Biotechnology Journal International

Bioinformatics Analysis and Expression Profiling of the Jasmonic Acid-responsive Transcription Factor SlMYB83

Zijuan Huang — 2026-04-27

Background: Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) stress responses are strongly regulated by jasmonic acid signaling—especially via MYB transcription factors—yet key regulators like SlMYB83 in JA-deficient spr2 mutants remain largely uncharacterized.

Aims: Based on the tomato SlMYB83 gene previously identified through transcriptome screening, this study aims to elucidate its protein structural characteristics, tissue‑specific expression patterns, and responsive relationship to jasmonic acid (JA) signaling, thereby providing a foundation for subsequent functional studies.

Study Design: A research design integrating bioinformatics prediction with gene expression analysis was adopted to systematically characterize the protein properties of SlMYB83 and its expression changes in a mutant and under exogenous hormone treatment.

Methods: Bioinformatics analyses were performed using tools such as ProtParam, SignalP-5.0, TMHMM, SOPMA, SWISS-MODEL, Plant-mPLoc, PLANTCARE, and STRING. Quantitative real‑time PCR (qRT‑PCR) was used to examine tissue‑specific expression as well as expression differences in the spr2 mutant and under MeJA treatment.

Results: SlMYB83 was characterized as a hydrophilic protein lacking signal peptide and transmembrane domains, localized to the nucleus, and containing a SANT domain. Its promoter harbored stress‑responsive elements including MeJA and ABA. The gene exhibited the highest expression in leaves and the lowest in fruits. SlMYB83 expression was significantly upregulated in the spr2 mutant but markedly downregulated following exogenous MeJA treatment.

Conclusions: This study elucidated the fundamental characteristics of the SlMYB83 protein and revealed that JA negatively regulates its expression, thereby laying a foundation for subsequent functional research.

Cultivation of Pleurotus pulmonarius (Fr.) Quel. and Ganoderma sessile Murrill. on Rice Straw Supplemented with Cassava Peels and Wheat Bran

F. T. Awodiran — 2026-04-25

Mushrooms are members of the Basidiomycota and Ascomycota. Many species of mushrooms live in nature and can be cultivated on special substrates, such as agricultural wastes. Inorganic substrates for the cultivation of mushrooms may cause deleterious effects on the health of man. This necessitates the use of a cheap, environmentally friendly approach to mushroom cultivation. Previous studies on mushroom cultivation focused on the use of rice straw and wheat bran as additives, but with limited information on the use of cassava peels as additives. Therefore, this study investigated the cultivation of Pleurotus pulmonarius and Ganoderma sessile on agricultural wastes. The two mushrooms were cultivated on rice straw with cassava peels (CP) and wheat bran (WB) as additives at varying percentages (0%, 5%, 10% and 20%). The results showed that substrates and additive types with their percentage concentrations significantly (p≤0.05) influenced the mushroom proximate compositions and yield. Rice straw with cassava peel additives, irrespective of their percentage concentration, had better mushroom quality, size, and biological efficiency than wheat bran additives. Frutification was highest at 20% cassava peel additive for Pleurotus pulmonarius with a pileus length, stipe length, and stipe width of 10.7cm,12.20cm, and 13.15 cm, respectively, and G. sessile with pileus length, stipe length, and stipe width of 7.67cm, 4.52cm, and 8.00cm, respectively. Proximate analysis revealed that moisture (90.72%) and fibre (25.64%) contents were higher in 10% P. pulmonarius with cassava peel additive, with the least crude protein (4.01%) content, which are significantly different from values of other samples. Moisture content is not significantly (p>0.05) different in samples. 0% G. sessile CP, 10% G. sessile WB, and 10% P. pulmonarius have the highest protein content (33.59, 30.94, and 23.27 %, respectively) followed by 0. % G. sessile CP, 5% G. sessile CP and 10% G. sessile CP with the lowest (4.01%) observed in other groups of G. sessile. Fat content was generally low in all G. sessile and P. pulmonarius except in 10% (26.19) and 20% (24.18) P. pulmonarius WB. Fibre content is high in 10% P. pulmonarius CP at 25.63%. Carbohydrate content was generally high in all samples except 5% and 10% P. pulmonarius WB.

Effect of Natural Plant-based Bio stimulants on the Growth and Protection of Cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium L. Schott)

Damien Fabrice Wassom — 2026-05-04

Background: Cocoyam (Xanthosoma sagittifolium L. Schott) is an important staple crop for food security worldwide. However, its cultivation faces several constraints, including the limited availability of planting material in both quantity and quality, as well as pests, diseases (root rot) and the inaccessibility of synthetic agricultural inputs.

Aims: The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of bio stimulants derived from natural plants on the growth and protection of cocoyam planting material.

Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Laboratory of Phytoprotection and Valorization of Genetic Resources of the Centre for Biotechnology, and the Laboratory of Biochemistry and Plant Physiology of Higher Teacher’s Training College, University of Yaounde 1, between March and June 2023.

Methodology: A randomized block design was applied in both environments, consisting of six treatments: four bio stimulants derived from natural plant sources (BS1, BS2, BS3, BS4), a chemical fertilizer (NPK 20.10.10) as a positive control, and water as a negative control. Red and white cocoyam planting materials were watered with bio stimulants at 25% from pre-emergence in the greenhouse to emergence under shade conditions, then their effects were evaluated and correlated with agromorphological parameters, as well as growth and defense biomarkers. Statistical analyses included ANOVA with Tukey’s test (5% significance), multi-factor analysis for growth parameters, and Pearson correlation tests.

Results: bio stimulants very significantly stimulated (P< 0.0001) seedling pre-emergence and emergence in terms of agromorphological parameters (number of shoots, stem diameter and height, number of leaves and leaf area) and the accumulation of growth- and defense-related biomarkers (total chlorophylls, total sugars, total phenols, flavonoids, total proteins, PAL, POX and PPO) compared with the positive (C+) and negative (C−) controls. In both varieties, bio stimulants increased the number of shoots by 56.75-92.71%, stem diameter by 77.92-93.33%, stem height by 65.73-96.02%, number of leaves by 72.50-90%, and leaf area by 36.05-82.52%. Biomarker contents ranged between 0.022 and 227.917 mg/g FM, while defense-related enzyme activities ranged between 0.036 and 0.407 µmol/min/mL compared with the controls. BS2 was the most effective treatment across all responses in both red and white cocoyam.

Conclusion: These results suggest that bio stimulants may stimulate plant metabolism and biological processes, while also improving nutrient uptake. They could therefore constitute an effective tool for the biofortification, the promotion of environmentally sustainable agriculture and poverty alleviation.

From Contamination to Functional Shift: Agrochemical Effects on Soil Microbial C:N:P Balance and Enzymatic Activity

Tega Lee-Ann Ataikiru — 2026-05-06

Background: Agrochemicals, while vital for enhancing agricultural productivity, are increasingly recognized as environmental pollutants, impacting soil health and microbial ecosystems.

Aim: This study examined the microbial biomass carbon (MB-C), nitrogen (MB-N), phosphorus (MB-P), soil enzyme activities, and phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) composition of an agrochemical-contaminated farm soil in Ogume, Kwale, Delta State, Nigeria.

Methodology: Soil samples were collected from a farm with a history of intensive agrochemical application and a control site. Microbial biomass carbon (MB-C), nitrogen (MB-N), phosphorus (MB-P), soil enzyme activities, phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were determined using standard procedures.

Results: Results revealed that microbial biomass C, N, and P were significantly lower in contaminated soil (17.86mg/kg, 312.06 mg/kg, and 87.14 mg/kg) compared to the control (15.8mg/kg, 523.47 mg/kg, and 205.32 mg/kg). Similarly, enzyme activities were reduced in the contaminated soil; with β-glucosidase (0.562 µg PNP kg⁻¹ h⁻¹), urease (0.56 mg N NH₄ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹), and phosphatase (25.46 mg PNP kg⁻¹ h⁻¹) values lower than those in the control (0.680 µg PNP kg⁻¹ h⁻¹, 0.63 mg N NH₄ kg⁻¹ h⁻¹, and 29.80 mg PNP kg⁻¹ h⁻¹). Dehydrogenase activity was marginally higher in contaminated soil (6.80 µg PNP kg⁻¹ h⁻¹) than in control soil (6.44 µg PNP kg⁻¹ h⁻¹), suggesting microbial stress adaptation. The total phospholipid fatty acid (PLFA) content in the contaminated soil (10.24 µmol g⁻¹) was notably lower than that of the control (12.46 µmol g⁻¹), reflecting a reduction in viable microbial biomass and potential shifts in community structure associated with agrochemical exposure. No detectable PAHs in both soil samples, implying that microbial and enzymatic alterations were primarily due to agrochemical residues rather than pyrogenic pollution.

Conclusion: This investigation contributes to a better understanding of the ecological consequences of agrochemical pollution on soil microbial communities in tropical agricultural settings, offering valuable insights for sustainable land management and bioremediation strategies.