Physiological Changes during the Process of Pericarp Browning in the Postharvest Litchi

[Objective] Pericarp browning in the postharvest litchi significantly reduced its commercial value and limited the expanding of litchi markets. Physiological changes during the process of pericarp browning were determined in order to identify the underlying mechanisms. [Method] Matured Feizixiao fruits were stored at 25 ℃ and 70%±5% relative humidity. The physiological changes happened in pericarp during storage were tested at an 8-hour interval. [Result] The fruit of Feizixiao (Litchi chinensis Sonn. cv Feizixiao) turned completely brown within 72 h after being harvested under the experimental conditions. Sharp increase of the browning index occurred from 48 to 64 hours after harvest (HAH). With the browning of pericarp,water content of the whole fruit and pericarp decreased continuingly. In contrast,there were no significant changes in the water content of pulp during the same period. MDA content,pH value and relative leakage rate of pericarp were increased during storage. Most of pigment contents including anthocyanin,flavonoid,phenols,chlorophyll a and total chlorophyll decreased. POD activity was initially increased in 32 HAH and then decreased afterwards. PPO activity was decreased continuously,while the activities of catalase and superoxide dismutase exhibited the pattern of 'increasing-decreasing-increasing' as the storage time progressed. Correlation,stepwise regression and path analyses showed that water loss of pericarp was the major factor of pericarp browning. Principal and cluster analyses showed that there were two stages of pericarp browning during the course of litchi storage. [Conclusion] Water status of pericarp was the most important factor affecting pericarp browning. The pericarp browning happened by stages,which was mainly determined by the water loss of pericarp.

Physiological changes and expression characteristics of ZIP family genes under zinc def iciency in navel orange(Citrus sinensis)

Zinc （Zn） deficiency is widespread among citrus plants, but information about the mechanisms for Zn deficiency response in these plants is scarce. In the present study, different navel orange （Citrus sinensis （L.） Osbeck） leaves with various yellowing levels were sampled in our experimental orchard, and upon estimation of nutrient contents, Zn deficiencies were diagnosed as mild, moderate, and severe. Further analysis of chlorophyll content, photosynthetic characteristics, antioxidant enzyme activities, and expression levels of Zn/Iron-regulated transporter-like protein （ZIP） family genes were conducted in the sampled Zn-deficient leaves. The results showed that chlorophyll contents and net photosynthetic rate （Pn） seemed to decrease with reduced Zn contents. In addition, comparison of severe Zn-deficient and normal leaves revealed that activities of peroxidase （POD） and catalase （CAT） increased significantly, whereas that of Zn-containing enzymes such as Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase （Cu/Zn-SOD） significantly reduced with decreasing Zn contents. As expected, expression of the ZIP family genes, ZIP1, ZIP3, and ZIP4, was induced by Zn deficiencies. These results deepen our understanding of Zn deficiency in citrus plants as well as provide useful preliminary information for further research.

Seed priming with chitosan improves maize germination and seedling growth in relation to physiological changes under low temperature stress

Low temperature stress during germination and early seedling growth is an important constraint of global production of maize. The effects of seed priming with 0.25%, 0.50%, and 0.75% （w/v） chitosan solutions at 15 ℃ on the growth and physiological changes were investigated using two maize （Zea rnays L.） inbred lines, HuangC （chilling-tolerant） and Mo17 （chilling-sensitive）. While seed priming with chitosan had no significant effect on germination percentage under low temperature stress, it enhanced germination index, reduced the mean germination time （MGT）, and increased shoot height, root length, and shoot and root dry weights in both maize lines. The decline of malondialdehyde （MDA） content and relative permeability of the plasma membrane and the increase of the concentrations of soluble sugars and proline, peroxidase （POD） activity, and catalase （CAT） activity were detected both in the chilling-sensitive and chilling-tolerant maize seedlings after priming with the three concentrations of chitosan. HuangC was less sensitive to responding to different concentrations of chitosan. Priming with 0.50% chitosan for about 60-64 h seemed to have the best effects. Thus, it suggests that seed priming with chitosan may improve the speed of germination of maize seed and benefit for seedling growth under low temperature stress.

Changes in embryonic development,juvenile growth and physiological adaptation of the cuttlefish Sepia pharaonis in response to photoperiod manipulation

Photoperiod is a key environmental indicator for re gulating embryonic development,individual growth and physiological processes in aquatic animals.In this study,differences in embryonic development and performance of newly hatched cuttlefish juvenile exposed to five different cycles of light:dark(L:D):constant light,18 L:6D,12 L:12D,6 L:18D cycles,and constant darkness were evaluated.Prolonged exposure to light induced an accelerated rate of embryonic development,particularly after the red-bead stage.Principal component analysis(PCA)revealed that red-bead stage,heartbeat,endoskeleton formation,pigment appear,and six increments of cuttlebone were the main factors contributing to the embryonic development.Meaning that the duration time of these five stages were significantly different when exposed to photoperiod regimes,which may determine the duration of the incubation period of the embryos.Long term light has also affected the incubation parameters with an increased rate in hatching and shortened the incubation and hatching periods in the 12-24-h day length range.However,constant light and darkness environment appeared to have a greater effect on the stress of embryonic development,mainly reflected in the yolk shed ratio and the inking rate in the egg capsule.Moreover,the increase in the day length has contributed to improve the growth and survival of juveniles in the 12-18-h day length range;however,juveniles exposed to constant light and darkness experienced worse re sults in terms of growth,tissue glycogen content,dige stive enzymes of the digestive glands,and metabolic enzymes of the muscles.These finding suggest that prolonged light exposure accelerates the process of embryonic development,maximum feeding time is not necessarily a condition of optimal growth,and inappropriate light cycles can disturb the body’s endogenous controls.Therefore,the optimal photoperiod for the embryos development and juvenile growth of Sepia pharaonis were 12 h and 12-18 h of day length,respectively.These results are useful for increasing the production of this species during embryo incubation and juveniles rearing in aquaculture practice.

Operations of Knapsack Sprayer and Its Impacts on Physiological Parameters of Selected Operators

The study was aimed at determining the impacts of operating Manually Operated Hand Lever Knapsack Sprayers (MOHLKS) on physiological responses of the operators as dependent on anthropometric variations and sex. Twenty eight subjects, (4 female, 24 male) Mean ± SD: Age 22.5 ± 1.92, 24.29 ± 2.2 years;Body Mass Index 24.6 ± 4.8, 21.7 ± 2.4 kg/m2 were employed in the study. Selected anthropometric parameters of weight and height were used to determine body mass index (BMI), with these are arm-reach forward, elbow to fingertip, hand length and hand width were measured to establish human variations in diversity. Subjects undertook the operation at 5 replicates each, before and after which information about operators’ body pain locations and body physiological changes of heart rates were obtained. Measured parameters were used in the determination of expended energy (EE), physiological cost (PC), oxygen intake (VO2) and aerobic power (VO2max). Alongside with these were operational parameters of stroke, pace and time taken to get the operation done and environmental factors of temperature and relative humidity. The results revealed on the average that the BMI (24.61 ± 4.78 kg/m2) in female operators was higher, this corresponded to PC and VO2, while the VO2max (34.83 ± 3.30 ml/min/kg) in males is higher. More EE was obtained in female subjects (3.53 ± 3.76 kCal/min) as compared to male subjects (3.42 ± 7.48 kCal/min). The main effects plot of operational factors on EE displayed the stroke made by the subjects during spraying operation as parameter with largest effect on EE. Regression equation for EE and PCI is given as PCI = 1.97 + 25.2 EE, while the P-value at α = 0.05 is 0.000 and R2 = 98.8%. Post operational body pain showed that 19 out of 28 subjects incurred at least one type of body pain, with shoulder pain as most frequent. The results of the study suggest that early incidence of fatigue may occur in female operators as compared to the males, and in addition, cumulative trauma at shoulder, back, and upper and lower arm may result over time. Hence, it is recommended that the tank volume should be reduced and the straps for the shoulders should be supported with additional cushion.

Screening of Drought-tolerant Brassica napus L.Varieties and Analysis on Their Physiologic and Biochemical Variations under Drought Stress

[Objective] The aim of this study was to screen drought-tolerant Brassica napus L. germplasm resources by analyzing their physiological and biochemical changes under drought stress. [Method] Forty varieties of B. napus varieties were cultured under PEG-6000 osmotic stress and extreme drought stress in pots, re- spectively. Then, the contents of chlorophyll, carotenoid, proline, malondialdehyde （MDA）, soluble sugar, soluble protein, and the activities of superoxide dismutase （SOD）, catalase（CAT）, peroxidase（POD） were measured under drought stress. [Result] Sever- al drought-tolerant varieties of B. napus were screened out： YAU200908, Xiangyou No.15, YAU200903, YAU200907, YAU200906 and YAU200904. Physiological and biochemical analysis showed that, the contents of chlorophyll and carotenoid de- creased with drought stress increasing; the contents of proline, soluble sugar, solu- ble protein, MDA and the activities of SOD,CAT, POD raised with drought stress in- creasing. [Conclusion] In the rapeseed varieties with stronger drought tolerance, the decrease in carotenoid content and the increase in proline content, soluble sugar content, MDA content, SOD activity, CAT activity were more obvious, so all these physiological and biochemical indices can be used to evaluate the drought tolerance of rapeseed.

Studies on Tomato Seedling Quality Indices Under Simulated Shipping and Storage Conditions

Indices of the tomato seedling quality maintenance level after production before field planting were studied through simulated experiments, small—scale operation, indoor analyses and measurements, and field observation. The results showed that under simulated shipping and storage conditions, seedling quality change following different durations (days) of shipping and storage was correlated significantly or even very significantly with certain physiological and morphological indices. With various measured indices following different periods of shipping and storage treatment subjected to multinomial successive regressive correlation analysis, the principal factors influencing seedling quality maintenance level are identified to be chlorophyll content →dry short weight → leaf freshness index in order of their importance. Significance analysis with multinomial fitted equation indicated that correlations between any one of above three factors and the growth index after field planting reached very significant difference level.

Relationship between electrogenic performance and physiological change of four wetland plants in constructed wetland-microbial fuel cells during non-growing seasons

To find suitable wetland plants for constructed wetland-microbial fuel cells（CW-MFCs）,four commonly used wetland plants, including Canna indica, Cyperus alternifolius L., Acorus calamus, and Arundo donax, were investigated for their electrogenic performance and physiological changes during non-growing seasons. The maximum power output of12.82 mW/m^2 was achieved in the A. donax CW-MFC only when root exudates were being released. The results also showed that use of an additional carbon source could remarkably improve the performance of electricity generation in the C. indica and A. donax CW-MFCs at relatively low temperatures（2–15°C）. However, A. calamus withered before the end of the experiment, whereas the other three plants survived the winter safely, although their relative growth rate values and the maximum quantum yield of PSII（Fv/Fm） significantly declined, and free proline and malondialdehyde significantly accumulated in their leaves.On the basis of correlation analysis, temperature had a greater effect on plant physiology than voltage. The results offer a valuable reference for plant selection for CW-MFCs.

Biochemical regulation of pigment motility in vertebrate chromatophores： a review of physiological color change mechanisms

The fundamental unit of rapid, physiological color change in vertebrates is the dermal chromato- phore unit. This unit, comprised of cellular associations between different chromatophore types, is relatively conserved across the fish, amphibian, and reptilian species capable of physiological color change and numerous attempts have been made to understand the nature of the four major chro- matophore types （melanophores, erythrophores, xanthophores, and iridophores） and their bio- chemical regulation. In this review, we attempt to describe the current state of knowledge regard- ing what classifies a pigment cell as a dynamic chromatophore, the unique characteristics of each chromatophore type, and how different hormones, neurotransmitters, or other signals direct pig- ment reorganization in a variety of vertebrate taxa.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi for salinity stress: Anti-stress role and mechanisms

Salinity stress is considered one of the most harmful environmental plant stresses,as it reduces irrigated land crop production by over 20%worldwide.Hence,it is imperative to develop salt-tolerant crops in addition to understanding various mechanisms enabling plant growth under saline stress conditions.Recently,a novel biological approach that aims to address salinity stress has gained momentum,which involves the use of arbuscular mycorrhizal(AM)fungi in plant-microbe interactions.It has been observed that most terrestrial plant root systems are colonized by AM fungi,which modulate plant growth in multiple ways.In such interactions,AM fungi obtain organic compounds from the host plant while providing mineral nutrients,including nitrogen,phosphorus,potassium,calcium,and sulfur,to the host plant.Over recent decades,our understanding of the multifunctional roles played by AM fungi has been broadened and advanced,particularly regarding the mediation of mineral nutrients and the alleviation of stress(especially salt stress)in most crop plants.Increased uptake of phosphorus and augmented tolerance to salinity result in enhanced plant growth and yield.The evident anti-stress role of AM fungi and related mechanisms have been described separately,though they need to be analyzed and discussed together.Therefore,the present review addresses the major role of AM fungi in mitigating salt stress and their beneficial effects on plant growth and productivity.The mechanisms employed by AM fungi to amplify the salt tolerance of host plants by increased nutrient accession(e.g.,phosphorus,nitrogen,and calcium),physiological changes(e.g.,photosynthetic efficiency,cell membrane permeability,water status,and nitrogen fixation),and biochemical changes(e.g.,the accumulation of different osmolytes such as proline and soluble sugars)are also discussed.Furthermore,this review highlights the role of AM fungi in the Na+/H+antiporters.In plants,AM fungi inoculation increases the activities of multiple antioxidant enzymes,including superoxide dismutase,catalase,and peroxidase,which scavenge reactive oxygen species and relieve salt stress.In addition,AM fungi regulate the Na+/K+ratio to maintain osmotic balance under salt stress.Further research is needed to gather in-depth knowledge about AM fungi-associated mechanisms to pave a way for the large-scale application of these fungal associations under saline stress conditions,with the main aim of building healthy,eco-friendly,cost-effective,and sustainable agricultural systems.