Black-Box Mathematical Model for Net Photosynthesis Estimation and Its Digital IoT Implementation Based on Non-Invasive Techniques: Capsicum annuum L. Study Case.

Photosynthesis is a vital process for the planet. Its estimation involves the measurement of different variables and its processing through a mathematical model. This article presents a black-box mathematical model to estimate the net photosynthesis and its digital implementation. The model uses variables such as: leaf temperature, relative leaf humidity, and incident radiation. The model was elaborated with obtained data from Capsicum annuum L. plants and calibrated using genetic algorithms. The model was validated with Capsicum annuum L. and Capsicum chinense Jacq. plants, achieving average errors of 3% in Capsicum annuum L. and 18.4% in Capsicum chinense Jacq. The error in Capsicum chinense Jacq. was due to the different experimental conditions. According to evaluation, all correlation coefficients (Rho) are greater than 0.98, resulting from the comparison with the LI-COR Li-6800 equipment. The digital implementation consists of an FPGA for data acquisition and processing, as well as a Raspberry Pi for IoT and in situ interfaces; thus, generating a useful net photosynthesis device with non-invasive sensors. This proposal presents an innovative, portable, and low-scale way to estimate the photosynthetic process in vivo, in situ, and in vitro, using non-invasive techniques.

Fermentation Extract of Naringenin Increases the Expression of Estrogenic Receptor ß and Modulates Genes Related to the p53 Signalling Pathway, miR-200c and miR-141 in Human Colon Cancer Cells Exposed to BPA.

The estrogenic receptor beta (ERß) protects against carcinogenesis by stimulating apoptosis. Bisphenol A (BPA) is related to promoting cancer, and naringenin has chemoprotective activities both can bind to ERß. Naringenin in the colon is metabolized by the microbiota. Cancer involves genetic and epigenetic mechanisms, including miRNAs. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the co-exposure effect of colonic in vitro fermented extract of naringenin (FEN) and BPA, to elucidate molecular effects in HT-29 colon cancer cell line. For this, we quantified genes related to the p53 signaling pathway as well as ERß, miR-200c, and miR-141. As an important result, naringenin (IC50 250 µM) and FEN (IC50 37%) promoted intrinsic pathways of apoptosis through phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) (+2.70, +1.72-fold, respectively) and CASP9 (+3.99, +2.03-fold, respectively) expression. BPA decreased the expression of PTEN (-3.46-fold) gene regulated by miR-200. We suggest that once co-exposed, cells undergo a greater stress forcing them to mediate other extrinsic apoptosis mechanisms associated with death domain FASL. In turn, these findings are related to the increase of ERß (5.3-fold with naringenin and 13.67-fold with FEN) gene expression, important in the inhibition of carcinogenic development.

Response of transgenic tobacco overexpressing the CchGLP gene to cadmium and aluminium: phenotypic and microRNAs expression changes.

Transgenic tobacco (N. tabacum cv. Xanthi nc) expressing Capsicum chinense CchGLP gene that encodes an Mn-SOD, constitutively produces hydrogen peroxide that increase endogenous ROS levels. Previous studies using these plants against geminivirus infections as well as drought stress confirmed that CchGLP expression conferred resistance against biotic and abiotic stresses. Cadmium (Cd) and Aluminium (Al) contamination in soils are a major ecological concern since they are two of the most widespread toxic elements in terrestrial environments. Trying to explore additional possible tolerance to another stresses in these plants, the aim of this work was to analyse the response to cadmium and aluminium salts during germination and early stages of plantlet development and a differential transcriptome of microRNAs (miRNAs) expression in expressing CchGLP transgenic lines and an azygote non-CchGLP expressing line. Plants were grown in vitro with addition of CdCl2 and AlCl3 at three different concentrations: 100, 300 and 500 µM and 50, 150 and 300 µM, respectively. The results showed higher tolerance to Cd and Al salts evaluated in two CchGLP-expressing transgenic lines L8 and L26 in comparison with the azygous non-CchGLP expressing line L1. Interestingly, L8 under Al stress presented vigorous roots and development of radicular hairs in comparison with azygous control (L1). Differentially expressed miRNAs in the comparison between L8 and L1 were associated with up and down-regulation of target genes related with structural molecule activity and ribosome constituents, as well as down-regulation in proton-transporting V-type ATPase (Vacuolar ATPase or V-ATPase). Moreover, KEGG analysis of the target genes for the differentially expressed miRNAs, led to identification of genes related with metabolic pathways and biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. One possible explanation of the tolerance to Cd and Al displayed in the transgenic tobaccos evaluated, might involve the fact that several down-regulated miRNAs, were found associated with target genes expressing V-ATPase. Specifically, miR7904-5p was down regulated and related with the up-regulation of one V-ATPase. The expression levels of these genes was confirmed by qRT-PCR assays, thus suggesting that a cation transport activity driven by the V-ATPases-dependent proton motive force, might significantly contribute as one mechanism for Cd and Al detoxification by vacuolar compartmentation in these transgenic tobacco plants.

Comparative Analysis of the Soluble Proteome and the Cytolytic Activity of Unbleached and Bleached Millepora complanata ("Fire Coral") from the Mexican Caribbean.

Coral bleaching caused by global warming has resulted in massive damage to coral reefs worldwide. Studies addressing the consequences of elevated temperature have focused on organisms of the class Anthozoa, and up to now, there is little information regarding the mechanisms by which reef forming Hydrozoans face thermal stress. In this study, we carried out a comparative analysis of the soluble proteome and the cytolytic activity of unbleached and bleached Millepora complanata ("fire coral") that inhabited reef colonies exposed to the 2015-2016 El Niño-Southern Oscillation in the Mexican Caribbean. A differential proteomic response involving proteins implicated in key cellular processes, such as glycolysis, DNA repair, stress response, calcium homeostasis, exocytosis, and cytoskeleton organization was found in bleached hydrocorals. Four of the proteins, whose levels increased in bleached specimens, displayed sequence similarity to a phospholipase A2, an astacin-like metalloprotease, and two pore forming toxins. However, a protein, which displayed sequence similarity to a calcium-independent phospholipase A2, showed lower levels in bleached cnidarians. Accordingly, the hemolytic effect of the soluble proteome of bleached hydrocorals was significantly higher, whereas the phospholipase A2 activity was significantly reduced. Our results suggest that bleached M. complanata is capable of increasing its toxins production in order to balance the lack of nutrients supplied by its symbionts.

Management of Antracnosis with Electrochemically Activated Salt Solutions (EASSs) on Bean Culture.

Common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is an important crop for food security and for national economics for several countries worldwide. One of the most important factors of risk in common bean production is the fungal disease anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum lindemuthianum, which, in some cases, causes complete yield losses; this kind of plant disease is usually managed through the application of chemical products such as fungicides that are commonly not accepted by society. This rejection is based on the relationship of pesticides with health damage and environmental contamination. In order to help in solving these drawbacks, the present work proposes the use of electrochemically activated salt solutions (EASSs) as a safer pathogen control agent in crops, due to it having shown an elicitor and biostimulant effect on plants. With this background, this manuscript presents in vitro results of the evaluation of the inhibitory effect for multiple bean pathogens and in vivo results of EASS in the common bean-Colletotrichum pathosystem by evaluation of the infection severity and defense activation, such as secondary metabolite production and antioxidant activity. EASS presence in growth media had a strong inhibitory effect at the beginning of experiments for some of the evaluated fungi. EASSs showed an effect against the development of the disease when applied in specific doses to prevent distress in plants.

Inhibition of pepper huasteco yellow veins virus by foliar application of ZnO nanoparticles in Capsicum annuum L.

The Pepper huasteco yellow vein virus (PHYVV) is an endemic geminivirus in Mexico causing partial or total losses in the pepper crop since the damage caused by the virus has not been fully controlled. In this work, we evaluated the effect of ZnO NPs (0, 50, 100, 150, and 200 mM) as a preventive (72 h before) and curative (72 h after) treatment of PHYVV infection in two jalapeño pepper varieties. In this study, we observed a decrease in symptoms, and it could be caused by an induction of the defense system in pepper plants and a direct action on PHYVV by foliar application of ZnO NPs. Our findings suggest that ZnO NP application significantly decreased the viral titer for both varieties at 200 mM by 15.11-fold. However, this effect was different depending on the timing of application and the variety of pepper. The greatest decrease in the viral titer in the preventive treatment in both varieties was at the concentration of 200 mM (1781.17 and 274.5 times, respectively). For curative treatment in cv. Don Pancho at the concentration of 200 mM (333.33 times) and cv. Don Benito at 100 mM (43.10 folds). compared to control. Furthermore, virus mobility was generally restricted for both varieties at 100 mM (15.13-fold) compared to the control. The results possibly delineated that ZnO NPs increased plant resistance possibly by increasing POD (2.08 and 0.25 times) and SOD (0.998 and 1.38) in cv. Don Pancho and cv. Don Benito, respectively. On the other hand, in cv. Don Pancho and cv. Don Benito presented a decrease in CAT (0.61 and 0.058) and PAL (0.78 and 0.77), respectively. Taken together, we provide the first evidence to demonstrate the effect of ZnO NPs on viral symptoms depending on the plan-virus-ZnO NP interaction.

Biostimulant and Elicitor Responses to Cricket Frass (Acheta domesticus) in Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) under Protected Conditions.

Agriculture in the current century is seeking sustainable tools in order to generate plant production systems with minimal negative environmental impact. In recent years it has been shown that the use of insect frass is an option to be used for this purpose. The present work studied the effect of low doses (0.1, 0.5, and 1.0% w/w) of cricket frass (Acheta domesticus) in the substrate during the cultivation of tomatos under greenhouse conditions. Plant performance and antioxidant enzymatic activities were measured in the study as explicative variables related to plant stress responses in order to determine possible biostimulant or elicitor effects of cricket frass treatments during tomato cultivation under greenhouse conditions. The main findings of this study indicated that tomato plants responded in a dose dependent manner to cricket frass treatments, recalling the hormesis phenomenon. On the one hand, a 0.1% (w/w) cricket frass treatment showed typical biostimulant features, while on the other hand, 0.5 and 1.0% treatments displayed elicitor effects in tomato plants under evaluated conditions in the present study. These results support the possibility that low doses of cricket frass might be used in tomato cultivation (and perhaps in other crops) for biostimulant/elicitor input into sustainable production systems.

Delayed Senescence and Marketability Index Preservation of Blackberry Fruit by Preharvest Application of Chitosan and Salicylic Acid.

Blackberry fruits are appreciated as a source of nutrients and compounds related to benefit human health. However, they are highly perishable and very susceptible to decay factors. Current methods to improve and maintain blackberry quality are limited in use because of the fruit's fragile physical properties. Regarding these properties, it has been reported that the activities of certain enzymes are linked to senescence and fruit softening processes. This study was aimed to assess the effect of salicylic acid (SA) and chitosan (COS) as preharvest treatments on the physiology related to improving fruit conservation and preserving the marketability index of blackberry fruit. The preharvest treatments were foliar sprayed on blackberry plants at different concentrations. The activities of enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL), and polygalacturonase (PG) were measured. Total soluble solids (TSS), titratable acidity (TA), TSS/TA ratio, and marketability index (MI) were analyzed after 144 h of storage. The application of 3 mM of SA and 0.25% of COS treatments preserved the MI of blackberries by reducing leakage, red drupelet reversion (RDR), and mycelium presence in the fruit. SA application increased SOD, CAT, and PAL activities. Our results also showed that SA and COS preharvest treatments modified the activity of the cell wall degrading enzyme PG, which might play a role in improving the shelf life and resistance to decay factors of blackberry fruit without any significant effects on physicochemical properties like TSS, TA, and the TSS/TA ratio.

Comparative Analysis of the NDVI and NGBVI as Indicators of the Protective Effect of Beneficial Bacteria in Conditions of Biotic Stress.

Precision agriculture has the objective of improving agricultural yields and minimizing costs by assisting management with the use of sensors, remote sensing, and information technologies. There are several approaches to improving crop yields where remote sensing has proven to be an important methodology to determine agricultural maps to show surface differences which may be associated with many phenomena. Remote sensing utilizes a wide variety of image sensors that range from common RGB cameras to sophisticated, hyper-spectral image cameras which acquire images from outside the visible electromagnetic spectrum. The NDVI and NGBVI are computer vision vegetation index algorithms that perform operations from color masks such as red, green, and blue from RGB cameras and hyper-spectral masks such as near-infrared (NIR) to highlight surface differences in the image to detect crop anomalies. The aim of the present study was to determine the relationship of NDVI and NGBVI as plant health indicators in tomato plants (Solanum lycopersicum) treated with the beneficial bacteria Bacillus cereus-Amazcala (B. c-A) as a protective agent to cope with Clavibacter michiganensis subsp. michiganensis (Cmm) infections. The results showed that in the presence of B. c-A after infection with Cmm, NDVI and NGBVI can be used as markers of plant weight and the activation of the enzymatic activities related to plant defense induction.

Machine Learning for Plant Stress Modeling: A Perspective towards Hormesis Management.

Plant stress is one of the most significant factors affecting plant fitness and, consequently, food production. However, plant stress may also be profitable since it behaves hormetically; at low doses, it stimulates positive traits in crops, such as the synthesis of specialized metabolites and additional stress tolerance. The controlled exposure of crops to low doses of stressors is therefore called hormesis management, and it is a promising method to increase crop productivity and quality. Nevertheless, hormesis management has severe limitations derived from the complexity of plant physiological responses to stress. Many technological advances assist plant stress science in overcoming such limitations, which results in extensive datasets originating from the multiple layers of the plant defensive response. For that reason, artificial intelligence tools, particularly Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL), have become crucial for processing and interpreting data to accurately model plant stress responses such as genomic variation, gene and protein expression, and metabolite biosynthesis. In this review, we discuss the most recent ML and DL applications in plant stress science, focusing on their potential for improving the development of hormesis management protocols.