Characterization of increased cuticular wax mutant and analysis of genes involved in wax biosynthesis in Dianthus spiculifolius

Cuticular wax formation on the surface of plant leaves is associated with drought-stress tolerance.The identification of wax biosynthesis-related genes will contribute to the genetic improvement of drought resistance in plants.In this study,we characterize a novel Dianthus spiculifolius mutant with increased cuticular wax.The mutant exhibited stronger drought resistance as indicated by less leaf wilting and death,higher leaf relative water content and water retention capacity,and slower water loss and chlorophyll extraction than did the wild type during drought treatment.In the mutant leaves,2730 upregulated and 2151 downregulated differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were identified by transcriptome sequencing.A wax biosynthesis pathway of the identified DEGs was significantly enriched.Finally,three key genes(DsCER1,DsMAH1,and DsWSD1)involved in wax biosynthesis were identified and verified by qPCR.These results suggest that differential expression of DEGs involved in wax biosynthesis may be associated with the increase in cuticular wax in the mutant.Taken together,our results help elucidate wax formation patterns in D.spiculifolius.Furthermore,the DEGs involved in wax biosynthesis identified here may be valuable genetic resources for improving plant stress tolerance through increased accumulation of cuticular wax.

High Rate and Long Lifespan Sodium‑Organic Batteries Using Pseudocapacitive Porphyrin Complexes‑Based Cathode

Sodium-organic batteries utilizing natural abundance of sodium element and renewable active materials gain great attentions for grid-scale applications.However,the development is still limited by lack of suitable organic cathode materials with high electronic conductivity that can be operated stably in liquid electrolyte.Herein,we present 5,15-bis(ethynyl)-10,20-diphenylporphyrin(DEPP)and[5,15-bis(ethynyl)-10,20-diphenylporphinato]copper(II)(CuDEPP)as new cathodes for extremely stable sodium-organic batteries.The copper(II)ion partially contributes the charge storage and significantly stabilizes the structure of porphyrin complex for electrochemical energy storage.In situ electrochemical stabilization of organic cathode with a lower charging current density was identified which enables both improved high energy density and power density.An excellent longterm cycling stability up to 600 cycles and an extremely high power density of 28 kW kg−1 were achieved for porphyrin-based cathode.This observation would open new pathway for developing highly stable sodium-organic cathode for electrochemical energy storage.

Biomineralized nanoparticles for the immobilization and degradation of crude oil-contaminated soil

Accidental oil leaks and spills often cause server soil pollution,and in situ remediation is a powerful and economical treatment technology.While during in situ remediation process,unpredicted migration of petroleum hydrocarbon in heterogeneous soil will lead to a long-term source of persistent aquifer contamination.To reduce the migration of petroleum hydrocarbon and effectively improve the in situ remediation efficiency,herein,fungal biomineralization strategy was proposed for the immobilization of petroleum contaminants.A ureolytic fungi strain with crude oil-degradation ability was screened and identified as Chaetomium globosum.When incubated in medium containing Ca2+and crude oil,a mineral corona with spiny nanoparticles was formed at the edge of oil and the interface characters were analyzed using fluorescent pH and dissolved oxygen(DO)sensing films,respectively.Results indicated that biominerals preferred to aggregate around the edge of crude oil,providing favorable microenvironment for fungal growth and then leading to the increase of pH in the microenvironment,eventually accompanied by the formation of mineral corona.The mineral corona with numerous nanoparticles may act as a solid and stable shell,limiting or reducing the mobility of crude oil,and providing enough time for fungal biodegradation.After 28 days incubation,oilcontaminated soil treated with fungal biomineralization showed better immobilization ability for total petroleum hydrocarbon(TPH)under simulated acid-rain condition and higher TPH removal efficiency.This is the first demonstration for the immobilization of oil through fungal biomineralized nanoparticles,thus providing a novel strategy for the in situ remediation of oilcontaminated sites.