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Main conclusion Formation of specific ultrastructural chromoplastidal elements during ripening of fruits of three different colored Physalis spp. is closely related to their distinct carotenoid profiles. The accumulation of color-determining carotenoids within the chromoplasts of ripening yellow, orange, and red fruit of Physalis pubescens  L., Physalis peruviana  L., and Physalis alkekengi  L., respectively, was monitored by high-performance liquid chromatography/diode array detector/tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC–DAD-MS/MS) as well as light and transmission electron microscopy. Both yellow and orange fruit gradually accumulated mainly β-carotene and lutein esters at variable levels, explaining their different colors at full ripeness. Upon commencing β-carotene biosynthesis, large crystals appeared in their chromoplasts, while large filaments protruding from plastoglobules were characteristic elements of chromoplasts of orange fruit. In contrast to yellow and orange fruit, fully ripe red fruit contained almost no β-carotene, but esters of both β-cryptoxanthin and zeaxanthin at very high levels. Tubule bundles and unusual disc-like crystallites were predominant carotenoid-bearing elements in red fruit. Our study supports the earlier hypothesis that the predominant carotenoid type might shape the ultrastructural carotenoid deposition form, which is considered important for color, stability and bioavailability of the contained carotenoids.

This study examined the interactive effects of supplemental LED (Light-emitting diode) lighting and foliar silicon application on the growth, physiology, and nutrient status of Physalis angulata under different levels of salinity-alkalinity stress in a hydroponic system. Plants were exposed to three stress levels (control, moderate, severe), two silicon concentrations, and four light regimes (natural, blue: red, red, blue). Salinity-alkalinity stress significantly reduced plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, shoot and root biomass, and physiological characteristics, but these negative effects were alleviated by silicon and LED treatments. Both red and blue LED lights benefited plant growth and physiology, with red light being generally more effective than blue for increasing vegetative growth and nutrient uptake, especially under stress. Blue light alone had a moderate effect, enhancing certain growth aspects. The combination of blue and red light (blue:red) consistently outperformed either color alone across most traits. The combined use of blue: red light and silicon further increased plant height, stem diameter, leaf area, and shoot biomass compared to the control. Overall, integrating silicon nutrition with targeted LED lighting improved plant growth and nutrient acquisition, enhancing the tolerance of Physalis angulata to salinity-alkalinity stress and offering a promising strategy for crop resilience in challenging environments.

The Rhizobium rhizogene -transformed root culture from Physalis peruviana L. ( P. peruviana ) may be a promising and novel source of valuable phenolics, including caffeoylputrescine (CP), which is known for antioxidant, antidiabetic, insect-resistant, disease-resistant, and neuroprotective properties. In this study, to improve the production efficiency of phytochemical components in P. peruviana hairy root cultures, we optimized various culture conditions, including the inoculum size, liquid volume, culture media type, carbon source, sucrose concentration, initial pH, and application of elicitors, to enhance the total phenolic content and CP yield in these hairy root cultures. The findings indicate that the use of sucrose as carbon source resulted in the highest biomass (13.28 g DW/L), total phenolic content (6.26 mg/g), and CP yield (2.40 mg/L). The White medium excelled in enhancing the total phenolic content (9.35 mg/g), whereas the B5 medium was most effective for the biomass (13.38 g DW/L) and CP yield (6.30 mg/L). A sucrose concentration of 5% was best for the biomass (18.40 g DW/L), whereas a sucrose concentration of 4% was ideal for the CP yield. Optimal culture conditions were as follows: an inoculum size of 0.5 g/100 mL, a liquid volume of 100 mL in a 250-mL flask, B5 medium, 4% sucrose, and a pH of 5.5. Among the tested elicitors, methyl jasmonate (MeJA) at 100 µM significantly increased the biomass (21.3 g/L), total phenolic content (23.34 mg/g), and CP yield (141.10 mg/L), which represent 0.96-, 2.12-, and 13.04-fold increases, respectively, over the control after 8 days. The optimized HR culture of P. peruviana provides a promising system to enhance the production of CP for pharmaceutical applications.

Main conclusionThe key genetic variation underlying the evo-devo of ICS in Solanaceae may be further pinpointed using an integrated strategy of forward and reverse genetics studies under the framework of phylogeny.The calyx of Physalis remains persistent throughout fruit development. Post-flowering, the fruiting calyx is inflated rapidly to encapsulate the berry, giving rise to a “Chinese lantern” structure called inflated calyx syndrome (ICS). It is unclear how this novelty arises. Over the past 2 decades, the role of MADS-box genes in the evolutionary development (evo-devo) of ICS has mainly been investigated within Solanaceae. In this review, we analyze the main achievements, challenges, and new progress. ICS acts as a source for fruit development, provides a microenvironment to protect fruit development, and assists in long-distance fruit dispersal. ICS is a typical post-floral trait, and the onset of its development is triggered by specific developmental signals that coincide with fertilization. These signals can be replaced by exogenous gibberellin and cytokinin application. MPF2-like heterotopic expression and MBP21-like loss have been proposed to be two essential evolutionary events for ICS origin, and manipulating the related MADS-box genes has been shown to affect the ICS size, sepal organ identity, and/or male fertility, but not completely disrupt ICS. Therefore, the core genes or key links in the ICS biosynthesis pathways may have undergone secondary mutations during evolution, or they have not yet been pinpointed. Recently, we have made some encouraging progress in acquiring lantern mutants in Physalis floridana. In addition to technological innovation, we propose an integrated strategy to further analyze the evo-devo mechanisms of ICS in Solanaceae using forward and reverse genetics studies under the framework of phylogeny.

Invasive plants are recognized for their impressive abilities to withstand adverse environmental conditions however, all invaders do not express the similar abilities. Therefore, survival, growth, nutrient uptake and fecundity of two co-occurring, invasive Physalis species were tested under water and salinity stresses, and different soil textures in the current study. Five different water stress levels (100, 75, 50, 25, and 12.5% pot water contents), four different soil salinity levels (0, 3, 6, and 12 dSm-1) and four different soil textures (67% clay, 50% clay, silt clay loam and sandy loam) were included in three different pot experiments. Both weeds survived under all levels of water stress except 12.5% water contents and on all soil types however, behaved differently under increasing salinity. The weeds responded similarly to salinity up till 3 dSm-1 whereas, P. philadelphica survived for longer time than P. angulata under remaining salinity regimes. Water and salinity stress hampered the growth and fecundity of both weeds while, soil textures had slight effect. Both weeds preferred clay textured soils for better growth and nutrient uptake however, interactive effect of weeds and soil textures was non-significant. P. angulata accumulated higher K and Na while P. philadelphica accrued more Ca and Mg as well as maintained better K/Na ratio. P. angulata accumulated more Na and P under salinity stress while, P. philadelphica accrued higher K and Mg, and maintained higher K/Na ratio. Collectively, highest nutrient accumulation was observed under stress free conditions and on clay textured soils. P. philadelphica exhibited higher reproductive output under all experimental conditions than P. angulata. It is predicted that P. philadelphica will be more problematic under optimal water supply and high salinity while P. angulata can better adapt water limited environments. The results indicate that both weeds have considerable potential to further expand their ranges in semi-arid regions of Turkey.

Key message Self-incompatibility decays with age in plants of Physalis acutifolia , and plants that have transitioned to selfing produce fewer seeds but with comparable viability. Self-compatibility in this system is closely related to flower size, which is in turn dependent on the direction of the cross, suggesting parental effects on both morphology and compatibility. The sharpleaf groundcherry, Physalis acutifolia , is polymorphic for self-compatibility, with naturally occurring self-incompatible (SI) and self-compatible (SC) populations. Moreover, SI individuals have been documented to transition to SC with age, at least in greenhouse conditions. Here we tested whether this within-lifespan transition occurs predictably (developmental decay of SI) or could result from a lack of pollination (a plastic response). Using greenhouse crosses, we demonstrated that SI P. acutifolia plants transition to SC after 70 days, regardless of pollination treatment, consistent with predictable developmental decay. This loss of SI corresponds to a loss of pollen inhibition, with self-pollen often reaching the ovary after 24 h. The originally SI plants that transition to SC can produce viable seeds from self crosses, albeit significantly fewer than from outcrosses of SI plants or from lines fixed for SC. Throughout the experiment, we observed that flower size, which differs between SI and SC populations, was highly correlated with the compatibility phenotype. These findings suggest that the mechanisms leading to the loss of SI during a lifespan are similar to those involved in fixed losses of SI, but that older plants that transition to SC do not present the same reproductive capacity as fixed selfers.

Background Physalis L. is a genus of herbaceous plants of the family Solanaceae, which has important medicinal, edible, and ornamental values. The morphological characteristics of Physalis species are similar, and it is difficult to rapidly and accurately distinguish them based only on morphological characteristics. At present, the species classification and phylogeny of Physalis are still controversial. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genomes of four Physalis species ( Physalis angulata , P. alkekengi var. franchetii , P. minima and P. pubescens ) were sequenced, and the first comprehensive cp genome analysis of Physalis was performed, which included the previously published cp genome sequence of Physalis peruviana . Results The Physalis cp genomes exhibited typical quadripartite and circular structures, and were relatively conserved in their structure and gene synteny. However, the Physalis cp genomes showed obvious variations at four regional boundaries, especially those of the inverted repeat and the large single-copy regions. The cp genomes’ lengths ranged from 156,578 bp to 157,007 bp. A total of 114 different genes, 80 protein-coding genes, 30 tRNA genes, and 4 rRNA genes, were observed in four new sequenced Physalis cp genomes. Differences in repeat sequences and simple sequence repeats were detected among the Physalis cp genomes. Phylogenetic relationships among 36 species of 11 genera of Solanaceae based on their cp genomes placed Physalis in the middle and upper part of the phylogenetic tree, with a monophyletic evolution having a 100% bootstrap value. Conclusion Our results enrich the data on the cp genomes of the genus Physalis . The availability of these cp genomes will provide abundant information for further species identification, increase the taxonomic and phylogenetic resolution of Physalis , and assist in the investigation and utilization of Physalis plants.

Physalis peruviana L. (Cape gooseberry) is susceptible to several pathogens, among which the sobemovirus physalis rugose mosaic virus (PhyRMV) is most prominent. This study investigated the anatomical, morphophysiological, and metabolic responses of P. peruviana to PhyRMV over the course of the infection cycle. P. peruviana plants were grown under greenhouse conditions (24 ± 2 ℃) and mechanically inoculated with buffer (mock) or PhyRMV inoculum. The local and systemic leaves were collected at 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 42 days after inoculation (DAI) and viral infection was confirmed by RT-qPCR. Morphological traits, including plant height, symptoms, and the Falker chlorophyll index, and histological changes were evaluated in PhyRMV-infected plants and compared to mock-inoculated controls. To characterize and compare their metabolic profile, the collected leaves were processed and subjected to gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Yield was also assessed by quantifying the number and weight of fruits. PhyRMV could be detected in systemic leaves from 14 DAI onward, accompanied by an increase in viral load and the intensification of the symptoms, including mosaic, chlorosis, and leaf deformation from 21 DAI onward, which were associated with reduced plant height and chlorophyll contents. At 42 DAI, histological changes and increased starch accumulation were observed in the infected leaves, suggesting impaired photoassimilate transport. GC-MS revealed an accumulation of sucrose, pyruvate, and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolites, possibly due to the high energy demand associated with viral replication, indicating significant alterations in the functioning of the central metabolic pathways in systemic leaves in the late stage of infection at 42 DAI. Compounds such as glutamate, isoleucine, and malonate could potentially be involved in the activation of defense pathways, including the shikimic acid pathway. Metabolic networks demonstrated a loss of complexity in the infected plants, indicating a redirection of resources from primary metabolism to defense-associated mechanisms. Thus, fruit production was reduced by 31% in the infected plants, highlighting a negative impact of infection on the production potential. These results support management strategies based on the induction of plant defense mechanisms and reinforce the importance of the use of integrative approaches to understanding the physiological and biochemical impacts of viruses on crops.

The nightshade family Solanaceae holds exceptional economic and cultural importance. The early diversification of Solanaceae is thought to have occurred in South America during its separation from Gondwana, but the family’s sparse fossil record provides few insights. We report 52.2-million-year-old lantern fruits from terminal-Gondwanan Patagonia, featuring highly inflated, five-lobed calyces, as a newly identified species of the derived, diverse New World genus Physalis (e.g., groundcherries and tomatillos). The fossils are considerably older than corresponding molecular divergence dates and demonstrate an ancient history for the inflated calyx syndrome. The derived position of these early Eocene fossils shows that Solanaceae were well diversified long before final Gondwanan breakup.

Key messageMolecular and functional characterization of four gene families of the Physalis exon junction complex (EJC) core improved our understanding of the evolution and function of EJC core genes in plants.The exon junction complex (EJC) plays significant roles in posttranscriptional regulation of genes in eukaryotes. However, its developmental roles in plants are poorly known. We characterized four EJC core genes from Physalis floridana that were named PFMAGO, PFY14, PFeIF4AIII and PFBTZ. They shared a similar phylogenetic topology and were expressed in all examined organs. PFMAGO, PFY14 and PFeIF4AIII were localized in both the nucleus and cytoplasm while PFBTZ was mainly localized in the cytoplasm. No protein homodimerization was observed, but they could form heterodimers excluding the PFY14-PFBTZ heterodimerization. Virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) of PFMAGO or PFY14 aborted pollen development and resulted in low plant survival due to a leaf-blight-like phenotype in the shoot apex. Carpel functionality was also impaired in the PFY14 knockdowns, whereas pollen maturation was uniquely affected in PFBTZ-VIGS plants. Once PFeIF4AIII was strongly downregulated, plant survival was reduced via a decomposing root collar after flowering and Chinese lantern morphology was distorted. The expression of Physalis orthologous genes in the DYT1-TDF1-AMS-bHLH91 regulatory cascade that is associated with pollen maturation was significantly downregulated in PFMAGO-, PFY14- and PFBTZ-VIGS flowers. Intron-retention in the transcripts of P. floridana dysfunctional tapetum1 (PFDYT1) occurred in these mutated flowers. Additionally, the expression level of WRKY genes in defense-related pathways in the shoot apex of PFMAGO- or PFY14-VIGS plants and in the root collar of PFeIF4AIII-VIGS plants was significantly downregulated. Taken together, the Physalis EJC core genes play multiple roles including a conserved role in male fertility and newly discovered roles in Chinese lantern development, carpel functionality and defense-related processes. These data increase our understanding of the evolution and functions of EJC core genes in plants.