QTL analysis of early flowering of female flowers in zucchini(Cucurbita pepo L.)

Early flowering promotes early maturity, production, and the capacity to counteract biotic and abiotic stresses, making it an important agronomic trait in zucchini. The present study demonstrated that the zucchini inbred line ‘19’ consistently flowered early, taking significantly fewer days to bloom the first female flower(DFF) than the inbred line ‘113’. Genetic analysis revealed that DFF, an inheritable quantitative trait, is controlled by multiple genes. Based on the strategy of quantitative trait locus(QTL) sequencing(QTL-seq) combined with linkage analysis, three QTLs for DFF were identified on chromosomes 4, 11, and 20. This study used additional F2 populations grown under different environmental conditions for QTL mapping analysis of DFF with insertion/deletion(InDel) markers to validate these results. Using the composite interval mapping(CIM) method of R/qtl software, we only identified one major locus under all environmental conditions, located in a 117-kb candidate region on chromosome 20. Based on gene annotation, gene sequence alignment, and qRT-PCR analysis, we found that the Cp4.1LG20g08050 gene encoding a RING finger protein may be a candidate gene for the opposite regulation of early flowering in zucchini. In summary, these results lay a foundation for a better understanding of early flowering and improving early flowering-based breeding strategies in zucchini.

Genetic Analysis of the First Female Flower Node and the First Male Flower Node in Bitter Gourd

Exploring genetic mechanism of the first female flower node and the first male flower node in bitter gourd has practical significance for formulating breeding strategy. In this article, a cross was made between CN19-1 and Thai4-6, and the F2segregation population was also constructed through F1selfing. The genetic characteristics of the first female flower node and the first male flower node were analyzed by adopting the major gene plus polygene mixed genetic model. The data analysis results showed that the first female flower node and the first male flower node were continuous distribution in the F2segregation population. E-2 model was the most suitable model for the genetic analysis of the first female flower node and the first male flower node. The additive effect values of the 2 pairs of major genes controlling the first female flower node were 2.722 and 1.862 8 respectively, the dominant effect values were-2.721 6 and-0.171 8, respectively. The additive effect value of polygene was-0.839 2, and the dominant effect value of polygene was 2.225 4. The heritability of major genes and polygene were 83.73% and 1.54%, respectively. The additive effect values of the 2 pairs of major genes controlling the first male flower node were 17.746 9 and 3.972, respectively, the dominant effect values were 5.191 6 and-3.972, respectively. The additive effect value of polygene was-20.530 5, and the dominant effect value was-4.141 4. The heritability of major genes and polygene was 92.34% and 4.7%, respectively. This study could provide a theoretical basis for bitter gourd breeding.

Seed and Wasp Production in the Mutualism of Figs and Fig Wasps

Figs (Moracea: Ficus) and fig wasps (Hymenoptera: Chlocloids: Agaonideae) depend on each other to complete their reproduction. Monoecious fig species and their pollinating wasps are in conflict over the use of fig ovaries which can either produce one seed or one wasp. From observation on Ficus virens Ait., we showed that female flowers with outer layer of ovaries (near to the wall of syconium) had no significant difference from that with inner and interval layer of ovaries (near to the syconium cavity), in which most seeds and wasps were produced. This meant that fig tree provided the same potential resource for seed and wasps production. Observation indicated that there was usually only one foundress in syconium at female flower phase and no com- petition pollinators. Measurement of the style length of female flowers and the ovipositor of pollinators indicated that most ovaries could be reached by pollinator’s ovipositor. However, at the male flower phase, production of seeds was significantly more than that of wasps including non-pollinating wasps but there was no significant difference between seed and pollinating wasp production when without non-pollinating wasps produced. This result indicated that non-pollinating wasps competed ovaries not with seeds but with pollinating wasps for ovipositing. Bagged experiment showed that the sampling fig species was not self-sterile which was important for figs and wasps to survive bad season. Seed production in self-pollinated figs was not significantly different from total wasps in- cluding non-pollinating ones. This might be related with the weaker competition among wasps since bagged figs were not easy to reach by wasps from outside.

GC-MS analysis of Cocus nucifera flower extract and its effects on heterogeneous symptoms of polycystic ovarian disease in female Wistar rats

AIM: To evaluate the effect of Cocus nucifera L. flowers in reducing the major multiple symptoms of letrozole-induced polycystic ovarian disease(PCOD) in female rats. METHOD: Female, virgin Wistar rats were treated with letrozole(1 mg/kg body wt) to induce PCOD, and after 21 days of induction rats were administered orally with 100 and 200 mg·kg-1 of Cocus nucifera flower aqueous extract, respectively. Estrus cycle and blood sugar were monitored once a week throughout the study. After scarification, various biochemical parameters, such as antioxidant status(superoxide dismutase(SOD) and glutathione reductase(GSH)) of the uterus homogenate, lipid profile(total cholesterol(TC), high density lipoprotein(HDL), low density lipoprotein(LDL), and triglycerides(TG)) of the serum were determined. Weights of the uterus and ovaries were separately monitored. The characteristics of changes in the ovary were evaluated by histopathological studies. RESULTS: GC-MS analysis of the aqueous extract showed the presence of volatile and pharmacologically active phytoconstituents. C. nucifera flower extract-treated groups showed estrus cyclicity and increased uterus weight which indicates the estrogenic effect. The improved blood sugar level, ideal lipid profile, good antioxidant status, and histopathology results revealed the recovery from poly cystic ovaries. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that C. nucifera flower is a potential medicine for the treatment of PCOD and this study supports the traditional uses of C. nucifera flower.