Search Results (474)

Abiotic stress can reprogram the gametophytic pathway; the mechanisms by which floral bud pre-treatment influences microspore embryogenesis initiation remain unclear. In this study, we use bisulfite sequencing, sRNA-seq, and RNA-seq to analyze the dynamic changes in rice microspores under different cold treatment durations. Our results showed that a 10-day cold treatment is essential for CXJ microspore embryogenesis initiation. DNA methylation levels showed a slight change at CG, CHG, and CHH sites under cold treatment. The number of both hyper- and hypomethylated DMRs increased over cold treatment, with more hypermethylated DMRs at 5 and 10 dpt. Hypermethylated DMRs were more frequently in the TSS region compared to hypomethylated DMRs. The proportion of 24 nt sRNAs increased upon cold stress, with more downregulated than upregulated sRNAs at 10 dpt. The number of DMR target DEGs increased from 5 to 10 dpt. Promoter hypomethylation at the CHH site was more frequently associated with DEGs. These outcomes suggested that the RdDM pathway participates in the initiation of rice ME. GO analysis indicated that DMR target DEGs at 10 dpt were enriched in responses to chemical stimuli, biological processes, and stress responses. An auxin-related gene, OsHOX28, was further identified. Its upregulation, potentially mediated by the RdDM pathway, may play a crucial role in the initiation of rice ME. This study provides more information on epigenetic mechanisms during rice ME. Full article

Curcuma spp. is a popular ornamental crop valued for its vibrant appearance and suitability for both regular and off-season production. As global emphasis on freshwater conservation increases and with a demand for compact potted plants, reducing water use while maintaining high aesthetic quality presents a key challenge for horticulturists. Potassium silicate (PS) has been proposed as a foliar spray to alleviate plant water stress. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of PS on growth, ornamental traits, and photosynthetic parameters of off-season potted Curcuma cv. ‘Jasmine Pink’ under deficit irrigation (DI). Plants were subjected to three treatments in a completely randomized design: 100% crop evapotranspiration (ETc), 50% ETc, and 50% ETc with 1000 ppm PS (weekly sprayed on leaves for 11 weeks). Both DI treatments (50% ETc and 50% ETc + PS) reduced plant height by 7.39% and 9.17%, leaf number by 16.99% and 7.03%, and total biomass by 21.13% and 20.58%, respectively, compared to 100% ETc. Notably, under DI, PS-treated plants maintained several parameters equivalent to the 100% ETc treatment, including flower bud emergence, blooming period, green bract number, effective quantum yield of PSII (ΔF/Fm′), and electron transport rate (ETR). In addition, PS application increased leaf area by 8.11% and compactness index by 9.80% relative to untreated plants. Photosynthetic rate, ΔF/Fm′, and ETR increased by 31.52%, 13.63%, and 9.93%, while non-photochemical quenching decreased by 16.51% under water-limited conditions. These findings demonstrate that integrating deficit irrigation with PS foliar application can enhance water use efficiency and maintain ornamental quality in off-season potted Curcuma, promoting sustainable water management in horticulture. Full article

The Iridaceae family comprises approximately 1800 species, including Iris pallida Lam., which is widely recognized for its ornamental and aromatic properties and particularly adopted in the perfume industry. In this study, we evaluated the effects of planting density and maturity age on biomass production, morphological traits, rhizome biomass, and orris concrete yield in Iris pallida grown in Tuscany (Italy). The experiment consisted of four agricultural parcels, each one containing six plots arranged to test combinations of two planting densities (low density [LD], 8 plants/m² and high density [HD], 15 plants/m²) and harvesting age (2, 3, and 4 years). Results indicated that planting density significantly influenced biomass variables—including rhizome, bud, and stem biomass—with the low planting density (LD) exhibiting higher total biomass (5.48 ± 0.59 kg/m²) compared to that observed under high planting density (HD) (1.82 ± 0.54 kg/m²). Orris concrete yield varied significantly across planting densities and harvesting age, consistently favoring LD (0.055 ± 0.01%) over HD (0.045 ± 0.01%). Also, orris concrete yield showed a positive correlation with floral stem number (r = 0.73, p < 0.001), root biomass (r = 0.66, p < 0.01) and floral stem biomass (r = 0.63, p < 0.01), while no significant correlations were found between orris concrete yield and total biomass or rhizome biomass. A shorter production cycle under low-density planting may improve orris concrete yield without compromising biomass productivity. Full article

Late spring frost (LSF) poses a threat to temperate forest ecosystems; however, its combined effects with soil properties on triterpene glycosides in the buds of valuable shrubs are still unclear. In this study, natural Aralia elata (Miq.) Seem. populations were investigated in 15 counties in Heilongjiang and Jilin provinces in Northeast China. Buds were sampled in 3–5 cm length and used for determining triterpene glycosides (TGs) of Araloside VI, Araloside V, and 4-F8 (structural analogs) in spring of 2023. LSF in Heilongjiang showed longer days reaching 20 °C (CD20) (6.0 ± 2.5 d), LSF number (NLSF) (1.8 ± 0.5 times) and duration (DLSF) (21.5 ± 5.2 d), and days of temperature rise (DTR) (15.9 ± 3.8 d) compared to Jilin (4.4 ± 0.4 d, 1.2 ± 0.4 times, 17.4 ± 3.9 d, 12.0 ± 3.3 d, respectively). Araloside VI (0.30–0.59%) was positively driven by DLSF but negatively driven by DTR. Araloside V (0.04–0.17%) and 4-F8 (0.09–0.44%) were positively influenced by the lowest temperature, DTR, and CD20, negatively influenced by NLSF, and slightly influenced by organic matter. In LSF-prone regions, soil organic matter and nutrient availability do not need to be enriched, and soil pH should be higher than 5.7 if high TGs are the objective in A. elata buds. Full article

To investigate whether blue-dominant spectra from end-of-day (EOD) lighting can regulate crop morphological and flowering responses, chrysanthemum (Chrysanthemum × morifolium; obligate short day), geranium (Pelargonium × hortorum; day neutral), calibrachoa (Calibrachoa × hybrida; facultative long day), and gerbera (Gerbera jamesonii; facultative short day) plants were grown under different light-emitting diode (LED) spectrum treatments from January to April 2020, in Guelph, Canada. The spectrum treatments were (1) no EOD lighting, (2) narrowband blue from LEDs (B), (3) a combination of narrowband blue, red, and far-red LEDs with a photon flux ratio of 47:3:1 (blue:red:far-red; BRFR). The B and BRFR treatments ran daily from 0.5 h to 4.5 h after dusk. Compared to the control without EOD lighting, chrysanthemum flower initiation was completely inhibited under BRFR. Flowering time was slightly delayed, but flower bud number increased under B. Side branch number, leaf area, and main stem length and diameter increased under B and BRFR. In the geranium B and BRFR did not affect flowering, but increased side branch number and length and diameter of the main stem. Both spectrum treatments promoted earlier flowering in the calibrachoa, but BRFR produced more flower buds. The calibrachoa aerial dry biomass and main stem length increased under B and BRFR. The gerbera leaf chlorophyll index and leaf thickness increased under BRFR. Both spectrum treatments increased the gerbera flower bud size, despite having little effect on flowering time. In all species, at least one of the LED treatments increased canopy size. Therefore, low levels of B or BRFR can be potentially used for EOD lighting to regulate the flowering and morphology of potted ornamentals. Full article

Nightlily (Hemerocallis citrina Baroni) is mainly cultivated for bud consumption with medicinal, nutritional, and economic value. Enhancing nightlily yield is one of the most significant breeding goals of modern agriculture of H. citrina breeding objective, but it also faces great challenges. In this study, an intraspecific hybridization population crossed between two varieties, ‘Liuyuehua’ and ‘Datong Huanghua’ of Hemerocallis, was used to establish 715 F₁ individuals. Phenotypic data for eight floral traits, including scape number, bud number, scape length, scape diameter, bud length, bud diameter, fresh flower bud weight, and dry flower bud weight, were collected from 715 F₁ individuals over a three-year period (2022, 2023, and 2024). The Simple Repeat Sequence (SSR) markers were validated to genotype the 116 random F₁ individuals and to construct a linkage map. The intraspecific hybridization map contained 11 linkage groups. A total of 169 SSR markers were used to construct a linkage map, spanning a total map length of 1605.3 cM, with an average marker interval of 9.50 cM. The linkage map revealed 11 floral QTLs from 7.21% to 24.29% of phenotypic variation. Through collinearity analysis, it was found that 122 markers could be aligned to the published genome sequence of H. citrina. A total of five candidate genes for floral traits were predicted. The linkage map is essential for mapping and marker-assisted progeny selection that will accelerate the pace of nightlily breeding. Full article

Odontogenesis, the development of teeth, is a complex, multistage process that unfolds from early embryogenesis through tooth eruption and maturation. It serves as a classical model of organogenesis due to the intricate reciprocal interactions between cranial neural crest-derived mesenchyme and oral epithelium. This narrative review synthesizes current scientific knowledge on human tooth development, tracing the journey from the embryological origins in the first branchial arch to the formation of a fully functional tooth and its supporting structures. Key morphogenetic stages—bud, cap, bell, apposition, and root formation—are described in detail, highlighting the cellular events and histological features characterizing each stage. We discuss the molecular and cellular regulatory networks that orchestrate odontogenesis, including the conserved signaling pathways (Wnt, BMP, FGF, SHH, EDA) and transcription factors (e.g., PAX9, MSX1/2, PITX2) that drive tissue patterning and cell differentiation. The coordinated development of supporting periodontal tissues (cementum, periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, gingiva) is also examined as an integral part of tooth organogenesis. Finally, developmental anomalies (such as variations in tooth number, size, and form) and the fate of residual embryonic epithelial cells are reviewed to underscore the clinical significance of developmental processes. Understanding the normal course of odontogenesis provides crucial insight into congenital dental disorders and lays a foundation for advances in regenerative dental medicine. Full article

Orphan genes (OGs), which are unique to a specific taxon and have no detectable sequence homology to any known genes across other species, play a pivotal role in governing species-specific phenotypic traits and adaptive evolution. In this study, 20 OGs of Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa OGs, BrOGs) were transferred into Arabidopsis thaliana by genetic transformation to construct an overexpression library in which 50% of the transgenic lines had a delayed flowering phenotype, 15% had an early flowering phenotype, and 35% showed no difference in flowering time compared to control plants. There were many other phenotypes attached to these transgenic lines, such as leaf color, number of rosette leaves, and silique length. To understand the impact of BrOGs on delayed flowering, BrOG142OE, which showed the most significantly delayed flowering phenotype, was chosen for further analysis, and BrOG142 was renamed BOLTING RESISTANCE 4 (BR4). In BR4OE, the expression of key flowering genes, including AtFT and AtSOC1, significantly decreased, and AtFLC and AtFRI expression increased. GUS staining revealed BR4 promoter activity mainly in the roots, flower buds and leaves. qRT-PCR showed that BR4 primarily functions in the flowers, flower buds, and leaves of Chinese cabbage. BR4 is a protein localized in the nucleus, cytoplasm, and cell membrane. The accelerated flowering time phenotype of BR4OE was observed under gibberellin and vernalization treatments, indicating that BR4 regulates flowering time in response to these treatments. These results provide a foundation for elucidating the mechanism by which OGs regulate delayed flowering and have significance for the further screening of bolting-resistant Chinese cabbage varieties. Full article

The SEPALLATA3 (SEP3)-like MADS-box genes play crucial roles in determining petal identity and development in the petunia and tomato of Solanaceae. Solanum nigrum is a self-pollinating plant in the Solanaceae family, and produces white flowers. However, the mechanisms controlling the transition from green to white petals during flower development remain poorly understood. In this study, we isolated a flower-specific SEP3-like gene, SnMADS37, from S. nigrum, and investigated its potential role in chlorophyll metabolism during petal development. Our results show that quantitative RT-PCR analysis demonstrates that SnMADS37 is exclusively expressed in petals and stamens during early floral bud development. Overexpression of SnMADS37 clearly enhanced the number of petals, promoting the formation of additional petal-like tissues in stamens and extra organs in some fruits. Moreover, fully opened transformed petals exhibited notable chlorophyll accumulation at their tips and veins, whereas silencing of Snmads37 clearly inhibited petal expansion and reduced green pigmentation in early flower buds. Additionally, the transformed green petals exhibited distinct conical epidermal cells in the green regions, similar to wild type (WT) petals. Our results demonstrate that SnMADS37 plays a critical role in regulating petal identity, expansion, and chlorophyll metabolism during petal development. These findings provide new insights into the functional diversification of SEP3-like MADS-box genes in angiosperms. Full article

The condition for the formation of fruit on fruit plants is the presence of flower buds, flowering and proper pollination/fertilisation of flowers. Fruit trees and shrubs are perennial plants, and the processes of flower bud formation and flowering are distant in time. The formation of flower buds occurs in the year preceding flowering and fruiting. The number and quality of flowers are the basic factors that determine the potential yield of fruit trees. Therefore, the review focuses on a thorough review of the latest research on the various stages in the development of trees, in which the processes that determine their flowering take place. The greatest emphasis was placed on the influence of factors that determine the yield of trees after the juvenile stage. Climate change leading to global warming will undoubtedly affect the formation of flower buds, which determine the size of crops. To avoid the unforeseen effects of abiotic factors on the availability of raw materials, such as fruits, it is good to diversify the structure of cultivated plants. Most fruit plants come from the Rosaceae family, so they have many pathogens and pests in common. To increase crop, economic, and habitat biodiversity, it is necessary to look for other, more genetically distant, sometimes even less known fruit-bearing species. Full article

Examining the ramet system in bamboo forests can provide an important theoretical basis for strategic management. Moso bamboo is an economically important species in China, and implementing the correct management measures can play a key role in improving bamboo productivity. However, the dynamics of the Moso bamboo ramet system under timber vs. shoot forest management remain underexplored. In this study, we investigated the underground rhizome growth, bud bank structures, branch growth, and distribution patterns of bamboo ramet systems in the two main bamboo cultivation types. Shoot forest ramet systems exhibited stable early-stage rhizome renewal but instability in later stages, characterized by thin, elongated rhizomes. The opposite was observed in the timber forests. The underground bud bank of the ramet system in the shoot forest had a strong renewal ability with stable lateral bud input. However, shoot harvesting disturbed the bud bank balance. The lateral bud input in the timber forest was unstable, with the lateral buds being prone to death. The variation range and quantity of branch types in the ramet system in the shoot forest were greater than those in the timber forest. The number of branches in different parts of the ramet system was in the order of rhizome tip (RT) > middle of rhizome (RM) > rhizome base (RB). The range of variation was greater in the shoot forest. Different management methods led to growth differences in the examined bamboo ramet systems. Bamboo forest management resulted in a correlation between bud banks and ramet system renewal. Operations such as bamboo shoot harvesting significantly impacted branch growth and distribution. These findings not only provide a better understanding of the growth and management strategy of bamboo ramet systems worldwide but also provide a universal theoretical reference for the sustainable management of bamboo forests in other countries. Full article

Cysteine-rich polycomb-like protein (CPP) transcription factors play critical roles in plant growth, development, and responses to stresses and hormone signaling. However, the research on the CPP gene family remains unexplored in apple. In this study, a total of 10 CPP genes (MdCPP1–MdCPP10) were identified and unevenly distributed across seven scaffolds. Phylogenetic and conserved motif analyses revealed that these 10 CXC domain-containing MdCPPs could be classified into three subfamilies. Evolutionary tree and synteny analyses demonstrated that apple shared the highest number of orthologous gene pairs with white pear compared to Arabidopsis. By analyzing the MdCPP gene promoter, a large number of cis-acting elements related to hormone and stress response were discovered. In addition, transcriptomic data demonstrated tissue-specific expression patterns of MdCPP genes, with MdCPP5 and MdCPP8 showing the highest expression in buds and leaves. The qRT-PCR results indicated that MdCPP genes have different expression responses to SA, GA, JA, and IAA treatments. Notably, MdCPP4, MdCPP6, MdCPP8, and MdCPP9 were significantly upregulated under different hormone treatments. Among them, the upregulation of MdCPP6 was the most significant. These findings establish a foundation for further functional characterization of MdCPPs and provide theoretical support for their potential applications in apple genetic improvement and agricultural production. Full article

Turmeric (Curcuma longa L. cv. Trang 1), a high-value cultivar known for its elevated curcuminoid and volatile oil content, holds significant potential in pharmaceutical and food applications. However, its commercial propagation is constrained by low rhizome productivity and the limitations of conventional vegetative propagation. This study aimed to improve the propagation efficiency of turmeric cv. Trang 1 by developing optimized protocols for explant sterilization, shoot proliferation, root induction, and acclimatization. Sprouted rhizome buds were sterilized and cultured on a Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with various plant growth regulators, including cytokinins (benzyladenine [BA], thidiazuron [TDZ], and meta-topolin [mT]) and auxins (indole-3-butyric acid [IBA] and 1-naphthaleneacetic acid [NAA]). The shoot induction (4.60 ± 1.47 shoots per explant) and shoot height (2.34 ± 0.61 cm) were observed on the MS medium with 3.0 mg/L BA, while the TDZ, at 0.5 mg/L, also induced a high number of shoots (5.22 ± 0.64). When using single shoots derived from bud explants, mT at 1.5 mg/L significantly enhanced the shoot formation. For the root induction, 2.0 mg/L IBA yielded the highest number of roots (7.33 ± 1.49), while NAA was less effective. The plantlets acclimatized in a 1:1 soil and peat moss mixture showed the highest survival rate (86.67%). This improved protocol enables the efficient production of turmeric plantlets, supporting commercial deployment. Full article

The leaf plastochron serves as an indicator of the rate of leaf appearance, biomass accumulation, and branch number, while also impacting plant architecture and seed yield. However, research on the leaf plastochron of crops remains limited. In this study, 2116C exhibited a rapid leaf plastochron compared to ZH18 during both rosette and bud periods. There were significant positive correlations among the leaf plastochron and primary branch number of the F₂ populations (r ranging from 0.395 to 0.635, p < 0.01). Genetic analyses over two years demonstrated that two equally dominant genes might govern the leaf plastochron. Through bulk segregant analysis sequencing (BSA-seq), three novel genomic intervals were identified on chromosomes A02 (9.04–9.48 Mb and 13.52–13.66 Mb) and A04 (19.84–20.14 Mb) of ZS11 and Darmor-bzh reference genomes. By gene functional annotations, single-nucleotide variation (SNV) analyses, transcriptome data from parents, genetic progeny, and natural accessions, we identified ten candidate genes within the intervals, including FLOWERING LOCUS T, RGL1, MYB-like, CYP96A8, BLH3, NIT2, ASK6, and three CLAVATA3/ESR (CLE)-related genes. These findings lay the molecular foundation for further exploration into the leaf plastochron and the implications in plastochron-related breeding in rapeseed. Full article

Stem segments of Acacia mangium and A. auriculiformis containing full axillary buds were used to study the effects of reduced amounts of the main nitrogen source in the growth media. This condition, referred to as nitrogen deficiency in this article and denoted as -N, involved the omission of ammonium nitrate and potassium nitrate from MS media, and its impact on bud induction was assessed. The results show that in media lacking nitrogen, the bud induction rate, contamination rate, browning rate, stem length, and leaf number of induced buds of A. mangium and A. auriculiformis varied depending on the different culture media used. The optimal bud induction medium for A. mangium and A. auriculiformis was as follows: 1/4MS (-N) + 1.0 mg·L⁻¹ 6-BA + 0.2 g·L⁻¹ chlorothalonil + 5 g·L⁻¹ AGAR. The bud induction rates were 72.6% and 100.0%, respectively. There were no significant differences in the rooting rates of the induced buds between the -N treatment and the complete nutrient treatment. We found that the buds induced in the -N media did not show obvious symptoms of nitrogen deficiency, and their growth status was not significantly different from those induced in the complete nutrient media, which indicates that nitrogen is not essential for the bud induction of A. mangium and A. auriculiformis. The results of this study provide an important reference for conducting related research on other plants and have are greatly significant for the sustainable development of tissue culture technology in the future. Full article