Isolation and Characterization of a Cinnamoyl CoA Reductase Gene(CCR) in Pear(Pyrus pyrifolia)

Pear is a popular and commercially important fresh fruit, and its texture is related to the presence of sclereid formatted by parenchyma cell with lignification in vascular plants. Previous studies have demonstrated that content of lignin may be regulated by cinnamoyl CoA reductase(CCR) in various plants. However, the function of CCR in pears remains very limited. In the present study, we isolated a cDNA encoding CCR(PpCCR, GenBank accession No. KF999958) and its promoter(proPpCCR) from Whangkeumbae pear to investigate the function of CCR in lignin biosynthesis. PpCCR-GFP expressed in rice mesophyll protoplast demonstrated that PpCCR-GFP was localized in the cytoplasm, indicating that CCR may function in cytoplasm without localization signals. In transgenic plants carrying PpCCR, we observed higher lignin content compared with that in wild type plants, further suggesting that PpCCR can affect the lignin contents through regulating lignin biosynthesis in Arabidopsis thaliana. More studies in other plants are needed to confirm our conclusion.

Reannotation of the cultivated strawberry genome and establishment of a strawberry genome database

Cultivated strawberry(Fragaria×ananassa)is an important fruit crop species whose fruits are enjoyed by many worldwide.An octoploid of hybrid origin,the complex genome of this species was recently sequenced,serving as a key reference genome for cultivated strawberry and related species of the Rosaceae family.The current annotation of the F.ananassa genome mainly relies on ab initio predictions and,to a lesser extent,transcriptome data.Here,we present the structure and functional reannotation of the F.ananassa genome based on one PacBio full-length RNA library and ninety-two Illumina RNA-Seq libraries.This improved annotation of the F.ananassa genome,v1.0.a2,comprises a total of 108,447 gene models,with 97.85%complete BUSCOs.The models of 19,174 genes were modified,360 new genes were identified,and 11,044 genes were found to have alternatively spliced isoforms.Additionally,we constructed a strawberry genome database(SGD)for strawberry gene homolog searching and annotation downloading.Finally,the transcriptome of the receptacles and achenes of F.ananassa at four developmental stages were reanalyzed and qualified,and the expression profiles of all the genes in this annotation are also provided.Together,this study provides an updated annotation of the F.ananassa genome,which will facilitate genomic analyses across the Rosaceae family and gene functional studies in cultivated strawberry.

Mycoflora and Mycotoxicological Quality of Four Freshly Harvested Paddy Rice Cultivars and Relation with Harvest to Industry Reception Timing

Grain quality and safety of four freshly harvested paddy rice （Oryza sativa L.） cultivars （Epagri 109, SCS 114 Andosan, Tio Taka 113 and Epagri 115 CL） grown under irrigation system in the north of Santa Catarina State, Brazil were studied. The quality parameters evaluated were mycoflora, mycotoxins （aflatoxins, ochratoxin A and zearalenone）, water distribution （moisture content and water activity） apart from environmental conditions （relative humidity and temperature） and the relation between harvest and the industry reception timing. All cultivars presented an average waiting time of 8.6 h （ranged from 0.3 to 24.9 h）, a total fungi load of 8.6x104 cfu/mL （ranged from 1.8x103 to 9.4x105 cfu/mL） with a rather high humidity condition of 19.0% moisture content （varied from 14.9% to 24.5%） and 0.92 water activity （varied from 0.78 to 0.99） under the average environmental conditions of 87.3% relative humidity （varied from 80.0% to 96.8%） and 25.4 ~C （varied from 22.5 to 27.5 ~C）, respectively. The conditions to which the samples were submitted allowed fungal growth, but no mycotoxins were detected. Regarding the rice cultivars fungal genera isolated, Aspergillus and Penicillium were the most often isolated among all the cultivars and variation on fungi distribution among them was not observed. Moreover, it was not found a correlation of the grain loading ＆ unloading time with the humidity conditions and the total fungi load. Furthermore, all results and the importance of monitoring the rice mycotoxicological quality and safety were discussed.

Investigation on Species of Spiders in Tea Plantations in Enshi Region of China

The spider resources in tea plantations in Enshi region have been investigated and 51 species of spiders belonging to 22 families have been identified in the paper. The dominant species are clarified and their directory and distribution status are also listed in the paper.

Coating with Different Doses of Fertilizer in <i>Vinhático</i>Seeds

Plathymenia reticulate Benth belongs to the family Fabaceae. It has its own hardwood for luxury furniture, and it is also used in construction. The coating consists in applying thin and uniform layers of inert adhesive mechanism in order to increase the seed size, altering his shape, texture and color, in addition to enabling common use of nutrients, fungicides, insecticides and microorganisms beneficial. The goal of this study was to evaluate the physical and physiological seed’s quality of mahogany coated with different doses of fertilizer. The treatments were: T1: sand + lime;T2: sand + lime + 25 g of fertilizer;T3: sand + lime + 50 g of fertilizer;T4: sand + lime + 75 g of fertilizer;T5: sand + lime + 100 g of fertilizer, and control with uncoated seeds. Later, the seeds were evaluated in laboratory and greenhouse. The coating increased up to 91% weight of one thousand seeds without the treatment coated fertilizer. The presence of nutrient seed coating decreases his germination. The doses of fertilizer used were harmful to germination, IVG, emergency and IVE, but did not affect seedlings development.

Influence of High Dilutions of Cina for the Control of Meloidogyne incognita in Tomato Plants

Considering the importance of the tomato crop and the high costs for controlling Meloidogyne incognita with resistant cultivar or nematicides, it is necessary for the search of new alternatives to manage the root-knot disease. The homeopathy may be an alternative way of control, by inducing plant resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of the homeopathic product Cina at dynamizations 12, 24, 50, 100, 200, and 400 CH (centesimal hahnemanian dilutions) on the number of root galls, eggs and second-stage juveniles (J2) present in the roots of tomato and soil, as well on the growth of tomato plants. The Cina demonstrated effectiveness in stimulating root development, once the results of root volume were higher in homeopathic treatments than those in the control. Cina 100 CH also favored the growth of the stalk diameter of the plants. However, the homeopathic product showed no nematostatic nor nematicide effects. The potentized Cina is capable to induce tomato growth besides the presence of M. incognita infecting the roots, with no nematotoxic effects.

Hygroscopic Behavior of Lyophilized Powder of Grugru Palm (<i>Acrocomia aculeata</i>)

The objective of this study was to determine adsorption isotherms and hygroscopic behavior of lyophilized powder from grugru palm. The powders of grugru palm were obtained by lyophilization process without maltodextrin (T1) and with 8% matodextrin (T2). The experimental data were obtained through the static gravimetric method at temperatures (25℃, 30℃, 35℃ and 40℃), with different saturated solutions of salts. The models of GAB, BET, Henderson and Oswin were fitted to experimental data. The values obtained for hygroscopicity were 7.68% and 6.86% and the degrees of caking were 0.33% and 0.09% for T1 and T2, respectively. Mathematical models of adsorption isotherms for grugru palm powders can be classified as Type III. The GAB and Oswin models represented better the behavior of isotherms for T1 and T2. Grugru palm powder showed an increase in the humidity of the monolayer Xm along with increasing temperature. The grugru palm powder demonstrated to be a non-hygroscopic product, non-caking features.

A ConA-like lectin isolated from <i>Canavalia maritima</i>seeds alters the expression of genes related to virulence and biofilm formation in <i>Streptococcus mutans</i>

Bacteria form biofilms as an adaptive mechanism in response to environmental changes. Streptococcus mutans is the biofilm-forming bacterium that is primarily associated with dental caries. The expression of important genes by bacteria in biofilms is different from that of planktonic cells. Lectins are proteins that bind specifically to carbohydrates and may have important biological activities on bacterial cells, acting as antibacterial and anti-biofilm agents. ConM (Canavalia maritima lectin) is a protein that is able to inhibit the planktonic growth and biofilm formation of S. mutans. In this context, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of ConM and concanavalin A (ConA) on the expression of genes related to virulence and biofilm formation in S. mutans. The results showed that ConM significantly reduced the expression of genes encoding enzymes related to adhesion, formation and regulation of biofilms. On the contrary, ConA did not alter the expression of the genes studied. Because the two lectins have a high degree of similarity, the differences in the actions of ConM and ConA may be explained by the small structural differences in the carbohydrate recognition domain of the lectins.

Emergence of Conilon Coffee Seedlings Originating from Seeds Treated with a Sodium Hypochlorite Solution

The coffee seeds are problematic for the physiologycal quality, featuring low speed of seedling emergence. In this sense, this work was developed with the objective of evaluating the effect of sodium hypochlorite in the removal of the parchment and in the emergence and seedlings development of conilon coffee in nursery conditions. Coffee seeds of the variety Victoria were used, which were harvested in the cherry stage and pulped by hand. Seeds were dried in an oven with forced ventilation until reaching moisture contents of 35%, 30% and 25% wet basis. Then, the seeds with parchment were soaked in a sodium hypochlorite solution with concentrations of 4%, 5%, 6% and 7% active chlorine for 3 and 6 hours. For each moisture content, two additional treatments were added consisting of seeds with parchment and seeds in which the structure was removed manually. The characteristics evaluated were: emergence speed index, total emergence, dry mass of the shoots and root system. Utilization of sodium hypochlorite promoted an acceleration in seedling emergence speed similar to the method for manual removal of the parchment when using concentrations of 4%, 5%, 6% and 7% for 3 hours, at all moisture contents.

不同品种番茄拉秧后未熟果实的成熟动态变化研究

当番茄作物拉秧结束时,大约有10%～15%的潜在产量是未熟果。本试验研究了未成熟收获果实成熟期间的动态变化,提出了一种简单、低成本的熟化方法。结果表明在20～25℃的贮藏温度下,无论经绿熟期、突变期或转色期的番茄果实均可完全成熟,有限生长品种的未熟变化较无限生长品种快,耐贮番茄较普通番茄完全成熟需要更多的时间。

Improving maize grain yield by formulating plant growth regulator strategies in North China

Plant growth regulators(PGRs) are artificially synthesized compounds that have become an important technical guarantee for agricultural production. EDAH(containing 27% ethephon and 3% DA-6) has been proven to inhibit stalk elongation, promote stalk bold and increase mechanical strength and number of vascular bundles. DA-6 could enhance plant photosynthetic capacity and promote cell division and growth. In our study, experiments were performed at summer maize growing season during 2018–2019. The result showed that plant height, ear height and center of gravity height of maize with EDAH+DA-6 treatment were decreased by 10.18, 16.77 and 13.21%, respectively;leaf area and leaf area index also significantly(P<0.001) decreased by 24.11 and 60.15%, respectively;the value of mean tilt angle significantly(P<0.001) increased by 16.72% compared with the control plants, which meant that EDAH+DA-6 could shape more compact plant type. Therefore, lodging rate of maize with EDAH+DA-6 treatment decreased by 6.95% compared with control plants, and the grain yield was increased by 15.51%. In addition, EDAH+DA-6 treatment significantly improved the quality of maize base stalks, such as improving mechanical properties, which increased maize base stalk crushing strength by 22.23%;increased the hemicellulose, cellulose and lignin contents by 6.93, 3.87 and 30.21%, respectively. In conclusion, EDAH+DA-6 treatment could improve summer maize yield by shaping plant morphological characteristics and group photosynthesis.

Filtering cylindrical–conical hydrocyclone

Hydrocyclones have versatile applications in various industrial processes.They functionn on the principle of centrifugal separation to remove a dispersed phase(particles or drops)from a continuous phase(fluid).In unconventional filtering hydrocyclones,the separation efficiency and energy costs have been improved by combining filtration with centrifugal separation.This work investigated experimentally the effect of incorporating a cylinder and a porous cone in a conventional hydrocyclone.It also evaluated the effects of the main geometric dimensions of the separator on the hydrocyclone performance.A differential-evolution algorithm was applied to optimize the hydrocyclone performance,which was represented as the maximum total efficiency and minimum Euler number.The experimental results validated the optimization results and showed that hydrocyclones with optimized geometries exhibited higher total efficiencies(89.59%)and lower Euler numbers(582)than hydrocyclones with other experimental configurations.