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Salt stress tolerance is an important quality in breeding cultivated plants to reduce crop loss. In this work, the tolerance to sodium chloride (NaCl) salinity of two Capsicum genotypes was evaluated: C. annuum (Blanco and Simojovel chili) and C. frutescens (Siete Caldos chili) from the state of Chiapas, Mexico. Seedlings were hydroponically maintained with Hoagland nutrient solution supplemented with 0, 60, and 120 mM NaCl for 8 days. Physiological response variables (SPAD units, dry and fresh weight of root and aerial part), percentage survival, proline concentration, and relative Na+, K+, and Cl- concentration in the aerial part and roots were measured. The results showed that the Siete Caldos genotype was the most sensitive to NaCl stress, with a survival rate of 66.66 % at 120 mM. Stress affected chlorophyll by decreasing SPAD units and increasing proline concentrations at 60 mM and above. Furthermore, there was a high concentration of Na+ in leaves and a low concentration in roots, indicating its translocation. On the other hand, the Simojovel genotype was the most tolerant, with 100 % survival and 86.66 % survival at 60 and 120 mM, low Na+ accumulation in the aerial part, and a significant increase in proline concentration. Moderately salinity-tolerant genotypes could be an alternative for plant breeding. The results obtained here lay the basis for the selection of salt stress-tolerant chili genotypes in order to transfer this tolerance to other commercially important cultivars and to minimize the damage caused by excess salts in the soil through genetic improvement and the use of tolerant rootstocks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in exploring alternative treatments for bone defects. Bone tissue engineering has turned its attention to plant extracts containing osteogenic flavonoids as potential promoters of bone regeneration. In our study, we specifically investigated the extract of Petroselinum crispum, a plant known for its abundance of osteogenic flavonoids such as apigenin, quercetin, and kaempferol. Our objective was to compare the total flavonoid content (TFC) and their accumulation in different sources. We obtained hydrolyzed aqueous extracts from the leaves of parsley plants (grown for 12 weeks in the field), weekly embryogenic cultures, and suspension cell cultures. The TFC, measured in mg quercetin equivalent per gram of dry weight (QE mg/g dw), was found to be 53.81 ± 0.97 for 52 g dw of leaves (1 kg plant fw), 31.10 ± 1.52 for 420 g dw of embryogenic cultures, and 11.80 ± 0.76 for 210 g dw of cell suspensions. Notably, only the leaves and embryogenic cultures showed significant accumulation of osteogenic flavonoids, with apigenin levels of 1.8 ± 0.3 and 0.32 ± 0.02 mg/g dw, and kaempferol levels of 1.0 ± 0.18 and 0.2 ± 0.01 mg/g dw, respectively. Our findings indicate that embryogenic cultures have the potential to produce up to 40% more apigenin in 12 weeks compared to 1 kg of parsley plant, thanks to their superior biomass reproductive competence. These results present a promising biotechnological approach for generating extracts enriched with bioactive compounds, which can be further utilized in in vitro osteogenic testing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) by conventional methods is limited mainly by the lack of availability of high-yielding suckers. Nevertheless, it has been shown that, through in vitro propagation methodologies such as somatic embryogenesis and organogenesis, it is possible to obtain high-yielding plants in a more efficient and controllable way. The objective of this study was to generate an efficient protocol of micropropagation of landrace pineapple (Ananas comosus L.) for the in vitro multiplication and conservation of this species, the study was carried out in 2021. The morphogenic response of the landrace pineapple was evaluated based on different explants (apical meristem and leaf), grown in Murashige and Skoog (MS) culture medium supplemented with various growth regulators: naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA) (0.5, 1 and 1.5 mg L-1), 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) (1, 2 and 3 mg L-1) and 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) (1, 2 and 4.5 mg L-1), as well as a regulator-free control treatment. The results showed that, of the explants evaluated, the best response was observed in the apical meristem, in which the formation of adventitious shoots was obtained 60 days after induction treatment, when the culture medium was supplemented with BAP at a concentration of 2 mg L-1, obtaining eight shoots/explant. The protocol developed is a key study for the mass propagation of landrace pineapple. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biotechnological techniques provide a viable alternative to help improve and increase the production of plant species of agricultural and economic importance, which have been affected over the years by climate change, increasing their susceptibility to pests and/or diseases, generating losses in production as well as a decrease in their regenerative and genetic diversity. The application of biotechnological techniques such as in vitro mutagenesis offers a viable option for the generation of crops that are resistant to the different factors caused by abiotic and biotic stress. In vitro mutagenesis has been used in an efficient way to generate genetic changes in different plant species. However, these methods have not been studied thoroughly in crops of agro-industrial interest, such as agave, which represents an economic resource of national importance and are considered as endemic species of Mexico. Therefore, this literary review aimed to focus on the studies that have been used for the genetic improvement of this species via mutagenesis techniques in plants in the agave genus. Therefore, the objective was to set a precedent for future genetic studies that aim to obtain more productive regenerants for various industries, such as food and pharmaceutical. It is also of great interest to compile information from basic research that helps understand and elucidate a model of possible defense mechanisms that are activated in the Agave genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agave (Agave tequilana var. azul) is considered a crop with low genetic diversity because it has been propagated vegetatively for centuries for commercial purposes, and consequently, it could be equally susceptible to pests and diseases. However, the present study employs plant material derived from field-grown plants exhibiting phenotypic variability in susceptibility to agave wilt. The offshoots from rhizomes of these plants were reproduced in vitro and classified as potentially resistant or susceptible. Amplified fragment length polymorphism analysis confirmed wide genetic differences among individuals, but these differences were not correlated with the observed phenotypic variability in resistance. Propagated plantlets were inoculated with Fusarium solani in two time-lapse confrontations for 72 h and 30 days. The early biochemical response showed statistically superior levels in the accumulation of shikimic acid, phenolic compounds, and chitinase activity in potentially resistant plantlets. There was an inverse correlation of these early biochemical responses and salicylic acid and the incidence of diseased root cells in isogenic plantlets in the 30-day confrontation with F. solani , suggesting that these activities and accumulation of molecules were primordial in the defence against this pathogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of phytonanoparticles in agriculture could decrease the use of fertilizers and therefore decrease soil contamination, due to their size being better assimilated in plants. It is important to mention that the nanofertilizer is slow-releasing and improves plant physiological properties and various nutritional parameters. The influence of soil and foliar applications of phytonanoparticles of ZnO with the Moringa oleifera extract under three concentrations (25, 50, and 100 ppm) was evaluated on the cherry tomato crop (Solanum lycopersicum L.). Synthesis of the phytonanoparticles was analyzed with ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis) and infrared transmission spectroscopy with Fourier transform (FT-IR), as well as the analysis with the dynamic light scattering (DLS) technique. The morphometric parameters were evaluated before and after the application of the nanoparticles. The minerals' content of fruits was done 95 days after planting. Results showed that soil application was better at a concentration of 25 ppm of phytonanoparticles since it allowed the greatest number of flowers and fruits on the plant; however, it was demonstrated that when performing a foliar application, the fruit showed the highest concentrations for the elements Mg, Ca, and Na at concentrations of 511, 4589, and 223 mg kg-1, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]