Plants perceive and respond to herbivore insect eggs. Upon egg deposition on leaves, a strong hypersensitive response (HR)-like cell death can be activated leading desiccation and/or dropping. In Brassica spp., including many crops, the HR-like mechanism against eggs of cabbage white butterflies ( Pieris spp.) is poorly understood. Using two species, crop B. rapa its wild relative nigra , we st...

Fixed heterosis resulting from favorable interactions between the genes on their homoeologous genomes in an allopolyploid is considered analogous to classical heterosis accruing from interactions between homologous chromosomes in heterozygous plants of a diploid species. It has been hypothesized that fixed heterosis may be one of the causes of low classical heterosis in allopolyploids. We used ...

Glucosinolates, trichomes, nitrogen, and carbon are not distributed uniformly through the canopies of mustards. In this study, we asked whether glucosinolate concentrations and trichome densities in two sympatric mustards, Brassica kaber and B. nigra, are highest in tissues of greatest value to the plant. We also asked whether nitrogen or carbon content is the stronger predictor of tissue value...

Most studies on plant defenses against insect herbivores investigate direct and indirect plant defenses independently. However, these defenses are not necessarily mutually exclusive. Plant metabolites can be transmitted through the food chain and can also affect the herbivore’s natural enemies. A conflict may arise when a natural enemy is attracted to a plant that is suboptimal in terms of its ...

Consumers appreciate microgreens for their vast variety of colors and flavors. Usually, they are grown employing peat, a substrate that is used in large quantities. In order to identify more sustainable propagation protocol reduce the amount peat consumed, alternative protocols were evaluated. Jute biodegradable with lower post-harvest costs because it does not leave particles on microgreens. T...