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Selenium (Se) can promote the growth and resistance of agricultural crops as fertilizers, while the role of nano-selenium (nano-Se) against Cd remains unclear in pepper plants ( Capsicum annuum L.). Biofortification with nano-Se observably restored Cd stress by decreasing the level of Cd in plant tissues and boosting the accumulation in biomass. The Se compounds transformed by nano-Se were primarily in the form of SeMet and MeSeCys in pepper tissues. Differential metabolites and the genes of plant signal transduction and lignin biosynthesis were measured by employing transcriptomics and determining target metabolites. The number of lignin-related genes ( PAL , CAD , 4CL , and COMT ) and contents of metabolites (sinapyl alcohol, phenylalanine, p -coumaryl alcohol, caffeyl alcohol, and coniferaldehyde) were remarkably enhanced by treatment with Cd1Se0.2, thus, maintaining the integrity of cell walls in the roots. It also enhanced signal transduction by plant hormones and responsive resistance by inducing the biosynthesis of genes ( BZR1 , LOX3 , and NCDE1 ) and metabolites (brassinolide, abscisic acid, and jasmonic acid) in the roots and leaves. In general, this study can enable a better understanding of the protective mechanism of nano-Se in improving the capacity of plants to resist environmental stress.

The novelty of the present study is studying the ability of aqueous Ziziphus spina-christi leaves’ extract (ZSCE) to produce eco-friendly and cost-effective silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) against Fusarium wilt disease. Phytochemical screening of ZSCE by HPLC showed that they contain important antimicrobial substances such as Rutin, Naringin, Myricetin, Quercetin, Kaempferol, Hesperidin, Syringeic, Eugenol, Pyrogallol, Gallic and Ferulic. Characterization methods reveal a stable Ag NPs with a crystalline structure, spherical in shape with average particle size about 11.25 nm. ZSCE and Ag NPs showed antifungal potential against F. oxysporum at different concentrations with MIC of Ag NPs as 0.125 mM. Ag NPs treatment was the most effective, as it gave the least disease severity (20.8%) and the highest protection rate (75%). The application of ZSCE or Ag NPs showed a clear recovery, and its effectiveness was not limited for improving growth and metabolic characteristics only, but also inducing substances responsible for defense against pathogens and activating plant immunity (such as increasing phenols and strong expression of peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase as well as isozymes). Owing to beneficial properties such as antifungal activity, and the eco-friendly approach of cost and safety, they can be applied in agricultural field as novel therapeutic nutrients.

Selenium (Se) maintains soil-plant homeostasis in the rhizosphere and regulates signaling molecules to mitigate cadmium (Cd) toxicity. However, there has been no systematic investigation of the effects of nano-selenium (nano-Se) on the regulation of non-target metabolites and nutritional components in pepper plants under Cd stress. This study investigated the effects of Cd-contaminated soil stress and nano-Se (1, 5, and 20 mg/L) on the metabolic mechanism, fruit nutritional quality, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) composition of pepper plants. The screening of differential metabolites in roots and fruit showed that most were involved in amino acid metabolism and capsaicin production. Amino acids in roots (Pro, Trp, Arg, and Gln) and fruits (Phe, Glu, Pro, Arg, Trp, and Gln) were dramatically elevated by nano-Se biofortification. The expression of genes of the phenylpropane-branched fatty acid pathway ( BCAT , Fat , AT3 , HCT , and Kas ) was induced by nano-Se (5 mg/L), increasing the levels of capsaicin (29.6%), nordihydrocapsaicin (44.2%), and dihydrocapsaicin (45.3%). VOCs (amyl alcohol, linalool oxide, E-2-heptaldehyde, 2-hexenal, ethyl crotonate, and 2-butanone) related to crop resistance and quality were markedly increased in correspondence with the nano-Se concentration. Therefore, nano-Se can improve the health of pepper plants by regulating the capsaicin metabolic pathway and modulating both amino acid and VOC contents. Graphical Abstract

Plant-parasitic nematodes (PPNs) pose a significant problem for farmers worldwide, leading to yield losses. Several conventional strategies, such as artificial nematocides, have been used in the past to control PPNs in pepper plants. In an in vivo trial aimed at reducing root-knot nematodes, (RKNs) Meloidogyne incognita communities in soil and root infestation, certain plant seed cake (PSC) was evaluated for its potential use. In this study, four PSCs were used to manage PPNs: black seed, jojoba, olive, and jatropha. These PSCs relatively inhibited nematode reproduction and promoted pepper plant health. Notably, black seed and jojoba were the most effective toxic PSC against RKNs, M. incognita , especially targeting the second-stage J2s in soil. For example, treatment with black seed at both 15 and 30 g rates, as well as jojoba at 15 g rate, was consistently effective in reducing the final nematode population. Growth parameters, including shoot and root weight and length, as well as the number of leaves, were measured. The results showed that black seed at 30 g and jojoba at 15 g significantly increased shoot weight, followed by black seed at 15 g, with corresponding values of 75.89 g, 47.86 g, and 45.9 g, respectively. According to GC-MS analysis, the mode of action of these PSC may involve natural active compounds capable of killing or inhibiting nematode communities. The GC-MS analysis of jatropha seeds cake showed remarkable bioactive compounds, including D-Psicofuranose, pentakis (trimethylsilyl) ether (isomer 2); 9,12-Octadecadienoic acid; 2-((2-Methyl-1-oxa-4-azaspiro [4.4]non-4yl) carbonyl) cyclopropane carboxylic acid and 1 H-Indene, 2,3-dihydro-4-propyl. These compounds have antimicrobial, insecticidal, anti-nematodal, and antiviral activities confirming their potential as natural biopesticides.

The present study was focused on the pathosystem pepper plants (Capsicum annuum L.)-phytopathogenic bacterium X. euvesicatoria (wild strain 269p)-bacteriophage BsXeu269p/3 and the possibility of bacteriophage-mediated biocontrol of the disease. Two new model systems were designed for the monitoring of the effect of the phage treatment on the infectious process in vivo. The spread of the bacteriophage and the pathogen was monitored by qPCR. A new pair of primers for phage detection via qPCR was designed, as well as probes for TaqMan qPCR. The epiphytic bacterial population and the potential bacteriolytic effect of BsXeu269p/3 in vivo was observed by SEM. An aerosol-mediated transmission model system demonstrated that treatment with BsXeu269p/3 reduced the amount of X. euvesicatoria on the leaf surface five-fold. The needle-pricking model system showed a significant reduction of the amount of the pathogen in infectious lesions treated with BsXeu269p/3 (av. 59.7%), compared to the untreated control. We found that the phage titer is 10-fold higher in the infection lesions but it was still discoverable even in the absence of the specific host in the leaves. This is the first report of in vivo assessment of the biocontrol potential of locally isolated phages against BS pathogen X. euvesicatoria in Bulgaria.

The pots experiment was carried out for the 2023 spring season in the wooden canopy of the Centre of Desert Studies at the University of Anbar, in soil with an alluvial mixture texture. To study the effect of adding baking yeast to the soil and spraying it on the vegetative total of the plant, at three concentrations (0, 2, and 4 gm L -1 ) on the vegetative growth characteristics of the hot pepper plant Capsicum annuum L. A factorial experiment was carried out with a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), and three replications, the first factor being the concentrations of the ground yeast addition and the second factor being the concentrations of the yeast spraying. The results were summarized as follows: (1) The ground addition of yeast had a significant effect on all vegetative growth characteristics, the Y1 level gave the highest average number of internodes (15.33 internodes plant -1 ), and stem diameter (0.577 cm plant -1 ), while the Y2 concentration gave the highest average plant height (59.1 cm), the chlorophyll percentage in the leaves (53.24 spads), the branches number (20.6 branches plant -1 ) and the average dry weight of the plant (47.8 gm plant -1 ). (2) Foliar feeding with yeast led to a significant increase in the average of most of the studied characteristics, the S1 level achieved the highest average for these characteristics, including plant height (62.8 cm plant -1 ), the chlorophyll percentage in the leaves (53.51 spades), the internodes number (15.22 internodes plant -1 ) and stem diameter (0.577 cm plant -1 ), while concentration S2 gave the highest average number of branches (21.2 branches plant -1 ) and dry weight of the plant (48.6 g plant -1 ). (3) The interaction between the levels of ground addition of yeast and spraying on the vegetative total of the plant had a significant effect on all the characteristics studied, as the addition at the Y2 level with foliar feeding at the S1 level gave the highest average plant height (65.6 cm) and stem diameter (0.633 cm plant -1 ). In contrast, the interaction between the levels gave the Y1 with spraying at the S1 level was superior in terms of leaf chlorophyll index (53.99 spads) and the number of internodes (16.33 internodes) in the interaction record between the two levels. Y1S2 was superior in pod length (6.26 cm pod -1 ) and dry weight of the plant (57.6 gm plant -1 ).

Herbivory affects subsequent herbivores, mainly regulated by the phytohormones jasmonic (JA) and salicylic acid (SA). Additionally, organisms such as soil microbes belowground or parasitoids that develop inside their herbivorous hosts aboveground, can change plant responses to herbivory. However, it is not yet well known how organisms of trophic levels other than herbivores, below- and above-ground, alter the interactions between insect species sharing a host plant. Here, we investigated whether the parasitoid Aphidius colemani and different soil microbial communities (created through plant-soil feedbacks) affect the JA and SA signalling pathways in response to the aphid Myzus persicae and the thrips Frankliniella occidentalis , as well as subsequent thrips performance. Our results show that the expression of the JA-responsive gene Ca PINII in sweet pepper was more suppressed by aphids than by parasitised aphids. However, parasitism did not affect the expression of Ca PAL1 , a biosynthetic gene of SA. Furthermore, aphid feeding enhanced thrips performance compared with uninfested plants, but this was not observed when aphids were parasitised. Soils where different plant species were previously grown, did not affect plant responses or the interaction between herbivores. Our study shows that members of the third trophic level can modify herbivore interactions by altering plant physiology.

Myzus persicae (Sulzer) (Hemiptera: Aphididae) is one of the most important aphid crop pests, due to its direct damage and its ability to transmit viral diseases in crops. The objective is to test whether spraying nanoemulsions of botanical products repels winged individuals of M. persicae in a bioassay in culture chambers. The bioactive volatiles were applied on pepper plants at a dose of 0.2% alone or at 0.1% of each component in blends. A treated plant and a control plant were placed at each side of an entomological cage inside a growth chamber. The winged individuals were released between the plants, in a black-painted Petri dish suspended by wires in the upper half of the cage. The most repellent products were farnesol (repellency index, RI = 40.24%), (E)-anethole (RI = 30.85%) and coconut fatty acid methyl ester (coconut FAME) (RI = 28.93%), alone or in the following blends: farnesol + (E)-anethole + distilled lemon oil (RI = 36.55%) or (E)-anethole + distilled lemon oil + coconut FAME (RI = 30.63%). The observed effect of coconut FAME on aphids is the first report of this product having a repellent effect on a crop pest. Repellent substances for viral disease vectors should be further investigated to develop new strategies for plant protection.

The College of Agriculture - Sumer University conducted a field experiment in 2019 to explore the effects of spraying pepper plants with nano-nitrogen and yeast extract on various vegetative features. Two variables’ effects were investigated in this experiment. Spraying pepper seedlings with three different concentrations of nano nitrogen (0, 2, 4 mlliter -1 ) and three different concentrations of yeast extract were the first two factors (0, 3, 6 g L -1 ). With three repetitions and nine experimental units per duplicate, the experiment was conducted in a fully randomized block design (RCBD). According to the findings, spraying with nano-nitrogen N 2 resulted in a significant increase in the plant height and stem diameter, as well as an increase in leaf area and chlorophyll content in the leaves compared to the control treatment with N 0 . In contrast to spraying with yeast extract, the spraying treatment Y 2 was more effective in terms of plant height and stem diameter, the number of leaves, leaf area, chlorophyll content in the leaves and percentages of N, P and K in the leaves than the control treatment Y 0 .

Bacterial wilt (BW) disease, which is caused by Ralstonia solanacearum, is one globally prevalent plant disease leading to significant losses of crop production and yield with the involvement of a diverse variety of monocot and dicot host plants. In particular, the BW of the soil-borne disease seriously influences solanaceous crops, including peppers (sweet and chili peppers), paprika, tomatoes, potatoes, and eggplants. Recent studies have explored genetic regions that are associated with BW resistance for pepper crops. However, owing to the complexity of BW resistance, the identification of the genomic regions controlling BW resistance is poorly understood and still remains to be unraveled in the pepper cultivars. In this study, we performed the quantitative trait loci (QTL) analysis to identify genomic loci and alleles, which play a critical role in the resistance to BW in pepper plants. The disease symptoms and resistance levels for BW were assessed by inoculation with R. solanacearum. Genotyping-by-sequencing (GBS) was utilized in 94 F2 segregating populations originated from a cross between a resistant line, KC352, and a susceptible line, 14F6002-14. A total of 628,437 single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) was obtained, and a pepper genetic linkage map was constructed with putative 1550 SNP markers via the filtering criteria. The linkage map exhibited 16 linkage groups (LG) with a total linkage distance of 828.449 cM. Notably, QTL analysis with CIM (composite interval mapping) method uncovered pBWR-1 QTL underlying on chromosome 01 and explained 20.13 to 25.16% by R2 (proportion of explained phenotyphic variance by the QTL) values. These results will be valuable for developing SNP markers associated with BW-resistant QTLs as well as for developing elite BW-resistant cultivars in pepper breeding programs.