Search Results (38)

Quercetagetin (QG), a principal flavonol from marigold (Tagetes erecta L.), is recognized for its potent antioxidant properties. However, its efficacy in mitigating intestinal injury under heat stress (HS) conditions remains unclear. We investigated the protective effects of QG using a mouse model of HS (41 °C, 70% humidity). Mice received oral QG (100 mg/kg/day) or saline for seven consecutive days before and during HS exposure. We assessed jejunal histopathology, oxidative stress markers, inflammatory cytokines, gene expression, and gut microbiota composition via 16S rRNA sequencing. QG supplementation significantly ameliorated HS-induced jejunal damage. It enhanced the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) while reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) and pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α). QG downregulated the mRNA expression of heat shock proteins (Hsp70, Hsp90) and upregulated antioxidant-related genes (SOD1, GPX4, CAT, NQO1, Nrf2). Furthermore, QG preserved intestinal barrier integrity by upregulating tight junction proteins (Occludin, Zo-1, Claudin). 16S rRNA analysis revealed that QG significantly reshaped the gut microbiota, marked by an increased relative abundance of Lactobacillus and a decrease in potentially harmful taxa such as Allobaculum, Oscillibacter, and Colidextribacter. QG effectively alleviates HS-induced intestinal injury by enhancing antioxidant capacity, suppressing inflammation, and modulating the gut microbiota. These findings provide a scientific basis for the potential application of QG as a functional feed additive to improve animal health under heat stress conditions. Full article

Nitrogen (N) is a key macronutrient that influences the uptake and partitioning of other essential elements in plants. In this research, we evaluated the effect of different N concentrations in the nutrient solution (0, 4.2, 8.4, and 12.6 mg L⁻¹) during the flowering stage on the concentration and accumulation of macronutrients in organs of Mexican marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) ‘Inca’. After 40 days of treatment, plants were separated into leaves, flowers, stems, and roots to determine the concentrations of N, P, K, Ca, Mg, and S, as well as their accumulation based on dry biomass. Nitrogen supply significantly affected dry biomass production and its partitioning among organs, promoting biomass allocation to leaves and flowers while reducing relative root biomass at higher N concentrations. Nitrogen concentrations and accumulation increased in leaves, stems, and flowers as N supply increased, whereas an inverse relationship was observed in roots. When applying 8.4 and 12.6 mg N L⁻¹, phosphorus displayed enhanced concentrations in leaves and stems, although root tissues did not change the concentration of this nutrient. When N was supplied at up to 8.4 mg L⁻¹, the concentration of potassium rose in aboveground organs but decreased at the highest dose, while its accumulation in roots was reduced under high N concentrations tested. Calcium exhibited greater accumulation in the aboveground organs, particularly at 12.6 mg N L⁻¹. Magnesium concentration and accumulation increased in aboveground organs with increasing N supply, whereas its accumulation in roots decreased. The highest concentrations of sulfur in leaves and stems were observed at 8.4 mg N L⁻¹, and its accumulation in the aboveground organs tended to stabilize at the highest dose. Effect size analysis (partial ηp²) revealed that N supply explained a large proportion of the variance in macronutrient concentration and accumulation in aerial organs, whereas responses in roots were generally weaker and nutrient specific. Overall, our data indicate that intermediate N levels (8.4 mg L⁻¹) boost a more efficient nutritional balance in the aboveground organs, while the highest dose predominantly enhances Ca and Mg accumulation. Understanding how these plants respond to nitrogen can help improve the quality of Mexican marigold crops and make better use of fertilizers. Full article

A novel plant nutrient media was developed from vermicompost through microbial organisms and organic soil obtained from mango orchards. The novel nutrient media was evaluated to assess the efficacy of the novel media as both a sole and integrated nutrient source for flower production of marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) cv. Pusa Basanti in sandy loam soil. The results demonstrated that marigold flower yield was maximized when the novel plant nutrient media comprised 50% of the novel nutrient media combined with the recommended dose of chemical fertilizers, compared to chemical fertilizers alone. Post-harvest soil analysis revealed that treatments with this novel nutrient media, both alone and in combination with inorganic fertilizers, significantly enhanced nutrient availability (NPK), increased soil organic carbon content, and improved microbial activity and soil enzyme function. Principal component analysis identified flower yield per plant, number of flowers per plant, and seed yield as key variables explaining maximum variability, suggesting these traits as primary selection criteria for performance optimization, and the treatments T4 (78.01) and T5 (85.15) had the highest positive scores on PC1, indicating superior performance for yield-contributing traits. These findings indicate that integrating novel nutrient media into agricultural practices could provide developing countries with an effective strategy for addressing the environmental challenges associated with excessive inorganic fertilizer use while maintaining crop productivity. Full article

Chlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis are essential metabolic processes in horticultural plants, critically influencing the coloration and economic value of fruits and petals. However, the regulatory mechanisms that coordinate the accumulation of both chlorophyll and carotenoids are still poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that the transcription factor TeSEP4 modulated petal color in marigolds by simultaneously modulating chlorophyll and carotenoid metabolic pathways. Overexpression of TeSEP4 produced dark-yellow petals, which were associated with enhanced carotenoid biosynthesis and suppression of chlorophyll biosynthesis. In contrast, silencing TeSEP4 triggered a shift toward yellow-green petals by reducing carotenoid accumulation while concurrently increasing chlorophyll content. Transcriptome and qRT-PCR analyses further revealed that TeSEP4 overexpression upregulated key carotenogenic genes such as TePSY1 and TePSY3, while downregulating chlorophyll-related genes, including TeCHLH, TeCHL27-1, and TePORA1. Silencing TeSEP4 expression caused the opposite changes in these genes. These findings reveal a transcriptional factor that coordinates chlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis, offering a strategy to simultaneously improve carotenoid content and modify petal color in marigolds. Full article

Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) is rich in bioactive compounds, with lutein and quercetagetin as the primary components. However, the effects of these two substances on type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and their underlying molecular mechanisms remain incompletely understood. This study was designed to explore the hypoglycemic potential of quercetagetin and lutein, both individually and in combination, and to decipher the underlying molecular pathways. A T2DM mouse model was established using a high-fat diet (HFD) in combination with streptozotocin (STZ) administration. The results showed that quercetagetin and lutein effectively reduced fasting blood glucose and insulin levels, restored glucose metabolic homeostasis, and improved insulin sensitivity in T2DM mice. Additionally, these compounds improved blood lipid profiles, reduced the production of inflammatory factors, alleviated histological damage, and restored intestinal barrier function. Further mechanistic analysis revealed that quercetagetin and lutein could ameliorate intestinal dysbiosis, decrease intestinal lipopolysaccharide (LPS) content, mitigate local intestinal inflammation, and upregulate the expression of tight junction proteins. These alterations suggest that quercetagetin and lutein collectively contribute to the improvement of intestinal barrier dysfunction and systemic inflammation in type 2 diabetic (T2DM) mice. Full article

Marigold (Tagetes erecta) is an important ornamental and industrial crop valued for its high lutein content. Although petal pigmentation during inflorescence development involves coordinated chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid biosynthesis, the transcriptional mechanisms regulating these processes remain poorly understood. Here, we identified a MADS-box transcription factor, TeMADS6, that coordinately regulates chlorophyll and carotenoid metabolism in marigold. Constitutive overexpression of TeMADS6 resulted in yellow-green petals. HPLC analysis revealed that lycopene, antheraxanthin, violaxanthin, zeaxanthin, and lutein levels were substantially reduced in TeMADS6-overexpression lines, while chlorophyll content was significantly increased compared with wild-type plants. Transcriptome profiling revealed strong repressions of the carotenoid biosynthetic genes TePSY1 and TeHYDB in transgenic florets. Moreover, the chlorophyll degradation gene TeNYC1 and TePPH2 were significantly downregulated, whereas TeSGR2 was upregulated. Together, these findings demonstrate that TeMADS6 acts as a dual-function transcriptional regulator controlling both chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid biosynthesis. This study provides new genetic resources for manipulating petal color and enhancing lutein accumulation in marigold, and advance understanding of the transcriptional networks orchestrating pigment metabolism during flower development. Full article

[Background] Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) is the main source of the natural pigment lutein. [Methods] In this study, Marigold served as the experimental material for systematic observation of floral organ development. Based on floral morphology and lutein content, the full-flowering stage was identified as the optimal harvesting period. [Results] Under different light intensity gradients (30–1500 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹), the highest lutein content in petals occurred at ≈500 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹. Increased light intensities promoted flowering and enlarged flower diameter while significantly shortening the growth cycle. Transcriptome analysis revealed that light intensity variation markedly influenced the expression of genes related to metabolic pathways, plant hormone signal transduction, and carotenoid biosynthesis, and enriched transcription factor families including bHLH, MYB, NAC, and WRKY. Metabolomic profiling identified lutein esters, such as lutein dimyristate and lutein dipalmitate, as the dominant accumulated forms, with their contents positively correlated with light intensity; under high light, intermediate metabolites, including α-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin, were significantly up-regulated. [Conclusions] This study clarifies the molecular mechanism by which light intensity precisely regulates lutein accumulation through coordinated synthesis, esterification, and degradation pathways, offering a theoretical foundation for light-regulated cultivation of T. erecta L. and efficient lutein production. Full article

Local communities in many parts of the West Bank, Palestine have very limited water resources available for irrigation. In addition, since these communities are traditionally agricultural communities, water shortage and the lack of innovation in the agricultural sector led to loss of jobs in this sector. This in turn led young people to start looking for jobs in different sectors and even increased migration to urban centers. The reuse of treated wastewater can provide a viable solution to irrigation water shortage. It can help in creating jobs in the marginalized communities in the West Bank, especially in areas under full Israeli control (Area C according to the Oslo Accord). Furthermore, it is important to select crops that can resist the effects of climate change and create revenue for the farmers at the same time. In this research, we studied the impact of irrigating marigold (Tagetes erecta), which is a flower plant commonly used in the Palestinian market, with treated wastewater from the Nablus West Wastewater Treatment Plant (NWWTP). The quality of the treated wastewater, as indicated by parameters such as COD, BOD5, pH, EC, and TSS, shows its suitability for agricultural reuse. With low levels of organic matter, a near-neutral pH, and minimal suspended solids, the water poses minimal environmental risks and is ideal for irrigation, though monitoring for salinity buildup is necessary. Twenty-six marigold plants were planted, half of them were irrigated with the treated wastewater and the other half with tap water. Observations of length, number of roses, rose size, days to flower, and flowering days were recorded for both cases. The statistical analysis of the results shows that there is no significant difference between marigolds irrigated with treated wastewater and those treated with tap water, in terms of Plant Height, Rose Number and Rose Diameter. Full article

Male sterility is an important trait in heterosis utilization and marigold (Tagetes erecta L.) breeding. Currently, most male-sterile lines used in production are derived from natural mutations. ABORTED MICROSPORES (AMS) is an important gene that regulates tapetum and microspore development. Therefore, the effect of AMS on fertility was studied. TeAMS was located in the nucleus and exhibited self-activation activity. TeAMS was highly expressed in the flower buds of T. erecta. The expression of this gene in fertile plants was higher than that in sterile plants, and the expression level gradually increased with the development of flower buds. The expression level of TeAMS was highest in the flower buds with a diameter of 1.2 cm at the floret differentiation stage, while the expression level was extremely low in the flower buds with a diameter of 1.6 cm. The expression trend of TeAMS in sterile plants was opposite to that in fertile plants. At the inflorescence primordium differentiation stage, flower buds with a diameter of 0.2 cm had the highest expression level, and the stem tip had the lowest expression level. In tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.), overexpression of the TeAMS gene resulted in shortened floral tubes, increased thousand-seed weight, a reduced flowering period, and decreased flower numbers. The pollen viability of transgenic tobacco was significantly lower than that of the wild type, and the pollen grains were smaller and showed irregular shapes. The pollen wall was dry and shrunk. Some pollen germinal furrows were distorted, and a few were almost invisible. Silencing TeAMS resulted in a longer flowering period in tobacco, reduced thousand-seed weight, and high pollen viability. Pollen morphology in silenced lines showed no significant differences compared to the wild-type and empty vector controls. Only a few pollen grains were smaller, shriveled, and shrunken. Therefore, the TeAMS gene plays an important role in regulating the fertility of marigolds. This study provides a theoretical foundation for breeding marigold male-sterile lines. Full article

Marigold (Tagetes erecta L.), a crop of significant medicinal, ornamental, and economic value, faces severe industrialization challenges due to weed-induced yield losses (up to 60%). This study aims to identify safe and highly efficient herbicides for marigold, assess their effects on dominant weeds and crop safety, and provide a practical basis for large-scale cultivation. We evaluated 11 pre-emergence herbicides, 13 post-emergence herbicides, and agronomic practices (plastic mulch) through three field trials to optimize weed control, crop safety, and productivity. In Experiment 1, pre-emergence applications of pendimethalin (35% SC) and oxyfluorfen (240 g/L EC) under plastic mulch suppressed 85–99% of grass and broad-leaved weeds, elevating marigold yield to 1655.6 kg/667 m² and increasing lutein content by 10.7% compared to controls, with no phytotoxicity to subsequent wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)or broad beans (Vicia faba L.). Experiment 2 demonstrated that post-cultivation soil treatment with metolachlor · oxyfluorfen · pendimethalin (50% EC) enhanced weed suppression (47.8–53.6%) and yield (3.4% increase) while ensuring crop safety. Experiment 3 revealed that the post-emergence herbicides haloxyfop-P-methyl (108 g/L EC) and fomesafen (250 g/L SL) achieved over 92% reduction in grass weed biomass and over 75% reduction in broadleaf weed density, respectively, alongside a 6.1% yield improvement. Therefore, region-specific strategies are recommended based on local agronomic conditions: high-value production zones should adopt integrated systems combining plastic mulch with pre-emergence herbicides; arid lands with extended crop rotation intervals require pre-emergence herbicides after intertillage and earthing-up; labor-abundant regions can rotate targeted post-emergence herbicides to delay resistance evolution. This study provides data-driven optimization strategies for comprehensive weed management in marigold fields, offering practical solutions to enhance industrial productivity and ecological sustainability. Full article

The APETALA2/Ethylene-Responsive Factor (AP2/ERF) superfamily is one of the largest transcription factor families in plants, playing diverse roles in development, stress response, and metabolic regulation. Despite their ecological and economic importance, AP2/ERF genes remain uncharacterized in marigold (Tagetes erecta), a valuable ornamental and medicinal plant in the Asteraceae family known for its unique capitulum-type inflorescence with distinct ray and disc florets. Here, we conducted a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the AP2/ERF superfamily in marigold and identified 177 AP2/ERF genes distributed across 11 of the 12 chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis revealed their classification into the AP2 (28 genes), ERF (143 genes), RAV (4 genes), and Soloist (2 genes) families based on domain architecture. Gene structure and motif composition analyses demonstrated group-specific patterns that correlated with their evolutionary relationships. Chromosome mapping and synteny analyses revealed that segmental duplications significantly contributed to AP2/ERF superfamily gene expansion in marigold, with extensive collinearity observed between marigold and other species. Expression profiling across different tissues and developmental stages indicated distinct spatio-temporal expression patterns, with several genes exhibiting tissue-specific expression in Asteraceae-specific structures. In floral organs, TeAP2/ERF145 exhibited significantly higher expression in ray floret corollas compared to disc florets, while TeAP2/ERF103 showed stamen-specific expression in disc florets. Protein interaction network analysis revealed AP2 as a central hub with extensive predicted interactions with MADS-box and TCP family proteins. These findings suggest that AP2 family genes may collaborate with MADS-box and CYC2 genes in regulating the characteristic floral architecture of marigold, establishing a foundation for future functional studies and molecular breeding efforts to enhance ornamental and agricultural traits in this economically important plant. Full article

Chocolate spot (Botrytis fabae) is a disease that threatens faba bean production in Mexico, as it can cause up to 70% yield losses. Currently, indiscriminate fungicides combat this disease, leading to environmental and human health problems. In this context, the effect of applying ethanolic extracts of two native plants of Mexico (Litsea glaucescens and Tagetes erecta), and Ruta graveolens was evaluated under in vitro and field conditions, in comparison to a commercial fungicide (Benomyl^®) on the percentage of inhibition, incidence, severity, and relevant agronomic variables (plant height, number of secondary stems, number of flowers, and number and weight of pods). Applications with ethyl alcohol and water were used as controls. Both the bay laurel extract and Benomyl^® achieved 100% inhibition under in vitro conditions, while in the field, they reduced severity by up to 51% at the beginning and end of the experiment. Plants treated with the marigold extract showed greater plant height (90.3 cm), while those treated with ethyl alcohol (control 1) had the lowest height (76.5 cm). The fungicide and bay laurel extract produced pods with higher weight (166.3 g and 139.2 g, respectively), while the water control produced pods weighing only 33.1 g. The ethanolic extract of bay laurel could potentially replace the chemical control of chocolate spot without affecting faba bean crop yield. Full article

Marigold (Tagetes erecta) has a capitulum with two floret types: sterile ray florets and fertile disc florets. This distinction makes marigold a valuable model for studying floral organ development in Asteraceae, where MADS-box transcription factors play crucial roles. Here, 65 MADS-box genes were identified in the marigold genome, distributed across all 12 chromosomes. These genes were classified into type I (13 genes) and type II (52 genes) according to phylogenetic relationships. The gene structure of type I was simpler than that of type II, with fewer conserved motifs. Type I was further divided into three subclasses, Mα (8 genes), Mβ (2 genes), and Mγ (3 genes), while type II was divided into two groups: MIKC^C (50 genes) and MIKC* (2 genes), with MIKC^C comprising 13 subfamilies. Many type II MADS-box genes had evolutionarily conserved functions in marigold. Expression analysis of type II genes across different organs revealed organ-specific patterns, identifying 34 genes related to flower organ development. Given the distinct characteristics of the two floret types, four genes were specifically expressed only in the petals of one floret type, while twenty genes were expressed in the stamens of disc florets. These genes might have been related to the formation of different floret types. Our research provided a comprehensive and systematic analysis of the marigold MADS-box genes and laid the foundation for further studies on the roles of MADS-box genes in floral organ development in Asteraceae. Full article

Using desi-cow waste products like Jeevamrit under natural farming is widespread among farmers for improving soil biology and productivity. Jeevamrit enhances soil chemical and microbiological properties without needing a large quantity of farmyard manure (FYM) as a sustainable farming practice with a reduced carbon footprint. Despite its traditional use, Jeevamrit faces criticism due to a lack of scientific evidence. This study investigated the comparative effect of Jeevamrit and chemical fertilizers on the growth and yield of marigold cv. Siracole. The experiment employed a randomized block design (RBD) with three replications. The mother block of marigolds was raised for both the summer and winter seasons. From this mother block, three harvesting flushes were taken and propagated from cuttings. The rooted cuttings were planted at monthly intervals and evaluated for flowering parameters and compared to those treated with RDF (30:20:20 N, P, and K g/m²). Soil supplied with Jeevamrit showed enhanced bacteria (26.33%), fungi (18.92%), and actinomycetes (31.21%) populations compared to the recommended dose of fertilizers (RDF) (i.e., N–P–K @ 30:20:20 g m⁻²). Jeevamrit-treated plants have a more marketable flower yield per square meter (3.98%) and a longer shelf life (9.93%) compared to RDF. The study concludes that Jeevamrit @ 2 liters m⁻² is a sustainable and effective alternative to traditional fertilizers for enhancing marigold production in the mid-hills of Himachal Pradesh, where natural farming is already accepted. Full article

Ultrasound-assisted extraction using response surface methodology was employed to extract marigold flower, resulting in a marigold flower extract (MFE) with elevated levels of total phenolic compounds (TPCs), total flavonoid content (TFC), total carotenoid content (TCC), and antioxidant activity, as assessed by 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) assays, under conditions of 40 °C temperature, 15 min extraction time, and 68% ethanol concentration. The MFE was subsequently encapsulated using spray drying with 45% maltodextrin (MD) (MFE–MD; 1:1, 1:2) and 20% gum arabic (GA) (MFE–GA; 1:2, 1:3). The MD (1:2 ratio) sample showed the highest encapsulation yield, while the 45% MD (1:1 ratio) sample exhibited the highest encapsulation efficiency (p ≤ 0.05). Samples containing 45% MD (1:1 ratio) and 20% GA (1:2 ratio) had the highest moisture content, with the 45% MD (1:1 ratio) sample showing the lowest water activity (p > 0.05). These samples also displayed higher L* and a* values compared to the 20% GA samples, which had increased b* values (p ≤ 0.05). Micrographs of the 20% GA (1:3 ratio) and 45% MD (1:2 ratio) samples revealed spherical shapes with smooth surfaces. The 20% GA (1:2 ratio) microcapsules exhibited the highest total phenolic content (TPC) among the samples (p ≤ 0.05). Thus, ultrasound-enhanced extraction combined with response surface methodology proved effective in producing functional food ingredients from plants. Full article