Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of Heat Shock Protein 70 Family in Theobroma cacao.

<b>Background and Objective:</b> In plants, the 70 kDa heat shock proteins (Hsp70-s) play important roles during growth and development and in response to stresses. This study aimed to provide comprehensive information on the <i>Hsp70 </i>family in cocoa (<i>Theobroma cacao</i>), one of the most important tropical perennial cash crops worldwide. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> A basic local alignment search tool (TBLASTN) against the cocoa genome was performed using <i>Arabidopsis</i> Hsp70-s as queries to detect TcHsp70-s. Sequence analyses were carried out by various bioinformatics tools. <b>Results:</b> A total of 18 members of the <i>Hsp70</i> family has been detected and characterized in the cocoa genome. All general properties, such as physic-chemical parameters, gene structure, phylogenetic tree and sub-cellular localization, were determined using a variety of bioinformatics tools. The expression patterns of the <i>TcHsp70</i> genes in different stages of the zygotic and somatic embryos were investigated. In addition, expression profiles of the <i>TcHsp70</i> genes under <i>Phytophthora megakarya</i> inoculation were analyzed. <b>Conclusion:</b> The results of this study revealed the features and expression analyses of <i>Hsp70</i> genes in cocoa. These findings could provide a strong foundation for further research of the <i>TcHsp70</i> family, which could aid in the development and stress tolerance of cocoa species.

Genome-Wide Identification and Analysis of Genes Encoding Putative Heat Shock Protein 70 in Papaya (Carica papaya).

<b>Background and Objective:</b> In high plants, the 70 kDa heat stress proteins (Hsp70-s) have been regarded as one of the vital components of the cellular network of chaperones and folding catalysts that play important roles in numerous biological processes during growth and development. The Hsp70 families have been reported in many plant species, unfortunately, no information on this important protein family in papaya (<i>Carica papaya</i>). The objective of this study was to provide comprehensive information on the CpHsp70 family in papaya. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> The <i>CpHsp70</i> genes in the papaya genome were identified by a basic local alignment search tool against the papaya genome database by using well-known <i>Arabidopsis</i> Hsp70-s. Sequences were then analyzed by various bioinformatics tools to investigate the characteristics of the CpHsp70 family. <b>Results:</b> A total of 12 members of the CpHsp70 family has been identified and characterized in papaya. By using various computational tools, these results revealed that all general characteristics of the CpHsp70 family, like physic-chemical parameters, gene structure, phylogenetic tree and subcellular localization were provided. The transcriptome atlas was applied to re-analyze the expression patterns of genes encoding the CpHsp70 family in major tissues/organs during the growth and development of papaya plants. <b>Conclusion:</b> Results from this work exhibited the characteristics and expression analysis of the <i>CpHsp70</i> genes of this important tropical fruit crop. Taken together, this study could provide a solid foundation of the CpHsp70 family, which will be helpful in the construction of stress tolerance in papaya plants.

Effect of NPK-SRFS on the Growth, Yield and Essential Oil Composition of Basil (Ocimum basilicum L.).

<b>Background and Objective:</b> Basil (<i>Ocimum basilicum</i> L.), an aromatic herb, is considered one of the most important crops with essential oils as well as other bioactive compounds. Basil leaves have tremendous pharmaceutical benefits and are used for foods. Slow-release fertilizers have been developed to optimize the fertilization of crops. This work aims to discover the effect of NPK Slow-Release Fertilizer Coated by Starch (NPK-SRFS) at different rates on growth, yield and essential oil components of basil grown on the field in Northern Vietnam. <b>Materials and Methods:</b> Basil seedlings, sown from seeds, were used as plant materials. NPK-SRFS was stocked in the Faculty of Chemistry, Hanoi Pedagogical University 2. The experiments were designed in a fully randomized block model, consisting of four treatments with different rates of NPK-SRFS. Each treatment had three replicates with an area of 8 m². Duncan's Multiple Range Test was being used for statistical analysis (p = 0.05). <b>Results:</b> All 3 NPK-SRFS treatments significantly increased the number of buds and leaves per plant compared to the control. However, NPK-SRFS at different rates affected diversely plant height and leaf area of the basil. F5.0 and F10 treatments accelerated chlorophyll content as well as Fv/Fm value in comparison with none NPK-SRFS treatment. The application of NPK-SRFS at different rates caused slightly different changes in basil essential oil composition, especially the content of Methyl Chavicol, the most abundant oxygenated monoterpene and α-trans-Bergamotene, the most abundant sesquiterpene hydrocarbon. <b>Conclusion:</b> The present study provides further insight into the influence of NPK-SRFS on the growth, yield and essential oil components of basil.