Chemical Characterization and Metagenomic Identification of Endophytic Microbiome from South African Sunflower (Helianthus annus) Seeds

Abstract

Helianthus annus (sunflower) is a globally important oilseed crop whose survival is threatened by various pathogenic diseases. Agrochemical products are used to eradicate these diseases; however, due to their unfriendly environmental consequences, characterizing microorganisms for exploration as biocontrol agents are considered better alternatives against the use of synthetic chemicals. The study assessed the oil contents of 20 sunflower seed cultivars using FAMEs-chromatography and characterized the endophytic fungi and bacteria microbiome using Illumina sequencing of fungi ITS 1 and bacteria 16S (V3–V4) regions of the rRNA operon. The oil contents ranged between 41–52.8%, and 23 fatty acid components (in varied amounts) were found in all the cultivars, with linoleic (53%) and oleic (28%) acids as the most abundant. Ascomycota (fungi) and Proteobacteria (bacteria) dominated the cultivars at the phyla level, while Alternaria and Bacillus at the genus level in varying abundance. AGSUN 5102 and AGSUN 5101 (AGSUN 5270 for bacteria) had the highest fungi diversity structure, which may have been contributed by the high relative abundance of linoleic acid in the fatty acid components. Dominant fungi genera such as Alternaria, Aspergillus, Aureobasidium, Alternariaste, Cladosporium, Penicillium, and bacteria including Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and Lactobacillus are established, providing insight into the fungi and bacteria community structures from the seeds of South Africa sunflower.

Growth and Yield of Sunflower (Helianthus Annuus L.) Under Different Organic (Farm Yard Manure) and Inorganic Phosphorus Doses

“…This can be the result of insufficient nutritional availability. This outcome is consistent with the findings of Balogun et al (2023). Features and yield of yield Plants injected with mycorrhizal had a notable impact on yield characteristics and yield.…”

Characterization of Microbial Diversity of Two Tomato Cultivars through Targeted Next-Generation Sequencing 16S rRNA and ITS Techniques

“…Conversely, in the context of jam tomato, the prevalence of class Bacilli, order Bacillales, family Bacillaceae , and genus Bacillus is distinctive. The class Bacilli has been associated with spoilage of fruits and vegetables [ 63 ] although the presence of this class including Bacteroidetes has also been attributed to the improvement of plant growth and health [ 64 , 65 ]. In the realm of fungi, the microbial profile of jam tomato showcases a significant prevalence of Saccharomycetes, order Saccharomycetales, family Saccharomycodaceae , and genus Hanseniaspora .…”

Insights into the Mechanism of Action of Helianthus annuus (Sunflower) Seed Essential Oil in the Management of Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus Using Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking Approaches

“…With respect to FABP4, tricosylic acid and linoleic acid had comparably higher docking scores of −6.0 and −6.3 kcal/mol, respectively, though which were lower than rosiglitazone (−8.3 kcal/mol). However, the number of interactions of these SSEO compounds (24 (comprising 2 H bonds (Ala75, Thr24), 11 van der Waal forces (Glu72, Thr60, Asp76, Arg78, Arg126, Ser53, Lys58, Ser55, Val25, Tyr19, Arg106) and 11 (Met20, Ala36, Pro38, Phe51, Ala33, The16, Tyr128, Cys117, Ile104, Met40, Val115) pi-alkyl bonds) Figure 7A), and 22 (which are 1 H bond (Arg126), 12 van der Waals (Gln95, Thr74, Arg78, Val25, Asp76, Lys58, Ser53, Ser55, Cys117, Val115, Tyr128, Arg106) and 9 alkyl/ pi-alkyl (Tyr19, Phe16, Met20, Ala75, Ala33, Ala36, Pro38, Phe57, Ile104) respectively) was higher than that of rosiglitazone (22) [2 H bonds (Arg106, Ser53)], 14 van der Waal (Val23, Arg78, Tyr19, Val115, Tyr128, Ser55, Val25, Met20, Asp76, Gln95, Ala75, Ala33, Phe57, Thr60), 1 pi-cation (Arg126), 1 pi-sulfur (Phe16) and 4 pi-alkyl groups (Cys117, Ile104, Pro38, Ala36) (Figure 7B). Tricosylic acid in complexation with PPARD had the highest docking score (−7.1 kcal/mol) when compared with the other compounds; the score (which was lesser than rosiglitazone, −8.7 kcal/mol) correlated with interaction plot results, exhibiting the highest number (25) consisting of 1 H bond (His287), 9 (Phe316, Trp228, Leu317, Thr252, Phe291, Phe246, Gln250, Leu433, Met417) van der Waals, 2 unfavorable donor-donor bonds (Tyr437, Thr253), and 12 alkyl forces (Leu219, Ile213, Val312, Arg218, Val245, Leu323, Val305, Leu294, Cys249, Ile322, Ile328, Lys331, and 1 pi-alkyl force (His413) (Figure 8A).…”

“…While these seeds are rich in oil (36-50%) [15] and contain largely unsaturated fatty acids [16,17], the plant and its parts are endowed with abundant pharmacological potential [18], including antioxidant [12], antimicrobial [19][20][21], and cytotoxic [21] effects attributed to its metabolites (flavonoids, phenolic acids, tocopherol, saponins, alkaloids, tannins, and terpenes) and/or several phytoconstituents [20]. Additionally, while the quantitative determination of the chemical contents of the various cultivars of the seeds has revealed 23 saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with linoleic acid being the most abundant [22,23], the antidiabetic effects of the plant seed have been established in a few reports [24] as, for example, recently reviewed by Rehman et al [25], though no study has reported the antidiabetic potential of the oilseed of the plant. Moreover, since the quality and therapeutic effectiveness are known as factors which determine the oilseed's ability to lower blood cholesterol and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases, among others, it is important to study the therapeutic role the inherent phytoconstituents play in exhibiting or being responsible for these effects, particularly against T2D as well as the molecular mechanisms underlying their action.…”