Characterisation and mapping of a Globodera pallida resistance derived from the wild potato species Solanum spegazzinii.

KEY MESSAGE: A new resistance locus acting against the potato cyst nematode Globodera pallida was mapped to chromosome VI in the diploid wild potato species Solanum spegazzinii CPC 7195. The potato cyst nematodes (PCN) Globodera pallida and Globodera rostochiensis are economically important potato pests in almost all regions where potato is grown. One important management strategy involves deployment through introgression breeding into modern cultivars of new sources of naturally occurring resistance from wild potato species. We describe a new source of resistance to G. pallida from wild potato germplasm. The diploid species Solanum spegazzinii Bitter accession CPC 7195 shows resistance to G. pallida pathotypes Pa1 and Pa2/3. A cross and first backcross of S. spegazzinii with Solanum tuberosum Group Phureja cultivar Mayan Gold were performed, and the level of resistance to G. pallida Pa2/3 was determined in progeny clones. Bulk-segregant analysis (BSA) using generic mapping enrichment sequencing (GenSeq) and genotyping-by-sequencing were performed to identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that are genetically linked to the resistance, using S. tuberosum Group Phureja clone DM1-3 516 R44 as a reference genome. These SNPs were converted into allele-specific PCR assays, and the resistance was mapped to an interval of roughly 118 kb on chromosome VI. This newly identified resistance, which we call Gpa VIlspg, can be used in future efforts to produce modern cultivars with enhanced and broad-spectrum resistances to the major pests and pathogens of potato.

Looking for Resistance to Soft Rot Disease of Potatoes Facing Environmental Hypoxia.

Plants are exposed to various stressors, including pathogens, requiring specific environmental conditions to provoke/induce plant disease. This phenomenon is called the "disease triangle" and is directly connected with a particular plant-pathogen interaction. Only a virulent pathogen interacting with a susceptible plant cultivar will lead to disease under specific environmental conditions. This may seem difficult to accomplish, but soft rot Pectobacteriaceae (SRPs) is a group virulent of pathogenic bacteria with a broad host range. Additionally, waterlogging (and, resulting from it, hypoxia), which is becoming a frequent problem in farming, is a favoring condition for this group of pathogens. Waterlogging by itself is an important source of abiotic stress for plants due to lowered gas exchange. Therefore, plants have evolved an ethylene-based system for hypoxia sensing. Plant response is coordinated by hormonal changes which induce metabolic and physiological adjustment to the environmental conditions. Wetland species such as rice (Oryza sativa L.), and bittersweet nightshade (Solanum dulcamara L.) have developed adaptations enabling them to withstand prolonged periods of decreased oxygen availability. On the other hand, potato (Solanum tuberosum L.), although able to sense and response to hypoxia, is sensitive to this environmental stress. This situation is exploited by SRPs which in response to hypoxia induce the production of virulence factors with the use of cyclic diguanylate (c-di-GMP). Potato tubers in turn reduce their defenses to preserve energy to prevent the negative effects of reactive oxygen species and acidification, making them prone to soft rot disease. To reduce the losses caused by the soft rot disease we need sensitive and reliable methods for the detection of the pathogens, to isolate infected plant material. However, due to the high prevalence of SRPs in the environment, we also need to create new potato varieties more resistant to the disease. To reach that goal, we can look to wild potatoes and other Solanum species for mechanisms of resistance to waterlogging. Potato resistance can also be aided by beneficial microorganisms which can induce the plant's natural defenses to bacterial infections but also waterlogging. However, most of the known plant-beneficial microorganisms suffer from hypoxia and can be outcompeted by plant pathogens. Therefore, it is important to look for microorganisms that can withstand hypoxia or alleviate its effects on the plant, e.g., by improving soil structure. Therefore, this review aims to present crucial elements of potato response to hypoxia and SRP infection and future outlooks for the prevention of soft rot disease considering the influence of environmental conditions.

Buffalo-bur (Solanum rostratum Dunal) invasiveness, bioactivities, and utilization: a review.

Solanum rostratum Dunal, belongs to the Solanaceae family and has drawn attention for its intricate interplay of invasiveness, phytochemical composition, and potential bioactivities. Notably invasive, S. rostratum employs adaptive mechanisms during senescence, featuring thorn formation on leaves, fruits, and stems seed self-propulsion, and resistance to drought. This adaptability has led to its proliferation in countries such as China, Canada, and Australia, extending beyond its Mexican origin. Despite its invasive historical reputation, recent studies unveil a rich array of phytochemicals in S. rostratum, suggesting untapped economic potential due to under-exploration. This review delves into exploring the potential uses of S. rostratum while elucidating the bioactive compounds associated with diverse identified bioactivities. In terms of phytochemistry, S. rostratum reveals an abundance of various bioactive compounds, including alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols, saponins, and glycosides. These compounds confer a range of beneficial bioactivities, encompassing antioxidant, antifungal, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory, phytotoxic, and pesticidal properties. This positions S. rostratum as a reservoir of valuable chemical constituents with potential applications, particularly in medicine and agriculture. The review provides comprehensive insights into the phytochemistry, bioactivities, and bioactivity-guided fractionation of S. rostratum. In this review, we focus on the potential utilization of S. rostratum by emphasizing its phytochemical profile, which holds promise for diverse applications. This review is the first that advocates for further exploration and research to unlock the plant's full potential for both economic and environmental benefit.

Continuous mowing differentially affects floral defenses in the noxious and invasive weed Solanum elaeagnifolium in its native range.

In weeds, disturbance has been found to affect life history traits and mediate trophic interactions. In urban landscapes, mowing is an important disturbance, and we previously showed that continuous mowing leads to enhanced fitness and defense traits in Solanum elaeagnifolium, Silverleaf Nightshade (SLN). However, most studies have been focused on foliar defenses, ignoring floral defenses. In this study we examined whether continuous mowing affected floral defenses in SLN using mowed and unmowed populations in South Texas, their native range. We found flowers of mowed SLN plants larger but lighter than unmowed plants. Additionally, flowers on plants that were mowed frequently were both heavier and larger. Mowed plants had higher spine density and consequently unmowed flowers had higher herbivore damage. Additionally, early instar Manduca sexta fed on mowed flower-based artificial diets showed no difference in mass than the control and unmowed; however, later instars caterpillars on unmowed diets gained significantly more mass than the mowed treatment and control. Mowed plants had higher spine density which may shed light on why unmowed flowers experienced higher herbivore damage. We found caterpillars fed on high mowing frequency diets were heavier than those on low mowing frequency diets. Collectively, we show that mowing compromises floral traits and enhances plant defenses against herbivores and should be accounted for in management.

Antioxidant Activities of Stem, Leaves and Fruits Extracts of Pepino (Solanum muricatum Aiton).

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Pepino (<i>Solanum muricatum</i> Aiton), rich with vitamin C and flavonoids, constitutes an abundant source of potent antioxidants. This research was conducted to determine antioxidant activity from three different parts of pepino based on equivalence with ascorbic acid, to analyze the relationship between total phenolic content (TPC) and total flavonoid content (TFC) on antioxidant activities and to determine flavonoid compounds. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Antioxidant activities were determined using 2,2-Diphenyl-1-Picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and Cupric Ion Reducing Antioxidant Capacity (CUPRAC) methods. The TPC and TFC were determined by UV-visible spectrophotometry. The correlation between TPC, TFC and antioxidant activity was analyzed using Pearson's method. Flavonoid compound content was performed by HPLC. <b>Results:</b> The ethyl acetate pepino fruit extract expressed the highest antioxidant activity by DPPH and CUPRAC assays. The highest TPC was obtained from the ethyl acetate extract of pepino stem (18.493 g GAE/(100 g)), while the highest TFC was obtained from the hexane extract of pepino leaves (9.541 g QE/(100 g)). <b>Conclusion:</b> The DPPH and CUPRAC assays demonstrated that pepino exhibits potential as a source of natural antioxidants, especially in its fruit part.

Steroidal Saponins from Water Eggplant (Fruits of Solanum torvum) Exhibit Anti-Epileptic Activity against Pentylenetetrazole-Induced Seizure Model in Zebrafish.

The fruits of Solanum torvum Swartz, a wild relative of eggplant, are consumed as a wild vegetable in tropical regions of Africa, Asia, and South America. In traditional Chinese medicine, it is believed to have anti-inflammatory and sedative effects. In the Philippines, water decoction is used to treat hyperactivity disorder. Twenty-two steroidal saponins were isolated and purified from the fruits grown in Yunnan, China, including six new compounds: torvosides U-Z (1-6). During drying and cooking, the saponins may undergo transformation, resulting in small amounts of sapogenins. These transformations can include dehydration of hydroxyl groups at position C22, formation of double bonds at position 20, 22 or 22, 23, and even formation of peroxide products. Saponin compounds torvoside X (4), torvoside Y (5), torvoside A (7), and (25S)-3-oxo-5α-spirostan-6α-yl-O-ß-d-xylopyranoside (20), which are glycosylated at C-6, showed certain anti-epileptic activity in a pentylenetetrazole-induced zebrafish seizure model. No antiproliferative activity was detected when tested on the cancer cell line HepG2, and no hepatotoxic effect was noted on normal liver cell line LO2.

Quantifying terpenes in tomato leaf extracts from different species using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

Terpenes play a vital role in plant defense; tomato plants produce a diverse range of terpenes within specialized glandular trichomes, influencing interactions with herbivores, predators, and pollinators. This study employed two distinct methods, namely leaf dip and maceration, to extract trichomes from tomato leaves. Terpene quantification was carried out using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The leaf dip method proved effective in selectively targeting trichome content, revealing unique extraction patterns compared to maceration. The GC-MS method demonstrated high linearity, accuracy, sensitivity, and low limits of detection and quantification. Application of the method to different tomato species (Solanum pennellii, Solanum pimpinellifolium, Solanum galapagense, Solanum habrochaites, and Solanum lycopersicum) identified significant variation in terpene content among these species, highlighting the potential of specific accessions for breeding programs. Notably, the terpene α-zingiberene, known for its repellency against whiteflies, was found in high quantities (211.90-9155.13 µg g-1) in Solanum habrochaites accession PI209978. These findings provide valuable insights into terpenoid diversity for plant defense mechanisms, guiding future research on developing pest-resistant tomato cultivars. Additionally, the study underscores the broader applications of terpenes in agriculture.

Genetic Loci of Plant Pathogenic Dickeya solani IPO 2222 Expressed in Contact with Weed-Host Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcamara L.) Plants.

Dickeya solani, belonging to the Soft Rot Pectobacteriaceae, are aggressive necrotrophs, exhibiting both a wide geographic distribution and a wide host range that includes many angiosperm orders, both dicot and monocot plants, cultivated under all climatic conditions. Little is known about the infection strategies D. solani employs to infect hosts other than potato (Solanum tuberosum L.). Our earlier study identified D. solani Tn5 mutants induced exclusively by the presence of the weed host S. dulcamara. The current study assessed the identity and virulence contribution of the selected genes mutated by the Tn5 insertions and induced by the presence of S. dulcamara. These genes encode proteins with functions linked to polyketide antibiotics and polysaccharide synthesis, membrane transport, stress response, and sugar and amino acid metabolism. Eight of these genes, encoding UvrY (GacA), tRNA guanosine transglycosylase Tgt, LPS-related WbeA, capsular biosynthesis protein VpsM, DltB alanine export protein, glycosyltransferase, putative transcription regulator YheO/PAS domain-containing protein, and a hypothetical protein, were required for virulence on S. dulcamara plants. The implications of D. solani interaction with a weed host, S. dulcamara, are discussed.

StoMYB41 positively regulates the Solanum torvum response to Verticillium dahliae in an ABA dependent manner.

MYB transcription factor despite their solid involvement in growth are potent regulator of plant stress response. Herein, we identified a MYB gene named as StoMYB41 in a wild eggplant species Solanum torvum. The expression level of StoMYB41 was higher in root than the tissues including stem, leaf, and seed. It induced significantly by Verticillium dahliae inoculation. StoMYB41 was localized in the nucleus and exhibited transcriptional activation activity. Silencing of StoMYB41 enhanced susceptibility of Solanum torvum against Verticillium dahliae, accompanied by higher disease index. The significant down-regulation of resistance marker gene StoABR1 comparing to the control plants was recorded in the silenced plants. Moreover, transient expression of StoMYB41 could trigger intense hypersensitive reaction mimic cell death, darker DAB and trypan blue staining, higher ion leakage, and induced the expression levels of StoABR1 and NbDEF1 in the leaves of Solanum torvum and Nicotiana benthamiana. Taken together, our data indicate that StoMYB41 acts as a positive regulator in Solanum torvum against Verticillium wilt.

Tradeoffs between pH, dissolved organic carbon, and mineral ions regulate cadmium uptake by Solanum hyperaccumulators in calcareous soil.

Soil solution pH and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) influence cadmium (Cd) uptake by hyperaccumulators but their tradeoff in calcareous soils is unclear. This study investigated the mechanisms of Solanum nigrum L. and Solanum alatum Moench in calcareous soil using a combination of concentration gradient experiments (0.6-100 mg Cd kg-1) and soil solution composition analysis. The results showed that the soil solution pH of S. nigrum remained stable despite Cd stress. On average, the soil solution pH of S. alatum was 0.23 units higher than that of S. nigrum, although pH decreased significantly under high Cd stress. In addition, the concentrations of potassium (K) and calcium (Ca) in the soil solution of S. nigrum increased and decreased under low and high levels of Cd stress, respectively. In S. alatum, the K and Ca concentrations in the soil solution generally increased with increasing Cd stress levels. Moreover, the level of DOC in the soil solution of both plants was higher under Cd stress compared to the control, and a gradually increasing trend with Cd stress level was observed in S. alatum. Consequently, the bioconcentration factors of the roots (2.62-19.35) and shoots (1.20-9.59) of both plants were >1, while the translocation factors were <1, showing an obstacle of Solanum hyperaccumulators in transferring Cd into their aboveground parts. Redundancy analysis revealed that the Cd concentration in S. nigrum roots was significantly negatively correlated with the soil solutions of K and Ca. In contrast, Cd concentrations in S. alatum roots and shoots were significantly positively correlated with soil solution DOC, K, and Ca but negatively correlated with pH. Our results suggest that calcareous soil neutralizes the acidity of released protons but does not affect cation exchange, inhibiting DOC in assisting the translocation of Cd within plants.

Solanum pseudocapsicum vs Capsicum annum; comparative phenolics profiling using green ultrasonic extraction and UHPLC analysis.

BACKGROUND: Solanum pseudocapsicum (PC) and Capsicum annum (CA) belongs to the family of Solanaceae. CA have been reported a rich source of phenolics whereas, the phenolics content of GA (gallic acid), SC (scopoletin), RA (rosmarinic acid), and RV (resveratrol) are yet to be reported for the PC-fruit. This study comparatively evaluates the phenolics profile for different parts (seeds and skin) and colors (green and red) of the PC- and CA-fruits using the green solvents of ethanol (ET), acetone (AC), water (H2O), and different combinations of these solvents. METHODOLOGY: Ultrasonics extraction (US) and UHPLC analysis were employed for phenolics evaluation. RESULTS: The USMD (method development) revealed the highest extract yield of 62 mg/100 mg for the PC-skin in ET:AC (70:30) solvent whereas, more phenolics (ppm) were observed for PC-seeds in ET:AC (50:50) solvent, particularly the SC (29.46) and GA (16.92). The UHPLCMDMV exhibited significant accuracies (100.70-114.14 %) with r2-values (0.9993-0.9997) in the linearity range of 1-200 ppm. The USMV (method validation) in PC- and CA-fruit parts and colors revealed more extract yields for the red skin part of the PC- (180.5 mg) and CA-fruit (126.2 mg). The phenolics were seen more in the green seeds of the PC-fruit (ppm); SC (276), GA (147.36), RV (28.54), and RA (23.87) followed by the green PC-skin, and red/green CA-seeds. The statistical models of mean differences, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation showed significant differences for the PC-fruit parts (seeds and skin) and colors (red and green) vs extract yield and phenolics content (P = 0.05). CONCLUSION: PC-and CA-fruits were successfully evaluated where the seeds for the green fruits exhibited more phenolics amount.

Dereplication of calystegines in food plants and wild Solanum Brazilian fruits.

Calystegines are potent glycosidase inhibitors with therapeutic potential and are constituents of food and feed with potential toxic effects. This study aims to target calystegines and other nitrogenous substances in food plants. Hydroalcoholic extracts from Solanum tuberosum, Ipomoea batatas, S. lycocarpum, and fruit from S. lycopersicum, S. aethiopicum, S. paniculatum, S. crinitum, and S. acanthodes were analyzed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) using an acidic HILIC column. The dereplication approach included data processing using MZMine2, FBMN-GNPS, and structure elucidation and interpretation of the organized data. The calystegines A3, A5, B2, and C1 were identified, and several potential new calystegine analogues: three may correspond to new calystegines of the A-group, one glycosyl derivative of calystegine A3, and two glycosyl derivatives of the B-group. These findings help to direct the search for new calystegines. In addition, the dereplication approach enabled the annotation of 22 other nitrogen compounds.

Siderophore of plant growth promoting rhizobacterium origin reduces reactive oxygen species mediated injury in Solanum spp. caused by fungal pathogens.

AIMS: The study aims to explore antifungal properties of bacillibactin siderophore produced by the plant growth-promoting rhizobacterium (PGPR) Bacillus subtilis against fungal phytopathogens Alternaria porri and Fusarium equiseti isolated from Solanum lycopersicum and Solanum melongena plants. METHODS AND RESULTS: Alternaria porri and F. equiseti were isolated from infected plants of eggplant and tomato, respectively. A plate assay was employed to assess the effect of bacillibactin against the phytopathogens. The antifungal potential of the PGPR was evaluated by estimation of dry fungal biomass, visualization of cellular deformity using compound and scanning electron microscopy, antioxidative enzyme assay and analysis of membrane damage via using lipid peroxidation. Inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) analysis was employed to investigate changes in intracellular iron content. The impact of bacillibactin on pathogenesis was evaluated by infecting detached leaves of S. lycopersicum and S. melongena plants with both the pathogens and treating the infected leaves with bacillibactin. Leaves were further investigated for ROS accumulation, extent of necrosis and cell death. Our findings revealed significant damage to the hyphal structure of A. porri and F. equiseti following treatment with bacillibactin. Biomass reduction, elevated antioxidative enzyme levels, and membrane damage further substantiated the inhibitory effects of the siderophore on fungal growth. ICP-AES analysis indicates an increase in intracellular iron content suggesting enhanced iron uptake facilitated by bacillibactin. Moreover, application of 1500 µg ml-1 bacillibactin on infected leaves demonstrated a substantial inhibition of ROS accumulation, necrosis, and cell death upon bacillibactin treatment. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the potent antagonistic activity of bacillibactin against both the phytopathogens A. porri and F. equiseti growth, supporting its potential as a promising biological control agent for fungal plant diseases. Bacillibactin-induced morphological, physiological, and biochemical alterations in the isolated fungi and pathogen-infected leaves highlight the prospects of bacillibactin as an effective and sustainable solution to mitigate economic losses associated with fungal infections in vegetable crops.

Chromosome-scale assembly and gene editing of Solanum americanum genome reveals the basis for thermotolerance and fruit anthocyanin composition.

Solanum americanum serves as a promising source of resistance genes against potato late blight and is considered as a leafy vegetable for complementary food and nutrition. The limited availability of high-quality genome assemblies and gene annotations has hindered the exploration and exploitation of stress-resistance genes in S. americanum. Here, we present a chromosome-level genome assembly of a thermotolerant S. americanum ecotype and identify a crucial heat-inducible transcription factor gene, SaHSF17, essential for heat tolerance. The CRISPR/Cas9 system-mediated knockout of SaHSF17 results in remarkably reduced thermotolerance in S. americanum, exhibiting a significant suppression of multiple HSP gene expressions under heat treatment. Furthermore, our transcriptome analysis and anthocyanin component investigation of fruits indicated that delphinidins are the major anthocyanins accumulated in the mature dark-purple fruits. The accumulation of delphinidins and other pigment components during fruit ripening in S. americanum coincides with the transcriptional regulation of key genes, particularly the F3'5'H and F3'H genes, in the anthocyanin biosynthesis pathway. By integrating existing knowledge, the development of this high-quality reference genome for S. americanum will facilitate the identification and utilization of novel abiotic and biotic stress-resistance genes for improvement of Solanaceae and other crops.

Evaluation of the antimalarial properties of Solanum incanum L. leaf extract fractions and its ability to downregulate delta aminolevulinate dehydratase to prevent the establishment of malaria infection.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Solanum incanum L. is commonly used in traditional herbal medicine (THM) in Kenya for treating various ailments. Recent developments in disease treatment have introduced the concept of host-directed therapy (HDT). This approach involves targeting factors within the host cell that can impede the growth or replication of a pathogen. One such host factor is delta aminolevulinate dehydratase (δ-ALAD), the second enzyme in the heme biosynthesis pathway utilized by Plasmodium for growth. Studies using mice models have shown an increase in δ-ALAD expression during Plasmodium berghei infection. Another plant in the Solanum genus, S. guaranticum, has been found to inhibit δ-ALAD in red blood cells in vitro and in the brain in vivo. Is it possible that the bioactive compounds in S. incanum extracts could also be effective in HDT for malaria treatment? AIM OF STUDY: To better assess the effectiveness of S. incanum leaf extracts as a curative and prophylaxis in malaria parasite infection, and to test the plant's ability to decrease δ-ALAD expression. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The leaves of S. incanum were collected, dried, and pulverized before being subjected to a successive extraction protocol to obtain crude, hexane, ethyl acetate, and aqueous extract fractions. Phytochemical analysis was conducted on all extract fractions, followed by GC-MS analysis of the fraction with the most potent antimalarial activity. An acute toxicity study was also performed on the extracted fractions. The potency of the extract fractions as curative and prophylactic antimalarial was then evaluated in THM using Plasmodium berghei-infected mice at a dose of 100 mg/kg. The extract fraction with the highest activity was further evaluated at varying doses and its effect on δ-ALAD was measured using RT-qPCR. The percentage of parasitemia and chemosuppression, and mean survival time were used as indices of activity. RESULTS: Phytochemical analysis revealed that the ethyl acetate and aqueous extract fractions contained high terpenoids, flavonoids, and phenols levels. However, alkaloids were only present in moderate quantities in the aqueous extract, and quinones were found in high levels only in the crude extract. Additionally, all extract fractions contained saponins in high levels but lacked tannins. While the plant extracts were found to be non-toxic, they did not exhibit curative antimalarial activity. However, all extract fractions showed prophylactic antimalarial activity, with the ethyl acetate extract having the highest percentage of chemosuppression even at doses of 250 and 1000 mg/kg. In the negative control, the expression of δ-ALAD was 5.4-fold, but this was significantly reduced to 2.3-fold when mice were treated with 250 mg/kg of the ethyl acetate fraction. GC-MS analysis of the ethyl acetate fraction revealed high percentages of 2-methyloctacosane, tetracosane, and decane. CONCLUSION: The fractions extracted from S. incanum leaves have been found to possess only antimalarial prophylactic properties, with the ethyl acetate extract fraction showing the most effective results. The activity of this fraction may be attributed to its ability to decrease the expression of δ-ALAD, as it contains an alkane compound implicated with enzyme-inhibitory activity.

Rapid and low-cost screening for single and combined effects of drought and heat stress on the morpho-physiological traits of African eggplant (Solanum aethiopicum) germplasm.

Drought and heat are two stresses that often occur together and may pose significant risks to crops in future climates. However, the combined effects of these two stressors have received less attention than single-stressor investigations. This study used a rapid and straightforward phenotyping method to quantify the variation in 128 African eggplant genotype responses to drought, heat, and the combined effects of heat and drought at the seedling stage. The study found that the morphophysiological traits varied significantly among the 128 eggplants, highlighting variation in response to abiotic stresses. Broad-sense heritability was high (> 0.60) for chlorophyll content, plant biomass and performance index, electrolyte leakage, and total leaf area. Positive and significant relationships existed between biomass and photosynthetic parameters, but a negative association existed between electrolyte leakage and morpho-physiological traits. The plants underwent more significant stress when drought and heat stress were imposed concurrently than under single stresses, with the impact of drought on the plants being more detrimental than heat. There were antagonistic effects on the morphophysiology of the eggplants when heat and drought stress were applied together. Resilient genotypes such as RV100503, RV100501, JAMBA, LOC3, RV100164, RV100169, LOC 3, RV100483, GH5155, RV100430, GH1087, GH1087*, RV100388, RV100387, RV100391 maintained high relative water content, low electrolyte leakage, high Fv/Fm ratio and performance index, and increased biomass production under abiotic stress conditions. The antagonistic interactions between heat and drought observed here may be retained or enhanced during several stress combinations typical of plants' environments and must be factored into efforts to develop climate change-resilient crops. This paper demonstrates improvised climate chambers for high throughput, reliable, rapid, and cost-effective screening for heat and drought and combined stress tolerance in plants.

Anti-Hypertensive Effect of Solanum muricatum Aiton Leaf Extract In Vivo and In Vitro.

Hypertension is a global health problem and leads to cardiovascular disease and renal injury. Solanum muricatum Aiton leaf extract, rich in flavonoids, is known for its antioxidant capacity. However, the effects of Solanum muricatum Aiton leaf extract on hypertension combined with inflammatory complications were unknown. This study aimed to investigate the impact of Solanum muricatum Aiton leaf extract on hypertension in vivo and in vitro. In vivo, Solanum muricatum Aiton leaf extract led to decrease high blood pressure, improve heart, aorta, and kidney pathology, and enhance the antioxidative activity in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). Our study demonstrated Solanum muricatum Aiton leaf extract inhibited angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), epithelial sodium channel (ENaC), sodium glucose co-transporters-1 (SGLT-1), nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1ß (IL-1ß), and interleukin-6 (IL-6). In vitro, Solanum muricatum Aiton leaf extract improved the angiotensin II-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and mitochondrial membrane depolarization in NRK-52E cells. Besides, Solanum muricatum Aiton leaf extract could also decrease the expressions of ENaC, SGLT-1, and NF-κB in angiotensin II-treated NRK-52E cells. Solanum muricatum Aiton leaf can be suggested as a novel antihypertensive agent ameliorating hypertension via ACE inhibition, inflammation reduction, and ROS. PLE is a novel anti-hypertensive agent to ameliorate hypertension and its complications, including inflammation.

Phenolic components from the fruits of Solanum xanthocarpum with anti-inflammatory activity.

Two new compounds (1 and 2), along with thirty-one known compounds (3-33) were isolated from the fruits of Solanum xanthocarpum. The structure of isolates was elucidated by analysis of spectroscopic data and the physicochemical methods. Meanwhile, the anti-inflammatory activity of isolates was determined using LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells. The results of anti-inflammatory assays indicated that most isolated compounds (3, 4, 6, 8-14, 17-20, and 30) possessed significant nitric oxide (NO) production inhibition in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells with IC50 values ranging from 14.33 to 48.55 µM.

Beneath the blooms: Unearthing the effect of rhizospheric bacteria on floral signals and pollinator preferences.

The relationship between plants and pollinators is known to be influenced by ecological interactions with other community members. While most research has focused on aboveground communities affecting plant-pollinator interactions, it is increasingly recognized that soil-dwelling organisms can directly or indirectly impact these interactions. Although studies have examined the effects of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi on floral traits, there is a gap in research regarding similar effects associated with plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), particularly concerning floral scent. Our study aimed to investigate the influence of the PGPR Bacillus amyloliquefaciens on the floral traits of wild (Solanum habrochaites, Solanum pimpinellifolium and Solanum peruvianum) and cultivated tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), as well as the impact of microbially-driven changes in floral scent on the foraging behaviour of the stingless bee Melipona quadrifasciata. Our findings revealed that inoculating tomatoes with PGPR led to an increased number of flowers and enhanced overall floral volatile emission. Additionally, we observed higher flower biomass and pollen levels in all species, except S. peruvianum. Importantly, these changes in volatile emissions influenced the foraging behaviour of M. quadrifasciata significantly. Our results highlight the impact of beneficial soil microbes on plant-pollinator interactions, shedding light on the multiple effects that plant-microbial interactions can have on aboveground organisms.

Transcription factor SlWRKY50 enhances cold tolerance in tomato by activating the jasmonic acid signaling.

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) is a cold-sensitive crop but frequently experiences low-temperature stimuli. However, tomato responses to cold stress are still poorly understood. Our previous studies have shown that using wild tomato (Solanum habrochaites) as rootstock can significantly enhance the cold resistance of grafted seedlings, in which a high concentration of jasmonic acids (JAs) in scions exerts an important role, but the mechanism of JA accumulation remains unclear. Herein, we discovered that tomato SlWRKY50, a Group II WRKY transcription factor that is cold inducible, responds to cold stimuli and plays a key role in JA biosynthesis. SlWRKY50 directly bound to the promoter of tomato allene oxide synthase gene (SlAOS), and overexpressing SlWRKY50 improved tomato chilling resistance, which led to higher levels of Fv/Fm, antioxidative enzymes, SlAOS expression, and JA accumulation. SlWRKY50-silenced plants, however, exhibited an opposite trend. Moreover, diethyldithiocarbamate acid (a JA biosynthesis inhibitor) foliar treatment drastically reduced the cold tolerance of SlWRKY50-overexpression plants to wild-type levels. Importantly, SlMYC2, the key regulator of the JA signaling pathway, can control SlWRKY50 expression. Overall, our research indicates that SlWRKY50 promotes cold tolerance by controlling JA biosynthesis and that JA signaling mediates SlWRKY50 expression via transcriptional activation by SlMYC2. Thus, this contributes to the genetic knowledge necessary for developing cold-resistant tomato varieties.