Transcriptome Analysis of Inflorescence Development at the Five-Leaf Stage in Castor(Ricinus communis L.)

The yield of castor is influenced by the type of inflorescence and the proportion of female flowers.However,there are few studies on the genetic mechanism involved in the development and differentiation of castor inflorescences.In this study,we performed transcriptomic analyses of three different phenotypes of inflorescences at the five-leaf stage.In comparison to the MI(complete pistil without willow leaves),290 and 89 differentially expressed genes(DEGs)were found in the SFI(complete pistil with willow leaves)and the BI(monoecious inflorescence),respectively.Among the DEGs,104 and 88 were upregulated in the SFI and BI,respectively,compared to the MI.In addition,186 DEGs and 1 DEG were downregulated in the SFI and BI compared to the MI.Moreover,we conducted GO and KEGG enrichment analyses of the DEGs.In comparison to the MI,the SFI and BI exhibited the enrichment of functional branches in DEGs,specifically in pollen wall assembly,pollen development,and cellular component assembly involved in morphogenesis.In our study,RADL5 showed low expression levels between SFI-vs.-MI types.In addition,we found that the expression of NAC in the SFI differed from that in MI and BI,and some genes related to hormonal signaling changed their expression levels during inflorescence differentiation.These results reveal the genetic mechanism of sex genotypes in castor,which will not only guide researchers in the breeding of castor but also provide a reference for genetic research on other flowering plants.

Effects of Heterologously Overexpressing PIP5K-Family Genes in Arabidopsis on Inflorescence Development

Castor is one of the top 10 oil crops in the world and has extremely valuable uses.Castor inflorescences directly affect yield,so the study of inflorescence development is very important in increasing castor yield.Our previous studies have shown that the PIP5K gene family(PIP5Ks)is associated with inflorescence development.In this study,to determine the function of each PIP5K gene in castor,a female Lm-type castor line,aLmAB2,was used to determine the relative expression levels of the PIP5Ks in castor inflorescences.Six PIP5K genes were heterologously overexpressed in Arabidopsis thaliana,the relative expression of each gene and the effect on plants was determined in A.thaliana,and the relationships among the PIP5Ks in castor were inferred.The expression levels of the PIP5Ks in the female Lm-type castor line aLmAB2 were analyzed.The relative expression levels of the PIP5K9 and PIP5K11 genes were high(p<0.05)in isofemale inflorescences,and those of PIP5K1,PIP5K2,PIP5K6,and PIP5K8 were high(p<0.05)in female inflorescences but low(p<0.05)in bisexual inflorescences.The PIP5Ks were heterologously overexpressed in A.thaliana,and T3-generation plants with stable genetic resistance,i.e.,AT-PIP5K^(+)plants(AT-PIP5K1^(+),AT-PIP5K2^(+),AT-PIP5K6^(+),AT-PIP5K8^(+),AT-PIP5K9^(+),and ATPIP5K11^(+) plants),were obtained.Biological tests of the AT-PIP5K+plants showed that the growth of the main stem was significantly delayed in AT-PIP5K+plants compared with Columbia wild-type(WT)A.thaliana plants;the PIP5K1 and PIP5K2 genes promoted lateral stem growth and flower and silique development;and the PIP5K6,PIP5K8,PIP5K9 and PIP5K11 genes inhibited lateral stem growth and flower and silique development.The correlations among PIP5Ks in castor suggest that there may be a synergistic relationship among PIP5K1,PIP5K2,and PIP5K6 in castor inflorescences,and PIP5K8,PIP5K9,and PIP5K11 are complementary to the other three genes.

Molecular phylogeny and inflorescence evolution of Prunus(Rosaceae)based on RAD-seq and genome skimming analyses

Prunus is an economically important genus widely distributed in the temperate Northern Hemisphere.Previous studies on the genus using a variety of loci yielded conflicting phylogenetic hypotheses.Here,we generated nuclear reduced representation sequencing data and plastid genomes for 36 Prunus individuals and two outgroups.Both nuclear and plastome data recovered a well-resolved phylogeny.The species were divided into three main clades corresponding to their inflorescence types,-the racemose group,the solitary-flower group and the corymbose group-with the latter two sister to one another.Prunus was inferred to have diversified initially in the Late Cretaceous around 67.32 million years ago.The diversification of the three major clades began between the Paleocene and Miocene,suggesting that paleoclimatic events were an important driving force for Prunus diversification.Ancestral state reconstructions revealed that the most recent common ancestor of Prunus had racemose inflorescences,and the solitary-flower and corymb inflorescence types were derived by reduction of flower number and suppression of the rachis,respectively.We also tested the hybrid origin hypothesis of the racemose group proposed in previous studies.Prunus has undergone extensive hybridization events,although it is difficult to identify conclusively specific instances of hybridization when using SNP data,especially deep in the phylogeny.Our study provides well-resolved nuclear and plastid phylogenies of Prunus,reveals substantial cytonuclear discord at shallow scales,and sheds new light on inflorescence evolution in this economically important lineage.

Functional Studies of Castor(Ricinus communis L.)PLC Family Genes in Arabidopsis Inflorescence Development

Castor(Ricinus communis L.)is one of the top 10 oil crops in the world,and inflorescence is a trait that directly affects its yield.Phospholipase C(PLCs)is involved in many plant activities and metabolic processes.To study the functions of PLC family genes in the regulation of the inflorescence development of the female line of Lm-type castor aLmAB2,we determined the expression levels of six PLC family genes of three types of inflorescences of aLmAB2(isofemale line,female line,bisexual line)at different developmental stages.The results showed that the 6 genes of the castor PLC family had relative expression levels at different developmental stages of the three types of inflorescences.The subcellular location of all six protein products was the cell membrane.The six genes were heterologously overexpressed in Arabidopsis thaliana to obtain the T3 generation-resistant Arabidopsis thaliana plants.The results showed that the overexpression of six genes significantly promoted the maturation of Arabidopsis thaliana,the growth of lateral moss,and the development of flowers and pods,but the development of basal leaves and stem leaves of Arabidopsis thaliana was significantly inhibited.According to homology analysis,it is speculated that PLC2,PLC2M,PLC2N,PLC4,PLC4X2,and PLC6 genes have the same regulatory function.

Constructing the maize inflorescence regulatory network by using efficient tsCUT&Tag assay

Maize ear development determines the crop yield,and many important transcription factors(TFs)have been identified to function in this process.However,their transcriptional regulation mechanisms are still elusive.In this study,we generated the genome-wide DNA binding sites for 8 TFs which are known to function or highly expressed in inflorescence by applying the ts CUT&Tag method in maize leaf protoplast.We exposed a regulatory grid of 4 WUSCHEL-related homeobox(WOX)genes and revealed their potential regulatory mechanisms.In addition,a hierarchical regulation network for the determinacy and specification of maize inflorescence meristems were also constructed using the binding profiles of a floral development gene INDETERMINATE FLORAL APEX1(IFA1)and 3 MADS-box genes.Our study provides an in-depth understanding and new insights of the regulatory mechanisms during maize inflorescence development.

Proteomic Analyses of Three Inflorescence Styles of Castor(Ricinus communis L.)at Different Developmental Stages

Castor(Ricinus communis L.)is one of ten oil crops in the world and has complex inflorescence styles.Generally,castor has three inflorescence types:single female inflorescence(SiFF),standard female inflorescence(StFF)and bisexual inflorescence(BF).StFF is realized as a restorer line and as a maintainer line,which was applied to castor hybrid breeding.However,the developmental mechanism of the three inflorescences is not clear.Therefore,we used proteomic techniques to analyze different inflorescence styles.A total of 72 diferentially abundant protein species(DAPs)were detected.These DAPs are primarily involved in carbon and energy metabolism and carbon fixation in the photosynthetic organism pathway.The results showed that DAPs are involved in photosynthesis to control the distribution of imported carbohydrates and exported photoassimilates and thus affect the inflorescence development of castor.In addition,these DAPs are also involved in cysteine and methionine metabolism.Quantitative real-time PCR(qRT-PCR)results demonstrated that the proteomics data collected in this study were reliable.Our findings indicate that the carbon cycle and amino acid metabolism influence the inflorescence development of castor.

Barley FASCIATED EAR genes determine inflorescence meristem size and yield traits

In flowering plants,the inflorescence meristem(IM)provides founder cells to form successive floral meristems,which are precursors of fruits and seeds.The activity and developmental progression of IM are thus critical for yield production in seed crops.In some cereals,such as rice(Oryza sativa)and maize(Zea mays),the size of undifferentiated IM,which is located at the inflorescence apex,is positively associated with yield traits such as spikelet number.However,the relationship between IM size and yieldrelated spike traits remains unknown in the Triticeae tribe.Here we report that IM size has a negative correlation with yield traits in barley(Hordeum vulgare).Three FASCIATED EAR(FEA)orthologs,HvFEA2,HvFEA3,and HvFEA4,regulate IM size and spike morphogenesis and ultimately affect yield traits.Three HvFEAs genes are highly expressed in developing spikes,and all three loss-of-function mutants exhibit enlarged IM size,shortened spikes,and reduced spikelet number,which may lead to reduced grain yield.Natural variations identified in HvFEAs indicate selection events during barley domestication.We further reveal that HvFEA4,as a transcription factor,potentially targets multiple pathways during reproductive development,including transcriptional control,phytohormone signaling,and redox status.The roles of barley FEA genes in limiting IM size and promoting spikelet formation suggest the potential of increasing yield by manipulating IM activity.

Transcriptome profiling reveals phase-specific gene expression in the developing barley inflorescence

The shape of an inflorescence varies among cereals,ranging from a highly branched panicle in rice to a much more compact spike in barley(Hordeum vulgare L.)and wheat(Triticum aestivum L.).However,little is known about the molecular basis of cereal inflorescence architecture.We profiled transcriptomes at three developmental stages of the barley main shoot apex—spikelet initiation,floral organ differentiation,and floral organ growth—and compared them with those from vegetative seedling tissue.Transcript analyses identified 3688 genes differentially transcribed between the three meristem stages,with a further 1394 genes preferentially expressed in reproductive compared with vegetative tissue.Coexpression assembly and Gene Ontology analysis classified these 4888 genes into 28 clusters,revealing distinct patterns for genes such as transcription factors,histone modification,and cell-cycle progression specific for each stage of inflorescence development.We also compared expression patterns of VRS(SIX-ROWED SPIKE)genes and auxin-,gibberellic acid-and cytokinin-associated genes between two-rowed and six-rowed barley to describe regulators of lateral spikelet fertility.Our findings reveal barley inflorescence phase-specific gene expression,identify new candidate genes that regulate barley meristem activities and flower development,and provide a new genetic resource for further dissection of the molecular mechanisms of spike development.

Cytoprotective,antihyperglycemic and phytochemical properties of Cocos nucifera(L.) inflorescence

Objective:To analyze the eytoproteetive and antidiabetic activities as well as phytochemical composition of the immature inflorescence of Cocas nucifera belonging to the Arecaceae Family.Methods:The phytochemical screening of inflorescence was done to determine the major constituents present in Cocos nucifera inflorescence.The free radical scavenging potential of inflorescence extracts were evaluated using in vitro radical scavenging assay models.Results:The phytochemical analyses on inflorescence showed the presence of phenolic compounds,flavonoids.resins and alkaloids.The macronutrient analyses,on the other hand,showed the presence of carbohydrate,proteins and fibers.Administration of the methanol extract of coconut inflorescence to the diabetic rats showed dose dependent reduction in hyperglycemia.The cytoprotective property of coconut inflorescence was evidenced from the acute toxicological evaluation.The levels of serum aspartate aminotransferase,alanine aminotransferase,and alkaline phosphatase were significantly decreased in the diabetic rats treated with inflorescence when compared with the diabetic control rats.Conclusion:The results obtained from the present study apparently proved the non-toxic nature and the eytoproteetive and antihyperglycemic properties of coconut inflorescence.

Comparative transcriptomic analysis of Rosa sterilis inflorescence branches with different trichome types reveals an R3-MYB transcription factor that negatively regulates trichome formation

Rosa sterilis S.D.Shi is an important economic tree in China that produces fruits with high nutritional and medicinal value.Many of R.sterills’organs are covered with different types of trichomes or prickles that directly affect fruit appearance and plant management.This study used RNA sequencing technology to analyze the transcriptomes of two parts of the inflorescence branch,namely inflorescence stems with flagellated trichomes and pedicels with both flagellated and glandular trichomes.Comparative transcriptomic analysis showed that many transcription factors(TFs)are potentially involved in the formation and development of trichomes.The accumulation of RsETC1,a TF of the R3-MYB family,was significantly higher in inflorescence stems than in pedicels;quantitative reverse transcription PCR(qRTPCR)verified that its expression was significantly higher in inflorescence stems than in pedicels during the first three development stages,indicating its inhibitory action on the initiation of glandular trichomes in R.sterilis.The mRNA level of RsETC1 accumulated to significantly higher levels in trichomeless tissues than in tissues with trichromes,suggesting that this gene may inhibit the formation of trichomes in R.sterilis.Over-expression of RsETC1 in Arabidopsis resulted in glabrous phenotypes,and the expression of trichome-related endogenous genes,except for TTG1,was markedly reduced.In addition,the contents of the phytohormones jasmonic acid(JA),gibberellin A3(GA_(3)),and cytokinins(CKs)in pedicels were significantly higher than those in inflorescence stems,and the expression patterns of the genes related to hormone biosynthesis and signal transduction presented consistent responses,suggesting that the transduction of these hormones might be crucial for trichome initiation and development.These data provide a new perspective for revealing the molecular mechanism of trichome formation in R.sterilis.

配方施肥对紫薇花序着花数和花期的影响

为探究紫薇花序着花数和花期对氮、磷、钾配方施肥的响应,获得氮、磷、钾优化的施肥量,以紫薇优良新品种“紫精灵”为研究对象,采用氮、磷、钾“3414”施肥设计进行田间施肥试验,测定不同处理的花序着花数和花期,拟合花序着花数的肥料效应模型,采用频次分析法获得优化施肥量。结果表明:氮、磷、钾配方施肥显著提高了紫薇花序着花数,能提早始花期和盛花期、推迟末花期;施肥对紫薇花序着花数、花期、始花期、盛花期、末花期的单因子影响效应均是N>K>P,交互作用影响效应都是NK>NP>PK;氮、磷、钾对花序着花数的单因素效应为正,氮与磷交互效应为正,氮与钾、磷与钾的交互效应都是负;花序着花数最大的施肥量为氮肥(N)19.50g·株^(-1)、磷肥(P_(2)O_(5))13.82g·株^(-1)、钾肥(K_(2)O)3.66g·株^(-1),此时花序着花数为117.94朵;用频次分析法获得的优化施肥量为氮肥(N)10.95~17.37g·株^(-1)、磷肥(P_(2)O_(5))5.89~9.37g·株^(-1)、钾肥(K_(2)O)7.01~10.25g·株^(-1),预期花序着花数平均值为126.52朵。

葡萄风信子花序色彩公众喜好度评价

【目的】以17个种和栽培品种的葡萄风信子为材料,研究其花序色彩的公众喜好度。【方法】基于美景度评价法(SBE),采用网络问卷调查的形式,收集公众对葡萄风信子花序色彩的喜好度,并计算其SBE标准化值,提取影响公众喜好度的主要评价因子,建立评价模型。【结果】葡萄风信子花序色彩SBE值13个分值在0分以上,评价员对其表现较为普遍的积极态度(喜欢或很喜欢),不同性别、专业的评价员审美也具有相对一致性。经过向后(Backward)筛选因子建立模型:SBE=1.632+0.597X1-0.017X10+0.047X11-0.064X13。通过模型得到了影响葡萄风信子花序色彩公众喜好度的4个因子,分别为色彩鲜艳感(X_(1))、色相对比度(X_(10))、明度对比度(X_(11))和花序冠幅(X_(13)),这4个评价因子与公众喜好度呈极显著线性关系。各因子对葡萄风信子花序色彩公众喜好度的贡献率由大到小排序为:明度对比度>色彩鲜艳感>花序冠幅>色相对比度。【结论】葡萄风信子花序色彩的公众积极态度频率与SBE值均可体现公众喜好度变化趋势。SBE法适用于葡萄风信子花序的色彩评价,可以拓宽其应用领域。

高寒区披碱草属种质资源花序分支与种子产量的关系分析

披碱草属牧草生态适应性强,是青藏高原地区草地质量改善的主要种质资源。为探究披碱草属花序分支与未分支花序的种子产量差异及花序分支性状与种子产量的关系,本研究以来自青藏高原不同地区的75份披碱草属种质资源为试验材料,分析比较了发生分支和未发生分支的花序种子产量,同时对花序分支性状与种子产量进行相关性分析、主成分分析和通径分析。结果发现:花序分支种子产量均显著高于花序未发生分支的种子产量(P<0.05);分支穗种子重、总花序重、分支穗种子数、小穗数与种子产量关系密切,相关系数分别为:0.94,0.99,0.71和0.86。试验结果表明,在生产中可通过增加总花序重、分支穗种子数、主轴种子数来增加分支穗种子重,进而显著提高种子产量。披碱草属花序分支性状对种子产量影响较大,可为披碱草属牧草种质资源筛选利用和小麦族的育种提供帮助。

中国黄连木雄花序不同花期营养品质变化

为了确定黄连木(Pistacia chinensis Bunge)雄花序食用的最佳采收期,以提供最佳营养品质的雄花序,提高黄连木的综合利用率。测定雄花序7个不同生长时期的17个营养指标,探究雄花序生长过程中营养品质变化并进行主成分综合评价。结果表明:随着黄连木雄花序生长时期推移,雄花序外观整体大小呈先增大后平缓增大的趋势,含水率随雄花序的生长呈先升高后降低的趋势,在盛花前期达到最高,为70%左右。黄连木雄花序的可溶性糖质量分数随生长周期的增加呈先上升后降低的趋势,总体质量分数为64.44~111.14 mg·g^(-1),最大值出现在盛花期。蛋白质质量浓度在盛花期前较为稳定,在盛花期后呈下降趋势,总体质量浓度为151.25~265.625 g·L^(-1)。总氨基酸质量摩尔浓度表现出波动上升的趋势,总体质量摩尔浓度为7.41~18.31μmol·mg^(-1)。雄花序内的9种矿质元素质量分数变化不一。N元素呈波动下降的趋势,总体质量分数为24.20~42.50 g·kg^(-1);P元素总体变化较为稳定,在盛花期后出现下降,总体质量分数为2724.00~6468.00 mg·kg^(-1);K元素表现为波动变化且稍有上升的趋势,总体质量分数为22526.67~37811.33 mg·kg^(-1);Ca元素表现为先下降后上升,总体质量分数为1480.00~4401.33 mg·kg^(-1);Mg元素质量分数总体较稳定,为1359.33~1527.67 mg·kg^(-1),在盛花期前后达到最高;Fe元素质量分数在盛花前期之前较为稳定,在盛花前期之后急速上升,至末花期达到最大值,总体质量分数为132.67~391.33 mg·kg^(-1);Mn元素呈先上升后下降的趋势,在盛花期前后达到最高,总体质量分数为13.97~20.37 mg·kg^(-1);Cu元素呈波动下降的趋势,总体质量分数为9.25~17.08 mg·kg^(-1);Zn元素整体表现为下降趋势,总体质量分数为21.88~49.07 mg·kg^(-1)。总多酚质量分数呈先下降后上升的趋势,总黄酮、槲皮素、山奈酚质量分数总体呈先上升后下降的趋势,且三者均在盛花期前后达到最高。对黄连木雄花序主要营养指标进行主成分分析并对其综合品质进行排序可以看出,黄连木雄花序最佳采收期为在4月11日—4月13日(盛花前期-盛花期),此时雄花序综合营养品质较佳。

赤霉素对葡萄花序拉长及果实品质的影响

为探究不同浓度的赤霉素(GA_(3))对葡萄花序拉长及果实品质的影响,以4年生津郁、MH2和MZ3植株为试材,于花前5 d用不同浓度的GA_(3)浸蘸整个花序。结果表明,津郁、MH2和MZ3葡萄小花轴间距长度随着GA_(3)浓度的升高呈抛物线状变化。不同浓度的GA_(3)处理均可以使葡萄花序及果穗伸长,不同品种适宜的处理浓度不同。GA_(3)浓度为8 mg·L^(-1)时,津郁和MZ3果穗长度最长;GA_(3)浓度为4 mg·L^(-1)时,MH2果穗长度最长。不同浓度的GA_(3)处理均降低了葡萄可溶性固形物含量,对可滴定酸含量影响不大,津郁葡萄VC含量显著降低,MH2葡萄VC含量变化不大,MZ3葡萄VC含量显著增加。综上所述,结合安全生产原则及各项果实品质等综合因素,津郁花序拉长处理适宜的GA_(3)浓度范围为6~8 mg·L^(-1),MH2花序拉长处理适宜的GA_(3)浓度范围为4~6 mg·L^(-1),MZ3花序拉长处理适宜的GA_(3)浓度范围为6~8 mg·L^(-1)。

民族药文王一支笔不同药用部位止血作用的筛选研究

目的:探讨文王一支笔不同药用部位(花序、花茎、根茎)水煎液的止血作用。方法:将实验动物随机分为空白对照组,云南白药组,文王一支笔根茎、花茎、花序三个不同部位给药组(每个部位再分为高、低剂量组),连续给药5d后,采用断尾法测定小鼠出血时间,毛细管法测定小鼠凝血时间,且测定大鼠血浆复钙时间。结果:与空白组比较,云南白药组、文王一支笔花序和花茎高低剂量组出血时间、凝血时间与血浆复钙时间均明显缩短(P<0.05或P<0.01);文王一支笔根茎的作用不显著。结论:文王一支笔花序和花茎水煎液均有较好的止血、促凝血作用,根茎的作用次之。

托桂型菊花花型和花色性状遗传规律分析

以一个白色非托桂型小菊为父本,两个红色托桂型小菊为母本,设计两个杂交组合,测定了杂交F1的11个花型性状。遗传分析表明,花径、舌状花长、舌状花宽和管状花数均符合无主基因控制的0MG模型;心花直径、舌状花数、管状花长、管状花宽和最深齿裂长均符合由两个加性-显性-上位性效应的主基因控制的2MG-ADI模型,其中管状花长和最深齿裂长的主基因遗传率均约70%,属于高度遗传力。相关性分析表明,托桂型菊花管状花长、管状花宽和最深齿裂长两两之间呈极显著的正相关。根据舌状花的花色值(L~*,a~*,b~*)将F1聚类为5个不同色系,两个杂交组合舌状花花色的香农-威纳指数(H)分别为1.12和1.23,花色变化丰富。此外,测定了亲本及F1共30个不同花色的托桂型菊花管状花内侧表皮和舌状花上表皮的花色值(L~*,a~*,b~*),发现两者的L~*,a~*,b~*值分别呈极显著正相关;对5个色系共10个托桂型菊花做切片观察,发现管状花内侧与舌状花上表皮、管状花外侧与舌状花下表皮的色素种类相同且细胞形态大小相似,因而花色相近。本研究结果为菊花托桂花型性状的基因定位以及优质托桂型菊花品种的培育提供理论依据。

基于花序坐果数和果实直感筛选库尔勒香梨适宜的授粉品种

‘库尔勒香梨’属于异花授粉的梨品种。在主产区立地田间下筛选合适的授粉品种是实现提质增效的重要技术措施。试验选择13个梨品种作为父本对‘库尔勒香梨’进行授粉,自然授粉作为对照,分别于授粉后20 d和80 d对花序坐果数进行调查,待果实成熟后将授粉果实的部分指标和种子特性进行测定和比较分析,采用相关性分析和主成分分析对授粉果实的12项指标进行果实性状综合评价并计算综合得分,为‘库尔勒香梨’筛选高效授粉品种提供参考。结果表明:不同授粉组合中,花序坐果数较对照显著提高,在单果质量、偏斜指数、果实硬度、可溶性固形物含量、石细胞团含量、种子数、鲜籽质量和干籽质量方面果实直感效应明显,但在果形指数、可食部分大小(心果比)和饱籽数果实直感效应不完全明显。部分果实指标间存在着显著或极显著的相关性。通过主成分分析所提取的4个主成分累计方差贡献率达89.298%,包含了果实指标的大部分信息,综合得分结果显示‘南果梨’‘园黄’‘寒红’‘砀山酥梨’和‘新妃’5个梨品种对‘库尔勒香梨’授粉效果较好。