miR171-targeted SCARECROW-LIKE genes CsSCL2 and CsSCL3 regulate somatic embryogenesis in citrus.

Somatic embryogenesis (SE) is a key regeneration pathway in various biotechnology approaches to crop improvement, especially for economically important perennial woody crops like citrus. However, maintenance of SE capability has long been a challenge and becomes a bottleneck in biotechnology-facilitated plant improvement. In the embryogenic callus (EC) of citrus, we identified 2 csi-miR171c-targeted SCARECROW-LIKE genes CsSCL2 and CsSCL3 (CsSCL2/3), which exert positive feedback regulation on csi-miR171c expression. Suppression of CsSCL2 expression by RNA interference (RNAi) enhanced SE in citrus callus. A thioredoxin superfamily protein CsClot was identified as an interactive protein of CsSCL2/3. Overexpression of CsClot disturbed reactive oxygen species (ROS) homeostasis in EC and enhanced SE. Chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing (ChIP-Seq) and RNA-Seq identified 660 genes directly suppressed by CsSCL2 that were enriched in biological processes including development-related processes, auxin signaling pathway, and cell wall organization. CsSCL2/3 bound to the promoters of regeneration-related genes, such as WUSCHEL-RELATED HOMEOBOX 2 (CsWOX2), CsWOX13, and Lateral Organ Boundaries Domain 40 (LBD40), and repressed their expression. Overall, CsSCL2/3 modulate ROS homeostasis through the interactive protein CsClot and directly suppress the expression of regeneration-related genes, thus regulating SE in citrus. We uncovered a regulatory pathway of miR171c-targeted CsSCL2/3 in SE, which shed light on the mechanism of SE and regeneration capability maintenance in citrus.

Genome-scale mRNA and small RNA transcriptomic insights into initiation of citrus apomixis.

Nucellar embryony (NE) is an adventitious form of apomixis common in citrus, wherein asexual embryos initiate directly from nucellar cells surrounding the embryo sac. NE enables the fixation of desirable agronomic traits and the production of clonal offspring of virus-free rootstock, but impedes progress in hybrid breeding. In spite of the great importance of NE in citrus breeding and commercial production, little is understood about the underlying molecular mechanisms. In this study, the stages of nucellar embryo initiation (NEI) were determined for two polyembryonic citrus cultivars via histological observation. To explore the genes and regulatory pathways involved in NEI, we performed mRNA-seq and sRNA-seq analyses of ovules immediately prior to and at stages during NEI in the two pairs of cultivars. A total of 305 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified between the poly- and monoembryonic ovules. Gene ontology (GO) analysis revealed that several processes are significantly enriched based on DEGs. In particular, response to stress, and especially response to oxidative stress, was over-represented in polyembryonic ovules. Nearly 150 miRNAs, comprising ~90 conserved and ~60 novel miRNAs, were identified in the ovules of either cultivar pair. Only two differentially expressed miRNAs (DEMs) were identified, of which the novel miRN23-5p was repressed whereas the targets accumulated in the polyembryonic ovules. This integrated study on the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulatory profiles between poly- and monoembryonic citrus ovules provides new insights into the mechanism of NE, which should contribute to revealing the regulatory mechanisms of plant apomixis.

Combined diagnosis of multiparametric MRI-based deep learning models facilitates differentiating triple-negative breast cancer from fibroadenoma magnetic resonance BI-RADS 4 lesions.

PURPOSE: To investigate the value of the combined diagnosis of multiparametric MRI-based deep learning models to differentiate triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) from fibroadenoma magnetic resonance Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System category 4 (BI-RADS 4) lesions and to evaluate whether the combined diagnosis of these models could improve the diagnostic performance of radiologists. METHODS: A total of 319 female patients with 319 pathologically confirmed BI-RADS 4 lesions were randomly divided into training, validation, and testing sets in this retrospective study. The three models were established based on contrast-enhanced T1-weighted imaging, diffusion-weighted imaging, and T2-weighted imaging using the training and validation sets. The artificial intelligence (AI) combination score was calculated according to the results of three models. The diagnostic performances of four radiologists with and without AI assistance were compared with the AI combination score on the testing set. The area under the curve (AUC), sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and weighted kappa value were calculated to assess the performance. RESULTS: The AI combination score yielded an excellent performance (AUC = 0.944) on the testing set. With AI assistance, the AUC for the diagnosis of junior radiologist 1 (JR1) increased from 0.833 to 0.885, and that for JR2 increased from 0.823 to 0.876. The AUCs of senior radiologist 1 (SR1) and SR2 slightly increased from 0.901 and 0.950 to 0.925 and 0.975 after AI assistance, respectively. CONCLUSION: Combined diagnosis of multiparametric MRI-based deep learning models to differentiate TNBC from fibroadenoma magnetic resonance BI-RADS 4 lesions can achieve comparable performance to that of SRs and improve the diagnostic performance of JRs.

Genome-wide identification of the C2H2-Zinc finger gene family and functional validation of CsZFP7 in citrus nucellar embryogenesis.

KEY MESSAGE: Genome-wide identification of C2H2-ZF gene family in the poly- and mono-embryonic citrus species and validation of the positive role of CsZFP7 in sporophytic apomixis. The C2H2 zinc finger (C2H2-ZF) gene family is involved in plant vegetative and reproductive development. Although a large number of C2H2 zinc-finger proteins (C2H2-ZFPs) have been well characterized in some horticultural plants, little is known about the C2H2-ZFPs and their function in citrus. In this work, we performed a genome-wide sequence analysis and identified 97 and 101 putative C2H2-ZF gene family members in the genomes of sweet orange (C. sinensis, poly-embryonic) and pummelo (C. grandis, mono-embryonic), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis categorized citrus C2H2-ZF gene family into four clades, and their possible functions were inferred. According to the numerous regulatory elements on promoter, citrus C2H2-ZFPs can be divided into five different regulatory function types that indicate functional differentiation. RNA-seq data revealed 20 differentially expressed C2H2-ZF genes between poly-embryonic and mono-embryonic ovules at two stages of citrus nucellar embryogenesis, among them CsZFP52 specifically expressed in mono-embryonic pummelo ovules, while CsZFP7, 37, 44, 45, 67 and 68 specifically expressed in poly-embryonic sweet orange ovules. RT-qPCR further validated that CsZFP7 specifically expressed at higher levels in poly-embryonic ovules, and down-regulation of CsZFP7 in the poly-embryonic mini citrus (Fortunella hindsii) increased rate of mono-embryonic seeds compared with the wild type, indicating the regulatory potential of CsZFP7 in nucellar embryogenesis of citrus. This work provided a comprehensive analysis of C2H2-ZF gene family in citrus, including genome organization and gene structure, phylogenetic relationships, gene duplications, possible cis-elements on promoter regions and expression profiles, especially in the poly- and mono-embryogenic ovules, and suggested that CsZFP7 is involved in nucellar embryogenesis.

Different characteristics of infants diagnosed with congenital choledochal malformation prenatally or postnatally.

The general condition, clinical and pathological characteristics, and treatment regimens of patients prenatally and postnatally diagnosed with congenital choledochal malformation (CM) were analyzed in order to investigate the clinical significance of early diagnosis, treatment, and intervention in CM. We retrospectively analyzed 33 children who were admitted to the Children's Hospital of Soochow University between 1 March 2010 and 31 May 2019, and their diagnosis of CM was confirmed by radiological, surgical and pathological findings. All the patients were under 36 months of age. The patients were divided into prenatally diagnosed and postnatally diagnosed groups. There were 16 and 17 CM patients in the prenatally and postnatally diagnosed groups, respectively, with a preponderance of females in both groups. Compared with the prenatally diagnosed group, the postnatally diagnosed group had a higher incidence of abdominal pain and vomiting (p < 0.05) and higher AST, GGT, and TB levels (p < 0.05). Although postoperative histopathological examination showed inflammation in both groups, congestion in the cyst walls and fibrous tissue hyperplasia were more significant in the postnatally diagnosed group (p < 0.05). In addition, operation time, length of time required to resume a normal diet after surgery, and total length of hospitalization differed between the 2 groups (p < 0.05), with the prenatally diagnosed group having a relatively longer operation time and taking longer to resume a normal diet after surgery. However, the total length of hospitalization in the prenatally diagnosed group was shorter than that in the postnatally diagnosed group. Compared with prenatally diagnosed CM patients, more symptoms, greater severity of symptoms, and more time to recovery after surgery were observed in postnatally diagnosed CM patients.

Transcriptomes and DNA methylomes in apomictic cells delineate nucellar embryogenesis initiation in citrus.

Citrus nucellar poly-embryony (NPE) is a mode of sporophytic apomixis that asexual embryos formed in the seed through adventitious embryogenesis from the somatic nucellar cells. NPE allows clonal propagation of rootstocks, but it impedes citrus cross breeding. To understand the cellular processes involved in NPE initiation, we profiled the transcriptomes and DNA methylomes in laser microdissection captured citrus apomictic cells. In apomictic cells, ribosome biogenesis and protein degradation were activated, whereas auxin polar transport was repressed. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulated in the poly-embryonic ovules, and response to oxidative stress was provoked. The global DNA methylation level, especially that of CHH context, was decreased, whereas the methylation level of the NPE-controlling key gene CitRWP was increased. A C2H2 domain-containing transcription factor gene and CitRWP co-expressed specifically in apomictic cells may coordinate to initiate NPE. The activated embryogenic development and callose deposition processes indicated embryogenic fate of nucellar embryo initial (NEI) cells. In our working model for citrus NPE initiation, DNA hyper-methylation may activate transcription of CitRWP, which increases C2H2 expression and ROS accumulation, triggers epigenetic regulation and regulates cell fate transition and NEI cell identity in the apomictic cells.

Overexpression of the CsFUS3 gene encoding a B3 transcription factor promotes somatic embryogenesis in Citrus.

In citrus, genetic improvement via biotechnology is challenging due to insufficient understanding of molecular barriers that prevent regeneration by somatic embryogenesis (SE). Our previous study indicated that LEC genes were involved in SE in citrus, but their regulatory roles remain to be elucidated. Here, we cloned one of the LEC genes, CsFUS3, and show that it is preferentially expressed during SE and in the embryogenic callus (EC) derived from citrus varieties with strong embryogenic competence. The overexpression of CsFUS3 in recalcitrant citrus callus restored embryogenic competence. Complementation of the loss-of-function Arabidopsis fus3 mutant with the CsFUS3 gene restored normal late embryogenesis, which is consistent with the CsFUS3 and AtFUS3 proteins contributing to the same regulatory network in Arabidopsis. Transcriptome profiling revealed that the expression of particular TFs that promote SE was up-regulated in the citrus overexpression (OE) line. The 104 differentially expressed genes associated with hormone biosynthesis, catabolism, and signaling are particularly noteworthy. The dynamic change in the ratio of ABA to GA during SE in wild-type callus mirrored the expression pattern of CsFUS3. In contrast, in the OE line, the ratio of ABA to GA was higher and the capacity for SE was greater when the OE line was separately treated with ABA and GA biosynthesis inhibitors. Taken together, our results demonstrate that the overexpression of CsFUS3 appears to establish a cellular environment favorable to SE, at least in part by promoting a high ABA to GA ratio and by regulating the expression of TFs that promote SE.

Effects of NaCl stress on stomatal traits, leaf gas exchange parameters, and biomass of two tomato cultivars.

To understand the mechanism underlying responses of stomatal traits, gas exchange parameters, and biomass of tomato plants to salt stress, two tomato cultivars (Shed and Alam) were treated by salt stress by adding NaCl (0.1 mol·L-1) to nutrition medium in environmental growth chambers for 90 days. Our results showed that salt stress substantially decreased the stomatal density, stomatal width, stomatal area, and stomatal area index of Shed by 32%, 45%, 25%, and 49%, respectively. The stomatal traits of Alam were not affected by NaCl treatment. The spatial scales of the regular stomatal distribution pattern of Shed and Alam were significantly decreased by 30% and 43%, and the nearest neighbor distance Lhat (d) of shed cultivar was increased by 20% under salt stress. NaCl stress resulted in marginal declines in the net photosynthetic rates (Pn), stomatal conductance (gs), transpiration rates (Tr) of both cultivars. The decrease of the photosynthetic rate of Shed under salt stress resulted from stomatal limitation, whereas the Pn of Alam was subjected to non-stomatal constraints. NaCl stress substantially decreased the seedling biomass of both cultivars, and the decline of belowground biomass was higher than that of aboveground biomass. Overall, our results suggested that the Alam cultivar is more salt-tolerant than Shed.

Greenhouse cultivation mitigates metal-ingestion-associated health risks from vegetables in wastewater-irrigated agroecosystems.

Wastewater irrigation can elevate metal concentrations in soils and crops and increase the metal-associated health risks via vegetable ingestion in arid and semiarid northwestern China. Here, we investigated the As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn concentrations in four vegetable species from Dongdagou and Xidagou farmlands in Baiyin, Gansu, China. We evaluated the effects of irrigation type (Dongdagou: industrial wastewater; Xidagou: domestic wastewater) and cultivation mode (open field and greenhouse) on the vegetable metal concentration, metal partitioning, soil-to-plant bioconcentration factor (BCF), and the health risk index. All stream waters, soils, and vegetables were found most severely polluted by As and Cd, with higher severity in the industrial-wastewater-irrigated Dongdagou than the domestic-wastewater-irrigated Xidagou. All vegetables had higher or, at least, comparable metal mass allocated in the shoot than in the root. Greenhouse cultivation could reduce metal-ingestion-associated health risks from edible vegetable biomass by decreasing the soil to plant bioaccumulation (BCF) and the metal concentration. This effect was always significant for all vegetables within Xidagou, and for carrot within Dongdagou. This mitigation effect of greenhouse cultivation could be attributed to the metal sorption by a higher level of soil organic matter and faster growth rate over metal uptake rate in greenhouses compared to open fields. Such mitigation effect was, however, insignificant for leafy vegetables within Dongdagou, when much more severely polluted water for irrigation was applied in greenhouses compared to open fields within Dongdagou. The present study highlights greenhouse cultivation as a potential mitigating approach to providing less-polluted vegetables for residents in the severely polluted area in addition to the source pollution control.

Assessment of volumetric bone mineral density of the femoral neck in postmenopausal women with and without vertebral fractures using quantitative multi-slice CT.

OBJECTIVE: To demonstrate the validity and reliability of volumetric quantitative computed tomography (vQCT) with multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for hip bone mineral density (BMD) measurements, and to compare the differences between the two techniques in discriminating postmenopausal women with osteoporosis-related vertebral fractures from those without. METHODS: Ninety subjects were enrolled and divided into three groups based on the BMD values of the lumbar spine and/or the femoral neck by DXA. Groups 1 and 2 consisted of postmenopausal women with BMD changes <-2SD, with and without radiographically confirmed vertebral fracture (n=11 and 33, respectively). Group 3 comprised normal controls with BMD changes > or =-1SD (n=46). Post-MSCT (GE, LightSpeed16) scan reconstructed images of the abdominal-pelvic region, 1.25 mm thick per slice, were processed by OsteoCAD software to calculate the following parameters: volumetric BMD values of trabecular bone (TRAB), cortical bone (CORT), and integral bone (INTGL) of the left femoral neck, femoral neck axis length (NAL), and minimum cross-section area (mCSA). DXA BMD measurements of the lumbar spine (AP-SPINE) and the left femoral neck (NECK) also were performed for each subject. RESULTS: The values of all seven parameters were significantly lower in subjects of Groups 1 and 2 than in normal postmenopausal women (P<0.05, respectively). Comparing Groups 1 and 2, 3D-TRAB and 3D-INTGL were significantly lower in postmenopausal women with vertebral fracture(s) [(109.8+/-9.61) and (243.3+/-33.0) mg/cm3, respectively] than in those without [(148.9+/-7.47) and (285.4+/-17.8) mg/cm(3), respectively] (P<0.05, respectively), but no significant differences were evident in AP-SPINE or NECK BMD. CONCLUSION: the femoral neck-derived volumetric BMD parameters using vQCT appeared better than the DXA-derived ones in discriminating osteoporotic postmenopausal women with vertebral fractures from those without. vQCT might be useful to evaluate the effect of osteoporotic vertebral fracture status on changes in bone mass in the femoral neck.