The genus Medicago (Fabaceae) is known for its ecological versatility and medicinal properties, mainly due to its diverse secondary metabolites. This study aimed to profile and compare the phytochemical composition of eight Medicago species (M. laciniata, M. radiata, M. minima, M. noeana, M. rigidula, M. coronata, M. polymorpha, and M. orbicularis) to elucidate their bioactive compounds and potential nutraceutical applications. Leaf extracts of each species were analyzed for total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and total antioxidant activity (TAA), and for gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). For GC–MS, compounds were identified by retention time, mass spectra, and comparison with the NIST library, and their relative abundances were determined from peak area percentages. M. radiata exhibited the highest values of TPC, TFC, and TAA compared to the other species. For GC–MS, across all species, long-chain fatty acids and their methyl esters predominated, including 9-octadecenoic acid, 9,12,15-octadecatrienoic acid, and n-hexadecanoic acid, reflecting active lipid metabolism. Phenolic derivatives, heterocyclic nitrogenous compounds, and aromatic alcohols were consistently detected, contributing antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytoprotective properties. Minor components, including hydrocarbons, siloxanes, phthalate derivatives, and sugar derivatives, further enhanced chemical diversity. Species-specific variations were observed, including higher levels of sugar derivatives in M. rigidula and elevated levels of unsaturated fatty acids in M. coronata, indicating metabolic specialization. The findings highlight the genus Medicago as a rich source of bioactive compounds with potential applications in pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, and industrial bioproducts, while providing chemotaxonomic insights into species-specific metabolic profiles.
Understanding morphological variation in plant species is essential for assessing functional responses to environmental gradients and disturbance regimes. This study examines spatial and local variability across three size-based cohorts of Pterocarpus erinaceus: juveniles (5 cm < DBH ≤ 10 cm), non-exploitable adults (10 cm < DBH ≤ 35 cm), and exploitable adults (DBH > 35 cm), sampled from three natural stands, using dendrometric and foliar traits. Within- and among-population variability was assessed using univariate and multivariate approaches. Individuals exceeding 40 cm DBH were further compared across sites to refine spatial variation patterns. The results indicate that among juveniles, only two of 11 traits differed significantly between sites, with a marked effect for terminal leaflet width and a moderate effect for crown spread. Inter-site differentiation was more pronounced in non-exploitable adults (10 significant traits out of 11) and exploitable adults (eight significant traits). Among individuals with DBH ≥ 40 cm, only three traits differed significantly among sites, with generally small effect sizes, consistent with the extent of inter-site differentiation varying according to developmental stage, as hypothesised. At the local level, coefficients of variation remained consistently high across all cohorts, particularly for dendrometric traits; the factors underlying this intra-site variability were not directly measured in this study. These findings provide a morphological characterisation of variation between and within populations of P. erinaceus, identifying morphologically differentiated groups that constitute a descriptive basis for further research; assessing their relevance to adaptive capacity, resilience and restoration planning will require complementary genetic and environmental data.
Okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench], commonly regarded as “the green gold nutritive crop”, possesses human health and medicinal qualities. As drought-adapted crop, okra would contribute to supporting food security and livelihoods. However, its potential remains untapped due to limited research support on its genetic improvement and product development especially in marginal growing areas such as northern Ethiopia. The objective of this study was to evaluate a genetic pool of okra collected from major okra growing regions of Ethiopia and exotic populations to document its genetic variability, heritability and genetic advance for morpho-agronomic traits for production and breeding. Field experiments were conducted with 121 okra genotypes, laid out in a lattice design across three locations (Kafta Humera, Tsegedie, and Welkayt) in northern Ethiopia. Results showed that Humera-4, Acc_240602, Humera-30, Humera-2, and American Seed were the best performers with tender fruit yield advantage of 10.54–24.48
The genus Vaccinium L. (Ericaceae) includes true blueberries belonging to section Cyanococcus, encompassing diploid, tetraploid, and hexaploid ploidy levels. In Argentina, Southern Highbush Blueberries (V. corymbosum L., SHB) are predominantly cultivated, whereas Rabbiteye Blueberries (V. ashei Reade, REB) are grown to a lesser extent. Although flow cytometry (FCM) enables precise determination of ploidy level and genome size, its application to mature pollen grains (MPGs) has not previously been reported for blueberry species. The aim of this study was to estimate the ploidy level of MPGs from tetraploid and hexaploid blueberry genotypes using FCM after nuclei isolation by the filter bursting method. Mature pollen grains from 14 SHB cultivars (tetraploid) and three REB cultivars (hexaploid) were analyzed using leaf nuclei of known ploidy as internal references. Southern Highbush Blueberry genotypes displayed either one (2Cx) or two (2Cx and 4Cx) fluorescence peaks, whereas REB genotypes exhibited three peaks: 4Cx, 6Cx, and 12Cx, indicating the presence of nuclei with irregular or unbalanced DNA content. The method generated well-defined and reproducible histograms and allowed the detection of reduced, unreduced, and atypical nuclei. These findings provide a practical tool for parental selection and for the identification of unreduced (2n) and unbalanced gametes, contributing to the design of blueberry breeding programs.
Effective conservation and utilization of plant genetic resources require objective approaches that integrate multiple sources of biological and socio-economic evidence. This study developed the Evidence-Based Integrated Germplasm Prioritization Framework (EB-IGPF) to support conservation and breeding decisions for Sri Lankan Cucumis genetic resources. Twenty representative accessions, selected to capture the taxonomic, genetic, phenotypic, geographic, and ethnobotanical diversity of a nationwide collection of 633 Cucumis accessions, were used as a proof of concept. Seven standardized component indices were evaluated: Phylogenetic Distinctiveness (PDI), Morphological Distinctiveness (MDI), Physiological Performance (PPI), Agronomic Value (AVI), Consumer Acceptance (CAI), Ethnobotanical Importance (EII), and Geographic Rarity (GRI). These indices were standardized to a common 0–100 scale using min–max normalization and integrated with equal weighting to calculate the Conservation Priority Index (CPI) and Breeding Priority Index (BPI). The resulting indices differentiated accessions requiring priority conservation from those with high potential for crop improvement and supported their assignment to four evidence-based management categories. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated stable accession rankings under moderate changes in component weighting, indicating the robustness of the prioritization approach. As a proof-of-concept, the EB-IGPF demonstrates that diverse biological, agronomic, and socio-economic datasets can be integrated within a transparent, reproducible, and scalable decision-support framework. Although validated using representative Cucumis germplasm, the methodology is readily transferable to larger germplasm collections and other crop species following further validation.
Potato is a globally important food crop, and its plant architecture is a key agronomic trait that determines canopy structure, light use efficiency, planting density, and ultimately tuber yield. In this study, an F2 segregating population derived from two homozygous Solanum chacoense diploid potato lines, M9 and HD5, with contrasting plant architecture, was used to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) associated with plant architecture traits. A total of 32 QTLs were detected across three independent environments, distributed on all 12 chromosomes, with individual QTLs explaining 3.24
Chloroplasts are very important resources for research on plant evolution and phylogenetic inference. This is motivated by their highly conserved structure and also by the low rate of recombination, which prevents many mutations from being found in this organelle. In this research study, we successfully performed the assembly and annotation of the first chloroplast of a Peruvian cultivar locally known as "Chila," in addition to carrying out a genetic comparison with other Solanaceae species belonging to the Solanum Leptostemonum clade. We also performed comparative chloroplast genome and phylogenomic analyses among species belonging to the Solanum Leptostemonum clade. We successfully assembled the chloroplast genome, thanks to a hybrid assembly method, which combined short reads sequenced by Illumina with long reads generated by ONT. According to our study, this assembled chloroplast genome has a length of 155,671 bp, in addition to presenting a structure composed of an large single-copy (LSC) region of 86,380 bp, an SSC region of 18,559 bp, and two inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,366 bp each, which is the normal quadripartite structure of chloroplast. Also, the organelle showed a total of 120 unique genes in this organelle, including 85 coding DNA sequences (CDS), 4 rRNA genes, and 31 tRNA genes, in addition to presenting a GC content of 37.72
Monumental olive trees dominate the natural landscape of Lebanon perceiving the long history of olive tree cultivation and propagation in the country. Previous research pointed on the important genetic diversity within the ancient olive germplasm, but the structure of this germplasm has not been sufficiently investigated yet. In this study, we examined the population genetic diversity structure of ancient versus traditional olive germplasm of Lebanon, with an emphasis on the grafting status of the trees, before evaluating the genetic relationships between the Lebanese cultivars and other olive cultivars of the Mediterranean. An exhaustive survey of the four agroclimatic areas of Lebanon allowed us to select a set of 172 spectacular ancient olive trees, in addition to 129 young trees growing among the traditional olive orchards. An SSR analysis, involving 17 primer pairs, was conducted on the 419 accessions representing canopy leaf samples of all the selected trees, and sucker samples growing at the bases of 115 centennials. A set of 81 distinct profiles were obtained at a mutational threshold of four dissimilar alleles. Twenty-five unidentified genotypes were detected among the studied centennials and five among the young olives while 241 trees (80
The common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) is a valuable source of dietary protein and genetic material for improving the sustainability of crops. However, intensive breeding and climate-related pressures may accelerate genetic erosion, emphasising the importance of characterising and conserving local germplasm. This study evaluated genetic diversity and population structure in a defined panel of 60 common bean genotypes comprising 26 Turkish landraces, 10 introduced accessions from Italy, France and Georgia, 21 pure lines and three commercial cultivars using 13 directed amplification of minisatellite-region DNA/universal rice primer (DAMD/URP) primers. Marker informativeness was assessed using polymorphic information content, Shannon’s information index, the effective number of alleles and resolving power. The primers generated 148 reproducible bands, of which 137 were polymorphic, corresponding to an overall polymorphism rate of 92.6
Medicinal plants remain central to community-based women’s healthcare where culturally embedded remedies complement limited access to formal services. Despite extensive ethnobotanical work, comprehensive evidence on plant use for gynecological care in Sahiwal Division has remained scarce. The research documented medicinal diversity, preparation practices, therapeutic applications, knowledge transmission, and cultural importance across local communities. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in 30 villages from Sahiwal, Okara, and Pakpattan districts using semi-structured interviews with 200 respondents selected through snowball sampling. Plant specimens were photographed, collected, identified through regional floras, and verified using international taxonomic databases. Frequency of citation, relative frequency of citation, use value, and informant consensus factor were calculated, while ordination and association networks were used to examine preparation patterns and therapeutic linkages. The inventory comprised 70 species from 35 families, with Fabaceae as the richest family and herbs as the dominant growth form. Whole plants, leaves, and fruits were the most frequently used materials, whereas infusion was the leading preparation method. Women, older respondents, housewives, practitioners, and midwives retained the largest share of knowledge, which was transmitted mainly through parents and grandparents. Cost, tradition, and accessibility were the principal reasons for remedy use. Amenorrhea and dysmenorrhea had the broadest species representation, while Amaranthus viridis, Azadirachta indica, and Psidium guajava had the widest therapeutic ranges. Relative frequency of citation and use value showed close numerical correspondence across species, largely reflecting their shared dependence on respondent citations. Informant agreement was highest for lactation problems, menorrhagia, and urogenital disorders. These findings provide a basis for safeguarding local knowledge and prioritizing culturally important taxa for pharmacological, toxicological, and conservation assessment.
Bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (Molina) Standl.) is an important cucurbit species used as a vegetable crop and as a rootstock in grafted watermelon production. This study evaluated the genetic diversity and relationships among 40 bottle gourd genotypes collected from southern Türkiye using sequence-related amplified polymorphism (SRAP), inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) and simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The three marker systems generated 468 scorable DNA fragments, of which 344 were polymorphic, corresponding to an overall polymorphism rate of 73.5
Conservation of forest trees is an important task for ecosystem maintenance, particularly in the context of ongoing climate change and its predicted intensification in the future. Quercus brantii is a shrub or tree that is distributed in West South Iran, and shows variation in morphological characteristics and phenology as well as genetic structure in the geographical regions where it occurs. Despite several morphological and genetic diversity investigations in Iran, there has been no report on landscape genetics and connectivity analysis of Persian oak populations in the context of changing environmental or climate conditions. Hence, the present study considers a landscape genetic study of 14 Persian oak populations in the Zagros region to present data on their genetic structure, gene flow, and connectivity, and their response to climate change. Additionally, the impact of spatial variables on morphological and anatomical characteristics of these plants was analyzed by using spatial statistical methods such as spatial principal component analysis (sPCA), clinal analysis, and spatial autocorrelation regression (SAR). The results of spatial analyses revealed that the genetic structure of these populations, as well as their morphological and anatomical characteristics, are shaped by environmental variables, reflecting adaptation to local conditions. Partial least squares structural modeling (PLS-SEM) and Random Forest methods revealed the interplay between soil features, climatic variables, resistance surface, morphological and anatomical characters, and genetic diversity parameters in shaping the geographical distribution of Persian oak and influencing patterns that may reflect local adaptation to environmental gradients. The present findings may be used in planning a detailed conservation program for the conservation of these plants in Iran.
Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum L. subsp. durum [Desf.] Husn.) production in Mediterranean rainfed systems is increasingly threatened by climate change–induced terminal drought, with modern breeding having narrowed the genetic base for stress resilience. To bridge this diversity gap, we phenotyped 421 tetraploid wheat accessions representing six Triticum turgidum subspecies (durum, carthlicum, dicoccum, polonicum, turgidum, and turanicum) under three contrasting moisture environments in western Iran. Analysis of variance confirmed highly significant genotype effects (P < 0.01) for all 13 agro-physiological traits assessed, with grain yield exhibiting the greatest phenotypic variability. Multi-environment analysis identified three interlinked determinants of yield stability under terminal drought: (i) early phenology enabling escape from moisture deficit (grain yield negatively correlated with days to heading and maturity: r = − 0.24 to − 0.39, P < 0.01), (ii) sustained chlorophyll content (SPAD) during grain filling, reflecting a functional "stay-green" phenotype; and (iii) elevated thousand-kernel weight (r = 0.38–0.47 with yield, P < 0.01). High-performing accessions optimized this trait synergy while limiting vegetative investment (reduced plant height and moderate Normalized Difference Vegetation Index [NDVI]), thereby prioritizing reproductive allocation under water deficit. Approximately half of the durum accessions exhibited broad adaptation across environments, yet valuable outliers were also identified within the carthlicum, polonicum, and dicoccum subspecies. Critically, genotype-by-environment interaction analysis revealed substantial diversity within geographic origins, demonstrating that provenance alone is a poor predictor of adaptive performance. Several accessions emerged as priority donors, combining optimal earliness, physiological efficiency, and yield stability for rainfed systems. These findings establish a robust phenotypic framework for trait-based selection and strategic introgression of adaptive alleles to accelerate the development of climate-resilient durum wheat cultivars capable of sustaining productivity under intensifying water scarcity.
BTB and TAZ (BT) proteins are important regulators of plant growth and stress responses, but BT genes in cultivated peanut (Arachis hypogaea) have not been systematically characterized. In this study, five BT genes (AhBT1–AhBT5) were identified and analyzed to clarify their genomic organization, evolutionary patterns, and potential functions. These genes are distributed on chromosomes 1, 3, 5, 13, and 15, and chromosomal mapping with synteny and Ka/Ks analyses indicates that segmental duplication and strong purifying selection shaped the expansion and conservation of this family. Phylogenetic analysis across A. hypogaea, Gossypium hirsutum, Oryza sativa, and Arabidopsis thaliana revealed two main evolutionary clades. Group I genes (AhBT1, AhBT2, and AhBT4) were highly conserved, implying essential cellular roles whereas, the Group II genes (AhBT3 and AhBT5) revealed lineage-specific diversification, likely contributing to stress response and specialized metabolic regulation. Structural analysis revealed notable variations in exon–intron organization, indicating potential differences in transcriptional regulation and alternative splicing. Chromosomal mapping and synteny analysis confirmed multiple segmental duplication events, further supported by low Ka/Ks ratios, suggesting strong purifying selection acting to preserve the gene function. Subcellular localization predictions demonstrated diverse distribution patterns across the cytoplasm, nucleus, chloroplast, and peroxisome, reinforcing the functional diversification of the AhBT gene family. Gene Ontology enrichment highlighted roles in protein ubiquitination, transcriptional regulation, hormone signalling, and environmental stress responses, including reactions to salicylic acid, auxin, jasmonic acid, and abiotic stresses. The overall results suggest that AhBT genes form a conserved yet, functionally versatile family involved in key processes such as protein turnover, stress adaptation, and developmental regulation in A. hypogaea. These findings provide a foundation for future research exploring the regulatory roles of BT gene and associated proteins in legume physiology and future crop improvement.
Seed aging severely impairs germination capacity, grain quality, and nutritional value of cultivated rice (Oryza sativa L.), yet the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. Wild rice (Oryza rufipogon), harboring abundant stress-tolerant and storage-favorable alleles, provides a valuable genetic resource for elucidating the molecular basis and enhancing the seed storability of cultivated rice. In this study, we identified a chromosome segment substitution line (CSSL), BG197, derived from Dongxiang wild rice (DY80, Oryza rufipogon Griff.) serving as the donor parent (with excellent seed storability) and cultivated rice R974 (Oryza sativa L. subsp. indica) as the recurrent parent (with poor seed storability). Following artificial aging treatment, BG197 demonstrated significantly enhanced seed storability compared to R974. Integrated transcriptomic and proteomic analyses identified 4,559 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 789 differentially expressed proteins (DEPs) between BG197 and R974. Functional enrichment analysis indicated that these differentially expressed molecules were primarily associated with stimulus response, catalytic and oxidoreductase activities, secondary metabolite biosynthesis, glutathione metabolism, and fatty acid degradation pathways. Notably, a co-up-regulated gene-protein pair (Os04g0390800/A0A0P0W9U2) was identified within the previously mapped quantitative trait locus (QTL) interval of seed storability in Dongxiang wild rice. Network analysis indicated that Os04g0390800 is involved in fatty acid metabolic pathways. Linkage molecular marker analysis provided further support for its potential positive role in regulating seed storability. Collectively, this study established a wild rice‑associated molecular framework for seed storability, thus identifying promising candidate targets to enhance seed storability in rice breeding.
Türkiye is the world’s leading hazelnut producer, with the Black Sea region serving as a primary center of diversity. This study evaluated the genetic diversity, population structure and phylogenetic relationships of eight hazelnut (Corylus avellana) cultivars, three genotypes and two Corylus species (C. maxima ‘Purpurea’ and C. colurna) from the western Black Sea region of Türkiye. A total of 61 individuals were analyzed using six Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) and six Inter-Simple Sequence Repeat (ISSR) molecular markers. Both marker systems achieved 100
Phosphatidylethanolamine-binding proteins (PEBPs) play a crucial role in regulating flowering time, plant architecture, and plant stress responses. However, the PEBP gene family has been well studied in Arabidopsis and other model species, less is known about them in Cucurbitaceae species. This study explores the evolution and functional role of PEBPs across nine representative Cucurbitaceae species. The results show that 79 PEBPs diversified into three classes through whole-genome duplication events and tandem duplication events across Cucurbitaceae species. Structural analysis revealed highly conserved gene structures and protein motifs among Cucurbitaceae PEBP proteins. In silico functional analysis identified 41 overrepresented gene ontology terms in Cucurbitaceae species, including flower development-related terms such as “regulation of flower development” and “regulation of reproductive process”. Expression analyses revealed the essential role of FT-like (FLOWERING LOCUS T) in regulating blooming in Cucumis sativus, Cucumis melo, Lagenaria siceraria, and Cucurbita maxima. We further inferred a putative FT-like regulatory module required for dormancy release and blooming in Cucurbitaceae species. Additionally, the expression of these genes exhibited differential responses to salt stress in Cucumis melo, highlighting their important roles in adaptation to environmental fluctuations. This study provides a foundation for understanding PEBP gene function in Cucurbitaceae species and informs future breeding strategies for improved stress tolerance. The study reveals the functional diversification of PEBPs and their crucial roles in facilitating blooming and environmental adaptation in Cucurbitaceae species.
A total of 742 plants of 48 asparagus cultivars, landraces and wild relatives of garden asparagus as well as wild species of the genus asparagus were tested for resistance to the Asparagus virus 1 (AV1), as a supplement to an initial study published in 2017. Analogous to the previous study individual plants of all accessions were infested by aphid-based virus transmission in a climate chamber. Establishment and movement of the AV1 were investigated by an ELISA test approach. All tested accessions of A. officinalis were proven to be highly susceptible to AV1, with the exception of three wild accessions from Iran (1 tetraploid/2 octoploid) and two crossbred populations (1 tetraploid/1 octoploid) based on the Spanish landrace ‘Morado de Huétor’. Non infested, resistant plants were detected within 13 accessions of wild relatives, of which two accessions of A. pseudoscaber and each one of A. plocamoides and A. maritimus showed exclusively resistant plants. In addition to the results of the previous study, three wild species, A. brachyphyllus, A. macrorrhizus and A. persicus, were identified as new resources of resistance to AV1. Possibilities for using the genetic resources in breeding programs were discussed.
Medicinal plants are vital to Himalayan biodiversity and traditional medicine, but climate change threatens their growth and productivity. Understanding species-specific responses to climate variability is crucial for conservation and sustainable cultivation. This study examined the interactive effects of species and altitude on growth, physiological and biochemical responses, including antioxidant activity, in three medicinal plants, Asparagus adscendens, Berberis lycium, and Ageratina adenophora, across three altitudes (940, 1570, and 2020 m a.s.l.) in the Uttarakhand Himalayas. The results showed a significant (p < 0.05) species-altitude interaction affecting growth, physiology, and biochemical responses, indicating varied adaptive strategies across the environment. Among the species, A. adscendens exhibited superior growth traits (height, leaf count, branch count, leaf lamina length, leaf lamina breadth, and petiole length) and physiological traits (relative water content, total chlorophyll, and carotenoid content) at mid-altitude. It also showed enhanced biochemical responses (proline, protein, and ascorbic acid) and antioxidant enzyme activities (DPPH radical scavenging activity, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase), indicating an adaptive response to the climatic conditions. A. adenophora showed greater phenolic accumulation and better physiological adaptation at higher altitudes, indicating increased stress tolerance. B. lycium exhibited the highest antioxidant potential, especially at mid-altitude, as shown by elevated free radical scavenging activity. The results show that altitudinal variation impacts plant traits; responses vary by species. Mid-altitudes were reported to be suitable for A. adscendens for growth and physiology. These findings may enhance understanding of altitude adaptations and aid conservation, sustainable use, and climate-resilient cultivation of medicinal plants in the Himalayas.
