To date, several research studies addressed the topic of phytochemical analysis of the different coloured pepper berries during ripening, but none discussed it in the case of purple peppers. In this study we examine whether the anthocyanin accumulation of the berries in the early stages of ripening could result in a higher antioxidant capacity due to the elevated amount of polyphenolic compounds. Therefore, enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant capacity was measured in four distinct phenophases of fruit maturity. Furthermore, the expression of structural and regulatory genes of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway was also investigated. An overall decreasing trend was observed in the polyphenolic and flavonoid content and antioxidant capacity of the samples towards biological ripeness. Significant changes both in between the genotypes and in between the phenophases were scored, with the genotype being the most affecting factor on the phytonutrients. An extreme purple pepper yielded outstanding results compared to the other genotypes, with its polyphenolic and flavonoid content as well as its antioxidant capacity being the highest in every phenophase studied. Based on our results, besides MYBa (Ca10g11650) two other putative MYBs participate in the regulation of the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the genetic diversity of sour cherries using SSR markers, correlate the data with phenotypic traits, and investigate the suitability of Prunus-specific microsatellite markers in this species. Nineteen sour cherry genotypes from the Fruit Research Institute in Érd, Hungary, were analyzed using twelve SSR primer pairs. The number of alleles ranged from two to ten, with a mean value of 4.67 per locus. The highest number of alleles was generated with BPPCT 007. All the primers displayed a polymorphic pattern. The most informative markers, based on the highest PIC values, were CPPCT022, BPPCT041, and BPPCT030. The genotypes were grouped based on flowering time, ripening time, and fruit weight. To determine the correlation, we have performed a regression analysis association with fruit traits and molecular markers. The marker PceGA025 appeared to have an allele size that statistically significantly correlates to flowering and ripening time. Also, BPPCT002, BPPCT007 and UCDCH17 have an allele that significantly correlates to ripening time. Additionally, one of the alleles of UDP 98 410 appeared to be correlated with fruit weight.

Background: The analysis of genetic diversity of protected plant species can greatly support conservation efforts.Plantago maximaJuss. ex Jacq. is a perennial species distributed along the Eurasian steppe. The westernmost range edge of the species’ distribution is located in the Pannonian basin, in Hungary where it is represented by a few, fragmented and highly endangered populations. We studied population diversity of all Hungarian range edge, natural populations, and one established ex situ population. One population from the centre of distribution (Kazakhstan) was implemented in the cpDNA haplotype study to compare the peripheral vs. central populations. We performed morphometric trait-based analysis, chromosome studies (morphometric analyses and FISH) and genetic diversity evaluations using inter simple sequence repeats (ISSR) and cpDNA trnL-trnF to evaluate differences between the in situ and ex situ populations as well as central vs. peripheral populations.Results: Our results showed no obvious morphological differences among the in situ and ex situ populations in the period between 2018 and 2020. One ex situ subpopulation develops flowers three years in a row from 2019, which is a favourable indicator of the introduction success. Hungarian populations are exclusively diploids (2n = 2x = 12). The karyogram consists of 5 metacentric and 1 acrocentric chromosome pair.Plantago maximahas one 35S and two 5S rDNA loci, located on the acrocentric chromosome pair. Eight variable ISSR primers yielded 100 fragments, of which 74.6% were polymorphic (mean H_e = 0.220). A high level of genetic variation within population was observed (92%) while the genetic differentiation among the populations was only 8%. STRUCTURE analysis revealed that the largest Kunpeszér population separated from the rest of the Hungarian populations, indicating a high rate of admixture among the other ones. Based on the trnL-trnF sequence analysis the Hungarian populations represent a single haplotype, which can indicate a reduced diversity due to isolation and recent population decline. By contrast, Kazakh population represents a distinct haplotype compared to the Hungarian samples.Conclusions: The present study draws the attention to the high conservation value of thePlantago maximapopulations from the westernmost range edge of the species’ distribution.

The endangered plant species Adenophora liliifolia faces threats to its survival in the wild, necessitating the development of effective micropropagation techniques for potential reintroduction efforts. This study demonstrates that Adenophora liliifolia effectively reproduces on MS synthetic medium with diverse plant growth regulators (PGR) and natural extracts, facilitating swift micropropagation for potential future reintroduction endeavors. It highlights the substantial impact of PGR composition and natural extracts on the growth and development of A. liliifolia. The ideal growth medium for A. liliifolia was determined to be ½ MS with specific treatments. Additionally, incorporating silver nitrate (AgNO₃) at 5 mg L⁻¹ into the medium led to enhanced root formation and shoot length, albeit excessive concentrations adversely affected root development. Varying concentrations of NAA significantly affected different plant growth parameters, with the 0.1 mg L⁻¹ treatment yielding comparable plant height to the control. Moreover, 50 mL L⁻¹ of coconut water bolstered root formation, while 200 mL L⁻¹ increased shoot formation during in vitro propagation. However, elevated doses of coconut water (CW) impeded root development but stimulated shoot growth. Experiments measuring chlorophyll a + b and carotenoid content indicated higher concentrations in the control group than differing levels of applied coconut water. Optimizing pH levels from 6.8–7 to 7.8–8.0 notably enhanced plant height and root formation, with significant carotenoid accumulation observed at pH 6.8–7. Soil samples from A. liliifolia’s natural habitat exhibited a pH of 6.65. Ultimately, the refined in vitro propagation protocol effectively propagated A. liliifolia, representing a pioneering effort and setting the stage for future restoration initiatives and conservation endeavors.

Postharvest fungal pathogens, such as Botrytis cinerea, Alternaria alternata and Fusarium culmorum, pose major challenges for pepper (Capsicum annuum) storage and shelf-life. To explore the basis of induced resistance, near isogenic lines (NILs) differing in pigmentation (green vs. purple fruits and their red ripe counterparts) were artificially inoculated and evaluated for disease severity by phenotyping and by qPCR, and metabolite composition by spectroscopy and by HPLC. Infection severity was strongly dependent on whether purple or green NILs were infected and on ripening stage: economically ripe fruits were most susceptible to B. cinerea, whereas biologically ripe fruits displayed higher infection rates with A. alternata. In the case of B. cinerea infection, detailed HPLC analysis revealed that chlorogenic acid and p-coumaric acid were identified as infection-responsive metabolites after analyzing the metabolite changes upon infection. Total anthocyanin content and delphinidin derivatives measured decreased upon infection; however, this effect was not significant in correlation with the infection severity, indicating that B. cinerea infection in low, moderate or severe amounts will lead to the degradation of these compounds. Overall, our findings indicate that anthocyanin accumulation alone did not confer resistance to B. cinerea in pepper, whereas specific hydroxycinnamic acids emerged as infection-responsive markers.