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Abstract Genetic polymorphism sharing between closely related and sympatric plant species could result from common ancestry, ancient or recent hybridization. Here we analyzed four Petunia species from the subtropical highland grasslands in southern South America based on nuclear diversity to disentangle the causes of high polymorphism sharing between them. We genotyped microsatellite loci, employed population genetic methods to estimate variability, species limits, and ancient and recent gene flow, and assigned individuals to genetic and taxonomic groups. Finally, we modeled evolutionary processes to determine the impact of Quaternary climate changes on species phylogenetic relationships. Our results indicated that genetic diversity was strongly influenced by expansion and habitat fragmentation during the Quaternary cycles. The extensive polymorphism sharing is mainly due to species’ common ancestry, and we did not discard ancient hybridization. Nowadays, niche differentiation is the primary driver for maintaining genetic and morphological limits between the four analysed Petunia species and there is no recent gene flow between them.

IntroductionAs key-players of plant immunity, the proteins encoded by resistance genes (R-genes) recognize pathogens and initiate pathogen-specific defense responses. The expression of some R-genes carry fitness costs and therefore inducible immune responses are likely advantageous. To what degree inducible resistance driven by R-genes is triggered by pathogen infection is currently an open question.MethodsIn this study we analyzed the expression of 940 R-genes of tomato and potato across 315 transcriptome libraries to investigate how interspecific interactions with microbes influence R-gene expression in plants.ResultsWe found that most R-genes are expressed at a low level. A small subset of R-genes had moderate to high levels of expression and were expressed across many independent libraries, irrespective of infection status. These R-genes include members of the class of genes called NRCs (NLR required for cell death). Approximately 10% of all R-genes were differentially expressed during infection and this included both up- and down-regulation. One factor associated with the large differences in R-gene expression was host tissue, reflecting a considerable degree of tissue-specific transcriptional regulation of this class of genes.DiscussionThese results call into question the widespread view that R-gene expression is induced upon pathogen attack. Instead, a small core set of R-genes is constitutively expressed, imparting upon the plant a ready-to-detect and defend status.

Secondary metabolites synthesized by the Solanaceous plants are of major therapeutic and pharmaceutical importance, many of which are commonly obtained from the roots of these plants. ‘Hairy roots’, mirroring the same phytochemical pattern of the corresponding root of the parent plant with higher growth rate and productivity, are therefore extensively studied as an effective alternative for the in vitro production of these metabolites. Hairy roots are the transformed roots, generated from the infection site of the wounded plants with Agrobacterium rhizogenes. With their fast growth, being free from pathogen and herbicide contamination, genetic stability, and autotrophic nature for plant hormones, hairy roots are considered as useful bioproduction systems for specialized metabolites. Lately, several elicitation methods have been employed to enhance the accumulation of these compounds in the hairy root cultures for both small and large-scale production. Nevertheless, in the latter case, the cultivation of hairy roots in bioreactors should still be optimized. Hairy roots can also be utilized for metabolic engineering of the regulatory genes in the metabolic pathways leading to enhanced production of metabolites. The present study summarizes the updated and modern biotechnological aspects for enhanced production of secondary metabolites in the hairy root cultures of the plants of Solanaceae and their respective importance.

The Morelloid clade, also known as the black nightshades or "Maurella" (Morella), is one of the 10 major clades within the mega-diverse genus Solanum L. The clade is most diverse in the central to southern Andes, but species occur around the tropics and subtropics, some extending well into the temperate zone. Plants of the group vary from herbs to short-lived perennials to perennial shrubs that are distinctly woody at the base, they have small mostly white or purplish white flowers and small juicy berries. Due to the complex morphological variation and weedy nature of these plants, coupled with the large number of published synonyms (especially for European taxa), our understanding of species limits and diversity in the Morelloid clade has lagged behind that of other clades in Solanum. Here we provide the last in a three-part series of monographic treatments of the morelloid solanums (see PhytoKeys Vols. 106, 125), treating the 62 species occurring in South America. This region is by far the most diverse in the clade, both in terms of species number and morphological diversity. We provide complete synonymy, nomenclatural details, including lecto- and neotypifications where needed, common names and uses, morphological descriptions, illustrations to aid identification both in herbaria and in the field, and distribution maps for all native, non-cultivated species. We include a key to all species, a synoptic character list for the species treated here and links to synoptic online keys for all species of the Morelloid clade. Preliminary conservation assessments following IUCN guidelines are also provided for all native species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interspecies grafting is an economically relevant technique that allows beneficial shoot and root combinations from separate species to be combined. One hypothesis for the basis of graft compatibility revolves around taxonomic relatedness. To test how phylogenetic distance affects interspecific graft compatibility within the economically important Solanaceae subfamily, Solanoideae, we characterized the anatomical and biophysical integrity of graft junctions between four species: tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), eggplant (Solanum melongena), pepper (Capsicum annuum), and groundcherry (Physalis pubescens). We analyzed the survival, growth, integrity, and cellular composition of the graft junctions. Utilizing various techniques, we were able to quantitatively assess compatibility among the interspecific grafts. Even though most of our graft combinations could survive, we show that only intrageneric combinations between tomato and eggplant are compatible. Unlike incompatible grafts, the formation of substantial vascular reconnections between tomato and eggplant in the intrageneric heterografts likely contributed to biophysically stable grafts. Furthermore, we identified 10 graft combinations that show delayed incompatibility, providing a useful system to pursue deeper work into graft compatibility. This work provides new evidence that graft compatibility may be limited to intrageneric combinations within the Solanoideae subfamily. Further research amongst additional Solanaceous species can be used to test the extent to which our hypothesis applies to this family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The three-dimensional shape of a flower is integrated by morphogenesis along different axes. Differentiation along the petal proximodistal axis is tightly linked to the specification of pollinators; however, it is still unclear how a petal patterns this axis. The corolla of Torenia fournieri exhibits strong differentiation along the proximodistal axis, and we previously found a proximal regulator, TfALOG3, controlling corolla neck differentiation. Here, we report another gene, TfBOP2, which is predominantly expressed in the proximal region of the corolla. TfBOP2 mutants have shorter proximal corolla tubes and longer distal lobe, demonstrating its function as a proximal regulator. Arabidopsis BOPs mutant shows similar defects, favouring a shared role of BOPs homologues. Genetic analysis demonstrates the interaction between TfBOP2 and TfALOG3, and we further found that TfALOG3 physically interacts with TfBOP2 and can recruit TfBOP2 to the nuclear region. Our study favours a hypothetical shared BOP-ALOG complex that is recruited to regulate corolla differentiation in the proximal region axis of T. fournieri. Flowers manifest enormous diversity and shape is determined by morphogenesis along different independent axes. Here Su et al. report a shared BOP-ALOG module that regulates corolla differentiation in the proximal region axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flower morphology is considered an important factor in species diversification because it may influence the efficiency of pollination in different ways (e.g. attraction and mechanical fit with different groups of pollinators). In the present study, we quantified the variation in flower morphology (i.e. shape and size) of the diverse South American genus Jaborosa Juss. (Solanaceae) in relation to contrasting pollination modes: rewarding pollination either by moths or by generalist small insects versus brood‐site deceptive pollination by saprophilous flies.We examined variations of flower morphology in frontal (pollinator attraction) and sagittal (functional fit with pollinators) views in 12 Jaborosa species using geometric morphometric methods and comparative approaches to infer whether flower shape evolution, not attributable to flower allometry or phylogenetic relationship, is associated with shifts in pollination modes.We found remarkable variation in flower morphology among both Jaborosa species and pollination modes, largely in sagittal view. Evolutionary trends in shape of fly‐pollinated flowers were mainly attributable to changes in developmental trajectories. Variation in flower architecture facilitated differential pollen placement – on the proboscis of moths, and either on the back or ventral region of saprophilous flies – promoting diversification of the genus.Diversification of shape, independent of size, in most of the studied Jaborosa species would indicate adaptation to contrasting pollination modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Legousia (Campanulaceae) has been represented so far by two species in the Bulgarian flora: L. speculum-veneris, a relatively widespread taxon in the lowlands across the country, and L. pentagonia, reported only from the Eastern Rhodopi Mts floristic region. During the recent field surveys in the coastal area of NE Bulgaria, a third species from the genus has been found: L. hybrida. The latter is reported here for the first time for the Bulgarian flora. Herbaceous annual, it is well distinguished from the other two congeneric species by its smaller flowers and a corolla about half as long as the calyx lobes. Legousia hybrida has been recorded in the Black Sea Coast (Northern) floristic region. It grows in relatively open grassland communities and can be abundant locally. A genome size of 1C = 1.47–1.49 pg has been estimated for the species. The distribution, phenology and habitat preferences of the species are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The husk tomato (Physalis spp.) is an exceptional commercial crop for its nutritional and medicinal properties where the whole plant is used. This has led to the search for new micropropagation methods to accelerate plant production in the field. P. angulata and P. chenopodifolia were micropropagated via shoot proliferation of axillary buds and indirect organogenesis. Shoot multiplication was performed on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium supplemented with 2.22, 4.43, or 6.65 μM 6-Benzylaminopurine (BAP) combined with 2.32, 4.64, or 6.96 μM Kinetin (Kin). For P. chenopodifolia, the largest number of new shoots was obtained by adding 4.64 μM Kin (10.47 ± 2.25 shoots per explant); for P. angulata, the best treatment was obtained with a combination of 4.43 μM BAP and 2.32 μM Kin (8.47 ± 2.91 shoots per explant). Indirect organogenesis was performed by placing leaf sections of both Physalis species on MS medium supplemented with 2.22, 4.43, 6.65, or 8.87 BAP combined with 1.13, 2.26, or 3.39 μM 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D). P. chenopodifolia showed the highest number of new indirect shoots (37.14 ± 3.54) with the addition of 1.13 μM 2,4-D and 6.65 μM BAP; P. angulata had the highest result (22.71 ± 2.5 shoots per explant) with 1.13 μM 2,4-D and 4.43 μM BAP. Stimulation of root induction was obtained in different mediums with auxins 1.07, 2.68, 5.37, or 8.05 μM 1-Naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) and 1.41, 2.85, 5.70, or 8.55 μM Indoleacetic acid (IAA). The regenerated plantlets resulting from the rooting process were acclimatized and transferred to the greenhouse. The average of shoots per explant in the indirect organogenesis method was higher than the axillary bud culture method. These results could provide an efficient alternative for the micropropagation and conservation of these species with high commercial potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a framework aimed at the recovery and enhancement of medicinal plants endemic to the territory of the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park, Lavandula austroapennina N.G. Passal., Tundis and Upson has aroused interest. An insight into the chemical composition of the corolla, calyx, leaf, stem, and root organs was carried out following ultrasound-assisted maceration in n-hexane. The obtained lipophilic extracts were explored using ultra-high-performance chromatography coupled to high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-ESI-QqTOF-MS/MS). The extracts from the different organs varied in their relative content of fatty acids, ursanes, and oleanane-type triterpenes. In particular, the oleanolic acid content appeared to increase in the order of corolla < leaf < stem. An MTT assay was performed to verify the possible cytotoxicity of the organ extracts of L. austroapennina at a concentration ranging from 12.5 to 400 µg/mL on the Vero CCL-81 cell line. Antiviral activity against herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), alpha human coronavirus 229E (HCoV-229E), and poliovirus type 1 (PV-1) was evaluated via a plaque reduction assay in the same cellular model. All the extracts did not show cytotoxic effects after 2 and 24 h exposure times, and the antiviral efficacy was particularly important for the stem extract, capable of completely inhibiting the tested viruses at low doses. The antiviral activity in a non-enveloped virus PV-1 allowed the assertion that the extracts from the organs of L. austroapennina, and especially the stem extract, interfered directly with the viral envelope. This study underlines how much knowledge of a territory's medicinal plant heritage is a harbinger of promising discoveries in the health field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial wilt negatively impacts the yield and quality of tomatoes. cis-Abienol, a labdane diterpenoid abundantly produced in the trichome secretion of Nicotiana spp., can induce bacterial wilt resistance in plants; however, study on its practical application and acting mechanism is very limited. This study established the application conditions of cis-abienol for inducing tomato bacterial wilt resistance by pot-inoculation experiments and investigated the underlying mechanism by determining the physio-biochemical indexes and transcriptomic changes. The results showed that applying cis-abienol to the roots was the most effective approach for inducing tomato bacterial wilt resistance. The optimal concentration was 60 μg/mL, and 2–3 consecutive applications with 3–6 days intervals were sufficient to induce the bacterial wilt resistance of tomato plants. cis-Abienol could enhance the antioxidant enzyme activity and stimulate the defensive signal transduction in tomato roots, leading to the upregulation of genes involved in the mitogen-activated protein kinase cascade. It also upregulated the expression of JAZ genes and increased the content of jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA), which control the expression of flavonoid biosynthetic genes and the content of phytoalexins in tomato roots. cis-Abienol-induced resistance mainly depends on the JA signalling pathway, and the SA signalling pathway is also involved in this process. This study established the feasibility of applying the plant-derived terpenoid cis-abienol to induce plant bacterial wilt resistance, which is of great value for developing eco-friendly bactericides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physalis peruviana (Solanaceae), originating from the Andean region of South America, is an exotic plant cultivated in Brazil that produces edible fruit. Five viruses have been reported to naturally infect the Physalis plants in Brazil, of which, two have been drawing attention for the severity of their infections: sobemovirus, physalis rugose mosaic virus (PhyRMV) and orthotospovirus, groundnut ringspot virus (GRSV). This study aimed to evaluate the effects of single and double infections of PhyRMV and GRSV on the development, yield and postharvest fruit characteristics of P. peruviana plants. We found that both viruses caused severe systemic symptoms in infected plants, and double infection even led to plant death. Plant height and aerial dry weight were significantly affected by PhyRMV and GRSV infections. Double‐infected plants were the most affected, exhibiting average height and aerial dry weight reductions of 70.9% and 89.7%, respectively. Moreover, PhyRMV‐ and GRSV‐infected plants showed average fruit yield reductions of 66.4% and 85.2%, respectively, compared to healthy plants. Notably, double‐infected plants did not produce any fruit. The fruits produced by infected plants were smaller than those produced by healthy plants. Viral infections also affected postharvest characteristics, such as titratable acidity, total soluble solids (°Brix), phenolic compound concentration and antioxidant activity. Both viruses affected the pulp firmness and palatability, but not the colour of the fruits. Therefore, effective disease management strategies against these viruses are necessary to prevent economic losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Two new species of the genus Meloidodera collected in Mexico are described here: M. ferrisi sp. n. parasitising roots of an oak tree in the State of Mexico and M. tecoacensis sp. n. parasitising roots of buffalo bur nightshade in the Tlaxcala State. Meloidodera ferrisi sp. n. is characterised by a spherical female body covered completely by a dark thick cuticular layer, length/width of the female body = 0.8-1.6, stylet = 35-43 μ m and second-stage juvenile with average body = 340 μ m and average tail length = 35.6 μ m. Meloidodera tecoacensis sp. n. is characterised by the female having a spherical body covered with a yellow transparent material, length/width of the female body = 1.1-2.8, stylet = 20-33 μ m and second-stage juvenile with average body = 340 μ m and average tail length = 29.8 μ m. These two species were molecularly characterised using the D2-D3 expansion segments of 28S rRNA, ITS rRNA and COI gene sequences. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the two new species represent a separate evolutionary lineage within the subfamily Meloidoderinae. An identification key for 12 Meloidodera species is provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solanum is one of the world's largest and economically most important plant genera, including 1245 currently accepted species and several major and minor crops (e.g., tomato, potato, brinjal eggplant, scarlet eggplant, Gboma eggplant, lulo, and pepino). Here we provide an overview of the evolution of 25 key morphological traits for the major and minor clades of this giant genus based on stochastic mapping using a well‐sampled recently published phylogeny of Solanum. The most evolutionarily labile traits (showing >100 transitions across the genus) relate to plant structure (growth form and sympodial unit structure), herbivore defence (glandular trichomes), pollination (corolla shape and colour), and dispersal (fruit colour). Ten further traits show evolutionary lability with 50–100 transitions across the genus (e.g., specialised underground organs, trichome structure, leaf type, inflorescence position and branching, stamen heteromorphism). Our results reveal a number of highly convergent traits in Solanum, including tubers, rhizomes, simple leaves, yellow corollas, heteromorphic anthers, dioecy, and dry fruits, and some unexpected pathways of trait evolution that could be explored in future studies. We show that informally named clades of Solanum can be morphologically defined by trait combinations providing a tool for identification and enabling predictive phylogenetic placement of unsampled species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The moment at which a plant transitions to reproductive development is paramount to its life cycle and is strictly controlled by many genes. The transcription factor SUPPRESSOR OF OVEREXPRESSION OF CONSTANS 1 (SOC1) plays a central role in this process in Arabidopsis. However, the role of SOC1 in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) has been sparsely studied. Here, we investigated the function of four tomato SOC1 homologs in the floral transition and inflorescence development. We thoroughly characterized the SOC1-like clade throughout the Solanaceae and selected four tomato homologs that are dynamically expressed upon the floral transition. We show that of these homologs, TOMATO MADS 3 (TM3) and SISTER OF TM3 (STM3) promote the primary and sympodial transition to flowering, while MADS-BOX PROTEIN 23 (MBP23) and MBP18 hardly contribute to flowering initiation in the indeterminate cultivar Moneyberg. Protein–protein interaction assays and whole-transcriptome analysis during reproductive meristem development revealed that TM3 and STM3 interact and share many targets with FRUITFULL (FUL) homologs, including cytokinin regulators. Furthermore, we observed that mutating TM3/STM3 affects inflorescence development, but counteracts the inflorescence-branching phenotype of ful2 mbp20. Collectively, this indicates that TM3/STM3 promote the floral transition together with FUL2/MBP20, while these transcription factors have opposite functions in inflorescence development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genus Phytophthora includes phytopathogens of relevant socio-economic importance. Among these, the species Phytophthora infestans and Phytophthora capsici threat several crops and, in particular, Solanaceae and cucurbits. In order to support the searching for sustainable means for the management of plant diseases, this study evaluated several safe natural products (botanicals, inorganics, and vitamins) for the control of P. infestans and P. capsici. In vitro tests on P. infestans highlighted that Tagetes minuta-, Lavandula angustifolia- and ascorbic acid-based formulas, at the highest concentration, were the most effectives; they determined 91.1, 91.3 and 100.0% of radial growth inhibition and 21.3, 6.0 and 9.3% of sporangial germination, respectively; the negative control (Cuprostar–copper-based formula) totally inhibited the mycelial growth and determined the 18.0% of sporangial germination. Among products tested in vitro on P. capsici the most effectives were Armicarb 85 (a potassium hydrogen carbonate-based formula) and ascorbic acid; at the highest concentration they determined the total inhibition of mycelial growth and the 28.0 and 19.3% of sporangia germination, respectively; the Abies sibirica-based formula also significantly affected P. capsici, determining the 97.6% of radial growth inhibition and 38.0% of sporangia germination; the negative control (Cupravit Blu 35–copper-based formula) totally inhibited the mycelial growth and determined the 27.7% of sporangial germination. Natural products were also tested in vivo on artificially P. infestans-infested tomato plants; results highlighted a significant reduction of disease severity by treatments with Tagetes minuta, Lavandula angustifolia and Adigor formulation (a rapeseed oil-based formulation) at the concentrations of 1.0, 0.5 and 0.5%, respectively. In conclusion, this study provided new evidence supporting the employment of safe natural products for the management of Phytophthora diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three minor flavonoids were isolated from the corollas and leaves of Aeschynanthus species and cultivars using MeOH, and identified as scutellarein 7- O -(6″-methylglucuronopyranoside) (1), 6-hydroxyluteolin 7- O -(6″-methylglucuronopyranoside) (2) and nepetin 4′- O -glucuronopyranoside (3) by UV and 1H NMR spectroscopy, LC–MS, and acid hydrolysis. These flavone glycosides are reported in nature for the first time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new lithophytic species of Gesneriaceae, Petrocodon rubrostriatus K.Tan, X.Q.Song & M.X.Ren, sp. nov. from Lvchun County, South Yunnan, China, is described and illustrated here. It closest resembles P. mollifolius (W.T.Wang) A.Weber & Mich.Möller, but the new species is differentiated from it by red to brownish-red stripes in the yellow corolla throat and 4.5 mm long bract lobes, a ca. 10 mm long style, and staminodes inserted at 2.5–3 mm from the corolla base. The species is preliminarily assessed as ‘Critically Endangered’ (CR) according to IUCN criteria, since currently only one single locality is known with a few subpopulations on a fragmented limestone cliff, with fewer than 300 individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hedyotis longiramulis sp. nov. (Rubiaceae) is described from Guangdong Province, China. It is similar to H. caudatifolia but differs in having puberulent, more or less tetragonal and decussately sulcate juvenile stems, waxy leaf surface, short inflorescence peduncles, high length ratio of corolla lobe to tube, and subglobose capsules. The phylogenetic analysis reveals that H. longiramulis is sister to H. pubirachis. Dimorphism concerning pollen size was observed in the heterostylous flowers. The complete chloroplast genome of the new species comprises a typical quadripartite structure of 153,616 bp in length, with two inverted repeats of 25,457 bp, a large single-copy of 85,050 bp and a small single-copy of 17,652 bp. It contains 112 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 29 tRNA genes, and four rRNA genes, the GC content of the chloroplast genome is 32.4%. The new species is provisionally evaluated as “Least Concern” because it is common and well-protected in two Provincial Nature Reserves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is a worldwide-used food and is a perennial plant in the nightshade family Solanaceae. Potato vine and leaf mixed silage (PVS) is detoxicated after ensiling and can be used as high-quality roughage for ruminant animals. Because the PVS's inadequate nutrient content cannot meet the requirement of ensiling, especially due to its lack of the water-soluble carbohydrates, the only method for ensiling consists of mixing with different feed ingredients. In this trial, the blood urea nitrogen and crude protein digestibility of the Angus bull were significantly higher when fed with PVS. The result revealed a high content of crude protein, crude protein apparent digestibility, and ash content in PVS compared with CS in the feeding trial. PVS significantly decreased Angus bulls' average daily gain and feed conversion rate and increased high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Because potato vine and leaf as a by-product of potato production can achieve the same economic production targets for beef cattle and still meet the requirements of sustainable development, the aim of this trial was therefore to investigate the possibilities of PVS in ruminant silage substitution and hopefully to give some guidance on conventional silage substitution. This study aims to explore the different growth performances of the Angus bull on potato vine and leaf mixed silage in the early fattening period and to provide a reference animal production trial. Thirty-six 13-month-old Angus bulls were divided into three groups with 403.22 ± 38.97 kg initial body weight and fed with three different silage diets: (1) control: whole-plant corn silage as control (CS); (2) treatment 1: 50% whole-plant corn +50% potato vine and leaf silage (PVS1); and (3) treatment 2: 75% potato vine and leaf +15% rice straw +10% cornmeal silage (PVS2). After the 14 days pre-feeding, the formal experiment was carried out for 89 days. The result showed that the ash content of the potato vine and leaf mixed silage (PVS) in the treatment groups was higher than that in control group, and the ash content of PVS1 and PVS2 even reached 10.42% and 18.48% (DM%), respectively, which was much higher than that of the CS group at 4.94%. The crude protein content in silage also increased with the additional amount of potato vine and leaf. The apparent crude protein digestibility of the PVS groups was also significantly higher than that of the CS group (p < 0.05). In terms of serum biochemical indexes, blood urea nitrogen (BUN) in the experimental groups was significantly higher than in the control group (p < 0.05). Compared with PVS2, cholesterol (CHO) was significantly lower in the CS and PVS1 groups (p < 0.05). Moreover, the high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) of PVS2 were significantly higher than those of the CS and PVS1 group (p < 0.05), and daily gain (ADG) as a key production index had a significantly negative correlation with the CHO (r = −0.38, p < 0.05) and HDL-C (r = −0.40, p < 0.05) of cattle. In conclusion, PVS had higher crude protein content and ash but less starch than whole-corn silage. The PVS could replace whole-plant corn silage at the same dry matter status and did not affect the weight gain in this trial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research into molecular mechanisms of self-incompatibility (SI) in plants can be observed in representatives of various families, including Solanaceae. Earlier studies of the mechanisms of S-RNase-based SI in petunia (Petunia hybrida E. Vilm.) demonstrate that programmed cell death (PCD) is an SI factor. These studies suggest that the phytohormon cytokinin (CK) is putative activator of caspase-like proteases (CLPs). In this work, data confirming this hypothesis were obtained in two model objects—petunia and tomato (six Solanaceae representatives). The exogenous zeatin treatment of tomato and petunia stigmas before a compatible pollination activates CLPs in the pollen tubes in vivo, as shown via the intravital imaging of CLP activities. CK at any concentration slows down the germination and growth of petunia and tomato male gametophytes both in vitro and in vivo; shifts the pH of the cytoplasm (PHc) to the acid region, thereby creating the optimal conditions for CLP to function and inhibiting the F-actin formation and/or destructing the cytoskeleton in pollen tubes to point foci during SI-induced PCD; and accumulates in style tissues during SI response. The activity of the ISOPENTENYLTRANSFERASE 5 (IPT5) gene at this moment exceeds its activity in a cross-compatible pollination, and the levels of expression of the CKX1 and CKX2 genes (CK OXIDASE/DEHYDROGENASE) are significantly lower in self-incompatible pollination. All this suggests that CK plays a decisive role in the mechanism underlying SI-induced PCD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Solanaceae family of plants, commonly known as Nightshade vegetables or Nightshades, contains a diverse range of crops of over 2000 members with significant culinary, economic, and cultural importance. Familiar edible Nightshades include tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and white potatoes. Many pharmacologically active compounds used in traditional medicine, including atropine and hyoscyamine, are derived from Nightshades. In addition to these beneficial pharmacologic agents, Nightshade-derived glycoalkaloid compounds, a key defense mechanism against predation, have been shown to disrupt intestinal epithelium and to potentially activate mast cells in the gut mucosa, leading to adverse symptoms in humans. There is a new appreciation that mast cell activation is an allergic inflammatory mechanism contributing both to pain in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and to gut inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Given their ubiquity in Western diets and their shared glycoalkaloid active compounds, edible Nightshades are attracting new interest as a potential trigger for worsening gut symptoms in functional and inflammatory gastrointestinal disorders. Here, we review the limited existing literature on the adverse effects of Nightshade consumption, including the effects of Nightshade-derived glycoalkaloids on IBD gut inflammation, and the under-recognized contribution of Nightshades to food allergies and allergic cross-reactivity. We then highlight new evidence on the contributions of mast cell activation to GI disorder pathogenesis, including potential linkages between Nightshade antigens, intestinal mast cells, and GI dysfunction in IBS and IBD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Nonhost resistance (NHR) is a robust plant immune response against non‐adapted pathogens. A number of nucleotide‐binding leucine‐rich repeat (NLR) proteins that recognize non‐adapted pathogens have been identified, although the underlying molecular mechanisms driving robustness of NHR are still unknown. Here, we screened 57 effectors of the potato late blight pathogen Phytophthora infestans in nonhost pepper (Capsicum annuum) to identify avirulence effector candidates. Selected effectors were tested against 436 genome‐wide cloned pepper NLRs, and we identified multiple functional NLRs that recognize P. infestans effectors and confer disease resistance in the Nicotiana benthamiana as a surrogate system. The identified NLRs were homologous to known NLRs derived from wild potatoes that recognize P. infestans effectors such as Avr2, Avrblb1, Avrblb2, and Avrvnt1. The identified CaRpi‐blb2 is a homologue of Rpi‐blb2, recognizes Avrblb2 family effectors, exhibits feature of lineage‐specifically evolved gene in microsynteny and phylogenetic analyses, and requires pepper‐specific NRC (NLR required for cell death)‐type helper NLR for proper function. Moreover, CaRpi‐blb2–mediated hypersensitive response and blight resistance were more tolerant to suppression by the PITG_15 278 than those mediated by Rpi‐blb2. Combined results indicate that pepper has stacked multiple NLRs recognizing effectors of non‐adapted P. infestans, and these NLRs could be more tolerant to pathogen‐mediated immune suppression than NLRs derived from the host plants. Our study suggests that NLRs derived from nonhost plants have potential as untapped resources to develop crops with durable resistance against fast‐evolving pathogens by stacking the network of nonhost NLRs into susceptible host plants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steroidal (glycol)alkaloids S(G)As are secondary metabolites made of a nitrogen-containing steroidal skeleton linked to a (poly)saccharide, naturally occurring in the members of the Solanaceae and Liliaceae plant families. The genus Solanum is familiar to all of us as a food source (tomato, potato, eggplant), but a few populations have also made it part of their ethnobotany for their medicinal properties. The recent development of the isolation, purification and analysis techniques have shed light on the structural diversity among the SGAs family, thus attracting scientists to investigate their various pharmacological properties. This review aims to overview the recent literature (2012–2022) on the pharmacological benefits displayed by the SGAs family. Over 17 different potential therapeutic applications (antibiotic, antiviral, anti-inflammatory, etc.) were reported over the past ten years, and this unique review analyzes each pharmacological effect independently without discrimination of either the SGA's chemical identity or their sources. A strong emphasis is placed on the discovery of their biological targets and the subsequent cellular mechanisms, discussing in vitro to in vivo biological data. The therapeutic value and the challenges of the solanum steroidal glycoalkaloid family is debated to provide new insights for future research towards clinical development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) Middle East-Asia Minor 1 (MEAM1) and Mediterranean (MED) were reported as the sole vectors for tomato severe rugose virus (ToSRV), the prevalent begomovirus infecting tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L., Solanaceae) in Brazil. To improve our understanding on the interactions between B. tabaci and ToSRV, we studied the effects of the virus on the performance of MEAM1 and MED. Comparing adults' performance on non-infected and ToSRV-infected tomato plants, the number of hatched eggs and emerged adults decreased for both MEAM1 and MED in infected tomato plants. However, the negative effect was more evident for MED, where the emergence of adults was reduced by 90% on ToSRV-infected tomatoes. In addition, the developmental time and percentage survival of MED on ToSRV-infected plants were severely affected compared to non-infected plants, while no differences were observed for MEAM1. Preference assays showed that non-viruliferous MEAM1 adults preferred to settle on non-infected plants in initial times (from 1 h to 6 h) but did not show preference between non-infected and infected plants in other evaluated times (from 12 h to 72 h). Viruliferous MEAM1 adults did not show a preference for either ToSRV-infected or non-infected plants. In contrast, MED non-viruliferous and viruliferous adults preferred to settle on non-infected plants compared to ToSRV-infected tomato plants. Our results indicate that ToSRV differently influences the performance and behavior of the whitefly species MEAM1 and MED, negatively interfering with the life parameters of MED. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Improving species delimitation and knowledge on species complexes is crucial for many areas of study in Biology, especially conservation. Integrative taxonomy contributes to this topic by using different approaches to better delineate taxonomic boundaries. Metternichia (Solanaceae), historically a monospecific genus, has a geographic range that comprises contrasting environments. Metternichia principis was described as having two varieties: the typical variety, found in the humid forests of eastern Brazil (Atlantic Forest region), and M. principis var. macrocalyx, which presents a larger calyx and inhabits mostly semi-arid areas (Caatinga region). In this study, we tested the validity of such groups by integrating environmental, phenological, morphometric, and palynological data; applying uni- and multivariate tests; and evaluating the conservation status of each taxon. Our results support the recognition of two morphological groups within Metternichia, largely in agreement with the original circumscription of the varieties. Multivariate analyses clearly indicate different ecological niches, with each taxon inhabiting environments with distinct mean annual precipitation and temperature. Phenological data show some differences between the varieties regarding months with the highest number of flowering and fruiting records. In general, M. principis var. macrocalyx presents larger flower and pollen characters, and smaller fruit characters compared to the typical variety. Based on these findings, we elevate the variety to the status of species, as the new combination Metternichia macrocalyx. Following IUCN guidelines, both taxa are here preliminarily considered endangered (EN). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: The Solanaceae crops are the main hosts of Zeugodacus tau, a pest insect that causes serious damage to economically important crops of Solanaceae. In the winter–spring period, female adults of Z. tau have been found to oviposit on the pepino melon Solanum muricatum. However, the differences in the ability of the fruits of S. muricatum and other Solanaceae crops to attract gravid Z. tau females have not been clarified. In this study, oviposition and trapping bioassays were performed to clarify whether such differences existed. GC-MS was used to identify the compounds and relative contents of the volatile odors of S. muricatum. The Y-tube olfactometer system was used to determine the compounds that induced behavioral responses in gravid Z. tau females. The results show that Solanum muricatum odor was attractive for Z. tau females. The nine compounds from the volatiles of S. muricatum induce behavioral responses in gravid Z. tau females. These results are beneficial for preventing Z. tau females from harming S. muricatum, developing attractants and repellents for Z. tau females, and establishing a system of ecological control for Z. tau females. Zeugodacus tau (Walker) (Diptera: Tephritidae) is a pest seriously harmful to Solanaceae crops and was found to oviposit on the pepino melon Solanum muricatum (Aiton). To date, the differences in the ability of the fruits of S. muricatum and other Solanaceae crops to attract gravid Z. tau females have seldom been reported. Oviposition and trapping bioassays were performed to clarify whether such differences existed. A combination of GC-MS and the Y-tube olfactometer system was used to identify and determine the compounds inducing behavioral responses in gravid Z. tau females to the volatile odors of S. muricatum. The results show that S. muricatum odors play a role in attracting gravid Z. tau females. The odors of Solanaceae crops influence their ability to attract these organisms. The nine compounds from the volatiles of S. muricatum induce tendency or repellency responses in gravid Z. tau females. Hexyl acetate, butyl acetate, amyl actate, and isoamyl acetate caused tendency behavior in gravid Z. tau females, while hexyl hexanoate, butyl isovalerate, butyl valerate, and isoamyl hexanoate caused repellency behavior. Heptyl acetate caused repellency behavior in gravid Z. tau females at higher concentrations (5 mg/mL) but caused tendency behavior at a low concentration (0.5 mg/mL). These results suggest that vigilance against the harm caused by Z. tau is required during the cultivation of S. muricatum. The nine compounds of the volatile odors of S. muricatum could help to develop attractants and repellents for gravid Z. tau females. These results are beneficial for preventing Z. tau females from harming S. muricatum, developing attractants and repellents for Z. tau females, and establishing a system of ecological control for Z. tau females. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study on the susceptibility of Solanum melongena to drought at different growth stages was conducted in the 2019 and 2020 growing seasons. S. melongena is one of the most relevant agricultural crops in the tropics and subtropical regions of Africa. However, drought has a significant effect on the rate of growth and fruit yield of the crop. However, the growth stage at which S. melongena is vulnerable to the effect of drought needs detailed research and clarification which is the focus of this study. Key morphological traits such as shoot height, number of leaves and branches, and leaf area and water-related physiological indices such as leaf area ratio, net assimilation rate, root shoot ratio, tissue water content including aboveground biomass, leaf relative water content, chlorophyll pigments, osmolytes accumulation, and antioxidants were observed and measured to find the effect of drought at different growth level. The result revealed that the morphological traits, water-related physiological indices, aboveground biomass, leaf relative water content, photosynthetic pigments, antioxidants such as alkaloids and flavonoids of S. melongena were drastically reduced under drought throughout the growth period, associated with vegetative, flowering, and fruiting stage. Osmolytes such as phenol and proline were more enhanced. Across the growth stages, S. melongena subjected to drought at the vegetative stage has exhibited the lowest performance in the measured parameters and has the lowest critical value. S. melongena at the vegetative stage was more vulnerable to drought than the flowering and fruiting stage. Susceptibility to drought of the crop at the vegetative stage can lead to poor growth and yielding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chlorogenic acid is an important polyphenolic compound in plants, which plays an important physiological role in plant growth and development, disease and pest resistance, cold resistance and other stresses. It has a variety of pharmacological functions, including anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, antiviral, anticancer, anti-ultraviolet light and radiation, immunoregulation, hypolipidemic, hypoglycemic, etc. Chlorogenic acid has great potential especially in functional foods, nutritional supplements, raw food materials, chemical industry and drug development. Tomato, eggplant, pepper, potato and tobacco are important cash crops in the world. They are all important types of Solanaceae plants, and also important sources of chlorogenic acid. The content of chlorogenic acid in fruits or vegetative organs of Solanaceae crops varies greatly, and their chlorogenic acid anabolism is a complex biological process determined by genetic and environmental factors. Therefore, the research on biosynthesis and molecular mechanisms of regulation of chlorogenic acid in Solanaceae crops has important theoretical significance and application value for crop genetic improvement. The article outlines the content of chlorogenic acid in the above five Solanaceae crops, the biosynthetic pathways and transcriptional regulation molecular mechanisms of chlorogenic acid, and the effects of genotype differences, environmental factors, cultivation measures on chlorogenic acid content in Solanaceae crops, which is expected to provide theoretical bases for the development and utilization of chlorogenic acid in Solanaceae crops, the creation of germplasm resources with high chlorogenic acid and the breeding of new varieties of Solanaceae crops. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physalis peruviana L. (physalis) has significant economic potential by virtue of the unique flavor of its fruit. However, the productivity of Brazilian plantations is low because of the limited number of varieties or cultivars available. The main obstacle in the selection of superior genotypes is the lack of information about genetic variability within- and between- populations and limited genetic basis that has likely resulted from evolutionary, domestication and selection processes of the natural or artificial populations. Physalis currently cultivated in Brazil is tetraploid, and such polyploidy may have led to the reproductive isolation of the species, preventing the occurrence of intraspecific hybridization. Moreover, cultivated populations derive from a common gene pool and have undergone a long process of domestication and selection carried out empirically by farmers. In Colombia and other Andean countries there are wild populations that exhibit genetic diversity which; although, fundamental for the conservation of the species, have low potential for the development of genotypes with superior agronomic traits. In order to create and expand the genetic variability of physalis, breeders have employed various strategies including induction of mutation, chromosome duplication, and interspecific and intraspecific hybridization. Furthermore, the production of double haploid lines from in vitro anther cultures has shown good results in the selection of hybrids. The mutant genotypes and/or hybrids obtained using these methods in association with those of wide genomic selection can generate cultivars with superior agronomic traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Brugmansia suaveolens Bercht. & J. Presl has been widely used due to the presence of different bioactive compounds. This review summarizes the latest advances and perspectives of the B. suaveolens plant species; it is a systematic literature review on aspects of botany, traditional uses, phytochemistry, pharmacology, and toxicology as therapeutic potential. In addition, 120 compounds are described, including alkaloids, flavonoids, terpenoids, steroids, amino acids, aromatics, and aliphatics. As for the therapeutic potential, it is described in extracts and compounds in the antitumor, anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antispasmodic, anticoagulant, and analgesic aspects, as well as the effects on the central nervous system. The toxicity of the genus stands out, especially the potential for organ toxicity. Therefore, this review evidenced the knowledge related to the traditional use based on the scientific research of Brugmansia suaveolens, highlighting an overview of bioactive compounds and biological and toxicological activities in order to provide a scientific basis for future studies on the value of this species for the development of new natural products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) was an important pest that is adapted to utilize numerous plant-feeding sources, it has recently a main pest on vegetable crops. Since it was initially recorded in Egypt, it has spread throughout all regions. While relatively little information on behaviour and population and damages is available for vegetables like pepper, eggplant, squash cantaloupe, cucumber, and snake-cucumber. The current study focused on studying the variability of this pest infestation on these tested crops throughout two summer seasons 2022 and 2023. The present data proved that the population density of F. occidentalis was recorded as a high infestation on the tested six host plants after mid-May through two seasons. Moreover, snake-cucumber harboured a high infestation of F. occidentalis (7.91 individuals) followed by cantaloupe (6.49 individuals), but both cucumber and pepper were exposed to the lowest infestation (4.69 and 4.92 individuals, respectively). The Solanaceae crops harboured lower damages caused by F. occidentalis individuals on flowers than cucurbitaceae crops (Squash, cantaloupe, cucumber, and snake-cucumber). Between two/or three peaks of F. occidentalis at flowering and fruiting stages were detected through May-June. The injurious caused by F. occidentalis were up to 27.6%. Among three colour sticky traps (Red, yellow, and blue), blue sticky trap appeared to be the most attractive of F. occidentalis and Thrips tabaci Lindeman (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) adults and can be used to enhance the effectiveness of tactics for thrips controlling in Solanaceae and Cucurbitaceae cultivations. Moreover, eggplant and pepper crops were less attractive to F. occidentalis individuals on flowers than cucurbit crops. The presented results indicated that the susceptibility degree of this tested crop to the F. occidentalis infestation was limited to susceptible and low resistance. The two investigated Solanaceae crops had a low resistant, but squash and cucumber in cucurbit crops was a low resistance to F. occidentalis infestation. While cantaloupe and snake-cucumber in cucurbit crops were susceptible to F. occidentalis infestation in both two tested seasons. Mirid bug predator, Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) (Hemiptera: Miridae) associated with F. occidentalis and T. tabaci was slightly higher on Solanaceae than Cucurbitaceae plants, in spite of, the presence of thrips was high in cantaloupe and snakecucumber. The level of flavonoids, alkaloids and phenoloxidase contents was the increase with increasing of F. occidentalis infestations as like a positive relation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Datura sp. and related plants mandrake (Mandragora officinarum and M. autumnalis), black henbane or stinking nightshade (Hyoscyamus niger), belladonna (Atropa belladonna) and angel's trumpets (Brugmansia sp.) are considered some of the deadliest plant species. Datura stramonium (jimson weed, thorn apple or devil's snare) is a weed that sometimes is cultivated as ornamental for its large, white funnel-shaped flowers, but it is considered dangerous due to accidental or deliberate ingestion of any plant parts. Tropane alkaloids (atropine, hyoscyamine, scopolamine) with strong anticholinergic properties can cause a variety of adverse effects that can lead to death in humans and other animals. They are pharmaceutically active and their mind-altering properties have been known since ancient times. Characteristic toxic symptoms can also occur after skin penetration alone and neither drying nor boiling decrease the plant toxicity. Naturally occuring alkaloids (for example from Stramonii folium and Daturae innoxiae herba) or synthetic and semisynthetic substitutes have found use in modern medicine too. The present paper comprises a review on the mechanism of toxicity and photomicrographs of characteristic microscopic features of Datura leaf. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the course of chemical investigations of Datura metel L., a new sesquiterpenoid, dmetelin J (1) was isolated from the leaves, along with the 4 known compounds apocynol A (2), blumenol B (3), megastigmane (4), and (+)-dehydrovomifoliol (5). Structure elucidation was performed by spectroscopic techniques, including 1- and 2-dimensional NMR spectroscopy and HRESIMS. Compounds 2, 3, and 5 were isolated from the Solanaceae for the first time. All isolated compounds were subjected to anti-inflammatory activity evaluation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Fossil discoveries can transform our understanding of plant diversification over time and space. Recently described fossils in many plant families have pushed their known records farther back in time, pointing to alternative scenarios for their origin and spread.Here, we describe two new Eocene fossil berries of the nightshade family (Solanaceae) from the Esmeraldas Formation in Colombia and the Green River Formation in Colorado (USA). The placement of the fossils was assessed using clustering and parsimony analyses based on 10 discrete and five continuous characters, which were also scored in 291 extant taxa.The Colombian fossil grouped with members of the tomatillo subtribe, and the Coloradan fossil aligned with the chili pepper tribe. Along with two previously reported early Eocene fossils from the tomatillo genus, these findings indicate that Solanaceae were distributed at least from southern South America to northwestern North America by the early Eocene.Together with two other recently discovered Eocene berries, these fossils demonstrate that the diverse berry clade and, in turn, the entire nightshade family, is much older and was much more widespread in the past than previously thought. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shape–environment relationship in plants refers to the ways in which the physical characteristics and structures of plants are influenced by their environment. Plants have evolved a remarkable ability to adapt to their specific habitats, and their shape and form play a crucial role in determining their survival and reproductive success. This study aimed to examine differences in size and shape between morphological traits in mountain germander (Teucrium montanum L.) from different geological substrates (calcareous and serpentinite). For this study, 400 individuals of T. montanum from 20 populations (ten populations from the serpentinite and ten from the calcareous substrate) were selected. Using the geometric morphometrics approach, it was shown that the degree of phenotypic variation in the size and shape of the corolla, leaf, and stem of T. montanum depends on the type of substrate. The main differences between the populations are the narrower part of the lower lip of the corolla, the narrower leaf, and the wider central part of the vascular system stem from serpentinite populations. The results of this study will contribute to a better understanding of the morphological variability of T. montanum in relation to edaphic conditions. In addition, the results confirm that certain morphological differences play an important role in the adaptive response in relation to substrate composition, especially for substrates with increased metal content, such as serpentinite. The shape–environment relationship in plants could define diversity and complexity in plant life, and underscores the importance of shape as a key factor in their survival and success in different habitats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Botrytis cinerea, a plant pathogenic fungus with a wide host range, has reduced sensitivity to fungicides as well as phytoalexins, threatening cultivation of economically important fruits and vegetable crops worldwide. B. cinerea tolerates a wide array of phytoalexins, through efflux and/or enzymatic detoxification. Previously, we provided evidence that a distinctive set of genes were induced in B. cinerea when treated with different phytoalexins such as rishitin (produced by tomato and potato), capsidiol (tobacco and bell pepper) and resveratrol (grape and blueberry). In this study, we focused on the functional analyses of B. cinerea genes implicated in rishitin tolerance. LC/MS profiling revealed that B. cinerea can metabolize/detoxify rishitin into at least 4 oxidized forms. Heterologous expression of Bcin08g04910 and Bcin16g01490, two B. cinerea oxidoreductases upregulated by rishitin, in a plant symbiotic fungus Epichloë festucae revealed that these rishitin-induced enzymes are involved in the oxidation of rishitin. Expression of BcatrB, encoding an exporter of structurally unrelated phytoalexins and fungicides, was significantly upregulated by rishitin but not by capsidiol and was thus expected to be involved in the rishitin tolerance. Conidia of BcatrB KO (ΔbcatrB) showed enhanced sensitivity to rishitin, but not to capsidiol, despite their structural similarity. ΔbcatrB showed reduced virulence on tomato, but maintained full virulence on bell pepper, indicating that B. cinerea activates BcatrB by recognizing appropriate phytoalexins to utilize it in tolerance. Surveying 26 plant species across 13 families revealed that the BcatrB promoter is mainly activated during the infection of B. cinerea in plants belonging to the Solanaceae, Fabaceae and Brassicaceae. The BcatrB promoter was also activated by in vitro treatments of phytoalexins produced by members of these plant families, namely rishitin (Solanaceae), medicarpin and glyceollin (Fabaceae), as well as camalexin and brassinin (Brassicaceae). Consistently, ΔbcatrB showed reduced virulence on red clover, which produces medicarpin. These results suggest that B. cinerea distinguishes phytoalexins and induces differential expression of appropriate genes during the infection. Likewise, BcatrB plays a critical role in the strategy employed by B. cinerea to bypass the plant innate immune responses in a wide variety of important crops belonging to the Solanaceae, Brassicaceae and Fabaceae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gametophytic Self-Incompatibility (GSI) system in diploid potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) poses a substantial barrier in diploid potato breeding by hindering the generation of inbred lines. One solution is gene editing to generate selfcompatible diploid potatoes which will allow for the generation of elite inbred lines with fixed favorable alleles and heterotic potential. The S-RNase and HT genes have been shown previously to contribute to GSI in the Solanaceae family and self-compatible S. tuberosum lines have been generated by knocking out SRNase gene with CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing. This study employed CRISPR-Cas9 to knockout HT-B either individually or in concert with S-RNase in the diploid self-incompatible S. tuberosum clone DRH-195. Using mature seed formation from self-pollinated fruit as the defining characteristic of self-compatibility, HTB-only knockouts produced little or no seed. In contrast, double knockout lines of HT-B and S-RNase displayed levels of seed production that were up to three times higher than observed in the S-RNase-only knockout, indicating a synergistic effect between HT-B and S-RNase in self-compatibility in diploid potato. This contrasts with compatible cross-pollinations, where S-RNase and HT-B did not have a significant effect on seed set. Contradictory to the traditional GSI model, self-incompatible lines displayed pollen tube growth reaching the ovary, yet ovules failed to develop into seeds indicating a potential late-acting self-incompatibility in DRH-195. Germplasm generated from this study will serve as a valuable resource for diploid potato breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fluorochrome chromosome banding and fluorescent in situ hybridization were used to cytogenetically characterize the striking tropical Andean clade species of Capsicum. An adapted dendrogram of the Capsicum phylogeny is presented, showing taxonomic relationships between karyotypes of the Andean clade species, C. baccatum var. pendulum, C. flexuosum, and the sister group Lycianthes. To date, the Andean clade includes nine species: C. dimorphum, C. geminifolium, C. hookerianum, C. lanceolatum, C. longifolium, C. lycianthoides, C. piuranum, C. regale and C. rhomboideum, all displaying 2n = 26. This group is characterized by conspicuous cytogenetic characters that are very useful in the identification of their species and allow them to be distinguished from the other group of species with x = 13 from the Atlantic forest, and definitely from the clades with x = 12. The species of the Andean clade possess relatively short genomes, with one NOR per haploid complement. The distribution of the heterochromatin is mainly subterminal. A single locus of the 35S and 5S rDNA was found per haploid complement. The discovery of three pairs of 5S rDNA sites in C. regale was surprising. The chromosomal features of these highland clade species could be considered adaptive characters to their geographical distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lepidaploa estevesiana (Asteraceae) is a new species from the northern Mantiqueira range in the Atlantic Forest domain, in Minas Gerais and Espírito Santo states, Brazil. This new species grows in tropical highland grasslands and rock outcrops, from 1.700–2.200 m a.s.l. Lepidaploa estevesiana is described based on morphological evidence, and differs by its leaves, inflorescences, involucral bracts, and corolla. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nicotine is a potent para-sympathomimetic alkaloid, which belongs to the Nightshade family of plants and is abundant in the roots and leaves of these plants. Here, we investigated the histomorphological effects of oral nicotine exposure on the testes of adult Wistar rats. Sixteen adult male Wistar rats were divided into 4 groups (I, II, III, and IV), with each group containing 4 rats per group. Control group (I) received growers mash with water, group II received 2mg kg-1 day-1 of nicotine, group III received 4 mg kg-1 day-1 of nicotine and group IV received 6 mg kg-1 day-1 of nicotine via the oral route of administration, in addition to food and water for six weeks. At the end of the 7th, 21st, and 42nd days of the administration, animals were euthanized by cervical dislocation, and testes were harvested and processed with standard histological techniques. Euthanizing on these various days was done to assess the time and dose-dependent effect of nicotine on the testes. Findings from histological observation of the testes showed similar histoarchitectural changes on different days between the treated groups and the control group. These changes may be attributed to the drug metabolism of nicotine, administration route of nicotine, and drug dosage adopted in the current study. However experimental animals administered with nicotine for 42 days, showed normal histology of the testes with the presence of vascular congestion in the lumen of the seminiferous tubules. Within the limitation and design of this study, oral nicotine exposure at a low dose showed no features of testicular toxicity as there were no histoarchitectural distortions in the treated animals. However, our findings suggest that nicotine exposure at a low dose may possess a therapeutic effect in the management of testicular pathologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Establishing how lineages with similar traits are phylogenetically related remains critical for understanding the origin of biodiversity on Earth. Floral traits in plants are widely used to explore phylogenetic relationships and to delineate taxonomic groups. The subtribe Swertiinae (Gentianaceae) comprises more than 350 species with high floral diversity ranging from rotate to tubular corollas and possessing diverse nectaries. Here we performed phylogenetic analysis of 60 species from all 15 genera of the subtribe Swertiinae sensu Ho and Liu, representing the range of floral diversity, using data from the nuclear and plastid genomes. Extensive topological conflicts were present between the nuclear and plastome trees. Three of the 15 genera represented by multiple species are polyphyletic in both trees. Key floral traits including corolla type, absence or presence of lobe scales, nectary type, nectary position, and stigma type are randomly distributed in the nuclear and plastome trees without phylogenetic correlation. We also revealed the likely ancient hybrid origin of one large clade comprising 10 genera with diverse floral traits. These results highlight the complex evolutionary history of this subtribe. The phylogenies constructed here provide a basic framework for further exploring the ecological and genetic mechanisms underlying both species diversification and floral diversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chemical constituents of essential oils of Datura stramonium L. and D. innoxia (family Solanaceae) are being reported. In this study, the collected seeds of Ardabil and Urmia were planted in grow bags and placed for three months in a greenhouse of the College of Agriculture, Tarbiat Modares University in Tehran. Under greenhouse conditions, the average air temperature was 25 °C. Air-dried areal parts of D. stramonium and D. innoxia were prepared and their essential oils (EOs) were isolated by hydrodistillation for 3 h in a Clevenger-type apparatus. EOs content and composition were examined with gas chromatography techniques. The EOs yield of D. stramonium and D. innoxia were 0.03% and 0.02% (v/w), respectively. The major compounds in the D. stramonium EOs were Camphor (29.9%), Selin-11-en-4alpha-ol (13.0%), and Borneol (10.4%). Those in the D. innoxia were mostly fatty alkanes, including n-Decane (19.99%), 7-Pentadecyne (11.78%), and Linoleic acid (6.13%). The other important components identified in the EOs of Datura were Dihydrocitronellol, n-Dodecane, Isobornyl acetate, Germacrene D, and n-Tetradecane. Generally, the EOs of the areal parts in D. stramonium showed oxygenated monoterpenes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solanum section Leptostemonum is an ideal lineage to test the theoretical framework regarding proposed evolutionary benefits of outcrossing sexual systems in comparison to cosexuality. Theoretically, non-cosexual taxa should support more genetic diversity within populations, experience less inbreeding, and have less genetic structure due to a restricted ability to self-fertilize. However, many confounding factors present challenges for a confident inference that inherent differences in sexual systems influence observed genetic patterns among populations. This study provides a foundational baseline of the population genetics of several species of different sexual systems with the aim of generating hypotheses of any factor—including sexual system—that influences genetic patterns. Importantly, results indicate that dioecious S. asymmetriphyllum maintains less genetic structure and greater admixture among populations than cosexual S. raphiotes at the same three locations where they co-occur. This suggests that when certain conditions are met, the evolution of dioecy may have proceeded as a means to avoid genetic consequences of self-compatibility and may support hypotheses of benefits gained through differential resource allocation partitioned across sexes. Arguably, the most significant finding of this study is that all taxa are strongly inbred, possibly reflective of a shared response to recent climate shifts, such as the increased frequency and intensity of the region's fire regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The prickly nightshade Solanum rostratum, an annual malignant weed, is native to North America and has globally invaded 34 countries, causing serious threats to ecosystems, agriculture, animal husbandry, and human health. In this study, we constructed a chromosome-level genome assembly and annotation of S. rostratum. The contig-level genome was initially assembled in 898.42 Mb with a contig N50 of 62.00 Mb from PacBio high-fidelity reads. With Hi-C sequencing data scaffolding, 96.80% of the initially assembled sequences were anchored and orientated onto 12 pseudo-chromosomes, generating a genome of 869.69 Mb with a contig N50 of 72.15 Mb. We identified 649.92 Mb (72.26%) of repetitive sequences and 3,588 non-coding RNAs in the genome. A total of 29,694 protein-coding genes were predicted, with 28,154 (94.81%) functionally annotated genes. We found 99.5% and 91.3% complete embryophyta_odb10 genes in the pseudo-chromosomes genome and predicted gene datasets by BUSCO assessment. The present genomic resource provides essential information for subsequent research on the mechanisms of environmental adaptation of S. rostratum and host shift in Colorado potato beetles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chilli (Capsicum annum L.) is one of the most important vegetable and spices crop grown across the world for the value for its valuable fruits and is popularly known as "red pepper" which belongs to night shade family Solanaceae. Isolate of Fusarium spp. were collected from the different location of villages of Bharuch districts. Six native Trichoderma spp. isolates viz., BVVT-1, BVDT-1, BJGT-2, BJGT-1, BNBT-2 and BJST-1 were isolated from the rihzospheric soil of chilli wilt infected fields. The maximum number of colony 4×10-4 was observed in BVVT-1 and minimum number observed as 1×10-4 in BJGT -1 and BNBT-2 isolate. The anti-fungal efficacy of native Trichoderma spp. studied using dual culture method revealed strong antagonism of isolate BVVT-1 against most virulent Fusarium spp. whereas remaining five isolates i.e., BVDT-1, BJGT-2, BJGT-1, BNBT-2 and BJST-1 isolates also appeared as potential antagonists. The six native isolates were also tested in pot condition against susceptible Eagle C4 chilli variety. The T2 treatment (BVVT-1 isolate) recorded significantly highest 17.60 cm shoot length and higher root length of 7.20 cm which remained at par with T1 treatment (BVDT-1 isolate) i.e., 6.83 cm root length. While the lowest root length 4.67 cm and shoot length 13.20 cm was recorded in BNBT-1 isolate and it also recorded the highest 36.67 per cent disease incidence with lowest 63.33 per cent disease control, so it was considered as least effective among all the isolates. The results concluded that the BVVT-1 isolate was the most effective and found to be best as it recorded the highest 83.33 per cent disease control with lowest 16.67 per cent disease incidence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chilli (Capsicum annum L.) is one of the most important vegetable and spices crop grown across the world for the value for its valuable fruits and is popularly known as "red pepper" which belongs to night shade family Solanaceae. During the survey on chilli wilt disease occurrence, the symptoms observed on chilli infected plants were yellowing and brown vascular discoloration of plants, dried foliage and dead wilted plants. It was noticed that in all the surveyed villages of Bharuch district the disease was at peak and severely affected chilli crops from flowering to fruiting stage of crop especially during the month of November-December. Overall, 58.49 per cent disease incidence was recorded in the Bharuch district. The highest 70 per cent and lowest 24 per cent PDI was recorded in Valia and Bharuch taluka, respectively. PDP was also recorded highest 66.67 and lowest 20 per cent in Valia and Bharuch taluka, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A study was conducted during the 2022 growing season at the Agricultural Research Station, College of Agriculture, University of Kufa, Iraq. It was to determine the response of chili pepper Capsicum annuum to spraying with Ceratophyllum extract at three concentrations of 0, 10, and 20 mL/L and chelated nano-zinc in three concentrations of 0, 1, and 2 g/L. The experiment was conducted in a plastic house in the field under factorial-randomized complete block design in three replicates and three sprays for each factor during the growing period. The study showed that Ceratophyllum extracts enhanced pepper plants' health and increased vegetative growth indicators more efficiently than the control treatment. The Ceratophyllum extract alone at 20 mL/L led to a significant increase in the growth indicators by 4-18% compared to the control treatment. On the other hand, the study found that combining Ceratophyllum at 20 mL/L with Nano-zinc at 2 g/L gave the highest values in growth indicators; plant height 51.50 cm, number of leaves 379.83 leaves/plant, leaf area 3.08 cm², percentage of shoot and root dry matter (29.25 and 26.50%, respectively) and fruit content of chlorophyll 84.26 (mg/100 gFW), with a significant difference from most other treatments, especially the lowest values in the control treatment (sprayed with distilled water). In conclusion, the Ceratophyllum extract could be used to nourish chili pepper plants and possibly be included in fertilizer combinations due to its nutritional properties, unique components, ease of collection, and inexpensive extraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The AP2/ERF gene family is a superfamily of transcription factors that are important in the response of plants to abiotic stress and development. However, comprehensive research of the AP2/ERF genes in the Solanaceae family is lacking. Results Here, we updated the annotation of AP2/ERF genes in the genomes of eight Solanaceae species, as well as Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa. We identified 2,195 AP2/ERF genes, of which 368 (17%) were newly identified. Based on phylogenetic analyses, we observed expansion of the copy number of these genes, especially those belonging to specific Ethylene-Responsive Factor (ERF) subgroups of the Solanaceae. From the results of chromosomal location and synteny analyses, we identified that the AP2/ERF genes of the pepper (Capsicum annuum), the tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and the potato (Solanum tuberosum) belonging to ERF subgroups form a tandem array and most of them are species-specific without orthologs in other species, which has led to differentiation of AP2/ERF gene repertory among Solanaceae. We suggest that these genes mainly emerged through recent gene duplication after the divergence of these species. Transcriptome analyses showed that the genes have a putative function in the response of the pepper and tomato to abiotic stress, especially those in ERF subgroups. Conclusions Our findings will provide comprehensive information on AP2/ERF genes and insights into the structural, evolutionary, and functional understanding of the role of these genes in the Solanaceae.