Search Results (62)

Inflorescence degeneration in Areca catechu L. is characterized by growth arrest, tissue shrinkage and browning, ultimately compromising functional inflorescence formation and yield stability. To investigate its developmental window and regulatory basis, inflorescences from different leaf positions at the full-bloom stage were analyzed using anatomical observation, morphological measurements, carbohydrate and hormone assays, and RNA-seq-based transcriptomic analysis with qRT-PCR validation. Inflorescence degeneration was mainly concentrated in axillary inflorescences at the third and fourth leaf positions (BY3 and BY4). Compared with adjacent normal inflorescences, degenerated inflorescences showed reduced sucrose, starch and trehalose contents, increased ABA, JA and MeJA levels, and decreased cZR levels. Transcriptomic analysis revealed clear separation between degenerated and normal inflorescences, and differentially expressed genes were enriched in starch and sucrose metabolism, plant hormone signal transduction and transcriptional regulation. Co-expression network analysis identified modules associated with the degeneration window and key physiological traits, highlighting six candidate hub genes: AcAHP2, AcTIFY4B, AcTPS9-2, AcHXK2, AcWRKY3 and AcMPK1. These findings suggest that inflorescence degeneration is closely associated with carbon metabolic imbalance, hormone network remodeling and co-expression network reprogramming within a specific developmental window, providing a basis for future mechanistic studies and control strategies. Full article

Citrus fruits are widely cultivated all over the world. Due to climatic conditions, citrus fruits are frequently exposed to periodic low temperatures, which poses a serious threat to their yield and quality. Cold not only restricts plant growth and deteriorates fruit quality but also leads to fruit abscission and tree mortality, posing severe constraints on large-scale citrus production. The TIFY family gene plays crucial roles in plant development and stress adaptation. However, the genome-wide identification and functional analysis of TIFY genes in cold stress adaptation of citrus plants remain largely unexplored. Here, we performed a systematic genome-wide analysis of the TIFY family in sweet orange (Citrus sinensis (L.) Osbeck) and identified 14 CsTIFY members. We conducted a comprehensive study on the protein characteristics, phylogenetic relationships, gene structure, chromosome distribution, promoter cis-acting elements, and subcellular localization of these genes. Phylogenetic analysis classified the CsTIFYs into ZML (ZML1–ZML4), JAZ (JAZ1–JAZ7), PPD (JAZ8, JAZ9), and TIFY (TIFY1) subfamilies, and they are distributed on seven chromosomes. Collinearity analysis revealed that segmental duplication is the primary driver for CsTIFY family expansion. Expression profiling under cold stress identified JAZ1, JAZ2, and JAZ3 as the most cold-inducible members. All three CsTIFY proteins are targeted to the nucleus, as confirmed by subcellular localization analysis. Overexpression of JAZ1, JAZ2, or JAZ3 in citrus calli significantly enhanced cold sensibility. Collectively, this study elucidates the gene function of CsTIFYs under cold stress and provides new insight for molecular breeding of cold-tolerant citrus varieties. Full article

Jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins are pivotal repressors in the jasmonate (JA) signaling pathway, yet their specific roles in garlic (Allium sativum) remain largely unexplored. In this study, 28 AsJAZ genes were identified through a genome-wide analysis. The expansion of this family was primarily driven by whole-genome duplication events, with a significant majority (71.43%) of members belonging to a lineage-specific clade, Subfamily E. While AsJAZ proteins harbor conserved TIFY and Jas domains, they exhibit diverse gene structures and subcellular localization patterns. Notably, AsJAZ17 is strictly localized to the nucleus, whereas AsJAZ16 shows a nucleocytoplasmic distribution, suggesting potential functional compartmentalization within the family. Transcriptomic and qRT–PCR analyses revealed that most AsJAZ genes are responsive to heat, salt, and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatments. Protein–protein interaction (PPI) modeling and yeast two-hybrid (Y2H) assays confirmed that AsJAZ17 physically interacts with the MYC2 transcription factor, identifying it as a key regulator within the conserved COI1-JAZ-MYC2 signaling module. Functional validation demonstrated that overexpression of AsJAZ17 in Arabidopsis significantly enhances salt tolerance. This improvement is attributed to an optimized growth-defense trade-off and a reinforced antioxidant defense system, as evidenced by the increased activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT), which collectively maintain reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis under stress. These findings provide comprehensive insights into the evolutionary and functional landscape of the garlic JAZ family and identify AsJAZ17 as a promising candidate gene for molecular breeding to improve abiotic stress resilience in Allium crops. Full article

This study aims to elucidate the impact of biostimulants and fungicides on onion yield and quality, utilizing a combined experimental and molecular modeling approach. The biostimulants (Humiblack^®, Agasi^®, and Tifi^®) and fungicides (mancozeb and metalaxyl) were applied to onion crops, resulting in significant improvements in onion quality and yield. The stability and environmental impact of mancozeb and metalaxyl alone and in conjunction with biostimulants were investigated. The stability of the fungicide mixture was assessed in ultrapure water and rainwater, revealing high resistance to hydrolysis. Solar stability assessments, conducted using a sun simulator to mimic environmental conditions, highlighted differences in stability between mancozeb and metalaxyl in the presence of biostimulants. Metalaxyl showed higher photostability owing to the benzene ring. It was also less susceptible to biostimulant effects and remained stable in solution. Density functional theory descriptors and frontier orbital analysis rationalized the higher photoreactivity of mancozeb (smaller HOMO–LUMO gap and broader orbital delocalization). At the same time, molecular dynamics simulations supported stronger solvation of mancozeb and short-range water structuring, consistent with enhanced aqueous susceptibility. The results link fungicide physicochemical properties with field performance and aqueous stability, supporting the use of the fungicide mixture together with a single biostimulant as a practical approach for balancing crop productivity and environmental persistence. Full article

Heart failure (HF) affects approximately 64 million people globally. HF often coexists with chronic kidney disease. HF may affect the heart during diastolic filling, systolic ejection, or both. Conventionally, HF is categorized by left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). One of the leading causes of death in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients of cardiovascular origin increase hospitalizations and worsen quality of life by causing fluid and electrolyte overload. As kidney function declines, increases risk of development of HF in CKD, with a negative impact and worse prognosis in these patients. This narrative review provides healthcare professionals—including nephrologists, car-diologists, internists, and general practitioners—with evidence-based strategies to iden-tify and manage this complex comorbidity, aiming to reduce hospitalization and mor-tality in CKD patients. By synthesizing recent findings on risk stratification, diagnostic modalities, and individualized treatment—particularly for patients undergoing renal replacement therapy—clinicians can enhance volume management and optimize patient outcomes. Considering the increasing prevalence of chronic kidney disease and associated cardiovascular comorbidities, this review addresses pathogenic mechanisms, diagnostic approaches, pharmacological treatments, and dialytic therapy modifications. Full article

The TIFY family, known as a novel group of transcription factors unique to the plant, plays a number of roles and has been functionally characterized in numerous plant species. However, TIFY proteins remain unexplored in litchi. Here, we identified 14 TIFY genes in litchi, which were unevenly located on 8 of 15 chromosomes. All of the LcTIFY proteins were predicted to be nuclear-localized and were phylogenetically categorized into four subfamilies (TIFY, PPD, ZML, and JAZ). Duplication analysis detected no tandem duplications but identified one segmental duplication event with LcTIFY genes, suggesting that segmental duplication served as the primary driving force for the expansion of LcTIFY genes. Comparative collinear analysis revealed 12, 5, and 27 collinear gene pairs between litchi and Arabidopsis, rice, and apple, respectively, providing valuable clues for understanding the evolution of the LcTIFY genes. RNA-Seq and qRT-PCR analyses indicated tissue-preferential expression patterns among LcTIFY genes. Notably, LcPPD1 and LcJAZ5 expressions were negatively correlated with anthocyanin accumulation in the ‘Feizixiao’ variety, except that LcJAZ5 displayed a positive correlation under CPPU treatment. In contrast, LcJAZ7 expression showed a positive correlation across all treatments, implicating these genes in the regulation of pericarp pigmentation. Collectively, these findings lay the groundwork for future investigations into the functional roles of TIFY genes in litchi and offer valuable genetic resources for elucidating the mechanisms underlying litchi pigmentation, thereby providing fresh perspectives for subsequent research into the molecular mechanisms of color formation in plants. Full article

Cold stress limits cucumber productivity, and grafting onto tolerant rootstocks offers a promising strategy for improving resilience. This study compared the responses of cucumber heterografts and self-grafts exposed to different cold temperatures, aiming to uncover the molecular basis of grafting-mediated tolerance. Morphological observations showed that grafting onto Cucurbita ficifolia and C. maxima X C. moschata cv. Tetsukabuto rootstocks improved plant growth under moderate cold, while extreme stress remained lethal. Transcriptome analysis revealed that heterografts displayed broader and more sustained differentially expressed genes than self-grafts. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment in heterografts indicated early activation of structural, regulatory, and metabolic processes, with continued enrichment at later stages. KEGG analysis highlighted plant hormone signaling as a central pathway modulated by heterografting, with selective regulation of auxin, ethylene, and ABA signaling. Heterografts activated key regulators, including MAPK3-like, TIFY5A, and CPK28, which were strongly expressed, alongside transcription factors from NAC, CAMTA, WRKY, and MYB families, suggesting coordinated regulation of cold-responsive networks. These results demonstrate that heterografting enhances cold tolerance by orchestrating multi-layered molecular responses, including hormone modulation, stress signaling, and transcriptional factors. This underscores the potential of grafting onto cold-tolerant rootstocks as a practical strategy for cucumber cultivation in cold-prone environments. Full article

Jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) family genes, which belong to TIFY family, are plant-specific transcriptional repressors. As key regulators of the jasmonic acid signaling pathway, JAZ proteins play crucial roles in various aspects of plant biology. However, the identification and functional characterization of JAZ genes in sweet cherry (Prunus avium L.) fruit remain unknown. In the present study, we identified nine JAZ members in the sweet cherry genome. We systematically analyzed the gene structures, protein domains, evolutionary relationships, and physicochemical properties of these members and also evaluated their expression levels across different fruit developmental stages, as well as under methyl jasmonate (MeJA) treatment. Among these members, our results revealed a previously uncharacterized JAZ member, PavJAZ8, as a crucial regulator of fruit aroma traits. Specifically, RT-qPCR analysis showed that PavJAZ8 overexpression modulates the expression of genes involved in the biosynthesis of aroma volatiles, such as PavLOX2, PavLOX3, PavHPL1, PavADH1.1, PavADH1.2, and PavADH7, which are involved in the synthesis of aldehydes and alcohols. Consistent with the gene expression data, analysis of volatile metabolites revealed that PavJAZ8 overexpression significantly inhibited the accumulation of several related aldehydes and alcohols, including hexanal, geraniol, and benzyl alcohol. Furthermore, PavJAZ8 expression was highly responsive to phytohormone treatments, such as abscisic acid (ABA) and MeJA. Further analysis showed that PavJAZ8 interacts with PavMYC2, thereby mediating JA signal transduction. Our results highlight PavJAZ8 as a novel regulator of fruit aroma quality, offering a valuable genetic target for sweet cherry improvement. Full article

Background/Objectives: Despite increasing awareness of best sports nutrition practices, discrepancies persist between knowledge and behaviour amongst female endurance athletes. Methods: To understand this discrepancy study investigated dietary practices, macronutrient intakes, and influ-encing factors using a multi-method approach. Seventy-two female endurance athletes (42 ± 9 y) completed four-day weighed food diaries, and a subset of twenty athletes (40 ± 10 y) then participated in semi-structured interviews. Quantitative analysis revealed that athletes met the lower end of carbohydrate (CHO) guidelines on rest days (3.0 g·kg⁻¹), but intake fell short on training days, with deficits increasing as training volume rose (moderate: −1.4 g·kg⁻¹, high: −3.5 g·kg⁻¹, very high: −5.5 g·kg⁻¹). Despite awareness of CHO’s role in performance, athletes unintentionally underfuelled, leading to a cumu-lative energy deficit. Energy intake increased by 473 kcal·day⁻¹ per 1000 kcal·day⁻¹ of exercise energy expenditure. In contrast, protein intake was prioritised, with mean in-takes of 1.7 ± 0.7 g·kg⁻¹·day⁻¹ aligning with recommendations. Results: Qualitative findings iden-tified barriers to CHO intake, including time constraints, diet culture influences and body image concerns. Social and environmental factors, such as household environments and professional nutrition guidance, played a critical role in behaviours. Conclusions: These findings highlight the need for practical, evidence-based nutrition interventions to support fe-male endurance athletes. Personalised education addressing CHO requirements, the psychology/emotions around nutrition, and the influence of social environments may bridge the gap between knowledge and practice, optimising both performance and long-term health outcomes. Full article

Lycium ruthenicum Murr. is a highly nutritional cash crop due to its fruit-abundant anthocyanins. With the development of the fruit, the color changes from green to dark purple and the anthocyanin content gradually increases. But the molecular mechanism of the anthocyanin biosynthesis process in L. ruthenicum fruit is still unclear. Five stages of L. ruthenicum fruit based on the color of the pericarp and flesh (BS1–BS5) were used for metabolomics and transcriptomics analyses to investigate the underlying mechanisms of the pigmentation. At the BS3 stage, the anthocyanin content was significantly increased and reached the highest level at the BS5 stage. A total of 25 DAMs related to flavonoids were identified by metabolomics, presenting a gradual increase with fruit development. Delphinidin-3-O-rutinoside and petunidin-3-O-rutinoside were identified as the main anthocyanins. Transcriptome sequencing and DEG analysis identified the key structural genes and transcription factors related to anthocyanin biosynthesis. Anthocyanin accumulation was driven mainly by the upregulation of six structural genes (F3′5′H, DFR, ANS, and UFGT) and eight key transcription factors from the HB, NAC, WRKY, Tify, AP2/ERF, and bHLH families that were significantly correlated with anthocyanin content in L. ruthenicum fruit. This study reveals key candidate genes in the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway, providing new insights for improving fruit quality. Full article

Lycoris longituba produces a single flower bearing six tepals. The double-petaled phenotype of L. longituba has gained significant interest in China due to its ornamental and commercial value in tourism industries. This double-petal phenotype, characterized by stamen petalization, shows improved esthetic characteristics compared with conventional single-petal form. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this floral trait remain largely undefined. In this study, RNA-based comparative transcriptomic analysis was performed between single- and double-petaled flowers of L. longituba at the fully opened flower stage. Approximately 13,848 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified (6528 upregulated and 7320 downregulated genes). Functional annotation through Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analyses revealed several DEGs potentially involved in double-petal development. Six candidate genes, including the hub genes LlbHLH49, LlNAC1, LlSEP, LlTIFY, and LlAGL11, were identified based on DEG functional annotation and weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA). Transcription factors responsive to phytohormonal signaling were found to play a pivotal role in modulating double-petal development. Specifically, 123 DEGs were involved in phytohormone biosynthesis and signal transduction pathways, including those associated with auxin, cytokinin, gibberellin, ethylene, brassinosteroid, and jasmonic acid. Moreover, 521 transcription factors (TFs) were identified, including members of the MYB, WRKY, AP2/ERF, and MADS-box families. These results improve the current understanding of the genetic regulation of the double tepal trait in L. longituba and offer a base for future molecular breeding strategies to enhance ornamental characteristics. Full article

A pluripotent callus is central to genetic transformation in Cinnamomum parthenoxylon; however, the molecular and cellular mechanisms regulating callus formation and subsequent differentiation remain unelucidated, hindering progress in its genetic improvement. This study systematically investigated the dynamic changes during the in vitro regeneration of C. parthenoxylon through morphological observations, physiological assays, and transcriptomic analyses, while comparing differences in callus formation under varying induction conditions to elucidate the mechanism of its high-efficiency regeneration. The results showed that the formation of a pluripotent callus is a critical step in C. parthenoxylon regeneration, characterized by the presence of highly proliferative cell zones. Compared to an ordinary callus (P3C), a pluripotent callus (P3) exhibited higher activities of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) and indole-3-acetic acid oxidase (IAAO), as well as elevated levels of zeatin riboside (ZR) and abscisic acid (ABA). In contrast, P3 showed lower levels of soluble sugars, soluble proteins, malondialdehyde (MDA), indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), and gibberellins (GA), a reduced IAA/ZR ratio, and diminished peroxidase (POD) activity. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified 27 hub transcription factors (TFs) strongly associated with IAA/ZR, primarily from the ERF, bHLH, MYB, WRKY, and C3H families. Gene Ontology (GO) and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analyses revealed the significant enrichment of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to plant hormone signal transduction and cell wall metabolism during pluripotent callus acquisition. Further investigations revealed that five genes encoding a putative indole-3-acetic acid-amido synthetase GH3.1, protein TIFY 10A, a two-component response regulator ARR2-like isoform X2, and xyloglucan endotransglucosylase/hydrolase, likely promoting callus pluripotency by modulating plant hormone signaling and cell wall metabolism, thereby enhancing in vitro regeneration in C. parthenoxylon. In summary, this study provides critical insights into the molecular mechanisms of C. parthenoxylon regeneration and offers valuable germplasm resources for establishing an efficient and stable genetic transformation system via tissue culture. Full article

TIFY transcription factors play crucial regulatory roles in secondary metabolism and stress response. However, the expression patterns of the Cannabis sativa L. TIFY gene family under alkali stress, their involvement in cannabinoid metabolism, and their underlying genetic evolutionary mechanisms remain largely unexplored. In this study, we used bioinformatics approaches to conduct genome-wide identification and functional characterization of the C. sativa TIFY gene family. Fourteen TIFY genes were identified and mapped onto seven chromosomes. These genes were classified into four subfamilies: TIFY, JAZ, ZML, and PPD, with the JAZ subfamily further subdivided into five distinct branches. Collinearity analysis suggested that gene duplication events contributed to the expansion of the TIFY gene family in C. sativa. Weighted gene coexpression network analysis (WGCNA) revealed that CsJAZ2, CsJAZ3, and CsJAZ6 participated in the cannabinoid regulatory network. Cis-element analysis indicated that the promoter regions of TIFY genes were enriched in hormone- and stress-responsive elements. Furthermore, transcriptome and RT-qPCR analyses were conducted to examine gene expression patterns under alkaline stress (the RNA employed in RT-qPCR was extracted from the apical leaves of samples subjected to short-duration alkaline stress treatment). The results showed that CsJAZ5 and CsJAZ6 were downregulated, whereas CsPPD1, CsTIFY1, and CsZML1 were upregulated in response to alkali stress. In summary, CsJAZ5, CsPPD1, and CsTIFY1 may serve as candidate genes for the development of alkali-tolerant cultivars, while CsJAZ2 and CsJAZ3 may be valuable targets for enhancing cannabinoid production. This study provides important molecular insights and a theoretical basis for future research on the evolutionary dynamics and functional roles of TIFY transcription factors, particularly in stress adaptation and cannabinoid metabolism. Full article

The TIFY gene family participates in crucial processes including plant development, stress adaptation, and hormonal signaling cascades. While the TIFY gene family has been extensively characterized in model plant systems and agricultural crops, its functional role in Eucalyptus grandis, a commercially valuable tree species of significant ecological and economic importance, remains largely unexplored. In the present investigation, systematic identification and characterization of the TIFY gene family were performed in E. grandis using a combination of genome-wide bioinformatics approaches and RNA-seq-based expression profiling. Nineteen EgTIFY genes were identified in total and further grouped into four distinct subfamilies, TIFY, JAZ (subdivided into JAZ I and JAZ II), PPD, and ZML, based on phylogenetic relationships. These genes exhibited considerable variation in gene structure, chromosomal localization, and evolutionary divergence. Promoter analysis identified a multitude of cis-acting motifs involved in mediating hormone responsiveness and regulating abiotic stress responses. Transcriptomic profiling indicated that EgJAZ9 was strongly upregulated under methyl jasmonate (JA) treatment, suggesting its involvement in JA signaling pathways. Taken together, these results offer valuable perspectives on the evolutionary traits and putative functional roles of EgTIFY genes. Full article

Jasmonate ZIM-domain (JAZ) proteins play a pivotal role in mediating plant growth, development, and responses to both biotic and abiotic stresses. However, our knowledge about the JAZ family genes in Areca catechu remains limited. This study conducted a genome-wide screening and analysis of JAZ genes in A. catechu to investigate their biochemical characteristics, gene structure features, phylogenetic relationships, and expression profiles in different organs. A total of 14 JAZ genes (AcJAZs) were detected in the A. catechu genome, all containing an N-terminal TIFY domain and a C-terminal Jas domain. Phylogenetic analysis categorized these AcJAZs into five subfamilies according to their similarities in protein sequences. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription PCR (qRT-PCR) experiments demonstrated the ample expression specificity of these AcJAZ genes across different organs and flower development stages. More importantly, most AcJAZ genes are expressed significantly higher in blooming male flowers than female flowers, suggesting that they may participate in regulating the difference between male and female flowers of A. catechu. This study elucidates the genomic features and functions of JAZ genes in A. catechu, providing new insights into the mechanisms underlying the development and differentiation of unisexual flowers in A. catechu. Full article