Lipid mediated plant immunity in susceptible and tolerant soybean cultivars in response to Phytophthora sojae colonization and infection.

BACKGROUND: Soybean is one of the most cultivated crops globally and a staple food for much of the world's population. The annual global crop losses due to infection by Phytophthora sojae is currently estimated at $20B USD, yet we have limited understanding of the role of lipid mediators in the adaptative strategies used by the host plant to limit infection. Since root is the initial site of this infection, we examined the infection process in soybean root infected with Phytophthora sojae using scanning electron microscopy to observe the changes in root morphology and a multi-modal lipidomics approach to investigate how soybean cultivars remodel their lipid mediators to successfully limit infection by Phytophthora sojae. RESULTS: The results reveal the presence of elevated biogenic crystals and more severe damaged cells in the root morphology of the infected susceptible cultivar compared to the infected tolerant cultivars. Furthermore, induced accumulation of stigmasterol was observed in the susceptible cultivar whereas, induced accumulation of phospholipids and glycerolipids occurred in tolerant cultivar. CONCLUSION: The altered lipidome reported in this study suggest diacylglycerol and phosphatidic acid mediated lipid signalling impacting phytosterol anabolism appears to be a strategy used by tolerant soybean cultivars to successfully limit infection and colonization by Phytophthora sojae.

The effects of clearcut harvesting on moss chloroplast lipidome and adaptation to light stress during boreal forest regeneration.

Moss plays an important role in boreal forest ecosystems as an understory bryophyte species. Clearcut harvesting is a common boreal forest regeneration method that can expose understory vegetation to abiotic stressors impeding their recovery following post-harvest conditions. Very little is known concerning how moss remodel their chloroplast lipidome to enhance photosynthetic performance for successful acclimation to light and water stress during boreal forest regeneration following clearcut harvesting. The chloroplast lipidome and photosynthetic performance of Sphagnum sp. and three feathermoss species (Pleurozium schreberi, Hylocomium splendens, and Ptilium crista-castrensis) from a boreal black spruce (Picea mariana) forest were assessed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), photospectrometry, and light response curves. We observed an overall increase in monogalactosyldiacylglycerol (MGDG) and sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol (SQDG) and decrease in digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG) and phosphatidylglycerol (PG). In addition, unsaturation of the chloroplast lipidome occurred concomitant with photoprotection by carotenoid pigments to enhance the efficiency and photosynthetic capacity in moss exposed to light and water stress following clearcut harvesting. This appears to be a successful acclimation strategy used by moss to circumvent light stress during boreal forest regeneration following clearcut harvesting. These findings could be of significance in the development of boreal forest management strategies following resource harvesting.

Recent advances in bio-chemical, molecular and physiological aspects of membrane lipid derivatives in plant pathology.

Plant pathogens pose a significant threat to the food industry and food security accounting for 10-40% crop losses annually on a global scale. Economic losses from plant diseases are estimated at $300B for major food crops and are associated with reduced food availability and accessibility and also high food costs. Although strategies exist to reduce the impact of diseases in plants, many of these introduce harmful chemicals to our food chain. Therefore, it is important to understand and utilize plants' immune systems to control plant pathogens to enable more sustainable agriculture. Lipids are core components of cell membranes and as such are part of the first line of defense against pathogen attack. Recent developments in omics technologies have advanced our understanding of how plant membrane lipid biosynthesis, remodelling and/or signalling modulate plant responses to infection. Currently, there is limited information available in the scientific literature concerning lipid signalling targets and their biochemical and physiological consequences in response to plant pathogens. This review focusses on the functions of membrane lipid derivatives and their involvement in plant responses to pathogens as biotic stressors. We describe major plant defense systems including systemic-acquired resistance, basal resistance, hypersensitivity and the gene-for-gene concept in this context.

Root membrane lipids as potential biomarkers to discriminate silage-corn genotypes cultivated on podzolic soils in boreal climate.

Root membrane lipids are important biomolecules determining plant's ability to adapt to different growing environmental or climatic conditions. Herein, we demonstrate the potential use of root membrane lipids as biomarkers to discriminate silage-corn genotypes based on herbicide and insect/pest resistance genetic traits when cultivated on podzolic soils under short growing and moderately warm summer season in boreal climate. Lipids in root membranes of field grown silage-corn genotypes were previously quantified at crop maturity by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-hydrophilic interaction chromatography-heated electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The lipid identified and quantified in silage-corn roots were phospholipids, glycolipids and sphingolipids. Following hierarchical cluster analysis, three groups of membrane lipids were observed to be very effective in segregating the five silage-corn genotypes. The first group consisted of hexosylceramide (HexCer), phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylinositol (PI). The second group consisted of lysophosphatidic acid (LPA16:0) and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC16:0), while the third group consisted of 37 molecular species from observed lipids (phospholipids, glycolipids, sphingolipids). Partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) based on 37 membrane lipid species, as well as principal component analysis using the variables important in projection derived from the PLS-DA segregated the five silage-corn genotypes into three groups according to their pesticide/herbicide resistant traits. This study is second to none using root lipidomics in discriminating different silage-corn genotypes based on their herbicide and insect/pest resistance genetic traits for cultivation in boreal climates. The segregated genotypes possess three different genetic traits for herbicide and insect/pest resistance including VT Double Pro (VT2P), VT Triple Pro Roundup Ready (VT3P/RR) and Roundup Ready-2 corn (RR2). These findings demonstrate that root membrane lipids could serve as appropriate chemical biosignatures to identify silage-corn genotypes based on herbicide and insect/pest resistance genetic traits suitable for cultivation in boreal climates.

Moose and Caribou as Novel Sources of Functional Lipids: Fatty Acid Esters of Hydroxy Fatty Acids, Diglycerides and Monoacetyldiglycerides.

Fatty acid esters of hydroxy fatty acids (FAHFA), diglycerides (DG) and monoacetyldiglycerides (MAcDG) are gaining interest as functional lipids in pharmaceuticals and functional food formulations for managing and treating metabolic or inflammatory diseases. Herein, we investigated whether the antler and/or meat of two Cervids (moose and caribou) are novel sources of FAHFA, DG and MAcDG. We observed FAHFA present in moose and caribou composed mainly of polyunsaturated families, and that the esterification occurred frequently at the C5-hydroxy fatty acid moiety, most noticeably arachidonic acid 5-hydroxyeicosatrienoic acid (ARA-5-HERA). Moose antler, caribou and moose meat also contained significant levels of both 1,2-DG and 1,3-DG lipids. The 1,3-DG molecular species consisted mainly of 16:0/18:1, 18:0/16:0, and 18:0/18:1. On the other hand, major 1,2-DG species consisted of DG 18:0/18:0, 16:0/16:0 and 18:1/18:1 molecular species with higher levels in the antler compared to the meat. The molecular species composition of MAcDG was very simple and consisted of 14:2/18:2/2:0, 16:0/18:2/2:0, 16:0/18:1/2:0 and 18:0/18:1/2:0 with the first species 14:2/18:2/2:0 predominating in the tip of moose antlers. Increasing access to and knowledge of the presence of these functional lipids in foods will enhance their intake in the diet with potential implications in improving personal and population health.

The Effects of Cold Saponification on the Unsaponified Fatty Acid Composition and Sensory Perception of Commercial Natural Herbal Soaps.

Saponification is the process in which triglycerides are combined with a strong base to form fatty acid metal salts during the soap-making process. The distribution of unsaturated and saturated fatty acid determines the hardness, aroma, cleansing, lather, and moisturizing abilities of soaps. Plant extracts, such as rosemary, vegetable, and essential oils are frequently added to soaps to enhance quality and sensory appeal. Three natural soaps were formulated using cold saponification to produce a base or control bar (BB), hibiscus rosehip bar (H), and a forest grove bar (FG). Rosemary extract (R) or essential oil (A) blends were added as additives to each formulation prior to curing to evaluate the effects of natural plant additives on the lipid composition and sensory characteristics of these natural herbal soaps. A total of seven natural soaps, three without additives (BB, H, FG) and four with additives (BBR, HA, FGR, FGA), were manufactured and studied. The majority (86⁻99%) of the polyunsaturated fatty acids (5.0⁻7.0 µg/mg) remained unsaponified in the manufactured natural soaps regardless of feedstock used. Principal component analysis (PCA) analyses showed the unsaponifiable fatty acids were different in the hibiscus bar compared to the other bars. There was a very strong correlation between the content of unsaponified C18:3n3 and C18:1n9 in all natural soaps. These results indicate that unsaponified fatty acids are important contributors to the quality and overall sensory perception and preference of natural herbal soaps following manufacturing by cold saponification.

A multimodal analytical approach is important in accurately assessing terpene composition in edible essential oils.

Terpenes in essential oils (EOs) have recently received significant attention due to their potential to improve brain and whole-body health. A deeper understanding of the terpene composition of edible EOs is important for fully exploring their possible applications. In our study, we employed a comprehensive study using four different methods to analyze EO samples, including GC-MS with solid phase microextraction (SPME), liquid injection (LI), derivatization to trimethylsilyl ethers (TMSE), and LC-MS. Our findings revealed that relying on a single analytical method may be insufficient for detecting all terpenes in EOs. Despite identifying a total of 156 terpenes in the samples, only 58 were detectable across all 4 methods. To obtain a more accurate terpene profile of EOs, we advocate for the combined use of LI-GC and TMSE-GC. The terpenes detected by these two methods are complementary, enabling the detection of all terpenes with high VIP in the samples.

Cannabis: a multifaceted plant with endless potentials.

Cannabis sativa, also known as "hemp" or "weed," is a versatile plant with various uses in medicine, agriculture, food, and cosmetics. This review attempts to evaluate the available literature on the ecology, chemical composition, phytochemistry, pharmacology, traditional uses, industrial uses, and toxicology of Cannabis sativa. So far, 566 chemical compounds have been isolated from Cannabis, including 125 cannabinoids and 198 non-cannabinoids. The psychoactive and physiologically active part of the plant is a cannabinoid, mostly found in the flowers, but also present in smaller amounts in the leaves, stems, and seeds. Of all phytochemicals, terpenes form the largest composition in the plant. Pharmacological evidence reveals that the plants contain cannabinoids which exhibit potential as antioxidants, antibacterial agents, anticancer agents, and anti-inflammatory agents. Furthermore, the compounds in the plants have reported applications in the food and cosmetic industries. Significantly, Cannabis cultivation has a minimal negative impact on the environment in terms of cultivation. Most of the studies focused on the chemical make-up, phytochemistry, and pharmacological effects, but not much is known about the toxic effects. Overall, the Cannabis plant has enormous potential for biological and industrial uses, as well as traditional and other medicinal uses. However, further research is necessary to fully understand and explore the uses and beneficial properties of Cannabis sativa.

Phyto-oxylipin mediated plant immune response to colonization and infection in the soybean-Phytophthora sojae pathosystem.

Introduction: Food security is a major challenge to sustainably supply food to meet the demands of the ever-growing global population. Crop loss due to pathogens is a major concern to overcoming this global food security challenge. Soybean root and stem rot caused by Phytophthora sojae results in approximately 20B $US crop loss annually. Phyto-oxylipins are metabolites biosynthesized in the plants by oxidative transformation of polyunsaturated fatty acids through an array of diverging metabolic pathways and play an important role in plant development and defense against pathogen colonization and infection. Lipid mediated plant immunity is a very attractive target for developing long term resistance in many plants' disease pathosystem. However, little is known about the phyto-oxylipin's role in the successful strategies used by tolerant soybean cultivar to mitigate Phytophthora sojae infection. Methods: We used scanning electron microscopy to observe the alterations in root morphology and a targeted lipidomics approach using high resolution accurate mass tandem mass spectrometry to assess phyto-oxylipin anabolism at 48 h, 72 h and 96 h post infection. Results and discussion: We observed the presence of biogenic crystals and reinforced epidermal walls in the tolerant cultivar suggesting a mechanism for disease tolerance when compared with susceptible cultivar. Similarly, the unequivocally unique biomarkers implicated in oxylipin mediated plant immunity [10(E),12(Z)-13S-hydroxy-9(Z),11(E),15(Z)-octadecatrienoic acid, (Z)-12,13-dihydroxyoctadec-9-enoic acid, (9Z,11E)-13-Oxo-9,11-octadecadienoic acid, 15(Z)-9-oxo-octadecatrienoic acid, 10(E),12(E)-9-hydroperoxyoctadeca-10,12-dienoic acid, 12-oxophytodienoic acid and (12Z,15Z)-9, 10-dihydroxyoctadeca-12,15-dienoic acid] generated from intact oxidized lipid precursors were upregulated in tolerant soybean cultivar while downregulated in infected susceptible cultivar relative to non-inoculated controls at 48 h, 72 h and 96 h post infection by Phytophthora sojae, suggesting that these molecules may be a critical component of the defense strategies used in tolerant cultivar against Phytophthora sojae infection. Interestingly, microbial originated oxylipins, 12S-hydroperoxy-5(Z),8(Z),10(E),14(Z)-eicosatetraenoic acid and (4Z,7Z,10Z,13Z)-15-[3-[(Z)-pent-2-enyl]oxiran-2-yl]pentadeca-4,7,10,13-tetraenoic acid were upregulated only in infected susceptible cultivar but downregulated in infected tolerant cultivar. These microbial originated oxylipins are capable of modulating plant immune response to enhance virulence. This study demonstrated novel evidence for phyto-oxylipin metabolism in soybean cultivars during pathogen colonization and infection using the Phytophthora sojae-soybean pathosystem. This evidence may have potential applications in further elucidation and resolution of the role of phyto-oxylipin anabolism in soybean tolerance to Phytophthora sojae colonization and infection.

First insights into the honey bee (Apis mellifera) brain lipidome and its neonicotinoid-induced alterations associated with reduced self-grooming behavior.

Introduction: Honey bees (Apis mellifera) play key roles in food production performing complex behaviors, like self-grooming to remove parasites. However, the lipids of their central nervous system have not been examined, even though they likely play a crucial role in the performance of cognitive process to perform intricate behaviors. Lipidomics has greatly advanced our understanding of neuropathologies in mammals and could provide the same for honey bees. Objectives: The objectives of this study were to characterize the brain lipidome of adult honey bees and to assess the effect of clothianidin (a neurotoxic insecticide) on the brain lipid composition, gene expression, and performance of self-grooming behavior under controlled conditions (cage experiments). Methods: After seven days of exposure to oral sublethal doses of clothianidin, the bees were assessed for self-grooming behavior; their brains were dissected to analyze the lipidome using an untargeted lipidomics approach and to perform a high throughput RNAseq analysis. Results: Compared to all other organisms, healthy bee brain lipidomes contain unusually high levels of alkyl-ether linked (plasmanyl) phospholipids (51.42%) and low levels of plasmalogens (plasmenyl phospholipids; 3.46%). This could make it more susceptible to the effects of toxins in the environment. A positive correlation between CL 18:3/18:1/14:0/22:6, TG 6:0/11:2/18:1, LPE 18:0e and intense self-grooming was found. Sublethal doses of a neonicotinoid altered PC 20:3e/15:0, PC 16:0/18:3, PA 18:0/24:1, and TG 18:1/18:1/18/1 levels, and affected gene expression linked to GPI-anchor biosynthesis pathway and energy metabolism that may be partially responsible for the altered lipid composition. Conclusion: This study showed that lipidomics can reveal honey bee neuropathologies associated with reduced grooming behavior due to sublethal neonicotinoid exposure. The ease of use, unusual brain lipidome as well as characterized behaviors that are affected by the environment make honey bees a promising model organism for studying the neurolipidome and associations with neurobehavioral disorders.

Data set showing the development of a hyperspectral imaging technique using LA-ICP-MS to determine the spatial distribution of nutrients in soil cores.

This data in brief article represents the data set associated with a research article published in Geoderma [1]. The data set represents figures showing the spatial distribution of selected macro and micronutrients, and their quantification in different crop or nutrient management systems practiced in the boreal ecosystem. Spatial distribution of nutrients was measured by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA‒ICP‒MS), using the new techniques we developed to visualize nutrient distribution in intact soil cores representative of the root rhizosphere. This data article supports the findings published in the main article [1]. This work also demonstrates that LA-ICP-MS is a valuable technique to image the spatial distribution of macro and micronutrients in intact soil cores as affected by different crop management practices.

Dual roles of oxostephanine as an Aurora kinase inhibitor and angiogenesis suppressor.

The Aurora kinases, including Aurora A, B and C, play critical roles in cell division. They have been found overexpressed in a number of types of cancer and may thus be potential targets in cancer therapy. Several Aurora kinase inhibitors have been identified and developed. Some of these have been used in clinical trials and have exhibited certain efficacy in cancer treatment. However, none of these has yet been applied clinically due to the poor outcomes. Oxostephanine is an aporphine alkaloid isolated from several plants of the genus Stephania. This compound has been reported to inhibit Aurora kinase activity in kinase assays and in cancer cells. The present study aimed to investigate the real­time effects of oxostephanine extracted from Stephania dielsiana Y.C. Wu leaves on the growth of an ovarian cancer cell line (OVCAR­8, human ovarian carcinoma); these effects were compared to those of the well­known Aurora kinase inhibitor, VX­680. The effects of oxostephanine on stromal cells, as well as endothelial cells were also examined. The results demonstrated that oxostephanine was an Aurora kinase inhibitor through the prevention of histone H3 phosphorylation at serine 10, the mislocalization of Aurora B and the induction of aneuploidy. Moreover, this substance was selectively cytotoxic to human umbilical vein endothelial cells (hUVECs), whereas it was less cytotoxic to human fibroblasts and umbilical cord­derived mesenchymal stem cells. In addition, this compound significantly attenuated the migration and tube formation ability of hUVECs. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that oxostephanine plays dual roles in inhibiting Aurora kinase activity and angiogenesis. Thus, it may have potential for use as a drug in cancer treatment.

Intraperitoneal Administration of Short-Chain Fatty Acids Improves Lipid Metabolism of Long-Evans Rats in a Sex-Specific Manner.

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are microbial metabolites, mainly generated by the action of gut microbiota on dietary fibers. Acetate, propionate, and butyrate are the three main SCFAs produced typically in a 60:20:20 molar ratio in the colon. Acetate, propionate, and butyrate, when given individually as supplements, have shown a protective role in obesity and hyperglycemia; however, the sex-specific effects of a mixture of SCFAs, when given in 60:20:20 ratio, on the regulation of lipid metabolism and lipid profile are not known. Male and female Long-Evans rats were given a mixture of SCFAs (acetate, propionate, and butyrate; molar ratio 60:20:20) each day for seven days intraperitoneally; plasma and hepatic lipids, gene expression, and lipidomics profile were analyzed. SCFAs significantly decreased plasma and hepatic triglycerides and cholesterol in males, whereas the fatty acyl composition of cholesteryl esters, triglycerides, and phospholipids was modulated in females. SCFAs decreased the mRNA expression of hepatic acetyl-CoA carboxylase-1 in both males and females. Our findings demonstrate for the first time that SCFAs (60:20:20) improved plasma and hepatic lipid levels and fatty acyl composition in a manner that may provide cardio-protective and anti-inflammatory effects in both sexes, via independent mechanisms.

Evaluation of the anticancer activity and fatty acids composition of "Handal" (Citrullus colocynthis L.) seed oil, a desert plant from south Jordan.

BACKGROUND: The chemical composition of Handal (Citrullus colocynthis L.) seed oil cultivated in Jordan deserts was characterized, and its bioactivity was evaluated. METHODS: The oil was extracted from the grinded seeds in 500 ml Soxhlet extractor for 24 hr using n-hexane, and the recovered fatty acids were methylated with methanolic-HCL. The fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) composition was analyzed using GC-MS and GC-FID. The anticancer activity associated with the oil was assessed against colon cancer cell lines (Caco-2 and HCT-116) and compared to its cytotoxicity on the human skin fibroblast. Multivariate analysis was used to determine relationship of the fatty acid composition with that of the anticancer activity. RESULTS: The results demonstrated that fatty acid composition of Citrullus colocynthis seed oil chiefly contains Linoleic acid, denoted as C18:2n6 (75%), followed by Palmitic acid C16:0 (8%), Stearic acid C18:0 (5%), and Oleic acid C18:1n9 (9%). It is demonstrated as an excellent source of essential fatty acids omega-6 (e.g., Linoleic acid), whereas omega-3 (e.g., α-Linolenic acid) and hydroxy polyunsaturated fatty acids are found at small level. Interestingly, the oil exhibited reasonable anticancer effects against colorectal cancer cell lines with IC50 values varying between 4 and 7 mg/ml. The correlation test revealed a relationship between the fatty acid composition and the effectiveness on treatments. CONCLUSIONS: Handal plant from Jordan appears to have very high level of Linoleic acid compared to other oils measured in different geographic locations and that there appears to be some anticancer activities associated with the fatty acid content of Handal seed oil.

Effects of beer based marinades on the plasmalogen content and composition of grilled ruminant meats.

Plasmalogens are important phospholipids essential for maintaining cardiovascular and brain health. Ruminant meats are excellent dietary sources of plasmalogens. Globally, grilling remains a popular technique for preparing meats. However, little is known concerning how marination affects retention and quality of plasmalogens in grilled ruminant meats. Here we present information on effects of two unfiltered beer-based marinades infused with herbs and spices on plasmalogens in grilled beef and moose meats. Although total plasmalogen contents of marinated grilled meats were lower compared to unmarinated controls; compositionally, wheat ale- and India session ale-based marinades retained higher levels of PUFA plasmalogen PC (phosphatidylcholine) and PE (phosphatidylethanolamine) species enriched with ω3 and ω6 fatty acids in grilled moose meats. In grilled beef, significantly higher levels of plasmalogen PC species enriched with monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) and PUFA were retained by Wheat ale-based marinade. Furthermore, strong positive correlations were observed between antioxidants, polyphenols, oxygenated terpenes and plasmalogens retained in the marinated grilled meats which contrasted negative correlations with total oxidation status of the marinated grilled meats. These findings appear to suggest that the phenolics, oxygenated terpenes and antioxidants present in the beer-based marinades preserved these plasmalogens in marinated meats against degradation during grilling. In view of the benefits associated with plasmalogens and essential fatty acid consumption, marination of beef and moose meats with unfiltered beer-based marinades could be useful for retaining MUFA and PUFA-enriched plasmalogens, as well as preserving the nutritional quality of grilled beef and moose meats.

Corn-Soybean Intercropping Improved the Nutritional Quality of Forage Cultivated on Podzols in Boreal Climate.

Intercropping systems could be a potential source of nutrient-rich forage production in cool climates on podzolic soils common in boreal ecosystems. In this study, we evaluated the effects of corn-soybean intercropping (IC) on the nutritional quality of forage. Two silage corn varieties were cultivated as monocropping (MC) or were intercropped with three forage soybean varieties using a randomized complete block design. IC significantly increased the crude protein (22%) and decreased the acid detergent (14%) and neutral detergent (6%) fibers. Forage net energy, total digestible nutrients, ash, dry matter intake, digestible dry matter and relative feed value were also significantly increased (p ≤ 0.05) in the IC treatments compared to corn MC. The macro and micro nutrients were higher in IC than corn MC. Intercropping increased the omega 3 fatty acid (FA) contents (67%) compared to corn MC. IC also increased the active microbial community in the plant root zone, which may contribute to the improvement in forage nutritional quality because the active soil microbial community composition showed significant correlations with soluble sugars, soluble proteins and potassium contents of the forage. These results demonstrate that corn-soybean IC could be a suitable cropping system to increase the nutritional quality of forage cultivated on podzols in boreal climates. The resultant forage has the potential to be a source of high-value animal feed for livestock production in cool climate regions of the world.

Identification and analyses of the chemical composition of a naturally occurring albino mutant chanterelle.

White chanterelles (Basidiomycota), lacking the orange pigments and apricot-like odour of typical chanterelles, were found recently in the Canadian provinces of Québec (QC) and Newfoundland & Labrador (NL). Our phylogenetic analyses confirmed the identification of all white chanterelles from NL and QC as Cantharellus enelensis; we name these forma acolodorus. We characterized carotenoid pigments, lipids, phenolics, and volatile compounds in these and related chanterelles. White mutants of C. enelensis lacked detectable ß-carotene, confirmed to be the primary pigment of wild-type, golden-orange individuals, and could also be distinguished by their profiles of fatty acids and phenolic acids, and by the ketone and terpene composition of their volatiles. We detected single base substitutions in the phytoene desaturase (Al-1) and phytoene synthase (Al-2) genes of the white mutant, which are predicted to result in altered amino acids in their gene products and may be responsible for the loss of ß-carotene synthesis in that form.

Carbon Nanotubes Improved the Germination and Vigor of Plant Species from Peatland Ecosystem Via Remodeling the Membrane Lipidome.

Application of the nanopriming technique to alleviate seed dormancy has shown promising results in various agricultural crop species. However, there is a dearth of knowledge regarding its potential use in native peatland boreal forest species to alleviate seed dormancy and improve their propagation or vigor for forest reclamation activities. Herein, we demonstrate the use of nanopriming with carbon nanotubes (CNT) to alleviate seed dormancy, improved seed germination, and seedling vigor in two boreal peatland species. Bog birch (Betula pumila L.) and Labrador tea (Rhododendron groenlandicum L.) seeds with embryo or seed coat dormancy were nanoprimed with either 20 or 40 µg/mL CNT, cold stratified at 2-4 °C for 15 days, and allowed to germinate at room temperature. The emerged seedlings' lipidome was assessed to decipher the role of lipid metabolism in alleviating seed dormancy. We observed significant (p < 0.05) improvement in seedling germination and seedling vigor in seeds primed with multiwalled carbon nanotubes functionalized with carboxylic acids. Phosphatidylcholine (PC 18:1/18:3), phosphatidylglycerol (PG 16:1/18:3), and lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC 18:3) molecular species (C18:3 enriched) were observed to be highly correlated with the increased seed germination percentages and the enhanced seedling vigor. Mechanistically, it appears that carbon nanoprimed seeds following stratification are effective in mediating seed dormancy by remodeling the seed membrane lipids (C18:3 enriched PC, PG, and LPC) in both peatland boreal forest species. The study results demonstrate that nanopriming may provide a solution to resolve seed dormancy issues by enhancing seed germination, propagation, and seedling vigor in non-resource boreal forest species ideally suited for forest reclamation following anthropogenic disturbances.

Canola produced under boreal climatic conditions in Newfoundland and Labrador have a unique lipid composition and expeller press extraction retained the composition for commercial use.

The average fatty acid (FA) composition of canola oil is made up of 62% oleic acid (C18:1n9), 19% linoleic acid (C18:2n6), 9% linolenic acid (C18:3n3) and 7% saturated FA (SFA). We investigated whether boreal climate (7.5-17.2 °C) favorably altered the FA composition of canola. Results indicate that canola cultivated in boreal climatic conditions had approximately twice the levels of omega-3 FA (17-20%) compared to canola from other growing areas (9%). The presence of monoacetyldiacylglycerol (MAcDG), a unique class of triglyceride, is reported for the first time in canola cultivated in a boreal climate, and has the potential to reduce the risk of obesity and other health related diseases. We further demonstrated that a non-solvent based extraction method retained the novel lipid composition without reducing the quality of oil being produced. Our results contribute significantly to the understanding of lipid accumulation in the world's second most important oil crop when cultivated in a boreal or northern climate.

Carbon Nanoparticles Functionalized with Carboxylic Acid Improved the Germination and Seedling Vigor in Upland Boreal Forest Species.

Nanopriming has been shown to significantly improve seed germination and seedling vigor in several agricultural crops. However, this approach has not been applied to native upland boreal forest species with complex seed dormancy to improve propagation. Herein, we demonstrate the effectiveness of carbon nanoparticles functionalized with carboxylic acids in resolving seed dormancy and improved the propagation of two native upland boreal forest species. Seed priming with carbon nanoparticles functionalized with carboxylic acids followed by stratification were observed to be the most effective in improving germination to 90% in green alder (Alnus viridis L.) compared to 60% in the control. Conversely, a combination of carbon nanoparticles (CNPs), especially multiwall carbon nanoparticles functionalized with carboxylic acid (MWCNT-COOH), cold stratification, mechanical scarification and hormonal priming (gibberellic acid) was effective for buffaloberry seeds (Shepherdia canadensis L.). Both concentrations (20 µg and 40 µg) of MWCNT-COOH had a higher percent germination (90%) compared to all other treatments. Furthermore, we observed the improvement in germination, seedling vigor and resolution of both embryo and seed coat dormancy in upland boreal forest species appears to be associated with the remodeling of C18:3 enriched fatty acids in the following seed membrane lipid molecular species: PC18:1/18:3, PG16:1/18:3, PE18:3/18:2, and digalactosyldiacylglycerol (DGDG18:3/18:3). These findings suggest that nanopriming may be a useful approach to resolve seed dormancy issues and improve the seed germination in non-resource upland boreal forest species ideally suited for forest reclamation following resource mining.