The phorbol esters in the seeds of Jatropha curcas are a major hindrance to the full exploitation of the potential of this oil crop as a source of raw material for the production of biodiesel. Here, various quantitative proteomic strategies are used to establish the proteomes of roots, leaves, and endosperm of two genotypes of J. curcas with contrasting levels of phorbol esters in the seeds. In total 4532, 1775, and 503 proteins are identified respectively in roots, leaves, and endosperm, comprising 5068 unique proteins; of this total, 185 are differentially abundant in roots, 72 in leaves, and 20 in the endosperm. The biosynthetic pathways for flavonoids and terpenoids are well represented in roots, including the complete set of proteins for the mevalonate and non‐mevalonate/Deoxyxylulose 5‐Phosphate pathways, and proteins involved in the branches which lead to the synthesis tricyclic diterpenoids and gibberellins. Also, casbene synthase which catalyzes the first committed step in the biosynthesis of tigliane‐type diterpenes is identified in roots of both genotypes, but not in leaves and endosperm. This dataset will be a valuable resource to explore the biochemical basis of the low toxicity of Jatropha genotypes with low concentration of phorbol esters in the seeds.

Background Casbene synthase (CS) is responsible for the first committed step in the biosynthesis of phorbol esters (PE) in the Euphorbiaceae. PE are abundant in the seeds of the biofuel crop Jatropha curcas and its toxicity precludes the use of the protein-rich cake obtained after oil extraction as an animal feed and the toxicity of the fumes derived from burning PE containing biofuel is also a matter of concern. This toxicity is a major hindrance to exploit the potential of this crop as a source of raw material to produce biodiesel. For this reason, the current research on J. curcas is mainly focused on the understanding of the biosynthesis and site of synthesis of PE, as an avenue for the development of genotypes unable to synthesize PE in its seeds. Results Here, we present targeted proteomics assays (SRM and PRM) to detect and quantify CS in leaves, endosperm, and roots of two J. curcas genotypes with contrasting levels of PE. These assays were based on the use of reference isotopic labeled synthetic peptides (ILSP) predicted from 12 gene models of CS from the J. curcas genome. Conclusion Our targeted proteomics methods were able to detect and quantify, for the first time, CS gene products and demonstrate the distribution of CS isoforms only in roots from J. curcas genotypes with a high and low concentration of PE. These methods can be expanded to monitor CS, at the protein level, in different tissues and genotypes of J. curcas.

The selection of salinity tolerant bacteria may provide greater promotion of plant growth in soils with salt stress. This study aimed to isolate and select bacterial isolates of sugarcane, tolerant to salinity and plant growth promoters, and assess genetic diversity. To do so, endophytic root and rhizosphere of sugarcane, were isolated in culture medium with and without NaCl. The bacterial population density, the potential for biological nitrogen fixation (BNF), production of indole acetic acid (IAA), inorganic phosphate solubilization and quorum sensing molecule production were evaluated. Furthermore, the genetic diversity was assessed by Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) of nifH. Salinity tolerance tests were also conducted. There was no statistical difference in population density. As for the potential for BNF, IAA production, phosphate solubilization and quorum sensing molecule production, there was a high percentage of positive isolates. In the technique of DGGE nifH, the dendrogram showed high genetic variability. So there was the selection of bacteria that can contribute to the better development of sugarcane in saline soils.

POTENCIAL ALELOPÁTICO DE EXTRATOS DE Cyperus rotundus L. NA GERMINAÇÃO E ESTABELECIMENTO DE PLÂNTULAS DE FEIJÃO-CAUPI Este trabalho investigou os efeitos alelopáticos de extratos de Cyperus rotundus L. na germinação de sementes e crescimento inicial das plântulas de Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. Extratos alcoólicos nas concentrações 0; 1,5%; 3,0%; 4,5%; 6,0%; 7,5% e 9,0%, obtidos a partir da trituração de folhas de C. rotundus L. foram utilizados para umedecimento das folhas de papel toalha “germitest”. Os dados foram submetidos a análise de variância pelo F e as médias comparadas pelos testes de Tukey e Kruscal-Wallis, ambos a 5% de probabilidade. A primeira contagem de germinação, índice de velocidade de germinação, comprimento de raiz, comprimento da parte aérea e massa seca da raiz do feijão-caupi foram analisados de forma paramétrica, sendo constatado que apenas houve significância na variável primeira contagem e uma redução na germinação em relação ao tratamento controle em torno de 10%. Nas condições em que essa pesquisa foi realizada, os extratos alcoólicos de C. rotundus L. não afetam a germinação de sementes e crescimento inicial das plântulas de feijão-caupi.Palavras-chave: tiririca, alelopatia, interferência, plantas daninhas. ABSTRACT:This study aimed to investigate the allelopathic effects of Cyperus rotundus L. extracts on seed germination and early development of seedlings of Vigna unguiculata L. Walp. Alcoholic extracts at concentrations of 0, 1.5%, 3%, 4.5%, 6.0%, 7.5%, and 9.0% were obtained by crushing C. rotundus L. leaves used to moisten the “germitest” paper sheets. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and also both Tukey and Kruscal-Wallis tests were carried out at 5% for the data means. The first germination count, germination speed index, root length, shoot length, and dry root weight of cowpea were parametrically analyzed. The only variable with significance was first germination count. The germination reducted in relation to the control treatment around 10%. Thus, in the conditions used in this research, alcoholic extracts of C. rotundus L. did not affect either seed germination or early growth of cowpea seedlings.Keywords: nut grass, allelopathy, interference, weeds. DOI:

Label-free quantitative proteome analysis of extrafloral (EFN) and floral nectar (FN) from castor (Ricinus communis) plants resulted in the identification of 72 and 37 proteins, respectively. Thirty proteins were differentially accumulated between EFN and FN, and 24 of these were more abundant in the EFN. In addition to proteins involved in maintaining the nectar pathogen free such as chitinases and glucan 1,3-beta-glucosidase, both proteomes share an array of peptidases, lipases, carbohydrases, and nucleases. A total of 39 of the identified proteins, comprising different classes of hydrolases, were found to have biochemical matching partners in the exudates of at least five genera of carnivorous plants, indicating the EFN and FN possess a potential to digest biological material from microbial, animal or plant origin equivalent to the exudates of carnivorous plants.