Phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) acts as the rate-limiting enzyme for anthocyanin biosynthesis through the phenylpropanoid pathway, a crucial component of plant secondary metabolism. The PAL gene family plays a crucial role in plants’ defense and stress responses, but its in silico identification and expression analyses in Brassica oleracea under different abiotic stresses remain unexplored. In this study, nine BolPAL, seven BrPAL, four AtPAL, and seventeen BnPAL genes were obtained from the genomes of B. oleracea, Brassica rapa, Arabidopsis thaliana, and Brassica napus, respectively. Segmental duplication and purifying selection are the causes of the BolPAL gene’s amplification and evolution. The BolPAL genes with comparable intron–exon architectures and motifs were grouped together in the same clade. Three categories comprised the cis-regulatory elements: abiotic stressors, phytohormones, and light. According to the results of the qRT-PCR experiments, the majority of the BolPAL genes were expressed highly under MeJA, a low temperature, and a high temperature, and they were downregulated under ABA. Under white light (100 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹) with 50, 100, or 150 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ far-red (FR), only a small number of the PAL genes were expressed at 50 and 100 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ FR, while the majority of the PAL genes were slightly elevated at 150 µmol m⁻² s⁻¹ FR. This work offers a theoretical foundation for molecular breeding research to investigate the role of BolPAL genes and their role in anthocyanin biosynthesis.

Anthocyanins are a group of polyphenolic pigments that play essential biological roles and significantly influence the quality of agricultural produce. Bioinformatics approaches were employed to predict and identify potential genes involved in the sequestration of anthocyanins in Zicaitai (Brassica rapa var. purpuraria) utilizing data from the transcriptome database. In this study 0-hour light (dark) and 8-hour light treatments of Zicaitai were examined using transcriptome analysis. RNA-seq analysis indicates that 24 important anthocyanin biosynthesis genes, including 5 PAL, 3 4CL, 3 CHS, 3 CHI, 2 F3H, 1 DFR, 2 ANS, and 5 UGFT were significantly differentially expressed between 0-hour and 8-hour light treatment. The transcript levels of the glutathione S-transferase gene, BrGSTF12, were significantly higher at 8 h compared to 0 h. BrGSTF12 expression level correlated with the patterns of anthocyanins content in each tissue of Zicaitai. Functional complementation in the Arabidopsis tt19 mutant further demonstrated that BrGSTF12 was involved in the transport of anthocyanins. Additionally, expression analysis showed that BrMYB114 levels were significantly elevated at 8 h, and dual-luciferase assays confirmed that BrMYB114 effectively trans-activated the promoter of the BrGSTF12 gene. This study provides molecular evidence supporting the regulatory roles of BrGSTF12 and BrMYB114 in enhancing anthocyanin accumulation in Zicaitai under light induction. The findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the mechanisms behind anthocyanin biosynthesis and transport, offering valuable insights that could aid in breeding anthocyanin-rich crops, and paving the way for new opportunities in crop development.

Flowering Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa var. parachinensis) is one of the most popular vegetables in the south of China. As an antioxidant, anthocyanin is an important quality trait in vegetables, and the gene related to anthocyanin biosynthesis in purple flowering Chinese cabbage is also important. In this study, two flowering Chinese cabbage with extreme colors in the stem were used as materials for transcriptome analysis. RNA-seq analysis showed that 6811 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, including 295 transcription factors. Phenylpropanoid biosynthesis, flavone and flavanol biosynthesis, and flavonoid biosynthesis pathways were found to be significantly enriched in the purple flowering Chinese cabbage. A total of 25 DEGs associated with anthocyanin biosynthesis were found at a higher expression in purple flowering Chinese cabbage than in green flowering Chinese cabbage. Bioinformatics analysis shows that BrMYB114 is a candidate gene for the regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis, and heterologous expression analysis of BrMYB114 in Nicotiana benthamiana indicates that BrMYB114 functions in anthocyanin biosynthesis. Therefore, our findings provide vital evidence for elucidating the molecular mechanism in the purple stem in flowering Chinese cabbage.

Macrophomina phaseolina is a vital seed and soil-borne phytopathogen responsible for substantial crop yield losses. Although various methods exist for managing soil-borne pathogens, such as agronomic practices, chemical treatments, and varietal tolerance, biological control utilizing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) or their secondary metabolites presents promising avenues. In this study, a screening of 150 isolates from the rhizosphere of Vigna radiata L. was conducted to identify strains capable of promoting host growth and controlling charcoal rot disease. Among the tested isolates, only 15 strains demonstrated the ability to produce plant growth-related metabolites, including indole acetic acid, hydrogen cyanide, ammonia, and lytic enzymes, and solubilize inorganic phosphate. Subsequently, these potent strains were evaluated for their antifungal activity against Macrophomina phaseolina in vitro. Three strains, namely MRP-7 (58% growth inhibition), MRP-12 (55% growth inhibition), and MRP-8 (44% growth inhibition), exhibited the highest percent growth inhibition (PGI.). Furthermore, a pot experiment demonstrated that the selected strains acted as effective growth promoters and ROS (reactive oxygen species) scavengers, and served as potential biocontrol agents, significantly reducing the incidence of charcoal rot disease and improving various agronomic attributes of the host plant. These findings highlight the potential of these strains to be utilized as biofertilizers and biocontrol agents for sustainable agricultural practices.

Pea sprouts, considered a nutritious and environmentally sustainable vegetable with significant cultivation prospects and market potential, face growth challenges due to salt stress. However, the underlying mechanisms associated with this stress have not been fully elucidated. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a hydroponic study applying various concentrations of NaCl salt stress to pea sprouts. Systematic analysis was performed on key parameters including germination, plant height, biomass, and enzyme activity of pea sprouts under salt treatment. Our aim was to unravel the underlying mechanisms associated with the impact of salt stress on the growth of pea sprouts. Results revealed that salt treatment significantly inhibited the germination process of pea sprouts’ seeds, leading to a notable decrease in plant height and sprout yield. Salt stress induced an increase in MDA content, a decrease in chlorophyll content, and elevated relative conductivity. However, a low concentration of salt treatment enhanced SOD activity, suggesting the activation of oxidative stress resistance mechanisms in pea sprouts. Moreover, salt treatment exhibited an inhibitory effect on soluble protein content while promoting soluble sugar content in pea sprouts. Additionally, low-concentration salt treatment increased the crude fiber content of pea sprouts, while high-concentration salt treatment inhibited it. In summary, this study indicates that salt stress could cause physiological damage to pea sprouts, but pea sprouts may employ metabolic strategies to adapt to the low concentration of salt stress. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the physiological responses of pea sprouts to salt stress and provide valuable insights for its implementation of salt-tolerant cultivation.

Taro is a plant in the Araceae family, and its leafstalk possesses significant botanical and culinary value owing to its noteworthy medicinal and nutritional attributes. Leafstalk colour is an essential attribute that significantly influences its desirability and appeal to both breeders and consumers. However, limited information is available about the underlying mechanism responsible for the taro plant’s colouration. Thus, the purpose of the current study was to elucidate the information on purple leafstalks in taro through comprehensive metabolome and transcriptome analysis. In total, 187 flavonoids, including 10 anthocyanins, were identified. Among the various compounds analysed, it was observed that the concentrations of five anthocyanins (keracyanin chloride (cyanidin 3-O-rutinoside chloride), cyanidin 3-O-glucoside, tulipanin (delphinidin 3-rutinoside chloride), idaein chloride (cyanidin 3-O-galactoside), and cyanidin chloride) were found to be higher in purple taro leafstalk compared to green taro leafstalk. Furthermore, a total of 3330 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified by transcriptome analysis. Subsequently, the correlation network analysis was performed to investigate the relationship between the expression levels of these differentially expressed genes and the content of anthocyanin. There were 18 DEGs encoding nine enzymes detected as the fundamental structural genes contributing to anthocyanin biosynthesis, along with seven transcription factors (3 MYB and 4 bHLH) that may be promising candidate modulators of the anthocyanin biosynthesis process in purple taro leafstalk. The findings of the current investigation not only provide a comprehensive transcriptional code, but also give information on anthocyanin metabolites as well as beneficial insights into the colour mechanism of purple taro leafstalk.