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Protein elicitors can induce plant systemic resistance to pathogens. The recognition of a potential elicitor activates intracellular signaling events, leading to plant resistance against pathogens. In this study, a novel protein elicitor was isolated from the culture filtrate of Verticillium nonalfalfae and named PeVn1, which can induce cell death in several plant species. The PeVn1 gene was then cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The recombinant protein PeVn1 triggers cell death in Nicotiana benthamiana in NbBAK1 and NbSOBIR1 dependent manner. Through bioassay analysis showed that the recombinant PeVn1 induced early defense induction events, such as reactive oxygen species burst, callose deposition and the activation of defense hormone signaling pathways and defense enzyme activities. Moreover, PeVn1 significantly enhanced resistance of Nicotiana benthamiana to Sclerotinia sclerotiorum, Botrytis cinerea and N. benthamiana mosaic virus and tomato to Pseudomonas syringae pv. Tomato DC3000. In conclusion, our study reveals that PeVn1 protein as a microbe-associated molecular pattern can induce plant immune responses, which provides a theoretical basis for the development of novel protein-induced disease resistance agents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research is advancing regarding techniques that are based on natural products developed using the plants. Extracellular DNA (eDNA) is a potential alternative that can be used as active material in agronomy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of self-eDNA using fertigation in lettuce plants as a biostimulant. Five fertigation treatments were used: 0 (control), 0.025, 0.25, 2.5 and 25 mg self-eDNA per plant. Fertigation was monitored through drainage fraction, pH and EC. The benefits of fertigation were evaluated using water, nitrate and potassium uptake, and growth. There was a significant correlation between fertigation uptake and growth. The highest correlation (R2 = 0.96) occurred between water uptake and growth. There was a quadratic fit between uptake and production parameters and the dose of self-eDNA applied. Mean drainage values showed no significant differences between treatments for EC and pH. The highest values of fertigation uptake (water, nitrate and potassium) and growth were observed at doses of 0.25 and 2.5 mg self-eDNA. Doses lower than 0.25 decreased by 21.3%, while doses higher than 2.5 decreased by 16.4%. Self-eDNA had beneficial effects as a biostimulant and potentially had an appropriate cost–benefit ratio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Drought is one of the main abiotic stresses affecting plant growth and development. Reduced plant yield and quality are primarily caused by the reductions in photosynthesis, mineral uptake, metabolic disorders, damages from the increased production of reactive oxygen species, and many other disruptions. Plants utilize drought resistance mechanisms as a defense strategy, and the systems' activation is dependent upon several factors, including plant genotype, onthogenesis phase, drought intensity and duration, and the season in which the drought occurs. Impatiens walleriana is a worldwide popular flowering plant recognized for its vibrant flower colors, and is an indispensable plant in pots, gardens and other public areas. It prefers well-draining, moisturized soil, and does not perform well in overly dry or waterlogged conditions. Consequently, inadequate water supply is a common problem for this plant during production, transportation, and market placement, which has a substantial impact on plant performance overall. This review article outlines certain features of morphological, physiological, and molecular alterations induced by drought in ornamental, drought-sensitive plant species I. walleriana, as well as research carried out to date with the aim to improve the drought tolerance. Stress proteins aquaporins and dehydrins, whose molecular structure was described for the first time in this plant species, are highlighted specifically for their role in drought stress. Furthermore, the effective improvement of drought tolerance in I. walleriana by exogenous application of Plant Growth Regulators and Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria is discussed in detail. Finally, this review can provide valuable insights for improving plant resilience and productivity in the face of water scarcity, which is critical for sustainable agriculture and horticulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elicitation, the process of stimulating plants to enhance the production of valuable secondary metabolites, has emerged as a significant avenue in the field of plant biotechnology. This review paper provides a comprehensive examination of elicitation, encompassing its mechanisms, the imperative for its utilization, and the diverse array of elicitors employed, including abiotic, biotic, and nanoparticle-based agents. By exploring the intricate signaling pathways and molecular responses triggered by external stimuli in this review, we gain insights into how plants tailor their metabolite production in reaction to their environment. Intricately intertwined with the mechanisms, the types of elicitors utilized are extensively discussed. Abiotic elicitors, encompassing physical factors and chemicals, biotic elicitors involving microbe-derived molecules, plant hormones and symbiotic microorganisms, and the emerging application of nanoparticles as elicitation agents are explored. The review further examines the application of these elicitors in both in-vitro and in-vivo cultures, showcasing their practical utility in controlled laboratory settings and real-world environments. By assessing the efficacy of diverse elicitors, this paper provides valuable insights into tailoring elicitation strategies to enhance secondary metabolite yields for various applications. Addressing the limitations and leveraging emerging technologies will undoubtedly steer elicitation research towards innovative breakthroughs, further enhancing our capacity to harness plants for sustainable and efficient secondary metabolite production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) is an industrially important herb of immense importance due to its sweetening bioactive compounds, especially rebaudioside A and stevioside. The industrial demand for steviol glycosides is mainly fulfilled by conventional agricultural practices. This resulted in non-uniform steviol glycosides (SGs) accumulation in the produce of S. rebaudiana and it is primarily due to changes in varying climatic conditions, genotypes, and cultivars. Therefore, there is an utmost need for a robust protocol to provide quality planting material to produce metabolite-enriched S. rebaudiana. Ex-vitro acclimatization in fields/natural habitats is believed to be a vital part of determining the fate of regenerated plantlets through micropropagation. In the present investigation, elicitor-treated micropropagated plantlets were allowed to harden for one month; after which percentage survival, growth and leaf biomass yield, chlorophyll fluorescence, biochemical profiling of specialized metabolites, and transcriptional profiling of candidate genes were carried out. A high percentage (80–100%) of acclimatized plants was obtained after 30 days. The 1.5 mg L−1 polyethylene glycol (PEG) treated plants attained higher shoot length (14.10 cm) and maximum leaf biomass (537.60 mg FW and 111.03 mg DW). The Chl fluorescence parameters and pigment content indicated stable photosynthetic efficiency in all conditions. Maximum total SGs were accumulated in 1.5 mg L−1 PEG-treated plants. Expression profiling of SG biosynthetic pathway genes showed an apparent correlation with the metabolite content. The study unveils that 1.5 mg L−1 PEG-treated plants perform better in growth and yield attributes and metabolite accumulation parameters after 1 month of ex-vitro acclimatization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solanum xanthocarpum fruits are used in the treatment of cough, fever, and heart disorders. It possesses antipyretic, hypotensive, antiasthmatic, aphrodisiac and antianaphylactic properties. In the present study, 24 elicitors (both biotic and abiotic) were used to enhance the production of glycoalkaloids in cell cultures of S. xanthocarpum. Four concentrations of elicitors were added into the MS culture medium. The maximum accumulation (5.56-fold higher than control) of demissidine was induced by sodium nitroprusside at 50 mM concentration whereas the highest growth of cell biomass (4.51-fold higher than control) stimulated by systemin at 30 mM concentration. A total of 17 genes of biosynthetic pathways of glycoalkaloids were characterized from the cells of S. xanthocarpum. The greater accumulation of demissidine was confirmed with the expression analysis of 11 key biosynthetic pathway enzymes e.g., acetoacetic-CoA thiolase, 3- hydroxy 3-methyl glutaryl synthase, β-hydroxy β-methylglutaryl CoA reductase, mevalonate kinase, farnesyl diphosphate synthase, squalene synthase, squalene epoxidase, squalene-2,3- epoxide cyclase, cycloartenol synthase, UDP-glucose: solanidine glucosyltransferase and UDP-rhamnose: solanidine rhamno-galactosyl transferase. The maximum expression levels of UDP-rhamnose: solanidine rhamno-galactosyl transferase gene was recorded in this study. • Solanum xanthocarpum fruits are used in the treatment of cough, and heart disorders. • It possesses antipyretic, hypotensive, and aphrodisiac properties. • Elicitation is used for increasing the production of secondary metabolites. • Four concentrations of elicitors were added into the MS culture medium. • The maximum accumulation of demissidine was induced by sodium nitroprusside. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Successfully established the callus induction system of Saxifraga stolonifera Meerb. • The best sterilization method of explants and the ratio of plant growth regulators for callus induction were selected. • SA and SNP could increase the content of secondary metabolites in callus. • This study has certain reference significance for the commercial production of Saxifraga stolonifera Meerb. Elicitation is a well-known strategy for increasing the accumulation of secondary metabolites in callus cultures. In this study, a callus induction system for Saxifraga stolonifera Meerb. was developed, and elicitors were used to enhance secondary metabolite production. Tender leaves of S. stolonifera were used as explants for in vitro culture. We examined callus induction characteristics of S. stolonifera and its response to various elicitors by assessing the sterilization conditions of the explants, varying hormone ratios, and determining the optimal concentrations of salicylic acid (SA), Sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA). The results revealed that sterilizing the explants with 70% ethanol for 40 s, followed by 0.1% mercury chloride for 10 min, resulted in a survival rate of 82.22% during tissue culture. Following these sterilization methods, callus formation was successfully induced on Murashige and Skoog medium supplemented with 2 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine and 0.15 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid, achieving an induction rate of 88.88%. Additionally, the study identified SA as the most effective elicitor for increasing the levels of gallic acid, protocatechuic acid, and quercitrin in the callus, with optimal concentrations of salicylic acid being 60, 40, and 60 μM, respectively. SNP at 40 μM, 80 μM, and 20 μM concentrations was identified as the best elicitor for promoting the accumulation of bergenin, chlorogenic acid, and quercetin, respectively. This study established appropriate conditions for cultivating S. stolonifera callus and identified the optimal elicitor concentrations for maximizing secondary metabolite production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Broccoli sprouts have been considered as functional foods which have received increasing attention because they have been highly prized for glucosinolates, phenolics, and vitamins in particular glucosinolates. One of hydrolysates-sulforaphane from glucoraphanin is positively associated with the attenuation of inflammatory, which could reduce diabetes, cardiovascular and cancer risk. In recent decades, the great interest in natural bioactive components especially for sulforaphane promotes numerous researchers to investigate the methods to enhance glucoraphanin levels in broccoli sprouts and evaluate the immunomodulatory activities of sulforaphane. Therefore, glucosinolates profiles are different in broccoli sprouts varied with genotypes and inducers. Physicochemical, biological elicitors, and storage conditions were widely studied to promote the accumulation of glucosinolates and sulforaphane in broccoli sprouts. These inducers would stimulate the biosynthesis pathway gene expression and enzyme activities of glucosinolates and sulforaphane to increase the concentration in broccoli sprouts. The immunomodulatory activity of sulforaphane was summarized to be a new therapy for diseases with immune dysregulation. The perspective of this review served as a potential reference for customers and industries by application of broccoli sprouts as a functional food and clinical medicine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the last century, it has been shown that dedifferentiated cells of Camellia sinensis can produce catechins and other secondary metabolites under in vitro conditions, with potential applications in the cosmetic, pharmaceutical and food industries. In this work, cell suspension cultures of a C. sinensis cell line (LSC-5Y) were established in a liquid medium in order to optimize the biomass productivity, catechin monomer (GC, EGC, C, EC, CG, and ECG) and alkaloid (TB and CAF) productivity. The following factors were evaluated: concentration of growth regulators (BA and IBA), inoculum size, age of the cell line, light exposure, and effect of biotic elicitors (MeJA and extracts of Ciborinia camelliae). GC, EGC, and ECG increased approximately 1.80-fold when the auxin IBA concentration was increased from 0.1 to 2.0 mg/L. In addition, better productivity of EGC, C, EC, and CAF was achieved by using inoculum densities between 50 and 100 g/L. Although lower inoculum densities (25 g/L) showed a higher growth rate (0.20 d−1), the use of inoculum densities higher than 25 g/L favors a 2–4-fold increase in total catechin (TC) productivity, with maximum productivity being reached after 21 days of culture. However, the cell line showed instability in TC productivity: in the short term (in three successive subcultures), the coefficient of variation was 32.80%, and catechin production capacity was 2.5 years with maximum productivity at 0.5 years. Finally, it was observed that ethanol, used as an elicitor solvent, has a strong elicitor effect capable of increasing the accumulation of catechins up to 5.24 times compared to the treatment without an elicitor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Melon (Cucumis melo) is considered a valuable agricultural crop in terms of nutrition and economy. However, viral diseases pose a serious threat to melon production. This study investigates the importance of using defense activator to reduce the impact of viruses on melon yield and quality. Elicitors and polyethylene mulch were used as defense activator to increase plant tolerance to viruses. Agricultural plots in the Abravan region of Mashhad were prepared, and treatments included the use of mulch and elicitors at different stages of melon plant growth. Leaf samples were collected from symptomatic plants, and RNA was extracted from the leaf tissues. Duplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (dRT-PCR) was used to simultaneously identify Cucurbit aphid-borne yellows virus (CABYV) and Cucurbit yellow stunting disorder virus (CYSDV). The percentage of viral symptoms in the plants across the treatment groups was analyzed. The results showed the presence of CABYV and CYSDV in different treatments. Treatment with elicitors and polyethylene mulch significantly reduced the severity of mosaic and yellowing symptoms in melon plants at the seedling and 2-4 leaf stages. Additionally, this treatment increased crop yield per hectare and prevented infection by CABYV and CYSDV. The findings suggest that the combination of elicitors and polyethylene mulch can be an effective strategy to reduce viral symptoms and increase crop yield in melon cultivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal is an important indigenous medicinal plant with extensive pharmaceutical potential. The root is the main source of major bioactive compounds of this plant species including withanolides, withanine, phenolic acids, etc. Hairy root culture (HRC) is a crucial method for low-cost production of active compounds on a large scale. Four different Agrobacterium rhizogenes strains have been used for the hairy root induction. Maximum transformation efficiency (87.34 ± 2.13%) was achieved with A4 bacterial strain-mediated transformed culture. The genetic transformation was confirmed by using specific primers of seven different genes. Seven HR (Hairy root) lines were selected after screening 29 HR lines based on their fast growth rate and high accumulation of withanolides and phenolic acids content. Two biotic and three abiotic elicitors were applied to the elite root line to trigger more accumulation of withanolides and phenolic acids. While all the elicitors effectively increased withanolides and phenolic acids production, among the five different elicitors, salicylic acid (4.14 mg l–1) induced 11.49 -fold increase in withanolides (89.07 ± 2.75 mg g–1 DW) and 5.34- fold increase in phenolic acids (83.69 ± 3.11 mg g− 1 DW) after 5 days of elicitation compared to the non-elicited culture (7.75 ± 0.63 mg g–1 DW of withanolides and 15.66 ± 0.92 mg g–1 DW of phenolic acids). These results suggest that elicitors can tremendously increase the biosynthesis of active compounds in this system; thus, the HRC of W. somnifera is cost-effective and can be efficiently used for the industrial production of withanolides and phenolic acids. • Establish Agrobacterium rhizogenes mediated hairy root culture in Withania somnifera. • Selection of elite hairy root clone for elicitor treatment. • Exogenous application of biotic and abiotic elicitors in hairy root culture. • Enhance production of withanolides and phenolic acids. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Unintended wounding or bruising during harvest or postharvest handling leads to significant tuber loss and imposes economic burden to potato industry. Therefore, finding effective strategies to mitigate wound-related tuber losses is very important from industry perspectives. Formation of protective barrier through accumulation of suberin polyphenolics (SPP) is a natural and initial response of potato tuber tissues to wounding. Materials and methods: In this study, efficacy of two natural elicitors, such as chitosan oligosaccharide (COS 0.125 g L-1) and cranberry pomace residue (Nutri-Cran 0.125 g L-1) was investigated using a mechanically wounded tuber tissue model and by histological determination of SPP formation in five agronomically relevant and red-skin potato cultivars (Chieftain, Dakota Rose, Dakota Ruby, Red LaSoda, Red Norland). Furthermore, the potential role of stress protective metabolic regulation involving phenolic metabolites, proline, and antioxidant enzymes in tuber WH processes were also investigated during 0-9 days after wounding. Results and discussion: Exogenous treatments of both COS and Nutri-Cran resulted into enhanced SPP formation in wounded surface, but the impact was more rapid with Nutri-Cran treatment in select cultivars. Greater contents of total soluble phenolic, ferulic acid, chlorogenic acid, total antioxidant activity, and superoxide dismutase activity were also observed in elicitor treated tuber tissues at different time points after wounding. Nutri-Cran treatment also reduced the activity of succinate dehydrogenase in Red Norland and Dakota Ruby at 3 d, indicating a suppression in respiration rate. Collectively, these results suggest that Nutri-Cran can be potentially utilized as an effective WH treatment to potato tubers for minimizing wound-related losses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polyphenols are plant secondary metabolites that function mostly as a general stress-induced protective mechanism. Polyphenols have also gained interest due to their beneficial properties for human health. Strawberry leaves represent an agro-industrial waste material with relevant bioactive polyphenol content, which could be incorporated into circular economy strategies. However, due to the low quantities of polyphenols in plants, their production needs to be improved for cost-effective applications. The objective of this research was to compare polyphenol production in strawberry (Fragaria × ananassa cv. Festival) leaves in plants grown in greenhouse conditions and plants grown in vitro, using three possible elicitor treatments (UV irradiation, cold exposure, and cysteine). General vegetative effects were morphologically evaluated, and specific polyphenolic compounds were quantified by UHPLC-DAD-MS/MS. Gallic acid was the most abundant polyphenol found in the leaves, both in vivo and in vitro. The results showed higher amounts and faster accumulation of polyphenols in the in vitro regenerated plants, highlighting the relevance of in vitro tissue culture strategies for producing compounds such as polyphenols in this species and cultivar. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Induced resistance (IR), which enables plants to increase their resilience against insect pests and microbial pathogens by promoting their own immunity, has been recognized for its value in crop protection schemes. Despite promising applications, the use of IR in crop protection has remained marginal compared with pesticides and single resistance genes. This review aims to shed light on this disparity by examining the scientific milestones achieved over the past decades for both internal (immunological) and external (ecological) IR strategies. The multifaceted advantages of IR, particularly its ability to provide broad-spectrum protection and enhance the nutritional and nutraceutical value of certain crops, are also discussed. The various obstacles hindering the widespread adoption of IR strategies are then revealed. After considering recent scientific discoveries and insights, potential solutions are proposed, including leveraging epigenetic approaches to understand the mechanisms involved in IR. By acknowledging that the future sustainability of crop protection is irreconcilable with single-use technologies, this review proposes taking advantage of the latest insights regarding the adaptive nature of the plant immune system and its ecological interactions to safely integrate IR into existing crop protection schemes. By emphasizing the need for comprehensive and holistic approaches to basic and translational research, this review sets the stage for leveraging IR alongside other strategies to foster a resilient, environmentally friendly, and economically viable future, thereby ensuring the health of crops.

Elicitation and precursor feeding are the effective strategies for enhancing the synthesis of bioactive compounds in plant cell suspension cultures. The present study aimed to explore an efficient elicitation and precursor feeding protocol and its effect on inducing the accumulation of α-tocopherol in Solanum lycopersicum (tomato) suspension cell culture. The tomato cell suspension cultures were treated with different elicitors (Methyl Jasmonate, Salicylic acid and Yeast extract) and precursors (Homogentisic acid, Tyrosine, Hydroxypyruvic acid and Phytol) and the effect of α-tocopherol production was studied. Significant increase in the α-tocopherol was observed on day 5 upon methyl jasmonate treatment which represented 17.7 fold increase in comparison to the control. The treatment of precursor in combination viz., 150 μM Homogentisic acid + 150 μM Phytol showed the maximum enhancement of α-tocopherol up to 22 fold on day 10 compared to the untreated control. These results suggested that the suspension cultures combining with the optimal precursor feeding and elicitors enhanced the production of α-tocopherol in economically important tomato cell cultures.

The cell wall (CW) of plant-interacting fungi, as the direct interface with host plants, plays a crucial role in fungal development. A number of secreted proteins are directly associated with the fungal CW, either through covalent or non-covalent interactions, and serve a range of important functions. In the context of plant–fungal interactions many are important for fungal development in the host environment and may therefore be considered fungal CW-associated effectors (CWAEs). Key CWAE functions include integrating chemical/physical signals to direct hyphal growth, interfering with plant immunity, and providing protection against plant defenses. In recent years, a diverse range of mechanisms have been reported that underpin their roles, with some CWAEs harboring conserved motifs or functional domains, while others are reported to have novel features. As such, the current understanding regarding fungal CWAEs is systematically presented here from the perspective of their biological functions in plant–fungal interactions. An overview of the fungal CW architecture and the mechanisms by which proteins are secreted, modified, and incorporated into the CW is first presented to provide context for their biological roles. Some CWAE functions are reported across a broad range of pathosystems or symbiotic/mutualistic associations. Prominent are the chitin interacting-effectors that facilitate fungal CW modification, protection, or suppression of host immune responses. However, several alternative functions are now reported and are presented and discussed. CWAEs can play diverse roles, some possibly unique to fungal lineages and others conserved across a broad range of plant-interacting fungi. [Graphic: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license.

Abstract Background Quantifying gene expression is a critical aspect of applied genomics research across all organisms, and real-time PCR has emerged as a powerful tool for this purpose. However, selecting appropriate internal control genes for data normalization presents specific challenges. This study aimed to identify suitable reference genes for gene expression analysis under various conditions, encompassing salinity, low and high-temperature stresses, and different elicitor treatments. These treatments included titanium dioxide, cold plasma, 24-epibrassinolide, and melatonin, resulting in a total of 13 unique treatments and 148 treatment combinations applied to fenugreek plants. Results As per the analysis performed with the BestKeeper tool, EEF-1α, and GAPDH were recognized as the most stable reference genes under the majority of conditions. Furthermore, the GeNorm and NormFinder tools identified β-tubulin and EEF-1α as the most stable reference genes. The findings of this research demonstrated that, although the stability of three reference genes expression was acceptable in almost all evaluated treatments, fluctuations in their expression were observed under the treatments of cold stress with TiO2 NPs application, cold plasma application with salinity stress, and cold plasma application with high-temperature stress compared to others. Simultaneously, the GeNorm analysis results demonstrated that in the mentioned treatments, relying on only one reference gene is inadequate. To corroborate the results, we examined the expression profile of the SSR gene, a pivotal gene in diosgenin biosynthesis, under all investigated treatments and treatment combinations. The outcomes suggested that employing stable reference genes yielded highly consistent results. Conclusions The varying expression patterns of the target genes emphasize the crucial need for precise optimization of experimental conditions and selecting stable reference genes to achieve accurate results in gene expression studies utilizing real-time PCR. These findings offer valuable insights into the selection of appropriate reference genes for gene expression analysis under diverse conditions using real-time PCR.

Wilt disease in chilli caused by Fusarium oxysporum is a serious and global issue in chilli production, necessitating greater knowledge of plant defense systems for overall disease protection and management. In an eco-friendly integrated agricultural protection system, the introduction of chemical elicitors like jasmonic acid (JA) and salicylic acid (SA) represents an attractive new prospect means of controlling bacterial and fungal diseases. In the present study effectiveness of JA and SA as elicitors in disease progression was investigated in Capsicum annuum L. c.v., Kashmiri longum (chilli) plants against Fusarium wilt caused by pathogen Fusarium oxysporum. The experiment had eight sets of plants as control (untreated, uninfected), infected (untreated, infected), and one set of plants for each concentration of JA treatment (50 µM, 100 µM, 150 µM) + pathogen, and SA treatment (50 µM, 100 µM, 150 µM) + pathogen. Pre-treatment of JA and SA elicitors to F.oxysorum-infected chilli plants showed significant decrease in disease severity index as well as in disease symptoms compared to pathogen-infected and control plants. There was a substantial increase in the activities of antioxidant and defense enzymes in elicitor treated samples post pathogen inoculation. Exogenous application of JA and SA enhanced the growth of morphological parameters (shoot length, root length, number of leaves, leaf area, and plant height). Moreover, the statistical analysis using two-way ANOVA and Tukey test revealed significant differences between treatments, and days post infection in comparison to control. The study found that each elicitor treatment significantly differs in the type of enzymes activated and their amounts post-inoculation, indicating distinct host reaction patterns. Overall, the current study highlights the induced defense resistance role of JA and SA in chilli plants in response to F.oxysporum and JA was found most effective concerning disease protection followed by SA.

With the rising prominence of organic farming systems in European Union countries, motivated by agricultural policies, there is pressure for effective disease management strategies. To address this challenge, the use of plant resistance inducers (PRIs) and elicitors has emerged as a promising approach. In this study, we compared the impact of integrated production with organic agriculture farming practices, specifically applying PRIs and elicitors in the latter, on the expression levels of stress-responsive genes in two grapevine cultivars, 'Alicante Bouschet' and 'Trincadeira'. Our findings revealed that the organic farming system led to upregulation of eight of the 12 studied genes in at least one cultivar, indicating a significant influence of production mode. The upregulated genes were associated with plant stress-responsive genes (PR1, PR2, PR4, and TLP9), sugar metabolism (HT5), phenylpropanoids (STS1), enzymes related to jasmonic acid synthesis and response to biotic stresses, respectively (LOX, PER42). Also, the 'Alicante Bouschet' cultivar consistently displayed significantly higher levels of transcript accumulation on most of the stress-related genes compared to the 'Trincadeira' cultivar in both production modes. Our study provides valuable insights into the effectiveness of PRIs and elicitors in increasing plant expression levels of stress-responsive genes, leading to greater resilience to pathogen attacks and emphasizing their position in organic agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Actinomycetes' secondary metabolites have received considerable attention due to their many beneficial biological activities. However, many biosynthetic gene clusters in actinomycetes remain silent as they are not transcribed under standard laboratory conditions. Therefore, this study aims to introduce antibiotic elicitors to activate cryptic secondary metabolites in soil actinomycetes and screen them for antibacterial potential. A total of 20 cave and 10 mangrove soil actinomycete isolates were exposed to streptomycin or erythromycin at subinhibitory concentration (0.5--1048 μg/mL) in minimal media. The ethyl acetate extracts were subjected to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profiling to observe the effect of elicitors towards secondary metabolite production. As a result, 61.7% of the isolates showed a positive impact (appearance of 'new'/increase in metabolite production) when elicitors were supplemented. These changes were more pronounced in erythromycin-induced media (63.3%) than in streptomycin (60.0%). Two isolates (CS3PT50 and CS3PT53) exhibited significant changes in the profile, with additional peaks detected at 210 and 245 nm, which may indicate the production of new metabolites. More antibacterial activities were observed from stimulated (26.7%) as opposed to non-stimulated isolates (10.0%), including 6 new activities, 1 improved, and 1 decrease in inhibitory. Furthermore, isolate CS3PT53 (0.5 mg/disc) displayed broad-spectrum activities, inhibiting S. aureus ATCC 25923 and S. Typhimurium ATCC 14028. The hit actinomycete isolates belonged to the genus Streptomyces (55.6%), Norcardia (22.2%), Norcardiopsis, and Saccharomonospora (11.1%). Overall, this study demonstrated that incorporating antibiotic elicitor at subinhibitory concentration could effectively trigger the production of cryptic secondary metabolites with antibacterial properties in soil actinomycetes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Expression of recombinant proteins is important for studying their biological functions. For the primary description of protein properties, the E. coli expression system is most often used. However, in overexpression conditions, the rate of aggregation of target proteins often exceeds the rate of proper folding, resulting in the formation of insoluble inclusion bodies. Inclusion bodies are a clear disadvantage of the E. coli expression system since they prevent the extraction of target recombinant proteins. The use of chaperone-like proteins in vitro while refolding a target protein is one of the solutions to the existing problem. In this study, the MF3 recombinant protein is an example of a chaperone-like protein, which increases the yield of soluble plant chitinase by 92% compared to the yield of this protein using the standard refolding procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Phenolic modulators have attracted attention for their potential in shaping functional traits in plants. This work investigated the impact of naringenin (Nar) and rosmarinic acid (RA) on the functional properties of Lepidium sativum leaves and roots. Results: Untargeted metabolomics identified a diverse phenolic profile, including flavonoids, phenolic acids, low molecular weight phenolics, lignans, and stilbenes. Cluster, analysis of variance multiblock orthogonal partial least squares (AMOPLS), and orthogonal projection to latent structures discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) multivariate analyses confirmed tissue-specific modulation of bioactive compounds. The tissue was the hierarchically most influential factor, explaining 27% of observed variability, while the treatment and their interaction were statistically insignificant. Thereafter, various in vitro assays were employed to assess antioxidant capacity, including 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,20-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)- 6-sulfonic acid (ABTS) radical scavenging activity, cupric ion reducing antioxidant capacity (CUPRAC), and ferric ion reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), metal chelating ability, and phosphomolybdenum (PMD) assays. Extracts were also tested for inhibitory effects on cholinesterase, amylase, glucosidase, and tyrosinase enzymes. RA application positively impacted antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory activities, holding valuable implications in shaping the health-promoting properties of L. sativum. Conclusion: The untargeted metabolomics analysis showed a significant tissue-dependent modulation of bioactive compounds, determining no synergistic effect between applying phenolic compounds in combination. Specifically, the sole application of RA increased anthocyanins and hydroxyphenyl propanoic acid content on leaves, which was strictly related to enhancing the biological activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Quantifying gene expression is a critical aspect of applied genomics research across all organisms, and real-time PCR has emerged as a powerful tool for this purpose. However, selecting appropriate internal control genes for data normalization presents specific challenges. This study aimed to identify suitable reference genes for gene expression analysis under various conditions, encompassing salinity, low and high-temperature stresses, and different elicitor treatments. These treatments included titanium dioxide, cold plasma, 24-epibrassinolide, and melatonin, resulting in a total of 13 unique treatments and 148 treatment combinations applied to fenugreek plants. Results: As per the analysis performed with the BestKeeper tool, EEF-1α, and GAPDH were recognized as the most stable reference genes under the majority of conditions. Furthermore, the GeNorm and NormFinder tools identified β-tubulin and EEF-1α as the most stable reference genes. The findings of this research demonstrated that, although the stability of three reference genes expression was acceptable in almost all evaluated treatments, fluctuations in their expression were observed under the treatments of cold stress with TiO2 NPs application, cold plasma application with salinity stress, and cold plasma application with high-temperature stress compared to others. Simultaneously, the GeNorm analysis results demonstrated that in the mentioned treatments, relying on only one reference gene is inadequate. To corroborate the results, we examined the expression profile of the SSR gene, a pivotal gene in diosgenin biosynthesis, under all investigated treatments and treatment combinations. The outcomes suggested that employing stable reference genes yielded highly consistent results. Conclusions: The varying expression patterns of the target genes emphasize the crucial need for precise optimization of experimental conditions and selecting stable reference genes to achieve accurate results in gene expression studies utilizing real-time PCR. These findings offer valuable insights into the selection of appropriate reference genes for gene expression analysis under diverse conditions using real-time PCR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several elicitors of plant defense have been identified and numerous efforts to use them in the field have been made. Exogenous elicitor treatments mimic the in planta activation of pattern-triggered immunity (PTI), which relies on the perception of pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) such as bacterial flg22 or fungal chitins. Early transcriptional responses to distinct PAMPs are mostly overlapping, regardless of the elicitor being used. However, it remains poorly known if the same patterns are observed for metabolites and proteins produced later during PTI. In addition, little is known about the impact of a combination of elicitors on PTI and the level of induced resistance to pathogens. Here, we monitored Arabidopsis thaliana resistance to the bacterial pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (Pto DC3000) following application of flg22 and chitosan elicitors, used individually or in combination. A slight, but not statistically significant increase in induced resistance was observed when the elicitors were applied together when compared with individual treatments. We investigated the effect of these treatments on the metabolome by using an untargeted analysis. We found that the combination of flg22 and chitosan impacted a higher number of metabolites and deregulated specific metabolic pathways compared with the elicitors individually. These results contribute to a better understanding of plant responses to elicitors, which might help better rationalize their use in the field. [Graphic: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International license.

Podosphaera xanthii is the main causal agent of powdery mildew (PM) disease for Cucurbita pepo. Disease control is attained principally by applications of chemical fungicides, along with parallel use of tolerant crop varieties and alternate application of elicitors to control development of disease resistance. To get insight into C. pepo molecular responses to P. xanthii infection and elicitor treatment we studied the proteomic profile differences at the phyllosphere of a zucchini cultivar susceptible to PM, at the onset of P. xanthii (PX) infection and after application of Reynoutria sachalinensis (RS) plant extract, respectively, using a nano-LC-HRMS/MS, Q-Exactive-Orbitrap approach. Analysis of peptide sequences regarding four treatment groups (Control; PX; RS; and RSPX (PX-infected priorly treated with RS)) resulted in 2070 CuGenDB annotations. Three comparisons (treatments vs. Control) encompassed most of the Differentially Expressed Proteins (DEPs). In these three comparisons, KEGG and Gene Ontology functional analyses highlighted unique differentially enriched pathways—some of which included highly expressed proteins—in PX-related (proteasome, pentose phosphate pathway, and carbon fixation), RS-related (biosynthesis of secondary metabolites, flavonoids, and starch and sucrose metabolism), and RSPX-related (pyruvate metabolism and polycomb repressive complex) comparisons, respectively, suggesting distinct mechanisms of early plant responses modulated by PX and RS. Furthermore, in four out of six comparisons the thiamine metabolism pathway was found to be enriched, suggesting a pivotal role in PX-induced responses.

Guar (Cyamopsis tetragonoloba L.), a summer legume, is becoming increasingly important as an industrial crop due to its high gum and viscosity content. This study investigated the effects of methyl jasmonate (MeJA), chitosan (CH), and their combination on the growth, yield, and quality of guar under irrigation regimes. A greenhouse experiment was conducted using a factorial design to evaluate the effect of foliar spraying with MeJA (5, 25, and 50 µM), CH (100, 150, and 200 mg/L), their combination (25 µM MeJA + 150 mg/L CH), and control on two commercial guar varieties (RGC-986 and BR-2017) under different irrigation regimes (100%, 70%, and 40% field capacity). The results showed that the exogenous application of MeJA and CH, individually and in combination, significantly enhanced various morphological traits and yield components in guar, including plant height, pod characteristics, seed yield, and root development. Additionally, the combination treatments improved seed quality parameters, such as gum percentage and viscosity content. Leaf analysis revealed increased levels of total phenolic content, total flavonoid, and anthocyanin contents. The BR-2017 variety showed superior performance in most morphological and qualitative traits, demonstrating greater resistance to irrigation regimes. It maintained yield and quality characteristics under water-deficit conditions, particularly when treated with 25 µM MeJA and 150 mg/L CH. The highest gum percentage (33.67%) and viscosity (4768.5 cP) were observed in the RGC-986 variety, along with enhanced levels of secondary metabolites. This study provides new insights into how MeJA, CH, and their combination can improve the yield and quality of guar under water deficit stress conditions. The results suggest that the use of these elicitors, especially in combination, represents an innovative strategy for improving guar production and quality, with potential variety-specific responses to water-deficit stress.

Brassinosteroids (BRs), a new family of plant hormones, have been used in a range of food staples, oil crops, and cereals. However, the scientific literature pertaining to their use in fleshy fruits remains scarce. This review presents, for the first time, the knowledge developed over the last decade on the role of BR preharvest treatments in crop yield and fruit quality properties at harvest and during storage, although information about the effects of BR postharvest treatments is also addressed. This review revealed that 24-epibrassinolide is the most used BR analogue in research experiments, either as a pre- or postharvest treatment, with doses ranging from 0.1 to 15 μM. Additionally, most of the research has been conducted on non-climacteric fruit species. In most of these preharvest treatments, an increase in crop yield has been reported, as well as enhanced anthocyanin concentration in red-coloured fruit. In addition, increases in firmness, total soluble solids, and phenolic content have also been observed. On the other hand, BR postharvest treatments led to the maintenance of these fruit quality properties during storage due to increased antioxidant systems, either enzymatic or non-enzymatic ones. Finally, as future perspectives, it is proposed to extend the research about BR treatments to other climacteric fruits and to deepen the knowledge of how BRs regulate physiological aspects from preharvest to postharvest. Furthermore, it is essential to investigate the role of BRs in the prevention of rot and biotic stress.

Research is advancing regarding techniques that are based on natural products developed using the plants. Extracellular DNA (eDNA) is a potential alternative that can be used as active material in agronomy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of self-eDNA using fertigation in lettuce plants as a biostimulant. Five fertigation treatments were used: 0 (control), 0.025, 0.25, 2.5 and 25 mg self-eDNA per plant. Fertigation was monitored through drainage fraction, pH and EC. The benefits of fertigation were evaluated using water, nitrate and potassium uptake, and growth. There was a significant correlation between fertigation uptake and growth. The highest correlation (R2 = 0.96) occurred between water uptake and growth. There was a quadratic fit between uptake and production parameters and the dose of self-eDNA applied. Mean drainage values showed no significant differences between treatments for EC and pH. The highest values of fertigation uptake (water, nitrate and potassium) and growth were observed at doses of 0.25 and 2.5 mg self-eDNA. Doses lower than 0.25 decreased by 21.3%, while doses higher than 2.5 decreased by 16.4%. Self-eDNA had beneficial effects as a biostimulant and potentially had an appropriate cost–benefit ratio.

Nowadays, there is a global surge in interest surrounding novel foods, particularly sprouts, microgreens, and baby leaves, attributed to their rich content of bioactive compounds, such as phenolic derivatives, glucosinolates, and vitamins. This study delves into the impact of exogenously applied melatonin on novel foods derived from Brassica oleracea L. Two distinct cultivars of broccoli (Brassica oleracea var. italica Plenck), namely Sicilian sprouting broccoli (Broccolo nero) and a commercial variety (Cavolo Broccolo Ramoso Calabrese), were compared across the sprouts, microgreens, and baby leaves stages, adhering to organic farming practices. Various doses of melatonin (0, 50, and 100 µM) were administered at each harvesting stage. Plantlets were collected at different growth stages and assessed for key morphometric traits, including the weight, hypocotyl length, and cotyledon dimensions during the sprouts stage. For microgreens, the number and dimensions of the true leaves were recorded, while for baby leaves, the stem length was additionally measured. The analysis of glucosinolates was carried out using a high-performance liquid chromatograph with a diode array detector (HPLC-DAD). The results revealed significant variations among the experimental factors considered. Melatonin application significantly influenced the morphometric parameters at different growth stages, exhibiting notable variations in the weight, hypocotyl length, cotyledon width, and leaf width. The GLSs profile exhibited significant variations between the different growth stages and genotypes studied. Particularly noteworthy was the tendency for the GLSs content to be higher during the sprouts stage compared to the baby leaves stage, ranging from 24.07 to 4.61 µmol g−1 d.w. from sprouts to baby leaves, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feijoa (Acca sellowiana (O. Berg.) Burret), also known as pineapple guava, is a member of the Myrtaceae family and is well known for its fruit. Chemical profiling of the different tissues of the feijoa plant has shown that they generate an array of useful bioactive compounds which have health benefits such as significant antioxidant activities. In this study, an in vitro culture system has been developed, which could be explored to extract high-value bioactive compounds from feijoa. Feijoa tissue culture was initiated by the induction of callus from floral buds. Sections of floral buds were plated on MS mediumsupplemented with 2,4-D and BAP at 2.0mg/L and 0.2mg/L concentrations, respectively. Cell suspension cultures of feijoa were established using a liquid MS medium with different concentrations of 2,4-D and BAP and cultured on a rotary shaker. The growth of the cell suspension was evaluated with different parameters such as different carbohydrate sources, concentration of MS media, and inoculum density. When the cell suspensions were treated with different concentrations of MeJA at different time points, phytochemicals UPLC - QTOF MS analysis identified extractables of interest. The main compounds identified were secondary metabolites (flavonoids and flavonoid-glucosides) and plant hormones. These compounds are of interest for their potential use in therapeutics or skin and personal care products. This report investigates essential methodology parameters for establishing cell suspension cultures from feijoa floral buds, which could be used to generate in vitro biomass to produce high-value bioactive compounds. This is the first study reporting the identification of arctigenin from feijoa, a high-value compound whose pharmaceutical properties, including anti-tumour, anti-inflammatory and anti-colitis effects, have been widely reported. The ability of feijoa cell cultures to produce such high-value bioactive compounds is extremely promising for its use in pharmaceuticals, cosmeceuticals and nutraceuticals applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective / Background. Phytophthora capsici is the causal agent of chili wilt. Among the strategies for its control is the use of resistance inducers. Fructans are molecules with interesting biological properties, including the ability to induce resistance mechanisms in some plants. In this work, the protective effect of four concentrations inulin from dahlia tubers on chili infected with P. capsici was evaluated. Materials and Methods. The concentration that showed the highest protection was chosen to evaluate the induction of defense response through the enzymatic activity of β-1,3 glucanases, peroxidases and the production of total phenolic compounds. Results. Inulin showed a protective effect against infection at concentrations of 100 to 300 μM, as symptoms decreased and seedlings showed improved vegetative development. It was observed that inulin at 200 μM concentration was able to induce an effective defense response associated with increased activity of β-1,3 glucanases and peroxidases through a local and systemic response in seedlings. This response was differentiated between seedlings treated with inulin and seedlings infected with P. capsici. Conclusion. It was concluded that inulin has the ability to protect chili bell pepper from P. capsici by induction of resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chitosan and its derivatives are promising plant biostimulants with potentially broad applications in agriculture and horticulture. In this stuffy, we determined the effect of the application method and dose of depolymerised chitosan on morphological characteristics and metabolite levels in Eucomis autumnalis, a medicinal and ornamentalplant. Depolymerised chitosan (molecular weight -154,500 g/mol, number average molecular weight -22,800 g/mol and degree of deacetylation -85%) was used at 50 and 100 mg/l by drenching plants or spraying. In general, depolymerised chitosan increased the length of plant leaves and roots, especially at the dose of 100 mg/l, and also increased the fresh weight of leaves, bulbs and roots, with a more potent effect found when depolymerised chitosan was applied as a foliar spray. In addition, spraying the plants with chitosan solution at 50 and 100 mg/l caused a significant increase in the total chlorophyll content, by 55.4% and 42.0%, respectively, and the total polyphenol content, by 77.7% and 59.0%, respectively, compared with the control. On the other hand, the biosynthesis of carotenoids was most favourably affected by the application of 100 mg/l depolymerised chitosan by drenching and 50 mg/l depolymerised chitosan by spraying. Foliar application of depolymerised chitosan led to an increase in leaf L-ascorbic acid content by an average of 36.4%, regardless of the dose. The results suggest that depolymerised chitosan applied as afoliar spray promoted the growth ofE. autumnalis and contributed to increased biosynthesis of polyphenols, which may be a future means of obtaining metabolites in this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tylophora indica (Burm. f.) Merrill is an endangered medicinal plant that possesses various active agents, such as tylophorinine, kaempferol, quercetin, α-amyrin and beta-sitosterol, with multiple medicinal benefits. α-amyrin, a triterpenoid, is widely known for its antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory, gastroprotective and hepatoprotective properties. In this study, we investigated the metabolite profiling of tissues and the effects of cadmium chloride and chitosan on in vitro accumulation of alkaloids in T. indica. First, the callus was induced from the leaf in 2,4-D-, NAA- and/or BAP-fortified MS medium. Subsequent shoot formation through organogenesis and in vitro roots was later induced. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS)-based phytochemical profiling of methanolic extracts of in vivo and in vitro regenerated plants was conducted, revealing the presence of the important phytocompounds α-amyrin, lupeol, beta-sitosterol, septicine, tocopherol and several others. Different in vitro grown tissues, like callus, leaf and root, were elicited with cadmium chloride (0.1–0.4 mg L−1) and chitosan (1–50 mg L−1) to evaluate the effect of elicitation on α-amyrin accumulation, measured with high-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC). CdCl2 and chitosan showed improved sugar (17.24 and 15.04 mg g−1 FW, respectively), protein (10.76 and 9.99 mg g−1 FW, respectively) and proline (7.46 and 7.12 mg g−1 FW), especially at T3 (0.3 and 25 mg L−1), in the leaf as compared to those of the control and other tissues. The antioxidant enzyme activities were also evaluated under an elicitated stress situation, wherein catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) displayed the highest activities in the leaf at T4 of both of the two elicitors. The α-amyrin yield was quantified with HPTLC in all tested tissues (leaf, callus and root) and had an Rf = 0.62 at 510 nm wavelength. Among all the concentrations tested, the T3 treatment (0.3 mg L−1 of cadmium chloride and 25 mg L−1 of chitosan) had the best influence on accumulation, irrespective of the tissues, with the maximum being in the leaf (2.72 and 2.64 μg g−1 DW, respectively), followed by the callus and root. Therefore, these results suggest future opportunities of elicitors in scaling up the production of important secondary metabolites to meet the requirements of the pharmaceutical industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Betalains are water soluble nitrogenous pigments produce by plants under the Caryophyllales order and has been favoured as a natural colourant in food and pharmaceutical industries due to its high stability towards pH and temperature over a wide range of food. There is a constant search for alternative source and technique for betalain production to meet the growing demand as conventional extraction method requires high quantity of plant material. Thus, this study sought to examine the potential of producing betalain through callus culture of a natural betalain bearing plant, Gomphrena globosa by inducing callus cultures from different explants using different plant growth regulators (PGRs). Subsequently, the effect of different elicitors in enhancing the betalain production was also evaluated. Callus induction from different explants showed that the percentage of callus induction from the leaf and hypocotyl explants (84.00–100.00%) was significantly higher than seeds (53.33%). A combination of 0.5 mg/L 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) with 1.0 mg/L 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) were found to be effective in producing coloured callus with relatively high biomass in full strength MS medium. Elicitation with tyrosine was the most effective in enhancing the betacyanin content (red-violet pigments) followed by salicylic acid. The highest betacyanin content, 0.371 ± 0.035 mg/mg FW of callus was obtained when 100 μM of tyrosine was supplied. Copper sulphate was found to be effective in increasing the callus size but not the betalain content. The callus size was about 13-fold bigger in MS medium supplemented with 25 μM copper sulphate compared to medium without elicitors. This is the first study reporting an optimised protocol in the induction of callus containing betalain from G. globosa using different types of explants and PGRs. In addition, tyrosine can be used as a suitable elicitor to further enhance the betalain production which provides an alternative source of betalain for the commercial production of natural colorants.Key message: Callus can be induced from the seeds, hypocotys and leaves explants of Gomphrena globosa, 0.5 mg/L of 2,4-D and 1.0 mg/L BAP were effective in producing coloured callus with high biomass, Tyrosine was found to be effective in enhancing the betalains content in the callus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthocyanin concentration is considered an important fruit quality index of blood oranges and has gained popularity among consumers due to its antioxidant capacity, therapeutic properties, and prevention of some human diseases. Anthocyanin biosynthesis occurs in the cytoplasmic face of the endoplasmic reticulum by multi-enzymes complexes through the flavonoid pathway. Polyphenoloxidase (PPO) and β-glucosidase (anthocyanase) are the enzymes responsible for anthocyanin degradation. Blood oranges are cold-dependent for anthocyanin biosynthesis and accumulation, and thus, the low temperature of storage can enhance anthocyanin concentration and improve internal fruit quality. In addition, anthocyanin accumulation can be accelerated by postharvest technologies, either physical treatments or chemical elicitors. However, low temperatures can induce chilling injury (CI) incidence in blood oranges. Postharvest chemical elicitors treatments can enhance anthocyanin accumulation and prevent CI. This review provides the most updated information about postharvest tools modulating the anthocyanin content, and the role of enhancing and preserving pigmentation to produce blood orange with the highest quality standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]