Effects of light on growth, levels of anthocyanin, concentration of metabolites inFagopyrum tataricumsprout cultures

Study on morphological traits, nutrient compositions and comparative metabolomics of diploid and tetraploid Tartary buckwheat sprouts during sprouting

Tartary buckwheat (TB) sprout is a kind of novel nutritional vegetable, but its consumption was limited by low biomass and thin hypocotyl. The tetraploid TB sprouts was considered to be able to solve this issue. However, the nutritional quality of tetraploid TB sprouts and differences between conventional (diploid) and tetraploid TB sprouts remain unclear. In this study, the morphological traits, nutrient compositions and metabolome changes of diploid and tetraploid TB sprouts were analyzed. The water, pigments and minerals contents of TB sprouts increased during sprouting, while the contents of total soluble protein, reducing sugar, cellulose, and total phenol decreased. Compared with diploid sprouts, tetraploid sprouts had higher biomass and thicker hypocotyl. Tetraploid sprouts had higher ash and carotenoid contents, but had lower phenol and flavonoid accumulation. 677 metabolites were identified in TB sprouts by UPLC-MS analysis, including 62 diseases-resistance metabolites and 43 key active ingredients. Some key bioactive metabolites, such as rimonabant, quinapril, 1-deoxynojirimycin and miglitol, were identified. 562 differential expressed metabolites (DEMs) were identified during sprouting with seven accumulation patterns, and five hormones were found to be involved in sprout development. Additionally, 209 DEMs between diploid and tetraploid sprouts were found, and some key bioactive metabolites were induced by chromosome doubling such as mesoridazine, amaralin, atractyloside A, rhamnetin and Qing Hau Sau. This work lays a basis for the development and utilization of TB sprouts and provides evidence for the selection of tetraploid varieties to produce sprouts with high biomass and quality.

Environmental Factors Regulate Plant Secondary Metabolites

Abiotic environmental stresses can alter plant metabolism, leading to inhibition or promotion of secondary metabolites. Although the crucial roles of these compounds in plant acclimation and defense are well known, their response to climate change is poorly understood. As the effects of climate change have been increasing, their regulatory aspects on plant secondary metabolism becomes increasingly important. Effects of individual climate change components, including high temperature, elevated carbon dioxide, drought stress, enhanced ultraviolet-B radiation, and their interactions on secondary metabolites, such as phenolics, terpenes, and alkaloids, continue to be studied as evidence mounting. It is important to understand those aspects of secondary metabolites that shape the success of certain plants in the future. This review aims to present and synthesize recent advances in the effects of climate change on secondary metabolism, delving from the molecular aspects to the organismal effects of an increased or decreased concentration of these compounds. A thorough analysis of the current knowledge about the effects of climate change components on plant secondary metabolites should provide us with the required information regarding plant performance under climate change conditions. Further studies should provide more insight into the understanding of multiple environmental factors effects on plant secondary metabolites.

Chickpea and Lupin Sprouts, Stimulated by Different LED Lights, As Novel Examples of Isoflavones-Rich Functional Food, and Their Impact on Breast and Prostate Cells

Among all legumes sprouts' active compounds, isoflavones seem to be the most important; nevertheless, their high content is not always associated with beneficial effects. These compounds may prevent or stimulate hormone-dependent cancers due to their estrogen-like activity. Different LED light quality can change the synthesis of active compounds and significantly influence the biological activity of the sprouts. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of LED light (red, blue, green, yellow), as well as total darkness, and natural light conditions (as reference), on isoflavones content, determined by HPLC-UV-VIS, during 10 days of harvesting of chickpea and lupin sprouts. Due to the ambiguous estrogenic potential of isoflavones, the impact of these sprouts on normal and cancer prostate and breast cells was evaluated. Yellow LED light resulted in the highest sum of isoflavones in chickpea sprouts (up to 1 g/100 g dw), while for green LED light, the isoflavones sum was the lowest. The exact opposite effect was noted for lupin sprouts, with the predominance of green over the yellow LED light. The examined sprouts were of high safety to non-neoplastic breast and prostate cells, with interesting cytotoxic effects on breast MCF7 and prostate DU145 cancer cells. No clear relationship was observed between the activity and isoflavones content.

Tartary buckwheat FtF3'H1 as a metabolic branch switch to increase anthocyanin content in transgenic plant

Tartary buckwheat (TB) is a pseudocereal rich in flavonoids, mainly including flavonols and anthocyanins. The flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase (F3'H) is a key enzyme in flavonoid biosynthesis and is encoded by two copies in TB genome. However, its biological function and effects on flavonol and anthocyanin synthesis in TB have not been well validated yet. In this study, we cloned the full-length FtF3'H1 gene highly expressed in all tissues (compared with FtF3'H2) according to TB flowering transcriptome data. The corresponding FtF3'H1 protein contains 534 amino acids with the molecular properties of the typical plant F3'H and belongs to the CYP75B family. During the flowering stage, the FtF3'H1 expression was highest in flowers, and its expression pattern showed a significant and positive correlation with the total flavonoids (R ² > 0.95). The overexpression of FtF3'H1 in Arabidopsis thaliana, Nicotiana tabacum and TB hairy roots resulted in a significant increase in anthocyanin contents (p < 0.05) but a decrease in rutin (p < 0.05). The average anthocyanin contents were 2.94 mg/g (fresh weight, FW) in A. thaliana (about 135% increase), 1.18 mg/g (FW) in tobacco (about 17% increase), and 1.56 mg/g (FW) TB hairy roots (about 44% increase), and the rutin contents were dropped to about 53.85, 14.99, 46.31%, respectively. However, the expression of genes involved in anthocyanin (DFRs and ANSs) and flavonol (FLSs) synthesis pathways were significantly upregulated (p < 0.05). In particular, the expression level of DFR, a key enzyme that enters the anthocyanin branch, was upregulated thousand-fold in A. thaliana and in N. tabacum. These results might be attributed to FtF3'H1 protein with a higher substrate preference for anthocyanin synthesis substrates. Altogether, we identified the basic biochemical activity of FtF3'H1 in vivo and investigated its involvement in anthocyanin and flavonol metabolism in plant.

Narrow-Band Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs) Effects on Sunflower (Helianthus annuus) Sprouts with Remote Monitoring and Recording by Internet of Things Device

Previous studies have demonstrated that light quality critically affects plant development and growth; however, the response depends upon the plant species. This research aims to examine the effects of different light wavelengths on sunflower (Helianthus annuus) sprouts that were stimulated during the night. Natural light and narrow-band light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were used for an analysis of sunflower sprouts grown under full light and specific light wavelengths. Sunflower seeds were germinated under different light spectra including red, blue, white, and natural light. Luminosity, temperature, and humidity sensors were installed in the plant nursery and remotely monitored and recorded by an Internet of Things (IoT) device. The experiment examined seed germination for seven days. The results showed that the red light had the most influence on sunflower seed germination, while the natural light had the most influence on the increase in the root and hypocotyl lengths.

Bioactive Composition and Nutritional Profile of Microgreens Cultivated in Thailand

Microgreens are young and tender leafy vegetables that have gained wider consumer acceptance. This is attributed to their low caloric composition and rich micronutrient and antioxidant composition. The present study investigated the bioactive composition and proximate analysis of fourteen microgreens belonging to Brassicaceae, Fabaceae, Pedaliaceae, Polygonaceae, Convolvulaceae, and Malvaceae. All the microgreens showed low calories (20.22 to 53.43 kcal 100 g−1) and fat (0.15 to 0.66 g 100 g−1), whilst mung bean and lentil microgreens showed considerable amounts of carbohydrate (7.16 g 100 g−1) and protein (6.47 g 100 g−1), respectively. Lentil microgreens had the highest total chlorophyll (112.62 mg 100 g−1) and carotenoid (28.37 mg 100 g−1) contents, whilst buckwheat microgreens showed the highest total phenolic content (268.99 mg GAE 100 g−1) and DPPH• scavenging activity (90.83 mM TEAC g−1). The lentil microgreens also presented high ascorbic acid content (128.70 mg 100 g−1) along with broccoli, Chinese kale, purple radish, and red cabbage microgreens (79.11, 81.33, 82.58, and 89.49 mg 100 g−1, respectively). Anthocyanin content was only detected in purple radish (0.148 mg CGE 100 g−1) and red cabbage (0.246 mg CGE 100 g−1). The results provide basic information and highlight the benefits of utilizing genetic biodiversity to obtain microgreens with the desired nutrients and antioxidants.

Individual and interactive effects of temperature and light intensity on canola growth, physiological characteristics and methane emissions

Earlier studies have shown that plants produce methane (CH₄) under aerobic conditions, and that this emission is not microbial in nature. However, the precursors of aerobic CH₄ remain under debate, and the combined effects of environmental factors on plant-derived CH₄ requires further attention. The objective of this study was to determine the interactive effects of temperature and light intensity on CH₄ and other relevant plant parameters in canola (Brassica napus L.). Plants were grown under two temperature regimes (22/18 °C and 28/24 °C, 16 h light/8 h dark) and two light intensities (300 and 600 μmol photons m^-2 s^-1) for 21 days after one week of growth under 22/18 °C (16 h light/8 h dark). In this study, higher temperature had little effects on CH₄ emissions from plants, indicating the mitigating effects of higher light intensity. Higher light intensity, however, significantly decreased CH₄, which was inversely related to plant dry mass. Higher light intensity decreased stem height, leaf area ratio, chlorophyll, nitrogen balance index, leaf moisture, methionine (Met) and ethylene (C₂H₄), but increased specific leaf mass, photochemical quenching, flavonoids, epicuticular wax, lysine and tyrosine. The results revealed that increased CH₄ emissions from plants could be related to changes in plant physiological activities, which portrayed themselves in increased C₂H₄ evolution, and methylated amino acids, such as Met. We conclude that higher light intensity reduces Met and, in turn, CH₄ and C₂H₄ emissions, but lower light intensity enhances CH₄ formation through cleavage of methyl group of amino acids by reactive oxygen species, as previously suggested.

Microorganisms and Biostimulants Impact on the Antioxidant Activity of Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) Sprouts

The study analyzes the influence of plant growth promoters and biological control agents on the chemical composition and antioxidant activity (AA) in the sprouts of buckwheat. The AA of cv. Kora sprouts was higher than cv. Panda, with 110.0 µM Fe²⁺/g (FRAP-Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), 52.94 µM TRX (Trolox)/g (DPPH-1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), 182.7 µM AAE (Ascorbic Acid Equivalent)/g (Photochemiluminescence-PCL-ACW-Water-Soluble Antioxidant Capacity) and 1.250 µM TRX/g (PCL-ACL-Lipid-Soluble Antioxidant Capacity). The highest AA was found in the sprouts grown from seeds soaked in Ecklonia maxima extract and Pythium oligandrum (121.31 µM Fe²⁺/g (FRAP), 56.33 µM TRX/g (DPPH), 195.6 µM AAE/g (PCL-ACW) and 1.568 µM TRX/g (PCL-ACL). These values show that the antioxidant potential of buckwheat sprouts is essentially due to the predominant hydrophilic fraction of antioxidants. The AA of the sprouts was strongly correlated with total polyphenol content.

Microorganisms and Biostimulants Impact on the Antioxidant Activity of Buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) Sprouts

The study analyzes the influence of plant growth promoters and biological control agents on the chemical composition and antioxidant activity (AA) in the sprouts of buckwheat. The AA of cv. Kora sprouts was higher than cv. Panda, with 110.0 µM Fe2+/g (FRAP-Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power), 52.94 µM TRX (Trolox)/g (DPPH-1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl), 182.7 µM AAE (Ascorbic Acid Equivalent)/g (Photochemiluminescence-PCL-ACW-Water-Soluble Antioxidant Capacity) and 1.250 µM TRX/g (PCL-ACL-Lipid-Soluble Antioxidant Capacity). The highest AA was found in the sprouts grown from seeds soaked in Ecklonia maxima extract and Pythium oligandrum (121.31 µM Fe2+/g (FRAP), 56.33 µM TRX/g (DPPH), 195.6 µM AAE/g (PCL-ACW) and 1.568 µM TRX/g (PCL-ACL). These values show that the antioxidant potential of buckwheat sprouts is essentially due to the predominant hydrophilic fraction of antioxidants. The AA of the sprouts was strongly correlated with total polyphenol content.