Changes of starch and sucrose content and related gene expression during the growth and development of Lanzhou lily bulb

As the main forms of carbohydrates, starch and sucrose play a vital role in the balance and coordination of various carbohydrates. Lanzhou lily is the most popular edible lily in China, mainly distributed in the central region of Gansu. To clarify the relationship between carbohydrate metabolism and bulb development of Lanzhou lily, so as to provide a basis for the promotion of the growth and development in Lanzhou lily and its important economic value, we studied lily bulbs in the squaring stage, flowering stage, half withering stage and withering stage. The plant height, fresh weight of mother and daughter bulbs continued to increase during the whole growth period and fresh weight of stem and leaf began to decrease in the half withering stage. The content of starch, sucrose and total soluble sugar in the lily mother bulb accumulated mostly in the flowering, withering and half withering stages, respectively. Starch, sucrose and total soluble sugar accumulated in the daughter bulb with the highest concentration during the withering stage. In the transcription level, sucrose synthase (SuSy1) and sucrose invertase (INV2) expressed the highest in squaring stage, and the expression was significantly higher in the mother bulb than in the daughter bulb. In flowering stage, the expression levels of soluble starch synthase (SSS1), starch-branching enzyme (SBE) and adenosine diphosphate-glucose pyrophosphorylase (AGP1) genes were higher in the mother bulb than in the daughter bulb. Altogether, our results indicate that starch and sucrose are important for the bulb growth and development of Lanzhou lily.

Low Temperature Effect on Different Varieties of Corchorus capsularis and Corchorus olitorius at Seedling Stage

To address the demand for natural fibers, developing new varieties that are resistant to abiotic stress is necessary. The present study was designed to investigate the physiological and biochemical traits of three varieties of C. capularis (Y49, Y38, and Y1) and four varieties C. olitorius (T8, W57, M33, M18) under low temperature to identify the cold-tolerant varieties and elucidate the mechanisms involved in enhancing cold tolerance. Research findings revealed that the varieties Y49 and M33 exhibited the highest chlorophyll and carotenoid content. Biochemical profiles revealed that varieties Y49 and M33 were found to be able to withstand low-temperature stress by accumulating different enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants, such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT), ascorbate peroxidase (APx), glutathione (GSH), and phenolics, which participated in reducing the content of malondialdehyde (MDA) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) caused by low temperature. Osmolytes compounds, such as total soluble sugar, significantly increased in Y49 and M33; and proline content decreased in all varieties except Y49 and M33 after low-temperature exposure. The rise in these osmolytes molecules can be a defense mechanism for the jute’s osmotic readjustment to reduce the oxidative damage induced by low temperature. Furthermore, PCA and hierarchical cluster analysis distinguished the seven varieties into three separate groups. Results confirmed that group I (Y49 and M33 varieties) were low-temperature tolerant, group II (M18, W57) were intermediate, whereas III groups (Y38, T8, and Y1) were low temperature susceptible. PCA also explained 85.72% of the variance of raw data and clearly distinguished three groups that are similar to the cluster heat map. The study thus confirmed the tolerance of selected varieties that might be an efficient adaptation strategy and utilized them for establishing breeding programs for cold tolerance.

Total Soluble Sugar Quantification from Ethanolic Plant Extracts v1

Quantification of total soluble sugars (as glucose) in plant tissue extracts via the sulfuric phenol method adapted for 96 well plates.

Light Intensity Modulates the Accumulation of Carbohydrates, Antioxidant Enzymes and Production of Iceberg Lettuce under Tropical Conditions

High solar radiation in tropical regions can affect the development, physiology, and biochemistry of plants. Our aim with this research was to evaluate the biochemical responses and production of iceberg lettuce cultivars under environments with different shadings. An experiment under field conditions was installed in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme. Four cultivars of iceberg lettuce (Great Lakes, Winslow, Delicia, and Balsamo) and four environments with different shadings (three types of shading screens: red, ChromatiNet®, and black; and treatment under the full sun) were evaluated. Forty-five days after transplanting, the plants were harvested, and the biomass was weighed to obtain the fresh consumable part (FCP) and the biochemical parameters: total soluble sugar (TSS), reducing sugar (RS), and the activity of SOD, CAT, and POD. We found that shading modulates biochemical and productive responses of iceberg lettuce, and the main microclimatic factor related to these responses was solar radiation. We observed a negative correlation between RS and FCP. The solar radiation between 16 and 18 MJ·m−2·day−1, observed in the environments with a black screen and ChromatiNet®, promoted the highest activity of the SOD enzyme and average levels of TSS and RS, providing higher FCP of the cultivars Delícia and Balsamo in high temperatures period.

Early Sucrose Degradation and the Dominant Sucrose Cleavage Pattern Influence Lycoris sprengeri Bulblet Regeneration In Vitro

Bulblet formation and development determine the quantitative and qualitative traits, respectively, of bulb yield for most flowering bulbs. For Lycoris species, however, the underlying molecular mechanism remains elusive. Here, clonal bulblets of Lycoris sprengeri (Ls) derived from the same probulb were used as explants to establish efficient and inefficient in vitro regeneration systems by adjusting the 6-benzyladenine (BA) concentrations in media. BA application did not change the biological processes among groups but led to earlier decreases in sucrose and total soluble sugar (TSS) contents. Correlation analyses showed that the BA treatments changed the interaction between carbohydrate and endogenous hormone contents during bulblet regeneration. We found that two sucrose degradation enzyme-related genes, cell wall invertase (CWIN) and sucrose synthase, exhibited exactly opposite expression patterns during the competence stage. In addition, the regeneration system that obtained more bulblets showed significantly higher expression of LsCWIN2 than those that obtained fewer bulblets. Our data demonstrate the essential role of BA in accelerating sucrose degradation and the selection of a dominant sucrose cleavage pattern at the competence stage of in vitro bulblet regeneration. We propose that a relatively active CWIN-catalyzed pathway at the competence stage might promote bulblet regeneration, thus influencing bulb yield.

Different Drought-Tolerant Mechanisms in Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) and Djulis (Chenopodium formosanum Koidz.) Based on Physiological Analysis

The purpose of this experiment is to study the effects of treatment with 90% (28.5% volumetric water content (VWC)), 75% (24% VWC), 50% (16% VWC), and 25% (8% VWC) of water requirements on the growth of two djulis (Chenopodium formosana Koidz) varieties (red: RP and yellow: OR) and one quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) varieties (PI). The results showed that drought stress (8% VWC) significantly reduced plant growth and relative water content, and increased H2O2 and MDA content in C. formosana and C. quinoa. The most significant increase in these parameters was detected in the OR variety. The antioxidant enzymes, such as SOD, APX, and GR activities of PI variety under drought treatment (8% VWC), are significantly increased, while GR activity of C. formosana also increased significantly. Additionally, C. formosana and PI variety remained at a stable AsA/DHA ratio, but the GSH/GSSG ratio decreased during drought treatment. Moreover, drought stress increased total soluble sugars and proline content in the PI variety. However, C. formosana proline content was extremely significantly enhanced, and only the OR variety increased the total soluble sugar content at the same time during the vegetative growth period. In summary, C. formosana and C. quinoa have different drought tolerance mechanisms to adapt to being cultivated and produced under severe drought conditions.

Genomic Informed Breeding Strategies for Strawberry Yield and Fruit Quality Traits

Over the last two centuries, breeders have drastically modified the fruit quality of strawberries through artificial selection. However, there remains significant variation in quality across germplasm with scope for further improvements to be made. We reported extensive phenotyping of fruit quality and yield traits in a multi-parental strawberry population to allow genomic prediction and quantitative trait nucleotide (QTN) identification, thereby enabling the description of genetic architecture to inform the efficacy of implementing advanced breeding strategies. A negative relationship (r = −0.21) between total soluble sugar content and class one yield was identified, indicating a trade-off between these two essential traits. This result highlighted an established dilemma for strawberry breeders and a need to uncouple the relationship, particularly under June-bearing, protected production systems comparable to this study. A large effect of quantitative trait nucleotide was associated with perceived acidity and pH whereas multiple loci were associated with firmness. Therefore, we recommended the implementation of both marker assisted selection (MAS) and genomic prediction to capture the observed variation respectively. Furthermore, we identified a large effect locus associated with a 10% increase in the number of class one fruit and a further 10 QTN which, when combined, are associated with a 27% increase in the number of marketable strawberries. Ultimately, our results suggested that the best method to improve strawberry yield is through selecting parental lines based upon the number of marketable fruits produced per plant. Not only were strawberry number metrics less influenced by environmental fluctuations, but they had a larger additive genetic component when compared with mass traits. As such, selecting using “number” traits should lead to faster genetic gain.

Biochemical Stress Markers, Antioxidants, and Infectious Wound-Healing Potential of UV Irradiation and Salt Stress Effects on the Pre-Treated Seed of Bitter Melon (Momordica charantia L.)

Purpose The secondary metabolites in plants are the basis of defense and stress balance, which is an important aspect in plant growth. The UV-B treatment (a biotic stress) and salt stress on bitter melon ( Momordica charantia L.) were studied, and the impact of pre-sowing seed treatment was evaluated on the basis of biochemical and enzymatic biomarkers, antioxidants, and wound-healing potential during early growth stages. Methods The UV-B treatment for 5 and 10 min and salt stress 250 mM and 500 mM treatments were applied, and 21-day seedling tissue were collected for total phenolic contents (TPC), total flavonoid contents (TFC), antioxidant, chlorophyll contents, hydrogen peroxide, total soluble sugar, enzymes activities, and wound-healing potential studies. Results The TPC, TFC, diphenyl picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), chlorophyll contents, and total soluble sugar were recorded higher at 5 min treatment with UV-B and salt stress at 250 mM concentration. Antioxidant enzymes activities were recorded higher for 10 min UV-B treatment and 500 mM salt treatment. Wound-healing potential was found significant at 5 min treatment with UV-B radiation, which was studied in vivo in rabbits. The LC-MS analysis revealed a variety of phenolic compounds in the seedlings. Conclusion The study concluded that treatments significantly affect the biological activities of bitter melon seeds at the seedling stage, and the seeds contain important phenolic compounds responsible for its antioxidant potential and enzymatic activities. Future studies could be focused on the later stages of growth, development, and yield characteristics subjected to salt stress along with UV-B radiation treatment.

Modelling and optimization of drying rate and quality parameters of foam mat dried mango powder

A study on modeling and optimization of foam mat drying of ripe mango was carried out, three levels of whipping durations (5 min, 10 min and 15 min, three levels of Egg white albumen powder concentrations as foaming agent (6% (w/w), 12%(w/w) and 18% (w/w)), three levels of Xanthan gum concentration as foam stabilizing agent (0.02%, 0.04% and 0.06%)and three levels of air drying temperature (50°C, 60°C and 70 °C) as input parameters were used. Design Expert 6.06 version was used to design the experiment in order to get all possible combinations of durations and concentrations. After washing and deseeding all samples of fresh mango, the pulp was foamed using egg white powder and liquid as foaming agent, the was stabilized by using xantham gum at different concentrations. The foamed products were all dried at 50°C, 60°C and 70 °C respectively in an instrumented cabinet dryer. The following output parameters were modeled and optimized with Design Expert 6.0.6 version: drying rate, vitamin C, beta carotene, crude protein, crude fibre, fat content, ash content, moisture content, carbohydrate and total soluble sugar. Ten (10) model equations, one for each of the output parameters were developed, and checked for adequacy and validity. All developed model equations were found to present functional relationships between input and output parameters. Hence, all developed model equations can be used as reliable tools for estimating, predicting and conducting analysis of the process. Best optimized results were selected base on the one that is most desirable. One of the ways of explaining optimization is that, it is the process of getting the values of input parameters that will either maximize or minimize the output parameters, drying rate (maximized), vitamin C (maximized), beta carotene (maximized), crude protein (maximized), crude fibre (maximized), fat (maximized), ash content (maximized), moisture content (minimized), carbohydrate (maximized), total soluble sugar (maximized) and moisture ratio (minimized).

Regulation of curcuminoids, photosynthetic abilities, total soluble sugar, and rhizome yield traits in two cultivars of turmeric (Curcuma longa) using exogenous foliar paclobutrazol

Paclobutrazol (PBZ) is a member of plant growth retardants, commonly applied for growth regulation, yield improvement, and biotic and abiotic stress alleviation. However, the effects of PBZ on turmeric (Curcuma longa L.; Zingiberaceae), a rhizomatous herb, have not been well established. The objective of this investigation was to gain a better understanding of the effect of PBZ on two different varieties of turmeric plants, ‘Surat Thani’ (‘URT’; high curcuminoids >5% w/w) and ‘Pichit’ (‘PJT’; low curcuminoids <3% w/w). Pseudostem height of cv. ‘PJT’ treated by 340 µM PBZ was significantly decreased by 14.82% over control, whereas it was unchanged in cv. ‘URT’. Interestingly, leaf greenness (SPAD value), maximum quantum yield of PSII (Fv/Fm) and photon yield of PSII (ΦPSII) in cv. ‘PJT’ treated by 340 µM PBZ were significantly elevated by 1.47, 1.28 and 1.23 folds, over control respectively. Net photosynthetic rate (Pn) in cv. ‘PJT’ declined by 38.58% (340 µM PBZ) over control, as a result of low levels of total soluble sugars (TSS; 127.8 mg g-1 DW) in turmeric rhizome. A positive relation between photosynthetic abilities and aerial fresh weight was demonstrated. In addition, a negative relationship between TSS and total curcuminoids was evidently found (R2 = 0.4524). Curcuminoids yield in turmeric rhizomes significantly dropped, depending on the degree of exogenous foliar PBZ applications. In summary, cv. PJT was found to be very sensitive to PBZ application, whereas rhizome yield and growth traits and high amount of curcuminoids were retained in cv. ‘URT’. Plant growth retention in turmeric cv. ‘URT’ using 170 mM PBZ foliar spray without negative effects on rhizome biomass and total curcuminoids content was demonstrated.