Cultivars of fruit trees can be significantly enhanced, and new ones can be created, through the use of artificially induced polyploidization, a highly effective technique. Reports on the systematic research of autotetraploids in the sour jujube (Ziziphus acidojujuba Cheng et Liu) are currently lacking. Employing colchicine, Zhuguang, the first autotetraploid sour jujube, was launched. This study aimed to analyze the variations in morphological, cytological, and fruit quality characteristics between diploid and autotetraploid organisms. The 'Zhuguang' cultivar, in comparison to the standard diploid, demonstrated a diminished size and a reduction in the overall vitality of the tree. The 'Zhuguang' plant's floral structures, including flowers, pollen, stomata, and leaves, exhibited increased sizes. Increased chlorophyll content in 'Zhuguang' trees led to a perceptible darkening of their leaves to a deeper green shade, ultimately enhancing photosynthetic efficiency and fruit size. The autotetraploid's pollen activity, as well as its ascorbic acid, titratable acid, and soluble sugar content, was inferior to that of diploids. In contrast, a considerably heightened cyclic adenosine monophosphate content was found within the autotetraploid fruit. A heightened sugar-to-acid ratio characterized autotetraploid fruit, leading to a superior and distinctively different taste experience compared to diploid fruit. Our findings show that the autotetraploid sour jujube strain we created effectively satisfies the goals of our optimized breeding strategy for sour jujube, which include the desired traits of smaller tree size, higher photosynthesis rates, enhanced nutrients and flavor, and a greater concentration of bioactive compounds. Undoubtedly, autotetraploids provide a valuable resource for creating triploids and other polyploids, and they are crucial to understanding the evolution of both sour jujube and Chinese jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.).
Traditional Mexican medicine frequently calls upon Ageratina pichichensis for its purported healing properties. In vitro cultures, encompassing in vitro plants (IP), callus cultures (CC), and cell suspension cultures (CSC), were developed from wild plant (WP) seeds. The study aimed to evaluate total phenol content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity via DPPH, ABTS, and TBARS assays, with subsequent HPLC analysis of sonicated methanol extracts for compound identification and quantification. Relative to WP and IP, CC displayed significantly higher TPC and TFC, while CSC generated a TFC that was 20-27 times larger than WP's, and IP had TPC and TFC values that were only 14.16% and 3.88% higher than WP's respectively. Epicatechin (EPI), caffeic acid (CfA), and p-coumaric acid (pCA) were among the identified compounds in in vitro cultures, a finding not observed in WP. Gallic acid (GA) is found in the lowest quantities within the samples, based on quantitative analysis, and CSC produced markedly more EPI and CfA than CC. Despite these findings, in vitro cultivation of cells showed decreased antioxidant activity compared to WP, based on DPPH and TBARS assays where WP's activity exceeded CSC, CSC exceeded CC, and CC exceeded IP's. Consistently, ABTS assays confirmed WP's superiority to CSC, with CSC and CC showing equal activity over IP. A. pichichensis WP and in vitro cultures' production of phenolic compounds, exemplified by CC and CSC, showcases antioxidant activity, positioning them as a biotechnological alternative for isolating bioactive compounds.
The detrimental impact of insect pests on maize production in the Mediterranean region is prominently illustrated by the presence of the pink stem borer (Sesamia cretica), the purple-lined borer (Chilo agamemnon), and the European corn borer (Ostrinia nubilalis). The widespread application of chemical insecticides has promoted the development of resistance in many insect pests, along with detrimental consequences for their natural predators and concerning environmental impacts. Therefore, the most practical and economically viable approach to tackling the destruction caused by these insects is the development of resistant and high-yielding hybrid crops. The research sought to quantify the combining ability of maize inbred lines (ILs), pinpoint superior hybrid combinations, determine the genetic basis of agronomic traits and resistance to PSB and PLB, and analyze the interactions between the assessed traits. Seven genetically diverse maize inbreds were crossed using a half-diallel mating design methodology, yielding 21 F1 hybrid plants. Under natural infestation conditions, the developed F1 hybrids, along with the high-yielding commercial check hybrid (SC-132), were subjected to two years of field trials. Evaluating the hybrids, a significant spread in properties was seen across all recorded features. Non-additive gene action displayed a major role in impacting grain yield and related traits, while additive gene action held more sway in influencing the inheritance of PSB and PLB resistance. IL1, an inbred line, was found to be a suitable parent for developing early-maturing, dwarf varieties. Furthermore, IL6 and IL7 demonstrated exceptional effectiveness in bolstering resistance against PSB, PLB, and grain yield. VE-822 Resistance to PSB, PLB, and grain yield was notably enhanced by the hybrid combinations IL1IL6, IL3IL6, and IL3IL7. Grain yield, its related traits, and resistance to PSB and PLB demonstrated strong, positive correlations. These traits are crucial for indirect selection approaches aimed at optimizing grain yield. The effectiveness of defense mechanisms against PSB and PLB was inversely linked to the date of silking, indicating that early maturity could offer a pathway to circumvent borer attacks. The resistance of crops to PSB and PLB might be determined by the additive effects of genes, and the IL1IL6, IL3IL6, and IL3IL7 hybrid combinations could be considered excellent combinations for enhancing PSB and PLB resistance, which leads to good crop yields.
MiR396's involvement is vital across a spectrum of developmental procedures. The exact role of miR396-mRNA signaling in bamboo's vascular tissue differentiation process during primary thickening remains unexplored. VE-822 Elevated expression of three members of the miR396 family, out of five, was observed in the underground thickening shoots we examined from Moso bamboo. Additionally, the predicted target genes exhibited upregulation/downregulation patterns in the early (S2), middle (S3), and late (S4) developmental stages. From a mechanistic standpoint, we observed several genes that encode protein kinases (PKs), growth-regulating factors (GRFs), transcription factors (TFs), and transcription regulators (TRs) as potential targets for miR396 members. Our analysis indicated the presence of QLQ (Gln, Leu, Gln) and WRC (Trp, Arg, Cys) domains in five PeGRF homologs and a Lipase 3 domain and K trans domain in two other potential targets. This observation was validated via degradome sequencing (p < 0.05). Sequence alignment indicated a high frequency of mutations in the miR396d precursor between Moso bamboo and rice. VE-822 A PeGRF6 homolog was determined through our dual-luciferase assay to be a target of ped-miR396d-5p. The miR396-GRF module was found to be implicated in the developmental trajectory of Moso bamboo shoots. Vascular tissues of two-month-old Moso bamboo pot seedlings, encompassing leaves, stems, and roots, exhibited miR396 localization as revealed by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Through a series of experiments, the conclusion was drawn that miR396 plays a role in directing the formation of vascular tissues in Moso bamboo. We further propose that targeting miR396 members may improve the quality of bamboo through selective breeding.
The European Union (EU), responding to the climate change pressures, has created various initiatives (including the Common Agricultural Policy, the European Green Deal, and Farm to Fork) to tackle the climate crisis head-on and guarantee food security. In these initiatives, the European Union seeks to lessen the harmful effects of the climate crisis and create collective wealth for people, animals, and the environment. High priority must be given to the selection or promotion of crops that can facilitate the attainment of these goals. The crop, flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), proves its worth in multiple fields—industry, health, and agri-food—with its varied applications. Recently, there has been a significant increase in attention for this crop, mainly grown for its fibers or seeds. The literature suggests the potential for flax to thrive in various parts of the EU, likely with a relatively low environmental impact. A key objective of this review is to (i) concisely describe the application, needs, and utility of this particular crop, and (ii) evaluate its potential contribution to the EU, taking into account the sustainability priorities outlined within EU's current policies.
The largest phylum within the Plantae kingdom, angiosperms, demonstrate remarkable genetic diversity, due to the substantial disparity in the nuclear genome size among the various species. Mobile DNA sequences, known as transposable elements (TEs), which can replicate and shift locations within chromosomes, significantly contribute to the varying nuclear genome sizes observed across different angiosperm species. The considerable implications of transposable element (TE) movement, including the complete loss of gene function within the genome, account for the advanced molecular strategies angiosperms use to control TE amplification and movement. The angiosperm's primary line of defense against transposable element (TE) activity is the RNA-directed DNA methylation (RdDM) pathway, which is directed by the repeat-associated small interfering RNA (rasiRNA) class. The miniature inverted-repeat transposable element (MITE) type of transposon has, surprisingly, sometimes managed to avoid the repressive influence of the rasiRNA-directed RdDM pathway.