Flowering Stalk Research Articles

Eco-friendly management of post flowering stalk rot disease maize caused by Fusarium verticillioides (SACC) Nirenberg using phyto-extracts and antagonistic bio-agents

Eco-friendly management of post flowering stalk rot disease maize caused by Fusarium verticillioides (SACC) Nirenberg using phyto-extracts and antagonistic bio-agents

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of purple flowering stalk (Brassica campestris var. purpuraria) and comparisons with related species

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome of purple flowering stalk (Brassica campestris var. purpuraria) and comparisons with related species

Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Mechanism of Exogenous Selenium in Alleviating Cadmium Stress in Purple Flowering Stalks (Brassica campestris var. purpuraria).

In China, cadmium (Cd) stress has a significant role in limiting the development and productivity of purple flowering stalks (Brassica campestris var. purpuraria). Exogenous selenium supplementation has been demonstrated in earlier research to mitigate the effects of Cd stress in a range of plant species; nevertheless, the physiological and molecular processes by which exogenous selenium increases vegetable shoots' resistance to Cd stress remain unclear. Purple flowering stalks (Brassica campestris var. purpuraria) were chosen as the study subject to examine the effects of treatment with sodium selenite (Na2SeO3) on the physiology and transcriptome alterations of cadmium stress. Purple flowering stalk leaves treated with exogenous selenium had higher glutathione content, photosynthetic capacity, and antioxidant enzyme activities compared to the leaves treated with Cd stress alone. Conversely, the contents of proline, soluble proteins, soluble sugars, malondialdehyde, and intercellular CO2 concentration tended to decrease. Transcriptome analysis revealed that 2643 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were implicated in the response of exogenous selenium treatment to Cd stress. The metabolic pathways associated with flavonoid production, carotenoid synthesis, glutathione metabolism, and glucosinolate biosynthesis were among those enriched in these differentially expressed genes. Furthermore, we discovered DEGs connected to the production route of glucosinolates. This work sheds fresh light on how purple flowering stalks' tolerance to cadmium stress is improved by exogenous selenium.

Bio rational green approaches for effective management of post flowering stalk rot in maize (Zea mays)

Present study was carried out to assess efficacy of bio agents and organic ITK’s against post flowering stalk rot at Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology, Udaipur, Rajasthan during 2019–20. The results of in vitro studies revealed that Trichoderma viride (65%) significantly inhibited the mycelium growth of Fusarium verticillioides. In field conditions, T. viride showed low disease rating 3.0, low per cent disease incidence (25.20%) and high efficacy of disease control (62.27%) with good grain yield 1191 g/plot against the pathogen at 2% concentrations. Maize growers can protect their crop from this disease by using the sustainable, environmentally friendly disease control strategies that were found in our study.

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans and mercury in vegetable of the contaminated Ya-Er Lake area: Concentrations, sources, and health risk

The Ya-Er Lake is a seriously polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzo-furans (PCDD/Fs) and mercury (Hg)-contaminated lake by pesticide and chlor-alkali plants in China. The oxidation pond method has been conducted to control pollution, moreover, the contaminated sediment was dredged and stacked, becoming a sediment stack yard for vegetable cultivation. To assess effects of oxidation pond method and dredging programme on pollution management and long-term risks of PCDD/Fs and Hg, the concentrations of PCDD/Fs, total Hg (THg), and methylmercury (MeHg) in soil and vegetable sampled from the sediment stack yard were measured and analyzed. Significantly positive relationships between concentrations of PCDD/Fs (p < 0.01), THg, and MeHg (p < 0.05) in edible parts of vegetable and soil were found, suggesting that bioaccumulation from contaminated soil derived from sediment dredging is important sources of PCDD/Fs and Hg in vegetable. Much higher PCDD/Fs (12 ± 9 pg/g dw) and Hg (THg, 0.14 ± 0.23 μg/g dw; MeHg,12.63 ± 13.31 ng/g dw) levels in vegetable were found compared with those from other contaminated regions, indicative of serious PCDD/Fs and Hg pollution in vegetable harvested from contaminated soil. Finally, the calculated provisional tolerable daily intake (PTDI) values showed higher health risk of PCDD/Fs and Hg exposure to local residents through consumption of purple and white flowering stalk, and oilseed rape. Our study established a good model to evaluate the long-term risks of PCDD/Fs and Hg. Moreover, the results indicate that the oxidation pond method and dredging programme were not effective to remove PCDD/Fs and Hg in sediment, which shed new light on management strategy of PCDD/Fs and Hg pollution in contaminated regions.

Anthocyanin accumulation and transcriptional regulation in purple flowering stalk (Brassica campestrisL. var.purpurea Bailey).

1. Purple flowering stalk (Brassica campestris L. ssp. chinensis L. var. purpurea Bailey) is a crop with the high-level anthocyanin. 2. Increased abundance of LBGs promoted the synthesis of anthocyanin. 3. TTG2 (WRKY) interacted with TTG1 (WD40), probably regulating anthocyanin accumulation by shaping a MBWW complex. Brassica crops are a class of nutrient-rich vegetables. Here, two Brassica Crops-Flowering Stalk cultivars, purple flowering stalk (Brassica campestris L. var. purpurea Bailey) and pakchoi (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis var. communis) were investigated. HPLC-ESI-MS/MS analysis demonstrated that Cy 3-p-coumaroylsophoroside-5-malonylglucoside and Cy 3-diferuloylsophoroside-5-malonylglucoside were identified as the major anthocyanin in peel of purple flowering stalk. The transcript level of structural genes including C4H, CHS, F3H, DFR, ANS and UFGT, and regulatory genes such as TT8, TTG1, Bra004162, Bra001917 and TTG2 in peel of purple flowering stalk were significantly higher than that in peel of pakchoi. In addition, the TTG2(WRKY) interacted only with TTG1(WD40) and the interaction between TT8 (bHLH) and TTG1/Bra004162(MYB)/Bra001917(MYB) were identified. Else, the WD40-WRKY complex (TTG1-TTG2) could activate the transcript of TT12. Our study laid a foundation for the research on the anthocyanin accumulation in Brassica crops.

Dissecting the genetic architecture of glucosinolate compounds for quality improvement in flowering stalk tissues of Brassica napus

Glucosinolates (GSLs) and their hydrolytic products contribute to the quality traits of rapeseed flowering stalk tissues, such as taste, flavor and anticarcinogenic properties (Glucoraphanin). However, little is known about the genetic mechanisms of GSL accumulation in rapeseed flowering stalks. In this study, the variation and genetic architecture of GSL metabolites in flowering stalk tissues were investigated for the first time among a panel of 107 accessions. All GSL compounds exhibited continuous and wide variations in the present population. Progoitrin, glucobrassicanapin and gluconapin were the most abundant GSL compounds. Five quantitative trait loci (QTL) significantly associated with three GSL compounds were identified by genome-wide association study. GRA_C04 was under selected during modern breeding, in which the ratio of lower GSL haplotype (HAP2) in the accessions bred before 1990 (52.56%) was significantly lower than that after 1990 (78.95%). Four candidate genes, BnaA01. SOT16, BnaA06. SOT17, BnaA06. MYB51a, and BnaA06. MYB51b, were identified in the GTL_A01 and 4OH_A06 regions. These findings provide new insights into GSL biosynthesis in flowering stalk tissues and facilitate quality improvement in rapeseed flowering stalks.

Measure Avoidable Loss Assessment due to Post Flowering Stalk Rots Caused by Fusarium verticillioides in Maize in Southern Rajasthan, India

Measure Avoidable Loss Assessment due to Post Flowering Stalk Rots Caused by Fusarium verticillioides in Maize in Southern Rajasthan, India

Chitosan Nanoparticles-Based Ionic Gelation Method: A Promising Candidate for Plant Disease Management.

By 2050, population growth and climate change will lead to increased demand for food and water. Nanoparticles (NPs), an advanced technology, can be applied to many areas of agriculture, including crop protection and growth enhancement, to build sustainable agricultural production. Ionic gelation method is a synthesis of microparticles or NPs, based on an electrostatic interaction between opposite charge types that contains at least one polymer under mechanical stirring conditions. NPs, which are commonly based on chitosan (CS), have been applied to many agricultural fields, including nanopesticides, nanofertilizers, and nanoherbicides. The CS-NP or CS-NPs-loaded active ingredients (Cu, saponin, harpin, Zn, hexaconazole, salicylic acid (SA), NPK, thiamine, silicon, and silver (Ag)) are effective in controlling plant diseases and enhancing plant growth, depending on the concentration and application method by direct and indirect mechanisms, and have attracted much attention in the last five years. Many crops have been evaluated in in vivo or in greenhouse conditions but only maize (CS-NP-loaded Cu, Zn, SA, and silicon) and soybean (CS-NP-loaded Cu) were tested for manage post flowering stalk rot, Curvularia leaf spot, and bacterial pustule disease in field condition. Since 2019, five of eight studies have been performed in field conditions that have shown interest in CS-NPs synthesized by the ionic gelation method. In this review, we summarized the current state of research and provided a forward-looking view of the use of CS-NPs in plant disease management.

Potential native Trichoderma strains against Fusarium verticillioides causing post flowering stalk rot in winter maize

Fusarium spp. complex, (Fusarium verticillioides, F. subglutinans, F. moniliforme, F. graminearum) causing post flowering stalk rot (PFSR), has been reported as a serious disease in southern Rajasthan, and eastern Gujarat in winter maize. In the present study, emphasis has been laid on the efficacy of twenty seven Trichoderma strains against F. verticillioides which is a major causal organism. Efficacy evaluation of Trichoderma strains was based on the radial growth of the pathogen in the presence of biological control agent (BCA). Based on per cent inhibition three potential native strains of Trichoderma spp (Trichoderma harzianum BThr29, T. asperellum BTas25, and T. erinaceum BTer43) were selected for biological control of PFSR in the field. T. harzianum BThr29, T. asperellum BTas25, and T. erinaceum BTer43 showed per cent inhibition of F. verticillioides by 87.8, 83.9, and 81.1 percent respectively. Maize plants were artificially inoculated with F. verticillioides, and three potential Trichoderma strains were delivered as soil application (Trichoderma enriched FYM 10 tones ha−1), seed treatment (10 g/kg seeds), and drenching (10 g/liter water). Split stem observation at the harvest of crop showed a restricted lesion of T. harzianum BThr29 treated plant at par with fungicidal application with an average mean rating scale of 1–1.3, which showed less than 50% discoloration in inoculated internode. In control, the mean disease rating scale was 3–3.4 which showed 51–75% of the inoculated internode is discolored. Application of Trichoderma strains improved crop stand by reducing lodging from 42.1 to 71.1% in inoculated maize plants, and reduced PFSR disease severity from 17.58 to 62.37%, Fungicidal application reduced lodging of maize plant from 57.91 to 77.78% and PFSR disease by 58.24–64.35% as compared to untreated control. The results obtained suggested that Trichoderma harzianum BThr29 has the potential to be used as a non-chemical alternative for PFSR disease management in maize crops.

Breeding Resistance for Post Flowering Stalk rot (Macrophomina phaseolina) in Maize Identification of Resistance against Post Flowering Stalk Rot (Macrophomina phaseolina) in Maize

Maize is one of the most important staple food crops in the World. However, the yields of maize have been affected by various fungal infestations. Post flowering stalk rot is one of the devastating diseases and so, we planned our study to order to identify suitable resistance maize genotypes against post flowering stalk rot (PFSR) complex caused by Macrophomina phaseolina through in-vivo screening and toothpick method for creating artificial epiphytotics. A total of 20 maize inbreds were screened and crossed in Line × Tester mating design (15 × 5) during Kharif 2019, Six resistant inbred lines were identified and generated the 75 F1s (SCHs) at MRC, ARI, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. All these 20 parents and 75 F1s along with three checks were evaluated by raising the crop in disease sick plot accompanied by toothpick inoculation during Rabi, 2019-20, in a Randomized Block Design with two replications. The field screening of maize genotypes by the standard toothpick method which needs about 40 days for expression of plant drying symptoms due to PFSR and data are possible to record only at the time of crop harvesting using 1-9 rating scale of PFSR for scoring disease severity in-vivo condition by splitting the stem of each plant. As a result, most of the genotypes were exhibited disease reaction varying from resistant (score 2) to moderately resistant (score 5) against M. phaseolina. While studying the genetics of PFSR, we found that interaction of lines and testers were proportionally contributed towards resistant, and degree of dominance is preferably non-additive gene action, it shows that the magnitude of dominance was higher than additive effect indicating that PFSR resistance is largely governed by dominance effect i.e., non additive component is not fixable for resistance. It is also found that the resistant genotypes also exhibited highest significant positive heterosis and combining ability effects (GCA and SCA). A considerable yield reduction in grain yield (10.5 to 28.3%) over checks was observed in susceptible lines. Most of the genotypes were found resistant as the reduction in yield is low. Hybrids developed using such lines exhibited high yields which are promoted for extensive testing to know their stability before release as commercial hybrids.

Evaluation of maize genotypes against post flowering stalk rot under terai region of Nepal

The inadequate source of resistance materials in maize against major biotic stresses is one of the main reasons for considerable loss of grain yield in Nepal. Post flowering stalk rot disease caused by Fusarium moniliforme is a serious disease that exposes high incidence at grain filling stage of maize in terai region of Nepal during summer season. This study was done to evaluate level of resistance, or tolerance in selected genotypes against the post flowering stalk rot disease of maize. Accordingly, thirty maize genotypes were tested for maize stalk rot resistance during summer season of 2016 and 2017 at National Maize Research Program, Rampur (NMRP), Chitwan. The experiment was done under natural epiphytotic condition at hot spot of the disease by using Randomized Complete Block design with 2 replications for each treatment. The package of practices was followed as per national recommendation. The summer season of 2016 and 2017 were affable for post flowering stalk rot of maize at NMRP, Rampur. Out of 30 genotypes, most of the tested entries showed susceptible reaction during both the years; however, RML-95/RML-96, Across-9942/Across-9944, ZM-401, Rampur 34, RamS03F08 and TLBRS07F16 showed resistant reaction against the disease and might be useful for the development of post flowering stalk rot resistant maize varieties for terai region of Nepal.

Genetic diversity, population structure, and ancestry estimation in the Antennaria rosea (Asteraceae: Gnaphalieae) polyploid agamic complex

AbstractAntennaria rosea, a polyploid agamic complex, originated from hybridization, polyploidization, and introgression of as many as eight diploid/tetraploid sexual Antennaria species in the Rocky Mountains of North America. The species shows tremendous variation within and among populations including phyllary coloration, number and arrangement of heads per flowering stalk, and leaf size/shape leading to the enumeration of many microspecies and a taxonomic challenge. A comprehensive evolutionary study of these populations would clarify the origins and evolution of A. rosea as a polyploid agamic complex. Using genetic markers developed for Antennaria species, genetic diversity, population structure, and ancestry estimation of 18 A. rosea populations distributed in the Rocky Mountains of the U.S.A. were studied. Comparatively, A. rosea populations distributed in the Northern Rocky Mountain region had higher levels of genetic diversity than the populations in the southern Rocky Mountain region. Antennaria rosea populations were divided into three genetically distinct clusters, and populations within each genetic cluster showed high correlations regarding geographic distribution and ancestry. Two of the putative parents, A. microphylla and A. umbrinella, were the major sources of parentage for A. rosea populations, and notably, these species were widely distributed and sympatric with most of the A. rosea populations from this study. A novel finding of this study was that each of the A. rosea populations had its origins from different sexual progenitors and, although A. microphylla and A. umbrinella were the major contributors to the parentage of most of the A. rosea clones sampled, the other six sexual species also contributed to a lesser degree to their origins. Our study also indicated that sympatry of parents contributes substantially to the origination of polyploid populations of A. rosea.

Physiological variability of Fusarium verticillioides causing post flowering stalk rot in maize

Post flowering stalk rot of maize caused by Fusarium verticillioides is the major disease and the occurrence of variability in the pathogen is one of the key factors for difficulty in management of the disease. The effect of temperature regimes showed the maximum radial growth and highest sporulation was obtained at 30℃ by all six isolates of F. verticillioides. At pH 7 maximum radial growth of all isolates was obtained except FV 1 and FV 7 isolates which produced maximum radial growth at pH 6. Highest sporulation of all six isolates was seen at pH 6. Exposure of pathogen to continuous dark (24 hours) condition yielded maximum radial growth in all isolates except in FV 6 isolate which produced maximum radial growth when it was exposed to continuous light (24 hours). Optimum sporulation of all the six isolates was seen under continuous dark condition followed by alternate cycles of 12 hours light and 12 hours darkness. Isolates FV 2 and FV 7 were produced maximum radial growth on soluble starch, whereas FV 3 and FV 6 isolates on sucrose. Fructose and maltose produced maximum radial growth of FV 1 and FV 5 isolate respectively. Optimum sporulation of all six isolates was obtained by supplying fructose and sucrose as carbon source.

First Report of Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae Associated with Post Flowering Stalk Rot of Maize (Zea mays) from India

First Report of <i>Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae</i> Associated with Post Flowering Stalk Rot of Maize (<i>Zea mays</i>) from India

Floral reorientation: the restoration of pollination accuracy after accidents.

Plants sometimes suffer mechanical injury. The nonlethal collapse of a flowering stalk, for example, can greatly reduce plant fitness if it leads to 'incorrect' floral orientation and thus reduced visitation or poor pollination. When floral orientation is important for accurate pollination, as has been suggested for bilaterally symmetrical flowers, we predict that such flowers should have developmental and/or behavioural mechanisms for restoring 'correct' orientation after accidents. We made observations and conducted experiments on 23 native and cultivated flowering plant species in Australia, South America, North America and Europe. We found that flowers with bilateral symmetry usually have the capacity to reorient after accidents, and that this is manifested through rapid bending and/or rotation of pedicels or sexual organs or slower peduncle bending. Floral reorientation restores pollination accuracy and fit with pollinators. However, experimental floral misorientation in eight species with radially symmetrical flowers showed that, with one exception, they had little capacity to reorient their flowers, in line with expectations that the orientation of radially symmetrical flowers does not substantially affect pollination accuracy. Our results suggest that quick corrective reorientation of bilaterally symmetrical flowers is adaptive, highlighting a little-studied aspect of plant-pollinator interactions and plant evolution.

In-vitro scape and bulb formation in garlic (Allium sativum)

Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is one of the important spices crops that required on daily basis in kitchens and cuisines across the world. Scape or flowering stalk induction is highly important for crop improvement as garlic is a vegetatively propagated crop. However, scape formation has not achieved yet by any means. Meristems (0.1 0.3 mm) of garlic cv. Bhima Purple were cultured in vitro on basal MS medium fortified with 0.1 mgl−1 NAA, 1.0 mgl−1 Kinetin and 3% sucrose (w/v). Proliferated meristems (mericlones) were sub-cultured after 10-15 days. About 55-60 days old cultures were sub-cultured on MS + 1 mgl−1 Kinetin + 6% sucrose in liquid medium for microbulbil induction and maintained till its harvest. Microbulbils were induced on mericlones after about 70-75 days after initial inoculation. In vitro induced bulbils transformed into a small garlic bulb having 2-3 cloves or microbulbils after 110-115 days of initial culturing. Subsequently after 125-130 days the maiden in-vitro scape formation was observed. It showed a ray of light to use this alternative strategy, i.e. in-vitro scape induction to induce flowering stalk in garlic. Also, the successful in-vitro bulb development reported first time herein would give an opportunity of mass production of garlic without managing cumbersome field propagations.

Non-ionic surfactants improved microspore embryogenesis and plant regeneration of recalcitrant purple flowering stalk (Brassica campestris ssp. chinensis var. purpurea Bailey)

As Brassicaceae species are mostly cross-pollinated, breeding homozygous parental lines by traditional approaches is time-consuming and costly. Alternatively, microspore culture has been widely applied to produce double haploid lines in a short time. This study aimed to establish a highly efficient microspore culture protocol for purple flowering stalk. Among the five genotypes studied, the highest and lowest embryo induction rates were observed in J18 and J17 (13.5 and 7.67 embryos per bud, respectively). Microspores of genotypes J17 and J18 were successfully induced to produce embryos in NLN-13 medium, but the frequency of microspore embryogenesis was low. Three non-ionic surfactants (Pluronic F-68, Triton X-100, Tween-20) were evaluated independently for their effect on microspore embryogenesis of purple flowering stalk. Microspores of the two genotypes were cultivated in NLN-13 medium supplemented with different concentrations (0.0001%, 0.001%, 0.01%, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 1% (w/v)) of the three non-ionic surfactants to enhance microspore embryogenesis and plant regeneration. In both genotypes, supplementation with any of the three non-ionic surfactants at 0.0001% significantly increased the frequency of microspore embryogenesis; furthermore, at that concentration, Tween-20 significantly increased the number of plants regenerated from induced embryoids by 29.9% and 30% in J17 and J18, respectively. Moreover, the rate of double haploid formation among regenerated plants of the five genotypes was above 60%, which allowed the creation of 93 double haploid lines.

Molecular Cloning and Characterization of Three Glucosinolate Transporter (GTR) Genes from Chinese Kale.

Chinese kale is a native vegetable in Southern China and the flowering stalk is the most commonly used edible part due to its high glucosinolate content and other nutritional qualities. The GTR protein played important roles in the glucosinolate transport process. In this study, three BocGTR1 genes were cloned from Chinese kale for the first time. Their gene structure, physicochemical properties, signal peptides, transmembrane structures, functional domains, second and third-order protein structures, and phylogenetic relationships were predicted. The expression levels of BocGTR1a and BocGTR1c were much higher than those of BocGTR1b in various tissues, especially in leaves and buds. In addition, the expression patterns of three genes were examined under various abiotic stresses or hormone treatment, including those induced by wounding, heat stress, methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, salt, and MgCl2 treatment. BocGTR1a and BocGTR1c were strongly induced by wounding and heat stress. The expression of BocGTR1a and BocGTR1c was significantly silenced in plants transformed by RNAi technology. Total glucosinolate content was significantly decreased in mature leaves and increased in roots of RNAi-transformed plants compared to wild-type plants. In addition, we found that BocGTR1a and BocGTR1c may participate in glucosinolate accumulation in different tissues with a selection for specific glucosinolates. These results indicated that BocGTR1a and BocGTR1c may be the key genes involved in the glucosinolate accumulation in different tissues of Chinese kale.

The Efficacy of Bioagents against Post Flowering Stalk Rot (PFSR) of Specialty Corn Caused by Fusarium verticillioides (sheldon)

The Efficacy of Bioagents against Post Flowering Stalk Rot (PFSR) of Specialty Corn Caused by Fusarium verticillioides (sheldon)