Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Benefits Its Thrips Vector by Modulating Metabolic and Plant Defense Pathways in Tomato

Several plant viruses modulate vector fitness and behavior in ways that may enhance virus transmission. Previous studies have documented indirect, plant-mediated effects of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infection on the fecundity, growth and survival of its principal thrips vector, Frankliniella occidentalis, the western flower thrips. We conducted thrips performance and preference experiments combined with plant gene expression, phytohormone and total free amino acid analyses to determine if systemically-infected tomato plants modulate primary metabolic and defense-related pathways to culminate into a more favorable environment for the vector. In a greenhouse setting, we documented a significant increase in the number of offspring produced by F. occidentalis on TSWV-infected tomato plants compared to mock-inoculated plants, and in choice test assays, females exhibited enhanced settling on TSWV-infected leaves. Microarray analysis combined with phytohormone signaling pathway analysis revealed reciprocal modulation of key phytohormone pathways under dual attack, possibly indicating a coordinated and dampening defense against the vector on infected plants. TSWV infection, alone or in combination with thrips, suppressed genes associated with photosynthesis and chloroplast function thereby significantly impacting primary metabolism of the host plant, and hierarchical cluster and network analyses revealed that many of these genes were co-regulated with phytohormone defense signaling genes. TSWV infection increased expression of genes related to protein synthesis and degradation which was reflected in the increased total free amino acid content in virus-infected plants that harbored higher thrips populations. These results suggest coordinated gene networks that regulate plant primary metabolism and defense responses rendering virus-infected plants more conducive for vector colonization, an outcome that is potentially beneficial to the vector and the virus when considered within the context of the complex transmission biology of TSWV. To our knowledge this is the first study to identify global transcriptional networks that underlie the TSWV-thrips interaction as compared to a single mechanistic approach. Findings of this study increase our fundamental knowledge of host plant-virus-vector interactions and identifies underlying mechanisms of induced host susceptibility to the insect vector.

EFFECT OF WHEY ON THE QUANTITATIVE CHANGE IN RESERVE FOOD OF THE GERMINATING SEEDS

The percent starch in the germinating paddy seed was found gradually less faster due to treatment with whey than the control. Percent protein from germinating lentil seed was found to be gradually reduced with faster rate due to treatment with whey than the control. There appeared increase in soluble sugars in the endosperm of paddy during germination both in treated and control seeds. Also it was found that there is increase in total free amino acid in the cotyledons of lentils due to the treatment of whey. The decline in the amount of total soluble sugars in the endosperm of paddy after 3rd day of germination and in the cotyledon of lentil after 2nd day points out that soluble carbohydrates are more rapidly transferred to the embryo in lentil than to the paddy. Also decline in the amount of total free amino acid was observed in the endosperm of paddy after 3rd day while same on the 3rd day in lentil indicates the speed of the transfers of amino acid to the growing embryo. The unequal or varying speed might be due to the nature of seed as they belong to two unrelated group of plants.

Pu-erh Tea Extract Treatment Could Be an Efficient Way to Enhance the Yield and Nutritional Value of Soybean Sprout

Soybean sprouts are one of the most inexpensive and nutritious food items that can be easily grown year-round. Several studies have been conducted to increase their yield and nutritional values. This study was carried out to examine the effects of Pu-erh tea extracts on the production and nutrients content of soybean sprouts. Soybean seeds were soaked in 1%, 2%, or 3% (w/v) tea extracts, or tap water, before keeping for sprout cultivation; the sprout samples were named PE-1, PE-2, PE-3, and the control, respectively. The sprout yields were increased by up to 17% in PE-2 and PE-3 than in the control. The vitamin C, total free amino acid, total mineral, total isoflavone, total polyphenol, and flavonoid contents as well as the antioxidant potentials of the tea extract-treated sprouts were higher than those of the control. The results indicated that pre-soaking soybean seeds in 2% Pu-erh tea extracts could offer an easy, inexpensive, and efficient way to improve the yield and nutritional value of soybean sprouts.

Tomato spotted wilt virus benefits its thrips vector by modulating metabolic and plant defense pathways in tomato

ABSTRACTSeveral plant viruses modulate vector fitness and behavior in ways that may enhance virus transmission. Previous studies have documented indirect, plant-mediated effects of tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) infection on the fecundity, growth and survival of its principal thrips vector, Frankliniella occidentalis, the western flower thrips. In this study, we conducted thrips performance and preference experiments combined with plant gene expression, phytohormone and total free amino acid analyses to identify tomato host responses to single and dual challenge with TSWV and F. occidentalis, compared to F. occidentalis alone, to address the question: do systemically-infected, symptomatic tomato plants modulate primary metabolic (photosynthesis and related physiological functions) and defense-related pathways to culminate into a more favorable environment for the vector. In a greenhouse setting, we documented a significant increase in the number of offspring produced by F. occidentalis on TSWV-infected tomato plants compared to mock-inoculated plants, and in choice test assays, females exhibited enhanced settling on TSWV-infected leaves. Microarray analysis combined with phytohormone signaling pathway analysis revealed that TSWV infection, regardless of thrips activity, robustly upregulated salicylic acid (SA) synthesis and downstream defense signaling pathway genes typically known to be associated with execution of defense against pathogens. TSWV alone downregulated a few jasmonic acid (JA)-responsive, anti-herbivore defense genes, however these were limited to wound-induced proteinase inhibitors. While this may indicate a subtle SA-JA antagonistic cross-talk in response to the virus, abscisic acid (ABA, upregulated) and auxin pathways (downregulated) were also perturbed by TSWV infection, regardless of F. occidentalis colonization, and may play roles in coordinating and dampening defense against the vector on infected plants. Frankliniella occidentalis alone triggered JA and ET pathways, phytohormones that have been reported to work cooperatively to enhance induced resistance to microbes and herbivores; however, on infected plants, ET remained unperturbed by the thrips vector. TSWV infection, alone or in combination with thrips, suppressed genes associated with photosynthesis and chloroplast function thereby significantly impacting primary metabolism of the host plant, and hierarchical cluster analysis and network analysis revealed that many of these genes were co-regulated with phytohormone defense signaling genes. Virus infection also altered genes related to cell wall organization which may render plants more susceptible to the penetration of thrips mouthparts. Lastly, TSWV infection increased expression of genes related to protein synthesis and degradation which is reflected in the increased total free amino acid content in virus-infected plants that harbored higher thrips populations. These results suggest coordinated gene networks that regulate plant primary metabolism and defense responses rendering virus-infected plants more conducive host for vectors, a relationship that is beneficial to the vector and the virus when considered within the context of the complex transmission biology of TSWV. To our knowledge this is the first study to identify global transcriptional networks that underlie the TSWV-thrips interaction as compared to a single mechanistic approach. Findings of this study increase our fundamental knowledge of host plant-virus-vector interactions and identifies underlying mechanisms of induced host susceptibility to the insect vector.

Determination of Nutritional Content of Spondias Species from the Eastern Himalaya

The present study was carried out with the aim to screen out the nutritional characteristics of three underutilized fruit species of the genus Spondias which are seen grown wild in the forest of the north-eastern region of India, as the detail information on nutrient composition of these fruit species is scarce and people are unaware of the nutritional factor though inadvertently consuming a good amount of nutrients from these fruits. The present nutritional assessment revealed that the fruit of Spondias pinnata was found to possess highest TSS content (15.27 °Brix) however it was observed to exhibit higher acidity (4.59%) as well. The minimum titratable acidity was found in Spondias axillaris (2.45%). Spondias pinnata exhibited the highest ascorbic acid content (74.16 mg/100 g) followed by Spondias axillaris (61.60 mg/100 g) while the lowest (31.55 mg/100 g) was found in Spondias cytherea. Further, from the experiment, it was found that Spondias pinnata having the highest ascorbic acid was also found to exhibit highest DPPH free radical scavenging activity (68.49%). Spondias pinnata was also found to possess maximum reducing sugar (7.32%), total carbohydrate (12.51%), total chlorophyll (0.03 mg/g), total carotenoid (1.30 mg/100 g) and starch content (195.72 mg/100 g). As far as total free amino acid was concern, Spondias cytherea recorded highest total free amino acid content (158.67 mg/100 g) showing a wide variation in comparison to Spondias axillaris (25.33 mg/100 g) and Spondias pinnata (22.67 mg/100 g). These wild fruit species under study proved to be a good source of nutrients with a potential to fulfill the nutritional requirements locally.

Presoaking Treatment of Propolis Aqueous Extract Alleviates Salinity Stress in Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) Plants Grown under Calcareous Saline Soil Conditions

Two pot experiments were conducted during the two successive seasons of 2014 and 2015 to study the effect of propolis extract at the rates 0, 6000, 7000, 8000 and 9000 ppm solution used as seed soaking to spinach seedlings on growth, yield and some chemical constituents of spinach plants (Spinacia oleracea L.) grown under saline soil conditions. The obtained results indicated that increasing the rates of propolis extract as seed soaking application increased the growth parameters of the treated plants. The best result was obtained by the middle rate (7000ppm) as seed soaking in both seasons of the study. The same trend was also observed regarding all studied chemical constituents, i.e. chlorophyll a, b and total caroteniods concentration, anthocyanine, total carbohydrates, total and reducing sugars, total free amino acid, free proline, crude protein, total indoles, total phenols, N, P and K in leaves. Moreover, soaking seeds in propolis extract before planting improved the metabolic activity of seeds through the increase in seed values from total and reducing sugar, total free amino acid, total indoles and total phenols as well as the lowest values from , total carbohydrate. Thus, the coincident application of propolis extract at (7000ppm) as seed soaking is recommended for improving growth, yield and chemical composition of spinach plants and to overcome the adverse effect of salinity conditions.

Seed nutritional quality comparison of vegetable soybean genotypes at fresh pod and mature stage

Vegetable soybean is famous for its better eating quality and taste, which is usually harvested at fresh pod stage. However, no report is available on nutritional values between vegetable soybean seed at fresh pod stage and mature stage. To better understand the seed nutritional quality differences between fresh pod stage and mature stage in vegetable soybean, five vegetable soybean genotypes were examined. The results found that seeds from fresh edible stage had higher total free amino acid, and higher K, Na, Mn and Zn concentrations. The concentrations of soluble sugar, crude oil as well as unsaturated fatty acid were also higher at fresh pod stage. While total isoflavone, Mg and Fe concentrations were generally higher at full maturity stage. No differences in protein concentration were found between the two stages. Significant genotypic differences were found among nutritional parameters. The genotype Line 61 had the highest total soy isoflavone of 4593 μg g-1, whereas the genotype “Heidou” had the lowest total soy isoflavone of 1700 μg g-1 at mature stage. Correlation analysis indicated that total free amino acid was significantly positively correlated with soluble sugar, crude oil and total isoflavone. Therefore, the nutritional values at fresh pod stage and mature stage differed from the perspective of nutritional compositions. The findings reported here add new knowledge to vegetable soybean function and is a useful starting point for future breeding program and cultivation towards improving the nutritional compositions of soybean species.

Nutrition content assessment of Arachis hypogaea L. samples grown in the Mediterranean region of Turkey

A total of 42 Turkish peanuts (Arachis hypogaea L.) samples were analysed for their total free amino acid, β-carotene, lycopene, and flavonoid contents, and the total phenols, glucose, fructose and sucrose in the peanut samples were determined as nutrition aspects. The average values of the total free amino acid, beta-carotene, lycopene, glucose, fructose and sucrose were determined to be 14.4 µmol g−1, 14.4 µg (100 ml)−1, 14.4 µg (100 ml)−1, 1.07 mg g−1, 0.52 mg g−1 and 2.74 mg g−1, respectively. The results reveal that the consumption of Turkish peanut samples is safe and that they contain health-enhancing nutrients.

Impact of unilateral eyestalk ablation on major biochemical parameters of muscle of the freshwater crab Travancoriana schirnerae Bott, 1969 (Decapoda: Gecarcinucidae)

The current study examined the moultwise impact of unilateral eyestalk ablation on major biochemical parameters of the muscle of the freshwater crab Travancoriana schirnerae Bott, 1969 (Decapoda: Gecarcinucidae). Meat from unilaterally destalked crabs 15 days post-operation was analyzed for protein, oligosaccharide, polysaccharide, total free amino acid, total lipid, cholesterol and moisture content following standard procedures. The results indicated a moultwise cycling of the major biochemical parameters of the muscle. Unilateral eyestalk ablation induced a rise in all the major biochemical parameters except moisture, irrespective of the moult stages. The alteration induced as an impact of unilateral destalkation in the biochemical parameters decide the suitability of this technique to enhance meat quality as practiced in aquaculture farms of marine decapods.