Plants

15 pages, 5029 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Diversity of Treatments in Overcoming Morphophysiological Dormancy of Paeonia peregrina Mill. Seeds

by Željana Prijić, Sara Mikić, Jovan Peškanov, Xiuxin Zhang, Lili Guo, Ana Dragumilo, Vladimir Filipović, Goran Anačkov and Tatjana Marković

Plants 2024, 13(16), 2178; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162178 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2024

Abstract

Paeonia peregrina Mill. is a protected, herbaceous species native to Southeastern Europe and Turkey. Due to its vulnerability, it has to be protected both in its natural habitats and through cultivation. Peonies are known to have a low potential for natural regeneration due [...] Read more.

Paeonia peregrina Mill. is a protected, herbaceous species native to Southeastern Europe and Turkey. Due to its vulnerability, it has to be protected both in its natural habitats and through cultivation. Peonies are known to have a low potential for natural regeneration due to their seed dormancy, low germination rate, and long germination period. In this study, treatments with gibberellic acid (GA₃ 150, 200, 250, 300, and 350 mg L⁻¹ GA₃) and warm (at 20/16 °C day/night regime) and cold stratification (at 4 °C) were used to accelerate dormancy release and increase the germination rate. The seeds of P. peregrina from four natural habitats in Serbia and the Institute’s collection were collected and analyzed. They showed an underdeveloped embryo that needs to grow inside the seed before it can germinate. The application of GA₃ accelerated each stage of germination (seed coat rapturing, hypocotyl dormancy release, and epicotyl dormancy release) for approximately 10 days compared to the control. It was also found that two-day imbibition with 200 mg L⁻¹ GA₃ significantly accelerated and equalized germination. Higher GA₃ concentrations had a more pronounced impact on each stage but also resulted in greater seed infection after the seed coat rupture, elongated and weak seedlings, while lower concentrations did not result in obtaining uniform seedlings. There were no significant differences observed between localities. Restoring P. peregrina through seeds and nursery-produced plants is crucial for conserving the genetic diversity of the tested species. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Mechanisms of Seed Dormancy and Germination)

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11 pages, 1176 KiB

Open AccessArticle

In Vitro Antiprotozoal Activity of Schinus molle Extract, Partitions, and Fractions against Trypanosoma cruzi

by Nancy E. Rodríguez-Garza, Ramiro Quintanilla-Licea, Ricardo Gomez-Flores, Lucio Galaviz-Silva and Zinnia J. Molina-Garza

Plants 2024, 13(16), 2177; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162177 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2024

Abstract

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, represents an important and worldwide public health issue, particularly in Latin America. Limitations of conventional treatment with benznidazole and nifurtimox underscore the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies for this disease. Schinus molle, [...] Read more.

Chagas disease, caused by the protozoan Trypanosoma cruzi, represents an important and worldwide public health issue, particularly in Latin America. Limitations of conventional treatment with benznidazole and nifurtimox underscore the urgent need for new therapeutic strategies for this disease. Schinus molle, a tree used in traditional medicine for various ailments, has demonstrated promising antiparasitic activity. The in vitro anti-T. cruzi activity of Schinus molle crude methanol extract, partitions, and fractions, as well as their cytotoxicity in Vero cells and Artemia salina, and hemolytic activity in human erythrocytes were assessed. Most of the extracts possessed anti-T. cruzi effects, with Sm-CF3 being the fraction with the highest activity (IC₅₀ = 19 µg/mL; SI = 6.8). Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis identified 20 compounds, with fatty acyls comprising the predominant chemical class (55%). We also identified the antiparasitic compounds cis-5,8,11,14,17-eicosapentaenoic acid and trans-Z-α-bisabolene epoxide, suggesting their potential contribution to the observed anti-T. cruzi activity. In conclusion, our findings support the therapeutic potential of S. molle as a source of novel antiparasitic agents against T. cruzi. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Phytochemistry)

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20 pages, 2275 KiB

Open AccessReview

New Insights into the Connections between Flooding/Hypoxia Response and Plant Defenses against Pathogens

by Pablo García, Shreenivas Singh and Emmanuelle Graciet

Plants 2024, 13(16), 2176; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162176 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2024

Abstract

The impact of global climate change has highlighted the need for a better understanding of how plants respond to multiple simultaneous or sequential stresses, not only to gain fundamental knowledge of how plants integrate signals and mount a coordinated response to stresses but [...] Read more.

The impact of global climate change has highlighted the need for a better understanding of how plants respond to multiple simultaneous or sequential stresses, not only to gain fundamental knowledge of how plants integrate signals and mount a coordinated response to stresses but also for applications to improve crop resilience to environmental stresses. In recent years, there has been a stronger emphasis on understanding how plants integrate stresses and the molecular mechanisms underlying the crosstalk between the signaling pathways and transcriptional programs that underpin plant responses to multiple stresses. The combination of flooding (or resulting hypoxic stress) with pathogen infection is particularly relevant due to the frequent co-occurrence of both stresses in nature. This review focuses on (i) experimental approaches and challenges associated with the study of combined and sequential flooding/hypoxia and pathogen infection, (ii) how flooding (or resulting hypoxic stress) influences plant immunity and defense responses to pathogens, and (iii) how flooding contributes to shaping the soil microbiome and is linked to plants’ ability to fight pathogen infection. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Immunity in Signaling Crosstalk between Biotic and Abiotic Stress Responses)

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22 pages, 3501 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Leaf Membrane Stability under High Temperatures as an Indicator of Heat Tolerance in Potatoes and Genome-Wide Association Studies to Understand the Underlying Genetics

by Amaka M. Ifeduba, Shuyang Zhen, Jeewan Pandey and M. Isabel Vales

Plants 2024, 13(16), 2175; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162175 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2024

Abstract

High temperatures during the crop growing season are becoming more frequent and unpredictable, resulting in reduced crop productivity and quality. Heat stress disrupts plant metabolic processes that affect cell membrane composition and integrity. Cell membrane permeability, ion leakage, and heat shock proteins have [...] Read more.

High temperatures during the crop growing season are becoming more frequent and unpredictable, resulting in reduced crop productivity and quality. Heat stress disrupts plant metabolic processes that affect cell membrane composition and integrity. Cell membrane permeability, ion leakage, and heat shock proteins have been evaluated to screen for heat tolerance in plants. In potatoes, it is unclear whether leaf membrane stability under heat stress is correlated with underground tuber productivity and quality. The main goal of this study was to evaluate if leaf membrane relative electrolyte conductivity (REC) under high temperatures could be used to identify heat-tolerant potato genotypes. Electrolyte leakage assays, correlation estimations, and genome-wide association studies were carried out in 215 genotypes. Expression levels of small heat shock protein 18 (sHSP18) were evaluated in the heat-sensitive potato variety Russet Burbank and compared with those of the heat-tolerant variety Vanguard Russet using Western blotting. Significant differences were observed among genotypes for leaf membrane REC under extreme heat (50°C); REC values ranged from 47.0–99.5%. Leaf membrane REC was positively correlated with tuber external and internal defects and negatively correlated with yield. REC was negatively correlated with the content of several tuber minerals, such as nitrogen, magnesium, and manganese. Eleven quantitative trait loci (QTLs) were identified for leaf membrane REC, explaining up to 13.8% of the phenotypic variance. Gene annotation in QTL areas indicated associations with genes controlling membrane solute transport and plant responses to abiotic stresses. Vanguard Russet had lower leaf REC and higher expression of sHSP18 under high-temperature stress. Our findings indicate that leaf membrane REC under high temperatures can be used as an indicator of potato heat tolerance. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Abiotic Stress Responses in Plants)

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15 pages, 1733 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A First Approach for the In Vitro Cultivation, Storage, and DNA Barcoding of the Endangered Endemic Species Euonymus koopmannii

by Balnur Kali, Sara Bekkuzhina, Dilnur Tussipkan and Shuga Manabayeva

Plants 2024, 13(16), 2174; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162174 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2024

Abstract

Euonymus koopmannii is a rare and protected species in Kazakhstan, valued for its ecological role in soil stabilization and its ornamental properties. This study presents the first use of micropropagation and phylogenetic analysis for the endemic plant E. koopmannii. Seedlings of E. koopmannii [...] Read more.

Euonymus koopmannii is a rare and protected species in Kazakhstan, valued for its ecological role in soil stabilization and its ornamental properties. This study presents the first use of micropropagation and phylogenetic analysis for the endemic plant E. koopmannii. Seedlings of E. koopmannii proved to be more effective than internodes as primary explants for plant micropropagation of in vitro culture, with a multiplication coefficient of 28.5 from seedlings and 6.1 from internodes. On MSR I medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L IBA and 0.05 mg/L IAA, a higher success rate of 67% was achieved for root formation of test tube-grown E. koopmannii plants. Using mannitol as an osmotic agent at a concentration of 8 mg/L prolonged the storage time of E. koopmannii under slow growth conditions when compared to CCC and abscisic acid. Phylogenetic relationships and species identification were analyzed using four DNA-barcoding markers, comparing E. koopmannii with species from NCBI. All candidate barcoding markers showed sufficient levels of interspecific genetic variation among Euonymus species. In addition, ITS region and rbcL gene sequences effectively distinguished E. koopmannii from other species. These results provide fundamental information that will be valuable for future biotechnological and molecular studies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Plant Tissue Culture IV)

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15 pages, 11346 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Banana Classification Using Sanger Sequencing of the Ribosomal DNA Internal Transcribed Spacer (ITS) Region

by Hongyun Zeng, Bingzhi Huang, Linbing Xu and Yuanli Wu

Plants 2024, 13(16), 2173; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162173 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2024

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Abstract

Banana (Musa spp.) is one of the most economically important horticultural crops. There are many types of banana, with differing ploidy (usually diploid, triploid, or tetraploid) and genome types (most containing the A or/and B genome). Currently, observation and genome type detection [...] Read more.

Banana (Musa spp.) is one of the most economically important horticultural crops. There are many types of banana, with differing ploidy (usually diploid, triploid, or tetraploid) and genome types (most containing the A or/and B genome). Currently, observation and genome type detection are commonly used to identify banana germplasm resources. However, observation is tedious, while genome type detection cannot distinguish categories below genome types. It is, therefore, urgent to establish a simple and effective method for identifying banana germplasm resources. This study sequenced and analyzed the ribosomal DNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences of 62 banana germplasm resources and found that the sequencing peaks, especially the 20 bp region near the 420-bp position (referred to as the 420-bp region), exhibited relatively recognizable and repeatable polymorphism characteristics. Using the 420-bp region as a marker, we were able to quickly distinguish bananas belonging to different genome type groups or different subgroups in the same genome type group. Moreover, it appeared that Sanger sequencing of ITS could be used to identify hybrid banana offspring. In general, ITS sequencing simplifies the classification of banana germplasm resources and has potential application in several areas of Musa improvement. Full article

(This article belongs to the Section Plant Genetics, Genomics and Biotechnology)

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20 pages, 9354 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Tree Resilience Indices of Norway Spruce Provenances Tested in Long-Term Common Garden Experiments in the Romanian Carpathians

by Alin Madalin Alexandru, Georgeta Mihai, Emanuel Stoica and Alexandru Lucian Curtu

Plants 2024, 13(16), 2172; https://doi.org/10.3390/plants13162172 (registering DOI) - 6 Aug 2024

Viewed by 63

Abstract

Provenance trials provide a valuable opportunity to evaluate the impact of extreme events on growth and wood properties. In this study, we have evaluated 81 Norway spruce provenances, tested in three provenance trials established in the Romanian Carpathians in 1972. The response to [...] Read more.

Provenance trials provide a valuable opportunity to evaluate the impact of extreme events on growth and wood properties. In this study, we have evaluated 81 Norway spruce provenances, tested in three provenance trials established in the Romanian Carpathians in 1972. The response to drought of the Norway spruce provenances has been examined using the following tree resilience indices: resistance, recovery, resilience, and relative resilience. The relationship between climate and growth, the correlations between wood traits, and the coordinates of the origin and tree resilience indices were also analysed. In each provenance trial, there were significant differences between provenances and years regarding wood widths and latewood percentage (LWP). Regarding drought extreme events, the years when they occurred in all three provenance trials were 2000 and 2003. Significant differences between provenances for at least one tree resilience index have been found in all provenance trials, for the year 2000. By using subperiods of 25 years, changes in the relationship between climate and growth have been observed. Several provenances with high radial growth and good resistance and/or recovery have been identified. Provenances that performed better in common garden experiments could be used in assisted migration, even in the proximity of the current natural range. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Drought Responses and Adaptation Mechanisms in Plants)

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Plants, Volume 13, Issue 16 (August-2 2024) – 7 articles

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