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In this study, the proteomic, morphometric, and photosynthetic pigment data of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) accessions were combined together to show their impact on genetic variation in order to establish a relationship between protein patterns and phenotypic behavior of the plant. Seeds of 18 collected purslane accessions were cultivated based on a completely randomized design with three replicates. Before the flowering stage, the data on morphology, photosynthetic pigment content, and seed proteins were obtained. The results showed a significant difference among purslane accessions in terms of the most studied agronomic characteristics and the content of photosynthetic pigments and proteins. The cluster analysis of the 18 purslane accessions based on agronomic data, and photosynthetic pigment content, and protein pattern data produced three main clusters. Moreover, the seed protein analysis revealed that the two polymorphic protein bands of size 40 kDa (protein "a") and 30 kDa (protein "b") effectively diversified the agronomic, photosynthetic pigment, and phylogenetic relationships among the purslane accessions. Interestingly, protein "a" was produced in plants growing in low altitude areas and played a suppressive role for TDW, while protein "b" was produced in plants growing in high altitude areas and functioned as an activator agent for this trait. Overall, the outcomes of the present study indicated the presence of high genetic variability (77.6%) among the purslane accessions. These findings suggest that these proteins should be sequenced for further proteomic analyses and can be used for hybridization to generate useful recombinants in segregating generations and improve breeding varieties of P. oleracea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to investigate the genetic diversity and population structure of globally diverse mini core collection of safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) using agro-morphological, sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP) and simple-sequence repeats (SSR) molecular markers. Field experiment results showed significant differences between genotypes for agro-morphological traits such as: number of capitula per plant, number of seeds per plant, 1000-seed weight and seed yield. Ten SRAP primer combinations generated 120 polymorphic bands with an average polymorphism information content (PIC) value of 0.23. High allelic variation using 10 SSR markers observed across genotypes, with an average value of 6.8 alleles per locus and relatively high value for PIC (0.69). Pooled molecular data (SSR + SRAP) were used to identify the population structure and genetic diversity using discriminant analysis of principal components (DAPC) and STRUCTURE analysis. The results revealed four clusters within the safflower accessions, while there was no strong correlation between geographical origins and estimated genetic diversity. Our results showed high genetic diversity for both agro-morphological and molecular analysis in the examined safflower germplasm. This mini core germplasm can be used for germplasm management and future safflower breeding programs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Portulaca oleracea L. is a medicinal plant belonging to Portulacaceae family, which exhibited a wide scope of pharmaceutical properties such as pain killer, antipyretic, anti-viral and anti-fungal. The aim of the present study was evaluation of morphological diversity 18 populations of P. oleracea. The seeds of 18 populations were cultivated based on a completely randomized design with three replicates in the research farm of Medicinal Plants Research Center, Shahed University, Tehran, Iran. The morphological traits, chlorophyll and protein contents were measured in the vegetative stage. The analysis of variance showed that there was a significant difference among populations of P. oleracea in terms of the most studied morphological and biochemical traits. The highest shoot dry weight (84.84±12.70 g per plant) belonged to the Zanjan population, while the lowest shoot dry weight (18.89±1.72 g per plant) belonged to the population of Lourdgan. The correlation between most of the studied traits was positively significant. The cluster analysis of the 18 P. oleracea populations based on morphological and biochemical traits produced three main clusters. Overall, the outcomes of the present study were indicated the presence of high genetic variability among the P. oleracea populations. Our findings suggested that collection of the plants from different regions can be used for hybridization to generate useful recombinants in the segregating generations and improve breeding varieties of P. oleracea and can be utilized for preservation and maintenance the germplasm of this medicinal plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thymoquinone (TQ) is a monoterpene ketone which is an important bioactive substance in Nigella sativa L. seed. This important natural compound has many potential medical applications for cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, stroke, neurodegenerative diseases and different types of cancer. To date, no studies have focused on development of a reliable industrial method for purification of TQ from this plant as a major challenge. In this study, an efficient extraction and purification method was developed for preparation of TQ from Nigella sativa L. seeds using preparative high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). To this end, a two-step procedure was applied for the first time for extraction of TQ: first, maceration using methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) was performed; then, liquid-liquid extraction using methanol successfully removed the majority of the impurities. Next, preparative HPLC was carried out for separation and purification of TQ using a C18 column and the mobile phase of methanol and water containing 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA).The collected peak from preparative HPLC was analyzed by the analytical HPLC as well as GC-MS instrument. Results of HPLC analysis proved the purity of the collected TQ by 97%, while the results of GC-MS identified the main peak appeared at around 15.6 min as TQ by library searching, and determined its purity by 97% based on peak heights. Overall, this method has a potential for industrialization to prepare purified TQ for medicinal applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic diversity and relationships among 48 landrace and improved safflower (Carthamus tinctorius L.) genotypes were analyzed using three gene-targeted markers, start codon-targeted (SCoT) polymorphism, conserved DNA-derived polymorphism (CDDP) and CAAT box-derived polymorphism (CBDP). A total of 30 primers (10 primers from each marker) detected genetic polymorphism among the safflower genotypes. Three different marker types showed high level of polymorphism and the CDDP markers produced a higher number of polymorphic bands (74) in comparisons with SCoT and CBDP. The average PIC values for SCoT, CDDP, and CBDP were 0.39, 0.43, and 0.41, respectively. The marker index (MI) in CDDP markers was higher than that in SCoT and CBDP markers. Cluster analysis using SCoT and CDDP markers grouped the safflower genotypes into three distinct groups, whereas the CBDP markers divided the genotypes into two clusters. There were positive correlations between the similarity matrices obtained by each marker type. The results from the cluster analysis and STRUCTURE analysis using combined data grouped the genotypes into two clusters, generally in agreement with their origins. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed report of using gene-targeted molecular markers for genetic diversity analysis in safflower. Our results showed the efficiency of these markers for genetic diversity analysis in safflower and their potential for genome diversity and germplasm conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diamondback moth (DBM),Plutella xylostella(L.) (Lep., Plutellidae), is one of the most important pests of oilseed rape,Brassica napusL., in the world. In this study, resistance of oilseed rape cultivars to DBM was evaluated in fields of Tehran based on injury rate of the cultivars. To evaluate cultivar resistance, 19 cultivars of oilseed rape were planted in randomised complete-block design with three replications. Total experiments were conducted in experimental field of Shahed University. Results showed that DBM had activity on the plants during season and peak of the injury occurred on 27 May. Results indicated that the total of oilseed rape cultivar was spotty. Statistical analysis showed that there was significant difference among determined characteristics in all cultivars. The highest and lowest numbers of holes in the leaf were observed in Midas, Karaj3, Zarfam and Hyola420, Hyola308 cultivars, respectively, in sampling of the end growth. Opera and Midas cultivars have the highest percentage of leaf infestation and the lowest percentage of leaf infestation was observed in Hyola420 and Hyola308. Also, Karaj3 and Zarfam cultivars have the highest percentage of meristem infestation and the lowest percentage of meristem infestation was observed in Licard and Hyola420 cultivars. Based on peak of the injury rate and importance of meristem injury, Hyola420 and Hyola308 cultivars were relatively resistant to DBM, and Karaj3 and Zarfam were relatively sensitive to DBM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]