Search Results (83)

Longan (Dimocarpus longan Lour.) exhibits vigorous vegetative growth and strong fruit setting ability but suffers from alternate bearing. The role of endogenous hormones in mediating the effects of fruiting load remains unclear. This study investigated how the initial fruiting branch rate (IFBR) and initial fruit number per cluster (INFC) regulate endogenous hormones in the aril and leaflets of mature ‘Shixia’ longan. Key findings reveal the aril as the hormonal sink, accumulating auxin (IAA) and abscisic acid (ABA), while leaves retain IAA precursors (TRP) and conjugates. Higher IFBR and INFC increased the demand for IAA in the aril to support expansion but simultaneously elevated ABA levels in leaves. Notably, IFBR exerted a stronger influence than INFC. These hormonal changes were significantly correlated with the fruit shedding rate and soluble solid content. Overall, the endogenous hormone profile was optimized by maintaining a moderate IFBR of approximately 60% and an INFC within the range of 60 to 80, achieving balance between fruit expansion, leaf vitality, and yield. The results provide a hormonal basis for precise crop load management in longan cultivation. Full article

Blackberry (Rubus subg. Eubatus Focke) ranks among the four most commercially valuable berry crops globally, alongside raspberry, strawberry, and blueberry, owing to its high antioxidant content—particularly flavonoids, anthocyanins, and polyphenols. Compared to other berry crops, blackberry cultivation requires lower labor and financial inputs, with plantations remaining productive for 12–15 years. In Russia, total blackberry area is limited (~100 ha), and the Moscow Region is particularly suited for trailing and semi-trailing cultivars with early-to-mid-season ripening. This three-year study (2021–2023) conducted at the Tsitsin Main Botanical Garden (RAS) evaluated ten promising blackberry cultivars to (i) assess interrelationships among phenological, morphological, and fruit quality traits; and (ii) identify optimal market niches for each genotype. Cultivars were grouped by ripening time: early (‘Karaka Black’, ‘Loch Tay’, ‘Natchez’) and medium (‘Columbia Sunrise’, ‘Hall’s Beauty’, ‘Caddo’, ‘Columbia Giant’, ‘Victoria’, ‘Brzezina’). Morphologically, ‘Columbia Giant’, ‘Columbia Star’, ‘Columbia Sunrise’, ‘Hall’s Beauty’, and ‘Loch Tay’ exhibited the most balanced architecture. For fresh-market retail, ‘Hall’s Beauty’ (650.3 gf), ‘Loch Tay’ (632.0 gf), and ‘Victoria’ (882.2 gf) stood out for high fruit firmness, whereas ‘Columbia Giant’ (11.5 g fruit mass, 354.1 gf) is recommended for direct consumer sales due to its large fruit size and acceptable firmness. Key trait associations included flowering duration and drupelet number (r = −0.83); fruiting onset and lateral length (r = 0.75); central leaflet length and fruiting laterals per shoot (r = −0.86); fruit number per lateral and Soluble Solids Content (SSC, r = 0.83); and lateral length (r = 0.84). These findings indicate the importance of proper variety selection for establishing blackberry plantations in the specific climatic conditions of the Moscow Region. Full article

(1) Background: Compound leaf morphogenesis in alfalfa (Medicago sativa), a key trait determining yield and agronomic value, is governed by complex molecular mechanisms. (2) Methods: This study systematically investigates the transcriptomic profiles of space-induced alfalfa mutants exhibiting diverse compound leaf numbers through RNA sequencing and Short Time-series Expression Miner (STEM)-based data analysis. (3) Results: Our findings reveal that transcriptional regulators, phosphorylation-related protein kinases, and glycoside hydrolases collectively modulate this trait. Specifically, GRAS and WRKY transcription factors show positive correlations with increased leaflet numbers, highlighting their roles in promoting leaflet initiation. Conversely, transcript levels of serine-threonine/tyrosine-protein kinases are inversely related to leaflet number, suggesting their involvement in suppressing excessive leaflet formation via post-translational modifications. Notably, glycoside hydrolases exhibit suppressed expression in mutants with higher leaflet numbers compared to wild-type plants, implying a regulatory role in balancing cell wall plasticity during morphogenesis. (4) Conclusions: These results provide critical insights into the interplay between transcriptional control, phosphorylation dynamics, and cell wall remodeling in shaping compound leaf architecture. Furthermore, the identified genes and pathways offer novel molecular targets for breeding strategies aimed at optimizing multi-leaflet alfalfa varieties, with potential applications in agricultural productivity and functional genomics. Full article

This review investigates and analyzes the state of the art on scientific evidence related to educational interventions to improve air quality indoors and outdoors through a mapping review. The review followed proposed guidelines for mapping reviews in environmental sciences and the steps described in the Template for a Mapping Study Protocol. The search was conducted in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Cinahl, and Google Scholar with no language restrictions, and was completed in January 2025. Three filters were applied: search, selection with inclusion and exclusion criteria (PECOS strategy), and data extraction. Two independent reviewers assessed article eligibility, and disagreements were resolved by a third researcher. Twenty-four studies that met the eligibility criteria were included. Five research questions were answered. Studies published between 1977 and 2024 were included, totaling 7289 participants aged 12 to 85. The geographic distribution was concentrated in China (five studies) and the United States (four studies), followed by South Korea, India, Australia, and other countries, with fewer publications. The methodological predominance was experimental studies; observational studies were also analyzed, although less frequently. The period with the greatest increase in the number of publications was between 2020 and 2024. The educational methods most commonly used in the studies were lectures and the delivery of information leaflets. Particulate matter with diameters of 2.5 μm and 10 μm (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀) were the most widely investigated pollutants in the studies. From our analyses, it was observed that the educational interventions to improve air quality, adopted in the selected studies, resulted in the acquisition of knowledge about the environmental effects and the importance of individual actions. The changes in behavior included the adoption of more sustainable practices and an improvement in air quality in the environment, with a significant reduction in pollutant emissions. We conclude that interventions through environmental education demonstrate great potential to improve air quality. Based on the mapped evidence, governments and global policymakers can use this information to develop new strategies or improve existing ones to reduce air pollution in affected environments and regions. Full article

Aquaglyceroporins, including human AQP7, AQP10, and E. coli GlpF, are known to facilitate movements of glycerol, water, and some other uncharged molecules across the cell membrane. In this study we focused on the transport of water molecules in the absence of glycerol for AQP7, AQP10 and GlpF using the Transition State Theory for the novel application of permeability and kinetics studies. We conducted around 500 ns of in silico simulations of the aquaglyceroporins embedded in lipid bilayer membranes with intracellular-extracellular asymmetries in leaflet lipid compositions. For the water permeability analysis, we computed the transition rate constant with correction for recrossing events where the water molecules do not completely traverse the protein channel from one side of the membrane to the other side. We also studied the hydrogen bond distributions of the single-file waters and channel residues and linear water densities along the pores of the aquaglyceroporins. Interestingly, we found that there was an inverse correlation between the number of single-file water molecules in the channel and osmotic permeability. Full article

Soil water availability can become one of the decisive factors for crop production. The technology of coinoculation with plant growth-promoting bacteria capable of performing biological nitrogen fixation and producing plant hormones may be an alternative that minimizes the effects of variations in soil water availability. In this context, the objective was to evaluate the phytometric and productive characteristics of cowpea coinoculated with Azospirillum brasilense and Bradyrhizobium japonicum subjected to soil water availability stress. The experiment was carried out in a greenhouse in a completely randomized block design with four replications in a 4 × 4 factorial arrangement: not inoculated; inoculated with B. japonicum; and coinoculated with B. japonicum + A. brasilense and N fertilizer, associated with soil water tensions of 15, 30, 45, and 60 kPa. Statistically, the lowest soil water tension, 15 kPa, and the coinoculated and nitrogen fertilizer treatments resulted in greater development of plant height, stem diameter, and number of leaflets. The shoot dry mass was significantly different for only the soil water stress treatments, which showed a decrease in mass accumulation from 15 kPa to 50.22 kPa. Regarding the SPAD index, soil water tension showed a decreasing linear adjustment 24 days after plant emergence (DAEs), with the lowest value of 51.38 at a tension of 60 kPa. At 39 DAEs, the adjustment was polynomial, with the lowest tension index of 59.62 kPa, corresponding to 44.14. The treatments with the use of inoculants had a significant effect on the SPAD index, in which coinoculation with Bradyrhizobium and Azospirillum brasilense resulted in values equal to those of nitrogen fertilizer and greater than those of uninoculated treatments or those inoculated with Bradyrhizobium. Water tension influenced the total water consumption, and at a tension of 18.13 kPa, the lowest accumulation occurred, equivalent to 2.20 g of dry matter for each liter of irrigated water. Statistically, the lowest soil water tension, 15 kPa, resulted in higher numbers, lengths, and widths of pods. In relation to the length of pods, the uninoculated, inoculated with Bradyrhizobium, and coinoculated with Bradyrhizobium and A. brasilense treatments were superior to nitrogen fertilization. Coinoculation and nitrogen fertilization influenced phytometric characteristics. The productive characteristics of cowpea decreased as the soil water tension increased. These results highlight the importance of leveraging biological solutions, such as coinoculation, to mitigate the adverse effects of water stress on crop yields. In addition, by optimizing these practices, farmers ensure greater resilience in bean production, thereby guaranteeing food security in the face of changing environmental conditions. Full article

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) offer a sustainable strategy for enhancing crop productivity and suppressing phytopathogens. In this study, seven bacterial isolates obtained from the rhizosphere of healthy tomato plants were evaluated for their antagonistic activity against the fungal pathogen Passalora fulva, the leaf miner Tuta absoluta, and their effects on tomato growth. In vitro dual-culture assays revealed that isolates IQR1, IQR2, IQR3, and IQR5 significantly inhibited P. fulva mycelial growth, with inhibition rates exceeding 35%. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by the bacterial isolates exhibited considerable antifungal activity, with IQR5, IQR1, and IQR2 achieving over 84% inhibition. Molecular identification based on 16S rDNA sequencing indicated that these isolates belong to distinct taxa: Leucobacter aridicolis (ON799334.1) (genus Leucobacter), Paenochrobactrum sp. (JF804769.1) (genus Paenochrobactrum), an uncultured bacterium (JQ337400.1) (genus Psychrobacter), and marine bacterium AK6_052 (KF816539.1) (genus Brevundimonas). Under greenhouse conditions, isolates IQR3, IQR5, and IQR1 reduced disease incidence of P. fulva to 20–26%. The same isolates also promoted plant growth, enhancing stem height and collar diameter. In addition, IQR5 significantly reduced T. absoluta larval density and foliar damage, with the number of larvae per leaflet decreasing to 1.42, compared to 3.20 in the control. These findings highlight the potentials of these rhizobacterial strains—particularly IQR5—as effective biocontrol agents and biofertilizers for integrated pest and disease management in tomato cultivation. Full article

Polyploidy in plants can enhance stress resistance and secondary metabolite production, offering potential benefits for Clausena lansium (L.) Skeel, a medicinally valuable species. However, systematic studies of polyploidy-induced morphological, anatomical, and metabolic changes in this species are lacking. This study aimed to induce and characterize polyploid C. lansium lines, assess ploidy-dependent variations, and evaluate their impact on bioactive metabolite accumulation. Three cultivars were hybridized, treated with colchicine, and bred, yielding 13 stable polyploid lines confirmed by flow cytometry and chromosome counting. The polyploids exhibited distinct traits, including larger pollen grains, altered leaf margins, increased leaflet numbers, enlarged guard cells with reduced stomatal density, and thicker leaf tissues. Metabolomic analysis revealed that tetraploids accumulated significantly higher levels of flavonoids, alkaloids, and phenolic acids compared to diploids, while triploids showed moderate increases. These findings demonstrate that polyploidization, particularly tetraploidy, enhances C. lansium’s medicinal potential by boosting pharmacologically active compounds. The study expands germplasm resources and supports the development of high-quality cultivars for pharmaceutical applications. Full article

Determining the effectiveness of fungicide programs based on cultivar resistance to pathogens, especially late leaf spot (caused by Nothopassalora personata (Berk. & M.A. Curtis) [U. Braun, C. Nakash., Videira & Crous]) is important in establishing recommendations to peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.) farmers. Research was conducted in North Carolina during 2021 and 2022 at three locations to compare the incidence of late leaf spot (e.g., visual estimates of percent of peanut leaflets with lesions), percentage of the peanut canopy defoliated caused by this disease, and yield of the peanut cultivars Bailey II, Emery, and Sullivan when exposed to five fungicide regimens including a non-treated control. Peanut yield was not affected by the interaction of cultivar × fungicide regimens. While differences in leaf spot incidence and canopy defoliation were noted for cultivars, these differences did not translate into differences in peanut yield. All fungicides regimens protected peanut yield from leaf spot disease regardless of the number of sprays during the cropping cycle (e.g., three, four, or five sprays). Peanut yield in the absence of fungicides was 4410 kg/ha compared with a range of 5000 to 5390 kg/ha when fungicides were applied. Peanut yield was greater when fungicides were applied four or five times compared with only three sprays or non-treated peanut. The regimen with five consecutive sprays of chlorothalonil alone for the first and final spray in the regimen and when this fungicide was applied with tebuconazole for the second, third, and fourth sprays was as effective as fungicide regimens including combinations of pydiflumetofen plus azoxystrobin plus benzovindiflupyr, mefentrifluconazole plus pyraclostrobin plus fluxapyroxad, bixafen plus flutriafol, and prothioconazole plus tebuconazole. Full article

Background/Objectives: Existing patient information leaflets (ePILs), mandated by the FDA to accompany new prescriptions, are difficult to read and understand due to their complexity and poor visual design, especially for populations with low health literacy and low English proficiency. In this study, we developed infographic-based PILs (iPILs) with a concise question-and-answer format, emphasizing essential information, as specified by the FDA. This study compared iPILs and ePILs using the 5C factors: comprehension, cosmetics, convenience, content, and credibility, as perceived by English-speaking and Spanish-speaking populations. Methods: This multicenter, experimental survey study assessed the 5C factors. English and Spanish-speaking adults on ≥1 chronic medication were recruited from community pharmacies in California (CA) and Illinois (IL). They were stratified to review either an ePIL or an iPIL for one of four common medications. They completed a Medication Knowledge Quiz (MKQ) to show their comprehension using six open-ended questions. Subsequently, they received both PIL versions and answered preference questions about the 4C and media format and, lastly, about demographic and health literacy questions. Results: A total of 235 participants completed the surveys at three sites (CA-English, CA-Spanish, and IL-English), with differing participant characteristics. The CA-Spanish participants scored the lowest on health literacy and the number of health conditions. The MKQ scores for those using the iPILs were significantly higher than for those using the ePILs across all groups. They significantly correlated with health literacy results for the ePILs (r = 0.394, p < 0.001). The participants preferred the iPILs over the ePILs for four of the C factors, barring one content question. Regardless of age, printed formats were preferred (64.7%)—alone or with digital formats (21.3%)—over digital formats alone (3.4%). Overall, 79.1% of the participants preferred iPILs, 11.9% preferred ePILs, and 8.9% preferred either version. Conclusions: The infographic-based patient information leaflets (iPILs) were easier to read, navigate, and understand, making them more accessible to individuals with varying levels of health literacy. Infographic-based leaflets outperformed existing ones in user comprehension and were preferred due to their simple layout, ease of navigation, and helpfulness. Full article

Wild-simulated ginseng (WSG, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is the most important medicinal plant naturally cultivated in the forestry environment. The growth and active component content of WSG can be influenced by various environmental factors, such as climate conditions, physiognomy, soil properties, and soil bacterial structure. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between the growth characteristics of WSG and the soil bacterial community living in a rhizosphere environment. Experimental subjects were 7- and 13-year-old WSG cultivated in the central region (Yeongju) of Korea. The growth characteristics of WSG, divided into aerial parts, root parts, and weight parts, were measured. Rhizome length was significantly higher for 13-year-old WSG, while the number of rootlets was higher for 7-year-old WSG. As a result of analyzing the soil bacterial communities of WSG cultivation sites using next-generation sequencing (NGS), Proteobacteria and Holophagae were found to be the dominant species in the phylum level and class level, respectively. Rhizome length was positively correlated with Bacteroidetes at the phylum level, but it was negatively correlated with Thermoleophilia and Gemmatimonadetes at the class level. Pedospharae showed a negative correlation with the number of leaflets and petiole length, while Clostridia showed a positive correlation with the number of rootlets. The growth of WSG might vary depending on the environment in which it is cultivated. It is especially affected by soil properties and soil bacterial communities. Therefore, in future studies, it will be necessary to isolate and identify soil microorganisms living in WSG cultivation sites and then confirm their growth-promoting effects on WSG. Full article

Wild-simulated ginseng (WSG, Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer) is one of the most valuable medicinal plants in the world. This study aimed to investigate the correlation between growth and ginsenoside content of WSG in two different cultivation environments: coniferous and mixed forests. The results showed that air temperature, soil moisture content, and solar radiation were higher in mixed forest than in coniferous forest. Regarding soil properties, electrical conductivity, organic matter, total nitrogen, exchangeable potassium, and magnesium were higher in mixed forest than in coniferous forest. However, exchangeable sodium was lower in mixed forest than in coniferous forest. The analysis of growth characteristics revealed that the number of leaflets was significantly higher in WSG cultivated in mixed forest than in WSG cultivated in coniferous forest, whereas rhizome length, root diameter, root weight, and dry weight were significantly higher in coniferous forest. In contrast, total ginsenoside content and the content of each ginsenoside were much higher in WSG cultivated in mixed forest than in WSG cultivated in coniferous forest. The growth of WSG showed significantly positive correlations with electrical conductivity, organic matter, total nitrogen, exchangeable cations (K⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺), and cation exchange capacity. The number of leaflets per stem showed significantly positive correlations with six ginsenosides, whereas petiole length showed significantly negative correlations with mRb1, mRc, and Rb1. In conclusion, growth characteristics of WSG were higher in coniferous forest, but ginsenoside contents were higher in mixed forest. These results might be helpful for establishing the most optimal growth model of WSG, which is affected by various environmental factors. Full article

Astragalus membranaceus var. mongholicus (AMM) is a widely used medicinal plant in China, primarily cultivated in the northern regions; however, the selection and breeding of superior varieties remains underdeveloped. To scientifically assess the germplasm resources of AMM and facilitate its breeding, this study collected 33 germplasm samples from five provinces and conducted a comprehensive evaluation of their botanical traits, agronomic traits, quality traits, and powdery mildew resistance. The results indicated that, among the 18 botanical and agronomic traits, the Shannon–Wiener diversity index (H′) for quantitative traits was higher than that for qualitative traits, with the coefficient of variation ranging from 6.82% to 34.14%. The characterization of five flavonoids and eight saponins based on the established UPLC-Q-TOF/MS technique revealed that 13 compounds showed significant abundance variations across germplasms. Correlation analysis revealed that plants with robust above-ground growth usually have higher yields. Moreover, the number of compound leaflets was positively correlated with flavonoid content in the roots, whereas germplasms with smaller above-ground biomass and thinner roots exhibited higher saponin content. Based on the comprehensive scores (F-value), the top three germplasms were An-31, An-26, and An-28, which may serve as promising breeding materials. Cluster analysis grouped the 33 germplasms into five categories, including high-content and high-yield groups. Five germplasms exhibiting strong disease resistance were identified, with An-26 demonstrating the best performance in yield, quality, and resistance. Furthermore, a negative correlation was observed between powdery mildew resistance and flavonoid content in roots. This study will provide a foundation for the AMM breeding and selection. Full article

Background: Over the last two decades, a number of imaging studies have evaluated the characteristics and clinical implications of mitral annular disjunction (MAD) among patients with mitral valve prolapse (MVP). The present systematic review has been primarily designed to summarize the main findings of these studies and to examine the overall impact of MAD in MVP patients. Methods: All imaging studies assessing the prevalence, pathophysiological role and determinants of MAD in MVP individuals, selected from the PubMed and EMBASE databases, were included. There was no limitation in terms of time period. The risk of bias was assessed by using the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Quality Assessment Tool for Observational Cohort and Cross-Sectional Studies. Results: The full texts of 23 studies on 7718 MVP individuals were analyzed. The overall pooled prevalence of MAD in MVP individuals was 40% (range 5.4–90%). When considering the different imaging modalities for assessing MAD, the average MAD prevalence was 20% for cardiac computed tomography studies, 31.3% for transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) studies, 44.7% for transesophageal echocardiography studies and 47% for cardiac magnetic resonance studies. MAD presence was more commonly associated with female sex, young age, narrow antero-posterior thoracic diameter, symptoms of palpitations and syncope, T-wave inversion in inferolateral leads and frequent and/or complex ventricular arrhythmias (VAs) on electrocardiogram, myxomatous leaflets, bileaflet prolapse, larger mitral valve annulus and non-severe mitral regurgitation on TTE. A total of 12 studies (52.2%) provided follow-up data. Over a median follow-up time of 3.9 yrs (range 1–10.3 yrs), MVP individuals with MAD showed increased risk of clinical arrhythmic events, no difference in survival rate and good surgical outcomes. Conclusions: MAD was present in more than one-third of MVP patients, with a wide range of variability depending on the specific imaging method used for assessing MAD presence and on a nonunivocal MAD definition, with a possible overestimation due to Pseudo-MAD rather than True-MAD measurement. A multimodality imaging approach comprehensive of noninvasive chest shape assessment might improve MAD detection among MVP individuals. It appears that careful serial monitoring for VAs should be mandatory for MAD patients. Full article

Organisms maintain circadian rhythms corresponding to approximately 24 h in the absence of external environmental cues, and they synchronize the phases of their autonomous circadian clocks to light–dark cycles, feeding timing, and other factors. The suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) occupies the top position of the hierarchy in the mammalian circadian system and functions as a photic-dependent oscillator, while the food-entrainable circadian oscillator (FEO) entrains the clocks of the digestive peripheral tissues and behaviors according to feeding timing. In mammals, neuropeptide Y (NPY) from the intergeniculate leaflet (IGL) neurons projected onto the SCN plays an important role in entraining circadian rhythms to feeding conditions. However, the relationship between the FEO and SCN has been unclear under various feeding conditions. In this study, novel NPY::Venus transgenic (Tg) mice, which expressed the NPY fused to Venus fluorescent protein, were generated to investigate the secretion of NPY on the SCN from the IGL. NPY-containing secretory granules with Venus signals in the SCN slices of the Tg mice could be observed using confocal and super-resolution microscopy. We observed that the number of NPY secretory granules released on the SCNs increased during fasting, and these mice were valuable tools for further investigating the role of NPY secretion from the IGL to the SCN in mediating interactions between the FEO and the SCN. Full article