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Topic Review
Ursolic and Oleanolic Acids
Ursolic and oleanolic acids are secondary plant metabolites that are known to be involved in the plant defence system against water loss and pathogens. Nowadays these triterpenoids are also regarded as potential pharmaceutical compounds, compounds or triterpenoid-enriched plant extracts exert various beneficial effects, including anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory and anticancer, on model systems of both human or animal origin. Some of those effects have been linked to the ability of ursolic and oleanolic acids to modulate intracellular antioxidant systems and also inflammation and cell death-related pathways.
  • 1.5K
  • 07 May 2021
Topic Review
Plant Breeders’ Rights
Plant breeders’ rights (PBRs) are an important IP right, and as plant breeding has a crucial role to play in sustainability, it is vital that innovations in plant breeding receive the appropriate innovation incentives. The full breeders’ exemption ensures that there is always free access to the plant variety protected by a PBR for developing new varieties. The price to pay for this exemption is that PBR holders cannot prevent third parties from taking advantage of their efforts and investments in developing a new variety. This invites free-riding, at the detriment of the PBR holder. The concept of “essentially derived varieties” (EDV), introduced in 1991, provided a “fix” for this problem. It allows PBR holders to extend, at least to some extent, the scope of protection of their PBR to those varieties which use all or most essential characteristics of the initial protection variety. Decades have passed, but no adequate interpretation of the complex EDV concept has been found. The advent of new breeding techniques (NBTs) has made the discussion about a fair scope of protection of PBRs all the more relevant. This necessitates a modernization of the EDV concept, if the PBR system is to remain relevant and continue to be an innovation-incentivizing mechanism. This review introduces a fair interpretation of the EDV concept and a new access reward model.
  • 1.5K
  • 05 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Ecosystem Services Potential of Endemic Floras
Natural, sustainable products arise in many fields, wild plants are reconsidered as providers of traditional or innovative applications. The notion of ecosystem services (ES) provides a frame to evaluate their benefits, but is still scarcely applied to endemic floras.
  • 1.5K
  • 31 May 2022
Topic Review
Biological and Chemical Diversity of Angelica archangelica L.
Garden angelica (Angelica archangelica L.), native to the northern temperate region, is widespread in Europe and Asia. Since the middle ages, it has been used for healing and as a vegetable in traditional dishes. In the modern era, it has been proven that A. archangelica has a complex chemical composition. The main derivatives that contribute to the plant’s biological activities are essential oil and coumarins. 
  • 1.5K
  • 26 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Berberis lycium
Study of reproductive biology and pollination ecology helps in understanding the life history patterns of species. Such a study brings to light the bottlenecks, if any, on account of which the individuals of the species are not able to reproduce in nature and ultimately helps in planning appropriate conservation strategies for the species under threat. The present study was aimed at examining the morphological and reproductive variance in Berberis lycium, a threatened ecological specialist growing within shrubberies and open hillsides of the North-Western Himalayas in India. B. lycium displays three different variants. Flowering period ranges from February to September. Pollen viability as reported on fluorescein diacetate and acetocarmine treatments was highest for variant I, while maximum pollen output was obtained for variant III. Pollen pistil interaction is brought by the movement of anther towards stigma. Fluorescence microscopy of hand pollinated club shaped stigma shows that the germinating pollen form a ring over the receptive adaxial surface. Pollination syndrome is entomophily. Variant II attracts a significantly large number of pollinators from diverse insect families. Breeding experiments reflect that plants are self-compatible and cross fertile. Reproductive output (% fruit set) was highest for variant II followed by III and I, respectively. 
  • 1.5K
  • 15 Sep 2021
Topic Review
Ameliorate Concanavalin A-Induced Liver Injury
Liver diseases represent a threat to human health and are a significant cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) is a progressive and chronic hepatic inflammatory disease, which may lead to severe complications. Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced hepatic injury is regarded as an appropriate experimental model for investigating the pathology and mechanisms involved in liver injury mediated by immune cells as well as T cell-related liver disease. Despite the advances in modern medicine, the only available strategies to treat AIH, include the use of steroids either solely or with immunosuppressant drugs. Unfortunately, this currently available treatment is associated with significant side-effects. Therefore, there is an urgent need for safe and effective drugs to replace and/or supplement those in current use. Natural products have been utilized for treating liver disorders and have become a promising therapy for various liver disorders.
  • 1.5K
  • 23 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Molecular Regulation of Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Symbiosis
The cooperative and mutualistic interaction between plant roots and arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi from the phylum Glomeromycota is tightly regulated by both partners at the cellular, molecular and genetic levels, and it is highly dependent on environmental and biological variables.
  • 1.5K
  • 05 Jul 2022
Topic Review
Biological Properties of Lignans
Lignans are, phenolic compounds and, as such, have a strong antioxidant capacity, which inextricably links them to beneficial effects on human health. Flax (Linum usitatissimum) is an annual herbaceous plant with blue flowers, widespread in various parts of the world. Flaxseeds are one of the plant matrices richest in lignans.
  • 1.5K
  • 17 Jan 2023
Topic Review
WOX Gene Family
WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) transcription factors (TFs) are well known for their role in plant development but are rarely studied in citrus. CsRAP2.12 and CsHB22 bind to the CsWUS promoter and regulate its activity. CsCYCD3 protein involved in cell proliferation interact with CsWUS protein 
  • 1.5K
  • 17 May 2021
Topic Review
Reactive Oxygen Species/Salicylic Acid in Plant Immune Response
One of the earliest hallmarks of plant immune response is production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in different subcellular compartments, which regulate plant immunity. A suitable equilibrium, which is crucial to prevent ROS overaccumulation leading to oxidative stress, is maintained by salicylic acid (SA), a chief regulator of ROS. However, ROS not only act downstream of SA signaling, but are also proposed to be a central component of a self-amplifying loop that regulates SA signaling as well as the interaction balance between different phytohormones. The exact role of this crosstalk, the position where SA interferes with ROS signaling and ROS interferes with SA signaling and the outcome of this regulation, depend on the origin of ROS but also on the pathosystem. The precise spatiotemporal regulation of organelle-specific ROS and SA levels determine the effectiveness of pathogen arrest and is therefore crucial for a successful immune response. However, the regulatory interplay behind still remains poorly understood, as up until now, the role of organelle-specific ROS and SA in hypersensitive response (HR)-conferred resistance has mostly been studied by altering the level of a single component. In order to address these aspects, a sophisticated combination of research methods for monitoring the spatiotemporal dynamics of key players and transcriptional activity in plants is needed and will most probably consist of biosensors and precision transcriptomics. 
  • 1.5K
  • 23 Aug 2022
Topic Review
Effects of Sound Perception in Plants
Plants have long been considered passive, static, and unchanging organisms, but this view is finally changing. More and more knowledge is showing that plants are aware of their surroundings, and they respond to a surprising variety of stimuli by modifying their growth and development. Plants extensively communicate with the world around them, above and below ground. Although communication through mycorrhizal networks and Volatile Organic Compounds has been known for a long time, acoustic perception and communication are somehow a final frontier of research. Perhaps surprisingly, plants not only respond to sound, they actually seem to emit sound as well. Roots emit audible clicks during growth, and sounds are emitted from xylem vessels, although the nature of these acoustic emissions still needs to be clarified. Even more interesting, there is the possibility that these sounds carry information with ecological implications, such as alerting insects of the hydration state of a possible host plant, and technological implications as well. Monitoring sound emissions could possibly allow careful monitoring of the hydration state of crops, which could mean significantly less water used during irrigation. 
  • 1.5K
  • 08 Oct 2022
Topic Review
Sugars and CKs in seeds
Plants adjust their growth and development through a sophisticated regulatory system integrating endogenous and exogenous cues. Many of them rely on intricate crosstalk between nutrients and hormones, an effective way of coupling nutritional and developmental information and ensuring plant survival. Sugars in their different forms such as sucrose, glucose, fructose and trehalose-6-P and the hormone family of cytokinins (CKs) are major regulators of the shoot and root functioning throughout the plant life cycle.
  • 1.5K
  • 19 Feb 2021
Topic Review
Epigenetics for Forest Trees
Epigenetics refers to a scientific domain studying all the processes affecting the expression of genes and/or the activity of transposable elements (TEs) without altering the DNA sequence that may be heritable by mitosis (during development) and/or meiosis (across generations). Forest trees are sessile, perennial, and modular organisms with complex life cycles that are often challenged by environmental variations such as actual climate changes during their long-lifespan. Surviving tree populations can respond to these environmental changes through complex and interacting mechanisms and notably using epigenetics. 
  • 1.5K
  • 21 Sep 2020
Topic Review
Plant Metabolomics
Plant metabolomics plays important roles in both basic and applied studies regarding all aspects of plant development and stress responses. With the improvement of living standards, people need high quality and safe food supplies. Thus, understanding the pathways involved in the biosynthesis of nutritionally and healthily associated metabolites in plants and the responses to plant-derived biohazards in humans is of equal importance to meet people’s needs. For each, metabolomics has a vital role to play, which is discussed in detail in this study. In addition, the core elements of plant metabolomics are highlighted, researches on metabolomics-based crop improvement for nutrition and safety are summarized, metabolomics studies on plant natural products including traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) for health promotion are briefly presented. Challenges are discussed and future perspectives of metabolomics as one of the most important tools to promote human nutrition and health are proposed.
  • 1.5K
  • 11 May 2021
Topic Review
Genomics
A genome is an organism’s comprehensive collection of nucleic acids (DNA or RNA), which contains all of its genes. Genomic science or genomics is the study of the genome’s structure, function, evolution, mapping and modifications. 
  • 1.5K
  • 07 Dec 2023
Topic Review
Powdery Mildew Resistance Loci in Vines
Grapevine (Vitis vinifera) is one of the main fruit crops worldwide, with near of 7.3 million hectares planted in 2020, but along with its economic relevance, it has been associated with diverse pathogens that affect grapevine yield, fruit, and wine quality, of which powdery mildew is the most important disease prior to harvest. Its causal agent is the biotrophic fungus Erysiphe necator, which generates a decrease in cluster weight, delays fruit ripening, and reduces photosynthetic and transpiration rates. In addition, powdery mildew induces metabolic reprogramming in its host, affecting primary metabolism. Most commercial grapevine cultivars are highly susceptible to powdery mildew; consequently, large quantities of fungicide are applied during the productive season. These pesticide applications have been associated with high exposure to it, and pesticides are associated with health problems, negative environmental impacts, and high costs for farmers. In parallel, consumers are demanding more sustainable practices during food production. Therefore, new grapevine cultivars with genetic resistance to powdery mildew are needed for sustainable viticulture, while maintaining yield, fruit, and wine quality. Two main gene families confer resistance to powdery mildew in the Vitaceae, Run (Resistance to Uncinula necator) and Ren (Resistance to Erysiphe necator), and the resistance they confer is associated with the presence of each locus since there are still no genes that alone can produce a powerful genetic resistance. Because the resistance mediated by the plant immune response is highly complex and considers the evolution and adaptation of the pathogen in parallel to that of the plant.
  • 1.5K
  • 22 Jun 2022
Topic Review
Auxin Regulates Primary Seed Dormancy
Phytohormone auxin acts as an outstanding coordinator of plant growth and development. Among other tasks, it has a key role as a signaling molecule that arranges seed life. Recently, auxin has emerged as an essential player that modulates the induction, regulation, and maintenance of primary seed dormancy (PSD). This function was supported by biochemical and genetic evidence. The participation of the transcriptional regulator ABSCISIC ACID (ABA) INSENSITIVE 3 (ABI3) is critical, which demonstrates a cross-talk between auxin and ABA signalings.
  • 1.5K
  • 30 Oct 2020
Topic Review
Annual Ryegrass (Lolium rigidum)
Annual ryegrass (Lolium rigidum Gaud. ), traditionally utilised as a pasture species, has become the most problematic and difficult-to-control weed across grain production regions in Australia. Annual ryegrass has been favored by the adoption of conservation tillage systems due to its genetic diversity, prolific seed production, widespread dispersal, flexible germination requirements and competitive growth habit.
  • 1.5K
  • 04 Aug 2021
Topic Review
Wild Edible Native Plants of Chile
Locally available WEPs edible plants; plant genetic resources; traditional knowledge(Wild Edible Native Plants) can provide consumers with a more diverse range of nutritionally high-quality compounds. They can be a source of energy, fibre and micronutrients and offer a large spectrum of phytochemicals such as phenols, tannins, flavones, terpenoids, polysaccharides, steroids, saponins and alkaloids.
  • 1.5K
  • 08 Apr 2022
Topic Review
TOR–Auxin Connection Upstream Root-Hair Growth
Plant growth and productivity are orchestrated by a network of signaling cascades involved in balancing responses to perceived environmental changes with resource availability. Vascular plants are divided into the shoot, an aboveground organ where sugar is synthesized, and the underground located root. Continuous growth requires the generation of energy in the form of carbohydrates in the leaves upon photosynthesis and uptake of nutrients and water through root hairs. Root hair outgrowth depends on the overall condition of the plant and its energy level must be high enough to maintain root growth. TARGET OF RAPAMYCIN (TOR)-mediated signaling cascades serve as a hub to evaluate which resources are needed to respond to external stimuli and which are available to maintain proper plant growth. Root hair formation further requires appropriate distribution of the phytohormone auxin, which primes root hair cell fate and triggers root hair elongation. While TOR activity partially depends on auxin signaling, auxin distribution to the root tip and the redistribution towards the root hair zone are, on the other hand, dependent on TOR activity. Together, both signaling cascades are interwoven to orchestrate proper root hair outgrowth to ensure efficient plant nutrition. 
  • 1.5K
  • 02 Feb 2021
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