Efficient Micropropagation of and for Large-Scale Propagation and Integration into Green Roof Systems.

Urban expansion has led to two significant environmental challenges: the reduction in green spaces and the rise in urban temperatures, decreasing city livability. Green roofs have emerged as a sustainable solution to mitigate these issues, offering ecological and economic benefits while improving building energy efficiency. Some species of the genus , particularly and , are ideal for such green infrastructure due to their non-aggressive and superficial root system, high drought tolerance, low nutrient needs, pest and disease resistance, and metabolic adaptability during dry periods.

Response to In Vitro Micropropagation of Plants with Different Degrees of Variegation of the Commercial cv. Fancy (Cactaceae).

This study aims to establish efficient in vitro propagation protocols for cv. Fancy, an ornamental cactus with variegated variants, by evaluating the effects of cytokinin type and explant source on the organogenic response. Plants with different degrees of variegation (0-100%) were classified by size to obtain different explant types (apices, central discs, epicotyls, and hypocotyls).

Micropropagation and Acclimatization of cv. Fancy (Cactaceae): Developmental Responses to Different Explant Types and Hormone Conditions.

The genus includes numerous highly valued species in the ornamental plant market and their propagation is usually carried out using traditional methods. However, there is a lack of information regarding the efficiency of micropropagation through in vitro tissue culture techniques on these species. So, with the objective of establishing an efficient micropropagation protocol that allows for optimizing the plant obtaining processes, the morphogenic potential of cv.

Root-Soil Interactions for Pepper Accessions Grown under Organic and Conventional Farming.

Modern agriculture has boosted the production of food based on the use of pesticides and fertilizers and improved plant varieties. However, the impact of some such technologies is high and not sustainable in the long term. Although the importance of rhizospheres in final plant performance, nutrient cycling, and ecosystems is well recognized, there is still a lack of information on the interactions of their main players.

The Effect of the Varietal Type, Ripening Stage, and Growing Conditions on the Content and Profile of Sugars and Capsaicinoids in Peppers.

Peppers ( sp.) are used both as vegetables and/or spice and their fruits are used in a plethora of recipes, contributing to their flavor and aroma. Among flavor-related traits, pungency (capsaicinoids) and lately volatiles have been considered the most important factors.

Seed coat lignification level is crucial in Capsicum spp seed longevity.

Capsicum (pepper) is known for its poor seed germination, particularly seed longevity is usually much shorter than other Solanaceae. However, the molecular mechanisms involved are mostly unknown in these species. The present study examines the differences in seed longevity among Capsicum species and varietal types.

Potential In Vitro Inhibition of Selected Plant Extracts against SARS-CoV-2 Chymotripsin-Like Protease (3CL) Activity.

Antiviral treatments inhibiting Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) replication may represent a strategy complementary to vaccination to fight the ongoing Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) pandemic. Molecules or extracts inhibiting the SARS-CoV-2 chymotripsin-like protease (3CL) could contribute to reducing or suppressing SARS-CoV-2 replication. Using a targeted approach, we identified 17 plant products that are included in current and traditional cuisines as promising inhibitors of SARS-CoV-2 3CL activity.

Variation in flavonoids in a collection of peppers (Capsicum sp.) under organic and conventional cultivation: effect of the genotype, ripening stage, and growing system.

Background: In recent years, the acreage used for organic agriculture and the demand for organic fruit and vegetables have increased considerably. Given this scenario, landraces, such as Capsicum landraces, can provide valuable germplasm. Capsicum peppers are very interesting because of their high phenolic content, and particularly their flavonoid content, which provides a high added value.

Response to organic cultivation of heirloom Capsicum peppers: Variation in the level of bioactive compounds and effect of ripening.

Peppers (Capsicum spp.) are one of the most important vegetables and their double use (vegetable or spice) and two commercial stages (unripe and fully ripe) contributed to their use in many recipes and fast diffusion from America. Nowadays, Spain is a center of diversity for C.

Fruit composition diversity in land races and modern pepino (Solanum muricatum) varieties and wild related species.

Pepino (Solanum muricatum) fruits from 15 accessions of cultivated pepino as well as six accessions from wild relatives were evaluated for contents in dry matter, protein, β-carotene, chlorophylls and seven minerals. Several-fold differences among accessions were found for most traits. Average values obtained were similar to those of melon and cucumber, but the phenolic contents were much higher.

Breeding and Domesticating Crops Adapted to Drought and Salinity: A New Paradigm for Increasing Food Production.

World population is expected to reach 9.2 × 10(9) people by 2050. Feeding them will require a boost in crop productivity using innovative approaches.

Carotenoid composition and vitamin A value in ají (Capsicum baccatum L.) and rocoto (C. pubescens R. & P.), 2 pepper species from the Andean region.

The carotenoid patterns of fully ripe fruits from 12 Bolivian accessions of the Andean peppers Capsicum baccatum (ají) and C. pubescens (rocoto) were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-photodiode array detector (PDA)-mass spectrometry (MS). We include 2 California Wonder cultivars as C.

Volatile and capsaicinoid composition of ají (Capsicum baccatum) and rocoto (Capsicum pubescens), two Andean species of chile peppers.

Background: Ají (Capsicum baccatum L. var. pendulum) and rocoto (Capsicum pubescens R.

Effects of organic and conventional cultivation methods on composition of eggplant fruits.

Organic food is associated by the general public with improved nutritional properties, and this has led to increasing demand for organic vegetables. The effects of organic and conventional cultivation methods on dry matter, protein, minerals, and total phenolic content has been studied for two successive years in two landraces and one commercial hybrid of eggplant. In the first year, organically produced eggplants had higher mean contents (expressed on a fresh weight basis) of K (196 vs 171 mg 100 g(-1)), Ca (11.

HS-SPME comparative analysis of genotypic diversity in the volatile fraction and aroma-contributing compounds of Capsicum fruits from the annuum-chinense-frutescens complex.

Volatile constituents of ripe fruits of 16 Capsicum accessions from the annuum-chinense-frutescens complex, with different aroma impressions and geographical origins, were isolated by headspace-solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) and analyzed by gas chromatography-olfactometry-mass spectrometry (GC-sniffing port-MS). More than 300 individual compounds could be detected in the studied genotypes; most of them could be identified by comparing mass spectra and retention times with authentic reference substances or literature data. Esters and terpenoids were the main groups, although other minor compounds, such as nitrogen and sulfur compounds, phenol derivatives, norcarotenoids, lipoxygenase derivatives, carbonyls, alcohols, and other hydrocarbons, were also identified.

Analysis of the volatile aroma constituents of parental and hybrid clones of pepino (Solanum muricatum).

The volatile constituents of 10 clones (4 parents with different flavors and 6 hybrids from selected crossings among these parents) of pepino fruit (Solanum muricatum) were isolated by simultaneous distillation-extraction and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Odor-contributing volatiles (OCVs) were detected by GC-olfactometry-MS analyses and included 24 esters (acetates, 3-methylbutanoates, and 3-methylbut-2-enoates), 7 aldehydes (especially hexenals and nonenals), 6 ketones, 9 alcohols, 3 lactones, 2 terpenes, beta-damascenone, and mesifurane. Among these compounds, 17, of which 5 had not been reported previously in pepino, were found to contribute significantly to pepino aroma.