Ga Content Research Articles

Over Expression of Mango MiGA2ox12 in Tobacco Reduced Plant Height by Reducing GA1 and GA4 Content

The regulation of gibberellic acid 2-oxidase (GA2ox) gene expression represents a critical mechanism in the modulation of endogenous gibberellic acids (GAs) levels, thereby exerting an influence on plant height. In this context, we conducted a comprehensive genome-wide analysis of the GA2ox gene family in mango (Mangifera indica L.), a species of significant economic importance, with the aim of identifying potential candidate genes for mango dwarf breeding. Our findings delineated the presence of at least 14 members within the MiGA2ox gene family in the mango genome, which were further categorized into three subfamilies: C19-GA2ox-I, C19-GA2ox-II, and C20-GA2ox-I. Notably, MiGA2ox12, a member of the C19-GA2ox-II subfamily, exhibited substantial expression across various tissues, including roots, bark, leaves, and flowers. Through overexpression of the MiGA2ox12 gene in tobacco, a distinct dwarf phenotype was observed alongside reduced levels of GA1 and GA4, while the knockout line exhibited contrasting traits. This provides evidence suggesting that MiGA2ox12 may exert control over plant height by modulating GA content. Consequently, the MiGA2ox12 gene emerges as a promising candidate for facilitating advancements in mango dwarfing techniques.

The role of gibberellin synthase gene VvGA2ox7 acts as a positive regulator to salt stress in Arabidopsis thaliana.

Soil salinity is an important environmental component affecting plant growth and yield, but high-salinity soils are a major constraint to the development of the grape industry. Previous studies have provided lines of evidence that gibberellins (GAs) play a significant regulatory role in plant responses to salt stress. However, it remains unclear whether GA2ox, a key enzyme that maintains the balance of bioactive gibberellins and intermediates in plants, is involved in the mechanism of salt stress tolerance in grapes. In this study, we found that GA2ox7 positively modulates salt stress via its ectopic expression in Arabidopsis thaliana. The GA2ox7 gene cloned from grape was a hydrophilic protein, its CDS length was 1002bp. Besides, VvGA2ox7 protein contained DIOX_N and 2OG-FeII_Oxy domains and was localized at the nucleus and cytoplasm. Yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) showed VvARCN1, VvB5R, VvRUB2, and VvCAR11 might be potential interaction proteins of VvGA2ox7. Compared with the wild type, overexpression of VvGA2ox7 in Arabidopsis thaliana enhanced antioxidant enzymatic activities and proline, chlorophyll, and ABA contents, and decreased relative electrical conductivity, malondialdehyde, and GA3 contents. Moreover, overexpression of VvGA2ox7 positively regulated the expression of salt stress response genes (KAT1, APX1, LEA, P5CS1, AVP1, CBF1), indicating that the VvGA2ox7 overexpression improved the salt stress tolerance of plants. Taken together, this investigation indicates that VvGA2ox7 may act as a positive regulator in response to salt stress and provide novel insights for a deeper understanding of the role of VvGA2ox7 in grapes.

Synergistic effects of SAP and PGPR on physiological characteristics of leaves and soil enzyme activities in the rhizosphere of poplar seedlings under drought stress

Super absorbent polymers (SAP) provide moisture conditions that allow plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) to enter the soil for acclimatization and strain propagation. However, the effects of SAP co-applied with PGPR on the physiological characteristics of leaves and rhizosphere soil enzyme activities of poplar seedlings are not well understood. Here, a pot experiment using one-year-old poplar seedlings with five treatments, normal watering, drought stress (DR), drought stress + SAP (DR+SAP), drought stress + Priestia megaterium (DR +PGPR) and drought stress + SAP + P. megaterium (DR+S+P), was performed to analyze the contents of non-enzymatic antioxidants, osmotic regulators and hormones in leaves, as well as rhizosphere soil enzyme activities. Compared with normal watering, the DR treatment significantly decreased the contents of dehydroascorbate (DHA; 19.08%), reduced glutathione (GSH; 14.18%), oxidized glutathione, soluble protein (26.84%), indoleacetic acid (IAA; 9.47%), gibberellin (GA) and zeatin (ZT), the IAA/abscisic acid (ABA), GA/ABA, ZT/ABA and (IAA+GA+ZT)/ABA (34.67%) ratios in leaves, and the urease and sucrase activities in the rhizosphere soil. Additionally, it significantly increased the soluble sugar, proline and ABA contents in leaves. However, in comparison with the DR treatment, the DR+S+P treatment significantly increased the DHA (29.63%), GSH (15.13%), oxidized glutathione, soluble protein (29.15%), IAA (12.55%) and GA contents, the IAA/ABA, GA/ABA, ZT/ABA and (IAA+GA+ZT)/ABA (46.85%) ratios in leaves, and the urease, sucrose and catalase activities in rhizosphere soil to different degrees. The soluble sugar, proline and ABA contents markedly reduced in comparison to the DR treatment. The effects of the DR+SAP and DR+PGPR treatments were generally weaker than those of the DR+S+P treatment. Thus, under drought-stress conditions, the simultaneous addition of SAP and P. megaterium enhanced the drought adaptive capacities of poplar seedlings by regulating the non-enzymatic antioxidants, osmotic regulators, and endogenous hormone content and balance in poplar seedling leaves, as well as by improving the rhizosphere soil enzyme activities.

Bonding Interactions Can Drive Topological Phase Transitions in a Zintl Antiferromagnetic Insulator

AbstractWhile ∼30% of materials are reported to be topological, topological insulators are rare. Magnetic topological insulators (MTI) are even harder to find. Identifying crystallographic features that can host the coexistence of a topological insulating phase with magnetic order is vital for finding intrinsic MTI materials. Thus far, most materials that are investigated for the determination of an MTI are some combination of known topological insulators with a magnetic ion such as MnBi2Te4. Motivated by the recent success of EuIn2As2, the role of chemical pressure on topologically trivial insulator is investigated, Eu5In2Sb6 via Ga substitution. Eu5Ga2Sb6 is predicted to be topological but is synthetically difficult to stabilize. The intermediate compositions between Eu5In2Sb6 and Eu5Ga2Sb6 are observed through theoretical works to explore a topological phase transition and band inversion mechanism. The band inversion mechanism is attributed to changes in Eu–Sb hybridization as Ga is substituted for In due to chemical pressure. Eu5In4/3Ga2/3Sb6 is also synthesized, the highest Ga concentration in Eu5In2‐xGaxSb6, and report the thermodynamic, magnetic, transport, and Hall properties. Overall, the work paints a picture of a possible MTI via band engineering and explains why Eu‐based Zintl compounds are suitable for the co‐existence of magnetism and topology.

Tomato SlARF5 participate in the flower organ initiation process and control plant height

Plant height is a critical agronomic trait closely linked to yield, primarily regulated by Gibberellins (GA) and auxins, which interact in complex ways. However, the mechanism underlying their interactions remain incompletely understood. In this study, we identified a tomato mutant exhibiting significantly reduced plant height. Through gene cloning and bulked segregant analysis (BSA) sequencing, we found that the mutant gene corresponds to the tomato auxin response factor gene SlARF5/MP. Here, we show that overexpression of SlARF5/MP significantly enhances plant height. Additionally, treatment with GA3 restored the plant height of the mutant to wild-type (WT) levels, indicating that GA content is a key factor influencing plant height. We also observed significant upregulation of GA-biosynthesis genes, including GA2-oxidases GA20ox3 and GA20ox4, as well as the GA3 biosynthesis gene GA3ox1, in SlARF5-overexpressing plants. Furthermore, we demonstrated that SlARF5 directly binds to SlGA2ox3, which mediates the conversion of GA3 to inactive GA, therebyregulating its expression. Our findings suggest that SlARF5 modulates GA3 metabolism by regulating GA synthesis genes, ultimately leading to alterations in plant height.

Physiological response of microalga Dunaliella parva when treated with MeJA, GA3.

DpAP2 is a transcription factor regulating carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. It was speculated that MeJA significantly decreased expression of DpAP2 gene, then the decreasing DpAP2 expression significantly inhibited expression of some key enzyme genes such as PSY, PDS and GGPS in carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. In contrast, it was speculated that GA3 significantly increased expression of DpAP2 gene, then the increasing DpAP2 expression significantly increased expression of some key enzyme genes such as PDS and GGPS in carotenoid biosynthesis pathway. To increase the content of carotenoid, we evaluated the effect of DpAP2 overexpression on carotenoid accumulation in D. parva. Transgenic D. parva showed a higher carotenoid content (3.18 mg/g DW) compared with control group (2.13 mg/g DW) at 9 d. The dosage effects of exogenous hormones MeJA and GA3 were found in D. parva cells treated with different concentrations of MeJA (10, 20, 50, 100 μM) and GA3 (10, 20, 50, 100 μM). The high concentrations of MeJA (10-100 μM) inhibited the accumulation of carotenoid, and the relative expression of DpAP2, PSY, PDS and GGPS decreased significantly. On the contrary, the relative expression of DpAP2, PDS and GGPS increased significantly when D. parva was treated with 10, 20, 50 and 100 μM GA3, which promoted the biosynthesis of carotenoid. Therefore, we inferred that there was a hierarchical regulation from hormone, transcription factor, key enzyme gene to carotenoid accumulation in carotenoid biosynthesis. Carotenoid biosynthesis was enhanced by DpAP2 overexpression (1.4930 fold of control) and exogenous substances such as GA3 (1.5889 fold of control), which laid a foundation for massive accumulation of carotenoids in microalgae. In the future, further studies were required to demonstrate the complex regulatory network.

Role of Gibberellic Acid (GA3) in Improving Salt Stress Tolerance of Wheat (Triticum avestivum)

Salinity is a critical environmental factor that adversely affects crop growth and productivity. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of gibberellic acid (GA3) on germination, shoot length, root length, and biomass of two wheat cultivars (Demirhan and Fazılbey) under varying levels of salt stress (0, 5, and 10 dS/m NaCl). GA3 was applied at concentrations of 100 and 200 ppm to assess its potential in alleviating the adverse effects of salinity. The results revealed that GA3 significantly improved germination percentage, shoot length, and root length in both cultivars, with the Demirhan cultivar showing more pronounced responses under higher salt stress. A biplot analysis highlighted the interaction between GA3 treatment, salinity levels, and cultivar performance, confirming the positive role of GA3 in mitigating the detrimental effects of salinity. These findings suggest that GA3 can be an effective strategy for enhancing wheat growth in saline soils. Further studies are recommended to optimize GA3 concentrations and evaluate its long-term effects under field conditions.

OsNAL11 and OsGASR9 Regulate the Low-Temperature Germination of Rice Seeds by Affecting GA Content

Low temperatures cause serious threat to rice seed emergence, which has become one of the main limiting factors in the production of direct seeding rice. It is of great importance to study the genes controlling low-temperature tolerance during seed germination and to mine the possible regulatory mechanism for developing new rice varieties with immense low-temperature germination ability. In the current research study, two types of mutants of nal11 and gasr9, derived from the WT (wild type) ZH11, were used for the analysis of low-temperature germinability. The results showed that the nal11 and gasr9 mutants displayed no significant difference in germination rate with ZH11 at room temperature, but the mutants showed significantly lower germination rates, germination potential and germination index, and slowed seedling growth in the simulated direct seeding experiments at low temperatures compared to ZH11. Additionally, the activity of POD, SOD, CAT, and anti-superoxide anion radial activity were significantly reduced, but the levels of MDA and H2O2 were significantly higher in the nal11 and gasr9 mutant seeds that were germinated at low temperatures compared to ZH11. Further analysis revealed that the levels of total active GA, especially GA4 and GA7, were significantly lower in the nal11 and gasr9 mutants than that in ZH11 during low-temperature germination. Based on qRT-PCR analysis, the expression levels of some GA synthesis-related genes were higher, whereas some were lower in the nal11 and gasr9 mutants than those in ZH11, however, the GA metabolism-related genes OsGA2ox8 and OsGA2ox10 and the GA signaling negative regulator gene SLR1 were significantly up-regulated in both nal11 and gasr9 mutants at several time points during low-temperature germination. This may explain the lower GA levels in the nal11 and gasr9 mutants. Furthermore, the interaction between the OsNAL11 and OsGASR9 proteins was confirmed by Y2H, LUC, and Co-IP assays. This study provides preliminary insights into the regulatory mechanism of the OsNAL11 and OsGASR9 genes, which control the low-temperature germination of rice seeds by affecting the GA pathway. Our study will provide the basis for further mining the molecular mechanisms of low-temperature germination in rice and valuable theoretical reference for breeding varieties with strong low-temperature germinability.

GW3, encoding a member of the P450 subfamily, controls grain width by regulating the GA4 content in spikelets of rice (Oryza sativa L.).

A stable QTL, GW3, controlling grain width was identified in two populations. Its causal gene LOC_Os03g04680 was verified by gene-based haplotype analysis, expression analysis, gene knockout and complementation transgenic tests. Grain width (GW) is one of the key traits affecting grain size and determines grain yield and appearance quality in rice. Mining gene loci and elite alleles controlling GW is necessary. The GW phenotypes of the two populations were investigated in three environments, which showed abundant phenotypic variation. GW3, encoding a P450 subfamily protein, was identified and validated as a causal gene by gene-based haplotype analysis, expression analysis, gene knockout and complementation transgenic tests. The accessions with large GW values had high gene expression levels. In addition, the GW of the accessions with the GG allele was significantly greater than that of the accessions with the AA allele. The Hap 1 and Hap 3 were identified as elite haplotypes, which can increase GW. The expression levels of OsKO1, OsGA3ox1, OsGA20ox1 and OsGA20ox2 in the young panicle of A7444 were significantly greater than those in the young panicle of the mutants, indicating that GW3 may be involved in the gibberellins (GA) biosynthesis pathway to regulate GW. GA4 content detection and electron scanning analysis revealed that GA4 regulates GW by affecting glume cell size. These results provide new insights for studying the genetic mechanism of rice GW and provide a material basis for breeding high-yield rice varieties.

Single-Base Methylome Analysis of Sweet Cherry (Prunus avium L.) on Dwarfing Rootstocks Reveals Epigenomic Differences Associated with Scion Dwarfing Conferred by Grafting

Plant grafting using dwarfing rootstocks is one of the important cultivation measures in the sweet cherry (Prunus avium) industry. In this work, we aimed to explore the effects of the dwarfing rootstock “Pd1” (Prunus tomentosa) on sweet cherry ‘Shuguang2’ scions by performing morphological observations using the paraffin slice technique, detecting GA (gibberellin) and IAA (auxin) contents using UPLC-QTRAP-MS (ultra-performance liquid chromatography coupled with a hybrid triple quadrupole-linear ion trap mass spectrometer), and implementing integration analyses of the epigenome and transcriptome using whole-genome bisulfite sequencing and transcriptome sequencing. Anatomical analysis indicated that the cell division ability of the SAM (shoot apical meristem) in dwarfing plants was reduced. Pd1 rootstock significantly decreased the levels of GAs and IAA in sweet cherry scions. Methylome analysis showed that the sweet cherry genome presented 15.2~18.6%, 59.88~61.55%, 28.09~33.78%, and 2.99~5.28% methylation at total C, CG, CHG, and CHH sites, respectively. Shoot tips from dwarfing plants exhibited a hypermethylated pattern mostly due to increased CHH methylation, while leaves exhibited a hypomethylated pattern. According to GO (Gene Ontology) and KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis, DMGs (differentially methylated genes) and DEGs (differentially expressed genes) were enriched in hormone-related GO terms and KEGG pathways. Global correlation analysis between methylation and transcription revealed that mCpG in the gene body region enhanced gene expression and mCHH in the region near the TSS (transcription start site) was positively correlated with gene expression. Next, we found some hormone-related genes and TFs with significant changes in methylation and transcription, including SAURs, ARF, GA2ox, ABS1, bZIP, MYB, and NAC. This study presents a methylome map of the sweet cherry genome, revealed widespread DNA methylation alterations in scions caused by dwarfing rootstock, and obtained abundant genes with methylation and transcription alterations that are potentially involved in rootstock-induced growth changes in sweet cherry scions. Our findings can lay a good basis for further epigenetic studies on sweet cherry dwarfing and provide valuable new insight into understanding rootstock–scion interactions.

Photoluminescence optical and thermal quenching in heavily doped Gd3(Ga,Al)5O12:Ce, Mg single crystals: Dependence on the Ga3+, Ce3+, and Mg2+ concentration

Heavily doped single crystals of Gd3GaxAl5-xO12:Ce, Mg (x = 2.46–2.95) with different concentrations of Ce (0.016–0.188 at.%) and Mg (0–0.083 at.%) are investigated by the X-ray diffraction, photoluminescence, and thermoluminescence methods. Dependences of the luminescence characteristics, as well as crystal lattice parameters and distances between the Ce3+ and Mg2+ ions, on the Ga, Ce, and Mg concentration are studied. Mechanisms of the processes, resulting in the photoluminescence optical and thermal quenching and acceleration of decay kinetics, and the influence of the crystal composition on these processes are discussed. The role of close {Ce3+ - Mg2+Ga} pairs in these processes is considered. At T > 400 K, the luminescence thermal quenching is caused by the crossover process, while in the 200–350 K temperature range, by the electron transfer from the 5d1 excited state of Ce3+ to nearby defect levels (electron traps) located between the 5d1 level and the conduction band. The latter process results also in the appearance of thermally stimulated luminescence, and its efficiency depends on the Ga3+ content and concentration of intrinsic defects. The optimum concentrations of Ga3+ and Mg2+ ions in the investigated crystals are determined.

Dry Reforming of Methane (DRM) over Hydrotalcite-Based Ni-Ga/(Mg, Al)Ox Catalysts: Tailoring Ga Content for Improved Stability

Dry reforming of methane (DRM) is a promising way to convert methane and carbon dioxide into syngas, which can be further utilized to synthesize value-added chemicals. One of the main challenges for the DRM process is finding catalysts that are highly active and stable. This study explores the potential use of Ni-based catalysts modified by Ga. Different Ni-Ga/(Mg, Al)Ox catalysts, with various Ga/Ni molar ratios (0, 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1), were synthesized by the co-precipitation method. The catalysts were tested for the DRM reaction to evaluate their activity and stability. The Ni/(Mg, Al)Ox and its Ga-modified Ni-Ga/(Mg, Al)Ox were characterized by N2 adsorption–desorption, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), H2-temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Raman techniques. The test of catalytic activity, at 700 °C, 1 atm, GHSV of 42,000 mL/h/g, and a CH4: CO2 ratio of 1, revealed that Ga incorporation effectively enhanced the catalyst stability. Particularly, the Ni-Ga/(Mg, Al)Ox catalyst with Ga/Ni ratio of 0.3 exhibited the best catalytic performance, with CH4 and CO2 conversions of 66% and 74%, respectively, and an H2/CO ratio of 0.92. Furthermore, the CH4 and CO2 conversions increased from 34% and 46%, respectively, when testing at 600 °C, to 94% and 96% when the catalytic activity was operated at 850 °C. The best catalyst’s 20 h stream performance demonstrated its great stability. DFT analysis revealed an alteration in the electronic properties of nickel upon Ga incorporation, the d-band center of the Ga modified catalyst (Ga/Ni ratio of 0.3) shifted closer to the Fermi level, and a charge transfer from Ga to Ni atoms was observed. This research provides valuable insights into the development of Ga-modified catalysts and emphasizes their potential for efficient conversion of greenhouse gases into syngas.

Unveiling the potential role of gibberellic acid, melatonin and indole acetic acid on parthenocarpy, physiological traits and phytochemical responses in Hibiscus sabdariffa L

The economic part of the Hibiscus sabdariffa L. (Malvaceae) plant is the sepal. One of the main challenges in harvesting this product is separating its seeds, which are surrounded by sepals. If the parthenocarpy process occurs without seeds, the labor costs are reduced and the profits from the production of this plant are increased. In current study, the effect of gibberellic acid (GA3), melatonin (M), and indole acetic acid (IAA) on the induction of parthenocarpy in H. sabdariffa plants was investigated. The study was conducted as a factorial experiment in the form of randomized complete block design with three replications. Different concentrations of GA3 (0 (control), 700, 800, and 900 ppm), M (0 (control), 100, 200, and 400 ppm), and IAA (0 (control), 1000, 1200, and 1400 ppm) were foliar sprayed after the emergence of the flower bud on the 50th, 60th, and 70th days of planting, and the control plants were also sprayed with distilled water. Various measurements were taken including the number of seeds per boll, parthenocarpy percentage, capsule volume, number of bolls per plant, number of mature seeds, and phytochemical parameters such as anthocyanin, chlorophyll and carotenoid content, antioxidant value, total phenol and flavonoid content, and soluble solids. The application of GA3 at 800 and 900 ppm along with IAA at 1000 ppm and M at 100 and 200 ppm led to the production of parthenocarpy fruits and showed the best results in the induction of parthenocarpy. The control group indicated the highest number of mature seeds per boll. The highest amount of phenol and flavonoid contents were obtained in plants treated with GA3 at 800 ppm. For anthocyanin, the control group showed the highest value (1.63 mg g−1), and in the case of the antioxidant trait, plants exposed to 100 ppm M showed the highest IC50 (40.68%). Hence, the application of plant growth regulators with appropriate concentrations can be effective in inducing parthenocarpy in H. sabdariffa plants. Additionally, parthenocarpy-induced by GA3, IAA, and M had different impacts on fruit quality and quantity, suggesting that the effect depends on the type of employed hormones used and their concentrations.

Effect of Plant Growth Regulators on Growth and Yield of Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) Cv. MAHY 701 under Agroclimatic Conditions of Bhubaneswar

Exogenous application of plant growth regulators play a vital role on effectively enhancing plant growth along with crop output. In order to determine the effect of plant growth regulators and the ideal concentration of GA₃ and NAA for improved tomato growth and yield (Solanum lycopersicum L.) cv. MAHY-701 under Bhubaneswar condition, a field experiment was conducted in Rabi 2022 at Agricultural Research Station, Binjhagiri, Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Siksha "O" Anusandhan (Deemed to be) University, Bhubaneswar, Odisha using plant growth regulators, namely GA₃ and NAA. The experimental design was randomized block design, which consisted of three replications and seven treatments. When compared to the control treatment, all growth, yield, and quality parameters were shown to be significantly better at various concentrations of GA₃ (30, 60, and 90 ppm) and NAA (25, 50, and 75 ppm). The findings of the investigation reinforce the claim that, as compared to the control, tomato growth and yield were considerably affected by both GA₃ and NAA. The results categorically demonstrated that the treatment where the plant was sprayed with GA₃ @ 90 ppm had the highest total soluble solids (4.33°Brix), acidity (0.42%), and shelf life (18.73), as well as the highest number of fruits per plant (42.90), fruit length (6.40cm), fruit diameter (6.80cm), weight of fruit (118.80g), yield per plot (31.70kg), yield per ha. (423.50qt), and other quality attributes. In conclusion, farmers may be suggested to apply GA₃ at 90 ppm and NAA at 50 ppm when raising tomatoes in Bhubaneswar Agroclimatic environments for MAHY-701.

Optimization of fermentation conditions for Bacillus velezensis TCS001 and evaluation of its growth promotion and disease prevention effects on strawberries

Bacillus velezensis TCS001 is a novel biocontrol bacterium with broad-spectrum antifungal activity and plant growth-promoting effects, holding great potential for development in agricultural production. This study optimized the fermentation conditions for B. velezensis TCS001 through single-factor experiments combined with response surface methodology, and developed a formulation for TCS001 suspension concentrate (TCS001-SC). The efficacy of TCS001-SC to promote the growth of strawberries and to prevent and control strawberry anthracnose was evaluated. The optimal liquid fermentation condition for TCS001 was determined to be 2.89 % soluble peanut cake powder, 3.0 % glucose, 3.0 % soluble starch, 0.002 % FePO4, 0.006 % KCl, 0.6 % NaCl, 0.05 % MgCl2·6H2O, 0.3 % K2HPO4, 0.15 % KH2PO4, 0.05 % CaCO3, 0.005 % MnSO4, a working volume of 31 % (77.5 mL/250 mL), a rotation speed of 173 r/min, a cultivation temperature of 28°C, an inoculum volume of 1.0 %, and a pH of 7.0. The 15 L fermenter upscale culture achieved a spore count of 9.46 × 109 CFU/mL, which was 2.01 times the spore count of 4.7 × 109 CFU/mL before optimization, and a preliminary TCS001-SC was developed with the fermented broth as the main component. Agar plate confrontation tests showed that TCS001 had antifungal activity against five types of anthracnose fungi, with inhibition rates ranging from 70.3 % to 87.2 %. TCS001-SC could promote the growth of strawberries and induce a rapid defense enzyme response in their leaves, enhancing the plant's resistance to pathogens. After treatment, individual strawberry plants showed significant increases in the number of leaves, fresh weight of stems and leaves, root fresh weight, leaf area, plant height, and the content of POD, SOD, CAT enzymes, GA, IAA, and ABA compared to the control.Additionally, it shows good prevention and control effects against strawberry anthracnose, with a control efficacy of 60.45% after five spray treatments at a concentration of 2 × 107 CFU/mL, which is not significantly different from the efficacy of commercial microbial agents such as Bacillus subtilis wettable powder, subsequent field trials will be conducted to determine its potential as a microbial pesticide. This study provides important support for the future industrial production and application of the strain TCS001.

The elemental variance between the "rice" and "non-rice" portions of Maifanitum and its health risk assessment

BackgroundMaifanitum, a mineral used in Chinese medicine, was first documented during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). Historical records suggest its multifaceted therapeutic properties, including detoxification and stasis resolution, necrosis removal and tissue regeneration, diuretic and calculi dissolution and prolonging life. The concentration of elements in Maifanitum may vary depending on its origin, different parts, which can affect its effectiveness in different fields of applications. Therefore, the analysis of elements in Maifanitum and the subsequent health risk assessment have been conducted. This provides an important basis for the quality control and application safety of Maifanitum. MethodThe analytical techniques employed in this study are inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), utilized for the quantitative assessment of 60 elements (Refer to Appendix 1) within Maifanitum samples. Based on the test results, chemometric methods are employed to evaluate the characteristics and differences in elemental concentration from different sources and locations. Additionally, a preliminary health risk assessment is conducted for Maifanitum from different origins and various parts. ResultsWe have established a fingerprint of the elements within Maifanitum, demonstrating a commendable level of similarity. The findings from hierarchical cluster analysis（HCA） corroborated with those from principal component analysis (PCA), collectively unveiling a systematic profile of elemental disparities between Maifanitum samples of diverse origins and applications. It also revealed that there are differences in the concentration of Al, Ga, Be, Hf, Na, Sn, Ti, Zr, Gd, Tb, Sr, Pb, Ce, Ba and other elements in different parts of Maifanitum. While Cd, As, and Cu levels in all samples were within the permissible limits as defined by the Chinese Pharmacopeia, Pb concentrations in the majority of samples were found to surpass these standards, albeit slightly in the ''non-rice'' fraction. The assessment of both beneficial and deleterious elements indicates that the ''non-rice'' fraction of Maifanitum possesses superior quality attributes. Moreover, the overall concentration of rare earth elements in Maifanitum is substantially below the established lower threshold for daily human consumption, with no immediate evidence suggesting any adverse health risks. ConclusionThis study provides a basis for the quality control and safety evaluation of Maifanitum in clinical use.

Mineralogy and geochemical controls on the distribution of REY-Ga-Se-Nb enrichment in the No. 6 Coal Seam, Soutpansberg Coalfield, South Africa

Coal is being explored as a potential alternative source for rare earth elements (REY + Sc), which are critical for advancing modern technology. Previous research has mainly focused on assessing the concentration and distribution of REY + Sc in coals from South Africa. However, the modes occurrence of these elements in coal is yet to be investigated. This study offers new insights on the mineralogy and inorganic geochemistry of the No. 6 Seam coal from the Soutpansberg Coalfield (South Africa). The objective is to investigate the distribution, enrichment, and modes of occurrence of critical elements such as Ga, Se, Nb, and REY + Sc within this coal. The No. 6 Seam is a medium rank-B, moderate vitrinite (avg. 41.5 vol%) coal, and contains major minerals such as kaolinite, quartz, and minor minerals including muscovite, siderite, dolomite, pyrite, and calcite. The total REY + Sc concentrations in the coal samples range from 79.9 to 332.1 mg/kg (avg. 213.2 mg/kg; whole-coal/rock basis), higher than global averages for hard coal. The upper continental crust (UCC) normalized concentration coefficients (CC) of the coal shows enrichment of La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Er, Yb, and Y. Distinct REY + Sc enrichment patterns are observed across different coal horizons, divided into two categories: light-REY (LREY) and medium-REY (MREY) in the bottom horizon coal [bottom-upper (BU) and bottom-lower (BL)], whereas the middle horizon coal [middle-upper (MU) and middle-lower (ML)] are enriched in medium-REY (MREY) and heavy-REY (HREY). The BU and BL samples show greater REY + Sc enrichment relative to the MU and ML samples. The samples also contain elevated concentrations of Ga (max. 106.1 mg/kg), Se (max. 50.9 mg/kg), and Nb (max. 14.8 mg/kg), exceeding the average values reported for Chinese coals.When considering the correlations between REY + Sc and major oxide elements, minerals, and organic petrographic assemblages, REY + Sc appears to be more closely associated with inorganic fraction, particularly aluminosilicate (such as kaolinite) and carbonate minerals (like dolomite), rather than with the organic fraction. The kaolinite and dolomite represent mostly detrital input and epigenesis, respectively. Gallium in the coal is primarily associated with aluminium oxide-hydroxide, Nb with minerals such as clay, rutile/anatase, and zircon; and Se with pyrite. Redox-sensitive elemental ratios of Al2O3/TiO2 andTiO2/Zr suggest that the detrital components of the No. 6 Seam coals were predominantly derived from a source consisting of felsic-intermediate rocks. These materials likely represent the weathering products of magmatic rocks from the passive-continental margin tectonic framework of the Limpopo Mobile Belt. Paleoclimatic conditions are inferred to be warm-humid to hot, with the peat deposited under suboxic-to-oxic environments. High values of critical REY percentage (REYdef,rel%: 29.85 to 39.75 %) and an outlook coefficient ≥ 0.7 suggest these Soutpansberg coal samples to be promising for REY + Sc recovery along with Ga.

Study on the preparation of a novel acrylic modified magnetic chitosan adsorbent and the adsorption behavior on Ga (III)

In the current study, a novel acrylic modified magnetic chitosan adsorbent (M- AA −CTS) was prepared, and then characterized using SEM, FTIR, and XPS. The preparation conditions, adsorption conditions, adsorption kinetics and thermodynamics were also studied. FTIR results indicate that acrylic acid is grafted onto the amino groups of chitosan in the form of poly acrylic acid and the amino groups are also crosslinked with glutaraldehyde. For the preparation process, the removal efficiency of Ga (III) ions is higher when the amount of acrylic acid is 3 mL, the reaction temperature is 308 K, the crosslinking time is 80 min, and the amount of glutaraldehyde is 0.6 mL. During the adsorption process, the higher adsorption capacity of Ga (III) ions can be achieved under the condition of the initial concentration of Ga (III) ions 50 mg/L, the adsorbent dose 0.05 g, the oscillation temperature 308 K and pH 3. The study on the adsorption kinetic indicates that the adsorption follows the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The study on isotherm adsorption and thermodynamic indicates that the adsorption isotherm fits the Langmuir isotherm model better and the saturated adsorption capacity of Ga (III) ions on M−CTS−AA can reach 183.09 mg/g. Study on desorption and regeneration shows that after four cycles of desorption and reuse, the regeneration rate decreased from the initial 91.47 % to 73.3 %.

Investigation of Wetting Behavior and Brazing Reliability of Zn-15Al-xGa Filler Metals in Cu/Al Joints

Ga elements with different contents (0.1-1.5wt.%) were melted into the Zn-15Al filler metal to change the microstructure and thus improve the properties of the Cu/Al joints. The results showed that the addition of Ga element reduced the solidus and liquidus temperatures as well as the surface tension of the Zn-15Al filler alloy. Low concentrations of Ga (≤0.5wt%) can effectively increase the wettability of the filler metal. With increasing Ga addition amount, the size and proportion of the CuAl2 phase within the Cu/Zn-Al/Al brazed joint microstructure were increased, and also guided the transformation of the interfacial constituent phases on the Cu side interface from Al4.2Cu3.2Zn0.7/Al3Cu5Zn2 to Al4.2Cu3.2Zn0.7/CuAl2/Al3Cu5Zn2, which effectively adjusted the crack propagation path and increased the shear strength during the fracture process of the shear strength test on the brazed joint. The shear strength test results indicated the Cu/Zn-Al-0.5Ga/Al joint have the highest shear strength (85.8MPa, 15% improvement over the Cu/Zn-Al/Al joint). Consequently, appropriate Ga addition (0.5wt%) enhanced both the meltability and wettability of Zn-15Al filler metal, which was suitable for obtaining high-quality Cu/Al brazed joints.

Response of blue light in different proportions on the growth & flowering in sunflower

Due to the light sensitivity of sunflowers, regulating spectral composition holds significant potential for optimizing sunflower growth and flowering to meet market demands. In this study, sunflower plants were exposed to white light (W200, control) and three levels of blue light (B40R80Fr80 with blue light intensity of 40 µmol m−2 s−1; B67R67Fr67 with blue light intensity of 67 µmol m−2 s−1; B100R50Fr50 with blue light intensity of 100 µmol m−2 s−1) under an overall irradiance level of 200 µmol m−2 s−1 for 60 days. The aim was to investigate the effects on sunflower morphology regulation, leaf growth, and flowering. Results demonstrated that the growth of sunflowers under B40R80Fr80 treatment with 20 % blue light inhibited plant height compared with B67R67Fr67 and B100R50Fr50 treatments. The highest total leaf dry weight was observed in sunflower leaves under the B100R50Fr50 treatment. Leaves under B67R67Fr67 treatment enhanced activities of Glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase, Fructose-1,6-bisphosphate aldolase, and soluble starch synthase, along with a 10.4 % increase in Rubisco activity compared with B100R50Fr50 treatment. The sucrose and starch content under B67R67Fr67 treatment increased by 41.0 % and 19.1 % than those of B100R50Fr50 treatment, respectively. Sunflower plants under B67R67Fr67 treatment significantly improved flower disk diameter and No. of petal per flower compared with W200 treatment. Phenotype-assisted transcriptome analysis revealed that B67R67Fr67 treatment on sunflower leaves had positive effects on circadian rhythm-related genes associated with flowering [CONSTITUTIVELY PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1 (COP1) and FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT)], compared with B100R50Fr50 treatment. Additionally, four genes related to GA metabolism were identified for flower development regulation; LOC110884159 and LOC110890361 (GID1B) were up-regulated under B67R67Fr67 treatment. Sunflower leaves under B67R67Fr67 treatment increased GA content and induced the GA pathway related to circadian rhythm, compared with those of B100R50Fr50 treatment. Consequently, the implementation of B67R67Fr67 treatment led to improved circadian rhythm and GA pathway activation, resulting in induced flowering to fulfill market demands for sunflowers.