Carrot (Daucus carota L.) is a highly consumed vegetable rich in carotenoids, known for their potent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and immune-protecting properties. While genetic and molecular studies have largely focused on wild and Western carrot cultivars (cvs), little is known about the evolutionary interactions between closely related Eastern and Western cvs. In this study, we conducted comparative transcriptome profiling of root tissues from Eastern (UHSBC-23-1) and Western (UHSBC-100) carrot cv. to better understand differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with storage root development and vascular cambium (VC) tissue patterning. Through reference-guided TopHat mapping, we achieved an average mapping rate of 73.87% and identified a total of 3544 DEGs (p < 0.05). Functional annotation and gene ontology classification revealed 97 functional categories, including 33 biological processes, 19 cellular components, 45 metabolic processes, and 26 KEGG pathways. Notably, Eastern cv. exhibited enrichment in cell wall, plant-pathogen interaction, and signal transduction terms, while Western cv. showed dominance in photosynthesis, metabolic process, and carbon metabolism terms. Moreover, constructed gene regulatory network (GRN) for both cvs. obtained orthologs with 1222 VC-responsive genes of Arabidopsis thaliana. In Western cv, GRN revealed VC-responsive gene clusters primarily associated with photosynthetic processes and carbon metabolism. In contrast, Eastern cv. exhibited a higher number of stress-responsive genes, and transcription factors (e.g., MYB15, WRKY46, AP2/ERF TF connected via signaling pathways with NAC036) were identified as master regulators of xylem vessel differentiation and secondary cell wall thickening. By elucidating the comparative transcriptome profiles of Eastern and Western cvs. for the first time, our study provides valuable insights into the differentially expressed genes involved in root development and VC tissue patterning. The identification of key regulatory genes and their roles in these processes represents a significant advancement in our understanding of the evolutionary relations and molecular mechanisms underlying secondary growth of carrot and regulation by vascular cambium.

The global promotion of decarbonisation through the circular solutions and (re)use of bio-based resources (BBR), i.e. waste streams, notably from the agricultural, forest and municipal sectors has steadily increased in recent decades. Among the transformative solutions offered by BBR, biosolids (BS), biochars (BC), and bioashes (BA) specifically attract scientific attention due to their highly complex organo-mineral matrices, which present significant potential for recovery in the agro-/forest-ecosystems. These materials enhance various soil (i) chemical (pH, macro/micro nutrient concentrations, organic matter content), (ii) physical (porosity, water–air relations, compaction) or (iii) microbial (diversity, activity) properties. Furthermore, some of transformed BBR contribute to a multitude of environmental services such as the remediation of contaminated sites and wastewater treatment, employing cost-effective and eco-friendly approaches that align with circular economy/waste management principles, ultimately contributing to climate change mitigation. However, several challenges impede the widespread utilization/transformation of BBR, including technological limitations in processing and application, concerns about contamination (e.g., PAHs, PCBs, micro/nano plastics present in BS), toxicity issues (e.g., heavy metals in BA or nanoparticles in BC), and regulatory constraints (e.g., non-uniform regulations governing the reuse of BA and BS). Addressing these challenges demands an interdisciplinary and intersectoral approach to fully unlock the potential of BBR in sustainable decarbonisation efforts.