Search Results (1,016)

Stem mustard (Brassica juncea var. tumida Tsen et Lee) is an important economic vegetable in China. Premature bolting induced by temperature fluctuations has become a major cultivation constraint. Photoreceptors (PHRs) serve as critical photosensor proteins that interpret light signals and regulate physiological responses in plants. In this study, five core PHR families, namely F-box-containing flavin binding proteins (ZTL/FKF1/LKP2), phytochrome (PHY), cryptochrome (CRY), phototropin (PHOT) and UV RESISTANCE LOCUS 8 (UVR8) were identified in Brassica species. RNA-seq analysis revealed their expression patterns during organogenesis in B. juncea. Seven candidate PHRs were validated by qRT-PCR in B. juncea early-bolting (‘YA-1’) and late-bolting (‘ZT-1’) cultivars. Agrobacterium-mediated BjuFKF1_1 overexpression (OE) lines resulted in significantly earlier flowering under field conditions. Histochemical GUS staining indicated that BjuFKF1_1 was expressed in seedlings, leaves, flower buds and siliques. Transcript analysis revealed that the expression level of BjuFKF1_1 was up-regulated in all tissues at both the vegetative and reproductive stages, whereas the expression of BjuFKF1_1 interacting protein-encoding genes were down-regulated in flowers. Under blue light, genes encoding interacting proteins (BjuCOL5, BjuSKP1, BjuCOL3, BjuAP2, BjuAP2-1 and BjuLKP2) were up-regulated in flower buds, whereas BjuCOL and BjuPP2C52 were down-regulated in flowers. Developmental stage analysis revealed the up-regulation of five (BjuAP2, BjuCOL3, BjuCOL5, BjuAP2-1 and BjuLKP2) and four (BjuCOL, BjuCOL5, BjuAP2 and BjuLKP2) interaction protein-encoding genes during the reproductive stage under white and blue light, respectively. These findings elucidate the role of BjuFKF1_1 in flowering regulation and provide molecular targets for B. juncea bolting-resistant variety breeding. Full article

Precocious-fruiting Amomum villosum Lour. is characterized by early fruit set, rapid yield formation, and shortened economic return cycles, indicating strong cultivation potential. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying its flowering transition remain unclear. To elucidate the flowering mechanism of A. villosum, we used the Illumina NovaSeq X Plus platform to compare gene expression profiles in three tissues (Rhizomes, R; Stems, S; Leaves, L) during the vegetative stage and three tissues (Rhizomes and Inflorescences, R&I; Stems, S; Leaves, L) during the flowering stage of individual plants: VS-R vs. FS-R&I, VS-S vs. FS-S, and VS-L vs. FS-L. We obtained 52.5 Gb clean data and 789 million reads, and identified 2963 novel genes. The 3061 differentially expressed genes (DEGs, FDR ≤ 0.05 and |log2FC| ≥ 1) identified in the three comparison groups included six overlapping genes. The DEGs were enriched primarily in GO terms related to cellular process, metabolic process, binding, catalytic activity, and cellular anatomical entity, as well as multiple terms associated with development and reproduction. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed enrichment primarily in metabolic pathways, including global and overview maps, energy metabolism, and carbohydrate metabolism. Moreover, the most significantly enriched core pathways included metabolic pathways, photosynthesis, and carbon assimilation. Among all alternative splicing (AS) events, skipped exons (SEs) accounted for the largest proportion (59.5%), followed by retained introns (RI, 19.4%), alternative 3′ splice sites (A3SS, 10.7%), alternative 5′ splice sites (A5SS, 6.8%), and mutually exclusive exons (MXE, 3.6%). A preliminary set of 43 key DEGs was predicted, displaying spatiotemporal expression specificity and strong interactions among certain genes. Nine genes were further selected for RT-qPCR validation to confirm the reliability of the RNA-seq results. This study established a foundational framework for elucidating the flowering mechanism of precocious-fruiting A. villosum. Full article

Systems favoring cross-pollination, such as male sterility and female flowering type, are of great importance in the development of new hybrid cultivars and their seed production. The advantages of male sterility are expressed in the production of cheaper and competitive seeds. The presence of this characteristic in watermelon is not common, and in some cases, it is accompanied by negative manifestations. A collection of 150 watermelon genotypes was tested at the Maritsa Vegetable Crops Research Institute, Bulgaria, over the past nine years to search for a genetic source of male sterility. The results revealed that two mutations were found. The first mutation was in a plant of the Asar variety, which formed completely degenerated structures in the place of male and female flowers that were completely sterile. The other mutation affected male flowers, female flowers, and leaf shape. Male flowers produced a small amount of pollen. Female flowers were formed, but they were sterile and aborted at an early stage. The genotype can be propagated by pollination of the normal plants, which in the next generation segregate into mutant—25% and normal—75%. The gene source is phenotyped according to the main characteristics of the fruits and the vegetation period. The mutation found cannot be directly used in a breeding program, but it is of interest for studying this important trait. The success of detecting flowers that are sterile depends on the number of watermelon plants, which, for the conditions of the experiment, amounted to a minimum of 4492 plants at a probability level of P₃—0.95. Full article

The genus Satyrium (Orchidaceae) is a large, mostly sub-Saharan genus with a single species reported from Madagascar and Asia. Taxonomical complexity and high morphological diversity make the classification within the genus difficult to handle. In this study, we attempted to solve this problem using a comprehensive approach based on data from multiple sources. We combined morphological data from vegetative parts with data on flower structure using timescale phylogenetics conducted for both nuclear internal transcribed spacer (ITS) and plastid markers (matK, trnS-trnG, trnL, trnL-trnF). Phylogenetic studies confirmed most of the results of previous studies and led to the identification of six potential hybridization events within the genus. Morphological diversity often does not correspond to phylogenetic relationships within the genus, and many evolutionary lineages began to diverge only at the end of the early Miocene and in the late Miocene. The development of similar characteristics is the result of this diversification under the influence of similar environmental pressures. Reconstruction of the historical geographical range of Satyrium showed that the regions of South Africa and the mountainous areas of Eastern Africa played the most important role in the diversification of the genus. Full article

Early spring frost is a major meteorological hazard during the Apple Flowering period. To improve frost event prediction, this study proposes a hybrid 1D-CNN-BiLSTM-Attention model, with its core novelty lying in the integrated dual attention mechanism (Self-attention and Cross-variable Attention) and hybrid architecture. The 1D-CNN extracts extreme points and mutation features from meteorological factors, while BiLSTM captures long-term patterns such as cold wave accumulation. The dual attention mechanisms dynamically weight key frost precursors (low temperature, high humidity, calm wind), aiming to enhance the model’s focus on critical information. Using 1997–2016 data from Luochuan (four variables: Ground Surface Temperature (GST), Air Temperature (TEM), Wind Speed (WS), Relative Humidity (RH)), a segmented interpolation method increased temporal resolution to 4 h, and an adaptive Savitzky–Golay Filter reduced noise. For frost classification, Recall, Precision, and F1-score were higher than those of baseline models, and the model showed good agreement with the actual frost events in Luochuan on 6, 9, and 10 April 2013. The 4 h lead time could provide growers with timely guidance to take mitigation measures, alleviating potential losses. This research may offer modest technical references for frost prediction during the Apple Flowering period in similar regions. Full article

Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) is a commercially valuable tropical fruit crop that contains two antagonistic FLOWERING LOCUS T (FT) homologs involved in regulating flowering time. However, how these FT genes interact with flowering regulators FLOWERING LOCUS D (FD) and APETALA1 (AP1) remains unknown. Four flowering-related genes in longan, DlFT1, DlFT2, DlAP1 and DlFD, were successfully isolated. Expression profiling revealed that all four genes were expressed in leaves and buds across different stages of natural and KClO₃-induced floral bud differentiation. Functional characterization through heterologous overexpression in Arabidopsis thaliana showed that DlAP1 significantly promotes early flowering under long-day conditions and induced morphological changes in floral organs and leaves. In contrast, DlFD overexpression had no effect on flowering time. Subcellular localization assays revealed that DlFT1 and DlFT2 localized to both the nucleus and the plasma membrane, while DlAP1 and DlFD localized exclusively to the nucleus. Yeast two-hybrid and bimolecular fluorescence complementation (BiFC) analyses revealed a novel regulatory node: DlFT1 directly interacts with DlAP1, a finding that expands the classical FT-FD-AP1 flowering model. Additionally, DlFD interacts more strongly with DlFT1 than with DlFT2, whereas DlFT1 only interacts with DlAP1, but not DlFT2. These results demonstrate that DlFT1 promotes flowering not only via the conserved FD-dependent pathway but also through direct association with AP1. These findings advance our understanding of the regulatory mechanisms of flowering in longan and provide valuable insights into flowering pathways of perennial woody species. Full article

The supplementary feeding of bee colonies under conditions of limited natural food sources is essential for maintaining their health and productivity. Pollen is a major source of protein for bees, collected during plant flowering. Its absence negatively affects the secretory activity of the hypopharyngeal glands (HPGs) in young nurse bees. This study aimed to assess the effect of different protein sources provided during the spring period on the development of HPGs in worker bees. An experiment was conducted with 28 bee colonies divided into seven groups of four colonies each—one control and six experimental. The colonies were fed soy isolate (Glycine max), brewer’s yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), pea protein (Pisum sativum), and bee pollen (a mixture of pollens from various plant species). The results confirmed the critical role of pollen, as 40% of bees in the pollen-fed group exhibited HPGs at grade 4. The group supplemented with spirulina showed similar results (35.8%), indicating its potential as an alternative protein source. These findings highlight the importance of proper protein supplementation and suggest that spirulina could serve as a promising substitute for pollen in early spring feeding to support colony development. Full article

The Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica), also known as sugi, is one of the most important trees in Japanese forests. It covers 44% of artificial forests, spanning approximately 4.5 million ha. It is cultivated in East Asia, the Azores archipelago, and some islands in the Indian Ocean. It is also grown worldwide as an ornamental tree in parks and gardens. The cultivation and use of sugi in Japan dates back centuries, and clonal forestry through cuttings has been practiced since the early 15th century. Its broad adaptability, genetic diversity, rapid growth, easy propagation, and precocious flowering—enabling early generational crosses—combined with their advanced genomic resources and efficient biotechnological tools, make sugi an outstanding conifer model. This review aims to provide an overview of the biotechnology and genetics of sugi for researchers and stakeholders. Full article

YT521-B homology (YTH) domain-containing RNA-binding proteins, the earliest identified and most well-known m⁶A reader proteins, play important roles in post-transcriptional regulation of plant growth and development as well as stress response by specifically recognizing m⁶A-modified RNA and subsequently recruiting downstream effector proteins to mediate the biological effects of m⁶A modification in eukaryotes. In recent years, the identification and functional characterization of YTH family proteins in woody plants have significantly advanced. However, a systematic identification of the YTH proteins has not yet been reported in Salix suchowensis (S. suchowensis), an early-flowering shrub serving as a valuable model for basic genetic research in woody plants. In this study, we identified 11 YTH genes, named SsYTH1-SsYTH11, located on 9 of 19 chromosomes in S. suchowensis. All proteins with a highly conserved YTH domain were classified into 4 distinct subfamilies based on the phylogenetic analysis. The MEME analysis showed that two conserved motifs, motif 1 and motif 2, were distributed in most SsYTH proteins. Promoter cis-acting element analysis of these proteins suggested a potential close association with abiotic stress and hormones. Subsequently, expression analysis following abscisic acid (ABA) and jasmonic acid (JA) treatments demonstrated significant differential expression of several SsYTH genes, thereby establishing a basis for further exploration of the YTH function in S. suchowensis and contributing to the broader understanding of epigenetic regulation in woody plants. Full article

Drought is a major constraint on Cannabis sativa productivity and cannabinoid yield, yet the physiological mechanisms underlying genotypic variation in drought responses remain poorly understood. We hypothesized that (i) more vigorous genotypes would sustain higher photosynthetic rates, (ii) drought would constrain photosynthesis through both diffusional and non-diffusional limitations, and (iii) water deficits would alter cannabinoid production in a genotype-dependent manner. To test these hypotheses, two contrasting genotypes (one tetrahydrocannabinol- (THC) dominant and another cannabidiol- (CBD) dominant) were grown under greenhouse conditions, with water deficit imposed at early flowering. Water deficit induced neither osmotic nor elastic adjustment in either genotype. Although CBD plants accumulated more biomass, they did not exhibit higher photosynthetic rates under well-watered conditions. Under drought, THC plants relied primarily on stomatal regulation, whereas CBD plants showed additional nonstomatal impairments, resulting in stronger declines in photosynthesis. Despite contrasting photoprotective adjustments, both genotypes converged to similar oxidative damage, suggesting that photoprotection was not decisive for their physiological divergence. At the agronomic level, THC plants maintained a higher harvest index under drought, greater baseline cannabinoid concentrations, and inflorescence biomass with higher energetic value. In CBD plants, drought-induced reductions in cannabinoid content and harvest index largely reflected greater photosynthetic impairment and less efficient carbon use. Overall, the resilience of C. sativa to drought imposed at early flowering appears to depend less on hydraulic stability and more on sustaining photosynthetic performance, secondary metabolism, and efficient biomass partitioning. These traits represent key targets for breeding genotypes better adapted to cultivation under increasingly variable water availability. Full article

In Romania’s wild flora, several Iris species exhibit important ornamental characteristics, such as early spring flowering and resilience to abiotic stress. This study assessed the behavior to new ecological conditions, the ornamental potential, and the antioxidant capacity of the wild species of Iris brandzae using morpho-anatomical, physiological, and biochemical biomarkers. The study of phenotypic characteristics (number and size of leaves on sterile and fertile shoots, size of flowering stems, bracts protecting the flowers, and perianth-segments) aimed to confirm and supplement existing information in the literature, as well as to evaluate the ornamental potential of this species. Morphological analyses revealed clear differences between fertile and sterile shoots, while photosynthetic activity across phenophases showed values within normal parameters, with the maximum recorded during flowering and with the chlorophyll a/chlorophyll b ratio maintained at values close to 3:1, indicating favorable cultivation conditions. Biochemical investigations (total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and antioxidant activity) demonstrated that dried plant material, particularly roots, contained higher levels of phenolic and flavonoid compounds and exhibited stronger antioxidant activity compared to fresh material. By integrating morpho-anatomical, physiological, and biochemical data, this research provides the first comprehensive characterization of I. brandzae beyond taxonomic and ecological descriptions. Our findings emphasize the species behavior under cultivation conditions, its ornamental value, and its potential as a source of bioactive compounds relevant to pharmaceutical applications. Full article

Inadequate livestock production among smallholder farmers is mostly linked to insufficient supply and poor feed quality. To enhance livestock production, improving both the quantity and quality of feed supplements is important. Therefore, alternative fodder resources, such as Cannabis sativa, should be evaluated as a feed supplement for ruminants such as Dorper sheep. Cannabis sativa is an herbaceous crop commonly grown for industrial and medicinal purposes. This plant is reported to have an excellent nutritional profile and biomass production. The current study aimed to determine the agronomic parameters and biomass production of C. sativa. The experiment was conducted at the Towoomba Research Station, in Bela-Bela Municipality, Limpopo province, South Africa. The trial’s experimental design was a split-plot within a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD), and it was replicated three times. The findings of the study showed a significant difference (p < 0.05) between the agronomic parameters during the early (December 2023–April 2024) and late planting seasons (April 2024–July 2024). Plant height (77.3 cm), number of leaves (144 leaves), leaf area (60.18 cm²), canopy cover (31.65 cm), number of branches (25), and biomass production (5, 48 t h⁻¹) were higher at maturity in the early planting season whilst chlorophyll content was higher (38.62 nm) during early planting season at flowering stage. The study suggests that smallholder farmers should plant C. sativa during the early planting season to ensure high biomass production. Full article

The objectives of this study were to select Thai rice that are tolerant at the seedling stage and investigate their growth, physiological and yield responses at the reproductive stage in comparison with the standard salt-tolerant Pokkali (PK). Twenty-two local, commercial and improved Thai rice genotypes along with PK and salt-susceptible IR29 were evaluated at the seedling stage for salt tolerance using a 15 dS m⁻¹ saline solution with five replications. Ten selected genotypes were grown in pots with four replications and exposed to a 15 dS m⁻¹ saline level from early booting to the flowering stage. During the grain-filling stage, salt treatments decreased from 15 to 12 dS m⁻¹ and were sustained at this level until harvest. The experimental design for both experiments was a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Based on the physiology of flag leaves, almost all genotypes exceled in the protection of chlorophyll, relative water content (RWC), membrane integrity and lipid peroxidation. In contrast, the photosynthesis, growth and grain yield of all were dramatically reduced. The rice genotypes exhibited varying degrees of osmotic adjustment (OA), ranging from 1.598 to 2.541 MPa. The cultivar RD73 and line TSKC1–144, which were genetically improved from KDML105 by the introgression of a salt-tolerant QTL/gene from PK, showed the least reduction in grain yield (60 and 53% reduction, respectively) along with PK (60%). Among the five Thai local rice varieties, Go Main Surin (GMS) showed the least reduction in grain weight (58%), total plant dry weight (28%) and green leaf dry weight (1%), while Khao Gaew (KG) and Leuang Puang Tawng (LPT) were the most reduced. PK and RD73 showed a high level of tolerance at both the seedling and reproductive stages. In contrast, KG and LPT, which exhibited high tolerance at the seedling stage, showed high susceptibility in growth, yield and most physiological traits. On the other hand, TSKC1–144 was sensitive at the seedling stage but showed increased tolerance at the reproductive stage. This result implies that suitable cultural practices should be performed to obtain the best field conditions for growing rice genotypes having different levels of salt tolerance at the seedling and reproductive stages. Future research should focus on molecular characterization of tolerance mechanisms of the promising local genotypes and the potential to use them as tolerance gene donors. Full article

This study aimed to determine optimal light recipes for speed breeding of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) in a plant factory. Two tomato cultivars, Zuanhongmeili and Xiaokeai, were investigated. In Experiment 1, conducted under a 12 h photoperiod, both cultivars showed accelerated development with increasing light intensity. The optimal light intensity range of 300–400 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ promoted development and seed maturation. Under these conditions, Zuanhongmeili and Xiaokeai achieved flower bud emergence in the shortest times, at 24.91 ± 0.13 and 24.91 ± 0.12 days after sowing (DAS), respectively. Furthermore, for the two cultivars, anthesis initiation occurred at 39.08 ± 0.62 and 35.78 ± 0.19 DAS, fruit setting at 41.31 ± 0.61 and 38.54 ± 0.24 DAS, and the breaker stage at 83.05 ± 1.05 and 69.78 ± 0.29 DAS, respectively, under these conditions. Critically, germinable seeds were harvested from each cultivar as early as 63 and 60 DAS, projecting a theoretical annual generational turnover of up to six cycles. Based on these results, a baseline irradiance of 350 μmol·m⁻²·s⁻¹ was selected for Experiment 2, which independently assessed the impact of photoperiod. Zuanhongmeili and Xiaokeai both showed accelerated development with increases in photoperiod. The optimal photoperiod of 20 h promoted development and seed maturation. Under a 20 h photoperiod, Zuanhongmeili and Xiaokeai achieved flower bud emergence in the shortest times, at 25.12 ± 0.09 and 23.76 ± 0.13 DAS, respectively. Furthermore, anthesis initiation occurred at 41.21 ± 0.66 and 37.27 ± 0.34 DAS, fruit setting at 44.51 ± 0.15 and 40.25 ± 0.08 DAS, and the breaker stage at 91.19 ± 0.59 and 77.47 ± 0.36 DAS, respectively, under these conditions. The shortest times to harvest of germinable seeds from the two cultivars in this experiment were 76 and 72 DAS. Overall, this study demonstrates that tailored light environments, particularly the light intensity regime identified in Experiment 1, can dramatically accelerate tomato growth and development, enabling production of six generations per year in a controlled environment. Full article

A pair of connected flowers preserved in a mid-Cretaceous (early Cenomanian) Myanmar amber is described and named Antiquigemina pilosa Wang and Li gen. et sp. nov. Antiquigemina pilosa has bisexual flowers with a calyx of at least 3 sepals, a corolla of 5 petals, a whorl of at least 4 stamens and a tricarpellate pistil with a semi-inferior ovary. The differences in style divergence and calyx presence between paired flowers indicate different developmental stages. Considering that differentiated calyx and corolla and pentamery of corolla are features frequently observed in core eudicots, we propose treating Antiquigemina pilosa, which has a pentamerous perianth and differentiated sepals and petals, as an earlier representative of core eudicots. Antiquigemina pilosa provides first-hand evidence for the early diversification of core eudicots. Full article