Comparative analysis of differentially expressed genes for biosynthesis of active ingredients in fruits of different cultivars of Lycium barbarum L. based on transcriptome sequencing / 生物工程学报

To explore the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) related to biosynthesis of active ingredients in wolfberry fruits of different varieties of Lycium barbarum L. and reveal the molecular mechanism of the differences of active ingredients, we utilized Illumina NovaSeq 6000 high-throughput sequencing technology to conduct transcriptome sequencing on the fruits of 'Ningqi No.1' and 'Ningqi No.7' during the green fruit stage, color turning stage and maturity stage. Subsequently, we compared the profiles of related gene expression in the fruits of the two varieties at different development stages. The results showed that a total of 811 818 178 clean reads were obtained, resulting in 121.76 Gb of valid data. There were 2 827, 2 552 and 2 311 DEGs obtained during the green fruit stage, color turning stage and maturity stage of 'Ningqi No. 1' and 'Ningqi No. 7', respectively, among which 2 153, 2 050 and 1 825 genes were annotated in six databases, including gene ontology (GO), Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) and clusters of orthologous groups of proteins (KOG). In GO database, 1 307, 865 and 624 DEGs of green fruit stage, color turning stage and maturity stage were found to be enriched in biological processes, cell components and molecular functions, respectively. In the KEGG database, the DEGs at three developmental stages were mainly concentrated in metabolic pathways, biosynthesis of secondary metabolites and plant-pathogen interaction. In KOG database, 1 775, 1 751 and 1 541 DEGs were annotated at three developmental stages, respectively. Searching the annotated genes against the PubMed database revealed 18, 26 and 24 DEGs related to the synthesis of active ingredients were mined at the green fruit stage, color turning stage and maturity stage, respectively. These genes are involved in carotenoid, flavonoid, terpenoid, alkaloid, vitamin metabolic pathways, etc. Seven DEGs were verified by RT-qPCR, which showed consistent results with transcriptome sequencing. This study provides preliminary evidences for the differences in the content of active ingredients in different Lycium barbarum L. varieties from the transcriptional level. These evidences may facilitate further exploring the key genes for active ingredients biosynthesis in Lycium barbarum L. and analyzing their expression regulation mechanism.

Genomics: cracking the mysteries of walnuts

The Juglans plants are economically important as they provide nuts, wood and garden trees. They also play an important ecological role by supplying food for wild insects and animals. The decoding of genome sequences has fundamental values for understanding the evolution of Juglans plants and molecules, and is also a prerequisite for molecular breeding. During the last three years, the rapid development of sequencing technology has made walnut research into the genome era. Here, we reviewed the progress of genome sequencing of six Juglans species, the resequencing of four Juglans populations as well as the genome sequencing of the closely related species Pterocarya stenoptera. The analysis of the Juglans regia genome uncovers a whole genome duplication (WGD) event. Based on the molecular dating of the divergence time of six Juglans species, we proposed this WGD event was associated with Cretaceous–Palaeogene (K-Pg) boundary occurred ∼65 million years ago. Genomic sequences also provide clear details for understanding the evolution and development of GGT and PPO genes involved in fruit development. The decoding of these genomes has made it easier for us to understand and enhance the use of walnuts. We expect that the functional genomics research of walnut will also develop rapidly in the near future.

Dynamic Study on Soluble Sugar Accumulation and Sucrose Metabolizing Enzyme Activities During Fruit Development of Amomum villosum Lour / 世界科学技术-中医药现代化

This study was aimed to discuss the dynamic variation of soluble sugar contents, sucrose metabolizing en-zyme activities and gene expression quantities during the fruits development of A momum villosum, in order to pro-vide the basis of improvement of the fruit yield. Fresh fruits at three different development processes (30 DAF, 60 DAF, 90 DAF) were used to investigate changes of soluble sugar components and sucrose metabolizing enzyme activ-ities by HPLC and UV spectrophotometry. Combining with the high-throughput sequencing expression profile data of three fruit development period, the trends of three key enzymes gene expressed in sugar metabolism were analyzed. The results showed that the fruit sugar components were dominated by fructose, glucose and sucrose. The concentra-tion of hexose (fructose and glucose) gradually decreased in peel. But in seeds the concentration of hexose decreased at first and then increased. The content of sucrose and the net activities of sucrose synthase (synthesizing direction minus decomposing direction) in peel and seeds were gradually increased. The expression trends of key enzyme gene in sugar metabolism examined by RNA-seq quantification showed that sucrose phosphate synthase and sucrose syn-thase gene increased and then kept constant, but the invertase gene expression trend was gradually rising. Conse-quently, sucrose synthase was the key enzyme catalyzing sucrose synthesis and decomposition. The activity of sucrose synthase and sucrose contents in peel and seeds reached the highest peak in the end of fruit mature.

Fruit development, pigmentation and biochemical properties of wax apple as affected by localized Application of GA3 under field conditions

This study investigated the effects of gibberellin (GA3) on the fruit development, pigmentation and biochemical properties of wax apple. The wax apple trees were rubbing treated with 0, 20, 50 and 100 mgGA3/l under field conditions. The localized application (rubbing) of 50 mg GA3/l significantly increased the fruit set, fruit length and diameter, color development, weight and yieldcompared to the control. In addition, GA3 treatments significantly reduced the fruit drop. With regard to the fruit quality, 50 mg/l GA3 treatment increased the juice content, K+, TSS, total sugar and sugar acid ratio of wax apple fruits. In addition, higher vitamin C, phenol, flavonoid, anthocyanin, carotene content, PAL and antioxidant activities were recorded in the treated fruits. There was a positive correlation between the peel colour and TSS content and between the PAL activity and anthocyanin formation in the GA3-treated fruit. It was concluded that rubbing with 50 mg/L GA3 at inflorescence developing point of phloem once a week from the tiny inflorescence bud until the flower opening resulted in better yield and quality of wax apple fruits and could be an effective technique to safe the environment from excessive spray.

Aumento da disponibilidade de N via deposição atmosférica e fenologia reprodutiva de Habenaria caldensis Kraenzl. (Orchidaceae) no Parque Estadual do Itacolomi (PEIT) - MG, Brasil / The increase of N availability via atmospheric deposition and the reproduction phenology in Habenaria caldensis Kraenzl. (Orchidaceae) in the Parque Estadual do Itacolomi (PEIT) - MG, Brazil

Ao lado do aumento da concentração de CO2, a deposição atmosférica de N é atualmente considerada um dos mais importantes fatores de alteração do funcionamento dos ecossistemas nativos, tendo já provocado drásticas mudanças na composição florística e na ciclagem de nutrientes no hemisfério norte. Entretanto, em sistemas tropicais e subtropicais, pouco se sabe sobre os efeitos do enriquecimento de N via deposição atmosférica, sobre o seu funcionamento. A compreensão da amplitude e da direção das respostas de orquídeas ao aumento da concentração de N disponível pode ajudar a alimentar modelos de dinâmica de populações rupícolas em resposta às mudanças globais. Avaliamos as respostas de floração e frutificação em plantas de Habenaria caldensis Kraenzl. (Orchidaceae), espécie de ampla distribuição em Minas Gerais, em consequência do aumento da disponibilidade de N por meio de fertilizações com nitrato de amônio, in situ, por aspersão. Em resposta à adição de N, a antese foi adiantada em cerca de 15 dias em relação aos indivíduos do grupo controle. Pelos resultados obtidos, o aumento da disponibilidade de N via deposição atmosférica pode afetar em curto prazo a ecologia de orquídeas e possivelmente outras plantas de campos rupestres alterando seus padrões fenológicos e alométricos. Em médio e longo prazos, tais modificações podem ter relevante impacto sobre a dinâmica de populações e comunidades desse tipo vegetacional.

Along with the increased concentration of CO2, the atmospheric deposition of nitrogen is currently considered one of the most important factors of change in the functioning of native ecosystems and has caused drastic changes in their floristic composition and nutrient cycling in the northern hemisphere. In tropical and subtropical systems, however, the largest holders of the plants diversity, little is known about the effects of the nitrogen enrichment via deposition on their performance. Understanding the magnitude and direction of the responses of the orchids to the increase of the concentration of available nitrogen might be helpful to modeling of rock outcrops population dynamics in response to global changes. We evaluated the responses of flowering and fruiting in plants of Habenaria caldensis Kraenzl. (Orchidaceae), a species widely distributed in Minas Gerais, as a result of increased nitrogen availability through fertilization with ammonium nitrate, in situ, by spraying. In response to the addition of N, anthesis occurred about 15 days earlier compared to individuals of the control group. The results of this study demonstrated that the increased availability of N via atmospheric deposition can affect in a short term the ecology of orchids and possibly other plants from rock outcrops by changing their phenological and allometric patterns. In a medium and long term, such changes can have an important impact on the dynamics of populations and communities of this vegetation type.

Evolução de indicadores do ponto de colheita em manga 'Tommy Atkins' durante o crescimento e a maturação, nas condições do vale do São Francisco, Brasil / Evolution of harvest time indicators on 'Tommy Atkins' mango fruit during growth and maturation at São Francisco River Valley conditions, Brazil

Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, caracterizar a evolução dos principais indicadores do ponto de colheita sugeridos para a manga (Mangifera indica L.), durante o crescimento e a maturação de frutos da cultivar Tommy Atkins, nas condições do Vale do São Francisco. Por ocasião da frutificação, foram selecionadas quarenta e oito plantas, distribuídas uniformemente em quatro fileiras de plantio de um pomar comercial. Nessas plantas, foram marcados seiscentos frutos, no estádio de desenvolvimento denominado "ovo" (40 mm de diâmetro), o que foi verificado aos 52 dias após a frutificação (daf). Periodicamente, até o completo amadurecimento na planta, foram coletadas amostras desses frutos, correspondentes à idade, aos 52, 64, 72, 83, 92, 99, 106, 113, 120, 125, 128, 133 e 139 daf. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com 13 tratamentos (idade dos frutos) e quatro repetições constituídas por dez frutos. As mudanças ocorridas na coloração a partir de 99 daf e na firmeza da polpa foram os indicadores que melhor delimitaram o início da maturação das mangas, devendo ser acompanhados por meio de amostragem da área. As mudanças na acidez titulável e nos teores de sólidos solúveis (SS) e de carotenóides totais da polpa também foram indicativas da evolução da maturação. A polpa da manga madura apresentou o máximo teor de SS e teores de ácido ascórbico e de carotenóides totais inferiores aos dos frutos no início da maturação.

The aim of this study was to characterize the evolution of the main harvest time indicators suggested to mango fruit (Mangifera indica L.), during growth and maturation, at the São Francisco River Valley conditions. At the fruit set stage, forty-eight plants uniformly distributed on four rows were selected from a commercial orchard. From these plants, six hundred fruits were selected at the development stage known as "egg" (40 mm of diameter), which were verified at 52 days after fruit set (DAFS). Periodically, until the complete ripening on the plant, fruit samples were collected, corresponding to their age, at 52, 64, 72, 83, 92, 99, 106, 113, 120, 125, 128, 133, and 139 DAFS. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 13 treatments (age of fruits) and four replications constituted by ten fruits. Changes on the pulp color from 99 DAFS on and on firmness were the indicators which offered the best characterization of the beginning of maturation on mango fruits and they should be accompanied by fruit sampling on the field. Changes on the titratable acidity and on the contents of soluble solids (SS) and total pulp carotenoids were also indicative of the maturity evolution. The pulp of ripe mango fruit showed maximum SS content and ascorbic acid and total carotenoids contents lower than those of fruits at the beginning of maturation.

Dynamic studies on physiological and biochemical changes during fruit development of Panax notoginseng / 中草药

Objective The physiological and biochemical changes were studied during the Panax notoginseng′s fruit development.Methods Dynamic changes of fruits size,fresh and dry weight,moisture content and soluble sugar,starch and protein contents were investigated.Results The moisture content was increased first and then dropped to 73.37% at maturity.The fresh and dry weight,starch and protein contents of P.notoginseng′s fruits were increased with the fruit development.The soluble sugar content was raised first,then decreased,and increased slightly at the lateral stage of fruit development.Conclusion The P.notoginseng′s fruits are mature at 80 d after peak anthesis;the decrease of moisture content is companied with the gradual increasing of fruit fresh and dry weight during the fruit development.The storage and utilization of nutrients in P.notoginseng′s fruits are closely related with the fruit development.