Thlaspi Arvense Research Articles

Biocontrol potential of Botrytis fabiopsis against the weeds of agricultural fields in the Qing-Tibetan Plateau.

In screening biocontrol strains with broad-spectrum and high-efficiency herbicidal activities, a strain with strong pathogenicity, HY-021, was isolated from the leaves of Rumex acetosa, which was identified as Botrytis fabiopsis based on morphology and molecular biology. The herbicidal activities of the fermentation filtrate of strain HY-021 against nine weeds, including Chenopodium album L., Elsholtzia densa Benth., Malva verticillata L. var. Crispa, Polygonum lapathifolium L., Amaranthus retroflexus L., Avena fatua L., Thlaspi arvense L., Polygonum aviculare L., and Galium spurium L., were determined in vitro and in vivo. The results showed that the pathogenicity of strain HY-021 to the different weeds in vitro was as follows: E. densa > A. retroflexus > P. aviculare > P. lapathifolium > M. verticillata > T. arvense > G. spurium > A. fatua > C. album. Seven days after inoculation with the HY-021 strain, the incidences in nine weeds were in the range of 32.9-87.23%, and the disease index values of the nine weeds were 41.73-94.57%. The pathogenic effects from high to low were A. retroflexus > E. densa > A. fatua > G. spurium > C. album > M. verticillata > T. arvense > P. aviculare > P. lapathifolium. The crop safety test showed that the biocontrol strain HY-021 was safe to V. faba, P. sativum, H. vulgare, and T. aestivum, but had a slight effect on B. napus. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the mycelium of strain HY-021 invaded the tissue through the stomata of C. album leaves, parasitized and reproduced in the tissue, and gradually destroyed the tissue. The results of this study provide a basis for the development and utilization of new and efficient microbial source herbicides.

Pennycress reduces potential for nutrient loss in Illinois.

Nutrient export of nitrogen and phosphorus from row crop agriculture in the Upper US Midwest is a threat to the structure and function of aquatic systems. To meet Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) nutrient reduction goals, the Upper US Midwest needs to implement strategies to reduce nutrient export from agriculture. Studies demonstrate the potential of cover crops to reduce the export of nitrate-nitrogen from the Upper US Midwest. We investigated the impact of the economically viable winter cash cover crop pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) on soil porewater nutrients and soil nutrients and characteristics. We used nine replicated 0.8ha plots (n=3 per treatment) at a production scale research farm over 4 years with pennycress and fertilized pennycress (56kg ha-1 of urea) treatments compared to a fallow reference. Over the study period, soil porewater nitrate-nitrogen was reduced by 53% in pennycress plots and 34% in fertilized pennycress plots relative to the fallow reference at a depth of 45cm. Early season establishment was crucial in providing nutrient reduction potential. In 2021, poor pennycress establishment resulted in porewater nitrate-nitrogen concentrations 141% higher than in 2022 with excellent pennycress establishment. Following pennycress termination, soil nitrate-nitrogen was reduced by 24% in pennycress and 26% in fertilized pennycress compared to the fallow reference in the top 30cm of soil. Following 4 years of pennycress planting, nitrate-nitrogen concentrations were significantly reduced with no broad effect on soil characteristics. We conclude that the novel pennycress crop has potential to reduce nutrient loss from row crop agriculture in the Upper US Midwest.

Using Native and Synthetic Genes to Disrupt Inositol Pyrophosphates and Phosphate Accumulation in Plants.

Inositol pyrophosphates are eukaryotic signaling molecules that have been recently identified as key regulators of plant phosphate sensing and homeostasis. Given the importance of phosphate to current and future agronomic practices, we sought to design plants which could be used to sequester phosphate, as a step in a phytoremediation strategy. To achieve this, we expressed Diadenosine and Diphosphoinositol Polyphosphate Phosphohydrolase (DDP1), a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) enzyme demonstrated to hydrolyze inositol pyrophosphates, in Arabidopsis thaliana and pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), a spring annual cover crop with emerging importance as a biofuel crop. DDP1 expression in Arabidopsis decreased inositol pyrophosphates, activated Phosphate Starvation Response marker genes, and increased phosphate accumulation. These changes corresponded with alterations in plant growth and sensitivity to exogenously applied phosphate. Pennycress plants expressing DDP1 displayed increases in phosphate accumulation, suggesting that these plants could potentially serve to reclaim phosphate from phosphate-polluted soils. We also identified a native Arabidopsis gene, Nucleoside diphosphate-linked moiety X 13 (NUDIX13), which we show encodes an enzyme homologous to DDP1 with similar substrate specificity. Arabidopsis transgenics overexpressing NUDIX13 had lower inositol pyrophosphate levels and displayed phenotypes similar to DDP1-overexpressing transgenics, while nudix13-1 mutants had increased levels of inositol pyrophosphates. Taken together, our data demonstrates that DDP1 and NUDIX13 can be used in strategies to regulate plant inositol pyrophosphates and could serve as potential targets for engineering plants to reclaim phosphate from polluted environments.

Domestication and engineering of pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.): challenges and opportunities for sustainable bio-based feedstocks.

Pennycress, as an emerging oilseed crop with high oil content, faces challenges but offers potential for sustainable bioproducts; ongoing research aims to enhance its traits and quality. Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) is an emerging oilseed crop with many advantages, such as high seed oil (27-39%) and monounsaturated fatty acid (55.6%) content, making it an attractive candidate to produce sustainable bioproducts. However, several challenges are associated with domesticating pennycress, including high silicle shatter, which reduces seed yield during harvest, non-uniformed germination rate and high contents of erucic acid and glucosinolates, which have adverse health effects on humans and animals. Pennycress, which can be easily and rapidly transformed using the floral dip method under vacuum, can achieve trait improvements. Ongoing research for pennycress domestication using mutation breeding, including ethylmethylsulfonate treatment and genome editing, aims to improve its quality. Pennycress can be used as an excellent platform for producing industrially important fatty acids such as hydroxy and epoxy fatty acids and docosahexaenoic acid. In conclusion, pennycress is a promising oilseed crop with multiple advantages and potential applications. Continuous improvements in quality and engineering for producing high-value bio-based feedstocks in pennycress will establish it as a sustainable and economically valuable crop.

Phenolic Compounds Isolated from Thlaspi Arvense and Their Effects on Osteoblast Differentiation in the Mouse Mesenchymal Stem Cell Line C3H10T1/2

Phenolic Compounds Isolated from <i>Thlaspi Arvense</i> and Their Effects on Osteoblast Differentiation in the Mouse Mesenchymal Stem Cell Line C3H10T1/2

Economic evaluation of corn relative maturity hybrids in corn–pennycress–soybean rotations

AbstractThis manuscript is a follow‐up of previously published results that presented findings on pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) establishment and agronomics in response to previous corn (Zea mays L.) relative maturity (CRM) hybrids grown for grain and silage in the corn–pennycress–soybean [Glycine max (L.)] rotations. In this manuscript, we compared the economics of grain corn–pennycress–soybean rotations (grain rotation) with silage corn–pennycress–soybean rotations (silage rotation). The treatments were CRM hybrids ranging from 76 to 95 days (full season) at northern sites (Morris and Rosemount, MN) and 95 to 113 days (full season) at southern sites (Lexington, IL, and Custar, OH). Full‐season corn harvested for silage was included as a control treatment representing optimum conditions for sowing pennycress. A partial budget procedure was used for economic analysis. The results showed that the annualized net benefits (ANBs) ranged from $315 to $945 ha−1. The silage rotation produced greater ANBs than the grain rotation at all sites due to increased pennycress seed yield. In the grain rotation, the 105 days in the south, 95 days corn at Morris, and 86 days corn at Rosemount resulted in minimal ANB losses compared with silage rotation. Among grain corn treatments, some of the early CRM hybrids resulted in greater ANBs (up to 40%) than the full season hybrid. Results demonstrate potential to integrate pennycress into a grain rotation using early CRM hybrids. In addition, valuing the diverse ecosystem benefits that pennycress offers as a cash cover crop during the offseason between corn and soybean rotation may help to attract growers.

Hormone type, soaking duration and seed coating affect dormancy and germination of pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) lines

Establishment of pennycress is key to ensure uniform stands and maximise canopy closure in autumn. Past work has demonstrated that selected seed treatments could improve germination and establishment, but the optimisation of these processes to minimise inputs and time have not been assessed. The objective of this work was to evaluate seed enhancement technologies (hormone application by soaking and seed coating) to overcome seed dormancy and/or enhance germination. Two black-seeded lines (‘MN106NS’ and ‘ARV1’) and one golden-seeded line (‘tt8-t/ARV1’) were examined. Seeds were soaked in gibberellic acid (GA4+7) or benzyladenine (6-BA), or distilled water for different durations (30, 60, 240 minutes) and compared to an unsoaked control. Results showed that the GA treatment significantly increased germination, particularly for ‘ARV1’ and ‘MN106NS’ lines. Seed coating increased seed diameter but did not enhance germination; instead, it hindered ‘tt8-t/ARV1’ germination by 99-100%. The study suggests soaking seeds for at least 30 minutes in a GA solution to improve germination in black-seeded lines, however, economic and logistical factors must be considered. None of the tested enhancements proved beneficial on the two seed lots of golden-seeded line ‘tt8-t/ARV1’ and further research is needed to examine more seed lots before conclusions can be made.

Genetic diversity and population structure of Plenodomus biglobosus on flixweed (Descurainia sophia) in northwestern China.

Plenodomus biglobosus (Pb), a causal agent of blackleg of rapeseed, is composed of several subspecies, including 'australensis' (Pba), 'brassicae' (Pbb) and 'canadensis' (Pbc). Besides rapeseed, Pb can infect many wild cruciferous plants (WCPs), such as flixweed (Descurainiasophia) and pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), which may become the infection source for blackleg of rapeseed. However, Pb on WCPs has not been well investigated in China. This study identified the blackleg fungi on two WCPs in Sayram Lake and Zhaosu County in Xinjiang of China: flixweed (15 isolates) and pennycress (1 isolate) as well as on rapeseed (971 isolates). They belonged to Pba (11), Pbb (18) and Pbc (958). Pba occurred on flixweed (10) and pennycress (1) only in Sayram Lake, whereas Pbb and Pbc occurred on flixweed (1 and 4 isolates, respectively) and rapeseed (17 and 954 isolates, respectively) in Zhaosu County. Then, virulence of 16 isolates from flixweed and pennycress was determined on rapeseed. Their genomes were sequenced and used to identify the mating-type idiomorphs and to analyze population genetic structure. Results showed that all of the 16 isolates were virulent to rapeseed. Only MAT1-1 was detected in 11 Pba isolates, implying that Pba may lack sexual reproduction. The 16 isolates from two WCPs were divided into four genetic groups: Group I for Pbc (4 isolates), Group II for Pbb (1 isolate), and Group III (3 isolates) and IV (8 isolates) for Pba. The findings about the single mating-type in Pba and its limited geographic distribution provided a case showing the importance of sexual reproduction in epidemics of Pb. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of Pba, Pbb and Pbc on flixweed, and Pba on pennycress in China.

Screening of seeds from wild Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) populations for sinigrin levels using a blood glucose meter and test strips

Field pennycress, Thlaspi arvense L., is a new oil seed cover crop being commercialized as a source of biofuel in the United States. Along the path to commercialization, pennycress seed and meal will be marketed as animal feed. As a member of the Brassicacaeae family, pennycress seed is abundant in glucosinolates which are anti-nutritional factors that make the seed and meal less palatable to animals. More specifically, sinigrin has been identified as the only glucosinolate present in pennycress seed. As work continues to develop varieties low in glucosinolates, a rapid assay is needed to determine the sinigrin level in pennycress seed.The objective of this study was to develop and utilize a high throughput, rapid assay to screen pennycress seeds from wild populations for total sinigrin content. Pennycress seeds were ground in potassium phosphate buffer with endogenous myrosinase to catalyze the enzymatic hydrolysis of sinigrin to equimolar amounts of glucose. Glucose content was determined using a blood glucose meter and test strips. From the molar concentration of glucose, the molar concentration of sinigrin was known and the sinigrin level in seeds was calculated in µmol/g. The results were confirmed by HPLC/MS analysis.A rapid and inexpensive method was developed and used to screen seeds of 429 wild pennycress lines for sinigrin. Sinigrin levels in seed ranged from 25 to 85 μmol/g in the pennycress lines screened. Environmental factors also seemed to contribute to the levels of sinigrin in seeds found within the line ‘tt8-t/ARV1’ grown at ten different locations in the Midwest, USA.This rapid and inexpensive assay will allow breeders to efficiently screen lines and select for varieties that produce seeds with low sinigrin levels for improved feed value.

Potential insect threats to pennycress, Thlaspi arvense (Brassicales: Brassicaceae), an emerging oilseed cover crop.

Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) is an annual plant in temperate regions that often grows as a weed. Pennycress is being domesticated as a new winter cover crop and oilseed crop for incorporation in the Midwest United States corn-soybean rotation, where it could offer economic and environmental benefits. While pennycress is gaining attention as a promising new crop, there remains a significant gap in understanding its interaction with insect communities and agroecosystems. This review compiles available information on insect herbivores (potential pests) and beneficial insects associated with pennycress growing in the wild (natural areas) or as a weed in agricultural areas. The limited knowledge on the response of pennycress to stressors (defoliation, stem injury and stand loss) similar to injury that could be caused by insects is also compiled here. By shedding light on the insects associated with pennycress and how pennycress might respond to injury from insectpests, this review sets the stage for further research and development of integrated pest management programs for insect pests of this new crop.

Assessment of weed species composition of Cabbage family plants (Brassicaceae) of ruderal and segetal habitats of the Ussuriysk urban district of the Primorsky Territory

The data on the species composition of weeds from the Cabbage family (Brassicaceae) that grow stably in the territory of the Ussuriysk urban district of the Primorsky Territory and dominate in agrocenoses are given in the article. Objectives of the study are: to summarize data on the most widespread (background) plant species of natural and adventive flora of the Cabbage family of ruderal and segetal habitats of the Ussuriysk urban district of the Primorsky Territory; to note the species listed in the "Black Book of Flora of the Far East" and growing within the limits of the urban district; to cite the species composition of herbaceous plants of the Cabbage family found in the Ussuriysky Nature Reserve. Field studies were conducted using the traditional route-reconnaissance method in 2010–2023. Phenological observations, geobotanical descriptions of identified habitats, collection, identification of herbarium material and photographing of objects from growing sites were carried out. Of the 23 species of Brassicaceae cited in the paper, ten are invasive in the ecosystems of the Far Eastern Federal District: Armoracia rusticana Gaertn., Mey. et Scherb., Berteroa incana (L.) DC., Brassica juncea (L.) Czern., Bunias orientalis L., Capsella bursa-pastoris (L.) Medik., Hesperis matronalis L., Lepidium densiflorum Schrad., Thlaspi arvense L., Turritis glabra L., Velarum officinale (L.) Reichenb. Most of them, with the exception of B. juncea, C. bursa-pastoris and Th. arvense, are classified as plants that do not cause significant damage at this stage of development. Ruderal habitats are also sites of biodiversity conservation. In the V.L. Komarov Ussuriysky Nature Reserve, 16 species of Cabbage, of which Barbarea orthoceras, B. incana, and Th. arvense are segetal, were identified on the territory of the Ussuriysk Urban District.

The study of the influence of &lt;i&gt;Thlaspi arvense&lt;/i&gt; L. on the characteristics of the reproductive system of male rats

Introduction. The development of new effective and safe herbal medicines capable of having a positive effect on reproductive status is an urgent task of domestic pharmacy. Medicinal plants are considered as alternative therapies aimed at increasing testosterone levels and fertility in men. The arsenal of medicinal plants used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diseases in men is mainly represented by phytoadaptogens, most of which have a small resource potential in Russia, therefore, it is relevant to search for plants with a sufficient raw material base and with the potential for cultivation. Thlaspi arvense L. is a promising medicinal plant, as it is widely used in folk medicine as a diuretic, anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, antihistamine, hemostatic, astringent, has a positive effect on the processes of spermatogenesis and is widely distributed in our country. However, information on the chemical composition and biological activity of Thlaspi arvense L. they are insufficient, which shows the relevance of its further more detailed study in order to substantiate the possibility of application in practical medicine and solutions to the issues of standardization of medicinal plant raw materials.Aim. The study of the influence of Thlaspi arvense L. on the characteristics of the reproductive system of male rats.Materials and methods. The object of the study was an infusion of herbа Thlaspi arvense L. The features of the reproductive behavior of male rats after 21-day administration of the infusion of grass yarutka field were studied using tests that allow quantifying the severity of sexual motivation and sexual activity of males. The viability of spermatozoa in the ejaculate of rats was assessed, the total number of spermatozoa (ACS, million), degenerative and immobile forms (%) was calculated. Morphophysiological parameters of spermatogenesis of rats of control and experimental groups of animals were studied using classical histological methods. The concentration of testosterone in the blood serum of experimental groups of animals was determined by the enzyme immunoassay.Results and discussion. The results obtained allow us to conclude that the fertility of rats has increased against the background of the course administration of the infusion of herbа Thlaspi arvense L., as evidenced by an increase in the testosterone content in the blood, improvement of spermogram indicators and morphophysiological characteristics of spermatogenesis in the testicles of rats. The use of the infusion of herbа Thlaspi arvense L. has a protective effect on spermatogenesis. An increase in the thickness of the spermatogenic epithelium, the diameter of the cross-section of the convoluted seminal tubules and the index of spermatogenesis compared with the control group of animals was revealed. The positive effect of Thlaspi arvense L. on indicators of sexual motivation and sexual activity of male rats is shown.Conclusion. Thlaspi arvense L. is a promising medicinal plant, as it is able to have a positive effect on libido, the number and mobility of spermatozoa, the production of sex hormones, spermatogenesis, as well as on the pituitary-gonadal axis, which is associated with the content of a complex of biologically active substances in it.

Budget and breakeven prices of winter canola and pennycress production in Tennessee

AbstractCanola (Brassica napus) and pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) are winter oilseed crops that can be used to create sustainable aviation fuel. They have been grown successfully in the Upper Midwest and Great Plains and are garnering interest in the Mid‐South. A field study was conducted in Tennessee to determine management practices and average yields expected for the region. From this study, a budget and breakeven analysis was conducted. Budgets were created for tilled and no‐till canola and pennycress systems. Based on average yields obtained and projected oilseeds prices, canola systems are potentially profitable, while pennycress systems are not. However, breakeven prices were highly variable between years, locations, oilseed species, and tillage type. Canola has been relatively established in the region and can be promoted to growers as a profitable crop. Presently, the adoption of pennycress in the Mid‐South is not recommended without further research on best management practices, breeding efforts for higher yielding varieties, and the creation of a viable market for sale.

Improving functionality and texturization potential of novel pennycress (Thlaspi arvense) protein by inducing polymerization

Pennycress protein isolate (PcPI) has inferior gelation and water holding properties compared to market leader soy protein, preventing its use in food applications such as meat analogues. Therefore, this work aimed to induce polymerization of PcPI by either cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) or transglutaminase (TG) to improve functionality and texturization potential. Micro-compounding was utilized to determine bench-scale texturization potential of unmodified, CAP, and TG modified PcPI hydrated at 50% moisture. CAP treatment following dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) induced polymerization primarily through disulfide linkages. Whereas, TG resulted in a relatively higher extent of polymerization induced by disulfide linkages and other covalent interactions involving mostly cruciferin acidic subunits. Compared to unmodified PcPI, the gel strength doubled and tripled post CAP and TG treatments, respectively. TG treatment caused a significant increase in water holding capacity by 20%. Unmodified PcPI did not form fibrous structures upon micro-compounding, instead it formed a soft mass with low resilience and cohesiveness. CAP modified PcPI (PcPI-CP) had the lowest water holding properties, which resulted in a relatively hard (significantly highest mechanical energy), dense fibrous structures. Due to high gelation strength and water holding capacity, TG modified PcPI (PcPI-TG) resulted in less dense fibrous structures with more air incorporation (significantly higher void %) relative to PcPI control and PcPI-CP. PcPI-TG texturized mass had significantly higher chewiness that is desirable for meat analogues. This research, for the first time, confirmed the potential success of induced polymerization of PcPI, especially with TG, in enhancing gelation and texturization potential.

First Report of Bacterial Blight of Pennycress Caused by Xanthomonas campestris in Wisconsin.

In May 2023, pennycress (Thlaspi arvense, L.) lines undergoing seed production in the Walnut Street Greenhouse at the University of Wisconsin-Madison displayed symptoms of chlorosis and black necrotic leaf spots (Fig. S1-A). Lesions eventually enlarged to 1-2 cm in diameter, became necrotic, and coalesced to cover a substantial portion of leaves. Symptoms were observed in ~30% of the pennycress lines adversely affecting overall growth and reproduction. Symptomatic leaves were surface sterilized for 30 seconds in 0.75% sodium hypochlorite, rinsed in sterile deionized water, and bacteria were isolated using three-phase streaking of symptomatic tissue onto KB medium (King et al., 1954). Single colonies of three isolates (creamy white to yellow) from this initial isolation were streaked onto KB medium to obtain pure cultures. Individual colonies were transferred for growth overnight in nutrient broth (Difco) and an equal amount of the broth was added to 30% glycerol in deionized (di) water and stored at -80 °C. To validate Koch's Postulates, bacteria were grown from these stocks on Yeast Dextrose Calcium Carbonate medium (Wilson et al., 1967) and were used to inoculate 5-week-old pennycress plants in the greenhouse. The bacteria were grown for 48 hours at 26°C, suspended in 300 ml of 0.05 M PBS buffer (pH=7.2) for inoculum preparation. Plants were inoculated with three bacterial isolates (approx. 108 CFU/ml) by piercing the mid veins or hydathodes with a sterilized toothpick dipped in the suspension. Inoculated plants were then enclosed in clear plastic bags for 24-48 hours and maintained in the greenhouse at a constant temperature of 26°C with a 16-hour photoperiod. After seven days, water-soaked lesions appeared on the inoculated leaves, eventually developing into the characteristic black spots (Fig. S1-B). DNA from the original isolates was extracted, and 16S PCR and sequencing of the positive bands was done. The negative control only produced brown spots at the site of inoculation (Fig. S1-C). The primer sequences were as follows: 27F: AGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG; 1492R: GGTTACCTTGTTACGACTT (Eden et al., 1991; Weisburg et al., 1991). A BLAST analysis showed that the isolates had an E value of 0.0 to the genus Xanthomonas as well as 100% identity. Amplification and sequencing of the bacterium using gyrB amplicons revealed a 99-100% pairwise match with Xc. To enhance taxonomy resolution and confirm the identity of these isolates, the complete genomes of three samples were sequenced using NextSeq2000 Illumina platform (NCBI bioproject ID PRJNA1040293). Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) analysis was conducted with representative strains from the Xc species (Dubrow et al., 2022), using PanExplorer (Dereeper et al., 2020) featuring integrated FastANI module (Jain et al., 2018). The isolates genomes exhibited over 98% identity and clustered with that of Xc pv. incanae and Xc pv. barbarae (Fig S2). Further work will be required to identify the pathovar of Xc identified in this study through phenotypic host range assay. This marks the first documented case of Xc in pennycress in the Midwestern US. Given the potential use of pennycress as a cover crop in the region, further investigations are warranted to assess its economic impact on production and develop management strategies.

Cold‐pressing, ethanol defatting, and saline extraction enhances properties of protein products from new pennycress varieties (covercress™)

AbstractPennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.), a winter oilseed and cover crop, is a source of novel proteins and oil for biofuel. New yellow‐seeded pennycress specialty varieties, named covercress™, were developed via conventional breeding and gene editing, but protein characteristics are still unknown. This work evaluated two covercress lines, TT8 and Y1126, for protein extraction and functionality, and the combination of cold‐pressing, alcohol‐defatting, and saline extraction to produce a protein that could align better with clean labeling. Seeds were first cold‐pressed in a tubular radial expeller then defatted at 60°C with anhydrous ethanol (‐Eth) or hexane (‐Hex) until ≤0.8% residual oil. Protein was extracted from defatted press cake (PC) using the saline method (0.1 M NaCl, 1: 10 w/v, 50°C, 2 h) for hexane‐defatted wild‐type pennycress (WTP) seed meal and PC. TT8 PC had 33%–67% more globulin and glutelin than WTP PC, but ethanol defatting reduced albumin + globulin amounts by 14%–32%. TT8 PC protein recoveries (63% and 40%) were 2‐ to 3‐fold greater than that of Y1126 PC‐Eth and their extracts had greater purity (85%–91% vs. 70% protein). Y1126 PC‐Eth protein showed a nearly constant 68%–70% solubility from pH 2 to 10, but TT8 PC‐Eth protein was more soluble in acidic pH (87%–90% solubility). Y1126 PC‐Eth protein showed greater foaming capacity (146–150 mL), while TT8 PC‐Eth protein had superior emulsifying properties (EAI 141–236 m2/g protein and ESI 13–26 min). This work demonstrated the enhanced functionality of TT8 and Y1126 proteins produced from an environmentally friendly and industrially relevant method.

Stover removal has minimal impact on pennycress seeded into standing corn

AbstractIn the Upper Midwest, corn (Zea mays L.) and soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] are the most prominent agricultural crops, occupying land for only half the year. Their fallow periods are associated with nutrient leaching and soil erosion, but they also represent an opportunity to establish winter‐hardy crops, like pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.), that can reduce negative environmental impacts while contributing to farm profitability. A lack of agronomic best management practices remains a barrier to pennycress adoption. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the impact of stover presence on pennycress stand establishment and seed yield after seeding pennycress into R4 corn. This study was conducted over the 2014–2015 and 2015–2016 growing seasons with MN106 pennycress at three locations in Minnesota. At maturity, corn plants were removed from plots in 25% increments between 0% and 100% to simulate stover removal scenarios. Pennycress seedlings were unable to compete with corn for available light resources and did not have enough time following corn harvest to establish a dense stand in the autumn with only 5% and 10% green cover in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Despite poor early season emergence, the average seed yield, 1223 kg ha−1, was high relative to other studies using MN106, indicating that challenges of growing pennycress under adverse conditions may not be a barrier to competitive seed yields. Experimentation on the corn–pennycress system should continue in the future to further explore and establish best management practices for this double crop.

Grouping of segetal vegetation of winter pea agrophytocenosis and its influence on crop productivity in the Right Bank Forest Steppe of Ukraine

Purpose. To study the species composition and the ratio of seed stocks in the soil of different biological groups of weeds in the agrophytocenosis of winter pea, and their influence on the yield formation depending on the sowing rate of the crop. Methods. Quantitative and weighting, agrochemical, analytical, and statistical methods were used. Results. Weeds that formed a significant seed stock, belonged to the families Chenopodiaceae (58%), Amaranthaceae (18%), Poaceae (9–11%), Brassicaceae (6%), Роlygonaceae (4.5–5.8%), and Asteraceae (1.5–2.2%). A significant raw and dry biomass was formed by Cirsium arvense (52 and 24 g/m2, respectively), Polygonum scabrum (46 and 22 g/m2), Thlaspi arvense (34 and 12 g/m2), Chenopodium album (34 and 14 g/m2), Polygonum convolvulus (27 and 13 g/m2), Sonchus arvensis (23 and 11 g/m2), Amaranthus retroflexus (21 and 10 g/m2), Ambrosia artemisiofolia (22 and 11 g/m2), Solanum nigrum (21 and 9 g/m2), Galium aparine (19 and 8 g/m2), Sinapis arvensis (18 and 8 g/m2), Setaria pumila, and Setaria viridis (9 and 4 g/m2). Conclusions. Changes in the productivity of winter pea at different degrees of weed infestation of the sowings were revealed. A significant influence of segetal vegetation on the crop yield was established at the pea seed sowing rate of 0.6 million seeds/ha, where the yield of the varieties ‘Enduro’ and ‘NS Moroz’ was only 3.01 and 3.13 t/ha, respectively. The density of segetal vegetation at the standard sowing rate of 1.1 million seeds/h and increased rate to 1.6 million seeds/ha did not affect the yield (3.33 and 3.34 t/ha, respectively). On thinned crops, weed infestation increases, which can affect the crop yield, as it has significant advantages for growth and competition with winter pea plants.

Impacts of Harvest Date and Concurrent Alkali Pretreatment and Ensiling on Anaerobic Digestion of Pennycress Biomass

Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense L.) is an annual cover crop known for its exceptional cold tolerance and high oil and protein yields. Pennycress can be integrated into a corn–soybean rotation in the U.S. However, the utilization of pennycress biomass remains largely unexplored, including assessing compositional changes through its growth and organic matter digestibility. This study harvested pennycress at three growth stages, characterized the biomass for anaerobic digestion (AD), and tested the effects of concurrent alkali pretreatment and ensiling on the biomass methane yield. Results showed that the biomass harvested when the plants were undergoing senescence (“third-harvest”) had higher contents of acid detergent fiber, neutral detergent fiber, and lignin, while the biomass harvested when 80–90% of the pods were fully-sized (“second-harvest”) had the highest protein content. The AD experiments showed that the first-harvest biomass (90% of flowers opened) failed to produce biogas due to a drop in the pH and alkalinity, the second-harvest biomass was inhibited for methane production (45.74 ± 0.20 L/kg-VS), and the third-harvest biomass had a methane yield of 171.80 ± 4.82 L/kg-VS. After the alkali pretreatment and ensiling, a methane yield of 270.4 ± 3.10 L/kg-VS was obtained from the second-harvest biomass, representing a significant 4.5-fold increase (adjusted for the organic matter loss) relative to the untreated second-harvest biomass.

Transposon dynamics in the emerging oilseed crop Thlaspi arvense.

Genome evolution is partly driven by the mobility of transposable elements (TEs) which often leads to deleterious effects, but their activity can also facilitate genetic novelty and catalyze local adaptation. We explored how the intraspecific diversity of TE polymorphisms might contribute to the broad geographic success and adaptive capacity of the emerging oil crop Thlaspi arvense (field pennycress). We classified the TE inventory based on a high-quality genome assembly, estimated the age of retrotransposon TE families and comprehensively assessed their mobilization potential. A survey of 280 accessions from 12 regions across the Northern hemisphere allowed us to quantify over 90,000 TE insertion polymorphisms (TIPs). Their distribution mirrored the genetic differentiation as measured by single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). The number and types of mobile TE families vary substantially across populations, but there are also shared patterns common to all accessions. Ty3/Athila elements are the main drivers of TE diversity in T. arvense populations, while a single Ty1/Alesia lineage might be particularly important for transcriptome divergence. The number of retrotransposon TIPs is associated with variation at genes related to epigenetic regulation, including an apparent knockout mutation in BROMODOMAIN AND ATPase DOMAIN-CONTAINING PROTEIN 1 (BRAT1), while DNA transposons are associated with variation at the HSP19 heat shock protein gene. We propose that the high rate of mobilization activity can be harnessed for targeted gene expression diversification, which may ultimately present a toolbox for the potential use of transposition in breeding and domestication of T. arvense.