Search Results (220)

Unraveling the evolutionary history of Brassica L. crops and their wild relatives remains a key challenge in plant evolutionary biology. Brassica cretica is considered the closest living relative of the cultivated B. oleracea. It is mainly distributed in the Aegean Islands and the neighboring mainland regions of Greece and Anatolia, and exhibits extensive phenotypic variability, obscuring its infraspecific classification. In this study, we analyzed five Greek populations of B. cretica and one B. oleracea botanical variety using SSR markers to assess genetic diversity and differentiation. High genetic diversity was detected within natural populations, with a mean of 21.9 alleles per locus and an expected heterozygosity of 0.647. Significant genetic differentiation (Fst = 0.812) revealed the presence of four distinct gene pools, partly supporting the current infraspecific classification of B. cretica. The cultivated plants cluster closely with B. cretica subsp. cretica, supporting the hypothesis of an Eastern Mediterranean origin. Our findings suggest that B. cretica subsp. cretica may have been introduced to suitable habitats or that cultivated plants may have reverted to a feral state in the Peloponnese, given the genetic similarity between populations from Crete and northern Peloponnese. The identified genetic diversity underscores the importance of B. cretica as a genetic resource for breeding programs and highlights the need for conservation, particularly for populations exhibited unique genetic traits. Full article

The interaction between advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and their RAGE receptor (AGEs/RAGE axis) triggers several signaling pathways that lead to the development of diabetic nephropathy (DN). One of the most studied AGEs is Nε-(1-Carboxymethyl)-L-lysine (CML). Spinacia oleracea is an edible plant with beneficial health properties, but its effect on the AGE/RAGE axis in kidney damage is unknown. Objective: We aimed to investigate the functional role of spinach methanolic extract (SME) on kidney damage in diabetic rats associated with the CML/RAGE axis. Methods: Forty adult male Wistar rats were used in this study and divided into four groups: control rats (CTRL), SME-administered CTRL (400 mg/kg; SME), streptozotocin-induced diabetic nephropathy rats (STZ), and SME-treated STZ (STZ-SME); treatments were administered daily. After 12 weeks, serum AGEs, creatinine in urine, and lipid peroxidation in kidneys were measured. The distribution and expression levels of inflammatory and fibrotic mediators and RAGE signaling were evaluated through immunohistochemistry (NOX4, CML, RAGE, nuclear NF-κB, TNF-α, IL-1β, TGF-β1, SMAD2/3, CTGF, and a-SMA) and immunolocalization of CML/RAGE. Results: Glycoside flavonoid derivatives, such as patuletin and spinacetin, were primarily identified in the extract. Kidneys from the STZ group showed altered morphology, dead cells in the proximal tubules, and increased oxidative stress markers; notably, these effects were improved by SME treatment (STZ-SME). The STZ-SME group showed a lower staining intensity for CML and RAGE, which was associated with a decrease in the expression of inflammatory and fibrotic factors compared with the STZ group. In all groups, the distribution of these markers varied among proximal tubule, glomerular, and interstitial cells. Conclusions: SME treatment may help to prevent or delay kidney damage in diabetic rats by regulating inflammatory and fibrotic processes associated with the AGEs/RAGE pathway, a mechanism involved in the development of nephropathy. Full article

Brassica species evolved through recurrent polyploidization and chromosomal rearrangements, forming diploid progenitors that hybridize into allopolyploids. These plants exhibit remarkable morphological diversity, with specialized edible organs including leaf-, stem-, root-, and oil-type cultivars, yet cross-species multi-organ transcriptomic studies elucidating their gene expression similarities and divergences remain lacking. To address this gap, we analyzed publicly available transcriptomes (downloaded from NCBI SRA) from eight organs (embryo, seed coat, silique, root, stem, leaf, flower and seedling) across six U’s Triangle species (Brassica rapa, B. nigra, B. oleracea, B. juncea, B. napus, B. carinata), revealing that (1) reproductive organs show higher gene expression conservation (GEC), particularly embryos (p < 0.05); (2) lineage-specific subgenome dominance patterns (BnaC/BjuB/BcaC) persist across organs; and (3) ancestral subgenomes functionally specialize, with MF2-subgenome transcription factors (YABBY/GRF) regulating embryogenesis and LF/MF1-subgenome MYBs controlling seed coat development. Comparative analyses demonstrate floral GEC exceeds that of the Arabidopsis thaliana homologs, while also exhibiting seed-specific divergence patterns. This study establishes a comprehensive Brassica multispecies expression atlas, elucidating organ-specific evolutionary conservation principles and providing molecular insights into subgenome functional partitioning, which offers valuable perspectives for understanding Brassica evolutionary mechanisms and crop improvement strategies. Full article

Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) is essential for lignin precursor synthesis and responses to various abiotic stresses in plants. However, the functions of CAD in Brassica species, especially in Brassica napus, remain poorly characterized. In the present study, we identified a total of 90 CAD genes across the Brassica U-triangle species, including B. rapa, B. nigra, B. oleracea, B. juncea, B. napus, and B. carinata. Comprehensive analyses of phylogenetic relationships, sequence identity, conserved motifs, gene structure, chromosomal distribution, collinearity, and cis-acting elements were performed. Based on phylogenetic analysis, these genes were categorized into four groups, designated as groups I to IV. Most of the CAD genes were implicated in mediating responses to abiotic stresses and phytohormones. Notably, members in group III, containing the bona fide CAD genes, were directly involved in lignin synthesis. Furthermore, the expression profiles of BnaCAD genes exhibited differential responses to drought, osmotic, and ABA treatments. The expression levels of the BnaCAD4a, BnaCAD4b, BnaCAD5b, and BnaCAD5d genes were detected and found to be significantly lower in yellow-seeded B. napus compared to the black-seeded ones. This study provides a comprehensive characterization of CAD genes in Brassica U-triangle species and partially validates their functions in B. napus, thereby contributing to a better understanding of their roles. The insights gained are expected to facilitate the breeding of yellow-seeded B. napus cultivars with enhanced stress tolerance and desirable agronomic traits. Full article

Calmodulin (CaM) and calmodulin-like proteins (CMLs) are crucial for calcium signal transduction in plants. Although CaM/CML genes have been extensively studied in various plant species, research on these genes in Brassica oleracea is still limited. In this study, 14 BoCaM and 75 BoCML genes were identified in the B. oleracea genome through a genome-wide search. Phylogenetic analysis categorized these genes, along with their homologs in Arabidopsis and rice, into six distinct groups. All BoCaM/BoCML genes were unevenly distributed across the nine chromosomes of B. oleracea, with 52 of them lacking introns. Collinearity analysis revealed that CaM/CML genes in Arabidopsis are present in multiple copies in the B. oleracea genome. Moreover, the majority of BoCaM/BoCML genes exhibited distinct expression patterns across the different tissues, indicating their role in the growth and development of B. oleracea. A clustering heatmap of BoCaM/BoCML gene expression showed distinct patterns before and four days after Hyaloperonospora parasitica infection, dividing the genes into five groups based on their expression patterns. Notably, BoCML46-2 is significantly downregulated in both susceptible and resistant materials, suggesting that it plays an important role in responding to H. parasitica infection. This study conducted a comprehensive survey of the BoCaM/BoCML gene family in B. oleracea. It could serve as a theoretical foundation for further functional identification and utilization of family members and their role in the interaction between B. oleracea and H. parasitica. Full article

Salt-affected soil areas are increasing in the Northern Great Plains (NGP), with patches occurring in some of the most productive croplands. High electrical conductivity (EC) and sodium and/or sulfate concentrations of saline–sodic areas impede the growth and yield of ‘normal’ [corn (Zea mays)/soybean (Glycine max)] rotational crops, and more appropriate management systems are needed. Brassica spp. and amendment applications, such as biochar, may provide management alternatives for these areas. In two greenhouse studies, (1) 10 canola (Brassica napus) genotypes were evaluated for emergence in non-saline (EC_1:1 = 0.62 dS m⁻¹), moderately saline–sodic (EC = 5.17 dS m⁻¹), and highly saline–sodic (EC_1:1 = 8.47 dS m⁻¹) soils and (2) 10 canola genotypes and 3 other brassicas (Brassica juncea/B. oleracea) were evaluated for emergence and biomass in non-saline or moderately saline–sodic soils with or without two 5% biochar (hardwood or softwood) amendments. Canola emergence at 28 days after planting (DAP) in moderately and highly saline–sodic soils was less than 12% for most genotypes, although one had 37% emergence. The hardwood biochar improved Brassica spp. emergence (42%) from the moderately saline–sodic soil compared to non-amended soil (29%), although shoot biomass was similar among treatments at 60 DAP. These findings suggest that specific salt-tolerant Brassica spp. may be an alternative crop for NGP saline–sodic soil areas. Florida broadleaf mustard, typically used for forage, had the greatest emergence (52%) in the saline–sodic soil and may be a suitable cover crop for these areas. In addition, hardwood biochar applications may aid in plant establishment. Full article

Flowers are one of the most important organs in plants. Their development serves as a key indicator of the transition from vegetative to reproductive growth and is regulated by various internal signals and environmental factors. NAC (NAM, ATAF, CUC) transcription factors (TFs) play a crucial regulatory role in floral organ development; however, research on the analysis and identification of the NAC TF family in Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa L.) remains limited. In this study, we performed a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of NACs in B. rapa and identified 279 members of the BrNAC gene family. Their physicochemical properties, domain structure, collinearity relation, and cis-regulatory elements were evaluated. Phylogenetic analysis indicates that NAC proteins from Arabidopsis, B. rapa, B. oleracea, and B. nigra can be classified into seven distinct clades. BrNACs exhibit a tissue-specific expression, and nine BrNACs being specifically expressed in the inflorescence. Furthermore, nine flower-related BrNACs were selected for RT-qPCR analysis to validate their expression profiles. BrNAC2s has been cloned to investigate their subcellular localization, and examine the expression patterns of their promoters in Arabidopsis inflorescences. BrNAC2a and BrNAC2c are highly expressed in stamens while BrNAC2b exhibits elevated expression in pistils and pedicel. Collectively, our findings enhance the understanding of the BrNAC family and provide a foundation for future studies on the molecular mechanisms of BrNACs in floral development. Full article

Nitrogen (N) is the most important fertilizer for increasing crop production, as it is absorbed by various N transporters and metabolized by a series of enzymes. Aspartate aminotransferase (ASP) facilitates the conversion of Glu to Asp for N storage. Chinese cabbage is a typical leafy vegetable that requires a large amount of N for growth. To investigate the functions of BraASPs, 10 members of the ASP gene family in Brassica rapa (B. rapa) were identified. Phylogenetic analysis and collinearity comparisons of ASP members among B. rapa, Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana), Oryza sativa (O. sativa), Brassica napus (B. napus), and Brassica oleracea (B. oleracea) were conducted to examine evolutionary associations and genome duplication events across species. Multiple cis-acting elements associated with stress responses were identified in the promoters of BraASPs, suggesting their diverse roles. Members of BraASPs were expressed in roots, stems, flowers, siliques, and leaves, with the highest expression in leaves. Their expression levels increased rapidly at 3 h under low N conditions, peaked at 6 h, and returned to low levels at 24 h. Based on transcriptomic data, BraASP1b was identified as a candidate gene in B. rapa under low N stress, localized in the nucleus and cytoplasm. Overexpression of BraASP1b in A. thaliana resulted in a higher biomass than Col-0 under low N conditions. Full article

Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) and dominant genic male sterility (DGMS) both result in the inability to produce or release functional pollen, making them pivotal systems in the hybridization breeding programs of Brassica crops such as cabbage (B. oleracea var. capitata). However, the underling molecular mechanisms are still largely unexplored. This study integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of cabbage DGMS line, Ogura CMS line, and the maintainer line to uncover the molecular mechanisms underlying these sterility types. The joint analysis predominantly identified significantly enriched pathways, including carbohydrate metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, and phenylpropanoid pathways between the MS lines and the maintainer. Especially, the CMS line exhibited a broader range of metabolic perturbations, with a total of 3556 significantly differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 439 differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) detected, particularly in the vitamin B6 metabolism pathway, which showed significant alterations. Given the differences in the inactivation period of microspores in CMS and DGMS lines, we found that DEGs unique to DGMS and maintainer line, such as BoGRPs and BoLTPs, primarily regulate fertility development before the unicellular stage. The DEGs shared between CMS_vs_maintainer and DGMS_vs_maintainer mainly govern microspore development after release from the tetrad, such as BoHXK1 and BoIDH. Additionally, the DEGs unique to CMS_vs_maintainer may contribute to other damage in floral organs beyond male fertility, potentially leading to severe bud abortion, such as BoPNPO. These findings provide a comprehensive framework for understanding the molecular mechanisms of male sterility and offer valuable insights into future breeding strategies in cruciferous vegetables. Full article

Cruciferous vegetables of the plant order Brassicales are an attractive dietary component and a valuable source of fiber. However, the nutritional–physiological properties are different when comparing soluble and insoluble fibers. Another significant impact is the transformation of fibers by different influencing factors during food preparation. Cruciferous vegetables, especially, are dominantly processed to soften the matrix. As a result, during cooking, the polysaccharides are dissolved, swelled, or degraded to a certain extent, influencing the composition and the nutritional–physiological properties. The aim of the present study was to analyze the impact of different cooking procedures on changes in the dietary fiber content profile of three different plants: white cauliflower (Brassica oleracea L. var. botrytis), broccoli (B. oleracea L. var. italica), and Brussels sprouts (B. oleracea L. var. gemmifera). The sample material was subjected to direct (“in the water”) and steam cooking. The dietary fiber content and the content of its fractions were determined using an enzymatic analysis method. The results of the research show that the cooking process had a significant influence on the content of dietary fiber fractions in cruciferous vegetables. The concentration of insoluble dietary fiber decreased, whereas the content of soluble dietary fiber increased. When considering the average influence of each process, both steam cooking and direct cooking had a similar impact on changes in the concentrations of dietary fiber fractions. It can therefore be concluded that, when considering dietary fiber content, both processes can be equally well chosen as a thermal treatment for cruciferous vegetables. Full article

Background: The BBR-BPC gene family is a relatively conservative group of transcription factors, playing a key role in plant morphogenesis, organ development, and responses to abiotic stress. Brassica napus L. (B. napus), commonly known as oilseed rape, is an allopolyploid plant formed by the hybridization and polyploidization of Brassica rapa L. (B. rapa) and Brassica oleracea L. (B. oleracea), and is one of the most important oil crops. However, little is known about the characteristics, conservation, and expression patterns of this gene family in B. napus, especially under abiotic stress. Methods: To explore the characteristics and potential biological roles of the BBR-BPC gene family members in B. napus, we conducted identification based on bioinformatics and comparative genomics methods. We further analyzed the expression patterns through RNA-seq and qRT-PCR. Results: We identified 25 BBR-BPC members, which were classified into three subfamilies based on phylogenetic analysis, and found them to be highly conserved in both monocots and dicots. The conserved motifs revealed that most members contained Motif 1, Motif 2, Motif 4, and Motif 8. After whole-genome duplication (WGD), collinearity analysis showed that BBR-BPC genes underwent significant purifying selection. The promoters of most BBR-BPC genes contained cis-acting elements related to light response, hormone induction, and stress response. RNA-seq and qRT-PCR further indicated that BnBBR-BPC7, BnBBR-BPC15, BnBBR-BPC20, and BnBBR-BPC25 might be key members of this family. Conclusions: This study provides a theoretical foundation for understanding the potential biological functions and roles of the BBR-BPC gene family, laying the groundwork for resistance breeding in B. napus. Full article

Brassica oleracea is a complex species incorporating a great variety of vegetable types, including cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, kale, and others. Southern Italy, and especially the Puglia region, is rich in B. oleracea landraces. In this study, genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) was applied to a germplasm panel of 82 samples, mostly landraces and some commercial varieties, belonging to various morphotypes of B. oleracea. Population structure (K = 2), principal component (PCA), and phylogenetic analyses resulted in a general subdivision of our samples into two large lineages: the types used for their leaves (LHL) and those consumed for their flower heads (AIL). Going deeper inside, the different morphotypes were mostly grouped into specific clusters, and a clear separation of particular landraces, such as the Mugnoli and Cima nera broccoli, was observed in the structure analysis (K = 7), as well as in the PCA and in the Neighbor-Joining tree. The calculation of the pairwise fixation index (F_ST, threshold > 0.50) between LHL and AIL types (based on population structure analysis at K = 2) provided 456 outlier single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Among the corresponding orthologs annotated in Arabidopsis, we identified several genes involved in flower/inflorescence development, cellular proliferation, etc. Overall, our investigation provides useful information on the knowledge of early domesticated landraces of B. oleracea and allows for the attribution of unknown material to the appropriate taxonomical ranking. The analysis of outlier SNPs has highlighted signatures of molecular divergence between LHL and AIL lineages. Full article

Rape (Brassica napus) is an important oilseed crop widely cultivated worldwide. Due to its relatively short evolutionary and domestication history, its intra-species genetic diversity is limited. Radish (Raphanus sativus), belonging to a different genus but the same family as B. nupus, possesses an abundance of excellent gene resources. It is commonly used for B. nupus germplasm improvement and genetic basis expansion, making it one of the most important close relatives for distant hybridization. In the present study, a novel method for detecting alien chromosome fragments, called Anchor Mapping of Alien Chromosome (AMAC) was used to identify radish chromosome segments in the progeny of rape–radish interspecific hybrids. Based on the AMAC method, 126,861 pairs of IP (Intron Polymorphism) and 76,764 pairs of SSR (Simple Sequence Repeat) primers were developed using the radish Rs1.0 reference genome. A total of 44,176 markers (23,816 pairs of IP and 20,360 pairs of SSR markers) were predicted to be radish genome specific-single-locus (SSL) markers through electronic PCR analysis among four R. sativus, one B. napus, one B. rapa, one B. juncea, and one B. juncea reference genome. Among them, 626 randomly synthesized SSL markers (478 SSL IP markers and 148 SSL SSR markers) were used to amplify the genome of 24 radish samples (R. sativus), 18 rape (B. napus), 2 Chinese cabbage (B. rapa), 2 kale (B. oleracea), and 2 mustard (B. juncea) samples, respectively. Then, 333 SSL markers of the radish genome were identified, which only amplified in the radish genome and not in any Brassica species genome, including 192 IP markers and 141 SSR markers. Furthermore, these validated SSL markers were used to identify alien chromosome fragments in Ogura-CMS restorer line 16C, Ogura-CMS sterile line 81A, and their hybrid-Yunyouza15. In 16C, one marker, Rs1.0025823_intron_3, had an amplification product designated as anchor marker for the alien chromosome fragment of 16C. Afterwards, four novel radish genome-specific IP markers were found to be flanking the anchor marker, and it was determined that the alien chromosome segment in 16C originated from the region 8.4807–11.7798 Mb on radish chromosome R9, and it was approximately 3.2991 Mb in size. These results demonstrate that the AMAC method developed in this study is efficient, convenient, and cost-effective for identifying excellent alien chromosome fragments/genes in distant hybrid progeny, and it can be applied to the molecular marker-assisted breeding and hybrid identification of radish and Brassica crop species. Full article

Drought is an abiotic disturbance that reduces photosynthesis, plant growth, and crop yield. Ascorbic acid (AsA) was utilized as a seed preconditioning agent to assist broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica) in resisting drought. However, the precise mechanism by which AsA improves seedlings’ development remains unknown. One hypothesis is that AsA works via antioxidant mechanisms and reduces oxidative stress. This study aims to confirm the effect of varied concentrations of AsA (control, 0 ppm, 1 ppm, or 10 ppm) on seedling growth and changes in the antioxidant status of broccoli seedlings under regular watering or drought stress. AsA increased shoot dry mass, leaf area, net photosynthesis, and water use efficiency in watered and drought-stressed seedlings. AsA significantly (p < 0.001) increased carotenoid content in watered and drought-stressed seedlings by approximately 27% and 111%, respectively. Drought increased chlorophyll b, flavonoids, phenolics, ascorbate, and hydrogen peroxide production in control seedlings, but either had no effect or less effect on plants preconditioned with 10 ppm AsA. There was no improvement in reactive oxygen species scavenging in AsA-preconditioned seedlings compared to the control. The absence or reduction in biochemical indicators of stress suggests that preconditioned broccoli seedlings do not perceive stress the same as control seedlings. In conclusion, the consistent increase in carotenoid concentration suggests that carotenoids play some role in the preconditioning response, though the exact mechanism remains unknown. Full article

B-box transcription factors (TFs) in plants are essential for circadian rhythm regulation, abiotic stress responses, hormonal signaling pathways, secondary metabolism, photomorphogenesis, and anthocyanin formation. Here, by blasting the AtBBX21 gene sequence, we identified a total of 18 BBX21 genes from five distinct Brassica species (Arabidopsis thaliana, Brassica rapa, Brassica oleracea, Brassica napus, and Brassica juncea). The BrBBX21-1 gene is most closely linked to the AtBBX21 gene based on phylogeny and protein sequence similarities. The BrBBX21-1 gene, which encodes a polypeptide of 319 amino acids, was identified from Zicaitai (Brassica rapa ssp. purpuraria) and functionally characterized. BrBBX21-1 was localized within the nucleus, and its overexpression in Arabidopsis augmented anthocyanin accumulation in both leaves and seeds. We further performed an RNA-seq analysis between the BrBBX21-OE and WT A. thaliana to identify the key regulators involved in anthocyanin accumulation. In detail, a total of 7583 genes demonstrated differential expression, comprising 4351 that were upregulated and 3232 that were downregulated. Out of 7583 DEGs, 81 F-box protein genes and 9 B-box protein genes were either up- or downregulated. Additionally, 7583 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were associated with 109 KEGG pathways, notably including plant hormone signal transduction, the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, metabolic pathways, glutathione metabolism, and starch and sucrose metabolism, which were considerably enriched. A transcriptome analysis led us to identify several structural genes, including DFRA, GSTF12, UGT75C1, FLS1, CHI1, 4CL3, and PAL1, and transcription factors, MYB90, TT8, and HY5, that are regulated by the overexpression of the BrBBX21-1 gene and involved in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Altogether, these findings demonstrate the beneficial regulatory function of BrBBX21-1 in anthocyanin accumulation and offer valuable information about the basis for breeding superior Brassica crops. Full article