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Project financially supported by Minister of Education and Science in the range of the program entitled "Regional Initiative of Excellence" for the years 2019-2022, Project No. 010/RID/2018/19." now reads: "The results presented in this paper were obtained as part of a comprehensive study financed by the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Department of Agroecosystems and Horticulture, 30.610.016-110. "The results presented in this paper were obtained as part of a comprehensive study financed by the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn, Faculty of Agriculture and Forestry, Department of Agroecosystems and Horticulture, 30.610.016-110. [Extracted from the article]

Root–root communication effects on several physiological and metabolic aspects among Solanaceae relatives were studied. We examined cherry (C) and field (F) tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) and bell pepper (B) (Capsicum annuum), comprising three degrees of relatedness (DOR): high (H-DOR; CC, FF and BB), medium (M-DOR; CF) and low (L-DOR; CB and FB). Plants were grown in pairs of similar or different plants on a paper-based and non-destructive root growth system, namely, rhizoslides. Root growth, including the proliferation of fine roots, and respiration increased as the DOR decreased and were highest in paired L-DOR plants, as was shown for root respiration that increased by 63, 110 and 88 % for C, F, and B when grown with B, B and F, respectively. On the other hand, root exudates of L-DOR plants had significantly lower levels of total organic carbon and protein than those of H-DOR plants, indicating different root–root communication between individuals with different DOR. Our findings indicate, for the first time, that carbon allocation to root growth, exudation and respiration depends on the degree of genetic relatedness, and that the degree of relatedness between individual plants plays a key role in the root-root communication within Solanaceae. • The degree of relatedness among different Solanaceae relatives impacts carbon metabolism. • Carbon allocation to root growth increases as the degree of relatedness among neighbors decreases. • Root exudate carbon concentration decreases as the degree of relatedness decreases. • Root respiration increases among distantly related neighbors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To mitigate soil degradation and decrease dependency on chemical inputs in agriculture, this study examined the joint effects of coconut shell biochar and Bacillus strain Ya-1 on soil fertility, rhizosphere bacterial communities, and the growth of chili (Capsicum annuum L.). A controlled pot experiment with four treatments was conducted: control (CK), biochar only (C), Bacillus strain Ya-1 only (B), and a combination of both (BC). The BC treatment significantly enhanced the soil carbon and available phosphorus contents by approximately 20% and the soil nitrogen content and pH by 18% and 0.3 units, respectively, compared to the control. It also increased microbial biomass carbon and nitrogen by 25% and 30%, respectively, indicating improved soil microbial diversity as shown by the highest Pielou evenness index and Shannon index values. The combined application of biochar and the Ya-1 strain resulted in a 15% increase in chili plant height and a 40% improvement in root dehydrogenase activity, suggesting enhanced nutrient uptake and metabolism. Metabolic profiling showed shifts in stress response and nutrient assimilation under different treatments. Collectively, these results indicate the potential of biochar and microbial inoculants to significantly promote soil and plant health, providing a sustainable strategy to improve agricultural productivity and reduce reliance on chemical inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: This study explores how a wireworm (Agriotes lineatus L. [Coleoptera: Elateridae]) infestation affects sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants and their interactions with parasitic nematodes (Nematoda: Rhabditidae). We found that A. lineatus damage decreases ascorbate levels in leaves but increases them in roots, along with higher cysteine and glutathione levels in leaves. These changes likely boost the plant's antioxidant defense mechanisms. We also observed increases in carotenoids and chlorophylls, which directly enhance the plant's protection against light stress. Additionally, wireworm-infested roots released several volatile compounds, among which, most notably, is hexanal that signals plant stress. Nematodes responded differently to tested exudates based on their species and environmental factors like temperature. The findings emphasize the need to consider these variables when using VOCs for the biological control of nematodes. Future research should focus on refining these strategies for better pest management in agriculture. This study of underground multitrophic communication, involving plant roots, insects, and parasitic nematodes, is an emerging field with significant implications for understanding plant–insect–nematode interactions. Our research investigated the impact of wireworm (Agriotes lineatus L. [Coleoptera: Elateridae]) infestations on the ascorbate–glutathione system in sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) plants in order to study the potential role in root-exudate-mediated nematode chemotaxis. We observed that an A. lineatus infestation led to a decrease in leaf ascorbate levels and an increase in root ascorbate, with corresponding increases in the glutathione content in both roots and leaves. Additionally, a pigment analysis revealed increased carotenoid and chlorophyll levels and a shift towards a de-epoxidized state in the xanthophyll cycle. These changes suggest an individual and integrated regulatory function of photosynthetic pigments accompanied with redox modifications of the ascorbate–glutathione system that enhance plant defense. We also noted changes in the root volatile organic compound (VOC). Limonene, methyl salicylate, and benzyl salicylate decreased, whereas hexanal, neoisopulegol, nonanal, phenylethyl alcohol, m-di-tert-butylbenzene, and trans-β-ionone increased in the roots of attacked plants compared to the control group. Most notably, the VOC hexanal and amino acid exudate cysteine were tested for the chemotaxis assay. Nematode responses to chemoattractants were found to be species-specific, influenced by environmental conditions such as temperature. This study highlights the complexity of nematode chemotaxis and suggests that VOC-based biological control strategies must consider nematode foraging strategies and environmental factors. Future research should further explore these dynamics to optimize nematode management in agricultural systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capsicum annuum L. var. "Chile de árbol" combined with poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and TiO2-ZnO oxides synthesized at different molar ratios and pH (Ti-Zn A and B 3:1, 1:1, and 1:3) via the sol-gel method was characterized by the Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, a UV-Vis spectrophotometer (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC-DAD), and a release profile through mathematical models to explain its behavior. Furthermore, FTIR revealed the presence of PLGA, TiO2, and ZnO as well as amino group characteristics from oleoresin components, principally alkaloid groups (capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin), as evidenced by HPLC, to identify the presence of capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin. The UV-Vis spectra showed a slight hypsochromic shift in the PLGA treatments. The release profile demonstrated a higher controllable release in the PLGA treatments than in the double nanoemulsions. Moreover, it is important to note that the effect of NPs influenced the release profile itself, increasing the release when NPs were synthesized at an acidic pH. Therefore, the TiZnOl/PLGA A characteristics suggest that these results have potential for pharmaceutical (as drug carriers) and medical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The WD40 domain, one of the most abundant in eukaryotic genomes, is widely involved in plant growth and development, secondary metabolic biosynthesis, and mediating responses to biotic and abiotic stresses. WD40 repeat (WD40) protein has been systematically studied in several model plants but has not been reported in the Capsicum annuum (pepper) genome. Results: Herein, 269, 237, and 257 CaWD40 genes were identified in the Zunla, CM334, and Zhangshugang genomes, respectively. CaWD40 sequences from the Zunla genome were selected for subsequent analysis, including chromosomal localization, phylogenetic relationships, sequence characteristics, motif compositions, and expression profiling. CaWD40 proteins were unevenly distributed on 12 chromosomes, encompassing 19 tandem duplicate gene pairs. The 269 CaWD40s were divided into six main branches (A to F) with 17 different types of domain distribution. The CaWD40 gene family exhibited diverse expression patterns, and several genes were specifically expressed in flowers and seeds. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) and dual-luciferase assay indicated that CaWD40-91 could interact with CaAN1 and CaDYT1, suggesting its involvement in anthocyanin biosynthesis and male sterility in pepper. Conclusions: In summary, we systematically characterized the phylogeny, classification, structure, and expression of the CaWD40 gene family in pepper. Our findings provide a valuable foundation for further functional investigations on WD40 genes in pepper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The fall armyworm (FAW, Spodoptera frugiperda) is a polyphagous pest known for causing significant crop damage. The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in influencing the biology, physiology and adaptation of the host. However, understanding of the taxonomic composition and functional characteristics of the gut microbiota in FAW larvae fed on different host plants remains limited. Methods: This study utilized metagenomic sequencing to explore the structure, function and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) of the gut microbiota in FAW larvae transferred from an artificial diet to four distinct host plants: maize, sorghum, tomato and pepper. Results: The results demonstrated significant variations in gut microbiota structure among FAW larvae fed on different host plants. Firmicutes emerged as the dominant phylum, with Enterococcaceae as the dominant family and Enterococcus as the prominent genus. Notably, Enterococcus casseliflavus was frequently observed in the gut microbiota of FAW larvae across host plants. Metabolism pathways, particularly those related to carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism, played a crucial role in the adaptation of the FAW gut microbiota to different host plants. KEGG orthologs associated with the regulation of the peptide/nickel transport system permease protein in sorghum-fed larvae and the 6-phospho-β-glucosidase gene linked to glycolysis/gluconeogenesis as well as starch and sucrose metabolism in pepper-fed larvae were identified. Moreover, the study identified the top 20 ARGs in the gut microbiota of FAW larvae fed on different host plants, with the maize-fed group exhibiting the highest abundance of vanRC. Conclusions: Our metagenomic sequencing study reveals significant variations in the gut microbiota composition and function of FAW larvae across diverse host plants. These findings underscore the intricate co-evolutionary relationship between hosts and their gut microbiota, suggesting that host transfer profoundly influences the gut microbiota and, consequently, the adaptability and pest management strategies for FAW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Green peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) are a fruit vegetable with great culinary versatility and present important nutritional properties for human health. Water deficit negatively affects the nutritional quality of green peppers' fruits. This study aimed to investigate the influence of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs), associated with plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB), on the post-harvest nutritional quality of green peppers subjected to water deficit. In an open-field experiment, two irrigation levels (50 and 100% of crop evapotranspiration (Etc)), four treatments composed of a combination of ZnONPs, zinc sulfate (ZnSO4), and PGPB (T1 = ZnSO4 via leaves, T2 = ZnONPs via leaves, T3 = ZnONPs via leaves + PGPB via soil, T4 = ZnSO4 via soil + PGPB via soil), and a control treatment (Control) were tested. Water deficit or water deficit mitigation treatments did not interfere with the physical–chemical parameters (except vitamin C content) and physical color parameters (except the lightness) of green peppers. On average, the water deficit reduced the levels of Ca (−13.2%), Mg (−8.5%), P (−8.5%), K (−8.6%), Mn (−10.5%), Fe (−12.2%), B (−12.0%), and Zn (−11.5%) in the fruits. Under the water deficit condition, ZnONPs or ZnSO4 via foliar, associated or not with PGPB, increased the levels of Ca (+57% in the T2 and +69.0% in the T2), P, Mg, and Fe in the fruits. At 50% Etc, the foliar application of ZnONPs in association with PGPB increases vitamin C and mineral nutrients' contents and nutritional quality index (+12.0%) of green peppers. Applying Zn via foliar as ZnONPs or ZnSO4 mitigated the negative effects of water deficit on the quality of pepper fruits that were enhanced by the Bacillus subtilis and B. amyloliquefaciens inoculation. The ZnONPs source was more efficient than the ZnSO4 source. The water deficit alleviating effect of both zinc sources was enhanced by the PGPB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vegetation health assessment by using airborne multispectral images throughout crop production cycles, among other precision agriculture technologies, is an important tool for modern agriculture practices. However, to really take advantage of crop fields imagery, specialized analysis techniques are needed. In this paper we present a geographic object-based image analysis (GEOBIA) approach to examine a set of very high resolution (VHR) multispectral images obtained by the use of small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), to evaluate plant health states and to generate cropland maps for Capsicum annuum L. The scheme described here integrates machine learning methods with semi-automated training and validation, which allowed us to develop an algorithmic sequence for the evaluation of plant health conditions at individual sowing point clusters over an entire parcel. The features selected at the classification stages are based on phenotypic traits of plants with different health levels. Determination of areas without data dependencies for the algorithms employed allowed us to execute some of the calculations as parallel processes. Comparison with the standard normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and biological analyses were also performed. The classification obtained showed a precision level of about 95% in discerning between vegetation and non-vegetation objects, and clustering efficiency ranging from 79% to 89% for the evaluation of different vegetation health categories, which makes our approach suitable for being incorporated at C. annuum crop’s production systems, as well as to other similar crops. This methodology can be reproduced and adjusted as an on-the-go solution to get a georeferenced plant health estimation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Objective] Cytochrome P450(CYP450) is an important key enzyme in the metabolism of triterpene saponins in plants. The paper aimed to investigate the protein characteristics and phylogenetics of CYP450. [Method] From the published papers and NCBI database the sequences of CYP450 were collected. and five bioinformatics tools. including ProtParam. ORFfinder. SignalP4. 1. SOPMA. CDD and MEGA6. 0. were used to analyze the physical and chemical properties. ORFs. signal peptides. secondary structures. conserved domains and evolutionary relationships. respectively. [Result] Totally 23 sequences of CYP450 from 21 plants were collected. and those sequences showed strong consistency in gene lengths. amino acid numbers. pI and amino acid compositions. Signal peptides were only detected in Phytolacca americana. Beta vulgaris and Capsicum annuum. Furthermore. secondary structures had significant uniformity in the 23 sequences. and α-helixes and random coils took up the majority. Most of the conserved domains belonged to P450 superfamilies. The phylogenic trees revealed that the differences were not significant among CYP450 s. [Conclusion]The protein characteristics of CYP450 s have less differences among the 23 sequences. and the evolutionary differences are also close. which hint that CYP450 s have high conservation in evolution. The paper would help our understanding on the enzyme characteristics of CYP450 and triterpene saponin metabolism in plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• This paper investigates convolutional neural networks on large agricultural datasets. • Synthetic dataset bootstrapping and empirical dataset fine-tuning is researched. • Plant parts can be recognized on a per-pixel level. • We show only a small annotated empirical dataset of 30 images is required. • A large synthetic dataset for bootstrapping improves performance. A current bottleneck of state-of-the-art machine learning methods for image segmentation in agriculture, e.g. convolutional neural networks (CNNs), is the requirement of large manually annotated datasets on a per-pixel level. In this paper, we investigated how related synthetic images can be used to bootstrap CNNs for successful learning as compared to other learning strategies. We hypothesise that a small manually annotated empirical dataset is sufficient for fine-tuning a synthetically bootstrapped CNN. Furthermore we investigated (i) multiple deep learning architectures, (ii) the correlation between synthetic and empirical dataset size on part segmentation performance, (iii) the effect of post-processing using conditional random fields (CRF) and (iv) the generalisation performance on other related datasets. For this we have performed 7 experiments using the Capsicum annuum (bell or sweet pepper) dataset containing 50 empirical and 10,500 synthetic images with 7 pixel-level annotated part classes. Results confirmed our hypothesis that only 30 empirical images were required to obtain the highest performance on all 7 classes (mean IOU = 0.40) when a CNN was bootstrapped on related synthetic data. Furthermore we found optimal empirical performance when a VGG-16 network was modified to include à trous spatial pyramid pooling. Adding CRF only improved performance on the synthetic data. Training binary classifiers did not improve results. We have found a positive correlation between dataset size and performance. For the synthetic dataset, learning stabilises around 3000 images. Generalisation to other related datasets proved possible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the results of the researches on the behavior of some genotypes of sweet pepper (Capsicum annum ssp. grossum) in the area of sandy soils from Dăbuleni, an area subject to thermohydric stress. Four local populations of sweet peppers were studied in comparison with the Cornel variety, created at RDIVF Vidra. Under the conditions of 2019 the total average production was between 16.36-30.58 t/ha, significant production increases registering the local Populations of Amărăşti and Dobreşti (+12.74; +14.22t/ha, compared to the control variety Cornel). The average weight of a fruit was between 107.4 g at the local population of Grădinari and 147.1 g at the local population of Amărăşti, this population registering, from a statistical point of view, very significant differences from the control variant. Between the leaf surface, the thickness of the pericarp and production were established statistically positive correlations, the best results being recorded at the local population of Amărăşti. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing nutritional properties of vegetable species as well as their use in disease prevention has become a growing concern among researchers. This paper aims to study the influence of foliar fertilizers on the nutritional properties of pepper. The biological material was represented by two varieties of Capsicum annuum, var. tetragonum ('Cornel') and Capsicum annuum var. longum ('Max'). The fertilization procedure of the experiment consisted in the application of N45: P45: K45 followed by foliar fertilization with Agroleaf Power 31:11:11, Agroleaf Total 20:20:20 and Agroleaf High K combined with Crop'Max'. For this purpose, production and quality elements (the content of soluble dry matter, titratable acidity, vitamin C content, reducing sugars, phenolic compounds and lycopene content and antioxidant activity) were determined. The results obtained in the fertilized varieties indicate an increase in the production and vitamin C and titratable acidity content, but a decrease in solid soluble dry matter and in reducing sugars content in both pepper varieties. Comparing the two varieties, the foliar fertilization increased the antioxidant activity caused by the vitamin C content (201.35 mg/100 g FW), the phenolic compounds (251.71 mg/100 g FW) and the lycopene content (126.91 mg/100 g FW) in the var. longum ('Max'). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human micronutrient dietary deficiency remains an enormous global problem and probably accounts for the cause of many chronic health conditions and diseases. Above two (2) billion individuals on the planet today have been estimated to be deficient in major minerals and vitamins, predominantly zinc, iodine, vitamin A, and iron primarily due to inadequate dietary intake. The eradication of deficiencies in micronutrient on a sustainable basis will be conceivable only when diets of vulnerable populace provide all required nutrients in adequate amounts. Among the numerous approaches toward eradicating human dietary deficiency, feeding on a wide range of foods, especially vegetables that have an array of micronutrients, is still perceived as the best sustainable solution. The universal consumption of chili peppers (Capsicum annuum), known for their high nutritional content (which includes a good range of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and dietary fiber), may play a role in decreasing human micronutrient deficiencies. Significant portions of recommended daily nutrients could be supplied by the incorporation of nutrient‐rich chili pepper into human diets which could help in combating nutrient deficiencies. This present review, therefore, gives an overview of the universal occurrence of micronutrient deficiency. It also discusses approaches that have been used to tackle the situation while stressing the potentials of chili pepper as a promising vegetable which could be utilized in alleviating human micronutrient dietary deficiencies. For all available information provided, research databases (Science direct, Academic journals, PubMed, and Google Scholar) were searched independently using keyword search strategy. Titles and abstracts were examined initially, and full papers were retrieved if studies met the inclusion criteria. Human micronutrient dietary deficiency remains an enormous global problem and probably accounts for the cause of many chronic health conditions and diseases. The eradication of deficiencies in micronutrient on a sustainable basis will be conceivable only when diets of vulnerable populace provide all required nutrients in adequate amounts. Among the numerous approaches towards eradicating human dietary deficiency, feeding on a wide range of foods, especially vegetables that have an array of micronutrients, is still perceived as the best sustainable solution. The universal consumption of chili peppers (Capsicum annuum), known for their high nutritional content (which includes a good range of vitamins, minerals, phytochemicals, and dietary fiber) may play a role in decreasing human micronutrient deficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the investigation of the influence of microwave treated water on the growth of the plants. For this experiment, four groups of seedlings were used and subjected to the study. We took drinking water and divided it into four parts, each group was given only one part. The first group was given water that had been heated to boiling in a glass cup on a gas stove. The second and third group was given water that had been heated in a microwave to boiling (100 °C) and 60 °C respectively. The fourth group of seedlings was given water that had not been heated at all and used as control. The growth of seedlings was studied for 30 days. The analysis of the results shows that corn seedlings exposed to microwaved water show lower growth rate in comparison to the control ones. Corn seedlings when watered with normal water or with water heated on the stove grew faster and had shoot length significantly bigger than the corns which were watered with water heated in a microwave at 60 °C/100 °C. On the other hand, pepper seedlings watered with either microwaved water or not microwaved water were found with no significant effects on their growth characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.); an important spice crop of the region is a rich source of vitamins and antioxidants having many health benefits. Many biotic and abiotic factors contribute towards growth and yield losses of this crop. Arsenic (As) toxicity is a global issue, but it is particularly critical in developing countries. The current study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of selenium (Se) in mitigating the toxic effects of As in two varieties (HSP-181 A and PS09979325) of Capsicum annuum L. Different concentrations of As (0, 50, and 100 µM) and Se (0, 5, and 10 µM) were tested using 14 days old seedlings of C. annuum L. The As stress caused a significant (P ≤ 0.001) reduction in growth, uptake of nutrients, and eco-physiological attributes in both varieties however, the response was specific. While the overproduction of osmo-protectants and antioxidants intensified the symptoms of oxidative stress. The maximum reduction in shoot length (45%), fresh weight (29%), and dry weight (36%) was observed in under 100 µM As stress. The organic acids exudation from the roots of both cultivars were significantly increased with the increase in As toxicity. The Se treatment significantly (p ≤ 0.001) improved growth, nutrient uptake, gas exchange attributes, antioxidant production, while decreased oxidative stress indicators, and As uptake in the roots and shoots of all the subjects under investigation. It is concluded from the results of this study that Se application increased photosynthetic efficiency and antioxidant activity while decreasing As levels, organic acid exudation, and oxidative stress indicators in plants. Overall, the var. PS09979325 performed better and may be a good candidate for future pepper breeding program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manipulating evolutionary forces imposed by hosts on pathogens like genetic drift and selection could avoid the emergence of virulent pathogens. For instance, increasing genetic drift could decrease the risk of pathogen adaptation through the random fixation of deleterious mutations or the elimination of favorable ones in the pathogen population. However, no experimental proof of this approach is available for a plant-pathogen system. We studied the impact of pepper (Capsicum annuum) lines carrying the same major resistance gene but contrasted genetic backgrounds on the evolution of Potato virus Y (PVY). The pepper lines were chosen for the contrasted levels of genetic drift (inversely related to Ne, the effective population size) they exert on PVY populations, as well as for their contrasted resistance efficiency (inversely related to the initial replicative fitness, Wi, of PVY in these lines). Experimental evolution was performed by serially passaging 64 PVY populations every month on six contrasted pepper lines during seven months. These lines exhibited highly divergent evolutionary trajectories, ranging from viral extinctions to replicative fitness gains. The sequencing of the PVY VPg cistron, where adaptive mutations are likely to occur, allowed linking these replicative fitness gains to parallel adaptive nonsynonymous mutations. Evolutionary trajectories were well explained by the genetic drift imposed by the host. More specifically, Ne, Wi and their synergistic interaction played a major role in the fate of PVY populations. When Ne was low (i.e. strong genetic drift), the final PVY replicative fitness remained close to the initial replicative fitness, whereas when Ne was high (i.e. low genetic drift), the final PVY replicative fitness was high independently of the replicative fitness of the initially inoculated virus. We show that combining a high resistance efficiency (low Wi) and a strong genetic drift (low Ne) is the best solution to increase resistance durability, that is, to avoid virus adaptation on the long term. Author summary: Given their high evolutionary potential, viruses are notoriously difficult to control by drug treatments or by breeding resistant hosts. In plants, resistance genes targeting viruses become often rapidly inefficient due to virus mutational escape. Manipulating the evolutionary forces imposed by the plant on the virus population, like selection and genetic drift, could help control virus adaptation and prevent resistance breakdown. Theoretically, a plant genotype imposing low selective pressures could slow down the fixation of adaptive viral mutations, while a plant genotype imposing strong genetic drift could decrease virus fitness by favoring the random fixation of deleterious viral mutations and/or the elimination of favorable ones. Using experimental evolution, we studied the effect of plants imposing contrasted levels of genetic drift on the emergence of resistance-adapted virus mutants. Results indicate that the level of genetic drift during plant colonization, in part controlled by the genetic background of the plant, and the plant resistance level are the main drivers of the virus evolutionary trajectories, which varied from fast adaptation to extinction. Consequently, it is possible to achieve high resistance efficiency and durability by breeding plant genotypes through the introduction of major-effect resistance genes exerting a strong selection on virus populations into a genetic background increasing genetic drift. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The jalapeño pepper is a vegetable of great economic importance worldwide. However, low germination efficiency, weak seedlings, and a high mortality rate during transplant compromise the viability and sustainability of the crop. An innovative solution is the nanopriming technique, an emerging and novel technology, which involves the imbibition of seeds for a specific period using mineral nanoparticles. The addition of micronutrients such as zinc and molybdenum has been used in seed germination and early seedling development due to their crucial roles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of using zinc–molybdenum nanopriming in jalapeño pepper on germination and early growth. The results showed that applying nanopriming (124–10 mg L−1 of zinc–molybdenum) promotes the effectiveness on the imbibition and germination of jalapeño pepper seeds, resulting in heavier seeds with a better initial absorption. This method not only improves germination rates and seedling vigor, but also points towards more sustainable and efficient agriculture. Building on these findings, the zinc–molybdenum nanopriming method could potentially transform jalapeño pepper cultivation by enhancing seed quality and resilience. Nanopriming could help increase crop yields and minimize reliance on chemical inputs, such as fertilizers and pesticides, which might reduce production costs and environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capsicum annuum L. is extensively cultivated in subtropical and temperate regions globally, respectively, when grown in a medium with 8 holding significant economic importance. Despite the availability of genome sequences and editing tools, gene editing in peppers is limited by the lack of a stable regeneration and transformation method. This study assessed regeneration and transformation protocols in seven chili pepper varieties, including CM334, Zunla-1, Zhongjiao6 (ZJ6), 0818, 0819, 297, and 348, in order to enhance genetic improvement efforts. Several explants, media compositions, and hormonal combinations were systematically evaluated to optimize the in vitro regeneration process across different chili pepper varieties. The optimal concentrations for shoot formation, shoot elongation, and rooting in regeneration experiments were determined as 5 mg/L of 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) with 5 mg/L of silver nitrate (AgNO3), 0.5 mg/L of Gibberellic acid (GA3), and 1 mg/L of Indole-3-butyric acid (IBA), respectively. The highest regeneration rate of 41% was observed from CM334 cotyledon explants. Transformation optimization established 300 mg/L of cefotaxime for bacterial control, with a 72-h co-cultivation period at OD600 = 0.1. This study optimizes the protocols for chili pepper regeneration and transformation, thereby contributing to genetic improvement efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vertical indoor farming (VIF) with hydroponics offers a promising perspective for sustainable food production. Intelligent control of VIF system components plays a key role in reducing operating costs and increasing crop yields. Modern machine vision (MV) systems use deep learning (DL) in combination with camera systems for various tasks in agriculture, such as disease and nutrient deficiency detection, and flower and fruit identification and classification for pollination and harvesting. This study presents the applicability of MV technology with DL modelling to detect the growth stages of chilli plants using YOLOv8 networks. The influence of different bird's-eye view and side view datasets and different YOLOv8 architectures was analysed. To generate the image data for training and testing the YOLO models, chilli plants were grown in a hydroponic environment and imaged throughout their life cycle using four camera systems. The growth stages were divided into growing, flowering, and fruiting classes. All the trained YOLOv8 models showed reliable identification of growth stages with high accuracy. The results indicate that models trained with data from both views show better generalisation. YOLO's middle architecture achieved the best performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The SBP-box gene significantly influences plant growth, development, and stress responses, yet its function in pepper plants during drought stress remains unexplored. Using virus-induced gene silencing and overexpression strategies, we examined the role of CaSBP13 during drought stress in plants. The results revealed that the expression of CaSBP13 can be induced by drought stress. Silencing of CaSBP13 in pepper notably boosted drought resistance, as evident by decreased active oxygen levels. Furthermore, the water loss rate, relative electrical conductivity, malondialdehyde content, and stomatal density were reduced in CaSBP13-silenced plants compared to controls. In contrast, CaSBP13 overexpression in Nicotiana benthamiana decreased drought tolerance with elevated reactive oxygen levels and stomatal density. Additionally, ABA signaling pathway genes (CaPP2C, CaAREB) exhibited reduced expression levels in CaSBP13-silenced plants post drought stress, as compared to control plants. On the contrary, CaPYL9 and CaSNRK2.4 showed heightened expression in CaSBP13-sienced plants under the same conditions. However, a converse trend for NbAREB, NbSNRK2.4, and NbPYL9 was observed post-four day drought in CaSBP13-overexpression plants. These findings suggest that CaSBP13 negatively regulates drought tolerance in pepper, potentially via ROS and ABA signaling pathways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Landraces are considered a crucial component of biodiversity conservation, serving as a reservoir of genetic diversity. Consequently, the collection, cultivation, and detailed characterization of such landraces constitute an inherent aspect of the world's natural resource heritage. This effort holds promise for the development of elite varieties capable of thriving amidst continuous global climate fluctuations. In this context, we conducted a comprehensive assessment of the main agronomic attributes, physico-chemical properties, and functional quality traits of the major hot pepper landraces adapted to diverse climatic conditions in Tunisia. These landraces include 'Dhirat', 'Semmane', 'Beldi', 'Nabeul', 'Jerid', 'Mahdia', 'Cayenne', 'Kairouan', and 'Baklouti'. Most of the pepper landraces exhibited satisfactory yields, ranging from 1163.25 to 1841.67 g plant−1 in 'Jerid' and 'Kairouan', respectively, indicating robust productivity, especially under prevailing climatic changes and high temperatures during both growing cycles. The levels of antioxidants comprising capsaicinoids, carotenoids, phenolics, and tocopherols, as well as radical scavenging activity, emerged as key discriminating factors among pungent pepper landraces. Irrespective of genotype, capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin constituted the major capsaicinoids, accounting for 44–91% of the total capsaicinoids content. Total capsaicinoids ranged from 1.81 µg g−1 fw to 193.71 µg g−1 fw, with 'Baklouti' and 'Jerid' identified as the most pungent landraces. Total carotenoids ranged from 45.94 µg g−1 fw to 174.52 µg g−1 fw, with 'Semmane' and 'Jerid' exhibiting the highest levels. Considerable variation was observed in β-carotene content, spanning from 3% to 24% of the total carotenoids. α-Tocopherol content ranged from 19.03 µg g−1 fw in 'Kairouan' to 30.93 µg g−1 fw in 'Beldi', exerting a notable influence on the overall tocopherol content. Conversely, the β- and γ-tocopherol isomers were detected at very low concentrations. The total vitamin C content ranged from 132 mg 100g−1 fw in 'Mahdia' to 200 mg 100 g−1 fw in 'Nabeul', indicating relatively low genetic variability. However, large variability was detected in total phenolics content, ranging from 168.58 mg GAE kg−1 fw in 'Beldi' to 302.98 mg GAE kg−1 fw in 'Cayenne'. Landraces such as 'Dhirat', 'Nabeul', 'Semmane', 'Kairouan', 'Cayenne', and 'Mahdia' appear suitable for both fresh consumption and processing, owing to their favorable average fruit weight, soluble solids content, and bioactive content. Among the pepper landraces tested, 'Cayenne' achieved the highest value of radical scavenging activity in both hydrophilic and lipophilic fractions (RSAHF and RSALF), with variations ranging from 59% to 120% for RSAHF and from 4% to 63% for RSALF. This study aims to preserve and enhance the value of local genetic resources and contribute to identify desirable traits for incorporation into breeding programs to develop high-quality, high-yielding landraces and elite lines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most important economic crops in the world. By controlling the transport and distribution of photosynthetic products between cells and organs, sugar transporters are widely involved in growth and development, environmental adaptation, and microbial interactions. The present study was carried out at the genome-wide level to systematically characterize sugar transporters. As a result, 50 MST, 3 SUT, and 29 SWEET genes were identified and classified. The expression pattern of sugar transporters in pepper was analyzed by transcriptomic data. The expression properties of sugar transporters were further explored in pepper varieties with significant differences in weight, shape, and pungency. It was shown that the pepper sugar transporter genes had obvious spatiotemporal specific expression characteristics and exhibited variety-specific expression preferences. We focus on analyzing candidate genes that may be involved in fruit development and expansion. We further explore the response of pepper sugar transporters to adversity stress using a structural equation model. Finally, we found that the MST, SUT, and SWEET families are collectively involved in balancing pepper resistance to abiotic stress by coordinating the expression strengths of different family members. Our study may contribute to the functional study of pepper sugar transporter genes and create the prospect of utilizing sugar transporter gene resources to improve pepper variety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Capsicum species are known in food and trado-medicinal uses for maladies management due their rich content of phytochemicals, but with little work done on in silico bioprospection of its volatilome. Objectives: This study targeted chemometric profiling, virtual bioprospection of potential lead metabolites in 2 Capsicum annuum L. fruit variants' (green and red) to identify lead gyrase B inhibitors (GBIs) and provide new mechanistic insights. Methods: Metabolites were profiled using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), and quantitative phytochemical assays. Extracts antioxidant (DPPH, ABTS, FRAP) and antibacterial (susceptibility testing) activities were also determined. In silico [docking, pharmacokinetics, DFT] analyses were used to identify and predict chemical features of potential lead GBIs key to extracts molecular mechanism of action. Results: Mass spectral analysis identified hydrocarbons, fatty acid and other derivatives. Quantitative phytochemical analysis showed flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and alkaloids. The green C. annuum extract had better antioxidative action, while extracts of both green and red variant showed similar antimicrobial profiles against resistant bacterial pathogens. In silico highest docking scores were observed for [1-Ethyloctyl) cyclohexane (-6.6 kcal/mol)] and dibutyl phthalate (-6.4 kcal/mol). All lead GBIs had desirable pharmacokinetics in line with the Lipinski rule of 5, and chemical reactivity properties. Conclusion: In silico and in vitro methods combination provided robust metabolomic profiling. The identified lead C. annuum-based natural GBIs contribute to the bioactivity profile and molecular mechanism of action of fractions. The study provided a first-hand report on natural GBIs derivable from Capsicum fruits which could be exploited in formulations for non-food and pharmaceutical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catalase is a major antioxidant enzyme located in plant peroxisomes that catalyzes the decomposition of H2O2. Based on our previous transcriptomic (RNA-Seq) and proteomic (iTRAQ) data at different stages of pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) fruit ripening and after exposure to nitric oxide (NO) enriched atmosphere, a broad analysis has allowed us to characterize the functioning of this enzyme. Three genes were identified, and their expression was differentially modulated during ripening and by NO gas treatment. A dissimilar behavior was observed in the protein expression of the encoded protein catalases (CaCat1–CaCat3). Total catalase activity was down-regulated by 50% in ripe (red) fruits concerning immature green fruits. This was corroborated by non-denaturing polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, where only a single catalase isozyme was identified. In vitro analyses of the recombinant CaCat3 protein exposed to peroxynitrite (ONOO−) confirmed, by immunoblot assay, that catalase underwent a nitration process. Mass spectrometric analysis identified that Tyr348 and Tyr360 were nitrated by ONOO−, occurring near the active center of catalase. The data indicate the complex regulation at gene and protein levels of catalase during the ripening of pepper fruits, with activity significantly down-regulated in ripe fruits. Nitration seems to play a key role in this down-regulation, favoring an increase in H2O2 content during ripening. This pattern can be reversed by the exogenous NO application. While plant catalases are generally reported to be tetrameric, the analysis of the protein structure supports that pepper catalase has a favored quaternary homodimer nature. Taken together, data show that pepper catalase is down-regulated during fruit ripening, becoming a target of tyrosine nitration, which provokes its inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), along with potato and tomato, is one of the three most cultivated vegetables in the world. Bell pepper is worldwide accepted due to its characteristics of color, smell, flavor, and texture. Bell pepper is also considered a nutritious food due to its vitamin and antioxidant contents. In Mexico, bell pepper production has a high value because it is grown for the international markets, particularly the United States of America. Nevertheless, the abscission of flowers and fruits is a factor that limits the yield, hinders the planning of activities, and causes a variation in the prices of peppers. Due to the importance of this process, in this work we did a bibliometric analysis and literature review of scientific advances for the understanding of the abscission process in plants, and in particular for the bell pepper. Finally, we introduce new perspectives that would help direct future research about organ abscission in plants. Likewise, the lack of research that would further clarify abscission process in the bell pepper plant is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of melatonin (MT) treatment at varying concentrations (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 µmol L−1) on the post-harvest quality and shelf life of long green pepper fruits stored under low temperature for 28 days. Every 4 days, pepper fruits were examined for the chilling injury (CI) index, weight loss (WL), respiration rates, firmness, electrolyte leakage (EL), reactive oxygen species (ROS), malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, non-enzymatic antioxidant (NEA) content, antioxidant (AO) enzyme activity (superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and peroxidases (PODs)), and cellular degrading enzymes (polygalacturonase (PG), pectin methylesterase (PME), phospholipase D (PLD), and lipoxygenase (LOX)). MT-treated samples exhibited delayed and reduced CI stress compared to controls, with higher exogenous MT concentrations (>50 µmol L−1) offering significant (p < 0.05) CI reductions. During storage, WL was notably mitigated by MT treatment in the tested samples compared to control samples. This study also demonstrated that MT-treated pepper fruits effectively decelerated respiration rates and consequently preserved pepper firmness. A higher concentration of MT-treated pepper fruits demonstrated a significantly (p < 0.05) lowered level of ROS and MDA while maintaining membrane stability, as evidenced by reduced EL. MT treatment with increasing concentration increased the levels of glutathione (GSH), glutathione disulfide (GSSG), ascorbic acid (AsA), dehydroascorbate (DHA), and total phenolic content (TPC) in the pepper fruits compared to control and thus significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed the ROS production (superoxide anion (O2•−) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) radicals) in the pepper fruits. Furthermore, AO enzymes such as SOD, CAT, and POD were also high in the pepper fruits that were treated with higher concentrations of MT (>50 µmol L−1). Additionally, the activities of cellular degrading enzymes (PG, PME, PLD, and LOX), which are linked to senescence and stress-induced physiological disorders, were also effectively regulated by MT-treated (>75 µmol L−1) pepper fruits. Overall, the application of MT at higher concentrations (>75 µmol L−1) demonstrated substantial benefits in preserving the quality and extending the shelf life of pepper fruits during cold storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of reclaimed wastewater to irrigate crops is a valuable option due to water scarcity. However, the presence of antibiotics residues that are not removed in the tertiary treatments reaches crop soils when irrigated and it poses a serious concern for human health. Crops rhizosphere is considered a hotspot of antibiotic resistant genes (ARG) being in addition a link to plant phyllosphere and human microbiome. Understanding the structure of the soil microbiota is crucial before applying any bioremediation or biostimulation strategy. The aim of this work was firstly to confirm the presence of antibiotics residues in soil and fruits in two greenhouses at the south of Spain irrigated with reclaimed water. Secondly, to characterize the rhizosphere microbiome of three crops (Capsicum annuum, Cucumis melo and Solanum melongena) cultured in those greenhouses. Finally, a predictive functional analysis was done using PICRUSt2 to figure out the rhizosphere resistome. The presence of residues of antibiotics was confirmed both soil and fruits. Antibiotics absorbed by plants correlated with those on soil. The most abundant resistance gene was the multidrug in all the three crops tested. Compatibility of basidiomycete fungi (i.e., Pleurotus) with soil bacteria could be indicative of their possible use for restoration of agricultural soils polluted with antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pepper is a high-economic-value agricultural crop that faces diverse disease challenges such as blight and anthracnose. These diseases not only reduce the yield of pepper but, in severe cases, can also cause significant economic losses and threaten food security. The timely and accurate identification of pepper diseases is crucial. Image recognition technology plays a key role in this aspect by automating and efficiently identifying pepper diseases, helping agricultural workers to adopt and implement effective control strategies, alleviating the impact of diseases, and being of great importance for improving agricultural production efficiency and promoting sustainable agricultural development. In response to issues such as edge-blurring and the extraction of minute features in pepper disease image recognition, as well as the difficulty in determining the optimal learning rate during the training process of traditional pepper disease identification networks, a new pepper disease recognition model based on the TPSAO-AMWNet is proposed. First, an Adaptive Residual Pyramid Convolution (ARPC) structure combined with a Squeeze-and-Excitation (SE) module is proposed to solve the problem of edge-blurring by utilizing adaptivity and channel attention; secondly, to address the issue of micro-feature extraction, Minor Triplet Disease Focus Attention (MTDFA) is proposed to enhance the capture of local details of pepper leaf disease features while maintaining attention to global features, reducing interference from irrelevant regions; then, a mixed loss function combining Weighted Focal Loss and L2 regularization (WfrLoss) is introduced to refine the learning strategy during dataset processing, enhancing the model's performance and generalization capabilities while preventing overfitting. Subsequently, to tackle the challenge of determining the optimal learning rate, the tent particle snow ablation optimizer (TPSAO) is developed to accurately identify the most effective learning rate. The TPSAO-AMWNet model, trained on our custom datasets, is evaluated against other existing methods. The model attains an average accuracy of 93.52% and an F1 score of 93.15%, demonstrating robust effectiveness and practicality in classifying pepper diseases. These results also offer valuable insights for disease detection in various other crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This systematic review addresses the difficulties of cultivating under variable environmental conditions and explores the growing importance of chili peppers (Capsicum annum L.) in worldwide agriculture. It emphasizes the use of enclosed growing systems as a workable way to increase crop yields of chilies. The needs of various chilies in these systems highlighting the significance of sustainability and resource efficiency for the best possible yield, quality, and financial sustainability. Shading is a crucial tactic to mitigate the adverse effects of sunlight and high temperatures, supporting healthier plants and regular fruit development. The study also looks into greenhouse cultivation to shelter plants from the weather and achieve higher yields, better development rates, and better‐quality fruit. This thorough analysis fills a research gap, offers helpful recommendations for maximizing production, and is an invaluable tool for practitioners and scholars studying enclosed chili agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) is one of the most important vegetables cultivated under greenhouse conditions in Turkey. Salinity problems are experienced in both the soil and irrigation water in agricultural areas. For this reason, soilless cultivation in greenhouses is increasing and important, meaning that salinity control must be conducted more effectively. The increase in soilless agriculture practices and salinity problems should be investigated and studies should be carried out to propose solutions to the problems experienced. In this study, the effects of different salinity levels and leaching fractions on the plant growth, yield, quality and water consumption of pepper grown in soilless cultures were determined. The experiment was carried out over four growing periods across two years. The adopted experimental design was a randomized split-plot design with three replications. Pepper plants were grown in a perlite and cocopeat mixture in 144 pots. The volume of the pots was 8 L and the pots were filled with a mixture of 4 L of perlite and 4 L of cocopeat. The plants were fed with a complete nutrient solution and their EC levels were used as the control treatment (S1: the EC value of the control was 1.4–1.5 dS m−1). The electrical conductivities of the solution in the other three treatments were increased to 2 (S2), 4 (S3) and 6 (S4) dS m−1 above the control by adding NaCl. We attempted to achieve two different leaching fractions (LR: leaching ratio) by means of weekly measurements, with 15–20% (LR1) or 35–40% (LR2) being applied at each salinity level. According to our results, there was no significant difference between the leaching fractions with respect to yield in any of the four growing seasons, but the yield decreased with the increase in salinity. The difference between the salinity level treatments and their interactions between the subjects was generally significant for the production periods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bell pepper fruits (Capsicum annuum L.) are prone to both physiological and pathological deterioration following harvest, primarily due to their high metabolic activity and water content. The storage of bell peppers presents several challenges, including weight loss, softening, alterations in fruit metabolites and color, increased decay, and a decline in marketability. The application of edible coatings (ECs) is one of the environmentally friendly technologies that improves many post‐harvest quantitative and qualitative characteristics of products. This research investigated the impact of different levels of gum tragacanth (GT) coating (0, 0.25, 0.5, 1, and 2%) on the physiological and biochemical traits of stored bell pepper fruits (BPFs) (8 ± 1°C, 90–95% RH) for 28 days. The results showed the positive effect of coating treatments with higher concentrations of GT, up to 1%. Increasing the concentration of GT to 2% decreased the marketability and quality characteristics of fruits compared to 1% GT. After storage, the physiological weight loss of the fruits treated with 1% GT (10.46%) was lower than that of the uncoated fruits (18.92%). Furthermore, the coated fruits (1% GT) had more firmness, total phenol content, ascorbic acid, and titratable acidity content than uncoated fruits during storage. At the end of storage, the coated BPFs with 1% GT showed higher SOD (97.02 U g−1), CAT (24.38 U g−1) and POD (0.11 U g−1) activities and antioxidant capacity (81.74%) as compared to other treatments. Total soluble solids, total carbohydrates, total carotenoids, pH, malondialdehyde, and electrolyte leakage content increased in coated fruit during storage but were significantly lower than in uncoated fruits. Moreover, the samples coated with GT (1%) maintained good marketability (about 75%), while the marketability of the control (about 40%) was unacceptable. The study shows that GT (1%) coating can be a promising novel treatment option for increasing the storage quality of BPFs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Capsicum annuum is one of the oldest domesticated crops in the Americas, which is also the most widely grown spice crop in the world. The complete chloroplast genome of C. annuum has been assembled and annotated in this paper. Its length was 156,781 bp, containing a large single-copy region of 87,367 bp, a small single-copy region of 17,850 bp, and a pair of IR regions of 25,782 bp in each. The whole chloroplast genome of C. annuum contains 135 genes, including 89 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 38 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and 8 ribosome RNA genes (rRNAs). The overall nucleotide composition is: A of 30.8%, T of 31.5%, C of 19.1% and G of 18.6%, with a total GC content of the chloroplast genome 37.7% and AT of 62.3%. Phylogenetic relationship analysis was based on 10 plant species using the maximum-likelihood (ML) methods, which showed that the position of C. annuum clustered with C. galapagoense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phytoplasma-like symptoms of leaf yellowing and calyx malformation were observed in eggplant (Solanum melongena L.), upward leaves and fruit malformation in pepper (Capsicum annuum L.), and aerial tuber formation in potato (S. tuberosum L.) during the survey performed in the late season (August to September) of 2015 and 2016 in Van province (Turkey). A total of 100 samples were tested by nested-PCR using universal primer pairs to assess the sanitary status of the solanaceous crops and to characterise the phytoplasma isolates. Among them, seven samples resulted in a 1.25 kb DNA fragment, and five (two eggplants, two peppers, and one potato) were molecularly characterised (Accession No.: KY579357, KT595210, MF564267, MF564266, and MH683601). BLAST and the virtual restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of 16S rRNA genes revealed the presence of two distinct phytoplasma infections in solanaceous crops: 'Candidatus Phytoplasma trifolii' a member of the clover proliferation group (16SrVI) and subgroup A and 'Candidatus P. solani' a member of the stolbur group (16SrXII) and subgroup A. The virtual RFLP analysis and calculated coefficients of RFLP pattern similarities further revealed a remarkable genetic diversity among the 'Candidatus P. solani' isolates infecting pepper (similarity coefficient of 0.90) and eggplant (similarity coefficients of 0.98 and 1.00) at the same geographical area. This is the first report of the natural occurrence of 'Candidadtus P. trifolii' in potato from the Eastern Anatolia region, Turkey. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Salinity stress is one of the important factors affecting all growth processes, from seed germination to seedling development, plant growth, yield and quality. In this study, the effects of serotonin treatments on the germination of pepper seeds (Capsicum annum L.) under salt stress were investigated. Different doses of salt (0, 75 and 150 mM NaCl) and serotonin (S0:0 µM, S1:5 µM, S2:10 µM, S3:15 µM, S4: 20 µM) were used. The applied seeds were placed between the papers in petri dishes, watered with the prepared salt solutions and left to germinate at 25 °C. In the study, parameters related to germination percentage, germination speed, mean germination time, daily mean germination time, peak value and germination value were investigated. As a result of the research, it was determined that the germination of pepper seeds decreased in parallel with increasing salt concentrations, and this negative effect of salt stress decreased with serotonin applications. Although it changes depending on the serotonin doses, it has been observed that significant effects occur on the measured germination parameters, and the best germination was observed at S1 and S2 doses. It is thought that the application of serotonin will have positive effects on the germination of pepper seeds under salt stress, and these effects may also occur during the plant growth period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND During the last few years, a growing number of antimicrobial peptides have been isolated from plants and particularly from seeds. Recent results from our laboratory have shown the purification of a new trypsin inhibitor, named CaTI, from chilli pepper ( Capsicum annuum L.) seeds. This study aims to evaluate the antifungal activity and mechanism of action of CaTI on phytopathogenic fungi and detect the presence of protease inhibitors in other species of this genus. RESULTS Our results show that CaTI can inhibit the growth of the phytopathogenic fungi Colletotrichum gloeosporioides and C. lindemuthianum. CaTI can also permeabilize the membrane of all tested fungi. When testing the inhibitor on its ability to induce reactive oxygen species, an induction of reactive oxygen species ( ROS) and nitric oxide ( NO) particularly in Fusarium species was observed. Using CaTI coupled to fluorescein isothiocyanate ( FITC), it was possible to determine the presence of the inhibitor inside the hyphae of the Fusarium oxysporum fungus. The search for protease inhibitors in other Capsicum species revealed their presence in all tested species. CONCLUSION This paper shows the antifungal activity of protease inhibitors such as CaTI against phytopathogenic fungi. Antimicrobial peptides, among which the trypsin protease inhibitor family stands out, are present in different species of the genus Capsicum and are part of the chemical arsenal that plants use to defend themselves against pathogens. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]