Trichoderma-Induced Resistance to Botrytis cinerea in Solanum Species: A Meta-Analysis

With the idea of summarizing the outcomes of studies focusing on the resistance induced by Trichoderma spp. against Botrytis cinerea in tomato, the present paper shows, for the first time, results of a meta-analysis performed on studies published from 2010 to 2021 concerning the cross-talk occurring in the tomato–Trichoderma-B. cinerea system. Starting from an initial set of 40 papers, the analysis was performed on 15 works and included nine parameters, as a result of a stringent selection mainly based on the availability of more than one article including the same indicator. The resulting work not only emphasizes the beneficial effects of Trichoderma in the control of grey mold in tomato leaves (reduction in disease intensity, severity and incidence and modulation of resistance genes in the host), but carefully drives the readers to reply to two questions: (i) What are the overall effects of Trichoderma on B. cinerea infection in tomato? (ii) Do the main effects of Trichoderma differ based on the tomato species, Trichoderma species, amount, type and duration of treatment? At the same time, this meta-analysis highlights some weak points of the available literature and should be seen as an invitation to improve future works to better the conceptualization and measure.

NLR Genes Related Transcript Sets in Potato Cultivars Bearing Genetic Material of Wild Mexican Solanum Species

The long history of potato breeding includes the numerous introgressions of resistance genes from many wild species of South and Central America as well as from cultivated species into the breeding genepool. Most R genes belong to the NLR family with nucleotide-binding site–leucine-rich repeat. The aim of this research concerns an evaluation of NLR genes expression in transcriptomes of three potato cultivars (Evraziya, Siverskij, Sudarynya), which combine genetic material from wild and cultivated potato species, and each bears intragenic markers of RB/Rpi-blb1/Rpi-sto1 genes conferring broad-range resistance to late blight. The transcriptomes of the cultivars were compared before and 24 h after the Phytophthora infestans inoculation. The induction of RB/Rpi-blb1/Rpi-sto1 transcript after 24 h of inoculation was detected in the resistant cultivars Siverskij and Sudarynya but not in susceptible cv. Evraziya. This demonstrates the importance of transcriptomic assay for understanding the results of marker-assisted selection and phenotyping. Interestingly, assembling the transcriptomes de novo and analysis with NLR-parser tool revealed significant fractions of novel NLR genes with no homology to the reference genome (from 103 (cv. Siverskij) to 160 (S. stoloniferum, 30514/15). Comparison of novel NLRs demonstrated a relatively small intersection between the genotypes that coincided with their complex pedigrees with several interspecific hybridization events. These novel NLRs may facilitate the discovery of new efficient R genes.

Leaf Anatomical Study of Solanum Species (Solanaceae) in Iran

Solanum (Solanaceae) comprises cultivated and wild plants with 1400 species in the world and 14 species in Iran. Solanum is a taxonomically complex genus due to morphological similarities, phenotypic plasticity and hybridisation. Limited studies were done on anatomical features of this important genus. In this project, 10 native and exotic species of Solanum in Iran belonging to two subgenera were examined anatomically. Leaf mesophyll and midrib and indumentum were analysed using light microscope. Hand-made cross section method and Toluidine blue as colouring agent were used. Characters as length and width of main vascular bundle, thickness of collenchyma, trichome density, thickness of parenchyma strand, thickness of lamina and length and shape of midrib were diagnostic features among species studied. In UPGMA tree and PCA ordination, species of two subgenera were separated from each other. Results of this study confirmed the taxonomic importance of anatomical characters in Solanum species studied.

Characterization of Solanum spp for Grafting and its Interpretation on Morphological, Production and Nutritional Quality of Fruit Under Polyhouse

Seven wild Solanum species (viz., S. torvum, S. macrocapon, S. incanum, S. aethiopicum, S. sisymbrifolium, S. viarum, and S. indicum) were grafted onto three brinjal scions (viz., Patakata, PusaShyamla, and Bhangor) for its evaluation based on compatibility ratio and further characterization of successful graft combination for morphological, yield and quality attributing characters. On persual of grafting success percentage, Patakata and PusaShyamla grafted onto S. torvum had high compatibility and success rate. The species S. torvum exhibited better adaptability to the prevailing climate which led to more success indicating their compatibility. Complete failure on grafting was noticed in the species S. aethiopicum, S. indicum, and S. sisymbrifolium. The vegetative parameters were found to be maximum from the grafting combination of Patakata onto S. torvum, wherein PusaShyamla grafted onto S. torvum and S. macrocarpon exhibited high yield attributing characters and crop duration. Given quality parameters, the maximum values were attained from the combination of PusaShyamla and Patakata onto S. torvum.

SOLANUM EMULANS RAF. AND SOLANUM SCABRUM MILL. (SOLANACEAE) IN THE UDMURT REPUBLIC

Information about the finds in the Udmurt Republic of two adventive Solanum species is reported. Of these, Solanum emulans is a new species for the flora of Russia. It is brought to the city of Izhevsk with North American grain. In 1993, three of its locations were discovered: at the Izhevsk railway station and in the wastelands in the courtyards of the Izhevsk bakery plant and the Izhevsk bread-receiving enterprise no. 2. Solanum scabrum is occasionally cultivated by amateur gardeners as an exotic plant. In a wild state, it has been known since 2000. To date, eleven of its locations are known in the cities of Izhevsk, Votkinsk, Mozhga, Sarapul, as well as in Zavyalovsky, Uvinsky, Yakshur-Bodinsky and Yarsky districts. Most of its finds are associated with dumps and municipal waste dumping sites. In the conditions of the Udmurt Republic, Solanum emulans and Solanum scabrum are ephemerophytes. The features that distinguish Solanum emulans and Solanum scabrum from morphologically similar species such as Solanum americanum, Solanum nigrum., Solanum retroflexum are given.

COMPARATIVE ANALGESIC ACTIVITY OF SELECTED SOLANUM SPECIES

Synthetic analgesic drugs have prominent side effects like gastritis, gastric ulcer, kidney disorder and cardiac arrhythmias. The genus Solanum has been primarily used for various therapeutic effects, mainly analgesics, in the indigenous system of medicine. The current research aimed to investigate and compare the analgesic activities of methanolic extracts of leaves of Solanum indicum, Solanum surattense and Solanum torvum. Using acetic acid induced writhing method and hot plate method, the analgesic activity was evaluated. Significant anti-nociceptive effects were observed on both animal models after the application of different doses of the extracts of Solanum species. The results exhibited that MESI, MESS and MEST at a dose of 200 and 400 mg/kg produced analgesic effects equivalent to diclofenac (10 mg/kg). However the extracts at 400 mg/ kg exhibited more pronounced analgesic activity. The results of this study demonstrated that the analgesic effects of all the three species were significant to each other and validate the traditional use of the plants of this Genus for the treatment of pain.

Reproductive Proteins Evolve Faster Than Non-reproductive Proteins Among Solanum Species

Elevated rates of evolution in reproductive proteins are commonly observed in animal species, and are thought to be driven by the action of sexual selection and sexual conflict acting specifically on reproductive traits. Whether similar patterns are broadly observed in other biological groups is equivocal. Here, we examine patterns of protein divergence among wild tomato species (Solanum section Lycopersicon), to understand forces shaping the evolution of reproductive genes in this diverse, rapidly evolving plant clade. By comparing rates of molecular evolution among loci expressed in reproductive and non-reproductive tissues, our aims were to test if: (a) reproductive-specific loci evolve more rapidly, on average, than non-reproductive loci; (b) ‘male’-specific loci evolve at different rates than ‘female’-specific loci; (c) genes expressed exclusively in gametophytic (haploid) tissue evolve differently from genes expressed in sporophytic (diploid) tissue or in both tissue types; and (d) mating system variation (a potential proxy for the expected strength of sexual selection and/or sexual conflict) affects patterns of protein evolution. We observed elevated evolutionary rates in reproductive proteins. However, this pattern was most evident for female- rather than male-specific loci, both broadly and for individual loci inferred to be positively selected. These elevated rates might be facilitated by greater tissue-specificity of reproductive proteins, as faster rates were also associated with more narrow expression domains. In contrast, we found little evidence that evolutionary rates are consistently different in loci experiencing haploid selection (gametophytic-exclusive loci), or in lineages with quantitatively different mating systems. Overall while reproductive protein evolution is generally elevated in this diverse plant group, some specific patterns of evolution are more complex than those reported in other (largely animal) systems, and include a more prominent role for female-specific loci among adaptively evolving genes.