Search Results (4,979)

Single-factor experiments were conducted with sensory score set as the evaluation index to investigate individual effects of sugar substitution dosage, mass ratio of xylitol (Xyl) to isomaltooligosaccharide (IMO), and osmotic soaking duration on the comprehensive quality of low-sugar strawberry preserves. Box–Behnken design (BBD)-based response surface methodology (RSM) and back-propagation neural network (BPNN) models were subsequently established for parallel process optimization and comparative modeling analysis based on single-factor experimental datasets. Physicochemical indicators including total sugar, titratable acidity, total flavonoids, total phenolics, chromatic aberration, moisture content and water activity of low-sugar strawberry preserves manufactured under optimized technological parameters were determined and systematically compared with those of sucrose-controlled counterparts. The RSM and BPNN models predicted maximum sensory scores of 81.62 and 82.62, respectively. Experimental verification conducted under the practically adjusted optimal conditions derived from the RSM and BPNN models yielded sensory scores of 81.63 and 82.72, respectively, with the BPNN-derived condition achieving a higher verified sensory score than the RSM-derived condition. Based on these results, the optimal processing parameters were determined as a 40% (w/w) addition amount of compound sugar substitute, a Xyl/IMO mass ratio of 1.5, and a soaking time of 5.5 h. Lower total sugar and titratable acidity, yet higher contents of total phenolics and flavonoids, were detected in sugar-substituted strawberry preserves in comparison with sucrose-preserved samples. Meanwhile, stronger red–yellow chromaticity was observed in sucrose-based preserves, while sugar-substituted products delivered higher lightness. Superior predictive capacity of the BPNN model to RSM was validated in the formulation optimization of strawberry preserves. Our experimental findings show that partially replacing sucrose with functional sweeteners improves the nutritional attributes of fruit preserves without impairing their sensory acceptability. Full article

This study systematically investigated the physicochemical characteristics of Vachellia honey from four major Kenya regions (Baringo, Katikit, Nakuru, and Bomet) using NMR spectroscopy, assessing sugars, organic acids, amino acids, and fermentation-related indicators. The results revealed significant differences in key quality parameters, indicating poor consistency and a lack of standardized production. Baringo honey exhibited higher total sugar and proline levels, consistent with high-quality mature honey. Bomet honey showed a significantly elevated sucrose content (>5%), exceeding international standards. Katikit honey displayed abnormally high levels of HMF and multiple fermentation-related organic acids, suggesting improper storage or over-processing. The organic acid profiles, including malic acid and citric acid, also varied considerably among regions. Antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus was significantly stronger for Baringo, Katikit, and Bomet than Nakuru (p < 0.05), indicating good antimicrobial potential with regional variation. Multivariate analyses identified antibacterial activity, sucrose, alanine, glucose, citric acid, and total fructose + glucose as key geographical discriminators. Overall, the findings indicate that Kenyan Vachellia honey is inconsistent, with some samples exhibiting immaturity or storage-related defects, underscoring the urgent need for unified production standards and quality control systems. Full article

Peach fruit quality—including sweetness, firmness, and nutritional value—is strongly determined by mineral nutrition, yet limited soil availability of calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) under production activities often constrains high-quality fruit formation in juicy peach production. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar application of Ca and Mg on leaf nutrient status and fruit quality in peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch). Seven treatments were established, including 0.1% (T1), 0.2% (T2), and 0.3% (T3) CaCl₂ solutions, 0.1% (T4), 0.2% (T5), and 0.3% (T6) MgSO₄ solutions, and a water-sprayed control (CK). All treatments were applied during the fruit development stage, and RNA sequencing analysis was performed on the highest-concentration MgSO₄ treatment group. The results of this study showed that high-concentration treatments (0.3% CaCl₂, T3; 0.3% MgSO₄, T6) significantly increased leaf chlorophyll and Ca/Mg accumulation relative to CK. For Ca treatments, T3 significantly increased sucrose content, whereas T2 enhanced glucose accumulation and total phenolic content, indicating that appropriate CaCl₂ supplementation may improve fruit quality through regulation of carbohydrate metabolism and antioxidant responses. T6 produced the greatest gains in soluble sugars, soluble solids, vitamin C, and antioxidant capacity, indicating a close link between leaf Mg status and carbohydrate accumulation. Transcriptomic analysis of peach leaves further revealed that Mg supplementation modulated genes involved in starch and sucrose metabolism, contributing to sugar accumulation. This study revealed that foliar application of 0.3% MgSO₄ offers an effective strategy for improving peach fruit quality. Full article

Tessaria absinthioides (Hook. & Arn.) DC. (Asteraceae) decoction (DTa) is used to treat hypercholesterolemia, diabetes and digestive disorders in the traditional medicine of Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and Uruguay. The present study evaluated the effects of DTa on glucose metabolism and behavior and compared them with metformin under chronic sucrose exposure and normal conditions. Male Sprague-Dawley rats received water, sucrose, DTa (5 or 10% w/v) with or without sucrose, or metformin (12.5 or 25 mg/kg) under water- or sucrose-fed conditions for 40 days, according to the experimental design. Glucose homeostasis was assessed by fasting glycemia and a glucose tolerance test (GTT), while behavior was evaluated using the open field, elevated plus maze (EPM), and novel object location tests. Under sucrose-fed conditions, DTa was associated with lower fasting glycemia, while both DTa and metformin improved GTT, as evidenced by reduced iAUC values. Behavioral analyses revealed modulation of exploratory and risk-assessment behavior by DTa, particularly in the EPM, where DTa10 increased total distance traveled and head-dip behavior under sucrose-fed conditions. Under normal conditions, DTa10 was associated with lower fasting glucose levels without significant changes in GTT, whereas behavioral effects were mainly restricted to specific ethological parameters. No effects were detected on spatial recognition memory under either condition. In DTa, fifty-one compounds were detected by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography coupled to photodiode array and Orbitrap mass spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA-OT-MS/MS), of which forty-one were identified, including several caffeoylquinic acids, fatty acids, and characteristic eudesmane sesquiterpenoids. Several of these compounds have been previously associated with metabolic and neurobehavioral effects, providing further support for the pharmacological potential of DTa. Taken together, these findings highlight T. absinthioides as a promising source of bioactive phytocompounds with the potential to modulate glucose homeostasis and behavioral responses. Full article

Populus simonii × P. nigra is a valuable model for studying woody plant responses to saline-alkaline stress, however the molecular mechanisms underlying its adaptation remain poorly understood. Here, integrated transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses were used to examine the responses in leaves to low (50 mmol/L) and high (200 mmol/L) alkaline salt stress over 7 and 14 days. Physiological assessments revealed that high-concentration stress inhibited growth, induced oxidative damage, elevated malondialdehyde (MDA) content, enhanced antioxidant enzyme activity (SOD, POD, CAT), and promoted osmoregulatory compound accumulation (soluble sugars, proline, free amino acids). RNA sequencing revealed extensive transcriptional reprogramming, with more pronounced changes under higher stress and longer exposure. KEGG enrichment highlighted pathways such as plant hormone signal transduction starch/sucrose metabolism, and flavonoid and phenylpropanoid biosynthesis. Metabolomic profiling detected 4257 metabolites, with notable increases in amino acids, organic acids, sugars, and flavonoids. Integrated analyses revealed coordinated regulation of genes and metabolites in phenylalanine, tyrosine, and tryptophan biosynthesis, as well as hormone signaling. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) identified modules correlated with physiological traits, enriched in stress-responsive transcription factors (MYB, AP2/ERF, NAC, WRKY) and metabolic pathways. Key genes in starch/sucrose degradation, and raffinose metabolism were upregulated, whereas phenylpropanoid metabolism-related genes were suppressed. Collectively, these findings provide insight into the adaptive mechanisms of P. simonii × P. nigra to saline-alkaline stress, highlighting regulatory genes and pathways that contribute to tolerance and offering potential targets for enhancing poplar resilience in alkaline salt environments. Full article

Potato tubers exhibit prominent spatial heterogeneity in starch accumulation across distinct anatomical zones, yet the underlying transcriptional and metabolic regulatory mechanisms remain unclear, especially the molecular basis for divergent starch deposition between high- and low-starch tetraploid cultivars. In this study, the high-starch cultivar Atlantic (DX) and low-starch cultivar Dingshu No. 1 (D) were used as experimental materials. Dynamic starch contents of the tuber cortex (CR), perimedullary region (PMR), and inner medullary region (IMR) were measured throughout starch biosynthetic stages. Integrated untargeted metabolomics and RNA-seq transcriptomics were performed to compare transcriptional and metabolic differentiation between CR and IMR with the largest starch gap, followed by qRT-PCR verification of hub genes. Physiological results showed that starch content in both cultivars followed the gradient CR > PMR > IMR, and inter-regional starch disparities expanded continuously with tuber development; low-starch D had lower overall starch levels and milder tissue differences than DX. Transcriptomic analysis revealed massive transcriptional activation in the cortex of both cultivars, while D displayed far more dramatic transcriptional divergence between CR and IMR than DX. Core transcription factors including AP2/ERF, bHLH and MYB were identified to mediate tissue-specific starch synthesis. Metabolomic data demonstrated severe carbon metabolic polarization in D (hyperactive cortex, weak inner medulla), whereas DX maintained balanced sugar metabolism across whole tuber tissues. Integrated multi-omics analysis of the starch and sucrose pathway (ko00500) screened 18 key structural genes. High-starch DX upregulated starch synthetic and sugar transport genes while repressing starch hydrolysis and carbon diversion genes, realizing coordinated whole-tuber carbon flux toward starch production. In contrast, D showed disrupted regulatory networks, excessive carbon shunting to secondary metabolism and aggravated starch degradation, limiting starch accumulation. Three conserved negative regulatory candidate genes, LOC102593331 (TPS), LOC102584887 (AMY), and LOC102580651 (EN), were characterized via tissue expression profiling: TPS dominates upstream carbon flux allocation, EN competes for starch precursors during cell wall synthesis, and AMY accelerates starch breakdown. This study systematically uncovered the molecular framework of spatial starch heterogeneity in tetraploid potato tubers, clarified the essential distinctions in carbon partitioning strategies between high- and low-starch cultivars, and provided valuable gene resources and theoretical support for high-starch potato molecular design breeding. Full article

Polygonatum sibiricum Red. is a medicinal and edible homologous plant whose rhizome quality determines its clinical efficacy and commercial value. However, conventional evaluations typically treat the entire rhizome as homogeneous, overlooking the intrinsic heterogeneity along age nodes, and the regulatory mechanisms governing such age-dependent quality variation remain largely unclear. In this study, four-year-old rhizomes were precisely segmented into four age nodes (HJ1–HJ4), and the contents of polysaccharides, flavonoids, and saponins were systematically determined alongside comparative transcriptome sequencing to dissect the age-dependent bioactive variation and underlying molecular mechanisms. The three bioactive components exhibited markedly asynchronous accumulation patterns, with polysaccharides peaking at HJ3, flavonoids at HJ4, and saponins at HJ1. Transcriptomic analysis identified 19,638 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), with KEGG enrichment pointing to starch and sucrose metabolism, flavonoid biosynthesis, and steroid biosynthesis as the pivotal pathways. A coordinated transcriptional reprogramming emerged across development, characterized by early upregulation of backbone-construction genes and progressive activation of modification-and-decoration genes—yet it manifested through pathway-specific regulatory logics, with Mantel tests further confirming that key genes, including β-amylase3, CYP75B11, and squalene epoxidase (SQLE), were significantly correlated with the accumulation of polysaccharides, flavonoids, and saponins, respectively. These findings challenge the conventional assumption that older nodes are universally superior and establish that age-node differentiation reflects fundamental metabolic reprogramming, supporting a node-targeted utilization strategy encompassing HJ3 for polysaccharide-based products, HJ4 for antioxidant applications, HJ1 for saponin extraction, and HJ2 for bulk materials, while providing both mechanistic insights and practical guidance for precision harvesting and quality-oriented management of P. sibiricum. Full article

Background/Objectives: We compared juvenile whole-stem transcriptomes of Quercus glauca, Quercus acutissima, Quercus fabri, and Castanopsis sclerophylla to examine carbon metabolism and transport. Methods: Three seedlings per species were sampled in one session. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data were analyzed using differential-expression analysis, direction-specific Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment, gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA), and leading-edge analysis. Quantitative reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) was performed on aliquots from the same RNA extractions. Results: Reference-based analyses identified 8596–11,823 differentially expressed genes across six contrasts. GSEA detected 25 significant pathway-by-contrast associations across 13 pathways at a false discovery rate below 0.05. Q. glauca showed photosynthesis, starch turnover, and flavonoid pathway signals. Q. acutissima showed sugar-metabolism and ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transport signals, with XTH23 providing an annotation-based wall-remodeling candidate. Q. fabri showed enrichment of sulfur amino acid metabolism, nucleotide sugar metabolism, and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling. C. sclerophylla showed ABC transport and galactose metabolism enrichment, with candidates annotated for raffinose synthesis and extracellular sucrose cleavage. Eleven of 12 candidates were present in at least one significant GSEA leading edge; XTH23 was selected using differential expression and annotation. Both assays identified the same species as having the highest expression for every candidate; eight genes also showed the same rank order across all four species. Conclusions: The sampled stems differed in the expression of genes associated with carbon metabolism, transport, and regulation. These whole-stem patterns provide candidates for tissue-resolved and physiological studies. Full article

Cacao mucilage is an underutilized cacao side stream with potential as an acidic base for value-added beverages. This study evaluated five minimally formulated CCN-51 mucilage beverages containing water and either honey or sucrose to determine whether formulations with the highest chemical responses also achieved the greatest consumer acceptance. Physicochemical properties were determined in three independent batches, whereas Folin–Ciocalteu, DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP responses were measured in four independent batches. Consumer data were obtained from 135 adults who completed evaluations of all five formulations using a seven-point hedonic scale. Formulation affected pH, total soluble solids, titratable acidity, the TSS/TA ratio, and all chemical responses (p < 0.001). Unformulated mucilage showed the highest DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP values. Among beverages, F4 (45% mucilage, 15% honey) had the highest Folin–Ciocalteu response (60.64 mg GAE/g), whereas sucrose-sweetened F5 showed the highest DPPH and FRAP responses. F3 (40% mucilage, 10% honey) achieved the highest composite acceptance (5.59/7; 81.5% favorable responses). Multivariate analysis distinguished the Folin–Ciocalteu response from the antioxidant-assay pattern, showing that the highest chemical responses and greatest consumer acceptance occurred in different formulations. These findings identify F3 as the most promising starting formulation for subsequent mixture-design, microbiological, shelf-life, and scale-up validation and support cacao-mucilage valorization by cacao processors and beverage manufacturers. Full article

Honey is one of the most frequently adulterated food products owing to its higher commercial value and increased consumer demand. Its adulteration with inexpensive sugar syrups is a major challenge affecting honey authenticity and is resulting in decreased consumer confidence in the honey supply chain. The present study evaluated the capability of Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy coupled with attenuated total reflectance (FTIR–ATR) and chemometric modeling to detect, classify, and quantify major sugar-based adulterants, namely fructose, glucose, invert sugar, jaggery syrup, maltose, and sucrose in honey samples. For the study, multifloral honey samples were experimentally adulterated with each adulterant @ 1, 5, 10, and 20% (w/w), and FTIR spectra were collected in the 650–4000 cm⁻¹ region and carbohydrate fingerprint region (1500–750 cm⁻¹) was used for multivariate analysis. Results indicated principal component analysis differentiated pure and adulterated honey samples with concentration-dependent clustering patterns while PLSR demonstrated excellent predictive performance. The calibration R² values ranged from 0.9656 to 1.0000, whereas replicate-level hold-out evaluation gave R² values of 0.9270–0.9999 with standard errors of prediction of 0.1342–2.0250%. Partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) gave an overall sample-level classification accuracy of 92.0% in calibration and 88.0% in the hold-out dataset, with macro-averaged class accuracies of 97.71% and 96.57%, respectively. These findings demonstrate the potential of FTIR–ATR spectroscopy coupled with chemometric modeling as a rapid, non-destructive, reliable, and cost-effective alternative for routine honey authenticity testing, making it a valuable tool for quality control laboratories, regulatory agencies, and the honey industry. Full article

Nutritional supplementation with pollen and protein-based patties is widely used in apiculture to support honey bee (Apis mellifera carnica) colonies during periods of limited natural forage, particularly in early spring and late summer. This study evaluated the effects of different supplemental diets on the survival, food intake, and gross energy content of caged adult worker bees of mixed ages under controlled laboratory conditions. Worker bees were fed four different diets: sucrose syrup (control), sugar patty, protein patty, and pollen patty. Survival, food intake, and gross energy content were assessed over an 18-day experimental period. Survival differed significantly among dietary treatments in both spring and summer experiments, with the highest final survival observed in bees receiving sugar patty (HBP). Aged-related differences in survival were treatment-dependent. Descriptive calorimetric data showed that bees receiving the pollen-enriched patty (HBP-PO) had the highest mean GE of bee body (22.05 ± 0.38 MJ/kg), with similarly high values observed in the 18-day old bees (22.28 ± 0.18 MJ/kg) and 20-day old bee workers (22.26 ± 0.23 MJ/kg). Notably, the GE content of the experimental diets did not correspond directly to the GE measured in bee bodies: the sucrose syrup had the highest dietary GE (16.56 ± 0.01 MJ/kg), whereas bees fed pollen-enriched patty showed the highest descriptive mean GE despite this diet having the lowest GE among the tested patties. These findings indicate that dietary caloric density alone may not predict the energetic status or survival of worker bees and suggest that diet composition and worker age contribute to different physiological responses to supplemental feeding. The experiment was conducted under controlled cage conditions; further studies at the colony level under apiary conditions are needed to determine whether these individual-level responses are maintained within functioning honey bee colonies. Full article

Zeugodacus tau (Walker) is a polyphagous invasive tephritid capable of cross-family host shifts from ancestral Cucurbitaceae crops to phylogenetically divergent commercial fruits, causing severe horticultural economic losses. As an obligate fruit-boring pest, Z. tau largely relies on larval metabolic plasticity to achieve successful colonization of novel hosts during host shifts. However, few matched fruit–larva metabolomic studies integrate host chemistry to larval physiology, hindering sustainable pest control development. We performed untargeted LC–MS metabolomics on matched fruit and third-instar larval samples from eight hosts after multi-generational acclimation. Principal component analysis (PCA) split fruit and larval metabolomes into cucurbit and non-cucurbit clusters, indicating that larval metabolic profiles align with host fruit chemistry during host shifts. Cucurbit fruits contained uniformly high γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and their larvae exhibited enriched glutamate (Glu)-centred amino acid pathways. Non-cucurbit fruits showed heterogeneous chemical composition: larvae-fed banana, mango and pitaya all possessed high UDP-glucose (UDPG), whose levels correlated with fruit glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) enriched in banana and mango. Overall, larvae colonizing distinct non-cucurbit hosts deployed a suite of divergent carbohydrate metabolic modules to respond to variable fruit chemical microenvironments. Banana and pitaya larvae showed enhanced starch–sucrose turnover, whereas mango larvae featured prominent ascorbate and aldarate metabolism; both pathways are closely connected to carbohydrate homeostasis. Orange and guava larvae activated distinct gluconeogenic branches. Gluconeogenesis itself constitutes an important component of carbohydrate metabolism. This dual-metabolome profiling uncovered host-specific biomarkers and two divergent metabolic strategies underlying the host shift in Z. tau, characterizing host-linked metabolic variation after long-term laboratory acclimation, which delivers correlative biochemical clues for subsequent pest management research. Full article

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is characterized by progressive muscle wasting with altered iron homeostasis and dysregulated lipid metabolism. Insulin resistance and obesity are common in DMD, but their impact on disease progression, particularly during glucocorticoid (GC) treatment, remains unclear. The role of ferroptosis, iron-dependent cell death, in DMD muscle pathology remains uncertain. We hypothesized that ferroptotic signaling would increase in mdx skeletal muscle, be further exacerbated by a high-fat, high-sucrose diet (HFHSD), and be attenuated by GC treatment. Male C57 and mdx mice were fed a control diet or HFHSD, with or without prednisolone, for 19 weeks before diaphragm western blot analysis. Dystrophic diaphragms had an increased abundance of transferrin (131%, p = 0.0006), transferrin receptor (72%, p = 0.0041), ferritin heavy chain (281%, p < 0.0001), acyl-CoA synthetase long-chain family member 4 (36%, p = 0.0080), and 5-lipoxygenase (101%, p = 0.0016) compared with C57. Despite these pro-ferroptotic changes, malondialdehyde and 4-hydroxynonenal were unchanged. Glutathione peroxidase 4 was robustly increased (800%, p < 0.0001), suggesting maintenance of redox balance and suppression of ferroptotic death. The HFHSD did not exacerbate ferroptotic signaling, whereas GC treatment partially offset disease-related changes in iron-handling and antioxidant proteins. These findings indicate that dystrophic diaphragms experience ferroptotic stress that is actively constrained, likely by compensatory GPX4 changes. Full article

Drought stress is a major abiotic factor that negatively affects plant growth, physiological processes, and yield in pepper cultivation. This study evaluated the ameliorative effects of exogenous glutathione (GSH) at 50 µM and 100 µM in pepper seedlings grown under water-restricted conditions (60% field capacity), using morphological, physiological, and biochemical parameters. Water restriction significantly reduced seedling height, stem diameter, leaf area, and plant and root fresh and dry weights, and decreased chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll content, and plant growth hormones. Conversely, water restriction significantly increased hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), malondialdehyde (MDA), proline, sucrose, and abscisic acid (ABA) content. Glutathione application, on the other hand, significantly reduced water-restriction-induced growth damage, increased biomass production and chlorophyll content, and supported the antioxidant defense capacity of plants by decreasing H₂O₂ and MDA levels, which are indicators of oxidative stress. It also improved osmotic balance by regulating proline and sucrose accumulation and increased seedling adaptation to water restriction. In conclusion, exogenous GSH acted as a potential biostimulant under water-deficit conditions, with its beneficial effects associated with improved osmotic adjustment through the regulation of proline and sucrose accumulation, enhanced antioxidant defense, and modulation of endogenous phytohormone levels. Full article

In perennial fruit trees, erratic floral initiation and alternate bearing represent major horticultural challenges, yet how vegetative shoot maturity conditions low-temperature responsiveness remains poorly understood. Here, using litchi (Litchi chinensis Sonn.) as a model, we deciphered the physiological and molecular framework governing maturity-dependent floral induction under winter chilling. Mature terminal shoots exhibited exceptional flowering competence and superior inflorescence morphology, whereas immature expanding shoots failed to initiate pure panicles. Dynamic metabolic profiling revealed that shoot maturation established a high-energy status characterized by elevated sucrose accumulation and sustained transcription of trehalose-6-phosphate synthase genes (LcTPS1/3/4). At the transcriptional level, specific members of LcSPL1, LcSPL3, and LcSPL10 were strongly upregulated in mature shoots, reaching peak expression at the “whitish millet” stage, marking morphological flower bud differentiation. Functional characterization in Arabidopsis thaliana confirmed that ectopic expression of LcSPL1/3/10 significantly accelerated flowering time and reduced rosette leaf number. Mechanistically, dual-luciferase reporter assays demonstrated that LcSPL1, LcSPL3, and LcSPL10 transcriptionally activated the promoter of the florigen gene LcFT1, with LcSPL1 exerting the strongest transactivation, whereas the immature shoot-enriched LcSPL9 repressed LcFT1 expression. Concurrently, mature leaves exhibited a dramatic surge in LcFT1 transcript levels alongside persistent suppression of the floral repressor LcTFL1. Together, our findings demonstrate that shoot maturity confers floral competence through an integrated T6P metabolism and LcSPL1/3/10–LcFT1 transcriptional cascade. This study provides crucial theoretical insights and potential targets for flowering-related regulation in perennial woody crops. Full article