Soluble Protein Research Articles

Aberrant expression of LGALS3BP drives an unfavorable prognosis and more aggressive in HCC via regulating PI3K/AKT signaling

Lectin galactoside-binding soluble 3-binding protein (LGALS3BP) is associated with cancer metastasis and is a promising prognostic marker in neoplasms. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the prognostic impact and pro-metastatic function of LGALS3BP remain unclear. This study evaluated the endogenous LGALS3BP expression in HCC tissue and its association with prognosis. LGALS3BP protein levels were significantly elevated in clinical HCC tissues and cell lines. Increased LGALS3BP expression was closely associated with disease progression in HCC patients, and they also exhibited an unfavorable prognosis. Furthermore, the knockdown of LGALS3BP inhibited the growth, migration, and invasion of HCC cells in vitro. In mice xenografts, silencing LGALS3BP significantly inhibited tumor cell growth in vivo. Mechanically, upon LGALS3BP depletion, the tumor-suppressive function was dependent on inactivating Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/V-akt murine thymoma viral oncogene homolog (AKT) signaling pathway. Collectively, these findings suggest that LGALS3BP employs a pro-tumorigenic function in HCC and may be a promising HCC prognostic marker.

Walnut oil: a promising nutraceutical in reducing oxidative stress and improving cholinergic activity in an in vitro Alzheimer's disease model.

Improving the quality of life in elderly patients and finding new treatment options for neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's has become one of the priorities in the scientific world. In recent years, the beneficial effects and therapeutic properties of natural foods on neurological health have become a very remarkable issue. Walnut oil (WO) is a promising nutraceutical, with many phytochemicals and polyunsaturated fatty acids and is thought to be promising in the treatment of many neurological diseases and cognitive deficits, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Polyphenolic compounds found in WO enhance intraneuronal signaling and neurogenesis and improve the sequestration of insoluble toxic protein aggregates. The objective of this study was to investigate the potential protective and therapeutic effects of WO in a model of AD induced by retinoic acid (RA) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). In order to achieve this, the experimental groups were formed as follows: Control group, WO group, Alzheimer's disease (AD) group, AD+WO applied group (AD+WO). WO supplementation almost significantly reduced oxidative stress in the ad model, providing 2-fold protection against protein oxidation. Additionally, WO showed a significant reduction in tau protein levels (2-fold), increased acetylcholine (ACh) levels (12%), and decreased acetylcholine esterase (AChE) activity (~50%). Since it has been known for centuries that WO does show any adverse effects on human health and has neuroprotective properties, it may be used in the treatment of AD as an additional nutraceutical to drug treatments.

Utilizing ultrasound combined with quinoa protein to improve the texture and rheological properties of Chinese style reduced-salt pork meatballs (lion’s head)

This study aimed to investigate the effect of ultrasound treatment times (30 min and 60 min) and levels of quinoa protein (QPE) addition (1 % and 2 %) on the quality of Chinese style reduced-salt pork meatballs, commonly known as lion’s head. The water-holding capacity (WHC), gel and rheology characteristics, and protein conformation were assessed. The results indicated that extending the ultrasound treatment time and elevating the quinoa protein content caused conspicuous improvements (P<0.05) in the cooking yield, WHC, textural characteristics, color difference, and salt-soluble protein (SSP) solubility of the meatballs. Furthermore, the structural alterations induced by the ultrasound treatment combined with quinoa protein addition included enhancement in β-sheet, β-turn, and random coil structure contents, along with a red-shift in the intrinsic fluorescence peak. Additionally, the storage (G’) and loss modulus (G’’) of the raw meatballs significantly enhanced (P<0.05), indicating a denser gel structure in parallel with the microstructure. In conclusion, the findings demonstrated that ultrasound combined with quinoa protein enhanced the WHC and texture properties of Chinese style reduced-salt pork meatballs by improving SSP solubility.

Amyloid formation and depolymerization of tumor suppressor p16INK4a are regulated by a thiol-dependent redox mechanism

The conversion of a soluble protein into polymeric amyloid structures is a process that is poorly understood. Here, we describe a fully redox-regulated amyloid system in which cysteine oxidation of the tumor suppressor protein p16INK4a leads to rapid amyloid formation. We identify a partially-structured disulfide-bonded dimeric intermediate species that subsequently assembles into fibrils. The stable amyloid structures disassemble when the disulfide bond is reduced. p16INK4a is frequently mutated in cancers and is considered highly vulnerable to single-point mutations. We find that multiple cancer-related mutations show increased amyloid formation propensity whereas mutations stabilizing the fold prevent transition into amyloid. The complex transition into amyloids and their structural stability is therefore strictly governed by redox reactions and a single regulatory disulfide bond.

Genetic Divergence Studies of Bottle Gourd (Lagenaria siceraria (MOL.) STANDL.) in Garo Hills Region of Meghalaya

The present investigation was carried out at Horticultural Research Farm, Department of Horticulture, North Eastern Hill University, Tura Campus, Chasingre, Meghalaya, India during 2019 in a Randomized Block Design with three replications. Genetic divergence was assessed among thirty indegenous genotypes of bottle gourd for thirty-three quantitative characters using Mahalanobis’ D2 statistics. The genotypes were grouped into seven clusters. Maximum number of genotypes including seven genotypes was grouped in cluster IV (GHA-30, GHA-8, GHA-21, GHA-20, GHA-23, GHA-29 and GHA-25). Maximum inter-cluster distance was found between cluster I and cluster III (10.940) and minimum inter-cluster distance was recorded between cluster VII and cluster VI (7.425). Cluster IV showed highest cluster mean for maximum characters namely, number of primary branches (30.83), number of marketable fruit harvest (4.60), fruit width (15.24), fruit weight (3005.65), number of fruits per plant (17.92), total carbohydrate % (2.73), calcium mg/100g (11.95), yield of marketable fruits kg/plant (54.20) and yield t/ha (135.50). Cluster VII exhibited highest mean for five characters namely, vine length (461.93), days to last fruit harvest (158.77), number of leaves (217.13), seed length-breadth ratio (2.41) and ascorbic acid (9.55). Cluster I and Cluster II exhibited highest mean for five characters, sex ratio (0.74), number of seeds per fruit (449.65), 100 seed weight (13.43), total soluble protein % (0.95) and total phenols % (44.04). In the present study it was found that Cluster I (GHA-4, GHA-2, GHA-5 and GHA-1) was highly divergent from all other genotypes.

Mechanisms of Lanthanum-mediated mitigation of salt stress in soybean (Glycine max L.).

Salinity is considered one of the abiotic stresses that have the greatest impact on soybean production worldwide. Lanthanum (La) is a rare earth element that can reduce adverse conditions on plant growth and productivity. However, the regulatory mechanism of La-mediated plant response to salt stress has been poorly studied, particularly in soybeans. Therefore, our study investigated the mechanisms of La-mediated salt stress alleviation from the perspectives of the antioxidant system, subcellular structure, and metabolomics responses. The results indicated that salt stress altered plant morphology and biomass, resulting in an increase in peroxidation, inhibition of photosynthesis, and damage to leaf structure. Exogenous La application effectively promoted the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and peroxidase (POD), as well as the soluble protein content, while decreasing the Na+ content and Na+/K+ ratio in roots and leaves, and reducing oxidative damage. Moreover, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) demonstrated that La prevented the disintegration of chloroplasts. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis further confirmed that La addition mitigated the decline in protein, carbohydrates, and pectin levels in the leaves. Lanthanum decreased the leaf flavonoid content and synthesis by inhibiting the content of key substances in the phenylalanine metabolism pathway during NaCl exposure. Collectively, our research indicates that La reduces cell damage by regulating the antioxidant system and secondary metabolite synthesis, which are important mechanisms for the adaptive response of soybean leaves, thereby improving the salt tolerance of soybeans.

The Effect of Irradiation on Meat Products.

The effects of irradiation on meat constituents including water, proteins, and lipids are multifaceted. Irradiation leads to the decomposition of water molecules, resulting in the formation of free radicals that can have both positive and negative effects on meat quality and storage. Although irradiation reduces the number of microorganisms and extends the shelf life of meat by damaging microbial DNA and cell membranes, it can also accelerate the oxidation of lipids and proteins, particularly sulfur-containing amino acids and unsaturated fatty acids. With regard to proteins, irradiation affects both myofibrillar and sarcoplasmic proteins. Myofibrillar proteins, such as actin and myosin, can undergo depolymerization and fragmentation, thereby altering protein solubility and structure. Sarcoplasmic proteins, including myoglobin, undergo structural changes that can alter meat color. Collagen, which is crucial for meat toughness, can undergo an increase in solubility owing to irradiation-induced degradation. The lipid content and composition are also influenced by irradiation, with unsaturated fatty acids being particularly vulnerable to oxidation. This process can lead to changes in the lipid quality and the production of off-odors. However, the effects of irradiation on lipid oxidation may vary depending on factors such as irradiation dose and packaging method. In summary, while irradiation can have beneficial effects, such as microbial reduction and shelf-life extension, it can also lead to changes in meat properties that need to be carefully managed to maintain quality and consumer acceptability.

Effects of Laccase and Transglutaminase on the Physicochemical and Functional Properties of Hybrid Lupin and Whey Protein Powder.

Plant-based protein is considered a sustainable protein source and has increased in demand recently. However, products containing plant-based proteins require further modification to achieve the desired functionalities akin to those present in animal protein products. This study aimed to investigate the effects of enzymes as cross-linking reagents on the physicochemical and functional properties of hybrid plant- and animal-based proteins in which lupin and whey proteins were chosen as representatives, respectively. They were hybridised through enzymatic cross-linking using two laccases (laccase R, derived from Rhus vernicifera and laccase T, derived from Trametes versicolor) and transglutaminase (TG). The cross-linking experiments were conducted by mixing aqueous solutions of lupin flour and whey protein concentrate powder in a ratio of 1:1 of protein content under the conditions of pH 7, 40 °C for 20 h and in the presence of laccase T, laccase R, or TG. The cross-linked mixtures were freeze-dried, and the powders obtained were assessed for their cross-linking pattern, colour, charge distribution (ζ-potential), particle size, thermal stability, morphology, solubility, foaming and emulsifying properties, and total amino acid content. The findings showed that cross-linking with laccase R significantly improved the protein solubility, emulsion stability and foaming ability of the mixture, whereas these functionalities were lower in the TG-treated mixture due to extensive cross-linking. Furthermore, the mixture treated with laccase T turned brownish in colour and showed a decrease in total amino acid content which could be due to the enzyme's oxidative cross-linking mechanism. Also, the occurrence of cross-linking in the lupin and whey mixture was indicated by changes in other investigated parameters such as particle size, ζ-potential, etc., as compared to the control samples. The obtained results suggested that enzymatic cross-linking, depending on the type of enzyme used, could impact the physicochemical and functional properties of hybrid plant- and animal-based proteins, potentially influencing their applications in food.

Effect of temperature and sodium bicarbonate combined on aggregation, rheology and conformation of low-salt chicken myofibrillar protein

To study the impact of temperature (4–50 °C) and sodium bicarbonate (0.4%) on the solubility, protein aggregation and conformation of low-salt (1 mmol/L sodium chloride) chicken myofibrillar protein, the changes in turbidity, particle size, protein secondary and tertiary structures were investigated. There was no significant difference in pH when it did not exceed 30 °C, then a significant increase (p < 0.05) when it was above 30 °C. The solubility, total and reactive sulfhydryl groups, and apparent viscosity increased first and then decreased (p < 0.05), and reached the maximum values at 30 °C; whereas the turbidity, particle size, α-helix, and random coil contents showed opposite trends. Additionally, the fluorescence peak experienced a noticeable redshift with rising temperatures; β-turn content significantly increased but β-sheet content decreased significantly. Finally, combining sodium bicarbonate with a temperature of around 30 °C could enhance chicken myofibrillar protein solubility and change the protein structure under a low-salt condition.

Rational design approach to improve the solubility of the β-sandwich domain 1 of a thermophilic protein

The beta-sandwich domain 1 (SD1) of islandisin is a stable thermophilic protein with surface loops that can be redesigned for specific target binding, architecturally comparable to the variable domain of immunoglobulin (IgG). SD1's propensity to aggregate due to incorrect folding and subsequent accumulation in E. coli inclusion bodies limits its use in biotechnological applications. We rationally designed SD1 for improved variants that were expressed in soluble forms in E. coli while maintaining the intrinsic thermal stability of the protein (melting temperature (Tm) = 73). We used FoldX's ΔΔG predictions to find beneficial mutations and aggregation-prone regions (APRs) using Tango. The S26K substitution within protein core residues did not affect protein stability. Among the soluble mutants studied, the S26K/Q91P combination significantly improved the expression and solubility of SD1. We also examined the effects of the surface residue, pH, and concentration on the solubility of SD1. We showed that the surface polarity of proteins had little or no effect on solubility, whereas surface charges played a substantial role. The storage stability of several SD1 variants was impaired at pH values near their pI, and pH levels resulting in highly charged groups. We observed that mutations that create an uneven distribution of charged groups on the SD1 surface could enhance protein solubility by eliminating favorable protein-protein surface charge interactions. Our findings suggest that SD1 is mutationally tolerant to new functionalities, thus providing a novel perspective for the application of rational design to improve the solubility of targeted proteins.

Extraction of proteins from six seaweeds of south-east coast of India: Proximate composition and effect of process variables on protein solubilisation

Extraction of proteins from six seaweeds of south-east coast of India: Proximate composition and effect of process variables on protein solubilisation

Snakehead Fish, Channa striata (Bloch, 1973), Protein Concentrate: Excellent Recovery of Fish-Based Albumin Source and Its Possible Application for Sperm Capacitation

Snakehead fish protein concentrate (SFC) shows promising recovery of excellent protein content that has broad potential applications, including the future use of its albumin content as a sperm capacitation promoter. However, the quantity of snakehead fish albumin recovered depends on several variables, including the habitat in which the fish thrives, extraction procedures, and the assay employed. To optimise the albumin content retrieved from snakehead fish flesh with more reliable results, multiple protein extraction methods were undertaken through the protein concentrate preparation and analysed using the Bromocresol purple (BCP) albumin assay. Total soluble protein (TSP), albumin level, and albumin proportion were recovered at a significant reduction in an acid solvent when exposed to up to 50 °C heating compared to extractions undertaken without heating. Moreover, the small number of protein bands identified indicates that the combination of acid solvent and heating treatment was similarly damaging. In this study, we detected the presence of albumin in SFC at 32 %, the highest percentage ever recorded employing the BCP assay, following extraction with water solvent without thermal treatment. Using SDS-PAGE and densitometric analysis, the identified putative albumin-related bands from the two major bands at 40 kDa and 47 kDa, containing respective proportions of 57 % and 16 % of the total protein loaded. Although this exploratory work requires additional analysis and purification steps, further research employing the SFC is worth identifying its ability and how this alternative albumin source can replace serum albumin to modulate the capacitation process in mammalian sperm.

Water-Nutrient Coupling Strategies That Improve the Carbon, Nitrogen Metabolism, and Yield of Cucumber under Sandy Cultivated Land

The purpose of this study was to explore the carbon and nitrogen metabolism mechanisms of sand-cultivated cucumbers under different deficit irrigation–nitrogen management strategies and provide a theoretical basis for their greenhouse management. This study set up two factors, the deficit irrigation level and the nitrogen application rate, and conducted an experiment on deficit irrigation–nitrogen coupling of sand-cultivated cucumbers using a quadratic saturation D–optimal design. Seven treatments were set up in the experiment, to measure the soluble sugar and protein contents, as well as the activity of key enzymes for carbon and nitrogen metabolism at five different growth stages. The results indicate that the 80% irrigation with 623 kg N hm−2 (IN4) treatment significantly improved the soluble sugar, protein, and actual leaf nitrogen contents of cucumber at the five different growth stages and, as a result, achieved higher sucrose synthase (SS) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activities in the cucumber leaves. Furthermore, such improvements were due to the reduction in oxidative damage of sand–cultivated cucumber at various growth stages. The IN4 and 89% irrigation with 1250 kg N hm−2 (IN5) treatments significantly increased the activities of RuBisCO, catalase (CAT), peroxidise (POD), and superoxide dismutase (SOD) at various growth stages of sand-cultivated cucumber. The higher activities of glutamate dehydrogenase (GLDH), glutamate synthase (GOGAT), nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthase (GS), acid invertase enzyme (AIE), neutral invertase enzyme (NIE), and better antioxidative enzyme activities were recorded under the IN4 treatments at various growth stages, which effectively improve (69.6%) cucumber yield. The soil properties, carbon and nitrogen metabolism, and antioxidant metabolism were positively correlated with sand-cultivated cucumber yield in a greenhouse. We concluded that the IN4 treatment was the better deficit irrigation–nitrogen management strategy because it considerably improves carbon and nitrogen metabolism, antioxidant enzyme activities, and sand–cultivated cucumber yield in a greenhouse.

Integrated physiological and molecular approaches to study salt-induced adaptation in halophytes collected from extremely saline lands

Diverse halophytes were collected across the extremely salt-affected lands of Haryana to explore their salt potential. Higher levels of Na+ and Cl- were observed in leaves (3.20 and 4.55%) than in stem (0.78 and 1.09%) and root (0.81 and 0.80 %). Interestingly, these plants also accumulated higher concentrations of K+ for their survival. Similarly, Ca2+ accumulation was higher in leaves (1.57%) than in stems (1.15%) and roots (1.18%). The salt tolerance potential of these halophytes was assessed by examining the ratio of accumulation of toxic ions, namely Na/K, Na/Ca, and Na+Cl to K+Ca, resulting in their characterization and ranking from highly salt tolerant to least tolerant. The utilization of this ionic accumulation index has the potential to serve as a criterion for the elimination of surplus toxic ions from soil. The halophytes employed adaptive mechanisms by synthesizing osmolytes, such as proline, soluble sugars, and soluble proteins, in both leaves and roots. The upregulation of genes P5CS and NHX1, responsible for proline synthesis and membrane transportation, further confirmed the halophytes’ ability to tolerate high salinity. The findings of these studies indicated the potential for domesticating salt-tolerant halophytes in salt-affected soils.

Effect of alkaline treatment duration on rapeseed protein during pH-shift process: Unveiling physicochemical properties and enhanced emulsifying performance

This study aims to investigate the influence of alkaline treatment duration (0–5 h) on the physicochemical properties and emulsifying performance of rapeseed protein during pH-shift process. Results showed that a 4-h alkaline treatment significantly reduced the particle size of rapeseed protein and led to a notable decrease in disulfide bond content, as well as alterations in subunit composition. Moreover, solubility of rapeseed protein increased from 18.10 ± 0.13% to 40.44 ± 1.74% post-treatment, accompanied by a ∼ 40% enhancement in emulsifying properties. Morphological analysis revealed superior plasticity and sharper contours in 4-h alkali-treated rapeseed protein emulsions compared to untreated counterparts. Rheological analysis indicated higher viscosity and elasticity in the alkali-treated group. Overall, 4-h alkaline treatment markedly enhanced the multifaceted functional attributes of rapeseed protein during pH-shift process, rendering it a promising emulsifier in the food industry.

Monitoring changing patterns in HER2 addiction by liquid biopsy in advanced breast cancer patients

BackgroundDuring targeted treatment, HER2-positive breast cancers invariably lose HER2 DNA amplification. In contrast, and interestingly, HER2 proteins may be either lost or gained. To longitudinally and systematically appreciate complex/discordant changes in HER2 DNA/protein stoichiometry, HER2 DNA copy numbers and soluble blood proteins (aHER2/sHER2) were tested in parallel, non-invasively (by liquid biopsy), and in two-dimensions, hence HER2-2D.MethodsaHER2 and sHER2 were assessed by digital PCR and ELISA before and after standard-of-care treatment of advanced HER2-positive breast cancer patients (n=37) with the antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) Trastuzumab-emtansine (T-DM1).ResultsAs expected, aHER2 was invariably suppressed by T-DM1, but this loss was surprisingly mirrored by sHER2 gain, sometimes of considerable entity, in most (30/37; 81%) patients. This unorthodox split in HER2 oncogenic dosage was supported by reciprocal aHER2/sHER2 kinetics in two representative cases, and an immunohistochemistry-high status despite copy-number-neutrality in 4/5 available post-T-DM1 tumor re-biopsies from sHER2-gain patients. Moreover, sHER2 was preferentially released by dying breast cancer cell lines treated in vitro by T-DM1. Finally, sHER2 gain was associated with a longer PFS than sHER2 loss (mean PFS 282 vs 133 days, 95% CI [210-354] vs [56-209], log-rank test p=0.047), particularly when cases (n=11) developing circulating HER2-bypass alterations during T-DM1 treatment were excluded (mean PFS 349 vs 139 days, 95% CI [255-444] vs [45-232], log-rank test p=0.009).ConclusionsHER2 gain is adaptively selected in tumor tissues and recapitulated in blood by sHER2 gain. Possibly, an increased oncogenic dosage is beneficial to the tumor during anti-HER2 treatment with naked antibodies, but favorable to the host during treatment with a strongly cytotoxic ADC such as T-DM1. In the latter case, HER2-gain tumors may be kept transiently in check until alternative oncogenic drivers, revealed by liquid biopsy, bypass HER2. Whichever the interpretation, HER2-2D might help to tailor/prioritize anti-HER2 treatments, particularly ADCs active on aHER2-low/sHER2-low tumors.Trial registrationNCT05735392 retrospectively registered on January 31, 2023 https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/search?term=NCT05735392

Saps1-3 Antigens in Candida albicans: Differential Modulation Following Exposure to Soluble Proteins, Mammalian Cells, and Infection in Mice.

The secreted aspartic peptidases (Saps) of Candida albicans play crucial roles in various steps of fungal-host interactions. Using a flow cytometry approach, this study investigated the expression of Saps1-3 antigens after (i) incubation with soluble proteins, (ii) interaction with mammalian cells, and (iii) infection in immunosuppressed BALB/c mice. Supplementation strategies involving increasing concentrations of bovine serum albumin (BSA) added to yeast carbon base (YCB) medium as the sole nitrogenous source revealed a positive and significant correlation between BSA concentration and both the growth rate and the percentage of fluorescent cells (%FC) labeled with anti-Saps1-3 antibodies. Supplementing the YCB medium with various soluble proteins significantly modulated the expression of Saps1-3 antigens in C. albicans. Specifically, immunoglobulin G, gelatin, and total bovine/human sera significantly reduced the %FC, while laminin, human serum albumin, fibrinogen, hemoglobin, and mucin considerably increased the %FC compared to BSA. Furthermore, co-cultivating C. albicans yeasts with either live epithelial or macrophage cells induced the expression of Saps1-3 antigens in 78% (mean fluorescence intensity [MFI] = 152.1) and 82.7% (MFI = 178.2) of the yeast cells, respectively, compared to BSA, which resulted in 29.3% fluorescent cells (MFI = 50.9). Lastly, the yeasts recovered from the kidneys of infected immunosuppressed mice demonstrated a 4.8-fold increase in the production of Saps1-3 antigens (MFI = 246.6) compared to BSA, with 95.5% of yeasts labeled with anti-Saps1-3 antibodies. Altogether, these results demonstrated the positive modulation of Saps' expression in C. albicans by various key host proteinaceous components, as well as by in vitro and in vivo host challenges.

Ectoine maintains the flavor and nutritional quality of broccoli during postharvest storage

The bacterial derived osmolyte ectoine has been shown to stabilize cell structure and function, a property that may help to extend the shelf life of broccoli. The impact of ectoine on broccoli stored for 4 d at 20 °C and 90% relative humidity was investigated. Results indicated that 0.20% ectoine treatment maintained the quality of broccoli, by reducing rate of respiration and ethylene generation, while increasing the levels of total phenolics, flavonoids, TSS, soluble protein, and vitamin C, relative to control. Headspace-gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses revealed that ectoine stabilized aroma components in broccoli by maintaining level of volatile compounds and altered the expression of genes and metabolites associated with sulfur metabolism, as well as fatty acid and amino acid biosynthesis pathways. These findings provide a greater insight into how ectoine preserves the flavor and nutritional quality of broccoli, thus, extending its shelf life.

Synergistic effects of microbial inoculation, different forms of iron application, and phosphorus on wheat growth and nutrient uptake in alkaline soil

Iron and phosphorus deficiencies in alkaline soils threaten wheat by limiting nutrient availability due to their antagonistic relationship. This study tested if combining microbial incubation with foliar iron could synergistically improve wheat productivity and nutrition and mitigate deficiencies. A field experiment using a split plot design tested different iron and phosphate fertilization techniques. The main plots consisted of three iron application methods: foliar-applied iron (FL) at 2.5 kg ha−1, soil-applied iron (FS) at 5 kg ha−1, and no iron (F0). The subplots comprised four phosphate fertilizers: PSB + TSP (inoculation with phosphate-solubilizing bacteria + 100 kg ha−1 of triple superphosphate fertilizer), AMF + TSP (inoculation with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi + triple superphosphate), TSP alone, and no phosphorus (P0). Foliar iron application with AMF + TSP increased seed potassium and root length density by 16.3-17.9% and 22.1-25.8% more than PSB + TSP, respectively. Under FS conditions, AMF + TSP exhibited 28.5-29.1% lower magnesium and 23.9-28.4% higher zinc seed concentrations compared to PSB + TSP, as well as higher levels of soluble proteins and lower concentrations of chlorophyll. There was no difference in grain yield between PSB + TSP and AMF + TSP for any of the iron treatments. Combining AMF + TSP and foliar iron application resulted in the highest grain yield, desirable seed nutrient content (particularly zinc, iron (>100 mg kg−1), and magnesium (>18 mg kg−1), improved root biomass, chlorophyll, and soluble proteins compared to PSB + TSP and TSP alone. This combination of microbial inoculation with foliar iron application is an effective strategy for mitigating the antagonism between iron and phosphorus and improving both crop productivity and nutrition.

Screening of flower bud differentiation conditions and changes in metabolite content of Phalaenopsis pulcherrima

Using the Phalaenopsis pulcherrima (P. pulcherrima) as the test material, the optimal conditions for flower bud differentiation were selected by setting different photoperiods and temperatures. The process of flower bud differentiation was observed, and changes in the content of carbohydrates, hormones, and other metabolites during flower bud differentiation were studied. The results showed that the optimum time of illumination was 16 h. d−1 and the temperature was 30 ℃ / 25 ℃. According to the characteristics of the flower bud development of P. pulcherrima, the differentiation process can be divided into six periods: the initial differentiation phase, inflorescence primordium differentiation phase, flower primordium differentiation phase, sepal primordium differentiation phase, petal primordium differentiation phase, and column and pollinia differentiation phase. The soluble sugar content in the leaves showed a trend of first increasing and then decreasing. The soluble sugar content was highest 30 days after the treatment, when the differentiation of the inflorescence primordium was completed. The starch content first decreased, then increased, and finally decreased. The starch content was lowest at 30 days of treatment and highest at 35 days. The soluble protein content in the leaves reached a maximum after 30 days of treatment. With the continuous differentiation of flower buds, the soluble protein content showed an overall decreasing trend. The zeatin (ZT) content reached a maximum at day 35, showing an overall decreasing trend from days 35 to 50 and reaching a minimum at day 50. The gibberellin (GA3) and auxin (IAA) content first decreased and then increased during the process of flower bud differentiation. The changes in soluble sugar and soluble protein content during flower bud differentiation are consistent, while the changes in GA3 and IAA are consistent.