Content Of Substances Research Articles

Integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses uncover the key pathways of Limonium bicolor in response to salt stress.

Salinity significantly inhibits plant growth and development. While the recretohalophyte Limonium bicolor can reduce its ion content by secreting salt, the metabolic pathways it employs to adapt to high salt stress remain unclear. This study aims to unravel this enigma through integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses of L. bicolor under salt stress conditions. The results showed that compared to the control (S0), low salt treatment (S1) led to a significant increase in plant growth, photosynthesis efficiency and antioxidant enzyme activity but caused no significant changes in organic soluble substance and ROS contents. However, high salt treatments (S3 and S4) led to a significant decrease in plant growth, photosynthesis efficiency and antioxidant enzyme activity, accompanied by a significant increase in organic soluble substance and ROS contents. A significant increase in phenolic compounds, such as caffeoyl shikimic acid and coniferin, upon the treatments of S1, S3 and S4, and a decrease and increase in flavonoids upon the treatments of S1 and S3 were also observed, respectively. This study also demonstrated that the expression patterns of key genes responsible for the biosynthesis of these metabolites are consistent with the observed trends in their accumulation levels. These results suggest that under low salt stress conditions, the halophyte L. bicolor experiences minimal osmotic and oxidative stress. However, under high salt stress conditions, it suffers severe osmotic and oxidative stress, and the increase in organic soluble substances and flavonoids serves as a key response to these stresses and also represents a good strategy for the alleviation of them.

Mechanism of chlorobenzene removal in biotrickling filter enhanced by non-thermal plasma: Insights from biodiversity and functional gene perspectives

Biotrickling filter (BTF) technology is inefficient in the treatment of Cl-containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) such as chlorobenzene (CB). This study adopted non-thermal plasma (NTP) as a pretreatment and conducted in-depth analyses, especially in microorganisms, to investigate strengthening mechanism of a NTP to a BTF in the process. The introduction of NTP enhance efficiency of CB removal from 65 % to 90 %, and CO2 generation from 60 % to 85 %. It is found that the protein content of the extracellular polymeric substances increases from 212 × 10-3 mg·g−1 filler to 299 × 10-3 mg·g−1 filler, thus CB capturing and utilization enhanced. Metagenomic analysis showed that bacteria with CB-degrading properties were enriched in BTF, and CB was involved in cellular metabolism as a carbon source. The presence of active substances from NTP is found to stimulate the ability of BTF treatment. The findings of this study will provide theoretical support for the application of NTP–BTF technology.

Efficacy of Tribulus terrestris on diabetes and sexual disorders: A narrative review

Tribulus terrestris L. (T. terrestris) is widely distributed worldwide (Australia, Europe, India, North Africa). It typically contains a substantial amount of active ingredients, especially saponins, alkaloids, flavonoids, tannins, terpenoids, and phenol carboxylic acids. Additionally, T. terrestris has been frequently used in folk medicine and as a food supplement, highlighting the importance of evaluating its phytopharmacological properties. Various hypotheses suggest that this species may have significant potential in preventing and improving various human conditions, including diabetes, inflammatory diseases, low sexual desire, and infertility. Phytochemical studies reveal a significant disparity in the content of active substances, with a notable gap in the concentrations of spirostanol saponins and furostanol, which are the predominant active ingredients associated with therapeutic effects. The objective of this present review is to evaluate T. terrestris -based formulations by exploring various potential mechanisms of action, aiming to determine whether the use of T. terrestris supplements is justified in the context of diabetes and its complications.

The property differences of essential oils extracted by two methods from Dolichos lablab flowers: chemical composition, anti-microorganism and cholinesterase inhibition activities

In this study, the essential oils of Dolichos lablab (syn. Lablab purpureus) flowers (EOFs) were extracted by enzymatic pretreatment plus microwave extraction (EP-ME) method, and the key factors affecting yield of essential oils were investigated. The kinetic curves of essential oils extracted by EP-ME method were fitted, and the results showed that the first-order kinetic model was more appropriate for essential oils extracted by EP-ME method. Under the optimal extraction conditions, EP-ME method not only had high extraction yield, but also had low consumption time. The yield of essential oil extracted by EP-ME method (0.41 ± 0.021% g/g) was 51.9% higher than that by traditional hydro-distillation (HD) method (0.27 ± 0.013% g/g), and the time and energy consumption were 53.33% and 18.62% of the HD method, respectively. The results of GC-MS showed that the contents of main substances in the essential oils by EP-ME method were remarkably increased, including hexadecanoic acid methyl ester (+11.05%), 9Z,12Z,15Z-octadecatrienoic acid methyl ester (+5.26%), (Z)-9-octadecenoic acid methyl ester (+3.85%), methyl hexadic-9-enoate (+3.11%), methyl linoleate (+2.68%), linalool (+1.83%), and methyl stearate (+1.18%). In vitro activity results revealed that EOFs extracted using EP-ME method not only had certain anti-microorganism activity, but also possessed good cholinesterase inhibition activity, and its semi-inhibition concentrations (IC50) against acetyl-cholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase were 2.48 and 2.31 mg/mL, respectively. Therefore, the EP-ME method was a kind of green and effective method for extracting high-quality essential oils from Dolichos lablab flowers.

Acupuncture at Weizhong (BL40) attenuates acetic acid-induced overactive bladder in rats by regulating brain neural activity through the modulation of mast cells and tibial nerves

ObjectiveThe present study evaluated the effects of deep acupuncture at Weizhong acupoint (BL40) on bladder function and brain activity in a rat model of overactive bladder (OAB), and investigated the possible mechanisms around the acupuncture area that initiate the effects of acupuncture. MethodsAdult female Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into six groups, comprising a control group, model group, group treated with deep acupuncture at BL40, group treated with shallow acupuncture at BL40, group treated with acupuncture at non-acupoint next to BL40, and group treated with acupuncture at Xuanzhong (GB39). Urodynamic evaluation was used to observe the urination, and functional magnetic resonance imaging was used to observe the brain activation. The mechanism of acupuncture at BL40 in regulating bladder function was explored by toluidine blue staining and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and the mechanism was verified by stabilizing mast cells (MCs) or blocking tibial nerve. ResultsDeep acupuncture at BL40 significantly increased the intercontraction interval in OAB rats and enhanced the mean amplitude of low frequency fluctuation of primary motor cortex (M1), periaquaductal gray matter (PAG), and pontine micturition center (PMC). It also increased the zero-lag functional connectivity between M1 and PAG and between PAG and PMC. Shallow acupuncture at BL40 and acupuncture at non-acupoint or GB39 had no effect on these indexes. Further studies suggested that deep acupuncture at BL40 increased the number and degranulation rate of MCs as well as the contents of 5-hydroxytryptamine, substance P, and histamine in the tissues around BL40. Blocking the tibial nerve by lidocaine injection or inhibiting MC degranulation by sodium cromoglycate injection obstructed the effects of acupuncture on restoring urinary function and modulating brain activation in OAB rats. ConclusionDeep acupuncture at BL40 may be more effective for inhibiting OAB by promoting degranulation of MCs around the acupoint and stimulating tibial nerve, thereby regulating the activation of the brain area that controls the lower urinary tract.

Ecological response mechanism of alkaline wastewater periphytic biofilms to pH alteration

The environmental impact of indiscriminate alkaline wastewater discharge is increasingly concerning. Studying the ecological response mechanisms of periphytic biofilms to such wastewater is crucial for deepening our understanding of its broader environmental implications. In this study, periphytic biofilms collected from the drainage outlet of a tunnel construction project were developed for 56 days at initial pH values of 10 (pH0 10) and 12 (pH0 12). These stabilized biofilms were then transferred to a neutral environment (pH 7) for another 35 days. High-throughput 16S rRNA sequencing revealed changes in the growth characteristics, microbial interactions, and microbial community composition, function, and assembly patterns of the biofilms. Specifically, results revealed decreased microbial activity, live/dead bacteria ratios, and polysaccharide content in extracellular polymeric substances when the pH was reduced from alkaline to neutral, with incomplete recovery observed after 35 days of incubation in a neutral environment. During neutral pH incubation, proteobacterial abundance increased by 58.39 % and 33.08 % in biofilms cultured at pH0 10 and pH0 12, respectively, becoming the dominant flora, with chemoheterotrophic functions increasing by 8.11 % and 38.23 %, respectively. Network analysis indicated that biofilms in the pH0 12 culture group had a more advanced organizational co-occurrence network, with more complex and stable interactions, than those in the pH0 10 culture group. Microbial community α diversity, key differential species count, the proportion of positively correlated network edges, and null model data showed that microbial communities in biofilms cultured at pH0 10 were more resilient, whereas those cultured at pH0 12 were more resistant. Overall, this study reveals that alkaline wastewater periphytic biofilms adapt and develop high tolerance and metabolic activity but struggle to recover their original state in a short-term neutral environment, with biofilms cultured at pH0 12 exhibiting more complex interactions and higher resistance and those cultured at pH0 10 showing greater resilience.

Study on substrates purification effect and microbial community structure of vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland under siphon effect

To explore the pollutants removal effects of siphon composite vertical flow constructed wetlands (Sc-VSsFCW), alongside the characteristics of microbial communities and the varying trends of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content across substrate layers. Two kinds of distinct Sc-VSsFCW, with loess sphere and clay ceramic grain as substrate materials, respectively, were established. During the experiment, water quality of influent and effluent were detected to investigate system pollutant removal efficiency, routine index detection, microbial diversity analysis and EPS content determination, and substrates were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Results indicated that both substrate systems exhibited good pollutant removal effect, with the average removal rate of 90 % for ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate within the range of 60–70 %. The long-term re‑oxygenation process inherent in the system successfully augmented the dissolved oxygen (DO) content within the wastewater, and facilitate relative high abundance of Nakamurella, Bacillus, and Nitrospira in these two substrate systems, which enhanced organic matter degradation and nitrification processes. Moreover, the hydraulic conductivity and EPS content in both substrate systems displayed a declining trend, suggesting that the system's unique hydraulic conditions strategies effectively mitigated EPS accumulation and diminished the likelihood of biological clogging. Consequently, the system's distinctive re‑oxygenation and siphon drainage methods boast advantages over traditional vertical flow constructed wetlands in terms of enhancing dissolved oxygen levels and mitigating the risk of biological clogging. This study contributes theoretical underpinnings for the application of constructed wetlands in wastewater treatment and clogging mitigation.

Active and Intelligent Packaging Technology for Hilsa (Tenualosa ilisha)

During long marketing chain, Hilsa rapidly lose quality even in chilled condition. When purchase, consumers often get confused to differentiate between stale and fresh Hilsa. Four different active packages; namely, G1 (commercial oxygen absorber + nisin), G2 (commercial oxygen absorber + chitosan), G3 (glucose oxidase + nisin), and G4 (glucose oxidase + chitosan) were manufactured and tested to overcome these troubles. In case of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) content, G3 had lowest TBARS value followed by G4, G1 and G2, while control samples had the highest TBARS value. In regard to protein retention, all active packagings showed higher protein retention than control. Bacterial load was highest (4.87 log CFU/g) in control samples while active packagings had 2.29-3.96 log CFU/g. In case of total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content, G3 had minimum TVB-N content followed by G4, G1 and G2, while control samples had the highest TVB-N content. Phenol red dyed paper strips, which were used as intelligent indicator, did not change bright orange colour in active packages while turned into yellow and pale yellow in control and unacceptable samples, respectively. Active packagings were able to keep quality of Hilsa good for at least 28 days. Described active packagings technologies should be applied to enhance shelf-life of fishery products.

Effect of iron-based nanomaterials on organic carbon dynamics and greenhouse gas emissions during composting process

Iron-based nanomaterials as effective additives can enhance the quality and safety of compost. However, their influence on organic carbon fractions changes and greenhouse gas emissions during composting remains unclear. This study demonstrated that iron-based nanomaterials facilitate the conversion of light organic carbon fraction into heavy organic carbon fraction, with the iron-based nanomaterials group showing a significantly higher heavy organic carbon fraction content (41.88%) compared to the control group (35.71%). This shift led to an increase in humic substance content (77.5 g/kg) and a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, with CO2, CH4, and N2O emissions decreasing by 20.5%, 39.7%, and 55.4%, respectively. Additionally, CO2-equivalent emissions were reduced by 42.9%. Microbial analysis revealed that iron-based nanomaterials increased the abundance of Bacillus and reduced the abundance of methane-producing archaea such as Methanothermobacter and Methanomassiliicoccus. These results indicated that the role of iron-based nanomaterials in regulating reactive oxygen species production and specific microbial communities involved in humification process. This study provides a practical strategy for improving waste utilization efficiency and mitigating climate change.

Sensitivity of the pathogen of barley brown rust (<i>Puccinia hordei</i> G.H. Otth.) to fungicides – derivatives of triazoles and strobilurins

The sensitivity of the North Caucasian population of the pathogen of barley brown rust (Puccinia hordei G.H. Otth.) to fungicides derived from triazoles and strobilurines (preparations Amistar Gold, SK; Amistar Extra, SK; Baliy, KME; Delaro, KS) was determined. The work was carried out under controlled conditions of the greenhouse complex of the Federal National Research and Development Fund on winter barley of the susceptible Vivat variety of the Agricultural Scientific Center “Donskoy”. Winter barley plants in the germination phase were infected with the North Caucasian population of the barley brown rust pathogen. Fungicide treatment was carried out at the first signs of the disease with application rates of 0 (control, without treatment), 50, 100, 150 and 200% (the recommended application rate is assumed to be 100%). It was found that when treating infected barley plants with the fungicide Baliy, KME with different application standards, the biological effectiveness varied from 87.3 to 100%, Delaro, KS – from 78.1 to 100%, Amistar Extra, SK – from 79.2 to 100%, Amistar Gold, SK – from 85.3 to 100%. The use of the recommended dose of treatment(100%) contributed to a decrease in the development of brown rust in all variants by more than 96.9%. When using increased rates of fungicides (150, 200%), the biological efficiency was 100%. The high sensitivity of the North Caucasian population of the pathogen P. hordei to the active substances of the studied fungicides has been proven. For all the studied drugs, the values of LC50 and LC95 were significantly lower in comparison with the recommended concentration in the working solution. The result obtained was due to the content of active substances in fungicides from different chemical classes with different mechanisms of action, which provided high efficiency in suppressing the development of barley brown rust and reduced the risk of resistance.

TREATMENT OF EFFLUENTS OF TEXTILE INDUSTRIES TO REDUCE POLLUTANTS INGRESS INTO SURFACE WATERS

Technological schemes of processing textile materials with special chemicals are considered. A method of reducing the concentration of heavy metal ions in waste water of textile manufacturing enterprises based on the combination of effluents from different technological lines is proposed. To reduce the degree of oxidation of chromium (Cr6+ to Cr3+), as well as to transfer salts of copper, cobalt, nickel and other metals from a liquid to a solid state, it is recommended to mix such wastewater with effluents containing sodium or potassium sulfide. The method can be used at enterprises of the chemical, printing, and paint industries. To reduce the content of sulfides of various metals in wastewater and obtain colloidal sulfur, a method of oxidation of such salts by ozonation using a special ozonator is proposed. Ozonation also makes it possible to reduce the content of organic substances in the total volume of effluents to standardized indicators.

Unravelling depth layers of microbial communities, nitrogen transformation rate, and extracellular polymeric substances in anammox granules

Anammox granules harbor a variety of bacteria, with each granule layer providing a niche for bacteria with specific metabolic functions. To investigate microbial distribution, nitrogen transformation rates, and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) content across the depth layers of anammox granules, granules sized 0.9–2.0 mm were sheared into seven layers. The outer layers exhibited higher anammox bacterial abundance (9.9 %) than the inner layers (8.1 %). In contrast, the abundance of denitrifying bacteria increased from 25.0 % in outer layers to 34.9 % in inner layers. Nitrifying bacteria, along with heterotrophic nitrifying and aerobic denitrifying bacteria, were predominantly found in outer layers. Despite the higher EPS content in inner layers, denitrification rates remained low across all layers, likely due to limited carbon availability from microbial lysis or EPS. These findings offer valuable insights into the niche distribution of microbial communities within anammox granules.

The effect of heat flux on the fire and chemical properties of oak wood (Quercus petraea)

Selected fire properties of oak wood (mass loss, burning rate, and charring rate) and its chemical composition (extraction substances, lignin, cellulose, hemicellulose) were assessed. Oak wood samples with dimensions of 50 × 40 × 50 mm (l × w × t) were thermally loaded by a heat flux of 15, 20, 25, and 30 kW·m-2, using a ceramic infrared heater with a power of 1000 W. At the given thermal loading, the mass loss ranged from 26% to 47%, whereas the burning rate ranged from 0.0365 to 0.0584%·s-1. The maximum thickness of charred layer was 20 mm, and the charring rate reached values from 0.65 to 0.87 mm·min-1, in a time interval of 1800 s. With increasing thermal loading, the content of extraction substances increased by 30% and the content of lignin increased slightly as well. In contrast, the content of hemicelluloses decreased by 10.3%. This indicates that hemicelluloses are the least thermally resistant wood component. The obtained results can be used as basic data for future testing using medium-sized tests. Subsequently, they can be compared with the input parameters for calculating the fire resistance of wooden constructions elements, which will be the subject of further research.

Ozone treatment regulated the anti-exercise fatigue effect of fresh-cut pitaya polyphenol extracts.

The anti-exercise fatigue effect of plant polyphenols is closely related to the content, composition, and extractability of phenolic substances. According to our previous findings, ozone treatment significantly affected the biological effects of fresh-cut pitaya polyphenols. Therefore, this study used C57BL/6 J mice to explore the regulatory mechanism of ozone treatment on the anti-exercise fatigue effect of fresh-cut pitaya polyphenol extract. The result showed that fresh-cut pitaya polyphenols treated with ozone (OP) have a better effect. Compared with the untreated group, the exhaustion time of the OP group was 11.86% longer, the total antioxidant capacity was 54.17% higher, the MDA content was 32.8% lower, and the liver glycogen content was 85.71% higher. The OP group also better regulated substrate metabolism, protecting muscle and visceral weight. The results of RT-PCR were consistent with the results of network pharmacology, and the expression of PI3K and AKT was activated, while SRC and STAT3 were down-regulated. Furthermore, pitaya polyphenols have been demonstrated to exert anti-fatigue effects by increasing the diversity of gut microbiota species. In summary, ozone treatment is a feasible way to improve the nutrition of polyphenols.

Broad beans are available source of protein in compound feed for quails of the parent herd

The priority direction in the development of current poultry farming is the search for new cost-effective and highly effective feed products based on local raw materials that can have a positive effect on poultry productivity and provide a solution to the problems of adequate feeding and provision of poultry with feed protein. One of the most promising means is broad beans as a grain feed crop with a high content of protein and valuable amino acids in the grain, as well as a relatively low content of anti-nutritional substances. Therefore, the introduction of broad beans into the composition of compound feed for quails is of certain value and is an affordable source of protein. The purpose of the research was to study the eff ect of compound feed using broad beans of Sibirskie variety on the productivity and reproductive traits of parent herd of quails. The results of a study on the introduction of 15 % of broad beans into compound feed and their effect on productivity when rearing parent herd of quails have been presented in the article. When quails were fed experimental compound feeds, the average daily feed intake decreased by 4.25 %, and egg production per average layer increased by 5.77 %. Iit was found according to the results of the physiological (balance) experiment that the digestibility of crude protein increased by 1.15 abs.%, crude fat by 2.69 abs.%, crude fi ber by 2.54 abs.%. It was found that the use of experimental compound feeds had a positive effect on the quality of hatching eggs, their hatchability increased by 1.46 abs.%, and the hatching rate of young animals by 1.74 abs.%. It was found that the use of compound feeds with the introduction of 15 % of feed beans in the diet of quails of the parent herd of Radonezh breed contributed to a decrease in the cost of hatching eggs by 8.50 %.

Effects of sucrose and 1-MCP on enzymatic and nonenzymatic antioxidants in postharvest Gynura bicolor DC

After harvesting, Gynura bicolor DC (G. bicolor) undergoes rapid quality deterioration, including decay, nutrient loss, and reactive oxygen species (ROS) burst, greatly limiting its shelf life. This study was performed to evaluate the effects of treatment with sucrose and 1-methylcyclopropene (1-MCP) on indices of quality deterioration, ROS metabolism, and phenylpropanoid metabolism, with the goals of resisting oxidative stress and improving the postharvest quality of G. bicolor. Sucrose treatment activated phenylpropanoid metabolism, increased phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL), cinnamate-4-hydroxylase (C4H), and 4-coumarate:CoA ligase (4CL) activities, and promoted the accumulation of phenolics. The increases in nonenzymatic antioxidants decreased O2·−, ·OH, and H2O2 contents. Conversely, 1-MCP treatment increased NADPH oxidase (NOX) activity and induced transient oxidative stress, which significantly activated enzymatic antioxidants, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX), thus maintaining a lower ROS level. Treatment with both sucrose and 1-MCP exhibited a synergistic effect on alleviating oxidative stress, downregulating GbSAG101 and GbATG expression. Compared with sucrose treatment, 1-MCP treatment showed a greater inhibitory effect on ROS burst. Phenolic substance contents were similar in plants treated with sucrose and 1-MCP at the end of the storage period. Therefore, we speculated that higher levels of antioxidant enzyme activity may decrease the consumption of nonenzymatic antioxidants. Our experimental results indicated the involvement of different pathways in the effects of sucrose treatment, 1-MCP treatment, and combined treatment on delaying ROS burst, and suggested potential alternative methods for the preservation of vegetables with stems during the postharvest storage.

Comparison of Forsythia suspensa leaf fermented tea in the four different regions of Shanxi Province: quality, functional ingredients, and bioactivity

BackgroundForsythia suspensa (F. suspensa) is a plant of the Oleaceae family that is used as a medicinal plant. It is a traditional Chinese medicine that functions in clearing heat and detoxification. F. suspensa contains various phytochemicals, such as lignans, flavonoids, triterpenoids, and phenylethanolic glycosides; however, the main active phytochemical in F. suspensa is phillygenin, which has lipid-lowering, antioxidant, antihypertensive, and tyrosinase inhibitory effects. However, the content of phillygenin in F. suspensa is very low, limiting its application.MethodsThis study used wild F. suspensa leaves (FSL) from Lingchuan County (LC), Anze County (AC), Pingshun County (PS), and Pingding County (PD) in Shanxi Province as experimental materials. Through a single factor and orthogonal experimental design, the fermentation time, temperature, and humidity of F. suspensa leaf fermented tea (FSLFT) were optimized using a black tea fermentation machine. By comparing the differences in phillygrin and phillygenin content in FSL and FSLFT, the optimal production process for increasing phillygenin content in FSLFT was sought. This study also compared the differences in bioactive substance content and in vitro antioxidant and antibacterial functions of wild FSLFT from the four counties to evaluate the quality of wild FSLFT from the four counties.ResultsThe optimal technological parameters of Forsythia suspensa leaf fermented tea (FSLFT): fermentation time of 2 h, fermentation humidity of 80%, fermentation temperature of 35°C, the experimental results showed that the order of influence of each factor on phillygenin content was C (fermentation temperature) > A (fermentation time) > B (fermentation humidity). The cellulase activity of FSLFT was significantly higher than that of FSL (P < 0.05). The total volatile compounds of the wild FSLFT from the four counties were 87 volatile aroma components, 13 of which were common aroma components, and the PCA scores ranged from high to low as follows: AZ-FSLFT > LC-FSLFT > PS-FSLFT > PD-FSLFT. The antioxidant effects of the FSLFT were as follows: AZ-FSLFT > LC-FSLFT > PS-FSLFT > PD-FSLFT. PD-FSLFT had the least inhibitory effect on both Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, whereas AZ-FSLFT had the greatest inhibitory effect.ConclusionFermentation promoted the conversion of phillygrin to phillygenin in FSL, which might be related to the increased cellulase activity in FSL during fermentation. The AZ-FSLFT had the best quality and functional activity, which made sense given its active ingredient content. The AZ-FSLFT had the best quality and functional activity, which made sense given its active ingredient content. This study contributes to the comprehensive development and utilization of F. suspensa leaves for economic and healthcare purposes.

Root morphology, nitrogen metabolism and amino acid metabolism in soybean under low phosphorus stress.

Phosphorus deficiency is a major influence on growth and development of soybean. Therefore, improving phosphorus utilization efficiency in soybean is a research priority for the soybean community. In this experiment, Liaodou 13 (high phosphorus utilization: HPE) and Tiefeng 3 (low phosphorus utilization: LPE) were used as test varieties. We investigated changes in root morphology, amino acid content, and content of key substances of the nitrogen metabolic pathway with normal phosphorus (0.5 mM) and low phosphorus (0.005 mM) treatments. The results showed that the root length, root surface area and number of lateral roots of HPE roots were higher than those of LPE roots under normal and low phosphorus conditions. The contents of different types of amino acids showed different trends in two varieties. The HPE showed small change in the content of total hydrolyzed amino acids under the low phosphorus condition when compared to the normal phosphorus treatment by a 6.67% decrease, on the contrary LPE showed a drastic decrease by 20.36%. However, HPE exhibited similar decreasing trends in the contents of hydrolyzed and free aspartic acid with the low phosphorus treatment. Moreover, the contents of free histidine and valine in LPE were significantly increased by 657.84% and 149.29% respectively, in contrast to significant decreases in HPE. In aspects of major nutrient elements, the contents of phosphorus, total nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen in both HPE and LPE varieties decreased to dramatic levels. However, the nitrate nitrogen content significantly increased 78.51% for HPE and 65.12% for LPE. Compare to the normal condition, the GOGAT activity in HPE decreased by 5.18% but increased by 33.10% in LPE. Compare to the normal condition, the GS activity in HPE increased by 7.26% but decreased by 21.72% in LPE under phosphorus deficiency. In summary, the phosphorus-efficient soybean variety HPE exhibited superior tolerance to low phosphorus deficiency through advantageous root morphology, phosphorus uptake and transfer capability, and balanced amino acid metabolism and nitrogen metabolism pathways.

Evaluation of Five Asian Lily Cultivars in Chongqing Province China and Effects of Exogenous Substances on the Heat Resistance

Lily is one of the world’s important ornamental flowers. Potted Asiatic lily is a further selected dwarf cultivar suitable for indoor or garden planting. However, there is a lack of relevant research on the cultivation adaptability of potted Asiatic lilies cultivars in the Chongqing region which in the southwest of China. This study selected five potted Asiatic lily cultivars, and the phenological period, stem and leaf characteristics, and flowering traits were assessed through statistical observation. The Asiatic lily ‘Tiny Ghost’ and ‘Tiny Double You’ are well-suited for both spring and autumn planting in Chongqing, while ‘Sugar Love’ and ‘Curitiba’ are best planted in the spring. The ‘Tiny Diamond’ is more appropriate for autumn planting due to its low tolerance to high temperature. The application of exogenous substances, including calcium chloride (CaCl2), potassium fulvic acid (PFA) and melatonin (MT), can mitigate the detrimental effects of high-temperature stress on ‘Tiny Diamond’ by regulating photosynthesis, antioxidant systems, and osmotic substance content. A comprehensive evaluation using the membership function showed that the effect of exogenous CaCl2 treatment is the best, followed by exogenous PFA treatment. CaCl2 acts as a positive regulator of heat stress tolerance in Asian lilies, with potential applications in Asian lily cultivation. This study provides reference for cultivation and application of Asian lily varieties in Chongqing region, and also laid the foundation for further research on the mechanism of exogenous substances alleviating heat stress in lilies.

Performance of co-composting Pholiota nameko spent mushroom substrate and pig manure at different proportions: Chemical properties and humification process

Co-composting is the controlled aerobic degradation of organics, using more than one feedstock. By combining the spent mushroom substrate of Pholiota nameko (SMS) and pig manure (PM), the benefits of each could be used to optimize the composting process and the final product. This study introduced a comprehensive evaluation strategy aimed at identifying the optimal co-composting ratio for these two substrates. A 120-day composting trial was conducted, blending SMS and PM in various ratios to evaluate the benefits of co-composting SMS-PM. The results indicated that dissolved organic matter (DOM) in SMS-derived compost primarily originated from plants, whereas PM-derived compost predominantly consisted of microbial metabolic products, and co-composting combined both sources. An increase in aromaticity and humification degree of DOM occurred during the composting process itself rather than being derived from autochthonous origin. Carbohydrates like phenols and alcohols broke down during composting, and microbes utilized polysaccharides as an energy source for humus formation. As co-composting progressed, the treatments with varying mass ratios of SMS to PM, including 8:2, 7:3, 6:4, 5:5, 4:6, and 3:7 were observed to result in a decline in aliphatic hydroxylated chains alongside an enhancement in aromaticity within the compost. Additionally, there was a conversion from organic carbon (C) to carboxyl C within humic acid (HA) due to oxidation and dehydrogenation processes that facilitated the formation of stable nitrogen-containing compounds characterized by condensed aromatic structures. Following thorough evaluation, it was determined that optimal composting efficacy occurred at a mass ratio of SMS to PM equal to 6:4. Post-compost analysis revealed increases in nutrient content; specifically, germination index (GI) value reached 132.7%, while organic matter content attained 45.3%. Conversely, electrical conductivity (EC), C contents of water-soluble substances and humin (Cwss and CHu) decreased by approximately 11.8%, 73.4%, and 29.8% respectively; meanwhile, C contents of humic-extracted acid and HA (CHE and CHA), along with degree of polymerization (DP), increased by 17.3%, 20.3% and 9.9% respectively. The proposed co-compost formula not only facilitated simultaneous recycling of both SMS and PM waste but also transformed them into high-quality organic fertilizers suitable for soil enrichment—effectively addressing challenges faced by both edible fungi cultivation and livestock industries while augmenting organic fertilizer sources for Black land protection.