Thlaspi Arvense Research Articles

Combined genotype and fatty-acid analysis of single small field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) seeds increases the throughput for functional genomics and mutant line selection

The validation of an association between a genotype and a seed metabolic trait can be a time-consuming process. Strategies to speed this process are needed in this age of rapid and high throughput genomics. In this study, we have developed a protocol to associate the fatty-acid composition of a single pennycress seed as a phenotypic trait to a genotype. We use an approach that allows for parallel assessment of genotypes and fatty acid composition on a small single seed of field pennycress. We were able to show that fatty acid values predicted from a single seed are similar to the values of pooled seeds for linoleic acid (17.32% vs 18.10%), linolenic acid (11.10% vs 11.86%) and erucic acid (38.43% vs 38.74%) with the exception of oleic acid (10.79% vs 12.44%) and eicosenoic acid (8.56% vs 10.64%) based on the pair-wise Tukey’s test at a p-value of 0.05. We were also able to show that DNA can be extracted from the single defatted seeds and the DNA can be used for SNP genotyping. This approach was tested on two independent F2 segregating populations to demonstrate linkage between fatty acid composition and the respective genotypes. The F2 populations for this study were derived from crosses among the mutants of Fatty Acid Elongation 1 (Ta FAE1), Reduced Oleate Desaturase 1 (Ta ROD1) and Fatty Acid Desaturase 2 (Ta FAD2). We assessed fatty acid composition of single F2 seeds from each of the genotype classes in the segregating populations identified using allele-specific markers. We found that mutations in Ta FAE1 and Ta FAD2 had semi-dominant effect, and that the mutation in Ta ROD1 was recessive. Within each population, doubly homozygous single seeds for Ta fae1-1 and Ta rod1-1 or Ta fae1-1 and Ta fad2-2 created the most extreme fatty acid alteration compared to wild type. F2 single seeds genotyped as double mutants of Ta fae1-1/ Ta rod1-1 from the first population averaged 56.42% oleic acid compared to under 15% for wild type along with little to no detectable erucic acid compared to over 35% in wild type. F2 single seeds genotyped as double mutants of Ta fae1-1/Ta fad2-2 from the second population averaged 85.87% oleic acid with significant reduction in linoleic, linolenic, eicosenoic and erucic acid. Fatty acid compositions of these double mutants were further confirmed using a pool of seeds. This study demonstrates the rapid assessment of metabolites and genotypes, thus helping us characterize fatty acid genes in pennycress. Application of such methods to a species with small seeds like pennycress will increase the efficacy of functional genomics and can be applied towards other metabolite traits.

Functional analysis of β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase from biofuel feedstock Thlaspi arvense reveals differences in the triacylglycerol biosynthetic pathway among Brassicaceae.

Differences in FAE1 enzyme affinity for the acyl-CoA substrates, as well as the balance between the different pathways involved in their incorporation to triacylglycerol might be determinant of the different composition of the seed oil in Brassicaceae. Brassicaceae present a great heterogeneity of seed oil and fatty acid composition, accumulating Very Long Chain Fatty Acids with industrial applications. However, the molecular determinants of these differences remain elusive. We have studied the β-ketoacyl-CoA synthase from the high erucic feedstock Thlaspi arvense (Pennycress). Functional characterization of the Pennycress FAE1 enzyme was performed in two Arabidopsis backgrounds; Col-0, with less than 2.5% of erucic acid in its seed oil and the fae1-1 mutant, deficient in FAE1 activity, that did not accumulate erucic acid. Seed-specific expression of the Pennycress FAE1 gene in Col-0 resulted in a 3 to fourfold increase of erucic acid content in the seed oil. This increase was concomitant with a decrease of eicosenoic acid levels without changes in oleic ones. Interestingly, only small changes in eicosenoic and erucic acid levels occurred when the Pennycress FAE1 gene was expressed in the fae1-1 mutant, with high levels of oleic acid available for elongation, suggesting that the Pennycress FAE1 enzyme showed higher affinity for eicosenoic acid substrates, than for oleic ones in Arabidopsis. Erucic acid was incorporated to triacylglycerol in the transgenic lines without significant changes in their levels in the diacylglycerol fraction, suggesting that erucic acid was preferentially incorporated to triacylglycerol via DGAT1. Expression analysis of FAE1, AtDGAT1, AtLPCAT1 and AtPDAT1 genes in the transgenic lines further supported this conclusion. Differences in FAE1 affinity for the oleic and eicosenoic substrates among Brassicaceae, as well as their incorporation to triacylglycerol might explain the differences in composition of their seed oil.

Yield tradeoffs and weed suppression in a winter annual oilseed relay‐cropping system

AbstractMidwest crop production is dominated by two summer annual crops grown in rotation, corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.). This rotation leaves a productivity gap during the spring and autumn. Winter oilseed crops, such as pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.), and winter camelina (Camelina sativa [L.] Crantz), can fill this gap and provide ecosystem and economic benefits. The objectives of this study were to: (i) examine the tradeoffs between soybean and winter oilseed yields in the relay‐cropping system, (ii) determine legacy effects on corn 1 yr after oilseed–soybean relay‐cropping, and (iii) evaluate the weed suppression abilities of the winter oilseeds. Three sites were used across Minnesota to evaluate winter oilseeds and commodity crop yields in a relay‐cropping production system. Total seed production of the system (winter oilseed crop + soybean) was increased by 20% at one site, whereas at the other two sites, total yields were similar when compared to mono‐cropped soybean. Soybean yield was reduced at two of the three sites by 20 and 47% by the inclusion of winter oilseeds. Soybean yield was unaffected by inclusion of winter oilseeds at the third site. In the subsequent year, corn yield was unaffected by the winter oilseed treatments. Weeds were suppressed by the winter oilseeds crops. Pennycress reduced weed biomass by 97% to 100%, and camelina treatment reduced weed biomass by 85% to 87%. The inclusion of winter oilseeds in the corn–soybean cropping system can increase overall seed production and suppress early season weeds.

Germination Patterns in Seeds Produced in Apical and Basal Fruits of Two Thlaspi arvense Populations

The aim of the present work is to study possible differences in the germination behavior of apical and basal seeds (produced in the upper and lower fruits of the infruitescence), of two populations of field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), both produced in a Mediterranean and a continental temperate climate. The results showed that among the three studied factors (population, seed type, production site), only the production site was relevant for the total germination, germinating those produced in Morris in a greater amount than those produced in Lleida. Germination models could be applied only to seeds produced at Morris (>10% germination), and despite the lack of differences in the total germination percentage, germination rates (speed—b parameter—and time to 50% germination—G50) differed between population and seed types—apical seeds from the Spanish population germinated faster (lower b parameter) than the rest, while apical seeds of both populations germinated faster than the corresponding basal seeds (lower G50). The results show, on the one hand, the importance of the seed production site if this species was considered as a commercial oilseed crop and, on the other hand, differences that will help seed selection for seed germination and establishment improvement of pennycress.

Pennycress as a Cash Cover-Crop: Improving the Sustainability of Sweet Corn Production Systems

Commercial sweet corn (Zea mays convar. saccharata var. rugosa) production has a proportionally high potential for nutrient loss to waterways, due to its high nitrogen (N) requirements and low N use efficiency. Cover crops planted after sweet corn can help ameliorate N lost from the field, but farmers are reluctant to utilize cover crops due to a lack of economic incentive. Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) is a winter annual that can provide both economic and environmental benefits. Five N-rates (0, 65, 135, 135 split and 200) were applied pre-plant to sweet corn. After the sweet corn harvest, pennycress was planted into the sweet corn residue with two seeding methods and harvested for seed the following spring. Residual inorganic soil N (Nmin), pennycress biomass, biomass N and yield were measured. The nitrogen rate and seeding method had no effect on pennycress yield, biomass, or biomass N content. The nitrogen rate positively affected Nmin at pennycress seeding, wherein 200N plots had 38–80% higher Nmin than 0N plots, but had no effect on Nmin at pennycress harvest. Control treatments without pennycress had an average of 27–42% greater Nmin. In conclusion, pennycress can act as an effective N catch crop, and produce an adequate seed yield after sweet corn without the need for supplemental fertilization.

Modulation of Energy Metabolism Is Important for Low-Oxygen Stress Adaptation in Brassicaceae Species.

Low-oxygen stress, mainly caused by soil flooding, is a serious abiotic stress affecting crop productivity worldwide. To understand the mechanisms of low-oxygen stress responses and adaptation of plants, we characterized and compared low-oxygen responses in six species with different accessions of the Brassicaceae family. Based on the growth and survival responses to submergence or low-oxygen condition, these accessions could be divided into three groups: (i) Highly tolerant species (Rorippa islandica and Arabis stelleri); (ii) moderately tolerant species (Arabidopsis thaliana [esk-1, Ler, Ws and Col-0 ecotype]); and (iii) intolerant species (Thlaspi arvense, Thellungiella salsuginea [Shandong and Yukon ecotype], and Thellungiella parvula). Gene expression profiling using Operon Arabidopsis microarray was carried out with RNA from roots of A. thaliana (Col-0), A. stelleri, R. islandica, and T. salsuginea (Shandong) treated with low-oxygen stress (0.1% O2/99.9% N2) for 0, 1, 3, 8, 24, and 72 h. We performed a comparative analysis of the gene expression profiles using the gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) method. Our comparative analysis suggested that under low-oxygen stress each species distinctively reconfigures the energy metabolic pathways including sucrose–starch metabolism, glycolysis, fermentation and nitrogen metabolism, tricarboxylic acid flow, and fatty acid degradation via beta oxidation and glyoxylate cycle. In A. thaliana, a moderately tolerant species, the dynamical reconfiguration of energy metabolisms occurred in the early time points of low-oxygen treatment, but the energy reconfiguration in the late time points was not as dynamic as in the early time points. Highly tolerant A. stelleri appeared to have high photosynthesis capacity that could produce more O2 and in turn additional ATP energy to cope with energy depletion caused by low-oxygen stress. R. islandica seemed to retain some ATP energy produced by anaerobic energy metabolism during a prolonged period of low-oxygen conditions. Intolerant T. salsuginea did not show significant changes in the expression of genes involved in anaerobic energy metabolisms. These results indicate that plants developed different energy metabolisms to cope with the energy crisis caused by low-oxygen stress.

Accumulation of Nickel by Excluder Thlaspi arvense and Hyperaccumulator Noccaea caerulescens upon Short-Term and Long-Term Exposure

Abstract: The ability to accumulate nickel (Ni) was compared in hyperaccumulator Noccaea сaerulescens F.K. Mey and excluder Thlaspi arvense L. after a short-term (1, 2, or 3 days) and long-term (8 weeks) exposure. T. arvense and four accessions of N. сaerulescens (La Calamine (LC), Saint Felix de Pallieres (SF), Monte Prinzera (MP), and Lellingen (LE)) were grown on a half-strength Hoagland`s solution in the presence of 25 µM Ni(NO3)2 (N. сaerulescens and T. arvense) and 250 µM Ni(NO3)2 (N. сaerulescens; T. arvense for only 1–3 days). Metal content in the roots and shoots was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy. The Ni content per unit mass in the roots and shoots of N. сaerulescens in most cases did not differ significantly after the short-term incubation. At 25 µM Ni in the nutrient solution, its content in the roots of LC plants after 2–3 days of incubation was lower than in T. arvense, whereas Ni content in the shoots of these plants was similar. In the plants of other accessions of N. сaerulescens, Ni content in the roots and shoots in most cases was higher than in T. arvense. At 250 µM Ni, the differences in metal content in the roots were insignificant, and its content in the shoots in all the accessions of the hyperaccumulator was much higher than in the excluder. The Ni translocation factor was higher in N. сaerulescens than in T. arvense and exceeded unity only in the plants of MP accession. After the long-term exposure, the Ni translocation factor was higher than 1 in plants of all accessions of N. сaerulescens and decreased in the following order: MP ≈ LC > LE ≥ SF; in T. arvense, it did not exceed 0.3. Upon both long-term and short-term exposure, the ability to accumulate Ni by N. сaerulescens plants of different accessions generally increased in the following order: LC < SF < LE < MP. However, minor changes were observed depending on the duration of exposure and Ni concentration in the medium. Thus, considerable differences in the ability to accumulate Ni among the plants of different accessions of hyperaccumulator N. сaerulescens became apparent as early as during the first days of exposure to Ni and hardly depended on the duration of incubation or metal concentration in the medium. The obtained data confirm the assumption about a constitutive or genetically predetermined ability of plants of different N. сaerulescens accessions to accumulate Ni.

Growing Biofuel Feedstocks in Copper-Contaminated Soils of a Former Superfund Site

Copper mining in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan in the mid-19th century generated millions of tons of mining waste, called stamp sand, which was deposited into various offshoots of Lake Superior. The toxic stamp sand converted the area into barren, fallow land. Without a vegetative cover, stamp sand has been eroding into the lakes, adversely affecting aquatic life. Our objective was to perform a greenhouse study, to grow cold-tolerant oilseed crops camelina (Camelina sativa) and field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) on stamp sand, for the dual purpose of biofuel production and providing a vegetative cover, thereby decreasing erosion. Camelina and field pennycress were grown on stamp sands in columns, using compost to supply nutrients. A greenhouse study in wooden panels was also done to evaluate the effectiveness of camelina in reducing erosion. Results show that camelina significantly reduced erosion and can also be used commercially for generating biodiesel. A 25-fold reduction in Cu content in the surface run-off was observed in the panels with camelina compared to those of the control. Stamp sand-grown camelina seeds contained 20% and 22.7% oil and protein respectively, and their fatty acid composition was similar to previous studies performed on uncontaminated soils.

Techno-economic analysis of pennycress production, harvest and post-harvest logistics for renewable jet fuel

Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) is a winter annual oilseed crop with relatively high seed oil content (25-36%-wet basis), which can be planted as cover crop in corn-soybean rotation in the Midwestern U.S., to provide both economic benefits and ecosystem services. Pennycress oil has adequate quality for conversion to renewable jet fuel (RJF); however, the technical feasibility and cost of pennycress supply at the commercial scale have not been evaluated; so, the objective of this study was to evaluate techno-economics of the production, harvest and post-harvest logistics of pennycress as an RJF feedstock. In addition, an uncertainty analysis was performed to address the inherent variability of the parameters used for this evaluation. This study considered the feedstock supply for a biorefinery with RJF production capacity of around 19 million liters per year (i.e., 5 million gallons per year) in Ohio. Technical feasibility included the assessment of resources (land, infrastructure, machineries, fuel, labor, and consumables) for the production (i.e., planting, fertilizer and pesticide applications), harvest and post-harvest logistics (i.e., grain handling, transportation, drying and storage). Economic analyses included estimation of pennycress production and logistics costs. Annual pennycress seed requirement for the selected biorefinery capacity was estimated to be 90–115 thousand t (90% central range - CR), which would require pennycress plantation in 41–63 thousand ha (90% CR) land in corn-soybean rotation. The direct fossil fuel use ratio (i.e., fossil fuel use per liter of RJF produced) for pennycress production and logistics was estimated to be 0.06–0.09 L/L (90% CR). Estimated total cost for the production and logistics was 170–230 $/t (90% CR); and it was identified to be highly sensitive to pennycress seed yield. The outcomes of this research contribute to identifying the bottlenecks and hotspots for establishment of pennycress at the commercial scale in corn-soybean rotation in Ohio and Midwestern U.S.

Establishing winter annual cover crops by interseeding into Maize and Soybean

AbstractThe limited time available for cover crop establishment after maize (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] harvest is one of the main reasons for low cover crop adoption in the upper Midwest. Therefore, a 2‐yr multilocation study was conducted to evaluate winter annual cover crops establishment, their effect on main crop grain yields, and soil water content when interseeded into standing maize and soybean. Treatments were three interseeding dates (broadcasting at R4, R5, and R6 growth stages for maize, and R6, R7, and R8 for soybean) and three cover crops (winter camelina [WC] [Camelina sativa L.], field pennycress [PC] [Thlaspi arvense L.], winter rye [Secale cereale L.] plus a no cover crop control). Cover crop establishment and growth varied with interseeding date across locations and seasons for both maize and soybean systems. Averaged over the years, rye produced more green cover and biomass than the oilseeds in spring. However, at the northern‐most site, the greatest (40%) green cover was recorded from pennycress and indicates its potential as a cover crop. Seeding date and cover crops did not negatively affect maize or soybean grain yields or soil water content. Generally, cover crop establishment and growth were better in the soybean system than maize due to better light penetration. Further research is needed to develop better suited cultivars and/or agronomic management practices for interseeding into maize. The results of this study indicate that producers could integrate these covers to diversify and add ecosystem services to soybean production practices.

Non-conventional pathways enable pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) embryos to achieve high efficiency of oil biosynthesis.

Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) accumulates oil up to 35% of the total seed biomass, and its overall fatty acid composition is suitable for aviation fuel. However, for this plant to become economically viable, its oil production needs to be improved. In vivo culture conditions that resemble the development of pennycress embryos in planta were developed based on the composition of the liquid endosperm. Then, substrate uptake rates and biomass accumulation were measured from cultured pennycress embryos, revealing a biosynthetic efficiency of 93%, which is one of the highest in comparison with other oilseeds to date. Additionally, the ratio of carbon in oil to CO2 indicated that non-conventional pathways are likely to be responsible for such a high carbon conversion efficiency. To identify the reactions enabling this phenomenon, parallel labeling experiments with 13C-labeled substrates were conducted in pennycress embryos. The main findings of these labeling experiments include: (i) the occurrence of the oxidative reactions of the pentose phosphate pathway in the cytosol; (ii) the reversibility of isocitrate dehydrogenase; (iii) the operation of the plastidic NADP-dependent malic enzyme; and (iv) the refixation of CO2 by Rubisco. These reactions are key providers of carbon and reductant for fatty acid synthesis and elongation.

МЕЛИТТОФИЛЬНЫЙ КОМПЛЕКС РАСТЕНИЙ, ОБЕСПЕЧИВАЮЩИХ КОРМОВУЮ БАЗУ МЕДОНОСНЫХ ПЧЕЛ (APIS MELLIFERA) В ГОРНО-ЛЕСНОЙ ЗОНЕ КРЫМА

For the first time, in the mountain-forest ecosystems of Crimea of parcel organization level adjacent to the beehives of honey bees (Apis mellifera L.), a species composition of plants representing the melittophilic complex has been identified which provides honey bees with pollen and nectar during the entire warm season. The complex includes 57 species of plants where the honey bees that collect pollen or nectar have been registered. The core of the melittophilic complex consisted of 35 species of plants, the proportion of simultaneously flowering (in any period of the season) flowers of each one exceeded 2.5 % of the total number of flowers of all flowering species at this time. In early spring, the list of such species included 15 plant species belonging to 14 genera and 12 families. In this period, the decisive forage value (species whose flower share exceeded 10 % of all flowering flowers) was represented by 4 plant species: Cornus mas L., Corylus avellana L., Dentaria quinquefolia M. B. and Prunus divaricata Ledeb., the important value (the flowers share made &lt;10 %, but &gt;2.5 %) had 4 species: Ficaria verna Huds., Galanthus plicatus M. Bieb., Primula vulgaris Huds. and Scilla bifolia L. In spring, the forage base made up 20 plant species belonging to 18 genera and 7 families. Four species had decisive forage value: Cerasus avium L., Malus sylvestris L., Prunus spinosa L. and Pyrus elaeagrifolia Jacq., 7 species had important value: Crataegus monogyna Jacq., Fragaria vesca L., Lamium purpureum L., Crepis pulchra L., Prunus domestica L., Thlaspi arvense L. and Trifolium ambiguum M. Most of the species belonged to the Rosaceae family (10 species). In summer period, the forage basis comprised 20 species of melittophilic plants belonging to 19 genera and 9 families. 5 species had decisive value: Cichorium intybus L., Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop., Echium vulgare L., Medicago sativa L. and Trifolium ambiguum M., the important value had 7 species: Achillea millefolium L., Betonica officinalis L., Ballota nigra L., Centaurea diffusa Lam., Clematis vitalba L., Linaria vulgaris Mill. and Onobrychis sativa Lam. The representatives of the Asteraceae family (7 species) dominated; the representatives of Fabaceae (5 species) and Lamiaceae (4 species) also played a significant role. In autumn, there were the following food sources for honey bees: Diplotaxis tenuifolia (L.) DC., Centaurea diffusa Lam., Erýngium campéstre L., Carduus crispus L., and on the steppe slopes of the mountains: Scilla autumnalis L. and Crocus speciosus M. B. It has been established that the greatest number of melittophilic plant species in the studied mountain-forest biogeocenoses grow on parcels of forest edges and glades, steppe slopes of the mountains in their natural state. Oak-hornbeam and floodplain tree-shrub parcels have a smaller variety of species, but are essential for bees in early spring and spring..

Identification and stacking of crucial traits required for the domestication of pennycress

The oilseed species Thlaspi arvense (pennycress)—a weed that was only recently removed from the wild—has the potential to provide new sources of food and bioproducts when grown as a winter cover crop. Domestication of wild species has historically taken hundreds to thousands of years, but by making use of large-scale high-throughput comparative gene and phenotype analyses, along with recently developed technological tools, it has been possible to greatly accelerate this process. By taking advantage of extensive gene and phenotype knowledge in the related plant Arabidopsis, mutations for early maturity, reduced pod shatter, reduced seed glucosinolates and improved fatty acid composition were identified. Progress has been made to rapidly stack these traits in order to domesticate the plant, allowing it to fit within current crop cycles and to have improved seed harvestability and nutritional content. Pennycress, domesticated as a winter cover crop, may provide new sources of food, animal feed and bioproducts—and solutions to food security. Thlaspi arvense (pennycress) has the potential to provide new sources of food and bioproducts when grown as a winter cover crop. Here, Chopra et al. demonstrate that multiple desirable traits can be stacked to rapidly domesticate pennycress. The resulting crop integrates into current crop rotations and produces seeds with improved nutritional qualities, easier harvesting and suitability for human consumption.

Herbicide-resistant weeds in the Canadian prairies: 2012 to 2017

AbstractThis report updates the incidence of herbicide-resistant (HR) weeds across western Canada from the last report covering 2007 to 2011. This third round of preharvest surveys was conducted in Saskatchewan in 2014 and 2015, Manitoba in 2016, and Alberta in 2017, totaling 798 randomly selected cropped fields across 28 million ha. In addition, we screened 1,108 weed seed samples submitted by prairie growers or industry between 2012 and 2016. Of 578 fields where wild oat seed was collected, 398 (69%) had an HR biotype: 62% acetyl-CoA carboxylase inhibitor (WSSA Group 1) resistant, 34% acetolactate synthase inhibitor (Group 2) resistant, and 27% Group 1+2 resistant (vs. 41%, 12%, and 8%, respectively, in the previous second-round surveys from 2007 to 2009). The sharp increase in Group 2 resistance is the result of reliance on this site of action to manage Group 1 resistance and the resultant increased selection pressure. There are no POST options to control Group 1+2–HR wild oat in wheat or barley. The rise of Group 2 resistance in green foxtail (11% of sampled fields) and yellow foxtail (17% of Manitoba fields), which was not detected in the previous survey round, parallels the results for wild oat resistance. Various Group 2–HR populations of broadleaf weeds were confirmed, with cleavers and field pennycress being most abundant. Results of submission-sample testing reflected survey results. Although not included in this study, a postharvest survey in Alberta in 2017 indicated widespread Groups 2, 4 (dicamba), and 9 (glyphosate) resistance in kochia and Group 2 resistance in Russian thistle. These surveys bring greater awareness of HR weeds to growers and land managers at local and regional levels, and highlight the urgency to preserve herbicide susceptibility in our key economic weed species.

Determination of weed hosts of soybean cyst nematode in South Dakota

AbstractSoybean cyst nematode (SCN) causes over $1.2 billion in revenue loss annually in the United States and consistently ranks as the most threatening pathogen for soybean. SCN weed hosts have been documented in other states in the eastern Corn Belt, but very little work has been done in the midwestern Corn Belt. To determine alternative SCN weed hosts in South Dakota, 670 whole weed root samples comprising 63 weed species were collected from 48 SCN-positive fields in 13 counties during fall 2016 and spring 2017. Among the 63 weed species, 12 contained SCN juveniles and 7 were confirmed hosts of SCN based on the completion of the SCN life cycle in greenhouse studies. Ranking of female index (FI) for the weed hosts were purple deadnettle (FI = 34.6) &gt; field pennycress (FI = 26.9) &gt; common mallow (FI = 2.04) &gt; shepherd’s purse (FI = 1.89) &gt; white clover (FI = 1.86) &gt; Canada thistle (FI = 1.24) &gt; common cocklebur (FI = 1.10). These results indicate that some weeds can support SCN, and therefore a proactive weed management approach should be employed for fields infested with SCN.

Relay and sequential cropping corn with winter oilseed crops in northern climates

Winter oilseed crops camelina [Camelina sativa (L.) Crantz] and field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) are potential candidates for diversifying the corn–soybean rotation in the upper Midwest U.S.; however, little is known about their performance in double cropping with corn. A 2-year study of relay- and sequential-cropping corn with winter camelina and field pennycress was conducted to evaluate such a strategy. Cropping systems did not affect the biomass and grain yield of winter oilseed crops. Overall, biomass, N uptake, and grain yield of winter camelina were, respectively, 3.1, 2.5, and 2.3 fold higher than field pennycress. Over the 2-year study, grain yield of corn in relay was decreased by 18.5% compared to its control; corresponding to 18 and 19% reduction when relayed with winter camelina and field pennycress, respectively. Relative to mono-crop, total grain yield (corn + oilseed crop) and net income of corn in relay with winter camelina decreased 12.9 and 22.9%, respectively, while total grain yield and net income of corn in relay with field pennycress decreased 16.7 and 40.1%, respectively. Over the 2-year study, grain yield of sequential corn increased 13.9% compared to its control; corresponding to 16 and 12% increase following winter camelina and field pennycress, respectively. Sequential cropping maintained or increased total grain yield and net income compared to its control. Our results support winter oilseed crops as candidates to diversify the corn–soybean rotation in northern climates; however, the development of technologies aiming at maximizing grain yield and economic value in double cropping is needed.

Green synthesis of catalytic Zinc Oxide nano‐flowers and their bacterial infection therapy

Herein, Zinc Oxide nanoflowers (ZnONFs) with low cost, non‐hazardous and renewable phytochemicals from plant (Thlaspi arvense) extract were synthesized via facile method under controlled optimized experimental conditions. The as‐fabricated Zinc Oxide nanoflowers were comprehensively characterized by UV–visible spectroscopy, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, High‐resolution transmission electron microscopy, and Energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques. The bio‐fabricated Zinc Oxide nanoflowers performed an admirable potential activity against Gram‐negative bacterium (Escherichia coli) and significantly inhibited its growth, due to an intracellular generation of reactive‐oxygen‐species. The photocatalytic performances of as bio‐synthesized Zinc Oxide nanoflowers were also tested by reducing 4‐nitrophenol and methylene blue. The superior photocatalytic activities of Zinc Oxide nanoflowers are attributed to the high surface area, efficient photogenerated electron and hole separation owing to the capped plant moieties. The as‐synthesized Zinc Oxide nanoflowers by green method exhibited a significant antibacterial activity and efficient photocatalytic performances. This synthetic strategy will open a new window for the fabrication of nanomaterial with effective removal of wastewater contaminants and pathogens.

Study on the medicinal plants against grouper iridovirus infection: A short communication

As one serious viral pathogen in mariculture, grouper Iridovirus (GIV) could cause high mortality to cultured groupers, then effective treatments against GIV infection are needed. The effects of Thlaspi arvense Linn. extracts against GIV infection was assessed by different methods in this study. The safe concentration of the water extract of Thlaspi arvense Linn. was initially determined as ≤1.25 mg/mL, which showed no obvious cytotoxic effects on cell viability. Using the safe concentration, aptamer(Q2)-based based fluorescent detection assay and qRT-PCR results indicated that, Thlaspi arvense Linn. water extracts had excellent inhibitory effects against GIV infection in vitro and in vivo. In addition, the mechanism of Thlaspi arvense Linn. on the invasion process of the grouper iridovirus was examined, which showed that Thlaspi arvense Linn. water extracts had significant inhibitory effects at the stage of virus adsorption on the host cell membrane. The inhibitory rate was 87.48%. Overall, Thlaspi arvense Linn. water extracts have great antiviral effects, making it an interesting candidate for developing effective medicines for fighting against GIV infection in farmed groupers.

Turning a burden into an opportunity: Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) a new oilseed crop for biofuel production

Recently, an “old weed”, pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) has become an attractive non-food oilseed crop for Europe and the USA. Pennycress can be produced with existing farm equipment and infrastructure while being grown in the off-season between conventional commodity crops. The adaptation to marginal lands and the satisfactory seed yields make pennycress a viable alternative feedstock for biofuels. In the last decade, pennycress has been extensively studied as a potential oilseed crop in the USA, while receiving far less attention in Europe. Differences in climate and agricultural management between USA and Europe may not permit direct translation of pennycress agronomic knowledge across diverse environments. In the present study, sowing date and seeding rate of pennycress were evaluated in different European (Italy and Greece) and US (Minnesota and Illinois) locations to optimize site-specific production, and determine environmental influence on pennycress-derived biofuel. Pennycress productivity increased with seeding rate up to 1500 m−2 in Europe, but only to 672 m−2 in USA, while sowing in early autumn always improved yields. Seed yield of about 1 Mg ha-1 was achieved only in Greece, where adequate precipitation during the growing season was available. Seed yields were 250% and 140% higher in Greece and Italy, respectively, than Minnesota. Pennycress oil was suitable to convert into biofuel and its composition was influenced by growing environment. In Greece, polyunsaturated fatty acid content was 6% compared to Italy and Illinois. However, the oxidative stability of pennycress oil needs improvement to meet EU and US standards for biodiesel.

Management of pennycress as a winter annual cash cover crop. A review

Agriculture in the Upper Midwest of the USA is characterized by a short growing season and unsustainable farming practices including low-diversity cropping systems and high fertilizer inputs. One method to reduce the magnitude of these problems is by integrating a winter annual into the summer-annual-dominant cropping system. For this reason, pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) has garnered interest in the agricultural community due to its winter annual growth habit and potential for industrial oil production, making it an ecologically and economically desirable crop. Despite decades of research focusing on pennycress as an agricultural weed, little is known about its best management practices as an intentionally cultivated crop. The majority of agronomic research has occurred within the past 10 years, and there are major gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed prior to the widespread integration of pennycress on the landscape. Here we review relevant agronomic research on pennycress as a winter annual crop in the areas of sowing requirements, harvest, seed oil content, seed oil quality, cropping strategies, ecosystem services, and germplasm development. The major points are as follows: (1) there is little consensus regarding basic agronomic practices (i.e., seeding rate, row spacing, nutrient requirements, and harvest strategy); (2) pennycress can be integrated into a corn (Zea mays)–soybean (Glycine max) rotation, but further research on system management is required to maximize crop productivity and oilseed yields; (3) pennycress provides essential ecosystem services to the landscape in early spring when vegetation is scarce; (4) breeding efforts are required to remove detrimental weedy characteristics, such as silicle shatter and high sinigrin content, from the germplasm. We conclude that pennycress shows great promise as an emergent crop; however, current adoption is limited by a lack of conclusive knowledge regarding management practices and future research is required over a multitude of topics.