Plant pigments have a vital role in plant pollination,aesthetic appeal,and quality of the fruit.Naturally occurring major plant pigments include anthocyanins,carotenoids,and chlorophyll.In addition to their coloration...Plant pigments have a vital role in plant pollination,aesthetic appeal,and quality of the fruit.Naturally occurring major plant pigments include anthocyanins,carotenoids,and chlorophyll.In addition to their coloration,these pigments possess additional beneficial properties,which is why they are often referred to as bioactive compounds.Moreover,they exhibit strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.The pigments,particularly beta-carotene(a precursor to vitamin A),a type of carotenoid,are crucial for maintaining good vision.They can help reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration and improve overall eye health.The antioxidants found in fruit pigments may improve cognitive function and reduce neurodegeneration.This review article explores the processes involved in the biosynthesis of essential pigments in fruits,emphasizing their biological significance and various applications,including effects on human health and economic value.Understanding these mechanisms can improve the color and quality of fruits,resulting in high consumer acceptance and higher market demand.The numerous benefits of plant pigments have sparked growing interest in incorporating them into our food.However,in-depth research is required to explore the biological significance of fruit pigments,as well as their role in human food and nutrition.Studies have shown that these bioactive compounds can help prevent and manage chronic degenerative diseases.Further research is necessary in both fundamental and applied areas to enhance pigment levels in fruit to a degree sufficient for disease prevention.Comprehensive research into the genetic regulation of pigment biosynthesis could illuminate pathways for enhancing pigmentation through genetic engineering or traditional breeding methods.Genome editing technologies like CRISPR could be employed to improve specific pathways related to pigment biosynthesis in fruits.Further promising opportunities for the application of these pigments beyond the food industry should be investigated,focusing on their potential contributions in cosmetics,textiles,medicine,agriculture,and other sectors.展开更多
Plant cells retain the ability for cellular reprogramming,including totipotency and pluripotency,enabling them to revert their cell fate from differentiated to dedifferentiated one and subsequently redifferentiate und...Plant cells retain the ability for cellular reprogramming,including totipotency and pluripotency,enabling them to revert their cell fate from differentiated to dedifferentiated one and subsequently redifferentiate under specific physiological and environmental cues.In response to these cues,endogenous phytohormones,genetic landscapes,and epigenetic remodeling play a significant role in initiating the reprogramming of somatic cells and re-establishment of an organized structure.Detailed studies on dedifferentiation have gradually unraveled the involvement of stem-like cells during early callus formation,along with the existence of QC-like transcriptional features in the middle cell layer of callus,which exhibits organ regeneration ability.Tracking natural variations and real-time regeneration dynamics across species,combined with single-cell RNA sequencing,will enable the identification of key developmental regulators and small peptides.These breakthroughs can be applied to enhance regeneration efficiency,improve transformation in recalcitrant species,and accelerate next-generation crop development.The current review summarizes the longstanding history and ongoing research progress in two pathways:dedifferentiation and redifferentiation.It also highlights how hormonal effects on the genetic factors and provides insights into how genetic signatures interact with epigenetic landscapes to drive these processes.It highlights the potential applications of developmental regulators for efficient gene transformation to enhance plant genetic engineering,while also addressing fundamental questions and identifying research gaps to guide future studies.展开更多
tone fruits, also known as drupes, have evolved an extremely hard wood-like shell called a stone to protect the seeds. Recently, the market value of stoneless cultivars has risen dramatically, which highlights the nee...tone fruits, also known as drupes, have evolved an extremely hard wood-like shell called a stone to protect the seeds. Recently, the market value of stoneless cultivars has risen dramatically, which highlights the needto cultivate stoneless fruit. Therefore, determining the underlying mechanism of fruit stone development isurgently needed. By employing the stone-containing jujube cultivar 'Youhe' and two stoneless Chinese jujube cultivars, 'Wuhefeng' and 'Daguowuhe', we comprehensively studied the mechanism of fruit stone development in jujube. Anatomical analysis and lignin staining revealed that the stone cultivar 'Youhe' jujube exhibited much greater lignin accumulation in the endocarp than the two stoneless cultivars. Lignin accumulation may be the key factor in fruit stone formation. By analyzing the transcriptome data and identifying differentially expressed genes(DEGs), 49 overlapping DEGs were identified in the comparisons of 'Youhe' jujube vs. 'Wuhefeng' jujube and 'Youhe' jujube vs. 'Daguowuhe' jujube. ZjF6H1-3 and ZjPOD, which are involved in lignin synthesis, were identified among these DEGs. The overexpression and silencing of ZjF6H1-3 and ZjPOD in wild jujube seedlings further confirmed their roles in lignin synthesis. In addition, two bHLH transcription factors were included in the 49 overlapping DEGs, and bHLH transcription factor binding motifs were found in the promoters of ZjF6H1-3 and ZjPOD, indicating that bHLH transcription factors are also involved in lignin synthesis and stone formation in Chinese jujube. This study provides new insights into the molecular networks underlying fruit stone formation and can serve as an important reference for the molecular design and breeding of stoneless fruit cultivars of jujube and fruit trees.展开更多
Jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.),or Chinese date,is the most important species of Rhamnaceae,a large cosmopolitan family,and is one of the oldest cultivated fruit trees in the world.It originates from the middle and lowe...Jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.),or Chinese date,is the most important species of Rhamnaceae,a large cosmopolitan family,and is one of the oldest cultivated fruit trees in the world.It originates from the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River,the‘mother river’of the Chinese people.It is distributed in at least 48 countries on all continents except Antarctica and is becoming increasingly important,especially in arid and semiarid marginal lands.Based on a systematic analysis of the unique characteristics of jujube,we suggest that it deserves to be recognized as a superfruit.We summarized historical research achievements from the past 3000 years and reviewed recent research advances since 1949 in seven fields,including genome sequencing and application,germplasm resources and systematic taxonomy,breeding and genetics,cultivation theory and techniques,pest control,postharvest physiology and techniques,and nutrition and processing.Based on the challenges facing the jujube industry,we discuss eight research aspects to be focused on in the future.展开更多
Fruit lignification is due to lignin deposition in the cell wall during cell development.However,there are few studies on the regulation of cell wall lignification and lignin biosynthesis during fruit pigmentation.In ...Fruit lignification is due to lignin deposition in the cell wall during cell development.However,there are few studies on the regulation of cell wall lignification and lignin biosynthesis during fruit pigmentation.In this study,we investigated the regulation of cell wall lignification and lignin biosynthesis during pigmentation of winter jujube.The cellulose content decreased,while the lignin content increased in the winter jujube pericarp during pigmentation.Safranin O-fast green staining showed that the cellulose content was higher in the cell wall of winter jujube prior to pigmentation,whereas the lignin in the cell wall increased after pigmentation.The thickness of the epidermal cells decreased with pericarp pigmentation.A combined metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis showed that guaiacyl-syringyl(G-S)lignin was the main lignin type in the pericarp of winter jujube,and F5H(LOC107424406)and CCR(LOC107420974)were preliminarily identified as the key genes modulating lignin biosynthesis in winter jujube.Seventeen MYB and six NAC transcription factors(TFs)with potential regulation of lignin biosynthesis were screened out based on phylogenetic analysis.Three MYB and two NAC TFs were selected as candidate genes and further studied in detail.Arabidopsis ectopic expression and winter jujube pericarp injection of the candidate genes indicated that the MYB activator(LOC107425254)and the MYB repressor(LOC107415078)control lignin biosynthesis by regulating CCR and F5H,while the NAC(LOC107435239)TF promotes F5H expression and positively regulates lignin biosynthesis.These findings revealed the lignin biosynthetic pathway and associated genes during pigmentation of winter jujube pericarp and provide a basis for further research on lignin regulation.展开更多
Flowering is the most important event in higher plants.Compared to most fruit tree species,Chinese jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.),the most important member of the large,diverse Rhamnaceae family and a leading dry fruit...Flowering is the most important event in higher plants.Compared to most fruit tree species,Chinese jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.),the most important member of the large,diverse Rhamnaceae family and a leading dry fruit-producing species,has unique characteristics that include a short juvenile phase and extremely fast flower bud differentiation.However,the distinct mechanism of flowering regulation in Chinese jujube is still unclear.The morphological and cytological development period of jujube flowering was first investigated,and the crucial developmental stages were defined.Flower bud differentiation in Chinese jujube took only approximately 11–13 days,which is a distinct characteristic of perennial fruit trees.Afterward,44 genes related to six flowering pathways were identified in the jujube genome and were found to be randomly distributed among 11 of the 12 chromosomes.Tissue-specific and spatiotemporal expression patterns showed that all these genes were expressed in the flowers.Overall,photoperiodrelated genes were highly expressed during flower bud differentiation.These genes were also positively responsive to photoperiod regulation and phase change processes,indicating that photoperiod-related genes play crucial roles in jujube flower bud differentiation.Under protected cultivation,ZjPIF4,a temperature-related gene,was expressed in the early stages of flowering and responded to increasing temperatures.Moreover,STRING analysis and yeast two-hybrid screening indicated that photoperiod-related(ZjCO)and temperature-related(ZjPIF4)proteins could interact with ZjFT,the key protein involved in the determination of flowering time,indicating crosstalk between photoperiodrelated pathways and ambient temperature-related pathways in jujube.This study is the first report to comprehensively analyze the flowering pathways in Chinese jujube and revealed that photoperiod-related and ambient temperature-related pathways are the main mechanisms regulating the distinct flowering process and that members of the ZjPHY family(ZjPIF4,ZjFT,and ZjCO5)are the key factors involved in the regulatory network.These results will increase our understanding of the molecular and genetic mechanisms of flowering in Chinese jujube and provide meaningful clues for the flowering regulation of other fruit tree species.展开更多
The juvenile-to-adult phase change with first flowering as the indicator plays a crucial role in the lifecycle of fruit trees. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying phase change in fruit trees remain largely un...The juvenile-to-adult phase change with first flowering as the indicator plays a crucial role in the lifecycle of fruit trees. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying phase change in fruit trees remain largely unknown. Shikimic acid (ShA) pathway is a main metabolic pathway closely related to the synthesis of hormones and many important secondary metabolites participating in plant phase change. So,whether ShA regulates phase change in plants is worth clarifying. Here, the distinct morphological characteristics and the underlying mechanisms of phase change in jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), an important fruit tree native to China with nutritious fruit and outstanding tolerance abiotic stresses, were clarified. A combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis found that ShA is positively involved in jujube(Yuhong’×Xing 16’) phase change. The genes in the upstream of ShA synthesis pathway (ZjDAHPS, ZjDHQS and ZjSDH), the contents of ShA and the downstream secondary metabolites like phenols were significantly upregulated in the phase change period. Further, the treatment of spraying exogenous ShA verified that ShA at a very low concentration (60 mg·L^(-1)) can substantially speed up the phase change and flowering of jujube and other tested plants including Arabidopsis, tomato and wheat. The exogenous ShA (60 mg·L^(-1)) treatment in jujube seedlings could increase the accumulation of endogenous ShA, enhance leaf photosynthesis and the synthesis of phenols especially flavonoids and phenolic acids, and promote the expression of genes (ZjCOs, ZjNFYs and ZjPHYs) involved in flowering pathway. Basing on above results, we put forward a propose for the underlying mechanism of ShA regulating phase change, and a hypothesis that ShA could be considered a phytohormone-like substance because it is endogenous, ubiquitous, movable and highly efficient at very low concentrations. This study highlights the critical role of ShA in plant phase change and its phytohormone-like properties.展开更多
Jujube witches’broom(JWB)caused by phytoplasma has a severely negative effect on multiple metabolisms in jujube.The GST gene family in plants participates in the regulation of a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses...Jujube witches’broom(JWB)caused by phytoplasma has a severely negative effect on multiple metabolisms in jujube.The GST gene family in plants participates in the regulation of a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses.This study aims to identify and reveal the changes in the jujube GST gene family in response to phytoplasma infection.Here,70 ZjGSTs were identified in the jujube genome and divided into 8 classes.Among them,the Tau-class,including 44 genes,was the largest.Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Tau-class genes were highly conserved among species,such as Arabidopsis,cotton,chickpea,and rice.Through chromosome location analysis,37.1%of genes were clustered,and 8 of 9 gene clusters were composed of Tau class members.Through RT-PCR,qRT-PCR and enzyme activity detection,the results showed that the expression of half(20/40)of the tested ZjGSTs was inhibited by phytoplasma infection in field and tissue culture conditions,and GST activity was also significantly reduced.In the resistant and susceptible varieties under phytoplasma infection,ZjGSTU49-ZjGSTU54 in the cluster IV showed opposite expression patterns,which may be due to functional divergence during evolution.Some upregulated genes(ZjGSTU45,ZjGSTU49,ZjGSTU59,and ZjGSTU70)might be involved in the process of jujube against JWB.The yeast two-hybrid results showed that all 6 Tauclass proteins tested could form homodimers or heterodimers.Overall,the comprehensive analysis of the jujube GST gene family revealed that ZjGSTs responded actively to phytoplasma infection.Furthermore,some screened genes(ZjGSTU24,ZjGSTU49-52,ZjGSTU70,and ZjDHAR10)will contribute to further functional studies of jujube-phytoplasma interactions.展开更多
Dear Editor,Jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.),commonly called Chinese jujube,is a vital member of the Rhamnaceae family.It is famous for its tolerance to dry,barren,and saline-alkali soils,and its fruit has important nutr...Dear Editor,Jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.),commonly called Chinese jujube,is a vital member of the Rhamnaceae family.It is famous for its tolerance to dry,barren,and saline-alkali soils,and its fruit has important nutritional and medicinal value.Recent fundamental research on jujube has involved assembly of draft genome sequences for the fresh-eating cultivar‘Dongzao’(Liu et al.,2014),dry-eating cultivar‘Junzao’(Huang et al.,2016),and wild sour jujube‘Suanzao’(Shen et al.,2021).展开更多
The fruit of Chinese jujube(Ziziphus jujuba)possesses extremely high concentrations of ascorbic acid(As A).The accumulation of As A,the expression patterns of the nine genes related to As A metabolism as well as the a...The fruit of Chinese jujube(Ziziphus jujuba)possesses extremely high concentrations of ascorbic acid(As A).The accumulation of As A,the expression patterns of the nine genes related to As A metabolism as well as the activities of five enzymes involved in As A synthesis,oxidation and recycling were investigated during fruit development in Z.jujuba Mill.‘Jinsixiaozao'.The results showed that the high level of As A accumulation in jujube fruit is due to a contribution from both As A biosynthesis and As A recycling.It is suggested that L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase,ascorbate peroxidase and monodehydro-ascorbate reductase are the crucial genes/enzymes of jujube As A synthesis,oxidization and recycling,respectively.These results provide useful new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of As A accumulation in Chinese jujube.展开更多
The sensitive and differential detection of Gram-negative bacteria is essential in food processing,environmental monitoring,and the daily chemical industry.Herein,we propose and validate a liquid crystal(LC)-based apt...The sensitive and differential detection of Gram-negative bacteria is essential in food processing,environmental monitoring,and the daily chemical industry.Herein,we propose and validate a liquid crystal(LC)-based aptasensor for the ultrasensitive detection of Escherichia coli(E.coli),a model of Gram-negative bacteria.The nematic liquid crystal of 4-cyano-4’-pentylbiphenyl(5 CB) molecules can be orderly or disorderly arranged at the LC-aqueous interface via different stimuli,causing changes in optical texture due to birefringence.Bright schlieren texture is observed when a mixture solution of aptamer and hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide(CTAB) is dripped onto the segmented LC films on a copper mesh.The specific binding of aptamers with target bacteria biomarkers liberates the CTAB molecules,which then self-assemble at the LC-aqueous interface to induce the vertical alignment of LCs.An optical transition from bright to dark is therefore achieved via the LC molecular orientation and serves as an aptasensor.Given the prominent affinity and specificity of the aptamer,the established sensitive and selective E.coli assay shows an ultralow detection limit of 27 cfu/mL.The prepared aptasensor can also be applied for the sensitive and selective determination of E.coli in fruit juice,soft drink,and cosmetic products,and shows great promise for the on-site detection of Gram-negative bacteria with high sensitivity and specificity for environmental monitoring,food safety assessment,and household chemical inspection.展开更多
Liquid crystal(LC)photonic devices have attracted intensive attention in recent decades,due to the merits of tunability,cost-effectiveness,and high efficiency.However,the precise and efficient simulation of large-scal...Liquid crystal(LC)photonic devices have attracted intensive attention in recent decades,due to the merits of tunability,cost-effectiveness,and high efficiency.However,the precise and efficient simulation of large-scale three-dimensional electrically stimulated LC photonic devices remains challenging and resource consuming.Here we report a straightforward nonuniform finite difference method(NFDM)for efficiently simulating largescale LC photonic devices by employing a spatially nonuniform mesh grid.展开更多
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2024YFD2200600)Hebei Province Key R&D Program(21326304D)+2 种基金Hebei Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System(HBCT2024190201)Hebei Provincial Program(HBCT2024190201)China Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System(CARS-30-2-53007).
文摘Plant pigments have a vital role in plant pollination,aesthetic appeal,and quality of the fruit.Naturally occurring major plant pigments include anthocyanins,carotenoids,and chlorophyll.In addition to their coloration,these pigments possess additional beneficial properties,which is why they are often referred to as bioactive compounds.Moreover,they exhibit strong antioxidant and antimicrobial properties.The pigments,particularly beta-carotene(a precursor to vitamin A),a type of carotenoid,are crucial for maintaining good vision.They can help reduce the risk of age-related macular degeneration and improve overall eye health.The antioxidants found in fruit pigments may improve cognitive function and reduce neurodegeneration.This review article explores the processes involved in the biosynthesis of essential pigments in fruits,emphasizing their biological significance and various applications,including effects on human health and economic value.Understanding these mechanisms can improve the color and quality of fruits,resulting in high consumer acceptance and higher market demand.The numerous benefits of plant pigments have sparked growing interest in incorporating them into our food.However,in-depth research is required to explore the biological significance of fruit pigments,as well as their role in human food and nutrition.Studies have shown that these bioactive compounds can help prevent and manage chronic degenerative diseases.Further research is necessary in both fundamental and applied areas to enhance pigment levels in fruit to a degree sufficient for disease prevention.Comprehensive research into the genetic regulation of pigment biosynthesis could illuminate pathways for enhancing pigmentation through genetic engineering or traditional breeding methods.Genome editing technologies like CRISPR could be employed to improve specific pathways related to pigment biosynthesis in fruits.Further promising opportunities for the application of these pigments beyond the food industry should be investigated,focusing on their potential contributions in cosmetics,textiles,medicine,agriculture,and other sectors.
基金funded by National Key R&D Program of China(Grant No.2024YFD2200600)Science and Technology Project of Hebei Education Department(Grant No.QN2022017)+3 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province(Grant No.C2023204062)Fundamental Scientific Research Fund of Universities in Hebei Province(KY2021059)China Agriculture Research System(Grant No.CARS-30-2-07)Hebei Agriculture Research System(Grant Nos.HBCT2024190201,HBCT2024190203).
文摘Plant cells retain the ability for cellular reprogramming,including totipotency and pluripotency,enabling them to revert their cell fate from differentiated to dedifferentiated one and subsequently redifferentiate under specific physiological and environmental cues.In response to these cues,endogenous phytohormones,genetic landscapes,and epigenetic remodeling play a significant role in initiating the reprogramming of somatic cells and re-establishment of an organized structure.Detailed studies on dedifferentiation have gradually unraveled the involvement of stem-like cells during early callus formation,along with the existence of QC-like transcriptional features in the middle cell layer of callus,which exhibits organ regeneration ability.Tracking natural variations and real-time regeneration dynamics across species,combined with single-cell RNA sequencing,will enable the identification of key developmental regulators and small peptides.These breakthroughs can be applied to enhance regeneration efficiency,improve transformation in recalcitrant species,and accelerate next-generation crop development.The current review summarizes the longstanding history and ongoing research progress in two pathways:dedifferentiation and redifferentiation.It also highlights how hormonal effects on the genetic factors and provides insights into how genetic signatures interact with epigenetic landscapes to drive these processes.It highlights the potential applications of developmental regulators for efficient gene transformation to enhance plant genetic engineering,while also addressing fundamental questions and identifying research gaps to guide future studies.
基金supported by the Central Fund for Promoting Innovative Technology Development, China (236Z6801G)the Hebei Provincial Modern Seed Industry Technology Innovation Team-Dried Fruits, China (21326304D)the Construction of Innovative Teams for the Modern Agricultural Industry System in Hebei Province, China (HBCT2023120210, HBCT2024190203)。
文摘tone fruits, also known as drupes, have evolved an extremely hard wood-like shell called a stone to protect the seeds. Recently, the market value of stoneless cultivars has risen dramatically, which highlights the needto cultivate stoneless fruit. Therefore, determining the underlying mechanism of fruit stone development isurgently needed. By employing the stone-containing jujube cultivar 'Youhe' and two stoneless Chinese jujube cultivars, 'Wuhefeng' and 'Daguowuhe', we comprehensively studied the mechanism of fruit stone development in jujube. Anatomical analysis and lignin staining revealed that the stone cultivar 'Youhe' jujube exhibited much greater lignin accumulation in the endocarp than the two stoneless cultivars. Lignin accumulation may be the key factor in fruit stone formation. By analyzing the transcriptome data and identifying differentially expressed genes(DEGs), 49 overlapping DEGs were identified in the comparisons of 'Youhe' jujube vs. 'Wuhefeng' jujube and 'Youhe' jujube vs. 'Daguowuhe' jujube. ZjF6H1-3 and ZjPOD, which are involved in lignin synthesis, were identified among these DEGs. The overexpression and silencing of ZjF6H1-3 and ZjPOD in wild jujube seedlings further confirmed their roles in lignin synthesis. In addition, two bHLH transcription factors were included in the 49 overlapping DEGs, and bHLH transcription factor binding motifs were found in the promoters of ZjF6H1-3 and ZjPOD, indicating that bHLH transcription factors are also involved in lignin synthesis and stone formation in Chinese jujube. This study provides new insights into the molecular networks underlying fruit stone formation and can serve as an important reference for the molecular design and breeding of stoneless fruit cultivars of jujube and fruit trees.
基金supported by grants from the Significant Fund of Hebei Province Natural Science Foundation(grant number C2017204114)the National Science and Technology Support Plan of China(2019YFD1001605)the National Ten Thousand Talents Plan Leadership Project,and the Beijing Municipal Education Commission(CEFF-PXM2019_014207_000099).
文摘Jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.),or Chinese date,is the most important species of Rhamnaceae,a large cosmopolitan family,and is one of the oldest cultivated fruit trees in the world.It originates from the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River,the‘mother river’of the Chinese people.It is distributed in at least 48 countries on all continents except Antarctica and is becoming increasingly important,especially in arid and semiarid marginal lands.Based on a systematic analysis of the unique characteristics of jujube,we suggest that it deserves to be recognized as a superfruit.We summarized historical research achievements from the past 3000 years and reviewed recent research advances since 1949 in seven fields,including genome sequencing and application,germplasm resources and systematic taxonomy,breeding and genetics,cultivation theory and techniques,pest control,postharvest physiology and techniques,and nutrition and processing.Based on the challenges facing the jujube industry,we discuss eight research aspects to be focused on in the future.
基金This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(2019YFD1001605)the Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Project of Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences(CXGC2017D01 and CXGC2018E22)+4 种基金Shandong Academy of Agricultural Sciences introduction and training of high-level talents(1-18-078)the Science and Technology Research Project of University in Hebei Province(QN2020205)the Shandong Key Research and Development Program(2016GNC113015 and 2019GNC106061)the Shandong Agricultural Applied Technology Innovation Project(2017)he Shandong Provincial Natural Science Fund(ZR2020QC141).
文摘Fruit lignification is due to lignin deposition in the cell wall during cell development.However,there are few studies on the regulation of cell wall lignification and lignin biosynthesis during fruit pigmentation.In this study,we investigated the regulation of cell wall lignification and lignin biosynthesis during pigmentation of winter jujube.The cellulose content decreased,while the lignin content increased in the winter jujube pericarp during pigmentation.Safranin O-fast green staining showed that the cellulose content was higher in the cell wall of winter jujube prior to pigmentation,whereas the lignin in the cell wall increased after pigmentation.The thickness of the epidermal cells decreased with pericarp pigmentation.A combined metabolomics and transcriptomics analysis showed that guaiacyl-syringyl(G-S)lignin was the main lignin type in the pericarp of winter jujube,and F5H(LOC107424406)and CCR(LOC107420974)were preliminarily identified as the key genes modulating lignin biosynthesis in winter jujube.Seventeen MYB and six NAC transcription factors(TFs)with potential regulation of lignin biosynthesis were screened out based on phylogenetic analysis.Three MYB and two NAC TFs were selected as candidate genes and further studied in detail.Arabidopsis ectopic expression and winter jujube pericarp injection of the candidate genes indicated that the MYB activator(LOC107425254)and the MYB repressor(LOC107415078)control lignin biosynthesis by regulating CCR and F5H,while the NAC(LOC107435239)TF promotes F5H expression and positively regulates lignin biosynthesis.These findings revealed the lignin biosynthetic pathway and associated genes during pigmentation of winter jujube pericarp and provide a basis for further research on lignin regulation.
基金supported by the National Key R&D Program Project Funding(2018YFD1000607)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31772285)+2 种基金the Significance Fund of the Hebei Province Natural Science Foundation(C2017204114)the Foundation for 100 Innovative Talents of Hebei Province(SLRC2019031)the Hebei Special Funds for Intellectual Introduction and Talent Training(A2016002054).
文摘Flowering is the most important event in higher plants.Compared to most fruit tree species,Chinese jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.),the most important member of the large,diverse Rhamnaceae family and a leading dry fruit-producing species,has unique characteristics that include a short juvenile phase and extremely fast flower bud differentiation.However,the distinct mechanism of flowering regulation in Chinese jujube is still unclear.The morphological and cytological development period of jujube flowering was first investigated,and the crucial developmental stages were defined.Flower bud differentiation in Chinese jujube took only approximately 11–13 days,which is a distinct characteristic of perennial fruit trees.Afterward,44 genes related to six flowering pathways were identified in the jujube genome and were found to be randomly distributed among 11 of the 12 chromosomes.Tissue-specific and spatiotemporal expression patterns showed that all these genes were expressed in the flowers.Overall,photoperiodrelated genes were highly expressed during flower bud differentiation.These genes were also positively responsive to photoperiod regulation and phase change processes,indicating that photoperiod-related genes play crucial roles in jujube flower bud differentiation.Under protected cultivation,ZjPIF4,a temperature-related gene,was expressed in the early stages of flowering and responded to increasing temperatures.Moreover,STRING analysis and yeast two-hybrid screening indicated that photoperiod-related(ZjCO)and temperature-related(ZjPIF4)proteins could interact with ZjFT,the key protein involved in the determination of flowering time,indicating crosstalk between photoperiodrelated pathways and ambient temperature-related pathways in jujube.This study is the first report to comprehensively analyze the flowering pathways in Chinese jujube and revealed that photoperiod-related and ambient temperature-related pathways are the main mechanisms regulating the distinct flowering process and that members of the ZjPHY family(ZjPIF4,ZjFT,and ZjCO5)are the key factors involved in the regulatory network.These results will increase our understanding of the molecular and genetic mechanisms of flowering in Chinese jujube and provide meaningful clues for the flowering regulation of other fruit tree species.
基金partially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.31772285)the National Key R&D Program Project Funding (Grant No.2018YFD1000607)Foundation for 100 Innovative Talents of Hebei Province(Grant No.SLRC2019031)。
文摘The juvenile-to-adult phase change with first flowering as the indicator plays a crucial role in the lifecycle of fruit trees. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying phase change in fruit trees remain largely unknown. Shikimic acid (ShA) pathway is a main metabolic pathway closely related to the synthesis of hormones and many important secondary metabolites participating in plant phase change. So,whether ShA regulates phase change in plants is worth clarifying. Here, the distinct morphological characteristics and the underlying mechanisms of phase change in jujube (Ziziphus jujuba Mill.), an important fruit tree native to China with nutritious fruit and outstanding tolerance abiotic stresses, were clarified. A combined transcriptome and metabolome analysis found that ShA is positively involved in jujube(Yuhong’×Xing 16’) phase change. The genes in the upstream of ShA synthesis pathway (ZjDAHPS, ZjDHQS and ZjSDH), the contents of ShA and the downstream secondary metabolites like phenols were significantly upregulated in the phase change period. Further, the treatment of spraying exogenous ShA verified that ShA at a very low concentration (60 mg·L^(-1)) can substantially speed up the phase change and flowering of jujube and other tested plants including Arabidopsis, tomato and wheat. The exogenous ShA (60 mg·L^(-1)) treatment in jujube seedlings could increase the accumulation of endogenous ShA, enhance leaf photosynthesis and the synthesis of phenols especially flavonoids and phenolic acids, and promote the expression of genes (ZjCOs, ZjNFYs and ZjPHYs) involved in flowering pathway. Basing on above results, we put forward a propose for the underlying mechanism of ShA regulating phase change, and a hypothesis that ShA could be considered a phytohormone-like substance because it is endogenous, ubiquitous, movable and highly efficient at very low concentrations. This study highlights the critical role of ShA in plant phase change and its phytohormone-like properties.
基金supported by grants from the National Key R&D Program Project Funding(Grant No.2018YFD1000607)the Foundation for 100 Innovative Talents of Hebei Province(Grant No.SLRC2019031)+1 种基金the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.31772285)the Hebei Province Innovation Foundation for Postgraduates(Grant No.CXZZBS2020097)。
文摘Jujube witches’broom(JWB)caused by phytoplasma has a severely negative effect on multiple metabolisms in jujube.The GST gene family in plants participates in the regulation of a variety of biotic and abiotic stresses.This study aims to identify and reveal the changes in the jujube GST gene family in response to phytoplasma infection.Here,70 ZjGSTs were identified in the jujube genome and divided into 8 classes.Among them,the Tau-class,including 44 genes,was the largest.Phylogenetic analysis indicated that Tau-class genes were highly conserved among species,such as Arabidopsis,cotton,chickpea,and rice.Through chromosome location analysis,37.1%of genes were clustered,and 8 of 9 gene clusters were composed of Tau class members.Through RT-PCR,qRT-PCR and enzyme activity detection,the results showed that the expression of half(20/40)of the tested ZjGSTs was inhibited by phytoplasma infection in field and tissue culture conditions,and GST activity was also significantly reduced.In the resistant and susceptible varieties under phytoplasma infection,ZjGSTU49-ZjGSTU54 in the cluster IV showed opposite expression patterns,which may be due to functional divergence during evolution.Some upregulated genes(ZjGSTU45,ZjGSTU49,ZjGSTU59,and ZjGSTU70)might be involved in the process of jujube against JWB.The yeast two-hybrid results showed that all 6 Tauclass proteins tested could form homodimers or heterodimers.Overall,the comprehensive analysis of the jujube GST gene family revealed that ZjGSTs responded actively to phytoplasma infection.Furthermore,some screened genes(ZjGSTU24,ZjGSTU49-52,ZjGSTU70,and ZjDHAR10)will contribute to further functional studies of jujube-phytoplasma interactions.
基金supported by the general program of the Natural Science Foundation of Hebei Province,China(C2022204030)the general program of the National Natural Science Foundation of China(32171817)+2 种基金special research projects for the new talent of Hebei Agricultural University,Hebei Province,China(YJ2020025)the China Agricultural Research System(CARS-30-2-07)grants from the Hebei Province Key R&D Program(21326304D).
文摘Dear Editor,Jujube(Ziziphus jujuba Mill.),commonly called Chinese jujube,is a vital member of the Rhamnaceae family.It is famous for its tolerance to dry,barren,and saline-alkali soils,and its fruit has important nutritional and medicinal value.Recent fundamental research on jujube has involved assembly of draft genome sequences for the fresh-eating cultivar‘Dongzao’(Liu et al.,2014),dry-eating cultivar‘Junzao’(Huang et al.,2016),and wild sour jujube‘Suanzao’(Shen et al.,2021).
基金supported by grants from the National Science and Technology Support Plan of China(2013BAD14B03)Agricultural University of Hebei Foundation for Leaders of Disciplines in Science Technology+1 种基金Top-notch Talent Support Project of Hebei ProvinceYouth Foundation of Hebei Educational Committee(QN2015232)
文摘The fruit of Chinese jujube(Ziziphus jujuba)possesses extremely high concentrations of ascorbic acid(As A).The accumulation of As A,the expression patterns of the nine genes related to As A metabolism as well as the activities of five enzymes involved in As A synthesis,oxidation and recycling were investigated during fruit development in Z.jujuba Mill.‘Jinsixiaozao'.The results showed that the high level of As A accumulation in jujube fruit is due to a contribution from both As A biosynthesis and As A recycling.It is suggested that L-galactono-1,4-lactone dehydrogenase,ascorbate peroxidase and monodehydro-ascorbate reductase are the crucial genes/enzymes of jujube As A synthesis,oxidization and recycling,respectively.These results provide useful new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of As A accumulation in Chinese jujube.
基金supported by Guangdong Province Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation (2021A1515110236)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (62004070)+4 种基金the Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou (2019050001,202201010248)the Youth Innovation Project of Guangdong Education Department(2020KQNCX018)the Young Scholar Foundation of South China Normal University (21KJ08)the “Climbing Program” Special Funds of Guangdong Province (pdjh2022b0133)partially supported by the Science and Technology Planning Project of Guangdong Province (2020B1212060067)
文摘The sensitive and differential detection of Gram-negative bacteria is essential in food processing,environmental monitoring,and the daily chemical industry.Herein,we propose and validate a liquid crystal(LC)-based aptasensor for the ultrasensitive detection of Escherichia coli(E.coli),a model of Gram-negative bacteria.The nematic liquid crystal of 4-cyano-4’-pentylbiphenyl(5 CB) molecules can be orderly or disorderly arranged at the LC-aqueous interface via different stimuli,causing changes in optical texture due to birefringence.Bright schlieren texture is observed when a mixture solution of aptamer and hexadecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide(CTAB) is dripped onto the segmented LC films on a copper mesh.The specific binding of aptamers with target bacteria biomarkers liberates the CTAB molecules,which then self-assemble at the LC-aqueous interface to induce the vertical alignment of LCs.An optical transition from bright to dark is therefore achieved via the LC molecular orientation and serves as an aptasensor.Given the prominent affinity and specificity of the aptamer,the established sensitive and selective E.coli assay shows an ultralow detection limit of 27 cfu/mL.The prepared aptasensor can also be applied for the sensitive and selective determination of E.coli in fruit juice,soft drink,and cosmetic products,and shows great promise for the on-site detection of Gram-negative bacteria with high sensitivity and specificity for environmental monitoring,food safety assessment,and household chemical inspection.
基金National Natural Science Foundation of China(61805087)Science and Technology Program of Guangzhou(2019050001,202102020604,202201010351)+2 种基金Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province(2018A030313368)Special Program on Key Fields for Colleges and Universities of Guangdong Province(2021ZDZX1048)Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology(2023B1212060065)。
文摘Liquid crystal(LC)photonic devices have attracted intensive attention in recent decades,due to the merits of tunability,cost-effectiveness,and high efficiency.However,the precise and efficient simulation of large-scale three-dimensional electrically stimulated LC photonic devices remains challenging and resource consuming.Here we report a straightforward nonuniform finite difference method(NFDM)for efficiently simulating largescale LC photonic devices by employing a spatially nonuniform mesh grid.
