Effects of white mustard (Sinapis alba) oil on growth performance, immune response, blood parameters, digestive and antioxidant enzyme activities in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchusmykiss).

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation of white mustard (Sinapis alba) oil (WMO) on growth performance, immune responses, digestive and antioxidant enzyme activities in juvenile rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss). For this purpose, fish (initial weight: 25.77 ± 0.13 g) were divided into four experimental groups in triplicate and fed ad libitum twice a day with diets containing WMO at 0 (control), 0.5, 1, and 1.5% of diet for 9 weeks. Three fish from each tank (n:9 per treatment) were sampled on 21st, 42nd, and 63rd days for further analyses. At the end of the feeding period, fish were challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila and Yersinia ruckeri in two separate experimental setups. Results showed that final weight, weight gain, and specific growth rate were significantly increased in all experimental groups compared to the control. Feed conversion ratio was similar among treatments. Respiratory burst and potential killing activity decreased in all experimental groups compared to the control (P < 0.05). Lysozyme and myeloperoxidase activities were elevated in all experimental groups at the end of the experiment compared to the control (P < 0.05). Cytokine gene expressions in the head kidney and intestine were elevated in all experimental groups compared to that of the control in general (P < 0.05). Hematological responses of the experimental fish groups were similar to that of the control (P > 0.05). Pepsin and trypsin levels decreased in all experimental groups (P < 0.05). In terms of antioxidant enzyme activities, significant improvement in liver superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione s-transferase activities in all treatment groups were determined (P < 0.05). In addition, a significant decline in liver lipid peroxidation levels was recorded in all treated groups at all sampling times compared to the control (P < 0.05). At the end of this feeding trial, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed in survival against A. hydrophila among experimental groups compared to the control (P > 0.05). However, increased survival against Y. ruckeri was determined in experimental fish groups (P < 0.05). This study suggests that white mustard oil had a favorable effect on the overall health and growth of rainbow trout.

Three-Dimensional Envelope and Subunit Interactions of the Plastid-Encoded RNA Polymerase from Sinapis alba.

RNA polymerases (RNAPs) are found in all living organisms. In the chloroplasts, the plastid-encoded RNA polymerase (PEP) is a prokaryotic-type multimeric RNAP involved in the selective transcription of the plastid genome. One of its active states requires the assembly of nuclear-encoded PEP-Associated Proteins (PAPs) on the catalytic core, producing a complex of more than 900 kDa, regarded as essential for chloroplast biogenesis. In this study, sequence alignments of the catalytic core subunits across various chloroplasts of the green lineage and prokaryotes combined with structural data show that variations are observed at the surface of the core, whereas internal amino acids associated with the catalytic activity are conserved. A purification procedure compatible with a structural analysis was used to enrich the native PEP from Sinapis alba chloroplasts. A mass spectrometry (MS)-based proteomic analysis revealed the core components, the PAPs and additional proteins, such as FLN2 and pTAC18. MS coupled with crosslinking (XL-MS) provided the initial structural information in the form of protein clusters, highlighting the relative position of some subunits with the surfaces of their interactions. Using negative stain electron microscopy, the PEP three-dimensional envelope was calculated. Particles classification shows that the protrusions are very well-conserved, offering a framework for the future positioning of all the PAPs. Overall, the results show that PEP-associated proteins are firmly and specifically associated with the catalytic core, giving to the plastid transcriptional complex a singular structure compared to other RNAPs.

Lifetimes of the Aglycone Substrates of Specifier Proteins, the Autonomous Iron Enzymes That Dictate the Products of the Glucosinolate-Myrosinase Defense System in Brassica Plants.

Specifier proteins (SPs) are components of the glucosinolate-myrosinase defense system found in plants of the order Brassicales (brassicas). Glucosinolates (GLSs) comprise at least 150 known S-(ß-d-glucopyranosyl)thiohydroximate-O-sulfonate compounds, each with a distinguishing side chain linked to the central carbon. Following tissue injury, the enzyme myrosinase (MYR) promiscuously hydrolyzes the common thioglycosidic linkage of GLSs to produce unstable aglycone intermediates, which can readily undergo a Lossen-like rearrangement to the corresponding organoisothiocyanates. The known SPs share a common protein architecture but redirect the breakdown of aglycones to different stable products: epithionitrile (ESP), nitrile (NSP), or thiocyanate (TFP). The different effects of these products on brassica consumers motivate efforts to understand the defense response in chemical detail. Experimental analysis of SP mechanisms is challenged by the instability of the aglycones and would be facilitated by knowledge of their lifetimes. We developed a spectrophotometric method that we used to monitor the rearrangement reactions of the MYR-generated aglycones from nine GLSs, discovering that their half-lives (t1/2) vary by a factor of more than 50, from <3 to 150 s (22 °C). The t1/2 of the sinigrin-derived allyl aglycone (34 s), which can form the epithionitrile product (1-cyano-2,3-epithiopropane) in the presence of ESP, proved to be sufficient to enable spatial and temporal separation of the MYR and ESP reactions. The results confirm recent proposals that ESP is an autonomous iron-dependent enzyme that intercepts the unstable aglycone rather than a direct effector of MYR. Knowledge of aglycone lifetimes will enable elucidation of how the various SPs reroute aglycones to different products.

Glutamine as an Ammonia Donor in Catabolism of the Glucosinolate, Sinalbin, in Biosynthesis of 4-Hydroxybenzylamine.

Amines synthesized by plants may be considered a dietary source of bioactive compounds, which are of interest due to possible health promoting effects. Developing Sinapis alba sprouts are known to produce 4-hydroxybenzylamine, but the reaction mechanism has not yet been established. We propose here a suggested metabolic pathway for the formation of 4-hydroxybenzylamine in S. alba plants. The catabolic sequence starts with a reaction between l-glutamine (Gln) as ammonia donor and 4-hydroxybenzyl carbocation, the enzymatic catalyzed hydrolysis product from sinalbin (4-hydroxybenzylglucosinolate). The suggested reactions are compared with alternative plant metabolic reactions used in the biosynthesis of biogenic amines.

Effects of sewage sludge supplementation on heavy metal accumulation and the expression of ABC transporters in Sinapis alba L. during assisted phytoremediation of contaminated sites.

ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters, types C, G, and B were monitored via qPCR in order to investigate the influence of heavy metal (HM) contamination of post-industrial and post-agricultural soils and the effects of its supplementation with sewage sludge, on Sinapis alba plants. Five house-keeping genes were selected and validated to ensure the best reference points. The relative expression of ABC types C and G genes was profoundly affected by experimental conditions and included their upregulation after plants exposure to heavy metals and downregulation after supplementation with sewage sludge. However, ABC type C was more responsive then type G. The experimental conditions altered the expression of ABC type C gene faster than ABC type G and thus, the expression of ABC type C can therefore potentially be used as a bioindicator during assisted phytoremediation of degraded sites. In clean soil, supplementation with sewage sludge with a slight content of heavy metals still caused an upregulation in the expression of ABC types C and G, which showed that proper toxicity assessments are necessary to ensure safe application of sewage sludge into soils. Results showed that the analysed genes take a significant part in plants metal detoxification and that their expression is regulated at transcriptional level after exposure to soil contaminated with heavy metals by both, industrial activities and by sewage sludge supplementation. Thus, their expression can potentially be used as an early-warning biomarker when soil supplementation with sewage sludge is incorporated into the soil-management process.

Response of rhizospheric and endophytic bacterial communities of white mustard (Sinapis alba) to bioaugmentation of soil with the Pseudomonas sp. H15 strain.

A factor that may significantly increase the efficacy of phytoextraction is soil bioaugmentation with specific bacteria, which can alter the composition of rhizospheric and endophytic bacterial communities. The aim of this study was to compare the effect of soil treatment with living (bioaugmentation) and dead (control) cells of the plant growth-promoting metal-resistant endophytic strain Pseudomonas sp. H15 on the bacterial community composition in the rhizo- and endo-sphere of white mustard during enhanced phytoextraction. The bacterial communities in the rhizosphere were dominated (51.7-68.2%) by Proteobacteria, regardless of the soil treatment or sampling point. A temporary increase in the number of sequences belonging to Gammaproteobacteria (up to 37.3%) was only observed 24 h after the soil treatment with living Pseudomonas sp. H15 cells, whereas for the remaining samples, the relative abundance of this class did not exceed 7.1%. The relative abundance of Proteobacteria in the endosphere of the roots, stems, and leaves of white mustard was higher in the control than in bioaugmented plants. The most pronounced dominance of the Gammaproteobacteria sequences was observed in the stems and leaves of the control plants at the first sampling point, which strongly indicates the ability of the plants to rapidly uptake DNA from soil and translocate it to the aboveground parts of the plants. Additionally, the bioaugmentation of the soil caused a diverse shift in the bacterial communities in the rhizo- and endo-sphere of white mustard compared to control. The most distinct differences, which were dependent on the treatment, were observed in the endosphere of plants at the beginning of the experiment and decreased over time. These results indicate that the rhizo- and endo-biome of white mustard reacts to soil bioaugmentation and may influence the efficiency of bacterial-assisted phytoextraction.

Hydrocarbon Removal by Two Differently Developed Microbial Inoculants and Comparing Their Actions with Biostimulation Treatment.

Bioremediation of soils polluted with petroleum compounds is a widely accepted environmental technology. We compared the effects of biostimulation and bioaugmentation of soil historically contaminated with aliphatic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. The studied bioaugmentation treatments comprised of the introduction of differently developed microbial inoculants, namely: an isolated hydrocarbon-degrading community C1 (undefined-consisting of randomly chosen degraders) and a mixed culture C2 (consisting of seven strains with well-characterized enhanced hydrocarbon-degrading capabilities). Sixty days of remedial treatments resulted in a substantial decrease in total aliphatic hydrocarbon content; however, the action of both inoculants gave a significantly better effect than nutrient amendments (a 69.7% decrease for C1 and 86.8% for C2 vs. 34.9% for biostimulation). The bioaugmentation resulted also in PAH removal, and, again, C2 degraded contaminants more efficiently than C1 (reductions of 85.2% and 64.5%, respectively), while biostimulation itself gave no significant results. Various bioassays applying different organisms (the bacterium Vibrio fischeri, the plants Sorghum saccharatum, Lepidium sativum, and Sinapis alba, and the ostracod Heterocypris incongruens) and Ames test were used to assess, respectively, potential toxicity and mutagenicity risk after bioremediation. Each treatment improved soil quality, however only bioaugmentation with the C2 treatment decreased both toxicity and mutagenicity most efficiently. Illumina high-throughput sequencing revealed the lack of (C1) or limited (C2) ability of the introduced degraders to sustain competition from indigenous microbiota after a 60-day bioremediation process. Thus, bioaugmentation with the bacterial mixed culture C2, made up of identified, hydrocarbon-degrading strains, is clearly a better option for bioremediation purposes when compared to other treatments.

Biodegradation Potential and Ecotoxicity Assessment in Soil Extracts Amended with Phenoxy Acid Herbicide (2,4-D) and a Structurally-Similar Plant Secondary Metabolite (Ferulic Acid).

Phenoxy acid 2,4-D (2,4-dichlorophenoxy acid) is one of the most commonly-used herbicide in agriculture. Biodegradation of 2,4-D can be stimulated by structurally-related plant secondary metabolites such as ferulic acid (FA). The aim of this study is to: (1) assess the potential of indigenous soil bacteria to degrade 2,4-D in the presence of FA by PCR analysis of functional tfdA genes, (2) to determine the influence of 2,4-D and FA on samples ecotoxicity using Phytotoxkit® and Microtox® biotests. The detection of tfdA genes varied depending on the enrichment of samples with FA. FA suppressed detection of the tfdA genes, 100 µM 2,4-D induced higher detection of studied amplicons, while 500 µM 2,4-D delayed their detection. The ecotoxicity response was specific and differed between plants (PE% Lepidium sativum > Sinapis alba > Sorghum saccharatum) and bacteria (PE% up to 99% for Vibrio fischeri). Our findings confirm that 2,4-D and FA had a toxic influence on the used organisms.

Gene expression, DNA damage and other stress markers in Sinapis alba L. exposed to heavy metals with special reference to sewage sludge application on contaminated sites.

Bioindicators are promising tools used to detect the long-term effects of selected biosolids on plants development and should be implemented before large-scale supplementation of sewage sludge into the soil. The presented study shows the impact of sewage sludge application on metal-sensitive toxicity biological parameters (biomarkers) in Sinapis alba including: germination, root length, the activity of guaiacol peroxidase, the chlorophyll content, the level of DNA damage and the expression level of Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (rbcL) and metallothionein (mt). We evaluated data from selected biomarkers in order to broaden our understanding of plants defense mechanisms against heavy metal contamination and the application of sewage sludge into soils. Overall, in contaminated soil after supplementation with both municipal sewage sludges, an increase in toxicity was noticed in DNA damage, mt and rbcl expression and total chlorophyll content. The supplementation of both soils with municipal sewage sludge caused a two-time induction in the mt expression. Moreover, clean soil supplemented with sewage sludge caused an increase in DNA damage shown as the tail moment from approximately 12 µm on control to 40 µm after supplementation. Even if those biosolids increased the initial germination, roots length, and biomass in comparison to the unamended soil, the toxicity was evidenced with other stress markers. Results showed, that in order to accurately assess the influence of sewage sludge application on plants the use of several specific biomarkers is required for safe land restoration. The conducted study also confirmed, both under biochemical and genotoxic tests, that iron enrichment for biosolids or contaminated soil can significantly reduce the bioavailability and toxicity of other metals.

Oviposition Preference for Young Plants by the Large Cabbage Butterfly (Pieris brassicae ) Does not Strongly Correlate with Caterpillar Performance.

The effects of temporal variation in the quality of short-lived annual plants on oviposition preference and larval performance of insect herbivores has thus far received little attention. This study examines the effects of plant age on female oviposition preference and offspring performance in the large cabbage white butterfly Pieris brassicae. Adult female butterflies lay variable clusters of eggs on the underside of short-lived annual species in the family Brassicaceae, including the short-lived annuals Brassica nigra and Sinapis arvensis, which are important food plants for P. brassicae in The Netherlands. Here, we compared oviposition preference and larval performance of P. brassicae on three age classes (young, mature, and pre-senescing) of B. nigra and S. arvensis plants. Oviposition preference of P. brassicae declined with plant age in both plant species. Whereas larvae performed similarly on all three age classes in B. nigra, preference and performance were weakly correlated in S. arvensis. Analysis of primary (sugars and amino acids) and secondary (glucosinolates) chemistry in the plant shoots revealed that differences in their quality and quantity were more pronounced with respect to tissue type (leaves vs. flowers) than among different developmental stages of both plant species. Butterflies of P. brassicae may prefer younger and smaller plants for oviposition anticipating that future plant growth and size is optimally synchronized with the final larval instar, which contributes >80% of larval growth before pupation.

Overlapping toxic effect of long term thallium exposure on white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) photosynthetic activity.

BACKGROUND: Heavy metal exposure affect plant productivity by interfering, directly and indirectly, with photosynthetic reactions. The toxic effect of heavy metals on photosynthetic reactions has been reported in wide-ranging studies, however there is paucity of data in the literature concerning thallium (Tl) toxicity. Thallium is ubiquitous natural trace element and is considered the most toxic of heavy metals; however, some plant species, such as white mustard (Sinapis alba L.) are able to accumulate thallium at very high concentrations. In this study we identified the main sites of the photosynthetic process inhibited either directly or indirectly by thallium, and elucidated possible detoxification mechanisms in S. alba. RESULTS: We studied the toxicity of thallium in white mustard (S. alba) growing plants and demonstrated that tolerance of plants to thallium (the root test) decreased with the increasing Tl(I) ions concentration in culture media. The root growth of plants exposed to Tl at 100 µg L(-1) for 4 weeks was similar to that in control plants, while in plants grown with Tl at 1,000 µg L(-1) root growth was strongly inhibited. In leaves, toxic effect became gradually visible in response to increasing concentration of Tl (100 - 1,000 µg L(-1)) with discoloration spreading around main vascular bundles of the leaf blade; whereas leaf margins remained green. Subsequent structural analyses using chlorophyll fluorescence, microscopy, and pigment and protein analysis have revealed different effects of varying Tl concentrations on leaf tissue. At lower concentration partial rearrangement of the photosynthetic complexes was observed without significant changes in the chloroplast structure and the pigment and protein levels. At higher concentrations, the decrease of PSI and PSII quantum yields and massive oxidation of pigments was observed in discolored leaf areas, which contained high amount of Tl. Substantial decline of the photosystem core proteins and disorder of the photosynthetic complexes were responsible for disappearance of the chloroplast grana. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the presented results we postulate two phases of thallium toxicity on photosynthesis: the non-destructive phase at early stages of toxicant accumulation and the destructive phase that is restricted to the discolored leaf areas containing high toxicant content. There was no distinct border between the two phases of thallium toxicity in leaves and the degree of toxicity was proportional to the migration rate of the toxicant outside the vascular bundles. The three-fold (nearly linear) increase of Tl(I) concentration was observed in damaged tissue and the damage appears to be associated with the presence of the oxidized form of thallium - Tl(III).

Purification and biochemical characterization of phytocystatin from Brassica alba.

Phytocystatins belong to the family of cysteine proteinases inhibitors. They are ubiquitously found in plants and carry out various significant physiological functions. These plant derived inhibitors are gaining wide consideration as potential candidate in engineering transgenic crops and in drug designing. Hence it is crucial to identify these inhibitors from various plant sources. In the present study a phytocystatin has been isolated and purified by a simple two-step procedure using ammonium sulfate saturation and gel filtration chromatography on Sephacryl S-100HR from Brassica alba seeds (yellow mustard seeds).The protein was purified to homogeneity with 60.3% yield and 180-fold of purification. The molecular mass of the mustard seed cystatin was estimated to be nearly 26,000 Da by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis as well as by gel filtration chromatography. The stokes radius and diffusion coefficient of the mustard cystatin were found to be 23A° and 9.4 × 10(-7) cm(2) s(-1) respectively. The isolated phytocystatin was found to be stable in the pH range of 6-8 and is thermostable up to 60 °C. Kinetic analysis revealed that the phytocystatin exhibited non-competitive type of inhibition and inhibited papain more efficiently (K(i) = 3 × 10(-7) M) than ficin (K(i) = 6.6 × 10(-7) M) and bromelain (K(i) = 7.7 × 10(-7) M respectively). CD spectral analysis shows that it possesses 17.11% alpha helical content.

Phytoremediation of lead-contaminated soil by Sinapis arvensis and Rapistrum rugosum.

Nowadays, public concern relating to ecological deleterious effects of heavy metals is on the rise. To evaluate the potential of Rapistrum rugosum and Sinapis arvensis in lead- contaminate phytoremediate, a pot culture experiment was conducted. The pots were filled by soil treated with different rates of leadoxide (PbO) including 0 (control), 100, 200, 300, 400, and 500 mg Pb per 1 kg soil. Germinated seeds were sown. Surprisingly, with increasing concentration of Pb, dry weight of R. rugosum and S. arvensis did not decrease significantly. In both of species, the concentration of Pb was higher in roots than shoots. In general, S.arvensis was absorbed more Pb compared to R. rugosum. The results revealed high potential of R. rugosum and S. arvensis in withdrawing Pb from contaminated soil. For both species, a positive linear relation was observed between Pb concentration in soil and roots. However, linear relationship was not observed between Pb concentration in the soil and shoots. Although both species test had low ability in translocation Pb from roots to shoots but they showed high ability in uptake soil Pb by roots. Apparently, these plants are proper species for using in phytoremediation technology.

Dissipation kinetics of alpha-cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin residues in aboveground part of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.).

Dissipation of simultaneously applied insecticides alpha-cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin was studied in a minor crop, aboveground part of white mustard (Sinapis alba L.). A validated gas chromatographic method (GC-ECD/NPD) was used to determine insecticide residues. Analytical performances were very satisfactory, with expanded uncertainties not higher than 14% (coverage factor k = 2, confidence level 95%). Dissipation of alpha-cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin in white mustard followed first-order kinetics (R(2) between 0.953 and 0.995), with half-lives of 3.1-4.6 and 2.9-3.7 days respectively. Based on the results of this two-year study and the relevant residue regulation, alpha-cypermethrin and lambda-cyhalothrin treatments can be considered safe for crop protection, feeding animals and the environment.

Target-directed screening of the bioactive compounds specifically binding to ß2-adrenoceptor in Semen brassicae by high-performance affinity chromatography.

The bioactive ingredients in Semen sinapis were rapidly screened by immobilized ß2-adrenoceptor (ß2-AR) and target-directed molecular docking. The methods involved the attachment of ß2-AR using any amino group in the receptor, the simultaneous separation and identification of the retention compounds by high-performance affinity chromatography; the binding mechanism of the interesting compound to the receptor was investigated by zonal elution and molecular docking. Sinapine in Semen sinapis was proved to be the bioactive compound that specifically binds to the immobilized receptor. The association constant of sinapine to ß2-AR was determined to be 1.36 × 10(5) M(-1) with a value of 1.27 × 10(-6) M for the number of binding sites. Ionic bond was believed to be the driving force during the interaction between sinapine and ß2-AR. It is possible to become a powerful alternative for rapid screening of bioactive compounds from a complex matrix such as traditional Chinese medicine and further investigation on the drug-receptor interaction.

Metabolic Characteristics in Meal of Black Rapeseed and Yellow-Seeded Progeny of Brassica napus-Sinapis alba Hybrids.

Breeding of yellow-seeded rapeseed (Brassica napus) is preferred over black-seeded rapeseed for the desirable properties of the former. This study evaluated the metabolites and nutritive values of black-seeded rapeseed meal and yellow-seeded meal from the progeny of a B. napus-Sinapis alba hybrid. Yellow-seed meal presented higher protein (35.46% vs. 30.29%), higher sucrose (7.85% vs. 7.29%), less dietary fiber (26.19% vs. 34.63%) and crude fiber (4.56% vs. 8.86%), and less glucosinolates (22.18 vs. 28.19 µmol/g) than black-seeded one. Amounts of ash (3.65% vs. 4.55%), phytic acid (4.98% vs. 5.60%), and total polyphenols (2.67% vs. 2.82%) were decreased slightly in yellow-seeded meal compared with black-seeded meal. Yellow-seeded meal contained more essential amino acids than black-seeded meal. Levels of the mineral elements Fe, Mn, and Zn in yellow-seeded meal were higher than black-seeded meal. By contrast, levels of P, Ca, and Mg were lower in yellow-seeded meal. Moreover, yellow-seeded meal showed lower flavonol (kaempferol, quercetin, isorhamnetin, and their derivatives) content than black-seeded meal. Comparison of metabolites between yellow and black rapeseed confirmed the improved nutritional value of meal from yellow-seeded B. napus, and this would be helpful to the breeding and improvement of rapeseed for animal feeding.

Construction of a genetic linkage map and QTL analysis of erucic acid content and glucosinolate components in yellow mustard (Sinapis alba L.).

BACKGROUND: Yellow mustard (Sinapis alba L.) is an important condiment crop for the spice trade in the world. It has lagged behind oilseed Brassica species in molecular marker development and application. Intron length polymorphism (ILP) markers are highly polymorphic, co-dominant and cost-effective. The cross-species applicability of ILP markers from Brassica species and Arabidopsis makes them possible to be used for genetic linkage mapping and further QTL analysis of agronomic traits in yellow mustard. RESULTS: A total of 250 ILP and 14 SSR markers were mapped on 12 linkage groups and designated as Sal01-12 in yellow mustard. The constructed map covered a total genetic length of 890.4 cM with an average marker interval of 3.3 cM. The QTL for erucic content co-localized with the fatty acid elongase 1 (FAE1) gene on Sal03. The self-(in)compatibility gene was assigned to Sal08. The 4-hydroxybenzyl, 3-indolylmethyl and 4-hydroxy-3-indolylmethyl glucosinolate contents were each controlled by one major QTL, all of which were located on Sal02. Two QTLs, accounting for the respective 20.4% and 19.2% of the total variation of 2-hydroxy-3-butenyl glucosinolate content, were identified and mapped to Sal02 and Sal11. Comparative synteny analysis revealed that yellow mustard was phylogenetically related to Arabidopsis thaliana and had undergone extensive chromosomal rearrangements during speciation. CONCLUSION: The linkage map based on ILP and SSR markers was constructed and used for QTL analysis of seed quality traits in yellow mustard. The markers tightly linked with the genes for different glucosinolate components will be used for marker-assisted selection and map-based cloning. The ILP markers and linkage map provide useful molecular tools for yellow mustard breeding.

Integrative Physiological and Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Mechanism of Cd Tolerance in Sinapis alba.

Recently, pollution caused by the heavy metal Cd has seriously affected the environment and agricultural crops. While Sinapis alba is known for its edible and medicinal value, its tolerance to Cd and molecular response mechanism remain unknown. This study aimed to analyze the tolerance of S. alba to Cd and investigate its molecular response mechanism through transcriptomic and physiological indicators. To achieve this, S. alba seedlings were treated with different concentrations of CdCl2 (0.25 mmol/L, 0.5 mmol/L, and 1.0 mmol/L) for three days. Based on seedling performance, S. alba exhibited some tolerance to a low concentration of Cd stress (0.25 mmol/L CdCl2) and a strong Cd accumulation ability in its roots. The activities and contents of several antioxidant enzymes generally exhibited an increase under the treatment of 0.25 mmol/L CdCl2 but decreased under the treatment of higher CdCl2 concentrations. In particular, the proline (Pro) content was extremely elevated under the 0.25 and 0.5 mmol/L CdCl2 treatments but sharply declined under the 1.0 mmol/L CdCl2 treatment, suggesting that Pro is involved in the tolerance of S. alba to low concentration of Cd stress. In addition, RNA sequencing was utilized to analyze the gene expression profiles of S. alba exposed to Cd (under the treatment of 0.25 mmol/L CdCl2). The results indicate that roots were more susceptible to disturbance from Cd stress, as evidenced by the detection of 542 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in roots compared to only 37 DEGs in leaves. GO and KEGG analyses found that the DEGs induced by Cd stress were primarily enriched in metabolic pathways, plant hormone signal transduction, and the biosynthesis of secondary metabolites. The key pathway hub genes were mainly associated with intracellular ion transport and cell wall synthesis. These findings suggest that S. alba is tolerant to a degree of Cd stress, but is also susceptible to the toxic effects of Cd. Furthermore, these results provide a theoretical basis for understanding Cd tolerance in S. alba.

Trans-generational effect of cerium oxide-nanoparticles (nCeO2) on Chenopodium rubrum L. and Sinapis alba L. seeds.

Cerium oxide nanoparticles (nCeO2 ) are interesting nanomaterials due to their redox properties. Their wide application could result in unexpected consequences to environmental safety. Unlike acute toxicity, the trans-generational effects of carbohydrate-coated nCeO2 in the environment are still unknown. The main aim of this study was to investigate the effect of treating maternal plants of Chenopodium rubrum L. (red goosefoot) and Sinapis alba L. (white mustard) with uncoated (CeO2 ) and glucose-, levan-, or pullulan-coated nCeO2 (G-, L-, or P-CeO2 ) during seed germination on morphological and physiological characteristics of produced seeds in two subsequent generations. The plant response was studied by measuring germination percentage (Ger), total protein content (TPC), total phenolic content (TPhC), total antioxidative activity (TAA), and catalase (CAT) activity. Results showed that maternal effects of the different nCeO2 treatments persist to at least the second generation in seeds. Generally, C. rubrum was more sensitive to nCeO2 treatments than S. alba . The coated nCeO2 were more effective than uncoated ones in both plant species; L- and P-CeO2 were the most effective in S. alba , while CeO2 and G-CeO2 had a dominant impact in C. rubrum . Enhanced germination in all tested generations of S. alba seeds recommends nCeO2 for seed priming.

Comparative genomic in situ hybridization (cGISH) analysis of the genomic relationships among Sinapis arvensis, Brassica rapa and Brassica nigra.

To further understand the relationships between the SS genome of Sinapis arvensis and the AA, BB genomes in Brassica, genomic DNA of Sinapis arvensis was hybridized to the metaphase chromosomes of Brassica nigra (BB genome), and the metaphase chromosomes and interphase nucleus of Brassica rapa (AA genome) by comparative genomic in situ hybridization (cGISH). As a result, every chromosome of B. nigra had signals along the whole chromosomal length. However, only half of the condensed heterochromatic areas in the interphase nucleus and the chromosomes showed rich signals in Brassica rapa. Interphase nucleus and the metaphase chromosomes of S. arvensis were simultaneously hybridized with digoxigenin-labeled genomic DNA of B. nigra and biotin-labeled genomic DNA of B. rapa. Signals of genomic DNA of B. nigra hybridized throughout the length of all chromosomes and all the condensed heterochromatic areas in the interphase nucleus, except chromosome 4, of which signals were weak in centromeric regions. Signals of the genomic DNA of B. rapa patterned the most areas of ten chromosomes and ten condensed heterochromatic areas, others had less signals. The results showed that the SS genome had homology with AA and BB genomes, but the homology between SS genome and AA genome was clearly lower than that between the SS genome and BB genome.