Quantitative Trait Loci Associated with Pollen Fertility under High Temperature Stress at Flowering Stage in Rice (Oryza sativa)

High temperature stress (HTS), an increasingly important problem in rice production, significantly reduces rice yield by reducing pollen fertility and seed setting rate. Breeding rice varieties with tolerance to HTS at the flowering stage is therefore essential for maintaining rice production as the climate continues to become warm. In this study, two quantitative trait loci (QTLs) underlying tolerance to HTS were identified using recombinant inbred lines derived from a cross between an HTS-tolerant rice cultivar 996 and a sensitive cultivar 4628. Pollen fertility was used as a heat-tolerance indicator for the lines subjected to HTS at the flowering stage in field experiments. Two QTLs that affected pollen fertility, qPF4 and qPF6, were detected between RM5687 and RM471 on chromosome 4, and between RM190 and RM225 on chromosome 6, by using the composite interval mapping (CIM) analysis. The two QTLs explained 15.1% and 9.31% of the total phenotypic variation in pollen fertility, and increased the pollen fertility of the plants subjected to HTS by 7.15% and 5.25%, respectively. The positive additive effects of the two QTLs were derived from the 996 alleles. The two major QTLs identified would be useful for further fine mapping and cloning of these genes and for molecular marker-assistant breeding of heat-tolerant rice varieties.

The essential roles of sugar metabolism for pollen development and male fertility in plants

Sugar metabolism plays an essential role in plant male reproduction. Defects in sugar metabolism during anther and pollen development often result in genic male sterility(GMS). In this review, we summarize the recent progresses of the sugar metabolism-related GMS genes and their roles during plant anther and pollen development, including callose wall and primexine formation, intine development, pollen maturation and starch accumulation, anther dehiscence, and pollen germination and tube growth. We predict 112 putative sugar metabolic GMS genes in maize based on bioinformatics and RNA-seq analyses, and most of them have peak expression patterns during middle or late anther developmental stages.Finally, we outline the potential applications of sugar metabolic GMS genes in crop hybrid breeding and seed production. This review will deepen our understanding on sugar metabolic pathways in controlling pollen development and male fertility in plants.

Effect of Temperature on Pollen Fertility in Inter-Subspecific Rice Hybrids

Seventeen rice varieties and hybrids of different types (indica, japonica, javanica, indica hybrid, japonica hybrid and inter-subspecific hybrid) were evaluated to determine the effect of temperature on pollen fertility in inter-subspecfic hybrids. The pollen fertility of inter-subspecific hybrids was greatly reduced when average daily temperature dropped to 22.0 - 23.0℃ at meiosis stage, and the extent of pollen fertility reduction varied greatly with respect to different hybrids. However, the pollen fertility reduction of indica and japonica hybrids and conventional varieties was not obvious under the same regime of temperature conditions. When the average daily temperature dropped to 20℃, the pollen development of conventional varieties and hybrids was also affected. Correlation analysis revealed that there existed a positive correlation between pollen fertility and average daily temperature. A significant difference (P<0.01) was also found between the two correlation coefficients i.e. inter-subspecific hybrids and conventional varieties. Temperature at meiosis stage of pollen mother cell was a key factor in pollen developing, and the pollen fertility of inter-subspecific hybrids was more sensitive to low temperature than that of traditional variety.

Pollen Morphology and Pollen Fertility Estimation of Three Medicinal Plant Species of <i>Hypericum</i>L. from Kaghan Valley, Northern Pakistan

Pollen morphology & pollen fertility estimation of three medicinal species belonging to genus Hypericum L. from flora of Kaghan valley, Northern Pakistan was investigated by light and scanning electron microscopy for the first time. The species are Hypericum elodeoides Choisy in, Hypericum oblongifolium Choisy, and Hypericum perforatum L. Pollen morphological characteristics with considerable variation are provided for these taxa. Among the studied taxa, the pollen grains were 3-4 colporate type and the largest pollen size was found in H. oblongifolium in polar view 23.0 μm and in equatorial view was 25.35 μm. The smallest pollen was of H. elodeoides in polar view which was 19.91 μm and in equatorial view was observed 12.53 μm in H. perforatum. The shape of the all pollen grain was circular to semi-angular in polar view, however in equatorial view the shape of the grains was oblate-spheroidal, in H. elodeoides, and H. oblongifolium while prolate in H. perforatum. Exine sculpturing was observed by scanning electron microscopy which showed foveolate sculpturing in H. elodeoides, reticulate in H. oblongifolium and scabrate in H. perforatum. Pollen fertility estimation ranged from 82.66% to 90.90% which shows that flora of selected species is well established.

GAMYB transcription factor LoMYB65 from lily plays a vital role in pollen development

Lily(Lilium spp.)is an important horticultural crop,but its use is limited due to serious pollen contamination problems.There are many studies on pollen development in model plants,but few on flower crops such as lilies.Gibberellin(GA)is a large class of hormones and plays an important role in plant vegetative growth and reproductive development.GAMYB is a group of the R2R3-MYB family upregulated by gibberellin,and plays an important role in anther development.Here,we isolated a novel GAMYB,named LoMYB65,from lily,which was closely related to the AtMYB65 and AtMYB33 in Arabidopsis.Fluorescence quantitative PCR results showed that LoMYB65 was mainly expressed in lily anthers.LoMYB65 could be activated by 288μmol·L^(-1)GA3treatment and the LoMYB65 protein was located in the nucleus and cytoplasm,and had transactivation in yeast and tobacco leaf cells.The conserved motif within 226 amino acids of the C-terminal of LoMYB65 contributed to its transactivation.Overexpression of LoMYB65 caused dwarf phenotype,unnormal tapetum development,less seeds of siliques in transgenic Arabidopsis plants,the transgenic plants showed partly male sterile.Simultaneously,silencing of LoMYB65 with VIGS(Virus Induced Gene Silencing)in lily anthers caused unnormal pollen development and reduced the pollen amount.Overexpression of LoMYB65 in Arabidopsis and silencing of LoMYB65 in lily resulted in decreased pollen counts,so we speculate that LoMYB65 may be dose-dependent.Overall,these findings suggest that LoMYB65 may play an important role in anther development and pollen formation in lily.LoMYB65 may provide a useful candidate gene for pollenless breeding of lily.

Manure substitution improves maize yield by promoting soil fertility and mediating the microbial community in lime concretion black soil

Synthetic nitrogen(N)fertilizer has made a great contribution to the improvement of soil fertility and productivity,but excessive application of synthetic N fertilizer may cause agroecosystem risks,such as soil acidification,groundwater contamination and biodiversity reduction.Meanwhile,organic substitution has received increasing attention for its ecologically and environmentally friendly and productivity benefits.However,the linkages between manure substitution,crop yield and the underlying microbial mechanisms remain uncertain.To bridge this gap,a three-year field experiment was conducted with five fertilization regimes:i)Control,non-fertilization;CF,conventional synthetic fertilizer application;CF_(1/2)M_(1/2),1/2 N input via synthetic fertilizer and 1/2 N input via manure;CF_(1/4)M_(3/4),1/4 N input synthetic fertilizer and 3/4 N input via manure;M,manure application.All fertilization treatments were designed to have equal N input.Our results showed that all manure substituted treatments achieved high soil fertility indexes(SFI)and productivities by increasing the soil organic carbon(SOC),total N(TN)and available phosphorus(AP)concentrations,and by altering the bacterial community diversity and composition compared with CF.SOC,AP,and the soil C:N ratio were mainly responsible for microbial community variations.The co-occurrence network revealed that SOC and AP had strong positive associations with Rhodospirillales and Burkholderiales,while TN and C:N ratio had positive and negative associations with Micromonosporaceae,respectively.These specific taxa are implicated in soil macroelement turnover.Random Forest analysis predicted that both biotic(bacterial composition and Micromonosporaceae)and abiotic(AP,SOC,SFI,and TN)factors had significant effects on crop yield.The present work strengthens our understanding of the effects of manure substitution on crop yield and provides theoretical support for optimizing fertilization strategies.

Characterization of Zm26Sub5 and Its Potential Roles in Regulating Pollen Fertility of S-CMS in Maize

Mitochondrial orf355-orf77 and the nuclear fertility restorer locus Rf3/rf3 mutually control the fertility of male gametes in CMS-S in maize （Zea mays L.）. A fragment of gene Zm26Sub5 was identified through cDNA-AFLP from a set of Rf3/rf3 near-isogenic lines in a previous study. In the present study, real-time PCR analysis revealed that Zm26Sub5 expression levels were much higher in pollen of S-Mo17Rf3Rf3 than in pollen of S-Mo17rf3rf3, and also higher than in fresh leaves, mature leaves, and roots of both S-Mo17Rf3Rf3 and S-Mo17rf3rf3. In silico cloning of full-length cDNA was successfully implemented. Gene Zm26Sub5 was 1 451 bp in size, of which 1 329 bp encoded a protein with 443 amino acids. The structure of this gene was analyzed by comparing its full length cDNA to homologous genomic DNA sequence （GenBank accession： Ac209463.3）. Subsequent sequence analysis led to sub cellular localization of protein ZM26SUB5, and construction of a phylogenetic tree. In silico mapping indicated that Zm26Sub5 was located on chromosome 5 and closed to a reported starch-filled pollen ratio QTL. ZM26SUB5, therefore might have potential roles in repressing mitochondrial PCD which is associated with sterile activity in pollen in S-type cytoplasm.

Effect of different drying methods on the amino acids,α-dicarbonyls and volatile compounds of rape bee pollen

The significant demand for high quality food has motivated us to adopt appropriate processing methods to improve the food nutritional quality and flavors.In this study,the effects of five drying methods,namely,pulsed vacuum drying(PVD),freeze drying(FD),infrared drying(IRD),hot-air drying(HAD)and sun drying(SD)on free amino acids(FAAs),α-dicarbonyl compounds(α-DCs)and volatile compounds(VOCs)in rape bee pollen(RBP)were determined.The results showed that FD significantly released the essential amino acids(EAAs)compared with fresh samples while SD caused the highest loss.Glucosone was the dominantα-DCs in RBP and the highest loss was observed after PVD.Aldehydes were the dominant volatiles of RBP and SD samples contained more new volatile substances(especially aldehydes)than the other four drying methods.Comprehensively,FD and PVD would be potential methods to effectively reduce the quality deterioration of RBP in the drying process.

Effect of day length and temperature on the pollen fertility in photo(thermo)-sensitive genic male-sterile rice

The effect of day length and temperature on the pollen fertility of five photoperiod-sensitive genic male-sterile japonica rice lines (PGMSR) and three temperature-sensitive genic malesterile indica rice lines (TGMSR) were investigated in phytotron. The light source used for illumination was xenon lamp, and the light intensity which plant accepted on the leaf surface was 300—350μmol photons ms. The results indicated that pollens of PGMSR 7001S and E47S aborted completely whereas a little part of 31116S pollens appeared normal under long day photoperiod (LD,25℃,15h) (Table 1). High temperature (HT, 30℃, 12h) and lower temperature (LT,

Effect of wall-disruption on nutrient composition and in vitro digestion of camellia and lotus bee pollens

The nutrient digestion,absorption and biological activity of bee pollen may be limited due to the complex pollen wall.Here,the effect of superfine grinding technology on the release of nutrients from bee pollen were investigated,and their antioxidant activities and in vitro digestion were explored in this study.Results showed that the content of nutrients in bee pollen increased after wall disruption.Among them,fat content increased by 22.55%-8.31%,protein content increased by 0.54%-4.91%,starch content increased by 36.31%-48.64%,soluble sugar content increased by 20.57%-29.67%,total phenolic acid content increased by 11.73%-86.98%and total flavonoids content increased by 14.29%-24.79%.At the same time,the antioxidant activity increased by 14.84%-46.00%.Furthermore,the active components such as phenolic compounds in the wall-disruption bee pollen were more readily to be released during the in vitro digestion,and easier to be absorbed because of their higher bioaccessibility.Antioxidant activities during in vitro digestion were also improved in walldisruption bee pollen.These findings provide evidence that bee pollen wall disruption was suggested,thus,it is more conducive to exerting the value of bee pollen in functional foods.

Enhancer of Shoot Regeneration 2(ESR2)regulates pollen maturation and vitality in watermelon(Citrullus lanatus)

Watermelon(Citrullus lanatus)holds global significance as a fruit with high economic and nutritional value.Exploring the regulatory network of watermelon male reproductive development is crucial for developing male sterile materials and facilitating cross-breeding.Despite its importance,there is a lack of research on the regulation mechanism of male reproductive development in watermelon.In this study,we identified that ClESR2,a VIIIb subclass member in the APETALA2/Ethylene Responsive Factor(AP2/ERF)superfamily,was a key factor in pollen development.RNA insitu hybridization confirmed significantClESR2 expression in the tapetum and pollen during the later stage of anther development.The pollens of transgenic plants showed major defects in morphology and vitality at the late development stage.The RNA-seq and protein interaction assay confirmed that ClESR2 regulates pollen morphology and fertility by interacting with key genes involved in pollen development at both transcriptional and protein levels.These suggest that Enhancer of Shoot Regeneration 2(ESR2)plays an important role in pollen maturation and vitality.This study helps understand the male reproductive development of watermelon,providing a theoretical foundation for developing male sterile materials.

High temperature treatment induced production of unreduced 2n pollen in Camellia oleifera

Unreduced gametes through chromosome doubling play a major role in the process of plant polyploidization.Our previous work confirmed that Camellia oleifera can produce natural 2n pollen,and it is possible to induce the 2n pollen formation by high temperature treatment.This study focused on the optimization of the 2n pollen induction technique and the mechanisms of high temperature-induced2n pollen formation in C.oleifera.We found that the optimal protocol for inducing 2n pollen via high temperature was to perform 45℃with4 h at the prophaseⅠstage of the pollen mother cells(PMCs).Meanwhile,high temperature significantly decreased the yield and fertility of2n pollen.Through the observation of meiosis,abnormal chromosome and cytological behaviour was discovered under high-temperature treatment,and we confirmed that the formation of 2n pollen is caused by abnormal cell plate.Based on weighted gene co-expression network analysis,fifteen hub genes related to cell cycle control were identified.After male flower buds were exposed to heat shock,polygalacturonase gene(CoPGX3)was significantly upregulated.We inferred that high temperature causes the CoPGX3 gene to be overexpressed and that CoPGX3 is redistributed into the cytosol where it degrades cytoplasmic pectin,which leads to an abnormal cell plate.Furthermore,abnormal cytokinesis resulted in the formation of dyads and triads,and PMCs divided to produce 2n pollen.Our findings provide new insights into the mechanism of 2n pollen induced by high temperature in a woody plant and lay a foundation for further ploidy breeding of C.oleifera.

Modern pollen-vegetation relationships along altitudinal vegetation belts in the Leigong Mountain of southwestern China

Understanding the distribution,dispersal,and correlation of modern pollen with vegetation in mountainous regions is essential for establishing accurate modern analogs for fossil pollen records.This study,conducted in Leigong Mountain on the YunnanGuizhou Plateau of southwestern China,involved the collection of 35 surface soil samples from diverse vegetation communities along an elevational gradient ranging from 1210 to 1875 meters.The results reveal a close correspondence between modern pollen assemblages and vegetation zones.Principal Component Analysis(PCA)results indicate that pollen assemblages can effectively distinguish between subtropical montane evergreen broad-leaved forest(SEBF)and subtropical montane deciduous broadleaved forest(SDBF).However,both SEBF and SDBF show significant overlap with subtropical montane evergreen-deciduous broad-leaved mixed forest(SEMF).Detrended Correspondence Analysis(DCA)results clearly distinguish the three vegetation zones,and the first axis of DCA shows a significant positive correlation with elevation(p<0.01,R=0.48).Discriminant Analysis(DA)successfully assigns 94.4%of the modern pollen samples to their respective vegetation zones.Pollen taxa such as Impatiens,Astertype,and Rosaceae exhibit significant indicative capabilities for the SEBF zone,effectively distinguishing this vegetation zone from others.Pinus and Alnus display overrepresentation in the Leigong Mountain region,while Quercus(D,deciduous-type)and Poaceae exhibit high representation in the SEBF zone.In the SEBF zone,both pollen diversity and richness are the lowest.Our study reveals the complex relationship between the richness and diversity of pollen and vegetation.The diversity and richness of tree and shrub pollen are found to be lower than those of the corresponding plants.The pollen-vegetation relationship elucidated in this study serves as a critical reference for reconstructing ancient environments from fossil pollen retrieved in this region.

Production traits and fertility of reciprocal hybrids between Argopecten irradians irradians and A.i.concentricus

The two bay scallop subspecies,Argopecten irradians irradians(NN)and A.i.concentricus(SS),are fast growing and major cultured bivalves in China.However,their relatively small sizes and decreasing production traits caused by long-term inbreeding have been major concerns to the industry in the last two decades.Hybridization between the two bay scallop subspecies may provide a new approach to breed a new variety with superior production traits for the industry.For this end,in this study,we hybridized the two bay scallop subspecies in order to obtain a new strain that incorporates the genes of both subspecies.No significant difference was found in fertilization rate,hatching rate and metamorphosis rate between the purebred and crossbred cohorts(NN♀×SS♂,denoted as NS;SS♀×NN♂,denoted as SN).Both mating strategy(intra-vs.inter-population crosses)and egg origin had significant effects on growth and survival at the larval stage.Heterosis was observed in the crossbred and was more pronounced in older stages.Genetic diversity of the reciprocal hybrids,especially that of SN,was increased compared with the purebred cohorts.Almost all hybrids were completely fertile and able to reproduce by selffertilization or by backcrossing with either parent.Apparently,male sterile individuals whose gonads were fully occupied by the ovary part at mature stage were found in the hybrids for the first time.The hybrids,especially SN,may provide precious germplasm resources for the production of ternary hybrids with the Peruvian scallop,A.purpuratus.

Sperm function, mitochondrial activity and in vivo fertility are associated to their mitochondrial DNA content in pigs

Background Despite their low abundance in sperm, mitochondria have diverse functions in this cell type, includ-ing energy production, signalling and calcium regulation. In humans, sperm mitochondrial DNA content(mtDNAc) has been reported to be negatively linked to sperm function and fertility. Yet, the association between mtDNAc and sperm function in livestock remains unexplored. For this reason, this study aimed to shed some light on the link between mtDNAc and sperm function and fertilising potential in pigs. A qPCR method for mtDNAc quantification was optimised for pig sperm, and the association of this parameter with sperm motility, kinematics, mitochondrial activity, and fertility was subsequently interrogated.Results First, the q PCR method was found to be sensitive and efficient for mtDNAc quantification in pig sperm. By using this technique, mtDNAc was observed to be associated to sperm motility, mitochondrial activity and in vivo, but not in vitro, fertility outcomes. Specifically, sperm with low mtDNAc were seen to exhibit greater motility but decreased mitochondrial activity and intracellular reactive oxygen species. Interestingly, samples with lower mtD-NAc showed higher conception and farrowing rates, but similar in vitro fertilisation rates and embryo development, when compared to those with greater mtDNAc.Conclusions These findings enrich our comprehension of the association of mtDNAc with sperm biology, and lay the foundation for future research into employing this parameter as a molecular predictor for sperm function and fer-tility in livestock.

Morphological and cytological assessments reveal pollen degradation causes pollen abortion in cotton cytoplasmic male sterility lines

Background Understanding the mechanism of male sterility is crucial for producing hybrid seeds and developing sterile germplasm resources.However,only a few cytoplasmic male sterility(CMS)lines of cotton have been produced due to several challenges,like inadequate variation of agronomic traits,incomplete sterility,weak resilience of restorer lines,and difficulty in combining strong dominance.Therefore,the morphological and cytological identification of CMS in cotton will facilitate hybrid breeding.Results Two F_(2) segregating populations of cotton were constructed from cytoplasmic male sterile lines(HaA and 01A,maternal)and restorer lines(HaR and 26R,paternal).Genetic analysis of these populations revealed a segregation ratio of 3:1 for fertile to sterile plants.Phenotypic analysis indicated no significant differences in traits of flower bud development between sterile and fertile plants.However,sterile plants exhibited smaller floral organs,shortened filament lengths,and anther atrophy on the flowering day in comparison with the fertile plants.When performed scanning electron microscopy(SEM),the two F_(2) populations revealed morphological variations in the anther epidermis.Cellular analysis showed no significant differences in pollen development before pollen maturation.Interestingly,between the pollen maturation and flowering stages,the tapetum layer of sterile plants degenerated prematurely,resulting in abnormal pollen grains and gradual pollen degradation.Conclusion The results of this study suggest that fertility-restoring genes are controlled by a single dominant gene.Sterile plants exhibit distinctive floral morphology,which is characterized by stamen atrophy and abnormal anthers.Pollen abortion occurs between pollen maturity and flowering,indicating that premature tapetum degradation may be the primary cause of pollen abortion.Overall,our study provides a theoretical basis for utilizing CMS in hybrid breeding and in-depth investigation of the dominant configuration of cotton hybrid combinations,mechanisms of sterility,and the role of sterile and restorer genes.

Marriage-Age and Fertility Pattern among Reproductive Age Women in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, South East Nigeria

Introduction: In Nigeria, one of the major reasons for marriage is procreation and married couples look forward to having children within a year or two of marriage. The age of marriage is on the increase in this part of the world. Many women are now increasingly getting engulfed in career and academic pursuits at the detriment of early marriage. Many men are also not interested in marrying women who have no job. There is age-related acceleration of primordial follicle depletion which is of great clinical importance because it is associated with a significant decrease in fecundity. Objective: This study assessed the ages of the marriage of women who attended Fertility and Antenatal clinics at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre and Smile Specialist Hospital, Abakaliki, and their relationship with the fertility pattern of these women. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 352 consenting married women who sought and received fertility and Antenatal care at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre and Smile Specialist Hospital Abakaliki, South-East Nigeria between February 1, 2022 and January 31, 2024. Semi-structured questionnaires were administered to the participants over a two-year period. Data was analyzed using IBM SPSS version 20. A test of statistical significance was done using Chi Square. Results: The age group with the highest education was 26 - 30. This was statistically significant (X2 = 90.893, P-value 2 = 294.555, P-value 2 = 173.007, p-value 2 = 129.494, P-value 2 = 169.300, p-value 2 = 279.230, p-value Conclusion: There is increased difficulty at conception at marriage age above 25 years. The major reasons for delayed marriage were academic pursuit and lack of gainful employment. Education of the masses and inclusion of biological dynamics of the female reproductive behaviours as part of the core school curriculum will help enlighten the female and the male folks alike to enable them to make informed decisions with regard to the timing of marriage and commencement of procreation. This will help reduce infertility and save millions of couples the agony associated with infertility.

Subsequent pregnancy outcomes and fertility rates in the case series that underwent bilateral hypogastric artery ligation(BHGAL)due to severe postpartum hemorrhage

Objective:To evaluate the effect of bilateral hypogastric artery ligation(BHGAL)on women's pregnancy outcomes and fertility rates in cases with severe postpartum hemorrhage.Methods:Patients hospitalized in a tertiary care center between 2007 and 2018 were included in the study.The records of cases were obtained from the hospital database,retrospectively.Maternal demographic data,morbidities or complications associated with BHGAL surgery,any additional haemostatic interventional or surgical procedures,preoperative admission and lowest postoperative haematocrit-hemoglobin values,blood products given,type of anaesthesia,intensive care unit(ICU)and length of hospital stay were recorded.In cases without surgical sterilization,future fertility and subsequent pregnancy outcomes were assessed for at least two years after operation.Information was obtained through face-to-face or telephone interviews with patients whose long-term fertility and subsequent pregnancy outcomes were assessed.Results:Sixty-eight patients with BHGAL surgery history were included in the study.26 Of 37 cases(70%)that did not undergo surgical sterilization had a desire for pregnancy after the surgery.Six of these cases(23%)were diagnosed with secondary infertility.The fertility rate of these cases was 77%,and subsequent pregnancy was detected in 20 women.A total of 25 pregnancies,including first and second pregnancies,developed,and 15 of these pregnancies resulted in term delivery,six preterm births,one stillbirth,and three abortions.Conclusions:The postoperative pregnancy rate was found to be higher than the rate of women with infertility problems,and this surgery does not seem to adversely affect pregnancy outcomes.This is a tertiary center experience and cohort studies with large patient series are needed.

Effect of Soil Fertility and Planting Density on the Partitioning of the Above-Ground Biomass of Eucalyptus in a Plantation (Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo)

Afforestation and reforestation are useful approaches to improve carbon sequestration. With the advent of forest plantations, growing environment conditions have become increasingly restrictive for light, soil nutrients, and interactions between trees to acquire available resources. Tree biomass data are essential for understanding the forest carbon cycle and plant adaptations to the environment. The distribution of tree biomass depends on the sum of multiple stand conditions. The data are from a dedicated experiment with two very contrasting areas of fertility, and two planting densities, including a high density at planting in order to achieve thinning. The plant material consists of the high-performance clones of Eucalyptus urophylla × E. grandis and the reference clone E. PF1. We hypothesize that the distribution of biomass changes as the intensity of competition changes and that this is accelerated by the fertility of the sites in time. The results indicate that fertilization, planting density and clones have an impact on biomass partitioning.

Allergen degradation of bee pollen by lactic acid bacteria fermentation and its alleviatory effects on allergic reactions in BALB/c mice

Food allergy as a global health problem threatens food industry.Bee pollen(BP)is a typical food with allergenic potentials,although it performs various nutritional/pharmacological functions to humans.In this study,lactic acid bacteria(LAB)were used to ferment Brassica napus BP for alleviating its allergenicity.Four novel allergens(glutaredoxin,oleosin-B2,catalase and lipase)were identified with significant decreases in LAB-fermented BP(FBP)than natural BP by proteomics.Meanwhile,metabolomics analysis showed significant increases of 28 characteristic oligopeptides and amino acids in FBP versus BP,indicating the degradation of LAB on allergens.Moreover,FBP showed alleviatory effects in BALB/c mice,which relieved pathological symptoms and lowered production of allergic mediators.Microbial high-throughput sequencing analysis showed that FBP could regulate gut microbiota and metabolism to strengthen immunity,which were closely correlated with the alleviation of allergic reactivity.These findings could contribute to the development and utilization of hypoallergenic BP products.