Article
Plant Sciences
Juan Hao, Panpan Lou, Yidie Han, Lijun Zheng, Jiangjie Lu, Zhehao Chen, Jun Ni, Yanjun Yang, Maojun Xu
Summary: This study assessed the possibility of enhancing the antioxidant capacity in pakchoi by UV-B supplementation. The results showed that UV-B treatment significantly increased the accumulation of antioxidants, including total polyphenols and flavonoids, without affecting the plant biomass. The study also found that UV-B treatment upregulated the activities of enzymes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and the expression levels of flavonoid biosynthesis genes.
Article
Entomology
Zeus Mateos-Fierro, Michael P. D. Garratt, Michelle T. Fountain, Kate Ashbrook, Duncan B. Westbury
Summary: This study observed the abundance, diversity, and foraging behavior of different insect pollinator groups in commercial sweet cherry orchards. The results showed that while managed pollinators visited cherry blossoms more frequently, wild solitary bees and queen bumblebees were more effective at enhancing pollination in sweet cherry orchards.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Peirong Li, Sirui Lv, Deshuang Zhang, Tongbing Su, Xiaoyun Xin, Weihong Wang, Xiuyun Zhao, Yangjun Yu, Yaowei Zhang, Shuancang Yu, Fenglan Zhang
Summary: Carotenoid esterification is essential for protecting and maintaining the stability of carotenoids. This study identified a natural mutant of flowering Chinese cabbage with pale-yellow petals controlled by a single recessive gene. The critical role of a phytyl ester synthase in regulating carotenoid pigmentation was identified. Gene silencing and transgenic Arabidopsis experiments confirmed the role of this protein in carotenoid biosynthesis.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Xoaquin Moreira, Luis Abdala-Roberts, Rieta Gols, Beatriz Lago-Nunez, Sergio Rasmann, Gregory Roeder, Pilar Soengas, Carla Vazquez-Gonzalez, Maria Elena Cartea
Summary: This study provides strong evidence for volatile-mediated indirect interactions between plant enemies and pollinators, ultimately impacting plant fitness, with specificity in both the enemy and the compounds involved.
JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Horticulture
Fengyan Shi, Zhiyong Liu, Zhijin Pang, Hui Feng
Summary: This study identified and characterized a family of FHA domain-containing proteins in Brassica rapa, which are highly expressed in different tissues and flowers, with some genes showing differential expression in male fertile and sterile buds. The research also predicted miRNAs targeting BrFHA genes related to pollen development. This information can assist in molecular breeding for genetic male sterility in Brassica rapa.
SCIENTIA HORTICULTURAE
(2021)
Article
Cell Biology
Lin Yang, Xiaoyu Wu, Shangjia Liu, Lina Zhang, Ting Li, Yunyun Cao, Qiaohong Duan
Summary: This study identified 85 potential HMPs in B. rapa and found that their promoters contain stress-related elements. Some of the HMP genes were upregulated under heavy metal, drought, temperature, and salt stresses. Protein-protein interaction analysis revealed potential co-functional partners of these key genes. The study suggests that BrHMPs participate in heavy metal transport, detoxification, and abiotic stress response, with potential involvement in sexual reproduction.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Ziwen Qiu, Keqing Zhuang, Yiting Liu, Xiaomin Ge, Chen Chen, Songping Hu, Huibin Han
Summary: The C-terminally Encoded Peptide (CEP) gene family in Brassica species consists of 27 genes that are classified into four subgroups based on the similarity of CEP motifs. These genes play important roles in Brassica rapa development by responding to various environmental signals. Experimental results show that the synthetic BrCEP3 peptide can promote primary root growth in a hydrogen peroxide and Ca2+ dependent manner.
PLANT SIGNALING & BEHAVIOR
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Waqar Khan, Ahmed M. El-Shehawi, Fayaz Ali, Murad Ali, Mohammed Alqurashi, Mohammed M. Althaqafi, Siraj B. Alharthi
Summary: Laccase-like multi-copper oxidases (LMCOs) are enzymes that oxidize various substrates by linking four-electron reduction of O-2 to water. They have practical applications in biology. The study investigated the LMCO gene family (Br-Lac) and identified 18 members located on five chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis classified the genes into seven groups. Certain genes in the family responded positively to abiotic stresses. The study provides important insights into the functional diversity of LMCO genes in B. rapa.
Article
Entomology
S. D. Divija, P. D. Kamala Jayanthi, Y. B. Varun, P. Saravan Kumar, G. Krishnarao, G. S. Nisarga
Summary: Insect pollinators play a crucial role in the survival and reproduction of radish plants. A study conducted in India found that 15 different insect species visit radish flowers for pollination, with Western honeybees and giant honeybees being the most frequent visitors. These findings highlight the importance of insect-mediated pollination for radish plants.
JOURNAL OF ASIA-PACIFIC ENTOMOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ruihua Wang, Taili Han, Jifeng Sun, Ligong Xu, Jingjing Fan, Hui Cao, Chunxiang Liu
Summary: Ovate family proteins (OFPs) are plant-specific transcription factors involved in regulating plant growth and development. A study on Brassica rapa identified 29 OFP genes unevenly distributed on different chromosomes, with potential intron gain events. Whole genome duplication likely contributed to the expansion of the OFP gene family, with significant changes in the expression levels of these genes observed in hybrids, possibly contributing to heterosis formation. Paralogous genes displayed different expression patterns among hybrids and their parents, providing a theoretical basis for further analysis of OFP gene functions in Brassica species.
Article
Plant Sciences
Camila N. Barrionuevo, Santiago Benitez-Vieyra, Federico Sazatornil
Summary: Salvia stachydifolia displays partial protandry and self-compatibility, with open-pollination showing the highest reproductive success, suggesting a dependence on pollinator activity. Bumblebees are the most frequent visitors, but hummingbirds dominate visits during certain times. The mixed bee-hummingbird visitation represents an unstable evolutionary situation, providing insights into pollination shifts.
JOURNAL OF PLANT ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Agronomy
Jiaqi Zou, Shiyao Dong, Bing Fang, Ying Zhao, Gengxing Song, Yue Xin, Shengnan Huang, Hui Feng
Summary: In this study, it was found that BrACOS5 mutations led to male sterility in Chinese cabbage, which was verified in three allelic male-sterile mutants. These mutants showed complete abortion of microspores with severely absent exine and abnormal development of tapetums. Genetic analyses revealed that the male-sterile mutants were caused by the same recessive nuclear gene. MutMap-based gene mapping and KASP analysis identified three different single-nucleotide polymorphisms of BraA09g012710.3C responsible for the male sterility of the mutants. It was also discovered that mutations in BrACOS5 resulted in decreased enzyme activities and altered fatty acid contents in the anthers of the mutants.
THEORETICAL AND APPLIED GENETICS
(2023)
Article
Plant Sciences
Hao-Chun Hsu, Yan-Fu Kuo
Summary: Homology is essential in comparative analysis of nectar guide patterns, with the study proposing a method to define a homologous region of interest (ROI) for alignment and analysis. Qualitative and quantitative analyses revealed significant associations between nectar guide patterns and pollination types, with proximal and distal modes showing the strongest links to pollination types.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Junxing Lu, Nan Yang, Yangyi Zhu, Zhongxin Chai, Tao Zhang, Wei Li
Summary: In this study, the CPK genes of five Brassica species were identified and analyzed. The results showed uneven distribution of these genes on chromosomes and the presence of multiple cis-elements in their promoter regions. Phylogenetic analysis revealed possible gene expansion and specific expressed CPK genes that may be related to P. brassicae resistance.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Soil Science
Shin Hirata, Masahiko Katoh
Summary: This study quantitatively investigated the release behavior of nutrients from artificial potassium silicate fertilizer (PSF) and found that potassium in PSF is rapidly released and readily available to plants. The most abundant crystalline minerals in PSF were kalsilite, akermanite, and potassium-magnesium silicate.
SOIL USE AND MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Diane R. Wang, Carmela R. Guadagno, Xiaowei Mao, D. Scott Mackay, Jonathan R. Pleban, Robert L. Baker, Cynthia Weinig, Jean-Luc Jannink, Brent E. Ewers
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2019)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jeong Im Kim, Xuebin Zhang, Pete E. Pascuzzi, Chang-Jun Liu, Clint Chapple
Article
Plant Sciences
Jonathan R. Pleban, Carmela R. Guadagno, David S. Mackay, Cynthia Weinig, Brent E. Ewers
Article
Ecology
C. R. Guadagno, D. Millar, R. Lai, D. S. Mackay, J. R. Pleban, C. R. McClung, C. Weinig, D. R. Wang, B. E. Ewers
ECOLOGICAL MODELLING
(2020)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Marcus T. Brock, Matthew J. Rubin, Dean DellaPenna, Cynthia Weinig
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2020)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
James Ta, Christine Palmer, Marcus Brock, Matthew Rubin, Cynthia Weinig, Julin Maloof, Daniel Runcie
G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS
(2020)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jeong Im Kim, Christopher Hidalgo-Shrestha, Nicholas D. Bonawitz, Rochus B. Franke, Clint Chapple
Summary: The expression of C4H enzyme in Arabidopsis plants can affect the synthesis and turnover of phenylpropanoids in the phenylpropanoid pathway, thus impacting plant development and lignin production. The restoration of fertility and substantial lignin production in plants with well-developed primary inflorescence stems upon C4H expression indicates the plasticity of the developmental window for lignification. Additionally, a defective Casparian strip diffusion barrier was identified in the root endodermis of the ref3-2 mutant, which was restored by induction of C4H expression.
JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL BOTANY
(2021)
Article
Microbiology
Scott A. Klasek, Marcus T. Brock, Hilary G. Morrison, Cynthia Weinig, Lois Maignien
Summary: Microorganisms on the root surface play a central role in plant growth and performance in agricultural settings. Soil microbial communities are highly diverse and heterogeneous, showing strong variations over short spatial scales. Fine-scale variation in colonizing microorganisms during rhizosphere assembly may have a greater impact on rhizosphere community structure than host genotype.
FRONTIERS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Albert T. Adjesiwor, Joseph G. Ballenger, Cynthia Weinig, Brent E. Ewers, Andrew R. Kniss
Summary: This study found that early presence of weeds significantly reduces sugar beet growth, with implications for crop management and genetic improvement strategies. Sugar beet responds early and near-irreversibly to weed presence, affecting leaf and root biomasses.
PLANT CELL AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Jeffrey P. Simpson, Jacob Olson, Brian Dilkes, Clint Chapple
Summary: Plants utilize the aromatic amino acids phenylalanine and tyrosine to synthesize specialized metabolites to increase resilience and tolerance to stress. Research in sorghum identified over 600 mass spectrometry features derived from Phe and Tyr, with varying proportions of contribution from each precursor. Tissues and metabolites show differences in the relative incorporation of Phe and Tyr, indicating multiple pools of p-coumaric acid are fed by the two amino acids.
FRONTIERS IN PLANT SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Plant Sciences
Rebecca A. Smith, Fachuang Lu, Fabiola Muro-Villanueva, Joanne C. Cusumano, Clint Chapple, John Ralph
Summary: The complexity of lignin structure inhibits efficient digestion of the cell wall. By altering lignin composition in Arabidopsis thaliana through mutation and genetic modification, it was found that the production and integration of monolignol conjugates into lignin can improve saccharification efficiency. The study also showed that substrate availability is the primary factor in the production of monolignol conjugates, and lignin composition plays a role in determining cell wall digestibility.
PLANT AND CELL PHYSIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Plant Sciences
Peng Wang, Longyun Guo, John Morgan, Natalia Dudareva, Clint Chapple
Summary: Genetic engineering of lignin can cause significant changes in transcription and metabolite accumulation, impacting multiple biological processes in Arabidopsis.
Article
Plant Sciences
Fabiola Muro-Villanueva, Hoon Kim, John Ralph, Clint Chapple
Summary: Lignin is a major obstacle for biomass saccharification, but recent research has found that genetically altering lignin by knocking out two subunits of Mediator can alleviate the growth inhibition phenotype. This alteration leads to the synthesis of a lignin polymer derived from p-coumaryl alcohol.
Article
Microbiology
Reilly R. Dibner, A. Monique Weaver, Marcus T. Brock, Gordon F. Custer, Hilary G. Morrison, Lois Maignien, Cynthia Weinig
Summary: Elapsed time strongly predicts microbial diversity, with few differences among developmental stages. This suggests that time and microbial succession likely have a stronger impact on microbial community assembly than host developmental stage.
FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jeffrey P. Simpson, Cole Wunderlich, Xu Li, Elizabeth Svedin, Brian Dilkes, Clint Chapple
Summary: The study utilized stable isotope labeling, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry, and a computational pipeline to automatically identify metabolites produced from a selected metabolic precursor in Arabidopsis. By retrospectively annotating MS features to the identified metabolome, natural genetic variants responsible for differences in metabolite accumulation were identified. The research highlighted the importance of cataloging a biochemical pathway's products through isotopic labeling across genetic variants in order to uncover metabolites and genes associated with their biosynthesis.