Search Results (42)

To elucidate the molecular mechanisms underlying anther abortion in celery male sterile lines, this study investigates the morphological differences of floral organs and differential gene expression patterns between two lines at the flowering stage. Using the male sterile line of celery ‘QCBU-001’ and the fertile line ‘Jinnan Shiqin’ as materials, anther structure was analyzed by paraffin sections, and related genes were detected using transcriptome sequencing and qRT-PCR. The results indicated that the anther locules were severely shrunken at maturity in the sterile lines. The callose deficiency led to abnormal development of microspores, preventing the formation of mature pollen grains and ultimately leading to complete anther abortion. The transcriptome results revealed that 3246 genes were differentially expressed in sterile and fertile lines, which were significantly enriched in pathways such as starch and sucrose metabolism and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Additionally, differential expression patterns of transcription factor families (MYB, bHLH, AP2, GRAS, and others) suggested their potential involvement in regulating anther abortion. Notably, the expression level of callose synthase gene AgGSL2 was significantly downregulated in sterile anthers, which might be an important cause of callose deficiency and pollen sterility. This study not only provides a theoretical basis for elucidating the molecular mechanism underlying male sterility in celery but also lays a foundation for the utilization and improvement of male sterile lines in vegetable hybrid breeding. Full article

Malignant pleural effusion (MPE) can lead to pleural organization with loculation and impaired drainage. This condition is becoming increasingly more common due to advancements in cancer therapy and extended patient survival. Factors such as repeated thoracentesis through an indwelling pleural catheter (IPC), intrapleural bleeding, and tumor progression contribute to MPE organization. Loculated MPE causes breathlessness and reduced quality of life, and current therapies, including intrapleural fibrinolytic or enzymatic therapy (IPFT/IET), have limitations in efficacy and safety. Identifying new therapeutic targets is crucial for improving treatment outcomes. Research is needed to understand the role of profibrogenic factors in pleural neoplasia, their regulation, and their impact on different stages of pleural organization. The development of a rabbit model of organizing MPE could provide insights into underlying mechanisms and novel interventions. Comparative studies of pleural tissues and effusions from MPE patients and other forms of pleural organization may reveal valuable information. Cellular and molecular profiling, assessment of biomarkers, and personalized IPFT dosing are potential areas of investigation. Suppression of PAI-1 activity and the role of hyaluronic acid in malignant mesothelioma are also important research directions. Understanding the profibrogenic capacity of pleural mesothelial cells undergoing mesenchymal transition (MesoMT) and identifying key contributors and effectors involved in this process are essential for developing effective treatments for loculated MPE. Full article

Apple production in Western Norway faces challenges due to climatic constraints and varying phenology. It is essential for cultivars to adapt to regional ecological factors, while suitable pollinators are necessary for successful cultivation. This study examined the reproductive biology of two newly introduced apple cultivars, ‘Eden’ (Wursixo) and ‘Fryd’ (Wuranda), over two years (2022–2023). Key qualitative and quantitative parameters of reproductive biology were analyzed, including in vitro pollen germination, pollen tube growth within the style and ovary locules, flowering overlap time, and fruit set. The study involved cross-pollination between the pollen recipient cultivars ‘Eden’ and ‘Fryd’, with various pollenizers: ‘Rubinstep’, ‘Red Aroma’, ‘Elstar’, ‘Asfari’ and ‘Professor Sprenger’, as well as self-pollination and open pollination. According to the results from the progamic phase of fertilization and fruit set, the cultivars ‘Rubinstep’, ‘Asfari’, and ‘Fryd’ were the best pollenizers for ‘Eden’. In contrast, ‘Rubinstep’, ‘Eden’, and ‘Elstar’ were the best pollenizers for ‘Fryd’. Looking only at the overlapping of the flowering time between pollen recipient and pollen donor, ‘Professor Sprenger’ and ‘Fryd’ were the best pollenizers for ‘Eden’, while ‘Professor Sprenger’ and ‘Eden’ were good pollenizers for ‘Fryd’. Full article

Tomato seedlings were treated with nutrient solutions containing varying nitrogen concentrations (50, 150, and 250 mg·L⁻¹) after germination until the completion of flower bud differentiation. The changes in nutrient content, enzyme activity, endogenous hormone levels, and gene expression in the stem apex were analyzed to explore the mechanisms regulating the number of locules in tomatoes at different nitrogen concentrations. The results indicated that an increase in nitrogen concentration facilitated the differentiation of tomato flower buds, increased the number of fruit locules, and increased the contents of soluble sugar, soluble protein, starch, and sucrose, as well as the activities of the enzymes POD, NR, and PPO in the seedling stem apex. The contents of soluble sugars and soluble proteins, as well as the activities of POD, NR, and PPO, were closely correlated with the number of fruit locules. An increase in nitrogen concentration was also found to elevate cytokinin levels while reducing auxin content in the stem apex. The transcriptome analysis screened for peroxidase genes, auxin response genes, and cytokinin synthesis genes. The analysis of gene expression patterns suggests that CKX and LOG6 play significant roles in flower development. Additionally, combined physiological changes indicated that an increase in nitrogen concentration during the tomato seedling stage leads to a higher number of fruit locules, which may be associated with elevated cytokinin content, primarily involving the key genes CKX and LOG6. Full article

Tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) is one of the most important cultivated vegetables in the world. However, in some countries such as Mexico the lack of cultivars adapted to different environmental production conditions is a limitation. Moreover, recent studies have indicated that breeding aimed at increasing yield has led to a loss of genetic diversity. Therefore, it is necessary to explore and characterize new sources of germplasms. This study aimed to characterize new sources of germplasm and identify the most transcendental traits for distinguishing tomato types and lines that are useful for the genetic improvement of the species. Sixty characters were evaluated in 16 advanced lines of native tomatoes from Central and Southern Mexico during the fall–winter cycles 2023–2024 at the Bajío Experimental Station, Celaya, Guanajuato, Mexico, based on the guidelines of the International Union for the Protection of New Varieties of Plants (UPOV) and the International Plant Genetic Resources Institute (IPGRI). The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance and post hoc tests, canonical discriminant analysis, and the Eigenanalysis selection index method (ESIM). Morphological variation showed that five qualitative traits were determinant factors in distinguishing tomato types and lines, whereas agronomic discriminant traits were the equatorial and polar diameters of the fruit and its ratio, number of locules, pedicel length, stem length, and internode distance. In addition, significant positive correlations were found between leaf length and width, equatorial diameter of the fruit, and polar diameter of the fruit. Lines JCM-17, JMC-10, and JCM-01 were the most selectable lines according to the ESIM values. The morphological variation found and the characteristics with higher selection values identified may be valuable for optimizing the tomato genetic improvement process in general. Full article

Pitahaya (Hylocereus spp.) is an economically significant cactus fruit in Peru, renowned for its rich nutritional profile and antioxidant properties while exhibiting wide biological diversity. This study aimed to morphologically characterize seven pitahaya accessions using qualitative and quantitative descriptors related to the cladodes, flowers, and fruits. Univariate and multivariate (FAMD, PCA, MCA, and clustering) analyses were employed to identify and classify the accessions based on their morphological traits. The analyses revealed three distinct groups: one consisting solely of AC.07; another with AC.02, AC.04, and AC.06; and a third including AC.01, AC.03, and AC.05. The first group exhibited superior characteristics, particularly in fruit traits such as the stigma lobe count (23.3), number of bracts (26.5 mm), and length of apical bracts (15.75 mm). The second group recorded the highest spine count (3.21), bract length (16.95 mm), and awn thickness (5.12 mm). The third group had the highest bract count (37) and an average locule number (23.65). These findings highlight the significant morphological diversity among the accessions, indicating the potential for classification and selection in pitahaya cultivation. The potential of AC.07 stands out in terms of its agronomic qualities, such as its fruit weight (451.93 g) and pulp weight (292.5 g), surpassing the other accessions. Full article

Malignant pleural effusion is the presence of malignant cells within the pleural fluid, representing the second most common cause of pleural exudate. Although diagnostic methods and management techniques for malignant pleural effusion have dramatically improved over the decades, the current treatment is still palliative, aiming to remove pleural fluid, possibly prevent its recurrence, and alleviate symptoms through a wide range of available procedures. Treatment should be tailored to the individual patient, considering comorbidities, size of the effusion, rate of fluid accumulation, underlying cardiac or respiratory conditions, rate of recurrence, presence of loculations or trapped lung, tumor characteristics, cancer type, and patient preferences. This manuscript aims to review the available literature and to present the latest evidence on malignant pleural effusion management in order to provide an updated perspective on its diagnosis and treatment. Full article

Empyema necessitatis is a rare complication of an untreated or inadequately controlled empyema. We present the case of an 11-year-old female adolescent living in precarious conditions, overcrowding, incomplete vaccinations, irregular dental hygiene, and no significant family or personal medical history. The patient started with symptoms one week prior to her hospitalization, presenting a persistent sporadic dry cough, and was later diagnosed with complicated pneumonia, resulting in the placement of an endopleural tube. Vancomycin (40 mg/kg/day) and ceftriaxone (75 mg/kg/day) were administered. However, the clinical evolution was unfavorable, with fever and respiratory distress, so a right jugular catheter was placed. The CT scan showed a loculated collection that occupied the entire right lung parenchyma and pneumothorax at the right upper lobe level. After four days of treatment, the patient still presented purulent drainage with persistent right pleural effusion syndrome. P. melaninogenica and D. pneumosintes were identified from the purulent collection on the upper right lobe, so the antimicrobial treatment was adapted to a glycopeptide, Teicoplanin, at a weight-based dosing of 6 mg/kg/day and Metronidazole at a weight-based dosing of 30 mg/kg/day. In addition, VAC therapy was used for 26 days with favorable resolution. Full article

High temperature stress affects tomato production both in tropical and sub-tropical environments worldwide. To explore genetic variation for heat tolerance in tomato, 329 transcontinental tomato genotypes were evaluated at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) greenhouses near Doha, Qatar, where the average daytime temperature was 38 °C with a big fluctuation during the tomato growth season. A preliminary phenotypic analysis identified a panel of 71 hybrid and pure-line tomato genotypes for more detailed studies. The selected subset was examined in the greenhouse using a randomized complete block design under heat stress. The materials were phenotyped for fruit size, fruit weight, fruit hardness, fruit locules, fruit set, total soluble solids (TSS), and fruit yield. Significant phenotypic differences among genotypes were observed for all the traits assessed. To explore the genetic basis of the variation among the examined genotypes, the subset was genotyped using 104 SNP markers identified in previous heat-tolerance genome-wide association studies (GWAS). Nineteen QTL-associated SNP markers could reliably select heat-tolerant genotypes in terms of better fruit yield, fruit set, and TSS. These markers are located on chromosome 1, 5, 6, 8, 9, and 12. Interestingly, two clusters of markers on chromosome 6 were linked to significant effects on yield, fruit set, and TSS under high temperature. Eighteen out of nineteen SNP markers were mapped within a gene body. Based on the phenotypic and the genotypic analysis, an elite set of five genotypes was selected for approval for heat stress environments in Qatar. The aim of the present work is to provide significant results that are exploitable not only in the Qatar region but also worldwide. Specifically, the 19 molecular markers identified in this study can serve as useful tools for breeders in selecting heat-tolerant material. Full article

Pleural effusion is the most common manifestation of pleural disease, and chest ultrasound is crucial for diagnostic workup and post-treatment monitoring. Ultrasound helps distinguish the various types of pleural effusion and enables the detection of typical manifestations of empyema, which presents as a complicated, septated effusion. This may benefit from drainage and the use of intrapleural enzyme therapy or may require more invasive approaches, such as medical or surgical thoracoscopy. The mechanism of action of intrapleural enzymatic therapy (IPET) is the activation of plasminogen to plasmin, which breaks down fibrin clots that form septa or the loculation of effusions and promotes their removal. In addition, IPET has anti-inflammatory properties and can modulate the immune response in the pleural space, resulting in reduced pleural inflammation and improved fluid reabsorption. In this article, we briefly review the literature on the efficacy of IPET and describe a case series in which most practical applications of IPET are demonstrated, i.e., as a curative treatment but also as an alternative, propaedeutic, or subsequent treatment to surgery. Full article

In order to comprehensively describe and evaluate Chinese olive seeds, this study examined 33 varieties (strains) of Chinese olive seeds to address the limitations of previous research on quantitative trait variation and grading among Chinese olive seed varieties (strains). The research specifically focused on evaluating the morphological characteristics, seed locule structure, embryo composition, and phenotypic quantitative traits of Chinese olive seeds. The results indicated that Chinese olive seeds consisted of a core, seed coat, and embryo. Typically, the core contained two to four locules, with each locule containing zero to one embryos. Eight distinct structural variations were identified, with the number of locules per seed ranging from two to four and the number of embryos ranging from one to four. The most common structural types were ‘3-locule 1-embryo’ and ‘3-locule 2-embryo’, each occurring in 100% of the varieties (strains) studied. These two structural types also had a high average proportion within each variety (line), accounting for 50.17% and 42.06%, respectively. The average dimensions of a seed were 31.20 mm in length and 10.89 mm in width, with a shape index of 2.89 and weighing 1.55 g. These quantitative traits displayed significant variation, with the coefficient of variation being highest for single seed weight (19.35%) and lowest for seed length (9.39%). Normality tests revealed that seed width, seed length, and single seed weight followed a normal distribution. These traits were categorized into five levels based on specific points, with probabilities of occurrence approximately 10%, 20%, 40%, 20%, and 10%, respectively. The findings of this study are crucial for understanding and utilizing Chinese olive seed traits and provide valuable insights for the establishment of seed trait standards and data normalization. Full article

Tomatoes are prone to mechanical damage due to improper gripping forces during automated harvest and postharvest processes. To reduce this damage, a dynamic viscoelastic model based on long short-term memory (LSTM) is proposed to fit the dynamic compression stress relaxation characteristics of the individual fruit. Furthermore, the classical stress relaxation models involved, the triple-element Maxwell and Caputo fractional derivative models, are compared with the LSTM model to validate its performance. Meanwhile, the LSTM and classical stress relaxation models are used to predict the stress relaxation characteristics of tomato fruit with different fruit sizes and compression positions. The results for the whole test dataset show that the LSTM model achieves a RMSE of $2.829\times {10}^{-5}$ Mpa and a MAPE of 0.228%. It significantly outperforms the Caputo fractional derivative model by demonstrating a substantial enhancement with a 37% decrease in RMSE and a 36% reduction in MAPE. Further analysis of individual tomato fruit reveals the LSTM model’s performance, with the minimum RMSE recorded at the septum position being $3.438\times {10}^{-5}$ Mpa, 31% higher than the maximum RMSE at the locule position. Similarly, the lowest MAPE at the septum stands at 0.375%, outperforming the highest MAPE at the locule position by a significant margin of 90%. Moreover, the LSTM model consistently reports the smallest discrepancies between the predicted and observed values compared to classical stress relaxation models. This accuracy suggests that the LSTM model could effectively supplant classical stress relaxation models for predicting stress relaxation changes in individual tomato fruit. Full article

Physiological disorders impact the yield and quality of marketable fruit in tomato. Puffy fruit caused by cavities inside the locule can be problematic for processing and fresh market quality. In this paper, we used a recombinant inbred line (RIL) and three derived processing tomato populations to map and validate quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for fruit puffiness across environments. Binary interval mapping was used for mapping the incidence of fruit puffiness, and non-parametric interval mapping and parametric composite interval mapping were used for mapping severity. Marker–trait regressions were carried out to validate putative QTLs in subsequent crosses. QTLs were detected on chromosome (Chr) 1, 2, and 4. Only the QTL on Chr 1 was validated in progeny from subsequent crosses. This QTL explained up to 22.5% of the variance in the percentage of puffy fruit, with a significant interaction between loci on Chr 2 and 4, increasing the percentage of puffy fruit by an additional 15%. The allele responsible for puffy fruit on Chr 1 was inherited from parent FG02-188 and was dominant towards increased incidence and severity. Marker-assisted selection (MAS) for the QTL on Chr 1 was as efficient as genomic selection (GS) in reducing the incidence and severity of puffy fruit, despite the potential contribution of other loci. Full article

Based on morphological, chemical and molecular studies, two new species of the lichen genus Letrouitia are newly described from China. Letrouitia arcuata is distinguished by its arcuate ascospores [8–10(–12)-locular, (28–)33–50(–62.5) × (8–)10–14.5 µm] and L. sinuosa by its ascomata with wavy margins and ascospores with lens-shaped locules [6–8-locular, (18–)19.5–32(–34) × (6.5–)8–14 μm]. In addition, L. magenta is reported for the first time as a new record in China, characterized by small and round ascomata. The descriptions, distribution and phylogenetic analysis of the respective species have been actualized and a key to the Letrouitia species known from China is provided. Full article

Fruit locule number is an important agronomic trait that affects fruit appearance, quality, and yield. CLAVATA3 (SlCLV3) is a candidate gene of the fasciated (fas) locus that plays a role in controlling the number of flower organs and fruit locules in tomato. The SlCLV3 encoding signal peptide mainly acts by inhibiting the expression of WUSCHEL (WUS) but there is little research about how the receptor transmits the CLV3 signal to WUS and inhibits its expression. The CRISPR/Cas9 method was employed to edit the first exon of tomato SlCLV3 in this study, leading to the functional deletion of SlCLV3. As a result, flowers with a high number of organs and fruits with a high number of locules were produced. We screened six candidate genes using the transcriptome of clv3 mutants, analyzed expression variations in these genes between the cultivated allele and wild-type allele of fas, and showed that only SlLET6 and SlGIF1 (GRF1-interacting factor 1) were influenced by the fas locus. SlLET6 overexpression resulted in an increase in flower carpels and fruit locules. These results suggest that SlLET6 may be the downstream gene of SlCLV3 regulating the number of carpels and fruit locules in tomato. Full article