Soluble Sugars Research Articles

Establishment, Multiplication, and Biochemical Analysis of Embryogenic Lines of the Amazonian Palm Euterpe precatoria Mart. under Suspension Culture

The palm Euterpe precatoria holds great social, cultural, and environmental importance. The heart of palm and the fruit are the main products used for industrialization due to their energetic properties. Thus, the aim of this study was to establish a suspension cultivation protocol for the species using different explant sources. For this, eight lineages of E. precatoria embryogenic calluses were tested, with five in liquid medium Murashige and Skoog (MS) with 5 μM Picloram and three for comparison in semisolid medium MS with 20 μM Picloram and 5 μM 2iP. The growth curve was obtained by weighing the calli from 60 to 180 days of cultivation. The Gompertz model was applied, and growth kinetics were evaluated. At 100 days, the contents of total soluble sugars (TSSs) and total soluble proteins (TSPs) were determined. Principal components (PCA) were measured. According to the analysis of the data, the cultivation of E. precatoria lineages in liquid medium was successfully carried out, and the establishment was achieved. The model can be considered adequate since the R2 values found describe more than 90% of the growth kinetics of the lineages. In the liquid system, lineages L1 (from leaf explants and multiplied in semisolid medium—SM), L2 (from leaf explants and multiplied in SM), and L6 (from zygotic embryo explants and multiplied in liquid medium—LM) showed the shortest time to double the biomass accumulation. Multivariate analysis reveals a significant increase in masses in liquid cultures, represented by lineages L6 and L2. There was statistical difference in the amount of TSSs extracted; the highest TSS levels were observed in lineages cultivated in LM. The protein content found was very low, showing statistical differences among the lineages. In this work, the establishment and multiplication of embryogenic calli of E. precatoria are described for the first time, and they emerge as viable alternatives for the vegetative propagation of the species.

Comparison between bacterial bio-formulations and gibberellic acid effects on Stevia rebaudiana growth and production of steviol glycosides through regulating their encoding genes

Stevia rebaudiana is associated with the production of calorie-free steviol glycosides (SGs) sweetener, receiving worldwide interest as a sugar substitute for people with metabolic disorders. The aim of this investigation is to show the promising role of endophytic bacterial strains isolated from Stevia rebaudiana Egy1 leaves as a biofertilizer integrated with Azospirillum brasilense ATCC 29,145 and gibberellic acid (GA3) to improve another variety of stevia (S. rebaudiana Shou-2) growth, bioactive compound production, expression of SGs involved genes, and stevioside content. Endophytic bacteria isolated from S. rebaudiana Egy1 leaves were molecularly identified and assessed in vitro for plant growth promoting (PGP) traits. Isolated strains Bacillus licheniformis SrAM2, Bacillus paralicheniformis SrAM3 and Bacillus paramycoides SrAM4 with accession numbers MT066091, MW042693 and MT066092, respectively, induced notable variations in the majority of PGP traits production. B. licheniformis SrAM2 revealed the most phytohormones and hydrogen cyanide (HCN) production, while B. paralicheniformis SrAM3 was the most in exopolysaccharides (EPS) and ammonia production 290.96 ± 10.08 mg/l and 88.92 ± 2.96 mg/ml, respectively. Treated plants significantly increased in performance, and the dual treatment T7 (B. paramycoides SrAM4 + A. brasilense) exhibited the highest improvement in shoot and root length by 200% and 146.7%, respectively. On the other hand, T11 (Bacillus cereus SrAM1 + B. licheniformis SrAM2 + B. paralicheniformis SrAM3 + B. paramycoides SrAM4 + A. brasilense + GA3) showed the most elevation in number of leaves, total soluble sugars (TSS), and up-regulation in the expression of the four genes ent-KO, UGT85C2, UGT74G1 and UGT76G1 at 2.7, 3.3, 3.4 and 3.7, respectively. In High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) analysis, stevioside content showed a progressive increase in all tested samples but the maximum was exhibited by dual and co-inoculations at 264.37% and 289.05%, respectively. It has been concluded that the PGP endophytes associated with S. rebaudiana leaves improved growth and SGs production, implying the usability of these strains as prospective tools to improve important crop production individually or in consortium.

Carotenoid-carbohydrate crosstalk: evidence for genetic and physiological interactions in storage tissues across crop species.

Carotenoids play essential roles in photosynthesis, photoprotection, and human health. Efforts to increase carotenoid content in several staple crops have been successful through both conventional selection and genetic engineering methods. Interestingly, in some cases, altering carotenoid content has had unexpected effects on other aspects of plant metabolism, impacting traits like sugar content, dry matter percentage, fatty acid content, stress tolerance, and phytohormone concentrations. Studies across several diverse crop species have identified negative correlations between carotenoid and starch contents, as well as positive correlations between carotenoids and soluble sugars. Collectively, these reports suggest a metabolic interaction between carotenoids and carbohydrates. We synthesize evidence pointing to four hypothesized mechanisms: (1) direct competition for precursors; (2) physical interactions in plastids; (3) influences of sugar or apocarotenoid signaling networks; and (4) nonmechanistic population or statistical sources of correlations. Though the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway is well understood, the regulation and interactions of carotenoids, especially in nonphotosynthetic tissues, remain unclear. This topic represents an underexplored interplay between primary and secondary metabolism where further research is needed.

Polypropylene Packaged Ten Days Cold Stored Rose Cut Flowers cv. Bordeaux Influenced by Different Pulsing Solution

The study included different pulsing solution viz., water, HQC 200mg/l, sucrose 50g/l + HQC 200 mg/l, citric acid 200mg/l, α-lipoic acid 200mg/l, GA3 100 mg/l and BA 100mg/l to study the effect on flower quality and vase life of PP (polypropylene) packaged cold storage (at 2°C) rose cv. Bordeaux, for the period of 10 days. Pre-storage pulsing of GA3 100mg/l solution treatment showed highly promising results in extending flowers vase life along with maintained flower quality just after storage and at 4th DAS in vase life. Further, GA3 100mg/l solution treatment recorded significantly higher water up take (175.65 ml), change in fresh weight (10.50%) at 4th DAS, total dissolve solids (8.85 °brix, 8.05 °brix and 6.75 °brix) and membrane stability index (81.97 %, 65.97 % and 37.88 %) at 2nd, 4th and 6th DAS. Moreover, it was evident from the results that same treatment recoded significantly higher total soluble sugar (59.65 mg/g fresh weight), Estimated protein (18.79 mg/g fresh weight), catalase activity (20.42 µ mol H2O2 min-1 g-1 protein), peroxidation activity (40.30 µ mol H2O2 min-1 g-1 protein), pigment content (15.82 mg/g fresh weight) anthocyanin content in the petals at 4th DAS. Whereas, GA3 100 mg/l pulsing solution treated PP packaged cold stored rose cut flowers cv. Bordeaux recorded significantly higher vase life (6.88 days) which was at par with treatment P2 (Sucrose 50 g/l + HQC 200 mg/l).

The seed germination and seedling phytotoxicity of decabromodiphenyl ethane to tall fescue under citric acid amendment.

The novel brominated flame retardant decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) has biological toxicity, persistence, long-range migration and bioaccumulation ability. However, there is currently little research on the phytotoxicity of DBDPE in plants. The perennial herbaceous plant tall fescue (Festuca elata Keng ex E. B. Alexeev) was selected as the model organism for use in seed germination experiments, and the phytotoxicity of DBDPE in the soil of tall fescue was studied. The results indicated that DBDPE had a significant effect on the germination and growth of tall fescue seedlings. Citric acid reduced the stress caused by DBDPE in plants, effectively alleviating the phytotoxicity of DBDPE in tall fescue. The root vitality and protein content significantly increased after the application of citric acid, increasing by 74.93-183.90%, 146.44-147.67%, respectively. The contents of proline and soluble sugars significantly decreased after the application of citric acid, decreasing by 45.18-59.69% and 23.03%, respectively (P < 0.05). There was no significant difference in superoxide dismutase (SOD) or peroxidase (POD) activity in tall fescue seedlings, and the catalase (CAT) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) content were significantly lower after the application of citric acid, decreasing by 64.62-67.91% and 29.10-49.80%, respectively (P < 0.05). Tall fescue seedlings bioaccumulated DBDPE, with biological concentration factors (BCFs) ranging from 4.28 to 18.38 and transfer factors (TFs) ranging from 0.43 to 0.54. This study provides theoretical support for the study of the toxicity of DBDPE to plants and offers a research foundation for exploring the phytoremediation of DBDPE-contaminated soil by tall fescue.

Biochemical and Transcriptomic Analyses Reveal Key Salinity and Alkalinity Stress Response and Tolerance Pathways in Salix linearistipularis Inoculated with Trichoderma

Soil salinization and alkalinization are pervasive environmental issues that severely restrict plant growth and crop yield. Utilizing plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) is an effective strategy to enhance plant tolerance to saline–alkaline stress, though the regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. This study employed biochemical and RNA-Seq methods to uncover the critical growth-promoting effects of Trichoderma spp. on Salix linearistipularis under saline–alkaline stress. The results showed that, during saline–alkaline stress, inoculation with Trichoderma sp. M4 and M5 significantly increased the proline and soluble sugar contents in Salix linearistipularis, enhanced the activities of SOD, POD, CAT, and APX, and reduced lipid peroxidation levels, with M4 exhibiting more pronounced effects than M5. RNA-Seq analysis of revealed that 11,051 genes were upregulated after Trichoderma sp. M4 inoculation under stress conditions, with 3532 genes primarily involved in carbon metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, and oxidative phosphorylation—processes that alleviate saline–alkaline stress. Additionally, 7519 genes were uniquely upregulated by M4 under stress, mainly enriched in secondary metabolite biosynthesis, amino acid metabolism, cyanamide metabolism, and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. M4 mitigates saline–alkaline stress-induced damage in Salix linearistipularis seedlings by reducing oxidative damage, enhancing organic acid and amino acid metabolism, and activating phenylpropanoid biosynthesis pathways to eliminate harmful ROS. This enhances the seedlings’ tolerance to saline–alkaline stress, providing a basis for studying fungi–plant interactions under such conditions.

Exploring Plant Growth-Promoting Traits of Endophytic Fungi Isolated from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort and Their Interaction in Plant Growth and Development.

Endophytic fungi inhabit various plant tissues and organs without inducing evident disease symptoms. They can contribute positively to the growth of plants, bolster plants resilience to environmental and biological stresses, and facilitate the accumulation of secondary metabolites. These microbial resources possess significant developmental and utilization value in various applications. Hence, this study focused on exploring the plant growth-promoting (PGP) traits of 14 endophytic fungi from Ligusticum chuanxiong Hort (CX) and elucidating the effects and mechanisms that facilitate plant growth. According to PGP activity evaluation, the majority of strains demonstrated the capacity to produce IAA (78.57%), siderophores (50.00%), ammonia (35.71%), potassium solubilization (21.43%), nitrogen fixation (57.14%), and phosphate solubilization (42.86%). Further investigations indicated that the levels of IAA ranged from 13.05 to 301.43 μg/mL, whereas the soluble phosphorus levels ranged from 47.32 to 125.95 μg/mL. In cocultivation assays, it was indicated that Fusarium sp. YMY5, Colletotrichum sp. YMY6, Alternaria sp. ZZ10 and Fusarium sp. ZZ13 had a certain promoting effect on lateral root number and fresh weight of tobacco. Furthermore, ZZ10 and ZZ13 significantly enhanced the germination potential, germination index, and vigor index of tobacco seeds. The subsequent potted trials demonstrated that the four endophytic fungi exhibited an enhancement to growth parameters of tobacco to a certain extent. ZZ10 and ZZ13 treatment had the best promotion effect. Inoculation with YMY5 increased the chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll content. ZZ10 and ZZ13 treatment remarkably increased the net photosynthetic rate, soluble sugars and soluble protein content, catalase and peroxidase activities, and lowered malondialdehyde content in tobacco leaves. In addition, YMY5 remarkably elevated superoxide dismutase activities. ZZ13 upregulated the expression of growth-related gene. Among them, ZZ13 had a better growth-promoting effect. In conclusion, these endophytic fungi possessing multi-trait characteristics and the capacity to enhance plant growth exhibit promising potential as biofertilizers or plant growth regulators.

Synergistic interactions of biocontrol agents and chemical fungicides enhance the disease resistance in Vigna radiata (L.) against Macrophomina phaseolina-associated with dry root rot

Macrophomina phaseolina, a necrotrophic fungus responsible for dry root rot disease in Vigna radiata L. (greengram) causes extensive yield losses. Biocontrol agents are reported to suppress phytopathogens, mitigate biotic stress, and improve growth and yield of plants. Here, Bacillus subtilis PSB-5 and Trichoderma sp. TD-6 along with chemical fungicides; mancozeb (MZB) and carbendazim (CBZM) were evaluated alone/or in combination for their effectiveness against M. phaseolina-induced root rot disease in greengram. B. subtilis and Trichoderma sp. suppressed phyto-fungal growth by 72 and 78 %, respectively. Both bioagents synthesized indole-3-acetic acid, ammonia, and solubilized insoluble phosphate, released antimicrobial substances including siderophore, hydrogen cyanide, and various extracellular lytic enzymes. Further, efficacy of bioagents and fungicides (at 50 and 100 ppm) were tested (single and combined) against M. phaseolina-infected greengram cultivated in pot soils. While evaluating, bioagents and fungicides increased plant height, biomass, and vigor indices of infected greengram in order: PSB-5 + TD-6 > PSB-5 > TD-6 > MZB + CBZM (100 ppm) > CBZM (100 ppm) > MZB (100 ppm). Further, among treatment, dual inoculation of bioagents (B. subtilis + Trichoderma), maximally increased total chlorophyll (59.4 %), carotenoid (68 %), root phosphorous (69.6 %), root nitrogen (65.7 %), total soluble protein (80 %), soluble sugar (76 %), pod yield (82.3 %) and seed protein (68 %) over infected plants. Moreover, biotic stress-induced oxidative stress biomarkers (proline, malondialdehyde, electrolyte leakage) and reactive oxygen species were significantly (p ≤ 0.05) lowered in fungal-infected greengram following fungicides and bioagents application. Furthermore, combined inoculation of bioagents significantly (p ≤ 0.05) reduced percent disease index (PDI) and increased % protection in biotic-stressed greengram. Besides, bioagents potentially increased disease resistance in M. phaseolina-infected greengram plants by modulating defense responses such as activities of β-1, 3 glucanase, catalase, phenylalanine ammonia lyase, polyphenol oxidase, peroxidase, and superoxide dismutase which significantly protected plants from fungal pathogen. Soil populations of pathogen and bioagents declined and considerably increased, respectively, at harvest. Application of antagonistic bacterial and fungal strains enhances greengram resistance to M. phaseolina while concurrently offering agriculture an environmentally friendly choice. Also, these strains can be applied as biocontrol agents in disease suppression over chemical fungicides.

Effect of exogenous application of salicylic acid on alleviation of drought stress of immature tea (Camellia sinensis L.) plants

Abstract Application of salicylic acid (SA) leads to positive impacts in improving the physiological and growth parameters under drought in other crops. Knowledge on SA regulation on tea is scanty but important especially under drought. Therefore, potential of minimizing the drought effects on tea via exogenous application of SA was studied in a glasshouse at the Tea Research Institute, Talawakelle, Sri Lanka, using one-year-old potted tea cultivars of known drought tolerance (TRI 2025 – tolerant and TRI 2023 – susceptible). Plants were exposed to a drying cycle while they were foliar sprayed with SA in various concentrations (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 ppm) along with well-watered and no-spray treatments. Data were collected at 18 hours and 3, 7, 14 and 21 days after applying the treatments from randomly selected plants. Physiological parameters were measured along with soil moisture content. Drought stress led to declining of gas exchange parameters (rate of net photosynthesis, transpiration and stomatal conductance), leaf relative water content and increasing accumulation of osmolytes (total soluble sugar and proline) in both tea cultivars compared with well-watered plants. Exogenous application of 150 and 200 ppm SA significantly improved physiological parameters. These results revealed the role of exogenous application of 150 and 200 ppm SA in diminishing the negative effects of drought on tea plants. Exogenous application of SA 150 ppm will therefore be more effective in alleviating the drought impact on immature tea when considering the environmental impact and cost effectiveness.

Soluble sugars make a greater contribution than cell wall components to the variability of freezing tolerance in wheat cultivars

Soluble sugars make a greater contribution than cell wall components to the variability of freezing tolerance in wheat cultivars

The Physiological Effect of Trichoderma viride on Melon Yield and Its Ability to Suppress Rhizoctonia solani

Melon damping off, which has a negative impact on melon quality and yield, can be safely and effectively managed with Trichoderma. Melon cultivar ‘Longtian No. 1’ was evaluated at both the adult and seedling stages in a pot experiment. The Rs and PD liquids were utilized as CK1 and CK2, respectively. Trichoderma viride Tv286 treatments T1B, T2B, T3B, and T4B were used based on Rs at concentrations of 104, 105, 106, and 107 CFU·g−1, respectively. The impact of several treatments on the antioxidant system and seedling quality of melon were assessed at 15, 25, and 35 days after sowing. We examined the effects of several treatments on melon quality, yield attributes, and physiological and biochemical markers during the adult stage at 10, 20, and 30 days after pollination. The effects of several treatments on melon damping off were also studied. Applying T. viride Tv286 at different rates effectively increased the activities of enzymes, including catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), in the leaves of melon seedlings, significantly reduced the malondialdehyde (MDA) content, and improved the root–shoot ratio and seedling strength index. In terms of its influence on promoting the effect of antioxidant system indicators, T3B performed well. Melon seedlings treated with T3B showed higher CAT, POD, SOD, APX, and PPO activities in their leaves 35 days after sowing compared to CK1 (189.74, 169.61, 175.36, 224.20, and 477.39%, respectively). The strong seedling index and root–shoot ratio showed improvements of 130.43 and 79.71%, respectively, and the MDA content dropped by 35.66% at 35 days after sowing compared to CK1. Varying the rates at which T. viride Tv286 was applied increased the nitrate reductase (NR) activity and nitrate nitrogen, proline (Pro), chlorophyll, soluble sugar, and soluble protein contents in mature melon leaves, increasing melon quality and yield. T3B is the most effective marketing campaign. Compared to CK1, mature T3B leaves had higher NR activity, nitrate nitrogen content, chlorophyll content, soluble sugar content, soluble protein content, and Pro content 30 days after melon pollination (100.40, 135.17, 68.59, 93.65, 158.13, and 238.67%, respectively). The soluble solids, soluble protein, soluble sugar, vitamin C contents, and yield of melon fruit increased by 50.07, 126.82, 60.62, 70.79, and 61.45%, respectively, at 30 days after melon pollination compared to CK1. Optimal management of melon damping off can be accomplished with the application of T. viride Tv286 at different concentrations, with T3B exhibiting the best effect. The control effects reached 90.48 and 72.99% at the seedling and adult stages, respectively. Overall, T. viride Tv286 improved seedling quality, damping off control efficacy, melon yield and quality, and the antioxidant system during the seedling stage and enhanced physiological and biochemical characteristics during the adult stage. This study indicates the potential of T. viride Tv286 conidia as a biological control agent because it can prevent plant disease, increase yield, and improve quality.

The Effect of Nitrogen and Potassium Interaction on the Leaf Physiological Characteristics, Yield, and Quality of Sweet Potato

This study selected two sweet potato varieties as research subjects and conducted a field experiment using a two-factor design with two potassium (K) levels (K0 and K1) and five nitrogen (N) levels (N0–N4). The physiological changes in sweet potato leaves under different N and K treatments were measured, and nutrients such as the soluble sugar, protein, and starch content of sweet potato roots were analyzed. The results indicate that the activity of glutamine synthetase (GS) and the soluble protein content in sweet potato leaves increase first and then decrease with increasing N application, while K application can significantly increase the activity of GS and the soluble protein content. The N metabolic capacity of leaves is strongest when the fertilizer ratio is K1N2. The SPAD value of sweet potato leaves increases with increasing N application. The net photosynthetic rate, stomatal conductance, and intercellular CO2 concentration first increase and then decrease with increasing N application. K fertilizer has a significant effect on these parameters. As the N application rate increases, the starch and protein content in the tubers increase, while the soluble sugar content decreases. However, the number of tubers per plant, fresh weight of the tubers, and dry weight of the tubers increase initially and then decrease, while the vine length continuously increases. The application of K fertilizer can significantly increase the number of tubers per plant and stem thickness of sweet potato. In conclusion, the appropriate N–K combined application can promote N metabolism, enhance the photosynthetic capacity of sweet potato, increase yield, and improve quality.

Caffeine removal and compositions losses from whole Robusta coffee beans during conventional and ultrasound-assisted aqueous decaffeination

Whole Robusta coffee beans were decaffeinated using conventional aqueous extraction (CAE) and ultrasound-assisted aqueous extraction (UAAE). Changing of extraction water at time intervals to enhance caffeine removal efficiency is proposed as novel decaffeination technique. Kinetic modelling of caffeine content evolutions during CAE and UAAE, with and without water changing, was performed to confirm benefit of newly proposed technique. Losses of soluble carbohydrates, phenolics, sugars, flavonoids and organic acids from decaffeinated beans were investigated. Recycling of extraction water as way to recover lost compositions was tested. Water changing enhanced caffeine removal efficiency, especially in case of UAAE; caffeine could be removed by 98%. Kinetic model well described caffeine content evolutions (R2 = 0.99). This strategy nevertheless led to significant losses (p < 0.05) of bean compositions when compared to CAE. UAAE with water recycling could not help recover bean compositions, but drying and soaking beans in spent extraction water from second round of decaffeination significantly increased (p < 0.05) total soluble carbohydrates and phenolics contents.

Yield, cell structure and physiological and biochemical characteristics of rapeseed under waterlogging stress

Rapeseed (Brassica napus L.) is a major oilseed crop in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River in China. However, it is susceptible to waterlogging stress. This study aimed to investigate the physiological characteristics, cellular changes, and gene expression patterns of rapeseed under waterlogging stress, with the goal of providing a foundation for breeding waterlogging-tolerant rapeseed. The results revealed that waterlogging-tolerant rapeseed exhibited higher levels of soluble sugars and antioxidant enzyme activity, particularly in the roots. Conversely, waterlogging-sensitive rapeseed displayed greater changes in malondialdehyde, proline, and hydrogen peroxide levels. Cellular observations showed that after experiencing waterlogging stress, the intercellular space of rapeseed leaf cells expanded, leading to disintegration of mitochondria and chloroplasts. Moreover, the area of the root xylem increased, the number of vessels grew, and there were signs of mitochondrial disintegration and vacuole shrinkage, with more pronounced changes observed in waterlogging-sensitive rapeseed. Furthermore, significant differences were found in the transcription levels of genes related to anaerobic respiration and flavonoid biosynthesis, and different varieties demonstrated varied responses to waterlogging stress. In conclusion, there are differences in the response of different varieties to waterlogging stress at the levels of morphology, physiological characteristics, cell structure, and gene transcription. Waterlogging-tolerant rapeseed responds to waterlogging stress by regulating its antioxidant defense system. This study provides valuable insights for the development of waterlogging-tolerant rapeseed varieties.

Exploring the effect of greenhouse covering cultivation on the changes of sensory quality and flavor substances of green tea

To protect tea plant (Camellia sinensis (L.) O. Kuntze) from freezing injury, plastic greenhouse covering is widely used in northern tea areas of China. Currently, there was few researches about the effect of greenhouse covering on tea quality. Our results showed greenhouse covering increased tea yield, changed leaf phenotype and decreased green tea quality. Further analysis revealed greenhouse increased the content of soluble sugars and decreased the content of EGCG and 14 amino acids. Besides, there were 223 differential volatile components were identified in green tea produced by fresh leaves with plastic greenhouse covering (GT) and green tea produced by fresh leaves without plastic greenhouse covering (TT). 81 key aroma components were contributors to the bean-like aroma of TT. 98 key aroma components contributed to the clean aroma of GT. Based on these results, the flavor wheels were constructed, providing a visual presentation of flavor between TT and GT.

Effects of saline-alkali stress on cotton growth and physiochemical expression with cascading effects on aphid abundance.

Environmental stresses, such as soil salinity or alkalinity, usually affect crop growth and secondary plant metabolism, with follow on effects on foliar-feeding insects. Nevertheless, the underlying mechanism of how saline-alkali stress affects the key cotton pest Aphis gossypii Glover is poorly understood. In this study, we first considered effects of three types of saline-alkali stress (i.e., salinity alone, alkalinity alone - both at different concentration - and their mixed effects) on cotton plants. We then measured impacts of stress on (1) above and below plant growth traits (e.g., plant height, leaf area, root volume), (2) levels of nutrients and secondary metabolites in cotton leaves, and (3) feeding behavior, life-table parameters, and population growth of A. gossypii. We then used a path analysis to evaluate cascading effects of changes in plant growth (due to stress) and changes in levels of nutrients or secondary metabolites on growth of individual cotton aphids and aphid populations. We found either salinity or alkalinity stresses significantly reduced cotton growth, increased the content of tannin, soluble sugars, and proline in the leaves, and suppressed aphid growth and development, (including longevity, fecundity, and intrinsic rate of increase) and aphid population growth. Alkalinity had stronger effects on these traits than did salinity. This work provides insights into the bottom-up interaction mechanism by which these environmental stresses mediate aphid infestation levels in the cotton agricultural ecosystem.

Physiological and gene expression response mechanisms of dehydration process in Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J. Presl seeds.

A critical factor in the storability of recalcitrant seeds is their moisture content (MC), but its effect on the viability of Cinnamomum cassia (L.) J. Presl (C. cassia) seeds is not fully understood. Measured the germination rate, starch and soluble sugar content, and transcriptome of 8 seed samples with different MC obtained by low-temperature drying method. It was found that the germination rate was significantly negatively correlated with MC. The lethal MC was around 15.6%. During the dehydration process, there was a significant increase in the content of soluble sugars and starch. Transcriptome analysis was performed on CK, W3, W6 showed a total of 62.78 Gb of clean data. Among the 30,228 Unigenes, 28,195 were successfully annotated. In the three comparative groups (CK and W3, CK and W6, W3 and W6), 6,842, 7,640, and 11,628 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained, respectively. These DEGs were found to be involved in a variety of metabolic pathways, including carbon metabolism, amino acid biosynthesis, starch and sucrose metabolism, glycolysis/gluconeogenesis, and nucleotide and amino sugar metabolism. A total of 1,416 common genes were identified among all three comparison groups. Furthermore, among all the DEGs, a total of 71 transcription factor families were identified, with the C2H2 transcription factor family having the highest number of genes. This ground-breaking study sheds light on the physiological response and gene expression profiles of C. cassia seeds after undergoing dehydration treatment, which will provide valuable insights for further research and understanding of this process.

Anti-echinococcal effect of metformin in advanced experimental cystic echinococcosis: reprogrammed intermediary carbon metabolism in the parasite.

Metformin, a safe biguanide derivative with antiproliferative properties, has shown antiparasitic efficacy against the Echinococcus larval stage. Hence, we assessed the efficacy of a dose of 250 mg kg-1 day-1 in experimental models of advanced CE, at 6 and 12 months post-infection with oral and intraperitoneal administration, respectively. At this high dose, metformin reached intracystic concentrations between 0.7 and 1.7 mM and triggered Eg-TOR inhibition through AMPK activation by AMP-independent and -dependent mechanisms, which are dependent on drug dose. Cystic metformin uptake was controlled by increased expression of organic cation transporters in the presence of the drug. In both experimental models, metformin reduced the weight of parasite cysts, altered the ultrastructural integrity of their germinal layers, and reduced the intracystic availability of glucose, limiting the cellular carbon and energy charge and the proliferative capacity of metacestodes. This glucose depletion in the parasite was associated with a slight increase in cystic uptake of 2-deoxiglucose and the transcriptional induction of GLUT genes in metacestodes. In this context, drastic glycogen consumption led to increased lactate production and altered intermediary metabolism in treated metacestodes. Specifically, the fraction of reducing soluble sugars decreased twofold, and the levels of non-reducing soluble sugars, such as sucrose and trehalose, were modified in both cystic fluid and germinal cells. Taken together, our findings highlight the relevance of metformin as a promising candidate for CE treatment and warrant further research to improve the therapeutic conditions of this chronic zoonosis in humans.

Protective effects of the exogenous application of salicylic acid and chitosan on chromium-induced photosynthetic capacity and osmotic adjustment in Aconitum napellus.

Chitosan (CTS) is recognized for enhancing a plant's resilience to various environmental stresses, such as salinity and drought. Moreover, salicylic acid (SA) is acknowledged as a growth regulator involved in addressing metal toxicity. However, the effectiveness of both compounds in mitigating Cr-induced stress has remained relatively unexplored, especially in the case of Aconitum napellus, a medicinally and floricultural important plant. Therefore, the primary objective of this study was to investigate the potential of CTS and SA in alleviating chromium (Cr)-induced stress in A. napellus. To address these research questions, we conducted a controlled experiment using potted plants to evaluate the individual and combined impacts of CTS and SA on plants exposed to Cr stress. Foliar application of CTS (0.4g/L) or SA (0.25 mmol/L) led to significant improvements in the growth, chlorophyll content, fluorescence, and photosynthetic traits of A. napellus plants under Cr stress. The most notable effects were observed with the combined application of CTS and SA, resulting in increases in various morphological parameters, such as shoot length (2.89% and 7.02%) and root length (27.75% and 3.36%) under the Cr 1 and Cr 2 treatments, respectively. Additionally, several physiological parameters, such as chlorophyll a (762.5% and 145.56%), chlorophyll b (762.5% and 145.56%), carotenoid (17.03% and 28.57%), and anthocyanin (112.01% and 47.96%) contents, were notably improved under the Cr 1 and Cr 2 treatments, respectively. Moreover, the combined treatment of CTS and SA improved the fluorescence parameters while decreasing the levels of enzymatic antioxidants such as catalase (27.59% and 43.79%, respectively). The application also notably increased osmoprotectant parameters, such as the total protein content (54.11% and 20.07%) and the total soluble sugar content (78.17% and 49.82%) in the leaves of A. napellus in the Cr 1 and 2 treatments, respectively. In summary, these results strongly suggest that the simultaneous use of exogenous CTS and SA is an effective strategy for alleviating the detrimental effects of Cr stress on A. napellus. This integrated approach opens promising avenues for further exploration and potential implementation within agricultural production systems.

Elucidation of gene action and estimation of combining ability effects for fruit yield attributes and biochemical traits in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.)

Abstract The present investigation was undertaken in brinjal (Solanum melongena L.) to estimate combining ability and gene action following a half diallel mating design using ten parents. The ratio of genetic variance components, σ2gca/σ2sca and σ2D/σ2A, showed dominant gene action, indicating the presence of non-additive genetic variance for days to 50% flowering, fruit yield per plant, total phenol, antioxidant activity and total soluble sugar. The traits fruits per plant, fruit girth, and fruit weight showed additive genetic variance. Among the parental genotypes, AB 15-08, ABSR 2 and AB 20-13 were found to be good general combiners for fruit yield, fruits per plant, and total soluble solids. The three highest-ranking hybrids were AB 15-08 × AB 20-13, AB 15-08 × AB 20-03 and AB 20-07 × GP BRJ 224. The above hybrids would be rewarding for harnessing heterosis. Keywords: Diallel cross, brinjal, combining ability, fruit yield, antioxidant activity