International audience | Seeds harbor diverse endophytic microbes that can be transmitted to offspring through parental plants. However, studies on the seed microbiomes of metal hyperaccumulators—plants capable of accumulating high levels of specific metals in their tissues—are scarce. This study aimed to characterize the diversity of endophytic bacterial communities in seeds from the Brassicaceae family, which contains the highest number of hyperaccumulating species.The seed collection analyzed included 65 accessions from 53 hyperaccumulating and 12 non-hyperaccumulating Brassicaceae species, spanning five genera and 24 species. These seeds were collected from various countries (Albania, Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Slovakia, Spain, and Romania) between 2010 and 2021. Using 16S rRNA metabarcoding, we characterized seed endophytic bacterial communities and investigated potential correlations between bacterial diversity and nickel concentrations in seeds through ICP-MS and µXRF analyses.Our findings indicate that plant host taxonomy is the primary determinant of endophytic bacterial community diversity in Brassicaceae seeds. Non-hyperaccumulating plants harbored significantly more diverse bacterial communities than hyperaccumulators. Certain bacterial families, such as Pseudomonadaceae and Nocardiaceae, were more abundant in non-hyperaccumulating Brassicaceae seeds, whereas Stenotrophomonas was more prevalent in nickel-rich seeds of hyperaccumulators. These differences suggest that metal accumulation in hyperaccumulator seeds imposes selective pressures, leading to shifts in bacterial community composition.This work confirms that plant host taxonomy is the primary driver of the seed endophytic bacterial community. However, in hyperaccumulating plants, the high metal concentrations that may occurred in seeds also influence bacterial diversity in this plant organ.

Abstract The Brassicaceae family includes Arabidopsis thaliana, various vegetables and oil crops. The R2R3-MYB genes of the S6 subfamily are crucial for regulating anthocyanin biosynthesis, however, their systematic identification in Brassicaceae plants is still incomplete. Here, we systematically identified homologous genes of R2R3-MYB transcription factors from the S6 subfamily across 31 Brassicaceae species. A total of 92 homologous genes were identified, with species representation ranging from 0 to 10 genes per species. Phylogenetic analysis classified these homologous genes into six distinct groups. Notably, approximately 70% of the homologous genes were found within the G6 group, indicating a high degree of evolutionary conservation. Furthermore, a phylogenetic analysis was conducted on 35 homologous genes obtained from six species within the U's triangle Brassica plants. The findings provided evidence of significant conservation among orthologous genes across species and demonstrated strong collinearity on subgenomic chromosomes, with notable tandem duplications observed on chromosomes A7 and C6. Subsequently, we predicted the cis-acting elements of these 35 homologous genes, and analyzed their structures, conserved motifs, and characteristic conserved domains, confirming the significant similarities between orthologous genes. Additionally, we employed white and purple flower rapeseed specimens to conduct qRT-PCR validation of the key genes and transcriptional regulators associated with the anthocyanin synthesis pathway. The results revealed significant differential expression of BnaPAP2.A7.b in purple flowers, alongside the differential expression of BnaPAP2.C6.d. Ultimately, based on previous research and the findings of this study, we propose a transcriptional regulatory framework to govern anthocyanin accumulation in distinct tissues or organs of B. napus. Our findings offer a novel perspective on the functional diversification of R2R3-MYB transcription factors within the S6 subfamily homologous genes, while also shedding light on the regulatory network governing anthocyanin biosynthesis in Brassicaceae species.

Abstract Premise Orthology inference is crucial for comparative genomics, and multiple algorithms have been developed to identify putative orthologs for downstream analyses. Despite the abundance of proposed solutions, including publicly available benchmarks, it is difficult to assess which tool is most suitable for plant species, which commonly have complex genomic histories. Methods We explored the performance of four orthology inference algorithms—OrthoFinder, SonicParanoid, Broccoli, and OrthNet—on eight Brassicaceae genomes in two groups: one group comprising only diploids and another set comprising the diploids, two mesopolyploids, and one recent hexaploid genome. Results The composition of the orthogroups reflected the species' ploidy and genomic histories, with the diploid set having a higher proportion of identical orthogroups. While the diploid + higher ploidy set had a lower proportion of orthogroups with identical compositions, the average degree of similarity between the orthogroups was not different from the diploid set. Discussion Three algorithms—OrthoFinder, SonicParanoid, and Broccoli—are helpful for initial orthology predictions. Results produced using OrthNet were generally outliers but could still provide detailed information about gene colinearity. With our Brassicaceae dataset, slight discrepancies were found across the orthology inference algorithms, necessitating additional analyses such as tree inference to fine‐tune results.

In recent years, numerous botanical survey projects have been conducted across China, with accurate taxonomic identification being the primary objective of biodiversity research. Within this context, we report the discovery of Polycarpon tetraphyllum (L.) L. (Caryophyllaceae) and Arabis stelleri DC. (Brassicaceae) in Fujian, marking new records for the flora of mainland China. Furthermore, we provide detailed morphological descriptions, color photographs, and comparative taxonomic analyses with related species to scientifically substantiate the records of these two plant species.

Soil-borne diseases threaten sustainable agriculture, traditionally managed by chemical fumigants, whose use is now restricted due to environmental and health concerns. This study evaluates the biofumigation potential of <i>Brassicaceae</i> species, specifically <i>Brassica carinata</i> A. Braun., <i>Brassica juncea</i> (L.) Vassiliĭ Matveievitch Czernajew., <i>Raphanus sativus</i> L., and <i>Sinapis alba</i> L., cultivated in central Spain. Field trials across two growing cycles assessed biomass production, glucosinolate (GSL) concentration, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) interception, and radiation use efficiency (RUE). Biomass production varied across species and sampling dates, with <i>S. alba</i> and <i>R. sativus</i> outperforming other species in shorter cycles, while <i>B. juncea</i> and <i>B. carinata</i> showed a more efficient GSL profile regarding soil-borne disease control, particularly in aliphatic GSLs like sinigrin. Results highlight <i>B. juncea</i> and <i>B. carinata</i> as potent biofumigants due to their high GSL levels, whereas <i>S. alba</i> and <i>R. sativus</i> are more suited to early biomass production. The study also explores the chlorophyll content index (SPAD) as a potential field indicator of GSL concentration, providing a practical approach for optimizing biofumigation timing. These findings support the selection of specific <i>Brassicaceae</i> species adapted to climatic conditions and crop cycles for effective biofumigation in sustainable agricultural practices.

The work studied the nutritional value of five samples of fresh and dried pollen from various species of plants: Rosales, Brassicaceae, Legumes, Asteraceae, Apiaceae. The results of the studies showed that all the studied pollen samples, collected at different periods of pollen-bearing plants flowering, contain a high amount of protein (19.63-21.09%) and practically correspond to the formula of ideal protein. It is more advisable to use pollen mixtures collected in the spring and summer and processed in a certain way, as an alternative source of food protein.

Rorippa daguanensis W.Zhang &amp;amp; K.Zhao (Brassicaceae), a new species from Anhui and Hubei Provinces of eastern China, is described. Its floral morphology resembles R. dubia, with its fruit morphology similar to R. cantoniensis. However, it can be readily distinguished from R. dubia by its inconspicuous stems, oval silicle and from R. cantoniensis by the absence of petals and bracts on its flowers. The complete plastid genome of this new species is 155,594 bp in length. Phylogenetic analyses, based on whole plastid genome sequences of Rorippa species, revealed that R. daguanensis is sister to R. cantoniensis.

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a versatile transcription factor, that responds to a diverse array of both exogenous and endogenous ligands. Broccoli consumption was shown to alter the microbiota, and attenuate chemically induced colitis in mice through AhR-dependent pathway. The study highlights the important role that dietary aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) ligands play in maintaining the mucus barrier's homeostasis. The absence of AHR ligands in the diet causes a distinct alteration of the mucinous component that potentially increased the susceptibility to colitis by decreasing acidic mucin and lysozyme levels. The research identifies ferroptosis-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress as a probable contributing factor to the adjustment of mucin-2 (MUC-2) levels. Overall, our study presents a novel approach to improving the nutraceutical quality of Brassicaceae, while also offering fresh insights into the impacts of cruciferous vegetables on intestinal health in humans.

We investigated the chromosome numbers (2n) of 18 plant species (22 populations) from the families Alliaceae, Amaranthaceae, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Brassicaceae, Boraginaceae, and Caryophillaceae sampled in Dagestan. The following nine species were studied for the first time in Russia and hence in Dagestan: Heliotropium suaveolens M. Bieb. (2n = 32, tetraploid cytotype), Allium rubellum M. Bieb. (2n = 24, triploid cytotypes), diploids Atriplex aucheri Moq. (2n = 18), Cynanchum acutum L. (2n = 22), Crepis alpina L. (2n = 10), Crepis marschallii (C. A. Mey.) F. Schultz (2n = 8), Crepis pulchra L. (2n = 8), Crepis sancta (L.) Bornm. (2n = 10), Hedypnois cretica (L.) Dum.-Cours. (2n = 12), and Gypsophila scorzonerifolia Ser. (2n = 34). New data for Dagestan are reported for Crupina vulgaris (Pers.) Cass. (2n = 30), Picris strigosa subsp. canescens (Steven) Lack (2n = 10), Xanthium orientale var. albinum (Widder) Adema et M. T. Jansen (2n = 36). New cytotypes were first to be found in the territory of Russia: triploid cytotype in Alyssum desertorum Stapf (2n = 3x = 24) and diploid cytotype in Alyssum alyssoides (L.) L. (2n = 16). Each species is provided with distribution area and published data on chromosome numbers. | Определены числа хромосом (2n) для 18 видов (22 популяций) из семейств Alliaceae, Amaranthaceae, Apocynaceae, Asteraceae, Boraginaceae, Brassicaceae, Caryophyllaceae из Республики Дагестан. Впервые для территории России и, следовательно, территории Дагестана исследовано 9 видов: Allium rubellum M. Bieb. (2n = 24, триплоидный цитотип), Heliotropium suaveolens M. Bieb. (2n = 32, тетраплоидный цитотип). Следующие семь видов – диплоиды: Atriplex aucheri Moq. (2n = 18), Cynanchum acutum L. (2n = 22), Crepis alpina L. (2n = 10), Crepis marschallii (C. A. Mey.) F. Schultz (2n = 8), Crepis pulchra L. (2n = 8), Crepis sancta (L.) Bornm. (2n = 10), Hedypnois cretica (L.) Dum.-Cours. (2n = 12) Gypsophila scorzonerifolia Ser. (2n = 34). Приводятся новые данные для Дагестана: Crupina vulgaris (Pers.) Cass. (2n = 30), Picris strigosa subsp. canescens (Steven) Lack (2n = 10), Xanthium orientale var. albinum (Widder) Adema et M. T. Jansen (2n = 36). Впервые обнаружен триплоидный цитотип для вида Alyssum desertorum Stapf (2n = 3x = 24). Впервые на территории России указывается диплоидный цитотип для Alyssum alyssoides (L.) L. (2n = 16). Для каждого вида указан ареал и приведены литературные данные по числам хромосом.

The article presents the results of a study of the vitality structure of plant cenopopulations using the example of Alyssum turkestanicum var. desertorum (Brassicaceae) in the ecotone system of the coastal zone of the Chogray Reservoir located in the Kuma-Manych Depression, in the valley of the East Manych River in the vegetation periods of 2021-2022. In accordance with the concept of A.S. Zaletaev, successive blocks of the “water-land” ecotone system are distinguished on the coast of the reservoir. In the cenopopulations of A. turkestanicum var. desertorum from 5 communities located at different distances from the reservoir, an analysis of the frequency of occurrence of plants of three vitality classes was carried out and their vitality spectra were constructed. An assessment of the vitality of cenopopulations using the IVC vitality index allowed us to conclude that the populations of A. turkestanicum var. desertorum, growing in various plant communities of the ecotone system, mainly belonged to the vitality type “flourishing”. During the study, it was found that the viability of populations of the species A. turkestanicum var. desertorum in various belts of the ecotone system of the coastal zone of the Chogray reservoir depends not only on the ecological and phytocenotic conditions of their growth, which change with distance from the reservoir, but also on the climatic conditions of a particular year.