Search Results (2,436)

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

Choy sum (Brassica rapa var. parachinensis) is an important vegetable crop in Brassicaceae. However, its mitochondrial genome has not been well studied. In this study, Illumina and Nanopore sequencing technologies were combined to assemble the complete mitochondrial genome of choy sum. The mitochondrial genome is a circular molecule of 219,775 bp, with a GC content of 45.23%. A total of 60 genes were annotated, including 33 protein-coding genes (PCGs), 23 transfer RNA (tRNA) genes, 3 ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes, and one pseudogene. A total of 466 RNA editing sites were identified in the PCGs. Codon usage analysis revealed that leucine (leu) was the most frequently used amino acid. Twenty-nine codons showed a relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) value greater than 1. Most of these preferred codons ended with A or U. A total of 308 repetitive sequences were detected, including 136 dispersed repeats, 17 tandem repeats, and 55 simple sequence repeats (SSRs). Evolutionary analysis indicated that most mitochondrial genes are under negative selection. The highest nucleotide diversity detected in the cox2 gene suggests that this gene could serve as a valuable molecular marker for mitochondrial research in the species. Homology analysis found 22 homologous fragments between the mitochondrial and chloroplast genomes of choy sum. These fragments total 13,325 bp, representing 6.06% of the mitochondrial genome. Phylogenetic analysis showed that choy sum is most closely related to B. rapa var. purpuraria. This study offers a genomic resource for genetic improvement and breeding of choy sum. It also provides molecular insights into the evolution of Brassica species. Full article

Salinity is a major constraint that compromises safflower performance by disrupting redox balance and metabolic homeostasis. Although hormonal mechanisms for improving plant resilience to abiotic stresses have been reported, the mechanistic role of gibberellic acid (GA₃)-induced regulation of safflower tolerance to salinity remains unclear. This study aimed to investigate the impact of exogenous GA₃ application under normal and saline conditions to evaluate its effects on growth, physiology, redox regulation, and flavonoid biosynthesis in safflower. Using phenotypic, physiological, biochemical, and gene expression analysis, it is suggested that GA₃ significantly alleviates salt stress by integrating antioxidant defense and flavonoid biosynthesis. The results of phenotypic and physiological assessments showed that GA₃ at 400 mg/L GA₃ in safflower seedlings suggests enhanced vegetative growth and photosynthetic performance. Under salt stress, GA₃ significantly alleviated oxidative damage by reducing H₂O₂, ${\mathrm{O}}_2^{-}$, and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, while enhancing osmoprotective compounds such as proline, soluble sugars, proteins, and chlorophyll. GA₃ also significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, POD, CAT, APX, GST, DHAR, and Prx), accompanied by the transcriptional upregulation of their corresponding genes, indicating GA₃-mediated regulation of redox homeostasis at both biochemical and molecular levels. In parallel, GA₃ enhanced the accumulation of major flavonoids, particularly hydroxy safflor yellow A (HSYA), with strong induction of key HSYA biosynthetic genes (CtF6H, CtCGT, Ct2OGD1), whereas salinity alone suppressed their expression. In contrast, the quercetin branch displayed a regulatory bottleneck at CtF3H, which remained suppressed under all treatments, although upstream genes were GA₃-responsive. Together, these findings demonstrate that GA₃ enhances salinity tolerance in safflower by simultaneously activating antioxidant defenses and stimulating flavonoid biosynthesis, providing mechanistic insight with practical implications for developing salt-resilient safflower varieties. Full article

Elevated atmospheric CO₂ is known to alter plant physiology, yet its specific effects on nutrient-rich leafy vegetables remain insufficiently quantified. This study aimed to examine how eCO₂ influences yield and nutritional quality in kale (Brassica oleracea) and spinach (Spinacia oleracea) through the first meta-analysis focused exclusively on these crops. Following the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence (CEE) guidelines, we systematically reviewed eligible studies and conducted a random-effects meta-analysis to evaluate overall and subgroup responses based on CO₂ concentration, crop type and exposure duration. Effect sizes were calculated using Hedges’ g with 95% confidence intervals. The analysis showed that eCO₂ significantly increased biomass in spinach (g = 1.21) and kale (g = 0.97). However, protein content declined in both crops (spinach: g = −0.76; kale: g = −0.61), and mineral concentrations, particularly calcium and magnesium, were reduced, with spinach exhibiting stronger nutrient losses overall. The variability in response across different CO₂ concentrations and exposure times further underscores the complexity of eCO₂ effects. These results highlight a trade-off between productivity and nutritional quality under future CO₂ conditions. Addressing this challenge will require strategies such as targeted breeding programmes, biofortification, precision agriculture and improved sustainable agricultural practices to maintain nutrient density. This research provides critical evidence for policymakers and scientists to design sustainable food systems that safeguard public health in a changing climate. Full article

Mtx1 is a mosquitocidal protein that exhibits high toxicity toward Culex species. It is produced during the vegetative phase of Lysinibacillus sphaericus but at very low levels and is rapidly degraded. The low expression appears to result from a weak promoter and a potential regulatory stem-loop structure in the 5′ untranslated region. To investigate this regulation, promoter variants of mtx1 were constructed to disrupt stem-loop formation, and promoter activity was assessed using green fluorescent protein (GFP) as a reporter. Disruption of the inverted repeat resulted in approximately twofold higher fluorescence compared with the wild-type promoter in L. sphaericus 2297, indicating partial derepression of translation. To improve protein stability, Bacillus subtilis WB800N, a protease-deficient host, was employed for heterologous expression. Truncated Mtx1 (tMtx1) was secreted into the culture medium, and no obvious degradation products were detected by Western blot analysis under the conditions tested. Although the overall yield was low and not quantitatively determined, the secreted protein retained biological activity. Larvicidal assays showed elevated mortality in tMtx1-containing culture supernatants, with an estimated LC₅₀ at approximately a 1:83 dilution and detectable activity up to a 1:512 dilution relative to control cultures. These results demonstrate that the upstream inverted repeat contributes to partial repression of mtx1 expression in L. sphaericus and that protease-deficient B. subtilis can be used as a host for producing biologically active tMtx1, although further optimization will be required to improve yield. Full article

Maize (Zea mays L.) is a major economic crop highly susceptible to Colletotrichum graminicola, the causal agent of anthracnose leaf blight, which causes substantial annual yield losses. This fungal pathogen employs numerous effectors to manipulate plant immunity, yet the functions of many secreted proteins during biphasic infection remain poorly characterized. In this study, we identified CgMas2, a candidate secreted protein in C. graminicola and a homolog of Magnaporthe oryzae MoMas2. Deletion of CgMAS2 in the wild-type strain CgM2 did not affect fungal vegetative growth or conidial morphology but significantly impaired virulence on maize leaves. Leaf sheath infection assays revealed that CgMas2 is required for biotrophic invasive hyphal growth, as the mutant showed defective spreading of invasive hyphae to adjacent cells. Subcellular localization analysis indicated that CgMas2 localizes to the cytoplasm of conidia and to the primary infection hyphae. Furthermore, DAB staining demonstrated that disrupt of CgMAS2 leads to host reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Comparative transcriptome analysis of maize infected with ΔCgmas2 versus CgM2 revealed enrichment of GO terms related to peroxisome and defense response, along with up-regulation of benzoxazinoid biosynthesis genes (benzoxazinone biosynthesis 3, 4 and 5) at 60 h post-inoculation (hpi). Conversely, six ethylene-responsive transcription factors (ERF2, ERF3, ERF56, ERF112, ERF115 and ERF118) involved in ethylene signaling pathways were down-regulated at 96 hpi. These expression patterns were validated by RT-qPCR. Collectively, our results demonstrate that CgMas2 not only promotes invasive hyphal growth during the biotrophic stage but may also modulate phytohormone signaling and defense compound biosynthesis during the necrotrophic phase of infection. Full article

Soybean is a key global crop for food and oil production, playing a vital role in ensuring food security and supplying plant-based proteins and oils. Accurate information on soybean distribution is essential for yield forecasting, agricultural management, and policymaking. In this study, we developed an Enhanced Chlorophyll Index (NRLI) to improve the separability between soybean and maize—two spectrally similar crops that often confound traditional vegetation indices. The proposed NRLI integrates red-edge, near-infrared, and green spectral information, effectively capturing variations in chlorophyll and canopy water content during key phenological stages, particularly from flowering to pod setting and maturity. Building upon this foundation, we further introduce a pixel-wise compositing strategy based on the peak phase of NRLI to enhance the temporal adaptability and spectral discriminability in crop classification. Unlike conventional approaches that rely on imagery from fixed dates, this strategy dynamically analyzes annual time-series data, enabling phenology-adaptive alignment at the pixel level. Comparative analysis reveals that NRLI consistently outperforms existing vegetation indices, such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Enhanced Vegetation Index (EVI), and Greenness and Water Content Composite Index (GWCCI), across representative soybean-producing regions in multiple countries. It improves overall accuracy (OA) by approximately 10–20 percentage points, achieving accuracy rates exceeding 90% in large, contiguous cultivation areas. To further validate the robustness of the proposed index, benchmark comparisons were conducted against the Random Forest (RF) machine learning algorithm. The results demonstrated that the single-index NRLI approach achieved competitive performance, comparable to the multi-feature RF model, with accuracy differences generally within 1–2%. In some regions, NRLI even outperformed RF. This finding highlights NRLI as a computationally efficient alternative to complex machine learning models without compromising mapping precision. This study provides a robust, scalable, and transferable single-index approach for large-scale soybean mapping and monitoring using remote sensing. Full article

This study comprehensively characterizes the PEBP gene family in Cymbidium sinense, an orchid with a prolonged vegetative phase that limits its industrial production. Genome-wide analysis identified six CsPEBPs, classified into FT-like, TFL1-like, and MFT-like subfamilies. Evolutionary, gene structure, and collinearity analyses revealed both conservation and lineage-specific diversification of these genes. CsFTL3, a distinctive FT-like member, displayed notably high expression during the bud undifferentiated stage, followed by a sharp downregulation upon floral initiation. Functional studies identified CsFTL3 as a key floral repressor. Heterologous overexpression in Arabidopsis delayed flowering time from 32.0 days (wild-type) to 63.0–75.3 days (transgenic) and increased rosette leaf number from 12.6 to 33.0–34.5, while its knockdown via virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) in C. sinense accelerated floral bud development and upregulated flowering-promoter genes. Phylogenetically, CsFTL3 falls within the flowering repressor FT-I clade, and multiple sequence alignment identified critical amino acid substitutions (Y134S, W138L, Q140E) that likely underpin its functional divergence from typical flowering promoters. Furthermore, promoter analysis revealed an enrichment of light-, hormone-, and stress-responsive cis-elements, and its expression was modulated by gibberellin (GA), abscisic acid (ABA), and low-temperature treatments. Predicted protein–protein interaction and transcriptional regulatory networks provide preliminary insights into its complex regulation. We conclude that CsFTL3 acts as a crucial floral inhibitor, integrating environmental and endogenous cues to repress flowering. These findings offer fundamental insights into the molecular mechanisms of flowering in orchids and provide a valuable genetic resource for molecular breeding programs aimed at achieving precise flowering time control. Full article

Background/Objectives: Replacing fish oil with vegetable oil is an important measure for aquaculture to relieve the pressure of fish oil, but it is also easy to cause the growth decline and metabolic disorder of farmed animals, mainly due to the change in dietary fatty acids. This study investigated the regulatory effects of dietary fatty acid composition on glucose metabolism in large yellow croaker (Larimichthys crocea) with an initial weight of 30.51 ± 0.16 g. Methods: Three isonitrogenous (~43% crude protein) and isolipid (~11% crude lipid) diets were formulated as follows: control (CON, DHA/EPA-rich oil as primary lipid), moderate palmitic acid (MPA, 50% of DHA+EPA-rich oil was replaced by glyceryl palmitate), and high palmitic acid (HPA, 100% of DHA+EPA-rich oil was replaced by glyceryl palmitate). Results: After 10 weeks of feeding, the HPA significantly reduced the liver/muscle glycogen contents, increased the liver lipid content, decreased the serum leptin/insulin level, and increased the adiponectin level. The levels of DHA and EPA in liver were decreased significantly. Transcriptionally, HPA upregulated hepatic glucokinase (gk, glycolysis) but down-regulated glycogen synthase (gys) and insulin/irs2 (insulin pathway) while inhibiting muscle ampk and leptin receptor (lepr). Conclusions: This study showed that high dietary PA/(DHA + EPA) impacted glycolipid homeostasis through endocrine and transcriptional regulation, leading to increased crude lipid and decreased glycogen levels, which provides a theoretical basis for scientific aquatic feed fatty acid formulation. Full article

3D-printed food (3DPF) is on the rise, enabling the development of new food products. Current applications in this domain led to the replication of meat analogs, protein-enriched products, and dietary solutions tailored to address nuanced health necessities. Central to the functional versatility of 3DPF is its capacity for post-printing textural manipulation, which facilitates diverse food applications. Integrating bioactive compounds sourced from biodiversity, vegetables, algae, and agricultural residues is not merely an exercise in culinary refinement but an outstanding contribution to the circular economy. Strategic incorporation of these bioactive compounds into foodinks enhances the antioxidant potential of consumables and contributes to physiological benefits for human health, as evidenced by extant literature, which underscores their antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties. Nevertheless, critical gaps emerge upon a meticulous examination of the recent literature, notably regarding the viability of bioactive compounds within foodink matrices for 3DPF and their bioaccessibility after simulated digestion. Thus, the objective of this review is to evaluate the current state of the art in 3DPF, with a focus on biodiversity as a source of innovative ingredients and matrices and on the bioaccessibility of associated bioactive compounds, while outlining future research directions in this field. Full article

Background: Dictyostelium discoideum is widely used in developmental and evolutionary biology due to its ability to transition from a single cell to a multicellular organism in response to starvation. While transcriptome information across its life cycle is widely available, only early-stage data exist at the proteome level. This study characterizes and compares the proteomes of D. discoideum cells at the vegetative, aggregation, mound, culmination and fruiting body stages. Methods: Samples were collected from cells developing synchronously on nitrocellulose filters. Proteins were extracted and digested with trypsin, and peptides were analyzed by liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Data were processed using Proteome Discoverer™ for protein identification and label-free quantification. Results: A total of 4502 proteins were identified, of which 1848 (41%) were present across all stages. Pairwise comparisons between adjacent stages revealed clear transitions, the largest ones occurring between the culmination and fruiting body and between the fruiting body and vegetative stage, involving 29% and 52% of proteins, respectively. Hierarchical clustering assigned proteins to one of nine clusters, each displaying a distinct pattern of abundances across the life cycle. Conclusions: This study presents the first complete developmental proteomic time series for D. discoideum, revealing changes that contribute to multicellularity, cellular differentiation and morphogenesis. Full article

Dietary pattern characterized by low intake of vegetables and fruits and high consumption of fat, soft drink and desserts are associated with an increased risk of chronic diseases. To investigate the effects of folate status and fructose intake on adenine-induced chronic kidney disease (CKD), seven-week-old C57BL/6 mice were divided into six groups and fed either a control diet (Ctrl), a 26% (w/w) high-fructose diet (Hfru), Ctrl plus 0.15% adenine (Ctrl+ade), Hfru+ade, Hfru with folate deficiency plus adenine (Hfru−f+ade), or Hfru with tenfold folate supplementation plus adenine (Hfru+f10+ade). After 10 weeks on the assigned diets, adenine was administrated to the +ade groups for 7 weeks. The results showed that all adenine-treated mice exhibited increased fasting blood glucose, urinary glucose, and elevated renal expression of collagen 1a1 (Col1a1), fibronectin (Fn1), and smooth muscle α-actin (Acta2). Compared with Ctrl mice, Hfru-fed mice showed significantly higher serum creatinine, increased urinary protein, and reduced creatinine clearance. Adenine induced kidney injury in all +ade groups, with the most severe damage observed in Hfru−f+ade mice, as indicated by elevated blood urine nitrogen (BUN), urinary protein, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), and renal fibrosis. In contrast, Hfru+f10+ade mice showed the lowest levels of these renal injury markers. The Hfru+ade diets increased renal Hif1α and iNos gene expression, which was further exacerbated by folate deficiency. Secretion of the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL-10) by splenocytes was significantly reduced under folate-deficient conditions. Renal IL-10 levels were suppressed in all +ade groups but were significantly increased by folate supplementation. Renal IL-10 levels were negatively correlated with the inflammatory chemokine monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP-1) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β, whereas renal MCP-1 levels showed positive correlations with TGF-β and IL-6. Overall, these findings suggest that high fructose consumption in the absence of adequate folate intake may be of concern for CKD progression. Full article

Background/Objectives: Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is increasingly used in musculoskeletal medicine. Variability in PRP composition, driven by preparation- and donor-related factors, is considered a major contributor to inconsistent clinical outcomes. This study investigated whether habitual dietary patterns are associated with the cellular and molecular composition of leukocyte-poor PRP (LP-PRP). Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 75 healthy adults (25 vegans, 25 vegetarians, and 25 omnivores) who adhered to their dietary patterns for ≥6 months were enrolled. LP-PRP was prepared by a standardized protocol. Cell profiles were quantified in whole blood and LP-PRP; LP-PRP proteins (IL-6, IGF-1, HGF, and PDGF-BB) were measured by ELISA. Group differences, correlations, and multivariable regressions were performed. Results: Whole blood differed by diet with respect to total leukocytes, lymphocytes, and basophils, while platelet and erythrocyte counts did not. In LP-PRP, platelet enrichment ratios and leukocyte counts were comparable across diets. IL-6 in LP-PRP was lower in vegans vs. omnivores (p = 0.017); the Animal-Based Diet Score correlated positively with LP-PRP IL-6 and remained independently associated in regression (β = 0.35, p = 0.004). While IGF-1, HGF, and PDGF-BB did not differ between dietary groups, intake-based analyses revealed associations between specific dietary components and LP-PRP proteins; notably, the fruit and vegetable intake correlated inversely with PDGF-BB, and platelet–growth factor coupling was most pronounced among omnivores. Conclusions: Dietary patterns were associated with selected molecular components of LP-PRP—most consistently IL-6—while cell counts remain largely unchanged. However, interventional studies are needed to establish causality and determine whether dietary modification can influence clinical outcomes. Full article

As a monophyletic group, bryophytes—mosses, liverworts, and hornworts—represent some of the earliest land plants, evolving under harsh terrestrial conditions that prompted major morphological, physiological, and molecular changes. Limited water availability, extreme temperatures, and osmotic stresses often caused cellular desiccation in these pioneering plants. Because bryophytes occupy a key position in land-plant evolution and are closely related to streptophyte algae, their desiccation-tolerance strategies hold significant evolutionary importance. Early adaptations included changes in growth patterns and the formation of specialized vegetative structures. Bryophytes also survive extreme habitats by regulating physiological and biochemical traits such as photosynthetic pigment maintenance, osmotic adjustment, membrane stability, redox balance, and the accumulation of compatible solutes and stress-responsive proteins. Advances in molecular biology and whole-genome sequencing of model mosses and liverworts have further revealed that they possess diverse stress-responsive signaling components, including phytohormones, receptor proteins, protein kinases, and key transcription factors that control stress-related gene expression. However, a comprehensive synthesis of these molecular mechanisms is still lacking. This review aims to provide an updated overview of how mosses and liverworts use plant growth regulators, stress-responsive proteins, compatible solutes, antioxidants, and integrated signaling networks to survive in dry terrestrial environments. Full article

In recent decades, species within the genus Amaranthus L. (amaranth) have garnered growing global interest due to their exceptional nutritional value, functional properties, and agricultural versatility. Traditionally consumed as leafy vegetables or pseudo-cereals, several Amaranthus species are now receiving renewed attention in the context of the development of modern functional foods. This review evaluates the data on nutritional composition, health-promoting properties, and potential applications of Amaranthus spp. in sustainable food systems in peer-reviewed publications from the last 25 years. Amaranth is rich in high-quality proteins, essential amino acids, dietary fibre, vitamins, and minerals, positioning it as a significant factor in addressing malnutrition and enhancing food security. Furthermore, its bioactive compounds, such as flavonoids, phenolic acids, and peptides, exhibit antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and hypocholesterolemic activities, suggesting its potential as a part of healthy diets, alleviating the risk of non-communicable diseases. The presence of anti-nutritional factors, including saponins, phytates, and oxalates, has also been explored, with implications for nutrient bioavailability and overall health effects. In addition to its nutritional advantages, Amaranthus spp. demonstrate strong adaptability to diverse climatic conditions, thus performing as a crop resilient under climate stress. Their olfactory and sensory attributes are also considered important for consumers’ acceptance and market integration. By synthesising traditional knowledge and contemporary scientific research, this review underscores the potential of Amaranthus spp. as a multifunctional food source that could support health promotion, climate resilience, and agricultural sustainability. Full article