Desirable changes in the biochemical composition of food plants is a key outcome of breeding strategies. The subsequent localization of nutritional phytochemicals in plant tissues gives important information regarding the extent of their synthesis across a tissue. We performed a detailed metabolomic analysis of phytochemical substances of grains from Zea mays L. (var. Pioneer) by tandem mass spectrometry and localization by confocal microscopy. We found that anthocyanins are located mainly in the aleurone layer of the grain. High-performance liquid chromatography in combination with ion trap tandem mass spectrometry revealed the presence of 56 compounds, including 30 polyphenols. This method allows for effective and rapid analysis of anthocyanins by plotting their distribution in seeds and grains of different plants. This approach will permit a more efficient screening of phenotypic varieties during food plant breeding.

Blue honeysuckle (Lonicera caerulea L.) bears dietary fruits that are rich in bioactive compounds. However, information on the metabolome profiles of honeysuckle varieties grown in Russia is limited. In this study, we employed tandem mass spectrometry to study the metabolome profiles of four L. caerulea varieties (Volhova, Tomichka, Goluboe vereteno, and Amfora) grown in two geographical locations in Russia, i.e., the Russian Far East and St. Petersburg. We observed that the metabolome profiles of the four varieties grown in two locations differ significantly, particularly in the polyphenol’s other compound classes. We were able to identify 122 bioactive compounds in extracts from honeysuckle berries, 75 compounds from the polyphenol group and 47 compounds from other chemical groups. Thirty chemical constituents from the polyphenol group (flavones jaceosidin, cirsiliol, sophoraisoflavone A, chrysoeriol-O-hexoside, flavonols dimethylquercetin-3-O-dehexoside, rhamnocitrin, rhamnetin II, stilbenes pinosylvin, resveratrol, dihydroresveratrol, etc.) and twenty-seven from other chemical groups were identified. The largest number of unique polyphenols is characteristic of the variety Tomichka, the selection of the regional state unitary enterprise “Bakcharskoye”, from the free pollination of L. caerulea, originating in the Primorsky Territory of Russia (L. caerulea subspecies Turczaninow). This genotype has the highest number of similar unique polyphenols, regardless of where it was grown. Blue honeysuckle genotypes originating from Primorsky Krai in Russia can be used in various breeding programs in order to improve and enrich the biochemical composition of fruits. It should also be noted that, regardless of the place of cultivation, the total amount of unique polyphenols remains quite large. Attention should be paid to the Volhova honeysuckle variety, obtained through gamma irradiation of the Pavlovskaya variety (Kamchatka ecotype). This sample is characterized by a stable composition of biologically active substances, regardless of the growing area. These data could support future research on the production of a variety of pharmaceutical products containing ultrapure extracts of L. caerulea.

The research presents a comparative metabolomic study of extracts of Vigna unguiculata seed samples from the collection of the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources. Analyzed samples related to different areas of use in agricultural production, belonging to different cultivar groups sesquipedalis (vegetable accessions) and unguiculata (grain accessions). Metabolome analysis was performed by liquid chromatography combined with ion trap mass spectrometry. Substances were localized in seeds using confocal and laser microscopy. As a result, 49 bioactive compounds were identified: flavonols, flavones, flavan-3-ols, anthocyanidin, phenolic acids, amino acids, monocarboxylic acids, aminobenzoic acids, fatty acids, lignans, carotenoid, sapogenins, steroids, etc. Steroidal alkaloids were identified in V. unguiculata seeds for the first time. The seed coat (palisade epidermis and parenchyma) is the richest in phenolic compounds. Comparison of seeds of varieties of different directions of use in terms of the number of bioactive substances identified revealed a significant superiority of vegetable accessions over grain ones in this indicator, 36 compounds were found in samples from cultivar group sesquipedalis, and 24 in unguiculata. The greatest variety of bioactive compounds was found in the vegetable accession k-640 from China.

In this research, we present a detailed comparative analysis of the bioactive substances of soybean varieties k-11538 (Russia), k-11559 (Russia), k-569 (China), k-5367 (China), k-5373 (China), k-5586 (Sweden), and Primorskaya-86 (Russia) using an LSM 800 confocal laser microscope and an amaZon ion trap SL mass spectrometer. Laser microscopy made it possible to clarify in detail the spatial arrangement of the polyphenolic content of soybeans. Our results revealed that the phenolics of soybean are spatially located mainly in the seed coat and the outer layer of the cotyledon. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used in combination with an amaZon SL BRUKER DALTONIKS ion trap (tandem mass spectrometry) to identify target analytes in soybean extracts. The results of initial studies revealed the presence of 63 compounds, and 45 of the target analytes were identified as polyphenolic compounds.

The intensively pigmented legumes belonging to Phaseolus and Vigna spp. are valued as an essential component of healthy nutrition due to their high content of flavonoids. In this context, we used the accessions of Vigna unguiculata with different colors of seed coats from the N.I. Vavilov All-Russian Institute of Plant Genetic Resources collection as the main object of this research. We applied confocal laser scanning microscopy, biochemical analysis, and wide in silico and molecular genetic analyses to study the main candidate genes for anthocyanin pigmentation within the MYB cluster on chromosome 5. We performed statistical data processing. The anthocyanin content ranged from 2.96 mg/100 g DW in reddish-brown-seeded cowpea accessions to 175.16 mg/100 g DW in black-seeded ones. Laser microscopy showed that the autofluorescence in cowpea seeds was mainly caused by phenolic compounds. The maximum fluorescence was observed in the seed coat, while its dark color, due to the highest level of red fluorescence, pointed to the presence of anthocyanins and anthocyanidins. Genes of the MYB cluster on chromosome 5 demonstrated a high homology and were segregated into a separate clade. However, amplification products were not obtained for all genes because of the truncation of some genes. Statistical analysis showed a clear correlation between the high content of anthocyanins in cowpea seeds and the presence of PCR products with primers Vigun05g0393-300-1.

Two new species of the genus Ypsolopha Latreille, 1796 are described from Far East of Russia: Ypsolopha melanofuscella sp. n. and Y. straminella sp. n. Two new synomymies are proposed: Y. ulingensis Yang, 1977, a new junior synonym of Y. costibasella (Caradja, 1939); and Cerostoma falculella Erschoff, 1877, a new junior synonym of Y. asperella Linnaeus, 1761. The species Y. costibasella Caradja, 1939, Y. nigrofasciata Yang, 1977 and Y. nigrimaculata Byun et Park, 2001 are recorded from Far East of Russia for the first time. The male genitalia of Y. nigrofasciata are described and illustrated for the first time, diagnostic genital characters are given.