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Annexins (ANN) are a multigene, evolutionarily conserved family of calcium-dependent and phospholipid-binding proteins that play important roles in plant development and stress resistance. However, a systematic comprehensive analysis of ANN genes of Brassicaceae species ( Brassica rapa , Brassica oleracea , and Brassica napus ) has not yet been reported. In this study, we identified 13, 12, and 26 ANN genes in B. rapa , B. oleracea , and B. napus , respectively. About half of these genes were clustered on various chromosomes. Molecular evolutionary analysis showed that the ANN genes were highly conserved in Brassicaceae species. Transcriptome analysis showed that different group ANN members exhibited varied expression patterns in different tissues and under different (abiotic stress and hormones) treatments. Meanwhile, same group members from Arabidopsis thaliana , B. rapa , B. oleracea , and B. napus demonstrated conserved expression patterns in different tissues. The weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) showed that BnaANN genes were induced by methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment and played important roles in jasmonate (JA) signaling and multiple stress response in B. napus .

The 2-oxoglutarate and Fe(II)-dependent dioxygenase (2OGD) superfamily is the second largest enzyme family in the plant genome, and its members are involved in various oxygenation and hydroxylation reactions. Due to their important biochemical significance in metabolism, a systematic analysis of the plant 2OGD genes family is necessary. Here, we identified 160, 179, and 337 putative 2OGDs from Brassica rapa, Brassica oleracea, and Brassica napus. According to their gene structure, domain, phylogenetic features, function, and previous studies, we also divided 676 2OGDs into three subfamilies: DOXA, DOXB, and DOXC. Additionally, homologous and phylogenetic comparisons of three subfamily genes provided valuable insight into the evolutionary characteristics of the 2OGD genes from Brassica plants. Expression profiles derived from the transcriptome and Genevestigator database exhibited distinct expression patterns of the At2OGD, Br2OGD, and Bo2OGD genes in different developmental stages, tissues, or anatomical parts. Some 2OGD genes showed high expression levels in various tissues, such as callus, seed, silique, and root tissues, while other 2OGD genes were expressed at very low levels in other tissues. Analysis of six Bo2OGD genes in different tissues by qRT-PCR indicated that these genes are involved in the metabolism of gibberellin, which in turn regulates plant growth and development. Our working system analysed 2OGD gene families of three Brassica plants and laid the foundation for further study of their functional characterization.

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) mediate important epigenetic regulation in various biological processes related to the stress response in plants. However, the systematic analysis of the lncRNAs expressed in Brassica rapa under heat stress has been elusive. In this study, we performed a genome-wide analysis of the lncRNA expression profiles in non-heading Chinese cabbage leaves using strand-specific RNA-sequencing. A total of 4594 putative lncRNAs were identified with a comprehensive landscape of dynamic lncRNA expression networks under heat stress. Co-expression networks of the interactions among the differentially expressed lncRNAs, mRNAs and microRNAs revealed that several phytohormones were associated with heat tolerance, including salicylic acid (SA) and brassinosteroid (BR) pathways. Of particular importance is the discovery of 25 lncRNAs that were highly co-expressed with 10 heat responsive genes. Thirty-nine lncRNAs were predicted as endogenous target mimics (eTMs) for 35 miRNAs, and five of them were validated to be involved in the heat tolerance of Chinese cabbage. Heat responsive lncRNA (TCONS_00048391) is an eTM for bra-miR164a, that could be a sponge for miRNA binding and may be a competing endogenous RNA (ceRNA) for the target gene NAC1 (Bra030820), affecting the expression of bra-miR164a in Chinese cabbage. Thus, these findings provide new insights into the functions of lncRNAs in heat tolerance and highlight a set of candidate lncRNAs for further studies in non-heading Chinese cabbage.

The use of plant-based biostimulants is a sustainable strategy to enhance crop growth while mitigating the environmental impact of synthetic agrochemicals. Broccoli by-products, rich in bioactive compounds, have emerged as a promising resource, though their composition is influenced by plant growing conditions. This study investigates the biostimulant potential of broccoli-derived extracts obtained from leaves, stems, and petioles of plants cultivated in three different seasons (autumn, winter, and spring) and their effect on the germination and early growth of pak choi ( Brassica rapa subs. chinensis L.) seeds. A comprehensive biochemical characterization, including mineral content, glucosinolates, and phenolic compounds, was conducted to explore how seasonal and tissue-specific variations impact their composition and biostimulant efficacy. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) revealed distinct metabolic profiles across seasons and plant tissues, with leaf-derived extracts showing higher correlations with phenolic acids and trace minerals, whereas petiole and stem extracts were associated with macronutrients. Germination assays demonstrated that extracts from autumn and winter exhibited the highest biostimulant activity, likely due to their enriched secondary metabolite profiles and well-balanced mineral composition. In contrast, spring extracts, despite their higher macronutrient content, showed limited biostimulant effects, possibly due to physiological constraints in broccoli plants during spring, when they experience reduced bioactive potential. PCA and correlation analysis identified metabolites, particularly sinapic acid and glucobrassicin, as key contributors to enhanced seedling development. Furthermore, a positive relationship between sulfur content and glucosinolate levels suggests that sulfur concentration could serve as a useful quality marker for assessing the bioactivity of broccoli-based biostimulants. This study underscores the potential of broccoli-derived extracts as sustainable biostimulants for improving germination and seedling development in pak choi. The findings highlight the influence of seasons on the bioactive composition of extracts, with low temperatures and high relative humidity favoring the accumulation of secondary metabolites and an optimal nutrient balance in plants.

Organic liquid fertilizers from livestock manure are increasingly recognized as sustainable amendments influencing soil bacterial communities. Yet, their direct impacts on bacterial composition and crop functionality remain unclear. Addressing this gap, we developed a bio-liquid fertilizer (LBF) by culturing Chlorella fusca in a purified pig manure-based medium. We compared its effects with chemical (CLF) and fermented (FLM) liquid fertilizers on Chinese cabbage ( Brassica rapa subsp. pekinensis ). We aimed to determine how organic bio-liquid fertilizers enhance crop health and soil bacterial balance, contributing to sustainable agricultural practices. Although LBF did not surpass CLF in promoting growth, it significantly increased antioxidant compounds (polyphenols, flavonoids), sugars, and antioxidant activities, including nitrite-scavenging capacity and reducing power. Soil bacterial communities were strongly correlated with key chemical properties (Na, K, NO 3 – -N, Ca, pH). Notably, Litorilinea decreased under CLF, and Sphingomonas and Nocardioides declined under FLM, whereas LBF treatment increased all three genera, suggesting improved bacterial conditions. These findings demonstrate that a well-designed organic bio-liquid fertilizer can bridge knowledge gaps by enhancing plant functionality and promoting beneficial soil bacteria. This approach supports more efficient nutrient recycling and may foster greater resilience and sustainability in modern farming systems.

Purpose Phosphorus amendments have been widely and successfully used in immobilization of one single metal (e.g., Pb) in contaminated soils. However, application of P amendments in the immobilization of multiple metals and particularly investigations about the effects of planting on the stability of the initially P-induced immobilized metals in the contaminated soils are far limited. Methods This study was conducted to determine the effects of phosphate rock tailing (PR), triple superphosphate fertilizer (TSP), and their combination (P+T) on mobility of Pb, Cu, and Zn in a multimetal-contaminated soil. Chinese cabbage ( Brassica rapa subsp. chinensis ) (metal-sensitive) and Chinese kale ( Brassica alboglabra Bailey) (metal-resistant) were introduced to examine the effects of planting on leaching of Pb, Cu, and Zn in the P-amended soils. Results All three P treatments greatly reduced CaCl 2 -extractable Pb and Zn by 55.2–73.1% and 14.3–33.6%, respectively. The PR treatment decreased CaCl 2 -extractable Cu by 27.8%, while the TSP and P+T treatments increased it by 47.2% and 44.4%, respectively. All three P treatments were effective in reducing simulated rainwater leachable Pb, with dissolved and total leachable Pb decrease by 15.6–81.9% and 16.3–64.5%, respectively. The PR treatment reduced the total leachable Zn by 16.8%, while TSP and P+T treatments increased Zn leaching by 92.7% and 78.9%, respectively. However, total Cu leaching were elevated by 17.8–178% in all P treatments. Planting promoted the leaching of Pb and Cu by 98.7–127% and 23.5–170%, respectively, especially in the colloid fraction, whereas the leachable Zn was reduced by 95.3–96.5% due to planting. The P treatments reduced the uptake of Pb, Cu, and Zn in the aboveground parts of Chinese cabbage by up to 65.1%, 34.3%, and 9.59%, respectively. Though P treatments were effective in reducing Zn concentrations in the aboveground parts of the metal-resistant Chinese kale by 22.4–28.9%, they had little effect on Pb and Cu uptake. Conclusions The results indicated that all P treatments were effective in immobilizing Pb. The effect on the immobilization of Cu and Zn varied with the different P treatments and evaluation methods. Metal-sensitive plants are more responsive to the P treatments than metal-resistant plants. Planting affects leaching of metals in the P-amended soils, specially leaching of colloid fraction. The conventional assessment on leaching risks of heavy metals by determining dissolved metals (filtered through 0.45-μm pore size membrane) in leachates could be underestimated since colloid fraction may also contribute to the leaching.

The photosynthetic mechanism responsible for the differences in yield between different rapeseed varieties remains unclear, and there have been no consensus and definite conclusions about the relationship between photosynthesis and yield. Representation of the whole plant by measuring the photosynthetic performance at a single site may lead to biased results. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the main photosynthetic organs of four high-yielding rapeseed varieties at the seedling, bud, flowering, and podding stages. The canopy photosynthetic parameters were derived by measuring the photosynthetic area, net photosynthetic rate, and chlorophyll content, and canopy photosynthetic capacity was used to evaluate the light utilization efficiency of different rapeseed varieties to establish the relationship between canopy photosynthetic traits and yield. The results showed that there were significant differences in photosynthetic traits among different parts of rapeseed plants. The photosynthetic trait parameters of the whole plant differed significantly when represented by leaves at different positions among different varieties, and different rapeseed varieties exhibited significantly different sensitivity to light intensity. The whole-plant study showed that the canopy photosynthetic capacity was the highest and second highest at the seedling and bud stage, respectively, both of which were closely and positively correlated with rapeseed yield, and ZY501 had higher canopy photosynthetic capacity than other varieties at these two stages due to its larger canopy photosynthetic area. Canopy chlorophyll content was also positively correlated with canopy photosynthetic capacity. These results indicated that investigation of photosynthetic characteristics at single sites in rapeseed might lead to biased results of photosynthetic capacity in different varieties, and provided a new evaluation index for studying the light utilization efficiency of rapeseed. Our results also clarified that canopy photosynthetic area has significantly greater contribution to canopy photosynthetic capacity than canopy photosynthetic efficiency, and provided a theoretical basis for investigating the photosynthesis mechanism underlying high crop yield.

Rapeseed is an important oil crop in the world. Wood vinegar could increase the yield and abiotic resistance of rapeseed. However, little is known about the underlying mechanisms of wood vinegar or its valid chemical components on rapeseed. In the present study, wood vinegar and butyrolactone (γ-Butyrolactone, one of the main components of wood vinegar) were applied to rapeseed at the seedling stage, and the molecular mechanisms of wood vinegar that affect rapeseed were studied by combining transcriptome and metabolomic analyses. The results show that applying wood vinegar and butyrolactone increases the biomass of rapeseed by increasing the leaf area and the number of pods per plant, and enhances the tolerance of rapeseed under low temperature by reducing membrane lipid oxidation and improving the content of chlorophyll, proline, soluble sugar, and antioxidant enzymes. Compared to the control, 681 and 700 differentially expressed genes were in the transcriptional group treated with wood vinegar and butyrolactone, respectively, and 76 and 90 differentially expressed metabolites were in the metabolic group. The combination of transcriptome and metabolomic analyses revealed the key gene-metabolic networks related to various pathways. Our research shows that after wood vinegar and butyrolactone treatment, the amino acid biosynthesis pathway of rapeseed may be involved in mediating the increase in rapeseed biomass, the proline metabolism pathway of wood vinegar treatment may be involved in mediating rapeseed’s resistance to low-temperature stress, and the sphingolipid metabolism pathway of butyrolactone treatment may be involved in mediating rapeseed’s resistance to low-temperature stress. It is suggested that the use of wood vinegar or butyrolactone are new approaches to increasing rapeseed yield and low-temperature resistance.

Recently nano-materials are widely used but they have shown contrasting effects on human and plant life. Keeping in view the contrasting results, the present study has evaluated plant growth response, antioxidant system activity and photosynthetic apparatus physiological and ultrastructural changes in Brassica napus L. plants grown under a wide range (0, 500, 2500, 4000 mg/l) of nano-TiO2 in a pot experiment. Nano-TiO2 has significantly improved the morphological and physiological indices of oilseed rape plants under our experimental conditions. All the parameters i-e morphological (root length, plant height, fresh biomass), physiological (photosynthetic gas exchange, chlorophyll content, nitrate reductase activity) and antioxidant system (Superoxide dismutase, SOD; Guaiacol peroxidase, POD; Catalase, CAT) recorded have shown improvement in their performance by following nano-TiO2 dose-dependent manner. No significant chloroplast ultra-structural changes were observed. Transmission electron microscopic images have shown that intact & typical grana and stroma thylakoid membranes were in the chloroplast, which suggest that nano-TiO2 has not induced the stressful environment within chloroplast. Finally, it is suggested that, nano-TiO2 have growth promoting effect on oilseed rape plants.

In oilseed crops, e.g. oilseed rape (OSR; Brassica napus ), a key developmental process is seed maturation, during which the embryo transitions from the early, globular state to the mature state. Seed development involves cell division, differentiation, and oil accumulation in specific tissue types (embryo, endosperm, and seed coat). These developmental processes impact seed quality and oil yield. High quality RNA from Brassica spp. seed tissues, from heart to mature developmental stages, was obtained using previously reported methods for five Brassica genotypes comprising winter, semi-winter and spring OSR varieties, a B. napus heritage kale and a rapid-cycling double-haploid Brassica oleracea line. RNA-seq was performed on 240 sets of samples. The resulting dataset contains detailed spatio-temporal expression profiles during seed development. In addition to the repository data, we provide easy access to this through the Seed Oilseed Rape Developmental Expression Resource (SeedORDER), which enables users to search for genes of interest and visualise expression patterns. Knowledge of where and when genes are expressed during seed development will inform future breeding efforts.