Solanaceae Research Articles

SoIR: a comprehensive Solanaceae information resource for comparative and functional genomic study.

The Solanaceae family, which includes economically important crops such as tomatoes, potatoes and peppers, has experienced a rapid expansion in genomic data due to advancements in sequencing technologies. However, existing databases are limited by incomplete species representation, a lack of comprehensive comparative genomic tools and the absence of systematic pan-genomic analyses. To address these gaps, we developed the Solanaceae Information Resource (SoIR, https://soir.bio2db.com), a comprehensive genomics database for the Solanaceae family. SoIR integrates genomic data from 81 species and transcriptomic data from 41 species, encompassing a total of 3908408 gene annotations derived from Gene Ontology, nonredundant protein, Pfam, Swiss-Prot and TrEMBL databases. The resource also includes 3437115 CRISPR guide sequences, 212395 transcription factorsand 19086 genes associated with methylation modification. In addition to species-specific analyses, SoIR provides extensive bioinformatics tools for investigating gene family evolution, phylogenetic relationships and karyotype reconstruction across 25 fully sequenced genomes. With advanced tools such as Blast, Synteny and Sequence Alignment, the platform provides users with interactive and intuitive visualizations for conducting cross-species comparative genomics. As the first comprehensive pan-genomic resource for the entire Solanaceae family, SoIR facilitates in-depth cross-species analysis, supporting global research initiatives in plant evolution, functional genomics and crop improvement.

Omics based approaches to decipher the leaf ionome and transcriptome changes in Solanum lycopersicum L. upon Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) infection.

The Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) is a pathogen that mostly affects plants from the Solanaceae family. This virus severely affects the yield of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) plants, thus creating an urgent need to research the basis of resistance to manage the disease. To understand the molecular basis of resistance, we employed omics-based approaches involving leaf ionomics and transcriptomics to help us decipher the interaction between elemental and nutritional composition and investigate its effect on the gene expression profile upon the ToBRFV infection in tomatoes. Ionomics was used to investigate the accumulation of trace elements in leaves, showcasing that the plants resistant to the virus had significantly higher concentrations of iron (p-value = 0.039) and nickel (p-value = 0.042) than the susceptible ones. By correlating these findings with transcriptomics, we identified some key genes involved in iron homeostasis and abscisic acid pathways, potentially responsible for conferring resistance against the pathogen. From the obtained list of differentially expressed genes, a panel of mutation profile was discovered with three important genes-Solyc02g068590.3.1 (K+ transporter), Solyc01g111890.3.1 (LRR), and Solyc02g061770.4.1 (Chitinase) showing persistent missense mutations. We ascertain the role of these genes and establish their association with plant resistance using genotyping assays in various tomato lines. The targeted selection of these genetic determinants can further enhance plant breeding and crop yield management strategies.

Quantifying Withanolides in Plasma: Pharmacokinetic Studies and Analytical Methods

Withania somnifera (common name: ashwagandha; WS) is an Ayurvedic botanical that has become popular for its reputed effects on stress and insomnia. Research into the bioactive compounds responsible for the biological effects of WS has largely focused on withanolides, a group of steroidal lactones commonly found in the Solanaceae family. Until recently, however, it was unclear which, if any, withanolides were present in the plasma after the ingestion of WS products. The aim of this review is to summarize current knowledge regarding the plasma pharmacokinetics of withanolides found in WS and the analytical methods developed to detect them in plasma. Twenty studies (sixteen animal, four human) were identified in which isolated withanolides or withanolide-containing products were administered to animals or humans and quantified in plasma. Withanolides were commonly analyzed using reversed-phase liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Plasma concentrations of withanolides varied significantly depending on the substance administered, withanolide dose, and route of administration. Plasma pharmacokinetics of withaferin A, withanolide A, withanolide B, withanoside IV, 12-deoxywithastramonolide, and withanone have been reported in rodents (Cmax range: 5.6–8410 ng/mL), while withaferin A, withanolide A, 12-deoxywithastramonolide, and withanoside IV pharmacokinetic parameters have been described in humans (Cmax range: 0.1–49.5 ng/mL).

Comparative Genomic and Secretome Analysis of Phytophthora capsici Strains: Exploring Pathogenicity and Evolutionary Dynamics

Phytophthora capsici is a destructive oomycete pathogen that poses a significant threat to global agriculture by infecting a wide range of economically important crops in the Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae families. In Canada, the pathogen has been responsible for substantial losses in greenhouse and field-grown crops. Despite extensive worldwide research on P. capsici, little is known about the effector content and pathogenicity of the Canadian isolates. In this study, we sequenced and analyzed the genomes of two Canadian P. capsici strains, namely 55330 and 55898, and conducted a comparative secretome analysis with globally referenced strains LT1534 and LT263. The Canadian strains displayed smaller genomes at 57.3 Mb and 60.2 Mb compared to LT263 at 76 Mb, yet retained diverse effector repertoires, including RxLR and CRN effectors, and exhibited robust pathogenic potential. Our analysis revealed that while the Canadian strains have fewer unique effector clusters compared to LT263, they possess comparable CAZyme profiles, emphasizing their capacity to degrade plant cell walls and promote infection. The differences in effector content likely reflect host adaptation, as P. capsici infects a variety of plant species. This study provides valuable insights into the genetic features of Canadian P. capsici isolates and offers a foundation for future efforts in developing targeted disease-management strategies.

Multiple Speciation and Extinction Rate Shifts Shaped the Macro-Evolutionary History of the Genus Lycium Towards a Rather Gradual Accumulation of Species Within the Genus

The Neotropics are the most species-rich region on Earth, and spectacular diversification rates in plants are reported in plants, mostly occurring in oceanic archipelagos, making Neotropical and island plant lineages a model for macro-evolutionary studies. The genus Lycium in the Solanaceae family, originating from the Neotropics and exhibiting a unique disjunct geography across several islands, is therefore expected to experience exceptional diversification events. In this study, we aimed to quantify the diversification trajectories of the genus Lycium to elucidate the diversification events within the genus. We compiled a DNA matrix of six markers on 75% of all the species in the genus to reconstruct a dated phylogeny. Based on this phylogeny, we first revisited the historical biogeography of the genus. Then, we fitted a Compound Poisson Process on Mass Extinction Time model to investigate the following key evolutionary events: speciation rate, extinction rate, as well as mass extinction events. Our analysis confirmed that South America is the origin of the genus, which may have undergone a suite of successive long-distance dispersals. Also, we found that most species arose as recently as 5 million years ago, and that the diversification rate found is among the slowest rates in the plant kingdom. This is likely shaped by the multiple speciation and extinction rate shifts that we also detected throughout the evolutionary history of the genus, including one mass extinction at the early stage of its evolutionary history. However, both speciation and extinction rates remain roughly constant over time, leading to a gradual species accumulation over time.

Enzymes Repertoires and Genomic Insights into Lycium Barbarum Pectin Polysaccharides Biosynthesis.

Lycium barbarum, a member of the Solanaceae family, represents an important eudicot lineage with homology of food and medicine. Lycium barbarum pectin polysaccharides (LBPPs) are key bioactive ingredients of Lycium barbarum, and are among the few polysaccharides with both biocompatibility and biomedical activity. While previous studies have primarily focused on the functional properties of LBPPs, the mechanisms of biosynthesis and transport by key enzymes remain poorly understood. Here, we reported the completion of a 2.18-gigabase reference genome of Lycium barbarum, reconstructed the first entire biosynthesis of pectin polysaccharides and sugar transport, and characterized the important genes responsible for backbone extending, sidechain synthesis, and modification of pectin polysaccharides. Additionally, we characterized long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) associated with polysaccharide metabolism and identified a specific rhamnogalacturonan I (RG-I) rhamnosyltransferase, RRT3020, which enhances RG-I biosynthesis in LBPPs. These newly identified enzymes and pivotal genes endow L. barbarum with specific pectin biosynthesis capabilities, distinguishing it from other Solanaceae species. Our findings provide a foundation for evolutionary studies and molecular breeding to enhance the diverse applications of L. barbarum.

Image-Based Quantitative Analysis of Epidermal Morphology in Wild Potato Leaves.

The epidermal leaf patterns of plants exhibit remarkable diversity in cell shapes, sizes, and arrangements, driven by environmental interactions that lead to significant adaptive changes even among closely related species. The Solanaceae family, known for its high diversity of adaptive epidermal structures, has traditionally been studied using qualitative phenotypic descriptions. To advance this, we developed a workflow combining multi-scale computer vision, image processing, and data analysis to extract digital descriptors for leaf epidermal cell morphology. Applied to nine wild potato species, this workflow quantified key morphological parameters, identifying descriptors for trichomes, stomata, and pavement cells, and revealing interdependencies among these traits. Principal component analysis (PCA) highlighted two main axes, accounting for 45% and 21% of variance, corresponding to features such as guard cell shape, trichome length, stomatal density, and trichome density. These axes aligned well with the historical and geographical origins of the species, separating southern from Central American species, and forming distinct clusters for monophyletic groups. This workflow thus establishes a quantitative foundation for investigating leaf epidermal cell morphology within phylogenetic and geographic contexts.

Production of phenolic compounds, flavonoids, and lupeol by Lycium schweinfurthii suspension cultures in shake flasks and a rocking-motion bioreactor

AbstractLycium schweinfurthii, a wild shrub of the Solanaceae family, has received increasing attention in the last decade for its therapeutic potential in traditional medicine due to its diverse array of secondary metabolites, including phenolic substances and terpenoids. The aim of this study was to investigate the accumulation of phenolics, flavonoids, and the terpenoid lupeol in L. schweinfurthii cell suspension shake flask cultures and a single-use 2-dimensional rocking motion bioreactor. Three different media formulations were compared for in vitro cell cultures. Various parameters, such as biomass accumulation, settled cell volume, cell viability (assessed via a 2,3,5-triphenyl tetrazolium chloride assay), and sucrose consumption were determined as indicators of cell activity and growth. Total phenolic and flavonoid contents were estimated spectrophotometrically, lupeol was quantified via High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography (HPTLC). Although a higher fresh biomass concentration of 464 g L− 1 was obtained in MS medium supplemented with a combination of each, 1 mg L− 1 of 2,4-Dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA), the rocking-motion bioreactor cultivation was performed with 2 mg L− 1 NAA due to its superior reproducibility in viability, productivity, and content of bioactive compounds (e.g., phenolics, flavonoids, lupeol). A final fresh biomass concentration of 185 g L− 1 was achieved in a 16 L cultivation scale with a notable increase in the concentration of phenolics (1.4-fold) and flavonoids (1.7-fold). Most importantly, the concentration of lupeol, a pentacyclic triterpenoid known for its anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and anti-atherogenic properties, exhibited a remarkable 5.5-fold increase in the bioreactor cultivation (585 µg g− 1) compared to shake flask cultivations (106 µg g− 1). The current study demonstrated the profound impact of media composition and non-limited fed-batch conditions in a rocking-motion bioreactor on the accumulation of bioactive compounds. The findings are also relevant to other plant cell cultures.

Monitoring of Viral Infections in Vegetable Crops in Agroecosystems of Ukraine

Information on the abundance and diversity of phytopathogenic viruses in Ukraine is very variable and limited. There is a high importance of a complex study of the species composition and ways of spreading crop viruses, as well as the development of epiphytotic forecasting systems, which will help to limit the ranges of these viruses and save crop yields. Consequently, the aim of our study was to explore the species composition and frequency of mono- and mixed virus infection of vegetable crops in Ukrainian agrocenoses and to identify the possible etiology of its occurrence. Methods. The samples were analyzed for the presence of viral antigens by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in sandwich and indirect modifications. For the detection of viral antigens in ELISA, test systems manufactured by Loewe were used. To identify the virus, the material was homogenized and purified, and then registered on a reader. Results. The frequency of vegetable crops damaged by diseases of viral etiology increased by 25–27% compared to the previous years of the study. Serological analysis showed that 59% of the studied samples of the Cucurbitaceae family and 54% of the Solanaceae family were affected by the main viral diseases most common in Ukraine. The seed way of transmission of vegetable viruses in Ukraine was demonstrated as one of the sources of viruses in agrocenoses. The presence of antigens to cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) in 14.3% of the studied seeds, zucchini yellow mosaic virus (ZYMV) – 11.2%, and tomato mosaic virus (ToMV) – 12.6% was shown. This allows us to suggest that sowing those seeds in the future will contribute to the spread of these viruses across Ukraine. Analysis of soil samples showed the presence of antigens of cucumber mosaic virus, tobacco mosaic virus, and potato virus X. The lowest level of antigens to CMV was detected in the soils of Vinnytsia region, to PVX – in the Kyiv and Cherkasy regions, and to TMV – in the Odesa region. Conclusions. Vegetable agrocenoses in Ukraine are more often affected by viruses belonging to the Tobamovirus, Cucumovirus, Potyvirus, and Tospovirus genera of the Bromoviridae, Potyviridae, and Bunyaviridae families. In addition to the increasing areas of viral monoinfection, there is an active spread of mixed infection, or "superinfection", in Ukrainian agrocenosis. Mixed infections are mainly formed during the growth and development of the tested vegetable crops. All of this leads to further significant spread of not only mono- but also mixed virus infection of vegetable crops.

HSCCC Straightforward Fast Preparative Method for Isolation of Two Major Cytotoxic Withanolides from Athenaea fasciculata (Vell.) I.M.C. Rodrigues & Stehmann.

Athenaea fasciculata belongs to the Solanaceae family and is a promising source of cytotoxic withanolides known as aurelianolides A and B. In the last years, the pharmacological studies of these aurelianolides on different leukemia cell lines have stimulated new studies on their potential as alternative candidates for new lead anticancer drugs. However, the obtention of these two pure compounds by traditional preparative is a costly and long time-consuming process, which is performed in several steps. This study aimed to propose a straightforward approach for isolating aurelianolides A and B using high-speed countercurrent chromatography (HSCCC). In this study, among 10 different solvent systems, the system composed of n-hexane/ethyl acetate/methanol/water 3:6:2:1 (v/v/v/v) was chosen for optimization. This HEMWat system was optimized to 4:8:2:4 (v/v/v/v) and chosen for HSCCC separation in a tail-to-head elution mode. After the HSCCC scale-up procedure, a withanolides mixture (200.0 mg) was separated within 160 min in a single-step purification process. In total, 78.9 mg of aurelianolide A (up to 95.0% purity) and 54.3 mg of aurelianolide B (up to 88.5% purity) was obtained by this fast sequential liquid-liquid partition process. The isolated withanolides were identified by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy (this method has proven to be faster and more efficient than classical procedures (CC and Prep-TLC)).

Advances in Lycium Barbarum Polysaccharide in the Prevention and Treatment of Ophthalmic Diseases

Lycium barbarum is the dried mature fruit of Ningxia wolfberry, family Solanaceae. Chinese medicine believes that wolfberry has the effect of nourishing the liver and kidney, benefiting the essence and brightening the eyes. Lycium barbarum polysaccharide (LBP) is a proteoglycan isolated from Chinese medicine goji berry, which is the most important active ingredient in goji berry extract, with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-tumor, protection of the nervous system, protection of the retina, hypoglycemia, hypolipidemia, enhancement of immunity and other effects. In recent years, research results about LBP in the prevention and treatment of ophthalmic diseases have been emerging, such as cataract, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration has a certain preventive and therapeutic effects. This paper analyzes and reviews the relevant literature on LBP in the prevention and treatment of ophthalmic diseases.

Unlocking epigenetic breeding potential in tomato and potato

AbstractTomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and potato (Solanum tuberosum), two integral crops within the nightshade family, are crucial sources of nutrients and serve as staple foods worldwide. Molecular genetic studies have significantly advanced our understanding of their domestication, evolution, and the establishment of key agronomic traits. Recent studies have revealed that epigenetic modifications act as “molecular switches”, crucially regulating phenotypic variations essential for traits such as fruit ripening in tomatoes and tuberization in potatoes. This review summarizes the latest findings on the regulatory mechanisms of epigenetic modifications in these crops and discusses the integration of biotechnology and epigenomics to enhance breeding strategies. By highlighting the role of epigenetic control in augmenting crop yield and adaptation, we underscores its potential to address the challenges posed by a growing global population as well as changing climate.

First Report of Alternaria alternata Causing Alternaria Leaf Spot of Black Nightshade in China.

Black nightshade (Solanum nigrum L.) belongs to Solanaceae family, which is distributed all over China and has become one of the malignant weeds in cotton field in Xinjiang (Zhang et al., 2020; Zhang et al., 2021). During July 2016 to August 2023, leaf spot was observed on black nightshade in Hami and Shihezi city, Xinjiang, China. The spots appeared as brown circular or irregular, with some small black dots surrounded with yellow halos. Twenty five black nightshade plants were collected from a cotton field (100 m2) for pathogen isolation in Shihezi, July 2023. Leaf samples (2×2 mm) from the boundary between diseased tissue and healthy tissue, sterilized in 70% ethanol for 45 s, dipped in 2% NaClO for 30 s, rinsed three times with sterile distilled water, placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) after dried and cultivated at 25°C in the dark for 4 days. Twenty-five fungal isolates were obtained and purified by using the single-spore isolation method, and all isolates were found to be similar in morphology, appeared as dark brown and produced dark brown pigmentation on PDA. Conidiophores were black brown, 8 to 58 × 10 to 20 μm, with 1 to 5 transverse septa and 0 to 3 longitudinal septa, the results similar to those of Alternaria alternata isolated from buckwheat (Li et al., 2021). To confirm this identification, total genomic DNA of the isolates were extracted by CTAB method (Doyle et al., 1987). The internal transcribed spacer (rDNA-ITS), Alternaria major allergen gene (Alt α1) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase gene (GAPDH) of the A. alternata 26 were amplified using the primers ITS1/ITS4 (Glass et al., 1995), Altα1-F/Altα1-R (Li et al., 2024) and gpd-F/gpd-R (5'-CAACGGCTTCGGTCGCAT- TG-3' / 5'-GCCAAGCAGTTGGTTGTG-3'), respectively. The rDNA-ITS, Altα1 and GAPDH gene sequences were deposited in GenBank (KX904867, PP263361, PP263360), and showed 100% identity (rDNA-ITS: 572 out of 609 bp; Alt α1: 514 out of 516 bp; GAPDH: 619 out of 619 bp) to A. alternata (KU179665; MW522975; MK451977), respectively. The multi-gene phylogenetic tree showed that the representative isolate was grouped with A. alternata and identified as A. alternata. Black nightshade was used for pathogenicity assay. Fifteen plants at 3 to 4-leaf stage were selected and sprayed with the conidial suspension (1.0×106 spores/mL) of A. alternata 26 after wound the underside of leaves (2 mm length) with inoculating needle. Five plants were sprayed with sterilized water as control. After inoculation, placed the plants in a plastic box and covered with plastic wrap to keep 80% relative humidity for 3 days at 25℃ in the greenhouse, then removed the plastic box. Symptoms of leaf spots appeared within 12 - 15 days that were similar to the symptoms observed in the field, and the fungal pathogen that was re-isolated from symptomatic leaves was identical to original pathogen on the basis of morphological and molecular analysis to fulfill Koch's postulates. This experiment was repeated three times, and the disease incidence was above 80% after inoculation at each time. To our knowledge, this is the first report of A. alternata causing leaf spot of black nightshade in China. This report will help us to monitoring distribution of the disease and providing theoretical basis for disease prevention and control.

De Novo Synthesis of Anticholinergic Hyoscyamine and Scopolamine in Nicotiana benthamiana Based on Elucidating Tropane Alkaloid Biosynthetic Pathway of Anisodus luridus

Anisodus luridus, a perennial herb belonging to the genus Anisodus of the Solanaceae family, is an important Tibetan medicinal plant that produces pharmaceutical tropane alkaloids (TAs) including hyoscyamine and scopolamine. Its high yield of hyoscyamine makes A. luridus a valuable plant source for commercially producing TAs. In this study, we conduct homologous gene research across transcriptome data of different tissues together with functionally tested sequences in Atropa belladonna as a reference and identify 13 candidate genes for TAs biosynthesis in A. luridus. The results show that these 13 TAs biosynthesis genes identified in A. luridus were highly conserved in terms of sequence similarity and gene expression patterns compared to A. belladonna, suggesting that the two species may share the same biosynthetic pathway for TAs biosynthesis. Furthermore, scopolamine was detected in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves when these 13 enzymes were co-expressed in N. benthamiana, which confirmed that these 13 TAs biosynthesis genes are involved in the biosynthesis of TAs. The results of our study not only systematically elucidate the tropane alkaloid biosynthetic pathway of A. luridus, but also realize the de novo synthesis of TAs in N. benthamiana for the first time. It is now possible to make N. benthamiana a potential source for TAs production through synthetic biology techniques.

Detection of tropane alkaloid contaminations in unprocessed soybeans and their fate in food and feed processing

Datura stramonium and other nightshade plants commonly occur as weeds and have the potential to contaminate crops with toxic tropane alkaloids. Here, the contamination of soybeans with the tropane alkaloids atropine and scopolamine after co-harvesting with thornapple plants is reported. The potential route of contamination was found to be independent of the thornapple seeds. The further fate of tropane alkaloids in downstream processes was evaluated in laboratory-scale tofu and soybean oil production. It was determined that a relatively small portion of the alkaloids is persistent in the tofu, while the reduction in soybean oil and press cake is less pronounced. No regulation is in place for the maximum amount of tropane alkaloids in soybeans, but the limits for other food crops were exceeded both in the raw and processed goods.

Phylogenomic Analysis and Functional Characterization of the APETALA2/Ethylene-Responsive Factor Transcription Factor Across Solanaceae.

The AP2/ERF family constitutes one of the largest groups of transcription factors in the Solanaceae. AP2/ERF contributes to various plant biological processes, including growth, development, and responses to various stresses. The origins and functional diversification of AP2/ERF within the Solanaceae family remain poorly understood, primarily because of the complex interactions between whole-genome duplications (WGDs) and tandem duplications. In this study, a total of 1282 AP2/ERF proteins are identified from 7 Solanaceae genomes. The amplification of AP2/ERF genes was driven not only by WGDs but also by the presence of clusters of tandem duplicated genes. The conservation of synteny across different chromosomes provides compelling evidence for the impact of the WGD event on the distribution pattern of AP2/ERF genes. Distinct expression patterns suggest that the multiple copies of AP2/ERF genes evolved in different functional directions, catalyzing the diversification of roles among the duplicated genes, which was of great significance for the adaptability of Solanaceae. Gene silencing and overexpression assays suggest that ERF-1 members' role in regulating the timing of floral initiation in C. annuum. Our findings provide insights into the genomic origins, duplication events, and function divergence of the Solanaceae AP2/ERF.

Study on Several Genus of The Solanaceae Family with Phenetic Approach Methods

This study aimed to determine the morphological diversity of several genera from the Solanaceae family through a morphological approach, and the morphological characters that influence their grouping. The sampling activity is located in Lumajang district. The plant parts studied consisted of 30 characters including stature, stems, leaves and flowers which were then analyzed descriptively and phenetically. Based on the results of the descriptive analysis, it was found that there was a diversity of morphological characteristics between several genera of the Solanaceae family, namely the Solanum, Capsicum, Physalis, Datura, Nicotiana, and Petunia genera. Based on the analysis used the phenetic method in the SPSS program, a dendrogram was produced showing two groups, namely the genus Nicotiana and Petunia and the other groups Solanum, Capsicum, Datura, and Physalis. Then it grouped again and separated and finally got the species. Based on the results of PCA (Principal Component Analysis), the characters that influence the grouping of several genera from the Solanaceae family include phyllotaxis characters, leaf margins, leaf width, leaf length, leaf texture, anther color, and flower type. The result implications a morphological character can be used for plant identification.

Влияние некоторых видов обработки на продолжительность сушки и органолептические показатели нарезанных баклажанов

Abstract. Eggplant is a common vegetable crop from the Solanaceae family, whose share of global vegetable harvests in 2022 was about 5 %. However, eggplant is thermophylic and its fruits cannot withstand low temperatures due to physiological disorders and quality reduction. This fact and thin covering tissues make the shelf life of eggplant fruits short. For this reason, improving existing methods for preserving the quality and extending the period of use of eggplants is relevant. One of the most popular methods of preserving fresh plant raw materials is drying, but it requires the selection of a method (including pre-treatment of raw materials) and process parameters to preserve the quality of dried products. In the course of the study, the influence of certain types of physical and chemical pre-treatment (microwave frequencies, citric acid, sodium chloride, their combinations) on the drying time and organoleptic characteristics of sliced eggplant fruits of the Chernomor variety was studied. It was found that various types of treatments used influenced the duration of drying of eggplants: treatments with microwave frequencies and citric acid led to a reduction in process time by 31-43 minutes compared to the control; treatments with sodium chloride solution and complex treatments, on the contrary, increased the duration by more than 3 hours. Organoleptic evaluation of dried eggplants showed that the best characteristics were provided by treatment with 1% and 5% citric acid solutions. While pre-treatment with microwave frequencies and NaCl with various parameters gave an unpleasant taste and was accompanied by darkening of the product. The data obtained can be used to improve existing methods of drying eggplants. Key words: eggplants, drying, organoleptic characteristics, super high frequency, citric acid, sodium chloride

Silica Accumulation in Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) Plants and Implications for Potato Yield Performance-Results from Field Experiments in Northeast Germany.

The potato is the most important non-cereal food crop, and thus improving potato growth and yield is the focus of agricultural researchers and practitioners worldwide. Several studies reported beneficial effects of silicon (Si) fertilization on potato performance, although plant species from the family Solanaceae are generally considered to be non-Si-accumulating. We used results from two field experiments in the temperate zone to gain insight into silica accumulation in potato plants, as well as corresponding long-term potato yield performance. We found relatively low Si contents in potato leaves and roots (up to 0.08% and 0.3% in the dry mass, respectively) and negligible Si contents in potato tuber skin and tuber flesh for plants grown in soils with different concentrations of plant-available Si (field experiment 1). Moreover, potato yield was not correlated to plant-available Si concentrations in soils in the long term (1965-2015, field experiment 2). Based on our results, we ascribe the beneficial effects of Si fertilization on potato growth and yield performance reported in previous studies mainly to antifungal/osmotic effects of foliar-applied Si fertilizers and to changes in physicochemical soil properties (e.g., enhanced phosphorus availability and water-holding capacity) caused by soil-applied Si fertilizers.

A review on food Safety challenges in Chilli (Capsicum annuum L) and mitigation measures

Capsicum annuum L., often known as hot pepper or chilly pepper, is a vital vegetable crop and spice in the Solanaceae family. Since ancient times, people have used chilies as a flavoring, ingredient in food, and family medicine for a variety of illnesses, such as high blood pressure, arthritis, skin problems, and high cholesterol. They have also been used as a carminative, snack, stomachic, and refreshment, as well as a means of relieving pain in neuropathy and as a counterirritant in the treatment of lumbago and stiffness. Its organic design is to stop herbivorous creatures, parasites, and different microorganisms. The expression "capsicum" comes from the Greek word "kapsimo," and that signifies "to chomp". Dried chilly is susceptible to contaminants such as mould dirt and pesticides that must be removed to maintain the safety and quality of products.