Studies on the Inheritance of Locule Formation in Tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.)

To fully understand the tomato ovary locule formation of inheritance, two varieties, ovary multi-locule （MLK1） and few-locule （FL1）, were used in these studies. Using reciprocal cross, self-cross, and backcross, we have constructed various groups to seek the genetic law and mechanisms of tomato locule formation, for modifying the tomato breeding theory. The parental and the resulting FI and F2 generations have been used to examine the heredity of the locule number. The results showed that few-locule was incompletely dominant. The data from backcross demonstrated a significant effect on the locule number, whereas, the reciprocal cross showed an insignificant effect. Not surprisingly, the locule number was controlled by nuclear genomes, not by exogenous substances. The model that inherited the locule number belonged to the additive-dominant model： additive effects played a very important role and were partially dominant. In addition, the results revealed that the locule number in tomato was mainly controlled by a single gene, whereas, it was modulated by a number of other genes. Finally, the general inheritability and narrow inheritability of the locule number were 69.44% and 52.98%, respectively.

Correlation Between Endogenous Hormones of Stem Apices and Fruit Locule Numbers in Tomatoes During Floral Bud Differentiation Stages

The study was designed to elucidate the changes in the endogenous hormones of stem apices in tomatoes and the function of correlative endogenous hormones in tomatoes during floral bud differentiation stages. The tomato parents were crossed and reverse crossed by using two inbred lines of multi-locule （MLK1） and few-locule （FL1） with significant difference, and the relationship between endogenous hormones GA3, IAA, and ABA levels and ovary locule numbers of parents and progeny during floral bud differentiation initial stage, floral bud differentiation stage, sepal petal formation stage, carpel formation initial stage, and ovary locule complete formation stage was studied. GA3 levels in P1, P2, F1, and RF1 were consistent with locule numbers, and IAA and ABA levels were reverse to ovary locule numbers during the key stage. The correlation showed that, during sepal petal formation stage, the ovary locule numbers were positively correlated with GA3, GA3/IAA, and GA3/ABA, and were negatively correlated with IAA and ABA. It was speculated that increasing GA3 levels or decreasing IAA and ABA levels of stem apices in tomato might be able to enhance ovary locule numbers. The sepal petal formation stage was an important stage which regulated endogenous hormones in the ovary locule formation.

The SlTPL3–SlWUS module regulates multi-locule formation in tomato by modulating auxin and gibberellin levels in the shoot apical meristem

Malformed fruits depreciate a plant’s market value.In tomato(Solanum lycopersicum),fruit malformation is associated with the multi-locule trait,which involves genes regulating shoot apical meristem(SAM)development.The expression pattern of TOPLESS3(SITPL3)throughout SAM development prompted us to investigate its functional significance via RNA interference(RNAi)and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats/CRISPR-associated nuclease 9(Cas9)-mediated gene editing.Lower SITPL3 transcript levels resulted in larger fruits with more locules and larger SAMs at the 5 d after germination(DAG5)stage.Differentially expressed genes in the SAM of wild-type(WT)and SITPL3-RNAi plants,identified by transcriptome deep sequencing(RNA-seq),were enriched in the gibberellin(GA)biosynthesis and plant hormone signaling pathways.Moreover,exogenous auxin and paclobutrazol treatments rescued the multi-locule phenotype,indicating that SITPL3 affects SAM size by mediating auxin and GA levels in the SAM.Furthermore,SITPL3 interacted with WUSCHEL(SIWUS),which plays an important role in SAM size maintenance.We conducted RNA-seq and DNA affinity purification followed by sequencing(DAP-seq)analyses to identify the genes regulated by SITPL3 and SIWUS in the SAM and to determine how they regulate SAM size.We detected24 overlapping genes regulated by SITPL3 and SIWUS and harboring an SIWUS-binding motif in their promoters.Furthermore,functional annotation revealed a notable enrichment for functions in auxin transport,auxin signal transduction,and GA biosynthesis.Dual-luciferase assays also revealed that SITPL3 enhances SIWUS-mediated regulation(repression and activation)of SIPIN3 and SIGA2 ox4 transcription,indicating that the SITPL3-SIWUS module regulates SAM size by mediating auxin distribution and GA levels,and perturbations of this module result in enlarged SAM.These results provide novel insights into the molecular mechanism of SAM maintenance and locule formation in tomato and highlight the SITPL3-SIWUS module as a key regulator.

Alteration of Sl YABBY2b gene expression impairs tomato ovary locule number and endogenous gibberellin content

Tomato is an ideal model species for fleshy fruit development research. Sl YABBY2 b regulates the ovary locule number, which is increased by gibberellins, in tomato. However, the relationship between Sl YABBY2 b and endogenous gibberellin is poorly understood. In this study, Sl YABBY2 b-overexpressing and RNA interference(RNAi) transgenic tomato plants were used to elucidate the mechanism by which Sl YABBY2 b regulates the ovary locule number and endogenous gibberellin content in tomato. Sl YABBY2 b-overexpressing plants showed fewer locules and lower gibberellin content than the control plants. Contrasting results were found in the RNAi lines. Therefore, the Sl YABBY2 b gene negatively regulates tomato ovary locule number and endogenous gibberellin content. Furthermore, the expression of Sl YABBY2 b gene was remarkably higher than that of the wild type in the apical shoots of gibberellindeficient mutants. This showed that the gibberellins can inhibit the expression of Sl YABBY2 b gene negative regulation. Further study revealed that Sl YABBY2 b suppressed the expression of Sl GA20 ox1 and Sl GA3 ox2, but increased that of Sl GA2 ox1 and Sl GA2 ox5 in the apical shoots of Sl YABBY2 b-overexpressing plants, thereby reducing gibberellin content. Contrasting results were found in the RNAi lines. Our results showed that the Sl YABBY2 b gene was located on gibberellin signal transduction pathways, fed back regulation of the synthesis of gibberellin, and felt exogenous gibberellin signal to further regulate the formation of tomato locule.

Multiple Density Subdural Hematomas

The chronic subdural hematoma is a well known entity in old age and the treatment is very challenging. Treatment protocol depends upon the radiological finding. The loculation and multilayering indicates the bleeding at multiple times and respectively found in 13.2% and 13.6%, which was more common in patients more than 75 years. Burr hole evacuation was the treatment of choice except in recurrent cases where craniotomy was performed.

A Loculated Pyocele of Maxillary Sinus—A Rare Case Report

Pyocele of maxillary sinus occurs unusually, when its mucocele content gets secondarily infected. Most of the pyocele occupies the frontal and anterior ethmoid sinus involving the frontal-ethmoidal complex expanding into the orbit leading to ocular disorders. Maxillary sinus presentation is rare, and our patient had a well defined loculated pyocele in her right maxillary sinus that we suspected with radiological images and was confirmed by needle aspiration under endoscopic guidance to the pyocele sac. Here we would like to describe more in detail about the nature of the mucopyocele in paranasal sinuses, its presentation and various surgical modalities of treating the pyocele.