Coconut(Cocos nucifera L.),a major oil and fruit crop of the Arecaceae family,is extensively cultivated across the Asia—Pacific region.Despite its agricultural importance,genome assembly in coconut remains challengin...Coconut(Cocos nucifera L.),a major oil and fruit crop of the Arecaceae family,is extensively cultivated across the Asia—Pacific region.Despite its agricultural importance,genome assembly in coconut remains challenging due to its large genome size and high proportion of repetitive sequences.Allele-specific expression(ASE)plays a key role in regulating plant development and evolution,yet research on ASE in coconut is limited(Shao et al.,2019;Li et al.,2021;Zhang et al.,2021;Hu et al.,2022).Among phenotypic traits,fruit color is especially important as an indicator of maturity,guiding harvest timing and post-harvest processes(Kapoor et al.,2022).While prior studies have explored various coconut traits such as salt tolerance,fiber content,and plant height(Wang et al.,2021;Yang et al.,2021),investigations into ASE and fruit color remain scarce.展开更多
In this study,an automated multimodal system for detecting,classifying,and dating fruit was developed using a two-stage YOLOv11 pipeline.In the first stage,the YOLOv11 detection model locates individual date fruits in...In this study,an automated multimodal system for detecting,classifying,and dating fruit was developed using a two-stage YOLOv11 pipeline.In the first stage,the YOLOv11 detection model locates individual date fruits in real time by drawing bounding boxes around them.These bounding boxes are subsequently passed to a YOLOv11 classification model,which analyzes cropped images and assigns class labels.An additional counting module automatically tallies the detected fruits,offering a near-instantaneous estimation of quantity.The experimental results suggest high precision and recall for detection,high classification accuracy(across 15 classes),and near-perfect counting in real time.This paper presents a multi-stage pipeline for date fruit detection,classification,and automated counting,employing YOLOv11-based models to achieve high accuracy while maintaining real-time throughput.The results demonstrated that the detection precision exceeded 90%,the classification accuracy approached 92%,and the counting module correlated closely with the manual tallies.These findings confirm the potential of reducing manual labour and enhancing operational efficiency in post-harvesting processes.Future studies will include dataset expansion,user-centric interfaces,and integration with harvesting robotics.展开更多
Zuoquan County has revitalized local villages with the fruits of their collected labor.GLOWING red apples hang heavily on branches in the orchards on the southern outskirts of Tongyu Town,Zuoquan County,Shanxi Provinc...Zuoquan County has revitalized local villages with the fruits of their collected labor.GLOWING red apples hang heavily on branches in the orchards on the southern outskirts of Tongyu Town,Zuoquan County,Shanxi Province,an area where a decade ago weeds and rocks covered a rather barren landscape.展开更多
Indicaxanthin is a betalain that is abundant in Opuntia ficus-indica orange fruit and has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Nevertheless, very little is known about the neuroprotective potential of indicaxa...Indicaxanthin is a betalain that is abundant in Opuntia ficus-indica orange fruit and has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Nevertheless, very little is known about the neuroprotective potential of indicaxanthin. This study investigated the impact of indicaxanthin on neuronal damage and gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by a high-fat diet in mice. The mice were divided into three groups according to different diets: the negative control group was fed a standard diet;the high-fat diet group was fed a high-fat diet;and the high-fat diet + indicaxanthin group was fed a high-fat diet and received indicaxanthin orally(0.86 mg/kg per day) for 4 weeks. Brain apoptosis, redox status, inflammation, and the gut microbiota composition were compared among the different animal groups. The results demonstrated that indicaxanthin treatment reduced neuronal apoptosis by downregulating the expression of proapoptotic genes and increasing the expression of antiapoptotic genes. Indicaxanthin also markedly decreased the expression of neuroinflammatory proteins and genes and inhibited high-fat diet–induced neuronal oxidative stress by reducing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide levels. In addition, indicaxanthin treatment improved the microflora composition by increasing the abundance of healthy bacterial genera, known as producers of short-chain fatty acids(Lachnospiraceae, Alloprovetella, and Lactobacillus), and by reducing bacteria related to unhealthy profiles(Blautia, Faecalibaculum, Romboutsia and Bilophila). In conclusion, indicaxanthin has a positive effect on high-fat diet–induced neuronal damage and on the gut microbiota composition in obese mice.展开更多
Fig fruit firmness decreases rapidly during ripening and after harvest,resulting in poor storability and transportation loss,which severely restricts development of the fresh fig industry.APETALA2/ethylene-responsive ...Fig fruit firmness decreases rapidly during ripening and after harvest,resulting in poor storability and transportation loss,which severely restricts development of the fresh fig industry.APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor(AP2/ERF)transcription factors are downstream components of the ethylene-signaling pathway that play crucial roles in quality formation during fruit ripening.In this study,Ficus carica(Fc)ERF12 was clustered in repressor subfamily VIII of ERFs through phylogenetic analysis,and further recruited by its two EAR motifs and expression pattern during fig ripening.DNA affinity purification sequencing analysis indicated that FcERF12 binds to the promoter or gene body regions of multiple ripening-related genes,including cell wall-modification genes FcPG,FcXTH and FcPME,and ethylene-biosynthesis genes FcACS and FcACO.Yeast two-hybrid assay demonstrated that FcERF12 interacts with TOPLESS(TPL)co-repressors FcTPL1,FcTPL4 and FcTPL5,and histone deacetylases FcHDA6 and FcHDA19;interaction with FcTPL4 and FcTPL5 relied on the C-terminal EAR motif.Overexpressing FcERF12 in tomato did not change fruit size or yield,but resulted in an 18.37%increment in fruit firmness and a 49.62%reduction in ethylene-release rate at fruit ripening,accompanied by a significant decrease in seed number per fruit.Transcriptomic analysis revealed downregulation of tomato cell wallmodification genes SlPL,SlEXP and SlPG,and ethylene-synthesis genes SlACO and SlACS.Metabolomic profiling identified 82 differentially accumulated flavonoid metabolites,61 of them showing significantly decreased contents.Taken together,our results exhibit the negative regulatory role of FcERF12 in fig ethylene-signal transduction,providing new information on precise control of fruit firmness and other quality traits at ripening.展开更多
In tomato,early fruit development involves rapid cell division and expansion,which are highly dependent on sugar availability(Huang et al.,2025;Yuan et al.,2025).After fruit set,soluble sugars are loaded into pericarp...In tomato,early fruit development involves rapid cell division and expansion,which are highly dependent on sugar availability(Huang et al.,2025;Yuan et al.,2025).After fruit set,soluble sugars are loaded into pericarp cells through the symplasmic(cytosol)or apoplasmic pathway(cell wall and extracellular matrix)(Patrick and Offler,1996).Sucrose,as the major form of carbon translocated to tomato fruit,can be directly unloaded into fruit cells.However,some sucrose can be hydrolyzed by extracellular invertase,producing glucose and fructose for metabolism and biosynthesis in pericarp cells(Ruan,2014).展开更多
Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation has been widely adopted for plant genetic engineering and the study of gene function(Krenek et al.,2015).This method is prevalent in the genetic transformation of herb...Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation has been widely adopted for plant genetic engineering and the study of gene function(Krenek et al.,2015).This method is prevalent in the genetic transformation of herbaceous plants,with notable applications in species such as Arabidopsis(Yin et al.,2024),soybean(Zhang et al.,2024),rice(Zhang et al.,2020),and Chinese cabbage(Li et al.,2021).However,its application in fruit trees is limited.This is primarily due to their long growth cycles and lack of rapid,efficient,and stable transgenic systems,which severely hinders foundational research involving plant genetic transformation(Mei et al.,2024).Furthermore,for subtropical fruit trees,the presence of recalcitrant seeds adds an extra layer of difficulty to genetic transformation(Umarani et al.,2015),as most methods rely on seed germination as a basis for transformation.展开更多
Tephritid fruit flies are considered one of the world’s most notorious pests of horticultural crops, including mango (Mangefera indica L.) in Sierra Leone, causing extensive direct and indirect damage. A survey was c...Tephritid fruit flies are considered one of the world’s most notorious pests of horticultural crops, including mango (Mangefera indica L.) in Sierra Leone, causing extensive direct and indirect damage. A survey was conducted among 60 mango farmers in 7 districts in Sierra Leone between June and August, 2022, to assess their perceptions regarding fruit fly pest status and the current management options adopted for the control of this pest. Semi-structured questions designed in an open and closed-ended fashion were used for the study. The majority (83%) of the farmers were already aware of the fruit fly problem in the country with 62% perceiving it to be very severe. The majority (60%) of farmers, however, demonstrated poor knowledge of identifying fruit fly species, especially Bactrocera dorsalis, Ceratitis capitata, and Ceratitis cosyra. Farmers were more conversant about the direct damage symptoms to host fruits and the economic impact of fruit flies. A total of 32% of growers took no action to control fruit flies on their farms. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the farmers adopted cultural control measures, like practicing prompt harvesting, collection and disposal of infested fruits, and weeding to maintain better sanitary conditions on their farms. Recommended fruit fly management strategies such as the use of botanicals and resistant varieties were either unknown or inaccessible to growers. A total of 52% applied chemicals that were not recommended for the control of fruit flies without considering their environmental and health risks. It is important to train fruit growers to improve their capabilities for fruit fly management through extension agents that are appropriate for helping them acquire basic knowledge of fruit fly pests and their management.展开更多
BACKGROUND Fruits of Gardenia jasminoides(G.jasminoides)have extremely high medicinal value.However,the quality and traits of the plants vary significantly based on their provenances.In addition,the behaviour of the k...BACKGROUND Fruits of Gardenia jasminoides(G.jasminoides)have extremely high medicinal value.However,the quality and traits of the plants vary significantly based on their provenances.In addition,the behaviour of the known bioactive components,such as geniposide and crocin,has been the primary focus of the research on G.jasminoides.However,the identification of unknown bioactive components and their metabolomics remains underexplored.Therefore,analysing the metabolic differences between gardenias from different sources is essential to provide a comprehensive theoretical basis for the evaluation of G.jasminoides and germplasm resource identification.AIM To systematically evaluate the morphology,secondary metabolites,typical active ingredients,and antioxidant activity of wild G.jasminoides fruits.METHODS Gardenia fruits were collected from different provenances.Metabolites were identified via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS).The metabolic differences were compared using hierarchical cluster analysis(HCA).The antioxidant capacity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assays and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays,and its correlation with typical active ingredients was analysed.RESULTS A total of 444 and 240 metabolites were identified using UPLC-MS/MS in positive and negative ion modes,respectively.The HCA results of the flavonoids indicated that the higher content of flavonoids was in the fruits from Lukou.The differential analysis of metabolites in fruits from Shaoyang,Miluo and Lukou showed that the fruit from Miluo had the highest upregulated differential metabolites.CONCLUSION The metabolic characteristics of the Ningxiang and Xiangxi extracts were similar,while those of Lukou,Miluo and Shaoyang extracts differed significantly.展开更多
Chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid accumulation are essential processes of fruit maturation in many horticultural plants,and play a crucial role in fruit color and quality.The pathways of chlorophyll and carotenoi...Chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid accumulation are essential processes of fruit maturation in many horticultural plants,and play a crucial role in fruit color and quality.The pathways of chlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis and degradation are well understood,and key regulatory genes controlling these pathways have been identified in citrus.This article reviewed the recent research on chlorophyll and carotenoid metabolism in citrus fruits,encompassing the metabolic pathways,transcriptional regulation,influencing factors,and the interplay between chlorophyll and carotenoid metabolism,aiming to provide insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing the coloration of citrus fruits.展开更多
The content of soluble sugars is a vital parameter that indicates the quality of fleshy fruits such as apple(Malus domestica Borkh.).Studying the patterns of accumulation of soluble sugars and regulatory mechanisms as...The content of soluble sugars is a vital parameter that indicates the quality of fleshy fruits such as apple(Malus domestica Borkh.).Studying the patterns of accumulation of soluble sugars and regulatory mechanisms associated with fruit development is crucial for breeding improved fruit varieties.Here,we report that MdCIbHLH1,a low temperature-induced b HLH transcription factor,inhibits the accumulation of soluble sugars by regulating sugar-metabolizing enzyme activities,photosynthetic performance,and the expression of sugar-related genes in developing apple fruits.MdCIbHLH1 inhibits MdFBP and MdPEPCK expression,thus blocking the conversion of acids to sugars in apple fruits.We also discovered that MdCIbHLH1 decreases the photosynthetic rate and carbohydrate accumulation in apple leaves.Our results suggest that soluble sugar accumulation in apple fruits is influenced by multiple factors,including metabolic status,photosynthesis,and carbohydrate allocation.MdCIbHLH1 is critically involved in controlling the accumulation of soluble sugars by coordinating carbohydrate synthesis and allocation,thus influencing sugar transport and its metabolism during the development of apple fruits.展开更多
Hyperlipidemia constitutes a critical factor in the pathogenesis of vascular disease and gut microbiota dysbiosis.This study aims to investigate the role of sea buckthorn fruit oil(SBFO)in ameliorating hyperlipidemia,...Hyperlipidemia constitutes a critical factor in the pathogenesis of vascular disease and gut microbiota dysbiosis.This study aims to investigate the role of sea buckthorn fruit oil(SBFO)in ameliorating hyperlipidemia,modulating gut microbiota,and elucidating the underlying mechanisms of its lipid-lowering effects.SBFO intervention in hyperlipidemic mice significantly reduced body weight and visceral adiposity index while mitigating symptoms associated with hyperlipidemia,including dyslipidemia,infla mmation,liver damage,and endothelial dysfunction.Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analyses revealed that SBFO enhanced the response of free fatty acid oxidation and breakdown(adenosine 5'-monophosphateactivated protein kinaseα,carnitine palmitoyltransferase1a,peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorα,and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ)while suppressing the synthesis of triglycerides and fatty acids(sterol-regulatory element binding protein 1,fatty acid synthase,and acetyl CoA carboxylase)at the gene and protein expression levels.Moreover,SBFO intervention enriched the gut microbiota of hyperlipidemic mice by increasing the relative abundances of Lactobacillus,Faecalibaculum,and Allobaculum,while decreasing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio.These findings suggest that SBFO exhibits promising therapeutic potential in attenuating hyperlipidemia in mice through the regulation of lipid metabolism and modulation of gut microbiota.展开更多
Teacher–student relationships play a vital role in improving college students’academic performance and the quality of higher education.However,empirical studies with substantial data-driven insights remain limited.T...Teacher–student relationships play a vital role in improving college students’academic performance and the quality of higher education.However,empirical studies with substantial data-driven insights remain limited.To address this gap,this study collected 3278 questionnaires from seven universities across four provinces in China to analyze the key factors affecting college students’academic performance.A machine learning framework,CQFOA-KELM,was developed by enhancing the Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm(FOA)with Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy(CMAES)and Quadratic Approximation(QA).CQFOA significantly improved population diversity and was validated on the IEEE CEC2017 benchmark functions.The CQFOA-KELM model achieved an accuracy of 98.15%and a sensitivity of 98.53%in predicting college students’academic performance.Additionally,it effectively identified the key factors influencing academic performance through the feature selection process.展开更多
The WSC proteins produced by Penicillium expansum play a crucial role in causing blue mold on pears.To analyze the role of the WSC1 gene in the pathogenic process of this fungal pathogen,we conducted transcriptomic an...The WSC proteins produced by Penicillium expansum play a crucial role in causing blue mold on pears.To analyze the role of the WSC1 gene in the pathogenic process of this fungal pathogen,we conducted transcriptomic analysis of a WSC1 knockout(ΔWSC1)strain.The knockout of WSC1 significantly altered the gene expression profile in P.expansum,particularly for genes involved in cell wall integrity,signaling,stress response,and toxin production.The differential expression of these genes might make theΔWSC1 strain more vulnerable to environmental stress,while reducing the toxin production capacity,ultimately leading to a decrease in the pathogenicity.The transcriptomic analysis revealed that the expression of genes related to stress response signals,defense mechanisms and oxidative stress management changed when pear fruits were infected with theΔWSC1 strain.These changes may trigger a cascade of responses in pear fruits.In addition,compared with those infected with the wild-type strain,pear fruits infected with theΔWSC1 strain exhibited up-regulated expression of genes related to defense and oxidative stress.This study clarifies how the WSC1 gene influences P.expansum’s ability to infect pear fruits and how pear fruits respond to the infection.展开更多
In 2015,the discovery of mammalian fossils,paleolithic artifacts,and burned bones in the Maoershan Cave of the Guilin Basin,northeastern Guangxi,indicated that it is a late Middle Pleistocene Paleolithic site.In 2021,...In 2015,the discovery of mammalian fossils,paleolithic artifacts,and burned bones in the Maoershan Cave of the Guilin Basin,northeastern Guangxi,indicated that it is a late Middle Pleistocene Paleolithic site.In 2021,stratigraphic sectioning and the systematic screening of small mammal sand samples were conducted.This paper presents a comprehensive account of the new material of the fruit bat Rousettus leschenaultii,accompanied by a concise overview of the non-volant micromammals that coexisted with it in the Quaternary sediments of the Maoershan Cave.This finding marks the second occurrence of fruit bat fossils in China,contributing to our understanding of the dental morphology and past geographical distribution of Rousettus.The micromammalian assemblage of the Maoershan Cave is composed of 3 orders,9 families,26 genera,and 30 species,and exhibits notable similarities with those of the late Middle Pleistocene Yumi Cave,Xinglong Cave,Yanhui Cave,Mawokou Cave,Zhongliangshan,and Chuan Cave faunas.The biochronology of the micromammalian assemblage from the Maoershan Cave has been determined to be consistent with the late Middle Pleistocene,providing a new assemblage in the Pleistocene mammalian faunal sequence in southern China.The presence of abundant oriental forested elements indicates that the Guilin Basin used to be a humid and warm subtropical forest paleoenvironment similar to the contemporary environment during the late Middle Pleistocene.展开更多
The variation of sugar, acid and vitamin C contents in fruits of red flesh kiwifruit （Actinidia chinensis） ＂Hongyang＂ and green fresh kiwifruit （A. deliciosa） ＇Jinkui＇ were investigated during fruit developmen...The variation of sugar, acid and vitamin C contents in fruits of red flesh kiwifruit （Actinidia chinensis） ＂Hongyang＂ and green fresh kiwifruit （A. deliciosa） ＇Jinkui＇ were investigated during fruit development. The results showed that the to- tal sugar soluble contents of ＂Hongyang＇ and ＇Jinkui＂ during fruit development ex- isted different variations. With the upward trend of ＇Hongyang＇ fruit development, 95 days after full bloom （DAFB）, the total soluble sugar accumulation was relatively slow, and then rose rapidly until harvest with the maximum content （6.87%）. While ＇Jinkui＇ fruit showed a fluctuant process, rising in 50 DAFB, then declining, then rising rapidly and decreasing slightly right before harvest. The variation of fruit titrat- able acid between them was more consistent, which was increased and then de- creased. The only difference was that the titratable acid content of ＇Jinkui＇ fruit de- creased slowly from the late of fruit development to fruit ripening, similar to the maximum value, but that of ＇Hongyang＇ fruit decreased rapidly in the late. Titrat- able acid contents of them in the maturity were 1.08% and 1.20%, respectively. The trends of sugar acid ratio for ＇Hongyang＇ and ＇Jinkui＇ fruit were quite different. ＇Hongyang＇ fruit increased slowly and then rapidly; ＇Jinkui＇ changed from decreas- ing to increasing, followed by slight decreasing in mature stage. In addition, the two kiwifruit varieties had a similar change trend of Vc content during fruit development, which changed from rapid increasing to declining, followed by slight growing in the harvest. The changing tendency of ＇Jinkui＇ fruit was later than that of ＇Hengyang＇.展开更多
The ultrastructure of the epidermis and flesh of apple ( Malus domestica Borkh cv. Red Fuji) fruit was systematically observed during the fruit development via transmission electron microscopy. The results showed t...The ultrastructure of the epidermis and flesh of apple ( Malus domestica Borkh cv. Red Fuji) fruit was systematically observed during the fruit development via transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that, in spite of the ultrastructural changes in many aspects of the developing fruit epidermal cells, it remained almost unchanged throughout the whole developmental process that the cytoplasm was filled with numerous endoplasmic reticula (ER). Most of these endoplasmic reticula were tube_like and rough_ER with enlarged cisterna from which many vesicles were produced. Some of the vesicles were shown to merge into vacuole. Some dynamic Golgi bodies were also found. All the ultrastructural characteristics showed that the epidermal cells have the features of excretory cells. The ultrastructure of the fruit flesh cells at the young fruit stage were shown to be metabolically active, characterized by the presence of numerous clustered plasmodesmata, cisterna enlarged_ and rough_ER filling the cytoplasm, plenty of vesicles and Golgi bodies, indicating their dynamic cellular transport function. Some giant_circular rough_ERs were found. All the ultrastructural features at this early developmental stage should be closely associated with the enlargement of the young fruit. At the rapid growing phase of the fruit the main changes were characterized by: the starch grain_filled amyloplasts, furcating of the single orifice of plasmodesmata, and the cytoplasm enrichment of both the Golgi body_formed vesicles and other vesicles. These features correspond well with those of a photoassimilate sink_cell. An ultrastructural degeneration phenomenon was observed at the fruit ripening stage, but the mitochondria and plasmalemma still remained intact, which might be related to the continuous development of fruit quality during the fruit ripening.展开更多
Akebia is a wild fruit originating in the Yangtse river valley and the surrounding areas. It includes mainly three species （subspecies）： Akebia trifoliata, Akebia trifoliata subsp, australis, and Akebia quinata. It...Akebia is a wild fruit originating in the Yangtse river valley and the surrounding areas. It includes mainly three species （subspecies）： Akebia trifoliata, Akebia trifoliata subsp, australis, and Akebia quinata. It has many good traits, such as large fruit size, early fruit-setting and high yield, excellent eating quality, and good environmental adaptability. However, there are some shortcomings with the fruit, including thick skin, excessive number of seeds, and relatively small proportion of edible flesh. Akebia is also a traditional Chinese medicine, which has the functions of relieving internal heat and diuresis, dredging venation and improving blood circulation, cleansing facial chloasma, detoxication and anti-cancer activities. Akebia can be used as fresh fruit, for processing, and for pharmaceutical purposes. We have been undertaking a series of research on the domestication and utilization of Akebia, including cultivar selection, techniques for cultivation, storage and processing, and related basic studies. A Chinese trade name “Hehuanguo” and an English trade name “Joyfruit” have been registered for Akebia to facilitate its commercial development.展开更多
Increasing access to locally produced, safe, nutritious and affordable complementary foods is essential to combat micronutrient deficiencies in young children in low- and middle-income countries. Two formulations of s...Increasing access to locally produced, safe, nutritious and affordable complementary foods is essential to combat micronutrient deficiencies in young children in low- and middle-income countries. Two formulations of sweets based on jujube, baobab fruit powder and sweet potato puree were produced, and their nutritional values and sensory properties such as taste, smell, color and acceptability were assessed. The formulation containing the most jujube powder, baobab fruit and sweet potato puree gave the best nutritional value. The sweets are rich in calcium (259.80 mg/100 g), magnesium (67.98 mg/100 g), potassium (782.04 mg/100 g), vitamin C (32.37 mg/100 g), iron (6.45 g mg/100 g) and zinc (0.97 mg/100 g). Sensory tests on the two formulations showed acceptability scores ranging from 81.26% to 84.58%, well above the minimum acceptable threshold. Candies with jujube, baobab fruit powder and sweet potato puree could be an alternative for preventing micronutrient deficiencies.展开更多
基金supported by Central Public-interest Scientific Institution Basal Research Fund(CATAS-Nos.1630152023007,1630152023011,1630152023012,1630152023013)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.32071805).
文摘Coconut(Cocos nucifera L.),a major oil and fruit crop of the Arecaceae family,is extensively cultivated across the Asia—Pacific region.Despite its agricultural importance,genome assembly in coconut remains challenging due to its large genome size and high proportion of repetitive sequences.Allele-specific expression(ASE)plays a key role in regulating plant development and evolution,yet research on ASE in coconut is limited(Shao et al.,2019;Li et al.,2021;Zhang et al.,2021;Hu et al.,2022).Among phenotypic traits,fruit color is especially important as an indicator of maturity,guiding harvest timing and post-harvest processes(Kapoor et al.,2022).While prior studies have explored various coconut traits such as salt tolerance,fiber content,and plant height(Wang et al.,2021;Yang et al.,2021),investigations into ASE and fruit color remain scarce.
基金supported by the Deanship of Scientific Research,Vice Presidency for Graduate Studies and Scientific Research,King Faisal University,Saudi Arabia,Grant No.KFU250098.
文摘In this study,an automated multimodal system for detecting,classifying,and dating fruit was developed using a two-stage YOLOv11 pipeline.In the first stage,the YOLOv11 detection model locates individual date fruits in real time by drawing bounding boxes around them.These bounding boxes are subsequently passed to a YOLOv11 classification model,which analyzes cropped images and assigns class labels.An additional counting module automatically tallies the detected fruits,offering a near-instantaneous estimation of quantity.The experimental results suggest high precision and recall for detection,high classification accuracy(across 15 classes),and near-perfect counting in real time.This paper presents a multi-stage pipeline for date fruit detection,classification,and automated counting,employing YOLOv11-based models to achieve high accuracy while maintaining real-time throughput.The results demonstrated that the detection precision exceeded 90%,the classification accuracy approached 92%,and the counting module correlated closely with the manual tallies.These findings confirm the potential of reducing manual labour and enhancing operational efficiency in post-harvesting processes.Future studies will include dataset expansion,user-centric interfaces,and integration with harvesting robotics.
文摘Zuoquan County has revitalized local villages with the fruits of their collected labor.GLOWING red apples hang heavily on branches in the orchards on the southern outskirts of Tongyu Town,Zuoquan County,Shanxi Province,an area where a decade ago weeds and rocks covered a rather barren landscape.
基金funding from the European Union -NextGenerationEU through the Italian Ministry of University and Research under PRIN PNRR REG D.R.1718-2022– Project number PRJ-1575 INDICA。
文摘Indicaxanthin is a betalain that is abundant in Opuntia ficus-indica orange fruit and has antioxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. Nevertheless, very little is known about the neuroprotective potential of indicaxanthin. This study investigated the impact of indicaxanthin on neuronal damage and gut microbiota dysbiosis induced by a high-fat diet in mice. The mice were divided into three groups according to different diets: the negative control group was fed a standard diet;the high-fat diet group was fed a high-fat diet;and the high-fat diet + indicaxanthin group was fed a high-fat diet and received indicaxanthin orally(0.86 mg/kg per day) for 4 weeks. Brain apoptosis, redox status, inflammation, and the gut microbiota composition were compared among the different animal groups. The results demonstrated that indicaxanthin treatment reduced neuronal apoptosis by downregulating the expression of proapoptotic genes and increasing the expression of antiapoptotic genes. Indicaxanthin also markedly decreased the expression of neuroinflammatory proteins and genes and inhibited high-fat diet–induced neuronal oxidative stress by reducing reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, malondialdehyde, and nitric oxide levels. In addition, indicaxanthin treatment improved the microflora composition by increasing the abundance of healthy bacterial genera, known as producers of short-chain fatty acids(Lachnospiraceae, Alloprovetella, and Lactobacillus), and by reducing bacteria related to unhealthy profiles(Blautia, Faecalibaculum, Romboutsia and Bilophila). In conclusion, indicaxanthin has a positive effect on high-fat diet–induced neuronal damage and on the gut microbiota composition in obese mice.
基金supported by the key research project for fig development of Weiyuan County(Grant No.1002-69199007),China.
文摘Fig fruit firmness decreases rapidly during ripening and after harvest,resulting in poor storability and transportation loss,which severely restricts development of the fresh fig industry.APETALA2/ethylene-responsive factor(AP2/ERF)transcription factors are downstream components of the ethylene-signaling pathway that play crucial roles in quality formation during fruit ripening.In this study,Ficus carica(Fc)ERF12 was clustered in repressor subfamily VIII of ERFs through phylogenetic analysis,and further recruited by its two EAR motifs and expression pattern during fig ripening.DNA affinity purification sequencing analysis indicated that FcERF12 binds to the promoter or gene body regions of multiple ripening-related genes,including cell wall-modification genes FcPG,FcXTH and FcPME,and ethylene-biosynthesis genes FcACS and FcACO.Yeast two-hybrid assay demonstrated that FcERF12 interacts with TOPLESS(TPL)co-repressors FcTPL1,FcTPL4 and FcTPL5,and histone deacetylases FcHDA6 and FcHDA19;interaction with FcTPL4 and FcTPL5 relied on the C-terminal EAR motif.Overexpressing FcERF12 in tomato did not change fruit size or yield,but resulted in an 18.37%increment in fruit firmness and a 49.62%reduction in ethylene-release rate at fruit ripening,accompanied by a significant decrease in seed number per fruit.Transcriptomic analysis revealed downregulation of tomato cell wallmodification genes SlPL,SlEXP and SlPG,and ethylene-synthesis genes SlACO and SlACS.Metabolomic profiling identified 82 differentially accumulated flavonoid metabolites,61 of them showing significantly decreased contents.Taken together,our results exhibit the negative regulatory role of FcERF12 in fig ethylene-signal transduction,providing new information on precise control of fruit firmness and other quality traits at ripening.
基金supported by The National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.32120103010,32341045,and 32272729).
文摘In tomato,early fruit development involves rapid cell division and expansion,which are highly dependent on sugar availability(Huang et al.,2025;Yuan et al.,2025).After fruit set,soluble sugars are loaded into pericarp cells through the symplasmic(cytosol)or apoplasmic pathway(cell wall and extracellular matrix)(Patrick and Offler,1996).Sucrose,as the major form of carbon translocated to tomato fruit,can be directly unloaded into fruit cells.However,some sucrose can be hydrolyzed by extracellular invertase,producing glucose and fructose for metabolism and biosynthesis in pericarp cells(Ruan,2014).
基金funded by the Key-Area Research and Development Program of Guangdong Province(Grant No.2022B0202070002)the Guangxi Science and Technology Major Program(Grant No.GuikeAA23023007-2)+1 种基金the Guangdong Province Modern Agricultural Industry Technology System Innovation Team Construction Project(2024CXTD19)Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(Grant No.2023A1515010303)。
文摘Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation has been widely adopted for plant genetic engineering and the study of gene function(Krenek et al.,2015).This method is prevalent in the genetic transformation of herbaceous plants,with notable applications in species such as Arabidopsis(Yin et al.,2024),soybean(Zhang et al.,2024),rice(Zhang et al.,2020),and Chinese cabbage(Li et al.,2021).However,its application in fruit trees is limited.This is primarily due to their long growth cycles and lack of rapid,efficient,and stable transgenic systems,which severely hinders foundational research involving plant genetic transformation(Mei et al.,2024).Furthermore,for subtropical fruit trees,the presence of recalcitrant seeds adds an extra layer of difficulty to genetic transformation(Umarani et al.,2015),as most methods rely on seed germination as a basis for transformation.
文摘Tephritid fruit flies are considered one of the world’s most notorious pests of horticultural crops, including mango (Mangefera indica L.) in Sierra Leone, causing extensive direct and indirect damage. A survey was conducted among 60 mango farmers in 7 districts in Sierra Leone between June and August, 2022, to assess their perceptions regarding fruit fly pest status and the current management options adopted for the control of this pest. Semi-structured questions designed in an open and closed-ended fashion were used for the study. The majority (83%) of the farmers were already aware of the fruit fly problem in the country with 62% perceiving it to be very severe. The majority (60%) of farmers, however, demonstrated poor knowledge of identifying fruit fly species, especially Bactrocera dorsalis, Ceratitis capitata, and Ceratitis cosyra. Farmers were more conversant about the direct damage symptoms to host fruits and the economic impact of fruit flies. A total of 32% of growers took no action to control fruit flies on their farms. Sixty-nine percent (69%) of the farmers adopted cultural control measures, like practicing prompt harvesting, collection and disposal of infested fruits, and weeding to maintain better sanitary conditions on their farms. Recommended fruit fly management strategies such as the use of botanicals and resistant varieties were either unknown or inaccessible to growers. A total of 52% applied chemicals that were not recommended for the control of fruit flies without considering their environmental and health risks. It is important to train fruit growers to improve their capabilities for fruit fly management through extension agents that are appropriate for helping them acquire basic knowledge of fruit fly pests and their management.
基金Supported by The Forestry Science and Technology Innovation Funded Project of Hunan Forestry Bureau,No.XLKY202221。
文摘BACKGROUND Fruits of Gardenia jasminoides(G.jasminoides)have extremely high medicinal value.However,the quality and traits of the plants vary significantly based on their provenances.In addition,the behaviour of the known bioactive components,such as geniposide and crocin,has been the primary focus of the research on G.jasminoides.However,the identification of unknown bioactive components and their metabolomics remains underexplored.Therefore,analysing the metabolic differences between gardenias from different sources is essential to provide a comprehensive theoretical basis for the evaluation of G.jasminoides and germplasm resource identification.AIM To systematically evaluate the morphology,secondary metabolites,typical active ingredients,and antioxidant activity of wild G.jasminoides fruits.METHODS Gardenia fruits were collected from different provenances.Metabolites were identified via ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry(UPLC-MS/MS).The metabolic differences were compared using hierarchical cluster analysis(HCA).The antioxidant capacity was evaluated using 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging assays and ferric reducing antioxidant power assays,and its correlation with typical active ingredients was analysed.RESULTS A total of 444 and 240 metabolites were identified using UPLC-MS/MS in positive and negative ion modes,respectively.The HCA results of the flavonoids indicated that the higher content of flavonoids was in the fruits from Lukou.The differential analysis of metabolites in fruits from Shaoyang,Miluo and Lukou showed that the fruit from Miluo had the highest upregulated differential metabolites.CONCLUSION The metabolic characteristics of the Ningxiang and Xiangxi extracts were similar,while those of Lukou,Miluo and Shaoyang extracts differed significantly.
基金supported by the Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.LQ23C150004 and LR23C150001)National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC+1 种基金Grant No.32102318)NSFC Excellent Young Scientists Fund,and the Key Project for New Agricultural Cultivar Breeding in Zhejiang Province,China(Grant No.2021C02066-1).
文摘Chlorophyll degradation and carotenoid accumulation are essential processes of fruit maturation in many horticultural plants,and play a crucial role in fruit color and quality.The pathways of chlorophyll and carotenoid biosynthesis and degradation are well understood,and key regulatory genes controlling these pathways have been identified in citrus.This article reviewed the recent research on chlorophyll and carotenoid metabolism in citrus fruits,encompassing the metabolic pathways,transcriptional regulation,influencing factors,and the interplay between chlorophyll and carotenoid metabolism,aiming to provide insights into the molecular regulatory mechanisms governing the coloration of citrus fruits.
基金supported by grants from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.32122080,31972375)Shandong Province(Grant No.ZR2020YQ25)。
文摘The content of soluble sugars is a vital parameter that indicates the quality of fleshy fruits such as apple(Malus domestica Borkh.).Studying the patterns of accumulation of soluble sugars and regulatory mechanisms associated with fruit development is crucial for breeding improved fruit varieties.Here,we report that MdCIbHLH1,a low temperature-induced b HLH transcription factor,inhibits the accumulation of soluble sugars by regulating sugar-metabolizing enzyme activities,photosynthetic performance,and the expression of sugar-related genes in developing apple fruits.MdCIbHLH1 inhibits MdFBP and MdPEPCK expression,thus blocking the conversion of acids to sugars in apple fruits.We also discovered that MdCIbHLH1 decreases the photosynthetic rate and carbohydrate accumulation in apple leaves.Our results suggest that soluble sugar accumulation in apple fruits is influenced by multiple factors,including metabolic status,photosynthesis,and carbohydrate allocation.MdCIbHLH1 is critically involved in controlling the accumulation of soluble sugars by coordinating carbohydrate synthesis and allocation,thus influencing sugar transport and its metabolism during the development of apple fruits.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(31201416)Programme of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities(B17018)。
文摘Hyperlipidemia constitutes a critical factor in the pathogenesis of vascular disease and gut microbiota dysbiosis.This study aims to investigate the role of sea buckthorn fruit oil(SBFO)in ameliorating hyperlipidemia,modulating gut microbiota,and elucidating the underlying mechanisms of its lipid-lowering effects.SBFO intervention in hyperlipidemic mice significantly reduced body weight and visceral adiposity index while mitigating symptoms associated with hyperlipidemia,including dyslipidemia,infla mmation,liver damage,and endothelial dysfunction.Real-time quantitative PCR and Western blot analyses revealed that SBFO enhanced the response of free fatty acid oxidation and breakdown(adenosine 5'-monophosphateactivated protein kinaseα,carnitine palmitoyltransferase1a,peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorα,and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptorγ)while suppressing the synthesis of triglycerides and fatty acids(sterol-regulatory element binding protein 1,fatty acid synthase,and acetyl CoA carboxylase)at the gene and protein expression levels.Moreover,SBFO intervention enriched the gut microbiota of hyperlipidemic mice by increasing the relative abundances of Lactobacillus,Faecalibaculum,and Allobaculum,while decreasing the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio.These findings suggest that SBFO exhibits promising therapeutic potential in attenuating hyperlipidemia in mice through the regulation of lipid metabolism and modulation of gut microbiota.
文摘Teacher–student relationships play a vital role in improving college students’academic performance and the quality of higher education.However,empirical studies with substantial data-driven insights remain limited.To address this gap,this study collected 3278 questionnaires from seven universities across four provinces in China to analyze the key factors affecting college students’academic performance.A machine learning framework,CQFOA-KELM,was developed by enhancing the Fruit Fly Optimization Algorithm(FOA)with Covariance Matrix Adaptation Evolution Strategy(CMAES)and Quadratic Approximation(QA).CQFOA significantly improved population diversity and was validated on the IEEE CEC2017 benchmark functions.The CQFOA-KELM model achieved an accuracy of 98.15%and a sensitivity of 98.53%in predicting college students’academic performance.Additionally,it effectively identified the key factors influencing academic performance through the feature selection process.
文摘The WSC proteins produced by Penicillium expansum play a crucial role in causing blue mold on pears.To analyze the role of the WSC1 gene in the pathogenic process of this fungal pathogen,we conducted transcriptomic analysis of a WSC1 knockout(ΔWSC1)strain.The knockout of WSC1 significantly altered the gene expression profile in P.expansum,particularly for genes involved in cell wall integrity,signaling,stress response,and toxin production.The differential expression of these genes might make theΔWSC1 strain more vulnerable to environmental stress,while reducing the toxin production capacity,ultimately leading to a decrease in the pathogenicity.The transcriptomic analysis revealed that the expression of genes related to stress response signals,defense mechanisms and oxidative stress management changed when pear fruits were infected with theΔWSC1 strain.These changes may trigger a cascade of responses in pear fruits.In addition,compared with those infected with the wild-type strain,pear fruits infected with theΔWSC1 strain exhibited up-regulated expression of genes related to defense and oxidative stress.This study clarifies how the WSC1 gene influences P.expansum’s ability to infect pear fruits and how pear fruits respond to the infection.
文摘In 2015,the discovery of mammalian fossils,paleolithic artifacts,and burned bones in the Maoershan Cave of the Guilin Basin,northeastern Guangxi,indicated that it is a late Middle Pleistocene Paleolithic site.In 2021,stratigraphic sectioning and the systematic screening of small mammal sand samples were conducted.This paper presents a comprehensive account of the new material of the fruit bat Rousettus leschenaultii,accompanied by a concise overview of the non-volant micromammals that coexisted with it in the Quaternary sediments of the Maoershan Cave.This finding marks the second occurrence of fruit bat fossils in China,contributing to our understanding of the dental morphology and past geographical distribution of Rousettus.The micromammalian assemblage of the Maoershan Cave is composed of 3 orders,9 families,26 genera,and 30 species,and exhibits notable similarities with those of the late Middle Pleistocene Yumi Cave,Xinglong Cave,Yanhui Cave,Mawokou Cave,Zhongliangshan,and Chuan Cave faunas.The biochronology of the micromammalian assemblage from the Maoershan Cave has been determined to be consistent with the late Middle Pleistocene,providing a new assemblage in the Pleistocene mammalian faunal sequence in southern China.The presence of abundant oriental forested elements indicates that the Guilin Basin used to be a humid and warm subtropical forest paleoenvironment similar to the contemporary environment during the late Middle Pleistocene.
文摘The variation of sugar, acid and vitamin C contents in fruits of red flesh kiwifruit （Actinidia chinensis） ＂Hongyang＂ and green fresh kiwifruit （A. deliciosa） ＇Jinkui＇ were investigated during fruit development. The results showed that the to- tal sugar soluble contents of ＂Hongyang＇ and ＇Jinkui＂ during fruit development ex- isted different variations. With the upward trend of ＇Hongyang＇ fruit development, 95 days after full bloom （DAFB）, the total soluble sugar accumulation was relatively slow, and then rose rapidly until harvest with the maximum content （6.87%）. While ＇Jinkui＇ fruit showed a fluctuant process, rising in 50 DAFB, then declining, then rising rapidly and decreasing slightly right before harvest. The variation of fruit titrat- able acid between them was more consistent, which was increased and then de- creased. The only difference was that the titratable acid content of ＇Jinkui＇ fruit de- creased slowly from the late of fruit development to fruit ripening, similar to the maximum value, but that of ＇Hongyang＇ fruit decreased rapidly in the late. Titrat- able acid contents of them in the maturity were 1.08% and 1.20%, respectively. The trends of sugar acid ratio for ＇Hongyang＇ and ＇Jinkui＇ fruit were quite different. ＇Hongyang＇ fruit increased slowly and then rapidly; ＇Jinkui＇ changed from decreas- ing to increasing, followed by slight decreasing in mature stage. In addition, the two kiwifruit varieties had a similar change trend of Vc content during fruit development, which changed from rapid increasing to declining, followed by slight growing in the harvest. The changing tendency of ＇Jinkui＇ fruit was later than that of ＇Hengyang＇.
文摘The ultrastructure of the epidermis and flesh of apple ( Malus domestica Borkh cv. Red Fuji) fruit was systematically observed during the fruit development via transmission electron microscopy. The results showed that, in spite of the ultrastructural changes in many aspects of the developing fruit epidermal cells, it remained almost unchanged throughout the whole developmental process that the cytoplasm was filled with numerous endoplasmic reticula (ER). Most of these endoplasmic reticula were tube_like and rough_ER with enlarged cisterna from which many vesicles were produced. Some of the vesicles were shown to merge into vacuole. Some dynamic Golgi bodies were also found. All the ultrastructural characteristics showed that the epidermal cells have the features of excretory cells. The ultrastructure of the fruit flesh cells at the young fruit stage were shown to be metabolically active, characterized by the presence of numerous clustered plasmodesmata, cisterna enlarged_ and rough_ER filling the cytoplasm, plenty of vesicles and Golgi bodies, indicating their dynamic cellular transport function. Some giant_circular rough_ERs were found. All the ultrastructural features at this early developmental stage should be closely associated with the enlargement of the young fruit. At the rapid growing phase of the fruit the main changes were characterized by: the starch grain_filled amyloplasts, furcating of the single orifice of plasmodesmata, and the cytoplasm enrichment of both the Golgi body_formed vesicles and other vesicles. These features correspond well with those of a photoassimilate sink_cell. An ultrastructural degeneration phenomenon was observed at the fruit ripening stage, but the mitochondria and plasmalemma still remained intact, which might be related to the continuous development of fruit quality during the fruit ripening.
文摘Akebia is a wild fruit originating in the Yangtse river valley and the surrounding areas. It includes mainly three species （subspecies）： Akebia trifoliata, Akebia trifoliata subsp, australis, and Akebia quinata. It has many good traits, such as large fruit size, early fruit-setting and high yield, excellent eating quality, and good environmental adaptability. However, there are some shortcomings with the fruit, including thick skin, excessive number of seeds, and relatively small proportion of edible flesh. Akebia is also a traditional Chinese medicine, which has the functions of relieving internal heat and diuresis, dredging venation and improving blood circulation, cleansing facial chloasma, detoxication and anti-cancer activities. Akebia can be used as fresh fruit, for processing, and for pharmaceutical purposes. We have been undertaking a series of research on the domestication and utilization of Akebia, including cultivar selection, techniques for cultivation, storage and processing, and related basic studies. A Chinese trade name “Hehuanguo” and an English trade name “Joyfruit” have been registered for Akebia to facilitate its commercial development.
文摘Increasing access to locally produced, safe, nutritious and affordable complementary foods is essential to combat micronutrient deficiencies in young children in low- and middle-income countries. Two formulations of sweets based on jujube, baobab fruit powder and sweet potato puree were produced, and their nutritional values and sensory properties such as taste, smell, color and acceptability were assessed. The formulation containing the most jujube powder, baobab fruit and sweet potato puree gave the best nutritional value. The sweets are rich in calcium (259.80 mg/100 g), magnesium (67.98 mg/100 g), potassium (782.04 mg/100 g), vitamin C (32.37 mg/100 g), iron (6.45 g mg/100 g) and zinc (0.97 mg/100 g). Sensory tests on the two formulations showed acceptability scores ranging from 81.26% to 84.58%, well above the minimum acceptable threshold. Candies with jujube, baobab fruit powder and sweet potato puree could be an alternative for preventing micronutrient deficiencies.
