pure diastereoisomeric cis forms as selective anti-bacterial agents. However, both the isomers displayed antifungal activity less than the standard drug (Fluconazole) employed in the study. All the reactions proceeded smoothly and yielded a diverse array of dihydrofuran derivatives. The developed synthetics were found to be non-cytotoxic against mouse fibroblast cells and didn’t affect the seed germination of Brassica nigra seeds when treated at a concentration of 1 mg/mL. The experimentally determined in vitro results were further validated using in silico molecular docking and dynamics studies.

An investigation into the performance and perikinetics of Brassica nigra meal in the treatment of real vegetable oil refinery condensate effluent.

In this study, the treatment of vegetable oil refinery plant condensate effluent (VORCE) having high total suspended solids (TSS) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) generated from acid oil unit was focused. The utilization of waste Brassica nigra meal (BNM) as protein flocculant in treating VORCE was explored. The B. nigra meal flocculant (BNMF) exhibited a crystalline nature, with the presence of amino and carboxyl functional groups, rendering it highly efficient (89.69% efficiency) in floc formation. Zeta potential and particle size (-5.6mV and 240.68 nm, respectively) indicate BNMF's effectiveness in initiating floc formation. The interactive effects of pH, dosage, settling time on COD, and TSS removal were investigated using the Box-Behnken design. At an optimal pH of 6.9 and BNMF dosage of 0.77 g/L, a maximum removal of 85.38% COD and 72.56% TSS was obtained. The perikinetic theory for the coagulation-flocculation followed a second-order rate reaction with high Kc (0.0001 L/mg min), low settling time (37.04 min), and high collision efficiency (2.703 × 1017), indicating the model's significance in achieving maximum COD and TSS removal. These findings highlight the potential use of BNMF in the treatment of VORCE, leading to circular economy by valorizing waste from mustard oil extraction and zero discharge. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Valorization of waste Brassica nigra meal (BNM) as a potent protein flocculant Optimization for vegetable oil refinery condensate effluent (VORCE) treatment was done. Interactive effects of the process parameters were analyzed using Design expert. Perikinetic theory for VORCE treatment follows second-order reaction rate with high Kc.

Herbivore kairomones affect germination speed, seedling growth, and herbivory.

Seeds and seedlings are particularly vulnerable to herbivory. Unlike mature plants, which can wait until herbivory is experienced to induce defense, seeds and seedlings face mortality if they wait. Slug mucus functions as a kairomone, a non-attack-related substance emitted by consumers that is detected by a prey species (in this case, plants). While snail mucus has been shown to induce defense in seedlings, it is not widely confirmed whether slugs have the same effect and whether seeds can also detect and react to such herbivore cues. We investigated how exposure to Arion subfuscus mucus affected growth and defense in Brassica nigra seeds and seedlings. Seeds exposed to slug mucus germinated 5% faster than control (water only) seeds, but the resulting seedlings weighed 16% less than control seedlings. To test whether this difference results from herbivore-exposed plants allocating energy from growth to defense, we conducted choice bioassays assessing slug preference for control seedlings versus seedlings that were either (A) exposed to mucus only as a seed; or (B) exposed to mucus as a seed and seedling. While slugs did not differentiate between control seedlings and ones exposed to herbivore cues only as a seed, they ate 88% less biomass of seedlings exposed to mucus as both seeds and seedlings. These results suggest that slug mucus induces changes in plant traits related to defense and growth/competitive ability. Future research should determine the chemical mechanisms of this induced defense.

High photosynthesis rates in Brassiceae species are mediated by leaf anatomy enabling high biochemical capacity, rapid CO2 diffusion and efficient light use.

Certain species in the Brassicaceae family exhibit high photosynthesis rates, potentially providing a valuable route toward improving agricultural productivity. However, factors contributing to their high photosynthesis rates are still unknown. We compared Hirschfeldia incana, Brassica nigra, Brassica rapa and Arabidopsis thaliana, grown under two contrasting light intensities. Hirschfeldia incana matched B. nigra and B. rapa in achieving very high photosynthesis rates under high growth-light condition, outperforming A. thaliana. Photosynthesis was relatively more limited by maximum photosynthesis capacity in H. incana and B. rapa and by mesophyll conductance in A. thaliana and B. nigra. Leaf traits such as greater exposed mesophyll specific surface enabled by thicker leaf or high-density small palisade cells contributed to the variation in mesophyll conductance among the species. The species exhibited contrasting leaf construction strategies and acclimation responses to low light intensity. High-light plants distributed Chl deeper in leaf tissue, ensuring even distribution of photosynthesis capacity, unlike low-light plants. Leaf anatomy of H. incana, B. nigra and B. rapa facilitated effective CO2 diffusion, efficient light use and provided ample volume for their high maximum photosynthetic capacity, indicating that a combination of adaptations is required to increase CO2-assimilation rates in plants.

Foraging of Honeybees from Different Ecological Areas Determined through Melissopalynological Analysis and DNA Metabarcoding.

The environment significantly impacts the lives of bees and their feeding. This study aimed to investigate bee foraging using melissopalynological analysis and DNA metabarcoding in intensive farming, reserved, and urbanized areas. The highest alpha diversity was observed in the reserved and intensive farming areas. The urbanized area had less diversity. In the intensive farming area, Sinapis, Helianthus, and Fagopyrum predominated; in the reserved area, Melilotus, Helianthus, and Brassica predominated. In the urbanized area, garden plants, namely radish (Raphanus sativus) and cucumber (Cucumis hystrix), and agricultural plants, namely soybean (Glycine max) and melon (Cucumis melo), were often found. The most significant agreement was between the rbcL and the melissopalynological analysis. The ITS2 revealed equal matches with both rbcL and melissopalynology, but this marker missed or underestimated some genera. Trifolium pretense and Brassica nigra were identified simultaneously by the melissopalinology method and two genetic markers in DNA metabarcoding. The species Convolvulus arvensis, Melilotus officinalis, Echium vulgare, Brassica rapa, Helianthus divaricatus, and Onobrychis viciifolia were found in all ecological areas. Imperfect databases impose some limits in the identification of some taxa using metabarcoding. The further research and expansion of plant databases is needed. Studying the food preferences of bees in different environmental conditions and landscapes is necessary to develop measures to preserve their populations.

Anti-aging effect of mustard and flax seed oils based nanoemulsion gel on aged rat skin through antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity

Skin aging is a common issue that is linked to changes in skin physiology, hydration, and barrier function. Dietary fatty acids (FA), particularly poly-unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA), can influence skin characteristics. It is reported that a deficiency of fatty acids in the skin is associated with skin aging. Therefore, the goal of the current study is to evaluate the antiaging effect of flaxseed oil or mustard oil-based nanoemulsion gel rich in fatty acids such as omega 3 on D-galactose-induced skin aging. N-hexane was used to extract the oils of black mustard and flax seed from their seeds, and the oils' fatty acid composition was then determined. A full factorial design was created to assess the impact of three variables: oil type, oil concentration, and S:Cos ratio, on various responses: globule size, zeta potential, and emulsification time of the self-nanoemulsifying system. Additionally, the polydispersity index, transmittance percentage, refractive index, cloud point, and viscosity were also estimated. TEM of the optimized formulations revealed a spherical form of oil globules with nanosize. The values for the zeta potential ranged from -12 to -34.2 mV. The optimized formulations were incorporated into a hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose solution to form a nanoemulsion gel. Skin aging was induced using the D-galactose model, and the impact of topical skin application of the optimized formulation gels on different biomarkers such as amino acids, B5, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory mediators and histopathological examination was evaluated. The results showed a considerable improvement in the evaluated parameters of the treated groups when compared to the untreated D-galactose group. The findings suggest that the nanoemulsifying system utilizing high doses of fixed plant oils could serve as a promising vehicle for enhancing skin rejuvenation. Flaxseed oil formulation showed greater potential compared to mustard oil formulation as skin antiaging.

Dual nematode infection in Brassica nigra affects shoot metabolome and aphid survival in distinct contrast to single-species infection.

Previous studies showed that aphid performance was compromised on Brassica nigra infected by root-lesion nematodes (Pratylenchus penetrans, Pp), but less, or positively influenced by root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne spp., Mi) infection. These experiments were on single-nematode infections, while naturally, roots are infected with several nematode species simultaneously. We performed greenhouse assays to assess the effects of single (Mi, Pp) and concurrent (MP)-nematode infections on aphid performance. Using targeted and untargeted profiling of leaf and phloem metabolomes, we examined how single- and concurrent-nematode infections affect shoot metabolomes, and elucidated the possible consequences on aphid performance. We found that the metabolic response towards double-infection is different from single-species infections. Moreover, Mi- and Pp-infections triggered discrete changes in B. nigra leaf and phloem metabolic profiles. Both Pp and MP-infections reduced aphid survival, suggesting that the biological effect could primarily be dominated by Pp-induced changes. This concurred with increased indole glucosinolates and hydroxycinnamic acid levels in the leaves, in particular the putative involvement of salicylic acid-2-O-β-D-glucoside. This study provides evidence that concurrent infection by different nematode species, as is common in natural environments, is associated with distinct changes in aboveground plant metabolomes, which are linked to differences in the survival of an aboveground herbivore.

Evaluation of antifungal activities of some Indian dietary spices against pathogenic Rhizopus arrhizus and Rhizopus stolonifer

Rhizopus arrhizus and Rhizopus stolonifer are pathogenic fungi responsible for causing ‘soft rot’ disease in fruits and vegetables, as well as life-threatening ‘mucormycosis’ in animals and humans, especially immunocompromised hosts. The use of synthetic fungicides and chemical preservatives to inhibit microbes is being challenged due to their toxic effects on human health and the environment. This has prompted researchers to investigate novel antimicrobials that are natural and safe. Current study aimed to evaluate the antifungal activities of essential oils (EOs), powdered (PWD) forms, and water extracts (WEs) of ten Indian dietary spices (Allium sativum (Als), Brassica nigra (Brn), Cinnamomum zeylanicum (Ciz), Cuminum cyminum (Cuc), Curcuma longa (Cul), Mentha piperita (Mep), Ocimum sanctum (Ocs), Syzygium aromaticum (Sya), Trigonella foenum-graecum (Trf), and Zingiber officinale (Zio)) against R. arrhizus (NCIM877) and R. stolonifer (NCIM1139). Spice agar method was used for investigating antifungal potential of PWD spices. Impregnated paper disc method and broth dilution technique were followed for screening the antifungal activities of EOs and WEs. Results revealed that EOs of six spices (Als, Brn, Ciz, Cuc, Mep, Sya), and PWD forms of four spices (Brn, Ciz, Cuc, Sya) inhibited the growth of both fungi in culture media, effectively. WEs of all ten spices remained ineffective in arresting the growth of tested fungal strains. R. stolonifer was found more sensitive compared to R. arrhizus towards tested substances. Based on these findings, further in vivo studies on PWD forms of Ccb, Ccm, and Sya and EOs of Als, Brn, Ccb, Ccm, Mep, Ocs and Sya may establish spices as ‘botanical antimicrobials’ to prolong the shelf life of valuable horticultural crops by arresting the growth of R. arrhizus and R. stolonifer.

Brassicaceae Mustards: Phytochemical Constituents, Pharmacological Effects, and Mechanisms of Action against Human Disease.

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

Cross-species transcriptomics reveals differential regulation of essential photosynthesis genes in Hirschfeldia incana.

Photosynthesis is the only yield-related trait not yet substantially improved by plant breeding. Previously, we have established H. incana as the model plant for high photosynthetic light-use efficiency (LUE). Now we aim to unravel the genetic basis of this trait in H. incana, potentially contributing to the improvement of photosynthetic LUE in other species. Here, we compare its transcriptomic response to high light with that of Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica rapa, and Brassica nigra, 3 fellow Brassicaceae members with lower photosynthetic LUE. We built a high-light, high-uniformity growing environment, in which the plants developed normally without signs of stress. We compared gene expression in contrasting light conditions across species, utilizing a panproteome to identify orthologous proteins. In-depth analysis of 3 key photosynthetic pathways showed a general trend of lower gene expression under high-light conditions for all 4 species. However, several photosynthesis-related genes in H. incana break this trend. We observed cases of constitutive higher expression (like antenna protein LHCB8), treatment-dependent differential expression (as for PSBE), and cumulative higher expression through simultaneous expression of multiple gene copies (like LHCA6). Thus, H. incana shows differential regulation of essential photosynthesis genes, with the light-harvesting complex as the first point of deviation. The effect of these expression differences on protein abundance and turnover, and ultimately the high photosynthetic LUE phenotype is relevant for further investigation. Furthermore, this transcriptomic resource of plants fully grown under, rather than briefly exposed to, a very high irradiance, will support the development of highly efficient photosynthesis in crops.

Molecular characterization and expression patterns of MTP genes under heavy metal stress in mustard (Brassica juncea L.)

Members of the Metal Tolerance Protein (MTP) family are critical in mediating the transport and tolerance of divalent metal cations. Despite their significance, the understanding of MTP genes in mustard (Brassica juncea) remains limited, especially regarding their response to heavy metal (HM) stress. In our study, we identified MTP gene sets in Brassica rapa (17 genes), Brassica nigra (18 genes), and B. juncea (33 genes) using the HMMER (Cation_efflux; PF01545) and BLAST analysis. For the 33 BjMTPs, a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis covering the physicochemical properties, phylogenetic relationships, conserved motifs, protein structures, collinearity, spatiotemporal RNA-seq expression, GO enrichment, and expression profiling under six HM stresses (Mn2+, Fe2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, Sb3+, and Pb2+) were carried out. According to the findings of physicochemical characteristics, phylogenetic tree, and collinearity, the allopolyploid B. juncea’s MTP genes were inherited from its progenitors, B. rapa and B. nigra, with minimal gene loss during polyploidization. Members of the BjMTP family exhibited conserved motifs, promoter elements, and expression patterns across subgroups, consistent with the seven evolutionary branches (G1, G4–G9, and G12) of the MTPs. Further, spatiotemporal expression profiling under HM stresses successfully identified specific genes and crucial cis-regulatory elements associated with the response of BjMTPs to HM stresses. These findings may contribute to the genetic improvement of B. juncea for enhanced HM tolerance, facilitating the remediation of HM-contaminated areas.

Unraveling biological disparities in configurational isomers of pyrazolyl-dihydrofurans using in vitro, DFT and in silico approach

The biological disparities in the high activity of one isomeric form over another have attracted significant interest from medicinal chemists and opened new avenues for synthesizing pure diastereoisomeric drugs.A series of diastereoisomeric pure pyrazolyl-dihydrofurans (6a-6ae) were synthesized in good to excellent yields, and their structures were determined using NMR, LCMS and X-ray crystallography. The difference in the stability of cis and trans isomers has been established using DFT-based studies. Using the serial dilution method, the developed synthetics were evaluated for their bio-efficacy against bacterial and fungal strains. The cytotoxicity was evaluated against mouse fibroblast cells as well as using the seed germination method.All the reactions proceeded smoothly and resulted into cis as the significant isomer; the stability over trans isomer has been established using DFT-based computational studies. Considering 6a and 7a as prototype, the difference in their biological response has been evaluated through in vitro anti-microbial assay. A significant difference in the biological activity has been observed, as the cis isomer (6a) has been found to be more potent over its respective trans isomer (7a) in bacterial assay. As far as the fungal response is concerned, no difference in their biological activity has been observed. The investigated compounds are non-cytotoxic against mouse fibroblast cells and Brassica nigra seeds. The experimentally determined in vitro results have been established using in silico studies.The cis isomer (6a) with an MIC of 3.25 µg/mL has been found to be more potent than the respective trans (7a) form (MIC = 6.25–12.5 µg/mL) when evaluated against different gram positive and negative strains utilized in the present study. However, no disparity in their biological response has been observed in fungal studies.

Modelling of the above-ground biomass and ecological composition of semi-natural grasslands on the strenght of remote sensing data and machine learning algorithms

Semi-natural grasslands represent a vital source of forage and fodder for livestock farming, fulfilling an essential ecological function.This study upholded the efficacy of Sentinel-2 time series data in conjunction with ground data on aboveground biomass (AGB), ecological composition, and floristic composition for the development of a prediction model to determine AGB yield and species distribution in a semi-natural grassland. Two machine learning (ML) approaches, namely K-means clustering, and Random Forest (RF) classification were employed in a semi-natural grassland in Southern Europe. The study was subjected to a qualitative ground survey that identified two main groups. The first group (Cluster 1) was composed of nitrophilous species or nitrophilous species combined with xerophilous species and some hygrophilous species.The second group, on the other hand, consisted of only hygrophilous species or hygrophilous species associated with Ranunculus acris, Bromus hordeaceus, Brassica nigra, Lolium perenne and Trifolium sp. (Cluster 2).Using the above-mentioned algorithms, the study identified thetwo distinctive areas based on AGB estimates in the period beginning in March (vegetative growth) and extending to the first half of May. The R2 value for K-means classification was 0.59, with a root mean square error (RMSE) value of 1 t ha−1.The R2 value for the RF classification was 0.69, with an RMSE value of 0.59 t ha−1. The integration of ground-based data and ML classification techniques enables the generation of accurate, dynamic information on grassland, core attributes that play an integral role in sustainable ecosystem management and conservation.

Genome-wide identification of SIMILAR to RCD ONE (SRO) gene family in rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) reveals their role in drought stress response

ABSTRACT Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is an important oilseed crop widely cultivated worldwide, and drought is the main environmental factor limiting its yield enhancement and the expansion of planted areas. SIMILAR TO RCD ONE (SRO) is a plant-specific small gene family that plays a crucial role in plant growth, development, and responses to abiotic stresses such as drought. However, the functional role of SROs in rapeseed remains poorly understood. In this study, 19 BnaSROs were identified from the rapeseed genome, with 9, 10, 10, 18, and 20 members identified from the genomes of Brassica rapa, Brassica nigra, Brassica oleracea, Brassica juncea, and Brassica carinata, respectively. We then analyzed their sequence characteristics, phylogenetic relationships, gene structures, and conserved domains, and explored the collinearity relationships of the SRO members in Brassica napus and Brassica juncea. Next, we focused on the analysis of tissue expression and stress-responsive expression patterns of rapeseed SRO members and examined their expression profiles under ABA, MeJA and water-deficit drought treatments using qPCR. Transcriptome data analysis and qPCR detection indicated that BnaSROs exhibit multiple stress-responsive expression patterns. BnaSRO1 and BnaSRO11, which are likely to function through interactions with NAC transcription factors, were screened as major drought-regulated members. Our results provide a solid foundation for functional analysis of the role of the SRO gene family in abiotic stress responses, especially drought stress responses, in rapeseed.

Comprehensive genome-wide identification of Snf2 gene family and their expression profile under salt stress in six Brassica species of U's triangle model.

We comprehensively identified and analyzed the Snf2 gene family. Some Snf2 genes were involved in responding to salt stress based on the RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analysis. Sucrose nonfermenting 2 (Snf2) proteins are core components of chromatin remodeling complexes that not only alter DNA accessibility using the energy of ATP hydrolysis, but also play a critical regulatory role in growth, development, and stress response in eukaryotes. However, the comparative study of Snf2 gene family in the six Brassica species in U's triangle model remains unclear. Here, a total of 405 Snf2 genes were identified, comprising 53, 50, and 46 in the diploid progenitors: Brassica rapa (AA, 2n = 20), Brassica nigra (BB, 2n = 16), and Brassica oleracea (CC, 2n = 18), and 93, 91, and 72 in the allotetraploid: Brassica juncea (AABB, 2n = 36), Brassica napus (AACC, 2n = 38), and Brassica carinata (BBCC, 2n = 34), respectively. These genes were classified into six clades and further divided into 18 subfamilies based on their conserved motifs and domains. Intriguingly, these genes showed highly conserved chromosomal distributions and gene structures, indicating that few dynamic changes occurred during the polyploidization. The duplication modes of the six Brassica species were diverse, and the expansion of most Snf2 in Brassica occurred primarily through dispersed duplication (DSD) events. Additionally, the majority of Snf2 genes were under purifying selection during polyploidization, and some Snf2 genes were associated with various abiotic stresses. Both RNA-seq and qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression of BnaSnf2 genes was significantly induced under salt stress, implying their involvement in salt tolerance response in Brassica species. The results provide a comprehensive understanding of the Snf2 genes in U's triangle model species, which will facilitate further functional analysis of the Snf2 genes in Brassica plants.

Waste-Derived Carbon Nano-Onions for the Removal of Organic Dye from Wastewater and Phytotoxicity Studies.

Dyes are extensively employed in industries, namely, textiles, cosmetics, paper, pharmaceuticals, tanning, etc. The effluent released from these industries contains various kinds of harmful dyes that adversely impact living beings and the environment due to their recalcitrant and toxic nature. In this study, an effort has been made to eliminate the methylene blue (MB) from wastewater using carbon nano-onions (CNOs) produced from waste frying oil (WFO) using an economical and eco-friendly wick pyrolysis method. The impact of process variables, namely, pH, temperature, process time, MB dye concentration, and adsorbent, was examined for optimum dye removal. The dye removal efficiency (RE) of 99.78% was obtained in 20 min under optimum conditions. The pseudo-second-order model demonstrated a better kinetic fitting with the experimental data. The Langmuir model represented the maximum adsorption capacity (q max) of 43.11 ± 2.56 mg g-1. The regeneration studies demonstrated that the CNOs achieved ∼99.6% MB dye removal over three cycles. Brassica nigra seeds irrigated in treated wastewater showed better growth (3.29 cm) than untreated dye wastewater, which confirms the environmental sustainability of the overall process.