Commodity risk assessment of Petunia spp. and Calibrachoa spp. unrooted cuttings from Kenya.

The European Commission requested the EFSA Panel on Plant Health to evaluate the probability of entry of pests (likelihood of pest freedom at entry), including both regulated and non-regulated pests, associated with unrooted cuttings of the genera Petunia and Calibrachoa produced under physical isolation in Kenya. The relevance of any pest for this opinion was based on evidence following defined criteria, based on the methodology used for High-Risk Plants adapted for the specificity of this assessment. Fourteen EU-regulated pests (Bemisia tabaci, cowpea mild mottle virus, Liriomyza huidobrensis, Liriomyza sativae, Liriomyza trifolii, potato leafroll virus, potato spindle tuber viroid, Ralstonia pseudosolanacearum, R. solanacearum, Scirtothrips dorsalis, tomato mild mottle virus, tomato spotted wilt virus, tomato yellow leaf curl virus and Xanthomonas vesicatoria) and six EU non-regulated pests (Aleurodicus dispersus, pepper veinal mottle virus, Nipaecoccus viridis, Phenacoccus solenopsis, Tetranychus neocaledonicus and tomato yellow ring virus) fulfilled all relevant criteria and were selected for further evaluation. For these pests, the risk mitigation measures proposed in the technical dossier from Kenya were evaluated, taking into account the possible limiting factors. Additionally, an expert judgement is given on the likelihood of pest freedom, taking into consideration the risk mitigation measures acting on the pest, including uncertainties associated with the assessment. The estimated degree of pest freedom varies among the pests evaluated, with T. neocaledonicus being the pest most frequently expected on the imported cuttings. The Expert Knowledge Elicitation indicated, with 95% certainty, that between 9942 and 10,000 bags containing unrooted cuttings of Petunia spp. and Calibrachoa spp. per 10,000 would be free of T. neocaledonicus.

Prevalence in Potato of 'Candidatus Arsenophonus Phytopathogenicus' and 'Candidatus Phytoplasma Solani' and Their Transmission via Adult Pentastiridius leporinus.

The planthopper Pentastiridius leporinus (Hempiptera: Cixiidae) is the main vector of two bacterial pathogens: the γ-proteobacterium 'Candidatus Arsenophonus phytopathogenicus' and the stolbur phytoplasma 'Candidatus Phytoplasma solani'. These pathogens cause the disease syndrome basses richesses (SBR) in sugar beet (Beta vulgaris), which reduces the yields and sugar content. In 2022, potato (Solanum tuberosum) fields were found to be colonized by P. leporinus, and the transmission of Arsenophonus was confirmed, resulting in symptoms like wilting, yellow leaves, and rubbery tubers. We monitored both pathogens in Southwest Germany in 2022 and 2023. This revealed their widespread presence in potato tubers, although there were differences in regional prevalence. The broad prevalence of Arsenophonus was maintained in 2023, whereas the prevalence of stolbur increased in most locations. We confirmed that P. leporinus adults can transmit both pathogens to potatoes, but neither pathogen reduced the germination rate of tubers, and no plants showed abnormal growth after germination. Arsenophonus was not detected in germinated shoots, but 5.4% contained stolbur, emphasizing the need for plant material testing to maintain phytosanitary conditions.

New Solasodine-type Glycoalkaloids Isolated from Solanum nigrum and Their Cytotoxic Activity.

Three undescribed solalodine-type glycoalkaloids, named  solanigrinoside A-C (1-3), and six known compounds (4-9) were isolated from the whole plants of Solanum nigrum. Their structures were elucidated based on analysis of HR-ESI-MS, 1D- and 2D-NMR spectral data, and comparison with those reported in literatures. The solanigrinoside A-C (1-3), solasodine (4), and 3-acetoxysolasodine (5) exhibited cytotoxic effects against LU-1, Hep-G2, and MCF-7 cells with IC50 values in range from 4.6 µM to 56.2 µM. Compound 2 showed the significant cytotoxic activity with corresponding IC50 values of 5.7 µM, 7.9 µM, and 4.6 µM, respectively.

Fourteen undescribed steroidal saponins from Solanum capsicoides leaves and their neuroprotective effects.

A total of 14 previously undescribed steroidal saponins named capsicsaponins A-N were isolated from the leaves of Solanum capsicoides, encompassing various types, including cholesterol derivatives and pseudospirostanol saponins. The structures of all compounds were determined through comprehensive analysis of spectroscopic data (1D NMR and 2D NMR), along with physicochemical analysis methods (acid hydrolysis, OR, and UV). Moreover, in the H2O2-induced pheochromocytoma cell line model, compounds 1-14 were screened for their neuroprotective effects on cells. The bioassay results demonstrated compounds 8-14 were able to revive cell viability compared to the positive control edaravone. The damage neuroprotection of the most active compound was further explored.

Graft incompatibility between pepper and tomato can be attributed to genetic incompatibility between diverged immune systems.

Graft compatibility is the capacity of two plants to form cohesive vascular connections. Tomato and pepper are incompatible graft partners; however, the underlying cause of graft rejection between these two species remains unknown.We diagnosed graft incompatibility between tomato and diverse pepper varieties based on weakened biophysical stability, decreased growth, and persistent cell death using trypan blue and TUNEL assays. Transcriptomic analysis of cell death in the junction was performed using RNA-sequencing, and molecular signatures for incompatible graft response were characterized based on meta-transcriptomic comparisons with other biotic processes.We show that tomato is broadly incompatible with diverse pepper cultivars. These incompatible graft partners activate prolonged transcriptional changes that are highly enriched for defense processes. Amongst these processes was broad NLR upregulation and hypersensitive response. Using transcriptomic datasets for a variety of biotic stress treatments, we identified a significant overlap in the genetic profile of incompatible grafting and plant parasitism. In addition, we found over 1000 genes that are uniquely upregulated in incompatible grafts.Based on NLR overactivity, DNA damage, and prolonged cell death we have determined that tomato and pepper graft incompatibility is likely caused by a form of genetic incompatibility, which triggers a hyperimmune-response.

Evaluating the mitochondrial genomic diversity, global distribution and niche overlap of two invasive Phthorimaea species.

This study sought to evaluate the genetic diversity of two invasive Phthorimaea species (Phthorimaea operculella Zeller and Phthorimaea absoluta Meyrick), and identify potential niche overlap of both species. The complete mitogenomes of P. operculella and P. absoluta were sequenced and compared. Furthermore, the diversity within the family Gelechiidae was assessed. Subsequently, two species distribution models (MaxEnt and BIOCLIM) were used to identify niche overlaps of both species globally. The complete mitogenomes of both species were similar in size and structure, with a pairwise identity of 92.3%. The models showed a niche overlap of both species and revealed areas of marginal to high suitability for both pests in countries where they have not been reported. Therefore, these results present a compelling case for a deeper genetic and ecological investigation of the Gelechiidae family for taxonomic harmonization, an early warning for surveillance, stricter phytosanitary considerations and preventive management against the spread of the pests.

Characterization of the complete chloroplast genome sequence of Lycium qingshuiheense (Solanaceae).

Lycium qingshuiheense is a typical drought and salt-alkali-tolerant plant, which has been added to the new species of Lycium in recent years. Here, we first sequenced the complete chloroplast genome of L. qingshuiheense to investigate its evolutionary relationship within the family Solanaceae. Results suggested that the circular complete chloroplast genome of L. qingshuiheense was 154,945 bp in length, including a large single-copy (LSC) of 85,930 bp, a small single-copy (SSC) of 18,203 bp, and two inverted repeats (IRs) of 25,406 bp. The GC content accounts for 37.90% and annotated 131 genes, including 86 protein-coding genes, eight rRNA genes, and 37 tRNA genes. A neighbor-joining phylogenetic tree revealed that L. qingshuiheense was a sister species to L. ruthenicum. Our study provides a new insight into the systematic evolution of Lycium in the Solanaceae family.

Characteristics of NAC transcription factors in Solanaceae crops and their roles in responding to abiotic and biotic stresses.

As one of the largest transcription factor (TF) families in plants, the NAC (NAM, ATAF1/2, and CUC2) family plays important roles in response pathways to various abiotic and biotic stresses, such as drought, high salinity, low temperature, and pathogen infection. Although, there are a number of reviews on the involvement of NAC TF in plant responses to biotic and abiotic stresses, most of them are focused on the model plants Arabidopsis thaliana and Oryza sativa, and there is a lack of systematic evaluation of specific species. Solanaceae, the world's third most significant cash crop, has been seriously affected by environmental disturbances in recent years in terms of yield and quality, posing a severe threat to global food security. This review focuses on the functional roles of NAC transcription factors in response to external stresses involved in five important Solanaceae crops: tomato, potato, pepper, eggplant and tobacco, and analyzes the affinities between them. It will provide resources for stress-resistant breeding of Solanaceae crops using transgenic technology.

A pooled-sample draft genome assembly provides insights into host plant-specific transcriptional responses of a Solanaceae-specializing pest, Tupiocoris notatus (Hemiptera: Miridae).

The assembly of genomes from pooled samples of genetically heterogenous samples of conspecifics remains challenging. In this study, we show that high-quality genome assemblies can be produced from samples of multiple wild-caught individuals. We sequenced DNA extracted from a pooled sample of conspecific herbivorous insects (Hemiptera: Miridae: Tupiocoris notatus) acquired from a greenhouse infestation in Tucson, Arizona (in the range of 30-100 individuals; 0.5 mL tissue by volume) using PacBio highly accurate long reads (HiFi). The initial assembly contained multiple haplotigs (>85% BUSCOs duplicated), but duplicate contigs could be easily purged to reveal a highly complete assembly (95.6% BUSCO, 4.4% duplicated) that is highly contiguous by short-read assembly standards (N 50 = 675 kb; Largest contig = 4.3 Mb). We then used our assembly as the basis for a genome-guided differential expression study of host plant-specific transcriptional responses. We found thousands of genes (N = 4982) to be differentially expressed between our new data from individuals feeding on Datura wrightii (Solanaceae) and existing RNA-seq data from Nicotiana attenuata (Solanaceae)-fed individuals. We identified many of these genes as previously documented detoxification genes such as glutathione-S-transferases, cytochrome P450s, and UDP-glucosyltransferases. Together our results show that long-read sequencing of pooled samples can provide a cost-effective genome assembly option for small insects and can provide insights into the genetic mechanisms underlying interactions between plants and herbivorous pests.

Unleashed Treasures of Solanaceae: Mechanistic Insights into Phytochemicals with Therapeutic Potential for Combatting Human Diseases.

Plants that possess a diverse range of bioactive compounds are essential for maintaining human health and survival. The diversity of bioactive compounds with distinct therapeutic potential contributes to their role in health systems, in addition to their function as a source of nutrients. Studies on the genetic makeup and composition of bioactive compounds have revealed them to be rich in steroidal alkaloids, saponins, terpenes, flavonoids, and phenolics. The Solanaceae family, having a rich abundance of bioactive compounds with varying degrees of pharmacological activities, holds significant promise in the management of different diseases. Investigation into Solanum species has revealed them to exhibit a wide range of pharmacological properties, including antioxidant, hepatoprotective, cardioprotective, nephroprotective, anti-inflammatory, and anti-ulcerogenic effects. Phytochemical analysis of isolated compounds such as diosgenin, solamargine, solanine, apigenin, and lupeol has shown them to be cytotoxic in different cancer cell lines, including liver cancer (HepG2, Hep3B, SMMC-772), lung cancer (A549, H441, H520), human breast cancer (HBL-100), and prostate cancer (PC3). Since analysis of their phytochemical constituents has shown them to have a notable effect on several signaling pathways, a great deal of attention has been paid to identifying the biological targets and cellular mechanisms involved therein. Considering the promising aspects of bioactive constituents of different Solanum members, the main emphasis was on finding and reporting notable cultivars, their phytochemical contents, and their pharmacological properties. This review offers mechanistic insights into the bioactive ingredients intended to treat different ailments with the least harmful effects for potential applications in the advancement of medical research.

Alternaria diseases on potato and tomato.

Alternaria spp. cause different diseases in potato and tomato crops. Early blight caused by Alternaria solani and brown spot caused by Alternaria alternata are most common, but the disease complex is far more diverse. We first provide an overview of the Alternaria species infecting the two host plants to alleviate some of the confusion that arises from the taxonomic rearrangements in this fungal genus. Highlighting the diversity of Alternaria fungi on both solanaceous hosts, we review studies investigating the genetic diversity and genomes, before we present recent advances from studies elucidating host-pathogen interactions and fungicide resistances. TAXONOMY: Kingdom Fungi, Phylum Ascomycota, Class Dothideomycetes, Order Pleosporales, Family Pleosporaceae, Genus Alternaria. BIOLOGY AND HOST RANGE: Alternaria spp. adopt diverse lifestyles. We specifically review Alternaria spp. that cause disease in the two solanaceous crops potato (Solanum tuberosum) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum). They are necrotrophic pathogens with no known sexual stage, despite some signatures of recombination. DISEASE SYMPTOMS: Symptoms of the early blight/brown spot disease complex include foliar lesions that first present as brown spots, depending on the species with characteristic concentric rings, which eventually lead to severe defoliation and considerable yield loss. CONTROL: Good field hygiene can keep the disease pressure low. Some potato and tomato cultivars show differences in susceptibility, but there are no fully resistant varieties known. Therefore, the main control mechanism is treatment with fungicides.

Bioactive solanidane steroidal alkaloids from Solanum lyratum.

Six previously unreported solanidane steroidal alkaloids, namely lyrasolanosides A-F, were isolated from Solanum lyratum. In addition, five known steroidal alkaloids were also identified. The structures of these compounds were determined through the use of NMR, HRESIMS,UV, IR and ECD analysis. To assess their bioactivities, the cytotoxic effects of the six previously unreported compounds were evaluated on A549 cells. The results revealed that lyrasolanoside B (2) exhibited the highest potency among them. Lyrasolanoside B (2) exhibited significant inhibition of cell migration, invasion, and adhesion dramatically. Mechanistically, it was found to suppress the activity of JAK2/STAT3 signaling pathway by downregulating the expression of phosphorylated JAK2/STAT3 in an exosome-dependent manner. In addition, lyrasolanoside B (2) was found to significantly upregulate the expression of E-cadherin and downregulate the expression of N-cadherin and vimentin. These findings indicate that lyrasolanoside B (2) inhibits the metastasis of A549 cells by suppressing exosome-mediated EMT. These findings suggest that lyrasolanoside B (2) may inhibit the metastasis of lung cancer by regulating A549-derived exosomes.

Two new sesquiterpenoid glycoside compounds from the calyces of Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii (Mast.) Makino.

Two new sesquiterpenoid glycosides, 8α (H)-eudesmane-1,3,11 (13)-triene-2-one -12-O-ß-D-glucopyranoside (1) and dmetelisproside B (2), together with ten known compounds (3-12) were isolated from calyces of Physalis alkekengi L. var. franchetii (Mast.) Makino (PAF). Their structures were unambiguously elucidated through HR-ESI-MS, UV, IR, and NMR spectral data. Compounds 1, 10, and 12 exhibited DPPH scavenging ability with IC50 values of 33.69 ± 6.65, 6.29 ± 0.06, and 25.66 ± 3.06 µM, respectively. Additionally, 10 and 12 demonstrated weak α-glucosidase inhibition activity with IC50 values of 250.9 ± 6.60 and 347.6 ± 2.48 µM, respectively.

Identification and expression analyses of B3 genes reveal lineage-specific evolution and potential roles of REM genes in pepper.

BACKGROUND: The B3 gene family, one of the largest plant-specific transcription factors, plays important roles in plant growth, seed development, and hormones. However, the B3 gene family, especially the REM subfamily, has not been systematically and functionally studied. RESULTS: In this study, we performed genome-wide re-annotation of B3 genes in five Solanaceae plants, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Oryza sativa, and finally predicted 1,039 B3 genes, including 231 (22.2%) newly annotated genes. We found a striking abundance of REM genes in pepper species (Capsicum annuum, Capsicum baccatum, and Capsicum chinense). Comparative motif analysis revealed that REM and other subfamilies (ABI3/VP1, ARF, RAV, and HSI) consist of different amino acids. We verified that the large number of REM genes in pepper were included in the specific subgroup (G8) through the phylogenetic analysis. Chromosome location and evolutionary analyses suggested that the G8 subgroup genes evolved mainly via a pepper-specific recent tandem duplication on chromosomes 1 and 3 after speciation between pepper and other Solanaceae. RNA-seq analyses suggested the potential functions of REM genes under salt, heat, cold, and mannitol stress conditions in pepper (C. annuum). CONCLUSIONS: Our study provides evolutionary and functional insights into the REM gene family in pepper.

New withanolides from leaves along with alkyl glucoside from roots and stem as well as variations in withanolide contents in leaves of accessions of Withania somnifera, Ashwagandha- the Indian ginseng$.

Based on the major components in the leaves, the ashwagandha has been found to exist in several chemotypic forms in India. From the leaves of various accessions of Withania somnifera, which were maintained in our institute, three new steroids namely, 4-acetoxy-20ß-hydroxy-1-oxo-witha-2,5,24-trienolide (7), 24,25-dihydro-14α-hydroxy withanolide D (9), 5α,6ß,17α,27-tetrahydroxy-1-oxo-witha-2,24-dienolide (12) together with thirteen known withanolides were identified by spectroscopic methods. From the roots and stem of one accession and leaves of another, a new alkyl ester glucoside (4) has also been isolated. The new withanolides 7, 9 and 12 have been tentatively named as withanolide 135 A, withanolide 135B and withanolide 108, respectively.

Biology of Nicotiana glutinosa L., a newly recorded species from an archaeological excavation site in Egypt.

BACKGROUND: During a field survey of urban flora in Alexandria city in 2019-2022, an interesting species belonging to the Solanaceae was collected from a newly archaeological excavation site and identified as Nicotiana glutinosa L. Many visits were made to the herbaria of Egypt to confirm the species records, but no single record was found. Reviewing the available literature revealed that this tropical American taxon was never recorded in the flora of Egypt. AIMS: The present study was focused on N. glutinosa growth structure and plant macro- and micromorphology. METHODS: Ten sampling sites were covered for N. glutinosa size structure. Plant samples were examined for stem anatomy, leaf, seed, and pollen morphology. RESULTS: The species size structure reveals that the individual size index ranges from 1.33 to 150 cm, while its density ranges from 4 to 273 individuals /100 m-2. N. glutinosa has successfully established itself in one of the archaeological sites in Egypt, showing a "healthy" population with a high degree of size inequality, characterized by a relative majority of the juvenile individuals. Voucher specimens were deposited in the Herbarium of Alexandria University (ALEX) Faculty of Science, another specimen is processed to make herbarium specimens at the Herbarium of the Botanic Garden (Heneidy et al. collection, deposition number. 5502). CONCLUSIONS: From our observations, N. glutinosa seems to have invasive potential, as it shows characteristics shared by most invasive species that are thought to help in their successful establishment in new habitats. This article emphasizes the importance of monitoring and regularly reporting the threats of alien invasive species to avoid any possible negative impacts on indigenous biodiversity in the future.

Cytotoxic constituents from the fruit of Solanum aculeastrum.

A new triterpene, aculeastrumone A (1), a new triterpene saponin aculeastrumoside A (2), and eleven known compounds (3-13) were isolated from MeOH/Water (80/20) extract of the fruits of Solanum aculeastrum (Solanaceae). Their structures were established by detailed 1D and 2D NMR spectroscopic studies and mass spectrometry. The isolated compounds were evaluated against three human cancer cells ((MCF-7 (breast cancer), NCI-H460 (lung cancer), and Hela (cervical cancer)) and normal human fibroblast (BJ) cell lines. Among them, saponins 2-5, 7-8, and Carpesterol 10 possess significant cytotoxic activity with IC50 ≤ 10 µM against the three cancer cell lines.

Efficient generation of recombinant eggplant mottled dwarf virus and expression of foreign proteins in solanaceous hosts.

Reverse genetics systems have only been successfully developed for a few plant rhabdoviruses. Additional systems are needed for molecular virology studies of these diverse viruses and development of viral vectors for biotechnological applications. Eggplant mottled dwarf virus (EMDV) is responsible for significant agricultural losses in various crops throughout the Mediterranean region and the Middle East. In this study, we report efficient recovery of infectious EMDV from cloned DNAs and engineering of EMDV-based vectors for the expression of foreign proteins in tobacco, eggplant, pepper, and potato plants. Furthermore, we show that the EMDV-based vectors are capable of simultaneously expressing multiple foreign proteins. The developed EMDV reverse genetics system offers a versatile tool for studying virus pathology and plant-virus interactions and for expressing foreign proteins in a range of solanaceous crops.

Characterization and expression analysis of a thaumatin-like protein PpTLP1 from ground cherry Physalis pubescens.

Ground cherry, Physalis pubescens, is mainly cultivated as a fruit worldwide and popularly used as a food supplement and traditional Chinese medicine. Plants are challenged by external environmental stress and can initiate resistance to the stress through the regulation of pathogenesis-related (PR) proteins. Among PR proteins, PR-5, a thaumatin-like protein (TLP), was identified in many plants and found to be able to enhance stress resistance. However, PR-5 in ground cherry is not characterized and its expression is yet to be understood. In this study, a PR-5 protein PpTLP1 in P. pubescens was firstly identified. Analysis of the amino acid sequences revealed that PpTLP1 was highly similar to PR-NP24 identified in tomato with a difference in only one amino acid. Expression analysis indicated that the PpTLP1 gene was highly expressed in leaf while the PpTLP1 protein was tissue-specifically accumulated in cherry exocarp. Furthermore, the down-regulation of PpTLP1 in ground cherry was induced by NaCl treatment while the up-regulation was promoted by the infection of Sclerotinia sclerotiorum and Botrytis cinerea. This study will provide a new plant resource containing a TLP in Physalis genus and a novel insight for the improvement of postharvest management of ground cherry and other Solanaceae plants.