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Phenolic acids and flavonoids are large groups of secondary metabolites ubiquitous in the plant kingdom. They are currently in the spotlight due to the numerous health benefits associated with their consumption, as well as for their vital roles in plant biological processes and in plant-environment interaction. Tomato, eggplant and pepper are in the top ten most consumed vegetables in the world, and their fruit accumulation profiles have been extensively characterized, showing substantial differences. A broad array of genetic and genomic tools has helped to identify QTLs and candidate genes associated with the fruit biosynthesis of phenolic acids and flavonoids. The aim of this review was to synthesize the available information making it easily available for researchers and breeders. The phenylpropanoid pathway is tightly regulated by structural genes, which are conserved across species, along with a complex network of regulatory elements like transcription factors, especially of MYB family, and cellular transporters. Moreover, phenolic compounds accumulate in tissue-specific and developmental-dependent ways, as different paths of the metabolic pathway are activated/deactivated along with fruit development. We retrieved 104 annotated putative orthologues encoding for key enzymes of the phenylpropanoid pathway in tomato (37), eggplant (29) and pepper (38) and compiled 267 QTLs (217 for tomato, 16 for eggplant and 34 for pepper) linked to fruit phenolic acids, flavonoids and total phenolics content. Combining molecular tools and genetic variability, through both conventional and genetic engineering strategies, is a feasible approach to improve phenolics content in tomato, eggplant and pepper. Finally, although the phenylpropanoid biosynthetic pathway has been well-studied in the Solanaceae, more research is needed on the identification of the candidate genes behind many QTLs, as well as their interactions with other QTLs and genes.

Background Opportunity and challenges of the agriculture scenario of the next decades will face increasing demand for secure food through approaches able to minimize the input to cultivations. Large panels of tomato varieties represent a valuable resource of traits of interest under sustainable cultivation systems and for genome-wide association studies (GWAS). For mapping loci controlling the variation of agronomic, fruit quality, and root architecture traits, we used a heterogeneous set of 244 traditional and improved tomato accessions grown under organic field trials. Here we report comprehensive phenotyping and GWAS using over 37,300 SNPs obtained through double digest restriction-site associated DNA (dd-RADseq). Results A wide range of phenotypic diversity was observed in the studied collection, with highly significant differences encountered for most traits. A variable level of heritability was observed with values up to 69% for morphological traits while, among agronomic ones, fruit weight showed values above 80%. Genotype by environment analysis highlighted the strongest genotypic effect for aboveground traits compared to root architecture, suggesting that the hypogeal part of tomato plants has been a minor objective for breeding activities. GWAS was performed by a compressed mixed linear model leading to 59 significantly associated loci, allowing the identification of novel genes related to flower and fruit characteristics. Most genomic associations fell into the region surrounding SUN, OVATE , and MYB gene families. Six flower and fruit traits were associated with a single member of the SUN family ( SLSUN31 ) on chromosome 11, in a region involved in the increase of fruit weight, locules number, and fruit fasciation. Furthermore, additional candidate genes for soluble solids content, fruit colour and shape were found near previously reported chromosomal regions, indicating the presence of synergic and multiple linked genes underlying the variation of these traits. Conclusions Results of this study give new hints on the genetic basis of traits in underexplored germplasm grown under organic conditions, providing a framework for the development of markers linked to candidate genes of interest to be used in genomics-assisted breeding in tomato, in particular under low-input and organic cultivation conditions.

The ‘de penjar’ tomato ( Solanum lycopersicum L.) is a group of local varieties from the Spanish Mediterranean region carrying the alc mutation, which provides long shelf-life. Their evolution under low-input management practices has led to the selection of resilient genotypes to adverse conditions. Here we present the first evaluation on nutritional fruit composition of a collection of 44 varieties of ‘de penjar’ tomato under two N fertilization levels, provided by doses of manure equivalent to 162 kg N ha –1 in the high N treatment and 49 kg N ha –1 in the low N treatment. Twenty-seven fruit composition and quality traits, as well as plant yield and SPAD value, were evaluated. A large variation was observed, with lycopene being the composition trait with the highest relative range of variation (over 4-fold) under both N treatments, and significant differences among varieties were detected for all traits. While yield and most quality traits were not affected by the reduction in N fertilization, fruits from the low N treatment had, on average, higher values for hue (5.9%) and lower for fructose (−11.5%), glucose (−15.8%), and total sweetness index (−12.9%). In addition, lycopene and β-carotene presented a strongly significant genotype × N input interaction. Local varieties had higher values than commercial varieties for traits related to the ratio of sweetness to acidity and for vitamin C, which reinforces the appreciation for their organoleptic and nutritional quality. Highest-yielding varieties under both conditions displayed wide variation in the composition and quality profiles, which may allow the selection of specific ideotypes with high quality under low N conditions. These results revealed the potential of ‘de penjar’ varieties as a genetic resource in breeding for low N inputs and improving the organoleptic and nutritional tomato fruit quality.

Selection and breeding of eggplant (Solanum melongena) materials with good performance under low nitrogen (N) fertilization inputs is a major breeding objective to reduce environmental degradation, risks for human health, and production costs. Solanum elaeagnifolium, an eggplant wild relative, is a potential source of variation for introgression breeding in eggplant. We evaluated 24 plant, fruit, and composition traits in a set of genotyped advanced backcrosses (BC2 and BC3) of eggplant with S. elaeagnifolium introgressions under low N conditions. Significant differences were found between the two parents for most traits, and a wide phenotypic diversity was observed in the advanced backcrosses, with some individuals with a much higher yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE), and phenolics content than the S. melongena parent. In general, the lower the proportion of S. elaeagnifolium genome introgressed in the advanced backcrosses, the higher was the general phenotypic resemblance to S. melongena. Putative QTLs were detected for stem diameter (pd4), presence of prickles in stem (ps6), leaf (pl6) and fruit calyx (pc6), fruit width (fw7), chlorogenic acid content (cg5), total phenolic acid peaks area (ph6), chlorogenic acid peak area (ca1), and phenolic acids pattern (cp1). Our results reveal that introgression breeding of eggplant with S. elaeagnifolium has a great interest for eggplant breeding, particularly for adaptation to low N conditions. These materials can potentially contribute to the development of improved eggplant varieties for a more sustainable agriculture.

Fucus spp. seaweeds thrive in the cold temperate waters of the northern hemisphere, specifically in the littoral and sublittoral regions along rocky shorelines. Moreover, they are known to be a rich source of bioactive compounds. This study explored the valorization of Fucus spiralis through the extraction of bioactives and polysaccharides (PSs) for food applications and biostimulant use. The bioactives were extracted using microwave hydrodiffusion and gravity (MHG), where the condition of 300 W for 20 min resulted in the highest total phenolic content and antioxidant activity of the extract. Cellular assays confirmed that the extract, at 0.5 mg/mL, was non-cytotoxic to HaCat cells. Polysaccharides (PSs) were extracted from the remaining biomass. The residue from this second extraction contained 1.5% protein and 13.35% carbohydrates. Additionally, the free amino acids and minerals profiles of both solid residues were determined. An edible film was formulated using alginate (2%), PS-rich Fucus spiralis extract (0.5%), and F. spiralis bioactive-rich extract (0.25%). The film demonstrated significant antioxidant properties, with ABTS and DPPH values of 221.460 ± 10.389 and 186.889 ± 36.062 µM TE/mg film, respectively. It also exhibited notable physical characteristics, including high water vapor permeability (11.15 ± 1.55 g.mm.m−2.day−1.kPa−1) and 100% water solubility. The residues from both extractions of Fucus spiralis exhibited biostimulant (BS) effects on seed germination and seedling growth. BSs with PSs enhanced pea germination by 48%, while BSs without PSs increased the root dry weight of rice and tomato by 53% and up to 176%, respectively, as well as the shoot dry weight by up to 38% and up to 74%, respectively. These findings underscore the potential of Fucus spiralis within the framework of a circular economy, wherein both extracted bioactives and post-extraction by-products can be used for sustainable agriculture and food applications.

The wild species Solanum incanum has been used as a donor parent for the development of a set of eggplant introgression lines (ILs), which are of interest for breeding for stress tolerances and relevant morpho-agronomic traits but could also be useful for breeding for fruit quality, due to the generally higher content in health-promoting compounds of S. incanum. The use of eggplant ILs with introgressions from S. incanum requires ensuring that glycoalkaloids levels are below safety limits. We evaluated 25 fruit composition traits, including proximate composition, sugars, acids, phenolics, glycoalkaloids, and minerals in a set of 16 eggplant ILs with S. incanum, both parents and the F1, grown under two environments (open field and screenhouse). The results demonstrated that the parents were significantly different regarding most fruit composition traits. Large variation was found among the 16 ILs for all traits analyzed and a strong influence of the environment accounted for the variation of 17 out of the 25 traits evaluated. Although the S. incanum parent produced fruits with high levels of glycoalkaloids, the 16 ILs showed mean values of total glycoalkaloids below the currently accepted safety limit for human consumption (200 mg kg−1 fresh weight). Overall, the ILs produced fruits that are safe for consumption, with nutritional and functional quality similar to the recipient parent. Furthermore, six putative QTLs were detected spread over chromosomes 3 for crude protein, 5 for malic and total acids, and 7 for chlorogenic acid and solamargine, and potential candidate genes were spotted for most of them, which provide new relevant information for eggplant breeding.

The traditional use of medicinal plants around the world has a long history, predominantly in low- and middle-income countries. Previous ethnobotanical research pertaining to urban environments demonstrated that the legacy of the use of medicinal plant species persists worldwide; however, information about the main city in the occidental part of Mexico is scarce regarding this traditional knowledge and its variation during the last few decades. A database was created from interviews with local people who had inhabited the oldest neighborhoods of Guadalajara for at least 30 years and by using different electronic databases. In addition, the correct taxonomic identification of species was supported via corroboration through local and other digital herbariums. Furthermore, a Principal Coordinate Analysis (PCoA) was performed on the database information to search for relationships among the medicinal plant species used. An inventory of 137 medicinal plants was created, where the plant species most commonly used in the five old neighborhoods of Guadalajara City were muicle (Justicia spicigera Schltdl.), pirul (Schinus molle L.), manzanilla (Matricaria chamomilla L.), valeriana (Valeriana sp.), calabaza (Cucurbita pepo L.), cola de caballo (Equisetum arvense L.), tepezcohuite (Mimosa tenuiflora Poir.), salvia (Salvia officinalis L.), canela (Cinnamomum verum J. Presl.), tila estrella (Tilia americana var. mexicana (Schltdl.) Hardin), cedrón (Aloysia citrodora Paláu), uva (Vitis vinifera L.), jengibre (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) and gobernadora (Larrea tridentata (DC.) Coville). Illnesses of the cardiovascular, digestive, urinary, respiratory, nervous, muscular and reproductive systems, as well as culture-bound syndromes, were mostly treated with these plant species. Moreover, J. spicigera, M. chamomilla and L. tridentata were used for eight medical purposes, followed by Z. officinale with five medicinal practices. In contrast, only two medicinal uses were recorded for C. pepo, M. tenuiflora and S. officinale. The PCoA explained 65.88% of the variation accumulated at the first three ordination axes and formed four groups of species, which were related to their geographical origin. Eight of the fourteen species that are commonly used as medicinal plants are from America, and the rest come from Europe and Asia. This study confirms the persistence of traditional knowledge related to medicinal plants, and the diseases empirically addressed among the inhabitants of Guadalajara City are common in other parts of the world and in different regions of Mexico. These findings are supported by electronic databases that comprise multiple studies related to the phytochemical compounds and medical validation regarding their biological activity, supporting the empirical use and efficacy of these medicinal plants.

La investigación realizada tuvo como objetivo identificar riesgos psicosociales considerados por jueces en decisiones sobre pérdida de la patria potestad. El tipo y diseño de la investigación fue cualitativo. Las fuentes de información eran dos: (1) se preseleccionaron 50 documentos judiciales en las siguientes ciudades de Colombia: Bogotá, Tunja y Duitama y (2) se hizo una entrevista grupal con ocho jueces. Los documentos fueron analizados con un protocolo y para diseñarlo, se determinaron categorías orientadas por los objetivos y sustento teórico. La entrevista consistió en un grupo focal. El audio de la entrevista se transcribió literalmente y se realizó un análisis categorial inductivo. Los hallazgos indican que en la mayor parte de casos, la causal más común corresponde al abandono.

Introduction The association between preeclampsia and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) is under study. Previous publications have hypothesized the existence of shared risk factors for both conditions or a deficient trophoblastic invasion as possible explanations for this association. The primary aim of this study was to examine baseline risk factors measured in the first‐trimester combined screening for preeclampsia in pregnant women with COVID‐19 compared with the general population. A secondary aim of this study was to compare risk factors among patients with mild and severe COVID‐19. Material and Methods This was an observational retrospective study conducted at Vall d'Hebron Hospital Campus (Catalonia, Spain). Study patients were 231 pregnant women undergoing the first‐trimester screening for preeclampsia and positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 between February 2020 and September 2021. The reference cohort were 13 033 women of the general population from six centers across Catalonia from May 2019 to June 2021. Based on the need for hospitalization, patients were classified in two groups: mild and severe COVID‐19. First‐trimester screening for preeclampsia included maternal history, mean arterial blood pressure, mean uterine artery pulsatility index (UtAPI), placental growth factor (PlGF), and pregnancy‐associated plasma protein‐A (PAPP‐A). Results The proportion of cases at high risk for preeclampsia was significantly higher among the COVID‐19 group compared with the general population (19.0% and 13.2%, respectively; p = 0.012). When analyzing risk factors for preeclampsia individually, women with COVID‐19 had higher median body mass index (25.2 vs 24.5, p = 0.041), higher UtAPI multiple of the median (MoM) (1.08 vs 1.00, p < 0.001), higher incidence of chronic hypertension (2.8% vs 0.9%, p = 0.015), and there were fewer smokers (5.7% vs 11.6%, p = 0.007). The MoMs of PlGF and PAPP‐A did not differ significantly between both groups (0.96 vs 0.97, p = 0.760 and 1.00 vs 1.01, p = 0.432; respectively). Conclusions In patients with COVID‐19, there was a higher proportion of women at high risk for preeclampsia at the first‐trimester screening than in the general population, mainly because of maternal risk factors, rather than placental signs of a deficient trophoblastic invasion.