Seed Plants Research Articles

Effect of Amygdalin on Murine Melanoma Cancer Cell Line and Normal Human Fibroblast Cells

Background and Objectives: Melanoma is the most aggressive and fatal type of skin cancer caused by the uncontrolled proliferation of melanocytes. The ineffectiveness of existing therapies has encouraged researchers to use herbal medicines. Amygdalin is a natural cyanogenic glycoside that is found in fruits and seeds of different plants and has antiproliferative, antioxidant, and immune-regulating activities. In this study, we aim to evaluate the effect of amygdalin against murine melanoma cancer cell line and normal human fibroblast cells. Methods: The murine melanoma cancer cell line (B16F10) and human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF) cells were exposed to different concentrations of amygdalin and dacarbazine (a standard anticancer drug) for 24 and 48 hours. The half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of amygdalin was obtained using the MTT assay and analyzed in GraphPad Prism and Excel applications. Results: Amygdalin had a high cytotoxic effect on the melanoma cell line within 48 hours of exposure, which is comparable to the cytotoxicity of dacarbazine at the same time. Amygdalin had no cytotoxic effect on HFF cells, while dacarbazine caused a high toxicity on HFF cells. Conclusion: Amygdalin, by inhibiting the proliferation of cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner, may prevent the adverse effects of chemical drugs on healthy cells and can be an appropriate treatment option for melanoma.

Exploring Cheura [Diploknema Butyracea (Roxb.) H. J. Lam]: Unveiling its Ethnomedicinal Heritage, Phytochemical Composition, Pharmacological Properties, and Innovative Applications.

Diploknema butyracea (Roxb) H.J Lam, also referred as "Kalpavriksha", is commonly known as Gophal, Cheura, or Indian butter tree. It is a deciduous tree with straight trunks of 15-20 m in height and white-yellow-coloured fragile flowers with fragrance, found at altitudes of 300-1500 m in the sub-Himalayan region of India, China, Nepal, and Bhutan. Diploknema have 11 taxa and 8 species, out of which 3 species are found in Uttarakhand hills, Sikkim, Darjeeling, Arunachal Pradesh, and Assam. The tree holds significant economic importance, serving various purposes within ethnic communities. Its high lipid content makes it valuable for food, medicine, construction, and the production of various value-added products. The ethno-pharmacological applications encompass treating rheumatism, burns, asthma, and various skin conditions. The plant's different components-bark, leaves, flowers, seeds, and fruits-contain a diverse array of phytoconstituents, including alkaloids, tannins, flavonoids, steroids, terpenoids, and palmitic acid, along with essential nutrients like sodium, calcium, potassium, iron, magnesium, zinc, and various sugars which shows diverse pharmacological and therapeutic activities. Beyond traditional uses, Diploknema is important for diverse industrial application in pharmaceuticals, confectionery, nutraceuticals, and cosmetics. Present paper is an attempt to understand comprehensive details on different aspects of this plant to explore new avenues for various value-added products.

Application of yellow mustard gum‐fenugreek mixed gum in preparation of non‐dairy fat whipping cream

SummaryYellow mustard gum (YMG) and fenugreek gum (FG) are both natural hydrocolloids derived from plant seeds. They showed synergistic effects of increased viscosity upon mixing thus expanding their applications. In this study, a synergistic YMG‐FG (7:3) blend of different total gum concentrations (0%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.15%, 0.2% and 0.25%, w/w) was used to develop a whipping cream formula with dairy fat replaced by palm kernel oil. Whipping creams of both liquid emulsion and whipped cream were characterised in terms of particle size, rheological properties, whippability and foam stability, texture and microstructure. The liquid emulsion before whipping showed a shear‐thinning behaviour regardless of the gum concentration. Upon whipping, the overrun of whipped cream decreased while the foam stability increased with increasing gum mixture content. The whipped cream with the addition of gum mixture retained the shape after storing overnight at 22 °C in comparison with two collapsed commercial samples. The whipped cream with 0.1% gum mixture exhibited optimal foam stability and textural properties among all the samples. Overall, the synergistic blend of YMG‐FG can be used as a natural stabiliser in formulating non‐dairy fat whipping cream products to improve foam stability and airy/fluffy texture.

Discovery and Development of Caffeic Acid Analogs as Versatile Therapeutic Agents

Caffeic acid (CA) is a polyphenolic acid compound widely distributed in plant seeds. As natural compounds with high research interest, caffeic acid and its derivatives show good activity in the treatment of tumors and inflammation and have antibacterial properties. In recent years, caffeic acid derivatives have been studied extensively, and these derivatives fall roughly into three categories: (1) caffeic acid ester derivatives, (2) caffeic acid amide derivatives, (3) caffeic acid hybrids. These caffeic acid analogues exert mainly antibacterial and antioxidant activities. Among the caffeic acid analogues summarized in this paper, compounds 1g and CAP10 have good activity against Candida albicans, and their MIC50 is 32 µg/mL and 13 μM, respectively. In a DPPH assay, compounds 3k, 5a, CS2, Phellinsin A and 8j showed strong antioxidant activity, and their IC50 values are 18.6 μM, 67.85 μM, 40.29 μM, 0.29 ± 0.004 mM, 4774.37 ± 137.20 μM, respectively. Overall, compound CAP10 had the best antibacterial activity and compound 3k had the best antioxidant activity. This paper mainly summarizes and discusses some representative caffeic acid analogs, hoping to provide better drug design strategies for the subsequent development of caffeic acid analogs.

Exploring Functional Gene XsPDAT1’s Involvement in Xanthoceras sorbifolium Oil Synthesis and Its Acclimation to Cold Stress

Phospholipid: diacylglycerol acyltransferase (PDAT) is crucial in triacylglycerol (TAG) synthesis as it represents the final rate-limiting step of the acyl-CoA-independent acylation reaction. PDAT not only regulates lipid synthesis in plants, but also plays an important function in improving stress tolerance. In this study, the full-length coding sequence (CDS) of XsPDAT1, totaling 2022 base pairs and encoding 673 amino acids, was cloned from Xanthoceras sorbifolium. The relative expression of XsPDAT1 was significantly and positively correlated with oil accumulation during seed kernel development; there were some differences in the expression patterns under different abiotic stresses. Transgenic Arabidopsis thaliana plants overexpressing XsPDAT1 were obtained using the Agrobacterium-mediated method. Under low-temperature stress, the transgenic plants exhibited a smaller decrease in chlorophyll content, a smaller increase in relative conductivity, and a larger increase in POD enzyme activity and proline content in the leaves compared with the wild type. Additionally, lipid composition analysis revealed a significant increase in unsaturated fatty acids, such as oleic (C18:1) and linoleic (C18:2), in the seeds of transgenic plants compared to the wild type. These results suggest that XsPDAT1 plays a dual role in regulating the ratio of fatty acid composition and low-temperature stress in plants.

Two-frequency pulsed laser irradiation to stimulate the development of coniferous trees

The possibility of using radiation from a two-frequency pulsed copper vapor laser with wavelengths of 510.6 nm and 578.2 nm with an exposure of 30 to 120 s to stimulate the development of coniferous trees (spruce, pine, larch) with a single seed irradiation is shown. The stimulation effect manifests itself at various early stages of development, such as the awakening of seeds in the aquatic environment in the first hours of the experiment (according to electron absorption spectroscopy data), seed germination, and seedling growth under stressful cultivation conditions. Possible causes of light exposure to plant seeds are discussed.

Correlative microscopy - illuminating the endomembrane system of plant seeds.

The endomembrane system of cereal seed endosperm is a highly plastic and dynamic system reflecting the high degree of specialization of this tissue. It is capable of coping with high levels of storage protein synthesis and undergoes rapid changes to accommodate these storage proteins in newly formed storage organelles such as endoplasmic reticulum-derived protein bodies or protein storage vacuoles. The study of endomembrane morphology in cereal endosperm is challenging due to the amount of starch that cereal seeds accumulate and the progressive desiccation of the tissue. Here, we present a comprehensive study of the endomembrane system of developing barley endosperm cells, complemented by correlative light and electron microscopy (CLEM) imaging. The use of genetically fused fluorescent protein tags in combination with the high resolution of electron microscopy brings ultrastructural research to a new level and can be used to generate novel insights in cell biology in general and in cereal seed research in particular.

Exploring seed characteristics and performance through advanced physico-chemical techniques

Simple physico-chemical techniques can be used to evaluate the composition, structure, and characteristics of plant seeds to determine their viability, quality, and possible uses in agriculture. Advanced analytical techniques, including thermo gravimetric analysis (TGA), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC), provide completely new insights and more precise information. They can be integrated to build up seed quality profiles, with great advantage to assess water content, organic compounds, and inorganic metals without the need to carry out many extraction procedures, as requested by more conventional methods. In this study, seed lots from three different plant species such as Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum (wheat), Trigonella foenum graecum L. (trigonella or fenugreek), and Atriplex halimus L. (saltbush or sea orach) have been used to test the potential of TGA, EPR, and HPLC to discriminate between seed-specific features. A key finding of this study is that HPLC is essential in Principal Component Analysis (PCA) because various seeds (from the same species or other species) may contain compounds with varying polarity groups. The reported data confirm the efficacy of this approach. These data, fully available for other users, are coherently constructed and provide a proof of concept for future seed quality control studies.

Respon Tanaman Kedelai Edamame (Glycine Max (L.) Merr.) Terhadap Pemberian Dolomit Dan Pupuk Hayati Majemuk Pada Tanah Gambut

Edamame soybeans are soybeans that are harvested young, so they are known as green soybeans. The high nutritional content and delicious taste make edamame soybeans popular with the public. Extensification is one effort that can be done to increase edamame soybean production. One type of soil that has the potential to expand edamame soybean plants is peat soil. This research aims to examine the response of edamame soybean plants to the application of dolomite and compound biofertilizer on peat soil. The experiment was carried out using a two-factor factorial Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with three replications. The first factor, namely dolomite (0, 15, 30, and 45 g polybag-1) and the second factor, namely biological fertilizer (0, 5, 10, and 15 g kg-1 seed). The results of the study showed that the influence of the interaction between dolomite and compound biofertilizer as well as the single factor of compound biofertilizer had no significant effect on the growth and yield of edamame soybeans. Edamame soybean plants are responsive to dolomite. The highest number of plant seeds was obtained when administering dolomite at a dose of 30 or 45 g polybag-1, namely 29.50-32.25 seeds plant-1.

Germination ecology of heteromorphic seeds of slender Russian thistle (Salsola collina)

Abstract Slender Russian thistle (Salsola collina Pall.) is a troublesome weed distributed mainly in the cropping regions of northern China that produces heteromorphic seeds in the same plant. However, limited information is available on the germination ecology of heteromorphic seeds in S. collina. Thus, the present study was conducted to verify the effect of alternating temperature conditions, light conditions, winged perianth, salt concentrations, water stress, and burial depths on the seed germination or seedling emergence of S. collina. The results showed that S. collina produced two different types of fruits/seeds that significantly differed in seed size, seed color, external structure, and germination/dormancy behavior. The type A seeds (green seeds) were nondormant, and the germination percentage was >96% at all alternating day/night temperatures and light conditions; whereas type B seeds (yellow seeds) exhibited dormancy characteristics and poor germination (≤1%). Moreover, the winged perianth did not inhibit the germination of S. collina green seeds. The germination of green seeds declined rapidly when NaCl concentration exceeded 100 mM, and only 2.22% germination was observed at 600 mM NaCl. About 62.00% of green seeds germinated at −0.6 MPa, and 8.00% germination was obtained at −1.2 MPa. The seedling emergence declined with an increase of burial depth, and decreased sharply when the burial depth exceeded 1.0 cm. Only 8.33% seedling emergence occurred at a burial depth of 4.0 cm. The results gathered from present study will help to illustrate the ecological adaptation strategy of S. collina and indicate that shallow tillage can effectively minimize the seedling emergence of S. collina.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Ameliorate Selenium Stress and Increase Antioxidant Potential of Zea mays in Seleniferous Soil.

The indigenous arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) spores were isolated from rhizosphere soil associated with maize plants grown in natural selenium-impacted agricultural soils present in north-eastern region of Punjab, India (32°46' N, 74°46' N), with selenium concentration ranging from 2.1 to 6.1 mg kg-1 dry weight, and their role in plant growth promotion, mitigation of selenium stress and phytochemical and antioxidant potential of host maize plants in natural seleniferous soil were examined. Soils with selenium content between 2 and 200 mg kg-1 and producing plants with 45 mg selenium kg-1 dry weight are considered seleniferous soils. AMF inoculum consisting of indigenous AMF spores multiplied in pot cultures were inoculated to maize seeds at the time of sowing alongside control maize seeds in a total of 12 plots (6 replicates) made in seleniferous agricultural fields and sampled at maturity, i.e. 3 months. Asignificant difference was observed in plant growth parameters between control and AMF-inoculated maize plants. AMF-inoculated plants had 24.0 cm and 101.1 cm higher root and shoot length along with 27.2 g, 119.4 g and 28.1 g higher root, shoot and maize cob biomass in comparison to control plants. Se uptake studies through measurement of the emission spectrum of piazselenol complex by fluorescence spectrometry revealed that AMF inoculation led to 6.3 µg g-1 more selenium accumulation in mycorrhizal maize roots in comparison to control roots but lesser translocation to shoots and seeds, i.e. 17.17 µg g-1 and 19.58 µg g-1 lesser. AMF increased total phenolic content by 13 µg GAE mg-1 and total flavonoid content by 13.4 µg QE mg-1 in inoculated maize plants when compared to control plants. Antioxidant studies revealed that AMF inoculation also led to significant rise in enzyme activities by a difference of 115 and 193 EU g-1 in catalase, 140 and 93 EU g-1 in superoxide dismutase, 15 and 37 EU g-1 in ascorbate peroxidase and 19.8 and 23.6% higher DPPH radical scavenging activities, respectively, in shoots and roots of plants with AMF inoculation. The findingsof this study imply that AMF inoculated to maize plants in seleniferous field boost their plant growth and phytochemical and antioxidant properties, as well as minimize Se bioaccumulation in shoots and seeds of plants inoculated with AMF in comparison to control plants.

Socialization, cultivation, and utilization of empty land for family medicinal plants

The prevalence of illness complaints among the Indonesian population is 228.15 percent, with 65.01 percent opting for self-treatment using synthetic drugs, while 38.30 percent prefer traditional medicine. The use of traditional medicines in communities, including in Katimbang Village, remains significantly lower compared to synthetic alternatives. A comprehensive strategy is needed to enhance public knowledge and understanding of how to obtain and utilize traditional medicine from medicinal plants found around the home. This socialization and cultivation activity was conducted at Integrated Service Post (Posyandu) RW 04, Katimbang Village, involving 21 community members. The event included a socialization session on family medicinal plants, pre- and post-tests, QA discussions, and the planting of 50 medicinal plant seeds, with participation from students and local residents. Statistical tests revealed the success of this intervention in improving participants' understanding of medicinal plants, with an average pre-test score of 8.4762 increasing to 8.6190 in the post-test. More than 50 percent of participants scored ≥80 in the post-test. The success of this outreach and planting activity provides a strong foundation for further increasing public awareness of the use of medicinal plants as complementary treatments for various illnesses.

The pro-oxidant-antioxidant ratio in the cells of plant seedlings from various ecological and geographical growth locations

The balance of pro-antioxidants within the cells of common fir (Abies alba) and mugwort (Artemisia vulgaris) seedlings cultivated across eight distinct climatogeographical regions of Russia and Kharkov (Ukraine) was investigated. The intensity of lipid peroxidation processes was recorded as a pro-oxidant response, and the antioxidant response was measured by assessing the total content of low-molecular-weight antioxidants and the activity of superoxide dismutase. An assessment of the pro-antioxidant balance within the cellular structures of seedlings, originating from seeds of plants grown in diverse climatogeographical environments, was performed. This evaluation included the analysis of seedling survival rates, the degree of lipid peroxidation, and the activity of the antioxidant system, utilizing the coefficient method for measurement. The results suggest that the regions from which plant seeds were collected can be classified into three distinct zones according to the values of the extremity coefficient. A significant positive correlation was identified between the activity of superoxide dismutase in the cells of the examined seedlings and the levels of solar insolation in the regions where the seeds were collected. Adaptation changes in wild plants to temperature, humidity, and light conditions lead to the activation of antioxidant systems. The seedlings of plants whose seeds were formed in environments characterized by high insolation and low precipitation (such as Yakutsk, Ulan-Ude, and Srednekolymsk) exhibited a low total antioxidant content, accompanied by a compensatory increase in superoxide dismutase activity. Our research indicates that the survival rates of seedlings of common fir and mugwort are contingent upon the pro-antioxidant balance that has developed in response to the climatic conditions experienced by the plants. This relationship is characterized by species specificity, nonlinear dynamics, and is predominantly affected by the volume of precipitation received during the active growing season of the maternal plants.

Therapeutic Benefits of <i>Palash</i> (<i>Butea monosperma</i>): A Review of its Pharmacological Activities

One of humankind’s first recognized medicinal needs for long-term health is herbs, which form the basis of current medicine. Worldwide, there is a need and desire for nutritious diets with extra benefits. Palash is one such significant plant that can be found in various places. Since ancient times, the Fabaceae family plant known as Palash (Butea monosperma Lamk. Taub.) has been utilized for medicinal purposes. It can be used for festivals and God worships in most of India’s regions. The properties and modes of action of the plant’s bioactive components, which include flavonoids, steroids, and other kinds of phytochemicals, will determine how it could be used. Scientific studies using pharmaceutical preparations have demonstrated the medicinal benefits of traditional plant parts, including leaves, flowers, seeds, bark, roots, and gum. These preparations have been found to possess anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-diabetic, anti-bacterial, wound-healing, and diuretic properties, among many other qualities.

AI-based modeling studies for dye removal using mixed biomass composites from algae and plant seeds: Isotherm, kinetics, and mechanistic insights

Biomass based remediation have emerged as a promising solution for the economic and sustainable pollutant removal from environment. In this study, novel mixed biomass derived from algae and manila tamarind seeds was synthesized and extensively characterized for application in dye adsorption. Mesoporous structure with pore diameter of 4.006 nm was observed from Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) characterization. Best fit for isotherm was identified with Langmuir model indicating the monolayer nature of dye removal. Artificial intelligence (AI) based models – artificial neural network (ANN) and adaptive neuro fuzzy interference (ANFIS) system were employed for the prediction of dye removal under different conditions, a unique approach which has not been explored in previous studies based on mixed biomass adsorption. In addition, embedding particle swarm optimization (PSO) had a significant improvement in prediction of dye removal. For both Eriochrome black (EB) dye and Brilliant Orange (BO) dye adsorption employing mixed biomass, the ANN-PSO model yielded the best correlation of 0.9999 and 0.9994. For eriochrome black and brilliant orange dye, the maximum adsorption of 79.95 mg/g and 102.4 mg/g for the mixed biomass composite was noted, highlighting the adsorption efficiency of biomass. The uniqueness of the study lies in the integration of mixed biomass adsorption with AI driven modeling, providing a dual approach to enhance dye removal and adsorption efficiency. In addition, the regenerated mixed biomass can be reused for five consecutive cycles, highlighting its practical application, distinguishing from existing research that focused on single use biomass systems.

Flavonoid-rich fraction of Monodora tenuifolia Benth seeds improves antioxidant status in male Wistar rats with streptozotocin-induced Diabetes mellitus

BackgroundOxidative stress is a disruption in the balance between free radicals and the body's natural defenses. This study investigated the modulatory effect of a flavonoid-rich fraction of Monodora tenuifolia seed (FRFMTS) on oxidative stress and antioxidant enzymes in diabetic Wistar rats. The plant seeds were collected, and identified then, hydro-ethanolic extract was obtained with 80 % (v/v) ethanol and partitioned with solvents to obtain the FRFMTS. Diabetes mellitus was induced with a single dose of 40 mg/kg bwt streptozotocin and the rats were treated according to their grouping; group 1: non-diabetic control, groups 2 and 3: non-diabetic treated with 25 mg/kg FRFMTS and 50 mg/kg FRFMTS, respectively. Group 4: diabetic control group, groups 5 and 6: diabetic groups treated with 25 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg FRFMTS, respectively, while group 7: diabetic treated with 6.67 mg/kg metformin. Antioxidant status, oxidative stress biomarkers and activities of antioxidant enzymes were determined in plasma, heart, and kidney tissues using established procedures. ResultsPlasma total antioxidant status (TAS) was increased significantly (p < 0.05) in diabetic rats upon treatment with 25 mg/kg FRFMTS (70.4 %), while 50 mg/kg FRFMTS increased TAS by 70 %. The activities of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the plasma, heart, and kidney of diabetic rats significantly decreased (61.3 %, 58.8 % and 31.4 % respectively) while lipid peroxidation (LPO) was elevated when compared with normal control groups. Flavonoid-rich fraction of M. tenuifolia at 25 mg/kg bwt and 50 mg/kg bwt significantly increased the activity GPx enzyme by 32.3 % and 72 % in plasma, while there was no significant differences in both kidney and heart of diabetic rats when compared with diabetic control groups. The treatment of diabetic rats with 25 mg/kg FRFMTS and 50 mg/kg FRFMTS improved SOD activity in the plasma (51.5 % and 69.8 %), heart (32.3 % and 27.6 %) and kidney (31.4 % and 27.1 %) respectively, and CAT activity in plasma (44.2 % and 57 %), heart (28.6 % and 60 %) and kidney (69.6 % and 76.7 %) respectively. The concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) in lipid peroxidation assay in the heart and kidney of diabetic rats treated with 25 mg/kg FRFMTS and 50 mg/kg FRFMTS reduced significantly by (62.5 % and 71.1 % in heart), while 50 mg/kg FRFMTS significantly reduced MDA in kidney by 43.8 %. ConclusionsThe results showed that FRFMTS reduces oxidative stress and enhances the activities of antioxidant enzymes in STZ-diabetic Wistar rats. As such, FRFMTS could be useful in the management of oxidative stress-mediated diabetic complications.

A gold nanoparticle-enhanced dCas9-mediated fluorescence resonance energy transfer for nucleic acid detection

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-associated Cas proteins coupled with pre-amplification have shown great potential in molecular diagnoses. However, the current CRISPR-based methods require additional reporters and time-consuming process. Herein, a gold nanoparticle (AuNP)-enhanced CRISPR/dCas9-mediated fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) termed Au-CFRET platform was proposed for rapid, sensitive, and specific detection of nucleic acid for the first time. In the Au-CFRET sensing platform, AuNP was functionalized with dCas9 and used as nanoprobe. Target DNA was amplified with FAM-labeled primers and then precisely bound with AuNP-dCas9. The formed complex rendered the distance between AuNP acceptor and FAM donor to be short enough for the occurrence of FRET, thus resulting in fluorescence quenching. Moreover, AuNPs were demonstrated to enhance binding efficiency of dCas9 to target DNA in Au-CFRET system. The key factors regarding the FRET efficiency were analyzed and characterized in detail, including the length of donor/acceptor and the size of AuNPs. Under the optimal conditions, Au-CFRET could determinate CaMV35S promoter of genetically modified rice as low as 21 copies μL−1. Moreover, Au-CFRET sensing system coupled with one-step extraction and recombinase polymerase amplification can identify the genuine plant seeds within 30 min from sampling to results at room/body temperature without expensive equipment or technical expertise, and requires no additional exogenous reporters. Therefore, the proposed sensing platform significantly simplified the system and shortened the assay time for nucleic acid diagnoses.

Quercus ballot as an innovative feedstock for biodiesel production using ZnO nanocatalyst

Selecting non-edible plant seed oil remains the best choice for biodiesel production using an effective nanocatalyst. In this study, the ZnO was prepared as a nanocatalyst using an aqueous extract from the Alhaji marorum plant. Nano ZnO has shown high catalytic activity, is cost-effective, environmentally friendly and converts triglycerides into fatty acid methyl esters. The results indicate that ZnO nanocatalyst exhibit a high specific surface area (146.82 m2 g-1), large pore volume (0.35 cm3 g-1), and an average crystallite size of 42.3 nm. The FESEM analysis shows that the particle size of ZnO lies in the range of 30–50 nm with a rod shape and densely packed morphology. The biodiesel is produced using a transesterification process from novel non-edible Quercus ballot plant seeds. The resulting biodiesel has a 98.06 % yield under a methanol/oil ratio of 6:1 with 0.5 wt% ZnO nanocatalyst at 65 °C for 80 min. It is established that the methanol-to-oil ratio and the catalyst concentration significantly affect the transesterification reaction. The biodiesel produced is characterized by GC–MS to determine its exact composition and FTIR is used to confirm functional groups and is evaluated according to ASTM D6751.

RNAi, a sword of plant seeds to combat viral infections

Vertical transmission of plant viruses through seeds has been known for a century, yet the mechanism for seeds to combat viral infection remains unclear. In this issue of Cell Host & Microbe, Liu and Ding demonstrate the genetic requirement of RNA silencing (RNAi) pathway for plants to suppress seed transmission.

Functional Diversification of Sec13 Isoforms for Storage Protein Trafficking in Rice Endosperm Cells.

Coat protein complex II (COPII) vesicles play crucial roles in mediating the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit of newly synthesized proteins to the Golgi in eukaryotic cells. However, the molecular functions of COPII components and their functional diversifications in plant seeds remain obscure. Here, we showed that the rice (Oryza sativa) glutelin precursor accumulation12 (gpa12) mutant is defective in storage protein export from the ER, resulting in the formation of aggregated protein bodies. Map-based cloning revealed that GPA12 encodes a COPII outer layer protein, Sec13a, that mainly localizes to endoplasmic reticulum exit sites (ERES) and partially localizes to the Golgi. Biochemical experiments verified that Sec13a physically interacts with Sec31 and Sec16, and mutation in Sec13 compromises its interaction with Sec31 and Sec16, thereby affecting the membrane association of the inner complex components Sar1b and Sec23c. Apart from Sec13a, the rice genome encodes two other Sec13 isoforms, Sec13b and Sec13c. Notably, we observed an abnormal accumulation of globular ER structures in the sec13bc double mutant but not in the single mutants, suggesting a functional redundancy of Sec13b and Sec13c in modulating ER morphology. Taken together, our results substantiated that Sec13a plays an important role in regulating storage protein export from the ER, while Sec13b and Sec13c are required for maintaining ER morphology in rice endosperm cells. Our findings provide insights into the functional diversification of COPII components in plants.