Health Risk Assessment of Employees Exposed to Chlorination By-products of Recreational Water in Large Amusement Parks in Shanghai

Objective Chlorination is often used to disinfect recreational water in large amusement parks;however,the health hazards of chlorination disinfection by-products(DBPs)to occupational populations are unknown.This study aimed to assess the exposure status of chlorinated DBPs in recreational water and the health risks to employees of large amusement parks.Methods Exposure parameters of employees of three large amusement parks in Shanghai were investigated using a questionnaire.Seven typical chlorinated DBPs in recreational water and spray samples were quantified by gas chromatography,and the health risks to amusement park employees exposed to chlorinated DBPs were evaluated according to the WHO's risk assessment framework.Results Trichloroacetic acid,dibromochloromethane,bromodichloromethane,and dichloroacetic acid were detected predominantly in recreational water.The carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of the five DBPs did not exceed the risk thresholds.In addition,the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of mixed exposure to DBPs were within the acceptable risk limits.Conclusion Typical DBPs were widely detected in recreational water collected from three large amusement parks in Shanghai;however,the health risks of DBPs and their mixtures were within acceptable limits.

Assessment of Physico-Chemical and Microbial Quality of Sugarcane Juice Sold by Street Vendors in Three Regions of Bangladesh

Sugar cane juice is a popular refreshing drink in most part of Bangladesh. It has great taste and health benefits;also it is available most of the public places at reasonable prices which consumed by road side customers including general public, shopping personals, tourists, students. In our country, street vendors crushing sugarcane between roller crusher and sold without any heat treatment or preservative, also served with or without added ice and lemon juice. The study aimed to identify and compare the physico-chemical and microbial quality of sugarcane juice. The chemical qualities of juices including moisture, PH, ash, total soluble solid, total sugar, reducing sugar and titrable acidity were found slightly different in Mymensingh, Gazipur and Narayangonj areas. The highest and lowest value of moisture, ash, PH, total soluble solids, total sugar, reducing sugar and titrable acidity were found in 84.33% - 79.26% (Gazipur-Mymensingh), 0.57% - 0.04% (Mymensingh-Gazipur), 5.9 - 2.9 (Gazipur-Narayangonj), 17.48% - 4.98% (Mymensingh-Narayangonj), 21.9% - 6.56% (Mymensingh-Gazipur), 3.7 - 2.1 (Gazipur-Mymensingh) and 0.523% - 0.007% (Narayangonj-Gazipur) respectively. For microbiological analysis, the total viable count of sugar cane juice in Mymensingh, Gazipur and Narayangonj were ranged from 0.6 × 105 - 43.6 × 105 cfu/ml, 4.6 × 105 - 21.6 × 105 cfu/ml and 3.6 × 105 - 36.6 × 105 cfu/ml respectively, where the permitted value is 1.0 × 104 cfu/ml, whereas the total coliform count was ranged from 0.4 × 105 - 6.4 × 105 cfu/ml, 0.6 × 105 - 8.4 × 105 cfu/ml and 0.00 - 8.4 × 105 cfu/ml, where the permitted value is 100 cfu/ml and total fungal count was ranged from 5.5 × 105 - 56.5 × 105 cfu/ml, 21.5 × 105 - 54.5 × 105 cfu/ml and 32.5 × 105 - 68.5 × 105 cfu/ml, where the permitted value is 1000 cfu/ml. According to the Gulf standard, the microbiological parameters of all the collected sugar cane juice were out of the permitted standards, so that a serious health outbreak can be caused anytime.

Consumption of sugary beverages,genetic predisposition and the risk of depression:a prospective cohort study

Background The associations between sugary beverages and genetic predisposition to depression risk remain unclear.Aims This study aimed to investigate the associations of sugar-sweetened beverages(SSBs),artificially sweetened beverages(ASBs)and natural juices(NJs)with depression and to assess whether these associations were modified by genetic predisposition.Methods We used data from the UK Biobank of 180599 individuals aged 39-72 years who were depression-free at baseline.Dietary intake of SSBs,ASBs and NJs was accessed by a 24-hour dietary recall between 2009 and 2012.The Polygenic Risk Score for depression was estimated and categorised as low(lowest tertile),intermediate(tertile 2)and high(highest tertile),.Cox proportional hazard and substitution models were conducted to evaluate hazard ratios(HRs)and 95%Cls.Results Over the 12-year follow-up,4915 individuals developed depression.Higher consumption(>2 units/day)of SSBs(HR:1.26,95%CI 1.12 to 1.43)and ASBs(HR:1.40,95%Cl 1.23 to 1.60)were both associated with an increased risk of depression.However,moderate consumption(>0-1 units/day)of NJs was associated with a lower risk of depression(HR:0.89,95%CI 0.83 to 0.95).Furthermore,genetic predisposition did not modify these associations(p interaction>0.05).In substitution models,the HRs for depression risk were 0.94(95%CI 0.89 to 0.99)and 0.89(95%CI 0.85 to 0.94),respectively,when 1 unit/day of SSBs or ASBs was replaced by an equivalent intake of NJs.Conclusions Higher consumption of SSBs and ASBs was associated with an increased risk of depression;in contrast,moderate consumption of NJs was inversely associated with a lower risk of depression.In theory,substituting SSBs and ASBswith NJs would suppose a reduction of depression risk.

Critical approaches in the catalytic transformation of sugar isomerization and epimerization after Fischer-History,challenges,and prospects

The transformation of aldose to ketose or common sugars into rare saccharides,including rare ketoses and aldoses,is of great value and interest to the food industry and for saccharidic biomass utilization,medicine,and the synthesis of drugs.Nowadays,high-fructose corn syrup(HFCS)is industrially produced in more than 10 million tons annually using immobilized glucose isomerase.Some low-calorie saccharides such as tagatose and psicose,which are becoming popular sweeteners,have also been produced on a pilot scale in order to replace sucrose and HFCS.However,current catalysts and catalytic processes are still difficult to utilize in biomass conversion and also have strong substrate dependence in producing high-value,rare sugars.Considering the specific reaction properties of saccharides and catalysts,since the pioneering discovery by Fischer,various catalysts and catalytic systems have been discovered or developed in attempts to extend the reaction pathways,improve the reaction efficiency,and to potentially produce commercial products.In this review,we trace the history of sugar isomerization/epimerization reactions and summarize the important breakthroughs for each reaction as well as the difficulties that remain unresolved to date.

Ingenious liquid-observed vapor exchange (LOVE) NMR method revealing how sugars protect dry protein structure

Recently,Gary et al.published an article elucidating how sugars contribute to the protection of dry protein structure.They utilized an ingenious liquid-observed vapor exchange(LOVE)nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)method,providing valuable insights into the protection mechanism of sugars during the drying process.The details of their study can be found in the article available at https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.biochem.2c00692.

Nitrogen-Doped Amorphous Carbon Homojunction from Palmyra Sugar as a Renewable Solar Cell

An a-C/a-C:N junction,which used palmyra sugar as the carbon source and ammonium hydroxide(NH4OH)as the dopant source,was successfully deposited on the ITO glass substrate using the nano-spraying method.The current-voltage relationship of the junction was found to be a Schottky-like contact,and therefore the junction shows the characteristic rectifiers.This means the a-C and a-C:N are semiconductors with different types of conduction.Moreover,the samples showed an increase in current and voltage value when exposed to visible light(bright state)compared to the dark condition,thereby,indicating the creation of electron-hole pairs during the exposure.It was also discovered that the relationship between current and voltage for the a-C/a-C:N junction sample formed a curve that satisfies the rule of the photovoltaic effect when exposed to visible light from a light bulb.The exposure of this sample to direct sunlight at AM 1.5 conditions produced a curve that meets the rules for the emergence of the photovoltaic effect with higher characteristics for the current-voltage relationship.Thus,the a-C/a-C:N junction sample is a solar cell successfully fabricated using a sample method and has a maximum efficiency of 0.0013%.

Transcriptome Sequencing for Sugar and Flavonoid Metabolism in Prunus persica‘Jinxiangyu’

In this study,high performance liquid chromatography(HPLC)and RNA-seq transcriptome sequencing were used to study the changes in soluble sugar components and flavonoids in Prunus persica‘Jinxiangyu’at different developmental stages(20–90 d after flowering)and screen the key genes regulating the formation of soluble sugar and flavonoids in the fruits.The results showed that 60–85 d after flowering was the key stage of quality formation of Prunus persica‘Jinxiangyu’,and the content of soluble sugar,soluble solid,fructose,and sucrose in the fruit increased significantly during this period.The sugar content of ripe fruits was mainly fructose and sucrose.The content of kaempferol glycoside was low in the fruit.Quercetin glycoside content was higher in the young fruit stage and decreased with fruit maturity.There were no anthocyanin compounds in the fruit.The expression levels of genes involved in flavonoid metabolism(ANS,DFR,F3H,FLS,4CL1,etc.)were low in the fruit.A total of 181 differentially expressed genes were identified during fruit development to participate in five sugar metabolism pathways,among which the SDH gene had a higher expression level,which continuously rised in the later stage of fruit development.It mainly promoted the accumulation of fructose content in the later stage of fruit development.The expression levels of SPS1,SS,and SS1 genes were continuously up-regulated,which played a key role in sucrose regulation.The higher expression levels of SUS3 and INVA genes in the early stage of fruit development promoted the degradation of sucrose.

Genome-Wide Discovery and Expression Profiling of the SWEET Sugar Transporter Gene Family in Woodland Strawberry (Fragaria vesca) under Developmental and Stress Conditions: Structural and Evolutionary Analysis

The SWEET(sugar will eventually be exported transporter)family proteins are a recently identified class of sugar transporters that are essential for various physiological processes.Although the functions of the SWEET proteins have been identified in a number of species,to date,there have been no reports of the functions of the SWEET genes in woodland strawberries(Fragaria vesca).In this study,we identified 15 genes that were highly homolo-gous to the A.thaliana AtSWEET genes and designated them as FvSWEET1–FvSWEET15.We then conducted a structural and evolutionary analysis of these 15 FvSWEET genes.The phylogenetic analysis enabled us to categor-ize the predicted 15 SWEET proteins into four distinct groups.We observed slight variations in the exon‒intron structures of these genes,while the motifs and domain structures remained highly conserved.Additionally,the developmental and biological stress expression profiles of the 15 FvSWEET genes were extracted and analyzed.Finally,WGCNA coexpression network analysis was run to search for possible interacting genes of FvSWEET genes.The results showed that the FvSWEET10 genes interacted with 20 other genes,playing roles in response to bacterial and fungal infections.The outcomes of this study provide insights into the further study of FvSWEET genes and may also aid in the functional characterization of the FvSWEET genes in woodland strawberries.

Overview on Soil Compaction and Sugar Beet Growth

With the advancement of agricultural mechanization,soil compaction has become a serious environmental problem.Soil compaction can increase soil bulk density and firmness,reduce porosity and permeability,and deteriorate soil structure,ultimately inhibit sugar beet growth and reduce both root yield and sugar content.However,few farmers recognize the link between soil compaction and these adverse effects.Soil compaction has a cumulative effect,with significant differences observed in the vertical range of compaction accumulation.The most significant soil compaction occurs in the topsoil of 0-10 cm,and the influence depth can reach 70 cm,but it is small in deep soil,and the inflection point is at a soil depth of 10 cm.The degree of soil compaction is related to soil type,water content,tractor shaft load,tyre type,tyre pressure and operation speed,etc.Therefore,in the production process of sugar beet,it is advisable to avoid high-humidity operations,use low pressure tyres,reduce the number of tractor-units passes over the farmland,and implement agricultural and agronomic measures to minimize soil compaction.These practices will help protect the soil environment and ensure sustainable production of sugar beets.

Composite Panels from the Combination of Rice Husk and Wood Chips with a Natural Resin Based on Tannins Reinforced with Sugar Cane Molasses Intended for Building Insulation: Physico-Mechanical and Thermal Properties

The objective of this work is to develop new biosourced insulating composites from rice husks and wood chips that can be used in the building sector. It appears from the properties of the precursors that rice chips and husks are materials which can have good thermal conductivity and therefore the combination of these precursors could make it possible to obtain panels with good insulating properties. With regard to environmental and climatic constraints, the composite panels formulated at various rates were tested and the physico-mechanical and thermal properties showed that it was essential to add a crosslinker in order to increase certain solicitation. an incorporation rate of 12% to 30% made it possible to obtain panels with low thermal conductivity, a low surface water absorption capacity and which gives the composite good thermal insulation and will find many applications in the construction and real estate sector. Finally, new solutions to improve the fire reaction of the insulation panels are tested which allows to identify suitable solutions for the developed composites. In view of the flame tests, the panels obtained are good and can effectively combat fire safety in public buildings.

Progress in Analytical Methods of Halogenated Disinfection By-Products

Ensuring the health and safety of drinking water is crucial for both nations and their citizens.Since the 20th century,the disinfection of drinking water,effectively controlling pathogens in water sources,has become one of the significant advances in public health.However,the disinfectants used in the process,such as chlorine and chlorine dioxide,react with natural organic matter in the water to produce disinfection by-products(DBPs).Most of these DBPs contain chlorine,and if the source water contains bromine or iodine,brominated or iodinated DBPs,collectively referred to as Halogenated disinfection byproducts(X-DBPs),are formed.Numerous studies have found that X-DBPs pose potential risks to human health and the environment,leading to widespread concern.Mass spectrometry has become an important means of discovering new types of X-DBPs.This paper focuses on the study of methods for analyzing X-DBPs in drinking water using mass spectrometry.

Analysis of The Effect of Comprehensive Nursing Intervention on Improving Blood Sugar Levels and Treatment Compliance in Elderly Patients with Diabetes

Objective: To analyze the effect of comprehensive nursing intervention on improving blood glucose levels and treatment compliance in elderly patients with diabetes. Methods: One hundred and forty-eight elderly patients with diabetes were selected and randomly divided into a control group and an observation group, with 74 cases each. The control group received routine nursing intervention and the observation group received comprehensive nursing intervention. The blood sugar levels, treatment compliance, and nursing satisfaction of the two groups of patients before and after intervention were compared. Results: After the intervention, the fasting plasma glucose (FPG) (t = 7.729), 2 hours postprandial glucose (PPG) (t = 8.343), and HbA1c (t = 6.929) levels of patients in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.001). The observation group (71/95.95%) had a higher compliance rate than the control group (54/72.97%) (χ^(2)=14.877, P < 0.001). The comprehensive nursing satisfaction rate of the observation group (73/98.65%) was higher than that of the control group (56/75.68%) (χ^(2)=17.451, P < 0.001). Conclusion: In caring for elderly patients with diabetes, comprehensive nursing intervention effectively reduced patients’ blood sugar levels and improved treatment compliance and nursing satisfaction.

Effects of water stress on quality and sugar metabolism in'Gala'apple fruit

Sugar plays an important role in apple fruit development,appearance and quality as well as contributing to a plant’s water stress response.Trehalose and the trehalose biosynthetic metabolic pathways are part of the sugar signaling system in plants,which are important regulator of water stress response in apple.The effect of water stress treatments applied to apple trees and the corresponding effects of ABA on developmental fruit quality were examined for indicators of fruit quality during fruit development.The results indicated that the severe water stress treatment(W2)occurring after the last stage of fruit cell division caused a decrease in the color and size of fruit.The moderate water stress(W1)occurring after the last stage of fruit cell enlargement(S2)caused an increase in the content of fructose and sorbitol while the apple fruit shape was not affected.These changes in sugar are related to the activity of sugar metabolic enzymes.While the enzymatic activity of vacuolar acid invertase(vAINV)was higher,that of sucrose-phosphate synthase(SPS)was lower in water stress treated fruit throughout the developmental period.This indicates that enhanced sucrose degradation and reduced sucrose synthesis leads to an overall reduced sucrose content during times of drought.Thus,water stress reduced sucrose content.Whereas the content of endogenous trehalose and ABA were the highest in water stress treated fruit.A moderate water stress(W1)imposed on apple trees via water restriction(60%–65%of field capacity)after the fruit cell enlargement phase of fruit development yielded sweeter fruit of higher economic value.

Vacuolar Phosphate Transporter1 (VPT1) may transport sugar in response to soluble sugar status of grape fruits

Vacuolar Phosphate Transporter1(VPT1)-mediated phosphate uptake in the vacuoles is essential to plant development and fruit ripening.Interestingly,here we find that the VPT1 may transport sugar in response to soluble sugar status of fruits.The VvVPT1 protein isolated from grape(Vitis vinifera)berrieswas tonoplast-localized and contains SPX(Syg1/Pho81/XPR1)and MFS(major facilitator superfamily)domains.Its mRNA expression was significantly increased during fruit ripening and induced by sucrose.Functional analyses based on transient transgenic systems in grape berry showed that VvVPT1 positively regulated berry ripening and significantly affected hexose contents,fruit firmness,and ripening-related gene expression.The VPT1 proteins(Grape VvVPT1,strawberry FaVPT1,and Arabidopsis AtVPT1)all showed low affinity for phosphate verified in yeast system,while they appear different in sugar transport capacity,consistent with fruit sugar status.Thus,our findings reveal a role for VPT1 in fruit ripening,associated to its SPX and MFS domains in direct transport of soluble sugar available into the vacuole,and open potential avenues for genetic improvement in fleshy fruit.

Potato tonoplast sugar transporter 1 controls tuber sugar accumulation during postharvest cold storage

Cold-induced sweetening(CIS),the undesirable sugar accumulation in cold-stored potato(Solanum tuberosum L.)tubers,is a severe postharvest issue in the potato processing industry.Although the process of sucrose hydrolysis by vacuolar invertase during potato CIS is well understood,there is limited knowledge about the transportation of sucrose from the cytosol to the vacuole during postharvest cold storage.Here,we report that among the three potato tonoplast sugar transporters(TSTs),StTST1 exhibits the highest expression in tubers during postharvest cold storage.Subcellular localization analysis demonstrates that StTST1 is a tonoplast-localized protein.StTST1 knockdown decreases reducing sugar accumulation in tubers during low-temperature storage.Compared to wild-type,potato chips produced from StTST1-silenced tubers displayed significantly lower acrylamide levels and lighter color after cold storage.Transcriptome analysis manifests that suppression of StTST1 promotes starch synthesis and inhibits starch degradation in cold-stored tubers.We further establish that the increased sucrose content in the StTST1-silenced tubers might cause a decrease in the ABA content,thereby inhibiting the ABA-signaling pathway.We demonstrate that the down-regulation ofβ-amylase StBAM1 in StTST1-silenced tubers might be directly controlled by ABA-responsive element-binding proteins(AREBs).Altogether,we have shown that StTST1 plays a critical role in sugar accumulation and starchmetabolism regulation during postharvest cold storage.Thus,our findings provide a newstrategy to improve the frying quality of cold-stored tubers and reduce the acrylamide content in potato chips.

Preparation and Characterization of Thermoplastic Starch from Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata) by Extrusion Method

Sugar palm(Arenga pinnata)starch is considered an important renewable,biodegradable,and eco-friendly polymer,which is derived from agricultural by-products and residues,with great potential for the development of biocomposite materials.This research was aimed at investigating the development of TPS biocomposites from A.pinnata palm starch using an extrusion process.Palm starch,glycerol,and stearic acid were extruded in a twin-screw extruder.Scanning electron microscopy(SEM)analysis of TPS showed that the starch granules were damaged and gelatinized in the extrusion process.The density of TPS was 1.3695 g/mL,lower than that of palm starch,and the addition of stearic acid resulted in increased TPS density.X-ray diffraction(XRD)results showed that palm starch had a C-type pattern crystalline structure.The tensile strength,elongation at break,and modulus of elasticity of TPS were 7.19 MPa,33.95%,and 0.56 GPa,respectively.The addition of stearic acid reduced the tensile strength,elongation at break and modulus of elasticity of TPS.The rheological properties,i.e.,melt flow rate(MFR)and viscosity of TPS,were 7.13 g/10 min and 2482.19 Pa.s,respectively.The presence of stearic acid in TPS resulted in increased MFR and decreased viscosity values.The peak gelatinization temperature of A.pinnata palm starch was 70°C,while Tg of TPS was 65°C.The addition of stearic acid reduced the Tg of TPS.The thermogravimetric analysis(TGA)analysis showed that the addition of glycerol and stearic acid decreased the thermal stability,but extended the temperature range of thermal degradation.TPS derived from A.pinnata palm starch by extrusion method has the potential to be applied in industrial practice as a promising raw material for manufacturing bio-based packaging as a sustainable and green alternative to petroleum-based plastics.

GrapevineXL reliably predicts multi-annual dynamics of vine water status, berry growth, and sugar accumulation in vineyards

Climate and water availability greatly affect each season’s grape yield and quality.Using models to accurately predict environment impacts on fruit productivity and quality is a huge challenge.We calibrated and validated the functional-structural model,GrapevineXL,with a data set including grapevine seasonal midday stem water potential(�xylem),berry dry weight(DW),fresh weight(FW),and sugar concentration per volume([Sugar])for a wine grape cultivar(Vitis vinifera cv.Cabernet Franc)in field conditions over 13 years in Bordeaux,France.Our results showed that the model could make a fair prediction of seasonal�xylem and good-to-excellent predictions of berry DW,FW,[Sugar]and leaf gas exchange responses to predawn and midday leaf water potentials under diverse environmental conditions with 14 key parameters.By running virtual experiments to mimic climate change,an advanced veraison(i.e.the onset of ripening)of 14 and 28 days led to significant decreases of berry FW by 2.70%and 3.22%,clear increases of berry[Sugar]by 2.90%and 4.29%,and shortened ripening duration in 8 out of 13 simulated years,respectively.Moreover,the impact of the advanced veraison varied with seasonal patterns of climate and soil water availability.Overall,the results showed that the GrapevineXL model can predict plant water use and berry growth in field conditions and could serve as a valuable tool for designing sustainable vineyard management strategies to cope with climate change.

The telomere-to-telomere gap-free reference genome of wild blueberry (Vaccinium duclouxii) provides its high soluble sugar and anthocyanin accumulation

Vaccinium duclouxii,endemic to southwestern China,is a berry-producing shrub or small tree belonging to the Ericaceae family,with high nutritive,medicinal,and ornamental value,abundant germplasm resources,and good edible properties.In addition,V.duclouxii exhibits strong tolerance to adverse environmental conditions,making it a promising candidate for research and offering wide-ranging possibilities for utilization.However,the lack of V.duclouxii genome sequence has hampered its development and utilization.Here,a high-quality telomere-to-telomere genome sequence of V.duclouxii was de novo assembled and annotated.All of 12 chromosomes were assembled into gap-free single contigs,providing the highest integrity and quality assembly reported so far for blueberry.The V.duclouxii genome is 573.67 Mb,which encodes 41953 protein-coding genes.Combining transcriptomics and metabolomics analyses,we have uncovered the molecular mechanisms involved in sugar and acid accumulation and anthocyanin biosynthesis in V.duclouxii.This provides essentialmolecular information for further research on the quality of V.duclouxii.Moreover,the high-quality telomere-to-telomere assembly of the V.duclouxii genome will provide insights into the genomic evolution of Vaccinium and support advancements in blueberry genetics and molecular breeding.

An Analysis of Health Factors Affecting Employees’ Absenteeism: Influences of HDL Cholesterol and Blood Sugar Levels

Background: Workers’ health condition is an important issue. It affects not only the well-being of workers but also the firms and society as a whole through medical costs and productivity losses due to absenteeism and presenteeism. Data and Methods: Data were obtained from 1136 employees at an operational site of a large corporation. The dataset contained both medical checkups and working record information. Health factors affecting long-term absence (over three days in three months) were analyzed. Logistic regression models and the procedure for selecting proper covariates based on likelihood test statistics and the Akaike information criterion were used. Results: Among health factors, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and blood sugar levels were important in the selected model. For HDL-C, the odds ratio (OR) based on one standard deviation difference was 0.75 with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.59 - 0.95. For blood sugar, the OR was 1.20 with a 95% CI of 1.01 - 1.42. Improving HDL-C and blood sugar levels would reduce long-term absence by 25% and 20%, respectively. Conclusion: Controlling HDL-C and blood sugar levels is important to reduce long-term absenteeism. These factors can be improved by modifying eating habits. Since the operational site has its own company cafeterias, which most employees use, nutritional intervention is relatively easy with little or no cost. It may be worthwhile to implement nutritional intervention, especially for patients with low HDL-C or high blood sugar levels. Limitations: The results of this study were based on one operational site of a corporation. The employees were mainly operators working inside the building. The results may be different from other types of jobs and working conditions, such as fieldwork. Analyses of different types of jobs and working conditions are necessary.

Identification and expression analysis of sugar transporter family genes reveal the role of ZmSTP2 and ZmSTP20 in maize disease resistance

Sugar is an indispensable source of energy for plant growth and development, and it requires the participation of sugar transporter proteins(STPs) for crossing the hydrophobic barrier in plants. Here, we systematically identified the genes encoding sugar transporters in the genome of maize(Zea mays L.), analyzed their expression patterns under different conditions, and determined their functions in disease resistance. The results showed that the mazie sugar transporter family contained 24 members, all of which were predicted to be distributed on the cell membrane and had a highly conserved transmembrane transport domain. The tissue-specific expression of the maize sugar transporter genes was analyzed, and the expression level of these genes was found to be significantly different in different tissues. The analysis of biotic and abiotic stress data showed that the expression levels of the sugar transporter genes changed significantly under different stress factors. The expression levels of Zm STP2 and Zm STP20 continued to increase following Fusarium graminearum infection. By performing disease resistance analysis of zmstp2 and zmstp20 mutants, we found that after inoculation with Cochliobolus carbonum, Setosphaeria turcica, Cochliobolus heterostrophus, and F. graminearum, the lesion area of the mutants was significantly higher than that of the wild-type B73 plant. In this study, the genes encoding sugar transporters in maize were systematically identified and analyzed at the whole genome level. The expression patterns of the sugar transporter-encoding genes in different tissues of maize and under biotic and abiotic stresses were revealed, which laid an important theoretical foundation for further elucidation of their functions.