Investigating the Variation between Lignin Content and the Fracture Characteristics in Capsicum annuum Mutant Stems

Bánk Pápai (), Zsófia Kovács, Kitti Andrea Tóth-Lencsés, Janka Bedő, Khin Nyein Chan, Mária Kovács-Weber, Tibor István Pap, Gábor Csilléry, Antal Szőke and Anikó Veres
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Bánk Pápai: Department of Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, MATE Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Zsófia Kovács: Department of Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, MATE Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Kitti Andrea Tóth-Lencsés: Department of Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, MATE Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Janka Bedő: Department of Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, MATE Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Khin Nyein Chan: Department of Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, MATE Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Mária Kovács-Weber: Department of Animal Husbandry Technology and Animal Welfare, Institute of Animal Sciences, MATE Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Tibor István Pap: Department of Animal Husbandry Technology and Animal Welfare, Institute of Animal Sciences, MATE Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Gábor Csilléry: PepGen Kft., Bartók Béla út 41, 1114 Budapest, Hungary
Antal Szőke: Department of Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, MATE Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary
Anikó Veres: Department of Genetics and Genomics, Institute of Genetics and Biotechnology, MATE Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Páter Károly utca 1, 2100 Gödöllő, Hungary

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-11

Abstract: The cultivation of horticultural plants in controlled greenhouse environments is a pivotal practice in modern agriculture, offering the potential to enhance crop productivity and mitigate climate change effects. This study investigates the biomechanical properties and lignin content of various Capsicum annuum mutant lines—‘fragile-plant’ ( frx ), ‘tortuous internodi’ ( tti ), and ‘puffy-structured stem’ ( pfi )—in comparison to a commercially established variety, ‘Garai Fehér’. We employed the acetyl bromide method to quantify lignin content and conducted three-point bending tests to assess rigidity in three distinct regions of the stem. Gene expression analysis of key lignin biosynthetic pathway genes (PAL, C4H, 4CL, CCoAOMT, CAD) was performed using qRT-PCR. The results revealed significant differences in lignin content and breaking force among the genotypes and stem regions. The tti mutants exhibited similar lignin content to the control but lower breaking strength, likely due to elongated internodes. The frx mutants showed uniformly reduced lignin content, correlating with their fragile stems. The pfi mutants displayed abnormally high lignin content in the top region yet demonstrated the lowest stem rigidity in every region. Overexpression of CAD and CCoAOMT was detected in the mutants in specific regions of the stem, suggesting alterations in lignin biosynthesis; however, we could not confirm the correlation between them. Our findings indicate that while lignin content generally correlates with stem rigidity, this trait is complex and influenced by more factors.

Keywords: Capsicum annuum; stem rigidity; biomechanical properties; lignin content; gene expression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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