The production of bacterial cellulose in Gluconacetobacter xylinus regulated by luxR overexpression of quorum sensing system.

Quorum sensing is a mechanism that facilitates cell-to-cell communication. Through signal molecular density for signal recognition, which leads to the regulation of some physiological and biochemical functions. Gluconacetobacter xylinus CGMCC 2955, which produces bacterial cellulose (BC), synthesizes the LuxR protein belonging to the LuxI/LuxR type QS system. Here, a luxR overexpression vector was transformed into G. xylinus CGMCC 2955. The overexpression of luxR increased the yield of BC by 15.6% after 16 days static culture and reduced the cell density by 15.5% after 120-h-agitated culture. The glucose was used up by G. xylinus-pMV24-luxR at 72-h-agitated fermentation, which 12 h earlier than the wild-type (WT). The total N-acylhomoserine lactones (AHL) content of the luxR-overexpressing strain and the WT strain attained 1367.9 ± 57.86 mg/L and 842.9 ± 54.22 mg/L, respectively. The C12-HSL and C14-HSL contents of G. xylinus-pMV24-luxR were 202 ± 21.66 mg/L and 409.6 ± 0.91 mg/L, which were significantly lower than that of WT. In contrast, C6-HSL showed opposite results. The difference of AHL content proved that overexpression of luxR improved the binding of AHL and showed preference for some specific AHL. The metabolic results demonstrated that upon glucose exhaustion, the consumption of gluconic acid was promoted by luxR overexpression, and the content of D- ( +)-trehalose, an antiretrograde metabolite, increased significantly. KEY POINTS: • The overexpression of luxR increased the yield of bacterial cellulose • The content of signal molecules was significantly different • Differential metabolites were involved in multiple metabolic pathways.

Research progress of plant cytogenetics in Jiangsu province.

Cytogenetics was established based on the "Chromosome theory of inheritance", proposed by Boveri and Sutton and evidenced by Morgan's lab in early stage of the 20 th centrary. With rapid development of related research areas, especially molecular genetics, cytogenetics developed from traditional into a new era, molecular cytogenetics in late 1960s. Featured by an established technique named DNA in situ hybridization (ISH), molecular cytogenetics has been applied in various research areas. ISH provids vivid and straightforward figures showing the virtual presence of DNA, RNA or proteins. In combination with genomics and cell biology tools, ISH and derived techniques have been widely used in studies of the origin, evolution, domestication of human, animal and plant, as well as wide hybridization and chromosome engineering. The physical location and order of DNA sequences revealed by ISH enables the detection of chromosomal re-arrangments among related species and gaps of assembled genome sequences. In addition, ISH using RNA or protein probes can reveal the location and quantification of transcripted RNA or translated protein. Since the 1970s, scientists from universities or institutes belonging to the Jiangsu Society of Genetics have initiated cytogenetics researches using various plant species. In recent years, research platforms for molecular cytogenetics have also been well established in Nanjing Agricultural University, Yangzhou University, Nanjing Forestry University, Jiangsu Xuhuai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, and Jiangsu Normal University. The application of molecular cytogenetics in plant evolution, wide hybridization, chromosome engineering, chromosome biology, genomics has been successful. Significant progresses have been achieved, both in basic and applied researches. In this paper, we will review main research progresses of plant cytogenetics in Jiangsu province, and discuss the potential development of this research area.

Factors Influencing Administration, Recognition, and Compliance of Medicine among Community Residents from Jilin Province, China: A Questionnaire Study.

INTRODUCTION: To identify and analyze factors that influence administration, recognition, and compliance of medicine among community residents in Jilin Province, China. METHODS: A survey was carried out among 2417 community residents in Jilin Province, China, to study their administration (CRA), recognition (CRR), and compliance (CRC) of medicine. Multivariate logistic regression analyses and chi-squared tests were performed to assess factors influencing CRA, CRR, and CRC. RESULTS: Logistic analyses showed that gender, educational level, and occupation were influencing factors on CRA; age, educational level, smoking status, and health condition were influencing factors on CRR; and gender, age, occupation, and health condition were influencing factors on CRC. CONCLUSIONS: CRA, CRR, and CRC are associated with specific lifestyles and social economic statuses of community residents. Attention should be paid to influencing factors in order to facilitate community pharmaceutical care, promote the rational use of drugs, and ensure the safe use of medications. This study explores the type and extent of professional services provided through community pharmacies in Jilin Province, China, and provides evidence for optimizing the quality of community pharmacy services.

The miR319-Targeted GhTCP4 Promotes the Transition from Cell Elongation to Wall Thickening in Cotton Fiber.

Plant cell growth involves a complex interplay among cell-wall expansion, biosynthesis, and, in specific tissues, secondary cell wall (SCW) deposition, yet the coordination of these processes remains elusive. Cotton fiber cells are developmentally synchronous, highly elongated, and contain nearly pure cellulose when mature. Here, we report that the transcription factor GhTCP4 plays an important role in balancing cotton fiber cell elongation and wall synthesis. During fiber development the expression of miR319 declines while GhTCP4 transcript levels increase, with high levels of the latter promoting SCW deposition. GhTCP4 interacts with a homeobox-containing factor, GhHOX3, and repressing its transcriptional activity. GhTCP4 and GhHOX3 function antagonistically to regulate cell elongation, thereby establishing temporal control of fiber cell transition to the SCW stage. We found that overexpression of GhTCP4A upregulated and accelerated activation of the SCW biosynthetic pathway in fiber cells, as revealed by transcriptome and promoter activity analyses, resulting in shorter fibers with varied lengths and thicker walls. In contrast, GhTCP4 downregulation led to slightly longer fibers and thinner cell walls. The GhHOX3-GhTCP4 complex may represent a general mechanism of cellular development in plants since both are conserved factors in many species, thus providing us a potential molecular tool for the design of fiber traits.

Functional diversifications of GhERF1 duplicate genes after the formation of allotetraploid cotton.

Whole genome duplication, a prevalent force of evolution in plants, results in massive genome restructuring in different organisms. Roles of the resultant duplicated genes are poorly understood, both functionally and evolutionarily. In the present study, differentially expressed ethylene responsive factors (GhERF1s), anchored on Chr-A07 and Chr-D07, were isolated from a high-yielding cotton hybrid (XZM2) and its parents. The GhERF1 was located in the B3 subgroup of the ethylene responsive factors subfamily involved in conferring tolerance to abiotic stress. Nucleotide sequence analysis of 524 diverse accessions, together with quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis, elucidated that de-functionalization of GhERF1-7A occurred due to one base insertion following formation of the allotetraploid cotton. Our quantitative trait loci and association mapping analyses highlighted a role for GhERF1-7A in conferring high boll number per plant in modern cotton cultivars. Overexpression of GhERF1-7A in transgenic Arabidopsis resulted in a substantial increase in the number of siliques and total seed yield. Neo-functionalization of GhERF1-7A was also observed in modern cultivars rather than in races and/or landraces, further supporting its role in the development of high-yielding cotton cultivars. Both de- and neo-functionalization occurred in one of the duplicate genes, thus providing new genomic insight into the evolution of allotetraploid cotton species.

Characterization of gossypol biosynthetic pathway.

Gossypol and related sesquiterpene aldehydes in cotton function as defense compounds but are antinutritional in cottonseed products. By transcriptome comparison and coexpression analyses, we identified 146 candidates linked to gossypol biosynthesis. Analysis of metabolites accumulated in plants subjected to virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS) led to the identification of four enzymes and their supposed substrates. In vitro enzymatic assay and reconstitution in tobacco leaves elucidated a series of oxidative reactions of the gossypol biosynthesis pathway. The four functionally characterized enzymes, together with (+)-δ-cadinene synthase and the P450 involved in 7-hydroxy-(+)-δ-cadinene formation, convert farnesyl diphosphate (FPP) to hemigossypol, with two gaps left that each involves aromatization. Of six intermediates identified from the VIGS-treated leaves, 8-hydroxy-7-keto-δ-cadinene exerted a deleterious effect in dampening plant disease resistance if accumulated. Notably, CYP71BE79, the enzyme responsible for converting this phytotoxic intermediate, exhibited the highest catalytic activity among the five enzymes of the pathway assayed. In addition, despite their dispersed distribution in the cotton genome, all of the enzyme genes identified show a tight correlation of expression. Our data suggest that the enzymatic steps in the gossypol pathway are highly coordinated to ensure efficient substrate conversion.

Core cis-element variation confers subgenome-biased expression of a transcription factor that functions in cotton fiber elongation.

Cotton cultivars have evolved to produce extensive, long, seed-born fibers important for the textile industry, but we know little about the molecular mechanism underlying spinnable fiber formation. Here, we report how PACLOBUTRAZOL RESISTANCE 1 (PRE1) in cotton, which encodes a basic helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcription factor, is a target gene of spinnable fiber evolution. Differential expression of homoeologous genes in polyploids is thought to be important to plant adaptation and novel phenotypes. PRE1 expression is specific to cotton fiber cells, upregulated during their rapid elongation stage and A-homoeologous biased in allotetraploid cultivars. Transgenic studies demonstrated that PRE1 is a positive regulator of fiber elongation. We determined that the natural variation of the canonical TATA-box, a regulatory element commonly found in many eukaryotic core promoters, is necessary for subgenome-biased PRE1 expression, representing a mechanism underlying the selection of homoeologous genes. Thus, variations in the promoter of the cell elongation regulator gene PRE1 have contributed to spinnable fiber formation in cotton. Overexpression of GhPRE1 in transgenic cotton yields longer fibers with improved quality parameters, indicating that this bHLH gene is useful for improving cotton fiber quality.

Mapping of fiber quality QTLs reveals useful variation and footprints of cotton domestication using introgression lines.

Fiber quality improvement is a driving force for further cotton domestication and breeding. Here, QTLs for fiber quality were mapped in 115 introgression lines (ILs) first developed from two intraspecific populations of cultivated and feral cotton landraces. A total of 60 QTLs were found, which explained 2.03-16.85% of the phenotypic variance found in fiber quality traits. A total of 36 markers were associated with five fiber traits, 33 of which were found to be associated with QTLs in multiple environments. In addition, nine pairs of common QTLs were identified; namely, one pair of QTLs for fiber elongation, three pairs for fiber length, three pairs for fiber strength and two pairs for micronaire (qMICs). All common QTLs had additive effects in the same direction in both IL populations. We also found five QTL clusters, allowing cotton breeders to focus their efforts on regions of QTLs with the highest percentages of phenotypic variance. Our results also reveal footprints of domestication; for example, fourteen QTLs with positive effects were found to have remained in modern cultivars during domestication, and two negative qMICs that had never been reported before were found, suggesting that the qMICs regions may be eliminated during artificial selection.

EcoTILLING revealed SNPs in GhSus genes that are associated with fiber- and seed-related traits in upland cotton.

Cotton is the most important textile crop in the world due to its cellulose-enriched fibers. Sucrose synthase genes (Sus) play pivotal roles in cotton fiber and seed development. To mine and pyramid more favorable alleles for cotton molecular breeding, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of GhSus family genes were investigated across 277 upland cotton accessions by EcoTILLING. As a result, a total of 24 SNPs in the amplified regions of eight GhSus genes were identified. These SNPs were significantly associated with at least one fiber- or seed-related trait measured in Nanjing, Anyang and Kuche in 2007-2009. Four main-effect quantitative trait nucleotides (QTNs) and five epistatic QTNs, with 0.76-3.56% of phenotypic variances explained by each QTN (PVE), were found to be associated with yield-related traits; six epistatic QTNs, with the 0.43-3.48% PVE, were found to be associated with fiber quality-related traits; and one main-effect QTN and one epistatic QTN, with the PVE of 1.96% and 2.53%, were found to be associated with seed oil content and protein content, respectively. Therefore, this study provides new information for molecular breeding in cotton.

Angiotensin-converting enzyme insertion/deletion polymorphism and susceptibility to allergic rhinitis in Chinese populations: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

In view of the controversies surrounding the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-allergic rhinitis (AR) association, a systematic review and meta-analysis of the ACE genetic association studies of AR was performed in Chinese populations. PubMed, Springer Link, OvidSP, Chinese biomedical database, Chinese national knowledge infrastructure, Chinese VIP and Wanfang databases were searched for related studies. A total of 4 studies including 415 AR patients and 309 controls were involved in this meta-analysis. Overall, significant association was found between ACE I/D polymorphism and AR risk when all studies in Chinese populations pooled into the meta-analysis (allele, OR 1.50, 95 % CI 1.19-1.90; homozygous, OR 2.59, 95 % CI 1.52-4.41, recessive, OR 2.05, 95 % CI 1.27-3.32). In the subgroup analysis by ethnicity, ACE I/D polymorphism was associated with significant elevated risks of AR in Chinese Han under homozygous and recessive models (homozygous, OR 4.36, 95 % CI 1.76-10.82, recessive, OR 2.51, 95 % CI 1.18-5.34). In conclusion, this meta-analysis provides the evidence that ACE I/D polymorphism may contribute to the AR development in Chinese populations and studies with large sample size and wider spectrum of population are warranted to verify this finding.

Gossypium barbadense genome sequence provides insight into the evolution of extra-long staple fiber and specialized metabolites.

Of the two cultivated species of allopolyploid cotton, Gossypium barbadense produces extra-long fibers for the production of superior textiles. We sequenced its genome (AD)2 and performed a comparative analysis. We identified three bursts of retrotransposons from 20 million years ago (Mya) and a genome-wide uneven pseudogenization peak at 11-20 Mya, which likely contributed to genomic divergences. Among the 2,483 genes preferentially expressed in fiber, a cell elongation regulator, PRE1, is strikingly At biased and fiber specific, echoing the A-genome origin of spinnable fiber. The expansion of the PRE members implies a genetic factor that underlies fiber elongation. Mature cotton fiber consists of nearly pure cellulose. G. barbadense and G. hirsutum contain 29 and 30 cellulose synthase (CesA) genes, respectively; whereas most of these genes (>25) are expressed in fiber, genes for secondary cell wall biosynthesis exhibited a delayed and higher degree of up-regulation in G. barbadense compared with G. hirsutum, conferring an extended elongation stage and highly active secondary wall deposition during extra-long fiber development. The rapid diversification of sesquiterpene synthase genes in the gossypol pathway exemplifies the chemical diversity of lineage-specific secondary metabolites. The G. barbadense genome advances our understanding of allopolyploidy, which will help improve cotton fiber quality.

Effect of laminin-binding BDNF on induction of recurrent laryngeal nerve regeneration by miR-222 activation of mTOR signal pathway.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Recurrent laryngeal nerve injury is a common severe complication in neck surgery, which can cause varying degrees of vocal fold paralysis and respiratory tract problems. In present study, the effects of laminin-binding brain derived neurotrophic factor (LBD-BDNF) on recurrent laryngeal nerve regeneration were explored and its possible mechanism was investigated. METHODS: LBD-BDNF or NAT-BDNF (BDNF without LBD binding) treatment was performed in laryngeal nerve injured rabbits for sixteen weeks. The laryngeal nerve was removed, and histological examination as well as laryngeal electromyography was employed to evaluate its morphology and function of conduction. PC12 cells were cultured to investigate the mechanisms underlying the effects of LBD-BDNF. Neurite outgrowth, proliferation and migration were determined in nerve cells. The expression of miRNAs and protein of mTOR was quantified by real-time PCR and western blotting respectively. RESULTS: In vivo experiments, LBD-BDNF significantly improved the histological structure and function of recurrent laryngeal nerve compared with NAT-BDNF. LBD-BDNF also markedly promoted neurite outgrowth, proliferation and migration in PC12 cells in vitro experiments. The levels of miR-222 and p-mTOR were up-regulated by LBD-BDNF treatment in both in vivo and in vitro experiments. miR-222 inhibitor attenuated the expression of phosphorylated mTOR and miR-222 mimic enhanced its expression in PC12 cells. In addition, the improved nerve conduction by LBD-BDNF was canceled by miR-222 inhibitor, and the mTOR inhibitor reversed the effects of miR-222 inhibitor on LBD-BDNF treated cells. CONCLUSIONS: The present study revealed that LBD-BDNF promoted the recurrent laryngeal nerve regeneration in laryngeal nerve injured rabbits. The underlying mechanism was closely related to activation of p-mTOR by miR-222.

ABCG2 regulated by MAPK pathways is associated with cancer progression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

ATP-binding cassette, subfamily G, member 2 (ABCG2) overexpression has been associated with multidrug resistance and cancer progression by promoting proliferation and/or suppressing apoptosis, but how this process happens remains to be determined. In this study, the roles and the mechanisms of ABCG2 in the progression of Laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) were investigated. We found that introduction of ABCG2 siRNA into Hep-2 and Hep-2T cells significantly enhanced the intracellular accumulation of mitoxantrone (MX). Down-regulation of ABCG2 by transient RNAi inhibited cell proliferation and blocked cell cycle progression by regulating the expression of cyclin D3 and p21 Cip1. ABCG2 silence also induced cell apoptosis by regulating the expression of surviving, bcl-2 and the cleavage of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) in Hep-2 and Hep-2T cells. ABCG2-specific inhibitor, fumitremorgin C (FTC), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway inhibitor, U0126, inhibited cell proliferation and promoted cell apoptosis by degrading endogenous ABCG2 in Hep-2T cells. Furthermore, inhibition of MAPK pathway by U0126 enhanced anti-cancer effects of MX in vivo. In conclusion, suppression of ABCG2 inhibits the procession of LSCC tumor growth by regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis. Our data also provide more evidence for the importance of the MAPK pathway as a suitable therapeutic target for LSCC.

Control of cotton fibre elongation by a homeodomain transcription factor GhHOX3.

Cotton fibres are unusually long, single-celled epidermal seed trichomes and a model for plant cell growth, but little is known about the regulation of fibre cell elongation. Here we report that a homeodomain-leucine zipper (HD-ZIP) transcription factor, GhHOX3, controls cotton fibre elongation. GhHOX3 genes are localized to the 12th homoeologous chromosome set of allotetraploid cotton cultivars, associated with quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for fibre length. Silencing of GhHOX3 greatly reduces (>80%) fibre length, whereas its overexpression leads to longer fibre. Combined transcriptomic and biochemical analyses identify target genes of GhHOX3 that also contain the L1-box cis-element, including two cell wall loosening protein genes GhRDL1 and GhEXPA1. GhHOX3 interacts with GhHD1, another homeodomain protein, resulting in enhanced transcriptional activity, and with cotton DELLA, GhSLR1, repressor of the growth hormone gibberellin (GA). GhSLR1 interferes with the GhHOX3-GhHD1 interaction and represses target gene transcription. Our results uncover a novel mechanism whereby a homeodomain protein transduces GA signal to promote fibre cell elongation.

[Repairing of palatum durum defects following maxillectomy using nasal septum tissue flap].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the effect of repairing of palatum durum defects following maxillectomy using nasal septum tissue flap. METHODS: Twenty-six patients underwent maxillectomy and the defects were repaired by using full (16 cases) and partial (10 cases) nasal septum tissue flaps. RESULTS: Twenty-one patients were healed by first intention, recovering swallowing and pronunciation function. Five patients suffered from fistula holes, and 2 healed after dressing while 2 of the other 3 patients healed after second suturing with 1 still got a small fistula hole. Facial deformity include 4 exterior cheek mild concave and 6 complained about unsuited false teeth and no dorsal subsidence was found. The 3, 5, 10 year survival rate was 46.2%, 30.8% and 11.5% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Repairing defects with nasal septum tissue flap has advantages. Nasal septum can not be invaded easily, and the material can be got with ease, with rich blood supply, being resistant to infection, easy to heal and less chance of leading to fistula holes. With the cartilage of nasal septum as support, facial deformity can be reduced. And the method is worth spreading and exploiting.

Simultaneous identification and quantification of canrenone and 11-α-hydroxy-canrenone by LC-MS and HPLC-UVD.

A procedure for simultaneous identification and quantification of canrenone and its biotransformed product 11-α-hydroxy-canrenone by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UVD) and mass spectrometry (LC-MS) methods was proposed. The optimal determination variables on the HPLC-UVD or LC-MS coupled with a ZORBAX Eclipse XDB-C18 column (150 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm) were set as follows: detection wavelength of 280 nm, mobile phase of water and methanol gradient elution, temperature for the chromatographic column of 30°C, flow rate of mobile phase of 0.8 mL/min, sample injection volume of 5 µL, and elution time of 40 min. The MS conditions were set as follows: the flow rate of sheath gas, aux gas, and sweep gas were kept at 35 arb, 5 arb, and 0 arb, respectively. The temperature of capillary was held at 300°C, and capillary voltage was set at 30.00 V. Tube lens were performed at 100.00 V. The proposed method was validated by linearity (r² ≥ 0.9910), average recovery (94.93%, RSD1.21%), precision (RSD ≤ 1.31%), limit of detection, and limit of quantification (LOD 0.1~0.12 mg/L, LOQ 0.5~0.67 mg/L), which proved to be affordable for simultaneously determining canrenone and its bio-transformed product 11-α-hydroxy-canrenone.

[Effect of hyoid suspension with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To discuss the methodology and therapeutic effect of hyoid suspension in association with uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP) in the treatment of severe obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). METHODS: Sixty-nine patients with severe OSAHS (apnea hyponea index, AHI > 30) were treated with hyoid suspension and UPPP. Sixty-one patients were followed for 6 months (48 of them for 12 months). Polysomnogram (PSG) tests were performed and an Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) was recorded preoperatively and postoperatively in these patients. RESULTS: After the surgery,the snoring of the patients disappeared or was alleviated to varing degrees. Eighteen patients underwent fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopic examination. Twelve of them showed palatopharyngeal and glossopharyngeal stenosis was improved 6 months after surgery. Six patients showed no change, but had no glossoptosis. Fourteen patients underwent fiberoptic nasopharyngolaryngoscopic examination 1 year after surgery, with no recurrence of the stenosis being found. A decrease of 50% in the AHI was considered effective, and in patients the effective rate was 78.7% (48/61) 6 months after the operation and 75.0% (36/48) 1 year after the operation. The average AHI decreased from 44.8 to 15.1 and 17.2, and the minimum arterial oxygen saturation average increased from 0.512 to 0.880 and 0.730. Matching t tests were utilized and the results of follow-up indicated that there was a significant improvement in the indexes in those cases which could be followed up (P < 0.01). The average of the ESS was 6.7 six months after operation and 7.2 one year after operation, with a significant decrease compared to the preoperative (16.6) data (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Modified hyoid suspension in association with UPPP has the advantage of a simple operation, short hospitalization and less expense, and the effect of the operation was significant. Patients with palatopharyngeal and glossopharyngeal stenosis should be chosen for this operation.

Relationships between differential gene expression and heterosis in cotton hybrids developed from the foundation parent CRI-12 and its pedigree-derived lines.

CRI-12, an Upland cotton variety with high yield, elite fiber quality and disease resistance, is further characterized by its high heritability, combining ability and genetic stability. CRI-12 and its pedigree-derived lines were used to develop increased heterosis cotton hybrids, including CRI-28, CRI-29, XZM 2 and Jimian18. CRI-12 was chosen as the cotton foundation parent and analyzed by gene differential expressions between hybrids and their corresponding parents at seedling, squaring and flowering stages. The following approaches were considered the most viable candidates to elucidate the molecular basis of CRI-12: cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphisms (cDNA-AFLPs), gene differential expression ratios, and vegetative growth heterosis and yield heterosis for correlation analysis. The results indicated that CRI-12 plays a predominant role in vegetative heterosis in CRI-28, CRI-29 and Jimian18 hybrids at the seedling and squaring stages; the percentage of dominant expression in single parents was greater than other patterns; downregulated expression in single parents was higher than upregulated expression in hybrids, and downregulated expression in hybrids was the lowest of the four patterns in the three growth stage cumulative totals. The gene differential expression ratio of hybrids and parents varied for the three growth stages, suggesting gene differential expression changes over time. Further analysis of differential gene expression ratios, vegetative growth and yield heterosis correlation revealed upregulated expression in hybrids were correlated with vegetative heterosis at the seedling and squaring stages, which play an important role in yield heterosis at the flowering stage. Downregulated expression in the maternal parent (CRI-12 and its pedigree-derived lines) suggested benefits in vegetative heterosis at the squaring stage, but a possible hybrid yield decrease at the flowering stage. These results provided evidence that CRI-12 and its pedigree-derived lines express genes integral for heterosis in CRI-28, CRI-29 and Jimian18.