Microalgae offer a sustainable platform for biotechnology due to their rapid growth and ability to accumulate high-value metabolites such as lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates. This study investigates the biochemical and morphological responses of Chlorella vulgaris and Scenedesmus incrassatulus across different growth phases and under nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deficiency. Molecular identification and phylogenetic analysis confirmed the taxonomic status of both species. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) combined with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS) revealed species-specific surface structures and elemental composition. S. incrassatulus exhibited a compact, granular morphology, while C. vulgaris showed a smoother, colonial structure. EDS analysis demonstrated higher potassium and phosphorus levels in C. vulgaris, whereas S. incrassatulus presented elevated calcium and magnesium contents. Biochemical profiling indicated a metabolic shift during the stationary phase, with reduced protein synthesis and increased lipid and carbohydrate accumulation. Under nitrogen deficiency, C. vulgaris achieved the highest lipid content (53.68%), while S. incrassatulus reached 45.86%. Carbohydrate accumulation was also prominent during the stationary phase, with values of 49.18% for C. vulgaris and 47.99% for S. incrassatulus. Protein content was highest in the exponential phase and declined under nutrient stress. Elemental analysis via Inductively Coupled Plasma-Atomic Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-AES) confirmed species-specific macronutrient and trace element profiles, supporting EDS data. These findings highlight the adaptive biochemical and structural traits of the two microalgae species, reinforcing their potential in biofuel production, sustainable agriculture, bioremediation, and environmental applications. Future work should focus on optimizing cultivation conditions and exploring genetic approaches to maximize metabolite yields for industrial-scale applications.

Fonio, known to be the smallest and oldest form of millet grown in sub-Saharan Africa, has remained relatively poor of research despite its nutritional, sociocultural, agroecological, therapeutic and economic potentials. Based on systematic literature review, this critical study showed that fonio genetic breeding progress is at a low level. Genetic resources are threatened by erosion, particularly extra-early cultivars of Digitaria exilis, and mainly D. iburua species have practically disappeared in some cultivation countries including Benin. Varietal environment is characterized by lack of improved varieties and seeds, so that cultivars are ecotypes derived from natural selection often with low yields. Seeds, very tiny, are generally heterogenous, in polyvarietal mixtures because of unimproved systems and management by farmers. These ecotypes are susceptible to stem lodging and seed shattering. An exhaustive list of fonio genetic resources from West and Central Africa into catalog remains to be documented. There is a need for regional and international networking of fonio researchers with institutional support for harmonizing germplasm characterization methods, will facilitate descriptors development for all countries. It is necessary to consider in this work wild relative species that have potential genes of resistance/tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. Starting from autogamy and apomixis revealed on fonio, homogenization program using pureline and mass selection of cultivars could enable rapid release of homogeneous and higher yielding materials to farmers and processors. Development of early and yielded varieties, with upright stem and coarse grains, resistant to lodging, shattering, and facilitating mechanical harvesting would enhance effective production revival.

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The functions of DUF640/ALOG (Arabidopsis LSH1 and Oryza G1) domain proteins, which are found in most land plants, have not been well characterized, but some of these proteins regulate inflorescence architecture in rice and specify organ boundaries in Arabidopsis. Arabidopsis DUF640-domain genes are initially identified as LIGHT-SENSITIVE HYPOCOTYLS (LSH) genes. Chinese cabbage leaves have large, white midribs and photosynthetic leaf blades (or lamina). A DUF640 domain gene of Brassica rapa, BrLSH2, is specifically expressed in the midrib of Chinese cabbage. Arabidopsis and rice possess ten LSH family genes, but B. rapa has 24 LSH genes, which can be categorized into two or four groups based on sequence identity. Here, we examined the expression patterns of the LSHs in various Brassica species and analyzed the promoter sequence of the BrLHS2 gene. The transcript levels of most LSH genes were very high in the midrib but low in the leaf blade. These genes were evenly expressed throughout the petiole region of Korean cabbage and highly expressed in the leaf base region near the stem and in the border area in B. oleracea. In addition, BrLSHs were expressed in both bundle and mesophyll cells of the midrib. These expression patterns suggest the possible use of these genes to generate leafy vegetables with altered leaf morphology. The BrLSH2 promoter, which contains auxin- and cytokinin-responsive elements as well as leaf development-related elements, may confer midrib-specific expression, suggesting that this promoter may be useful for the production of midrib-targeted transgenic Chinese cabbage.

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