Rapid Water Loss Research Articles

Environment microorganism and mature daqu powder shaped microbial community formation in mechanically strong-flavor daqu

Daqu is the fermenting starter in Chinese Baijiu brewing, contributing functional microorganisms, enzymes and flavor substances to the grain fermentation. Traditional daqu is produced in open environment where environmental factors and microbiota are critical to daqu and Baijiu quality. Mechanization is the direction of Baijiu production development. In this study, we investigated the mechanism of the effect of mechanized environment and manufacturing process on daqu production. Many functional microorganisms (e.g. Acetobacter, lactic acid bacteria and yeast) were distributed in the process environment, including indoor air, tube and equipment surfaces, which contributed to the initial bacterial/fungal composition in daqu (71.62%/28.47%) along with mature daqu powder (21.1%/61.65%). Our results also showed daqu microbiota formation was influenced by both stochastic and deterministic processes. The initial microorganisms produced large amounts of organic acids (19.24 g/kg) and bioheat (58.3 °C) during early fermentation stage, leading to a rapid temperature rise and water loss under the stacking process. Mature daqu powder mainly provided thermophilic microorganisms for fermentation stages during and after temperature rise, including Thermoactinomyces, Thermoascus, Thermomyces, Rhizomucor and Rhizopus, which produced enzymes and amino nitrogen for Baijiu fermentation, also ensuring stable microbiota among process batches. This work revealed the origin of the microbial community of strong-flavor daqu and showed that ecological environment suitable for daqu fermentation was created during the long-term continuous production process by adding mature daqu powder during daqu brick making and sprinkling it in the workshop, by which product quality was guaranteed.

Optimization of Anti-Collapse Drilling Fluid Systems with High Potassium Content

The ash mudstone in some oil formations is highly water-sensitive. The oil formation is fractured, and the risk of well leakage and collapse is not negligible. This study presents a countermeasure for well collapse prevention, based on a “force-chemistry synergistic balance” approach and the utilization of environmentally friendly and efficient hydration inhibitors. The relevance of this approach is demonstrated considering a drilling fluid system with the high potassium content. The analysis shows that the system can maintain good rheological properties, filtration loss and suspension stability even after aging at 130°C for 16 h. The primary roll recovery of rock chips is better than 98%. The secondary rolling recovery rate is 89%. The rapid water loss is close to zero. The effects of carrying rock, sand, hydration inhibition and dispersion of drill chips are all noticeable.

The use of chicken manure, lowland peat and highland peat briquettes on the growth of Macadamia integrifolia in an arid area of Pematang Tambun Village, Simalungun Regency

The catchment area of Lake Toba continues to experience a decline in quality due to frequent fires in this area. Various recovery measures in the form of reforestation are continuously being carried out but often fail due to the difficult terrain due to the steep slope and the rapid loss of water due to gravity. The water immediately dissipates to a lower elevation leading to the lake. As a result, this condition leaves an expanse of barren area that is only overgrown with weeds. This study aimed to see whether lowland and highland peat soil can be used as a water retaining material that has the same quality as manure and to obtain the right dose of this water retaining material to support the growth of Macadamia integrifolia plants. The study was designed using 3 types of water retaining material briquettes, namely: chicken manure, lowland peat and highland peat, each of which was divided into several treatments, namely: 0, 0.5, 0.75, 1.0, 1.25 and 1.5 kg/plant. The difficulty of the steep terrain makes it difficult for planting actions. Therefore, the technology of making briquettes is considered to be a solution. In addition, the conversion into briquettes gives a positive value to peat where acidic peat water can be removed so that the toxic effects of peat can be reduced. The results showed that the three types of briquettes significantly increased plant growth in terms of plant height, leaf area and crown area of M. integrifolia. Although the best plant growth performance was shown by the briquette dose of 1.5 kg/plant, the dose of 0.75 kg/plant seemed to have given no significant growth when compared to a dose of 1.0-1.5 kg/plant.

Large lipid droplets of the guard cells are dynamic organelles of the functioning stomata of Fagraea ceilanica

Fagraea ceilanica is an evergreen epiphyte, a large shrub or a small tree. Its native range is tropical and subtropical Asia. Light, scanning and transmission electron microscopy were used to study the development and structure of its stomatal complexes. They are anisocytic or helicocytic. The absence of typical chloroplasts, the presence of complex-shaped mitochondria, the diurnal formation and destruction of large lipid droplets (LDs) are structural features of F. ceilanica guard cells. The plastids of these cells have few peripheral thylakoids and contain large starch grains. The plastids of subsidiary cells are typical chloroplasts with large grana. Stomata are functional. The data obtained indicate the relation between the filling of the guard cells with LDs and the opening of stomata. The measuring of stomatal conductance revealed its slow lowering in the cut-off leaves. The leaves of F. ceilanica are protected from rapid water loss by the formation of mucilage from wall components of spongy tissue cells. Their walls facing the substomatal chamber are covered with a mucilaginous layer.

The Effect of Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma Gas and Plasma-Activated Water on the Physicochemical Changes in Button Mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus).

Button mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) are highly popular worldwide due to their rich nutritional value and health benefits. However, the rapid water loss rate and browning restrict their economic value. The atmospheric cold plasma (ACP) generated by the plasma equipment used by dielectric barrier discharge preservation technology is widely used for food preservation since it is cost-efficient and environmentally friendly, generating no chemical residues. This study established four treatment groups, namely the direct ACP treatment group (DBD), plasma-activated water immersion group (PAW), pure water immersion group (PW), and control group (control), to explore the effect that ACP preservation technology has on button mushrooms. The results indicated that ACP treatment decreased the pH of pure water from 5.90 ± 0.03 to 5.16 ± 0.03, while significantly increasing the temperature (p < 0.05). During the storage period, the browning index (BI) and E value were the lowest in the PAW group, which exhibited the best hardness and sensory properties. Neither the pH nor water activity changed significantly during the storage period in any of the groups. The polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity in the button mushroom decreased significantly compared with the control after plasma-activated water treatment. In summary, plasma-activated water significantly reduced the BI and E value of button mushrooms, inhibited PPO activity, and yielded the most stable sensory properties for the optimal preservation of button mushrooms.

The Effects of Ortho Silicone Applications on the Acclimatization Process of Grapevine Rootstocks

Micropropagation is a tool for large-scale reproduction of planting material for viticulture sustainability. Successful micropropagation depends on the continued productivity of plantlets during the acclimatization phase. Due to high humidity in the culture container and free water in the environment, it causes rapid water loss and drying of plantlets with watery stems and leaves, poorly developed cuticle, large intercellular space, and incomplete stomata. Acclimatization of in vitro grown plantlets is often difficult. Silicon is gaining in importance as a useful tool in coping with multiple stress factors in different plant species, due to its contribution to the formation of the cuticle of plants, its mechanical resistance to biotic and abiotic stress, and its contribution to the flow of water through stomata and plant surfaces. In this study, the effects of 500 and 1000 µL ortho silicon applications at the acclimatization stage on in vitro propagated plantlets of 41B, 110R and Fercal grapevine rootstocks were evaluated by examining their survival rates. In the in vitro propagation process, rooting rates were listed as Fercal (64%) and 110R (32%) and 41B (28%) according to rootstocks, while root numbers were listed as Fercal (11.8), 41B (8.5), 110R (3.6). Genotypic differences were determined in the effects of silicon on plantlets in the acclimation process. In 110R and Fercal control plantlets, all plantlets were lost during acclimatization. Of the plantlets treated with 1000 µL SiO2, 110R 66% Fercal 88% and in 41B, the control, 500 and 1000 µL SiO2 applied plantlets survived 100%, 66% and 66%, respectively. 1000 µL SiO2 dose was more effective on survival rates than 500 µL applications. In subsequent studies, it was found that 1000 µL SiO2 applications could be used for practical success in grapevine genotypes that had problems in acclimatization and in other in vitro propagation studies.

Transcriptomic analysis of CO2-treated strawberries (Fragaria vesca) with enhanced resistance to softening and oxidative stress at consumption.

One of the greatest threats to wild strawberries (Fragaria vesca Mara des Bois) after harvest is the highly perishability at ambient temperature. Breeders have successfully met the quality demands of consumers, but the prevention of waste after harvest in fleshy fruits is still pending. Most of the waste is due to the accelerated progress of senescence-like process after harvest linked to a rapid loss of water and firmness at ambient temperature. The storage life of strawberries increases at low temperature, but their quality is limited by the loss of cell structure. The application of high CO2 concentrations increased firmness during cold storage. However, the key genes related to resistance to softening and cell wall disassembly following transference from cold storage at 20°C remain unclear. Therefore, we performed RNA-seq analysis, constructing a weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) to identify which molecular determinants play a role in cell wall integrity, using strawberries with contrasting storage conditions, CO2-cold stored (CCS), air-cold stored (ACS), non-cold stored (NCS) kept at ambient temperature, and intact fruit at harvest (AH). The hub genes associated with the cell wall structural architecture of firmer CO2-treated strawberries revealed xyloglucans stabilization attributed mainly to a down-regulation of Csl E1, XTH 15, Exp-like B1 and the maintenance of expression levels of nucleotide sugars transferases such as GMP and FUT as well as improved lamella integrity linked to a down-regulation of RG-lyase, PL-like and PME. The preservation of cell wall elasticity together with the up-regulation of LEA, EXPA4, and MATE, required to maintain cell turgor, is the mechanisms controlled by high CO2. In stressed air-cold stored strawberries, in addition to an acute softening, there is a preferential transcript accumulation of genes involved in lignin and raffinose pathways. Non-cold stored strawberries kept at 20°C after harvest are characterized by an enrichment in genes mainly involved in oxidative stress and up-expression of genes involved in jasmonate biosynthesis. The present results on transcriptomic analysis of CO2-treated strawberries with enhanced resistance to softening and oxidative stress at consumption will help to improve breeding strategies of both wild and cultivated strawberries.

Role of Osmotic Regulation and Cryoprotectant Substances in the Freezing Tolerance of Alfalfa in Cold, Dry Conditions

Background: Freezing temperatures are a limiting factor hindering the survival of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) through winter. Soil drought also damages alfalfa crowns and can affect their regeneration. Therefore, it is important to determine the effects of cold, dry conditions on alfalfa to develop effective water management strategies in winter. Methods: Cold, dry conditions were established in the laboratory and the freezing tolerance of crowns was compared between the alfalfa cultivars ‘WL440HQ’ and ‘ZhaoDong’. The degree of freezing tolerance was estimated on the basis of relative electrolyte leakage and semi-lethal temperature. The effects of cold, dry conditions on alfalfa crowns were determined by investigating the rate of water loss and the concentrations of soluble sugars (which function as cryoprotectants) and betaine and proline (which function as osmoregulation substances). Result: Compared with crowns of ‘ZhaoDong’, those of ‘WL440HQ’ showed a higher water loss rate in cold, dry conditions and were irreversibly damaged and their freezing tolerance was severely affected. In comparison, crowns from ‘ZhaoDong’ showed a lower water loss rate and lower relative electrolyte leakage under cold, dry conditions and their freezing tolerance was not significantly affected. The higher water loss rate and lower freezing tolerance were the direct causes of death of ‘WL440HQ’, the cultivar with a higher fall dormancy score. In cold, dry conditions, the content of proline, an osmotic regulation substance, increased in response to soil water deficit and may have improved the ability to withstand freezing temperatures by preventing rapid water loss. In addition, sucrose, fructose, galactose and stachyose contents in the crown increased under cold, dry conditions and may have enhanced freezing tolerance because of their function as cryoprotectants. The results of this study indicate that maintaining soil moisture within the range suitable for the growth of crowns is important for the successful overwintering of alfalfa.

Experimental Study of the Volume Drying Shrinkage Characteristics of Lignite under Low Temperatures.

Low-temperature and humid drying experiments [temperatures of 20–30 °C; relative humidity (RH) of 40–60%] were conducted to investigate the drying shrinkage of lignite at low temperatures. The moisture content and volume variations of lignite during low-temperature drying were measured to analyze the change in the water content and volume drying shrinkage rate under low-temperature drying conditions. The results show that in the first 48 h of drying, the water evaporated rapidly. The amount of external water evaporated and lost accounted for 70–90% of the total water lost during the entire low-temperature drying period, and the average water content is reduced to about 12.8%. When the rapid loss of external water decreased to less than 12.8%, the water adsorbed on the external surfaces, the movable water between large particles was completely lost, and saturated lignite underwent heterogeneous volume shrinkage. The drying shrinkage was slow during the first 48 h, accounting for 20.8% of the total drying shrinkage in the entire low-temperature drying process. The volume shrinkage occurred in four stages as the water content decreased with time. With increasing drying time, the decrease in the water content occurred in four stages: the thermal expansion stage, rapid shrinkage stage, slow shrinkage stage, and stable shrinkage stage. The dry shrinkage rate has a significant positive correlation with the water evaporation quality and significant negative correlations with the water content and evaporation rate. The lower the evaporation rate, the greater the dry shrinkage rate when the saturated lignite is dried under low-temperature and humid conditions (temperature of <30 °C; RH of <60%). There is a time lag between volume shrinkage and water loss, and there is also a difference in their quantities. The volume shrinkage is lower than the water loss, and the difference is largest about 48 h into the initial stage of low-temperature drying. As the low-temperature drying time increases, the shrinkage due to drying becomes stable, and the moisture content remains unchanged. The larger the ratio of RH to temperature, the larger the stable shrinkage.

Automatic periodical sulfur dioxide fumigation in combination with CO 2 ‐enriched atmosphere extends the storage life of durian ( Durio zibethinus Murr.)

The postharvest decay of durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) increases rapidly when the storage time is extended, which seriously limits the commercial value. In this research, the effects of appropriate periodical SO2 fumigation and different CO2-enriched atmospheres (3% O2 + 10%–13%, 14%–17%, or 18%–21% CO2) on the storage quality of durian stored at 14°C were investigated. Results showed that SO2 fumigation in combination with enriched CO2 atmosphere (14%–17%) could maintain firmness (16.37 N), retard weight loss (10.24%), reduce decay rate (11%), and inhibit the production of ethylene (9.2 μl kg−1 h−1) and malondialdehyde (12.10 μmol/g). Moreover, the treatment consolidated the disease resistance of durian by, first, enhancing peroxidase (POD) and catalase (CAT) activities, and, second, by restraining polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity, which helped to maintain the cell integrity structures. More importantly, this treatment retained a high sensory score (41.35) and extended the storage life up to 60 days. Therefore, a combination of 1,500 mg/L SO2 fumigation and controlled atmosphere storage (3% O2 + 14%–17% CO2) was the more effective method to delay maturation and senescence and improve the storage quality of durian. Novelty impact statement Durian (Durio zibethinus Murr.) is susceptible to rapid water loss, softening, browning, and chemical deterioration after harvest, which greatly limits the storage quality and commercial value of fruits. Automatic periodical SO2 fumigation of 1,500 mg/L in conjunction with CO2-enriched controlled atmosphere storage (3% O2 + 14%–17% CO2) will be a promising postharvest strategy to reduce decay and extend the storage life of fresh durian.

Effect of Different Processing Methods on Quality, Structure, Oxidative Properties and Water Distribution Properties of Fish Meat-Based Snacks.

Snack foods are consumed around to globe due to their high nutrition, taste and versatility; however, the effects of various processing methods on quality, structure and oxidative properties are scare in the literature. This study aims to evaluate the effect of various processing methods (frying, baking and microwave cooking) on quality, structure, pasting, water distribution and protein oxidative properties of fish meat-based snacks. The results showed that the frying method induced a significantly (p < 0.05) higher expansion than baking and microwave methods. Texture in terms of hardness was attributed to the rapid loss of water from muscle fiber, which resulted in compact structure and the increased hardness in microwave cooking, whereas in frying, due to excessive expansion, the hardness decreased. The pasting properties were significantly higher in baking, indicating the sufficient swelling of starch granules, while low in microwave suggest the rapid heating, which degraded the starch molecules and disruption of hydrogen bonds as well as glycosidic linkage and weakening of granules integrity. The water movement assessed by Low Field Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (LF-NMR) showed that frying had less tight and immobilized water, whereas microwave and baking had high amounts of tight and immobilized water, attributing to the proper starch-protein interaction within matrix, which was also evidenced by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis. The protein oxidation was significantly (p < 0.05) higher in frying compared to baking and microwave cooking. The findings suggest the endorsement of baking and microwave cooking for a quality, safe and healthy snacks.

The Cyclophilin ROC3 Regulates ABA-Induced Stomatal Closure and the Drought Stress Response of Arabidopsis thaliana.

Drought causes a major constraint on plant growth, development, and crop productivity. Drought stress enhances the synthesis and mobilization of the phytohormone abscisic acid (ABA). Enhanced cellular levels of ABA promote the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), which in turn induce anion channel activity in guard cells that consequently leads to stomatal closure. Although Cyclophilins (CYPs) are known to participate in the biotic stress response, their involvement in guard cell ABA signaling and the drought response remains to be established. The Arabidopsis thaliana gene ROC3 encodes a CYP. Arabidopsis roc3 T-DNA mutants showed a reduced level of ABA-activated S-type anion currents, and stomatal closure than wild type (WT). Also, roc3 mutants exhibited rapid loss of water in leaf than wild type. Two complementation lines of roc3 mutants showed similar stomatal response to ABA as observed for WT. Both complementation lines also showed similar water loss as WT by leaf detached assay. Biochemical assay suggested that ROC3 positively regulates ROS accumulation by inhibiting catalase activity. In response to ABA treatment or drought stress, roc3 mutant show down regulation of a number of stress responsive genes. All findings indicate that ROC3 positively regulates ABA-induced stomatal closure and the drought response by regulating ROS homeostasis and the expression of various stress-activated genes.

Postharvest Aloe vera gel coating application maintains the quality of harvested green chilies during cold storage.

The effect of Aloe vera (ALV) coating was studied on chillies at 10±1°C for 28days. ALV gel-coated chillies showed reduced weight loss, disease incidence, red chili percentage, respiration rate, electrolyte leakage, hydrogen peroxide, and superoxide anion contents. The ALV coating maintained general acceptance in terms of visual quality and marketability index with higher chlorophyll contents, ascorbic acid contents, total phenolic contents, and total antioxidants. In addition, ascorbate peroxidase, catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidase activities were markedly higher in coated chillies compared to control. The biochemical attributes such as soluble solids content, acidity, sugar: acid ratio, and juice pH were non-significantly affected by ALV application; however, the said attributes were comparatively higher in contrast to control. In conclusion, ALV edible coating could be used as an eco-friendly approach for delaying senescence and maintaining the postharvest quality of green chillies up to 28days. PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS: Green chilies being highly perishable exhibit limited postharvest life with rapid loss of water, shrivelling, wilting, disease incidence, and reduced consumer acceptability. ALV gel coating significantly delayed postharvest senescence, reduced disease spread, maintained higher antioxidant activities of green chilies during cold storage. Therefore, ALV coating [50%] would be the suitable alternative to synthetic preservatives for extending the storage life and conserving the quality of green chilies.

Deeper and Deeper on the Role of BK and Kir4.1 Channels in Glioblastoma Invasiveness: A Novel Summative Mechanism?

In the last decades, increasing evidence has revealed that a large number of channel protein and ion pumps exhibit impaired expression in cancers. This dysregulation is responsible for high proliferative rates as well as migration and invasiveness, reflected in the recently coined term oncochannelopathies. In glioblastoma (GBM), the most invasive and aggressive primary brain tumor, GBM cells modify their ionic equilibrium in order to change their volume as a necessary step prior to migration. This mechanism involves increased expression of BK channels and downregulation of the normally widespread Kir4.1 channels, as noted in GBM biopsies from patients. Despite a large body of work implicating BK channels in migration in response to an artificial intracellular calcium rise, little is known about how this channel acts in GBM cells at resting membrane potential (RMP), as compared to other channels that are constitutively open, such as Kir4.1. In this review we propose that a residual fraction of functionally active Kir4.1 channels mediates a small, but continuous, efflux of potassium at the more depolarized RMP of GBM cells. In addition, coinciding with transient membrane deformation and the intracellular rise in calcium concentration, brief activity of BK channels can induce massive and rapid cytosolic water loss that reduces cell volume (cell shrinkage), a necessary step for migration within the brain parenchyma.

Novel Responsive Controllable Solidification Plugging Agent to Overcome Lost Circulation Problems in Long Open Hole Intervals

A new type of responsive controllable solidification plugging agent (RCSP) for long open hole intervals was developed, and the sealing characteristics were evaluated. RCSP had the characteristics of rapid water loss, high filter-cake consistency and good residence capacity. The experimental results indicated that the maximum pressure-bearing capacities of plugged zones in 5 mm and 10 mm slotted templets are 16.6 MPa and 11 MPa, respectively. So RCSP is an effective plugging agent for strengthening wellbore stability. RCSP is appropriate for sealing wide range of fracture sizes. Using RCSP-based plugging mud to address lost circulation problems in troublesome thief zones is a very powerful and economical approach. In the future, RCSP might hold great promise to resolve lost circulation problems in multiple leakage zones in long open hole sections.

Embryonic stage selection for cryopreservation of the silkworm Bombyx mori and the effects of cryopreservation on embryo tissues

Successful cryopreservation of the important silkworm bioresource, Bombyx mori, is essential. In this study, we aimed for successful cryopreservation using vitrification of silkworm embryos. Furthermore, the embryos were assessed for the most appropriate sampling stage. We found that vitrified embryos developed to the serosa ingestion stage when they were vitrified at embryonic stage 24–25. The most suitable stage for vitrification was around a 5–10 h period when the tracheal fibers were elongating in stage 25. None of the vitrified embryos developed into larvae, although some did develop to the pre-hatching stage. From histological analysis, we found that several small cracks formed on the cuticle covering the hypodermis in the vitrified embryos. Additionally, the midgut epithelium was detached from the midgut wall and mixed with the yolk in the midgut lumen. We speculate that the vitrified embryos died from a rapid loss of body water from the small cracks formed in the cuticle. We also suggest that the vitrified embryos may have resulted in dysfunction of the midgut.

Mass transfer modelling in ultrasound assisted osmotic dehydration of kiwi fruit

In this study, the effect of ultrasonic pre-treatment on osmotic dehydration of kiwi slices was investigated. Kiwi fruit slices were subjected to ultrasonic pre-treatment in a sonication water bath at a frequency of 25 kHz for 20 min. Osmotic dehydration of ultrasonic pre-treated samples were conducted for a period of 300 min in 60 Brix sucrose solution. The kinetics of moisture loss and solute gain during osmotic dehydration were predicted by fitting the experimental data with Azuara's model and Weibull's model. The effects of ultrasound application on water loss, sugar gain, effective moisture diffusivity and solute diffusivity of the samples were analysed. The osmotic dehydration process showed a rapid initial water loss followed by a progressive decrease in the rates in the later stages. From the Azuara's model, the predicted equilibrium water loss value for ultrasound pre-treated sample was 58.4% (wb) at 60°C that was nearly 16% higher than the samples treated under atmospheric conditions. Fitting of Weibull model showed that the ultrasound pre-treated and untreated samples had shape parameter (βw) ranging between 0.570–0.616 and 0.677–0.723 respectively. The lower values of shape parameter indicated that sonication caused accelerated water loss resulting faster dehydration rate. Results indicated that the effective moisture diffusivity and solute diffusivity was enhanced in ultrasonic pre-treated samples. The effective moisture diffusivity during osmotic dehydration of ultrasonic pre-treated samples was ranged between 5.460×10−10–7.300×10−10 m2/s and solute diffusivity was varied between 2.925×10−10–3.511×10−10 m2/s within the temperature range 25–60 °C. The enhanced moisture and solute diffusivity in ultrasound pre-treated kiwi slices was due to cell disruption and formation of microscopic channels.

Genome-wide analysis of glycerol-3-phosphate O-acyltransferase gene family and functional characterization of two cutin group GPATs in Brassica napus.

Genome-wide identification, spatio-temporal expression analysis and functional characterization of selected Brassica napus GPATs highlight their roles in cuticular wax biosynthesis and defense against fungal pathogens. Glycerol-3-phosphate 1-O-acyltransferase (GPAT) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of glycerolipids, a major component of cellular membranes and extracellular protective layers, such as cuticles in plants. Brassica napus is an economically important crop and cultivated worldwide mostly for its edible oil. The B. napus GPATs (BnGPATs) are insufficiently characterized. Here, we performed genome-wide analysis to identify putative GPATs in B. napus and its diploid progenitors B. rapa and B oleracea. The 32 B. napus BnGPATs are phylogenetically divided into three major groups, cutin, suberin, and diverse ancient groups. Analysis of transcriptomes of different tissues and seeds at different developmental stages revealed the spatial and temporal expression profiles of BnGPATs. The yield and oil quality ofB. napusare adversely affected by the necrotrophic fungus,Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. We showed that several BnGPATs, including cutin-related BnGPAT19 and 21, were upregulated in the S. sclerotiorum resistant line. RNAi-mediated suppression of BnGPAT19 and 21 in B. napus resulted in thinner cuticle, leading to rapid water and chlorophyll loss in toluidine blue staining and leaf bleaching assays. In addition, the RNAi plants also developed severe necrotic lesions following fungal inoculation compared to the wild-type plants, indicating that BnGPAT19 and 21 are likely involved in cuticular wax biosynthesis that is critical for initial pathogen defense. Taken together, we provided a comprehensive account of GPATs B. napus and characterized BnGPAT19 and 21 for their potential roles in cuticular wax biosynthesis and defense against fungal pathogens.

Integrating physiological and metabolites analysis to identify ethylene involvement in petal senescence in Tulipa gesneriana

Flower senescence is classified into ethylene-dependent and ethylene-independent manners and determines the flower longevity which is valuable for ornamental plants. However, the manner of petal senescence in tulip is still less defined. In this study, we characterized the physiological indexes in the process of petal senescence, as well as metabolic and ethylene responses in tulip cultivar ‘American Dream’, and further identified the role of ethylene biosynthesis genes TgACS by transgenic and transient assays. Primary metabolites profiling revealed that sugars, amino acids and organic acids preferentially accumulated in senescent petals. Additionally, senescence-associated genes were identified and significantly up-regulated, coupled with increased ROS contents, rapid water loss and accelerated cell membrane breakdown. Moreover, ethylene production was stimulated as evidenced by increasing in ACS activity and ethylene biosynthesis-related genes expression. Exogenous treatment of cutting flowers with 1-MCP or ethephon resulted in delayed or enhanced petal senescence, respectively. Transient down-regulation of TgACS by VIGS assay in tulip petals delayed senescence, while over-expressed TgACS1 in tobacco promoted leaf senescence. Taken together, this study provides evidences to certify ethylene roles and TgACS functions during flower senescence in tulip.

Cracking Control in Mezzanine Floor Slabs using Rice Husk Ash and Polypropylene Fibers

The continuous population increase in recent years requires a greater number of households to be built quickly, with good materials and produced under quality standards that guarantee their manufacturing process. The prefabricated concrete, produced and supplied by concrete plants, is poured into the different structural elements, the mezzanine slabs being the most careful surfaces in the appearance of fissures; because being horizontal and having larger dimensions, the dimensional changes in the concrete appear more frequently due to the rapid loss of water from the surface of the concrete before setting; which generates superior stresses to the resistant capacity of the concrete at early ages, which affect the durability and reduce the resistance of the structures, causing greater economic expenses in maintenance and repairs. In the present investigation, 5%, 10% and 15% of rice husk ash was used as a replacement for cement and 900g/m3 of polypropylene fiber; The results indicate that as the percentage of rice husk ash increases, there is a reduction in the slump and the crack fissures, and that the resistance to compression and flexion decreases, with respect to the concrete pattern.