Oleracea Var Research Articles

Enhancing Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) Growth, Yield and Water Productivity through Irrigation and Mulching Techniques in Local Climate

Introduction: Broccoli's efficient irrigation management is critical with changing climatic patterns and increasing water scarcity. The study aimed to assess the impacts of various irrigation methods and mulching techniques on broccoli cultivation.
 Methodology: A randomized complete block design with three replications was used, considering two factors: irrigation methods (drip and surface) and mulching materials (black polythene, white polythene, grass straw, and no mulching).
 Results: Drip irrigation, combined with black polythene mulching (I1MBP), consistently demonstrated its superiority that significantly improved multiple aspects of plant growth, yield and water productivity. In particular, I1MBP resulted in the highest plant heights at different growth stages, with the tallest plants at harvest (43.87 cm). However, surface irrigation with the same mulching (I2MBP) also showed higher plant heights but slightly shorter than drip irrigation. A similar trend was observed for the number of leaves per plant, with the I1MBP treatment having the most leaves. In curd development, the treatment (I1MBP) produced curds with larger diameters and lengths at harvest. In contrast, surface irrigation with the same mulching (I2MBP) also showed a larger curd size but, again, slightly lower than drip irrigation. In terms of curd initiation time, the I1MBP treatment had a longer duration, while the I1MN treatment had a shorter duration. Surface irrigation treatments followed a similar trend. With respect to yield, the I1MBP consistently had the highest unit weight of curd (423.14 g plant-1), yield per plot (25.39 Kg plot-1), and total yield (16.93 t ha-1), regardless of the mulching condition. However, surface irrigation with the same mulching (I2MBP) also showed higher yields (15.93 t ha-1) but slightly less than drip irrigation. On the other hand, the I1MBP demonstrated superior water use efficiencies (74.68 kg/ha-mm) and productivity (7.47 Kg m-3) compared to other treatments. Still, surface irrigation with the same mulching (I2MBP) also exhibited better water use efficiency (64.98 kg/ha-mm) and productivity (6.50 Kg m-3) than treatments with no mulch. Environmental factors, including temperature, humidity, wind speed, sunshine hours, and evaporation, were found to correlate with broccoli growth stages, emphasizing their influence on crop development.
 Conclusion: Finally, drip irrigation and black polythene mulching are pivotal for improved growth, yield, and water management, contributing to sustainable agriculture practices.

First Report of Exserohilum rostratum Causing Leaf Blight on Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) in China.

Broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is not only an important crop worldwide with a large amount of production and consumption annually, but also rich in biologically active compounds (Surh et al., 2021). In November 2022, an unknown leaf blight was observed in the Broccoli planting area, Wenzhou City of Zhejiang Province (28.05 °N, 120.31 °E). Symptoms initially occurred at the leaf margin with yellow to gray lesions that were irregular and wilting. Approximately 10% of the surveyed plants were affected. To determine the pathogen, leaves with blight were collected randomly from five B. oleracea plants. Tissue blocks (3×3 mm) from diseased leaf portions were disinfected with 75% ethanol, rinsed three times with sterilized water, placed aseptically onto potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium, and incubated for 5 days at 28℃ in darkness. Seven fungal isolates with the same morphology were obtained using the spore method. The observed colonies were circular, taupe, pewter in color with light gray edging and many cottony aerial mycelia. Conidia were straight, curved or slightly bent, ellipsoidal to fusiform, and septate (typically 4-8 septa per conidium), with the size of 50.0-90.0 μm × 10.0-20.0 μm (n=30). The conidia had a slightly protruding and truncate hilum. These morphological characteristics were consistent with Exserohilum rostratum (Sharma et al., 2014). To further identify the pathogen, isolate WZU-XLH1 was chosen as a representative and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase-like (GAPDH) gene were amplified and sequenced using primer pairs ITS1/ITS4 (White et al., 1990) and Gpd1/Gpd2 (Berbee et al., 1999), respectively. The ITS and gpd gene sequences of isolate WZU-XLH1 were deposited in the GenBank database with accession numbers OQ750113 and OQ714500, respectively. BLASTn analysis showed matches of 568/571 (MH859108) and 547/547 (LT882549) with Exserohilum rostratum CBS 188.68. A neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree was constructed by combining the two sequenced loci, this isolate in the E. rostratum species complex clade at 71% bootstrap support.To verify the pathogenicity of the isolate, ten healthy Broccoli (cultivar 'You Xiu') seedlings with at least five leaves were divided into two groups: one group was inoculated with the isolate, while the other group served as a control. After surface disinfection with 75% ethanol and wiping with sterile water, tiny wounds were made on two leaves (two wounds in one leaf) using an inoculation needle. Fungal culture plugs cut from the isolate were placed on the wounds, while sterile PDA plugs served as the control. The leaves were sealed in wet airtight bags to retain moisture at room temperature with natural light (Cao et al., 2022). After five days, all leaves inoculated with isolate WZU-XLH1 showed symptoms identical to those observed in the field, with no symptoms present in the control group. The pathogenicity was confirmed by repeating the test in triplicate, and fungi re-isolated from symptomatic leaves were identified as E. rostratum by the morphological and molecular methods described above. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of E. rostratum causing leaf blight on broccoli in China. This study contributes to our understanding of B. oleracea leaf blight and establishes a basis for future studies on E. rostratum to develop management strategies.

First Report of White Mold Caused by Sclerotinia sclerotiorum on Brussels Sprouts in Mexico.

The Brussels sprout (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera) is a cruciferous vegetable with high health-promoting value and Mexico is one of the most valuable exporters worldwide (Data Mexico 2023). From September to November 2021, white mold symptoms (Rimmer et al. 2007) were observed in Brussels sprouts (cv. Confidant) fields in Tonatico, Estado de México, Mexico. Irregular, necrotic lesions were observed on leaves, whereas abundant white mycelium, and later black sclerotia were produced outside and inside of stems. Disease incidence ranged from 20 to 40% in five fields. For fungal isolation, symptomatic stem pieces were surface sterilized with 2% sodium hypochlorite for 2 min, rinsed in sterilized distilled water twice, placed on PDA medium, and incubated at 25°C in darkness for 3 days. Sclerotinia-like colonies were consistently obtained and six isolates were purified by the hyphal-tip method. Fungal colonies were white and fluffy. Irregular, black, and small (3 to 6 mm diameter) sclerotia were produced at the edge of colonies after 5 days of incubation. The morphological characters were consistent with those of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Saharan and Mehta 2008). Two representative isolates were selected for molecular analysis and pathogenicity tests. The isolates were deposited in the Culture Collection of Phytopathogenic Fungi at the Colegio Superior Agropecuario del Estado de Guerrero under the accession numbers CSAEG50 and CSAEG51. For molecular identification, genomic DNA was extracted, and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region was amplified by PCR and sequenced using the primer pair ITS5/ITS4 (White et al. 1990). The sequences were deposited in GenBank (accession nos. OQ878510 and OQ878511). BLASTn searches in GenBank showed 100% identity with the available sequences of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (accession nos. OQ891471, OQ891472, HQ833448, and MT177216). A phylogenetic analysis using the Maximum Likelihood method placed isolates CSAEG50 and CSAEG51 in the same clade as S. sclerotiorum. Pathogenicity tests were performed by inoculating 10 healthy Brussels sprout seedlings (cv. Confidant) grown in pots. A mycelial plug was directly placed on the stem of each plant. Five uninoculated Brussels sprout seedlings were used as control. All plants were placed in a moist chamber at 25°C with a 12-h photoperiod for 2 days. White mold symptoms appeared on inoculated plants after 3 days, whereas control plants remained symptomless. The fungi were reisolated from the infected plants and found to be morphologically identical to the isolates used for inoculation, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Pathogenicity test was performed twice with similar results. Sclerotinia sclerotiorum has been previously reported to infect Brussels sprouts in the USA (Campbell 1947). To our knowledge, this is the first report of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum causing white mold of Brussels sprouts in Mexico. The disease is widely distributed in Brussels sprouts fields in the central region of Mexico, therefore additional studies are needed to develop effective disease-management strategies.

Effects of Bacillus thuringiensis, Beauveria bassiana, Neem, and a Tomato Intercrop on Diamondback Moth (Plutella xylostella L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae) in Tharaka-Nithi County, Kenya

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) is an important crop in Kenya, ranked 3rd among the exotic vegetables. Diamondback moth (DBM) is a major cabbage pest that can cause a 100% loss in yield if not well managed. Farmers indiscriminately use synthetic pesticides associated with environmental, health, and pest resistance concerns to manage the DBM. To increase the availability of technologies for effective management of DBM in Kenya, three biopesticides; BioPower (Beauveria bassiana 1.0 x 108 CFUs/g), Dipel DF® (Bacillus thuringiensis subsp. kurstaki), Neemraj Super 3000 (Azadirachtin 0.3% EC), and a tomato intercrop were evaluated. Cabbages (30 plants) spaced at 40 cm x 60 cm were established in 6 m x 6 m plots in 3 replicates per treatment. The treatments applications were; B. bassiana 100 g/20 L, B. thuringiensis 20 g/20 L, and neem 20 mL/20 L. A row of tomato intercrop was established in every two rows of cabbage and distilled water was used on the untreated control. Data on the number of damaged leaves, live larvae, and marketable yields for two seasons was collected from five leaves of ten randomly selected cabbage plants. Results showed significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) between the control and treatments in the mean number of live larvae and the number of damaged leaves. However, there were no significant marketable yield differences between the treatments (P ≥ 0.05). In conclusion, the three bio-pesticides and the tomato intercrop were effective against the DBM damage on cabbage leaves and can be part of integrated pest management (IPM) packages for DBM management on cabbage. There is a need to determine why the treatments did not result in meaningful outcomes against the DBM population and cabbage head weights. In addition, a cost-benefit analysis of each treatment is necessary.

Effect of seedling age and NPK fertilizer on qualitative of Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var.gongylodes) grown under drip irrigation system

Field experiment was conducted on Kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes) ‘White Vienna cv.’ at the Experimental Station of the Department of Horticulture and Landscape, College of Agriculture, Tikrit University, Salah al-Din, Iraq, during the winter season of 2021-2022 under drip irrigation system. This study aimed to investigate the effect of seedling age (45, 60 and 75 days) and different combination of NPK (60:40:0, 70:50:20, 80:60:30, 90:70:40, 100:80:50 and 120:90:50 kg ha-1) on qualitative of kohlrabi plants. The experiment was carried ou according to Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) with three replications. The comparison of means was performed by Duncan at a P≤ 0.05 probability level. Results showed that seedling age 45 days increased significantly in the percentages of nitrogen in the leaves, phosphorus and potassium, total dissolved solids (TSS) in knob, content of vitamin C in knob and carbohydrates in the knob which were 3.045%, 0.425%, 3.868%, 6.333%, 0.389 mg ml-1 and 6.204% respectively. On the other hand, using combination fertilizer of NPK at level 120:90:50 kg ha-1, gave significant increment in all studied characteristics. Interaction treatment between seedling age 45 days and combination fertilizer of NPK at 120:90:50 kg ha-1 recorded highest values in all studied characteristics of qualitative for kohlrabi plant except the percentage of nitrogen in leaves. Whereas, seedling age 60 days and combination fertilizer of NPK at 120:90:50 kg ha-1 showed significant superiority in the percentage of nitrogen in leaves 5.533%.

Zastosowanie kapusty głowiastej białej w polskim lecznictwie ludowym

The use of white cabbage in Polish folk medicine White cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) was one of the staple food plants in ancient rural communities. It was not only the main ingredient of many dishes, but even a symbol of abundance. The high availability of this plant, both fresh and pickled, throughout the year, created great opportunities to use it not only as food but also as a medicinal plant. The aim of the study was to present the medicinal uses of raw materials obtained from white cabbage in Polish folk medicine. The available studies show that traditional Polish folk medicine not only used fresh cabbage leaves, but also fermented leaves or sauerkraut juice. Sometimes the use of seed, stalks and fresh leaf juice were recommended. Unlike most medicinal plants, dried raw material was used very rarely. The most commonly used raw materials were fresh or lacto-fermented without prior preparation, rarely before use they were crushed, roasted, made into infusions, boiled or soaked in vinegar. It was believed that cabbage provides health and strengthens the body, and children who eat cabbage grow quickly. For medicinal purposes, this plant was used for numerous ailments and parasites of the digestive tract: abdominal pain, constipation, stomach and liver diseases, gastric and duodenal ulcers, and hemorrhoids. It has also been used in dermatological problems and as an analgesic, e.g. for headaches and rheumatic pains. The properties of cabbage were also used in the treatment of female ailments related to pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding. The collected information indicates that white cabbage has been used in folk medicine in many ways, and its various applications should not escape the attention of modern medicine.

Effect of Organic Manures and Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Knol Khol (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes L.) in the Western Terai Region of Nepal

Effect of Organic Manures and Fertilizers on Growth and Yield of Knol Khol (Brassica oleracea var. gongylodes L.) in the Western Terai Region of Nepal

Assessment of Bio-Compounds Content, Antioxidant Activity, and Neuroprotective Effect of Red Cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. Capitata rubra) Processed by Convective Drying at Different Temperatures.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, and no efficient therapy able to cure or slow down PD is available. In this study, dehydrated red cabbage was evaluated as a novel source of bio-compounds with neuroprotective capacity. Convective drying was carried out at different temperatures. Total phenolics (TPC), flavonoids (TFC), anthocyanins (TAC), and glucosinolates (TGC) were determined using spectrophotometry, amino acid profile by LC-DAD and fatty acid profile by GC-FID. Phenolic characterization was determined by liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry. Cytotoxicity and neuroprotection assays were evaluated in SH-SY5Y human cells, observing the effect on preformed fibrils of α-synuclein. Drying kinetic confirmed a shorter processing time with temperature increase. A high concentration of bio-compounds was observed, especially at 90 °C, with TPC = 1544.04 ± 11.4 mg GAE/100 g, TFC = 690.87 ± 4.0 mg QE/100 g and TGC = 5244.9 ± 260.2 µmol SngE/100 g. TAC degraded with temperature. Glutamic acid and arginine were predominant. Fatty acid profiles were relatively stable and were found to be mostly C18:3n3. The neochlorogenic acid was predominant. The extracts had no cytotoxicity and showed a neuroprotective effect at 24 h testing, which can extend in some cases to 48 h. The present findings underpin the use of red cabbage as a functional food ingredient.

Impact of Various Brassica species on The Developmental Response of Pieris brassicae (Linnaeus) (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), Its Extent of Damage, And Report of Its Biocontrol Agent In District Rajouri of Pir Panjal Region of Himalaya

Cole crops are globally consumed as vegetables and are important sources of our dietary requirements, but they are infested by an array of pests, specifically the large white butterfly, Pieris brassicae (L). It is a critical global pest of cruciferous vegetable crops. We investigated the consequences of diverse cruciferous vegetables on the fitness of P. brassicae under laboratory conditions in 2021-22, to survive, develop, and reproduce under laboratory conditions, the extent of damage, and the report of the biocontrol agent, Cotesia glomerata (L). Under laboratory conditions, the effect of radish (Raphanus sativus), cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) on P. brassicae health were assessed by studying survival time, total development time, and mortality. Development time from hatching of eggs to adult emergence was longest on radish (32.6±0.84 days) and shortest on cabbage (25.0±1.41 days). In addition, the higher hatching percentage (96%), lower larval death, and higher yield of adults in cabbage indicated the fact of cabbage being the most appropriate food for P. brassicae. Life tables were dominant tools for analyzing and comprehending various aspects of an insect population's growth, survival, and reproduction. Furthermore, the crop loss was a function of pest population and the information on crop losses would serve as a guide for research programmes in crop improvement. The resistance to certain insecticides and the methods used to manage this insect pest on vegetable products in general required extensive research including biocontrol. We report the endoparasitoids C. glomerata (L) as a biocontrol agent against P. brassicae in district Rajouri which is the first record from the area which, therefore, warrants the essentiality of having a compact insect pest management plan that can relieve the dependency of destructive chemical control methods.

Antinociceptive and antiedema effects produced in rats by Brassica oleracea var. italica sprouts involving sulforaphane

Natural products are recognized as potential analgesics since many of them are part of modern medicine to relieve pain without serious adverse effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of an aqueous extract of Brassica oleracea var. italica sprouts (AEBS) and one of its main reported bioactive metabolites sulforaphane (SFN). Antinociceptive activity of the AEBS (30, 100, and 300 mg/kg, i.p. or 1000 and 2000 mg/kg, p.o.) and SFN (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) was evaluated in the plantar test in rats to reinforce its analgesic-like activity at central level using the reference drug tramadol (TR, 50 mg/kg, i.p.). The anti-inflammatory-like response was determined in the carrageenan-induced oedema at the same dosages for comparison with ketorolac (KET, 20 mg/kg, i.p.) or indomethacin (INDO, 20 mg/kg, p.o.). A histological analysis of the swollen paw was included to complement the anti-inflammatory response. Additionally, acute toxicity observed in clinical analgesics as the most common adverse effects, such as sedation and/or gastric damage, was also explored. As a result, central and peripheral action of the AEBS was confirmed using enteral and parenteral administration, in which significant reduction of the nociceptive and inflammatory responses resembled the effects of TR, KET, or INDO, respectively, involving the presence of SFN. No adverse or toxic effects were observed in the presence of the AEBS or SFN. In conclusion, this study supports that Brassica oleracea var. italica sprouts are a potential source of antinociceptive natural products such as SFN for therapy of pain alone and associated to an inflammation condition.

Preferencia de oviposición de Leptophobia aripa (Lepidoptera: Pieridae) sobre plantas de Brassica oleracea var. Italica en diferentes estados fenológicos

Leptophobia aripa (Boisduval) is a limiting species in the production of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. Italica) in the neotropics since its larvae feed on leaves and inflorescences, causing losses to the entire harvest. Lack of knowledge regarding reproductive dynamics makes control difficult and increases production costs. Therefore, identifying critical moments of oviposition would help focus control efforts and prevent economic losses. This study evaluated the oviposition preference of L. aripa concerning the phenological stage of broccoli plants in a commercial crop on an integrated farm in El Santuario, Antioquia-Colom. Over 90 days, 10 staggered plantings were conducted each week for a total of 200 plants, which were monitored weekly for immature stages. The results suggest that females can lay eggs on plants of any age or phenological stage, but prefer young plants when all phenological stages are available. This information can be used to design management strategies focused on this phenological stage, thereby avoiding the use of insecticides near the harvest period and contamination of the final product before consumption. Keywords: Behavior; Integrated Pest Management (IPM); Host plant; Monitoring; Clutch size

Soil respiration under different N fertilization and irrigation regimes in Bengaluru, S-India

Rapid urbanization in many countries of the Global South has led to intensification of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) whose effects on the soils’ physical, chemical, and microbial properties have been hardly studied. We therefore investigated the effects of different intensity levels, exemplified by three rates of mineral nitrogen (N) addition and irrigation on CO2 emissions in typical crops during the wet (Kharif) and dry (Rabi) season on a Nitisol in Bengaluru, S-India. Respiration data were collected from 2017 to 2021 in two two-factorial split-plot experiments conducted under rainfed and irrigated conditions. Test crops were maize (Zea mays L.), finger millet (Eleusine coracana Gaertn.), and lablab (Lablab purpureus L. Sweet) under rainfed and irrigated conditions, as well as the vegetables cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata), eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) or chili (Capsicum annuum L.). Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions were determined using a Los Gatos Research (LGR) multi-gas analyzer whereby under our study conditions CH4, NH3 and N2O were negligible. Measurements were conducted from 7:00 am to 11:30 am and repeated from 12:30 pm to 6:00 pm. Irrespective of irrigation, season, crops and N fertilizer level, CO2 emission rates during afternoon hours were significantly higher (2–128%) than during morning hours. In the irrigated field diurnal emission differences between afternoon and morning hours ranged from 0.04 to 1.61 kg CO2-C ha−1 h−1 while in the rainfed field they averaged 0.20–1.78 kg CO2-C ha−1 h−1. Irrespective of crops, in the rainfed field CO2 emissions in high N plots were 56.4% larger than in low N plots whereas in the irrigated field they were only 12.1% larger. The results of a linear mixed model analysis indicated that N fertilization enhanced CO2 emissions whereby these effects were highest in rainfed crops. Soil moisture enhanced emissions in rainfed crops but decreased them under irrigation where crop-specific CO2 emissions within a season were independent of N application. Soil temperature at 5 cm depth enhanced CO2 emissions in both fields. Overall, higher N and soil temperature enhanced CO2 fluxes whereas effects of soil moisture depended on irrigation.

Green synthesis of nano zinc oxide using Phyllanthus emblica L. fruit extract and its impact on growth, pigment content and antioxidant enzyme activity of Brassica oleracea var italica

Green synthesis of nano zinc oxide using Phyllanthus emblica L. fruit extract and its impact on growth, pigment content and antioxidant enzyme activity of Brassica oleracea var italica

Amelioration of cadmium stress by supplementation of melatonin and ZnO-nanoparticles through physiochemical adjustments in Brassica oleracea var. capitata

The Brassicaceae family, including the globally consumed Brassica oleracea var. capitata, faces multiple stressors like heavy metal toxicity, impacting their growth and quality. These stressors significantly impact plant growth, productivity, and overall quality. Particular nanoparticles and phytohormones play a pivotal role in regulating plant responses to such abiotic stressors. In the current study, the utilization of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) and melatonin (MT) was explored to enhance the resilience of Brassica oleracea var. capitata to cadmium (Cd) stress. The nanoparticles were synthesized in an environmentally friendly manner using Clinopodium vulgare L. leaf extract. Microscopic and spectroscopic techniques were employed to characterize the ZnO-NPs. Treatments were chosen as different concentrations of nanoparticles i.e., NP1 = 25 mg L−1 ZnO, NP2 = 50 mg L−1 ZnO, NP3 = 100 mg L−1 ZnO, MT = 200 µM, and NP0 (distilled water). The results revealed that ZnO-NPs showed a concentration-dependent effect on B. oleracea growth parameters and chlorophyll content, with the foliar application of MT further augmenting the impact. ZnO-NP treatments effectively reduced Cd concentrations while concurrently elevating zinc (Zn) levels in shoots and roots. The addition of exogenous MT further potentiated these effects. Notably, the treatments with 50 and 100 mg L−1 ZnO-NPs individually resulted in a growth increase of 38 % and 40 %, respectively, along with corresponding Zn content elevations of 20.1 % and 24 % compared to the control. The 100 mg L−1 ZnO-NPs treatment extended shoot length by 63.5 % and enhanced Zn content by 51 % compared to the control. ZnO-NPs and MT elevated total Cd absorption in shoots and roots, reducing post-harvest bioavailable Cd concentration in soil compared to the control. In conclusion, the synergy of ZnO-NPs and melatonin holds promise as a viable strategy to both counteract Cd toxicity and promote Zn bio-fortification in crops, presenting implications for healthier produce in contaminated soils.

Identification and Genome-Wide Gene Expression Perturbation of a Trisomy in Chinese Kale (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra).

Trisomy harbouring an extra copy of the chromosome generally causes a variety of physical and intellectual disabilities in mammals but is an extremely rare and important genetic stock in plants. In this study, a spontaneous trisomy plant in a Chinese kale accession (Brassica oleracea var. alboglabra, CC, 2n = 18) that showed significantly smaller plant architecture when compared to other normal plants was found and subsequently confirmed by cytological analysis in which the chromosome set of 2n = 19 and abnormal chromosome behaviour were observed. Then, based on the gene expression deviation determined by RNA-seq, the extra chromosome copy in this trisomy was identified as chromosome C2 (TC2). Compared to normal plants, TC2 not only showed generally upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) on chromosome C2 (97.21% of 573 DEGs in chromosome C2) but also exhibited a whole-genome expression perturbation, in which 1329 DEGs (69.87% of total DEGs) were observed along two-copy chromosomes (trans-effect). The genes in the high (gene expression value > 100) and medium (100 > gene expression value > 10) groups were more prone to decreased gene expression, but the genes in the low group (10 > gene expression value > 0.1) showed upregulated expression deviation. In addition, GO (Gene ontology) annotation analysis revealed that the upregulated DEGs in the trans-effect group were overrepresented by the genes involved in the response to stress category, while the downregulated DEGs in the trans-effect group were mostly enriched in pathways related to DNA synthesis. In conclusion, we think our results can provide important resources for genetic analysis in B. oleracea and show some novel insights for understanding trisomy plant biology.

Heavy metal contamination and health risk assessment of horticultural crops in two sub-cities of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

This particular study was aimed to establish the level of heavy metals in different horticultural crops cultivated by irrigation and the soil in two sub-cities of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and quantitatively assess the health treat they pose for the consumer. A total of 151 vegetable samples comprised of lettuce (Lactuca sativa), cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitate), cucumber (Cucumis sativus), potato (Solanum tuberosum), parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris subsp. vulgaris), beetroot (Beta vulgaris), green onion (Allium porrum L.) and 28 soil samples were collected for this study. Six toxic elements were analyzed using microwave plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (MP-AES) after microwave assisted digestion of the samples. The concentrations of examined trace elements in vegetables (mg/kg) were found in the range of 5.50–93.00 for zinc; below detection limit (BDL)− 18.50 for copper; BDL-2.50 for nickel; BDL-17.00 for lead; 5.00–4256.50 for manganese and 22.00–8708.00 for iron. Considering the mean Pb content values, all vegetables exceeded the maximum permissible level set by the joint FAO/WHO commission in both irrigation sites. In case of Mn parsley, swiss chard, and green onion all from site two exceeded the maximum allowable values. With the exception of potato from irrigation site one, all vegetables exceeded the maximum permissible limit set for Fe concentration and out of which parsley, swiss chard, and green onion, all from site two, exceeded by more than double amount. The same trend is observed for the concentration of Mn and Fe in the soil samples. In fact, in both irrigation sites their concentration exceeded the allowable limits set by United Nation Environment Program (UNEP) for agricultural soils. The metal pollution load index revealed that in most of the vegetables studied the overall pollution load of trace metals were higher in Kolfe Keranyo irrigation site. The risk assessment study using indices like estimation of daily/weekly dietary exposure, hazard quotient and metal pollution load index all suggested consumption of the studied vegetables poses a significant health risk for the consumer. For adults the calculated target hazard quotient for the trace element Pb is higher than 1 (one) for all of studied vegetables ranging from 11.086 (cucumber) to 17.881 (beetroot) with a 98.216% and 98.464% contribution to the hazard indices, respectively. For a child consumer, Mn showed a higher target hazard quotient vales ranged from 0.0107 (cucumber) to 0.0495 (green onion) with a 70.86% and 88.85% contribution to the total hazard indices, respectively. The soil pollution indices also indicated that the degree of metal enrichment in soils and sediments are higher than the allowable limits. Therefore, a prompt action is required to curb the problem and ensure the public safety along the food system line.

Untargeted polysulfide omics analysis of alternations in polysulfide production during the germination of broccoli sprouts

Higher consumption of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) is associated with a reduced risk of cardiometabolic diseases, neurological disorders, diabetes, and cancer. Broccoli is rich in various phytochemicals, including glucosinolates, and isothiocyanates. Moreover, it has recently reported the endogenous production of polysulfides, such as cysteine hydropersulfide (CysS2H) and glutathione hydropersulfide (GS2H), in mammals including humans, and that these bioactive substances function as potent antioxidants and important regulators of redox signaling in vivo. However, few studies have focused on the endogenous polysulfide content of broccoli and the impact of germination on the polysulfide content and composition in broccoli. In this study, we investigated the alternations in polysulfide biosynthesis in broccoli during germination by performing untargeted polysulfide omics analysis and quantitative targeted polysulfide metabolomics through liquid chromatography–electrospray ionization–tandem mass spectrometry. We also performed 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical–scavenging assay to determine the antioxidant properties of the polysulfides. The results revealed that the total polysulfide content of broccoli sprouts significantly increased during germination and growth; CysS2H and cysteine hydrotrisulfide were the predominant organic polysulfide metabolites. Furthermore, we determined that novel sulforaphane (SFN) derivatives conjugated with CysS2H and GS2H were endogenously produced in the broccoli sprouts, and the novel SFN conjugated with CysS2H exhibited a greater radical scavenging capacity than SFN and cysteine. These results suggest that the abundance of polysulfides in broccoli sprouts contribute to their health-promoting properties. Our findings have important biological implications for the development of novel pharmacological targets for the health-promoting effects of broccoli sprouts in humans.

Improvement of physio-biochemical attributes and mitigation of salinity stress by combined application of melatonin and silicon nanoparticles in Brassica oleracea var. botrytis

Salinity is a significant abiotic stress in arid and semiarid areas, threatening global food security. This research explored the potential of silicon nanoparticles (Si-NPs) and Melatonin (MT) to alleviate salinity stress in Brassica oleracea var. botrytis. The study used varying Si-NPs concentrations viz. NP0 (distilled water), NP1 (50 mg/L), NP2 (100 mg/L), and NP3 (200 mg/L) and Melatonin following a completely randomized design (CRD). Salinity hindered the growth and phytochemical attributes of B. oleracea seedlings. However, applying Si-NPs and MT mitigated this stress. Maximum fresh root weight of seedlings was observed when seeds were primed with 80 mg/L Si-NPs under 200 mM salt concentration, and the highest root length was noted with 60 mg/L and 80 mg/L Si-NPs. Seeds primed with 40 and 80 mg/L Si-NPs displayed the highest leaf count in seedlings under 50- and 100-mM salt concentrations, respectively. At 200 mM salt concentration, 40 mg/L and 60 mg/L Si-NPs priming notably enhanced total chlorophyll contents. Relative chlorophyll contents significantly increased with Si-NPs priming of 40 mg/L, 60 mg/L, and 80 mg/L under varying salt solutions along with melatonin. Exposure to 200 mM Si-NPs led to enhanced superoxide dismutase production in plants compared to control. Si-NPs and MT supplementation notably elevated osmolyte levels in salt-stressed B. oleracea seedlings compared to other treatments. Hence, treatment of Si-NPs and MT might be effective against abiotic stress in B. oleracea. This study offers valuable insights for cultivating economically important crops in high salt-stressed agricultural lands.

Low-Temperature Vacuum Drying on Broccoli: Enhanced Anti-Inflammatory and Anti-Proliferative Properties Regarding Other Drying Methods.

Low-temperature vacuum drying (LTVD) has shown great potential for drying vegetables. It could avoid excessive degradations of active compounds with potential therapeutic agents. In this study, the effect on several relevant bioactive compounds, anti-inflammatory activity, and anti-proliferative activity of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) were evaluated. Effects of other drying methods, including vacuum drying (VD), convective drying (CD), infrared drying (IRD), and freeze drying (FD), were also comparatively evaluated. The results of all dried samples showed high polyunsaturated fatty acid contents (of up to 71.3%) and essential amino acid contents (of up to 8.63%). The LTVD method stands out above the other drying methods, since it obtained the highest content of total phenols, chlorogenic acid, and ferulic acid. Both the LTVD and CD samples demonstrated high anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative activities. These CD and LTVD samples were also the most active against the breast carcinoma MDA-MB-23 cell line. Due to the good retention of bioactive compounds via LTVD, the obtained dried broccoli here can be used in a near time as an ingredient for the development of novel natural products with anti-inflammatory and anti-proliferative effects.

First Report of Alternaria alternata Causing Leaf Spot on Broccoli in Ecuador.

In Ecuador, broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) production is located in the Andean region, specifically Cotopaxi-Ecuador (INEC, 2019). A leaf pathogen has been constantly observed in this area, showing brown circular necrosis surrounded by yellowish halo-like spots causing leaf death (Fig. 1a). This pathogen was believed to be Alternaria sp.; however, the species was not determined either using classical or molecular tools. In 2021, ten leaves showing similar symptoms were collected in Cotopaxi and sent for pathogen identification. Here, leaf explants (0.25 cm2) showing disease symptoms were surface sterilized with 2% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) and 70% ethanol (C2H6O), rinsed with sterile water, and transferred to Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA) media. Petri dishes were incubated in darkness at 25°C for five days. The single hyphal tip method was used to purify the cultures on PDA. Fifteen pure isolates were obtained after incubating for 14 days. Isolates were incubated under blacklight for two days to induce fungal sporulation. All isolates presented early white cotton-like mycelium that later became dark green (Fig 1b). Under the microscope, we observed straight primary conidia in simple or branched chains. Also, the conidia were obclavate, long ellipsoids, moderate in size (19.5-43.9 μm in length, 7.1-17.2 μm in width), and septate with few longitudinal septa. Lastly, the conidium body can narrow itself into a secondary conidia (Fig 1c) (Woudenberg et al., 2013). According to colony and conidia morphology, isolates were identified as Alternaria sp. (Woudenberg et al., 2013). Five isolates were randomly selected for DNA extraction and sequencing of ITS (internal transcribed spacer; Chou, H.H. and Wu, W.S. 2002), TEF (translation elongation factor; O'Donnell et al., 1998), and RPB2 (RNA polymerase II second largest subunit; Liu et al., 1999) gene regions. DNA sequences obtained from each marker were identical for all isolates. Consensus sequences and alignment were built using ClustalX in MEGA X (Kumar et al., 2018). Consensus sequences were deposited in GenBank with the following accession numbers: ITS, ON982232; TEF, ON983964; RPB2, ON983963. A multilocus Bayesian inference phylogenetic tree was constructed in Beast software (version 1.8.4) using the concatenated sequences (Drummond et al., 2012; Maharachchikumbura et al., 2014). The isolates in our study clustered with isolates of Alternaria alternata, confirming their identity (Figure 2). For Koch's postulates, healthy broccoli plants were grown in sterile soil for six weeks. The fungal conidia were suspended in sterile distilled water (1×106 conidia/ml), and the leaves were inoculated by spraying the spore solution. The control treatment was sprayed with sterile distilled water alone. Plants were maintained at 28°C and had more than 85% relative humidity (Sigillo et al., 2020). Seven days after inoculation, plants showed chlorosis and necrosis. Ten days later, 100% of the treated leaves presented brown circular necrosis (Fig. 1d). Control plants showed no disease symptoms. Re-isolation of the pathogen from the diseased leaf tissue was performed as previously described. The isolates presented the exact morphology of pure cultures obtained from field-diseased leaves. The pathogenicity test was performed twice. To our knowledge, this is the first report on A. alternata being the causal agent of leaf spot on broccoli in Ecuador. Disease diagnosis contributes to providing strategies against this pathogen. Further investigations are needed to find biological/chemical techniques or cultivar resistance to control this pathogen in broccoli.