Stage Of Enlargement Research Articles

Preharvest spray with melatonin improves postharvest disease resistance in cherry tomato fruit

Preharvest application of melatonin affected postharvest disease resistance in cherry tomato fruit (Solanum lycopersicum) were conducted after the fruit were sprayed with 0.1 mM melatonin at different growth stages. The results showed that melatonin spray at late stage of enlargement reduced gray mold caused by Botrytis cinerea and natural decay in tomato fruit during storage. Transcriptome analysis identified many differentially expressed genes (DEGs) from tomato fruit upon preharvest melatonin spray, which were mainly associated with calcium signal transduction, salicylic acid (SA) signaling pathway and phenypropanoid metabolism. Preharvest melatonin spray up-regulated expressions of calcium-dependent protein kinase (SlCDPK) and respiratory burst oxidase homologs (SlRBOHs) in relation to radical oxygen species (ROS) burst, and enhanced the contents of SA and lignin and the expressions of most genes involved in SA signaling pathway and phenypropanoid metabolism, which were contributed to enhancing disease resistance of cherry tomato fruit during storage.

The correlation of CD49d expression pattern with molecular genetics and hotspot gene mutants in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia

Objective: To explore the correlation of CD49d expression patterns with molecular genetics and hotspot gene mutants in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Methods: The expression of CD49d was detected by flow cytometry and grouped into homogeneous, bimodal, negative and positive expression. Panel fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) was used for molecular genetics analysis and next-generation sequencing (NGS) was conducted for gene mutation detection. Results: There were 43 patients (23.89% ) with positive CD49d expression, 137 patients (76.11% ) with negative CD49d expression, 96 patients (53.33% ) with homogeneous CD49d expression and 84 patients (46.67% ) with bimodal CD49d expression. Compared with patients in the CD49d negative group, patients in the CD49d positive group had higher Rai stage (P=0.048) and higher proportion of spleen enlargement (P=0.030) . Compared with patients with homogeneous expression of CD49d, patients with bimodal expression of CD49d had a higher proportion of spleen enlargement (P=0.009) . The expression rate of 11q22- in bimodal CD49d(-) group was significantly higher than that in homogeneous CD49d(-) group (24.29% vs 10.45% , P=0.043) . The incidence of +12 in homogeneous CD49d group was higher than that in bimodal CD49d group (16.67% vs 5.95% , P=0.035) . The incidence of +12 in homogeneous CD49d(+) group was higher than that in bimodal CD49d(-) group (17.24% vs 4.29% , P=0.045) . The incidence of +12 in homogeneous CD49d(-) group was higher than that in bimodal CD49d(-) group (16.42% vs 4.29% , P=0.024) . BIRC3 mutation rate in CD49d positive group was higher than that in CD49d negative group (11.63% vs 2.92% , P=0.037) . Conclusion: There were significant correlations between CD49d and 11q22-, +12 and BIRC3 gene mutation. Patients with bimodal CD49d were more correlated with poor prognosis indexes.

Effects of water stress on quality and sugar metabolism in ‘Gala’ apple fruit

Sugar plays an important role in apple fruit development, appearance and quality as well as contributing to a plant's water stress response. Trehalose and the trehalose biosynthetic metabolic pathways are part of the sugar signaling system in plants, which are important regulator of water stress response in apple. The effect of water stress treatments applied to apple trees and the corresponding effects of ABA on developmental fruit quality were examined for indicators of fruit quality during fruit development. The results indicated that the severe water stress treatment (W2) occurring after the last stage of fruit cell division caused a decrease in the color and size of fruit. The moderate water stress (W1) occurring after the last stage of fruit cell enlargement (S2) caused an increase in the content of fructose and sorbitol while the apple fruit shape was not affected. These changes in sugar are related to the activity of sugar metabolic enzymes. While the enzymatic activity of vacuolar acid invertase (vAINV) was higher, that of sucrose-phosphate synthase (SPS) was lower in water stress treated fruit throughout the developmental period. This indicates that enhanced sucrose degradation and reduced sucrose synthesis leads to an overall reduced sucrose content during times of drought. Thus, water stress reduced sucrose content. Whereas the content of endogenous trehalose and ABA were the highest in water stress treated fruit. A moderate water stress (W1) imposed on apple trees via water restriction (60%–65% of field capacity) after the fruit cell enlargement phase of fruit development yielded sweeter fruit of higher economic value.

EjFWLs are repressors of cell division during early fruit morphogenesis of loquat

Fruit size varies widely among different loquat species and varieties. While the cell number of fruit is considered as one of the main factors which affect fruit size forming of loquat, the mechanism of variation in fruit size of loquat is still poorly understood. In this work, we aimed to illuminate the functions of EjFWLs in fruit size forming of loquat. Two FWL (tomato FW2.2-like) genes, EjFWL1 and EjFWL2, of loquat were isolated and characterized. Expression analysis showed that transcription levels of both EjFWL1 and EjFWL2 are negatively correlated with that of EjCDKB1;2 in receptacle before bloom. Meanwhile, compared with that in small-fruited loquat varieties, expression of EjFWL1/2 in large-fruited loquat showed a lower level and shorter duration. Ectopic expression of EjFWL1 in tomato inhibited the fruit cell division with reduced ovary and fruit size. Moreover, EjFWLs could interact with EjAGL2 and EjCKIIβ, the proteins which may be involved in the regulation of cell division, respectively. Our data suggested that EjFWLs are cell division repressors and function during early stage of fruit enlargement in loquat.

Species-dependent protoplast enlargement involves different types of vacuole generation in bacteria

Vacuole generation occurs frequently during the enlargement of bacterial protoplasts and spheroplasts. Gram-positive Enterococcus faecalis protoplasts and gram-negative Lelliottia amnigena spheroplasts had large and small vacuoles inside the cytoplasm, respectively. Although no vacuoles were found at the early stage of cell enlargement, all enlarged cells used in the microinjection procedures had vacuoles. The plasma membrane of L. amnigena was more flexible than that of E. faecalis. In addition, E. faecalis protoplasts had unique discoidal structures as well as spherical structures in the cytoplasm. Our findings showed that the number of vacuoles increased as the L. amnigena plasma membrane expanded and that the size of vacuoles increased as the E. faecalis plasma membrane expanded, suggesting that bacterial cell enlargement involved vacuole generation. Thus, biosynthesis of the plasma and vacuolar membranes was synchronous with the bacterial cell enlargement. Differences in the plasma membrane flexibility might influence the different types of vacuole generation.

The aesthetic management of gingival enlargement and hyperpigmentation in maxillary anterior region: a case report

Objective: To describe the aesthetic treatment stage of gingival enlargement with gingival hyperpigmentation. Determination of the type of action detail will assist many clinicians in diagnosis and treat gingival enlargement with hyperpigmentation.Methods: The 17-year-old male patient, coming with his enlarged gums. Patients claimed to have no hypertension, blood disorders, diabetes and hepatitis. After general check-up and early treatment, gingivectomy and gingival depigmentation were performed using scalpel no. 15c. The oral administration administered was 500mg tid amoxicillin and 500mg tid.prn mefenamic acid.Results: after gingivectomy has performed multiple diastema appears and suggested orthodontia treatment. Conclusion: The combination of gingivectomy treatment with gingival depigmentation may be performed simultaneously using a scalpel periodontal instrument.Keywords: Gingival enlargement, Gingival hyperpigmentation, Gingivectomy, Gingival depigmentation

Effects of nitrogen application levels on translocation and distribution of 13C-photosynthate and 15N to fruit from leaves of apple tree

A field experiment was carried out in a six-year old 'Fuji3'/M26/Malus hupehensis Rehd. apple with 15N and 13C labeled tracers, to understand 13C assimilation capability and the characteristics of translocation and distribution of 13C-photosynthate and 15N to fruit under different nitrogen application levels (urea 0%, 0.6%, 1.2%, 1.8%, 2.4%, CK, N1, N2, N3, N4, respectively) to smear the leaves within 20 cm around the fruit at late stage of fruit enlargement. The results showed that, with the increases of urea application, the chlorophyll content, nitrogen content, net photosynthetic rate, sorbitol and sucrose content, sorbitol 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (S6PDH) and sucrose phosphate synthase (SPS) activities, 13C assimilation capability of leaves were first increased and then decreased, with the highest value in 1.8% urea smear treatment and the lowest value with the treatment of clear water. The 13C of self retention (self leaves and self branches) was the highest in clear water (81.6%) and the lowest in 1.8% urea smear treatment (63.5%). The 13C was mainly allocated to fruit, followed by unlabeled perennial branch, and the lowest in unlabeled leaves. With the increases of urea application, the 13C absorption of fruit was first increased and then decreased, with the highest value in 1.8% urea smear treatment (1.21 mg·g-1) and the lowest value in clear water (0.51 mg·g-1). The 15N absorption of fruit was enhanced with the increases of urea application. These results indicated that foliage application of urea solution improved translocation and distribution of leaf photosynthate and nitrogen to fruit with varying degrees, which was the highest in 1.8% urea smear treatment and could avoid excessive intake of nitrogen to fruit.

Transcriptome analysis reveals important candidate genes involved in grain-size formation at the stage of grain enlargement in common wheat cultivar "Bainong 4199".

Grain-size is one of the yield components, and the first 14 days after pollination (DAP) is a crucial stage for wheat grain-size formation. To understand the mechanism of grain-size formation at the whole gene expression level and to identify the candidate genes related to grain pattern formation, cDNA libraries from immature grains of 5 DAP and 14 DAP were constructed. According to transcriptome analysis, a total of 12,555 new genes and 9,358 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were obtained. In DEGs, 2,876, 3,357 and 3,125 genes were located on A, B and D subgenome respectively. 9,937 (79.15%) new genes and 9,059 (96.80%) DEGs were successfully annotated. For DEGs, 4,453 were up-regulated and 4,905 were down-regulated at 14 DAP. The Gene Ontology (GO) database indicated that most of the grain-size-related genes were in the same cluster. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database analysis showed that 130, 129 and 20 DEGs were respectively involved in starch and sucrose metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction and ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis. Expression levels of 8 randomly selected genes were confirmed by qRT-PCR, which was consistent with the transcriptome data. The present database will help us understand the molecular mechanisms underlying early grain development and provide the foundation for increasing grain-size and yield in wheat breeding programs.

Management of bph (vatashthila) by varun bark decoction (kwatha). : a case report

(Vatashthila) Benign prostate hypertrophy (BPH) is one of the disease frequently seen in ageing male above 50 years old. Ageing occurs as the testosteron level decreases and oestrogen level increases.
 The prostate gland which is normally about the size and shape of a walnut wraps around the urethra between the pubic bone and rectum below the bladder. Main function of prostate gland is to store and produce seminal fluid. A mans prostate gland usually start to enlarge after middle age, this menifest as a benign (non cancerous) enlargement of prostate that blocks the flow of urine through the urethra.
 In early stage of prostate enlargement the bladder muscles forces urine through the narrow urethra that counteracting more powerfully. As a result the bladder muscles become thicker and more sensitive causing more to urinate more often.
 It is estimated that each year in U.S. about 1.7million of people have to visit hospital due to menifestation of this disease among these 4000 have surgical intervention. In Ayurveda the enlargement of the prostate is called vatashthila this enlargement usually caused by imbalence of vata dosha.
 By ayurvedic treatment, we can definitely prevent the prognosis of BPH in early onset age.
 In this study varun bark is used for the management of vatashthila, bark of varun believed to have antioxident, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial and urinary-renal supportive qualities.

Evolution of foamed aluminum melt at high rate tension: A mechanical model based on atomistic simulations

Dynamics of foamed metal melt relates to the following problems: cavitations in melt at negative pressure; ablation and nanostructuring of the surface layer of materials under the action of powerful sub picosecond laser pulses; additive manufacturing; and production of solid foamed metals. We propose a mechanical model of the foamed melt evolution at the stage of bubble enlargement—after the completion of their nucleation and before the breaking of the inter-bubble walls. The foamed melt is considered as a system of strongly connected bubbles; their size variations are driven by surface forces. The interconnected system of equations for the second time derivatives of the bubble radii is derived by using the Lagrange formalism. The model is verified by comparison with the molecular dynamic (MD) simulation data for aluminum melt at high-rate uniform tension. An algorithm for searching of individual pores is developed and used to analyze the MD data. The size distribution of pores in the melt at the considered stage of enlargement is found to be close to the normal distribution on a finite interval. Evolution of the foamed melt structure is completely determined by the surface tension. The surface tension makes the largest bubbles growing and all the smaller bubbles collapsing, which leads to rapid reduction of the total number of bubbles. The foamed melt maintains negative pressure determined only by the size distribution of bubbles and the surface tension coefficient.

EphrinB2/EphB4 signaling regulates non‐sprouting angiogenesis by VEGF

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is the master regulator of angiogenesis, whose best‐understood mechanism is sprouting. However, therapeutic VEGF delivery to ischemic muscle induces angiogenesis by the alternative process of intussusception, or vascular splitting, whose molecular regulation is essentially unknown. Here, we identify ephrinB2/EphB4 signaling as a key regulator of intussusceptive angiogenesis and its outcome under therapeutically relevant conditions. EphB4 signaling fine‐tunes the degree of endothelial proliferation induced by specific VEGF doses during the initial stage of circumferential enlargement of vessels, thereby limiting their size and subsequently enabling successful splitting into normal capillary networks. Mechanistically, EphB4 neither inhibits VEGF‐R2 activation by VEGF nor its internalization, but it modulates VEGF‐R2 downstream signaling through phospho‐ERK1/2. In vivo inhibitor experiments show that ERK1/2 activity is required for EphB4 regulation of VEGF‐induced intussusceptive angiogenesis. Lastly, after clinically relevant VEGF gene delivery with adenoviral vectors, pharmacological stimulation of EphB4 normalizes dysfunctional vascular growth in both normoxic and ischemic muscle. These results identify EphB4 as a druggable target to modulate the outcome of VEGF gene delivery and support further investigation of its therapeutic potential.

Evaluation of Plasma D-dimer Concentration in Cats with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

Arterial thromboembolism (ATE) is a common and fatal complication of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) in cats. Therefore in this study, we evaluated the hypercoagulability (using plasma concentration of D-dimer) in HCM cats with different stage of heart failure and left atrial enlargement and also investigated the any correlation with echocardiographic indices (including left free wall thickness at diastole, interventricular septal thickness at diastole, LA to Ao ratio, heart failure stage, existence of systolic anterior motion of mitral valve). The median plasma D-dimer concentration in this study population was 0.51 ± 0.70 (range 0 to 2.50) ㎍/mL in the control group, 1.47 ± 1.29 (range 0.3 to 5.79) ㎍/mL in the HCM group, 1.48 ± 1.65 (range 0.3 to 5.79) ㎍/mL in the ISACHC I group, 1.62 ± 0.4 (range 1.31 to 2.07) ㎍/mL in the ISACHC II group, 1.36 ± 0.91 (range 0.3 to 2.31) ㎍/mL in the ISACHC III group, 1.90 ± 1.60 (range 0.3 to 5.79) ㎍/mL in the cat with LA dilation, 1.72 ± 0.72 (range 0.6 to 2.31) ㎍/mL in cats with SEC-T, 1.19 ± 0.70 (range 0.3 to 2.31) ㎍/mL in the cats with SAM, and 1.63 ± 0.80 (range 0.6 to 2.31) ㎍/mL in the cats with ATE. Our study found the median and mean concentration of plasma D-dimer was higher in cat with HCM, ATE, SECT and SAM and clearly provides evidence of hypercoagulability in cats with HCM, although the severity was not correlated to the dilation of LA and the presence of heart failure. This is the first study evaluating the hypercoagulability in cats with HCM in Korea.

Behavior of ultrasonic waves in wood with presence of holes

This work aimed to analyze the pattern of variation in wave lengths in presence of wood holes and to develop a model capable of describing the process. To attain that end, wood pieces were used from species pequiá (Aspidosperma desmanthum), on which circular and linear artificial holes were made and gradually enlarged. Ultrasonic tests were performed using USLab equipment and 45 kHz transducers. Measurements were taken first on the intact piece and then after each stage of artificial hole enlargement. Results demonstrated that propagation velocities of ultrasonic waves are affected by presence of holes and also that reduction in velocity is caused by changes in wave path, since waves tend to deviate from empty space and travel through matter. The circular hole type had a slightly stronger influence on velocity reduction than the linear hole type. Variation in velocity as a function of increasing percentage of hollow space relative to the intact piece can be represented by a linear model.

Trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer: Comparing results of lapatinib and capecitabine in brain and other metastatic sites.

e11505 Background: Trastuzumab, anthracycline, and taxane resistant HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer has poor prognosis. Progression in brain metastasis (BM) commonly leads to difficult diagnostic interpretation and treatment decisions, poor quality of life, and death. Methods: Consented patients (pts) with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer, ECOG ≤2, with resistance to trastuzumab, taxane, and anthracyclines, were recruited for treatment with daily lapatinib (L) (1,250 mg daily) and capecitabine (C) (2,000 mg/m2/day days 1-14) in a 21 day cycle. Progression was evaluated by RECIST and statistics by SPSS. Results: We enrolled 10 pts (median age 44), median follow up was 19.51 months (M). One patient had grade 3 toxicity due to C and was kept with L only; no other patient discontinued L nor C due to toxicity. Nine (90%) pts had ≥2 metastatic sites, one pt had BM only, and 6 pts had BM in addition to other sites. Median time to progression (TTP) was 9.10 M for the 10 pts, 13.86 M for BM as site of first progression, and 5.90 M for non-BM progression (p<0.05). BM was the most common site for first progression, seen in 4 pts. There was no new BM lesion during treatment. Overall BM response to Tx was 50% (1 complete response, 2 partial responses). In all 4 patients that progressed in central nervous system, head NMR showed enlarged metastatic lesions with central liquefied images, and were interpreted initially as radio/chemo necrosis. Two pts had neurological symptoms and discontinued L and C. The last two pts that progressed in brain had their metastatic images interpreted as necrosis also. However, specific NMR vascular analysis revealed higher perfusion/permeability image patterns, interpreted as caused by tumor activity. They went to BM surgical resection and histology showed tumor cells and 40% of necrosis. Both patients are well and without signs or symptoms after surgery. Conclusions: Brain was the most common metastatic site in this pts, and BM had a longer TTP than the other metastasis. Surgical removal of BM appears to help patients and should be considered in earlier stage of enlargement of lesions. NMR perfusion-permeability studies may facilitate medical decisions. Author Disclosure Employment or Leadership Position Consultant or Advisory Role Stock Ownership Honoraria Research Funding Expert Testimony Other Remuneration GlaxoSmithKline GlaxoSmithKline

Study of the 3C-SiC nucleation from a liquid phase on a C face 6H-SiC substrate

The early stage of 3C-SiC nucleation and islands enlargement on on-axis 6H-SiC(0 0 0 1¯) (C face) were studied by changing the conditions of interaction of a Si 0.25Ge 0.75 melt with the SiC substrate. After changing the temperature or the plateau duration at a fixed temperature, evolution in terms of shapes and sizes of the 3C-SiC islands was found. The observed islands enlargement in the early stage of interaction was explained by taking into account a carbon transport from the graphite crucible to the seed. Once the crucible reached its thermal and thermodynamical equilibrium with the liquid, the islands started to be dissolved inside the melt due to a possible but small thermal gradient from the seed (hotter) to the sidewalls of the crucible (colder). By adding propane in the gas phase before reaching this equilibrium, SiC growth by vapour–liquid–solid (VLS) mechanism was achieved and the 3C-SiC layers thus obtained were always found to contain a high density of twins. This is probably due to the fact that the density of 3C nuclei, after interaction between the SiGe melt and the SiC seed, was always very high which should prevent orientation selection, unlike the case of Si face.

Effect of Timing of High Temperature Treatment around the Fruit on Sugar Accumulation in Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus (Thunb.) Matsum. et Nakai)

The effects of timing of high temperature treatment around watermelon fruit during the fruit enlargement were investigated with respect to the sugar content and cell size in the central, intermediate (between the two placental sectors) and outer regions of fruit. Fruit growth was significantly accelerated during high temperature treatment regardless of its timing. Cells in the central region of fruit enlarged more actively from 10 to 20 days after anthesis (DAA) at higher temperatures, but high temperature treatment after 20 DAA resulted in cell enlargement in the intermediate and outer regions of fruit. With the exception of sucrose content in the central and intermediate regions of fruit, sugar contents at harvest time increased with high temperature treatment from 10 to 20 DAA, whereas high temperature treatment after 20 DAA reduced sugar levels throughout the fruit. These results suggest that active cell enlargement in the central region of fruit during the early stage of the fruit enlargement caused by high temperature promote sugar accumulation in fruit during maturation.

The European Public Sphere and the Social Imaginary of the 'New Europe'

The article explores how enlargement of the European Union has affected the development of the European public sphere. At the initial stage of enlargement, communication between the `old' and `new' democracies was hampered by prejudice and estrangement from the western side and illusionary expectations from the eastern side. Different historical experiences after the Second World War had raised barriers to mutual understanding. While experiences of `building capitalism' brought post-Communist nations closer to the values of the European welfare society, the eastwards enlargement at the same time strengthened the influence of identity politics among the `old' democracies of Europe. As a result, there is now less difference between the `old' and 'new' members of the EU than was expected at the beginning of the enlargement process. The new members of the EU are even more interested in the development of the European public sphere than are many people in the West, because they see in this process their chance to be included in the European communication space as equal members. In order to reach this goal, the process of `horizontal integration' between national public spheres and the development of the common social imaginary of the new Europe is considered to be very important. ■

Actin-dependent cytoplasmic streaming inC. elegansoogenesis

Oocytes in the C. elegans gonad enlarge rapidly. During the stage of enlargement, they are transcriptionally quiescent, and it is not understood how they acquire large quantities of materials such as mRNA and protein. Enlarging oocytes are connected via cytoplasmic bridges to a large, younger population of transcriptionally active germ cells at various stages of mitosis and meiosis. We show here that there is a general streaming of gonad cytoplasm towards and into the enlarging oocytes, originating primarily from pachytene-stage germ cells. Because previous studies suggested that most or all of the pachytene germ cells have the potential to differentiate into oocytes, the pachytene cells appear to function transiently as nurse cells. Somatic gonadal cells that surround the germ cells do not appear essential for streaming. Instead, materials appear to be pulled into oocytes by forces generated either in, or adjacent to, the enlarging oocytes themselves. Streaming appears to be driven by the actomyosin cytoskeleton, although we show that populations of both microfilaments and microtubules are oriented in the direction of flow. Our study shows that oocyte enlargement in C. elegans differs significantly from that in Drosophila, where a small number of specialized nurse cells expel their contents into the enlarging oocyte.

Changes in the cell-wall polysaccharides of outer pericarp tissues of kiwifruit during development

Changes in pectin, hemicelluloses and cellulose in the cell walls of outer pericarp tissues of kiwifruit ( Actinidia deliciosa cv. Hayward) were determined during development. An extensive amylase digestion was employed to remove possible contaminating starch before and after fractionation of wall polysaccharides. An initial treatment of crude cell walls with α-amylase and iso-amylase or DMSO, was found to be insufficient removing the contaminating starch from wall polysaccharides. After EDTA and alkaline extraction, the pectic and hemicellulose fractions were again treated with the combination of α-amylase and iso-amylase. The amounts of predominant pectic sugars Gal, Rha and Ara, unaffected by the first and second amylase digestion, decreased markedly during the early fruit enlargement (8–12 weeks after anthesis, WAA), then increased during 16–20 WAA, and finally declined during fruit maturity (20–25 WAA). The molecular-mass of pectic polysaccharides decreased during fruit enlargement (8–16 WAA), and then changed little during fruit maturity. The higher molecular-mass components of hemicelluloses in HC-I and HC-II fractions detected at the early stage of fruit enlargement (8–12 WAA) were degraded at the late stage of fruit enlargement (16 WAA), but then remained stable at the much lower molecular-mass till fruit maturity. The amount of Xyl in the HC-II fraction decreased during the early fruit enlargement and fruit maturity, an observation that was consistent with xyloglucan (XG) content. The gel permeation profiles of XG showed a slight increase in higher molecular-mass components during 8–12 WAA, but thereafter there was no significant down-shift of molecular-mass until harvest time. The cellulose fraction increased steadily during fruit enlargement through maturity, but the XG contents in HC-I and HC-II fractions remained at a low level during these stages. Methylation analysis of HC-I and HC-II fractions confirmed the low level of XG in the hemicellulosic fractions. It was suggested that pectin in the outer pericarp of kiwifruit was degraded at the early stage of fruit enlargement, but XG remains constant during fruit enlargement and maturation.

Isolation and characterization of the somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinase gene homologue (CitSERK1) from Citrus unshiu Marc.

A cDNA clone was isolated for a somatic embryogenesis receptor-like kinase (SERK) gene homologue (CitSERK1) from Citrus unshiu Marc. CitSERK1 revealed high amino acid sequence homologies to the past isolated SERK genes of Arabidopsis thaliana, Zea mays, and Daucus carota and had the common structural features of a putative leucine zipper (ZIP) with five repeat units in the extracellular domain, a proline-rich region (SPP) just upstream of the transmembrane domain, and the kinase domain in the C-terminal. The mRNA expression of CitSERK1 was relatively uniform in all plant tissues except those of mature fruit at days after flowering (DAF) 180 and abundant around the stage of nucleous division and enlargement. During callus culture, the transcripts of CitSERK1 were less than the detectable levels in proliferating non-embryogenic calli but increased until they could be detected in the calli after the initiation of embryogenesis, suggesting that CitSERK1 could be involved in embryogenesis or embryo development. In addition, genetic linkage analysis showed that the SERK1 locus was independent of both loci concerning two traits, polyembryony and seedlessness derived from Satsuma mandarin, which have been considered to be highly important characteristics in Citrus genetic improvement.