Fig(Ficus carica L.)with purple-red peel cultivars are popular among consumers and exhibit better storability.While DNA methylation influences fruit ripening and color development,its specific role in fig fruit remain...Fig(Ficus carica L.)with purple-red peel cultivars are popular among consumers and exhibit better storability.While DNA methylation influences fruit ripening and color development,its specific role in fig fruit remains unclear.This study explores the impact of DNA methylation on the fig peel coloration.Enzymatic colorimetric detection revealed that the level of‘Purple Peel’fig DNA methylation decreases with fig fruit ripening and coloring.Treatment of young fruit with the DNA-methylation inhibitor azacytidine induced peel coloration,suggesting that a decrease in DNA-methylation level promotes fig peel coloration.Seven members of DNA methyltransferases and three members of DNA demethylases were identified from a high-level fig genome,highlighting FcMET1 and FcDRM2 as stable proteins,ensuring functional expression.Reference to the Arabidopsis protein interaction network map predicted that FcMET1 is in a central position,suggesting a crucial regulatory role in multiple biological processes.Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between FcMET1 expression during peel development and the level of total DNA methylation.Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified co-expression of FcMET1 with the color-related transcription factors MYB,bHLH and WD40,as well as with eight structural genes in the flavonoid-biosynthesis pathway.The expression of FcUFGT3 was negatively correlated with that of FcMET1.McrBC-PCR and Bisulfite Sequencing detection showed that a low methylation level of the FcUFGT3 promoter corresponds with its high expression in colored fig.This investigation of the mechanism of DNA methylation provides a theoretical basis for understanding the role of DNA-methylation modifications in fig ripening and coloring.展开更多
Dry fig is a traditional healthy snack and has important economic value in a number of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries.Cultivars with no anthocyanin accumulation in the fruit peel are preferred for dry fig ...Dry fig is a traditional healthy snack and has important economic value in a number of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries.Cultivars with no anthocyanin accumulation in the fruit peel are preferred for dry fig production.R2R3-MYB transcription factors have promotive or repressive regulatory roles in plant anthocyanin biosynthesis.In this study,113 R2R3-MYB genes were identified in Ficus carica,3 of which were assigned to the S4 subfamily of flavonoid-biosynthesis repressors.FcMYB57 was further recruited as a candidate anthocyaninbiosynthesis repressor based on its sequence features and expression,which was significantly negatively correlated with that of anthocyanin-biosynthesis structural genes.Transient overexpression of FcMYB57 in strawberry totally inhibited fruit pigmentation and significantly increased fruit firmness.The metabolomic analysis confirmed a significant reduction in the contents of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside,as well as other flavonoids,and transmission electron microscopy revealed an increment in cell-wall thickness.Transcriptome analysis showed downregulation of anthocyanin-biosynthesis structural genes and upregulation of genes related to xylan synthesis.Yeast one-hybrid and dual luciferase assays demonstrated a negative regulatory effect of FcMYB57 on the promoter of FcUFGT3(UDP glucose-flavonoid 3-O-glcosyl-transferase).Yeast two-hybrid assay showed that FcMYB57 does not interact with FcbHLH42,3,14,MYC2,or FcTTG1,all of which have a previously identified or predicted role in flavonoid biosynthesis,however,interaction was detected with FcTPL(Topless),suggesting that FcMYB57 serves as an active repressor of anthocyanin biosynthesis.This is the first identification of an anthocyaninbiosynthesis repressor in fig,with a possible role in fig fruit quality.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 this study, Ficus carica L. ‘Masui Dauphine＇ was used as the experi- mental material to investigate the effects of explant type, basal medium, hormone types and concentrations on in vitro rapid propagation of‘Ma...In this study, Ficus carica L. ‘Masui Dauphine＇ was used as the experi- mental material to investigate the effects of explant type, basal medium, hormone types and concentrations on in vitro rapid propagation of‘Masui Dauphine＇. Accord- ing to the results, the most suitable explants for in vitro rapid propagation of ‘Masui Dauphine＇ were axillary buds and the best medium was modified MS ＋ 1.0 mg/L 6-BA ＋ 0. 05 mg/L NAA ＋ 1.0 mg/L GA3 ＋ 20 mg/L sucrose ＋ 7 mg/L agar, pH 5.8. This study provided scientific basis for barge-scale cultivation of‘Masui Dauphine ＇.展开更多
[Objectives]To study the anti-inflammatory effects of extracts from different parts of Ficus pumila L.[Methods]Inflammatory models of xylene-induced ear swelling,glacial acetic acid-induced celiac capillary permeabili...[Objectives]To study the anti-inflammatory effects of extracts from different parts of Ficus pumila L.[Methods]Inflammatory models of xylene-induced ear swelling,glacial acetic acid-induced celiac capillary permeability and carrageenan-induced toe swelling were established to evaluate the effects of extracts from different parts of F.pumila L.on inflammation.The inflammatory model of ear swelling in mice with bilateral adrenalectomy induced by xylene was established to determine whether its anti-inflammatory effect depends on hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis(HPAA)system.[Results]Compared with the blank control group,except that there was no statistical significance in the low dose group(P>0.05),the high and middle dose groups of extracts from different parts of F.pumila L.had significant inhibitory effects on xylene-induced ear swelling in mice.The high,middle and low dose groups of F.pumila L.extract could significantly increase the celiac capillary permeability of mice induced by glacial acetic acid,and significantly inhibit the toe swelling induced by carrageenan.Compared with the blank control group,the high and middle dose groups of extracts from different parts of F.pumila L.could significantly inhibit xylene-induced ear swelling and carrageenan-induced toe swelling in bilateral adrenalectomy mice.[Conclusions]The extracts from different parts of F.pumila L.had anti-inflammatory activity,and its anti-inflammatory effect was independent of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis(HPAA)system.展开更多
The most abundant phenolic biopolymer in the biosphere is the lignin.This phenolic biopolymer commonly exists in combination with polysaccharides and other cell wall components.In this study,the solvent system dioxane...The most abundant phenolic biopolymer in the biosphere is the lignin.This phenolic biopolymer commonly exists in combination with polysaccharides and other cell wall components.In this study,the solvent system dioxane-water is used to extract lignin,which is considered as unaltered native lignin.The dioxane lignin extracted from fig stems was characterized regarding to its structural feature,quantification of its functional groups,molecular weight,and evaluation of its thermal properties.Purity and molecular weight distribution of the studied lignin indicated that isolated lignin contained a low amount of sugar(c.a.19%)and had a high weight-average molecular weight(10068 g.mol-1).Lignin sample had approximately the same amounts of guaiacyl(G)and p-hydroxyphenyl(H)units with relatively fewer syringyl(S)units.The isolated lignin revealed good antioxidant properties.Therefore,it proved to have a high potential of application in new antioxidants formulations.展开更多
The objective of this work was to study the effect of different planting densities on the development and production of “Roxo de Valinhos” green figs for industry, in the Campo das Vertentes-MG region. The experimen...The objective of this work was to study the effect of different planting densities on the development and production of “Roxo de Valinhos” green figs for industry, in the Campo das Vertentes-MG region. The experiment was installed at the Risoleta Neves Experimental Field—CERN/EPAMIG. The plants used were three years old and were arranged in three randomized blocks, subject to three different planting densities, with spacings ranging from 1 m (4000 plants·ha-1), 1.5 m (2666 plants·ha-1), and 2 m (2000 plants·ha-1) between plants in the planting line and 2.5 m between row for all planting densities. The average length of the branches (m), average number of fruits per branch, average number of fruits per plant, average weight of fruits, average yield per plant and the average yield per hectare (kg) were evaluated. It was verified that, there were no significant differences in the length of branch and in the average weight of fruit, in the three densities of fig tree planting. (4000 plants·ha-1), the average number of fruits per branch (7.5), per plant (55.87) and yield per plant (878.93 kg) were lower, however. The average yield per hectare (3515.73 kg) was higher than in other growing densities. It is concluded that, the higher density of plants (4000 plants·ha-1), provides the highest productivity per area, without damages to the quality of the fruits.展开更多
Abstract: Habitat fragmentation usually results in alteration of species composition or biological communities. However, little is known about the effect of habitat fragmentation on the fig/fig wasp system. In this st...Abstract: Habitat fragmentation usually results in alteration of species composition or biological communities. However, little is known about the effect of habitat fragmentation on the fig/fig wasp system. In this study, we compared the structure of a fig wasp community and the interaction between figs and fig wasps of Ficus racemosa L. in a primary forest, a locally fragmented forest and a highly fragmented forest. Our results show that, in the highly fragmented forest, the proportion of pollinator wasps is lower and the proportion of non-pollinator wasps is higher compared with the primary forest and locally fragmented forest. The proportion of fruits without pollinator wasps in mature fruits is also greatly increased in the highly fragmented forest. The proportion of galls in all female flowers increases in the highly fragmented forest, whereas the proportion of viable seeds does not change considerably. The disruption of groups of fig trees results in a decrease in pollinator wasps and even might result in the extinction of pollinator wasps in some extreme cases, which may transform the reciprocal interaction between figs and fig wasps into a parasite/host system. Such an effect may lead to the local extinction of this keystone plant resource of rain forests in the process of evolution, and thereby, may change the structure and function of the tropical rain forest.展开更多
Objective:To report in vitro anti-oxidant activity and cytotoxicity of hydroalcoholic extract of Ficus benghalensis(bark)and Duranta repens(whole plant),and present the probable biological spectrum of major anti-oxida...Objective:To report in vitro anti-oxidant activity and cytotoxicity of hydroalcoholic extract of Ficus benghalensis(bark)and Duranta repens(whole plant),and present the probable biological spectrum of major anti-oxidants from both plants.Methods:The coarse powder of both plants was first extracted with 70%ethanol(maceration)followed by 99%ethanol(Soxhlet-extraction).Anti-oxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated using DPPH,H2O2,2,20-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid(ABTS),NO scavenging assay,total antioxidant capacity,cupric reducing antioxidant capacity(CUPRAC),and metal chelating assay.Cytotoxicity of both extracts was evaluated using MTT assay in both tumor and normal cell lines i.e.Chinese hamster ovary cells(CHO)and A549 cells.Biological activity of individual anti-oxidants from both medicinal plants was identified using prediction of activity spectra for substances and a docking study was performed by using autodock4.0.Results:Hydroalcoholic extract of F.benghalensis and D.repens showed the highest free radical scavenging(ABTS)and chelating capacity respectively.Both extracts showed minimum cytotoxicity in normal cell lines compared to tumor cell lines.Computer imitation hits reflected the multiple biological activities agreeing with the folk use and some scientific reports.Further,we found the binding affinity of predicted anti-oxidant compounds with multiple protein molecules involved in oxidative stress.Conclusion:The present study reports the probable anti-oxidant mechanism for two folk agents and also presents probable pharmacological activities via computer simulations.展开更多
Vibrational spectroscopy analysis of full-ripened fig fruits(Ficus carica L.)was acquired using Fourier-transformed infrared(FTIR)spectroscopy by attenuated total reflectance(ATR).The objective of this study was to in...Vibrational spectroscopy analysis of full-ripened fig fruits(Ficus carica L.)was acquired using Fourier-transformed infrared(FTIR)spectroscopy by attenuated total reflectance(ATR).The objective of this study was to investigate accurate discrimination of 25 fig cultivars using chemometric analysis of both ATR-FTIR fingerprinting and in-vitro antioxidant activity along with chromatic coordinates color.In-vitro antioxidant activity was assessed through three methods and displayed statistically significant differences across cultivars and between the fruit parts,with promising antioxidant potency.Infrared spectra were measured separately on both peels and pulp to better know which fruit part provides high discrimination throughput between cultivars.The results showed vibration intensities of five fingerprint regions displaying statically significant differences.The highest vibration intensity occurred in the region of 1175-940 cm^(-1)including the phenols fingerprint.Principal components analysis based on integrated intensities corresponding to fingerprint regions,revealed two main groups in pulp samples,while five groups in peels samples.The pulp extracts of’Nabout’showed a typical vibration in 3000-2800 cm^(-1)and 1775-1725 cm^(-1)regions and,therefore was classified as single subset in cultivars scatterplot.This cultivar had a lightcolored fig and exhibited the highest antioxidant potency for all essays particularly in peel extracts.The biochemical assessment and FTIR fingerprinting data were involved in PCA analysis,and that displayed some dissimilarities in the classification patterns,given the fact that antioxidant activities and chromaticity together could not totally explain the classification based on FTIR fingerprinting between peel and pulp.Application of FTIR-ATR spectroscopy to discriminate fig cultivars seems to be a rapid,accurate and cost-effective alternative to laborious measurement techniques,in fig quality screening and preselection,such as chromatography analysis.This study suggests the use of fig peels for a high-level discrimination while using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy,since it provides high-throughput screening framework.展开更多
Abstract: What the real trade-off is among fig-supported wasps and the viable seeds of figs is heatedly debated in the studies of fig/fig wasp mutualism. In the present study, we collected wasp offspring (galls) and t...Abstract: What the real trade-off is among fig-supported wasps and the viable seeds of figs is heatedly debated in the studies of fig/fig wasp mutualism. In the present study, we collected wasp offspring (galls) and the viable seeds of premature fruits, and determined the foundress number in receptive fruits and all the types of wasps supported by Ficus racemosa L. during both the rainy and dry seasons in Xishuangbanna, China. The data show that the galls were positively correlated with viable seeds (n= 32; r= 0.74; P < 0.001) when the proportion of vacant female flowers (PVFF) was high, in April (68.0%), and were negatively correlated with viable seeds (n= 48; r=?0.59; P < 0.05) when PVFF were limited (PVFF = 42.6%) during a colder month (January). The mean foundress number per fruit during the colder months is significantly lower than during the warmer months (F5, 603= 27.9; P < 0.001) and pollinator wasps can live longer during the colder months. During the colder months, the proportions of non-pollinators and wasp offspring are higher than those found during other months, whereas the proportion of viable seeds is not different compared with that of other months. Non-pollinator wasps tend to oviposit the female flowers that have been oviposited by pollinator wasps. The non-pollinators only negatively affect pollinator wasps and there is no obvious negative effect of non-pollinator wasps on viable seeds, so ovipositing by non-pollinator wasps will not result in the extinction of the figs during the process of evolution. The results of the present study indicate that figs can allow less foundresses to be in fruit cavities when PVFF are limited, which provides supporting evidence for the previous assumption that the plants have developed a mechanism to maintain a stable system because of the conflicts between the parties involved.展开更多
基金supported by 111 Project(Grant No.B17043)China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(Grant No.2022M723425).
文摘Fig(Ficus carica L.)with purple-red peel cultivars are popular among consumers and exhibit better storability.While DNA methylation influences fruit ripening and color development,its specific role in fig fruit remains unclear.This study explores the impact of DNA methylation on the fig peel coloration.Enzymatic colorimetric detection revealed that the level of‘Purple Peel’fig DNA methylation decreases with fig fruit ripening and coloring.Treatment of young fruit with the DNA-methylation inhibitor azacytidine induced peel coloration,suggesting that a decrease in DNA-methylation level promotes fig peel coloration.Seven members of DNA methyltransferases and three members of DNA demethylases were identified from a high-level fig genome,highlighting FcMET1 and FcDRM2 as stable proteins,ensuring functional expression.Reference to the Arabidopsis protein interaction network map predicted that FcMET1 is in a central position,suggesting a crucial regulatory role in multiple biological processes.Correlation analysis revealed a positive correlation between FcMET1 expression during peel development and the level of total DNA methylation.Weighted gene co-expression network analysis identified co-expression of FcMET1 with the color-related transcription factors MYB,bHLH and WD40,as well as with eight structural genes in the flavonoid-biosynthesis pathway.The expression of FcUFGT3 was negatively correlated with that of FcMET1.McrBC-PCR and Bisulfite Sequencing detection showed that a low methylation level of the FcUFGT3 promoter corresponds with its high expression in colored fig.This investigation of the mechanism of DNA methylation provides a theoretical basis for understanding the role of DNA-methylation modifications in fig ripening and coloring.
基金supported by the key research project for fig development of Weiyuan County(Grant No.1002-69199007),China.
文摘Dry fig is a traditional healthy snack and has important economic value in a number of Mediterranean and Middle Eastern countries.Cultivars with no anthocyanin accumulation in the fruit peel are preferred for dry fig production.R2R3-MYB transcription factors have promotive or repressive regulatory roles in plant anthocyanin biosynthesis.In this study,113 R2R3-MYB genes were identified in Ficus carica,3 of which were assigned to the S4 subfamily of flavonoid-biosynthesis repressors.FcMYB57 was further recruited as a candidate anthocyaninbiosynthesis repressor based on its sequence features and expression,which was significantly negatively correlated with that of anthocyanin-biosynthesis structural genes.Transient overexpression of FcMYB57 in strawberry totally inhibited fruit pigmentation and significantly increased fruit firmness.The metabolomic analysis confirmed a significant reduction in the contents of cyanidin-3-O-glucoside and pelargonidin-3-O-glucoside,as well as other flavonoids,and transmission electron microscopy revealed an increment in cell-wall thickness.Transcriptome analysis showed downregulation of anthocyanin-biosynthesis structural genes and upregulation of genes related to xylan synthesis.Yeast one-hybrid and dual luciferase assays demonstrated a negative regulatory effect of FcMYB57 on the promoter of FcUFGT3(UDP glucose-flavonoid 3-O-glcosyl-transferase).Yeast two-hybrid assay showed that FcMYB57 does not interact with FcbHLH42,3,14,MYC2,or FcTTG1,all of which have a previously identified or predicted role in flavonoid biosynthesis,however,interaction was detected with FcTPL(Topless),suggesting that FcMYB57 serves as an active repressor of anthocyanin biosynthesis.This is the first identification of an anthocyaninbiosynthesis repressor in fig,with a possible role in fig fruit quality.
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.
文摘In this study, Ficus carica L. ‘Masui Dauphine＇ was used as the experi- mental material to investigate the effects of explant type, basal medium, hormone types and concentrations on in vitro rapid propagation of‘Masui Dauphine＇. Accord- ing to the results, the most suitable explants for in vitro rapid propagation of ‘Masui Dauphine＇ were axillary buds and the best medium was modified MS ＋ 1.0 mg/L 6-BA ＋ 0. 05 mg/L NAA ＋ 1.0 mg/L GA3 ＋ 20 mg/L sucrose ＋ 7 mg/L agar, pH 5.8. This study provided scientific basis for barge-scale cultivation of‘Masui Dauphine ＇.
文摘[Objectives]To study the anti-inflammatory effects of extracts from different parts of Ficus pumila L.[Methods]Inflammatory models of xylene-induced ear swelling,glacial acetic acid-induced celiac capillary permeability and carrageenan-induced toe swelling were established to evaluate the effects of extracts from different parts of F.pumila L.on inflammation.The inflammatory model of ear swelling in mice with bilateral adrenalectomy induced by xylene was established to determine whether its anti-inflammatory effect depends on hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis(HPAA)system.[Results]Compared with the blank control group,except that there was no statistical significance in the low dose group(P>0.05),the high and middle dose groups of extracts from different parts of F.pumila L.had significant inhibitory effects on xylene-induced ear swelling in mice.The high,middle and low dose groups of F.pumila L.extract could significantly increase the celiac capillary permeability of mice induced by glacial acetic acid,and significantly inhibit the toe swelling induced by carrageenan.Compared with the blank control group,the high and middle dose groups of extracts from different parts of F.pumila L.could significantly inhibit xylene-induced ear swelling and carrageenan-induced toe swelling in bilateral adrenalectomy mice.[Conclusions]The extracts from different parts of F.pumila L.had anti-inflammatory activity,and its anti-inflammatory effect was independent of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis(HPAA)system.
文摘The most abundant phenolic biopolymer in the biosphere is the lignin.This phenolic biopolymer commonly exists in combination with polysaccharides and other cell wall components.In this study,the solvent system dioxane-water is used to extract lignin,which is considered as unaltered native lignin.The dioxane lignin extracted from fig stems was characterized regarding to its structural feature,quantification of its functional groups,molecular weight,and evaluation of its thermal properties.Purity and molecular weight distribution of the studied lignin indicated that isolated lignin contained a low amount of sugar(c.a.19%)and had a high weight-average molecular weight(10068 g.mol-1).Lignin sample had approximately the same amounts of guaiacyl(G)and p-hydroxyphenyl(H)units with relatively fewer syringyl(S)units.The isolated lignin revealed good antioxidant properties.Therefore,it proved to have a high potential of application in new antioxidants formulations.
文摘The objective of this work was to study the effect of different planting densities on the development and production of “Roxo de Valinhos” green figs for industry, in the Campo das Vertentes-MG region. The experiment was installed at the Risoleta Neves Experimental Field—CERN/EPAMIG. The plants used were three years old and were arranged in three randomized blocks, subject to three different planting densities, with spacings ranging from 1 m (4000 plants·ha-1), 1.5 m (2666 plants·ha-1), and 2 m (2000 plants·ha-1) between plants in the planting line and 2.5 m between row for all planting densities. The average length of the branches (m), average number of fruits per branch, average number of fruits per plant, average weight of fruits, average yield per plant and the average yield per hectare (kg) were evaluated. It was verified that, there were no significant differences in the length of branch and in the average weight of fruit, in the three densities of fig tree planting. (4000 plants·ha-1), the average number of fruits per branch (7.5), per plant (55.87) and yield per plant (878.93 kg) were lower, however. The average yield per hectare (3515.73 kg) was higher than in other growing densities. It is concluded that, the higher density of plants (4000 plants·ha-1), provides the highest productivity per area, without damages to the quality of the fruits.
文摘Abstract: Habitat fragmentation usually results in alteration of species composition or biological communities. However, little is known about the effect of habitat fragmentation on the fig/fig wasp system. In this study, we compared the structure of a fig wasp community and the interaction between figs and fig wasps of Ficus racemosa L. in a primary forest, a locally fragmented forest and a highly fragmented forest. Our results show that, in the highly fragmented forest, the proportion of pollinator wasps is lower and the proportion of non-pollinator wasps is higher compared with the primary forest and locally fragmented forest. The proportion of fruits without pollinator wasps in mature fruits is also greatly increased in the highly fragmented forest. The proportion of galls in all female flowers increases in the highly fragmented forest, whereas the proportion of viable seeds does not change considerably. The disruption of groups of fig trees results in a decrease in pollinator wasps and even might result in the extinction of pollinator wasps in some extreme cases, which may transform the reciprocal interaction between figs and fig wasps into a parasite/host system. Such an effect may lead to the local extinction of this keystone plant resource of rain forests in the process of evolution, and thereby, may change the structure and function of the tropical rain forest.
文摘Objective:To report in vitro anti-oxidant activity and cytotoxicity of hydroalcoholic extract of Ficus benghalensis(bark)and Duranta repens(whole plant),and present the probable biological spectrum of major anti-oxidants from both plants.Methods:The coarse powder of both plants was first extracted with 70%ethanol(maceration)followed by 99%ethanol(Soxhlet-extraction).Anti-oxidant activity of the extracts was evaluated using DPPH,H2O2,2,20-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid(ABTS),NO scavenging assay,total antioxidant capacity,cupric reducing antioxidant capacity(CUPRAC),and metal chelating assay.Cytotoxicity of both extracts was evaluated using MTT assay in both tumor and normal cell lines i.e.Chinese hamster ovary cells(CHO)and A549 cells.Biological activity of individual anti-oxidants from both medicinal plants was identified using prediction of activity spectra for substances and a docking study was performed by using autodock4.0.Results:Hydroalcoholic extract of F.benghalensis and D.repens showed the highest free radical scavenging(ABTS)and chelating capacity respectively.Both extracts showed minimum cytotoxicity in normal cell lines compared to tumor cell lines.Computer imitation hits reflected the multiple biological activities agreeing with the folk use and some scientific reports.Further,we found the binding affinity of predicted anti-oxidant compounds with multiple protein molecules involved in oxidative stress.Conclusion:The present study reports the probable anti-oxidant mechanism for two folk agents and also presents probable pharmacological activities via computer simulations.
文摘Vibrational spectroscopy analysis of full-ripened fig fruits(Ficus carica L.)was acquired using Fourier-transformed infrared(FTIR)spectroscopy by attenuated total reflectance(ATR).The objective of this study was to investigate accurate discrimination of 25 fig cultivars using chemometric analysis of both ATR-FTIR fingerprinting and in-vitro antioxidant activity along with chromatic coordinates color.In-vitro antioxidant activity was assessed through three methods and displayed statistically significant differences across cultivars and between the fruit parts,with promising antioxidant potency.Infrared spectra were measured separately on both peels and pulp to better know which fruit part provides high discrimination throughput between cultivars.The results showed vibration intensities of five fingerprint regions displaying statically significant differences.The highest vibration intensity occurred in the region of 1175-940 cm^(-1)including the phenols fingerprint.Principal components analysis based on integrated intensities corresponding to fingerprint regions,revealed two main groups in pulp samples,while five groups in peels samples.The pulp extracts of’Nabout’showed a typical vibration in 3000-2800 cm^(-1)and 1775-1725 cm^(-1)regions and,therefore was classified as single subset in cultivars scatterplot.This cultivar had a lightcolored fig and exhibited the highest antioxidant potency for all essays particularly in peel extracts.The biochemical assessment and FTIR fingerprinting data were involved in PCA analysis,and that displayed some dissimilarities in the classification patterns,given the fact that antioxidant activities and chromaticity together could not totally explain the classification based on FTIR fingerprinting between peel and pulp.Application of FTIR-ATR spectroscopy to discriminate fig cultivars seems to be a rapid,accurate and cost-effective alternative to laborious measurement techniques,in fig quality screening and preselection,such as chromatography analysis.This study suggests the use of fig peels for a high-level discrimination while using ATR-FTIR spectroscopy,since it provides high-throughput screening framework.
文摘Abstract: What the real trade-off is among fig-supported wasps and the viable seeds of figs is heatedly debated in the studies of fig/fig wasp mutualism. In the present study, we collected wasp offspring (galls) and the viable seeds of premature fruits, and determined the foundress number in receptive fruits and all the types of wasps supported by Ficus racemosa L. during both the rainy and dry seasons in Xishuangbanna, China. The data show that the galls were positively correlated with viable seeds (n= 32; r= 0.74; P < 0.001) when the proportion of vacant female flowers (PVFF) was high, in April (68.0%), and were negatively correlated with viable seeds (n= 48; r=?0.59; P < 0.05) when PVFF were limited (PVFF = 42.6%) during a colder month (January). The mean foundress number per fruit during the colder months is significantly lower than during the warmer months (F5, 603= 27.9; P < 0.001) and pollinator wasps can live longer during the colder months. During the colder months, the proportions of non-pollinators and wasp offspring are higher than those found during other months, whereas the proportion of viable seeds is not different compared with that of other months. Non-pollinator wasps tend to oviposit the female flowers that have been oviposited by pollinator wasps. The non-pollinators only negatively affect pollinator wasps and there is no obvious negative effect of non-pollinator wasps on viable seeds, so ovipositing by non-pollinator wasps will not result in the extinction of the figs during the process of evolution. The results of the present study indicate that figs can allow less foundresses to be in fruit cavities when PVFF are limited, which provides supporting evidence for the previous assumption that the plants have developed a mechanism to maintain a stable system because of the conflicts between the parties involved.
