Brassicaceae Family Research Articles

Construction of SNP fingerprints and genetic diversity analysis of radish (Raphanus sativus L.).

Radish (Raphanus sativus L.) is a vegetable crop with economic value and ecological significance in the genus Radish, family Brassicaceae. In recent years, developed countries have attached great importance to the collection and conservation of radish germplasm resources and their research and utilization, but the lack of population genetic information and molecular markers has hindered the development of the genetic breeding of radish. In this study, we integrated the radish genomic data published in databases for the development of single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers, and obtained a dataset of 308 high-quality SNPs under strict selection criteria. With the support of Kompetitive Allele-Specific PCR (KASP) technology, we screened a set of 32 candidate core SNP marker sets to analyse the genetic diversity of the collected 356 radish varieties. The results showed that the mean values of polymorphism information content (PIC), minor allele frequency (MAF), gene diversity and heterozygosity of the 32 candidate core SNP markers were 0.32, 0.30, 0.40 and 0.25, respectively. Population structural analysis, principal component analysis and genetic evolutionary tree analysis indicated that the 356 radish materials were best classified into two taxa, and that the two taxa of the material were closely genetically exchanged. Finally, on the basis of 32 candidate core SNP markers we calculated 15 core markers using a computer algorithm to construct a fingerprint map of 356 radish varieties. Furthermore, we constructed a core germplasm population consisting of 71 radish materials using 32 candidate core markers. In this study, we developed SNP markers for radish cultivar identification and genetic diversity analysis, and constructed DNA fingerprints, providing a basis for the identification of radish germplasm resources and molecular marker-assisted breeding as well as genetic research.

First Report of Powdery Mildew Caused by Erysiphe cruciferarum on Orychophragmus violaceus in China

Orychophragmus violaceus is an annual or perennial herb in the Brassicaceae family. It is widely planted in China and used as an ornamental and green manure plant (Luo et al. 2022). In September 2022, a survey conducted in a 600 m2 garden in Lanzhou (36°06′N, 103°43′E) found that over 70% of O. violaceus plants were infected with powdery mildew, with 80% of the leaf area on the upper surface of infected leaves was infected. The white colonies on the upper surface of the leaves gradually expanded, thickened, and spread to cover the stem surface. In severe cases, entire foliage withered and the plants died. Fungal structures were taken from the leaves with adhesive tape and placed in sterile water for microscopic observation. The conidiophores were upright, cylindrical, composed of 3 to 4 cells, and measured 92.3 ± 12.9 × 9.2 ± 0.6 μm (n=30). Conidial pedicels had 21.6 ± 3.4 μm (n=50) long cylindrical podocytes. Monoconidia were cylindrical or oval in shape, 32.9 ± 6.1 μm long and 15.1 ± 2.1 μm wide (n=80). Conidia lacked an obvious cellulose body. The bud tubes formed from the end of conidia, and papillary appressoria developed on the epiphytic mycelia. Based on these morphological characteristics, the pathogen was initially identified as Erysiphe cruciferarum (Braun et al. 2012). To validate the identity, the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region of an isolate EYL was amplified by PCR and sequenced using both ITS1/ITS4 and ITS5/PM6 primers (Takamatsu et al. 2001). The resulting sequences were deposited at GenBank (accession nos: OR437967 and OR437969). The ITS sequence of the isolate EYL (OR437967) is 99% (451/453) identical to E. cruciferarum (KP730001) on Brassica napus in China and that of the isolate EYL (OR437969) is 100% (509/509) identical to E. cruciferarum (KM260718) on B. juncea in Vietnam. Pathogenicity experiments were performed on six-week-old plants with an average of 10 ± 0.8 leaves. In the inoculated group, five healthy plants were inoculated by gently pressing the upper surface of diseased leaves against the upper surface of leaves of healthy plants for about 5 to 10 seconds. In the control group, the leaves of five healthy plants were treated with asymptomatic using the same method as described above. The plants were maintained in a greenhouse set at 25℃, 14-h photoperiod, and ≥ 70% humidity. After 13 days, all inoculated plants showed symptoms of powdery mildew, while the plants in the control group had no symptoms. The fungus on the inoculated plant was re-isolated and identified as E. cruciferarum based on its morphological characteristics and ITS sequence. Powdery mildew caused by E. cruciferarum has been reported on Cleome hassleriana in Italy and B. juncea in Australia (Garibaldi et al. 2009; Kaur et al. 2008). To our knowledge, this is the first time that powdery mildew caused by E. cruciferarum have been reported on O. violaceus in China. This disease poses a potential threat to the quality and yield of O. violaceus plants, which may warrant the development of preventative and management strategies in the future.

Rapid and Non-Destructive Determination of Fatty Acid Profile and Oil Content in Diverse Brassica carinata Germplasm Using Fourier-Transform Near-Infrared Spectroscopy

Brassica carinata is one of the oilseeds in the Brassicaceae family, possessing seed quality traits such as oil with various fatty acid profiles suitable for many industrial applications. Determination of such quality traits using conventional methods is often expensive, time-consuming, and destructive. In contrast, the Near-Infrared Spectroscopic (NIRS) technique has been proven fast, cost-effective, and non-destructive for the determination of seed compositions. This study aimed to demonstrate that NIRS is a rapid and non-destructive method for determining the fatty acid profile and oil content in diverse germplasms of B. carinata. A total of 96 genetically diverse B. carinata germplasms that include accessions, advanced breeding lines, and varieties were used in this study. Reference data sets were generated using gas chromatography and the Soxhlet oil extraction method for fatty acid profile and oil content, respectively. Spectra data were taken from the wavenumber range of 11,500 to 4000 cm−1 using the Fourier-transform near-infrared (FT-NIR) method. NIRS calibration equations were developed using partial least square (PLS) regression with OPUS software, version 7.5.1. Higher coefficient of determination (R2val) and ratio of performance to deviation (RPD) > 3 were obtained for oleic acid (R2val = 0.92, RPD = 3.6), linoleic acid (R2val = 0.89, RPD = 3.2), linolenic acid (R2val = 0.93, RPD = 3.8), erucic acid (R2val = 0.92, RPD = 3.5), and oil content (R2val = 0.93, RPD = 3.6). Thus, the NIRS calibration models for the aforementioned fatty acids and oil content were found to be strong enough for prediction. However, the calibration models for palmitic acid (R2val = 0.78, RPD = 2.1) and stearic acid (R2val = 0.75, RPD = 2.0) showed relatively smaller R2val and thus became weaker in their prediction capacity. Despite their relatively lower R2, the calibration equations for palmitic and stearic acids could be used for approximate estimation and rough screening purposes. In conclusion, the calibration models that we have developed will be useful in applying NIRS as a high-throughput, non-destructive method for the screening of large germplasms in terms of their fatty acid profiles and oil content during the oil quality breeding efforts conducted on B. carinata.

Determination of Phenethyl Isothiocyanate, Erucin, Iberverin, and Erucin Nitrile Concentrations in Healthy and Pieris rapae-Infected Broccoli Tissues Using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Cruciferous vegetables (Brassicaceae family) are a rich source of phytochemicals, in particular glucosinolates (GLS) and their hydrolysis products, isothiocyanates and nitriles. These phytochemicals may act as chemosensors, attracting insects, such as Pieris rapae, and stimulating oviposition. There is a lack of information on the concentrations of isothiocyanates and nitriles when an insect affects a Brassicaceae plant. In the current study, some GLS hydrolysis products were determined in healthy and Pieris rapae-infected organic cultivated broccoli plants, as well as the infesting insects’ larvae, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). This study investigated the following phytochemicals: phenethyl isothiocyanate (PEITC), erucin (ER), 3-(methylthio)propyl isothiocyanate (3MIC), and 1-cyano-4-(methylthio)butane (5MITN). All these components were quantified in the aerial and underground parts of the plants and were found in high concentrations in the roots. Among the phytochemicals studied, 5MITN presented the highest concentration in all the broccoli samples but was especially high in the stalks of the infected plants. Moreover, the analysis of a sample of Pieris rapae larvae, fed from the hosted broccoli, revealed the presence of PEITC and ER. These findings indicate that the infestation of broccoli with Pieris rapae may affect the distribution of PEITC, ER, 3MIC, and 5MITN throughout the plant. An extension of our study to conventional cultivated broccoli showed that the roots are indeed rich in GLS hydrolysis products.

Genetic diversity of diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella L. (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) populations in Türkiye.

Diamondback moth (DBM), Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae), is an important worldwide pest of plants belonging to the Brassicaceae family. In this study, we investigated genetic diversity of DBM populations in Brassicaceae production areas in Türkiye using the partial mtDNA CO1 gene region. We determined 43 samples from 11 different populations for haplotype variations using the partial mitochondrial DNA sequences a 684bp fragment of the CO1 gene. The results indicated that, the average haplotype diversity (Hd) was determined as 0.962 and nucleotide diversity (π) was determined as 0.557%. In neutrality tests, negative values were obtained in Tajima's D and Fu' Fs tests (Fu' Fs=-0.40, Tajima's D=-0.01). Tajima's D test was not found significant (p > 0.05). Fst value among DBM population estimates ranged from 0 to 0.631. Barcode gap distance was determined as 1.6%, but the intraspecies of genetic distance were found to be 0.15%. In conclusion, the presented study provided detailed and fundamental information about the genetic diversity of DBM populations in Türkiye. Further studies are needed to develop alternative pest management strategies for DBM populations integrating genetic approaches.

Molecular evolution analysis of MYB5 in Brassicaceae with specific focus on seed coat color of Brassica napus

BackgroundMYB transcription factors are splay a vital role in plant biology, with previous research highlighting the significant impact of the R2R3-MYB-like transcription factor MYB5 on seed mucilage biosynthesis, trichome branching, and seed coat development. However, there is a dearth of studies investigating its role in the regulation of proanthocyanidin (PA) biosynthesis.ResultsIn this study, a total of 51 MYB5 homologous genes were identified across 31 species belonging to the Brassicaceae family, with particular emphasis on Brassica napus for subsequent investigation. Through phylogenetic analysis, these genes were categorized into four distinct subclasses. Protein sequence similarity and identity analysis demonstrated a high degree of conservation of MYB5 among species within the Brassicaceae family. Additionally, the examination of selection pressure revealed that MYB5 predominantly underwent purifying selection during its evolutionary history, as indicated by the Ka/Ks values of all MYB5 homologous gene pairs being less than one. Notably, we observed a higher rate of non-synonymous mutations in orthologous genes compared to paralogous genes, and the Ka/Ks value displayed a stronger correlation with Ka. In B. napus, an examination of expression patterns in five tissues revealed that MYB5 exhibited particularly high expression in the black seed coat. The findings from the WGCNA demonstrated a robust correlation between MYB5 and BAN(ANR) associated with PA biosynthesis in the black seed coat, providing further evidence of their close association and co-expression. Furthermore, the results obtained from of the analysis of protein interaction networks offer supplementary support for the proposition that MYB5 possesses the capability to interact with transcriptional regulatory proteins, specifically TT8 and TT2, alongside catalytic enzymes implicated in the synthesis of PAs, thereby making a contribution to the biosynthesis of PAs. These findings imply a plausible and significant correlation between the nuique expression pattern of MYB5 and the pigmentation of rapeseed coats. Nevertheless, additional research endeavors are imperative to authenticate and substantiate these findings.ConclusionsThis study offers valuable insights into the genetic evolution of Brassicaceae plants, thereby serving as a significant reference for the genetic enhancement of Brassicaceae seed coat color.

Identification of vernalization-related genes and cold memory element (CME) required for vernalization response in radish (Raphanus sativus L.).

Floral transition is accelerated by exposure to long-term cold like winter in plants, which is called as vernalization. Acceleration of floral transition by vernalization is observed in a diversity of biennial and perennial plants including Brassicaceae family plants. Scientific efforts to understand molecular mechanism underlying vernalization-mediated floral transition have been intensively focused in model plant Arabidopsis thaliana. To get a better understanding on floral transition by vernalization in radish (Raphanus sativus L.), we investigated transcriptomic changes taking place during vernalization in radish. Thousands of genes were differentially regulated along time course of vernalization compared to non-vernalization (NV) sample. Twelve major clusters of DEGs were identified based on distinctive expression profiles during vernalization. Radish FLC homologs were shown to exert an inhibition of floral transition when transformed into Arabidopsis plants. In addition, DNA region containing RY motifs located within a Raphanus sativus FLC homolog, RsFLC1 was found to be required for repression of RsFLC1 by vernalization. Transgenic plants harboring disrupted RY motifs were impaired in the enrichment of H3K27me3 on RsFLC1 chromatin, thus resulting in the delayed flowering in Arabidopsis. Taken together, we report transcriptomic profiles of radish during vernalization and demonstrate the requirement of RY motif for vernalization-mediated repression of RsFLC homologs in radish (Raphanus sativus L.).

Emerging Role of Eruca sativa Mill. in Male Reproductive Health.

A growing interest has been drawn to the use of traditional medicinal plants for the treatment of human diseases and, in particular, infertility and reproductive toxicity associated with environmental factors. The Mediterranean basin area is a recognized source of plant species with therapeutic interest. In this frame, Eruca sativa (ES) is an annual edible plant and a member of the Brassicaceae family. A relatively large number of studies, focusing on the biological effects of the extract from the leaves of ES on in vitro and in vivo models of disease, have been published in recent years. The present narrative review aims to analyze the phytochemical constituents, traditional uses, possible pharmacological activities, and recognized effects of ES on male reproductive outcomes. Available investigations have revealed the presence of a number of compounds with antioxidant properties, such as polyphenols, glucosinolates, flavonoids, and carotenoids in extracts from ES. Based on the chemical and pharmacological characteristics of the aforementioned compounds, we show that ES has possible preventive properties and therapeutic uses, especially in the functional derangements of the male reproductive system.

RSM and ANN Modeling of Camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz) Seed Yield as Affected by Nitrogen, Sulfur, Cow Manure, and Row Spacing

Camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] is an annual versatile oilseed crop of the Brassicaceae family, with an increasingly cultivated area. Predicting camelina seed yield response to fertilization and planting density is of great importance in understanding production potential and management planning. Therefore, the current study aimed to estimate the seed yield of camelina by response surface methodology (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN) as affected by different levels of planting row spacing and nitrogen (N), sulfur (S), and cow manure (CM) fertilization. The experiment was conducted in two growing years of 2019–2020 and 2020–2021, based on a central composite design with four factors including row spacing (15–35 cm), N (0–200 kg ha−1), S (0–100 kg ha−1), and CM (0–40 t ha−1). The RSM models for seed yield versus fertilization and row spacing factors in both years were statistically significant and had an acceptable predictive ability. Camelina seed yield decreased with increasing row spacing but showed a positive response to increasing the amount of N, S, and CM fertilizers. Comparing the performance of the models showed that, although the RSM models were significant and had the necessary efficiency in predicting camelina seed yield, the ANN models were more accurate. The performance criteria of coefficient of determination (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), standard error of prediction (SEP), mean absolute error (MAE), and Akaike information criterion (AICc) averaged over the two years for the RSM model were 0.924, 51.60, 5.51, 41.14, and 394.05, respectively, and for the ANN model were 0.968, 32.62, 3.54, 19.55, and 351.33, respectively. Based on the results, the ANN modeling can be used in predicting camelina seed yield in field conditions with more confidence than the RSM technique.

Bioaccessibility of Principal Health-Promoting Compounds in Broccoli ‘Parthenon’ and Savoy Cabbage ‘Dama’

Currently there is a general concern among consumers to purchase goods increasingly healthy that not only provide the necessary nutrients, but also beneficial compounds with functional properties and antioxidant activity. Because of this, there has been an increased consumption of vegetables of the Brassicaceae family, especially brassicas. Thus, in this research work, two types of brassicas(broccoli and Savoy cabbage) were evaluated and it was found that broccoli had a higher content of functional compounds. But functional compounds are absorbed and used in different ways when they are digested, so besides knowing the content of these compounds in foods it is necessary to know their bioavailability, which will help meet the health properties of food to optimize the diet and to establish nutritional recommendations.

Current status of global conservation and characterisation of wild and cultivated Brassicaceae genetic resources.

The economic importance of the globally distributed Brassicaceae family resides in the large diversity of crops within the family and the substantial variety of agronomic and functional traits they possess. We reviewed the current classifications of crop wild relatives (CWRs) in the Brassicaceae family with the aim of identifying new potential cross-compatible species from a total of 1,242 species using phylogenetic approaches. In general, cross-compatibility data between wild species and crops, as well as phenotype and genotype characterisation data, were available for major crops but very limited for minor crops, restricting the identification of new potential CWRs. Around 70% of wild Brassicaceae did not have genetic sequence data available in public repositories, and only 40% had chromosome counts published. Using phylogenetic distances, we propose 103 new potential CWRs for this family, which we recommend as priorities for cross-compatibility tests with crops and for phenotypic characterisation, including 71 newly identified CWRs for 10 minor crops. From the total species used in this study, more than half had no records of being in ex situ conservation, and 80% were not assessed for their conservation status or were data deficient (IUCN Red List Assessments). Great efforts are needed on ex situ conservation to have accessible material for characterising and evaluating the species for future breeding programmes. We identified the Mediterranean region as one key conservation area for wild Brassicaceae species, with great numbers of endemic and threatened species. Conservation assessments are urgently needed to evaluate most of these wild Brassicaceae.

The complete chloroplast genome of Brassica rapa var. purpuraria (L.H.Bailey) Kitam 1950 and its phylogenetic analysis

Zicaitai (Brassica rapa var. purpuraria (L.H.Bailey) Kitam 1950) is a vegetable crop that boasts a high nutritional value and unique flavor. It originated from Central China and was formed after long-term cultivation and domestication. In this study, we obtained the complete sequence of the chloroplast genome of zicaitai, a circular molecule of 153,483 bp in length. This chloroplast genome consists of a large single-copy (LSC) region (83,282 bp), a small single-copy (SSC) region (17,775 bp), and a pair of inverted repeats (IRs) (26,213 bp). By sequence annotation, 132 genes, including 87 protein-coding genes, 37 tRNA genes, and eight rRNA genes were identified in the zicaitai chloroplast. A total of 315 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) were found located in LSC (197), SSC (72), and IR (46), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on chloroplast genomes indicated the relationship of zicaitai and the Brassicaceae family, which supports zicaitai as a variety of B. rapa in taxonomy. The results obtained in this study provide insight into further research on Brassica chloroplasts and their phylogeny.

Unraveling the floral preference: Bee pollen identification and characterization of Tetragonula laeviceps

The stingless bee (Tetragonula laeviceps) is capable of yielding products such as honey, propolis, and bee pollen, which hold promise as potential sources of nutrition or alternatives in the field of medicine. The physical and chemical attributes of these products are influenced by intrinsic factors, including dietary sources and bee species, as well as extraneous variables such as management techniques, seasonal variations, and environmental parameters. The Campus of the Biology Faculty UGM encompasses a rich repository of flowering plant species that present a viable resource for the sustenance of stingless bees. Consequently, this research endeavor seeks to delineate and characterize the plant species that serve as the sustenance of stingless bees by elucidating the pollen types discovered within their nest. Pollen specimens were directly procured from the nests and subjected to be analyzed with light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). At least four distinct varieties of pollen have been identified, originating from divergent plant species, namely those belonging to the Pinaceae, Fabaceae, Myrtaceae, and Brassicaceae families. The dietary preferences of stingless bees, as discerned through the identification of pollen types, exhibit congruence with the plant species in the vicinity of their nesting sites.

Structure-function analyses reveal Arabidopsis thaliana HDA7 to be an inactive histone deacetylase

Histone deacetylases (HDACs), responsible for the removal of acetyl groups from histone tails, are important epigenetic factors. They play a critical role in the regulation of gene expression and are significant in the context of plant growth and development. The Rpd3/Hda1 family of HDACs is reported to regulate key biological processes in plants, such as stress response, seed, embryonic, and floral development. Here, we characterized Arabidopsis thaliana HDA7, a Class I, Rpd3/Hda1 family HDAC. SAXS and AUC results show that the recombinantly expressed and purified histone deacetylase domain of AtHDA7 exists as a monomer in solution. Further, the crystal structure showed AtHDA7 to fold into the typical α/β arginase fold, characteristic of Rpd3/Hda1 family HDACs. Sequence analysis revealed that the Asp and His residues of the catalytic ‘XDXH’ motif present in functional Rpd3/Hda1 family HDACs are mutated to Gly and Pro, respectively, in AtHDA7, suggesting that it might be catalytically inactive. The Asp and His residues are important for Zn2+-binding. Not surprisingly, the crystal structure did not have Zn2+ bound in the catalytic pocket, which is essential for the HDAC activity. Further, our in vitro activity assay revealed AtHDA7 to be inactive as an HDAC. A search in the sequence databases suggested that homologs of AtHDA7 are found exclusively in the Brassicaceae family to which Arabidopsis belongs. It is possible that HDA7 descended from HDA6 through whole genome duplication and triplication events during evolution, as suggested in a previous phylogenetic study.

A High-Throughput Approach for Photosynthesis Studies in a Brassicaceae Panel.

The study of natural variations in photosynthesis in the Brassicaceae family offers the possibility of identifying mechanisms to enhance photosynthetic efficiency in crop plants. Indeed, this family, and particularly its tribe Brassiceae, has been shown to harbor species that have a higher-than-expected photosynthetic efficiency, possibly as a result of a complex evolutionary history. Over the past two decades, methods have been developed to measure photosynthetic efficiency based on chlorophyll fluorescence. Chlorophyll fluorescence measurements are performed with special cameras, such as the FluorCams, which can be included in robotic systems to create high-throughput phenotyping platforms. While these platforms have so far demonstrated high efficiency in measuring small model species like Arabidopsis thaliana, they have the drawback of limited adaptability to accommodate different plant sizes. As a result, the range of species that can be analyzed is restricted. This chapter presents our approach to analyze the photosynthetic parameters: ϕPSII and Fv/Fm for a panel of Brassicaceae species, including a high-photosynthesis species, Hirschfeldia incana, and the adaptations to the phenotyping platform that are required to accommodate this varied group of plants.

Agrobacterium-Mediated Transient Gene Expression Optimized for the Bioenergy Crop Camelina sativa.

Camelina sativa, a Brassicaceae family crop, is used for fodder, human food, and biofuels. Its relatively high resistance to abiotic and biotic stresses, as well as being a climate-resilient oilseed crop, has contributed to its popularity. Camelina's seed yield and oil contents have been improved using various technologies like RNAi and CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing. A stable transformation system for protein localization and other cell autonomous investigations, on the other hand, is tedious and time consuming. This study describes a transient gene expression protocol for Camelina sativa cultivar DH55 leaves using Agrobacterium strain C58C1. The method is suitable for subcellular protein localization and colocalization studies and can be used with both constitutive and chemically induced genes. We report the subcellular localization of the N-terminal ER membrane signal anchor region (1-32 aa) of the At3G28580 gene-encoded protein from Arabidopsis in intact leaves and the expression and localization of other known organelle markers. This method offers a fast and convenient way to study proteins in the commercially important Camelina crop system. Key features • This method is based on the approach of Zhang et al. [1] and has been optimized for bioenergy crop Camelina species. • A constitutive and inducible transient gene expression in the hexaploid species Camelina sativa cultivar DH55. • Requires only 16-18 days to complete with high efficacy. Graphical overview.

Molecular Characteristics Study of The Plants of Two Species Form The Genus Eruca Mill of The Brassicaceae Family, Which are Growing in Iraq

The Internal Transcribed Spacer ITS method was used to diagnose the two species (Eruca sativa Mill. And Eruca vesicaria L.) These plants belong to the Eruca Mill genus from the Brassicaceae family. This study was conducted during the spring season of the year (2022-2023), as all samples were taken from different regions in Iraq, after being classified from the Iraqi flora. (E. sativa Mill and E. vesicaria L) of the Brassicaceae family to find out the degree of relatedness between the two species. of wildly growing plants in iraq, as the Deoxyribonucleic acid DNA bundles were extracted from agarose gel and the process of finding the sequence of nitrogenous bases was performed. Eruca two species. E. sativa Mill. And E. vesicaria L. which belong to the Brassicaceae family. With a percentage of 100% and 99.83% concordance. This method is considered one of the accurate methods in the diagnosis of genus at the level of the one species and between two species in addition to its ease to compare and and differentiate between the two species.

Erythromycin decreases photosynthetic pigments content in plants from the Brassicaceae family

Young Brassicaceae plants grown on solidified nutrient solutions were exposed to erythromycin in their growth media at concentrations ranging from 10 to 40 mmol×L-1. At 7 days from the onset of the experiment, the plants were harvested, their growth parameters were evaluated, and the leaves were assayed for chlorophyll and carotenoids contents. The obtained results pointed out a dose dependent decrease of both chlorophyll and carotenoids contents in plants’ leaves. The plants exposed to erythromycin also had shorter stems and roots compared to control plants. A negative effect of erythromycin on photosynthesis, by inhibiting chloroplast protein biosynthesis, chloroplast assembly and function is discussed.

Determination of Antioxidant Activities in Raw and Boiled Extractions of Raphanus raphanistrum L. Species Naturally Growing in Edremit Gulf (Balıkesir/Turkey)

The plants that naturally spread in Edremit Gulf are consumed by the local people in various ways either cooked or raw. In this study, Raphanus raphanistrum species from the Brassicaceae family, which is also known to be used as food, was used. DPPH and CUPRAC antioxidant activity analyses were carried out on the extracts obtained from the aerial parts of the raw and boiled fresh plant. The total phenolic contents were determined and the phenolic compounds contained and their interactions with the boiling process were determined by HPLC method. The extracts were stored in a deep freezer at -20 °C to be used in further studies. In terms of the total amount of phenolic compounds, 12.65 µg GAE/mg extract was detected in the boiled extract of R. raphanistrum species, and it has a higher value compared to the raw extract. In the boiled extract, which has a higher value in terms of total flavonoid content than raw, was found 54 µg Rutin Equivalent /mg fresh extract. Compared to the CUPRAC method, the boiled extract showed higher (68.58 µgTE/mg extract) activity. The antioxidant activity of the boiled extract was found to be higher than the DPPH method, and the EC 50 value was measured as 1975.25 µg/mL. According to HPLC method, resveratrol, rosmarinic acid, quersetin, kaempferol and naringenin substances were determined as in the raw extract. It was determined that while naringenin was destroyed in the boiled extract, were changed the amounts of other phenolic compounds.

Peculiarities of the weed infestation of young paulownia (Paulownia tomentosa L.) stands

Goal. To study the weeding processes of young Paulownia tomentosa (Paulownia tomentosa L.) plantations for the further development of an effective weed protection system in the conditions of the Forest Steppe of Ukraine.
 Methods. To study the interaction of research objects with weather conditions, cultivation methods and technology, field methods (in particular, small-plot), as well as visual, measuring, weight, quantitative and physiological methods were used. The laboratory method was used to determine the quality characteristics of the soil of the experimental plots. Processing of experimental data was performed using the Microsoft Office Excel computer program.
 Results. It was established that young stands of paulownia in the first stages of vegetation are actually a free ecological niche, which is quickly filled by weeds. The largest number of weed species was from the Gramineae, Brassicaceae, and Asteraceae families. There was one species each from the Polygonaceae, Chenopodiaceae, Solanaceae, and Convolvulaceae families. In the second year of vegetation, the seedlings of Echinochloa crusgalli (L. Pal. Beauv), Chenopodium album L., Elymus repens (L.) Gould, Setaria glauca (L.) Pal. Beauv, Sinapis arvensis L., Polygonum convolvulus L., Thlaspi arvense L. On average, more weed seedlings were recorded during the accounting period than in the first year of crop vegetation.
 Conclusions. It has been experimentally proven that before establishing the plantations, the site should be evaluated for the presence of problematic weed species that can potentially multiply in paulownia plantations and interfere with effective plant care. The presence of weeds in young paulownia stands during the growing season leads to a significant suppression of culture plants. Establishing the features of the formation of weeding of paulownia plantations in the second year of vegetation is impossible without a comprehensive determination of plant growth parameters. Information about the specifics of weeding make it possible to correctly develop an effective system of protection against weeds.