Light Conditions Research Articles

Perinatal Photoperiod Has Long-Term Effects on the Rest-Activity Cycle and Sleep in Male and Female Mice.

Environmental light conditions during development can have long-lasting effects on the physiology and behavior of an animal. Photoperiod, a clear example of environmental light conditions, is detected by and coded in the suprachiasmatic nucleus. It is therefore possible that differences observed in behavior in adulthood after exposure to different perinatal photoperiods are caused by lasting changes in the suprachiasmatic nucleus or alternatively, in other nuclei affected by perinatal photoperiod. It can then be expected that behavior with strong circadian aspects, like rest-activity and sleep, are affected by difference in photoperiod during development as well. To investigate this further, we exposed mice to different photoperiods during their development in the womb until weaning (long: 16 h of light, 8 h of darkness; short: 8 h of light, 16 h of darkness). After weaning, the animals were exposed to a 12 h:12 h light:dark cycle for at least 3 more weeks and some animals were subsequently exposed to constant darkness. We assessed their rest-activity patterns by recording voluntary locomotor activity and used EEG recordings to determine sleep architecture and electroencephalographic spectral density. Perinatal long photoperiod animals showed a shorter duration of locomotor activity than short photoperiod-developed mice in a 12:12 light-dark cycle. This difference disappeared in constant darkness. In the light phase, that is, during the day, perinatal long photoperiod mice spent less time awake and more time in NREM sleep than short photoperiod-developed mice. No effects of perinatal photoperiod were observed in the EEG spectral density or in response to sleep deprivation. We see lasting differences in behavioral locomotor activity and sleep in female and male mice after exposure to different perinatal photoperiods. We conclude that perinatal photoperiod programs a developing mammal for different external conditions and changes brain physiology, which in turn results in long-lasting, possibly even permanent, changes in the sleep and locomotor activity.

Expedient Access to Structural Complexity via Radical β-Fragmentation of N‒O Bond

Structures containing N‒O bonds have been well established as precursors for nitrogen- and/or oxygen-centered radicals under visible light conditions in modern organic synthesis. While both heterolytic and homolytic scission of N‒O bonds have been extensively documented, intrinsic limitations related to substrate structure somewhat restrict their broader application. This paper highlights a novel strategy that synergistically combines a radical generation process independent of the substrate's redox potential, with a radical-induced β-fragmentation of the N‒O bond. Subsequent manipulation of the generated nitrogen- or oxygen-centered radicals leads to the successful development of group-transfer carboamination of alkenes, ring-opening functionalization of heterocycles, and efficient trifunctionalization of unactivated alkenes.

Evaluating Testing and Use of Photometric Stereo Applications for Riblet Inspection

Computer vision is vital for various applications like object tracking for autonomous driving or quality assurance. Hence, assuring that computer vision fulfills given quality criteria is essential and requires sufficient testing. In previous work, authors introduced a testing method relying on image modifications for a photometric stereo application. Image modifications include pixel errors or the rotation of images to be analyzed, revealing a substantial impact on the computed outcome of the photometric stereo application, depending on the applied modification. This paper focuses on two questions, i.e., (i) whether we can reproduce the impact of image modifications in a real-world setup and (ii) on the practicability of the application of photometric stereo in the application context of quality assurance of riblet surfaces. To answer the first question, we compare the impact of the rotation and light conditions of the analyzed sample with the rotation and light modification applied to the image of the sample. The comparison indicates a similar effect when using rotation and light modifications, showing that testing based on image modifications is valuable for verifying computer vision applications. For the second question, we outline a usage scenario, present experimental observations, and discuss a stochastical model, allowing us to confirm the experiments. Moreover, we outline what to expect when using the computer vision application for real quality assurance.

Artificial Photosynthetic Assemblies Constructed by NH2-UiO-66 Decorated with Spatially Separated Dual Cocatalysts for Enhanced Photocatalytic Uranium Reduction.

The phenomenon of rapid migration of photogenerated charges in natural photosynthetic systems has motivated the design of efficient photocatalysts capable of fast charge separation and efficient reaction kinetics for photocatalytically assisted enrichment and separation of uranium U(VI) in uranium wastewater. In this study, we developed a biomimetic photocatalytic system MnOx/NH2-UiO-66-rGO (M/UiO-rGO) with spatially separated dual cocatalysts. Among them, rGO functions to capture electrons and participates in reduction reactions, while MnOx captures holes and participates in oxidation reactions. The M/UiO-rGO catalyst exhibits excellent performance in photocatalytic reduction of uranium (reaching 91.8% in 1 h), and even under natural light conditions, it exhibits excellent uranium removal ability (80.4%). Using multispectral coupling technology, we further confirmed that enriched uranium undergoes a continuous and complex reaction process of "capture-reduction-free radical oxidation-nucleation-crystallization". This work presents a viable strategy for designing biomimetic photocatalysts with efficient charge separation and rapid reaction kinetics for environmental purification purposes.

Occurrence of Diplodia seriata causing leaf blight on Aucuba japonica in China.

Aucuba japonica is widely planted in China for landscaping purposes, often used for decoration in gardens and parks. In October 2023, a leaf blight on A. japonica was observed in Meicheng Park of Nanyang City (32°59'21″ N, 112°32'54″ E), Henan province. Subsequently, surveys were conducted in different sections of the park, a plant diseases incidence rate of 52% (n = 100). Initial symptoms included black spots and enlarged to leaf blight lesions on leaves. These lesions subsequently spread throughout the plant, causing defoliation, and aesthetic damage. Twenty diseased leaves from 15 plants were collected, and sections between the symptomatic and healthy tissues were cut into 3 × 3 mm2 pieces to isolate the pathogen. The disinfestation process involved surface sterilization with 75% ethanol solution for 30 s, followed by 1% NaClO solution for 1 min., then rinsing with sterile water, and placing on potato dextrose agar (PDA) plates, incubating at 28°C for 5 days under a photoperiodic condition of 12-hour light and 12-hour dark. After isolation, purified fungal isolates (n = 28) were obtained from 33 samples plated. These fungal isolates showed similar morphological phenotypes. The three isolates (DS2, DS8, and DS28) from different park areas were selected for subsequent identification. The colonies were gray to dark brown with abundant aerial mycelium on the surface. For sporulation, isolates were cultivated on 2% water agar bearing autoclaved poplar twigs at 25°C for 21 days (Phillips et al. 2007). Immature conidia were oblong to ovoid with rounded ends, aseptate, and became dark brown at maturity, measuring 25.1 to 21.3 × 11.9 to 7.7 µm (n = 100 per isolate). These morphological characteristics were consistent with the genus Diplodia (Bhat et al. 2023), which may lead to canker, dieback, fruit rot, and leaf spots on economically important forest and horticultural species. For further molecular identification, the genomic DNA of three strains was extracted. The rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region and β-tubulin (tub) and translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1) genes were amplified using primers ITS1/ITS4, Bt2a/Bt2b, and EF1-728F/EF1-986R, respectively (Díaz et al. 2019). The ITS (PP957738 to PP957740), tub (PP960547 to PP960549), and tef1 (PP960550 to PP960552) sequences were submitted to GenBank. A phylogenetic tree of concatenated markers sequences (ITS, tub, and tef1) and ex-type strains sequences was constructed using MEGA software (version 11) with the neighbor-joining method. The three strains formed a clade with the strains CBS114791 and CBS113508 of D. seriata in the phylogenetic trees. Molecular analyses supported the identification of the strains as Diplodia seriata. To verify pathogenicity, conidial suspensions (106 conidia ml-1of isolate DS2) were sprayed onto the wound-free leaves of five A. japonica of three-month-old seedlings. In contrast, another five plants were sprayed with sterile water as a mock-inoculated control. Thirty days post-inoculation, lesions consistent with those observed in the field were present on the inoculated plants, while no symptoms appeared on the mock-inoculated controls. The entire inoculation experiments were repeated thrice. Isolates recovered from the symptomatic plants were identified as D. seriata based on morphological and ITS, tub, and tef1 sequence analyses, fulfilling Koch's postulates. Gummosis of Prunus persica and cankers on Juglans regia and Malus domestica caused by D. seriata have been reported in China (Wang et al. 2011; Zhang et al. 2017; Sha et al. 2023). This is the first report of D. seriata causing leaf blight on A. japonica. Leaf blight seriously affects the aesthetic landscape, and this finding provides valuable insights into the control and spread of D. seriata.

Process Optimization and Techno-Economic Analysis for the Production of Phycocyanobilin from Arthrospira maxima-Derived C-Phycocyanin

C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) is a photosynthetic pigment found in cyanobacteria, notably in Arthrospira species. The extraction of phycocyanobilin (PCB), the chromophore of C-PC, is a common approach to address the instability of C-PC under light, heat, and acidic conditions. Methanol is typically used for PCB extraction. However, its use poses challenges for industrial applications owing to the need for solvent removal, extensive purification, and safety validation. Therefore, this study proposes ethanol as an alternative to methanol, optimizing the ethanol extraction conditions through response surface methodology (RSM) using a central composite design (CCD) and techno-economic analysis. The parameters evaluated were the extraction temperature, time, and C-PC/solvent ratio. Optimal conditions—68.81 °C, 14.91 h, and a C-PC to solvent ratio of 1:95 (w/v)— yielded a predicted PCB yield of 29.18%, closely aligning with the actual value of 29.67 ± 1.33%. A techno-economic analysis for pilot-scale PCB production showed that optimized ethanol extraction could yield 147.13 kg/year with 506 batches, compared with 84.31 kg/year standard methanol extraction with 317 batches. Furthermore, it was evaluated to have a unit production cost of USD 1,413,588/kg, an internal rate of return (IRR) of 53.36%, and a payback time of 1.6 years with increased yields and reduced toxic solvent disposal costs. This study supports scalable PCB production with a natural blue pigment suitable for the food, beverage, and cosmetics industries.

AutoMarineWatcher: Real-Time Maritime Surveillance to Detect Threats using YOLO

Maritime security continues to be a significant challenge due to a rise in piracy and helicopter-based hijackings of commercial vessels. While current detection and defense systems focus on large vessels and naval vessels, addressing smaller-scale threats and hijackings remains underexplored. This paper proposes a system called “AutoMarineWatcher,” which is a novel real-time maritime surveillance solution that uses computer vision by leveraging an existing object detection model. The system provides two levels of warnings, allowing crew personnel to observe and initiate subsequent defensive protocols. This allows a reduction in threat response times to enhance security. The system has demonstrated high accuracy by successfully detecting boats, ships, and helicopters. The detections have been successful, and the system proved its effectiveness in both detections and alerts. The performance of the system has been consistent on regular and infrared footage samples. The system ensured the handling of multiple scenarios in regular lighting conditions and low light conditions. The code is available at github.com/Pro-GenAI/AutoMarineWatcher. Keywords: computer vision, real-time surveillance, maritime surveillance, security, early warning, automated alerts

Copper Ion-Chelated and Polydopamine-Modified Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose Nanoparticles with Multiple Responses for Intelligent Pesticide Release and Improved Foliar Deposition.

Intelligent controlled-release nanopesticides have been a crucial tactic in advanced precision agriculture during the past few years, which can improve pesticide utilization and reduce environmental pollution. Herein, a novel hydroxypropyl methylcellulose-based nanopesticide carrier (PCH) with pH-/enzyme-/near-infrared multiple responses was constructed by the initial cross-linking with dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride and the subsequent copper ion chelation and polydopamine coating. Avermectin (Av) was further loaded to create the intelligent pesticide release system (APCH) by antisolvent precipitation. The release of APCH increases under near-infrared light (NIR) conditions, with an accumulative release that is 3.26 times higher than that without NIR. The contact angles of APCH on cabbage leaves are 33 and 29% lower than those of water and technical Av (Av-tech), respectively, verifying that APCH has a good wettability property. Simultaneously, APCH displays better insecticidal activity than Av formulations because of its outstanding ultraviolet (UV) light stability of Av. The degradation rate of Av in APCH is less than 2% in 50 h under UV light, which is considerably lower than that of Av-tech (∼60%). The biosafety assessments manifest that the PCH carrier has remarkable biological safety on the growth of nontarget organisms in a certain range. Overall, the APCH system is bio-friendly with multiple-response release behaviors, excellent UV light stability, and foliar deposition performance, which can offer a new strategy for sustainable agricultural development.

Somatic embryogenesis and shoot organogenesis in peanut cv. 'Georgia-12Y' and successful transfer to the soil.

An efficient regeneration system was established through somatic embryogenesis and shoot organogenesis using mature embryos explants of peanut cultivar 'Georgia-12Y'. The role of plant growth regulator combinations was investigated for embryogenic callus and somatic embryo induction. Results showed that Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 20 μM picloram (4-amino 3, 5, 6-trichloropicolinic acid), casein hydrolysate (0.2 g/L), sucrose (30 g/L) and sorbitol (10 g/L) supported callus induction in dark and higher number of somatic embryos in light. No somatic embryos were induced at 0.1 μM to 10.0 μM of 2,4-Dichloro phenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and picloram individually. The highest regeneration frequency of 90% was recorded on 40 μM 2,4-D + casein hydrolysate (0.2 g/L), sucrose (30 g/L) and sorbitol (10 g/L). The plantlets regenerated via somatic embryogenesis did not exhibit any morphological abnormalities. Double staining with acetocarmine and Evans blue distinguished between embryogenic and non-embryogenic callus. Histological observations confirmed distinct developmental stages of somatic embryos. On the other hand, highest number of shoots were induced in response to MS + 15 μM thidiazuron (TDZ) among various treatments tested. Incubation of shoots on plant growth regulator free MS medium induced in-vitro flowering after 12 weeks under light conditions. The induction of embryogenic and morphogenic callus and production of fertile peanut plants using manipulations of various plant growth regulators is reported on peanut cultivar 'Georgia- 12Y'.

Response of Morphological Plasticity of Quercus variabilis Seedlings to Different Light Quality

This experiment explores the regulatory mechanisms of various light qualities on the phenotypic plasticity of Quercus variabilis seedlings during their growth. The light conditions included blue light (BL), red light (RL), far-red light (FrL), a blend of RL and FrL with a ratio of 1:1 (RFr1:1L), and a blend of RL and FrL with a ratio of 1:2 (RFr1:2L), alongside a broad-spectrum white light (WL) as the control. Each treatment was maintained at a consistent photosynthetic photon flux density of 400 µmol·m−2·s−1. Results indicate significant morphological variations in Q. variabilis seedlings under different light qualities. Compared to white light treatment, all light quality treatments enhance seedling height, with the FrL treatment exhibiting the most pronounced effect. Seedling ground diameter elongation is stimulated by all light quality treatments, except for the BL treatment. Although the BL treatment promotes leaf morphology in Q. variabilis seedlings, it inhibits root growth, leading to reduced biomass accumulation and a lower root-to-shoot ratio. FrL can mitigate the effects of RL. Under the FrL treatment, Q. variabilis seedlings exhibit a greater increase in plant height and a higher height-to-diameter ratio. While the leaf morphology of RFr1:1L treatment does not show significant advantages, it demonstrates substantial root growth, resulting in the highest biomass accumulation. Quercus variabilis displays the strongest morphological plasticity in its root system, showing greater sensitivity to variations in light quality compared to leaf morphology and biomass accumulation. Strategically optimizing light spectrum and wavelength can significantly boost economic yields and improve the quality of forestry products.

Head-mounted displays based on human eye condition variation patterns

In response to the practical demands for a wide field of view (FOV), long exit pupil distance, and high image quality in head-mounted displays, an initial structure was built based on the principles of catadioptric lenses in a folded optical path (pancake optics) and the field curvature correction formula. Subsequently, using even-order aspheric surfaces, a VR optical system was developed with a FOV of 2w=110∘, an exit pupil distance of 15 mm, and an exit pupil diameter of 8 mm. Compared to traditional designs, a human eye model was introduced as the image plane to construct a VR–human eye optical system analysis model, allowing for direct analysis of the retinal image quality under different states of the human eye. After that, based on medical statistical data, the impact of different light intensity conditions on the retinal image quality of the VR optical system was explored. Experimental results showed that changes in light intensity affect the pupil diameter, which, in turn, influences the final image quality of the system. To solve the issues, two solutions were proposed: adjusting the screen distance and changing the lens spacing. Both methods significantly improved the imaging quality on the human retina, with an increase of over 30% in the average MTF value. A comparison of these methods was conducted, providing valuable references for future VR optical system designs.

The Arabidopsis RING-Type E3 Ligase TEAR4 Controls Seed Germination by Targeting RGA for Degradation.

Light and DELLA proteins are central factors controlling seed germination which is critical for seed plant survival and agricultural production. However, the mechanisms underlying DELLA degradation under different light conditions during seed germination remain to be clarified. Here, it is reported that TIE1-ASSOCIATED RING-TYPE E3 LIGASE4 (TEAR4) and other TEARs redundantly promote DELLA degradation to positively regulate seed germination in Arabidopsis. The tear1/2/3/4/5/6 sextuple mutant displayed delayed seed germination under the white or PhyB-dependent light condition, and nearly no seed germination under the PhyA-dependent light condition. The DELLA protein REPRESSOR OF ga1-3 (RGA) accumulated in tear1/2/3/4/5/6, and disruption of RGA and GA-INSENSITIVE (GAI) in tear1/2/3/4/5/6 rescued defective seed germination. Far-red (FR) light rapidly induced TEARs, and TEAR4 is shown to act as an E3 ligase. It is showed that both GA-dependent and TEAR-mediated DELLA degradation pathways are indispensable for PhyA-dependent germination. It is found that TEAR homologs PpTEAR1 and PpTEAR2 from the moss Physcomitrium patens interacted with Arabidopsis DELLAs to promote their degradation, and overexpression of PpTEAR1 or PpTEAR2 completely rescued defective PhyA-dependent seed germination in phya-211. This findings demonstrate that TEARs act as critical players in fine-tuning seed germination, and TEAR-mediated DELLA degradation might be an ancient pathway conserved in plant kingdom.

Triplet-Excited Riboflavin Promotes Labile Fe(III) Accumulation and Changes Mineralization Pathways in Fe(II)-Catalyzed Ferrihydrite Transformation.

Flavins are well-known endogenous electron shuttles that facilitate long-distance extracellular electron transfer in dissimilatory iron reduction (DIR), but the effects of their photosensitivity on DIR and the transformation of metastable iron (oxyhydr)oxides like ferrihydrite (Fh) remain underexplored. This study compared the kinetics, pathways, and products of Fh transformation catalyzed by aqueous Fe(II) (Fe(II)aq) in the presence of oxidized riboflavin (RFox) at pH 7 under both dark and light conditions. While RFox has a negligible impact on Fe(II)-catalyzed Fh transformation in the dark, its photoexcited triplet state (3RF*) can significantly accelerate interfacial electron transfer (IET) from Fe(II)aq to Fh, increasing the reductive dissolution rate of Fh and boosting the accumulation rate of the key intermediate labile Fe(III) (Fe(III)labile) from 14.2 μM·h-1 to 35.6 μM·h-1. The 3RF*-promoted Fe(II)-Fh IET favors the oxolation of Fe(III)labile to lepidocrocite (Lp) over goethite (Gt) formation during Fh transformation and promotes the subsequent conversion of Lp to magnetite (Mt), altering the mineral products from sole Gt to a mixture of Lp (24.1%), Gt (45.4%), and Mt (30.5%). These findings highlight the notable effects of riboflavin as a photosensitizer on Fh biotransformation, with implications for microbial respiration and elemental cycling in natural environments.

Visible‐Light‐Mediated C−H Difluoroalkylation of (Hetero)arenes: A New Application of Vibration‐Induced‐Emission Molecule 9,14‐Diphenyl‐dihydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazine

AbstractHerein, we report a vibration‐induced emission molecule, 9,14‐diphenyl‐dihydrodibenzo[a,c]phenazines (DPAC), compound‐catalyzed C−H difluoroalkylation of (hetero)arenes under visible light conditions. This method demonstrates the promising potential of vibration‐induced‐emission (VIE) molecules in photocatalysis and facilitates a metal‐free synthetic approach for difluoroalkyl (hetero)arenes with broad substrate scope and functional group tolerance.

Phenothiazine Derivative-Based Photoinitiators for Ultrafast Sunlight-Induced Free Radical Polymerization and Rapid Precision 3D Printing.

In this work, we introduce twenty-six phenothiazine derivatives (PTZs) that were designed and synthesized as visible light photoinitiators. These compounds, in combination with an amine [ethyl 4-(dimethylamino)benzoate (EDB)] and an iodonium salt [di-tert-butylphenyl iodonium hexafluorophosphate (Iod)], could furnish high-performance three-component (PTZs/EDB/Iod) photoinitiating systems that were employed for the free radical polymerization of thick films of a low-viscosity model acrylate resin, namely, trimethylolpropane triacrylate (TMPTA) under visible light and sunlight exposure. A commercial thioxanthone, i.e., isopropylthioxanthone (ITX) was selected to design a reference ITX/EDB/Iod photoinitiating system. Double bond conversions of 87% and 76% were measured for the developed and synthesized photoinitiating systems under 405 and 450 nm light-emitting diode irradiation, respectively, and a conversion as high as 70% could be determined under sunlight irradiation─about 23 times higher than the conversion obtained with the comparable system prepared with the commercial photoinitiator. The relevant photoinitiation abilities and photochemical mechanisms are comprehensively investigated by a combination of techniques including real-time Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV-visible absorption spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, steady-state photolysis, cyclic voltammetry, and electron paramagnetic resonance. Notably, the exceptional performance of the photoinitiators enabled the fabrication of 3D objects with precise morphology and superior resolution through 3D printing and direct laser write techniques. These findings not only provide opportunities for efficient polymerization under artificial and natural light conditions but also pave the way for scalable, cost-effective, environmentally sustainable, and green chemistry-driven curing applications.

The Influence of Light Colour on the Behaviour of Atlantic Cod in an Experimental Setting

Fishing technologies often exploit the visual sensitivity of target species to alter their behaviours. Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua Linnaeus, 1758) are an economically important species, commonly targeted by fisheries in the North Atlantic, yet the behaviour of adult Atlantic cod in reaction to the simultaneous presentation of various light stimuli has not been assessed in an isolated setting to determine if there is a preference for certain light qualities. To assess the influence that artificial light may have on the behaviour of Atlantic cod, we investigated the movement of wild-caught cod in a laboratory setting with green, blue, and white light with a blank control presented in paired choice tests. We predicted that green light would have the greatest influence on cod behaviour and that they would preferentially spend more time in proximity to that light condition. The findings show that cod behaved consistently across trials and across experimental sessions, and that the right side of the arena was preferred regardless of the colours of light presented. These findings indicate that cod do not prefer to spend more time in proximity to certain colours of light in an artificial environment, which has direct implications for animal husbandry, fisheries research, and behavioural ecology.

ThyD Is a Thylakoid Membrane Protein Influencing Cell Division and Acclimation to High Light in the Multicellular Cyanobacterium Anabaena sp. Strain PCC 7120.

Cyanobacteria developed oxygenic photosynthesis and represent the phylogenetic ancestors of chloroplasts. The model strain Anabaena sp. strain PCC 7120 grows as filaments of communicating cells and can form heterocysts, cells specialized for N2 fixation. In the Anabaena genome, ORF all2390 is annotated as encoding a SulA homolog, but sequence similarity to SulA of model bacteria is insignificant. We generated strains that lacked or overexpressed all2390, both of which showed instances of increased cell size, and observed that purified All2390 protein interfered with the invitro polymerization of FtsZ. Heterocyst frequency diminished by all2390 inactivation and increased by all2390 overexpression. Overexpression retarded the dismantlement of Z-ring structures that determines commitment in the differentiating cells. Thus, All2390 can influence cell division affecting heterocyst differentiation. An All2390-GFP fusion protein localized to the thylakoid membranes including the honeycomb membranes, which harbor photosynthetic complexes, in the heterocyst polar regions. Notably, all2390 expression strongly increased under high light, conditions under which growth of the null mutant is compromised. Thus, All2390 appears essential for adaptation to high light conditions. We named All2390 ThyD to reflect its thylakoidal localization and its dual role in cell division dynamics and acclimation of thylakoid membranes to increased light intensity.

Mobile sensing system for phenotyping of forest seedlings in container nurseries

The primary objective of this study was to develop a universal, lightweight, and mobile system that seamlessly integrates the scanner with the construction of the horizontal spray boom at a forest nursery. This innovative approach holds tremendous potential for advancing the assessment and management of forest seedlings, providing valuable insights and streamlining nursery operations. Multichannel spectral devices mounted on irrigation booms can be used to significantly enhance the quality assessment of forest seedlings in container nurseries. Contrary to traditional and time-consuming approaches such as laboratory analysis or destructive sampling, an active canopy optical sensor operates independently of ambient light conditions and does not necessitate spectral reference readings. Mobile irrigation systems in nurseries are ideal for incorporating plant scanners owing to their exceptional repeatability, ensuring consistently high-quality results. In our study, we rigorously tested a set of four ACS 435 Holland Scientific active crop canopy sensor along with the Vega Plus C21 laser sensor, all strategically positioned on a sprinkler boom above the nursery production field from May to September 2022. The seamless integration of these devices with the GeoSCOUT X Holland Scientific data acquisition unit formed the foundation of our system. The primary objective of this study was to develop a universal, lightweight, and mobile system that seamlessly integrates the scanner with the construction of the horizontal spray boom at a forest nursery. This innovative approach holds tremendous potential for advancing the assessment and management of forest seedlings, providing valuable insights and streamlining nursery operations.

Strategies and Protocols for Optimized Genome Editing in Potato.

The potato family includes a highly diverse cultivar repertoire and has a high potential for nutritional yield improvement and refinement but must in line with other crops be adapted to biotic and abiotic stresses, for example, accelerated by climate change and environmental demands. The combination of pluripotency, high ploidy, and relative ease of protoplast isolation, transformation, and regeneration together with clonal propagation through tubers makes potato highly suitable for precise genetic engineering. Most potato varieties are tetraploid having a very high prevalence of length polymorphisms and small nucleotide polymorphisms between alleles, often complicating CRISPR-Cas editing designs and strategies. CRISPR-Cas editing in potato can be divided into (i) characterization of target area and in silico-aided editing design, (ii) isolation and editing of protoplast cells, and (iii) the subsequent explant regeneration from single protoplast cells. Implementation of efficient CRISPR-Cas editing relies on efficient editing at the protoplast (cell pool) level and on robust high-throughput editing scoring methods at the cell pool and explant level. Gene and chromatin structure are additional features to optionally consider. Strategies and solutions for addressing key steps in genome editing of potato, including light conditions and schemes for reduced exposure to hormones during explant regeneration, which is often linked to somaclonal variation, are highlighted.

ArMYB89 and ArCOP1 interaction modulates anthocyanin biosynthesis in Acer rubrum leaves under low-temperature conditions.

Acer rubrum, a famous ornamental tree, produces bright red-coloured leaves because of the temperature decline from summer to autumn. This process's molecular mechanism is elusive, so we have investigated how anthocyanin biosynthesis is induced in A. rubrum leaves under low temperatures. The results of low-temperature treatment under light and dark conditions showed that the low-temperature promoted anthocyanin accumulation in A. rubrum is light-dependent. The transcriptome analysis showed that ArMYB89 was significantly highly expressed in leaves of A. rubrum growing under low temperatures with light conditions. The findings from the Dap-seq analysis, yeast one hybridisation, electrophoretic mobility shift assay and luciferase reporter assay indicated that the ArMYB89 transcription factor binds directly to the promoter of ArUGT52 and stimulates its transcription. The co-expression of ArUGT52 with ArMYB89 significantly induced anthocyanin levels under low temperatures with light conditions. Enzyme activity analysis showed that ArUGT52 could convert Cyanidins and Pelargonidins into Cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and Pelargonidin 3-glucoside, which are considered the main anthocyanins in red colour leaves of A. rubrum. The results of yeast two hybridisation, pulldown assay and bimolecular fluorescence complementation experiment showed an interaction between COP1 and ArMYB89, while in vivo and in vitro protein ubiquitination assay demonstrated that ArCOP1 ubiquitinates ArMYB89. Notably, co-expression of ArCOP1 with ArMYB89 significantly reduced anthocyanin levels, while the virus-induced gene silencing of ArCOP1 significantly induced anthocyanin levels under low temperatures with light conditions. In conclusion, this work revealed the molecular mechanism regulating anthocyanin accumulation in the A. rubrum leaves under low temperatures.