Biological control of Phytophthora blight in red pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) using Bacillus subtilis

Phytophthora blight is one of the most important devastating diseases of red pepper plants. Forty-one bacterial isolates were obtained from rhizosphere soil and subsequently tested for antagonistic activity under in vitro and in vivo conditions. Among the 41 isolates tested, 12 exhibited a maximum antagonistic activity in dual culture assay. These 12 isolates were further screened for disease suppression on red pepper plants in both natural and greenhouse conditions. All the antagonists showed varying levels of antagonism, whereas the isolates R33 and R13 exhibited the maximum (86.8 and 71%) ability to reduce the disease severity in in vivo conditions. Based on the 16S rDNA sequencing, the most effective isolates were identified as Bacillus subtilis. In addition, the isolates were also screened for siderophores, hydrogen cyanide and hydrolytic enzymes. Further, the isolates increased the root and shoot length of the red pepper, which is an added advantage of the isolates while performing the desired function.     

施肥对大棚甜椒品质的影响

对塑料大棚栽培的甜椒进行滴灌施肥,研究不同用量的氮磷钾肥料对甜椒品质的影响,结果表明,侧枝是甜椒硝态氮的敏感反应部位,且含量最高,叶片次之,果实最少,高量施肥对甜椒果实的硝态氮与可溶性糖含量没有产生不良影响,果实是甜椒糖分的主要贮存器官,其可溶性总糖含量在50%-55%范围内,高于叶片和侧枝,施肥量减少,果实中肌醇和蔗糖的含量增加,葡萄糖与果糖是甜椒果实主要的可溶性糖类,高量施肥削弱叶片的C素代谢作用,表现为抑制同化物淀粉在叶片的积累,粗淀粉在果实中的含量最高,叶片脂类含量均超过侧枝和果实3-4倍以上,可能是由于叶片中叶绿素含量高所致。     

草酸处理对热胁迫下辣椒叶片膜透性和钙分布的影响

研究了外源草酸对热胁迫下辣椒叶片中细胞膜相对透性、谷胱甘肽(GSH)和抗坏血酸(AsA)含量变化以及Ca2+分布的影响.结果表明热胁迫使叶肉细胞膜相对透性升高,草酸处理则减轻升高幅度.热胁迫使叶片中GSH和AsA含量下降;草酸处理则使二者在热胁迫下含量下降幅度较小.常温下辣椒叶肉细胞的焦锑酸钙沉淀颗粒主要分布于液泡、胞间隙和叶绿体中,热胁迫下液泡、细胞间隙中减少,但在细胞核和细胞质中出现;经过草酸处理的叶肉细胞,焦锑酸钙沉淀颗粒在胞间隙中明显增多,液泡中减少.     

Evolution of Capsaicinoids in Peter Pepper (Capsicum annuum var. annuum) During Fruit Ripening

The evolution of individual and total contents of capsaicinoids present in Peter peppers (Capsicum annuum var. annuum) at different ripening stages has been studied. Plants were grown in a glasshouse and the new peppers were marked in a temporal space of ten days. The extraction of capsaicinoids was performed by ultrasound‐assisted extraction with MeOH. The capsaicinoids nordihydrocapsaicin (n‐DHC), capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, homocapsaicin, and homodihydrocapsaicin were analyzed by ultraperformance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)‐fluorescence and identified by UHPLC‐Q‐ToF‐MS. The results indicate that the total capsaicinoids increase in a linear manner from the first point of harvest at ten days (0.283 mg/g FW) up to 90 days, at which point they reach a concentration of 1.301 mg/g FW. The evolution as a percentage of the individual capsaicinoids showed the initial predominance of capsaicin, dihydrocapsaicin, and n‐DHC. Dihydrocapsaicin was the major capsaicinoid up to day 50 of maturation. After 50 days, capsaicin became the major capsaicinoid as the concentration of dihydrocapsaicin fell slightly. The time of harvest of Peter pepper based on the total capsaicinoids content should be performed as late as possible. In any case, harvesting should be performed before overripening of the fruit is observed.     

Spatial and temporal regulation of the metabolism of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species during the early development of pepper (Capsicum annuum) seedlings

Background and Aims The development of seedlings involves many morphological, physiological and biochemical processes, which are controlled by many factors. Some reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS, respectively) are implicated as signal molecules in physiological and phytopathological processes. Pepper (Capsicum annuum) is a very important crop and the goal of this work was to provide a framework of the behaviour of the key elements in the metabolism of ROS and RNS in the main organs of pepper during its development.Methods The main seedling organs (roots, hypocotyls and green cotyledons) of pepper seedlings were analysed 7, 10 and 14 d after germination. Activity and gene expression of the main enzymatic antioxidants (catalase, ascorbate–glutathione cycle enzymes), NADP-generating dehydrogenases and S-nitrosoglutathione reductase were determined. Cellular distribution of nitric oxide (^·NO), superoxide radical (O₂^·–) and peroxynitrite (ONOO^–) was investigated using confocal laser scanning microscopy.Key Results The metabolism of ROS and RNS during pepper seedling development was highly regulated and showed significant plasticity, which was co-ordinated among the main seedling organs, resulting in correct development. Catalase showed higher activity in the aerial parts of the seedling (hypocotyls and green cotyledons) whereas roots of 7-d-old seedlings contained higher activity of the enzymatic components of the ascorbate glutathione cycle, NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase and NADP-malic enzyme.Conclusions There is differential regulation of the metabolism of ROS, nitric oxide and NADP dehydrogenases in the different plant organs during seedling development in pepper in the absence of stress. The metabolism of ROS and RNS seems to contribute significantly to plant development since their components are involved directly or indirectly in many metabolic pathways. Thus, specific molecules such as H₂O₂ and NO have implications for signalling, and their temporal and spatial regulation contributes to the success of seedling establishment.     

Endophytic bacterial flora in root and stem tissues of black pepper (Piper nigrum L.) genotype: isolation, identification and evaluation against Phytophthora capsici

Aim:  To isolate and identify black pepper ( Piper nigrum L) associated endophytic bacteria antagonistic to Phytophthora capsici causing foot rot disease.
Methods and Results:  Endophytic bacteria (74) were isolated, characterized and evaluated against P. capsici . Six genera belong to Pseudomonas spp (20 strains), Serratia (1 strain), Bacillus spp. (22 strains), Arthrobacter spp. (15 strains), Micrococcus spp. (7 strains), Curtobacterium sp. (1 strain) and eight unidentified strains were isolated from internal tissues of root and stem. Three isolates, IISRBP 35, IISRBP 25 and IISRBP 17 were found effective for Phytophthora suppression in multilevel screening assays which recorded over 70% disease suppression in green house trials. A species closest match (99% similarity) of IISRBP 35 was established as Pseudomonas aeruginosa ( Pseudomonas EF568931), IISRBP 25 as P. putida ( Pseudomonas EF568932), and IISRBP 17 as Bacillus megaterium ( B. megaterium EU071712) based on 16S rDNA sequencing.
Conclusion:  Black pepper associated P. aeruginosa , P. putida and B. megaterium were identified as effective antagonistic endophytes for biological control of Phytophthora foot rot in black pepper.
Significance and Impact of the Study:  This work provides the first evidence for endophytic bacterial diversity in black pepper stem and roots, with biocontrol potential against P. capsici infection.     

辣椒锌指蛋白DnaJ-Like基因家族鉴定及对高温胁迫的表达响应

植物DnaJ-Like锌指蛋白（DNAJE）是近年来发现的一类具有重要功能的蛋白,在光合作用、质体发育与运动和植物抗逆及防御反应中发挥重要作用。基于辣椒全基因组数据,对辣椒DNAJE基因家族（CaDNAJE）进行鉴定,利用生物信息学方法对基因和蛋白特征、比较进化、共线性关系及高温胁迫下基因表达模式等进行分析。结果表明,CaDNAJE基因家族有28个成员,不均匀的分布在10条染色体和3个Scaffold上,氨基酸序列长度为99-470 aa,分子量为10.05-52.26 kD,理论等电点（pI）为4.75-9.64,其编码蛋白主要定位在叶绿体和细胞核中;辣椒、番茄和拟南芥的比较进化分析可将其分为GroupⅠ 和GroupⅡ 2个亚族,同一亚族具有类似的蛋白保守motif和基因结构;CaDNAJE基因启动子区包含大量光响应、激素响应和胁迫应答元件;辣椒与拟南芥DNAJE之间存在10对共线性基因,辣椒种内仅有1对;辣椒不同组织转录组分析发现,GroupⅠ 中多数成员在各组织中均有高表达,而GroupⅡ 中除CaDNAJE2、CaDNAJE9等基因存在高表达外,多数基因表达量都很低甚至不表达;高温胁迫下,辣椒叶片过氧化氢含量急速上升后降低,丙二醛含量持续升高,抗氧化物酶活性也有不同程度的提高。同时,高温诱导热激转录因子Hsf和热激蛋白HSP耐热相关基因及CaDNAJE基因高表达,在不同胁迫时期发挥调控作用。推测CaDNAJE基因家族可能参与辣椒响应高温胁迫,提高其耐受力,以降低细胞损伤。     

Cloning,Purification, and Polymerization of Capsicum annuum Recombinant α and β Tubulin

α and β tubulin genes were cloned from the Capsicum annuum leaves using rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RACE)-PCR. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed that 1,353 bp Capsicum annuum α?β-tubulin (CAnm α?β-TUB) encodes a protein of 450 amino acids (aa) each. The recombinant α?β tubulin was overexpressed mainly as an inclusion body in Escherichia coli BL21 (DE3), upon induction with 0.2 mM isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), and its content was as high as 50% of the total protein content. Effective fusion protein purification and refolding are described. The average yields of α and β tubulin were 2.0 and 1.3 mg/l of culture respectively. The apparent molecular weight of each tubulin was estimated to be 55 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE). The tubulin monomers were found to be assembly competent using a standard dimerization assay, and also retained antigenicity with anti-His/T7 antibodies. The purified tubulins were polymerized to microtubule-like structures in the presence of 2 mM guanosine 5′-triphosphate (GTP).