Seed priming is an effective technique to enhance germination performance and seedling establishment through the activation of metabolic and physiological processes. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different priming types on germination and biochemical regulation of Capsicum annuum L. seeds. This study was conducted using a completely randomized design. The treatments consisted of control (non-primed), hydropriming, nanopriming, halopriming (1% KNO₃ and 0.5% NaCl), and osmopriming (PEG 20% and 25%). Results showed that priming treatments significantly influenced germination time, germination percentage, and physiological characteristics of the seeds. Hydropriming and PEG 20% osmopriming produced rapid germination with mean germination times of 2.00 and 2.25 days, respectively. A maximum germination percentage of 100% was achieved in hydropriming, nanopriming, halopriming with KNO₃, and osmopriming treatments. Enhanced germination performance was associated with increased α-amylase activity, reaching 52.58 U mg⁻¹ protein under hydropriming. Antioxidant responses were reflected by high catalase activity, with the highest value recorded in halopriming with 1% KNO₃ (1,628 U mg⁻¹ protein). Lower oxidative stress levels were indicated by reduced H₂O₂ content (39.32–41.35 μmol g-1 FW), while proline accumulation ranged from 9.91 to 23.37 μmol g-1 FW depending on the priming method. Overall, priming treatments enhanced seed physiological quality through improved reserve mobilization, strengthened antioxidant defense systems, and better stress regulation. Hydropriming demonstrated consistent performance across germination and biochemical parameters, indicating its potential as a simple and effective strategy for improving C. annuum seed quality.
In Burkina Faso, Solenostemon rotundifolius [(Poir.) J.K. Morton] is an underutilized tuber crop of considerable economic and medicinal importance. However, the conservation of stored planting material is constrained by microbial contamination, which can adversely affect subsequent plant development in the field. This study aimed to identify the most suitable explant type for the in vitro regeneration of the species. The experiment was conducted under laboratory conditions using a completely randomized 3 × 4 factorial arrangement with 15 replicates per treatment combination. The first factor was explant type (buds, simple cuttings, and uninodal cuttings), and the second factor was culture medium at four levels: M0 (Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium without plant growth regulators); M1 (MS medium supplemented with 5.0 mg/L 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.1 mg/L naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA)); M2 (MS medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/L BA); and M3 (MS medium supplemented with 0.5 mg/L indole-3-butyric acid (IBA)). Explant recovery rate, plantlet height, root length, and numbers of leaves, nodes, stems, and roots were evaluated. Significant differences among explant types were observed for the measured growth parameters. The highest treatment-specific recovery rates were recorded for simple cuttings on M0 (93.33 ± 5.25%) and buds on M2 (60.00 ± 13.09%). M0 favoured rooting and establishment, whereas M2 promoted shoot development and proliferation. S. rotundifolius plantlets derived from simple cuttings showed the strongest overall vegetative performance. These findings highlight the importance of explant physiological status and growth-regulator balance in improving regeneration efficiency in this species.
This study aimed to detect influenza A virus in Iraqi patients by real-time reverse-transcription PCR (RT-qPCR), amplify regions of the hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) genes, and evaluate selected serum cytokines. A total of 150 participants (100 patients with influenza-like illness and 50 healthy controls) were enrolled. Respiratory swabs were used for viral RNA extraction and molecular detection, and HA and NA gene regions were amplified in five selected positive samples. Serum IL-6, IL-17A, and IL-33 concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Thirty of the 100 patients (30%) tested positive for influenza A virus. Cycle threshold (Ct) values ranged from 16.09 to 28.01 (mean ± SD, 21.70 ± 3.32). The mean IL-6 concentration was higher in patients than in controls (33.49 ± 2.99 vs. 16.19 ± 3.17 ng/L; p < 0.001). Similarly, IL-17A (15.8 ± 1.1 vs. 10.1 ± 3.2 pg/mL; p = 0.002) and IL-33 (18.66 ± 2.1 vs. 5.8 ± 0.9 pg/mL; p < 0.001) were increased in patients. These findings confirm influenza A virus circulation in the study population and indicate an enhanced inflammatory cytokine response in affected patients.
Coronilla minima L. is a Mediterranean Fabaceae species whose phytochemical composition and biological properties remain incompletely characterized. This study profiled the phenolic constituents of methanolic, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane fractions and evaluated their in vitro antioxidant, enzyme-inhibitory, antibacterial, and photoprotective activities. Preliminary phytochemical screening and spectrophotometric determination of total phenolic and flavonoid contents were followed by LC–ESI–MS/MS analysis. Antioxidant activity was assessed using DPPH, reducing-power, silver-nanoparticle, and phenanthroline assays; α-amylase and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition, agar-disc antibacterial activity, and spectrophotometric sun protection factor (SPF) were also determined. LC–ESI–MS/MS detected 19 compounds among 44 authenticated standards, with chlorogenic acid showing the highest concentration in the methanolic fraction (122.79 µg/g). Rutin (29.46 µg/g), hesperidin (28.67 µg/g), and isoquercitrin (28.50 µg/g) were the most abundant flavonoids. The ethyl acetate fraction generally showed the strongest in vitro activity, including DPPH scavenging (IC50 41.87 ± 0.48 µg/mL), α-amylase inhibition (IC50 113.98 ± 4.65 µg/mL), and AChE inhibition (IC50 11.75 ± 1.84 µg/mL). Antibacterial effects were confined mainly to Gram-positive strains, whereas no tested fraction inhibited Escherichia coli. The three fractions showed similar in vitro SPF values (43.56–44.85). These findings identify C. minima as a source of phenolic constituents with multiple in vitro bioactivities, while further mechanistic, toxicological, and in vivo studies are required before therapeutic or cosmetic applications can be considered.
Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L. Walp.) is a multifunctional species originating from Africa, where it plays a key role in food security and sustainable agriculture. In Morocco, it remains a marginal crop that has been scientifically overlooked, despite its crucial role in food security, which limits its integration into genetic improvement programs and compromises the sustainable conservation and valorisation of this plant genetic heritage. A field experiment was conducted during the 2023 cropping season using a randomized complete block design with three replications to evaluate the agro-morphological diversity of 19 cowpea landraces collected from different regions of Morocco. A total of 50 qualitative and quantitative traits (morphological, phenological, and agronomic) were assessed at different growth stages. The results revealed a considerable level of variation across most assessed traits, supported by a high total phenotypic diversity (HT = 0.53) and a mean within-population diversity (Hs̄ = 0.45±0.20) that exceeded the among-population phenotypic diversity (GST = 0.16). The average phenotypic diversity (Hp̄) across landraces was 0.45, with no significant differences among landraces. principal component analysis (PCA) revealed significant variation among the 19 cowpea landraces, enabling their grouping based on similarities independently of their geographical origin, with landraces BH3, CF2, HG and TK1 being distinguished by a combination of desirable traits. These results show a considerable level of intra- and inter-landrace diversity among Moroccan cowpea landraces, providing essential information for their conservation, sustainable use, and incorporation into breeding and selection programs, which is particularly relevant as a strategic crop in the current context of climate change.
