Photoprotective potential of Passiflora cincinnata Mast. (Passifloraceae) hydro-alcoholic extracts.

Passiflora cincinnata is a Passifloraceae typical of the Caatinga, a biome unique to Brazil. It has various pharmacological properties associated with its high flavonoid content. Vitexin, isovitexin, orientin, isoorientin and derivatives are the main chemical and pharmacological markers for this plant. Although flavonoids enriched-extracts have been widely applied in phytocosmetics, especially in sunscreen formulations, the use of P. cincinnata as a photoprotective ingredient remains unexplored. Different hydro-alcoholic extracts were prepared and their antioxidant and photoprotective activities were evaluated by in vitro assays. The most promising extract (Pc-1) was analyzed by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS/MS. Nine flavonoids were identified as major compounds: isovitexin-7-O-glucoside, isoorientin-2"O-hexoside, orientin, isoorientin, isovitexin-2"-O-glucoside, isovitexin-6"-O-glucoside, isoscoparin and isoquercitrin. Finally, Pc-1 (5 and 10%, v/v) was incorporated into gel formulations, alone or combined to commercial chemical filters (benzophenone-3 and octyl methoxycinnamate). Formulations containing Pc-1 showed high SPFspectrophotometric values. When combined to commercial filters, Pc-1 (5%) potentiated their photoprotective efficacy (p<0.05). A physicochemical characterization indicated no incompatibility or signs of instability after extract incorporation. Altogether, these findings encourage the use of Pc-1 as a photoprotective ingredient or co-adjuvant in sunscreens formulations.

Conserved features and diversity attributes of chimeric RNAs across accessions in four plants.

As a non-collinear expression form of genetic information, chimeric RNAs increase the complexity of transcriptome in diverse organisms. Although chimeric RNAs have been identified in plants, few common features have been revealed. Here, we systemically explored the landscape of chimeric RNAs across multi-accession and multi-tissue using pan-genome and transcriptome data of four plants: rice, maize, soybean, and Arabidopsis. Among the four species, conserved characteristics of breakpoints and parental genes were discovered. In each species, chimeric RNAs displayed a high level of diversity among accessions, and the clustering of accessions using chimeric events was generally concordant with clustering based on genomic variants, implying a general relationship between genetic variations and chimeric RNAs. Through mass spectrometry, we confirmed a fusion protein OsNDC1-OsGID1L2 and observed its subcellular localization, which differed from the original proteins. Phenotypic cues in transgenic rice suggest the potential functions of OsNDC1-OsGID1L2. Moreover, an intriguing chimeric event Os01g0216500-Os01g0216900, generated by a large deletion in basmati rice, also exists in another accession without the deletion, demonstrating its convergence in evolution. Our results illuminate the characteristics and hint at the evolutionary implications of plant chimeric RNAs, which serve as a supplement to genetic variations, thus expanding our understanding of genetic diversity.

A systematic review exploring the diversity and food security potential of wild edible plants in Ethiopia.

Wild edible plants (WEPs) are important food sources globally due to their accessibility and affordability. In Ethiopia, where diverse cultural groups consume WEPs, this systematic review explores their diversity, edible parts, and role in supporting food security. The review examined 38 original studies on the ethnobotany of WEPs in Ethiopia from 2000 to 2022. It identified a total of 651 WEP species from 343 genera and 94 families, with the Fabaceae family having the most species (51). Herbs and shrubs were the predominant growth habits, and fruits were the most consumed plant parts. The review prioritized nine WEP species for cultivation and promotion. However, threats such as overgrazing, agricultural expansion, and the use of woody species for construction, firewood, and charcoal have depleted WEP resources and eroded traditional knowledge about their use. The review suggests that WEPs have the potential to contribute to food and nutritional security in Ethiopia if these threats are effectively managed. However, the limited coverage of ethnobotanical studies on WEPs requires further investigation. The study recommends integrating the prioritized WEPs into the national food system for promotion, cultivation, and nutrient analysis to evaluate their nutritional bioavailability.

Antifungal properties and molecular docking of ZnO NPs mediated using medicinal plant extracts.

Significant postharvest losses and food safety issues persist in many developing nations, primarily due to fungal activities, including mycotoxin production. In this study, green synthesised zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) were prepared from leaf extracts of Syzygium cordatum (ZnO 1), Lippia javanica (ZnO 2), Bidens pilosa (ZnO 3), and Ximenia caffra (ZnO 4). Physicochemical characteristics of the ZnO-NPs were determined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transmission Infrared spectroscopy and ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The XRD analysis confirmed the presence of a wurtzite crystal structure in the hexagonal shape of the ZnO nanoparticles (NPs), with an average size ranging between 25 and 43 nm. The microscopic examination of the morphology revealed the presence of spherical particles with sizes ranging from 37 to 47 nm in diameter. The antifungal efficacy of the ZnO-NPs was assessed against pathogenic plant fungi, including Botrytis sp. (STEU 7866), Penicillium sp. (STEU 7865), and Pilidiella granati (STEU 7864), using the poisoned food technique. Further antifungal evaluation of the ZnOPs was performed using the broth microdilution assay. A significant interaction between the type of ZnO-NPs and fungal species was observed, with the highest susceptibility in Mucor sp. to ZnO 2, achieving over 50% inhibition. Penicillium sp. also showed high susceptibility to all ZnO-NPs. Molecular docking results confirmed the strong H-bonding interactions of ZnO-NPs with fungal receptors in Mucor sp. and Penicillium sp., Botrytis sp. and P. granati exhibited the least susceptibility. Further tests revealed that ZnO 2 exhibited the highest inhibitory effect on Botrytis sp., with a low minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 25 µg/mL, attributed to its larger positive zeta potential. This study indicates that ZnO NPs, particularly those mediated using Lippia javanica (ZnO 2), have promising potential as effective antifungal agents, which could play a significant role in reducing postharvest decay and losses.

Ubiquitination and degradation of plant helper NLR by the Ralstonia solanacearum effector RipV2 overcome tomato bacterial wilt resistance.

The Ralstonia solanacearum species complex causes bacterial wilt in a variety of crops. Tomato cultivar Hawaii 7996 is a widely used resistance resource; however, the resistance is evaded by virulent strains, with the underlying mechanisms still unknown. Here, we report that the phylotype Ⅱ strain ES5-1 can overcome Hawaii 7996 resistance. RipV2, a type Ⅲ effector specific to phylotype Ⅱ strains, is vital in overcoming tomato resistance. RipV2, which encodes an E3 ubiquitin ligase, suppresses immune responses and Toll/interleukin-1 receptor/resistance nucleotide-binding/leucine-rich repeat (NLR) (TNL)-mediated cell death. Tomato helper NLR N requirement gene 1 (NRG1), enhanced disease susceptibility 1 (EDS1), and senescence-associated gene 101b (SAG101b) are identified as RipV2 target proteins. RipV2 is essential for ES5-1 virulence in Hawaii 7996 but not in SlNRG1-silenced tomato, demonstrating SlNRG1 to be an RipV2 virulence target. Our results dissect the mechanisms of RipV2 in disrupting immunity and highlight the importance of converged immune components in conferring bacterial wilt resistance.

FolIws1-driven nuclear translocation of deacetylated FolTFIIS ensures conidiation of Fusarium oxysporum.

Plant diseases caused by fungal pathogens pose a great threat to crop production. Conidiation of fungi is critical for disease epidemics and serves as a promising drug target. Here, we show that deacetylation of the FolTFIIS transcription elongation factor is indispensable for Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. lycopersici (Fol) conidiation. Upon microconidiation, Fol decreases K76 acetylation of FolTFIIS by altering the level of controlling enzymes, allowing for its nuclear translocation by FolIws1. Increased nuclear FolTFIIS enhances the transcription of sporulation-related genes and, consequently, enables microconidia production. Deacetylation of FolTFIIS is also critical for the production of macroconidia and chlamydospores, and its homolog has similar functions in Botrytis cinerea. We identify two FolIws1-targeting chemicals that block the conidiation of Fol and have effective activity against a wide range of pathogenic fungi without harm to the hosts. These findings reveal a conserved mechanism of conidiation regulation and provide candidate agrochemicals for disease management.

First report of anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum fructicola on winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum) in China.

Winter jasmine (Jasminum nudiflorum Lindl.) is a medium-sized, deciduous shrub native to China that has become a popular choice among gardeners and landscapers. In 2020 to 2021, symptoms of anthracnose including brown necrotic spots, enlarged irregular lesions and leaf blight were observed on leaves of 20 winter jasmine shrubs in a public garden (22°34'58'' N; 113°56'23'' E) in Shenzhen, China, and with an estimated disease incidence of 65%. Tissues samples (6 × 6 mm2) surrounding the necrotic spots were surface sterilized with 75% ethanol for 30 s, followed by 2% NaClO for 1 min, then rinsed with sterile water for three times and dried with sterile filter paper. Tissues were placed on potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium and incubated at 25℃. After 3 to 7 d, pure cultures were obtained by transferring hyphal tips to new plates and 32 isolates producing Colletotrichum-like colonies were obtained from 40 tissues (isolation frequency=32/(4×10)=80%). Three representative isolates YCH09, YCH23 and YCH32 were selected for further study. Three selected isolates were identical in morphological characteristics. Colonies on PDA after 5 d at 25℃ were white to gray with cottony mycelia and grayish-white on the underside of the culture. Conidia (n = 60) measured 15.4 ± 1.1 µm (13.0 to 17.1 µm) in length and 5.4 ± 0.3 µm (4.9 to 6.0 µm) in width and were hyaline, single-celled, cylindrical with rounded ends. Appressoria (n = 15) measured 7.1 ± 0.1 µm (5.3 to 8.9 µm) in length and 5.2 ± 0.2 µm (4.1 to 6.2 µm) in width and were brown to dark brown, ovoid. These morphological features were aligned with those of Colletotrichum spp. (Weir et al. 2012). Sequences of five genetic markers of representative isolates YCH09, YCH23 and YCH32 including the rDNA internal transcribed spacer region, chitin synthase, partial actin, ß-tubulin 2 and Apn2-Mat1-2 intergenic spacer and partial mating type (Mat1-2) region were 99.3 to 100% identical to the ex-type isolate of C. fructicola strain ICMP 18581 (Zhang et al., 2020). From the maximum likelihood phylogenetic tree which was constructed based on concatenated sequences, three representative isolates (YCH09, YCH23 and YCH32) were clustered with other isolates of C. fructicola. The above morphological and molecular characteristics suggest that causal agent was C. fructicola. Pathogenicity was tested using a whole-plant assay. Five healthy plants were inoculated by spraying a conidial suspension (1.5×104 conidia/ml; 20 ml per plant) of the isolate YCH23 onto the foliage (Marshall et al., 2023). Three noninoculated control plants were sprayed with sterile water. All plants were placed in a greenhouse at 25±2℃ with approximately 75% relative humidity. Yellow lesions appeared on leaves of inoculated plants as early as 4 days after inoculation (DAI), and irregularly shaped brown spots similar to those observed in the field were formed on 10 DAI. Noninoculated plants remained asymptomatic. Colletotrichum isolates resembling morphological characters of YCH23 were reisolated from all inoculated plants, then identified as C. fructicola by DNA sequence analysis. C. fructicola is a well-known fungus causing anthracnose on more than 63 plant species including agricultural and horticultural plants worldwide (Talhinhas and Baroncelli, 2021). To our knowledge, this is the first report of C. fructicola infecting J. nudiflorum plants in China. Since its potential risk to other horticultural plant species, precautions may be necessary to minimize the spread of this fungi.

First Report of Neofusicoccum yunnanense Causing Leaf Spot on Ivy in Yunnan Province, China.

Ivy (Hedera nepalensis var. sinensis (Tobl.) Rehd) is an evergreen root-climbing vine, widely cultivated in eastern Asia because of its ornamental, environmental, and medicinal value (Wu et al. 2019). In October 2023, the leaf spot symptom of Ivy was observed in the Kunming Botanical Garden in Yunnan Province, China (25.14°N, 102.75°E), and the disease incidence was up to 38% (76 of 200 leaves). Initially, dark-brown or black small spots appeared on the leaves. As the lesions progressed, their center emerged tawny, and the black halos were expanded around the lesions. In severe cases, small spots could link together to form leaf blight even resulting in blade death. In order to obtain pure isolates, 10 diseased leaves were collected and cut into 1 mm × 1 mm pieces, surface disinfected with 75 % ethanol for 30 s, followed by 3% NaClO for 3 min, and finally washed three times with sterilized water. The pieces were placed on the potato dextrose agar (PDA) media, which was incubated at 25°C for 3 days. Individual hyphal tips from the developing fungal colonies were placed on PDA and incubated for 5 to 10 days. Six strains (6 out of 10) were obtained with same colony morphology. Conidia were hyaline, unicellular, nonseptate, ellipsoidal or fusiform, thin walled, externally smooth and ranged from 15.0 to 22.0 (avg. 18.4) µm × 5.0 to 8.0 (avg. 7.2) µm (n=30). Morphological comparison proposed that the present fungi belonged to Neofusicoccum (Zhang et al. 2021). Two isolates (GUCC23-0141 and GUCC23-0142) were selected for multi-gene phylogenetic analyses. The PCR reaction of the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), translation elongation factor 1-α (EF1-α), and ß-tubulin genes were run using primers ITS1/ ITS4 (White et al. 1990), EF1-728F/ EF1-986R (Carbone and Kohn 1999), and Bt2a/ Bt2b (Glass and Donaldson 1995). The accession numbers of DNA sequences of GUCC23-0141 and GUCC23-0142 are ITS: PP728109 and PP728110; TUB2: PP744490 and PP744491; and TEF1-α: PP744488 and PP744489. BLAST analysis showed 100% identity for ITS and TUB2, and 98.97% for TEF1-α with the Neofusicoccum yunnanense (CSF6142). Phylogenetic analyses also supported that our isolates kept a close relationship to N. yunnanense. Three one-year plants were used for pathogenicity test, two of which were inoculated with PDA plugs containing N. yunnanense and one of which was inoculated with blank PDA plugs and used as control. For each plant, three leaves were selected to conduct the test, whose surfaces were sterilized with 75% alcohol. All the leaves were covered with cotton moistened with sterilized water on top. All plants were placed in a greenhouse with 25℃ and 75% humidity. Few small black spots were observed at the inoculation site after 3 days, which were enlarged gradually after 7 days. However, control plants remained healthy. N. yunnanense was reisolated from the diseased tissues and identified based on morphological and molecular characteristics. On basis of pathogen identification and Koch's test, we proposed the leaf spot of Ivy caused by N. yunnanense. This was the first report about N. yunnanense causing the disease of Ivy. This result provides a theoretical basis for further research into the control of the disease. As an important ornamental plant, we should pay attention to the management of this disease.

Effects of host plants on aphid feeding behavior, fitness, and Buchnera aphidicola titer.

Aphids are sap-feeding plant pests that depend on their symbiotic relationships with the primary endosymbiont Buchnera aphidicola to adapt to impoverished diets. However, how the host plant affects the aphid primary symbiont and aphid adaptation to host plant transfer are poorly known. In this study, aphid symbiont screening and genotype identification were used to establish 2 aphid strains (Rhopalosiphum maidis [Rm] and Rhopalosiphum padi [Rp] strains) containing only Buchnera without any secondary symbionts for both wheat aphid species (R. maidis and R. padi). Aphid fitness and Buchnera titers were unstable on some of these host plants after transferring to novel host plants (G1-G5), which were influenced by host plant species and generations; however, they stabilized after prolonged feeding on the same plants for 10 generations. The electropenetrography (EPG) records showed that the allocation of aphid feeding time was significantly distinct in the 6 host plants; aphids had more intracellular punctures and spent more nonprobing time on green bristlegrass which was not conducive to its growth compared with other plants. The content of soluble sugar, soluble protein, and amino acid in the leaves of the 6 host plants were also clearly separated. The correlation coefficient analysis showed that the nutrient contents of host plants had significant correlations with aphid feeding behaviors, fitness, and Buchnera titers. In the meantime, aphid fitness, and Buchnera titers were also affected by aphid feeding behaviors. Also, Buchnera titers of aphid natural populations on 6 host plants showed a visible difference. Our study deepened our understanding of the interaction among aphids, endosymbionts, and host plants, indicating that the host plant nutrient content is a predominant factor affecting aphid adaptation to their diet, initially affecting aphid feeding behaviors, and further affecting aphid fitness and Buchnera titers, which would further contribute to exploiting new available strategies for aphid control.

How Nano-ZnO Affect Tomato Fruits (Solanum lycopersicum L.)? Analysis of Selected Fruit Parameters.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.), as one of the most valuable horticulture crops, was chosen to investigate the effect of nanoparticles (NPs) in the form of nano-ZnO combined with conventional fertilizer on the quality of tomato fruits, including their antioxidant potential (total antioxidant activity, lycopene and ß-carotene content), sugars content and allergenic potential (profilin and Bet v 1 content). Nano-ZnO was implemented during plant cultivation, applied by foliar spraying or directly via soil, at three different concentrations (50, 150 and 250 mg/L). The obtained results suggest that the usage of NPs during tomato plant cultivation had minor impacts on parameters such as total antioxidant activity or the content of selected allergens. Even though the total antioxidant activity was not affected by nano-ZnO, the malondialdehyde activity (MDA) content was notably decreased in fruits under nano-ZnO treatment. The content of lycopene and ß-carotene was significantly affected by the use of nano-ZnO. Moreover, the usage of nano-ZnO significantly increased the total sugar content in fruits treated with nanoparticles via foliar spraying. Based on the obtained results, it can be stated that nano-ZnO, regardless of the method of application, significantly affected tomato fruits which can be beneficial for fruit production.

Genome-Wide Identification and Evolution-Profiling Analysis of TPS Gene Family in Triticum Plants.

Terpenoids play a crucial role in plant growth and development, as well as in regulating resistance mechanisms. Terpene synthase (TPS) serves as the final step in the synthesis process of terpenoids. However, a comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of the TPS gene family in Triticum plants had not previously been systematically undertaken. In this study, a total of 531 TPS members were identified in Triticum plants. The evolutionary tree divided the TPS proteins into five subfamilies: Group1, Group2, Group3, Group4, and Group5. The results of the duplication events analysis showed that TD and WGD were major driving forces during the evolution of the TPS family. The cis-element analysis showed that the TPS genes were related to plant growth and development and environmental stress. Moreover, the GO annotation displayed that the biological function of TPS was relatively conserved in wheat plants. The RNA-seq data showed that the rice and wheat TPS genes responded to low-temperature stress and exhibited significantly different expression patterns. This research shed light on the functions of TPSs in responding to abiotic stress and demonstrated their modulatory potential during root development. These findings provide a foundation for further and deeper investigation of the TPSs' functions in Triticum plants.

A diverse range of Phytophthora species from botanical gardens in South Africa, including the novel Clade 5 species, Phytophthora mammiformis sp. nov.

The genus Phytophthora contains many destructive and globally important plant pathogens. In the last decade, targeted sampling efforts have resulted in a dramatic increase in the number of known species, as well as a better understanding of their global distribution. Routine activities undertaken in botanical gardens, combined with great numbers of local and international visitors, place botanical gardens at risk to the accidental introduction and establishment of pathogens such as Phytophthora spp. In this study, the occurrence of Phytophthora was investigated in two botanical gardens in the KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. Symptomatic collar and stem tissues were collected, and root and rhizosphere soil samples were taken from trees exhibiting symptoms of decline. Standard baiting techniques and direct plating of symptomatic tissues revealed the presence of seven species of Phytophthora residing in four phylogenetic clades. Five of these species, P. cinnamomi, P. citrophthora, P. multivora, P. parvispora and the informally designated taxon Phytophthora sp. stellaris were known to be present in South Africa and P. aquimorbida was recorded for the first time. Of these, P. citrophthora represented a novel host-pathogen association causing bleeding cankers on indigenous Celtis africana. A multilocus phylogenetic analysis based on ITS, ßtub, cox1 and hsp90 sequences showed the presence of an undescribed species belonging to the Phytophthora ITS Clade 5. This species is described here as Phytophthora mammiformis sp. nov. This study highlights the importance of monitoring botanical gardens for the detection and discovery of pathogens and emphasises their value as sites for the discovery of novel host-pathogen associations. Citation: Paap T, Balocchi F, Burgess TI, Bose T, Wingfield MJ (2024). A diverse range of Phytophthora species from botanical gardens in South Africa, including the novel Clade 5 species, Phytophthora mammiformis sp. nov. Fungal Systematics and Evolution 13: 111-122. doi: 10.3114/fuse.2024.13.05.

Characterization of carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus stoichiometry of plant leaves in the riparian zone of Dahuofang Reservoir.

Carbon (C), nitrogen (N), and phosphorus (P) are essential nutrients that promote plant growth and development and maintain the stability of ecosystem structure and function. Analyzing the C, N, and P characteristics of plant leaves aids in understanding the plant's nutrient status and nutrient limitation. Seasonal water-level fluctuations in riparian zones lead to various ecological problems, such as reduced biodiversity and decreased ecosystem stability. Therefore, comprehending the stoichiometric characteristics of riparian zone plants and their nutrient response to plant traits is important for a deeper insight into riparian zone forest ecosystems. This study analyzed the C, N, and P contents of the leaves of 44 woody plants in the riparian zone of the Dahuofang Reservoir to investigate the stoichiometric characteristics of C, N, and P of trees in the region. The results showed that the average C content of the leaves in woody plants was 446.9 g kg-1; the average N content was 28.42 g kg-1; and the average P content was 2.26 g kg-1. Compared to global and regional scales, woody plants in the riparian zone of the Dahuofang Reservoir exhibited higher N and P contents but lower N:P ratios. Compared to other riparian zones, woody plant leaves in the riparian zone of Dahuofang Reservoir had relatively high N content and N:P ratios. Variations in plant stoichiometric characteristics across different life forms were minimal, with only tree leaf P content significantly lower than its in shrubs. There was no significant correlation between leaf C, N, and P in woody plants, while specific leaf area showed a negative correlation with leaf C content. Trees in the riparian zone have high leaf N and P content and are primarily N-limited during the growing season. This study reveals the stoichiometric characteristics of leaves of woody plants in the riparian zone, which can contribute to an in-depth understanding of leaf stoichiometric patterns and the factors influencing them among plant life types in the riparian zone.

Characterization of microbial community assembly in parasitic plant systems and the influence of microorganisms on metabolite accumulation in parasitic plants: case study of Cistanche salsa and Kalidium foliatum.

Introduction: Cistanche salsa (C.A.Mey.) G. Beck is a perennial holoparasitic herb recognized for its medicinal properties, particularly in kidney-tonifying and laxative treatments. Despite its therapeutic potential, little is known about the endophyte communities inhabiting C. salsa and its host plants, and how these microorganisms may impact the production and accumulation of metabolites in C. salsa. Methods: We conducted a dual analysis focusing on metabolomics of wild C. salsa and microbiome characterization of both C. salsa and its host plant, Kalidium foliatum (Pall.) Moq. The metabolomics analysis revealed variations in metabolite composition across different parts of C. salsa. Additionally, the microbiome analysis involved studying endophytic bacteria and fungi, comparing their community structures between parasitic C. salsa and its host plant. Results: Significant variations in metabolite composition were observed through metabolomic profiling, which identified 93 secondary metabolites and 398 primary metabolites across various parts of C. salsa. Emphasis was placed on differences in metabolite composition within the flowers. Microbiome analysis revealed differential community compositions of endophytic bacteria between the parasitic and host plants, whereas differences in endophytic fungi were less pronounced. Certain endophytes, such as Bacteroidota, Proteobacteria, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota, were associated with the production of specific secondary metabolites in C. salsa, including the plant-specific compound salsaside. Discussion: Our findings highlight the intricate relationship between C. salsa and its endophytic microbiota, suggesting a potential role of these microorganisms in modulating the biosynthesis of bioactive compounds. The differential preferences of endophytic bacteria and fungi across various microenvironments within the parasitic plant system underscore the complexity of these interactions. Further elucidation of these dynamics could enhance our understanding of C. salsa's medicinal properties and its ecological adaptations as a holoparasitic herb.

Motor cognition in plants: from thought to real experiments.

Motor cognition involves the process of planning and executing goal-directed movements and recognizing, anticipating, and interpreting others' actions. Motor cognitive functions are generally associated with the presence of a brain and are ascribed only to humans and other animal species. A growing body of evidence suggests that aneural organisms, like climbing plants, exhibit behaviors driven by the intention to achieve goals, challenging our understanding of cognition. Here, we propose an inclusive perspective under motor cognition to explain climbing plants' behavior. We will first review our empirical research based on kinematical analysis to understand movement in pea plants. Then, we situate this empirical research within the current theoretical debate aimed at extending the principles of cognition to aneural organisms. A novel comparative perspective that considers the perception-action cycle, involving transforming perceived environmental elements into intended movement patterns, is provided.

Host-Driven Selection, Revealed by Comparative Analysis of Xanthomonas Type III Secretion Effectoromes, Unveils Novel Recognized Effectors.

Xanthomonas species are specialized plant pathogens, often exhibiting a narrow host range. They rely on the translocation of effector proteins through the type III secretion system to colonize their respective hosts. The effector arsenal varies among Xanthomonas spp., typically displaying species-specific compositions. This species-specific effector composition, collectively termed the effectorome, is thought to influence host specialization. We determined the plant host-derived effectoromes of more than 300 deposited genomes of Xanthomonas species associated with either Solanaceae or Brassicaceae hosts. Comparative analyses revealed clear species-specific effectorome signatures. However, Solanaceae or Brassicaceae host-associated effectorome signatures were not detected. Nevertheless, host biases in the presence or absence of specific effector classes were observed. To assess whether host-associated effector absence results from selective pressures, we introduced effectors unique to Solanaceae pathogens to Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc), and effectors unique to Brassicaceae pathogens to Xanthomonas euvesicatoria pv. euvesicatoria (Xeue), and evaluated if these introductions hindered virulence on their respective hosts. Introducing the effector XopI into Xcc reduced virulence on white cabbage leaves without affecting localized or systemic colonization. Introducing the XopAC or XopJ5 effectors into Xeue reduced virulence and colonization on tomato but not on pepper. Additionally, XopAC and XopJ5 induced a hypersensitive response on tomato leaves when delivered by Xeue or through Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression, confirming recognition in tomato. This study demonstrates the role of host-derived selection in establishing species-specific effectoromes, identifying XopAC and XopJ5 as recognized effectors in tomato.

Pre-training enhanced spatio-temporal graph neural network for predicting influent water quality and flow rate of wastewater treatment plant: Improvement of forecast accuracy and analysis of related factors.

Efficient management of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) necessitates accurate forecasting of influent water quality parameters (WQPs) and flow rate (Q) to reduce energy consumption and mitigate carbon emissions. The time series of WQPs and Q are highly non-linear and influenced by various factors such as temperature (T) and precipitation (Precip). Conventional models often struggle to account for long-term temporal patterns and overlook the complex interactions of parameters within the data, leading to inaccuracies in detecting WQPs and Q. This work introduced the Pre-training enhanced Spatio-Temporal Graph Neural Network (PT-STGNN), a novel methodology for accurately forecasting of influent COD, ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N), total phosphorus (TP), total nitrogen (TN), pH and Q in WWTPs. PT-STGNN utilizes influent data of the WWTP, air quality data and meteorological data from the service area as inputs to enhance prediction accuracy. The model employs unsupervised Transformer blocks for pre-training, with efficient masking strategies to effectively capture long-term historical patterns and contextual information, thereby significantly boosting forecasting accuracy. Furthermore, PT-STGNN integrates a unique graph structure learning mechanism to identify dependencies between parameters, further improving the model's forecasting accuracy and interpretability. Compared with the state-of-the-art models, PT-STGNN demonstrated superior predictive performance, particularly for a longer-term prediction (i.e., 12 h), with MAE, RMSE and MAPE at 12-h prediction horizon of 2.737 ±â€¯0.040, 4.209 ±â€¯0.060 and 13.648 ±â€¯0.151 %, respectively, for the algebraic mean of each parameter. From the results of graph structure learning, it is observed that there are strong dependencies between NH3-N and TN, TP and Q, as well as Precip, etc. This study innovatively applies STGNN, not only offering a novel approach for predicting influent WQPs and Q in WWTPs, but also advances our understanding of the interrelationships among various parameters, significantly enhancing the model's interpretability.

Excess copper promotes an increase in the concentration of metabolites in Tridax procumbens L.

The study investigated the effects of cultivating Tridax procumbens in hydroponic conditions with different concentrations of copper ions, aiming to understand the physiological changes and the impact on the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. The treatments consisted of a completely randomized design, with five increasing concentrations of copper (T0 = 0.235, T1 = 12.5, T2 = 25, T3 = 50, T4 = 100 µmol L-1 of Cu), under controlled conditions for 36 days. Analysis of bioactive compounds in leaves was performed by HPLC-DAD and ESI-MS. Several phenolic compounds, alkaloids, phytosterols and triterpenoids were identified, demonstrating the plant's metabolic plasticity. The highest dose of copper (100 µmol L-1) significantly promoted voacangine, the most predominant compound in the analyses. Notably, 66.7% of the metabolites that showed an increase in concentration, were phenolic compounds. Furthermore, treatments with 12.5 and 25 µmol L-1 of copper were identified as promoting the biosynthesis of phytosterols and triterpenoids. These biochemical adaptations can play a fundamental role in the survival and development of plants in environments contaminated by metals, and from this it is possible to determine cultivation techniques that maximize the biosynthesis of the compound of interest.

Soft sensor for substrate characterization through the reverse application of the ADM1 model for anaerobic digestion plant operations.

Accurately characterizing the substrate used in anaerobic digestion is crucial for predicting the biogas plant's performance. This issue makes particularly challenging the application of modeling in codigestion plants. In this work, a novel methodology called substrate prediction module (SPM) has been developed and tested, using virtual codigestion data. The SPM aims to estimate the inlet properties of the substrate based on the reverse application of the anaerobic digestion model n1 (ADM1). The results show that, while the SPM can estimate some properties of the substrate based on certain output parameters, there are limitations in accurately determining all required variables.