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Plant genetic transformation is a crucial step for applying biotechnology such as genome editing to basic and applied plant science research. Its success primarily relies on the efficiency of gene delivery into plant cells and the ability to regenerate transgenic plants. In this study, we have examined the effect of several developmental regulators (DRs), including PLETHORA (PLT5), WOUND INDUCED DEDIFFERENTIATION 1 (WIND1), ENHANCED SHOOT REGENERATION (ESR1), WUSHEL (WUS) and a fusion of WUS and BABY-BOOM (WUS-P2A-BBM), on in planta transformation through injection of Agrobacterium tumefaciens in snapdragons (Antirrhinum majus). The results showed that PLT5, WIND1 and WUS promoted in planta transformation of snapdragons. An additional test of these three DRs on tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) further demonstrated that the highest in planta transformation efficiency was observed from PLT5. PLT5 promoted calli formation and regeneration of transformed shoots at the wound positions of aerial stems, and the transgene was stably inherited to the next generation in snapdragons. Additionally, PLT5 significantly improved the shoot regeneration and transformation in two Brassica cabbage varieties (Brassica rapa) and promoted the formation of transgenic calli and somatic embryos in sweet pepper (Capsicum annum) through in vitro tissue culture. Despite some morphological alternations, viable seeds were produced from the transgenic Bok choy and snapdragons. Our results have demonstrated that manipulation of PLT5 could be an effective approach for improving in planta and in vitro transformation efficiency, and such a transformation system could be used to facilitate the application of genome editing or other plant biotechnology application in modern agriculture.

Solanaceae have important economic value mainly due to their edible fruits. Physalis organ size 1/cytokinin response factor 3 (POS1/CRF3), a unique gene in Solanaceae, is involved in fruit size variation in Physalis but not in Solanum. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we found that POS1/CRF3 was likely created via the fusion of CRF7 and CRF8 duplicates. Multiple genetic manipulations revealed that only POS1 and Capsicum POS1 (CaPOS1) functioned in fruit size control via the positive regulation of cell expansion. Comparative studies in a phylogenetic framework showed the directional enhancement of POS1-like expression in the flowers and fruits of Physaleae and the specific gain of certain interacting proteins associated with cell expansion by POS1 and CaPOS1. A lineage-specific single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) caused the 68th amino acid histidine in the POS1 orthologs of non-Physaleae (Nicotiana and Solanum) to change to arginine in Physaleae (Physalis and Capsicum). Substituting the arginine in Physaleae POS1-like by histidine completely abolished their function in the fruits and the protein-protein interaction (PPI) with calreticulin-3. Transcriptomic comparison revealed the potential downstream pathways of POS1, including the brassinosteroid biosynthesis pathway. However, POS1-like may have functioned ancestrally in abiotic stress within Solanaceae. Our work demonstrated that heterometric expression and a SNP caused a single amino acid change to establish new PPIs, which contributed to the co-option of POS1 in multiple regulatory pathways to regulate cell expansion and thus fruit size in Physaleae. These results provide new insights into fruit morphological evolution and fruit yield control.

Chili is hygroscopic and needs a fast-drying method before feeding into pulverizers. The far-infrared radiation (FIR) roasting technique provides various benefits, such as higher drying rates within a short duration, reduction of mycotoxins, and improvement in the textural quality of agricultural produce. In addition, thin-layer modeling supports understanding the drying kinetics of agricultural produce. Therefore, the objective of this research was to study the thin-layer drying characteristics and color of whole chili pod and its components (i.e. seeds, pedicel, and placenta) of sun-dried chili during FIR roasting. The samples were dried at 7.76 μm (100 °C), 6.12 μm (200 °C), 5.056 μm (300 °C), and 4.30 μm (400 °C) by exposing them to FIR in a single layer and the drying kinetics were studied using the Midilli model. Further, the color variation during FIR roasting was studied.FIR roasting of chili pods and their components (i.e. seeds, pedicel, and placenta) shows a falling rate drying period at each wavelength. The moisture content decreased with decreasing FIR wavelength. The ∆E values for pods, pedicel, and placenta were increased during FIR roasting. The Midilli model results in RFIR technology can be implemented to roast chili pods and their components (i.e. seeds, pedicel, and placenta) within a short period. Further, the application of FIR for roasting purposes desirably increases the color variation. The Midilli model can effectively describe the drying kinetics of the chili pods and their components during FIR roasting. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

CaWRKY40 in pepper (Capsicum annuum) promotes immune responses to Ralstonia solanacearum infection (RSI) and to high-temperature, high-humidity (HTHH) stress, but how it interacts with upstream signalling components remains poorly understood. Here, using approaches of reverse genetics, biochemical and molecular biology we functionally characterised the relationships among the WRKYGMK-containing WRKY protein CaWRKY27b, the calcium-dependent protein kinase CaCDPK29, and CaWRKY40 during pepper response to RSI or HTHH. Our data indicate that CaWRKY27b is upregulated and translocated from the cytoplasm to the nucleus upon phosphorylation of Ser137 in the nuclear localisation signal by CaCDPK29. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays and microscale thermophoresis, we observed that, due to the replacement of Q by M in the conserved WRKYGQK, CaWRKY27b in the nucleus failed to bind to W-boxes in the promoters of immunity- and thermotolerance-related marker genes. Instead, CaWRKY27b interacted with CaWRKY40 and promoted its binding and positive regulation of the tested marker genes including CaNPR1, CaDEF1 and CaHSP24. Notably, mutation of the WRKYGMK motif in CaWRKY27b to WRKYGQK restored the W-box binding ability. Our data therefore suggest that CaWRKY27b is phosphorylated by CaCDPK29 and acts as a transcriptional activator of CaWRKY40 during the pepper response to RSI and HTHH.

Background Environmental conditions affect the quality of the fruits and their organoleptic properties. In low-tech greenhouses, these environmental conditions are frequently not optimal for crops. Therefore, the present study demonstrates the effects of the use of an integrated passive heating and cooling system in a greenhouse located in the Mediterranean area on the quality of pepper fruits. Results The results indicate that the passive system utilized (i) improved many parameters, such as average weight of fruits, °Brix, glucose and fructose content, and P and K content; (ii) increased the values of b* and hab *; and (iii) reduced total phenolic compounds, total amino acids content, and Fe and Zn content. However, the degree of the effect of the climatic factors on these parameters was also affected by harvest time. Conclusion This novel study highlights the possibility of improving the nutritional quality of pepper fruits by modifying the environmental conditions through the use of passive heating and cooling systems at the same time as reducing the carbon footprint. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

This study aimed to evaluate the role of spices/spice active principles on physical, biochemical, and molecular targets of bioaccessibility/bioavailability. Carotenoids-rich micellar fraction obtained through simulated digestion of green leafy vegetables (GLV) with individual or two/three combinations were correlated to their influence on bioaccessibility, cellular uptake, and basolateral secretion of carotenoids in Caco-2 cells. Results suggest that carotenoids' bioaccessibility depends on micelles physicochemical properties, which is affected due to the presence of co-treated dietary spices and their composition. Increased bioaccessibility of β-carotene (BC) and lutein (LUT) is found in GLV (spinach) digested with turmeric (TM) than red pepper (RP) and black pepper (BP). In contrast, enhanced cellular uptake and secretion of BC and LUT-rich triglyceride-rich lipoprotein is observed in the presence of RP and BP compared to the control group. In contrast, TM inhibited absorption, while retinol levels significantly reduced in the presence of TM and RP than BP. Control cells have indicated higher cleavage of β-carotene to retinol than the spice-treated group. Besides, spice active principles modulate facilitated transport of carotenoids by scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-B1) protein. The effect of spices on carotenoids' bioavailability is validated with active spice principles. Overall, carotenoids' bioavailability (cellular uptake and basolateral secretion) was found in the following order of treatments; piperine > capsaicin > piperine + capsaicin > curcumin + capsaicin + piperine > control > turmeric. These findings suggested that the interaction of specific dietary factors, including spice ingredients at the enterocyte level, could provide greater insight into carotenoid absorption. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: Spices/spice active principles play a role in the digestion process by stimulating digestive enzymes and bile acids secretion. Since carotenoids are lipid soluble and have low bioavailability, spice ingredients' influence on intestinal absorption of carotenoids is considered crucial. Hence, understanding the interaction of co-consumed spices on the absorption process of carotenoids may help to develop functional foods/formulation of nutraceuticals to improve their health benefits.

This study was conducted to investigate whether the combination of garlic oil and cooked chilli oil is worth using for pigeon production in the context of a total ban on antibiotics in feed additives in China. Two hundred female white king pigeons aged 23 days were randomly divided into five groups with ten replicates (four birds each). In the 47 days trial, the control group was fed with a basal diet, treatment groups were given a basal diet supplemented with 20 mg/kg neomycin sulphate or 2 g/kg corresponding oil (garlic oil or cooked chilli oil or their mixture) respectively. The mixed oil showed obvious antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacterium and its minimal bactericidal concentration against St. aureus, Salmonella and Escherichia coli were all no more than 1.0 mg/ml. In the feeding experiment, pigeons feed with garlic oil with strong bacteriostatic activity had lower FCR and better protein metabolism, and chilli oil showed strong effects of promoting feed intake and weight gain on pigeons but increased serum glucose and lipid content. Compared with the control and the antibiotic group, the mixed oil got increased growth performance, less drip loss of meat, better protein metabolism promoting, and more complete intestinal structure of pigeon. In addition, the breast meat in the mixed oil group had higher total points in the sensory test. The mixed oil combined the strong bacteriostasis of garlic oil with the feeding promotion effect of cooked chilli oil, it improved the comprehensive performance of pigeons and had the feasibility to be popularized as a non-antibiotic strategy in pigeon production.

Induction of the abscisic acid (ABA) signalling network is associated with various stress conditions, including cold, high salinity and drought. As core ABA signalling components, group A type 2C protein phosphatases (PP2Cs) interact with and inhibit snf1-related protein kinase2s. Here, we isolated and characterised the pepper mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase CaADIK1, which interacts with the group A PP2C CaADIP1. CaADIK1 transcripts were induced by abiotic stresses, and CaADIK1 localised in the nucleus and cytoplasm. We verified that CaADIP1 inhibits the autokinase activity of CaADIK1; moreover, the kinase activity of CaADIK1 is enhanced by drought stress. We performed genetic analysis using CaADIK1-silenced pepper and CaADIK1-overexpressing (OX) Arabidopsis plants. CaADIK1-silenced pepper plants showed drought-sensitive phenotypes, whereas CaADIK1-OX Arabidopsis plants showed ABA-sensitive and drought-tolerant phenotypes. In CaADIK1K32N -OX Arabidopsis plants mutated at the ATP-binding site, the ABA-insensitive and drought-sensitive phenotypes were restored. Taken together, our findings show that CaADIK1 positively regulates the ABA-dependent drought stress response and is inhibited by CaADIP1.

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant hormone that activates adaptive mechanisms to environmental stress conditions. Plant adaptive mechanisms are complex and highly modulated processes induced by stress-responsive proteins; however, the precise mechanisms by which these processes function under adverse conditions remain unclear. Here, we isolated CaUBP12 (Capsicum annuum ubiquitin-specific protease 12) from pepper (C. annuum) leaves. We show that CaUBP12 expression is significantly induced after exposure to abiotic stress treatments. We conducted loss-of-function and gain-of-function genetic studies to elucidate the biological functions of CaUBP12 in response to ABA and dehydration stress. CaUBP12-silenced pepper plants and CaUBP12-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants displayed dehydration-sensitive and dehydration-tolerant phenotypes, respectively; these phenotypes were characterized by regulation of transpirational water loss and stomatal aperture. Under dehydration stress conditions, CaUBP12-silenced pepper plants and CaUBP12-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants exhibited lower and higher expression levels of stress-related genes, respectively, than the control plants. We isolated a CaUBP12 interaction protein, CaSnRK2.6, which is a homolog of Arabidopsis OST1; degradation of this protein was partially inhibited by CaUBP12. Similar to CaUBP12-silenced pepper plants and CaUBP12-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants, CaSnRK2.6-silenced pepper plants and CaSnRK2.6-overexpressing Arabidopsis displayed dehydration-sensitive and dehydration-tolerant phenotypes, respectively. Our findings suggest that CaUBP12 positively modulates the dehydration stress response by suppressing CaSnRK2.6 protein degradation.

BACKGROUND Two Fusarium fungi, F. oxysporum and F. proliferatum, have been recognized as major pathogenic fungi that cause postharvest decay of chili fruits. Ozone and some toxic chemicals are used to control pathogenic infections, leading to longer storage lives of agricultural commodities. However, these chemicals may pose some risks to the applicators and the environment. Therefore, alternative, easy-to-use fumigants for effective control of Fusarium infections in harvested fresh chilies are needed. RESULTS Two endophytic fungi, Trichoderma afroharzianum strain MFLUCC19-0090 and T. afroharzianum strain MFLUCC19-0091, were isolated from Schefflera leucantha leaves. Their volatile compounds were investigated for antifungal activities against F. oxysporum and F. proliferatum. In vitro results showed that the volatile compounds produced by each strain inhibited pathogen growth. Additionally, the Trichoderma-derived volatile compounds significantly reduced Fusarium-related disease severity and incidence percentages in the inoculated fresh chilies. Antifungal properties of the volatile compounds were found to be specific to the species of the tested pathogens (MFLUCC19-0090 greatly suppressed F. oxysporum and MFLUCC19-0091 greatly suppressed F. proliferatum). Seventy-three volatile compounds were detected from both strains. Among the major volatile compounds detected, phenyl ethyl alcohol was found to possess the strongest antifungal activity against both pathogens. CONCLUSION These Trichoderma-derived volatile compounds may be used as alternative fumigants for controlling Fusarium rot in harvested fresh chilies. The successful use of volatile compounds as biofumigants can prevent significant market losses and, more importantly, may reduce the health hazards caused by Fusarium-associated mycotoxin exposures among consumers. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.

Background Larvae of many hoverfly species prey upon aphids, whereas the adults, by relying on nectar and pollen, contribute to the pollination of many plant species. Despite their great potential for pest control and pollination, important gaps still exist regarding the efficacy of hoverflies in regulating infestations of major aphid pests in augmentative biological control programs. Here, we tested the potential of the commercially available hoverflies Eupeodes corollae and Sphaerophoria rueppellii to regulate populations of the foxglove aphid Aulacorthum solani in sweet pepper. Results In a semi-field experiment, aphid numbers were 93.2% and 78.4% lower in the E. corollae and S. rueppellii treatments, respectively, compared to the control. Fruit yield was increased by 390% and 361% and seed set by 395% and 399% for E. corollae and S. rueppellii. In a separate laboratory trial, we found that under conditions of limited prey, hoverfly larvae did not complete development, but that larvae of S. rueppellii survived significantly longer than larvae of E. corollae. Conclusion We have shown for the first time that E. corollae and S. rueppellii can reduce infestations of foxglove aphid in sweet pepper. The limited amount of prey, related to the small size of the A. solani colonies, means that hoverfly larvae were often not able to complete development. In practice, repeated releases of hoverflies possibly in combination with other natural enemies might be used to achieve effective suppression of A. solani infestations. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Background As a Chinese traditional flavor condiment, Pixian Douban (PXDB) is produced using a traditional open fermentation process. In this study, an experimental fermentation of PXDB was conducted at 40 °C for 90 days in a closed system, which has not been applied to PXDB production. The flavor, microbial community and correlations of the samples in the closed system were compared with those in the traditional fermentation. Results The content of organic acids and free amino acids in the closed fermentation of constant temperature (CFCT) achieved the standards of product quality, although they were lower than those in the traditional fermentation. Of the 140 detected aroma components, 98 were shared in the two fermentation processes. Enterobacter, Bacteroides and Megamonas were the core microbial genera related to 26 flavor components in the traditional fermentation, while Pantoea was the core microbial genus related to 18 flavor components in CFCT. The CFCT has its own unique advantages over traditional fermentation in forming aromas. It produced a greater impact on the succession of fungi than those of bacteria after changing traditional fermentation to CFCT. The influence of microorganisms on the formation of flavor components was relatively more balanced in CFCT, while the changed fermentation process impacted greatly on the functions of Zygosaccharomomyces and Pichia but little on those of Sphingomonas, Megamonas and Parabacteroides. Conclusion The study indicated that it was feasible to ferment PXDB in the closed system, and provides a basis to realize controllable PXDB production. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.

We report here a detailed analysis of the proteome adjustments that accompany chromoplast differentiation from chloroplasts during bell-pepper fruit ripening. While the two photosystems are disassembled and their constituents degraded, the cytochrome b6f complex, the ATPase complex as well as Calvin cycle enzymes are maintained at high levels up to fully mature chromoplasts. This is also true for ferredoxin (Fd) and Fd-dependent NADP reductase, suggesting that ferredoxin retains a central role in the chromoplasts redox metabolism. There is a significant increase in the amount of enzymes of the typical metabolism of heterotrophic plastids such as the oxidative pentose phosphate pathway (OPPP), amino acid and fatty acid biosynthesis. Enzymes of chlorophyll catabolism and carotenoid biosynthesis increase in abundance, supporting the pigment reorganization that goes together with chromoplast differentiation. The majority of plastid encoded proteins declines but constituents of the plastid ribosome and AccD increase in abundance. Furthermore, the amount of plastid terminal oxidase (PTOX) remains unchanged despite a significant increase in phytoene desaturase (PDS) levels, suggesting that the electrons from phytoene desaturation may be consumed by another oxidase. This may be a particularity of non-climacteric fruits such as bell pepper, that lack a respiratory burst at the onset of fruit ripening.

Long-term storage of chili pepper powder results in physicochemical and microbiological changes that decrease its commercial value; these changes occur owing to fungal growth and production of off-flavor compounds. Herein, long-term-stored chili pepper powder (LSCPP) and fresh chili pepper powder (FCPP) were analyzed using internal transcribed spacer sequencing and volatile organic compound fingerprinting by headspace capillary-gas chromatography-ion mobility spectrometry. Fungal analysis detected only Xeromyces bisporus with high accuracy in all the analyzed LSCPP samples. However, the proliferation of X. bisporus on nonspecific spots complicated the distinguishing process between the two groups based solely on fungal analysis. Therefore, nine compounds (three ketones, one alcohol, two aldehydes, one ester, one furan, and one sulfur compound) obtained by autoxidation and fungal metabolism were selected as potential markers for distinguishing LSCPP and FCPP. These above-mentioned substances, which were confirmed as off-flavor species owing to "stale" odor, emitted lipid fragrance and were used to successfully distinguish LSCPP from FCPP using principal component analysis and linear discriminant analysis. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: According to the research results, it was possible to discriminate between long-term stored and fresh chili pepper powders using nine VOC markers for quality control in industry. In addition, the fungus generated from long-term storage of chili pepper powder was Xeromyces bisporus, which was confirmed to be safe for intake because it does not form secondary toxic metabolites.

CaWRKY40 was previously found to be transcriptionally up‐regulated by Ralstonia solanacearum inoculation (RSI) or heat stress (HS), but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Herein, we report that a double‐W box‐element (DWE) in the promoter of CaWRKY40 is critical for these responses. The upstream W box unit WI of this composite element is crucial for preferential binding by CaWRKY40 and responsiveness to RSI or HS. DWE‐driven CaWRKY40 can be transcriptionally and nonspecifically regulated by itself and by CaWRKY58 and CaWRKY27. The DWE was also found in the promoters of CaWRKY40 orthologs, including AtWRKY40, VvWRKY40, GmWRKY40, CplWRKY40, SaWRKY40, SpWRKY40, NtWRKY40, and NaWRKY40. DWEAtWRKY40 was analogous to DWECaWRKY40 by responding to RSI or HS and AtWRKY40 expression. These data suggest that a conserved response of plants to pathogen infection or HS is probably mediated by binding of the DWE by WRKY40., Our study reports that a conserved response of plants to pathogen infection or heat shock is probably mediated by the binding of the double‐W box to WRKY40.

Plant diseases bear names such as leaf blights, root rots, sheath blights, tuber scabs, and stem cankers, indicating that symptoms occur preferentially on specific parts of host plants. Accordingly, many plant pathogens are specialized to infect and cause disease in specific tissues and organs. Conversely, others are able to infect a range of tissues, albeit often disease symptoms fluctuate in different organs infected by the same pathogen. The structural specificity of a pathogen defines the degree to which it is reliant on a given tissue, organ, or host developmental stage. It is influenced by both the microbe and the host but the processes shaping it are not well established. Here we review the current status on structural specificity of plant–filamentous pathogen interactions and highlight important research questions. Notably, this review addresses how constitutive defence and induced immunity as well as virulence processes vary across plant organs, tissues, and even cells. A better understanding of the mechanisms underlying structural specificity will aid targeted approaches for plant health, for instance by considering the variation in the nature and the amplitude of defence responses across distinct plant organs and tissues when performing selective breeding., Do plant resistance and pathogen virulence differ between organs, tissues, or even cell types? Many aspects of structural specificity are exposed in this review, as well as unknown elements that remain to be elucidated.

This article describes a possible combination of two promising fields of analytical chemistry-the preparation of sol-gel matrices with varying additives and their application in capillary electrochromatography. The inner surfaces of capillaries were coated with the sol-gel solution containing either pure synthetic chemical additive-alliin or capsaicin-or an extract of their natural sources-garlic and chilli pepper, respectively. The modified capillaries were tested for interaction with two neurotransmitters, oligopeptides and nucleotides under conditions of open-tubular capillary electrochromatography. Because both of the natural extracts also contain vitamin C and saccharose, the capillaries with sol-gel modifiers containing each of these substances were also tested. The obtained results from the perspective of changes in the electrochromatograms and the effective mobilities of analytes are discussed with respect to mild conditions both in the preparation process of the sol-gel matrix and during the separations.

The aim of this study was to optimize the drying conditions (pretreatments and drying temperatures) of red bell pepper to obtain red bell pepper powder (RBP) with maximum bioactive retention and assess its potential use as a functional ingredient in bread. The RBP pretreated (blanching + dipping in ascorbic and citric acid solution) and dried at 60 °C retained the highest bioactive compounds. Wheat flour blends were prepared with RBP at 0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8%, and 10% level of incorporation and among hydration properties, water absorption increased with increasing levels. The prepared breads were assayed for physical, nutritional, bioactive, and sensory characteristics. Bread supplementation with RBP improves its color, mineral, fiber, and bioactive properties. However, the texture of bread becomes hard with the increased level of RBP due to a decrease in specific volume. The significant increment was recorded for bioactive compounds, such as total phenols, antioxidant activity, flavonoids, and carotenoids as the level of powder increased. Bread enriched with 6% RBP showed highest sensory scores (8.45) and index of acceptability (87.83%) as compared to other breads. Thus, RBP acts as a valuable supplement for developing bread with improved nutritional and bioactive constituents. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study describes the effect of different pretreatments and drying temperatures for processing of RBP as a functional ingredient in bread, being a staple food around the world. RBP powder is a novel ingredient that improved the nutritional, bioactive, and appearance of bread. Hence, it will be helpful in the utilization of perishable crops like bell pepper and will demonstrate its commercial viability to improve the nutritive value of bakery products.

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is one of the most devastating plant viruses and often causes severe crop losses worldwide. Generally, mature plants become more resistant to pathogens, known as adult plant resistance. In this study, we demonstrated a new phenomenon involving developmentally regulated susceptibility of Arabidopsis thaliana to TSWV. We found that Arabidopsis plants become more susceptible to TSWV as plants mature. Most young 3‐week‐old Arabidopsis were not infected by TSWV. Infection of TSWV in 4‐, 5‐, and 6‐week‐old Arabidopsis increased from 9%, 21%, and 25%, respectively, to 100% in 7‐ to 8‐week‐old Arabidopsis plants. Different isolates of TSWV and different tospoviruses show a low rate of infection in young Arabidopsis but a high rate in mature plants. When Arabidopsis dcl2/3/4 or rdr1/2/6 mutant plants were inoculated with TSWV, similar results as observed for the wild‐type Arabidopsis plants were obtained. A cell‐to‐cell movement assay showed that the intercellular movement efficiency of TSWV NSm:GFP fusion was significantly higher in 8‐week‐old Arabidopsis leaves compared with 4‐week‐old Arabidopsis leaves. Moreover, the expression levels of pectin methylesterase and β‐1,3‐glucanase, which play critical roles in macromolecule cell‐to‐cell trafficking, were significantly up‐regulated in 8‐week‐old Arabidopsis leaves compared with 4‐week‐old Arabidopsis leaves during TSWV infection. To date, this mature plant susceptibility to pathogen infections has rarely been investigated. Thus, the findings presented here should advance our knowledge on the developmentally regulated mature host susceptibility to plant virus infection., Generally, mature plants become more resistance to pathogens. In this study we demonstrated a developmentally regulated mature host susceptibility to tomato spotted wilt virus infection in Arabidopsis.

The gram‐positive bacterial species Clavibacter capsici causes necrosis and canker in pepper plants. Genomic and functional analyses of C. capsici type strain PF008 have shown that multiple virulence genes exist in its two plasmids. We aimed to identify the key determinants that control the virulence of C. capsici. Pepper leaves inoculated with 54 natural isolates exhibited significant variation in the necrosis. Six isolates showed very low virulence, but their population titres in plants were not significantly different from those of the highly virulent isolates. All six isolates lacked the pCM1Cc plasmid that carries chpG, which has been shown to be required for virulence and encodes a putative serine protease, but two of them, isolates 1,106 and 1,207, had the intact chpG elsewhere in the genome. Genomic analysis of these two isolates revealed that chpG was located in the pCM2Cc plasmid, and two highly homologous regions were present next to the chpG locus. The chpG expression in isolate 1,106 was not induced in plants. Introduction of chpG of the PF008 strain into the six low‐virulence isolates restored their virulence to that of PF008. Our findings indicate that there are at least three different variant groups of C. capsici and that the plasmid composition and the chpG gene are critical for determining the virulence level. Moreover, our findings also indicate that the virulence level of C. capsici does not directly correlate with bacterial titres in plants., Natural isolates of the gram‐positive bacterium Clavibacter capsici show different levels of virulence in pepper due to different plasmid composition and the chpG gene, encoding a putative serine protease.

Background A spicy ethnic food with strong flavor, such as Kimchi (Korean traditional fermented vegetable dish), may not be well-accepted by foreign consumers on the first trial, but liking can be acquired if exposed frequently. This study was conducted to understand how spiciness and fish sauce flavor impact American consumers' perception and acceptance of Kimchi. Thirteen untrained American panelists performed a flash profiling evaluating six Kimchi samples with different levels of red pepper and fish sauce. American consumers (n = 96) participated in a consumer study during which their acceptance for the same samples, along with their consumption habits, were evaluated. Results Ratings of perceived spiciness and liking increased as the concentration of red pepper increased, while these attributes were less affected by the level of fish sauce tested. Consumers were segmented into four clusters: general Kimchi likers (30%), spicy Kimchi likers (10%), mild Kimchi dislikers (45%), and spicy and strong-flavored Kimchi dislikers (15%). This segmentation showed a significant impact of previous experiences tasting authentic Kimchi. Conclusion Stronger spiciness in Kimchi is preferred by American consumers, while absence or addition of fish sauce did not influence their acceptance. Previous experience with Kimchi and a liking for spicy foods that had been already established seem to be associated with their liking for the spicier Kimchi. It is suggested that an authentic Kimchi experience further differentiated the preference pattern for Kimchi with varying levels of spiciness and fish sauce flavor. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Plant protection products (PPPs) undergo rigorous regulatory assessment to ensure that they do not pose unacceptable risks to the environment. Elucidation of their fate and behavior in soil is an integral part of this environmental risk assessment. The active substance degradation in soil of PPPs is first assessed in laboratory studies (typically following Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development [OECD] test guideline 307). Conditions in guideline laboratory studies are far removed from those occurring under agricultural use, and the contribution of crop roots has currently not been assessed. We integrated viable plant root systems, representative of 3 different crop types, into the OECD test guideline 307 design to assess their impact on the dissipation of the herbicide prometryn. Significantly faster decline of parent residue and higher formation of nonextractable residues were observed in all 3 planted systems. This led to a reduction in the time required for 50% of the compound to dissipate (DT50) of approximately one-half in the presence of rye grass and hot pepper and of approximately one-third in the presence of red clover. These findings imply that plants and their associated root networks can have a significant influence on PPP dissipation. Based on these data, greater environmental realism could be added to the standardized laboratory study design by the inclusion of plant root systems into higher tier studies, which, in turn, could serve to improve the environmental risk assessment process. Environ Toxicol Chem 2020;39:450-457. © 2019 SETAC.

While the adverse effects of elevated salinity levels on leaf gas exchange in many crops are not in dispute, representing such effects on leaf photosynthetic rates (A) continues to draw research attention. Here, an optimization model for stomatal conductance (gc ) that maximizes A while accounting for mesophyll conductance (gm ) was used to interpret new leaf gas exchange measurements collected for five irrigation water salinity levels. A function between chloroplastic CO2 concentration (cc ) and intercellular CO2 concentration (ci ) modified by salinity stress to estimate gm was proposed. Results showed that with increased salinity, the estimated gm and maximum photosynthetic capacity were both reduced, whereas the marginal water use efficiency λ increased linearly. Adjustments of gm , λ and photosynthetic capacity were shown to be consistent with a large corpus of drought-stress experiments. The inferred model parameters were then used to evaluate the combined effects of elevated salinity and atmospheric CO2 concentration (ca ) on leaf gas exchange. For a given salinity level, increasing ca increased A linearly, but these increases were accompanied by mild reductions in gc and transpiration. The ca level needed to ameliorate A reductions due to increased salinity is also discussed using the aforementioned model calculations.

Limited information is available on the performance of plant growth-promoting inoculants or bioproducts under different soil nutritional or fertility conditions. Consequently, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of a commercially available Bacillus-containing bioproduct, Microlife Abundance, at concentrations of 5.5 and 6.5 log cfu/ml on early growth, fertilizer use-efficiency, and fruit yield of bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) under two different soil fertility conditions (25% and 100% recommended N rates). Two pot experiments were conducted with bell pepper: (a) a 4-week-long early growth test with inoculant treatments applied once at transplanting; and (b) a 13-week-long yield test with inoculant treatments applied at transplanting and again at first blossom-set. Results from the early growth test indicated that at both N fertilization levels, applying Abundance once at transplanting at 6.5 log cfu/ml rather than 5.5 log cfu/ml significantly increased root dry weight, total root length, root volume, root surface area, and total length of very fine roots compared with the noninoculated control by 20%, 13%, 17%, 15%, and 12%, respectively. In contrast to the early growth, results from the yield test showed that only at the 100% recommended N rate, applying Abundance twice at both concentrations significantly enhanced N fertilizer use-efficiency and marketable yield of bell pepper over the noninoculated control by 34% (5.5 log cfu/ml) and 30% (6.5 log cfu/ml). Therefore, the efficacy of the Bacillus-containing bioproduct Abundance in enhancing fertilizer use-efficiency and marketable yield of bell pepper varied between soil nutritional conditions, but the early growth promotion effect of Abundance did not. Our results also demonstrate that selected microbial-based bioproducts, like Abundance, can be compatible with chemical fertilizers to enhance fertilizer use-efficiency and crop yields, but cannot be used as complete substitutes for chemical fertilizers.

Cera pepper ( Capsicum pubescens ) is an exotic fruit considered as a rich source of nutraceuticals with known benefits for human health and also an economic resource for local producers in Mexico. The present investigation reports on the in vitro and in situ antifungal activity of the essential oil from Mentha piperita and its two major volatiles (menthol and menthone) against Fusarium sambucinum , which is a causal agent of soft rot in cera pepper. The application of these components in pepper fruits previously infected with F. sambucinum caused a significant delay (p < 0.05) in the emergence of soft rot symptoms. This effect was reflected in the maintenance of pH and fruit firmness during a period of 10 days. The nutrimental content of the fruits (protein, fiber, fat and other proximate parameters) was conserved in the same period of time. The nutraceutical content of these fruits was estimated by the quantification of seven carotenoids (violaxanthin, cis-violaxanthin, luteoxanthin, antheraxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene), ascorbic acid and capsaicinoids (capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin). According to our results, the essential oil from M. piperita and its major volatiles exerted a preservative effect on these metabolites. Our findings demonstrated that the essential oil of M. Piperita and its major volatiles represent an ecological alternative for the control of fusariosis caused by F. sambucinum in cera peppers under postharvest conditions.

Spicy foods and chili peppers contain the primary ingredient capsaicin, which has potential health benefits. However, their efficacy in some health outcomes is also fiercely disputed, and some side effects have been confirmed. To assess the quality and strength of the associations between spicy food and chili pepper consumption and different health outcomes. An umbrella review is performed in humans. Eleven systematic reviews and meta-analyses with a total of 27 findings are identified. The health effect of consuming spicy food and chili peppers is unclear. Furthermore, the characteristics and context of different world regions and populations should be carefully considered. Direct correlations exist in esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, and gallbladder cancer. However, negative connections are reported in metabolism, mortality, and cardiovascular disease. Dose-response analysis reveals a significant nonlinear relationship between gastric cancer risk and capsaicin intake. The consumption of spicy foods and chili peppers is typically safe. However, high-quality proof is available to confirm this conclusion.

RATIONALE As important components of plant cells, lipids are involved in various biological functions. However, the composition and content of lipids in cell membranes changes at low temperature resulting in chilling injury and affecting the commercial value of green peppers. Detecting the changes in lipids helps to understand the mechanism of low-temperature stress in green peppers; however, a comprehensive study of lipid profiles in green pepper has not been well documented. METHODS Herein, we report an ultra-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC/QTOF MS) method to determine phospholipids and glycolipids in green peppers and compare five extraction methods among which the isopropanol/chloroform/water (ICW) method demonstrated the best extraction efficiency. The established method was used to determine the membrane lipids of fresh samples, chilled samples(4°C-20d), and control samples (10°C-20d). RESULTS A total of 98 lipids, including 77 phospholipids and 21 glycolipids, were extracted from green peppers using ICW extraction. The content and profile of phosphatidylcholine (PC) among phospholipids were found to be the highest, accounting for 58.58% of all the phospholipids. The monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) content among the glycolipids was the highest, accounting for 1.43%. The samples stored at low temperature (4°C, 20d) had a significantly higher PC content and a higher content of lipids containing unsaturated fatty acid residues as compared with the control samples (10°C, 20d). The recovery ranged from 75.55% to 96.64% while the limit of quantification ranged from 10 to 1000 ng mL-1 . CONCLUSIONS The results indicated that the established method provided a reliable platform to study the changes in membrane lipids of a green pepper under low-temperature conditions.

Background In order to reduce application dosage of carbendazim (CBD), the effects of different droplet sizes and application rate on initial deposition, retention rate, and field control efficacy of CBD in the pepper plant (Capsicum annuum L.) were studied under laboratory and field conditions. Results Based on eight types of nozzles at six concentrations of 646.8, 582.2, 517.5, 414.0, 310.5, and 258.7 g a.i./hm2 , the initial deposition amount of CBD in the pepper plant showed a first increased and then decreased trend with the increasing application dosages. The initial deposition amount of CBD in the pepper leaves and stems was highest when using the nozzle ST110-03 at 200 μm volume median diameter (VMD) and 350 L/hm2 application rate. HPLC-MS/MS analysis revealed that CBD was first converted to 2-aminobenzimidazole, which then transformed into benzimidazole and 2-hydroxybenzimidazole by deamination and hydroxylation, and ultimately mineralized to carbon dioxide and water via the cleavage of the imidazole ring in pepper plant. The dissipation rate of CBD was fruits > roots/stems > leaves > soils. After 7 days of application, the field efficacy of CBD at six concentrations on pepper anthracnose (Colletotrichum spp.) were 94.1%, 91.3%, 82.3%, 76.5%, 47.0%, and 41.2%, respectively. Conclusion The results revealed the deposition and dissipation characteristics of CBD, and the minimum effective dosage on pepper anthracnose decreased to 80% of the minimum recommended dose in the open field pepper ecosystem. The study will contribute to the CBD reduction by improving its utilization rate in the pepper-field ecosystem. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

The effects of visual cues on familiarity, expected heat intensity, liking of appearance, emotional and wellness responses, and purchase intent (PI) before and after disclosing information associated with red chili powders were determined using a 3-point scale, a 15-cm line scale, a 9-point hedonic scale, a 15-cm line scale, and a binomial scale, respectively. In this study, consumers only visually evaluated red chili powder samples without sniffing nor tasting. Eight chili powders were prepared according to a 23 factorial design: roasted (Ro) compared with unroasted (Un); whole pod with seeds (Wh) compared with seedless (Sl); coarsely (Cr) compared with finely ground (Gr). Thai consumers (N = 230) were generally more familiar with samples having coarse particles and more reddish color (lower hue angle and higher a* values) than samples having finely ground particles and less reddish/more yellowish color (higher hue angle and lower a* values). The expected heat intensity and liking scores for appearance were lower for samples with higher hue values, particularly RoWhGr and RoSIGr samples. All scores for emotion/wellness terms, except curious, were generally higher for samples with lower hue angle and higher a* values (redness). The consumer familiarity to the appearance of the samples influenced expected heat intensity, liking of appearance, and emotion/wellness responses. PI increased by >10% after presenting "organic," "aflatoxin free," and "organic and aflatoxin free" product statements to consumers. Results showed that familiarity, overall liking of appearance, color liking, fine particles liking, and healthy as well as wild terms were significant predictors for PI (odds ratio = 1.282, 1.519, 1.314, 1.158, 1.056, and 0.939, respectively) of red chili powders. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study showed that consumer familiarity to the appearance (visual cues) of red chili powder affected expected heat intensity, liking of appearance, and emotion/wellness responses, which, in turn, affected purchase intent (PI). Samples with more reddish color and coarse particles were perceived to be more familiar than those with more yellowish color and finer particles. Familiarity, overall liking of appearance, color liking, fine particles liking, and healthy and wild terms were significant predictors for PI of chili power. The results demonstrated the importance of visual cues on the consumers' expectation and PI of red chili powder, thus offering valuable information for manufacturers.

Successful integrated pest management in protected crops implies an evaluation of the compatibility of pesticides and natural enemies (NE), as control strategies that only rely on one tactic can fail when pest populations exceed NE activity or pests become resistant to pesticides. Nowadays in Almería (Spain), growers release NE prior to transplanting or early in the crop cycle to favor their settlement before pest arrival because this improves biocontrol efficacy, although it extends pesticide exposure periods. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the compatibility of two applications of pesticides with key NE in 2‐year trials inside tomato and sweet pepper commercial greenhouses: Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae), Orius laevigatus (Say) (Hemiptera: Anthocoridae) and Amblyseius swirskii (Athias‐Henriot) (Acari: Phytoseiidae). In tomato, flubendiamide and chlorantraniliprole (IOBC category 1) were compatible with N. tenuis, but chlorpyrifos‐methyl and spinosad (IOBC categories 2–3), which effectively reduced Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) (Lepidoptera: Gelechiidae) density, compromised its predatory activity. In sweet pepper, chlorantraniliprole (IOBC category 1) was the only pesticide compatible with O. laevigatus while chlorantraniliprole, emamectin benzoate, spirotetramat and pymetrozine were harmless (IOBC category 1) to Amblyseius swirskii, and sulfoxaflor slightly harmful (IOBC category 2) to this phytoseiid predator.

Capsaicinoids are unique compounds that give chili pepper fruits their pungent taste. Capsaicinoid levels vary widely among pungent cultivars, which range from low pungency to extremely pungent. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this quantitative variation have not been elucidated. Our previous study identified various loss-of-function alleles of the pAMT gene which led to low pungency. The mutations in these alleles are commonly defined by Tcc transposon insertion and its footprint. In this study, we identified two leaky pamt alleles (pamtL1 and pamtL2 ) with different levels of putative aminotransferase (pAMT) activity. Notably, both alleles had a Tcc transposon insertion in intron 3, but the locations of the insertions within the intron were different. Genetic analysis revealed that pamtL1 , pamtL2 and a loss-of-function pamt allele reduced capsaicinoid levels to about 50%, 10% and less than 1%, respectively. pamtL1 and pamtL2 encoded functional pAMT proteins, but they exhibited lower transcript levels than the functional type. RNA sequencing analysis showed that intronic transposons disrupted splicing in intron 3, which resulted in simultaneous expression of functional pAMT mRNA and non-functional splice variants containing partial sequences of Tcc. The non-functional splice variants were more dominant in pamtL2 than in pamtL1 . This suggested that the difference in position of the intronic transposons could alter splicing efficiency, leading to different pAMT activities and reducing capsaicinoid content to different levels. Our results provide a striking example of allelic variations caused by intronic transposons; these variations contribute to quantitative differences in secondary metabolite contents.

Background The use of zoophytophagous predators in protected crops has been widely adopted to manage pests in southern Europe. We hypothesized that plant defence responses would be induced by zoophytophagous predators and this induction could affect plant virus occurrence; the phytophagy of these predators induces plant defences similarly to that of viral infection. Therefore, we evaluated whether or not mirid predator-activated plant defences limited the accumulation of Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus (TSWV) in mechanically infected sweet pepper. Results Our results revealed TSWV accumulation in mirid-punctured plants to be significantly lower than in intact plants. This is most likely associated with the upregulation of the jasmonate acid pathway triggered by mirid phytophagy. Conclusion Activation of induced defences by mirid predators has been demonstrated for the first time to limit the accumulation of TSWV in sweet pepper. This novel approach can offer new control strategies for the management of plant diseases. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Ubiquitination is a eukaryotic protein modulation system for identifying and affecting proteins that are no longer needed in the cell. In a previous study, we elucidated the biological function of CaASRF1, which contains a RING finger domain and functions as an E3 ligase. We showed that CaASRF1 positively modulates abscisic acid (ABA) signalling and drought stress tolerance by modulating the stability of subgroup D bZIP transcription factor CaAIBZ1. We performed yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) screening to identify an additional target protein of CaASRF1. In this study, we identified pepper CaATBZ1 (Capsicum annuum ASRF1 target bZIP transcription factor 1), which belongs to the subgroup A bZIP transcription factors. We investigated the biological function of this protein using virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in pepper plants and by generating overexpressing transgenic Arabidopsis plants. Our loss-of-function and gain-of-function studies revealed that CaATBZ1 negatively modulates ABA signalling and drought stress response. Consistent with CaATBZ1-silenced pepper plants, CaASRF1/CaATBZ1-silenced pepper plants displayed drought-tolerant phenotypes via ABA-mediated signalling. Our results demonstrated that CaASRF1-mediated ubiquitination plays a crucial role in regulating the stability of CaATBZ1. These findings provide valuable insight into the post-translational regulation of transcriptional factors.

BACKGROUND Consumption of bell peppers is recommended because of their bioactive compound content and their positive effects on health. Growth-promoting rhizobacteria are popular because of their ability to promote plant growth by improving the fixation of nutrients or by inducing a systemic response. Green bell pepper (Capsicum annum) roots were inoculated with an autochthonous strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, at different stages of development: T1, inoculation in the seedbed before transplant; T2, inoculation at and after transplant; T3, inoculation in the seedbed, at and after transplant. Bell pepper plants without inoculation were considered as control. Physicochemical composition and antioxidant activity of the fruits were measured to select the best treatment. RESULTS T1 increased crude proteins, fat, Ca, Fe, vitamin C, total phenolic content, antioxidant capacity by DPPH and by ORAC. On the other hand, T1 decreased reducing sugars, K and Cu content. No significant differences for total carbohydrates, ash and photosynthetic pigments were found. CONCLUSION Inoculated green bell peppers have enhanced its functional value and could be considered as an important source of bioactive compounds with elevated antioxidant activity. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

Plants produce countless specialized metabolites crucial for their development and fitness, and many are useful bioactive compounds. Capsaicinoids are intriguing genus-specialized metabolites that confer a pungent flavor to Capsicum fruits, and they are widely applied in different areas. Among the five domesticated Capsicum species, Capsicum chinense has a high content of capsaicinoids, which results in an extremely hot flavor. However, the species-specific upregulation of capsaicinoid-biosynthetic genes (CBGs) and the evolution of extremely pungent peppers are not well understood. We conducted genetic and functional analyses demonstrating that the quantitative trait locus Capsaicinoid1 (Cap1), which is identical to Pun3 contributes to the level of pungency. The Cap1/Pun3 locus encodes the Solanaceae-specific MYB transcription factor MYB31. Capsicum species have evolved placenta-specific expression of MYB31, which directly activates expression of CBGs and results in genus-specialized metabolite production. The capsaicinoid content depends on MYB31 expression. Natural variations in the MYB31 promoter increase MYB31 expression in C. chinense via the binding of the placenta-specific expression of transcriptional activator WRKY9 and augmentation of CBG expression, which promotes capsaicinoid biosynthesis. Our findings provide insights into the evolution of extremely pungent C. chinense, which is due to natural variations in the master regulator, and offers targets for engineering or selecting flavor in Capsicum.

A core-shell structured magnetic polyimide composite has been synthesized by the covalent coating of a mesoporous polyimide polymer onto the surface of magnetite nanoparticles. The nanocomposite was characterized by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, X-ray diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry. The results showed that the prepared composite had a large surface area (306.45 m²/g), a unique pore size (2.15 nm), and strong magnetic properties (45.7 emμ/g), rendering it a promising sorbent material for magnetic solid-phase extraction. The parameters that affect the extraction efficiency of rhodamine B were optimized with the assistance of response surface methodology. Under the optimal conditions, the developed method has been successfully applied to determine the rhodamine B in food samples. The linearities and limits of detection of rhodamine B in hot pepper, red wine, and chili powder samples were measured. Satisfactory recoveries in the range of 94.8-103.3% with relative standard deviations

Cotton plants produce gossypol as a major secondary metabolite to resist insect herbivores and pathogens. Helicoverpa armigera may employ multigene families of detoxification enzymes to deal with this metabolite. So far, the strength of the transcriptional response to gossypol detoxification in the cotton bollworms remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated the genomewide transcriptional changes that occur in cotton bollworm larvae after one generation feeding on various host plants (cotton, corn, soybean and chili) or an artificial diet. Six genes potentially involved in detoxification of xenobiotics were highly upregulated in bollworms fed on cotton, and the expression of five of these differed significantly in insects that fed on gossypol diet compared with the artificial diet. When these six genes were downregulated using RNA interference, downregulation only of CYP4L11, CYP6AB9 and CCE001b led to reduced growth of bollworm larvae feeding on gossypol diets. These data suggest that the three genes are involved in response of H. armigera to gossypol of cotton. Our results proved that H. armigera may have a broad mechanism for gossypol detoxification.

The current study was explored to examine the impacts of dietary inclusion of mixture of black (BPO) and red pepper (RPO) oils as growth promoters on growth, carcass, blood haematology, serum chemistry, immunity and antioxidative status of New Zealand White rabbits (NZW). A number total of 100 5-week-old NZW growing weaned rabbits were randomly allocated into four treatment groups in a complete randomized experiment. The dietary treatment groups were as follows: control: basal diet; BRP0.5: basal diet + 0.25 g BPO + 0.25 g RPO/kg diet; BRP1.0: basal diet + 0.50 g BPO + 0.50 g RPO/kg diet; and BRP1.5: basal diet + 0.75 g BPO + 0.75 g RPO/kg diet. Rabbits fed the highest level of BRP mixture were the heaviest, while the control rabbits were the lightest. During 5-9 weeks of age, a gradual improvement in feed conversion ratio (FCR) was noticed with increasing BRP level. The control group excelled all BRP groups regarding the majority of blood haematological parameters. Liver function was better in rabbits fed BRP enriched diets than the control. A gradual depression (p < 0.05 or 0.01) in serum lipids regardless high-density lipoprotein (HDL) were recorded with elevating BRP level in the diet. The supplementation of BRP mixture enhanced the immune function and serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities and depressed serum malondialdehyde (MDA) in comparison with control. It could be concluded that dietary BRP mixture can affect some of growth traits, improve the immunity and antioxidant parameters, lower lipid profile and lipid peroxidation. Based on the study results, the recommended level of BRP mixture is 1.5 g/kg diet.

Summary The diverse colours of mature pepper (Capsicum spp.) fruit result from the accumulation of different carotenoids. The carotenoid biosynthetic pathway has been well elucidated in Solanaceous plants, and analysis of candidate genes involved in this process has revealed variations in carotenoid biosynthetic genes in Capsicum spp. However, the allelic variations revealed by previous studies could not fully explain the variation in fruit colour in Capsicum spp. due to technical difficulties in detecting allelic variation in multiple candidate genes in numerous samples. In this study, we uncovered allelic variations in six carotenoid biosynthetic genes, including phytoene synthase (PSY1,PSY2), lycopene β‐cyclase, β‐carotene hydroxylase, zeaxanthin epoxidase and capsanthin‐capsorubin synthase (CCS) genes, in 94 pepper accessions by single‐molecule real‐time (SMRT) sequencing. To investigate the relationship between allelic variations in the candidate genes and differences in fruit colour, we performed ultra‐performance liquid chromatography analysis using 43 accessions representing each allelic variation. Different combinations of dysfunctional mutations in PSY1 and CCS could explain variation in the compositions and levels of carotenoids in the accessions examined in this study. Our results demonstrate that SMRT sequencing technology can be used to rapidly identify allelic variation in target genes in various germplasms. The newly identified allelic variants will be useful for pepper breeding and for further analysis of carotenoid biosynthesis pathways.

BACKGROUND: Nowadays a significant amount of land contaminated with toxic elements is being used for agriculture, posing a serious risk of crop contamination and toxicity. Several methodologies are being used to remediate soil contamination, including the use of amendments such as biochar. This work evaluated the effects of biochar combined with different fertirrigations (water, a conventional fertilizer solution, or a fertilizer solution with a commercial biostimulant derived from leonardite) on the availability of toxic elements and nutrients for pepper cultivated in a soil contaminated with As, Cd, Pb, and Zn. RESULTS: Irrigation with fertilizer solutions improved plant growth regardless of the biochar amendment. Biochar decreased the bioavailability of Cu and Pb in soil and the Cu content in pepper leaves. Combined with fertilization, biochar also decreased plant As and Pb content. Biochar combined with biostimulant decreased the bioavailable content of Cd in soil and its uptake by pepper plants. CONCLUSION: The use of biochar and biostimulant presented advantages for plant production in a non-suitable scenario of nutrient scarcity and contamination, We thank the agronomic technicians Manuel Campos Macossay and Carlos Rodriguez Orta for the location of the soil and supply of materials. This article is the result of a research project ‘Compar ison of agronomic efficiency between Huma Gro® products and mineral conventional fertilizers’ funded by Bio Huma Netics Inc. (Gilbert, Arizona, USA). Bio Huma Netics Inc. did not participate in the experimental procedures or in the evaluation of the results

The time course response of selected phytohormones has been evaluated in sweet pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.) submitted to a high density (200 aphids/plant) of aphid (Myzus persicae Sulzer) infestation. Abscisic acid (ABA), salicylic acid (SA), indole‐3‐acetic acid (IAA), and jasmonates (JAs), including jasmonic acid (JA), jasmonoyl‐l‐isoleucine (JA‐Ile), and cis‐OPDA have been simultaneously identified and quantitated by UHPLC–MS/MS in pepper leaf tissue harvested at 3, 8 hours post‐infestation (hpi), 1, 2, 4 and 7 days post‐infestation (dpi). Infested plants showed a reduction in stem length at 7 dpi and in the number of leaves and leaf width from 4 dpi onwards. JA and JA‐Ile significantly increased very early (from 3 hpi) while SA only accumulated at 7 dpi. Despite the high density of infestation, the aphid‐induced accumulation of JAs was much lower than the burst typically induced by chewing herbivores. On the other side, ABA peaked in aphid‐infested plants at 2 and 4 dpi, while IAA content did not change significantly at any time point. Growth inhibition may be partially explained by the high levels of JAs found in aphid‐infested plants. The possibility that the obtained results support the hypothesis of the aphid manipulation of plant metabolism is discussed. This work was supported by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad of Spain, Project CGL2016-79054-R, by the University of Alicante grant UAFPU2013-5793 to VFO, and by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic – NPU I program with project LO1204. This work is part of VFO PhD Thesis.

This study describes a new method for fast identification of highly hydrophobic conidia of Aspergillus species from both simple and complex matrices. The method is based on recently developed preparative isoelectric focusing in a cellulose-based separation medium which had to be modified with respect to the highly hydrophobic surface of the conidia. Although Aspergillus conidia are colored, their zones in the cellulose bed were indicated by colored isoelectric point markers. The isoelectric point values of Aspergillus conidia were determined by capillary isoelectric focusing. Preparative isoelectric focusing was successfully used for preconcentration of individual conidia of cultivated strains of Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus flavus, and Aspergillus parasiticus, and also for separation of the conidia in a mixture. Subsequently, red pepper powder and peanuts spiked with Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus conidia, respectively, were used as complex matrices. The detection limit for identification of the conidia in these complex matrices is 10(4) conidia mL(-1). The presence of conidia in the focused zones was confirmed by their subsequent analysis by capillary isoelectric focusing. Their viability was confirmed by a cultivation of the conidia extracted from the collected fractions after preparative isoelectric focusing.

Abscisic acid (ABA) is a plant hormone that plays a key role in the environmental stress response, especially the induction of ABA-responsive and stress-responsive genes and modulation of the stomatal aperture in response to drought stress. Here, we identified CaDILZ1 (Capsicum annuum Drought-Induced Leucine Zipper 1) belonging to subgroup D of the bZIP protein family; gene functions of this family in response to ABA and drought signaling still remain unknown. CaDILZ1 expression was significantly induced in pepper leaves after exposure to ABA, drought, and NaCl. The CaDILZ1 protein localized in the nucleus of plant cells. In response to drought stress, CaDILZ1-silenced pepper and CaDILZ1-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants exhibited drought-sensitive and drought-tolerant phenotypes, respectively, via altered ABA content, stomatal closure, and expression of ABA-responsive and drought-responsive marker genes. We isolated the RING finger protein CaDSR1 (Capsicum annuum Drought Sensitive RING finger protein 1), which interacted with CaDILZ1 in the nucleus. The CaDSR1 protein exhibited E3 ligase activity and promoted CaDILZ1 degradation via the 26S proteasome pathway. Under drought stress conditions, CaDSR1-silenced pepper and CaDSR1-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants exhibited contrasting phenotypes to those of CaDILZ1-silenced pepper and CaDILZ1-overexpressing Arabidopsis plants. Taken together, our data suggest that CaDSR1 and CaDILZ1 function in ABA-mediated drought stress signaling in pepper plants.

BACKGROUND Traditionally, peppers (Capsicum annuum L.) of Jaranda variety used for the production of smoked paprika are harvested manually in the north of Extremadura (Spain). Mechanical harvesting is necessary to improve the profitability of this crop. The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of plant density (D1 = 36 765 and D2 = 73 530 plants ha-1 ) and harvesting type (manual or mechanical) on the yield and quality of fresh, dried and powdered peppers. RESULTS The increase in plant density increased marketable yield per hectare, although the yield per plant decreased. With mechanical harvesting, the optimal density was D2 (15 151 kg ha-1 ) over D1 (12 493 kg ha-1 ). After processing the fruits, the application of D2 and mechanical harvesting significantly improved quality parameters, such as a*, ASTA (American Spice Trade Association) units and carotenoide concentration, primarily capsanthin. CONCLUSION The cultural practices tested provided an adequate productivity of fresh pepper and a better quality of the final product. According to the results of the present study, the increase in plant density and the substitution of manual harvesting by mechanical harvesting could be profitable practices with respect to the Jaranda variety of pepper used for the manufacture of smoked paprika. These practices maintain the main quality parameters of dried peppers and paprika. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry.