Search Results (3,884)

Coffee is a perennial plant that exhibits asynchronous flowering while maintaining concomitant vegetative growth. This growth dichotomy affects fruit development and maturation time. To better understand flowering in coffee, we characterized a phosphatidylethanolamine binding protein (PEBP) homolog with high similarity to Arabidopsis thaliana TERMINAL FLOWER1 (TFL1). The interaction of TFL1 with floral regulator bZIP transcription factor, FD, forms a floral repressor complex that maintains inflorescence meristems in an indeterminate state. Arabidopsis TFL1 is expressed only in shoot apical meristems, yet CaTFL1a transcripts were detected exclusively in coffee leaves. Moreover, leaf-derived CaTFL1a transcript retains an intron, which has not been reported for TFL1 orthologs in other species. The ectopic expression of CaTFL1a in Arabidopsis causes extreme late flowering or prevents flowering altogether. Notably, the most severe floral repressive activity occurred in transgenic plants that spliced out the extra intron from CaTFL1. Yeast Two-Hybrid assays show that full-length CaTFL1a protein (fl-CaTFL1a) encoded by the fully spliced mRNA interacts with FD and Arabidopsis 14-3-3 protein AtGRF3, whereas truncated protein (tr-CaTFL1a) encoded by transcript that retains an intron does not interact. This evidence suggests that CaTFL1a may affect flowering in coffee by acting as a leaf-derived, long-distance floral repressor whose activity is controlled by alternative splicing. Full article

Background: Biyang flower shiitake mushrooms are valuable edible and medicinal fungi. However, the effects of macromolecules from fresh and dried flower shiitake mushrooms on the structural characteristics and their subsequent impact on gut health remain poorly understood. Methods: This study systematically investigated the physicochemical properties, microstructure, and thermal stability of macromolecules extracted from fresh (XG-PPC) and dried (GG-PPC) Biyang flower shiitake mushrooms. Furthermore, the differential regulatory effects of these supplements on the gut microbiota and fecal metabolome of mice were evaluated using 16S rRNA sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. Kendall’s rank correlation analysis was used to elucidate the intrinsic relationships among the physicochemical properties of macromolecules, key intestinal genera, and differential metabolites. Results: These structural differences conferred distinct biological effects on macromolecules. Protein and uronic acid contents act as key drivers governing the differentiation of gut microbiota and metabolic pathways, with opposing regulatory trends. Total carbohydrates, monosaccharide profiles, and molecular weight characteristics differentially regulate specific bacterial genera and multiple classes of metabolites, thereby establishing distinct gut microecological regulatory patterns between XG-PPC and GG-PPC. Conclusions: This study explores the structure-activity relationships of fresh and dried Biyang shiitake mushroom macromolecules, providing a theoretical foundation and empirical data to support the high-value utilization of Biyang shiitake mushrooms and the targeted development of corresponding functional foods. Full article

The induction of staminate flowers in genetically female Cannabis sativa is widely used for feminized seed production, yet its anatomical and ontogenetic basis remains poorly understood. This study examined silver thiosulfate (STS)-induced masculinization in genetically female plants of C. sativa cv. ‘Pasionaria S’ using stereomicroscopy, light microscopy, confocal laser scanning microscopy, pollen viability assays, and open-pollination tests. STS redirected floral sexual identity within the conserved architecture of the female reproductive shoot. Staminate floral meristems were first detected at 7 days post-treatment, while previously initiated pistillate flowers persisted; by 21 days, the reproductive apex was dominated by staminate structures. Induced male flowers corresponded to type II unisexual flowers, with early staminal primordia and no evidence of gynoecial primordia. Three trajectories were identified: fertile male flowers with normal anther development and viable pollen, sterile flowers with collapsed anthers and disrupted microsporogenesis, and occasional mixed flowers with localized androecial expression. Pollen viability reached 54%, and open pollination confirmed seed formation. These results show that STS-induced masculinization is a staged and heterogeneous redirection of floral meristem identity. Full article

Oenothera biennis L. is an economically important oil and ornamental crop. However, the regulatory mechanisms underlying its flower bud differentiation remain poorly understood. To elucidate the interactions between the environmental cues and molecular networks governing this process, this study investigated natural populations from the Lesser Khingan Mountains. The results demonstrate that exposure to 0–10 °C for at least 15 d and long-day (LD) conditions correlated strongly with floral induction. Notably, 200 mg·L⁻¹ of exogenous GA₃ effectively substituted for vernalization, significantly promoting bolting and advancing flower development. Expression profiling revealed an antagonistic expression pattern between floral activators such as ObFT and ObAP2 and repressors such as ObFLC. Both vernalization and GA₃ upregulated floral activators while suppressing the repressors, and these processes were coincident with the transition to flowering. Flower bud differentiation goes through six continuous stages, spanning from inflorescence primordia to gynoecium primordia formation. Hybrid fruit setting, the pollen–ovule ratio (98) and the outcrossing index (OCI = 3) confirmed that O. biennisis is a facultative selfer, with reproduction predominantly relying on self-pollination. This study provides a systematic characterization of the integrated regulatory network coordinating vernalization, photoperiod, and gibberellin in Oenothera flowering, proposing a framework for the putative FT-FLC antagonism. These findings establish a molecular foundation for the precision management of flowering time and informed breeding strategies. Full article

Regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) is an important water-saving strategy in arid regions. To quantify the effects of RDI on foxtail millet yield and water use efficiency and determine an optimal RDI strategy, a three-year field trial was carried out over dry, normal, and wet rainfall years in the Loess Plateau. Full irrigation throughout the whole growth period served as the control, whereas mild, moderate, and severe deficit irrigation treatments were conducted at the jointing–booting stage, heading–flowering stage, and across the whole growing period, respectively. The results indicate that the effects of RDI on foxtail millet yield varied with crop growth stage and deficit severity. During the heading–flowering stage, mild RDI showed statistically similar grain yield and WUE relative to those under full irrigation. In normal and wet years, moderate and severe RDI had no statistically significant effects on grain yield and WUE. Additionally, moderate and severe RDI significantly improved irrigation water use efficiency by 19.94–28.50% and 34.35–47.72%, respectively. The primary reason is that RDI at this stage maintained root development and led to only limited suppression of plant growth. In contrast, moderate and severe RDI at the jointing–booting stage or throughout the whole growth period significantly inhibited root establishment and plant development, reduced dry matter accumulation, and consequently led to substantial yield losses. The inhibitory effect became more pronounced with increasing deficit severity. Specifically, severe RDI at the jointing–booting stage and throughout the entire growth period significantly reduced yield by 19.35–54.98% and 31.47–100%, respectively. Furthermore, to identify the optimal RDI regime adaptable to variable rainfall years, a multi-model comprehensive evaluation system based on yield and WUE was established by integrating three individual evaluation models, including the membership function method, TOPSIS, and grey relational analysis, with the Fuzzy–Borda combined evaluation model. The result showed that the heading–flowering stage is the critical period for implementing RDI in foxtail millet in the Loess Plateau. Mild RDI during this stage is preferred because it maintains stable yield and WUE while substantially reducing irrigation amount over various rainfall years. Additionally, moderate and severe RDI can also maintain stable yield while significantly improving irrigation water use efficiency in normal and wet years. Full article

Flowering time is an important trait affecting regional adaptation and yield stability in rapeseed (Brassica napus). To dissect the genetic basis of flowering time and vernalization-type differentiation in B. napus, this study integrated genome-wide SNPs, flowering-time phenotypes, vernalization types, and geographic origin information to establish a candidate QTL discovery framework combining genome-wide association study (GWAS) and machine learning. Based on 8,387,529 high-quality SNPs, GWAS was performed using the FarmCPU model under two covariate settings: a PC-corrected model and a PC + vernalization type-corrected model. These two models identified 32 and 27 suggestive SNPs, respectively. In parallel, ExtraTreesRegressor was used to estimate the feature contribution of SNPs to flowering-time prediction, leading to the identification of 18,854 ML_delta10SD high-contribution SNPs, which were further merged into 997 ML-derived candidate QTL intervals, hereafter referred to as ML-QTLs. By integrating GWAS-derived QTLs and ML-QTLs at the interval level, 34 GWAS- and ML-supported candidate regions were prioritized. Candidate gene annotation revealed that these regions contained genes related to flowering regulation, including FLC, FRIGIDA-like, VIN3-like, SOC1, ELF3, CONSTANS-like, APETALA1-like, and genes involved in the gibberellin pathway. Top-SNP genotypic effect analysis and multi-SNP genotype combination analysis further showed that genetic variation within representative candidate regions was significantly associated with flowering-time differences and vernalization-type differentiation. Predictive modeling indicated that candidate markers selected by GWAS and machine learning showed predictive potential within the present population. Overall, this study prioritized a set of GWAS- and ML-supported candidate regions and putative candidate genes associated with flowering time in B. napus from the complementary perspectives of statistical association and machine learning-based predictive contribution, providing candidate resources for future marker development, functional validation, and adaptive improvement in rapeseed. Full article

Background/Objectives: Styphnolobium japonicum cv. Jinhuai (SJvJ) represents a medicinal and edible plant whose metabolite composition is strongly shaped by its growing location. Current quality control methods mainly rely on rutin quantification, lacking comprehensive metabolic markers for origin discrimination. Therefore, this study aimed to profile interregional metabolic differences between Guangxi and Sichuan SJvJ flower buds, identify characteristic differential markers, and clarify relevant metabolic pathways, thereby guiding quality control, germplasm evaluation, and functional food development. Methods: Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) was employed to identify metabolites. The Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology Database and Analysis Platform (TCMSP) and Cancer HSP were applied to screen the key active ingredients of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM-KAIs) and disease-related pharmaceutical ingredients (PDRIs). Specifically, we targeted six highly prevalent human diseases and another five disorders based on therapeutic indications documented in the Chinese Pharmacopoeia. Multivariate analyses, such as principal component analysis, hierarchical clustering analysis, and other statistical methods, were applied to investigate differential metabolites. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) database was utilized for pathway enrichment analysis of marker metabolites. Results: In total, 1550 metabolites were identified across 12 categories, predominantly flavonoids. Additionally, 152 TCM-KAIs and 204 PDRIs against 11 diseases were screened. Multivariate analyses indicated that geographical origin was closely associated with observed metabolic variation among the tested samples: Guangxi samples accumulated higher lipids and nucleotides, whereas Sichuan samples showed higher levels of flavonoids and phenolic acids. Vanilloloside, protocatechuic acid-4-O-glucoside, and gallic acid-4-O-glucoside were identified as key inter-group biomarkers. KEGG enrichment analysis revealed enhanced metabolism of nucleotide/pyrimidine in Guangxi, whereas zeatin biosynthesis was upregulated in Sichuan, consistent with discrepancies in regional climatic patterns. Conclusions: This study established a more comprehensive metabolomic dataset for FBSJvJ. It also clarified the correlations between origin and quality and unraveled the underlying mechanisms. These findings facilitate origin authentication, standardized quality control, and rational exploitation of FBSJvJ as raw materials of functional foods. Full article

Jasmonates are lipid-derived phytohormones that regulate plant development and defense across the green lineage. Thus, understanding the intricacies of jasmonate biosynthesis and signaling is of paramount importance to improve crop yields and food safety. For the last 40 years, the canonical jasmonate biosynthetic pathway has been thoroughly dissected in angiosperms; however, only recent efforts have started to decode the alternative jasmonate biosynthetic networks that operate in bryophytes. In the nonvascular model Marchantia polymorpha, a cis-to-iso isomerization constitutes a key step in the formation of dn-iso-OPDA and Δ⁴-dn-iso-OPDA, the bioactive jasmonates recognized by a conserved COI1/JAZ co-receptor complex. Their biosynthesis depends on a uniquely expanded fatty acid repertoire that includes, alongside the canonical C₁₆ and C₁₈ omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) found in angiosperms, substantial pools of eicosanoids such as arachidonic acid and eicosapentaenoic acid, essentially absent from flowering plants. Here we trace the jasmonate biosynthetic pathway in bryophytes step-by-step, from PUFA precursors production through lipoxygenase oxygenation and downstream reactions to the processing and catabolic modifications of bioactive compounds. By integrating current knowledge across bryophyte lineages, we identify mechanistic parallels and divergences relative to angiosperms, highlight key unresolved questions, and propose future directions for the field. Deciphering jasmonate biosynthesis in bryophytes is essential for reconstructing the evolutionary origins of jasmonate signaling and understanding how this pathway contributed to the successful colonization of land by plants. Full article

The effectiveness of gas discharge depends on the geological conditions and drilling parameters. Investigating gas seepage behavior near boreholes under fluid–solid coupling conditions can provide theoretical support for scientifically determining the effective discharge radius (EDR) and ensuring mining safety. In this study, taking Xinyuan Coal Mine as the engineering background, a fluid–solid coupled model describing gas migration was developed. The effects of the discharge duration, borehole diameter, permeability, and borehole layout on the spatiotemporal evolution of gas around boreholes and EDR were investigated. The results indicate that gas pressure around the borehole continuously decreases with time, and the affected zone expands elliptically. The EDR exhibits a power-law relationship with time. Increasing the borehole diameter enlarges the EDR, with the effect being particularly significant in the initial stage of gas discharge. After 5 h of gas discharge, the EDR in high-permeability coal seams is approximately twice that in low-permeability coal seams. Compared to the triple-flower patterns, the square pattern produces a larger EDR at the same time. The EDR calculated based on the measured values of the drill cuttings volume S value and drill cuttings desorption gas volume K₁ value shows a high degree of consistency with the simulation results. After 5 h of gas discharge using the square pattern, the gas volume fraction at the upper corner of the working face dropped to the safe level of 6%, enabling mining to resume. Full article

Methylation of histone H3 at lysine 4 (H3K4me) is a key epigenetic mark in plants, governing transcriptional regulation, development, and stress adaptation. While the enzymes that deposit and remove this mark are well studied, how H3K4me signals are interpreted by reader proteins remains less understood. This review synthesizes recent advances in the molecular recognition of H3K4me states by plant reader domains, including PHD, BAH, CW, Tudor, and chromodomain modules. Unlike prior reviews that focused on writers and erasers or on stress-specific responses, we systematically examine the reader-side mechanisms, with particular emphasis on how distinct methylation states, including trimethylated (H3K4me3), dimethylated (H3K4me2), monomethylated (H3K4me1), and unmethylated H3K4, are discriminated and translated into chromatin-based outputs. These readers function as signaling hubs, integrating environmental and hormonal cues to regulate flowering, DNA repair, and stress memory, with implications for crop performance. However, fundamental gaps remain, including the identification of H3K4me1-specific readers, the structural basis for combinatorial histone mark recognition, and the evolutionary divergence of reader pathways between monocots and dicots. Our review provides a framework for understanding H3K4me reader biology and explores its potential for application in plant breeding. Full article

Auxin response factors (ARFs) are a pivotal class of transcription factors that mediate auxin signaling, playing critical roles in plant growth, development, and stress adaptation. Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is an economically important cucurbit crop, yet a comprehensive analysis of its ARF gene family under abiotic stresses is limited. In this study, we conducted a genome-wide identification of the ARF gene family in watermelon. A total of 16 ClARF genes were identified and unevenly distributed across nine chromosomes. Phylogenetic analysis classified these ClARF proteins into four distinct classes (I–IV), a categorization supported by conserved motif composition and exon-intron structures. Cis-element analysis revealed that ClARF gene promoters are enriched with motifs related to hormone response, light signaling, and various stresses, suggesting their involvement in diverse regulatory pathways. Syntenic analysis indicated that segmental duplication events have contributed to the expansion and evolution of the ClARF family. Tissue-specific expression profiling showed varied expression patterns across roots, stems, leaves, tendrils, and flowers, implying functional diversification. Furthermore, real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR) analysis revealed stress-specific expression patterns of ClARF genes. Notably, ClARF6 was consistently upregulated across all three treatments and showed the highest induction under drought (~7-fold) and cold (~11-fold), while ClARF13 was most strongly induced under salt stress at 48 h (~10-fold), and ClARF1 was consistently downregulated across all treatments. This study provides a stress-oriented expression profiling of the ARF gene family in watermelon, establishing a foundation for future functional studies and offering candidate genes for further functional characterization of abiotic-stress responses in watermelon and related cucurbit crops. Full article

The Growth-Regulating Factor (GRF) family and their co-activators, GRF-Interacting Factors (GIFs), are key players in the trade-off between plant development and stress adaptation, functioning as canonical targets of the highly conserved miR396 family, which mediates responses to environmental stressors including high temperatures and water deficits. The “starlet” phenomenon in the allotetraploid Coffea arabica L. is a developmental disorder that results in malformed flowers, frequently associated with environmental stress and floral sterility. Since their underlying molecular mechanisms remain uncharacterized, we performed a genome-wide identification of the CaGRF and CaGIF families and quantified their transcriptional profiles in shoot apical meristems (SAMs) and across multiple stages of floral bud development. Our findings reveal significant differential expression of the GRF-GIF module between typical and starlet tissues throughout development, including the SAM. Intriguingly, these results do not correlate with the levels of a representative member of the miR396 family, indicating that the GRF-GIF expression shifts in starlet-flowers may be uncoupled from miR396 levels. This work provides the first molecular insights into the enigmatic starlet phenomenon in Coffea arabica L., addressing an understudied aspect of coffee reproductive development and its implications for the reproductive stability (and productivity) of this important tropical crop species. Full article

Blueberries are in high demand across the world due to their nutritional characteristics. The objective of this study was to conduct an agro-morphological and physicochemical characterisation of blueberry varieties (Vaccinium corymbosum L.) in the high Andean valleys of Ecuador, aiming to evaluate their productive performance and agro-industrial potential. The introduced varieties Eureka Maxx, Eureka Gold and Biloxi were studied across different agricultural systems and substrates under a randomised block design. The agro-morphological characterisation included variables such as latent buds, vegetative shoots, flowering onset and yield. Eureka Maxx grown in pots had the highest productivity (37.1%). In the physicochemical analysis, which considered diameter, firmness, pH, acidity, soluble solids, moisture and colour, it was observed that Eureka Maxx and Eureka Gold outperformed Biloxi in size (23.7 mm), firmness (15.2 N), and concentration of soluble solids (11.9 Brix). In general, plant growth and development are influenced by the environmental conditions of the site and crop management practices. Our results show that the varieties Eureka Maxx and Eureka Gold are viable alternatives for blueberry production in the high Andean valleys of Ecuador, to replace the Biloxi and Emerald varieties. Full article

Ethylene biosynthetic enzymes, 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate (ACC) synthase (ACS) and ACC oxidase (ACO), participate in the floral sex differentiation of bitter gourd (Momordica charantia). However, the relationship between their structural features and developmental expression patterns remains to be further clarified. In this study, eight McACS and five McACO genes were identified using the Dali-11 reference genome. AlphaFold 3-based modeling showed structural differences between the two families, particularly regarding the diverse C-terminal flexibilities of McACS proteins. Targeted qRT-PCR profiling during the critical 1.0–3.0 mm early floral bud stage revealed that McACS7, a structurally stable Type III member, along with McACS1, McACS12, and McACO2, were significantly upregulated during natural female flower development. Furthermore, treatment with silver nitrate (AgNO₃), an ethylene perception inhibitor, suppressed the transcription of these synthesis genes to basal levels and induced hermaphroditic flower formation. Instead of fully elucidating the downstream molecular mechanisms, these findings provide robust candidate-gene evidence and transcriptional profiling that link the ethylene biosynthetic machinery to the chemically induced sex reversal process, thereby laying a solid foundation for future functional characterization. Full article

Flowering plants are universally adorned with conical epidermal cells on their petals, which play a pivotal role in their function. They modulate the petal microenvironment by regulating wetting and temperature homeostasis and enhance pollinator attraction through tactile signaling. Despite their ecological and physiological significance, the molecular mechanisms that regulate the development of their distinct conical shape remain largely unknown. This review synthesizes recent advances in Arabidopsis thaliana (A. thaliana) research to elucidate the regulatory network governing conical cell morphogenesis. We summarize the recently established live confocal imaging approach for investigating conical cell morphogenesis and the core regulatory pathways elucidated thus far: the spatiotemporal orchestration of the cortical microtubule arrays, governed by the PP2A-KATANIN and ANGUSTIFOLIA-ROS modules. Furthermore, auxin-mediated cell wall acidification also plays a critical role in conical cell morphogenesis. Building upon these established regulatory modules, integrating computational modeling and uncovering new regulatory components in future research will profoundly enhance the value of conical cells as a system for studying plant cell morphogenesis. This will enable researchers to decipher the intricate biochemical signaling mechanisms that act in concert to orchestrate plant cell morphogenesis. Full article