Tree Oil Research Articles

Pecan-medicinal crops intercropping improved soil fertility and promoted interactions between soil microorganisms and metabolites

BackgroundPecan [Carya illinoinensis (Wangenh.) Koch] is a widely cultivated dried fruit and woody oil tree with high economic value. Continuous sole planting of pecan caused some land to lie idle and deterioration of soil conditions. Tree and medicinal crops intercropping represents an environmental-friendly and economically feasible solution to these issues. Thus, we aimed to explore the underlying mechanism by which intercropping improved soil condition by regulating the interactions of the soil microbiome and metabolome. In this study, pecans were intercropped with medicinal crops caper spurge and honeysuckle on a tree farm in China. A combined analysis of soil microbiomes and metabolomes was performed to discover the effects of intercropping on bulk and rhizosphere soils.ResultsThe results showed that intercropping improved the edaphic properties of bulk soil and promoted the growth of pecan and caper spurge. Intercropping also significantly altered the structures of both bacterial and fungal communities in bulk soil, stabilised the enrichment of nitrogen-cyclic bacteria, for instance, Bacillus, and decreased the relative abundances of plant–pathogenic fungi, for instance, Fusarium. In addition, the result of metabolomic analysis showed that intercropping promoted the synthesis of functional compounds, such as trehalose and ethanolamine, which enhanced plant disease resistance in bulk soils. Moreover, the co-occurrence networks of microbiomes and metabolomes of bulk soils revealed that Bacillus was significantly correlated with Fusarium, Alternaria, and trehalose under intercropping patterns. Furthermore, analysis of microbiomes and metabolomes in the rhizosphere soil of caper spurge and honeysuckle revealed that Penicillium and Rhizomicrobium were significantly increased by intercropping and showed more dynamic connections with other genera and metabolites compared with single planting.ConclusionsOverall, intercropping pecans with caper spurge and honeysuckle can improve soil conditions and promote plant growth through microbiological and metabolomics integrated analyses. This study provides valuable information and theoretical basis for optimizing land resource utilisation and improving soil conditions in tree fields like pecan fields via intercropping, thereby reducing production losses and ensuring economic benefits.Graphical

Exploring the Effect of Active Components in Oil Tree Peony Seed Meal on Swine Disease Resistance and its Potential Mechanisms Based on Network Pharmacology and Molecular Docking.

This study aims to explore the feasibility of using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology to predict the effects of active components from oil tree peony seed meal (PSM) on swine diseases. Ten active components of PSM were screened Screening through literature search and network pharmacology standards, including Betulinic acid, Quercetin, Kaempferol, Luteolin, Isorhamnetin, Hydroxygenkwanin, Hederagenin, Benzoyl Paeoniflorin, Albiflorin, Paeoniflorin. Ten types of swine diseases were selected, including African Swine Fever, Aftosa, Swine Vesicular Disease, Transmissible Gastroenteritis, Swine Streptococcal Infection, Blue Aural Disease, Swine Infectious Atrophic Rhinitis, Swine Influenza, Swine Erysipelas, Swine Epidemic Encephalitis. The results showed that the average number of cross genes between the potential target genes of PSM active components and each swine disease target gene accounted for 7.64 % of the total number of swine disease target genes. The GO enrichment analyses showed that putative targets exist in endosomes, lysosomes, cell membranes, nerves, growth factor activity, receptor tyrosine kinase binding, enzyme binding, growth factor binding, transcription coactivator binding, oxidoreductase activity, prostaglandin E receptor activity and insulin receptor substrate binding. The KEGG enrichment analysis results showed that these putative genes were involved in various cancer progression pathways, signaling pathways, and hormone regulatory pathways. A total of 8 core targets were obtained through protein-protein interaction networks analysis, including Protein Kinase CAMP-Activated Catalytic Subunit Alpha (PRKACA), Non-Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (SRC), Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 1 (MAPK1), E1A Binding Protein P300 (EP300), Hypoxia Inducible Factor 1 Subunit Alpha (HIF1A), Phosphatidylinositol-4,5-Bisphosphate 3-Kinase Catalytic Subunit Beta (PIK3CB), C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) and Estrogen Receptor 2 (ESR2). The HIF-1 signaling pathway was found to be associated with all 10 selected swine diseases. The PD-L1 expression, and PD-1 checkpoint pathway in cancer, and thyroid hormone signaling pathway were not only enriches the core target with a quantity of 7, but also associated with 9 Swine diseases. In addition, the molecular docking results indicate that the core ingredients have strong affinity with hub genes. The research suggests that the active components of PSM may intervene in swine diseases through multiple components, targets, and pathways.

Impacts of land use and abiotic factors on fruit, seed, and leaf morphology of the desert date Balanites aegyptiaca in Benin: Implications for management

Preserving intraspecific phenotypic variation within socio-economically important but declining species is fundamental in the current context of rapid change in land use and environmental conditions. Balanites aegyptiaca (L.) Delile is a valuable seed oil tree species native to the arid and semi-arid regions of Africa. Notable morphological variations within the species are recognized by local communities, who often select trees with preferred traits for preservation in croplands. This study compared phenotypic variation in B. aegyptiaca based on sixteen phenotypic traits of fruits, seeds, and leaflets between trees in a strictly protected area and those in croplands. Furthermore, the relative role of land use, soil characteristics, bioclimatic variables, elevation, and slope in the observed variation was analysed. Student t-test, principal component analysis, redundancy analysis, and variance partitioning were used for data analysis in R software. Results showed that, after accounting for tree variation, significant differences were observed in only two traits: seed ratio, and leaflet dry weight, with mean values in cropland being 1.470 (higher), and 0.943 (lower) times that of wild trees, respectively. Furthermore, principal component analysis showed great overlap between ellipses of cropland and wild trees. The variance partitioning analysis showed that bioclimatic variables explained 18 % of the total variation followed by soil characteristics (11 %), and land use (9 %). These findings collectively suggest weak impacts of croplands and a lack of domestication syndrome in B. aegyptiaca in Benin, potentially due to persisting gene flow between wild and cropland trees, inadvertent species management, or low intensity of selection pressures. Future studies should explore organoleptic properties, physico-chemical characteristics of the pulp and seed oil and discern the extent to which observed differences are attributable to genetic factors and biotic factors (pest attacks, plant-plant interactions, etc.).

Moringa oleifera: The Science Behind its Extraordinary Health Benefits

Moringa oleifera Lam., which is commonly known as the “drumstick tree,” is a beautiful plant that has been used for many years in traditional ways and is now being studied by scientists. This thorough review covers a lot of different areas of M. oleifera, from its botanical features to the many ways it is used in medicine, nutrition, and protecting the environment. In the introduction, it is explained that M. oleifera is found all over the world and does well in tropical and subtropical areas in places like Asia, Africa, and the Americas. There are many names for M. oleifera, including the drumstick tree, the ginger tree, and the ben oil tree. It is known for being useful and adaptable. This review goes into more detail about M. oleifera's health benefits and nutritional value, focusing on how full it is of natural antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals. People all over the world have used M. oleifera for hundreds of years as a food source and herbal medicine because its leaves, seeds, flowers, and pods are full of important nutrients. This review looks at how M. oleifera can be used as a medicine, focusing on its antibacterial properties and ability to reduce pain and inflammation. Modern research backs up its traditional uses and suggests that it could be useful in treating diabetes, high blood pressure, and skin problems. Besides being good for people's health, M. oleifera is also a great plant for protecting the environment. Because it grows quickly, doesn't die from drought, and improves the soil, it is very useful in agroforestry and land restoration. It can also do well in a variety of climates, which shows how useful it could be for reducing climate change and promoting biodiversity. The review ends by talking about the bigger effects that growing M. oleifera has on society, like how it helps with food security, economic empowerment, and protecting the environment.

Integrated transcriptome and endogenous hormone analyses reveal the factors affecting the yield of Camellia oleifera

Camellia oleifera is an important woody oil tree in China, in which the flowers and fruits appear during the same period. The endogenous hormone changes and transcription expression levels in different parts of the flower tissue (sepals, petals, stamens, and pistils), flower buds, leaves, and seeds of Changlin 23 high-yield (H), Changlin low-yield (L), and control (CK) C. oleifera groups were studied. The abscisic acid (ABA) content in the petals and stamens in the L group was significantly higher than that in the H and CK groups, which may be related to flower and fruit drops. The high N6-isopentenyladenine (iP) and indole acetic acid (IAA) contents in the flower buds may be associated with a high yield. Comparative transcriptome analysis showed that the protein phosphatase 2C (PP2C), jasmonate-zim-domain protein (JAZ), and WRKY-related differentially expressed genes (DEGs) may play an important role in determining leaf color. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) comparison showed that jasmonic acid (JA) and cytokinin play an important role in determining the pistil of the H group. In this study, endogenous hormone and transcriptome analyses were carried out to identify the factors influencing the large yield difference in C. oleifera in the same year, which provides a theoretical basis for C. oleifera in the future.

De novo assembly of Idesia polycarpa transcriptome and unsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis candidate genes Mining and functional Identification

Unsaturated fatty acids (UFA) in lipids are the key to nutraceutical oil applications, with various potential applications in nutraceutical functional foods and pharmaceutical industries. In Idesia polycarpa (Salicaceae), more than 80 % of UFA have been found in the fruits; yet, the underlying genetic mechanism remains poorly understood. Due to the lack of theoretical research on the genes related to lipid biosynthesis and the complete genetic transformation system of I. polycarpa fruit, the selection and breeding of I. polycarpa, an excellent oil tree, has been severely restricted. In-depth understanding of the molecular mechanism and gene function of lipid biosynthesis of I. polycarpa fruit is therefore of great significance for the development of I. polycarpa resources. This is not only conducive to the genetic improvement of I. polycarpa by molecular breeding technologies but can also provide a reference for the study of the gene functions of other oil plants. In this study, the FA accumulation patterns of I. polycarpa fruits during 8 growth periods were analysed. Fruit from two developmental periods with different UFA levels were analysed for RNA sequencing by an Illumina NovaSeq 6000 HiSeq platform. De novo transcriptome assembly presented 115,350 unigenes and 4382 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Functional annotation in the KEGG pathway and combined with DEG data revealed candidate genes potentially involved in UFA biosynthesis. Expression analysis of q-PCR of IpDGAT2, IpGPAT, IpKASII, IpSAD, IpFAD2, IpFAD3 and IpFAD8 suggested that these genes are highly involved in UFA biosynthesis. Full-length candidate genes were cloned and analysed by bioinformatic tools, and function analysis of IpSAD and IpFAD3 showed that these genes regulated the products of linoleic acid metabolism. This study provides a foundation for UFA biosynthesis in Idesia polycarpa, facilitating its genetic breeding in the future.

Mitochondrial genome study of Camellia oleifera revealed the tandem conserved gene cluster of nad5-nads in evolution.

Camellia oleifera is a kind of high-quality oil supply species. Its seeds contain rich unsaturated fatty acids and antioxidant active ingredients, which is a kind of high-quality edible oil. In this study, we used bioinformatics methods to decipher a hexaploid Camellia oil tree's mitochondrial (mt) genome based on second-generation sequencing data. A 709,596 bp circular map of C. oleifera mt genome was found for the first time. And 74 genes were annotated in the whole genome. Mt genomes of C. oleifera and three Theaceae species had regions with high similarity, including gene composition and gene sequence. At the same time, five conserved gene pairs were found in 20 species. In all of the mt genomes, most of nad genes existed in tandem pairs. In addition, the species classification result, which, according to the gene differences in tandem with nad5 genes, was consistent with the phylogenetic tree. These initial results provide a valuable basis for the further researches of Camellia oleifera and a reference for the systematic evolution of plant mt genomes.

The complex hexaploid oil-Camellia genome traces back its phylogenomic history and multi-omics analysis of Camellia oil biosynthesis.

Oil-Camellia (Camellia oleifera), belonging to the Theaceae family Camellia, is an important woody edible oil tree species. The Camellia oil in its mature seed kernels, mainly consists of more than 90% unsaturated fatty acids, tea polyphenols, flavonoids, squalene and other active substances, which is one of the best quality edible vegetable oils in the world. However, genetic research and molecular breeding on oil-Camellia are challenging due to its complex genetic background. Here, we successfully report a chromosome-scale genome assembly for a hexaploid oil-Camellia cultivar Changlin40. This assembly contains 8.80 Gb genomic sequences with scaffold N50 of 180.0 Mb and 45 pseudochromosomes comprising 15 homologous groups with three members each, which contain 135 868 genes with an average length of 3936 bp. Referring to the diploid genome, intragenomic and intergenomic comparisons of synteny indicate homologous chromosomal similarity and changes. Moreover, comparative and evolutionary analyses reveal three rounds of whole-genome duplication (WGD) events, as well as the possible diversification of hexaploid Changlin40 with diploid occurred approximately 9.06 million years ago (MYA). Furthermore, through the combination of genomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics approaches, a complex regulatory network was constructed and allows to identify potential key structural genes (SAD, FAD2 and FAD3) and transcription factors (AP2 and C2H2) that regulate the metabolism of Camellia oil, especially for unsaturated fatty acids biosynthesis. Overall, the genomic resource generated from this study has great potential to accelerate the research for the molecular biology and genetic improvement of hexaploid oil-Camellia, as well as to understand polyploid genome evolution.

A Set of Artificial Pollination Technical Measures: Improved Seed Yields and Active Ingredients of Seeds in Oil Tree Peonies.

The tree peony, a novel woody oil crop extensively cultivated in China, necessitates further investigation into artificial pollination technology to enhance seed yield. In this study, we conducted artificial pollination experiments with 6-year-old Paeonia ostii 'Feng Dan' seedings for suitable pollen sources, pollen concentration, pollination timing, and pollination frequency. By evaluating seed yields, active ingredients, and oil quality, we derived the following significant conclusions. Firstly, compared to natural pollination, artificial pollination could significantly increase the fruit diameter by 13.94-27.58%, seed yields by 35.17-58.99%, and oil content by 6.45-7.52% in tree peonies. In active ingredients, seeds produced by pollen from Hantai County significantly enhanced starch content (by 48.64%), total phenols (by 41.18%) and antioxidant capacity (by 54.39%). In oil quality, seeds produced by pollen from Heyang County exhibited the highest α-linolenic acid and total fatty acid content with enhancements of 1.68%, 7.41%, and 8.48%. Secondly, hand pollination with pure pollen significantly increased seed yield by 58.99%, total phenol content by 40.97%, antioxidant capacity by 54.39%, and oil content by 1.53% compared to natural pollination. Thirdly, pollination at 2/3 bloom range significantly increased seed number by 63.08% and yield by 45.61% compared to natural pollination. Finally, the effect of one, two, and three pollination events had no difference in seed yield. So, to summarize, applying a 100% concentration of allochthonous pollen once is recommended when the bloom range is more than two thirds.

Quality detection and variety classification of pecan seeds using hyperspectral imaging technology combined with machine learning

Pecan (Carya illinoinensis K.), a well-known dried seed and woody oil tree, faces challenges in its industry due to complex quality assessment methods and confusing varieties. These challenges have seriously hampered the development of a large-scale pecan deep processing industry. This work aimed to apply hyperspectral imaging technology (HSI) combined with machine learning to evaluate the quality of pecan seeds and perform variety classification. The samples of this work were composed of 19 varieties of pecan seeds, with 30 seeds per variety. After spectral preprocessing, spectral features were extracted from the spectral profiles using feature extraction methods. Back-propagation neural network models and partial least squares models were established to predict the contents of crude fat and moisture in pecan seeds. Predictions of the best models gave good results with R2-score of 0.887 for the crude fat model and 0.950 for the moisture model. Additionally, support vector machine models were developed to identify pecan varieties. The model achieved good results in 19 pecan varieties identification with accuracy of 0.965. In conclusion, the combination of HSI and machine learning could be an effective tool in improving the pecan industry and providing sustainable and efficient methods in the production of pecan seeds.

The innovative extraction and purification process of insoluble polyphenols from Paeonia ostii roots: Optimum study and in vitro activities

The oil tree peony (Paeonia ostii) is widely cultivated for their high value seed oil, and its roots also have high medicinal value, but they are often discarded and wasted as by-products. In this study, a set of steam explosion (SE) and ultrasound (US)-assisted extraction/purification methods of insoluble bound phenols (IPs) from oil peony roots (PR) were explored and developed. The IPs were obtained through SE pre-treatment (120 °C, 15 min) and US-assisted alkaline extraction (0.25 W/cm2, 4 h and 4 M NaOH). Their total phenolic content (TPC) significantly increased from 112.26 mg gallic acid/g dry weight (mg GAE/g dw) with traditional method to 185.59 mg GAE/g dw. Subsequently, the IPs were purified into PIPs using LX-83 resin. The optimized purification conditions were pH = 4, 3.0 mg GAE/mL of IPs, 0.25 W/cm2 adsorption for 120 min, as well as 60 % ethanol desorption solution, and 0.25 W/cm2 desorption for 30 min. The TPC of the PIPs increased to 254.74 mg GAE/g dw. Notably, typical compounds in IPs and PIPs were identified and quantified by HPLC-MS and their antioxidant and anti-tyrosinase activities were also evaluated by chronometry. The results showed that paeoniflorin and benzoyl-paeoniflorin increased by about 10-fold in the PIPs. Additionally, they demonstrated superior antioxidant and tyrosinase inhibitory activities compared to IPs. Therefore, the innovative extraction and purification process greatly improved the yield of bound phenols and recovered paeoniflorin from non-medicinal PR. The process may also provide a reference for the in-depth development of medicinal PR, ultimately achieving more efficient PR development and utilization.

The Research of Antagonistic Endophytic Bacterium Bacillus velezensis CSUFT-BV4 for Growth Promotion and Induction of Resistance to Anthracnose in Camellia oleifera.

Camellia oleifera (C. oleifera) is one of the four main, woody, edible oil tree species in the world, while C. oleifera anthracnose is mainly caused by the fungus Colletotrichum fructicola (C. fructicola), which severely affects the yield of C. oleifera and the quality of tea oil. Bacillus velezensis (B. velezensis) CSUFT-BV4 is an antagonistic endophytic bacterium isolated from healthy C. oleifera leaves. This study aimed to investigate the biocontrol potential of strain CSUFT-BV4 against C. oleifera anthracnose and its possible functional mechanism, and to determine its growth-promoting characteristics in host plants. In vitro, CSUFT-BV4 was shown to have efficient biofilm formation ability, as well as significant functions in the synthesis of metabolic substances and the secretion of probiotic substances. In addition, the CSUFT-BV4 fermentation broth also presented efficient antagonistic activities against five major C. oleifera anthracnose pathogens, including C. fructicola, C. gloeosporioides, C. siamense, C. camelliae, and C. kahawae, and the inhibition rate was up to 73.2%. In vivo, it demonstrated that the growth of C. oleifera treated with CSUFT-BV4 fermentation broth was increased in terms of stem width, plant height, and maximum leaf area, while the activities of various defense enzymes, e.g., superoxide dismutase (SOD), phenylalanine aminotransferase (PAL), and polyphenol oxidase (PPO), were effectively increased. The remarkable antagonistic activities against C. oleifera anthracnose, the growth-promoting characteristics, and the induction of host defense responses indicate that endophytic bacterium CSUFT-BV4 can be effectively used in the biological control of C. oleifera anthracnose in the future, which will have a positive impact on the development of the C. oleifera industry.

Bumblebee pollination ensures the stability of both yield and quality of the woody oil crop Paeonia ostii ‘Fengdan’

Oil tree peony is a unique woody oil crop found exclusively in China. Its seed oil is a highly nutritious edible vegetable oil. However, its seed production varies greatly and is often low. Oil tree peony is a plant that relies on insects for pollination, but inadequate pollination is a common occurrence. In this study, we focused on the Paeonia ostii ‘Fengdan’ species and conducted a five-year study (from 2017 to 2022) in Luoyang, China. Our objective was to assess the extent of pollination deficiency and dependence, as well as quantify the contribution of supplemented bumblebees (Bombus terrestris) to the yield of oil tree peony. We also examined the effect of supplemented bumblebees on the temporal variation in yield through various pollinator survey designs, including supplemented bumblebees (BP), open pollination (OP), pollinator exclusion (EP), self-pollination treatments (SP), and artificial cross-pollination (CP). The results revealed a medium pollination deficit (D = 0.50) at the study sites for three consecutive years from 2020 to 2022, indicating limited pollination for oil tree peony under natural conditions. Importantly, BP significantly compensated for this deficiency (D = 0.22). Over the course of five years, BP increased the yield of oil tree peony by 82.87% on average compared to EP. Furthermore, the yield variation coefficient of EP (CVt=0.20) increased by 100% compared to BP (CVt=0.10). And we also observed significant variability in other yield parameters. Additionally, oil tree peony production was reduced by 44.24% in the absence of flower visitors, and the dependence on BP reached a “high” level. The fatty acid content in the seed oil did not show significant differences across treatments, indicating its stability. Overall, our pollination practices demonstrate that supplementing bee pollination can provide sufficient and stable pollination services, resulting in a higher and more stable yield of oil tree peony seeds.

Morpho-Molecular Characterization Reveals a New Genus, Three Novel Species and Two New Host Records in Xylariomycetidae.

Xylariomycetidae comprises extremely diverse taxa that are widespread on decaying wood worldwide. An investigation of the diversity of microfungi on oil tree plantations in Sichuan Province was conducted during 2020-2021. Twelve saprobic taxa representing five species were identified as members of Amphisphaeriales and Xylariales through morphological comparisons. Phylogenetic analyses of combined ITS, LSU, rpb2, tub2 and tef1 sequence data indicated a distinct clade formed by three strains within Xylariomycetidae, unrelated to any currently recognized families. Thus, a novel anthostomella-like genus, Bicellulospora, is proposed and treated as Xylariales genera incertae sedis. Bicellulospora is characterized by dark brown to black, immersed, subglobose ascomata with a clypeus, cylindrical asci, and hyaline to yellowish brown, inequilaterally ellipsoidal ascospores with a large upper cell and a dwarf lower cell. Two new species of Amphisphaeria, namely A. oleae and A. verniciae, are introduced based on multi-gene phylogenetic analyses (ITS, LSU, rpb2 and tub2) coupled with morphological characteristics. Amphisphaeria micheliae and Endocalyx ptychospermatis are reported as new host records.

AREAL AND PRODUCTION OF PALM OIL TREES

Palm oil is one of the plantation products that has a significant impact on the Indonesian economy. Indonesia, being one of the major palm oil exporters in the world, has successfully reduced poverty and unemployment rates by expanding oil palm plantation areas. This research aims to explore the relationship between the extent of oil palm plantation land and the annual production of palm oil in Paser Regency. The research method employed for this study is quantitative, involving the collection of data on the amount of palm oil plantation land from 2018 to 2022, along with the annual palm oil production figures in Paser Regency. The gathered data will be examined using correlation analysis, utilizing IBM SPSS 25 as the tool for conducting the correlation analysis. The researcher found that there is no significant correlation between the extent of oil palm plantation land and annual palm oil production. Additionally, the researcher discovered other variables that correlate with the annual volume of palm oil production, which were not considered in this study. The variables identified by the researcher as influencing production volume after conducting this study include soil conditions, fertilizers, seedlings, human resources, and the age of oil palm trees. This research provides insights to readers, stakeholders, and other researchers regarding factors correlated with the annual volume of palm oil production. These findings can serve as a solid foundation for business decision-making and as reference material for future research.

Gastrointestinal parasites of the Indian Flying Fox Pteropus medius in Nagpur City: a seasonal study through faecal sample analysis

The Indian Flying Fox Pteropus medius, among the largest Indian fruit eating bats, is commonly observed with unhurried wing beats at dusk and tends to roost during the day in sizable, noisy colonies situated on trees within bustling towns and villages. Notably, these colonies are prevalent in busy areas of Nagpur city, particularly on expansive Banyan Trees Ficus bengalensis and Pangom Oil Trees Millettia pinnata, owing to the consistent availability of fruits and flowers throughout the year. This study focuses on evaluating gastrointestinal helminth infection in fruit-eating bats during the summer, monsoon, and winter seasons in Nagpur city, Maharashtra. A total of 58 samples were collected, processed, and examined using the double sedimentation technique. Of these, 46 samples (80.01%) tested positive for Ascaris spp. eggs, with a higher percentage during the monsoon season. Additionally, during the peak summer season, a juvenile flying fox from one of the colonies was rescued in a dehydrated state, displaying crusty scab-like lesions on the wing’s anterior and posterior regions. Subsequent examination revealed the presence of the ectoparasite Macronyssus spp. on body of the juvenile Indian Flying Fox.

Phenological growth stages of Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge: Codification and description according to the BBCH scale

Xanthoceras sorbifolium Bunge is a kind of unique oil tree species found in northern China that has high ecological, ornamental, and economic value. Its seed oil is not only a high-quality edible oil well supplied with unsaturated fatty acids but also a superior raw material for biodiesel production. In the present study, the different phenological growth stages of X. sorbifolium were characterized according to the Biologische Bundesanstalt, Bundessortenamt und CHemische Industrie (BBCH) scale. Eight principal growth stages were described for the bud, leaf and shoot development; inflorescence emergence and flowering; fruit development and maturity, together with senescence and beginning of dormancy. Meanwhile forty-two secondary growth stages were described in detail. Illustrative pictures with a codification were provided to better define and describe these phenological growth stages. Phenological records from two growing seasons were used to create a schematic representation of the principal growth stages. This study provides a beneficial reference for general orchard management, scientific research, and cultivation of new cultivars.

Genome-Wide Identification of B-Box Gene Family and Candidate Light-Related Member Analysis of Tung Tree (Vernicia fordii).

Light is one of the most important environmental factors for plant growth. In the production process of tung oil tree cultivation, due to the inappropriate growth of shading conditions, the lower branches are often dry and dead, which seriously affects the yield of tung oil trees. However, little is known about the key factors of light-induced tree photomorphogenesis. In this study, a total of 22 VfBBX family members were identified to provide a reference for candidate genes in tung tree seedlings. All members of the VfBBX family have different numbers of highly conserved B-box domains or CCT domains. Phylogenetic evolution clustered the VfBBX genes into four categories, and the highest density of members was on chromosome 6. Interspecific collinearity analysis suggested that there were six pairs of duplicate genes in VfBBX members, but the expression levels of all family members in different growth and development stages of the tung tree were significantly divergent. After different degrees of shading treatment and physiological data determination of tung tree seedlings, the differential expression level and chlorophyll synthesis genes correlation analysis revealed that VfBBX9 was a typical candidate nuclear localization transcription factor that was significantly differentially expressed in light response. This study systematically identified the VfBBX gene family and provided a reference for studying its molecular function, enhanced the theoretical basis for tung tree breeding, and identified excellent varieties.

Prediction of fruit characteristics of grafted plants of Camellia oleifera by deep neural networks.

Camellia oleifera, an essential woody oil tree in China, propagates through grafting. However, in production, it has been found that the interaction between rootstocks and scions may affect fruit characteristics. Therefore, it is necessary to predict fruit characteristics after grafting to identify suitable rootstock types. This study used Deep Neural Network (DNN) methods to analyze the impact of 106 6-year-old grafting combinations on the characteristics of C.oleifera, including fruit and seed characteristics, and fatty acids. The prediction of characteristics changes after grafting was explored to provide technical support for the cultivation and screening of specialized rootstocks. After determining the unsaturated fat acids, palmitoleic acid C16:1, cis-11 eicosenoic acid C20:1, oleic acid C18:1, linoleic acid C18:2, linolenic acid C18:3, kernel oil content, fruit height, fruit diameter, fresh fruit weight, pericarp thickness, fresh seed weight, and the number of fresh seeds, the DNN method was used to calculate and analyze the model. The model was screened using the comprehensive evaluation index of Mean Absolute Error (MAPE), determinate correlation R2 and and time consumption. When using 36 neurons in 3 hidden layers, the deep neural network model had a MAPE of less than or equal to 16.39% on the verification set and less than or equal to 13.40% on the test set. Compared with traditional machine learning methods such as support vector machines and random forests, the DNN method demonstrated more accurate predictions for fruit phenotypic characteristics, with MAPE improvement rates of 7.27 and 3.28 for the 12 characteristics on the test set and maximum R2 improvement values of 0.19 and 0.33. In conclusion, the DNN method developed in this study can effectively predict the oil content and fruit phenotypic characteristics of C. oleifera, providing a valuable tool for predicting the impact of grafting combinations on the fruit of C. oleifera.

Case Report: Management of Dadru Kushtha (Tinea Corporis) by Shamana Chikits

Background Skin disorders are often seen as a result of a change in lifestyle, a lack of physical activity, and inadequate nutrition. Hygiene, emotional stress, and poor eating habits are also factors to consider. Kushta is the term used in Ayurveda to describe all skin disorders which is classified as Mahakushtha (major skin disorders) and Kshudrakushtha (minor skin disorders). Dadrukushta is a type of kshudrakushta that is commonly seen in clinical practice. In Ayurveda, the signs of dadrukushta are same as those of Tinea corporis, which is explained in modern science. Tinea corporis has a wide range of clinical symptoms that are mostly dependent on the infective organisms. By treating the condition with Ayurveda’s treatment therapy produces long term Outcomes. Aim & Objectives Aim of this contemporary study was to assess how Ayurvedic modality shamana chikitsa works on Dadrukushta. Case A 27 year old male patient approached to Kayachikitsa OPD with complaints of blackish lesions with raised borders and itching over the chest and back (upper) region for 15 days having disturbed sleep which undergone treatment of shamanachikitsa (palliative care). Dadrukushta (Tinea corporis) can be dealt with shamana karma (palliative care) using internally Gandhakrasayan (Moringa ovalifolia prepared from sulphur), Panchtiktaghrita (Pancha means five, Tikta means bitter in taste. Tikta Rasapradhan Dravyas are collectively called as Panchatikta Dravyas. The five Dravyas are Azadirachta indica (Neem), Trichosanthes dioica (Patola), Solanum xanthocarpum (Kantakari), Tinofpora cordifolia (Guduchi) and Adhatoda vasica (Adulsa), fungiwin cream, Karanjataila (Pongamia pinnata oil tree), S-kin powder for local application for 45 days. Results The Gradation Score was 8 before treatment, after 45 days it was 0. The patient in this case study experienced relief in the symptoms. Conclusions The patient obtained better results by Shamanachikitsa.