Nigra Var Research Articles

Five new glycosides from the culms of Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis

Five new glycosides, namely methyl 3-methoxybenzoate-4,5-di-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (1), (1aS,3aS,3R)-3-(4’-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl-3’-methoxyphenyl)-5,6-dioxa-bicyclo[3.3.0]octane-1-one (2), quinolin-4(1H)-one-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside (3), 3-methoxy-propiophenone 4-O-(6’-β-D-xylopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (4), methyl 3-methoxybenzoate 4-O-(6’-β-D-xylopyranosyl)-β-D-glucopyranoside (5), and one known compound, bambulignan B (6) were isolated from the culms of Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis. Their structures were determined using spectroscopic analysis. All compounds were evaluated for their DPPH radical scavenging activity. Compound 6 exhibited antioxidant activity with IC50 value of 59.5 μM (positive control, L-ascorbic acid, IC50 = 12.4 μM; 2,6-ditertbutyl-4-methyl phenol, IC50 = 11.8 μM).

The Slow Growth of Adventitious Roots in Tetraploid Hybrid Poplar (Populus simonii × P. nigra var. italica) May Be Caused by Endogenous Hormone-Mediated Meristem Shortening.

Polyploidization produces abundant phenotypic variation. Little is currently known about adventitious root (AR) development variation due to polyploidization. In this study, we analyzed the morphological, cytological, and physiological variations in AR development between tetraploid and diploid Populus plants during in vitro rooting culture. Compared to the diploids, the AR formation times and rooting rates of the tetraploids' stem explants had non-significant changes. However, the tetraploid ARs exhibited significantly slower elongation growth than the diploid ARs. Cytological observation showed that the tetraploid ARs were characterized by shorter root meristems and reduced meristem cell numbers, suggesting the reasons for the slow AR elongation. Analysis of hormones and related metabolites during AR development demonstrated that the total auxin, cytokinin, and jasmonic acid contents were significantly lower in the tetraploid ARs than in those of the diploids, and that the ratio of total auxins to total CKs at 0 h of AR development was also lower in the tetraploids than in the diploids, whereas the total salicylic acid content of the tetraploids was consistently higher than that of the diploids. qPCR analysis showed that the expression levels of several hormone signaling and cell division-related genes in the tetraploid ARs significantly differed from those in the diploids. In conclusion, the slow elongation of the tetraploid ARs may be caused by the endogenous hormone-mediated meristem shortening. Our findings enhance the understanding of polyploidization-induced variation in AR development of forest trees.

Isolation and identification of three new phenylpropanoids from the culms of phyllostachys nigra var. henonis (mitford) Rendle

Three new phenylpropanoids, namely (7′R,8′R) guaiacylglycerol 4′-O-β-D-[6″-O-(4-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-p-hydroxyl­benzoyl]-glucopyranoside (1), (7 R,8R) guaiacylglycerol 8-O-1′-(2′,6′-dimethoxy-4′-O-β-D-glucopyranosyl)-benzene (2), (7′R,8′R) guaiacylglycerol 4′-O-β-D-[6″-O-3,5-dimethoxy-4-hydroxylbenzoyl]-gluco­pyranoside (3), along with one known phenylpropanoid (4) were isolated from the ethanol extract of Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis fresh culm. The structures of all compounds were determined by analysis of UV, 1D NMR, 2D NMR, HR-ESI-MS and CD data. All compounds were evaluated for their DPPH radical scavenging activity. Compound 2 (IC50 54.9 μM) and 3 (IC50 77.2 μM) exhibited moderate antioxidant activity compared with two positive control compounds L-ascorbic acid (IC50 15.5 μM) and 2,6-ditertbutyl-4-methyl phenol (IC50 19.1 μM).

Three-dimensional model construction and wind simulation of different tree species in farmland shelter.

Protective forests are the ecological barriers of oases in arid sand areas and can effectively prevent and control wind and sand hazards. The structural characteristics of individual trees, as the basic unit of protective forests, are the key factors affecting the protective benefits. With the typical leafless tree species of Ulan Buh Desert oasis, i.e., Populus alba var. pyramidalis, Populus nigra var. thevestina, and Populus popularis, as the research objects, and by using the ground-based LiDAR and through computational fluid dynamics (CFD), we fully explored the structural characteristics of individual trees and their surrounding aerodynamic characteristics on the basis of real 3D models. We further established the relationship between structural parameters of individual trees and wind field index. The results showed that combining AdQSM and MeshLab to build tree models had high accuracy. The wind field around the individual trees could be roughly divided into six regions, including the attenuation zone of the windward side of the plant, the acceleration zone at the top of the plant, the eddy zone, the calm zone, the transition zone, and the recovery zone of leeward side of the plant. The pressure field around individual trees showed a gradual change of high pressure on the windward side to low pressure on the leeward side. Horizontally, in the range of 20% to 50% reduction in relative wind speed, the effective protection distances were 0.21H-1.51H, 0.20H-0.91H, and 0.25H-1.64H (H was the corresponding tree height) for P. alba var. pyramidalis, P. nigra var. thevestina, and P. popularis, corresponding to effective protection areas of 18-294, 15-227, and 18-261 m2, respectively. The maximum wind speed decay rate in the vertical direction was at 0.3H height for P. alba var. pyramidalis and P. popularis, and was reflected at 0.5H height for P. nigra var. thevestina. The correlation and stepwise regression analysis of the single tree structure parameters with the wind field indicators clearly indicated that optical porosity and volume porosity dominated the protection effect. Among the wind field factors, the best regression models related to the porous coefficient were screened for three factors, including diameter at breast height, tree surface area, and optical porosity. The regression variables screened for effective protection distance and effective protection area differed among the classes.

Does monocarpic Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis regenerate after flowering in Japan? Insights from 3 years of observation after flowering.

Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis, a monocarpic bamboo with a 120-year flowering interval, is next predicted to flower in Japan in the 2020s. Because a huge area of the country is presently covered by stands of this species, post-flowering dieback of these stands and ensuing drastic changes in land cover may cause serious social and/or environmental problems. No study on the regeneration of this bamboo species was conducted during the last flowering event in the 1900s, and the regeneration process of this species is thus still unknown. In 2020, we encountered a localized flowering of P. nigra var. henonis in Japan and used this discovery as a rare opportunity to study the initial regeneration process of the species. Over 3 years, more than 80% of culms in the study site bloomed, but no seed was produced. In addition, no established seedlings were located. These facts strongly suggest that P. nigra var. henonis lacks the ability to produce seeds and cannot undergo sexual regeneration. Some bamboo culms were produced after flowering but died within 1 year of emergence. Small, weak culms (dwarf ramets) also appeared after flowering, but most died within 1 year as well. Three years after flowering, all culms had died, with no sign of regeneration detected. According to our 3 years of observation, this bamboo appears to be hard to regenerate-an idea completely contradicted by the fact that this species has long persisted in Japan. We thus considered other possible regeneration modes for P. nigra var. henonis.

Host plant utilisation of two Dicraeus species (Diptera: Chloropidae) feeding on bamboo flowers

ABSTRACT Bamboos are known for flowering simultaneously over a wide geographic range at long intervals of more than several decades. Florivory by Dicraeus phyllostachyus and D. nartshukae causes severe damage to bamboo seed production. However, the nature of the life history of the two Dicraeus species, particularly how they sustain populations during non-masting years of bamboos such as their host plant range, is poorly explored. We hypothesised that the two Dicraeus species host on other plant species and/or on non-floral organs of bamboos and move to bamboo florets during masting years. We tested whether the two Dicraeus species oviposit and develop on florets of grasses excluding bamboos (other grasses), and on non-floral organs of bamboos, including branch buds and bamboo shoots, by conducting a natural population survey and laboratory experiments. We found that the two Dicraeus species utilise short, slender shoots of Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis and a few other grass florets in the natural populations. Laboratory experiments also showed that the two Dicraeus species oviposited and fed on non-floral organs of bamboos and several species of other grass florets, although the oviposition rate and number of eggs varied among organs and the survival rate was low on most other grass florets. The generalised feeding ability may have enabled the two Dicraeus species to utilise the bamboo florets during masting years and become the dominant florivorous insect of bamboos. Unravelling their life history strategies may contribute to understanding adaptation in florivorous insects of masting plants as well as their impact on the evolution of masting in plants.

Biochemical Characterization of Black and Green Mutant Elderberry during Fruit Ripening.

The content of sugars, organic acids, phenolic compounds and selected enzyme activities in the anthocyanin pathway were analyzed in NIGRA (Sambucus nigra var. nigra-black fruits) and VIRIDIS (S. nigra var. viridis-green fruits) fruits over four stages of ripening. The share of glucose and fructose in green fruits was higher than in colored fruits, and the sugar content increased significantly until the third developmental stage. Ripe NIGRA berries had 47% flavonol glycosides, 34% anthocyanins, 3% hydroxycinnamic acids and 14% flavanols, whereas the major phenolic group in the VIRIDIS fruits, making up 88% of the total analyzed polyphenols, was flavonols. NIGRA fruits were rich in anthocyanins (6020 µg g-1 FW), showing strong activation of the late anthocyanin pathway (dihydroflavonol 4-reductase, anthocyanidin synthase). In both color types, phenylalanine ammonia lyase and chalcone synthase/chalcone isomerase activities were highest in the first stage and decreased during ripening. In VIRIDIS fruit, no anthocyanins and only one flavanol (procyanidin dimer) were found. This was most likely caused by a lack of induction of the late anthocyanin pathway in the last period of fruit ripening. The VIRIDIS genotype may be useful in studying the regulatory structures of anthocyanin biosynthesis and the contribution of distinct flavonoid classes to the health benefits of elderberries.

Рост и состояние сосны черной (Pinus nigra var austriасa (Hoess) L.M. Neumann) в Воронежской области

Оценка всех совокупных свойств сосны чёрной, как вида важна не только в целом, но и для ее разновидностей из изолированных популяций. Ассортимент достаточно устойчивых и декоративных видов сосен в регионе европейской части Российской Федерации оказывается весьма ограниченным, но в нем отведено место сосне черной австрийской. Отсюда цель исследования - рассмотреть особенности роста и состояния сосны черной австрийской в условиях интродукции на территории лесостепного района европейской части Российской Федерации (Воронежская область). По отношению к различным заболеваниям ее следует отнести к весьма устойчивой породе, подтверждением чего является соответствующая категория санитарного состояния на объекте – I,1. Расчеты показывают, что сосна черная австрийская на плодородной почве по запасу древесины превосходит сосну обыкновенную в характерных условиях последней. В результате дифференциации пород по декоративным признакам следует отдать первенство сосне черной (24 балла) с незначительным перевесом над сосной обыкновенной (20 баллов). С учетом полученных данных можно рекомендовать в условиях зеленого строительства куртинное размещение породы по три дерева на посадочное место с расстоянием между деревьями в куртине до 2,5 м, а между самими куртинами – 5 м. Assessment of all aggregate properties of black pine as a species is important not only in general, but also for its varieties from isolated populations. The assortment of fairly stable and ornamental pine species in the region of the European part of the Russian Federation turns out to be very limited, but a place in it is given to Austrian black pine. Hence, the purpose of the study is to consider the features of the growth and condition of the Austrian black pine in the conditions of introduction in the foreststeppe region of the European part of the Russian Federation (Voronezh region). In relation to various diseases, it should be attributed to a very resistant species, which is confirmed by the corresponding category of sanitary condition at the site – I,1. Calculations show that the Austrian black pine on fertile soil surpasses the common pine in the characteristic conditions of the latter. As a result of differentiation of species by decorative features, we should give priority to black pine (24 points) with a slight preponderance over Scots pine (20 points). Taking into account the data obtained, we can recommend in terms of green building the location of the species in a cluster of three trees per planting place with a distance between trees in the cluster to 2.5 m, and between the clumps themselves – 5 m.

Состояние древесных растений на объектах защитного лесоразведения и озеленения Калачевского района Волгоградской области

The Kalachevsky district of the Volgograd region belongs to the regions that require stabilization of natural resources use. Land and forest reclamation and landscaping will ensure the resource potential of the district’s landscapes at increasing recreational and natural load. The studies have shown that differences in inventory parameters, development, fruiting and sustainability of plants are due to soil and climatic conditions, and anthropogenic impact. The research objects are woody species, predominantly of European habitats: sweet chestnut – Castanea sativa Mill.; Pallas pine (Crimean pine) – Pinus pallasiana D. Don.; European crab apple – Malus sylvéstris Mill.; white poplar (silver poplar) – Populus alba L.; white willow – Salix alba L.; English oak – Quercus robur L.; European ash – Fraxinus excelsior L.; Lombardy poplar – Populus nigra var. italica Münchh.; wych elm – Ulmus glabra Huds.; golden currant – Ribes aureum Pursh.; common lilac – Syringa vulgaris L.; Russian pea shrub – Caragana frutex (L.) K. Koch; common privet – Ligustrum vilgare L.; Oregon grape – Mahonia aquifolium (Pursh.) Nutt.; cinnamon rose – Rosa cinnamomea L. It was found that relatively stable species in the Kalachevsky district are European crab apple, golden currant (which has the best salinity resistance), Russian pea shrub, wych elm, Oregon grape, but they are inferior to poplars, willows, lilacs, chestnuts in inventory parameters and growth rate. The best performance on a number of economically valuable features were observed in chestnut, spruce, apple, poplar, willow, elm, ash, and rose. Chestnut, currant, Oregon grape, lilac, privet, cinnamon rose have the highest score of ornamentality for landscaping plantations. Chestnut, rose, and oak have the best fruiting rates; ash and privet have medium fruiting rates. The strongest stage of recreational digression is observed in areas remote from settlements: there is densification of plantings, lack of sanitary cuttings, medium passability. Areas near water sources, as well as public gardens and parks, require sanitary care, reduction of recreational pressure and the selection of species from the recommended range of trees and shrubs. In order to ensure the greatest sustainability of plantings and obtain a rapid silvicultural effect, perennial, fast-growing species as well as fruit shrubs recommended in the basic assortment should be included in the protective and landscaping plantations of the arid region.

Multi-trophic consequences of mass flowering in two bamboos (Poales: Poaceae)

Abstract Mass flowering (masting) has been hypothesized to be an adaptive strategy to satiate florivores/granivores. However, few studies have corroborated this by examining seed predation in multiple flowering patches of varying sizes across a wide geographical range over multiple years. Moreover, the trophic consequences of masting for the parasitoids of florivores/granivores and their feedback effects are poorly understood. Here, we used the nationwide masting of two bamboo species, Sasamorpha borealis var. borealis and Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis, in Japan and compared florivory and seed sets in multiple flowering patches during the masting year and the following sporadic flowering years. We found lower florivory damage in both bamboo species and higher seed set for Sasamorpha borealis var. borealis in patches with massive and spatiotemporally isolated flowering. Additionally, the relative level of parasitism of florivores increased considerably in the sporadic flowering year, particularly in large flowering patches of Sasamorpha borealis var. borealis. Our results indicate the importance of spatiotemporal isolation during masting for satiating two dipteran florivores and suggest that parasitoids might rapidly suppress the extent of florivory in the sporadic flowering years after masting. Collectively, our study highlights the importance of considering multi-trophic consequences in understanding the adaptive significance of masting.

Dose-Response Effects of Bamboo Leaves on Rumen Methane Production, Fermentation Characteristics, and Microbial Abundance In Vitro.

Simple SummaryDue to economic, environmental, and nutritional considerations, mitigating enteric methane production from ruminants is an important issue. Nutritionists have recently shown that feeding livestock natural feed additives could ameliorate this problem, due to the antimicrobial activities of the biologically active components in the additives. Bamboo is widely distributed in Asia and is currently being used in construction and paper pulp production, which results in a significant amount of bamboo leaves as by-products. The present study investigated whether bamboo leaves feeding can decrease methane production in ruminants. Here we found that bamboo leaves supplementation in vitro caused a 12.7–34.2% reduction in methane production after 12 and 48 h. Further studies are needed to demonstrate the effect of bamboo leaves supplementation in vivo, to determine its potential for mitigating methane production from ruminants.Ruminants produce large amounts of methane as part of their normal digestive processes. Recently, feed additives were shown to inhibit the microorganisms that produce methane in the rumen, consequently reducing methane emissions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dose–response effect of Phyllostachys nigra var. henonis (PHN) and Sasa borealis supplementation on in vitro rumen fermentation, methane, and carbon dioxide production, and the microbial population. An in vitro batch culture system was used, incubated without bamboo leaves (control) or with bamboo leaves (0.3, 0.6, and 0.9 g/L). After 48 h, total gas, methane, and carbon dioxide production decreased linearly with an increasing dose of bamboo leaves supplementation. The total volatile fatty acid, acetate, and acetate-to-propionate ratio were affected quadratically with increasing doses of bamboo leaves supplementation. In addition, propionate decreased linearly. Butyrate was increased linearly with increasing doses of PHN supplementation. The absolute values of total bacteria and methanogenic archaea decreased linearly and quadratically with an increasing dose of PHN treatment after 48 h. These results show that bamboo leaves supplementation can reduce methane production by directly affecting methanogenic archaea, depressing the metabolism of methanogenic microbes, or transforming the composition of the methanogenic community. These results need to be validated using in vivo feeding trials before implementation.

Studies on physiochemical properties of oil extracted from Brassica nigra and Brassica rapa toria

The family of Brassicaceae accounts for one of the earliest cataloged annual oilseed referred to as Mustard. Brassica nigra and Brassica rapa var. toria are two of the commercially important varieties of mustard seed which are endowed with biomedical properties. The present study was designed for the comparative scrutiny of quality and physicochemical parameters of both oilseed mustard varieties. Oil content, near infrared reflectance analysis, moisture content, color, pungency, free fatty acid value, acid value, presence of argemone test and gas chromatography were studied. B. nigra and B. rapa toria showed oil content corresponding to 37.68% and 43.06% respectively. Less moisture content was observed in B. rapa toria (5.33 %) in comparison to B. nigra. Higher color units were investigated in B. nigra in comparison to B. rapa toria. B. rapa toria showed lesser pungency with 0.034 % allyl isothiocynate content. B. nigra illustrated free fatty acid (FFA) content of 0.79% and high acid value (1.58%). While B.rapa toria showed less FFA and acid value. Argemone oil contamination was not seen in oil of both varieties. B. nigra showed 6.45%, 69.25%, 24.29% of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids respectively. B. rapa toria demonstrated valuable gas chromatographic analysis with lesser saturated fatty acid and higher monounsaturated fatty acid. In comparison to B. nigra, higher oil content, lesser moisture, low FFA value, less acid value and favorable fatty acid composition analysis has been shown by B. rapa toria there upon, indicating superior quality of B. rapa toria oilseed.

A new taper index based on form-factor: application to three bamboo species (Phyllostachys spp.)

The form-factor for the stem surface area is directly proportional to the square root of the form-factor for the stem volume, i.e., the square root law of the form-factor. Although the square root law addresses the stems of coniferous trees, the nature of the proportional coefficient of the law has not been discussed. In this study, we demonstrated that the coefficient indicates the stem taper; therefore, it is named “Taper Index based on Form-Factor (TIFF).” We also examined the relationship between the form-factor for the culm surface area and the form-factor for the apparent culm volume of 570 culms across three bamboo species (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel ex Houz., P. bambusoides Sieb. et Zucc., and P. nigra var. henonis). The square root law held true for all three bamboo species. The species-specific TIFF was determined to be 0.873 for P. pubescens, 0.897 for P. bambusoides, and 0.901 for P. nigra. This result implied that P. pubescens had a more tapering culm form compared to the other two species, while culm taper was similar between P. bambusoides and P. nigra. Our findings align with empirical observations of the culm taper of the bamboo species. Intra-species variation in TIFF was considerably small, allowing us to evaluate the species-specific culm taper from a small number of samples. Therefore, we conclude that TIFF provides a simple and useful method for quantifying species-specific culm or stem taper, and facilitates the estimation of merchantable or total volume.

Occurrence of an invasive slug <i>Limacus flavus </i>(Stylommatophora: Limacidae) in the trees of an urban landscape in Kyiv city (Ukraine), with remarks on its colouration

The importance of trees for an invasive Mediterranean cellar slug, Limacus flavus , was studied within one block of a residential area in Kyiv city (Central Ukraine) from spring of 2020 to spring of 2021. Slugs tended to occur in the old poplars ( Populus nigra var. italica ). Live animals or their traces were found on the 71 of 320 poplars and on 17 trees of other species in the studied area. Slugs often go up to at least 12 m above the ground on these poplars and feed on the lichens there. Animals breed and spend the daytime inside at least some of these trees under the bark. Slugs were wintering in some of these trees in 2020-2021 and probably also at least in 2019-2020, while previously L. flavus was reported from Eastern Europe only in connection to cellars, basements and greenhouses. Apparently these slugs are occupying additional habitats in response to climate change and their occurrence in the trees may become common in Eastern Europe with the warming of climate. The colouration of L. flavus and closely related L. maculatus is discussed. Various differences of the colouration were suggested in the literature to distinguish the two species, most notably the central light stripe on the back of L. flavus , but this character is absent in most of the studied specimens and, therefore, the overall colouration overlaps in the studied populations of the two species.

Fluid Flow of Polar and Less Polar Liquids through Modified Poplar Wood

Fast-growing species often have a low natural durability and can easily be attacked by fungi and insects, and therefore it is often better to preserve them before use. Permeability is a physical property in porous media that significantly affects the penetration of water- and oil-based preservatives into the texture of wood. In the present study, the specific gas permeability and liquid permeability to water and kerosene in poplar wood (Populus nigra var. betulifolia) were measured. The poplar trees were grown in plots with two spacings of 3 × 4 m and 3 × 8 m. Separate sets of specimens were also thermally modified in order to examinethe effects of this modification on gas and liquid permeability values. The results showed higher gas permeability in specimens grown in the plot with wider spacing (3 × 8 m), which was attributed to their larger vessel diameter. Kerosene demonstrated significantly higher permeability in comparison to water. This was attributed to the polar nature of water molecules, which tend to make stronger bonds with wood cell-wall polymers, ultimately delaying the movement of water through vessel elements. Thermal modification had an increasing effect on specific gas permeability. The increase was attributed to cracks that occur in the pits and wood cell wall during thermal modification, making way for the easier flow of fluids. Decreased wettability caused by thermal modification resulted in a significant increase in both water and kerosene permeability values.

Antioxidant Potential of Pine Needles: A Systematic Study on the Essential Oils and Extracts of 46 Species of the Genus Pinus.

The antioxidant activity of the essential oils, as well as of the organic and hydroethanolic extracts, of the fresh needles of 54 pine taxa was evaluated using the peroxy-oxalate and luminol chemiluminescence assays. Among all evaluated essential oils, P. canariensis and P. attenuata displayed the highest levels of activity. P. contorta var. murrayana, followed by P. nigra var. caramanica, exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity among the organic extracts, while the most active hydroethanolic extract was that of P. nigra subsp. nigra. Based on the overall levels of activity, the latter taxon was selected for phytochemical analysis targeting the isolation of the bioactive constituents. As such, the organic extract of P. nigra subsp. nigra was subjected to chromatographic separations to yield 11 secondary metabolites (1−11) that were evaluated for their antioxidant activity. Nonetheless, the isolated compounds were found to be less active than the crude extract, thus suggesting the potential role of synergism.

Protective effects of black bamboo leaves on the glucose-induced toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans

Introduction: Previous studies have suggested that high glucose (HG) condition shortens the lifespan of worms by increasing glycolytic flux followed by accelerating reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, termed glucose toxicity. This study was designed to investigate the protective effects of the leaves of black bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra var. henosis) on the HG-induced toxicity using Caenorhabditis elegans model system. Methods: To determine the effect of black bamboo leaf extract (BLE) against HG-induced toxicity, lifespan assay was carried out with wild-type and daf-16 null mutant worms under 2% glucose condition. The involvement of DAF-16 was further confirmed by observing fluorescence signal of transgenic mutant carrying DAF-16::GFP transgene. ROS levels and glucose concentration of worms were analyzed using fluorescent probe H2DCF-DA and glucose meter, respectively. Nile-red staining was carried out to evaluate the lipid storage of worms. Intercellular lipid accumulation was measured using Oil-Red O staining method. Results: BLE strongly extended the lifespan of worms under not only normal culture condition but also HG condition. Our additional studies suggested that DAF-16 activation was responsible for BLE-mediated longevity and protective action against glucose toxicity. In addition, HG-fed worms showed increased ROS generation, and it was completely normalized by BLE treatment. Moreover, BLE reduced body glucose concentration and lipid accumulation in HG-fed worms. We further confirmed the inhibitory effect of BLE on lipid storage under HG condition using 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Conclusion: These therapeutic values of BLE on glucose toxicity raise the possibility that BLE might have beneficial effects on the pathogenesis of diabetes mellitus.

Optimization of alkali pretreatment conditions for wax removal from bamboo culm

Appropriate chemical reagents were selected for removing the wax layer of bamboo culm, and optimal treatment conditions with the selected agents were determined in this study. Solutions of potassium carbonate, potassium hydroxide, sodium carbonate, and sodium chloride, along with their mixtures with 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate, were tested for efficacy of wax removal on culms of giant timber bamboo (Phyllostachys bambusoides S. et Z.), hachiku bamboo (Phyllostachys nigra var. henosis Stapf), and moso bamboo (Phyllostachys pubescens Mazel). Of the tested reagents, the mixture of potassium hydroxide and sodium dodecyl sulfate showed the best capability. The effects of varying concentrations of the selected reagents and reaction times at 90 °C were investigated by response surface methodology (RSM). Quadratic regression models representing the degree of wax removal at various treatment conditions were determined. The coefficients of determination of the fitted models were greater than 0.98, meaning that the models were highly accurate in predicting the degree of wax removal. According to the fitted models, the optimal conditions of potassium hydroxide concentration, sodium dodecyl sulfate concentration, and reaction time were 5.08%, 3.6%, and 63 min, respectively. The use of an RSM model offers considerable flexibility for practical uses because it allows multiple solutions with any desired level of wax removal.

The complete chloroplast genome of Phyllostachys glauca (Bambusoideae), a dominant bamboo species in limestone mountains endemic to China

Phyllostachys glauca is a dominant species in limestone mountains endemic to China. Here, we characterized its complete chloroplast genome. It is a circular DNA molecule of 139,689 bp in length, including a pair of 21,798 bp inverted repeats (IRs), a 12,872 bp small single-copy (SSC) region and an 83221 bp large single-copy (LSC) region. The total GC content of P. glauca chloroplast genome was 38.9%, and it encodes a total of 137 functional genes, including 89 protein-coding genes, 40 tRNA genes, and 8 rRNA genes. The phylogenetic analysis shows that P. glauca is highly clustered in the Phyllostachys clade (V), sister to the lineage of P. nigra var. henonis + P. sulphurea.

Isolation of diploid and tetraploid cytotypes from mixoploids based on adventitious bud regeneration in Populus

Somatic chromosome doubling usually results in the production of mixoploids, which are difficult to use in breeding programs. In this study, we developed a method to isolate diploid and tetraploid cytotypes from induced mixoploids of Populus pseudo-simonii × P. nigra var. italica based on adventitious bud regeneration. We produced 75 mixoploids through colchicine-induced seed chromosome doubling in P. pseudo-simonii × P. nigra var. italica. The highest mixoploid induction frequency was 26.67 ± 5.09% following treatment with 0.1% colchicine for 96 h. We then screened a medium for adventitious bud regeneration from leaf explants of multiple genotypes, which was Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium with 0.4 mg L−1 6-benzyladenine (BA) and 0.1 mg L−1 1-naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). The maximum frequency of leaf differentiation was 96.67 ± 3.33%, and the number of adventitious buds per explant was 6.17 ± 1.02. When the medium was applied for adventitious bud regeneration of 12 mixoploid genotypes, 18 tetraploids and 26 diploids were isolated, of which five mixoploids generated both diploid and tetraploid cytotypes and seven mixoploids generated either diploids or tetraploids. Compared to diploids, tetraploids varied significantly in stomatal characteristics, micropropagation coefficient and rooting ability. Significant differences were also detected among genotypes at the same ploidy level, implying that heterozygosity also affected phenotypic variation during allopolyploidization. This study provides an effective method for isolation of diploid and tetraploid cytotypes from mixoploids and generation of full-sib diploid and tetraploid germplasms for polyploidy Populus breeding programs. This paper reported an efficient method to isolate diploids and tetraploids from Populus mixoploids via adventitious bud regeneration. Paired analysis showed both heterozygosity and ploidy level contributed to morphological variation.