Morphological and metabolic profiling of a tropical-adapted potato association panel subjected to water recovery treatment reveals new insights into plant vigor.

Potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) is one of the world's most important crops, but it is facing major challenges due to climatic changes. To investigate the effects of intermittent drought on the natural variability of plant morphology and tuber metabolism in a novel potato association panel comprising 258 varieties we performed an augmented block design field study under normal irrigation and under water-deficit and recovery conditions in Ica, Peru. All potato genotypes were profiled for 45 morphological traits and 42 central metabolites via nuclear magnetic resonance. Statistical tests and norm of reaction analysis revealed that the observed variations were trait specific, that is, genotypic versus environmental. Principal component analysis showed a separation of samples as a result of conditional changes. To explore the relational ties between morphological traits and metabolites, correlation-based network analysis was employed, constructing one network for normal irrigation and one network for water-recovery samples. Community detection and difference network analysis highlighted the differences between the two networks, revealing a significant correlational link between fumarate and plant vigor. A genome-wide association study was performed for each metabolic trait. Eleven single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers were associated with fumarate. Gene Ontology analysis of quantitative trait loci regions associated with fumarate revealed an enrichment of genes regulating metabolic processes. Three of the 11 SNPs were located within genes, coding for a protein of unknown function, a RING domain protein and a zinc finger protein ZAT2. Our findings have important implications for future potato breeding regimes, especially in countries suffering from climate change.

The formation of sesquiterpenoid presilphiperfolane and cameroonane metabolites in the Bcbot4 null mutant of Botrytis cinerea.

Botrytis cinerea is a polyphagous fungal parasite which causes serious damage to more than 200 plant species and consequent economic losses for commercial crops. This pathogen produces two families of phytotoxins, the botryanes and botcinins, which are involved in the infection mechanism. The B. cinerea genome has provided a complete picture of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of its secondary metabolites. The botrydial biosynthetic gene cluster has been identified. This cluster consists of seven genes, where the genes BcBOT1, BcBOT3 and BcBOT4 encode three mono-oxygenases. A study of the Bcbot4Δ null mutant revealed that this mono-oxygenase was involved in the hydroxylation at C-4 of the probotryane skeleton (C-11 of the presilphiperfolane skeleton). A detailed study of the Bcbot4Δ null mutant has been undertaken in order to study the metabolic fate of the presilphiperfolan-8-ol intermediate biosynthesized by this organism and in particular by this strain. As a result three new presilphiperfolanes and three new cameroonanes have been identified. The results suggest that the absence of the oxygen function at C-11 of the presilphiperfolane skeleton permits rearrangement to a cameroonane whilst hydroxylation at C-11 precludes this rearrangement. It is possible that the interactions of the C-11 hydroxylated derivatives perturb the stereo-electronic requirements for the migration of the C-11:C-7 sigma bond to C-8.

Chrysin bonded to ß-d-glucose tetraacetate enhances its protective effects against the neurotoxicity induced by aluminum in Swiss mice.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate whether the glycosylation of chrysin (CHR) enhances its protective effects against aluminum-induced neurotoxicity. METHODS: To compare the antioxidant, anticholinesterase, and behavioral effects of CHR with its glycosylated form (CHR bonded to ß-d-glucose tetraacetate, denoted as LQFM280), we employed an integrated approach using both in vitro (SH-SY5Y cells) and in vivo (aluminum-induced neurotoxicity in Swiss mice) models. KEY FINDINGS: LQFM280 demonstrated higher antioxidant activity than CHR in both models. Specifically, LQFM280 exhibited the ability to exert antioxidant effects in the cytoplasm of SH-SY5Y cells, indicating its competence in traversing neuronal membranes. Remarkably, LQFM280 proved more effective than CHR in recovering memory loss and counteracting neuronal death in the aluminum chloride mice model, suggesting its increased bioavailability at the brain level. CONCLUSIONS: The glycosylation of CHR with ß-d-glucose tetraacetate amplifies its neuroprotective effects, positioning LQFM280 as a promising lead compound for safeguarding against neurodegenerative processes involving oxidative stress.

Laser ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging as a new tool for accessing patulin diffusion in mold-infected fruits.

This work describes the use of laser ablation electrospray ionization mass spectrometry imaging (LAESI imaging) to investigate the diffusion of the mycotoxin patulin from rotten to healthy areas of fruits. Slices of mold-infected and uninfected (control) apples and strawberries were prepared, and this was the only sample preparation step used. An infrared laser beam (2.94 µm) was used to irradiate the slices, resulting in the ablation of sample compounds directly ionized by electrospray and analyzed by mass spectrometry. Multivariate curve resolution - alternating least squares was applied in unfolded LAESI images to obtain relative quantity information. Patulin was not detected in the control samples but was seen in all mold-infected fruits. LAESI images showed the diffusion of patulin from the rotten area to unaffected parts of the fruits. This study points out the advantage of LAESI imaging over traditional analytical methods used to study the diffusion of mycotoxins in fruits.